Paradise

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ آدَمَ ع بَعَثَ جَبْرَئِيلَ ع فِي أَوَّلِ سَاعَةٍ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَقَبَضَ بِيَمِينِهِ قَبْضَةً بَلَغَتْ قَبْضَتُهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ السَّابِعَةِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا وَ أَخَذَ مِنْ كُلِّ سَمَاءٍ تُرْبَةً وَ قَبَضَ قَبْضَةً أُخْرَى مِنَ الْأَرْضِ السَّابِعَةِ الْعُلْيَا إِلَى الْأَرْضِ السَّابِعَةِ الْقُصْوَى فَأَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كَلِمَ

“When Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, willed to create Adam He sent Jibril in the first hours of the Friday. He picked up with his right hand a handful. His hand had in its reach from the seventh heavens to the heaven above earth. From each of the heavens he picked up a handful. He also picked up another handful fro

لَوْ عَلِمَ النَّاسُ كَيْفَ ابْتِدَاءُ الْخَلْقِ مَا اخْتَلَفَ اثْنَانِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْخَلْقَ قَالَ كُنْ مَاءً عَذْباً أَخْلُقْ مِنْكَ جَنَّتِي وَ أَهْلَ طَاعَتِي وَ كُنْ مِلْحاً أُجَاجاً أَخْلُقْ مِنْكَ نَارِي وَ أَهْلَ مَعْصِيَتِي ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُمَا فَامْتَزَجَا فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ صَارَ يَلِدُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْكَافِرَ وَ الْكَافِرُ الْمُؤْمِنَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ طِيناً مِنْ أَدِيمِ الْأَرْضِ

“Had people known how the beginning of the creation was, no one would have disagreed with another person. Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, before creating the creatures said, ‘Be a sweet water so I create from you My paradise and people who obey My commands. Be very salty water; from you I create My fire and those wh

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى حَيْثُ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ خَلَقَ مَاءً عَذْباً وَ مَاءً مَالِحاً أُجَاجاً فَامْتَزَجَ الْمَاءَانِ فَأَخَذَ طِيناً مِنْ أَدِيمِ الْأَرْضِ فَعَرَكَهُ عَرْكاً شَدِيداً فَقَالَ لِأَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ وَ هُمْ كَالذَّرِّ يَدِبُّونَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ بِسَلَامٍ وَ قَالَ لِأَصْحَابِ الشِّمَالِ إِلَى النَّارِ وَ لَا أُبَالِي ثُمَّ قَالَ‌ أَ لَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قالُوا بَلى‌ شَهِدْنا أَنْ تَقُولُو

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘As Allah, the Most Holy the Most High, created the creation. He created sweet water and a very salty water and then mixed the two together. Then He took a (kind of) clay from the surface of the earth and kneaded it intensely. He then said to the people of the right, as they crawled about l

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمَّا أَخْرَجَ ذُرِّيَّةَ آدَمَ ع مِنْ ظَهْرِهِ‌[4] لِيَأْخُذَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمِيثَاقَ بِالرُّبُوبِيَّةِ لَهُ وَ بِالنُّبُوَّةِ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَخَذَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمِيثَاقَ بِنُبُوَّتِهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ص ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لآِدَمَ انْظُرْ مَا ذَا تَرَى قَالَ فَنَظَرَ آدَمُ ع إِلَى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ وَ

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from Habib al-Sajistani who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘There was a time when Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, took the descendent

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ فَخَلَقَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ مِمَّا أَحَبَّ وَ كَانَ مَا أَحَبَّ أَنْ خَلَقَهُ مِنْ طِينَةِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ خَلَقَ مَنْ أَبْغَضَ مِمَّا أَبْغَضَ وَ كَانَ مَا أَبْغَضَ أَنْ خَلَقَهُ مِنْ طِينَةِ النَّارِ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُمْ فِي الظِّلَالِ فَقُلْتُ وَ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ الظِّلَالُ فَقَالَ أَ لَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ظِلِّكَ فِي الشَّمْسِ شَيْئاً وَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ ثُمَّ بَعَثَ مِنْهُمُ النَّبِيِّين

“Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, created the creation. He created His most beloved ones from that which He loved most. What was most beloved to Him was the fact that he created His most beloved ones from the clay of paradise. He created those whom He hated most from that which he hated most. What was most hated to H

إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لَشَجَرَةً تُسَمَّى الْمُزْنَ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ مُؤْمِناً أَقْطَرَ مِنْهَا قَطْرَةً فَلَا تُصِيبُ بَقْلَةً وَ لَا ثَمَرَةً أَكَلَ مِنْهَا مُؤْمِنٌ أَوْ كَافِرٌ إِلَّا أَخْرَجَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ صُلْبِهِ مُؤْمِناً.

“In Paradise there is a tree called al-Muzn. When Allah wants to create a believer He makes a drop to drip from it. It then falls on vegetable or fruit that either a believer or disbeliever then consumes for food and Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, brings out a believer from his loins.”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَعْطَى مُحَمَّداً ص شَرَائِعَ نُوحٍ وَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ مُوسَى وَ عِيسَى ع التَّوْحِيدَ وَ الْإِخْلَاصَ وَ خَلْعَ الْأَنْدَادِ وَ الْفِطْرَةَ الْحَنِيفِيَّةَ السَّمْحَةَ وَ لَا رَهْبَانِيَّةَ وَ لَا سِيَاحَةَ أَحَلَّ فِيهَا الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَ حَرَّمَ فِيهَا الْخَبَائِثَ وَ وَضَعَ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَ الْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِ فِيهَا الصَّلَاةَ

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr. And a number of our people from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Thaqafi from Muhammad ibn Marwan all of them have narrated from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from those whom he has mentioned from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) wh

بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسَةِ أَشْيَاءَ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ الْحَجِّ وَ الصَّوْمِ وَ الْوَلَايَةِ قَالَ زُرَارَةُ فَقُلْتُ وَ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ فَقَالَ الْوَلَايَةُ أَفْضَلُ لِأَنَّهَا مِفْتَاحُهُنَّ وَ الْوَالِي هُوَ الدَّلِيلُ عَلَيْهِنَّ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ الَّذِي‌ يَلِي ذَلِكَ فِي الْفَضْلِ فَقَالَ الصَّلَاةُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ الصَّلَاةُ عَمُودُ دِينِكُمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُم

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Islam is based on five issues. It is based on prayer, alms (al-Zakat), Hajj, Fasting and al-Wilayah.’’ Zurara has said, ‘I then asked the Imam, “Which of these is more important than the others?’” The Imam said, ‘Al-Wilayah is more important. It is the key to the others. The person who pos

أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِالْإِسْلَامِ أَصْلِهِ وَ فَرْعِهِ- وَ ذِرْوَةِ سَنَامِهِ‌[1] قُلْتُ بَلَى جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ أَمَّا أَصْلُهُ فَالصَّلَاةُ وَ فَرْعُهُ الزَّكَاةُ وَ ذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ[2] ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَخْبَرْتُكَ بِأَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ الصَّدَقَةُ تَذْهَبُ بِالْخَطِيئَةِ وَ قِيَامُ الرَّجُلِ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ بِذِكْ

“Do you want me to teach you the root of Islam, its branch and its peak? I said, ‘Yes, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause.’ The Imam said, ‘Its root is prayer, its branch is al-Zakat (charity) and its peak is Jihad (the hard work in defense and preaching of the belief).’ The Imam then said, ‘If you want 1

قِيلَ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مَنْ شَهِدَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ مُؤْمِناً قَالَ فَأَيْنَ فَرَائِضُ اللَّهِ قَالَ وَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَقُولُ لَوْ كَانَ الْإِيمَانُ كَلَاماً لَمْ يَنْزِلْ فِيهِ صَوْمٌ وَ لَا صَلَاةٌ وَ لَا حَلَالٌ وَ لَا حَرَامٌ قَالَ وَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا قَوْماً يَقُولُونَ إِذَا شَهِدَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِ

“Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) was asked, ‘Is one who testifies that no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, a believer?’ The Imam said, ‘Wherefore, then, are the obligations toward Allah?’ “I (the narrator) heard the Imam saying, ‘Ali (a.s.) would say, “Had bel

قُلْتُ لَهُ أَيُّهَا الْعَالِمُ أَخْبِرْنِي أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ قَالَ مَا لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ شَيْئاً إِلَّا بِهِ قُلْتُ وَ مَا هُوَ قَالَ- الْإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ أَعْلَى الْأَعْمَالِ دَرَجَةً وَ أَشْرَفُهَا مَنْزِلَةً وَ أَسْنَاهَا حَظّاً قَالَ قُلْتُ أَ لَا تُخْبِرُنِي عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ أَ قَوْلٌ هُوَ وَ عَمَلٌ أَمْ قَوْلٌ بِلَا عَمَلٍ فَقَالَ الْإِيمَانُ عَمَلٌ

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Qasim ibn Burayd who has said that narrated to us abu ‘Amr al-Zubayri who has said the following: “I said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) ‘O scholar, tell me which deed is more virtuous before Allah?’ He said, ‘It is the deed without which Allah does

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ لِلْإِيمَانِ دَرَجَاتٍ وَ مَنَازِلَ يَتَفَاضَلُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ فِيهَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ صِفْهُ لِي رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ حَتَّى أَفْهَمَهُ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَبَّقَ بَيْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَمَا يُسَبَّقُ بَيْنَ الْخَيْلِ يَوْمَ الرِّهَانِ‌[1] ثُمَّ فَضَّلَهُمْ عَلَى دَرَجَاتِهِمْ فِي السَّبْقِ إِلَيْهِ فَجَعَلَ كُلَّ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمْ عَلَى دَرَجَةِ سَبْقِهِ لَا يَنْقُصُهُ فِيهَا مِنْ حَ

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Are there degrees and stages of belief in which the believers may excel in the sight of Allah?’ He said, ‘Yes, there are.’ 1 then said, ‘Explain to me, please, may Allah grant you favors, so I can understand.’ The Imam said, ‘Allah has set a contest among the believers like the contest se

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ الْإِسْلَامَ فَجَعَلَ لَهُ عَرْصَةً[3] وَ جَعَلَ لَهُ نُوراً وَ جَعَلَ لَهُ حِصْناً وَ جَعَلَ لَهُ نَاصِراً فَأَمَّا عَرْصَتُهُ فَالْقُرْآنُ وَ أَمَّا نُورُهُ فَالْحِكْمَةُ وَ أَمَّا حِصْنُهُ فَالْمَعْرُوفُ وَ أَمَّا أَنْصَارُهُ فَأَنَا وَ أَهْلُ بَيْتِي وَ شِيعَتُنَا فَأَحِبُّوا أَهْلَ بَيْتِي وَ شِيعَتَهُمْ وَ أَنْصَارَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُ لَمَّ

“Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Allah created Islam and made for it a backyard and front-yard, a light, a fortress and supporter. Its backyard and front-yard are the Holy Quran. Wisdom is its light. Lawfulness is its fortress. My Ahl al-Bayt (my family), our Shi’

خَطَبَنَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي دَارِهِ أَوْ قَالَ فِي الْقَصْرِ وَ نَحْنُ مُجْتَمِعُونَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ فَكُتِبَ فِي كِتَابٍ وَ قُرِئَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ رَوَى غَيْرُهُ أَنَّ ابْنَ الْكَوَّاءِ[2] سَأَلَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَنْ صِفَةِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ الْإِيمَانِ وَ الْكُفْرِ وَ النِّفَاقِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى- شَرَعَ الْإِسْلَامَ وَ سَهَّلَ شَ

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa and a number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid all from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ya’qub al-Sarraj from Jabir from Abu Ja’far (a.s.) and through various chain of narrators from Asbagh ib

سُئِلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ جَعَلَ الْإِيمَانَ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ دَعَائِمَ عَلَى الصَّبْرِ وَ الْيَقِينِ وَ الْعَدْلِ وَ الْجِهَادِ فَالصَّبْرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ شُعَبٍ عَلَى الشَّوْقِ وَ الْإِشْفَاقِ‌[8] وَ الزُّهْدِ وَ التَّرَقُّبِ فَمَنِ اشْتَاقَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ سَلَا[9] عَنِ الشَّهَوَاتِ وَ مَنْ أَشْفَقَ مِنَ النَّارِ رَجَعَ عَنِ الْمُحَرَّمَاتِ‌[10

1. Through the same chain of narrators as the above Hadith it is narrated from ibn Mahbub from Ya’qub al-Sarraj from Jabir from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) was asked about belief and he said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, made belief upon four p

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص صَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ الصُّبْحَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى شَابٍّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَ هُوَ يَخْفِقُ وَ يَهْوِي‌[2] بِرَأْسِهِ مُصْفَرّاً لَوْنُهُ قَدْ نَحِفَ جِسْمُهُ وَ غَارَتْ عَيْنَاهُ فِي رَأْسِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص كَيْفَ أَصْبَحْتَ يَا فُلَانُ قَالَ أَصْبَحْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مُوقِناً فَعَجِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مِنْ قَوْلِهِ‌[3] وَ قَالَ إِنَّ لِكُ

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Once the Messenger of Allah after leading the morningprayer for the people looked at a young man in the Mosque whose head hung down. He looked pale and slim and his eyes sunk into his head. The Messenger of Allah asked, ‘O so and so, how is your morning?’ He (the young man) replie

اسْتَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص حَارِثَةَ بْنَ مَالِكِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ الْأَنْصَارِيَّ فَقَالَ لَهُ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ يَا حَارِثَةَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مُؤْمِنٌ حَقّاً فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِكُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ حَقِيقَةٌ فَمَا حَقِيقَةُ قَوْلِكَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَزَفَتْ نَفْسِي عَنِ الدُّنْيَا فَأَسْهَرَتْ لَيْلِي وَ أَظْمَأَتْ هَوَاجِرِي وَ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى عَرْشِ رَبِّي- [وَ]

‘The Messenger of Allah once met Harithah ibn Malik al- Nu’man al-Ansari and asked him, ‘How are you, O Harithah ibn Malik?’ He replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I am a believer in a real sense.’ The Messenger of Allah then asked, ‘Everything has a reality and essence. What are the reality and essence of your words?’ “He

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عِبَاداً لَا يَصْلُحُ لَهُمْ أَمْرُ دِينِهِمْ إِلَّا بِالْغِنَى وَ السَّعَةِ وَ الصِّحَّةِ فِي الْبَدَنِ فَأَبْلُوهُمْ بِالْغِنَى وَ السَّعَةِ وَ صِحَّةِ الْبَدَنِ فَيَصْلُحُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَمْرُ دِينِهِمْ وَ إِنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَعِبَاداً لَا يَصْلُحُ لَهُمْ أَمْرُ دِينِهِمْ إِلَّا بِالْفَاقَةِ وَ الْمَسْكَنَةِ وَ

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from Dawud al-Riqqiy from ‘Ubayda al-Hadhdha’ from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘Among My believing servants there are those whose

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ مِمَّا حُفِظَ مِنْ خُطَبِ النَّبِيِّ ص أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ لَكُمْ مَعَالِمَ فَانْتَهُوا إِلَى مَعَالِمِكُمْ وَ إِنَّ لَكُمْ نِهَايَةً فَانْتَهُوا إِلَى نِهَايَتِكُمْ أَلَا إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ يَعْمَلُ بَيْنَ مَخَافَتَيْنِ بَيْنَ أَجَلٍ قَدْ مَضَى لَا يَدْرِي مَا اللَّهُ صَانِعٌ فِيهِ وَ بَيْنَ أَجَلٍ قَدْ بَقِيَ لَا يَدْرِي مَا اللَّهُ قَاضٍ فِيهِ فَل

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Of the preserved speeches of the Holy Prophet one is his words as follows: “O people, for you there are the sources of knowledge. You must reach out to them. For you there are the end goals and you must reach them. You must know that a believer works between two frightening facts.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَا يَتَّكِلِ الْعَامِلُونَ عَلَى أَعْمَالِهِمُ الَّتِي يَعْمَلُونَهَا لِثَوَابِي فَإِنَّهُمْ لَوِ اجْتَهَدُوا وَ أَتْعَبُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ أَعْمَارَهُمْ فِي عِبَادَتِي كَانُوا مُقَصِّرِينَ غَيْرَ بَالِغِينَ فِي عِبَادَتِهِمْ كُنْهَ عِبَادَتِي فِيمَا يَطْلُبُونَ عِنْدِي مِنْ كَرَامَتِي وَ النَّعِيمِ فِي جَنَّاتِي وَ رَفِيعِ الدَّرَجَاتِ الْعُلَى فِي جِوَارِي

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Dawud ibn Kathir from abu ‘Ubaydah al-Hadhdha’ from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, has said, “The doers of good deeds must not rely on their deed

خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ع فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ يُقَرِّبُكُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ يُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِهِ وَ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ يُقَرِّبُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ يُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْهُ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ الرُّوحَ الْأَمِينَ نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي أَنَّهُ لَنْ تَمُوتَ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَكْمِلَ رِز

“The Messenger of Allah addressed the people during his farewell (last) visit to Makka, ‘O people, I swear by Allah, everything that can take you closer to paradise and farther away from hell I have commanded you all to follow. Everything that may take you closer to hell and farther away from paradise I have prohibited

إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ يَقُومُ عُنُقٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ‌[2] فَيَأْتُونَ بَابَ الْجَنَّةِ فَيَضْرِبُونَهُ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ مَنْ أَنْتُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ نَحْنُ أَهْلُ الصَّبْرِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ عَلَى مَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ كُنَّا نَصْبِرُ عَلَى طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَ نَصْبِرُ عَنْ مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ صَدَقُوا أَدْخِلُوهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِنَّما يُوَف

“On the Day of Judgment, a group of people will raise their necks, approach the door of Paradise and knock on it. They will then be asked, ‘Who are you?’. They will say, ‘We are the people of patience.’ They will then be asked, ‘In what matters did you exercise patience?’. They will answer, ‘We exercised patience in ob

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

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 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.’”

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

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.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ مِنْكُمْ لَيَشْرَبُ الشَّرْبَةَ مِنَ الْمَاءِ فَيُوجِبُ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهَا الْجَنَّةَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَيَأْخُذُ الْإِنَاءَ فَيَضَعُهُ عَلَى فِيهِ فَيُسَمِّي‌[4]- ثُمَّ يَشْرَبُ فَيُنَحِّيهِ وَ هُوَ يَشْتَهِيهِ فَيَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ ثُمَّ يَعُودُ فَيَشْرَبُ ثُمَّ يُنَحِّيهِ فَيَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ ثُمَّ يَعُودُ فَيَشْرَبُ ثُمَّ يُنَحِّيهِ فَيَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ فَيُوجِبُ اللَّهُ

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said, ‘One of you drinks water and for this Allah admits him into paradise.’ The Imam then said, ‘He picks up the bowl of water and places it in his mouth, then mentions the name of Allah and then he drinks. He then removes it from his mouth and expresses praise for Allah, even though he stil

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.’”

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.”’

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).”’

الْحَيَاءُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ وَ الْإِيمَانُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Bashfulness is from belief and belief is in paradise.’”

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 لِرَجُلٍ أَتَاهُ أَ لَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَمْرٍ يُدْخِلُكَ اللَّهُ بِهِ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ أَنِلْ مِمَّا أَنَالَكَ اللَّهُ‌[4] قَالَ فَإِنْ كُنْتُ أَحْوَجَ مِمَّنْ أُنِيلُهُ قَالَ فَانْصُرِ الْمَظْلُومَ قَالَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتُ أَضْعَفَ مِمَّنْ أَنْصُرُهُ قَالَ فَاصْنَعْ لِلْأَخْرَقِ‌[5] يَعْنِي أَشِرْ عَلَيْهِ‌[6]- قَالَ فَإِنْ كُنْتُ أَخْرَقَ مِمَّنْ أَصْنَعُ لَهُ قَ

“The Messenger of Allah said to a man who had come to see him, ‘Should I guide you to a matter with which Allah will enter you in paradise?’ The man said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Give of what Allah has given you.’ The man asked, ‘What if I were more needy than the recipient?’ The Mess

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ فِي السَّمَاءِ مَلَكَيْنِ مُوَكَّلَيْنِ بِالْعِبَادِ فَمَنْ تَوَاضَعَ لِلَّهِ رَفَعَاهُ وَ مَنْ تَكَبَّرَ وَضَعَاهُ.

“I heard the Imam saying, ‘In heaven there are two angels who guard the servants (of Allah). Whoever is humble before Allah, they raise him up, and whoever is arrogant, they bring him low.’”

مَنْ أَكْثَرَ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ أَظَلَّهُ اللَّهُ فِي جَنَّتِهِ‌[3].

‘‘Whoever speaks of Allah very often, Allah will provide him shadow in His paradise.”

إِذَا جَمَعَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَ الْآخِرِينَ قَامَ مُنَادٍ فَنَادَى يُسْمِعُ النَّاسَ فَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ الْمُتَحَابُّونَ فِي اللَّهِ قَالَ فَيَقُومُ عُنُقٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمُ اذْهَبُوا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ قَالَ فَتَلَقَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ فَيَقُولُونَ إِلَى أَيْنَ فَيَقُولُونَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ قَالَ فَيَقُولُونَ فَأَيُّ ضَرْبٍ‌[3] أَنْتُمْ مِنَ النَّاسِ

“When Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, will gather together all the people of the past and the later generations, a caller whom everyone will hear will call, ‘Where are those whose love was just for the sake of Allah?’ Certain necks will rise from among the people and it will be said to them, ‘Go to paradise without

إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيُحِبُّكُمْ وَ مَا يَعْرِفُ مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَيُدْخِلُهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ بِحُبِّكُمْ وَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيُبْغِضُكُمْ وَ مَا يَعْرِفُ مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَيُدْخِلُهُ اللَّهُ بِبُغْضِكُمُ النَّارَ.

“The man loves you (followers of Ahl al-Bayt) without knowing your belief and Allah admits him to paradise because he loves you. A man hates you without knowing what your belief is and Allah then admits him in the fire for hating you.”

لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَحَبَّ رَجُلًا لِلَّهِ لَأَثَابَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى حُبِّهِ إِيَّاهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ الْمَحْبُوبُ فِي عِلْمِ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ وَ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَبْغَضَ رَجُلًا لِلَّهِ لَأَثَابَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى بُغْضِهِ إِيَّاهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ الْمُبْغَضُ فِي عِلْمِ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ[1].

“If a man loves another man just for the sake of Allah, Allah will give him good rewards for his loving him, even if that man is of the people of the fire, in the knowledge of Allah. If a man hates another man just for the sake of Allah, Allah will give him good reward for his hating him, even if that man is of the peo

خَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ هُوَ مَحْزُونٌ فَأَتَاهُ مَلَكٌ وَ مَعَهُ مَفَاتِيحُ خَزَائِنِ الْأَرْضِ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذِهِ مَفَاتِيحُ خَزَائِنِ الْأَرْضِ يَقُولُ لَكَ رَبُّكَ افْتَحْ وَ خُذْ مِنْهَا مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ تُنْقَصَ شَيْئاً عِنْدِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الدُّنْيَا دَارُ مَنْ لَا دَارَ لَهُ‌[1] وَ لَهَا يَجْمَعُ مَنْ لَا عَقْلَ لَهُ فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ وَ الَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ نَبِيّاً لَ

“Once, the Holy Prophet came out very depressed. An angel came to him with the key to the treasures of the earth and said, ‘O Muhammad, these are the keys to the treasures of the earth and your Lord says, “Open these treasures and take whatever you want. It will not cause any reduction in your reward with Me.” The Mess

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ص‌ إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا قَدِ ارْتَحَلَتْ مُدْبِرَةً وَ إِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ قَدِ ارْتَحَلَتْ مُقْبِلَةً[7] وَ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُمَا بَنُونَ فَكُونُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ- وَ لَا تَكُونُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الدُّنْيَا أَلَا وَ كُونُوا مِنَ الزَّاهِدِينَ فِي الدُّنْيَا الرَّاغِبِينَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ أَلَا إِنَّ الزَّاهِدِينَ فِي الدُّنْيَا اتَّخَذُوا الْأَرْضَ بِسَاطاً وَ التُّرَابَ فِرَاش

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘The world has begun to move backwards and the next world is moving forward. Each world has its sons. Therefore, you must be of the sons of the next world and not the sons of this world. You must be of those who have reduced their interest in worldly matters and of those seriously in

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ طُوبَى لِمَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَ كَانَ عَيْشُهُ كَفَافاً.

“Tuba (a tree in paradise) is for those who have become Muslims and whose expenses are within the limits of bare necessities.”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ فِي آخِرِ خُطْبَتِهِ‌ طُوبَى لِمَنْ طَابَ خُلُقُهُ وَ طَهُرَتْ سَجِيَّتُهُ وَ صَلَحَتْ سَرِيرَتُهُ وَ حَسُنَتْ عَلَانِيَتُهُ وَ أَنْفَقَ الْفَضْلَ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَ أَمْسَكَ الْفَضْلَ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ وَ أَنْصَفَ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Hassan ibn Hamza from his grand father from abu Hamza al-Thumali from Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah at the end of his sermon would say, ‘Tuba (a tree in paradise) is for those

مَنْ يَضْمَنُ لِي أَرْبَعَةً بِأَرْبَعَةِ أَبْيَاتٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ[1] أَنْفِقْ وَ لَا تَخَفْ فَقْراً وَ أَفْشِ السَّلَامَ فِي الْعَالَمِ وَ اتْرُكِ الْمِرَاءَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مُحِقّاً وَ أَنْصِفِ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ.

“Whoever likes to guarantee four things for me, I guarantee four homes in paradise. (He should guarantee me) to give charity without fear from his poverty, to speak out loud the greetings of peace in the world and quit excessive argumentation even though he is on the side of right. He must yield to justice for people a

جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص وَ هُوَ يُرِيدُ بَعْضَ غَزَوَاتِهِ فَأَخَذَ بِغَرْزِ[1] رَاحِلَتِهِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَلِّمْنِي عَمَلًا أَدْخُلُ بِهِ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَالَ مَا أَحْبَبْتَ أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْكَ‌[2] فَأْتِهِ إِلَيْهِمْ وَ مَا كَرِهْتَ أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْكَ فَلَا تَأْتِهِ إِلَيْهِمْ خَلِّ سَبِيلَ الرَّاحِلَةِ.

“Once an Arab man came to the Holy Prophet when he was about to leave for an armed campaign. The Arab held on to the harness of the horse of the Holy Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, teach me a deed with which I can go to paradise.’ He said, ‘Do to people what you like them to do to you, and do not do anything

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ جَنَّةً لَا يَدْخُلُهَا إِلَّا ثَلَاثَةٌ أَحَدُهُمْ مَنْ حَكَمَ فِي نَفْسِهِ بِالْحَقِّ.

‘Allah has a paradise wherein no one is admitted except three kinds of people of whom one is he who judges himself with the truth.”

قَالَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ‌ حَافَتَا الصِّرَاطِ[1]- يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الرَّحِمُ وَ الْأَمَانَةُ فَإِذَا مَرَّ الْوَصُولُ لِلرَّحِمِ الْمُؤَدِّي لِلْأَمَانَةِ نَفَذَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَ إِذَا مَرَّ الْخَائِنُ لِلْأَمَانَةِ الْقَطُوعُ لِلرَّحِمِ لَمْ يَنْفَعْهُ مَعَهُمَا عَمَلٌ وَ تَكَفَّأَ بِهِ‌[2] الصِّرَاطُ فِي النَّارِ.

“Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) has said, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah saying, “On the Day of Judgment the bridge will stand on two pillars: the kindred relations and safe keeping of trust. Those who maintain good relations with relatives and return the trust will pass the bridge safely to paradise but whe

يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِثْلُ الْكُبَّةِ[4] فَيَدْفَعُ فِي ظَهْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَيُدْخِلُهُ الْجَنَّةَ فَيُقَالُ هَذَا الْبِرُّ.

“On the Day of Judgment something will suddenly come behind the believer, rush him forward and admit him in paradise. It will be said, ‘This is kindness.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ أَبِي قَدْ كَبِرَ جِدّاً وَ ضَعُفَ فَنَحْنُ نَحْمِلُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ الْحَاجَةَ فَقَالَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَلِيَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ فَافْعَلْ وَ لَقِّمْهُ بِيَدِكَ فَإِنَّهُ جُنَّةٌ لَكَ غَداً.

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘My father has become very old and weak. We pick him up and help him for the restrooms.’ The Imam said, ‘If you can, you should do all of this for him and feed him with your own hand; it is paradise for you tomorrow. ’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ رَدَّ عَنْ قَوْمٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ عَادِيَةَ [مَاءٍ][1] أَوْ نَارٍ أُوجِبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘One who repulses a transgressor from Muslim’s (waters) or fire, will as a matter of necessity go to paradise.’”