The Book of Divine Unity · Hadith 45 (#Ḥadīth #9)

9 - حدثنا محمد بن القاسم المفسر رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا يوسف بن محمد بن زياد، وعلي بن محمد بن سيار، عن أبويهما، عن الحسن بن علي بن محمد بن علي الرضا، عن أبيه، عن جده عليهم السلام، قال: قام رجل إلى الرضا عليه السلام فقال له: يا ابن رسول الله صف لنا ربك فإن من قبلنا قد اختلفوا علينا، فقال الرضا عليه السلام: إنه من يصف ربه بالقياس لا يزال الدهر في الالتباس، مائلا عن المنهاج ظاعنا في الاعوجاج، ضالا عن السبيل، قائلا غير الجميل، أعرفه بما عرف به نفسه من غير رؤية، وأصفه بما وصف به نفسه من غير صورة، لا يدرك بالحواس، ولا يقاس بالناس، معروف بغير تشبيه، ومتدان في بعده لا بنظير، لا يمثل بخليقته، ولا يجور في قضيته، الخلق إلى ما علم منقادون، وعلى ما سطر في المكنون من كتابه ماضون، ولا يعملون خلاف ما علم منهم، ولا غيره يريدون، فهو قريب غير ملتزق وبعيد غير متقص، يحقق ولا يمثل، ويوحد ولا يبعض، يعرف بالآيات، ويثبت بالعلامات، فلا إله غيره، الكبير المتعال.

9. Muhammad ibn al-Qasim the Commentator (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Yusuf ibn Muhammad ibn Ziyad, and `Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Sayyar said on the authority of their fathers, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn `Ali ibn Muhammad ibn `Ali al-Rida , on the authority of his father , on the authority of his grandfather AS) that A man stood up in the presence of (`Ali) al-Rida and said to him: “O son of the Messenger of Allah! Describe your Lord for us as there are some people who differ with us.” Hence, al-Rida said: Verily, he who describes his Lord by analogy is still ambiguous in the world. He is straying from the straight path. He is transient in the deviation (from that which is right). He is lead astray from the way. And he says things that are not proper. I am describing Him the way He described Himself, without relying on images. It is possible to describe Him without recurring to anthropomorphism. He is Close in His Farness, and is without an equivalent. He cannot be compared to His Creation. He does not oppress anyone in His Judgment. The creation is critical of what they know. And they pursue what He has embedded in His Book. He is Aware of everything they do. They do not intend anyone but Him. He is Near, but He is not attached. He is Far, but not cut off. He is Ascertained, ut is not exemplified. He is United, and not divided into parts. He is Known by His Signs, and is proved by His Symbols. Hence, there is no god but He, the Great, and the Most High.

Gradings are classical jarḥ-wa-taʿdīl, name-matched to a rijāl index (not individually re-verified).