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 الْعَطَّارُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي زَاهِرٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَسَّانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ نَحْنُ وُلاةُ أَمْرِ الله وَخَزَنَةُ عِلْمِ الله وَعَيْبَةُ وَحْيِ الله.

 1. Muhammad ibn Yahya al-‘Attar has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu Zahir from al-Hassan ibn Musa from Ali ibn Hassan from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Kathir who has said that he heard Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “We are the ones who has said the following possess Divine authority of the command of Allah, we are the treasury of the knowledge of Allah and the repository of the revelations of Allah.”

 2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ سَوْرَةَ بْنِ كُلَيْبٍ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَالله إِنَّا لَخُزَّانُ الله فِي سَمَائِهِ وَأَرْضِهِ لا عَلَى ذَهَبٍ وَلا عَلَى فِضَّةٍ إِلا عَلَى عِلْمِهِ.

 2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Ali ibn Asbat from his father, Asbat from Sawra ibn Kulayb who has said that Imam Abu Ja’far (a.s.) said to him the following. “By Allah, we are the treasurers of Allah in His heavens and on His earth, not over gold or silver, but over His knowledge.”

 3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ سَدِيرٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا أَنْتُمْ قَالَ نَحْنُ خُزَّانُ عِلْمِ الله وَنَحْنُ تَرَاجِمَةُ وَحْيِ الله وَنَحْنُ الْحُجَّةُ الْبَالِغَةُ عَلَى مَنْ دُونَ السَّمَاءِ وَمَنْ فَوْقَ الارْضِ.

 3. Ali ibn Musa has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id and Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Barqi from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd in a marfu‘ manner from Sudayr who has said that he asked Imam abu Ja’far (a.s.) the following. “may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what are you?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “We are the treasurers of the knowledge of Allah. We are the translators of the revelations of Allah. We possess complete Divine authority over all that is under the heavens and those above the earth.”

 4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى اسْتِكْمَالُ حُجَّتِي عَلَى الاشْقِيَاءِ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ مِنْ تَرْكِ وَلايَةِ عَلِيٍّ وَالاوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمْ سُنَّتَكَ وَسُنَّةَ الانْبِيَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَهُمْ خُزَّانِي عَلَى عِلْمِي مِنْ بَعْدِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لَقَدْ أَنْبَأَنِي جَبْرَئِيلُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ وَأَسْمَاءِ آبَائِهِمْ.

 4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad Ibn Husayn from al-Nadr ibn Shu‘ayb from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu Hamza who has said that he hear Imam abu Ja’far (a.s.) say the following. “The Holy Prophet (s.a.) has said that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “My authority is completely established among the unfortunate ones of your followers. Those who would refuse to acknowledge the Divine authority of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) the his successors, (they have rejected My authority). Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) and his successors have with your traditions and the traditions of the prophets before you. They are the treasurers of My knowledge after you. The Holy Prophet (s.a.) then said, “ Jibril (Gabrael) has informed me of the successors of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) and the names of their fathers.”

 5ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا ابْنَ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ إِنَّ الله وَاحِدٌ مُتَوَحِّدٌ بِالْوَحْدَانِيَّةِ مُتَفَرِّدٌ بِأَمْرِهِ فَخَلَقَ خَلْقاً فَقَدَّرَهُمْ لِذَلِكَ الامْرِ فَنَحْنُ هُمْ يَا ابْنَ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ فَنَحْنُ حُجَجُ الله فِي عِبَادِهِ وَخُزَّانُهُ عَلَى عِلْمِهِ وَالْقَائِمُونَ بِذَلِكَ.

 5. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Fudaala ibn Ayyub from ‘Abdullah ibn Abu Ya‘fur who has said that Imam Abu ‘Abdullah (a.s.) said the following. “O son of Abi Ya'fur, indeed Allah is One, unique in His Oneness. He alone issues His command. He created a creation and appointed and measured them for that command (Amr, task). So, we, O son of Abu Ya‘fur, are that creation. We are the authority of Allah among His servants, the treasurers of His knowledge, and the guardians of it.”

 6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنِ الْعَمْرَكِيِّ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ جَمِيعاً عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَلَقَنَا فَأَحْسَنَ خَلْقَنَا وَصَوَّرَنَا فَأَحْسَنَ صُوَرَنَا وَجَعَلَنَا خُزَّانَهُ فِي سَمَائِهِ وَأَرْضِهِ وَلَنَا نَطَقَتِ الشَّجَرَةُ وَبِعِبَادَتِنَا عُبِدَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلَوْلانَا مَا عُبِدَ الله.

 6. Ali Ibn Muhammad narrated from Sahl Ibn Ziyad from Musa Ibn al-Qasim Ibn Mu‘awiyah and Muhammad Ibn Yahya from al-‘Amrakiy Ibn Ali altogether from Ali Ibn Ja’far from Abul Hassan Musa (as) who said: Abu Abdallah (as) has said, ‘Allah (swt) created us and He made our creation the best [of all creations]. He formed us and made our form the best [of all forms]. He made us the treasurers of His heavens and His earth. For our [sake] the tree spoke, by our worship Allah (swt) is worshipped. Had we not been in existence, Allah would not have been worshipped.”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 11