Al-Kafi (Arabic: ٱلْكَافِي, al-Kāfī, literally "The Sufficient") is a Twelver Shiahadith collection compiled by Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Kulayni.[1] It is divided into three sections: Uṣūl al-Kāfī, dealing with epistemology, theology, history, ethics, supplication, and the Qurʾān, Furūʿ al-Kāfī, which is concerned with practical and legal issues, and Rawdat (or Rauda) al-Kāfī, which includes miscellaneous traditions, many of which are lengthy letters and speeches transmitted from the Imāms.[2] In total, al-Kāfī comprises 16,199 narrations.[3]
The first eight books of al-Kāfī are commonly referred to as Uṣūl al-kāfī. The first type-set edition of the al-Kāfī, which was published in eight volumes, placed Uṣūl al-kāfī in the first two volumes. Generally speaking, Uṣūl al-kāfī contains traditions that deal with epistemology, theology, history, ethics, supplication, and the Qurʾān.
Furūʿ al-Kāfī: Books 9 through 34 are referred to as Furūʿ al-kāfī and are found in volumes three through seven of the first type-set edition. Furūʿ al-kāfī contains traditions that deal predominantly with practical and legal issues.
Furū al-Kāfī
Chapters
The Book of Purity
The Book of Menstruation
The Book of Funeral Rites
The Book of Prayer
The Book of Charity
The Book of Fasting
The Book of Ḥajj
The Book of Jihād
The Book of Commerce
The Book of Marriage
The Book of Animal Sacrifice upon the Birth of a Child
The Book of Divorce
The Book of Emancipation
The Book of Hunting
The Book of Slaughtering
The Book of Food
The Book of Drink
The Book of Clothing, Beautification, and Honor
The Book of Domesticated Animals
The Book of Testaments
The Book of Inheritance
The Book of Capital and Corporal Punishments
The Book of Restitution and Blood Money
The Book of Testimonies and Depositions
The Book of Adjudication and Legal Precedents
The Book of Oaths, Vows, and Penances
Rawdat al-Kāfī
Rawdat al-Kāfī: The final book stands alone as Rawḍah al-kāfī, which is found in volume eight. Rawḍah al-kāfī contains nearly 600 miscellaneous traditions, many of which are lengthy letters and speeches, not arranged in any particular order.
Rawdat al-Kāfī
Title
The Book of Miscellanea -literally a garden from which one can pick many kinds of flowers
Authenticity
Most Shia scholars do not make any assumptions about the authenticity of a hadith book. Most believe that there are no "sahih" hadith books that are completely reliable. Hadith books are compiled by fallible people, and thus realistically, they inevitably have a mixture of strong and weak hadiths. Kulayni himself stated in his preface that he only collected hadiths he thought were important and sufficient for Muslims to know, and he left the verification of these hadiths up to later scholars.[citation needed] Kulayni also states, in reference to hadiths:
"whatever (hadith) agrees with the Book of God (the Qur'an), accept it. And whatever contradicts it, reject it"[citation needed]
According to the great Imami scholar Zayn al-Dīn al-ʿĀmili, known as ash-Shahīd ath-Thāni (911-966/1505-1559), who examined the asanād or the chains of transmission of al-Kāfi's traditions, 5,072 are considered ṣaḥīḥ (sound); 144 are regarded as ḥasan (good), second category; 1,118 are held to be muwathaq (trustworthy), third category; 302 are adjudged to be qawi (strong) and 9,485 traditions which are categorized as ḍaʿīf (weak).[5]
"You said that you would love to have a sufficient book (kitābun kāfin) containing enough of all the religious sciences to suffice the student; to serve as a reference for the disciple; from which those who seek knowledge of the religion and want to act on it can draw authentic traditions from the Truthful [imams]—may God’s peace be upon them—and a living example upon which to act, by which our duty to God—almighty is he and sublime—and to the commands of his Prophet—may God’s mercy be on him and his progeny—is fulfilled...God—to whom belongs all praise—has facilitated the compilation of what you requested. I hope it is as you desired."[6]
Imam Khomeini (a prominent 20th century Shī‘ah scholar) said:
"Do you think it is enough [kafi] for our religious life to have its laws summed up in al-Kāfī and then placed upon a shelf?"[7]
The general idea behind this metaphor is that Khomeini objected to the laziness of many ignorant people of his day who simply kept al-Kafi on their shelf, and ignored or violated it in their daily lives, assuming that they would somehow be saved from Hell just by possessing the book. Khomeini argued that Islamic law should be an integral part of everyday life for the believer, not just a stale manuscript to be placed on a shelf and forgotten. The irony of the allusion is telling; Khomeini implicitly says that al-Kafi (the sufficient) is not kafi (enough) to make you a faithful Muslim or be counted among the righteous, unless you use the wisdom contained within it and act on * The famous Shī‘ah scholar Shaykh Sadūq didn't believe in the complete authenticity of al-Kāfī. Khoei points this out in his "Mu‘jam Rijāl al-Hadīth", or "Collection of Men of Narrations", in which he states:
أنّ الشيخ الصدوق : قدّس سرّه : لم يكن يعتقد صحّة جميع مافي الكافي
"Shaykh as-Sadūq did not regard all of the traditions in al-Kāfī to be Sahih (truthful)."[8]
The scholars have made these remarks, to remind the people that one cannot simply pick the book up, and take whatever they like from it as truthful. Rather, an exhaustive process of authentication must be applied, which leaves the understanding of the book in the hands of the learned. From the Shia point of view, any book other than the Qur'an, as well as individual hadiths or hadith narrators can be objectively questioned and scrutinized as to their reliability.
Shia view of al-Kafi relative to other hadith books
Kulayni himself stated in his preface that he only collected hadiths he thought were important and sufficient for Muslims to know (at a time when many Muslims were illiterate and ignorant of the true beliefs of Islam, and Ṣūfi and gnostic sects were gaining popularity), and he left the verification of these hadiths up to later scholars. Kulayni also states, in reference to hadiths: "whatever (hadith) agrees with the Book of God (the Qur'an), accept it. And whatever contradicts it, reject it".[9]
The author of al-Kāfi never intended for it to be politicized as "infallible", he only compiled it to give sincere advice based on authentic Islamic law (regardless of the soundess of any one particular hadith), and to preserve rare hadiths and religious knowledge in an easily accessible collection for future generations to study.
Al-Kāfi is the most comprehensive collection of traditions from the formative period of Islamic scholarship. It has been held in the highest esteem by generation after generation of Muslim scholars. Shaykh al-Mufīd (d.1022 CE) extolled it as "one of the greatest and most beneficial of Shia books." Al-Shahīd al-ʾAwwāl (d.1385 CE) and al-Muḥaqqiq al-Karāki (d.1533 CE) have said, "No book has served the Shia as it has." The father of ʿAllāmah al Majlisī said, "Nothing like it has been written for Islam."
^. Archived from the original on 2007-05-27. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
^. Archived from the original on 2010-01-24. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kitab al-Kafi.
Al-Kafi English Translation (Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), compiled by Muḥammad Ya'qūb al-Kulayni, translated by Hub-e-Ali organization, publicly available for free.
'Usul al-Kafi English Translation, E-Book Volumes 1-8', compiled by Muḥammad Ya'qūb al-Kulayni, translated by Muḥammad Sarwar, published by the Islamic Seminary INC NY, available for purchase.
'Al-Kafi with translation and commentary by Islamic Texts Institute'
'Kiṫâbu-l-Kâfî', compiled by Muḥammad Ya`qûb Kulaynî, published by the Islamic Seminary INC NY, translated by Muḥammad Sarwar.
April 12, 2023
kitab, kafi, kafi, arabic, ٱل, اف, kāfī, literally, sufficient, twelver, shia, hadith, collection, compiled, muhammad, kulayni, divided, into, three, sections, uṣūl, kāfī, dealing, with, epistemology, theology, history, ethics, supplication, qurʾān, furūʿ, kāf. Al Kafi Arabic ٱل ك اف ي al Kafi literally The Sufficient is a Twelver Shia hadith collection compiled by Muhammad ibn Ya qub al Kulayni 1 It is divided into three sections Uṣul al Kafi dealing with epistemology theology history ethics supplication and the Qurʾan Furuʿ al Kafi which is concerned with practical and legal issues and Rawdat orRauda al Kafi which includes miscellaneous traditions many of which are lengthy letters and speeches transmitted from the Imams 2 In total al Kafi comprises 16 199 narrations 3 Cover of Al KafiAuthorMuhammad ibn Ya qub al KulayniLanguageArabic Contents 1 Contents 1 1 Usul Fundamentals al Kafi 1 2 Furuʿ al Kafi 1 3 Rawdat al Kafi 2 Authenticity 3 Scholarly remarks 4 Shia view of al Kafi relative to other hadith books 5 Commentaries 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksContents EditUsul Fundamentals al Kafi Edit The first eight books of al Kafi are commonly referred to as Uṣul al kafi The first type set edition of the al Kafi which was published in eight volumes placed Uṣul al kafi in the first two volumes Generally speaking Uṣul al kafi contains traditions that deal with epistemology theology history ethics supplication and the Qurʾan Uṣul al Kafi 4 Chapters Traditions DescriptionsKitab al ʿaql wal jahl The Book of Intellect and Ignorance 36 traditionsKitab faḍl al ʿilm The Book of Knowledge and its Merits 176 traditionsKitab at tawḥid The Book of God and his Oneness 212 traditionsKitab al ḥujjah The Book of Divine Guidance 1015 traditionsKitab al iman wal kufr The Book of Belief and Unbelief 1609 traditionsKitab ad duʿaʾ The Book of Supplication 409 traditionsKitab ʿadhamat al Qurʾan The Book of the Qurʾan and its Merits 124 TraditionsKitab al muʿasharah The Book of Social Intercourse 464 traditionsFuruʿ al Kafi Edit Furuʿ al Kafi Books 9 through 34 are referred to as Furuʿ al kafi and are found in volumes three through seven of the first type set edition Furuʿ al kafi contains traditions that deal predominantly with practical and legal issues Furu al Kafi ChaptersThe Book of PurityThe Book of MenstruationThe Book of Funeral RitesThe Book of PrayerThe Book of CharityThe Book of FastingThe Book of ḤajjThe Book of JihadThe Book of CommerceThe Book of MarriageThe Book of Animal Sacrifice upon the Birth of a ChildThe Book of DivorceThe Book of EmancipationThe Book of HuntingThe Book of SlaughteringThe Book of FoodThe Book of DrinkThe Book of Clothing Beautification and HonorThe Book of Domesticated AnimalsThe Book of TestamentsThe Book of InheritanceThe Book of Capital and Corporal PunishmentsThe Book of Restitution and Blood MoneyThe Book of Testimonies and DepositionsThe Book of Adjudication and Legal PrecedentsThe Book of Oaths Vows and PenancesRawdat al Kafi Edit Rawdat al Kafi The final book stands alone as Rawḍah al kafi which is found in volume eight Rawḍah al kafi contains nearly 600 miscellaneous traditions many of which are lengthy letters and speeches not arranged in any particular order Rawdat al Kafi TitleThe Book of Miscellanea literally a garden from which one can pick many kinds of flowersAuthenticity EditMost Shia scholars do not make any assumptions about the authenticity of a hadith book Most believe that there are no sahih hadith books that are completely reliable Hadith books are compiled by fallible people and thus realistically they inevitably have a mixture of strong and weak hadiths Kulayni himself stated in his preface that he only collected hadiths he thought were important and sufficient for Muslims to know and he left the verification of these hadiths up to later scholars citation needed Kulayni also states in reference to hadiths whatever hadith agrees with the Book of God the Qur an accept it And whatever contradicts it reject it citation needed According to the great Imami scholar Zayn al Din al ʿAmili known as ash Shahid ath Thani 911 966 1505 1559 who examined the asanad or the chains of transmission of al Kafi s traditions 5 072 are considered ṣaḥiḥ sound 144 are regarded as ḥasan good second category 1 118 are held to be muwathaq trustworthy third category 302 are adjudged to be qawi strong and 9 485 traditions which are categorized as ḍaʿif weak 5 Scholarly remarks EditThe author Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqub al Kulayni stated in his Preface of Al Kafi You said that you would love to have a sufficient book kitabun kafin containing enough of all the religious sciences to suffice the student to serve as a reference for the disciple from which those who seek knowledge of the religion and want to act on it can draw authentic traditions from the Truthful imams may God s peace be upon them and a living example upon which to act by which our duty to God almighty is he and sublime and to the commands of his Prophet may God s mercy be on him and his progeny is fulfilled God to whom belongs all praise has facilitated the compilation of what you requested I hope it is as you desired 6 Imam Khomeini a prominent 20th century Shi ah scholar said Do you think it is enough kafi for our religious life to have its laws summed up inal Kafiand then placed upon a shelf 7 The general idea behind this metaphor is that Khomeini objected to the laziness of many ignorant people of his day who simply kept al Kafi on their shelf and ignored or violated it in their daily lives assuming that they would somehow be saved from Hell just by possessing the book Khomeini argued that Islamic law should be an integral part of everyday life for the believer not just a stale manuscript to be placed on a shelf and forgotten The irony of the allusion is telling Khomeini implicitly says that al Kafi the sufficient is not kafi enough to make you a faithful Muslim or be counted among the righteous unless you use the wisdom contained within it and act on The famous Shi ah scholar Shaykh Saduq didn t believe in the complete authenticity of al Kafi Khoei points this out in his Mu jam Rijal al Hadith or Collection of Men of Narrations in which he states أن الشيخ الصدوق قد س سر ه لم يكن يعتقد صح ة جميع مافي الكافي Shaykh as Saduq did not regard all of the traditions inal Kafito be Sahih truthful 8 The scholars have made these remarks to remind the people that one cannot simply pick the book up and take whatever they like from it as truthful Rather an exhaustive process of authentication must be applied which leaves the understanding of the book in the hands of the learned From the Shia point of view any book other than the Qur an as well as individual hadiths or hadith narrators can be objectively questioned and scrutinized as to their reliability Shia view of al Kafi relative to other hadith books EditKulayni himself stated in his preface that he only collected hadiths he thought were important and sufficient for Muslims to know at a time when many Muslims were illiterate and ignorant of the true beliefs of Islam and Ṣufi and gnostic sects were gaining popularity and he left the verification of these hadiths up to later scholars Kulayni also states in reference to hadiths whatever hadith agrees with the Book of God the Qur an accept it And whatever contradicts it reject it 9 The author of al Kafi never intended for it to be politicized as infallible he only compiled it to give sincere advice based on authentic Islamic law regardless of the soundess of any one particular hadith and to preserve rare hadiths and religious knowledge in an easily accessible collection for future generations to study Al Kafi is the most comprehensive collection of traditions from the formative period of Islamic scholarship It has been held in the highest esteem by generation after generation of Muslim scholars Shaykh al Mufid d 1022 CE extolled it as one of the greatest and most beneficial of Shia books Al Shahid al ʾAwwal d 1385 CE and al Muḥaqqiq al Karaki d 1533 CE have said No book has served the Shia as it has The father of ʿAllamah al Majlisi said Nothing like it has been written for Islam Commentaries EditSharh Usul al Kafi a commentary on the Uṣul al Kafi by Mohammad Salih al Mazandarani Mir at al Uqul Mirror of the Mind a commentary on al Kafi by Mohammad Baqir Majlisi Sharh Usool Al Kafi by Mulla Sadra Sahih al Kafi by Muhammad Baqir al BehbudiSee also EditList of Shi a booksReferences Edit Meri Josef W 2005 Medieval Islamic Civilization An Encyclopedia USA Routledge ISBN 978 0 415 96690 0 Howard I K A 1976 Al Kafi by Al Kulayni Al Serat A Journal of Islamic Studies 2 1 http www al islam org al tawhid kafi 1 htm Hadith al Kafi Kohlberg Etan 1991 belief and law in imami shiism Variorum p 523 Selections from Al Kulayni s Al Kafi Islamic Texts Institute 2012 Al Kafi Book I Intellect and Foolishness Taqwa Media ISBN 9781939420008 Wilayat al Faqih Al Hukumah Al Islamiyyah p 72 Arabic reference Archived from the original on 2007 05 27 Retrieved 2008 12 05 Answering Ansar org Nikah of Lady Umme Kulthum sa Archived from the original on 2010 01 24 Retrieved 2009 03 08 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kitab al Kafi Al Kafi English Translation Volumes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 compiled by Muḥammad Ya qub al Kulayni translated by Hub e Ali organization publicly available for free Usul al Kafi English Translation E Book Volumes 1 8 compiled by Muḥammad Ya qub al Kulayni translated by Muḥammad Sarwar published by the Islamic Seminary INC NY available for purchase Al Kafi with translation and commentary by Islamic Texts Institute Selections from Usul al Kafi Kiṫabu l Kafi compiled by Muḥammad Ya qub Kulayni published by the Islamic Seminary INC NY translated by Muḥammad Sarwar Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kitab al Kafi amp oldid 1142593789, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
