Hearing, sight, hand and tongue?

Question:

A Innovator mentioned a statement that God is the eye, ear, tongue and hand of the believer when he approaches Him in worship. The source was the 2nd volume of Al-Kafi on page 352. What reports did the lovers of the Ahl-ul-Bait (a.) receive regarding this subject and is there a similar wording among those who are not among their followers?

Answer:

Ja’far As-Sadiq (a.) reported from the Prophet Muhammad (s.) that God said: “Whoever humiliates a guardian of Mine has already started a war with Me and My servant does not approach Me by any thing that is more dear to Me than the duties that I imposed on him and he approaches Me by additional acts of worship until I love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his tongue with which he speaks and his hand with which he grasps. When he calls Me, I love him; when he asks Me, I give him. On no matter I wait more than with the death of the believer. He abhors death and I abhor to make him suffer.” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, Volume 2 Page 352 Hadith 8]

محمد بن يحيى، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، وأبو علي الأشعري، عن محمد بن عبد الجبار، جميعا، عن ابن فضال، عن علي بن عقبة، عن حماد بن بشير قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله): قال الله عز وجل: من أهان لي وليا فقد أرصد لمحاربتي وما تقرب إلي عبد بشئ أحب إلي مما افترضت عليه وإنه ليتقرب إلي بالنافلة حتى أحبه، فإذا أحببته كنت سمعه الذي يسمع به وبصره الذي يبصر به ولسانه الذي ينطق به ويده التي يبطش بها، إن دعاني أجبته وإن سألني أعطيته، وما ترددت عن شئ أنا فاعله كترددي عن موت المؤمن، يكره الموت وأكره مساءته

Muhammad Al-Baqir (a.) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “O Lord, in what state is the one with You who has internalized the faith?” He replied: “O Muhammad, whoever humiliates a Guardian of Mine has already declared war on Me and I rush to the aid of the Guardians of Myself the quickest and in no matter I wait more than with the death of the believer. He abhors death and I abhor to cause him suffering. Among my believing servants there are those who do not walk in righteousness except when I give them prosperity and when I change their situation into another than this, then they fall into ruin. Among My believing servants there are also those who do not walk in righteousness except when I give them poverty and when I change their situation into another than this then they fall into ruin. One among My servants does not approach Me through a thing that is dearer to Me than the duties that I imposed on him and he approaches Me through additional acts of worship until I love him. If I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his tongue with which he speaks and his hand with which he grasps. If he calls Me, I love him; if he asks Me, I give him.” Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi writes: “Authentic (Sahih).” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, volume 2 page 352 – 353 Hadith 9; Mir’at-ul-Uqul, volume 10 page 383]

عدة من أصحابنا، عن أحمد بن محمد بن خالد، عن إسماعيل بن مهران، عن أبي سعيد القماط، عن أبان بن تغلب، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: لما أسري بالنبي صلى الله عليه وآله قال: يا رب ما حال المؤمن عندك؟ قال: يا محمد من أهان لي وليا فقد بارزني بالمحاربة وأنا أسرع شئ إلى نصرة أوليائي وما ترددت عن شئ أنا فاعله كترددي عن وفاة المؤمن، يكره الموت وأكره مساءته، وإن من عبادي المؤمنين من لا يصلحه إلا الغنى ولو صرفته إلى غير ذلك لهلك، وإن من عبادي المؤمنين من لا يصلحه إلا الفقر ولو صرفته إلى غير ذلك لهلك وما يتقرب إلي عبد من عبادي بشئ أحب إلي مما افترضت عليه وإنه ليتقرب إلي بالنافلة حتى أحبه فإذا أحببته كنت إذا سمعه الذي يسمع به وبصره الذي يبصر به ولسانه الذي ينطق به ويده التي يبطش بها، إن دعاني أجبته و إن سألني أعطيته. وقال شيخ الإسلام محمد باقر المجلسي رضي الله عنه: صحيح

Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi writes: “He hears nothing except that the sublime one loves it, he looks at nothing except that the sublime one loves it, and he reaches for nothing except that he approaches the sublime one with it, and it is obvious what is said: “He hears nothing except that it is right and just and he looks at nothing except that it is right and just and he reaches for nothing except that it is done with the permission of the law and he does not proceed except for His pleasure.” [Mir’at-ul-Uqul Fi Sharh Akhbar Al Ar-Rasul, Volume 10 page 392]

قال محمد باقر المجلسي رضي الله عنه: فلا يسمع إلا ما يحبه تعالى، ولا ينظر إلا إلى ما يحبه تعالى، ولا يبطش إلا إلى ما يوصل إلى قربه سبحانه، وقريب منه ما قيل : لا يسمع إلا بحق وإلى حق ولا ينظر إلا بحق وإلى حق، ولا يبطش إلا بإذن الحق ولا يمشي إلا إلى ما يرضى به

Muhammad Salih Al-Mazandarani writes: “This resembles the well-known saying among men: “Someone is my eye, my sight, my hand and my arm. The purpose of this comparison is to indicate in meaning the status.” [Sharh Usul Al-Kafi, Volume 9 Page 427]

قال محمد صالح المازندراني رضي الله عنه: وهذا مثل قول الناس المعروف بينهم: فلان عيني ونور بصري ويدي وعضدي وإنما يريدون به التشبيه في معنى من المعاني المناسبة للمقام

The same report is in circulation among those who are not among the followers of the infallible (a.).

Proof:

Abu Hurairah reported from the Prophet Muhammad (s.) that God said: “Whoever makes war on one of My proteges I have already declared war on him and My servant approaches Me with the duties I have imposed on him and which are dearest to Me and My servant does not approach Me by a thing I favor over the duties I imposed on him and he approaches Me by additional acts of worship until I love him. If I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps and his foot with which he walks. If he asks Me, I will give him and if he seeks help from Me, I will give it to him. There is nothing where I wait more than with the soul of My faithful servant. He abhors death and I abhor to make him suffer.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 6137 in Arabic, Volume 8 Book 76 Hadith 509 in English]

حدثني محمد بن عثمان بن كرامة حدثنا خالد بن مخلد حدثنا سليمان بن بلال حدثني شريك بن عبد الله بن أبي نمر عن عطاء عن أبي هريرة قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إن الله قال من عادى لي وليا فقد آذنته بالحرب وما تقرب إلي عبدي بشيء أحب إلي مما افترضت عليه وما يزال عبدي يتقرب إلي بالنوافل حتى أحبه فإذا أحببته كنت سمعه الذي يسمع به وبصره الذي يبصر به ويده التي يبطش بها ورجله التي يمشي بها وإن سألني لأعطينه ولئن استعاذني لأعيذنه وما ترددت عن شيء أنا فاعله ترددي عن نفس المؤمن يكره الموت وأنا أكره مساءته