Amending one’s Properties and Planning for one’s Living

إِنَّ فِي حِكْمَةِ آلِ دَاوُدَ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ الْعَاقِلِ أَنْ لَا يُرَى ظَاعِناً[1] إِلَّا فِي ثَلَاثٍ مَرَمَّةٍ لِمَعَاشٍ أَوْ تَزَوُّدٍ لِمَعَادٍ أَوْ لَذَّةٍ فِي غَيْرِ ذَاتِ مُحَرَّمٍ وَ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ الْعَاقِلِ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ سَاعَةٌ يُفْضِي بِهَا إِلَى عَمَلِهِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ سَاعَةٌ يُلَاقِي إِخْوَانَهُ الَّذِينَ يُفَاوِضُهُمْ وَ يُفَاوِضُونَهُ فِي أَمْر

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is in the wisdom of Ale (family) Dawud that a reasonable Muslim should not travel unless it is for three kinds of tasks: amending one’s means of living, supplies for the hereafter or enjoyment with lawful matters. A reasonable Muslim should assign certain hours of his time to work

الْكَمَالُ كُلُّ الْكَمَالِ فِي ثَلَاثَةٍ وَ ذَكَرَ فِي الثَّلَاثَةِ التَّقْدِيرَ فِي الْمَعِيشَةِ[3].

2. Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Rib’iy from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘All of perfection is in three things.’ He mentioned in the third of the three things to be planning for one’s living.”

إِصْلَاحُ الْمَالِ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Tha’labah and others from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Keeping one’s wealth in a proper shape is part of belief.’”

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَكِيلُ تَمْراً بِيَدِهِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَوْ أَمَرْتَ بَعْضَ وُلْدِكَ أَوْ بَعْضَ مَوَالِيكَ فَيَكْفِيَكَ فَقَالَ يَا دَاوُدُ إِنَّهُ لَا يُصْلِحُ الْمَرْءَ الْمُسْلِمَ إِلَّا ثَلَاثَةٌ التَّفَقُّهُ فِي الدِّينِ وَ الصَّبْرُ عَلَى النَّائِبَةِ وَ حُسْنُ التَّقْدِيرِ فِي الْمَعِيشَةِ[4].

“I saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), measure dates with his own hands; and I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I wish you would have ordered certain persons of your servants or sons to help you.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O Dawud, a Muslim cannot achieve a proper condition without three things: prop

إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِأَهْلِ بَيْتٍ خَيْراً رَزَقَهُمُ الرِّفْقَ فِي الْمَعِيشَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, wills good for a family He grants them ease in their living conditions.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ عَلَيْكَ بِإِصْلَاحِ الْمَالِ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ مَنْبَهَةً لِلْكَرِيمِ‌[1] وَ اسْتِغْنَاءً عَنِ اللَّئِيمِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must manage your wealth properly; it increases respect for you and freedom of want from envious ones.’”