Faith & Belief

يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَخْبِرْنِي مَا أَفْضَلُ الْإِسْلَامِ قَالَ الْإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَا ذَا قَالَ ثُمَّ صِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَا ذَا قَالَ الْأَمْرُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ النَّهْيُ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ قَالَ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ فَأَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَبْغَضُ إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الشِّرْكُ بِاللَّهِ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَا ذَا قَالَ قَطِيعَةُ الرَّحِمِ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَا ذَا قَالَ الْأَمْرُ بِالْمُنْكَرِ وَ النَّهْيُ ع

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man from Khath‘am came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is most virtuous in al-Islam ? 5 He (the Messenger of Allah) replied, ‘It is belief in Alla

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَيُبْغِضُ الْمُؤْمِنَ الضَّعِيفَ الَّذِي لَا دِينَ لَهُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ وَ مَا الْمُؤْمِنُ الَّذِي لَا دِينَ لَهُ قَالَ الَّذِي لَا يَنْهَى عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ.

15. The narrator of the previous Hadith through his chain of narrators has said the following: “The Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, dislikes a believing, weak person who has no religion.’

حَسْبُ الْمُؤْمِنِ عِزّاً إِذَا رَأَى مُنْكَراً أَنْ يَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ إِنْكَارَهُ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is enough in terms of honor for a believing person who upon seeing an evil act committed informs (if he finds) Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, that he rejects and denounces such act.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّمَا يُؤْمَرُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ يُنْهَى عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ مُؤْمِنٌ فَيَتَّعِظُ أَوْ جَاهِلٌ فَيَتَعَلَّمُ وَ أَمَّا صَاحِبُ سَوْطٍ أَوْ سَيْفٍ فَلَا.

‘Verily, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil is incumbent upon a believer so he admonishes, or upon an ingorant so he learns from it; but as for the wielder of a whip or a sword, then no.’

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَوَّضَ إِلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ أُمُورَهُ كُلَّهَا وَ لَمْ يُفَوِّضْ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَكُونَ ذَلِيلًا[1] أَ مَا تَسْمَعُ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ لِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَ لِرَسُولِهِ وَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ‌[2] فَالْمُؤْمِنُ يَكُونُ عَزِيزاً وَ لَا يَكُونُ ذَلِيلًا ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ أَعَزُّ مِنَ الْجَبَلِ إِنَّ الْجَبَلَ يُسْتَقَلُّ مِنْهُ بِالْمَعَاوِلِ وَ الْمُؤْمِنَ لَا يُ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘ Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, has delegated all affairs of a believer to him but He has not delegated him to humiliate himself. Have you not heard the words of Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, “All honor belongs to Allah, His Messenger and the believers. .

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَوَّضَ إِلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ أُمُورَهُ كُلَّهَا وَ لَمْ يُفَوِّضْ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يُذِلَّ نَفْسَهُ أَ لَمْ تَسْمَعْ لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ لِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَ لِرَسُولِهِ وَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ‌ فَالْمُؤْمِنُ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ عَزِيزاً وَ لَا يَكُونَ ذَلِيلًا يُعِزُّهُ اللَّهُ بِالْإِيمَانِ وَ الْإِسْلَامِ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthaman ibn ’Isa from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, has delegated all affairs of believers to them but He has not delegated him to humiliate himself. Hav

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى فَوَّضَ إِلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ كُلَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ إِلَّا إِذْلَالَ نَفْسِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, has delegated all affairs of believers to them except their humiliating themselves.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُؤْمِنِ أَنْ يُذِلَّ نَفْسَهُ قُلْتُ بِمَا يُذِلُّ نَفْسَهُ قَالَ يَدْخُلُ فِيمَا يَتَعَذَّرُ مِنْهُ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A believer must not humiliate himself.’ I then asked, ‘In what way can he humiliate himself?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘He can do so by involving himself in things that he cannot do.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَوَّضَ إِلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ أُمُورَهُ كُلَّهَا وَ لَمْ يُفَوِّضْ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يُذِلَّ نَفْسَهُ أَ لَمْ يَرَ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ هَاهُنَا- وَ لِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَ لِرَسُولِهِ وَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ‌ وَ الْمُؤْمِنُ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَزِيزاً وَ لَا يَكُونَ ذَلِيلًا.

6. Muhammad ibn Ahmad has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Salt from Yunus from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, has delegated all affairs of believers to them but He has not delegated him to humiliate himself. Has he not seen the word

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ يُصْبِحُ الْمُؤْمِنُ أَوْ يُمْسِي‌ عَلَى ثَكَلٍ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يُصْبِحَ أَوْ يُمْسِيَ عَلَى حَرَبٍ فَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الْحَرَبِ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘A believer’s spending days and nights with suffering from the losses of his loved ones is better than his spending days and nights in the state of war.

إِنَّ فِي حِكْمَةِ آلِ دَاوُدَ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ الْعَاقِلِ أَنْ لَا يُرَى ظَاعِناً[1] إِلَّا فِي ثَلَاثٍ مَرَمَّةٍ لِمَعَاشٍ أَوْ تَزَوُّدٍ لِمَعَادٍ أَوْ لَذَّةٍ فِي غَيْرِ ذَاتِ مُحَرَّمٍ وَ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ الْعَاقِلِ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ سَاعَةٌ يُفْضِي بِهَا إِلَى عَمَلِهِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ سَاعَةٌ يُلَاقِي إِخْوَانَهُ الَّذِينَ يُفَاوِضُهُمْ وَ يُفَاوِضُونَهُ فِي أَمْر

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is in the wisdom of Ale (family) Dawud that a reasonable Muslim should not travel unless it is for three kinds of tasks: amending one’s means of living, supplies for the hereafter or enjoyment with lawful matters. A reasonable Muslim should assign certain hours of his time to work

إِصْلَاحُ الْمَالِ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Tha’labah and others from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Keeping one’s wealth in a proper shape is part of belief.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَلْزَمَ مَكَّةَ أَوِ الْمَدِينَةَ وَ عَلَيَّ دَيْنٌ فَمَا تَقُولُ فَقَالَ ارْجِعْ فَأَدِّهِ إِلَى مُؤَدَّى دَيْنِكَ وَ انْظُرْ أَنْ تَلْقَى اللَّهَ تَعَالَى وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ دَيْنٌ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لَا يَخُونُ.

‘You must return to pay off what you owe, and bear in mind that you must go before Allah, most High, when there is no debts due on you. A believing person does not commit treachery.’”

كُنْتُ بِالْكُوفَةِ فَقَدِمَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْحِيرَةَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَوْ كَلَّمْتَ دَاوُدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ أَوْ بَعْضَ هَؤُلَاءِ فَأَدْخُلَ فِي بَعْضِ هَذِهِ الْوِلَايَاتِ فَقَالَ مَا كُنْتُ لِأَفْعَلَ قَالَ فَانْصَرَفْتُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِي فَتَفَكَّرْتُ فَقُلْتُ مَا أَحْسَبُهُ مَنَعَنِي إِلَّا مَخَافَةَ أَنْ أَظْلِمَ أَوْ أَجُورَ وَ اللَّهِ لآَتِيَنَّهُ وَ لَأُعْطِيَنَّهُ الطَّلَاقَ

“A Mawla’ (freed slave or tribal client) of Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), told me, ‘I was in al-Kufah when Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), came to al-Hirah and I went to see him. I said to him (the Imam), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, can you speak to Dawud ibn Ali or others of these people to admit me

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع فَقَالَ لِي يَا زِيَادُ إِنَّكَ لَتَعْمَلُ عَمَلَ‌ السُّلْطَانِ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَجَلْ قَالَ لِي وَ لِمَ قُلْتُ أَنَا رَجُلٌ لِي مُرُوءَةٌ[1] وَ عَلَيَّ عِيَالٌ وَ لَيْسَ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِي شَيْ‌ءٌ فَقَالَ لِي يَا زِيَادُ لَأَنْ أَسْقُطَ مِنْ حَالِقٍ فَأَتَقَطَّعَ‌[2] قِطْعَةً قِطْعَةً أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَتَوَلَّى لِأَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ عَمَلًا أَوْ أَطَأَ بِسَاطَ أَحَدِهِمْ إِلَّ

“I once went to visit abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.), and he (the Imam) asked me, ‘O Ziyad, do you work for Sultan ? 5 I replied, ‘Yes, I do so . 5 He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Why do you do so ? 5 I replied, ‘I am a man of fairness and I have a family to feed. I do not have any other means for support . 5 He (the Imam) said,

ذُكِرَ عِنْدَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْعِصَابَةِ قَدْ وُلِّيَ وَلَايَةً فَقَالَ كَيْفَ صَنِيعَتُهُ إِلَى إِخْوَانِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ خَيْرٌ فَقَالَ أُفٍّ يَدْخُلُونَ فِيمَا لَا يَنْبَغِي لَهُمْ وَ لَا يَصْنَعُونَ إِلَى إِخْوَانِهِمْ خَيْراً.

“In the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), a man of this group (followers of ‘A’immah) was mentioned and that he had become the in charge person of an official position of the rulers. He (the Imam) asked, ‘How is his dealing with his brothers in belief ? 5 I (the narrator) replied, ‘There is nothing good in him in this

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ مَا مِنْ جَبَّارٍ إِلَّا وَ مَعَهُ مُؤْمِنٌ يَدْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهِ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ هُوَ أَقَلُّهُمْ حَظّاً فِي الْآخِرَةِ يَعْنِي أَقَلَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَظّاً لِصُحْبَةِ الْجَبَّارِ.

“I once heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘With every tyrant there is a believing person with whom Allah defends the believing people, and he (such believing person) receives the least of rewards in the next life because of his association with the tyrant.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْتَرِفَ الْأَمِينَ وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يُحِبُّ الْمُؤْمِنَ الْمُحْتَرِفَ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, loves persons who are trustworthy and possess technical skills/” In another Hadith it is said, ‘Allah, most High, loves the skillful believer.’”

دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ مَعَنَا فَرْقَدٌ الْحَجَّامُ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي أَعْمَلُ عَمَلًا وَ قَدْ سَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ غَيْرَ وَاحِدٍ وَ لَا اثْنَيْنِ فَزَعَمُوا أَنَّهُ عَمَلٌ مَكْرُوهٌ وَ أَنَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ مَكْرُوهاً انْتَهَيْتُ عَنْهُ وَ عَمِلْتُ غَيْرَهُ مِنَ الْأَعْمَالِ فَإِنِّي مُنْتَهٍ فِي ذَلِكَ إِلَى قَوْلِكَ قَالَ وَ مَا هُوَ قَالَ حَجَّامٌ قَال

“Once we visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when Farqad al-Hajjam was also with us. He (Farqad) asked him (the Imam) saying, ’May Allah keep my soul in the service of your cause, I perform a certain kind of work and I have asked more than one person about the legal status of what I do and they think it is a detestable work

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا يَزْنِي الزَّانِي حِينَ يَزْنِي وَ هُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَ لَا يَسْرِقُ السَّارِقُ حِينَ يَسْرِقُ وَ هُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَ لَا يَنْهَبُ نُهْبَةً ذَاتَ شَرَفٍ‌[2] حِينَ يَنْهَبُهَا وَ هُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ قَالَ ابْنُ سِنَانٍ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْجَارُودِ وَ مَا نُهْبَةٌ ذَاتُ شَرَفٍ قَالَ نَحْوُ مَا صَنَعَ حَاتِمٌ حِينَ قَالَ مَنْ أَخَذَ شَيْئاً فَهُوَ لَهُ.

‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘A fornicator does not fornicate while he is a believing person, a thief does not steal while he is a believing person and an honorable person does not do Nahbah Dhata Sharaf (an honor-loot)

تَشَوَّفَتِ الدُّنْيَا لِقَوْمٍ حَلَالًا مَحْضاً فَلَمْ يُرِيدُوهَا فَدَرَجُوا- ثُمَّ تَشَوَّفَتْ لِقَوْمٍ حَلَالًا وَ شُبْهَةً[3] فَقَالُوا لَا حَاجَةَ لَنَا فِي الشُّبْهَةِ وَ تَوَسَّعُوا مِنَ الْحَلَالِ ثُمَّ تَشَوَّفَتْ لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ حَرَاماً وَ شُبْهَةً فَقَالُوا لَا حَاجَةَ لَنَا فِي الْحَرَامِ وَ تَوَسَّعُوا فِي الشُّبْهَةِ ثُمَّ تَشَوَّفَتْ لِقَوْمٍ حَرَاماً مَحْضاً فَيَطْلُبُونَهَا فَلَا يَجِدُونَهَا وَ

The world tried to attract a people with purely lawful matters but they passed (without paying any attention) away. Then it tried to attract another people with lawful and doubtful matters and they said, “We do not need any doubtful matters.” However, they expanded the lawful matters. It then tried to attract another p

قِيلَ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّا نَدْخُلُ عَلَى أَخٍ لَنَا فِي بَيْتِ أَيْتَامٍ وَ مَعَهُمْ خَادِمٌ لَهُمْ فَنَقْعُدُ عَلَى بِسَاطِهِمْ وَ نَشْرَبُ مِنْ مَائِهِمْ وَ يَخْدُمُنَا خَادِمُهُمْ وَ رُبَّمَا طَعِمْنَا فِيهِ الطَّعَامَ مِنْ عِنْدِ صَاحِبِنَا وَ فِيهِ مِنْ طَعَامِهِمْ فَمَا تَرَى فِي ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ فِي دُخُولِكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ مَنْفَعَةٌ لَهُمْ فَلَا بَأْسَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ ضَرَرٌ فَلَا وَ ق

“Once it was said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘We visit a brother in belief in the house of orphans with their servant. We sit on their furnishings, drink from their water and their servant serves us and perhaps eat of the food of our friend in which there is the orphans’ food also. What do you say about it? He (the Imam

سَمِعْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ الْفِقْهَ ثُمَّ الْمَتْجَرَ الْفِقْهَ ثُمَّ الْمَتْجَرَ الْفِقْهَ ثُمَّ الْمَتْجَرَ وَ اللَّهِ لَلرِّبَا فِي هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ أَخْفَى مِنْ دَبِيبِ النَّمْلِ عَلَى الصَّفَا شُوبُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ التَّاجِرُ فَاجِرٌ وَ الْفَاجِرُ فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا مَنْ أَخَذَ الْحَقَّ وَ أَعْطَى الْحَقَّ.

“I heard Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), saying from the pulpit, ‘O people who do business, you must learn fiqh (laws), then go in business, you must learn fiqh (laws) then go in business, you must learn fiqh (laws) then go in business. I swear by Allah, Riba ’ creeps in this nation more quietly than an ant’s moving on a hard

غَبْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ حَرَامٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Selling above fair piece to a believing person is unlawful.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ عَامَّةَ مَنْ يَأْتِينِي مِنْ إِخْوَانِي فَحُدَّ لِي مِنْ مُعَامَلَتِهِمْ مَا لَا أَجُوزُهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ فَقَالَ إِنْ وَلَّيْتَ أَخَاكَ فَحَسَنٌ وَ إِلَّا فَبِعْ بَيْعَ الْبَصِيرِ الْمُدَاقِّ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Most of my clients are from our brothers (in belief). I request you to set for me a limit, how should I deal with them in a transaction so that I will not go beyond that limit.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If you consider your brother (in belief) as the person in charge it is fine, othe

رِبْحُ الْمُؤْمِنِ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ رِبًا إِلَّا أَنْ يَشْتَرِيَ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ مِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ فَارْبَحْ عَلَيْهِ قُوتَ يَوْمِكَ أَوْ يَشْتَرِيَهُ لِلتِّجَارَةِ فَارْبَحُوا عَلَيْهِمْ وَ ارْفُقُوا بِهِمْ.

“Abu ‘Abdullah (a.s.), has said, ‘A believer’s making profit on another believer is Riba’ except if he buys more than a hundred dirham worth of goods, in which case, he can make a profit equal to the expenses of his day, or if he buys it for business and reselling. You may in this case make a profit but you must deal w

قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يَا أَبَا الْفَضْلِ أَ مَا لَكَ مَكَانٌ تَقْعُدُ فِيهِ فَتُعَامِلَ النَّاسَ قَالَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ مُؤْمِنٍ يَرُوحُ أَوْ يَغْدُو إِلَى مَجْلِسِهِ أَوْ سُوقِهِ فَيَقُولُ حِينَ يَضَعُ رِجْلَهُ فِي السُّوقِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِهَا وَ خَيْرِ أَهْلِهَا إِلَّا وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ مَنْ يَحْفَظُهُ وَ يَحْفَظُ عَلَيْهِ‌[1] حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى م

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), once said to me, ‘O abu al-Fadl, do you have a place where you can sit and do business with people ? 5 I replied, ‘Yes, I have such a place . 5 He (the Imam) then said, ‘Whoever of believing people during the morning or evening goes to his market-place and says this when setting foot in the market-p

قَامَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَى دَارِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُعَيْطٍ وَ كَانَ يُقَامُ فِيهَا الْإِبِلُ فَقَالَ يَا مَعَاشِرَ السَّمَاسِرَةِ[2] أَقِلُّوا الْأَيْمَانَ فَإِنَّهَا مَنْفَقَةٌ لِلسِّلْعَةِ مَمْحَقَةٌ لِلرِّبْحِ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), once stood on the house of ibn abu Mu‘ayt where camel men stayed, and said, ‘O middlemen people, you must reduce swearing; it makes a merchandise easily marketable but destroys the profit.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يَجِيئُنِي بِالْوَرِقِ يَبِيعُنِيهَا يُرِيدُ بِهَا وَرِقاً عِنْدِي فَهُوَ الْيَقِينُ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ يُرِيدُ الدَّنَانِيرَ لَيْسَ يُرِيدُ إِلَّا الْوَرِقَ وَ لَا يَقُومُ حَتَّى يَأْخُذَ وَرِقِي فَأَشْتَرِي مِنْهُ الدَّرَاهِمَ بِالدَّنَانِيرِ فَلَا يَكُونُ دَنَانِيرُهُ عِنْدِي كَامِلَةً فَأَسْتَقْرِضُ لَهُ مِنْ جَارِي فَأُعْطِيهِ كَمَالَ دَنَانِيرِهِ وَ لَعَلِّي لَا أُحْرِزُ وَ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who came to me with dirham to sell them to me for the dirhams with me. He certainly did not want dinars but he wanted the dirham and he did not leave until he took my dirham. I bought from him dirham in exchange for dinars. His dinar

إِنَّ سَمُرَةَ بْنَ جُنْدَبٍ كَانَ لَهُ عَذْقٌ وَ كَانَ طَرِيقُهُ إِلَيْهِ فِي جَوْفِ مَنْزِلِ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَكَانَ يَجِي‌ءُ وَ يَدْخُلُ إِلَى عَذْقِهِ بِغَيْرِ إِذْنٍ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ يَا سَمُرَةُ لَا تَزَالُ تُفَاجِئُنَا عَلَى حَالٍ لَا نُحِبُّ أَنْ تُفَاجِئَنَا عَلَيْهَا فَإِذَا دَخَلْتَ فَاسْتَأْذِنْ فَقَالَ لَا أَسْتَأْذِنُ فِي طَرِيقٍ وَ هُوَ طَرِيقِي إِلَى عَذْقِي ق

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Samrah ibn Jundab had a fruit bearing palm tree and his path way was through the inside section of the house of a man from al-Ansar. He would come and enter to go to his palm tree without permission. The man from al-Ansar said to him, ‘O Samrah, you continue to take us off guard in a cond

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ مَعَاشُكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ غُلَامَانِ لِي وَ جَمَلَانِ قَالَ فَقَالَ اسْتَتِرْ بِذَلِكَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِكَ‌[2] فَإِنَّهُمْ إِنْ لَمْ يَضُرُّوكَ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once asked me, ‘How do you make a living?’ I replied, ‘I have two slaves and two camels.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not speak about it to your brothers (in belief); if they do not harm, they do not benefit you either.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مُؤْمِنٌ فَقِيرٌ شَدِيدُ الْحَاجَةِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصُّفَّةِ وَ كَانَ مُلَازِماً لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص عِنْدَ مَوَاقِيتِ الصَّلَاةِ كُلِّهَا لَا يَفْقِدُهُ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْهَا وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَرِقُّ لَهُ وَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى حَاجَتِهِ وَ غُرْبَتِهِ فَيَقُولُ يَا سَعْدُ لَوْ قَدْ جَاءَنِي شَيْ‌ءٌ لَأَغْنَيْتُكَ قَالَ فَأَبْطَأَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى ر

“I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, ‘During the time of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, there was a believing man, poor and very needy of the people of the platform (in front of Masjid). He always kept very close to the Messenge

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَيْسَ بِوَلِيٍّ لِي مَنْ أَكَلَ مَالَ مُؤْمِنٍ حَرَاماً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who consumes the assets of a believing person in unlawful ways is not of my follower and friends.’”

لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا لَكَ تَنْظُرُ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَبٌّ يُلْقَى فِي قَمِيصِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ اضْرِبْ يَدَكَ إِلَى هَذَا الْكِتَابِ فَاقْرَأْ مَا فِيهِ وَ كَانَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ كِتَابٌ أَوْ قَرِيبٌ مِنْهُ فَنَظَرَ الرَّجُلُ فِيهِ فَإِذَا فِيهِ لَا إِيمَانَ لِمَنْ لَا حَيَاءَ لَهُ وَ لَا مَالَ لِمَنْ لَا تَقْدِيرَ لَهُ وَ لَا جَدِيدَ لِمَنْ لَا خَلَقَ لَهُ.

“Once a certain person of the followers of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), came to visit him (the Imam) and he saw his shirt had a patch on it, so he kept looking at it. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked, ‘Why are you looking?’ He replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, there is a patch on your shirt.’ H

مَا أَظُنُّ رَجُلًا يَزْدَادُ فِي الْإِيمَانِ خَيْراً إِلَّا ازْدَادَ حُبّاً لِلنِّسَاءِ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I do not think a man can increase anything good in his belief except that he increases his love for women.’”

مَا أَظُنُّ رَجُلًا يَزْدَادُ فِي هَذَا الْأَمْرِ خَيْراً إِلَّا ازْدَادَ حُبّاً لِلنِّسَاءِ[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I do not think anyone increases goodness in this issue (belief in the Divine Authority of ‘A’immah) without his increasing love for women.’”

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِذِ اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ فَأَذِنَ لَهُ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَسَلَّمَ فَرَحَّبَ بِهِ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ أَدْنَاهُ وَ سَاءَلَهُ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي خَطَبْتُ إِلَى مَوْلَاكَ فُلَانِ بْنِ أَبِي رَافِعٍ ابْنَتَهُ فُلَانَةَ فَرَدَّنِي وَ رَغِبَ عَنِّي وَ ازْدَرَأَنِي لِدَمَامَتِي وَ حَاجَتِي وَ غُرْبَتِي وَ قَدْ دَخَلَنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ غَضَاضَةٌ هَجْمَةٌ غُضَّ لَهَا

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Malik ibn ‘Atiyyah from abu Hamzah al-Thumaliy who has said the following: “I once was with abu Ja’far when a man asked permission for a meeting. He came in and offered Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace). Ab

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَتَزَوَّجُ بِمُرْجِئَةٍ أَوْ حَرُورِيَّةٍ قَالَ لَا عَلَيْكَ بِالْبُلْهِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ قَالَ زُرَارَةَ فَقُلْتُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا هِيَ إِلَّا مُؤْمِنَةٌ أَوْ كَافِرَةٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَيْنَ أَهْلُ ثَنْوَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌[1] قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَصْدَقُ مِنْ قَوْلِكَ‌ إِلَّا الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الرِّجالِ وَ النِّساءِ وَ الْوِلْدانِ لا يَسْتَطِيعُو

2. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muskan from Yahya al-Halabiy from ‘Abd al-Hamid al-Ta’iy from Zurarah ibn ‘A‘yan who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if I can marry a Murji’ah or Harawriya

لَا يَتَزَوَّجِ الْمُؤْمِنُ النَّاصِبَةَ الْمَعْرُوفَةَ بِذَلِكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A believer must not marry one who is hostile to ‘A’immah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, and his hostility is well known.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ لِامْرَأَتِي أُخْتاً عَارِفَةً عَلَى رَأْيِنَا وَ لَيْسَ عَلَى رَأْيِنَا بِالْبَصْرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ فَأُزَوِّجُهَا مِمَّنْ لَا يَرَى رَأْيَهَا قَالَ لَا وَ لَا نِعْمَةَ [وَ لَا كَرَامَةَ] إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ‌ فَلا تَرْجِعُوهُنَّ إِلَى الْكُفَّارِ لا هُنَّ حِلٌّ لَهُمْ وَ لا هُمْ يَحِلُّونَ لَهُنَ‌[1].

"I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (as), about the case of the sister of my wife who is of the same belief as we are; but in Basra very few people believe as we do; if we can give her in marriage to those who do not believe as we do?". He (the Imam) said: "No, it is not a bounty or honor. Allah, most Majestic, most Glor

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ النَّاصِبِ الَّذِي قَدْ عُرِفَ نَصْبُهُ وَ عَدَاوَتُهُ هَلْ نُزَوِّجُهُ الْمُؤْمِنَةَ[2] وَ هُوَ قَادِرٌ عَلَى رَدِّهِ وَ هُوَ لَا يَعْلَمُ بِرَدِّهِ‌[3] قَالَ لَا يُزَوَّجِ الْمُؤْمِنُ النَّاصِبَةَ وَ لَا يَتَزَوَّجِ النَّاصِبُ الْمُؤْمِنَةَ وَ لَا يَتَزَوَّجِ الْمُسْتَضْعَفُ مُؤْمِنَةً.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of al-Nasib (one hostile to ‘A’immah) who is well known for his hostility; if we can give a believing woman in marriage to him. He (the guardian of the believing woman) is capable to disprove his (Nasib’s) belief but he (Nasib) is not able to

قُلْتُ مَا تَقُولُ فِي مُنَاكَحَةِ النَّاسِ فَإِنِّي قَدْ بَلَغْتُ مَا تَرَى وَ مَا تَزَوَّجْتُ قَطُّ قَالَ وَ مَا يَمْنَعُكَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ مَا يَمْنَعُنِي إِلَّا أَنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ لَا يَكُونَ يَحِلُّ لِي مُنَاكَحَتُهُمْ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي قَالَ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ وَ أَنْتَ شَابٌّ أَ تَصْبِرُ قُلْتُ أَتَّخِذُ الْجَوَارِيَ قَالَ فَهَاتِ الْآنَ فَبِمَ تَسْتَحِلُّ الْجَوَارِيَ أَخْبِرْنِي فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ الْأَمَةَ لَي

“This is concerning my question before abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the marriage of people. ‘I, as you can see, of this age have not married yet.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What holds you back from getting married?’ I replied, ‘The only thing that holds me back is that I am afraid marrying them is not lawful and I wish to see

خَطَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بِهَذِهِ الْخُطْبَةِ فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ أَحْمَدُهُ وَ أَسْتَعِينُهُ وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَ أَسْتَهْدِيهِ وَ أُومِنُ بِهِ وَ أَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْهِ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً ص عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ أَرْسَلَهُ‌ بِالْهُدى‌ وَ دِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ* دَلِيلًا عَلَيْهِ وَ دَاعِياً إِلَيْهِ

3. Ahmad ibn ‘Isma’il ibn Mehran has said that narrated to us ‘Abd al-Malik ibn abu al-Harith from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, once addressed with the following speech: ‘All praise belongs to Allah, I praise Him, beg assistance from

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع- عَنْ مَهْرِ السُّنَّةِ كَيْفَ صَارَ خَمْسَمِائَةٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَوْجَبَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ أَلَّا يُكَبِّرَهُ مُؤْمِنٌ مِائَةَ تَكْبِيرَةٍ وَ يُسَبِّحَهُ مِائَةَ تَسْبِيحَةٍ وَ يُحَمِّدَهُ مِائَةَ تَحْمِيدَةٍ وَ يُهَلِّلَهُ مِائَةَ تَهْلِيلَةٍ وَ يُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ اللَّهُمَّ زَوِّجْنِي مِنَ الْحُورِ الْعِينِ إِلَّا ز

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from al-Husayn ibn Khalid and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Uthman al-Khazzaz from a man from al-Husayn ibn Khalid who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about mahr (

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ فِي الْمُتْعَةِ دَعُوهَا أَ مَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يُرَى فِي مَوْضِعِ الْعَوْرَةِ[2] فَيُحْمَلَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى صَالِحِي إِخْوَانِهِ وَ أَصْحَابِهِ.

‘Stay away from it. Do you not feel ashamed of being seen in a place for which your virtuous brothers in belief and friends feel embarrassed?”’

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع رَجُلٌ تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً مُتْعَةً ثُمَّ وَثَبَ عَلَيْهَا أَهْلُهَا فَزَوَّجُوهَا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِهَا عَلَانِيَةً وَ الْمَرْأَةُ امْرَأَةُ صِدْقٍ كَيْفَ الْحِيلَةُ قَالَ لَا تُمَكِّنْ زَوْجَهَا مِنْ نَفْسِهَا حَتَّى يَنْقَضِيَ شَرْطُهَا وَ عِدَّتُهَا قُلْتُ إِنَّ شَرْطَهَا سَنَةٌ وَ لَا يَصْبِرُ لَهَا زَوْجُهَا وَ لَا أَهْلُهَا سَنَةً قَالَ فَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ زَوْجُهَا الْأَوَّلُ وَ

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), about the case of a man who marries a woman in the manner of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage), then people of her family leap in her case and give her in marriage publicly without her permission. She is a truthful person; if there is a solution to her case. He (the Imam) said,

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جَالِساً فَذَكَرَ شِرْكَ الشَّيْطَانِ فَعَظَّمَهُ حَتَّى أَفْزَعَنِي قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَمَا الْمَخْرَجُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ الْجِمَاعَ فَقُلْ‌ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ* الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ بَدِيعُ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ* اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ قَضَيْتَ مِنِّي فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ خَلِيفَةً فَلَا تَجْعَلْ لِلشَّيْطَانِ فِيهِ شِرْكاً وَ لَا نَ

“I once was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). He (the Imam) mentioned Satan and called him greatly dangerous so much so that it frightened me and I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what is the way out from it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When you decide to go to bed with your wife say, “In the name

إِذَا أُغِيرَ الرَّجُلُ فِي أَهْلِهِ أَوْ بَعْضِ مَنَاكِحِهِ مِنْ مَمْلُوكِهِ فَلَمْ يَغَرْ وَ لَمْ يُغَيِّرْ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ طَائِراً يُقَالُ لَهُ الْقَفَنْدَرُ[3] حَتَّى يَسْقُطَ عَلَى عَارِضَةِ بَابِهِ‌[4] ثُمَّ يُمْهِلَهُ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ يَهْتِفَ بِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَيُورٌ يُحِبُّ كُلَّ غَيُورٍ فَإِنْ هُوَ غَارَ وَ غَيَّرَ وَ أَنْكَرَ ذَلِكَ فَأَنْكَرَهُ وَ إِلَّا طَارَ حَتَّى يَس

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When a man’s vigilance is shaken in matters of protection for his family and wife or those married to him, like his slave-girl, but does not act vigilantly, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sends a bird called al-Qafandar which sits on the upper portion of his door and gives him f

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع هَؤُلَاءِ الْمُخَنَّثُونَ مُبْتَلَوْنَ بِهَذَا الْبَلَاءِ فَيَكُونُ الْمُؤْمِنُ مُبْتَلًى وَ النَّاسُ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُ لَا يُبْتَلَى بِهِ أَحَدٌ لِلَّهِ فِيهِ حَاجَةٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَدْ يَكُونُ مُبْتَلًى بِهِ فَلَا تُكَلِّمُوهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ يَجِدُونَ لِكَلَامِكُمْ رَاحَةً قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَيْسُوا يَصْبِرُونَ قَالَ هُمْ يَصْبِرُونَ وَ لَكِنْ يَطْلُبُونَ بِذَلِكَ ا

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the hermaphrodites who suffer because of this misfortune (sexual intercourse in their anus). Will a believing person suffer from this sickness and people think Allah does not allow one whom He finds of any benefit at all to suffer from this sickness. H

جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَدَخَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَ هُوَ فِي مَنْزِلِ حَفْصَةَ وَ الْمَرْأَةُ مُتَلَبِّسَةٌ مُتَمَشِّطَةٌ فَدَخَلَتْ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ لَا تَخْطُبُ الزَّوْجَ وَ أَنَا امْرَأَةٌ أَيِّمٌ لَا زَوْجَ لِي مُنْذُ دَهْرٍ وَ لَا وَلَدَ فَهَلْ لَكَ مِنْ حَاجَةٍ فَإِنْ تَكُ فَقَدْ وَهَبْتُ نَفْسِي لَكَ إِنْ قَبِلْتَنِي فَقَالَ

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that once a woman of al-Ansar (people of al-Madinah) came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. She came in the house of Hafsah and she was well dressed and groomed. She came to the Messenger of Allah and sa