The Rare Ahadith

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْجُنُبِ يُغَسِّلُ الْمَيِّتَ أَوْ مَنْ غَسَّلَ مَيِّتاً لَهُ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ أَهْلَهُ ثُمَّ يَغْتَسِلَ فَقَالَ سَوَاءٌ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ إِذَا كَانَ جُنُباً غَسَلَ يَدَهُ وَ تَوَضَّأَ وَ غَسَّلَ الْمَيِّتَ فَإِنْ غَسَّلَ مَيِّتاً ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ ثُمَّ أَتَى أَهْلَهُ يُجْزِئُهُ غُسْلٌ وَاحِدٌ لَهُمَا.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is involved in sexual relations and he gives Ghusl (bath) to a dead person or one who has given Ghusl (bath) to a dead person, then performs sexual relation with his wife. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the same and it is not harmful. If he is involved in sex

إِنَّ الْمَيِّتَ إِذَا حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ أَوْثَقَهُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ مَا اسْتَقَرَّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when a person is about to die, the angel of death ties him down; otherwise, he will not calm down.”

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَجْداً وَجَدْتُهُ‌[1] عَلَى ابْنٍ لِي هَلَكَ حَتَّى خِفْتُ عَلَى عَقْلِي فَقَالَ إِذَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ هَذَا شَيْ‌ءٌ فَأَفِضْ مِنْ دُمُوعِكَ فَإِنَّهُ يَسْكُنُ عَنْكَ.

“I complained before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about feeling extremely sad for the death of my son and I feared for my sanity. He said, ‘When something like this happens, allow your tears to flow; it gives you relief.’”

لَمَّا مَاتَ ذَرُّ بْنُ أَبِي ذَرٍّ مَسَحَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ الْقَبْرَ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ يَا ذَرُّ وَ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتَ بِي بَارّاً وَ لَقَدْ قُبِضْتَ وَ إِنِّي عَنْكَ لَرَاضٍ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا بِي فَقْدُكَ وَ مَا عَلَيَّ مِنْ غَضَاضَةٍ[3] وَ مَا لِي إِلَى أَحَدٍ سِوَى اللَّهِ مِنْ حَاجَةٍ وَ لَوْ لَا هَوْلُ الْمُطَّلَعِ‌[4] لَسَرَّنِي أَنْ أَكُونَ مَكَانَكَ وَ لَقَدْ شَغَلَنِي الْحُزْنُ لَكَ عَنِ

“When Dharr, son of abu Dharr passed away, abu Dharr wiped his grave with his hand and said, ‘May Allah grant you mercy, O Dharr, by Allah, you were kind to me and I am satisfied with you. By Allah, I am not disappointed due to your death and I do not need anyone beside Allah. Had it not been for fear from the next lif

لَمَّا قُبِضَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع أَمَرَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِالسِّرَاجِ فِي الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي كَانَ يَسْكُنُهُ حَتَّى قُبِضَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ثُمَّ أَمَرَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ فِي بَيْتِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع حَتَّى خَرَجَ بِهِ إِلَى الْعِرَاقِ ثُمَّ لَا أَدْرِي مَا كَانَ.

“When abu Ja‘far passed away abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), commanded (his people) to light a lamp in the house where he lived until abu ‘Abd Allah passed away. Thereafter abu al-Hassan did a similar thing in the house where abu ‘Abd Allah lived until he was taken to Iraq and thereafter I do not know what happened.”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَوَّلِ مَنْ جُعِلَ لَهُ النَّعْشُ فَقَالَ فَاطِمَةُ ع.

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Who was the initiator of coffins for deceased people?’ He replied, ‘Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, was the one.’”

سُئِلَ عَنِ الْمَيِّتِ يَبْلَى جَسَدُهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ حَتَّى لَا يَبْقَى لَهُ لَحْمٌ وَ لَا عَظْمٌ إِلَّا طِينَتُهُ الَّتِي خُلِقَ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَبْلَى تَبْقَى فِي الْقَبْرِ مُسْتَدِيرَةً حَتَّى يُخْلَقَ مِنْهَا كَمَا خُلِقَ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked, ’Does the body of a dead person decay?’ He replied, ‘Yes, nothing of the flesh and bones will be left except the clay from which he is created. This does not decay and it remains in the grave with a round shape until he is created from it just as before.’”

سَأَلَ عِيسَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَنَا حَاضِرٌ فَقَالَ تَخْرُجُ النِّسَاءُ إِلَى الْجَنَازَةِ وَ كَانَ ع مُتَّكِئاً فَاسْتَوَى جَالِساً ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الْفَاسِقَ عَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ آوَى عَمَّهُ الْمُغِيرَةَ بْنَ أَبِي الْعَاصِ وَ كَانَ مِمَّنْ هَدَرَ[1] رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص دَمَهُ فَقَالَ لِابْنَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لَا تُخْبِرِي أَبَاكِ بِمَكَانِهِ كَأَنَّهُ لَا يُوقِنُ أَنَّ الْوَح

إِذَا أَعَدَّ الرَّجُلُ كَفَنَهُ فَهُوَ مَأْجُورٌ كُلَّمَا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if a man keeps his shroud ready, because of looking at it, he is entitled to a reward each time he looks at it.”

أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع اشْتَكَى عَيْنَهُ فَعَادَهُ النَّبِيُّ ص فَإِذَا هُوَ يَصِيحُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص أَ جَزَعاً أَمْ وَجَعاً[4] فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا وَجِعْتُ وَجَعاً قَطُّ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ إِنَّ مَلَكَ الْمَوْتِ إِذَا نَزَلَ لِقَبْضِ رُوحِ الْكَافِرِ نَزَلَ مَعَهُ سَفُّودٌ[5] مِنْ نَارٍ فَيَنْزِعُ رُوحَهُ بِهِ فَتَصِيحُ جَهَنَّمُ فَاسْتَوَى عَلِيٌّ ع جَالِساً فَقَالَ يَا رَسُ

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), was suffering from a severe eye illness and the Holy Prophet visited him for this reason. He groaned loudly because of severe pain. The Holy Prophet said, ‘Is it impatience or severe pain?’ He replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have never experienced such a severe pain.’ He said, ‘O Ali, when t

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ مُسْتَرِيحٌ وَ مُسْتَرَاحٌ مِنْهُ أَمَّا الْمُسْتَرِيحُ فَالْعَبْدُ الصَّالِحُ اسْتَرَاحَ مِنْ غَمِّ الدُّنْيَا وَ مَا كَانَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْعِبَادَةِ إِلَى الرَّاحَةِ وَ نَعِيمِ الْآخِرَةِ وَ أَمَّا الْمُسْتَرَاحُ مِنْهُ فَالْفَاجِرُ يَسْتَرِيحُ مِنْهُ الْمَلَكَانِ اللَّذَانِ يَحْفَظَانِ عَلَيْهِ وَ خَادِمُهُ وَ أَهْلُهُ وَ الْأَرْضُ الَّتِي كَانَ يَمْشِي عَلَيْهَا.

11. Through the same chain of narrators, as the above Hadith, it is narrated who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Holy Prophet has said, ‘There is relieved and relieving. The relieved is the believing person who because of death is freed. He is relieved from worldly suffering

إِذَا أَعَدَّ الرَّجُلُ كَفَنَهُ فَهُوَ مَأْجُورٌ كُلَّمَا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if a person keeps his shroud ready, for each time he looks on it he is entitled to one reward.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلَ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا مَاتَ الْمُؤْمِنُ بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ بِقَاعُ الْأَرْضِ الَّتِي كَانَ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهَا وَ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ الَّتِي كَانَ يُصْعَدُ أَعْمَالُهُ فِيهَا وَ ثُلِمَ ثُلْمَةٌ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ‌[2] لَا يَسُدُّهَا شَيْ‌ءٌ لِأَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حُصُونُ الْإِسْلَامِ كَحُصُونِ سُورِ الْمَدِينَةِ لَهَا.

“I heard abu al-Hassan, the first, saying, ‘When a believing person dies, angels, the pieces of land on which he had performed his worship, and the doors of the heavens through which his deeds were raised all weep for him. Because of his death, an irreparable crack appears in Islam; the believing people serve as a fort

إِذَا حَضَرَ الْمَيِّتَ أَرْبَعُونَ رَجُلًا فَقَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا لَا نَعْلَمُ مِنْهُ إِلَّا خَيْراً قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَدْ قَبِلْتُ شَهَادَتَكُمْ وَ غَفَرْتُ لَهُ مَا عَلِمْتُ مِمَّا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if forty people take part in the funeral of a person and say the following: ‘O Allah, we do not know anything about him. All we know is good deeds,’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, will say, ‘I accept your testimony and forgive him for things that he did but you had no

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ عَلَى قَبْرِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ابْنِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص عَذْقٌ يُظِلُّهُ مِنَ الشَّمْسِ‌[3] يَدُورُ حَيْثُ دَارَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَلَمَّا يَبِسَ الْعَذْقُ دَرَسَ الْقَبْرُ فَلَمْ يُعْلَمْ مَكَانُهُ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘On the gravesite of Ibrahim, son of the Messenger of Allah, there was a palm tree that provided shadow and it would turn as the sun moved to provide shadow for the site but when it dried up, the gravesite became old and indistinguishable.’”

كَانَ الْبَرَاءُ بْنُ مَعْرُورٍ التَّمِيمِيُّ الْأَنْصَارِيُ‌[4]- بِالْمَدِينَةِ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِمَكَّةَ وَ إِنَّهُ حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‌ ص وَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ يُصَلُّونَ إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ فَأَوْصَى الْبَرَاءُ إِذَا دُفِنَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ وَجْهَهُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص إِلَى الْقِبْلَةِ[1] فَجَرَتْ بِهِ السُّنَّةُ وَ أَنَّهُ أَوْصَى بِثُلُثِ مَالِهِ فَنَزَلَ بِهِ الْكِتَابُ وَ

“Al-Bara’ ibn Ma‘rur al-Tamimiy al-Ansariy was in al-Madinah and the Messenger of Allah was in Makkah. He died when the Messenger of Allah and Muslims would face Jerusalem during prayer. He said in his will that when he died, the Messenger of Allah should place him facing Qiblah in the grave. This became a Sunnah (trad

جَاءَ جَبْرَئِيلُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ عِشْ مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَ أَحْبِبْ مَنْ شِئْتَ فَإِنَّكَ مُفَارِقُهُ وَ اعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنَّكَ لَاقِيهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Jibril (Gabriel) came to the Holy Prophet and said, ‘O Muhammad, live as you wish, but you will certainly die; love whoever you wish, but you will certainly depart him, and act as you wish but one day you will face your deeds.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع حَدِّثْنِي مَا أَنْتَفِعُ بِهِ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ أَكْثِرْ ذِكْرَ الْمَوْتِ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يُكْثِرْ ذِكْرَهُ إِنْسَانٌ إِلَّا زَهِدَ فِي الدُّنْيَا.

“Once I said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘Please speak to me about things whereby I can benefit.’ He said, ‘O abu ‘Ubaydah, speak of death very often. Whoever speaks of death very often restrains from the worldly matters (sins).”’

مُنَادٍ يُنَادِي فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ ابْنَ آدَمَ لِدْ لِلْمَوْتِ وَ اجْمَعْ لِلْفَنَاءِ وَ ابْنِ لِلْخَرَابِ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘A caller announces the following every day: ‘Children of Adam, give birth for death, accumulate wealth for annihilation and build for destruction.’”

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْوَسْوَاسَ‌[2] فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ اذْكُرْ تَقَطُّعَ أَوْصَالِكَ فِي قَبْرِكَ وَ رُجُوعَ أَحْبَابِكَ عَنْكَ إِذَا دَفَنُوكَ فِي حُفْرَتِكَ وَ خُرُوجَ بَنَاتِ الْمَاءِ[3] مِنْ مَنْخِرَيْكَ وَ أَكْلَ الدُّودِ لَحْمَكَ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ يُسَلِّي عَنْكَ مَا أَنْتَ فِيهِ قَالَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا ذَكَرْتُهُ إِلَّا سَلَّى عَنِّي مَا أَنَا فِيهِ مِنْ هَمِّ الدُّنْيَا.

“Once I complained before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the disturbance of temptation in my mind. He (the Imam) said, ‘O abu Muhammad, speak (think) of your joints coming apart in your grave, and of your relatives abandoning you after your burial, worms coming out from your nose and other worms consuming your flesh; thi

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ يَعْلَمُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ بِقَبْضِ مَنْ يَقْبِضُ قَالَ لَا إِنَّمَا هِيَ صِكَاكٌ‌[4] تَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ اقْبِضْ نَفْسَ فُلَانِ بْنِ فُلَانٍ.

“I said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, does the angel of death know whose soul he has to remove from his body?’ He said, ‘No, he does not know. It is the ascribes who come down from the heavens and say, “Remove the soul of so and so, son of so and so.’””

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِ شَعْرٍ وَ لَا وَبَرٍ إِلَّا وَ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ يَتَصَفَّحُهُمْ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the angel of death examines five times every day the faces of every member of all families regardless of their living in homes built of hairs or fur.”

مَنْ كَانَ مَعَهُ كَفَنُهُ فِي بَيْتِهِ لَمْ يُكْتَبْ مِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ وَ كَانَ مَأْجُوراً كُلَّمَا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that whoever keeps his shroud ready at his home is not considered a neglectful person. He is rewarded whenever he looks at it.”

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ مَلَكِ الْمَوْتِ يُقَالُ الْأَرْضُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ كَالْقَصْعَةِ يَمُدُّ يَدَهُ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ يَشَاءُ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the angel of death saying, ‘Is it true, as it is said that he observes the whole earth like a bowl on his palm and stretches his hand to it as he likes?’ He replied, ‘Yes, that is true.’”

دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع نُعَزِّيهِ بِإِسْمَاعِيلَ فَتَرَحَّمَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ نَعَى إِلَى نَبِيِّهِ ص نَفْسَهُ فَقَالَ‌ إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَ إِنَّهُمْ مَيِّتُونَ‌[1] وَ قَالَ‌ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ‌[2] ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ يُحَدِّثُ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ يَمُوتُ أَهْلُ الْأَرْضِ حَتَّى لَا يَبْقَى أَحَدٌ ثُمَّ يَمُوتُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ حَتَّى لَا يَبْقَى أَحَدٌ إِلَّا مَلَ

“Once we visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), to offer condolences because of the death of Isma‘il. He expressed sympathy toward him and said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, offered condolences to the Holy Prophet for his own death saying, “You die and they all die (39:32),” and “Every soul tests the agony of

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَخْبَرَنِي جَبْرَئِيلُ ع أَنَّ مَلَكاً مِنْ مَلَائِكَةِ اللَّهِ كَانَتْ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَنْزِلَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ فَتُعُتِّبَ عَلَيْهِ‌[2] فَأُهْبِطَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَأَتَى إِدْرِيسَ ع فَقَالَ إِنَّ لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَنْزِلَةً فَاشْفَعْ لِي عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ فَصَلَّى ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ لَا يَفْتُرُ وَ صَامَ أَيَّامَهَا لَا يُفْطِرُ ثُمَّ طَلَبَ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَ

‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Jibril (Gabriel) has informed me that an angel of the angels of Allah had a great position before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, but then this angel was to be disciplined. He was made to descend down to earth. He went to prophet Idris and requested him saying, “You have

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْمَوْتَ الْمَوْتَ أَلَا وَ لَا بُدَّ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ جَاءَ الْمَوْتُ بِمَا فِيهِ جَاءَ بِالرَّوْحِ وَ الرَّاحَةِ وَ الْكَرَّةِ الْمُبَارَكَةِ إِلَى جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ لِأَهْلِ دَارِ الْخُلُودِ الَّذِينَ كَانَ لَهَا سَعْيُهُمْ وَ فِيهَا رَغْبَتُهُمْ وَ جَاءَ الْمَوْتُ بِمَا فِيهِ بِالشِّقْوَةِ وَ النَّدَامَةِ وَ بِالْكَرَّةِ الْخَاسِرَةِ إِلَى نَارٍ حَامِيَةٍ لِأَهْلِ دَارِ الْغُرُورِ[1] الَّذ

27. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Nu‘man from ibn Muskan from Dawud ibn Farqad (abu Yazid) from ibn abu Shaybah al-Dhuhriy who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “(I remind you about) death, (I remind you about) de

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ عَجَبٌ كُلُّ الْعَجَبِ لِمَنْ أَنْكَرَ الْمَوْتَ‌[4] وَ هُوَ يَرَى مَنْ يَمُوتُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ وَ لَيْلَةٍ وَ الْعَجَبُ كُلُّ الْعَجَبِ لِمَنْ أَنْكَرَ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُخْرَى وَ هُوَ يَرَى النَّشْأَةَ الْأُولَى.

‘The case of one who denies death is very odd indeed, while he sees people die every day and night. So also is the case of one who denies the next life while he observers the present life.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا أَبَا صَالِحٍ إِذَا أَنْتَ حَمَلْتَ جَنَازَةً فَكُنْ كَأَنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْمَحْمُولُ وَ كَأَنَّكَ سَأَلْتَ رَبَّكَ الرُّجُوعَ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا فَفَعَلَ فَانْظُرْ مَا ذَا تَسْتَأْنِفُ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ عَجَبٌ لِقَوْمٍ حُبِسَ أَوَّلُهُمْ عَنْ آخِرِهِمْ‌[5] ثُمَ‌ نُودِيَ فِيهِمُ الرَّحِيلُ وَ هُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said to me, ‘O abu Salih, when you help lift up someone’s coffin, consider it to be yourself being carried, as if you asked your Lord to give you a chance for returning back to the worldly life and your plea is granted. Think of how to live the new life. 5 The narrator has said that the Imam the

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ مَا أَنْزَلَ الْمَوْتَ حَقَّ مَنْزِلَتِهِ مَنْ عَدَّ غَداً مِنْ أَجَلِهِ قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مَا أَطَالَ عَبْدٌ الْأَمَلَ إِلَّا أَسَاءَ الْعَمَلَ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ لَوْ رَأَى الْعَبْدُ أَجَلَهُ وَ سُرْعَتَهُ إِلَيْهِ لَأَبْغَضَ الْعَمَلَ مِنْ طَلَبِ الدُّنْيَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘One who counts tomorrow as part of his life, he has not paid proper attention to death.’ The Imam then said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Any servant of Allah who cherishes long-term worldly expectations, he becomes involved in bad deeds.’ ’

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ لَحْظَةِ مَلَكِ الْمَوْتِ قَالَ أَ مَا رَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَكُونُونَ جُلُوساً فَتَعْتَرِيهِمُ السَّكْتَةُ فَمَا يَتَكَلَّمُ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ فَتِلْكَ لَحْظَةُ مَلَكِ الْمَوْتِ حَيْثُ يَلْحَظُهُمْ.

"I asked him [abu Ja‘far (a.s.)], about the moment of the angel of death." The Imam said, "Have you not seen people sitting, then suddenly they are struck with silence? No one of them (in such condition) is able to speak. That is the moment of the angel of death who examines them.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى‌ وَ قِيلَ مَنْ راقٍ‌ وَ ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ الْفِراقُ‌ قَالَ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ ابْنُ آدَمَ إِذَا حَلَّ بِهِ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ هَلْ مِنْ طَبِيبٍ إِنَّهُ الْفِرَاقُ أَيْقَنَ بِمُفَارَقَةِ الْأَحِبَّةِ قَالَ‌ وَ الْتَفَّتِ السَّاقُ بِالسَّاقِ‌ الْتَفَّتِ الدُّنْيَا بِالْآخِرَةِ ثُمَ‌ إِلى‌ رَبِّكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْمَساقُ‌[1] قَالَ الْمَصِيرُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

“I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, ‘And it is said, “Who is able to provide curing charm?”’ (75:28-30) The Imam said, ‘That is a son of Adam who on facing death says, “Is there a physician?” “And he finds it to be the departing,” means that he becomes certain about depar

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ إِنَّما نَعُدُّ لَهُمْ عَدًّا[2] قَالَ مَا هُوَ عِنْدَكَ قُلْتُ عَدَدُ الْأَيَّامِ قَالَ إِنَّ الْآبَاءَ وَ الْأُمَّهَاتِ يُحْصُونَ ذَلِكَ لَا وَ لَكِنَّهُ عَدَدُ الْأَنْفَاسِ.

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘We count for them a strict account’ (19:78). The Imam asked, ‘What do you know about it?’ I replied, ‘It means counting of days.’ The Imam said, ‘No, because parents do such counting. It means counting of exhaling and inhaling of o

الْحَيَاةُ وَ الْمَوْتُ خَلْقَانِ مِنْ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ فَإِذَا جَاءَ الْمَوْتُ فَدَخَلَ فِي الْإِنْسَانِ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ خَرَجَتْ مِنْهُ الْحَيَاةُ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Life and death are two creatures of the creatures of Allah. When death comes then it enters in man. In whatever things death enters, life goes out of that place.’”

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَقُولُ اسْتَأْثَرَ اللَّهُ بِفُلَانٍ‌[2] فَقَالَ ذَا مَكْرُوهٌ فَقِيلَ فُلَانٌ يَجُودُ بِنَفْسِهِ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ أَ مَا تَرَاهُ يَفْتَحُ فَاهُ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةً فَذَلِكَ حِينَ يَجُودُ بِهَا لِمَا يَرَى مِنْ ثَوَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ قَدْ كَانَ بِهَذَا ضَنِيناً[3].

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about an expression about the death of a person, ‘Allah has given preference to so and so.’ The Imam said, ‘It is not desirable.’ Someone then asked about the expression, ‘So and so is ready to give away his soul generously.’ The Imam said, ‘There is no offense in such expression. Is it

إِنَّ قَوْماً فِيمَا مَضَى قَالُوا لِنَبِيٍّ لَهُمْ ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يَرْفَعُ عَنَّا الْمَوْتَ فَدَعَا لَهُمْ فَرَفَعَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمُ الْمَوْتَ فَكَثُرُوا حَتَّى ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَنَازِلُ وَ كَثُرَ النَّسْلُ وَ يُصْبِحُ الرَّجُلُ يُطْعِمُ أَبَاهُ وَ جَدَّهُ وَ أُمَّهُ وَ جَدَّ جَدِّهِ وَ يُوَضِّيهِمْ‌[4] وَ يَتَعَاهَدُهُمْ فَشَغَلُوا عَنْ طَلَبِ الْمَعَاشِ فَقَالُوا سَلْ لَنَا رَبَّكَ أَنْ يَرُدَّنَا إِلَى

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a people in the past had asked their prophet, Tray to your Lord to stop death from ending our lives.’ He prayed and death was stopped from ending their lives. Their number multiplied and it caused congestion to their dwellings and birth rate increased so much so that a man needed t

إِنَّ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ جَاءَ إِلَى قَبْرِ يَحْيَى بْنِ زَكَرِيَّا ع وَ كَانَ سَأَلَ رَبَّهُ أَنْ يُحْيِيَهُ لَهُ فَدَعَاهُ فَأَجَابَهُ وَ خَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْقَبْرِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا تُرِيدُ مِنِّي فَقَالَ لَهُ أُرِيدُ أَنْ تُؤْنِسَنِي كَمَا كُنْتَ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا عِيسَى مَا سَكَنَتْ عَنِّي حَرَارَةُ الْمَوْتِ‌[5] وَ أَنْتَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُعِيدَنِي إِلَى الدُّنْيَا وَ تَعُودَ عَلَيَّ حَرَارَةُ

“Jesus, son of Mary, went to the gravesite of John, son of Zachariah, and he had asked the Lord to bring him back to life for him. He called him and he replied, came out of his grave and asked, ‘What do you want from me?’ He replied, ‘I want you to comfort me as you did before your death.’ He said, ‘O Jesus, the heat o

إِنَّ فِتْيَةً مِنْ أَوْلَادِ مُلُوكِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانُوا مُتَعَبِّدِينَ وَ كَانَتِ الْعِبَادَةُ فِي أَوْلَادِ مُلُوكِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَ إِنَّهُمْ خَرَجُوا يَسِيرُونَ فِي الْبِلَادِ لِيَعْتَبِرُوا فَمَرُّوا بِقَبْرٍ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الطَّرِيقِ قَدْ سَفَى عَلَيْهِ السَّافِي‌[1] لَيْسَ يُبَيَّنُ مِنْهُ إِلَّا رَسْمُهُ فَقَالُوا لَوْ دَعَوْنَا اللَّهَ السَّاعَةَ فَيَنْشُرَ لَنَا صَاحِبَ هَذَا الْقَبْرِ فَسَاءَلْن

‘Certain youth from the children of Israelite kings were devoted worshippers. Worshipping was a practice among the children of the Israelite kings. These youth decided to travel around in the land. They passed by a gravesite above the road. Winds had almost wiped out its marks. They said to each other, “We should pray

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ أَنْ يَفْشُوَ الْفَالِجُ وَ مَوْتُ الْفَجْأَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Holy prophet has said, ‘One of the signs of the coming of the Day of Judgment is the spread of paralysis and sudden death.’”

جَاءَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِلَى الْأَشْعَثِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ يُعَزِّيهِ بِأَخٍ لَهُ يُقَالُ لَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِنْ جَزِعْتَ فَحَقَّ الرَّحِمِ أَتَيْتَ وَ إِنْ صَبَرْتَ فَحَقَّ اللَّهِ أَدَّيْتَ عَلَى أَنَّكَ إِنْ صَبَرْتَ جَرَى عَلَيْكَ الْقَضَاءُ وَ أَنْتَ مَحْمُودٌ وَ إِنْ جَزِعْتَ جَرَى عَلَيْكَ الْقَضَاءُ وَ أَنْتَ مَذْمُومٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْأَشْعَثُ‌ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَ إ

“’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), once visited Ash‘ath ibn Qays to offer condolences for the death of his brother, called, ‘Abd al-Rahman. ’Amir al-Mu’minin told him, ‘If you express grief, you have observed the right of relatives; but if you exercise patience you have observed the right of Allah. If you exercise patience, yo

دَعَا نَبِيٌّ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أُسَلِّطُ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوَّهُمْ فَقَالَ لَا فَقِيلَ لَهُ فَالْجُوعَ فَقَالَ لَا فَقِيلَ‌ لَهُ مَا تُرِيدُ فَقَالَ مَوْتٌ دَفِيقٌ يَحْزُنُ الْقَلْبَ‌[1] وَ يُقِلُّ الْعَدَدَ فَأُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِمُ الطَّاعُونُ.

“’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘A prophet of the prophets prayed against his followers. It was said to him, “I will make their enemy to dominate them.” He said, “No, I do not want this.” It was told to him that hunger would dominate them. He said, “No.” He then was asked, “What do you want?” He replied, “I want f

كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ عِنْدَ الْمُصِيبَةِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَجْعَلْ مُصِيبَتِي فِي دِينِي وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَوْ شَاءَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ مُصِيبَتِي أَعْظَمَ مِمَّا كَانَتْ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى الْأَمْرِ الَّذِي شَاءَ أَنْ يَكُونَ فَكَانَ.

“During an unfortunate occasion abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), would say, ‘I praise Allah who has not caused any suffering in my religion. I praise Allah who could have made my misfortune greater than this if He so wished. I praise Allah for the fact which if He wanted to come into existence, it would come into being.’”

إِنَّ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع انْقَلَعَ ضِرْسٌ مِنْ أَضْرَاسِهِ فَوَضَعَهُ فِي كَفِّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ- الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا جَعْفَرُ إِذَا أَنَا مِتُّ وَ دَفَنْتَنِي فَادْفِنْهُ مَعِي ثُمَّ مَكَثَ بَعْدَ حِينٍ ثُمَّ انْقَلَعَ أَيْضاً آخَرُ فَوَضَعَهُ عَلَى كَفِّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ يَا جَعْفَرُ إِذَا مِتُّ فَادْفِنْهُ مَعِي.

43. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nadr ibn al-Suwayd, from al-Qasim ibn Sulayman from ‘Abd al-Hamid ibn abu Ja‘far al-Farra’ who has said the following: “Once, one of the teeth of abu Ja‘far (a.s.), came off. He placed it on his palm and then said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah.’ Then he said, ‘O

إِنَّ الْمَوْتَ الَّذِي تَفِرُّونَ مِنْهُ‌ فَإِنَّهُ مُلاقِيكُمْ‌ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ‌ تَعْمَلُونَ‌[2] قَالَ تَعُدُّ السِّنِينَ ثُمَّ تَعُدُّ الشُّهُورَ ثُمَّ تَعُدُّ الْأَيَّامَ ثُمَّ تَعُدُّ السَّاعَاتِ ثُمَّ تَعُدُّ النَّفَسَ‌ فَإِذا جاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ ساعَةً وَ لا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ‌[3].

44. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Bakr ibn Muhammad al-Azdiy who has said the following: “This is about the words of Allah, ‘Death from which you run away will take your life and then you will be returned to the One who knows the unseen and seen. He, then will inform you of what you have done.’ (62:

سَمِعَ النَّبِيُّ ص امْرَأَةً حِينَ مَاتَ- عُثْمَانُ بْنُ مَظْعُونٍ وَ هِيَ تَقُولُ هَنِيئاً لَكَ يَا أَبَا السَّائِبِ الْجَنَّةُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ مَا عِلْمُكِ حَسْبُكِ أَنْ تَقُولِي كَانَ يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ رَسُولَهُ فَلَمَّا مَاتَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ‌[4] ابْنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص هَمَلَتْ‌[5] عَيْنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص بِالدُّمُوعِ ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص تَدْمَعُ الْعَيْنُ وَ يَحْزَنُ الْقَلْبُ وَ لَا

The Prophet (sw) heard a woman when 'Uthman ibn Maz'un died, saying, "Congratulations to you, O Abu al-Sa'ib, for the Paradise." The Prophet (sw) said, "How do you know? It is enough for you to say: He loved Allah, the Almighty, and His Messenger." When Ibrahim, the son of the Messenger of Allah (sw), passed away, the

كَتَبَ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع‌[2] رَجُلٌ يَشْكُو إِلَيْهِ مُصَابَهُ بِوَلَدٍ لَهُ وَ شِدَّةَ مَا يَدْخُلُهُ فَقَالَ وَ كَتَبَ ع إِلَيْهِ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَخْتَارُ مِنْ مَالِ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ أَنْفَسَهُ لِيَأْجُرَهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ.

46. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Mahziyar who has said the following: “Once a man wrote to abu Ja’far (a.s.), and complained before him about his suffering the death of his son. He then has said that the Imam wrote back to him saying, ’You should be aware of the fact that Allah,