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 الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ بِإِسْنَادِهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الامَامَ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مَا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ إِنَّمَا النَّاسُ يَحْتَاجُونَ أَنْ يَقْبَلَ مِنْهُمُ الامَامُ قَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِها.

 1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Amir through his chain of narrators has narrated in a marfu‘ manner saying, “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said the following. “Whoever would think that imam is needy to what people own he would become an unbeliever. It is the people who need that Imam accept from them. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, has said, “Collect religious tax (zakat) from them to purify and cleanse them and pray for them;. .” (9:103)

 2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ عِيسَى بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ النَّحَّاسِ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنِ الْخَيْبَرِيِّ وَيُونُسَ بْنِ ظَبْيَانَ قَالا سَمِعْنَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَى الله مِنْ إِخْرَاجِ الدَّرَاهِمِ إِلَى الامَامِ وَإِنَّ الله لَيَجْعَلُ لَهُ الدِّرْهَمَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِثْلَ جَبَلِ أُحُدٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الله تَعَالَى يَقُولُ فِي كِتَابِهِ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ الله قَرْضاً حَسَناً فَيُضاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعافاً كَثِيرَةً قَالَ هُوَ وَالله فِي صِلَةِ الامَامِ خَاصَّةً.

 2. A number of our people has narrated Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from ‘Isa ibn Sulayman al-Nahhas from al-Mufaddl ibn ‘Umar from al-Khaybari and Yunus ibn Zabyan who both have said we heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following. “There is nothing more beloved to Allah than the Dirhams taken out (of one’s property) to pay to the Imam (a.s.). On the Day of Judgment Allah will his Dirham as big as the mountain of ’Uhud.” He then said, “Allah, the Most High has said in His book, “One who generously lends to God will be paid back in many multiples of the loan. . .” (2:245) The Imam (a.s.) said, “This is a special reference to the payment made to the Imam.”

 3ـ وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ عَنْ مُعَاذٍ صَاحِبِ الاكْسِيَةِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله لَمْ يَسْأَلْ خَلْقَهُ مَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ قَرْضاً مِنْ حَاجَةٍ بِهِ إِلَى ذَلِكَ وَمَا كَانَ لله مِنْ حَقٍّ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ لِوَلِيِّهِ.

 3. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from md ibn sn from Hammad ibn abu Talha from Ma‘adh Sahib al-Akyisa who has said the following “I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘Allah does not ask His creatures to lend Him from their properties because He needs it. In fact, Whatever such rights Allah has they are for His appointed guardian (over His creatures).”

 4ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ الله قَرْضاً حَسَناً فَيُضاعِفَهُ لَهُ وَلَهُ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ قَالَ نَزَلَتْ فِي صِلَةِ الامَامِ.

 4. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hakam from abu al-Maghra’ from iq ibn ‘Ammar from abu Ibrahim (a.s.) who has said the following “The narrator has said that he asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Gracious, ‘Whoever gives a virtuous loan to God will receive double from Him in addition to an honorable reward.” (57:11).The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was revealed about the payments to Imam.”

 5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَيَّاحٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا مَيَّاحُ دِرْهَمٌ يُوصَلُ بِهِ الامَامُ أَعْظَمُ وَزْناً مِنْ أُحُدٍ.

 5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mayyah from his father who has said the following “Once abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said to me, “O Mayyah, one Dirham paid to the Imam is greater in weight than the mountain of ’Uhud.”

 6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ بَعْضِ رِجَالِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ دِرْهَمٌ يُوصَلُ بِهِ الامَامُ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ أَلْفَيْ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ فِيمَا سِوَاهُ مِنْ وُجُوهِ الْبِرِّ.

 6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from certain persons of his people have narrated from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) the following. “One Dirham paid to the Imam earns more reward than two million Dirhams paid for other charities.”

 7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنِّي لآَخُذُ مِنْ أَحَدِكُمُ الدِّرْهَمَ وَإِنِّي لَمِنْ أَكْثَرِ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ مَالاً مَا أُرِيدُ بِذَلِكَ إِلا أَنْ تُطَهَّرُوا.

 7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr who has said the following “I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘I procure payment of one Dirham from a person of you when I am the wealthiest of the people of the city of al-Madina I accept such payments just to purify you.”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 129