The Book of Divine Unity · Hadith 89 (#Ḥadīth #14)

14 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد الوليد رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن علي بن سيف بن عميرة، عن محمد بن عبيد، قال: دخلت علي الرضا عليه السلام، فقال لي: قل للعباسي: يكف عن الكلام في التوحيد وغيره، ويكلم الناس بما يعرفون، ويكف عما ينكرون، وإذا سألوك عن التوحيد فقل كما قال الله عز وجل: (قل هو الله أحد الله الصمد لم يلد ولم يولد ولم يكن له كفوا أحد) وإذا سألوك عن الكيفية فقل كما قال الله عز وجل (ليس كمثله شئ) وإذا سألوك عن السمع فقل كما قال الله عز وجل: (هو السميع العليم) فكلم الناس بما يعرفون.

14. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan alSaffar, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isa, on the authority of `Ali ibn Sayf ibn `Amirah, on the authority of Muhammad ibn `Ubayd that I visited (`Ali) al-Rida , and he said to me: Tell the `Abbasid to refrain fro talking about Divine Unity and similar subjects. He should speak to the people about things they are acquainted with, and refrain from things of which they have no knowledge. If they ask you about Divine Unity, then say as Allah, the Mighty and High, has said: Say: He, Allah, is One. Allah is He on whom all depend. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And none is like Him.1 If they ask you to describe Allah, then say that Allah, the Mighty and High, has said: Nothing is a likeness of Him.2 And if they ask you about Allah’s ability to listen, then say what Allah, the Mighty and High, has said: He is the Hearing, the Knowing.3 Hence, speak to the people with what they are acquainted with.

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