سورة الأنبياء

Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him): Yusuf ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Sayyar narrated from their fathers ... Then Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him) said: Do you not know that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, never leaves the world empty of a prophet or an imam from among mankind? Has Allah not said: "And We did not send before you" — meaning to the people — "except men to whom We sent revelation" from the people of the towns (Yusuf/109). And He has informed [us] that He did not send the angels to the earth to be imams and rulers; rather they were sent to the prophets of Allah.

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّکْرِ [So ask the followers of the reminder]; the followers of the reminder are the family of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family).

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Asbagh ibn Nubata said: I asked Imam Ali (peace be upon him) about the verse: فَاسْأَلُواْ أَهْلَ الذِّکْرِ إِن کُنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ [So ask the followers of the reminder if you do not know]. He said: "We are the followers of the reminder."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Muhammad ibn Muslim said: I said to Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): "Indeed some among us claim that what is meant by the verse: فَاسْأَلُواْ أَهْلَ الذِّکْرِ إِن کُنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ [So ask the followers of the reminder if you do not know] is the Jews and the Christians." He said: "In that case they would be calling you to their religion." Then he pointed with his hand to his chest and said: "We are the followers of the reminder, and we are the ones to be asked."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): The Book (the Quran) is the reminder, and its people are the family of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family).

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Zurarah said: I asked Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): "Who is meant by the verse: فَاسْأَلُواْ أَهْلَ الذِّکْرِ إِن کُنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ [So ask the followers of the reminder if you do not know]?" He said: "By Allah, it refers to us." Then I said: "So you are the ones to be asked?" He said: "Yes." I said: "And we are the ones who ask?" He said: "Yes." I said: "So it is incumbent upon us to ask you?" He said: "Yes." I said: "And is it incumbent upon you to answer us?" He said: "No, that is up to us; if we wish we do so, and if we wish we leave it." Then he recited this verse: [and We said to him:] هذا عَطاؤُنا فَامْنُنْ أَوْ أَمْسِکْ بِغَیْرِ حِساب [This is Our gift, so give freely to whomever you wish [and see fit], or withhold from whomever you wish, without reckoning (you are trustworthy)!]. (Sad/39)

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): It is narrated from Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) that Ali (peace be upon him) said: "... The Reminder which was forgotten and which they lost is me, and the path they turned away from is my path, and the faith and inclination toward which they became disbelievers is me. And the Qur'an from which they distanced themselves, and the religion which they denied, and the path from which they turned back — is the Qur'an, the religion and the path of me." And there are other cases which have come in many reports, and what has come at the beginning of Surah al-Nahl in the commentary on the words of Allah the Mighty and Majestic: Those who, after being wronged, emigrated in the path of Allah, We shall give them a good position [and station] in this world, and the reward of the Hereafter is greater still, if they only knew! They are those who exercised patience and steadfastness, and place their trust only in their Lord. And We did not send before you any but men to whom We sent revelation. فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّکْرِ إِنْ کُنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ [So ask the followers of the Reminder if you do not know — so that you are not surprised that the Prophet of Islam has been raised up from among these very men]! [Ask them, for they are aware] of the clear proofs and the books [of the previous prophets]! And We have sent down this Reminder [the Qur'an] to you. (Nahl/41-44).