Prophethood

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ يَضْرِبُ بِالْمَرِّ[1] وَ يَسْتَخْرِجُ الْأَرَضِينَ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَمَصُّ النَّوَى بِفِيهِ وَ يَغْرِسُهُ فَيَطْلُعُ مِنْ سَاعَتِهِ وَ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَعْتَقَ أَلْفَ مَمْلُوكٍ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَ كَدِّ يَدِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would work with a shovel and dig the soil. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, placed date stones in his mouth and then planted it and it would sprout in the same hour. Amir

اسْتَقْبَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي بَعْضِ طُرُقِ الْمَدِينَةِ فِي يَوْمٍ صَائِفٍ‌[2] شَدِيدِ الْحَرِّ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ حَالُكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ قَرَابَتُكَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ أَنْتَ تُجْهِدُ لِنَفْسِكَ فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا الْيَوْمِ فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدَ الْأَعْلَى خَرَجْتُ فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ لِأَسْتَغْنِيَ عَنْ مِثْلِكَ.

“I once came face to face with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), in one of the streets of al-Madinah on a very hot summer day. I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, you have a prominent position before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and you are of very close relatives of the Messenger of Allah

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص وَضَعَ حَجَراً عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ يَرُدُّ الْمَاءَ عَنْ أَرْضِهِ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا نَكَبَ بَعِيراً وَ لَا إِنْسَاناً حَتَّى السَّاعَةِ.

“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, once placed a piece of stone on the waterway to prevent it from flowing into his land. By Allah, until this day no human being or camel has moved it away.”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَسَأَلَنَا عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ مَا فَعَلَ فَقُلْتُ صَالِحٌ وَ لَكِنَّهُ قَدْ تَرَكَ التِّجَارَةَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَمَلُ الشَّيْطَانِ ثَلَاثاً- أَ مَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص اشْتَرَى عِيراً أَتَتْ مِنَ الشَّامِ‌[4] فَاسْتَفْضَلَ فِيهَا مَا قَضَى دَيْنَهُ وَ قَسَمَ فِي قَرَابَتِهِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- رِجالٌ لا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجارَةٌ وَ لا بَي

It is the work of Satan. Did he not know that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once bought a caravan that had come from al-Sham (Syria) in which he saved enough money to pay off his debts and distributed the extra among his relatives?

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَعْمَلُ فِي أَرْضٍ لَهُ قَدِ اسْتَنْقَعَتْ قَدَمَاهُ فِي الْعَرَقِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ‌ أَيْنَ الرِّجَالُ فَقَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ قَدْ عَمِلَ بِالْيَدِ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي فِي أَرْضِهِ وَ مِنْ أَبِي فَقُلْتُ لَهُ وَ مَنْ هُوَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ آبَائِي ع كُلُّهُمْ كَانُوا قَدْ عَمِلُوا بِأَيْدِيهِمْ وَ هُوَ مِنْ عَمَلِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ الْمُرْ

“I once saw abu al-Hassan (a.s.), working in his land and his feet were drenched in perspiration. I asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, where are men (workers)?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘O Ali, people better than my father and I worked in their land.’ I then asked, ‘Who were they?’ He (the

إِنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ إِنِّي لَا أُحْسِنُ أَنْ أَعْمَلَ عَمَلًا بِيَدِي وَ لَا أُحْسِنُ‌ أَنْ أَتَّجِرَ وَ أَنَا مُحَارَفٌ مُحْتَاجٌ‌[1] فَقَالَ اعْمَلْ فَاحْمِلْ عَلَى رَأْسِكَ وَ اسْتَغْنِ عَنِ النَّاسِ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَدْ حَمَلَ حَجَراً عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ فَوَضَعَهُ فِي حَائِطٍ لَهُ مِنْ حِيطَانِهِ وَ إِنَّ الْحَجَرَ لَفِي مَكَانِهِ وَ لَا يُدْرَى كَمْ عُمْقُهُ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ ث

“Once a man came to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and said, ‘I am not good in working with my hands and I am not good in doing business, thus I am deprived and needy.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must work and carry it on your head and set yourself free from asking people for help. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensa

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْعِبَادَةُ سَبْعُونَ جُزْءاً أَفْضَلُهَا طَلَبُ الْحَلَالِ.

“Abu Ja’far (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, ‘Worship has seventy parts. The most excellent part in it is working to make lawful living.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ أَلَا إِنَّ الرُّوحَ الْأَمِينَ نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي أَنَّهُ لَا تَمُوتُ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَكْمِلَ رِزْقَهَا فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ وَ لَا يَحْمِلَنَّكُمُ اسْتِبْطَاءُ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ أَنْ تَطْلُبُوهُ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى قَسَمَ الْأَرْزَاقَ بَيْنَ خَلْقِهِ حَلَالًا وَ لَمْ يَ

‘The Messenger of Allah during his farewell Hajj said, ‘The trustworthy spirit has inspired my understanding that no soul dies before its sustenance is complete (depleted). You must maintain piety before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, be meticulous in your work to make a living. You must not allow procrastination

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ قَدْ نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ أَنَّهُ لَنْ تَمُوتَ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَوْفِيَ رِزْقَهَا وَ إِنْ أَبْطَأَ عَلَيْهَا فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ وَ لَا يَحْمِلَنَّكُمُ اسْتِبْطَاءُ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِمَّا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ تُصِيبُوهُ بِمَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَا يُنَالُ مَا عِنْدَهُ إِلَّ

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘O people, the trustworthy spirit has inspired my understanding that a soul never dies until it completes (depleting of) its sustenance even if it takes place with a certain degree of delays

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع كَثِيراً مَا يَقُولُ‌ اعْلَمُوا عِلْماً يَقِيناً أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لِلْعَبْدِ وَ إِنِ اشْتَدَّ جَهْدُهُ وَ عَظُمَتْ حِيلَتُهُ وَ كَثُرَتْ مُكَابَدَتُهُ أَنْ يَسْبِقَ مَا سُمِّيَ لَهُ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ وَ لَمْ يَحُلْ‌ مِنَ الْعَبْدِ فِي ضَعْفِهِ وَ قِلَّةِ حِيلَتِهِ‌[1] أَنْ يَبْلُغَ مَا سُمِّيَ لَهُ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ لَنْ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), very often would say, ‘You must take notice with absolute certainty that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, does not allow a servant, no matter how intensely he strives, how great the kind of means he prepares, and no matter how numerously he suffers fati

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي لَمْ أَدَعْ شَيْئاً يُقَرِّبُكُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَ يُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ نَبَّأْتُكُمْ بِهِ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ رُوحَ الْقُدُسِ [قَدْ] نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي وَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَنْ لَا تَمُوتُ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَكْمِلَ رِزْقَهَا فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ وَ لَا يَحْمِلَنَّكُمُ اسْتِبْطَاءُ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ أَنْ تَط

“Abu Ja’far (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, ‘I have not left anything that can take you closer to paradise or keep you away from hellfire but that I have informed you of all such matters. You must take

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كُنْ لِمَا لَا تَرْجُو أَرْجَى مِنْكَ لِمَا تَرْجُو فَإِنَّ مُوسَى ع ذَهَبَ لِيَقْتَبِسَ لِأَهْلِهِ نَاراً فَانْصَرَفَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَ هُوَ نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ.

“I heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Your hope for help from an unexpected source should be greater than an expected source. Musa ‘Alayhi al-Salam, went to find fire for his family and came back as a prophet commissioned to preach.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ كُنْ لِمَا لَا تَرْجُو أَرْجَى مِنْكَ لِمَا تَرْجُو فَإِنَّ مُوسَى بْنَ عِمْرَانَ ع خَرَجَ يَقْتَبِسُ لِأَهْلِهِ نَاراً فَكَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ رَجَعَ نَبِيّاً مُرْسَلًا وَ خَرَجَتْ مَلِكَةُ سَبَإٍ فَأَسْلَمَتْ مَعَ‌ سُلَيْمَانَ ع وَ خَرَجَتْ سَحَرَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ يَطْلُبُونَ الْعِزَّ لِفِرْعَوْنَ فَرَجَعُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Your hope for help from an unexpected source should be greater than an expected source. Musa (Moses) ‘Alayhi al-Salam went to find fire for his family, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, spoke to him and he came back as a messenger prophet. Queen o

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا فَعَلَ عُمَرُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ‌[1] قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى الْعِبَادَةِ وَ تَرَكَ التِّجَارَةَ فَقَالَ وَيْحَهُ أَ مَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ تَارِكَ الطَّلَبِ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُ- إِنَّ قَوْماً مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ‌ وَ مَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجاً وَ يَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُ‌[2] أَغْلَقُوا الْأَبْوَابَ وَ أَقْبَلُوا عَلَى

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once asked me, ‘What has ‘Umar ibn Muslim done?’ I replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, ‘he has devoted himself in worship and has given up doing any business.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Fie upon him! Does he not know that the prayer of one who neglects work to make a

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَحْلُبُ عَنْزَ أَهْلِهِ.

‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would milk his family’s goat.”

نَظَرَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِلَى رَجُلٍ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ الْحَلَالِ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع سَأَلْتَ قُوتَ النَّبِيِّينَ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقاً وَاسِعاً طَيِّباً مِنْ رِزْقِكَ.

“Once abu Ja‘far (a.s.), looked at a man who said, ‘O Lord, I pray to You to grant me lawful sustenance.’ Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), said, ‘You have asked of the kind of sustenance of the prophets. Say, “O Lord, grant me of Your extended and clean sustenance.’””

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ النَّفْسَ إِذَا أَحْرَزَتْ قُوتَهَا اسْتَقَرَّتْ.

“Abu al-Hassan (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, ‘When a soul reserves its sustenance it settles down.”

لَمَّا دَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ ص الْمَدِينَةَ خَطَّ دُورَهَا بِرِجْلِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ بَاعَ رِبَاعَهُ فَلَا تُبَارِكْ لَهُ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam has said, that when the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, arrived in al-Madinah he drew a line around its houses and said, ‘O Allah, do not make it a blessing for those who sell its houses.”’

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّهُ ذُكِرَ لَنَا أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ مَاتَ وَ عَلَيْهِ دِينَارَانِ دَيْناً فَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ قَالَ صَلُّوا عَلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ حَتَّى ضَمِنَهُمَا [عَنْهُ‌] بَعْضُ قَرَابَتِهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ذَلِكَ الْحَقُ‌[1] ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّمَا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ لِيَتَّعِظُوا وَ لِيَرُدَّ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَ لِئَلَّا يَسْت

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘We are told that a man from al-Ansar died while he owed two dinar to pay. The Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, did not perform Salat (prayer) on his dead body and said, “You must perform Salat (prayer) on

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الدَّيْنُ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَجُلٌ‌ كَانَ لَهُ فَأَنْظَرَ وَ إِذَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَعْطَى وَ لَمْ يَمْطُلْ‌[1] فَذَاكَ لَهُ وَ لَا عَلَيْهِ وَ رَجُلٌ إِذَا كَانَ لَهُ اسْتَوْفَى وَ إِذَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ أَوْفَى فَذَاكَ لَا لَهُ وَ لَا عَلَيْهِ وَ رَجُلٌ إِذَا كَانَ لَهُ اسْتَوْفَى وَ إِذَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مَطَلَ فَذَاكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا لَهُ.

“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, ‘Debts are three. One man is he who when a lender gives the borrower respite and the borrower pays it off without delay. In his case it is all for him an

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا يُبَاعُ الدَّيْنُ بِالدَّيْنِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ’It is not lawful to buy a debt with debt (on credit).”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا وَجَعَ إِلَّا وَجَعُ الْعَيْنِ وَ لَا هَمَّ إِلَّا هَمُّ الدَّيْنِ.

“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, ‘No other ache is a serious ache except an eye ache, and no anxiety is a serious anxiety except the anxiety because of debts.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الدَّيْنُ رِبْقَةُ اللَّهِ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُذِلَّ عَبْداً وَضَعَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ.

“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, ‘Debt is the loop of Allah on earth and when He wants to humiliate a person. He places it on his neck.’”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ أَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً أَسْتَأْذِنُهُ فِي عَمَلِ السُّلْطَانِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ فِي آخِرِ كِتَابٍ كَتَبْتُهُ إِلَيْهِ أَذْكُرُ أَنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَى خَبْطِ عُنُقِي‌[1] وَ أَنَّ السُّلْطَانَ يَقُولُ لِي إِنَّكَ رَافِضِيٌّ وَ لَسْنَا نَشُكُّ فِي أَنَّكَ تَرَكْتَ الْعَمَلَ لِلسُّلْطَانِ لِلرَّفْضِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع قَدْ فَهِمْتُ كِتَابَكَ وَ مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ فَإ

“I wrote to abu al-Hassan, al-Rida 5 (a.s.), for fourteen years asking his permission to work for Sultan. In the last letter I wrote saying that I fear for my life if I did not work for the Sultan, because he calls me a Rafidiy (rejecter) saying, ‘We have no doubt that you have refused to work for the Sultan because of

دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ حَكَمٌ السَّرَّاجُ مَا تَرَى فِيمَنْ يَحْمِلُ السُّرُوجَ إِلَى الشَّامِ وَ أَدَاتَهَا فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ أَنْتُمُ الْيَوْمَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّكُمْ فِي هُدْنَةٍ فَإِذَا كَانَتِ الْمُبَايَنَةُ حَرُمَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ تَحْمِلُوا إِلَيْهِمُ السُّرُوجَ وَ السِّلَاحَ.

‘It is not harmful. Today you are like the companions of the Messenger of Allah. You live in peace time. When there is hostility, then it is unlawful for you to carry to them saddles and arms to them.’”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَخَبَّرْتُهُ أَنَّهُ وُلِدَ لِي غُلَامٌ فَقَالَ أَ لَا سَمَّيْتَهُ مُحَمَّداً قَالَ قُلْتُ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ قَالَ فَلَا تَضْرِبْ مُحَمَّداً وَ لَا تَسُبَّهُ جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ قُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لَكَ فِي حَيَاتِكَ وَ خَلَفَ صِدْقٍ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فِي أَيِّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَضَعُهُ قَالَ إِذَا عَدَلْتَهُ عَنْ خَمْسَةِ أَشْيَاءَ فَضَعْهُ حَيْثُ شِئْتَ لَا تُسْلِمْهُ صَ

“I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and informed him of the birth of my son. He asked, ‘Why do you not name him Muhammad?’ I replied, ‘I have already done so.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘You must not beat up a Muhammad and do not abuse him. Allah will make him the delight to your eyes during your life time as well as

إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ: إِنِّي أَعْطَيْتُ خَالَتِي غُلَاماً وَ نَهَيْتُهَا أَنْ تَجْعَلَهُ قَصَّاباً أَوْ حَجَّاماً أَوْ صَائِغاً[4].

‘I gave a boy to my aunt and prohibited her from making him a butcher, cupping person or a jewelry carver.’”

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

احْتَجَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص حَجَمَهُ مَوْلًى لِبَنِي بَيَاضَةَ وَ أَعْطَاهُ وَ لَوْ كَانَ حَرَاماً مَا أَعْطَاهُ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَيْنَ الدَّمُ قَالَ شَرِبْتُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ مَا كَانَ يَنْبَغِي لَكَ أَنْ تَفْعَلَ وَ قَدْ جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَكَ حِجَاباً مِنَ النَّارِ فَلَا تَعُدْ[2].

“Abu Ja’far (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, did use cupping services. A Mawla’ (slave) of banu Bayada performed cupping service for the Messenger of Allah and paid for such services. Had it been unlawful he woul

مَاتَ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ الْمُغِيرَةِ فَقَالَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ لِلنَّبِيِّ ص إِنَّ آلَ الْمُغِيرَةِ قَدْ أَقَامُوا مَنَاحَةً فَأَذْهَبُ إِلَيْهِمْ فَأَذِنَ لَهَا فَلَبِسَتْ ثِيَابَهَا وَ تَهَيَّأَتْ وَ كَانَتْ مِنْ حُسْنِهَا كَأَنَّهَا جَانٌّ وَ كَانَتْ إِذَا قَامَتْ فَأَرْخَتْ شَعْرَهَا جَلَّلَ جَسَدَهَا[2] وَ عَقَدَتْ بِطَرَفَيْهِ خَلْخَالَهَا فَنَدَبَتِ ابْنَ عَمِّهَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَتْ- أَنْعَ

‘When al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah died, ‘Umm Salamah asked the Holy Prophet, for permission. She said, “The family of al-Mughirah has organized a gathering to mourn for al-Walid. Can I also attend their gathering?” The Holy Prophet granted her permission. She dressed up. She was beautiful like a fairy. When standing she r

لَمَّا هَاجَرَتِ النِّسَاءُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص هَاجَرَتْ فِيهِنَّ امْرَأَةٌ يُقَالُ لَهَا أُمُّ حَبِيبٍ وَ كَانَتْ خَافِضَةً تَخْفِضُ الْجَوَارِيَ فَلَمَّا رَآهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ لَهَا يَا أُمَّ حَبِيبٍ الْعَمَلُ الَّذِي كَانَ فِي يَدِكِ هُوَ فِي يَدِكِ الْيَوْمَ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ حَرَاماً فَتَنْهَانِي عَنْهُ فَقَالَ لَا بَلْ حَلَالٌ فَادْنِي مِنِّي حَتَّى أُعَلِّمَكِ

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When women migrated toward the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, among them there was a woman called ‘Umm Habib and she circumcised girls. When the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muha

دَخَلَتْ مَاشِطَةٌ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ لَهَا هَلْ تَرَكْتِ عَمَلَكِ أَوْ أَقَمْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَا أَعْمَلُهُ إِلَّا أَنْ تَنْهَانِي عَنْهُ فَأَنْتَهِيَ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ لَهَا افْعَلِي فَإِذَا مَشَطْتِ فَلَا تَجْلِي الْوَجْهَ بِالْخِرَقِ فَإِنَّهَا تَذْهَبُ بِمَاءِ الْوَجْهِ وَ لَا تَصِلِي الشَّعْرَ بِالشَّعْرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Once a hairdresser came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and he asked her, ‘Have you stopped the work you were doing or not?’ She replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I still do it unless you

سُئِلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الْقَرَامِلِ الَّتِي تَضَعُهَا النِّسَاءُ فِي رُءُوسِهِنَّ يَصِلْنَهُ بِشُعُورِهِنَ‌[2] فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ بِمَا تَزَيَّنَتْ بِهِ لِزَوْجِهَا قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص لَعَنَ الْوَاصِلَةَ وَ الْمَوْصُولَةَ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ هُنَاكَ إِنَّمَا لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْوَاصِلَةَ الَّتِي تَزْنِي فِي شَبَابِهَا فَلَمَّا كَبِرَتْ قَادَتِ النِّسَاءَ إ

“Abu Ja‘far, Alayhi al-Salam, was asked about women’s decorating their hairs with silk fibers or hairs and so on. He (the Imam) replied, ‘There is no offense in women’s beautifying themselves for their husbands.’ I (the narrator) said, ‘We are told that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad an

كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ يُقَالُ لَهَا أُمُّ طَيْبَةَ تَخْفِضُ الْجَوَارِيَ فَدَعَاهَا النَّبِيُّ ص فَقَالَ لَهَا يَا أُمَّ طَيْبَةَ إِذَا خَفَضْتِ الْجَوَارِيَ فَأَشِمِّي وَ لَا تُجْحِفِي فَإِنَّهُ أَصْفَى لِلَوْنِ الْوَجْهِ وَ أَحْظَى عِنْدَ الْبَعْلِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘There was a woman called ‘Umm Taybah. She would circumcise girls. The Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, called her and said to her, ‘O ‘Umm Taybah, when you circumcise girls do not allow it to become

لَمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص‌ - إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَ الْمَيْسِرُ وَ الْأَنْصابُ وَ الْأَزْلامُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ‌[1] قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الْمَيْسِرُ فَقَالَ كُلُّ مَا تُقُومِرَ بِهِ حَتَّى الْكِعَابُ وَ الْجَوْزُ قِيلَ فَمَا الْأَنْصَابُ قَالَ مَا ذَبَحُوهُ لآِلِهَتِهِمْ قِيلَ فَمَا الْأَزْلَامُ قَالَ قِدَاحُهُمُ الَّتِي يَسْتَقْسِمُونَ بِهَا.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that when Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent to His Messenger, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, the following verse, ‘Wine, gambling, idols and gambling arrows are of the filthy deeds of Satan, you must avoid them’ (5:93),

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)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَى أُمَّتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي هَذِهِ الْمَكَاسِبُ الْحَرَامُ وَ الشَّهْوَةُ الْخَفِيَّةِ وَ الرِّبَا[2].

“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, ‘What I fear most for my followers after me are these unlawful earnings, concealed desire and unlawful interest.’”

نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنْ كَسْبِ الْإِمَاءِ فَإِنَّهَا إِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ زَنَتْ إِلَّا أَمَةً قَدْ عُرِفَتْ بِصَنْعَةِ يَدٍ وَ نَهَى عَنْ كَسْبِ الْغُلَامِ الَّذِي لَا يُحْسِنُ صِنَاعَةً بِيَدِهِ فَإِنَّهُ إِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ سَرَقَ.

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, prohibited earning of slave-girls because if they cannot find work, they fornicate, except for a slave-girl who knows a skill and she is better than a slave-boy who

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ أَدُّوا الْأَمَانَةَ وَ لَوْ إِلَى قَاتِلِ وُلْدِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘You must return a trust even if an assassin of the children of the prophet has left it with you.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ أَخْلَفَ بِالْأَمَانَةِ وَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْأَمَانَةُ تَجْلِبُ الرِّزْقَ وَ الْخِيَانَةُ تَجْلِبُ الْفَقْرَ.

“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, ‘One who does not keep a trust safely is not of our people/ The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Trustworthiness attracts wealth and treachery attracts pove

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِرَجُلٍ أَنْتَ وَ مَالُكَ لِأَبِيكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ مَا أُحِبُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مِنْ مَالِ ابْنِهِ إِلَّا مَا احْتَاجَ إِلَيْهِ مِمَّا لَا بُدَّ مِنْهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ لا يُحِبُّ الْفَسادَ.

‘You and your property belong to your father.’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.), then said, ‘I do not like his spending from the property of his son more than what he needs for his bare necessities; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, does not love destruction.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مَالِ ابْنِهِ قَالَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ مَا شَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سَرَفٍ وَ قَالَ فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع إِنَّ الْوَلَدَ لَا يَأْخُذُ مِنْ مَالِ وَالِدِهِ شَيْئاً إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ وَ الْوَالِدَ يَأْخُذُ مِنْ مَالِ ابْنِهِ مَا شَاءَ وَ لَهُ أَنْ يَقَعَ عَلَى جَارِيَةِ ابْنِهِ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنِ الِابْنُ وَقَعَ عَلَيْهَا وَ ذَكَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ أَنْتَ وَ مَالُكَ

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about a man who needed to spend from the property of his son. He (the Imam) replied, ‘He has permission to use the property of his son for food as much as he wants but without excess.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is in the book of Ali (a.s.), that a son does not have permission to spend fro

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا يَحِلُّ لِلرَّجُلِ مِنْ مَالِ وَلَدِهِ قَالَ قُوتُهُ بِغَيْرِ سَرَفٍ إِذَا اضْطُرَّ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَقَوْلُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لِلرَّجُلِ الَّذِي أَتَاهُ فَقَدَّمَ أَبَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَنْتَ وَ مَالُكَ لِأَبِيكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا جَاءَ بِأَبِيهِ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا أَبِي وَ قَدْ ظَلَمَنِي مِيرَاثِي مِنْ أُمِّي فَأَخْبَرَهُ الْأَبُ أَنَّ

He (the Imam) replied, ‘He can take for his basic necessities without excess when pressing needs compel him.’ I (the narrator) then asked about the words of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, to a man who came to him and had brought his

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي وَجَدْتُ شَاةً فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص هِيَ لَكَ أَوْ لِأَخِيكَ أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ‌[1] فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي وَجَدْتُ بَعِيراً فَقَالَ مَعَهُ حِذَاؤُهُ وَ سِقَاؤُهُ حِذَاؤُهُ خُفُّهُ وَ سِقَاؤُهُ كَرِشُهُ فَلَا تَهِجْهُ‌[2].

‘I have found a sheep.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘It is for you or your brother or a wolf.’ He then said, T have found a camel.’ The Messenger of Allah asked, ’Does it have its shoes and water container? Nevertheless, take notice, its shoes are its feet and its water container is its hump. You must not bother the c

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْهَدِيَّةُ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَوْجُهٍ هَدِيَّةُ مُكَافَأَةٍ وَ هَدِيَّةُ مُصَانَعَةٍ وَ هَدِيَّةٌ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌[3].

“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, ‘Gifts are of three kinds: One is a gift to compensate a favor, another is a gift for understanding (bribing) someone, and another gift is a gift from Al

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ تَكُونُ لَهُ الضَّيْعَةُ الْكَبِيرَةُ فَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْمِهْرَجَانِ أَوِ النَّيْرُوزِ أَهْدَوْا إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْ‌ءَ لَيْسَ هُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ يَتَقَرَّبُونَ بِذَلِكَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَ لَيْسَ هُمْ مُصَلِّينَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَلْيَقْبَلْ هَدِيَّتَهُمْ وَ لْيُكَافِهِمْ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ لَوْ أُهْدِيَ إِلَيَّ كُرَاعٌ لَقَبِلْتُ وَ كَانَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الدّ

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who possesses a great deal of goods. On the times of festivities or the day of Nawroz, they give him as gifts which they did not have to give him but they wanted to become nearer to him. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Are they not the ones who perform prayers?’ I (the narr

كَانَتِ الْعَرَبُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ عَلَى فِرْقَتَيْنِ- الْحُلِّ وَ الْحُمْسِ فَكَانَتِ الْحُمْسُ قُرَيْشاً وَ كَانَتِ الْحُلُ‌[2] سَائِرَ الْعَرَبِ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْحُلِّ إِلَّا وَ لَهُ حَرَمِيٌّ مِنَ الْحُمْسِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ حَرَمِيٌّ مِنَ الْحُمْسِ لَمْ يُتْرَكْ أَنْ يَطُوفَ بِالْبَيْتِ إِلَّا عُرْيَاناً وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص حَرَمِيّاً- لِعِيَاضِ بْنِ حِمَارٍ الْمُجَاشِعِيِ‌[3] وَ كَا

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Arabs during pre-Islamic age of ignorance were of two groups. One was al-Hull and the other al-Hums. Al-Hums were Quraysh and al-Hull was the rest of Arabs. Everyone of al-Hull group had to have a protector from al-Hums people; otherwise, they could not perform Tawaf except in a naked

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَأْكُلُ الْهَدِيَّةَ وَ لَا يَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ وَ يَقُولُ تَهَادَوْا فَإِنَّ الْهَدِيَّةَ تَسُلُّ السَّخَائِمَ‌[3] وَ تُجْلِي ضَغَائِنَ الْعَدَاوَةِ وَ الْأَحْقَادِ.

“You must exchange gifts, it gently removes resentment and clears grudges due to animosity and malice.’””

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مِنْ تَكْرِمَةِ الرَّجُلِ لِأَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يَقْبَلَ تُحْفَتَهُ وَ يُتْحِفَهُ بِمَا عِنْدَهُ وَ لَا يَتَكَلَّفَ لَهُ شَيْئاً.

“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, ‘Of a believer’s upholding the honor of his Muslim brother is to accept his gifts and present him a gift of whatever is possible for him without over-bur

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَوْ أُهْدِيَ إِلَيَّ كُرَاعٌ لَقَبِلْتُهُ‌[4].

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Even if a gift as small as the foot of a sheep is presented to me I accept it.’”