**TRADITIONS ** as-Sadiq (a.

**TRADITIONS ** as-Sadiq (a.s.) said, explaining the word of Allah, Those to whom We have given the Book read it as it aught to be read: "They recite its verses slowly, and understand it, and act according to its orders, and hope for its promise, and are afraid of its threat, and take lesson from its stories, and obey its commandments, and desist from what it prohibits.

By God, it does not mean memorizing its verses, and studying its letters, and reciting its chapters, and learning its one-tenths and one-fifths. They remembered its words and neglected its boundaries. And what it means is meditating on its verses and acting according to its orders. Allah, the High, has said: (It is) a Book We have sent down to you abounding in good, so that they may ponder over its verses" (38:29).

(Irshadu 'l-qulub, ad-Daylami) as-Sadiq (a.s.) said about the word of Allah, read it as it aught to be read, that: "(It is) stopping at (the description of) the Garden and the Fire." (al-Ayyashi) The author says: What the Imam means is the meditation on the Qur'an The same Imam said about the verse, Those to whom We have given the Book that: "They are the Imams" (al-Kafi) The author says: This explanation is based on the principle of the "flow of the Qur'an', and gives the best example of those to whom Allah has given the Book.

*Because their books foretell of the Apostle's coming. (tr.) **Volume 2: Surah Baqarah, Verse 124 ** And (remember) when his Lord tried Ibrahim with certain words, then he fulfilled them. He said: "Surely I am going to make you an Imam for men" (Ibrahim) said: "And of my offspring?" He said: "My covenant will not include the unjust" (124).

******** **COMMENTARY ** Beginning with this verse, the Qur'an throws light on some aspects of the life of Ibrahim (a.s.); these verses prepare the minds for the ones promulgating the change of al-qiblah (direction of prayer) as well as the rules of the hajj These stories also explain the reality of the pure Islamic religion - with its different grades and levels - looking at its fundamental beliefs, moral teachings and some rules of the shari'ah; among other things they show how Allah bestowed on him al-imamah (leader­ship) of the people, how he built the Ka'bah, and how he prayed to Allah to send an Apostle among them.

QUR'AN: And (remember) when his Lord tried Ibrahim with certain words then he fulfilled them: It refers to the occasion when Ibrahim (a.m.) was given the imamah.