[^1] Likewise, Imam ‘Ali (‘a) was the first to compile, write down and preserve the Prophetic Traditions (Sunnah), because these traditions are considered the second source of Islamic culture. His efforts resulted in the Comprehensive Document ( al-Sahifah al-Jami’ah ) that was transferred to the Holy Imams (‘a) thereafter. Abu-Basir has reported Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) as saying: يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ! وَإنَّ عِنْدَنَا الْجَامِعَةَ.
وَمَا يُدْرِيهِمْ مَا الْجَامِعَةُ؟ صَحِيفَةٌ طُولُهَا سَبْعُونَ ذِرَاعاً بِذِرَاعِ رَسُولِ اللهِ، صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، وَإمْلاَئِهِ مَنْ فَلْقِ فِيهِ وَخَطِّ عَلِيٍّ بِيَمِينِهِ. فِيهَا كُلُّ حَلاَلٍ وَحَرَامٍ وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ يَحْتَاجُ النَّاسُ إلَيْهِ حَتَّى الأَرْشَ مِنَ الْخَدْشِ. O Abu-Muhammad, we do have the Jami’ah with us. What do they know about the Jami’ah?
It is a seventy-cubit long document that was measured and directly dictated by Allah’s Messenger (S) and handwritten by ‘Ali (‘a). It includes all that which is lawful and unlawful and everything people may need, even matters that are as minute as the expiation for a scratch.
[^2] Abu-Basir has also reported that he heard Imam al-Sadiq (‘a), talking about the verdicts of Ibn Shabramah, saying: أَيْنَ هُوَ مِنَ الْجَامِعَةِ؟ أَمْلَى رَسُولُ اللهِ، صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، وَخَطَّهُ عَلِيٌّ بِيَدِهِ. فِيهَا جَمِيعُ الْحَلاَلِ وَالْحَرَامِ حَتَّى أَرْشُ الْخَدْشِ فِيهِ. How can he be compared with the Jami’ah? It is the dictations of Allah’s Messenger (S) and the handwriting of ‘Ali (‘a).
It comprises all that which is legal and illegal even matters that are as minute as the expiation for a scratch. [^3] Additionally, Imam ‘Ali (‘a), after the Messenger of Allah (S), was the most knowledgeable of all people, the most skilled in judgment, and the most experienced in the lawful and the unlawful issues as well as the interpretation of the Holy Qur’an. He was verily the door to the city of the Holy Prophet’s knowledge.
At the level of practice, Imam ‘Ali (‘a) was the most liberal of all people in cultural and educational aspects after the Holy Prophet (S). He was the first to set courses and invent new branches in the sciences of education.