Prophethood

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِأَبِي بَصِيرٍ إِنْ خِفْتَ أَمْراً يَكُونُ أَوْ حَاجَةً تُرِيدُهَا فَابْدَأْ بِاللَّهِ وَ مَجِّدْهُ وَ أَثْنِ عَلَيْهِ كَمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ وَ صَلِّ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص وَ سَلْ حَاجَتَكَ وَ تَبَاكَ وَ لَوْ مِثْلَ رَأْسِ الذُّبَابِ إِنَّ أَبِي ع كَانَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ أَقْرَبَ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنَ الرَّبِّ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ هُوَ سَاجِدٌ بَاكٍ.

10. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Ali ibn abu Hamza who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said to abu Basir, ‘If you are afraid of something or need help, then begin with Allah and His glory and praise Him as He deserves. Then

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِيَّاكُمْ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ مِنْ رَبِّهِ شَيْئاً مِنْ حَوَائِجِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ حَتَّى يَبْدَأَ بِالثَّنَاءِ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ الْمَدْحِ لَهُ وَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص ثُمَّ يَسْأَلَ اللَّهَ حَوَائِجَهُ.

‘You must bear in mind that whenever one of you likes to ask his Lord for help in worldly matters or of the next life, he must begin with praise of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, thank Him and ask His favors for the Holy Prophet and then ask for help.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَدْعُوَ فَمَجِّدِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ احْمَدْهُ وَ سَبِّحْهُ وَ هَلِّلْهُ وَ أَثْنِ عَلَيْهِ وَ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِيِّ وَ آلِهِ ثُمَّ سَلْ تُعْطَ.

5. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla ibn Muhammad from al- Hassan ibn Ali from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from al-Harith ibn al-Mughirah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whenever you wish to pray and plead before Allah for help, speak of the glory of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Mos

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا طَلَبَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْحَاجَةَ فَلْيُثْنِ عَلَى رَبِّهِ وَ لْيَمْدَحْهُ فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا طَلَبَ الْحَاجَةَ مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ هَيَّأَ لَهُ مِنَ الْكَلَامِ أَحْسَنَ مَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا طَلَبْتُمُ الْحَاجَةَ فَمَجِّدُوا اللَّهَ الْعَزِيزَ الْجَبَّارَ وَ امْدَحُوهُ وَ أَثْنُوا عَلَيْهِ تَقُولُ- يَا أَجْوَدَ مَنْ أَعْطَى وَ يَا خَيْرَ مَنْ سُئِلَ يَا أَرْحَمَ مَنِ اسْتُرْ

6. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from ‘Iys ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whenever anyone of you wishes to ask for help he should praise his Lord and thank Him. When a man wants to ask a king for something, he prepares to say the

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ الْمَسْجِدَ فَابْتَدَأَ قَبْلَ الثَّنَاءِ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَاجَلَ الْعَبْدُ رَبَّهُ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ آخَرُ فَصَلَّى وَ أَثْنَى عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص سَلْ تُعْطَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع‌[1] إِنَّ الثَّنَاءَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ الصّ

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Once a man came to the Mosque and he began without praising Allah and asking from Him favors for the Holy Prophet. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘The servant (of Allah) hastened his Lord.’ Then another man came in and prayed, praised Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and ask

قُلْتُ آيَتَانِ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَطْلُبُهُمَا فَلَا أَجِدُهُمَا قَالَ وَ مَا هُمَا قُلْتُ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ‌[2] فَنَدْعُوهُ وَ لَا نَرَى إِجَابَةً قَالَ أَ فَتَرَى اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَخْلَفَ وَعْدَهُ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ فَمِمَّ ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ لَا أَدْرِي قَالَ لَكِنِّي أُخْبِرُكَ مَنْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيمَا أَمَرَهُ ثُمَّ دَعَاهُ مِنْ جِهَةِ

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘There are two verses in the book of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, that I search for but I do not find them, (their meaning).’ The Imam aked, ‘What are they?’ I said, ‘They are the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, “Call Me (for help) and I will answer you

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَعُمَّ فَإِنَّهُ أَوْجَبُ لِلدُّعَاءِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whenever anyone of you prays he should maintain inclusiveness (pray for everyone) in his prayer. This may become a reason for the acceptance of the prayer.

لَا يَزَالُ الدُّعَاءُ مَحْجُوباً حَتَّى يُصَلَّى عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ[1].

“A supplication remains barred until one sends blessings on Muhammad (sw) and the family of Muhammad (sw).”

مَنْ دَعَا وَ لَمْ يَذْكُرِ النَّبِيَّ ص رَفْرَفَ الدُّعَاءُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ‌[2] فَإِذَا ذَكَرَ النَّبِيَّ ص رُفِعَ الدُّعَاءُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever prays and does not mention the Holy Prophet, his prayer remains dangled over his head. When he mentions the Holy Prophet only then his prayer is raised up (to heavens).”’

يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص إِنِّي أَجْعَلُ لَكَ ثُلُثَ صَلَوَاتِي لَا بَلْ أَجْعَلُ لَكَ نِصْفَ صَلَوَاتِي لَا بَلْ أَجْعَلُهَا كُلَّهَا لَكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذاً تُكْفَى مَئُونَةَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ[3].

“Once a man came to the Holy Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, “I assign one third of my prayer to you. No, in fact, I assign half of my prayer to you. No, I assign all of my prayer to you.” The Messenger of Allah said, ‘That means that you have complete supplies for this and the next life.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا مَعْنَى أَجْعَلُ صَلَوَاتِي كُلَّهَا لَكَ فَقَالَ يُقَدِّمُهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ كُلِّ حَاجَةٍ فَلَا يَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ شَيْئاً حَتَّى يَبْدَأَ بِالنَّبِيِّ ص فَيُصَلِّيَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ يَسْأَلَ اللَّهَ حَوَائِجَهُ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘What is the meaning of, “I assign all of my prayer to you?’’ The Imam said, ‘He mentions the Holy Prophet before asking any help. He does not ask Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, anything until he begins with the Holy Prophet. He asks from Allah favors for the Holy Prophet an

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا تَجْعَلُونِي كَقَدَحِ الرَّاكِبِ فَإِنَّ الرَّاكِبَ يَمْلَأُ قَدَحَهُ فَيَشْرَبُهُ إِذَا شَاءَ اجْعَلُونِي فِي أَوَّلِ الدُّعَاءِ وَ فِي آخِرِهِ وَ فِي وَسَطِهِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Do not consider me as the water container of a traveler who fills up his water container and drinks from it whenever he wants. You should place me at the beginning of your prayer, at the end of it and in the middle.’”

قَالَ: إِذَا ذُكِرَ النَّبِيُّ ص فَأَكْثِرُوا الصَّلَاةَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص صَلَاةً وَاحِدَةً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ أَلْفَ صَلَاةٍ فِي أَلْفِ صَفٍّ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ لَمْ يَبْقَ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِمَّا خَلَقَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا صَلَّى عَلَى الْعَبْدِ لِصَلَاةِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَ صَلَاةِ مَلَائِكَتِهِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَرْغَبْ فِي هَذَا فَهُوَ جَاهِلٌ مَغْرُورٌ قَدْ بَرِئَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ وَ رَسُ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whenever the Holy Prophet is mentioned, ask from Allah favors (in the form of al-Salat) for the Holy Prophet. Ask from Allah a great deal of favors for the Holy Prophet. Whoever does so once, Allah will do the same for him one thousand times in one thousand rows of angels and nothing w

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ مَلَائِكَتُهُ وَ مَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُقِلَّ وَ مَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُكْثِرْ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever asks from Allah favors for me (in the form of al-Salat ), Allah grants him favors and the angels pray for him. It is up to people to perform this (noble) act very little or a great deal.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الصَّلَاةُ عَلَيَّ وَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِي تَذْهَبُ بِالنِّفَاقِ.

“The Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, ‘Sending blessings upon me and my family removes hypocrisy.’”

مَنْ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ قُضِيَتْ لَهُ مِائَةُ حَاجَةٍ ثَلَاثُونَ لِلدُّنْيَا وَ الْبَاقِي لِلْآخِرَةِ.

“Whoever says, ‘O Lord, grant favors to Muhammad and his family, one hundred times one hundred of his wishes will be granted, thirty of them in this world and the rest in the next life.’”

كُلُّ دُعَاءٍ يُدْعَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ مَحْجُوبٌ عَنِ السَّمَاءِ حَتَّى يُصَلَّى عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ.

“Every prayer to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, remains on hold and barred from heavens until he asks from Allah favors (in the form of al-Salat) for the Holy Prophet and his family.”

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ أَجْعَلُ نِصْفَ صَلَوَاتِي لَكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَجْعَلُ صَلَوَاتِي كُلَّهَا لَكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَلَمَّا مَضَى قَالَ- رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص كُفِيَ هَمَّ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ.

“One who had heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) narrated to me that the Imam said, ‘Once a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, “I assign half of my Salat (prayers) for you. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘That is fine.’ He then said, ‘I assign all of my Salat, to you.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘That is fine.’ When h

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي جَعَلْتُ ثُلُثَ صَلَوَاتِي لَكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ خَيْراً فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي جَعَلْتُ نِصْفَ صَلَوَاتِي لَكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ ذَاكَ أَفْضَلُ فَقَالَ إِنِّي جَعَلْتُ كُلَّ صَلَوَاتِي لَكَ فَقَالَ إِذاً يَكْفِيَكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَا أَهَمَّكَ مِنْ أَمْرِ دُنْيَاكَ وَ آخِرَتِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ أَصْلَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Once a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have assigned one third of my prayers for you.” The Messenger of Allah said, ‘That is good.’ He then said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have assigned half of my prayers for you.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘That

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ ارْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّهَا تَذْهَبُ بِالنِّفَاقِ.

‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “Raise your voices with al-Salat (asking from Allah favors for me); it removes hypocrisy.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا إِسْحَاقَ بْنَ فَرُّوخَ مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَشْراً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ مَلَائِكَتُهُ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ وَ مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ مَلَائِكَتُهُ أَلْفاً أَ مَا تَسْمَعُ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَ مَلائِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُماتِ إِلَى النُّ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once said, ‘O Ishaq ibn Farrukh, whoever asks from Allah al-Salat (favors) for the Holy Prophet and his family ten times, Allah and His angels will do the same for him one hundred times. Whoever asks from Allah al-Salat for the Holy Prophet and his family one hundred times, Allah and His angels w

مَا فِي الْمِيزَانِ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَثْقَلَ مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَتُوضَعُ أَعْمَالُهُ فِي الْمِيزَانِ فَتَمِيلُ بِهِ‌[2] فَيُخْرِجُ ص الصَّلَاةَ عَلَيْهِ فَيَضَعُهَا فِي مِيزَانِهِ فَيَرْجَحُ بِهِ.

“On the balance there will be no other thing as heavy as asking from Allah al-Salat (favors) for the Holy Prophet and his family. A man will place his deeds on the balance and it will tilt. Then he will bring forth his deed of asking from Allah al-Salat for the Holy Prophet and his family to place on the balance and it

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حَاجَةٌ فَلْيَبْدَأْ بِالصَّلَاةِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ثُمَّ يَسْأَلُ حَاجَتَهُ ثُمَّ يَخْتِمُ بِالصَّلَاةِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَكْرَمُ مِنْ أَنْ يَقْبَلَ الطَّرَفَيْنِ وَ يَدَعَ الْوَسَطَ إِذَا كَانَتِ الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ لَا تُحْجَبُ عَنْهُ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever needs help from Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, should first ask from Allah al-Salat (favors) for the Holy Prophet and his family, then pray and plead before Allah for help, then conclude it with asking from Allah al-Salat for the Holy Prophet and his family; Honor of Allah,

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي دَخَلْتُ الْبَيْتَ وَ لَمْ يَحْضُرْنِي شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ إِلَّا الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَخْرُجْ أَحَدٌ بِأَفْضَلَ مِمَّا خَرَجْتَ بِهِ.

‘I entered the house and I did not remember any prayer except asking from Allah al-Salat (favors) for the Holy Prophet and his family.’ The Imam said, ‘You should know that no one has come up with something better than what you have.’”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع فَقَالَ لِي مَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ- وَ ذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّى‌[4] قُلْتُ كُلَّمَا ذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ قَامَ فَصَلَّى فَقَالَ لِي لَقَدْ كَلَّفَ اللَّهُ- عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ هَذَا شَطَطاً[1] فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَكَيْفَ هُوَ فَقَالَ كُلَّمَا ذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ صَلَّى عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ.

“Once I went in the presence of abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) and he asked me, ‘What is the meaning of: “. . . remember the name of the Lord, and pray to Him.” (87:15) I said, ‘Whenever he remembered the name of his Lord, he stood up and prayed.’ The Imam said to me, ‘If so, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, had

إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ وَ لَمْ يَذْكُرِ النَّبِيَّ وَ آلَهُ ص فِي صَلَاتِهِ يُسْلَكُ بِصَلَاتِهِ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْجَنَّةِ[2] وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ ذُكِرْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيَّ دَخَلَ النَّارَ فَأَبْعَدَهُ اللَّهُ وَ قَالَ ص وَ مَنْ ذُكِرْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَنَسِيَ الصَّلَاةَ عَلَيَّ خُطِئَ بِهِ طَرِيقَ الْجَنَّةِ.

“Whenever anyone of you prays and does not mention the Holy Prophet and his family in his prayer, his prayer will be taken to a direction other than that toward paradise. The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If a person before whom my name is mentioned does not ask from Allah al-Salat (favors) for me, he will enter the fi

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ ذُكِرْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَنَسِيَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ عَلَيَّ خَطَّأَ اللَّهُ بِهِ طَرِيقَ الْجَنَّةِ[4].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If my name is mentioned before a person and he forgets to ask from Allah al-Salat (favors) for me, Allah will make him lose the way to paradise.’”

سَمِعَ أَبِي رَجُلًا مُتَعَلِّقاً بِالْبَيْتِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبِي يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لَا تَبْتُرْهَا[5] لَا تَظْلِمْنَا حَقَّنَا قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ.

“My father once heard a man, clinging to the Ka’bah, saying, ‘O Lord, grant al-Salat (favors) to Muhammad.’ My father then said to him, ‘O servant of Allah, do not shorten it that way. Do not do injustice to us in our rights. Say, “O Lord, grant al-Salat to Muhammad and his family.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا مِنْ قَوْمٍ اجْتَمَعُوا فِي مَجْلِسٍ فَلَمْ يَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا عَلَى نَبِيِّهِمْ إِلَّا كَانَ ذَلِكَ الْمَجْلِسُ حَسْرَةً وَ وَبَالًا عَلَيْهِمْ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If a people gather together in a place and do not speak of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and do not ask from Allah favors al-Salat for His Holy Prophet, that gathering will become a regret and a loss for them (on the Day of Judgment).’”

مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ إِلَّا وَ لَهُ حَدٌّ يَنْتَهِي إِلَيْهِ إِلَّا الذِّكْرَ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ حَدٌّ يَنْتَهِي إِلَيْهِ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْفَرَائِضَ فَمَنْ أَدَّاهُنَّ فَهُوَ حَدُّهُنَّ وَ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ فَمَنْ صَامَهُ فَهُوَ حَدُّهُ وَ الْحَجَّ فَمَنْ حَجَّ فَهُوَ حَدُّهُ إِلَّا الذِّكْرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمْ يَرْضَ مِنْهُ بِالْقَلِيلِ وَ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ حَدّاً يَنْتَهِي إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَل

“Everything has a limit where it ends except speaking of Allah which has no limit to end. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has sanctioned obligations. When one fulfills them, their limit is where they end. The limit for the month of Ramadan is that when one fasts that is its limit where it ends, and the limit o

رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ أَكْثَرَ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَحَبَّهُ اللَّهُ وَ مَنْ ذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً كُتِبَتْ لَهُ بَرَاءَتَانِ بَرَاءَةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ بَرَاءَةٌ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever speaks of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, often Allah loves him and whoever speaks of Allah very often, two kinds of freedoms will be written for him: freedom from fire and freedom from hypocrisy.’”

إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَكُونُ لَهُ الْحَاجَةُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَيَبْدَأُ بِالثَّنَاءِ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ حَتَّى يَنْسَى حَاجَتَهُ فَيَقْضِيهَا اللَّهُ لَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَسْأَلَهُ إِيَّاهَا.

“A servant (of Allah) may need help from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and he begins to praise Allah and ask from Allah al-Salat (favors) for the Holy Prophet and his family until he forgets to ask for help but Allah, without his asking, grants him the help that he was to ask for.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ ذَاكِرُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي الْغَافِلِينَ كَالْمُقَاتِلِ عَنِ الْفَارِّينَ وَ الْمُقَاتِلُ عَنِ الْفَارِّينَ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ.

“The messenger of Allah has said, ‘The speaker of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, among the indifferent people is like a soldier on the offensive while others are running away. The reward for a fighter among runaway ones is paradise.’”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ ثَلَاثَمِائَةِ مَرَّةٍ وَ سِتِّينَ مَرَّةً عَدَدَ عُرُوقِ الْجَسَدِ يَقُولُ‌ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* كَثِيراً عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ.

“The Messenger of Allah would praise Allah everyday, three hundred sixty times, equal to the number of the veins in the body, saying ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, a great deal of praise in all conditions.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّ فِي ابْنِ آدَمَ ثَلَاثَمِائَةٍ وَ سِتِّينَ عِرْقاً مِنْهَا مِائَةٌ وَ ثَمَانُونَ مُتَحَرِّكَةٌ وَ مِنْهَا مِائَةٌ وَ ثَمَانُونَ سَاكِنَةٌ فَلَوْ سَكَنَ الْمُتَحَرِّكُ لَمْ يَنَمْ وَ لَوْ تَحَرَّكَ السَّاكِنُ لَمْ يَنَمْ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا أَصْبَحَ قَالَ- الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِ‌ الْعالَمِينَ* كَثِيراً عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ ثَلَاثَمِائَةٍ

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said that in a son of Adam there are three hundred sixty veins of which one hundred eighty are moving and one hundred eighty are quiet. If a moving vein becomes quiet one cannot sleep and if a quiet one moves one cannot sleep’. The Messenger of Allah in

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَيْرُ الدُّعَاءِ الِاسْتِغْفَارُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The best prayer and plea before Allah for help is the plea for forgiveness and protection against the consequences of sins.’”

‌ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ لَا يَقُومُ مِنْ مَجْلِسٍ وَ إِنْ خَفَّ حَتَّى يَسْتَغْفِرَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَمْساً وَ عِشْرِينَ مَرَّةً

“The Messenger of Allah would not leave a gathering - even a small one until - he would plea for protection (forgiveness) from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, twenty-five times.”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً وَ يَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً قَالَ قُلْتُ كَانَ يَقُولُ- أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ كَانَ يَقُولُ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً وَ يَقُولُ وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً.

“The Messenger of Allah would plea for protection seventy times everyday and turn to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, seventy times everyday.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘Would he say, I plea for protection (forgiveness) from Allah and turn to Him?’ The Imam said, ‘He would say, “I plea for protection (forgiv

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الِاسْتِغْفَارُ وَ قَوْلُ- لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْعِبَادَةِ قَالَ اللَّهُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ- فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَ اسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنْبِكَ‌[1].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Plea for forgiveness, and the words: ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah’ are the best forms of worship.’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Mighty, has said, ‘Notice that Allah is the only Lord who deserves to be worshipped. Ask forgiveness for your sins. . . .’” (47:19)

جَاءَ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الْأَغْنِيَاءَ لَهُمْ مَا يُعْتِقُونَ وَ لَيْسَ لَنَا وَ لَهُمْ مَا يَحُجُّونَ وَ لَيْسَ لَنَا وَ لَهُمْ مَا يَتَصَدَّقُونَ وَ لَيْسَ لَنَا وَ لَهُمْ مَا يُجَاهِدُونَ وَ لَيْسَ لَنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ كَبَّرَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ كَانَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ عِتْقِ مِائَةِ رَقَبَةٍ وَ مَنْ سَبَّحَ اللَّهَ مِائَةَ مَرّ

“Once the poor people came to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, the wealthy people have the means to set free slaves, we do not have it, they can go for Hajj, but we cannot, they can provide charity, but we cannot and they can join the defense army for Jihad, but we cannot do so.’ The Messenger of

مَرَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِرَجُلٍ يَغْرِسُ غَرْساً فِي حَائِطٍ لَهُ فَوَقَفَ لَهُ‌[1] وَ قَالَ أَ لَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى غَرْسٍ أَثْبَتَ أَصْلًا وَ أَسْرَعَ إِينَاعاً[2] وَ أَطْيَبَ ثَمَراً وَ أَبْقَى قَالَ بَلَى فَدُلَّنِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ إِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ وَ أَمْسَيْتَ فَقُلْ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ فَإِنَّ لَكَ إِنْ قُلْتَهُ بِكُلِّ تَسْبِيحَةٍ

“The Messenger of Allah once was passing by a man who was planting a plant in his yard. The Holy Prophet stopped and asked, ‘Should I tell you about a plantation that has stronger roots, ripens faster and is of finer fruits?’ The man said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah, tell me about it.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘In

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَيْرُ الْعِبَادَةِ قَوْلُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The best form of worship is saying, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ دَعَا لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ إِلَّا رَدَّ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِ مِثْلَ الَّذِي دَعَا لَهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَ مُؤْمِنَةٍ مَضَى مِنْ أَوَّلِ الدَّهْرِ أَوْ هُوَ آتٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيُؤْمَرُ بِهِ إِلَى النَّارِ- يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيُسْحَبُ‌[1] فَيَقُولُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتُ يَا رَبِّ هَذَا الَّذِي كَانَ

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Any believing person who prays for the believing people male and female, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, returns to such person a reward equal to the reward for a likewise prayer with which all believing people, male and female have been praying from the beginning of time and

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ دَعْوَةَ الْمَظْلُومِ فَإِنَّهَا تُرْفَعُ فَوْقَ السَّحَابِ‌[2] حَتَّى يَنْظُرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهَا فَيَقُولَ ارْفَعُوهَا حَتَّى أَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ وَ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ دَعْوَةَ الْوَالِدِ فَإِنَّهَا أَحَدُّ مِنَ السَّيْفِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Beware of the prayer of an oppressed; it climbs over the cloud and Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, looks at it and says, “Raise it up so it is accepted,” and beware of the prayer of a father; it is sharper than a sword.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَرْبَعَةٌ لَا تُرَدُّ لَهُمْ دَعْوَةٌ حَتَّى تُفَتَّحَ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَ تَصِيرَ إِلَى الْعَرْشِ‌[1] الْوَالِدُ لِوَلَدِهِ وَ الْمَظْلُومُ عَلَى مَنْ ظَلَمَهُ وَ الْمُعْتَمِرُ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ وَ الصَّائِمُ حَتَّى يُفْطِرَ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The prayers of four people are not turned back before the door to heaven opens and they move to the Throne: the prayer of a father for his son, the prayer of an oppressed against his oppressor, the prayer of one who perfonns ‘Umrah until his returning home and the prayer of a person f

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ لَيْسَ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَسْرَعَ إِجَابَةً مِنْ دَعْوَةِ غَائِبٍ لِغَائِبٍ.

“The Holy Prophet has said, ‘No prayer is more quickly accepted than the prayer of one unseen for another unseen, that is, in each other’s absence.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ دَعَا مُوسَى ع وَ أَمَّنَ هَارُونُ ع وَ أَمَّنَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ع فَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى- قَدْ أُجِيبَتْ دَعْوَتُكُما فَاسْتَقِيما وَ مَنْ غَزَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ اسْتُجِيبَ لَهُ كَمَا اسْتُجِيبَ لَكُمَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Moses prayed and Hamn said Amin and the angels said Amin. Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, then said, “I have accepted your prayer be steadfast”, (10:89) and the prayer of one who fights for the cause of Allah will be answered just like the prayer of two of you (Moses and Hamn)

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ لِي جَاراً مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ مِنْ آلِ مُحْرِزٍ قَدْ نَوَّهَ بِاسْمِي وَ شَهَرَنِي‌[4] كُلَّمَا مَرَرْتُ بِهِ قَالَ هَذَا الرَّافِضِيُّ يَحْمِلُ الْأَمْوَالَ إِلَى جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي فَادْعُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ إِذَا كُنْتَ فِي صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ وَ أَنْتَ سَاجِدٌ فِي السَّجْدَةِ الْأَخِيرَةِ مِنَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الْأُولَيَيْنِ فَاحْمَدِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مَ

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘I have a neighbor from Quraysh from the family of Muhriz who propagates against me negatively. Whenever I pass by he calls me a Rafida (rejecting successors to the Holy Prophet who are not special members of his family) and that I collect funds for Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.).’ The

قُلْتُ إِنَّا نُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فَنَحْتَجُّ عَلَيْهِمْ بِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَ أَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ‌ فَيَقُولُونَ نَزَلَتْ فِي أُمَرَاءِ السَّرَايَا فَنَحْتَجُّ عَلَيْهِمْ بِقَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِنَّما وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ‌ إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَةِ[4] فَيَقُولُونَ نَزَلَتْ فِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ نَحْتَجُّ عَلَيْهِمْ بِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلّ

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘We speak to people and in support of our (Shi’a Muslim) belief refer them to the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘O believers, obey Allah, His Messenger, and your leaders (who possess Divine Authority)...’ (4:59) They say, ‘It applies to the commanders of the miss

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ قَالَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ غُرِسَتْ لَهُ شَجَرَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِنْ يَاقُوتَةٍ حَمْرَاءَ مَنْبِتُهَا فِي مِسْكٍ أَبْيَضَ أَحْلَى مِنَ الْعَسَلِ وَ أَشَدَّ بَيَاضاً مِنَ الثَّلْجِ وَ أَطْيَبَ رِيحاً مِنَ الْمِسْكِ فِيهَا أَمْثَالُ ثُدِيِّ الْأَبْكَارِ تَعْلُو عَنْ سَبْعِينَ حُلَّةً وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص خَيْرُ الْعِبَادَةِ قَوْلُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ قَالَ خَيْرُ الْعِ

‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever (sincerely) says, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah’, a tree is planted for him in paradise, from red ruby that grows out of white musk, sweeter than honey, whiter than snow, of a fragrance better than musk, in which there is something like the breast of virgins,