Condemnation of Worldly Matters and Abstaining Thereby

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from al-Hatham ibn Waqid al-Hariri from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “One who abstains from worldly matters Allah establishes wisdom in his heart, makes his tongue speak it, and opens his eyes to see the defects of the world, its sicknesses and the cures for them. He takes him out of the world safely to the house of peace.”

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

61. Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr, from Sa’d Bin Abu Khalaf, from Abu Abdillah (as) who said: "Dreams are of three aspects: Good news from Allah for the believer, a warning from Satan, and confused dreams."

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasani all from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Sulayman ibn Dawud al-Minqari from Hafs ibn Ghiyath from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) say, ‘All the good is placed in a house and the key to that house is abstinence from worldly matters.’ The Imam then said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “A man will not sense the sweetness of belief in his heart until he is free of all concerns about worldly matters.”’ The Imam then said, ‘Before abstaining from the worldly things, to sense the sweetness of belief in you is like a prohibited thing.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from abu Hamza from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘The most supportive, of religious moral behavior, is abstinence from worldly matters.’”

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Ali ibn Muhammad from al- Qasim ibn Muhammad from Sulayman ibn Dawud al-Minqari from Ali ibn Hashim ibn al-Burayd from his father has said the following: “A man asked Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) about renunciation of worldly matters. The Imam said, ‘It consists of ten issues. The highest degree of renunciation of worldly matters is the lowest stage of abstinence in worldly matters (sins). The highest stage of abstinence in worldly matters is the lowest degree of certainty. The highest stage of certainty is the lowest stage of consent. It is renunciation of worldly matters that is mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . so that you would neither grieve over what you have lost nor become much happy about what Allah has granted to you. . . (57:23)

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

5. It is reported through the same chain of narrators he has narrated from al-Minqari from Sufyan ibn ‘Uyayna who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) say, ‘Any heart in which there is doubt or that considers anything as a partner of Allah, such heart is a failure. The only purpose for their (servants of Allah’s) renunciation of worldly things is to evacuate them from their heart for the matters of next life.’”

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

6. Ali has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘Of the signs of one’s interest in the rewards of the next life is his renunciation of immediate attraction of worldly matters. Renunciation of worldly matters does not reduce one’s share of what Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has assigned for him despite his renunciation of worldly matters. One’s greed in immediate attraction of worldly matters does not increase anything for him even if he exercises greed. The real loser is one who is deprived from his share of the next life.”

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

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Khath’ami from Talha ibn Zayd from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Every one of things the Messenger of Allah liked from this world was associated with suffering, hunger or fear.’”

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

8. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from al-Qasim ibn Yahya from his grandfather al-Hassan ibn Rashid from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once, the Holy Prophet came out very depressed. An angel came to him with the key to the treasures of the earth and said, ‘O Muhammad, these are the keys to the treasures of the earth and your Lord says, “Open these treasures and take whatever you want. It will not cause any reduction in your reward with Me.” The Messenger of Allah then said, ‘This world is home for the homeless. Only those who have no power of reason accumulate for this world.’ The angel then said, ‘I swear by the One Who has sent you with truth as a prophet that I heard what you just said from an angel saying it in the fourth heaven at the time these keys were given to me.’”

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

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Jumayl ibn Darraj from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah (a.s.) once passed by a kid of a goat that was dead, with ears cut and was thrown on the trash collection site of a people. He asked those people how much it was worth. They replied, ‘Even when alive it was worth less than a dirham.’ The Holy Prophet then said, ‘I swear by the One in whose hand is my soul that this world in the sight of Allah is worth less than this (dead) goat is in the eyes of the people who own it.”’

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

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhammad ibn Ali al- Qasani from those he has mentioned (in his book) from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Qasim from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘When Allah wants good for a servant (of Allah) He makes him reduce his interest in worldly matters, grants him good understanding in religion, and shows him his shortcomings. Whoever receives these things receives the good of both this and the next life.’ The Imam then said, ‘For the seekers of truth no other door is better than abstinence from worldly matters and this is exactly opposite to what the enemies of the truth search for.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, abstinence in what?’ The Imam said, ‘It is abstinence in desire for worldly matters, except one who exercises graceful patience. It (the worldly life) is only few days. It is unlawful for you to sense the test of belief without reducing your interest in worldly things.’ I (the narrator) heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘When the believer evacuates worldly matters from his self he gains new heights. He then senses the sweetness of the love for Allah and to the people of the world he looks like those whose power of reason is mixed and confused. In fact, they have become mixed with the love of Allah and have cut off all business with the others.’ I (the narrator) heard the Imam saying, ‘When a heart is cleared, the earth will look small for him until he gains real height.’”

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

11. Ali has narrated (from his father) from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasani from al- Qasim ibn Muhammad from Sulayman ibn Dawud al-Minqari from ‘Abd al- Razzaq ibn Hammam from Mu’ammar ibn Rashid from al-Zuhri Muhammad ibn Muslim ibn Shihab who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was asked, ‘Which deed is more meritorious in the sight of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy?’ The Imam said, ‘No deed, after knowing Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and the Messenger of Allah is more meritorious than to dislike (and hate) the world. It has many branches. Sins have many branches. The first disobedience to Allah was because of arrogance that Satan committed when he refused boastfully and became of those who reject (the command of Allah). Greed was the sin of Adam and Eve. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘We told Adam to stay with his spouse (Eve) in the garden and enjoy the foods therein. We (also) told them to stay away from going near a certain tree lest they might become one of the transgressors.’ (2:35) They took what they did not need and this remains in their descendents to the Day of Judgment. For this reason most of the things that the children of Adam want they do not need. Then it is jealousy because of which the son of Adam committed disobedience and murdered his brother out of jealousy. From this branch comes love for women, love for the world, love for leadership, love for comfort, love to speak, love for higher position and wealth. They are seven characteristics and all of them are gathered together in the love for the world. The prophets and scholars after knowing this have said: ‘Love for the world is the head of all sins.’ There are two worlds: the world of bare necessities and the condemned world.’”

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

12. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn Bukayr from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Seeking worldly benefits amounts to one’s disadvantages of the next world and seeking the advantages of the next world may become losses in the benefits of this world. You must then cause losses to worldly benefits; it is better to suffer worldly losses (than to suffer losses in the next life).’”

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

13. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from abu ‘Ubaydah al-Hadhdha’ who has said the following: “I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘(I request you to) teach me a Hadith that can benefit me.’ The Imam said, ‘O abu ‘Ubaydah, speak of death very often. No one speaks of death very often but that it reduces his interest in worldly matters.’”

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

14. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Hakam ibn Ayman from Dawud al-Abzari who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘There is an angel that announces every day, “O sons of Adam, reproduce for death, accumulate for annihilation and build for destruction.’”

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

15. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Amr ibn Aban from abu Hamza from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘The world has begun to move backwards and the next world is moving forward. Each world has its sons. Therefore, you must be of the sons of the next world and not the sons of this world. You must be of those who have reduced their interest in worldly matters and of those seriously interested in the next life. You must know that those with reduced interest in worldly matters have taken the earth as their habitat, the soil as their bedding, water as their perfume and have cut themselves off this world in all seriousness.’ “Note that those who are interested in paradise have harnessed their worldly desires and those who are afraid of the fire have turned away from prohibited matters. Whoever reduces his interests in worldly matters, hardships become easy for him. “Note that there are the servants of Allah who are as if they, actually, see the people of paradise in paradise live forever and the people of fire in the fire in huge suffering. Instead of evil coming from them it is absolute peace, the hearts of these servants of Allah are sad, their soul chaste, and their needs are very light. They exercise patience for a few short days followed by a very long lasting comfort. At night they stand up straight with their feet side by side and tears come down their cheeks. They plead before their Lord and struggle to set their neck free (of sins). In the day they are forbearing scholars, very virtuous and pious. They are slim like an arrow without fins; it is caused by their fear (for possible suffering in the next life) during their worship. On looking to them one may think they suffer from illness. They, in fact, have no illness, or any confusion in their reasoning power, but they have plunged into a tremendously great issue; it is the issue of the fire and all that it involves.”

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

16. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ali ibn al-Hakam from abu ‘Abd Allah al-Mu’min from Jabir who has said the following: “Once I went to visit abu la’ far (a.s.) and he said, ‘O Jabir, I swear by Allah, I am very sad and my heart is pre-occupied.’ I then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, what has pre-occupied your heart and what is the reason for your sadness?’ The Imam said, ‘O Jabir, if the religion of Allah in its pure form may enter one’s heart it preoccupies the heart above everything else. O Jabir, what is the world and what can one think it can be? Is it more than food to eat, clothes to wear and a woman whom you may find?’ “O Jabir, the believers are not satisfied with remaining in it (world) and they do not feel safe from the coming of the next life. O Jabir, the next life is the permanent house and this world is finishing and passing but the people of this world are neglectful. The believers are of deep understanding, people of thinking, of learning lessons and their speaking of Allah, Most Glorious is Whose name, is not silenced by means of what their ears hear. Their eyes are not blinded in speaking of Allah due to what they see of the worldly attractions (around). They have suceeded in gaining the rewards of the next life just as they have succeeded in gaining that knowledge. “O Jabir, you must know that people of piety are of smallest expenses and the most helpful to others. If you speak of them they will assist you and if you forget them they will speak of you. They are the most outspoken for the commands of Allah and steadfast in obeying the orders of Allah. They have discontinued their love (for others) with love for their Lord and they have cut themselves off from the world to obey their owner and king. They look to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and to His love with their hearts, and have learned that this is what they must look at due to its great position. Thus they have considered the world a temporary place to stay and then leave forever, or like a property that one finds in his dream and upon waking finds no trace of it. I give you this example because to people of reason and knowledge of Allah it is like fast-passing shadow. O Jabir, protect what Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, expects you to protect of His religion and wisdom. Never ask of things that are for you with Him but ask of His things that are with your soul. If the world is other than what I described for you, then consider it a house (a correctional facility) where you can seek to reform yourself. I swear by my life that many are those who are greedy for a certain matter but it makes them miserable when they achieve it and many are those who dislike a certain matter but it makes them fortunate when they find it. This is mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘So that Allah would test the faith of the believers, and deprive the unbelievers of (His) blessings.’” (3:141) Note: “House (correctional facility) and reform” is a reference to verse, 24, 84, 57, 35 and 24 of Chapters, 41, 16, 30, 45 and 41, respectively.

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

17. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Musa ibn Bakr from abu Ibrahim (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Dhar, may Allah grant him favors, has said, ‘May Allah renounce the world, on my behalf, except for two loaves of barley bread daily, one for my lunch and the other for my dinner and two woolen pieces of cloth which I use one as a shirt and the other as trousers.’”

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

18. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Muthanna from abu Basir from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Dhar, may Allah grant him favors, has said in his sermons, ‘O you who are found of knowledge, consider worldly things as nothing except what is beneficial in it, and its evil is harmful to people except those to whom Allah has done favors. O you who are found of knowledge do not allow your family and property to preoccupy you so you forget all about your soul. One day you will leave them like a mere guest among them does. You then will depart to be with others. This world and the next world are like two places to move from one to the other. Between death and resurrection, it is like a short nap after which you wake up. O you, who are found of knowledge, send forward supplies for yourself before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy; you will be rewarded for your knowledge. You shall reap as you sow, O you who are found of knowledge.’”

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

19. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from al-Qasim ibn Yahya from his grand father al-Hassan ibn Rashid from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘What do 1 have to do with the world. My case with the world is like a traveler who finds a tree in his day of journey and uses its shadow for a short rest and then continues for the rest of his journey, leaving the tree behind.’”

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

21. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from certain individuals of his people from ibn abu Ya’fur who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Of the things that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, spoke to Moses was this: “O Moses, do not rely upon the world like the unjust ones or like those who take it as their parents. O Moses, were I to leave you in the care of your own soul, lover of worldly things and its attraction would overcome you. O Moses, race in good, the people of goodness and compete with them in goodness; goodness is like its name. Leave alone of worldly matters what is beyond the bare necessities. Do not allow your eyes to look to every attractive matter that is left to its own self (considered as worthless). Note that every misfortune emerges from the love for the world. No one of you should feel excited for great wealth; with bigger wealth sins in the obligatory rights may increase. No one must feel happy because of people’s happiness with him until he learns whether Allah is also happy with him or not. No creature must be excited about people obeying him; people’s obeying him and following him on something other than the right thing is destruction for him as well as his followers.’”

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

22. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “It is in the book of Ali (a.s.) ‘The example of the world is like a snake which is of soft touch and has deadly poison inside. People of reason stay away from it and ignorant children wish to feel it.’”

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

24. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn Mughirah and others from Talha ibn Zayd from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The case of the world is like the water of the ocean. The more a thirsty person drinks from it, the thirstier he becomes, consequently, it kills him.”

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

25. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla ibn Muhammad from al- Washsha’ who has said the following: “I heard al-Rida (a.s.) say, ‘Jesus son of Mary (peace be upon him) said to his disciples, “O Israelites, do not regret for what you may miss of the world, just as the people of the world (who have no religion) do not regret for what they miss of religion when they find their worldly materials.’”

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

20. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yahya ibn ‘Aqaba al-Azdi from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘The case of a person who is greedy in worldly matters is like the case of a silkworm. The more it wraps silk around itself the more difficult it becomes for it to get out until at last it dies therein in sorrow.’ The narrator has said that abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) then said, ‘Of the advice of Luqman to his son was this: ‘My son, people before you collected for their children but their collection never remained in place, nor were those for whom the collection was made. You are only a servant for hire. You are ordered to perform a deed and receive payment for it. Do your deed and receive payment. Do not be like the sheep who, finds a green farm and keeps eating until fatness kills it. Take the world as a bridge to cross a river and leave it when you are on the other side. Never return to it until the end of time. Destroy it and never repair it; you are not ordered to build it. “Bear in mind that tomorrow you will be questioned before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, of four things. You will be asked about your youth, how you made it old, about your life span, how you finished it, and about your properties, how you earned them and how you spent them. Wake up for these questions and prepare the answers. Do not regret for what you have missed of worldly things. The little worldly things do not last very long and more of the worldly things are not without misfortune. Be cautious, work hard in your affairs, remove the curtain before you. Get involved in the lawful matters of your Lord, renew repentance in your heart, work hard when you are free and before you are targeted (by the angel of death) for dying and judgment is issued that separates you from your goal.’”

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

23. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from abu Jamilah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) wrote to one of his companions to advise him. “I recommend that you and I be pious before the One whose disobedience is not lawful. Besides Him, in no one else is placing any hope worthwhile. Sufficiency is not achieveable without Him. Whoever is pious before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, is strong and satisfied with food and drink, his reason soars above the people of the world. His body is with the people of the world, but his heart and power of reason examine the next life. The light of his heart extinguishes what his eyes see of the love of the world. He considers unlawful things in it filthy and stays away from its doubtful things. He, I swear by Allah, suffers losses in even clean lawful matters except small pieces for the bare necessities that keep him standing to survive and clothes, to cover his privacy, of the roughest and thickest quality that he can find. He did not find anything in which to place his trust and hope in the needed circumstances, so he placed his trust and hope in the Creator of all things. He worked hard and struggled intensely, and suffered fatigue until his ribs appeared and his eyes sunk. Allah, then, in exchange for this, strengthened his body and intensified his power of reason. What He has stored for him in the next life is much greater. Reject the world. Love of the world makes one blind, deaf and dumb and it bends the necks in humiliation. Compensate for what is left of your life and do not leave your task for tomorrow or after tomorrow. Those who were before were destroyed because of their dependence on false hope and temptation, until the command of Allah came suddenly when they were neglectful. They were transferred on (pieces of) wood to their dark and narrow graves. Their children and family abandoned them there. He was then left to Allah with a submissive heart. Those who reject the world with firmness will face no defeat or betrayal. May Allah help us and you in obeying Him, and may Allah give us and you the opportunity to do what He likes.’”

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