Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) and Monotheism

"Abu-Abdullah is reported to have said that a man came to the Commander of the Faithful Ali bin Abu-Talib (a.s.), and asked: 'O Commander of the Faithful, did you see your lord when you worshipped Him?' 'Woe to you, 'replied the Commander of the Faithful, 'I would never serve a lord I had not seen.' 'How had you seen Him?' inquired the man. "Woe to you, 'said the Imam (a.s.), 'Eyes never see Him through the eyesight but hearts do see Him through the truths of the faith." 51

He is also quoted as saying:

"...be He Exalted above the descriptions of the describers who liken Allah to His creatures and attribute lies to Allah You should know, may Allah have mercy on you, that tie true version of monotheism is that revealed by he Qur'an about the attributes of Allah, the Exalted and Almighty. Deny falsehood and likeness to human beings from Allah. There is no falsehood, nor there is personification. He is Allah, the Immortal and the Eternal. Be He Exalted above the descriptions of the describers. Beware of transgressing the Qur'an, for if you do so, you shall certainly go astray after if had made all things plain to you." 52

"Nothing on the earth or in heaven exists without these seven qualities: will - the divine will -, divine decree, predestination...permission, divine ordinance and duration. He who Claims to be able to revoke one of them is certainly an unbeliever." 53

When asked about fatalism and free will, he (a.s.) said:

"There is no fatalism, neither there is free wilt But there is a medium ground between them, is which right exists. It is only realized by a deeply learned man or the one who is taught by a deeply learned man." 54

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51. Ibid.

52. Ibid, p. 100.

53. Ibid, p.149.

54. Ibid, p. l59.

Adapted from the book: "Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.)"