Al-Kafi · Hadith 1

The Book about people with Divine Authority · The Imams (a.s.) never did and would not do anything except because of the covenant of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, and a command from Him and they did not go beyond such limits · Volume 1, book 4, chapter 61, Hadith 1

Original Arabic text

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَالْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الْوَصِيَّةَ نَزَلَتْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ كِتَاباً لَمْ يُنْزَلْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) كِتَابٌ مَخْتُومٌ إِلا الْوَصِيَّةُ فَقَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذِهِ وَصِيَّتُكَ فِي أُمَّتِكَ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَيُّ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ قَالَ نَجِيبُ الله مِنْهُمْ وَذُرِّيَّتُهُ لِيَرِثَكَ عِلْمَ النُّبُوَّةِ كَمَا وَرَّثَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَمِيرَاثُهُ لِعلي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَذُرِّيَّتِكَ مِنْ صُلْبِهِ قَالَ وَكَانَ عَلَيْهَا خَوَاتِيمُ قَالَ فَفَتَحَ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الْخَاتَمَ الاوَّلَ وَمَضَى لِمَا فِيهَا ثُمَّ فَتَحَ الْحَسَنُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الْخَاتَمَ الثَّانِيَ وَمَضَى لِمَا أُمِرَ بِهِ فِيهَا فَلَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ الْحَسَنُ وَمَضَى فَتَحَ الْحُسَيْنُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الْخَاتَمَ الثَّالِثَ فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا أَنْ قَاتِلْ فَاقْتُلْ وَتُقْتَلُ وَاخْرُجْ بِأَقْوَامٍ لِلشَّهَادَةِ لا شَهَادَةَ لَهُمْ إِلا مَعَكَ قَالَ فَفَعَلَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَلَمَّا مَضَى دَفَعَهَا إِلَى عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ فَفَتَحَ الْخَاتَمَ الرَّابِعَ فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا أَنِ اصْمُتْ وَأَطْرِقْ لِمَا حُجِبَ الْعِلْمُ فَلَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ وَمَضَى دَفَعَهَا إِلَى مُحَمَّدِ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) فَفَتَحَ الْخَاتَمَ الْخَامِسَ فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا أَنْ فَسِّرْ كِتَابَ الله تَعَالَى وَصَدِّقْ أَبَاكَ وَوَرِّثِ ابْنَكَ وَاصْطَنِعِ الامَّةَ وَقُمْ بِحَقِّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَقُلِ الْحَقَّ فِي الْخَوْفِ وَالامْنِ وَلا تَخْشَ إِلا الله فَفَعَلَ ثُمَّ دَفَعَهَا إِلَى الَّذِي يَلِيهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَأَنْتَ هُوَ قَالَ فَقَالَ مَا بِي إِلا أَنْ تَذْهَبَ يَا مُعَاذُ فَتَرْوِيَ عَلَيَّ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ أَسْأَلُ الله الَّذِي رَزَقَكَ مِنْ آبَائِكَ هَذِهِ الْمَنْزِلَةَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَكَ مِنْ عَقِبِكَ مِثْلَهَا قَبْلَ الْمَمَاتِ قَالَ قَدْ فَعَلَ الله ذَلِكَ يَا مُعَاذُ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ فَمَنْ هُوَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ هَذَا الرَّاقِدُ وَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى الْعَبْدِ الصَّالِحِ وَهُوَ رَاقِدٌ.

Published English translation

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya and al-Husayn ibn Muhammad have narrated from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali from Isma‘il ibn Mihran from abu Jamilah from Mu‘adh ibn Kathir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The will came from the heavens to Muhammad (sw) in a book (written). Nothing came to Muhammad (sw) from heavens in a written sealed document form except the will. Jibril (a.s.) said, “O Muhammad, this is your will about your followers with your family. The Messenger of Allah (sw) asked, “Which family of mine, O Jibril?” Jibril replied, “The noble of Allah among them, and his descendents, so they inherit your knowledge as Abraham (as) left it (knowledge) as his legacy. And his legacy (Abraham's) is for Ali (a.s.) and your descendents from his lineage.” He (the Imam) said, “The document had several seals on it.” He further said, “Ali (a.s.) opened the first seal and followed what the instructions therein. Then al-Hassan (a.s.) opened the second seal and followed the commandments and instructions therein. When al-Hassan (a.s.) passed away, al-Husayn (a.s.) opened the third seal and found therein: 'Fight to do away with the enemy and be murdered and rise up (against the enemy) with a group of people for martyrdom. There is no matrydom for them except with you.'” He (the Imam) said, “He (Al-Husayn (a.s.)) followed the instructions and when he left this world he delivered it, to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) just before (his martyrdom). So he opened the fourth seal and found in it: 'Remain silent and gaze in your front because of the concealment of knowledge.' When he passed away and left (this world), he delivered it to Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.). So he opened the fifth seal and found therein: 'Interpret the book of Allah, the Most High, affirm veracity of your father and leave it as your legacy for your son. Do good to the ’Ummah (the Islamic nation), stand up for right of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, say the truth in fear and in peace and do not be afraid of anyone except Allah.' He did as he was instructed and delivered it to the succeeding Imam.” He (the narrator) said that he said to him (the Imam (a.s.)), “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, are you then the succeeding Imam?” He said that he (as) responded: “There is nothing wrong in a positive answer to your question except if then you would go, oh Mu‘adh, and narrate things about me (to the public, which would harm me).” The narrator said that he then said to the Imam (a.s.), “I pray to Allah who has granted you through your noble ancestors this high position to grant to your successor the same high position before you will die.” He (a.s.) replied, “Allah has already done so, oh Mu‘adh.” The narrator said that he then asked him (a.s.), “Who is he then, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause?” He (a.s.) replied, “This sleeping one.“ He pointed with his hand to the righteous servant of Allah who was asleep (Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.)).”

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 (3/188)

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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