Prayer

تَعَاهَدُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَ حَافِظُوا عَلَيْهَا وَ اسْتَكْثِرُوا مِنْهَا وَ تَقَرَّبُوا بِهَا فَإِنَّهَا كانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتاباً مَوْقُوتاً وَ قَدْ عَلِمَ ذَلِكَ الْكُفَّارُ حِينَ سُئِلُوا ما سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ قالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ‌ الْمُصَلِّينَ‌[1] وَ قَدْ عَرَفَ حَقَّهَا مَنْ طَرَقَهَا[2] وَ أُكْرِمَ بِهَا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَشْغَلُهُمْ عَنْهَا زَيْنُ مَتَاعٍ وَ لَا قُرَّةُ عَيْنٍ مِن

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from certain individuals of his people from abu Hamzah from ‘Aqil al-Khuza’iy who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, during a war recommended the Muslims with these words: ‘You must perform your Salat (prayer) regularly, preserve it, perform it v

بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص جَيْشاً إِلَى خَثْعَمَ‌[1] فَلَمَّا غَشِيَهُمُ اسْتَعْصَمُوا بِالسُّجُودِ فَقُتِلَ بَعْضُهُمْ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ ص فَقَالَ أَعْطُوا الْوَرَثَةَ نِصْفَ الْعَقْلِ بِصَلَاتِهِمْ وَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص أَلَا إِنِّي بَرِي‌ءٌ مِنْ كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ نَزَلَ مَعَ مُشْرِكٍ فِي دَارِ الْحَرْبِ‌[2].

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once, the Messenger of Allah dispatched an army against the KhatlTam. When this army was overpowered by the enemy they sought protection by performing prostration. Certain ones among them were killed. When the news reached the Holy Prophet he said, ‘You must pay half of the amount

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ قُتِلَ دُونَ مَظْلِمَتِهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَبَا مَرْيَمَ هَلْ تَدْرِي مَا دُونَ مَظْلِمَتِهِ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الرَّجُلُ يُقْتَلُ دُونَ أَهْلِهِ وَ دُونَ مَالِهِ وَ أَشْبَاهِ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا مَرْيَمَ إِنَّ مِنَ الْفِقْهِ عِرْفَانَ الْحَقِ‌[1].

“The Messenger of Allah (saww) has said, ‘If one is murdered over his stolen property he is a martyr.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘O Abu Maryam, do you know what is ‘murdered over his stolen property’? I replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep me in the service of your cause, it is when a man is murdered defending his family,

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَ اللَّهِ لَأَلْفُ ضَرْبَةٍ بِالسَّيْفِ أَهْوَنُ مِنْ مَوْتٍ عَلَى فِرَاشٍ قَالَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.

‘It means ‘for the cause of Allah.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ‌ يَضْحَكُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌[4] إِلَى رَجُلٍ فِي كَتِيبَةٍ يَعْرِضُ لَهُمْ سَبُعٌ أَوْ لِصٌّ فَحَمَاهُمْ أَنْ يَجُوزُوا[5].

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Khalid from ibn Faddal from abu Jamilah from Sa‘d ibn Tarif from al-Asbagh ibn Nubatah who has said the following: “’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, laughs (loves) at a man in a group of soldiers wh

يَكُونُ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ قَوْمٌ يُتَّبَعُ فِيهِمْ قَوْمٌ مُرَاءُونَ يَتَقَرَّءُونَ وَ يَتَنَسَّكُونَ حُدَثَاءُ سُفَهَاءُ[2] لَا يُوجِبُونَ أَمْراً بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَ لَا نَهْياً عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ إِلَّا إِذَا أَمِنُوا الضَّرَرَ[3] يَطْلُبُونَ لِأَنْفُسِهِمُ الرُّخَصَ وَ الْمَعَاذِيرَ يَتَّبِعُونَ زَلَّاتِ الْعُلَمَاءِ وَ فَسَادَ عَمَلِهِمْ يُقْبِلُونَ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَ الصِّيَامِ وَ مَا لَا يَكْلِمُهُمْ‌[4] فِي نَفْسٍ

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Khalid from certain persons of our people from Bashir ibn ‘Abd Allah from abu ‘Ismah Qadiy of Marve from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘During the last era of time there will be a people who are followe

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَتَأْمُرُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ لَتَنْهُنَّ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ أَوْ لَيُسْتَعْمَلَنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ شِرَارُكُمْ فَيَدْعُو خِيَارُكُمْ فَلَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ.

‘You must ask (command) others to do good and prohibit them to commit evil, otherwise, the evil ones among you will be made your rulers and then the virtuous ones among you pray and their prayers will not be answered.’”

خَطَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ إِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ حَيْثُ مَا عَمِلُوا مِنَ الْمَعَاصِي وَ لَمْ يَنْهَهُمُ الرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَ الْأَحْبَارُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَ إِنَّهُمْ لَمَّا تَمَادَوْا فِي الْمَعَاصِي وَ لَمْ يَنْهَهُمُ الرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَ الْأَحْبَارُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ نَزَلَتْ بِهِمُ الْعُقُوبَاتُ فَأْمُرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ انْهَوْ

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), once delivered a sermon. He first praised and glorified Allah. Thereafter he said, ‘People before were destroyed because when they committed sins the Rabbis and Monks did not stop them from committing such deeds. When they continued committing disobedience and the Rabbis and Monks did not proh

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بَعَثَ مَلَكَيْنِ إِلَى أَهْلِ مَدِينَةٍ لِيَقْلِبَاهَا عَلَى أَهْلِهَا فَلَمَّا انْتَهَيَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَجَدَا رَجُلًا يَدْعُو اللَّهَ وَ يَتَضَرَّعُ فَقَالَ أَحَدُ الْمَلَكَيْنِ لِصَاحِبِهِ أَ مَا تَرَى هَذَا الدَّاعِيَ فَقَالَ قَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ وَ لَكِنْ أَمْضِي لِمَا أَمَرَ بِهِ رَبِّي فَقَالَ لَا وَ لَكِنْ لَا أُحْدِثُ شَيْئاً حَتَّى أُرَاجِعَ رَبِّي فَعَادَ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَبَار

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, once sent two angels to a city to turn it upside down on the people therein. When they came to the city, they found a man praying to Allah with great concern and desperation. One of the angels then asked the other, ‘Do you see this perso

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي الْخُبْزِ وَ لَا تُفَرِّقْ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُ فَلَوْ لَا الْخُبْزُ مَا صَلَّيْنَا وَ لَا صُمْنَا وَ لَا أَدَّيْنَا فَرَائِضَ رَبِّنَا.

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘O Allah, grant us blessings with our loaves of bread and do not take them away from us. Without bread we cannot perform Salat (prayer) or fast, perform our obligations toward our Lord.’”

إِنَّ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ الْمُنْكَدِرِ كَانَ يَقُولُ مَا كُنْتُ أَرَى أَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَدَعُ خَلَفاً أَفْضَلَ مِنْهُ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ ابْنَهُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ ع فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَعِظَهُ فَوَعَظَنِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ بِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ وَعَظَكَ قَالَ خَرَجْتُ إِلَى بَعْضِ نَوَاحِي الْمَدِينَةِ فِي سَاعَةٍ حَارَّةٍ فَلَقِيَنِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ وَ كَانَ رَجُلًا بَادِناً ثَقِيلً

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir has said, ‘I did not think Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), might leave behind a successor better than his own-self. Time passed and I one day saw his son, Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.). I decided to give him certain words of good advice but I, instead, learned a lesson

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ يَضْرِبُ بِالْمَرِّ[1] وَ يَسْتَخْرِجُ الْأَرَضِينَ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَمَصُّ النَّوَى بِفِيهِ وَ يَغْرِسُهُ فَيَطْلُعُ مِنْ سَاعَتِهِ وَ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَعْتَقَ أَلْفَ مَمْلُوكٍ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَ كَدِّ يَدِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would work with a shovel and dig the soil. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, placed date stones in his mouth and then planted it and it would sprout in the same hour. Amir

اسْتَقْبَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي بَعْضِ طُرُقِ الْمَدِينَةِ فِي يَوْمٍ صَائِفٍ‌[2] شَدِيدِ الْحَرِّ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ حَالُكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ قَرَابَتُكَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ أَنْتَ تُجْهِدُ لِنَفْسِكَ فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا الْيَوْمِ فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدَ الْأَعْلَى خَرَجْتُ فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ لِأَسْتَغْنِيَ عَنْ مِثْلِكَ.

“I once came face to face with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), in one of the streets of al-Madinah on a very hot summer day. I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, you have a prominent position before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and you are of very close relatives of the Messenger of Allah

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَسَأَلَنَا عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ مَا فَعَلَ فَقُلْتُ صَالِحٌ وَ لَكِنَّهُ قَدْ تَرَكَ التِّجَارَةَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَمَلُ الشَّيْطَانِ ثَلَاثاً- أَ مَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص اشْتَرَى عِيراً أَتَتْ مِنَ الشَّامِ‌[4] فَاسْتَفْضَلَ فِيهَا مَا قَضَى دَيْنَهُ وَ قَسَمَ فِي قَرَابَتِهِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- رِجالٌ لا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجارَةٌ وَ لا بَي

It is the work of Satan. Did he not know that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once bought a caravan that had come from al-Sham (Syria) in which he saved enough money to pay off his debts and distributed the extra among his relatives?

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَعْمَلُ فِي أَرْضٍ لَهُ قَدِ اسْتَنْقَعَتْ قَدَمَاهُ فِي الْعَرَقِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ‌ أَيْنَ الرِّجَالُ فَقَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ قَدْ عَمِلَ بِالْيَدِ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي فِي أَرْضِهِ وَ مِنْ أَبِي فَقُلْتُ لَهُ وَ مَنْ هُوَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ آبَائِي ع كُلُّهُمْ كَانُوا قَدْ عَمِلُوا بِأَيْدِيهِمْ وَ هُوَ مِنْ عَمَلِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ الْمُرْ

“I once saw abu al-Hassan (a.s.), working in his land and his feet were drenched in perspiration. I asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, where are men (workers)?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘O Ali, people better than my father and I worked in their land.’ I then asked, ‘Who were they?’ He (the

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ بِيَدِهِ مِسْحَاةٌ وَ عَلَيْهِ إِزَارٌ غَلِيظٌ يَعْمَلُ فِي حَائِطٍ لَهُ وَ الْعَرَقُ يَتَصَابُّ عَنْ ظَهْرِهِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَعْطِنِي أَكْفِكَ فَقَالَ لِي إِنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَتَأَذَّى الرَّجُلُ بِحَرِّ الشَّمْسِ فِي طَلَبِ الْمَعِيشَةِ.

“I once saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), with a shovel in his hand wearing a very thick dress working inside his walls and his back drenched in perspiration. I then asked, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, allow me to help you.’ He said to me, ‘I Love that man endures hardships in the hot sun to make

دَفَعَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع سَبْعَمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ وَ قَالَ يَا عُذَافِرُ اصْرِفْهَا فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ أَمَّا عَلَى ذَاكَ مَا بِي شَرَهٌ‌[3] وَ لَكِنْ أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ يَرَانِيَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مُتَعَرِّضاً لِفَوَائِدِهِ قَالَ عُذَافِرٌ فَرَبِحْتُ فِيهَا مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فِي الطَّوَافِ‌[4] جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَدْ رَزَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهَا مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ فَقَالَ أَثْبِتْهَا فِي رَأْس

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), gave me seven hundred dinars and said, ‘O ‘Adha’fir you can spend it; I do not have any desire for it but I loved that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, finds me working for its profits.’ ‘Adha’fir has said, ‘I made one hundred dinar profit with it. During al- Tawaf I said to him, “I pra

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلٌ قَالَ لَأَقْعُدَنَّ فِي بَيْتِي وَ لَأُصَلِّيَنَّ وَ لَأَصُومَنَّ وَ لَأَعْبُدَنَّ رَبِّي فَأَمَّا رِزْقِي فَسَيَأْتِينِي فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع هَذَا أَحَدُ الثَّلَاثَةِ الَّذِينَ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ.

“I once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), that a man says, ‘I stay home, perform Salat (prayer), fast and worship my Lord. My sustenance will come to me. 5 Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘This is one of the three (classes of people) whose prayer is not answered.’”

كُنَّا جُلُوساً عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذْ أَقْبَلَ الْعَلَاءُ بْنُ كَامِلٍ فَجَلَسَ قُدَّامَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ ادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي فِي دَعَةٍ[1] فَقَالَ لَا أَدْعُو لَكَ اطْلُبْ كَمَا أَمَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Once we were in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when al-‘Ala’ ibn Kamil came in and sat in front of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and asked, ‘Please pray for me so Allah will make me affluent.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘I will not pray for you. Has Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, not commanded you to seek and

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ أَقْرِءُوا مَنْ لَقِيتُمْ مِنْ أَصْحَابِكُمُ السَّلَامَ وَ قُولُوا لَهُمْ إِنَ‌ فُلَانَ بْنَ فُلَانٍ يُقْرِئُكُمُ السَّلَامَ وَ قُولُوا لَهُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مَا يُنَالُ بِهِ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي وَ اللَّهِ مَا آمُرُكُمْ إِلَّا بِمَا نَأْمُرُ بِهِ أَنْفُسَنَا فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالْجِدِّ وَ الِاجْتِهَادِ وَ إِذَا صَلَّيْتُمُ الصُّبْحَ وَ انْصَرَفْتُمْ فَبَ

8. Ahmad ibn ‘ Abd Allah Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu ‘ Abd Allah from Safwan from Khalid ibn Najih who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Say Salam (greeting of peace) to whoever of your people you meet and say to them, “So and so son of so and so (the Imam) says Sal

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ادْعُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِي فِي الرِّزْقِ فَقَدِ الْتَاثَتْ عَلَيَّ أُمُورِي‌[2] فَأَجَابَنِي مُسْرِعاً لَا اخْرُجْ فَاطْلُبْ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), to pray for me for sustenance; my affairs are turning to the worse.’ He (the Imam) quickly said, ‘No, you must go out and work to make a living.’”

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع كَثِيراً مَا يَقُولُ‌ اعْلَمُوا عِلْماً يَقِيناً أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لِلْعَبْدِ وَ إِنِ اشْتَدَّ جَهْدُهُ وَ عَظُمَتْ حِيلَتُهُ وَ كَثُرَتْ مُكَابَدَتُهُ أَنْ يَسْبِقَ مَا سُمِّيَ لَهُ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ وَ لَمْ يَحُلْ‌ مِنَ الْعَبْدِ فِي ضَعْفِهِ وَ قِلَّةِ حِيلَتِهِ‌[1] أَنْ يَبْلُغَ مَا سُمِّيَ لَهُ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ لَنْ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), very often would say, ‘You must take notice with absolute certainty that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, does not allow a servant, no matter how intensely he strives, how great the kind of means he prepares, and no matter how numerously he suffers fati

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا فَعَلَ عُمَرُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ‌[1] قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى الْعِبَادَةِ وَ تَرَكَ التِّجَارَةَ فَقَالَ وَيْحَهُ أَ مَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ تَارِكَ الطَّلَبِ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُ- إِنَّ قَوْماً مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ‌ وَ مَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجاً وَ يَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُ‌[2] أَغْلَقُوا الْأَبْوَابَ وَ أَقْبَلُوا عَلَى

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once asked me, ‘What has ‘Umar ibn Muslim done?’ I replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, ‘he has devoted himself in worship and has given up doing any business.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Fie upon him! Does he not know that the prayer of one who neglects work to make a

مَنْ كَسِلَ عَنْ طَهُورِهِ وَ صَلَاتِهِ فَلَيْسَ فِيهِ خَيْرٌ لِأَمْرِ آخِرَتِهِ وَ مَنْ كَسِلَ عَمَّا يُصْلِحُ بِهِ أَمْرَ مَعِيشَتِهِ فَلَيْسَ فِيهِ خَيْرٌ لِأَمْرِ دُنْيَاهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one feels lazy to cleansing himself and to take wudu’ for Salat (prayer), there is nothing good in him in regards to his affairs in the hereafter. One who feels lazy in organizing his living conditions, there is nothing good in him for his worldly life.’”

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ يَحْتَطِبُ وَ يَسْتَقِي وَ يَكْنُسُ وَ كَانَتْ فَاطِمَةُ سَلَامُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا تَطْحَنُ وَ تَعْجِنُ وَ تَخْبِزُ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would bring firewood, water and sweep the house. Fatimah al- Zahra’, ‘Alayha al-Salam, would grind wheat, make dough and bake.”

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَكِيلُ تَمْراً بِيَدِهِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَوْ أَمَرْتَ بَعْضَ وُلْدِكَ أَوْ بَعْضَ مَوَالِيكَ فَيَكْفِيَكَ فَقَالَ يَا دَاوُدُ إِنَّهُ لَا يُصْلِحُ الْمَرْءَ الْمُسْلِمَ إِلَّا ثَلَاثَةٌ التَّفَقُّهُ فِي الدِّينِ وَ الصَّبْرُ عَلَى النَّائِبَةِ وَ حُسْنُ التَّقْدِيرِ فِي الْمَعِيشَةِ[4].

“I saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), measure dates with his own hands; and I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I wish you would have ordered certain persons of your servants or sons to help you.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O Dawud, a Muslim cannot achieve a proper condition without three things: prop

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَدْعُو اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي الْحَلَالَ فَقَالَ أَ تَدْرِي مَا الْحَلَالُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَمَّا الَّذِي عِنْدَنَا فَالْكَسْبُ الطَّيِّبُ فَقَالَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَقُولُ الْحَلَالُ قُوتُ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ وَ لَكِنْ قُلْ أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ الْوَاسِعِ.

“Once I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, please pray for me to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, so He grants me lawful sustenance.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Do you know what lawful sustenance is?’ I replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for

نَظَرَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِلَى رَجُلٍ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ الْحَلَالِ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع سَأَلْتَ قُوتَ النَّبِيِّينَ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقاً وَاسِعاً طَيِّباً مِنْ رِزْقِكَ.

“Once abu Ja‘far (a.s.), looked at a man who said, ‘O Lord, I pray to You to grant me lawful sustenance.’ Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), said, ‘You have asked of the kind of sustenance of the prophets. Say, “O Lord, grant me of Your extended and clean sustenance.’””

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ لِي أَرْضاً تُطْلَبُ مِنِّي وَ يُرَغِّبُونِّي فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا سَيَّارٍ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ مَنْ بَاعَ الْمَاءَ وَ الطِّينَ ذَهَبَ مَالُهُ هَبَاءً قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي أَبِيعُ بِالثَّمَنِ الْكَثِيرِ وَ أَشْتَرِي مَا هُوَ أَوْسَعُ رُقْعَةً مِمَّا بِعْتُ قَالَ فَلَا بَأْسَ‌[3].

“Once I said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I have a piece of land in which buyers are much interested to purchase.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O abu Sayyar, do you know that whoever sells land or water (like a fountain for irrigation and so on), his wealth goes away as a bad loss.’ I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّهُ ذُكِرَ لَنَا أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ مَاتَ وَ عَلَيْهِ دِينَارَانِ دَيْناً فَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ قَالَ صَلُّوا عَلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ حَتَّى ضَمِنَهُمَا [عَنْهُ‌] بَعْضُ قَرَابَتِهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ذَلِكَ الْحَقُ‌[1] ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّمَا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ لِيَتَّعِظُوا وَ لِيَرُدَّ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَ لِئَلَّا يَسْت

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘We are told that a man from al-Ansar died while he owed two dinar to pay. The Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, did not perform Salat (prayer) on his dead body and said, “You must perform Salat (prayer) on

سَأَلَ الرِّضَا ع رَجُلٌ وَ أَنَا أَسْمَعُ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ إِنْ كانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلى‌ مَيْسَرَةٍ[5] أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ هَذِهِ النَّظِرَةِ الَّتِي ذَكَرَهَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ لَهَا حَدٌّ يُعْرَفُ إِذَا صَارَ هَذَا الْمُعْسِرُ إِلَيْهِ لَا بُدَّ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ‌ يُنْتَظَرَ وَ قَدْ أَخَذَ مَالَ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ وَ أَنْفَقَهُ عَلَى عِيَالِ

“A man asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), when I was listening, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, “If one has difficulty to pay his debts, he should be given respite until he is able to pay.” (2:281) Explain to me the limits of this “respite” of which Allah, most

ضَاقَ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع ضِيقَةٌ فَأَتَى مَوْلًى لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَقْرِضْنِي عَشَرَةَ آلَافِ دِرْهَمٍ إِلَى مَيْسَرَةٍ فَقَالَ لَا لِأَنَّهُ لَيْسَ عِنْدِي وَ لَكِنْ أُرِيدُ وَثِيقَةً قَالَ فَشَقَّ لَهُ مِنْ رِدَائِهِ هُدْبَةً[3] فَقَالَ لَهُ هَذِهِ الْوَثِيقَةُ قَالَ فَكَأَنَّ مَوْلَاهُ كَرِهَ ذَلِكَ فَغَضِبَ وَ قَالَ أَنَا أَوْلَى بِالْوَفَاءِ أَمْ حَاجِبُ بْنُ زُرَارَةَ[4] فَقَالَ أَنْتَ أَوْلَى‌ ب

“Once, Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), was placed under pressure. He went to one of his Mawla’ (friend or follower) and asked him to lend him ten thousand dirham up to the time he is able to pay back. He (his friend) said, ‘No, because it is not with me; however, I want a promissory note.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘He (th

أَبْطَأْتُ عَنِ الْحَجِّ فَقَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا أَبْطَأَ بِكَ عَنِ الْحَجِّ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ تَكَفَّلْتُ بِرَجُلٍ فَخَفَرَ بِي‌[2] فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ وَ الْكَفَالاتِ‌ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّهَا أَهْلَكَتِ الْقُرُونَ الْأُولَى ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ قَوْماً أَذْنَبُوا ذُنُوباً كَثِيرَةً فَأَشْفَقُوا مِنْهَا وَ خَافُوا خَوْفاً شَدِيداً وَ جَاءَ آخَرُونَ فَقَالُوا ذُنُوبُكُمْ عَلَيْنَا فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ

“I once remained behind from performing al-Hajj and abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), asked, ’What caused you to remain behind from performing al-Hajj ? 5 I replied, ’I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I bailed out a person but he violated his responsibility . 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘What do you have to do

كَانَ لِي صَدِيقٌ مِنْ كُتَّابِ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ فَقَالَ لِي اسْتَأْذِنْ لِي عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَذِنَ لَهُ فَلَمَّا أَنْ دَخَلَ سَلَّمَ وَ جَلَسَ ثُمَّ قَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ فِي دِيوَانِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ فَأَصَبْتُ مِنْ دُنْيَاهُمْ مَالًا كَثِيراً وَ أَغْمَضْتُ فِي مَطَالِبِهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَوْ لَا أَنَّ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ وَجَدُوا مَنْ يَكْتُب

“I had a young friend who worked as clerk for Amawide rulers. He asked me to ask permission for a meeting with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), I asked for permission and it was granted. He came for the meeting, offered greeting of peace and sat down. He then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I wo

كُنْتُ قَاعِداً عِنْدَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع عَلَى بَابِ دَارِهِ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى النَّاسِ يَمُرُّونَ أَفْوَاجاً فَقَالَ لِبَعْضِ مَنْ عِنْدَهُ حَدَثَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ أَمْرٌ فَقَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وُلِّيَ الْمَدِينَةَ وَالٍ فَغَدَا النَّاسُ يُهَنِّئُونَهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيُغْدَى عَلَيْهِ بِالْأَمْرِ تَهَنَّأَ بِهِ وَ إِنَّهُ لَبَابٌ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ النَّارِ.

“I once was sitting in the presence of abu Ja‘far (a.s.), near the door of his house and he (the Imam) looked at the people passing in throngs and mobs. He (the Imam) asked someone near him, ‘Has anything happened in al-Madinah?’ He replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, a new governor is

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا فَقَالَ لَهُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ إِنَّهُ رُبَّمَا أَصَابَ الرَّجُلَ مِنَّا الضَّيْقُ أَوِ الشِّدَّةُ فَيُدْعَى إِلَى الْبِنَاءِ يَبْنِيهِ أَوِ النَّهَرِ يَكْرِيهِ‌[2] أَوِ الْمُسَنَّاةِ يُصْلِحُهَا فَمَا تَقُولُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا أُحِبُّ أَنِّي عَقَدْتُ لَهُمْ عُقْدَةً أَوْ وَكَيْتُ لَهُمْ وِكَاءً[3] وَ إِنَّ

‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, one of us may face hardship and straitened conditions and is called to construct a building, work a canal or a dam. What is your decision in such case? He (the Imam) replied, ‘I do not like it. I have knotted for them a knot and tied down the opening end of the bag of ‘no’. It is no a

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فُلَانٌ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلَامَ وَ فُلَانٌ وَ فُلَانٌ فَقَالَ وَ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ قُلْتُ يَسْأَلُونَكَ الدُّعَاءَ فَقَالَ وَ مَا لَهُمْ قُلْتُ حَبَسَهُمْ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ[4] فَقَالَ وَ مَا لَهُمْ وَ مَا لَهُ قُلْتُ اسْتَعْمَلَهُمْ فَحَبَسَهُمْ فَقَالَ وَ مَا لَهُمْ وَ مَا لَهُ أَ لَمْ أَنْهَهُمْ أَ لَمْ أَنْهَهُمْ أَ لَمْ أَنْهَهُمْ هُمُ النَّارُ هُمُ النَّارُ هُمُ النَّارُ قَالَ ثُمّ

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘So and so has offered you Salam (greeting of peace) and so also is so and so.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Greeting of peace is upon them.’ I then said, ‘They request you to pray for them.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What is the matter with them?’ I said, ‘Abu Ja‘far, (Abbaside ruler) has im

كُنْتُ بِالْكُوفَةِ فَقَدِمَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْحِيرَةَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَوْ كَلَّمْتَ دَاوُدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ أَوْ بَعْضَ هَؤُلَاءِ فَأَدْخُلَ فِي بَعْضِ هَذِهِ الْوِلَايَاتِ فَقَالَ مَا كُنْتُ لِأَفْعَلَ قَالَ فَانْصَرَفْتُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِي فَتَفَكَّرْتُ فَقُلْتُ مَا أَحْسَبُهُ مَنَعَنِي إِلَّا مَخَافَةَ أَنْ أَظْلِمَ أَوْ أَجُورَ وَ اللَّهِ لآَتِيَنَّهُ وَ لَأُعْطِيَنَّهُ الطَّلَاقَ

“A Mawla’ (freed slave or tribal client) of Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), told me, ‘I was in al-Kufah when Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), came to al-Hirah and I went to see him. I said to him (the Imam), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, can you speak to Dawud ibn Ali or others of these people to admit me

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع فَقَالَ لِي يَا زِيَادُ إِنَّكَ لَتَعْمَلُ عَمَلَ‌ السُّلْطَانِ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَجَلْ قَالَ لِي وَ لِمَ قُلْتُ أَنَا رَجُلٌ لِي مُرُوءَةٌ[1] وَ عَلَيَّ عِيَالٌ وَ لَيْسَ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِي شَيْ‌ءٌ فَقَالَ لِي يَا زِيَادُ لَأَنْ أَسْقُطَ مِنْ حَالِقٍ فَأَتَقَطَّعَ‌[2] قِطْعَةً قِطْعَةً أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَتَوَلَّى لِأَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ عَمَلًا أَوْ أَطَأَ بِسَاطَ أَحَدِهِمْ إِلَّ

“I once went to visit abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.), and he (the Imam) asked me, ‘O Ziyad, do you work for Sultan ? 5 I replied, ‘Yes, I do so . 5 He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Why do you do so ? 5 I replied, ‘I am a man of fairness and I have a family to feed. I do not have any other means for support . 5 He (the Imam) said,

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ إِنِّي كُنْتُ أَحْمِلُ السِّلَاحَ إِلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَأَبِيعُهُ مِنْهُمْ فَلَمَّا أَنْ عَرَّفَنِيَ اللَّهُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ ضِقْتُ بِذَلِكَ وَ قُلْتُ لَا أَحْمِلُ إِلَى أَعْدَاءِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ احْمِلْ إِلَيْهِمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَدْفَعُ بِهِمْ عَدُوَّنَا وَ عَدُوَّكُمْ يَعْنِي الرُّومَ وَ بِعْهُمْ فَإِذَا كَانَتِ الْحَرْبُ بَيْنَنَا فَلَا تَحْمِلُوا فَمَنْ حَمَلَ إِلَ

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, I used to carry arms to sell to people of al-Sham. Ever since Allah has helped me to recognize the matter (Divine Authority of ‘A’immah) it bothers me, and I think I must not deliver arms to the enemies of Allah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You can d

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع حَدِيثٌ بَلَغَنِي عَنِ الْحَسَنِ الْبَصْرِيِّ فَإِنْ كَانَ حَقّاً فَ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَيْهِ راجِعُونَ‌ قَالَ وَ مَا هُوَ قُلْتُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ الْحَسَنَ الْبَصْرِيَّ كَانَ يَقُولُ لَوْ غَلَى دِمَاغُهُ مِنْ حَرِّ الشَّمْسِ مَا اسْتَظَلَّ بِحَائِطِ صَيْرَفِيٍّ وَ لَوْ تَفَرَّثَ كَبِدُهُ‌[3] عَطَشاً لَمْ يَسْتَسْقِ مِنْ دَارِ صَيْرَفِيٍّ مَاءً وَ هُوَ عَمَلِي وَ تِجَارَتِي وَ فِيهِ

“I once said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘A Hadith has reached me from al-Hassan al-Basriy. If it is a true Hadith then, ‘We are for Allah and to Him we return.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What does it say?’ ‘I am told that al-Hassan al-Basriy would say that even if his brain comes to a boiling point due to the hot sun, he will n

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَخَبَّرْتُهُ أَنَّهُ وُلِدَ لِي غُلَامٌ فَقَالَ أَ لَا سَمَّيْتَهُ مُحَمَّداً قَالَ قُلْتُ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ قَالَ فَلَا تَضْرِبْ مُحَمَّداً وَ لَا تَسُبَّهُ جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ قُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لَكَ فِي حَيَاتِكَ وَ خَلَفَ صِدْقٍ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فِي أَيِّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَضَعُهُ قَالَ إِذَا عَدَلْتَهُ عَنْ خَمْسَةِ أَشْيَاءَ فَضَعْهُ حَيْثُ شِئْتَ لَا تُسْلِمْهُ صَ

“I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and informed him of the birth of my son. He asked, ‘Why do you not name him Muhammad?’ I replied, ‘I have already done so.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘You must not beat up a Muhammad and do not abuse him. Allah will make him the delight to your eyes during your life time as well as

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ مَعِي ثَوْبَانِ فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا إِسْمَاعِيلَ يَجِيئُنِي مِنْ قِبَلِكُمْ أَثْوَابٌ كَثِيرَةٌ وَ لَيْسَ يَجِيئُنِي مِثْلُ هَذَيْنِ الثَّوْبَيْنِ اللَّذَيْنِ تَحْمِلُهُمَا أَنْتَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ تَغْزِلُهُمَا أُمُّ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَ أَنْسِجُهُمَا أَنَا فَقَالَ لِي حَائِكٌ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لَا تَكُنْ حَائِكاً قُلْتُ فَمَا أَكُونُ قَالَ كُنْ صَيْقَلًا وَ كَانَتْ

“Once I visited Abu ’Abdullah (a.s). I had two pieces of fabric materials with me. He (the Imam) said, ‘O Abu Isma'il, from your area people bring us many kinds of fabrics but not like these two pieces that you carry.’ I said, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, the mother of Isma’il prepares thr

دَخَلَ عِيسَى بْنُ شَفَقِيٍ‌[2] عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ كَانَ سَاحِراً يَأْتِيهِ النَّاسُ وَ يَأْخُذُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ الْأَجْرَ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَنَا رَجُلٌ كَانَتْ صِنَاعَتِيَ السِّحْرَ وَ كُنْتُ آخُذُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ الْأَجْرَ وَ كَانَ مَعَاشِي وَ قَدْ حَجَجْتُ مِنْهُ وَ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيَّ بِلِقَائِكَ وَ قَدْ تُبْتُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَهَلْ لِي فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَخْرَجٌ قَالَ فَ

‘Once ‘Isa ibn Shafaqiy visited abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam. He was a magician. People would come to him and he charged them a certain amount for wages. He said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I work as a magician and I charge a certain amount as my wages to earn for my living. From suc

دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ مَعَنَا فَرْقَدٌ الْحَجَّامُ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي أَعْمَلُ عَمَلًا وَ قَدْ سَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ غَيْرَ وَاحِدٍ وَ لَا اثْنَيْنِ فَزَعَمُوا أَنَّهُ عَمَلٌ مَكْرُوهٌ وَ أَنَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ مَكْرُوهاً انْتَهَيْتُ عَنْهُ وَ عَمِلْتُ غَيْرَهُ مِنَ الْأَعْمَالِ فَإِنِّي مُنْتَهٍ فِي ذَلِكَ إِلَى قَوْلِكَ قَالَ وَ مَا هُوَ قَالَ حَجَّامٌ قَال

“Once we visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when Farqad al-Hajjam was also with us. He (Farqad) asked him (the Imam) saying, ’May Allah keep my soul in the service of your cause, I perform a certain kind of work and I have asked more than one person about the legal status of what I do and they think it is a detestable work

لَمَّا هَلَكَ أَبِي سَيَابَةُ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ إِخْوَانِهِ إِلَيَّ فَضَرَبَ الْبَابَ عَلَيَّ فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَعَزَّانِي وَ قَالَ لِي هَلْ تَرَكَ أَبُوكَ شَيْئاً فَقُلْتُ لَهُ لَا فَدَفَعَ إِلَيَّ كِيساً فِيهِ أَلْفُ دِرْهَمٍ وَ قَالَ لِي أَحْسِنْ حِفْظَهَا وَ كُلْ فَضْلَهَا فَدَخَلْتُ إِلَى أُمِّي وَ أَنَا فَرِحٌ فَأَخْبَرْتُهَا فَلَمَّا كَانَ بِالْعَشِيِّ أَتَيْتُ صَدِيقاً كَانَ لِأَبِي فَاشْتَرَى لِي بَضَائِع

“When my father, Sayabah, passed away, one of his brothers came to me and knocked at the door. I went out to meet him. He offered me condolence and asked, ‘Has your father left anything?’ I replied, ‘No, he has not left anything.’ He then gave to me a bag with a thousand dirham in it and said, ‘Keep it (the capital) sa

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ امْرَأَةٌ دَفَعَتْ إِلَى زَوْجِهَا مَالًا مِنْ مَالِهَا لِيَعْمَلَ بِهِ وَ قَالَتْ لَهُ حِينَ دَفَعَتْ إِلَيْهِ أَنْفِقْ مِنْهُ فَإِنْ حَدَثَ بِكَ حَدَثٌ فَمَا أَنْفَقْتَ مِنْهُ حَلَالًا طَيِّباً فَإِنْ حَدَثَ بِي حَدَثٌ فَمَا أَنْفَقْتَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ حَلَالٌ طَيِّبٌ فَقَالَ أَعِدْ عَلَيَّ يَا سَعِيدُ الْمَسْأَلَةَ فَلَمَّا ذَهَبْتُ أُعِيدُ الْمَسْأَلَةَ عَلَيْهِ اعْتَ

T pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, a woman gave a certain amount of property to her husband from her own property so he can use in business and she said to him upon the delivery, “You can spend from it and if something happens to you, it is lawful for you and if something happens to me and whate

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ تَكُونُ لَهُ الضَّيْعَةُ الْكَبِيرَةُ فَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْمِهْرَجَانِ أَوِ النَّيْرُوزِ أَهْدَوْا إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْ‌ءَ لَيْسَ هُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ يَتَقَرَّبُونَ بِذَلِكَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَ لَيْسَ هُمْ مُصَلِّينَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَلْيَقْبَلْ هَدِيَّتَهُمْ وَ لْيُكَافِهِمْ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ لَوْ أُهْدِيَ إِلَيَّ كُرَاعٌ لَقَبِلْتُ وَ كَانَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الدّ

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who possesses a great deal of goods. On the times of festivities or the day of Nawroz, they give him as gifts which they did not have to give him but they wanted to become nearer to him. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Are they not the ones who perform prayers?’ I (the narr

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ وَ أَنَا حَاضِرٌ فَقَالَ مَا حَبَسَهُ عَنِ الْحَجِّ فَقِيلَ تَرَكَ التِّجَارَةَ وَ قَلَّ شَيْئُهُ قَالَ‌[1] وَ كَانَ مُتَّكِئاً فَاسْتَوَى جَالِساً ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُمْ لَا تَدَعُوا التِّجَارَةَ فَتَهُونُوا اتَّجِرُوا بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ.

Do business, I pray to Allah to grant you blessings.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ‌ تَعَرَّضُوا لِلتِّجَارَةِ فَإِنَّ فِيهَا غِنًى لَكُمْ عَمَّا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Engage yourselves in business; it helps you become independent of what is in the hands of people.’”