Al-Kāfi, vol. 1, no. 692

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ’Udhayna from Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah say the following to some of the companions of Qays al-Masir. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, discipline and education His Messenger. He then made his discipline and education to be the best. When his discipline and education was complete He said, “O Muhammad, you certainly possess a great degree of moral discipline and education. (64:4). Then He made him in charge of the affairs of the religion and the nation (Muslim) so he would manage the social matters of the His servants with wisdom. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, said, “. .what the Messenger (of Allah) you, you must take (obey) and what he prohibits you, you must desist from. .” (59:7) The Messenger of Allah was protected, successful and supported by the Holy Spirit. He (the Messenger of Allah) does not slip, make a mistake in any of the matters of the management of the social matters of the creatures. He is educated with the education of Allah. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, commanded to perform the prayer in two and two Rak‘at form totalling ten Rak‘ats. The Messenger of Allah added two more Rak‘ats to each prayer and only one Rak‘at to the Maghrib prayer (the prayer at sun set). Such additions became just as the obligatory ones and it is not permissible to disregard them. They are obligatory at home and on a journey. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, granted him permission in all of it. Thus, the obligatory prayers became seventeen Rak‘ats. The Messenger of Allah then setup the tradition of optional prayers totaling thirty four Rak‘ats which is double the number of the optional prayers. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, granted him permission for this. All the optional and obligatory prayers total fifty one Rak‘ats of which there is two Rak‘ats in a sitting position after (al-‘atma) ‘Isha prayer which is counted as one Rak‘at in place of Witr. Allah made fasting of the month of Ramadan obligatory which comes only once in a year. The Messenger of Allah set up the tradition of fasting in the month of Sha‘ban and three days fasting of every month and the number of days in it totals twice as much as the obligatory fast. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, granted him permission for all of this. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, made just wine unlawful to consume. The Messenger of Allah pronounced all intoxicants drinks unlawful. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, granted him permission in this case also. The Messenger of Allah pronounced certain things as permissible and pronounced other things as detestable but did not declare them prohibited as unlawful. He only pronounced them prohibited in a permissible prohibition and detestable. He then spoke of such prohibitions as permissible but then such permissible matters became obligatory for the servants (of Allah) like the obligation of abiding by what is prohibited and determined. The Messenger of Allah did not grant permission in the matters that were prohibited as unlawful (to violate) prohibitions or what he pronounced as an order to follow as an obligation and binding. A great deal of the intoxicants drinks he pronounced as unlawful to consume and he did not grant permission to any one to consume them. The Messenger of Allah did not grant permission to anyone to further shorten the prayers tha consisted of two Rak‘ats that were added to what Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, had made obligatory. In fact, He made them binding and necessary like an obligation. He did not grant permission to anyone in this matter except those on a journey. No one has the right to give permission in such issues until the Messenger of Allah grants permission. Thus, the order of the Messenger of Allah concord the orders of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. The prohibitions of the Messenger of Allah concord the prohibition of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. It has become obligatory for the servants (of Allah) to submit to his commands as it is obligatory for them to submit to the command of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.”