The Book of Belief and Disbelief

مَا أَقْبَحَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِ أَنْ تَكُونَ لَهُ رَغْبَةٌ تُذِلُّهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘How disgraceful to a believer is a desire that humiliates him!”’

بِئْسَ الْعَبْدُ عَبْدٌ لَهُ طَمَعٌ يَقُودُهُ وَ بِئْسَ الْعَبْدُ عَبْدٌ لَهُ رَغْبَةٌ تُذِلُّهُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘The worst servant is the servant who has a greed that dominates him and so also is a servant whose desires humiliate him.’”

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ رَأَيْتُ الْخَيْرَ كُلَّهُ قَدِ اجْتَمَعَ فِي قَطْعِ الطَّمَعِ عَمَّا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ‌[2].

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘I have seen all good is gathered together in eradicating of greed for what is in people’s possession.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا الَّذِي يُثْبِتُ الْإِيمَانَ فِي الْعَبْدِ قَالَ الْوَرَعُ وَ الَّذِي يُخْرِجُهُ مِنْهُ قَالَ الطَّمَعُ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘What (deed) establishes belief firmly in a servant (of Allah)?’ The Imam said, ‘It is restraint from the worldly attractions (sins).’ I then asked, ‘What (kind of thing) removes belief from a person?’ The Imam said, ‘It is greed.’”

مَنْ قُسِمَ لَهُ الْخُرْقُ حُجِبَ عَنْهُ الْإِيمَانُ‌[2].

‘Whoever has a share of harshness (in his behavior), belief is separated from him.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَوْ كَانَ الْخُرْقُ خَلْقاً يُرَى مَا كَانَ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِمَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ أَقْبَحَ مِنْهُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Had harshness been among the visible creatures it would have looked the most loathsome of the creatures of Allah.’”

إِنَّ سُوءَ الْخُلُقِ لَيُفْسِدُ الْعَمَلَ كَمَا يُفْسِدُ الْخَلُّ الْعَسَلَ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Wickedness and evil behavior destroys and spoils good deeds just as vinegar spoils honey.’”

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ أَبَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِصَاحِبِ الْخُلُقِ السَّيِّئِ بِالتَّوْبَةِ قِيلَ وَ كَيْفَ ذَاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ لِأَنَّهُ إِذَا تَابَ مِنْ ذَنْبٍ وَقَعَ فِي ذَنْبٍ أَعْظَمَ مِنْهُ.

“The Holy Prophet has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, refuses to accept the repentance of a person of bad conduct.’ It was asked, ‘Why is it so, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘It is because when he repents from a sin he falls into a greater sin.’”

إِنَّ سُوءَ الْخُلُقِ لَيُفْسِدُ الْإِيمَانَ كَمَا يُفْسِدُ الْخَلُّ الْعَسَلَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Wicked and evil behavior spoils good deeds just as vinegar spoils honey.’”

مَنْ سَاءَ خُلُقُهُ عَذَّبَ نَفْسَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever’s behavior is bad and evil, his soul lives in suffering.”’

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى بَعْضِ أَنْبِيَائِهِ الْخُلُقُ السَّيِّئُ يُفْسِدُ الْعَمَلَ كَمَا يُفْسِدُ الْخَلُّ الْعَسَلَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, sent revelations to one of His prophets and it said, ‘Bad and evil behavior spoils good deeds just as vinegar spoils honey.’”

إِنَّ السَّفَهَ خُلُقُ لَئِيمٍ يَسْتَطِيلُ عَلَى مَنْ هُوَ دُونَهُ‌[2] وَ يَخْضَعُ لِمَنْ [هُوَ] فَوْقَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Dimwittedness is a bad attitude. Such an individual intimidates those below him and is humble (inferior) before those above him.’”

لَا تَسْفَهُوا فَإِنَّ أَئِمَّتَكُمْ لَيْسُوا بِسُفَهَاءَ وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌[3] مَنْ كَافَأَ السَّفِيهَ بِالسَّفَهِ فَقَدْ رَضِيَ بِمَا أَتَى إِلَيْهِ حَيْثُ احْتَذَى مِثَالَهُ‌[4].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Do not behave as dimwitted ones; your ‘A’immah, recipients of divine supreme covenant, have not been dimwitted people.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has also said, ‘Whoever deals with a dimwitted person in a reciprocal manner is as if he has agreed to what he has faced and has behaved similar

الْبَادِي مِنْهُمَا أَظْلَمُ وَ وِزْرُهُ وَ وِزْرُ صَاحِبِهِ عَلَيْهِ مَا لَمْ يَتَعَدَّ الْمَظْلُومُ‌[5].

“Two people were abusing each other and the Imam said, ‘The initiator is more unjust. His own sins and the sins of his companion are on him as long as the oppressed one does not transgress.’”

إِنَّ أَبْغَضَ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ عَبْدٌ اتَّقَى النَّاسُ لِسَانَهُ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘The most hated of the creatures of Allah is one from whose tongue people are afraid.’”

إِنَّ مِنْ عَلَامَاتِ شِرْكِ الشَّيْطَانِ الَّذِي لَا يُشَكُّ فِيهِ أَنْ يَكُونَ فَحَّاشاً لَا يُبَالِي مَا قَالَ وَ لَا مَا قِيلَ فِيهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Of the signs of the association of Satan with a person, without any doubt, is that he becomes abusive and is no more concerned about what he says or what is said about him.”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الرَّجُلَ لَا يُبَالِي مَا قَالَ وَ لَا مَا قِيلَ لَهُ فَإِنَّهُ لِغَيَّةٍ أَوْ شِرْكِ شَيْطَانٍ‌[3].

“The messenger of Allah has said, ‘If you find a man who is not concerned at all about what he says or what is said about him, he certainly is an straying person or an associate of Satan.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ الْجَنَّةَ عَلَى كُلِّ فَحَّاشٍ بَذِي‌ءٍ قَلِيلِ الْحَيَاءِ- لَا يُبَالِي مَا قَالَ وَ لَا مَا قِيلَ لَهُ‌[4] فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ فَتَّشْتَهُ لَمْ تَجِدْهُ إِلَّا لِغَيَّةٍ أَوْ شِرْكِ شَيْطَانٍ‌[5] فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ- وَ فِي النَّاسِ شِرْكُ شَيْطَانٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَ مَا تَقْرَأُ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ شارِكْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْوالِ وَ الْأَوْلادِ

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Allah has made paradise unlawful for every abusive, immoral, and (persons) lacking bashfulness who is not concerned about what he says or what is said to him. If (investigated) you find him to be an straying person or a partner of Satan.’ It was asked, O Messenger of Allah, ‘Does Sata

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبْغِضُ الْفَاحِشَ الْمُتَفَحِّشَ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah hates an abusive obscenity-monger.’”

كَانَ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع صَدِيقٌ لَا يَكَادُ يُفَارِقُهُ إِذَا ذَهَبَ مَكَاناً فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ يَمْشِي مَعَهُ فِي الْحَذَّاءِينَ‌[2] وَ مَعَهُ غُلَامٌ لَهُ سِنْدِيٌّ يَمْشِي خَلْفَهُمَا إِذَا الْتَفَتَ الرَّجُلُ يُرِيدُ غُلَامَهُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَلَمْ يَرَهُ فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ قَالَ يَا ابْنَ الْفَاعِلَةِ أَيْنَ كُنْتَ قَالَ فَرَفَعَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَدَهُ فَصَكَّ بِهَا جَبْهَةَ نَفْسِهِ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) had a friend who almost all the time accompanied him whenever he went somewhere. Once he was walking with the Imam in the shoemaker’s place and his (man’s) slave from Sind was walking behind them. The man looked to find where his slave was. He could not see him. He tried three times and could not

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ الْفُحْشَ لَوْ كَانَ مِثَالًا لَكَانَ مِثَالَ سَوْءٍ[3].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If obscene language had a form and shape it would have been a very ugly one.”’

كَانَ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ رَجُلٌ فَدَعَا اللَّهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَهُ غُلَاماً ثَلَاثَ سِنِينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُجِيبُهُ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ أَ بَعِيدٌ أَنَا مِنْكَ فَلَا تَسْمَعُنِي أَمْ قَرِيبٌ أَنْتَ مِنِّي‌ فَلَا تُجِيبُنِي قَالَ فَأَتَاهُ آتٍ فِي مَنَامِهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّكَ تَدْعُو اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مُنْذُ ثَلَاثِ سِنِينَ بِلِسَانٍ بَذِي‌ءٍ وَ قَلْبٍ عَاتٍ غَيْرِ تَقِيٍ‌[1] وَ نِيَّةٍ غَيْرِ صَادِق

“In the tribe of Israel there was a man who prayed to Allah for a son for three years. When he found that Allah did not answer his prayer, he then asked, ‘O Lord, am I far away from You and You do not hear me or You are close to me but do not answer me?’ The Imam said, ‘Someone came in his dream and said, ‘You have pra

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ مِنْ شَرِّ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ‌[2] مَنْ تُكْرَهُ مُجَالَسَتُهُ لِفُحْشِهِ.

“The messenger of Allah has said, ‘Of the most wicked and evil servants (of Allah) are those with whom association is disliked due to their use of foul language.”

الْبَذَاءُ مِنَ الْجَفَاءِ وَ الْجَفَاءُ فِي النَّارِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Using foul language is injustice and injustice is in the fire.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ الْفُحْشَ وَ الْبَذَاءَ وَ السَّلَاطَةَ[3] مِنَ النِّفَاقِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, abusive, foul language and a sharp tongue is hypocrisy.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبْغِضُ الْفَاحِشَ الْبَذِي‌ءَ وَ السَّائِلَ الْمُلْحِفَ‌[4].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Allah hates those who use foul language and the insistant beggar.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِعَائِشَةَ يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ الْفُحْشَ لَوْ كَانَ مُمَثَّلًا لَكَانَ مِثَالَ سَوْءٍ.

“The Messenger of Allah once said to ‘A’ishah, ‘O ‘A’ishah, had foul language had a form and shape it would have been a very ugly form and shape.”

قَالَ‌[1]: مَنْ فَحُشَ عَلَى أَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ نَزَعَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ بَرَكَةَ رِزْقِهِ وَ وَكَلَهُ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ وَ أَفْسَدَ عَلَيْهِ مَعِيشَتَهُ

“The Imam has said, ‘Whoever uses foul language against his Muslim brother (in belief) Allah removes blessings from his livelihood, leaves him to be on his own and destroys his means of living.”’

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لِي مُبْتَدِئاً يَا سَمَاعَةُ مَا هَذَا الَّذِي كَانَ بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ جَمَّالِكَ إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ فَحَّاشاً أَوْ صَخَّاباً أَوْ لَعَّاناً[2] فَقُلْتُ وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ ظَلَمَنِي فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ ظَلَمَكَ لَقَدْ أَرْبَيْتَ عَلَيْهِ‌[3] إِنَّ هَذَا لَيْسَ مِنْ فِعَالِي وَ لَا آمُرُ بِهِ شِيعَتِي اسْتَغْفِرْ رَبَّكَ وَ لَا تَعُدْ قُلْتُ أَسْتَغ

“Once I went to see abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). The Imam on his own initiation said to me, ‘O Sama’a, what was that between you and your camel man? Beware of becoming abusive, loud and using foul language.’ I (the narrator) then said, ‘By Allah, it happened but he did injustice to me.’ The Imam said, ‘If he has done injusti

إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص بَيْنَا هُوَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ عِنْدَ عَائِشَةَ إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِئْسَ أَخُو الْعَشِيرَةِ- فَقَامَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَدَخَلَتِ الْبَيْتَ وَ أَذِنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِلرَّجُلِ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ بِوَجْهِهِ وَ بِشْرُهُ إِلَيْهِ‌[4] يُحَدِّثُهُ حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ وَ خَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بَيْنَا أَنْتَ تَذْكُرُ هَذ

“One day, when the Holy Prophet was with ‘A’ishah, a man asked permission to meet him. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘What an evil fellow from the tribe!’ ‘A’ishah then went to her chamber and the Holy Prophet granted permission to the man for a meeting. When he came in, the Holy Prophet met him cheerfully, politely spe

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ شَرُّ النَّاسِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الَّذِينَ يُكْرَمُونَ اتِّقَاءَ شَرِّهِمْ.

‘The most evil among people in the sight of Allah on the Day of Judgment will be the one whom people respect for fear from his evil manners.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ خَافَ النَّاسُ لِسَانَهُ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever is feared because of his foul language will be in the fire.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ شَرُّ النَّاسِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الَّذِينَ يُكْرَمُونَ اتِّقَاءَ شَرِّهِمْ.

‘The most evil among people on the Day of Judgment will be one whom people respect for fear of his evil manners’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ أَعْجَلَ الشَّرِّ عُقُوبَةً الْبَغْيُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The evil most quickly facing punishment is tyrannical transgression.’”

يَقُولُ إِبْلِيسُ لِجُنُودِهِ أَلْقُوا بَيْنَهُمُ الْحَسَدَ وَ الْبَغْيَ فَإِنَّهُمَا يَعْدِلَانِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الشِّرْكَ‌[2].

“Satan says to his soldiers, ‘Throw unto them envy and tyrannical transgression; in the sight of Allah these two are equal to considering things as partners of Allah.’”

أَنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ فِي كِتَابٍ انْظُرْ أَنْ لَا تَكَلَّمَنَّ بِكَلِمَةِ بَغْيٍ أَبَداً وَ إِنْ أَعْجَبَتْكَ نَفْسَكَ وَ عَشِيرَتَكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once wrote a letter to me in which he had said, ‘Keep in mind not to ever speak a tyrannical and transgressing word even though your own soul and tribe are more captivating to you.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ الْبَغْيَ يَقُودُ أَصْحَابَهُ إِلَى النَّارِ وَ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ بَغَى عَلَى اللَّهِ عَنَاقُ بِنْتُ آدَمَ فَأَوَّلُ قَتِيلٍ قَتَلَهُ اللَّهُ عَنَاقُ وَ كَانَ مَجْلِسُهَا جَرِيباً فِي جَرِيبٍ‌[1] وَ كَانَ لَهَا عِشْرُونَ إِصْبَعاً فِي كُلِّ إِصْبَعٍ ظُفُرَانِ مِثْلُ الْمِنْجَلَيْنِ‌[2] فَسَلَّطَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا أَسَداً كَالْفِيلِ وَ ذِئْباً كَالْبَعِيرِ وَ نَ

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘O people, tyrannical transgression leads its associates to the fire. The first person who committed it against Allah was ‘Unaq, daughter of Adam, the first one that Allah killed was ‘Unaq who, when sitting occupied one acre. She had twenty fingers each of which had

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ عَجَباً لِلْمُتَكَبِّرِ الْفَخُورِ الَّذِي كَانَ بِالْأَمْسِ نُطْفَةً ثُمَّ هُوَ غَداً جِيفَةٌ.

‘It is astonishing how one who yesterday was only a sperm and tomorrow will turn into a carcass displays arrogance and boastfulness.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ آفَةُ الْحَسَبِ الِافْتِخَارُ وَ الْعُجْبُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The misfortune for lineage is boastfulness and feeling self-important.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَنَا عُقْبَةُ بْنُ بَشِيرٍ الْأَسَدِيُّ وَ أَنَا فِي الْحَسَبِ الضَّخْمِ مِنْ قَوْمِي قَالَ فَقَالَ مَا تَمُنُّ عَلَيْنَا بِحَسَبِكَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ رَفَعَ بِالْإِيمَانِ مَنْ كَانَ النَّاسُ يُسَمُّونَهُ وَضِيعاً إِذَا كَانَ مُؤْمِناً وَ وَضَعَ بِالْكُفْرِ مَنْ كَانَ النَّاسُ يُسَمُّونَهُ‌ شَرِيفاً إِذَا كَانَ كَافِراً فَلَيْسَ لِأَحَدٍ فَضْلٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِالتَّقْوَى‌[1].

‘I am ‘Uqbah ibn Bashir al-Asadi and among my people my lineage is very prominent.’ The narrator has said that the Imam then asked, ‘What is it that makes you oblige us because of your lineage? Due to proper belief, Allah has exalted those whom people consider low. Due to disbelief, He has made low those whom people ca

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ عَجَباً لِلْمُخْتَالِ الْفَخُورِ وَ إِنَّمَا خُلِقَ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ يَعُودُ جِيفَةً وَ هُوَ فِيمَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ لَا يَدْرِي مَا يُصْنَعُ بِهِ‌[2].

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘It is astonishing how one acts boastfully and arrogantly, when it is a fact that he is created from sperm and he will soon turn into a carcass and, in between, he does not know what may happen to him.’”

أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَا فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ حَتَّى عَدَّ تِسْعَةً فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَمَا إِنَّكَ عَاشِرُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ[3].

“Once a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I am so and so son of so and so counting (boastfully) up to nine generations.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘You are the tenth of them in the fire.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ آفَةُ الْحَسَبِ الِافْتِخَارُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The misfortune for lineage is boastfulness.’”

فِيمَا نَاجَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ مُوسَى ع يَا مُوسَى لَا تُطَوِّلْ فِي الدُّنْيَا أَمَلَكَ فَيَقْسُوَ قَلْبُكَ وَ الْقَاسِي الْقَلْبِ مِنِّي بَعِيدٌ.

“It is in the conversations of Moses with Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘O Moses, do not prolong your hopes in the world; it hardens your heart and the hardhearted people are far away from Me.’”

إِذَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْعَبْدَ فِي أَصْلِ الْخِلْقَةِ كَافِراً لَمْ يَمُتْ حَتَّى يُحَبِّبَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ الشَّرَّ فَيَقْرُبَ مِنْهُ فَابْتَلَاهُ بِالْكِبْرِ وَ الْجَبَرِيَّةِ[2] فَقَسَا قَلْبُهُ وَ سَاءَ خُلُقُهُ وَ غَلُظَ وَجْهُهُ وَ ظَهَرَ فُحْشُهُ وَ قَلَّ حَيَاؤُهُ وَ كَشَفَ اللَّهُ سِتْرَهُ وَ رَكِبَ الْمَحَارِمَ فَلَمْ يَنْزِعْ عَنْهَا ثُمَّ رَكِبَ مَعَاصِيَ اللَّهِ وَ أَبْغَضَ طَاعَتَهُ وَ وَثَبَ عَلَى الن

“If Allah creates a servant as an unbeliever in the beginning of his creation he will not die until He makes evil seem attractive to him so he draws nearer to evil. He then makes him turn out as arrogant and tyrannical. His heart then hardens, his behavior worsens, his face thickens (shameless), his obscenity becomes p

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَمَّتَانِ لَمَّةٌ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ لَمَّةٌ مِنَ الْمَلَكِ فَلَمَّةُ الْمَلَكِ الرِّقَّةُ وَ الْفَهْمُ وَ لَمَّةُ الشَّيْطَانِ السَّهْوُ وَ الْقَسْوَةُ[3].

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘There are two kinds of motivations, one from Satan and one from the angel. The motivation from the angel is tenderheartedness and shaip understanding, and the motivation from Satan is confusion and hardheartedness.’”

الظُّلْمُ‌ ثَلَاثَةٌ ظُلْمٌ يَغْفِرُهُ اللَّهُ وَ ظُلْمٌ لَا يَغْفِرُهُ اللَّهُ وَ ظُلْمٌ لَا يَدَعُهُ اللَّهُ فَأَمَّا الظُّلْمُ الَّذِي لَا يَغْفِرُهُ فَالشِّرْكُ وَ أَمَّا الظُّلْمُ الَّذِي يَغْفِرُهُ- فَظُلْمُ الرَّجُلِ نَفْسَهُ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَ أَمَّا الظُّلْمُ الَّذِي لَا يَدَعُهُ فَالْمُدَايَنَةُ بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ[1].

“There are three kinds of injustice: the injustice that Allah forgives, the injustice He does not forgive and the injustices that He does not leave without His judgment. The injustice that He does not forgive is to consider things to be His partners. The one that He forgives is the injustice of people against their own

قَنْطَرَةٌ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ لَا يَجُوزُهَا عَبْدٌ بِمَظْلِمَةٍ.

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . your Lord keeps an eye on ( al-Mirsad) (all evil-doing people),’ (89:14) the Imam said, ‘ Al-Mirsad in this verse refers to a bridge on the way (to paradise) that is not passable for a servant who has committed injustice to others.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنِّي لَمْ أَزَلْ وَالِياً مُنْذُ زَمَنِ الْحَجَّاجِ إِلَى يَوْمِي هَذَا فَهَلْ لِي مِنْ تَوْبَةٍ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ ثُمَّ أَعَدْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَا حَتَّى تُؤَدِّيَ إِلَى كُلِّ ذِي حَقٍّ حَقَّهُ.

‘I have been working as a governor from the time of al-Hajjaj to this time, can my repentance be accepted?’ The Imam remained quiet. I repeated my question and then he said, ‘No, until you pay back everything that you owe to the people.’”

مَا مِنْ مَظْلِمَةٍ أَشَدَّ مِنْ مَظْلِمَةٍ لَا يَجِدُ صَاحِبُهَا عَلَيْهَا عَوْناً إِلَّا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“No injustice is more severe than the one against which the oppressed cannot find any support except Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.”