Ibn Babawayh (‘Al-Saduq’) is regarded as a cornerstone of Twelver Shia scholarship and is known as the ‘Shaykh al-Muhaddithin’ of their sect. This pride of Imamism included in his works dubious Rafidi hadith in support of mass takfir of the Sahabah, excessive veneration of saints (‘infallible Imams’) and tombs, and support for the belief in the distortion of the Quran by the ‘apostate’ Sahabah. He himself is one of the few major classical Shia scholars who, at times, claimed—likely due to taqiyyah—to oppose the belief in the distortion of the Qur’an by the ‘apostate’ Sahabah. Yet, he included in his works narrations supporting the belief in the distortion of the Quran without refuting them, and he himself admitted that the greatest Shia hadith compiler, Al-Kulayni (from whom the Rafidah derive the foundations of their religion), believed in the distortion of the Quran at the hands of the Sahabah. All of this is the mess that the Rafidah call the ‘school of thought of Ahl al-Bayt’.

والله المستعان

The opulent and extravagant mausoleum of Ibn Babawayh, located in the town of Rey (now part of the Greater Tehran metropolitan area) within the Ibn Babawayh cemetery, features an elaborate golden shrine. Inscriptions invoking entities other than Allah adorn both the interior and exterior of the structure. This extravagant construction contradicts the fundamental principles of Islam and the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), who emphasised simplicity for every grave, including their own, to be plain and as flat as possible, without any embellishments. The tradition of constructing elaborate structures over graves, as evident in the mausoleum of Ibn Babawayh and numerous other Rafidi clerics and laity, contradicts the essence of Islam and mirrors the habits of Jews and specifically polytheistic Christians.

Today, our focus is on the exploration of the book titled ‘Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni’mah’ (Arabic: كمال الدين وتمام النعمة), authored by the Persian zindiq Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Babiwayh al-Qummi (d. 380 AH). Revered by the Shia with the honorific title ‘The Truthful Scholar’ (‘Al-Shaykh al-Saduq’), the translated title of his book is ‘Perfection of Religion and Completion of Blessings’.

Ibn Babaway’s (‘Al-Saduq’) Kamal al-Din constitutes a significant part of Twelver Shia hadith literature, focusing on various aspects of Twelver Shia teachings such as theology, ethics, and guidance for a virtuous life. Its aim is to provide guidance to the Shia, reinforcing their understanding of their religion. The book primarily delves into the issue of occultation and the impending arrival of the hidden Shia Mahdi. In the introduction, the author claims that none other than the Shia Mahdi himself advised him to write the book in defense of the occultist Twelver belief concerning the hidden (like Dajjal) Shia Mahdi. This book stands as the oldest and most authentic Twelver Shia hadith reference about the Shia Mahdi (Dajjal). The book reveals some delicate issues, especially within a particular less-explored hadith (for reasons that will become clear), shedding light on aspects that some may have hoped Ibn Babaway the Qommite had excluded from his book.

Indeed, some light can be found even in the darkness of the works of the Rafidah, as this is how Allah has been exposing them from day one.

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Arabic text:

 ( حديث الدجال وما يتصل به من أمر القائم عليه السلام )

  حدثنا محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسحاق رضي الله عنه قال : حدثنا عبد العزيز ابن يحيى الجلودي بالبصرة قال : حدثنا الحسين بن معاذ قال : حدثنا قيس بن حفص قال : حدثنا يونس بن أرقم ، عن أبي سيار الشيباني ، عن الضحاك بن مزاحم ،عن النزال بن سبرة قال : خطبنا أمير المؤمنين علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام فحمد الله عز وجل وأثنى عليه وصلى على محمد وآله ، ثم قال : سلوني أيها الناس قبل أن تفقدوني – ثلاثا – فقام إليه صعصعة بن صوحان فقال : يا أمير المؤمنين متى يخرج الدجال ؟ فقال له علي عليه السلام : اقعد فقد سمع الله كلامك وعلم ما أردت ، والله ما المسؤول عنه بأعلم من السائل ، ولكن لذلك علامات وهيئات يتبع بعضها بعضا كحذو النعل بالنعل ، وإن شئت أنبأتك بها ؟ قال : نعم يا أمير المؤمنين . فقال عليه السلام : احفظ فان علامة ذلك : إذا أمات الناس الصلاة ، وأضاعوا الأمانة واستحلوا الكذب ، وأكلوا الربا ، وأخذوا الرشا ، وشيدوا البنيان ، وباعوا الدين بالدنيا ، واستعملوا السفهاء ، وشاوروا النساء ، وقطعوا الأرحام ، واتبعوا الأهواء واستخفوا بالدماء ، وكان الحلم ضعفا ، والظلم فخرا ، وكانت الامراء فجرة ، والوزراء ظلمة ، والعرفاء خونة ، والقراء فسقة ، وظهرت شهادت الزور، واستعلن الفجور ، وقول البهتان ، والاثم والطغيان ، وحليت المصاحف ، وزخرفت المساجد ، وطولت المنارات ، وأكرمت الأشرار ، وازدحمت الصفوف ، واختلفت القلوب ، ونقضت العهود ، واقترب الموعود ، وشارك النساء أزواجهن في التجارة حرصا على الدنيا ، وعلت أصوات الفساق واستمع منهم ، وكان زعيم القوم أرذلهم ، واتقي الفاجر مخافة شره ، وصدق الكاذب ، وائتمن الخائن . واتخذت القيان (جمع قنية اي الإماء المغنيات) والمعازف ، ولعن آخر هذه الأمة أولها ، وركب ذوات الفروج السروج ، وتشبه النساء بالرجال ، والرجال بالنساء ، وشهد الشاهد من غير أن يستشهد ، وشهد الاخر قضاء لذمام بغير حق عرفه وتفقه لغير الدين ، وآثروا عمل الدنيا على الآخرة ، ولبسوا جلود الضأن على قلوب الذئاب ، وقلوبهم أنتن من الجيف وأمر من الصبر ، فعند ذلك الوحا الوحا ثم العجل العجل ، خير المساكن يومئذ بيت المقدس ، وليأتين على الناس زمان يتمنى أحدهم أنه من سكانه فقام إليه الأصبغ بن نباتة فقال : يا أمير المؤمنين من الدجال ؟ فقال : ألا إن الدجال صائد بن الصيد ، فالشقي من صدقه . والسعيد من كذبه ، يخرج من بلدة يقال لها إصفهان ، من قرية تعرف باليهودية ، عينه اليمنى ممسوحة ، والعين الأخرى في جبهته تضئ كأنها كوكب الصبح ، فيها علقة كأنها ممزوجة بالدم ، بين عينيه مكتوب كافر ، يقرؤه كل كاتب وأمي ، يخوض البحار وتسير معه الشمس ، بين يديه جبل من دخان ، وخلفه جبل أبيض يري الناس أنه طعام ، يخرج حين يخرج في قحط شديد تحته حمار أقمر ، خطوة حماره ميل ، تطوي له الأرض منهلا منهلا ، لا يمر بماء إلا غار إلى يوم القيامة ، ينادي بأعلى صوته يسمع ما بين الخافقين من الجن والإنس والشياطين يقول : إلي أوليائي أنا الذي خلق فسوى وقدر فهدى ، أنا ربكم الأعلى وكذب عدو الله ، إنه أعور يطعم الطعام ، ويمشي في الأسواق ، وإن ربكم عز وجل ليس بأعور ، ولا يطعم ولا يمشي ولا يزول . تعالى الله عن ذلك علوا كبيرا ألا وإن أكثر أتباعه يومئذ أولاد الزنا ، وأصحاب الطيالسة الخضر ، يقتله الله عز وجل بالشام على عقبة تعرف بعقبة أفيق لثلاث ساعات مضت من يوم الجمعة على يد من يصلي المسيح عيسى بن مريم عليهما السلام خلفه ألا إن بعد ذلك الطامة الكبرى قلنا : وما ذلك يا أمير المؤمنين ؟ قال : خروج دابة ( من ) الأرض من عند الصفا ، معها خاتم سليمان بن داود ، وعصى موسى عليهم السلام ، يضع الخاتم على وجه كل مؤمن فينطبع فيه : هذا مؤمن حقا ، ويضعه على وجه كل كافر فينكتب هذا كافر حقا ، حتى أن المؤمن لينادي : الويل لك يا كافر ، وإن الكافر ينادي طوبى لك يا مؤمن ، وددت أني اليوم كنت مثلك فأفوز فوزا عظيما ثم ترفع الدابة رأسها فيراها من بين الخافقين بإذن الله جل جلاله وذلك بعد طلوع الشمس من مغربها فعند ذلك ترفع التوبة ، فلا توبة تقبل ولا عمل يرفع ” ولا ينفع نفسا إيمانها لم تكن آمنت من قبل أو كسبت في إيمانها خيرا ثم قال عليه السلام لا تسألوني عما يكون بعد هذا فإنه عهد عهده إلي حبيبي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله أن لا أخبر به غير عترتي قال النزال بن سبرة : فقلت لصعصعة بن صوحان : يا صعصعة ما عنى أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام بهذا ؟ فقال صعصعة : يا ابن سبرة إن الذي يصلي خلفه عيسى بن مريم عليه السلام هو الثاني عشر من العترة ، التاسع من ولد الحسين بن علي عليهما السلام ، وهو الشمس الطالعة من مغربها يظهر عند الركن والمقام فيطهر الأرض ، ويضع ميزان العدل فلا يظلم أحد أحدا فأخبر أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام أن حبيبه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله عهد إليه أن لا يخبر بما يكون بعد ذلك غير عترته الأئمة صلوات الله عليهم أجمعين

(كمال الدين وتمام النعمة، لابن بابوية القمي، جلد 2، صفحة 476)

Translation:

Narrated to us Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq, who said: Narrated to us Abdul-Aziz ibn Yahya al-Jaludi in Basra, who said: Narrated to us Al-Husayn ibn Mu’adh, who said: Narrated to us Qays ibn Hafs, who said: Narrated to us Yunus ibn Arqam, from Abu Siyar al-Shaybani, from Al-Dhahak ibn Muzahim, from Al-Nazzal ibn Sabra, who said: ‘The Commander of the Faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), delivered us a sermon; he praised Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, and sent blessings upon Muhammad and his progeny. Then he said: ‘Ask me, O people, before you lose me,’ repeating it three times. Sa’sa’ah ibn Sawhan arose and said: ‘O Commander of the Faithful, when will the Dajjal (Antichrist) appear?‘ Ali (peace be upon him) said to him: ‘Sit down, for Allah has heard your speech and known your intention [behind it]. By Allah, the one being questioned about it does not know more about it than the questioner. But there are some signs and aspects for it, which come one after another like one step falls after another. If you wish, shall I inform you about them?’ He said: ‘Yes, O Commander of the Faithful.’

He (peace be upon him) said: Memorise, for indeed the signs are as follows: when people abandon the prayer, betray trust, make lying permissible (halal), engage in usury (riba), accept bribery, construct tall buildings, prioritise worldly gains over religious principles, put fools in charge, seek counsel from women, sever family ties, follow their desires, show disregard for bloodshed, and when forbearance is considered a weakness, injustice a source of pride, and leaders are wicked (immoral), ministers are oppressive, the experts are treacherous, the (Quran) reciters are corrupt, false testimony has become widespread, immorality is flaunted (people sin in pubic), slanderous speech is prevalent, sin and tyranny have increased, Qurans are ornamented, mosques are adorned, minarets are tall, the wicked are honoured, rows are crowded, hearts are divided, covenants are broken, the promised time approaches, and women share with their husbands in trade out of eagerness for worldly gain.

The voices of the wicked rise, and people listen to them. The leader of a people is the most disgraceful amongst them. The fearful avoids the evildoer out of fear of his harm. The liar is believed, and the traitor is trusted. The slave girls took to singing and musical instruments. The last of this Ummah will curse the first (early generation) ones. People ride on saddles that resemble the humps of camels. Women imitate men, and men imitate women. A witness testifies without being summoned, and another testifies to a judgment falsely acknowledged, understanding neither its essence nor its religious foundation.

They prioritise the affairs of this world over the Hereafter. They wear the skins of sheep over the hearts of wolves. Their hearts are more ruthless than iron and more forbearing than straw. At that time, calamity upon calamity. Then, haste upon haste. The best dwelling on that day is Jerusalem (Al-Quds). A time will come upon people when one of them wishes when one of them wishes he were one of its inhabitants.

Then Al-Asbagh ibn Nabatah stood up and said, “O Commander of the Faithful, who is the Dajjal?” He replied, “Verily, the Dajjal is Sa`id ibn Sayd, and wretched is the one who believes in him. The fortunate is the one who denies him. He will emerge from a town called Isfahan, from a village known for its Jewish population (Al-Yahudiyyah). His right eye will be wiped out, and the other eye on his forehead will shine like the morning star. There will be a lump between his eyes as if it were dripping with blood. The word ‘disbeliever’ (كافر) will be written between his eyes, readable by both the literate and the illiterate. He will navigate the seas, and the sun will follow him. In his hands will be a mountain of smoke and behind it is a white mountain that people perceive as food. It emerges during severe drought, beneath it is a moonlit donkey, each step of its donkey causing the land to fold like a fold, not passing by any water without making a well, until the Day of Judgment. It calls with its loudest voice, heard by all beings, jinn, humans, and devils, saying: “To my allies, I am the one who created and perfected and decreed and guided. I am your Lord, the Most High.”

The enemy of Allah lies. He is one-eyed, feeds people, walks in the markets. Indeed, your Lord, Almighty and Glorious, is not one-eyed, does not feed, does not walk, and does not perish. Allah is exalted above that with great exaltation.

Verily, most of his followers on that day are the offspring of adultery (Awlad al-Zina, Haramzadeh) and those who wear green Tayalisah (shawls). Allah, Almighty and Glorious, will kill him in Sham (Greater Syria), at a place known as Aqabat Afiq, three hours into the past of Friday, by the hand of the one whom Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them, prays behind. After that, a great calamity will come.

We asked: What is that, O Commander of the Faithful? He said: The emergence of a creature from the Earth, near Safa, with the ring of Solomon, son of David, and the staff of Moses, peace be upon them. It places the ring on the face of every believer, and it is imprinted: “This is truly a believer.” It places it on the face of every disbeliever, and it is inscribed: “This is truly a disbeliever.” To the point that the believer calls out, “Woe to you, O disbeliever!” and the disbeliever calls out, “Good tidings to you, O believer! I wish I were like you today to achieve a great success.”

Then the creature raises its head, and everyone sees it amongst the heavens, by the permission of Allah, after the sunrise from its west. At that moment, repentance is lifted, and no repentance is accepted, and no deed is lifted. “And no soul will benefit its faith at that time if it had not believed before or had earned through its faith some good.”

Then he (peace be upon him) said, “Do not ask me about what comes after this, for it is a covenant entrusted to me by my beloved, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him and his family, that I should not inform anyone about it other than my family.“

Al-Nazal ibn Sabra said, “So I said to Sa’sa’ah ibn Suhan, ‘O Sa’sa’ah, what does the Commander of the Faithful mean by this?’ Sa’sa’ah replied, ‘O son of Sabra, the one whom Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon him, prays behind is the twelfth of the Imams from the progeny, the ninth from the offspring of Husayn ibn Ali, peace be upon them. He is the rising sun from its west, appearing at the Corner and the Station, purifying the earth. He establishes the scale of justice so that no one is wronged by another.

The Commander of the Faithful, Ali, peace be upon him, was informed by his beloved, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him and his family, that his covenant is not to disclose what happens after that, except to his family, the Imams, peace be upon them all.” (Ibn Babawayh, Kamal al-Din, Vol. 2, p. 476)

Benefits from the narration that shatters the pillars of Rafidism.

  1. The Commander of the Faithful Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) unequivocally stated that, other than a number of future events that the Prophet (ﷺ) had informed him of, he – like every other Muslim and fallible person not connected to the Unseen – is not even aware of when the Dajjal will exactly emerge! In his own words, “By Allah, one who is asked is not more knowledgeable than the questioner.” Ali only knew portions of the Unseen granted to him through the teaching of the Quran and Sunnah, just like the rest of the Sahabah at his time and, by extension, all Muslims. Some knew more, some knew less; however, nobody was infallible or connected to the unseen as the deceitful Rafidah claim about Ali.
  2. If Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) did not even possess knowledge about the exact time when the Dajjal (a mere mortal) will emerge, then even more so, he is not aware of our affairs when millions upon millions of Shia call upon him for help (madad) at any time, in any place, and in any language. The Quran, Sunnah, and sound intellect reject such excessiveness (ghuluw).
  3. The Commander of the Faithful Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) clearly stated that a sign of the end times, i.e., decline and degeneration, is when the last ones of this Ummah begin to curse the first ones. This perfectly describes the Rafidah, who have ritualised the cursing of the Sahabah. Interestingly, a similar narration exists in Sunni books, also narrated by Ali ibn Abi Talib in Sunan Tirmidhi about a prophetic warning (!) regarding fifteen traits that will cause tribulation to befall. One of them is when the last ones of this Ummah curse the first ones. Imam Malik said, “Nothing will rectify the latter part of this nation except that which rectified its first part.” That which rectified its first part was the Book and the Sunnah. So, nothing will rectify the last part of this nation except for the Book and the Sunnah and following the guidance of the Salaf al-Salih (Pious Predecessors).
  4. Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) explicitly stated that the best place to be at the end of times is Jerusalem (Al-Quds)! Shockingly, the Rafidah absurdly claim that Masjid al-Aqsa isn’t even in Jerusalem; they insist it’s in the heavens! Moreover, they propagate the superiority of Kufa over Jerusalem. Notably, the majority of Muslims in Jerusalem and Palestine are Sunnis, outright rejecting the Rafidi superstition of ‘Veloyat’ (Wilayah, i.e., divine Imamah). Ali went so far as to declare, “A time will come upon people when one of them wishes he were one of its inhabitants.” Subhanallah! How many Shia actually desire to be in Palestine, especially Jerusalem, at the end of times? How many dream of living in Sham (greater Syria), where Jerusalem is situated? In fact, greater Syria (Sham, which includes Palestine), is demonised in Rafidi literature as the ‘Umayyad stronghold,’ ‘followers of Mu’awiyah.’ They hate Sham as it is majority Sunni! How is all of this reconcilable with all the Rafidi ghuluw (excessiveness) about so-called holy lands in Karbala and even in Iran, where they claim that Qom is a safe haven for the believers? Ali did not even mention a single ‘holy’ Shia city; he literally mentioned what Sunnis deem as holy, namely Jerusalem. So, the best place to be at the end of times is in the lands of Ahl al-Sunnah (Jerusalem), not in the lands of the Rafidah.
  5. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) branded the Dajjal as a liar for claiming to be the creator. Many Rafidah claim that Ali and his descendants (‘holy infallible imams,’ i.e., Persianised mini-gods) have created the universe “with the permission of Allah”. Allah has never given such permission, and Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) would certainly brand the Rafidah as liars and mushrikun too for this slander, which they, in their wickedness, present to the gullible as a virtue of Ahl al-Bayt.
  6. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) branded the dajjal as a liar for claiming to be the creator. Many Rafidah claim that Ali and his descendants (‘holy infallible imams’ i.e. Persianised mini-gods) have created the universe ‘with the permission of Allah’. Allah has never given such permission and Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) would certainly brand the Rafidah as liars and mushrikun too for this slander which they in their wickedness present to the gullible as a virtue of Ahl al-Bayt.
  7. Take note of how Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) in the narration affirms the supernatural powers of the Dajjal, a topic conveniently and often sidestepped in Shia discourse (for obvious reasons). The Rafidah mock Ahl al-Sunnah, accusing them of transforming the Dajjal into a mini-god! Well, they must mock Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) as well since he confirmed those powers for the Dajjal. Needless to say, these powers don’t deify him, nor would they deify Ali, although the Rafidah, in their excess, go beyond attributing superpowers to Ali and essentially turn him into a mini-god. What the Rafidah fail to grasp is that the issue lies in attributing supernatural powers to the Ahl al-Bayt, something they never accepted for themselves and actively rejected. The problem is in the attribution, not in the supposed impossibility of them (or the Dajjal) possessing certain powers. Simply tacking on ‘with the permission of Allah’ to their exaggerations doesn’t legitimise their exces (ghuluw), and drawing an analogy with Dajjal’s powers through qiyas (analogy) doesn’t hold water either.
  8. As for the last part of the narration supposedly ‘affirming’ twelve Imams, the truth is quite the opposite. Firstly, it falsely portrays Ali as concealing knowledge, a blatant lie as Ali never concealed any knowledge, especially not something as significant as this. Secondly, the contradiction becomes apparent when the narration states that there is a covenant entrusted to him and the Prophet not to speak further on this matter. Yet, the narrator, who superimposed his beliefs on Ali, claims that what Ali concealed was the 12th Imam (Shia Mahdi) from a line of twelve Imams! These are not Ali’s words. Ali clearly alluded to the Mahdi at the end of times, and the majority of Muslims believe in the emergence of a Mahdi who will be born at the end of times. This belief should not be confused with the Rafidi concept of twelve divinely appointed Imams, one of whom is believed to be a hidden occultist Dajjal-like ‘Mahdi’. The narrator, claiming to know what Ali meant beyond the apparent words of the narration, either portrays Ali as a liar, as he explicitly stated he would not share more than what he said about the end of times, or, in reality, the narrator (despite having narrated much truth) is the one in error. The latter is the truth, as Ali is not a liar.
  9. Finally, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned that most followers of the Dajjal will be bastards, i.e., offspring of adultery, referred to as ‘Awlad al-Zina’ in Arabic or ‘Haramzadeh’ in Persian. What makes them distinct is their habit of donning green shawls (tayalisah). It’s not difficult to infer which sect, claiming Islam, has adopted green shawls/cloaks as a distinctive feature of their ‘holy elite’ (‘syeds’). Furthermore, Ali mentions that Dajjal will emerge from none other than the heartland of Shia Iran, i.e., Isfahan (near Qom). Once again, not a Sunni land or Sunni city, but the very heartland of the Shia world. For more information on this topic, you can read about the bastards with green shawls here.

وَآخِرُ دَعْوَانَا أَنِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ