Faith & Belief

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ ثَلَاثٌ أَخَافُهُنَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي الضَّلَالَةُ بَعْدَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ وَ مَضَلَّاتُ الْفِتَنِ‌[3] وَ شَهْوَةُ الْبَطْنِ وَ الْفَرْجِ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his sources of narrators who have said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘There are three things about which I am afraid for my followers after me: misguidance after recognition of the truth, confusion because of mischief and the desires of stomach and genital organs.

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا مِنْ عِبَادَةٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ عِفَّةِ بَطْنٍ وَ فَرْجٍ.

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘There is no worship better than the chastity in matters of stomach and genital organs.’”

مَا مِنْ عِبَادَةٍ أَفْضَلَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ عِفَّةِ بَطْنٍ وَ فَرْجٍ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from Mansur ibn Hazim from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘In the sight of Allah there is no worship more virtuous than chastity in matters of stomach and genital organs.’”

مَنْ عَلِمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَرَاهُ وَ يَسْمَعُ مَا يَقُولُهُ وَ يَفْعَلُهُ مِنْ خَيْرٍ أَوْ شَرٍّ فَيَحْجُزُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنِ الْقَبِيحِ مِنَ الْأَعْمَالِ فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي‌ خافَ مَقامَ رَبِّهِ وَ نَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوى‌.

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . for one who has fear of the position of his Lord there are two gardens,’ (55:46) the Imam said, ‘Whoever knows that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, sees him and hears whatever he says or acts for good or evil, and it keeps him back from the ev

كُلُّ عَيْنٍ بَاكِيَةٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ غَيْرَ ثَلَاثٍ عَيْنٍ سَهِرَتْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ عَيْنٍ فَاضَتْ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ‌[2] وَ عَيْنٍ غُضَّتْ‌[3] عَنْ مَحَارِمِ اللَّهِ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘On the Day of Judgment all eyes will be weeping except three kinds of eyes: the eye that spends the night awake in the way of Allah, the eye that weeps in submission before Allah and the eye that turns away from what Allah has made unlawful to look at.’”

فِيمَا نَاجَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ مُوسَى ع يَا مُوسَى مَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ الْمُتَقَرِّبُونَ بِمِثْلِ الْوَرَعِ عَنْ مَحَارِمِي فَإِنِّي أُبِيحُهُمْ جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ لَا أُشْرِكُ مَعَهُمْ أَحَداً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Of the things that Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, spoke to Moses one was as follows: ‘O Moses, of those who seek nearness to Me no one is like the ones who restrain from what I have made unlawful. I, therefore, open for them the garden of Eden and will not allow anyone else to shar

مِنْ أَشَدِّ مَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ كَثِيراً ثُمَّ قَالَ لَا أَعْنِي سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ مِنْهُ وَ لَكِنْ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ عِنْدَ مَا أَحَلَّ وَ حَرَّمَ فَإِنْ كَانَ طَاعَةً عَمِلَ بِهَا وَ إِنْ كَانَ مَعْصِيَةً تَرَكَهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘The most intensive obligation Allah has placed upon His creature is to speak of Allah (remember Him) a great deal.’ The Imam then said, ‘I did not mean thereby saying, “Glory belongs to Allah, all thanks belong to Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah and Allah is greate

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ قَدِمْنا إِلى‌ ما عَمِلُوا مِنْ عَمَلٍ‌ فَجَعَلْناهُ هَباءً مَنْثُوراً[1] قَالَ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ إِنْ كَانَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ أَشَدَّ بَيَاضاً مِنَ الْقَبَاطِيِ‌[2] وَ لَكِنْ كَانُوا إِذَا عَرَضَ لَهُمُ الْحَرَامُ لَمْ يَدَعُوهُ.

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘We shall call their deeds into Our presence and scatter them into the air as dust (turn them devoid of all virtue).’ (25:23) The Imam said, ‘I swear by Allah, even though their deeds may have been whiter than the Coptic gown, the

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ تَرَكَ مَعْصِيَةً لِلَّهِ مَخَافَةَ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَرْضَاهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever stays away from disobeying Allah because of fear of Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, Allah will make him happy on the Day of Judgment.’”

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ص‌ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِمَا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فَهُوَ مِنْ خَيْرِ النَّاسِ.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘One who fulfils what Allah has made obligatory upon him is the best of people.’”

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- اصْبِرُوا وَ صابِرُوا وَ رابِطُوا[3] قَالَ اصْبِرُوا عَلَى الْفَرَائِضِ.

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Believers, have patience, help each other with patience, establish good relations with one another. . . .’ (3:200), the Imam said, ‘Exercise patience in fulfilling your obligations.’”

‌ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- اصْبِرُوا وَ صابِرُوا وَ رابِطُوا قَالَ‌ اصْبِرُوا عَلَى الْفَرَائِضِ‌ وَ صابِرُوا عَلَى الْمَصَائِبِ‌ وَ رابِطُوا عَلَى الْأَئِمَّةِ ع‌[4]. - وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي السَّفَاتِجِ وَ زَادَ فِيهِ‌ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ فِيمَا افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Believers, have patience, help each other with patience, establish good relations with one another. . . . (3:200) the Imam said, ‘Exercise patience in fulfilling your obligations, help each other with patience in tragedies and establish good relations with A

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ اعْمَلْ بِفَرَائِضِ اللَّهِ تَكُنْ أَتْقَى النَّاسِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Fulfill what Allah has made obligatory upon you. You will then be considered the most pious of the people.’”

قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى‌ مَا تَحَبَّبَ‌[1] إِلَيَّ عَبْدِي بِأَحَبَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from abu Jamilah from Muhammad al-Halabi from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, has said, ‘The most beloved matter to Me through which My servant seeks to be loved is to fulfill what 1

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا كَانَ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى عَمَلٍ فَلْيَدُمْ عَلَيْهِ سَنَةً ثُمَّ يَتَحَوَّلُ عَنْهُ إِنْ شَاءَ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ يَكُونُ فِيهَا فِي عَامِهِ‌[2] ذَلِكَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘If a man does a good deed, he should continue for a year before ending, if he may so wish, to perform another good deed. This is because the night of destiny comes in his year in which things that Allah wills come into being.’”

قَالَ: أَحَبُّ الْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَا دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهِ الْعَبْدُ وَ إِنْ قَلَّ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘The most beloved deed in the sight of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, is that which is continued even though it is very little.’”

مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ عَمَلٍ يُدَاوَمُ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ قَلَّ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘There is nothing more beloved to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, than a deed that is continued by a servant (of Allah) even though it is very little.’”

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ص يَقُولُ‌ إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّ أَنْ أُدَاوِمَ عَلَى الْعَمَلِ وَ إِنْ قَلَّ.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) would say, ‘I love to continue a good deed even if it is very little.’”

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ص يَقُولُ‌ إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّ أَنْ أَقْدَمَ عَلَى رَبِّي وَ عَمَلِي مُسْتَوٍ[1].

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) would say, ‘I love to go before my Lord with my deeds orderly and balanced.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَفْرِضَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ فَرِيضَةً فَتُفَارِقَهَا اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ هِلَالًا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Be careful and do not give up on a good deed that you may have decided to do, before twelve lunar months end.’” Note: The good deeds and acts of worship in the above Ahadith refer to the optional acts of worship; the obligatory ones do not decrease or increase.

فِي التَّوْرَاةِ مَكْتُوبٌ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ تَفَرَّغْ لِعِبَادَتِي أَمْلَأْ قَلْبَكَ غِنًى وَ لَا أَكِلْكَ إِلَى طَلَبِكَ وَ عَلَيَّ أَنْ أَسُدَّ فَاقَتَكَ وَ أَمْلَأَ قَلْبَكَ خَوْفاً مِنِّي وَ إِنْ لَا تَفَرَّغْ لِعِبَادَتِي أَمْلَأْ قَلْبَكَ شُغُلًا بِالدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ لَا أَسُدَّ فَاقَتَكَ وَ أَكِلْكَ إِلَى طَلَبِكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘It is written in the Torah, “O son of Adam, devote yourself to my worship and I will fill your heart with riches and will not leave you to your own quest. It is upon Me to meet your needs and fill your heart with fear from Me. If you do not devote yourself to My worship I will fill you

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يَا عِبَادِيَ الصِّدِّيقِينَ تَنَعَّمُوا بِعِبَادَتِي فِي الدُّنْيَا[2] فَإِنَّكُمْ تَتَنَعَّمُونَ بِهَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, has said, “O My truthful servants, enjoy the blessings of worshipping Me in this world; you will enjoy its benefits in the next life.’””

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَفْضَلُ النَّاسِ مَنْ عَشِقَ الْعِبَادَةَ فَعَانَقَهَا وَ أَحَبَّهَا بِقَلْبِهِ وَ بَاشَرَهَا بِجَسَدِهِ وَ تَفَرَّغَ لَهَا فَهُوَ لَا يُبَالِي عَلَى مَا أَصْبَحَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى عُسْرٍ أَمْ عَلَى يُسْرٍ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The best of the people are those who love worship (of Allah) intensely. They hold to it, love it in their hearts, accompany it with their body and are devoted in it. Such people are concerned no more about the world, whether it gives them comfort or difficulties.’”

وَ كَتَبْتُ مِنْ كِتَابِهِ بِإِسْنَادٍ لَهُ يَرْفَعُهُ إِلَى عِيسَى بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: قَالَ عِيسَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا الْعِبَادَةُ قَالَ حُسْنُ النِّيَّةِ بِالطَّاعَةِ مِنَ الْوُجُوهِ الَّتِي يُطَاعُ اللَّهُ مِنْهَا أَمَا إِنَّكَ يَا عِيسَى لَا تَكُونُ مُؤْمِناً حَتَّى تَعْرِفَ النَّاسِخَ مِنَ الْمَنْسُوخِ قَالَ قُلْتُ‌ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَا مَعْرِفَةُ النَّاس

‘“Isa ibn ‘Abd Allah once said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, what is worship?’ The Imam said, ‘It is good intention in obedience to Allah concerning the aspects through which He is obeyed. As for you, O ‘Isa, you will not be a believer until you can distinguish the abrogatin

إِنَّ الْعُبَّادَ ثَلَاثَةٌ[1] قَوْمٌ عَبَدُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَوْفاً فَتِلْكَ عِبَادَةُ الْعَبِيدِ وَ قَوْمٌ عَبَدُوا اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى طَلَبَ الثَّوَابِ فَتِلْكَ عِبَادَةُ الْأُجَرَاءِ وَ قَوْمٌ عَبَدُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حُبّاً لَهُ فَتِلْكَ عِبَادَةُ الْأَحْرَارِ وَ هِيَ أَفْضَلُ الْعِبَادَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘There are three kinds of worship: there are people who worship Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, because of fear. This kind of worship is the worship of slaves. There are people who worship Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, for His rewards. This is the worship of people fo

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا أَقْبَحَ الْفَقْرَ بَعْدَ الْغِنَى وَ أَقْبَحَ الْخَطِيئَةَ بَعْدَ الْمَسْكَنَةِ وَ أَقْبَحُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْعَابِدُ لِلَّهِ ثُمَّ يَدَعُ عِبَادَتَهُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘How ugly is poverty after riches, sin in destitution and worst of all worshipping Allah and then giving up His worship.’”

مَنْ عَمِلَ بِمَا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فَهُوَ مِنْ أَعْبَدِ النَّاسِ.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘One who fulfills what Allah has made obligatory upon him, he, among the people, is the one who worships the most.’”

لَا عَمَلَ إِلَّا بِنِيَّةٍ[2].

"There can be no deed (a'mal) without intention (niyyah)."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ نِيَّةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ وَ نِيَّةُ الْكَافِرِ شَرٌّ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ وَ كُلُّ عَامِلٍ يَعْمَلُ عَلَى نِيَّتِهِ‌[3].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The intention of the believer is better than his deeds, and the intention of the unbeliever is more wicked than his deeds. Everyone acts according to his intention.’”

إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ الْمُؤْمِنَ الْفَقِيرَ لَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ ارْزُقْنِي حَتَّى أَفْعَلَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا مِنَ الْبِرِّ وَ وُجُوهِ الْخَيْرِ فَإِذَا عَلِمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ بِصِدْقِ نِيَّةٍ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلَ مَا يَكْتُبُ لَهُ لَوْ عَمِلَهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاسِعٌ كَرِيمٌ.

“The poor believing servant (of Allah) says, ‘O Lord bestow upon me such and such so that I can do so and so good deeds. If Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, finds that his intention is true He will write down for him a reward (just for his intention) equal to the degree of good deeds had his intention materiali

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ حَدِّ الْعِبَادَةِ الَّتِي إِذَا فَعَلَهَا فَاعِلُهَا كَانَ مُؤَدِّياً فَقَالَ حُسْنُ النِّيَّةِ بِالطَّاعَةِ.

The Imam said, ‘It is obedience with good intention and in good faith.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّمَا خُلِّدَ أَهْلُ النَّارِ فِي النَّارِ لِأَنَّ نِيَّاتِهِمْ كَانَتْ فِي الدُّنْيَا أَنْ لَوْ خُلِّدُوا فِيهَا أَنْ يَعْصُوا اللَّهَ أَبَداً وَ إِنَّمَا خُلِّدَ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لِأَنَّ نِيَّاتِهِمْ كَانَتْ فِي الدُّنْيَا أَنْ لَوْ بَقُوا فِيهَا أَنْ يُطِيعُوا اللَّهَ أَبَداً فَبِالنِّيَّاتِ خُلِّدَ هَؤُلَاءِ وَ هَؤُلَاءِ ثُمَّ تَلَا قَوْلَهُ تَعَالَى- قُلْ كُلٌّ يَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘People of hell will remain in hell for ever because of their intention in this world to disobey Allah even if they lived here forever. People of paradise will live therein forever because of their intention in this world to worship Allah even if they lived here forever. Because of inte

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَلَا إِنَّ لِكُلِّ عِبَادَةٍ شِرَّةً[3] ثُمَّ تَصِيرُ إِلَى فَتْرَةٍ فَمَنْ صَارَتْ شِرَّةُ عِبَادَتِهِ إِلَى سُنَّتِي فَقَدِ اهْتَدَى وَ مَنْ خَالَفَ سُنَّتِي فَقَدْ ضَلَّ وَ كَانَ عَمَلُهُ فِي تَبَابٍ‌[4] أَمَا إِنِّي أُصَلِّي وَ أَنَامُ وَ أَصُومُ وَ أُفْطِرُ وَ أَضْحَكُ وَ أَبْكِي فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ مِنْهَاجِي وَ سُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَ قَالَ كَفَى بِالْمَوْتِ مَوْعِظَةً وَ كَفَى بِا

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from al-Ahwal from Salam ibn al-Mustanir from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘For every form of worship there is a strong desire and willingness, then it reduces. Whoever’ s worship falls

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لِكُلِّ أَحَدٍ شِرَّةٌ وَ لِكُلِّ شِرَّةٍ فَتْرَةٌ فَطُوبَى لِمَنْ كَانَتْ فَتْرَتُهُ إِلَى خَيْرٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Everyone has an enthusiasm and every enthusiasm has a decline. Tuba (a tree in paradise) is for those whose decline is toward a constructive side.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ هَذَا الدِّينَ مَتِينٌ فَأَوْغِلُوا فِيهِ بِرِفْقٍ‌[1] وَ لَا تُكَرِّهُوا عِبَادَةَ اللَّهِ إِلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ فَتَكُونُوا كَالرَّاكِبِ الْمُنْبَتِ‌[2] الَّذِي لَا سَفَراً قَطَعَ وَ لَا ظَهْراً أَبْقَى‌[3]. - مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ عَنْ مُقَرِّنٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُوقَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ مِثْلَهُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘This religion is strong (and vast). Follow it with care and do not make the servants of Allah dislike the worship of Allah, lest you become like the rider who destroys his carry-animal during a journey, thus has neither reached his destination nor has any animal to ride on.’” Muhammad

لَا تُكَرِّهُوا إِلَى أَنْفُسِكُمُ الْعِبَادَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Do not cause your souls to dislike worship.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا أَحَبَّ عَبْداً فَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا قَلِيلًا جَزَاهُ بِالْقَلِيلِ الْكَثِيرَ وَ لَمْ يَتَعَاظَمْهُ أَنْ يَجْزِيَ بِالْقَلِيلِ الْكَثِيرَ لَهُ.

‘When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, loves any (of His) servants who have done a little good deed, He grants him a great reward for his little deeds. He does not consider granting a great reward, for a little deed, a difficult thing at all.’”

مَرَّ بِي أَبِي وَ أَنَا بِالطَّوَافِ وَ أَنَا حَدَثٌ‌[4] وَ قَدِ اجْتَهَدْتُ فِي الْعِبَادَةِ فَرَآنِي وَ أَنَا أَتَصَابُّ عَرَقاً فَقَالَ لِي يَا جَعْفَرُ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ إِذَا أَحَبَّ عَبْداً أَدْخَلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَ رَضِيَ عَنْهُ بِالْيَسِيرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Once my father passed by during my Tawaf (walking seven times around the Ka’ba). I was young and very seriously striving to worship. He saw me sweating and said to me, “O Ja’far, my son, if Allah loves any (of His) servants, He admits him in paradise and becomes happy with him even wit

اجْتَهَدْتُ فِي الْعِبَادَةِ وَ أَنَا شَابٌّ فَقَالَ لِي أَبِي ع يَا بُنَيَّ دُونَ مَا أَرَاكَ تَصْنَعُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا أَحَبَّ عَبْداً رَضِيَ عَنْهُ بِالْيَسِيرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘I strived hard in worshipping and I was young. My father said to me, “My son, I want to see you also do things other than what you are doing. Were Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, to love a servant He would become happy with him even with a very little deed.’””

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ يَا عَلِيُّ إِنَّ هَذَا الدِّينَ مَتِينٌ فَأَوْغِلْ فِيهِ بِرِفْقٍ وَ لَا تُبَغِّضْ إِلَى نَفْسِكَ عِبَادَةَ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّ الْمُنْبَتَّ يَعْنِي الْمُفْرِطَ لَا ظَهْراً أَبْقَى وَ لَا أَرْضاً قَطَعَ فَاعْمَلْ عَمَلَ مَنْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يَمُوتَ هَرِماً وَ احْذَرْ حَذَرَ مَنْ يَتَخَوَّفُ أَنْ يَمُوتَ غَداً.

“The Messenger of Allah once said, ‘O Ali, this religion is strong (and vast). Follow it with care. Do not cause your soul to hate the worship of your Lord. The extremist is like a person who during a journey destroys his riding animal and is left without any animal to ride before reaching his destination. Do good deed

مَنْ سَمِعَ شَيْئاً مِنَ الثَّوَابِ عَلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ فَصَنَعَهُ كَانَ لَهُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلَى مَا بَلَغَهُ.

“If one learns (from a Hadith) that for a certain act there is a certain reward and he performs that act, he will receive such reward even if, in fact, it (the Hadith) may not be as such.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ بَلَغَهُ ثَوَابٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَلَى عَمَلٍ فَعَمِلَ ذَلِكَ الْعَمَلَ الْتِمَاسَ ذَلِكَ الثَّوَابِ أُوتِيَهُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنِ الْحَدِيثُ كَمَا بَلَغَهُ‌[1].

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘If one learns that there is a certain reward from Allah for a certain act and he performs such act to receive such reward, he will be given the reward even if, in fact, the Hadith may not be as such that has come to him.’”

الصَّبْرُ رَأْسُ الْإِيمَانِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Patience is the head of belief.”

الصَّبْرُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الرَّأْسِ مِنَ الْجَسَدِ فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ الرَّأْسُ ذَهَبَ الْجَسَدُ كَذَلِكَ إِذَا ذَهَبَ الصَّبْرُ ذَهَبَ الْإِيمَانُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Patience is to belief as the head is to the body. If the head is gone the body is also destroyed. So also, if patience is vanished belief also goes away and is no more.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا حَفْصُ إِنَّ مَنْ صَبَرَ صَبَرَ قَلِيلًا وَ إِنَّ مَنْ جَزِعَ جَزِعَ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِالصَّبْرِ فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِكَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً ص فَأَمَرَهُ بِالصَّبْرِ وَ الرِّفْقِ فَقَالَ‌ وَ اصْبِرْ عَلى‌ ما يَقُولُونَ‌ وَ اهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْراً جَمِيلًا وَ ذَرْنِي وَ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ‌ أُولِي النَّعْمَةِ[1] وَ قَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى‌ ادْفَعْ‌

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasani all from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad al-Asbahani from Sulayman ibn Dawud al- Minqari from Hafs ibn Ghiyath who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) said, ‘O Hafs, whoever exercises patience does so only for a short time, and whoeve

الصَّبْرُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الرَّأْسِ مِنَ الْجَسَدِ وَ لَا إِيمَانَ لِمَنْ لَا صَبْرَ لَهُ.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘Patience is to belief as the head is to the body. One who does not have patience has no belief.’”

الصَّبْرُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الرَّأْسِ مِنَ الْجَسَدِ فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ الرَّأْسُ ذَهَبَ الْجَسَدُ كَذَلِكَ إِذَا ذَهَبَ الصَّبْرُ ذَهَبَ الْإِيمَانُ.

“Patience holds the same position in faith as the head does in the body. When the head is lost, the body perishes. Similarly, when patience is lost, faith perishes.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الْحُرَّ حُرٌّ عَلَى جَمِيعِ أَحْوَالِهِ إِنْ نَابَتْهُ نَائِبَةٌ[3] صَبَرَ لَهَا وَ إِنْ تَدَاكَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الْمَصَائِبُ‌[4] لَمْ تَكْسِرْهُ وَ إِنْ أُسِرَ وَ قُهِرَ وَ اسْتُبْدِلَ بِالْيُسْرِ عُسْراً[5] كَمَا كَانَ يُوسُفُ الصِّدِّيقُ الْأَمِينُ ص لَمْ يَضْرُرْ حُرِّيَّتَهُ أَنِ اسْتُعْبِدَ وَ قُهِرَ وَ أُسِرَ وَ لَمْ تَضْرُرْهُ ظُلْمَةُ الْجُبِّ وَ وَحْشَتُهُ‌[6] وَ

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘A free person is free in all conditions. Even if hardships strike him he exercises patience, if afflictions batter him he does not break down even if he is taken as a captive and is overpowered and his comfort and prosperity are changed into poverty and hardships, just as in the c

الْجَنَّةُ مَحْفُوفَةٌ[7] بِالْمَكَارِهِ وَ الصَّبْرِ فَمَنْ صَبَرَ عَلَى الْمَكَارِهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ وَ جَهَنَّمُ مَحْفُوفَةٌ بِاللَّذَّاتِ وَ الشَّهَوَاتِ- فَمَنْ أَعْطَى نَفْسَهُ لَذَّتَهَا وَ شَهْوَتَهَا دَخَلَ النَّارَ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Paradise is kept behind layers of hardship and patience. Whoever exercises patience in hardship in the worldly life will go to paradise. Hell is placed behind enjoyments and desires. Whoever allows his soul to indulge in enjoyment and desires will go to hell.’”

إِذَا دَخَلَ الْمُؤْمِنُ فِي قَبْرِهِ كَانَتِ الصَّلَاةُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَ الزَّكَاةُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ وَ الْبِرُّ مُطِلٌّ عَلَيْهِ‌[1] وَ يَتَنَحَّى الصَّبْرُ نَاحِيَةً فَإِذَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَلَكَانِ اللَّذَانِ يَلِيَانِ مُسَاءَلَتَهُ قَالَ الصَّبْرُ لِلصَّلَاةِ وَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ الْبِرِّ دُونَكُمْ صَاحِبَكُمْ فَإِنْ عَجَزْتُمْ عَنْهُ فَأَنَا دُونَهُ.

“When a believer is placed in his grave, prayer will be on his right al-Zakat (charity) on his left, and virtuous deeds will provide cover from above and patience will stay aside. When the two angels come to interrogate him, patience will say to the prayer, al-Zakat (charity) and virtuous deeds, ‘Help your friend. Were