Introduction

The Book of Intelligence and Ignorance

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

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

Chapter on Kinds of People

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

Chapter on the Qualities of the Scholars

Chapter on the Rights of the scholars

Chapter on the Loss of a Scholar

Chapter on Meeting the Scholars and Associating with Them

Chapter on Asking the Scholar and Discussing with him

Chapter on Giving Knowledge as Charity

Prohibition on Speaking without Knowledge.

Chapter on Those who Act without Knowledge

Chapter on Utilization of Knowledge

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

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

Chapter on Miscellaneous Issues

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

Chapter on Taqlid, following the opinions of someone

Chapter on Innovations, Personal Opinions and Analogies

Chapter on the need to refer to the book and Sunnah

Chapter on the Differences in al-Hadith

Chapter on Following the Sunnah and Evidence of the Book

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

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

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

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

Chapter on Who is Worshipped

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

Chapter On The relationships (Nisbah) Of Allah

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

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

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

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

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

Another Chapter of The Previous Chapter

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 On the Coming into the Existence of the Names of Allah

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

Chapter on Another Chapter (Related) to the Previous Chapter

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

Chapter on Motion and Change

Chapter about al-‘Arsh and al-Kursi

Chapter on al-Ruh, the Spirit

Chapter on Comprehensive (Ahadith) about the Oneness of Allah

Chapter on Miscellaneous Ahadith

Chapter on al-Bida’

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

Chapter on Wish and Will

Chapter on Test and Choice

Chapter on Fortunateness and Un-fortunateness

Good and Evil

Predestination, Fate and the Middle Road in Between

The Capabilities

Declaration, Definition and the Need for Solid Proof

Differences in the Justification of Divine Authority among People

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

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

The necessity of the presence of Divine Authority among the people

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Imams are the corner stone on earth

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

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

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

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

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.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter Ninety Seven of the Holy Quran and its interpretation

 1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الله خَلَقَ السَّعَادَةَ وَالشَّقَاءَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ خَلْقَهُ فَمَنْ خَلَقَهُ الله سَعِيداً لَمْ يُبْغِضْهُ أَبَداً وَإِنْ عَمِلَ شَرّاً أَبْغَضَ عَمَلَهُ وَلَمْ يُبْغِضْهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ شَقِيّاً لَمْ يُحِبَّهُ أَبَداً وَإِنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحاً أَحَبَّ عَمَلَهُ وَأَبْغَضَهُ لِمَا يَصِيرُ إِلَيْهِ فَإِذَا أَحَبَّ الله شَيْئاً لَمْ يُبْغِضْهُ أَبَداً وَإِذَا أَبْغَضَ شَيْئاً لَمْ يُحِبَّهُ أَبَداً.

 1. It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Saffron ibn Yahya from Mansur ibn Hazim from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah created good fortune and bad fortune before He created the creatures. Whoever Allah has created fortunate He never becomes angry with him even though he may do bad deeds. He to reach and nor do the deep diving intelligence is capable to grasp. Most High is Allah. It is He who is not subject to the effects of the numbered time or extended period or limited attributes. Glorious is Allah, Who has no beginning that started or a destination that would close or an end that would finish. Glorious is He Who is just as He Him Self has introduced. Those who speak of His attributes can never praise Him duly. He gave to everything a limit at the time of its creation for their non- similarity to Him and His none-similarity to them. For Him th of would dislike his deeds but his own self. If he is an unfortunate He would never love him even if he would do good deeds. He would love his deeds but not his own self because of what he will end up to. If Allah would love someone He will not dislike him and if He would dislike someone He will not love him.”

 2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ الْعَقَرْقُوفِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) جَالِساً وَقَدْ سَأَلَهُ سَائِلٌ فَقَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله مِنْ أَيْنَ لَحِقَ الشَّقَاءُ أَهْلَ الْمَعْصِيَةِ حَتَّى حَكَمَ الله لَهُمْ فِي عِلْمِهِ بِالْعَذَابِ عَلَى عَمَلِهِمْ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَيُّهَا السَّائِلُ حُكْمُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لا يَقُومُ لَهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ بِحَقِّهِ فَلَمَّا حَكَمَ بِذَلِكَ وَهَبَ لاهْلِ مَحَبَّتِهِ الْقُوَّةَ عَلَى مَعْرِفَتِهِ وَوَضَعَ عَنْهُمْ ثِقْلَ الْعَمَلِ بِحَقِيقَةِ مَا هُمْ أَهْلُهُ وَوَهَبَ لاهْلِ الْمَعْصِيَةِ الْقُوَّةَ عَلَى مَعْصِيَتِهِمْ لِسَبْقِ عِلْمِهِ فِيهِمْ وَمَنَعَهُمْ إِطَاقَةَ الْقَبُولِ مِنْهُ فَوَافَقُوا مَا سَبَقَ لَهُمْ فِي عِلْمِهِ وَلَمْ يَقْدِرُوا أَنْ يَأْتُوا حَالاً تُنْجِيهِمْ مِنْ عَذَابِهِ لانَّ عِلْمَهُ أَوْلَى بِحَقِيقَةِ التَّصْدِيقِ وَهُوَ مَعْنَى شَاءَ مَا شَاءَ وَهُوَ سِرُّهُ‏.

 2. It is narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad (in a marfu‘ manner) from shu‘ayb al-‘aqaqufi from abu Basir who has said the following. “I was in presence of Imam abu ‘abdallah (a.s.) when a certain person asked him saying, ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, O great-great-great-great-grandson of the holy Prophet (s.a.), wherefrom misfortune took hold of the people committing sins and so Allah in His knowledge deemed it for them to suffer?” The Imam said, “It is the judgment of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High and no one has the right (to oppose it). When passed such judgment He gave to the people of love the ability to know Him and relieved them of the hardships of deeds by means of what they are capable of and He gave the people of sins the ability to commit sins due His early knowledge and denying them the power to accept from Him, thus, they agree with what is in His knowledge about them and they remain unable to do things that would save them from His punishment. It is because His knowledge is more preferred in the reality of judgment and acknowledgement and this is what is meant by He wanted what He wanted and it is His secret”

 3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَنْظَلَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ يُسْلَكُ بِالسَّعِيدِ فِي طَرِيقِ الاشْقِيَاءِ حَتَّى يَقُولَ النَّاسُ مَا أَشْبَهَهُ بِهِمْ بَلْ هُوَ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَدَارَكُهُ السَّعَادَةُ وَقَدْ يُسْلَكُ بِالشَّقِيِّ فِي طَرِيقِ السُّعَدَاءِ حَتَّى يَقُولَ النَّاسُ مَا أَشْبَهَهُ بِهِمْ بَلْ هُوَ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَدَارَكُهُ الشَّقَاءُ إِنَّ مَنْ كَتَبَهُ الله سَعِيداً وَإِنْ لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلا فُوَاقُ نَاقَةٍ خَتَمَ لَهُ بِالسَّعَادَةِ.

 3. It is narrated from a number of our people from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd for Yahya ibn ‘Imran al-Halabi from Mu’alla ibn ‘Uthman from Ali ibn Hanzala from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) Who has said the following. The Imam said, “A fortunate person is made to walk on the path of the unfortunate ones so much so that people would say, “How similar has he become with them? In fact, he has become one of them. Then good fortune helps him. Sometimes a unfortunate one is made to walk on the path of the fortunate ones and people begins to say, “How similar has he become with them? In fact, he has become one of them. But misfortune takes hold of him. Whoever Allah has written to be of the fortunate ones, even if very little time, such equal to the period between two breast-feeding of a camel her young, would have been left from his life in this world Allah will make it end in good fortune.

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 3, Chapter 28