Avoiding Sin Is Easier Than Pleading For Forgiveness

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from certain individuals of his people from al- ‘Abbas al- Baqbaq who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, “Avoiding sin is easier than pleading for forgiveness. How many are the cases of very short period of lustful activities that cause prolonged sadness. Death disgraces the world (uncovers its worthlessness) and it has not left any happiness for the people of proper understanding.’”

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

201. Ali, from Ali Bin Al-Husayn, from Muhammad Al-Kunary who said: ‘It was narrated to us with an unbroken chain going up to Abu Abdullah (asws) regarding His (azwj) Statement, Mighty is His (azwj) Mention: “[65:2] and whoever is careful of (his duty to) Allah, He will make for him an outlet [65:3] And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine”. He (asws) said: ‘These are our (asws) weak Shites who do not have the means in order to take it (directly) from us (asws). So they hear our (asws) Hadeeth and they try to accumulate from our (asws) Knowledge. A people who are higher than them, who spend their wealth, tiring their bodies to the extent that they came up to us (asws), hear our (asws) Hadeeth and transmit these to them. So these ones preserve them, whilst those ones waste them. So they are the ones for whom Allah (azwj) Mighty is His (azwj) Mention Makes an outlet for them and Gives them Sustenance (Hadeeth) from a source which they had not even considered beforehand. And with regards to the Statement of Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic: “[88:1] Has not there come to you the news of the overwhelming calamity?” he (asws) said; ‘These are the ones who have cheated the Imam (asws)’ – up to the Statement of the Mighty and Majestic: “[88:7] Which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger”, said: ‘It will neither benefit them, nor free them from needs, nor will it benefit them with the entering (marital relationships), nor free them from the need of sitting down (from begging for more)’.

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