Promptness in Good Deeds

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Nu’man who has that narrated to him Hamzah ibn Humran who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘When one of you intends to do a good deed, he should do it without delay; a servant (of Allah) perhaps performs a prayer or fasts for a day, thereupon, it is said to him, “Do whatever you like (other good deeds) after this act, Allah has already granted you forgiveness. (One may not know which of his worships has been accepted.)”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

65. Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al-Nawfaly, from Al-Sakuny, who has narrated the following: Abu Abdullah (asws) has said that the Rasool (saww) Allah (azwj) said; ‘For whom the Blessings appear should frequently mention ‘الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ’ ‘Praise be to Allah (azwj)’, and the one who has numerous worries so for him is ‘بِالِاسْتِغْفَارِ’ to seek Forgiveness, and the one who is pressed by the poverty should frequently say ‘لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ’ ‘There is no Power and no Might except by Allah (azwj) the High the Magnificent, the poverty would be negated from him’. And he (asws) said: ‘The Prophet (saww) missed a man from the Helpers so he (saww) said to him: ‘What is the reason for your absence?’ He said, ‘The poverty, O Rasool (saww) Allah (azwj), and the lengthy illness’. So he (saww) said to him: ‘Shall I (saww) teach you certain words, if you were to recite these, the poverty would go away from you, as well as the illness?’ He said, ‘Yes, O Rasool (saww) Allah (azwj)’. So he (saww) said: ‘When it is the morning and evening, say: ‘There is no Power and no Might except by Allah (azwj), the High, the Magnificent. I hereby rely upon the Alive Who does not die, and Praise be to Allah (azwj) Who never Took for Himself (azwj) a son, and there never was for Him (azwj) an associate in the Kingdom, and will not be for Him (azwj) a guardian from the humiliation, and Great is His (azwj) Greatness’. So the man said, ‘By Allah (azwj), I had not recited it except for three days, and the poverty and the illness went away from me’.

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

2. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ali ibn al-Hakam from abu Jamilah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Begin your day with a good deed, dictate to your guards (angels on both shoulders) good in the beginning and in the end of the day, all that is in between is forgiven if Allah so wills.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

3. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Marazim ibn Hakim from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “My father (a.s.) would say, ‘When you intend to perform a good deed, do not delay; you may not know what happens next.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn ‘Udhayna from Zurara from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Of the good deeds that Allah loves is that which is done without delays.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Bashir ibn Yasar from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “When you intend to perform anything good, then do not delay. A man may fast on a hot day and hope thereby to receive what is with Allah, and Allah then sets him free from fire. Do not underestimate the good deeds with which one may seek nearness to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, even if it is a piece of a date.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

6. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from certain individuals of our people from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Whoever intends to perform a good deed should act fast and do not delay. Perhaps a servant (of Allah) performs a deed and Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, says, ‘I have granted you forgiveness and will never write down anything against you.’ Whoever intends to perform an evil deed he must not do it. Perhaps a man does an evil deed and Allah, the Most Holy, sees it and says, “I swear by My Majesty and Glory to never forgive you hereafter.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

7. Ali has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “When you intend to perform a good deed, do not delay doing it; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, perhaps finds a servant (of Allah) during a good deed of obedience and He, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, may say, ‘I will never subject you to punishment hereafter.’ If you intend to do an evil deed, you must not do it; perhaps Allah finds a servant during an act of disobedience and may say, “I swear by My Majesty and Glory to never forgive you hereafter.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

8. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from ibn Faddal from abu Jamilah from Muhammad ibn Humran from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “When one of you intends to perform a good deed or establish good relations there will be two Satans, one on each side. He, thus, should perform it immediately before they prevent him from the good deed.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from abu al-Jarud who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) say, ‘Whoever intends to perform a good deed he should do it without delay; Satan keeps an eye on anything that is delayed.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

10. Muhammad ibnY ahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ali ibn Asbat from al-‘Ala’ from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) say, ‘Allah has made good deeds heavy for the people of the world like its weight in their balance on the Day of Judgment. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has made evil of a light weight on the people of the world just as it will be of a light weight (no value) in their balance on the Day of Judgment.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.