Al Kafi (volume 4)(part 2)

Chapter 57 : the Time When the Imam Learns the Knowledge of the Imam Before Him (a.s.) H 723, Ch. 57, H 1

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa'id from Ali ibn Asbat from al-Hakam ibn Miskin from certain persons of our people who has said the following. "I asked abu 'Abdallah (a.s.), 'When does the succeeding one (Imam) come to know of what the one preceding him knew?" The Imam (a.s.) said, "At the last minute of the life of the Imam before him."

H 724, Ch. 57, h 2

Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ali ibn Asbat from al-Hakam ibn Miskin from 'Ubayd ibn Zurarah and a group with him who has said the following. "We heard abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) say, 'The succeeding Imam comes to know of the knowledge of the preceding Imam in the last minute of the time left from his life.'"

H 725, Ch. 57, h 3

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ya'qub ibn Yazid from Ali ibn Asbat from certain persons of his people who has said that I asked abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) the following. "When does the Imam come to know that he has become the Imam and position is transferred to him?" The Imam (a.s.) replied, "At the last minute of the life of the preceding Imam (a.s.)."

Chapter 58 : The Imams (a.s.) are all Equal in Knowledge, Courage and Obedience H 726, Ch. 58, h 1

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu Zahir from al-Khashshab from Ali ibn Hass'an from 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Kathir from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. "The offspring of the believers will also follow them to Paradise. So shall We join their offspring to them because of their faith.

We shall reduce nothing from their deeds.. . ."(52:21) The Imam (a.s.) said, "Believers refers to the Holy Prophet and Amir al- Mu'mini (a.s.) .

Offspring refers to the Imams and the executors of the wills (a.s.) We make them follow means that We will not reduce anything from the Divine authority of their offspring. It will be the same as that which Muhammad (s.a.) had transferred to Ali (a.s.). Their authority is one and the same and obedience to them is the same."

H 727, Ch. 58, h 2

Ali ibn Muhammad ibn 'Abdallah has narrated from his father from Muhammad ibn 'Isa from Dawud al-Nahdi from Al,i ibn Ja'far who has narrated the following from abu al-Hassan. "In knowledge and courage we all are equal. In benefaction and grants we do to the degree we are commanded."

H 728, Ch. 58, h 3

Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Ali ibn Isma'il from Safwan ibn Yahya from ibn Muskan from al-Harith ibn al-Mughirah who has narrated the following from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.). "We in the matters of commands, understanding, lawful and unlawful all are alike and the same. However, the Messenger of Allah and Ali (a. s.) have their own virtue and excellence."

Chapter 59 : Each Imam knows the succeeding Imam (a.s.) The words of Allah, the Most High, "Allah commands you to deliver the trust to its people,"(4:58) is a reference to the Imams (a.s.) H 729, Ch. 59, h 1

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu'alla ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha' from Ahmad ibn 'A'idh from ibn 'Udhayna from Burayd al-'Ijli who has said that I asked abu Ja'far (a.s.) about the following verse of the Holy Quran.

"Allah (God) commands you to return that which had been entrusted to you to the rightful owners. Be just when passing judgment among people. . . ." (4:58) The Imam (a.s.) said, " We are intended thereby. The preceding Imam must transfer to the succeeding Imam the books, the knowledge and the armaments. 'Be just when passing judgment among people' means what is in your possession.

Then Allah has said to people, "Believers, obey God, His Messenger, and your leaders (who possess Divine authority). . . ." (4:59) This is how it was revealed. How Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would command them to obey the people who possess authority and then allow people to dispute them? This is said to those who are commanded by the command of, "Believers, obey God, His Messenger, and your leaders (who possess Divine authority). . . ." (4:59)

H 730, Ch. 59, h 2

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu'alla ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha' from Ahmad ibn 'Umar who has said that I asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a. s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. "Allah (God) commands you to return that which had been entrusted to you to the rightful owners.

Be just when passing judgment among people. . . ." (4:58) The Imam (a.s.) said, "They are the Imams (a.s.) from the family of Muhammad (s.a.) who are commanded to deliver the trust to the succeeding Imam (a.s.) exclusively and to no one else and that the succeeding Imams must not be deprived of this trust."

H 731, Ch. 59, h 3

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa'id from Muhammad ibn Fudayl from abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) about the following words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. "Allah (God) commands you to return that which had been entrusted to you to the rightful owners.

Be just when passing judgment among people. . . ." (4:58) The Imam (a.s.) said, "They are the Imams (a.s.). The Imam (a.s.) must deliver the trust to the succeeding Imam (a.s.) exclusively and to no one else and that the succeeding Imams must not be deprived of this trust."

H 732, Ch. 59, h 4

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Ishaq ibn 'Ammar from ibn abu Ya'fur from Mu'alla ibn al-Khunays who has said that I asked abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.

"Allah (God) commands you to return that which had been entrusted to you to the rightful owners.. . ." (4:58) The Imam (a.s.) said, "it is the command of Allah that the preceding Imam (a.s.) transfer to the succeeding Imam (a.s.) every thing that is with him."

H 733, Ch. 59, h 5

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ibn Mahbub from al-'Ala' ibn Razin from 'Abdallah ibn abu Ya'fur from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. "The does not die until he learns who the succeeding Imams is so he would deliver his will to him."

H 734, Ch. 59, h 6

Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from (ibn) abu 'Uthman from al-Mu'alla ibn Khunays from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following "The Imam (a.s.) knows the succeeding Imam and delivers his will to him."

H 735, Ch. 59, h 7

Ahmad has narrated from Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Jabbar from abu 'Abdallah al-Barqi from Fudalah ibn Ayyub from Sulayman ibn Khalid from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. "No scholar (Imam) has ever died before Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would grant him the knowledge of to who must he deliver his will."