The Understanding of Abu al-Khattab

1- Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj from Hashim Sahib al-Barid who has said the following: “Once Muhammad ibn Muslim, Abu al-Khattab and I were together and Abu al-Khattab asked, ‘What do you say about a person who does not believe in this cause?’ I then said, ‘Anyone who does not believe in this cause is a disbeliever.’ Abu al-Khattab said, ‘He is not a disbeliever until all evidence is established against him, when evidence and proof is established and he did not recognize then he becomes a disbeliever.’ Muhammad ibn Muslim asked him. ‘Glory belongs to God, what has he done that for not knowing and not denying he becomes a disbeliever? He is not a disbeliever if he does not deny and reject.’ I (the narrator) argued and then went in the presence of Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) and informed him of the discussion. The Imam said, ‘You have come and they both are absent. All of you may come to me tonight by the middle Jamara (pillar of stones) in Mina.’ “That night we gathered together before him. Abu al-Khattab and Muhammad ibn Muslim also were there. The Imam picked up the pillow and held it against his chest and asked us, ‘What do you say about your servants, women, and people of your house? Do they not say, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah?’ I said, ‘Yes, they do say so.’ The Imam asked, ‘Do they not say, Muhammad is the Messenger of God?’ I said, ‘Yes, they do say so.’ The Imam asked, ‘Do they not perform the prayer, fast and perform Hajj?’ I said, ‘Yes, they do so.’ The Imam asked, ‘Do they know and recognize what you believe in?’ I said, ‘No, they do not do so.’ The Imam asked, ‘What are they then in your views?’ I said, ‘Anyone who does not know this cause is a disbeliever. ’ The Imam asked, ‘Glory belongs to God, have you considered the people in the streets and the water carriers?’ I said, ‘Yes, I have done so.’ The Imam asked, ‘Do they not perform the prayer, fast, and perform Hajj? Do they not testify that no one deserves to be worshipped except God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God?’ I said, ‘Yes, they do so.’ The Imam said, ‘Do they know and recognize what you believe in?’ I said, ‘No, they do not do so.’ The Imam said, ‘What are they then in your view?’ I said, ‘Anyone who does not know and recognize this cause, is a disbeliever.’ The Imam said, ‘Glory belongs to God, have you seen the Ka’bah, the Tawaf (walking seven times around the Ka’bah), the people of Yeman and their clinging to the curtain of the Ka’bah?’ I said, ‘Yes, I see them.’ The Imam said, ‘Do they not testify that no one deserves to be worshipped except God? That Muhammad is the Messenger of God? Do they not perform the prayer, fast, and perform Hajj?’ I said, ‘Yes they do so.’ The Imam said, ‘Do they know and recognize what you believe in?’ I said, ‘No they do not do so.’ The Imam said, ‘What do you say about them?’ I said, ‘Anyone who does not know (believe in this cause) is a disbeliever. ’ “The Imam said, ‘Glory belongs to God, this is what al- Khawarij says.’ The Imam then said, ‘If you like, I may tell you.’ I said, ‘No, do not tell us.’ The Imam said, ‘It is evil against you to say what you have not heard from us.’ I (the narrator) then guessed that he is turning us upon the words of Muhammad ibn Muslim.”’ [Usul al-Kafi, Volume 2, Page 401-402]

1 - علي بن إبراهيم عن أبيه، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن عبد الرحمن بن الحجاج، عن هاشم صاحب البريد قال: كنت أنا ومحمد بن مسلم وأبو الخطاب مجتمعين فقال لنا أبو الخطاب: ما تقولون فيمن لم يعرف هذا الامر؟ فقلت: من لم يعرف هذا الامر فهو كافر، فقال أبو الخطاب: ليس بكافر حتى تقوم عليه الحجة، فإذا قامت عليه الحجة فلم يعرف فهو كافر، فقال له محمد بن مسلم: سبحان الله ماله إذا لم يعرف ولم يجحد يكفر؟! ليس بكافر إذا لم يجحد، قال: فلما حججت دخلت على أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) فأخبرته بذلك، فقال: إنك قد حضرت و غابا ولكن موعدكم الليلة، الجمرة الوسطى بمنى. فلما كانت الليلة اجتمعنا عنده وأبو الخطاب ومحمد بن مسلم فتناول وسادة فوضعها في صدره ثم قال لنا: ما تقولون في خدمكم ونساءكم وأهليكم أليس يشهدون أن لا إله إلا الله؟ قلت: بلى، قال: أليس يشهدون أن محمدا رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله)؟ قلت: بلى، قال: أليس يصلون ويصومون ويحجون؟ قلت: بلى، قال: فيعرفون ما أنتم عليه؟ قلت: لا، قال: فما هم عندكم؟ قلت: من لم يعرف [هذا الامر] فهو كافر. قال: سبحان الله أما رأيت أهل الطريق وأهل المياه؟ قلت: بلى، قال: أليس يصلون ويصومون ويحجون؟ أليس يشهدون أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله قلت: بلى، قال: فيعرفون ما أنتم عليه؟ قلت: لا، قال: فما هم عندكم؟ قلت: من لم يعرف [هذا الامر] فهو كافر. قال: سبحان الله أما رأيت الكعبة والطواف وأهل اليمن وتعلقهم بأستار الكعبة! قلت: بلى، قال: أليس يشهدون أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله) ويصلون ويصومون ويحجون؟ قلت: بلى، قال: فيعرفون ما أنتم عليه، قلت: لا قال: فما تقولون فيهم؟ قلت: من لم يعرف فهو كافر. قال: سبحان الله هذا قول الخوارج، ثم قال: إن شئتم أخبرتكم، فقلت أنا: لا (1)، فقال: أما إنه شر عليكم أن تقولوا بشئ ما لم تسمعوه منا، قال: فظننت أنه يديرنا على قول محمد بن مسلم.