Al Kafi (volume One)

Commentaries of Al-kafi

There are various commentaries written for the book of al-Kafi by different scholars, among which we wish to quote herebelow some famous and well known ones:

  1. ash-Shafi fi sharhƒu al-kafi, by ash-Shaykh Khalil ibn al-Ghazi al-Qazwini (1001/1595 ،X 1089/1678);
  2. The commentary of al-Mawla Sƒladru'd-Din ash-Shirazi (d. 1050/1640); published in thick volume;
  3. The commentary of al-Mawla Muhammad Sƒlalih al-Mazan-darani (d. 1081/1670); published in Tehran in twelve volumes in 1382/1962 ،X 1388/1968;
  4. Mir'at al-،¥uq.l fi sharh akhbar Al ar-Ras.l, by al-Mawla Muhammad Baqir ibn Muhammad Taqi, al-،¥Allamah al-Majlisi (1037/1628 ،X 1111/1700); published in Tehran in 1321/1903 in four thick volumes.

This book is" now under printing in Tehran, out of which eight volumes have already come out from the printing and the rest are being gradually printed.

The Year of al-Kulayni's Death?

According to an-Najashi, al-Kulayni (the compiler) died at Baghdad in 329/941,75 and according to at-Tint, he died in 328/940.76 But afterwards atƒz-Tƒl.si agreed with an-Najashi as recorded in his book ar-Rijal77 which he compiled later on.

Says as-Sayyid Radƒuiyu'd-D.n ibn Tƒlaw.s, "It was ash-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ya،¥q.b (al-Kulayn.) who was a contemporary of (all the four) representatives of Imam al-Mahd. (p.b.u.h.) namely:

i) ،¥Uthman ibn Sa،¥.d al-،¥Amri; ii) Abi Ja،¥far Muhammad (son of al-،¥Amri); iii) Abi'l-Qasim Husayn ibn Rawhƒu; and iv) ،¥Ali ibn Muhƒuammad as-Samuri.،¨

as-Samuri died after the death of the compiler (al-Kulayni). He died in the month of Sha،¥ban 329 A. H. (941 A. D.) and al-Kulayni died in 328/940. Both of them died in Baghdad.78

Ibn al-Ath.r and Ibn Hajar both agree that al-Kulayni died in 328/940.79

ash-Shaykh al-Baha'. al-،¥Amil. says in his book al-Waj.zah that al-Kulayni died in 329/941 or 330/942.80

To me, the correct date of his death is Sha،¥ban 329/941 which has also been described by an-Najashi, who was the closest to the period of al-Kulayni. Further, ash-Shaykh atƒz-Tƒz.s. and al-،¥Allamah al-Hƒmill. have also agreed with the same date.41 These were the persons who had better knowledge of the life history of the Sh.،¥ite scholars than Ibn al-Ath.r and Ibn Hƒmajar.

His Shrine in Baghdad

After his death, al-Kulayni (the compiler) was buried in the city of Baghdad near Bab al-Kufah.82 Today his shrine is found in the eastern part of Baghdad on the bank of the River Tigris (Dejlah) near al-Jisr al-،¥Atiq ،X the old bridge.83

NOTES AL-KULAYNI and AL-KAFI

  1. For detailed study see Ta'sis ash-Sh.،¥ah, pp.278،X291; A،¥yan ash-Sh.،¥ah, vol.I, pp.147،X148.

  2. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.255; A`yan ash-Sh.،¥ah, vol.!, pp.169،X170.

  3. Ta'sis ash-Sh.،¥ah, p.278; Sƒlah.fat ar-Ridƒua, p.118 (tradition no.135).

  4. vol.1, p,40; vol.IV, p.289.

  5. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, first publication p.4; A،¥yan ash-sh.،¥ah, vol.1, pp. 147،X148.

  6. These are the original books of the traditions. See al-Waj.zah by ash-Shaykh al-Baha،¦i, p.l83; adh-Dhar.،¥ah, vol.II. pp.125،X170; vol.VI, PP-301،X374; A،¥yan ash-Sh.،¥ah, vol.I, pp.262،X263.

  7. Refer to the heading "AL-KAFI" in this very preface.

  8. Printed in Tehran in 1324/1906, India in 1306/1890, later in an-Najaf al-Ashraf - (Iraq) and Tehran in 1392/1972 ،X 1394/1974 in four volumes.

  9. Printed in Tehran in 1318/1900 in two volumes and in an-Najaf al-Ashraf (Iraq) and Tehran in 1392/1972 ،X 1394/1974 in four volumes.

  10. Printed in Lucknow (India) in 1308/1890 in two volumes and in an-Najaf al-Ashraf in 1375/1955 ،X 1376/1956 in four volumes.

  11. Refer to Kashf al-Hƒmujub wa'l-astar, p.150; Ta's.s ash-shi،¥ah, p.290; adh-Dhari،¥ah, vol.V, pp.37،X38.

  12. Printed in Tehran in 1310/1892 and in 1324/1906.

  13. Printed in Tehran in 1324/1906 in three thick volumes and was also printed earlier, and later in Tehran 1380/1960 ،X 1389/1968 in twenty volumes.

  14. Printed in Iran in twenty-six thick volumes, and later in Tehran in 1376/ 1957 ،X 1392/1972 in hundred and ten volumes.

  15. Ta'sis ash-shi`ah, p.290.

  16. ibid. p.291.

  17. ibid. p.290.

  18. Printed in Tehran in 1321 A. H. in three volumes.

  19. Ta'sis ash-sh.`ah, pp.294،X295.

  20. ibid. pp.232،X275.

  21. adh-Dhari`ah, vol.I, pp.123،X266.

  22. al-Mahƒuasin, vol.I, p.227.

  23. ibid. vol.I, p.229.

  24. Safinat al-bihƒuar, vol.I, p.231.

  25. ibid. vol.I, pp.532،X533.

  26. al-Mahƒuasin, vol.I, p.228.

  27. Khulasƒwat al-aqwal, p.11; Taj al-،¥ar.s, vol.IX, p.322; al-Kamil, vol.VIII, p.128; Lisan al-mizan, vol.V, p.433.

  28. Lisan al-mizan, vol.V, p.433; Rawdƒuat al-jannat, p.551.

  29. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.266.

  30. ibid. p.266.

  31. Khulasƒwat al-aqwal, p.71.

  32. ar-Rijal, Ibn Dawud at the back of the leaf 48.

  33. al-Fihrist, ash-Shaykh atƒz-Tƒlusi, p.135.

  34. ar-Rijal, ash-Shaykh atƒz-Tƒlusi, at the back of the leaf 119.

  35. Kashf al-mahƒuajjah, p.158.

  36. Faraj al-mahm.m, p.90.

  37. al-Kamil, Ibn al-Ath.r, vol.VIII, p.128.

  38. Muntaha al-maqal, p.298; Rawdƒuat al-jannat, p.551; Lu'lu'at al-bahƒurayn, p. 237; al-Waj.zah, al-Baha،¦i al-،¥Amil., p.184.

  39. Rawdƒuat al-jannat, p.551.

  40. Lisan al-mizan, vol.V, p.433.

  41. Rawdƒuat al-jannat, p.551, quoted from at-Tabsƒw.r.

  42. Wusƒw.l al-akhyar, p.69.

  43. Majalis al-mu'minin, p.194.

  44. Sharhƒu Mashyakhat, Man la yahdƒuuruhul faq.h, p.267.

  45. Mir'at al ،¥uq.l, vol.I, p.3.

  46. Riyadƒu al-`ulama , p.226.

  47. al-Fihrist, atƒz-Tƒl.si, p.135; ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.267; Ma`alim al-`ulama , p.88.

  48. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.267.

  49. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.268; al-Fihrist, atƒz-Tƒl.si, p.125; Ma`alim al-`ulama , p.88; Kashf al-hƒuujub wa 'l-astar, p.442.

  50. al-Fihrist, atƒz-Tƒlusi, p.135; Ma،¥alim al-،¥ulama،¦ , p.88; Kashf al-hƒuujub, p.291.

  51. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.267.

  52. Kashf al-hƒuujub wal-astar, p.418،X420.

  53. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.267.

  54. ibid. p.266.

  55. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.266; al-Fihrist, atƒz-Tƒlusi, p.135; Ma`alim al-`ulama , p.88.

  56. Usƒwul al.kafi p.8.

  57. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.266.

  58. Rawdƒuat al-jannat, p.553.

  59. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.167; al-Istibsƒwar, vol.II, p.353.

  60. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.267.

  61. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.279; al-Fihrist, atƒz-Tƒlusi, p.159.

  62. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.271; al-Fihrist, atƒz-Tƒlusi, p.199.

  63. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.267.

  64. al-Fihrist, atƒz-Tƒlusi, p.139.

  65. al-Waf., vol.III, part XIV, p.146; Mustadrak al-wasa'il, vol.III, p.666; Wasa'il ash-Sh.،¥ah, vol.1I1, p.516.

  66. al-Fihrist, atƒz-Tƒlusi, p.136.

  67. Wasa'il ash-Sh.،¥ah, p.519.

  68. Maqabis al-anwar, p.7.

  69. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.267.

  70. Tahdhib al-ahƒukam, vol.11, p.480; al-Istibsƒwar, vol.II, p.353; Wasa'il ash- Sh.،¥ah, vol.111, p.519; Khulasƒwat al-aqwal, p.136. (46)

  71. Kashf al-mahƒuajjah, P.159; Mustadrak al-wasa'il, vo1.III, pp.532,533,546.

  72. al- Waf., vol.I, part I, p.13.

  73. Rawdƒuat al-jannat, p.553; Nihayat ad-dirayah, p.222.

  74. Rawdƒuat al-jannat, pp.219,222.

  75. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.267; Khulasƒwat al-aqwal, p.71.

  76. al-Fihrist, atƒz-Tƒlusi, p.126.

  77. ar-Rijal, atƒz-Tƒlusi, p.495.

  78. Kashf al-mahƒuajjah, p.159.

  79. al-Kaimil, Ibn al-Athir, vol.VIII, p.128; Lisan al-m.zan, vol.V, p.433.

  80. al-Waj.zah, p.184.

  81. ar-Rijal, atƒz-Tƒlusi, p.496; ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.267; Khulasƒwat al-aqwal, p.71, Lu'lu'at al-bahƒurayn, p.237; Nukhbat al-maqal p.98.

  82. ar-Rijal, an-Najashi, p.267; al-Fihrist, atƒz-Tƒlusi, p.136; Khulasƒwat al-aqwal, p.71.

  83. Maqab.s al-anwar, p.7; Lu'lu'at al-bahƒurayn, pp.236-237; Rawdƒuat al-jannat, p.553; Ahƒusan al-wadi'ah, vol.2, pp.226-228; Muntaha al-maqal, p.298.

C A U T I O N

I ،X Wherever the author (al-Kulayn.) says in the book of al-Kaf. "A group of our associates," quoting from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ،¥Isa, the Group here means the following five persons:

  1. Abu Ja،¥far Muhammad ibn Yahƒuya al-،¥Atƒztƒzar al-Qumm.;
  2. `Ali ibn M.sa ibn Ja،¥far al-Kamandan.;
  3. Abu Sulayman Daw.d ibn Kawrah al- Qumm.;
  4. Abu ،¥Ali Ahƒumad ibn Idr.s ibn Ahƒumad al-Ash،¥ar. al- Qumm.;
  5. Abu'l-Hƒmasan `Ali ibn Ibrah.m ibn Hashim al- Qumm..

II. ،X Wherever the author (al-Kulayn.) says in the book of al-Kaf. "A group of our associates," quoting from Ahƒumad ibn Muhƒuammad ibn Khalid al-Barq., the Group here means the following four persons:

  1. Abu'l-Hƒmasan `Ali ibn Ibrah.m ibn Hashim al-Qumm.;
  2. Muhammad ibn `Abdullah ibn Udhaynah;
  3. Ahƒumad ibn `Abdullah ibn Umayyah;
  4. `Ali ibn al-Husayn as-Sa'd Abad.;

III. ،X Wherever the author (al-Kulayn.) says in the book of al-Kaf. "A group of our associates," quoting from Sahl ibn Ziyad, the Group here means the following four persons:

  1. Abu'l-Hƒmasan `Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrah.m ibn Aban ar-Raz., who is renowned with `Allan al-Kulayni;

  2. Abu'l-Hƒmusayn Muhammad ibn Ab. 'Abdillah Ja،¥far ibn Muhammad ibn `Awn al-Asadi al-Kuf., resident of Ray;

  3. Muhammad ibn al-Hƒmusayn ibn Farr.kh asƒw-Sƒlaffar al-Qumm.;

  4. Muhammad ibn ،¥Aq.l al-Kulayn.; IV. ،X Wherever the author (al-Kulayn.) says in the book of al-Kafi "A group of our associates," quoting from Ja،¥far ibn Muhammad who quoted from al-Hƒmasan ibn ،¥Ali ibn Fadƒudƒual, one of them is, Abu `Abd-Allah al-Hƒmusayn ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran ibn Ab. Bakr al-Ash'ar. al-Qumm..