 ٤ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْيَهُودُ إِلَى رَأْسِ الْجَالُوتِ فَقَالُوا لَهُ إِنَّ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ عَالِمٌ يَعْنُونَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَانْطَلِقْ بِنَا إِلَيْهِ نَسْأَلْهُ فَأَتَوْهُ فَقِيلَ لَهُمْ هُوَ فِي الْقَصْرِ فَانْتَظَرُوهُ حَتَّى خَرَجَ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَأْسُ الْجَالُوتِ جِئْنَاكَ نَسْأَلُكَ فَقَالَ سَلْ يَا يَهُودِيُّ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ فَقَالَ أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ رَبِّكَ مَتَى كَانَ فَقَالَ كَانَ بِلا كَيْنُونِيَّةٍ كَانَ بِلا كَيْفٍ كَانَ لَمْ يَزَلْ بِلا كَمٍّ وَبِلا كَيْفٍ كَانَ لَيْسَ لَهُ قَبْلٌ هُوَ قَبْلَ الْقَبْلِ بِلا قَبْلٍ وَلا غَايَةٍ وَلا مُنْتَهًى انْقَطَعَتْ عَنْهُ الْغَايَةُ وَهُوَ غَايَةُ كُلِّ غَايَةٍ فَقَالَ رَأْسُ الْجَالُوتِ امْضُوا بِنَا فَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِمَّا يُقَالُ فِيهِ.
 4. A group of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father in a marfu‘ manner has said the following. “The Jews came to their chief Ra’sul-Jalut and said, ’This man, meaning thereby Imam Ali , is a scholar. Come with us to ask him questions. They all came to Imam Ali  but the Imam was in the castle (Government building). They waited till the Imam  came out. Ra’sul-Jalut, said, “We have come to you with a question.” The Imam said, “O Jew, ask whatever you like.” He said, “I would like to ask you about your Lord. When did He come into existence?” The Imam  replied, “(Allah) has always been without coming into being and without being a subject to a How question. He is eternal without quantity and quality. He was there without a Before. He is before every before without being before and without a beginning and end. The end falls short before Him and He Himself is the end of all ends.” Ra’sul-Jalut then said to his people, “Let us leave this place. This man knows more than what is said he knows.”