Children & Parenting

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّهُ لَمَّا قُبِضَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص جَرَتْ فِيهِ ثَلَاثُ سُنَنٍ أَمَّا وَاحِدَةٌ فَإِنَّهُ لَمَّا مَاتَ انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ لِفَقْدِ ابْنِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَصَعِدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْمِنْبَرَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَ الْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ

"When Ibrāhīm, the son of the Messenger of Allah (sw), passed away, three traditions were enacted concerning him. One of them was that when he died, the sun was eclipsed, and the people said, 'The sun is eclipsed due to the loss of the son of the Messenger of Allah.' So, the Messenger of Allah (sw) ascended the pulpit,

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ يُكَلِّمُونَا وَ يَرُدُّونَ عَلَيْنَا قَوْلَنَا إِنَّهُ لَا يُصَلَّى عَلَى الطِّفْلِ لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يُصَلِّ فَيَقُولُونَ لَا يُصَلَّى إِلَّا عَلَى مَنْ صَلَّى فَنَقُولُ نَعَمْ فَيَقُولُونَ أَ رَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا نَصْرَانِيّاً أَوْ يَهُودِيّاً أَسْلَمَ ثُمَّ مَاتَ مِنْ سَاعَتِهِ فَمَا الْجَوَابُ فِيهِ فَقَالَ قُولُوا لَهُمْ أَ رَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ هَذَا الَّذِي أ

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that people speak against us and do not accept our words, ‘there is no Salah (prayer) for a deceased child’; he has not performed any Salah (prayer). They say, ‘You say that there is no Salah (prayer) for those who have not performed any Salah (prayer).’ We say, ‘Yes that is true.

لَمَّا قُتِلَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع أَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فَاطِمَةَ ع أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ طَعَاماً- لِأَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ عُمَيْسٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَ تَأْتِيَهَا وَ نِسَاءَهَا فَتُقِيمَ عِنْدَهَا ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَجَرَتْ بِذَلِكَ السُّنَّةُ أَنْ يُصْنَعَ لِأَهْلِ الْمُصِيبَةِ طَعَامٌ ثَلَاثاً.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when Ja‘far ibn abu Talib was martyred, the Messenger of Allah instructed Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, to prepare food for Asma’ bint ‘Umays for three days and visit her with a group of her women everyday for three days. This formed the tradition to prepare food for the people of the

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ امْرَأَتِي وَ امْرَأَةَ ابْنِ مَارِدٍ تَخْرُجَانِ فِي الْمَأْتَمِ فَأَنْهَاهُمَا فَتَقُولُ لِيَ امْرَأَتِي إِنْ كَانَ حَرَاماً فَانْهَنَا عَنْهُ حَتَّى نَتْرُكَهُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ حَرَاماً فَلِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ تَمْنَعُنَاهُ فَإِذَا مَاتَ لَنَا مَيِّتٌ لَمْ يَجِئْنَا أَحَدٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع عَنِ الْحُقُوقِ تَسْأَلُنِي كَانَ أَبِي ع يَبْعَثُ أُمِّي وَ أُمَّ فَرْوَةَ تَقْض

“Once I said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘My wife and the wife of ibn Marid went to join a memorial service, and I tried to stop them but my wife said, “If it is unlawful then stop us so we desist, but if it is not unlawful then why should you stop us? If one of us will die no one will come to us.”’ Abu al-Hassan (a.s.),

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ مُرُوا أَهَالِيَكُمْ بِالْقَوْلِ‌ الْحَسَنِ عِنْدَ مَوْتَاكُمْ فَإِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ س لَمَّا قُبِضَ أَبُوهَا ص أَسْعَدَتْهَا بَنَاتُ هَاشِمٍ فَقَالَتِ اتْرُكْنَ التَّعْدَادَ وَ عَلَيْكُنَّ بِالدُّعَاءِ[1].

6. Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Kufiy has narrated from ibn Jumhur from his father from Muhammad ibn Sinan from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following: “He has also said that al-Asamm has narrated to us from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who has said the following: ‘’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.

وَلَدٌ يُقَدِّمُهُ الرَّجُلُ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ وَلَداً يُخَلِّفُهُمْ بَعْدَهُ كُلُّهُمْ قَدْ رَكِبُوا الْخَيْلَ وَ جَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a son whom one sends (to the next life) is better than seventy sons who survive after one’s death, who have mounted their horses and are ready to march for the cause of Allah.”

دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَلَى خَدِيجَةَ حِينَ مَاتَ الْقَاسِمُ ابْنُهَا وَ هِيَ تَبْكِي فَقَالَ لَهَا مَا يُبْكِيكِ فَقَالَتْ دَرَّتْ دُرَيْرَةٌ فَبَكَيْتُ‌[2] فَقَالَ يَا خَدِيجَةُ أَ مَا تَرْضَيْنَ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ أَنْ تَجِي‌ءَ إِلَى بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ هُوَ قَائِمٌ فَيَأْخُذَ بِيَدِكِ فَيُدْخِلَكِ الْجَنَّةَ وَ يُنْزِلَكِ أَفْضَلَهَا وَ ذَلِكِ لِكُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَحْكَمُ

"The Messenger of Allah (sw) entered upon Khadījah when her son Qāsim had died, and she was weeping. He asked her, 'What makes you weep?' She replied, 'My milk flowed, and so I wept.' He said, 'O Khadījah, would you not be pleased if on the Day of Resurrection, you come to the gate of Paradise and Qāsim is standing the

كَتَبَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع يَشْكُو إِلَيْهِ مُصَابَهُ بِوَلَدِهِ وَ شِدَّةَ مَا دَخَلَهُ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَخْتَارُ مِنْ مَالِ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ أَنْفَسَهُ لِيَأْجُرَهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ.

“A man once wrote to abu Ja‘far, the second (a.s.), complaining due to his suffering from the death of his sons and the intensity of his grief. The Imam wrote to him, ‘Do you know that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, chooses from the property and sons of the believing people the most valuable items so He w

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا قُبِضَ وَلَدُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ‌[3] بِمَا قَالَ الْعَبْدُ قَالَ‌ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لِمَلَائِكَتِهِ قَبَضْتُمْ وَلَدَ فُلَانٍ فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ رَبَّنَا قَالَ فَيَقُولُ فَمَا قَالَ عَبْدِي قَالُوا حَمِدَكَ وَ اسْتَرْجَعَ‌[1] فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَخَذْتُمْ ثَمَرَةَ قَلْبِهِ وَ قُرَّةَ عَيْنِهِ فَحَمِدَنِي وَ اسْتَرْجَعَ ابْنُوا لَهُ بَيْتاً

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘When a son of a believing person dies - Allah knows what the servant (of Allah) may say - Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, says to His angels, “Have you taken the soul of the son of My servant out of his body?” They reply, “Yes, O Lord, we have

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا أَحَبَّ عَبْداً قَبَضَ أَحَبَّ وُلْدِهِ إِلَيْهِ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, loves a servant, He takes away the soul of his most beloved son to Himself.’”

مَنْ قَدَّمَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَلَدَيْنِ يَحْتَسِبُهُمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حَجَبَاهُ مِنَ النَّارِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if two sons of any Muslim die and he considers it a decision of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, as such and obediently agrees, they (his sons) will protect him against fire by the permission of Allah, most High.”

لَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ طَاهِرُ ابْنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ خَدِيجَةَ عَنِ الْبُكَاءِ فَقَالَتْ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ لَكِنْ دَرَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الدُّرَيْرَةُ فَبَكَيْتُ فَقَالَ أَ مَا تَرْضَيْنَ أَنْ تَجِدِيهِ قَائِماً عَلَى بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ فَإِذَا رَآكِ أَخَذَ بِيَدِكِ فَأَدْخَلَكِ الْجَنَّةَ أَطْهَرَهَا مَكَاناً وَ أَطْيَبَهَا قَالَتْ وَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ كَذَلِكَ قَالَ اللَّهُ أَعَزُّ وَ أَكْرَمُ مِنْ

‘When Tahir son of the Messenger of Allah passed away, the Messenger of Allah forbade Khadijah from weeping. She said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah, I agree, but I noticed that my milk flowed out; thus I wept.’ He then said, ‘Would you not agree if you find him standing near the door of paradise and on seeing you, hold y

ثَوَابُ الْمُؤْمِنِ مِنْ وَلَدِهِ إِذَا مَاتَ‌ الْجَنَّةُ صَبَرَ أَوْ لَمْ يَصْبِرْ[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the reward for a believing person for the death of his sons is paradise, whether he exercise patience or not.”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَيَعْجَبُ مِنَ الرَّجُلِ يَمُوتُ وَلَدُهُ وَ هُوَ يَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ فَيَقُولُ يَا مَلَائِكَتِي عَبْدِي أَخَذْتُ نَفْسَهُ وَ هُوَ يَحْمَدُنِي.

“My angels, look to My servant. I took away his soul but he praises and thanks Me.’””

مَنْ قَدَّمَ أَوْلَاداً يَحْتَسِبُهُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حَجَبُوهُ مِنَ النَّارِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever considers the death of his sons as his savings with Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, they will protect him against fire by the permission of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious.”

قَالَ: إِنْ أُصِبْتَ بِمُصِيبَةٍ فِي نَفْسِكَ أَوْ فِي مَالِكَ أَوْ فِي وُلْدِكَ فَاذْكُرْ مُصَابَكَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَإِنَّ الْخَلَائِقَ لَمْ يُصَابُوا بِمِثْلِهِ قَطُّ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If you suffer sorrow and grief about yourself, your property or children, then remind yourself of the sorrow and grief you have suffered due to the death of the Messenger of Allah; creatures have never suffered any grief as this (death of the Messenger of Allah).”’

أَتَيْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَعُودُ ابْناً لَهُ فَوَجَدْتُهُ عَلَى الْبَابِ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُهْتَمٌّ حَزِينٌ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ الصَّبِيُّ فَقَالَ وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لِمَا بِهِ‌[3] ثُمَّ دَخَلَ فَمَكَثَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا وَ قَدْ أَسْفَرَ وَجْهُهُ‌[4] وَ ذَهَبَ التَّغَيُّرُ وَ الْحُزْنُ قَالَ فَطَمِعْتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ صَلَحَ الصَّبِيُّ فَقُلْتُ كَيْفَ الصَّبِيُّ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ

“Once I visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), to also visit his son who was ill. I met him at the door and he was sorrowful and depressed. I asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service of your cause, how is your child?’ He replied, ‘By Allah, he is about to die.’ He then went inside the house and after a while came back to us,

كُنْتُ جَالِساً عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَصَرَخَتْ صَارِخَةٌ مِنَ الدَّارِ فَقَامَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ثُمَّ جَلَسَ فَاسْتَرْجَعَ وَ عَادَ فِي حَدِيثِهِ حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّا لَنُحِبُّ أَنْ نُعَافَى فِي أَنْفُسِنَا وَ أَوْلَادِنَا وَ أَمْوَالِنَا فَإِذَا وَقَعَ الْقَضَاءُ فَلَيْسَ لَنَا أَنْ نُحِبَّ مَا لَمْ يُحِبَّ اللَّهُ لَنَا.

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Al-Husayn ibn al-Mukhtar from ‘Ala’ ibn Kamil who has said the following: “Once, I was sitting with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when someone inside the house began to cry loudly. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), stood up and then sat down saying, ‘To Allah we

كَانَ قَوْمٌ أَتَوْا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع فَوَافَقُوا صَبِيّاً لَهُ مَرِيضاً فَرَأَوْا مِنْهُ اهْتِمَاماً وَ غَمّاً وَ جَعَلَ لَا يَقِرُّ[1] قَالَ فَقَالُوا وَ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ أَصَابَهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ إِنَّا لَنَتَخَوَّفُ أَنْ نَرَى مِنْهُ مَا نَكْرَهُ قَالَ فَمَا لَبِثُوا أَنْ سَمِعُوا الصِّيَاحَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ قَدْ خَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمْ مُنْبَسِطَ الْوَجْهِ فِي غَيْرِ الْحَالِ الَّتِي كَانَ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالُوا لَهُ جَعَلَنَ

“Once a group of people came to visit abu Ja’far (a.s.), to find out how one of his children suffering from illness was doing. They found him deeply concerned, grieved and restless. The narrator has said that they said, ‘By Allah, if something happens to him (the child), we are afraid we will see something from him (th

كَانَ فِيمَا نَاجَى بِهِ مُوسَى ع رَبَّهُ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَا لِمَنْ عَزَّى الثَّكْلَى قَالَ أُظِلُّهُ فِي ظِلِّي يَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلِّي‌[2].

‘One of the matters that Moses privately said to his Lord was this, “O Lord, what is the reward for one who offers condolences to one who has suffered from the death of one’s son?” The Lord replied, “I will extend My shadow (protection) on him on the (extremely hot) day when there will be no shadows except My shadow.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَنْ عَزَّى الثَّكْلَى أَظَلَّهُ اللَّهُ فِي ظِلِّ عَرْشِهِ يَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلُّهُ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever offers condolences to a sorrowful person due to the death of his son, Allah will provide him shadow (protection) from His throne on the Day when there will be no shadow except His shadow.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ عَزَّى مُصَاباً كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْتَقِصَ مِنْ أَجْرِ الْمُصَابِ شَيْ‌ءٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever offers condolences to a person who is suffering sorrow and grief due to the death of his son, will receive a reward equal to that for the affected party without any reduction in the reward for the later mentioned.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ إِنَّ ابْنَ آدَمَ إِذَا كَانَ فِي آخِرِ يَوْمٍ مِنْ أَيَّامِ الدُّنْيَا وَ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ مِنْ أَيَّامِ الْآخِرَةِ مُثِّلَ لَهُ مَالُهُ وَ وَلَدُهُ وَ عَمَلُهُ فَيَلْتَفِتُ إِلَى مَالِهِ فَيَقُولُ وَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ عَلَيْكَ حَرِيصاً شَحِيحاً[1] فَمَا لِي عِنْدَكَ فَيَقُولُ خُذْ مِنِّي كَفَنَكَ قَالَ فَيَلْتَفِتُ إِلَى وَلَدِهِ فَيَقُولُ وَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ لَكُمْ مُحِبّاً و

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘When a child of Adam finds himself in the first day of his next life and the last day of his worldly life, his property, children and deeds are pictured before him. He then turns to his property and says, “By Allah, I was very greedy and stingy about you. In what ways can you help m

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا حُمِلَ عَدُوُّ اللَّهِ إِلَى قَبْرِهِ نَادَى حَمَلَتَهُ أَ لَا تَسْمَعُونَ يَا إِخْوَتَاهْ أَنِّي أَشْكُو إِلَيْكُمْ مَا وَقَعَ فِيهِ أَخُوكُمُ الشَّقِيُّ أَنَّ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ خَدَعَنِي‌[2] فَأَوْرَدَنِي ثُمَّ لَمْ يُصْدِرْنِي وَ أَقْسَمَ لِي أَنَّهُ نَاصِحٌ لِي فَغَشَّنِي وَ أَشْكُو إِلَيْكُمْ دُنْيَا غَرَّتْنِي حَتَّى إِذَا اطْمَأْنَنْتُ إِلَيْهَا صَرَعَتْنِي وَ أَشْكُو إِلَيْكُمْ أَ

“The Messenger of Allah has said that when an enemy of Allah is taken to his grave, he keeps saying to those who carry his coffin, ‘Why do you not listen to me, O my brethren, I complain before you about what has happened to me, one of your wicked brethren. The enemy of Allah (Satan) deceived me. He placed me in troubl

وَ كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يَبْكِي إِذَا ذَكَرَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ.

“He continues pleading (and crying) until he is placed in his grave. When he is placed in his grave, his spirit is then returned to his body and the two angels come to his grave and examine him.” “The narrator has that abu Ja‘far (a.s.), would weep whenever this Hadith was mentioned.”

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ مَا نَدْرِي كَيْفَ نَصْنَعُ بِالنَّاسِ إِنْ حَدَّثْنَاهُمْ بِمَا سَمِعْنَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص ضَحِكُوا وَ إِنْ سَكَتْنَا لَمْ يَسَعْنَا قَالَ فَقَالَ ضَمْرَةُ بْنُ مَعْبَدٍ[3] حَدِّثْنَا فَقَالَ هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا يَقُولُ عَدُوُّ اللَّهِ إِذَا حُمِلَ عَلَى سَرِيرِهِ قَالَ فَقُلْنَا لَا قَالَ فَإِنَّهُ يَقُولُ لِحَمَلَتِهِ أَ لَا تَسْمَعُونَ أَنِّي أَشْكُو إِلَيْكُمْ عَدُوَّ اللَّ

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ‘We do not know how to deal with people. If we tell them that we have heard (such and such Hadith) from the Messenger of Allah, they laugh, and to remain silent (to neglect our mission) is not possible for us.’ The narrator has said that Damrah ibn Ma‘bad then said, ‘You then should

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ مَنِ الْمَسْئُولُونَ فِي قُبُورِهِمْ قَالَ مَنْ مَحَضَ الْإِيمَانَ وَ مَنْ مَحَضَ الْكُفْرَ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَبَقِيَّةُ هَذَا الْخَلْقِ قَالَ يُلْهَى وَ اللَّهِ عَنْهُمْ مَا يُعْبَأُ بِهِمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ عَمَّ يُسْأَلُونَ قَالَ عَنِ الْحُجَّةِ الْقَائِمَةِ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِكُمْ فَيُقَالُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ مَا تَقُولُ فِي فُلَانِ بْنِ فُلَانٍ فَيَقُولُ ذَاكَ إِمَامِي فَيُقَالُ نَمْ

“I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), ’May Allah grant you well being, who are interrogated in the grave?’ The Imam replied, ‘The only ones interrogated in the grave are those whose belief or disbelief is absolute and total.’ The narrator has said that I then asked, ‘What about the rest of these creatures?’ The Imam replied, ‘Th

لَمَّا مَاتَتْ رُقَيَّةُ ابْنَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْحَقِي بِسَلَفِنَا الصَّالِحِ- عُثْمَانَ بْنِ مَظْعُونٍ وَ أَصْحَابِهِ قَالَ وَ فَاطِمَةُ ع عَلَى شَفِيرِ الْقَبْرِ تَنْحَدِرُ دُمُوعُهَا فِي الْقَبْرِ وَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَتَلَقَّاهُ بِثَوْبِهِ‌[2] قَائِماً يَدْعُو قَالَ إِنِّي لَأَعْرِفُ ضَعْفَهَا وَ سَأَلْتُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يُجِيرَهَا مِنْ ضَمَّةِ الْقَبْرِ.

“When Ruqayyah, daughter of the Messenger of Allah passed away, the Messenger of Allah said, ’You now join the people of good deeds of our predecessors like ’Uthman ibn Madh'un and his friends.’ The Imam said, "Fatimah (AS) stood on the edge of the grave with her tears falling into the grave, and the Messenger of Allah

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع أَنَّ النَّاسَ يَذْكُرُونَ أَنَّ فُرَاتَنَا يَخْرُجُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَكَيْفَ هُوَ وَ هُوَ يُقْبِلُ مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَ تُصَبُّ فِيهِ الْعُيُونُ وَ الْأَوْدِيَةُ قَالَ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ أَنَا أَسْمَعُ- إِنَّ لِلَّهِ جَنَّةً خَلَقَهَا اللَّهُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ وَ مَاءَ فُرَاتِكُمْ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَ إِلَيْهَا تَخْرُجُ أَرْوَاحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ حُفَرِهِمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسَاءٍ فَتَ

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad as well as Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father, all from ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Ri’ab from Durays al-Kunasiy who has said the following: “I said to abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘People say that our Euphrates gushes forth from

سَأَلْتُهُ هَلْ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنِ الْأَطْفَالِ فَقَالَ قَدْ سُئِلَ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا زُرَارَةُ هَلْ تَدْرِي قَوْلَهُ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ لِلَّهِ فِيهِمُ الْمَشِيئَةُ إِنَّهُ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْأَطْفَالَ وَ الَّذِي مَاتَ مِنَ النَّاسِ فِي الْفَتْرَةِ[1] وَ الشَّيْخَ الْكَبِير

“I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), ’Had the Messenger of Allah been asked about children?’ He said, ‘Indeed he was asked and he said, “Allah knows better about their deeds.’” The Imam then said, ‘O Zurarah, do you know His words, “Allah knows better of what they had been doing?”’ I replied, ‘I do not know.’ The Imam said, ‘Al

إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ جَمَعَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَ أَجَّجَ لَهُمْ نَاراً وَ أَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَطْرَحُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ فِيهَا فَمَنْ كَانَ فِي عِلْمِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنَّهُ سَعِيدٌ رَمَى بِنَفْسِهِ فِيهَا وَ كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ بَرْداً وَ سَلَاماً وَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي عِلْمِهِ أَنَّهُ شَقِيٌّ امْتَنَعَ فَيَأْمُرُ اللَّهُ بِهِمْ إِلَى النَّارِ فَيَقُولُونَ يَا رَبَّنَا تَأْمُرُ بِنَا إِلَى النَّارِ وَ لَمْ تُجْرِ عَ

“He (the Holy Prophet) was asked about the children and he replied, ‘On the Day of Judgment Allah will bring all of them together, light up for them a fire and command them to throw themselves in it. Those of them who are fortunate in the knowledge of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, throw themselves in the

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الْوِلْدَانِ فَقَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنِ الْوِلْدَانِ وَ الْأَطْفَالِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ.

‘The Messenger of Allah was asked about the children and infants, and he replied, “Allah knows best about what they had been doing.’””

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا تَقُولُ فِي الْأَطْفَالِ الَّذِينَ مَاتُوا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَبْلُغُوا فَقَالَ سُئِلَ عَنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيَّ فَقَالَ يَا زُرَارَةُ هَلْ تَدْرِي مَا عَنَى بِذَلِكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ قُلْتُ لَا فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا عَنَى كُفُّوا عَنْهُمْ وَ لَا تَقُولُوا فِيهِمْ شَيْئاً وَ رُدُّوا عِلْمَهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ.

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about children who die before maturity and he replied, ‘The Messenger of Allah was asked about them and he said, “Allah knows best about what they may do.’” Then he turned to me and said, ‘O Zurarah, do you know what the Messenger of Allah meant thereby?’ I said, ‘No, I do not know.’ He

فَقَالَ قَصَرَتِ الْأَبْنَاءُ عَنْ عَمَلِ الْآبَاءِ فَأَلْحَقُوا الْأَبْنَاءَ بِالْآبَاءِ لِتَقَرَّ بِذَلِكَ أَعْيُنُهُمْ.

‘The children even though may have had shortcomings in their deeds, they will be joined with their parents to grant delightfulness to the eyes of the parents.’”

يَحْتَجُّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ يَرْفَعُ لَهُمْ نَاراً فَيَقُولُ لَهُمْ ادْخُلُوهَا فَمَنْ دَخَلَهَا كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ بَرْداً وَ سَلَاماً وَ مَنْ أَبَى قَالَ هَا أَنْتُمْ قَدْ أَمَرْتُكُمْ فَعَصَيْتُمُونِي.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah was asked about those who die in the interval (between the passing away of one prophet and coming of the other), those who have not committed sins, and people with severe mental conditions. He replied, ‘Allah argues against them by lighting up a fire and tell

ثَلَاثَةٌ يُحْتَجُّ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَبْكَمُ وَ الطِّفْلُ وَ مَنْ مَاتَ فِي الْفَتْرَةِ فَتُرْفَعُ لَهُمْ نَارٌ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ ادْخُلُوهَا فَمَنْ دَخَلَهَا كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ بَرْداً وَ سَلَاماً وَ مَنْ أَبَى قَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى هَذَا قَدْ أَمَرْتُكُمْ فَعَصَيْتُمُونِي.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘An argument will be made against three kinds of people: dumb people, children, and those who have died in the interval between the passing away and coming of a prophet. A fire will be brought before them and they will be commanded to go in it. Those who go in the fire, it will turn co

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَجْداً وَجَدْتُهُ‌[1] عَلَى ابْنٍ لِي هَلَكَ حَتَّى خِفْتُ عَلَى عَقْلِي فَقَالَ إِذَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ هَذَا شَيْ‌ءٌ فَأَفِضْ مِنْ دُمُوعِكَ فَإِنَّهُ يَسْكُنُ عَنْكَ.

“I complained before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about feeling extremely sad for the death of my son and I feared for my sanity. He said, ‘When something like this happens, allow your tears to flow; it gives you relief.’”

لَمَّا مَاتَ ذَرُّ بْنُ أَبِي ذَرٍّ مَسَحَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ الْقَبْرَ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ يَا ذَرُّ وَ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتَ بِي بَارّاً وَ لَقَدْ قُبِضْتَ وَ إِنِّي عَنْكَ لَرَاضٍ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا بِي فَقْدُكَ وَ مَا عَلَيَّ مِنْ غَضَاضَةٍ[3] وَ مَا لِي إِلَى أَحَدٍ سِوَى اللَّهِ مِنْ حَاجَةٍ وَ لَوْ لَا هَوْلُ الْمُطَّلَعِ‌[4] لَسَرَّنِي أَنْ أَكُونَ مَكَانَكَ وَ لَقَدْ شَغَلَنِي الْحُزْنُ لَكَ عَنِ

“When Dharr, son of abu Dharr passed away, abu Dharr wiped his grave with his hand and said, ‘May Allah grant you mercy, O Dharr, by Allah, you were kind to me and I am satisfied with you. By Allah, I am not disappointed due to your death and I do not need anyone beside Allah. Had it not been for fear from the next lif

سَأَلَ عِيسَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَنَا حَاضِرٌ فَقَالَ تَخْرُجُ النِّسَاءُ إِلَى الْجَنَازَةِ وَ كَانَ ع مُتَّكِئاً فَاسْتَوَى جَالِساً ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الْفَاسِقَ عَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ آوَى عَمَّهُ الْمُغِيرَةَ بْنَ أَبِي الْعَاصِ وَ كَانَ مِمَّنْ هَدَرَ[1] رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص دَمَهُ فَقَالَ لِابْنَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لَا تُخْبِرِي أَبَاكِ بِمَكَانِهِ كَأَنَّهُ لَا يُوقِنُ أَنَّ الْوَح

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ عَلَى قَبْرِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ابْنِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص عَذْقٌ يُظِلُّهُ مِنَ الشَّمْسِ‌[3] يَدُورُ حَيْثُ دَارَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَلَمَّا يَبِسَ الْعَذْقُ دَرَسَ الْقَبْرُ فَلَمْ يُعْلَمْ مَكَانُهُ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘On the gravesite of Ibrahim, son of the Messenger of Allah, there was a palm tree that provided shadow and it would turn as the sun moved to provide shadow for the site but when it dried up, the gravesite became old and indistinguishable.’”

مُنَادٍ يُنَادِي فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ ابْنَ آدَمَ لِدْ لِلْمَوْتِ وَ اجْمَعْ لِلْفَنَاءِ وَ ابْنِ لِلْخَرَابِ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘A caller announces the following every day: ‘Children of Adam, give birth for death, accumulate wealth for annihilation and build for destruction.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ يَعْلَمُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ بِقَبْضِ مَنْ يَقْبِضُ قَالَ لَا إِنَّمَا هِيَ صِكَاكٌ‌[4] تَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ اقْبِضْ نَفْسَ فُلَانِ بْنِ فُلَانٍ.

“I said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, does the angel of death know whose soul he has to remove from his body?’ He said, ‘No, he does not know. It is the ascribes who come down from the heavens and say, “Remove the soul of so and so, son of so and so.’””

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى‌ وَ قِيلَ مَنْ راقٍ‌ وَ ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ الْفِراقُ‌ قَالَ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ ابْنُ آدَمَ إِذَا حَلَّ بِهِ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ هَلْ مِنْ طَبِيبٍ إِنَّهُ الْفِرَاقُ أَيْقَنَ بِمُفَارَقَةِ الْأَحِبَّةِ قَالَ‌ وَ الْتَفَّتِ السَّاقُ بِالسَّاقِ‌ الْتَفَّتِ الدُّنْيَا بِالْآخِرَةِ ثُمَ‌ إِلى‌ رَبِّكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْمَساقُ‌[1] قَالَ الْمَصِيرُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

“I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, ‘And it is said, “Who is able to provide curing charm?”’ (75:28-30) The Imam said, ‘That is a son of Adam who on facing death says, “Is there a physician?” “And he finds it to be the departing,” means that he becomes certain about depar

إِنَّ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ جَاءَ إِلَى قَبْرِ يَحْيَى بْنِ زَكَرِيَّا ع وَ كَانَ سَأَلَ رَبَّهُ أَنْ يُحْيِيَهُ لَهُ فَدَعَاهُ فَأَجَابَهُ وَ خَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْقَبْرِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا تُرِيدُ مِنِّي فَقَالَ لَهُ أُرِيدُ أَنْ تُؤْنِسَنِي كَمَا كُنْتَ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا عِيسَى مَا سَكَنَتْ عَنِّي حَرَارَةُ الْمَوْتِ‌[5] وَ أَنْتَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُعِيدَنِي إِلَى الدُّنْيَا وَ تَعُودَ عَلَيَّ حَرَارَةُ

“Jesus, son of Mary, went to the gravesite of John, son of Zachariah, and he had asked the Lord to bring him back to life for him. He called him and he replied, came out of his grave and asked, ‘What do you want from me?’ He replied, ‘I want you to comfort me as you did before your death.’ He said, ‘O Jesus, the heat o

إِنَّ فِتْيَةً مِنْ أَوْلَادِ مُلُوكِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانُوا مُتَعَبِّدِينَ وَ كَانَتِ الْعِبَادَةُ فِي أَوْلَادِ مُلُوكِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَ إِنَّهُمْ خَرَجُوا يَسِيرُونَ فِي الْبِلَادِ لِيَعْتَبِرُوا فَمَرُّوا بِقَبْرٍ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الطَّرِيقِ قَدْ سَفَى عَلَيْهِ السَّافِي‌[1] لَيْسَ يُبَيَّنُ مِنْهُ إِلَّا رَسْمُهُ فَقَالُوا لَوْ دَعَوْنَا اللَّهَ السَّاعَةَ فَيَنْشُرَ لَنَا صَاحِبَ هَذَا الْقَبْرِ فَسَاءَلْن

‘Certain youth from the children of Israelite kings were devoted worshippers. Worshipping was a practice among the children of the Israelite kings. These youth decided to travel around in the land. They passed by a gravesite above the road. Winds had almost wiped out its marks. They said to each other, “We should pray

سَمِعَ النَّبِيُّ ص امْرَأَةً حِينَ مَاتَ- عُثْمَانُ بْنُ مَظْعُونٍ وَ هِيَ تَقُولُ هَنِيئاً لَكَ يَا أَبَا السَّائِبِ الْجَنَّةُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ مَا عِلْمُكِ حَسْبُكِ أَنْ تَقُولِي كَانَ يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ رَسُولَهُ فَلَمَّا مَاتَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ‌[4] ابْنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص هَمَلَتْ‌[5] عَيْنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص بِالدُّمُوعِ ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص تَدْمَعُ الْعَيْنُ وَ يَحْزَنُ الْقَلْبُ وَ لَا

The Prophet (sw) heard a woman when 'Uthman ibn Maz'un died, saying, "Congratulations to you, O Abu al-Sa'ib, for the Paradise." The Prophet (sw) said, "How do you know? It is enough for you to say: He loved Allah, the Almighty, and His Messenger." When Ibrahim, the son of the Messenger of Allah (sw), passed away, the

كَتَبَ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع‌[2] رَجُلٌ يَشْكُو إِلَيْهِ مُصَابَهُ بِوَلَدٍ لَهُ وَ شِدَّةَ مَا يَدْخُلُهُ فَقَالَ وَ كَتَبَ ع إِلَيْهِ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَخْتَارُ مِنْ مَالِ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ أَنْفَسَهُ لِيَأْجُرَهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ.

46. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Mahziyar who has said the following: “Once a man wrote to abu Ja’far (a.s.), and complained before him about his suffering the death of his son. He then has said that the Imam wrote back to him saying, ’You should be aware of the fact that Allah,

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ أَفْضَلِ مَا يَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ الْعِبَادُ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ وَ أَحَبِّ ذَلِكَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَا هُوَ فَقَالَ مَا أَعْلَمُ شَيْئاً بَعْدَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الصَّلَاةِ أَ لَا تَرَى أَنَّ الْعَبْدَ الصَّالِحَ- عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ ع قَالَ‌ وَ أَوْصانِي بِالصَّلاةِ وَ الزَّكاةِ ما دُمْتُ حَيًّا[1].

“I asked Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ’What is the best thing through which a servant of Allah may become closer to his Lord that is also most beloved to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious?’ The Imam replied, 'I do not know anything after knowing (knowing Allah and His religion) more excellent than this prayer. Cons

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلُ ع‌ إِنَّهُ لَمَّا حَضَرَ أَبِيَ الْوَفَاةُ قَالَ لِي يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّهُ لَا يَنَالُ شَفَاعَتَنَا مَنِ اسْتَخَفَّ بِالصَّلَاةِ.

“Abu al-Hassan the first (a.s.), has said, ‘When my father was about to pass away he said, “My son, those who consider Salah (prayers) insignificant will not be able to benefit from our intercession.’””

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَفَضْلُ الْوَقْتِ الْأَوَّلِ عَلَى الْأَخِيرِ خَيْرٌ لِلرَّجُلِ مِنْ وَلَدِهِ وَ مَالِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The outstanding quality of the beginning of time for Salah (prayer) compared with the end of time for Salah (prayer) is better for a man than his children and belongings.’”