The Imams عليه السلام are the Heirs of Knowledge to Inherit it one from the other
Al-Kāfi|Volume 1|Book 4|Chapter 32
Al-Kāfi
Book 4, Chapter 32
The Imams عليه السلام are the Heirs of Knowledge to Inherit it one from the other
8 hadiths 1ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ بُرَيْدِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَانَ عَالِماً وَالْعِلْمُ يُتَوَارَثُ وَلَنْ يَهْلِكَ عَالِمٌ إِلا بَقِيَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مَنْ يَعْلَمُ عِلْمَهُ أَوْ مَا شَاءَ الله.
1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from Burayd ibn Mu‘awiya from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu ‘Abdallah عليه السلام who has said the following. “Ali عليه السلام was a man of knowledge and knowledge is inherited. Whenever a man of knowledge dies he leave another man of knowledge behind who possess his knowledge or whatever Allah wants.”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (3/11)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī
2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ وَالْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ الَّذِي نَزَلَ مَعَ آدَمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لَمْ يُرْفَعْ وَالْعِلْمُ يُتَوَارَثُ وَكَانَ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَالِمَ هَذِهِ الامَّةِ وَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَهْلِكْ مِنَّا عَالِمٌ قَطُّ إِلا خَلَفَهُ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ مَنْ عَلِمَ مِثْلَ عِلْمِهِ أَوْ مَا شَاءَ الله.
2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ’Isa from Hariz from Zurarah and al-Fudayl from abu Ja‘far عليه السلام who has said the following. “The knowledge that came with Adam was not taken away. Knowledge is inherited. Ali عليه السلام was the knowledgeable person of this nation (Muslims). No one from us have ever left this world without leaving behind one like him in knowledge or what Allah wanted.”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (3/12)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī
3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ الطَّائِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ يُتَوَارَثُ وَلا يَمُوتُ عَالِمٌ إِلا وَتَرَكَ مَنْ يَعْلَمُ مِثْلَ عِلْمِهِ أَوْ مَا شَاءَ الله.
3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Barqi from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from ‘Abd al-Hamid al-Ta’i from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu Ja‘far عليه السلام who has said the following. “Knowledge is inherited. No man of knowledge dies without leaving behind one who is as knowledgeable as his predecessor or what Allah wants.”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (12/3)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī
4ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الاشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ فِي علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سُنَّةَ أَلْفِ نَبِيٍّ مِنَ الانْبِيَاءِ وَإِنَّ الْعِلْمَ الَّذِي نَزَلَ مَعَ آدَمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لَمْ يُرْفَعْ وَمَا مَاتَ عَالِمٌ فَذَهَبَ عِلْمُهُ وَالْعِلْمُ يُتَوَارَثُ.
4. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from Musa ibn Bakr from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah عليه السلام say the following. “In Imam Ali عليه السلام there was the Sunnah (traditions) of a thousand prophets. The knowledge that came with Adam was not taken away. No man of knowledge ever died along with knowledge. Knowledge is inherited.”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (3/12)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī
5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبَانٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ الَّذِي نَزَلَ مَعَ آدَمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لَمْ يُرْفَعْ وَمَا مَاتَ عَالِمٌ فَذَهَبَ عِلْمُهُ.
5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fudalah ibn Ayyub from ‘Umar ibn Aban who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far عليه السلام say the following. “The knowledge that came with Adam was not taken away. No man of knowledge has ever died along with his knowledge.”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (3/13)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī
6ـ مُحَمَّدٌ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَمُصُّونَ الثِّمَادَ وَيَدَعُونَ النَّهَرَ الْعَظِيمَ قِيلَ لَهُ وَمَا النَّهَرُ الْعَظِيمُ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَالْعِلْمُ الَّذِي أَعْطَاهُ الله إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ جَمَعَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) سُنَنَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِنْ آدَمَ وَهَلُمَّ جَرّاً إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قِيلَ لَهُ وَمَا تِلْكَ السُّنَنُ قَالَ عِلْمُ النَّبِيِّينَ بِأَسْرِهِ وَإِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) صَيَّرَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ عِنْدَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله فَأَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعْلَمُ أَمْ بَعْضُ النَّبِيِّينَ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) اسْمَعُوا مَا يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله يَفْتَحُ مَسَامِعَ مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِنِّي حَدَّثْتُهُ أَنَّ الله جَمَعَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) عِلْمَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَأَنَّهُ جَمَعَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ عِنْدَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَهُوَ يَسْأَلُنِي أَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ أَمْ بَعْضُ النَّبِيِّينَ.
6. Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad from Ali ibn Nu‘man, in a marfu’ manner (rafa’ahu) from abu Ja‘far عليه السلام who has said the following. “They try to absorb the little moisture but ignore the huge river.” Someone asked him, “What is (this) huge river?” The Imams عليه السلامsaid, “It is the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and the Knowledge that Allah gave to him. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, combined in Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم the Sunnah (traditions) of the all the prophets from Adam onwards to Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم.” Someone asked him, “What are those sunnah (traditions)?” The Imams عليه السلام said, “They are all the knowledge of the prophets صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم. The Messenger of Allah transferred all of them to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali عليه السلام.” The man then said, “O son of the Messenger of Allah, is Amir al-Mu’minin Ali عليه السلام more knowledgeable or some of the prophets?” Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام replied, “Listen, everyone to what he just said. Allah opens the ears of whoever He wants. I said to him that Allah combined for Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم the knowledge of the prophets and he combined all of it with Amir al-Mu’minin Ali عليه السلام. He now asks me, “Was he (Ali عليه السلام more knowledgeable or some of the prophets?”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (3/13)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī
7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ الطَّائِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ يُتَوَارَثُ فَلا يَمُوتُ عَالِمٌ إِلا تَرَكَ مَنْ يَعْلَمُ مِثْلَ عِلْمِهِ أَوْ مَا شَاءَ الله.
7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Barqi from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from ‘Abd al-Hamid at.-Ta’i from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu Ja‘far عليه السلام who has said the following. “Knowledge is inherited. No man of knowledge ever leaves this world without leaving behind one who would have as much knowledge as he had or what Allah wants.”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (3/14)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī
8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ الَّذِي نَزَلَ مَعَ آدَمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لَمْ يُرْفَعْ وَمَا مَاتَ عَالِمٌ إِلا وَقَدْ وَرَّثَ عِلْمَهُ إِنَّ الارْضَ لا تَبْقَى بِغَيْرِ عَالِمٍ.
8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ’Isa from Yunus from al-Harith ibn al-Mughirah from abu ‘Abdallah عليه السلام who has said the following. “The Knowledge that came with Adam was not taken away. No man of knowledge has ever died without his knowledge being inherited. The earth does not remain without a man of knowledge.”
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī