K - CHAPTER ON THE QUALITY OF KNOWLEDGE, ITS VIRTUE & THE VIRTUE OF THE SCHOLARS

Kitab Al-Kafi

Translated By

Muhammad Sarwar

Part 2

The Book on Virtue of Knowledge

Chapter 2
Chapter on the quality of knowledge its virtue and the virtue of the scholars

.

H 44, Ch. 2, h 1

Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ‘Ubaudallah al-Dihqan from Durust al-Wasiti from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) who has said the following.
“Once the Holy Prophet (s.a) entered the Mosque and found a group of people gathered around a man. He asked, “who is he?” It was said that he was a ‘allamah. He then asked them, “What is that?” They replied that he is the most learned man about the genealogy, the chronology, and the history of the pre-Islamic days of darkness and the poetry of Arabs. The Imam said, ‘The holy Prophet (s.a.) then told them. “Knowledge consists of only three kinds: A strong sign, a justly enjoined obligation or an established tradition. Other then these are of the extra achievements.”’

H 45, Ch. 2, h 2

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Khalid from abu al-Bakhtari from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.
“The scholars are the heirs of the prophets because the prophets did not leave any Dirham or Dinar, (units of money) as their legacy. What they left was certain pieces of their statements. Those who acquired anything of these pieces of their statements they have certainly gained a large share. You must be very careful, when acquiring such knowledge, to see from what kinds of people you receive them. Among us (the Ahlul Bayt, family of the holy Prophet s.a.) after every one there comes a just person who removes (and exposes) the forgeries of the exaggerators from it (knowledge), the infiltrated materials of the fallacious ones and the interpretations of the ignorant ones.”

H 46, Ch. 2, h 3

Al-Hassan ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.
“When Allah wants goodness for a person He gives him (Fiqh) good understanding of religion.”

H 47, Ch. 2, h 4

Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from Fadl ibn Shadhan from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Rab‘i ibn ‘Abdallah from a man from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following.
“The entirety of excellence and perfection is (a) in good understanding of religion, (b) exercise of patience in affliction and (c) setting up of means of living.”

H 48, Ch. 2, h 5

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ’Isma‘il ibn Jabir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.
“The scholars are trust worthy people, The pious ones are the strongholds and the successors (of the holy Prophet (s.a.) are the leaders.” In another Hadith it is said, “The scholars are the light houses, the pious people are the strongholds and the successors are the leaders.”

H 49, Ch. 2, h 6

Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn Hassa’n from Idris ibn al-Hassan from abu Ishaq al-Kindi from Bashir al-Dahhan from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.
“O Bashir, there is nothing good in those of our people who do not acquire (Fiqh) good understand of religion. If one of them would not have good understanding of the religion he would need to ask those who oppose us. When he would need them they would lead him into their straying ways in a manner that he would not even realize.”

H 50, Ch. 2, h 7

Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has narrated from his ancestors from the Holy Prophet (s.a.), who has said the following.
“There is nothing good in life except for two kinds of people: a scholar who is obeyed and an audience who listens carefully.”

H 51, Ch. 2, h 8

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Sayf ibn ‘Umayr from abu Hamza from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following.
“A scholar who benefits from his knowledge is better than seventy thousand worshippers.”

H 52, Ch. 2, h 9

Al-Hassan ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Ishaq from Sa‘dan ibn Muslim from Mu‘awiya ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following.
“I asked (Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), “There is a man who recounts your Hadith and spreads them among people and ties them to their hearts and the hearts of your followers. Also perhaps there is a worshipper among your followers who does not narrate your Hadith. Which of these two people is better?” The Imam replied, “The one who narrates our Hadith and ties them up to the hearts of our followers is better than seventy thousand worshippers.”