سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لَهُ الْحَاجَةُ إِلَى الْمَجُوسِيِّ أَوْ إِلَى الْيَهُودِيِّ أَوْ إِلَى النَّصْرَانِيِّ أَوْ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَامِلًا أَوْ دِهْقَاناً مِنْ عُظَمَاءِ أَهْلِ أَرْضِهِ فَيَكْتُبُ إِلَيْهِ الرَّجُلُ فِي الْحَاجَةِ الْعَظِيمَةِ أَ يَبْدَأُ بِالْعِلْجِ وَ يُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَ إِنَّمَا يَصْنَعُ ذَلِكَ لِكَيْ تُقْضَى حَاجَتُهُ قَالَ أَمَّا أَنْ تَبْدَأَ بِهِ فَلَا وَ لَكِنْ تُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ فِي كِتَابِكَ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) قَدْ كَانَ يَكْتُبُ إِلَى كِسْرَى وَ قَيْصَرَ.
Translation
Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al Kufy, from Ali Bin Al Hassan Bin Ali, from Ali Bin Asbaat, from his uncle Yaqoub Bin Salim, from Abu Baseer who said, ‘Abu Abdullah<sup>asws</sup> was asked about the man who happened to have the need for him to the Magian, or to the Jew, or to the Christian, or if he happens to be an office bearer or a manager of the great people of his land. So the man has to write to him regarding the need. Should he begin by his request and greet upon him in his letter, and rather he is doing that, so that perhaps he would fulfil his need?’ He<sup>asws</sup> said: ‘As for beginning with it, so no, but you can greet upon him in your letter, for Rasool-Allah<sup>saww</sup> had written to Chosroe (of Persia) and Caesar (of Rome)’.
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.