Chapter on the Qualities of the Scholars
Al-Kāfi|Volume 1|Book 2|Chapter 5
6ـ وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا مَعْشَرَ الْحَوَارِيِّينَ لِي إِلَيْكُمْ حَاجَةٌ اقْضُوهَا لِي قَالُوا قُضِيَتْ حَاجَتُكَ يَا رُوحَ الله فَقَامَ فَغَسَلَ أَقْدَامَهُمْ فَقَالُوا كُنَّا نَحْنُ أَحَقَّ بِهَذَا يَا رُوحَ الله فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَحَقَّ النَّاسِ بِالْخِدْمَةِ الْعَالِمُ إِنَّمَا تَوَاضَعْتُ هَكَذَا لِكَيْمَا تَتَوَاضَعُوا بَعْدِي فِي النَّاسِ كَتَوَاضُعِي لَكُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ عِيسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِالتَّوَاضُعِ تُعْمَرُ الْحِكْمَةُ لا بِالتَّكَبُّرِ وَكَذَلِكَ فِي السَّهْلِ يَنْبُتُ الزَّرْعُ لا فِي الْجَبَلِ.
Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Sinan in a marfu‘ manner that Jesus son of Mary عليه السلام has said: “O disciples, I have a need that I request you to fulfill." They said, “Your request is granted, Oh Spirit of God.” Jesus then got up and washed their feet, the disciples then said, “It was upon us to serve you, Oh Spirit of God.” So he said, “Of the people who must serve others are the scholars, I acted in this humble way so that you will act among your people in a humble way as I acted before you.” Jesus then said, “With humbleness wisdom is formed, but not with arrogance. Just like how plants only grow on plains grounds, but not on mountains.”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (1/120)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī