Companions & Friendship

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Man is influenced by the faith of his friends. Therefore, be careful of whom you associate with." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 74, p. 192]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "Be the friend of he who may grace you, not of one whom you are better than." (- viz. make friends with ones who are higher than you so that you progress.) [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 76, p. 267]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "My most beloved brother is he who (makes me aware of) my faults." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 74, p. 282]

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "Verily, there are three (types of) friends for a Muslim*:

1. The friend who says: 'I am with you whether you are alive or dead', and this is his deed.

2. The friend who says: ' I am with you unto the threshold of your grave and then I will leave you', and this is his child.

3. The friend who says: 'I will be with you until when you die', and this is his wealth which will belong to the inheritors when he dies."

*Note:
From this tradition, and the like, we understand that the only thing which will avail for individuals in the Hereafter is Faith and good deeds. This is also referred to in many Islamic traditions as well as the verses of the Holy Qur'an, for example:

"For those who believe and work righteousness is (every) blessedness and a beautiful place of (final) return." (Qur'an 13:29)

"As to those who believe and work righteousness, verily We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who do a (single) righteous deed." (Qur'an 18:30)

"As to those who believe and work righteous deeds, they have, for their entertainment, the Gardens of Paradise." (Qur'an 18: 107)

"On those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, will (God) Most Gracious bestow Love." (Qur'an 19:96)
[l-Khisal by Saduq, vol. 1, p. 88]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "Be careful to have truthful friends and try to obtain them, for they are your support when you are in welfare, and your advocator when you have misfortune. [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 74, p. 187]

Imam Sajjad (‘a) said: "The meeting of the righteous invites you to goodness." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 78, p.141]

Imam Sajjad (‘a) said: "Beware of the companionship of the sinful, and helping of the unjust." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 78, p.151.]

Companions & Friendship

Knowledge and the Virtue of Learning It

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "He who searches for knowledge is similar to a person who fasts during the day and keeps vigil at night and is busy worshipping. If a person acquires a branch of knowledge, it is better for him than possessing as much gold as the height of Abu Qubais Mount which he would distribute in the way of Allah." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol.1, p.184]

Imam Zayn-ul-'Abideen (‘a) said: "Were people aware of what lies in the obtainment of knowledge, they would pursue it even though they had to make voyages and endanger their lives to obtain it." [Usul-I-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 35]

Imam Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "Acquiring knowledge is not possible while the body (person) is tranquil." [Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 348]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "Safeguard your writings and books because soon the occasion will arise that you will be in need of them." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 2, p.152]

Imam Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "Surely, the completion of religion is due to the obtaining of knowledge and acting on it (accordingly), and beware that the obtaining of knowledge is more obligatory for you than earning wealth." [Usul-ul-Kafi, vol.1, p. 23]

Imam Hasan (‘a) said: "Teach your knowledge to others and (try to) learn yourself the knowledge of others." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 111]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "The virtue of knowledge is more beloved with Allah than the virtue of worship." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 1, p. 167]

Knowledge and the Virtue of Learning It

Serving People

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "He who decreases a grief out of the grieves of this world for his Muslim brother, Allah will decrease for him a grief out of the grieves of the Hereafter." [Shahab-ul-Akhbar, p. 194]

Imam Husayn (‘a) said: "Verily, the procession of people's needs towards you is from among the blessings of Allah upon you. Therefore, grieve ye not because of these blessings." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 74, p. 318]

Imam Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "Whenever you find that your Muslim brother is in need, try to see to it." (Do not let him feel compelled to verbalize his need). [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 74, p. 166]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) narrates from his forefathers (‘a), from the Messenger of Allah (S), who said: "He who feeds a believer to satiate him, Allah will feed him from the fruits of Heaven; he who dresses him to cover his nakedness, Allah will give him clothing of brocade and silk; he who quenches the thirst of a believer, Allah will give him drink of the sealed container; and he who helps him or removes his grief, Allah will settle him under the shade of His Throne on the Day of Reckoning when there is no shade except for His Shade." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 74, p. 382]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "People are the dependents of Allah for sustenance, so the most beloved one of people with Him is the one who is helpful to the dependents Allah and makes the family members of a house happy." [Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 164]

The holy Prophet (S) said: "He who helps a Muslim believer (in his troubles), Allah, Almighty and Glorious, will remove from him seventy-three agonies, one of which is in this world and seventy-two other agonies at the time of Great Agony, when people are busy with themselves (in Hereafter)." [Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p.199]

Serving People

Repentance

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "The sigh of the people of Hell is mostly because of the postponement of repenting." [Al-Mahajjat-ul-Bayda]

Imam al-Baqir (‘a) said: "He who repents of his sins is as the one who has not any (burden of) sin. [Wasa'il-ush-Shi'ah vol. 16, p. 74]

Imam Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "How numerous procrastinators there are who postpone (repenting and doing good deeds) until when death overtakes them! [Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 240]

The Holy Prophet (S) told ‘Ali-ibn-Abi-Talib (‘a): "O' ‘Ali! Blessed is he who Allah looks upon while he is weeping for the sin that none is aware of except Allah.

(Various traditions emphasize that one must not let others know of his sins. One must make confessions about his sins only to Allah and, then, repent.) [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 77, p. 63]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "During the third part of every night and on the night before Friday from the beginning (until the break of dawn) Allah sends an angel unto the sky of the earth in order to call: 'Is there any needy who asks that I may bestow upon him his need? Is there any repentant one that I may return to him? Is there any seeker of forgiveness that I may forgive him?'"

Note:

Islamic traditions teach that sleeping on the night before Friday is called 'the regret sleep'; for, on the Reckoning Day, people will regret very much that they had been asleep on the nights before Fridays. [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 3, p. 314]

Imam as-Sadiq, the sixth Imam, (‘a) said: "Shut the doors of sins through seeking refuge to God, and open the doors of obedience by (reciting) 'Bismillah'." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 92, p. 216]

Repentance

Knowing Allah, His Greatness and His Grace

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "O' people! Verily, there is no prophet after me, nor any Ummah after you (Muslims). So, take care to worship your Lord, perform your five ritual prayers, fast in the appointed month (Ramadan), make pilgrimage to the House of your Lord (Mecca), give the alms of your wealth in order to purify your souls thereby, and obey the Holders of Authority, so that you enter the Paradise of your Lord." [Khisal as-Saduq, p. 152]

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "Having the Greatness of the Creator in your mind would make you realize the insignificance of the creatures in your view." [Nahjul-Balagha, Statement 129]

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: " Blessed is he who sincerely devotes the entirety of his actions, knowledge, love, hatred, receiving, relinquishing, speech, silence, deeds, and statements absolutely to Allah." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 77, p. 289]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "The heart is the sanctuary of Allah, therefore, do not settle therein anything but Allah (The sacred place of the heart belongs to Him and Him alone. Therefore, keep the love of the world out of it.) [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 70, p. 25]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "Our true followers are those who, when they are alone, remember Allah abundantly." (That is, they avoid committing vices in private where there is no barrier for them to commit sin by the mere remembrance of Allah.) [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 93, p. 162]

Imam al-Baqir (‘a) said: "By Allah, He, the Exalted, expects of people but two traits: that they confess for Him the blessings in order that He increases His bounties for them; and that they make confessions about their evil actions and then He forgives those sins for them." [Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 426]

Imam Husayn ibn ‘Ali (‘a) said: "Verily, Allah, the Exalted, has not created human beings except for recognizing Him and worshipping Him as (the consequence of) knowing Him; and when they worship Him they would lack the need of adoring any human being (or things) other than Him because of that worship." [Safinat-ul-Bihar, vol. 2, p. 180]

The fourth Imam, ‘Ali ibn Husayn (‘a) said: "There is no destruction (Hell) for a believer having three qualities:

Confessing that there is no god besides Allah, the One Who has no partner; the intercession of the Messenger of Allah and the vastness of the Grace of Allah. [Safinat-ul-Bihar, p. 517]

Knowing Allah, His Greatness and His Grace

The Tongue and Its Evils

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Affliction caused by the tongue is worse than (that caused by) the strike of the blade of a sword." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 71, p. 286]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Among all things, the tongue deserves to be prisoned longer than anything else." (Because most of our sins are committed by it, such as backbiting, telling lies, defaming, mocking, insulting, etc.) [Bihar-ul-Anwar vol. 71, p. 277]

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "Do contemplate before speaking so that you may guard yourself from (committing) errs." [Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 228]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "The destruction of man lies in three (things): his stomach, his lusts, and his tongue." [Waqayi'-ul-'Ayyam, p. 297]

Imam al-Baqir, the fifth Imam, (‘a) said: "No one is safe from sins unless the one controls his/her tongue." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 178]

The Tongue and Its Evils

Ahlul Bayt

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "The likeness of my Ahlul Bayt (progeny) amongst my Ummah (followers) is similar to Noah's Ark. Those who embarked on it were rescued and those who rejected it perished...." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 27, p. 113]

Imam al-Baqir, the fifth Imam, (‘a) said: "Our traditions (Ahlul Bayt) survive in the hearts." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 2, p. 144]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Make your gatherings lively with the remembrance of ‘Ali-ibn-Abi-Talib." (Talk about the excellencies of ‘Ali (‘a)). [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 38, p. 199]

In 'Ikmal-ud-Din' a tradition, through 'Jabir-il-Ju'fi', is narrated from 'Jabir-ibn-'Abdillah' thus: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah we have known Allah and His Apostle; then who is 'Ulul-Amr', those that Allah has made their obedience the same as your obedience?' Then, the Prophet (p.h.u.h.) said: 'O' Jabir! They are, after me, my successors and the guides of Muslims; the first of them is ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib; then (Imam) Hasan, and (Imam) Husayn; then ‘Ali ibn Husayn; then Mohammad ibn ‘Ali; known in the Turah as Baqir, whom you will see, O' Jabir! When you visit him, give my regards to him. After him, there is Sadiq, Ja'far ibn Muhammad; and after him Musa ibn Ja'far; then ‘Ali ibn Musa; then Muhammad ibn ‘Ali; then ‘Ali ibn Muhammad, then Hasan ibn ‘Ali; and after him (there comes) Al-Qaim, whose name and epithet is the same as mine. He is Allah's Authority on the Earth and His Remainder amongst His servants. He is the son of (Imam) Hasan-ibn-’Ali (al-al-’Askari). This is the very personality by whose hands Allah will open the Easts and Wests of the worlds and this is the very personality who will be absent from his followers and those who love him, in which his mastership cannot be proved by a statement of anyone except for the one whose heart Allah tests for Faith."

Jabir said: "I asked him: 'O' Messenger of Allah will his followers avail of him during his occultation?' He answered: 'Yes. By the One Who appointed me to prophethood, they will seek brightness from his light and will avail by devotion in his absence the same as the availing of people from the (glow of) sun when clouds cover it...'

[Ikmal-ud-Din, vol. 1, p. 253, with nearly similar meaning in Yanabir-ul-Mawaddah, p. 117]

Malik-ibn-Anas said about the virtue of Imam as-Sadiq (‘a): "No eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no heart (soul) has ever been striken that there can (contemporaneously) be anybody higher than (Imam) Ja'far Sadiq (‘a) from the point of virtue, knowledge, worship, and piety." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 47, p. 28]

Imam Husayn (‘a) said: "By my soul, there is no Imam but he issues judgement upon the Book, establishes justice, believes in the religion of Truth, and restrains his self alongside the way of Allah. [Al-Irshad, vol. 204]

Ahlul Bayt

Immoral Friends

Immoral Friends Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "He who seeks the company of those who insult the lovers of Allah has surely disobeyed Him, the Sublime." [Usul al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 379]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "When you are informed of a fellow companion committing an evil action, then go to him and tell him: 'O so and so! Either refrain from committing this sin or keep away from us'; then, avoid him unless he does so." [Wasa'il-ush-Shi'ah, vol. 16, p. 146]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) has narrated from his father Imam Muhammad Baqir (‘a) who said his father ‘Ali ibn Husayn (‘a) stated: "O' my son! Beware of five (groups) and do not seek companionship with them, do not speak with them, and do not make friends with them on (the) way."

Then, Imam al-Baqir (‘a) asked his father who they were and might he introduce them to him. He responded:
"Beware of and do not associate with the one who tells lies. He is as a mirage which makes near for you what is far, and makes far to you what is near."
"Beware of and do not associate with an immoral person, because he will sell you at the price of a morsel or less than that."
"Beware of and do not associate with a miser because he will deprive you of his wealth when you are seriously in need of it."
"Beware of and do not associate with a fool, because he wants to be of avail to you but he harms you."
"Beware of and do not associate with the one who disregards his kinfolks, because I found him (such a person) cursed in the Book Allah, Almighty and Glorious, in three* occurrences."

*They are: Sura Al-Baqarah, No.2, verse 27; Sura Ar-Ra'd, No.13, verse 25; and Sura Muhammad, No.47, verse 22.

 [Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 641]

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "O' Kumayl! Say what is just in any condition. Be friends with the righteous and avoid the evil doers, stay away from the hypocrites and do not accompany the treacherous." [Mustadrak-ul-Wasa'il, vol. 12, p. 197]

Immoral Friends

Lusts

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "After myself, I fear of three things for my Ummah: misguidance after knowledge, misleading temptations, and the lust of the stomach and the privy parts." [Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 79]

Imam al-Baqir (‘a) said: "No worship with Allah is worthier than the purity of one's stomach and privity part (from lust)." [Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 80]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "The person for whom lust and vice is readily available but he avoids them for the fear of Allah, Almighty and Glorious, He will bar the Fire for him and ensure him against the Great Fear...." [Makarim-ul-Akhlaq]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "He who is guarded against the vices of his stomach, tongue, and privy parts, is surely safeguarded from all sins." [Al-Muhajjat-ul Bayda]

Imam Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "Remember, (when committing sin), that pleasures are fleeting while the consequences remain. [Nahjul Balagha, p. 553]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "He who kisses a lad lustily, Allah, Almighty and Glorious, will bridle him with a reign of Fire." [Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 548]

Imam al-Baqir (‘a) said: "What a struggle is better than for the piety of stomach and privity parts." [Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 79]

Lusts

Helping the Needy

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Ask (questions from) the learned, speak with the wise, and associate with the poor." [Tuhaf-ul-'Uqul, p. 34]

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "The cause of the cessation of (one's) wealth is leaving the needy heedless." [Ghurar-ul-Hikam, vol. 4, p. 190]

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "The Holy Prophet (S) narrated from Allah, the Exalted, on the night of ascent, Who said: 'O' Ahmad, My love is the loving of the poor. Bring the poor nearer to yourself and situate them close to yourself in order that I approach you..." [Al-Hayat, vol. 2, p. 51]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "Whoever satiates a hungry believer so that the one is satisfied fully, neither a human being among people nor a near-stationed angel nor a divine Messenger knows how great his reward is in the Hereafter except Allah, the Lord of the Worlds." Then, he added: "Feeding a hungry Muslim is from among the means of forgiveness." After that he recited the word of Allah, Almighty and Glorious: "Or the feeding on a day of hunger, of an orphan near of kin, or to the indigent (down) in the dust." (Sura Balad, No. 90, verses 14 to 16). [Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 201]

Helping the Needy

Encouragement for Marriage

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "The person who marries gains half of his Faith, then he must fear of Allah for the next remaining half." [Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 328]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Most of the people of Hell will be the unmarried (irrespective of male or female)." [Man La Yahduruhul Faqih, vol. 3, p. 384]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "The most depraved of your dead are the unmarried." [Al-Tahthib, vol. 7, p. 239]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "He who wishes to be cleaned and purified when he meets Allah should marry and have a spouse." [Man La Yahduruhul Faqih, vol. 3, p. 385]

Encouragement for Marriage

Backbiting and Faultfinding

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Slander acts quicker against the faith of a Muslim believer than leprosy does against his body." [Usul al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 257]

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Mi (‘a) said: "The listener to backbiting is the same as the backbiter." [Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 307]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "The abandoning of backbiting is more valuable to Allah, Almighty and Glorious, than the performance of ten thousand rak'at of recommended prayers." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 75, p. 261]

'Abd-ul-Mu'min-il-Ansari said that once he himself arrived in the presence of Imam Abil-Hasan Musa ibn Ja'far (‘a) where Abdillah-il-Ja'fari had attended and Abdul-Mu'min smiled at him. Then he (‘a) inquired whether Abdul-Mu'min liked Abdillah Al-Ja'fari when he replied to the Imam (‘a) that he did not like him ('Abdillah) but on his account (the seventh Imam). Then Imam (‘a) said: "He is your brother, and a Muslim believer is the brother of another Muslim believer though their fathers are not the same. Hence, cursed is he who accuses his (Muslim) brother, cursed is he who deceives his (Muslim) brother, cursed is he who does not advise his (Muslim) brother, and cursed is he who slanders his (Muslim) brother." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 75, p. 262]

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "The most vicious person is he who looks for other people's defects while he overlooks his own faults." [Tara'if-ul-Hikam, p. 176]

Imam Kazim (‘a) said: "Cursed is the one who backbites against one's brother (fellow Muslim)." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 74, p. 232]

Backbiting and Faultfinding

Telling Lies

'Anas-ibn-Mlaik narrates from the Messenger of Allah (S) who said: "Accept six things from me, then I will accept (and guarantee) the entrance of Heaven for you:

1. When you speak, tell no lies.

2. When you promise, do not break it.

3. When you are trusted (by others), be honest.

4. Lower your eyes (from committing sin).

5. Guard your modesty.

6. Hold your hands and tongues." [Khisal al-Saduq, p. 321]

Imam Abi-Muhammad-al-al-’Askari, the eleventh Imam, (‘a) said: "Wickedness was put inside a house, and the key (of its door) was rendered to be lies." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 72, p. 263]

Imam Sajjad (‘a) said: "Avoid telling lies irrespective of small or great, whether it is in earnest or joking, because when a person tells a lie in small (things), he dares to tell a lie in great things, too." [Tuhaful-Uqul, p. 201]

Once Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) was asked about the distance between the truth and untruth and, while he (‘a) was showing the distance between his eye and ear with his four fingers in order to illustrate this distance as his answer, he said: "What your eyes see is 'truth' and what your ears hear is for the most part 'untruth'." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 75, p. 196]

Imam al-Baqir (‘a) said: "Verily, Allah, the exalted, has put some locks on vices, the key of which He has put in wine, but the vice of lying is worse than wine." [Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 339]

Imam Ridha’ (‘a) said: "Be truthful and avoid telling lies." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 347]

Telling Lies

Righteous Deeds

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "To make peace between two individuals (in comparison) is worthier than one's entire prayers and fastings." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 76, p. 43]

Imam Amir ul Mu'mineen (‘a) said: "If a person thinks well of you, make his idea hold true." [Nahjul-Balaghah, p. 511, saying No. 248]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "He who leads (others) to piety (will be rewarded) the same as the doer of that good action." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 96, p. 119]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "There are six things that a Muslim believer can be profited by after his death:

1. A righteous child who seeks forgiveness for him.

2. The Holy scripture which will be recited from.

3. A well which he had dug (for the benefit of people).

4. The tree which he had planted.

5. The charity of water that he had caused to flow.

6. A good tradition which will be followed (by people) after him."

7. Khisal by Saduq, p.323

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "If it were not hard upon my Ummah, I would enjoin them to brush (their teeth) with every prayer." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 76, p. 126]

Righteous Deeds

Being Attentive to the Hereafter

The Holy Prophet (S) said that the disciples of Jesus (‘a) asked him with whom they should make friends, and he (‘a) replied: "With one whose presence reminds you of God, his speech increases your knowledge and his deed inspires you (to work righteously for) the next world." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 1, p. 203]

Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "No business should hinder you from being busy doing good for the coming world, hence, surely, the length of opportunity is a very short time." [Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 335]

Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "He who sells his next life for his present life in this world, loses both of them." [Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 274]

Imam Hadi, the tenth Imam, (‘a) said: "Remember when you are on your deathbed and your body is lying before your family members, then there is no physician to prevent you (from death) nor a friend to avail you." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 370]

Being Attentive to the Hereafter

Piety and Its Necessity in a Muslim

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "The most (important ) things that cause people to reach Heaven are divine piety and a good temper." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 71, p. 373]

The Holy Prophet (S) advised: "When making a decision to do something, think about its outcome. If it is good for your advancement and development, follow it, but if it is misleading, leave it out...." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 77, p. 130]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) was asked about the meaning of 'piety' when he replied: "Piety is that Allah does not miss you in the place where He has commanded you to be, and does not see (find) you where He has forbidden you from." [Safinat-ul-Bihar, vol. 2, p. 678]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Show veneration for Allah similar to the way that you would mind your manners in front of a righteous person among your kinsmen." [Mustadrak Al-Wasa'il-ush Shi'ah, vol. 8, p. 466, No.10027]

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "Lowering one's eyes will serve well as a barrier against one's passions." [Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 321]

Imam Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said to Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn (peace be upon them) when 'Abd-ur-Rahman ibn Muljam (the curse of Allah be upon him) had struck him (fatally with a sword):

"I advise you (both) to fear Allah and that you should not hanker after the (pleasures of this) world even though it may run after you. Do not be sorry for anything of this world that you have been denied. Speak the truth and act (in expectation) for reward. Be an enemy of the oppressor and helper of the oppressed." [Nahj-ul-Balagha, letter 47]

Imam Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "I advise you to fear Allah, 'O my child, to abide by His commands, to fill your heart with remembrance of Him and to cling to hope in Him. No connection is more reliable than the connection between you and Allah provided you take hold of it." [Nahj-ul-Balagha, letter 31]

Abi-Osamah said that he had heard that Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "Be aware of (the punishment of) Allah, piety, godly endeavor, saying the truth, honesty in deposition, good character, and good neighbourliness. Invite (others) to yourselves (by performing good actions), not with mere utterance. Live to be ornaments, and not to be a disgrace to us. (I advise you) to prolong the length of bowing and prostration. So, verily, when one of you prolongs bowing and prostration, Satan cries from behind one and says: Woe! He obeyed and I disobeyed; he did prostration and I refused." [Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 77]

Imam ‘Ali ibn Husayn (‘a) said: "Behold! Verily, on the friends of Allah there will be no fear nor shall they grieve if they keep up the obligatories of Allah, follow the traditions of the Messenger Allah (S), avoid the things forbidden by Allah, be pious in worldly wealth and rank and eager for what there is with Allah, strive to earn His sustenance of what is pure, and decide not to boast or compile wealth but donate and give the obligatory alms they have been enjoined to. Hence, these are those (friends of Allah!) whose earnings are divinely blessed and will be rewarded for what they have sent forth unto their next world." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 69, p. 277]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Surely, human beings from the time of Adam up to now are the same as the teeth of a comb are, and there is no superiority for the Arab over non-Arab or for the red race over the black race except for piety." [Mustadrak-ul-Wasa'il]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "Surely, a little action (of worshipping) with piety is better than many deeds with no virtue." [Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 76]

Piety and Its Necessity in a Muslim

Sin and Its Effects

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Do not look at the minuteness of the sin, but see Whom you have sinned against." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 77, p. 79 & Mustadrak Al-Wasa'il, vol. 11, p. 330]

Imam Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "If one of you desires to know his standing with Allah he may evaluate his situation in relation to his sins against Allah, such is his worthiness to Allah, the Blessed and Exalted." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 70, p. 18]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) addressed a group of people and inquired why they annoyed the Messenger of Allah. Someone asked Imam (‘a) how they did so, and he (‘a) said: "Do you not know that your deeds are reported to him (S)? When he (S) observes a sin against Allah among them, he becomes displeased. Therefore do not hurt the Messenger of Allah but do please him." [Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 219]

Imam Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "Lacking forgiveness is the worst of deficiencies and hastening in vengeance is (among) the greatest (of all) sins." [Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 235]

Asbaq-ibn-Nubatah has narrated from the first Imam, Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a), who said the Prophet (S) said: "When Allah Almighty and Glorious sends His wrath on a nation and does not punish (them) by it, then; their prices will go up (expensive), their lifetimes will shorten, their merchants will not gain profits, their fruits will not be abundant, their streams will not become brimful, their rain will be withheld from them, and their vicious ones will dominate over them." [Khisal by Saduq, vol. 2, p.360]

Note:
The summary of this tradition is that if the destructive penalty does not destroy such a nation, they will be inflicted with seven afflictions because of their committing sins.

Imam al-Baqir (‘a), the fifth Imam, said that he found in the book of Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) that he has said that the Holy Prophet (S) said: "When adultery appears (abundantly in a society) the (number of) sudden deaths increases; and when there is fraud, Allah takes them in expensiveness and loss. When people stop giving alms tax, the earth holds back its blessings from plants (crops), fruits, mines, and all such things. When they act unjustly according to (divine) ordinances, they have helped injustice and aggression. When they breach (their) promises, the Lord will set their enemies as absolute masters over them. When they break off connections with their kindred, possession of properties will be put in the hands of the wicked. And, when they do not perform enjoining right and forbidding wrong and, also, do not follow the chosen ones of my Ahlul Bayt, Allah will set their vicious ones over them and, in this condition, their good doers utter invocations but they are not responded to." [Safinat-ul-Bihar, vol. 2, p. 630]

Imam Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "The tears do not dry up save for the hearts being hard, and hearts do not harden but because of the abundance of sins." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 70, p. 55]

Allah, the Exalted, told Prophet David (‘a): "O' David! Give good news to the sinners of My absolute Mercy, which envelops everything (in the world of existence), so as not to grow hopeless of My Mercy; and warn the good doers of the authority of My wrath in order not to be proud of their obedience, for pride causes arrogance which itself is the greatest of all sins." [Al-Ithna 'Ashariyyah, p. 59]

Sin and Its Effects

Earning a Livelihood

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Any man who is patient with the wife who is bad tempered, and seeks that patience from Allah, He bestows him the reward given to the thankful ones." [Man La Yahduruhul Faqih, vol. 4, p. 16]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "He who tolerates the task of earning money for (the comfort of) his wife, is like the one who fights in the way of Allah. [Man La Yahduruhul Faqih, vol. 3, p. 168, Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 88]

Earning a Livelihood

Marriage Is the Key to Divine Mercy and a Good Temper

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "The doors of Heaven to mercy will be opened in four situations: when it rains, when a child looks kindly at his parent's face, when the door of the Ka'bah is opened, and when marriage (occurs)." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 103, p. 221]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Join your children in marriage (boys or girls) because, thereby, Allah renders their tempers good, adds to their sustenance, and increases their sense of honour." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 103, p. 222]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Get married and give your daughters in marriage, because it is from the good fortune of any Muslim man that he gives his (matured) daughter (or sister) in marriage." [Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 328]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "There is nothing to Allah, Almighty and Glorious, more beloved than the house which is developed in Islam by marriage; and there is nothing to Allah, Almighty and Glorious, more abhorent than the house which is ruined in Islam by separation, viz, divorce." [Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 328]

Marriage Is the Key to Divine Mercy and a Good Temper

Giving Loan

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "He whom is referred to by his Muslim brother (to borrow) but he does not give him loan, Allah will forbid him entering Paradise on the Day when the righteous will be recompensed." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 76, p. 369]

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "The one from whom his brother Muslim needs borrowing but he does not give him loan, Allah prohibits him entering Paradise on the Day when the righteous will be recompensed." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 76, p. 367]

Giving Loan

This Fleeting World, Its Attractiveness and Poison

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "At the moment when the coffin of a person is being lifted and carried, the concerning soul follows its corpse and regretfully calls: 'O you my children and my relatives! Beware that the world does not cheat you as it did me. I gathered wealth regardless of it being lawful or unlawful and left all of it for others. Now I am left with its burden upon me while they enjoy the fruit of it; therefore, avoid that which is similar to what happened to me'." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 6, p. 161]

Imam Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "If man perceived his death and its speed towards him, he would certainly detest the world and its hopes." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 73, p. 166]

Imam al-Kadhim, the seventh Imam (‘a), said: "The likeness of this world is as a snake which is soft to the touch while there is killing poison in its inside. Possessors of wisdom avoid it but children (naive ones) are fond of it and like to catch it with their hands." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 311]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "The love of this fleeting world is the origin of all vices." [Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 315]

This Fleeting World, Its Attractiveness and Poison

The Acceptable Characteristics

The Holy Prophet (S) said: "Shall I not introduce 'a believer' to you? A believer is the one whom other believers trust with their souls and wealth. Shall I not introduce 'a Muslim' to you? A Muslim is the one from whose hand and tongue other Muslims are safe.... It is unlawful (Haram) for a believer to do wrong against another believer, or leave him/her in a lurch, or backbite against him/her, or suddenly reject him/her." [Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 235]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "A Muslim believer must not attend a meeting wherein Allah laws are being disobeyed and the one is not in a position to stop it." [Usul al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 374]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "He who habitually tells the truth, his deeds are purified; Allah increases the sustenance of the one whose intention is good; and he who treats his family members well, Allah prolongs the length of his life." [Khisal by Saduq, vol. 1 p. 88]

Imam Amir ul Mu'mineen ‘Ali (‘a) said: "A man came to the Prophet (S) and asked him to teach him an action so that both Allah, the Exalted, and people would love him, his wealth would increase, his body would be healthy, his life time would last long, and he would be raised with him (the Prophet). Then, he (S) said: 'These are six traits which need six qualities:

1. If you want Allah to love you, be afraid of Him and guard yourself against sin.

2. If you want people to love you, be benevolent to them and decline what they have in their hands.

3. If you want Allah to increase your wealth, then give its alms tax.

4. If you want Allah to make your body healthy, pay charity more frequently.

5. If you want Allah to prolong your lifetime, then have regard for your kinship.

6. And, if you want Allah to raise you with me, then do prolong your prostrations before Allah, the One, the Dominator.'" [Safinat-ul-Bihar, vol. 1, p. 599]

Imam Ridha’, the eighth Imam, (‘a) said: A Muslim believer is not a true believer unless there are three virtues in him: the manner of his lord, the manner of his Prophet, and the manner of his Imam. Then, the manner of his Lord is: concealing his secrets; hence Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, said: 'The Knower of the Unseen! So He does not reveal His secrets to any, except to him whom He chooses as an apostle,...'¤1

Then, the manner of his Prophet is compliance with people, when surely, Allah, Almighty and Glorious, commissioned His prophet to favour people and He has said: 'Practice forgiveness and enjoin good and turn away from the ignorant.’¤2

Then the manner of his Imam is (to be firm and) being patient on good days and bad days, when, verily, Allah to whom belong Might and Majesty, says: 'And (they) are patient in distress and affliction'."¤3 ['Uyun-ul-Akhbar-ur-Ridha’, vol.1, p.256]

Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Ali, the nineth Imam (‘a) said: "A Muslim believer should obtain these three virtues: success granted by Allah, be an admonisher of his self, and find approval from the one who advises him." [Muntah-al-'Amal, p.229]

‘Ali ibn Husayn (‘a) the fourth Imam, was once asked how he, the son of the Messenger of Allah began each morning, and he (‘a) replied: "I begin each morning while I am demanded of eight virtues:

Allah, the Exalted, demands of me the obligatory; the Prophet (S) demands of me his tradition (Sunnah); family dependents demand of me food (material); the self looks for desires; Satan demands me (to commit) sin; the two protective angels demand of me virtuousness, the angel of death demands of me the spirit and, the grave demands of me my body.

Therefore, I am, surrounded by these traits, demanded." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 76, p. 15]

Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said: "Verily everything is intimidated by a believer because the religion of Allah causes him to be powerful, and he is not intimidated by anything, which (epithet) is the characteristic of any believer." [Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 67, p. 305]

¤1. Sura Al-Jinn, No.72, verses 26 & 27

¤2. Space

¤3. Sura Al-Baqarah, No.2, verse 177

The Acceptable Characteristics