Al-Jafr (book)

rdf:langString Al-Jafr (book)

rdf:langString Al-Jafr (Arabic: ٱلْجَفْر) is a mystical book which, in Shia belief, includes esoteric teachings, dictated by the Islamic prophet Muhammad to Ali. Ali was cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad and is regarded by the Shia as their first Imam and the rightful successor to Muhammad. In Shia belief, al-Jafr was a source of special knowledge in Muhammad's household, available to the successors of Ali, namely, Shia Imams, which was handed down from each Imam to the next. The book is said to contain all information ever needed in matters of religion, including a detailed penal code that accounts even for bruises. The first mention of the book is often associated with the sixth Shia Imam, Ja'far al-Sadiq. The Twelver Shia believe that the book is now in the possession of the last Imam, Mahdi. Alternatively, al-Jafr might refer to two leather bags, one of which contains various scrolls of the past prophets and the scrolls inherited from Muhammad, Ali, and Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad. The other bag is said to contain the armour and weapons of Muhammad.