Al Kafi (volume 4)(part 1)

Chapter 13 : the Imams (a.s.) Are the Light of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High H 495, Ch. 13, H 1

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu'alla ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Mirdas who has said that Saffron ibn Yahya and al-Hassan ibn Mahbub have narrated from abu Ayyub from abu Khalid al-Kabuli who has said that he asked Imam abu Ja'far (a.s.) about the meaning of the words of Allah e following.

"Those who believe in him, honor and help him, and follow the light which is sent down to him, will have everlasting happiness." (7:157) The Imams (a.s.) said, "O abu Khalid, I swear by Allah that it is the Imams from the family of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) up to the Day of judgment who are called light in the above verse. They, I swear by Allah, are the light of Allah whom He sent down.

It is they, I swear by Allah, who are the light of Allah in the heavens and in the earth. O abu Khalid, I swear by Allah, that the light of the Imams (a.s.) in the hearts of the true believers is more bright than the light of the sun in the midday. They, I swear by Allah, give light to the hearts of the true believers and Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, may block such light from reaching the hearts of whoever He may will, thus their hearts remain dark.

O abu Khalid, no one would believe in our Divine authority except that Allah will cleanse his heart. Allah will not cleanse the heart of a person until he or she will acknowledge our Divine authority and live in peace with us.

When one lives in peace with us Allah will safe guard him against the severity of the day of recockning and grant him security against the great terror on the Day of Judgment"

H 496, Ch. 13, h 2

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated through his chain of narrators from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah that say, There are those who follow the Messengers, the illiterate Prophet (not conventionally educated), whose description they find written in the Torah and the Gospel. [He (the Messengers) enjoins them to do good and forbids them to do all that is unlawful, makes lawful for them all that is pure and unlawful all that is filthy, removes their burdens and the entanglements in which they are involved].

Those who believe in him, honor and help him, and follow the light which is sent down to him, will have everlasting happiness." (7:157) The Imams (a.s.) said, "It is Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (a.s.) and the Imams (a.s.) after him who are called 'light' in the above verse of the Holy Quran."

H 497, Ch. 13, h 3

Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Jabbar from ibn Fudala from Tha'laba ibn Maymun from abu al-Jarud who has said that he said the following to Imam abu Ja'far (a.s.). "Allah has given a great deal of good to the people of the heavenly books." The Imam (a.s.) then asked, "What is it?"

I then said it said in Holy Quran, "We sent Our guidance to them so that perhaps they might take heed. (28:51) (Some of) the followers of the Bible believe in the Quran (28:52).

When it is recited to them, they say, "We believe in it. It is the Truth from our Lord. We were Muslims before it was revealed" (28:53). These will receive double reward for their forbearance, replacing evil by virtue, and for their spending for the cause of God." (28:54)

The Imam (a.s.) said, "Allah has given you also a great deal of good as He has given to them and he recited, 'Believers, have fear of God and believe in His Messenger. God will grant you a double share of mercy, a light by which you can walk, and forgive your sins. God is Allforgiving and All-merciful.' (57:28) The light mentioned in this verse mean the Imam (a.s.)who you follow.'"

H 498, Ch. 13, h 4

Ahmad ibn Mahran has narrated from 'Abd al-'Azim ibn 'Abdallah al-Hassani from Ali ibn Asbat and al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from abu Ayyub from abu Khalid al-kabuli who has said that he asked Imam abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) about the meaning of the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, in the following verse of the Holy Quran.

"Those who believe in him, honor and help him, and follow the light which is sent down to him, will have everlasting happiness." (7:157) The Imams (a.s.) said, "O abu Khalid, the light in this verse, I swear by Allah, means the Imams.

O abu Khalid the light of the Imam (a.s.) in the hearts of the true believers is more bright than the light of the sun in midday. It is they who brighten the hearts of the true believers and Allah withholds their light from reaching whomever He would will, thus, their hearts become dark and Allah covers them with the darknesss."

H 499, Ch. 13, h 5

Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn sham?? From 'Abdallah ibn 'Abd al-Rahmanal-Asamm from 'Abdallah ibn al-Qasim from salih ibn Sahl al-Hamadani who has said that abu 'Abdallah (a. s.) has said the following about the verse of the Holy Quran below.

"God is the light of the heavens and the earth. A metaphor for His light is a lantern in which there is a lamp placed in a glass. The glass is like a shining star which is lit from a blessed olive tree that is neither eastern nor western. Its oil almost lights up even though it has not been touched by the fire. It is light upon light. God guides to His light whomever He wants. God uses various metaphors.

He has the knowledge of all things." (24:35) The Imam (a.s.) said that the lantern metaphorically stands for the Holy lady, Fatima (a.s.), the lamp stands for Imam al-Hassan (a. s.) and the glass stands for Imam al-Husayn (a.s.).

The shining star stands for the Holy lady Fatima (a.s.) who shines among the ladies of the world. The blessed olive tree stands for Prophet Abraham. Neither eastern nor western means not Jewish nor Christian.

'Its oil almost lights up' means that it almost bursts up with knowledge. 'Light up on light' means that there will one Imam after the other Imam (a.s.) 'God guides to His light who ever He wants' means that Allah guides through the Imams whomever He wants." About 'God uses various metaphors' I said, "Or it (the deeds of the unbelievers) are like the darkness of a deep, stormy sea with layers of giant waves, covered by dark clouds.

It is darkness upon darkness whereby even if one stretches out his hands he can not see them. One can have no light unless God gives him light. (24:40)

The Imam (a.s.) said, " 'darkness' refers to the first and his friend, 'with layers of giant waves' refers to the third, 'covered with darkness' refers to the second. 'it is darkness up on darkness' refers to Mu'awiya and the disasters caused by the Amavides. 'even if one stretches out his hands' means that even if a true believer would stretch his hands in such disastrous condition 'he can not see them'.

'One can have no light unless God gives him light, means the light from the children of the Holy Lady, Fatima (a.s.) 'Can have no light' means an Imam on the Day of Judgment." The Imam (a.s.) said that, "On the Day of Judgment you will see the believers with their light shining in front of them and to their right. They will be told, "Paradise wherein streams flow is the glad news for you today.

You will live therein forever. This is the greatest triumph." (57:12), the shining light in front . . .' is a reference to the Imams (a.s.) whom would walk in front and on the right of the true believers until they all enter paradise."

Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Musa ibn al-Qasim al-Bajali and Muhammad ibn yahya from al-'Amrakiy ibn Ali altogether from Ali ibn Ja'far (a.s.) from his brother a similar Hadith.

H 500, Ch. 13, h 6

Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from al-husayn ibn 'Ubadallah from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan and Musa ibn 'umar from al-hassan ibn Mahbub from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl who has said that he asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.) about the meaning of the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, in the following verse of the Holy Quran.

"They want to put out the light of God with their mouths, but God will certainly make His light shine forever - even though the unbelievers may dislike this." (61:8) The Imam (a.s.) said, "They want to put out the divine authority of Amir al-Mu'minin (a.s.) with their mouths.

'but Allah completes His light' means the Imams (a.s.) as mentioned in, "Those who believe in him, honor and help him, and follow the light which is sent down to him, will have everlasting happiness." (7:157) The light stands for Imam (a.s.)."

Chapter 14 : The Imams are the corner stone on earth H 501, Ch. 14, h 1

Ahmad ibn Mahran from Muhammad ibn Ali and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad altogether from Muhammad ibn Sinan from al-Mufaddal ibn 'Umar from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

"Whatever Imam Ali (a.s.) has brought I follow them entirely and whatever he has forbidden I desist from them altogether. Whatever virtue that were found in the Holy Prophet (s.a.) were found in Imam Ali (a.s.) also. The Holy Prophet was more virtuous than all of the creatures of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.

Those turning away from any item of his (Imam Ali) guidance would be like one turning away from the guidance of Allah and His Prophet. Rejecting him in small or a great one matters would like considering things like Allah (shirk). Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (a.s.) was the gate to Allah through which only, people could go closer to Him.

Imam Ali (a.s.) was the path that if one would ignore it he would have been destroyed. This is also true of all the Imams of guidance one after the other. Allah has made them as the cornerstones of the earth so that people on it would not be destroyed. They possess the doubtless Divine authority over the inhabitants of earth and those below the earth.

Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (a.s.) would very often say, "I am the supervisor for Allah to see who should go to Paradise and who should go to Hell. I am the greatest criterion, the possessor of the staff and the (marking) seal Miysam All the angels and the spirit have acknowledged the existence in me of all the matters that they had acknowledge in Prophet Muhammad (s.a.).

I am held responsible for all such matters that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) was held responsible. Such responsibilities are the duties to Allah, the Lord. The Holy Prophet will be called upon and his call will be accepted.

I will be called up on and my call will be accepted. The Holy Prophet will be made to speak and I will be made to speak and I will speak just the way he would speak. I have been given certain distinctions which are given to no one before me.

I was taught all about the deaths, the sufferings, the genealogy of people and clear speech. I have not missed any of the knowledge that have passed me by and nothing of the future is unseen or unknown to me. I give good news by the permission of Allah and do my duty towards Allah. All of these is from Allah Who has made it possible for me through His knowledge."

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash'ari has narrated from Mu'alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur al-'Ammi from Muhammad ibn Sinan who has said that al-Mufaddal narrated to us from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.). He then narrated the above Hadith.

H 502, Ch. 14, h 2

Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Walid Shabab al-Sayrafi who has said that Sa'id' al-A'raj has said that he and Sulayman ibn Khalid once went to abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) and al-A'raj began the conversation as follows.

"Whatever Imam Ali (a.s.) has brought is followed entirely and whatever he has forbidden is desisted from altogether. Whatever virtue that were found in the Holy Prophet (s.a.) were found in Imam Ali (a.s.) also. The Holy Prophet was more virtuous than all of the creatures of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.

Those who would find faults any item of his (Imam Ali) guidance would be like one finding faults in the guidance of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High and His Prophet. Rejecting him in small or a great matters would be like considering things similar to Allah (shirk). Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (a.s.) was the gate to Allah through which only, people can get closer to Him.

Imam Ali (a.s.) was the path that if one would ignore it he would have been destroyed. This is also true of all the Imams of guidance one after the other. Allah has made them as the cornerstones of the earth so that people on it would not be destroyed. They possess the doubtless Divine authority over the inhabitants of earth and those below the earth.

Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (a.s.) has said, "I am the supervisor for Allah to see who should go to Paradise and who should go to Hell. I am the greatest criterion, the possessor of the staff and the (marking) seal Miysam All the angels and the spirit have acknowledged the existence in me of all the matters that they had acknowledge in Prophet Muhammad (s.a.).

I am held responsible for all such matters that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) was held responsible. Such responsibilities are the duties to Allah, the Lord. The Holy Prophet will be called upon and his call will be accepted. I will be called up on and I my call will be accepted. The Holy Prophet will be made to speak, and I will be made to speak and I will speak just the way he would speak. I have been given certain distinctions which, are given to no one before me.

I was taught all about the deaths, the sufferings, the genealogy of people and clear speech. I have not missed any of the knowledge that have passed me by and nothing of the future is unseen or unknown to me. I give good news by the permission of Allah and do my duty towards Allah. All of these is from Allah Who has made it possible for me through His knowledge."

H 503, Ch. 14, h 3

Muhammad ibn Yahya and Ahmad ibn Muhammad both have narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Ali ibn Hassa'n who has said that abu 'Abdallah al-Riyahi narrated to him from abu al-Samit al-Hulwani from abu Ja'far (a.s.) about the virtue of Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (a.s.) the following Hadith. "Whatever Imam Ali (a.s.) has brought I follow them entirely and whatever he has forbidden I desist from them altogether.

All that is true of the obedience to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) is true of the obedience to Imam Ali (a.s.) after the Holy Prophet (s.a.) but virtue belongs to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.). Those who would try to be ahead of Imam Ali (a.s.) would be considered as trying to be ahead of Prophet (s.a.). Those who would to show themselves as more virtuous than Imam Ali (a.s.) would be considered as trying to show themselves as more virtuous than the Holy Prophet (s.a.).

Whoever would reject any of the small or great items of the guidance of Imam Ali (a.s.) he would be like considering things as similar (shirk) to Allah.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.) is the gate through which people can go to Allah. He is the path that if chosen would lead to Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. The same was true of Imam Ali (a.s.) after the Holy Prophet (s.a.). All such matters were true of the Imams (a.s.) one after the other.

Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has made them the cornerstone of the earth so that its inhabitants would not be destroyed. They were the pillars of Islam and the connection in the path of guidance. No guide can be a guide without their guidance and one would go astray unless he would ignore the rights of these Imams (a.s.).

They are the trustees of Allah over whatever knowledge, warning and excuses that have been revealed to them (from the heavens). They possess the doubtless Divine authority over those on earth. Whatever, (virtue and authority) is found in one of them is true of all of them and no one can reach such a stage without support from Allah.

Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (a.s.) has said, "I am the supervisor for Allah over Paradise and Hell. No one would go either one without my supervision. I am the greatest criterion and the Imam for those after me the provider of relief for those before me. No one is permitted to be ahead of me except Ahmad (s.a.). I and he are on the same path except that he is called Ahmed (the most praiseworthy). I have been given six things.

I have been the knowledge of deaths, that of the sufferings, that of the wills and the clear speech. That I have been give the power to attack the enemy, the power subdue the adversary, that I am the owner of the staff and Maysam and the being that would speak to people."

(a reference to verse 82 of chapter 27 of Quran) "When the word about them comes true We shall make a creature appear to them on earth who will tell them that people had no faith in Our revelations." (27:82)