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 مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَائِذٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ بُرَيْدِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ الْعِجْلِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ اتَّقُوا الله وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ قَالَ إِيَّانَا عَنَى.

 1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from MuAlia ibn Muhammad from al-Washfiha’ from Ahmad ibn ‘A’idh from ibn ’Udhayna from t Burayd ibn Mu‘awiya al-‘Ijli who has said that he asked Imam abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the meaning of the following verse of the Holy Quran. “Believers, be pious before God and always be friends with the truthful ones.” (9:119) The Imam (a.s.) replied, “ ‘The truthful ones’ is a reference to us.”

 2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا الله وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ قَالَ الصَّادِقُونَ هُمُ الائِمَّةُ وَالصِّدِّيقُونَ بِطَاعَتِهِمْ.

 2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr who has said that he asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) about the meaning of the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, in the following verse. “Believers, be pious before God and always be friends with the truthful ones.” (9:119) The Imams (a.s.) said, “The truthful ones are the Imams (a.s.) who, are truthful in their obedience (to Allah).”

 3ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ طَرِيفٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَحْيَا حَيَاةً تُشْبِهُ حَيَاةَ الانْبِيَاءِ وَيَمُوتَ مِيتَةً تُشْبِهُ مِيتَةَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَيَسْكُنَ الْجِنَانَ الَّتِي غَرَسَهَا الرَّحْمَنُ فَلْيَتَوَلَّ عَلِيّاً وَلْيُوَالِ وَلِيَّهُ وَلْيَقْتَدِ بِالائِمَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِتْرَتِي خُلِقُوا مِنْ طِينَتِي اللهمَّ ارْزُقْهُمْ فَهْمِي وَعِلْمِي وَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُخَالِفِينَ لَهُمْ مِنْ أُمَّتِي اللهمَّ لا تُنِلْهُمْ شَفَاعَتِي.

 3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ’Abd al-Hamid from Mansur ibn Yunus from Sa’d ibn Tarayf from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has narrated the following from the Holy Prophet (s.a.). “Whoever would like to live a life similar to those of the prophets, die in a similar manner as the martyrs do and live in the garden which is planted by the Beneficent, they must love Imam Ali (a.s.) (acknowledge his Divine authority) and love those who love and support him and follow the Imams after him who are of my family and are created of the substance that I was created. O Lord, give them my understand and knowledge. Send those of my people to Wayl (a place in Hell) who oppose them and do not give them the chance to benefit from my intervention on their behalf.

 4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَقُولُ اسْتِكْمَالُ حُجَّتِي عَلَى الاشْقِيَاءِ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ مَنْ تَرَكَ وَلايَةَ عَلِيٍّ وَوَالَى أَعْدَاءَهُ وَأَنْكَرَ فَضْلَهُ وَفَضْلَ الاوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَإِنَّ فَضْلَكَ فَضْلُهُمْ وَطَاعَتَكَ طَاعَتُهُمْ وَحَقَّكَ حَقُّهُمْ وَمَعْصِيَتَكَ مَعْصِيَتُهُمْ وَهُمُ الائِمَّةُ الْهُدَاةُ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ جَرَى فِيهِمْ رُوحُكَ وَرُوحُكَ مَا جَرَى فِيكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَهُمْ عِتْرَتُكَ مِنْ طِينَتِكَ وَلَحْمِكَ وَدَمِكَ وَقَدْ أَجْرَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهِمْ سُنَّتَكَ وَسُنَّةَ الانْبِيَاءِ قَبْلَكَ وَهُمْ خُزَّانِي عَلَى عِلْمِي مِنْ بَعْدِكَ حَقٌّ عَلَيَّ لَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْتُهُمْ وَانْتَجَبْتُهُمْ وَأَخْلَصْتُهُمْ وَارْتَضَيْتُهُمْ وَنَجَا مَنْ أَحَبَّهُمْ وَوَالاهُمْ وَسَلَّمَ لِفَضْلِهِمْ وَلَقَدْ أَتَانِي جَبْرَئِيلُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ وَأَسْمَاءِ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَحِبَّائِهِمْ وَالْمُسَلِّمِينَ لِفَضْلِهِمْ.

 4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from al-Nadr ibn Shu’ayb from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu Hamzah al-Thamali who has said that he heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) say, “The Messenger of Allah (s.a.) said: “ Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, says, “It is to establish my authority over the wicked ones of your people that those who would refuse to acknowledge the Divine authority of Imam Ali (a.s.) and become friend and supporters of the enemies of Ali (a.s.), refuse to acknowledge his virtuous qualities and the such qualities of his successors after him (Imam Ali (a.s). Indeed your excellence and virtues are their excellence and virtues, obedience to you is like obedience to them, your right is like their right and disobedience to you is disobedience to them. They will be the Imams who possess the right guidance after you. Your spirit flows in them and so does the spirit of that which your Lord has made to flow in you. They are members of your family of the substance of which you are made. They are your flesh and blood. Allah (azwj) as made your traditions and the traditions of the prophets before to continue with them (the Imams). They (Imams) are the treasurers of My knowledge after you. It is a right that owe them. I have chosen and give to them nobility exclusively with satisfaction. Salvation will be for those who would love them acknowledge their Divine authority and accept their excellence and virtues. The angel, Jibril has brought for their (Imam’s) names and the names of their fathers, the names of those who would love them and those who would accept their virtues and excellence.”

 5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ تَغْلِبَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَحْيَا حَيَاتِي وَيَمُوتَ مِيتَتِي وَيَدْخُلَ جَنَّةَ عَدْنٍ الَّتِي غَرَسَهَا الله رَبِّي بِيَدِهِ فَلْيَتَوَلَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَلْيَتَوَلَّ وَلِيَّهُ وَلْيُعَادِ عَدُوَّهُ وَلْيُسَلِّمْ لِلاوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِتْرَتِي مِنْ لَحْمِي وَدَمِي أَعْطَاهُمُ الله فَهْمِي وَعِلْمِي إِلَى الله أَشْكُو أَمْرَ أُمَّتِي الْمُنْكِرِينَ لِفَضْلِهِمْ الْقَاطِعِينَ فِيهِمْ صِلَتِي وَايْمُ الله لَيَقْتُلُنَّ ابْنِي لا أَنَالَهُمُ الله شَفَاعَتِي.

 5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ’Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fudala ibn Ayyub from abu a1-Maghra from Muhammad ibn Salim from Aban ibn Taghlib from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever would want to live like my living, die like I will die and enter the garden of Eden that my Lord has planted with His own hands, he must love (acknowledge the Divine authority of) Ali (a.s.) ibn abu Talib. He must love (acknowledge the Divine authority of his successor) those who love him, be the enemy of his enemies and submit in obedience to his successors after him because they are of my family and my flesh and blood. Allah has given them my understanding and knowledge. I appeal to Allah and complain to Him about the case of my people’s dealings, their denying the virtue and excellence of the Imams from my family. I complain to Allah for their disregard of my relation with them. By Allah, they will murder my son (al-Husayn (a.s.). May Allah deprive them of my intercession.’”

 6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ سَعْدَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْقَهَّارِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ الْجُعْفِيِّ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَحْيَا حَيَاتِي وَيَمُوتَ مِيتَتِي وَيَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ الَّتِي وَعَدَنِيهَا رَبِّي وَيَتَمَسَّكَ بِقَضِيبٍ غَرَسَهُ رَبِّي بِيَدِهِ فَلْيَتَوَلَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَأَوْصِيَاءَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَإِنَّهُمْ لا يُدْخِلُونَكُمْ فِي بَابِ ضَلالٍ وَلا يُخْرِجُونَكُمْ مِنْ بَابِ هُدًى فَلا تُعَلِّمُوهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكُمْ وَإِنِّي سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي أَلا يُفَرِّقَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ الْكِتَابِ حَتَّى يَرِدَا عَلَيَّ الْحَوْضَ هَكَذَا وَضَمَّ بَيْنَ إِصْبَعَيْهِ وَعَرْضُهُ مَا بَيْنَ صَنْعَاءَ إِلَى أَيْلَةَ فِيهِ قُدْحَانُ فِضَّةٍ وَذَهَبٍ عَدَدَ النُّجُومِ.

 6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Musa ibn Sa‘dan from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Qasim from ’Abd al-Qahhar from Jabir al-Ju‘fi from abu Ja’far ( a.s.) who has said that the Messenger of Allah has said the following. “Whoever would like to live as I have lived and die as will do and enter the garden that my Lord has promised to me and hold in hands the stick that Allah has planted with His own hands he then must love and acknowledge (Leadership with Divine Authority of) Ali (a.s.) and his successors after him because they do not lead you into the gates of misguidance or take you out the gate of true guidance. Thus, do not try to teach them because they know more then you do. I have asked my Lord not to cause any separation between them and the Holy Quran until the time they will arrive in my presence near the al-Kawthar in paradise like this (showing his two fingers stretched side by side). The pond of al-Kawthar which is as big as from San‘a’ to ’Ayla (a place between Makka and Madina) with cups of gold and silver around it as many as the stars.

 7ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَإِنَّ الرَّوْحَ وَالرَّاحَةَ وَالْفَلْجَ وَالْعَوْنَ وَالنَّجَاحَ وَالْبَرَكَةَ وَالْكَرَامَةَ وَالْمَغْفِرَةَ وَالْمُعَافَاةَ وَالْيُسْرَ وَالْبُشْرَى وَالرِّضْوَانَ وَالْقُرْبَ وَالنَّصْرَ وَالتَّمَكُّنَ وَالرَّجَاءَ وَالْمَحَبَّةَ مِنَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِمَنْ تَوَلَّى عَلِيّاً وَائْتَمَّ بِهِ وَبَرِئَ مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِفَضْلِهِ وَلِلاوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ حَقّاً عَلَيَّ أَنْ أُدْخِلَهُمْ فِي شَفَاعَتِي وَحَقٌّ عَلَى رَبِّي تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَنْ يَسْتَجِيبَ لِي فِيهِمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ أَتْبَاعِي وَمَنْ تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي.

7. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from Fadala ibn Ayyub from al-Hassan ibn Ziyad from Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said that abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said the following. “Tranquillity, comfort, victory, support, success, blessings, honor, forgiveness, relief, ease, glad news, satisfaction, nearness, triumph, capabilities, hope and love from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, are for those who love (acknowledge the Divine authority of) Ali (a.s.) and follow him, disavows the enemies of Ali (a.s.) and accept in submission the virtues of Ali and his successors after him. I am obligated to include them in my task of intervention on their behalf. It will be a truth before my Lord, the Most Holy, the Most High, to approve my intervention on their behalf. They are my followers and those who would follow me they will be of me.” 1. In M`r’atu ’I- ’ uqul (vol. 2, p.425) al- Aliamah al-Majlisi has pointed out that this phrase has been omitted, and that the reason for this becomes evident at the end of the hadith.

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 19