سورة النساء

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abdullah al-Kahili said: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said, "If a group were to worship only Allah and set no partner beside Him, and establish the prayer, and pay zakat, and perform the pilgrimage to the House of Allah, and fast the month of Ramadan, yet concerning one of the acts of Allah or of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) they were to say, 'Would that he had acted contrary to what he did,' or even if such a thought were merely to cross their minds, they would become polytheists." Then he recited this verse: فَلاَ وَ رَبِّکَ لاَ یُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّیَ یُحَکِّمُوکَ فِیمَا شَجَرَ بَیْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ یَجِدُواْ فِی أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَیْتَ وَ یُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِیمًا [But no, by your Lord, they will not believe until they make you judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves, then find no discomfort within themselves over what you have decided, and submit in full submission]. After that, Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said, "Be submissive."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Sa'id ibn Ghazwan said: I heard Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) saying, "By Allah, if they were to believe in the One Allah and establish the prayer and pay zakat, but not submit before Allah, by that very act they would be polytheists." Then he recited the verse: فَلاَ وَ رَبِّکَ لاَ یُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّیَ یُحَکِّمُوکَ فِیمَا شَجَرَ بَیْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ یَجِدُواْ فِی أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَیْتَ وَ یُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِیمًا [But no, by your Lord, they will not believe until they make you judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves, then find no discomfort within themselves over what you have decided, and submit in full submission].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abdullah ibn al-Najashi said: I heard Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) say concerning the verse: ... فَلا وَ رَبِّکَ لا یُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّی یُحَکِّمُوکَ فِیما شَجَرَ بَیْنَهُمْ [But no! by your Lord! they do not believe until they make you a judge of that which has become a matter of disagreement among them]: "What is meant is the dispute between them and Ali (peace be upon him). ثُمَّ لا یَجِدُوا فِی أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجاً مِمَّا قَضَیْتَ [Then they do not find in themselves any straitness at what you have decided] — that is, concerning the announcement of the wilayah (guardianship) of Ali (peace be upon him) upon your tongue, O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), [they find no way but to submit], وَ یُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِیماً [and submit with entire submission] — that is, they submit to the wilayah of Ali (peace be upon him)."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): فَلاَ وَ رَبِّکَ لاَ یُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّیَ یُحَکِّمُوکَ [But no! by your Lord! they do not believe until they make you a judge] — what is meant by the pronoun kaf ("you") is Ali (peace be upon him). فِیمَا شَجَرَ بَیْنَهُمْ [in that which has become a matter of disagreement among them] — they have made pacts and covenants with one another to oppose you and usurp the caliphate from you. ثُمَّ لاَ یَجِدُواْ فِی أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَیْتَ [Then they do not find in themselves any straitness at what you have decided] — what is meant by "what you decided" is that you, O Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), pronounced the wilayah of Ali (peace be upon him) with your tongue. وَ یُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِیمًا [and submit with entire submission] — that is, they submit to Ali (peace be upon him).

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abdullah ibn al-Najashi said: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about the verse: فَلاَ وَ رَبِّکَ لاَ یُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّیَ یُحَکِّمُوکَ فِیمَا شَجَرَ بَیْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ یَجِدُواْ فِی أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَیْتَ وَ یُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِیمًا [But no! by your Lord! they do not believe until they make you a judge of that which has become a matter of disagreement among them, and then do not find any straitness in their hearts as to what you have decided, and submit with entire submission]. He said: "What is meant here is Ali (peace be upon him)."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Ayyub ibn al-Hurr said: I heard Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) say: "One of the slaves of Uthman used to revile Ali (peace be upon him) heavily. One of the slaves who was from among their slaves, who used to come to us and had affection with us, spoke to me about this and said: When this slave was at the point of death, he said: 'What have I to do with them?'" I said to Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): "May I be your ransom, is this person not counted as a believer?" The Imam said: "Have you not heard this word of Allah in the verse: فَلاَ وَ رَبِّکَ لاَ یُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّیَ یُحَکِّمُوکَ فِیمَا شَجَرَ بَیْنَهُمْ [But no! by your Lord! they do not believe until they make you a judge of that which has become a matter of disagreement among them]? It is far, far off, and impossible that a person — even if he fasts and stands in prayer — be considered a believer without inner conviction and certainty of the heart."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Ayyub said: I heard Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) say: ... "A man from the family of Uthman used to revile Ali (peace be upon him) heavily. A slave-girl of his who used to come to us spoke to me and said: 'When that man was at the point of death, he said: What have I to do with them?'" I said to the Imam: "May I be your ransom, what was the reason for this statement of his?" The Imam said: "It was because of the punishment he was seeing. Have you not heard this verse: فَلاَ وَ رَبِّکَ لاَ یُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّیَ یُحَکِّمُوکَ فِیمَا شَجَرَ بَیْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ یَجِدُواْ فِی أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَیْتَ وَ یُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِیمًا [But no! by your Lord! they do not believe until they make you a judge of that which has become a matter of disagreement among them, and then do not find any straitness in their hearts as to what you have decided, and submit with entire submission]? By Allah, even though a person may pray and fast, it is far off that he be a believer unless he attains inner conviction and certainty of the heart."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Ayyub ibn Hurr said: I heard Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) say regarding the verse: فَلاَ وَ رَبِّکَ لاَ یُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّیَ یُحَکِّمُوکَ فِیمَا شَجَرَ بَیْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ یَجِدُواْ فِی أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَیْتَ وَ یُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِیمًا [But no! by your Lord! they do not believe until they make you a judge of that which has become a matter of disagreement among them, and then do not find any straitness in their hearts as to what you have decided and submit with entire submission], he swore three oaths in succession: "This is not [the case for anyone] except that there is a black spot in his heart, even if he fasts and prays."

Imam Jawad (peace be upon him): Ali ibn Asbat said: I said to Imam Jawad (peace be upon him): "People are talking about [your] young age." He said: "What are they saying? While Allah says: Say: This is my way. I and my followers call [everyone] to Allah with insight (Yusuf/108). By Allah, at that time no one followed the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) except Ali (peace be upon him), and he was seven years old at that time. And my father passed away when I was nine years old — what do they want to say?! Allah says: فَلا وَ رَبِّکَ لا یُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّی یُحَکِّمُوکَ [But no! by your Lord! they do not believe until they make you a judge] to وَ یُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِیماً [and submit with entire submission]."

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Not everyone who professes the two testimonies — أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللهِ [I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah] — even if he is of the people of the qibla, is [necessarily] counted as a believer. Just as the hypocrites in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) professed the two testimonies, but did not accept and rejected the covenant of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) regarding the religion of Allah, the obligations, and the proofs of the Prophet for accepting the wasiyyah (successorship) of the awsiya (successors). Yet they concealed this opposition within themselves, and despite the fact that Allah's command concerning them had been clearly and plainly announced and emphasized, they violated it — whereas Allah said: Muhammad is nothing but a Messenger; messengers have already passed away before him. If then he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels? (Aal Imran/144). And the like of these verses in the Qur'an are many."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Muhammad al-Halabi said: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said to me: "Whoever takes his religion from the Book of Allah the Mighty and Majestic is more firmly rooted than the steadfast mountains, and whoever enters into a matter with ignorance leaves it with ignorance." I said: "Where is this matter in the Qur'an?" He said: "This verse: 'Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you from, refrain from it.' (Hashr/7). And the verse: مَنْ یُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطاعَ اللهَ [Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah]; and this verse: یا أَیُّهَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا أَطِیعُوا اللهَ وَ أَطِیعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِی الْأَمْرِ مِنْکُمْ [O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you]; and this verse: 'Your guardian is none but Allah and His Messenger and the believers who establish prayer and give zakat while they are bowing.' (Ma'idah/55). And this verse: فَلا وَ رَبِّکَ لا یُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّی یُحَکِّمُوکَ فِیما شَجَرَ بَیْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لا یَجِدُوا فِی أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجاً مِمَّا قَضَیْتَ وَ یُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِیماً [But no, by your Lord, they will not believe until they make you judge in what has arisen between them, then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have decided and submit in full submission]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): The word of Allah where He says: فَلا وَ رَبِّکَ لا یُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّی یُحَکِّمُوکَ فِیما شَجَرَ بَیْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لا یَجِدُوا فِی أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجاً مِمَّا قَضَیْتَ وَ یُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِیماً [But no, by your Lord, they will not believe until they make you judge in what has arisen between them, then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have decided and submit in full submission] relates to the time when, during the Farewell Pilgrimage, four persons entered the Ka'bah and swore an oath together and wrote on a paper that if Muhammad passed away, [after his death] they would not let this matter [of the imamate and rule] return again to the Banu Hashim [and the family of the Prophet]. So Allah informed His Messenger (peace be upon him and his family) of this matter and revealed this verse: 'Or have they devised a plan? Then indeed We are devising. Or do they suppose...' (Zukhruf/79-80)."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): فَلاَ وَ رَبِّکَ لاَ یُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّیَ یُحَکِّمُوکَ فِیمَا شَجَرَ بَیْنَهُمْ [But no, by your Lord, they will not believe until they make you judge in what has arisen between them] — that is, they had made a pact that if Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) passed away, they would not return the matter of the caliphate to the Banu Hashim. ثُمَّ لاَ یَجِدُواْ فِی أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَیْتَ [then they find within themselves no discomfort from what you have decided] concerning them, whether you ruled with execution or pardon, وَ یُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِیمًا [and submit in full submission].

Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him): The Qa'im (may Allah hasten his noble relief) from us has two occultations, one of which is longer than the other. As for the first, it is six days, or six months, or six years. As for the other, its duration will be so long that even many of those who held to this matter (the occultation of the Imam (peace be upon him)) will turn away from it [and deny it], and no one will remain firm upon this matter except one whose certainty is strong and whose recognition [of the Imam (peace be upon him)] is sound, and who feels no distress in his heart regarding our ruling and our command, and who is submissive to the command of us, the Ahl al-Bayt. The religion of Allah is not attained by deficient intellects, false opinions, and corrupt analogies; rather, it is attainable only through submission [to Allah's command and our wilayah]. So whoever submits to us remains in safety [and does not deviate], and whoever follows us is guided. But whoever rules according to analogy and his own opinion perishes, and whoever feels distress [and doubt] in his heart regarding what we say or what we rule — by al-Sab' al-Mathani (Surah al-Hamd) and the Great Qur'an, he has disbelieved while he himself does not know.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): فَلاَ وَ رَبِّکَ لاَ یُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّیَ یُحَکِّمُوکَ فِیمَا شَجَرَ بَیْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ یَجِدُواْ فِی أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا [But no! by your Lord! they do not believe until they make you a judge in that which has become a matter of dispute among them, then they find no distress in their hearts] — meaning, in what Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) and his household judged.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): ثُمَّ لا یَجِدُوا فِی أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجاً مِمَّا قَضَیْتَ [then they find no distress in their hearts regarding what you have decided] is about the command of the Imam (peace be upon him) and the wali (governor).

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): The meaning of the phrase وَ یُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِیمًا [and submit with entire submission] is submission in the matter.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): The meaning of the verse وَ یُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِیمًا [and submit with entire submission] is that in all matters they should be submissive to Allah.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): In the narration of Abu al-Jarud it is reported that Imam Baqir (peace be upon him), in the commentary on the verse: فَلا وَ رَبِّکَ لا یُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّی یُحَکِّمُوکَ فِیما شَجَرَ بَیْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لا یَجِدُوا فِی أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجاً مِمَّا قَضَیْتَ وَ یُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِیماً [But no! by your Lord! they do not believe until they make you a judge in that which has become a matter of disagreement among them, and then do not find any straitness in their hearts as to what you have decided and submit with entire submission], said: "That submission is contentment and satisfaction with the judgement of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): وَ یُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِیماً [and they submit with entire submission]; that is, they submit to the command of Allah.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Know that Islam is submission and submission is Islam. Whoever submits has embraced Islam, and whoever does not submit has no Islam.