Grief & Sadness

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ عِنْدَهُ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ مَوَالِيهِ فَجَرَى ذِكْرُ الْعَقْلِ وَ الْجَهْلِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع اعْرِفُوا الْعَقْلَ وَ جُنْدَهُ وَ الْجَهْلَ وَ جُنْدَهُ تَهْتَدُوا قَالَ سَمَاعَةُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَا نَعْرِفُ إِلَّا مَا عَرَّفْتَنَا فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ الْعَقْلَ وَ هُوَ أَوَّلُ خَلْقٍ مِنَ الرُّوحَانِيِّينَ‌[1] عَ

“Once with a gathering of his followers I was in the presence of Imam abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant. A discussion on Intelligence and Ignorance began to emerge among them. Thereupon, Imam abu ‘Abd Allah said, ‘First, you must recognize Intelligence and its army as well as Ignorance and its army,

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا مَاتَ الْمُؤْمِنُ بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ بِقَاعُ الْأَرْضِ‌[1] الَّتِي كَانَ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهَا وَ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ الَّتِي كَانَ يُصْعَدُ فِيهَا بِأَعْمَالِهِ وَ ثُلِمَ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ ثُلْمَةٌ لَا يَسُدُّهَا شَيْ‌ءٌ لِأَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْفُقَهَاءَ حُصُونُ الْإِسْلَامِ كَحِصْنِ سُورِ الْمَدِينَةِ لَهَا.

“(Imam) abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘When a true believer dies the angels and the parts of earth where he worshipped Allah weep because of his death. Also the doors of the heavens through which his good deeds had been taken up weep and it causes an irreparable damage in the Islamic system. It is beca

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.

إِنَّ مِنْ أَبْغَضِ الْخَلْقِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَرَجُلَيْنِ رَجُلٌ وَكَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ فَهُوَ جَائِرٌ عَنْ قَصْدِ السَّبِيلِ مَشْعُوفٌ‌[1] بِكَلَامِ بِدْعَةٍ قَدْ لَهِجَ بِالصَّوْمِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ فَهُوَ فِتْنَةٌ لِمَنِ افْتَتَنَ بِهِ ضَالٌّ عَنْ هَدْيِ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ‌[2] مُضِلٌّ لِمَنِ اقْتَدَى بِهِ فِي حَيَاتِهِ وَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِ حَمَّالٌ خَطَايَا غَيْرِهِ رَهْنٌ بِخَطِيئَتِهِ وَ رَجُلٌ

“Of the most intensely disliked men before Allah, the Majestic, the Most Glorious, are two kinds of people: A man whom Allah has left all to his own soul and he deviates from the path of justice and is intensely attracted towards the words innovation. He seems a master in performing prayer and fasting but is a mischief

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي مَنْصُورٍ الْمُتَطَبِّبِ فَقَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِي قَالَ كُنْتُ أَنَا وَ ابْنُ أَبِي الْعَوْجَاءِ وَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُقَفَّعِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ فَقَالَ ابْنُ الْمُقَفَّعِ تَرَوْنَ هَذَا الْخَلْقَ وَ أَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى مَوْضِعِ الطَّوَافِ مَا مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ أُوجِبُ لَهُ اسْمَ الْإِنْسَانِيَّةِ إِلَّا ذَلِكَ الشَّيْخُ الْجَالِسُ يَعْنِي أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ جَ

“One of my friends has said that he was with ibn abu al-‘Awja’ and ‘Abdallah ibn al-Muqaffa‘ in the holy Mosque of Makkah and ibn al-Muqaffa‘ said, “Do you see these creatures, pointing towards the location where people walk seven times around the Kabah‘? Of all these no one deserves to be called a human being accept t

أَتَيْنَا بَابَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ نَحْنُ نُرِيدُ الْإِذْنَ عَلَيْهِ فَسَمِعْنَاهُ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِكَلَامٍ لَيْسَ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ فَتَوَهَّمْنَا أَنَّهُ بِالسُّرْيَانِيَّةِ ثُمَّ بَكَى فَبَكَيْنَا لِبُكَائِهِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا الْغُلَامُ فَأَذِنَ لَنَا فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ أَتَيْنَاكَ نُرِيدُ الْإِذْنَ عَلَيْكَ فَسَمِعْنَاكَ تَتَكَلَّمُ بِكَلَامٍ لَيْسَ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ فَتَوَهّ

“We went to Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and wanting to seek his permission. We heard him speaking in a language that was not Arabic, we imagined it was Syriac, then he cried and we cried because of his crying. Then the boy (his servant) came out and allowed us to enter. So we entered and I said, “May Allah keep you well, we c

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ تَظْهَرُ الزَّنَادِقَةُ فِي سَنَةِ ثَمَانٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ وَ مِائَةٍ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنِّي نَظَرْتُ فِي مُصْحَفِ فَاطِمَةَ ع قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا مُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَةَ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى لَمَّا قَبَضَ نَبِيَّهُ ص دَخَلَ عَلَى فَاطِمَةَ ع مِنْ وَفَاتِهِ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ مَا لَا يَعْلَمُهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَأَرْسَلَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهَا مَلَكاً يُسَلِّي غَمَّهَا وَ يُحَد

"The heretics will appear in the year one hundred twenty eight (745/746AD) because I have found it in the Mushaf of Fatima (a.s.).” I asked the Imam, “What is Mushaf of Fatima?” The Imam said, “When Allah took the Holy Prophet (s.w) from this world, it caused such a degree of grief to Fatima (a.s.) that only Allah, the

سَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنِ الْجَفْرِ فَقَالَ هُوَ جِلْدُ ثَوْرٍ مَمْلُوءٌ عِلْماً قَالَ لَهُ فَالْجَامِعَةُ قَالَ تِلْكَ صَحِيفَةٌ طُولُهَا سَبْعُونَ ذِرَاعاً فِي عَرْضِ الْأَدِيمِ مِثْلُ فَخِذِ الْفَالِجِ‌[6] فِيهَا كُلُّ مَا يَحْتَاجُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ وَ لَيْسَ مِنْ قَضِيَّةٍ إِلَّا وَ هِيَ فِيهَا حَتَّى أَرْشُ الْخَدْشِ قَالَ فَمُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَةَ ع قَالَ فَسَكَتَ طَوِيلًا ثُمَّ قَالَ إ

“It is the skin of a bull which is full of knowledge.” Then they asked the Imam (a.s.) about al-Jami‘a. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is a parchment that is seventy yards long with a width of hide like that of the leg of a huge camel. It contains everything people need, and there is no case except that it is in it, even

بَيْنَا أَبِي جَالِسٌ وَ عِنْدَهُ نَفَرٌ إِذَا اسْتَضْحَكَ حَتَّى اغْرَوْرَقَتْ عَيْنَاهُ دُمُوعاً ثُمَّ قَالَ هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا أَضْحَكَنِي قَالَ فَقَالُوا لَا قَالَ زَعَمَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّهُ مِنَ‌ الَّذِينَ قالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ‌ ثُمَّ اسْتَقامُوا[2] فَقُلْتُ لَهُ هَلْ رَأَيْتَ الْمَلَائِكَةَ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ تُخْبِرُكَ بِوَلَايَتِهَا لَكَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ مَعَ الْأَمْنِ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَ الْحُ

“Once, in a meeting in the presence of my father with a group of people also present my father smiled and (the feeling was quite intense it caused) tears flooded his eyes. He then asked, “Do you know what made me laugh?” The narrator has said that they said, “No, we do not know the reason.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Ibn ‘

كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع كَثِيراً مَا يَقُولُ‌- مَا اجْتَمَعَ التَّيْمِيُّ وَ الْعَدَوِيُّ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ هُوَ يَقْرَأُ- إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ بِتَخَشُّعٍ وَ بُكَاءٍ فَيَقُولَانِ مَا أَشَدَّ رِقَّتَكَ لِهَذِهِ السُّورَةِ فَيَقُولُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِمَا رَأَتْ عَيْنِي وَ وَعَى قَلْبِي وَ لِمَا يَرَى قَلْبُ هَذَا مِنْ بَعْدِي فَيَقُولَانِ وَ مَا الَّذِي رَأَيْتَ وَ مَا الَّذِي يَرَى قَالَ فَيَكْتُبُ لَهُمَا فِي ال

“Ali (a.s.) would say very often, “(What for) al-Taymies and al-‘Adawies have gathered around the Messenger of Allah (s.a.). He, the Messenger of Allah, would read, “We have revealed it on the Night of Determination” very humbly and tearfully. They (al-Taymi and al-‘Adwi) would say, “How intense is the tenderness that

لَمَّا ضُرِبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع حَفَّ بِهِ الْعُوَّادُ وَ قِيلَ لَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَوْصِ فَقَالَ اثْنُوا لِي وِسَادَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ مُتَّبِعِينَ أَمْرَهُ وَ أَحْمَدُهُ كَمَا أَحَبَّ وَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْأَحَدُ الصَّمَدُ كَمَا انْتَسَبَ‌[1] أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ لَاقٍ فِي فِرَارِهِ مَا مِنْهُ يَفِرُّ وَ الْأَجَلُ مَسَاقُ النَّفْسِ إِل

“When Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) was injured the visitors crowded around him saying, “O Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.), (please, grant us) your directive will.' The Imam then said, 'You must fold the pillow for me (to help me sit so I can speak).' He then said, 'All praise belongs to Allah, as He is worthy of it. We foll

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ يُحَدِّثُ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ فَقَالَ: وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ نَصَرَ اللَّهُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحَسَنُ إِي وَ اللَّهِ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَقَدْ بَغَى عَلَيْهِ إِخْوَتُهُ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ إِي وَ اللَّهِ وَ نَحْنُ عُمُومَتُهُ بَغَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحَسَنُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ صَنَعْتُمْ فَإِنِّي لَمْ أَحْضُر

“By Allah, Allah has supported abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.).” Al-Hassan then said, “Yes, by Allah, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, his brothers have rebelled against him.” Ali ibn Ja‘far then said, “Yes, by Allah, and we, his uncles, rebelled against him.” Al-Hassan said to him, “May Allah take my sou

لَمَّا خَرَجَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ إِلَى بَغْدَادَ فِي الدَّفْعَةِ الْأُولَى مِنْ خَرْجَتَيْهِ قُلْتُ لَهُ عِنْدَ خُرُوجِهِ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكَ فِي هَذَا الْوَجْهِ فَإِلَى مَنِ الْأَمْرُ بَعْدَكَ فَكَرَّ بِوَجْهِهِ إِلَيَّ ضَاحِكاً وَ قَالَ لَيْسَ الْغَيْبَةُ حَيْثُ ظَنَنْتَ فِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ فَلَمَّا أُخْرِجَ بِهِ الثَّانِيَةَ إِلَى الْمُعْتَصِمِ صِرْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُ

“The disappearance, as have thought, will not take place this year. When he was about to be taken to al-Mu‘tasam (179/795 —became caliph 218/833 — 227/841), for the second time I went to him and said, “May Allah take my souls in service for your cause. You are leaving. To who, after you, will go this task Leadership wi

فِي صَحْنِ دَارِهِ وَ النَّاسُ جُلُوسٌ حَوْلَهُ فَقَالُوا قَدَّرْنَا أَنْ يَكُونَ حَوْلَهُ مِنْ آلِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ وَ قُرَيْشٍ مِائَةٌ وَ خَمْسُونَ رَجُلًا سِوَى مَوَالِيهِ وَ سَائِرِ النَّاسِ إِذْ نَظَرَ إِلَى الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ قَدْ جَاءَ مَشْقُوقَ الْجَيْبِ حَتَّى قَامَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَ نَحْنُ لَا نَعْرِفُهُ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع بَعْدَ سَاعَةٍ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ أَحْدِثْ لِلَّه

“They were present on the day Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad, at the door of abu al-Hassan to offer condolences. A place in the compound of his house was prepared for him and people were sitting around him. They said, “We estimated that at that time from the descendents of abu Talib, Hashim and Quraysh there were about

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع بَعْدَ مُضِيِّ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ فَعَزَّيْتُهُ عَنْهُ وَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع جَالِسٌ فَبَكَى أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى قَدْ جَعَلَ فِيكَ خَلَفاً مِنْهُ فَاحْمَدِ اللَّهَ.

“I went to see abu al-Hassan (a.s.) after the death of abu Ja‘far and offered condolences for this reason. Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was also present. He wept and abu al-Hassan (a.s.) turned to him and said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has made you to succeed (the Imam) instead of him. You must thanks Allah.”

اجْتَمَعْتُ أَنَا وَ الشَّيْخُ أَبُو عَمْرٍو رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ عِنْدَ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ فَغَمَزَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ عَنِ الْخَلَفِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَا عَمْرٍو إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ وَ مَا أَنَا بِشَاكٍّ فِيمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ‌ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْهُ فَإِنَّ اعْتِقَادِي وَ دِينِي أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ لَا تَخْلُو مِنْ حُجَّةٍ إِلَّا إِذَا كَانَ قَبْلَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ بِأَرْ

“I and shaykh abu ‘Amr, may Allah grant him blessings met each other before Ahmad ibn Ishaq. Ahmad ibn Ishaq made an eye gesture to me to ask him about the succeeding Imam. I said to him, “O abu ‘Amr, I like to ask you a question about a matter, although, I do not any doubts in the question I am about to ask. It is my

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ التَّنْوِيهَ‌[2] أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَيَغِيبَنَّ إِمَامُكُمْ سِنِيناً مِنْ دَهْرِكُمْ وَ لَتُمَحَّصُنَّ حَتَّى يُقَالَ مَاتَ قُتِلَ هَلَكَ بِأَيِّ وَادٍ سَلَكَ وَ لَتَدْمَعَنَّ عَلَيْهِ عُيُونُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ لَتُكْفَؤُنَ‌[3] كَمَا تُكْفَأُ السُّفُنُ فِي أَمْوَاجِ الْبَحْرِ فَلَا يَنْجُو إِلَّا مَنْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَهُ وَ كَتَبَ فِي قَلْبِهِ الْإِيمَانَ وَ

"I heard Abu 'Abdullah (a.s) say as follows: "Beware of allusion! By Allah, your Imam will be in occultation for a period of time. And you shall indeed be tested until it will be said that he has died, been killed, or lost in an unknown valley. The eyes of the believers will shed many tears for him. Surely, you will be

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ عِنْدَهُ فِي الْبَيْتِ أُنَاسٌ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ إِنَّمَا أَرَادَ بِذَلِكَ غَيْرِي فَقَالَ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ‌ لَيَغِيبَنَّ عَنْكُمْ صَاحِبُ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ وَ لَيَخْمُلَنَّ هَذَا حَتَّى يُقَالَ مَاتَ هَلَكَ فِي أَيِّ وَادٍ سَلَكَ وَ لَتُكْفَؤُنَّ كَمَا تُكْفَأُ السَّفِينَةُ فِي أَمْوَاجِ الْبَحْرِ لَا يَنْجُو إِلَّا مَنْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَهُ وَ كَتَبَ الْإِيمَانَ فِي قَلْب

“Once I was in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and there other people also were present so I thought the Imam (a.s.) meant people other thanme when he said, “By Allah, the in chrage of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority) will disappear from your sight and this (case) will become so obscure that people wil

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ شِيعَتَكَ بِالْعِرَاقِ كَثِيرَةٌ وَ اللَّهِ مَا فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ مِثْلُكَ فَكَيْفَ لَا تَخْرُجُ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَطَاءٍ قَدْ أَخَذْتَ تَفْرُشُ أُذُنَيْكَ لِلنَّوْكَى‌[1] إِي وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَنَا بِصَاحِبِكُمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ فَمَنْ صَاحِبُنَا قَالَ انْظُرُوا مَنْ عَمِيَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وِلَادَتُهُ فَذَاكَ صَاحِبُكُمْ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنَّا أَحَدٌ يُشَارُ إِلَيْهِ بِالْإِصْبَ

“I said to him, ‘Your Shi‘a (followers) in Iraq are many. By Allah, there is no one like you in your family. Why do you not rise (for leadership)?” The narrator has said that he said, “O ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Ata’, you have began to open your ears to silliness. Yes, by Allah, I am not your companion (the one who will rise wit

كُنْتُ مَعَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ النَّهْرَوَانِ فَبَيْنَا عَلِيٌّ ع جَالِسٌ إِذْ جَاءَ فَارِسٌ فَقَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا عَلِيُّ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ ع وَ عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامُ مَا لَكَ ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ لَمْ تُسَلِّمْ عَلَيَّ بِإِمْرَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ بَلَى سَأُخْبِرُكَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ كُنْتُ إِذْ كُنْتَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ بِصِفِّينَ فَلَمَّا حَكَّمْتَ الْحَكَمَيْنِ بَرِئْت

On the day of al-Nahrawan I was in the presence of Ali ibn Abu Talib (a.s.). As we were sitting with the Imam (a.s.) a horse man approached and said, “al-salamu ‘Alayka ya Ali (peace be with you O Ali).” Ali (a.s.) said, “’Alayka al-salam (with you also be peace). May your mother weep over your dead body, why did you n

كُنْتُ مُزَامِلًا لِجَابِرِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْجُعْفِيِّ فَلَمَّا أَنْ كُنَّا بِالْمَدِينَةِ دَخَلَ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَوَدَّعَهُ وَ خَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ وَ هُوَ مَسْرُورٌ حَتَّى وَرَدْنَا الْأُخَيْرِجَةَ[3] أَوَّلَ مَنْزِلٍ نَعْدِلُ مِنْ فَيْدَ[4] إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ- يَوْمَ جُمُعَةٍ فَصَلَّيْنَا الزَّوَالَ فَلَمَّا نَهَضَ بِنَا الْبَعِيرُ إِذَا أَنَا بِرَجُلٍ طُوَالٍ آدَمَ مَعَهُ كِتَابٌ فَنَاوَلَهُ جَابِراً فَتَن

“Once I was a companion of Jabir ibn Yazid al-Ja‘far‘fi on a journey. When reached he went to meet abu Ja‘far (a.s.). He said farewell to him and came out very happy until we arrived in al-’Ukhayraja, the first length of journey from Fayd to Madina. It was a Friday. We said our prayers at noon. When the camel rose to l

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا وَ اللَّهِ سِرّاً مِنْ سِرِّ اللَّهِ وَ عِلْماً مِنْ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ وَ اللَّهِ مَا يَحْتَمِلُهُ مَلَكٌ مُقَرَّبٌ وَ لَا نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ وَ لَا مُؤْمِنٌ امْتَحَنَ اللَّهُ قَلْبَهُ لِلْإِيمَانِ وَ اللَّهِ مَا كَلَّفَ اللَّهُ ذَلِكَ أَحَداً غَيْرَنَا وَ لَا اسْتَعْبَدَ بِذَلِكَ أَحَداً غَيْرَنَا وَ إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا سِرّاً مِنْ سِرِّ اللَّهِ- وَ عِلْماً مِ

5. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Mansur ibn al-‘Abbass from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Abdallah ibn Muskan from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Khaliq and abu Basir who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘O abu Muhammad, with us there is a secret of the secrets of Allah and a knowle

إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ أَسَدٍ أُمَّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَانَتْ أَوَّلَ امْرَأَةٍ هَاجَرَتْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مِنْ مَكَّةَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ عَلَى قَدَمَيْهَا وَ كَانَتْ مِنْ أَبَرِّ النَّاسِ- بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَسَمِعَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يُحْشَرُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عُرَاةً كَمَا وُلِدُوا فَقَالَتْ وَا سَوْأَتَاهْ فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فَإِنِّي أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ

Indeed, Fatimah daughter of Asad, the mother of the Commander of the Faithful, was the first woman to migrate on foot to the Messenger of God (s) from Mecca to Medina. She was among the people most devoted and most kind toward the Messenger of God (s). She heard the Messenger of God (s) saying, ‘People will be gathered

لَمَّا كَانَ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي قُبِضَ فِيهِ- أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع ارْتَجَ‌[2] الْمَوْضِعُ بِالْبُكَاءِ وَ دَهِشَ النَّاسُ كَيَوْمَ قُبِضَ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ بَاكِياً وَ هُوَ مُسْرِعٌ مُسْتَرْجِعٌ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ الْيَوْمَ انْقَطَعَتْ خِلَافَةُ النُّبُوَّةِ حَتَّى وَقَفَ عَلَى بَابِ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي فِيهِ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَقَالَ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ كُنْتَ أَوَّلَ الْقَوْمِ إِسْ

4. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Barqi from Ahmad ibn Zayd al-Naysaburi who has said that narrated to me ‘Umar ibn Ibrahim al-Hashimi from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Umar from ’Asid ibn Safwan the companion of the Messenger of Allah who has said the following. “On the day that Ami

إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ ع مَكَثَتْ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص خَمْسَةً وَ سَبْعِينَ يَوْماً وَ كَانَ دَخَلَهَا حُزْنٌ شَدِيدٌ عَلَى أَبِيهَا وَ كَانَ يَأْتِيهَا جَبْرَئِيلُ ع فَيُحْسِنُ عَزَاءَهَا عَلَى أَبِيهَا وَ يُطَيِّبُ نَفْسَهَا وَ يُخْبِرُهَا عَنْ أَبِيهَا وَ مَكَانِهِ وَ يُخْبِرُهَا بِمَا يَكُونُ بَعْدَهَا فِي ذُرِّيَّتِهَا وَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَكْتُبُ ذَلِكَ.

“Fatima remained (alive) after (the death of) the Messenger of Allah (sw) for seventy-five days. She experienced profound sorrow for her father. Jibril (a.s.) would visit her, console her over her father's loss, comfort her heart, inform her about her father and his whereabouts, and inform her of what would happen to h

لَمَّا قُبِضَتْ فَاطِمَةُ ع دَفَنَهَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سِرّاً وَ عَفَا عَلَى مَوْضِعِ قَبْرِهَا ثُمَّ قَامَ فَحَوَّلَ وَجْهَهُ إِلَى قَبْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ‌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَنِّي وَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ عَنِ ابْنَتِكَ وَ زَائِرَتِكَ وَ الْبَائِتَةِ فِي الثَّرَى بِبُقْعَتِكَ وَ الْمُخْتَارِ اللَّهُ لَهَا سُرْعَةَ اللَّحَاقِ بِكَ قَلَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَنْ صَفِيَّتِكَ صَبْرِي

“When Fatima (sa) passed away, Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (as) buried her secretly and camouflaged the location of her grave. Then he stood up and turned his face towards the grave of Rasulullah (sa) and said, ‘Peace be upon you, Oh Rasullulah from me and from your daughter - your visitor, and the one who rests in the earth

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

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَمَّا كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع مَا كَانَ ضَجَّتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ إِلَى اللَّهِ بِالْبُكَاءِ وَ قَالَتْ يُفْعَلُ هَذَا بِالْحُسَيْنِ صَفِيِّكَ وَ ابْنِ نَبِيِّكَ قَالَ فَأَقَامَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ ظِلَّ الْقَائِمِ ع وَ قَالَ بِهَذَا أَنْتَقِمُ لِهَذَا.

“Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said, ‘When all that happened to al-Husayn had happened, the angels wept and cried before Allah and said, “How such thing would happen to al-Husayn Your chosen one and the grand son of Your Prophet?” The Imam (a.s.) has said that Allah then showed to them the shadow of Al-Qa’im (the one who wi

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَمَّا قُتِلَ الْحُسَيْنُ ع أَقَامَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ الْكَلْبِيَّةُ عَلَيْهِ مَأْتَماً وَ بَكَتْ وَ بَكَيْنَ النِّسَاءُ وَ الْخَدَمُ حَتَّى جَفَّتْ دُمُوعُهُنَّ وَ ذَهَبَتْ فَبَيْنَا هِيَ كَذَلِكَ إِذَا رَأَتْ جَارِيَةً مِنْ جَوَارِيهَا تَبْكِي وَ دُمُوعُهَا تَسِيلُ فَدَعَتْهَا فَقَالَتْ لَهَا مَا لَكِ أَنْتِ مِنْ بَيْنِنَا تَسِيلُ دُمُوعُكِ قَالَتْ إِنِّي لَمَّا أَصَابَنِي الْجَ

8. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Yunus from Masqala al-Tahhan who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘When al-Husayn was murdered his wife who was from the tribe of al-Kalb began to organize a mourning gathering. She wept an

كَانَ لِي جَارٌ يَتَّبِعُ السُّلْطَانَ فَأَصَابَ مَالًا فَأَعَدَّ قِيَاناً وَ كَانَ يَجْمَعُ الْجَمِيعَ إِلَيْهِ وَ يَشْرَبُ الْمُسْكِرَ وَ يُؤْذِينِي فَشَكَوْتُهُ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ غَيْرَ مَرَّةٍ فَلَمْ يَنْتَهِ فَلَمَّا أَنْ أَلْحَحْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي يَا هَذَا أَنَا رَجُلٌ مُبْتَلًى وَ أَنْتَ رَجُلٌ مُعَافًى فَلَوْ عَرَضْتَنِي لِصَاحِبِكَ رَجَوْتُ أَنْ يُنْقِذَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِكَ فَوَقَعَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فِي قَلْبِي ف

“I had a neighbor who followed the Sultan and he gains certain properties. He would arrange parties and invite female singers. They would drink wine and would disturb me. I complained to the man several times but he would not pay any attention. When I insisted he said, “O man, “I am an addicted man and you are sober. I

مَرَّ الْعَبْدُ الصَّالِحُ بِامْرَأَةٍ بِمِنًى وَ هِيَ تَبْكِي وَ صِبْيَانُهَا حَوْلَهَا يَبْكُونَ وَ قَدْ مَاتَتْ لَهَا بَقَرَةٌ فَدَنَا مِنْهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهَا مَا يُبْكِيكِ يَا أَمَةَ اللَّهِ قَالَتْ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لَنَا صِبْيَاناً يَتَامَى وَ كَانَتْ لِي بَقَرَةٌ مَعِيشَتِي وَ مَعِيشَةُ صِبْيَانِي كَانَ مِنْهَا وَ قَدْ مَاتَتْ وَ بَقِيتُ مُنْقَطَعاً بِي وَ بِوُلْدِي لَا حِيلَةَ لَنَا فَقَالَ يَا أَمَة

"The pious servant of Allah (Imam Kadhim (a.s)) passed in Mina by a woman who was weeping and her children around her also were weeping because her cow was dead. He went close to her and asked, 'What has caused you to weep O slave of Allah?' She said, 'O servant of Allah, we have orphan children. Our cow that was our m

لَمَّا انْقَضَى أَمْرُ الْمَخْلُوعِ‌[1] وَ اسْتَوَى الْأَمْرُ لِلْمَأْمُونِ كَتَبَ إِلَى الرِّضَا ع يَسْتَقْدِمُهُ إِلَى خُرَاسَانَ فَاعْتَلَّ عَلَيْهِ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع بِعِلَلٍ فَلَمْ يَزَلِ الْمَأْمُونُ يُكَاتِبُهُ فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى عَلِمَ أَنَّهُ لَا مَحِيصَ لَهُ وَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَكُفُّ عَنْهُ فَخَرَجَ ع وَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع سَبْعُ سِنِينَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ الْمَأْمُونُ لَا تَأْخُذْ عَلَى طَرِيقِ الْجَبَلِ وَ قُم

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from from Yasir al-Khadim and al-Rayyan ibn al-Salt all have said the following. “When the matter of the deposed Caliph (Amin) ended and it was established for al-Ma’mun he wrote to al-Rida asking to come to Khurasan. Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) in reply presented certain reason to justify his

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

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي لَأَرَى بَعْضَ أَصْحَابِنَا يَعْتَرِيهِ النَّزَقُ وَ الْحِدَّةُ وَ الطَّيْشُ‌[1] فَأَغْتَمُّ لِذَلِكَ غَمّاً شَدِيداً وَ أَرَى مَنْ خَالَفَنَا فَأَرَاهُ حَسَنَ السَّمْتِ‌[2] قَالَ لَا تَقُلْ حَسَنَ السَّمْتِ فَإِنَّ السَّمْتَ سَمْتُ الطَّرِيقِ وَ لَكِنْ قُلْ حَسَنَ السِّيمَاءِ- فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ‌ سِيماهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ مِنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُ

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I find certain persons of our people who seem light-minded and very temperamental and this extremely saddens me. On the other hand 1 find certain persons of those who do not accept our belief seem to (have very good Simt) be very di

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

قُلْتُ لَهُ بِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ يُعْلَمُ الْمُؤْمِنُ بِأَنَّهُ مُؤْمِنٌ قَالَ بِالتَّسْلِيمِ لِلَّهِ وَ الرِّضَا فِيمَا وَرَدَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ سُرُورٍ أَوْ سَخَطٍ.

“I (the narrator) asked him, (Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.)), ‘By what means can a believer know that he is a believer?’ The Imam said, ‘(He can find out) by means of his submitting himself to Allah, and being satisfied with whatever happiness or sadness that he may experience.’”

خَرَجْتُ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى هَذَا الْحَائِطِ فَاتَّكَأْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ عَلَيْهِ ثَوْبَانِ أَبْيَضَانِ‌[5] يَنْظُرُ فِي تُجَاهِ وَجْهِي‌[6] ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ مَا لِي أَرَاكَ كَئِيباً حَزِيناً أَ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا فَرِزْقُ اللَّهِ حَاضِرٌ لِلْبَرِّ وَ الْفَاجِرِ قُلْتُ مَا عَلَى هَذَا أَحْزَنُ وَ إِنَّهُ لَكَمَا تَقُولُ قَالَ فَعَلَى الْآخِرَةِ فَوَعْدٌ صَادِقٌ يَحْكُمُ فِيهِ مَلِ

“Once I walked out unil I reached this wall and leaned against it. At that time a man wearing only two pieces of white cloth was looking toward my face. He then said, ‘O, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), why do I see you gloomy and depressed? Is it over the world? Surely the sustenance from Allah is available for both the goo

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

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

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

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ يَا جَابِرُ وَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَمَحْزُونٌ وَ إِنِّي لَمَشْغُولُ الْقَلْبِ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَا شَغَلَكَ وَ مَا حَزَنَ قَلْبَكَ فَقَالَ يَا جَابِرُ إِنَّهُ مَنْ دَخَلَ قَلْبَهُ صَافِي‌ خَالِصِ دِينِ اللَّهِ شُغِلَ قَلْبُهُ عَمَّا سِوَاهُ يَا جَابِرُ مَا الدُّنْيَا وَ مَا عَسَى أَنْ تَكُونَ الدُّنْيَا هَلْ هِيَ إِلَّا طَعَامٌ أَكَلْتَهُ أَوْ ثَوْبٌ لَبِسْتَهُ أَوِ امْرَ

“Once I went to visit abu la’ far (a.s.) and he said, ‘O Jabir, I swear by Allah, I am very sad and my heart is pre-occupied.’ I then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, what has pre-occupied your heart and what is the reason for your sadness?’ The Imam said, ‘O Jabir, if the religion of Allah in

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

وَقَعَ بَيْنَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ بَيْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ كَلَامٌ حَتَّى وَقَعَتِ الضَّوْضَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَ اجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ فَافْتَرَقَا عَشِيَّتَهُمَا بِذَلِكَ وَ غَدَوْتُ فِي حَاجَةٍ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَلَى بَابِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ يَا جَارِيَةُ قُولِي لِأَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ يَخْرُجُ قَالَ فَخَرَجَ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مَا بَكَّرَ بِكَ‌[3

“Once a conversation took place between Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and ‘Abd Allah ibn al- Hassan and it had become quite noisy and people had gathered around. They departed from each other that evening. The next morning I was out for a task and I saw Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) at the door of ‘Abd Allah ibn al- Hassan who was sayin

تَقَبَّضْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ رُبَّمَا حَزِنْتُ مِنْ غَيْرِ مُصِيبَةٍ تُصِيبُنِي أَوْ أَمْرٍ يَنْزِلُ بِي حَتَّى يَعْرِفَ ذَلِكَ أَهْلِي فِي وَجْهِي وَ صَدِيقِي فَقَالَ نَعَمْ يَا جَابِرُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ طِينَةِ الْجِنَانِ وَ أَجْرَى فِيهِمْ مِنْ رِيحِ رُوحِهِ فَلِذَلِكَ الْمُؤْمِنُ أَخُو الْمُؤْمِنِ لِأَبِيهِ وَ أُمِّهِ فَإِذَا أَصَابَ رُ

“Once I became depressed in the presence of abu Ja’far (a.s.) and asked him, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, why is it that sometimes I feel depressed without any apparent cause or incident? Even my family and friends notice it on my face.’ The Imam said, ‘Yes O Jabir, Allah, the Most Majestic, the M

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَا وَ ابْنُ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ وَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ طَلْحَةَ فَقَالَ ابْتِدَاءً مِنْهُ يَا ابْنَ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص سِتُّ خِصَالٍ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ كَانَ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ عَنْ يَمِينِ اللَّهِ‌[2] فَقَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ وَ مَا هُنَّ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ يُحِبُّ الْمَرْءُ الْمُسْلِمُ لِأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِأَعَزِّ أَهْلِهِ وَ يَ

“Once ibn abu Ya’fur, ‘Abd Allah ibn Talha and I were in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who on his own initiation said, ‘O ibn abu Ya’fur, the Messenger of Allah has said, “There are six things that if found in a person, he will be before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, to the right of Allah (to the righ

إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَيْنِ إِذَا اعْتَنَقَا غَمَرَتْهُمَا الرَّحْمَةُ فَإِذَا الْتَزَمَا لَا يُرِيدَانِ بِذَلِكَ إِلَّا وَجْهَ اللَّهِ وَ لَا يُرِيدَانِ غَرَضاً مِنْ أَغْرَاضِ الدُّنْيَا قِيلَ لَهُمَا مَغْفُوراً لَكُمَا فَاسْتَأْنِفَا[4] فَإِذَا أَقْبَلَا عَلَى الْمُسَاءَلَةِ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ بَعْضُهَا لِبَعْضِ تَنَحَّوْا عَنْهُمَا فَإِنَّ لَهُمَا سِرّاً وَ قَدْ سَتَرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمَا قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ فَقُلْتُ جُ

“When two believing people embrace each other, blessings engulf them. When they hold each other just for the sake of Allah and for no worldly reasons, it then will be said to them, ‘You are forgiven, resume your deeds.’ When they begin asking about each other the angels will say to each other, ‘Keep away from them; the

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ أَعَانَ مُؤْمِناً نَفَّسَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَنْهُ ثَلَاثاً وَ سَبْعِينَ كُرْبَةً وَاحِدَةً فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَ سَبْعِينَ كُرْبَةً عِنْدَ كُرَبِهِ الْعُظْمَى قَالَ حَيْثُ يَتَشَاغَلُ النَّاسُ بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘One who provides financial help for his brother (in belief), Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, provides for him relief in seventy-three grievous conditions. One is for the worldly life and the other seventy-two in times of great grief and hardship (Day of Judgment), when people

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ نَفَسُ الْمَهْمُومِ لَنَا الْمُغْتَمِّ لِظُلْمِنَا تَسْبِيحٌ وَ هَمُّهُ لِأَمْرِنَا عِبَادَةٌ وَ كِتْمَانُهُ لِسِرِّنَا جِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَالَ لِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ اكْتُبْ هَذَا بِالذَّهَبِ فَمَا كَتَبْتَ شَيْئاً أَحْسَنَ مِنْهُ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘A breath with a sigh of concern and sadness due to injustice done to us is Tasbih (speaking of the glory of Allah) and one’s concern about our cause is worship, his concealing our secret is Jihad (hard work for the cause of Allah).”’ “Muhammad ibn Sa’id told me to write it down wi

قَامَ رَجُلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ هَمَّامٌ وَ كَانَ عَابِداً نَاسِكاً مُجْتَهِداً إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ هُوَ يَخْطُبُ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صِفْ لَنَا صِفَةَ الْمُؤْمِنِ كَأَنَّنَا نَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَا هَمَّامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ هُوَ الْكَيِّسُ الْفَطِنُ بِشْرُهُ فِي وَجْهِهِ وَ حُزْنُهُ فِي قَلْبِهِ أَوْسَعُ شَيْ‌ءٍ صَدْراً[3] وَ أَذَلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ نَفْساً زَاجِرٌ عَنْ كُلِّ فَانٍ‌[4] حَاضٌّ عَلَى ك

“Once a man called Hammam, an assiduous worshipper practicing religious rules and a hardworking man came to Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) during his speech and said, ‘O Amir al-Mu’minin, describe for us the qualities of the believer as if we see him before our eyes.’ “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib)

شِيعَتُنَا هُمُ الشَّاحِبُونَ‌[1] الذَّابِلُونَ النَّاحِلُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا جَنَّهُمُ اللَّيْلُ اسْتَقْبَلُوهُ بِحُزْنٍ.

“Our Shi’a (followers) look pale, with parched (lips), slim and they receive the darkening night with sadness.”

صَلَّى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بِالنَّاسِ الصُّبْحَ بِالْعِرَاقِ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ وَعَظَهُمْ فَبَكَى وَ أَبْكَاهُمْ مِنْ خَوْفِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَهِدْتُ أَقْوَاماً عَلَى عَهْدِ خَلِيلِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ إِنَّهُمْ لَيُصْبِحُونَ وَ يُمْسُونَ شُعْثاً غُبْراً خُمْصاً[1] بَيْنَ أَعْيُنِهِمْ كَرُكَبِ الْمِعْزَى- يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ‌ سُجَّداً وَ قِياماً يُرَاوِحُونَ بَيْنَ أَقْدَامِهِمْ

“Once Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) prayed the morning prayer with people in Iraq. After prayer he gave a speech on having fear of Allah. He wept and made people weep. He then said, ‘By Allah, I lived with a people, in the times of my beloved one, the Messenger of Allah, who were ragged, dusty and slim-be