The Book of Commerce

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ قَدْ نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ أَنَّهُ لَنْ تَمُوتَ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَوْفِيَ رِزْقَهَا وَ إِنْ أَبْطَأَ عَلَيْهَا فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ وَ لَا يَحْمِلَنَّكُمُ اسْتِبْطَاءُ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِمَّا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ تُصِيبُوهُ بِمَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَا يُنَالُ مَا عِنْدَهُ إِلَّ

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘O people, the trustworthy spirit has inspired my understanding that a soul never dies until it completes (depleting of) its sustenance even if it takes place with a certain degree of delays

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَوْ كَانَ الْعَبْدُ فِي حَجَرٍ لَأَتَاهُ اللَّهُ بِرِزْقِهِ فَأَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Even if a servant lives in a hole, Allah has his sustenance for him. Thus you must seek your sustenance meticulously.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ وَ خَلَقَ مَعَهُمْ أَرْزَاقَهُمْ حَلَالًا طَيِّباً فَمَنْ تَنَاوَلَ شَيْئاً مِنْهَا حَرَاماً قُصَّ بِهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْحَلَالِ.

Allah, the most Majestic and Glorious, has created the creatures and with them He has created their sustenance of the lawful and beautiful kind. If anyone achieves a certain amount of unlawful sustenance, then it is deducted from his lawful sustenance.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ كَمْ مِنْ مُتْعِبٍ نَفْسَهُ مُقْتَرٍ عَلَيْهِ وَ مُقْتَصِدٍ فِي الطَّلَبِ قَدْ سَاعَدَتْهُ الْمَقَادِيرُ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘There is many a soul who tires itself (by work) and lives stringently. On the other hand there are those who moderately seek their sustenance; and measures favorably assist them/”

ذُكِرَ عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع غَلَاءُ السِّعْرِ فَقَالَ وَ مَا عَلَيَّ مِنْ غَلَائِهِ إِنْ غَلَا فَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ رَخُصَ فَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ.

“The condition of very high prices was mentioned before Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.). He (the Imam) said, ‘Very high prices do not affect me; it is only against Him. If it becomes very high, it is against Him, and if it becomes very low, it is against Him.’”

لِيَكُنْ طَلَبُكَ لِلْمَعِيشَةِ فَوْقَ كَسْبِ الْمُضَيِّعِ وَ دُونَ طَلَبِ الْحَرِيصِ الرَّاضِي بِدُنْيَاهُ الْمُطْمَئِنِّ إِلَيْهَا وَ لَكِنْ أَنْزِلْ نَفْسَكَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْمُنْصِفِ الْمُتَعَفِّفِ تَرْفَعُ نَفْسَكَ‌[2] عَنْ مَنْزِلَةِ الْوَاهِنِ الضَّعِيفِ وَ تَكْتَسِبُ مَا لَا بُدَّ مِنْهُ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُعْطُوا الْمَالَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَشْكُرُوا لَا مَالَ لَهُمْ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that your effort in work for living must be above the efforts of a losing person and below that of a greedy one who is happy with confidence in the worldly matters. You must keep your soul in the position of the fair and conservatives ones, and lift your soul above the position of negle

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع كَثِيراً مَا يَقُولُ‌ اعْلَمُوا عِلْماً يَقِيناً أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لِلْعَبْدِ وَ إِنِ اشْتَدَّ جَهْدُهُ وَ عَظُمَتْ حِيلَتُهُ وَ كَثُرَتْ مُكَابَدَتُهُ أَنْ يَسْبِقَ مَا سُمِّيَ لَهُ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ وَ لَمْ يَحُلْ‌ مِنَ الْعَبْدِ فِي ضَعْفِهِ وَ قِلَّةِ حِيلَتِهِ‌[1] أَنْ يَبْلُغَ مَا سُمِّيَ لَهُ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ لَنْ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), very often would say, ‘You must take notice with absolute certainty that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, does not allow a servant, no matter how intensely he strives, how great the kind of means he prepares, and no matter how numerously he suffers fati

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى وَسَّعَ فِي أَرْزَاقِ الْحَمْقَى لِيَعْتَبِرَ الْعُقَلَاءُ وَ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا لَيْسَ يُنَالُ مَا فِيهَا بِعَمَلٍ وَ لَا حِيلَةٍ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Allah, most High, has expanded the sustenance of the dimwitted ones so that people of reason learn a lesson and take notice that the worldly things are not achieved by means of work and means only.”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي لَمْ أَدَعْ شَيْئاً يُقَرِّبُكُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَ يُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ نَبَّأْتُكُمْ بِهِ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ رُوحَ الْقُدُسِ [قَدْ] نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي وَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَنْ لَا تَمُوتُ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَكْمِلَ رِزْقَهَا فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ وَ لَا يَحْمِلَنَّكُمُ اسْتِبْطَاءُ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ أَنْ تَط

“Abu Ja’far (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, ‘I have not left anything that can take you closer to paradise or keep you away from hellfire but that I have informed you of all such matters. You must take

أَبَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَّا أَنْ يَجْعَلَ أَرْزَاقَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُونَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, disdains to provide sustenance for a believing person from any source other than an unexpected source.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كُنْ لِمَا لَا تَرْجُو أَرْجَى مِنْكَ لِمَا تَرْجُو فَإِنَّ مُوسَى ع ذَهَبَ لِيَقْتَبِسَ لِأَهْلِهِ نَاراً فَانْصَرَفَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَ هُوَ نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ.

“I heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Your hope for help from an unexpected source should be greater than an expected source. Musa ‘Alayhi al-Salam, went to find fire for his family and came back as a prophet commissioned to preach.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ كُنْ لِمَا لَا تَرْجُو أَرْجَى مِنْكَ لِمَا تَرْجُو فَإِنَّ مُوسَى بْنَ عِمْرَانَ ع خَرَجَ يَقْتَبِسُ لِأَهْلِهِ نَاراً فَكَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ رَجَعَ نَبِيّاً مُرْسَلًا وَ خَرَجَتْ مَلِكَةُ سَبَإٍ فَأَسْلَمَتْ مَعَ‌ سُلَيْمَانَ ع وَ خَرَجَتْ سَحَرَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ يَطْلُبُونَ الْعِزَّ لِفِرْعَوْنَ فَرَجَعُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Your hope for help from an unexpected source should be greater than an expected source. Musa (Moses) ‘Alayhi al-Salam went to find fire for his family, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, spoke to him and he came back as a messenger prophet. Queen o

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ جَعَلَ أَرْزَاقَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُونَ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا لَمْ يَعْرِفْ وَجْهَ رِزْقِهِ كَثُرَ دُعَاؤُهُ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has made the sustenance of the believing people to come unexpectedly; when a servant (of Allah) does not know wherefrom his sustenance comes, he prays a great deal.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا فَعَلَ عُمَرُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ‌[1] قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى الْعِبَادَةِ وَ تَرَكَ التِّجَارَةَ فَقَالَ وَيْحَهُ أَ مَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ تَارِكَ الطَّلَبِ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُ- إِنَّ قَوْماً مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ‌ وَ مَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجاً وَ يَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُ‌[2] أَغْلَقُوا الْأَبْوَابَ وَ أَقْبَلُوا عَلَى

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once asked me, ‘What has ‘Umar ibn Muslim done?’ I replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, ‘he has devoted himself in worship and has given up doing any business.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Fie upon him! Does he not know that the prayer of one who neglects work to make a

كَثْرَةُ النَّوْمِ مَذْهَبَةٌ لِلدِّينِ وَ الدُّنْيَا.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Excessive sleeping causes one to lose his religion as well as the worldly matters.”’

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ يُبْغِضُ الْعَبْدَ النَّوَّامَ الْفَارِغَ.

“I heard abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), saying, ’Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, dislikes an excessively sleeping servant who passes his time without work.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُبْغِضُ كَثْرَةَ النَّوْمِ وَ كَثْرَةَ الْفَرَاغِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, hates one’s excessive sleeping and passing time without work.’”

عَدُوُّ الْعَمَلِ الْكَسَلُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Laziness is an enemy of work.’”

قَالَ أَبِي ع لِبَعْضِ وُلْدِهِ‌ إِيَّاكَ وَ الْكَسَلَ وَ الضَّجَرَ فَإِنَّهُمَا يَمْنَعَانِكَ مِنْ حَظِّكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ.

2. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from ibn Mahbub from Sa‘d ibn abu Khalaf from abu al-Hassan, Musa, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, Musa has said, ‘My father, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, once said to a certain one of his sons, “Beware of laziness and impatience; these two can deprive you of your share

مَنْ كَسِلَ عَنْ طَهُورِهِ وَ صَلَاتِهِ فَلَيْسَ فِيهِ خَيْرٌ لِأَمْرِ آخِرَتِهِ وَ مَنْ كَسِلَ عَمَّا يُصْلِحُ بِهِ أَمْرَ مَعِيشَتِهِ فَلَيْسَ فِيهِ خَيْرٌ لِأَمْرِ دُنْيَاهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one feels lazy to cleansing himself and to take wudu’ for Salat (prayer), there is nothing good in him in regards to his affairs in the hereafter. One who feels lazy in organizing his living conditions, there is nothing good in him for his worldly life.’”

إِنِّي لَأُبْغِضُ الرَّجُلَ أَوْ أُبْغِضُ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَكُونَ كَسْلَاناً [كَسْلَانَ‌] عَنْ أَمْرِ دُنْيَاهُ وَ مَنْ كَسِلَ عَنْ أَمْرِ دُنْيَاهُ فَهُوَ عَنْ أَمْرِ آخِرَتِهِ أَكْسَلُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘I dislike a man -or dislike for a man- who is lazy in his worldly affairs. One who is lazy in his worldly affairs is lazier in the affairs of his hereafter.’”

إِيَّاكَ وَ الْكَسَلَ وَ الضَّجَرَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ كَسِلْتَ لَمْ تَعْمَلْ وَ إِنْ ضَجِرْتَ لَمْ تُعْطِ الْحَقَّ.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Sama‘ah ibn Mehran from abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), has said, ‘Beware of laziness and impatience; with laziness you do not work and with impatience you do not yield to the truth.

لَا تَسْتَعِنْ بِكَسْلَانَ وَ لَا تَسْتَشِيرَنَّ عَاجِزاً[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not seek help from a lazy person and you must not consult a helpless one.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ تَجَنَّبُوا الْمُنَى فَإِنَّهَا تُذْهِبُ بَهْجَةَ مَا خُوِّلْتُمْ وَ تَسْتَصْغِرُونَ بِهَا مَوَاهِبَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى عِنْدَكُمْ وَ تُعْقِبُكُمُ الْحَسَرَاتِ فِيمَا وَهَّمْتُمْ بِهِ أَنْفُسَكُمْ‌[1].

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Avoid wishing (daydreaming); it destroys the beauty of Allah’s favors to you and causes to suffer feeling of failure in your daydreaming and what you imagined.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِنَّ الْأَشْيَاءَ لَمَّا ازْدَوَجَتْ ازْدَوَجَ الْكَسَلُ وَ الْعَجْزُ فَنُتِجَا بَيْنَهُمَا الْفَقْرَ[2].

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘When things (works) double, laziness and failure join hands, and they both give birth to poverty.’”

كَتَبَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَلَا تُجَادِلِ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَ لَا تُمَارِ السُّفَهَاءَ فَيُبْغِضَكَ الْعُلَمَاءُ وَ يَشْتِمَكَ السُّفَهَاءُ وَ لَا تَكْسَلْ عَنْ مَعِيشَتِكَ فَتَكُونَ كَلًّا عَلَى غَيْرِكَ أَوْ قَالَ عَلَى أَهْلِكَ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once wrote to one of his companions the following: . . thereafter take notice of the following. You must not excessively argue with the scholars, you must not verbally quarrel with the dimwitted ones; the scholars will hate you and the dimwitted ones will abuse you. You must not be lazy in the w

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ يَحْتَطِبُ وَ يَسْتَقِي وَ يَكْنُسُ وَ كَانَتْ فَاطِمَةُ سَلَامُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا تَطْحَنُ وَ تَعْجِنُ وَ تَخْبِزُ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would bring firewood, water and sweep the house. Fatimah al- Zahra’, ‘Alayha al-Salam, would grind wheat, make dough and bake.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَحْلُبُ عَنْزَ أَهْلِهِ.

‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would milk his family’s goat.”

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.’”

الْكَادُّ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ كَالْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.

“Abi ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A person working hard for his family is like a Mujahid (fighter) for the cause of Allah.’”

الَّذِي يَطْلُبُ مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَا يَكُفُّ بِهِ عِيَالَهُ أَعْظَمُ أَجْراً مِنَ الْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said, ‘One who works to find sustenance of the extra- generosity of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, to provide for his family is granted a reward greater than a Mujahid (fighter) for the cause of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’”

إِذَا كَانَ الرَّجُلُ مُعْسِراً فَيَعْمَلُ بِقَدْرِ مَا يَقُوتُ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ وَ أَهْلَهُ وَ لَا يَطْلُبُ حَرَاماً فَهُوَ كَالْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one has difficulty in providing for his family and works to meet his own needs and the needs of his family and does not work for unlawful kind of sustenance, he is like a Mujahid (fighter) for the cause of Allah.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَدْعُو اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي الْحَلَالَ فَقَالَ أَ تَدْرِي مَا الْحَلَالُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَمَّا الَّذِي عِنْدَنَا فَالْكَسْبُ الطَّيِّبُ فَقَالَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَقُولُ الْحَلَالُ قُوتُ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ وَ لَكِنْ قُلْ أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ الْوَاسِعِ.

“Once I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, please pray for me to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, so He grants me lawful sustenance.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Do you know what lawful sustenance is?’ I replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for

نَظَرَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِلَى رَجُلٍ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ الْحَلَالِ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع سَأَلْتَ قُوتَ النَّبِيِّينَ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقاً وَاسِعاً طَيِّباً مِنْ رِزْقِكَ.

“Once abu Ja‘far (a.s.), looked at a man who said, ‘O Lord, I pray to You to grant me lawful sustenance.’ Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), said, ‘You have asked of the kind of sustenance of the prophets. Say, “O Lord, grant me of Your extended and clean sustenance.’””

سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ إِذَا أَدْخَلَ طَعَامَ سَنَتِهِ خَفَّ ظَهْرُهُ وَ اسْتَرَاحَ وَ كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَا يَشْتَرِيَانِ عُقْدَةً حَتَّى يُحْرَزَ إِطْعَامُ سَنَتِهِمَا[1].

“I heard al-Rida’ (a.s.), saying, ‘If one saves food for one year, his burden becomes light and he feels comfortable. Abu Ja’far and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, would not buy anything before reserving their food for one year.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ النَّفْسَ إِذَا أَحْرَزَتْ قُوتَهَا اسْتَقَرَّتْ.

“Abu al-Hassan (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, ‘When a soul reserves its sustenance it settles down.”

قَالَ سَلْمَانُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ‌ إِنَّ النَّفْسَ قَدْ تَلْتَاثُ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهَا مِنَ الْعَيْشِ مَا تَعْتَمِدُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هِيَ أَحْرَزَتْ مَعِيشَتَهَا اطْمَأَنَّتْ.

‘The soul disturbs its owner when he does not have dependable sustenance; but upon reserving sustenance his soul becomes comfortable and settled.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ آجَرَ نَفْسَهُ فَقَدْ حَظَرَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرِّزْقَ وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى وَ كَيْفَ لَا يَحْظُرُهُ وَ مَا أَصَابَ فِيهِ فَهُوَ لِرَبِّهِ الَّذِي آجَرَهُ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ’One who offers himself for hire prohibits sustenance to himself . 5 In another Hadith it is said that how can it be anything other than prohibition when whatever one finds goes to his master? 5 ”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْإِجَارَةِ فَقَالَ صَالِحٌ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ إِذَا نَصَحَ قَدْرَ طَاقَتِهِ قَدْ آجَرَ مُوسَى ع نَفْسَهُ وَ اشْتَرَطَ فَقَالَ إِنْ شِئْتُ ثَمَانِيَ وَ إِنْ شِئْتُ عَشْراً فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهِ- أَنْ تَأْجُرَنِي ثَمانِيَ حِجَجٍ فَإِنْ أَتْمَمْتَ عَشْراً فَمِنْ عِنْدِكَ‌[1].

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man who places himself for hire, and he said, 'It is permissible and there is no harm in it as long as he is sincere to the best of his ability. Musa (as) placed himself for hire and stipulated, saying, "If you wish, [I will work] for eight years, and if you wish,

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يَتَّجِرُ فَإِنْ هُوَ آجَرَ نَفْسَهُ أُعْطِيَ مَا يُصِيبُ فِي تِجَارَتِهِ فَقَالَ لَا يُؤَاجِرْ نَفْسَهُ وَ لَكِنْ يَسْتَرْزِقُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ يَتَّجِرُ فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا آجَرَ نَفْسَهُ حَظَرَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرِّزْقَ‌[2]. بَابُ‌[3] مُبَاشَرَةِ الْأَشْيَاءِ بِنَفْسِهِ‌

3. Ahmad his has narrated from his father from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr from al-Sabatiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who places himself for hire; if what he achieves he has to give it all. He (the Imam) said, ‘He should not place h

بَاشِرْ كِبَارَ أُمُورِكَ بِنَفْسِكَ وَ كِلْ مَا شَفَّ إِلَى غَيْرِكَ قُلْتُ ضَرْبَ أَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَالَ ضَرْبَ أَشْرِيَةِ الْعَقَارِ وَ مَا أَشْبَهَهَا.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you must do the greater tasks of your affairs personally and assign others to perform the easier ones. I then asked, ’Like what kinds of tasks are they?’ He (the Imam) answered, ’Like real estate deals and similar tasks.”’

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا تَكُونَنَّ دَوَّاراً فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ وَ لَا تَلِي دَقَائِقَ الْأَشْيَاءِ بِنَفْسِكَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ ذِي الْحَسَبِ وَ الدِّينِ أَنْ يَلِيَ شِرَاءَ دَقَائِقِ الْأَشْيَاءِ بِنَفْسِهِ مَا خَلَا ثَلَاثَةَ أَشْيَاءَ فَإِنَّهُ يَنْبَغِي لِذِي الدِّينِ وَ الْحَسَبِ أَنْ يَلِيَهَا بِنَفْسِهِ الْعَقَارَ وَ الرَّقِيقَ وَ الْإِبِلَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘You must not roam around in market places and you must not perform small tasks personally; it is not proper for a Muslim man of good position and religion to buy small things personally, except three kinds of items, in which case a person of good position and religion should pe

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى جَعْفَراً ص شَبِيهاً بِالْمُسْتَنْصِحِ لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ صِرْتَ اتَّخَذْتَ الْأَمْوَالَ قِطَعاً مُتَفَرِّقَةً وَ لَوْ كَانَتْ فِي مَوْضِعٍ [وَاحِدٍ] كَانَتْ أَيْسَرَ لِمَئُونَتِهَا وَ أَعْظَمَ لِمَنْفَعَتِهَا فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع اتَّخَذْتُهَا مُتَفَرِّقَةً فَإِنْ أَصَابَ هَذَا الْمَالَ شَيْ‌ءٌ سَلِمَ هَذَا الْمَالُ وَ ا

“I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, ‘Once a man came to Ja‘far (a.s.), as if giving him good advice; he said, ‘O abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, why have you made the properties in scattered pieces? Had they been in one piece, more profit with fewer expenses could have been made? Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, re

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا يُخَلِّفُ الرَّجُلُ شَيْئاً أَشَدَّ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَالِ الصَّامِتِ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ يَجْعَلُهُ فِي الْحَائِطِ يَعْنِي فِي الْبُسْتَانِ أَوِ الدَّارِ.

"The most difficult property to protect is of the silent kind (gold and silver).’ I then asked, ‘What should one do about it?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘One should keep them inside walls, a garden or a house.’"

دَعَانِي جَعْفَرٌ ع فَقَالَ بَاعَ فُلَانٌ أَرْضَهُ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ مَكْتُوبٌ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ أَنَّهُ مَنْ بَاعَ أَرْضاً أَوْ مَاءً وَ لَمْ يَضَعْهُ فِي أَرْضٍ أَوْ مَاءٍ ذَهَبَ ثَمَنُهُ مَحْقاً[3].

“Once Ja‘far, Alayhi al-Salam, called me and asked, ‘Has so and so sold his land?’ I replied, ‘Yes, he has done so.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is written in the Torah that whoever sells a piece of land or water and does not replace it by another piece of land or water, its price (money received) loses its blessings.”