Illness & Healing

قَالَ ابْنُ السِّكِّيتِ‌[2] لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع لِمَا ذَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مُوسَى بْنَ عِمْرَانَ ع بِالْعَصَا وَ يَدِهِ الْبَيْضَاءِ وَ آلَةِ السِّحْرِ وَ بَعَثَ عِيسَى بِآلَةِ الطِّبِّ وَ بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ عَلَى جَمِيعِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ بِالْكَلَامِ وَ الْخُطَبِ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَّا بَعَثَ مُوسَى ع كَانَ الْغَالِبُ عَلَى أَهْلِ عَصْرِهِ السِّحْرَ فَأَتَاهُمْ

“Ibn Sukayt asked Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s), ‘Why did Allah sent Moses with the miracle appearing through his staff and through his hand and means of magic, Jesus with means of medical tasks and Prophet Muhammad (may Allah send blessings upon him, his family and all the prophets) with means of speech and sermons?’” “Whe

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ مَجْدُورٍ أَصَابَتْهُ جَنَابَةٌ فَغَسَّلُوهُ فَمَاتَ قَالَ قَتَلُوهُ أَلَّا سَأَلُوا فَإِنَّ دَوَاءَ الْعِيِّ السُّؤَالُ‌[1].

"They have killed him. So, ask, for indeed, the remedy for ignorance is asking."

قَالَ لِي اكْتُبْ فَأَمْلَى عَلَيَّ إِنَّ مِنْ قَوْلِنَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحْتَجُّ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ بِمَا آتَاهُمْ وَ عَرَّفَهُمْ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولًا وَ أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْكِتَابَ فَأَمَرَ فِيهِ وَ نَهَى أَمَرَ فِيهِ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَ الصِّيَامِ فَنَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ أَنَا أُنِيمُكَ وَ أَنَا أُوقِظُكَ‌ فَإِذَا قُمْتَ فَصَلِّ لِيَعْلَمُوا إِذَا أَصَابَهُمْ ذَلِكَ كَيْفَ يَصْن

“Once Imam abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said to me, ‘Write down.’ He dictated to me the following. ‘It is of our Hadith that Allah will, justifiably, hold people accountable for what He has given and made known to them. Allah then sent His messenger to them and sent down books upon them in which He has commanded and prohibit

كُنَّا مَعَ الرِّضَا ع بِمَرْوَ فَاجْتَمَعْنَا فِي الْجَامِعِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ فِي بَدْءِ مَقْدَمِنَا فَأَدَارُوا أَمْرَ الْإِمَامَةِ وَ ذَكَرُوا كَثْرَةَ اخْتِلَافِ النَّاسِ فِيهَا فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى سَيِّدِي ع فَأَعْلَمْتُهُ خَوْضَ النَّاسِ فِيهِ فَتَبَسَّمَ ع ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عَبْدَ الْعَزِيزِ جَهِلَ الْقَوْمُ وَ خُدِعُوا عَنْ آرَائِهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمْ يَقْبِضْ نَبِيَّهُ ص حَتَّى أَكْمَلَ لَهُ ال

1. Abu Muhammad al-Qasim ibn al-’Ala’, may Allah grant him blessings, in a marfu‘ manner (rafa’abu), has narrated from ‘Ad al-’Aziz ibn Muslim the following. “We had been with al-Rida (a.s.) at Marw. During an assembly in the central mosque on Friday, we attended the gathering. It was when we had just arrived (in Marw)

فِي خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ يَذْكُرُ فِيهَا حَالَ الْأَئِمَّةِ ع وَ صِفَاتِهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَوْضَحَ بِأَئِمَّةِ الْهُدَى مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّنَا عَنْ دِينِهِ وَ أَبْلَجَ بِهِمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِ مِنْهَاجِهِ وَ فَتَحَ بِهِمْ عَنْ بَاطِنِ يَنَابِيعِ عِلْمِهِ فَمَنْ عَرَفَ مِنْ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَاجِبَ حَقِّ إِمَامِهِ وَجَدَ طَعْمَ حَلَاوَةِ إِيمَانِهِ وَ عَلِمَ فَضْلَ طُلَاوَةِ إِسْلَامِهِ‌[4] لِأَنَّ اللَّ

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ’Isa from al-Hasan ibn Mahbub from Ishaq ibn Ghalib from abu ’Abdallah (a.s.) who has described the condition of the Imams (a.s.) and their attributes in one of his sermons. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has explained His religion through the Imams

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي قُبِضَ فِيهِ فَأَوْصَانِي بِأَشْيَاءَ فِي غُسْلِهِ وَ فِي كَفْنِهِ وَ فِي دُخُولِهِ قَبْرَهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَاهْ وَ اللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْتُكَ مُنْذُ اشْتَكَيْتَ‌[3] أَحْسَنَ مِنْكَ الْيَوْمَ مَا رَأَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ أَثَرَ الْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يُنَادِي مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْجِدَارِ يَا مُحَمَّدُ تَعَالَ عَجِّلْ.

“I was in the presence of my father during the day in which he passes away. He made several recommendations to me about his funeral matters, such as washing his whole body, shrouding him and placing him in his grave. I then said to him, “Father, I have not seen in a better health from the day you complained illness tha

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي تُوُفِّيَ فِيهِ ادْعُوا لِي خَلِيلِي- فَأَرْسَلَتَا إِلَى أَبَوَيْهِمَا فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَعْرَضَ عَنْهُمَا ثُمَّ قَالَ ادْعُوا لِي خَلِيلِي فَأُرْسِلَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ أَكَبَّ عَلَيْهِ يُحَدِّثُهُ فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ لَقِيَاهُ فَقَالا لَهُ مَا حَدَّثَكَ خَلِيلُكَ فَقَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَلْفَ بَابٍ يَفْتَحُ كُلُّ بَابٍ أَلْفَ بَا

“the Messenger of Allah during the illness from which died said, ‘Call my beloved one to come to me.” We sent to call the fathers of the two of them (‘A’isha and hafsa’s fathers). When the Messenger of Allah looked at them he turned away from them. He them said again, “Call my beloved one to come to me.” Ali was then c

إِنَّ الْحُسَيْنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ ع لَمَّا حَضَرَهُ الَّذِي حَضَرَهُ دَعَا ابْنَتَهُ الْكُبْرَى فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فَدَفَعَ إِلَيْهَا كِتَاباً مَلْفُوفاً وَ وَصِيَّةً ظَاهِرَةً وَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع مَبْطُوناً مَعَهُمْ لَا يَرَوْنَ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لِمَا بِهِ فَدَفَعَتْ فَاطِمَةُ الْكِتَابَ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع ثُمَّ صَارَ وَ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ‌ إِلَيْنَا يَا زِيَادُ قَالَ قُلْ

“When al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) was about to leave this world he called his eldest daughter, Fatima and gave her a sealed document and openly before the people his directive will. Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was ill with some internal illness and the people would see as dying. Fatima then gave the document to Ali ibn al-Hu

خَرَجَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ع إِلَى مَكَّةَ سَنَةً مَاشِياً فَوَرِمَتْ قَدَمَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُ مَوَالِيهِ لَوْ رَكِبْتَ لَسَكَنَ عَنْكَ هَذَا الْوَرَمُ فَقَالَ كَلَّا إِذَا أَتَيْنَا هَذَا الْمَنْزِلَ فَإِنَّهُ يَسْتَقْبِلُكَ أَسْوَدُ وَ مَعَهُ دُهْنٌ فَاشْتَرِ مِنْهُ وَ لَا تُمَاكِسْهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَوْلَاهُ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَ أُمِّي مَا قَدِمْنَا مَنْزِلًا فِيهِ أَحَدٌ يَبِيعُ هَذَا الدَّوَاءَ فَقَالَ لَهُ ب

“One year al-Hassan ibn Ali left for Mecca on foot. On the journey his feet swelled and his servants said, 'If you would ride the swelling will go away.' He said, 'Nay, if we reach this place of rest you will a black person who has oil with him, buy from oil without trying to reduce the price.' The servant said, 'May m

حَسَبَ فَرَأَى مَا يَحُلُّ بِالْحُسَيْنِ ع فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَقِيمٌ لِمَا يَحُلُّ بِالْحُسَيْنِ ع.

“I am sick!” (37:89). The Imam (a.s.) said, “He calculated and found what had t happen to al-Husayn (a.s.) then he said, “I am sick for what will happen to al-Husayn (a.s.).”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَنْتُمْ وَرَثَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَارِثُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ عَلِمَ كُلَّ مَا عَلِمُوا قَالَ لِي نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَأَنْتُمْ تَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى أَنْ تُحْيُوا الْمَوْتَى وَ تُبْرِءُوا الْأَكْمَهَ وَ الْأَبْرَصَ قَالَ نَعَمْ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِيَ ادْنُ مِنِّي يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ فَدَنَوْتُ مِنْهُ فَمَسَحَ عَلَى وَجْهِي وَ عَلَى عَ

“Once I went to see abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and asked him, “Are you the heirs of the Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Yes, we are his heirs.” I then asked, “Was the Messenger of Allah the heir of the prophets and knew all that they knew?” He said to me, “Yes, it is true.” I then asked, “Do you have the power to bring the dead

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ نَصْرَانِيٌّ وَ نَحْنُ مَعَهُ بِالْعُرَيْضِ‌[2] فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّصْرَانِيُّ أَتَيْتُكَ مِنْ بَلَدٍ بَعِيدٍ وَ سَفَرٍ شَاقٍّ وَ سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي مُنْذُ ثَلَاثِينَ سَنَةً أَنْ يُرْشِدَنِي إِلَى خَيْرِ الْأَدْيَانِ وَ إِلَى خَيْرِ الْعِبَادِ وَ أَعْلَمِهِمْ وَ أَتَانِي آتٍ فِي النَّوْمِ فَوَصَفَ لِي رَجُلًا بِعُلْيَا دِمَشْقَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ فَكَ

“I was in the presence of abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) that a Christian man came to see him. At this time we were with him in al-‘Urayd. The Christian man said, “I have come to you from a far away place after a difficult journey. I have been praying to my Lord for thirty years to guide me to the best of the religions and

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع صَبِيحَةَ عُرْسِهِ حَيْثُ بَنَى بِابْنَةِ الْمَأْمُونِ وَ كُنْتُ تَنَاوَلْتُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ دَوَاءً فَأَوَّلُ مَنْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فِي صَبِيحَتِهِ أَنَا وَ قَدْ أَصَابَنِي الْعَطَشُ وَ كَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَدْعُوَ بِالْمَاءِ فَنَظَرَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي وَجْهِي وَ قَالَ أَظُنُّكَ عَطْشَانَ فَقُلْتُ أَجَلْ فَقَالَ يَا غُلَامُ أَوْ جَارِيَةُ اسْقِنَا مَاءً فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي السَّاعَةَ يَأْ

I went tot see abu Ja‘far (a.s.) in the morning of his marriage to the daughter of al-Ma’al-Ma’mun. The night before I had taken medicine and I was the first to meet him that morning. I was thirsty but did not like to ask for water. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) looked at me and said, “I think you are thirsty.” I said, “Yes, I am

مَرِضَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ مِنْ خُرَاجٍ خَرَجَ بِهِ وَ أَشْرَفَ مِنْهُ عَلَى الْهَلَاكِ فَلَمْ يَجْسُرْ أَحَدٌ أَنْ يَمَسَّهُ بِحَدِيدَةٍ فَنَذَرَتْ أُمُّهُ إِنْ عُوفِيَ أَنْ تَحْمِلَ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ مَالًا جَلِيلًا مِنْ مَالِهَا وَ قَالَ لَهُ الْفَتْحُ بْنُ خَاقَانَ لَوْ بَعَثْتَ إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ فَسَأَلْتَهُ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَخْلُو أَنْ يَكُونَ عِنْدَهُ صِفَةٌ يُفَرِّجُ بِهَا عَنْكَ فَبَع

“ Al-Mutawakkil became ill because of a boil so seriously that he was about to die and no one would have the courage to touch to operate him. His mother vowed to sent a large sum of money to abu al-Hassan (a.s.) from her own property if her son would recover. Fath ibn Khaqan had advised him to ask him (the Imam (a.s.)

رَأَيْتُهُ يَعْنِي مُحَمَّداً قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ بِالْعَسْكَرِ فِي عَشِيَّةٍ وَ قَدِ اسْتَقْبَلَ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ وَ اعْتَلَّ مِنْ غَدٍ فَدَخَلْتُ إِلَيْهِ عَائِداً بَعْدَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ عِلَّتِهِ وَ قَدْ ثَقُلَ فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ بِثَوْبٍ- فَأَخَذَهُ وَ أَدْرَجَهُ وَ وَضَعَهُ تَحْتَ رَأْسِهِ قَالَ فَكُفِّنَ فِيهِ قَالَ أَحْمَدُ قَالَ أَبُو يَعْقُوبَ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع مَعَ ا

“Abu ya‘qub informed me saying, ‘ I saw him (Muhammad) before his death in the army camp in an evening. Abu al-Hassan received him and looked at him and he became ill the next day. After several days I went to visit him during his illness and his illness was worsening. He informed me that he (abu al-Hassan (a.s.) has s

كَانَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ يَقُولُ وَيْحَكُمْ قَدْ أَعْيَانِي أَمْرُ ابْنِ الرِّضَا[1] أَبَى أَنْ يَشْرَبَ مَعِي أَوْ يُنَادِمَنِي أَوْ أَجِدَ مِنْهُ فُرْصَةً فِي هَذَا فَقَالُوا لَهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ مِنْهُ فَهَذَا أَخُوهُ مُوسَى قَصَّافٌ عَزَّافٌ‌[2]- يَأْكُلُ وَ يَشْرَبُ وَ يَتَعَشَّقُ قَالَ ابْعَثُوا إِلَيْهِ فَجِيئُوا بِهِ حَتَّى نُمَوِّهَ بِهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ نَقُولَ ابْنُ الرِّضَا[3] فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ وَ أُشْخِص

“Al-Mutawakkil would say, “Woe is you, the ibn (the son of) al-Rida, (Ali al-Hadi (a.s.)) has frustrated me. He refuses to share a drink (liquor) with me and associate with me and I never get a chance in it.” They (his associates) told him, “If he does not give you a chance his brother, Musa plays music, sings, eats, d

مَرِضْتُ فَدَخَلَ الطَّبِيبُ عَلَيَّ لَيْلًا فَوَصَفَ لِي دَوَاءً بِلَيْلٍ آخُذُهُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا يَوْماً فَلَمْ يُمَكِّنِّي فَلَمْ يَخْرُجِ الطَّبِيبُ مِنَ الْبَابِ حَتَّى وَرَدَ عَلَيَّ نَصْرٌ بِقَارُورَةٍ فِيهَا ذَلِكَ الدَّوَاءُ بِعَيْنِهِ فَقَالَ لِي- أَبُو الْحَسَنِ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلَامَ وَ يَقُولُ لَكَ خُذْ هَذَا الدَّوَاءَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا يَوْماً فَأَخَذْتُهُ فَشَرِبْتُهُ فَبَرَأْتُ:" قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِ

“I became ill and a doctor came to see me at night. He prescribed a medicine for me to be taken at night for so and so many days. I could not find the medicine that night. The physician was still there that Nasr came in with a bottle that contained the medicine that the physician had prescribed for me and said, “Abu al

وَ نَاوَلَنِي عِرْقاً لَمْ أَفْهَمْهُ مِنَ الْعُرُوقِ الَّتِي تُفْصَدُ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي مَا رَأَيْتُ أَمْراً أَعْجَبَ مِنْ هَذَا يَأْمُرُنِي أَنْ أَفْصِدَ فِي وَقْتِ الظُّهْرِ وَ لَيْسَ بِوَقْتِ فَصْدٍ وَ الثَّانِيَةُ عِرْقٌ لَا أَفْهَمُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِيَ انْتَظِرْ وَ كُنْ فِي الدَّارِ فَلَمَّا أَمْسَى دَعَانِي وَ قَالَ لِي سَرِّحِ الدَّمَ فَسَرَّحْتُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي أَمْسِكْ فَأَمْسَكْتُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي كُنْ فِ

Certain persons of our people have narrated from a Christian cupping expert who served in the army the following. “One day at noontime abu Muhammad (a.s.) sent for me at the time of noon prayer and told me to perform cupping on this vein. He showed me a vein that was not know to me as one of the veins used for cupping.

خَرَجَ بِي نَاصُورٌ عَلَى مَقْعَدَتِي فَأَرَيْتُهُ الْأَطِبَّاءَ وَ أَنْفَقْتُ عَلَيْهِ مَالًا فَقَالُوا لَا نَعْرِفُ لَهُ دَوَاءً فَكَتَبْتُ رُقْعَةً أَسْأَلُ الدُّعَاءَ فَوَقَّعَ ع إِلَيَّ أَلْبَسَكَ اللَّهُ الْعَافِيَةَ وَ جَعَلَكَ مَعَنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ قَالَ فَمَا أَتَتْ عَلَيَّ جُمْعَةٌ حَتَّى عُوفِيتُ وَ صَارَ مِثْلَ رَاحَتِي فَدَعَوْتُ طَبِيباً مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا وَ أَرَيْتُهُ إِيَّاهُ فَقَالَ مَ

“A boil had grown on my heaps. I sought treament from several physicians and spent money but they said that they knew of no medicine for it. I then wrote a letter to him (the twelfth Imam (a.s.) requesting him to pray. He wrote back to me with his signature, “May Allah grant you good health and place you with us in thi

حَلَفْتُ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَ نَفْسِي أَلَّا آكُلَ طَعَاماً بِنَهَارٍ أَبَداً حَتَّى يَقُومَ قَائِمُ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ شِيعَتِكُمْ جَعَلَ لِلَّهِ عَلَيْهِ أَلَّا يَأْكُلَ طَعَاماً بِنَهَارٍ أَبَداً حَتَّى يَقُومَ قَائِمُ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ فَصُمْ إِذاً يَا كَرَّامُ وَ لَا تَصُمِ الْعِيدَيْنِ وَ لَا ثَلَاثَةَ التَّشْرِيقِ وَ لَا إِذَا كُنْتَ مُسَ

“I took an oath with my self that I will not any food during the day until the rise of Al-Qa’im (the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority). I then went to see abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.).” The narrator has said, “A man from you Shi‘a (followers) has imposed on himself on oath not to eat any food during the day until the ris

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى أَوْحَى إِلَى عِمْرَانَ أَنِّي وَاهِبٌ لَكَ ذَكَراً سَوِيّاً مُبَارَكاً يُبْرِئُ الْأَكْمَهَ وَ الْأَبْرَصَ وَ يُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَ جَاعِلُهُ رَسُولًا إِلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فَحَدَّثَ عِمْرَانُ امْرَأَتَهُ حَنَّةَ[1] بِذَلِكَ وَ هِيَ أُمُّ مَرْيَمَ فَلَمَّا حَمَلَتْ كَانَ حَمْلُهَا بِهَا عِنْدَ نَفْسِهَا غُلَامٌ- فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْها قالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَضَعْتُها أُنْثى‌ ...

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim his father all from ibn Mahbub from al-Ri’ab from Abu Basir from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who said: “Allah, the Most High, revealed to ʿImrān: “I will grant you a righteous and blessed son who will cure the blind and the leper and bring the dead

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمَّا أَخْرَجَ ذُرِّيَّةَ آدَمَ ع مِنْ ظَهْرِهِ‌[4] لِيَأْخُذَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمِيثَاقَ بِالرُّبُوبِيَّةِ لَهُ وَ بِالنُّبُوَّةِ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَخَذَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمِيثَاقَ بِنُبُوَّتِهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ص ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لآِدَمَ انْظُرْ مَا ذَا تَرَى قَالَ فَنَظَرَ آدَمُ ع إِلَى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ وَ

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from Habib al-Sajistani who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘There was a time when Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, took the descendent

مَا أَخْلَصَ الْعَبْدُ الْإِيمَانَ بِاللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً أَوْ قَالَ مَا أَجْمَلَ عَبْدٌ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً إِلَّا زَهَّدَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ بَصَّرَهُ دَاءَهَا وَ دَوَاءَهَا فَأَثْبَتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَ أَنْطَقَ بِهَا لِسَانَهُ ثُمَّ تَلَا- إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا الْعِجْلَ سَيَنالُهُمْ غَضَبٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَ ذِلَّةٌ فِي الْح

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘If a servant maintains pure belief in Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, for forty days, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, purifies his heart in this world and shows him his illnesses and the cure for them (illnesses).’ Also he (a.s.) said, ‘Whenever a servant of Allah speaks

قُلْتُ لَهُ أَيُّهَا الْعَالِمُ أَخْبِرْنِي أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ قَالَ مَا لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ شَيْئاً إِلَّا بِهِ قُلْتُ وَ مَا هُوَ قَالَ- الْإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ أَعْلَى الْأَعْمَالِ دَرَجَةً وَ أَشْرَفُهَا مَنْزِلَةً وَ أَسْنَاهَا حَظّاً قَالَ قُلْتُ أَ لَا تُخْبِرُنِي عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ أَ قَوْلٌ هُوَ وَ عَمَلٌ أَمْ قَوْلٌ بِلَا عَمَلٍ فَقَالَ الْإِيمَانُ عَمَلٌ

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Qasim ibn Burayd who has said that narrated to us abu ‘Amr al-Zubayri who has said the following: “I said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) ‘O scholar, tell me which deed is more virtuous before Allah?’ He said, ‘It is the deed without which Allah does

يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُؤْمِنِ أَنْ يَكُونَ فِيهِ ثَمَانِي خِصَالٍ وَقُوراً عِنْدَ الْهَزَاهِزِ[1] صَبُوراً عِنْدَ الْبَلَاءِ شَكُوراً عِنْدَ الرَّخَاءِ قَانِعاً بِمَا رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ- لَا يَظْلِمُ الْأَعْدَاءَ وَ لَا يَتَحَامَلُ لِلْأَصْدِقَاءِ بَدَنُهُ مِنْهُ فِي تَعَبٍ وَ النَّاسُ مِنْهُ فِي رَاحَةٍ إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ خَلِيلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ الْحِلْمَ وَزِيرُهُ وَ الْعَقْلَ أَمِيرُ جُنُودِهِ وَ الرِّفْقَ أَخُوهُ وَ الْبِرَّ

“A believer should have eight qualities. He is dignified in turbulent times. He is patient in afflicting conditions. He is thankful in prosperous life. He is content with what Allah has granted him. He does not do injustice to the enemies. He does not overburden friends. His own body is tired due to his efforts and peo

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَبْدِيَ الْمُؤْمِنَ لَا أَصْرِفُهُ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ إِلَّا جَعَلْتُهُ خَيْراً لَهُ فَلْيَرْضَ بِقَضَائِي وَ لْيَصْبِرْ عَلَى بَلَائِي وَ لْيَشْكُرْ نَعْمَائِي أَكْتُبْهُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ مِنَ الصِّدِّيقِينَ عِنْدِي.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “Whatever conditions I may turn My believing servant to are for his good. He then must agree with My decisions, be patient in My trial and appreciate My favors. I will then, O Muhammad, count him among the truthful ones.”’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا حَفْصُ إِنَّ مَنْ صَبَرَ صَبَرَ قَلِيلًا وَ إِنَّ مَنْ جَزِعَ جَزِعَ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِالصَّبْرِ فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِكَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً ص فَأَمَرَهُ بِالصَّبْرِ وَ الرِّفْقِ فَقَالَ‌ وَ اصْبِرْ عَلى‌ ما يَقُولُونَ‌ وَ اهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْراً جَمِيلًا وَ ذَرْنِي وَ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ‌ أُولِي النَّعْمَةِ[1] وَ قَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى‌ ادْفَعْ‌

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasani all from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad al-Asbahani from Sulayman ibn Dawud al- Minqari from Hafs ibn Ghiyath who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) said, ‘O Hafs, whoever exercises patience does so only for a short time, and whoeve

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ سَيَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لَا يُنَالُ الْمُلْكُ فِيهِ إِلَّا بِالْقَتْلِ وَ التَّجَبُّرِ وَ لَا الْغِنَى إِلَّا بِالْغَصْبِ وَ الْبُخْلِ وَ لَا الْمَحَبَّةُ إِلَّا بِاسْتِخْرَاجِ الدِّينِ‌[1] وَ اتِّبَاعِ الْهَوَى- فَمَنْ أَدْرَكَ ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانَ فَصَبَرَ عَلَى الْفَقْرِ وَ هُوَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْغِنَى وَ صَبَرَ عَلَى الْبِغْضَةِ[2] وَ هُوَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْمَحَبَّةِ وَ صَبَرَ عَلَى

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘A time will come upon people when kingdom can be achieved only by committing murders and tyranny. Wealth can only be achieved through usurpation and stinginess. Love and harmony can be established only by exclusion of religion and by following desires. Those living at such a time must

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الطَّاعِمُ الشَّاكِرُ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ كَأَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ الْمُحْتَسِبِ وَ الْمُعَافَى الشَّاكِرُ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ كَأَجْرِ الْمُبْتَلَى الصَّابِرِ وَ الْمُعْطَى الشَّاكِرُ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ كَأَجْرِ الْمَحْرُومِ الْقَانِعِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘A person feeding (himself) with gratitude (before Allah) has a reward equal to the reward of a fasting person who brings himself to strict account. A person in good health who is grateful receives a reward equal to the reward of a person who suffers from an illness but exercises patie

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا بَحْرُ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ يُسْرٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِحَدِيثٍ مَا هُوَ فِي يَدَيْ أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ بَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ جَالِسٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ إِذْ جَاءَتْ جَارِيَةٌ لِبَعْضِ الْأَنْصَارِ وَ هُوَ قَائِمٌ فَأَخَذَتْ بِطَرَفِ ثَوْبِهِ فَقَامَ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ ص فَلَمْ تَقُلْ شَيْئاً وَ لَمْ يَقُلْ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ ص شَيْ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) said to me, ‘O Bahr, excellent moral behavior is prosperity. Would you like me to teach you a Hadith which is not found in the hands of any of the people of Madina?’ I said, ‘Yes, please do so.’ The Imam said, ‘Once the Messenger of Allah was in the Mosque when a girl from the people of Ansar cam

اصْبِرْ عَلَى أَعْدَاءِ النِّعَمِ فَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تُكَافِئَ مَنْ عَصَى اللَّهَ فِيكَ- بِأَفْضَلَ مِنْ أَنْ تُطِيعَ اللَّهَ فِيهِ‌[3].

“Be patient against the enemies (jealous) of bounties. You cannot seek a compensation from one who disobeys Allah in your case, more meritorious and better than obeying Allah in his case (exercise patience against his jealousy).”

قَالَ لِي‌ يَا زَيْدُ اصْبِرْ عَلَى أَعْدَاءِ النِّعَمِ فَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تُكَافِئَ مَنْ عَصَى اللَّهَ فِيكَ بِأَفْضَلَ مِنْ أَنْ تُطِيعَ اللَّهَ فِيهِ يَا زَيْدُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَى الْإِسْلَامَ وَ اخْتَارَهُ فَأَحْسِنُوا صُحْبَتَهُ بِالسَّخَاءِ وَ حُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ.

“Once the Imam said to me, ‘O Zayd be patient against the enemies of the bounties (jealous people). You cannot compensate (retaliate to offset your suffering) from one who disobeys Allah through causing you to suffer, in other ways more properly, than obeying Allah in his case (in not causing any suffering to him). O Z

مَرَّ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ص عَلَى الْمُجَذَّمِينَ‌[2] وَ هُوَ رَاكِبٌ حِمَارَهُ وَ هُمْ يَتَغَدَّوْنَ‌[3] فَدَعَوْهُ إِلَى الْغَدَاءِ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنِّي لَوْ لَا أَنِّي صَائِمٌ لَفَعَلْتُ فَلَمَّا صَارَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ أَمَرَ بِطَعَامٍ فَصُنِعَ وَ أَمَرَ أَنْ يَتَنَوَّقُوا فِيهِ‌[4] ثُمَّ دَعَاهُمْ فَتَغَدَّوْا عِنْدَهُ وَ تَغَدَّى مَعَهُمْ‌[5].

“Once, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was passing by the lepers while riding his donkey. They were having their lunch so they invited him to join them for food. The Imam said, ‘Had 1 not been fasting I would have joined you.’ When he returned home he asked that good food be prepared. He then invited the lepers for food and h

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ص‌ إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا قَدِ ارْتَحَلَتْ مُدْبِرَةً وَ إِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ قَدِ ارْتَحَلَتْ مُقْبِلَةً[7] وَ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُمَا بَنُونَ فَكُونُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ- وَ لَا تَكُونُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الدُّنْيَا أَلَا وَ كُونُوا مِنَ الزَّاهِدِينَ فِي الدُّنْيَا الرَّاغِبِينَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ أَلَا إِنَّ الزَّاهِدِينَ فِي الدُّنْيَا اتَّخَذُوا الْأَرْضَ بِسَاطاً وَ التُّرَابَ فِرَاش

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘The world has begun to move backwards and the next world is moving forward. Each world has its sons. Therefore, you must be of the sons of the next world and not the sons of this world. You must be of those who have reduced their interest in worldly matters and of those seriously in

لِلْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى أَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ عَلَيْهِ إِذَا لَقِيَهُ وَ يَعُودَهُ إِذَا مَرِضَ وَ يَنْصَحَ لَهُ‌[2] إِذَا غَابَ وَ يُسَمِّتَهُ إِذَا عَطَسَ‌[3] وَ يُجِيبَهُ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَ يَتْبَعَهُ إِذَا مَاتَ. - عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ مِثْلَهُ.

“Of the rights of Muslin on a Muslim is to offer him the greeting of peace upon meeting him, visit him when he is ill, protect his interest when he is absent, say, ‘May Allah bless you’ when he sneezes, accept his invitation and take part in the procession for his funeral.” A number of our people have narrated from Ahm

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ زَارَ أَخَاهُ فِي اللَّهِ فِي مَرَضٍ أَوْ صِحَّةٍ لَا يَأْتِيهِ خِدَاعاً وَ لَا اسْتِبْدَالًا[2] وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ سَبْعِينَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ يُنَادُونَ فِي قَفَاهُ أَنْ طِبْتَ وَ طَابَتْ لَكَ الْجَنَّةُ فَأَنْتُمْ زُوَّارُ اللَّهِ وَ أَنْتُمْ وَفْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ‌[3] حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ مَنْزِلَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ يُسَيْرٌ[4] جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ الْمَكَانُ بَعِيداً[5] ق

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah saying, ‘If one visits his brother (in belief) for the sake of Allah, in his illness or in good health, not to deceive or to receive something, Allah will appoint seventy thousand angels to applaud behind him, “How beautiful is your deed! How beautiful is paradise for you! You are the visitor of

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ اجْعَلُوا أَمْرَكُمْ هَذَا لِلَّهِ وَ لَا تَجْعَلُوهُ لِلنَّاسِ فَإِنَّهُ مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ فَهُوَ لِلَّهِ وَ مَا كَانَ لِلنَّاسِ فَلَا يَصْعَدُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَ لَا تُخَاصِمُوا بِدِينِكُمُ النَّاسَ فَإِنَّ الْمُخَاصَمَةَ مَمْرَضَةٌ لِلْقَلْبِ‌[3] إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَالَ لِنَبِيِّهِ ص- إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَ لكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشاءُ[4] وَ قَالَ‌ أَ

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said, ‘Keep your cause (belief), for the sake of Allah and do not make it for people; what is for Allah is for Allah and what is for people cannot ascend to heaven. Do not argue with people about your religion; argumentation causes sickness to the heart. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Hol

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ كَانَ فِي وَصِيَّةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع لِأَصْحَابِهِ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْقُرْآنَ هُدَى اللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ وَ نُورُ اللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْ جَهْدٍ وَ فَاقَةٍ فَإِذَا حَضَرَتْ بَلِيَّةٌ فَاجْعَلُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ دُونَ أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَ إِذَا نَزَلَتْ نَازِلَةٌ فَاجْعَلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ دُونَ دِينِكُمْ وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْهَالِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ دِينُهُ وَ الْحَرِيبَ

“Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) has said, ‘It was in the will of Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) to his companions, “You must know that this Quran is guidance day and night and it is the light in the dark night that is due to hardships and destitution. When misfortune befalls, protect yourselves with your properties.

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ التَّقِيَّةُ مِنْ دِينِ اللَّهِ- قُلْتُ مِنْ دِينِ اللَّهِ قَالَ إِي وَ اللَّهِ مِنْ دِينِ اللَّهِ وَ لَقَدْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ ع- أَيَّتُهَا الْعِيرُ إِنَّكُمْ لَسارِقُونَ‌ وَ اللَّهِ مَا كَانُوا سَرَقُوا شَيْئاً وَ لَقَدْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ع‌ إِنِّي سَقِيمٌ‌ وَ اللَّهِ مَا كَانَ سَقِيماً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Al-Taqiyyah is of the religion of Allah.’ I asked, ‘Is it of the religion of Allah?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, by Allah, it is of the religion of Allah. Yusuf (the prophet) had said, ‘O people of the caravan of camels, you are thieves.’ By Allah, they had not stolen anything and Ibrahim had

خَطَبَ النَّاسَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ص فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنْ أَخٍ لِي كَانَ مِنْ أَعْظَمِ النَّاسِ فِي عَيْنِي وَ كَانَ رَأْسُ مَا عَظُمَ بِهِ فِي عَيْنِي صِغَرَ الدُّنْيَا فِي عَيْنِهِ كَانَ خَارِجاً مِنْ سُلْطَانِ بَطْنِهِ فَلَا يَشْتَهِي مَا لَا يَجِدُ وَ لَا يُكْثِرُ إِذَا وَجَدَ كَانَ خَارِجاً مِنْ سُلْطَانِ فَرْجِهِ- فَلَا يَسْتَخِفُّ لَهُ عَقْلَهُ وَ لَا رَأْيَهُ‌[2]- كَانَ خَارِج

“Al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.) once addressed the people saying, ‘I like to tell you about one of my friends who was the greatest in my sight. The head of what was the greatest in my sight about him was the worthlessness of the world in his sight. He was free of the control of his stomach, thus, he did not have any appetite

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي مَرْضَةٍ مَرِضَهَا لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهُ إِلَّا رَأْسُهُ‌[1] فَقَالَ يَا فُضَيْلُ إِنَّنِي كَثِيراً مَا أَقُولُ مَا عَلَى رَجُلٍ‌[2] عَرَّفَهُ اللَّهُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ لَوْ كَانَ فِي رَأْسِ جَبَلٍ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمَوْتُ يَا فُضَيْلَ بْنَ يَسَارٍ إِنَّ النَّاسَ أَخَذُوا يَمِيناً وَ شِمَالًا وَ إِنَّا وَ شِيعَتَنَا هُدِينَا الصِّراطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ* يَا فُضَيْلَ بْنَ يَسَارٍ إ

“Once I went to see Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) in his illness that he endured and nothing was left of him except his head (due to weakness). The Imam said, I very often O Fudayl, say, ‘A man to whom Allah grants belief in this cause (our Divine Authority) will have no trouble even if he were to live on a mountain until the c

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَشَكَا إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ الْحَاجَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُ اصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيَجْعَلُ لَكَ فَرَجاً قَالَ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ فَقَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ سِجْنِ الْكُوفَةِ كَيْفَ هُوَ فَقَالَ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ ضَيِّقٌ مُنْتِنٌ وَ أَهْلُهُ بِأَسْوَإِ حَالٍ قَالَ فَإِنَّمَا أَنْتَ فِي السِّجْنِ فَتُرِيدُ أَنْ تَكُونَ فِيهِ فِي سَعَةٍ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ ا

“Once I was in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) when a man complained to him about something he needed. The Imam said, ‘Be patient, Allah will make a way out for you.’ The narrator has said that he remained quiet for a while then he turned to the man and said, ‘Tell me about the jail in Kufah, how is it?’ The man s

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَيَتَعَاهَدُ الْمُؤْمِنَ بِالْبَلَاءِ[2] كَمَا يَتَعَاهَدُ الرَّجُلُ أَهْلَهُ بِالْهَدِيَّةِ مِنَ الْغَيْبَةِ وَ يَحْمِيهِ الدُّنْيَا[3] كَمَا يَحْمِي الطَّبِيبُ الْمَرِيضَ.

“Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has an undertaking to try the believers with misfortune just as a man is committed to send gifts to his family in his absence. He holds him (believer) back from the worldly things just as the physicians hold back a patient from certain items of food.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ كَمَثَلِ خَامَةِ الزَّرْعِ‌[1] تُكْفِئُهَا الرِّيَاحُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ كَذَلِكَ الْمُؤْمِنُ تُكْفِئُهُ الْأَوْجَاعُ وَ الْأَمْرَاضُ وَ مَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ كَمَثَلِ الْإِرْزَبَّةِ الْمُسْتَقِيمَةِ[2] الَّتِي لَا يُصِيبُهَا شَيْ‌ءٌ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقْصِفَهُ قَصْفاً[3].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The likeness of the believers is like sprouting plants that are swirled back and forth by the winds. The believers are also turned and bent by pain and illness. The likeness of a hypocrite is that of an iron that is not affected by anything until death comes and shatters him with a (f

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَوْماً لِأَصْحَابِهِ‌ مَلْعُونٌ كُلُّ مَالٍ لَا يُزَكَّى مَلْعُونٌ كُلُّ جَسَدٍ لَا يُزَكَّى وَ لَوْ فِي كُلِّ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً مَرَّةً فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمَّا زَكَاةُ الْمَالِ فَقَدْ عَرَفْنَاهَا فَمَا زَكَاةُ الْأَجْسَادِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ أَنْ تُصَابَ بِآفَةٍ قَالَ فَتَغَيَّرَتْ وُجُوهُ الَّذِينَ سَمِعُوا ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ فَلَمَّا رَآهُمْ قَدْ تَغَيَّرَتْ أَلْوَانُهُمْ قَالَ لَهُمْ

“The Messenger of Allah one day said to his companions, ‘Condemned is every property that is not purified by paying al- Zakat (charity), condemned is the body that is not purified once in every forty days.’ He was then asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, we know how property is purified, but what is al-Zakat (purification) o

إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لَيَكْرُمُ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَتَّى لَوْ سَأَلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا فِيهَا- أَعْطَاهُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْتَقِصَ مِنْ مُلْكِهِ شَيْئاً وَ إِنَّ الْكَافِرَ لَيَهُونُ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَتَّى لَوْ سَأَلَهُ الدُّنْيَا بِمَا فِيهَا أَعْطَاهُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْتَقِصَ مِنْ مُلْكِهِ شَيْئاً وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيَتَعَاهَدُ عَبْدَهُ الْمُؤْمِنَ بِالْبَلَاءِ كَمَا يَتَعَاهَدُ الْغَائِبُ أَهْلَهُ بِالط

“A believer is so important to Allah that if he asks Him paradise and all that is therein. He will give it to him without any shortages caused to His kingdom. The unbeliever is so insignificant before Allah that if he asks the whole world and all that is therein. He will give it to him without any shortages caused in H

‌ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَما أَصْبَرَهُمْ‌ عَلَى النَّارِ[1] فَقَالَ مَا أَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى فِعْلِ مَا يَعْلَمُونَ‌[2] أَنَّهُ يُصَيِّرُهُمْ إِلَى النَّارِ.

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘What has made them remain so patient in the fire?’ (2:175) The Imam said, ‘What has made them so patiently do something that they know will lead them to the fire?”’

أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ عِرْقٍ يَضْرِبُ وَ لَا نَكْبَةٍ وَ لَا صُدَاعٍ وَ لَا مَرَضٍ إِلَّا بِذَنْبٍ وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ- وَ ما أَصابَكُمْ‌ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِما كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ‌ وَ يَعْفُوا عَنْ كَثِيرٍ[3] قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَ مَا يَعْفُو اللَّهُ أَكْثَرُ مِمَّا يُؤَاخِذُ بِهِ.

“No vein is injured, no failure takes place, no headache or illness occurs but because of the sin. This is mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Whatever hardship befalls you is the result of your own deeds. Allah pardons many of your sins.’ (42:30) The Imam then said, ‘Allah forgives more

قَالَ لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع‌ اتَّقِ الْمُرْتَقَى السَّهْلَ إِذَا كَانَ مُنْحَدَرُهُ وَعْراً[1] قَالَ وَ كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ لَا تَدَعِ النَّفْسَ وَ هَوَاهَا- فَإِنَّ هَوَاهَا فِي رَدَاهَا[2] وَ تَرْكُ النَّفْسِ وَ مَا تَهْوَى أَذَاهَا وَ كَفُّ النَّفْسِ عَمَّا تَهْوَى دَوَاهَا.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) once said to me, ‘Beware of an easy climb up that has a very deep and steep climb down.’ “The narrator has said that Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) would say, ‘Do not leave the soul with its desires unguarded; its desires are to destroy it. Leaving the soul with its desires unguarded is hurting the soul, h

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ إِخْوَتِي وَ بَنِي عَمِّي قَدْ ضَيَّقُوا عَلَيَّ الدَّارَ وَ أَلْجَئُونِي مِنْهَا إِلَى بَيْتٍ وَ لَوْ تَكَلَّمْتُ أَخَذْتُ‌[3] مَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِيَ اصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيَجْعَلُ لَكَ فَرَجاً قَالَ فَانْصَرَفْتُ وَ وَقَعَ الْوَبَاءُ فِي سَنَةِ إِحْدَى وَ ثَلَاثِينَ وَ مِائَةٍ[4]- فَمَاتُوا وَ اللَّهِ كُلُّهُمْ فَمَا بَقِيَ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ قَالَ فَخَرَجْتُ فَلَمَّا دَخَلْتُ عَل

“Once I (Tsa) said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘My brothers and cousins have made life very difficult for me. They have forced me out of the house to another house. If I talk to them I am capable to take away what is in their hands.’ The Imam said, ‘Be patient. Allah will make a way out for you.’ I (the narrator) changed m