Trials & Divine Tests

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَبِأَفْضَلِ مَكَانٍ ثَلَاثاً[5] إِنَّهُ لَيَبْتَلِيهِ بِالْبَلَاءِ ثُمَّ يَنْزِعُ نَفْسَهُ عُضْواً عُضْواً مِنْ جَسَدِهِ وَ هُوَ يَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘A believer has the best place in the sight of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, - three times. Allah tries him with misfortunes and then pulls his soul out of the parts of his body one after the other but he continues praising Allah.’”

إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مَنْزِلَةً لَا يَبْلُغُهَا عَبْدٌ إِلَّا بِالابْتِلَاءِ فِي جَسَدِهِ.

“In paradise there is a position that is accessible only to those who have gone through bodily trials of suffering in this world.”

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا أَلْقَى مِنَ الْأَوْجَاعِ وَ كَانَ مِسْقَاماً[1] فَقَالَ لِي يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْمُؤْمِنُ مَا لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ فِي الْمَصَائِبِ لَتَمَنَّى أَنَّهُ قُرِضَ بِالْمَقَارِيضِ.

“Once I complained to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about pain. (He was often in pains). The Imam said, ‘O ‘Abd Allah, had a believer known about the reward for suffering from afflictions, he would have wished to be cut in pieces with scissors.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْحَقِّ لَمْ يَزَالُوا مُنْذُ كَانُوا فِي شِدَّةٍ أَمَا إِنَّ ذَلِكَ إِلَى مُدَّةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ وَ عَافِيَةٍ طَوِيلَةٍ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The people of truth had always, since their coming into being, been in suffering but that is for a short time which is followed by everlasting happiness.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَيَتَعَاهَدُ الْمُؤْمِنَ بِالْبَلَاءِ[2] كَمَا يَتَعَاهَدُ الرَّجُلُ أَهْلَهُ بِالْهَدِيَّةِ مِنَ الْغَيْبَةِ وَ يَحْمِيهِ الدُّنْيَا[3] كَمَا يَحْمِي الطَّبِيبُ الْمَرِيضَ.

“Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has an undertaking to try the believers with misfortune just as a man is committed to send gifts to his family in his absence. He holds him (believer) back from the worldly things just as the physicians hold back a patient from certain items of food.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَمْ يُؤْمِنِ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنْ هَزَاهِزِ الدُّنْيَا[4] وَ لَكِنَّهُ آمَنَهُ مِنَ الْعَمَى فِيهَا وَ الشَّقَاءِ فِي الْآخِرَةِ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah has not protected the believers from the turmoil of the world but He has protected them from blindness in it and the wickedness of the next life.’”

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنِّي لَأَكْرَهُ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يُعَافَى فِي الدُّنْيَا فَلَا يُصِيبَهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنَ الْمَصَائِبِ.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘I do not like a person’s (total freedom from) suffering in the world from misfortunes.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ دُعِيَ النَّبِيُّ ص إِلَى طَعَامٍ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ مَنْزِلَ الرَّجُلِ نَظَرَ إِلَى دَجَاجَةٍ فَوْقَ حَائِطٍ قَدْ بَاضَتْ فَتَقَعُ الْبَيْضَةُ عَلَى وَتِدٍ فِي حَائِطٍ فَثَبَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَمْ تَسْقُطْ وَ لَمْ تَنْكَسِرْ فَتَعَجَّبَ النَّبِيُّ ص مِنْهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ أَ عَجِبْتَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْبَيْضَةِ فَوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا رُزِئْتُ‌[1] شَيْئاً قَطُّ قَالَ فَنَهَ

“Once, the Holy Prophet was invited for food. When he entered the house he saw a hen that had laid an egg on a wall and it fell on the top of a stake. It stayed there and did not fall off or break. The Holy Prophet expressed astonishment and the man said, ‘Were you astonished because of this egg? I swear by the One who

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا حَاجَةَ لِلَّهِ فِيمَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُ‌[3] فِي مَالِهِ وَ بَدَنِهِ نَصِيبٌ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Allah is not interested in a person in whose property or his own self there is no share (of losses).”’

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَبْتَلِي الْمُؤْمِنَ بِكُلِّ بَلِيَّةٍ وَ يُمِيتُهُ بِكُلِّ مِيتَةٍ وَ لَا يَبْتَلِيهِ بِذَهَابِ عَقْلِهِ أَ مَا تَرَى أَيُّوبَ كَيْفَ سُلِّطَ إِبْلِيسُ عَلَى مَالِهِ وَ عَلَى وُلْدِهِ وَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ وَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْهُ وَ لَمْ يُسَلَّطْ عَلَى عَقْلِهِ تُرِكَ لَهُ‌ لِيُوَحِّدَ اللَّهَ بِهِ‌[1].

22. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Uthman al-Nawa’ from those he has mentioned (in his book) from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who said: “Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, sets the believers into trials of all kinds and causes them to die by all kinds of deaths but He does n

إِنَّهُ لَيَكُونُ لِلْعَبْدِ مَنْزِلَةٌ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَمَا يَنَالُهَا إِلَّا بِإِحْدَى خَصْلَتَيْنِ إِمَّا بِذَهَابِ مَالِهِ أَوْ بِبَلِيَّةٍ فِي جَسَدِهِ.

“For a servant (of Allah) there is a position with Allah that he can reach only through two qualities: Loss of his property or misfortune in his body.”

قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَوْ لَا أَنْ يَجِدَ عَبْدِيَ الْمُؤْمِنُ فِي قَلْبِهِ‌[2] لَعَصَّبْتُ رَأْسَ الْكَافِرِ بِعِصَابَةِ حَدِيدٍ لَا يُصَدَّعُ رَأْسُهُ أَبَداً[3].

24. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Faddal from Muthanna al-Hannat from abu ‘Usamah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘Had my believing servant not felt sadness in his heart, I would have wrapped up the head of the u

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ كَمَثَلِ خَامَةِ الزَّرْعِ‌[1] تُكْفِئُهَا الرِّيَاحُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ كَذَلِكَ الْمُؤْمِنُ تُكْفِئُهُ الْأَوْجَاعُ وَ الْأَمْرَاضُ وَ مَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ كَمَثَلِ الْإِرْزَبَّةِ الْمُسْتَقِيمَةِ[2] الَّتِي لَا يُصِيبُهَا شَيْ‌ءٌ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقْصِفَهُ قَصْفاً[3].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The likeness of the believers is like sprouting plants that are swirled back and forth by the winds. The believers are also turned and bent by pain and illness. The likeness of a hypocrite is that of an iron that is not affected by anything until death comes and shatters him with a (f

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَوْماً لِأَصْحَابِهِ‌ مَلْعُونٌ كُلُّ مَالٍ لَا يُزَكَّى مَلْعُونٌ كُلُّ جَسَدٍ لَا يُزَكَّى وَ لَوْ فِي كُلِّ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً مَرَّةً فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمَّا زَكَاةُ الْمَالِ فَقَدْ عَرَفْنَاهَا فَمَا زَكَاةُ الْأَجْسَادِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ أَنْ تُصَابَ بِآفَةٍ قَالَ فَتَغَيَّرَتْ وُجُوهُ الَّذِينَ سَمِعُوا ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ فَلَمَّا رَآهُمْ قَدْ تَغَيَّرَتْ أَلْوَانُهُمْ قَالَ لَهُمْ

“The Messenger of Allah one day said to his companions, ‘Condemned is every property that is not purified by paying al- Zakat (charity), condemned is the body that is not purified once in every forty days.’ He was then asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, we know how property is purified, but what is al-Zakat (purification) o

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ يُبْتَلَى الْمُؤْمِنُ بِالْجُذَامِ وَ الْبَرَصِ وَ أَشْبَاهِ هَذَا قَالَ فَقَالَ وَ هَلْ كُتِبَ الْبَلَاءُ إِلَّا عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Does a believer suffer from leprosy or similar diseases?’ The Imam asked, ‘Is misfortune written for anyone other than the believers?”’

إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لَيَكْرُمُ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَتَّى لَوْ سَأَلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا فِيهَا- أَعْطَاهُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْتَقِصَ مِنْ مُلْكِهِ شَيْئاً وَ إِنَّ الْكَافِرَ لَيَهُونُ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَتَّى لَوْ سَأَلَهُ الدُّنْيَا بِمَا فِيهَا أَعْطَاهُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْتَقِصَ مِنْ مُلْكِهِ شَيْئاً وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيَتَعَاهَدُ عَبْدَهُ الْمُؤْمِنَ بِالْبَلَاءِ كَمَا يَتَعَاهَدُ الْغَائِبُ أَهْلَهُ بِالط

“A believer is so important to Allah that if he asks Him paradise and all that is therein. He will give it to him without any shortages caused to His kingdom. The unbeliever is so insignificant before Allah that if he asks the whole world and all that is therein. He will give it to him without any shortages caused in H

إِنَّ فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع‌ أَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ بَلَاءً النَّبِيُّونَ ثُمَّ الْوَصِيُّونَ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ وَ إِنَّمَا يُبْتَلَى الْمُؤْمِنُ عَلَى قَدْرِ أَعْمَالِهِ الْحَسَنَةِ فَمَنْ صَحَّ دِينُهُ وَ حَسُنَ عَمَلُهُ اشْتَدَّ بَلَاؤُهُ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمْ يَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا ثَوَاباً لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَ لَا عُقُوبَةً لِكَافِرٍ وَ مَنْ سَخُفَ دِينُهُ وَ ضَعُفَ عَمَلُهُ قَلَّ بَلَا

“It is in the book of Ali (a.s.) that the people who suffer from the most intense form of misfortune are the prophets, then the successors of the prophets, then are people of closer position to the successors of the prophets and so on are the other groups. The trials of the believers are proportionate to their good dee

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ هَذَا الَّذِي ظَهَرَ بِوَجْهِي‌[3]- يَزْعُمُ النَّاسُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَبْتَلِ بِهِ عَبْداً لَهُ فِيهِ حَاجَةٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي لَقَدْ كَانَ مُؤْمِنُ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ مُكَنَّعَ الْأَصَابِعِ‌[4] فَكَانَ يَقُولُ هَكَذَا وَ يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ وَ يَقُولُ- يا قَوْمِ اتَّبِعُوا الْمُرْسَلِينَ‌ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي إِذَا كَانَ الثُّلُثُ الْأَخِيرُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فِي أَوَّلِهِ فَتَوَضَّ وَ قُ

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘About this thing that has appeared on my face, people think Allah does not make suffer (from this) any servant in whom He is interested.’ The Imam said, ‘The believer among the people of Pharaoh had crippled fingers. He would extend his fingers and say, “My people follow the Messen

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا أُعْطِيَ عَبْدٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا اعْتِبَاراً وَ مَا زُوِيَ عَنْهُ إِلَّا اخْتِبَاراً.

“Whatever a servant is given of worldly things is to make him learn a lesson and whatever is withheld from him is to place him under the trial.’”

أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ عِرْقٍ يَضْرِبُ وَ لَا نَكْبَةٍ وَ لَا صُدَاعٍ وَ لَا مَرَضٍ إِلَّا بِذَنْبٍ وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ- وَ ما أَصابَكُمْ‌ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِما كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ‌ وَ يَعْفُوا عَنْ كَثِيرٍ[3] قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَ مَا يَعْفُو اللَّهُ أَكْثَرُ مِمَّا يُؤَاخِذُ بِهِ.

“No vein is injured, no failure takes place, no headache or illness occurs but because of the sin. This is mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Whatever hardship befalls you is the result of your own deeds. Allah pardons many of your sins.’ (42:30) The Imam then said, ‘Allah forgives more

سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ‌ كُلَّمَا أَحْدَثَ الْعِبَادُ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ مَا لَمْ يَكُونُوا يَعْمَلُونَ أَحْدَثَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ مِنَ الْبَلَاءِ مَا لَمْ يَكُونُوا يَعْرِفُونَ.

“I heard al-Rida (a.s.) saying, ‘Whenever servants commit such sins that they had not committed before, Allah creates a new misfortune against them of which they had no knowledge.’”

قَالَ: وَ النِّفَاقُ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ دَعَائِمَ عَلَى الْهَوَى وَ الْهُوَيْنَا وَ الْحَفِيظَةِ وَ الطَّمَعِ‌[8] فَالْهَوَى عَلَى أَرْبَعِ شُعَبٍ عَلَى الْبَغْيِ وَ الْعُدْوَانِ وَ الشَّهْوَةِ وَ الطُّغْيَانِ- فَمَنْ‌ بَغَى كَثُرَتْ غَوَائِلُهُ وَ تُخُلِّيَ مِنْهُ وَ قُصِرَ عَلَيْهِ‌[1] وَ مَنِ اعْتَدَى لَمْ يُؤْمَنْ بَوَائِقُهُ وَ لَمْ يَسْلَمْ قَلْبُهُ وَ لَمْ يَمْلِكْ نَفْسَهُ عَنِ الشَّهَوَاتِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْذِلْ

“‘Hypocrisy has four pillars: Desire, Neglect, Resentment and Greed. “Desire is of four branches: disproportionate behavior, transgression, lust and insubordination. Whoever behaves disproportionately faces great risks, remains lonely and without supporters. Whoever transgresses does not remain immune to harmful conseq

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلى‌ حَرْفٍ‌ فَإِنْ أَصابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَ إِنْ أَصابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انْقَلَبَ عَلى‌ وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيا وَ الْآخِرَةَ[1] قَالَ زُرَارَةُ سَأَلْتُ عَنْهَا- أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ قَوْمٌ عَبَدُوا اللَّهَ وَ خَلَعُوا عِبَادَةَ مَنْ يُعْبَدُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَ شَكُّوا فِي مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ فَتَكَلَّمُوا

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah from al-Fudayl and Zurara who has said the following: “Once I (Zurara) asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Certain people worship Allah to achieve worldly gains. They are confide

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلى‌ حَرْفٍ‌ قَالَ هُمْ قَوْمٌ وَحَّدُوا اللَّهَ وَ خَلَعُوا عِبَادَةَ مَنْ يُعْبَدُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَخَرَجُوا مِنَ الشِّرْكِ وَ لَمْ يَعْرِفُوا أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً ص رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فَهُمْ يَعْبُدُونَ اللَّهَ‌ عَلَى شَكٍّ فِي مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ فَأَتَوْا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص وَ قَالُوا نَنْظُرُ فَإِنْ كَثُرَتْ أَمْوَالُنَ

“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Certain people worship Allah for worldly gains.’ (22:11) The Imam said, ‘They were a people who accepted Allah only, gave up the worship of things worshipped besides Allah; thus they came out of paganism and did not know that M

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ حُمْرَانُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ وَ سَأَلَهُ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ فَلَمَّا هَمَّ حُمْرَانُ بِالْقِيَامِ قَالَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أُخْبِرُكَ أَطَالَ اللَّهُ بَقَاءَكَ لَنَا وَ أَمْتَعَنَا بِكَ أَنَّا نَأْتِيكَ فَمَا نَخْرُجُ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ حَتَّى تَرِقَّ قُلُوبُنَا وَ تَسْلُوَ أَنْفُسُنَا[6] عَنِ‌ الدُّنْيَا وَ يَهُونَ عَلَيْنَا مَا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَمْوَالِ ثُمَّ ن

“Once I was in the presence of abu Ja’far (a.s.) when Humran ibn ‘A’yan came in and asked him a few things. When Humran wanted to stand up and leave he said to abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘I like to tell you, may Allah grant you long life for us so we benefit from you more, whenever we come to you and then leave our hearts feel

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحاً[2] قَالَ يَتُوبُ الْعَبْدُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ ثُمَّ لَا يَعُودُ فِيهِ. - قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْفُضَيْلِ‌ سَأَلْتُ عَنْهَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع فَقَالَ يَتُوبُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ ثُمَّ لَا يَعُودُ فِيهِ وَ أَحَبُّ الْعِبَادِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى الْمُفَتَّنُونَ التَّوَّابُونَ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Believers, turn to Allah in repentance, in a Nasuh manner, with the intention of never repeating the same sin.’ (66:8) The Imam said, ‘It means a servant (of Allah) repents from sins and never repeats them. ’ “Muhammad ibn a

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحاً قَالَ هُوَ الذَّنْبُ‌[3] الَّذِي لَا يَعُودُ فِيهِ أَبَداً قُلْتُ وَ أَيُّنَا لَمْ يَعُدْ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُفَتَّنَ التَّوَّابَ.

“In a Nasuh manner,” with the intention of never repeating the same sin.’ (66:8) The Imam said, ‘It is the sin that one never repeats.’ I then asked, ‘Who among us does not repeat?’ The Imam said, ‘O abu Muhammad, of His servants Allah loves those who are put to trial and the ones who repent very often.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْعَبْدَ الْمُفَتَّنَ التَّوَّابَ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ‌[3] كَانَ أَفْضَلَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah loves the servant who is put to trial (by sin) and repents, however, one without such (sinful) condition is better.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ ما أَصابَكُمْ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِما كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ‌ وَ يَعْفُوا عَنْ كَثِيرٍ[3] لَيْسَ مِنِ الْتِوَاءِ عِرْقٍ وَ لَا نَكْبَةِ حَجَرٍ[4] وَ لَا عَثْرَةِ قَدَمٍ وَ لَا خَدْشِ عُودٍ إِلَّا بِذَنْبٍ وَ لَمَا يَعْفُو اللَّهُ أَكْثَرُ[5] فَمَنْ عَجَّلَ اللَّهُ عُقُوبَةَ ذَنْبِهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَجَلُّ وَ أَكْرَمُ وَ أ

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Whatever hardship befalls you is the result of your own deeds. Allah pardons many of your sins,’ (42:30) has said, ‘The spraining of one’s muscles, bumping over a stone, the slip of foot or being bruised by a piece

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ مِنْ عَبِيدِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَيُذْنِبُ الذَّنْبَ الْعَظِيمَ مِمَّا يَسْتَوْجِبُ بِهِ عُقُوبَتِي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ[2] فَأَنْظُرُ لَهُ فِيمَا فِيهِ صَلَاحُهُ فِي آخِرَتِهِ فَأُعَجِّلُ لَهُ الْعُقُوبَةَ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا لِأُجَازِيَهُ بِذَلِكَ الذَّنْبِ وَ أُقَدِّرُ عُقُوبَةَ ذَلِكَ الذَّنْبِ وَ أَقْضِيهِ وَ أَتْرُكُ

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al-‘Abdi from ibn abu Ya’fur who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “A servant among My believing servants commits a great sin

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌[3]- وَ ما أَصابَكُمْ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِما كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ‌ فَقَالَ هُوَ وَ يَعْفُوا عَنْ كَثِيرٍ[1] قَالَ قُلْتُ لَيْسَ هَذَا أَرَدْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ مَا أَصَابَ عَلِيّاً وَ أَشْبَاهَهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ ع مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ يَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً مِنْ غَيْرِ ذَنْبٍ‌[2].

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Whatever affliction befalls you is because of what your hands have obtained. ’(42:30) The Imam said, ‘. . . He forgives a great deal,’ (42:30) I (the narrator) then said, ‘I did not mean in that sense. Consider what befell A

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ ما أَصابَكُمْ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِما كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ‌ أَ رَأَيْتَ مَا أَصَابَ عَلِيّاً وَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ ع مِنْ بَعْدِهِ هُوَ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَ هُمْ أَهْلُ بَيْتِ طَهَارَةٍ مَعْصُومُونَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ يَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ يَسْتَغْفِرُهُ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَ لَيْلَةٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ مِنْ غَيْرِ ذَنْبٍ إِنّ

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Whatever afflictions befall you is because of what your hands have obtained,’ (42:29) do you consider whatever befell Ali and his family (a.s.) after him was because of their deeds and acquisition of their hands despite the

لَمَّا حُمِلَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ص إِلَى يَزِيدَ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَأُوقِفَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ قَالَ يَزِيدُ لَعَنَهُ اللَّهُ- وَ ما أَصابَكُمْ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِما كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ‌[4] فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع لَيْسَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ فِينَا إِنَّ فِينَا قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- ما أَصابَ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ‌ وَ لا فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ‌ إِلَّا فِي كِتابٍ‌ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ نَبْرَأَها إِنّ

“When Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was taken as a captive to Damascus and was made to stand before Yazid ibn Mu’awiyah, he, (Yazid) may Allah condemn him, read this verse: ‘Whatever affliction befalls you is because of what your hands have obtained,’ (42:30) Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) said, ‘This verse is not about us. What

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ خَلْقاً ضَنَّ بِهِمْ عَنِ الْبَلَاءِ خَلَقَهُمْ فِي عَافِيَةٍ وَ أَحْيَاهُمْ فِي عَافِيَةٍ وَ أَمَاتَهُمْ فِي عَافِيَةٍ وَ أَدْخَلَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ فِي عَافِيَةٍ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has created a creature that He is very acquisitively protective of. He has created them in peace and security, grants them life in peace and security, causes them to die in peace and security and will admit them in paradise in peace and sec

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ إِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ وَ الْبَلَاءَ لَيَتَرَافَقَانِ‌[3] إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ لَيَرُدُّ الْبَلَاءَ وَ قَدْ أُبْرِمَ إِبْرَاماً.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help, and misfortune are joined together and will remain so until the Day of Judgment. Prayer repeals misfortunes even though it (misfortune) may have already been firmly established.’”

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الدُّعَاءُ يَدْفَعُ الْبَلَاءَ النَّازِلَ وَ مَا لَمْ يَنْزِلْ.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help, repels the misfortune that has already come down and that which has not yet come down.’”

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع‌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالدُّعَاءِ فَإِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَ الطَّلَبَ إِلَى اللَّهِ يَرُدُّ الْبَلَاءَ وَ قَدْ قُدِّرَ وَ قُضِيَ وَ لَمْ يَبْقَ إِلَّا إِمْضَاؤُهُ- فَإِذَا دُعِيَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ سُئِلَ صَرَفَ الْبَلَاءَ صَرْفَةً.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from abu Wallad who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) has said, ‘You must pray and plead before Allah for help; pleading before Allah for help and requesting from Him repels misfortunes even though they may have already

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ هَلْ تَعْرِفُونَ طُولَ الْبَلَاءِ مِنْ قِصَرِهِ قُلْنَا لَا قَالَ إِذَا أُلْهِمَ أَحَدُكُمُ الدُّعَاءَ عِنْدَ الْبَلَاءِ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْبَلَاءَ قَصِيرٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once asked, ‘Can you tell if a misfortune is of a lengthy duration or a shorter one?’ We said, ‘No, we do not know.’ The Imam said, ‘Whenever any of you is inspired to pray then you should know that the misfortune is of a shorter duration.’”

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع‌ مَا مِنْ بَلَاءٍ يَنْزِلُ عَلَى عَبْدٍ مُؤْمِنٍ فَيُلْهِمُهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الدُّعَاءَ إِلَّا كَانَ كَشْفُ ذَلِكَ الْبَلَاءِ وَشِيكاً[1] وَ مَا مِنْ بَلَاءٍ يَنْزِلُ عَلَى عَبْدٍ مُؤْمِنٍ فَيُمْسِكُ عَنِ الدُّعَاءِ إِلَّا كَانَ ذَلِكَ الْبَلَاءُ طَوِيلًا فَإِذَا نَزَلَ الْبَلَاءُ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالدُّعَاءِ وَ التَّضَرُّعِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Once abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) said, ‘Whenever a misfortune is about to arrive upon a believing servant (of Allah), if Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, inspires him to pray and plead before Allah for help, the diversion of misfortune from him will take place very shortly. Whenever a misfortune is to arrive upo

مَنْ تَقَدَّمَ فِي الدُّعَاءِ اسْتُجِيبَ لَهُ إِذَا نَزَلَ بِهِ الْبَلَاءُ وَ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ صَوْتٌ مَعْرُوفٌ وَ لَمْ يُحْجَبْ عَنِ السَّمَاءِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَتَقَدَّمْ فِي الدُّعَاءِ لَمْ يُسْتَجَبْ لَهُ إِذَا نَزَلَ بِهِ الْبَلَاءُ وَ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ إِنَّ ذَا الصَّوْتَ لَا نَعْرِفُهُ.

“Whoever prays and pleads before Allah for help before the fall of misfortune, his prayer is accepted when the misfortune arrives. The angels will say, ‘It is a known voice and it is not barred from heaven. ’ If one does not pray and plead before Allah for help before the fall of misfortune, his prayer will not be acce

مَنْ تَخَوَّفَ مِنْ بَلَاءٍ يُصِيبُهُ فَتَقَدَّمَ فِيهِ بِالدُّعَاءِ لَمْ يُرِهِ اللَّهُ‌[1] عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ذَلِكَ الْبَلَاءَ أَبَداً.

“If one fears the fall of a misfortune upon him and prays and pleads before Allah for help before its fall, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will never show him that misfortune.”

كَانَ جَدِّي يَقُولُ‌ تَقَدَّمُوا فِي الدُّعَاءِ فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا كَانَ دَعَّاءً فَنَزَلَ بِهِ الْبَلَاءُ فَدَعَا قِيلَ صَوْتٌ مَعْرُوفٌ وَ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ دَعَّاءً فَنَزَلَ بِهِ بَلَاءٌ فَدَعَا قِيلَ أَيْنَ كُنْتَ قَبْلَ الْيَوْمِ.

“My grandfather would say, ‘You must pray and plead before Allah for help before the fall of misfortune; if a servant (of Allah) is prayerful and misfortune befalls him and he prays, it is then said, ‘It is a familiar voice,’ but if he does not pray and plead before Allah for help when misfortune befalls him, only then

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الدُّعَاءُ بَعْدَ مَا يَنْزِلُ الْبَلَاءُ لَا يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) would say, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help after the fall of misfortune does not benefit one.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ قَالَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً صَرَفَ عَنْهُ سَبْعِينَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْبَلَاءِ أَيْسَرُ ذَلِكَ الْخَنْقُ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَا الْخَنْقُ قَالَ لَا يَعْتَلُّ بِالْجُنُونِ فَيُخْنَقَ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Whoever says, “As Allah wills, there are no means and no power without the help of Allah,” seventy times, seventy kinds of misfortunes will be diverted away from him, the least of which is al-Khanq .’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause,

أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي وَ هَذَا النَّهَارَ خَلْقَانِ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَبْتَلِنِي بِهِ وَ لَا تَبْتَلِهِ بِي اللَّهُمَّ وَ لَا تُرِهِ مِنِّي جُرْأَةً عَلَى مَعَاصِيكَ وَ لَا رُكُوباً لِمَحَارِمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ اصْرِفْ عَنِّيَ الْأَزْلَ وَ اللَّأْوَاءَ وَ الْبَلْوَى وَ سُوءَ الْقَضَاءِ وَ شَمَاتَةَ الْأَعْدَاءِ وَ مَنْظَرَ السَّوْءِ فِي نَفْسِي وَ مَالِي‌[1] قَالَ وَ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَقُولُ

12. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Muhammad ibn Ali in a marfu’ manner from Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) who has said the following: “O Lord, I and this day are two creatures of Your creatures. O Lord, do not make me suffer from it and do not make it suffer from me. O Lord, do

إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ الْمَغْرِبَ وَ الْغَدَاةَ فَقُلْ‌ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ* لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ قَالَهَا لَمْ يُصِبْهُ جُذَامٌ وَ لَا بَرَصٌ وَ لَا جُنُونٌ وَ لَا سَبْعُونَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْبَلَاءِ قَالَ وَ تَقُولُ إِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ وَ أَمْسَيْتَ- الْحَمْدُ لِرَبِّ الصَّبَاحِ الْحَمْدُ لِفَالِقِ الْإِصْبَاحِ مَرَّتَيْنِ ال

20. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa’Id from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn abu Hamza from abu Basir from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “When you perform the Maghrib (prayer at sunset) and morning prayers say, ‘(I begin) in the name of Allah,

مَنْ قَالَ فِي دُبُرِ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَ دُبُرِ صَلَاةِ الْمَغْرِبِ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ‌ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ* لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ دَفَعَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَنْهُ سَبْعِينَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْبَلَاءِ أَهْوَنُهَا الرِّيحُ‌[2] وَ الْبَرَصُ وَ الْجُنُونُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ شَقِيّاً مُحِيَ مِنَ الشَّقَاءِ وَ كُتِبَ فِي السُّعَدَاءِ.

“Whoever says after the Morningprayer and Maghrib (sunset) seven times, ‘(I begin) in the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. There are no means and no power without the help of Allah, the Most High, the Most Great,’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will repel seventy kinds of misfortunes of which the

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع‌ إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ الْمَغْرِبَ فَلَا تَبْسُطْ رِجْلَكَ وَ لَا تُكَلِّمْ أَحَداً حَتَّى تَقُولَ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ- بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ* لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ وَ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ فِي الْغَدَاةِ- فَمَنْ قَالَهَا دَفَعَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ مِائَةَ نَوْعٍ مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْبَلَاءِ أَدْنَى نَوْعٍ مِنْهَا الْبَرَصُ وَ الْجُذَامُ وَ الشَّيْطَانُ وَ الس

‘When you performed your Maghrib prayer before stretching your leg or speaking to anyone say one hundred times, “(I begin) in the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. There are no means and no power without Allah, the Most High, the Most Great,” and one hundred times in the morning, Allah will repel one hundred

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ كَانَ مَعَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ إِذَا قَامَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَسْتَفْتِحَ الصَّلَاةَ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَتَوَجَّهُ إِلَيْكَ- بِمُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أُقَدِّمُهُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ صَلَاتِي وَ أَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِمْ إِلَيْكَ‌[3] فَاجْعَلْنِي بِهِمْ‌ وَجِيهاً فِي الدُّنْيا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ‌ مَنَنْتَ عَلَيَّ بِمَعْرِفَتِهِمْ فَاخْ

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Nu’Man from certain individuals of his people from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever just before beginning the prayer says the following will be with Muhamma

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَدْعُو بِهَذَا الدُّعَاءِ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ حُسْنَ الْمَعِيشَةِ مَعِيشَةً أَتَقَوَّى بِهَا عَلَى جَمِيعِ حَوَائِجِي وَ أَتَوَصَّلُ بِهَا فِي الْحَيَاةِ إِلَى آخِرَتِي مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ تُتْرِفَنِي فِيهَا فَأَطْغَى أَوْ تَقْتُرَ بِهَا عَلَيَّ فَأَشْقَى- أَوْسِعْ عَلَيَّ مِنْ حَلَالِ رِزْقِكَ وَ أَفِضْ عَلَيَّ مِنْ سَيْبِ فَضْلِكَ‌[4] نِعْمَةً مِنْكَ سَابِغَةً وَ عَطَاءً غَي

13. Abu Basir has narrated from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) would pray and plead before Allah for help with this supplication: ‘O Lord, I plead before You for good means of living with which I may gain power for all of my needs and continue my life to the next life, but n