Chapter 5

On Facts and Chastity

1524- In Al-Mahasin it is narrated that Sofyan ibn Oyeene narrated that Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "I found the people's knowledge in four areas: to know God, to know what He has done with you; to know what He expects of you; and to know what will deviate you from your religion."

1525- Abi Basir narrated that Imam Sadiq (a.s) said the following regarding God's statement: "They take their priests and their anchorites to be their Lords in derogation of God." [The Holy Quran: Tauba 9:31], "I swear by God that they did not pray or fast for them, but they turned the lawful into forbidden, and the forbidden into lawful, and followed it."

1526- Imam Baqir (a.s) said: "Do not take any intimate friend but God. Are you not believers? In fact any tools, relations, relatives, intimate friends, innovations, traditions, or doubts are useless just like dust on a finished surface which is washed off easily with rain, except for what the Quran has proved."

1527- Mohammad ibn Abi Ameer narrated that Jesus, the son of Mary (a.s) was told: "O' Spirit of God! Can your Lord place the universe inside an egg without shrinking the world or expanding the egg?" He replied: "There is nothing God is incapable of doing, but what you want is impossible."

1528- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "God has a rooster whose feet are on the Earth and whose head is in the sky under the Throne, with one wing in the East and the other in the West. It says: "My Lord is Pure and Holy. Whenever it sings, other roosters answer. So whenever you hear it, say "My Lord is Pure. He is a Holy King."

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الفصل الخامس

في الحقائق والنجابة

1524. من كتاب المحاسن: عن سُفيان بن عُيينة قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام وجدتُ علم الناس كلّهم في أربعٍ، أوّلها: أن تَعرف ربّك، والثاني: أن تَعرف ما صنع بك والثالث: أن تَعرف ما أراد منك والرابع: أن تَعرف ما يُخرجك مِن دينك.

1525. عن أبي بصير قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام في قول الله سبحانه و تعالي: ]اتَخَذُوا أَحْبارَهُمْ وَرُهْبانَهُمْ أَرْباباً مِنْ دُونِ الله[ فقال: والله ما صاموا ولا صلّوا ولكنّهم أحلّوا لهم حراماً وحرّموا عليهم حلالاً فاتّبعوه.

1526. قال الباقر عليه السلام لا تتّخذوا من دون الله وليجةً أفلا تكونوا مؤمنين؟ فإنّ كلّ سببٍ ونسبٍ وقرابةٍ ووليجةٍ وبدعةٍ وسنّةٍ وشُبهةٍ مُنقطعٌ مُضمحلٌّ كما يضمحلّ الغبار الّذي يكون على الحَجَر الصَلد إذا أصابه المطر الجود إلا ما أثبته القرآن.

1527. عن محمّد بن أبي عمير يرفعه قال: قيل لعيسى بن مريم: يا روح الله، هل يقدر ربّك على أن يدخل الدنيا في بيضةٍ من غير أن يُصغّر الدنيا ويُكبّر البيضة؟ فقال: إنّ الله سبحانه و تعالي لا يُنسب إلى عجزٍ، والّذي سألتُم عنه لا يكون.

1528. عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: إنّ لله ديكاً رِجلاه في الأرض ورأسه في السماء تحت العرش، وجناحٌ له في الشرق وجِناحٌ له في الغرب، يقول: "سُبْحانَ رَبّي الْقُدّوْس" فإذا صاح أجابته الدُيوك، فإذا سمعتُم أصواتها فلَيقل أحدكم "سُبْحانَ رَبِّي المَلِكُ الْقُدّوس".

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1529- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "The people are ordered to do right and forbidden to do evil, but God will accept the excuse of those who have an excuse."

1530- Imam Sadiq (a.s) narrated that his grandfather (a.s) quoted on the authority of God's Prophet (a.s): "God will reward anyone He has promised to reward for doing some deed, but He is free to punish anyone He will for doing deeds for which He has promised to punish."

1531- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "God the Almighty created misery and prosperity before creating other creatures. Whoever is miserable, God will never make him prosperous, and whoever is prosperous, God will never make him miserable."

1532- Ali ibn Moqayreh asked Imam Sadiq (a.s) about Satan's partnership. He said: "Whenever you doubt in Satan's partnership, do not doubt in his partnership in a defective child's birth."

1533- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "Whoever swears is not worried about what he says, since he is either born in sin or a partner with Satan."

1534- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "The people are like silver or gold mines. During the era of Ignorance there were no foundations for these mines, but in Islam there are foundations for them."

1535- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "When Moses and Aaron (a.s) went to Pharoah, there were no illegitimately born companions with Pharoah. If there were any, they would have ordered Moses and Aaron to be killed. But those who were present said: "Save Moses and Aaron and this forced Pharaoh to think about them." Then Imam Sadiq (a.s) placed his hand over his chest and said: "We are the same way. No one will rush to kill us unless he is born illegitimately."

1536- Imam Reza (a.s) said: "Avoid going to places that are with steep slopes or are hard to cross. Avoid following your selfish desires, since they are followed by wickedness."

1537- Imam Reza (a.s) said: "A believer is neither humiliated nor weak."

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1529. عنه عليه السلام قال: الناس مأمورون ومَنهيّون، ومَن كان له عذرٌ عَذَره الله.

1530. عنه عليه السلام عن آبائه قال: قال رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: من وعده الله على عملٍ ثواباً فهو مُنجزٌ له، ومَن أوعده على عملٍ عِقاباً فهو فيه بالخيار.

1531. عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: إنّ الله تبارك وتعالى خَلق الشِقاء والسعادة قبل خَلقه، فمَن كان شَقيّا لم يَسعده الله أبداً، ومَن كان سعيداً لم يشقه أبداً.

1532. عن عليّ بن المُغيرة قال: سألتُ أبا عبد الله عليه السلام عن شرك الشيطان، فقال: مهما شككتَ فيه فلا تشكنّ في الناقص الخلق.

1533. عنه عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: من كان بذيّ اللسان فحّاشاً لم يُبال ما قال أو قيل فيه، فإنّه لُغْيَةٌ أو شرك الشيطان.

1534. عنه عليه السلام قال: الناسُ معادنُ كمعادن الذهب والفضّة، ما كان له في الجاهليّة أصلٌ فإنّه له في الإسلام أصلٌ.

1535. عنه عليه السلام قال: إنّ موسى وهارون عليهما السلام حين دخلا على فرعون لم يكن في جُلسائه يومئذٍ ولدُ سفاحٍ، ولو كان لأمروه بقتلهما، قالوا: أَرْجِه وَأَخاه وأمروه بالتأنّي والنظر، قال: ثمّ وضع أبو عبد الله عليه السلام يده على صدره وقال: وكذلك نحن، ولا يتسرّع إلينا إلا كلّ خبيث الولادة.

1536. عن الرضا عليه السلام قال: إيّاك والمُرتقى الصعب إذا كان مُنحدرةً وعُراً، وإيّاك أن تتبع النفس هواها فإنّ في هواها رداها.

1537. عنه عليه السلام قال: المؤمنُ لا يكون ذليلاً ولا يكون ضعيفاً.

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1538- Abi Baseer narrated that he asked Imam Sadiq (a.s) regarding the Almighty God's statement: "Save yourselves and your families from a Fire." [The Holy Quran: Tahrim 6:66] How can I save my family from the Fire?" Imam Sajjad (a.s) replied: "Instruct them to do what God has instructed to be done, and forbid them from doing what God has forbidden to be done. If they obey you, you have saved them from the Fire, and if they disobey, then you have performed your duty."

1539- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "When the following verse was revealed: "Save yourselves and your families from a Fire!" [The Holy Quran: Tahrim 66:6], a Muslim man sat down and started to cry. He said: "I am not even able to protect myself from the Fire, now I am ordered to protect my family from the Fire, too." The Prophet of God (a.s) said: "It suffices for you to enjoin the right and forbid the wrong for them in the same way that you do it for yourself."

1540- Ishaq ibn Am'mar said: "I heard Imam Sadiq (a.s) advise his women and family members: "Do not say the glorifications to God less than three times in your prayers. If you say them three times, there is nothing else that is better."

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1538. عن أبي بصير في قوله تعالى: ]قُوْا أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيْكُمْ[ قلتُ: كيف أقيهـم؟ قال: تأمرهم بما أمرهم الله به وتنهاهم عمّا نهاهم الله عنه، فإن أطاعوك كنتَ قد وقيتَهم، وإن عصوك كنتَ قد قضيتَ ما عليك.

1539. عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: لمّا نُزلت هذه الآية: ]قُوْا أنْفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيْكُمْ ناراً[ جلس رجلٌ مِن المسلمين يَبكي، فقال: أنا عجزتُ عن نفسي كُلّفتُ أهلي، فقال له رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: حسبُك أن تأمرهم بما تأمر به نفسك وتنهاهم عمّا تنهى عنه نفسك.

1540. عن إسحاق بن عمّار قال: سمعتُ أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يعظ أهله ونساءه وهو يقول لهنّ: لا تَقلن في سجودكُنّ أقلّ من ثلاث تسبيحات، فإن كنتنّ فعلتنّ لم يكن أحسن عملاً منكنّ.

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Chapter 6

On Comfort

1541- In Al-Mahasin it is narrated that al-Halabi quoted on the authority of Imam Sadiq (a.s): "A believer will not be questioned about three things: the food he eats, the clothes he wears and the good woman who helps him and guards her chastity."

1542- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "There are three things which comfort a believer: a big house in which he guards his privacy and his bad states of health from the people, a good wife who assists him in the affairs of this life and the Hereafter, and a daughter or a sister who leaves his house either by death or through marriage."

1543- Al-Nufli narrated that God's Prophet (a.s) said: "Whoever starts his day with healthy eyes, ears and mind, and is secure from the ruler, and has his daily bread for that day, has been granted blessings that are better than whatever is illuminated by sunlight from the East to the West."

1544- Abdul Rahman ibn Abi Layla narrated that he was imprisoned along with Imam Kazim (a.s), and his hair was long. Imam Kazim said: "Cut your hair short. There are three things which one will never abandon doing, once he starts doing them. The first one is cutting his hair. Once he cuts his hair short and feels how comfortable it is, he will never again let his hair grow long. The second one is cutting short his robe. Whoever wears a long robe, and then cuts it a little to make it shorter will feel so comfortable that he will never again wear a long robe. The third one is related to marriage and divorce. Whoever divorces his free wife, and then marries a maid, will never again marry a free woman, since the maid expects very little and always obeys his orders. God the Almighty told the Prophet: "And thy garments keep free from stain!" [The Holy Quran: Mudaththir 74:4], This was revealed even though the Prophet's garment was clean. God just ordered him to shorten it a little bit."

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الفصل السادس

في الرفاهية

1541. من كتاب المحاسن: عن الحلبي عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: ثلاثةُ أشياء لا يُحاسَب عليها المؤمن: طعامٌ يأكُله، وثوبٌ يلبسُه، وزوجةٌ صالحةٌ تُعاونُه وتُحصن فَرْجه.

1542. عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: ثلاثةٌ فيهنّ للمؤمن راحةٌ: دارٌ واسعةٌ تُواري عَورتَه وسوءَ حاله مِن الناس، وامرأةٌ صالحة تُعينه على أمر الدُنيا والآخرة، وبنتٌ أو أُختٌ أخرجها مِن بيته بموتٍ أو تزويجٍ.

1543. عن النوفلي قال: قال رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: مَن أصبح مُعافاً في سمعه وبصره وعقله آمناً سربهُ مِن السلطان، وله رزقُ يومٍ إلىَ الليل، فقد أُعطي خيرٌ ممّا أشرقتْ عليه الشمس وغربت.

1544. عن عبد الرحمان بن أبي ليلى عمّن حدّثه أنّه قال: كنتُ مع أبي الحسن عليه السلام أيّام حبسه ببغداد وكان لي شعرٌ، فقال: جزّ شعرك، ثمّ قال: ثلاثُ خصالٍ مَن كنّ فيه فتركهنّ لم يعد إليهنّ أبداً، مَن كان له شعر فطمّه لم يعد يوفّر شعره أبداً لما يصيب مِن اللّذة والراحة، ومَن كان يلبس ثوباً طويلا فشمّر لم يعد يلبس ثوباً طويلاً لما يجد مِن الراحة، ومَن كانت عنده حُرّةٌ فطلّقها واتّخذ الإماء لم يعد إلى حُرّةٍ أبداً لخِفّة مؤونة الإماء ومتابعتهنّ في جميع الحالات، قال: إنّ الله جلّ وعزّ قال لِنبيّه صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: ]وَثِيابَك فَطَّهِرْ[ وكانت ثيابه طاهرةً وإنّما أمره بالتشمير.

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1545- Imam Sajjad (a.s) said: "Some of the means of prosperity are to work in the same town that you live in, and have good friends, and have good children who are helpful. And one of the means of a man's misery is to have a wife who is conceited, and cheats him."

1546- Uthman ibn Mazoon told the Prophet (a.s): "O' Prophet of God! I have decided to castrate myself." He replied: "O' Uthman! Calm down. Castration among my people is achieved by fasting and praying." He said: "I place a lot of value on travelling." The Prophet (a.s) said: "O' Uthman! Wait. My nation's travelling is their presence in the mosques and waiting for prayers after prayers." He said: "I have decided not to have any meat."The Prophet (a.s) said: "O' Uthman! Give me a chance. I eat meat and like it. I will even eat meat everyday if I can get some." He said: "O' Prophet of God! May my parents be your devoted servants. I have decided not to use scent anymore." The Prophet (a.s) said: "O' Uthman! Wait a moment. I use scent and like good scents. It is one of my traditions and one of the traditions of the previous Prophets."

1547- Al-Nufli narrated that Imam Sadiq (a.s) said that God's Prophet (a.s) said: "Whoever has long hair should either keep it clean or cut it short. Whoever buys a pair of shoes should keep them clean or buy a new pair of shoes. Whoever keeps an animal or a pet should take good care of it so that it gets chubby. Whoever has a dress should keep it clean or buy a new dress."

1548- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "Whenever there are more people who are sleeping than people who are not, more of those who are sleeping will succeed than those who are not."

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1545. عن عليّ بن الحسين عليهما السلام قال: مِن سعادة المرء أن يكون مَتجرُه في بِلاده، ويكون خلطاؤه صالحين، ويكون له ولدٌ يستعين به، ومِن شقاء المرء أن يكون عنده امرأةٌ يُعجب بها وهي تخونه في نفسها.

1546. قال عثمان بن مظعون للنبيّ صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: إنّي قد هممتُ يا رسول الله بأن اختصي، فقال: مَهلاً يا عثمان! فإنّ الاختصاء في أُمّتي الصيام والصلاة، قال: فإنّي قد هممتُ بالسياحة، فقال: مَهلاً يا عثمان! فإنّ السياحة في أُمّتي لزوم المساجد وانتظار الصلاة بعد الصلاة، قال: فإنّي قد هممتُ أن لا آكل لحماً، فقال: مَهلاً يا عثمان! فإنّي آكل اللحم وأُحبّه ولو وجدتُه كلّ يومٍ لأكلتُه، ولو سألتُ الله لأطعمنيه، قال: فإنّي يا نبيّ الله بأبي أنتَ وأُمّي قد هممتُ أن لا أتطيّب أبداً، قال: مَهلاً يا عثمان! فإنّي أتطيّبُ وأُحبّ الطيب، الطيب مِن سُنّتي وسُنّة الأنبياء قَبلي.

1547. عن النوفلي [عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام ] قال: قال رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: مَن اتّخذ شَعْراً فلْيُحسن ولايته أو ليجزّه، ومَن اتّخذ نعلاً فليستجدها، ومَن اتّخذ دابّةً فليستفرهها، ومَن اتّخذ ثوبا فليستنظفه أو ليستجد -أي فليأخذ جديداً-.

1548. عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: إذا كان النائمون أكثر مِن المنُتبهين خرج عنهم المُنتبهون أكثر ممّا خرج عنهم النائمون.

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Chapter 7

On Blaming the World

1549- Imam Sadiq (a.s) narrated that Luqman told his son: "O' My son! Know that the world is short-lived and your life is even much shorter. Therefore you can only get a little out of this short life."

1550- Muhajir al-Asadi narrated that Imam Baqir (a.s) narrated on the authority of his father (a.s) that once Jesus (a.s) passed by a village in which all the people, the birds, and the animals had died. He said: "They have not died except due to God's wrath. Had they died one by one, they would have buried each other." The disciples said: "O' Spirit of God! Ask God to revive them so that they could tell us what they did so that we can avoid those deeds." Jesus (a.s) then called upon God. A voice from Heaven said: "Call them." At nighttime Jesus (a.s) went on top of a hill and said: "O' residents of this village!" Someone said: "O' Spirit of God! Yes." Jesus (a.s) said: "Woe to you! What were your deeds?" The man said: "Worship of false gods and love for this world, little fear of God, high ambitions, being delved in ignorance, and pleasure-seeking." Jesus (a.s) asked: "How did you love this world?" He said: "Just as a child loves his mother, and we got happy whenever it turned towards us and cried whenever it turned away from us." Jesus (a.s) asked: "How did you worship false gods?" He said:
"We followed those who committed sins." Jesus (a.s) asked: "What was your final end?" He said: "One night we were all healthy and went to sleep. But in the morning we were all in 'Havieh'". Jesus (a.s) asked: "What is 'Havieh'. He replied: "It is Sejjeen". Jesus (a.s) asked: "What is Sejjeen?" He replied: "It is mountains full of blazing fire that will burn us until the Resurrection Day." Jesus (a.s) asked: "What did you say?" He said: We said: "Return us to the world and we will be abstinent there.

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الفصل السابع

في ذمّ الدنيا

1549. عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قال في وصيّة لقمان لابنه: يا بُنيّ اعلم أنّ الدنيا قليلٌ وعُمرك منها قليلٌ مِن قليلٍ، ويُقِرُّ مِن القليل قليلٌ.

1550. عن مُهاجر الأسدي عن أبي عبد الله عن أبيه عليهما السلام قال: مرّ عيسىَ بن مريم -صلوات الله عليه- على قريةٍ قد مات أهلها وطيرها ودوابّها، فقال: أما إنّهم لم يموتوا إلا بِسَخطه، ولو ماتوا مُتفرّقين لتُدافنوا، فقال الحواريّون: يا روح الله وكلمته، أُدع الله أن يُحييهم لنا فيُخبرونا ما كانت أعمالهم فنجتنبها، فدعا عيسى ربّه، فنُودي مِن الجوّ أن نادِهم فقام عيسى -صلوات الله عليه- بالليل على شرف مِن الأرض فقال: يا أهل هذه القرية! فأجابه منهم مُجيبٌ: لبّيك يا روح الله وكلمته، فقال: ويحكم ما كانت أعمالكم؟ قال: عبادةُ الطاغوت وحُبّ الدنيا مع خوفٍ قليلٍ وأملٍ بعيدٍ في غفلةٍ ولهوٍ ولعبٍ، قال: كيف حُبّكم الدنيا؟ قال: كحُبّ الصبيّ لأُمّه، إذا أقبلت علينا فرحنا وسررنا، وإذا أدبرت عنّا بَكينا وحزنّا، قال: كيف كانت عبادتكم للطاغوت؟ قال: الطاعةُ لأهل المعاصي، قال: كيف كانت عاقبة أمركم؟ قال: بتنا ليلةً في عافيةٍ وأصبحنا في الهاوية، قال: وما الهاوية؟ قال:
سِجّينٌ، قال: وما السِجّين؟ قال: جبالٌ مِن جَمرٍ توقَدُ علينا إلى يوم القيامة، قال: فما قلتم وما قيل لكم؟ قال: قلنا ردّنا إلى الدنيا فنزهد فيها.

( 654 )

But we were told that we were liars." Jesus (a.s) said: "Woe to you. How come you only talk with me?" He said: "O' spirit of God! They have fiery mouthpieces put on them and are in the hands of angry and stern angels. I am among them, but I am not one of them. When the punishment descended upon them, it overtook me too. I am now hanging over Hell by a very fine piece of thread, and do not know whether I will fall into Hell, or be saved from it." Jesus (a.s) faced his disciples and said: "O' Friends of God! Eating bread and coarse salt, and sleeping in trash yards is the utmost prosperity if it is combined with the prosperity of this world and the Hereafter."

1551- In Al-Mahasin it is narrated that Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "Glory to God. He would not entrap those whom He loves in this world even if it was all filled with good things, and He would not save whomever He willed from this world if it was filled with evil."

1552- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "All evil is placed in a house and its key is love for this world. All good is placed in a house and its key is abstinence in this world."

1553- Imam Sadiq (a.s) narrated that Gabriel descended to the Prophet of God (a.s) and said: "Your Lord greets you and says: "I will convert all the deserts of Mecca to gold for you without the least reduction in your Heavenly ranks." God's Prophet (a.s) looked at the deserts and said: "O' Lord! I shall thank you on the days I am full, and I shall beg from you on the days I am hungry."

1554- Imam Sadiq (a.s) quoted on the authority of God's Prophet (a.s): "What do I have to do with this world, and what does this world have to do with me? The story of me and the world is similar to that of a man who is riding on a hot day and reaches a tree. He takes a nap under the shade of the tree for a short while, and then goes on leaving the tree behind."

1555- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "You can read in Imam Ali's book that this world is like a snake which feels soft but has a lethal poison inside. Any wise man will avoid it, but ignorant children will be attracted to it."

( 655 )

فقيل لنا: كذبتُم، قال: ويحك، كيف لم يُكلّمني غيرك مِن بينهم؟ قال: يا روح الله وكلمته، إنّهم مُلجَمون بلجمٍ مِن نارٍ بأيدي ملائكةٍ غلاظٍ شِدادٍ، وإنّي كنتُ فيهم ولم أكن منهم، فلمّا نزل بهم العذاب عَمّني معهم فأنا معلّقٌ بشعرةٍ على شفير جهنّم، لا أدري أُكبكب فيها أم أنجو منها، فالتفت عيسى صلوات الله عليه إلى أصحابه فقال: يا أولياء الله، أكل الخُبز اليابس بالمِلح الجريش والنوم على المزابل خيرٌ كثيرٌ مع عافية الدُنيا والآخرة.

1551. من كتاب المحاسن: عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: سبحان مَن لو كانت الدُنيا خيراً كلّها لما ابتلى فيها مَن أحبّ! سبحان مَن لو كانت الدنيا كلّها شّراً لما نجا منها مَن أراد.

1552. عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: جُعل الشرّ كلّه في بيتٍ وجُعل مِفتاحه حُبّ الدنيا، وجُعل الخير كلّه في بيتٍ وجُعل مفتاحه الزهد في الدنيا.

1553. عنه عليه السلام قال: نزل جبرئيل على رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم فقال له: ربّك يقرؤك السلام ويقول لك: هذه بطحاء مكّة تكون لك رَضراضةٌ ذهب ولا تنقص ممّا ادّخرت لك شيئاً، قال: فنظر رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم إلى البطحاء، فقال: لا يا ربّ، ولكن أشبع يوماً فأحمدك، وأجوع يوماً فأسألك.

1554. عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: ما لي وللدُنيا وما أنا والدُنيا، إنّما مثلي ومثلها كمثل راكبٍ رفعت له شجرةٌ في يومٍ صائفٍ فنام تحتها ثمّ راح وتركها.

1555. عنه عليه السلام قال: إنّ في كتاب عليٍّ إنّما مثل الدُنيا كمثل الحيّة، لينٌ مسُّها وفي جوفها السمّ الناقع، يحذرها الرجال ذوو العقول، ويَهوي إليها الصبيّ الجاهل.

( 656 )

1556- Imam Sadiq (a.s) quoted on the authority of Imam Baqir (a.s): The story of a greedy man in this world is similar to the story of a silk worm. The more silk it winds around itself, the harder it will get for it to exit, until it finally dies in grief."

1557- Imam Sadiq (a.s) quoted on the authority of God's Prophet (a.s): "What do I have to do with this world? The story of me and the world is similar to that of a man who is riding and reaches a tree. He rests under the shade of the tree for a short while, and then leaves the tree when its shade goes away."

1558- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "God will make poor whoever spends his days and nights just worried about the life of this world, and will disrupt his affairs, and he will not get anything more than what God has established as his share of daily bread. But God will make self-sufficient in the heart whoever spends his days and nights just worried about the life of the Hereafter, and will settle his affairs for him."

1559- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "If the heart loses the love for this world even for a tiny bit, it has not been fooled."

1560- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "Strengthen your religion as the people of this world strengthen their worldly life. This world is a witness through which we can recognize the depth of the Hereafter. Always recognize the Hereafter through the blessings of this world, and try to learn lessons from them."

1561- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "There are many who seek this world, but cannot attain it; and there are many who attain this world, but leave it behind. Let not seeking this world hinder you from performing your deeds. Always ask for this world from its Owner and the One who grants it. There were many who where greedy in this world but were knocked down by it. They were so involved with this world that they neglected to work for the Hereafter until their life was finished, and the time for their death approached."

1562- Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) quoted on the authority of God's Prophet (a.s): "Money destroyed those before you, and it will destroy you too."

1563- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: "God has made His friends subject to being attacked by His enemies."

( 657 )

1556. عن الصادق عليه السلام قال: قال الباقر عليه السلام مَثَل الحريص على الدُنيا مَثَل دودة القَزّ كلّما ازدادت مِن القزّ على نفسها لفّا كان أبعد لها مِن الخروج حَتّى تموت غمّاً.

1557. عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: ما أنا والدنيا! إنّما مَثلي ومَثل الدنيا كمَثل رجلٍ راكبٍ مرّ على شجرةٍ لها فيءٌ فاستظلَّ تحتها، فلمّا أن مال الظِّل عنها ارتحل وذهب وتركها.

1558. عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: مَن أصبح وأمسى والدنيا أكبر همّه جعل الله الفقر بين عينيه وشتّتَ أمره ولم يَنَل مِن الدنيا إلا ما قُسّم له، ومَن أصبح وأمسى والآخرة أكبر همّه جَعل الله الغنى في قلبه وجمع له أمره.

1559. عنه عليه السلام قال: لو فَقَد القلب حُبّ الدنيا وَزنَ ذرّةٍ فلا يخدع.

1560. عنه عليه السلام قال: احكم دينك كما أحكم أهل الدنيا أمر دنياهم، فإنّما جُعلت الدنيا شاهداً تعرف بها ما غاب عنها مِن الآخرة فاعرف الآخرة بها، ولا تنظر إلىَ الدُنيا إلا باعتبار.

1561. عنه عليه السلام قال: كَم مِن طالبٍ للدُنيا لم يُدركها، ومُدركٍ لها قد فارقها، فلا يشغلنّك طلبها عن عملك، والتمسها مِن مُعطيها ومالكها، فكم من حريصٍ علىَ الدُنيا قد صرعته واشتغل بما أدرك منها عن عمل آخرته حتّى انقضى عمره وأدرك أجله.

1562. عن أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: إنّ الدينار والدِرهم أهلكا مَن كان قبلكم وهُما مُهلكاكم.

1563. عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: إنّ الله جَعل وليّه غرضا للعدوّ.

( 658 )

1564- God's Prophet (a.s) said: "The world is a prison for a believer and a cause of his grief. But it is the Heaven for the pagans, and is a source of comfort for them."

1565- God's Prophet (a.s) said: "The world is a prison for a believer. Are there any prisons in which there is any good?"

1566- Aban ibn Uthman narrated that a man complained to Imam Sadiq (a.s) about his hard life. The Imam asked: "How is it my fault? You have chosen it yourself." The man asked: "When did I choose it?" Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: " God offered you this world and the Hereafter. You preferred the Hereafter. In this world the believers are guests of the pagans. In this world you eat, drink, wear clothes and get married. But in the Hereafter, they will not eat, drink, wear clothes or get married. They will ask you to intercede on their behalf in the Hereafter, and you will not intercede for them. God the Almighty said that they would ask you: "Pour down to us water or anything that God doth provide for your sustenance" but they will be told that: "Both these things hath God forbidden to those who rejected Him." [The Holy Quran: Araf 7:50]

1567- Imam Sajjad (a.s) was asked: "What is the best deed for God?" He answered: "After recognition of God and His Messenger (a.s), no other act is better than hating this world. There are various forms of hating this world, and there are various types of sin. The first sin committed against God was conceit which was committed by Satan when he disobeyed God when he was ordered to bow down to Adam: "He refused and was haughty. He was of those who reject Faith." [The Holy Quran: Baqara 2:34] The next type of sin is greed which was committed by Adam and Eve (a.s). God told them:"And enjoy (its good things) as ye wish: but approach not this tree, or ye run into harm and transgression." [The Holy Quran: Araf 7:19] But although they did not need the fruit from that tree, they ate it and this greed remained with their offspring until the Resurrection Day. That is why the people (who are all the children of Adam) collect things that they do not need. The next type of sin is jealousy which was first committed by Adam's son when he killed his brother out of jealousy. Several things are derived from jealousy: love for women; love of this world; love to be a boss; love of comfort; love to talk; love for position; and love for wealth. There are seven characteristics all together, and they all share the love for this world. That is why the Prophets and the wise men after recognizing it have all said: "The love for this world is the root of all sins. This world is of two types: the world that is a means of our delivery to the Hereafter, and the damned world."

( 659 )

1564. وقال رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: إنّ الدُنيا سِجنُ المؤمن وغَمُّ المؤمن، وإنّ الدُنيا جنّة الكافر وروح الكافر.

1565. عنه صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم قال: إنّ الدُنيا سجنُ المؤمن، فأيّ سجنٍ جاء منه خيرٌ؟

1566. عن أبان بن عثمان قال: شكا رجلٌ إلى أبي عبد الله عليه السلام الضيق، فقال له أبو عبد الله عليه السلام ما ذنبي أنتم اخترتموه! قال الرجل؛ ومتى اخترناه؟ فقال: إنّ الله عرض عليكم الدُنيا والآخرة، فاخترتم الآخرة على الدُنيا، والمؤمن ضيفٌ على الكافر في هذه الدُنيا، وأنتم الآن تأكلون وتشربون وتلبسون وتنكحون وهُم في الآخرة لا يأكلون ولا يشربون ولا يلبسون ولا ينكحون، ويستشفعونكم في الآخرة فلا تشفعون فيهم، وهو قول الله أَفِيْضُوْا عَلَيْنا مِنَ الْماءِ أَوْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ الله[ فيُجيبونهُم: إنّ الله حرّمهما على الكافرين.

1567. سُئل زين العابدين عليه السلام أيُّ الأعمال أفضل عند الله تعالى؟ قال: ما مِن عملٍ بعد معرفة الله تعالى ومعرفة رسوله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم أفضل مِن بُغض الدُنيا، وإنّ لذلك لَشُعَباً كثيرةً وللمعاصي شُعَبٌ، فأوّلُ ما عُصي الله به الكِبر وهو معصية إبليس حين ]أَبَى وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ.[ ثمّ الحرص وهو معصية آدم وحوّاء -صلوات الله عليهما- حين قال الله تبارك وتعالى: ]فَكُلا مِنْ حَيْثُ شِئْتُما وَلا تَقْرَبا هذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُوْنا مِنَ الْظَّالِمِينَ[ فأخذا ما لا حاجة بهما إليه، فدخل ذلك على ذرّيّتهما إلى يوم القيامة، وذلك لأنّ أكثر ما يطلب ابن آدم ما لا حاجة به إليه. ثمّ الحسد وهو معصية ابن آدم حين حسد أخاه فقتله فتشعبّ مِن ذلك حُبّ النِساء وحُبّ الدنيا وحُبّ الرئاسة وحُبّ الراحة وحُبّ الكلام وحُبّ العُلوّ وحُبّ الثروة، فصرن سبع خصالٍ، فاجتمعن كلّهنّ في حُبّ الدُنيا، فقالت الأنبياء والعُلماء بعد معرفة ذلك: حُبّ الدُنيا رأسُ كلّ خطيئةٍ، والدُنيا دُنييان: دنيا بلاغٍ، ودُنيا مَلعونة.