Kindness & Mercy

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أُخَالِطُ أَهْلَ الْمُرُوءَةِ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ قَدْ أَكْتَفِي مِنَ الدُّهْنِ بِالْيَسِيرِ فَأَتَمَسَّحُ بِهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ فَقَالَ مَا أُحِبُّ لَكَ ذَلِكَ فَقُلْتُ يَوْمٌ وَ يَوْمٌ لَا فَقَالَ وَ مَا أُحِبُّ لَكَ ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ يَوْمٍ وَ يَوْمَيْنِ لَا فَقَالَ الْجُمُعَةُ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ يَوْمٌ وَ يَوْمَيْنِ‌[3].

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I associate with careful people and content myself with a small amount of oil which I use little by little every day.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘I do not like it for you.’ I then asked, ‘Should I then use one day and should not use the next day?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘I do not like tha

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي كَمْ أَدَّهِنُ قَالَ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ مَرَّةً فَقُلْتُ إِذَنْ يَرَى النَّاسُ بِي خَصَاصَةً فَلَمْ أَزَلْ أُمَاكِسُهُ فَقَالَ فَفِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ مَرَّةً لَمْ يَزِدْنِي عَلَيْهَا.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about how many times should I apply oil?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Apply oil only once a year.’ I then said, ‘People will consider me as living in destitution.’ I continued asking if I can apply oil once a month or so but he (the Imam) did not increase.’”

قَالَ الْبَنَفْسَجُ سَيِّدُ أَدْهَانِكُمْ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Viola oil is the master of your oils.’”

أَهْدَيْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بَغْلَةً فَصَرَعَتِ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتُ بِهَا مَعَهُ فَأَمَّتْهُ‌[1] فَدَخَلْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ فَأَخْبَرْنَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ أَ فَلَا أَسْعَطْتُمُوهُ بَنَفْسَجاً فَأُسْعِطَ بِالْبَنَفْسَجِ فَبَرَأَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عُقْبَةُ إِنَّ الْبَنَفْسَجَ بَارِدٌ فِي الصَّيْفِ حَارٌّ فِي الشِّتَاءِ لَيِّنٌ عَلَى شِيعَتِنَا يَابِسٌ عَلَى عَدُوِّنَا لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي

“I once sent a mule as a gift to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), but (on the way) it made the driver to fall off. I then decided to visit him (the Imam) and when we were in al-Madinah, we informed abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about it. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must make him (the driver) to sniff viola. He sniffed viola and recovered.

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا يَأْتِينَا مِنْ نَاحِيَتِكُمْ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْنَا مِنَ الْبَنَفْسَجِ.

‘From your area no other thing comes more likable to us than viola.’”

مَثَلُ الْبَنَفْسَجِ فِي الْأَدْهَانِ مَثَلُنَا فِي النَّاسِ.

‘The likeness of voila oil among oils is like us among other people.’”

فَضْلُ الْبَنَفْسَجِ عَلَى الْأَدْهَانِ كَفَضْلِ الْإِسْلَامِ عَلَى الْأَدْيَانِ نِعْمَ الدُّهْنُ الْبَنَفْسَجُ لَيَذْهَبُ بِالدَّاءِ مِنَ الرَّأْسِ وَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ فَادَّهِنُوا بِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The excellence of viola oil over other oils is like the excellence of Islam over other religions. Viola is very good; it banishes the pain from the head and eyes, so you must apply it.’”

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ مِهْزَمٌ فَقَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ادْعُ لَنَا الْجَارِيَةَ تَجِئْنَا بِدُهْنٍ وَ كُحْلٍ فَدَعَوْتُ بِهَا فَجَاءَتْ بِقَارُورَةِ بَنَفْسَجٍ وَ كَانَ يَوْماً شَدِيدَ الْبَرْدِ فَصَبَّ مِهْزَمٌ فِي رَاحَتِهِ مِنْهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا بَنَفْسَجٌ وَ هَذَا الْبَرْدُ الشَّدِيدُ فَقَالَ وَ مَا بَالُهُ يَا مِهْزَمُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ مُتَطَبِّبِينَا

“Once I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when Mehzam came to visit him (the Imam) and abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said to me, ‘Call the slave-girl to bring for us oil.’ I called her, she brought a bottle of viola, and it was a cold day. Mehzam poured a certain amount on his palm, then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul i

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ اسْتَعِطُوا بِالْبَنَفْسَجِ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي الْبَنَفْسَجِ لَحَسَوْهُ حَسْواً[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘You must try to sniff viola; the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “Had people known about what is in viola they would drink and slurp it.’””

دُهْنُ الْبَنَفْسَجِ يَرْزُنُ الدِّمَاغَ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Viola oil calms down the condition of the brain/”

دَهْنُ الْحَاجِبَيْنِ بِالْبَنَفْسَجِ يَذْهَبُ بِالصُّدَاعِ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘Applying viola oil to one’s eyebrows dispels headaches.’”

مَثَلُ الْبَنَفْسَجِ فِي الدُّهْنِ كَمَثَلِ شِيعَتِنَا فِي النَّاسِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The likeness of viola oil among the oils is like our followers among the people.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ اكْسِرُوا حَرَّ الْحُمَّى بِالْبَنَفْسَجِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Curb the heat of fever with viola oil.’”

ذَكَرَ دُهْنَ الْبَنَفْسَجِ فَزَكَّاهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَ إِنَّ الْخِيرِيَّ لَطِيفٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), mentioned viola oil and praised it; then he (the Imam) said that the oil of gillyflower is also very fine oil.”’

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَدَّهِنُ بِالْخِيرِيِّ فَقَالَ لِيَ ادَّهِنْ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَيْنَ أَنْتَ عَنِ الْبَنَفْسَجِ وَ قَدْ رُوِيَ فِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌[3] قَالَ أَكْرَهُ رِيحَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ‌ فَإِنِّي كُنْتُ أَكْرَهُ رِيحَهُ وَ أَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَقُولَ ذَلِكَ لِمَا بَلَغَنِي فِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“I once saw abu al-Hassan (a.s.), apply gillyflower oil and said to me to apply it.’ I then said, ‘Why do you not apply viola oil when there is narration about it from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) :?’ He, abu al-Hassan (a.s.), said, ‘I do not like its smell.’ He (the narrator) has said that I said, ‘I also do not like its sme

ذُكِرَتْ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْأَدْهَانُ فَذُكِرَ الْبَنَفْسَجُ وَ فَضْلُهُ فَقَالَ نِعْمَ الدُّهْنُ الْبَنَفْسَجُ ادَّهِنُوا بِهِ فَإِنَّ فَضْلَهُ عَلَى الْأَدْهَانِ كَفَضْلِنَا عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ الْبَانُ دُهْنُ ذَكَرٍ[2] نِعْمَ الدُّهْنُ الْبَانُ وَ إِنَّهُ لَيُعْجِبُنِي الْخَلُوقُ.

“I once mentioned oils and viola oil and its excellence before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.). He (the Imam) said, ‘Viola oil is very good oil. You must apply it; its excellence over other oils is like our excellence over other people. Oil of frankincense is fine oil, I however like al-Khuluq oil.”’

شَكَا رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع شُقَاقاً فِي يَدَيْهِ وَ رِجْلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ خُذْ قُطْنَةً فَاجْعَلْ فِيهَا بَاناً وَ ضَعْهَا فِي سُرَّتِكَ فَقَالَ إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ يَجْعَلُ الْبَانَ فِي قُطْنَةٍ وَ يَجْعَلُهَا فِي سُرَّتِهِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا أَنْتَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ فَصُبَّ الْبَانَ فِي سُرَّتِكَ فَإِنَّهَا كَبِيرَةٌ قَالَ ابْنُ أُذَيْنَةَ لَقِيتُ الرَّجُلَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأَخْبَرَنِي

“Once, a man complained before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about cracks in his hands and feet. He (the Imam) said, ‘Take a piece of cotton, place frankincense oil in it and apply it in your belly button.’ Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar has said that I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, frankincense oil in c

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ نِعْمَ الدُّهْنُ الْبَانُ.

‘Frankincense oil is a fine oil.’”

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ شَيْ‌ءٌ خَيْراً لِلْجَسَدِ مِنْ دُهْنِ الزَّنْبَقِ يَعْنِي الرَّازِقِيَّ.

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, that no other thing is better for the body than the oil of gladiola (lily), that is al-Raziqiy (a certain plant).’”

كَانَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع يَسْتَعِطُ بِالشَّلِيثَا[1] وَ بِالزَّنْبَقِ الشَّدِيدِ الْحَرِّ خَسْفَيْهِ‌[2] قَالَ وَ كَانَ الرِّضَا ع أَيْضاً يَسْتَعِطُ بِهِ فَقُلْتُ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ لِمَ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِبَعْضِ الْمُتَطَبِّبِينَ فَذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ جَيِّدٌ لِلْجِمَاعِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), would smell al-Shalisha (a certain mixture) and gladiola as medicine to cure the heat of his runny nose. I asked ‘Ali ibn Ja‘far about it. Ali said that I mentioned it to a certain physician who said that it is very good for going to bed with one’s wife.’”

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ إِذَا اشْتَكَى رَأْسَهُ اسْتَعَطَ بِدُهْنِ الْجُلْجُلَانِ وَ هُوَ السِّمْسِمُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, complained about his head he inhaled sesame oil.”’

‌ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص كَانَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَسْتَعِطَ بِدُهْنِ السِّمْسِمِ

liked to inhale the fragrance of sesame oil.’”

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ إِذَا أُتِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ بِرَيْحَانٍ فَلْيَشَمَّهُ وَ لْيَضَعْهُ عَلَى عَيْنَيْهِ فَإِنَّهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ إِذَا أُتِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ بِهِ فَلَا يَرُدَّهُ.

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘If one brings you sweet basil you must smell it and place it on your eyes because it is from the garden (paradises); and if it is brought for you do not reject it.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا أُتِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالرَّيْحَانِ فَلْيَشَمَّهُ وَ لْيَضَعْهُ عَلَى عَيْنَيْهِ فَإِنَّهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ.

2. Ibn Mahbub has narrated from ‘ Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If sweet basil is brought for one of you he must smell it and place it on his eyes because it is from the garden (paradises).”’

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الرَّيْحَانُ وَاحِدٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ نَوْعاً سَيِّدُهَا الْآسُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Sweet basil is of twenty-one kinds and the master among them is myrtle.’”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ فِي يَدِهِ مِخْضَبَةٌ فِيهَا رَيْحَانٌ‌[1].

“I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when there was a bucket for herbs in his hand with sweet basil therein.’”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ صَاحِبِ الْعَسْكَرِ ع فَجَاءَ صَبِيٌّ مِنْ صِبْيَانِهِ فَنَاوَلَهُ وَرْدَةً فَقَبَّلَهَا وَ وَضَعَهَا عَلَى عَيْنَيْهِ ثُمَّ نَاوَلَنِيهَا وَ قَالَ يَا أَبَا هَاشِمٍ مَنْ تَنَاوَلَ وَرْدَةً أَوْ رَيْحَانَةً فَقَبَّلَهَا وَ وَضَعَهَا عَلَى عَيْنَيْهِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَئِمَّةِ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ الْحَسَنَاتِ مِثْلَ رَمْلِ عَالِجٍ وَ مَحَا عَنْهُ مِنَ السّ

“I once visited abu al-Hassan, Sahib al- ‘Askar (a.s.), when one of his children came and give him a flower. He (the Imam) kissed it and placed it on his eyes. He (the Imam) then gave it to me and said, ‘O abu Hashim, one on receiving a flower or a bunch of sweet basil should kiss and then place it on his eyes. Then he

مِنَ السَّعَادَةِ سَعَةُ الْمَنْزِلِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Spaciousness of the house is of one’s good fortune.”’

إِنَّ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع اشْتَرَى دَاراً وَ أَمَرَ مَوْلًى لَهُ أَنْ يَتَحَوَّلَ إِلَيْهَا وَ قَالَ إِنَّ مَنْزِلَكَ ضَيِّقٌ فَقَالَ قَدْ أَحْدَثَ هَذِهِ الدَّارَ أَبِي فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِنْ كَانَ أَبُوكَ أَحْمَقَ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ تَكُونَ مِثْلَهُ‌[2].

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Mu’ammar ibn Khallad who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), purchased a house and instructed one of his Mawla’ to move in saying, ‘Your house is congested.’ He said, ‘My father has established this house.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If your

ثَلَاثَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ فِيهَا رَاحَةٌ دَارٌ وَاسِعَةٌ تُوَارِي عَوْرَتَهُ وَ سُوءَ حَالِهِ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ امْرَأَةٌ صَالِحَةٌ تُعِينُهُ عَلَى أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ ابْنَةٌ أَوْ أُخْتٌ يُخْرِجُهَا مِنْ مَنْزِلِهِ إِمَّا بِمَوْتٍ أَوْ بِتَزَوُّجٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Three things provide comfort for a believing person. Of such matters one is a spacious house which provides him privacy for his bad conditions among people, a virtuous wife who helps him in the matters of this and the next life and a daughter or sister whom he sends out of his house i

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الْعَيْشُ السَّعَةُ فِي الْمَنَازِلِ وَ الْفَضْلُ فِي الْخَدَمِ.

“I once heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, ‘Spaciousness of the house and extra help from the servants are of the means of happy living.’”

سَعَةُ الْمَنْزِلِ وَ كَثْرَةُ الْمُحِبِّينَ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), was asked about the excellence of the worldly life. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is in spacious house and in the great number of friends.’”

مِنْ شَقَاءِ الْعَيْشِ ضِيقُ الْمَنْزِلِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Of the misfortunes in the worldly life is a small and congested house.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ الْمَسْكَنُ الْوَاسِعُ.

‘Of the good fortune for a Muslim man is spaciousness of the house.’”

شَكَا رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أَنَّ الدُّورَ قَدِ اكْتَنَفَتْهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص ارْفَعْ صَوْتَكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ وَ سَلِ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُوَسِّعَ عَلَيْكَ.

8. Through the same chain of narrators as that of the previous Hadith the following is narrated: “Once, a man of the people of al-Ansar complained before the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, that houses have caused great congestions for him. Th

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَتَانِي جَبْرَئِيلُ وَ قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلَامَ وَ يَنْهَى عَنْ تَزْوِيقِ الْبُيُوتِ قَالَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ فَقُلْتُ مَا تَزْوِيقُ الْبُيُوتِ فَقَالَ تَصَاوِيرُ التَّمَاثِيلِ.

“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, ‘Once Jibril came to me and said, “O Muhammad, your Lord sends you greeting of peace and prohibits you to decorate the houses.’” Abu Basir has said, ‘I a

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ جَبْرَئِيلَ ع أَتَانِي فَقَالَ إِنَّا مَعَاشِرَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ لَا نَدْخُلُ بَيْتاً فِيهِ كَلْبٌ وَ لَا تِمْثَالُ جَسَدٍ وَ لَا إِنَاءٌ يُبَالُ فِيهِ.

‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “Once Jibril came to me and said, ‘We the community of angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog, statues or a pot in which people urinate.”””

إِنَّ جَبْرَئِيلَ ع قَالَ إِنَّا لَا نَدْخُلُ بَيْتاً فِيهِ صُورَةٌ وَ لَا كَلْبٌ يَعْنِي صُورَةَ الْإِنْسَانِ وَ لَا بَيْتاً فِيهِ تَمَاثِيلُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said that Jibril has said, ‘We do not enter a house in which there are pictures, or a dog, that is, pictures of human beings or a house in which statues exist.’”

مَنْ مَثَّلَ تِمْثَالًا كُلِّفَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَنْ يَنْفُخَ فِيهِ الرُّوحَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘If one forms a statue, he on the Day of Judgment will be held responsible to blow the spirit in it.’”

إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع كَرِهَ الصُّورَةَ فِي الْبُيُوتِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said that Ali, Alayhi al-Salam, disliked the existence of pictures in houses.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْوِسَادَةِ وَ الْبِسَاطِ يَكُونُ فِيهِ التَّمَاثِيلُ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ يَكُونُ فِي الْبَيْتِ قُلْتُ التَّمَاثِيلُ فَقَالَ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ يُوطَأُ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

‘It is not unlawful if it is in the house.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Anything with pictures which is used under the feet is not harmful.’”

وَ اللَّهِ مَا هِيَ تَمَاثِيلَ الرِّجَالِ وَ النِّسَاءِ وَ لَكِنَّهَا الشَّجَرُ وَ شِبْهُهُ.

“About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘...they made for him whatever he wanted like prayer niche, statues...’ (34:13). He (Abu ‘Abdillah (as)) said, ‘They (statues), by Allah, were not the statues of man and women, they, however, were of trees and similar things.’”

لَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يَكُونَ التَّمَاثِيلُ فِي الْبُيُوتِ إِذَا غُيِّرَتْ رُءُوسُهَا مِنْهَا وَ تُرِكَ مَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ.

‘The existence of al-Tamathil (pictures or statues) in a house is not harmful if their heads are changed and the rest is left.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الدَّارِ وَ الْحُجْرَةِ فِيهَا التَّمَاثِيلُ أَ يُصَلَّى فِيهَا فَقَالَ لَا تُصَلِّ فِيهَا وَ فِيهَا شَيْ‌ءٌ يَسْتَقْبِلُكَ إِلَّا أَنْ لَا تَجِدَ بُدّاً فَتَقْطَعَ رُءُوسَهَا وَ إِلَّا فَلَا تُصَلِّ فِيهَا.

“I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the house or a room in which there are pictures; if Salat (prayer) can be performed there. He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not perform Salat (prayer) where in front of you there is something (as such), unless you have no choice then you must cut their heads, otherwise, do not perform Salat

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ ثَلَاثَةٌ مُعَذَّبُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ رَجُلٌ كَذَبَ فِي رُؤْيَاهُ يُكَلَّفُ أَنْ يَعْقِدَ بَيْنَ شَعِيرَتَيْنِ وَ لَيْسَ بِعَاقِدٍ بَيْنَهُمَا وَ رَجُلٌ صَوَّرَ تَمَاثِيلَ يُكَلَّفُ أَنْ يَنْفُخَ فِيهَا وَ لَيْسَ بِنَافِخٍ‌[1].

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. ‘Three kinds of people will be in suffering on the Day of Judgment. Of such people, one is a man who lies about his dream. He will be held responsible to form a knot between two pieces of barley grains and he will never be able to do so. One is a man who builds statues.

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي هَدْمِ الْقُبُورِ وَ كَسْرِ الصُّوَرِ.

"Rasulullah (sw) sent on an expedition to demolish the graves and destroy pictures."

قَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا لَا نَدْخُلُ بَيْتاً فِيهِ صُورَةُ إِنْسَانٍ وَ لَا بَيْتاً يُبَالُ فِيهِ وَ لَا بَيْتاً فِيهِ كَلْبٌ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that Jibril (a.s.), once said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, we do not enter a house in which picture of human beings exists or a house in which people urinate or a house in which a dog exists.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ قَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع إِنَّا لَا نَدْخُلُ بَيْتاً فِيهِ تِمْثَالٌ لَا يُوطَأُ. الْحَدِيثُ مُخْتَصَرٌ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin, 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 that Jibril (a.s.), has said, ‘We do not enter a house in which a picture on which feet are not set exists . . . Hadith in brief.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ لَا تَدَعْ صُورَةً إِلَّا مَحَوْتَهَا وَ لَا قَبْراً إِلَّا سَوَّيْتَهُ وَ لَا كَلْباً إِلَّا قَتَلْتَهُ.

"Once Rasulullah (sw) sent me to Medina saying, 'Do not leave any picture without effacing it, any grave without levelling it and any dog without killing it.'"

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ وَكَّلَ مَلَكاً بِالْبِنَاءِ يَقُولُ لِمَنْ رَفَعَ سَقْفاً فَوْقَ ثَمَانِيَةِ أَذْرُعٍ أَيْنَ تُرِيدُ يَا فَاسِقُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has appointed an angel on buildings who says to those who raise a roof higher than eight yards (arms length), “Where do you want to go, O sinful person?’””