007: Al-A'raaf

Chapter: 7, Verse: 16-17 - Satan lying in wait for Shias only

ابْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ حَنَانٍ وَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ قَوْلُهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِراطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ثُمَّ لَآتِيَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَ عَنْ أَيْمانِهِمْ وَ عَنْ شَمائِلِهِمْ وَ لا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شاكِرِينَ قَالَ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عليه السلام) يَا زُرَارَةُ إِنَّهُ إِنَّمَا صَمَدَ لَكَ وَ لِأَصْحَابِكَ فَأَمَّا الْآخَرُونَ فَقَدْ فَرَغَ مِنْهُمْ

Narrated from Zurara,

I asked Abu Jafar Imam Baqir (ع) about the verse, "I (Satan) will surely lie in wait for them on Your straight. Then I will come at them from their front and from their rear, and from their right and their left, and You will not find most of them to be grateful." (7:16-17).

Abu Jafar Imam Baqir (ع) replied, "O Zurara! Indeed he (Satan) is lying in wait for you and for your companions (i.e. Shias). As for the other ones (i.e. non-Shia), he is already finished with them".

[Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 8, Hadith. 118]


Chapter: 7, Verse: 28 - Does Allah (swt) command to commit indecent acts?

عدة من أصحابنا، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن الحسين بن سعيد عن أبي وهب عن محمد بن منصور قال: سألته عن قول الله عز وجل: " وإذا فعلوا فاحشة قالوا وجدنا عليها آبائنا والله أمرنا بها قل إن الله لا يأمر بالفحشاء أتقولون على الله ما لا تعلمون " قال فقال: هل رأيت أحدا زعم أن الله أمر بالزنا وشرب الخمر أو شئ من هذه المحارم؟ فقلت: لا، فقال: ما هذه الفاحشة التي يدعون أن الله أمرهم بها قلت: الله أعلم ووليه، قال: فإن هذا في أئمة الجور، ادعوا أن الله أمرهم بالائتمام بقوم لم يأمرهم الله بالائتمام بهم، فرد الله ذلك عليهم فأخبر أنهم قد قالوا عليه الكذب وسمى ذلك منهم فاحشة

A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from abu Wahab from Muhammad ibn Mansur who has said the following:

"I asked the Imam (ع), about the words of Allah (عز وجل), "When they commit indecent acts they say, 'We found our fathers doing this and Allah has commanded us to do the same. Tell them that Allah does not command anyone to commit indecency. Do you speak for Allah, saying things of which you have no knowledge?" (7:28)

The Imam (ع) asked, "Have you come across anyone who thinks that Allah has commanded him to commit adultery, drink wine or other such unlawful things?"

I (narrator) said, "No."

The Imam (ع) then asked, "What is this indecent act that they claim Allah has commanded them to do." 

I said, "Allah knows best and His deputy."

The Imam (ع) said, "This is regarding the unjust Imams (leaders without Divine Authority). They claim that Allah has commanded them to take these (unjust Imams) as the Imams while Allah has not given any command to anyone to follow such Imam. Allah, thus, has refuted them and has informed (others) that they have spoken lies against Him and that act is called an indecent one."

[Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Kitab al-Hujjah, Ch. 85, H.9 & Basair al-Darajaat, Pg. 24, H.4]


Chapter: 7, Verse: 30 - Taking Shaitan as guardians instead of Allah

ابْنُ بَابَوَيْهِ،قَالَ:حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي(رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ)،قَالَ:حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ،عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ،عَنْ أَحْمَدَ ابْنِ مُحَمَّدِ السَّيَّارِيِّ ،قَالَ:حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ الْكَرْخِيُّ ،قَالَ:حَدَّثَنَا حَنَانُ بْنُ سَدِيرٍ،عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ اللَّيْثِيِّ،عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ(عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ) ،فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: كَمٰا بَدَأَكُمْ تَعُودُونَ* فَرِيقاً هَدىٰ وَ فَرِيقاً حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الضَّلاٰلَةُ إِنَّهُمُ اتَّخَذُوا الشَّيٰاطِينَ أَوْلِيٰاءَ مِنْ دُونِ اللّٰهِ :«يَعْنِي أَئِمَّةَ الْجَوْرِ دُونَ أَئِمَّةِ الْحَقِّ وَ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ مُهْتَدُونَ

Narrated from Imam Mohammad Baqir (ع) about the words of Allah (تعالى), "Part [of mankind] He has guided and a part has deserved (to be in) error, for they took devils for guardians instead of Allah" (7:30), meaning (those who took as guardians) unjust Imams instead of the rightful Imams (as), "and they thought that they were guided." (7:30).

[Source: Ilal al-Sharae, Vol. 2, Pg. 610]


Chapter: 7, Verse: 43 - Praising Allah (swt) for guiding towards Wilayat

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ هِلالٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي السَّفَاتِجِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي قَوْلِ الله جَلَّ وَعَزَّ الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي هَدانا لِهذا وَما كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْ لا أَنْ هَدانَا الله فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ دُعِيَ بِالنَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَبِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَبِالائِمَّةِ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) فَيُنْصَبُونَ لِلنَّاسِ فَإِذَا رَأَتْهُمْ شِيعَتُهُمْ قَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْ لا أَنْ هَدَانَا الله يَعْنِي هَدَانَا الله فِي وَلايَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالائِمَّةِ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام )

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu'alla ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Hilal from his father from abu al-Safatij from Abu Basir,

From Abu Abdallah Imam Sadiq (ع) about the words of Allah (جل وعز), "All praise belongs to Allah, who guided us to this. We would have never been guided had not Allah guided us...."  (7:43) 

The Imam (ع) said, "On the Day of Judgment The Holy Prophet (ص), Amir al-Mu’minin (ع) and the Imams (ع) from his descendants will be brought in public sight. When their followers (Shia) will see them they will say, "All praise belongs to Allah, who guided us to this. We would have never been guided had not Allah guided us", meaning He guided us to acknowledge the Wilayat (Divine Leadership) of Imam Ali (ع) and of the Imams (ع) from his descendants."

[Source: al-Kafi, Vol.1, Pg. 418, Hadith. 32]


Chapter: 7, Verse: 44 - The caller on the day of Judgement

محمد بن يعقوب: عن الحسين بن محمد، عن معلى بن محمد، عن الوشاء، عن أحمد بن عمر الحلال، قال: 

(سألت أبا الحسن (عليه السلام) عن قوله تعالى: فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ بَيْنَهُمْ أَنْ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ‏ . قال: المؤذن: علي بن أبي طالب أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad from Mu'alla ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha from Ahmad ibn Umar al-Hallal who has said the following:

"I asked Abu al-Hassan (ع) about the words of Allah (swt), ". . . someone will call out, 'Curse of Allah be upon the unjust."  (7:44)

The Imam (ع) said, "The caller will be Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (as)."

[Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Chapter. 108, Hadith. 70]


Chapter: 7, Verse: 46 - Imams on the Heights (Aaraaf)

وَعَلَى الْأَعْرَافِ رِجَالٌ يَعْرِفُونَ كُلًّا بِسِيمَاهُمْ وَنَادَوْا أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ أَن سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَمْ يَدْخُلُوهَا وَهُمْ يَطْمَعُونَ

"And on the heights will be men who would know every one by his marks: they will call out to the Companions of the Garden, Peace on you. They will not have entered, but they will have an assurance" (7:46)

Below are the narrations which state that the Imam's (as) are the people on the Heights (A'raaf).

حدثنا احمد بن محمد عن الحسن بن محبوب عن ابى ايوب عن بريد العجلى قال سئلت ابا جعفر عليه السلام عن قول الله وعلى الاعراف رجال يعرفون آلا بسيماهم قال انزلت في هذه الامة والرجال هم الائمة من آل محمد قلت فالاعراف قال صراط بين الجنة والنار فمن شفع له الائمة منا في المؤمنين المذنبين نجا ومن لم يشفعوا له هوى

It has been narrated to us by Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Al-Hassan Bin Mahboub, from Abu Ayyub, from Bureyd Al-Ajaly who said:

I asked Abu Jafar Imam Baqir (ع) about the Statement of Allah (عز وجل), "And on the Heights are men who know them all by their marks"(7:46)

He (ع) said, This Descended in this community, and the men, They are the Imam's (as) from the Progeny of Muhammad (ع). I said, "And the Heights?"

He said: "The Path between the Paradise and the Fire. The ones for whom the Imam (ع) from Us shall intercede, among the believers, the sinners, will be rescued, and the ones for whom They shall not intercede, for him is Fire"

[Source: Basaair Al-Darajaat, Pg. 516]


حدثنا الحسين بن محمد بن عامر عن معلى بن محمد عن محمد بن جمهور عن عبد الله بن عبد الرحمن عن الهيثم بن واقد عن مقرن قال سمعت ابا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول جاء ابن الكوا إلى امير المؤمنين عليه السلام فقال يا امير المؤمنين وعلى الاعراف رجال يعرفون آلا بسيماهم فقال نحن الاعراف نعرف انصارنا بسيماهم و نحن الاعراف الذين لا يعرف الله عزوجل الا على الصراط فلا يدخل الجنة الا من عرفنا ونحن عرفناه ولا يدخل النار الا من انكرنا وانكرناه ان الله لو شاء لعرف العباد نفسه ولكن جعلنا ابوابه وصراطه وسبيله والوجه الذى يؤتى منه فمن عدل عن ولايتنا أو فضل علينا غيرنا فانهم عن الصراط لناآبون ولا سواء من اعتصم الناس به ولا سواء من ذهب حيث ذهب الناس ذهب الناس إلى عيون آدرة يفرغ بعضها في بعض وذهب من ذهب الينا إلى عين صافية تجرى بامورلانفاد لها ولا انقطاع

It has been narrated to us by Al-Husayn Bin Muhammad Bin Aamir, from Moala Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Jamhour, from Abdullah Bin Abdul Rahmaan, from Al-Hasam Bin Waaqid, from Muqaran who said:

I heard Abu Abdullah (ع) say, "Ibn Kawaa came up to Amir-ul-Momineen (ع) and said, ‘O Amir-ul-Momineen (ع) "And on the Heights are men who know them all by their marks" (7:46)

Imam Ali (ع) said, "We are the A’raaf (Recognisers). We recognize Our helpers, and We are those A’raaf (Recognisers) that Allah (عز وجل) cannot be recognized except on Their Path. So no one will enter Paradise except for the one, who recognizes Us, and we will recognize him, and no one will enter the Fire except for the one who denies Us and We will deny him.

If Allah (swt) so Desires to, He can make His servants Recognize Him, but He has Made Us to be His Doors, and His Path, and His Way, and His Face to get to Him. The one who turned away from Our Wilayah, or preferred others over Us, so he is the one who will fall headlong from the Bridge (Al-Siraat), and the one who stayed with it (Al-Wilayah) is not equal to the one who went where the people went. The people went to the turbid springs and some of it emptied into the others, whilst the one who came to Us came to the clear spring flowing constantly without depletion or being cut off."

[Source: Basaair Al-Darajaat, Pg. 517]


وَ عَنْهُ:عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ  بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ سَعْدٍ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ،عَنْ حَمْدَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى،عَنْ بَشِيرِ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ ،عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ) ،أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: وَ بَيْنَهُمٰا حِجٰابٌ وَ عَلَى الْأَعْرٰافِ رِجٰالٌ قَالَ:«سُورٌ بَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ،عَلَيْهِ مُحَمَّدٌ(صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ)وَ عَلِيٌّ وَ الْحَسَنُ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ وَ فَاطِمَةُ وَ خَدِيجَةُ الْكُبْرَى(عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ)،فَيُنَادُونَ:أَيْنَ مُحِبُّونَا؟أَيْنَ شِيعَتُنَا؟فَيُقْبِلُونَ إِلَيْهِمْ،فَيَعْرِفُونَهُمْ بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ وَ أَسْمَاءِ آبَائِهِمْ،وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: يَعْرِفُونَ كُلاًّ بِسِيمٰاهُمْ فَيَأْخُذُونَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ فَيَجُوزُونَ بِهِمُ الصِّرَاطَ وَ يُدْخِلُونَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ».

Narrated from Aba Abdillah Imam Sadiq (ع) about the saying of Allah (swt), "And there will be a veil between them, and on the Heights are men who know them all by their marks" (7:46)

Imam (ع) said, "A fence between heaven and hell and upon them will be Mohammad (ص), Ali (ع), al-Hasan (ع), al-Husain (ع), Fatimah (ع) and Khadijah al-Kubrah (ع) and they will call out, "Where are those who loved Us, Where are Our Shias." So they (i.e. the shias) will be brought to them and they will recognize them with their names and the names of their fathers and that is the saying of Allah (عز وجل), "They know all by their marks" (7:46). Then they will take them (i.e. the shias) by their hands and make them cross over the Sirat (path) and enter them into heaven"

[Source: Tafseer al-Burhaan, Vol. 2, Pg. 549]


Chapter 7: Verse: 69 - The bounties of Allah

فَاذْكُرُوا آلَاءَ اللَّهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

"And remember (speak of) the bounties of Allah (swt) so that you may be successful." (7:69)

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنِ الْهَيْثَمِ بْنِ وَاقِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي يُوسُفَ الْبَزَّازِ قَالَ: تَلَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- فَاذْكُرُوا آلاءَ اللَّهِ‏ قَالَ أَ تَدْرِي مَا آلَاءُ اللَّهِ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ هِيَ‏ أَعْظَمُ‏ نِعَمِ‏ اللَّهِ‏ عَلَى‏ خَلْقِهِ‏ وَ هِيَ‏ وَلَايَتُنَا

Narrated that Abu Abdillah Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام), recited the following verse, "Remember (speak of) the bounties of Allah" (7:69) and said, "Do you know what the bounties of Allah are?"

I (the narrator) said, "No" 

Imam (عليه السلام) said, "It is the greatest of the bounties of Allah upon his creations and it is Our Mastership (Wilayah)."

[Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Pg. 217]


Chapter: 7, Verse: 180 - The Beautiful Names of Allah

وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا

"And to Allah (swt) belong are the beautiful names, so call Him with those names.." (7:180)


الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى جَمِيعاً عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ سَعْدَانَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لِلَّهِ الْأَسْماء الْحُسْنى‏ فَادْعُوهُ بِها (الأعراف -: 180 -) قَالَ نَحْنُ وَ اللَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى الَّتِي لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْعِبَادِ عَمَلًا إِلَّا بِمَعْرِفَتِنَا

Narrated from Abu Abdillah Imam Sadiq (ع), Regarding the saying of Allah (عز وجل) "And to Allah (swt) belong are the beautiful names, so call Him with those names.." (7:180)

Imam (ع) said, "We, by Allah (swt) are the beautiful Names without which Allah (عز وجل) will not accept the deeds of the see servants but with our Ma'arifat (recognition)."

[Source: Al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Pg. 143-144]


المفيد - رحمه الله - باسناده قال الرضا عليه السلام إذا نزلت بكم شديدة فاستعينوا بنا على الله عز وجل وهو قوله ولله الأسماء الحسنى فادعوه بها

Imam Ridha (as) said:

“When misfortune or calamity descends upon you, seek help through us with Allah (swt) and this very thing is the saying of Allah (swt), "For Allah (swt) are the beautiful/best names, so call Him by those names" (7:180)

[Source: al-Ikhtesaas, Shaikh Mufeed, Pg. 252]