Al-Kāfi

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الإيمَانُ فَوْقَ الإسْلامِ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَالتَّقْوَى فَوْقَ الإيمَانِ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَالْيَقِينُ فَوْقَ التَّقْوَى بِدَرَجَةٍ وَلَمْ يُقْسَمْ بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَقَلُّ مِنَ الْيَقِينِ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from al-Rida (a.s.) who has said the following: “Belief is one degree higher than Islam. Piety is one degree higher than belief. Certainty is one degree higher above piety. Nothing is distributed among people so little as certainty is.”

1ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُذَافِرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ بَيْنَا رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) فِي بَعْضِ أَسْفَارِهِ إِذْ لَقِيَهُ رَكْبٌ فَقَالُوا السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ الله فَقَالَ مَا أَنْتُمْ فَقَالُوا نَحْنُ مُؤْمِنُونَ يَا رَسُولَ الله قَالَ فَمَا حَقِيقَةُ إِيمَانِكُمْ قَالُوا الرِّضَا بِقَضَاءِ الله وَالتَّفْوِيضُ إِلَى الله وَالتَّسْلِيمُ لأمْرِ الله فَقَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) عُلَمَاءُ حُكَمَاءُ كَادُوا أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْحِكْمَةِ أَنْبِيَاءَ فَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ فَلا تَبْنُوا مَا لا تَسْكُنُونَ وَلا تَجْمَعُوا مَا لا تَأْكُلُونَ وَاتَّقُوا الله الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Isma’il from Bazi’ from Muhammad ibn ‘Azafir from his father from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “During one of the journeys of the Messenger of Allah a group of people who were riding came to meet him. They said, ‘Salute to you O Messenger of Allah.’ He asked, ‘Who are you?’ They replied, ‘We are believers, O Messenger of Allah.’ He then asked, ‘What is the essence of your belief?’ They replied, ‘It is to agree with the decision of Allah, allow Him be the person in charge of one’s affairs and submit to the command of Allah.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘They are scholars and people of wisdom who for their wisdom can almost be prophets. If what you say is true then do not build that which you do not use as dwelling, do not accumulate what you do not eat and be pious before Allah to whom you will return.’”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ الْوَابِشِيِّ وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مِهْزَمٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) صَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ الصُّبْحَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى شَابٍّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَهُوَ يَخْفِقُ وَيَهْوِي بِرَأْسِهِ مُصْفَرّاً لَوْنُهُ قَدْ نَحِفَ جِسْمُهُ وَغَارَتْ عَيْنَاهُ فِي رَأْسِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) كَيْفَ أَصْبَحْتَ يَا فُلانُ قَالَ أَصْبَحْتُ يَا رَسُولَ الله مُوقِناً فَعَجِبَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) مِنْ قَوْلِهِ وَقَالَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ يَقِينٍ حَقِيقَةً فَمَا حَقِيقَةُ يَقِينِكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ يَقِينِي يَا رَسُولَ الله هُوَ الَّذِي أَحْزَنَنِي وَأَسْهَرَ لَيْلِي وَأَظْمَأَ هَوَاجِرِي فَعَزَفَتْ نَفْسِي عَنِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا حَتَّى كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى عَرْشِ رَبِّي وَقَدْ نُصِبَ لِلْحِسَابِ وَحُشِرَ الْخَلائِقُ لِذَلِكَ وَأَنَا فِيهِمْ وَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ يَتَنَعَّمُونَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَيَتَعَارَفُونَ وَعَلَى الأرَائِكِ مُتَّكِئُونَ وَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى أَهْلِ النَّارِ وَهُمْ فِيهَا مُعَذَّبُونَ مُصْطَرِخُونَ وَكَأَنِّي الآنَ أَسْمَعُ زَفِيرَ النَّارِ يَدُورُ فِي مَسَامِعِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) لأصْحَابِهِ هَذَا عَبْدٌ نَوَّرَ الله قَلْبَهُ بِالإيمَانِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ الْزَمْ مَا أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ الشَّابُّ ادْعُ الله لِي يَا رَسُولَ الله أَنْ أُرْزَقَ الشَّهَادَةَ مَعَكَ فَدَعَا لَهُ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) فَلَمْ يَلْبَثْ أَنْ خَرَجَ فِي بَعْضِ غَزَوَاتِ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) فَاسْتُشْهِدَ بَعْدَ تِسْعَةِ نَفَرٍ وَكَانَ هُوَ الْعَاشِرَ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from ibn Mahbub from abu Muhammad al-Wabishi and Ibrahim ibn Mehzam from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Once the Messenger of Allah after leading the morningprayer for the people looked at a young man in the Mosque whose head hung down. He looked pale and slim and his eyes sunk into his head. The Messenger of Allah asked, ‘O so and so, how is your morning?’ He (the young man) replied, ‘This morning, I, O Messenger of Allah, am in a condition of certainty. The messenger of Allah admired him for his words and he said, ‘For everything there is an essence. What is the essence of your certainty?’ The young man said, ‘My certainty, O Messenger of Allah, is that which has made me depressed. It has kept me awake all night and to endure thirst during the day. My soul is withdrawn from the world and the things in it, so much so, as if I am looking at the Throne of my Lord that is established to call everyone to Judgment, all creatures are resurrected and I am among them. It is as if I am looking at the people of paradise who enjoy therein being introduced to each other while leaning against raised couches. It is also as if I am looking at the people of hell wherein they suffer and cry for help. Right now, it is as if I hear the roaring of the fire. It is striking against my ears.’ The Messenger of Allah said to his companions, ‘This is a servant of Allah whose heart He has brightened up with belief.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said to him (the young man), ‘Keep up with what you are in (condition of your belief).’ The young man said, ‘Pray to Allah for me, O Messenger of Allah, to grant me martyrdom (while working hard in support of your cause) along with you.’ The Messenger of Allah prayed for him. Not very long thereafter he joined the prophet in an armed expedition and he was the tenth man to become a martyr.’”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ اسْتَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) حَارِثَةَ بْنَ مَالِكِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ الأنْصَارِيَّ فَقَالَ لَهُ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ يَا حَارِثَةَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ الله مُؤْمِنٌ حَقّاً فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ حَقِيقَةٌ فَمَا حَقِيقَةُ قَوْلِكَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ الله عَزَفَتْ نَفْسِي عَنِ الدُّنْيَا فَأَسْهَرَتْ لَيْلِي وَأَظْمَأَتْ هَوَاجِرِي وَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى عَرْشِ رَبِّي [ وَ] قَدْ وُضِعَ لِلْحِسَابِ وَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ يَتَزَاوَرُونَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَكَأَنِّي أَسْمَعُ عُوَاءَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ فِي النَّارِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) عَبْدٌ نَوَّرَ الله قَلْبَهُ أَبْصَرْتَ فَاثْبُتْ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ الله ادْعُ الله لِي أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي الشَّهَادَةَ مَعَكَ فَقَالَ اللهمَّ ارْزُقْ حَارِثَةَ الشَّهَادَةَ فَلَمْ يَلْبَثْ إِلا أَيَّاماً حَتَّى بَعَثَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) سَرِيَّةً فَبَعَثَهُ فِيهَا فَقَاتَلَ فَقُتِلَ تِسْعَةٌ أَوْ ثَمَانِيَةٌ ثُمَّ قُتِلَ. وَفِي رِوَايَةِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ بُرَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ اسْتُشْهِدَ مَعَ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ بَعْدَ تِسْعَةِ نَفَرٍ وَكَانَ هُوَ الْعَاشِرَ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muskan from abu Basir from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: ‘‘The Messenger of Allah once met Harithah ibn Malik al- Nu’man al-Ansari and asked him, ‘How are you, O Harithah ibn Malik?’ He replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I am a believer in a real sense.’ The Messenger of Allah then asked, ‘Everything has a reality and essence. What are the reality and essence of your words?’ “He replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, my soul has withdrawn from this world; it has kept me awake all night and to endure thirst in the middle of the day. It is as if I am looking to the Throne of my Lord that is established to bring all people to account. It is as if I am looking at the people of paradise who are visiting each other and I hear the barking of the people of hell therefrom.’ The Messenger of Allah, then said, ‘He is a servant whose heart is brightened (by the command of) Allah. You have reached (true) understanding, remain steadfast.’ He then asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah for me to grant me martyrdom (while working hard to support your cause) along with you.’ The Messenger of Allah prayed, ‘O Allah, grant him martyrdom.’ Within very few days thereafter, he (the messenger of Allah) dispatched a group of people for an armed expedition and Harithah was among them. He (Harithah) fought the enemy and did away with eight or nine people before he became a martyr. “In the narration of al-Qasim from his father from abu Basir it is said that Harithah was martyred in the army of Ja’far ibn abu Talib after the martyrdom of nine people.”

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ عَلَى كُلِّ حَقٍّ حَقِيقَةً وَعَلَى كُلِّ صَوَابٍ نُوراً.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘Over every truth there certainly is a reality and over every correct issue there is light.’”

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ نَبِّهْ بِالتَّفَكُّرِ قَلْبَكَ وَجَافِ عَنِ اللَّيْلِ جَنْبَكَ وَاتَّقِ الله رَبَّكَ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘Awaken your heart by thinking. Keep your side off the bed at night (meaning stand up for nightly prayers) and be pious before your Lord, Allah.’”

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ الصَّيْقَلِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) عَمَّا يَرْوِي النَّاسُ أَنَّ تَفَكُّرَ سَاعَةٍ خَيْرٌ مِنْ قِيَامِ لَيْلَةٍ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ يَتَفَكَّرُ قَالَ يَمُرُّ بِالْخَرِبَةِ أَوْ بِالدَّارِ فَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ سَاكِنُوكِ أَيْنَ بَانُوكِ مَا بَالُكِ لا تَتَكَلَّمِينَ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from certain individuals of his people from Aban from al-Hassan al-Sayqal who has said the following: “Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about what people’s narration, ‘Thinking for one hour is better than worshipping a whole night,’ how should they think? The Imam said, ‘They pass by the mins of dwellings or a building and ask, “Where are your inhabitants? Where are your builders? Why do you not speak?””’

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ رِجَالِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ أَفْضَلُ الْعِبَادَةِ إِدْمَانُ التَّفَكُّرِ فِي الله وَفِي قُدْرَتِهِ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from certain individuals of his people from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘The most virtuous form of worship is thinking about Allah very often and about His power. ’”

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلادٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ لَيْسَ الْعِبَادَةُ كَثْرَةَ الصَّلاةِ وَالصَّوْمِ إِنَّمَا الْعِبَادَةُ التَّفَكُّرُ فِي أَمْرِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Mu’ammar ibn Khallad who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) saying, ‘A great deal of prayer and fasting only are not (everything in) worship. Worship is only in thinking about the affairs of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’”

5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ سَهْلٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ رِبْعِيٍّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) إِنَّ التَّفَكُّرَ يَدْعُو إِلَى الْبِرِّ وَالْعَمَلِ بِهِ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Isma’il ibn Sahl from Hammad from Rib’ I who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘Thinking leads to virtue and to acting virtuously.’”