Al-Kāfi

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عليه السلام) أَنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عليه السلام) خَرَجَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ يَسِيرُ بِبَعِيرٍ فَمَرَّ بِفَلَاةٍ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِرَجُلٍ قَائِمٍ يُصَلِّي قَدْ قَطَعَ الْأَرْضَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ طُولُهُ وَ لِبَاسُهُ شَعْرٌ قَالَ فَوَقَفَ عَلَيْهِ إِبْرَاهِيمُ (عليه السلام) وَ عَجِبَ مِنْهُ وَ جَلَسَ يَنْتَظِرُ فَرَاغَهُ فَلَمَّا طَالَ عَلَيْهِ حَرَّكَهُ بِيَدِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ لِي حَاجَةً فَخَفِّفْ قَالَ فَخَفَّفَ الرَّجُلُ وَ جَلَسَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ (عليه السلام) فَقَالَ لَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ (عليه السلام) لِمَنْ تُصَلِّي فَقَالَ لِإِلَهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَقَالَ لَهُ وَ مَنْ إِلَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَقَالَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكَ وَ خَلَقَنِي فَقَالَ لَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ (عليه السلام) قَدْ أَعْجَبَنِي نَحْوُكَ وَ أَنَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أُوَاخِيَكَ فِي اللَّهِ أَيْنَ مَنْزِلُكَ إِذَا أَرَدْتُ زِيَارَتَكَ وَ لِقَاءَكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ مَنْزِلِي خَلْفَ هَذِهِ النُّطْفَةِ وَ أَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى الْبَحْرِ وَ أَمَّا مُصَلَّايَ فَهَذَا الْمَوْضِعُ تُصِيبُنِي فِيهِ إِذَا أَرَدْتَنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ الرَّجُلُ لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ (عليه السلام) أَ لَكَ حَاجَةٌ فَقَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ وَ مَا هِيَ قَالَ تَدْعُو اللَّهَ وَ أُؤَمِّنُ عَلَى دُعَائِكَ وَ أَدْعُو أَنَا فَتُؤَمِّنُ عَلَى دُعَائِي فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ فَبِمَ نَدْعُو اللَّهَ فَقَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ (عليه السلام) لِلْمُذْنِبِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ لَا فَقَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ (عليه السلام) وَ لِمَ فَقَالَ لِأَنِّي قَدْ دَعَوْتُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مُنْذُ ثَلَاثِ سِنِينَ بِدَعْوَةٍ لَمْ أَرَ إِجَابَتَهَا حَتَّى السَّاعَةِ وَ أَنَا أَسْتَحْيِي مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى أَنْ أَدْعُوَهُ حَتَّى أَعْلَمَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ أَجَابَنِي فَقَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ (عليه السلام) فَبِمَ دَعَوْتَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ إِنِّي فِي مُصَلَّايَ هَذَا ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ إِذْ مَرَّ بِي غُلَامٌ أَرْوَعُ النُّورُ يَطْلُعُ مِنْ جَبْهَتِهِ لَهُ ذُؤَابَةٌ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ وَ مَعَهُ بَقَرٌ يَسُوقُهَا كَأَنَّمَا دُهِنَتْ دَهْناً وَ غَنَمٌ يَسُوقُهَا كَأَنَّمَا دُخِسَتْ دَخَساً فَأَعْجَبَنِي مَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا غُلَامُ لِمَنْ هَذَا الْبَقَرُ وَ الْغَنَمُ فَقَالَ لِي لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ (عليه السلام) فَقُلْتُ وَ مَنْ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ أَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِ الرَّحْمَنِ فَدَعَوْتُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ يُرِيَنِي خَلِيلَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ (عليه السلام) فَأَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ خَلِيلُ الرَّحْمَنِ وَ ذَلِكَ الْغُلَامُ ابْنِي فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَجَابَ دَعْوَتِي ثُمَّ قَبَّلَ الرَّجُلُ صَفْحَتَيْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عليه السلام) وَ عَانَقَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا الْآنَ فَقُمْ فَادْعُ حَتَّى أُؤَمِّنَ عَلَى دُعَائِكَ فَدَعَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ (عليه السلام) لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَ الْمُذْنِبِينَ مِنْ يَوْمِهِ ذَلِكَ بِالْمَغْفِرَةِ وَ الرِّضَا عَنْهُمْ قَالَ وَ أَمَّنَ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى دُعَائِهِ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عليه السلام) فَدَعْوَةُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عليه السلام) بَالِغَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْمُذْنِبِينَ مِنْ شِيعَتِنَا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.

591. Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al-Hassan Bin Mahboub, from Malik Bin Atiyya, from Abu Hamza Al-Thumaly, who has said: ‘Abu Ja’far (asws) said that: ‘One day Ibrahim (as) went out on a journey by a camel, so he (as) passed by a desert from the earth and there was a man who was standing in Prayer whose length had blocked the sky from the earth, and his clothing was his hair. Ibrahim (as) paused by him and was astounded from him and sat down awaiting him to be free from his Prayer. So when it became prolonged, he (as) moved him with his (as) hand and said to him; ‘I (as) have a need, so shorten it’. He (asws) said: ‘So the man shortened it and sat with Ibrahim (as). Ibrahim (as) said to him: ‘Who are you Praying to?’ He said, ‘To the God of Ibrahim (as)’. He (as) said to him: ‘And Who is the God of Ibrahim (as)?’ He said, ‘The One Who (azwj) Created me’. Ibrahim (as) said to him: ‘You have caused me (as) to wonder, and I (as) would love to make you a brother for the Sake of Allah (azwj). Where is your house, if I (as) intend to visit you and meet you?’ The man said to him, ‘My house is behind this drop’ – and he indicated by his hand to the sea, ‘and my Prayer Place is this place. You (as) will see me here if you (as) want me, Allah (azwj) Willing’. He (asws) said: ‘Then the man said to Ibrahim (as), ‘You (as) have a need?’. So Ibrahim (as) said: ‘Yes’. He said to him (as), ‘And what is it?’ He (as) said, ‘Supplicate to Allah (azwj) and I (as) shall say ‘Ameen’ to your supplication, and I (as) will supplicate and you say ‘Ameen’ over my supplication’. So the man said, ‘So what is it that we are supplicating for to Allah (azwj)?’ Ibrahim (as) said: ‘For the sinner from the Believers’. So the man said, ‘No’. Ibrahim (as) said: ‘And why not?’ He said, ‘Because I have been supplicating to Allah (azwj) for the past three years with a supplication, I have never seen its Answer until now, and I am ashamed from Allah (azwj) the High that I should supplicate (for more) until I know that He (azwj) has Answered me’. Ibrahim (as) said: ‘So what is it that you supplicated for?’ The man said to him (as), ‘I was in this Prayer Place one day when a young boy passed by and I saw a wonderful light emerging from his (as) forehead and two locks of hair behind him (as), and with him (as) were cows that he (as) was herding as if they had been painted with oil, and sheep which he (as) was herding as if they were energetic and healthy. What I saw astounded me, so I said to him (as), ‘O young boy! To whom do these cows and sheep belong to?’ He (as) said to me: ‘To Ibrahim (as)’. So I said, ‘And who are you (as)?’ He (as) said: ‘I (as) am Ismail Bin Ibrahim (as), friend of the Beneficent’. So I supplicated to Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic, and asked Him (azwj) to Show me His (azwj) friend’. Ibrahim (as) said to him: ‘So I (as) am Ibrahim (as), friend of the Beneficent, and that young boy is my (as) son (as)’. The man said to him (as) due to that, ‘The Praise is due to Allah (azwj) Who Answered my supplication’. Then the man kissed the two eyes of Ibrahim (as) and his (as) neck, then said, ‘But now, arise and supplicate until I say ‘Ameen’ over your supplication’. So Ibrahim (as) for the believing men, and the believing women, and the sinners from that day, to be Forgiven, and Allah (azwj) to be pleased with them. And the man said ‘Ameen’ over that supplication. Abu Ja’far (asws) said: ‘So the supplication of Ibrahim (as) will reach the Believers, the sinners from our (asws) Shites up to the Day of Judgement’.

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ (عليه السلام) إِذَا قَرَأَ هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ وَ إِنْ تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لا تُحْصُوها يَقُولُ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ فِي أَحَدٍ مِنْ مَعْرِفَةِ نِعَمِهِ إِلَّا الْمَعْرِفَةَ بِالتَّقْصِيرِ عَنْ مَعْرِفَتِهَا كَمَا لَمْ يَجْعَلْ فِي أَحَدٍ مِنْ مَعْرِفَةِ إِدْرَاكِهِ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ أَنَّهُ لَا يُدْرِكُهُ فَشَكَرَ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ مَعْرِفَةَ الْعَارِفِينَ بِالتَّقْصِيرِ عَنْ مَعْرِفَةِ شُكْرِهِ فَجَعَلَ مَعْرِفَتَهُمْ بِالتَّقْصِيرِ شُكْراً كَمَا عَلِمَ عِلْمَ الْعَالِمِينَ أَنَّهُمْ لَا يُدْرِكُونَهُ فَجَعَلَهُ إِيمَاناً عِلْماً مِنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَدُّ وُسْعِ الْعِبَادِ فَلَا يَتَجَاوَزُ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّ شَيْئاً مِنْ خَلْقِهِ لَا يَبْلُغُ مَدَى عِبَادَتِهِ وَ كَيْفَ يُبْلَغُ مَدَى عِبَادَتِهِ مَنْ لَا مَدَى لَهُ وَ لَا كَيْفَ تَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ عُلُوّاً كَبِيراً.

592. Ali Bin Muhammad, from one of his companions, with an unbroken chain, said: ‘Whenever Ali (asws) Bin Al-Husayn (asws) used to recite this Verse: “[16:18] And if you would count Allah’s favours, you will not be able to number them”, he (asws) would say: ‘Glory be to the One Who (azwj) never Made it to be in anyone the recognition of His (azwj) Favours except for the recognition falling short of (Al-Taqseer) recognising, just as He (azwj) has never Made it to be in anyone the recognition of being aware of Him (azwj) more than the knowledge that He (azwj) cannot be perceived. So gratitude be to the Majestic and Mighty for the recognition of the recognisers by their reduced recognition as appreciation, so He (azwj) Made their reduced recognition as an expression of gratitude, just as He (azwj) Knows that the knowledge of the knowledgeable people would not be able to perceived Him (azwj), so He (azwj) made Belief as knowledge from it, so they cannot exceed that. So no one from His (azwj) creatures can reach the limit of worshipping Him (azwj), and how can one reach the limit of worship of the One Who (azwj) has no Limits for Him (azwj), impossible! Allah (azwj) is Higher than that, Exalted and Great’.

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي هَاشِمٍ عَنْ عَنْبَسَةَ بْنِ بِجَادٍ الْعَابِدِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عليه السلام) قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَهُ وَ ذَكَرُوا سُلْطَانَ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عليه السلام) لَا يَخْرُجُ عَلَى هِشَامٍ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا قَتَلَهُ قَالَ وَ ذَكَرَ مُلْكَهُ عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ فَجَزِعْنَا فَقَالَ مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يُهْلِكَ سُلْطَانَ قَوْمٍ أَمَرَ الْمَلَكَ فَأَسْرَعَ بِسَيْرِ الْفَلَكِ فَقَدَّرَ عَلَى مَا يُرِيدُ قَالَ فَقُلْنَا لِزَيْدٍ (عليه السلام) هَذِهِ الْمَقَالَةَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي شَهِدْتُ هِشَاماً وَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ (صلى الله عليه وآله) يُسَبُّ عِنْدَهُ فَلَمْ يُنْكِرْ ذَلِكَ وَ لَمْ يُغَيِّرْهُ فَوَ اللَّهِ لَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ إِلَّا أَنَا وَ ابْنِي لَخَرَجْتُ عَلَيْهِ.

593. Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Al-Husayn, from Abdul Rahman Bin Abu Hisham, from Anbasat Bin Bajaad Al-Abid, from Jabir, who has said: ‘We were in the presence Abu Ja’far (asws), and the authority of the Clan of Umayya was mentioned, so Abu Ja’far (asws) said: ‘No one comes out (rebels) against Hisham except that he gets killed’. ‘And he (asws) also mentioned that his government would last for twenty years’. He (the narrator) said, ‘That grieved us’. So he (asws) said: ‘What is the matter with you? Whenever Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic Intends to Destroy the authority of a people, He (azwj) Commands the Angel to quicken the pace of the orbit in accordance to what He (azwj) Intends to’. He (the narrator) said, ‘So we said to Zayd, ‘This is the discussion we had’. So he said, ‘I witnessed Hisham, and the Rasool Allah (saww) was insulted in his presence, so he neither denied that, nor did he change it. By Allah (azwj)! Even if there is no one except for myself and my son, I would come out (in rebellion) against him’.

وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنْ عَنْبَسَةَ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ خُنَيْسٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) إِذْ أَقْبَلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ فَرَقَّ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) وَ دَمَعَتْ عَيْنَاهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُكَ صَنَعْتَ بِهِ مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ تَصْنَعُ فَقَالَ رَقَقْتُ لَهُ لِأَنَّهُ يُنْسَبُ إِلَى أَمْرٍ لَيْسَ لَهُ لَمْ أَجِدْهُ فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ (عليه السلام) مِنْ خُلَفَاءِ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ وَ لَا مِنْ مُلُوكِهَا.

594. And by this chain, from Anbasat, from Moalla Bin Khunays who said: ‘I was in the presence of Abu Abdullah (asws) when Muhammad Bin Abdullah came up and greeted, then went away. Abu Abdullah (asws) sympathised and tears flowed from his (asws) eyes. So I said to him (asws), ‘I saw you (asws) doing something what you never did for anyone before’. He (asws) said; ‘I (asws) sympathised for him because he will be established upon a command which is not for him. I (asws) did not find him in the Book of Ali (asws) from the Caliphs of this community, nor from its kings’.

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) لِرَجُلٍ مَا الْفَتَى عِنْدَكُمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ الشَّابُّ فَقَالَ لَا الْفَتَى الْمُؤْمِنُ إِنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ كَانُوا شُيُوخاً فَسَمَّاهُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِتْيَةً بِإِيمَانِهِمْ.

595. Ali Bin Ibrahim, by an unbroken chain, said: ‘Abu Abdullah (asws) said to a man: ‘What are considered to be the young ones (Al-Fati) among you?’ He said to him (asws), ‘The youth’. So he (asws) said; ‘No! Al-Fati is the Believer. The Companions of the Cave (As’haab Al-Kahf) were old people, Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic Called them ‘Young men’ due to their belief’.

مُحَمَّدٌ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ سَدِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عليه السلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقالُوا رَبَّنا باعِدْ بَيْنَ أَسْفارِنا وَ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ فَقَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ قَوْمٌ كَانَ لَهُمْ قُرًى مُتَّصِلَةٌ يَنْظُرُ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ وَ أَنْهَارٌ جَارِيَةٌ وَ أَمْوَالٌ ظَاهِرَةٌ فَكَفَرُوا بِأَنْعُمِ اللَّهِ وَ غَيَّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ فَأَرْسَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِمْ سَيْلَ الْعَرِمِ فَغَرَّقَ قُرَاهُمْ وَ أَخْرَبَ دِيَارَهُمْ وَ أَذْهَبَ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَ أَبْدَلَهُمْ مَكَانَ جَنَّاتِهِمْ جَنَّتَيْنِ ذَوَاتَيْ أُكُلٍ خَمْطٍ وَ أَثْلٍ وَ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ سِدْرٍ قَلِيلٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ذلِكَ جَزَيْناهُمْ بِما كَفَرُوا وَ هَلْ نُجازِي إِلَّا الْكَفُورَ.

596. Muhammad, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Mahboub, from Jameel Bin Salih, from Sadeyr who said: ‘A man asked Abu Ja’far (asws) about the Statement of Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic: “[34:19] And they said: O our Lord! make spaces to be longer between our journeys; and they were unjust to themselves”. He (asws) said: ‘They were a people who live in two inter-connected villages and were able to see each other, and rivers which flowed, and phenomenal wealth. They denied the Favours of Allah (azwj) and changed what was in themselves, so Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic Sent the flood of Al-Aram against them. Their two villages were submerged, and their houses were spoilt, and their wealth was gone. It changed their plantations into two plantations to be only with the edible plants of bitter tamarisk (a troublesome weed) and a few Lutus trees. Then Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic Said: “[34:17] This We requited them with because they disbelieved; and We do not punish any but the ungrateful”.

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عليه السلام) وَ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّكُمْ أَهْلُ بَيْتِ رَحْمَةٍ اخْتَصَّكُمُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى بِهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ كَذَلِكَ نَحْنُ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ لَا نُدْخِلُ أَحَداً فِي ضَلَالَةٍ وَ لَا نُخْرِجُهُ مِنْ هُدًى إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا لَا تَذْهَبُ حَتَّى يَبْعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ رَجُلًا مِنَّا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ يَعْمَلُ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ لَا يَرَى فِيكُمْ مُنْكَراً إِلَّا أَنْكَرَهُ.

597. Al-Husayn Bin Muhammad Al-Ashary, from Moalla Bin Muhammad, from Al-Washa’, from Abu Baseer, from Ahmad Bin Umar who said: ‘Abu Ja’far (asws) said, when a man came up to him (asws), so he said to him (asws), ‘You (asws) all are the People (asws) of the Household of Mercy which Allah (azwj) Blessed and High has Specialised you (asws) all with’. He (asws) said: ‘That is what we (asws) are, and the Praise is due to Allah (azwj) that we (asws) do not enter anyone into misguidance, nor do we (asws) take anyone out of Guidance. The world will not end until Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic would Send a man (asws) from us (asws) the People (asws) of the Household, who (asws) will act by the Book of Allah (azwj). He (asws) will not see any evil among you all except that he (asws) will forbid it’.