al-Kāfī, compiled by Shaykh al-Kulaynī, is a monumental work belonging to a number of books belonging to the Shīʿī Ḥadīth literature. It comprises of eight volumes and took twenty years to compile, making it an extensive collection of wisdom and guidance for adherents of the faith. The eight volumes are divided into three main parts: al-Uṣūl (Roots), al-Furūʿ (Branches), and al-Rawḍa (the Garden).
Part 1 (Volumes 1 & 2): al-Uṣūl (Roots)
This portion delves into the principles of beliefs, containing eight books that discuss topics such as the intellect and ignorance, the virtues of knowledge, Divine Unity, Divine Authority, Belief and Disbelief, Suppications, the Virtues of the Holy Qurʾān, in addition to Ethics and Morals.
Part 2 (Volumes 3 to 7): al-Furūʿ (Branches)
This portion comprises of Ḥadīths related to Islamic jurisprudence, including acts of worship, business transactions, and judicial laws. It covers a vast array of topics in 26 books, ranging from the laws of cleanliness and menstruation to those of wills, inheritance, and legal penalties.
Part 3 (Volume 8): al-Rawḍa (the Garden)
al-Rawḍa encompasses a collection of miscellaneous Ḥadīths, which cover topics that had already been glazed over in prior two portions of the book. Many a time, long Ḥadīths will be included from written letters, wills of the Imams and historical narrations that didn’t necessarily fit in chapter headings that were made in the first seven volumes. The Ḥadīths are not organised in a specific way, but its diversity adds depth to the understanding of the faith.
A könyvek leírása és a hadíthok fordítása angol nyelvű (forrás: Thaqalayn.net). Az arab eredeti minden hadíth mellett szerepel.
The Book of Belief and Disbelief
The Clay from Which the Believers and Unbelievers Are Made
1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ رِبْعِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيهِما السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَلَقَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِنْ طِينَةِ عِلِّيِّينَ قُلُوبَهُمْ وَأَبْدَانَهُمْ وَخَلَقَ قُلُوبَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ تِلْكَ الطِّينَةِ وَجَعَلَ خَلْقَ أَبْدَانِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ دُونِ ذَلِكَ وَخَلَقَ الْكُفَّارَ مِنْ طِينَةِ سِجِّينٍ قُلُوبَهُمْ وَأَبْدَانَهُمْ فَخَلَطَ بَيْنَ الطِّينَتَيْنِ فَمِنْ هَذَا يَلِدُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْكَافِرَ وَيَلِدُ الْكَافِرُ الْمُؤْمِنَ وَمِنْ هَاهُنَا يُصِيبُ الْمُؤْمِنُ السَّيِّئَةَ وَمِنْ هَاهُنَا يُصِيبُ الْكَافِرُ الْحَسَنَةَ فَقُلُوبُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ تَحِنُّ إِلَى مَا خُلِقُوا مِنْهُ وَقُلُوبُ الْكَافِرِينَ تَحِنُّ إِلَى مَا خُلِقُوا مِنْهُ.
1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Rib’i ibn ‘Abd Allah from a man from Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, created the prophets from the clay of ‘Illiyiyyn (paradise), both their bodies and souls. He made the hearts of the believers from such clay and He made their bodies from a world lower than that world. He created the unbelievers, both their bodies and souls from the clay of Sijjin (fire). He thus mixed the two clays. For this reason children of unbelievers become believers and vice versa. For this reason the believers get afflicted with evil and unbelievers receive good things. Thus, the hearts of the believers incline to that from which they are created and the hearts of the unbelievers incline to that from which they are created.”
2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْغَفَّارِ الْجَازِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَلَقَ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنْ طِينَةِ الْجَنَّةِ وَخَلَقَ الْكَافِرَ مِنْ طِينَةِ النَّارِ وَقَالَ إِذَا أَرَادَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْراً طَيَّبَ رُوحَهُ وَجَسَدَهُ فَلا يَسْمَعُ شَيْئاً مِنَ الْخَيْرِ إِلا عَرَفَهُ وَلا يَسْمَعُ شَيْئاً مِنَ الْمُنْكَرِ إِلا أَنْكَرَهُ قَالَ وَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ الطِّينَاتُ ثَلاثٌ طِينَةُ الأنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُ مِنْ تِلْكَ الطِّينَةِ إِلا أَنَّ الأنْبِيَاءَ هُمْ مِنْ صَفْوَتِهَا هُمُ الأصْلُ وَلَهُمْ فَضْلُهُمْ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْفَرْعُ مِنْ طِينٍ لازِبٍ كَذَلِكَ لا يُفَرِّقُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ شِيعَتِهِمْ وَقَالَ طِينَةُ النَّاصِبِ مِنْ حَمَإٍ مَسْنُونٍ وَأَمَّا الْمُسْتَضْعَفُونَ فَمِنْ تُرَابٍ لا يَتَحَوَّلُ مُؤْمِنٌ عَنْ إِيمَانِهِ وَلا نَاصِبٌ عَنْ نَصْبِهِ وَلله الْمَشِيئَةُ فِيهِمْ.
2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from al- Nadr ibn Shu’ayb from ‘Abd al-Ghaffar al-Jaziyy from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, created the believers from the clay of paradise. He created the unbelievers from the clay of fire. He then said, ‘When Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, decides to grant good to one of His servants. He purifies his spirit and body. Whenever he hears any good thing he recognizes it. Whenever he hears any bad things he dislikes them.’ I (the narrator) then heard him saying, ‘The clays are of three kinds: (a) one is the clay of the prophets from which the believers are also created, except that the prophets are made of the superior kind of clay. The prophets are the roots and the believers are the branches and for this reason they are more excellent than the believers. The believers are created from a stickier kind of clay. Thus Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious will not keep them apart from their followers.’ The Imam than said, ‘The clay of those who insult (‘ A’immah ) are from a black clay that smells foul. The weak ones are made from soil. The believers do not change their faith nor do evil doers (those who insult ‘ A’immah , recipients of divine supreme covenant) do so and Allah has a definite goal behind it.’”
3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ طِينَةَ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَقَالَ مِنْ طِينَةِ الأنْبِيَاءِ فَلَمْ تَنْجَسْ أَبَداً.
3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from Salih ibn Sahl who has said that I asked abu Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) the following: “May Allah keep my soul of service to you, from what kind of material has Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, created the clay of the believers? He then replied, ‘He has created them with the clay from which the prophets were made. Thus, they never become unclean.’”
4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَغَيْرِهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَلَفٍ عَنْ أَبِي نَهْشَلٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله جَلَّ وَعَزَّ خَلَقَنَا مِنْ أَعْلَى عِلِّيِّينَ وَخَلَقَ قُلُوبَ شِيعَتِنَا مِمَّا خَلَقَنَا مِنْهُ وَخَلَقَ أَبْدَانَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِ ذَلِكَ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ تَهْوِي إِلَيْنَا لأنَّهَا خُلِقَتْ مِمَّا خُلِقْنَا مِنْهُ ثُمَّ تَلا هَذِهِ الآيَةَ كَلا إِنَّ كِتابَ الأبْرارِ لَفِي عِلِّيِّينَ وَما أَدْراكَ ما عِلِّيُّونَ كِتابٌ مَرْقُومٌ يَشْهَدُهُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ وَخَلَقَ عَدُوَّنَا مِنْ سِجِّينٍ وَخَلَقَ قُلُوبَ شِيعَتِهِمْ مِمَّا خَلَقَهُمْ مِنْهُ وَأَبْدَانَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِ ذَلِكَ فَقُلُوبُهُمْ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ لأنَّهَا خُلِقَتْ مِمَّا خُلِقُوا مِنْهُ ثُمَّ تَلا هَذِهِ الآيَةَ كَلا إِنَّ كِتابَ الفُجَّارِ لَفِي سِجِّينٍ وَما أَدْراكَ ما سِجِّينٌ كِتابٌ مَرْقُومٌ وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ.
4. Muhammad ibn Yahya and others have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalaf from abu Nahshal who has said that Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il narrated from abu Hamza al-Thumali who has the following: “I heard abu la’ far (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, created us from the top most of paradise. He made the hearts of our followers from that which He had created us. He created their bodies from that which is below, thus, their hearts incline to us; they are made from what He had made us.’ He then recited this verse of the Holy Quran. ‘However, the records of the deeds of the virtuous ones will certainly be in llliyin (83:18). Would that you had known what llliyin is! (19). It is a comprehensively written Book (of records) (20). The ones nearest to Allah will bring it to the public (83:21).’ He then said, ‘Allah has created our enemies from Sijjin (the fire) and He has created the hearts of their followers from what He had created them. He created the bodies of their followers (followers of our enemies) from other matters. Thus, their hearts (the hearts of the followers of our enemies) incline to them (to our enemies) because they are created from what they (our enemies) are created.’ Then he recited this verse of the Holy Quran: ‘Let them know that the records of the sinners’ deeds are in Sijin (83:7). Would that you had known what Sijin is! (8). It is a comprehensively written Book (of records) (9). Woe, on that day, to those who have rejected Allah’s revelations (10) and those who have rejected the Day of Judgment (83:11).’”
5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَغَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ جَمِيعاً عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أُورَمَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ يُوسُفَ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ الله بْنُ كَيْسَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَنَا مَوْلاكَ عَبْدُ الله بْنُ كَيْسَانَ قَالَ أَمَّا النَّسَبُ فَأَعْرِفُهُ وَأَمَّا أَنْتَ فَلَسْتُ أَعْرِفُكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي وُلِدْتُ بِالْجَبَلِ وَنَشَأْتُ فِي أَرْضِ فَارِسَ وَإِنَّنِي أُخَالِطُ النَّاسَ فِي التِّجَارَاتِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ فَأُخَالِطُ الرَّجُلَ فَأَرَى لَهُ حُسْنَ السَّمْتِ وَحُسْنَ الْخُلُقِ وَكَثْرَةَ أَمَانَةٍ ثُمَّ أُفَتِّشُهُ فَأَتَبَيَّنُهُ عَنْ عَدَاوَتِكُمْ وَأُخَالِطُ الرَّجُلَ فَأَرَى مِنْهُ سُوءَ الْخُلُقِ وَقِلَّةَ أَمَانَةٍ وَزَعَارَّةً ثُمَّ أُفَتِّشُهُ فَأَتَبَيَّنُهُ عَنْ وَلايَتِكُمْ فَكَيْفَ يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لِي أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ يَا ابْنَ كَيْسَانَ أَنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَخَذَ طِينَةً مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَطِينَةً مِنَ النَّارِ فَخَلَطَهُمَا جَمِيعاً ثُمَّ نَزَعَ هَذِهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ وَهَذِهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ فَمَا رَأَيْتَ مِنْ أُولَئِكَ مِنَ الأمَانَةِ وَحُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ وَحُسْنِ السَّمْتِ فَمِمَّا مَسَّتْهُمْ مِنْ طِينَةِ الْجَنَّةِ وَهُمْ يَعُودُونَ إِلَى مَا خُلِقُوا مِنْهُ وَمَا رَأَيْتَ مِنْ هَؤُلاءِ مِنْ قِلَّةِ الأمَانَةِ وَسُوءِ الْخُلُقِ وَالزَّعَارَّةِ فَمِمَّا مَسَّتْهُمْ مِنْ طِينَةِ النَّارِ وَهُمْ يَعُودُونَ إِلَى مَا خُلِقُوا مِنْهُ.
5. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad, who has narrated from more than one person from al-Husayn ibn al-Hassan. All of the above have narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Uwarma from Muhammad ibn Ali from ‘Isma’il ibn Yasar from ‘Uthman ibn Yusuf who has said that, reported to him ‘Abd Allah ibn Kaysan, from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once I said to the Imam, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I am your servant, abu ‘Abd Allah ibn Kaysan.’ The Imam said, ‘I know your genealogy. However, I do not know you (so well).’ I said, ‘I was born in the mountains and grew up in the land of Persia. I associate with people in business and other occasions. I, thus, associate with a man and find his appearance very good, to be of good manners and more trustworthy. When I investigate, I find him to be one of your enemies. I also associate with another man who has bad manners, is less trustworthy and hot tempered. I then investigate and find him to be of your supporters and followers. Why is it so?’ “He (the Imam) said, ‘O ibn Kaysan, Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, took a clay from paradise and also from fire and then mixed them together. Then He separated this from that and that from this. The good appearances, good manners and trustworthiness that you find in them (our enemies) is because of the touch of the clay from paradise but they will return to that from which they are made. The deceitfulness, bad manners and hot-temperament that you find in them (our supporters and followers) is because of the touch of the clay from fire, however, they will return to that from which they were made.’”
6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) الْمُؤْمِنُونَ مِنْ طِينَةِ الأنْبِيَاءِ قَالَ نَعَمْ.
6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Salih ibn Sahl who has said the following: “I asked abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Are the believers made from the clay from which the prophets were made?’ He said, ‘Yes, that is correct.’”
7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ آدَمَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) بَعَثَ جَبْرَئِيلَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) فِي أَوَّلِ سَاعَةٍ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَقَبَضَ بِيَمِينِهِ قَبْضَةً بَلَغَتْ قَبْضَتُهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ السَّابِعَةِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا وَأَخَذَ مِنْ كُلِّ سَمَاءٍ تُرْبَةً وَقَبَضَ قَبْضَةً أُخْرَى مِنَ الأرْضِ السَّابِعَةِ الْعُلْيَا إِلَى الأرْضِ السَّابِعَةِ الْقُصْوَى فَأَمَرَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ كَلِمَتَهُ فَأَمْسَكَ الْقَبْضَةَ الأولَى بِيَمِينِهِ وَالْقَبْضَةَ الأخْرَى بِشِمَالِهِ فَفَلَقَ الطِّينَ فِلْقَتَيْنِ فَذَرَا مِنَ الأرْضِ ذَرْواً وَمِنَ السَّمَاوَاتِ ذَرْواً فَقَالَ لِلَّذِي بِيَمِينِهِ مِنْكَ الرُّسُلُ وَالأنْبِيَاءُ وَالأوْصِيَاءُ وَالصِّدِّيقُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالسُّعَدَاءُ وَمَنْ أُرِيدُ كَرَامَتَهُ فَوَجَبَ لَهُمْ مَا قَالَ كَمَا قَالَ وَقَالَ لِلَّذِي بِشِمَالِهِ مِنْكَ الْجَبَّارُونَ وَالْمُشْرِكُونَ وَالْكَافِرُونَ وَالطَّوَاغِيتُ وَمَنْ أُرِيدُ هَوَانَهُ وَشِقْوَتَهُ فَوَجَبَ لَهُمْ مَا قَالَ كَمَا قَالَ ثُمَّ إِنَّ الطِّينَتَيْنِ خُلِطَتَا جَمِيعاً وَذَلِكَ قَوْلُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِنَّ الله فالِقُ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوى فَالْحَبُّ طِينَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّتِي أَلْقَى الله عَلَيْهَا مَحَبَّتَهُ وَالنَّوَى طِينَةُ الْكَافِرِينَ الَّذِينَ نَأَوْا عَنْ كُلِّ خَيْرٍ وَإِنَّمَا سُمِّيَ النَّوَى مِنْ أَجْلِ أَنَّهُ نَأَى عَنْ كُلِّ خَيْرٍ وَتَبَاعَدَ عَنْهُ وَقَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَمُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتِ مِنَ الْحَيِّ فَالْحَيُّ الْمُؤْمِنُ الَّذِي تَخْرُجُ طِينَتُهُ مِنْ طِينَةِ الْكَافِرِ وَالْمَيِّتُ الَّذِي يَخْرُجُ مِنَ الْحَيِّ هُوَ الْكَافِرُ الَّذِي يَخْرُجُ مِنْ طِينَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَالْحَيُّ الْمُؤْمِنُ وَالْمَيِّتُ الْكَافِرُ وَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَ وَمَنْ كانَ مَيْتاً فَأَحْيَيْناهُ فَكَانَ مَوْتُهُ اخْتِلاطَ طِينَتِهِ مَعَ طِينَةِ الْكَافِرِ وَكَانَ حَيَاتُهُ حِينَ فَرَّقَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بَيْنَهُمَا بِكَلِمَتِهِ كَذَلِكَ يُخْرِجُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ فِي الْمِيلادِ مِنَ الظُّلْمَةِ بَعْدَ دُخُولِهِ فِيهَا إِلَى النُّورِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْكَافِرَ مِنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلْمَةِ بَعْدَ دُخُولِهِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِيُنْذِرَ مَنْ كانَ حَيًّا وَيَحِقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَى الْكافِرِينَ.
7. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Salih ibn abu Hammad from al-Husayn ibn Yazid from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn abu Hamza from Ibrahim from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “When Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, willed to create Adam He sent Jibril in the first hours of the Friday. He picked up with his right hand a handful. His hand had in its reach from the seventh heavens to the heaven above earth. From each of the heavens he picked up a handful. He also picked up another handful from the seventh earth of the above-most and to the farthest seventh earth. Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, then commanded His word to hold the first handful in his right and the other in his left. The clay then was cleaved into two. It was scattered from earth and from the heavens and then said to the clay in his right hand, ‘From you will be the messengers, the prophets, their successors, the truthful ones, the believers, those who will achieve salvation and those whom I will to have honors.’ It then became necessary for them to be as He said them to be. He then said to that which was on his left, ‘From you will be the tyrants, the polytheists, the unbelievers, the devils and those whom I will to humiliate and be of the wicked ones.’ It then became necessary for them to become what He said them to become. Thereafter the two clays mixed together as Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, has said, ‘Allah makes the seed and the nuts to cleave apart.’ (6:95) The seed is the clay of the believers upon which Allah has placed His love. The nuts are the clay of the unbelievers that are far from all good. It is called nuts (al- Nawa’) because it is far away from all good and from Him. Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, has said, ‘He (Allah) brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living.’ (6:95) The living are the believers who come out from the unbelievers and the dead who come out of the living are the unbelievers who are from the believers. The living are the believers and the dead are the unbelievers. This is because of the words of Allah, ‘Are those whom We brought to life after their being dead . . .’ (6:122) Their death was the mixing of their clay with the clay of the unbelievers and his coming to life was when Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, caused separation between them through His word. In this way Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, takes the believers at birth out to light from darkness after their entering therein and He takes the unbelievers out of the light to darkness after their entering into the light as it is said in the words of Allah, the Majestic the Glorious, ‘So that he can give warning to those who are of the living and the word about the unbelievers truly come to pass.’” (36:70)
The Book of Belief and Disbelief
The Clay from Which the Believers and Unbelievers Are Made (additional)
1ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَوْ عَلِمَ النَّاسُ كَيْفَ ابْتِدَاءُ الْخَلْقِ مَا اخْتَلَفَ اثْنَانِ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْخَلْقَ قَالَ كُنْ مَاءً عَذْباً أَخْلُقْ مِنْكَ جَنَّتِي وَأَهْلَ طَاعَتِي وَكُنْ مِلْحاً أُجَاجاً أَخْلُقْ مِنْكَ نَارِي وَأَهْلَ مَعْصِيَتِي ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُمَا فَامْتَزَجَا فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ صَارَ يَلِدُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْكَافِرَ وَالْكَافِرُ الْمُؤْمِنَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ طِيناً مِنْ أَدِيمِ الأرْضِ فَعَرَكَهُ عَرْكاً شَدِيداً فَإِذَا هُمْ كَالذَّرِّ يَدِبُّونَ فَقَالَ لأصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ بِسَلامٍ وَقَالَ لأصْحَابِ الشِّمَالِ إِلَى النَّارِ وَلا أُبَالِي ثُمَّ أَمَرَ نَاراً فَأُسْعِرَتْ فَقَالَ لأصْحَابِ الشِّمَالِ ادْخُلُوهَا فَهَابُوهَا فَقَالَ لأصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ ادْخُلُوهَا فَدَخَلُوهَا فَقَالَ كُونِي بَرْداً وَسَلاماً فَكَانَتْ بَرْداً وَسَلاماً فَقَالَ أَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ يَا رَبِّ أَقِلْنَا فَقَالَ قَدْ أَقَلْتُكُمْ فَادْخُلُوهَا فَذَهَبُوا فَهَابُوهَا فَثَمَّ ثَبَتَتِ الطَّاعَةُ وَالْمَعْصِيَةُ فَلا يَسْتَطِيعُ هَؤُلاءِ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنْ هَؤُلاءِ وَلا هَؤُلاءِ مِنْ هَؤُلاءِ.
1. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Zurara from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Had people known how the beginning of the creation was, no one would have disagreed with another person. Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, before creating the creatures said, ‘Be a sweet water so I create from you My paradise and people who obey My commands. Be very salty water; from you I create My fire and those who disobey Me.’ He then commanded them to mix and from this the believers give birth to unbelievers and the unbelievers give birth to the believers. Then He took a clay from the surface of the earth and kneaded it very strongly whereby they (children of Adam) appeared as particles crawling about. He then said to the people of the right hand, ‘To paradise (you go) in peace.’ To the people of the left hand He said, ‘To the fire (you go) and I am not concerned.’ He then commanded a fire that began to blaze and He said to the people of the left hand, ‘Enter therein.’ They then were frightened thereby. He then said to the people of the right hand, ‘Enter the fire.’ They then entered therein and He said, ‘O fire be cool and peaceful.’ The fire became cool and peaceful. The people of the left hand then said, ‘O Lord forgive us and reduce our burden.’ The Lord said, ‘I have reduced it for you. Enter.’ They went but were afraid of it. It was there that obedience and disobedience came to take place. Thus, these will not be able to become of those and they will not be able to become of these.’”
2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله جَلَّ وَعَزَّ وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ مِنْ ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلى أَنْفُسِهِمْ أَ لَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قالُوا بَلى إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ فَقَالَ وَأَبُوهُ يَسْمَعُ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي أَنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَبَضَ قَبْضَةً مِنْ تُرَابِ التُّرْبَةِ الَّتِي خَلَقَ مِنْهَا آدَمَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) فَصَبَّ عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ الْعَذْبَ الْفُرَاتَ ثُمَّ تَرَكَهَا أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً ثُمَّ صَبَّ عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ الْمَالِحَ الأجَاجَ فَتَرَكَهَا أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً فَلَمَّا اخْتَمَرَتِ الطِّينَةُ أَخَذَهَا فَعَرَكَهَا عَرْكاً شَدِيداً فَخَرَجُوا كَالذَّرِّ مِنْ يَمِينِهِ وَشِمَالِهِ وَأَمَرَهُمْ جَمِيعاً أَنْ يَقَعُوا فِي النَّارِ فَدَخَلَ أَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ فَصَارَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ بَرْداً وَسَلاماً وَأَبَى أَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ أَنْ يَدْخُلُوهَا.
2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn ‘Udhayna from Zurara who has said the following: “Once a man asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Majestic the Glorious, ‘When your Lord took from the back of the children of Adam their offspring and told them to bear testimony to the words of Allah, “Am I not your Lord,” they all said, “Yes, You are our Lord. . . .”’ (7:172) “He (the Imam), while his father (a.s.) was listening, said, ‘My father narrated to me that Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, took a handful of clay, from which He created Adam. He poured upon it sweet water from Euphrates and left it for forty mornings. Then He poured upon it very salty water and left it for forty mornings. When the clay fermented He then kneaded it strongly and they (children of Adam) appeared as particles from his right and left sides. He ordered all of them to enter the fire. The people of the right hand entered it and it became cool and peaceful for them but the people of the left hand refused to enter.’”
3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ آدَمَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) أَرْسَلَ الْمَاءَ عَلَى الطِّينِ ثُمَّ قَبَضَ قَبْضَةً فَعَرَكَهَا ثُمَّ فَرَّقَهَا فِرْقَتَيْنِ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ ذَرَأَهُمْ فَإِذَا هُمْ يَدِبُّونَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ لَهُمْ نَاراً فَأَمَرَ أَهْلَ الشِّمَالِ أَنْ يَدْخُلُوهَا فَذَهَبُوا إِلَيْهَا فَهَابُوهَا فَلَمْ يَدْخُلُوهَا ثُمَّ أَمَرَ أَهْلَ الْيَمِينِ أَنْ يَدْخُلُوهَا فَذَهَبُوا فَدَخَلُوهَا فَأَمَرَ الله جَلَّ وَعَزَّ النَّارَ فَكَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ بَرْداً وَسَلاماً فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ أَهْلُ الشِّمَالِ قَالُوا رَبَّنَا أَقِلْنَا فَأَقَالَهُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُمُ ادْخُلُوهَا فَذَهَبُوا فَقَامُوا عَلَيْهَا وَلَمْ يَدْخُلُوهَا فَأَعَادَهُمْ طِيناً وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا آدَمَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) وَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) فَلَنْ يَسْتَطِيعَ هَؤُلاءِ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنْ هَؤُلاءِ وَلا هَؤُلاءِ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنْ هَؤُلاءِ قَالَ فَيَرَوْنَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) أَوَّلُ مَنْ دَخَلَ تِلْكَ النَّارَ فَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ جَلَّ وَعَزَّ قُلْ إِنْ كانَ لِلرَّحْمنِ وَلَدٌ فَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْعابِدِينَ.
3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Muhammad ibn Ali al-Halabi from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “When Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, willed to create Adam He sent water on the clay. He then took a handful and kneaded it and then divided it in two parts with His hands then scattered them and they began to move. He then started a fire for them and commanded the people of the left hand to enter therein. They went near but were afraid of it and they did not enter therein. He then commanded the people of the right hand to enter in the fire. They went and entered into it and Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, commanded the fire to become cool and peaceful for them. When the people of the left hand observed it they said, ‘Our Lord, forgive us.’ He forgave them and said to them, ‘Enter into the fire.’ They went but did not enter therein. He then changed them to clay and He created Adam therefrom. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) then said, ‘Those will never be able to become these and they will never be able to become of those.’ He (a.s.) then said, ‘They saw the Messenger of Allah (a.s.) to be the first to enter that fire. For this reason is the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, ‘(Muhammad), Say, “Had the Beneficent had a son then I would have been the first to worship.”’” (43: 81)
