FATIMAH’S MUSHAF: ANOTHER DILEMMA
Table of Contents
According to the authoritative Shia traditions, “Gabriel” came to Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah shortly after her father’s death and gave her “revelations” which Ali her husband wrote down. This revelation is known as the Mushaf of Fatimah, which some have variously rendered as the “Quran,” “Parchment,” or “Book” of Fatima.
The tradition claims that this “revelation” is three times the size of the Quran, mentions every single thing that will come to pass, and even explains the reasons why certain Quranic verses were “sent down.” Some of these traditions further assert that Ali was given knowledge concerning the lawful, unlawful, punishments etc., and that the Shia were entrusted with a parchment/container called al-Jafr al-Jami that has all this knowledge preserved within it.
What makes this interesting is that one narration states that S. 70:3 actually contained a sentence concerning the Wilayah (i.e., guardianship, authority, leadership, caliphate) of Ali, that is not found in modern Qurans today. And yet this line is supposedly mentioned in the so-called Quran of Fatimah.
I now cite some of these Shia ahadith for the benefit of the readers. All emphasis will be mine.
Al-Kāfi – Volume 8
Book 1, Chapter 18
The letter of Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, was similar to Jesus, ‘Alayhim al-Salam
Ḥadīth #1 : 18
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ بَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ جَالِساً إِذْ أَقْبَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) إِنَّ فِيكَ شَبَهاً مِنْ عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَ لَوْ لَا أَنْ تَقُولَ فِيكَ طَوَائِفُ مِنْ أُمَّتِي مَا قَالَتِ النَّصَارَى فِي عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ لَقُلْتُ فِيكَ قَوْلًا لَا تَمُرُّ بِمَلَإٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ إِلَّا أَخَذُوا التُّرَابَ مِنْ تَحْتِ قَدَمَيْكَ يَلْتَمِسُونَ بِذَلِكَ الْبَرَكَةَ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ الْأَعْرَابِيَّانِ وَ الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ شُعْبَةَ وَ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ مَعَهُمْ فَقَالُوا مَا رَضِيَ أَنْ يَضْرِبَ لِابْنِ عَمِّهِ مَثَلًا إِلَّا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَقَالَ وَ لَمَّا ضُرِبَ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ مَثَلًا إِذا قَوْمُكَ مِنْهُ يَصِدُّونَ وَ قالُوا أَ آلِهَتُنا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هُوَ ما ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلَّا جَدَلًا بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنا عَلَيْهِ وَ جَعَلْناهُ مَثَلًا لِبَنِي إِسْرائِيلَ وَ لَوْ نَشاءُ لَجَعَلْنا مِنْكُمْ يَعْنِي مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ مَلائِكَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ يَخْلُفُونَ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ الْحَارِثُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو الْفِهْرِيُّ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كانَ هذا هُوَ الْحَقَّ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ أَنَّ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ يَتَوَارَثُونَ هِرَقْلًا بَعْدَ هِرَقْلٍ فَأَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنا حِجارَةً مِنَ السَّماءِ أَوِ ائْتِنا بِعَذابٍ أَلِيمٍ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ مَقَالَةَ الْحَارِثِ وَ نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ وَ ما كانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَ أَنْتَ فِيهِمْ وَ ما كانَ اللَّهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ عَمْرٍو إِمَّا تُبْتَ وَ إِمَّا رَحَلْتَ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ بَلْ تَجْعَلُ لِسَائِرِ قُرَيْشٍ شَيْئاً مِمَّا فِي يَدَيْكَ فَقَدْ ذَهَبَتْ بَنُو هَاشِمٍ بِمَكْرُمَةِ الْعَرَبِ وَ الْعَجَمِ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ إِلَيَّ ذَلِكَ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ قَلْبِي مَا يُتَابِعُنِي عَلَى التَّوْبَةِ وَ لَكِنْ أَرْحَلُ عَنْكَ فَدَعَا بِرَاحِلَتِهِ فَرَكِبَهَا فَلَمَّا صَارَ بِظَهْرِ الْمَدِينَةِ أَتَتْهُ جَنْدَلَةٌ فَرَضَخَتْ هَامَتَهُ ثُمَّ أَتَى الْوَحْيُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَقَالَ سَأَلَ سائِلٌ بِعَذابٍ واقِعٍ لِلْكافِرينَ بِوَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ لَيْسَ لَهُ دافِعٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ ذِي الْمَعارِجِ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّا لَا نَقْرَؤُهَا هَكَذَا فَقَالَ هَكَذَا وَ اللَّهِ نَزَلَ بِهَا جَبْرَئِيلُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ هَكَذَا هُوَ وَ اللَّهِ مُثْبَتٌ فِي مُصْحَفِ فَاطِمَةَ ( عليها السلام ) فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) لِمَنْ حَوْلَهُ مِنَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ انْطَلِقُوا إِلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ فَقَدْ أَتَاهُ مَا اسْتَفْتَحَ بِهِ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ اسْتَفْتَحُوا وَ خابَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ .
18. A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Muhammad Bin Suleyman, from his father, from Abu Baseer who said: ‘One day the Messenger of Allah was explaining (matters) in a session when Amir-ul-Momineen came over. The Messenger of Allah said to him that: ‘In you there is a similarity with Isa Bin Maryam, and had it not been for a sect from my community saying regarding you what the Christians are saying regarding Isa Bin Maryam, I would have said regarding you such words that none from the people would pass by you except that he would take the dust from under your feet seeking Blessings by that’. He said: ‘Two Arabs became angered along with Al-Mugheira Bin Sho’bat as well a number from the Qureish among them. So they said, ‘He was not happy until he struck an example for the son of his uncle with Isa Bin Maryam’. So Allah Revealed unto His Prophet Saying: “[43:57] When (Jesus) the son of Mary is held up as an example, behold, thy people raise a clamour thereat (in ridicule)! [43:58] And they say: Are our gods better, or is he? They do not set it forth to you save by way of disputation; Indeed, they are a contentious people. [43:59] He was naught but a servant on whom We bestowed favour, and We made him an example for the children of Israel [43:60] And if it were Our Will, We could make angels from amongst you” meaning the Clan of Hashim, “succeeding each other on the earth”.
He said: ‘Al-Haaris Bin Amro Al-Fahry became angry and said, ‘Our Allah! If this was the truth from You that the Clan of Hashim will be inheriting from Heraclius and after Heraclius, so Rain upon us stones from the sky or Bring down upon us a Grievous Punishment’. So Allah Revealed against the words of Al-Haaris and this Verse Came down: “[8:33] But Allah was not going to chastise them while you were among them, nor is Allah going to chastise them while yet they ask for forgiveness”. Then he said to him: ‘O Ibn Amro, either you repent or you leave’. He said, ‘O Muhammad, but you have made for all of the Qureish something from what is in your hands, for the Clan of Hashim have taken away the prestige of the Arabs and the non-Arabs’. The Prophet said to him: ‘That is not up to me, but that is up to Allah Blessed and High’. He said, ‘O Muhammad, my heart does not incline me for the repentance, but I shall leave from you’. So he called for his ride and rode away. When he came to the back of Al-Medina, a stone fell upon him and crushed his skull. Then Revelation Came to the Prophet Saying: “[70:1] One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall [70:2] Upon the disbelievers, of the Wilayah of Ali which none can repel [70:3] From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways”. He (the narrator) said, ‘I said, “May I be sacrificed for you, we do not read it like this”’. He said: ‘By Allah! Jibraeel Descended with it upon Muhammad, and by Allah, this is how it is recorded in the Parchment (Mus’haf) of Fatima’. So the Messenger of Allah said to those who were around him from the hypocrites: ‘Go to your companion, for he has got what he was seeking for’. Allah Mighty and Majestic Said: “[14:15] And they asked for Judgement and every insolent opposer was disappointed”.
Al-Kāfi – Volume 1
Book 4, Chapter #40
Statements about al-Jafr al-Jami‘ and the Book of Fatima
Ḥadīth #1 : 632
1
ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْحَجَّالِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ هَاهُنَا أَحَدٌ يَسْمَعُ كَلامِي قَالَ فَرَفَعَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله سِتْراً بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ بَيْتٍ آخَرَ فَاطَّلَعَ فِيهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ سَلْ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ شِيعَتَكَ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ الله ﷺ عَلَّمَ عَلِيّاً بَاباً يُفْتَحُ لَهُ مِنْهُ أَلْفُ بَابٍ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَّمَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ عَلِيّاً أَلْفَ بَابٍ يُفْتَحُ مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ أَلْفُ بَابٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ هَذَا وَالله الْعِلْمُ قَالَ فَنَكَتَ سَاعَةً فِي الارْضِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ وَمَا هُوَ بِذَاكَ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَإِنَّ عِنْدَنَا الْجَامِعَةَ وَمَا يُدْرِيهِمْ مَا الْجَامِعَةُ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَمَا الْجَامِعَةُ قَالَ صَحِيفَةٌ طُولُهَا سَبْعُونَ ذِرَاعاً بِذِرَاعِ رَسُولِ الله ﷺ وَإِمْلائِهِ مِنْ فَلْقِ فِيهِ وَخَطِّ عَلِيٍّ بِيَمِينِهِ فِيهَا كُلُّ حَلالٍ وَحَرَامٍ وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ يَحْتَاجُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ حَتَّى الارْشُ فِي الْخَدْشِ وَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ تَأْذَنُ لِي يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا لَكَ فَاصْنَعْ مَا شِئْتَ قَالَ فَغَمَزَنِي بِيَدِهِ وَقَالَ حَتَّى أَرْشُ هَذَا كَأَنَّهُ مُغْضَبٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ هَذَا وَالله الْعِلْمُ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ وَلَيْسَ بِذَاكَ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ وَإِنَّ عِنْدَنَا الْجَفْرَ وَمَا يُدْرِيهِمْ مَا الْجَفْرُ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَمَا الْجَفْرُ قَالَ وِعَاءٌ مِنْ أَدَمٍ فِيهِ عِلْمُ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالْوَصِيِّينَ وَعِلْمُ الْعُلَمَاءِ الَّذِينَ مَضَوْا مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ هَذَا هُوَ الْعِلْمُ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ وَلَيْسَ بِذَاكَ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ وَإِنَّ عِنْدَنَا لَمُصْحَفَ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) وَمَا يُدْرِيهِمْ مَا مُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ وَمَا مُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) قَالَ مُصْحَفٌ فِيهِ مِثْلُ قُرْآنِكُمْ هَذَا ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ وَالله مَا فِيهِ مِنْ قُرْآنِكُمْ حَرْفٌ وَاحِدٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ هَذَا وَالله الْعِلْمُ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ وَمَا هُوَ بِذَاكَ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا عِلْمَ مَا كَانَ وَعِلْمَ مَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ إِلَى أَنْ تَقُومَ السَّاعَةُ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا وَالله هُوَ الْعِلْمُ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ وَلَيْسَ بِذَاكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَأَيُّ شَيْءٍ الْعِلْمُ قَالَ مَا يَحْدُثُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ الامْرُ مِنْ بَعْدِ الامْرِ وَالشَّيْءُ بَعْدَ الشَّيْءِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.
1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hajjal from Ahmad ibn ‘Umar al-Halabi from Abu Basir who said: “I went to Abu ‘Abdallah and said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I like to ask you a question. Is there anyone else in this house who may hear my words?” Abu ‘Abd Allah then folded the curtain between his room and the other room next to it and looked into it. Then he said, “O Abu Muhammad, ask whatever you wish.” I said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, your followers say that the Messenger of Allah taught Ali a thousand chapters (of knowledge) and from each chapter there opens a thousand chapters. I then said, ‘This, I swear by Allah, is knowledge.’” He then would mark the ground with his staff (a sign of thinking in normal people) for a while and said, “That is knowledge but it is not that.”
The narrator has said that he then said, “O Abu Muhammad, with us is al-Jami‘a. What do they know what al-Jami‘a is?” I then asked, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what is al-Jami‘a?” He said, it is a parchment seventy yards by the yards of the Messenger of Allah long, that contains his dictations that is in graved in to with the right hand writing of Ali. It contains all the lawful and unlawful and all matters that people need, even the law to of compensation for a scratch caused to a person. He then stretched his hand to me and asked, ‘May I, O Abu Muhammad?’ I then replied, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I am all at your disposal, do as you wish.” He pinched me with his hand and said, “Even there is the law of compensation for this.” He seemed angry. The narrator has said, “I then said, “This, I swear by Allah is knowledge.” He said, “It certainly is knowledge but not that one.”
He remained silent for a while and then said, “With us there is al-Jafr (the parchment). What do they know what al-Jafr is? I then asked, “What is al-Jafr?” He said, “It is a container made of skin that contains the knowledge of the prophets and the executors of their wills and the knowledge of the scholars in the past from the Israelites.” The narrator has said that he then said, “This certainly is the knowledge.” He said, “It certainly is knowledge but not that knowledge.”
He remained silent for a while and then said, “With us there is the book (Mushaf) of Fatima. What do they know what the Mushaf of Fatima is?” He said, “The Mushaf of Fatima is three times bigger than your Quran. There is not even a single letter therein from your Quran.” The narrator has said, “I then said, “This, I swear by Allah, is the knowledge.” He said, “This certainly is knowledge, but it is not that.”
He remained silent for a while and then said, “With us there is the knowledge of whatever has been and the knowledge of whatever will come into being to the Day of Judgment.” The narrator has said that he then said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, this, I swear by Allah is, certainly, knowledge.” He said, “It certainly is knowledge but not that.”
The narrator has said that he then asked, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, What then is knowledge?” He said, “Whatever takes place during the night and during the day, one matter after the other matter and one thing after the other thing to the Day of Judgment.”
Al-Kāfi – Volume 1
Book 4, Chapter #40
Statements about al-Jafr al-Jami‘ and the Book of Fatima
Ḥadīth #2 : 633
2
ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله يَقُولُ تَظْهَرُ الزَّنَادِقَةُ فِي سَنَةِ ثَمَانٍ وَعِشْرِينَ وَمِائَةٍ وَذَلِكَ أَنِّي نَظَرْتُ فِي مُصْحَفِ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ وَمَا مُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَةَ قَالَ إِنَّ الله تَعَالَى لَمَّا قَبَضَ نَبِيَّهُ ﷺ دَخَلَ عَلَى فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) مِنْ وَفَاتِهِ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ مَا لا يَعْلَمُهُ إِلا الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَأَرْسَلَ الله إِلَيْهَا مَلَكاً يُسَلِّي غَمَّهَا وَيُحَدِّثُهَا فَشَكَتْ ذَلِكَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ إِذَا أَحْسَسْتِ بِذَلِكِ وَسَمِعْتِ الصَّوْتَ قُولِي لِي فَأَعْلَمَتْهُ بِذَلِكَ فَجَعَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَكْتُبُ كُلَّ مَا سَمِعَ حَتَّى أَثْبَتَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ مُصْحَفاً قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِيهِ شَيْءٌ مِنَ الْحَلالَ وَالْحَرَامِ وَلَكِنْ فِيهِ عِلْمُ مَا يَكُونُ.
2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from Hammad Ibn ‘Uthman who has said that he heard Abu ‘Abdallah say the following: “The heretics will appear in the year one hundred twenty eight (745/746AD) because I have found it in the Mushaf of Fatima.” I asked the Imam, “What is Mushaf of Fatima?” The Imam said, “When Allah took the Holy Prophet from this world, it caused such a degree of grief to Fatima that only Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, knows its extent. Allah then sent an angel to her to offer solace and speak to her. She complained about it to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali who asked her to inform him whenever she would find the angel speak to her. She then informed him when the angel came to speak. Amir al-Mu’minin Ali then would write down all that he would hear of the conversations of the angel so much so that his notes took the shape of a whole book.” The Imam then said, “There was nothing in it of the knowledge of the lawful and unlawful matters but it had the knowledge of things that had happened and things to happen in future.”
Al-Kāfi – Volume 1
Book 4, Chapter #40
Statements about al-Jafr al-Jami‘ and the Book of Fatima
Ḥadīth #3 : 634
3
ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَلاءِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله يَقُولُ إِنَّ عِنْدِي الْجَفْرَ الابْيَضَ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَأَيُّ شَيْءٍ فِيهِ قَالَ زَبُورُ دَاوُدَ وَتَوْرَاةُ مُوسَى وَإِنْجِيلُ عِيسَى وَصُحُفُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالْحَلالُ وَالْحَرَامُ وَمُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَةَ مَا أَزْعُمُ أَنَّ فِيهِ قُرْآناً وَفِيهِ مَا يَحْتَاجُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْنَا وَلا نَحْتَاجُ إِلَى أَحَدٍ حَتَّى فِيهِ الْجَلْدَةُ وَنِصْفُ الْجَلْدَةِ وَرُبُعُ الْجَلْدَةِ وَأَرْشُ الْخَدْشِ وَعِنْدِي الْجَفْرَ الاحْمَرَ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَأَيُّ شَيْءٍ فِي الْجَفْرِ الاحْمَرِ قَالَ السِّلاحُ وَذَلِكَ إِنَّمَا يُفْتَحُ لِلدَّمِ يَفْتَحُهُ صَاحِبُ السَّيْفِ لِلْقَتْلِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَبْدُ الله بْنُ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ أَصْلَحَكَ الله أَ يَعْرِفُ هَذَا بَنُو الْحَسَنِ فَقَالَ إِي وَالله كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ اللَّيْلَ أَنَّهُ لَيْلٌ وَالنَّهَارَ أَنَّهُ نَهَارٌ وَلَكِنَّهُمْ يَحْمِلُهُمُ الْحَسَدُ وَطَلَبُ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى الْجُحُودِ وَالانْكَارِ وَلَوْ طَلَبُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْحَقِّ لَكَانَ خَيْراً لَهُمْ.
3. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Husayn ibn Abu ‘Ala’ who has said that he heard Abu ‘Abdallah say: “With me is the white Jafr.” The narrator has said that he asked the Imam, “What is in it?” He replied, “In it there is the Psalms of David, the Torah of Moses, the Gospel of Jesus, the Books of Abraham, (the laws that explain) the lawful and unlawful matters and the Mushaf of Fatima in which, I do not claim that it includes anything from the Quran. In it there is all that people need us to do for them and so that we would not need any one else. In it there is information even about a lash, half of a lash and one fourth of a lash, and about the amount of compensation for a scratch caused to someone.
With me there is the red Jafr.” The narrator has said that he asked the Imam, “What is in the red Jafr?” He replied, “In it there is the Armaments. It is because it only is opened for bloodshed. The owner of the sword opens it to kill.” The narrator has said that ‘Abdallah ibn Abu Ya‘fur asked the Imam, “May Allah keep you well, do the descendents of al-Hasan know this? The Imam said, “Yes, I swear by Allah, they know it just as they know the night that it is night and the day that it is the day, but jealousy and worldly gains cause them to act in denial and rejection. Had they sought the truth with the truth, it would have been better for them.”
Al-Kāfi – Volume 1
Book 4, Chapter #40
Statements about al-Jafr al-Jami‘ and the Book of Fatima
Ḥadīth #4 : 635
4
ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله إِنَّ فِي الْجَفْرِ الَّذِي يَذْكُرُونَهُ لَمَا يَسُوؤُهُمْ لانَّهُمْ لا يَقُولُونَ الْحَقَّ وَالْحَقُّ فِيهِ فَلْيُخْرِجُوا قَضَايَا عَلِيٍّ وَفَرَائِضَهُ إِنْ كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ وَسَلُوهُمْ عَنِ الْخَالاتِ وَالْعَمَّاتِ وَلْيُخْرِجُوا مُصْحَفَ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) فَإِنَّ فِيهِ وَصِيَّةَ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) وَمَعَهُ سِلاحُ رَسُولِ الله ﷺ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ فَأْتُوا بِكِتابٍ مِنْ قَبْلِ هذا أَوْ أَثارَةٍ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صادِقِينَ.
4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from the person that he mentioned from Sulayman ibn Khalid from Abu ‘Abdallah who has said the following. “The Jafr of which they speak certainly disappoints them because they (the Zaydis) do not speak the truth while Jafr does contain the truth. Let them bring to light therefrom the judgments of Ali and his rules of inheritance if they are truthful. Ask them about (the inheritance) of paternal and maternal aunts. Let them show the Mushaf of Fatima. In it certainly there is the will of Fatima. With it there is the Armaments the Messenger of Allah. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “Bring me a Book, revealed before this Quran, or any other proof based on knowledge to support your belief, if indeed you are truthful” (46:4).
Al-Kāfi – Volume 1
Book 4, Chapter #40
Statements about al-Jafr al-Jami‘ and the Book of Fatima
Ḥadīth #5 : 636
5
ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ قَالَ سَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنِ الْجَفْرِ فَقَالَ هُوَ جِلْدُ ثَوْرٍ مَمْلُوءٌ عِلْماً قَالَ لَهُ فَالْجَامِعَةُ قَالَ تِلْكَ صَحِيفَةٌ طُولُهَا سَبْعُونَ ذِرَاعاً فِي عَرْضِ الادِيمِ مِثْلُ فَخِذِ الْفَالِجِ فِيهَا كُلُّ مَا يَحْتَاجُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ وَلَيْسَ مِنْ قَضِيَّةٍ إِلا وَهِيَ فِيهَا حَتَّى أَرْشُ الْخَدْشِ قَالَ فَمُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) قَالَ فَسَكَتَ طَوِيلاً ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَبْحَثُونَ عَمَّا تُرِيدُونَ وَعَمَّا لا تُرِيدُونَ إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ مَكَثَتْ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ الله ﷺ خَمْسَةً وَسَبْعِينَ يَوْماً وَكَانَ دَخَلَهَا حُزْنٌ شَدِيدٌ عَلَى أَبِيهَا وَكَانَ جَبْرَئِيلُ يَأْتِيهَا فَيُحْسِنُ عَزَاءَهَا عَلَى أَبِيهَا وَيُطَيِّبُ نَفْسَهَا وَيُخْبِرُهَا عَنْ أَبِيهَا وَمَكَانِهِ وَيُخْبِرُهَا بِمَا يَكُونُ بَعْدَهَا فِي ذُرِّيَّتِهَا وَكَانَ علي يَكْتُبُ ذَلِكَ فَهَذَا مُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام )
5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from abu ‘Ubaydah who has said that some of our companions asked Abu ‘Abdallah
about the Jafr and the Imam said the following: “It is the skin of a bull which is full of knowledge.” Then they asked the Imam about al-Jami‘a. The Imam replied, “It is a parchment that is seventy yards long with a width of hide like that of the leg of a huge camel. It contains everything people need, and there is no case except that it is in it, even the compensation for a scratch.” The narrator has said that he asked the Imam, “What is Mushaf of Fatima?” The Imam remained quiet for a while. Then he said, “Indeed, you are searching for what you want and what you do not want. Fatima lived after the Messenger of Allah for seventy-five days. She was severely depressed because of the death of her father. Jibril would come to provide her solace because of the death of her father. Jibril would comfort her soul. Jibril would inform her about her father and his place, future events, and about what will happen to her progeny. At the same time, Ali would write all of this down, so this is Mushaf of Fatima.”
Al-Kāfi – Volume 1
Book 4, Chapter #40
Statements about al-Jafr al-Jami‘ and the Book of Fatima
Ḥadīth #6 : 637
6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي بِشْرٍ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ كَرِبٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله يَقُولُ إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا مَا لا نَحْتَاجُ مَعَهُ إِلَى النَّاسِ وَإِنَّ النَّاسَ لَيَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَيْنَا وَإِنَّ عِنْدَنَا كِتَاباً إِمْلاءُ رَسُولِ الله ﷺ وَخَطُّ علي صَحِيفَةً فِيهَا كُلُّ حَلالٍ وَحَرَامٍ وَإِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَّا بِالامْرِ فَنَعْرِفُ إِذَا أَخَذْتُمْ بِهِ وَنَعْرِفُ إِذَا تَرَكْتُمُوهُ.
6. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Salih ibn Sa‘id from Ahmad ibn abu Bishr from Bakr ibn Karib al-Sayrafi who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah say: “Indeed, we possess that which makes us independent of others, while others are in need of us. We have a book dictated by the Messenger of Allah and written in the handwriting of ʿAlī, a scroll that contains all matters of what is lawful and unlawful. You bring matters to us, and we recognize whether you have adhered to them or abandoned them.”
Al-Kāfi – Volume 1
Book 4, Chapter #40
Statements about al-Jafr al-Jami‘ and the Book of Fatima
Ḥadīth #7 : 638
7
ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ وَبُرَيْدِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَزُرَارَةَ أَنَّ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ بْنَ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ لابِي عَبْدِ الله إِنَّ الزَّيْدِيَّةَ وَالْمُعْتَزِلَةَ قَدْ أَطَافُوا بِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله فَهَلْ لَهُ سُلْطَانٌ فَقَالَ وَالله إِنَّ عِنْدِي لَكِتَابَيْنِ فِيهِمَا تَسْمِيَةُ كُلِّ نَبِيٍّ وَكُلِّ مَلِكٍ يَمْلِكُ الارْضَ لا وَالله مَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الله فِي وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا.
7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn Udhayna from Fudayl ibn Yasar, Burayd ibn Mu‘wiya and Zurarah who have said that ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abd al-Malik said the following to abu ‘Abdallah, “The Zaydi sect and al-Mu‘tazali group circle around Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah. Does he have any authority?” The Imam said, “I swear by Allah that with me there are two books in which there is the name of every prophet and the name of every king that would rule on earth. No, I swear by Allah, the name of Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah is not in the list as one of them.”
Al-Kāfi – Volume 1
Book 4, Chapter #40
Statements about al-Jafr al-Jami‘ and the Book of Fatima
Ḥadīth #8 : 639
8.
ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الصَّمَدِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ سُكَّرَةَ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله فَقَالَ يَا فُضَيْلُ أَ تَدْرِي فِي أَيِّ شَيْءٍ كُنْتُ أَنْظُرُ قُبَيْلُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لا قَالَ كُنْتُ أَنْظُرُ فِي كِتَابِ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) لَيْسَ مِنْ مَلِكٍ يَمْلِكُ الارْضَ إِلا وَهُوَ مَكْتُوبٌ فِيهِ بِاسْمِهِ وَاسْمِ أَبِيهِ وَمَا وَجَدْتُ لِوُلْدِ الْحَسَنِ فِيهِ شَيْئاً.
8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from ‘Abd al-Samad ibn Bashir from Fudayl ibn Sukra who has said that once I went to abu ‘Abdallah and he said the following to me. “O Fudayl, do you know what I did look at just awhile before?” The narrator has said that he said to the Imams, “No, I do not know.” The Imam said, “I was looking at the book of Fatima. There is no king who would rule on earth with being listed therein by his name and the name of his father but I did not find the name of any of the descendent of al-Hassan therein.”
THE DILEMMA
These narrations raise serious issues for the preservation and verity of the Quran. First, the Islamic text states that Muhammad is the seal of the prophets and that Allah had completed the religion for him and his followers before Muhammad died:
Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allah is Ever All-Aware of everything. S. 33:40 Hilali-Khan
However, the Shia narrations show that such is a lie since Gabriel came down to Fatimah with revelation three times the size of the Quran, that mentioned every future event in great detail. This means that Fatima is a messenger and prophetess whose revelations are more complete than even her own father’s revelation.
In other words, it is Fatimah, not Muhammad, who is seal the seal of the prophets and a Messenger whose revelations eclipses the Quran.
Second, the narratives mention specific words, lines, and/or sentences that explicitly refer to Ali being the wali, or Islamic leader, that are not found in the present Quranic codices. Moreover, both fatimah’s Quran and the so-called al-Jafr al-Jami, which supposedly contains all the revealed books and information about prophets and kings, no longer exist and are nowhere to be found.
This again falsifies the Quran which states that Allah would preserve the reminder that he had sent down:
Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption). S. 15:9 Hilali-Khan
Seeing that this reminder would include the Quran and the rest of the so-called revelations, especially those which provide a thorough explanation of the Muslim scripture, would have to be fully preserved. Therefore, none of the contents of these books could ever be lost if the promise of Allah is true.
However, the books of Fatima and al-Jafr al-Jami are gone without any traces of them, and both Shia and Sunni tradition acknowledge that there are indeed missing verses from the Quran.
As such, these Shia sources only provide further evidence that Muhammad was a false prophet whose supposed revelations have been corrupted over time.
FURTHER READING
THE CORRUPT QURAN’S MISSING VERSES PT. 1, PT. 2
Q. 2:75-79 & THE CORRUPT QURAN
Answering Islam – Sam Shamoun Theology Newsletter
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