Hadith collections / Al-Kafi

Al-Kafi · Hadith 2

The Book about people with Divine Authority · Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of al-Husayn ibn Ali’s (a.s.) (a.s.) Divine Authority over the people after al-Hassan (a.s.) · Volume 1, book 4, chapter 67, Hadith 2

Original Arabic text

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ الدَّيْلَمِيِّ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَمَّا حَضَرَتِ الْحَسَنَ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) الْوَفَاةُ قَالَ يَا قَنْبَرُ انْظُرْ هَلْ تَرَى مِنْ وَرَاءِ بَابِكَ مُؤْمِناً مِنْ غَيْرِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) فَقَالَ الله تَعَالَى وَرَسُولُهُ وَابْنُ رَسُولِهِ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي قَالَ ادْعُ لِي مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَلَمَّا دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ هَلْ حَدَثَ إِلا خَيْرٌ قُلْتُ أَجِبْ أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ فَعَجَّلَ عَلَى شِسْعِ نَعْلِهِ فَلَمْ يُسَوِّهِ وَخَرَجَ مَعِي يَعْدُو فَلَمَّا قَامَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ سَلَّمَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحَسَنُ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) اجْلِسْ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِثْلُكَ يَغِيبُ عَنْ سَمَاعِ كَلامٍ يَحْيَا بِهِ الامْوَاتُ وَيَمُوتُ بِهِ الاحْيَاءُ كُونُوا أَوْعِيَةَ الْعِلْمِ وَمَصَابِيحَ الْهُدَى فَإِنَّ ضَوْءَ النَّهَارِ بَعْضُهُ أَضْوَأُ مِنْ بَعْضٍ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ الله جَعَلَ وُلْدَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَئِمَّةً وَفَضَّلَ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَآتَى دَاوُدَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) زَبُوراً وَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ بِمَا اسْتَأْثَرَ بِهِ مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكَ الْحَسَدَ وَإِنَّمَا وَصَفَ الله بِهِ الْكَافِرِينَ فَقَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ كُفَّاراً حَسَداً مِنْ عِنْدِ أَنْفُسِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ ما تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الْحَقُّ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِلشَّيْطَانِ عَلَيْكَ سُلْطَاناً يَا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ أَ لا أُخْبِرُكَ بِمَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْ أَبِيكَ فِيكَ قَالَ بَلَى قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَاكَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ يَوْمَ الْبَصْرَةِ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَبَرَّنِي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالاخِرَةِ فَلْيَبَرَّ مُحَمَّداً وَلَدِي يَا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ لَوْ شِئْتُ أَنْ أُخْبِرَكَ وَأَنْتَ نُطْفَةٌ فِي ظَهْرِ أَبِيكَ لاخْبَرْتُكَ يَا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ الْحُسَيْنَ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) بَعْدَ وَفَاةِ نَفْسِي وَمُفَارَقَةِ رُوحِي جِسْمِي إِمَامٌ مِنْ بَعْدِي وَعِنْدَ الله جَلَّ اسْمُهُ فِي الْكِتَابِ وِرَاثَةً مِنَ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَضَافَهَا الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ فِي وِرَاثَةِ أَبِيهِ وَأُمِّهِ فَعَلِمَ الله أَنَّكُمْ خِيَرَةُ خَلْقِهِ فَاصْطَفَى مِنْكُمْ مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَاخْتَارَ مُحَمَّدٌ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَاخْتَارَنِي علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِالامَامَةِ وَاخْتَرْتُ أَنَا الْحُسَيْنَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ لَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ أَنْتَ إِمَامٌ وَأَنْتَ وَسِيلَتِي إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَالله لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ نَفْسِي ذَهَبَتْ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَسْمَعَ مِنْكَ هَذَا الْكَلامَ أَلا وَإِنَّ فِي رَأْسِي كَلاماً لا تَنْزِفُهُ الدِّلاءُ وَلا تُغَيِّرُهُ نَغْمَةُ الرِّيَاحِ كَالْكِتَابِ الْمُعْجَمِ فِي الرَّقِّ الْمُنَمْنَمِ أَهُمُّ بِإِبْدَائِهِ فَأَجِدُنِي سُبِقْتُ إِلَيْهِ سَبَقَ الْكِتَابُ الْمُنْزَلُ أَوْ مَا جَاءَتْ بِهِ الرُّسُلُ وَإِنَّهُ لَكَلامٌ يَكِلُّ بِهِ لِسَانُ النَّاطِقِ وَيَدُ الْكَاتِبِ حَتَّى لا يَجِدَ قَلَماً وَيُؤْتَوْا بِالْقِرْطَاسِ حُمَماً فَلا يَبْلُغُ إِلَى فَضْلِكَ وَكَذَلِكَ يَجْزِي الله الْمُحْسِنِينَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلا بِالله الْحُسَيْنُ أَعْلَمُنَا عِلْماً وَأَثْقَلُنَا حِلْماً وَأَقْرَبُنَا مِنْ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) رَحِماً كَانَ فَقِيهاً قَبْلَ أَنْ يُخْلَقَ وَقَرَأَ الْوَحْيَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْطِقَ وَلَوْ عَلِمَ الله فِي أَحَدٍ خَيْراً مَا اصْطَفَى مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَلَمَّا اخْتَارَ الله مُحَمَّداً وَاخْتَارَ مُحَمَّدٌ عَلِيّاً وَاخْتَارَكَ عَلِيٌّ إِمَاماً وَاخْتَرْتَ الْحُسَيْنَ سَلَّمْنَا وَرَضِينَا مَنْ هُوَ بِغَيْرِهِ يَرْضَى وَمَنْ غَيْرُهُ كُنَّا نَسْلَمُ بِهِ مِنْ مُشْكِلاتِ أَمْرِنَا.

Published English translation

2. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan and Ali ibn Muhammad have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Daylami from one of our people from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. (a.s.), “When al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.) was about to leave this world he said, “O Qanbar, see if you there is any believer (in Islam) other than the members of the family of Muhammad (s.a.) behind the door.” He (Qanbar) said Allah, His Messenger and the grand son of His Messenger know better than I do.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Call to me Muhammad ibn Ali. I (Qanbar) then went to him and when I was in his presence he said, “I hope nothing but good has happened.” I said, “Answer the call of abu Muhammad. He quickly wore his shoes and did not even wear it properly. He came out with me running. When he arrived in the presence of al-Hassan (a.s.) he offered his greeting. Al-Hassan (a.s.) said to him, “Please, sit down. A person like you must not remain absent from hearing the words that can bring the dead to life and cause death to the living. You must be the container of knowledge and the beacon of guidance. Some of the lights of the day are brighter than others. Have you come to know that Allah made the sons of Abraham the Imams (‘A’imma) and granted to some of them more excellence than the others. He gave psalms to David and you know what kind of preference He granted to Muhammad (s.a.). O Muhammad ibn Ali, I fear for you of envy. Allah has said it to be of the characteristics of the unbelievers. Thus, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “. . out of envy, turn you back to disbelief, even after the Truth has become evident to them. .” (2:109). Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has not given your control in the hands of Satan, O Muhammad ibn Ali. May I relate to you what I heard your father say about you?” He said, “Yes, I like to hear it.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I heard your father say on the day of Basra, “Whoever likes to do good to me in this and the next life he should do good to my son, Muhammad. O Muhammad ibn Ali if you would like I can inform you of the time you were only a potential person in the back of your father I can do so. O Muhammad ibn Ali, have you come to know that al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) after I will die and my spirit depart my body will be the Imam (Leader with Divine Authority) afret me before Allah, Most great Whose name is, in the Book as the inheritance from the Holy Prophet. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has added it to the inheritance from his father and mother. You are the choosen ones from His creatures. He selected Muhammad from among you and Muhammad (s.a.) selected Ali and Ali (a.s.) selected me for Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority). I have choosen al-Husayn (a.s.) as the Imam (Leader with Divine Authority) after me.” Muhammad ibn Ali then said, “ You are the my Imam (Leader with Divine Authority) and you are my connectio to Muhammad (s.a.). I swear by Allah, I wish I was dead before hearing these words from you. Certainly there is a great deal of facts in my head (about your excellence and virtues) that even with buckets can not be drained and by the songs of the winds can not be changee. It is like an encyclopedia with decorated pages. I ready myself to speak them out but I find others have preceded me like the preceding of a heavenly book or what the messengers have have brought. It is a book that exhausts the speaking tongue and the writing hand. I do not find enough pens to complete writing and it can turn all papers to ashes. Thus, there is no reach to your excellence and virtues. This is how Allah rewards those who do good and there is no power without Allah. Al-Husayn (a.s.) is the most knowledgeable among us and his forebearance is the greatest among us in gravity. He is the closest to the Messenger of Allah among us in his relationship. He was a Faqih before he was created. He has read the messages of the Divine revelation before he would speak. Had Allah known any good in anyone He would not have choosen Muhammad (s.a.). Since Allah has choosen Muhammad (s.a.) and Muhammad (s.a.) choose Ali (a.s.) and Ali choose you as the Imam (Leader with Divine Authority ) and have choosen al-Husayn (a.s.) we accept and agree. Who is he that accept a person other than him (al-Husayn (a.s.)) Who is he that would seek assistance in his difficulties from a person other than him (al-Husayn (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 (3/306)

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

dataset Name
Thaqalayn public library, via ThaqalaynAPI snapshot
source Url
https://thaqalayn.com/hadith/1/4/67/2
license
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
edition
Al-Kafi, volume 1, Thaqalayn digital edition / Muhammad Sarwar translation
imported At
2026-10-18T21:36:12.871Z
license Url
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights Statement Url
https://thaqalayn.com/terms
attribution
Source: Thaqalayn (Stichting Thaqalayn). Compiler: Shaykh Muḥammad b. Yaʿqūb al-Kulaynī. Translation: Muhammad Sarwar. Data transport: MohammedArab1/ThaqalaynAPI. No endorsement implied.
translator
Muhammad Sarwar
source Revision
becbad600b693ce23735d7403c4126ce7c896d34
content Hash
36b94dd1d26f8677286e0d6459a6ce4d537b4ea8c7a5626881266384ccb5195e
source File Hash
30bc491c96eb3860f3d3dfe97f46353a88858d7cb9e06d662ebdd04252ac5a3e
original Source Url
https://thaqalayn.net/hadith/1/4/67/2
changes
Arabic and English texts preserved verbatim from pinned snapshot. Compiler introduction excluded where present; references mapped to fields; assessment whitespace trimmed; source-supplied English sanad retained separately. Search normalization is not applied to displayed text.
verification Note
Publisher content rights, translator attribution and structural checks, with independent publisher-page spot checks—not scholarly authentication or printed-edition collation. Historical text and scholarly reference strings may contain source errors; they are not silently corrected. No full commentary prose or inferred narrator identity is added. Muʿjam coverage, where present, is only the supplied excerpt, not the complete work.