Sin & Temptation

لَا صَغِيرَةَ مَعَ الْإِصْرَارِ وَ لَا كَبِيرَةَ مَعَ الِاسْتِغْفَارِ.

“Minor sins are not minor if one persists committing such sins and major sins are not major if followed by plea for forgiveness.”

الْإِصْرَارُ هُوَ أَنْ يُذْنِبَ الذَّنْبَ فَلَا يَسْتَغْفِرَ اللَّهَ وَ لَا يُحَدِّثَ نَفْسَهُ بِتَوْبَةٍ فَذَلِكَ الْإِصْرَارُ.

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, . . and who do not knowingly persist in their mistakes,’ (3:135) the Imam said, ‘Persistence is when one commits and does not ask forgiveness from Allah nor say anything to himself about repentance. Such attitude is persistence in sin.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ شَيْئاً مِنْ طَاعَتِهِ عَلَى الْإِصْرَارِ عَلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ مَعَاصِيهِ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘No, I swear by Allah, Allah does not accept any act of one’s obedience to Him when one is persisting in disobedience to Him.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا عُصِيَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ سِتٌّ حُبُّ الدُّنْيَا وَ حُبُّ الرِّئَاسَةِ وَ حُبُّ الطَّعَامِ وَ حُبُّ النَّوْمِ وَ حُبُّ الرَّاحَةِ وَ حُبُّ النِّسَاءِ[3].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The things with which Allah was disobeyed first were six: Love of the worldly things, Love to be the leader, Love for food, Love to sleep, Love for comfort and Love of women (to such extremes that may lead one to sins).”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مِنْ عَلَامَاتِ الشَّقَاءِ جُمُودُ الْعَيْنِ وَ قَسْوَةُ الْقَلْبِ وَ شِدَّةُ الْحِرْصِ فِي طَلَبِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْإِصْرَارُ عَلَى الذَّنْبِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Among the signs of wickedness is piercing eyes (devoid of bashfulness), hardheartedness, intense greed for worldly gains and persistence in sins.’”

سُئِلَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع عَنِ الْعَصَبِيَّةِ فَقَالَ الْعَصَبِيَّةُ الَّتِي يَأْثَمُ عَلَيْهَا صَاحِبُهَا أَنْ يَرَى الرَّجُلُ شِرَارَ قَوْمِهِ خَيْراً مِنْ خِيَارِ قَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ وَ لَيْسَ مِنَ الْعَصَبِيَّةِ أَنْ يُحِبُّ الرَّجُلُ قَوْمَهُ وَ لَكِنْ مِنَ الْعَصَبِيَّةِ أَنْ يُعِينَ قَوْمَهُ عَلَى الظُّلْمِ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasani from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from al-Minqari from ‘Abd al-Razzaq from Mu’ammar from al-Zuhri who has said the following: “Once, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was asked about racist feelings. He said, ‘The racist feeling that is a sin is the one tha

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِمَ أَنَّ الذَّنْبَ خَيْرٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ مِنَ الْعُجْبِ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ مَا ابْتُلِيَ مُؤْمِنٌ بِذَنْبٍ أَبَداً.

“Allah knew that sin is better for believing people than feeling self-important. Were it not as such, a believer would never sin.”

إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيُذْنِبُ الذَّنْبَ فَيَنْدَمُ عَلَيْهِ وَ يَعْمَلُ الْعَمَلَ فَيَسُرُّهُ ذَلِكَ فَيَتَرَاخَى عَنْ حَالِهِ تِلْكَ فَلَأَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَى حَالِهِ تِلْكَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِمَّا دَخَلَ فِيهِ.

“A man sins and then feels regretful. He then does a good deed that gives him happiness (feeling of self-importance). He then weakens. His being in a condition (regretful) is better than what he finds himself in (after a good deed with feeling of self- importance).”

دَخَلَ رَجُلَانِ الْمَسْجِدَ أَحَدُهُمَا عَابِدٌ وَ الْآخَرُ فَاسِقٌ فَخَرَجَا مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ وَ الْفَاسِقُ صِدِّيقٌ‌[1] وَ الْعَابِدُ فَاسِقٌ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ يَدْخُلُ الْعَابِدُ الْمَسْجِدَ مُدِلًّا بِعِبَادَتِهِ يُدِلُّ بِهَا فَتَكُونُ فِكْرَتُهُ فِي ذَلِكَ وَ تَكُونُ فِكْرَةُ الْفَاسِقِ فِي التَّنَدُّمِ عَلَى فِسْقِهِ وَ يَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِمَّا صَنَعَ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ.

“Two people went to a Mosque. One was a worshipper and the other a sinful one. They left the Mosque. The sinner was a true believer, but the worshipper had become a sinner. It so happened, because the worshipper went to the Mosque boastful of his worshipping, thus, his thoughts were all the time on boastfulness. The si

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ بَيْنَمَا مُوسَى ع جَالِساً إِذْ أَقْبَلَ إِبْلِيسُ وَ عَلَيْهِ بُرْنُسٌ ذُو أَلْوَانٍ فَلَمَّا دَنَا مِنْ مُوسَى ع خَلَعَ الْبُرْنُسَ وَ قَامَ إِلَى مُوسَى فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى مَنْ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ أَنَا إِبْلِيسُ قَالَ أَنْتَ فَلَا قَرَّبَ اللَّهُ دَارَكَ‌[2] قَالَ إِنِّي إِنَّمَا جِئْتُ لِأُسَلِّمَ عَلَيْكَ لِمَكَانِكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى ع فَمَا هَذَا ا

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Once Moses was sitting when Satan came to him with a many-colored hooded cloak on him. When he approached Moses he took his cloak off, stood nearby, and offered him the greeting of peace. Moses asked, ‘Who are you?’ He replied, ‘I am Satan.’ Moses said, ‘Is it you? May Allah not bring

رَأْسُ كُلِّ خَطِيئَةٍ حُبُّ الدُّنْيَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘The head of all sins is love of this world.’”

إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يُدِيرُ ابْنَ آدَمَ فِي كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ فَإِذَا أَعْيَاهُ جَثَمَ لَهُ‌[2] عِنْدَ الْمَالِ فَأَخَذَ بِرَقَبَتِهِ.

“Satan circles around the children of Adam in every (evil) matter (to make him sin), when he is frustrated (man did not sin) he ambushes him through his (love of) property and holds him (man) through such love by his neck.”

أَنَّ أَكْثَرَ مَا يَطْلُبُ ابْنُ آدَمَ مَا لَا حَاجَةَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ الْحَسَدُ وَ هِيَ مَعْصِيَةُ ابْنِ آدَمَ حَيْثُ حَسَدَ أَخَاهُ فَقَتَلَهُ فَتَشَعَّبَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ حُبُّ النِّسَاءِ وَ حُبُّ الدُّنْيَا وَ حُبُّ الرِّئَاسَةِ وَ حُبُّ الرَّاحَةِ وَ حُبُّ الْكَلَامِ وَ حُبُّ الْعُلُوِّ وَ الثَّرْوَةِ فَصِرْنَ سَبْعَ خِصَالٍ فَاجْتَمَعْنَ كُلُّهُنَّ فِي حُبِّ الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ وَ الْعُلَمَاءُ بَع

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was asked, ‘Which deed is more excellent before Allah?’ The Imam said, ‘No deed, after knowing Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and knowing the Messenger of Allah, is more excellent than hating the world. It has many branches, and the sins have branches also. The first sin committed wa

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا الَّذِي يُثْبِتُ الْإِيمَانَ فِي الْعَبْدِ قَالَ الْوَرَعُ وَ الَّذِي يُخْرِجُهُ مِنْهُ قَالَ الطَّمَعُ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘What (deed) establishes belief firmly in a servant (of Allah)?’ The Imam said, ‘It is restraint from the worldly attractions (sins).’ I then asked, ‘What (kind of thing) removes belief from a person?’ The Imam said, ‘It is greed.’”

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ أَبَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِصَاحِبِ الْخُلُقِ السَّيِّئِ بِالتَّوْبَةِ قِيلَ وَ كَيْفَ ذَاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ لِأَنَّهُ إِذَا تَابَ مِنْ ذَنْبٍ وَقَعَ فِي ذَنْبٍ أَعْظَمَ مِنْهُ.

“The Holy Prophet has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, refuses to accept the repentance of a person of bad conduct.’ It was asked, ‘Why is it so, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘It is because when he repents from a sin he falls into a greater sin.’”

الْبَادِي مِنْهُمَا أَظْلَمُ وَ وِزْرُهُ وَ وِزْرُ صَاحِبِهِ عَلَيْهِ مَا لَمْ يَتَعَدَّ الْمَظْلُومُ‌[5].

“Two people were abusing each other and the Imam said, ‘The initiator is more unjust. His own sins and the sins of his companion are on him as long as the oppressed one does not transgress.’”

كَانَ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع صَدِيقٌ لَا يَكَادُ يُفَارِقُهُ إِذَا ذَهَبَ مَكَاناً فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ يَمْشِي مَعَهُ فِي الْحَذَّاءِينَ‌[2] وَ مَعَهُ غُلَامٌ لَهُ سِنْدِيٌّ يَمْشِي خَلْفَهُمَا إِذَا الْتَفَتَ الرَّجُلُ يُرِيدُ غُلَامَهُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَلَمْ يَرَهُ فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ قَالَ يَا ابْنَ الْفَاعِلَةِ أَيْنَ كُنْتَ قَالَ فَرَفَعَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَدَهُ فَصَكَّ بِهَا جَبْهَةَ نَفْسِهِ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) had a friend who almost all the time accompanied him whenever he went somewhere. Once he was walking with the Imam in the shoemaker’s place and his (man’s) slave from Sind was walking behind them. The man looked to find where his slave was. He could not see him. He tried three times and could not

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ أَعْجَلَ الشَّرِّ عُقُوبَةً الْبَغْيُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The evil most quickly facing punishment is tyrannical transgression.’”

يَقُولُ إِبْلِيسُ لِجُنُودِهِ أَلْقُوا بَيْنَهُمُ الْحَسَدَ وَ الْبَغْيَ فَإِنَّهُمَا يَعْدِلَانِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الشِّرْكَ‌[2].

“Satan says to his soldiers, ‘Throw unto them envy and tyrannical transgression; in the sight of Allah these two are equal to considering things as partners of Allah.’”

أَنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ فِي كِتَابٍ انْظُرْ أَنْ لَا تَكَلَّمَنَّ بِكَلِمَةِ بَغْيٍ أَبَداً وَ إِنْ أَعْجَبَتْكَ نَفْسَكَ وَ عَشِيرَتَكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once wrote a letter to me in which he had said, ‘Keep in mind not to ever speak a tyrannical and transgressing word even though your own soul and tribe are more captivating to you.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ الْبَغْيَ يَقُودُ أَصْحَابَهُ إِلَى النَّارِ وَ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ بَغَى عَلَى اللَّهِ عَنَاقُ بِنْتُ آدَمَ فَأَوَّلُ قَتِيلٍ قَتَلَهُ اللَّهُ عَنَاقُ وَ كَانَ مَجْلِسُهَا جَرِيباً فِي جَرِيبٍ‌[1] وَ كَانَ لَهَا عِشْرُونَ إِصْبَعاً فِي كُلِّ إِصْبَعٍ ظُفُرَانِ مِثْلُ الْمِنْجَلَيْنِ‌[2] فَسَلَّطَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا أَسَداً كَالْفِيلِ وَ ذِئْباً كَالْبَعِيرِ وَ نَ

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘O people, tyrannical transgression leads its associates to the fire. The first person who committed it against Allah was ‘Unaq, daughter of Adam, the first one that Allah killed was ‘Unaq who, when sitting occupied one acre. She had twenty fingers each of which had

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ أَصْبَحَ لَا يَنْوِي ظُلْمَ أَحَدٍ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مَا أَذْنَبَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ مَا لَمْ يَسْفِكْ دَماً أَوْ يَأْكُلْ مَالَ يَتِيمٍ حَرَاماً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever rises in the morning without any intention of doing injustice to anyone, Allah forgives his sins that day unless it is a murder or consuming the property of the orphans unjustly.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ أَصْبَحَ لَا يَهُمُّ بِظُلْمِ أَحَدٍ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ مَا اجْتَرَمَ.

“The messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever rises in the morning without any intention of doing injustice to anyone, Allah forgives his sins.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ أَصْبَحَ وَ هُوَ لَا يَهُمُّ بِظُلْمِ أَحَدٍ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مَا اجْتَرَمَ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever rises in the morning and has no intention to do injustice to anyone Allah forgives his sins.”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ وَ هُوَ يَخْطُبُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ بِالْكُوفَةِ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ لَوْ لَا كَرَاهِيَةُ الْغَدْرِ كُنْتُ مِنْ أَدْهَى النَّاسِ أَلَا إِنَّ لِكُلِّ غُدَرَةٍ فُجَرَةً وَ لِكُلِّ فُجَرَةٍ كُفَرَةً[2] أَلَا وَ إِنَّ الْغَدْرَ وَ الْفُجُورَ وَ الْخِيَانَةَ فِي النَّارِ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) one day in his speech from the pulpit in al- Kufah said, ‘O people, were it not for my intense dislike of treachery I could have been the most clever among people. You must know that in every act of treachery there is a sin of disbelief. You must also know that treachery, sin

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ يَا أَبَا النُّعْمَانِ لَا تَكْذِبْ عَلَيْنَا كَذِبَةً فَتُسْلَبَ الْحَنِيفِيَّةَ وَ لَا تَطْلُبَنَّ أَنْ تَكُونَ رَأْساً فَتَكُونَ ذَنَباً وَ لَا تَسْتَأْكِلِ النَّاسَ بِنَا فَتَفْتَقِرَ فَإِنَّكَ مَوْقُوفٌ لَا مَحَالَةَ وَ مَسْئُولٌ فَإِنْ صَدَقْتَ صَدَّقْنَاكَ وَ إِنْ كَذَبْتَ كَذَّبْنَاكَ.

“Once abu Ja’far (a.s.) said to me, ‘O abu al-Nu’man, do not forge lies against us; it removes (your) true belief. Do not seek to be the head to become a sin and do not use people as means of your earning through us; it will make you poor. You will be held accountable and will be stopped for interrogations. If you spea

الْكَذِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ ص مِنَ الْكَبَائِرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Forgery against Allah and the Messenger of Allah is of the major sins.”’

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي خُطْبَتِهِ‌ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ الَّتِي تُعَجِّلُ الْفَنَاءَ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْكَوَّاءِ الْيَشْكُرِيُ‌[4] فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَ وَ تَكُونُ ذُنُوبٌ‌ تُعَجِّلُ الْفَنَاءَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ وَيْلَكَ قَطِيعَةُ الرَّحِمِ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ لَيَجْتَمِعُونَ وَ يَتَوَاسَوْنَ وَ هُمْ فَجَرَةٌ فَيَرْزُقُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْبَيْت

‘I seek refuge in Allah from sins that accelerate destruction.’ The narrator has said that at this point ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Kawwa’ al-Yashkuri stood up and asked, ‘O Amir al-Mu’minin, do sins hasten one’s destruction?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, it does. Woe upon you, it is failing to maintain good relations with relatives. A

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ فَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي بِرٍّ بَرٌّ حَتَّى يُقْتَلَ الرَّجُلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَإِذَا قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَلَيْسَ فَوْقَهُ بِرٌّ وَ إِنَّ فَوْقَ كُلِّ عُقُوقٍ عُقُوقاً حَتَّى يَقْتُلَ الرَّجُلُ أَحَدَ وَالِدَيْهِ فَإِذَا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَلَيْسَ فَوْقَهُ عُقُوقٌ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Over and above every virtuous deed there is a virtuous deed, up to a man’s accepting martyrdom and being killed for the cause of Allah. When he is killed for the cause of Allah, then there is no virtuous deed over and above it. Also, over and above every sin of causing suffering and d

مَنْ عَيَّرَ مُؤْمِناً بِذَنْبٍ لَمْ يَمُتْ حَتَّى يَرْكَبَهُ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever debases a believer for a sin will not die before he himself commits such a sin.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ سِبَابُ الْمُؤْمِنِ فُسُوقٌ‌[1] وَ قِتَالُهُ كُفْرٌ وَ أَكْلُ لَحْمِهِ مَعْصِيَةٌ وَ حُرْمَةُ مَالِهِ كَحُرْمَةِ دَمِهِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Reviling a believer is a gross sin, fighting him is disbelief, eating his flesh (backbiting) is disobedience and the illegality of consuming his property is like the illegality of spilling his blood (taking his life).”’

الْبَادِي مِنْهُمَا أَظْلَمُ وَ وِزْرُهُ وَ وِزْرُ صَاحِبِهِ عَلَيْهِ مَا لَمْ يَعْتَذِرْ إِلَى الْمَظْلُومِ.

“Abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) has said, ‘Of the two people reviling each other, the initiator is more unjust. He bears his own sin and the sin of his companion as long as he does not apologize to the oppressed.’”

مَنْ بَخِلَ بِمَعُونَةِ أَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ وَ الْقِيَامِ لَهُ فِي حَاجَتِهِ إِلَّا ابْتُلِيَ بِمَعُونَةِ مَنْ يَأْثَمُ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا يُؤْجَرُ[1].

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever exercises stinginess in assisting his Muslim brother and in helping him in his needs will run into an involvement of such an assistance that will make him sin and receive no rewards for it.’”

لَمْ يَدَعْ رَجُلٌ مَعُونَةَ أَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ حَتَّى يَسْعَى‌[4] فِيهَا وَ يُوَاسِيَهُ إِلَّا ابْتُلِيَ بِمَعُونَةِ مَنْ يَأْثَمُ وَ لَا يُؤْجَرُ.

“Whoever ignores assistance to his Muslim brother and the endeavor to cooperate with him will be involved in assisting someone who commits sins. It (assistance) does not bring him any rewards.”

وَ اللَّهِ مَا قَتَلُوهُمْ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ وَ لَا ضَرَبُوهُمْ بِأَسْيَافِهِمْ وَ لَكِنَّهُمْ سَمِعُوا أَحَادِيثَهُمْ فَأَذَاعُوهَا فَأُخِذُوا عَلَيْهَا فَقُتِلُوا فَصَارَ قَتْلًا وَ اعْتِدَاءً وَ مَعْصِيَةً.

“The Imam recited this verse: . . for they denied the evidence (of the existence of Allah) and murdered His Prophets without reason; they were disobedient transgressors.’ (2:61) The Imam said, ‘By Allah they did not murder them with their hands or swords but they would hear their Hadith and publicize them, causing them

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ طَلَبَ رِضَا النَّاسِ بِسَخَطِ اللَّهِ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ حَامِدَهُ مِنَ النَّاسِ ذَامّاً.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever seeks the pleasure of people to anger Allah, Allah will make the people who praise him vilify.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ طَلَبَ مَرْضَاةَ النَّاسِ بِمَا يُسْخِطُ اللَّهَ كَانَ حَامِدُهُ‌[5] مِنَ النَّاسِ ذَامّاً وَ مَنْ‌ آثَرَ طَاعَةَ اللَّهِ بِغَضَبِ النَّاسِ كَفَاهُ اللَّهُ عَدَاوَةَ كُلِّ عَدُوٍّ وَ حَسَدَ كُلِّ حَاسِدٍ وَ بَغْيَ كُلِّ بَاغٍ وَ كَانَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ نَاصِراً وَ ظَهِيراً.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever seeks the pleasure of people with that which angers Allah, the people praising will belittle him. Whoever gives preference to Allah’s obedience with that which angers people, Allah will suffice him against the animosity of every enemy, the envy of all enviers and the transgres

كَتَبَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى الْحُسَيْنِ ص عِظْنِي بِحَرْفَيْنِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ مَنْ حَاوَلَ أَمْراً بِمَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ كَانَ أَفْوَتَ لِمَا يَرْجُو وَ أَسْرَعَ لِمَجِي‌ءِ مَا يَحْذَرُ[1].

3. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Sharif ibn Sabiq from al-Fadl ibn Abu Qurrah from Abu Qurrah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once, a man wrote al-Husayn (a.s.) asking, ‘Instruct me with good advice in two letters.’ The Imam wrote back to him, ‘Whoever seeks to acqui

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ لَا دِينَ لِمَنْ دَانَ بِطَاعَةِ مَنْ عَصَى اللَّهَ وَ لَا دِينَ لِمَنْ دَانَ بِفِرْيَةِ بَاطِلٍ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ لَا دِينَ لِمَنْ دَانَ بِجُحُودِ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘There is no religion for one who pledges obedience to someone who disobeys God, nor for one who holds to a false claim about God, nor for one who denies any of the signs of God.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ أَرْضَى سُلْطَاناً بِسَخَطِ اللَّهِ خَرَجَ مِنْ دِينِ اللَّهِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever seeks the pleasure of a king by a means that anger Allah, has moved out of the religion of Allah.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَمْسٌ إِنْ أَدْرَكْتُمُوهُنَّ فَتَعَوَّذُوا بِاللَّهِ مِنْهُنَّ لَمْ تَظْهَرِ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي قَوْمٍ قَطُّ حَتَّى يُعْلِنُوهَا إِلَّا ظَهَرَ فِيهِمُ الطَّاعُونُ وَ الْأَوْجَاعُ الَّتِي لَمْ تَكُنْ فِي أَسْلَافِهِمُ الَّذِينَ مَضَوْا وَ لَمْ يَنْقُصُوا الْمِكْيَالَ وَ الْمِيزَانَ إِلَّا أُخِذُوا بِالسِّنِينَ‌[2] وَ شِدَّةِ الْمَئُونَةِ وَ جَوْرِ السُّلْطَانِ وَ لَمْ يَمْنَعُوا الزَّكَاةَ إِل

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "There are five things—if you encounter them, seek refuge with Allah (Mighty and Majestic) from them: No people ever manifest indecency (fāḥishah) publicly except that plague and illnesses not known to their forefathers will spread among them; They do not cheat in weights and measures

وَجَدْنَا فِي كِتَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا ظَهَرَ الزِّنَا مِنْ بَعْدِي كَثُرَ مَوْتُ الْفَجْأَةِ وَ إِذَا طُفِّفَ الْمِكْيَالُ وَ الْمِيزَانُ أَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِالسِّنِينَ وَ النَّقْصِ وَ إِذَا مَنَعُوا الزَّكَاةَ مَنَعَتِ الْأَرْضُ بَرَكَتَهَا مِنَ الزَّرْعِ وَ الثِّمَارِ وَ الْمَعَادِنِ كُلَّهَا وَ إِذَا جَارُوا فِي الْأَحْكَامِ تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الظُّلْمِ وَ الْعُدْوَانِ وَ إِذَا نَقَضُوا الْعَهْدَ سَلَّطَ ا

“We have found in the book of the Messenger of Allah the following: after my leaving this world when fornication will turn out to be apparent among people, sudden death will take place more frequently. When weighing and measurement will become light, people will face famine and shortages of livelihood. When they deny p

لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُؤْمِنِ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ مَجْلِساً يُعْصَى اللَّهُ فِيهِ وَ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى تَغْيِيرِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘It is not proper for a believer to attend a meeting wherein Allah is disobeyed and one is not able to change it.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا لِي رَأَيْتُكَ عِنْدَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ فَقَالَ- إِنَّهُ خَالِي فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ فِي اللَّهِ قَوْلًا عَظِيماً يَصِفُ اللَّهَ وَ لَا يُوصَفُ فَإِمَّا جَلَسْتَ مَعَهُ وَ تَرَكْتَنَا وَ إِمَّا جَلَسْتَ مَعَنَا وَ تَرَكْتَهُ فَقُلْتُ هُوَ يَقُولُ مَا شَاءَ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ عَلَيَّ مِنْهُ إِذَا لَمْ أَقُلْ مَا يَقُولُ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع أَ مَا تَخَافُ أَنْ

“I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.) saying, ‘Why is it that I find you with ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Ya’qub?’ I (the narrator) then said, ‘It is because he is my uncle from my mother’s side.’ The Imam said, ‘He says great heavy words about Allah. He describes Allah who is beyond description. You either sit with him and leave us or

لَا تَصْحَبُوا أَهْلَ الْبِدَعِ وَ لَا تُجَالِسُوهُمْ فَتَصِيرُوا عِنْدَ النَّاسِ كَوَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْمَرْءُ عَلَى دِينِ خَلِيلِهِ وَ قَرِينِهِ.

"Do not accompany the people of innovation, nor sit with them, lest you be considered by the people as one of them. The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: A person is upon the religion of their friend and companion."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ أَهْلَ الرَّيْبِ وَ الْبِدَعِ مِنْ بَعْدِي فَأَظْهِرُوا الْبَرَاءَةَ مِنْهُمْ وَ أَكْثِرُوا مِنْ سَبِّهِمْ وَ الْقَوْلَ فِيهِمْ وَ الْوَقِيعَةَ وَ بَاهِتُوهُمْ‌[2] كَيْلَا يَطْمَعُوا فِي الْفَسَادِ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ وَ يَحْذَرَهُمُ النَّاسُ وَ لَا يَتَعَلَّمُوا مِنْ بِدَعِهِمْ يَكْتُبِ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ بِذَلِكَ الْحَسَنَاتِ وَ يَرْفَعْ لَكُمْ بِهِ الدَّرَجَاتِ فِي الْآخِرَةِ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Dawud ibn Sarhan from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘When you after me find people of heresy and skepticism express your disapproval of them and increase your co

لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يُوَاخِيَ الْفَاجِرَ وَ لَا الْأَحْمَقَ وَ لَا الْكَذَّابَ.

“It is not proper for the Muslim to establish brotherhood with the open sinner, the fool or the liar.”

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص إِذَا صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ قَالَ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يَجْتَنِبَ مُوَاخَاةَ ثَلَاثَةٍ الْمَاجِنِ‌[1] وَ الْأَحْمَقِ وَ الْكَذَّابِ فَأَمَّا الْمَاجِنُ فَيُزَيِّنُ لَكَ فِعْلَهُ وَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِثْلَهُ وَ لَا يُعِينُكَ عَلَى أَمْرِ دِينِكَ وَ مَعَادِكَ وَ مُقَارَنَتُهُ جَفَاءٌ وَ قَسْوَةٌ وَ مَدْخَلُهُ وَ مَخْرَجُهُ عَلَيْكَ عَارٌ وَ أَمَّا الْأَحْمَقُ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُشِيرُ

6. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman from Muhammad ibn Salim al-Kendi from those who narrated to him from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) from the pulpit would say, ‘It is very proper for a Muslim not to establish b

قَالَ لِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ص‌ يَا بُنَيَّ انْظُرْ خَمْسَةً فَلَا تُصَاحِبْهُمْ وَ لَا تُحَادِثْهُمْ وَ لَا تُرَافِقْهُمْ فِي طَرِيقٍ‌[4] فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَهْ مَنْ هُمْ قَالَ إِيَّاكَ وَ مُصَاحَبَةَ الْكَذَّابِ فَإِنَّهُ بِمَنْزِلَةِ السَّرَابِ يُقَرِّبُ لَكَ الْبَعِيدَ وَ يُبَاعِدُ لَكَ الْقَرِيبَ وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ مُصَاحَبَةَ الْفَاسِقِ- فَإِنَّهُ بَائِعُكَ بِأُكْلَةٍ أَوْ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ مُصَ

“Once Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) said to me, ‘My son, beware of five kinds of people and do not associate with, speak to and accompany them on the road.’ I then asked, ‘Who are they O father?’ He then said, ‘You must not accompany a lying person; he is like a phantom. He tells you of what, in fact, is faraway to be very

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ قَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتابِ‌ أَنْ إِذا سَمِعْتُمْ‌ آياتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِها وَ يُسْتَهْزَأُ بِها إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَةِ[5] فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا عَنَى بِهَذَا إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ الرَّجُلَ الَّذِي يَجْحَدُ الْحَقَّ وَ يُكَذِّبُ بِهِ وَ يَقَعُ فِي الْأَئِمَّةِ فَقُمْ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ وَ لَا تُقَاعِدْهُ كَائِناً مَنْ كَانَ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Allah has told you (believers) in the Book that when you hear people disbelieving and mocking Allah’s revelations, do not sit with them unless they change the subject. You will become like them. Allah will gather all the hyp