Al-Kafi kaf-in li-shi'atina

Al-Kāfī kāf-in li-Shīʿatinā (Arabic: الكافي كافٍ لِشیعَتِنا) is a dictum attributed to Imam al-Mahdi (a), translating to "the book al-Kafi is sufficient for our Shi'as." It is frequently cited to validate the authority and authenticity of the prominent hadith collection Al-Kafi, compiled by Muhammad b. Ya'qub al-Kulayni.

The prevalence of the phrase stems from a scholarly tradition suggesting that Al-Kafi was presented to and subsequently endorsed by Imam al-Mahdi (a). Muhammad Amin al-Astarabadi (d. 1033/1623-24) is reportedly the first scholar to critically examine the origins of this statement. His investigation was prompted by the phrase's widespread circulation, as some contemporaries utilised it to authenticate the entirety of the narrations contained within Al-Kafi. Citing the 13th/19th-century Shi'a traditionist Mirza Husayn Nuri, modern researchers note that Astarabadi scrutinized the phrase due to its unfounded popularity during his era. He ultimately concluded that its attribution to Imam al-Mahdi (a) lacked a sound historical basis.

Various researchers observe that prominent scholars, such as Muhammad Taqi al-Majlisi and Muhammad b. Isma'il al-Ha'iri al-Mazandarani, maintained that Al-Kafi was indeed presented to Imam al-Mahdi (a); however, they notably refrained from explicitly citing the phrase "Al-Kafi kaf-in li-shi'atina." Conversely, the 14th/20th-century scholar Muhammad 'Ali Mudarris Tabrizi asserted that Imam al-Mahdi (a) not only approved of the book but explicitly uttered this exact sentence.

According to specialists in hadith sciences, Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi abstained from commenting on the sentence itself and firmly rejected the notion that the entire compendium was presented to the Imam (a). He posited that, given the historical practice of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) in supporting rather than rejecting Shi'a scholarly endeavors, one might infer the Imam's (a) tacit approval or satisfaction with foundational works like Al-Kafi. Furthermore, Mirza Husayn Nuri formally regarded the attribution of this phrase to the Imam (a) as unsubstantiated, while the esteemed Shi'a rijal scholar 'Abd Allah al-Mamaqani similarly cast significant doubt upon its historical authenticity.