Al-Kafi · Hadith 9

The Book on Virtue of Knowledge · Chapter on the Differences in al-Hadith · Volume 1, book 2, chapter 21, Hadith 9

Original Arabic text

9ـ وَعَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مَرَّارٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ فَرْقَدٍ عَنِ الْمُعَلَّى بْنِ خُنَيْسٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِذَا جَاءَ حَدِيثٌ عَنْ أَوَّلِكُمْ وَحَدِيثٌ عَنْ آخِرِكُمْ بِأَيِّهِمَا نَأْخُذُ فَقَالَ خُذُوا بِهِ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَكُمْ عَنِ الْحَيِّ فَإِنْ بَلَغَكُمْ عَنِ الْحَيِّ فَخُذُوا بِقَوْلِهِ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّا وَالله لا نُدْخِلُكُمْ إِلا فِيمَا يَسَعُكُمْ وَفِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ خُذُوا بِالاحْدَثِ.

Published English translation

9. It is narrated from him from his father from Isma’il ibn Marrar from Yunus from Dawud ibn Farqad from Mu‘alla ibn Khunays who has said the following. “I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘If we receive a Hadith from first of you and from the members of your later generation which one should we follow?” The Imam replied, “Follow it until you receive it from the living Imam. When it comes from a living Imam follow his words.” The Imam than said, “We by Allah, like you to follow what is easy for you.” In another Hadith it is says, “Follow whichever the newest.”’

Narrator and transmission

See the transmission information preserved in the original source text.

Attributed scholarly assessments

Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi: مجهول

Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (1/221)

Assessment transcribed from the source's named scholar and reference. No new grading or consensus is asserted; differing entries remain separate.

Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi: Catalogue non-inclusion note (not an authenticity grade)

Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī

Source records non-inclusion in this scholar's selection; this is not itself a weak or authentic grade.

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edition: Al-Kafi, volume 1, Thaqalayn digital edition / Muhammad Sarwar translation
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translator: Muhammad Sarwar
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