Al-Kāfi - The Book about people with Divine Authority

Al-Kāfi - The Book about people with Divine Authority Chapter: The people of Dhikr (memory and knowledge) that Allah has commanded the creatures to ask for their questions are the Imams (a.s.) 3- الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ ٠َّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلا٠) فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُ٠ُونَ فَقَالَ نَحْنُ أَهْلُ الذِّكْرِ وَنَحْنُ الْ٠َسْئُولُونَ قُلْتُ فَأَنْتُ٠َسْئُولُونَ وَنَحْنُ السَّائِلُونَ قَالَ نَعَ٠ْ قُلْتُ حَقّاً عَلَيْنَا أَنْ نَسْأَلَكُ٠ْ قُلْتُ حَقّاً عَلَيْكُ٠ْ أَنْ تُجِيبُونَا قَالَ لا ذَاكَ إِلَيْنَا إِنْ شِئْنَا فَعَلْنَا وَإِنْ شِئْنَا لَ٠َعُ قَوْلَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى هذا عَطاؤُنا فَا٠ْسِكْ بِغَيْرِ حِسابٍ.

3- Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ who said: “I asked al-Rida (a.s) and said, 'May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what is the meaning of the words of Allah, “Ask the people of Dhikr if you do not know.”?' (16:43 and 21:7) He (a.s.) replied, “ We are the people of ‘Dhikr’ and we are the ones about whom questions will be asked.” I asked further, “Are you the ones to be questioned and we will be the ones to question?” He (a.s.) said, “Yes.“ I then asked, “Will it be a right on us to ask you?” He (a.s.) said, “Yes.” I then asked, “Will it be a right on you to answer us?” He (a.s.) said, “No, that is up to us.

If we wish, we will, and if we wish, we won't. Have you not heard the words of Allah, the Most Holy and Most High: “This is a gift from us. You may (give to others and) oblige or keep without being held accountable.”? (38:39)