The Book of Belief and Disbelief

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ إِنِّي لَمْ أُغْنِ الْغَنِيَّ لِكَرَامَةٍ بِهِ عَلَيَّ وَ لَمْ أُفْقِرِ الْفَقِيرَ لِهَوَانٍ بِهِ عَلَيَّ وَ هُوَ مِمَّا ابْتَلَيْتُ بِهِ الْأَغْنِيَاءَ بِالْفُقَرَاءِ وَ لَوْ لَا الْفُقَرَاءُ لَمْ يَسْتَوْجِبِ الْأَغْنِيَاءُ الْجَنَّةَ.

“I heard abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, “I have not made certain people rich because they are important to Me and I have not made certain people poor because they are insignificant to Me. It is because I wanted to try the rich through the poor. Had there been no poor,

أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَيَاسِيرُ شِيعَتِنَا أُمَنَاؤُنَا عَلَى مَحَاوِيجِهِمْ فَاحْفَظُونَا فِيهِمْ يَحْفَظْكُمُ اللَّهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Our wealthy Shi’a (followers) are our trustees for our poor Shi’a. Protect us by protecting them (the poor Shi’a).”’

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ الْفَقْرُ أَزْيَنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ مِنَ الْعِذَارِ عَلَى خَدِّ الْفَرَسِ‌[1].

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘Poverty is more beautifying for the believers than the best decorated harness with ornament is for the head of a horse.’”

سَأَلْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ لَوْ لا أَنْ يَكُونَ النَّاسُ‌ أُمَّةً واحِدَةً قَالَ عَنَى بِذَلِكَ أُمَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ ص أَنْ يَكُونُوا عَلَى دِينٍ وَاحِدٍ- كُفَّاراً كُلَّهُمْ‌ لَجَعَلْنا لِمَنْ يَكْفُرُ بِالرَّحْمنِ‌ لِبُيُوتِهِمْ سُقُفاً مِنْ فِضَّةٍ[2] وَ لَوْ فَعَلَ اللَّهُ ذَلِكَ بِأُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص لَحَزِنَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَ غَمَّهُمْ ذَلِكَ وَ لَمْ يُنَاكِحُوهُمْ و

“Once I asked Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Were it not that all people would become one nation, . . .’ - and the Imam said, ‘It (all people) stands for the followers of Muhammad (a.s.) all of whom might turn to disbelief, - ‘ ... We would have made for the unbeli

فَمَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا أَخَذَ مِنْكَ قَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ ادْعُ اللَّهَ لِي أَنْ يُغْنِيَنِي عَنْ خَلْقِهِ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَسَّمَ رِزْقَ مَنْ شَاءَ عَلَى يَدَيْ مَنْ شَاءَ وَ لَكِنْ سَلِ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُغْنِيَكَ عَنِ الْحَاجَةِ الَّتِي تَضْطَرُّكَ إِلَى لِئَامِ خَلْقِهِ.

“Once someone came to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and said, ‘May Allah keep you well, I am a man who devoutly loves you. I face a pressing need. I sought help from my family and tribe but it only has distanced me from them.’ The Imam said, ‘What Allah has given you is better than what He has taken from you.’ The man said, ‘Ma

الْفَقْرُ الْمَوْتُ الْأَحْمَرُ[3] فَقُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْفَقْرُ مِنَ الدِّينَارِ وَ الدِّرْهَمِ فَقَالَ لَا وَ لَكِنْ مِنَ الدِّينِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Poverty is a painful death.’ I (the narrator) then asked him, ‘Is it poverty due to deficiency of Dirham and Dinar (units of money)?’ The Imam said, ‘No, in fact, it is poverty due to deficiency in religion.’”

مَا مِنْ قَلْبٍ إِلَّا وَ لَهُ أُذُنَانِ عَلَى إِحْدَاهُمَا مَلَكٌ مُرْشِدٌ وَ عَلَى الْأُخْرَى شَيْطَانٌ‌ مُفْتِنٌ هَذَا يَأْمُرُهُ وَ هَذَا يَزْجُرُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ يَأْمُرُهُ بِالْمَعَاصِي وَ الْمَلَكُ يَزْجُرُهُ عَنْهَا وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَ عَنِ الشِّمالِ قَعِيدٌ ما يَلْفِظُ مِنْ قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ[1].

“There is no heart without two ears. On one of them there is an angel who provides guidance and on the other there is a Satan (devil) who induces temptation. This one commands him and that one prohibits him. Satan commands him to disobey and the angel prohibits him from sins as it is mentioned in the words of Allah, th

إِنَّ لِلْقَلْبِ أُذُنَيْنِ‌[2] فَإِذَا هَمَّ الْعَبْدُ بِذَنْبٍ قَالَ لَهُ رُوحُ الْإِيمَانِ لَا تَفْعَلْ وَ قَالَ لَهُ الشَّيْطَانُ افْعَلْ وَ إِذَا كَانَ عَلَى بَطْنِهَا نُزِعَ مِنْهُ رُوحُ الْإِيمَانِ‌[3].

“The heart has two ears. When a servant (of Allah) thinks to commit a sin the spirit of belief says to him, ‘Do not do it’ and Satan says, ‘Do it.’ When he is on her belly (for an indecent act) the spirit of belief is taken away from him.’”

مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ إِلَّا وَ لِقَلْبِهِ أُذُنَانِ فِي جَوْفِهِ أُذُنٌ يَنْفُثُ فِيهَا الْوَسْوَاسُ الْخَنَّاسُ وَ أُذُنٌ يَنْفُثُ فِيهَا الْمَلَكُ فَيُؤَيِّدُ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنَ بِالْمَلَكِ فَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ‌ وَ أَيَّدَهُمْ بِرُوحٍ مِنْهُ‌[4].

“There is no believer but that his heart inside him has two ears. Into one of them al-Waswas and al-Khannas (two devils) blow and in the other ear an angel blows. Allah supports the believer through the angel as He has said, ‘. . . supported them by a Spirit from Himself. . .’” (58:22)

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَيَّدَ الْمُؤْمِنَ‌ بِرُوحٍ‌ مِنْهُ‌ تَحْضُرُهُ فِي كُلِّ وَقْتٍ يُحْسِنُ فِيهِ وَ يَتَّقِي وَ تَغِيبُ عَنْهُ فِي كُلِّ وَقْتٍ يُذْنِبُ فِيهِ وَ يَعْتَدِي فَهِيَ مَعَهُ تَهْتَزُّ سُرُوراً عِنْدَ إِحْسَانِهِ وَ تَسِيخُ فِي الثَّرَى عِنْدَ إِسَاءَتِهِ فَتَعَاهَدُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ نِعَمَهُ بِإِصْلَاحِكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ تَزْدَادُوا يَقِيناً

“Once I went to see abu al-Hassan (a.s.) and he said to me, ‘Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, supports a believer with a spirit from His side who attends him in all times that he performs a good deed and observes piety. The spirit remains absent in all times that he commits sins and transgresses. The spirit vibr

كَانَ أَبِي ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَفْسَدَ لِلْقَلْبِ مِنْ خَطِيئَةٍ إِنَّ الْقَلْبَ لَيُوَاقِعُ الْخَطِيئَةَ فَمَا تَزَالُ بِهِ حَتَّى تَغْلِبَ عَلَيْهِ فَيُصَيِّرَ أَعْلَاهُ أَسْفَلَهُ‌[4].

“My father would say, ‘There is nothing more destructive to the heart than sins. The heart falls on sins and remains that way until sins subdue it and then it turns upside down.’”

‌ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَما أَصْبَرَهُمْ‌ عَلَى النَّارِ[1] فَقَالَ مَا أَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى فِعْلِ مَا يَعْلَمُونَ‌[2] أَنَّهُ يُصَيِّرُهُمْ إِلَى النَّارِ.

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘What has made them remain so patient in the fire?’ (2:175) The Imam said, ‘What has made them so patiently do something that they know will lead them to the fire?”’

أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ عِرْقٍ يَضْرِبُ وَ لَا نَكْبَةٍ وَ لَا صُدَاعٍ وَ لَا مَرَضٍ إِلَّا بِذَنْبٍ وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ- وَ ما أَصابَكُمْ‌ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِما كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ‌ وَ يَعْفُوا عَنْ كَثِيرٍ[3] قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَ مَا يَعْفُو اللَّهُ أَكْثَرُ مِمَّا يُؤَاخِذُ بِهِ.

“No vein is injured, no failure takes place, no headache or illness occurs but because of the sin. This is mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Whatever hardship befalls you is the result of your own deeds. Allah pardons many of your sins.’ (42:30) The Imam then said, ‘Allah forgives more

مَا مِنْ نَكْبَةٍ تُصِيبُ الْعَبْدَ إِلَّا بِذَنْبٍ وَ مَا يَعْفُو اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَكْثَرُ.

“No failure ever takes place in the life of a servant (of Allah) except because of sin and that which Allah forgives him for is much more.”

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا تُبْدِيَنَّ عَنْ وَاضِحَةٍ[4] وَ قَدْ عَمِلْتَ الْأَعْمَالَ الْفَاضِحَةَ وَ لَا يَأْمَنِ الْبَيَاتَ مَنْ عَمِلَ السَّيِّئَاتِ‌[5].

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘You must never show your teeth (smile) when you have committed disgraceful deeds and never feel safe from misfortune to strike you due to (your) sinful deeds.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ تَعَوَّذُوا بِاللَّهِ مِنْ سَطَوَاتِ اللَّهِ بِاللَّيْلِ‌[6] وَ النَّهَارِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ وَ مَا سَطَوَاتُ اللَّهِ قَالَ الْأَخْذُ عَلَى الْمَعَاصِي.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Seek refuge with Allah from His striking you at night or during the day.’ I (the narrator) asked him, ‘What is Allah’s striking?’ The Imam said, ‘It is Allah’s punishing for sins.’”

الذُّنُوبُ كُلُّهَا شَدِيدَةٌ وَ أَشَدُّهَا مَا نَبَتَ عَلَيْهِ اللَّحْمُ وَ الدَّمُ لِأَنَّهُ إِمَّا مَرْحُومٌ وَ إِمَّا مُعَذَّبٌ وَ الْجَنَّةُ لَا يَدْخُلُهَا إِلَّا طَيِّبٌ‌[1]

“All sins are intense and severe. The most severe is that which increases flesh and blood (consumption of unlawful foods). Sins are either forgiven or one is punished for and paradise is only for the clean ones to enter.”

إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيُذْنِبُ الذَّنْبَ فَيُزْوَى‌[2] عَنْهُ الرِّزْقُ.

“A servant (of Allah) commits a sin it causes a serious reduction in his means of living.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَلْعُونٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ عَبَدَ الدِّينَارَ وَ الدِّرْهَمَ مَلْعُونٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ كَمِهَ أَعْمَى‌[3] مَلْعُونٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ نَكَحَ بَهِيمَةً.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Condemned and condemned is one who worships Dirham and Dinar, condemned and condemned is one who is blind (toward the truth). Condemned and condemned is one who carries out carnal relations with animals.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ اتَّقُوا الْمُحَقَّرَاتِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ فَإِنَّ لَهَا طَالِباً يَقُولُ أَحَدُكُمْ أُذْنِبُ وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ نَكْتُبُ ما قَدَّمُوا وَ آثارَهُمْ‌ وَ كُلَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَحْصَيْناهُ فِي إِمامٍ مُبِينٍ‌[1] وَ قَالَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِنَّها إِنْ تَكُ مِثْقالَ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ‌ فَتَكُنْ فِي صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِي السَّماواتِ أَوْ فِي الْأَرْضِ‌ يَأْتِ بِهَا اللَّهُ‌ إِ

“I heard abu la’ far (a.s.) saying, ‘Stay away from insignificant sins because there is demand for them. One of you will say, ‘I sin and ask forgiveness.’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘It is We who bring the dead to life and record the deeds of human beings and their consequences (of continual eff

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الذَّنْبَ يَحْرِمُ الْعَبْدَ الرِّزْقَ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The sin deprives the servant (of Allah) of sustenance.’”

إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيُذْنِبُ الذَّنْبَ فَيُدْرَأُ[3] عَنْهُ الرِّزْقُ وَ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا لَيَصْرِمُنَّها مُصْبِحِينَ وَ لا يَسْتَثْنُونَ‌ فَطافَ عَلَيْها طائِفٌ مِنْ رَبِّكَ‌ وَ هُمْ نائِمُونَ‌[4].

“A man commits a sin and it moves sustenance away from him and he (Imam) read this verse of the Holy Quran: ‘. . . when they swore to pluck all the fruits of the garden in the morning, (68:17) without adding, "if Allah wills" (18). A visitor (destruction) from your Lord circled (destroyed totally) around the garden dur

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا أَذْنَبَ الرَّجُلُ خَرَجَ فِي قَلْبِهِ نُكْتَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ فَإِنْ تَابَ انْمَحَتْ وَ إِنْ زَادَ زَادَتْ حَتَّى تَغْلِبَ عَلَى قَلْبِهِ فَلَا يُفْلِحُ بَعْدَهَا أَبَداً.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘When a man commits a sin a black dot appears in his heart. If he then repents, the dot will disappear, if he commits more sins it will increase until it will take over his heart and he then will never have salvation.’”

إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ يَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الْحَاجَةَ فَيَكُونُ مِنْ شَأْنِهِ قَضَاؤُهَا إِلَى أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ أَوْ إِلَى وَقْتٍ بَطِي‌ءٍ فَيُذْنِبُ الْعَبْدُ ذَنْباً فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لِلْمَلَكِ لَا تَقْضِ حَاجَتَهُ وَ احْرِمْهُ إِيَّاهَا فَإِنَّهُ تَعَرَّضَ لِسَخَطِي وَ اسْتَوْجَبَ الْحِرْمَانَ مِنِّي.

‘When a servant (of Allah) prays, his prayer is supposed to be answered within a short or a longer time. The servant (of Allah) commits a sin and Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, says to the angel not to answer his prayer and deprive him; he is subjected to My anger and he deserves deprivation from Me.”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّهُ مَا مِنْ سَنَةٍ أَقَلَّ مَطَراً مِنْ سَنَةٍ وَ لَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَضَعُهُ حَيْثُ يَشَاءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا عَمِلَ قَوْمٌ بِالْمَعَاصِي صَرَفَ عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانَ قَدَّرَ لَهُمْ مِنَ الْمَطَرِ فِي تِلْكَ السَّنَةِ إِلَى غَيْرِهِمْ وَ إِلَى الْفَيَافِي وَ الْبِحَارِ[1] وَ الْجِبَالِ وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيُعَذِّبُ الْجُعَلَ فِي جُحْرِهَا[2] بِحَبْسِ الْمَطَرِ عَنِ الْأَرْضِ الَّتِ

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘The amount of rain each year is the same but Allah sets it as He wills. When a people commit sins, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, reduces their share of rain in that year and diverts it to other places such as open lands, oceans and mountains. Allah makes the beetles suffer

إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ يُذْنِبُ الذَّنْبَ فَيُحْرَمُ صَلَاةَ اللَّيْلِ وَ إِنَّ الْعَمَلَ السَّيِّئَ أَسْرَعُ فِي صَاحِبِهِ مِنَ السِّكِّينِ فِي اللَّحْمِ.

“A man commits sins and he is deprived of the prayer at night. The bad deed runs quicker (in a destructive way) into its owner than the sharp knife into the flesh.”

مَنْ هَمَّ بِسَيِّئَةٍ فَلَا يَعْمَلْهَا[3] فَإِنَّهُ رُبَّمَا عَمِلَ الْعَبْدُ السَّيِّئَةَ فَيَرَاهُ الرَّبُّ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى فَيَقُولُ وَ عِزَّتِي وَ جَلَالِي لَا أَغْفِرُ لَكَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَبَداً.

“One who thinks to commit a sin, must not commit it; perhaps a servant (of Allah) commits a sin and the Lord, the Most Blessed, the Most High, finds him in that condition. He will say, ‘I swear by my Majesty and Glory that I will never forgive you thereafter.’”

حَقٌّ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ لَا يُعْصَى فِي دَارٍ إِلَّا أَضْحَاهَا لِلشَّمْسِ حَتَّى تُطَهِّرَهَا[4].

“It is a responsibility for Allah to expose the house wherein sin is committed, to the sun to cleanse it (subject it to ruination).”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيُحْبَسُ عَلَى ذَنْبٍ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ مِائَةَ عَامٍ وَ إِنَّهُ لَيَنْظُرُ إِلَى أَزْوَاجِهِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ يَتَنَعَّمْنَ.[5]

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘A servant (of Allah) may become imprisoned for a hundred years because of one of his sins. He will see his spouses enjoy blessings in paradise.’”

قَالَ: مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ إِلَّا وَ فِي قَلْبِهِ نُكْتَةٌ بَيْضَاءُ فَإِذَا أَذْنَبَ ذَنْباً خَرَجَ فِي النُّكْتَةِ نُكْتَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ فَإِنْ تَابَ ذَهَبَ ذَلِكَ السَّوَادُ وَ إِنْ تَمَادَى فِي الذُّنُوبِ‌[1] زَادَ ذَلِكَ السَّوَادُ حَتَّى يُغَطِّيَ الْبَيَاضَ فَإِذَا غَطَّى الْبَيَاضَ لَمْ يَرْجِعْ صَاحِبُهُ إِلَى خَيْرٍ أَبَداً وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- كَلَّا بَلْ رانَ عَلى‌ قُلُوبِهِمْ ما كانُوا يَكْسِب

“In the heart of every servant (of Allah) there is a white dot. When he commits a sin a black dot appears in the white one. If he repents the black dot goes away, but if he continues committing sins the black dot enlarges until it covers the white dot and when the white dot is covered the person thereafter does not ret

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَا تُبْدِيَنَّ عَنْ وَاضِحَةٍ[3] وَ قَدْ عَمِلْتَ الْأَعْمَالَ الْفَاضِحَةَ وَ لَا تَأْمَنِ الْبَيَاتَ وَ قَدْ عَمِلْتَ السَّيِّئَاتِ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘Do not show your teeth (smile) if you have committed disgraceful sins. Do not feel safe from misfortunes if you have performed evil deeds.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ كَانَ أَبِي ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَضَى قَضَاءً حَتْماً أَلَّا يُنْعِمَ‌[5] عَلَى الْعَبْدِ بِنِعْمَةٍ فَيَسْلُبَهَا إِيَّاهُ حَتَّى يُحْدِثَ الْعَبْدُ ذَنْباً يَسْتَحِقُّ بِذَلِكَ النَّقِمَةَ.

‘My father has said, “Allah has made a firm decision not to take away the blessing that He has granted to a servant of His until he commits a sin that subjects him to misfortune.’”

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَقالُوا رَبَّنا باعِدْ بَيْنَ أَسْفارِنا وَ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ‌ الْآيَةَ فَقَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ قَوْمٌ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ قُرًى مُتَّصِلَةٌ يَنْظُرُ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ وَ أَنْهَارٌ جَارِيَةٌ وَ أَمْوَالٌ ظَاهِرَةٌ فَكَفَرُوا نِعَمَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ غَيَّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ مِنْ عَافِيَةِ اللَّهِ فَغَيَّرَ اللَّهُ مَا بِهِمْ مِنْ نِع

23. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from Jamil ibn Salih from Sadir who has said the following: “Once a man asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘ . They said, “Lord, make the distances of our journeys longer.” They did injustice to themsel

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَى عَبْدٍ نِعْمَةً فَسَلَبَهَا إِيَّاهُ حَتَّى يُذْنِبَ ذَنْباً يَسْتَحِقُّ بِذَلِكَ السَّلْبَ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah does not take away the favor that He grants to a servant as long as he does not commit a sin that may subject him to losing Allah’s favor.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بَعَثَ نَبِيّاً مِنْ أَنْبِيَائِهِ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ وَ أَوْحَى إِلَيْهِ أَنْ قُلْ لِقَوْمِكَ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِ قَرْيَةٍ وَ لَا أُنَاسٍ كَانُوا عَلَى طَاعَتِي فَأَصَابَهُمْ فِيهَا سَرَّاءُ فَتَحَوَّلُوا عَمَّا أُحِبُّ إِلَى مَا أَكْرَهُ إِلَّا تَحَوَّلْتُ لَهُمْ عَمَّا يُحِبُّونَ إِلَى مَا يَكْرَهُونَ وَ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِ قَرْيَةٍ وَ لَا أَه

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, sent a prophet to his people and inspired him to tell his people that the Lord says, ‘There has not been any inhabitants of a town or people who obeyed Me and lived happily and then changed from the condition that 1 loved to what I disliked

أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى نَبِيٍّ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ إِذَا أُطِعْتُ رَضِيتُ وَ إِذَا رَضِيتُ بَارَكْتُ وَ لَيْسَ لِبَرَكَتِي نِهَايَةٌ وَ إِذَا عُصِيتُ غَضِبْتُ وَ إِذَا غَضِبْتُ لَعَنْتُ وَ لَعْنَتِي تَبْلُغُ السَّابِعَ مِنَ الْوَرَى‌[2].

26. Ali ibn Ibrahim al-Hashimi has narrated from his grandfather, Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ubayd Allah from Sulayman al-Ja’fary from al- Rida (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, sent revelation to one of the prophets that said, ‘When I am obeyed I become happy. W

إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ لَيَكْثُرُ بِهِ الْخَوْفُ مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ وَ مَا ذَلِكَ إِلَّا بِالذُّنُوبِ فَتَوَقَّوْهَا مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ وَ لَا تَمَادَوْا فِيهَا.

“You may feel afraid of a king because of your disobeying him. You must avoid it if you can and do not continue in such condition.”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَا وَجَعَ أَوْجَعُ لِلْقُلُوبِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ وَ لَا خَوْفَ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ وَ كَفَى بِمَا سَلَفَ تَفَكُّراً وَ كَفَى بِالْمَوْتِ وَاعِظاً.

“No pain is more painful to the heart than sins and there is no fear more intense than fear of death. Past experience is enough material for thinking and death is more than enough a preacher.”

سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ‌ كُلَّمَا أَحْدَثَ الْعِبَادُ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ مَا لَمْ يَكُونُوا يَعْمَلُونَ أَحْدَثَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ مِنَ الْبَلَاءِ مَا لَمْ يَكُونُوا يَعْرِفُونَ.

“I heard al-Rida (a.s.) saying, ‘Whenever servants commit such sins that they had not committed before, Allah creates a new misfortune against them of which they had no knowledge.’”

يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا عَصَانِي مَنْ عَرَفَنِي سَلَّطْتُ عَلَيْهِ مَنْ لَا يَعْرِفُنِي.

“Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘When a person who knows Me commits a sin, I subject him to the troubles from one who does not know Me.’”

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَ لَيْلَةٍ مُنَادِياً يُنَادِي مَهْلًا مَهْلًا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ عَنْ مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ فَلَوْ لَا بَهَائِمُ رُتَّعٌ وَ صِبْيَةٌ رُضَّعٌ وَ شُيُوخٌ رُكَّعٌ لَصُبَّ عَلَيْكُمُ الْعَذَابُ صَبّاً تُرَضُّونَ بِهِ رَضّاً[1].

31. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from ibn ‘Arafah from abu al-Hassan (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has an announcer who announces every day and night, ‘O servants of Allah, hold and stop committing sins and disobedience to All

الْكَبَائِرُ الَّتِي أَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهَا النَّارَ.

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘If you avoid violating that which has been prohibited, your (lesser) sins will be forgiven and you will be admitted into a graceful dwelling,’ (4:31) the Imam said, ‘Major sins are those for which Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has made it necessar

كَتَبَ مَعِي بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع يَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْكَبَائِرِ كَمْ هِيَ وَ مَا هِيَ فَكَتَبَ الْكَبَائِرُ مَنِ اجْتَنَبَ مَا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ النَّارَ كَفَّرَ عَنْهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِ إِذَا كَانَ مُؤْمِناً وَ السَّبْعُ الْمُوجِبَاتُ‌[3] قَتْلُ النَّفْسِ الْحَرَامِ وَ عُقُوقُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ- وَ أَكْلُ الرِّبَا- وَ التَّعَرُّبُ بَعْدَ الْهِجْرَةِ[1] وَ قَذْفُ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ وَ أَكْلُ مَالِ الْ

2. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Mahbub who has said the following: “Once certain individuals of our people and I wrote to abu al- Hassan (a.s.) asking what and how many were the major sins. He wrote back to us about major sins, ‘Whoever avoids the act for which Allah has decided to se

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ الْكَبَائِرُ سَبْعٌ قَتْلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ مُتَعَمِّداً[3] وَ قَذْفُ الْمُحْصَنَةِ وَ الْفِرَارُ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ وَ التَّعَرُّبُ بَعْدَ الْهِجْرَةِ وَ أَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ ظُلْماً وَ أَكْلُ الرِّبَا بَعْدَ الْبَيِّنَةِ[4] وَ كُلُّ مَا أَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ النَّارَ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The major sins are seven in number: Murdering a believer intentionally, Accusing a married women of committing indecent act, Running away from the enemy in the battle field during an offensive. Alienating one’s self from religion after accepting it. Consuming the properties of the

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ مِنَ الْكَبَائِرِ عُقُوقَ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَ الْيَأْسَ مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ وَ الْأَمْنَ لِمَكْرِ اللَّهِ‌[1] وَ قَدْ رُوِيَ أَنَّ أَكْبَرَ الْكَبَائِرِ الشِّرْكُ بِاللَّهِ.

4. Yunus has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘Of the major sins are disregard of good relation with parents, despair for the mercy of Allah, feeling safe from the punishment of Allah and it is narrated that the biggest of the major sins is to conside

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ زَنَى خَرَجَ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ وَ مَنْ شَرِبَ الْخَمْرَ خَرَجَ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ وَ مَنْ أَفْطَرَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مُتَعَمِّداً خَرَجَ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Whoever commits fornication suffers the loss of his belief, one who drinks wine suffers the loss of belief and one who breaks intentionally the fast in the month of Ramadhan suffers the loss of his belief.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَا يَزْنِي الزَّانِي وَ هُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ قَالَ لَا إِذَا كَانَ عَلَى بَطْنِهَا سُلِبَ الْإِيمَانُ مِنْهُ فَإِذَا قَامَ رُدَّ إِلَيْهِ فَإِذَا عَادَ سُلِبَ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَعُودَ فَقَالَ مَا أَكْثَرَ مَنْ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَعُودَ فَلَا يَعُودُ إِلَيْهِ أَبَداً.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Is it true that a fornicator does not fornicate if he is a believer?’ The Imam said, ‘No, it is not as such, however, when he is on her belly, belief is taken away from him and when he moves away, his belief is returned to him, if he repeats it his belief is taken away from him.’ I t

الْفَوَاحِشُ الزِّنَى وَ السَّرِقَةُ وَ اللَّمَمُ الرَّجُلُ يُلِمُّ بِالذَّنْبِ فَيَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ مِنْهُ قُلْتُ بَيْنَ الضَّلَالِ وَ الْكُفْرِ مَنْزِلَةٌ فَقَالَ مَا أَكْثَرَ عُرَى الْإِيمَانِ‌[3].

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Those who stay away from grave sins and indecency (should know that) for their Lamam (certain sins) your Lord’s forgiveness is vast. . . .’ (53:32) the Imam said, ‘Indecency is fornication and theft. Lamam is when a man commits a sin, then regrets and asks f

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْكَبَائِرِ فَقَالَ هُنَّ فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع سَبْعٌ الْكُفْرُ بِاللَّهِ وَ قَتْلُ النَّفْسِ وَ عُقُوقُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَ أَكْلُ الرِّبَا بَعْدَ الْبَيِّنَةِ وَ أَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ ظُلْماً وَ الْفِرَارُ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ وَ التَّعَرُّبُ بَعْدَ الْهِجْرَةِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ فَهَذَا أَكْبَرُ الْمَعَاصِي قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَأَكْلُ دِرْهَمٍ مِنْ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ ظُلْماً أَكْبَرُ أَ

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the major sins. The Imam said, ‘They according to the book of Ali (a.s.) are seven: Disbelief in Allah, Murdering a soul, Disregard of good relations with parents, Consuming unlawful interest from trade with evidence, Consuming the properties of orphans unjustly, Running away fr

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ إِلَّا وَ عَلَيْهِ أَرْبَعُونَ جُنَّةً[2] حَتَّى يَعْمَلَ أَرْبَعِينَ كَبِيرَةً فَإِذَا عَمِلَ أَرْبَعِينَ كَبِيرَةً انْكَشَفَتْ عَنْهُ الْجُنَنُ فَيُوحِي اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِمْ أَنِ اسْتُرُوا عَبْدِي بِأَجْنِحَتِكُمْ فَتَسْتُرُهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ بِأَجْنِحَتِهَا قَالَ فَمَا يَدَعُ شَيْئاً مِنَ الْقَبِيحِ إِلَّا قَارَفَهُ‌[3] حَتَّى‌ يَمْتَدِحَ إِلَى النَّاسِ بِفِعْلِهِ الْقَ

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘There is no believer without forty shields on him until he commits forty major sins. When he commits forty major sins, the shields are removed. Allah then sends revelations to them (angels), “Cover My servant with your wings,” and the angels cover him with their wi