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 مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّ حَدِيثَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَعْبٌ مُسْتَصْعَبٌ لا يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ إِلا مَلَكٌ مُقَرَّبٌ أَوْ نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ أَوْ عَبْدٌ امْتَحَنَ الله قَلْبَهُ لِلايمَانِ فَمَا وَرَدَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ حَدِيثِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَلانَتْ لَهُ قُلُوبُكُمْ وَعَرَفْتُمُوهُ فَاقْبَلُوهُ وَمَا اشْمَأَزَّتْ مِنْهُ قُلُوبُكُمْ وَأَنْكَرْتُمُوهُ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى الله وَإِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَى الْعَالِمِ مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَإِنَّمَا الْهَالِكُ أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ أَحَدُكُمْ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْهُ لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ فَيَقُولَ وَالله مَا كَانَ هَذَا وَالله مَا كَانَ هَذَا وَالانْكَارُ هُوَ الْكُفْرُ.

 1. d ibn Sinan from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan from Jabir who has said the following. “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The Hadith (statements) of Ahl al-Bayt (members of the family of Prophet Muhammad) is difficult and it becomes difficult. No one believes in it except the angels that are close to Allah or the Prophets who are Messengers also, a servant of Allah whose He has tested for faith. Whatever would come to you of the Hadith (statements) of Ahl al-Bayt of Muhammad (members of the family of Prophet Muhammad), if your heart would feel relief and you recognized them accept them. Whatever that would cause antipathy in your hearts and you could not recognize leave them to Allah, to the Messenger of Allah and the scholar from Ahl al-Bayt of Muhammad. The ones to perish are those who do not accept Hadith of Ahl al-Bayt (members of the family of Prophet Muhammad).Whenever one is narrated to them they say, “By Allah, this was not and that was not.” Denial is disbelief.”

 2ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ ذُكِرَتِ التَّقِيَّةُ يَوْماً عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) فَقَالَ وَالله لَوْ عَلِمَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ مَا فِي قَلْبِ سَلْمَانَ لَقَتَلَهُ وَلَقَدْ آخَى رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) بَيْنَهُمَا فَمَا ظَنُّكُمْ بِسَائِرِ الْخَلْقِ إِنَّ عِلْمَ الْعُلَمَاءِ صَعْبٌ مُسْتَصْعَبٌ لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ إِلا نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ أَوْ مَلَكٌ مُقَرَّبٌ أَوْ عَبْدٌ مُؤْمِنٌ امْتَحَنَ الله قَلْبَهُ لِلايمَانِ فَقَالَ وَإِنَّمَا صَارَ سَلْمَانُ مِنَ الْعُلَمَاءِ لانَّهُ امْرُؤٌ مِنَّا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَلِذَلِكَ نَسَبْتُهُ إِلَى الْعُلَمَاءِ.

 2. Ahmad ibn ’Idris has narrated from ‘Imran ibn Musa from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas‘ada ibn Sadaqa who has said the following. “I said to abu ‘Abdallah that I one day spoke of Taqiya (hiding something for fear) before Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.).” He said, “By Allah, if abu Dhar knew what was in the heart of Salam he would have killed him even though the Messenger of Allah had formed brotherhood between them. What then would you think of the rest of the people? The knowledge of the scholars is difficult and it becomes difficult No one is capable to bear it except a prophet who is a messenger also or an angel who is close to Allah or a believer whose heart Allaah has tested for faith.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “The only reason that Salman became of the scholars is because he is a man from us (Ahl al-Bayt). For this reason, I ascribed him to the scholars.”

 3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ رَفَعَهُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ حَدِيثَنَا صَعْبٌ مُسْتَصْعَبٌ لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ إِلا صُدُورٌ مُنِيرَةٌ أَوْ قُلُوبٌ سَلِيمَةٌ أَوْ أَخْلاقٌ حَسَنَةٌ إِنَّ الله أَخَذَ مِنْ شِيعَتِنَا الْمِيثَاقَ كَمَا أَخَذَ عَلَى بَنِي آدَمَ أَ لَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَمَنْ وَفَى لَنَا وَفَى الله لَهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ وَمَنْ أَبْغَضَنَا وَلَمْ يُؤَدِّ إِلَيْنَا حَقَّنَا فَفِي النَّارِ خَالِداً مُخَلَّداً.

 3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Barqi from ibn Sinan or others in a marfu‘ manner from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Our Hadith (statements) are difficult and they become difficult. Only well lighted chests, the well protected of virtuous moral abilities are capable to accept them.” Allah has taken a pledge from our Shi‘a (followers) just as He has taken such pledge from the children of Adam (Am I not Your Lord?” Whoever would remain loyal to us Allah will grant then paradise. Whoever would dislike us and would not deliver our rights to us they will live in fire forever.”

 4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ صَاحِبِ الْعَسْكَرِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِ الصَّادِقِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) حَدِيثُنَا لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ مَلَكٌ مُقَرَّبٌ وَلا نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ وَلا مُؤْمِنٌ امْتَحَنَ الله قَلْبَهُ لِلايمَانِ فَجَاءَ الْجَوَابُ إِنَّمَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِ الصَّادِقِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَيْ لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ مَلَكٌ وَلا نَبِيٌّ وَلا مُؤْمِنٌ إِنَّ الْمَلَكَ لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ حَتَّى يُخْرِجَهُ إِلَى مَلَكٍ غَيْرِهِ وَالنَّبِيُّ لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ حَتَّى يُخْرِجَهُ إِلَى نَبِيٍّ غَيْرِهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُ لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ حَتَّى يُخْرِجَهُ إِلَى مُؤْمِنٍ غَيْرِهِ فَهَذَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِ جَدِّي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام )

 4. Muhammad ibn Yahya and others have narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from one of our people the following. “I wrote to Imam al-Hassan al_’Askari (a.s.) saying, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what is the meaning of the following Hadith of Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (a.s.)? “Our Hadith (statements) are difficult and they become difficult. No one is capable to bear them not even an angel or a prophet who is also a messenger or a believer whose heart Allah has tested for faith.?” The answer came as herein below. “The meaning of the words the truthful one ‘that angels, prophets and believers are not capable to accept them’ is that of the truthful one is that the angel does bear it until he deliver it to other angels. The prophet does noor bear it until he delivers it to another prophet and the believer does not bear it until he delivers to another believer. This is the meaning of the words of my grandfather.”

 5ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْخَالِقِ وَأَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا وَالله سِرّاً مِنْ سِرِّ الله وَعِلْماً مِنْ عِلْمِ الله وَالله مَا يَحْتَمِلُهُ مَلَكٌ مُقَرَّبٌ وَلا نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ وَلا مُؤْمِنٌ امْتَحَنَ الله قَلْبَهُ لِلايمَانِ وَالله مَا كَلَّفَ الله ذَلِكَ أَحَداً غَيْرَنَا وَلا اسْتَعْبَدَ بِذَلِكَ أَحَداً غَيْرَنَا وَإِنَّ عِنْدَنَا سِرّاً مِنْ سِرِّ الله وَعِلْماً مِنْ عِلْمِ الله أَمَرَنَا الله بِتَبْلِيغِهِ فَبَلَّغْنَا عَنِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَا أَمَرَنَا بِتَبْلِيغِهِ فَلَمْ نَجِدْ لَهُ مَوْضِعاً وَلا أَهْلاً وَلا حَمَّالَةً يَحْتَمِلُونَهُ حَتَّى خَلَقَ الله لِذَلِكَ أَقْوَاماً خُلِقُوا مِنْ طِينَةٍ خُلِقَ مِنْهَا مُحَمَّدٌ وَآلُهُ وَذُرِّيَّتُهُ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) وَمِنْ نُورٍ خَلَقَ الله مِنْهُ مُحَمَّداً وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ وَصَنَعَهُمْ بِفَضْلِ رَحْمَتِهِ الَّتِي صَنَعَ مِنْهَا مُحَمَّداً وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ فَبَلَّغْنَا عَنِ الله مَا أَمَرَنَا بِتَبْلِيغِهِ فَقَبِلُوهُ وَاحْتَمَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَبَلَغَهُمْ ذَلِكَ عَنَّا فَقَبِلُوهُ وَاحْتَمَلُوهُ وَبَلَغَهُمْ ذِكْرُنَا فَمَالَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى مَعْرِفَتِنَا وَحَدِيثِنَا فَلَوْ لا أَنَّهُمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ هَذَا لَمَا كَانُوا كَذَلِكَ لا وَالله مَا احْتَمَلُوهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الله خَلَقَ أَقْوَاماً لِجَهَنَّمَ وَالنَّارِ فَأَمَرَنَا أَنْ نُبَلِّغَهُمْ كَمَا بَلَّغْنَاهُمْ وَاشْمَأَزُّوا مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَنَفَرَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَرَدُّوهُ عَلَيْنَا وَلَمْ يَحْتَمِلُوهُ وَكَذَّبُوا بِهِ وَقَالُوا سَاحِرٌ كَذَّابٌ فَطَبَعَ الله عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ وَأَنْسَاهُمْ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ أَطْلَقَ الله لِسَانَهُمْ بِبَعْضِ الْحَقِّ فَهُمْ يَنْطِقُونَ بِهِ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ مُنْكِرَةٌ لِيَكُونَ ذَلِكَ دَفْعاً عَنْ أَوْلِيَائِهِ وَأَهْلِ طَاعَتِهِ وَلَوْ لا ذَلِكَ مَا عُبِدَ الله فِي أَرْضِهِ فَأَمَرَنَا بِالْكَفِّ عَنْهُمْ وَالسَّتْرِ وَالْكِتْمَانِ فَاكْتُمُوا عَمَّنْ أَمَرَ الله بِالْكَفِّ عَنْهُ وَاسْتُرُوا عَمَّنْ أَمَرَ الله بِالسَّتْرِ وَالْكِتْمَانِ عَنْهُ قَالَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ يَدَهُ وَبَكَى وَقَالَ اللهمَّ إِنَّ هَؤُلاءِ لَشِرْذِمَةٌ قَلِيلُونَ فَاجْعَلْ مَحْيَانَا مَحْيَاهُمْ وَمَمَاتَنَا مَمَاتَهُمْ وَلا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوّاً لَكَ فَتُفْجِعَنَا بِهِمْ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أَفْجَعْتَنَا بِهِمْ لَمْ تُعْبَدْ أَبَداً فِي أَرْضِكَ وَصَلَّى الله عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيماً.

 5. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Mansur ibn al-‘Abbass from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Abdallah ibn Muskan from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Khaliq and abu Basir who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘O abu Muhammad, with us there is a secret of the secrets of Allah and a knowledge of the knowledge of Allah. No angel, near to Allah or a prophet who is a messenger also and no believer whose heart Allah has tested for faith is capable to bear. By Allah, Allah has not required anyone to bear it except us nor has He required anyone to worship him in that way except us. With us there is a secret of the secrets of Allah and a knowledge of the knowledge of Allah. Allah has commanded us to preach it We then preached what Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, had commanded us to preaCh However, we did not find a proper place for it or a people or bearers who accept it until Allah created certain tribes. These people were created from the clay out of which Muhammad and his descendants were created and from a light from which Allah had created Muhammad and his descendants. He made them with the excess of the making of His blessings out of which He had made Muhammad and his descendants. We then preached what Allah had commanded us to preach then these people accepted and acknowledged that. [It reached them from us and they accepted and acknowledged it]. Our mention reached them and their hearts inclined towards us, recognizing us and our hadith. Had they not been created from this they would not have been as suCh No, by Allah, they would not have acknowledged.” Then the Imam (a.s.) said, “Allah created certain tribes for Hell and fire. He then commanded us to preach to them as we had preached to them but to the later ones it seemed repugnant and their hearts felt hatred and they rejected it from us, did not acknowledge it and considered it as lies and they said, “They are magicians and liars.” Allah then placed a seal on their hearts and made them to forget. Allah then opened their tongue with some of the truth. Thus, they speak of it but their hearts are in denial. He uses it in defense of His friends and those who obey Him. Had it not been there no one would have worshipped Allah on earth. He commanded us to withheld it from them, hide and conceal. You must also hide it from those that Allah has commanded to withheld from and hide from those that Allah has commanded to hide and withheld from.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) then raised his hands and wept and said, “O Lord, this is a very small group. Make our lives as their lives and our death like their death. Do not make dominant over them any of Your enemies that would cause us suffer pains for their suffering. If You would allow it to cause pains to us because of their sufferings no one would worship You on earth. May Allah send blessing up on Muhammad and his Ahl al-Bayt and may (Your) peace and more peace be with them.”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 102