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 مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ وَأَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الْحُسَيْنَ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) لَمَّا حَضَرَهُ الَّذِي حَضَرَهُ دَعَا ابْنَتَهُ الْكُبْرَى فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَدَفَعَ إِلَيْهَا كِتَاباً مَلْفُوفاً وَوَصِيَّةً ظَاهِرَةً وَكَانَ عَلِيُّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) مَبْطُوناً مَعَهُمْ لا يَرَوْنَ إِلا أَنَّهُ لِمَا بِهِ فَدَفَعَتْ فَاطِمَةُ الْكِتَابَ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) ثُمَّ صَارَ وَالله ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ إِلَيْنَا يَا زِيَادُ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا فِي ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابِ جَعَلَنِيَ الله فِدَاكَ قَالَ فِيهِ وَالله مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ وُلْدُ آدَمَ مُنْذُ خَلَقَ الله آدَمَ إِلَى أَنْ تَفْنَى الدُّنْيَا وَالله إِنَّ فِيهِ الْحُدُودَ حَتَّى أَنَّ فِيهِ أَرْشَ الْخَدْشِ.

 1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn and Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from Mansur ibn Yunus from abu al-Jarud from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “When al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) was about to leave this world he called his eldest daughter, Fatima and gave her a sealed document and openly before the people his directive will. Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was ill with some internal illness and the people would see as dying. Fatima then gave the document to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.). Thereafter, that document, by Allah, came to us, O Ziyad.” The narrator has said that he asked the the Imam (a.s.). “What is in that document, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “In it there is all that the children of Adam needed from the day Allah created Adam to the end of the world. In it there is the law of penalties and even the rules of compensation for an scratch on a victim’s body.”

 2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَمَّا حَضَرَ الْحُسَيْنَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا حَضَرَهُ دَفَعَ وَصِيَّتَهُ إِلَى ابْنَتِهِ فَاطِمَةَ ظَاهِرَةً فِي كِتَابٍ مُدْرَجٍ فَلَمَّا أَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا كَانَ دَفَعَتْ ذَلِكَ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) قُلْتُ لَهُ فَمَا فِيهِ يَرْحَمُكَ الله فَقَالَ مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ وُلْدُ آدَمَ مُنْذُ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا إِلَى أَنْ تَفْنَى.

 2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from ibn Sinan from abu al-Jarud from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “When al-Husayn (a.s.) was about to leave this world he gave his directive will to his daughter, Fatima in a sealed document before the people onpenly. When what had to happen to al-Husayn (a.s.) did happen she gave it to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s..” The narrator has said that then he asked the Imam (a.s.). “What was in it, may Allah grant you blessings?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It contained all that the children of Adam would need from the beginning of the world until it will end.”

 3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الْحُسَيْنَ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ لَمَّا صَارَ إِلَى الْعِرَاقِ اسْتَوْدَعَ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهَا الْكُتُبَ وَالْوَصِيَّةَ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ عَلِيُّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) دَفَعَتْهَا إِلَيْهِ.

 3. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Amira from abu Bakr al-Hadrami from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “When al-Husayn (a.s.) was about to leave for Iraq he entrusted ’Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) with the books and directive will. When Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) returned (to Madina) she delivered them to him. According to the manuscript of al-Safwan the hadith reads as follows:

 4ـ وَفِي نُسْخَةِ الصَّفْوَانِيِّ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَنَانِ بْنِ سَدِيرٍ عَنْ فُلَيْحِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ قَالَ وَالله إِنِّي لَجَالِسٌ عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ وَعِنْدَهُ وُلْدُهُ إِذْ جَاءَهُ جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الله الانْصَارِيُّ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَخَلا بِهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَخْبَرَنِي أَنِّي سَأُدْرِكُ رَجُلاً مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ يُقَالُ لَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ يُكَنَّى أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ فَإِذَا أَدْرَكْتَهُ فَأَقْرِئْهُ مِنِّي السَّلامَ قَالَ وَمَضَى جَابِرٌ وَرَجَعَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَجَلَسَ مَعَ أَبِيهِ عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) وَإِخْوَتِهِ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ لابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَيَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَالَ لَكَ جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الله الانْصَارِيُّ فَقَالَ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ إِنَّكَ سَتُدْرِكُ رَجُلاً مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِيَ اسْمُهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ يُكَنَّى أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ فَأَقْرِئْهُ مِنِّي السَّلامَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُوهُ هَنِيئاً لَكَ يَا بُنَيَّ مَا خَصَّكَ الله بِهِ مِنْ رَسُولِهِ مِنْ بَيْنِ أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ لا تُطْلِعْ إِخْوَتَكَ عَلَى هَذَا فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْداً كَمَا كَادُوا إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ لِيُوسُفَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام )

 4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hanan ibn Sadir from Falih ibn Abu Bakr al-Shaybani who has said the following. “ I swear by Allah, I was sitting in the presence of Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) whose sons also were there when Jabir ibn ‘Abdallah al-Ansari came. He offered his greeting then he held the hand of Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and took him aside for privacy and said, “The Messenger of Allah informed me that I would find my self with a man from Ahl al-Bayt (family the Holy Prophet (s.w) who would be called ‘Muhammad ibn Ali’ also called Abu Ja‘far (father of Ja‘far). When Abu Ja‘far returned to the meeting he sat near his father, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) and his brothers. When the Imam performed the Maghrib prayer (the prayer at sun set, Ali ibn al-Husayn asked Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), “What did Jabir ibn ‘Abdallah al-Ansari say to you?” He (Abu Ja‘far ) said, “Jabir said that the Messenger of Allah said to him the following, “You will soon find yourself with a man from my Ahl al-Bayt (my family) whose name is Muhammad ibn Ali also called Abu Ja‘far (father of Ja‘far). Convey that offer him greetings.” His father (Abu Ja‘far’s father) then said, “Success for you, my son, for what Allah has granted to you exclusively from His messenger from among the members of your family. Do not tell it to your brothers lest they may plan against you a plot as his brothers plotted against Joseph.”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 68