The Book of Belief and Disbelief

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا إِسْحَاقُ خَفِ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ لَا تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ‌[1] فَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَرَى أَنَّهُ لَا يَرَاكَ فَقَدْ كَفَرْتَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ يَرَاكَ ثُمَّ بَرَزْتَ لَهُ بِالْمَعْصِيَةِ فَقَدْ جَعَلْتَهُ مِنْ أَهْوَنِ النَّاظِرِينَ عَلَيْكَ‌[2].

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said, ‘O Ishaq, have fear of Allah as if you see Him. Even if you do not see Him He sees you. If you think that He does not see you, you have certainly rejected belief. If you believe that He sees you and you disobey Him you have considered Him as the most insignificant observer.”’

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ خَافَ اللَّهَ أَخَافَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ كُلَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَخَفِ اللَّهَ أَخَافَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Whoever fears Allah, Allah causes everything to be afraid of him. Whoever does not fear Allah, Allah frightens him from everything.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ عَرَفَ اللَّهَ خَافَ اللَّهَ وَ مَنْ خَافَ اللَّهَ سَخَتْ نَفْسُهُ عَنِ الدُّنْيَا[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever has come to know Allah, he fears Allah. Whoever fears Allah, ignores his own soul in this world.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ قَوْمٌ يَعْمَلُونَ بِالْمَعَاصِي وَ يَقُولُونَ نَرْجُو فَلَا يَزَالُونَ كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ فَقَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ قَوْمٌ يَتَرَجَّحُونَ‌[4] فِي الْأَمَانِيِّ كَذَبُوا لَيْسُوا بِرَاجِينَ إِنَّ مَنْ رَجَا شَيْئاً طَلَبَهُ وَ مَنْ خَافَ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ هَرَبَ مِنْهُ.

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Certain people commit sins and say that they hope. They continue until their death arrives.’ The Imam said, ‘Such people have strayed away in hopes. They lie and they do not have any hope. Whoever hopes to have something, he tries to find it. People fearing something, run away from

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ قَوْماً مِنْ مَوَالِيكَ يُلِمُّونَ بِالْمَعَاصِي‌[5] وَ يَقُولُونَ نَرْجُو فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا لَيْسُوا لَنَا بِمَوَالٍ أُولَئِكَ‌ قَوْمٌ تَرَجَّحَتْ بِهِمُ الْأَمَانِيُّ مَنْ رَجَا شَيْئاً عَمِلَ لَهُ وَ مَنْ خَافَ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ هَرَبَ مِنْهُ‌[1].

I said to Abu 'Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (as), “Indeed, a group of your followers commit sins and say, ‘We hope.’ He (as) said: ‘They lie; they are not among our followers. Those are a people deceived by wishes. Whoever hopes for something works for it, and whoever fears something flees from it.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ مِنَ الْعِبَادَةِ شِدَّةَ الْخَوْفِ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ- إِنَّما يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبادِهِ الْعُلَماءُ[2] وَ قَالَ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ- فَلا تَخْشَوُا النَّاسَ وَ اخْشَوْنِ‌[3] وَ قَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى- وَ مَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجاً[4] قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ حُبَّ الشَّرَفِ وَ الذِّكْرِ[5] لَا يَكُونَانِ فِي قَلْب

“To have intense fear of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, is part of worship. Allah has said, ‘Of the servants of Allah who fear Him are the scholars.’ (35:28) Allah, Whose praise is great, has said, ‘Do not fear people but fear Me.’ (5:44) Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, has said, ‘For those who fear A

إِنَّ رَجُلًا رَكِبَ الْبَحْرَ بِأَهْلِهِ فَكُسِرَ بِهِمْ فَلَمْ يَنْجُ مِمَّنْ كَانَ فِي السَّفِينَةِ إِلَّا امْرَأَةُ الرَّجُلِ فَإِنَّهَا نَجَتْ عَلَى لَوْحٍ مِنْ أَلْوَاحِ السَّفِينَةِ حَتَّى أَلْجَأَتْ عَلَى جَزِيرَةٍ مِنْ جَزَائِرِ الْبَحْرِ وَ كَانَ فِي تِلْكَ الْجَزِيرَةِ رَجُلٌ يَقْطَعُ الطَّرِيقَ وَ لَمْ يَدَعْ لِلَّهِ حُرْمَةً إِلَّا انْتَهَكَهَا فَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ إِلَّا وَ الْمَرْأَةُ قَائِمَةٌ عَلَى رَأْسِ

“A man once set sail with his people and suffered a shipwreck. Everyone on board died except his wife who clung to a board and landed on an island where there lived a robber who had left no instance of disobedience to Allah but had committed them all. Without knowing anything about the shipwreck he found the woman stan

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ مِمَّا حُفِظَ مِنْ خُطَبِ النَّبِيِّ ص أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ لَكُمْ مَعَالِمَ فَانْتَهُوا إِلَى مَعَالِمِكُمْ وَ إِنَّ لَكُمْ نِهَايَةً فَانْتَهُوا إِلَى نِهَايَتِكُمْ أَلَا إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ يَعْمَلُ بَيْنَ مَخَافَتَيْنِ بَيْنَ أَجَلٍ قَدْ مَضَى لَا يَدْرِي مَا اللَّهُ صَانِعٌ فِيهِ وَ بَيْنَ أَجَلٍ قَدْ بَقِيَ لَا يَدْرِي مَا اللَّهُ قَاضٍ فِيهِ فَل

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Of the preserved speeches of the Holy Prophet one is his words as follows: “O people, for you there are the sources of knowledge. You must reach out to them. For you there are the end goals and you must reach them. You must know that a believer works between two frightening facts.

مَنْ عَلِمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَرَاهُ وَ يَسْمَعُ مَا يَقُولُ وَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَعْمَلُهُ مِنْ خَيْرٍ أَوْ شَرٍّ فَيَحْجُزُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنِ الْقَبِيحِ مِنَ الْأَعْمَالِ‌ فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي‌ خافَ مَقامَ رَبِّهِ وَ نَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوى‌.

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘For one who fears of the position of his Lord there are two gardens. ’(55:46) The Imam said, ‘One who knows that Allah sees him, hears what he says and knows what he does, good or evil, and it keeps him off wicked deeds, such person is the one who fears the

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَكُونُ الْمُؤْمِنُ مُؤْمِناً حَتَّى يَكُونَ خَائِفاً رَاجِياً وَ لَا يَكُونُ خَائِفاً رَاجِياً حَتَّى يَكُونَ عَامِلًا لِمَا يَخَافُ وَ يَرْجُو.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘A believer is not a believer until he is fearing and hopeful. He cannot become fearing and hopeful until he comes to know what to fear and in whom to have hope.’”

الْمُؤْمِنُ بَيْنَ مَخَافَتَيْنِ ذَنْبٍ قَدْ مَضَى لَا يَدْرِي مَا صَنَعَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ وَ عُمُرٍ قَدْ بَقِيَ لَا يَدْرِي مَا يَكْتَسِبُ فِيهِ مِنَ الْمَهَالِكِ فَهُوَ لَا يُصْبِحُ إِلَّا خَائِفاً وَ لَا يُصْلِحُهُ إِلَّا الْخَوْفُ.

“A believer lives in two frightening conditions. In his life he is concerned about his sins of the past about which he does not know how Allah has decided. He is also worried about his future, for not knowing what kind of destructive sins he may get involved in. Therefore, he is always fearful and nothing serves his be

كَانَ أَبِي ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ عَبْدٍ مُؤْمِنٍ إِلَّا وَ فِي قَلْبِهِ نُورَانِ نُورُ خِيفَةٍ وَ نُورُ رَجَاءٍ لَوْ وُزِنَ هَذَا لَمْ يَزِدْ عَلَى هَذَا وَ لَوْ وُزِنَ هَذَا لَمْ يَزِدْ عَلَى هَذَا.

“My father would say, ‘In the heart of every believing servant (of Allah) there are two lights. There is the light of fear and the light of hope. On being weighed no one of these lights weighs differently from the other.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَا يَتَّكِلِ الْعَامِلُونَ عَلَى أَعْمَالِهِمُ الَّتِي يَعْمَلُونَهَا لِثَوَابِي فَإِنَّهُمْ لَوِ اجْتَهَدُوا وَ أَتْعَبُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ أَعْمَارَهُمْ فِي عِبَادَتِي كَانُوا مُقَصِّرِينَ غَيْرَ بَالِغِينَ فِي عِبَادَتِهِمْ كُنْهَ عِبَادَتِي فِيمَا يَطْلُبُونَ عِنْدِي مِنْ كَرَامَتِي وَ النَّعِيمِ فِي جَنَّاتِي وَ رَفِيعِ الدَّرَجَاتِ الْعُلَى فِي جِوَارِي

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Dawud ibn Kathir from abu ‘Ubaydah al-Hadhdha’ from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, has said, “The doers of good deeds must not rely on their deed

وَجَدْنَا فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ وَ هُوَ عَلَى مِنْبَرِهِ وَ الَّذِي‌ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ مَا أُعْطِيَ مُؤْمِنٌ قَطُّ خَيْرَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا بِحُسْنِ ظَنِّهِ بِاللَّهِ وَ رَجَائِهِ لَهُ وَ حُسْنِ خُلُقِهِ وَ الْكَفِّ عَنِ اغْتِيَابِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ لَا يُعَذِّبُ اللَّهُ مُؤْمِناً بَعْدَ التَّوْبَةِ وَ الِاسْتِغْفَارِ إِلَّا بِسُوءِ ظَنِّ

2. Ibn Mahbub has narrated from Jamil ibn Salih from Burayd ibn Mu’awiyah from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “We have found in the book of Ali (a.s.) that the Messenger of Allah said from the pulpit, ‘I swear by the One besides Whom no one else deserves to be worshipped, a believer never receives any go

أَحْسِنِ الظَّنَّ بِاللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِ بِي إِنْ خَيْراً فَخَيْراً وَ إِنْ شَرّاً فَشَرّاً[1].

“Be hopeful about Allah, because Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘I deal according to the thinking of My believing servant toward Me. I am good to him if he thinks good about Me and I am harmful to him if he thinks Me harmful.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ حُسْنُ الظَّنِّ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ لَا تَرْجُوَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَ لَا تَخَافَ إِلَّا ذَنْبَكَ‌[2].

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘To be hopeful toward Allah means not to have hope in anyone except Allah and not to be afraid of anything but one’s sins.’”

قَالَ لِبَعْضِ وُلْدِهِ‌ يَا بُنَيَّ عَلَيْكَ بِالْجِدِّ لَا تُخْرِجَنَّ نَفْسَكَ مِنَ حَدِّ التَّقْصِيرِ فِي عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ طَاعَتِهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُعْبَدُ حَقَّ عِبَادَتِهِ.

“My son, you must work hard and do not allow your soul to lead you out of a feeling of always falling short in worshipping Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and in obedience to Him; Allah is not worshipped as truly as He should be worshipped.”

قَالَ لِي‌ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ يَا جَابِرُ لَا أَخْرَجَكَ اللَّهُ مِنَ النَّقْصِ وَ [لَا] التَّقْصِيرِ[1].

“Once abu Ja’far (a.s.) said to me, ‘O Jabir, (I wish) Allah grants you a chance to think of yourself as falling short in your worship and having deficiencies.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ رَجُلًا فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَبَدَ اللَّهَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً ثُمَّ قَرَّبَ قُرْبَاناً فَلَمْ يُقْبَلْ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ لِنَفْسِهِ مَا أُتِيتُ‌[2] إِلَّا مِنْكِ وَ مَا الذَّنْبُ إِلَّا لَكِ قَالَ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِلَيْهِ ذَمُّكَ لِنَفْسِكَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ عِبَادَتِكَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً.

“I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.) saying, ‘A man of banu Israel worshipped Allah for forty years. He then offered an offering that was not accepted. He said to his soul, “Whatever I face is only because of you and there is no sin but that you are responsible therefor.’” The Imam said, ‘Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most Hig

قَالَ: أَكْثِرْ مِنْ أَنْ تَقُولَ- اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُعَارِينَ‌[3] وَ لَا تُخْرِجْنِي مِنَ التَّقْصِيرِ- قَالَ قُلْتُ أَمَّا الْمُعَارُونَ فَقَدْ عَرَفْتُ أَنَّ الرَّجُلَ يُعَارُ الدِّينَ ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ فَمَا مَعْنَى لَا تُخْرِجْنِي مِنَ التَّقْصِيرِ فَقَالَ كُلُّ عَمَلٍ تُرِيدُ بِهِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَكُنْ فِيهِ مُقَصِّراً عِنْدَ نَفْسِكَ فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ كُلَّهُمْ فِي أَعْمَالِهِمْ فِ

“You should say very often, ‘O Lord, do not include me among those whose beliefs are temporary and do not make me feel free of shortcomings.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘I know the meaning of people whose beliefs are temporary. They come into a religion and then abandon it. What is the meaning of, “Do not make me fee

لَا تَذْهَبْ بِكُمُ الْمَذَاهِبُ‌[4] فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا شِيعَتُنَا إِلَّا مَنْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Do not allow (false) religions to confuse you. Of our Shi’a and true followers are only those who obey Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.”

خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ع فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ يُقَرِّبُكُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ يُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِهِ وَ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ يُقَرِّبُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ يُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْهُ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ الرُّوحَ الْأَمِينَ نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي أَنَّهُ لَنْ تَمُوتَ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَكْمِلَ رِز

“The Messenger of Allah addressed the people during his farewell (last) visit to Makka, ‘O people, I swear by Allah, everything that can take you closer to paradise and farther away from hell I have commanded you all to follow. Everything that may take you closer to hell and farther away from paradise I have prohibited

قَالَ لِي‌ يَا جَابِرُ أَ يَكْتَفِي مَنِ انْتَحَلَ التَّشَيُّعَ‌[2] أَنْ يَقُولَ بِحُبِّنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا شِيعَتُنَا إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّقَى اللَّهَ وَ أَطَاعَهُ وَ مَا كَانُوا يُعْرَفُونَ يَا جَابِرُ إِلَّا بِالتَّوَاضُعِ وَ التَّخَشُّعِ وَ الْأَمَانَةِ وَ كَثْرَةِ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَ الصَّوْمِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ وَ الْبِرِّ بِالْوَالِدَيْنِ وَ التَّعَاهُدِ لِلْجِيرَانِ مِنَ الْفُقَرَاءِ وَ أَهْلِ الْمَسْكَ

3. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn Salim and Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father all from Ahmad ibn al-Nadr from ‘Amr ibn Shamir from Jabir from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “O Jabir, do people think just claiming to be our Shi’a and saying they love us ( Ahl al-Bayt) is enough f

إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ يَقُومُ عُنُقٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ‌[2] فَيَأْتُونَ بَابَ الْجَنَّةِ فَيَضْرِبُونَهُ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ مَنْ أَنْتُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ نَحْنُ أَهْلُ الصَّبْرِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ عَلَى مَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ كُنَّا نَصْبِرُ عَلَى طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَ نَصْبِرُ عَنْ مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ صَدَقُوا أَدْخِلُوهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِنَّما يُوَف

“On the Day of Judgment, a group of people will raise their necks, approach the door of Paradise and knock on it. They will then be asked, ‘Who are you?’. They will say, ‘We are the people of patience.’ They will then be asked, ‘In what matters did you exercise patience?’. They will answer, ‘We exercised patience in ob

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَقِلُّ عَمَلٌ مَعَ تَقْوَى وَ كَيْفَ يَقِلُّ مَا يُتَقَبَّلُ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) would say, ‘A deed with piety is never considered a little deed. How could it be considered little when it is the very thing with which deeds are accepted?”’

يَا مَعْشَرَ الشِّيعَةِ شِيعَةِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كُونُوا النُّمْرُقَةَ الْوُسْطَى‌[4] يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْكُمُ الْغَالِي وَ يَلْحَقُ بِكُمُ التَّالِي فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ يُقَالُ لَهُ سَعْدٌ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا الْغَالِي قَالَ قَوْمٌ يَقُولُونَ فِينَا مَا لَا نَقُولُهُ فِي أَنْفُسِنَا فَلَيْسَ أُولَئِكَ مِنَّا وَ لَسْنَا مِنْهُمْ قَالَ فَمَا التَّالِي قَالَ الْمُرْتَادُ يُرِيدُ الْخَيْرَ يُبَلِّغُهُ الْخَيْ

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘O the community of Shi’a, Shi’a of Muhammad (a.s.) be the central support so that both al- Ghali and al-Tali refer to you.’ A man from Ansar (people of Madina) called Sa’d, said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, what is the meaning of al-GhaliV The Imam said, ‘They are th

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَذَكَرْنَا الْأَعْمَالَ فَقُلْتُ أَنَا مَا أَضْعَفَ عَمَلِي فَقَالَ مَهْ اسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي إِنَّ قَلِيلَ الْعَمَلِ مَعَ التَّقْوَى خَيْرٌ مِنْ كَثِيرِ الْعَمَلِ بِلَا تَقْوَى قُلْتُ كَيْفَ يَكُونُ كَثِيرٌ بِلَا تَقْوَى قَالَ نَعَمْ مِثْلُ الرَّجُلِ يُطْعِمُ طَعَامَهُ وَ يَرْفُقُ جِيرَانَهُ وَ يُوَطِّئُ رَحْلَهُ‌[1] فَإِذَا ارْتَفَعَ لَهُ الْبَابُ مِنَ الْحَرَامِ

“Once I was in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). We spoke about deeds and I said, ‘My deeds are the weakest.’ The Imam said, ‘Calm down. Ask forgiveness from Allah.’ Then the Imam said to me, ‘A little deed with piety is better than a great deal of deeds without piety.’ I then asked, ‘Can there be a great deal of

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا نَقَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَبْداً مِنْ ذُلِّ الْمَعَاصِي إِلَى عِزِّ التَّقْوَى إِلَّا أَغْنَاهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَالٍ وَ أَعَزَّهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ عَشِيرَةٍ وَ آنَسَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ بَشَرٍ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, does not transfer a believer from the humiliation of sins to the honor of piety before granting him freedom from wants without property, strength without tribesmen and comforting companionship without people.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي لَا أَلْقَاكَ إِلَّا فِي السِّنِينَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي بِشَيْ‌ءٍ آخُذُ بِهِ فَقَالَ أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ الْوَرَعِ وَ الِاجْتِهَادِ[2] وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْفَعُ اجْتِهَادٌ لَا وَرَعَ فِيهِ.

The Imam said, ‘I advise you to be pious before Allah, restrain from worldly matters (sins) and work hard. Note it properly that hard work without restraint from worldly matters is of no benefit.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ صُونُوا دِينَكُمْ بِالْوَرَعِ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Be pious before Allah and protect your religion by means of restraint from worldly matters (sins).’”

وَعَظَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأَمَرَ وَ زَهَّدَ ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْوَرَعِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُنَالُ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا بِالْوَرَعِ.

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) spoke to us to advise us. He gave orders and told us to abstain from indulging (ourselves) in worldly matters. He then said, ‘You must maintain restraint; one does not receive of the things with Allah except by means of restraint from worldly matters (sins).”’

لَا يَنْفَعُ اجْتِهَادٌ لَا وَرَعَ فِيهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Hard work without restraint from worldly things (sins) is of no benefit.’”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ إِنَّ أَشَدَّ الْعِبَادَةِ الْوَرَعُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Restraining from worldly matters (sins) is the most intense form of worship.’”

قَالَ أَبُو الصَّبَّاحِ الْكِنَانِيُّ- لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا نَلْقَى مِنَ النَّاسِ فِيكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ مَا الَّذِي تَلْقَى مِنَ النَّاسِ فِيَّ فَقَالَ لَا يَزَالُ يَكُونُ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ الْكَلَامُ فَيَقُولُ جَعْفَرِيٌّ خَبِيثٌ فَقَالَ يُعَيِّرُكُمُ النَّاسُ بِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو الصَّبَّاحِ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ مَا أَقَلَّ وَ اللَّهِ مَنْ يَتَّبِعُ جَعْفَراً مِنْكُمْ إِنَّمَ

“Abu Sabah al-Kanani has said, ‘We are not received well among people because of you.’ The Imam said, ‘How are you received among people because of me?’ He said, ‘As soon as we speak to a man he then says, “He is a Ja’fari (follower of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s.)) a filthy one.’” The Imam said, ‘Do they reprimand you b

قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ابْنَ آدَمَ اجْتَنِبْ مَا حَرَّمْتُ عَلَيْكَ تَكُنْ مِنْ أَوْرَعِ النَّاسِ.

7. Hanan ibn Sadir has narrated from abu Sara al-Ghazzal from Abu Ja’far (a.s.) who said: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘O son of Adam, stay away from what I have made unlawful to you, you then will be of the people who restrain themselves from worldly matters the most.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْوَرِعِ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ الَّذِي يَتَوَرَّعُ عَنْ مَحَارِمِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

The Imam said, ‘They are those who stay away from what Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has made unlawful.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ عَلَيْكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ الْوَرَعِ وَ الِاجْتِهَادِ وَ صِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ وَ أَدَاءِ الْأَمَانَةِ وَ حُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ وَ حُسْنِ الْجِوَارِ وَ كُونُوا دُعَاةً إِلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ بِغَيْرِ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَ كُونُوا زَيْناً وَ لَا تَكُونُوا شَيْناً وَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِطُولِ الرُّكُوعِ وَ السُّجُودِ فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا أَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ وَ السُّجُودَ هَتَفَ إِبْلِيسُ مِنْ خَل

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from abu ‘Usama who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘You must be pious before Allah, restrain yourself against worldly matters, work hard, speak the truth, keep the trust, have good moral behaviors,

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَدَخَلَ عِيسَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْقُمِّيُّ فَرَحَّبَ بِهِ وَ قَرَّبَ مِنْ مَجْلِسِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عِيسَى بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ لَيْسَ مِنَّا وَ لَا كَرَامَةَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي مِصْرٍ فِيهِ مِائَةُ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ وَ كَانَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْمِصْرِ أَحَدٌ أَوْرَعَ مِنْهُ‌[1].

“Once I was in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) when ‘Isa ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Qumi came to see him. The Imam greeted him and gave him a seat near his own seat. The Imam then said, ‘O ‘Isa ibn ‘Abd Allah, one is not from our people, and it is not an honor that one lives in a city of a hundred thousand people and someo

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَوْصِنِي قَالَ أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ الْوَرَعِ وَ الِاجْتِهَادِ[2] وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْفَعُ اجْتِهَادٌ لَا وَرَعَ فِيهِ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) to instruct me with good advice. The Imam said, ‘I recommend you to be pious before Allah, restrain from worldly matters (sins) and work hard. Note that there is no benefit in hard work without restraint from worldly matters.’”

أَعِينُونَا بِالْوَرَعِ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْكُمْ بِالْوَرَعِ كَانَ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَرَجاً وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- مَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَ الرَّسُولَ‌ فَأُولئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ الصِّدِّيقِينَ وَ الشُّهَداءِ وَ الصَّالِحِينَ وَ حَسُنَ أُولئِكَ رَفِيقاً[3] فَمِنَّا النَّبِيُّ وَ مِنَّا الصِّدِّيقُ وَ الشُّهَدَاءُ وَ الصَّ

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Support us by means of restraint from worldly matters; whoever of you will meet Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, with the quality of restraint from worldly matters will have enough good news from Allah. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “One who obeys Allah and the

إِنَّا لَا نَعُدُّ الرَّجُلَ مُؤْمِناً حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِجَمِيعِ أَمْرِنَا مُتَّبِعاً مُرِيداً أَلَا وَ إِنَّ مِنِ اتِّبَاعِ أَمْرِنَا وَ إِرَادَتِهِ الْوَرَعَ فَتَزَيَّنُوا بِهِ يَرْحَمْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ كَبِّدُوا أَعْدَاءَنَا بِهِ يَنْعَشْكُمُ اللَّهُ‌[4].

“We do not consider a person a believer until that person follows us in all of our orders and has firmly decided to do so. The decision to exercise restraint against worldly matters consists of following our orders and commands. You must have this beautiful quality. May Allah grant you blessings. With this Quality you

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ كُونُوا دُعَاةً لِلنَّاسِ بِغَيْرِ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ لِيَرَوْا مِنْكُمُ الْوَرَعَ وَ الِاجْتِهَادَ وَ الصَّلَاةَ وَ الْخَيْرَ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ دَاعِيَةٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Preach to people without your tongue. You must show them restraint from worldly matters (sins). You should perform hard work, prayer and good deeds. Such behavior includes preaching.”

كَثِيراً مَا كُنْتُ أَسْمَعُ أَبِي يَقُولُ لَيْسَ مِنْ شِيعَتِنَا مَنْ لَا تَتَحَدَّثُ الْمُخَدَّرَاتُ بِوَرَعِهِ فِي خُدُورِهِنَّ وَ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِنَا مَنْ هُوَ فِي قَرْيَةٍ فِيهَا عَشَرَةُ آلَافِ رَجُلٍ فِيهِمْ مِنْ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ أَوْرَعُ مِنْهُ.

“’Ubayd Allah ibn Ali reported to me from Abu al-Hasan the 1st (a.s.) who has said, ‘I would often hear my father saying, 'He is not one of our Shia who the women in their homes do not speak of his piety, and he is not from our supporters if he lives in a village with ten thousand men and there is someone among them mo

مَا عُبِدَ اللَّهُ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ عِفَّةِ بَطْنٍ وَ فَرْجٍ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘No obedience and worship in the sight of Allah is better than to be a chaste person in matters of (one’s) stomach and genital organs.”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ الْعِبَادَةِ عِفَّةُ الْبَطْنِ وَ الْفَرْجِ.

‘The best worship is to be chaste in the matters of stomach and genital organs.’”

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص يَقُولُ‌ أَفْضَلُ الْعِبَادَةِ الْعَفَافُ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) would say, ‘Chastity is the best worship.’”

قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنِّي ضَعِيفُ الْعَمَلِ قَلِيلُ الصِّيَامِ وَ لَكِنِّي أَرْجُو أَنْ لَا آكُلَ إِلَّا حَلَالًا قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَيُّ الِاجْتِهَادِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ عِفَّةِ بَطْنٍ وَ فَرْجٍ.

‘My deeds are weak and my fasting is very little but I hope to eat only what is lawful.’ The narrator has said that the Imam then said, ‘What kind of hard work could be considered better than chastity of stomach and chastity of genital organs?”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَكْثَرُ مَا تَلِجُ بِهِ أُمَّتِي النَّارَ الْأَجْوَفَانِ الْبَطْنُ وَ الْفَرْجُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Of my followers who go to hell, in the case of most of them it will so happen because of two hollow things: the stomach and the genital organs (for consuming unlawful things or committing sins)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ ثَلَاثٌ أَخَافُهُنَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي الضَّلَالَةُ بَعْدَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ وَ مَضَلَّاتُ الْفِتَنِ‌[3] وَ شَهْوَةُ الْبَطْنِ وَ الْفَرْجِ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his sources of narrators who have said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘There are three things about which I am afraid for my followers after me: misguidance after recognition of the truth, confusion because of mischief and the desires of stomach and genital organs.

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا مِنْ عِبَادَةٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ عِفَّةِ بَطْنٍ وَ فَرْجٍ.

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘There is no worship better than the chastity in matters of stomach and genital organs.’”