سورة التوبة

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Allah the Mighty and Majestic said: وَ ما کانَ الْمؤْمِنُونَ لِیَنْفِرُوا کَافَّةً [And it does not beseem the believers that they should go forth all together], but if an event occurs whose resolution requires the going forth of all the believers, then all of them must go forth.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): When the [Muslim] people became numerous, Allah the Glorified commanded them that a group of them should mobilise and a group should be appointed for gaining understanding (tafaqquh), and that expeditions should be by rotation.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abu Hamza said: I heard Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) say: Gain understanding (tafaqquh) in the religion of Allah, for whoever among you does not gain understanding in the religion is a bedouin. Allah has said in the Quran: لِیَتَفَقَّهُوا فِی الدِّینِ وَ لِیُنْذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذا رَجَعُوا إِلَیْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَحْذَرُونَ [that they may apply themselves to obtain understanding in religion, and that they may warn their people when they come back to them that they may be cautious].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): It is incumbent upon you to gain deep understanding in the religion of Allah, and do not be like the desert-dwellers, for indeed whoever does not gain deep understanding in the religion of Allah, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection and will not purify any of his deeds.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): I would love that my companions were struck on their heads with whips until they gained knowledge.

Imam Rida (peace be upon him): Among the signs of understanding the religion are forbearance and silence.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): A man is not truly discerning in religion until he has abandoned desires and whims, and does not care what clothing he wears or with what he fills his stomach.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): A Muslim is made complete by three things: gaining deep understanding in the religion, moderation in livelihood, and patience in calamities.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Ya'qub ibn Shu'ayb said: I said to him, "If the Imam passes away and news of his death reaches a group of people who do not live in his city, what is the ruling?" He said, "They must set out in search, and as long as they are in the state of searching, they are excused." I said, "Must all of them go in search, or is it enough that some of them do so?" He said, "Indeed Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says: فَلَوْلاَ نَفَرَ مِن کُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ طَآئِفَةٌ لِّیَتَفَقَّهُواْ فِی الدِّینِ وَ لِیُنذِرُواْ قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُواْ إِلَیْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَحْذَرُونَ [Why should not then a company from every party from among them go forth that they may apply themselves to obtain understanding in religion, and that they may warn their people when they come back to them that they may be cautious?]. They are excused until their companions [who had gone in search] return to them."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abd al-A'la said: I said to the Imam (peace be upon him): 'If news of the passing of the Imam (peace be upon him) reaches us, what should we do?' He said: 'Setting out is obligatory upon you.' I said: 'All of us?' He said: 'Indeed Allah says: فَلَوْلاَ نَفَرَ مِن کُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ طَآئِفَةٌ لِّیَتَفَقَّهُواْ فِی الدِّینِ وَ لِیُنذِرُواْ قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُواْ إِلَیْهِمْ [Why should not then a company from every party from among them go forth that they may apply themselves to obtain understanding in religion, and that they may warn their people when they come back to them].'

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him)- That is, when they learn that the Imam has passed away, it is obligatory that a group from each city go out — not that all the people go out. Allah has not made it obligatory upon all people to go out in search of the Imam. A group goes out in search and brings the news to the rest of the people of the city, لَعَلَّهُمْ یَحْذَرُونَ [that they may be cautious], meaning so that certainty about the imamate of the Imam may be attained for them.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him)- Ya'qub ibn Shu'ayb said: I said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): 'If something happens to the Imam (peace be upon him), what should the people do?' He said: 'Where does this saying of Allah the Mighty and Majestic apply: فَلَوْ لا نَفَرَ مِنْ کُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِنْهُمْ طائِفَةٌ لِیَتَفَقَّهُوا فِی الدِّینِ وَ لِیُنْذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذا رَجَعُوا إِلَیْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَحْذَرُونَ [Why should not then a company from every party from among them go forth that they may apply themselves to obtain understanding in religion, and that they may warn their people when they come back to them that they may be cautious] [what is it about]? They are excused as long as they are searching, and likewise those who — despite the excuse — wait until their companions return to them.'

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him)- Abd al-Mu'min al-Ansari said: I said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): 'A group narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: The differing of my Ummah is a mercy?!' He said: 'They have spoken the truth.' I said: 'If their differing is a mercy, is their unity then a cause of punishment?' He said: 'It is not as you say and as they said. Rather, Allah the Mighty and Majestic said: فَلَوْ لا نَفَرَ مِنْ کُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِنْهُمْ طائِفَةٌ لِیَتَفَقَّهُوا فِی الدِّینِ وَ لِیُنْذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذا رَجَعُوا إِلَیْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَحْذَرُونَ [Why should not then a company from every party from among them go forth that they may apply themselves to obtain understanding in religion, and that they may warn their people when they come back to them that they may be cautious]. Allah commanded them to hasten to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) and come to him so that they may learn, then return to their people and teach them. What He meant was their coming from [different] cities, not differing in religion, for indeed religion is one — yes, religion is one.'

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him)- Ya'qub ibn Shu'ayb said: I said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): 'What do you say about a people whose Imam has passed away, and what is their duty?' He said to me: 'Do you not read the Book of Allah which says: فَلَوْ لا نَفَرَ مِنْ کُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ [Why should not then a company from every party from among them go forth] ... یَحْذَرُونَ [that they may be cautious]?' I said: 'May I be your ransom! Then what is the ruling of those who sit in wait until the ones seeking understanding return?' He said to me: '... and Allah gave them their reward twice.'

Imam Rida (peace be upon him): If [a questioner] asks: "Why has He commanded Hajj to the Ka'ba?", it will be said: "Because of entering into the arena of servitude and going towards Allah the Mighty and Majestic, the people of various lands, in the gatherings that arise for them, come to know one another's needs and help one another in fulfilling them. In addition to this, there is instruction in the rulings of the religion, and they transmit the reports of the leaders of the religion from one region to another and propagate the religion, as Allah the Exalted has said: فَلَوْ لا نَفَرَ مِنْ کُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِنْهُمْ طائِفَةٌ لِیَتَفَقَّهُوا فِی الدِّینِ وَ لِیُنْذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذا رَجَعُوا إِلَیْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَحْذَرُونَ [Why should not then a company from every party from among them go forth that they may apply themselves to obtain understanding in religion, and that they may warn their people when they come back to them that they may be cautious]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Muhammad ibn Muslim said: I said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): "May Allah grant you well-being, news of your illness has reached us and we became distressed. It would be better if you informed us or designated for us the one [the scholar after you]." He said: "Indeed Ali (peace be upon him) was a scholar, and knowledge is inherited. No scholar dies but that after him someone remains who possesses his knowledge, or whatever Allah wills." I said: "Do the people have the right, whenever a scholar dies, not to know the scholar after him?" He said: "As for the people of this city [Madina], no; but as for other cities, [their excuse] is according to the distance between them and this place. Indeed Allah says: وَ مَا کَان المُؤْمِنُونَ لِیَنفِرُواْ کَآفَّةً فَلَوْلاَ نَفَرَ مِن کُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ طَآئِفَةٌ لِّیَتَفَقَّهُواْ فِی الدِّینِ وَ لِیُنذِرُواْ قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُواْ إِلَیْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَحْذَرُونَ [And it does not beseem the believers that they should go forth all together; why should not then a company from every party from among them go forth that they may apply themselves to obtain understanding in religion, and that they may warn their people when they come back to them that they may be cautious]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abd al-A'la said: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about the saying of the common people that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Whoever dies and does not recognize the Imam of his time has died the death of the age of ignorance," [I asked about this]? He said: "By Allah! This statement is true." I said: "If the Imam dies and a man is in Khurasan and does not know his successor, is he excused?" He said: "No. When the Imam passes away, the proof of his successor falls upon whoever is in his city, and the duty of setting forth is upon those who are not in his city; why does not from every group of them a party set forth [so that a group remains in Madina] to gain understanding of the religion [and the teachings and rulings of Islam], and when they return to their people, warn them, so that perhaps they [fear opposing the command of their Lord and] refrain? This is of course when the news of the death of the Imam (peace be upon him) reaches them. Indeed Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: Whoever leaves his home as a migrant to Allah and His Messenger, then death overtakes him, his reward is upon Allah. (an-Nisa/100). ... So if a man enters a town and asks: 'Who is the successor of so-and-so?', he must be told: 'So-and-so.'" I said: "What if he associates a partner in the succession?" He said: "Ask him, and he will explain it to you."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Muhammad ibn Isa narrates from someone who related to him: A man said to His Eminence (peace be upon him): "May I be your ransom! There is a person who has recognition and belief in this madhhab (school), but he sits in his home and is not acquainted with any of his religious brothers." He said: "How does this person come to understand his religion?"

Imam Rida (peace be upon him): Ahmad ibn Muhammad narrates from Imam Rida (peace be upon him) that he wrote to him in this manner: "May Allah the Exalted grant well-being to us and to you! Indeed, our Shia are those who follow us and do not oppose us. Whenever we are afraid, they too are afraid, and whenever we are in safety, they too are in safety. Allah the Exalted said: فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّکْرِ إِنْ کُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ [If you do not know, ask those who are aware] (Anbiya/7), and He said: فَلَوْلاَ نَفَرَ مِن کُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ طَآئِفَةٌ لِیَتَفَقَّهُوا فِی الدِّینِ وَ لِیُنْذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ [Why should not then a company from every party from among them go forth that they may apply themselves to obtain understanding in religion, and that they may warn their people]. So asking has been made obligatory upon you, and we have discretion in giving the answer — answering has not been made obligatory upon us."

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): لَعَلَّهُمْ یَحْذَرُونَ [that they may be cautious], یَحْذَرُونَ — that is, so that they may recognise certainty.