al-Mawaidh, Sifat ash-Shia, Fadhail ash-Shia

Although some scholars ascribe this book to the father of Sheikh As-Saduq, this book is one of the four master reference books of Shia upon which the scholars depend completely and the jurisprudents extract rulings. The book largely contains three main parts but also contains an interesting and relatively descriptive biography of Sheikh Saduq in the beginning. The first part consists of a few commandments of the Prophet (S) to Imam Ali (A) and other companions and then a few brief sermons of the Prophet (S). It also consists of a few commandments of Imam Ali (A) afterwards. The first ends with 158 different maxims of the Prophet (S) and the Imams (A). The second part, Sifat ush-Shia contains 71 of those ahadith and maxims of the Prophet (S) and Imams (A) which indicate the qualities and characteristics that a Shia Believer should or should not possess. Lastly the third part, as the name suggests; contains 45 of those ahadith of the Prophet and Imams (A) which manifest the merits of the Shia Believers, their rewards and status in the hereafter.