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Al-Kāfī'
This is a valuable compilation by
Abū
Ja'far, Muhammad son of Ya'qūb, Kuleinī Rāzī,
one of
the most brilliant Ulamā of Shi'a in the beginning of the 4th century
Hegira.
Subject:
Al-Kāfī includes a collection of narrations about Usūl and Forū-id-dīn'
(primary and secondary principles of religion), which are narrated from the
infallible Imāms (A.S.).
By
traveling to different cities and villages of the vast Islamic country, and
meeting the narrators of Hadīths (traditions), Sheikh-e Kuleinī succeeded to
collect the 400 principles of Shi'a', which were transcribed by the disciples
of the infallible Imāms (A.S.). He also contacted Nuwwāb-e Khāss (the specified
representatives) of the occulted Imām (Imām-e Asr Mahdī AJ.F.), and finally
compiled Al-Kāfī, which is a precious collection and an authentic and
comprehensive book.
Authenticity:
Al-Kāfī is one of the
most ancient and authentic books of Riwāyāt' (narrations) of Shi'a, which is
compiled at the time of Ghaybat-e Sughrā (minor occultation of the holy Imām
Mahdī, may Allāh hasten his reappearance). This book has been written by one of
the most significant narrators and jurisprudents of Shi'a (Sheikh-e Kuleinī).
The book has been peerless up to the time being, and has continuously received
the most special attention of Ulamā and jurisprudents of Islām during past
Islāmic millennium, and the great scholars of Shi'a have selected it as a
reliable reference book for their own compilations. This book consists of
narrations and Hadīths of the holy Prophet (S.A.) and his infallible household
(Ahl-ul-Bayt A.S.), in which the Islamic knowledge and precepts have been
presented in the best possible form and beautiful order.From
the compilation point of view, there has been a short gap between Al-Kāfī and
reliable original sources of Shi'a; moreover, it is an anthological work
enjoying high accuracy.
Sayings of the Great Ulamā:
Sheikh-e Mufīd cites: "Al-Kāfī is one of the most glorious and most useful books
of Shi'a."Shahīd-e Awwal, Muhammad Ibn-e Makkī cites: "Al-Kāfī is a unique book
in the field of Riwāyāt (narrations).Feidh-e Kāshānī cites: "Al-Kāfī is the most
brilliant, most trustworthy, most perfect, and most comprehensive book among the
four authentic resources of Fiqh (Shi'a jurisprudence), because despite other
three resources it contains not only the different branches of Fiqh and
secondary principles of Islām (Forū'-id-Dīn), but also comprises its primary
principles (Osūl-id-Dīn); moreover, it excludes every undocumented, weak, or
incorrect Hadīth (narration)".Shahīd-e Thānī states: "Al-Kāfī is a pure, sweet
fountainhead. I swear by my own soul that a counterpart of it has not been
written. By reading this book, we can find out the dignity and magnificence of
its compiler." Allāmah Majlesī says: "Al-Kāfī is the most codified and
comprehensive book of narrations, and the best and greatest compilation of the
righteous sect of Shi'a."
Motive:
Sheikh-e Kuleinī has
compiled this book upon request of one of his companions. At the opening of the
book, he addresses the requester: "Oh, my dear brother! You have mentioned that,
some religious subjects are questionable for you, and you do not recognize the
fact because of many different narrations about one single subject, and you
understand that these differences are resulted from the variety in their origins
and sources, and you cannot find anyone reliable with whom you may discuss these
subjects. You have also stated that, you would like to have a complete book
comprising the whole knowledge and precepts of our religion; a book, which would
be sufficient for the students and act as a reference for the scholars. From
such a book, which will be based on the trustworthy narrations of Sādiqain (the
two honest men, i.e. Imām Bāqir and Imām Sādiq A.S.) and authentic traditions of
the holy prophet of Islām (S.A.), one could gain the knowledge of religion and
perform his divine mandatory duties accordingly.
You
have further hoped that under the assistance and patronage of Allāh the
Almighty - such a book would be a reference book for guidance of our religious
brothers, and all followers of Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S.). I express my thanks to
Almighty Allāh, who guided me, to write the book you had asked for. I hope you
find it as you had expected. If you find some shortcomings therein, you must
know that I have not neglected the performance of my duties. I believe that
goodwill and benevolence towards my Muslim brothers and the followers of the
righteous path is an obligation. I hope that we will share the Thawāb' (divine
rewards) with those who will learn and put it into action, till the Day of
Judgment.
Specification:
1- the most
significant feature of this book is that its compiler has been contemporary to
Nuwwāb-e Khāss (the specified representatives of the occulted Imām Mahdī, may
Allāh hasten his reappearance), and had a close communication with them,
especially because of his residence in Baghdād, where the four representatives
lived. It is also noteworthy that Kuleinī passed away in the same year that Alī
son of Muhammad Samurī the last specified representative of Imām Mahdī (AJ.F.)
passed away.
2- Sheikh-e Kuleinī
obliged himself to mention the chain of documentations of all narrations up to
the infallible Imāms (A.S.), who were the main source, and this feature adds to
the authenticity and value of the book.
3- All narrations
is this book have respectively been arranged in the order of their rank, i.e.
the firstly- mentioned narrations enjoy a higher rank of authenticity and
credibility than the ones coming afterwards.
4- Al-Kāfī
comprises the whole Islamic knowledge and precepts, which are narrated from the
infallible Imāms (A.S.) and Sheikh-e Kuleinī collected them. It covers most of
the Islamic jurisprudential and ideological articles.
Narrations:
Al-Kāfī consists of
more than 16,000 narrations, which exceeds even the total number of narrations
in Sihāh-e Sittah' (the six reference books of Sunni' jurisprudents).
Explications:
There are some
explanatory books for Al-Kāfī written by other Islamic scholars:
1-
Jāmi'-ul-Ahādīth
Wal-Aqwāl',
by Sheikh Qāsim son of Muhammad son of Jawād son of Alwandī (died after 1100
Hegira)
2-
Al-Durr-ul-Manżūm Min
Kalām-il-Ma'sūm',
by Sheikh Alī son of Muhammad son of Hasan son of Zaynuddīn Shahīd Thānī' (died
in 1104 Hegira)
3-
Sharh-e Mullā Sadrā
Shīrāzī'
(Explication of Mullā Sadrā)
4-
Mir'āt-ul-Uqūl Fī
Sharh-e Akhbār-e Āl-e Rasūl',
written by Allāmah Majlesī (died in 1110 Hegira)
5-
Al-Wāfī',
by Feyz-e Kāshānī (died in 1091 Hegira)
Hawāshī (Annotations):
Some of the
marginal explanatory notes of Al-Kāfī are as follows:
1-
Hāshīah (Annotation) of Allāmah Majlesī
2-
Hāshīah (Annotation) of Abul-Hasan Sharīf Fatūnī Āmelī (died in
1138 Hegira)
3-
Hāshīah (Annotation) of Sayyid Mīr Abū Tālib son of Mīrzā Beyk
Fendereskī, an Islamic scholar of early 12th century Hegira
4-
Hāshīah (Annotation) of Sheikh Zaynuddīn Abul-Hasan Alī son of
Sheikh Hasan Sāhib-ul-Ma'ālim
5-
Hāshīah (Annotation) of Sheikh Muhammad son of Hasan son of
Zaynuddīn Shahīd Thānī (known as Sheikh Muhammad Sibt-e Āmelī, died in 1030
Hegira)
Translations into Persian:
1-
Tuhfat-ul-Awliā',
by Muhammad Alī son of Hāj Muhammad Hasan Ardakānī
2-
As-Sāfī, Sharh-e
Usūl-e
Kāfī Wa Sharh-e Forū'-e Kāfī',
by Sheikh Khalīl son of Ghāzī Qazwīnī
Summary:
Muhammad Ja'far son of Muhammad
Safī
Nā'esī Fārsī has summarized Al-Kāfī.
Researches:
There are many
research books on Al-Kāfī:
1-
Romūz-ut-tafāsīr-ul-Wāqi'ah Fil-Kāfī War-Rawdha'
by Mawlā Khalīl son of Ghāzī
Qazwīnī
2-
Jāmi'-ur-Ruwāt',
by Hāj Muhammad Ardabīlī (a pupil of Allāmah Majlesī)
3-
Al-Fawā'id-ul-Kāshifah',
by Ayatollah Muhammad Husain Tabātabāee Tabrīzī
4-
Al-Bayān-ul-Badī'a,
by Sayyid Hasan Sadr
5-
Rijāl-ul-Kāfī',
by Ayatollah Sayyid Husain Tabātabāee Borūjerdī
Manuscripts:
1-
A manuscript of Al-Kāfī is available in the treasury of Ayatollah
Mar'ashī Najafī's library in
Qum. The date of
writing has been 1071 Hegira; this copy has been read in the presence of Allāmah
Majlesī.
2-
Another manuscript of Al-Kāfī is being kept in the treasury of
Ayatollah Mar'ashī Najafī's library in Qum whose date of writing has been 1092
Hegira, and there are a number of annotations by Sheikh Horr-e Āmelī on this
copy.
3-
Finally a third manuscript of Al-Kāfī is being kept in the
treasury of Ayatollah Mar'ashī Najafī's library in Qum. This copy has been
compared with other copies, and corrected. There are many annotations
extracted from explication of Mawlā Sālih Māzandarānī - on this copy.
