قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَا عَلِيُّ لَا فَقْرَ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ وَ لَا مَالَ أَعْوَدُ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ[1].
Rasulullah (sw) said, "Oh Ali, no poverty is more sever than ignorance and no wealth is more profitable than intelligence.”
لَا غِنَى أَخْصَبُ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ وَ لَا فَقْرَ أَحَطُّ مِنَ الْحُمْقِ وَ لَا اسْتِظْهَارَ فِي أَمْرٍ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْمَشُورَةِ فِيهِ.
“No wealth is more profitable than intelligence, and no poverty is more limiting than foolishness and never is showing-off in a matter more beneficial than consulting it [with others]."
لَهُ فَلَهُ رِضًا وَ سَخَطٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع نَعَمْ وَ لَكِنْ لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى مَا يُوجَدُ مِنَ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ الرِّضَا حَالٌ تَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهِ فَتَنْقُلُهُ[5] مِنْ حَالٍ إِلَى حَالٍ لِأَنَّ الْمَخْلُوقَ أَجْوَفُ مُعْتَمِلٌ[6] مُرَكَّبٌ لِلْأَشْيَاءِ فِيهِ مَدْخَلٌ وَ خَالِقُنَا لَا مَدْخَلَ لِلْأَشْيَاءِ فِيهِ لِأَنَّهُ وَاحِدٌ وَاحِدِيُّ الذَّاتِ وَاحِدِيُّ الْمَعْنَى فَرِضَاهُ ث
“Does Allah become pleased and displeased?” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) replied, “Yes, but not like that which is found in His creatures. In His creatures the pleasure is a state (hal), which enters into him and changes him from one state to another. The creatures are hollow, active and compound with entrance in them. Nothing
ذُكِرَ عِنْدَهُ قَوْمٌ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يَنْزِلُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَنْزِلُ وَ لَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى أَنْ يَنْزِلَ إِنَّمَا مَنْظَرُهُ[1] فِي الْقُرْبِ وَ الْبُعْدِ سَوَاءٌ لَمْ يَبْعُدْ مِنْهُ قَرِيبٌ وَ لَمْ يَقْرُبْ مِنْهُ بَعِيدٌ- وَ لَمْ يَحْتَجْ إِلَى شَيْءٍ بَلْ يُحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ وَ هُوَ ذُو الطَّوْلِ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيم
“A people was mentioned, before the Imam (a.s.), who believed that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, comes down to the sky above the earth.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Allah does not come down and He does not need to come down. His sight for near and far is the same. Near does not become far for Him and far does not bec
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يُنْعِمْ عَلَى عَبْدٍ نِعْمَةً إِلَّا وَ قَدْ أَلْزَمَهُ فِيهَا الْحُجَّةَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فَجَعَلَهُ قَوِيّاً فَحُجَّتُهُ عَلَيْهِ الْقِيَامُ بِمَا كَلَّفَهُ وَ احْتِمَالُ مَنْ هُوَ دُونَهُ مِمَّنْ هُوَ أَضْعَفُ مِنْهُ وَ مَنْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فَجَعَلَهُ مُوَسَّعاً عَلَيْهِ- فَحُجَّتُهُ عَلَيْهِ مَالُهُ ثُمَّ تَعَاهُدُهُ الْفُقَرَاءَ بَعْدُ بِنَوَافِلِهِ- وَ مَنْ م
“Allah has not granted any bounties to a person without holding him justifiably responsible for them. He gives them bounties and gives them power, which justifies His holding them responsible for their duties. He gives smaller degrees of responsibilities to those who are of lesser degrees of capabilities. One who has r
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَوْلَ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى- وَ كَذلِكَ جَعَلْناكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطاً لِتَكُونُوا شُهَداءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ يَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيداً قَالَ نَحْنُ الْأُمَّةُ الْوَسَطُ وَ نَحْنُ شُهَدَاءُ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى عَلَى خَلْقِهِ وَ حُجَجُهُ فِي أَرْضِهِ قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَ اسْجُدُوا وَ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَ افْعَلُو
The Imam (a.s.) said, “We are the moderate nation and we are the witness for Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, over the activities of His creatures and possess His authority on earth.” I then asked about the meaning of the following verse of the Holy Quran that says, “Believers, worship your Lord, bow down and prost
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِمِنًى- عَنْ خَمْسِمِائَةِ حَرْفٍ مِنَ الْكَلَامِ فَأَقْبَلْتُ أَقُولُ يَقُولُونَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا قَالَ فَيَقُولُ قُلْ كَذَا وَ كَذَا قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا الْحَلَالُ وَ هَذَا الْحَرَامُ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ صَاحِبُهُ وَ أَنَّكَ أَعْلَمُ النَّاسِ بِهِ وَ هَذَا هُوَ الْكَلَامُ فَقَالَ لِي وَيْكَ[5] يَا هِشَامُ لَا يَحْتَجُّ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى عَلَى خَلْقِهِ بِحُجَّةٍ لَا
“They say that he has said so and so.” Then he says, “You say so and so.” I then said to the Imam (a.s.), “May Allah, take my soul in service for your cause, “This is lawful and that is not lawful. I know that you are the authority in this and you are the most knowledgeable person in it and this is al-Kalam.” The Imam
قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع قَدْ كُنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَهَبَ اللَّهُ لَكَ- أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع فَكُنْتَ تَقُولُ يَهَبُ اللَّهُ لِي غُلَاماً فَقَدْ وَهَبَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فَقَرَّ عُيُونُنَا فَلَا أَرَانَا اللَّهُ يَوْمَكَ فَإِنْ كَانَ كَوْنٌ فَإِلَى مَنْ فَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ هُوَ قَائِمٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا ابْنُ ثَلَاثِ سِنِينَ قَالَ وَ مَا يَضُرُّهُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْءٌ ق
“Once I said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘Before Allah would grant you the blessed birth of abu Ja‘far we would ask you the question and you would say that Allah will soon grant you a son. Allah, now, has blessed you with such a favor and may He make him to be the delight for your heart. We wish not to experience a single da
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ نُعِيَتْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص نَفْسُهُ وَ هُوَ صَحِيحٌ لَيْسَ بِهِ وَجَعٌ قَالَ نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ- قَالَ فَنَادَى ص الصَّلَاةَ جَامِعَةً وَ أَمَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَ الْأَنْصَارَ بِالسِّلَاحِ وَ اجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ فَصَعِدَ النَّبِيُّ ص الْمِنْبَرَ فَنَعَى إِلَيْهِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أُذَكِّرُ اللَّهَ الْوَالِيَ مِنْ بَعْدِي عَلَى أُمَّتِي أَلَّا يَرْحَمُ عَلَى
‘The Holy Prophet (sw) was given the news of his own death while he was in a good health and he did not suffer any pain.” He said, “The trusted Spirit came to him.” He said, “The Holy Prophet called for a prayer in congregation. He then ordered the Muhajir and Ansar (people from Makka and the people of Madina) to arm t
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ أَوْ مُسْلِمٍ مَاتَ وَ تَرَكَ دَيْناً لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي فَسَادٍ وَ لَا إِسْرَافٍ فَعَلَى الْإِمَامِ أَنْ يَقْضِيَهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَقْضِهِ فَعَلَيْهِ إِثْمُ ذَلِكَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ- إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقاتُ لِلْفُقَراءِ وَ الْمَساكِينِ الْآيَةَ[1] فَهُوَ مِنَ الْغَارِمِينَ وَ لَهُ سَهْمٌ عِنْدَ الْإِمَامِ فَإِنْ حَبَسَهُ فَإِثْمُهُ عَلَيْهِ.
"The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: 'Any believer or Muslim who dies while leaving behind a debt not incurred for unlawful or extravagant reasons, it will be the responsibility of the Imam to pay it off. Otherwise, its sin is upon him. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, says: 'Welfare funds (zakat) are only for the po
قَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ لَقِيتُ الطَّبَرِيَّ مُحَمَّداً بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأَخْبَرَنِي قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُوسَى ع يَقُولُ الْمُغْرَمُ إِذَا تَدَيَّنَ أَوِ اسْتَدَانَ فِي حَقٍّ الْوَهْمُ مِنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ أُجِّلَ سَنَةً فَإِنِ اتَّسَعَ وَ إِلَّا قَضَى عَنْهُ الْإِمَامُ مِنْ بَيْتِ الْمَالِ.
Ali Bin Muhammad, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Muawiya Bin Hukeym, from Muhammad Bin Aslam, from a man from Tabaristan called Muhammad, said, ‘Muawiya said, ‘And I met the Al Tabary, Muhammad, after that, so he informed me saying, ‘I heard Ali asws Bin Musa asws saying: ‘The debtor, when he lends a loan’, or ‘borrows rega
قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَعَلَنِي إِمَاماً لِخَلْقِهِ فَفَرَضَ عَلَيَّ التَّقْدِيرَ فِي نَفْسِي وَ مَطْعَمِي وَ مَشْرَبِي وَ مَلْبَسِي كَضُعَفَاءِ النَّاسِ كَيْ يَقْتَدِيَ الْفَقِيرُ بِفَقْرِي وَ لَا يُطْغِيَ الْغَنِيَّ غِنَاهُ.
1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from Hammad from Humayd and Jabir al-‘Abdi who has said the following. “Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah has appointed me the Imam for His creation, Therefore, He made it obligatory for me to discipline myself in the matters of
فِي احْتِجَاجِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَى عَاصِمِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ حِينَ لَبِسَ الْعَبَاءَ وَ تَرَكَ الْمُلَاءَ وَ شَكَاهُ أَخُوهُ الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَنَّهُ قَدْ غَمَّ أَهْلَهُ وَ أَحْزَنَ وُلْدَهُ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَيَّ بِعَاصِمِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ فَجِيءَ بِهِ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ عَبَسَ فِي وَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَ مَا اسْتَحْيَيْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ أَ مَا رَحِمْتَ
The Hadith is about the protest of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) against ‘Asim ibn Ziyad who had confined himself in a gown away from the people. His brother, al-Rabi‘ ibn Ziyad complained before Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) complained that his ‘Asim’s family had become depressed and his sons had been sadden because of his behavi
فِيكَ مَا قَالَ وَ قَدْ حَجَجْتَ عِشْرِينَ حَجَّةً مَاشِياً وَ قَدْ قَاسَمْتَ مَالَكَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ حَتَّى النَّعْلَ بِالنَّعْلِ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا أَبْكِي لِخَصْلَتَيْنِ لِهَوْلِ الْمُطَّلَعِ وَ فِرَاقِ الْأَحِبَّةِ.
"When al-Hassan was about to die he wept. He was asked, 'O son of the Messenger of Allah, why would you weep, when you have such a position with the Messenger of Allah such as you have? And all the (good things) said about you. You have performed Hajj twenty times on foot and distributed all of your belongings among th
لَمَّا حَمَلَتْ فَاطِمَةُ ع بِالْحُسَيْنِ جَاءَ جَبْرَئِيلُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ ع سَتَلِدُ غُلَاماً تَقْتُلُهُ أُمَّتُكَ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَلَمَّا حَمَلَتْ فَاطِمَةُ بِالْحُسَيْنِ ع كَرِهَتْ حَمْلَهُ وَ حِينَ وَضَعَتْهُ كَرِهَتْ وَضْعَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَمْ تُرَ فِي الدُّنْيَا أُمٌّ تَلِدُ غُلَاماً تَكْرَهُهُ وَ لَكِنَّهَا كَرِهَتْهُ لِمَا عَلِمَتْ أَنَّهُ سَيُقْتَلُ قَالَ
“When Fatima (a.s.) conceived al-Husayn (a.s.) Jibril came to the Messenger of Allah and said, “Fatima will soon give birth to a son. Your ’Umma (followers) will kill him after you will die.” When Fatima had conceived al-Husayn she was unhappy and when she gave birth she was unhappy. Then The Imam (a.s.) said, “No moth
إِنَّ جَبْرَئِيلَ ع نَزَلَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ص فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِمَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ مِنْ فَاطِمَةَ تَقْتُلُهُ أُمَّتُكَ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَقَالَ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ وَ عَلَى رَبِّيَ السَّلَامُ لَا حَاجَةَ لِي فِي مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ مِنْ فَاطِمَةَ تَقْتُلُهُ أُمَّتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي فَعَرَجَ ثُمَّ هَبَطَ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ وَ عَلَى رَبِّيَ السَّلَامُ لَا حَاجَةَ
“Once Jibril came to Muhammad (s.a) and said tohim, “O Muhammad, Allah gives you the glad news of the birth of a son from Fatima. Your ’Umma (followers0 will kill this child after you will die.” He said, “O Jibril peace is from my Lord. I do not need a child from Fatima who will be killed by my ’Umma after I will die.”
عِنْدَنَا خَزَائِنُ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَفَاتِيحُهَا وَ لَوْ شِئْتُ أَنْ أَقُولَ بِإِحْدَى رِجْلَيَّ أَخْرِجِي مَا فِيكِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ لَأَخْرَجَتْ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ بِإِحْدَى رِجْلَيْهِ فَخَطَّهَا فِي الْأَرْضِ خَطّاً فَانْفَرَجَتِ الْأَرْضُ ثُمَّ قَالَ بِيَدِهِ فَأَخْرَجَ سَبِيكَةَ ذَهَبٍ قَدْرَ شِبْرٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ انْظُرُوا حَسَناً فَنَظَرْنَا فَإِذَا سَبَائِكُ كَثِيرَةٌ بَعْضُهَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ يَتَلَأْلَأُ فَقَالَ لَهُ
“Once we were in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and he said, “We have the key to the treassures of the earth. If I would say to one of my foot to say to the earth, ‘Let out whatever all the gold that is there in you, it will do so.” The narrator has said that he then said to one of his feet and made aline withit
سَمِعْتُ الْعَبْدَ الصَّالِحَ يَنْعَى إِلَى رَجُلٍ نَفْسَهُ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي وَ إِنَّهُ لَيَعْلَمُ مَتَى يَمُوتُ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ شِبْهَ الْمُغْضَبِ فَقَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ قَدْ كَانَ رُشَيْدٌ الْهَجَرِيُّ يَعْلَمُ عِلْمَ الْمَنَايَا وَ الْبَلَايَا وَ الْإِمَامُ أَوْلَى بِعِلْمِ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ اصْنَعْ مَا أَنْتَ صَانِعٌ فَإِنَّ عُمُرَكَ قَدْ فَنِيَ وَ إِنَّكَ تَمُوتُ إِ
“Once I heard the pious servant of Allah giving the news of his own death to a man. I thought that he might or might not know when a person from his Shi‘a (followers) would die. He turned to me as if angry and said, “O Ishaq, if Rashid al-Hajri possessed the knowledge of deaths and suffering, the necessity for such kno
لَمَّا أَرَادَ هَارُونُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ أَنْ يُوَاقِعَ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع اذْهَبْ إِلَيْهِ وَ قُلْ لَهُ لَا تَخْرُجْ غَداً فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ خَرَجْتَ غَداً هُزِمْتَ وَ قُتِلَ أَصْحَابُكَ فَإِنْ سَأَلَكَ مِنْ أَيْنَ عَلِمْتَ هَذَا فَقُلْ رَأَيْتُ فِي الْمَنَامِ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَا تَخْرُجْ غَداً فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ خَرَجْتَ هُزِمْتَ وَ قُتِلَ أَصْحَ
“When Harun ibn al-Musayyib decided to fight Muhammad ibn Ja‘far, abu al-Hassan (a.s.) told me to go to him and say, “Do not go our tomorrow. If would do so you will be defeated and your people will be killed.” If he would ask, “How do youknow that?” Say, “I saw it in my dream.” The narrator has said that he went to hi
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الْإِمَامَ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مَا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ[3] إِنَّمَا النَّاسُ يَحْتَاجُونَ أَنْ يَقْبَلَ مِنْهُمُ الْإِمَامُ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَ تُزَكِّيهِمْ بِها[4].
“Whoever would think that imam is needy to what people own he would become an unbeliever. It is the people who need that Imam accept from them. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, has said, “Collect religious tax (zakat) from them to purify and cleanse them and pray for them;. .” (9:103)
سَمِعْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ نَحْنُ وَ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ عَنَى اللَّهُ بِذِي الْقُرْبَى الَّذِينَ قَرَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَ نَبِيِّهِ ص فَقَالَ ما أَفاءَ اللَّهُ عَلى رَسُولِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرى فَلِلَّهِ وَ لِلرَّسُولِ وَ لِذِي الْقُرْبى وَ الْيَتامى وَ الْمَساكِينِ[2] مِنَّا خَاصَّةً وَ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لَنَا سَهْماً فِي الصَّدَقَةِ أَكْرَمَ اللَّهُ نَبِيَّهُ وَ أَكْرَمَنَا أَنْ يُطْعِمَن
“I heard Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) say, ‘We, By Allah, are the ones to whom Allah has referred by the words ‘Dhi al-Qurba’ (relatives) and has given the same status as to Him self and His the Holy Prophet (s.a). He has said, “Whatever God grants to His Messenger (out of the property) of the people of the towns, belon
الْخُمُسُ مِنْ خَمْسَةِ أَشْيَاءَ مِنَ الْغَنَائِمِ وَ الْغَوْصِ وَ مِنَ الْكُنُوزِ وَ مِنَ الْمَعَادِنِ وَ الْمَلَّاحَةِ[4] يُؤْخَذُ مِنْ كُلِّ هَذِهِ الصُّنُوفِ الْخُمُسُ فَيُجْعَلُ لِمَنْ جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لَهُ وَ يُقْسَمُ الْأَرْبَعَةُ الْأَخْمَاسِ بَيْنَ مَنْ قَاتَلَ عَلَيْهِ[5] وَ وَلِيَ ذَلِكَ وَ يُقْسَمُ بَيْنَهُمُ الْخُمُسُ عَلَى سِتَّةِ أَسْهُمٍ- سَهْمٌ لِلَّهِ وَ سَهْمٌ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَ سَهْمٌ
“Al-Khums (one fifth) is due on five categories of properties. 1 Cattle 2 Properties acquired from diving deep waters 3 The treasures 4 The mines and Salts. On each of such categories al-Khums is due. Such one fifth is distributed just as Allah has done. The remaining four portions is distributed among those who has ta
كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ صَالِحُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ وَ كَانَ يَتَوَلَّى لَهُ الْوَقْفَ بِقُمَ[2] فَقَالَ يَا سَيِّدِي اجْعَلْنِي مِنْ عَشَرَةِ آلَافٍ فِي حِلٍّ فَإِنِّي أَنْفَقْتُهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ أَنْتَ فِي حِلٍّ فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ صَالِحٌ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع أَحَدُهُمْ يَثِبُ عَلَى أَمْوَالِ حَقِّ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَيْتَامِهِمْ وَ مَسَاكِينِهِمْ وَ فُقَرَائِهِمْ وَ أَبْن
“My master, wave to me ten thousand because I have already spent it.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is waved in your favor.” When Salih left then abu Ja‘far (a.s.) said as herein below. “Once one of them gets his hand on the property that belongs to Ahl al-Bayt of Muhammad (s.a), to their orphans, their destitute, to their
بَعَثَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي حَاجَةٍ وَ هُوَ بِالْحِيرَةِ أَنَا وَ جَمَاعَةً مِنْ مَوَالِيهِ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْنَا فِيهَا ثُمَّ رَجَعْنَا مُغْتَمِّينَ[1] قَالَ وَ كَانَ فِرَاشِي فِي الْحَائِرِ الَّذِي كُنَّا فِيهِ نُزُولًا فَجِئْتُ وَ أَنَا بِحَالٍ[2] فَرَمَيْتُ بِنَفْسِي فَبَيْنَا أَنَا كَذَلِكَ إِذَا أَنَا بِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَدْ أَقْبَلَ قَالَ فَقَالَ قَدْ أَتَيْنَاكَ أَوْ قَالَ جِئْنَاكَ فَاسْتَوَي
Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once sent me with a group of his followers for an errand and at that time he was in Hirah (a place near Kufa, Iraq). We left for it and returned depressed. My bed was in al-Ha’ir (a comfortable private quarter). I went there in an upset condition and threw myself thereat. At this time Abu ‘Abdilla
الْمَكَارِمُ عَشْرٌ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَكُونَ فِيكَ فَلْتَكُنْ فَإِنَّهَا تَكُونُ فِي الرَّجُلِ وَ لَا تَكُونُ فِي وَلَدِهِ وَ تَكُونُ فِي الْوَلَدِ وَ لَا تَكُونُ فِي أَبِيهِ وَ تَكُونُ فِي الْعَبْدِ وَ لَا تَكُونُ فِي الْحُرِّ قِيلَ وَ مَا هُنَّ قَالَ صِدْقُ الْبَأْسِ[3] وَ صِدْقُ اللِّسَانِ وَ أَدَاءُ الْأَمَانَةِ وَ صِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ وَ إِقْرَاءُ الضَّيْفِ[4]- وَ إِطْعَامُ السَّائِلِ وَ الْمُكَافَأَةُ عَلَ
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Noble (human) qualities are ten. If you can establish all of them so be it. Such qualities may be found in a man but may not be found in his children. They may be found in the children but not in the father. At times they are found in a slave person but not in a free one.’ It was asked
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عِبَاداً لَا يَصْلُحُ لَهُمْ أَمْرُ دِينِهِمْ إِلَّا بِالْغِنَى وَ السَّعَةِ وَ الصِّحَّةِ فِي الْبَدَنِ فَأَبْلُوهُمْ بِالْغِنَى وَ السَّعَةِ وَ صِحَّةِ الْبَدَنِ فَيَصْلُحُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَمْرُ دِينِهِمْ وَ إِنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَعِبَاداً لَا يَصْلُحُ لَهُمْ أَمْرُ دِينِهِمْ إِلَّا بِالْفَاقَةِ وَ الْمَسْكَنَةِ وَ
4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from Dawud al-Riqqiy from ‘Ubayda al-Hadhdha’ from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘Among My believing servants there are those whose
كُنَّا فِي مَجْلِسٍ نَطْلُبُ فِيهِ الْعِلْمَ وَ قَدْ نَفِدَتْ نَفَقَتِي فِي بَعْضِ الْأَسْفَارِ فَقَالَ لِي بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا مَنْ تُؤَمِّلُ لِمَا قَدْ نَزَلَ بِكَ فَقُلْتُ فُلَاناً فَقَالَ إِذاً وَ اللَّهِ لَا تُسْعَفُ[1] حَاجَتُكَ وَ لَا يَبْلُغُكَ أَمَلُكَ وَ لَا تُنْجَحُ طَلِبَتُكَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا عَلَّمَكَ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع حَدَّثَنِي أَنَّهُ قَرَأَ فِي بَعْضِ الْكُتُبِ أَنَّ ا
“We were in a gathering to seek knowledge and education. During one of the journeys I was left without any resources for my expenditures. A certain individual of my friends was concerned about who would look after my needs. I said, ‘So and so will look after my needs.’ He then said, ‘I swear by Allah, you will not get
قَالَ لِي يَا جَابِرُ أَ يَكْتَفِي مَنِ انْتَحَلَ التَّشَيُّعَ[2] أَنْ يَقُولَ بِحُبِّنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا شِيعَتُنَا إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّقَى اللَّهَ وَ أَطَاعَهُ وَ مَا كَانُوا يُعْرَفُونَ يَا جَابِرُ إِلَّا بِالتَّوَاضُعِ وَ التَّخَشُّعِ وَ الْأَمَانَةِ وَ كَثْرَةِ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَ الصَّوْمِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ وَ الْبِرِّ بِالْوَالِدَيْنِ وَ التَّعَاهُدِ لِلْجِيرَانِ مِنَ الْفُقَرَاءِ وَ أَهْلِ الْمَسْكَ
3. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn Salim and Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father all from Ahmad ibn al-Nadr from ‘Amr ibn Shamir from Jabir from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “O Jabir, do people think just claiming to be our Shi’a and saying they love us ( Ahl al-Bayt) is enough f
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَا أَقْبَحَ الْفَقْرَ بَعْدَ الْغِنَى وَ أَقْبَحَ الْخَطِيئَةَ بَعْدَ الْمَسْكَنَةِ وَ أَقْبَحُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْعَابِدُ لِلَّهِ ثُمَّ يَدَعُ عِبَادَتَهُ.
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘How ugly is poverty after riches, sin in destitution and worst of all worshipping Allah and then giving up His worship.’”
إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ الْمُؤْمِنَ الْفَقِيرَ لَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ ارْزُقْنِي حَتَّى أَفْعَلَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا مِنَ الْبِرِّ وَ وُجُوهِ الْخَيْرِ فَإِذَا عَلِمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ بِصِدْقِ نِيَّةٍ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلَ مَا يَكْتُبُ لَهُ لَوْ عَمِلَهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاسِعٌ كَرِيمٌ.
“The poor believing servant (of Allah) says, ‘O Lord bestow upon me such and such so that I can do so and so good deeds. If Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, finds that his intention is true He will write down for him a reward (just for his intention) equal to the degree of good deeds had his intention materiali
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْحُرَّ حُرٌّ عَلَى جَمِيعِ أَحْوَالِهِ إِنْ نَابَتْهُ نَائِبَةٌ[3] صَبَرَ لَهَا وَ إِنْ تَدَاكَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الْمَصَائِبُ[4] لَمْ تَكْسِرْهُ وَ إِنْ أُسِرَ وَ قُهِرَ وَ اسْتُبْدِلَ بِالْيُسْرِ عُسْراً[5] كَمَا كَانَ يُوسُفُ الصِّدِّيقُ الْأَمِينُ ص لَمْ يَضْرُرْ حُرِّيَّتَهُ أَنِ اسْتُعْبِدَ وَ قُهِرَ وَ أُسِرَ وَ لَمْ تَضْرُرْهُ ظُلْمَةُ الْجُبِّ وَ وَحْشَتُهُ[6] وَ
“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘A free person is free in all conditions. Even if hardships strike him he exercises patience, if afflictions batter him he does not break down even if he is taken as a captive and is overpowered and his comfort and prosperity are changed into poverty and hardships, just as in the c
الْجَنَّةُ مَحْفُوفَةٌ[7] بِالْمَكَارِهِ وَ الصَّبْرِ فَمَنْ صَبَرَ عَلَى الْمَكَارِهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ وَ جَهَنَّمُ مَحْفُوفَةٌ بِاللَّذَّاتِ وَ الشَّهَوَاتِ- فَمَنْ أَعْطَى نَفْسَهُ لَذَّتَهَا وَ شَهْوَتَهَا دَخَلَ النَّارَ.
“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Paradise is kept behind layers of hardship and patience. Whoever exercises patience in hardship in the worldly life will go to paradise. Hell is placed behind enjoyments and desires. Whoever allows his soul to indulge in enjoyment and desires will go to hell.’”
قَالَ لِي مَا حَبَسَكَ عَنِ الْحَجِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَقَعَ عَلَيَّ دَيْنٌ كَثِيرٌ وَ ذَهَبَ مَالِي وَ دَيْنِيَ الَّذِي قَدْ لَزِمَنِي هُوَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ ذَهَابِ مَالِي فَلَوْ لَا أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا أَخْرَجَنِي مَا قَدَرْتُ أَنْ أَخْرُجَ فَقَالَ لِي إِنْ تَصْبِرْ تُغْتَبَطْ وَ إِلَّا تَصْبِرْ يُنْفِذِ اللَّهُ مَقَادِيرَهُ رَاضِياً كُنْتَ أَمْ كَارِهاً.
“Once abu al-Hassan (a.s.) said to me, ‘What is holding you back from performing Hajj?’ I said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I am indebted a great deal and my properties are gone. It is my debt that is holding me down and is worse than the loss of my properties. If someone from our people does not
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
الصَّبْرُ صَبْرَانِ صَبْرٌ عَلَى الْبَلَاءِ حَسَنٌ جَمِيلٌ وَ أَفْضَلُ الصَّبْرَيْنِ الْوَرَعُ عَنِ الْمَحَارِمِ.
“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Patience is of two kinds: to exercise patience in hardship, which is good and graceful, yet, the best of patience is that which is exercised to stop one from committing what Allah has prohibited.”’
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الصَّبْرُ ثَلَاثَةٌ صَبْرٌ عِنْدَ الْمُصِيبَةِ وَ صَبْرٌ عَلَى الطَّاعَةِ وَ صَبْرٌ عَنِ الْمَعْصِيَةِ[4] فَمَنْ صَبَرَ عَلَى الْمُصِيبَةِ حَتَّى يَرُدَّهَا بِحُسْنِ عَزَائِهَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ ثَلَاثَمِائَةِ دَرَجَةٍ مَا بَيْنَ الدَّرَجَةِ إِلَى الدَّرَجَةِ كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَ مَنْ صَبَرَ عَلَى الطَّاعَةِ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ سِتَّمِائَةِ دَرَجَةٍ مَا بَيْنَ الدَّرَج
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Patience is of three kinds: patience at the time of suffering hardship, patience in performing acts of obedience (worship) and patience to stop one from committing what Allah has prohibited. For one who exercises patience at the time of suffering hardship until one passes it by with g
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَنِ ابْتُلِيَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِبَلَاءٍ فَصَبَرَ عَلَيْهِ كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ أَلْفِ شَهِيدٍ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever among the believers exercises patience at the time of suffering hardship he will have a reward equal to the reward of a thousand martyrs.’”
اصْبِرُوا عَلَى الْمَصَائِبِ. - وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ ابْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: صَابِرُوا عَلَى الْمَصَائِبِ
“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Believers, have patience, help each other with patience. . . .,’ (3:200) the Imam has said, ‘It means to exercise patience in suffering hardship.’” In the narration of ibn abu Ya’fur from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) it says, “Exercise patience in suffering afflicti
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِنِّي جَعَلْتُ الدُّنْيَا بَيْنَ عِبَادِي قَرْضاً فَمَنْ أَقْرَضَنِي مِنْهَا قَرْضاً أَعْطَيْتُهُ بِكُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ عَشْراً إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ وَ مَا شِئْتُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يُقْرِضْنِي مِنْهَا قَرْضاً فَأَخَذْتُ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً قَسْراً فَصَبَرَ أَعْطَيْتُهُ ثَلَاثَ خِصَالٍ لَوْ أَعْطَيْتُ وَاحِدَةً مِنْهُنَّ مَلَائِكَتِي لَرَضُوا بِهَا مِنِّي قَا
“The Messenger of Allah has said that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘I have made the world a borrowing (place) for My servants. Whoever gives Me a loan I will return it ten times over up to seven hundred times over, and more if I so wish. Those who do not lend Me a loan I will take something forcib
مُرُوَّةُ الصَّبْرِ[2] فِي حَالِ الْحَاجَةِ وَ الْفَاقَةِ وَ التَّعَفُّفِ وَ الْغِنَى[3] أَكْثَرُ مِنْ مُرُوَّةِ الْإِعْطَاءِ.
“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘The courage to exercise patience in times of need and poverty with chastity and self-sufficiency is more than the courage needed to give charity.’”
ثَلَاثٌ مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ أَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ الْجَنَّةَ الْإِنْفَاقُ مِنْ إِقْتَارٍ[2] وَ الْبِشْرُ لِجَمِيعِ الْعَالَمِ وَ الْإِنْصَافُ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘If Allah grants to a person one of three things, He will make paradise necessary for him. They are: To give charity in poverty, to have delightful appearance in all people and to exercise justice even against one’s own self.”’
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِرَجُلٍ أَتَاهُ أَ لَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَمْرٍ يُدْخِلُكَ اللَّهُ بِهِ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ أَنِلْ مِمَّا أَنَالَكَ اللَّهُ[4] قَالَ فَإِنْ كُنْتُ أَحْوَجَ مِمَّنْ أُنِيلُهُ قَالَ فَانْصُرِ الْمَظْلُومَ قَالَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتُ أَضْعَفَ مِمَّنْ أَنْصُرُهُ قَالَ فَاصْنَعْ لِلْأَخْرَقِ[5] يَعْنِي أَشِرْ عَلَيْهِ[6]- قَالَ فَإِنْ كُنْتُ أَخْرَقَ مِمَّنْ أَصْنَعُ لَهُ قَ
“The Messenger of Allah said to a man who had come to see him, ‘Should I guide you to a matter with which Allah will enter you in paradise?’ The man said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Give of what Allah has given you.’ The man asked, ‘What if I were more needy than the recipient?’ The Mess
مَنْ يَضْمَنُ لِي أَرْبَعَةً بِأَرْبَعَةِ أَبْيَاتٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ[1] أَنْفِقْ وَ لَا تَخَفْ فَقْراً وَ أَفْشِ السَّلَامَ فِي الْعَالَمِ وَ اتْرُكِ الْمِرَاءَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مُحِقّاً وَ أَنْصِفِ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ.
“Whoever likes to guarantee four things for me, I guarantee four homes in paradise. (He should guarantee me) to give charity without fear from his poverty, to speak out loud the greetings of peace in the world and quit excessive argumentation even though he is on the side of right. He must yield to justice for people a
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ وَاسَى الْفَقِيرَ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَ أَنْصَفَ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ فَذَلِكَ الْمُؤْمِنُ حَقّاً.
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever comforts the poor with his property and yields to justice for people against his own soul indeed is a believer.”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ طَلَبُ الْحَوَائِجِ إِلَى النَّاسِ اسْتِلَابٌ[3] لِلْعِزِّ وَ مَذْهَبَةٌ لِلْحَيَاءِ وَ الْيَأْسُ مِمَّا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ عِزٌّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ فِي دِينِهِ وَ الطَّمَعُ هُوَ الْفَقْرُ الْحَاضِرُ.
“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) say, ‘Asking people for help is seeking to abolish one’s respect, as well as one’s bashfulness. Placing no hope in what is in the hands of people is dignity for a believer in his religion and greed is poverty at hand.’”
الْيَأْسُ مِمَّا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ عِزُّ الْمُؤْمِنِ فِي دِينِهِ أَ وَ مَا سَمِعْتَ قَوْلَ حَاتِمٍ- إِذَا مَا عَزَمْتَ الْيَأْسَ أَلْفَيْتَهُ الْغِنَى إِذَا عَرَّفْتَهُ النَّفْسَ وَ الطَّمَعُ الْفَقْرُ
“A believer’s having no hope in (what is in the hands of) people, is his respect and power in his religion. Have you not heard the words of Hatim, ‘When I decided not to have any hope I found it to be independence, when I made the soul to know it. Greed is poverty?”’ (The quote is due to its popularity not as evidence)
قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع لَنْ يَرْغَبَ الْمَرْءُ عَنْ عَشِيرَتِهِ[3] وَ إِنْ كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَ وَلَدٍ وَ عَنْ مَوَدَّتِهِمْ وَ كَرَامَتِهِمْ وَ دِفَاعِهِمْ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ وَ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ هُمْ أَشَدُّ النَّاسِ حِيطَةً[4] مِنْ وَرَائِهِ وَ أَعْطَفُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَ أَلَمُّهُمْ لِشَعَثِهِ إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ مُصِيبَةٌ أَوْ نَزَلَ بِهِ بَعْضُ مَكَارِهِ الْأُمُورِ وَ مَنْ يَقْبِضْ يَدَهُ عَنْ عَشِيرَتِهِ فَإِنَّمَا
“Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘A man must never turn away from his relatives, even if he is wealthy and has many children. He must not fail to love them, must not ignore their honor, their defense with his hands and tongue. They are the strongest defending power behind him and the most kind to
أَتَى رَجُلٌ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي رَاغِبٌ فِي الْجِهَادِ نَشِيطٌ[1] قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ص فَجَاهِدْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ تُقْتَلْ تَكُنْ حَيّاً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تُرْزَقْ وَ إِنْ تَمُتْ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ إِنْ رَجَعْتَ رَجَعْتَ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ كَمَا وُلِدْتَ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِي وَالِدَيْنِ كَبِيرَيْنِ يَزْعُمَانِ أَنَّهُمَا يَأْ
“Once a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘I am interested in Jihad (joining the army) O Messenger of Allah. I am active and light.’ The Imam said, ‘The Holy Prophet said, “Do Jihad (join the army) in the way of Allah, if you will be killed you will be living with Allah and will receive sustenance. If you di
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع هَلْ يَجْزِي الْوَلَدُ وَالِدَهُ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ لَهُ جَزَاءٌ إِلَّا فِي خَصْلَتَيْنِ يَكُونُ الْوَالِدُ مَمْلُوكاً فَيَشْتَرِيهِ ابْنُهُ فَيُعْتِقُهُ أَوْ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ فَيَقْضِيهِ عَنْهُ.
“I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘Can a son pay back (for the favors of) a father?’ The Imam said, ‘There is no payment for him except two things: if the father is a slave and the son buys him and sets him free, or the father is in debt and the son pays it off.’”
كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ فَسَلَّمَ فَسَأَلَهُ كَيْفَ مَنْ خَلَّفْتَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِكَ قَالَ فَأَحْسَنَ الثَّنَاءَ وَ زَكَّى وَ أَطْرَى[2] فَقَالَ لَهُ كَيْفَ عِيَادَةُ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ عَلَى فُقَرَائِهِمْ فَقَالَ قَلِيلَةٌ قَالَ وَ كَيْفَ مُشَاهَدَةُ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ لِفُقَرَائِهِمْ[3] قَالَ قَلِيلَةٌ قَالَ فَكَيْفَ صِلَةُ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ لِفُقَرَائِهِمْ فِي ذَاتِ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَقَالَ إِنَّك
“Once, I was in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) when a man came and offered the greeting of peace. The Imam asked, ‘How are your brothers (in belief) whom you have left behind?’ He praised, admired and extolled them. The Imam asked, ‘Do their wealthy ones visit their poor ones?’ He said, ‘It is very rare.’ The Ima