Faith & Belief

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ سَيَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ تَخْبُثُ فِيهِ سَرَائِرُهُمْ وَ تَحْسُنُ فِيهِ عَلَانِيَتُهُمْ طَمَعاً فِي الدُّنْيَا لَا يُرِيدُونَ بِهِ مَا عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يَكُونُ دِينُهُمْ رِيَاءً لَا يُخَالِطُهُمْ خَوْفٌ يَعُمُّهُمُ اللَّهُ بِعِقَابٍ فَيَدْعُونَهُ دُعَاءَ الْغَرِيقِ فَلَا يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُمْ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘There will come a time when people will be filthy from the inside but good looking from the outside due to worldly greed. They will not have any intention of seeking the rewards with Allah. Their religion will be a showoff and not for fear (from the hereafter). Allah will punish them

إِنِّي لَأَتَعَشَّى مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذْ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- بَلِ الْإِنْسانُ عَلى‌ نَفْسِهِ بَصِيرَةٌ وَ لَوْ أَلْقى‌ مَعاذِيرَهُ‌ يَا أَبَا حَفْصٍ مَا يَصْنَعُ الْإِنْسَانُ أَنْ يَعْتَذِرَ إِلَى النَّاسِ بِخِلَافِ مَا يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ يَقُولُ مَنْ أَسَرَّ سَرِيرَةً أَلْبَسَهُ اللَّهُ رِدَاءَهَا إِنْ خَيْراً فَخَيْرٌ وَ إِنْ شَرّاً فَشَرٌّ[2].

“Once I was having dinner with Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and he read this verse of the Holy Quran: ‘In fact, people are well aware of their own soul (75:14) even though they make excuses.’ (75:15) The Imam said, ‘O abu Hafs, why should a human being make excuses before the people, opposing what Allah knows about him (his in

الْإِبْقَاءُ عَلَى الْعَمَلِ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ قَالَ وَ مَا الْإِبْقَاءُ عَلَى الْعَمَلِ قَالَ يَصِلُ الرَّجُلُ بِصِلَةٍ وَ يُنْفِقُ نَفَقَةً لِلَّهِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ فَكُتِبَ لَهُ سِرّاً ثُمَّ يَذْكُرُهَا وَ تُمْحَى فَتُكْتَبُ لَهُ عَلَانِيَةً[3] ثُمَّ يَذْكُرُهَا فَتُمْحَى- وَ تُكْتَبُ لَهُ رِيَاءً[1].

"Maintaining the deed is more difficult than performing it." It was asked, "What is maintaining the deed?" He replied: "A man maintains a connection or spends an expenditure for the sake of Allah alone, with no partners. It is recorded for him in secret. Then he mentions it and it is erased; then it is recorded for him

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ اخْشَوُا اللَّهَ خَشْيَةً لَيْسَتْ بِتَعْذِيرٍ وَ اعْمَلُوا لِلَّهِ فِي غَيْرِ رِيَاءٍ وَ لَا سُمْعَةٍ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ وَكَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى عَمَلِهِ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘Be concerned and worried about (your relation with) Allah, a worry in which there are no excuses. Perform good deeds without showing off or publicity; Allah assigns one who performs a deed for something other than Him, to his own deed (and no reward from Allah).”’

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَعْمَلُ الشَّيْ‌ءَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ فَيَرَاهُ إِنْسَانٌ فَيَسُرُّهُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا وَ هُوَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَظْهَرَ لَهُ فِي النَّاسِ الْخَيْرُ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ صَنَعَ ذَلِكَ لِذَلِكَ.

“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘What do you say about a man who does a good deed while a human being sees him and it makes him happy?’ The Imam said, ‘There is no offense in it. There is no one who does not love people seeing something good come from him even though he may not have done it for such purposes (people se

إِنَّهُ يُحِبُّ الرِّئَاسَةَ فَقَالَ مَا ذِئْبَانِ ضَارِيَانِ‌[2] فِي غَنَمٍ قَدْ تَفَرَّقَ رِعَاؤُهَا بِأَضَرَّ فِي دِينِ الْمُسْلِمِ مِنَ الرِّئَاسَةِ.

“It was mentioned before the Imam that a certain man loves to have leadership. The Imam said, ‘Two fierce wolves in a flock of sheep, whose shepherd is far away, are not more harmful to the flock than seeking leadership to a Muslim’s religion is.’”

مَنْ طَلَبَ الرِّئَاسَةَ هَلَكَ.

"Whoever seeks leadership is destroyed.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ هَؤُلَاءِ الرُّؤَسَاءَ الَّذِينَ يَتَرَأَّسُونَ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا خَفَقَتِ النِّعَالُ خَلْفَ رَجُلٍ إِلَّا هَلَكَ وَ أَهْلَكَ‌[3].

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Beware of these leaders who pretend to be leaders. I swear by Allah, shoes (people) have never marched behind a man, but that he destroys (them) and (he) is destroyed.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ تَرَأَّسَ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ هَمَّ بِهَا مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ حَدَّثَ بِهَا نَفْسَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Condemned is one who seeks leadership, condemned is one who intends to become a leader and condemned is one who speaks to himself of leadership.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِيَّاكَ وَ الرِّئَاسَةَ وَ إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَطَأَ أَعْقَابَ الرِّجَالِ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَمَّا الرِّئَاسَةُ فَقَدْ عَرَفْتُهَا وَ أَمَّا أَنْ أَطَأَ أَعْقَابَ الرِّجَالِ فَمَا ثُلُثَا مَا فِي يَدِي إِلَّا مِمَّا وَطِئْتُ أَعْقَابَ الرِّجَالِ‌[2] فَقَالَ لِي لَيْسَ حَيْثُ تَذْهَبُ إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَنْصِبَ رَجُلًا دُونَ الْحُجَّةِ فَتُصَدِّقَهُ فِي كُلِّ مَا قَالَ.

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said to me, ‘Beware of leadership and beware of marching behind men (following them).’ I (the narrator) asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I understand what leadership is. However, as far as walking behind men is concerned, I must acknowledge that two thirds of what I k

قَالَ لِي‌ وَيْحَكَ يَا أَبَا الرَّبِيعِ لَا تَطْلُبَنَّ الرِّئَاسَةَ وَ لَا تَكُنْ ذِئْباً[3]- وَ لَا تَأْكُلْ بِنَا النَّاسَ فَيُفْقِرَكَ اللَّهُ وَ لَا تَقُلْ فِينَا مَا لَا نَقُولُ فِي أَنْفُسِنَا فَإِنَّكَ مَوْقُوفٌ وَ مَسْئُولٌ لَا مَحَالَةَ[4] فَإِنْ كُنْتَ صَادِقاً صَدَّقْنَاكَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ كَاذِباً كَذَّبْنَاكَ.

“Once abu Ja’far (a.s.) said to me, ‘Woe upon you, O abu al-Rabi’, do not seek leadership and do not be a wolf, do not eat people (consume their properties) through us so Allah makes you poor, do not say about us what we do not say about ourselves. One day you will be made to stand up (before the Judge) and will inevit

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ أَرَادَ الرِّئَاسَةَ هَلَكَ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Whoever wants leadership is destroyed.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ أَ تَرَى لَا أَعْرِفُ خِيَارَكُمْ مِنْ شِرَارِكُمْ بَلَى وَ اللَّهِ وَ إِنَّ شِرَارَكُمْ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوطَأَ عَقِبُهُ إِنَّهُ لَا بُدَّ مِنْ كَذَّابٍ أَوْ عَاجِزِ الرَّأْيِ‌[1].

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) asking, ‘Do you think I do not distinguish the bad from good among you? Yes, by Allah, the bad ones among you are those who love people walking behind him. Such a person is inevitably a liar or a helpless one (due to his ignorance) in his opinion.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ وَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ يَخْتِلُونَ الدُّنْيَا بِالدِّينِ وَ وَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ‌ يَقْتُلُونَ الَّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْقِسْطِ مِنَ النَّاسِ‌ وَ وَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ يَسِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنُ فِيهِمْ بِالتَّقِيَّةِ أَ بِي يَغْتَرُّونَ أَمْ عَلَيَّ يَجْتَرِءُونَ فَبِي حَلَفْتُ لَأُتِيحَنَّ لَهُمْ فِتْنَةً تَتْرُكُ الْحَلِيمَ مِنْهُمْ

‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘Woe upon those who treacherously use religion for their worldly goals and fight those who command people to yield to justice. Woe upon those among whom the believers live frightened and hide their belief. Are they deceiving Me or tha

إِنَّ مِنْ أَشَدِّ النَّاسِ حَسْرَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ وَصَفَ عَدْلًا ثُمَّ عَمِلَ بِغَيْرِهِ.

“One who, on the Day of Judgment, will regret the most is he who preaches justice but himself acts otherwise.”

إِنَّ مِنْ أَشَدِّ النَّاسِ عَذَاباً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ وَصَفَ عَدْلًا وَ عَمِلَ بِغَيْرِهِ.

“Of the people suffering most severely on the Day of Judgment will be one who preaches justice but acts otherwise.”

إِنَّ مِنْ أَعْظَمِ النَّاسِ حَسْرَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ وَصَفَ عَدْلًا ثُمَّ خَالَفَهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ.

“Of the people who, on the Day of Judgment, will regret the most is one who preaches justice but himself does not yield to justice.”

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَكُبْكِبُوا فِيها هُمْ وَ الْغاوُونَ‌[1] قَالَ يَا أَبَا بَصِيرٍ هُمْ قَوْمٌ وَصَفُوا عَدْلًا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ ثُمَّ خَالَفُوهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ.

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, . . they and rebellious ones will all be thrown headlong into hell. . . .,’ (26:94) the Imam said, ‘O abu Basir, they are those who preach justice by their tongues, but they themselves do not yield to justice.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ أَبْلِغْ شِيعَتَنَا أَنَّهُ لَنْ يُنَالَ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا بِعَمَلٍ وَ أَبْلِغْ شِيعَتَنَا أَنَّ أَعْظَمَ النَّاسِ حَسْرَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ وَصَفَ عَدْلًا ثُمَّ يُخَالِفُهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ.

“Once abu Ja’far (a.s.) said to me, ‘Convey to our Shi’a (followers) that what is with Allah is not achievable by any other means but by good deeds. Convey to our Shi’a (followers) that of the people who, on the Day of Judgment, will regret the most is the one who preaches justice but does not yield to justice in favor

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ الْمِرَاءَ وَ الْخُصُومَةَ فَإِنَّهُمَا يُمْرِضَانِ الْقُلُوبَ عَلَى الْإِخْوَانِ وَ يَنْبُتُ عَلَيْهِمَا النِّفَاقُ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqa from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘Beware of disputations and quarrels; they create ill feelings toward the brothers (in belief) and upon these two hypocrisy grows.’”

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ ثَلَاثٌ مَنْ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِنَّ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ مِنْ أَيِّ بَابٍ شَاءَ مَنْ حَسُنَ خُلُقُهُ وَ خَشِيَ اللَّهَ فِي الْمَغِيبِ وَ الْمَحْضَرِ وَ تَرَكَ الْمِرَاءَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ مُحِقّاً.

2. Through the same chain of narrators he has narrated the following: “The Holy Prophet has said, ‘Whoever will find himself in the presence of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, with three things will enter paradise through whichever gate he will like: one’s proper moral discipline, one’s worries and concern abo

مَنْ نَصَبَ اللَّهَ غَرَضاً لِلْخُصُومَاتِ أَوْشَكَ أَنْ يُكْثِرَ الِانْتِقَالَ‌[1].

“The Holy Prophet has said, ‘Whoever targets Allah in a quarrel (quarrelling with a creature is quarrelling with Him) may go through quick transitions (from truth to falsehood).”’

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا تُمَارِيَنَّ حَلِيماً وَ لَا سَفِيهاً فَإِنَّ الْحَلِيمَ يَقْلِيكَ‌[2] وَ السَّفِيهَ يُؤْذِيكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Do not engage in a disputation against either a forbearing or a thoughtless person; a forbearing person turns into your foe and a thoughtless person will hurt you.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا كَادَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع‌[3] يَأْتِينِي إِلَّا قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ اتَّقِ شَحْنَاءَ الرِّجَالِ وَ عَدَاوَتَهُمْ‌[4].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Almost every time Jibril (Gabriel) on coming to me would say, “O Muhammad, guard (your) anger against men and animosity for them.’”

قَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع- لِلنَّبِيِّ ص إِيَّاكَ وَ مُلَاحَاةَ الرِّجَالِ‌[5].

“Jibril (Gabriel) said to the Holy Prophet, ‘Beware of engaging in disputes against men.’”

إِيَّاكُمْ وَ الْمَشَارَةَ[6] فَإِنَّهَا تُورِثُ الْمَعَرَّةَ وَ تُظْهِرُ الْمُعْوِرَةَ.

7. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Siyabah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Guard (yourself) against engaging in disputes; it causes losses and reveals defects.”

إِيَّاكُمْ وَ الْخُصُومَةَ فَإِنَّهَا تَشْغَلُ الْقَلْبَ وَ تُورِثُ النِّفَاقَ وَ تَكْسِبُ الضَّغَائِنَ‌[7].

“Beware of disputing, for it occupies the heart, engenders hypocrisy, and breeds enmities.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا كَادَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع‌ يَأْتِينِي إِلَّا قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ اتَّقِ شَحْنَاءَ الرِّجَالِ وَ عَدَاوَتَهُمْ‌[1].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Almost every time Jibril (Gabriel), on coming to me, would say, “O Muhammad, guard (your) anger against men and animosity to them. ’” (This Hadith is a repeat of H 5 perhaps by the scribe)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا أَتَانِي جَبْرَئِيلُ ع قَطُّ إِلَّا وَعَظَنِي فَآخِرُ قَوْلِهِ لِي إِيَّاكَ وَ مُشَارَّةَ النَّاسِ فَإِنَّهَا تَكْشِفُ الْعَوْرَةَ وَ تَذْهَبُ بِالْعِزِّ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Jibril (Gabriel) never came to me without advice and guidance. The last advice that he brought was: “Beware of engaging in disputations against men; it reveals the defects and eliminates one’s high regard.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ مَا عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ فِي مُعَادَاةِ الرِّجَالِ‌[3].

“Jibril (Gabriel) never cautioned me so emphatically about anything as he did about opposition to men.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ زَرَعَ الْعَدَاوَةَ حَصَدَ مَا بَذَرَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever plants animosity will reap what he has sown.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْغَضَبُ يُفْسِدُ الْإِيمَانَ كَمَا يُفْسِدُ الْخَلُّ الْعَسَلَ‌[4].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Anger spoils belief just as vinegar spoils honey.”

ذُكِرَ الْغَضَبُ عِنْدَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَغْضَبُ فَمَا يَرْضَى أَبَداً حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ النَّارَ فَأَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ غَضِبَ عَلَى قَوْمٍ وَ هُوَ قَائِمٌ فَلْيَجْلِسْ مِنْ فَوْرِهِ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّهُ سَيَذْهَبُ عَنْهُ رِجْزُ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ غَضِبَ عَلَى ذِي رَحِمَ فَلْيَدْنُ مِنْهُ فَلْيَمَسَّهُ فَإِنَّ الرَّحِمَ إِذَا مُسَّتْ سَكَنَتْ.

“Once anger was mentioned before abu la’ far (a.s.) and he said, ‘Once a man is angered (unless something is done to control it) he will never become happy until he enters the fire. Therefore, whoever becomes angry with people if he is standing must sit down immediately. The filth of Satan goes away from him. Whenever

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الْغَضَبُ مِفْتَاحُ كُلِّ شَرٍّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Anger is the key to all evil.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبِي ع يَقُولُ‌ أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص رَجُلٌ بَدَوِيٌّ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَسْكُنُ الْبَادِيَةَ فَعَلِّمْنِي جَوَامِعَ الْكَلَامِ فَقَالَ آمُرُكَ أَنْ لَا تَغْضَبَ فَأَعَادَ عَلَيْهِ الْأَعْرَابِيُّ الْمَسْأَلَةَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ حَتَّى رَجَعَ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ فَقَالَ لَا أَسْأَلُ عَنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ بَعْدَ هَذَا مَا أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِلَّا بِالْخَيْرِ قَالَ وَ كَانَ أَبِي يَقُولُ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَ

“I heard my father saying, ‘Once a Bedouin man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, “1 live in the Sahara, please teach me comprehensive words of advice.” The Messenger of Allah said, ‘I command you not to become angry.’ The man from the desert repeated his question three times. He then realized the fact and said,

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَلِّمْنِي عِظَةً أَتَّعِظُ بِهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَلِّمْنِي عِظَةً أَتَّعِظُ بِهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ انْطَلِقْ وَ لَا تَغْضَبْ ثُمَّ أَعَادَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ انْطَلِقْ وَ لَا تَغْضَبْ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ.

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Please teach me good advice that will help me learn a lesson.’ The Imam said, ‘Once a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, “O Messenger of Allah, teach me an advice that will help me learn a good lesson.” The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Go, but do not become angry.’ The man r

مَنْ كَفَّ غَضَبَهُ سَتَرَ اللَّهُ عَوْرَتَهُ‌[1].

“Whoever controls his anger, Allah covers his defects for him. ’”

مَكْتُوبٌ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ فِيمَا نَاجَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ مُوسَى ع يَا مُوسَى أَمْسِكْ غَضَبَكَ عَمَّنْ مَلَّكْتُكَ عَلَيْهِ أَكُفَّ عَنْكَ غَضَبِي.

“It is written in the Torah of the conversations of Musa and Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘O Moses, control your anger against those whom I have given you to own, I will keep my anger away from you.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى بَعْضِ أَنْبِيَائِهِ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ اذْكُرْنِي فِي غَضَبِكَ أَذْكُرْكَ فِي غَضَبِي لَا أَمْحَقْكَ فِيمَنْ أَمْحَقُ‌[2]- وَ ارْضَ بِي مُنْتَصِراً فَإِنَّ انْتِصَارِي لَكَ خَيْرٌ مِنِ انْتِصَارِكَ لِنَفْسِكَ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, revealed to certain persons of His prophets: “O sons of Adam, remember Me in your anger, I will remember you in My anger and will not eliminate you along with the things that I eliminate. Be happy with My support; My support is better for you th

مِثْلَهُ وَ زَادَ فِيهِ وَ إِذَا ظُلِمْتَ بِمَظْلِمَةٍ فَارْضَ بِانْتِصَارِي لَكَ فَإِنَّ انْتِصَارِي لَكَ خَيْرٌ مِنِ انْتِصَارِكَ لِنَفْسِكَ.

“When injustice is done to you in an oppressive condition, be happy with My support; My support for you is better than your own support for yourself.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ مَكْتُوباً يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ اذْكُرْنِي حِينَ تَغْضَبُ أَذْكُرْكَ عِنْدَ غَضَبِي فَلَا أَمْحَقْكَ فِيمَنْ أَمْحَقُ وَ إِذَا ظُلِمْتَ بِمَظْلِمَةٍ فَارْضَ بِانْتِصَارِي لَكَ فَإِنَّ انْتِصَارِي لَكَ خَيْرٌ مِنِ انْتِصَارِكَ لِنَفْسِكَ.

‘It is written in the Torah: “Remember Me when you are angry so I remember you when I am angry and will not efface you along with those whom I will blot out. When injustice is done to you, accept My support; My support for you is better than your support for yourself.’”

قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ ص يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَلِّمْنِي قَالَ اذْهَبْ وَ لَا تَغْضَبْ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ قَدْ اكْتَفَيْتُ بِذَاكَ فَمَضَى إِلَى أَهْلِهِ فَإِذَا بَيْنَ قَوْمِهِ حَرْبٌ قَدْ قَامُوا صُفُوفاً وَ لَبِسُوا السِّلَاحَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ لَبِسَ سِلَاحَهُ ثُمَّ قَامَ مَعَهُمْ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ قَوْلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لَا تَغْضَبْ فَرَمَى السِّلَاحَ ثُمَّ جَاءَ يَمْشِي إِلَى الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَدُوُّ ق

“Once a man said to the Holy Prophet, ‘O Messenger of Allah, teach me.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘You may go and do not become angry.’ The man said, ‘I have taken it as a sufficient lesson.’ He went to his family and found his people fighting, all of them lined up in arms. When he saw it he also armed himself and s

إِنَّ هَذَا الْغَضَبَ‌ جَمْرَةٌ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ‌[1] تُوقَدُ فِي قَلْبِ ابْنِ آدَمَ‌[2] وَ إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا غَضِبَ احْمَرَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ وَ انْتَفَخَتْ أَوْدَاجُهُ وَ دَخَلَ الشَّيْطَانُ فِيهِ فَإِذَا خَافَ أَحَدُكُمْ ذَلِكَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ فَلْيَلْزَمِ الْأَرْضَ فَإِنَّ رِجْزَ الشَّيْطَانِ لَيَذْهَبُ عَنْهُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ.

“This anger is a spark from Satan that he lights up in the hearts of the children of Adam. Whenever any of you becomes angry, his eyes turn red, his veins puff up and Satan enters into it. If any of you fears this, he must hold to the earth; in so doing the evil of Satan goes away.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الْغَضَبُ مَمْحَقَةٌ لِقَلْبِ الْحَكِيمِ‌[3] وَ قَالَ مَنْ لَمْ يَمْلِكْ غَضَبَهُ لَمْ يَمْلِكْ عَقْلَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Anger darkens the heart of a wise person.’ The Imam then said, ‘One who loses control of his anger loses his power of reason.”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ كَفَّ نَفْسَهُ عَنْ أَعْرَاضِ النَّاسِ أَقَالَ اللَّهُ نَفْسَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ[4] وَ مَنْ كَفَّ غَضَبَهُ عَنِ النَّاسِ كَفَّ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ عَذَابَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever controls his soul from hurting people, on the Day of Judgment Allah will agree to grant relief to his soul. Whoever controls his anger against people, consequently, Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, will, on the Day of Judgment, hold back the fire from him.”

مَنْ كَفَّ غَضَبَهُ عَنِ النَّاسِ كَفَّ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَذَابَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.

“Whoever controls his anger against people, consequently, Allah will, on the Day of Judgment, hold back the fire from him.”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَأْتِي بِأَيِّ بَادِرَةٍ فَيَكْفُرُ[1] وَ إِنَّ الْحَسَدَ لَيَأْكُلُ الْإِيمَانَ كَمَا تَأْكُلُ النَّارُ الْحَطَبَ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘The man may hastily commit any evil deed and then (gradually) turn in disbelief, however, envy consumes belief (immediately) just as fire consumes firewood.”

إِنَّ الْحَسَدَ يَأْكُلُ الْإِيمَانَ كَمَا تَأْكُلُ النَّارُ الْحَطَبَ.

“Envy consumes belief just as fire consumes firewood.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ لَا يَحْسُدْ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاً إِنَّ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ كَانَ مِنْ شَرَائِعِهِ السَّيْحُ فِي الْبِلَادِ[2] فَخَرَجَ فِي بَعْضِ سَيْحِهِ وَ مَعَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ قَصِيرٌ وَ كَانَ كَثِيرَ اللُّزُومِ لِعِيسَى ع فَلَمَّا انْتَهَى عِيسَى إِلَى الْبَحْرِ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ بِصِحَّةِ يَقِينٍ مِنْهُ فَمَشَى عَلَى ظَهْرِ الْمَاءِ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ الْ

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Be pious before Allah and do not envy each other. It was in the Shari’a of Jesus to travel in the land. During one of his journeys one of his companions, who was of short height, accompanied him very often. When they reached the sea, Jesus with correct certainty said, ‘(I begin) i

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ كَادَ الْفَقْرُ أَنْ يَكُونَ كُفْراً وَ كَادَ الْحَسَدُ أَنْ يَغْلِبَ الْقَدَرَ[1].

‘The Messenger of Allah (sw) said, ‘Poverty can almost be disbelief, and envy may almost overcome (disable) qadr/destiny.’”