Family & Kinship

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص كَيْفَ بِكُمْ إِذَا فَسَدَتْ نِسَاؤُكُمْ وَ فَسَقَ شَبَابُكُمْ وَ لَمْ تَأْمُرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ لَمْ تَنْهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ وَ يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ وَ شَرٌّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ كَيْفَ بِكُمْ إِذَا أَمَرْتُمْ بِالْمُنْكَرِ وَ نَهَيْتُمْ عَنِ الْمَعْرُوفِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ شَرٌّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ كَيْفَ بِكُمْ إِذَا

‘The Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “What will you do when your women will become corrupt, your young people sinful and you will not ask others to do good and prohibit them to commit evil?” They asked, “Will such things happen, O Me

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَيُبْغِضُ الْمُؤْمِنَ الضَّعِيفَ الَّذِي لَا دِينَ لَهُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ وَ مَا الْمُؤْمِنُ الَّذِي لَا دِينَ لَهُ قَالَ الَّذِي لَا يَنْهَى عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ.

15. The narrator of the previous Hadith through his chain of narrators has said the following: “The Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, dislikes a believing, weak person who has no religion.’

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ وَ سُئِلَ عَنِ الْأَمْرِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ النَّهْيِ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ أَ وَاجِبٌ هُوَ عَلَى الْأُمَّةِ جَمِيعاً فَقَالَ لَا فَقِيلَ لَهُ وَ لِمَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا هُوَ عَلَى الْقَوِيِّ الْمُطَاعِ الْعَالِمِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ مِنَ الْمُنْكَرِ لَا عَلَى الضَّعِيفِ الَّذِي لَا يَهْتَدِي سَبِيلًا إِلَى‌ أَيٍّ مِنْ أَيٍّ يَقُولُ مِنَ الْحَقِّ إِلَى الْبَاطِلِ‌[1] وَ الدَّلِيلُ عَلَى ذَلِ

16. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when asked about commanding others to do what is obligatory and prohibiting them from committing what is evil, whether this is obligatory upon the whole nation, saying, ‘No, it is

لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ- يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَ أَهْلِيكُمْ ناراً[2] جَلَسَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ يَبْكِي وَ قَالَ أَنَا عَجَزْتُ عَنْ نَفْسِي كُلِّفْتُ أَهْلِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص حَسْبُكَ أَنْ تَأْمُرَهُمْ بِمَا تَأْمُرُ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ وَ تَنْهَاهُمْ عَمَّا تَنْهَى عَنْهُ نَفْسَكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when the following verse of the Holy Quran was revealed: ‘O believers save yourselves and your family from a fire. . . (66:6) one man from the Muslims sat straight and began to weep, saying, ‘I have failed in saving myself and now I am commanded to save my family also.’ The Messeng

كَيْفَ أَقِيهِمْ قَالَ تَأْمُرُهُمْ بِمَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ وَ تَنْهَاهُمْ عَمَّا نَهَاهُمُ اللَّهُ فَإِنْ أَطَاعُوكَ كُنْتَ قَدْ وَقَيْتَهُمْ وَ إِنْ عَصَوْكَ كُنْتَ قَدْ قَضَيْتَ مَا عَلَيْكَ.

“About the words of Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, ‘. . . Save yourselves and your family from a fire. . . .’ (66:6) I asked him (the Imam), ‘How can I save them?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘You must order them to do what Allah has commanded to do and prohibit them from what Allah has prohibited them to do.

تَأْمُرُونَهُمْ وَ تَنْهَوْنَهُمْ.

“About the words of Allah, ‘. . . save yourselves and your family. . . .’ (66:6) I asked abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, ‘How can we save our families?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Command them and prohibit them.’”

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

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, Those who seek to please people by means of things that displease Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, people who praise them turn to blame them. Those who prefer to obey Allah, the

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ طَلَبَ مَرْضَاةَ النَّاسِ بِمَا يُسْخِطُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كَانَ حَامِدُهُ مِنَ النَّاسِ ذَامّاً.

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, Those who seek to please people by means of things that displease Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, people praising him turn to blame him.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا خَيْرَ فِي مَنْ لَا يُحِبُّ جَمْعَ الْمَالِ مِنْ حَلَالٍ يَكُفُّ بِهِ وَجْهَهُ وَ يَقْضِي بِهِ دَيْنَهُ وَ يَصِلُ بِهِ رَحِمَهُ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘There is not much good in one who does not love to accumulate lawful wealth with which he can safeguard his dignity, pay off his debts and maintain good relations with relatives.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ أَلْقَى كَلَّهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ.

“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, ‘Condemned is one who shifts his burden over on other people.’”

قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا لَنَطْلُبُ الدُّنْيَا وَ نُحِبُّ أَنْ نُؤْتَاهَا فَقَالَ تُحِبُّ أَنْ تَصْنَعَ بِهَا مَا ذَا قَالَ أَعُودُ بِهَا عَلَى نَفْسِي وَ عِيَالِي وَ أَصِلُ بِهَا وَ أَتَصَدَّقُ بِهَا وَ أَحُجُّ وَ أَعْتَمِرُ فَقَالَ ع لَيْسَ هَذَا طَلَبَ الدُّنْيَا هَذَا طَلَبُ الْآخِرَةِ.

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from ‘Abd Allah ibn abu Ya’fur who has said the following: “A man once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘We, by Allah, ask for the worldly things and we love to receive worldly gains.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What do you

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ يُصْبِحُ الْمُؤْمِنُ أَوْ يُمْسِي‌ عَلَى ثَكَلٍ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يُصْبِحَ أَوْ يُمْسِيَ عَلَى حَرَبٍ فَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الْحَرَبِ‌[1].

“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, ‘A believer’s spending days and nights with suffering from the losses of his loved ones is better than his spending days and nights in the state of war.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي الْخُبْزِ وَ لَا تُفَرِّقْ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُ فَلَوْ لَا الْخُبْزُ مَا صَلَّيْنَا وَ لَا صُمْنَا وَ لَا أَدَّيْنَا فَرَائِضَ رَبِّنَا.

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘O Allah, grant us blessings with our loaves of bread and do not take them away from us. Without bread we cannot perform Salat (prayer) or fast, perform our obligations toward our Lord.’”

إِنَّ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ الْمُنْكَدِرِ كَانَ يَقُولُ مَا كُنْتُ أَرَى أَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَدَعُ خَلَفاً أَفْضَلَ مِنْهُ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ ابْنَهُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ ع فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَعِظَهُ فَوَعَظَنِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ بِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ وَعَظَكَ قَالَ خَرَجْتُ إِلَى بَعْضِ نَوَاحِي الْمَدِينَةِ فِي سَاعَةٍ حَارَّةٍ فَلَقِيَنِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ وَ كَانَ رَجُلًا بَادِناً ثَقِيلً

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir has said, ‘I did not think Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), might leave behind a successor better than his own-self. Time passed and I one day saw his son, Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.). I decided to give him certain words of good advice but I, instead, learned a lesson

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

مَنْ طَلَبَ [الرِّزْقَ فِي‌] الدُّنْيَا اسْتِعْفَافاً عَنِ النَّاسِ وَ تَوْسِيعاً عَلَى أَهْلِهِ وَ تَعَطُّفاً عَلَى جَارِهِ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ وَجْهُهُ مِثْلُ الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that one who works to earn his sustenance in this world so he would not need to spread his hands before people for help, to better the living conditions of his family and to show kindness to his neighbors will, on the Judgment Day, go before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, with his fac

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 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

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

كَتَبَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَلَا تُجَادِلِ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَ لَا تُمَارِ السُّفَهَاءَ فَيُبْغِضَكَ الْعُلَمَاءُ وَ يَشْتِمَكَ السُّفَهَاءُ وَ لَا تَكْسَلْ عَنْ مَعِيشَتِكَ فَتَكُونَ كَلًّا عَلَى غَيْرِكَ أَوْ قَالَ عَلَى أَهْلِكَ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once wrote to one of his companions the following: . . thereafter take notice of the following. You must not excessively argue with the scholars, you must not verbally quarrel with the dimwitted ones; the scholars will hate you and the dimwitted ones will abuse you. You must not be lazy in the w

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.”

إِنَّ فِي حِكْمَةِ آلِ دَاوُدَ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ الْعَاقِلِ أَنْ لَا يُرَى ظَاعِناً[1] إِلَّا فِي ثَلَاثٍ مَرَمَّةٍ لِمَعَاشٍ أَوْ تَزَوُّدٍ لِمَعَادٍ أَوْ لَذَّةٍ فِي غَيْرِ ذَاتِ مُحَرَّمٍ وَ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ الْعَاقِلِ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ سَاعَةٌ يُفْضِي بِهَا إِلَى عَمَلِهِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ سَاعَةٌ يُلَاقِي إِخْوَانَهُ الَّذِينَ يُفَاوِضُهُمْ وَ يُفَاوِضُونَهُ فِي أَمْر

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is in the wisdom of Ale (family) Dawud that a reasonable Muslim should not travel unless it is for three kinds of tasks: amending one’s means of living, supplies for the hereafter or enjoyment with lawful matters. A reasonable Muslim should assign certain hours of his time to work

إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِأَهْلِ بَيْتٍ خَيْراً رَزَقَهُمُ الرِّفْقَ فِي الْمَعِيشَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, wills good for a family He grants them ease in their living conditions.’”

الْكَادُّ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ كَالْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.

“Abi ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A person working hard for his family is like a Mujahid (fighter) for the cause of Allah.’”

الَّذِي يَطْلُبُ مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَا يَكُفُّ بِهِ عِيَالَهُ أَعْظَمُ أَجْراً مِنَ الْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said, ‘One who works to find sustenance of the extra- generosity of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, to provide for his family is granted a reward greater than a Mujahid (fighter) for the cause of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’”

إِذَا كَانَ الرَّجُلُ مُعْسِراً فَيَعْمَلُ بِقَدْرِ مَا يَقُوتُ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ وَ أَهْلَهُ وَ لَا يَطْلُبُ حَرَاماً فَهُوَ كَالْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one has difficulty in providing for his family and works to meet his own needs and the needs of his family and does not work for unlawful kind of sustenance, he is like a Mujahid (fighter) for the cause of Allah.”

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.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- لِمُصَادِفٍ مَوْلَاهُ اتَّخِذْ عُقْدَةً أَوْ ضَيْعَةً فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا نَزَلَتْ بِهِ النَّازِلَةُ أَوِ الْمُصِيبَةُ فَذَكَرَ أَنَّ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِهِ مَا يُقِيمُ عِيَالَهُ كَانَ أَسْخَى لِنَفْسِهِ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, once said to his Mawla’, Musadif, ‘Find some real property or goods; when man faces hardship or misfortune, and then finds out that behind him there is something for support of his family, he feels more generous to allow his soul to depart (his body).”’

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 لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع مَنْ طَلَبَ هَذَا الرِّزْقَ مِنْ حِلِّهِ لِيَعُودَ بِهِ‌[2] عَلَى نَفْسِهِ وَ عِيَالِهِ كَانَ كَالْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَإِنْ غُلِبَ عَلَيْهِ‌[3] فَلْيَسْتَدِنْ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ مَا يَقُوتُ بِهِ عِيَالَهُ فَإِنْ مَاتَ وَ لَمْ يَقْضِهِ كَانَ عَلَى الْإِمَامِ قَضَاؤُهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَقْضِهِ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ وِزْرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ-

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), said to me, ‘Whoever works to provide sustenance for himself and his family is considered a Mujahid (fighter) for the cause of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. If poverty over-powers him, he then should borrow upon the responsibility of Allah and His Messenger for his sustenance and his famil

سَأَلَ الرِّضَا ع رَجُلٌ وَ أَنَا أَسْمَعُ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ إِنْ كانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلى‌ مَيْسَرَةٍ[5] أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ هَذِهِ النَّظِرَةِ الَّتِي ذَكَرَهَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ لَهَا حَدٌّ يُعْرَفُ إِذَا صَارَ هَذَا الْمُعْسِرُ إِلَيْهِ لَا بُدَّ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ‌ يُنْتَظَرَ وَ قَدْ أَخَذَ مَالَ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ وَ أَنْفَقَهُ عَلَى عِيَالِ

“A man asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), when I was listening, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, “If one has difficulty to pay his debts, he should be given respite until he is able to pay.” (2:281) Explain to me the limits of this “respite” of which Allah, most

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ مِنَّا يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ الشَّيْ‌ءُ يَتَبَلَّغُ‌[2] بِهِ وَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ أَ يُطْعِمُهُ عِيَالَهُ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِمَيْسَرَةٍ فَيَقْضِيَ دَيْنَهُ أَوْ يَسْتَقْرِضُ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ فِي خُبْثِ الزَّمَانِ‌[3] وَ شِدَّةِ الْمَكَاسِبِ أَوْ يَقْبَلُ الصَّدَقَةَ قَالَ يَقْضِي بِمَا عِنْدَهُ دَيْنَهُ وَ لَا يَأْكُلْ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ إِلَّا وَ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُ

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if one of us has a few things in his possession with which he meets his expenses and he also is indebted. Should he feed his family with that which he owns and wait until Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, grants him ease then pay his debts, or should he borrow on his back in di

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 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.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي دَفَعْتُ إِلَى أَخِي جَعْفَرٍ مَالًا فَهُوَ يُعْطِينِي مَا أُنْفِقُهُ وَ أَحُجُّ مِنْهُ وَ أَتَصَدَّقُ وَ قَدْ سَأَلْتُ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا فَذَكَرُوا أَنَّ ذَلِكَ فَاسِدٌ لَا يَحِلُّ وَ أَنَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَنْتَهِيَ إِلَى قَوْلِكَ فَقَالَ لِي أَ كَانَ يَصِلُكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَدْفَعَ إِلَيْهِ مَالَكَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَخُذْ مِنْهُ مَا يُعْطِيكَ فَكُلْ مِنْهُ وَ اشْرَبْ وَ حُجَّ وَ ت

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from Hudhayl ibn Hayyan, brother of Ja’far ibn Hayyan al-Sayrafiy who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, ‘I have given a certain amount of assets to my brother Ja’far and he gives me

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع فَقَالَ لِي يَا زِيَادُ إِنَّكَ لَتَعْمَلُ عَمَلَ‌ السُّلْطَانِ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَجَلْ قَالَ لِي وَ لِمَ قُلْتُ أَنَا رَجُلٌ لِي مُرُوءَةٌ[1] وَ عَلَيَّ عِيَالٌ وَ لَيْسَ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِي شَيْ‌ءٌ فَقَالَ لِي يَا زِيَادُ لَأَنْ أَسْقُطَ مِنْ حَالِقٍ فَأَتَقَطَّعَ‌[2] قِطْعَةً قِطْعَةً أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَتَوَلَّى لِأَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ عَمَلًا أَوْ أَطَأَ بِسَاطَ أَحَدِهِمْ إِلَّ

“I once went to visit abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.), and he (the Imam) asked me, ‘O Ziyad, do you work for Sultan ? 5 I replied, ‘Yes, I do so . 5 He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Why do you do so ? 5 I replied, ‘I am a man of fairness and I have a family to feed. I do not have any other means for support . 5 He (the Imam) said,

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

رَافَقْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي السَّنَةِ الَّتِي حَجَّ فِيهَا فِي أَوَّلِ خِلَافَةِ الْمُعْتَصِمِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ وَ أَنَا مَعَهُ عَلَى الْمَائِدَةِ وَ هُنَاكَ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءِ السُّلْطَانِ إِنَّ وَالِيَنَا جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ رَجُلٌ يَتَوَلَّاكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَ يُحِبُّكُمْ وَ عَلَيَّ فِي دِيوَانِهِ خَرَاجٌ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ جَعَلَنِيَ اللَّهُ فِدَاكَ أَنْ تَكْتُبَ إِلَيْهِ كِتَاباً بِالْإِحْسَانِ إِلَيَّ فَ

"I accompanied Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) in the year he performed Hajj during the beginning of al-Mu'tasim's caliphate. While we were at the table, and a group of the Sultan's officials were present, I said to him: 'May I be your ransom, our governor is a man who is loyal to you, Ahl al-Bayt, and he loves you. I owe tax

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

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