Hadith 117

(The book) ‘Al Ghayba’ of al Numani – Ibn Uqda, from Muhammad Bin Al Mufazzal and Sa’dan Bin Is’haq, and Ahmad Bin Al Husayn Bin Abdul Malik and Muhammad Bin Ahmad Al Qatwany altogether from Ibn Mahboub, from Hisham Bin Salim, from Al Sumali, from Abu Is’haq Al Sabie who said, ‘I heard from one who can be relied with from the companions of Amir Al-Momineen-asws who said, ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said in a lengthy sermon he addressed at Al-Kufa, mentioning: ‘O Allah-azwj! It is inevitable for You-azwj from there being a Divine Authority in Your-azwj earth, a Divine Authority after a Divine Authority upon Your-azwj creatures guiding them to Your-azwj Religion and teaching them Your-azwj knowledge lest the followers of Your-azwj Guardians separate. One who is apparent without being a follower, or concealed, fearful, awaiting if his-asws person is hidden from the people during the state of their truce in the government of falsehood, but he-asws will never be hidden from them transmitting their knowledge and their education in the hearts of the Momineen, affirming (it), and they are working with it, being comforted with that the beliers are awed from and refusing the extravagant with Allah-azwj. A speech weighed without a price, one who has heard it, would understand it and would recognise it and believe in it, and follow it, and program with its program and be corrected by it’. Then he-asws said: ‘So who is this and for this contraction of knowledge when a bearer (for it) cannot be found, preserving it and depositing it just as he had heard it from the knowledgeable one-asws’. Then he-asws said after a lengthy speech in this sermon: ‘O Allah-azwj! And I-asws know the unseen. The knowledge cannot contract, all of it, nor can its depositing be terminated, for You-azwj do not leave Your-azwj earth vacant from a Divine Authority upon Your-azwj creatures, either apparent, obeyed, or fearful, obscure not being followed, lest Your-azwj Arguments be invalidated, and Your-azwj friends stray after Your-azwj having Guided them’’. Al Hakam, from Al Rabie Bin Muhammad Al Musly, from Abdullah Bin Suleyman, ‘From Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘The earth has not cease to be except and there is a Divine Authority in it knowing the Permissible(s) and the Prohibitions and calling the people to the Way of Allah-azwj’’. [116]