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 عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) اعْرِفْ إِمَامَكَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا عَرَفْتَ لَمْ يَضُرَّكَ تَقَدَّمَ هَذَا الامْرُ أَوْ تَأَخَّرَ.

 1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurara who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said, ‘Learn who your Imam is. When you learn who he is then it will have no affect on you whether this matter (the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority) will take place earlier or later.”

 2ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا كُلَّ أُناسٍ بِإِمامِهِمْ فَقَالَ يَا فُضَيْلُ اعْرِفْ إِمَامَكَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا عَرَفْتَ إِمَامَكَ لَمْ يَضُرَّكَ تَقَدَّمَ هَذَا الامْرُ أَوْ تَأَخَّرَ وَمَنْ عَرَفَ إِمَامَهُ ثُمَّ مَاتَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُومَ صَاحِبُ هَذَا الامْرِ كَانَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ مَنْ كَانَ قَاعِداً فِي عَسْكَرِهِ لا بَلْ بِمَنْزِلَةِ مَنْ قَعَدَ تَحْتَ لِوَائِهِ قَالَ وَقَالَ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِهِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ مَنِ اسْتُشْهِدَ مَعَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه )

 2. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from Safwan ibn Yahya from Muhammad ibn Marwan from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, “On the day when We call every nation with their leaders, Imams. .” (17:71). He said, “O Fudayl find out who your Imam is because when you will find out who your Imam is then whether this matter (the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority) will take place earlier or later will not affect you at all. One who finds out who his Imam is and then dies before the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority he will be just as those who are positioned in his army. In fact, just like those who have placed themselves under his banner.” The narrator has said that certain persons from his companions said, “He will be just like the martyrs in battle supporting the Messenger of Allah. “

 3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَتَى الْفَرَجُ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا بَصِيرٍ وَأَنْتَ مِمَّنْ يُرِيدُ الدُّنْيَا مَنْ عَرَفَ هَذَا الامْرَ فَقَدْ فُرِّجَ عَنْهُ لانْتِظَارِهِ.

 3. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from in a Murfu‘ manner from Ali ibn Hamza from abu Basir who has said the following. “I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, when will relief will come?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “O abu Basir, are you after the worldly gains? In fact, one who has established faith in this matter (the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority) he has already experienced relief of expecting his (coming with Divine Authority).”

 4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْخُزَاعِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَأَنَا أَسْمَعُ فَقَالَ تَرَانِي أُدْرِكُ الْقَائِمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا بَصِيرٍ أَ لَسْتَ تَعْرِفُ إِمَامَكَ فَقَالَ إِي وَالله وَأَنْتَ هُوَ وَتَنَاوَلَ يَدَهُ فَقَالَ وَالله مَا تُبَالِي يَا أَبَا بَصِيرٍ أَلا تَكُونَ مُحْتَبِياً بِسَيْفِكَ فِي ظِلِّ رِوَاقِ الْقَائِمِ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ.

 4. Ali Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn al-Sindi from Ja‘far ibn Bashir from ’Isma‘il ibn Muhammad al-Khuza’Isma‘il who has said the following. “Abu basir askked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and I was listening. ‘Do you think I will meet Al-Qa’im (a.s.) ?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “O abu Basir, ‘Do you not know who your Imam is?” He said, “By Allah, your are my Imam while holding his hand.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Then you must worry for not leaning against your sword in the shadow of Al-Qa’im’s tent.”

 5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ مَنْ مَاتَ وَلَيْسَ لَهُ إِمَامٌ فَمِيتَتُهُ مِيتَةُ جَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَمَنْ مَاتَ وَهُوَ عَارِفٌ لامَامِهِ لَمْ يَضُرَّهُ تَقَدَّمَ هَذَا الامْرُ أَوْ تَأَخَّرَ وَمَنْ مَاتَ وَهُوَ عَارِفٌ لامَامِهِ كَانَ كَمَنْ هُوَ مَعَ الْقَائِمِ فِي فُسْطَاطِهِ.

 5. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Ni‘man from Muhammad ibn Marwan from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘One who would die without having an Imam his death would like the death of ignorance. One who would die and would know who his Imam is then the coming of this matter (the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority) earlier or later will not affect him at all. One who would knowing who his Imam is he would be like the one present with Al-Qa’im in his tents.”

 6ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْعَلَوِيُّ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله الْحَسَنِيِّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ الْعُرَنِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ هَاشِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَا ضَرَّ مَنْ مَاتَ مُنْتَظِراً لامْرِنَا أَلا يَمُوتَ فِي وَسَطِ فُسْطَاطِ الْمَهْدِيِّ وَعَسْكَرِهِ.

 6. al-Husayn ibn Ali al-‘Alawi fromSahl ibn Jumhur from ‘Abd al-‘Azim Ibrahim ‘Abdallah al-Hassani fro al-Hassan ibn al-Husayn al-‘Arni from Ali from Ali ibn Hashim from his father from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “One who would expecting the coming of our task (the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority) he his not suffered any loss of not dying in the tents of al-Mahdi and in his army.”

 7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبَانٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ اعْرِفِ الْعَلامَةَ فَإِذَا عَرَفْتَهُ لَمْ يَضُرَّكَ تَقَدَّمَ هَذَا الامْرُ أَوْ تَأَخَّرَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا كُلَّ أُناسٍ بِإِمامِهِمْ فَمَنْ عَرَفَ إِمَامَهُ كَانَ كَمَنْ كَانَ فِي فُسْطَاطِ الْمُنْتَظَرِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام )

 7. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyadfrom al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fudala ibn Ayyub from ‘Umar ibn Aban who has said the following. “I heard abu‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘Find out (who the) sign (of Allah, the Imam) is. When you will find out and learn who he is then it will not harm you whether this matter (the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority) will take place earlier or later. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, has said, ““On the day when We call every nation with their leaders, Imams. .” (17:71). One who knows who his Imam is he would be just like the one who would present in the tents of al-Mahdi (a.s.).”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 84