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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Kitab Al-irshad 1 Memorable Words and Speeches of the Commander of the Faithful His Words about God (This is) a brief account of some of the words of (the Commander of the faithful), peace be on him, concerning the necessity of knowing God, the Exalted, His unity and the denial of anthropomorphism (tashbih), together with a description of God's justice, the different kinds of wisdom and the evidence and proof of these.

[Abu Bakr al-Hudhali reported on the authority of al-Zuhri, on the authority of 'Isa b. Zayd, on the authority of Salih b. Kaysan:] The Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, said, in urging the knowledge of God, may He be praised, and (the acknowledgement) of His unity: "The first act of worshipping God is to know Him. The basis of knowledge of Him lies in (the acknowledgement of) His Unity.

The support for (the acknowledgement of) His Unity is the denial of any comparison of Him, the High, (with man) in terms of stating that human qualities (sifat) subsist in Him. (This is) because of the testimony of reason that everyone in whom human qualities subsist is created (masnu').

Whereas the testimony of reason (requires) that He, the High and Exalted, Who is the Creator (sani'), is not created Through the creation of God which points towards Himself, through reason which establishes the belief in knowledge of Him, through reflection which confirms the proof of His (existence), God has caused His creation to be evidence of Himself. Through it, He has revealed His Majesty. He is One, Unique in His eternity, without partner in His Godliness, without equal in His Godliness.

By virtue of the contradictory nature of things which contradict each other, them is knowledge that nothing is contrary to Him. By virtue of the nature of comparability in matters which. can be compared, there is knowledge that nothing can be compared to Him." (The Commander of the faithful said this) in a speech which, if it was fully reported, would make this book too long.

************** Among the speeches recorded on his authority, peace be on him, about the denial of any comparison of God (with human qualities) is that which al-Sha'bi reported. He said that the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, heard a man saying: "By Him Who is veiled with seven layers (of heaven)." Then he raised his stick towards the sky. "Woe upon you," he said, "God is too exalted to be veiled from anything and for anything to be veiled from Him.