284. 1. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p): God has provided the proof of His existence by what He has bestowed (on mankind) and by what he has made manifest to them.

285. 2. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p) was asked: Whose creation is the knowledge, faith, belief and conviction of the existence of God?
The Imam (p): It is one of the creations of God. His subjects have not taken any part of it.
Translator’s note: It means that the means and materials (which provide proof of His existence, omnipotence, eternity and other attributes, both negative and positive, and making the signs of His existence manifest and raising of the Prophet's and apostles and providing them with the power of performing miracles by His permission) are created by God and then it becomes the duty of His bondmen to believe in His existence.

286. 3. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p) was requested to explain the meaning of the verse: And God will not mislead a people after He has guided them, in order that He may make clear to them what to fear, for God has knowledge of all things (Q, 9:115).
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p): Till God makes them recognize what pleases Him and what annoys Him.
Then the Imam (p) quoted the verse: And inspired unto it (the soul of person), its vices and its piety (Q, 91:8)
The Imam (p): God inspires them as to what they should not do.
Then the Imam (p) quoted the verse: Verily We guided him to the way, be he grateful or ungrateful (Q, 76:3).
The Imam (p), continuing his explanation: It means we have made them know the truth and now it is up to them to take it or leave it.

287. 4. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p) was asked about the meaning of the verse: And we guided him on the two ways (Q, 90:10)
The Imam (p): (They are) the highways to good and to evil.
Translator’s note: The word ‘guided’ used in the translation of the verse does not mean that God guides His servants towards the highways of evil. The original Arabic word used in the verse is Wahadainahu which is a derivative of the root word Huda which has the connotations of ‘to guide, to point out, to show and to tell.’ The verse means that God has shown both the ways, one of which leads to Paradise and the other to Hell. In the previous two verses God has said: Have we not made for him a pair of eyes? And a tongue and a pair of lips? (Q, 90:8,9). Read with these verses, the meaning of verse 90:10 of Noble Quran becomes quite clear. God has bestowed on His servants the faculties of sight and speech and has pointed out the way towards salvation and warned against the way that leads to Hell. Now it is up to person to choose his way and his destination.

288. 5. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p) was requested to explain the meaning of the verse: God will not mislead a people after He has guided them in order to make clear to them what to fear (Q, 9:115).
The Imam (p): Until He makes them understand what pleases Him and what annoys Him.

289. 6. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p): Verily, God has never bestowed any of his bounties upon anyone without bracketing it with a proof (of his being responsible before God for that bounty). He whom God has favoured by making him powerful is responsible for bearing the burden of divine obligations put on him as well as the burden of those who are weaker than him. The one who has been made affluent by God is responsible for bearing the burden of divine obligations put on him because of his immense wealth to support the needy on account of his being wealthy. The one whom God has favoured with the nobility of birth and a handsome face, is made responsible for praising God, the Sublime, for it and not to be arrogant (to others). Such a person should not prevent the weak from exercising their rights by using his status and charm.