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

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْقَاسَانِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الاسْتِطَاعَةِ فَقَالَ يَسْتَطِيعُ الْعَبْدُ بَعْدَ أَرْبَعِ خِصَالٍ أَنْ يَكُونَ مُخَلَّى السَّرْبِ صَحِيحَ الْجِسْمِ سَلِيمَ الْجَوَارِحِ لَهُ سَبَبٌ وَارِدٌ مِنَ الله قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَسِّرْ لِي هَذَا قَالَ أَنْ يَكُونَ الْعَبْدُ مُخَلَّى السَّرْبِ صَحِيحَ الْجِسْمِ سَلِيمَ الْجَوَارِحِ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَزْنِيَ فَلا يَجِدُ امْرَأَةً ثُمَّ يَجِدُهَا فَإِمَّا أَنْ يَعْصِمَ نَفْسَهُ فَيَمْتَنِعَ كَمَا امْتَنَعَ يُوسُفُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَوْ يُخَلِّيَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ إِرَادَتِهِ فَيَزْنِيَ فَيُسَمَّى زَانِياً وَلَمْ يُطِعِ الله بِإِكْرَاهٍ وَلَمْ يَعْصِهِ بِغَلَبَةٍ.

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasani from Ali ibn Asbat who said the following:
“Once I asked Imam abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), about capability. The Imam said, ‘A servant (of Allah) has the capability if four things exist. That he is free and on his own, that he is physically well and of sound limbs and that for him there is reason and means from Allah.’ I asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in the service for your cause, please explain it to me.’ The Imam said, ‘Being free and on one’s own, physically well and of sound limbs means that one is willing to commit adultery but does not find a female party and then he finds her. He may now protect his soul and stay away from sin just as Joseph (peace be upon him) did or allow his desire to act and commit adultery and in this case he is called an adulterer. He has not obeyed Allah in coercion and disobeyed Him with defeat.’”

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ جَمِيعاً عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ وَعَبْدِ الله بْنِ يَزِيدَ جَمِيعاً عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الاسْتِطَاعَةِ فَقَالَ أَ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَعْمَلَ مَا لَمْ يُكَوَّنْ قَالَ لا قَالَ فَتَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَنْتَهِيَ عَمَّا قَدْ كُوِّنَ قَالَ لا قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَمَتَى أَنْتَ مُسْتَطِيعٌ قَالَ لا أَدْرِي قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الله خَلَقَ خَلْقاً فَجَعَلَ فِيهِمْ آلَةَ الاسْتِطَاعَةِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُفَوِّضْ إِلَيْهِمْ فَهُمْ مُسْتَطِيعُونَ لِلْفِعْلِ وَقْتَ الْفِعْلِ مَعَ الْفِعْلِ إِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ الْفِعْلَ فَإِذَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوهُ فِي مُلْكِهِ لَمْ يَكُونُوا مُسْتَطِيعِينَ أَنْ يَفْعَلُوا فِعْلاً لَمْ يَفْعَلُوهُ لانَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَعَزُّ مِنْ أَنْ يُضَادَّهُ فِي مُلْكِهِ أَحَدٌ قَالَ الْبَصْرِيُّ فَالنَّاسُ مَجْبُورُونَ قَالَ لَوْ كَانُوا مَجْبُورِينَ كَانُوا مَعْذُورِينَ قَالَ فَفَوَّضَ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ لا قَالَ فَمَا هُمْ قَالَ عَلِمَ مِنْهُمْ فِعْلاً فَجَعَلَ فِيهِمْ آلَةَ الْفِعْلِ فَإِذَا فَعَلُوهُ كَانُوا مَعَ الْفِعْلِ مُسْتَطِيعِينَ قَالَ الْبَصْرِيُّ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّكُمْ أَهْلُ بَيْتِ النُّبُوَّةِ وَالرِّسَالَةِ.

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ صَالِحٍ النِّيلِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هَلْ لِلْعِبَادِ مِنَ الاسْتِطَاعَةِ شَيْ‏ءٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي إِذَا فَعَلُوا الْفِعْلَ كَانُوا مُسْتَطِيعِينَ بِالاسْتِطَاعَةِ الَّتِي جَعَلَهَا الله فِيهِمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَمَا هِيَ قَالَ الالَةُ مِثْلُ الزَّانِي إِذَا زَنَى كَانَ مُسْتَطِيعاً لِلزِّنَا حِينَ زَنَى وَلَوْ أَنَّهُ تَرَكَ الزِّنَا وَلَمْ يَزْنِ كَانَ مُسْتَطِيعاً لِتَرْكِهِ إِذَا تَرَكَ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَيْسَ لَهُ مِنَ الاسْتِطَاعَةِ قَبْلَ الْفِعْلِ قَلِيلٌ وَلا كَثِيرٌ وَلَكِنْ مَعَ الْفِعْلِ وَالتَّرْكِ كَانَ مُسْتَطِيعاً قُلْتُ فَعَلَى مَا ذَا يُعَذِّبُهُ قَالَ بِالْحُجَّةِ الْبَالِغَةِ وَالالَةِ الَّتِي رَكَّبَ فِيهِمْ إِنَّ الله لَمْ يُجْبِرْ أَحَداً عَلَى مَعْصِيَتِهِ وَلا أَرَادَ إِرَادَةَ حَتْمٍ الْكُفْرَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ وَلَكِنْ حِينَ كَفَرَ كَانَ فِي إِرَادَةِ الله أَنْ يَكْفُرَ وَهُمْ فِي إِرَادَةِ الله وَفِي عِلْمِهِ أَنْ لا يَصِيرُوا إِلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ قُلْتُ أَرَادَ مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يَكْفُرُوا قَالَ لَيْسَ هَكَذَا أَقُولُ وَلَكِنِّي أَقُولُ عَلِمَ أَنَّهُمْ سَيَكْفُرُونَ فَأَرَادَ الْكُفْرَ لِعِلْمِهِ فِيهِمْ وَلَيْسَتْ هِيَ إِرَادَةَ حَتْمٍ إِنَّمَا هِيَ إِرَادَةُ اخْتِيَارٍ.

Muhammad ibn Yahya and Ali ibn Ibrahim both have narrated from Ahmad Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam and ‘Abd Allah ibn Yazid both from a man from Basra who said the following:
“He asked (Imam) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about capability. The Imam said, ‘Can you do something before its existence?’ He Said, ‘No, I cannot do so.’ The Imam said, ‘Can you stop doing what has already been done?’ He said, ‘No, I cannot do so.’ The Imam then asked, ‘When then can you have the capability?’ He said, ‘I do not know.’
“The Imam said, ‘Allah created people and placed in them the means of capability and then He did not leave all matters in their hands. Thus, they are capable of acting at the time of the act with the act when they do that act. If they did not act the ‘Act’ in His property they do not have the capability to act the ‘Act’ that they did not act. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, is by far Majestic and above being opposed by someone in His property.’
“The man from Basra then said, ‘Are people, then, compelled?’ The Imam said, ‘Had they been compelled they would have been excused.’ The man said, ‘Are then all matters up to them?’ The Imam said, ‘No, all things are not left to them.’ The man said, ‘Then how is it’?
“The Imam said, ‘Allah knew that they would act, thus He placed in them the means of capability. If they act at the time of action they are capable.’ The man from Basra then said, ‘I testify that this is the truth and that you are of the family of the Messenger (of Allah).’”

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ صَالِحٍ النِّيلِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هَلْ لِلْعِبَادِ مِنَ الاسْتِطَاعَةِ شَيْ‏ءٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي إِذَا فَعَلُوا الْفِعْلَ كَانُوا مُسْتَطِيعِينَ بِالاسْتِطَاعَةِ الَّتِي جَعَلَهَا الله فِيهِمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَمَا هِيَ قَالَ الالَةُ مِثْلُ الزَّانِي إِذَا زَنَى كَانَ مُسْتَطِيعاً لِلزِّنَا حِينَ زَنَى وَلَوْ أَنَّهُ تَرَكَ الزِّنَا وَلَمْ يَزْنِ كَانَ مُسْتَطِيعاً لِتَرْكِهِ إِذَا تَرَكَ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَيْسَ لَهُ مِنَ الاسْتِطَاعَةِ قَبْلَ الْفِعْلِ قَلِيلٌ وَلا كَثِيرٌ وَلَكِنْ مَعَ الْفِعْلِ وَالتَّرْكِ كَانَ مُسْتَطِيعاً قُلْتُ فَعَلَى مَا ذَا يُعَذِّبُهُ قَالَ بِالْحُجَّةِ الْبَالِغَةِ وَالالَةِ الَّتِي رَكَّبَ فِيهِمْ إِنَّ الله لَمْ يُجْبِرْ أَحَداً عَلَى مَعْصِيَتِهِ وَلا أَرَادَ إِرَادَةَ حَتْمٍ الْكُفْرَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ وَلَكِنْ حِينَ كَفَرَ كَانَ فِي إِرَادَةِ الله أَنْ يَكْفُرَ وَهُمْ فِي إِرَادَةِ الله وَفِي عِلْمِهِ أَنْ لا يَصِيرُوا إِلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ قُلْتُ أَرَادَ مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يَكْفُرُوا قَالَ لَيْسَ هَكَذَا أَقُولُ وَلَكِنِّي أَقُولُ عَلِمَ أَنَّهُمْ سَيَكْفُرُونَ فَأَرَادَ الْكُفْرَ لِعِلْمِهِ فِيهِمْ وَلَيْسَتْ هِيَ إِرَادَةَ حَتْمٍ إِنَّمَا هِيَ إِرَادَةُ اخْتِيَارٍ.

Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Salih al-Nily who said the following:
“Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Do the servants (of Allah) have any capability?’ The Imam said, ‘When they act an act they do have the capability that Allah has placed in them.’ I asked, ‘What is it?’ The Imam said, ‘It is a means. In a sin like adultery when one commits such sins he has the capability when he is in such an act. If he however, desists from such an act he has the capability to refrain.’ The Imam further said, ‘Before the act he does not have the capability in a small or large measure but at the time of the act or desisting, he has the capability.’
“I asked, ‘What for then are they punished?’ The Imam said, ‘It is because of complete justification and because of the means that are placed in them. Allah does not compel anyone into sins. Also He does not will, in a definite form of will, disbelief for anyone, but when one disbelieves it is in the will of Allah for him to disbelieve and it is in the will and knowledge of Allah that he will not turn into anything good.’
“I asked, ‘Has He willed disbelief for them?’ The Imam said, ‘It is not quite like that but I say that Allah knew that they would disbelieve, thus He has willed it for them because of His knowledge of it. It is not a definite will. It is a will of choice.’”

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي حَمْزَةُ بْنُ حُمْرَانَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الاسْتِطَاعَةِ فَلَمْ يُجِبْنِي فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ دَخْلَةً أُخْرَى فَقُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ الله إِنَّهُ قَدْ وَقَعَ فِي قَلْبِي مِنْهَا شَيْ‏ءٌ لا يُخْرِجُهُ إِلا شَيْ‏ءٌ أَسْمَعُهُ مِنْكَ قَالَ فَإِنَّهُ لا يَضُرُّكَ مَا كَانَ فِي قَلْبِكَ قُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ الله إِنِّي أَقُولُ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لَمْ يُكَلِّفِ الْعِبَادَ مَا لا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ وَلَمْ يُكَلِّفْهُمْ إِلا مَا يُطِيقُونَ وَأَنَّهُمْ لا يَصْنَعُونَ شَيْئاً مِنْ ذَلِكَ إِلا بِإِرَادَةِ الله وَمَشِيئَتِهِ وَقَضَائِهِ وَقَدَرِهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ هَذَا دِينُ الله الَّذِي أَنَا عَلَيْهِ وَآبَائِي أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ.

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from certain persons of our people from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurara from Hamza ibn Humran who said the following:
“Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about capability but he did not reply. In another meeting I said, ‘May Allah keep you well, something happens to my heart that will not go away until I will get an answer from you.’ The Imam said, ‘What is in your heart will not harm you.’ I said, ‘May Allah keep you well. I say that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, does not hold people responsible for what they are not capable of doing or do not have the power to act. They do not do anything except with the will of Allah, His wish, decree and determination.’ The Imam said, ‘This is the religion of Allah that my forefathers and I follow,’ or that the Imam made a similar expression.”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 3, Chapter 31