Kitab Al-Kafi - HolyBooks.com

Al-KAFI
This book was known as al-Kulayni 54 and also al-Kafi 55. In reply to one of his friends, al-Kulayni
has explained why he compiled this book.
"Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Gracious, has made the compilation of the book that you had
wished for possible. I hope it will prove to be up to your expectations. It may have shortcomings but
our intentions have not been insincere to provide good advice. Providing good advice to our people is
obligatory. We also hoped to be considered as partners of all benefits of this book up to the end of
time."
It took twenty years to complete al-Kafi.57
Distinctive Features
1. The compiler of al-Kafi, al-Kulayni was a contemporary of the four successive special
representatives of Imam al-Mahdi (DivineSupremeCovenantBody). As al-Sayyid ibn Tawus has pointed
out, "All the works and the collections (of hadith) of al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub al-Kulayni
had been completed during the life time of the special representatives of Imam al-Mahdi
(DivineSupremeCovenantBody). It is a ground to believe the veracity of his collection of hadith. 71
2. The compiler, except in the case of a few hadith, has named the whole chain of narrators up to the
infallible Imam (DivineSupremeCovenantBody). In certain cases he deletes the first narrator probably
because he quotes from the original book that narrates directly from the Imam
(DivineSupremeCovenantBody). 72
3. Al-Kulayni’s, according to great scholars, method of collecting and grading Ahadith in a chapter is
by the order of (37) the authenticity and the clarity of their meaning. It is, therefore, the last hadith of
every chapter that are always very general, unclear and problematic.73
4. The compiler generally has avoided the Ahadith that are contradictory. Under the heading of a
chapter he has recorded those Ahadith that relate best. 74
Sub-divisions of al-Kafi
PART 1
AL-’USUL (principles)