Al-Kafi · Hadith 3

The Book about people with Divine Authority · The Imams are those who have received Knowledge and it is firmly Established in their Hearts · Volume 1, book 4, chapter 23, Hadith 3

Original Arabic text

3ـ وَعَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي هَذِهِ الايَةِ بَلْ هُوَ آياتٌ بَيِّناتٌ فِي صُدُورِ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَا وَالله يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ مَا قَالَ بَيْنَ دَفَّتَيِ الْمُصْحَفِ قُلْتُ مَنْ هُمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ مَنْ عَسَى أَنْ يَكُونُوا غَيْرَنَا.

Published English translation

3. It is narrated from him from Muhammad ibn Ali from ’Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘a from abu Basir from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following about this verse of the Holy Quran. “In fact, the Quran consists of illustrious verses that exist in the hearts of those who have knowledge. . .” (29:49) The Imams (a.s.) then said, “O abu Muhammad, for the sake of Allah, be the judge and tell, of who it is spoken (so often) between the two covers of the Holy Quran?” I then asked, “Who are they, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause. The Imams (a.s.) said, “Who else can they be other than ourselves?”

Narrator and transmission

See the transmission information preserved in the original source text.

Attributed scholarly assessments

Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi: ضعيف

Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (2/437)

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.

Source, rights, and attribution

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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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