A body that resembles no one?

Question:

One of the innovators made the claim that the Imam (a.) had attributed to God a body that was not like other bodies. The source was At-Tawhid of As-Saduq Al-Qummi on pages 100 and 101.

Answer:

The servant of Umar lied!

Al-Abbasi reported that he spoke to Imam Musa Al-Kazim (a.): “May my life be sacrificed to you, some of your servants ordered me to question you about a matter.” He said: “Who is he?” I said: “Al-Hasan Ibn Sahl.” He said: “What is the matter?” I said: “For the unity of God.” He said: “What is the matter concerning the unity of God?” He said: “He questions you about God. A body or not?” He said to me: “People are going in three directions with regards the unity of God: (1.) One direction confirms the attributes of the Creator and compares them with His creation, (2.) one direction denies His attributes, and (3.) one direction confirms His attributes without comparing them with His creation. Neither is the direction allowed that confirms His attributes and compares them with His creation, nor is the direction allowed that denies His attributes. The path leads to the third direction that confirms His attributes without comparing them with His creation. Al-Hasan Ibn Al-Abbas Ibn Harish Ar-Razi reported from some companions that Imam Ali An-Naqi and Imam Muhammad Al-Jawad (a.) said: “Whoever says that God is a body, for him you shall neither pay the alms nor pray behind him.” [At-Tawhid from As-Saduq, pages 100 – 101]

حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أحمد، قال: حدثنا محمد بن عيسى، عن هشام بن إبراهيم، قال: قال العباسي قلت له – يعني أبا الحسن عليه السلام -: جعلت فداك أمرني بعض مواليك أن أسألك عن مسألة قال: ومن هو؟ قلت: الحسن بن سهل قال: في أي شئ المسألة؟ قال: قلت في التوحيد، قال: وأي شئ من التوحيد؟ قال: يسألك عن الله جسم أو لا جسم؟ قال: فقال لي: إن للناس في التوحيد ثلاثة مذاهب مذهب إثبات بتشبيه، و مذهب النفي، ومذهب إثبات بلا تشبيه. فمذهب الاثبات بتشبيه لا يجوز، ومذهب النفي لا يجوز، والطريق في المذهب الثالث إثبات بلا تشبيه. حدثنا محمد بن علي ماجيلويه رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أحمد، عن عمران بن موسى، عن الحسن بن العباس ابن حريش الرازي، عن بعض أصحابنا، عن الطيب يعني علي بن محمد، وعن أبي جعفر الجواد عليهما السلام أنهما قالا: من قال بالجسم فلا تعطوه من الزكاة ولا تصلوا وراءه