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Usool al-Kaafi
(a part of )
The Book of Knowledge
Chapter 1: The Duty and Compulsion of Attainment of Knowledge 1.The Prophet of Allah(SAW) has said, "Attainment of
knowledge is the duty of every Muslim. Lo! Allah loves those who have longing for
knowledge."
3.Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS) was asked, "Is it all right for men to ignore asking
questions the answers of which are necessary for them?" The Imam replied,
"Certainly not."
6.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "Acquire knowledge of religious jurisprudence.
Any one among you who does not become efficient in religious jurisprudence is a rustic.
Allah in His Holy Book says, "Let them devote themselves to studies in religion and
admonish their comrades when they return to them so that they may guard themselves against
evil." (9:121).
8.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS), in order to stress upon the absolute necessity of acquiring
knowledge said, "I would rather like my companions to be flogged on their heads so
that they may (be compelled to) acquire religious knowledge."
Chapter 2: Excellence of Knowledge and Eminence of Scholars 3.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "When Allah wants to favour
any of His servants He bestows on him the knowledge of religious jurisprudence."
4.Imam Mohammed Baqir (AS) has said, "Excellence, nay super-excellence lies in the
knowledge of religious jurisprudence, patience in adversity and regulation of
expenses."
5.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq(AS) has said, "Learned men are the custodians (of religious
knowledge) and the pious ones are the fortresses (who safeguard against invasions) and the
vicegerents (of the prophets) are the leaders (of the believers)." According to
another tradition he said, "The scholars are beacons of light, the pious are the
fortresses and the vicegerents are leaders."
7.The Prophet of Allah(SAW) has said, "There is no good in life except for two
(categories of) people. The scholar who is obeyed and the listeners who listen
attentively."
Chapter 3: Categories of the People
2.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq(AS) has said, "There are three kinds of
people. The scholars, the seekers of knowledge, and all the others are wastage of
humanity."
3.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq(AS) has said, "Be either a learned man or a student or be in
affinity with the learned people and never join any fourth category otherwise you will
perish."
Chapter 4: The Divine Rewards for the Learned and the Students
1.The Prophet of Allah(SAW) has said, "One who travels in search of knowledge, Allah
paves his way towards Paradise and the angels spread their wings for him to express their
pleasure and appreciation. Verily all those in heaven and on earth, including even the
fish of ocean pray for his redemption. The superiority of the learned man over the (mere)
worshipper is like the brilliance of the full moon among the stars during a moonlight
night..."
3.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "One who encourages anyone to righteousness
will be rewarded as if he himself as acted on it." The Imam (AS) further elaborated
on the subject that one who has been taught by someone, in turn teaches someone else, then
he and the original teacher both will be rewarded and if the teacher dies he will continue
to be rewarded for the good deed of his disciples.
5.Imam Zain-ul-Abedeen (AS) has said, "If people knew the worth of acquiring
knowledge, they would have done so even at the cost of a bleeding heart and by diving in
stormy waves. Verily, Allah, the Glorious and the Elevated One revealed to Hazrat Danial
(the prophet Daniel) to the effect: `The most detestable of My servants is that ignorant
one who underrates the learned men and ceases to follow their footsteps. The most beloved
among my servants is one who wards off evil seeking My maximum rewards, remains in contact
with the learned men, follows in the wake of the forbearing and accepts the advice of the
sages."
6.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq(AS) has said, "He who acquires knowledge and acts on it and
imparts it to others is proclaimed in heavens as the `great one', and it is said about him
that he acquired knowledge in the way of Allah, acted upon it and disseminated it in the
way of Allah."
Chapter 5: Attributes of the Religious Scholars
1.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "Acquire knowledge of
religion and adorn it with forbearance and reverence. Be humble to those whom you give
knowledge and also to those from whom you receive it. Do not enter the fold of
harsh-tempered scholars otherwise your good deeds will be washed away by your evil
acts."
2.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) commenting on the 28th verse of the 35th chapter
"Al-Fatir" which runs as follows: "Verily of the servants of Allah it is
those who possess knowledge that fear Him" said, "Those who possess knowledge
means those whose actions verify their words, and those whose deeds do not corroborate
their words are not among the learned ones."
3.Hazrat Ali (AS) has said, "Hearken! I will tell you about a religious erudite who
is an erudite in the real sense of the word. He does not make people despair of the Mercy
of Allah and does not let them feel immune from the chastisement of Allah and does not
allow them to commit sins and does not give up the recitation of the Qur'an due to his
temptation towards something else. Beware! There is no virtue in knowledge which is devoid
of understanding. Beware! There is no virtue in worship which is devoid of
meditation."
4.Hazrat Imam Raza (AS) has said, "Forbearance and silence are among the signs of
religious knowledge."
Translator's Note: In the above quoted tradition, silence means
refraining from unnecessary gossip and superfluous conversation.
5.Ameer-ul-Momineen Hazrat Ali (AS) has said, "The heart of a learned man is
fortified against stupidity and inadvertence."
Translator's Note: It may be mentioned here that the word "heart" is used
figuratively and denotes "mind" or "mental process" or "reasoning
faculty". This figurative use of the word "heart" is very common in the
Arabic language.
6.Hazrat Eisa (AS) (Jesus Christ) addressed his disciples saying, "I have a desire
which I want you to fulfil." They replied, "Consider it to be already fulfilled
(rest assured we are at your service)." Hazrat Eisa (AS) got up and washed their
feet. The disciples said, "O Spirit of Allah, we were more deserving to serve you
like this." He said, "The most desrving person to serve the people is the
learned man. I have acted with humility like this so that you may also behave humbly with
people as I have behaved with you after I am gone. Wisdom is nurtured by humility and not
by conceit. Likewise vegetation grows in ploughed and fertile lands and not on arid
mountains."
7.Hazrat Ali (AS) has said, "O seeker of knowledge, there are three signs of a
learned scholar: knowledge, forbearance and silence. Similarly there are three signs in
one who just pretends to be a scholar: wrangles with one superior to him wrongfully and
dominates high-handedly the one inferior to him and becomes an accessory for the
wrong-doers."
Chapter 6: Rights and Privileges of a Scholar 1.Hazrat Ali (AS) used to say, "verily, some of the rights and
privileges of the learned scholar are: do not over burden him with questions and do not
grab his clothes (to invoke his attention). When you enter in his presence and others are
sitting there, greet them all and pay special compliments to him and sit in front of him
and never sit behind him. Do not cast furtive glances at him and never gesticulate with
your hands and not talk too much saying such and such persons have contradicted his words.
Do not harass him with lengthy sessions because the likeness of a scholar is like a palm
tree under which you have to wait for a fruit to fall down upon you. The reward of a
scholar is greater than the reward of one who fasts in the day and prays in the night and
strives in the way of Allah."
Chapter 7: Death of a Religious Scholar
3.Imam Moosa Kazim (AS) has said, "When a believer dies, the
angels weep over him and so do the portions of the earth on which he used to worship Allah
and also the doors of heaven through which his good deeds ascended. His death causes such
a void in Islam that nothing can fill up because the learned believers are fortresses of
Islam like the protecting walls built around the city."
4.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "From among the believers, the death of no
believer pleases the Satan (Iblis) so much as the death of a learned scholar of Islamic
jurisprudence."
Chapter 8: The Company of the Learned Men 1.Luqman addressed his son saying, "O son, be on the look out for
choosing the groups of people. If you see a group of people talking about Allah, the
Glorious, the Powerful, then sit with them. Your knowledge will be refreshed if you are
aware of the subject matter of their discussion. And if you are not aware then their
discussion will educate you. Maybe Allah covers them with His mercy and you are included
with them. And if you see a group of people not remembering Allah then do not sit with
them because you will not be benefited if you are aware of their topic and if you are
ignorant, your inorance will increase and maybe Allah covers them with His chastisement
and you are included with them.
2.Imam Moosa Kazim (AS) has said, "Having discourses with a learned scholar even on
garbage dumps than a conversation with an uneducated one on elegant carpets."
3.The Prophet of Allah(SAW) has said, "The disciples asked Hazrat Eisa (AS) (Jesus
Christ), `O Spirit of Allah, whose company should we keep?' He replied, `The one whose
personality reminds you of Allah, whose discourses enhance your knowledge and whose
activities persuade you to work for the Hereafer.'"
5.Imam Mohammed Baqir (AS) has said, "For me a session with one whose integrity I
rely most is better than having done good deeds for a whole year."
Chapter 9: Seeking Information from a Learned Man 2.While answering a question, Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) said,
"People indeed perish because they do not ask questions."
3.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "Verily this knowledge (of religion) is under a
lock the keys of which are questions."
5.The Prophet of Allah(SAW) has said, "Woe be unto him who does not free himself
every Friday for his religious matters in order to renew his bond with God and does not
ask questions regarding his religion."
6.The Prophet of Allah(SAW) has said, "Academic discussions among my servants are a
means of giving life to the dead hearts provided their aim is to understand my
commandments."
7.Imam Mohammed Baqir (AS) is reported to have said, "Mercy of Allah be on the person
who revives knowledge." He was requested to explain the revival of knowledge. He
replied, "To have discussions with religious and pious men."
8.The Prophet of Allah(SAW) has said, "Get together and advise each other and hold
discussions. Such discussions refine your hearts. Hearts become rusted like swords and
their refinement lies in academic religious discussions."
9.Imam Mohammed Baqir (AS) is reported to have said, "Academic discussions are
discourses and discourses are the best forms of prayers."
Chapter 10: Dissemination of Knowledge 1.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "Allah did not take the
pledge from the uneducated to acquire knowledge unless and until he took the pledge of
spreading of knowledge from the learned ones. This was because knowledge existed before
ignorance did."
3.Imam Mohammed Baqir(AS) has said, "The Zakat enjoined on the treasure of knowledge
is to impart it to other servants of Allah."
Chapter 11: Prohibition of Speaking without Knowledge
1.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "I warn you against two
tendencies which lead to perdition of mankind. Do not resort to wrong ways in respect of
the Divine Religion and do not announce your verdict on matters which you do not
know."
2.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "I warn you against two tendencies that have
caused destruction to people. Beware of announcing your judgment on the basis of your
opinion before the people. And beware of treating anything as permissible without due
knowledge."
3.Imam Mohammed Baqir (AS) has said, "One who pronounces his verdict (on religious
matters) before people without due knowledge and proper guidance is cursed by the angels
of mercy as well as by the angels of chastisement and he also bears the burden of the sin
of those people who act according to that verdict."
4.Imam Mohammed Baqir (AS) has said, "Say only what you know and regarding what you
do not know say, `Allah knows best.' Verily a person may single out any verse from the
Holy Qur'an (and interpret it wrongly) and may fall down deeper than the distance between
the heaven and the earth."
5.Imam Mohammed Baqir (AS) was asked, "What is the right of Allah over His
servants?" He replied, "They should say (only) what they know and maintain
silence in case they do not know."
Chapter 12: Acting without Proper Knowledge 1.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "One who acts without proper
insight is like a wanderer who has gone astray due to lack of knowledge. His speed only
increases his distance from his destination."
2.Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) is reported to have said, "Allah does not approve the
action of any one without his insight and mere insight means nothing without action. One
who knows his insight leads him towards proper action and if he does not act then his
insight means nothing. Lo, the conviction of one interacts with the conviction of the
other."
Chapter 13: Application of Knowledge 1. The Prophet of Allah S.A. has said, "There are two kinds of
learned men. The one who acts according to his knowledge will be delivered (from
chastisement in the Hereafter). And the other who ignores his knowledge is destined to be
praised. Even the dwellers of Hell will be tortured due to the stench emanating from the
burning body of the learned man who ignored his knowledge. The most repentant and
frustrated among the dwellers of the Hell will be the man who guided a servant of Allah
towards the path of Allah and the latter accepted this guidance from him and obeyed Allah
and therefore Allah sent him to Paradise, but that man who showed him the path will be
sent to hell because he ignored his knowledge and acted according to his carnal desires
and high ambitions. The pursuit of evil desires becomes a hurdle in the right path and
unwarranted ambitions make one indifferent from the life hereafter."
2. Imam Jaafar as-Sadiq A.S. has said, "Knowledge is annexed with action. One who
knows acts on it, and one who acts possesses knowledge. Knowledge invites towards action.
If the call is accepted, the knowledge stays, and if it is rejected knowledge takes its
leave."
3. Imam Jaafar as-Sadiq A.S. has said, "If a learned man does not act according to
his knowledge, his sermons and preachings slip away from the hearts of the listeners like
the rain water slips away from a sloping smooth stone."
4. A man approached Imam Zainul Abideen A.S. and asked certain questions. The Imam
answered every question. The man came again and asked similar questions. The Imam hten
said, "It is written in the Injeel (the Holy Bible): `Do not seek knowledge of what
you do not know until you have acted on what you have already learnt, because the
knowledge which is not put into practic only enhances the disbelief of the knower and his
remoteness from Allah."
5. Imam Jaafar as-Sadiq A.S. was asked, "How can one who is destined for salvation be
recognized?" The Imam replied, "One whose deeds are in accordance with his
words. If so, the evidence of his salvation is genuine. And in case his actions are not in
agreement with his words, then his knowledge is just a worthless repository."
Chapter 14: Making knowledge a means of Livelihood 1. The Prophet of Allah S.A. has said, "The cravings of two kinds
of people can never be satiated. The seeker of worldly gains and the seeker of knowledge.
One who limits his worldly gains within what Allah has permitted finds peace. And one who
achieved the worldly pleasure by forbidden means meets his doom except when he repents and
turns away from this evil. One who acquires knowledge from one worthy of it and matches
his deeds with it, secures his salvation. One who intends to gain worldly pleasures only,
then this will be his only share."
2. Imam Jaafar as-Sadiq A.S. has said, "One who acquires the knowledge of 'hadith'
(research, examination, compilation, and scrutiny of the chain of narrators of the sayings
of the Prophet of Allah and his vicegerents with a view to assess the authenticity and
credibility of the sayings, generally called 'traditions') to earn worldly gains will have
no share in the Hereafter and he who aims the good of the Hereafter will be rewarded by
Allah with the good things of this life as well as of the Hereafter."
4. Imam Jaafar as-Sadiq A.S. has said, "If you see any learned man in love with this
world, charge him (with hostility) against your religion, because all lovers are obsessed
with the things they love. Allah revealed to Hazrat Dawood A.S. (the Prophet David): `Do
not let any learned man who is crazy after this world intervene between Me and you because
he will become a hurdle in the way of your love for Me. Such people are highway robbers
for My servants seeking My pleasure. The minimum punishment for them is that I deprive
their hearts of their ecstasy of their communion with Me.'"
5. The Prophet of Allah S.A. has said, "The religious scholars are the trustees of
the prophets so long as they do not become lovers of this world." On being requested,
the Prophet S.A. explained saying, "Surrendering to the authorities. If they do so,
safeguard your religion from them."
6. Imam Mohammed Baqir A.S. has said, "He who acquires knowledge to boast about it
among other learned men or to wrangle about it with the rustics or to attract the
attention of the people towards him (to gain popularity and respect) his innards will be
filled with fire. Verily, leadership is fit only for those who really deserve it."
Chapter 15: Accountability of the Religious Scholars and its
Severity 1. Imam Jaafar as-Sadiq A.S. has said, "Seventy sins of an
ignorant man will be forgiven before on single sin of a learned man (is forgiven)."
2. Imam Jaafar as-Sadiq A.S. has said, "Hazrat Eesa A.S. said: `Woe be unto the
wrong-doing scholar! How severely the flames of Hell will envelop him.'"
3. Imam Jaafar as-Sadiq A.S., pointing out with his hand towards his throat has said,
"When the last breath reaches here, then the time for the repentance of the learned
men will be over." Then the Imam quoted the verse 4:17 which says: "Verily Allah
would accept the repentance of those who commit wrong deeds in ignorance and then are
quick to repent."
4. Commenting on the verse 26:94, Imam Jaafar as-Sadiq A.S. said, "There are the
people who praised equity and justice with mere words and then acted against it." The
said verse runs as follows: "Then they will all be thrown headlong therein (Hell)
along with their followers who went astray."
Chapter 16: Strewn Gems 1. Hazrat Ali A.S. has said, "Refresh your minds with marvels of
wisdom because minds get tired like your bodies do."
3. The Prophet of Allah S.A. has said, "The ablest adviser for the faith is knowledge
and the noblest adviser of knowledge is forbearance and the best adviser of forbearance is
kindness and the most competent adviser if kindness is patience."
4. A man came to the Prophet of Allah S.A. and asked, "O Prophet of Allah, what is
knowledge?" The Prophet replied, "Silence (refraining from unnecessary
gossip)". The man asked, "Then what?" He replied, "To listen (to the
learned)." Again he asked, "Then what?" The Prophet said, "To memorise
(what he had heard)." The man asked, "Then what?" The Prophet said,
"Act on it." Once again the man asked, "Then what?" The Prophet
replied, "To disseminate it."
9. Imam Mohammed Baqir A.S. has said, "In a doubtful case, it is better to wait and
think than to take any fatal decision. It is better to abandon a tradition which in your
opinion is not correctly reproduced than to continue its reproduction without
verification."
10. Imam Jaafar as-Sadiq A.S. has said, "Regarding what you do not know out of what
has come down to you, you have but to keep silent. Refer the same for confirmation to the
divinely guided Imams so that they may lead you to the correct interpretation. They will
also illuminate for you its obscurity and make you aware of the truth." Then the Imam
quoted the verse 16:43 which says: "Ask the people of understanding in case you do
not know."
11. Imam Jaafar as-Sadiq A.S. has said, "I find the knowledge of all men divided into
four categories: firstly, realisation of your Lord, Secondly, to acknowledge all His
favors to you, thirdly, to understand your obligation towards Him, and fourthly, to know
what expels you from the folds of your religion."
13. Imam Jaafar as-Sadiq A.S. has said, "Assess the status of the people on the basis
of the frequency of their quoting us."
Chapter 17: Quoting Books and Traditions Commenting on the verse 39:18 Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said,
"It is the person who hears the tradition and relays it exactly as he heard it
without in any way tempering with it." The said verse says: "Who hear advice and
follow the best thereof." A man asked Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS), "I hear something from you
and then attempt to relay it exactly as I have heard but fail." The Imam asked,
"You do it intentionally?" The man replied in the negative. Then the Imam asked,
"You intend to relay the purport?" He said, "Yes." The Imam said,
"Then there is no harm." Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "Put it in writing because you
may not remember it (unless you write it down)." Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "Treasure your books because
verily you will be needing them." Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "Write down and spread your
knowledge among your brethren. Then if you die, your progeny will inherit your writings.
Certainly a period of tension and unrest will face people and they will not be convinced
except by their books." Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "My words are the words of my
father and the words of my father are the words of my grandfather and the words of my
grandfather are the words of my great-grandfathers, Hasan and Husain (AS) and their words
are the words of Hazrat Ali (AS) and the words of Hazrat Ali (AS) are the words of the
Prophet of Allah (SAW) and (finally) the words of the Prophet are the words of
Allah."
Chapter 18: Blind Following 1. Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) was requested to comment on the verse 9:31
which says: "They have taken their religious leaders and their monks as their
over-lords besides Allah." The Imam explained, "By Allah! They (leaders and
monks) never asked them (the Christians) for their worship. Had they invited them, they
would never have responded positively. Actually the leaders and the monks rendered lawful
what was unlawful and vice-versa. Thus, they (Christians) worshipped them unknowingly (by
following their innovations)." Chapter 19: Innovations, Guesswork's, and Analogies 2. The Prophet of Allah(SAW) has said, "Whenever innovations
appear in my people then the religious scholars must rise to the occasion and make their
genuine knowledge manifest and may the curse of Allah fall on one who does not do
so."
3. The Prophet of Allah(SAW) has said, "One who came to an innovator and glorified
him, virtually tried to demolish (the edifice of) Islam."
7. Hazrat Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) is reported to have said, "People who believe in
speculations search for knowledge on the basis of speculations and surmises. These
speculations and surmises only take them further away from the truth. The Religion of
Allah has no connection with surmises."
8. Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) and Mohammed Baqir (AS) have said, "All innovations are
misguidances and the way of all misguidances lead to hell-fire."
10. Imam Musa Kazim (AS) was asked, "On what basis should I believe in the Oneness of
Allah?" The Imam replied, "Do not enter into the folds of innovators. One who
acts on the basis of his guesswork perishes, and one who turns away from the progeny of
the Prophet of Allah goes astray, and one who turns away from the Book of Allah and the
sayings of the Prophet of Allah (SAW) becomes an infidel."
11. Abu Baseer sought the advice of Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) saying, "Occasionally
we come across some problems, the solution of which is available neither in the Book of
Allah nor in traditions (sayings of the Prophet and Imams). In such cases can we deduce
the solution ourselves?" The Imam said, "Never do that. If your conclusion
happens to be right you will not be rewarded and if it is wrong then you have falsified
Allah, the Mighty, the Glorious."
12. The Prophet of Allah (SAW) has said, "Every innovation is a misguidance and every
misguidance leads to hell-fire."
15. Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "Sunnah cannot be guessed. Do you not see
that women have to compensate their fasts (missed during the period of their menstruation)
after the month of Ramadan, but they do not have to compensate their daily prayers (missed
during the period) after the period is over? If Sunnah is based on guesswork, religion
will be annihilated."
16. Imam Musa Kazim (AS) was asked about speculations (drawing conclusions on the basis of
appearances and analogies). The Imam (AS) replied, "What have you to do with
speculation? Allah cannot be questioned as to why He has permitted certain things and
prohibited others."
17. Hazrat Ali (AS) has said, "One who has based his mind on conjectures will always
remain in ambiguity and one who basis religion of Allah on his guesswork will always
remain in doubts." Imam Baqir (AS) also says, "One who announces his verdicts
before people on the basis of his own opinion, innovates in the religion of Allah what he
does not know. And one who innovates the religion of Allah, contradicts (and defies) Allah
in what Allah has declared permissible and pronounced forbidden."
18. Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "Satan assessed the rank of Adam at the level
of his own creation and said, `(O Allah!), You have created me from fire and created Adam
from clay.' If he would have assessed on the basis of the essence from which Adam was
created, he would have found that the essence of Adam far excelled in brilliance and
radiance than that of Satan."
19. Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "Whatever Mohammed (SAW) has declared as
permissible will remain permissible till the Day of Judgement and whatever Mohammed (SAW)
has declared forbidden will remain forbidden until the Day of Judgement. This will neither
change nor anyone will bring any change in anything in it." Also Hazrat Ali (AS) has
said, "No one introduced an innovation without forsaking the ways of the Prophet
(SAW)."
20. Abu Hanifa (an Islamic jurist and the Imam of the Hanafi sect) came to see Imam Jaafar
al-Sadiq (AS). The Imam asked him, "Abu Hanifa, I gather that you deduct (religious
matters) on the basis of analogies?" He replied in the affirmative. The Imam advised
him, "Never do that. The first one who did that was Iblees (Satan), when he said, `O
Allah, you have created me from fire and Adam from clay.' He compared fire will clay on
the basis of guesswork. If he had compared the elegance and quintessence of Adam with the
elegance and quintessence of the fire, he would have realised which is superior to
which."
21. A man put a question to Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) which he answered. The man said,
"Had this matter been such and such what would your answer have been?" The Imam
(AS) said, "Hold it! Whatever answer I give is of and from the Prophet himself. Your
opinion is unknown to us in any manner whatsoever."
22. Imam Mohammed Baqir (AS) has said, "Have no confidant except Allah, otherwise you
will no longer remain a believer. All bonds due to any reason, merits of inheritance,
kinship's, confidences, innovations and ambiguities will fade out save those established
by the Qur'an."
Chapter 20: Refer to the Holy Book or the Prophet for Every Problem
1. Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "Verily, Allah, the Glorious, the Elevated,
has revealed the quintessence of everything in the Qur'an and by Allah! He has not omitted
anything which His servants may need to the extent that no one can say, `Would that it had
been revealed in the Qur'an, because that has already been revealed."
4. Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "There is nothing that has not been mentioned
in the Book or in `Sunnat' (the ways of the Holy Prophet (SAW).
6. Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "There is not a single difference of opinion
between two persons whose solution is not given in the Book of Allah, the Mighty, the
Glorious. But their intelligence does not fathom its depth."
7. Hazrat Ali (AS) has said, "O people, verily Allah, the Glorious, the Elevated,
raised His Prophet (SAW) for you and sent down His Book with true guidance while you were
unaware of the Book and the One Who revealed it... So, this is the Qur'an. Ask it whatever
you have to ask. It will, however, never speak to you. I shall inform you about it. It
contains the knowledge of everything that has passed and also that which is going to
happen till the Day of Judgement and is the final word on all matters between you and the
solution of all your differences, and if you ask me about it, certainly I shall inform you
(about each and everything)."
8. Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "I am the descendant of the Prophet of Allah.
I most thoroughly know the Book of Allah. In it is mentioned the beginning of the Creation
and also whatever is going to happen till the Day of Judgement. It contains all
information about the heaven and the earth, Paradise and Hell, and the news of all that
has happened and that is going to happen. I know all that as if I am looking at the palm
of my hand. Allah, (in 16:89) says: "And We have revealed the Book to you explaining
everything clearly."
10. Imam Musa Kazim (AS) was asked, "Is everything included in the Book of Allah and
`Sunnat'?" The Imam (AS) replied, "Yes, everything is included in the Book and
the Sunnat."
Chapter 21: Conflicting Traditions 1. Hazrat Ali (AS) has said, "Not a single verse of the Holy
Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet of Allah (SAW) which the Prophet did not recite to me
and dictated to me and which I did not write with my own hands."
7. Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) was asked about a man who receives two contradictory versions
of a tradition, one of them commands him to do something and the other forbids him and
both the narrators belong to his community, in such a case what should that man do? The
Imam replied to the effect that he should wait till he is able to verify from a reliable
person. The Imam further explained that in such cases it is permissible for him to
postpone action till he finds out the truth.
10. A man asked Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) saying, "Two persons belonging to our
people quarrelling about debt or inheritance, refer their dispute to the ruler of the time
or the appointed judge. Will this be lawful for them?" The Imam replied,
"Whoever had his dispute settled by the ruler or his judge, whether right or wrong,
has in fact got his dispute settled by the `Taghut'. And the gains out of that decisions
will be ill-gotten for him, however lawful his ownership may be. The reason is that he has
secured the ownership through the `Taghut' while Allah has enjoined people to reject him.
Allah, the Almighty, the Sublime, has said, `They intend to resort to the judgement of
Taghut though they were commanded to reject him.' (4:60)
The man asked, "Then what should they do?" The Imam replied,
"They should refer to one among you who is well versed in our traditions, and who has
a deep insight in imperatives, prohibitions and divine commands communicated by us. Since
I have appointed him as our judge, they must accept him as their arbitrator. If such a
person issues a verdict according to our commands and the person concerned does not accept
it, then the person has actually lightened the divine commands and has rejected us. And he
who rejects us actually rejects Allah, the Almighty, and such a person has entered the
border of polytheism..." Chapter 22: Adherence to the "Sunnat" 2. Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) was asked about the different traditions
related by those who are trustworthy and also by those who are not so. The Imam replied,
"Whenever a tradition comes to you which is supported by any verse from the Book of
Allah or by a saying of the Prophet, then accept it. Otherwise the tradition is meant only
for the one who has brought it to you."
3. Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) has said, "Cross check everything with the Book of Allah
and Sunnat. Every tradition which is not in agreement with the Book of Allah is nothing
but forgery."
5. The Prophet of Allah (SAW) has said, "O people, whatever sayings attributed to me
you come across are mine if they are consistent with the Book of Allah, but if they are
inconsistent, I have not said them."
6. Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq (AS) is reported to have said, "One who opposes the Book of
Allah or the traditions established by Mohammed (SAW> becomes an infidel."
9. The Prophet of Allah (SAW) has said, "Words have no value unless acted upon, and
words and deeds combined have no value without resolution, and all three combined have no
value if they are not consistent with the traditions."
12. Hazrat Ali (AS) has said, "There are two kinds of Sunnats. The compulsory ones,
acting on them is guidance and ignoring them is like turning away from the right path. And
those which are voluntary, acting on them is excellence (and attracts divine rewards) but
there is no sin in ignoring them
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