Le Tout-Puissant et Très-Haut est dépourvu de corps et d'image

3. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (RA) said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan alSaffar, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad, on the authority of Hamzah ibn Muhammad that I wrote to Abu al-Hasan al-Kadhim (AS) asking him about the substance and the shape of Allah; therefore, he (AS) wrote to me: “Glory to the One who has none like Him, ad who is devoid of both body and image.”

Gloire à Celui qui n'a rien de semblable à Lui, ni en nature ni en apparence.

4. My father (RA) that Ahmad ibn Idris said: Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Jabbar, on the authority of Safwan ibn Yahya, on the authority of `Ali ibn Abu Hamzah that I said to Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS): I heard Hisham ibn al-Hakam narrating from you that Allah, the Mighty and High, has a Needless body of Light; His Recognition is necessary, and He grants it to whoever He desires from His Creation. He (AS) said: Glory to Him who is known only to Himself! There is none like Him, and He is the AllHearing and the Al-Seeing. He cannot be confined, sensed, touched, or felt. The senses perceive Him not, and nothing can comprehend Him. He does not have a body or an image, nor lineation or delineation.

Il (sur lui la paix) a dit: Gloire à Celui que nul ne connaît vraiment sa nature si ce n'est Lui, rien n'est semblable à Lui, Il est Celui qui entend et voit, Il n'est limité ni par des dimensions, ni par des sensations, ni par des perceptions, ni par des contacts, ni par la compréhension des sens, rien ne L'englobe, Il n'a ni corps, ni forme, ni contour, ni limites.

5. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (RA) said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan alSaffar, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isma`il ibn Bazi, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Zayd that I came to (`Ali) al-Rida (AS) asking him about Divine Unity, so he (AS) dictated to me: All praise be to Allah, the Originator, Producer, and Innovator [Mubtadi`] of all things from the beginning by His Power and Wisdom, not from anything that could invalidate His Invention, nor for nay wrong cause. He created whatever He wanted how He wanted, and He did so independently in order to manifest His Wisdom, and the Reality of His Lordship. Intellects cannot grasp Him. Imagination cannot reach Him. Eyes cannot perceive Him, and scale cannot encompass Him. Speech is incapable without Him. Eyes are expressionless without Him, and rhetoric of description goes astray in Him. He is hidden without a veil and is covered without a covering. He is recognized without seeing. He is described without an image. And He is praised despite the face that He does not possess a body. There is no god but Allah, the great, the Most Exalted.”

6. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn `Abd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn `Abu `Abd Allah al-Barqi said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather Ahmad ibn Abu `Abd Allah, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Nasr, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Hukaym that I described the statement of Hisham al-Jawaliqi, and narrated for Musa al-Kadhim (AS) the statement of Hisham ibn al-Hakam that He possesses a body. Hence, he (AS) said: “Verily, nothing resembles Allah. Indecent language is better than words which give the Creator a created body or image composed of parts. Exalted from these, the High, the Great.”

[Traduction du contenu principal du hadith]

7. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (may Allah be pleased with them) said: Muhammad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Kufi said: Muhammad ibn Isma`il al-Barmaki said: on the authority of al-Husan ibn al-Hasan, and al-Husayn ibn `Ali, on the authority of Salih ibn Abu Hammad, on the authority of Bakr ibn Salih, on the authority of Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Sa`id, on the authority of `Abd Allah in al-Mughayrah, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ziyad said: I heard Yunus ibn Zabyan say I entered in the presence of Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) and told him: Hisham ibn al-Hakam made a long statement. I will simply summarize it: He considers Allah to be a body because things are of two types: bodies or actions of bodies. Hence, if it is not possible for the creator to be an action, it is only possible that He be a Doer. Then Abu `Abd Allah (AS) replied: “Woe to him! Does he not know that a body is extremely limited, and an image is absolutely limited? Hence, if a limit is possible then increase and decrease are possible, and if increase and decrease are possible, then He is created. I asked: “Then what should I say? He answered: He has neither body nor image for He is the creator of bodies and images. He is devoid of parts and limits. He does not increase, nor does He decrease. If He were as he (Hisham) says then there would be no difference between the Creator and the created, or between the Inventor and the invented. However, He is the Inventor. The Creator of Bodies and Images does not resemble anything nor does anything resemble Him.

8. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Muhammad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Kufi said: on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isma`il alBarmaki, on the authority of `Ali ibn al-`Abbas, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn `Abd alRahman al-Hammani that I said to Abu al-Hasan Musa ibn Ja`far (AS): Hisham ibn al-Hakam thinks that Allah is a body. There is nothing whatsoever like unto Him, the All-knowing, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, the Omnipotent, the Speaker, and the Communicator. Speech, Omnipotence, and Knowledge flow from the One Same Source, None of these things are created. So he (AS) said: May Allah kill him! Does he not know that a body is limited, and that speech is other than the speaker? Allah forbid, I am free from such words. He is devoid of both body and image. He has not limits, and everything other than Him is created. Verily, everything that exists is the result of His Will and Intent which is expressed without words, the use of the tongue, or any reluctance or hesitation.

Que Dieu le combatte! Il sait que le corps est limité, et que la parole sans locuteur, loin de Dieu et innocent de cette parole, n'a ni corps, ni forme, ni délimitation, et tout autre que Lui est créé, les choses se réalisent par Sa volonté et Son ordre, sans parole, hésitation dans Son être, ni parole dans Sa langue.

9. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (may Allah have mercy on him) said: on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ya`qub al-Kulayni, on the authority of `Ali ibn Muhammad, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Hamdani that I wrote to Abu al-Hasan al-Naqi (AS), informing him that some of his following have differences on the subject of Divine Unity. Some of them say that He has a body, while others say that He has an image. So He (AS) wrote to me the following in his own handwriting: “Glory be to Him who has no limit and who cannot be described! There is nothing whatsoever like unto Him; He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” He (AS) may have said: “the All-Seeing.”

Gloire à Celui qui n'est pas limité, qui n'est pas décrit, rien n'est tel que Lui et Il est Celui qui entend tout, qui sait tout - ou Il a dit : qui voit tout.

10. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar said: Muhammad ibn Ahmad said: Muhammad ibn `Isa said, on the authority of Hisham ibn Ibrahim who said: al-`Abbasi said I said to him (AS), meaning Abu al-hasan al-Rida (AS): “May I be your ransom! One of your followers told me to ask you a question about something.” He (AS) said: “And who would that be?” I said: “Al-Hasan ibn Sahl.” He (AS) asked: “What is the issue about?’ I replied: “It is about Divine Unity.” He (AS) said: “What about Divine Unity?” I said: “He wants to know whether Allah possesses a body or not?” He (AS) answered me: There are three positions regarding Divine Unity. The first group attempts to describe Him through anthropomorphism. The second group attempts to describe Him through negation. And the third group attempts to describe Him without falling into anthropomorphism. Describing Him through anthropomorphism is not allowed, and describing Him through negation is not allowed. The correct position is attempting to describe him without falling into anthropomorphism.

Dans cette école, il est interdit d'attribuer des caractéristiques corporelles à Dieu, et la voie juste est l'affirmation de Son unicité sans Lui attribuer de similitudes avec Sa création.

11. Muhammad ibn `Ali Majilwayh (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar said: Muhammad ibn Ahmad said: on the authority of `Imran ibn Musa, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn al-`Abba ibn Huraysh al-Razi, on the authority of some of our scholars that The purified [Tayyib], `Ali ibn Muhammad, and Abu Ja`far al-Jawad (AS) both said: “He who claims that Allah has a body, do not give him the poor-rate, and do not pray behind him.”

Celui qui affirme l'incarnation, ne lui donnez pas de l'aumône légale (zakat) et ne priez pas derrière lui.

12. Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar said: on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad, on the authority of Muhammad ibn `Ali al-Qasani who said I wrote to him (AS) informing him that some of the people here differed on the subject of Divine Unity. He (AS) replied in writing: “Glory be to Him who has no limit, and who cannot be described! Nothing whatsoever is like unto Him. And he is the All-Hearing, and the AllSeeing.”

J'ai écrit au Prophète, paix et bénédictions soient sur lui, en lui disant : "Certains parmi nous ont divergé concernant l'unicité d'Allah." Il répondit : "Gloire à Celui qui n'a pas de limites, ni de description, rien n'est tel que Lui, Il est Celui qui entend et voit."

13. Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad ibn Idris (may Allah have mercy on him) said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abu Sa`id al-Adami, on the authority of Bishr ibn Bashshar alNaysaburi that: I wrote to Abu al-Hasan al-Naqi (AS) informing him that the people differed on the subject of Divine Unity. Some of them say “He has a body” while others say that “He has an image.” So, he (AS) wrote (back): “Glory be to Him who has no limit, who cannot be described, and with whom nothing resembles! Nothing whatsoever is like unto Him. And He is the All-Hearing and the All-Seeing.”

J'ai écrit à Abu al-Hasan (paix soit sur lui) disant : "Certains parmi nous ont divergé concernant l'Unicité, certains disent qu'Il est un corps, et d'autres disent une forme." Il (paix soit sur lui) a répondu : "Gloire à Celui qui n'est pas limité, ni décrit, rien ne Lui ressemble et Il n'a pas de similitude, et rien n'est tel que Lui, Il est Celui qui entend et voit."

14. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar (may Allah have mercy on him) said: on the authority of his father, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad who said: I wrote the following to Abu Muhammad al-`Askari (AS) in the year 255 AH: O my Master! Our scholars are divided on the question of Divine Unity. Some of them say that “He has a body,” while others say that “He has an image.” O my Master! If you deem it appropriate, teach me the correct view since I do not know the answer, and be gracious to your servant. Hence, he (AS) wrote to me the following in his own handwriting: You enquired about Divine Unity. This is far from your honorable reach. Allah, the Exalted, is One, Alone, and Needless. He begets not, nor is He begotten, and none is equal unto Him. He is the Creator, and not the created. He, the Blessed and exalted, creates bodies as He wishes. He creates images as He wishes, but He is not an image. Exalted be His Praise, and Hallowed be His names. He is far above having a resemblance. There is no other than Him. Nothing whatsoever is like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing and the All-Seeing.

"Tu as interrogé au sujet du Tawhid, et ceci est éloigné de vous. Allah, Le Très-Haut, est Un, Unique, Absolu, Il n'a pas engendré et n'a pas été engendré, et nul n'est égal à Lui. Il est le Créateur et non pas une créature, Il crée, exalté et béni soit-Il, ce qu'Il veut parmi les formes et autres que cela, et Il façonne ce qu'Il veut, sans être façonné. Sa louange est sublime, Ses noms sont sanctifiés, Il est au-dessus d'avoir un semblable, Il n'y a rien qui Lui ressemble, Il est Celui qui entend et voit."

15. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar said: al-`Abbas ibn Ma`ruf said: Ibn Abu Najran said, on the authority of Hammad ibn `Uthman, on the authority of `Abd al-Rahim al-Qasir that I wrote a letter, and sent it by hand via `Abd Al-Malik ibn A`yan to Abu `Abd Allah alSadiq (AS). In it, I asked about several issues, one of which was: “Please inform me about Allah, the Mighty and High. Can He be described with image and lineation? If this letter reaches you, may Allah make me your ransom, write back to me with the correct vies about Divine Unity.” So he (AS) wrote back to me, sending the letter via `Abd al-Malik ibn A`yan: May Allah have mercy on you! You have enquired about Divine Unity. Allah is Greater than what your companions have ascribed. He is All-Hearing and All-Seeing, and there is nothing like unto Him. Allah is greater than the descriptions of the describers, those who describe Him inhuman terms, and those who compare Him with His creation, thus slandering Allah. Beware! May Allah have mercy on you! The correct view about Divine Unity is to be found in the attributes that Allah, the Mighty and High, revealed in the Qur`an. Reject anthropomorphism, and do not apply to Allah what is vain. Allah is Firmly Present. Allah is high above the descriptions of the describers. Do not exceed the Qur`an, as you will misled after the clear explanation has reached you.

Le contenu principal du hadith concerne une question sur l'Unicité de Dieu, où le Prophète répond en soulignant l'importance de se baser sur les attributs divins tels qu'ils sont révélés dans le Coran, en rejetant toute forme de fausseté ou de comparaison par rapport à Dieu. Il met en garde contre les interprétations erronées et souligne l'importance de rester fidèle à l'enseignement coranique sans dévier après avoir reçu la clarification.

16. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar (may Allah have mercy on him) said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad, on the authority of some of our scholars that I wrote to Abu al-Hasan al-Kadhim (AS) asking him about the body and image of Allah, so he replied in writing: “Glory be to Him who has nothing whatsoever like unto Him, and who is devoid of both body and image.”

Gloire à Celui qui n'a rien de semblable à Lui, ni de corps, ni d'image.

17. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad al-Adami, on the authority of Hamzah ibn Muhammad that I wrote to Abu al-Hasan al-Kadhim (AS) asking him whether Allah had a body or an image. Hence he (AS) wrote in reply: “Glory be to Him who has nothing whatsoever like unto Him,”

Gloire à Celui qui n'a rien de semblable à Lui.

18. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn `Abd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Barqi (may Allah have mercy on him) said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather Ahmad ibn Abu `Abd Allah, on the authority of his father, on the authority of `Abd Allah ibn Bahr, on the authority of Abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Muslim that I asked Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) about the claim that Allah, the Mighty and High, created Adam (AS) in His Image; hence, he said: That was a recently created image. Allah favored it, and chose it over all different images. Then He attributed it to Himself like He attributed the Ka`bah and the Sprit to Himself. Thus, He said: My House.1 And said: And when I breathed into him My Spirit.2

Il a dit : "Ma maison" et Il a dit : "et Je lui ai insufflé de Mon esprit".

19. Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil (may Allah have mercy on him) said: `Abd Allah ibn Ja`far al-Himyari said, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isa, on the authority al-I Hasan ibn Mahbub, on the authority of Ya`qub al-Sarraj that I said to Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS): “Some of our scholars think that Allah looks like a human being, while others think that he is beardless and has curly hair.” Abu `Abd Allah (AS) fell down in prostration, then raised his head, and said: Glory be Allah who has nothing whatsoever like unto Him! Vision cannot perceive Him, and knowledge cannot encompass Him. He begets not, because the son resembles his father, not is He begotten, so that He could resemble the one before Him. And none is like Him. Exalted is He, the High, and Mighty from such attributions!

Gloire à Allah, qui n'a rien qui Lui ressemble, et les regards ne peuvent Le saisir, et nul ne Le connaît comme Il Se connaît Lui-même. Il n'a pas engendré car celui qui engendre ressemble à son enfant, et Il n'a pas été engendré car celui qui est engendré ressemble à celui qui l'a précédé, et nul parmi Ses créatures n'est équivalent à Lui. Il est au-dessus de toute description qui Lui est attribuée.

20. Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil (may Allah have mercy on him) said: `Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of al-Saqr ibn [Abu] Dulaf that I asked Abu al-Hasan `Ali ibn Muhammad ibn `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (AS) about Divine Unity: “Verily, I say what Hisham ibn al-Hasam said.” So he (AS) became angry and said: What is the matter with you and Hisham? Indeed, he is not from us who thinks that Allah, the Mighty and High, has a body. We are free from such a person in this world, and in the Hereafter. O son of [Abu] Dulaf! Verily, the body is created and Allah is its Creator. The Compiler of this book says: Allah willing, I will mention the proof that bodies are created in the chapter of this book titled “The Proof of the Creation of the World.”

[Traduction du contenu principal du hadith]