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

 1- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ وَعَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ الْبَطَلِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَيُّ إِمَامٍ لا يَعْلَمُ مَا يُصِيبُهُ وَإِلَى مَا يَصِيرُ فَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ بِحُجَّةٍ لله عَلَى خَلْقِهِ.

 1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Salamah ibn-al-Khattab from ) Sulayman ibn Sama‘a and ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Qasim al-Batal from abu Basir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Whoever of the Imams that would not know what would happen to him and to what events he would proceed such a person is not a possessor of Divine authority over His creature.”

 2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بَشَّارٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي شَيْخٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ قَطِيعَةِ الرَّبِيعِ مِنَ الْعَامَّةِ بِبَغْدَادَ مِمَّنْ كَانَ يُنْقَلُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ لِي قَدْ رَأَيْتُ بَعْضَ مَنْ يَقُولُونَ بِفَضْلِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ مِثْلَهُ قَطُّ فِي فَضْلِهِ وَنُسُكِهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مَنْ وَكَيْفَ رَأَيْتَهُ قَالَ جُمِعْنَا أَيَّامَ السِّنْدِيِّ بْنِ شَاهَكَ ثَمَانِينَ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْوُجُوهِ الْمَنْسُوبِينَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ فَأُدْخِلْنَا عَلَى مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) فَقَالَ لَنَا السِّنْدِيُّ يَا هَؤُلاءِ انْظُرُوا إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ هَلْ حَدَثَ بِهِ حَدَثٌ فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ فُعِلَ بِهِ وَيُكْثِرُونَ فِي ذَلِكَ وَهَذَا مَنْزِلُهُ وَفِرَاشُهُ مُوَسَّعٌ عَلَيْهِ غَيْرُ مُضَيَّقٍ وَلَمْ يُرِدْ بِهِ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سُوءاً وَإِنَّمَا يَنْتَظِرُ بِهِ أَنْ يَقْدَمَ فَيُنَاظِرَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَهَذَا هُوَ صَحِيحٌ مُوَسَّعٌ عَلَيْهِ فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِهِ فَسَلُوهُ قَالَ وَنَحْنُ لَيْسَ لَنَا هَمٌّ إِلا النَّظَرُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ وَإِلَى فَضْلِهِ وَسَمْتِهِ فَقَالَ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَمَّا مَا ذَكَرَ مِنَ التَّوْسِعَةِ وَمَا أَشْبَهَهَا فَهُوَ عَلَى مَا ذَكَرَ غَيْرَ أَنِّي أُخْبِرُكُمْ أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ أَنِّي قَدْ سُقِيتُ السَّمَّ فِي سَبْعِ تَمَرَاتٍ وَأَنَا غَداً أَخْضَرُّ وَبَعْدَ غَدٍ أَمُوتُ قَالَ فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى السِّنْدِيِّ بْنِ شَاهَكَ يَضْطَرِبُ وَيَرْتَعِدُ مِثْلَ السَّعَفَةِ.

 2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Bashshar has said that a respectable man from Qati‘a al- Rabi‘ (a quarter in the Karkh part of Baghdad) from the general public (non-Shi‘a) of Baghdad, from whom people would narrate hadith has said to me the following. “I have seen (experienced) from the people of this family of whose virtues people speak, things that I have never seen (experienced) no one else to be like him in his virtue and worship.” The narrator has said that he asked the man. “Who is he? And how did you find him?” He then said, “In the days of al-Sindi ibn Shahik (a vazir of Harun al-Rashid) we gathered eighty people of the leading personalities in goodness to meet Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) Al-Sindi asked us, “Gentlemen, please examine this man. Has anything happened to him?” People think that he is tortured and they make a huge noise about it. This is his dwelling place and his bed which, has enough room and he is not constrained. Amir al-Mu’minin (Harun al-Rashid) has not done any bad things to him. He is kept here until the right time comes so he can debate Amir al-Mu’minin (Harun al-Rashid). He is quite well and comfortable from all aspects. You may ask him questions.” The narrator has said, “We had no other intention but to see to the man, to his virtue and his excellent attitude. Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) then said, “Whatever he (al-Sindi) has said about the capacity of the place and other such things are as he has said. However, O people, I let you know that I am being poisoned with seven pieces of dates. Tomorrow my color will turn green and after tomorrow I will die.” The man has said, “I looked at al-Sindi ibn Shahik. He shivered in terror and shook like the leaves of a branch of palm tree.”

 3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَخِي عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَنَّهُ أَتَى عَلِيَّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) لَيْلَةً قُبِضَ فِيهَا بِشَرَابٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَتِ اشْرَبْ هَذَا فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي أُقْبَضُ فِيهَا وَهِيَ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي قُبِضَ فِيهَا رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه )

 3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from abu Jamilah from ‘Abdallah ibn abu Ja‘far who has said that my brother narrated from Ja‘far (abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) from his father that he went to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) on the night in which he passed away and offered him a drink requesting, “Father, please drink it.” He said, “Son, this is the night in which I will pass away and during such night the Messenger of Allah also passed away.” (The date of the demise of the two holy ones, as generally held, is not the same. However, being the same day is a possibility).

 4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَدْ عَرَفَ قَاتِلَهُ وَاللَّيْلَةَ الَّتِي يُقْتَلُ فِيهَا وَالْمَوْضِعَ الَّذِي يُقْتَلُ فِيهِ وَقَوْلُهُ لَمَّا سَمِعَ صِيَاحَ الاوَزِّ فِي الدَّارِ صَوَائِحُ تَتْبَعُهَا نَوَائِحُ وَقَوْلُ أُمِّ كُلْثُومٍ لَوْ صَلَّيْتَ اللَّيْلَةَ دَاخِلَ الدَّارِ وَأَمَرْتَ غَيْرَكَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَأَبَى عَلَيْهَا وَكَثُرَ دُخُولُهُ وَخُرُوجُهُ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ بِلا سِلاحٍ وَقَدْ عَرَفَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ ابْنَ مُلْجَمٍ لَعَنَهُ الله قَاتِلُهُ بِالسَّيْفِ كَانَ هَذَا مِمَّا لَمْ يَجُزْ تَعَرُّضُهُ فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ كَانَ وَلَكِنَّهُ خُيِّرَ فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ لِتَمْضِيَ مَقَادِيرُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

 4. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm who has said that he said to al-Rida (a.s.) the following. “Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) knew his assassin, the night in of being murdered and the spot whereat who be murdered. It is his words on hearing the ducks at the house, “These are the quacks that will be followed by lamentations.” Also the words of ’Umm Kulthum (his daughter). “Would that you pray inside the house and send someone else to lead the prayer in the Mosque.” He refused to do so and at that night he went many times out of the house unarmed. He knew that ibn Muljim, may he be condemned will murder him with a sword. He must not have exposed himself to it” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is true but it was chosen that night wherein the measure and the determination of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High would come to pass.”

 5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ غَضِبَ عَلَى الشِّيعَةِ فَخَيَّرَنِي نَفْسِي أَوْ هُمْ فَوَقَيْتُهُمْ وَالله بِنَفْسِي.

 5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from some of our people from abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High expressed anger at the Shi‘a. He, therefore, let me choose either myself or them (to receive protection). I swear by Allah, that I protected them with my own soul.”

 6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ مُسَافِرٍ أَنَّ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَهُ يَا مُسَافِرُ هَذَا الْقَنَاةُ فِيهَا حِيتَانٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْبَارِحَةَ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ يَا عَلِيُّ مَا عِنْدَنَا خَيْرٌ لَكَ.

 6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from Musafir that abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) said to him the following. “O Musafir, in this water passage there is fish.” The narrator has said that he said, “Yes, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, there is fish there.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “I saw the Messenger of Allah last night and was saying, “O Ali, what is with us is better for you.” (The mention of fish is to show equality of degree of certain in his knowledge from observation and his knowledge from his dream.)

 7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَائِذٍ عَنْ أَبِي خَدِيجَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي قُبِضَ فِيهِ فَأَوْصَانِي بِأَشْيَاءَ فِي غُسْلِهِ وَفِي كَفْنِهِ وَفِي دُخُولِهِ قَبْرَهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَاهْ وَالله مَا رَأَيْتُكَ مُنْذُ اشْتَكَيْتَ أَحْسَنَ مِنْكَ الْيَوْمَ مَا رَأَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ أَثَرَ الْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ عَلِيَّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) يُنَادِي مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْجِدَارِ يَا مُحَمَّدُ تَعَالَ عَجِّلْ.

 7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from Ahmad ibn ‘Aidh from abu Khadija from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “I was in the presence of my father during the day in which he passes away. He made several recommendations to me about his funeral matters, such as washing his whole body, shrouding him and placing him in his grave. I then said to him, “Father, I have not seen in a better health from the day you complained illness than today. I do not see in you any sign of death.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Son, have you not heard about Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) calling from behind the wall, ‘O Muhammad, come. Be quick.’”

 8ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ أَنْزَلَ الله تَعَالَى النَّصْرَ عَلَى الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) حَتَّى كَانَ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالارْضِ ثُمَّ خُيِّرَ النَّصْرَ أَوْ لِقَاءَ الله فَاخْتَارَ لِقَاءَ الله تَعَالَى.

 8. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Umayra from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn A‘yan from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent support for Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) up to the fill between the heavens and earth. Then he was let to choose either victory or meeting Allah. He, however, chose the meeting of Allah the Most High.”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 47