Piety & God-consciousness

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْإِسْلَامُ عُرْيَانٌ فَلِبَاسُهُ الْحَيَاءُ وَ زِينَتُهُ الْوَقَارُ[1] وَ مُرُوءَتُهُ الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ وَ عِمَادُهُ الْوَرَعُ وَ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَسَاسٌ وَ أَسَاسُ الْإِسْلَامِ حُبُّنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ‌[2]. - عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ مُدْرِكِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مِثْلَهُ.

2. It is narrated from him from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Qasim from Mudrik ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Islam is bare. Its dress is bashfulness, dignity is its ornament, virtuous deeds are its kindness and strict following of law i

إِنَّكُمْ لَا تَكُونُونَ صَالِحِينَ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا وَ لَا تَعْرِفُونَ حَتَّى تُصَدِّقُوا وَ لَا تُصَدِّقُونَ حَتَّى تُسَلِّمُوا أَبْوَاباً أَرْبَعَةً لَا يَصْلُحُ أَوَّلُهَا إِلَّا بِآخِرِهَا ضَلَّ أَصْحَابُ الثَّلَاثَةِ وَ تَاهُوا تَيْهاً بَعِيداً إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا الْعَمَلَ الصَّالِحَ وَ لَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْوَفَاءِ بِالشُّرُوطِ وَ الْعُهُودِ وَ مَنْ وَفَى الل

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from those whom he has mentioned from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Layla from his father from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “You will not become virtuous until you learn, you will not learn until you af

رَفَعَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص‌[4] قَوْمٌ فِي بَعْضِ غَزَوَاتِهِ فَقَالَ مَنِ الْقَوْمُ‌[5] فَقَالُوا مُؤْمِنُونَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ وَ مَا بَلَغَ مِنْ إِيمَانِكُمْ قَالُوا الصَّبْرُ عِنْدَ الْبَلَاءِ وَ الشُّكْرُ عِنْدَ الرَّخَاءِ وَ الرِّضَا بِالْقَضَاءِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص حُلَمَاءُ[6] عُلَمَاءُ كَادُوا مِنَ الْفِقْهِ أَنْ يَكُونُوا أَنْبِيَاءَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ كَمَا تَصِفُونَ فَلَا تَبْنُوا مَا لَا تَسْ

“A people came to the Messenger of Allah during one of the armed expeditions and he asked who are these people? They said, ‘Believers, O Messenger of Allah.’ He then asked, ‘What is the degree of your belief?’ They replied, ‘It is patience in hardships, thankfulness in prosperous life and agreement with the decision of

خَطَبَنَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي دَارِهِ أَوْ قَالَ فِي الْقَصْرِ وَ نَحْنُ مُجْتَمِعُونَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ فَكُتِبَ فِي كِتَابٍ وَ قُرِئَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ رَوَى غَيْرُهُ أَنَّ ابْنَ الْكَوَّاءِ[2] سَأَلَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَنْ صِفَةِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ الْإِيمَانِ وَ الْكُفْرِ وَ النِّفَاقِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى- شَرَعَ الْإِسْلَامَ وَ سَهَّلَ شَ

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa and a number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid all from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ya’qub al-Sarraj from Jabir from Abu Ja’far (a.s.) and through various chain of narrators from Asbagh ib

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ الْإِيمَانُ فَوْقَ الْإِسْلَامِ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَ التَّقْوَى فَوْقَ الْإِيمَانِ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَ الْيَقِينُ فَوْقَ التَّقْوَى بِدَرَجَةٍ وَ مَا قُسِمَ فِي النَّاسِ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَقَلُّ مِنَ الْيَقِينِ.

“I heard abu Al-Hassan (a.s.) saying, ‘Belief is above Islam by one degree. Piety is above belief by one degree. Certainty is above piety by one degree. Nothing is distributed so little among people as certainty is.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ الْإِسْلَامُ دَرَجَةٌ[1] قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ وَ الْإِيمَانُ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ دَرَجَةٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ وَ التَّقْوَى عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ دَرَجَةٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ وَ الْيَقِينُ عَلَى التَّقْوَى دَرَجَةٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّاسُ أَقَلَّ مِنَ الْيَقِينِ وَ إِنَّمَا تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِأَدْنَى الْإِسْلَامِ فَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنْ

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said to me, ‘O abu Muhammad, Islam is a high status.’ I said, ‘Yes, indeed it is.’ The Imam said, ‘Belief is above Islam by one degree.’ I said, ‘Yes, it is.’ The Imam said, ‘Piety is above belief by one degree.’ I said, ‘Yes, it is.’ The Imam said, ‘Certainty is above piety by one degree.’ I

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ وَ الْإِسْلَامِ فَقَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّمَا هُوَ[3] الْإِسْلَامُ وَ الْإِيمَانُ فَوْقَهُ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَ التَّقْوَى فَوْقَ الْإِيمَانِ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَ الْيَقِينُ فَوْقَ التَّقْوَى بِدَرَجَةٍ وَ لَمْ يُقْسَمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَقَلُّ مِنَ الْيَقِينِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَأَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ الْيَقِينُ قَالَ التَّوَكُّلُ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ التَّسْلِيمُ لِلَّهِ وَ الر

abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) about belief and Islam and he said, abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said the following: ‘There is Islam. Belief is one degree higher above Islam, and piety is one degree higher above belief. Certainty is by one degree higher above piety and nothing is distributed among people so little as certainty i

الْإِيمَانُ فَوْقَ الْإِسْلَامِ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَ التَّقْوَى فَوْقَ الْإِيمَانِ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَ الْيَقِينُ فَوْقَ التَّقْوَى بِدَرَجَةٍ وَ لَمْ يُقْسَمْ بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَقَلُّ مِنَ الْيَقِينِ.

“Belief is one degree higher than Islam. Piety is one degree higher than belief. Certainty is one degree higher above piety. Nothing is distributed among people so little as certainty is.”

بَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي بَعْضِ أَسْفَارِهِ إِذْ لَقِيَهُ رَكْبٌ فَقَالُوا السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ مَا أَنْتُمْ فَقَالُوا نَحْنُ مُؤْمِنُونَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَمَا حَقِيقَةُ إِيمَانِكُمْ قَالُوا الرِّضَا بِقَضَاءِ اللَّهِ وَ التَّفْوِيضُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ التَّسْلِيمُ لِأَمْرِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عُلَمَاءُ حُكَمَاءُ[1] كَادُوا أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْحِكْمَةِ أَنْبِيَ

“During one of the journeys of the Messenger of Allah a group of people who were riding came to meet him. They said, ‘Salute to you O Messenger of Allah.’ He asked, ‘Who are you?’ They replied, ‘We are believers, O Messenger of Allah.’ He then asked, ‘What is the essence of your belief?’ They replied, ‘It is to agree w

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ‌ نَبِّهْ بِالتَّفَكُّرِ قَلْبَكَ وَ جَافِ‌[2] عَنِ اللَّيْلِ جَنْبَكَ وَ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّكَ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘Awaken your heart by thinking. Keep your side off the bed at night (meaning stand up for nightly prayers) and be pious before your Lord, Allah.’”

إِنَّا لَنُحِبُّ مَنْ كَانَ عَاقِلًا فَهِماً فَقِيهاً حَلِيماً مُدَارِياً صَبُوراً صَدُوقاً وَفِيّاً إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَصَّ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ بِمَكَارِمِ الْأَخْلَاقِ فَمَنْ كَانَتْ فِيهِ فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَ مَنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ فِيهِ فَلْيَتَضَرَّعْ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لْيَسْأَلْهُ إِيَّاهَا قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَا هُنَّ قَالَ هُنَّ الْوَرَعُ وَ الْقَنَاعَةُ وَ الصَّبْر

“We certainly love a person of reason, of good understanding, who has good knowledge and understanding of the law, who is forbearing, who is kind, who bears patience, who is truthful and who is loyal. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has chosen the prophets for noble moral (human) qualities. Whoever has them (n

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ رِجَالِكُمْ قُلْنَا بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ إِنَّ مِنْ خَيْرِ رِجَالِكُمُ التَّقِيَّ النَّقِيَّ السَّمْحَ الْكَفَّيْنِ النَّقِيَّ الطَّرَفَيْنِ‌[1] الْبَرَّ بِوَالِدَيْهِ وَ لَا يُلْجِئُ عِيَالَهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ‌[2].

“The Messenger of Allah (a.s.) once said, ‘Do you want me to tell you about the best men among you?’ We said, ‘Yes, O, Messenger of Allah, do so.’ He said, ‘The best men among you are the pious, clean, of forgiving hands, clean on both ends (tongue and genitals) who is kind to his parents and does not leave out his dep

أَحَقُّ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ لِمَا قَضَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَنْ عَرَفَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مَنْ رَضِيَ بِالْقَضَاءِ أَتَى عَلَيْهِ الْقَضَاءُ وَ عَظَّمَ اللَّهُ أَجْرَهُ وَ مَنْ سَخِطَ الْقَضَاءَ مَضَى عَلَيْهِ الْقَضَاءُ وَ أَحْبَطَ اللَّهُ أَجْرَهُ.

"The most righteous people to agree with the decisions of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, are those who have recognized Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy. Whoever is satisfied with the decision of Allah that is to take place anyway, Allah increases his reward. Whoever disagrees with the decision of Allah

قَالَ لِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمَا الزُّهْدُ عَشَرَةُ أَجْزَاءٍ أَعْلَى دَرَجَةِ الزُّهْدِ أَدْنَى دَرَجَةِ الْوَرَعِ وَ أَعْلَى دَرَجَةِ الْوَرَعِ أَدْنَى دَرَجَةِ الْيَقِينِ وَ أَعْلَى دَرَجَةِ الْيَقِينِ أَدْنَى دَرَجَةِ الرِّضَا.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘Abstinence from worldly pleasures has ten levels. Its highest level is the lowest level of piety and reserve. The highest level of piety and reserve is the lowest level of certainty. The highest level of certainty is the lowest level of satisfaction to the decision of Allah.’”

أَيُّمَا عَبْدٍ أَقْبَلَ قِبَلَ مَا يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَقْبَلَ اللَّهُ قِبَلَ مَا يُحِبُّ وَ مَنِ اعْتَصَمَ بِاللَّهِ عَصَمَهُ اللَّهُ وَ مَنْ أَقْبَلَ اللَّهُ قِبَلَهُ وَ عَصَمَهُ لَمْ يُبَالِ لَوْ سَقَطَتِ السَّمَاءُ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ أَوْ كَانَتْ نَازِلَةٌ نَزَلَتْ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ فَشَمِلَتْهُمْ بَلِيَّةٌ كَانَ فِي حِزْبِ اللَّهِ بِالتَّقْوَى مِنْ كُلِّ بَلِيَّةٍ أَ لَيْسَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ

“Any servant (of Allah) who comes forward to accept what Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, loves, Allah comes forward with what he (the servant) loves. Whoever seeks protection with Allah, He protects him. To whoever’s rescue Allah comes He will protect him even if the skies were to fall on earth or an incident

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا كَانَ فِي وَصِيَّةِ لُقْمَانَ قَالَ كَانَ فِيهَا الْأَعَاجِيبُ وَ كَانَ أَعْجَبَ مَا كَانَ فِيهَا أَنْ قَالَ لِابْنِهِ خَفِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خِيفَةً لَوْ جِئْتَهُ بِبِرِّ الثَّقَلَيْنِ لَعَذَّبَكَ وَ ارْجُ اللَّهَ رَجَاءً لَوْ جِئْتَهُ بِذُنُوبِ الثَّقَلَيْنِ لَرَحِمَكَ‌[4] ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَانَ أَبِي يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ عَبْدٍ مُؤْمِنٍ إِلَّا [وَ] فِي قَلْبِهِ نُورَان

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘What did the will of Luqman (the person mentioned in Chapter 31 of the Holy Quran) contain?’ The Imam said, ‘It contained amazing things and the most amazing one was what he said to his son, “My son, be pious before Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, such that even if you come into H

لَا تَذْهَبْ بِكُمُ الْمَذَاهِبُ‌[4] فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا شِيعَتُنَا إِلَّا مَنْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Do not allow (false) religions to confuse you. Of our Shi’a and true followers are only those who obey Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.”

خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ع فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ يُقَرِّبُكُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ يُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِهِ وَ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ يُقَرِّبُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ يُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْهُ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ الرُّوحَ الْأَمِينَ نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي أَنَّهُ لَنْ تَمُوتَ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَكْمِلَ رِز

“The Messenger of Allah addressed the people during his farewell (last) visit to Makka, ‘O people, I swear by Allah, everything that can take you closer to paradise and farther away from hell I have commanded you all to follow. Everything that may take you closer to hell and farther away from paradise I have prohibited

قَالَ لِي‌ يَا جَابِرُ أَ يَكْتَفِي مَنِ انْتَحَلَ التَّشَيُّعَ‌[2] أَنْ يَقُولَ بِحُبِّنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا شِيعَتُنَا إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّقَى اللَّهَ وَ أَطَاعَهُ وَ مَا كَانُوا يُعْرَفُونَ يَا جَابِرُ إِلَّا بِالتَّوَاضُعِ وَ التَّخَشُّعِ وَ الْأَمَانَةِ وَ كَثْرَةِ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَ الصَّوْمِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ وَ الْبِرِّ بِالْوَالِدَيْنِ وَ التَّعَاهُدِ لِلْجِيرَانِ مِنَ الْفُقَرَاءِ وَ أَهْلِ الْمَسْكَ

3. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn Salim and Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father all from Ahmad ibn al-Nadr from ‘Amr ibn Shamir from Jabir from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “O Jabir, do people think just claiming to be our Shi’a and saying they love us ( Ahl al-Bayt) is enough f

إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ يَقُومُ عُنُقٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ‌[2] فَيَأْتُونَ بَابَ الْجَنَّةِ فَيَضْرِبُونَهُ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ مَنْ أَنْتُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ نَحْنُ أَهْلُ الصَّبْرِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ عَلَى مَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ كُنَّا نَصْبِرُ عَلَى طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَ نَصْبِرُ عَنْ مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ صَدَقُوا أَدْخِلُوهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِنَّما يُوَف

“On the Day of Judgment, a group of people will raise their necks, approach the door of Paradise and knock on it. They will then be asked, ‘Who are you?’. They will say, ‘We are the people of patience.’ They will then be asked, ‘In what matters did you exercise patience?’. They will answer, ‘We exercised patience in ob

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَقِلُّ عَمَلٌ مَعَ تَقْوَى وَ كَيْفَ يَقِلُّ مَا يُتَقَبَّلُ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) would say, ‘A deed with piety is never considered a little deed. How could it be considered little when it is the very thing with which deeds are accepted?”’

يَا مَعْشَرَ الشِّيعَةِ شِيعَةِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كُونُوا النُّمْرُقَةَ الْوُسْطَى‌[4] يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْكُمُ الْغَالِي وَ يَلْحَقُ بِكُمُ التَّالِي فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ يُقَالُ لَهُ سَعْدٌ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا الْغَالِي قَالَ قَوْمٌ يَقُولُونَ فِينَا مَا لَا نَقُولُهُ فِي أَنْفُسِنَا فَلَيْسَ أُولَئِكَ مِنَّا وَ لَسْنَا مِنْهُمْ قَالَ فَمَا التَّالِي قَالَ الْمُرْتَادُ يُرِيدُ الْخَيْرَ يُبَلِّغُهُ الْخَيْ

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘O the community of Shi’a, Shi’a of Muhammad (a.s.) be the central support so that both al- Ghali and al-Tali refer to you.’ A man from Ansar (people of Madina) called Sa’d, said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, what is the meaning of al-GhaliV The Imam said, ‘They are th

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَذَكَرْنَا الْأَعْمَالَ فَقُلْتُ أَنَا مَا أَضْعَفَ عَمَلِي فَقَالَ مَهْ اسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي إِنَّ قَلِيلَ الْعَمَلِ مَعَ التَّقْوَى خَيْرٌ مِنْ كَثِيرِ الْعَمَلِ بِلَا تَقْوَى قُلْتُ كَيْفَ يَكُونُ كَثِيرٌ بِلَا تَقْوَى قَالَ نَعَمْ مِثْلُ الرَّجُلِ يُطْعِمُ طَعَامَهُ وَ يَرْفُقُ جِيرَانَهُ وَ يُوَطِّئُ رَحْلَهُ‌[1] فَإِذَا ارْتَفَعَ لَهُ الْبَابُ مِنَ الْحَرَامِ

“Once I was in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). We spoke about deeds and I said, ‘My deeds are the weakest.’ The Imam said, ‘Calm down. Ask forgiveness from Allah.’ Then the Imam said to me, ‘A little deed with piety is better than a great deal of deeds without piety.’ I then asked, ‘Can there be a great deal of

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا نَقَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَبْداً مِنْ ذُلِّ الْمَعَاصِي إِلَى عِزِّ التَّقْوَى إِلَّا أَغْنَاهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَالٍ وَ أَعَزَّهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ عَشِيرَةٍ وَ آنَسَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ بَشَرٍ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, does not transfer a believer from the humiliation of sins to the honor of piety before granting him freedom from wants without property, strength without tribesmen and comforting companionship without people.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي لَا أَلْقَاكَ إِلَّا فِي السِّنِينَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي بِشَيْ‌ءٍ آخُذُ بِهِ فَقَالَ أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ الْوَرَعِ وَ الِاجْتِهَادِ[2] وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْفَعُ اجْتِهَادٌ لَا وَرَعَ فِيهِ.

The Imam said, ‘I advise you to be pious before Allah, restrain from worldly matters (sins) and work hard. Note it properly that hard work without restraint from worldly matters is of no benefit.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ صُونُوا دِينَكُمْ بِالْوَرَعِ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Be pious before Allah and protect your religion by means of restraint from worldly matters (sins).’”

لَا يَنْفَعُ اجْتِهَادٌ لَا وَرَعَ فِيهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Hard work without restraint from worldly things (sins) is of no benefit.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْوَرِعِ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ الَّذِي يَتَوَرَّعُ عَنْ مَحَارِمِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

The Imam said, ‘They are those who stay away from what Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has made unlawful.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ عَلَيْكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ الْوَرَعِ وَ الِاجْتِهَادِ وَ صِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ وَ أَدَاءِ الْأَمَانَةِ وَ حُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ وَ حُسْنِ الْجِوَارِ وَ كُونُوا دُعَاةً إِلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ بِغَيْرِ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَ كُونُوا زَيْناً وَ لَا تَكُونُوا شَيْناً وَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِطُولِ الرُّكُوعِ وَ السُّجُودِ فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا أَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ وَ السُّجُودَ هَتَفَ إِبْلِيسُ مِنْ خَل

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from abu ‘Usama who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘You must be pious before Allah, restrain yourself against worldly matters, work hard, speak the truth, keep the trust, have good moral behaviors,

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَوْصِنِي قَالَ أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ الْوَرَعِ وَ الِاجْتِهَادِ[2] وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْفَعُ اجْتِهَادٌ لَا وَرَعَ فِيهِ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) to instruct me with good advice. The Imam said, ‘I recommend you to be pious before Allah, restrain from worldly matters (sins) and work hard. Note that there is no benefit in hard work without restraint from worldly matters.’”

أَعِينُونَا بِالْوَرَعِ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْكُمْ بِالْوَرَعِ كَانَ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَرَجاً وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- مَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَ الرَّسُولَ‌ فَأُولئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ الصِّدِّيقِينَ وَ الشُّهَداءِ وَ الصَّالِحِينَ وَ حَسُنَ أُولئِكَ رَفِيقاً[3] فَمِنَّا النَّبِيُّ وَ مِنَّا الصِّدِّيقُ وَ الشُّهَدَاءُ وَ الصَّ

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Support us by means of restraint from worldly matters; whoever of you will meet Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, with the quality of restraint from worldly matters will have enough good news from Allah. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “One who obeys Allah and the

إِنَّا لَا نَعُدُّ الرَّجُلَ مُؤْمِناً حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِجَمِيعِ أَمْرِنَا مُتَّبِعاً مُرِيداً أَلَا وَ إِنَّ مِنِ اتِّبَاعِ أَمْرِنَا وَ إِرَادَتِهِ الْوَرَعَ فَتَزَيَّنُوا بِهِ يَرْحَمْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ كَبِّدُوا أَعْدَاءَنَا بِهِ يَنْعَشْكُمُ اللَّهُ‌[4].

“We do not consider a person a believer until that person follows us in all of our orders and has firmly decided to do so. The decision to exercise restraint against worldly matters consists of following our orders and commands. You must have this beautiful quality. May Allah grant you blessings. With this Quality you

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ كُونُوا دُعَاةً لِلنَّاسِ بِغَيْرِ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ لِيَرَوْا مِنْكُمُ الْوَرَعَ وَ الِاجْتِهَادَ وَ الصَّلَاةَ وَ الْخَيْرَ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ دَاعِيَةٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Preach to people without your tongue. You must show them restraint from worldly matters (sins). You should perform hard work, prayer and good deeds. Such behavior includes preaching.”

كَثِيراً مَا كُنْتُ أَسْمَعُ أَبِي يَقُولُ لَيْسَ مِنْ شِيعَتِنَا مَنْ لَا تَتَحَدَّثُ الْمُخَدَّرَاتُ بِوَرَعِهِ فِي خُدُورِهِنَّ وَ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِنَا مَنْ هُوَ فِي قَرْيَةٍ فِيهَا عَشَرَةُ آلَافِ رَجُلٍ فِيهِمْ مِنْ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ أَوْرَعُ مِنْهُ.

“’Ubayd Allah ibn Ali reported to me from Abu al-Hasan the 1st (a.s.) who has said, ‘I would often hear my father saying, 'He is not one of our Shia who the women in their homes do not speak of his piety, and he is not from our supporters if he lives in a village with ten thousand men and there is someone among them mo

فِيمَا نَاجَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ مُوسَى ع يَا مُوسَى مَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ الْمُتَقَرِّبُونَ بِمِثْلِ الْوَرَعِ عَنْ مَحَارِمِي فَإِنِّي أُبِيحُهُمْ جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ لَا أُشْرِكُ مَعَهُمْ أَحَداً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Of the things that Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, spoke to Moses one was as follows: ‘O Moses, of those who seek nearness to Me no one is like the ones who restrain from what I have made unlawful. I, therefore, open for them the garden of Eden and will not allow anyone else to shar

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ اعْمَلْ بِفَرَائِضِ اللَّهِ تَكُنْ أَتْقَى النَّاسِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Fulfill what Allah has made obligatory upon you. You will then be considered the most pious of the people.’”

دَخَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِرَجُلٍ عَلَى بَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ كَئِيبٍ حَزِينٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مَا لَكَ قَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أُصِبْتُ بِأَبِي [وَ أُمِّي‌] وَ أَخِي وَ أَخْشَى أَنْ أَكُونَ قَدْ وَجِلْتُ‌[2] فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَيْكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ الصَّبْرِ تَقْدَمْ عَلَيْهِ غَداً وَ الصَّبْرُ فِي الْأُمُورِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الرَّأْسِ

“Once Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) entered the Mosque and at the door of the Mosque he met a man who was depressed and sad. Amir al- Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) asked him ‘What has happened to you?’ He said, ‘It is due to the death of my father, mother and brother. O Amir al- Mu’minin, I am afrai

الصَّبْرُ صَبْرَانِ صَبْرٌ عَلَى الْبَلَاءِ حَسَنٌ جَمِيلٌ وَ أَفْضَلُ الصَّبْرَيْنِ الْوَرَعُ عَنِ الْمَحَارِمِ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Patience is of two kinds: to exercise patience in hardship, which is good and graceful, yet, the best of patience is that which is exercised to stop one from committing what Allah has prohibited.”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَكْثَرُ مَا تَلِجُ بِهِ أُمَّتِيَ الْجَنَّةَ تَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The fact for which most people from my followers will go to paradise are piety before Allah and excellence in moral behavior.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ كَظَمَ غَيْظاً إِلَّا زَادَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عِزّاً فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ قَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ الْكاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَ الْعافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ‌ وَ اللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ‌[1] وَ أَثَابَهُ اللَّهُ مَكَانَ غَيْظِهِ ذَلِكَ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from certain individuals of his people from Malik ibn Hasin al-Sakuni who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘If a servant (of Allah) suppresses his anger, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, increases his respect in this world and in the next world. Allah, the

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ ثَلَاثٌ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنَّ فِيهِ لَمْ يَتِمَّ لَهُ عَمَلٌ وَرَعٌ يَحْجُزُهُ عَنْ مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ وَ خُلُقٌ يُدَارِي بِهِ النَّاسَ وَ حِلْمٌ يَرُدُّ بِهِ جَهْلَ الْجَاهِلِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘There are three things for the absence of which none of one’s deeds is complete: restraint from the worldly things to keep him from disobeying Allah, moral behavior with which one can gently deal with people and forbearance with which one can repel the ignorance of ignorant people.’”

مِنَ التَّوَاضُعِ أَنْ تَرْضَى بِالْمَجْلِسِ دُونَ الْمَجْلِسِ وَ أَنْ تُسَلِّمَ عَلَى مَنْ تَلْقَى وَ أَنْ تَتْرُكَ‌ الْمِرَاءَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مُحِقّاً وَ أَنْ لَا تُحِبَّ أَنْ تُحْمَدَ عَلَى التَّقْوَى.

“It is of humbleness to be happy with one seat instead of another seat, to initiate the greeting of peace to one who meets him and to avoid extreme argumentation even though one is right, and should not love to be praised for piety.”

عَشَرَةُ أَشْيَاءَ فَأَعْلَى دَرَجَةِ الزُّهْدِ أَدْنَى دَرَجَةِ الْوَرَعِ وَ أَعْلَى دَرَجَةِ الْوَرَعِ أَدْنَى دَرَجَةِ الْيَقِينِ وَ أَعْلَى دَرَجَةِ الْيَقِينِ أَدْنَى دَرَجَةِ الرِّضَا أَلَا وَ إِنَّ الزُّهْدَ فِي آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- لِكَيْلا تَأْسَوْا عَلى‌ ما فاتَكُمْ‌ وَ لا تَفْرَحُوا بِما آتاكُمْ‌[2].

“A man asked Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) about renunciation of worldly matters. The Imam said, ‘It consists of ten issues. The highest degree of renunciation of worldly matters is the lowest stage of abstinence in worldly matters (sins). The highest stage of abstinence in worldly matters is the lowest degree of certainty.

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ص‌ إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا قَدِ ارْتَحَلَتْ مُدْبِرَةً وَ إِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ قَدِ ارْتَحَلَتْ مُقْبِلَةً[7] وَ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُمَا بَنُونَ فَكُونُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ- وَ لَا تَكُونُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الدُّنْيَا أَلَا وَ كُونُوا مِنَ الزَّاهِدِينَ فِي الدُّنْيَا الرَّاغِبِينَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ أَلَا إِنَّ الزَّاهِدِينَ فِي الدُّنْيَا اتَّخَذُوا الْأَرْضَ بِسَاطاً وَ التُّرَابَ فِرَاش

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘The world has begun to move backwards and the next world is moving forward. Each world has its sons. Therefore, you must be of the sons of the next world and not the sons of this world. You must be of those who have reduced their interest in worldly matters and of those seriously in

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ يَا جَابِرُ وَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَمَحْزُونٌ وَ إِنِّي لَمَشْغُولُ الْقَلْبِ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَا شَغَلَكَ وَ مَا حَزَنَ قَلْبَكَ فَقَالَ يَا جَابِرُ إِنَّهُ مَنْ دَخَلَ قَلْبَهُ صَافِي‌ خَالِصِ دِينِ اللَّهِ شُغِلَ قَلْبُهُ عَمَّا سِوَاهُ يَا جَابِرُ مَا الدُّنْيَا وَ مَا عَسَى أَنْ تَكُونَ الدُّنْيَا هَلْ هِيَ إِلَّا طَعَامٌ أَكَلْتَهُ أَوْ ثَوْبٌ لَبِسْتَهُ أَوِ امْرَ

“Once I went to visit abu la’ far (a.s.) and he said, ‘O Jabir, I swear by Allah, I am very sad and my heart is pre-occupied.’ I then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, what has pre-occupied your heart and what is the reason for your sadness?’ The Imam said, ‘O Jabir, if the religion of Allah in

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ كَتَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِلَى بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ يَعِظُهُ أُوصِيكَ وَ نَفْسِي بِتَقْوَى مَنْ لَا تَحِلُّ مَعْصِيَتُهُ وَ لَا يُرْجَى غَيْرُهُ وَ لَا الْغِنَى إِلَّا بِهِ فَإِنَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى اللَّهَ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ وَ قَوِيَ وَ شَبِعَ وَ رَوِيَ وَ رُفِعَ عَقْلُهُ عَنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا فَبَدَنُهُ مَعَ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا وَ قَلْبُهُ وَ عَقْلُهُ مُعَايِنُ الْآخِرَةِ فَأَطْفَأَ بِضَوْ

23. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from abu Jamilah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) wrote to one of his companions to advise him. “I recommend that you and I be pious before the One whose disobedience is not lawful

اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ اعْدِلُوا فَإِنَّكُمْ تَعِيبُونَ عَلَى قَوْمٍ لَا يَعْدِلُونَ.

“Be pious before Allah and practice justice; you blame other people for not doing justice to others.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ- وَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسائَلُونَ بِهِ‌ وَ الْأَرْحامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيباً[1] قَالَ فَقَالَ هِيَ أَرْحَامُ النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَمَرَ بِصِلَتِهَا وَ عَظَّمَهَا أَ لَا تَرَى أَنَّهُ جَعَلَهَا مِنْهُ‌[2].

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, Most Glorious is Whose name, ‘. . . have fear of the One by whose name you swear to settle your differences and have respect for your relatives. Allah certainly keeps watch over you.’ (4:1) “The Imam said, ‘It refers to the relatives of people. Allah, the Most Maj

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ صِلَةُ الْأَرْحَامِ تُزَكِّي الْأَعْمَالَ وَ تَدْفَعُ الْبَلْوَى وَ تُنْمِي الْأَمْوَالَ وَ تُنْسِئُ لَهُ فِي عُمُرِهِ وَ تُوَسِّعُ فِي رِزْقِهِ وَ تُحَبِّبُ فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ فَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَ لْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ.

13. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Khattab al-‘A’War from abu Hamza who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Maintaining good relations with relatives cleanses the deeds, repulses misfortunes, increases wealth, delays the coming of death, enlarges ones

قُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْناً وَ لَا تَقُولُوا إِلَّا خَيْراً حَتَّى تَعْلَمُوا مَا هُوَ[3].

“About the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, ‘. . . speak righteous words to people. . . .’ (2:83), the Imam said it means, ‘Do not say anything about a people except good until you actually learn all about it.’”