ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Al Kafi (volume One) Introduction In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful All praise be to Allah Who is praised for His bounties, worshipped for His Might, obeyed in His reign, feared for His Majesty. He possesses all things that allure, His commands pervade all through His creation. He is elevated to the extent He liked.

He is too near to find, too high for everyone to see, Whose beginning has no beginning and Whose eternity has no end, Who existed before the existence of all things and Who is an eternal supporter of all things. The Conqueror Whom the preservation of the things does not tire. The Almighty Who is in a class by Himself in His sublimity throughout His realm, the unique in His Might because of His power. Who, out of His Wisdom, manifested His signs (proofs) and mercy for His creation.

Who out of His Might and grief it will be on his Wisdom originated all things anew from the very beginning. Nothing existed (at that time) to falsify His being the originator (of all things), nor did any other cause (of creation) exist to nullify His being the (first) originator. All alone He created what He liked and as He liked to manifest His Wisdom and the truth of His being the Nourisher. Reason cannot grasp Him. Imagination cannot reach Him. Eyes cannot see Him.

Measurement cannot encompass Him. Every explanation fails in His description. Eyes are blurred in seeing Him. Attributing different qualities to Him goes astray in His description. He is veiled without any veil and is concealed without any covering. He is recognized without being seen and has been described as being formless. He is described as having no corporal form. There no God save Him, the great the elevated. Imagination goes astray in trying to reach the reality about Him (Godhood).

Thoughts get con-founded in trying to reach His finality. No flight of fancy can touch Him. He is all knowing, all hearing. He (Allah) has offered proofs (of truth and reality) through His messengers (peace be upon them) and has explained things through reasons. He has sent His messengers with glad tidings and due warnings.

So that, if, thereafter one comes to own account and if he comes to success it will also be on his own account, so that people should understand what they do not know about their Lord and they should recognise God's Lordship after their having denied it. And, so that people should believe in His unity after believing in His plurality.