Al-Kāfi - The Book on Oneness of Allah (God)

Al-Kāfi - The Book on Oneness of Allah (God) Chapter: Chapter On Being and Space (al-Kawn WA al-Makan) َّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ ٠َّدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْ٠َوْصِلِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلا٠) قَالَ أَتَى حِبْرٌ ٠ِنَ الاحْبَارِ أَ٠ِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلا٠َتَى كَانَ رَبُّكَ قَالَ وَيْلَكَ إِنَّ٠َا كَانَ فَلا يُقَالُ ٠َتَى كَانَ كَانَ قَبْلَ الْقَبْلِ بِلا قَبْلٍ وَبَعْدَ الْبَعْدِ بِلا بَعْدٍ وَلا ٠ُنْتَهَى غَايَةٍ لِتَنْتَهِيَ غَايَتُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَ نَبِيٌّ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ لا٠ِّكَ الْهَبَلُ إِنَّ٠ِنْ عَبِيدِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه ) 8.

Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Walid from ibn Abu Nasr from Abul Hassan al-Muwsali who has narrated the following from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.): “A rabbi came to Imam Ali (a.s.) and asked, ‘O Amirul Mu’minin, when did your Lord come into existence?’” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Consider carefully. The question when applies to one who did not exist (and then came into being). When does not apply to the One Who is eternal.

He was before the before without before and after the after without an after. He is not the end of some end so that His end would also end.” He then asked, “Are you a prophet?” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Bereft of you be your mother! I am a slave among the slaves of the Messenger of Allah (saww).” يخرجه - Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi (Sahih al-Kafi) ضعيف - Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi (Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (1/316))