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.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ اجْعَلُوا أَمْرَكُمْ هَذَا لِلَّهِ وَ لَا تَجْعَلُوهُ لِلنَّاسِ فَإِنَّهُ مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ فَهُوَ لِلَّهِ وَ مَا كَانَ لِلنَّاسِ فَلَا يَصْعَدُ إِلَى اللَّهِ[3].
“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allow your cause (Shi’a belief) to be just for the sake of Allah and do not assign it to people; whatever is for the sake of Allah is for Allah, and what is for people is unable to rise to Allah (will not be accepted).”’
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كُلُّ رِيَاءٍ شِرْكٌ إِنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ لِلنَّاسِ كَانَ ثَوَابُهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ مَنْ عَمِلَ لِلَّهِ كَانَ ثَوَابُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Showing off is considering things as partners of Allah. Whoever works for people, his rewards are upon the people and whoever works for Allah, his reward is before Allah.’”
الرَّجُلُ يَعْمَلُ شَيْئاً مِنَ الثَّوَابِ لَا يَطْلُبُ بِهِ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا يَطْلُبُ تَزْكِيَةَ النَّاسِ- يَشْتَهِي أَنْ يُسْمِعَ بِهِ النَّاسَ فَهَذَا الَّذِي أَشْرَكَ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ أَسَرَّ خَيْراً فَذَهَبَتِ الْأَيَّامُ أَبَداً حَتَّى يُظْهِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ خَيْراً وَ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يُسِرُّ شَرّاً فَذَهَبَتِ الْأَيَّامُ أَبَداً حَتَّى يُظْهِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ شَرّاً.
that he asked the Imam about the words of the Almighty that ‘whosoever is desirous of meeting his Creator, he should perform virtuous deeds and should not ascribe any partner to God in his worship,’ (18:110) seeking an explanation. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘A person who performs good deeds but not for the sake of being
قَالَ لِيَ الرِّضَا ع وَيْحَكَ يَا ابْنَ عَرَفَةَ اعْمَلُوا لِغَيْرِ رِيَاءٍ وَ لَا سُمْعَةٍ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ وَكَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى مَا عَمِلَ[2] وَيْحَكَ مَا عَمِلَ أَحَدٌ عَمَلًا إِلَّا رَدَّاهُ اللَّهُ إِنْ خَيْراً فَخَيْرٌ وَ إِنْ شَرّاً فَشَرٌّ.
“Once al-Rida (a.s.) said to me, ‘Woe upon you, O ibn ‘Arafah, you must work without showing off and publicity; those who work for anyone other than Allah, He assigns him to whomever he has worked. Woe upon you, whatever one does, Allah returns it back, good (result) if it is good and evil (results) if it is bad.’”
إِنِّي لَأَتَعَشَّى مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذْ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- بَلِ الْإِنْسانُ عَلى نَفْسِهِ بَصِيرَةٌ وَ لَوْ أَلْقى مَعاذِيرَهُ[3] يَا أَبَا حَفْصٍ مَا يَصْنَعُ الْإِنْسَانُ أَنْ يَتَقَرَّبَ إِلَى اللَّهِ[4] عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِخِلَافِ مَا يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى- إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ يَقُولُ مَنْ أَسَرَّ سَرِيرَةً رَدَّاهُ اللَّهُ رِدَاءَهَا[5] إِنْ خَيْراً فَخَيْرٌ وَ إِنْ شَرّاً فَشَرٌّ
“Once I was having dinner with Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and he read this verse of the Holy Quran: ‘In fact, people are well-aware of their own soul (75:14) even though they make excuses.’ (75:15) The Imam said, ‘O abu Hafs, why should a human being seek closeness (by the form of the deed) to Allah, the Most Majestic, the M
قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص إِنَّ الْمَلَكَ لَيَصْعَدُ بِعَمَلِ الْعَبْدِ مُبْتَهِجاً بِهِ[1] فَإِذَا صَعِدَ بِحَسَنَاتِهِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ اجْعَلُوهَا فِي سِجِّينٍ[2] إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ إِيَّايَ أَرَادَ بِهَا.
“The Holy Prophet has said, ‘The angel ascends with the good deeds of a servant (of Allah) with happiness and joy and Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will say, ‘Keep them along with the records of evil people; he has not done them for Me.’”
قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع ثَلَاثُ عَلَامَاتٍ لِلْمُرَائِي يَنْشَطُ[3] إِذَا رَأَى النَّاسَ وَ يَكْسَلُ إِذَا كَانَ وَحْدَهُ وَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يُحْمَدَ فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِهِ.
“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘A showoff has three signs: he is very active when people are present, very lazy when he is alone and he loves to be praised in all matters.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنَا خَيْرُ شَرِيكٍ مَنْ أَشْرَكَ مَعِي غَيْرِي فِي عَمَلٍ عَمِلَهُ لَمْ أَقْبَلْهُ إِلَّا مَا كَانَ لِي خَالِصاً.
“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “I am the best associate (in a deal). Whoever associates others with Me in a deed that he has done, I will not accept it; I accept only what is purely for Me.’”
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.”
مَا يَصْنَعُ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يُظْهِرَ حَسَناً وَ يُسِرَّ سَيِّئاً أَ لَيْسَ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ فَيَعْلَمَ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ لَيْسَ كَذَلِكَ وَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- بَلِ الْإِنْسانُ عَلى نَفْسِهِ بَصِيرَةٌ إِنَّ السَّرِيرَةَ إِذَا صَحَّتْ قَوِيَتِ الْعَلَانِيَةُ. - الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَب
“Why should one of you publicize a good deed and hide an evil one? Can he not find in his own-self that it is not right? Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘In fact, human beings are well aware of their souls.’ (75:14) When the private side is correct, the public side becomes strong.’” Al-Husayn ibn Muh
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يُسِرُّ خَيْراً إِلَّا لَمْ تَذْهَبِ الْأَيَّامُ حَتَّى يُظْهِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ خَيْراً وَ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يُسِرُّ شَرّاً إِلَّا لَمْ تَذْهَبِ الْأَيَّامُ حَتَّى يُظْهِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ شَرّاً.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) said, ‘Whenever a servant (of Allah) does a good deed secretly, not very long thereafter Allah uncovers for him good rewards. Whenever a servant (of Allah) does an evil deed secretly, very shortly thereafter Allah uncovers for him an evil return and misfortune.’”
مَنْ أَرَادَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِالْقَلِيلِ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ أَظْهَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ[1] أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا أَرَادَ وَ مَنْ أَرَادَ النَّاسَ بِالْكَثِيرِ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ فِي تَعَبٍ مِنْ بَدَنِهِ وَ سَهَرٍ مِنْ لَيْلِهِ أَبَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَّا أَنْ يُقَلِّلَهُ فِي عَيْنِ مَنْ سَمِعَهُ.
“Whoever wants Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, with a small deed Allah uncovers for him a reward bigger than what he wanted. Whoever wants people with a great deal of deeds, physical effort, and with, nightly vigil, Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, deems it necessary to belittle it (his effort) in the eyes of thos
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص سَيَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ تَخْبُثُ فِيهِ سَرَائِرُهُمْ وَ تَحْسُنُ فِيهِ عَلَانِيَتُهُمْ طَمَعاً فِي الدُّنْيَا لَا يُرِيدُونَ بِهِ مَا عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يَكُونُ دِينُهُمْ رِيَاءً لَا يُخَالِطُهُمْ خَوْفٌ يَعُمُّهُمُ اللَّهُ بِعِقَابٍ فَيَدْعُونَهُ دُعَاءَ الْغَرِيقِ فَلَا يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُمْ.
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘There will come a time when people will be filthy from the inside but good looking from the outside due to worldly greed. They will not have any intention of seeking the rewards with Allah. Their religion will be a showoff and not for fear (from the hereafter). Allah will punish them
إِنِّي لَأَتَعَشَّى مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذْ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- بَلِ الْإِنْسانُ عَلى نَفْسِهِ بَصِيرَةٌ وَ لَوْ أَلْقى مَعاذِيرَهُ يَا أَبَا حَفْصٍ مَا يَصْنَعُ الْإِنْسَانُ أَنْ يَعْتَذِرَ إِلَى النَّاسِ بِخِلَافِ مَا يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ يَقُولُ مَنْ أَسَرَّ سَرِيرَةً أَلْبَسَهُ اللَّهُ رِدَاءَهَا إِنْ خَيْراً فَخَيْرٌ وَ إِنْ شَرّاً فَشَرٌّ[2].
“Once I was having dinner with Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and he read this verse of the Holy Quran: ‘In fact, people are well aware of their own soul (75:14) even though they make excuses.’ (75:15) The Imam said, ‘O abu Hafs, why should a human being make excuses before the people, opposing what Allah knows about him (his in
الْإِبْقَاءُ عَلَى الْعَمَلِ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ قَالَ وَ مَا الْإِبْقَاءُ عَلَى الْعَمَلِ قَالَ يَصِلُ الرَّجُلُ بِصِلَةٍ وَ يُنْفِقُ نَفَقَةً لِلَّهِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ فَكُتِبَ لَهُ سِرّاً ثُمَّ يَذْكُرُهَا وَ تُمْحَى فَتُكْتَبُ لَهُ عَلَانِيَةً[3] ثُمَّ يَذْكُرُهَا فَتُمْحَى- وَ تُكْتَبُ لَهُ رِيَاءً[1].
"Maintaining the deed is more difficult than performing it." It was asked, "What is maintaining the deed?" He replied: "A man maintains a connection or spends an expenditure for the sake of Allah alone, with no partners. It is recorded for him in secret. Then he mentions it and it is erased; then it is recorded for him
قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص اخْشَوُا اللَّهَ خَشْيَةً لَيْسَتْ بِتَعْذِيرٍ وَ اعْمَلُوا لِلَّهِ فِي غَيْرِ رِيَاءٍ وَ لَا سُمْعَةٍ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ وَكَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى عَمَلِهِ.
“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘Be concerned and worried about (your relation with) Allah, a worry in which there are no excuses. Perform good deeds without showing off or publicity; Allah assigns one who performs a deed for something other than Him, to his own deed (and no reward from Allah).”’
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