Al-Kāfi 6, narration 44

Translation

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from all from al- Hassan ibn Mahbub from Muhammad ibn al-Nu’man from Salam ibn al-Mustanir who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, . . created and not created . . (22:5) He (the Imam) said, ‘Created are those whom Allah created in the back of Adam (a.s.). He made them to promise and make a covenant. Then He allowed them to move through the backs of men and wombs of women. They are the ones who come out in the world so that they are asked about the covenant. His words ‘not created’ refer to every strand or trace that Allah did not create in the back of Adam (a.s.) when He created the particles and made them to form the covenant. They were the seeds that were not allowed to take place in the womb or were aborted before the spirit was blown in them as well as life and continued life.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.