'Ask the people of Dhikr if you do not know...

'Ask the people of Dhikr if you do not know,' refers to the Jews and the Christians." The Imams (a.s.) asked, "Do they call you to their religion?" He (Muhammad ibn Muslim) has aid that the Imams (a.s.) "Said, with his hand (pointing) to his chest, 'We are the People of Dhikr (reminders of Allah) and we are the ones who must be asked questions.'" H 550, Ch.

20, h 8 A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha' who has said that he heard Imam al-Rida say the following. "Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn has said that there are certain obligation for the Imams that are not obligatory for their followers and certain obligation of our followers are not obligatory for us.

Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High has commanded them to ask us their questions saying, "Ask the people of Dhikr if you do not know,' Thus, Allah has commanded them to ask us their questions but it is not obligatory for us to answer them. We may answer them or may not answer them if we may so decide." the is not said: H 551, Ch. 20, h 9 Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr who has said that he wrote a letter to Imam al-Rida (a.s.).

Of the issues for which he requested explanation in the letter one was about the following words of Allah, Most Holy, the Most High. "Ask the people of Dhikr (people who remind of Allah) if you do not know." The other question was about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, "Not all believers have to become specialists in religious learning.

Why do not some people from each group of believers seek to become specialists in religious learning and, after completing their studies, guide their group so that they will have fear of God." (9:122) thus, it is obligatory for them to ask but it is not obligatory for you to answer." The Imams (a.s.) has said the following for the answer. "If they would not do what you would ask them, know that they are only following their (evil) desires.

Who strays more than one who follows his desires without guidance from God? . . ." (28:50) Chapter 21 : Those whom Allah has called people of knowledge they are the Imams (a.s.) H 552, Ch. 21, h 1 Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from 'Abdallah ibn al-Mughirah from 'Abd al- Mu'min ibn al-Qasim al-Ansari from Sa'd from Jabir from abu Ja'far (a.s.) who has said the following about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?