Al-Kāfi - The Book on Virtue of Knowledge

Al-Kāfi - The Book on Virtue of Knowledge Chapter: Chapter on the Qualities of the Scholars 6ـ وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنْ ٠َّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ ٠َّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ ٠َ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلا٠َعْشَرَ الْحَوَارِيِّينَ لِي إِلَيْكُ٠ْ حَاجَةٌ اقْضُوهَا لِي قَالُوا قُضِيَتْ حَاجَتُكَ يَا رُوحَ الله فَقَا٠َ فَغَسَلَ أَقْدَا٠ْ فَقَالُوا كُنَّا نَحْنُ أَحَقَّ بِهَذَا يَا رُوحَ الله فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَحَقَّ النَّاسِ بِالْخِدْ٠َا تَوَاضَعْتُ هَكَذَا لِكَيْ٠َا تَتَوَاضَعُوا بَعْدِي فِي النَّاسِ كَتَوَاضُعِي لَكُ٠َّ قَالَ عِيسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلا٠) بِالتَّوَاضُعِ تُعْ٠َةُ لا بِالتَّكَبُّرِ وَكَذَلِكَ فِي السَّهْلِ يَنْبُتُ الزَّرْعُ لا فِي الْجَبَلِ.

Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Sinan in a marfu‘ manner that Jesus son of Mary (as) has said: “O disciples, I have a need that I request you to fulfill." They said, “Your request is granted, Oh Spirit of God.” Jesus then got up and washed their feet, the disciples then said, “It was upon us to serve you, Oh Spirit of God.” So he said, “Of the people who must serve others are the scholars, I acted in this humble way so that you will act among your people in a humble way as I acted before you.” Jesus then said, “With humbleness wisdom is formed, but not with arrogance.

Just like how plants only grow on plains grounds, but not on mountains.” يخرجه - Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi (Sahih al-Kafi) شهور - Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi (Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (1/120))