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 عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ السَّرَّاجِ وَعَلِيِّ بْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لَمَّا بُويِعَ بَعْدَ مَقْتَلِ عُثْمَانَ صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ وَخَطَبَ بِخُطْبَةٍ ذَكَرَهَا يَقُولُ فِيهَا أَلا إِنَّ بَلِيَّتَكُمْ قَدْ عَادَتْ كَهَيْئَتِهَا يَوْمَ بَعَثَ الله نَبِيَّهُ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَالَّذِي بَعَثَهُ بِالْحَقِّ لَتُبَلْبَلُنَّ بَلْبَلَةً وَلَتُغَرْبَلُنَّ غَرْبَلَةً حَتَّى يَعُودَ أَسْفَلُكُمْ أَعْلاكُمْ وَأَعْلاكُمْ أَسْفَلَكُمْ وَلَيَسْبِقَنَّ سَبَّاقُونَ كَانُوا قَصَّرُوا وَلَيُقَصِّرَنَّ سَبَّاقُونَ كَانُوا سَبَقُوا وَالله مَا كَتَمْتُ وَسْمَةً وَلا كَذَبْتُ كَذِبَةً وَلَقَدْ نُبِّئْتُ بِهَذَا الْمَقَامِ وَهَذَا الْيَوْمِ.

 1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ya‘qub al-Sarraj and Ali ibn Ri’ab from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “When people pledged allegiance to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) after the assassination of ‘Uthman he addressed the people from the pulpit and delivered a sermon (that abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) mentioned). In this sermon he has said, “The time for your trial has returned in the same conditions as those of the day Allah sent his Prophet (s.a.). By the One Who has sent him with the truth that you will suffer hideous confusions, will be sifted thoroughly and turned upside down. Of the contestants those who were behind of others will overtake those who were ahead and those who were ahead of others (because of their shortcomings) will be left behind of those who once were behind of others. By Allah I have not concealed any of the marks therein nor have I spoken a lie. I was certainly, told about this place and this day.”

 2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَالْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الانْبَارِيِّ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ وَيْلٌ لِطُغَاةِ الْعَرَبِ مِنْ أَمْرٍ قَدِ اقْتَرَبَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَمْ مَعَ الْقَائِمِ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ قَالَ نَفَرٌ يَسِيرٌ قُلْتُ وَالله إِنَّ مَنْ يَصِفُ هَذَا الامْرَ مِنْهُمْ لَكَثِيرٌ قَالَ لا بُدَّ لِلنَّاسِ مِنْ أَنْ يُمَحَّصُوا وَيُمَيَّزُوا وَيُغَرْبَلُوا وَيُسْتَخْرَجُ فِي الْغِرْبَالِ خَلْقٌ كَثِيرٌ.

 2. Muhammad Yahya and al-Hassan ibn Muhammad have narrated from al-Qasim ibn ’Isma‘il al-Anbari from al-Husayn ibn Ali from abu al-Mighra’ from abu Yah Ya‘fur who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say as herein below, ‘Woe to the rebellious Arabs from the matter that is coming closer.’0” I then asked, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, “How many people will be there with Al-Qa’im (the one who will rise with Divine Authority)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “just a very few persons.” I then said, “Those who speak of this matter (the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority) are quite many in number.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “People must be refined, distinguished and sifted. In the sifting process a great deal is taken out.”

 3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَالْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّيْقَلِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا مَنْصُورُ إِنَّ هَذَا الامْرَ لا يَأْتِيكُمْ إِلا بَعْدَ إِيَاسٍ وَلا وَالله حَتَّى تُمَيَّزُوا وَلا وَالله حَتَّى تُمَحَّصُوا وَلا وَالله حَتَّى يَشْقَى مَنْ يَشْقَى وَيَسْعَدَ مَنْ يَسْعَدُ.

 3. Muhammad ibn Yahya and al-Hassan ibn Muhammad have narrated from Ja’far ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad al-Sayrafi from Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Sayqal from his father from Mansur who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said to me, “O Mansur, this matter (the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority) will not come to you before despair, and not, by Allah, before (your good ones are) distinguished (from evil ones) and not, by Allah, before you are refined and not, by Allah, before tuning to misfortune of those who act in evil and before reaching salvation of those who seek salvation.”

 4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلادٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ الٓمٓ أَ حَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لا يُفْتَنُونَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي مَا الْفِتْنَةُ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الَّذِي عِنْدَنَا الْفِتْنَةُ فِي الدِّينِ فَقَالَ يُفْتَنُونَ كَمَا يُفْتَنُ الذَّهَبُ ثُمَّ قَالَ يُخْلَصُونَ كَمَا يُخْلَصُ الذَّهَبُ.

 4. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Mu‘ammar ibn Khallad who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.) say, “Alif, Lam, Mim. Do people think they will not be tested because they say, “We have faith?” (29:1-2). Then he (a.s.) asked me, “What is al-Fitna (the Test)?” I said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, in our opinion it is the test in religion.“ He (a.s.) replied, “They will be tested as gold is tested.” He (a.s.) then said, “They will be purified as gold is purified.”

 5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ صَالِحٍ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ إِنَّ حَدِيثَكُمْ هَذَا لَتَشْمَئِزُّ مِنْهُ قُلُوبُ الرِّجَالِ فَمَنْ أَقَرَّ بِهِ فَزِيدُوهُ وَمَنْ أَنْكَرَهُ فَذَرُوهُ إِنَّهُ لا بُدَّ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ يَسْقُطُ فِيهَا كُلُّ بِطَانَةٍ وَوَلِيجَةٍ حَتَّى يَسْقُطَ فِيهَا مَنْ يَشُقُّ الشَّعْرَ بِشَعْرَتَيْنِ حَتَّى لا يَبْقَى إِلا نَحْنُ وَشِيعَتُنَا.

 5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Sulayman ibn Salih in a Marfu‘ manner from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said, ‘Your story (belief in the rise of al- Mahdi with Divine authority) causes apprehension in the hearts of people. Those who acknowledge it (belief in the rise of al- Mahdi with Divine authority) you should enlighten him further and those who would deny it you should leave them alone. There must come a period of trial in which all secrets and privacy will be no more even those who would like to split one piece of hair into two pieces to find a better argument would fall until no one would be left except we and our Shi‘a.”

 6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ الصَّيْقَلِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ كُنْتُ أَنَا وَالْحَارِثُ بْنُ الْمُغِيرَةِ وَجَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا جُلُوساً وَأَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَسْمَعُ كَلامَنَا فَقَالَ لَنَا فِي أَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ أَنْتُمْ هَيْهَاتَ هَيْهَاتَ لا وَالله لا يَكُونُ مَا تَمُدُّونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْيُنَكُمْ حَتَّى تُغَرْبَلُوا لا وَالله لا يَكُونُ مَا تَمُدُّونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْيُنَكُمْ حَتَّى تُمَحَّصُوا لا وَالله لا يَكُونُ مَا تَمُدُّونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْيُنَكُمْ حَتَّى تُمَيَّزُوا لا وَالله مَا يَكُونُ مَا تَمُدُّونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْيُنَكُمْ إِلا بَعْدَ إِيَاسٍ لا وَالله لا يَكُونُ مَا تَمُدُّونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْيُنَكُمْ حَتَّى يَشْقَى مَنْ يَشْقَى وَيَسْعَدَ مَنْ يَسْعَدُ.

 6. Muhammad ibn al-Hassan and Ali ibn Muhammad have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Muhammad ibn Mansur al-Sayqal from his father who has said the following. “Once I, al-Harith ibn al-Mughira and a group of our people were in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who could hear our conversations. He asked ask us, “What is the issue in your dialogue? It will not happen and it will never happen. By Allah, what you are looking to will not take place before you are sifted, by Allah, what you are longing for will not happen until you are refined, by Allah, what you are looking will not happen before you are distinguished, by Allah, what you looking for will not take place before you despair, by Allah, what you are looking to will not take place before misfortune would strike those who become unfortunate and before the fortunate ones attain salvation.”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 83