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 أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ أَبِي عَيَّاشٍ عَنْ سُلَيْمِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ الْهِلالِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يُحَدِّثُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي كَلامٍ لَهُ الْعُلَمَاءُ رَجُلانِ رَجُلٌ عَالِمٌ آخِذٌ بِعِلْمِهِ فَهَذَا نَاجٍ وَعَالِمٌ تَارِكٌ لِعِلْمِهِ فَهَذَا هَالِكٌ وَإِنَّ أَهْلَ النَّارِ لَيَتَأَذَّوْنَ مِنْ رِيحِ الْعَالِمِ التَّارِكِ لِعِلْمِهِ وَإِنَّ أَشَدَّ أَهْلِ النَّارِ نَدَامَةً وَحَسْرَةً رَجُلٌ دَعَا عَبْداً إِلَى الله فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُ وَقَبِلَ مِنْهُ فَأَطَاعَ الله فَأَدْخَلَهُ الله الْجَنَّةَ وَأَدْخَلَ الدَّاعِيَ النَّارَ بِتَرْكِهِ عِلْمَهُ وَاتِّبَاعِهِ الْهَوَى وَطُولِ الامَلِ أَمَّا اتِّبَاعُ الْهَوَى فَيَصُدُّ عَنِ الْحَقِّ وَطُولُ الامَلِ يُنْسِي الاخِرَةَ.

 1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Hammed from ‘Umar ibn ’Udhayna from Aban ibn Abi ‘Ayyash from Sulaym ibn Qays al-Hilali who has said the following: “I heard Imam Ali (a.s.) narrate from the Holy Prophet (s.w) who said: ‘The scholars are of two kinds: One kind consists of those who uphold their knowledge and they gain their salvation. The other kind consists of those who disregard their knowledge and they face their destruction. The people of hell will suffer from the bad odor of the scholars who do not act according to their knowledge. Of the people of hell the one who will regret most will be a man who teaches someone and shows him the way of Allah. The student accepts and acts according to such teachings and consequently Allah takes him to paradise but the teacher is sent to hell because of ignoring his knowledge, following his desires and entertaining long hopes. Following ones’ desires bars one from the truth. And cherishing long hopes causes one to forget the next life.’”

 2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الْعِلْمُ مَقْرُونٌ إِلَى الْعَمَلِ فَمَنْ عَلِمَ عَمِلَ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ عَلِمَ وَالْعِلْمُ يَهْتِفُ بِالْعَمَلِ فَإِنْ أَجَابَهُ وَإِلا ارْتَحَلَ عَنْهُ.

 2. Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Isma’il ibn Jabir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Knowledge and work are closely related. One who has knowledge he works and one who works he learns. Knowledge invites work and if it is not accepted knowledge departs the deeds.”

 3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْقَاسَانِيِّ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الْعَالِمَ إِذَا لَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِعِلْمِهِ زَلَّتْ مَوْعِظَتُهُ عَنِ الْقُلُوبِ كَمَا يَزِلُّ الْمَطَرُ عَنِ الصَّفَا.

 3. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasani from one he mentioned from ‘Abdallah ibn Qasim al-Ja’fari from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “If a scholar preaches and does not practice his words bounce away from the hearts of the audience like rains that bounce away off the rocks.”

 4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْمِنْقَرِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ هَاشِمِ بْنِ الْبَرِيدِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ مَسَائِلَ فَأَجَابَ ثُمَّ عَادَ لِيَسْأَلَ عَنْ مِثْلِهَا فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) مَكْتُوبٌ فِي الانْجِيلِ لا تَطْلُبُوا عِلْمَ مَا لا تَعْلَمُونَ وَلَمَّا تَعْمَلُوا بِمَا عَلِمْتُمْ فَإِنَّ الْعِلْمَ إِذَا لَمْ يُعْمَلْ بِهِ لَمْ يَزْدَدْ صَاحِبُهُ إِلا كُفْراً وَلَمْ يَزْدَدْ مِنَ الله إِلا بُعْداً.

 4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from al-Minqari from Ali ibn Hashim ibn al-Burayd from his father who has said the following. “A man came to (Imam) Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) and asked him certain questions and the Imam answered his questions. The man then wanted to ask similar questions but the Imam said, “It is written in the Gospel, ‘Do not inquire to know what you do not know until you practice what you know because not practicing what one knows does not increase to one anything but disbelief and nor it increases anything to one’s relation with Allah but alienation.”

 5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ بِمَ يُعْرَفُ النَّاجِي قَالَ مَنْ كَانَ فِعْلُهُ لِقَوْلِهِ مُوَافِقاً فَأَثْبَتَ لَهُ الشَّهَادَةَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِعْلُهُ لِقَوْلِهِ مُوَافِقاً فَإِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ مُسْتَوْدَعٌ.

 5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Sinan from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following. “I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘What are the facts that help one know those who have gained their salvation?’ The Imam replied, “One whose words agree with his deeds you must consider his testimony as valid and one whose words do not agree with his deeds (if he may have faith) it is temporarily.’”

 6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي كَلامٍ لَهُ خَطَبَ بِهِ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِذَا عَلِمْتُمْ فَاعْمَلُوا بِمَا عَلِمْتُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ إِنَّ الْعَالِمَ الْعَامِلَ بِغَيْرِهِ كَالْجَاهِلِ الْحَائِرِ الَّذِي لا يَسْتَفِيقُ عَنْ جَهْلِهِ بَلْ قَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَنَّ الْحُجَّةَ عَلَيْهِ أَعْظَمُ وَالْحَسْرَةُ أَدْوَمُ عَلَى هَذَا الْعَالِمِ الْمُنْسَلِخِ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ مِنْهَا عَلَى هَذَا الْجَاهِلِ الْمُتَحَيِّرِ فِي جَهْلِهِ وَكِلاهُمَا حَائِرٌ بَائِرٌ لا تَرْتَابُوا فَتَشُكُّوا وَلا تَشُكُّوا فَتَكْفُرُوا وَلا تُرَخِّصُوا لانْفُسِكُمْ فَتُدْهِنُوا وَلا تُدْهِنُوا فِي الْحَقِّ فَتَخْسَرُوا وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحَقِّ أَنْ تَفَقَّهُوا وَمِنَ الْفِقْهِ أَنْ لا تَغْتَرُّوا وَإِنَّ أَنْصَحَكُمْ لِنَفْسِهِ أَطْوَعُكُمْ لِرَبِّهِ وَأَغَشَّكُمْ لِنَفْسِهِ أَعْصَاكُمْ لِرَبِّهِ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ الله يَأْمَنْ وَيَسْتَبْشِرْ وَمَنْ يَعْصِ الله يَخِبْ وَيَنْدَمْ.

 6. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father in a marfu‘ manner (rafa’ahu) from Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) who has said the following. “Once Imam Ali (a.s.) said in one of his sermons, ‘O people, if you learn and gain knowledge you must act accordingly so that you may have guidance. A learned person who disregards his knowledge is like a lost and ignorant person who never comes to the right path due to his ignorance. In fact, you will find the case against such the learned that disregards his knowledge more sever and his regret more prolonged, compared to the ignorant person who wonders about in it. Both people stray and are devoid of goodness. Do not hesitate lest you will doubt and do not doubt lest you will disbelieve. Do not be lenient to your souls to play lazy. Do not trivialize the truth lest you will lose badly. It is of the truth to learn Fiqh, proper understanding of religion. It is of Fiqh, proper understanding of religion not to suffer deceit. The wisest for ones self among you is the one most obedient to his Lord. The most deceitful to himself among you is the disobedient one to his Lord. One who obeys Allah is safe and glad news awaits him but one who disobeys his Allah he loses and regrets.’”

 7ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ الْعِلْمَ فَاسْتَعْمِلُوهُ وَلْتَتَّسِعْ قُلُوبُكُمْ فَإِنَّ الْعِلْمَ إِذَا كَثُرَ فِي قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ قَدَرَ الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا خَاصَمَكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَأَقْبِلُوا عَلَيْهِ بِمَا تَعْرِفُونَ فَإِنَّ كَيْدَ الشَّيْطَانِ كَانَ ضَعِيفاً فَقُلْتُ وَمَا الَّذِي نَعْرِفُهُ قَالَ خَاصِمُوهُ بِمَا ظَهَرَ لَكُمْ مِنْ قُدْرَةِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

 7. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from the one mentioned from Muhammad ibn ’Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Layla from his father who has said the following. “Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said, ‘When you hear knowledge you must utilize it and your hearts must become more open. When knowledge increases in one’s heart it becomes harder to bear and Satan may over power him. If Satan would dispute with you move on him with whatever you know. The plots of Satan are weak.” I asked the Imam (a.s.) “What is it that we know?’” The Imam replied, “Fight him with whatever of the power of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, has come to light before you.”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 2, Chapter 13