سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ مَا كَانَ وَ لَا يَكُونُ إِلَى أَنْ تَقُومَ السَّاعَةُ مُؤْمِنٌ إِلَّا وَ لَهُ جَارٌ يُؤْذِيهِ.
“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘There has never been or will be a believer up to the Hour of Doom free from suffering, caused by his neighbor.’”
إِنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ بَلَاءً[1] الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ[2].
“The trial (suffering hardships in life) of the prophets is the most difficult then is that for those next to the prophets in a (spiritual) position and thereafter those similar to the previous group and so forth.”
ذُكِرَ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْبَلَاءُ وَ مَا يَخُصُّ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ الْمُؤْمِنَ فَقَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ أَشَدُّ النَّاسِ بَلَاءً فِي الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّونَ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ وَ يُبْتَلَى الْمُؤْمِنُ بَعْدُ عَلَى قَدْرِ إِيمَانِهِ وَ حُسْنِ أَعْمَالِهِ فَمَنْ صَحَّ إِيمَانُهُ وَ حَسُنَ عَمَلُهُ اشْتَدَّ بَلَاؤُهُ وَ مَنْ سَخُفَ إِيمَانُهُ[3] وَ ضَعُفَ عَمَل
“Once, trials and misfortunes and things that Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, has specially set for the believers were mentioned in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and the qualities of the believer. The Imam said, ‘The Messenger of Allah was asked, ‘Who suffers the most in this world?’ The Messenger of Allah sa
إِنَّ عَظِيمَ الْأَجْرِ لَمَعَ عَظِيمِ الْبَلَاءِ وَ مَا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ قَوْماً إِلَّا ابْتَلَاهُمْ.
‘The greatest reward comes from greatest trials and suffering. There have never been a people whom Allah loved but were not put to trial.”
أَشَدُّ النَّاسِ بَلَاءً الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الْأَمَاثِلُ فَالْأَمَاثِلُ.
“People who are put to the most severe trials and sufferings are the prophets, then the successors of the prophets and then those similar to the last group in position and so forth.”
إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عِبَاداً فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْ خَالِصِ عِبَادِهِ مَا يُنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ- تُحْفَةً إِلَى الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا صَرَفَهَا عَنْهُمْ إِلَى غَيْرِهِمْ وَ لَا بَلِيَّةً إِلَّا صَرَفَهَا إِلَيْهِمْ.
5. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from abu Basir from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has His most sincere of all of His servants on earth. He does not send any gift from the heavens but that is diverted
وَ عِنْدَهُ سَدِيرٌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ إِذَا أَحَبَّ عَبْداً غَتَّهُ بِالْبَلَاءِ غَتّاً[1] وَ إِنَّا وَ إِيَّاكُمْ يَا سَدِيرُ لَنُصْبِحُ بِهِ وَ نُمْسِي.
“Sadir was present when the Imam said, ‘When Allah loves a servant He deeply immerses him in misfortunes. You and we, O Sadir, live in it mornings and evenings.’”
إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِذَا أَحَبَّ عَبْداً غَتَّهُ بِالْبَلَاءِ غَتّاً وَ ثَجَّهُ بِالْبَلَاءِ ثَجّاً[2] فَإِذَا دَعَاهُ قَالَ لَبَّيْكَ عَبْدِي لَئِنْ عَجَّلْتُ لَكَ مَا سَأَلْتَ إِنِّي عَلَى ذَلِكَ لَقَادِرٌ وَ لَئِنِ ادَّخَرْتُ لَكَ فَمَا ادَّخَرْتُ لَكَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ.
“When Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, loves any of His servants He immerses him in misfortunes deeply and allows him bleed a bleeding (like sacrificial animals). When he prays to Him, He answers, ‘Yes, my servant, if I like to answer your prayer quickly I have the power to do so, but if I save for you what I may sav
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّ عَظِيمَ الْبَلَاءِ يُكَافَأُ بِهِ عَظِيمُ الْجَزَاءِ فَإِذَا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ عَبْداً ابْتَلَاهُ بِعَظِيمِ الْبَلَاءِ فَمَنْ رَضِيَ فَلَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الرِّضَا وَ مَنْ سَخِطَ الْبَلَاءَ فَلَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ السَّخَطُ.
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The great misfortunes are matched with great rewards. When Allah loves a servant He tries him with great misfortunes. Whoever accepts it, Allah accepts him and whoever becomes angry with misfortunes, with Allah for him there is anger.”’
إِنَّمَا يُبْتَلَى الْمُؤْمِنُ فِي الدُّنْيَا عَلَى قَدْرِ دِينِهِ أَوْ قَالَ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ[3].
“A believer is tried in this world proportionately to the perfection of his religion or degree of his excellence in religion (uncertainty is from the narrator).”
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُ بِمَنْزِلَةِ كِفَّةِ الْمِيزَانِ كُلَّمَا زِيدَ فِي إِيمَانِهِ زِيدَ فِي بَلَائِهِ[1].
“The believers are like the two sides of a balance, as his belief increases in strength, his trial also increases in intensity.”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ الْمُؤْمِنُ لَا يَمْضِي عَلَيْهِ أَرْبَعُونَ لَيْلَةً إِلَّا عَرَضَ لَهُ أَمْرٌ يَحْزُنُهُ يُذَكَّرُ بِهِ.
“Before forty days pass something causes sadness to a believer to remind him.”
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّ الْمُغِيرَةَ[2] يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لَا يُبْتَلَى بِالْجُذَامِ وَ لَا بِالْبَرَصِ وَ لَا بِكَذَا وَ لَا بِكَذَا فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ لَغَافِلًا عَنْ صَاحِبِ يَاسِينَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مُكَنَّعاً[3] ثُمَّ رُدَّ أَصَابِعُهُ[4] فَقَالَ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى تَكْنِيعِهِ أَتَاهُمْ فَأَنْذَرَهُمْ ثُمَّ عَادَ إِلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الْغَدِ فَقَتَلُوهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ يُبْتَلَى بِكُل
“Once I said to Abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘Al-Mughirah says, ‘A believer does not suffer from leprosy, bars (a form of leprosy) or so and so.’” The Imam said, ‘He must be unaware of Sahib Yasin (the man mentioned in (36:20)) whose hand was paralyzed - the Imam let his fingers hanging - and said, “It is as if I look at his para
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَبِأَفْضَلِ مَكَانٍ ثَلَاثاً[5] إِنَّهُ لَيَبْتَلِيهِ بِالْبَلَاءِ ثُمَّ يَنْزِعُ نَفْسَهُ عُضْواً عُضْواً مِنْ جَسَدِهِ وَ هُوَ يَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ.
“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘A believer has the best place in the sight of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, - three times. Allah tries him with misfortunes and then pulls his soul out of the parts of his body one after the other but he continues praising Allah.’”
إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مَنْزِلَةً لَا يَبْلُغُهَا عَبْدٌ إِلَّا بِالابْتِلَاءِ فِي جَسَدِهِ.
“In paradise there is a position that is accessible only to those who have gone through bodily trials of suffering in this world.”
شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا أَلْقَى مِنَ الْأَوْجَاعِ وَ كَانَ مِسْقَاماً[1] فَقَالَ لِي يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْمُؤْمِنُ مَا لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ فِي الْمَصَائِبِ لَتَمَنَّى أَنَّهُ قُرِضَ بِالْمَقَارِيضِ.
“Once I complained to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about pain. (He was often in pains). The Imam said, ‘O ‘Abd Allah, had a believer known about the reward for suffering from afflictions, he would have wished to be cut in pieces with scissors.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْحَقِّ لَمْ يَزَالُوا مُنْذُ كَانُوا فِي شِدَّةٍ أَمَا إِنَّ ذَلِكَ إِلَى مُدَّةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ وَ عَافِيَةٍ طَوِيلَةٍ.
“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The people of truth had always, since their coming into being, been in suffering but that is for a short time which is followed by everlasting happiness.’”
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَيَتَعَاهَدُ الْمُؤْمِنَ بِالْبَلَاءِ[2] كَمَا يَتَعَاهَدُ الرَّجُلُ أَهْلَهُ بِالْهَدِيَّةِ مِنَ الْغَيْبَةِ وَ يَحْمِيهِ الدُّنْيَا[3] كَمَا يَحْمِي الطَّبِيبُ الْمَرِيضَ.
“Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has an undertaking to try the believers with misfortune just as a man is committed to send gifts to his family in his absence. He holds him (believer) back from the worldly things just as the physicians hold back a patient from certain items of food.”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ لَمْ يُؤْمِنِ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنْ هَزَاهِزِ الدُّنْيَا[4] وَ لَكِنَّهُ آمَنَهُ مِنَ الْعَمَى فِيهَا وَ الشَّقَاءِ فِي الْآخِرَةِ.
“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah has not protected the believers from the turmoil of the world but He has protected them from blindness in it and the wickedness of the next life.’”
كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَقُولُ إِنِّي لَأَكْرَهُ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يُعَافَى فِي الدُّنْيَا فَلَا يُصِيبَهُ شَيْءٌ مِنَ الْمَصَائِبِ.
“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘I do not like a person’s (total freedom from) suffering in the world from misfortunes.’”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع دُعِيَ النَّبِيُّ ص إِلَى طَعَامٍ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ مَنْزِلَ الرَّجُلِ نَظَرَ إِلَى دَجَاجَةٍ فَوْقَ حَائِطٍ قَدْ بَاضَتْ فَتَقَعُ الْبَيْضَةُ عَلَى وَتِدٍ فِي حَائِطٍ فَثَبَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَمْ تَسْقُطْ وَ لَمْ تَنْكَسِرْ فَتَعَجَّبَ النَّبِيُّ ص مِنْهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ أَ عَجِبْتَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْبَيْضَةِ فَوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا رُزِئْتُ[1] شَيْئاً قَطُّ قَالَ فَنَهَ
“Once, the Holy Prophet was invited for food. When he entered the house he saw a hen that had laid an egg on a wall and it fell on the top of a stake. It stayed there and did not fall off or break. The Holy Prophet expressed astonishment and the man said, ‘Were you astonished because of this egg? I swear by the One who
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَا حَاجَةَ لِلَّهِ فِيمَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُ[3] فِي مَالِهِ وَ بَدَنِهِ نَصِيبٌ.
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Allah is not interested in a person in whose property or his own self there is no share (of losses).”’
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَبْتَلِي الْمُؤْمِنَ بِكُلِّ بَلِيَّةٍ وَ يُمِيتُهُ بِكُلِّ مِيتَةٍ وَ لَا يَبْتَلِيهِ بِذَهَابِ عَقْلِهِ أَ مَا تَرَى أَيُّوبَ كَيْفَ سُلِّطَ إِبْلِيسُ عَلَى مَالِهِ وَ عَلَى وُلْدِهِ وَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ وَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مِنْهُ وَ لَمْ يُسَلَّطْ عَلَى عَقْلِهِ تُرِكَ لَهُ لِيُوَحِّدَ اللَّهَ بِهِ[1].
22. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Uthman al-Nawa’ from those he has mentioned (in his book) from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who said: “Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, sets the believers into trials of all kinds and causes them to die by all kinds of deaths but He does n
إِنَّهُ لَيَكُونُ لِلْعَبْدِ مَنْزِلَةٌ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَمَا يَنَالُهَا إِلَّا بِإِحْدَى خَصْلَتَيْنِ إِمَّا بِذَهَابِ مَالِهِ أَوْ بِبَلِيَّةٍ فِي جَسَدِهِ.
“For a servant (of Allah) there is a position with Allah that he can reach only through two qualities: Loss of his property or misfortune in his body.”
قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَوْ لَا أَنْ يَجِدَ عَبْدِيَ الْمُؤْمِنُ فِي قَلْبِهِ[2] لَعَصَّبْتُ رَأْسَ الْكَافِرِ بِعِصَابَةِ حَدِيدٍ لَا يُصَدَّعُ رَأْسُهُ أَبَداً[3].
24. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Faddal from Muthanna al-Hannat from abu ‘Usamah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘Had my believing servant not felt sadness in his heart, I would have wrapped up the head of the u
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ كَمَثَلِ خَامَةِ الزَّرْعِ[1] تُكْفِئُهَا الرِّيَاحُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ كَذَلِكَ الْمُؤْمِنُ تُكْفِئُهُ الْأَوْجَاعُ وَ الْأَمْرَاضُ وَ مَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ كَمَثَلِ الْإِرْزَبَّةِ الْمُسْتَقِيمَةِ[2] الَّتِي لَا يُصِيبُهَا شَيْءٌ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقْصِفَهُ قَصْفاً[3].
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The likeness of the believers is like sprouting plants that are swirled back and forth by the winds. The believers are also turned and bent by pain and illness. The likeness of a hypocrite is that of an iron that is not affected by anything until death comes and shatters him with a (f
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَوْماً لِأَصْحَابِهِ مَلْعُونٌ كُلُّ مَالٍ لَا يُزَكَّى مَلْعُونٌ كُلُّ جَسَدٍ لَا يُزَكَّى وَ لَوْ فِي كُلِّ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً مَرَّةً فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمَّا زَكَاةُ الْمَالِ فَقَدْ عَرَفْنَاهَا فَمَا زَكَاةُ الْأَجْسَادِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ أَنْ تُصَابَ بِآفَةٍ قَالَ فَتَغَيَّرَتْ وُجُوهُ الَّذِينَ سَمِعُوا ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ فَلَمَّا رَآهُمْ قَدْ تَغَيَّرَتْ أَلْوَانُهُمْ قَالَ لَهُمْ
“The Messenger of Allah one day said to his companions, ‘Condemned is every property that is not purified by paying al- Zakat (charity), condemned is the body that is not purified once in every forty days.’ He was then asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, we know how property is purified, but what is al-Zakat (purification) o
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ يُبْتَلَى الْمُؤْمِنُ بِالْجُذَامِ وَ الْبَرَصِ وَ أَشْبَاهِ هَذَا قَالَ فَقَالَ وَ هَلْ كُتِبَ الْبَلَاءُ إِلَّا عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ.
“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Does a believer suffer from leprosy or similar diseases?’ The Imam asked, ‘Is misfortune written for anyone other than the believers?”’
إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لَيَكْرُمُ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَتَّى لَوْ سَأَلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا فِيهَا- أَعْطَاهُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْتَقِصَ مِنْ مُلْكِهِ شَيْئاً وَ إِنَّ الْكَافِرَ لَيَهُونُ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَتَّى لَوْ سَأَلَهُ الدُّنْيَا بِمَا فِيهَا أَعْطَاهُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْتَقِصَ مِنْ مُلْكِهِ شَيْئاً وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيَتَعَاهَدُ عَبْدَهُ الْمُؤْمِنَ بِالْبَلَاءِ كَمَا يَتَعَاهَدُ الْغَائِبُ أَهْلَهُ بِالط
“A believer is so important to Allah that if he asks Him paradise and all that is therein. He will give it to him without any shortages caused to His kingdom. The unbeliever is so insignificant before Allah that if he asks the whole world and all that is therein. He will give it to him without any shortages caused in H
إِنَّ فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع أَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ بَلَاءً النَّبِيُّونَ ثُمَّ الْوَصِيُّونَ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ وَ إِنَّمَا يُبْتَلَى الْمُؤْمِنُ عَلَى قَدْرِ أَعْمَالِهِ الْحَسَنَةِ فَمَنْ صَحَّ دِينُهُ وَ حَسُنَ عَمَلُهُ اشْتَدَّ بَلَاؤُهُ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمْ يَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا ثَوَاباً لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَ لَا عُقُوبَةً لِكَافِرٍ وَ مَنْ سَخُفَ دِينُهُ وَ ضَعُفَ عَمَلُهُ قَلَّ بَلَا
“It is in the book of Ali (a.s.) that the people who suffer from the most intense form of misfortune are the prophets, then the successors of the prophets, then are people of closer position to the successors of the prophets and so on are the other groups. The trials of the believers are proportionate to their good dee
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ هَذَا الَّذِي ظَهَرَ بِوَجْهِي[3]- يَزْعُمُ النَّاسُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَبْتَلِ بِهِ عَبْداً لَهُ فِيهِ حَاجَةٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي لَقَدْ كَانَ مُؤْمِنُ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ مُكَنَّعَ الْأَصَابِعِ[4] فَكَانَ يَقُولُ هَكَذَا وَ يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ وَ يَقُولُ- يا قَوْمِ اتَّبِعُوا الْمُرْسَلِينَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي إِذَا كَانَ الثُّلُثُ الْأَخِيرُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فِي أَوَّلِهِ فَتَوَضَّ وَ قُ
“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘About this thing that has appeared on my face, people think Allah does not make suffer (from this) any servant in whom He is interested.’ The Imam said, ‘The believer among the people of Pharaoh had crippled fingers. He would extend his fingers and say, “My people follow the Messen
إِنَّ فُقَرَاءَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ[1] يَتَقَلَّبُونَ فِي رِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ قَبْلَ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ بِأَرْبَعِينَ خَرِيفاً[2] ثُمَّ قَالَ سَأَضْرِبُ لَكَ مَثَلَ ذَلِكَ إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ ذَلِكَ مَثَلُ سَفِينَتَيْنِ مُرَّ بِهِمَا عَلَى عَاشِرٍ[3] فَنَظَرَ فِي إِحْدَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يَرَ فِيهَا شَيْئاً فَقَالَ أَسْرِبُوهَا[4] وَ نَظَرَ فِي الْأُخْرَى فَإِذَا هِيَ مَوْقُورَةٌ[5] فَقَالَ احْبِسُوهَا.
“The poor Muslims will stroll in the gardens of paradise forty years before the wealthy Muslims. An example of this is the case of two ships arriving at the tax collector’s post. The tax collector searches one of the ships and finds it empty. He withdraws and the ship is free to go. But he finds the other ship fill of
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْمَصَائِبُ مِنَحٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ[6] وَ الْفَقْرُ مَخْزُونٌ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Misfortunes are gifts from Allah and poverty is in His treasure.’”
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَا عَلِيُّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَعَلَ الْفَقْرَ أَمَانَةً عِنْدَ خَلْقِهِ فَمَنْ سَتَرَهُ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ مِثْلَ أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ الْقَائِمِ وَ مَنْ أَفْشَاهُ إِلَى مَنْ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى قَضَاءِ حَاجَتِهِ فَلَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَقَدْ قَتَلَهُ أَمَا إِنَّهُ مَا قَتَلَهُ بِسَيْفٍ وَ لَا رُمْحٍ وَ لَكِنَّهُ قَتَلَهُ بِمَا نَكَى[1] مِنْ قَلْبِهِ.
“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘O Ali, Allah has made poverty a trust in His creatures. Whoever hides it, Allah grants him a reward equal to the reward for a fasting person who stands at night to worship Allah. One who reveals it to a person, who is able to help but does not help, it is then as if he has killed him.
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كُلَّمَا ازْدَادَ الْعَبْدُ إِيمَاناً ازْدَادَ ضِيقاً فِي مَعِيشَتِهِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘As the belief of a person increases in strength, his poverty intensifies.’”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَوْ لَا إِلْحَاحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى اللَّهِ فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ لَنَقَلَهُمْ مِنَ الْحَالِ الَّتِي هُمْ فِيهَا إِلَى حَالٍ أَضْيَقَ مِنْهَا.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Had it not been due to the believers’ pleading before Allah to increase their sustenance, He would have moved them to a poorer condition.’”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا أُعْطِيَ عَبْدٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا اعْتِبَاراً وَ مَا زُوِيَ عَنْهُ إِلَّا اخْتِبَاراً.
“Whatever a servant is given of worldly things is to make him learn a lesson and whatever is withheld from him is to place him under the trial.’”
لَيْسَ لِمُصَاصِ شِيعَتِنَا[2] فِي دَوْلَةِ الْبَاطِلِ إِلَّا الْقُوتُ شَرِّقُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ أَوْ غَرِّبُوا لَنْ تُرْزَقُوا إِلَّا الْقُوتَ.
“For our pure Shi’a (followers) there is nothing under the rule of the unjust power more than bare necessities. Westernize or Easternize, you will never gain more than bare necessities.”
قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص يَا عَلِيُّ الْحَاجَةُ أَمَانَةُ اللَّهِ عِنْدَ خَلْقِهِ فَمَنْ كَتَمَهَا عَلَى نَفْسِهِ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ ثَوَابَ مَنْ صَلَّى وَ مَنْ كَشَفَهَا إِلَى مَنْ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يُفَرِّجَ عَنْهُ وَ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَقَدْ قَتَلَهُ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَقْتُلْهُ بِسَيْفٍ وَ لَا سِنَانٍ وَ لَا سَهْمٍ وَ لَكِنْ قَتَلَهُ بِمَا نَكَى مِنْ قَلْبِهِ.
“The Holy Prophet has said, ‘O Ali, the need (poverty) is Allah’s trust with His creatures. Whoever keeps it secret Allah grants him a reward equal to that for one who prays, but if he reveals it to one who is able to help and does not help he has killed him, not with a sword or spears, but has killed him by breaking h
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَلْتَفِتُ- يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلَى فُقَرَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ شَبِيهاً بِالْمُعْتَذِرِ إِلَيْهِمْ فَيَقُولُ وَ عِزَّتِي وَ جَلَالِي مَا أَفْقَرْتُكُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا مِنْ هَوَانٍ بِكُمْ عَلَيَّ وَ لَتَرَوُنَّ مَا أَصْنَعُ بِكُمُ الْيَوْمَ فَمَنْ زَوَّدَ أَحَداً مِنْكُمْ فِي دَارِ الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفاً فَخُذُوا بِيَدِهِ فَأَدْخِلُوهُ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ فَيَقُول
9. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sa’dan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘On the Day of Judgment Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, will turn to the poor believing people, similar to an apologetic one, and will say, “I swear by M
مَا كَانَ مِنْ وُلْدِ آدَمَ مُؤْمِنٌ إِلَّا فَقِيراً وَ لَا كَافِرٌ إِلَّا غَنِيّاً حَتَّى جَاءَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ع فَقَالَ- رَبَّنا لا تَجْعَلْنا فِتْنَةً لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا[2] فَصَيَّرَ اللَّهُ فِي هَؤُلَاءِ أَمْوَالًا وَ حَاجَةً وَ فِي هَؤُلَاءِ أَمْوَالًا وَ حَاجَةً.
“There was no one of the children of Adam who was a believer but that was poor and there was no one of the children of Adam who was an unbeliever but that was rich until Ibrahim came. He said, ‘O Lord, save us from the evil intentions of the unbelievers. . . .’ (60:5) Thereafter Allah made these (believing people) rich
جَاءَ رَجُلٌ مُوسِرٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص نَقِيُّ الثَّوْبِ فَجَلَسَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص[3] فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ مُعْسِرٌ دَرِنُ الثَّوْبِ فَجَلَسَ إِلَى جَنْبِ الْمُوسِرِ فَقَبَضَ الْمُوسِرُ ثِيَابَهُ مِنْ تَحْتِ فَخِذَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَ خِفْتَ أَنْ يَمَسَّكَ مِنْ فَقْرِهِ شَيْءٌ قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَخِفْتَ أَنْ يُصِيبَهُ مِنْ غِنَاكَ شَيْءٌ قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَخِفْتَ أَنْ يُوَسِّخَ ثِيَابَكَ قَا
“Once a wealthy man in clean clothes came to the Messenger of Allah and sat down near the Messenger of Allah. Thereafter a poor man in not so clean clothes came and sat next to the wealthy man who then pulled his clothes away from underneath the thighs of the poor man. The Messenger of Allah then asked the wealthy man,
فِي مُنَاجَاةِ مُوسَى ع يَا مُوسَى إِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْفَقْرَ مُقْبِلًا فَقُلْ مَرْحَباً بِشِعَارِ الصَّالِحِينَ وَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْغِنَى مُقْبِلًا فَقُلْ ذَنْبٌ عَجِلَتْ عُقُوبَتُهُ[2].
“It is in the conversation of Moses, ‘O Moses, when you see poverty coming say, “Welcome to the way of life of the virtuous people. When, you see wealth coming, say, ‘It is a sin. I wanted to experience its punishment early (before the Day of Judgment).”’
قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص طُوبَى لِلْمَسَاكِينِ بِالصَّبْرِ وَ هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَرَوْنَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ.
“The Holy Prophet has said, ‘Tuba (a tree in paradise) is for the destitutes who bear patience and they are the ones who observe the kingdom of heavens and earth.’”
قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمَسَاكِينِ طِيبُوا نَفْساً وَ أَعْطُوا اللَّهَ الرِّضَا مِنْ قُلُوبِكُمْ يُثِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى فَقْرِكِمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَلَا ثَوَابَ لَكُمْ.
“The Holy Prophet has said, ‘O destitute people, rejoice and be happy wholeheartedly with Allah. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will reward you because of your poverty, if you did not do so, you will not receive any rewards.”
إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ أَمَرَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى مُنَادِياً يُنَادِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ[3] أَيْنَ الْفُقَرَاءُ فَيَقُومُ عُنُقٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ كَثِيرٌ فَيَقُولُ عِبَادِي فَيَقُولُونَ لَبَّيْكَ رَبَّنَا فَيَقُولُ إِنِّي لَمْ أُفْقِرْكُمْ لِهَوَانٍ بِكُمْ عَلَيَّ وَ لَكِنِّي إِنَّمَا اخْتَرْتُكُمْ[1] لِمِثْلِ هَذَا الْيَوْمِ تَصَفَّحُوا وُجُوهَ النَّاسِ فَمَنْ صَنَعَ إِلَيْكُمْ مَعْرُوفاً لَمْ يَصْنَ
“When it will be the Day of Judgment, Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, will command an announcer to announce and call before Him, ‘Where are the poor people?’ certain heads will rise and they will be many. Allah will say, ‘My servants.’ They will say, ‘Yes, our Lord.’ Allah will say, ‘I did not make you poor con
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَوْ لَا إِلْحَاحُ هَذِهِ الشِّيعَةِ عَلَى اللَّهِ فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ لَنَقَلَهُمْ مِنَ الْحَالِ الَّتِي هُمْ فِيهَا إِلَى مَا هُوَ أَضْيَقُ مِنْهَا[2].
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Had it not been for this Shi’a’s (followers) insistence on receiving more sustenance from Allah He would have moved them from their present condition to a more severe poverty.”
قَالَ لِي أَ مَا تَدْخُلُ السُّوقَ أَ مَا تَرَى الْفَاكِهَةَ تُبَاعُ وَ الشَّيْءَ مِمَّا تَشْتَهِيهِ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّ لَكَ بِكُلِّ مَا تَرَاهُ فَلَا تَقْدِرُ عَلَى شِرَائِهِ حَسَنَةً.
“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) asked me, ‘Do you want to go to the market where fruits and things that you desire are sold?’ I said, ‘Yes, 1 like to go.’ The Imam said, ‘However, for everything that you like to buy but cannot buy there is a reward of one good deed for you.’”
إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ لَيَعْتَذِرُ إِلَى عَبْدِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ الْمُحْوِجِ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَمَا يَعْتَذِرُ الْأَخُ إِلَى أَخِيهِ فَيَقُولُ وَ عِزَّتِي وَ جَلَالِي مَا أَحْوَجْتُكَ فِي الدُّنْيَا مِنْ هَوَانٍ كَانَ بِكَ عَلَيَّ فَارْفَعْ هَذَا السَّجْفَ[4] فَانْظُرْ إِلَى مَا عَوَّضْتُكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا قَالَ فَيَرْفَعُ فَيَقُولُ مَا ضَرَّنِي مَا مَنَعْتَنِي مَعَ مَا عَوَّضْتَنِي.
“Allah, the Most Exalted of praise, will apologize to His believing servants who are poor in this world just as a brother apologizes to a brother and He will say, ‘I swear by my Majesty and Glory that I did not make you poor in the world considering you insignificant. Remove this curtain and look what I have given you
إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ قَامَ عُنُقٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ حَتَّى يَأْتُوا بَابَ الْجَنَّةِ فَيَضْرِبُوا بَابَ الْجَنَّةِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ مَنْ أَنْتُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ نَحْنُ الْفُقَرَاءُ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ أَ قَبْلَ الْحِسَابِ- فَيَقُولُونَ مَا أَعْطَيْتُمُونَا شَيْئاً تُحَاسِبُونَّا عَلَيْهِ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ صَدَقُوا ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ.
“When it will be the Day of Judgment certain necks of people will rise, approach the door of paradise and knock on it. They will be asked, ‘Who are you?’ They will say, ‘We are the poor people.’ They will be told, ‘Show your accounts.’ They will say, ‘You did not give us anything. Why do you ask us for accounts?’ Allah