Mosques & Congregation

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَيُّهُمَا أَفْضَلُ الْإِيمَانُ أَوِ الْإِسْلَامُ فَإِنَّ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الْإِسْلَامَ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ فَقَالَ الْإِيمَانُ أَرْفَعُ مِنَ الْإِسْلَامِ قُلْتُ فَأَوْجِدْنِي ذَلِكَ‌[2] قَالَ مَا تَقُولُ فِيمَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ مُتَعَمِّداً قَالَ قُلْتُ يُضْرَبُ ضَرْباً شَدِيداً قَالَ أَصَبْتَ قَالَ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِيمَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي الْكَعْبَة

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Which is better, belief or Islam? Certain people say Islam is better than belief.’ The Imam said, ‘Belief is higher than Islam.’ I then said, ‘Help me understand it.’ He said, ‘What do you say if one commits, purposely, an act of heresy in Masjid al-Haram (Sacred Mosque)?’ I said, ‘He sho

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ الْإِيمَانُ مَا اسْتَقَرَّ فِي الْقَلْبِ وَ أَفْضَى بِهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ صَدَّقَهُ الْعَمَلُ بِالطَّاعَةِ لِلَّهِ وَ التَّسْلِيمِ لِأَمْرِهِ وَ الْإِسْلَامُ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ فِعْلٍ وَ هُوَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ جَمَاعَةُ النَّاسِ مِنَ الْفِرَقِ كُلِّهَا وَ بِهِ حُقِنَتِ الدِّمَاءُ وَ عَلَيْهِ جَرَتِ الْمَوَارِيثُ وَ جَازَ النِّكَاحُ وَ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَ الزَّكَا

“I heard from Abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Belief is what settles down in the heart and takes it to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy. One’s deeds testify to (its existence), (deeds) that come in the form of obedience to Allah and submission to His command. Islam is what appears through one’s words or deeds and tha

كَتَبْتُ مَعَ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ مَا هُوَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ مَعَ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ سَأَلْتَ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ وَ الْإِيمَانُ هُوَ الْإِقْرَارُ بِاللِّسَانِ وَ عَقْدٌ فِي الْقَلْبِ وَ عَمَلٌ بِالْأَرْكَانِ وَ الْإِيمَانُ بَعْضُهُ مِنْ بَعْضٍ وَ هُوَ دَارٌ وَ كَذَلِكَ الْإِسْلَامُ دَارٌ وَ الْكُفْرُ دَارٌ فَقَدْ يَكُونُ الْ

“Abd al-Malik ibn A’yan and I wrote to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) asking him, ‘What is belief?’ He then wrote to us. ‘You, may Allah grant you favors, have asked about belief. Belief is affirmation, with the tongue, that is established in the heart and by the deeds of the body. Beliefs are from each other. Belief is a house.

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ وَ الْإِسْلَامِ قُلْتُ لَهُ أَ فَرْقٌ بَيْنَ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ الْإِيمَانِ قَالَ فَأَضْرِبُ لَكَ مَثَلَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَوْرِدْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ مَثَلُ الْإِيمَانِ وَ الْإِسْلَامِ مَثَلُ الْكَعْبَةِ الْحَرَامِ مِنَ الْحَرَمِ قَدْ يَكُونُ فِي الْحَرَمِ وَ لَا يَكُونُ فِي الْكَعْبَةِ وَ لَا يَكُونُ فِي الْكَعْبَةِ حَتَّى يَكُونَ فِي الْحَرَمِ وَ قَدْ يَكُونُ مُسْلِماً وَ لَا يَكُونُ مُؤْمِناً وَ ل

“I asked the Imam about belief and Islam, inquiring, ‘Is there a difference between Islam and belief?’ The Imam said, ‘I can give an example.’ I said, ‘Please do so.’ He said, ‘The case of belief and Islam is like the Holy Ka’ba and the Sacred precinct. One may have entered the Sacred precinct but not the Holy Ka’ba. O

بَعَثَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي حَاجَةٍ وَ هُوَ بِالْحِيرَةِ أَنَا وَ جَمَاعَةً مِنْ مَوَالِيهِ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْنَا فِيهَا ثُمَّ رَجَعْنَا مُغْتَمِّينَ‌[1] قَالَ وَ كَانَ فِرَاشِي فِي الْحَائِرِ الَّذِي كُنَّا فِيهِ نُزُولًا فَجِئْتُ وَ أَنَا بِحَالٍ‌[2] فَرَمَيْتُ بِنَفْسِي فَبَيْنَا أَنَا كَذَلِكَ إِذَا أَنَا بِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَدْ أَقْبَلَ قَالَ فَقَالَ قَدْ أَتَيْنَاكَ أَوْ قَالَ جِئْنَاكَ فَاسْتَوَي

Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once sent me with a group of his followers for an errand and at that time he was in Hirah (a place near Kufa, Iraq). We left for it and returned depressed. My bed was in al-Ha’ir (a comfortable private quarter). I went there in an upset condition and threw myself thereat. At this time Abu ‘Abdilla

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

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ فَضَّلَ الْإِيمَانَ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ بِدَرَجَةٍ كَمَا فَضَّلَ الْكَعْبَةَ عَلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ.

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah has given superiority to belief over Islam by one degree just as He has given superiority to al-Ka’ba over the Sacred Mosque.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص صَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ الصُّبْحَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى شَابٍّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَ هُوَ يَخْفِقُ وَ يَهْوِي‌[2] بِرَأْسِهِ مُصْفَرّاً لَوْنُهُ قَدْ نَحِفَ جِسْمُهُ وَ غَارَتْ عَيْنَاهُ فِي رَأْسِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص كَيْفَ أَصْبَحْتَ يَا فُلَانُ قَالَ أَصْبَحْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مُوقِناً فَعَجِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مِنْ قَوْلِهِ‌[3] وَ قَالَ إِنَّ لِكُ

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Once the Messenger of Allah after leading the morningprayer for the people looked at a young man in the Mosque whose head hung down. He looked pale and slim and his eyes sunk into his head. The Messenger of Allah asked, ‘O so and so, how is your morning?’ He (the young man) replie

دَخَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِرَجُلٍ عَلَى بَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ كَئِيبٍ حَزِينٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مَا لَكَ قَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أُصِبْتُ بِأَبِي [وَ أُمِّي‌] وَ أَخِي وَ أَخْشَى أَنْ أَكُونَ قَدْ وَجِلْتُ‌[2] فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَيْكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ الصَّبْرِ تَقْدَمْ عَلَيْهِ غَداً وَ الصَّبْرُ فِي الْأُمُورِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الرَّأْسِ

“Once Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) entered the Mosque and at the door of the Mosque he met a man who was depressed and sad. Amir al- Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) asked him ‘What has happened to you?’ He said, ‘It is due to the death of my father, mother and brother. O Amir al- Mu’minin, I am afrai

خَرَجَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ وَ قَدْ ضَاعَتْ دَابَّتُهُ فَقَالَ لَئِنْ رَدَّهَا اللَّهُ عَلَيَّ لَأَشْكُرَنَّ اللَّهَ حَقَّ شُكْرِهِ قَالَ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَنْ أُتِيَ بِهَا فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَائِلٌ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَ لَيْسَ قُلْتَ لَأَشْكُرَنَّ اللَّهَ حَقَّ شُكْرِهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ لَمْ تَسْمَعْنِي قُلْتُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ.

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) came out of the Mosque and his animal that he had ridden was missing. The Imam said, ‘If Allah will return my animal I will thank Him the way He must be thanked.’ Not long thereafter his animal was brought back. The Imam said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah.’ Someone then said, ‘May Allah keep

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا بَحْرُ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ يُسْرٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِحَدِيثٍ مَا هُوَ فِي يَدَيْ أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ بَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ جَالِسٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ إِذْ جَاءَتْ جَارِيَةٌ لِبَعْضِ الْأَنْصَارِ وَ هُوَ قَائِمٌ فَأَخَذَتْ بِطَرَفِ ثَوْبِهِ فَقَامَ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ ص فَلَمْ تَقُلْ شَيْئاً وَ لَمْ يَقُلْ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ ص شَيْ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) said to me, ‘O Bahr, excellent moral behavior is prosperity. Would you like me to teach you a Hadith which is not found in the hands of any of the people of Madina?’ I said, ‘Yes, please do so.’ The Imam said, ‘Once the Messenger of Allah was in the Mosque when a girl from the people of Ansar cam

أَفْطَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص- عَشِيَّةَ خَمِيسٍ فِي مَسْجِدِ قُبَا فَقَالَ هَلْ مِنْ شَرَابٍ فَأَتَاهُ أَوْسُ بْنُ خَوَلِيٍّ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ بِعُسِّ مَخِيضٍ بِعَسَلٍ‌[1] فَلَمَّا وَضَعَهُ عَلَى فِيهِ نَحَّاهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ شَرَابَانِ يُكْتَفَى بِأَحَدِهِمَا مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ لَا أَشْرَبُهُ وَ لَا أُحَرِّمُهُ وَ لَكِنْ أَتَوَاضَعُ لِلَّهِ فَإِنَّ مَنْ تَوَاضَعَ لِلَّهِ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ وَ مَنْ تَكَبَّرَ خَفَضَهُ اللَّهُ وَ م

‘‘In a Thursday evening the Messenger of Allah had completed his day’s fasting and dinner was served in the Mosque of Quba. He asked, ‘Is there any drink?’ Aws ibn Khuli brought him a bowl of milk mixed with honey. When he touched it with his lips he moved it away saying, ‘There are two drinks each of which is enough d

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ مَشَى فِي حَاجَةِ أَخِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَطْلُبُ بِذَلِكَ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ حَتَّى تُقْضَى لَهُ‌[1] كَتَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ مِثْلَ أَجْرِ حَجَّةٍ وَ عُمْرَةٍ مَبْرُورَتَيْنِ‌[2] وَ صَوْمِ شَهْرَيْنِ مِنْ أَشْهُرِ الْحُرُمِ وَ اعْتِكَافِهِمَا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَ مَنْ مَشَى فِيهَا بِنِيَّةٍ وَ لَمْ تُقْضَ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ مِثْلَ حَجّ

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Whoever walks to help make the wish of his believing brother (in belief) come true, seeking thereby the reward for it with Allah until he makes it happen, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, writes down for him a reward equal to the reward for performing Hajj and ‘Umrah that

قَالَ: مَشْيُ الرَّجُلِ فِي حَاجَةِ أَخِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ يُكْتَبُ‌[4] لَهُ عَشْرُ حَسَنَاتٍ وَ يُمْحَى عَنْهُ عَشْرُ سَيِّئَاتٍ وَ يُرْفَعُ لَهُ عَشْرُ دَرَجَاتٍ قَالَ وَ لَا أَعْلَمُهُ‌[5] إِلَّا قَالَ وَ يَعْدِلُ عَشْرَ رِقَابٍ وَ أَفْضَلُ مِنِ اعْتِكَافِ شَهْرٍ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘For a believer’s walking to help a believing brother (in belief) ten good deeds are written for him, ten of his sins are deleted and he is raised ten degrees in meritorious status.’ The narrator has said, ‘I do not know what else the Imam said, but (I do know) he (the Imam) said, ‘It i

مَنْ سَعَى فِي حَاجَةِ أَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ فَاجْتَهَدَ فِيهَا فَأَجْرَى اللَّهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ قَضَاءَهَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ حَجَّةً وَ عُمْرَةً وَ اعْتِكَافَ شَهْرَيْنِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَ صِيَامَهُمَا وَ إِنِ اجْتَهَدَ فِيهَا وَ لَمْ يُجْرِ اللَّهُ قَضَاءَهَا عَلَى يَدَيْهِ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ حَجَّةً وَ عُمْرَةً.

“Whoever endeavors to help his Muslim brother (in belief) and strives in it and Allah makes it (such help) possible through him, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, writes down for him the reward for one Hajj, one ‘Umrah and ‘l’tikaf (a certain form of worship) for two months in the Sacred Mosque with fasting. If

لِعَبَّادِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ الْبَصْرِيِّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَيْلَكَ يَا عَبَّادُ إِيَّاكَ وَ الرِّيَاءَ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ وَكَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى مَنْ عَمِلَ لَهُ.

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said to ‘Abbad ibn Kathir al-Basri in the Mosque, ‘Woe upon you, O ‘Abbad, you must never show off; whoever works for someone other than Allah, He will assign him to that for which he has worked.’”

دَخَلَ رَجُلَانِ الْمَسْجِدَ أَحَدُهُمَا عَابِدٌ وَ الْآخَرُ فَاسِقٌ فَخَرَجَا مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ وَ الْفَاسِقُ صِدِّيقٌ‌[1] وَ الْعَابِدُ فَاسِقٌ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ يَدْخُلُ الْعَابِدُ الْمَسْجِدَ مُدِلًّا بِعِبَادَتِهِ يُدِلُّ بِهَا فَتَكُونُ فِكْرَتُهُ فِي ذَلِكَ وَ تَكُونُ فِكْرَةُ الْفَاسِقِ فِي التَّنَدُّمِ عَلَى فِسْقِهِ وَ يَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِمَّا صَنَعَ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ.

“Two people went to a Mosque. One was a worshipper and the other a sinful one. They left the Mosque. The sinner was a true believer, but the worshipper had become a sinner. It so happened, because the worshipper went to the Mosque boastful of his worshipping, thus, his thoughts were all the time on boastfulness. The si

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْغِيبَةُ أَسْرَعُ فِي دِينِ الرَّجُلِ الْمُسْلِمِ مِنَ الْأَكِلَةِ فِي جَوْفِهِ قَالَ وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْجُلُوسُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ انْتِظَارَ الصَّلَاةِ عِبَادَةٌ مَا لَمْ يُحْدِثْ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ مَا يُحْدِثُ قَالَ الِاغْتِيَابَ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Backbiting destroys the religion of a person faster than an internal cancerous disease.’ “The Imam has also said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “Sitting in the mosque is worship as long as it does not happen.” He was asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, ‘What has not happened?’ He said,

أن تكون عليه حتّى يكون قالعة لآثار الذنوب من القلوب بالكلية و ذلك بإذابة النفس بالحسرات و محو ظلمة السيئات بنور الحسنات. روى الشيخ الطبرسيّ (ره) عند تفسير هذه الآية عن أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام أن التوبة تجمعها ستة أشياء على الماضى من الذنوب الندامة و للفرائض الإعادة و ردّ المظالم و استحلال الخصوم و أن تعزم على أن لا تعود و أن تذيب نفسك في طاعة اللّه كما ربيتها في المعصية و أن يذيقها مرارة الطاعات كما أذقتها حلاوة ال

كَانَ أَبِي إِذَا طَلَبَ الْحَاجَةَ طَلَبَهَا عِنْدَ زَوَالِ الشَّمْسِ- فَإِذَا أَرَادَ ذَلِكَ قَدَّمَ شَيْئاً فَتَصَدَّقَ بِهِ وَ شَمَّ شَيْئاً مِنْ طِيبٍ وَ رَاحَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَ دَعَا فِي حَاجَتِهِ بِمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ.

Whenever my father had a need to be fulfilled, he would seek it to be fulfilled during the decline of the sun from its peak position (i.e. dhuhr time). When he intended to do this, he would first give something in charity, wear some perfume, go to the mosque, and then supplicate for his need as Allah willed."

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

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ الْمَسْجِدَ فَابْتَدَأَ قَبْلَ الثَّنَاءِ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَاجَلَ الْعَبْدُ رَبَّهُ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ آخَرُ فَصَلَّى وَ أَثْنَى عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص سَلْ تُعْطَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع‌[1] إِنَّ الثَّنَاءَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ الصّ

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Once a man came to the Mosque and he began without praising Allah and asking from Him favors for the Holy Prophet. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘The servant (of Allah) hastened his Lord.’ Then another man came in and prayed, praised Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and ask

مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ إِلَّا وَ لَهُ حَدٌّ يَنْتَهِي إِلَيْهِ إِلَّا الذِّكْرَ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ حَدٌّ يَنْتَهِي إِلَيْهِ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْفَرَائِضَ فَمَنْ أَدَّاهُنَّ فَهُوَ حَدُّهُنَّ وَ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ فَمَنْ صَامَهُ فَهُوَ حَدُّهُ وَ الْحَجَّ فَمَنْ حَجَّ فَهُوَ حَدُّهُ إِلَّا الذِّكْرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمْ يَرْضَ مِنْهُ بِالْقَلِيلِ وَ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ حَدّاً يَنْتَهِي إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَل

“Everything has a limit where it ends except speaking of Allah which has no limit to end. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has sanctioned obligations. When one fulfills them, their limit is where they end. The limit for the month of Ramadan is that when one fasts that is its limit where it ends, and the limit o

ثَلَاثَةٌ يَشْكُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَسْجِدٌ خَرَابٌ لَا يُصَلِّي فِيهِ أَهْلُهُ وَ عَالِمٌ بَيْنَ جُهَّالٍ وَ مُصْحَفٌ مُعَلَّقٌ قَدْ وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ الْغُبَارُ لَا يُقْرَأُ فِيهِ.

“Three things will complain before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy: A Mosque where no one of the neighborhood performs prayer, a scholar among the ignorant people and the copy of the Holy Quran on which dust has accumulated and no one reads it.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْوَرَعِ وَ الِاجْتِهَادِ وَ اشْهَدُوا الْجَنَائِزَ وَ عُودُوا الْمَرْضَى وَ احْضُرُوا مَعَ قَوْمِكُمْ مَسَاجِدَكُمْ وَ أَحِبُّوا لِلنَّاسِ مَا تُحِبُّونَ لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ أَ مَا يَسْتَحْيِي الرَّجُلُ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَعْرِفَ جَارُهُ حَقَّهُ وَ لَا يَعْرِفَ حَقَّ جَارِهِ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al- Husayn ibn Sa’id and Muhammad ibn Khalid all from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Habib al-Khath’ami who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘You must maintain restraint from worldly attractions (sins), maintain persistence in wor

ثَلَاثَةٌ تُرَدُّ عَلَيْهِمْ رَدَّ الْجَمَاعَةِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ وَاحِداً عِنْدَ الْعُطَاسِ يُقَالُ يَرْحَمُكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَعَهُ غَيْرُهُ وَ الرَّجُلُ يُسَلِّمُ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ فَيَقُولُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ الرَّجُلُ يَدْعُو لِلرَّجُلِ فَيَقُولُ عَافَاكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ وَاحِداً فَإِنَّ مَعَهُ غَيْرَهُ.

“In three cases the ‘greeting’ is answered in a plural case even if there is only one person: for one’s sneezing, it is said, ‘May Allah grant you (plural) favor.’ when a man offers the ‘greeting of peace’ saying, ‘(I offer you to) be in peace’, the answer is ‘(I offer you to) be in peace,’ and when a man pleads before

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ يُسَلِّمُ الرَّاكِبُ عَلَى الْمَاشِي وَ الْمَاشِي عَلَى الْقَاعِدِ وَ إِذَا لَقِيَتْ جَمَاعَةٌ جَمَاعَةً سَلَّمَ الْأَقَلُّ عَلَى الْأَكْثَرِ وَ إِذَا لَقِيَ وَاحِدٌ جَمَاعَةً سَلَّمَ الْوَاحِدُ عَلَى الْجَمَاعَةِ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘A person riding should offer greetings of peace to the one walking, the one walking to the one stationary and sitting. On meeting a group the one in smaller numbers offers the greeting of peace to that in greater numbers and one person offers greetings of peace to a group.”’

إِذَا مَرَّتِ الْجَمَاعَةُ بِقَوْمٍ أَجْزَأَهُمْ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمْ وَ إِذَا سَلَّمَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ وَ هُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ أَجْزَأَهُمْ أَنْ يَرُدَّ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمْ.

“If one person from a group passing by another group offers the greeting of peace it is sufficient for all and so also is for an answer if only one person from the stationary group responds.”

إِذَا سَلَّمَ الرَّجُلُ مِنَ الْجَمَاعَةِ أَجْزَأَ عَنْهُمْ.

“If one person offers the greeting of peace for a whole group it is considered enough and sufficient.”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ سُوقُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَمَسْجِدِهِمْ فَمَنْ سَبَقَ إِلَى مَكَانٍ فَهُوَ أَحَقُّ بِهِ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ قَالَ وَ كَانَ لَا يَأْخُذُ عَلَى بُيُوتِ السُّوقِ كِرَاءً.

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) would say, ‘The market place of the Muslims is like their Mosque, the one who first takes a place stays there until night. ’ The narrator has said that he (the Imam) would not charge any rent for the shops.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الِاتِّكَاءُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ رَهْبَانِيَّةُ الْعَرَبِ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ مَجْلِسُهُ مَسْجِدُهُ وَ صَوْمَعَتُهُ بَيْتُهُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Sitting in the Mosque in a leaning posture is the monkish practice of the Arabs. The gathering place of believing people is the Mosque, and their monastery is their home.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الِاحْتِبَاءُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ حِيطَانُ الْعَرَبِ‌[2].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Sitting in the Mosque in al- ‘Ihtiba ’ posture (knees folded with thighs against the belly by a piece of cloth or by one’s arms) is the wall of Arabs.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الِاحْتِبَاءُ حِيطَانُ الْعَرَبِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Sitting in the Mosque in al- ‘ Ihtiba ’ posture, (knees folded with thighs against the belly by a piece of cloth or by one’s arms) is the wall of Arabs.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَحْتَبِي بِثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ يُغَطِّي عَوْرَتَهُ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about a man who uses one piece of cloth for al- ‘Ihtiba’. The Imam said, ‘If it covers his private parts then it is not an offense.’”

لَا يَجُوزُ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَحْتَبِيَ مُقَابِلَ الْكَعْبَةِ[1].

“It is not permissible for a man to perform al-’Ihtiba’ across the Ka’bah.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُحِبُّ الْمُدَاعِبَ فِي الْجَمَاعَةِ بِلَا رَفَثٍ‌[4].

4. Salih ibn ‘Aqabah has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Ju’fi who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, loves a funny storyteller in a group free of abusive matters. ’”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ لِي جَارٌ يُؤْذِينِي فَقَالَ ارْحَمْهُ فَقُلْتُ لَا رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ فَصَرَفَ وَجْهَهُ عَنِّي قَالَ فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَدَعَهُ فَقُلْتُ يَفْعَلُ بِي كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ يَفْعَلُ بِي وَ يُؤْذِينِي فَقَالَ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَاشَفْتَهُ انْتَصَفْتَ مِنْهُ‌[1] فَقُلْتُ بَلَى أُرْبِي عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ ذَا مِمَّنْ يَحْسُدُ النَّاسَ عَلى‌ ما آتاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ‌

“Once I went in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and said to him, ‘My neighbor causes me suffering.’ The Imam said, ‘Be kind to him.’ I said, ‘I wish Allah will not grant him any kindness.’ The Imam turned away from me and I did not like to leave him and I said, ‘He does this and that to me and keeps causing me to

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَشَكَا إِلَيْهِ أَذًى مِنْ جَارِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص اصْبِرْ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ ثَانِيَةً فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ص اصْبِرْ ثُمَّ عَادَ إِلَيْهِ فَشَكَاهُ ثَالِثَةً فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص لِلرَّجُلِ الَّذِي شَكَا إِذَا كَانَ عِنْدَ رَوَاحِ النَّاسِ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ فَأَخْرِجْ مَتَاعَكَ إِلَى الطَّرِيقِ حَتَّى يَرَاهُ مَنْ يَرُوحُ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ فَإِذَا سَأَلُوكَ فَأَخْبِرْهُ

“Once a man came to the Holy Prophet and complained against his neighbor. The Messenger of Allah said to him, ‘Bear patience.’ The man came the second time. The Holy Prophet said, ‘Bear patience.’ The man came the third time. The Holy Prophet said to him, ‘On Friday when people go to the Mosque take your belongings out

خَرَجَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ مِنْ عِنْدِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع قَائِمٌ وَ هُوَ غُلَامٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ يَا غُلَامُ أَيْنَ يَضَعُ الْغَرِيبُ بِبَلَدِكُمْ‌[1] فَقَالَ اجْتَنِبْ أَفْنِيَةَ الْمَسَاجِدِ وَ شُطُوطَ الْأَنْهَارِ وَ مَسَاقِطَ الثِّمَارِ وَ مَنَازِلَ النُّزَّالِ وَ لَا تَسْتَقْبِلِ الْقِبْلَةَ بِغَائِطٍ وَ لَا بَوْلٍ وَ ارْفَعْ ثَوْبَكَ وَ ضَعْ حَيْثُ شِئْتَ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated in a marfu‘ manner the following: “Once, abu Hanifah came out of a meeting with abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam. Abu al-Hassan, Musa, a young boy at that time, was standing in the meeting place. Abu Hanifah asked him, ‘O young man, where does an outsider relieve himself of nature’s dema

نَزَلْنَا فِي مَكَانٍ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ الْمَسْجِدِ زُقَاقٌ قَذِرٌ[3] فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ أَيْنَ نَزَلْتُمْ فَقُلْتُ نَزَلْنَا فِي دَارِ فُلَانٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَ الْمَسْجِدِ زُقَاقاً قَذِراً أَوْ قُلْنَا لَهُ إِنَّ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ الْمَسْجِدِ زُقَاقاً قَذِراً فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ الْأَرْضُ تُطَهِّرُ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضاً قُلْتُ وَ السِّرْقِينُ الرَّطْبُ أَطَأُ عَلَيْهِ فَ

“Once we found lodging in a place. Between this place and the Masjid there were dirty passageways. I visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). He (the Imam) asked, ‘Where have you found lodging?’ I replied, ‘It is the house of so and so.’ He (the Imam) or we said, ‘Between that house and Masjid there are unclean passageways.’ He

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْجُنُبِ يَأْكُلُ وَ يَشْرَبُ وَ يَقْرَأُ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَأْكُلُ وَ يَشْرَبُ وَ يَقْرَأُ وَ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَا شَاءَ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of one who after sexual relation eats, drinks or reads. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, one can eat, drink, read and speak of Allah, most M

لِلْجُنُبِ أَنْ يَمْشِيَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ كُلِّهَا وَ لَا يَجْلِسُ فِيهَا إِلَّا الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ وَ مَسْجِدَ الرَّسُولِ ص.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is permissible for one after experiencing sexual relation to walk in all kinds of Masjid but he must not sit in them. This does not apply to Masjid al- Haram and Masjid of the Messenger of Allah.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْجُنُبِ يَجْلِسُ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ قَالَ لَا وَ لَكِنْ يَمُرُّ فِيهَا كُلِّهَا إِلَّا الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ وَ مَسْجِدَ الرَّسُولِ ص.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about one’s sitting in Masjid after experiencing sexual relation. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not permissible but one can pass through all kinds of Masjid except Masjid al-Haram and Masjid of the Messenger of Allah.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَمَّنْ قَرَأَ فِي الْمُصْحَفِ وَ هُوَ عَلَى غَيْرِ وُضُوءٍ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ وَ لَا يَمَسَّ الْكِتَابَ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about one who reads from a copy of al-Mushaf (the book) without Wudu’. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful, but one must not touch the book in such condition.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْجُنُبُ يَدَّهِنُ ثُمَّ يَغْتَسِلُ قَالَ لَا.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Can one after experiencing sexual relation, rub oil, then take Ghusl (bath). He (the Imam) said, ‘No, (it is not permissible).”’

قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع الرَّجُلُ يُجْنِبُ فَيُصِيبُ جَسَدَهُ وَ رَأْسَهُ الْخَلُوقُ‌[1] وَ الطِّيبُ وَ الشَّيْ‌ءُ اللَّكِدُ مِثْلُ عِلْكِ الرُّومِ وَ الطَّرَارِ وَ مَا أَشْبَهَهُ فَيَغْتَسِلُ فَإِذَا فَرَغَ وَجَدَ شَيْئاً قَدْ بَقِيَ فِي جَسَدِهِ مِنْ أَثَرِ الْخَلُوقِ وَ الطِّيبِ وَ غَيْرِهِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibrahim ibn abu Mahmud who has said the following: “I once asked al-Rida, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘Is it permissible for one after experiencing sexual relation to come in contact with perfume, oils or such things as chewing-gum or freshener, then take Ghusl (bat

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْجُنُبِ وَ الْحَائِضِ يَتَنَاوَلَانِ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْمَتَاعَ يَكُونُ فِيهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ لَكِنْ لَا يَضَعَانِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ شَيْئاً.

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about one, who experiencing sexual relation or Hayd (menses), picks up something from Masjid. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is permissible but they must not leave something in Masjid.”’

لَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يَخْتَضِبَ الْجُنُبُ وَ يُجْنِبَ الْمُخْتَضِبُ وَ يَطَّلِيَ بِالنُّورَةِ. - وَ رُوِيَ أَيْضاً أَنَّ الْمُخْتَضِبَ لَا يُجْنِبُ حَتَّى يَأْخُذَ الْخِضَابُ وَ أَمَّا فِي أَوَّلِ الْخِضَابِ فَلَا.

‘It is permissible for one who has experienced sexual relation to apply dye to one’s hairs and one who has already applied dye to one’s hair to experience sexual relation or apply lime.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ‌[2] عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُجْنِبُ ثُمَّ يُرِيدُ النَّوْمَ قَالَ إِنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَتَوَضَّأَ فَلْيَفْعَلْ وَ الْغُسْلُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ وَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَإِنْ هُوَ نَامَ وَ لَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ وَ لَمْ يَغْتَسِلْ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى.

“I once asked him (the Imam) about a man who experiences sexual relation and wants to sleep. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he likes he can take Wudu’. However, Ghusl (bath) is more desirable to me and I prefer it; and it is better than that, however, if he has gone to sleep without Wudu’ and without Ghusl (bath) there is not

لَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يَحْتَجِمَ‌[3] الرَّجُلُ وَ هُوَ جُنُبٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is permissible for one who has experienced sexual relation to draw blood from his body by means of cupping.’”