Humility

قَالا لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ

“Whoever in his heart may have an amount of arrogance of the size of an atom he will not be able to enter paradise.”

لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ مِنَ الْكِبْرِ قَالَ فَاسْتَرْجَعْتُ‌[1] فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ تَسْتَرْجِعُ قُلْتُ لِمَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْكَ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ حَيْثُ تَذْهَبُ إِنَّمَا أَعْنِي الْجُحُودَ إِنَّمَا هُوَ الْجُحُودُ.

“Whoever has an amount of arrogance in his heart of the size of a mustard seed, he will not be able to enter paradise.” 1 then expressed astonishment saying, ‘To Allah we belong and to Him we return!’ The Imam asked, ‘What has made you astonish?’ I said, ‘I have not heard such Hadith from you.’ The Imam said, ‘It is no

الْكِبْرُ أَنْ تَغْمِصَ النَّاسَ وَ تَسْفَهَ الْحَقَ‌[2].

“Arrogance is when one belittles the people and calls the truth foolishness.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ الْكِبْرِ غَمْصُ الْخَلْقِ وَ سَفَهُ الْحَقِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا غَمْصُ الْخَلْقِ وَ سَفَهُ الْحَقِّ قَالَ يَجْهَلُ الْحَقَّ وَ يَطْعُنُ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ فَمَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ نَازَعَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ رِدَاءَهُ.

“The biggest form of arrogance is to sink (belittle or look down upon) people and consider the truth foolishness.” I (the narrator) then asked, ‘What is to ‘sink’ the people and hoodwink the truth?’ The Imam said, ‘It is ignoring the truth and criticizing the people of truth. Whoever does it has disputed Allah, the Maj

إِنَّ فِي جَهَنَّمَ لَوَادِياً لِلْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ يُقَالُ لَهُ سَقَرُ شَكَا إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ شِدَّةَ حَرِّهِ وَ سَأَلَهُ أَنْ يَأْذَنَ لَهُ أَنْ يَتَنَفَّسَ فَتَنَفَّسَ فَأَحْرَقَ جَهَنَّمَ.

‘In hell there is a valley for the arrogant people and it is called ‘Saqar’. It complained to Allah of excessive heat and asked Him to allow it to breathe. When it took a breath, it burnt (all of) hell.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ يُجْعَلُونَ فِي صُوَرِ الذَّرِّ يَتَوَطَّأُهُمُ النَّاسُ حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْحِسَابِ.

The arrogant people will be turned into particles on whom people will walk until Allah will finalize (people’s) accounts.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا الْكِبْرُ فَقَالَ أَعْظَمُ الْكِبْرِ أَنْ تَسْفَهَ الْحَقَّ وَ تَغْمِصَ النَّاسَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا سَفَهُ الْحَقِّ قَالَ يَجْهَلُ الْحَقَّ وَ يَطْعُنُ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘What is arrogance?’ The Imam said, ‘The biggest arrogance is to hoodwink the truth and look down upon the people.’ I then asked, ‘What is to hoodwink the truth and belittle the people?’ The Imam said, ‘It is one’s disregarding and ignoring the truth and his criticizing the people of

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّنِي آكُلُ الطَّعَامَ الطَّيِّبَ وَ أَشَمُّ الرِّيحَ الطَّيِّبَةَ وَ أَرْكَبُ الدَّابَّةَ الْفَارِهَةَ[1] وَ يَتْبَعُنِي الْغُلَامُ فَتَرَى فِي هَذَا شَيْئاً مِنَ التَّجَبُّرِ فَلَا أَفْعَلَهُ فَأَطْرَقَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌[2] ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْجَبَّارُ الْمَلْعُونُ مَنْ غَمَصَ النَّاسَ وَ جَهِلَ الْحَقَّ قَالَ عُمَرُ فَقُلْتُ أَمَّا الْحَقُّ فَلَا أَجْهَلُهُ وَ الْغَمْصُ

“Once, I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘I eat good food, use good perfumes, and ride good energetic animals and a young man escorts me. Do you see anything tyrannical in it so I should avoid it? Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) remained quiet for a while. He then said, ‘A condemned tyrant is one who ignores people and disregards t

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ ثَلَاثَةٌ لا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ‌ وَ لا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ‌ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ وَ لا يُزَكِّيهِمْ‌ وَ لَهُمْ عَذابٌ أَلِيمٌ‌ شَيْخٌ زَانٍ وَ مَلِكٌ جَبَّارٌ وَ مُقِلٌّ مُخْتَالٌ‌[3].

“The messenger of Allah has said, ‘There are three kinds of people to whom, on the Day of Judgment, Allah will not speak or look to and will not purify them. They will suffer a painful punishment: an old man who fornicates, a tyrant king and an arrogant poor person.”

إِنَّ يُوسُفَ ع لَمَّا قَدِمَ عَلَيْهِ الشَّيْخُ يَعْقُوبُ ع دَخَلَهُ عِزُّ الْمُلْكِ فَلَمْ يَنْزِلْ إِلَيْهِ فَهَبَطَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع فَقَالَ يَا يُوسُفُ ابْسُطْ رَاحَتَكَ‌[1] فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا نُورٌ سَاطِعٌ فَصَارَ فِي جَوِّ السَّمَاءِ فَقَالَ يُوسُفُ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ مَا هَذَا النُّورُ الَّذِي خَرَجَ مِنْ رَاحَتِي فَقَالَ نُزِعَتِ النُّبُوَّةُ مِنْ عَقِبِكَ عُقُوبَةً لِمَا لَمْ تَنْزِلْ إِلَى الشَّيْخِ يَعْقُوبَ فَلَ

“Joseph, Yusuf, peace be upon him, met his old father, Ya’qub and because of majestic feeling of a king he did not dismount. Jibril (Gabriel) descended to him and said, ‘O Yusuf (look on) your palm.’ A shining light came out and went into the sky. Joseph asked, ‘O Jibril (Gabriel), what was that light that came out of

مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ إِلَّا وَ فِي رَأْسِهِ حَكَمَةٌ[3] وَ مَلَكٌ يُمْسِكُهَا فَإِذَا تَكَبَّرَ قَالَ لَهُ اتَّضِعْ وَضَعَكَ اللَّهُ‌[4] فَلَا يَزَالُ أَعْظَمَ النَّاسِ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَ أَصْغَرَ النَّاسِ فِي أَعْيُنِ النَّاسِ وَ إِذَا تَوَاضَعَ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ انْتَعِشْ نَعَشَكَ اللَّهُ‌[5] فَلَا يَزَالُ أَصْغَرَ النَّاسِ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَ أَرْفَعَ النَّاسِ فِي أَعْيُنِ النَّاسِ.

“Every servant (of Allah) has in his head a certain degree of wisdom being held therein by an angel. When he expresses arrogance the angel says, ‘Be humble, may Allah bring you low.’ Thereafter he thinks himself to be the greatest of people but in the eyes of the people he remains the lowest of all. When he behaves hum

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَتِيهُ‌[6] إِلَّا مِنْ ذِلَّةٍ يَجِدُهَا فِي نَفْسِهِ وَ فِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ تَكَبَّرَ أَوْ تَجَبَّرَ إِلَّا لِذِلَّةٍ وَجَدَهَا فِي نَفْسِهِ.[7]

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘No one expresses arrogance but because of lowliness that he feels in his soul.’ In another Hadith Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) has said, ‘There is no man who expresses arrogance or tyranny but because of lowliness that he feels in his soul.”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِمَ أَنَّ الذَّنْبَ خَيْرٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ مِنَ الْعُجْبِ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ مَا ابْتُلِيَ مُؤْمِنٌ بِذَنْبٍ أَبَداً.

“Allah knew that sin is better for believing people than feeling self-important. Were it not as such, a believer would never sin.”

مَنْ دَخَلَهُ الْعُجْبُ هَلَكَ.

“Whoever has a feeling of self-importance is destroyed.”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْعُجْبِ الَّذِي يُفْسِدُ الْعَمَلَ فَقَالَ الْعُجْبُ دَرَجَاتٌ مِنْهَا أَنْ يُزَيَّنَ لِلْعَبْدِ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ فَيَرَاهُ حَسَناً فَيُعْجِبَهُ وَ يَحْسَبَ أَنَّهُ يُحْسِنُ صُنْعاً وَ مِنْهَا أَنْ يُؤْمِنَ الْعَبْدُ بِرَبِّهِ فَيَمُنَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لِلَّهِ عَلَيْهِ فِيهِ الْمَنُ‌[1].

“Once I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.) about the feeling of self-importance that destroys good deeds. The Imam said, ‘The feeling of self-importance is of several degrees. Of such feeling is that one’s bad deeds seem attractive to him. He considers it good and it gives him a feeling of self-importance. He thinks that he is

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يَعْمَلُ الْعَمَلَ وَ هُوَ خَائِفٌ مُشْفِقٌ ثُمَّ يَعْمَلُ شَيْئاً مِنَ الْبِرِّ فَيَدْخُلُهُ شِبْهُ الْعُجْبِ بِهِ فَقَالَ هُوَ فِي حَالِهِ الْأُولَى وَ هُوَ خَائِفٌ أَحْسَنُ حَالًا مِنْهُ فِي حَالِ عُجْبِهِ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘A man performs a deed and he is fearful and worried. Then he performs a good deed that gives him a feeling of self- importance.’ The Imam said, ‘His being in a fearful condition is better than his having a feeling of self-importance.’”

أَنَّ أَكْثَرَ مَا يَطْلُبُ ابْنُ آدَمَ مَا لَا حَاجَةَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ الْحَسَدُ وَ هِيَ مَعْصِيَةُ ابْنِ آدَمَ حَيْثُ حَسَدَ أَخَاهُ فَقَتَلَهُ فَتَشَعَّبَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ حُبُّ النِّسَاءِ وَ حُبُّ الدُّنْيَا وَ حُبُّ الرِّئَاسَةِ وَ حُبُّ الرَّاحَةِ وَ حُبُّ الْكَلَامِ وَ حُبُّ الْعُلُوِّ وَ الثَّرْوَةِ فَصِرْنَ سَبْعَ خِصَالٍ فَاجْتَمَعْنَ كُلُّهُنَّ فِي حُبِّ الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ وَ الْعُلَمَاءُ بَع

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was asked, ‘Which deed is more excellent before Allah?’ The Imam said, ‘No deed, after knowing Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and knowing the Messenger of Allah, is more excellent than hating the world. It has many branches, and the sins have branches also. The first sin committed wa

إِنَّ السَّفَهَ خُلُقُ لَئِيمٍ يَسْتَطِيلُ عَلَى مَنْ هُوَ دُونَهُ‌[2] وَ يَخْضَعُ لِمَنْ [هُوَ] فَوْقَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Dimwittedness is a bad attitude. Such an individual intimidates those below him and is humble (inferior) before those above him.’”

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ عَجَباً لِلْمُتَكَبِّرِ الْفَخُورِ الَّذِي كَانَ بِالْأَمْسِ نُطْفَةً ثُمَّ هُوَ غَداً جِيفَةٌ.

‘It is astonishing how one who yesterday was only a sperm and tomorrow will turn into a carcass displays arrogance and boastfulness.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ آفَةُ الْحَسَبِ الِافْتِخَارُ وَ الْعُجْبُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The misfortune for lineage is boastfulness and feeling self-important.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَنَا عُقْبَةُ بْنُ بَشِيرٍ الْأَسَدِيُّ وَ أَنَا فِي الْحَسَبِ الضَّخْمِ مِنْ قَوْمِي قَالَ فَقَالَ مَا تَمُنُّ عَلَيْنَا بِحَسَبِكَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ رَفَعَ بِالْإِيمَانِ مَنْ كَانَ النَّاسُ يُسَمُّونَهُ وَضِيعاً إِذَا كَانَ مُؤْمِناً وَ وَضَعَ بِالْكُفْرِ مَنْ كَانَ النَّاسُ يُسَمُّونَهُ‌ شَرِيفاً إِذَا كَانَ كَافِراً فَلَيْسَ لِأَحَدٍ فَضْلٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِالتَّقْوَى‌[1].

‘I am ‘Uqbah ibn Bashir al-Asadi and among my people my lineage is very prominent.’ The narrator has said that the Imam then asked, ‘What is it that makes you oblige us because of your lineage? Due to proper belief, Allah has exalted those whom people consider low. Due to disbelief, He has made low those whom people ca

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ عَجَباً لِلْمُخْتَالِ الْفَخُورِ وَ إِنَّمَا خُلِقَ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ يَعُودُ جِيفَةً وَ هُوَ فِيمَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ لَا يَدْرِي مَا يُصْنَعُ بِهِ‌[2].

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘It is astonishing how one acts boastfully and arrogantly, when it is a fact that he is created from sperm and he will soon turn into a carcass and, in between, he does not know what may happen to him.’”

أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَا فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ حَتَّى عَدَّ تِسْعَةً فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَمَا إِنَّكَ عَاشِرُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ[3].

“Once a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I am so and so son of so and so counting (boastfully) up to nine generations.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘You are the tenth of them in the fire.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ آفَةُ الْحَسَبِ الِافْتِخَارُ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The misfortune for lineage is boastfulness.’”

إِذَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْعَبْدَ فِي أَصْلِ الْخِلْقَةِ كَافِراً لَمْ يَمُتْ حَتَّى يُحَبِّبَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ الشَّرَّ فَيَقْرُبَ مِنْهُ فَابْتَلَاهُ بِالْكِبْرِ وَ الْجَبَرِيَّةِ[2] فَقَسَا قَلْبُهُ وَ سَاءَ خُلُقُهُ وَ غَلُظَ وَجْهُهُ وَ ظَهَرَ فُحْشُهُ وَ قَلَّ حَيَاؤُهُ وَ كَشَفَ اللَّهُ سِتْرَهُ وَ رَكِبَ الْمَحَارِمَ فَلَمْ يَنْزِعْ عَنْهَا ثُمَّ رَكِبَ مَعَاصِيَ اللَّهِ وَ أَبْغَضَ طَاعَتَهُ وَ وَثَبَ عَلَى الن

“If Allah creates a servant as an unbeliever in the beginning of his creation he will not die until He makes evil seem attractive to him so he draws nearer to evil. He then makes him turn out as arrogant and tyrannical. His heart then hardens, his behavior worsens, his face thickens (shameless), his obscenity becomes p

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي كَلَامٍ لَهُ‌ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ عُقُوقَ الْوَالِدَيْنِ فَإِنَّ رِيحَ الْجَنَّةِ تُوجَدُ مِنْ مَسِيرَةِ أَلْفِ عَامٍ وَ لَا يَجِدُهَا عَاقٌّ وَ لَا قَاطِعُ رَحِمٍ وَ لَا شَيْخٌ زَانٍ وَ لَا جَارُّ إِزَارِهِ خُيَلَاءَ إِنَّمَا الْكِبْرِيَاءُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ‌[1].

“The Messenger of Allah has said in one of his speeches, ‘Beware of causing suffering and disappointment to parents. The fragrance of paradise can be sensed from a distance of a one thousand year journey, but those causing suffering and disappointments to parents, those failing to maintain good relations with relatives

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ عِدَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ أَخَاهُ نَذْرٌ[3] لَا كَفَّارَةَ لَهُ فَمَنْ أَخْلَفَ فَبِخُلْفِ اللَّهِ‌ بَدَأَ وَ لِمَقْتِهِ تَعَرَّضَ وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ- يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ ما لا تَفْعَلُونَ كَبُرَ مَقْتاً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ‌ أَنْ تَقُولُوا ما لا تَفْعَلُونَ‌[1].

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The promise of a believer to his brother (in belief) is a vow that has no expiation. Whoever violates it has initiated to violate Allah and has subjected himself to His anger as it is said in His words: “Believers, why do you preach what you do not practice? (61:2). It is most hat

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنِ الْكُفْرِ وَ الشِّرْكِ أَيُّهُمَا أَقْدَمُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي مَا عَهْدِي بِكَ تُخَاصِمُ النَّاسَ‌[1] قُلْتُ أَمَرَنِي هِشَامُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لِي الْكُفْرُ أَقْدَمُ وَ هُوَ الْجُحُودُ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبى‌ وَ اسْتَكْبَرَ وَ كانَ مِنَ الْكافِرِينَ‌[2].

“Once I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.) about disbelief and al-Shirk (paganism) as to which is before. The Imam said to me, ‘I have not experienced your involvement in polemics among the people.’ I then said, ‘Hisham ibn Salim has ordered me to ask you this question.’ The Imam said, ‘Disbelief is before and it is denial and

قُلْتُ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ وُجُوهِ الْكُفْرِ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَالَ الْكُفْرُ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَلَى خَمْسَةِ أَوْجُهٍ فَمِنْهَا كُفْرُ الْجُحُودِ وَ الْجُحُودُ عَلَى وَجْهَيْنِ وَ الْكُفْرُ بِتَرْكِ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ وَ كُفْرُ الْبَرَاءَةِ وَ كُفْرُ النِّعَمِ فَأَمَّا كُفْرُ الْجُحُودِ فَهُوَ الْجُحُودُ بِالرُّبُوبِيَّةِ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ مَنْ يَقُولُ لَا رَبَّ وَ لَا جَنَّةَ وَ لَا نَارَ وَ هُو

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Instruct me about the kinds of disbelief (mentioned) in the book of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’ The Imam said, ‘Disbelief in the book of Allah is of five kinds: “(1) Of disbelief is denial, which is of two kinds. (2) There is disbelief for disregarding the commands of

بُنِيَ الْكُفْرُ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ دَعَائِمَ- الْفِسْقِ‌[3] وَ الْغُلُوِّ وَ الشَّكِّ وَ الشُّبْهَةِ وَ الْفِسْقُ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ شُعَبٍ عَلَى الْجَفَاءِ وَ الْعَمَى وَ الْغَفْلَةِ وَ الْعُتُوِّ[4] فَمَنْ جَفَا احْتَقَرَ الْحَقَ‌[5] وَ مَقَتَ الْفُقَهَاءَ وَ أَصَرَّ عَلَى الْحِنْثِ الْعَظِيمِ‌ وَ مَنْ عَمِيَ نَسِيَ الذِّكْرَ وَ اتَّبَعَ الظَّنَّ وَ بَارَزَ خَالِقَهُ‌[6] وَ أَلَحَّ عَلَيْهِ الشَّيْطَانُ وَ طَلَبَ الْمَغْف

“Disbelief is established on four pillars: Sinfulness, Extremism, Doubt and Skepticism. Sinfulness has four branches: harshness of manners, blindness of heart, neglect, and arrogance. Whoever behaves in a harsh manner belittles the truth, hates the people of profound understanding and persists in great sins. Whoever be

قَالَ: وَ النِّفَاقُ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ دَعَائِمَ عَلَى الْهَوَى وَ الْهُوَيْنَا وَ الْحَفِيظَةِ وَ الطَّمَعِ‌[8] فَالْهَوَى عَلَى أَرْبَعِ شُعَبٍ عَلَى الْبَغْيِ وَ الْعُدْوَانِ وَ الشَّهْوَةِ وَ الطُّغْيَانِ- فَمَنْ‌ بَغَى كَثُرَتْ غَوَائِلُهُ وَ تُخُلِّيَ مِنْهُ وَ قُصِرَ عَلَيْهِ‌[1] وَ مَنِ اعْتَدَى لَمْ يُؤْمَنْ بَوَائِقُهُ وَ لَمْ يَسْلَمْ قَلْبُهُ وَ لَمْ يَمْلِكْ نَفْسَهُ عَنِ الشَّهَوَاتِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْذِلْ

“‘Hypocrisy has four pillars: Desire, Neglect, Resentment and Greed. “Desire is of four branches: disproportionate behavior, transgression, lust and insubordination. Whoever behaves disproportionately faces great risks, remains lonely and without supporters. Whoever transgresses does not remain immune to harmful conseq

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا زَادَ خُشُوعُ الْجَسَدِ عَلَى مَا فِي الْقَلْبِ فَهُوَ عِنْدَنَا نِفَاقٌ‌[3].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If humility expressed physically is more than what is in the heart, in our view it is hypocrisy.’”

قُلْتُ إِنَّا لَنَرَى الرَّجُلَ لَهُ عِبَادَةٌ وَ اجْتِهَادٌ وَ خُشُوعٌ وَ لَا يَقُولُ بِالْحَقِّ فَهَلْ يَنْفَعُهُ ذَلِكَ شَيْئاً فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ مَثَلُ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ كَانُوا فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَ لَا يَجْتَهِدُ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً إِلَّا دَعَا فَأُجِيبَ وَ إِنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْهُمُ اجْتَهَدَ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ دَعَا فَلَمْ يُسْتَجَبْ لَهُ فَأ

“Once I said to one of (two Imam) (a.s.) ‘We find a man who worships, and strives with humility but does not believe in the truth (Shi’a belief). Will it be of any benefit for him?’ The Imam said, ‘O abu Muhammad, the case of AM al-Bayt (of Muhammad) is like that AM al-Bayt in the family of Israel. An individual of tha

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْخٌ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَشْكُو إِلَيْكَ وُلْدِي وَ عُقُوقَهُمْ وَ إِخْوَانِي وَ جَفَاهُمْ عِنْدَ كِبَرِ سِنِّي فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا هَذَا إِنَّ لِلْحَقِّ دَوْلَةً وَ لِلْبَاطِلِ دَوْلَةً وَ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا فِي دَوْلَةِ صَاحِبِهِ ذَلِيلٌ وَ إِنَّ أَدْنَى مَا يُصِيبُ الْمُؤْمِنَ فِي دَوْلَةِ الْبَاطِلِ الْعُقُوقُ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ

“Once I was in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) that an old man came and said, ‘O Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) I complain to you against my sons for their failing to maintain good relations with parents and against my brothers for their injustice to me during my old age.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) said, ‘O you, for truth there

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَوْصِنِي بِوَجْهٍ مِنْ وُجُوهِ الْبِرِّ أَنْجُو بِهِ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَيُّهَا السَّائِلُ اسْتَمِعْ ثُمَّ اسْتَفْهِمْ ثُمَّ اسْتَيْقِنْ ثُمَّ اسْتَعْمِلْ‌[1] وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ ثَلَاثَةٌ زَاهِدٌ وَ صَابِرٌ وَ رَاغِبٌ فَأَمَّا الزَّاهِدُ فَقَدْ خَرَجَتِ الْأَحْزَانُ وَ الْأَفْرَاحُ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ فَلَا يَفْرَحُ بِشَيْ‌ء

“Once a man came to Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) and said, ‘O Amir al- Mu’minin, grant me good advice in the aspects of virtue so I may attain salvation.’ Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) said, ‘O seeker of advice, listen carefully, understand, ascertain and practice. You must know that people a

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَمَا اسْتَكانُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ‌ وَ ما يَتَضَرَّعُونَ‌[1] فَقَالَ الِاسْتِكَانَةُ هُوَ الْخُضُوعُ وَ التَّضَرُّعُ هُوَ رَفْعُ الْيَدَيْنِ وَ التَّضَرُّعُ بِهِمَا.

“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . but they did not ‘Istakanu (submit themselves to their Lord,) nor did they make themselves humble ( yatadarra’un ).’ (23:76) The Imam said, ’’Al-Tstikana, means humility and al- tadarru’ means raising both hands and beggi

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَمَا اسْتَكانُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَ ما يَتَضَرَّعُونَ‌ قَالَ الِاسْتِكَانَةُ هِيَ الْخُضُوعُ وَ التَّضَرُّعُ رَفْعُ الْيَدَيْنِ وَ التَّضَرُّعُ بِهِمَا.

“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . but they did not ‘Istakanu (submit themselves to their Lord,) nor did they make themselves humble ( yatadarra’unY (23:76) the Imam said, ‘al-Tstikana, means humility and al-tadarru’ means raising both hands and begging fo

قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِمُوسَى أَكْثِرْ ذِكْرِي بِاللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ وَ كُنْ عِنْدَ ذِكْرِي خَاشِعاً وَ عِنْدَ بَلَائِي صَابِراً وَ اطْمَئِنَّ عِنْدَ ذِكْرِي وَ اعْبُدْنِي وَ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئاً إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ يَا مُوسَى اجْعَلْنِي ذُخْرَكَ وَ ضَعْ عِنْدِي كَنْزَكَ مِنَ الْبَاقِيَاتِ الصَّالِحَاتِ.

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ibn Faddal from certain individuals of his people from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, said to Moses, ‘Speak of Me a great deal during

قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِعِيسَى ع يَا عِيسَى اذْكُرْنِي فِي نَفْسِكَ أَذْكُرْكَ فِي نَفْسِي وَ اذْكُرْنِي فِي مَلَئِكَ‌[1] أَذْكُرْكَ فِي مَلَإٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْ مَلَإِ الْآدَمِيِّينَ يَا عِيسَى أَلِنْ لِي قَلْبَكَ وَ أَكْثِرْ ذِكْرِي فِي الْخَلَوَاتِ وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ سُرُورِي أَنْ تُبَصْبِصَ‌[2] إِلَيَّ وَ كُنْ فِي ذَلِكَ حَيّاً وَ لَا تَكُنْ مَيِّتاً.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ibn Faddal in a marfu ’ manner from The Imam (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, said to Jesus, peace be upon him, ‘O Jesus, speak of Me to yourself; I speak of you to Myself, speak of Me in public;

جَاءَ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الْأَغْنِيَاءَ لَهُمْ مَا يُعْتِقُونَ وَ لَيْسَ لَنَا وَ لَهُمْ مَا يَحُجُّونَ وَ لَيْسَ لَنَا وَ لَهُمْ مَا يَتَصَدَّقُونَ وَ لَيْسَ لَنَا وَ لَهُمْ مَا يُجَاهِدُونَ وَ لَيْسَ لَنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ كَبَّرَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ كَانَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ عِتْقِ مِائَةِ رَقَبَةٍ وَ مَنْ سَبَّحَ اللَّهَ مِائَةَ مَرّ

“Once the poor people came to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, the wealthy people have the means to set free slaves, we do not have it, they can go for Hajj, but we cannot, they can provide charity, but we cannot and they can join the defense army for Jihad, but we cannot do so.’ The Messenger of

أَنَّ شِهَابَ بْنَ عَبْدِ رَبِّهِ سَأَلَهُ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ‌[2] أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ قَالَ‌ قُلْ لَهُ إِنَّ امْرَأَةً تُفْزِعُنِي فِي الْمَنَامِ بِاللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ قُلْ لَهُ اجْعَلْ مِسْبَاحاً[1] وَ كَبِّرِ اللَّهَ أَرْبَعاً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ تَكْبِيرَةً وَ سَبِّحِ اللَّهَ ثَلَاثاً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ تَسْبِيحَةً وَ احْمَدِ اللَّهَ ثَلَاثاً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ وَ قُلْ‌ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَحْدَهُ‌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ‌ لَهُ الْم

“Ask the Imam, ‘A woman frightens me in my dream at night.’ The narrator has said that the Imam said, ‘Tell him to take rosary beads ( sabhah ) and say, ‘Allah is greater than can be described, thirty-four times, all praise belongs to Allah, thirty-three times, Allah is free of defects, thirty-three times,’ then say, “

أَتَى جَبْرَئِيلُ ع إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقُولُ لَكَ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَعْبُدَنِي يَوْماً وَ لَيْلَةً حَقَّ عِبَادَتِي فَارْفَعْ يَدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ وَ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ حَمْداً خَالِداً مَعَ خُلُودِكَ وَ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ حَمْداً لَا مُنْتَهَى لَهُ دُونَ عِلْمِكَ وَ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ حَمْداً لَا أَمَدَ لَهُ دُونَ مَشِيئَتِكَ وَ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ حَمْداً لَا جَزَاءَ لِقَائِلِهِ إِلَّا رِ

16. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid in a marfu’ manner has narrated the following: “Once Jibril (Gabriel) came to the Holy Prophet and said, ‘Your Lord says to you, “When you like to worship Me a day or night a true worshipping, raise your hands to Me and say, ‘O Lord, all praise

أَخَذْتُ هَذَا الدُّعَاءَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ع قَالَ وَ كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ يُسَمِّيهِ‌ الْجَامِعَ- بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ* أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ وَ بِجَمِيعِ رُسُلِهِ وَ بِجَمِيعِ مَا أَنْزَلَ بِهِ‌[1] عَلَى جَمِيعِ الرُّسُلِ وَ أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَ لِقَاءَه

26. Ali has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from abu Hamza who has said the following: “I acquired this supplication from abu Ja’far, Muhammad ibn Ali, recipient of divine supreme covenant. Abu Ja’far (a.s.) would call it al-Jami’ (comprehensive supplication): “In the name of Allah, the B

يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَانَ لِي مَالٌ وَرِثْتُهُ وَ لَمْ أُنْفِقْ مِنْهُ دِرْهَماً فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ثُمَّ اكْتَسَبْتُ مِنْهُ مَالًا فَلَمْ أُنْفِقْ مِنْهُ دِرْهَماً فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ فَعَلِّمْنِي دُعَاءً يُخْلِفُ عَلَيَّ مَا مَضَى وَ يَغْفِرُ لِي مَا عَمِلْتُ أَوْ عَمَلًا أَعْمَلُهُ قَالَ قُلْ قَالَ وَ أَيَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَقُولُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ قُلْ كَمَا أَقُولُ- يَا نُورِي فِي ك

35. Ali ibn abu Hamza has narrated from certain individuals of his people from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once a man came to Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) and said, ‘O Amir al- Mu’minin, I inherited a property but did not give even one dirham in obedience to Allah, the Most Majestic

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ أَحَقَّ النَّاسِ بِالتَّخَشُّعِ فِي السِّرِّ وَ الْعَلَانِيَةِ لَحَامِلُ الْقُرْآنِ وَ إِنَّ أَحَقَّ النَّاسِ فِي السِّرِّ وَ الْعَلَانِيَةِ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَ الصَّوْمِ لَحَامِلُ الْقُرْآنِ ثُمَّ نَادَى بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ يَا حَامِلَ الْقُرْآنِ تَوَاضَعْ بِهِ يَرْفَعْكَ اللَّهُ وَ لَا تَعَزَّزْ بِهِ فَيُذِلَّكَ اللَّهُ يَا حَامِلَ الْقُرْآنِ تَزَيَّنْ بِهِ لِلَّهِ يُزَيِّنْكَ اللَّهُ بِهِ

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The one expected to be the most humble in private and in public is the carrier of the Holy Quran, the one expected the most to perform prayer and fast in private and in public is the carrier of the Holy Quran. Then he called out loud, “O carrier of the Holy Quran, be humble with the h

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ قَرَأَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ فِي لَيْلَةٍ لَمْ يُكْتَبْ مِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً كُتِبَ مِنَ الذَّاكِرِينَ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَ مِائَةَ آيَةٍ كُتِبَ مِنَ الْقَانِتِينَ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَ مِائَتَيْ آيَةٍ كُتِبَ مِنَ الْخَاشِعِينَ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةِ آيَةٍ كُتِبَ مِنَ الْفَائِزِينَ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَ خَمْسَمِائَةِ آيَةٍ كُتِبَ مِنَ الْمُجْتَهِدِينَ وَ مَنْ قَرَأَ أَلْفَ آيَةٍ

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘One who reads ten verses from the Holy Quran in a night he is not written of the neglectful people. If one reads fifty verses, he is written of those who speak of Allah. If one reads one hundred verses, he is written of the pleading people before Allah. If one reads two hundred verses

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَوْحَى إِلَى مُوسَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ ع إِذَا وَقَفْتَ بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ فَقِفْ مَوْقِفَ الذَّلِيلِ الْفَقِيرِ وَ إِذَا قَرَأْتَ التَّوْرَاةَ فَأَسْمِعْنِيهَا بِصَوْتٍ حَزِينٍ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ali ibn Ma’bad from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Qasim from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, sent revelation to Moses son of ‘Imran, peace be upon him, ‘Whenever you stand before me, do so like

مِنَ التَّوَاضُعِ أَنْ تُسَلِّمَ عَلَى مَنْ لَقِيتَ.

“It is of humility to offer the greeting of peace to whomever you meet.”

عَطَسَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* ثُمَّ جَعَلَ إِصْبَعَهُ عَلَى أَنْفِهِ فَقَالَ رَغِمَ أَنْفِي لِلَّهِ رَغْماً دَاخِراً.

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) sneezed and said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds,’ then he placed his finger over his nose and said, ‘Humble is my nose before Allah with complete humility.’”

إِنَّ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ الضَّحِكَ مِنْ غَيْرِ عَجَبٍ قَالَ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ لَا تُبْدِيَنَّ عَنْ وَاضِحَةٍ[1] وَ قَدْ عَمِلْتَ الْأَعْمَالَ الْفَاضِحَةَ وَ لَا يَأْمَنِ الْبَيَاتَ مَنْ عَمِلَ السَّيِّئَاتِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘It is ignorance to laugh without astonishment.’ The narrator has said that the Imam would say, ‘In laughing do not allow your teeth to become visible, when you have committed disgraceful deeds. One who has committed evil deeds should not feel secure about what kinds of misfortune the n