Al-Kafi · Hadith 5

The Book of Belief and Disbelief · A Believer’s Signs and Qualities · Volume 2, book 1, chapter 99, Hadith 5

Original Arabic text

5ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا رَفَعَهُ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا (عَلَيهِما السَّلام) قَالَ مَرَّ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) بِمَجْلِسٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِقَوْمٍ بِيضٍ ثِيَابُهُمْ صَافِيَةٍ أَلْوَانُهُمْ كَثِيرٍ ضِحْكُهُمْ يُشِيرُونَ بِأَصَابِعِهِمْ إِلَى مَنْ يَمُرُّ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ مَرَّ بِمَجْلِسٍ لِلأوْسِ وَالْخَزْرَجِ فَإِذَا قَوْمٌ بُلِيَتْ مِنْهُمُ الأبْدَانُ وَدَقَّتْ مِنْهُمُ الرِّقَابُ وَاصْفَرَّتْ مِنْهُمُ الألْوَانُ وَقَدْ تَوَاضَعُوا بِالْكَلامِ فَتَعَجَّبَ عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَدَخَلَ عَلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) فَقَالَ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي إِنِّي مَرَرْتُ بِمَجْلِسٍ لآِلِ فُلانٍ ثُمَّ وَصَفَهُمْ وَمَرَرْتُ بِمَجْلِسٍ لِلأوْسِ وَالْخَزْرَجِ فَوَصَفَهُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَجَمِيعٌ مُؤْمِنُونَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي يَا رَسُولَ الله بِصِفَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَنَكَسَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ عِشْرُونَ خَصْلَةً فِي الْمُؤْمِنِ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ فِيهِ لَمْ يَكْمُلْ إِيمَانُهُ إِنَّ مِنْ أَخْلاقِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَا عَلِيُّ الْحَاضِرُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَالْمُسَارِعُونَ إِلَى الزَّكَاةِ وَالْمُطْعِمُونَ الْمِسْكِينَ الْمَاسِحُونَ رَأْسَ الْيَتِيمِ الْمُطَهِّرُونَ أَطْمَارَهُمْ الْمُتَّزِرُونَ عَلَى أَوْسَاطِهِمُ الَّذِينَ إِنْ حَدَّثُوا لَمْ يَكْذِبُوا وَإِذَا وَعَدُوا لَمْ يُخْلِفُوا وَإِذَا ائْتُمِنُوا لَمْ يَخُونُوا وَإِذَا تَكَلَّمُوا صَدَقُوا رُهْبَانٌ بِاللَّيْلِ أُسُدٌ بِالنَّهَارِ صَائِمُونَ النَّهَارَ قَائِمُونَ اللَّيْلَ لا يُؤْذُونَ جَاراً وَلا يَتَأَذَّى بِهِمْ جَارٌ الَّذِينَ مَشْيُهُمْ عَلَى الأرْضِ هَوْنٌ وَخُطَاهُمْ إِلَى بُيُوتِ الأرَامِلِ وَعَلَى أَثَرِ الْجَنَائِزِ جَعَلَنَا الله وَإِيَّاكُمْ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ.

Published English translation

5. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from certain individuals of his people from in a marfu’ manner from one of them (abu Ja’far or Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.)) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) once passed by a gathering of Quraysh where he found the people in white clothes, of clear complexion, frequently laughing and who pointed out their fingers to whoever passed (near) by. Then he passed by a gathering of al- Aws and Khazraj where he found people of worn out bodies, whose necks were thinning, their colors had turned pale and were very humble in their words. “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) wondered about his observation, he came to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘May Allah keep my soul and the souls of my parents in service for your cause, I passed by a gathering of the tribe of so and so.’ He described them for the Holy Prophet. He then said, T also passed by a gathering of al- Aws and al-Khazraj.’ He described them for the Holy Prophet. He then said, ‘They all are believing people. O Messenger of Allah, describe for me the qualities of the believers.’ “The Messenger of Allah bent down his head for a while, then he raised his head and said, ‘There are twenty qualities in a believer without which his belief is not complete. Of the qualities of the believing people, O Ali, is their presence in prayer, quick payment of al-Zakat (charity), feeding the destitute, placing of their hand on the heads of the orphans (to comfort them), cleansing of their clothes, and their tying up their waist with covering. They are those who do not lie when speaking, do not disregard their promise, and do not violate their trust. They tell the truth when they speak up, at night they are monks and are lions during the day. During the days they fast and stand up for worship at night. They do not harm the neighbors and the neighbors do not experience any harm from them. They are those who walk on earth in humble manners, and their steps move to the homes of the widows (to help) and in the procession for funerals. May Allah make us of the pious ones.’”

Narrator and transmission

See the transmission information preserved in the original source text.

Attributed scholarly assessments

Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi: مرفوع

Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (9/233)

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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