1178 - al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn al-Sabbah narrated to us, Hajjaj narrated to us, from Ibn Jurayj, from 'Ata' regarding His statement: "I will make you an Imam for the people," he said: "And of my descendants?" So He refused to make a wrongdoer an Imam.

It was narrated from Muqatil something similar.

1179 - My father narrated to me, Malik ibn Isma'il narrated to us, Sharik narrated to us, from Mansur, from Mujahid regarding His statement: "And of my descendants," he said: "As for whoever among them is righteous, I will make him an Imam to be followed. But as for whoever among them is a wrongdoer, then no, and may he have no joy."

His statement: "He said, 'My covenant does not include'"

There is a difference of opinion regarding its interpretation in several aspects:

[The First Aspect]

One of them is the one who interpreted it such that His covenant is: His religion.

1180 - 'Isam ibn Rawwad narrated to us, Adam narrated to us, from Abu Ja'far, from al-Rabi', from Abu al-'Aliyah, he said: Allah said: "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers." So the covenant of Allah, which He made to His servants, is His religion. He said: "My religion does not include the wrongdoers." It was narrated from al-Rabi' ibn Anas something similar.

The Second Aspect

That His covenant is: His mercy.

1181 - Abu Sa'id al-Ashajj narrated to us, 'Uqbah ibn Khalid narrated to us, Wasil ibn al-Sa'ib narrated to me, he said: I asked 'Ata' about His statement: "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers," he said: "It is His mercy, which is not attained except by the believers, the people of Paradise; and His mercy in this world is upon all of creation."

The Third Aspect

That His covenant is: His prophethood.

1182 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, 'Amr ibn Hammad narrated to us, Asbat narrated to us, from al-Suddi: "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers," he says: "My covenant: My prophethood."

The Fourth Aspect

That His covenant is: His obedience.

1183 - My father narrated to us, al-Hakam ibn Musa narrated to us, Marwan narrated to us, Juwaybir narrated to us, from al-Dahhak: "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers," he says: "My obedience does not include an enemy of Mine, and I do not grant it except to a close friend (wali) of Mine who obeys Me."

It was narrated from Muqatil ibn Hayyan something similar.