Al Kafi (volume 4)(part 3)

Chapter 103 : the Commands of the Holy Prophet To Wish Well For the Imams of Muslims, Remain Close With Their Group and As To Who They Are H , Ch. 103, H 1

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Isa from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Aban ibnn 'Uthman from ibn abu Ya'fur from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

"The the Messenger of Allah addressed people in the mosque of Khif and said, "May Allah grant joy and happiness to those of His servants that on hearing my words understand them, memorize them preach them to those who have not heard them. There can be many scholars of Fiqh (law) who do not have understanding as there can be many bearers of Fiqh (law) to those who are better scholars of Fiqh (law) then the bearer.

There are three things in which the heart of a Muslim does not feel greed and treachery. Sincerity in deeds for Allah, wishing well for the leaders of the Muslims and to stay close with the group of the Muslims because their prayer encompass them from behind them and the Muslims are each other's brothers. Their lives are as each other's lives and the least important among them strive to fulfill their responsibilities."

Hammad ibn 'Uthman from Aban from ibn abu Ya'fur has narrated a similar hadith with an addition of "They are as one hand to face their enemies". In his Hadith he has mentioned that the Holy Prophet (s.a) made his speech during his farewell pilgrimage in the mosque of Khif.

H , Ch. 103, h 2

Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from some of our people from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Hakam ibn Miskin from a man from Quraysh from the people of Makka who has said the following. "Once Sufyan al-Thawri said to me, "Come with to meet Ja'far ibn Muhammad (a. s.)." The narrator has said that he went with him and they found Ja'far ibn Muhammad (a.s.) had already rode his horse.

Sufyan said to him, "O abu 'Abdallah narrate to us the text of the sermon of the Messenger of Allah in the Mosque of al-Khif." He said, "allow me to go for my needs because I am already on the horse back and when I will return then I will narrate to the text of the sermon." He said, "I swear you to your close relation to the Messenger of Allah, you must narrate the sermon first."

The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) dismounted his horse. Sufyan said to him, "Ask someone to bring me ink and paper so I can write it down." He asked for ink and paper and it was brought for him. The he said writhe, "In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful the sermon of the Messenger of Allah in the Mosque of al- Khif "May Allah grant joy and happiness a servant who would listen to my words, then understands them and would deliver them to those who have not heard them. O people, those of you present here must deliver them to those absent.

There can be many scholars of Fiqh (law) who do not have understanding as there can be many bearers of Fiqh (law) to those who are better scholars of Fiqh (law) then the bearer. There are three things in which the heart of a Muslim does not feel greed and treachery.

Sincerity in deeds for Allah, wishing well for the Imams (leaders) of the Muslims and to stay close with the group of the Muslims because their call encompass those behind them and the Muslims are each other's brothers. Their lives are as each other's lives and they act as one hand against their enemies and the least important among them strive to fulfill their responsibilities."

Sufyan wrote it down and proof read before him. Abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) then rode his horse. I and Sufyan came back. Somewhere on the way he said, "Stay where you are. I want to look at this Hadith."

I then said to him, "There is no doubt, by Allah, that abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) has tied something to your neck as such that it will never go away." He aske, "What is that thing?" I then said, "There are three things in which the heart of a Muslim does not feel greed and treachery. Sincerity in deeds for Allah, is one that we know it.

The other one is 'Wishing well for the Imams of the Muslims.' Who are these Imams for whom we must wish well? Are they Mu'awiya ibn abu Sufyan and Yazid ibn Mu'awiya and Marwan ibn al-Hakam? (They are such disqualified people that) the testimony of no one of them is acceptable to us and it is not permissible to pray behind them."

Also his words, "Stay close with their group" Which group is it? Is it the Muji'a group that says, "Those who do perform prayers, do not fast, do not clean and wash themselves after carnal relations, cause the destruction of the Ka'ba or marry his own mother have the same degree of faith as those of angel Jibril and Mika'il.

Is it the Qadri, (pre-destinationist) who say, "What Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, say will not happen but Satan says will happen."? Is it the Harawri group who is the enemy of Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) and call him an unbeliever? Is it the Jahmiy group who says that the only thing needed is to know Allah only is faith and nothing else is required?"

He then said, "Woe is you, what then they say?" I said, "They say, "Ali ibn abu Talib, by Allah, is the Imam for whom we must wish well. To must stay close to their group means, his Ahl al-Bayt (members of the family of Prophet Muhammad).' The narrator has said that Sufyan al-Thawri then tore the document of Zadith and said, "Do not tell it to anyone."

H , Ch. 103, h 3

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all together from Hammad ibn 'Isa from Hariz from Burayd ibn Mu'awiya from abu Ja'far (a.s.) who has said the following. "the Messenger of Allah has said, 'Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, would not look to a friend of His who would strive and pressure his soul in obedience to his Imam and wishing well for him but that he will be with us in the high position in paradise."

H , Ch. 103, h 4

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn al-Faddal from abu Jamila from Muhammad al-Halabi from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. "Whoever would distance himself from the company the Muslims even by one shibr (one foot) he has removed the band of allegiance with Islam from his neck."

H , Ch. 103, h 5

Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. "Whoever would distance himself from the company of the Muslims and disregard the pledge of allegiance with the Imam he will come before Allah with his hand cut off."

Chapter 104 : The Mutual Rights between the Imam and his Followers H , Ch. 104, h 1

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu'alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from Hammad ibn 'Uthman from abu Hamza who has said the following. "I asked abu 'Abdallah (a.s.), 'What are the rights of the Imam over the people?" He replied, "Of his rights over them is that they must listen to him and obey him."

I then asked, "What are their rights on him?" He replied, "Maintain among them equality and justice among the followers. When this prevails among the people then there would no fear as to who has taken this and that."

H , Ch. 104, h 2

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn 'Isma'il ibn Bazi' from Mansur ibn Yunus from abu Hamza from abu Ja'far (a.s.) a similar hadith except that he has said, "this way, this way, this way and this way, meaning thereby front, back, right and left."

Muhammad ibn Yahya al-'Attar from certain members of our people from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas'ada ibn sadaqa from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. "Amir al- Mu'minin (a.s.) has said, 'Do not be deceitful to your leaders, do not confuse your guides, do not be ignorant of your Imams and do not cut off the rope of your unity, least you will fail and be disgraced.

On such foundation your affairs must be based and you must strictly live within such system. Had you been able to observe what those who lived before had observed and who had disregarded what you want to be accepted you would have acted fast, came out and listened. However, you can not observe what they had observed but the curtain will soon be removed.'"

H , Ch. 104, h 3

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Hammad and others from Hanan ibn Sadir al-Sayrafi who has said the following. "I heard abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) say, 'The Holy Prophet (s.a) was given the news of his own death while he was in a good health and he did not suffer any pain." He said, "The trusted Spirit came to him." He said, "The Holy Prophet called for a prayer in congregation.

He then ordered the Muhajir and Ansar (people from Makka and the people of Madina) to arm themselves. The people all came and the Holy Prophet climbed the platform, the pulpit and gave out the news of his own death and then said, "I warn of Allah the ruler after me over my followers for not being kind to the community of the Muslims. He must honor the elders among them and be kind to their weak, treat their scholars with dignity, must not harm to humiliate them.

He must not allow them to suffer poverty that would turn them to disbelief, must not close his door to them to let their strong over run the weak ones. He must not use them in the (armed) campaigns for food that would banish the offspring of my followers. Then he said, (Certainly) I have delivered to you the message, gave you good advice so you must bear this testimony." Abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) has said that this was the last words of the Messenger of Allah from the pulpit."

H , Ch. 104, h 4

Muhammad ibn ali and others have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from a man from Habib ibn abu Thabit who has said the following. "Honey and fig were brought to Amir al-Mu'minin (a.s.) from Hamadhan and al-Hulwan (places near Baghdad).

He asked the his officers to call in the orphans. They were allowed to lick honey from the containers while he himself distributed them among the people. People asked, "Why should the orphans be allowed to lick the honey?" He said, "He said that the Imam is the father of the orphans. I just wanted to gave them a fatherly treat."

H , Ch. 104, h 5

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi and Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father all of them from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad al-Asbahani from Sulayman ibn dawud al-Manqari from Sufyan ibn 'Uyayna from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. "The Holy Prophet has said, 'Isma'il have more authority over every believer than their own selves and after me Ali (a.s.) will such authority."

He was asked, "What is the meaning of that?" He said, "These are the words of the Holy Prophet, 'One who would pass away his debts and liabilities become my responsibility If one would live a legacy I will be the heir thereof. A man will have no authority over himself if would have no property and one will not authority over his dependents if would not provide their expenses.

The Holy Prophet (s.a) and Amir al-Mu'minin (a.s.) and their successors have made it binding up on them. For this reason they have greater authority over them than their own selves. The general masses of the Jews accepted Islam only after these words of the Messenger of Allah. They found peace for themselves and for their dependents."

H , Ch. 104, h 6

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ibn 'Uthman from Sabbah ibn Sayyaba from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

"The Holy Prophet (s.a) has said, 'Whoever of the believers or Muslims would die and on him there is a debt for not for unlawful or extravagant reasons it will be the responsibility of the Imam to pay it off otherwise, he has sinned. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, says, 'Welfare funds (zakat) are only for the poor, the destitute,. . ." (9:60) Such person is a bankrupt and there is a share for him with the Imam.If he would withheld it he has sinned."

H , Ch. 104, h 7

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn al-Sindi from Ja'far ibn Bashir from Hanan from his father from abu Ja'far (a.s.) who has said the following. "The Messenger of Allah has said, 'Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority) is not proper for one without the following qualities.

Chastity that would keep him away from disobeying Allah, forbearance that would give him self control against anger good guardianship over his dependents like a kind hearted father towards his children." In another hadith it says, " . . . so that he would be to the followers like a loving father."

H , Ch. 104, h 8

Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Mu'awiya ibn Hakim from Muhammad ibn Muslim from a man from Tabaristan called Muhammad Qal. Mu'awiya has said that he met this man from Tabaristan who has said the following. "I heard Ali ibn Musa (a.s.) say, "A bankrupt who would lend or borrow -uncertainty is from Mu'awiya- will given one years time to pay. If he still could not pay, the Imam it off from public treasury."