Les 14 Infaillibles ('alayhum Salam)

Al-Kafi

بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ بُرَيْدِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا (عَلَيْهما

السَّلام) فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَما يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلا الله وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ فَرَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَفْضَلُ الرَّاسِخِينَ فِي الْعِلْمِ قَدْ عَلَّمَهُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ جَمِيعَ مَا أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ التَّنْزِيلِ وَالتَّأْوِيلِ وَمَا كَانَ الله لِيُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئاً لَمْ يُعَلِّمْهُ تَأْوِيلَهُ وَأَوْصِيَاؤُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ يَعْلَمُونَهُ كُلَّهُ وَالَّذِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِذَا قَالَ الْعَالِمُ فِيهِمْ بِعِلْمٍ فَأَجَابَهُمُ الله بِقَوْلِهِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنا وَالْقُرْآنُ خَاصٌّ وَعَامٌّ وَمُحْكَمٌ وَمُتَشَابِهٌ وَنَاسِخٌ وَمَنْسُوخٌ فَالرَّاسِخُونُ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَعْلَمُونَهُ.

2. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abdallah ibn Ali from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq from ‘Adallah ibn Hammad from Burayd ibn Mu‘awiya who has narrated the following from either one of the Imams (a.s.) about the words of Allah, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious. "No one knows its true interpretations except God and those who have a firm grounding in knowledge . . ." (3:7).

The Holy Prophet is the best among the people well-grounded in knowledge. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, taught him all that He had revealed to him in the form of original text and in the form of interpretations. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, would not reveal anything to him that he would not know the meaning thereof.

The successors of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) after him knew all revelations. As for those who do not know the interpretations thereof, when the scholar speaks to them with knowledge, they say, "We believe in it, for all of this is from our Lord." The Holy Quran consists of specific, general, clear, not so clear, abrogating and abrogated statements. The people who are well-grounded in knowledge know all of the Holy Quran."

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ بُرَيْدِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قُلْ كَفى‏ بِالله شَهِيداً بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتابِ قَالَ إِيَّانَا عَنَى وَعَلِيٌّ أَوَّلُنَا وَأَفْضَلُنَا وَخَيْرُنَا بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه).

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from those he mentioned, both of them from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ibn ’Udhayna from Burayd ibn Mu‘awiya who has said that he asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the meaning of the following verse. ". . . Say, ‘God and those who have the knowledge of the Book are sufficient witness (to my prophet-hood).’" (13:43)

The Imam (a.s.) said, "It is a reference to us. Ali (a.s.) is the first among us and the most virtuous and the best among us after the Holy Prophet (s.a.)"

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ لِبَعْضِ أَصْحَابِ قَيْسٍ الْمَاصِرِ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَدَّبَ نَبِيَّهُ فَأَحْسَنَ أَدَبَهُ فَلَمَّا أَكْمَلَ لَهُ الادَبَ قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَعَلى‏ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ ثُمَّ فَوَّضَ إِلَيْهِ أَمْرَ الدِّينِ وَالامَّةِ لِيَسُوسَ عِبَادَهُ فَقَالَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ما آتاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَما نَهاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا وَإِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) كَانَ مُسَدَّداً مُوَفَّقاً مُؤَيَّداً بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ لا يَزِلُّ وَلا يُخْطِئُ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ مِمَّا يَسُوسُ بِهِ الْخَلْقَ فَتَأَدَّبَ بِ‏آدَابِ الله ثُمَّ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَرَضَ الصَّلاةَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ عَشْرَ رَكَعَاتٍ فَأَضَافَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِلَى الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَإِلَى الْمَغْرِبِ رَكْعَةً فَصَارَتْ عَدِيلَ الْفَرِيضَةِ لا يَجُوزُ تَرْكُهُنَّ إِلا فِي سَفَرٍ وَأَفْرَدَ الرَّكْعَةَ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ فَتَرَكَهَا قَائِمَةً فِي السَّفَرِ وَالْحَضَرِ فَأَجَازَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ فَصَارَتِ الْفَرِيضَةُ سَبْعَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ سَنَّ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) النَّوَافِلَ أَرْبَعاً وَثَلاثِينَ رَكْعَةً مِثْلَيِ الْفَرِيضَةِ فَأَجَازَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ ذَلِكَ وَالْفَرِيضَةُ وَالنَّافِلَةُ إِحْدَى وَخَمْسُونَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا رَكْعَتَانِ بَعْدَ الْعَتَمَةِ جَالِساً تُعَدُّ بِرَكْعَةٍ مَكَانَ الْوَتْرِ وَفَرَضَ الله فِي السَّنَةِ صَوْمَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَسَنَّ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) صَوْمَ شَعْبَانَ وَثَلاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ مِثْلَيِ الْفَرِيضَةِ فَأَجَازَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ ذَلِكَ وَحَرَّمَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْخَمْرَ بِعَيْنِهَا وَحَرَّمَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْمُسْكِرَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَرَابٍ فَأَجَازَ الله لَهُ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ وَعَافَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَشْيَاءَ وَكَرِهَهَا وَلَمْ يَنْهَ عَنْهَا نَهْيَ حَرَامٍ إِنَّمَا نَهَى عَنْهَا نَهْيَ إِعَافَةٍ وَكَرَاهَةٍ ثُمَّ رَخَّصَ فِيهَا فَصَارَ الاخْذُ بِرُخَصِهِ وَاجِباً عَلَى الْعِبَادِ كَوُجُوبِ مَا يَأْخُذُونَ بِنَهْيِهِ وَعَزَائِمِهِ وَلَمْ يُرَخِّصْ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فِيمَا نَهَاهُمْ عَنْهُ نَهْيَ حَرَامٍ وَلا فِيمَا أَمَرَ بِهِ أَمْرَ فَرْضٍ لازِمٍ فَكَثِيرُ الْمُسْكِرِ مِنَ الاشْرِبَةِ نَهَاهُمْ عَنْهُ نَهْيَ حَرَامٍ لَمْ يُرَخِّصْ فِيهِ لاحَدٍ وَلَمْ يُرَخِّصْ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لاحَدٍ تَقْصِيرَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ اللَّتَيْنِ ضَمَّهُمَا إِلَى مَا فَرَضَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بَلْ أَلْزَمَهُمْ ذَلِكَ إِلْزَاماً وَاجِباً لَمْ يُرَخِّصْ لاحَدٍ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ إِلا لِلْمُسَافِرِ وَلَيْسَ لاحَدٍ أَنْ يُرَخِّصَ شَيْئاً مَا لَمْ يُرَخِّصْهُ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَوَافَقَ أَمْرُ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَمْرَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَنَهْيُهُ نَهْيَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَوَجَبَ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ التَّسْلِيمُ لَهُ كَالتَّسْلِيمِ لله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ’Udhayna from Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah say the following to some of the companions of Qays al-Masir.

"Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, discipline and education His Messenger. He then made his discipline and education to be the best. When his discipline and education was complete He said, "O Muhammad, you certainly possess a great degree of moral discipline and education. (64:4).

Then He made him in charge of the affairs of the religion and the nation (Muslim) so he would manage the social matters of the His servants with wisdom. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, said, ". . .what the Messenger (of Allah) you, you must take (obey) and what he prohibits you, you must desist from. . ." (59:7)

The Messenger of Allah was protected, successful and supported by the Holy Spirit. He (the Messenger of Allah) does not slip, make a mistake in any of the matters of the management of the social matters of the creatures. He is educated with the education of Allah. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, commanded to perform the prayer in two and two Rak‘at form totalling ten Rak‘ats.

The Messenger of Allah added two more Rak‘ats to each prayer and only one Rak‘at to the Maghrib prayer (the prayer at sun set). Such additions became just as the obligatory ones and it is not permissible to disregard them. They are obligatory at home and on a journey.

Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, granted him permission in all of it. Thus, the obligatory prayers became seventeen Rak‘ats. The Messenger of Allah then setup the tradition of optional prayers totaling thirty four Rak‘ats which is double the number of the optional prayers. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, granted him permission for this. All the optional and obligatory prayers total fifty one Rak‘ats of which there is two Rak‘ats in a sitting position after (al-‘atma) ‘Isha prayer which is counted as one Rak‘at in place of Witr.

Allah made fasting of the month of Ramadan obligatory which comes only once in a year. The Messenger of Allah set up the tradition of fasting in the month of Sha‘ban and three days fasting of every month and the number of days in it totals twice as much as the obligatory fast. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, granted him permission for all of this.

Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, made just wine unlawful to consume. The Messenger of Allah pronounced all intoxicants drinks unlawful. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, granted him permission in this case also. The Messenger of Allah pronounced certain things as permissible and pronounced other things as detestable but did not declare them prohibited as unlawful. He only pronounced them prohibited in a permissible prohibition and detestable. He then spoke of such prohibitions as permissible but then such permissible matters became obligatory for the servants (of Allah) like the obligation of abiding by what is prohibited and determined. The Messenger of Allah did not grant permission in the matters that were prohibited as unlawful (to violate) prohibitions or what he pronounced as an order to follow as an obligation and binding. A great deal of the intoxicants drinks he pronounced as unlawful to consume and he did not grant permission to any one to consume them.

The Messenger of Allah did not grant permission to anyone to further shorten the prayers tha consisted of two Rak‘ats that were added to what Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, had made obligatory. In fact, He made them binding and necessary like an obligation. He did not grant permission to anyone in this matter except those on a journey.

No one has the right to give permission in such issues until the Messenger of Allah grants permission. Thus, the order of the Messenger of Allah concord the orders of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. The prohibitions of the Messenger of Allah concord the prohibition of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. It has become obligatory for the servants (of Allah) to submit to his commands as it is obligatory for them to submit to the command of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High."

33. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from from Ahmad and ‘Abdallah sons of Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from their father from ‘Abdallah ibn ;a-Mughira from ’Isma‘il ibn abu Ziyad from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. "Abu Talib acknowledged Islam through the expression of al-Jummal. He formed number sixty three with his hands."

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn al-Faddal from al-Husayn ibn ‘Ulwan al-Kalbi from Ali ibn al-Hazawwar al-Ghanawi from Asbagh ibn Nubata al-Hanzali who has said the following.

"I saw Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) on the day of victory in Basra while he was riding the on the mule of the Messenger of Allah (then) he said, "O people do you want me to tell who the best of the creatures of Allah will be on the Day when He will bring all of them at one place?"

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari stood up and said, "Yes, O Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) please explain to use. Your were present and we were absent."

The Imam (a.s.) then said, "The best of the people on the day of resurrection when will bring all people together are seven people from the descendant of ‘Abd al-Muttalib whose distinction no one except an unbeliever would deny and no one would reject except a deviant."

‘Ammar ibn Yasir (may Allah grand him blessings) then stood up and said, "O Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) tell us their names so we can recognise them properly.."

The Imam (a.s.) said, "The best in the creatures of Allah on the Day when He will bring all creature together are the messenger and the best of the messengers is Muhammad (s.a). The best after the prophet in his ’Umma (followers) is the executor of his will until the prophet would come. There is no doubt that the best among the executors of the wills of the prophets is the executor of the will of Prophet Muhammad (s.a).

There is also no doubt that the best among the people after the executors of the will of the prophets are the martyrs and the best of the martyrs is Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib and Ja‘far ibn abu Talib who were given two fresh wings with which they fly in Paradise. No one else besides him from this ’Umma.

With this Allah honored and granted dignity to Muhammad (s.a). Also of the seven people are the two grand sons of the Holy Prophet (s.a) and al-Mahdi (a.s.). Whoever Allah would want will al-Mahdi from us Ahl al-Bayt. The he read this verse of the Holy Quran. "One who obeys God and the Messenger is the friend of the Prophets, saints, martyrs, and the righteous ones to whom God has granted His favors. They are the best friends that one can have (4:69). The favors of God are such, and He knows very well (how to reward you)." (4:70)"

In Kitab Salim bnu Qays :

Sulaym says : « I heard Salman al-Farsi saying : « (I was sitting with the Holy Prophet (saws) while he was in that period of illness in which he passed away. Lady Fatimah (as) entered and when she saw the weak state of the Holy Prophet’s (saws) health, she got into the state of cryig until tears started rolling down her cheeks.

The Holy Prophet asked : “Why are you crying ?”

She replied : “O Prophet of Allah, after your death, I am scared of destruction of myself and my children.”

The Holy Prophet (saw), with his eyes full of tears, said : “Oh Fatima, don’t you know ? We are people of that household which Allah has chosen for the Hereafter instead of this world and He has ordained it necessary for all beings to be destroyed (fanah).

And Allah – Tabarak wa Ta’alâ – looked at the entire beings that He created and He selected me and made me a Nabi and a Rasul.

Then He looked again and He chose your husband and commanded me to marry you to him and that I make him my brother, my vizier, my wasi (successor) and I make him caliph of my Ummah.

So your father is the best amongst all Prophets and Messengers and your husband is the best amongst viziers and from all my family you are the first one to meet me.

Then He looked for the third time, and He chose you and chose eleven men from your children and He chose you and chose eleven men from you children and the children of my brother who is your husband.

So, Oh Fatimah, you are the leader of the women of Paradise, and both your sons (Al Hasan and Al Husayn (as) are the leaders of the youths of Paradise, and myself and my brother and the eleven Imams who are my successors till the Day of Judgement are all Guides, and are themselves Guided. After my brother, amongst all the successors (Awsiya) the first one is Hassan, then second is Hussayn, after whom the nine are from Husayn’s children. All of us will be in one place in the Paradise and there will not be any place nearer to Allah than my place.

After my place, there will be the place of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) and his children (Ale Ibrahim).

Oh, daughter ! Don’t you know that Allah has given you the status that you have been married to the one who is the best amongst my Ummah and the best than my whole household. He is the first one in Islam, possesses most control over anger than everyone else, is the most knowledgeable and is most prestigious than anyone else and is the most truthful in tongue, is the bravest in heart, most generous in hand and is the least attached to this world and is the best in action (‘amal).”

After the Holy Prophet (saws) told the above to Lady Fatimah (as), she was pleased and became happy.

Then, the Holy Prophet (saws) said to Fatimah (as) : “Ali has eight very shining wonders and he has such merits that no other human being possessed.

1. He has faith (Iman) in Allah and His Prophet.

2. There was no one from my Ummah who came forward to accept faith before him.

3. He had knowledge about Allah’s Book and my Sunnah (Tradition) and there is no one in my Ummah, except your husband, who knows absolutely all my knowledge because Allah has given me such a knowledge that except myself and him (Ali), no one else knows.

4. He (Allah) has not given this knowledge to angels or messengers – He has given the knowledge only to me. He commanded me to give that knowledge to Hadhrat Ali, so I did that.

5. Then there is no one in my Ummah who has all my knowledge, Fahm (understanding) and Fiqh (profound knowledge) except Ali.

6. O Fatimah ! You are his wife, his two sons Hasan and Husayn are my grandchildren, and they are also Sibt (the chosen ones) of my Ummah.

7. Only Ali is the one to do Amr Bil Ma’ruf (command doing good) and Nahiy ‘anil Munkar (forbid evil).

8. Allah The Exalted and Praised has bestowed him with knowledge of hiqmah (wisdom), Fasale Khitab (the final decision).

Oh my daughter ! No doubt, we are the people of that house whom Allah has bestowed seven such merits that He has not given to anyone from the beginning to the end.

1. I am the Leader of all Prophets and Messengers and am Better than them.

2. My successor (wasi) is better than all successors (awsiya).

3. My vizier after me is better than all viziers.

4. And my martyr is better than all martyrs and he is my uncle.” (i.e. Hadhrat Hamzah)

Lady Fatimah (as) enquired : “Oh Prophet of Allah! Is he the best of martyrs from those who accompanied you in wars ?”

The Holy Prophet replied : “No, he is leader of martyrs from beginning to end, except Prophets and their successors (awsiya).

5. Ja’far ibn Abi Talib who migrated twice, who was martyred, has been given two wings by Allah and with his two wings he flies with Angels in Paradise.

6. Hasan and Husayn, who are your children, are Sibt of Ummah, and they are leaders of the youths of Paradise.

7. By Him who has control of my life, The Guide of this Ummah is from us, who will fill the earth with as much peace and justice as there will be oppression on this earth.”

Lady Fatimah (as) asked : “Oh Prophet of Allah ! From all the names that you have mentioned, who is the best of all ?”

The Holy Prophet replied : “My brother Ali who is the best in my Ummah. And Hamza and Ja’far are both best in my Ummah after Ali, after you and after my two sons (grandchildren) Hasan and Husayn, and after the awsiya (successors) who are from my son here (pointing towards Imam Husayn) and from the successors, there is Mahdi (The Guide) and he who is before him is best than him, and the first one is better than the last one because the first one is the Imam of the later and the later one is vicegerent of the former. We, AhlulBayt are those for whom Allah has chose Aakhirah (the Hereafter) instead of this world.”

After this, the Holy Prophet looked at Lady Fatimah, her husband and their two sons, and said : “Oh Salman, I say bearing Allah as witness, that I am at war with whoever is at war with these, and I am at peace with whoever is at peace with them. Be informed that these will all be with me in Paradise.”

Then, the Holy Prophet looked at Hadhrat Ali (as) and said : “Oh Ali, no doubt, after me you will face a lot of harshness from Quraysh, in such a manner that they will overpower you and harass you. If you find helpers to fight, then with those who obey you, fight with those who oppose you. If you cannot find helpers, then have patience and restrain your hands and do not let yourself be destroyed. Because, surely, your status to me is like the status that Haroon had with Musa and for you, the footsteps of Haroon are present. He (Haroon) had told his brother : “Surely the people reckoned me weak and had well nigh slained me.” (Surah Araf : 150).