مَنْ أَظْهَرَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ وَ بَارَزَ اللَّهَ بِمَا كَرِهَهُ[4] لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَ هُوَ مَاقِتٌ لَهُ.
“Whoever shows off to people an act that Allah loves and opposes Allah with what He dislikes (showoff), he will find Allah at war with him.”
سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَعْمَلُ الشَّيْءَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ فَيَرَاهُ إِنْسَانٌ فَيَسُرُّهُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا وَ هُوَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَظْهَرَ لَهُ فِي النَّاسِ الْخَيْرُ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ صَنَعَ ذَلِكَ لِذَلِكَ.
“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘What do you say about a man who does a good deed while a human being sees him and it makes him happy?’ The Imam said, ‘There is no offense in it. There is no one who does not love people seeing something good come from him even though he may not have done it for such purposes (people se
إِنَّهُ يُحِبُّ الرِّئَاسَةَ فَقَالَ مَا ذِئْبَانِ ضَارِيَانِ[2] فِي غَنَمٍ قَدْ تَفَرَّقَ رِعَاؤُهَا بِأَضَرَّ فِي دِينِ الْمُسْلِمِ مِنَ الرِّئَاسَةِ.
“It was mentioned before the Imam that a certain man loves to have leadership. The Imam said, ‘Two fierce wolves in a flock of sheep, whose shepherd is far away, are not more harmful to the flock than seeking leadership to a Muslim’s religion is.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ أَ تَرَى لَا أَعْرِفُ خِيَارَكُمْ مِنْ شِرَارِكُمْ بَلَى وَ اللَّهِ وَ إِنَّ شِرَارَكُمْ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوطَأَ عَقِبُهُ إِنَّهُ لَا بُدَّ مِنْ كَذَّابٍ أَوْ عَاجِزِ الرَّأْيِ[1].
“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) asking, ‘Do you think I do not distinguish the bad from good among you? Yes, by Allah, the bad ones among you are those who love people walking behind him. Such a person is inevitably a liar or a helpless one (due to his ignorance) in his opinion.’”
سُئِلَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع عَنِ الْعَصَبِيَّةِ فَقَالَ الْعَصَبِيَّةُ الَّتِي يَأْثَمُ عَلَيْهَا صَاحِبُهَا أَنْ يَرَى الرَّجُلُ شِرَارَ قَوْمِهِ خَيْراً مِنْ خِيَارِ قَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ وَ لَيْسَ مِنَ الْعَصَبِيَّةِ أَنْ يُحِبُّ الرَّجُلُ قَوْمَهُ وَ لَكِنْ مِنَ الْعَصَبِيَّةِ أَنْ يُعِينَ قَوْمَهُ عَلَى الظُّلْمِ.
7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasani from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from al-Minqari from ‘Abd al-Razzaq from Mu’ammar from al-Zuhri who has said the following: “Once, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was asked about racist feelings. He said, ‘The racist feeling that is a sin is the one tha
رَأْسُ كُلِّ خَطِيئَةٍ حُبُّ الدُّنْيَا.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘The head of all sins is love of this world.’”
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 مَنْ لَمْ يَتَعَزَّ بِعَزَاءِ اللَّهِ تَقَطَّعَتْ نَفْسُهُ حَسَرَاتٍ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا وَ مَنْ أَتْبَعَ بَصَرَهُ مَا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ كَثُرَ هَمُّهُ وَ لَمْ يُشْفَ غَيْظُهُ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَرَ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِ نِعْمَةً إِلَّا فِي مَطْعَمٍ أَوْ مَشْرَبٍ أَوْ مَلْبَسٍ فَقَدْ قَصُرَ عَمَلُهُ وَ دَنَا عَذَابُهُ[1].
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘One who is not comforted and satisfied with relief from Allah, his soul will be torn in pieces due to his sorrow for the world. One who follows his eyes to what is in the hands of the people, his depressed condition will increase and his anguish will not cease. One who does not apprec
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
فِي مُنَاجَاةِ مُوسَى ع يَا مُوسَى إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا دَارُ عُقُوبَةٍ عَاقَبْتُ فِيهَا آدَمَ عِنْدَ خَطِيئَتِهِ وَ جَعَلْتُهَا مَلْعُونَةً مَلْعُونٌ مَا فِيهَا إِلَّا مَا كَانَ فِيهَا لِي يَا مُوسَى إِنَّ عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحِينَ زَهِدُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا بِقَدْرِ عِلْمِهِمْ وَ سَائِرَ الْخَلْقِ رَغِبُوا فِيهَا بِقَدْرِ جَهْلِهِمْ وَ مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ عَظَّمَهَا فَقَرَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ فِيهَا وَ لَمْ يُحَقِّرْهَا أَحَدٌ إِلَّا
“It is in the conversations of Moses: ‘O Moses, the world is the home of suffering. I caused Adam to suffer in it when he made a mistake and 1 have condemned it. Everything in it is condemned except what is for Me. O Moses, My virtuous servants reduce their interests in the world proportionate to the degree of their kn
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.”
مَرَّ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ ع عَلَى قَرْيَةٍ قَدْ مَاتَ أَهْلُهَا وَ طَيْرُهَا وَ دَوَابُّهَا فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَمُوتُوا إِلَّا بِسَخْطَةٍ[2] وَ لَوْ مَاتُوا مُتَفَرِّقِينَ لَتَدَافَنُوا فَقَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ يَا رُوحَ اللَّهِ وَ كَلِمَتَهُ ادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُحْيِيَهُمْ لَنَا فَيُخْبِرُونَا مَا كَانَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَنَجْتَنِبَهَا فَدَعَا عِيسَى ع رَبَّهُ فَنُودِيَ مِنَ الْجَوِّ أَنْ نَادِهِمْ فَقَا
“Once Jesus, son of Mary, passed by a town, in which people, birds and animals had all died. Jesus said, ‘They all have died from violence. Had they died individually they would have buried each other.’ The disciples said, ‘O Spirit of Allah and His word, pray to Allah to bring them to life so we may ask about their de
مَا فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَى عَبْدٍ بَاباً مِنْ أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْحِرْصِ مِثْلَهُ.
“With every door to the worldly affairs that Allah opens to a servant. He also opens a door of greed to him.”
قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ ص تَعْمَلُونَ لِلدُّنْيَا وَ أَنْتُمْ تُرْزَقُونَ فِيهَا بِغَيْرِ عَمَلٍ وَ لَا تَعْمَلُونَ لِلْآخِرَةِ وَ أَنْتُمْ لَا تُرْزَقُونَ فِيهَا إِلَّا بِالْعَمَلِ وَيْلَكُمْ عُلَمَاءَ سَوْءٍ الْأَجْرَ تَأْخُذُونَ وَ الْعَمَلَ تُضَيِّعُونَ يُوشِكُ رَبُّ الْعَمَلِ[2] أَنْ يُقْبَلَ عَمَلُهُ وَ يُوشِكُ أَنْ يُخْرَجُوا مِنْ ضِيقِ الدُّنْيَا إِلَى ظُلْمَةِ الْقَبْرِ كَيْفَ يَكُونُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِل
13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from al-Minqari from Hafs ibn Ghiyath from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon him, has said, ‘You work for the worldly things while your sustenance is there without work. Y ou do not work for the
أَبْعَدُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا لَمْ يُهِمَّهُ إِلَّا بَطْنُهُ وَ فَرْجُهُ.
“The farthest that a servant can be from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, is the condition wherein one has no other concern but his stomach and his genitals.”
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
مَنْ كَثُرَ اشْتِبَاكُهُ بِالدُّنْيَا كَانَ أَشَدَّ لِحَسْرَتِهِ عِنْدَ فِرَاقِهَا.
“Whoever’ s entanglement with the world is greater his sorrow to leave this world becomes more intense.”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ مَنْ تَعَلَّقَ قَلْبُهُ بِالدُّنْيَا تَعَلَّقَ قَلْبُهُ بِثَلَاثِ خِصَالٍ هَمٍّ لَا يَفْنَى- وَ أَمَلٍ لَا يُدْرَكُ وَ رَجَاءٍ لَا يُنَالُ.
“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Whoever’s heart is lodged with the world is ensnared with three things: a concern that never vanishes, a wish that never comes true and a hope that never materializes.’”
قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ إِخْوَتِي وَ بَنِي عَمِّي قَدْ ضَيَّقُوا عَلَيَّ الدَّارَ وَ أَلْجَئُونِي مِنْهَا إِلَى بَيْتٍ وَ لَوْ تَكَلَّمْتُ أَخَذْتُ[3] مَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِيَ اصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيَجْعَلُ لَكَ فَرَجاً قَالَ فَانْصَرَفْتُ وَ وَقَعَ الْوَبَاءُ فِي سَنَةِ إِحْدَى وَ ثَلَاثِينَ وَ مِائَةٍ[4]- فَمَاتُوا وَ اللَّهِ كُلُّهُمْ فَمَا بَقِيَ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ قَالَ فَخَرَجْتُ فَلَمَّا دَخَلْتُ عَل
“Once I (Tsa) said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘My brothers and cousins have made life very difficult for me. They have forced me out of the house to another house. If I talk to them I am capable to take away what is in their hands.’ The Imam said, ‘Be patient. Allah will make a way out for you.’ I (the narrator) changed m
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَنْ أَهَانَ لِي وَلِيّاً فَقَدْ أَرْصَدَ لِمُحَارَبَتِي وَ مَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدٌ بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنَّهُ لَيَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيَّ بِالنَّافِلَةِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ كُنْتُ سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ وَ بَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ وَ لِسَانَهُ الَّذِي يَنْ
“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘Whoever insults any of My friends has waged a war against Me. Whoever of the servant seeks closeness to Me should know that there is nothing in that matter more beloved to Me than his fulfilling
لَمَّا أُسْرِيَ بِالنَّبِيِّ ص قَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَا حَالُ الْمُؤْمِنِ عِنْدَكَ- قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ مَنْ أَهَانَ لِي وَلِيّاً فَقَدْ بَارَزَنِي بِالْمُحَارَبَةِ وَ أَنَا أَسْرَعُ شَيْءٍ إِلَى نُصْرَةِ أَوْلِيَائِي وَ مَا تَرَدَّدْتُ عَنْ شَيْءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ كَتَرَدُّدِي عَنْ وَفَاةِ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَ أَكْرَهُ مَسَاءَتَهُ وَ إِنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَنْ لَا يُصْلِحُهُ إِلَّا الْغِنَى وَ
When the Prophet (sw) was taken on the night journey (al-Isra), he said, "O my Lord, what is the condition of the believer with You?" Allah said, "O Muhammad, whoever dishonors My friend has declared war against Me, and I am the quickest of all things to support My friends. I have never hesitated about anything I am go
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَنِ اسْتَذَلَّ عَبْدِيَ الْمُؤْمِنَ فَقَدْ بَارَزَنِي بِالْمُحَارَبَةِ وَ مَا تَرَدَّدْتُ فِي شَيْءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ كَتَرَدُّدِي فِي عَبْدِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنِّي أُحِبُّ لِقَاءَهُ فَيَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ فَأَصْرِفُهُ عَنْهُ- وَ إِنَّهُ لَيَدْعُونِي فِي الْأَمْرِ فَأَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ بِمَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ[1].
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “Whoever humiliates My believing servant has asked Me for a fight. I have not hesitated as much as I did at the time of the death of My believing servant. I love to meet him and he dislikes death. I then divert it from him. He prays t
كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص إِذَا صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ قَالَ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يَجْتَنِبَ مُوَاخَاةَ ثَلَاثَةٍ الْمَاجِنِ[1] وَ الْأَحْمَقِ وَ الْكَذَّابِ فَأَمَّا الْمَاجِنُ فَيُزَيِّنُ لَكَ فِعْلَهُ وَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِثْلَهُ وَ لَا يُعِينُكَ عَلَى أَمْرِ دِينِكَ وَ مَعَادِكَ وَ مُقَارَنَتُهُ جَفَاءٌ وَ قَسْوَةٌ وَ مَدْخَلُهُ وَ مَخْرَجُهُ عَلَيْكَ عَارٌ وَ أَمَّا الْأَحْمَقُ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُشِيرُ
6. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman from Muhammad ibn Salim al-Kendi from those who narrated to him from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) from the pulpit would say, ‘It is very proper for a Muslim not to establish b
دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَ حُمْرَانُ أَوْ أَنَا وَ بُكَيْرٌ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّا نَمُدُّ الْمِطْمَارَ قَالَ وَ مَا الْمِطْمَارُ قُلْتُ التُّرُّ[2] فَمَنْ وَافَقَنَا مِنْ عَلَوِيٍّ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ تَوَلَّيْنَاهُ وَ مَنْ خَالَفَنَا مِنْ عَلَوِيٍّ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ بَرِئْنَا مِنْهُ فَقَالَ لِي يَا زُرَارَةُ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ أَصْدَقُ مِنْ قَوْلِكَ فَأَيْنَ الَّذِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِلَّا الْمُسْ
“Once Humran and I or Bukayr and I went in the presence of abu Ja’far (a.s.) and I said, ‘We use the Mitmar.’ The Imam said, ‘What is the Mitmar?’ I said, ‘It is a measuring device. Whoever of ‘Alawi or none ‘Alawi agrees with us we love them and whoever, ‘Alawi or none ‘Alawi opposes us, we disavow them.’ The Imam sai
قُلْتُ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ وُجُوهِ الْكُفْرِ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَالَ الْكُفْرُ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَلَى خَمْسَةِ أَوْجُهٍ فَمِنْهَا كُفْرُ الْجُحُودِ وَ الْجُحُودُ عَلَى وَجْهَيْنِ وَ الْكُفْرُ بِتَرْكِ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ وَ كُفْرُ الْبَرَاءَةِ وَ كُفْرُ النِّعَمِ فَأَمَّا كُفْرُ الْجُحُودِ فَهُوَ الْجُحُودُ بِالرُّبُوبِيَّةِ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ مَنْ يَقُولُ لَا رَبَّ وَ لَا جَنَّةَ وَ لَا نَارَ وَ هُو
“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Instruct me about the kinds of disbelief (mentioned) in the book of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’ The Imam said, ‘Disbelief in the book of Allah is of five kinds: “(1) Of disbelief is denial, which is of two kinds. (2) There is disbelief for disregarding the commands of
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ الْإِنْسَانُ مُشْرِكاً قَالَ فَقَالَ مَنِ ابْتَدَعَ رَأْياً فَأَحَبَّ عَلَيْهِ أَوْ أَبْغَضَ عَلَيْهِ.
“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the minimum degree of al-Shirk (paganism). The Imam said, ‘It is one’s inventing an opinion and thereafter love and hate (people) on that basis.’”
كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الْعَبْدِ الصَّالِحِ ع أُخْبِرُهُ أَنِّي شَاكٌّ وَ قَدْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ع- رَبِّ أَرِنِي كَيْفَ تُحْيِ الْمَوْتى[1] وَ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ تُرِيَنِي شَيْئاً فَكَتَبَ ع إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ مُؤْمِناً وَ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَزْدَادَ إِيمَاناً وَ أَنْتَ شَاكٌّ وَ الشَّاكُّ لَا خَيْرَ فِيهِ وَ كَتَبَ إِنَّمَا الشَّكُّ مَا لَمْ يَأْتِ الْيَقِينُ فَإِذَا جَاءَ الْيَقِينُ لَمْ يَجُزِ الشَّكُّ وَ كَتَبَ إِنّ
I had doubt and Ibrahim (a.s) had said, ‘Lord, show me how you will bring the dead to life?’ (2: 260) and I would love that you show me something. Thus, he (a.s) wrote back to me, ‘Ibrahim was a believer. He wanted to increase his belief. You, however, have doubt and there is nothing good in doubt.’ And he wrote, ‘Doub
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الدِّينِ الَّذِي لَا يَسَعُ الْعِبَادَ جَهْلُهُ فَقَالَ الدِّينُ وَاسِعٌ[2] وَ لَكِنَّ الْخَوَارِجَ ضَيَّقُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ مِنْ جَهْلِهِمْ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَأُحَدِّثُكَ بِدِينِيَ الَّذِي أَنَا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ بَلَى فَقُلْتُ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الْإِقْرَارَ بِمَا جَاءَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَ أَتَوَل
“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about how much religious knowledge people must have. The Imam said, ‘Religion is vast but the Khawarij (those who turned against Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.)) group has narrowed it down upon themselves due to their ignorance.’ I asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for
سَمِعْتُ عَلِيّاً ص يَقُولُ وَ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ مُؤْمِناً وَ أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ كَافِراً وَ أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ ضَالًّا فَقَالَ لَهُ قَدْ سَأَلْتَ فَافْهَمِ الْجَوَابَ أَمَّا أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ مُؤْمِناً أَنْ يُعَرِّفَهُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى نَفْسَهُ- فَيُقِرَّ لَهُ بِالطَّاعَةِ وَ يُعَرِّفَهُ نَبِيَّهُ ص فَيُقِ
“Once a man came to Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) and asked him, ‘What is the least of that with which a servant (of Allah) becomes a believer, or an unbeliever or a straying person?’ I heard the Imam say, ‘You asked the question, now try to understand the answer. The least of that with which one may be co
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْعَبْدَ أَنْ يَطْلُبَ إِلَيْهِ فِي الْجُرْمِ الْعَظِيمِ[2] وَ يُبْغِضُ الْعَبْدَ أَنْ يَسْتَخِفَّ بِالْجُرْمِ الْيَسِيرِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah loves that a servant asks Him for help in great crimes and He hates the servant who considers trivial sins insignificant.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ إِذَا تَابَ الْعَبْدُ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحاً أَحَبَّهُ اللَّهُ[2]- فَسَتَرَ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ فَقُلْتُ وَ كَيْفَ يَسْتُرُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ يُنْسِي مَلَكَيْهِ مَا كَتَبَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ وَ يُوحِي إِلَى جَوَارِحِهِ اكْتُمِي عَلَيْهِ ذُنُوبَهُ وَ يُوحِي إِلَى بِقَاعِ الْأَرْضِ اكْتُمِي مَا كَانَ يَعْمَلُ عَلَيْكِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ فَيَلْقَى اللَّهَ حِينَ يَل
“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘When a servant (of Allah) repents in the form of the repentance of Nasuh (sincere advise to one’s soul, or name of a person who repented in the real sense), Allah then loves him, covers and protects him in this world and in the next life.’ 1 then asked, ‘How will He cover him?’ Th
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحاً[2] قَالَ يَتُوبُ الْعَبْدُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ ثُمَّ لَا يَعُودُ فِيهِ. - قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْفُضَيْلِ سَأَلْتُ عَنْهَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع فَقَالَ يَتُوبُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ ثُمَّ لَا يَعُودُ فِيهِ وَ أَحَبُّ الْعِبَادِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى الْمُفَتَّنُونَ التَّوَّابُونَ.
“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Believers, turn to Allah in repentance, in a Nasuh manner, with the intention of never repeating the same sin.’ (66:8) The Imam said, ‘It means a servant (of Allah) repents from sins and never repeats them. ’ “Muhammad ibn a
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحاً قَالَ هُوَ الذَّنْبُ[3] الَّذِي لَا يَعُودُ فِيهِ أَبَداً قُلْتُ وَ أَيُّنَا لَمْ يَعُدْ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُفَتَّنَ التَّوَّابَ.
“In a Nasuh manner,” with the intention of never repeating the same sin.’ (66:8) The Imam said, ‘It is the sin that one never repeats.’ I then asked, ‘Who among us does not repeat?’ The Imam said, ‘O abu Muhammad, of His servants Allah loves those who are put to trial and the ones who repent very often.’”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْعَبْدَ الْمُفَتَّنَ التَّوَّابَ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ[3] كَانَ أَفْضَلَ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah loves the servant who is put to trial (by sin) and repents, however, one without such (sinful) condition is better.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ إِذَا تَابَ الْعَبْدُ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحاً أَحَبَّهُ اللَّهُ فَسَتَرَ عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ وَ كَيْفَ يَسْتُرُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ يُنْسِي مَلَكَيْهِ مَا كَانَا يَكْتُبَانِ عَلَيْهِ وَ يُوحِي اللَّهُ إِلَى جَوَارِحِهِ وَ إِلَى بِقَاعِ الْأَرْضِ أَنِ اكْتُمِي عَلَيْهِ ذُنُوبَهُ فَيَلْقَى اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حِينَ يَلْقَاهُ وَ لَيْسَ شَيْءٌ يَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ[3
‘When a servant (of Allah) repents in the form of the repentance of Nasuh (sincerely repenting) Allah loves him and covers him up.’ I then asked, ‘How does he cover him up?’ The Imam said, ‘He makes his two angels forget whatever they have written against him and Allah sends inspiration to the parts of his body and to
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَنْ جَاءَنَا يَلْتَمِسُ الْفِقْهَ وَ الْقُرْآنَ وَ تَفْسِيرَهُ فَدَعُوهُ وَ مَنْ جَاءَنَا يُبْدِي عَوْرَةً قَدْ سَتَرَهَا اللَّهُ فَنَحُّوهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّنِي لَمُقِيمٌ عَلَى ذَنْبٍ مُنْذُ دَهْرٍ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَتَحَوَّلَ عَنْهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ فَمَا أَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنْ كُنْتَ صَادِقاً فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّكَ وَ مَا ي
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever comes to us seeking to learn Fiqh (laws of Shari’a) and the Holy Quran, allow him to come in. Whoever comes to us to make public what Allah has covered, you must move him away.’ A man from the people then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I have been invo
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ مِنْ عَبِيدِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَيُذْنِبُ الذَّنْبَ الْعَظِيمَ مِمَّا يَسْتَوْجِبُ بِهِ عُقُوبَتِي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ[2] فَأَنْظُرُ لَهُ فِيمَا فِيهِ صَلَاحُهُ فِي آخِرَتِهِ فَأُعَجِّلُ لَهُ الْعُقُوبَةَ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا لِأُجَازِيَهُ بِذَلِكَ الذَّنْبِ وَ أُقَدِّرُ عُقُوبَةَ ذَلِكَ الذَّنْبِ وَ أَقْضِيهِ وَ أَتْرُكُ
1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al-‘Abdi from ibn abu Ya’fur who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “A servant among My believing servants commits a great sin
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ إِنْ قَدَرْتَ أَنْ لَا تُعْرَفَ فَافْعَلْ وَ مَا عَلَيْكَ أَلَّا يُثْنِيَ عَلَيْكَ النَّاسُ وَ مَا عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ مَذْمُوماً عِنْدَ النَّاسِ إِذَا كُنْتَ مَحْمُوداً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع لَا خَيْرَ فِي الْعَيْشِ إِلَّا لِرَجُلَيْنِ رَجُلٍ يَزْدَادُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَيْراً وَ رَجُلٍ يَتَدَارَكُ مَنِيَّتَهُ بِالتَّوْبَةِ وَ أَنَّى
“Once I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘If you can remain unknown, then do so. There will be nothing wrong if people will not praise you. There is nothing wrong for you if people censure you if you are praiseworthy before Allah.’ The Imam said, ‘My father Amir al- Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, “There
جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي ذَرٍّ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ مَا لَنَا نَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ فَقَالَ لِأَنَّكُمْ عَمَرْتُمُ الدُّنْيَا وَ أَخْرَبْتُمُ الْآخِرَةَ فَتَكْرَهُونَ أَنْ تُنْقَلُوا مِنْ عُمْرَانٍ إِلَى خَرَابٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ فَكَيْفَ تَرَى قُدُومَنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا الْمُحْسِنُ مِنْكُمْ فَكَالْغَائِبِ يَقْدَمُ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ وَ أَمَّا الْمُسِيءُ مِنْكُمْ فَكَالْآبِقِ يَرِدُ عَلَى مَوْلَاهُ قَالَ فَكَيْف
“A man came to abu Dhar and asked, ‘O abu Dhar, why do we dislike death?’ He said, ‘It is because you have developed the world and destroyed the next life and you dislike moving from developed to that which is mined.’ The man asked, ‘How do you see our moving in the presence of Allah?’ He replied, ‘The people of good d
قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَحَبُّ الْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي الْأَرْضِ الدُّعَاءُ وَ أَفْضَلُ الْعِبَادَةِ الْعَفَافُ قَالَ وَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع رَجُلًا دَعَّاءً.
“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘The most beloved of deeds before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, on earth is pleading before Him for help and the best worship is chastity.’ The Imam said, ‘Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) was a very prayerful man.’”
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كَرِهَ إِلْحَاحَ النَّاسِ بَعْضِهِمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ وَ أَحَبَّ ذَلِكَ لِنَفْسِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يُسْأَلَ وَ يُطْلَبَ مَا عِنْدَهُ.
4. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hajjal from Hassan from abu al-Sabbah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, dislikes people insisting before one another for help but He likes it before Himself. A
إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يَعْلَمُ مَا يُرِيدُ الْعَبْدُ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَ لَكِنَّهُ يُحِبُّ أَنْ تُبَثَّ إِلَيْهِ الْحَوَائِجُ فَإِذَا دَعَوْتَ فَسَمِّ حَاجَتَكَ. - وَ فِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ قَالَ قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَعْلَمُ حَاجَتَكَ وَ مَا تُرِيدُ وَ لَكِنْ يُحِبُّ أَنْ تُبَثَّ إِلَيْهِ الْحَوَائِجُ.
“Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, knows what a servant wants when he prays and pleads before Him for help, but He loves that one’s needs are brought before Him in detail. Whenever you pray, name your request. ’ In another Hadith it is said, ‘Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, knows your needs and what you w
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُحِبُّ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كُلَّ عَبْدٍ دَعَّاءٍ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالدُّعَاءِ فِي السَّحَرِ إِلَى طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ فَإِنَّهَا سَاعَةٌ تُفَتَّحُ فِيهَا أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَ تُقَسَّمُ فِيهَا الْأَرْزَاقُ وَ تُقْضَى فِيهَا الْحَوَائِجُ الْعِظَامُ.
"Indeed, Allah (azwj) loves from His believing servants every servant who is persistent in supplication. Therefore, you should engage in supplication during the pre-dawn hours until sunrise, for it is a time when the gates of heaven are opened, provisions are distributed, and great needs are fulfilled."
مَا مِنْ قَطْرَةٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ قَطْرَةِ دُمُوعٍ فِي سَوَادِ اللَّيْلِ مَخَافَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ لَا يُرَادُ بِهَا غَيْرُهُ.
“No drop is more beloved to Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, than the drop of tears in the dark night for fear of Allah, and is intended to be just for Him alone.”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى مُوسَى ع أَنَّ عِبَادِي لَمْ يَتَقَرَّبُوا إِلَيَّ بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ ثَلَاثِ خِصَالٍ قَالَ مُوسَى يَا رَبِّ وَ مَا هُنَّ قَالَ يَا مُوسَى الزُّهْدُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْوَرَعُ عَنِ الْمَعَاصِي وَ الْبُكَاءُ مِنْ خَشْيَتِي قَالَ مُوسَى يَا رَبِّ فَمَا لِمَنْ صَنَعَ ذَا فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ يَا مُوسَى أَمَّا الزَّاهِدُ
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, sent revelations to Moses that said, “the most beloved of things to Me with which My servants can seek nearness to Me are three things.” Moses then asked, ‘Lord, what are they?’ The Lord said, ‘One’s reduced interest in worldly matters, restrain
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذَا طَلَبَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْحَاجَةَ فَلْيُثْنِ عَلَى رَبِّهِ وَ لْيَمْدَحْهُ فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا طَلَبَ الْحَاجَةَ مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ هَيَّأَ لَهُ مِنَ الْكَلَامِ أَحْسَنَ مَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا طَلَبْتُمُ الْحَاجَةَ فَمَجِّدُوا اللَّهَ الْعَزِيزَ الْجَبَّارَ وَ امْدَحُوهُ وَ أَثْنُوا عَلَيْهِ تَقُولُ- يَا أَجْوَدَ مَنْ أَعْطَى وَ يَا خَيْرَ مَنْ سُئِلَ يَا أَرْحَمَ مَنِ اسْتُرْ
6. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from ‘Iys ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whenever anyone of you wishes to ask for help he should praise his Lord and thank Him. When a man wants to ask a king for something, he prepares to say the