From each group [9:122]

“It is not proper for the believers to go out all together. If only a section of each group were to go out, so that they may become understanding (faqih) about the religion and warn their people when they return to them, so that they may exercise caution.” [At-Tawbah 9:122]

وما كان المؤمنون لينفروا كافة فلولا نفر من كل فرقة منهم طائفة ليتفقهوا في الدين ولينذروا قومهم إذا رجعوا إليهم لعلهم يحذرون

Abd-ul-Mu’min Al-Ansari reported that he said to Imam As-Sadiq (a.): “The people narrate that the Messenger of God (s.) said: “The difference (Ikhtilaf) in my nation is a mercy.” He said: “They have spoken the truth.” I said: “If their difference is a mercy, then surely their agreement would be a punishment?” He said: “It is not what you are assuming or they have assumed, but he intended by it the verse: “It is not fitting for the believers to go forth all together. If only a section of each group were to go out, that they may become understanding (faqih) about the religion and warn their people when they return to them, so that they may exercise caution.” (9:122) Therefore, He ordered them to go out to the Messenger (s) and seek him out so that they may acquire knowledge and thereupon return to their people so that they may teach them. He meant their difference (Ikhtilaf) from the localities [Physical seperation] and not the difference regarding the religion of God, for the religion is one.” [Ma’ani l-Akhbar of As-Saduq, page 157]

حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد رحمه الله قال: حدثنا محمد بن أبي عبد الله الكوفي عن أبي الخير صالح بن أبي حماد، قال: حدثني أحمد بن هلال، عن محمد بن أبي عمير، عن عبد المؤمن الأنصاري، قال: قلت لأبي عبد الله عليه السلام: إن قوما رووا أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله قال: إن اختلاف أمتي رحمة؟ فقال: صدقوا، قلت: إن كان اختلافهم رحمة فاجتماعهم عذاب؟ قال: ليس حيث ذهبت وذهبوا، إنما أراد قول الله عز وجل: فلو لا نفر من كل فرقة منهم طائفة ليتفقهوا في الدين ولينذروا قومهم إذا رجعوا إليهم لعلهم يحذرون فأمرهم أن ينفروا إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله ويختلفوا إليه فيتعلموا ثم يرجعوا إلى قومهم فيعلموهم، إنما أراد اختلافهم من البلدان لا اختلافا في دين الله، إنما الدين واحد

Ali Ibn Abi Hamzah reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “Become understanding (Faqih) in faith, for whoever of you does not become understanding therein is a Bedouin. God says in His Book: “It is not proper for the believers to go out all together. If only a section of each group were to go out, that they may become understanding (faqih) about the religion and warn their people when they return to them, so that they may exercise caution.” (9:122) [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, Volume 1 page 31 Hadith 6]

علي بن محمد بن عبدالله, عن أحمد بن محمد بن خالد, عن عثمان بن عيسى عن على بن أبي حمزة قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: تفقهوا في الدين فإنه من لم يتفقه منكم في الدين فهو أعرابي إن الله يقول في كتابه ليتفقهوا في الدين ولينذروا قومهم إذا رجعوا إليهم لعلهم يحذرون

Mufaddal Ibn Umar reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “Become understanding (Faqih) with regard to the religion of God and do not be Bedouins, for whoever did not become understanding with regard to the religion of God, God would neither dignify him with a glance on the Day of Resurrection nor would He purify any deed for him.” [Mawsu’at-ul-Ahadith of An-Najafi, Volume 7 page 290 Hadith 24]

الكليني, عن الحسين بن محمد, عن جعفر بن محمد, عن القاسم بن الربيع, عن مفضل بن عمر قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: عليكم بالتفقه في دين الله ولا تكونوا أعرابا فإنه من لم يتفقه في دين الله لم ينظر الله إليه يوم القيامة ولم يزك له عملا

Ya’qub Ibn Shu’aib reported that he asked Imam As-Sadiq (a.): “What should the people do, if something happens to the Imam?” He said: “They are just as God says: “It is not proper for the believers to go out all together. If only a section of every group would go out, so that they may become understanding (faqih) about the religion and warn their people when they return to them, so that they may practise caution.” (9:122) I said : “In what condition are they?” He said: “They are excused.” [Tafsir-ul-Ayyashi, Volume 2 page 117 Hadith 158]

عن يعقوب بن شعيب عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قلت له: إذا حدث للامام حدث كيف يصنع الناس؟ قال: يكونوا كما قال الله فلولا نفر من كل فرقة منهم طائفة ليتفقهوا في الدين إلى قوله: يحذرون قال: قلت: فما حالهم؟ قال: هم في عذر

Abu Ja’far Al-Ahwal reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “The people are not given any leeway until they seek and understand and recognise their Imam and they are given leeway to act upon whatever he says even if it was (said) out of caution (Taqiyyah).” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, Volume 1 page 40 Hadith 4]

علي بن إبراهيم، عن محمد بن عيسى بن عبيد، عن يونس بن عبد الرحمن عن أبي جعفر الأحول، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: لا يسع الناس حتى يسألوا ويتفقهوا ويعرفوا إمامهم. ويسعهم أن يأخذوا بما يقول وإن كان تقية

Ya’qub Ibn Shu’aib reported that he asked Imam As-Sadiq (a.): “What do you say about people whose Imam died. How do they proceed?” He said to me: “Do you not read the Book of Allah: “It is not proper for the believers to go out all together. If only a section of each group would go out, that they may become understanding (faqih) about the religion, and warn their people when they return to them, so that they may exercise caution.” (9:122) I said: “In what condition are those, who wait until those who become understanding (Faqih) in faith return?” He said to me: “God have mercy on you! Were you not informed that 520 years passed between Muhammad (s.) and Jesus (a.) and thereupon people who belonged to the religion of Jesus (a.) died while waiting for the religion of Muhammad (a.)? Therefore, God granted them a double reward.” [Nur-uth-Thaqalain of Al-Huwaizi, Volume 2 page 284 Hadith 411]

عن يعقوب بن شعيب عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قلت له: ما تقول في قوم هلك امامهم كيف يصنعون؟ قال فقال لي: أما تقرأ كتاب الله: فلولا نفر من كل فرقة إلى قوله: يحذرون؟ قلت: جعلت فداك فما حال المنتظرين حتى يرجع المتفقهون؟ قال فقال لي: رحمك الله أما علمت أنه كان بين محمد وعيسى صلى الله عليهما وآلهما خمسون ومأتا سنة، فمات قوم على دين عيسى انتظارا لدين محمد فأتاهم الله أجرهم مرتين

Ali Ar-Rida (a.) reported that Imam Al-Baqir (a.) said: “Our follower is the one, who follows us and does not contradict us and the one, who is fearful when we are fearful and is secure, when we are secure. Those are our followers and God says: “So ask of the People of the Reminder, if you do not know.” (21:7) And He says: “It is not proper for the believers to go out all together. If only a section from each group would go forth, so that they may become understanding (faqih) about the religion and warn their people when they return to them, so that they may exercise caution.” (9:122) Therefore, it was imposed upon you to ask and turn to us, but it was not imposed upon us to answer. God says: “If they do not answer you, then know, that they follow their inclinations, and who is more astray than he who follows his inclination without a guidance from God?” By which is meant he, who takes his faith from his own opinion without an Imam from the imams of guidance.” [Musnad-ur-Rida by Azizullah Attaridi, Volume 1 page 159 Hadith 235]

عنه عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن أحمد بن محمد بن أبي نصر عن علي بن موسى الرصا عن محمد بن علي الباقر عليهم السلام أنه قال: إنما شيعتنا من تابعنا ولم يخالفنا ومن إذا خفنا خاف ومن إذا أمنا أمن فأولئك شيعتنا وقال الله تبارك وتعالى فاسألوا أهل الذكر إن كنتم لا تعلمون وقال: وما كان المؤمنين لينفروا كافة فلولا نفر من كل فرقة منهم طائفة ليتفقهوا في الدين ولينذروا قومهم إذا جعوا إليهم لعلهم يحذرون فقد فرضت عليكم المسألة والرد إلينا ولم يفرض علينا الجواب قال الله عز وجل: فإن لم يستجيبوا لكم فاعلموا أنما يتبعون أهوائهم ومن أضل اتبع هواه بغير هدى من الله يعنى من اتخذ دينه رأيه بغير امام من أئمة الهدى

Ali Ibn Ibrahim Al-Qumi writes: “When they are informed about the death of the Imam (a.), then from every locality a group of the people must go out, but they do not go out all together, for God did not declare it obligatory (Faridah), for all the people to go out, in order to know the report of the Imam (a.), but a group goes out and tells it to their people.” [Tafsir-ul-Qumi, Vol. 1 page 307]

قال شيخ أبو الحسن القمي: إذا بلغهم وفاة الامام يجب ان يخرج من كل بلاد فرقة من الناس ولا يخرجوا كلهم كافة ولم يفرض الله ان يخرج الناس كلهم فيعرفوا خبر الامام ولكن يخرج طائفة ويؤدوا ذلك إلى قومهم