It is narrated with true chains of narrators in Qurbul-Asnaad...

It is narrated with true chains of narrators in Qurbul-Asnaad, Basairud Darajat and Kafi that Imam Ridha (a.s.) wrote to Ibne Abi Baseer that the Lord of the universe says: If you do not know ask Ahle Dhikr (the people of remembrance) (Surah Nahl 16:40) He has also said: وَمَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنفِرُوا كَافَّةً فَلَوْلَا نَفَرَ مِنْ كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِنْهُمْ طَائِفَةٌ لِيَتَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ وَلِيُنذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ.

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? (Sura Tawbah 9:122) The Imam said that this command has made it a must for you to approach and to inquire from us. But it has not compelled us to give you a reply.

The Lord has said: فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَكَ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يَتَّبِعُونَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنْ اتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ بِغَيْرِ هُدًى مِنْ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ. But if they do not answer you, then know that they only follow their low desires; and who is more erring than he who follows his low desires without any guidance from Allah? (Sura Qasas 28:50) In Basairud Darajat, the Imam has, according to several reliable sources said: You are Shias.

The narrator says that he submitted that: You have been appointed so that we may ask you. Then I understood that when the position will be known to us we will ask him whatever we like. Hearing this, the Imam said: You have been ordered to ask us but we are not bound to reply or not to reply.

Saffar has in Basairud Darajat, dealt with this subject, through thirty reliable sources quoted Zurarah and Allamah Hilli has in Kashaful Haqq narrated after going through twelve Tafsirs quoted from the commentary of Muhammad bin Moosa Shirazi who is a Ahle Sunnat scholar, the words of Ibne Abbas that the Ahle Dhikr are Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husain (a.s.) only.

They are Ahle Dhikr (People of remembrance), Ahle Ilm (People of knowledge), Ahle Aql (People of intellect) and only they are Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and the mines of divine message and angels visit them. By Allah, He has given the name ‘Momin’ (believer) to the Muslims due to the dignity of Amirul Momineen (a.s.).

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