حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَمْرٍو الزُّبَيْرِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ لِلْإِيمَانِ دَرَجَاتٍ وَ مَنَازِلَ يَتَفَاضَلُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ فِيهَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ صِفْهُ لِي رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ حَتَّى أَفْهَمَهُ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَبَّقَ بَيْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَمَا يُسَبَّقُ بَيْنَ الْخَيْلِ يَوْمَ الرِّهَانِ ثُمَّ فَضَّلَهُمْ عَلَى دَرَجَاتِهِمْ فِي السَّبْقِ إِلَيْهِ فَجَعَلَ كُلَّ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمْ عَلَى دَرَجَةِ سَبْقِهِ لَا يَنْقُصُهُ فِيهَا مِنْ حَقِّهِ وَ لَا يَتَقَدَّمُ مَسْبُوقٌ سَابِقاً وَ لَا مَفْضُولٌ فَاضِلًا تَفَاضَلَ بِذَلِكَ أَوَائِلُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ وَ أَوَاخِرُهَا وَ لَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلسَّابِقِ إِلَى الْإِيمَانِ فَضْلٌ عَلَى الْمَسْبُوقِ إِذاً لَلَحِقَ آخِرُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ أَوَّلَهَا نَعَمْ وَ لَتَقَدَّمُوهُمْ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لِمَنْ سَبَقَ إِلَى الْإِيمَانِ الْفَضْلُ عَلَى مَنْ أَبْطَأَ عَنْهُ وَ لَكِنْ بِدَرَجَاتِ الْإِيمَانِ قَدَّمَ اللَّهُ السَّابِقِينَ وَ بِالْإِبْطَاءِ عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ أَخَّرَ اللَّهُ الْمُقَصِّرِينَ لِأَنَّا نَجِدُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنَ الْآخِرِينَ مَنْ هُوَ أَكْثَرُ عَمَلًا مِنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ صَلَاةً وَ صَوْماً وَ حَجّاً وَ زَكَاةً وَ جِهَاداً وَ إِنْفَاقاً وَ لَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ سَوَابِقُ يَفْضُلُ بِهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ لَكَانَ الْآخِرُونَ بِكَثْرَةِ الْعَمَلِ مُقَدَّمِينَ عَلَى الْأَوَّلِينَ وَ لَكِنْ أَبَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يُدْرِكَ آخِرُ دَرَجَاتِ الْإِيمَانِ أَوَّلَهَا وَ يُقَدَّمَ فِيهَا مَنْ أَخَّرَ اللَّهُ أَوْ يُؤَخَّرَ فِيهَا مَنْ قَدَّمَ اللَّهُ قُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَمَّا نَدَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الِاسْتِبَاقِ إِلَى الْإِيمَانِ فَقَالَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ سابِقُوا إِلى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَ جَنَّةٍ عَرْضُها كَعَرْضِ السَّماءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ وَ قَالَ السَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ أُولئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ وَ قَالَ وَ السَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهاجِرِينَ وَ الْأَنْصارِ وَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ بِإِحْسانٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَ رَضُوا عَنْهُ فَبَدَأَ بِالْمُهَاجِرِينَ الْأَوَّلِينَ عَلَى دَرَجَةِ سَبْقِهِمْ ثُمَّ ثَنَّى بِالْأَنْصَارِ ثُمَّ ثَلَّثَ بِالتَّابِعِينَ لَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ فَوَضَعَ كُلَّ قَوْمٍ عَلَى قَدْرِ دَرَجَاتِهِمْ وَ مَنَازِلِهِمْ عِنْدَهُ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ مَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فَقَالَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلى بَعْضٍ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ وَ رَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجاتٍ إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَةِ وَ قَالَ وَ لَقَدْ فَضَّلْنا بَعْضَ النَّبِيِّينَ عَلى بَعْضٍ وَ قَالَ انْظُرْ كَيْفَ فَضَّلْنا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلى بَعْضٍ وَ لَلْآخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجاتٍ وَ أَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلًا وَ قَالَ هُمْ دَرَجاتٌ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَ قَالَ وَ يُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِي فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُ وَ قَالَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَ هاجَرُوا وَ جاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوالِهِمْ وَ أَنْفُسِهِمْ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَ قَالَ فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجاهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقاعِدِينَ أَجْراً عَظِيماً دَرَجاتٍ مِنْهُ وَ مَغْفِرَةً وَ رَحْمَةً وَ قَالَ لا يَسْتَوِي مِنْكُمْ مَنْ أَنْفَقَ مِنْ قَبْلِ الْفَتْحِ وَ قاتَلَ أُولئِكَ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِنَ الَّذِينَ أَنْفَقُوا مِنْ بَعْدُ وَ قاتَلُوا وَ قَالَ يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجاتٍ وَ قَالَ ذلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ وَ لا نَصَبٌ وَ لا مَخْمَصَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ لا يَطَؤُنَ مَوْطِئاً يَغِيظُ الْكُفَّارَ وَ لا يَنالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَيْلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُمْ بِهِ عَمَلٌ صالِحٌ وَ قَالَ وَ ما تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَ قَالَ فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْراً يَرَهُ وَ مَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ فَهَذَا ذِكْرُ دَرَجَاتِ الْإِيمَانِ وَ مَنَازِلِهِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ .
Translation
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Bakr Bin Salih, from Al Qasim Bin Bureyd who said, ‘Abu Amro Al Zubeyri narrated to us, (It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah<sup>asws</sup>, said, ‘I said to him<sup>asws</sup>, ‘Are there for the <span class="iTxt">Emān</span>, levels and status the <span class="iTxt">Momin</span>s can have superiority regarding these in the Presence of Allah<sup>azwj</sup>?’ He<sup>asws</sup> said: ‘Yes’. I said, ‘Describe it to me, may Allah<sup>azwj</sup> Have Mercy on you<sup>asws</sup>, until I understand it’. He<sup>asws</sup> said: ‘Allah<sup>azwj</sup> Made a race to be between the <span class="iTxt">Momin</span>s just as there is a race between the cavalry horses on the day of the contest. Then He<sup>azwj</sup> Preferred them upon their levels in their race to Him<sup>azwj</sup>. So He<sup>azwj</sup> Made every person from them upon a Level of his race, not Reducing him from his right, nor does the one lagging behind precede the preceding one, nor does the inferior (precede the) preceding one. The first ones and the end ones of this community are preferred by that, and had there not been a superiority for the preceding ones to the <span class="iTxt">Emān</span> over the ones lagging behind, then end ones of this community would certainly catch-up with its earlier ones and be in front of them. When there does not happen to be the superiority for the ones who preceded to the <span class="iTxt">Emān</span>, over the ones who were slower to (embrace) it. But it is by the levels of the <span class="iTxt">Emān</span> that Allah<sup>azwj</sup> Brings forward the preceding ones to the <span class="iTxt">Emān</span> than the sluggish ones. Allah<sup>azwj</sup> Delays the deficient ones, because we tend to find from the <span class="iTxt">Momin</span> from the later ones, the one who is more with respect to deeds than the former ones, and more in (performing) <span class="iTxt">Salāt</span>, and So<span class="iTxt">ā</span>m, and Hajj, and <span class="iTxt">Zakāt</span>, and <span class="iTxt">Jihād</span>, and spending (on charity); and if the preceding did not happen to be the (criteria of determining the) superiority of the <span class="iTxt">Momin</span> with. Some of them with the others in the Presence of Allah<sup>azwj</sup>, it would be that the later ones, due to the frequency of their deeds would be preceding (them) upon the former ones. But, Allah<sup>azwj</sup> Mighty and Majestic Refused that the ones at the end of the levels of the <span class="iTxt">Emān</span> should come to its first ones, and in it the one whom Allah<sup>azwj</sup> had Delayed should precede, or he should be delayed in it the one whom Allah<sup>azwj</sup> has Made to precede. I said, ‘Inform me about what Allah<sup>azwj</sup> Mighty and Majestic has Accredited the <span class="iTxt">Momin</span>s to, from the preceding to the <span class="iTxt">Emān</span>’. So he<sup>asws</sup> said: ‘The Words of Allah<sup>azwj</sup> Mighty and Majestic <span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:57#h21"><a href="/books/quran:57#h21">[57:21]</a></a> Hasten to Forgiveness from your Lord and to a Garden the extensiveness of which is as the extensiveness of the skies and the earth; it is prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Rasools</span>. And He<sup>azwj</sup> Said <span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:56#h10"><a href="/books/quran:56#h10">[56:10]</a></a> And the foremost are the foremost, <a href="/#/books/quran:56#h11"><a href="/books/quran:56#h11">[56:11]</a></a> These are the ones of proximity</span>. And he<sup>asws</sup> said: ‘<span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:9#h100"><a href="/books/quran:9#h100">[9:100]</a></a> And (as for) the foremost, the first of the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who followed them in goodness, Allah is well Pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him</span>. So He<sup>azwj</sup> Began with the Emigrants, the first ones, upon a level of their preceding, then secondly with the Helpers, then thirdly with the followers of their with goodness. Thus He<sup>azwj</sup> Placed each group upon a measurement of their levels and their status in His<sup>azwj</sup> Presence. Then He<sup>azwj</sup> Mentioned what Allah<sup>azwj</sup> Mighty and Majestic Preferred His<sup>azwj</sup> Guardians with, some of them over the others, so the Mighty and Majestic Said <span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:2#h253"><a href="/books/quran:2#h253">[2:253]</a></a> We have made some of these Rasools to excel the others; among them are they to whom Allah Spoke, and some of them He Exalted by rank</span> – up to the end of the Verse. And He<sup>azwj</sup> Said <span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:17#h55"><a href="/books/quran:17#h55">[17:55]</a></a> and We have Preferred some of the prophets above others</span>. And He<sup>azwj</sup> Said <span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:17#h21"><a href="/books/quran:17#h21">[17:21]</a></a> See how We have Made some Preferrable to others, and certainly the Hereafter is greater in Levels and greater in Preferment</span>. And He<sup>azwj</sup> Said <span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:3#h163"><a href="/books/quran:3#h163">[3:163]</a></a> There are (varying) Levels with Allah</span>. <span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:11#h3"><a href="/books/quran:11#h3">[11:3]</a></a> and Bestow His Grace on every one Endowed with merits</span>. And He<sup>azwj</sup> Said: ‘<span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:9#h20"><a href="/books/quran:9#h20">[9:20]</a></a> Those who believed and fled (their homes), and strove hard in Allah's Way with their property and their own selves, are much higher in rank with Allah</span>. And He<sup>azwj</sup> Said <span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:4#h95"><a href="/books/quran:4#h95">[4:95]</a></a> and Allah shall Grant to the strivers above the holders back a Mighty Recompense <a href="/#/books/quran:4#h96"><a href="/books/quran:4#h96">[4:96]</a></a> (High) Levels from Him and Forgiveness and Mercy</span>. And He<sup>azwj</sup> Said <span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:57#h10"><a href="/books/quran:57#h10">[57:10]</a></a> not alike among you are those who spent before the victory and fought (and those who did not): they are more exalted in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards</span>. And He<sup style="font-weight: normal">azwj</sup> Said <span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:58#h11"><a href="/books/quran:58#h11">[58:11]</a></a> Allah will Exalt those of you who believe, and those who are given knowledge, in high Levels</span>. And He<sup style="font-weight: normal">azwj</sup> Said <span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:9#h120"><a href="/books/quran:9#h120">[9:120]</a></a> this is because there afflicts them not thirst or fatigue or hunger in Allah's Way, nor do they tread a path which enrages the unMomins, nor do they attain from the enemy what they attain, but a good work is written down to them on account of it</span><span class="bTxt">. </span>And He<sup style="font-weight: normal">azwj</sup> Said <span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:2#h110"><a href="/books/quran:2#h110">[2:110]</a></a> and whatever good you send ahead for yourselves, you shall find it with Allah</span><span class="bTxt">. </span>And He<sup style="font-weight: normal">azwj</sup> Said <span class="ibTxt"><a href="/#/books/quran:99#h7"><a href="/books/quran:99#h7">[99:7]</a></a> So. he who has done an atom's weight of good shall see it <a href="/#/books/quran:9#h8"><a href="/books/quran:9#h8">[9:8]</a></a> And he who has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it.</span> So this is a mention of the levels of the <span class="iTxt">Emān</span> and its status in the Presence of Allah<sup style="font-weight: normal">azwj</sup> Mighty and Majestic’.
Compiled by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Kulayni
Source
License: Free for educational and research use (Thaqalayn Data API)
Provided for research and educational purposes. Original source: Thaqalayn Project. Open License.