The Sufficient (Vol 1) · Hadith 496 (#Ḥadīth #4)
Chapter 9 | The Imams are witness for Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, over His creature
4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ الْعِجْلِيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابي جعفر قَوْلَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَكَذلِكَ جَعَلْناكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطاً لِتَكُونُوا شُهَداءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيداً قَالَ نَحْنُ الامَّةُ الْوَسَطُ وَنَحْنُ شُهَدَاءُ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى عَلَى خَلْقِهِ وَحُجَجُهُ فِي أَرْضِهِ قُلْتُ قَوْلَهُ تَعَالَى يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَاسْجُدُوا وَاعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَافْعَلُوا الْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ وَجاهِدُوا فِي الله حَقَّ جِهادِهِ هُوَ اجْتَباكُمْ قَالَ إِيَّانَا عَنَى وَنَحْنُ الْمُجْتَبَوْنَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلِ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ فَالْحَرَجُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الضِّيقِ مِلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْراهِيمَ إِيَّانَا عَنَى خَاصَّةً وَسَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ الله سَمَّانَا الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فِي الْكُتُبِ الَّتِي مَضَتْ وَفِي هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيداً عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَداءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَرَسُولُ الله ﷺ الشَّهِيدُ عَلَيْنَا بِمَا بَلَّغَنَا عَنِ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَنَحْنُ الشُّهَدَاءُ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَمَنْ صَدَّقَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ صَدَّقْنَاهُ وَمَنْ كَذَّبَ كَذَّبْنَاهُ.
4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhammad Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn ’dhayna from Yazid al-‘Ijli who has said that he asked Imam abu Ja’far about the meaning of the following verse of the Holy Quran. “We have made you (true Muslims) a moderate nation so that you could be (witness) an example for all people and the Prophet (a witness) an example for you. . .” (2:143) The Imam said, “We are the moderate nation and we are the witness for Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, over the activities of His creatures and possess His authority on earth.” I then asked about the meaning of the following verse of the Holy Quran that says, “Believers, worship your Lord, bow down and prostrate yourselves before Him and do virtuous deeds so that perhaps you will have everlasting happiness. (22:77) Strive steadfastly for the Cause of God. He has chosen you . Believers, worship your Lord, bow down and prostrate yourselves before Him and do virtuous deeds so that perhaps you will have everlasting happiness. (22:77) Strive steadfastly for the Cause of God. He has chosen you but has not imposed on you hardship in your religion, the noble religion of your father, Abraham. God named you Muslims before and in this Book, so that the Messenger will witness (your actions) and you will be the witness over mankind. The noble religion also is a reference to us. Allah has called us as Muslims in the heaven books that were revealed before and in this holy book (the Holy Quran) The Holy Prophet (s.a.) has testified in our favor by conveying the message of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. We bear witness to the activities and on the Day of Judgment certify the faith of those who have acknowledged our Divine authority and reject those who have rejected our Divine authority.”
Gradings are classical jarḥ-wa-taʿdīl, name-matched to a rijāl index (not individually re-verified).