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 أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ الْكِنَانِيِّ قَالَ نَظَرَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَمْشِي فَقَالَ تَرَى هَذَا هَذَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَنُرِيدُ أَنْ نَمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الارْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَئِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ الْوارِثِينَ.

 1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from abu al-Sabbah al-Kinani who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) looked at abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who was walking. The Imam (a.s.) said, ‘Do you see this (person)? This is of those about whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “However, We have decided to grant a favor to the suppressed ones by appointing them leaders and heirs of the land,” [28:5]:

 2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَمَّا حَضَرَتْ أَبِي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الْوَفَاةُ قَالَ يَا جَعْفَرُ أُوصِيكَ بِأَصْحَابِي خَيْراً قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَالله لادَعَنَّهُمْ وَالرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ يَكُونُ فِي الْمِصْرِ فَلا يَسْأَلُ أَحَداً.

 2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following: "When my father was about to leave this world he said, 'O Ja‘far, I recommend you to be good to my companions.' I then said, “May I be your ransom, by Allah, I will educate them as such that in any city where any of them would live he would not need to ask others for knowledge (of religion).”

 3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْمُثَنَّى عَنْ سَدِيرٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ الْوَلَدُ يَعْرِفُ فِيهِ شِبْهَ خَلْقِهِ وَخُلُقِهِ وَشَمَائِلِهِ وَإِنِّي لاعْرِفُ مِنِ ابْنِي هَذَا شِبْهَ خَلْقِي وَخُلُقِي وَشَمَائِلِي يَعْنِي أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام )

 3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn al-Muthanna from Sadir al-Sayrafi who has said that he heard Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say the following: “It is part of the success of a man to have a child who is similar to his father physically, ethically and in good character. I do not know anyone more similar to me physically, ethically and in good character than this son of mine." (meaning thereby Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.))

 4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ طَاهِرٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَأَقْبَلَ جَعْفَرٌ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هَذَا خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ أَوْ أَخْيَرُ.

 4. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Tahir who has said the following: “Once I was in the presence of Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) when Ja‘far (a.s.) came. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) said, “He (Ja‘far) is the best of the people or the best of best among them.”

 5ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ طَاهِرٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَأَقْبَلَ جَعْفَرٌ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هَذَا خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ.

 5.Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Khalid from some of our people from Yunus ibn Ya‘qub from Tahir who has said the following: “Once I was in the presence of Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) when Ja‘far (a.s.) came. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) said, “This (Ja‘far ) is the best of the people.”

 6ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ طَاهِرٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ قَاعِداً عِنْدَ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَأَقْبَلَ جَعْفَرٌ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هَذَا خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ.

 6. Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from Fudayl ibn ‘Uthman from who has said the following. “Once I was in the presence of abu Ja‘far (a.s.) that Ja‘far (a.s.) came. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) said, “This (Ja‘far) is the best of the people.”

 7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْجُعْفِيِّ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سُئِلَ عَنِ الْقَائِمِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ هَذَا وَالله قَائِمُ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ عَنْبَسَةُ فَلَمَّا قُبِضَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ صَدَقَ جَابِرٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَرَوْنَ أَنْ لَيْسَ كُلُّ إِمَامٍ هُوَ الْقَائِمَ بَعْدَ الامَامِ الَّذِي كَانَ قَبْلَهُ.

 7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from Jabur ibn Yazid al-Ju‘fi who has said the following: "A question was asked of Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about al-Qa’im (the twelfth Imam (a.s.). He (Abu Ja‘far) tapped (at the shoulder of) Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and said, 'This, by Allah, is the Qa’im (one who will establish the kingdom of Allah) of the family of Muhammad (s.w.).' ‘Anbasa has said, 'When Abu Ja‘far passed away, went to see Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and told him of what I had heard (from Jabir). The Imam said, 'Jabir has spoken the truth.' He then said, 'You perhaps think that the every succeeding Imam after a preceding Imam is not al-Qa’im (also meaning the one who obeys and serves Allah).'

 8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الاعْلَى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ أَبِي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) اسْتَوْدَعَنِي مَا هُنَاكَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ قَالَ ادْعُ لِي شُهُوداً فَدَعَوْتُ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةً مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فِيهِمْ نَافِعٌ مَوْلَى عَبْدِ الله بْنِ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ اكْتُبْ هَذَا مَا أَوْصَى بِهِ يَعْقُوبُ بَنِيهِ يا بَنِيَّ إِنَّ الله اصْطَفى‏ لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ وَأَوْصَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ إِلَى جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يُكَفِّنَهُ فِي بُرْدِهِ الَّذِي كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِيهِ الْجُمُعَةَ وَأَنْ يُعَمِّمَهُ بِعِمَامَتِهِ وَأَنْ يُرَبِّعَ قَبْرَهُ وَيَرْفَعَهُ أَرْبَعَ أَصَابِعَ وَأَنْ يَحُلَّ عَنْهُ أَطْمَارَهُ عِنْدَ دَفْنِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِلشُّهُودِ انْصَرِفُوا رَحِمَكُمُ الله فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَتِ بَعْدَ مَا انْصَرَفُوا مَا كَانَ فِي هَذَا بِأَنْ تُشْهِدَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ كَرِهْتُ أَنْ تُغْلَبَ وَأَنْ يُقَالَ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يُوصَ إِلَيْهِ فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ تَكُونَ لَكَ الْحُجَّةُ.

 8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from ‘Abd al-A‘la from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “My father entrusted me with all that is there (the sacred objects inherited from the prophets such as directive wills etc.). When he was about to leave this world, he asked me to call for him a few people to bear testimony. I then called for him four people from Quraysh among them was Nafi‘ Mawla ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Umar. He then said, “Write down: This is (like) what was the directive will of Jacob to his sons, “My sons, God has chosen this religion for you. You must not leave this world unless you are a Muslim (submitted to the will of the Lord of the Universe).” (2:132). Muhammad ibn Ali has recommended Ja‘far ibn Muhammad in his directive will and commands him to shroud him with his gown with which he would [erform his prayers on Fridays and prepare a turban for him out of his own turban. That he should shape his grave squirely and raise it four inches from the ground and open the knots of from all ends of his shroud when it is to bury him. Then he said to the testimony bearers, “You may go now, may Allah bless you.” I then asked him after they had left, “O father, you did not need to make a will for such matters.” He said, “My son, I did not like when you will be over come they would say, “No directive will was made in his favor.” I just wanted to establish a defence authority in your favor.”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 70