Al-Kafi · Hadith 2

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 2

Original Arabic text

2ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْكِنَانِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ نَجِيحٍ الْكِنْدِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ الله الْعُمَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْزَلَ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) كِتَاباً قَبْلَ وَفَاتِهِ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذِهِ وَصِيَّتُكَ إِلَى النُّجَبَةِ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ قَالَ وَمَا النُّجَبَةُ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَوُلْدُهُ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) وَكَانَ عَلَى الْكِتَابِ خَوَاتِيمُ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَدَفَعَهُ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَفُكَّ خَاتَماً مِنْهُ وَيَعْمَلَ بِمَا فِيهِ فَفَكَّ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) خَاتَماً وَعَمِلَ بِمَا فِيهِ ثُمَّ دَفَعَهُ إِلَى ابْنِهِ الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَفَكَّ خَاتَماً وَعَمِلَ بِمَا فِيهِ ثُمَّ دَفَعَهُ إِلَى الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَفَكَّ خَاتَماً فَوَجَدَ فِيهِ أَنِ اخْرُجْ بِقَوْمٍ إِلَى الشَّهَادَةِ فَلا شَهَادَةَ لَهُمْ إِلا مَعَكَ وَاشْرِ نَفْسَكَ لله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَفَعَلَ ثُمَّ دَفَعَهُ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) فَفَكَّ خَاتَماً فَوَجَدَ فِيهِ أَنْ أَطْرِقْ وَاصْمُتْ وَالْزَمْ مَنْزِلَكَ وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ فَفَعَلَ ثُمَّ دَفَعَهُ إِلَى ابْنِهِ مُحَمَّدِ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) فَفَكَّ خَاتَماً فَوَجَدَ فِيهِ حَدِّثِ النَّاسَ وَأَفْتِهِمْ وَلا تَخَافَنَّ إِلا الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَإِنَّهُ لا سَبِيلَ لاحَدٍ عَلَيْكَ فَفَعَلَ ثُمَّ دَفَعَهُ إِلَى ابْنِهِ جَعْفَرٍ فَفَكَّ خَاتَماً فَوَجَدَ فِيهِ حَدِّثِ النَّاسَ وَأَفْتِهِمْ وَانْشُرْ عُلُومَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ وَصَدِّقْ آبَاءَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ وَلا تَخَافَنَّ إِلا الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَنْتَ فِي حِرْزٍ وَأَمَانٍ فَفَعَلَ ثُمَّ دَفَعَهُ إِلَى ابْنِهِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَكَذَلِكَ يَدْفَعُهُ مُوسَى إِلَى الَّذِي بَعْدَهُ ثُمَّ كَذَلِكَ إِلَى قِيَامِ الْمَهْدِيِّ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ.

Published English translation

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from abu al-Hassan al-Kinani from Ja‘far ibn Najih al-Kindi from Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Ubaydallah al-‘Umari from his father from his grandfather from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High sent a document to His prophet (s.a) before his death. He then said, “O Muhammad, this is your will to the noble ones in your family.” He asked, “Who are the noble ones in my family, O Jibril?” He then said, “They are Ali ibn abu Talib and his sons (a.s.).” On the document there were several seals of gold. The Prophet (s.a) delivered it to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) and commanded him to open one seal and follow the instructions for him therein. Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) then opened one seal and followed the instruction in it. Then he delivered it to his son al-Hassan (a.s.). He opened a seal and followed that which was therein. He then delivered it to al-Husayn (a.s.). He opened one seal and found therein instruction that asked him to rise for martyrdom with a group of people. That there will be no martyrdom for them except along with and sale yourself to Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. He followed all the instructions. Then he delivered it to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.). He opened one seal and found therein instructions therein that asked him to fix his gaze just before him and remain silent, secluded in your house and worship your Lord until your death will arrive. He did as he was instructed and then delivered it to his son Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.). He opened one seal and found therein instructions that asked him to speak to people and make them learn. Do not fear anyone except Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High because no one can harm you. He followed the instructions and then delivered it to his son Ja‘far (a.s.). He opened one seal and found therein instructions that asked him to speak to people, make them learn, propagate the knowledge of your family (Ahl al-Bayt) and affirm the veracity of your righteous ancestors. Do not be afraid of anyone except Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High because you are secure and safe. He did as was instructed and then delivered it to his son Musa (a.s.).In the same Musa (a.s.) will deliver it to the succeeding Imam and so on up to the appearance of al-Mahdi (s.a) “

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 (3/191)

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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translator: Muhammad Sarwar
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