قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا يَقْدَمُ الْمُؤْمِنُ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِعَمَلٍ بَعْدَ الْفَرَائِضِ أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مِنْ أَنْ يَسَعَ النَّاسَ بِخُلُقِهِ[2].
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once said to me, ‘No one comes before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, with good deeds, besides the obligatory ones, more beloved to Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, than one with excellent moral behavior that has room for all people in it.’”
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّ صَاحِبَ الْخُلُقِ الْحَسَنِ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ الْقَائِمِ.
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The reward for one who possesses excellent moral behavior is equal to the reward for one who worships all nights and fasts all days.”’
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَكْثَرُ مَا تَلِجُ بِهِ أُمَّتِيَ الْجَنَّةَ تَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ.
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The fact for which most people from my followers will go to paradise are piety before Allah and excellence in moral behavior.’”
إِنَّ الْخُلُقَ الْحَسَنَ يَمِيثُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا تَمِيثُ الشَّمْسُ الْجَلِيدَ[3].
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Excellent moral behavior melts down sins just as the sun melts down hoarfrost.’”
الْبِرُّ وَ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ يَعْمُرَانِ الدِّيَارَ وَ يَزِيدَانِ فِي الْأَعْمَارِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Virtuous deeds and excellent moral behavior develop the cities and add to longevity of life.’”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَوْحَى اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِلَى بَعْضِ أَنْبِيَائِهِ ع الْخُلُقُ الْحَسَنُ يَمِيثُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا تَمِيثُ الشَّمْسُ الْجَلِيدَ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, revealed to one of His prophets this: “Excellent moral behavior melts down sins just as the sun melts down hoarfrost.’””
هَلَكَ رَجُلٌ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ ص فَأَتَى الْحَفَّارِينَ فَإِذَا بِهِمْ لَمْ يَحْفِرُوا شَيْئاً وَ شَكَوْا ذَلِكَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا يَعْمَلُ حَدِيدُنَا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا نَضْرِبُ بِهِ فِي الصَّفَا[1] فَقَالَ وَ لِمَ إِنْ كَانَ صَاحِبُكُمْ لَحَسَنَ الْخُلُقِ ائْتُونِي بِقَدَحٍ مِنْ مَاءٍ فَأَتَوْهُ بِهِ فَأَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ فِيهِ ثُمَّ رَشَّهُ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ رَشّاً
“During the time of the Holy Prophet a man died. The gravediggers could not dig a grave for him. They complained to the Messenger of Allah saying, ‘O Messenger of Allah, our picks do not work. It is as if we hit a rock.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Why it would be as such had your man been excellent in moral behavior
إِنَّ الْخُلُقَ مَنِيحَةٌ[4] يَمْنَحُهَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلْقَهُ فَمِنْهُ سَجِيَّةٌ وَ مِنْهُ نِيَّةٌ[5] فَقُلْتُ فَأَيَّتُهُمَا أَفْضَلُ فَقَالَ صَاحِبُ السَّجِيَّةِ هُوَ مَجْبُولٌ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ غَيْرَهُ وَ صَاحِبُ النِّيَّةِ يَصْبِرُ عَلَى الطَّاعَةِ تَصَبُّراً فَهُوَ أَفْضَلُهُمَا.
“The Imam said, ‘Moral behavior is a gift that, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, bestows upon His creature. From moral behavior comes habit and intentions.’ 1 then asked, ‘Which one is better?’ The Imam said, ‘A person with an established habit is not able to do anything else. The person who possesses the inten
إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَيُعْطِي الْعَبْدَ مِنَ الثَّوَابِ عَلَى حُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ كَمَا يُعْطِي الْمُجَاهِدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يَغْدُو عَلَيْهِ وَ يَرُوحُ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, grants good rewards to a person of excellent moral behavior as He grants rewards to one who strives hard (does Jihad) in the way of Allah, mornings and evenings.’”
إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَعَارَ أَعْدَاءَهُ أَخْلَاقاً مِنْ أَخْلَاقِ أَوْلِيَائِهِ لِيَعِيشَ أَوْلِيَاؤُهُ مَعَ أَعْدَائِهِ فِي دَوْلَاتِهِمْ. - وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَمَا تَرَكُوا وَلِيّاً لِلَّهِ إِلَّا قَتَلُوهُ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, has, of the moral behavior of His friends, lent to His enemies so that His friends can live with His enemies in their governments.’” In another Hadith it is stated that had it not been as such they would not have left any of Allah’s friends alive
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذَا خَالَطْتَ النَّاسَ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ لَا تُخَالِطَ أَحَداً مِنَ النَّاسِ إِلَّا كَانَتْ يَدُكَ الْعُلْيَا عَلَيْهِ[1] فَافْعَلْ فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ يَكُونُ فِيهِ بَعْضُ التَّقْصِيرِ مِنَ الْعِبَادَةِ وَ يَكُونُ لَهُ حُسْنُ خُلُقٍ فَيُبَلِّغُهُ اللَّهُ بِ [حُسْنِ] خُلُقِهِ دَرَجَةَ الصَّائِمِ الْقَائِمِ.
“In your association with people you should have the upper hand (to benefit them), if you are able to do so. A servant (of Allah) who has shortcomings in his worship may have commendable moral behavior with which Allah grants him a reward of the degree of one who worships all nights and fasts all days.”
قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا بَحْرُ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ يُسْرٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِحَدِيثٍ مَا هُوَ فِي يَدَيْ أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ بَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ جَالِسٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ إِذْ جَاءَتْ جَارِيَةٌ لِبَعْضِ الْأَنْصَارِ وَ هُوَ قَائِمٌ فَأَخَذَتْ بِطَرَفِ ثَوْبِهِ فَقَامَ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ ص فَلَمْ تَقُلْ شَيْئاً وَ لَمْ يَقُلْ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ ص شَيْ
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) said to me, ‘O Bahr, excellent moral behavior is prosperity. Would you like me to teach you a Hadith which is not found in the hands of any of the people of Madina?’ I said, ‘Yes, please do so.’ The Imam said, ‘Once the Messenger of Allah was in the Mosque when a girl from the people of Ansar cam
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَفَاضِلُكُمْ أَحْسَنُكُمْ أَخْلَاقاً الْمُوَطَّئُونَ أَكْنَافاً الَّذِينَ يَأْلَفُونَ وَ يُؤْلَفُونَ وَ تُوَطَّأُ رِحَالُهُمْ.
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The meritorious ones among you are those who possess excellent moral behavior, who are easy to associate with, associate others with ease and comfort others.’”
قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع الْمُؤْمِنُ مَأْلُوفٌ وَ لَا خَيْرَ فِيمَنْ لَا يَأْلَفُ وَ لَا يُؤْلَفُ.
“Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘A believer is easy to associate with and there is nothing good in one who does not associate with others or is associated with.’”
إِنَّ حُسْنَ الْخُلُقِ يَبْلُغُ بِصَاحِبِهِ دَرَجَةَ الصَّائِمِ الْقَائِمِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Excellence in moral behavior takes one to the level of those who worship all nights and fast all days.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَا بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ إِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَسَعُوا النَّاسَ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ فَالْقَوْهُمْ بِطَلَاقَةِ الْوَجْهِ وَ حُسْنِ الْبِشْرِ. وَ رَوَاهُ عَنِ- الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ جَدِّهِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِلَّا أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا بَنِي هَاشِمٍ.
‘The Messenger of Allah said, “O children of ‘Abd al- Muttalib, you cannot reach the level of people with your wealth. but you should meet them with openness and a delightful face.””’ He has narrated also from al-Qasim ibn Yahya from his grandfather al-Hassan ibn Rashid from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) a similar Hadith except
ثَلَاثٌ مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ أَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ الْجَنَّةَ الْإِنْفَاقُ مِنْ إِقْتَارٍ[2] وَ الْبِشْرُ لِجَمِيعِ الْعَالَمِ وَ الْإِنْصَافُ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘If Allah grants to a person one of three things, He will make paradise necessary for him. They are: To give charity in poverty, to have delightful appearance in all people and to exercise justice even against one’s own self.”’
أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَوْصِنِي فَكَانَ فِيمَا أَوْصَاهُ أَنْ قَالَ الْقَ أَخَاكَ بِوَجْهٍ مُنْبَسِطٍ.
“Once a man came to the Messenger of Allah, saying, ‘O Messenger of Allah, confer upon me good advice.’ Of the advice given to him was this: ‘Meet your brethren (fellow human beings) with open and delightful face.’”
قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا حَدُّ حُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ قَالَ تُلِينُ جَنَاحَكَ وَ تُطِيبُ كَلَامَكَ وَ تَلْقَى أَخَاكَ بِبِشْرٍ حَسَنٍ.
“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘What is the limit of excellent moral behavior?’ The Imam said, ‘It is to be relaxed (kindhearted), to have sweet expressions and to meet one’s fellow human beings with a delightful face.’”
صَنَائِعُ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَ حُسْنُ الْبِشْرِ يَكْسِبَانِ الْمَحَبَّةَ وَ يُدْخِلَانِ الْجَنَّةَ وَ الْبُخْلُ وَ عُبُوسُ الْوَجْهِ يُبْعِدَانِ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ يُدْخِلَانِ النَّارَ.
“Abu Ja’far or Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) has said, ‘Doing lawful favors to others and having a delightful appearance earns love and lead one to paradise. Stinginess and a frowning face lead one away from Allah and into fire (of hell).”’
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص حُسْنُ الْبِشْرِ يَذْهَبُ بِالسَّخِيمَةِ[1].
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Delightful appearance removes ill will.’”
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمْ يَبْعَثْ نَبِيّاً إِلَّا بِصِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ وَ أَدَاءِ الْأَمَانَةِ إِلَى الْبَرِّ وَ الْفَاجِرِ.
1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Husayn ibn abu al-‘Ala’ from abu ‘Abd Allah recipient of divine supreme covenant who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has not sent any prophet who would not be truthful in their words and t
لَا تَغْتَرُّوا بِصَلَاتِهِمْ وَ لَا بِصِيَامِهِمْ فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ رُبَّمَا لَهِجَ بِالصَّلَاةِ[2] وَ الصَّوْمِ حَتَّى لَوْ تَرَكَهُ اسْتَوْحَشَ وَ لَكِنِ اخْتَبِرُوهُمْ عِنْدَ صِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ وَ أَدَاءِ الْأَمَانَةِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Do not allow their prayers or fasts mislead you. A man may develop an attachment to praying or fasting so much so that without it he may feel frightened. Try them how truthful they are in their words or how reliable they are in returning the trust.’”
مَنْ صَدَقَ لِسَانُهُ زَكَى عَمَلُهُ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever’s tongue is truthful; his deeds are clean and pure.’”
قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي أَوَّلِ دَخْلَةٍ دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ تَعَلَّمُوا الصِّدْقَ قَبْلَ الْحَدِيثِ.
“The first time I met abu Ja’far (a.s.) he said to me, ‘Learn to speak the truth before narrating al-Hadith (statements of the Holy prophet and ‘ A’immah ).’”
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلَامَ قَالَ عَلَيْكَ وَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إِذَا أَتَيْتَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ فَأَقْرِئْهُ السَّلَامَ وَ قُلْ لَهُ إِنَّ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ يَقُولُ لَكَ انْظُرْ مَا بَلَغَ بِهِ عَلِيٌّ ع عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَالْزَمْهُ فَإِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع إِنَّمَا بَلَغَ مَا بَلَغَ بِهِ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص بِصِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ وَ أَدَاءِ الْ
“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) “Abd Allah ibn abu Ya’fur has sent you ( salam ) greetings.’ The Imam said, ‘May salam (peace) be with you and with him. If you meet ‘Abd Allah convey salam to him and say, ‘Ja’far, son of Muhammad, says to you, “Consider to what level Ali (Amir al-Mu’minin ibn abu Talib) had reache
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا فُضَيْلُ إِنَّ الصَّادِقَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ يُصَدِّقُهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ صَادِقٌ وَ تُصَدِّقُهُ نَفْسُهُ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ صَادِقٌ.
“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said to me, ‘O Fudayl, the truthfulness of a truthful person is first verified by Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy. He knows that he is truthful. Then his own soul confirms; it knows his truthfulness.’”
إِنَّمَا سُمِّيَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ لِأَنَّهُ وَعَدَ رَجُلًا فِي مَكَانٍ فَانْتَظَرَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْمَكَانِ سَنَةً[1] فَسَمَّاهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ أَتَاهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِسْمَاعِيلُ مَا زِلْتُ مُنْتَظِراً لَكَ.
“Isma’il is called the truthful in his promises; he promised a man to meet him at a certain place and Isma’il waited for him at that place for one year. Thus, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, named him the truthful in his promise. The Imam then said, ‘The man then came at that place and Isma’il said to him, “I
قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يَا رَبِيعُ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَصْدُقُ حَتَّى يَكْتُبَهُ اللَّهُ صِدِّيقاً[2].
“Once abu Ja’far (a.s.) said to me, ‘O Rab’i, a man must keep speaking the truth until Allah writes him down as a truthful one.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَصْدُقُ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ وَ يَكْذِبُ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ فَإِذَا صَدَقَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ صَدَقَ وَ بَرَّ وَ إِذَا كَذَبَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كَذَبَ وَ فَجَرَ[3].
9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al- Washsha’ from Ali ibn abu Hamza from abu Basir who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘A servant (of Allah) may keep speaking the truth until he is written among the truthful ones before Allah or keep speaking lies unti
كُونُوا دُعَاةً لِلنَّاسِ بِالْخَيْرِ بِغَيْرِ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ لِيَرَوْا مِنْكُمُ الِاجْتِهَادَ وَ الصِّدْقَ وَ الْوَرَعَ.
10. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Mahbub from al- ‘Ala’ ibn Razin from ‘Abd Allah ibn abu Ya’fur from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Preach and call people to the good, but not with your tongues. They must see from your hard work, tru
قَالَ أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ حَسَنُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ الصَّيْقَلُ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَنْ صَدَقَ لِسَانُهُ زَكَى عَمَلُهُ وَ مَنْ حَسُنَتْ نِيَّتُهُ زِيدَ فِي رِزْقِهِ وَ مَنْ حَسُنَ بِرُّهُ بِأَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ مُدَّ لَهُ فِي عُمُرِهِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Making one’s tongue speak the truth purifies one’s deeds. Having good intentions increases one’s livelihood. One who betters his kind deeds toward his family is granted longevity in his life.’”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَا تَنْظُرُوا إِلَى طُولِ رُكُوعِ الرَّجُلِ وَ سُجُودِهِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ شَيْءٌ اعْتَادَهُ فَلَوْ تَرَكَهُ اسْتَوْحَشَ لِذَلِكَ وَ لَكِنِ انْظُرُوا إِلَى صِدْقِ حَدِيثِهِ وَ أَدَاءِ أَمَانَتِهِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Do not look to the long Ruku’ (bowing down on one’s knees for prayer) and Sajda (prostrating in prayer) of a man. It may have become his routine; without it he may feel frightened, but look to the truthfulness in his words and his credibility in keeping the trust.’”
الْحَيَاءُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ وَ الْإِيمَانُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Bashfulness is from belief and belief is in paradise.’”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْحَيَاءُ وَ الْعَفَافُ وَ الْعِيُ[1] أَعْنِي عِيَّ اللِّسَانِ لَا عِيَّ الْقَلْبِ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Bashfulness, chastity, tiredness of tongue (to shun speaking useless things), not tiredness of the heart, are from belief.’”
مَنْ رَقَّ وَجْهُهُ رَقَّ عِلْمُهُ[2].
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘One whose face is thin (bashful and shy) has thin knowledge.’”
الْحَيَاءُ وَ الْإِيمَانُ مَقْرُونَانِ فِي قَرَنٍ[3] فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ أَحَدُهُمَا تَبِعَهُ صَاحِبُهُ.
“Bashfulness and belief are tied with the same rope. If one of them goes away, the other also follows its companion.”
لَا إِيمَانَ لِمَنْ لَا حَيَاءَ لَهُ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘One has no belief if he does not have bashfulness.’”
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْحَيَاءُ حَيَاءَانِ حَيَاءُ عَقْلٍ وَ حَيَاءُ حُمْقٍ فَحَيَاءُ الْعَقْلِ هُوَ الْعِلْمُ وَ حَيَاءُ الْحُمْقِ هُوَ الْجَهْلُ.
“There are two kinds of bashfulness: A bashfulness that comes from one’s reason and the bashfulness that comes from one’s foolishness. The bashfulness that comes from one’s reason is knowledge and the bashfulness that comes from one’s foolishness is ignorance.”
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَرْبَعٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ وَ كَانَ مِنْ قَرْنِهِ إِلَى قَدَمِهِ ذُنُوباً بَدَّلَهَا اللَّهُ حَسَنَاتٍ[1] الصِّدْقُ وَ الْحَيَاءُ وَ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ وَ الشُّكْرُ.
7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Bukayr ibn Salih from al-Hassan ibn Ali from ‘Abd Allah ibn Ibrahim from Ali ibn abu Ali al-Lahabi from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If four things are found in a person, even though he may be full of
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي خُطْبَتِهِ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ خَلَائِقِ[2] الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ الْعَفْوُ عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَكَ وَ تَصِلُ مَنْ قَطَعَكَ وَ الْإِحْسَانُ إِلَى مَنْ أَسَاءَ إِلَيْكَ وَ إِعْطَاءُ مَنْ حَرَمَكَ.
1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah said in a sermon, ‘Should I tell you what is the best faculty of creatures of this world and of the next world? It is forgiveness for those who do
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَ لَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى خَيْرِ أَخْلَاقِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ تَصِلُ مَنْ قَطَعَكَ وَ تُعْطِي مَنْ حَرَمَكَ وَ تَعْفُو عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَكَ.
“I must teach you what is the best moral behavior in this world and in the next world. You must establish relations with those who disassociate with you, give to those who deprive you and forgive those who do injustice to you.”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ثَلَاثٌ مِنْ مَكَارِمِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ تَعْفُو عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَكَ وَ تَصِلُ مَنْ قَطَعَكَ وَ تَحْلُمُ إِذَا جُهِلَ عَلَيْكَ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Three things are of the noble qualities of this world and of the next world: to forgive those who do injustice to you, to establish relations with those who abandon you and to exercise forbearance when you are ignored.”’
سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى الْأَوَّلِينَ وَ الْآخِرِينَ فِي صَعِيدٍ وَاحِدٍ ثُمَّ يُنَادِي مُنَادٍ أَيْنَ أَهْلُ الْفَضْلِ- قَالَ فَيَقُومُ عُنُقٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ[1] فَتَلَقَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ فَيَقُولُونَ وَ مَا كَانَ فَضْلُكُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ كُنَّا نَصِلُ مَنْ قَطَعَنَا وَ نُعْطِي مَنْ حَرَمَنَا وَ نَعْفُو عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَنَا قَالَ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ صَدَق
“I heard him saying, “When the Day of Judgment comes, Allah, Blessed and Exalted, will gather the first and the last in a single plain. Then a caller will call out: 'Where are the people of virtue?' A group of people will rise, and the angels will meet them and say, 'What was your virtue?' They will reply, 'We used to
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْعَفْوِ فَإِنَّ الْعَفْوَ لَا يَزِيدُ الْعَبْدَ إِلَّا عِزّاً فَتَعَافَوْا يُعِزَّكُمُ اللَّهُ.
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘You must forgive. Forgiving increases one’s respect, therefore, forgive so Allah may respect you.’”
النَّدَامَةُ عَلَى الْعَفْوِ أَفْضَلُ وَ أَيْسَرُ مِنَ النَّدَامَةِ عَلَى الْعُقُوبَةِ.
“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Regret for forgiving is better and easier than regret for being subjected to punishment.’”
كَانَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع فِي حَائِطٍ لَهُ يَصْرِمُ[2] فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى غُلَامٍ لَهُ قَدْ أَخَذَ كَارَةً[3] مِنْ تَمْرٍ فَرَمَى بِهَا وَرَاءَ الْحَائِطِ فَأَتَيْتُهُ وَ أَخَذْتُهُ وَ ذَهَبْتُ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي وَجَدْتُ هَذَا وَ هَذِهِ الْكَارَةَ فَقَالَ لِلْغُلَامِ يَا فُلَانُ قَالَ لَبَّيْكَ قَالَ أَ تَجُوعُ قَالَ لَا يَا سَيِّدِي قَالَ فَتَعْرَى قَالَ لَا يَا سَيِّدِي قَالَ فَلِأَ
“Abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) once was in his compound that had palm-trees. 1 looked at one of his slaves who had picked up a certain amount of dates. He threw it on the other side of the wall. I went and picked up what he had thrown and I brought it to the Imam. I said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause,
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع[4] يَقُولُ مَا الْتَقَتْ فِئَتَانِ قَطُّ إِلَّا نُصِرَ أَعْظَمُهُمَا عَفْواً.
“I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.) saying, ‘Whenever two hostile parties face each other, the one who forgives to a greater degree comes out victorious.’”
إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص أُتِيَ بِالْيَهُودِيَّةِ الَّتِي سَمَّتِ الشَّاةَ لِلنَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ لَهَا مَا حَمَلَكِ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتِ فَقَالَتْ قُلْتُ إِنْ كَانَ نَبِيّاً لَمْ يَضُرَّهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ مَلِكاً أَرَحْتُ النَّاسَ مِنْهُ قَالَ فَعَفَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنْهَا.
“The Jewish woman who had poisoned the sheep to also poison the Holy Prophet was brought before him. He asked her, ‘What made you do this?’ She said, ‘I thought that if he is a prophet it will not harm him and if he is a king people will be relieved of his troubles.’ The Messenger of Allah forgave her.’”
ثَلَاثٌ لَا يَزِيدُ اللَّهُ بِهِنَّ الْمَرْءَ الْمُسْلِمَ إِلَّا عِزّاً الصَّفْحُ عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَهُ وَ إِعْطَاءُ مَنْ حَرَمَهُ وَ الصِّلَةُ لِمَنْ قَطَعَهُ.
10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from ‘Amr ibn Shamir from Jabir from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘There are three qualities with which Allah increases the respect of a Muslim: To be lenient to those who do injustice to him, to give to tho