1st Question:

There has been a claim among the people of the innovation that Imam Ar-Rida (a.) has declared himself and the other members of the Ahl-ul-Bait (a.) to be the 99 names and attributes of God, citing the 2nd volume of Tafsir Al-Ayyashi on page 42 as the source. Is this actually the wording of the Infallible (a.)?

Response:

The servant of Umar has lied!

By the most beautiful names of God [أسماء الله الحسنى] can mean two things:

– [ 1. ] – A title of the Imams (a.)

Muhammad ibn Abi Zaid Ar-Razi reported that Imam Ar-Rida (a.) said: “When an affliction descends upon you, ask God for help through us and this is the verse: “To God belongs the most beautiful names. So call upon Him through them and leave those who think wrongly about His names. They will be repaid for what they did.” (7:180) Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “By God, we are the most beautiful names. Nothing is accepted from anyone except by our recognition. He said: ‘So call upon Him through them.” (7:180) [Tafsir Al-Ayyashi, Volume 2 page 42 Hadith 119]

عن محمد بن أبي زيد الرازي عمن ذكره عن الرضا عليه السلام قال: إذا نزلت بكم شدة فاستعينوا بنا على الله، وهو قول الله: ولله الأسماء الحسنى فادعوه بها قال: قال أبو عبد الله: نحن والله الأسماء الحسنى الذي لا يقبل من أحد الا بمعرفتنا قال فادعوه بها

– [ 2. ] – The Essence of God

The Exalted One says: “Allah – there is no god but Him. To Him belong the most beautiful names.” [Taha 20:8]

الله لا إله إلا هو له الأسماء الحسنى

Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.) reported that Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “The names of God are 99. Whoever calls upon God through them, He answers him, and whoever internalizes them, he enters Paradise.” [At-Tawhid of As-Saduq, page 195 Hadith 9]

حدثنا أحمد بن زياد بن جعفر الهمداني رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا علي ابن إبراهيم بن هاشم، عن أبيه، عن أبي الصلت عبد السلام بن صالح الهروي، عن علي بن موسى الرضا، عن أبيه، عن آبائه، عن علي عليهم السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: لله عز وجل تسعة وتسعون اسما، من دعا الله بها استجاب له، ومن أحصاها دخل الجنة

Just so, by mercy of God [رحمة الله] can be meant two things:

– [ 1. ] – A title of the Prophet (s.).

The Exalted says: “And We have sent you only as a mercy for the inhabitants of the world.” [Al-Anbiya’ 21:107]

وما أرسلناك إلا رحمة للعالمين

Nurullah Ibn Sharif Ad-Din reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “By the mercy of God is meant the Prophet Muhammad (s.), for he was the mercy for the inhabitants of the world.” [Ihqaq-ul-Haqq by Ash-Shushtari, Volume 1 page 116]

عن نور الله بن شريف الدين قال: قال الإمام الصادق عليه السلام: والمراد من رحمة الله، رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله، فإنه كان رحمة للعالمين

– [ 2. ] – The essence of God

The Exalted says: “And when those who believe in our signs come to you, say: “Peace be upon you! Your Lord has prescribed mercy for Himself. Now if any of you does evil out of ignorance, but afterwards repents and shows correction, He is full of forgiveness and merciful.” [Al-An’am 6:54]

وإذا جاءك الذين يؤمنون بآياتنا فقل سلام عليكم كتب ربكم على نفسه الرحمة أنه من عمل منكم سوءا بجهالة ثم تاب من بعده وأصلح فأنه غفور رحيم

And likewise, by word of God [كلمة الله] can be meant two things:

– [ 1. ] – A title of Messiah (a.).

The Exalted says: “Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, is but the Messenger of God and His Word, which He conveyed to Mary, and a spirit from Him.” [An-Nisa’ 4:171]

إنما المسيح عيسى ابن مريم رسول الله وكلمته ألقاها إلى مريم وروح منه

– [ 2. ] – The Essence of God

Abu Basir reported that he asked Imam As-Sadiq (a.) about the verse: “Say: If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would come to an end before the words of my Lord come to an end, even if We added as much again.” (18:109) He said: “I have already informed you that the speech of God is neither subject to limitation nor has an end, and it is eternally not overcome by any interruption.” [Tafsir Al-Qummi, Vol. 2 Page 46]

حدثنا محمد بن أحمد عن عبد الله بن موسى عن الحسن بن علي بن أبي حمزة عن أبيه عن أبي بصير عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام في قوله عز وجل: قل لو كان البحر مدادا لكلمات ربى لنفد البحر قبل ان تنفد كلمات ربى ولو جئنا بمثله مددا قال: قد أخبرك ان كلام الله عز وجل ليس له آخر ولا غاية ولا ينقطع أبدا

2nd Question:

How is this to be understood, asking God for help through Ahl-ul-Bait (a.)?

Response:

Looking more closely at the statement of the Infallible (a.), it becomes apparent that it is about mediation [التوسل].

Imam Ar-Rida (a.) said: “When an affliction descends upon you, then ask God for help through us.” [Tafsir Al-Ayyashi, Volume 2 page 42 Hadith 119]

عن الرضا عليه السلام قال: إذا نزلت بكم شدة فاستعينوا بنا على الله

Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi writes as the name of the chapter: “The intercession through Muhammad and the family of Muhammad in supplication and the supplications in their affection and the mediation through them, God bless them all.” [Bihar-ul-Anwar, Vol. 91 page 1]

كتب العلامة المجلسي رضي الله عنه: الاستشفاع بمحمد وآل محمد في الدعاء، وأدعية التوجه إليهم والصلوات عليهم والتوسل بهم صلوات الله عليهم

Uthman Ibn Junaid reported that a blind man came to Prophet Muhammad (s.) to have his eyesight restored. The Messenger (s.) said to him: “Come to the place wherein the ablution of the prayer is performed and perform the ablution of the prayer. Then pray two units of prayer. Then say: “God! I ask You and turn to You through Muhammad, the Prophet of Mercy. O Muhammad, I turn to Your Lord through You so that my sight may be given to me thereby. O God. Grant him intercession regarding my request!” Uthman said: “The report did not come to our ears until the man came in and was completely released from his affliction.” Muhammad ibn Mas’ud reported from Muhammad ibn Abi Zaid Ar-Razi that Imam Ar-Rida (a.) said: “When an affliction descends upon you, ask God for help through us and this is the verse: “To God belong the most beautiful names. So call upon Him with them and leave those who think wrongly about His names. They will be repaid for what they did.” (7:180) Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “By God, we are the most beautiful names. Nothing is accepted from anyone except by our recognition. He said: ‘So call Him through them.” (7:180) [Bihar-ul-Anwar of Al-Majlisi, Volume 91 page 5 – 6]

الخرائج: روي أن عثمان بن جنيد قال: جاء رجل ضرير إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله فشكا إليه ذهاب بصره، فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: ائت الميضاة فتوض، ثم صل ركعتين ثم قل: اللهم إني أسئلك وأتوجه إليك بمحمد نبي الرحمة يا محمد إني أتوجه بك إلى ربك ليجلو به عن بصري، اللهم شفعه في وشفعني في نفسي. قال ابن جنيد: فلم يطل بنا الحديث حتى دخل الرجل كأن لم يكن به ضرر قط تفسير العياشي: عن محمد بن أبي زيد الرازي عمن ذكره، عن الرضا عليه السلام قال: إذا نزلت بكم شدة فاستعينوا بنا على الله، وهو قول الله ولله الأسماء الحسنى فادعوه بها قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: نحن والله الأسماء الحسنى الذي لا يقبل من أحد إلا بمعرفتنا، قال: فادعوه بها

The Qur’an states:

“O you who believe, fear God and seek a means to reach Him, and establish yourselves in His way, that it may be well with you.” [Al-Ma’idah 5:35]

يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله وابتغوا إليه الوسيلة وجاهدوا في سبيله لعلكم تفلحون

Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.) reported that Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “Whoever obeys the Imams from the progeny of Al-Husain (a.) obeys God, and whoever disobeys them disobeys God. They are the firmest handhold and a means towards God, the Honorable and Exalted.” [Uyun-ul-Akhbar of As-Saduq, Volume 1 page 63 Hadith 217]

حدثنا محمد بن عمر بن محمد بن سلم بن البراء الجعابي قال حدثني أبو محمد الحسن بن عبد الله بن محمد بن العباس الرازي التميمي قال حدثني سيدي علي بن موسى الرضا عليه السلام قال حدثني أبي موسى بن جعفر قال حدثني أبي محمد بن علي قال حدثني أبي علي بن الحسين قال حدثني أبي الحسين بن علي قال حدثني أبي علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: الأئمة من ولد الحسين عليه السلام من أطاعهم فقد أطاع الله ومن عصاهم فقد عصى الله عز وجل هم العروة الوثقى وهم الوسيلة إلى الله عز وجل