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 عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ الْكِنَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَكَذلِكَ أَوْحَيْنا إِلَيْكَ رُوحاً مِنْ أَمْرِنا ما كُنْتَ تَدْرِي مَا الْكِتابُ وَلا الايمانُ قَالَ خَلْقٌ مِنْ خَلْقِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ جَبْرَئِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ كَانَ مَعَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يُخْبِرُهُ وَيُسَدِّدُهُ وَهُوَ مَعَ الائِمَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ.

 1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from abu ’al-Sabah al-Kinani from abu Basir who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “Thus, We have revealed a Spirit to you, (Muhammad), by Our command. Before, you did not even know what a Book or Faith was, . .” (42:52) The Imam (a.s.) said, “He is a creature of the creatures of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High greater than Jibril and Mika’il. He was with the Messenger of Allah to give him news and protected him and he is with the Imams after the Messenger of Allah.”

 2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ أَسْبَاطِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ قَالَ سَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ هِيتَ وَأَنَا حَاضِرٌ عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَكَذلِكَ أَوْحَيْنا إِلَيْكَ رُوحاً مِنْ أَمْرِنا فَقَالَ مُنْذُ أَنْزَلَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ذَلِكَ الرُّوحَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَا صَعِدَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَإِنَّهُ لَفِينَا.

 2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ali ibn Asbat from Asbat ibn Salim who has said the following. “Once a man from Hayt (a town in Iraq) asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), -when I was present also-, about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “Thus, We have revealed a Spirit to you, (Muhammad), by Our command. Before, you did not even know what a Book or Faith was, . .” (42:52) The Imam (a.s.) said, “From the day Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent that Spirit to Muhammad (s.a.) he did not ever since ascent and he is present with us.”

 3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَسْئَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي قَالَ خَلْقٌ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ جَبْرَئِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ كَانَ مَعَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَهُوَ مَعَ الائِمَّةِ وَهُوَ مِنَ الْمَلَكُوتِ.

 3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “They ask you about the Spirit. Say, “The Spirit comes by the command of my Lord. . .” (17:85). The Imam (a.s.) said, “He is a creature greater than Jibril and Mika’il. He was with the Messenger of Allah and he is present with the Imams. He is from the realm of the angels.”

 4ـ عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ يَسْئَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي قَالَ خَلْقٌ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ جَبْرَئِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَعَ أَحَدٍ مِمَّنْ مَضَى غَيْرِ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَهُوَ مَعَ الائِمَّةِ يُسَدِّدُهُمْ وَلَيْسَ كُلُّ مَا طُلِبَ وُجِدَ.

 4. Ali has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from abu Basir who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘“They ask you about the Spirit. Say, “The Spirit comes by the command of my Lord. . .” (17:85). The Imam (a.s.) said, “He is a creature greater than Jibril and Mika’il. He was present with anyone before except Muhammad (s.a.). He is present with the Imams (a.s.). He protects them. It is not that whatever is desired is found.”

 5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الْعِلْمِ أَ هُوَ عِلْمٌ يَتَعَلَّمُهُ الْعَالِمُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِ الرِّجَالِ أَمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ عِنْدَكُمْ تَقْرَءُونَهُ فَتَعْلَمُونَ مِنْهُ قَالَ الامْرُ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَأَوْجَبُ أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ قَوْلَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَكَذلِكَ أَوْحَيْنا إِلَيْكَ رُوحاً مِنْ أَمْرِنا ما كُنْتَ تَدْرِي مَا الْكِتابُ وَلا الايمانُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ يَقُولُ أَصْحَابُكُمْ فِي هَذِهِ الايَةِ أَ يُقِرُّونَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ فِي حَالٍ لا يَدْرِي مَا الْكِتَابُ وَلا الايمَانُ فَقُلْتُ لا أَدْرِي جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا يَقُولُونَ فَقَالَ لِي بَلَى قَدْ كَانَ فِي حَالٍ لا يَدْرِي مَا الْكِتَابُ وَلا الايمَانُ حَتَّى بَعَثَ الله تَعَالَى الرُّوحَ الَّتِي ذُكِرَ فِي الْكِتَابِ فَلَمَّا أَوْحَاهَا إِلَيْهِ عَلَّمَ بِهَا الْعِلْمَ وَالْفَهْمَ وَهِيَ الرُّوحُ الَّتِي يُعْطِيهَا الله تَعَالَى مَنْ شَاءَ فَإِذَا أَعْطَاهَا عَبْداً عَلَّمَهُ الْفَهْمَ.

 5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Imran ibn Musa from Musa ibn Ja‘far from Ali ibn Asbat from Muhammad ibn Fudayl from abu Hamzah who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the knowledge. Is it a knowledge that the scholar learns from the mouths of the people or it is in the with you from which you read and then learn therefrom.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The issue is greater and more urgently needed. Have you not heard the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, “Thus, We have revealed a Spirit to you, (Muhammad), by Our command. Before, you did not even know what a Book or Faith was, . .” (42:52)?” The The Imam (a.s.) said, “What does your people say about this verse? Do they read that he was as such that he did not know what the or the was?” I said, “I do not know, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what they say.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “Yes, he lived in a condition wherein he did not know the book and the faith untill Allah, the Most High, sent the Spirit who is mentioned in the book. When the Spirit was inspired (sent) to him he learned through him the knowledge and understanding. He is the Spirit whom Allah, the Most High grants to whoever He wants. When He grants him to a servant he teaches him understanding.”

 6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَلاءِ عَنْ سَعْدٍ الاسْكَافِ قَالَ أَتَى رَجُلٌ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الرُّوحِ أَ لَيْسَ هُوَ جَبْرَئِيلَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) جَبْرَئِيلُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مِنَ الْمَلائِكَةِ وَالرُّوحُ غَيْرُ جَبْرَئِيلَ فَكَرَّرَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ فَقَالَ لَهُ لَقَدْ قُلْتَ عَظِيماً مِنَ الْقَوْلِ مَا أَحَدٌ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ الرُّوحَ غَيْرُ جَبْرَئِيلَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّكَ ضَالٌّ تَرْوِي عَنْ أَهْلِ الضَّلالِ يَقُولُ الله تَعَالَى لِنَبِيِّهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَتى‏ أَمْرُ الله فَلا تَسْتَعْجِلُوهُ سُبْحانَهُ وَتَعالى‏ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ يُنَزِّلُ الْمَلائِكَةَ بِالرُّوحِ وَالرُّوحُ غَيْرُ الْمَلائِكَةِ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِمْ.

 6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ali ibn Asbat from al-Husayn ibn abu al-‘Ala’ from Sa‘d al-Iskaf who has said the following. “Once a man came to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) asking him about the Spirit. “Is he not Jibril?” Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) then said, “Jibril is of the angels. The Spirit is not Jibril. He repeated it to the man. The man said, “You have said something very much extraordinary. No one other than you thinks that the Spirit is somme one other than Jibril.” Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) said to him, “You are mislead and narrate from the mislead people. Allah, the Most High has said to His Prophet (s.a.), ‘Allah’s help will certainly support (the believers), so pagans do not (seek) to hasten it. Allah is far Glorious and Exalted than to be considered equal to idols.” (16:1) He sends the angels with the Spirit. The Spirit is (a creature) other than the angels (a.s.).” and say He said:

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 56