Chapter on Allah's Authorities and Means of Justification of Accountability in People

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from abu Sha'ba al- Mahamili from Durust ibn abu Mansur from Burayd ibn Mu'awiya from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

"People do not owe to Allah to know. It is up to Allah to make them know. Once Allah would make them know then people are responsible to accept."

H 405, Ch. 33, h 2

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Isa from al-Hajjal from Tha'laba ibn Maymun from 'Abd al-A'la ibn 'A'yun who has said the following. "I asked abu 'Abdallah (a.s.), 'If a person does not know will he be held responsible?" The Imam (a.s.) said, "No, he will not be held responsible."

H 406, Ch. 33, h 3

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Isa from ibn Faddal from Dawud ibn Farqad from abu al-Hassan Zakariyya from abu 'Abdallah who has said the following.

"Whatever Allah has kept hidden from people they will not be held responsible for it."

H 407, Ch. 33, h 4

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ali ibn al- Hakam from Aban al-Ahmar from Hamza ibn al-Tayyar from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

"The Imam (a.s.) said to me. 'Write it down. He dictated to me the following. "It is of our Hadith that Allah will, justifiably, hold people accountable for what He has given and made known to them. Allah then sent His messengers to them and sent down books up on them in which He has commanded and prohibited them.

He has commanded them to perform prayers and fast. The holy Prophet (s.a.) remained sleeping until the time for prayer expired and Allah said, "I make you sleep and wake you up. When you wake up then perform the prayer so that they would learn if such thing would happen to them what to do. It is not the way that they say, 'If one remains asleep (at the time of prayer) one is destroyed.' 

In the same way is fasting. I cause you to become ill and when I give you good health then you will make up for the fast that you missed during your illness." Abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) then said, "In the same way if you would look at all things you will find that Allah has caused no constrictions to anyone. You will not find anyone against whom Allah may not have enough justification to hold him accountable with His wish therein.

I do not say that they can do whatever they wish." The Imam (a.s.) then said, "Allah guides and misleads." He further said, "People are not ordered in what they are not capable for. For every thing that people are ordered to do they have the capability for it and anything for which they are not capable is removed and lifted up from them but there is not much good in people." 

He then recited from the Holy Quran: "People who are weak or sick and those who do not have the means to take part in the fighting are exempt from this duty . . ." (They are accountable for the duty) "Righteous people shall not be blamed. God is All-forgiving and All-merciful." (9:91) as well as "Those who come to you, (Muhammad), asking to be taken to the battle . . ." (9:92) They are relieved of the duty because they do not have the means."