The number of its sections...

The number of its sections, according to Aqa Buzurg’s counting, is 273 sections and the number of its hadiths reach 50,000. This book contains all hadiths of the Four Books (al-Kafi, Kitab man la yahduruh al-faqih, Tahdhib al-ahkam, and al-Istibsar). In this book, al-Fayd collected these hadiths and tried to explain hadiths and solve their literal difficulties.

The 14 chapters of al-Wafi are as follows: Book of intellect, knowledge, and unity Book of proof Book of faith and disbelief Book of purity and ornamentation Book of prayer, supplication, and the Qur’an Book of Zakat, Khums, and charitable deeds Book of fasting, I’tikaf, and personal promises Book of hajj, ‘Umra, and pilgrimage Book of religious judgeship, rulings, and witnesses Book of ways of living, jobs, and dealings Book of foods, drinks, and luxuries Book of marriage, divorce, and births Book of dead bodies, obligations, and wills Book of Rawda containing various hadiths Ending of al-Wafi, on references of hadiths in Man la yahduruh al-faqih, Tahdhib al-ahkam, and al-Istibsar, which Mulla Muhsin listed alphabetically for a better accessibility and to preserve concision, he mentioned the names of some transmitters of hadiths in short form.

Al-Fayd’s Criticisms to the Four Books In his introduction, the author has criticized the Four Books and has mentioned the necessity of one hadith reference. Al-Kafi Although, al-Fayd considers al-Kafi the noblest, most authentic, most complete and most comprehensive of the Four Books due to its coverage of principles and clearance of unnecessary extras, he mentions the following problems for it: A weakness is seen in mentioning many rulings and its chapters are not complete.

In some cases, there is only one version/interpretation of the narrations, where there is a question about their conflict, and the other version/interpretation is not mentioned. Ambiguities and literal difficulties in hadiths have been left unexplained. In some of its chapters, sections, and hadiths, there is no good order and some hadiths have not been mentioned in corresponding chapters.

Man la yahduruh al-faqih Al-Fayd continues and mentions the problems of Man la yahduruh al-faqih and says that this book is similar to al-Kafi in many of the mentioned cases, except for the following: It is void of hadiths related to principles of belief. It has more missing chapters and sections. In some cases, hadiths are confused with the author’s word.