Kitab Al-Kafi Translated By Muhammad Sarwar Table of Contents About The Translation Part 1 Part 2 The Book of Inteligence The Book on Virtue of and Ignorance Knowledge Part 3 Part 4 The Book on Oneness The Book about People of Allah (God) with Divine Authority Foreword What is in al-Kafi? The contents of al-Kafi are precious gifts from Ahl al-Bayt (the fourteen infallible family members of Prophet Muhammad, (Divine Supreme Covenant Body) to their followers. Each piece is as valuable as the wealth of the whole world. In this volume (vol. 1 of 8) there are about fourteen hundred pieces of such costly items but in the form of Hadith. Based on the above, one can imagine the value of this precious gift from Ahl al-Bayt DivineSupremeCovenantBody) to their followers. The followers and supporters of Ahl al-Bayt DivineSupremeCovenantBody) would not dispute that such Ahadith are generous gifts to them. The value of each item of such gift is mentioned in a Hadith from Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (DivineSupremeCovenantBody). He has said, "One Hadith about the lawful and unlawful matters that you may receive is better for you than the whole world and all that it contains." How would an individual accept that these items are really worth so much? As a translator, for what I know of therein, I would only ask, "Have you opened the gift yet?" If the answer would be negative one would ask, "How would you know the contents of the package and the value of the items therein? " The above statements are facts. They are not mere assumptions. The value of the gift is real and the way to find such value is also realistic and logical. Simply open up your gift and check it out thoroughly. You will never agree to sell it for less than the stated value. The Source of Hadith The following Hadith, in addition to other valuable information therein, also makes it possible for one to learn about the source and emergence of Hadith. "A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Hajjal, from Ahmad ibn ‘Umar al-Halabi, from abu Basir who has said the following: ‘Once I went to see abu ‘Abd Allah (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) and said to him, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I would like to ask you a question. Is there anyone else in this house who may hear my words?’" The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) then folded the curtain between his room and the next room and looked into it. Then the Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "O abu Muhammad, ask whatever you wish." I said, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, your followers say that the Messenger of Allah taught Ali (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) a thousand chapters of knowledge and from each chapter there opened a thousand chapters. I then said, "This, I swear by Allah, is knowledge." He would mark the ground with his staff (perhaps a sign of thinking) for a while. He then said, "That is knowledge but it is not that." The narrator has said that the Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "O abu Muhammad, with us there is al-Jami‘a. Do they know what al-Jami‘a is?" I asked, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause. What is al-Jami‘a?" The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "It is a parchment seventy yards long by the yards of the Messenger of Allah. It contains his dictations from his very own mouth that are recorded onto it in the handwriting of Ali (DivineSupremeCovenantBody). It contains all the lawful and unlawful, and all matters that people need. Even the law of compensation for a scratch caused to a person." He then extended his hand towards me and asked, "May I, O abu Muhammad?" I replied, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I am entirely at your disposal." He pinched me with his hand and said, "The law of compensation, even for this much, is included therein." He seemed angry. I said, "This, I swear by Allah is knowledge." The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "It certainly is knowledge but not that one." The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) remained silent for a while and then said, "With us there is al-Jafr. Do they know what al-Jafr is?" I asked, "What is al-Jafr?" The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "It is a container made of skin that contains the knowledge of the prophets and the executors of their wills. It is the knowledge of the scholars in the past from the Israelites." I said, "This certainly, is the knowledge." The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "It certainly is knowledge but not that knowledge." The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) remained silent for a while and then said, "With us there is the book (Mushaf) of Fatima, (DivineSupremeCovenantBody). Do they know what Mushaf of Fatima is?" The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "Mushaf of Fatima is three times bigger than your Quran. There is not even a single letter therein from your Quran." I then said, "This, I swear by Allah, is the knowledge." The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "This certainly is knowledge, but it is not that." The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) remained silent for a while and then said, "With us there is the knowledge of whatever has been, and the knowledge of everything that will come into being to the Day of Judgment." I said, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause. This, I swear by Allah, certainly, is the knowledge." The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "It certainly is knowledge but not that knowledge." I asked, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause. What is the knowledge?" The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "It is whatever takes place during the night and during the day, one matter after the other matter, and one thing after the other to the Day of Judgment." (Al-Kafi Vol. 1, H614, Ch. 40, h1) Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Ri’ab from Sadir al-Sayrafi who has said the following. "I heard Humran ibn A‘yan ask abu Ja‘far (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High Allah, ‘ . . . One Who is the Originator of the heavens and the earth . . ." (6:101) Abu Ja‘far (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, originated all things through His knowledge. It was unprecedented. He invented the heavens and earth and there were no heavens and earths before. Have you not considered the words of Allah, " . . .His Throne existed on water . . ." (11:7) Humran then said, "Have you considered His words, Majestic is Whose name, ‘He knows the unseen and He does not allow anyone to know His secrets . . ." (72:26) Abu Ja‘far (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) then said, " . . . except those of His Messengers whom He chooses. (72:26) Muhammad (DivineSupremeCovenantBody), I swear by Allah, was one of those whom Allah had chosen. However, there are His words, "He knows the hidden facts." The fact that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, knows what is hidden from His creatures of the things that He measures and determines and decrees in His knowledge before creating it and before assigning to the angels, it is because of the following. O Humran, there is the knowledge withheld before Him in which He has a wish. He then decrees it when He wills. Bada’ may take place in it and He then will not decree it. The knowledge that, however, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, measures and determines and approves is the knowledge that reaches the Messenger of Allah and then it reaches us." (H664, Ch. 45, h2) This remarkable Hadith takes the word ‘impossible’ out of the dictionary of the created world. It simply states that once Allah creates a thing or things it or they comes/ come in public then if one would have the means he may know what it is or what they are and the Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) has said, "We know them all". Note the end of previous Hadith, "I then asked, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause. What is the knowledge?" The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "It is whatever takes place during the night and during the day, one matter after the other matter, and one thing after the other to the Day of Judgment." No one has so far, in the history of man, has come up with such a statement. The Subjects This volume of al-Kafi in terms of the nature of the subjects consists of the following main topics therein. a. Intelligence and Knowledge b. Allah, the Creator and the Guardian of all things c. People to who Allah has given the Authority and means to be the guardian over His creatures. Al-Kafi is not a book independent of the Holy Quran. This volume simply provides beautiful details of the above matters as they are mentioned in various passages and verses of the Holy Quran. Oneness of Allah Part three of al-Kafi, volume one contains elaborate details of chapter 112 of the Holy Quran and other such passages therein. Intelligence "No one can have faith without the permission of Allah. Allah will cast down filth on those who have no understanding (unintelligent people)." (10:100) "These are parables which We tell to human being, but only the learned ones understand them (Intelligent people). " (29:43) "Allah has made the day and the night, the sun and the moon, and all the stars subservient to you by His command. In this there is evidence of the truth for people of understanding (Intelligent people)." (16:12) The Lord, His Guardianship and Leadership with Divine Authority "Allah is the Waliy (Guardian) of the believers and it is He who takes them out of darkness into light. The Devil is the Waliy (guardian) of those who deny the Truth and he leads them from light to darkness. These are the dwellers of hell wherein they will live forever." (2:257) "Only Allah, His Messenger, and the true believers who are steadfast in prayer and pay alms, while they kneel during prayer, are your Waliy (guardians) (5:55). One whose Waliy (guardians) are Allah, His Messenger, and the true believers should know that Allah's party will certainly triumph." (5:56) Thus, this volume of al-Kafi is about Allah, and His Wilaya (guardianship), about the people who possess Divine authority and their Wilaya (guardianship) and about intelligence and knowledge. What should one look for in Al-Kafi? In the following hadith there is a prayer that helps one to know what one should look for in this volume of al-Kafi. The hadith is from the chapter that deals with the issues in the absence of the Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) (Leader with Divine Authority). "Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Musa al-Khashshab from ‘Abd Allah ibn Musa from ‘Abd Allah ibn Bukayr from Zurara who has said the following. " . . . He is the one whose reappearance is expected. The fact is that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Gracious, loves to try and test the Shi‘a (his followers). It is in such a condition that people of falsehood will raise doubts, O Zurara)." The narrator has said, "I then said, ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, if I will be alive at such time, expecting his rise with Divine power, what should I do?’" The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "O Zurara, if you will live up to such time then say the following prayer. "O Lord make me know You for if You would not make me know You, I will not know Your prophet. O Lord, make me know Your Messenger, for if You would not make me know Your Messenger, I will not know the one who possesses Your authority over the creatures. O Lord make me know the one who possesses Your authority over the creatures for if You will not make me know him I will stray away from my religion . . .." (H 869, Ch. . 80, h 5) This volume of al-Kafi, which is about seven hundred pages, can be considered a text of an interview with a person who possesses Divine authority. It is an established fact that the words of Ahl al-Bayt Allah’SupremeCovenantBody, are in complete harmony. An interview with any one of them would serve as an interview with all and every one of them. To have an interview of that many words as those in this volume provides one a very good chance to know the personality of the person interviewed. Thus, it could serve as the answer to the prayer at the end of hadith quoted above, " . . . O Lord make me know the one who possesses Your authority over the creatures for if You will not make me know him I will stray away from my religion . . ."(H 869, Ch. .80, h 5) You may be better off to open your gift and yourself examine. Keep in mind that the gift is very large. Knowing Allah and those who possess Divine authority is much more valuable than all the worldly things. Muhammad Sarwar New York 8/15/99 Abbreviations, conventions, special terms and symbols A Work of the nature of al-kafi would require a great deal of the use of special terms, conventions and symbols. The translation work is still in progress. Of the available explanations the following are a few. ‘Allah’SupremeCovenantBody’ The Holy Ahl al-Bayt, the Holy Prophet and the thirteen other Holy persons, the twelve Imams and Fatima al-Zahra are infallible people. In the case of the infallible personalities, after their names, titles or titles such as Arabic words ‘abu’ or ‘ibn’, meaning father or son of so and so, the expression ‘Allah’SupremeCovenantBody’ is used in this translation. To conserve space between the words is deleted and the print size is made smaller. In English the use of words such as ‘peace be on him /upon them etc.’ has been a usual practice. The replacement of such expression in this translation is because of Hadith 39 of chapter 111, part four, al-Kafi vol. 1. According to the usual practice ‘peace be on him’, expresses a form of prayer. However, ‘ A member of Allah’s Supreme Covenant Body’ is the mention of a special entitlement in Divine Providence and a prominent position. Hadith its plural Ahadith The literal meaning of this term is a statement, conversation, a report or something new. In the Islamic literature it sometimes is used to replace the word ‘Sunnah’. The Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad and the other infallible personalities consists of three issues. a. Their statements b. Their deeds c. Their approval or disapproval of a certain act, practice or statements. Good news for Visitors of Islamic Seminary homepage The availability on this web-site of the translations of the Holy Quran, the Islamic practical laws and ‘Usul al-Kafi has made it possible to create a comprehensive link to make understanding of the Islamic system much easier. The principles of belief (al-’Usul) and the practical laws (al-Furu’) which are stated in the Holy Quran in concise form and in principle now in an itemized form can be linked to the appropriate explanations in Hadith and in Fiqh. This will save a great deal of time and will provide a much easier approach to various topics. However, The work is in progress. We apologize for the shortcomings and appreciate all helpful comments. Introduction (To the Arabic version) In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful Hadith (Texts of guidance from the Holy Prophet and the Imams (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) In the Shi ‘a Muslim community The first collection of hadith (Texts of guidance from the Holy Prophet and the Imams (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) ever recorded in a book form was the book of Ali ibn abu Talib (DivineSupremeCovenantBody). The Holy Prophet (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) would himself dictate the text of Shari ‘a and Imam Ali (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) would write them down. This book is the text of Shari‘a in details (of what is in principles in the Holy Quran). This is stated in al-Kafi as follows: "A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Hajjal, from Ahmad ibn ‘Umar al-Halabi, from abu Basir who has said the following: I went to see abu ‘Abd Allah (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) and said to him, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I would like to ask you a question. Is there anyone else in this house who may hear my words?" The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) then folded the curtain between his room and the next room and looked into it. Then the Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "O abu Muhammad, ask whatever you wish." I said, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, your followers say that the Messenger of Allah taught Ali (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) a thousand chapters of knowledge and from each chapter there opened a thousand chapters. I then said, "This, I swear by Allah, is knowledge." He would mark the ground with his staff (a sign of thinking) for a while. He then said, "That is knowledge but it is not that." The narrator has said that the Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) then said, "O abu Muhammad, with us there is al-Jami‘a. Do they know what al-Jami‘a is?" I then asked, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause. What is al-Jami‘a?" The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "It is a parchment seventy yards long by the yards of the Messenger of Allah. It contains his dictations that are engraved onto it in the handwriting of Ali (DivineSupremeCovenantBody). It contains all the lawful and unlawful, and all matters that people need. Even the law of compensation for a scratch caused to a person." He then stretched his hand toward me and asked, "May I, O abu Muhammad?" I then replied, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I am entirely at your disposal." He pinched me with his hand and said, "The law of compensation for this much is included therein." He seemed angry. I then said, "This, I swear by Allah is knowledge." The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "It certainly is knowledge but not that one." The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) remained silent for a while and then said, "With us there is al-Jafr. Do they know what al-Jafr is?" I then asked, "What is al-Jafr?" The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "It is a container made of skin that contains the knowledge of the prophets and the executors of their wills. It is the knowledge of the scholars in the past from the Israelites." I then said, "This certainly, is the knowledge." The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "It certainly is knowledge but not that knowledge." The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) remained silent for a while and then said, "With us there is the book (Mushaf) of Fatima, (DivineSupremeCovenantBody). Do they know what Mushaf of Fatima is?" The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "Mushaf of Fatima is three times bigger than your Quran. There is not even a single letter therein from your Quran." I then said, "This, I swear by Allah, is the knowledge." The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "This certainly is knowledge, but it is not that." The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) remained silent for a while and then said, "With us there is the knowledge of whatever has been, and the knowledge of everything that will come into being to the Day of Judgment." I then said, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause. This, I swear by Allah, is certainly knowledge." The Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody) said, "It certainly is knowledge but not that knowledge."