paper, the author tries to give an account of some historical sources used by Sheikh Kulayni. Sheikh Kulayni used books written by Salim bin Qais, Jabir ibn Yazid Jufi, Aban ibn Taghlib, Abu Muhammed Jafari, Abu Ishaq Ahmari Nahavandi, Akhbar of Sayyid Ishaq ibn Muhammad Nakhai, al-Mubtada, al-Mabath al-Maghazi, al-Wafat, al-Saqifa and al-Radda written by Aban bin Uthman, books written by Jafar ibn Muhammad Kufi, Ibrahim ibn Muhammad Thaqafi, Saalma ibn al-Khattab, Nasr ibn Muzahim Minqari Hisham ibn Muhammad ibn Saib Kalbi, Muhammad ibn Sinan, Hussayn bin Hassan Hussayni, Akhbar al-Qaim (a.s) by Allan Kulayni and other resources. History books written by generations after Sheikh Kulayni as al-Irshad by Sheikh Mufid, Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Nima by Sheikh Saduq, Kifaya al-Athar by Khazaz Qummi, al-Ghiba by Shaykh al-Tusi and al-Ghiba by Numani are all indebted to Sheikh Kulayni and have quoted many of their traditions from al-Kafi.

Key Words: Sheikh Kulayni’s Library, Sources of al-Kafi, Historical Sources of al-Kafi.

From "Theomorphism" to "Systematic Theism"
Document and Content Analysis of a Hadith:
"People are our slaves in the matters of obedience to us."

Mohammad Taqi Diyyari Bidgoli

Mahyar Khani Moqaddam

The above mentioned hadith [People are our slaves in the matters of obedience to us.] is one of the traditions that Imam Reza expressed in order to deal with deviations. The authors of the present paper try to make a content and document analysis of the hadith using descriptive and analytical method. At first, they make a verification of the people in the document of the hadith, then they outline and explain two approaches to the Imams: "theomorphism of the Imams" and "contemptuous approach" with emphasis on the difference in the meaning of the word "abid [slave]" and the political and social context of Imam Reza’s time. Imam Reza intended to reject these two approaches. The authors finally try to explain the correct approach to the hadith "viz. the Imams as means of guidance". For the Shia believe that the Imams after the Prophets shoulder the responsibility of guiding people. This divine gift of ismat [infallibility] has been bestowed upon them so that they can accomplish their goals. It will be obligatory upon us to comply with them.

Key Words: Slaves in the Matters of Obedience to Us, Theomorphism, Theism, Imams, Phenomenon of Exaggeration, Imam Reza;