|
PRESENTER'S NOTE
| I
am a Muslim not only on the basis of legacy, but also an account
of any reasoning faculty, study and analytical observation
of the facts of life and universe. Thus, I have an unshakable
conviction in the existence of an All wise creator of the
universe, All and His authority. He says, "Obey Allah,
obey the Apostle and those vested with authority…"(Qur'aan,
4:59). In order to obey Allah, I had to know His commandments.
Therefore, I should the Glorious Qur'aan. Subsequently, I
studied the books that contained the instructions (tradition)
of the Holy Prophet and those vested with authority, so that
I may adhere to their instructions.
|
| One
of the several books consisting of these traditions (sayings)
was compiled by an Iranian scholar, Mohammed ibne Yakoob Kulyani
(862/941 A.D) in thirty-four books and titled "AL-KAAFI"
meaning, sufficient'.
|
| A
great change takes place in the inner self after the study
of the Qur'an and Al-Kaafi. The soul is refreshed. Tremendous
awakening blooms in world-view of the reader. There is no
need to present the Excellence of Holy Qur'an as it is known
to every Muslim. But this book, AL-KAAFI which is less known
should be a source of profound joy and guidance to many Muslims
living in a society ordered not so much by human nature as
by temporal and transient knowledge, not by the rules of Allah
but by the expediency of those in power at the moment. Thus,
the generation of our children is under mounting pressure
generated by identify crisis, a conflict in what they have
to do and what they truly believe, however reasonable it might
be. To them and to every thinking and reasoning person, every
one who is prepared to be a really free citizen of Allah's
world, should study this book of traditions Al-Kaafi, after
the study of the glorious word of Allah "Al-Qur'an".
|
| In
Islamic literature, a Hadees (in Arabic) which is translated
as tradition (in English) means a saying, instruction, statement
or recommendation of the Holy Prophet. According to the Shiite
school, the statements of the holy Imams have the same status
as that of the sayings of the Holy Prophet. This is because
the Holy Imams are also appointed by Allah, endowed with comprehensive
knowledge and are flawless. Thus, they are sinless and infallible.
An additional reason of the authenticity of the sayings of
the Imams is that the ultimate source of their sayings is
the Holy Prophet himself. This contention is supported by
the two 'traditions' quoted below.
|
| 1.
Imam Jaffer al-Sadiq A.S. has said, "My words are the
words of my father, and the words of my father are the words
of my grandfather, and the words of my grandfather are the
words of my great-grandfathers, Hassan and Hussain A.S., and
their words are the words of Hazrat Ali A.S., and the words
of Hazrat Ali A.S. are the words of the Prophet of Allah S.A.
and (finally) the words of the Prophet S.A. are the words
of Allah." (Kaafi: Book 2: Ch.17: Tr.14)
|
| 2.
A man put a question to Imam Jaffer al-Sadiq A.S. that he
answered. The man then said, "Had this matter been such
and such, what would your answer have been?" The Imam
said, "Hold it! Whatever answer I give is of and from
the Prophet himself. Your opinion is unknown to us in any
manner whatsoever." (Kaafi: Book 2 : Ch.19: Tr.21) |
|
