Al-jāmi'a () meaning "the Inclusive" is a book that
Twelver Shias believe was dictated by
Muhammad to
Ali.
Ja'far al-Sadiq refers to it as a scroll (''ṣaḥīfa'') that is 70 cubits long and was dictated by the
Prophet Muhammad and written down by Ali. It is also known as
Kitab Ali (lit. Book of Ali) in some sources. It is said that it covers all legal questions, including such details as the blood-money due for a scratch.
[The Origins of the Knowledge of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.): Al-Jamia: Source: Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) in the Holy Qur'an and Hadith, by Ayatullah Muhammadi Rayshahri](_blank)
. imamreza.net. Retrieved on 16 January 2012.
[ziyaraat.net: Ali the Magnificent, by Yousuf N. Lalljee, pg.69](_blank)
(PDF) . Retrieved on 16 January 2012.
. imamalinet.net. Retrieved on 16 January 2012.[Recognition of the Holy Imams (A.S.) in the Light of Traditions: Imam Ali Ibn Musa Al-Riza (a.s), by Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Reza Mudarrisi Yazdi](_blank)
. imamreza.net. Retrieved on 16 January 2012. like
Al-Jafr.
Description
Al-Jamia is a scroll made from
rams skin which measures 70
cubits long (as measured by the arm of Muhammad) and the width of a
sheepskin.
[Maxims of the Holy Prophet and the Imams (A.S.): Source: Al-Mawaaizh, Shaykh Saduq](_blank)
. imamreza.net. Retrieved on 16 January 2012.[Definition: al-Jami’a](_blank)
Babylon.com. Retrieved on 16 January 2012.
al-islam.org (6 April 1997). Retrieved on 16 January 2012.
. al-huda.al-khoei.org. Retrieved on 16 January 2012.
It is believed that the al-Jami'a never ages and that nothing written therein can be erased ("darasa"). And that because
Imams have it, they are significantly more knowledgeable about the law than any other experts. Abd Allah ibn Shubruma, a jurist from Kufa who died in 144/761
I'm wild-guessing that 144 means 144 anno Hijra and 761 is 761 common era--feel free to correct me* is thus disparaged by
Ja'far al-Sadiq. Similar to this, Ja'far al-Sadiq claims that Abd Allah ibn Al-Hasan, a leader of the rival Shi'i Hasanid branch, only has access to the texts that are available to the rest of the community; he lacks the additional texts that the Imams possess and will not be able to respond to legal questions as a result. There is no need for analogic reasoning (qiys) therefore, according to Shia imams, because the jami'a already has all of the answers. Ja'far al-Sadiq is said to have buried the book when the extremist Shi'i al-Mughīra ibn Sa'īd was crucified in 119/73736
I'm also wild-guessing that 119 means 119 anno Hijra and 73736 is likely a typo for means 736 common era--again feel free to correct me*on the orders of the
Umayyad governor
Khalid al-Qasri, an event that al-Sadiq must have perceived as posing a threat to other Shi'is as well. The book, thus, was well guarded against enemies.
The Twelver Shia believe that Al-Jamia is currently in the possession of the
12th Imam
Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Mahdī ( ar, محمد بن الحسن المهدي) is believed by the Twelver Shia to be the last of the Twelve Imams and the eschatological Mahdi, who will emerge in the end of time to establish peace and justi ...
Muhammad al-Mahdi
Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Mahdī ( ar, محمد بن الحسن المهدي) is believed by the Twelver Shia to be the last of the Twelve Imams and the eschatological Mahdi, who will emerge in the end of time to establish peace and justic ...
, after he inherited it from his predecessors.
Contents
The contents of al-Jamia include:
*Details and showing of all the permitted (
halal) and sinful things (
haraam).
*Legal verdicts.
See also
*
Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya
*
Book of Ali
*
Book of Fatimah
*
Mushaf
*
Nahj al-Balagha
References
* {{cite book , last1=Kohlberg , first1=Etan , editor1-last=Ehteshami , editor1-first=Amin , title=In Praise of the Few. Studies in Shiʿi Thought and History , date=2020 , publisher=Brill , isbn=978-90-04-40697-1
External links
Kitab Al-Kafi, Chapter 40 (Statements about al-Jafr, al-Jami‘ and the Book of Fatima (a.s.)), translated by Muhammad Sarwar
Islamic texts
Shia literature