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 أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَبِي جَرِيرٍ الْقُمِّيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَدْ عَرَفْتَ انْقِطَاعِي إِلَى أَبِيكَ ثُمَّ إِلَيْكَ ثُمَّ حَلَفْتُ لَهُ وَحَقِّ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَحَقِّ فُلانٍ وَفُلانٍ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَيْهِ بِأَنَّهُ لا يَخْرُجُ مِنِّي مَا تُخْبِرُنِي بِهِ إِلَى أَحَدٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَ حَيٌّ هُوَ أَوْ مَيِّتٌ فَقَالَ قَدْ وَالله مَاتَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ شِيعَتَكَ يَرْوُونَ أَنَّ فِيهِ سُنَّةَ أَرْبَعَةِ أَنْبِيَاءَ قَالَ قَدْ وَالله الَّذِي لا إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ هَلَكَ قُلْتُ هَلاكَ غَيْبَةٍ أَوْ هَلاكَ مَوْتٍ قَالَ هَلاكَ مَوْتٍ فَقُلْتُ لَعَلَّكَ مِنِّي فِي تَقِيَّةٍ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ الله قُلْتُ فَأَوْصَى إِلَيْكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَأَشْرَكَ مَعَكَ فِيهَا أَحَداً قَالَ لا قُلْتُ فَعَلَيْكَ مِنْ إِخْوَتِكَ إِمَامٌ قَالَ لا قُلْتُ فَأَنْتَ الامَامُ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

 1. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from abu Hariz al-Qummi who has said the following. “I said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, you know how devoted I have been towards your father and after him to yourself. I then swore before him up on the rights of the Messenger of Allah and the rights of so and so and so and so (Ali, al-Hassan, al-Husayn . (a.s.) until his own self trying to assure him that whatever you would tell me will not be made public and spread to other people. I asked him about his father to find out if he alive or dead.” He said, “by Allah, he that his father had passed away.” I then said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, your followers (Shi‘a) narrate that in him the traditions of four prophets are found.” He then said, “In certainty by Allah, besides whom there is no Lord that he (my father) has passed away.” I asked, “Is his passing away in the form of disappearance or in the form of death?” He then said, “It is in the form of death.” I then said, “Perhaps you are observing cautious fear from me.” He said, “All glory belongs to Allah, (that is not the case).” I then asked, “Did he deliver his will to you?” He said, “Yes, he did so.” I then asked, “Has he made others as your partners in executing his will?” He said, “No, he has not done so.” I then asked, “Is there any Imam over you among your brothers?” He said, “No, there is no one from them.” I then asked, “Are you the Imam (a.s.)?” He said, “Yes, I am the Imam (Leadership with Divine Authority).”

 2ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ رَجُلاً عَنَى أَخَاكَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَذَكَرَ لَهُ أَنَّ أَبَاكَ فِي الْحَيَاةِ وَأَنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا يَعْلَمُ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ الله يَمُوتُ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَلا يَمُوتُ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَدْ وَالله مَضَى كَمَا مَضَى رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَلَكِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لَمْ يَزَلْ مُنْذُ قَبَضَ نَبِيَّهُ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) هَلُمَّ جَرّاً يَمُنُّ بِهَذَا الدِّينِ عَلَى أَوْلادِ الاعَاجِمِ وَيَصْرِفُهُ عَنْ قَرَابَةِ نَبِيِّهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) هَلُمَّ جَرّاً فَيُعْطِي هَؤُلاءِ وَيَمْنَعُ هَؤُلاءِ لَقَدْ قَضَيْتُ عَنْهُ فِي هِلالِ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ أَلْفَ دِينَارٍ بَعْدَ أَنْ أَشْفَى عَلَى طَلاقِ نِسَائِهِ وَعِتْقِ مَمَالِيكِهِ وَلَكِنْ قَدْ سَمِعْتُ مَا لَقِيَ يُوسُفُ مِنْ إِخْوَتِهِ.

 2. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Asbat who has said the following. “I said, ‘A man troubled your brother, Ibrahim and said to him, “Your father is still alive.” You know of this case what he knows.’” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Glory belongs to Allah. The Messenger of Allah dies. How is it that Musa (Imam Musa al-Kadhim) does not die? Certainly, by Allah, he passed away just as the Messenger of Allah passed away. However, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, ever since that He took his Prophet from this world has continued granting favors through this religion up on the descendants of A‘ajim (pl. of ‘Ajam, meaning the Persians or none Arabs) and abstains it from the people of His Prophet. Ever since He has continued granting such favors to these and abstaining it from them. In the month of Dhu al-Hajj I paid off a thousand Dinar for his debts because of which he (his brother Ibrahim) was in great difficulties. He was about to divorces his wives, free his slaves and servants. You have heard the case of Yusuf and his brothers.”

 3ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّهُمْ رَوَوْا عَنْكَ فِي مَوْتِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ رَجُلاً قَالَ لَكَ عَلِمْتَ ذَلِكَ بِقَوْلِ سَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ جَاءَ سَعِيدٌ بَعْدَ مَا عَلِمْتُ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَجِيئِهِ قَالَ وَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ طَلَّقْتُ أُمَّ فَرْوَةَ بِنْتَ إِسْحَاقَ فِي رَجَبٍ بَعْدَ مَوْتِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ بِيَوْمٍ قُلْتُ طَلَّقْتَهَا وَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ بِمَوْتِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقْدَمَ عَلَيْكَ سَعِيدٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

 3. al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ who has said the following. “I said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘They have narrated from you about the death of abu al-Hassan (Musa al-Kadhim (a.s.) that a man said to you, “You have learned that (the death of your father) through the report of Sa‘id.” He said, “Sa‘id came after I learned about that (death of my father) before his coming.” The narrator has said that he asked the Imam (a.s.), “I heard from him that you divorced mother of Farwa, daughter of Ishaq, in the month of Rajab one day after the death of abu al-Hassan (a.s.). Did you divorce her when you knew that abu al-Hassan (a.s.) has died?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, I did so.” I asked him, “Did you do so before Sa‘id came to you?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, I did so before Sa‘id came.”

 4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الامَامِ مَتَى يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ إِمَامٌ حِينَ يَبْلُغُهُ أَنَّ صَاحِبَهُ قَدْ مَضَى أَوْ حِينَ يَمْضِي مِثْلَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ قُبِضَ بِبَغْدَادَ وَأَنْتَ هَاهُنَا قَالَ يَعْلَمُ ذَلِكَ حِينَ يَمْضِي صَاحِبُهُ قُلْتُ بِأَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَالَ يُلْهِمُهُ الله.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from al-Husayn from Safwan who has said the following. “I requested abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), ‘Enlighten me when an Imam comesto know that he is the Imam (a.s.)? Does it take place when the preceding Imam has already passes away or when he is about to leave this world? For example abu al-Hassan (a.s.) passed away in Baghdad and you were here (in the city of Madina)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “He comes to know it at the time his companion (the preceding Imam) is about to leave this world.” I then asked, “By what means does he come to know it?” He said, “He comes to know it through inspiration from Allah.”

 5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَبِي الْفَضْلِ الشَّهْبَانِيِّ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ الْفَضْلِ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي تُوُفِّيَ فِيهِ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ إِنَّا لله وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ مَضَى أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقِيلَ لَهُ وَكَيْفَ عَرَفْتَ قَالَ لانَّهُ تُدَاخِلُنِي ذِلَّةٌ لله لَمْ أَكُنْ أَعْرِفُهَا.

 5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from abu al-Fadl al-Shahbani from Harun ibn al-Fadl who has said the following. “I saw abu al-Hassan Ali ibn Muhammad on the day abu Ja‘far (a.s.) passed away. He said, “To Allah we belong and to Him we return. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) passed away.” He was asked, “How do you know that he passed away?” He said, “A form of humbleness before Allah that I had never experienced overwhelmed me.”

 6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُسَافِرٍ قَالَ أَمَرَ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) حِينَ أُخْرِجَ بِهِ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنْ يَنَامَ عَلَى بَابِهِ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ أَبَداً مَا كَانَ حَيّاً إِلَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ خَبَرُهُ قَالَ فَكُنَّا فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ نَفْرُشُ لابِي الْحَسَنِ فِي الدِّهْلِيزِ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ فَيَنَامُ فَإِذَا أَصْبَحَ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ قَالَ فَمَكَثَ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالِ أَرْبَعَ سِنِينَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ لَيْلَةٌ مِنَ اللَّيَالِي أَبْطَأَ عَنَّا وَفُرِشَ لَهُ فَلَمْ يَأْتِ كَمَا كَانَ يَأْتِي فَاسْتَوْحَشَ الْعِيَالُ وَذُعِرُوا وَدَخَلَنَا أَمْرٌ عَظِيمٌ مِنْ إِبْطَائِهِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ الْغَدِ أَتَى الدَّارَ وَدَخَلَ إِلَى الْعِيَالِ وَقَصَدَ إِلَى أُمِّ أَحْمَدَ فَقَالَ لَهَا هَاتِ الَّتِي أَوْدَعَكِ أَبِي فَصَرَخَتْ وَلَطَمَتْ وَجْهَهَا وَشَقَّتْ جَيْبَهَا وَقَالَتْ مَاتَ وَالله سَيِّدِي فَكَفَّهَا وَقَالَ لَهَا لا تَكَلَّمِي بِشَيْ‏ءٍ وَلا تُظْهِرِيهِ حَتَّى يَجِي‏ءَ الْخَبَرُ إِلَى الْوَالِي فَأَخْرَجَتْ إِلَيْهِ سَفَطاً وَأَلْفَيْ دِينَارٍ أَوْ أَرْبَعَةَ آلافِ دِينَارٍ فَدَفَعَتْ ذَلِكَ أَجْمَعَ إِلَيْهِ دُونَ غَيْرِهِ وَقَالَتْ إِنَّهُ قَالَ لِي فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ وَكَانَتْ أَثِيرَةً عِنْدَهُ احْتَفِظِي بِهَذِهِ الْوَدِيعَةِ عِنْدَكِ لا تُطْلِعِي عَلَيْهَا أَحَداً حَتَّى أَمُوتَ فَإِذَا مَضَيْتُ فَمَنْ أَتَاكِ مِنْ وُلْدِي فَطَلَبَهَا مِنْكِ فَادْفَعِيهَا إِلَيْهِ وَاعْلَمِي أَنِّي قَدْ مِتُّ وَقَدْ جَاءَنِي وَالله عَلامَةُ سَيِّدِي فَقَبَضَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهَا وَأَمَرَهُمْ بِالامْسَاكِ جَمِيعاً إِلَى أَنْ وَرَدَ الْخَبَرُ وَانْصَرَفَ فَلَمْ يَعُدْ لِشَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الْمَبِيتِ كَمَا كَانَ يَفْعَلُ فَمَا لَبِثْنَا إِلا أَيَّاماً يَسِيرَةً حَتَّى جَاءَتِ الْخَرِيطَةُ بِنَعْيِهِ فَعَدَدْنَا الايَّامَ وَتَفَقَّدْنَا الْوَقْتَ فَإِذَا هُوَ قَدْ مَاتَ فِي الْوَقْتِ الَّذِي فَعَلَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا فَعَلَ مِنْ تَخَلُّفِهِ عَنِ الْمَبِيتِ وَقَبْضِهِ لِمَا قَبَضَ.

 6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Musafir who has said the following. “Abu Ibrahim commanded –at the time he was taken out to Baghdad- abu al-Hassan (a.s.) to sleep every night at his (abu Ibrahim’s) house until the coming of the news of his death. The narrator has said narrator has said that we would prepare the bed for abu al-Hassan every night in the terrace and he would come after the ‘Isha (late evening) to rest and in the morning he would leave for his own house. He has said that it continued for four years. One night he delayed and the bed was prepared for him. He did not come as usual and the family was alarmed and deeply saddened. His delay was a very great matter that overwhelmed us. In the morning he came to the house and went to the family room to ’Umm (mother of) Ahmad and said to her, “Bring me the things that my father had entrusted you with.” She began to cry, beat up her face and tear her clothe over her heart saying, “My master, by Allah, has passed away.” He stopped her and said, “Do not say any thing to any one and do not make it public before the news of his death comes to the governor.” She then brought a package, a two thousand and a four thousand Dinar and gave all of it to him and to one else. She said, “He had told me when there were only two of us (She was beloved to him), “Keep this trust well protected with you and do allow anyone to know it before I will die. When I will die whichever of my sons will come to and ask you to deliver this trust to him give it to him and know that I have passed away. The sign that my master had informed me of has exactly come.” He took charge of the package and money from her and commanded everyone to keep it secret until the coming of the news. He left the house and thereafter did not come to rest at night as before. After a few days only the news of the passing away of abu Ibrahim reach the city. We calculated the time and found out that it was exactly the time abu al-Hassan had done those things; his delaying to come for rest at night and taking charge of the trust with (’Umm Ahamd).”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 90