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 مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ سَدِيرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنِّي تَرَكْتُ مَوَالِيَكَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ يَتَبَرَّأُ بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ قَالَ فَقَالَ وَمَا أَنْتَ وَذَاكَ إِنَّمَا كُلِّفَ النَّاسُ ثَلاثَةً مَعْرِفَةَ الائِمَّةِ وَالتَّسْلِيمَ لَهُمْ فِيمَا وَرَدَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَالرَّدَّ إِلَيْهِمْ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ.

 1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Sinan from ibn Muskan from Sadir who has said the following. “I said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘I just left your supporters and followers opposing and disdaining each other.” The narrator has said that The Imam (a.s.) then said, “What do you have to do with their conditions. People have three obligations. They must recognize the Imams, submit to the instructions they have received from the Imams and refer to them in their disputes and differences.”

 2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله الْكَاهِلِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لَوْ أَنَّ قَوْماً عَبَدُوا الله وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَحَجُّوا الْبَيْتَ وَصَامُوا شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ قَالُوا لِشَيْ‏ءٍ صَنَعَهُ الله أَوْ صَنَعَهُ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَلا صَنَعَ خِلافَ الَّذِي صَنَعَ أَوْ وَجَدُوا ذَلِكَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ لَكَانُوا بِذَلِكَ مُشْرِكِينَ ثُمَّ تَلا هَذِهِ الايَةَ فَلا وَرَبِّكَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيما شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجاً مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيماً ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَلَيْكُمْ بِالتَّسْلِيمِ.

 2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Abdallah al-Kahili who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said, ‘If a people would worship Allah only Who has no partner, maintain the prayers, pay Zakat, perform Hajj of the House and fast in the month of Ramadan but say about something that Allah or the Messenger of Allah has done, would that it had been done differently or find such feelings in their hearts in this they will be considered as polytheists. He then recited this verse of the Holy Quran. “I swear by your Lord that they will not be considered believers until they let you judge their disputes and then they will find nothing in their souls to prevent them from accepting your judgment, thus, submitting themselves to the will of God.” (4:65). Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) then said, “You have to be submissive (before Allaah).”

 3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ الْمُخْتَارِ عَنْ زَيْدٍ الشَّحَّامِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا رَجُلاً يُقَالُ لَهُ كُلَيْبٌ فَلا يَجِي‏ءُ عَنْكُمْ شَيْ‏ءٌ إِلا قَالَ أَنَا أُسَلِّمُ فَسَمَّيْنَاهُ كُلَيْبَ تَسْلِيمٍ قَالَ فَتَرَحَّمَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ تَدْرُونَ مَا التَّسْلِيمُ فَسَكَتْنَا فَقَالَ هُوَ وَالله الاخْبَاتُ قَوْلُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ وَأَخْبَتُوا إِلى‏ رَبِّهِمْ.

 3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn al-Mukhtar from Zayd al-Shahham who has said the following, “I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Among us there is a man called Kulayb. Nothing comes from you but that he says, “I submit to it.” Thus, we call him, “Kulayb, the submissive.” The narrator has said that The Imam (a.s) expressed kindness towards him and prayed and then said, “Do you know what submission is?” We remained silent. The Imam (a.s.) said, “That, by Allah, is al-Ikhbat in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, ‘The righteously striving believers who are humble before their Lord.” (11:23)

 4ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي قَوْلِ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَمَنْ يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةً نَزِدْ لَهُ فِيها حُسْناً قَالَ الاقْتِرَافُ التَّسْلِيمُ لَنَا وَالصِّدْقُ عَلَيْنَا وَأَلا يَكْذِبَ عَلَيْنَا.

 4. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from Aban from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, “Whoever achieves virtue will have its merit increased. . .” (42:23) The Imam (a.s.) said, ‘achievement’ refers to one’s submission to us, his speaking the truth from us and not to ascribe any lies to us.”

 5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ بَشِيرٍ الدَّهَّانِ عَنْ كَامِلٍ التَّمَّارِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ أَ تَدْرِي مَنْ هُمْ قُلْتُ أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْمُسَلِّمُونَ إِنَّ الْمُسَلِّمِينَ هُمُ النُّجَبَاءُ فَالْمُؤْمِنُ غَرِيبٌ فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ.

 5. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abdallah ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi from his fahter from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from Mansur ibn Yunus from Bashir al-Dahhan from Kamil al-Tammar who has said the following. “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said, “Triumphant indeed are the believers,” (23:1) Do you know who they are?” I said, “You know best.” He said, Triumphant indeed are the believers, who are Muslims (submissive to Allah). The Muslims are noble people. The believers are rare. Congratulations to the believers.”

 6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنِ الْخَشَّابِ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ رَبِيعٍ الْمُسْلِيِّ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ زَكَرِيَّا الانْصَارِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَسْتَكْمِلَ الايمَانَ كُلَّهُ فَلْيَقُلِ الْقَوْلُ مِنِّي فِي جَمِيعِ الاشْيَاءِ قَوْلُ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فِيمَا أَسَرُّوا وَمَا أَعْلَنُوا وَفِيمَا بَلَغَنِي عَنْهُمْ وَفِيمَا لَمْ يَبْلُغْنِي.

 6. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from certain person of our people from al-Khashshab from al-‘Abbass ibn ‘Amir from Rabi‘ al-Musalli from Yahya ibn Zakariya al-Ansari who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘Whoever loves to have a complete belief he must say, “Everything that I say is from the family of Muhammad whether those that they kept secret or those that they made public those that have reached me from them and those that have not reached me.”

 7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ أَوْ بُرَيْدٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ لَقَدْ خَاطَبَ الله أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي كِتَابِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فِي أَيِّ مَوْضِعٍ قَالَ فِي قَوْلِهِ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذْ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ جاؤُكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا الله وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا الله تَوَّاباً رَحِيماً. فَلا وَرَبِّكَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيما شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ فِيمَا تَعَاقَدُوا عَلَيْهِ لَئِنْ أَمَاتَ الله مُحَمَّداً أَلا يَرُدُّوا هَذَا الامْرَ فِي بَنِي هَاشِمٍ ثُمَّ لا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجاً مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ أَوِ الْعَفْوِ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيماً.

 7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn ’Udhayna from Zurara or Burayd who has said the following. “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah has addressed Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) in His book.” The narrator has said that asked him, “where and in which passage?” He said, “It is in His words that read, “If they ever do injustice to themselves and come to you (Muhammad) asking for God’s forgiveness and if the Messenger also was to ask God to forgive them, they would certainly find God All-forgiving and All-merciful. (4:64) “I swear by your Lord that they will not be considered believers until they let you judge their disputes (on the issue of their agreement not to allow the leadership pass to the descendants of Hashim). Then they will find nothing in their souls to prevent them from accepting your judgment, (to condemn or forgive them) thus, submitting themselves to the will of God.” (4:65) “

 8ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ رَحِمَهُ الله عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ الْحَسَنِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ أَيْمَنَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ إِلَى آخِرِ الايَةِ قَالَ هُمُ الْمُسَلِّمُونَ لآِلِ مُحَمَّدٍ الَّذِينَ إِذَا سَمِعُوا الْحَدِيثَ لَمْ يَزِيدُوا فِيهِ وَلَمْ يَنْقُصُوا مِنْهُ جَاءُوا بِهِ كَمَا سَمِعُوهُ.

 8. Ahmad ibn Mihran (may Allah grant him blessings) has narrated from from ‘Abd al-‘Azim al-Hassani from Ali ibn Asbat from Ali ibn ‘Aqaba from al-Hakam ibn Ayman from abu Basir who has said the following. “Once I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious. “. .those of Our servants who listen to the words and only follow the best ones. .” .(39:18) The Imam (a.s.) said, “They are those who are submissive to the (commands) of Ahl al-Bayt of Muhammad (s.a). It is those who when hearing a hadith do not add anything thereto or omit anything therefrom. They present it just as they have heard.”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 95