Al Kafi (volume 4)(part 2)

Chapter 55 : the Spirits That Exist in the Imams (a.s.) H 714, Ch. 55, H 1

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa'id from Hammad ibn 'Isa from Ibrahim ibn 'Umar al-Yamani from Jabir al-Ju'fi from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. "O Jabir, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High has created th e creatures in three categories as mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.

"On that day, you (mankind) will be divided into three groups: (56:7) The people of the right hand - those whose books of records will be placed in their right hands. How happy they will be! (56:8). The people of the left hand - those whose books of records will be placed in their left hands. How miserable they will be! (56:9). The foremost ones (in faith and virtue) - the foremost ones in receiving their reward." (56:10).

The foremost group is the messengers and the people of special status with Allah among His creatures. Allah has placed in them five spirits and has supported them with the Holy Spirit. Through this spirit they recognize things. He has supported them with the spirit of faith because of which they maintain fear of Allah (in their souls).

They are supported also with the spirit of power because of which they are able to obey Allah. They are also supported with the spirit of desires with which they maintain their desire of worshipping and obeying Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High and dislike disobedience. He has placed in them the social spirit to socialize and establish proper relations among people.

In the believers and the people of the right hand He has placed the spirit of faith because of which they maintain fear of Allah. He has placed in them the spirit of power with which they obey Allah. He has placed in them the spirit of desire. With it they desire to obey Allah. He has also placed in the social spirit and because of this they maintain social relations."

H 715, Ch. 55, h 2

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Musa ibn 'Umar from Muhammad ibn Sinan from 'Ammar ibn Marwan from al-Munakhkhal from Jabir who has said that when I asked abu Ja'far (a.s.) about the knowledge the scholar he said the following.

"O Jabir, in the prophets and in the executors of their will there are five spirits. They are the Holy Spirit, the spirit of faith, the spirit of life, the spirit of power and the spirit of desire. Through the Holy Spirit, O Jabir, they receive the knowledge all that is below the Throne all the way to under the land.

" He then said, "O Jabir, these four spirits are the kind of spirits that may become affected by the events that take place. Only the Holy Spirit is that which does trifle and wander around."

H 716, Ch. 55, h 3

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Mu'alla ibn Muhammad from 'Abdallah ibn Idris from Muhammad ibn Sinan that al-Mufadal ibn 'Umar who has said that I asked abu Ja'far (a.s.) the following.

"I asked him about the knowledge of the Imams of the regions of the earth when he is in his house secluded behind the curtains. The Imam (a.s.) said, "O Mufuddal, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has place five spirits in the Prophet.

Of such one is the spirit of life with which is movement and activities. There is the spirit of power with is uprising and assiduousness and the spirit of desire with which is consumption of nutrients and reproduction in lawful ways. There is the spirit of faith with which is peace and justice.

There is the Holy Spirit with which prophet-hood is carried. When the prophet passes away the Holy Spirit transfers and comes over to the Imam (a.s.). The Holy Spirit does not sleep or become unaware. It does not trifle or maintain false hopes. The other four spirits sleep, become unaware, may maintain false hope or trifle. With the Holy Spirit things are seen."

Chapter 56 : The Spirit with which the Imams (a.s.) are Protected H 717, Ch. 56, h 1

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa'id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from abu 'al-Sabah al-Kinani from abu Basir who has said the following. "I asked abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.

"Thus, We have revealed a Spirit to you, (Muhammad), by Our command. Before, you did not even know what a Book or Faith was, . . ." (42:52) The Imam (a.s.) said, "He is a creature of the creatures of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High greater than Jibril and Mika'il. He was with the Messenger of Allah to give him news and protected him and he is with the Imams after the Messenger of Allah."

H 718, Ch. 56, h 2

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ali ibn Asbat from Asbat ibn Salim who has said the following. "Once a man from Hayt (a town in Iraq) asked abu 'Abdallah (a.s.), -when I was present also-, about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. "Thus, We have revealed a Spirit to you, (Muhammad), by Our command.

Before, you did not even know what a Book or Faith was, . . ." (42:52) The Imam (a.s.) said, "From the day Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent that Spirit to Muhammad (s.a.) he did not ever since ascent and he is present with us."

H 719, Ch. 56, h 3

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn 'Isa from Yunus from ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has said the following. "I asked abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. "They ask you about the Spirit. Say, "The Spirit comes by the command of my Lord. . . ." (17:85). The Imam (a.s.) said, "He is a creature greater than Jibril and Mika'il. He was with the Messenger of Allah and he is present with the Imams. He is from the realm of the angels."

H 420, Ch. 56, h 4

Ali has narrated from his father from ibn abu 'Umayr from abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from abu Basir who has said the following. "I heard abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) say, '"They ask you about the Spirit. Say, "The Spirit comes by the command of my Lord. . . ." (17:85). The Imam (a.s.) said, "He is a creature greater than Jibril and Mika'il. He was present with anyone before except Muhammad (s.a.). He is present with the Imams (a.s.). He protects them. It is not that whatever is desired is found."

H 721, Ch. 56, h 5

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from 'Imran ibn Musa from Musa ibn Ja'far from Ali ibn Asbat from Muhammad ibn Fudayl from abu Hamzah who has said the following. "I asked abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) about the knowledge.

Is it a knowledge that the scholar learns from the mouths of the people or it is in the with you from which you read and then learn therefrom." The Imam (a.s.) said, "The issue is greater and more urgently needed. Have you not heard the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, "Thus, We have revealed a Spirit to you, (Muhammad), by Our command.

Before, you did not even know what a Book or Faith was, . . ." (42:52)?" The The Imam (a.s.) said, "What does your people say about this verse? Do they read that he was as such that he did not know what the or the was?" I said, "I do not know, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what they say." The Imam (a.s.) then said, "Yes, he lived in a condition wherein he did not know the book and the faith untill Allah, the Most High, sent the Spirit who is mentioned in the book.

When the Spirit was inspired (sent) to him he learned through him the knowledge and understanding. He is the Spirit whom Allah, the Most High grants to whoever He wants. When He grants him to a servant he teaches him understanding."

H 522, Ch. 56, h 6

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ali ibn Asbat from al-Husayn ibn abu al-'Ala' from Sa'd al-Iskaf who has said the following. "Once a man came to Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (a.s.) asking him about the Spirit. "Is he not Jibril?" Amir al- Mu'minin Ali (a.s.) then said, "Jibril is of the angels.

The Spirit is not Jibril. He repeated it to the man. The man said, "You have said something very much extraordinary. No one other than you thinks that the Spirit is somme one other than Jibril." Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (a.s.) said to him, "You are mislead and narrate from the mislead people.

Allah, the Most High has said to His Prophet (s.a.), 'Allah's help will certainly support (the believers), so pagans do not (seek) to hasten it. Allah is far Glorious and Exalted than to be considered equal to idols." (16:1) He sends the angels with the Spirit. The Spirit is (a creature) other than the angels (a.s.)."