الكافي- ط الاسلامية, volume 5, page 79

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad from Shihab ibn ‘Abd Rabbihi who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘Even if you find enough reason to believe that this task (the rise of al-Qa’im with divine authority) will take place tomorrow, still you must not neglect work for a living. If you cannot complete the work do (what you can)”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

10. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from those whom he has mentioned from Aban from al-‘Ala’ who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Why should anyone among you be weaker than an ant which pulls (food) to its colony?”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

11. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Haytham ibn abu Masruq from Muhammad ibn ’Umar ibn Bazi’ from Ahmad ibn ‘A’idh from Kulayb al-Saydawiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), to pray for me for sustenance; my affairs are turning to the worse.’ He (the Imam) quickly said, ‘No, you must go out and work to make a living.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘ Abd al-Rahman ibn Hammad from Ziyad al-Qandiy from Al-Husayn al-Sahhaf from Sadir who said: “I asked abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.), ‘What should a man do for work to make a living?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘If you open your door and spread your merchandise, you then have done what you should have been doing.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from the one whom he has mentioned from al- Tayyar who has said the following: ‘Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), once asked me, ‘What do you manage? What do you make?’ I replied, ‘I am not in anything.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Find a house, (a facility) broom its yards, sprinkle water around, spread the merchandise on it. In doing this you have done what should have been done.’ I (the narrator) followed his instruction and found sustenance.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.