2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurara from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “By Allah, disbelief is before paganism and it is greater in filth. The narrator has said that the Imam then mentioned the disbelief of Satan when Allah told him to bow down before Adam and refused to prostrate, that disbelief is greater than considering things partners of Allah. Whoever chooses something instead of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, refuses to obey and commits major sins is an unbeliever. One who establishes a religion other than the religion of the believers has considered things as partners of Allah.”

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from ‘Abd Allah ibn Bukayr from Zurara from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The narrator has said that once Salim ibn abu Hafs and his companions were mentioned before abu Ja’far (a.s.) and that they denied that those who waged war against Ali (a.s.) are of the people who consider things as partners of Allah ( Mushrik ). Abu Ja’far (a.s.) said, ‘So they think such people are unbelievers.’ The Imam then said to me, ‘Disbelief is before paganism.’ He (the Imam) then mentioned Satan when Allah told him to prostrate, and he refused to do so. The Imam said that disbelief is before al-Shirk (paganism and considering things as partners of Allah). Whoever boldly disobeys Allah and commits major sins is an unbeliever. He has considered belief insignificant so he is an unbeliever.’”

4. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ‘Abd Allah ibn Bukayr from Zurara from Humran ibn ‘A’yun who has said the following: “Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘We showed him the right path, whether he would be grateful or ungrateful.’ (76:3) The Imam said, ‘If he accepts it (belief), he is then grateful or rejects it; he then is an unbeliever.’”

5. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla ibn Muhammad from al- Hassan ibn Ali from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Ubayd from Zurara who has said the following: “Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘The deeds of anyone who rejects belief, certainly, become fruitless. He, on the Day of Judgment will be of those who lose.’ (5:5) The Imam said, ‘It is disregarding the deeds that he has confessed to be true. Of such deeds is disregarding prayer without suffering from illness or being preoccupied. ’”

6. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from Musa ibn Bukayr who has said the following: “Once I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.) about disbelief and al-Shirk (paganism) as to which is before. The Imam said to me, ‘I have not experienced your involvement in polemics among the people.’ I then said, ‘Hisham ibn Salim has ordered me to ask you this question.’ The Imam said, ‘Disbelief is before and it is denial and rejection. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, . . except Iblis (Satan) who abstained out of pride, and so he became one of those who deny the truth.’” (2:34)

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj from Zurara who has said the following: “Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘Will a believer go in the fire?’ The Imam said, ‘No, by Allah.’ I then asked, ‘So no one will be sent in the fire except the unbelievers?’ The Imam said, ‘No, except whoever Allah wills.’ I (the narrator) repeated my question several times and the Imam said, ‘O Zurara, I say, “No,” and I say, ‘Except whoever Allah will wish’ and you say, “No,” but do not say, ‘Except whoever Allah will wish.’” Ibn abu ‘Umayr has said that Hisham ibn al-Hakam and Hammad have narrated from Zurara who has said the following: “I said to myself, ‘An old man has no knowledge of polemics.’ The narrator (Zurara) has said the Imam said to me, ‘O Zurara, what do you say about one who says, ‘I am at your command (whatever you say in matters of belief I accept). Will you kill him? What do you say about your servants and people very closely related to you? Will you kill them?’ “I (the narrator) then said to myself, ‘I am the one who has no knowledge of polemics.’”

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqa who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, when he was asked about disbelief and paganism which one was first, ‘Disbelief is first. Satan was the first to become an unbeliever and his disbelief was something other than al-Shirk (paganism) he did not invite to worship anyone other than Allah, he invited to such worship afterwards and thus, became a pagan.’”

9. Harun has narrated from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqa who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) when he was asked, ‘Why is it that a fornicator is not considered an unbeliever as one ignoring the prayer is? What is the reason and evidence?’ The Imam said, ‘A fornicator and so forth commits such act due to lust that influences him, while one ignoring the prayer does so due to his considering it insignificant. You do not find a fornicator contact a female for any other reason besides lust and desire that motivates him. One who ignores the prayer does not do so for pleasure. When you negate lust and pleasure then the motive is considering it insignificant, and when this happens it is disbelief.’ “The narrator has said that Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) was asked, ‘What is the difference between a person’s looking at a female, then fornicating or to wine, then drinking it and one who ignores the prayer? Why is it that in the two aforementioned cases it is not ‘considered insignificant’ as is the case with ignoring prayer? What is the proof and reason that establish a difference?’ The Imam said, ‘Proof is that whenever you place your soul in something without any urging motive like lust and so forth, that are found in fornication and wine. In a case such as prayer in which there is no lust and desire, then it (the motive) is considering it insignificant and that is the difference between this and the other two cases.’”

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever doubts Allah and the Messenger of Allah is an unbeliever.’”

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Safwan from Mansur ibn Hazim who has said the following: “Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘What if one doubts the Messenger of Allah?’ The Imam said, ‘He is an unbeliever.’ I then asked, ‘What if one doubts the disbelief of such a doubting person? Is he also an unbeliever?’ The Imam did not answer me and I asked it three times. Then 1 noticed anger on his face?”’

12. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurara who has said the following: “Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘The deeds of anyone who rejects belief, certainly, become fruitless. He on the Day of Judgment will be of those who lose.’ (5:5) The Imam said, ‘It is he who ignores a deed that has held to be true.’ I then asked, ‘What kind of deed is it that has such consequences if ignored?’ The Imam said, ‘Of such deed is ignoring the prayer purposely not because of drunkenness or illness.’”

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn Hakim and Hammad from abu Masruq who has said the following: “Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) asked me about the people of Basra and asked me, ‘Who are they?’ I said, ‘They are Murji’a’, Qadriah and Harawriah’ (names of groups of certain beliefs). The Imam said, ‘May Allah condemn such nations of disbelief and paganism who have no basis for worshipping Allah.’” Note: Murji’a were those who did not believe in the true position of Amir al- Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) Qadriah believed in absolute free will and Harawriah was of the group who opposed Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.).

14. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from al-Khattab ibn Muslimah and Aban from al-Fudayl who has said the following: “Once I went in the presence of abu Ja’far (a.s.) and saw a man with him. As I sat down, the man stood up and left. The Imam said to me, ‘O Fudayl, what is this with you?’ I asked, ‘What is he?’ The Imam said, ‘He is a Harawri .’ I asked, ‘Is he an unbeliever?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, by Allah, he is a Mushrik (one who considers things as partners of Allah).”’

15. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from abu Ayyub from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Anything that professing and submission carry is belief, and anything that denial and rejection carry is disbelief.’”

16. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla’ ibn Muhammad from al- Washsha’ from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan from abu Hamza who has said the following: “I heard abu la’ far (a.s.) saying, ‘Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) is a (means of) access that Allah has prepared. Whoever approaches through this access is a believer and whoever departs is an unbeliever.’”

17. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Yahya ibn al- Mubarak from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jabalah from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar and ibn Sinan and Sama’a from abu Basir from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Obedience to Ali (a.s.) is suffering (in this world) and disobedience to him is disbelief in Allah.’ It was said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, how can obedience to Ali (a.s.) be suffering and disobedience to him disbelief in Allah?’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Ali (a.s.) leads you to the truth. If you obey him you will suffer and if you disobey him you will become unbelievers in Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’”

18. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla ibn Muhammad from al- Washsha’ who has said that narrated to him Ibrahim ibn abu Bakr who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) saying, ‘Ali (a.s.) is a door of the doors of guidance. Whoever enters by the door of Ali (a.s.) is a believer and whoever ignors this door is an unbeliever. Whoever does not enter and does not leave is among the group about whom Allah has the will and decision.’”

19. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ibn Bukayr from Zurara from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Had the servants (of Allah) when ignorant stood on hold and did not reject or deny they would not become unbelievers.’”

20. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Fudayl ibn Yasar from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has appointed Ali (a.s.) as a sign between Himself and His creatures. Those who come to know him turn into believing people and those who reject him end up as unbelievers. Those who are ignorant of him become among the straying people. Those who appoint something with him grow to be Mushrik (pagans) and those who come under his guardianship will enter paradise and those who come with his animosity will enter the fire.’”