Al-Kāfi

The Sufficient

By: Shaykh Muḥammad b. Yaʿqūb al-Kulaynī

Translator: Shaykh Muhammad Sarwar


al-Kāfī, compiled by Shaykh al-Kulaynī, is a monumental work belonging to a number of books belonging to the Shīʿī Ḥadīth literature. It comprises of eight volumes and took twenty years to compile, making it an extensive collection of wisdom and guidance for adherents of the faith. The eight volumes are divided into three main parts: al-Uṣūl (Roots), al-Furūʿ (Branches), and al-Rawḍa (the Garden). Part 1 (Volumes 1 & 2): al-Uṣūl (Roots) This portion delves into the principles of beliefs, containing eight books that discuss topics such as the intellect and ignorance, the virtues of knowledge, Divine Unity, Divine Authority, Belief and Disbelief, Suppications, the Virtues of the Holy Qurʾān, in addition to Ethics and Morals. Part 2 (Volumes 3 to 7): al-Furūʿ (Branches) This portion comprises of Ḥadīths related to Islamic jurisprudence, including acts of worship, business transactions, and judicial laws. It covers a vast array of topics in 26 books, ranging from the laws of cleanliness and menstruation to those of wills, inheritance, and legal penalties. Part 3 (Volume 8): al-Rawḍa (the Garden) al-Rawḍa encompasses a collection of miscellaneous Ḥadīths, which cover topics that had already been glazed over in prior two portions of the book. Many a time, long Ḥadīths will be included from written letters, wills of the Imams and historical narrations that didn’t necessarily fit in chapter headings that were made in the first seven volumes. The Ḥadīths are not organised in a specific way, but its diversity adds depth to the understanding of the faith.

Chapter 1

9 Aḥadīth
Chapter on the necessity to seek knowledge and the recommendations to learn

Chapter 2

9 Aḥadīth
Chapter on the quality of knowledge its virtue and the virtue of the scholars

Chapter 3

4 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Kinds of People

Chapter 4

6 Aḥadīth
Chapter on the reward for the scholars and those who seek knowledge

Chapter 5

7 Aḥadīth
Chapter on the Qualities of the Scholars

Chapter 6

1 Ḥadīth
Chapter on the Rights of the scholars

Chapter 7

6 Aḥadīth
Chapter on the Loss of a Scholar

Chapter 8

5 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Meeting the Scholars and Associating with Them

Chapter 9

9 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Asking the Scholar and Discussing with him

Chapter 10

4 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Giving Knowledge as Charity

Chapter 11

9 Aḥadīth
Prohibition on Speaking without Knowledge.

Chapter 12

3 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Those who Act without Knowledge

Chapter 13

7 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Utilization of Knowledge

Chapter 14

6 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Those who use their Knowledge to Fill their Stomach and are Boastful for it

Chapter 15

4 Aḥadīth
Chapter on the Need for the Existence of a Divine Authority in the World and the Seriousness of this Matter

Chapter 16

15 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Miscellaneous Issues

Chapter 17

15 Aḥadīth
Chapter on narrating books and Hadith (The virtue of writing and its preservation)

Chapter 18

3 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Taqlid, following the opinions of someone

Chapter 19

22 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Innovations, Personal Opinions and Analogies

Chapter 20

10 Aḥadīth
Chapter on the need to refer to the book and Sunnah

Chapter 21

10 Aḥadīth
Chapter on the Differences in al-Hadith

Chapter 22

12 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Following the Sunnah and Evidence of the Book

Chapter 1

6 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Contingency of the Universe and Proof of the Existence of its Creator

Chapter 2

7 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Can Allah (God) be Considered a Thing?

Chapter 3

3 Aḥadīth
Chapter on (the Issue) that only He is proof of His Own Existence

Chapter 4

3 Aḥadīth
Chapter on the minimum degree of knowledge of the existence of Allah

Chapter 5

3 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Who is Worshipped

Chapter 6

8 Aḥadīth
Chapter On Being and Space (al-Kawn WA al-Makan)

Chapter 7

4 Aḥadīth
Chapter On The relationships (Nisbah) Of Allah

Chapter 8

10 Aḥadīth
Chapter On Prohibition on Saying How is Allah (al-Kayfiyyah)

Chapter 9

12 Aḥadīth
Chapter On The Invalidity of the Belief to see God (Ru’yah of Allah)

Chapter 10

12 Aḥadīth
Chapter On Prohibition on Attributing to Allah What He Himself has not Done so

Chapter 11

8 Aḥadīth
Chapter On Prohibition on Considering Allah as having Body (JISM) and Form (SURAH)

Chapter 12

6 Aḥadīth
Chapter On Attribute Of Essence (Sifat al-DhDhat) Of Allah

Chapter 13

2 Aḥadīth
Another Chapter of The Previous Chapter

Chapter 14

7 Aḥadīth
Chapter On Will Power (IRADAH) it is of the Attributes of Action (SIFAT al-FI‘L) and the Rest of the Attributes of Action

Chapter 15

4 Aḥadīth
Chapter On the Coming into the Existence of the Names of Allah

Chapter 16

12 Aḥadīth
Chapter On The Meanings of the Names of Allah and their Derivatives

Chapter 17

2 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Another Chapter (Related) to the Previous Chapter

Chapter 18

2 Aḥadīth
Chapter on the Interpretation of al-Samad, Self-sufficient

Chapter 19

10 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Motion and Change

Chapter 20

7 Aḥadīth
Chapter about al-‘Arsh and al-Kursi

Chapter 21

4 Aḥadīth
Chapter on al-Ruh, the Spirit

Chapter 22

7 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Comprehensive (Ahadith) about the Oneness of Allah

Chapter 23

11 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Miscellaneous Ahadith

Chapter 24

15 Aḥadīth
Chapter on al-Bida’

Chapter 25

2 Aḥadīth
Chapter on the issue that there is nothing in heavens and earth but that they are in seven

Chapter 26

6 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Wish and Will

Chapter 27

2 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Test and Choice

Chapter 28

3 Aḥadīth
Chapter on Fortunateness and Un-fortunateness

Chapter 29

3 Aḥadīth
Good and Evil

Chapter 30

14 Aḥadīth
Predestination, Fate and the Middle Road in Between

Chapter 31

4 Aḥadīth
The Capabilities

Chapter 32

6 Aḥadīth
Declaration, Definition and the Need for Solid Proof

Chapter 33

1 Ḥadīth
Differences in the Justification of Divine Authority among People

Chapter 34

4 Aḥadīth
Allah’s Authorities and Means of Justification of Accountability in People

Chapter 35

4 Aḥadīth
Guidance Is From Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High

Chapter 1

5 Aḥadīth
The necessity of the presence of Divine Authority among the people

Chapter 2

4 Aḥadīth
The Categories of the Prophets, the Messengers and the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 3

4 Aḥadīth
The Difference among he Messengers, the Prophets and the al-Muhaddath

Chapter 4

4 Aḥadīth
The issue that Allah’s holding people accountable remains unjustified without the Imam

Chapter 5

13 Aḥadīth
The Issue that the Earth at no time is without a Person with Divine Authority

Chapter 6

5 Aḥadīth
The Issue that even if only two people would remain on earth one of them would certainly be the Imam, the person with divine authority

Chapter 7

14 Aḥadīth
Knowing the Imam (a.s) and Belief in His Divine Authority

Chapter 8

17 Aḥadīth
The obligation to obey the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 9

5 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) are witness for Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, over His creature

Chapter 10

4 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) are the only true guides

Chapter 11

6 Aḥadīth
The Imam (a.s) Possess Divine Authority and the Treasure of Divine Knowledge

Chapter 12

3 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) are the Deputies of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, on earth and the Gates through which people go nearer to Allah

Chapter 13

6 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) are the light of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High

Chapter 14

3 Aḥadīth
The Imams are the corner stone on earth

Chapter 15

2 Aḥadīth
The Unique Ahadith that sums up the Virtue and Qualifications of the Imam (a.s)

Chapter 16

5 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) possess Divine authority, they are Envied and Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has spoken of them

Chapter 17

3 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) are the Sings of whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has spoken in the Holy Quran

Chapter 18

3 Aḥadīth
The Signs of which Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has spoken in the Holy Quran are The Imams (a.s)

Chapter 19

7 Aḥadīth
The matters that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, and His Messenger (s.a.) have sanctioned as obligatory of the beings with the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 20

9 Aḥadīth
The people of Dhikr (memory and knowledge) that Allah has commanded the creatures to ask for their questions are the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 21

2 Aḥadīth
Those whom Allah has called people of knowledge they are the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 22

3 Aḥadīth
The People Well-grounded in Knowledge are the Imams (a.s) alone

Chapter 23

5 Aḥadīth
The Imams are those who have received Knowledge and it is firmly Established in their Hearts

Chapter 24

4 Aḥadīth
The people whom Allah has Chosen and has Made the Heirs of His Book are the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 25

2 Aḥadīth
Two Kinds of Imam are mentioned in the Holy Quran: the Imams (a.s) who call to Allah and the Imams who call to Fire

Chapter 26

2 Aḥadīth
The Holy Quran guides people to the Imam (a.s)

Chapter 27

4 Aḥadīth
The Bounty and Blessings that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High has mentioned in His book, the Holy Quran are the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 28

5 Aḥadīth
The People whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has called Mutawassimin (distinguished) in His book are the Imams (a.s) who are also the straight path

Chapter 29

6 Aḥadīth
The deeds of the people are presented before the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 30

2 Aḥadīth
The Path, Urged to be Maintained Steadfastly is Acknowledgement of the Divine Authority of Imam Ali (a.s)

Chapter 31

3 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) are the Mines of Knowledge, the Tree of Prophet-hood and the Centers wherein angels Interchange

Chapter 32

8 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) are the Heirs of Knowledge to Inherit it one from the other

Chapter 33

7 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) inherited the knowledge of the Holy prophet (s.a.) and all the prophets and their successors before them

Chapter 34

2 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) have with all the books that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has revealed and that they know them even the language in them are different

Chapter 35

6 Aḥadīth
No one collect all of the Holy Quran except the Imams (a.s) and that they have the knowledge of all of the Holy Quran

Chapter 36

3 Aḥadīth
The degree of the Great Names of Allah that are given to the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 37

5 Aḥadīth
Sacred objects of the Prophets transferred to the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 38

9 Aḥadīth
The Armaments and Sacred Items belonging to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) that transferred to the Imam (a.s)

Chapter 39

4 Aḥadīth
The case of the Arms of the Messenger of Allah is like the Ark among the Israelites

Chapter 40

8 Aḥadīth
Statements about al-Jafr al-Jami‘ and the Book of Fatima (a.s)

Chapter 41

9 Aḥadīth
Chapter Ninety Seven of the Holy Quran and its interpretation

Chapter 42

3 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) Receive additional (knowledge) every Friday night

Chapter 43

4 Aḥadīth
Would the Imams (a.s) not receive new knowledge their previous know would be Exhausted

Chapter 44

4 Aḥadīth
The Imams know all the knowledge that has come to the angels, the prophets and the Messenger

Chapter 45

4 Aḥadīth
The Unique Ahadith about the hidden facts

Chapter 46

3 Aḥadīth
Would the Imams (a.s) like to know they would know

Chapter 47

8 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) know when they will die and they die voluntarily

Chapter 48

6 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) do have the knowledge of what was and will be, and that nothing is unknown to them (a.s)

Chapter 49

3 Aḥadīth
Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, did not teach anything to His Messenger but that He commanded him to teach such knowledge to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) and he was his partner in Knowledge

Chapter 50

3 Aḥadīth
Aspects of the Knowledge of the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 51

2 Aḥadīth
If Secrets would be kept the Imams (a.s) can tell everyone what is for and against them

Chapter 52

10 Aḥadīth
Giving Charge of the Religious matters to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.) and to the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 53

7 Aḥadīth
The Imams are Similar to those before them and the Dislikeability of Calling them Prophets

Chapter 54

5 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) hear from the angels as Muhaddathun and are of Perfect Understanding

Chapter 55

3 Aḥadīth
The Spirits that exist in the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 56

6 Aḥadīth
The Spirit with which the Imams (a.s) are Protected

Chapter 57

3 Aḥadīth
The Time When the Imam Learns the Knowledge of the Imam before him (a.s)

Chapter 58

3 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) are all Equal in Knowledge, Courage and Obedience

Chapter 59

7 Aḥadīth
Each Imam knows the succeeding Imam (a.s) The words of Allah, the Most High, “Allah commands you to deliver the trust to its people,”(4:58) is a reference to the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 60

4 Aḥadīth
The Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority) is a Covenant from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, Delivered as such by the preceding Imam to the succeeding Imam (a.s) one after the other

Chapter 61

5 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) never did and would not do anything except because of the covenant of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, and a command from Him and they did not go beyond such limits

Chapter 62

7 Aḥadīth
Evidence of Imam’s Possessing Divine Authority

Chapter 63

5 Aḥadīth
Proof that Imamat (leadership with Divine Authority) Continues in the Descendents of the Preceding Imam but not through his Brother or Paternal Uncle or other such Relatives

Chapter 64

7 Aḥadīth
The Specific words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High and the Messenger of Allah that Grant Divine Authority to Everyone of the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 65

9 Aḥadīth
Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of Amir al-Mu’minin Ali’s (a.s) Divine Authority over the people after the Messenger of Allah

Chapter 66

7 Aḥadīth
Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of al-Hassan ibn Ali’s (a.s) Divine Authority over the people after Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s)

Chapter 67

3 Aḥadīth
Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of al-Husayn ibn Ali’s (a.s) (a.s) Divine Authority over the people after al-Hassan (a.s)

Chapter 68

4 Aḥadīth
Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of Ali ibn al-Husayn’s (a.s) Divine Authority over the people after al-Husayn (a.s)

Chapter 69

5 Aḥadīth
Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of abu Ja‘far’s (a.s) Divine Authority over the people after Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s)

Chapter 70

8 Aḥadīth
Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of abu ‘Abdallah Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq’s (a.s) Divine Authority over the people after Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s)

Chapter 71

16 Aḥadīth
Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of abu al-Hassan Musa’s (a.s) Divine Authority over the people after abu ‘Abdallah (a.s)

Chapter 72

16 Aḥadīth
Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of abu al-Hassan al-Rida’s (a.s) Divine Authority over the people after abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s)

Chapter 73

14 Aḥadīth
Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of abu Ja‘far al-Thani’s (the second) (a.s) Divine Authority over the people after abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s)

Chapter 74

3 Aḥadīth
Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of abu al-Hassan’s, al-Thalith (the third) (a.s) Divine Authority over the people after Muhammad ibn Ali al-Rida (a.s)

Chapter 75

13 Aḥadīth
Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of abu Muhammad al-Hassan ‘s (a.s) Divine Authority over the people after Ali ibn Muhammad (a.s)

Chapter 76

6 Aḥadīth
Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of the owner of the House’s (a.s) Divine Authority over the people abu Muhammad al-Hassan (a.s)

Chapter 77

15 Aḥadīth
The list of the Names of those who saw the Twelfth Imam (a.s)

Chapter 78

4 Aḥadīth
The Prohibition on Mentioning his Name

Chapter 79

3 Aḥadīth
Precious Ahadith on Conditions of Disappearance from Public Sight of (the Twelfth Imam (a.s)

Chapter 80

31 Aḥadīth
The Issue of Disappearance (of the twelfth Imam (a.s) from Public Sight

Chapter 81

19 Aḥadīth
The Criterion to Discern the Truthful and False Claims of Entitlement to Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority)

Chapter 82

7 Aḥadīth
Setting-up a Time Limit for the Reappearance of the Twelfth Imam (a.s) an Antipathetic Issue

Chapter 83

6 Aḥadīth
Refinement and Trial

Chapter 84

7 Aḥadīth
The rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority earlier or later will not affect one who has learned who his Imam is

Chapter 85

12 Aḥadīth
The case of those who would claim to be the Imam but is not qualified, the case of those who would reject all or some of the Imams and the case of those who argue in support of one who is not a qualified Imam.

Chapter 86

5 Aḥadīth
The case of those who would accept the religion of Allah but without accepting the Imam, Leader with Divine Authority

Chapter 87

4 Aḥadīth
The Case of those who would Die without having an Imam from the Imams of Guidance

Chapter 88

4 Aḥadīth
The case of those who have recognized Ahl al-Bayt and those who have ignored them

Chapter 89

3 Aḥadīth
The Obligation and Duty of the People at the Time of the Passing away of the Imam (a.s)

Chapter 90

6 Aḥadīth
When the Imam learns that Leadership with Divine Authority has come to him?

Chapter 91

8 Aḥadīth
The Conditions of the Imams in the Matters of Age

Chapter 92

2 Aḥadīth
Only an Imam has the Authority to Wash the Body of an Imam for Burial

Chapter 93

8 Aḥadīth
The Birth of the Imams (a.s)

Chapter 94

4 Aḥadīth
The Creation of the bodies, spirits and the Hearts of the Imam (a.s)

Chapter 95

8 Aḥadīth
Submission and the Virtue of the Muslims

Chapter 96

3 Aḥadīth
People’s obligation after Hajj to Meet the Imam, Ask them Religious Instructions, Declare and Pledge to them Allegiance and Express their Love

Chapter 97

4 Aḥadīth
The Angels come to the Houses of the Imams, Step on their Furnishings and Bring them News

Chapter 98

7 Aḥadīth
The Jinns Come to the Imam for Religious Instructions and for Dealing with their Affairs

Chapter 99

5 Aḥadīth
When the Imams will Rise with Divine Authority They will Judge Among People as David and his People had Done that They will not Ask any Witness to Testify (May the peace and blessings of Allah be up on them)

Chapter 100

2 Aḥadīth
The fountain head of Knowledge is Ala Muhammad (a.s)

Chapter 101

6 Aḥadīth
There is nothing True with People unless it has Come from the Imams and Whatever that has not Come from Them (a.s) is False

Chapter 102

5 Aḥadīth
The Hadith (statements) of Ahl al-Bayt (members of the family of Prophet Muhammad) is Difficult and becomes Difficult

Chapter 103

5 Aḥadīth
The Commands of the Holy Prophet to Wish Well for the Imams of Muslims, Remain Close with their Group and as to Who They are.

Chapter 104

8 Aḥadīth
The Mutual Rights between the Imam and his Followers

Chapter 105

8 Aḥadīth
The Whole Earth belongs to the Imam (a.s)

Chapter 106

4 Aḥadīth
Manners of the Imams in the Matters of Food and Clothes as Leaders with Divine Authority

Chapter 107

4 Aḥadīth
The Rare Ahadith in the context

Chapter 108

88 Aḥadīth
Enlightening Points Deduced from the Holy Quran about Leadership with Divine Authority)

Chapter 109

7 Aḥadīth
Notable Points and Comprehensive Ahadith about Wilaya (Leadership with Divine Authority)

Chapter 110

3 Aḥadīth
The Imams (a.s) know their friends and that they are the in charge of their affairs

Chapter 111

41 Aḥadīth
The Birth of The Holy Prophet (s.a) and His Demise

Chapter 112

1 Ḥadīth
Climbing over the grave of the Holy Prophet (s.a) prohibited

Chapter 113

12 Aḥadīth
The birth of Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s)

Chapter 114

11 Aḥadīth
The birth of al-Zahra’, Fatima (a.s)

Chapter 115

7 Aḥadīth
The Birth of al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s)

Chapter 116

9 Aḥadīth
The Birth of al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s)

Chapter 117

7 Aḥadīth
The Birth of Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s)

Chapter 118

7 Aḥadīth
The Birth of Abu Ja‘far, Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s)

Chapter 119

9 Aḥadīth
The Birth of abu ‘Abdullah Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s)

Chapter 120

10 Aḥadīth
The Birth of abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s)

Chapter 121

12 Aḥadīth
The birth of abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s)

Chapter 122

13 Aḥadīth
The Birth of Abu Ja‘far, Muhammad ibn Ali, the Second (a.s)

Chapter 123

10 Aḥadīth
The Birth of abu al-Hassan Ali ibn Muhammad (a.s)

Chapter 124

27 Aḥadīth
The Birth of abu Muhammad al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s)

Chapter 125

32 Aḥadīth
The Birth of the Possessor (of Divine Authority) (a.s)

Chapter 126

20 Aḥadīth
The Statements and the Explicit Texts on Leadership with Divine Authority) of the Twelve Imams (a.s)

Chapter 127

3 Aḥadīth
Something said about a man and it is not in him but is found in his sons or grand sons than it is as if it is in him

Chapter 128

3 Aḥadīth
All the Imams (a.s) rise for and with authority of Allah, the Most High and guide to Him Allah

Chapter 129

7 Aḥadīth
Compensation and Imam (a.s)

Chapter 130

29 Aḥadīth
The Fay’, al-Anfal, al-Khums, its rules and the properties subject to al-Khums