Work & Livelihood

ذَكَرْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلًا مُبْتَلًى بِالْوُضُوءِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ[2] وَ قُلْتُ هُوَ رَجُلٌ عَاقِلٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَ أَيُّ عَقْلٍ لَهُ وَ هُوَ يُطِيعُ الشَّيْطَانَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ وَ كَيْفَ يُطِيعُ الشَّيْطَانَ- فَقَالَ سَلْهُ هَذَا الَّذِي يَأْتِيهِ مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ هُوَ فَإِنَّهُ يَقُولُ لَكَ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ‌[3].

“I mentioned to Abu ‘Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (as) a man who was afflicted with doubts in his ablution and prayer (constantly repeating them) and added that he is an intelligent man.” Abu 'Abdillah then said, ‘What kind of intelligence does he have, when he obeys Satan?’. I asked him, 'How is he obeying Satan?'. He replied,

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ عَمَلًا إِلَّا بِمَعْرِفَةٍ وَ لَا مَعْرِفَةَ إِلَّا بِعَمَلٍ فَمَنْ عَرَفَ دَلَّتْهُ الْمَعْرِفَةُ عَلَى الْعَمَلِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْمَلْ فَلَا مَعْرِفَةَ لَهُ أَلَا إِنَّ الْإِيمَانَ بَعْضُهُ مِنْ بَعْضٍ.

“Allah does not accept a deed without good understanding and proper understanding does not come into being without work. One who achieves proper understanding it will guide him to good deeds and one who does not work will not have any understanding. Is it not a fact that parts of faith comes from other parts?”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ عَمِلَ عَلَى غَيْرِ عِلْمٍ كَانَ مَا يُفْسِدُ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يُصْلِحُ.

“Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said that the Holy Prophet said, ‘Those who work without knowledge they destroy more than what they gain.’”

الْعِلْمُ مَقْرُونٌ إِلَى الْعَمَلِ فَمَنْ عَلِمَ عَمِلَ وَ مَنْ عَمِلَ عَلِمَ وَ الْعِلْمُ يَهْتِفُ بِالْعَمَلِ فَإِنْ أَجَابَهُ وَ إِلَّا ارْتَحَلَ عَنْهُ.

“Knowledge and work are closely related. One who has knowledge he works and one who works he learns. Knowledge invites work and if it is not accepted knowledge departs the deeds.”

طَلَبَةُ الْعِلْمِ ثَلَاثَةٌ فَاعْرِفْهُمْ بِأَعْيَانِهِمْ وَ صِفَاتِهِمْ صِنْفٌ يَطْلُبُهُ لِلْجَهْلِ وَ الْمِرَاءِ وَ صِنْفٌ يَطْلُبُهُ لِلِاسْتِطَالَةِ وَ الْخَتْلِ وَ صِنْفٌ يَطْلُبُهُ لِلْفِقْهِ وَ الْعَقْلِ فَصَاحِبُ الْجَهْلِ وَ الْمِرَاءِ مُوذٍ مُمَارٍ مُتَعَرِّضٌ لِلْمَقَالِ فِي أَنْدِيَةِ الرِّجَالِ بِتَذَاكُرِ الْعِلْمِ وَ صِفَةِ الْحِلْمِ قَدْ تَسَرْبَلَ بِالْخُشُوعِ وَ تَخَلَّى مِنَ الْوَرَعِ فَدَقَّ الل

“The seekers of knowledge are of three kinds. The more noticeable of them in person or character are: (a) the group who seeks knowledge for ignorance and quarrel. (b) The group who seeks knowledge to dominate and cheat others. (c) The group who seeks knowledge for proper understanding, Fiqh, and power of intelligence.

أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع اسْتَنْهَضَ النَّاسَ فِي حَرْبِ مُعَاوِيَةَ فِي الْمَرَّةِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَلَمَّا حَشَدَ النَّاسُ‌[1] قَامَ خَطِيباً فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الْوَاحِدِ الْأَحَدِ الصَّمَدِ الْمُتَفَرِّدِ الَّذِي‌[2] لَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ كَانَ وَ لَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ خَلَقَ مَا كَانَ قُدْرَةٌ[3] بَانَ بِهَا مِنَ الْأَشْيَاءِ وَ بَانَتِ الْأَشْيَاءُ مِنْهُ فَلَيْسَتْ لَهُ صِفَةٌ تُنَالُ وَ لَا حَدٌّ تُضْرَبُ لَه

1. Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah and Muhammad ibn Yahya - both in a marfu‘ manner- have narrated from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Imam Amirul Mu’minin mobilized people against Mu’awiya for the second time and when people came in multitudes he stood up to give a speeCh ‘All praise is due to Allah

كَانَ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ مِنْهُمْ حُمْرَانُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ النُّعْمَانِ وَ هِشَامُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ وَ الطَّيَّارُ وَ جَمَاعَةٌ فِيهِمْ هِشَامُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ وَ هُوَ شَابٌّ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا هِشَامُ أَ لَا تُخْبِرُنِي كَيْفَ صَنَعْتَ بِعَمْرِو بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ وَ كَيْفَ سَأَلْتَهُ فَقَالَ هِشَامٌ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُجِلُّكَ وَ أَسْتَحْيِ

“In the presence of Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) once there was a group of his followers consisting of Humran ibn ’Ayun, Muhammad ibn al-Ni‘man, Hisham ibn Salim, al-Tayyar and others among whom was also Hisham ibn al-Hakam, a young man. Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, “O Hisham can you tell us what did you do to ‘Amr ibn

إِنَّكُمْ لَا تَكُونُونَ صَالِحِينَ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا- وَ لَا تَعْرِفُوا حَتَّى تُصَدِّقُوا وَ لَا تُصَدِّقُوا حَتَّى تُسَلِّمُوا أَبْوَاباً أَرْبَعَةً[1] لَا يَصْلُحُ أَوَّلُهَا إِلَّا بِآخِرِهَا ضَلَّ أَصْحَابُ الثَّلَاثَةِ وَ تَاهُوا تَيْهاً بَعِيداً[2] إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا الْعَمَلَ الصَّالِحَ وَ لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا الْوَفَاءَ بِالشُّرُوطِ وَ الْعُهُودِ فَمَنْ وَفَى لِلّ

6. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from those whom he mentioned from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Layla from his father from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “You will not be of the people of good deeds until you will know. You will not know

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ كُلُّ مَنْ دَانَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِعِبَادَةٍ يُجْهِدُ فِيهَا نَفْسَهُ وَ لَا إِمَامَ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَسَعْيُهُ غَيْرُ مَقْبُولٍ وَ هُوَ ضَالٌّ مُتَحَيِّرٌ وَ اللَّهُ شَانِئٌ‌[2] لِأَعْمَالِهِ وَ مَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ شَاةٍ ضَلَّتْ عَنْ رَاعِيهَا وَ قَطِيعِهَا فَهَجَمَتْ‌[3] ذَاهِبَةً وَ جَائِيَةً يَوْمَهَا فَلَمَّا جَنَّهَا[4] اللَّيْلُ بَصُرَتْ بِقَطِيعِ غَنَمٍ مَعَ رَاعِيهَا

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Whoever would worship Allah in the expectation for reward and work hard but without having an Imam for himself his efforts would not be received acceptance. Such person is last and straying and Allah would dislike his deeds. The example of such person is like that of a lost sheep who

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ ع أُعْطِيَ حَرْفَيْنِ كَانَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِمَا وَ أُعْطِيَ مُوسَى أَرْبَعَةَ أَحْرُفٍ وَ أُعْطِيَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَحْرُفٍ وَ أُعْطِيَ نُوحٌ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ حَرْفاً وَ أُعْطِيَ آدَمُ خَمْسَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ حَرْفاً وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى جَمَعَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ لِمُحَمَّدٍ ص- وَ إِنَّ اسْمَ اللَّهِ الْأَعْظَمَ ثَلَاثَةٌ وَ سَبْعُونَ حَرْفاً أُ

“Two letters were given to Jesus son of Mary (a.s.) and he would work with them. Four letters were given to Moses. Eight letters were given to Abraham. Fifteen letters were given to Noah. Twenty five letters were given to Adam. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has combined all of them in Muhammad (sw). The greatest

السِّلَاحُ مَوْضُوعٌ عِنْدَنَا مَدْفُوعٌ عَنْهُ لَوْ وُضِعَ عِنْدَ شَرِّ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ كَانَ خَيْرَهُمْ لَقَدْ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي أَنَّهُ حَيْثُ بَنَى بِالثَّقَفِيَّةِ[1] وَ كَانَ قَدْ شُقَّ لَهُ فِي الْجِدَارِ[2] فَنُجِّدَ الْبَيْتُ‌[3] فَلَمَّا كَانَتْ صَبِيحَةُ عُرْسِهِ رَمَى بِبَصَرِهِ فَرَأَى حَذْوَهُ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ مِسْمَاراً[4] فَفَزِعَ لِذَلِكَ وَ قَالَ لَهَا تَحَوَّلِي فَإِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَدْعُوَ مَوَالِي

“The arms are kept with us. They are well protected. Even if they would be placed with the worst of creatures he would be a good one of them. My father told me that when he married a lady from al-Thaqif the house was decorated for the wedding. The next morning he found fifteen nails drawn into that wall. He became very

قُلْتُ لَهُ أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي رَزَقَ أَبَاكَ مِنْكَ هَذِهِ الْمَنْزِلَةَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَكَ مِنْ عَقِبِكَ قَبْلَ الْمَمَاتِ مِثْلَهَا فَقَالَ قَدْ فَعَلَ اللَّهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَنْ هُوَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَأَشَارَ إِلَى الْعَبْدِ الصَّالِحِ‌[1] وَ هُوَ رَاقِدٌ فَقَالَ هَذَا الرَّاقِدُ وَ هُوَ غُلَامٌ.

who was asleep, saying this man who is asleep. He was a young boy.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ فِي صَاحِبِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ شَبَهاً مِنْ يُوسُفَ ع قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ كَأَنَّكَ تَذْكُرُهُ حَيَاتَهُ أَوْ غَيْبَتَهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي وَ مَا يُنْكَرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةُ أَشْبَاهُ الْخَنَازِيرِ- إِنَّ إِخْوَةَ يُوسُفَ ع كَانُوا أَسْبَاطاً أَوْلَادَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ تَاجَرُوا يُوسُفَ وَ بَايَعُوهُ وَ خَاطَبُوهُ وَ هُمْ إِخْوَتُهُ وَ هُوَ أَخُوهُمْ- فَلَمْ يَعْرِفُ

“In the (case) of the person in charge of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority, the twelfth Imam (a.s.)) there is a similarity to Yusuf (Joseph) (a.s.).” I then said, “Are you, O Imam, speaking of his life time or his disappearance.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) then said, “ What then is it that ce

رَأَيْتُ مِسْمَعاً بِالْمَدِينَةِ[1] وَ قَدْ كَانَ حَمَلَ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع تِلْكَ السَّنَةَ مَالًا فَرَدَّهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ لِمَ رَدَّ عَلَيْكَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْمَالَ الَّذِي حَمَلْتَهُ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي إِنِّي قُلْتُ لَهُ حِينَ حَمَلْتُ إِلَيْهِ الْمَالَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ وُلِّيتُ الْبَحْرَيْنَ الْغَوْصَ فَأَصَبْتُ أَرْبَعَمِائَةِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ قَدْ جِئْتُكَ بِخُمُس

“I saw Masma‘ in Madina. In that year he had tried to deliver a certain amount of property to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) that he returned to him. I asked him about the reason for the return.. The narrator has said that he said to me, “When I took the property to him I said, ‘ I had become the in charge of the pearls in Bahra

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الْعَسْكَرِيِّ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ رُوِيَ لَنَا أَنْ لَيْسَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا الْخُمُسُ فَجَاءَ الْجَوَابُ إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا وَ مَا عَلَيْهَا لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص.

it is narrated to us that nothing else from this world belongs to the Messenger of Allah except one fifth of net income.” The answer that came said, “Certainly, the world and all that is in it belong to the Messenger of Allah.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَوْماً جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ ذَكَرْتُ آلَ فُلَانٍ وَ مَا هُمْ فِيهِ مِنَ النَّعِيمِ فَقُلْتُ لَوْ كَانَ هَذَا إِلَيْكُمْ لَعِشْنَا مَعَكُمْ فَقَالَ هَيْهَاتَ يَا مُعَلَّى أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ أَنْ لَوْ كَانَ ذَاكَ مَا كَانَ إِلَّا سِيَاسَةَ اللَّيْلِ وَ سِيَاحَةَ النَّهَارِ وَ لُبْسَ الْخَشِنِ وَ أَكْلَ الْجَشِبِ فَزُوِيَ ذَلِكَ عَنَّا[3] فَهَلْ رَأَيْتَ ظُلَامَةً قَطُّ صَيَّرَهَا اللَّهُ تَعَ

“One day I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I thought of the descendants of so and so (‘Abbasside) and the wealth they have at their disposal. Then I wished that had such wealth been at your disposal we would have lived with you prosperously.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Never

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع لَمَّا حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ فَتَحَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَ قَرَأَ إِذا وَقَعَتِ‌ الْواقِعَةُ وَ إِنَّا فَتَحْنا لَكَ‌ وَ قَالَ‌ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي صَدَقَنا وَعْدَهُ‌ وَ أَوْرَثَنَا الْأَرْضَ‌ نَتَبَوَّأُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ نَشاءُ فَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعامِلِينَ‌ ثُمَّ قُبِضَ مِنْ سَاعَتِهِ وَ لَمْ يَقُلْ شَيْئاً.

‘When Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was about to pass away he passed out then he opened his eyes and recited chapters 48 and 56 from the Holy Quran and said, “All praise belongs to Allah Who has fulfilled His promise to us and made us to inherit the earth passed out and chose from Paradise whatever we would like and thus is

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.)

ضَاقَ بِنَا الْأَمْرُ فَقَالَ لِي أَبِي امْضِ بِنَا حَتَّى نَصِيرَ إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ يَعْنِي أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ وُصِفَ عَنْهُ سَمَاحَةٌ فَقُلْتُ تَعْرِفُهُ فَقَالَ مَا أَعْرِفُهُ وَ لَا رَأَيْتُهُ قَطُّ قَالَ فَقَصَدْنَاهُ فَقَالَ لِي أَبِي وَ هُوَ فِي طَرِيقِهِ مَا أَحْوَجَنَا إِلَى أَنْ يَأْمُرَ لَنَا بِخَمْسِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ مِائَتَا دِرْهَمٍ لِلْكِسْوَةِ وَ مِائَتَا دِرْهَمٍ لِلدَّيْنِ وَ مِائَةٌ

“We were under pressure and constraint. My father said, “Let us go to Abu Muhammad (a.s.). People describe him as very generous and considerate.” I asked, “Do you know him?” He said, “No, I do not know him and I have not seen him before.” We decided to go and meet him. My father said on the way, 'I wish he would grant

قَعَدْتُ لِأَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع عَلَى ظَهْرِ الطَّرِيقِ فَلَمَّا مَرَّ بِي شَكَوْتُ إِلَيْهِ الْحَاجَةَ وَ حَلَفْتُ لَهُ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ عِنْدِي دِرْهَمٌ فَمَا فَوْقَهَا وَ لَا غَدَاءٌ وَ لَا عَشَاءٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ تَحْلِفُ بِاللَّهِ كَاذِباً وَ قَدْ دَفَنْتَ مِائَتَيْ دِينَارٍ وَ لَيْسَ قَوْلِي هَذَا دَفْعاً لَكَ عَنِ الْعَطِيَّةِ أَعْطِهِ يَا غُلَامُ مَا مَعَكَ فَأَعْطَانِي غُلَامُهُ مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَ

“Once I sat on the side of the road waiting for abu Muhammad (a.s.) to pass by so that I can present before him my complain against a need. When he was passing by I presented my complain before him and swore that I did not have even a Dirham, nothing for lunch or dinner.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) said

كَتَبْتُ جُعِلْتُ لَكَ الْفِدَاءَ تُعَلِّمُنِي مَا الْفَائِدَةُ وَ مَا حَدُّهَا رَأْيَكَ أَبْقَاكَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنْ تَمُنَّ عَلَيَّ بِبَيَانِ ذَلِكَ لِكَيْلَا أَكُونَ مُقِيماً عَلَى حَرَامٍ لَا صَلَاةَ لِي وَ لَا صَوْمَ فَكَتَبَ الْفَائِدَةُ مِمَّا يُفِيدُ إِلَيْكَ فِي تِجَارَةٍ مِنْ رِبْحِهَا وَ حَرْثٍ بَعْدَ الْغَرَامِ أَوْ جَائِزَةٍ.

He wrote to me , “Gain and profit is the income from trade from its net profit or from farming after the deduction of expenses and prizes.”

كَتَبَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ تُجَّارِ فَارِسَ مِنْ بَعْضِ مَوَالِي أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع يَسْأَلُهُ الْإِذْنَ فِي الْخُمُسِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ‌ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ* إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاسِعٌ كَرِيمٌ ضَمِنَ عَلَى الْعَمَلِ الثَّوَابَ‌[4]- وَ عَلَى الضِّيقِ الْهَمَّ- لَا يَحِلُّ مَالٌ إِلَّا مِنْ وَجْهٍ أَحَلَّهُ اللَّهُ وَ إِنَّ الْخُمُسَ عَوْنُنَا عَلَى دِينِنَا وَ عَلَى عِيَالاتِنَا وَ عَلَى مَوَالِينَا وَ مَ

The Imam (a.s.) wrote. “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful Allah increases people’s sustenance and He is generous. He has guaranteed rewards for work and depression in sadness. The use of a property is not lawful unless it is used in the way Allah has made lawful. Al-Khums helps us in our religion, in t

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْعَنْبَرِ وَ غَوْصِ اللُّؤْلُؤِ فَقَالَ ع عَلَيْهِ الْخُمُسُ‌[3]. كَمَلَ الْجُزْءُ الثَّانِي مِنْ كِتَابِ الْحُجَّةِ مِنْ كِتَابِ الْكَافِي وَ يَتْلُوهُ كِتَابُ الْإِيمَانِ وَ الْكُفْرِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَ السَّلَامُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ الطَّاهِرِينَ. (تنبيه) [في توضيح حديث احتجاج الصادق عليه السّلام على الزّنديق الذي وعدناه توضيحه في ص

قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَنَا مَوْلَاكَ- عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ كَيْسَانَ قَالَ أَمَّا النَّسَبُ فَأَعْرِفُهُ وَ أَمَّا أَنْتَ فَلَسْتُ أَعْرِفُكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي وُلِدْتُ بِالْجَبَلِ وَ نَشَأْتُ فِي أَرْضِ فَارِسَ وَ إِنَّنِي أُخَالِطُ النَّاسَ فِي التِّجَارَاتِ وَ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ فَأُخَالِطُ الرَّجُلَ فَأَرَى لَهُ حُسْنَ السَّمْتِ‌[3] وَ حُسْنَ الْخُلُقِ وَ كَثْرَةَ أَمَانَةٍ ثُمَّ أُفَتِّشُهُ فَأَتَبَيَّن

“Once I said to the Imam, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I am your servant, abu ‘Abd Allah ibn Kaysan.’ The Imam said, ‘I know your genealogy. However, I do not know you (so well).’ I said, ‘I was born in the mountains and grew up in the land of Persia. I associate with people in business and other

أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِالْإِسْلَامِ أَصْلِهِ وَ فَرْعِهِ- وَ ذِرْوَةِ سَنَامِهِ‌[1] قُلْتُ بَلَى جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ أَمَّا أَصْلُهُ فَالصَّلَاةُ وَ فَرْعُهُ الزَّكَاةُ وَ ذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ[2] ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَخْبَرْتُكَ بِأَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ الصَّدَقَةُ تَذْهَبُ بِالْخَطِيئَةِ وَ قِيَامُ الرَّجُلِ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ بِذِكْ

“Do you want me to teach you the root of Islam, its branch and its peak? I said, ‘Yes, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause.’ The Imam said, ‘Its root is prayer, its branch is al-Zakat (charity) and its peak is Jihad (the hard work in defense and preaching of the belief).’ The Imam then said, ‘If you want 1

إِنَّكُمْ لَا تَكُونُونَ صَالِحِينَ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا وَ لَا تَعْرِفُونَ حَتَّى تُصَدِّقُوا وَ لَا تُصَدِّقُونَ حَتَّى تُسَلِّمُوا أَبْوَاباً أَرْبَعَةً لَا يَصْلُحُ أَوَّلُهَا إِلَّا بِآخِرِهَا ضَلَّ أَصْحَابُ الثَّلَاثَةِ وَ تَاهُوا تَيْهاً بَعِيداً إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا الْعَمَلَ الصَّالِحَ وَ لَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْوَفَاءِ بِالشُّرُوطِ وَ الْعُهُودِ وَ مَنْ وَفَى الل

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from those whom he has mentioned from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Layla from his father from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “You will not become virtuous until you learn, you will not learn until you af

مِنْ صِحَّةِ يَقِينِ الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ لَا يُرْضِيَ النَّاسَ بِسَخَطِ اللَّهِ وَ لَا يَلُومَهُمْ عَلَى مَا لَمْ يُؤْتِهِ اللَّهُ فَإِنَّ الرِّزْقَ لَا يَسُوقُهُ حِرْصُ حَرِيصٍ وَ لَا يَرُدُّهُ كَرَاهِيَةُ كَارِهٍ وَ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ فَرَّ مِنْ رِزْقِهِ كَمَا يَفِرُّ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ لَأَدْرَكَهُ رِزْقُهُ كَمَا يُدْرِكُهُ الْمَوْتُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِعَدْلِهِ وَ قِسْطِهِ جَعَلَ الرَّوْحَ وَ الرَّا

"'It is from the soundness of a man's certainty that he does not make people happy to anger Allah and does not blame them for what (of belongings) Allah has not given him. The share of sustenance is something that is not driven by the greed of the greedy ones and is not pushed back due to the dislike of those who disli

كَانَ قَنْبَرٌ غُلَامُ عَلِيٍّ يُحِبُّ عَلِيّاً ع حُبّاً شَدِيداً فَإِذَا خَرَجَ عَلِيٌّ ص خَرَجَ عَلَى أَثَرِهِ بِالسَّيْفِ فَرَآهُ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَقَالَ يَا قَنْبَرُ مَا لَكَ فَقَالَ جِئْتُ لِأَمْشِيَ خَلْفَكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ وَيْحَكَ أَ مِنْ أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ تَحْرُسُنِي أَوْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ فَقَالَ لَا بَلْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْأَرْضِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ لِي شَيْئاً

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Abd al-Rahman al-‘Arzami from his father, from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Qanbar, a worker for Ali (a.s.) loved Ali intensely. Whenever Imam went out he followed him with a sword for protection. Once at night

قَالَ لِبَعْضِ وُلْدِهِ‌ يَا بُنَيَّ عَلَيْكَ بِالْجِدِّ لَا تُخْرِجَنَّ نَفْسَكَ مِنَ حَدِّ التَّقْصِيرِ فِي عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ طَاعَتِهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُعْبَدُ حَقَّ عِبَادَتِهِ.

“My son, you must work hard and do not allow your soul to lead you out of a feeling of always falling short in worshipping Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and in obedience to Him; Allah is not worshipped as truly as He should be worshipped.”

خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ع فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ يُقَرِّبُكُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ يُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِهِ وَ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ يُقَرِّبُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ يُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْهُ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ الرُّوحَ الْأَمِينَ نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي أَنَّهُ لَنْ تَمُوتَ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَكْمِلَ رِز

“The Messenger of Allah addressed the people during his farewell (last) visit to Makka, ‘O people, I swear by Allah, everything that can take you closer to paradise and farther away from hell I have commanded you all to follow. Everything that may take you closer to hell and farther away from paradise I have prohibited

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي لَا أَلْقَاكَ إِلَّا فِي السِّنِينَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي بِشَيْ‌ءٍ آخُذُ بِهِ فَقَالَ أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ الْوَرَعِ وَ الِاجْتِهَادِ[2] وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْفَعُ اجْتِهَادٌ لَا وَرَعَ فِيهِ.

The Imam said, ‘I advise you to be pious before Allah, restrain from worldly matters (sins) and work hard. Note it properly that hard work without restraint from worldly matters is of no benefit.’”

لَا يَنْفَعُ اجْتِهَادٌ لَا وَرَعَ فِيهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Hard work without restraint from worldly things (sins) is of no benefit.’”

قَالَ أَبُو الصَّبَّاحِ الْكِنَانِيُّ- لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا نَلْقَى مِنَ النَّاسِ فِيكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ مَا الَّذِي تَلْقَى مِنَ النَّاسِ فِيَّ فَقَالَ لَا يَزَالُ يَكُونُ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ الْكَلَامُ فَيَقُولُ جَعْفَرِيٌّ خَبِيثٌ فَقَالَ يُعَيِّرُكُمُ النَّاسُ بِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو الصَّبَّاحِ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ مَا أَقَلَّ وَ اللَّهِ مَنْ يَتَّبِعُ جَعْفَراً مِنْكُمْ إِنَّمَ

“Abu Sabah al-Kanani has said, ‘We are not received well among people because of you.’ The Imam said, ‘How are you received among people because of me?’ He said, ‘As soon as we speak to a man he then says, “He is a Ja’fari (follower of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s.)) a filthy one.’” The Imam said, ‘Do they reprimand you b

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ عَلَيْكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ الْوَرَعِ وَ الِاجْتِهَادِ وَ صِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ وَ أَدَاءِ الْأَمَانَةِ وَ حُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ وَ حُسْنِ الْجِوَارِ وَ كُونُوا دُعَاةً إِلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ بِغَيْرِ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَ كُونُوا زَيْناً وَ لَا تَكُونُوا شَيْناً وَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِطُولِ الرُّكُوعِ وَ السُّجُودِ فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا أَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ وَ السُّجُودَ هَتَفَ إِبْلِيسُ مِنْ خَل

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from abu ‘Usama who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘You must be pious before Allah, restrain yourself against worldly matters, work hard, speak the truth, keep the trust, have good moral behaviors,

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَوْصِنِي قَالَ أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ الْوَرَعِ وَ الِاجْتِهَادِ[2] وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْفَعُ اجْتِهَادٌ لَا وَرَعَ فِيهِ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) to instruct me with good advice. The Imam said, ‘I recommend you to be pious before Allah, restrain from worldly matters (sins) and work hard. Note that there is no benefit in hard work without restraint from worldly matters.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ كُونُوا دُعَاةً لِلنَّاسِ بِغَيْرِ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ لِيَرَوْا مِنْكُمُ الْوَرَعَ وَ الِاجْتِهَادَ وَ الصَّلَاةَ وَ الْخَيْرَ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ دَاعِيَةٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Preach to people without your tongue. You must show them restraint from worldly matters (sins). You should perform hard work, prayer and good deeds. Such behavior includes preaching.”

قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنِّي ضَعِيفُ الْعَمَلِ قَلِيلُ الصِّيَامِ وَ لَكِنِّي أَرْجُو أَنْ لَا آكُلَ إِلَّا حَلَالًا قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَيُّ الِاجْتِهَادِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ عِفَّةِ بَطْنٍ وَ فَرْجٍ.

‘My deeds are weak and my fasting is very little but I hope to eat only what is lawful.’ The narrator has said that the Imam then said, ‘What kind of hard work could be considered better than chastity of stomach and chastity of genital organs?”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَلَا إِنَّ لِكُلِّ عِبَادَةٍ شِرَّةً[3] ثُمَّ تَصِيرُ إِلَى فَتْرَةٍ فَمَنْ صَارَتْ شِرَّةُ عِبَادَتِهِ إِلَى سُنَّتِي فَقَدِ اهْتَدَى وَ مَنْ خَالَفَ سُنَّتِي فَقَدْ ضَلَّ وَ كَانَ عَمَلُهُ فِي تَبَابٍ‌[4] أَمَا إِنِّي أُصَلِّي وَ أَنَامُ وَ أَصُومُ وَ أُفْطِرُ وَ أَضْحَكُ وَ أَبْكِي فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ مِنْهَاجِي وَ سُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَ قَالَ كَفَى بِالْمَوْتِ مَوْعِظَةً وَ كَفَى بِا

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from al-Ahwal from Salam ibn al-Mustanir from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘For every form of worship there is a strong desire and willingness, then it reduces. Whoever’ s worship falls

هَلَكَ رَجُلٌ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ ص فَأَتَى الْحَفَّارِينَ فَإِذَا بِهِمْ لَمْ يَحْفِرُوا شَيْئاً وَ شَكَوْا ذَلِكَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا يَعْمَلُ حَدِيدُنَا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا نَضْرِبُ بِهِ فِي الصَّفَا[1] فَقَالَ وَ لِمَ إِنْ كَانَ صَاحِبُكُمْ لَحَسَنَ الْخُلُقِ ائْتُونِي بِقَدَحٍ مِنْ مَاءٍ فَأَتَوْهُ بِهِ فَأَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ فِيهِ ثُمَّ رَشَّهُ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ رَشّاً

“During the time of the Holy Prophet a man died. The gravediggers could not dig a grave for him. They complained to the Messenger of Allah saying, ‘O Messenger of Allah, our picks do not work. It is as if we hit a rock.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Why it would be as such had your man been excellent in moral behavior

كُونُوا دُعَاةً لِلنَّاسِ بِالْخَيْرِ بِغَيْرِ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ لِيَرَوْا مِنْكُمُ الِاجْتِهَادَ وَ الصِّدْقَ وَ الْوَرَعَ.

10. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Mahbub from al- ‘Ala’ ibn Razin from ‘Abd Allah ibn abu Ya’fur from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Preach and call people to the good, but not with your tongues. They must see from your hard work, tru

قَالَ أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ حَسَنُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ الصَّيْقَلُ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ صَدَقَ لِسَانُهُ زَكَى عَمَلُهُ وَ مَنْ حَسُنَتْ نِيَّتُهُ زِيدَ فِي رِزْقِهِ وَ مَنْ حَسُنَ بِرُّهُ بِأَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ مُدَّ لَهُ فِي عُمُرِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Making one’s tongue speak the truth purifies one’s deeds. Having good intentions increases one’s livelihood. One who betters his kind deeds toward his family is granted longevity in his life.’”

بَعَثَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع غُلَاماً لَهُ فِي حَاجَةٍ فَأَبْطَأَ فَخَرَجَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَلَى أَثَرِهِ لَمَّا أَبْطَأَ فَوَجَدَهُ نَائِماً فَجَلَسَ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ يُرَوِّحُهُ حَتَّى انْتَبَهَ فَلَمَّا تَنَبَّهَ قَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا فُلَانُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا ذَلِكَ لَكَ تَنَامُ اللَّيْلَ وَ النَّهَارَ لَكَ اللَّيْلُ وَ لَنَا مِنْكَ النَّهَارُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once sent one of his slaves for a certain work and he delayed. The Imam then went out to find why he has delayed so much. He found him sleeping. He sat near his head fanning to comfort him until he woke up. When he fully woke up, Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said to him, ‘O so and so, Allah knows, you ar

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مُدَارَاةُ النَّاسِ نِصْفُ الْإِيمَانِ وَ الرِّفْقُ بِهِمْ نِصْفُ الْعَيْشِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع خَالِطُوا الْأَبْرَارَ سِرّاً وَ خَالِطُوا الْفُجَّارَ جِهَاراً وَ لَا تَمِيلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَظْلِمُوكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ سَيَأْتِي عَلَيْكُمْ زَمَانٌ لَا يَنْجُو فِيهِ مِنْ ذَوِي الدِّينِ إِلَّا مَنْ ظَنُّوا أَنَّهُ أَبْلَهُ وَ صَبَّرَ نَفْسَهُ عَلَى أَنْ يُقَالَ [لَهُ‌] إِنَّهُ أَبْلَه

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Dealing kindly with people is half of belief and leniency to them is half of livelihood.’ The Imam then said, ‘Meet the virtuous people privately. Meet the criminals in public and do not be attracted to them; they will do injustice to you. There will come a time when, from the religio

أَيُّمَا أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ أُعْطُوا حَظَّهُمْ مِنَ الرِّفْقِ فَقَدْ وَسَّعَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ فِي الرِّزْقِ وَ الرِّفْقُ فِي تَقْدِيرِ الْمَعِيشَةِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ السَّعَةِ فِي الْمَالِ وَ الرِّفْقُ لَا يَعْجِزُ عَنْهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ التَّبْذِيرُ لَا يَبْقَى مَعَهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ رَفِيقٌ يُحِبُّ الرِّفْقَ‌[3].

“Any family who has received their share of kindheartedness, Allah has certainly increased their livelihood. Friendliness in matters of earning a living is better than great wealth. Friendliness does not cause any weakness but a spendthrift habit leaves nothing in place. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, is comp

الرِّفْقُ نِصْفُ الْعَيْشِ.

“Friendliness is half of livelihood.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِأَصْحَابِهِ أَيُّ عُرَى الْإِيمَانِ أَوْثَقُ فَقَالُوا اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمُ الصَّلَاةُ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمُ الزَّكَاةُ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمُ الصِّيَامُ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمُ الْحَجُ‌ وَ الْعُمْرَةُ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمُ الْجِهَادُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِكُلِّ مَا قُلْتُمْ فَضْلٌ وَ لَيْسَ بِهِ‌[1] وَ لَكِنْ أَوْثَقُ عُرَى الْإِيمَانِ الْحُبُّ فِي اللَّهِ وَ الْبُغْ

6. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from abu al-Hassan Ali ibn Yahya (as far as I know) from ‘Amr ibn Mudrik al-Ta’i from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah once asked his companions, ‘Which ring of belief is stronger to hol

إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْراً زَهَّدَهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ فَقَّهَهُ فِي الدِّينِ وَ بَصَّرَهُ عُيُوبَهَا[1] وَ مَنْ أُوتِيَهُنَّ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ قَالَ لَمْ يَطْلُبْ أَحَدٌ الْحَقَّ بِبَابٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الزُّهْدِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ هُوَ ضِدٌّ لِمَا طَلَبَ أَعْدَاءُ الْحَقِّ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مِمَّا ذَا[2] قَالَ مِنَ الرَّغْبَةِ فِيهَا وَ قَالَ أَ لَا مِنْ صَبَّارٍ كَرِي

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘When Allah wants good for a servant (of Allah) He makes him reduce his interest in worldly matters, grants him good understanding in religion, and shows him his shortcomings. Whoever receives these things receives the good of both this and the next life.’ The Imam then said, ‘For the s

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ مَثَلُ الْحَرِيصِ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا كَمَثَلِ دُودَةِ الْقَزِّ كُلَّمَا ازْدَادَتْ عَلَى نَفْسِهَا لَفّاً كَانَ أَبْعَدَ لَهَا مِنَ الْخُرُوجِ حَتَّى تَمُوتَ غَمّاً قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَانَ فِيمَا وَعَظَ بِهِ لُقْمَانُ ابْنَهُ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا قَبْلَكَ لِأَوْلَادِهِمْ فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مَا جَمَعُوا وَ لَمْ يَبْقَ مَنْ جَمَعُوا لَهُ وَ إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ عَبْدٌ

20. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yahya ibn ‘Aqaba al-Azdi from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘The case of a person who is greedy in worldly matters is like the case of a silkworm. The more it wraps silk around itself the more difficult it beco

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ وَ عِزَّتِي وَ جَلَالِي وَ عَظَمَتِي وَ عُلُوِّي وَ ارْتِفَاعِ مَكَانِي لَا يُؤْثِرُ عَبْدٌ هَوَايَ عَلَى هَوَى نَفْسِهِ إِلَّا كَفَفْتُ عَلَيْهِ ضَيْعَتَهُ وَ ضَمَّنْتُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ‌[3] رِزْقَهُ وَ كُنْتُ لَهُ مِنْ وَرَاءِ تِجَارَةِ كُلِّ تَاجِرٍ[4].

1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ari has narrated from Mu’alla ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from ‘Asim ibn Humayd from abu ‘Ubaydah from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, ‘I swear by My Majesty, Glory, Greatness, Height and the height of My

قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ عِزَّتِي وَ جَلَالِي وَ عَظَمَتِي وَ بَهَائِي وَ عُلُوِّ ارْتِفَاعِي لَا يُؤْثِرُ عَبْدٌ مُؤْمِنٌ هَوَايَ عَلَى هَوَاهُ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا جَعَلْتُ غِنَاهُ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَ هِمَّتَهُ فِي آخِرَتِهِ وَ ضَمَّنْتُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ رِزْقَهُ وَ كُنْتُ لَهُ مِنْ وَرَاءِ تِجَارَةِ كُلِّ تَاجِرٍ.

“Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘I Swear by My Majesty, My Glory, My Greatness, Beauty and Height of My Highness, if anyone of My servant acts as I wish instead of his own wish in anything of worldly matters I will make him feel rich in his soul and concentrate on his affairs of the next life. I gua