Creatures are the children of God?

First question:

Someone confronted me with the statement that people are children of God and gave as source the 2nd volume of Al-Kafi on page 164. Is this the actual text of the report?

Answer:

This statement is not consistent with the words of the infallible (a.)

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (a.) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “The creatures are the needy of God and therefore the creature most loved by God is the one who is most useful to God’s needy and who brings joy to the people of a house.” Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi writes: “Known as weak (Da’if).” Hadi An-Najafi writes: “The tradition is authentic according to its chain (Mu’tabar).” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, volume 2 page 164 Hadith 6; Mir’at-ul-Uqul of Al-Majlisi, volume 9 page 3; Mawsu’at Ahadith Ahl Al-Bait of An-Najafi, volume 11 page 416]

علي بن إبراهيم، عن أبيه، عن النوفلي، عن السكوني، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: الخلق عيال الله فأحب الخلق إلى الله من نفع عيال الله وأدخل على أهل بيت سرورا. قال شيخ الإسلام المجلسي رضي الله عنه: ضعيف على المشهور. وقال الشيخ هادي النجفي: الرواية معتبرة الإسناد

God the Exalted said: “The wealth is My property and the poor are My needy and the rich are My trustees. Therefore, whoever treats My property miserably towards My needy ones, I will let him enter the fire and I will be indifferent to him.” [Ma’arj-ul-Yaqin Fi Usul Ad-Din by Muhammad Sabzwari, page 202 Hadith 6]

وقال الله تعالى: المال مالي، والفقراء عيالي، والأغنياء وكلائي، فمن بخل بمالي على عيالي أدخله النار ولا أبالي

Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi writes: “The needy (Iyal) with the vowel Kasrah is the plural of the needy (Ayyil) as well as the goodness (Jiyad) and the good (Jayyid) and they are those for whose livelihood and needs man is responsible. Therefore, the wording of the needy is a parable for creation in relation to the Creator, for He is their Creator and the upholder of their affairs, the measurer of their circumstances and the provider of their provision.” [Mir’at-ul-Uqul Fi Sharh Akhbar Al Ar-Rasul, Volume 9 Page 3]

قال شيخ الإسلام المجلسي رضي الله عنه: العيال بالكسر جمع عيل كجياد وجيد، وهم من يمونهم الإنسان ويقوم بمصالحهم، فاستعار لفظ العيال للخلق بالنسبة إلى الخالق، فإنه خالقهم والمدبر لأمورهم والمقدر لأحوالهم، والضامن لأرزاقهم

Second question:

Are similar reports circulating among those who are not followers of the Infallible (a.)?

Answer:

Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “All creatures are the needy of God, and therefore the creature most loved by God is the one who gives the most benefit to His needy.” [Al-Mu’jam-ul-Kabir of At-Tabarani, Hadith 9895]

حدثنا محمد بن الفضل السقطي، ثنا إسحاق بن كعب، ثنا موسى بن عمير، عن الحكم، عن إبراهيم، عن علقمة، عن عبد الله، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: الخلق كلهم ​​عيال الله، فأحب الخلق إلى الله أنفعهم لعياله

Anas Ibn Malik reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “The creatures are the needy of God and therefore the creature most loved by Him is the one who gives the most benefit to His needy.” [Al-Musnad of Abu Ya’la, Hadith 3424]

حدثنا أبو ياسر، حدثنا يوسف بن عطية، حدثنا ثابت، عن أنس، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: الخلق عيال الله، فأحب خلقه إليه أنفعهم لعياله

Fakhr-ud-Din Ar-Razi writes: “Just as He who possesses wealth and has no need, buys servants and maids to give them a benefit with His wealth, so He, the Exalted One, bought this creation from the nothingness of existence to give them a benefit through His Kingdom. In the same way He reported: “The creatures are the needy of God.” [At-Tafsir-ul-Kabir / Mafatih-ul-Ghaib, Volume 32 page 53]

قال فخر الدين الرازي: فكما أن من له مال ولا عيال له فإنه يشتري العبيد والجواري لينتفعوا بماله، فهو سبحانه اشترى من دار العدم هذا الخلق لينتفعوا بملكه، كما روى: الخلق عيال الله