ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā 1, narration 127

Translation

11-19 Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Mo’athi narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Kufi al-Hamadani quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father, “I asked Al-Ridha (s) about the meaning of what the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘Verily, from (the Light of) their Lord, that Day, will they be veiled.’ The Imam (s) said, ‘One cannot describe the Sublime God to be located in a position from which others are veiled. This verse means that they will be deprived of the reward from their Lord.’ I asked him (s) about the meaning of what the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘And thy Lord cometh, and His angels, rank upon rank.’ The Imam (s) said, ‘One cannot describe the Sublime God as coming and going. The Sublime God is Exalted above transfer or movement in this manner. However, what is meant by this verse is that the Decree of your Lord came, and the angels were organized rank upon rank.’ I asked the Imam (s) about the meaning of what the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘Will they wait until Allah comes to them in canopies of clouds, with angels (in His train) and the question is (thus) settled?…’ The Imam (s) said, ‘This means, ‘Will they wait until Allah sends the angels to them in canopies of clouds.’ This is how the verse has been revealed.’ I asked him (s) about the meaning of what the Sublime God said, ‘…God will throw back their ridicule on them…’ and ’Allah will throw back their mockery on them…’ and ‘And (the unbelievers) plotted and planned, and Allah too planned…’ and ’The Hypocrites - they think they are over-reaching Allah, but He will over- reach them…’ The Imam (s) said, ‘The Sublime God does not ridicule, mock, plan or plot. Rather, the Sublime God grants them the rewards of their ridiculing, mockery, planning and plotting. High indeed is God the Exalted above what the oppressors say.’”

Translation: Dr. Ali Peiravi — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.