Wealth & Money

كُنْتُ أَطُوفُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَعَرَضَ لِي رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا كَانَ سَأَلَنِي الذَّهَابَ مَعَهُ فِي حَاجَةٍ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيَّ فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَدَعَ‌ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَذْهَبَ إِلَيْهِ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا أَطُوفُ إِذْ أَشَارَ إِلَيَّ أَيْضاً فَرَآهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ يَا أَبَانُ إِيَّاكَ يُرِيدُ هَذَا قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَمَنْ هُوَ قُلْتُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا قَالَ هُوَ عَلَى

“Once I was performing Tawaf (walking seven times around the Ka’ba) along with Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) when a man from our people came up asking me to go with him for a certain need and hinted to me for that purpose, but I did not like to leave Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and go with him. I was still performing Tawaf when he mad

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

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ الشِّيعَةَ عِنْدَنَا كَثِيرٌ فَقَالَ فَهَلْ يَعْطِفُ الْغَنِيُّ عَلَى الْفَقِيرِ وَ هَلْ يَتَجَاوَزُ الْمُحْسِنُ عَنِ الْمُسِي‌ءِ وَ يَتَوَاسَوْنَ فَقُلْتُ لَا فَقَالَ لَيْسَ هَؤُلَاءِ شِيعَةً- الشِّيعَةُ مَنْ يَفْعَلُ هَذَا.

“Once I said to abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, there is a great number of Shi’a in our area. The Imam asked, ‘Are their rich ones kind to their poor ones? Do their virtuous ones forgive their sinful ones? Do they assist each other financially?’ I said, ‘No, they do not do so.’ The

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أُوَدِّعُهُ فَقَالَ يَا خَيْثَمَةُ أَبْلِغْ مَنْ تَرَى مِنْ مَوَالِينَا السَّلَامَ وَ أَوْصِهِمْ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ وَ أَنْ يَعُودَ غَنِيُّهُمْ عَلَى فَقِيرِهِمْ وَ قَوِيُّهُمْ عَلَى ضَعِيفِهِمْ وَ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ حَيُّهُمْ جِنَازَةَ مَيِّتِهِمْ وَ أَنْ يَتَلَاقَوْا فِي بُيُوتِهِمْ فَإِنَّ لُقِيَّا[1] بَعْضِهِمْ بَعْضاً حَيَاةٌ لِأَمْرِنَا رَحِمَ اللَّهُ عَبْداً أَحْيَا أَمْرَن

“Once I went to see abu Ja’far (a.s.) to say farewell. He said, ‘O Khaythamah, convey our greeting of peace to whoever of our followers you may see and advise them to be pious before Allah, the Most Great, that their rich ones look after their poor ones, the stronger ones look after their weaker ones, that the living a

ذُكِرَ أَصْحَابُنَا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقُلْتُ مَا أَتَغَدَّى وَ لَا أَتَعَشَّى‌[4] إِلَّا وَ مَعِيَ مِنْهُمُ الِاثْنَانِ وَ الثَّلَاثَةُ وَ أَقَلُّ وَ أَكْثَرُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَضْلُهُمْ عَلَيْكَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ وَ أَنَا أُطْعِمُهُمْ طَعَامِي وَ أُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ مَالِي وَ أُخْدِمُهُمْ عِيَالِي فَقَالَ إِنَّهُمْ إِذَا دَخَلُوا عَلَي

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from abu Muhammad al-Wabishi who has said the following: “Our people were mentioned before abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant. I said, ‘I do not eat lunch or dinner without two, three or more or less of them with me.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تُعْتِقَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ نَسَمَةً قُلْتُ‌ لَا يَحْتَمِلُ مَالِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ تُطْعِمُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ مُسْلِماً فَقُلْتُ مُوسِراً أَوْ مُعْسِراً قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْمُوسِرَ قَدْ يَشْتَهِي الطَّعَامَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has asked, ‘What prevents you from setting free a soul every day?’ I said, ‘My property is not enough to bear it.’ The Imam said, ‘Feed a Muslim every day.’ I asked, ‘Is it so, regardless, of his being affluent or poor?’ The Imam said, ‘Affluent people also desire food.’”

أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ كَسَا مُؤْمِناً ثَوْباً مِنْ عُرْيٍ كَسَاهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ إِسْتَبْرَقِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ مَنْ كَسَا مُؤْمِناً ثَوْباً مِنْ غِنًى لَمْ يَزَلْ فِي سِتْرٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الثَّوْبِ خِرْقَةٌ

“Whoever provides clothes for a believer (while in need) for covering, Allah will dress up the former with Istabraq (a kind of fine clothing) of paradise. Whoever provides clothes for a believer (while he already has enough) for covering he will live under the protection of Allah as long as anything is left of that clo

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ مِنْ شِيعَتِنَا مُنَازَعَةً فَافْتَدِهَا مِنْ مَالِي‌[1].

‘When you find two of our followers disputing, settle it between them by means of paying from my property.’”

مَرَّ بِنَا الْمُفَضَّلُ وَ أَنَا وَ خَتَنِي‌[3] نَتَشَاجَرُ فِي مِيرَاثٍ فَوَقَفَ عَلَيْنَا سَاعَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ لَنَا تَعَالَوْا إِلَى الْمَنْزِلِ فَأَتَيْنَاهُ فَأَصْلَحَ بَيْنَنَا بِأَرْبَعِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ فَدَفَعَهَا إِلَيْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَوْثَقَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنَّا مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ مِنْ مَالِي وَ لَكِنْ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَمَرَنِي إِذَا تَنَازَعَ رَجُلَانِ مِ

Al-Mufaddal once passed us nearby, while my daughter in-law and I were disputing about a legacy. He stood by for a while and then said to us, ‘Come to my house.’ We went there and he settled it between us for four hundred dirhams, which he paid from his own pocket until each of us was happy with the other. He then said

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.

سَلَامَةُ الدِّينِ وَ صِحَّةُ الْبَدَنِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْمَالِ وَ الْمَالُ زِينَةٌ مِنْ زِينَةِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ. - مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ رِبْعِيٍّ عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ مِثْلَهُ.

“Soundness of religion and good health is better than property. Property is a beauty of the worldly beauties and it is a good thing.” Muhammad ibn Isma’il has narrated from Fadl ibn Shadhan from Hammad from Rib’i from al-Fudayl from abu Ja’far (a.s.) a similar Hadith.

كَانَ رَجُلٌ يَدْخُلُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَغَبَرَ زَمَاناً[4] لَا يَحُجُّ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ بَعْضُ مَعَارِفِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ فُلَانٌ مَا فَعَلَ‌[5] قَالَ فَجَعَلَ يُضَجِّعُ الْكَلَامَ‌[6] يَظُنُّ أَنَّهُ إِنَّمَا يَعْنِي الْمَيْسَرَةَ وَ الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَيْفَ دِينُهُ فَقَالَ كَمَا تُحِبُّ فَقَالَ هُوَ وَ اللَّهِ الْغِنَى.

“A man, of the companions of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) would very often attend the gathering with the Imam. He remained absent for a certain time and did not attend Hajj also. Once a certain individual of his people who knew him came in and the Imam asked, ‘How so and so is doing?’ The narrator has said that the man then be

الْمُؤْمِنُ لَهُ قُوَّةٌ فِي دِينٍ وَ حَزْمٌ فِي لِينٍ وَ إِيمَانٌ فِي يَقِينٍ وَ حِرْصٌ فِي فِقْهٍ وَ نَشَاطٌ فِي هُدًى وَ بِرٌّ فِي اسْتِقَامَةٍ وَ عِلْمٌ فِي حِلْمٍ وَ كَيْسٌ فِي رِفْقٍ وَ سَخَاءٌ فِي حَقٍّ وَ قَصْدٌ فِي غِنًى وَ تَجَمُّلٌ فِي فَاقَةٍ وَ عَفْوٌ فِي قُدْرَةٍ وَ طَاعَةٌ لِلَّهِ فِي نَصِيحَةٍ وَ انْتِهَاءٌ فِي شَهْوَةٍ وَ وَرَعٌ فِي رَغْبَةٍ وَ حِرْصٌ فِي جِهَادٍ وَ صَلَاةٌ فِي شُغُلٍ وَ صَبْرٌ فِي ش

“The believer has power in religion. He is of solid determination but with soft words, his belief is in certainty, he has greed in deep understanding, is active in guidance, and virtuous in steadfastness. He has knowledge in forbearance, he is smart in friendliness, and generous in truth, modest in wealth, graceful in

الْمُؤْمِنُ مَنْ طَابَ مَكْسَبُهُ وَ حَسُنَتْ خَلِيقَتُهُ وَ صَحَّتْ سَرِيرَتُهُ وَ أَنْفَقَ الْفَضْلَ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَ أَمْسَكَ الْفَضْلَ مِنْ كَلَامِهِ وَ كَفَى النَّاسَ شَرَّهُ وَ أَنْصَفَ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ.

“A believer is one whose earning is pleasantly clean, whose moral behavior is excellent and whose conscience is not ill. He gives to charity the extra from his property and holds back the extra of his words. People do not feel threatened by his evil and he yields to justice for people against his own soul.”

قَامَ رَجُلٌ بِالْبَصْرَةِ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَخْبِرْنَا عَنِ الْإِخْوَانِ فَقَالَ الْإِخْوَانُ صِنْفَانِ إِخْوَانُ الثِّقَةِ وَ إِخْوَانُ الْمُكَاشَرَةِ[3] فَأَمَّا إِخْوَانُ الثِّقَةِ فَهُمُ الْكَفُّ وَ الْجَنَاحُ وَ الْأَهْلُ وَ الْمَالُ فَإِذَا كُنْتَ مِنْ أَخِيكَ عَلَى حَدِّ الثِّقَةِ فَابْذُلْ لَهُ مَالَكَ وَ بَدَنَكَ- وَ صَافِ مَنْ صَافَاهُ‌[1] وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَاد

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Isma’il ibn Mehran from Yunus ibn Ya’qub from abu Maryam al-Ansari from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once a man in Basra stood before Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) and asked, ‘O Amir al-Mu’minin, speak to us

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا حَاجَةَ لِلَّهِ فِيمَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُ‌[3] فِي مَالِهِ وَ بَدَنِهِ نَصِيبٌ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Allah is not interested in a person in whose property or his own self there is no share (of losses).”’

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَبْتَلِي الْمُؤْمِنَ بِكُلِّ بَلِيَّةٍ وَ يُمِيتُهُ بِكُلِّ مِيتَةٍ وَ لَا يَبْتَلِيهِ بِذَهَابِ عَقْلِهِ أَ مَا تَرَى أَيُّوبَ كَيْفَ سُلِّطَ إِبْلِيسُ عَلَى مَالِهِ وَ عَلَى وُلْدِهِ وَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ وَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْهُ وَ لَمْ يُسَلَّطْ عَلَى عَقْلِهِ تُرِكَ لَهُ‌ لِيُوَحِّدَ اللَّهَ بِهِ‌[1].

22. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Uthman al-Nawa’ from those he has mentioned (in his book) from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who said: “Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, sets the believers into trials of all kinds and causes them to die by all kinds of deaths but He does n

إِنَّهُ لَيَكُونُ لِلْعَبْدِ مَنْزِلَةٌ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَمَا يَنَالُهَا إِلَّا بِإِحْدَى خَصْلَتَيْنِ إِمَّا بِذَهَابِ مَالِهِ أَوْ بِبَلِيَّةٍ فِي جَسَدِهِ.

“For a servant (of Allah) there is a position with Allah that he can reach only through two qualities: Loss of his property or misfortune in his body.”

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

مَا كَانَ مِنْ وُلْدِ آدَمَ مُؤْمِنٌ إِلَّا فَقِيراً وَ لَا كَافِرٌ إِلَّا غَنِيّاً حَتَّى جَاءَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ع فَقَالَ- رَبَّنا لا تَجْعَلْنا فِتْنَةً لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا[2] فَصَيَّرَ اللَّهُ فِي هَؤُلَاءِ أَمْوَالًا وَ حَاجَةً وَ فِي هَؤُلَاءِ أَمْوَالًا وَ حَاجَةً.

“There was no one of the children of Adam who was a believer but that was poor and there was no one of the children of Adam who was an unbeliever but that was rich until Ibrahim came. He said, ‘O Lord, save us from the evil intentions of the unbelievers. . . .’ (60:5) Thereafter Allah made these (believing people) rich

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ مُوسِرٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص نَقِيُّ الثَّوْبِ فَجَلَسَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص‌[3] فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ مُعْسِرٌ دَرِنُ الثَّوْبِ فَجَلَسَ إِلَى جَنْبِ الْمُوسِرِ فَقَبَضَ الْمُوسِرُ ثِيَابَهُ مِنْ تَحْتِ فَخِذَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَ خِفْتَ‌ أَنْ يَمَسَّكَ مِنْ فَقْرِهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَخِفْتَ أَنْ يُصِيبَهُ مِنْ غِنَاكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَخِفْتَ أَنْ يُوَسِّخَ ثِيَابَكَ قَا

“Once a wealthy man in clean clothes came to the Messenger of Allah and sat down near the Messenger of Allah. Thereafter a poor man in not so clean clothes came and sat next to the wealthy man who then pulled his clothes away from underneath the thighs of the poor man. The Messenger of Allah then asked the wealthy man,

فِي مُنَاجَاةِ مُوسَى ع يَا مُوسَى إِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْفَقْرَ مُقْبِلًا فَقُلْ مَرْحَباً بِشِعَارِ الصَّالِحِينَ وَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْغِنَى مُقْبِلًا فَقُلْ ذَنْبٌ عَجِلَتْ عُقُوبَتُهُ‌[2].

“It is in the conversation of Moses, ‘O Moses, when you see poverty coming say, “Welcome to the way of life of the virtuous people. When, you see wealth coming, say, ‘It is a sin. I wanted to experience its punishment early (before the Day of Judgment).”’

إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ لَيَعْتَذِرُ إِلَى عَبْدِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ الْمُحْوِجِ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَمَا يَعْتَذِرُ الْأَخُ إِلَى أَخِيهِ فَيَقُولُ وَ عِزَّتِي وَ جَلَالِي مَا أَحْوَجْتُكَ فِي الدُّنْيَا مِنْ هَوَانٍ كَانَ بِكَ عَلَيَّ فَارْفَعْ هَذَا السَّجْفَ‌[4] فَانْظُرْ إِلَى مَا عَوَّضْتُكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا قَالَ فَيَرْفَعُ فَيَقُولُ مَا ضَرَّنِي مَا مَنَعْتَنِي مَعَ مَا عَوَّضْتَنِي.

“Allah, the Most Exalted of praise, will apologize to His believing servants who are poor in this world just as a brother apologizes to a brother and He will say, ‘I swear by my Majesty and Glory that I did not make you poor in the world considering you insignificant. Remove this curtain and look what I have given you

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ إِنِّي لَمْ أُغْنِ الْغَنِيَّ لِكَرَامَةٍ بِهِ عَلَيَّ وَ لَمْ أُفْقِرِ الْفَقِيرَ لِهَوَانٍ بِهِ عَلَيَّ وَ هُوَ مِمَّا ابْتَلَيْتُ بِهِ الْأَغْنِيَاءَ بِالْفُقَرَاءِ وَ لَوْ لَا الْفُقَرَاءُ لَمْ يَسْتَوْجِبِ الْأَغْنِيَاءُ الْجَنَّةَ.

“I heard abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, “I have not made certain people rich because they are important to Me and I have not made certain people poor because they are insignificant to Me. It is because I wanted to try the rich through the poor. Had there been no poor,

سَأَلْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ لَوْ لا أَنْ يَكُونَ النَّاسُ‌ أُمَّةً واحِدَةً قَالَ عَنَى بِذَلِكَ أُمَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ ص أَنْ يَكُونُوا عَلَى دِينٍ وَاحِدٍ- كُفَّاراً كُلَّهُمْ‌ لَجَعَلْنا لِمَنْ يَكْفُرُ بِالرَّحْمنِ‌ لِبُيُوتِهِمْ سُقُفاً مِنْ فِضَّةٍ[2] وَ لَوْ فَعَلَ اللَّهُ ذَلِكَ بِأُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص لَحَزِنَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَ غَمَّهُمْ ذَلِكَ وَ لَمْ يُنَاكِحُوهُمْ و

“Once I asked Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Were it not that all people would become one nation, . . .’ - and the Imam said, ‘It (all people) stands for the followers of Muhammad (a.s.) all of whom might turn to disbelief, - ‘ ... We would have made for the unbeli

الْفَقْرُ الْمَوْتُ الْأَحْمَرُ[3] فَقُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْفَقْرُ مِنَ الدِّينَارِ وَ الدِّرْهَمِ فَقَالَ لَا وَ لَكِنْ مِنَ الدِّينِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Poverty is a painful death.’ I (the narrator) then asked him, ‘Is it poverty due to deficiency of Dirham and Dinar (units of money)?’ The Imam said, ‘No, in fact, it is poverty due to deficiency in religion.’”

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَقالُوا رَبَّنا باعِدْ بَيْنَ أَسْفارِنا وَ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ‌ الْآيَةَ فَقَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ قَوْمٌ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ قُرًى مُتَّصِلَةٌ يَنْظُرُ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ وَ أَنْهَارٌ جَارِيَةٌ وَ أَمْوَالٌ ظَاهِرَةٌ فَكَفَرُوا نِعَمَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ غَيَّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ مِنْ عَافِيَةِ اللَّهِ فَغَيَّرَ اللَّهُ مَا بِهِمْ مِنْ نِع

23. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from Jamil ibn Salih from Sadir who has said the following: “Once a man asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘ . They said, “Lord, make the distances of our journeys longer.” They did injustice to themsel

كَتَبَ مَعِي بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع يَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْكَبَائِرِ كَمْ هِيَ وَ مَا هِيَ فَكَتَبَ الْكَبَائِرُ مَنِ اجْتَنَبَ مَا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ النَّارَ كَفَّرَ عَنْهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِ إِذَا كَانَ مُؤْمِناً وَ السَّبْعُ الْمُوجِبَاتُ‌[3] قَتْلُ النَّفْسِ الْحَرَامِ وَ عُقُوقُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ- وَ أَكْلُ الرِّبَا- وَ التَّعَرُّبُ بَعْدَ الْهِجْرَةِ[1] وَ قَذْفُ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ وَ أَكْلُ مَالِ الْ

2. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Mahbub who has said the following: “Once certain individuals of our people and I wrote to abu al- Hassan (a.s.) asking what and how many were the major sins. He wrote back to us about major sins, ‘Whoever avoids the act for which Allah has decided to se

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ الْكَبَائِرُ سَبْعٌ قَتْلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ مُتَعَمِّداً[3] وَ قَذْفُ الْمُحْصَنَةِ وَ الْفِرَارُ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ وَ التَّعَرُّبُ بَعْدَ الْهِجْرَةِ وَ أَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ ظُلْماً وَ أَكْلُ الرِّبَا بَعْدَ الْبَيِّنَةِ[4] وَ كُلُّ مَا أَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ النَّارَ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The major sins are seven in number: Murdering a believer intentionally, Accusing a married women of committing indecent act, Running away from the enemy in the battle field during an offensive. Alienating one’s self from religion after accepting it. Consuming the properties of the

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْكَبَائِرِ فَقَالَ هُنَّ فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع سَبْعٌ الْكُفْرُ بِاللَّهِ وَ قَتْلُ النَّفْسِ وَ عُقُوقُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَ أَكْلُ الرِّبَا بَعْدَ الْبَيِّنَةِ وَ أَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ ظُلْماً وَ الْفِرَارُ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ وَ التَّعَرُّبُ بَعْدَ الْهِجْرَةِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ فَهَذَا أَكْبَرُ الْمَعَاصِي قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَأَكْلُ دِرْهَمٍ مِنْ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ ظُلْماً أَكْبَرُ أَ

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the major sins. The Imam said, ‘They according to the book of Ali (a.s.) are seven: Disbelief in Allah, Murdering a soul, Disregard of good relations with parents, Consuming unlawful interest from trade with evidence, Consuming the properties of orphans unjustly, Running away fr

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الْكَبَائِرُ الْقُنُوطُ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ وَ الْيَأْسُ‌[2] مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ وَ الْأَمْنُ مِنْ مَكْرِ اللَّهِ وَ قَتْلُ النَّفْسِ‌ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ‌ وَ عُقُوقُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَ أَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ ظُلْماً وَ أَكْلُ الرِّبَا بَعْدَ الْبَيِّنَةِ وَ التَّعَرُّبُ بَعْدَ الْهِجْرَةِ وَ قَذْفُ الْمُحْصَنَةِ وَ الْفِرَارُ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَ رَأَيْتَ الْم

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqa who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘Of the major sins is to Despair from the mercy of Allah and Losing hope of receiving happiness from Allah, to feel secure of the punishment of Allah, murdering a soul that

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ الْكَبَائِرُ سَبْعَةٌ[2] مِنْهَا قَتْلُ النَّفْسِ مُتَعَمِّداً وَ الشِّرْكُ بِاللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ وَ قَذْفُ الْمُحْصَنَةِ وَ أَكْلُ الرِّبَا بَعْدَ الْبَيِّنَةِ وَ الْفِرَارُ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ وَ التَّعَرُّبُ بَعْدَ الْهِجْرَةِ وَ عُقُوقُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَ أَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ ظُلْماً قَالَ وَ التَّعَرُّبُ وَ الشِّرْكُ وَاحِدٌ[3].

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The major sins are seven: One of them is murdering a soul intentionally, considering things as a partner of Allah the Most Great, accusing a married women of committing an indecent act, consuming unlawful interest in trade with evidence, mnning away from the battlefield during an

دَخَلَ عَمْرُو بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ[1] عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ وَ جَلَسَ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَ الْفَواحِشَ‌[2] ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا أَسْكَتَكَ قَالَ أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَعْرِفَ الْكَبَائِرَ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ يَا عَمْرُو أَكْبَرُ الْكَبَائِرِ الْإِشْرَاكُ بِاللَّهِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ وَ مَنْ يُشْرِكْ

24. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Abd al-‘Azim ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Hassani who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) narrated to me saying, ‘I heard my father saying, “I heard my father, Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Once ‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd came to see abu ‘Abd Allah (a

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَمْسَةٌ لَعَنْتُهُمْ وَ كُلُّ نَبِيٍّ مُجَابٍ‌[1] الزَّائِدُ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ التَّارِكُ لِسُنَّتِي- وَ الْمُكَذِّبُ بِقَدَرِ اللَّهِ وَ الْمُسْتَحِلُّ مِنْ عِتْرَتِي مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَ الْمُسْتَأْثِرُ بِالْفَيْ‌ءِ وَ الْمُسْتَحِلُّ لَهُ‌[2].

14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Muyassir from his father from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘I have condemned five things and so also has every prophet whose prayer would not miss acceptance: One who adds things to the book of A

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا ذِئْبَانِ ضَارِيَانِ فِي غَنَمٍ قَدْ فَارَقَهَا رِعَاؤُهَا أَحَدُهُمَا فِي أَوَّلِهَا وَ الْآخَرُ فِي آخِرِهَا بِأَفْسَدَ فِيهَا مِنْ حُبِّ الْمَالِ وَ الشَّرَفِ فِي دِينِ الْمُسْلِمِ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘No two fierce wolves in a flock of sheep in the absence of their shepherd, one wolf on either side is as destructive to them as the love of property and honor is to the religion of a Muslim.”

مَا ذِئْبَانِ ضَارِيَانِ فِي غَنَمٍ لَيْسَ لَهَا رَاعٍ هَذَا فِي أَوَّلِهَا وَ هَذَا فِي آخِرِهَا بِأَسْرَعَ فِيهَا مِنْ حُبِّ الْمَالِ وَ الشَّرَفِ فِي دِينِ الْمُؤْمِنِ.

“No two fierce wolves in a flock of sheep without a shepherd, one wolf on either side is as quick (to destroy them) as the love of property and honor (popularity) is to destroy the religion of a believer.”

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

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

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ الدِّينَارَ وَ الدِّرْهَمَ أَهْلَكَا مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ وَ هُمَا مُهْلِكَاكُمْ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The world and dirham (money) have destroyed those who lived before you and they will destroy you also.’”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ مَثَلُ الْحَرِيصِ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا مَثَلُ دُودَةِ الْقَزِّ كُلَّمَا ازْدَادَتْ مِنَ الْقَزِّ عَلَى نَفْسِهَا لَفّاً كَانَ أَبْعَدَ لَهَا مِنَ الْخُرُوجِ حَتَّى تَمُوتَ غَمّاً[2] وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَغْنَى الْغِنَى مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْحِرْصِ أَسِيراً وَ قَالَ لَا تُشْعِرُوا قُلُوبَكُمُ‌[3] الِاشْتِغَالَ بِمَا قَدْ فَاتَ فَتَشْغَلُوا أَذْهَانَكُمْ عَنِ الِاسْتِعْدَادِ لِمَا لَمْ يَ

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘A person greedy of the worldly things is like a silkworm, the more silk it produces around itself the more difficult it becomes to come out, until it dies in sorrow.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) then said, ‘The richest person is one who is not a captive of greed.’ The Imam has said, ‘Do not allo

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

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

مَا ذِئْبَانِ ضَارِيَانِ فِي غَنَمٍ قَدْ فَارَقَهَا رِعَاؤُهَا وَاحِدٌ فِي أَوَّلِهَا وَ هَذَا فِي آخِرِهَا بِأَفْسَدَ فِيهَا مِنْ حُبِّ الْمَالِ وَ الشَّرَفِ فِي دِينِ الْمُسْلِمِ‌[1].

“No two fierce wolves in a flock of sheep without a shepherd, one wolf on either side is as quick (to destroy them) as the love of property and fame is to destroy the religion of a Muslim.”

مَنْ أَصْبَحَ وَ أَمْسَى وَ الدُّنْيَا أَكْبَرُ هَمِّهِ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى الْفَقْرَ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَ شَتَّتَ أَمْرَهُ وَ لَمْ يَنَلْ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَا قَسَمَ اللَّهُ لَهُ وَ مَنْ أَصْبَحَ وَ أَمْسَى وَ الْآخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ هَمِّهِ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ الْغِنَى فِي قَلْبِهِ وَ جَمَعَ لَهُ أَمْرَهُ.

“Whoever passes the nights and days with the world as his biggest concern, Allah places poverty between his eyes, makes his affairs chaotic and he will receive of the world only what Allah has made his allocated share of the world. Whoever passes nights and the days with the next life as his biggest concern, Allah plac

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ الْجَنَّةَ عَلَى كُلِّ فَحَّاشٍ بَذِي‌ءٍ قَلِيلِ الْحَيَاءِ- لَا يُبَالِي مَا قَالَ وَ لَا مَا قِيلَ لَهُ‌[4] فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ فَتَّشْتَهُ لَمْ تَجِدْهُ إِلَّا لِغَيَّةٍ أَوْ شِرْكِ شَيْطَانٍ‌[5] فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ- وَ فِي النَّاسِ شِرْكُ شَيْطَانٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَ مَا تَقْرَأُ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ شارِكْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْوالِ وَ الْأَوْلادِ

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Allah has made paradise unlawful for every abusive, immoral, and (persons) lacking bashfulness who is not concerned about what he says or what is said to him. If (investigated) you find him to be an straying person or a partner of Satan.’ It was asked, O Messenger of Allah, ‘Does Sata

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

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

مَنْ ظَلَمَ مَظْلِمَةً أُخِذَ بِهَا فِي نَفْسِهِ أَوْ فِي مَالِهِ أَوْ فِي وُلْدِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever does injustice (financially), it (recompense) is taken from his life, property or his children.”

مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَظْلِمُ بِمَظْلِمَةٍ إِلَّا أَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ بِهَا فِي نَفْسِهِ وَ مَالِهِ وَ أَمَّا الظُّلْمُ الَّذِي بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ فَإِذَا تَابَ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever does injustice (financially) Allah takes it (recompense) from his life or property. However, the injustice that is between him and Allah, Allah forgives it if he repents.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَوْحَى إِلَى نَبِيٍّ مِنْ أَنْبِيَائِهِ فِي مَمْلَكَةِ جَبَّارٍ مِنَ الْجَبَّارِينَ أَنِ ائْتِ هَذَا الْجَبَّارَ فَقُلْ لَهُ إِنَّنِي لَمْ أَسْتَعْمِلْكَ عَلَى سَفْكِ الدِّمَاءِ وَ اتِّخَاذِ الْأَمْوَالِ وَ إِنَّمَا اسْتَعْمَلْتُكَ لِتَكُفَّ عَنِّي أَصْوَاتَ الْمَظْلُومِينَ فَإِنِّي لَمْ أَدَعْ ظُلَامَتَهُمْ وَ إِنْ كَانُوا كُفَّاراً[1].

14. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Mahbub from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, sent revelations to one of His prophets who lived in the time of an oppressive and tyranical ruler. It said, ‘Tell this tyrant,

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ أَكَلَ مَالَ أَخِيهِ ظُلْماً وَ لَمْ يَرُدَّهُ إِلَيْهِ أَكَلَ جَذْوَةً مِنَ النَّارِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ[2].

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Whoever consumes the property of his brother (in belief) unjustly and does not return it to him, he will have to eat a chunk of fire on the Day of Judgment.’”

دَخَلَ رَجُلَانِ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي مُدَارَاةٍ بَيْنَهُمَا وَ مُعَامَلَةٍ فَلَمَّا أَنْ سَمِعَ كَلَامَهُمَا قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ مَا ظَفِرَ أَحَدٌ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْ ظَفَرٍ بِالظُّلْمِ أَمَا إِنَّ الْمَظْلُومَ يَأْخُذُ مِنْ دِينِ الظَّالِمِ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يَأْخُذُ الظَّالِمُ مِنْ مَالِ الْمَظْلُومِ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَنْ يَفْعَلِ الشَّرَّ بِالنَّاسِ فَلَا يُنْكِرِ الشَّرَّ إِذَا فُعِلَ بِهِ أَمَا إِنَّهُ إِنَّمَا

“Once two people came to see Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the differences that they had over a deal between them and when the Imam heard their case, he said, ‘To achieve victory through injustice is not victory in anything good. What the oppressed takes away from the religion of the oppressor is much more than what the o

فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع ثَلَاثُ خِصَالٍ لَا يَمُوتُ صَاحِبُهُنَّ أَبَداً حَتَّى يَرَى وَبَالَهُنَّ الْبَغْيُ وَ قَطِيعَةُ الرَّحِمِ وَ الْيَمِينُ الْكَاذِبَةُ يُبَارِزُ اللَّهَ بِهَا وَ إِنَّ أَعْجَلَ الطَّاعَةِ ثَوَاباً لَصِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ وَ إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ لَيَكُونُونَ فُجَّاراً فَيَتَوَاصَلُونَ فَتَنْمِي أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَ يُثْرُونَ‌[2] وَ إِنَّ الْيَمِينَ الْكَاذِبَةَ وَ قَطِيعَةَ الرَّحِمِ لَتَذَرَانِ الدِّيَارَ بَل

“It is written in the book of Ali (a.s.) ‘There are three characteristics, that if found in anyone, he will never die before suffering their consequences: treachery, failing to maintain good relations with relatives and taking a false oath to oppose Allah thereby. Of the acts of obedience with the quickest best result