اصْنَعِ الْمَعْرُوفَ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَهْلُهُ وَ إِلَى مَنْ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ هُوَ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ فَكُنْ أَنْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ[1].
“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you should provide Benevolent Assistance to those who deserve and to those who (in reality) are un-deserving; if the recipient does not deserve it, you are considered a provider of Benevolent Assistance.”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِعَمَّارٍ يَا عَمَّارُ أَنْتَ رَبُّ مَالٍ كَثِيرٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ فَتُؤَدِّي مَا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَتُخْرِجُ الْمَعْلُومَ مِنْ مَالِكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَتَصِلُ قَرَابَتَكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَتَصِلُ إِخْوَانَكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ يَا عَمَّارُ إِنَّ الْمَالَ يَفْنَى وَ الْبَدَنَ يَبْلَى وَ الْعَمَلَ يَبْقَى وَ الدَّيَّ
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to ‘Ammar, ‘O ‘Ammar, are you the owner of a great wealth?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause.’ The Imam then asked, ‘Do you pay all of the zakat Allah has made compulsory upon you to pay?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I do so.’ The Imam then asked, ‘Do y
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ أَوْصَلَ إِلَى أَخِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ مَعْرُوفاً فَقَدْ أَوْصَلَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص.
‘Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a believing person maintains good relations with his brother in belief, he is considered as maintaining such relations with the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause.’”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع اصْنَعُوا الْمَعْرُوفَ إِلَى كُلِّ أَحَدٍ فَإِنْ كَانَ أَهْلَهُ وَ إِلَّا فَأَنْتَ أَهْلُهُ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Provide Benevolent Assistance to everyone; if the recipient is not deserving, you are a deserving provider.” (This and Hadith 6 above are considered to apply when the provider has no knowledge of the condition of the recipient. Thus, what will come later does not contradict.)
إِنَّ أَعْرَابِيّاً مِنْ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ص فَقَالَ أَوْصِنِي فَكَانَ فِيمَا أَوْصَاهُ بِهِ أَنْ قَالَ يَا فُلَانُ لَا تَزْهَدَنَّ فِي الْمَعْرُوفِ عِنْدَ أَهْلِهِ.
“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Once an Arab man from the tribe of banu al-Tamim came to see the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and said, ‘Please grant me good advice.’ The good advice the Holy Prophet provided was this, ‘O so and so, do not w
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَوَّلُ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ الْمَعْرُوفُ وَ أَهْلُهُ وَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ يَرِدُ عَلَيَّ الْحَوْضَ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘The first ones entering Paradise are those who actuate Benevolent Assistance and come to me at the pond in Paradise.’”
أَجِيزُوا لِأَهْلِ الْمَعْرُوفِ عَثَرَاتِهِمْ[1] وَ اغْفِرُوهَا لَهُمْ فَإِنَّ كَفَّ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِمْ هَكَذَا وَ أَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ كَأَنَّهُ يُظِلُّ بِهَا شَيْئاً.
“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must consider slips possible by providers of Benevolent Assistance and forgive them for such slips; Allah’s protection for them is like this;’ using his hand as shielding something, the Imam explained.”
كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ يَقُولُ مَنْ صَنَعَ بِمِثْلِ مَا صُنِعَ إِلَيْهِ فَإِنَّمَا كَافَأَهُ وَ مَنْ أَضْعَفَهُ كَانَ شَكُوراً وَ مَنْ شَكَرَ كَانَ كَرِيماً وَ مَنْ عَلِمَ أَنَّ مَا صَنَعَ إِنَّمَا صَنَعَ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ لَمْ يَسْتَبْطِ النَّاسَ فِي شُكْرِهِمْ[3] وَ لَمْ يَسْتَزِدْهُمْ فِي مَوَدَّتِهِمْ فَلَا تَلْتَمِسْ مِنْ غَيْرِكَ شُكْرَ مَا أَتَيْتَ إِلَى نَفْسِكَ وَ وَقَيْتَ بِه
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would say, ‘One who does a favor for someone just as it is done for him has only returned a favor. One who does twice as much favor is an appreciating person, and an appreciating person is a gracious one. One who knows that the favor he has done is for his
صَنَائِعُ الْمَعْرُوفِ تَقِي مَصَارِعَ السُّوءِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah, has narrated this Hadith from his ancestors, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, ‘Providing, Benevolent Assistance protects one against wicked encounters.’”
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّ الْبَرَكَةَ أَسْرَعُ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي يُمْتَارُ مِنْهُ الْمَعْرُوفُ مِنَ الشَّفْرَةِ فِي سَنَامِ الْبَعِيرِ[1] أَوْ مِنَ السَّيْلِ إِلَى مُنْتَهَاهُ.
‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Blessings cut through obstacles faster than a knife’s cutting through the hump of a camel or a flood’s moving toward its destination, to reach the house from which Benevolent Assistance is
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ إِنَّ صَنَائِعَ الْمَعْرُوفِ تَدْفَعُ مَصَارِعَ السُّوءِ.
“I heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), say, ‘Providing Benevolent Assistance repels wicked encounters.’”
قَالَ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فِدَاكَ آبَاؤُنَا وَ أُمَّهَاتُنَا إِنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْمَعْرُوفِ فِي الدُّنْيَا عُرِفُوا بِمَعْرُوفِهِمْ فَبِمَ يُعْرَفُونَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِذَا أَدْخَلَ أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ الْجَنَّةَ أَمَرَ رِيحاً عَبِقَةً طَيِّبَةً[2] فَلَزِقَتْ بِأَهْلِ الْمَعْرُوفِ فَلَا يَمُرُّ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ بِمَلَإٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ إِلَّا وَ
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has narrated this Hadith. ‘Once, companions of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, asked a question. “O Messenger of Allah, we pray to Allah to keep our souls and the souls of ancestors in service for your cause;
أَهْلُ الْمَعْرُوفِ فِي الدُّنْيَا هُمْ أَهْلُ الْمَعْرُوفِ فِي الْآخِرَةِ يُقَالُ لَهُمْ إِنَّ ذُنُوبَكُمْ قَدْ غُفِرَتْ لَكُمْ فَهِبُوا حَسَنَاتِكُمْ لِمَنْ شِئْتُمْ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that providers of Benevolent Assistance will be as such on the Day of Judgment also. They will receive the news, ‘Your sins are all forgiven. You may give away your good deeds as gifts to whomever you like.”’
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَهْلُ الْمَعْرُوفِ فِي الدُّنْيَا هُمْ أَهْلُ الْمَعْرُوفِ فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَ أَهْلُ الْمُنْكَرِ فِي الدُّنْيَا هُمْ أَهْلُ الْمُنْكَرِ فِي الْآخِرَةِ.
“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “Providers of Benevolent Assistance will be as such on the Day of Judgment also. People of wickedness will be as such on the Day of Judgment as well.’””
إِنَّ لِلْجَنَّةِ بَاباً يُقَالُ لَهُ الْمَعْرُوفُ لَا يَدْخُلُهُ إِلَّا أَهْلُ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَ أَهْلُ الْمَعْرُوفِ فِي الدُّنْيَا هُمْ أَهْلُ الْمَعْرُوفِ فِي الْآخِرَةِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that in paradise there is a gate called the Gate of Benevolent Assistance. No one can enter through this gate except providers of Benevolent Assistance. Providers of Benevolent Assistance will also be as such on the Day of Judgment.”
رَأَيْتُ الْمَعْرُوفَ لَا يَصْلُحُ إِلَّا بِثَلَاثِ خِصَالٍ تَصْغِيرِهِ وَ تَسْتِيرِهِ وَ تَعْجِيلِهِ فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا صَغَّرْتَهُ عَظَّمْتَهُ عِنْدَ مَنْ تَصْنَعُهُ إِلَيْهِ وَ إِذَا سَتَّرْتَهُ تَمَّمْتَهُ وَ إِذَا عَجَّلْتَهُ هَنَّأْتَهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ سَخَّفْتَهُ وَ نَكَّدْتَهُ.
“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a complete Benevolent Assistance materializes only when the provider considers it insignificant and provides it out of public sight without delay. When you consider it insignificant, it then seems great to the recipient; providing it out of public sight completes it, and without d
سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ ثَمَرَةٌ وَ ثَمَرَةُ الْمَعْرُوفِ تَعْجِيلُ السَّرَاحِ[1].
“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.), say, ’Everything has a fruit. The fruit of Benevolent Assistance is its quick release.”’
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ يَا مُفَضَّلُ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَعْلَمَ أَ شَقِيٌّ الرَّجُلُ أَمْ سَعِيدٌ فَانْظُرْ سَيْبَهُ[2] وَ مَعْرُوفَهُ إِلَى مَنْ يَصْنَعُهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ يَصْنَعُهُ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَهْلُهُ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ إِلَى خَيْرٍ وَ إِنْ كَانَ يَصْنَعُهُ إِلَى غَيْرِ أَهْلِهِ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ[1].
“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to Mufaddal ibn ’Umar, ’O Mufaddal, if you want to know whether a man is the most wicked or most fortunate, find out to whom he provides Benevolent Assistance. If he finds a properly deserving recipient, it is information for you that good consequences await him; if he provides Benevo
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا مُفَضَّلُ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَعْلَمَ إِلَى خَيْرٍ يَصِيرُ الرَّجُلُ أَمْ إِلَى شَرٍّ انْظُرْ أَيْنَ يَضَعُ مَعْرُوفَهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ يَضَعُ مَعْرُوفَهُ عِنْدَ أَهْلِهِ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ يَصِيرُ إِلَى خَيْرٍ وَ إِنْ كَانَ يَضَعُ مَعْرُوفَهُ عِنْدَ غَيْرِ أَهْلِهِ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلاقٍ[2]*.
“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘O Mufaddal, if you want to know whether a man ends up as good or wicked, consider where he places his Benevolent Assistance. If he provides such assistance for a properly deserving recipient, he is headed toward a good direction; if he provides it for an undeserving recipient,
أَتَى أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ رَهْطٌ مِنَ الشِّيعَةِ فَقَالُوا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَوْ أَخْرَجْتَ هَذِهِ الْأَمْوَالَ فَفَرَّقْتَهَا فِي هَؤُلَاءِ الرُّؤَسَاءِ وَ الْأَشْرَافِ وَ فَضَّلْتَهُمْ عَلَيْنَا حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَوْسَقَتِ الْأُمُورُ[4] عُدْتَ إِلَى أَفْضَلِ مَا عَوَّدَكَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْقَسْمِ بِالسَّوِيَّةِ وَ الْعَدْلِ فِي الرَّعِيَّةِ فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَ تَ
“Once a group of Shi`a people came to ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), with the following request: ‘O ’Amir al-Mu’minin, we request you to distribute the wealth at your disposal (public treasury) among the chiefs and elite people. In so doing, they will receive preference, which will strengthen your affairs. Thereafter, you c
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ لَوْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ أَخَذُوا مَا أَمَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ فَأَنْفَقُوهُ فِيمَا نَهَاهُمُ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ مَا قَبِلَهُ مِنْهُمْ وَ لَوْ أَخَذُوا مَا نَهَاهُمُ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَأَنْفَقُوهُ فِيمَا أَمَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِهِ مَا قَبِلَهُ مِنْهُمْ حَتَّى يَأْخُذُوهُ مِنْ حَقٍّ وَ يُنْفِقُوهُ فِي حَقٍّ.
“I heard Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘If people achieve what Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has commanded them to achieve, but spend where Allah has prohibited such spending, it is not accepted. If people achieve what Allah has prohibited and spend on matters that Allah has commanded them to spend on, thi
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّمَا أَعْطَاكُمُ اللَّهُ هَذِهِ الْفُضُولَ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ لِتُوَجِّهُوهَا حَيْثُ وَجَّهَهَا اللَّهُ وَ لَمْ يُعْطِكُمُوهَا لِتَكْنِزُوهَا.
“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Allah has granted you the extra wealth so that you spend it the way Allah wants you to spend. He has not given you this to keep for safe keeping.’”
لَا تَدْخُلْ لِأَخِيكَ فِي أَمْرٍ مَضَرَّتُهُ عَلَيْكَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ مَنْفَعَتِهِ لَهُ قَالَ ابْنُ سِنَانٍ يَكُونُ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ دَيْنٌ كَثِيرٌ وَ لَكَ مَالٌ فَتُؤَدِّي عَنْهُ فَيَذْهَبُ مَالُكَ وَ لَا تَكُونُ قَضَيْتَ عَنْهُ.
“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you must not involve yourself in the affairs of your brother (in belief) where the harm of the involvement to you is greater than the benefit for him.” Ibn Sinan has said, ‘This can happen when a man is indebted heavenly and you pay all of your belongings to pay his debt, but his
يَقُولُ لَا تَبْذُلْ لِإِخْوَانِكَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ مَا ضَرُّهُ عَلَيْكَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ مَنْفَعَتِهِ لَهُمْ
“Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not provide the kind of Benevolent Assistance to your brothers (in belief), which is more harmful to you than its being beneficial to him.”
لَا تُوجِبْ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ الْحُقُوقَ وَ اصْبِرْ عَلَى النَّوَائِبِ وَ لَا تَدْخُلْ فِي شَيْءٍ مَضَرَّتُهُ عَلَيْكَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ مَنْفَعَتِهِ لِأَخِيكَ.
‘You must not obligate your soul for others’ rights; you must exercise patience in difficulties; and you must not involve yourself in an affair where its harm to you is greater than its benefit for your brother (in belief).”
قَالَ: لَعَنَ اللَّهُ قَاطِعِي سُبُلِ الْمَعْرُوفِ قِيلَ وَ مَا قَاطِعُو سُبُلِ الْمَعْرُوفِ قَالَ الرَّجُلُ يُصْنَعُ إِلَيْهِ الْمَعْرُوفُ فَيَكْفُرُهُ فَيَمْتَنِعُ صَاحِبُهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَصْنَعَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ.
“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah has condemned those who block the path to Benevolent Assistance, and it then was asked, ’Who are such people?’ The Imam replied, ’They are those who receive Benevolent Assistance but refuse to appreciate and thus stop the provider of Benevolent Assistance from providing such
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا أَقَلَّ مَنْ شَكَرَ الْمَعْرُوفَ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘How few are those who appreciate Benevolent Assistance!”’
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ أُتِيَ إِلَيْهِ مَعْرُوفٌ فَلْيُكَافِئْ بِهِ فَإِنْ عَجَزَ فَلْيُثْنِ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ النِّعْمَةَ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘A recipient of Benevolent Assistance should compensate (the provider) for it. If he cannot do so, he should praise him at least; otherwise, he has refus
مَكْتُوبٌ عَلَى بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ الصَّدَقَةُ بِعَشَرَةٍ وَ الْقَرْضُ بِثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ[1] وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى بِخَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ.
“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘There is a writing on the door of Paradise that says: ‘Charity for ten “rewards” and loan for eighteen “rewards.”’ In another Hadith it is said, ‘Loan for fifteen “rewards.””
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ أَقْرَضَ مُؤْمِناً يَلْتَمِسُ بِهِ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا حَسَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَجْرَهُ بِحِسَابِ الصَّدَقَةِ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَيْهِ مَالُهُ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘For every believing person who provides a loan for another believing person, for the sake of Allah, Allah counts its reward as that of giving charity until the time the loan is paid back.’”
يَعْنِي بِالْمَعْرُوفِ الْقَرْضَ.
“This is about the words of Allah, ‘There is not much good in many of their secret talks except that which commands to give charity or Benevolent Assistance.’ (4:114) Abu ‘Abd Allah, has said, “Benevolent Assistance is a reference to providing loans for needy people.’””
دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَ الْمُعَلَّى وَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَمَّا رَآنَا قَالَ مَرْحَباً مَرْحَباً بِكُمْ وُجُوهٌ تُحِبُّنَا وَ نُحِبُّهَا جَعَلَكُمُ اللَّهُ مَعَنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُثْمَانُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع نَعَمْ مَهْ[2] قَالَ إِنِّي رَجُلٌ مُوسِرٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فِي يَسَارِكَ قَالَ وَ يَجِيءُ الرَّجُلُ
“I went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). Two other people, al-Mu‘alla’ and ‘Uthman ibn ‘Umar, also were present with me. On seeing us, he welcomed us and offered greetings of peace, saying, ‘I welcome the faces that love us and we love them. May Allah keep you with us in this world and in the next life.’ Uthman then sai
قَرْضُ الْمُؤْمِنِ غَنِيمَةٌ وَ تَعْجِيلُ خَيْرٍ إِنْ أَيْسَرَ أَدَّاهُ وَ إِنْ مَاتَ احْتُسِبَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that providing a loan for a believing person is an (important) gain and a good deed if done quickly. If he becomes financially capable, he repays, but if he dies, the provider of loan can count it as payment for zakat.”
مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُظِلَّهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلُّهُ قَالَهَا ثَلَاثاً فَهَابَهُ النَّاسُ أَنْ يَسْأَلُوهُ فَقَالَ فَلْيُنْظِرْ مُعْسِراً أَوْ لِيَدَعْ لَهُ مِنْ حَقِّهِ.
“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), once, spoke to us and repeated the following phrase three times. ‘If one wishes that Allah provide him shadow on the Day when there will be no shadow except His shadow,’ and no one had the courage to ask him to explain, he (Imam) then said, ‘He should extend the due date of repayment of a loan
إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ فِي يَوْمٍ حَارٍّ وَ حَنَّى كَفَّهُ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَسْتَظِلَّ مِنْ فَوْرِ جَهَنَّمَ[2] قَالَهَا ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ فِي كُلِّ مَرَّةٍ نَحْنُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ مَنْ أَنْظَرَ غَرِيماً أَوْ تَرَكَ الْمُعْسِرَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ لِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ إِنَّ أَبِي أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ لَزِمَ غَرِيماً لَهُ فِي الْمَسْجِ
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, bending his palm on a hot day, said, ‘Who wants to provide a shadow for himself against the heat of the blaze of hell fire?’ He repeated the sentence three times,
خَلُّوا سَبِيلَ الْمُعْسِرِ كَمَا خَلَّاهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you must leave alone a borrower who has difficulty repaying a loan, just as Allah does (extend the due time for payment of loan if the borrower has difficulty repaying. . . ” (see (2:280)).
صَعِدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْمِنْبَرَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى أَنْبِيَائِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ لِيُبَلِّغِ الشَّاهِدُ مِنْكُمُ الْغَائِبَ أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَنْظَرَ مُعْسِراً كَانَ لَهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ صَدَقَةٌ بِمِثْلِ مَالِهِ حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- وَ إِنْ كانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَ
4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Yahya ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Hassan ibn al-Hassan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that one day the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ لِعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَيَابَةَ دَيْناً عَلَى رَجُلٍ قَدْ مَاتَ وَ قَدْ كَلَّمْنَاهُ أَنْ يُحَلِّلَهُ فَأَبَى فَقَالَ وَيْحَهُ أَ مَا يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ لَهُ بِكُلِّ دِرْهَمٍ عَشَرَةً إِذَا حَلَّلَهُ فَإِذَا لَمْ يُحَلِّلْهُ فَإِنَّمَا لَهُ دِرْهَمٌ بَدَلَ دِرْهَمٍ.
“Once I said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘A man who died had borrowed (money) from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Sayabah, whom we asked to waive the loan in favor of the dead person, but he refused. He (the Imam) said, “Woe is upon him! Why does he not realize that for every dirham, he can receive the reward for ten dirhams, were h
دَخَلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ الْوَشَّاءُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَسْأَلُهُ أَنْ يُكَلِّمَ شِهَاباً أَنْ يُخَفِّفَ عَنْهُ حَتَّى يَنْقَضِيَ الْمَوْسِمُ وَ كَانَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ أَلْفُ دِينَارٍ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ فَأَتَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَدْ عَرَفْتَ حَالَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ انْقِطَاعَهُ إِلَيْنَا[1] وَ قَدْ ذَكَرَ أَنَّ لَكَ عَلَيْهِ أَلْفَ دِينَارٍ لَمْ تَذْهَبْ فِي بَطْنٍ وَ لَا فَرْجٍ وَ إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَتْ دَيْناً عَل
“Once Muhammad ibn Bishr al-Washsha’ came to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asking the Imam to speak to Shihab to relieve him of repayment of a loan until the end of the time for Hajj. He owed him one thousand dinars. The Imam sent someone to call him. He (Shihab) came and the Imam said to him, ‘As you know Muhammad’s co
مَنْ عَظُمَتْ نِعْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اشْتَدَّتْ مَئُونَةُ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ فَاسْتَدِيمُوا النِّعْمَةَ بِاحْتِمَالِ الْمَئُونَةِ وَ لَا تُعَرِّضُوهَا لِلزَّوَالِ فَقَلَّ مَنْ زَالَتْ عَنْهُ النِّعْمَةُ فَكَادَتْ أَنْ تَعُودَ إِلَيْهِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when one’s realization of the bounties of Allah becomes intense, it increases his spending for people. You should continue preserving bounties by means of bearing the cost of maintenance. Do not expose bounties to losses. Once bounties are lost, very rarely do they return.”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ تَظَاهَرَتْ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ نِعْمَةٌ إِلَّا اشْتَدَّتْ مَئُونَةُ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَقُمْ لِلنَّاسِ بِحَوَائِجِهِمْ فَقَدْ عَرَضَ النِّعْمَةَ لِلزَّوَالِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَنْ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَقُومَ لِهَذَا الْخَلْقِ بِحَوَائِجِهِمْ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا النَّاسُ فِي هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ وَ اللَّهِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever finds himself with an abundance of Allah’s bounties, increases his spending for people. One who does not help people exposes the bounties to losses.’ I (the narrator) said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause. Who can spend to help all these creatures?’
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِحُسَيْنٍ الصَّحَّافِ يَا حُسَيْنُ مَا ظَاهَرَ اللَّهُ عَلَى عَبْدٍ النِّعَمَ حَتَّى ظَاهَرَ عَلَيْهِ مَئُونَةَ النَّاسِ فَمَنْ صَبَرَ لَهُمْ وَ قَامَ بِشَأْنِهِمْ زَادَهُ اللَّهُ فِي نِعَمِهِ عَلَيْهِ عِنْدَهُمْ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَصْبِرْ لَهُمْ وَ لَمْ يَقُمْ بِشَأْنِهِمْ أَزَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَنْهُ تِلْكَ النِّعْمَةَ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to Husayn al-Sahhaf, ‘O Husayn, whenever Allah grants abundant bounties to a person, his spending for people also increases. If one remains patient for spending on people, Allah increases the bounties for him before people. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, removes the bount
مَنْ عَظُمَتْ عَلَيْهِ النِّعْمَةُ اشْتَدَّتْ مَئُونَةُ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنْ هُوَ قَامَ بِمَئُونَتِهِمْ اجْتَلَبَ زِيَادَةَ النِّعْمَةِ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَقَدْ عَرَضَ النِّعْمَةَ لِزَوَالِهَا.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that one who finds himself with abundant bounties, he increases his spending to help people also. If he continues spending for them, the bounties increase by the will of Allah, but if he does not, he exposes the bounties to loss.’”
قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع يَا ابْنَ عَرَفَةَ إِنَّ النِّعَمَ كَالْإِبِلِ الْمُعْتَقَلَةِ فِي عَطَنِهَا[1] عَلَى الْقَوْمِ مَا أَحْسَنُوا جِوَارَهَا فَإِذَا أَسَاءُوا مُعَامَلَتَهَا وَ إِنَالَتَهَا نَفَرَتْ عَنْهُمْ.
“Abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), has said, ‘O ibn ‘Arafah, bounties are like guarded camels around drinking water. It is up to people to maintain good relations with the camel. If they fail to keep the good relations, the camel runs away from them.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ أَحْسِنُوا جِوَارَ النِّعَمِ قُلْتُ وَ مَا حُسْنُ جِوَارِ النِّعَمِ قَالَ الشُّكْرُ لِمَنْ أَنْعَمَ بِهَا وَ أَدَاءُ حُقُوقِهَا.
‘Keep good neighborly relations with bounties/ I then asked, ‘How is that done?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Thank the One who has granted bounties and pay the rights due on the bounties/”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ أَحْسِنُوا جِوَارَ نِعَمِ اللَّهِ وَ احْذَرُوا أَنْ تَنْتَقِلَ عَنْكُمْ إِلَى غَيْرِكُمْ أَمَا إِنَّهَا لَمْ تَنْتَقِلْ عَنْ أَحَدٍ قَطُّ فَكَادَتْ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ وَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَقُولُ قَلَّ مَا أَدْبَرَ شَيْءٌ فَأَقْبَلَ.
“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘You should keep good neighborly relations with the bounties of Allah, and guard them being transferred from you to others; if bounties transfer away from a person, they very rarely return. Ali (a.s.), would say, “It is very rare for something to come forward once it goes away.’””
سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلَ ع وَ هُوَ فِي الطَّوَافِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْجَوَادِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِكَلَامِكَ وَجْهَيْنِ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَسْأَلُ عَنِ الْمَخْلُوقِ فَإِنَّ الْجَوَادَ الَّذِي يُؤَدِّي مَا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَسْأَلُ عَنِ الْخَالِقِ فَهُوَ الْجَوَادُ إِنْ أَعْطَى وَ هُوَ الْجَوَادُ إِنْ مَنَعَ لِأَنَّهُ إِنْ أَعْطَاكَ أَعْطَاكَ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ وَ إِنْ مَنَعَ
“A man once asked abu al-Hassan, the 1st (a.s.), when he was performing Tawaf (walking seven times around the Ka‘bah), ‘Tell me about generosity.’ The Imam replied, ‘Your question has two sides. If you are asking about a generous creature, the answer is that a generous creature is one who pays what Allah has made oblig
قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا حَدُّ السَّخَاءِ فَقَالَ تُخْرِجُ مِنْ مَالِكَ الْحَقَّ الَّذِي أَوْجَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ فَتَضَعُهُ فِي مَوْضِعِهِ.
“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘What is the limit of generosity?’ The Imam replied, ‘It is to pay what Allah has made obligatory on you to pay to properly deserving recipients.’”
السَّخِيُّ مُحَبَّبٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ مُحَبَّبٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خُلِقَ مِنْ طِينَةٍ عَذْبَةٍ وَ خُلِقَ مَاءُ عَيْنَيْهِ مِنْ مَاءِ الْكَوْثَرِ وَ الْبَخِيلُ مُبَغَّضٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ مُبَغَّضٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خُلِقَ مِنْ طِينَةٍ سَبِخَةٍ وَ خُلِقَ مَاءُ عَيْنَيْهِ مِنْ مَاءِ الْعَوْسَجِ[1].
“Ja’far (a.s.), from his ancestors, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘A generous person is beloved in the heavens and on earth. Such persons are created from sweet clay. The water of the eyes
السَّخِيُّ الْحَسَنُ الْخُلُقِ فِي كَنَفِ اللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَخْلِي اللَّهُ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَ مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ نَبِيّاً وَ لَا وَصِيّاً إِلَّا سَخِيّاً وَ مَا كَانَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ إِلَّا سَخِيّاً وَ مَا زَالَ أَبِي يُوصِينِي بِالسَّخَاءِ حَتَّى مَضَى وَ قَالَ مَنْ أَخْرَجَ مِنْ مَالِهِ الزَّكَاةَ تَامَّةً فَوَضَعَهَا فِي مَوْضِعِهَا لَمْ يُسْأَلْ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبْتَ
“Abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.), has said, ‘A generous person who possesses good moral discipline is under Allah’s protection and Allah does not leave such a person alone until He admits him to Paradise. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has never sent a prophet or an executor of the will of the prophets who is n