A Bundle of Flowers
from the Garden of Traditions of the Prophet & Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.)
Compiled by
Ayatullah Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani
Translated by
Sayyid Abbas Sadr-’ameli
Lowering the Gaze and Guarding the Modesty
Allah (s.w.t.) said: “Tell the believing men to cast down their looks and guard their private parts, that is purer for them, surely Allah is well acquainted with what they do.”
Sura An-Nur, No. 24, verse 30
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “An unlawful look (at na-mahram) is an arrow from the arrows of Satan which is poisonous. He who abandons it for the sake of Allah, Almighty and Glorious, and not for something else, consequently, Allah will give him a Faith that he finds its pleasure (in his self).”
Man La Yahduruhul Faqih, vol. 4, p. 18
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “The fornication of the eyes is the intercourse of unlawful (lustful) looks, the fornication of the lips is a forbidden kiss (of na-mahram), and the fornication of the hands is touching (hands or other limbs of a na-mahram), whether the response of the genital affirm it or disaffirms it .”
Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 559
Imam Baqir [a] said: “The Holy Prophet [s] cursed the man who looks at the private part of a woman who is not lawful to him, and also the man proves treacherous to his religious brother’s wife, and also the man that people need his help (because of his position) but he asks for a bribe from them.”
AI-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 559
Women and Ornamentation
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “A man’s word telling his wife: ‘I love you’ never will quit her heart.”
Wasa’il-ush Shi’ah, vol. 14, p. 10
Imam Baqir [a] said: “It does not matter what a women ornaments herseff with for her husband.”
AI-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 119
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said that the Prophet [s] prohibited the ornamentation of a woman for someone else other than her husband, and said:
“Thus, if she does so, it is the right of Allah, Almighty and Glorious, to burn her in Hell.” (Unless she repents.)
Man La YahduruhuI Faqih, vol. 4, p. 6
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “Everyone who intensifies love for us (AhIul-Bayt) intensifies love for his wife, too.”
Wasa’il-ush Shi’ah, vol. 14, p. 11
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “The best of your women is the one who is pious and obeys her husband in lust and ornamentation (but is impenetrable for others).”
Wasa’il-ush Shi’ah, vol 20, p.30
Fornication and Its Harmful Effects
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “It is written in the Turah: ‘I am Allah, the killer of murderers and distractor of fornicators.”
Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 554
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “There are six effects for a fornicator, three of which are in this world and the other three will be in the next world. Those that occur in this world are: taking the honour of the person and defaming the one; causing the one to become poor; and shortening the length of life, (i.e. hastening one’s death). Then, those which will be in the Hereafter are: the wrath of Allah, graveness in Reckoning, and residing in Fire eternally.”
Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 541
The Holy Prophet [s] said again from the Turah:
“O’ people, do not commit fornication because your wives will do the same, too. That which you sow, you will reap.” (The same as you do will be done to you).
Al-Kafi, vol.5, p.554
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “…He who embraces a woman who is unlawful (haram) to him, will be bound by a chain of fire alongwith Satan and both will be thrown into Hell.”
Man La Yahduruhul Faqih, vol. 4, p. 14
Once, ‘Ammar ibn Musa asked Imam Sadiq [a] about commiting sexual intercourse with beasts or masterbation by the hand or other limbs of one’s ownself, and he [a] replied: “Any form of these kinds and the like of them by which man pours forth his water, is (considered as) fornication (and it is unlawful).”
AI-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 541
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “Cursed is he, cursed is he who copulates with beasts.”
AI-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 270
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “Lesbianism between themselves is (the same as) fornication.”
Kanz-ul-’Ummal, vol. 5, p. 316
Hygiene in Islam
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “There are three traits which Allah loves (in people): briefness in speech, short (length) of sleep, and small (portion) of food; while there are three traits which He dislikes (in them): loquaciousness, oversleeping, and overeating.”
Al Ithna’Ashariyyah, p. 92
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “Try to be clean as much as you are able to. Verily, Allah has based the foundation of Islam on cleanliness; hence, never can a person enter Paradise but the clean ones.”
Kanz-ul-’Ummal, Tradition 26002
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “Overindulgence of food causes various kinds of diseases.”
Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 359
Imam Musa ibn Ja’far, the seventh Imam, [a] said:
“There are five sunnah about the head and five others related to the body. The first five concerning the head, are: washing the mouth, trimming the moustache, combing the hair, and drawing up water through the mouth and nostrils.
The second five, concerning the body, are: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, depilating the armpits, clipping the nails, and cleansing the privy parts (with water, tissue, cloth, etc., while water is preferable).”
Khisal by Saduq, p. 125
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] told Imam Hassan [a]: “Shall I teach you four traits by which you will be in no need of any medical treatment?”
“Yes,” Imam Hassan answered. Then, Ali [a] said:
- Do not sit for food (in order to eat) unless you are hungry;
- And, do not leave the (table of) food but you still have an appetite for it;
- Chew (your food in your mouth) well;
- And, when you want to go to bed, (primarily) go to the water-closet to ease nature.
If you take these in action, you will be in no need of any medical treatment.”
Wasa’il-ush Shi’ah, vol. 24, p. 245
Business and Social Relationships
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “He who purchases the food stuff which is a public necessity and stores it for forty days with the hope that its price will go up in the Muslim market, then, sells it and gives the entire sum as charity to the poor, it can not be the atonement for what he has done.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 103, p. 89
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “He who ventures transactions without observing the concerning Islamic rules, has surely run into usury,” (while he is not aware of it).
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 103, p. 93
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] narrates from the Messenger of Allah who said: “He who is in business and buys and sells things must avoid five traits, otherwise he should not buy or sell anything: usury, taking oath, concealing the faults or defects of the goods, praising it wrongly when selling it, and finding faults in it when buying it.”
AI-Khisal by Saduq, vol. 1, p. 286
Imam Baqir, the fifth Imam [a] said: “He who seeks for sustenance in this world in order to be independent of people for his needs, to provide for his famlly members, and to stretch affection unto his neighbours, will meet Allah, Almighty and Glorious, on the Day of Judgement while his face will be as bright as the full moon.”
Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 78
Fraud in Bargain
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “He who sleeps bearing deceit against his Muslim brother in his heart, has slept in the wrath of Allah and remains in that case until he repents.”
Safinat-ul-Bihar, vol. 2, p. 318
The Holy Prophet [s] said: ” …And he who deceives his Muslim brother, Allah takes away the abundancy of his sustenance and spoils his livelihood and leaves him to his ownself.”
Wasa’il-ush Shi’ah, vol. 17, p. 283
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “The Holy Prophet [s] prohibited that milk be mixed with water for sale.”
At-Tahthib, vol. 7, p. 13
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “Those who play imposture with us (Muslims in general) is not from us.”
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “The person who deceives a Muslim believer in buying or selling (things), is not of us, and, on the Resurrection Day, will be raised among the Jews, because they have been the most deceitful against Muslims.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 103, p. 80
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 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 Baqir [a] said: “What a struggle is better than for the piety of stomach and privity parts.”
AI-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 79
Worldly Possessions and Greedily Compiling Wealth
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “He whose two days (of life) are the same (making no spiritual progress) is at loss.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 71, p. 173
The seventh Imam, Musa ibn Ja’far [a], said: “The likeness of this world is as the water of the sea. However much (water) a thirsty person drinks from it, his thirst increases so much so that the water kills him.”
Bihar-uI-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 311
Imam Hadi, the tenth Imam [a], said: “People are respected in this world for possessing wealth and in the Hereafter for possessing righteous deeds.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 368
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “The destruction of my female followers is in two things: gold and immodest clothes; and the destruction of my male followers lies in abandoning knowledge and compiling wealth.”
The Collection of Waram
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 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 Sadiq [a] said: “The love of this fleeting world is the origin of all vices.”
AI-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 315
The Neglectful Slaves of this Deceitful World
Imam Husayn [a] said: “Verily, people are the slaves of the world and their religion is superficial, only on their tongues. They are attentive to it as long as their material benefits are provided, but when they are tested, the number of true devotees dwindles.”
Tuhaful-’Uqul & Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 44, p. 374
Imam Hassan ibn Ali [a] said: “I wonder about the person who contemplates about his nutrition but he does not consider (the food of) his intellect. Thus, he avoids of what hurts him in his stomach but he lets his mind to be filled with what destroys him.”
Safinat-ul-Bihar, vol. 2, p. 84
Greed and Futile Hopes
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “Even though miserliness, cowardice and greed are different qualities, yet they are common in having an incorrect idea about Allah.”
Nahjul-Balagha, letter 52
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “If a son of Adam possessed two vast valleys wherein gold and silver flowed, he would still wish to search for the third one.”
Man La Yahduruhul Faqih, vol. 4, p. 418
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “He who devotes his heart to this world will be subjected to three conditions: endless grief, unquenchable desire, and futile hope.”
Usul-I-Kafi, vol. 2 p. 320
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “How many wretched people there are whose days are being numbered but yet they are laboriously seeking wealth.”
Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 240
Arrogance and Pride
Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “Do not become obstinate (and do not strictly follow your own ideas), because such a one will meet destruction.”
Tasnif-I-Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 443
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen [a] said: “He who considers himself a great one (self-conceited), is naught with Allah.
Tasnif-I-Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 308 & Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 6, p. 91
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “Two things cause people to be destroyed (and lead unto Hell): fear of poverty, and seeking superiority through pride.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 72, p. 39
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “You should avoid self-admiration, having reliance upon what appears good in yourself, and love of exaggerated praise because this is one of the most reliable opportunities for Satan.”
Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 298
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “He who has even a little arrogance in his heart will not be allowed to enter Heaven.”
Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 310
Moderation in Economic Affairs
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “I ensure that he who economizes will never become indigent.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 71, p. 346
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “The best policy is the application of benevolence.”
Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 182
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “(To consume) more than needed is extravagance.”
Mustadrak-ul-Wasa’iI, vol. 15, p. 271
Imam Kadhim [a] said: “Had people a moderate habit in eating, their bodies would become strengthened.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 66, p. 334
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “None passes a graveyard except that the dead call out to him: ‘O you neglectful person! Were you aware of what we have been made aware of, it would make your blood run cold’.”
Irshad-ul-Qulub
Consultation
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “If your rulers are the good doers of you, rich ones are from the gracious ones of you, and your affairs go on through consultation among you, then (living) on the earth is better for you than (being) under it. But, if your rulers are the wicked ones of you, your rich ones from the misers of you, and your affairs go on without consultation among you, then (being) under the ground is better for you than (living) on it.”
Manhaj-us-Sadiqeen, commentary, vol. 2, p. 373
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “He who consults with the wise, seeks for the lights of intelligence to be enlightened with”, (and will recognize right from wrong).
Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 336
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “He who consults with men of understanding, shows his development….”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 75, p. 105
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “No believer will become wretched by consultation, and none will gain merit through stubbornness.”
Nahj-ul-Fisahah, p. 533
Activity and Idleness
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “There are seventy branches of worship, the best of which is earning a living lawfully.”
At-Tahthib, vol. 6, p. 324
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “Never, never will prosperity be reached by remaining idle and lazy.”
Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p.197
Imam Baqir, the fifth Imam [a] said: “Avoid laziness and discontent. These two are the keys to every vice.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 175
When Sa’d Ansari responded to the Holy Prophet [s] that his hands were calloused because he used to work with a rope and a shovel to earn money to spend for his wife and children, he [s] kissed his hand (as an honour) and said: “This is a hand which the Fire (of Hell) will never touch.”
Usd-ul-Ghabah, vol. 2, p. 269
Martyrs and Martyrdom
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “There is a goodness above any goodness until when a believing person, (fighting against the enemies of Islam who slaughter Muslims), is killed in the way of Allah, Almighty and Glorious, then there is no goodness above it.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 10, p. 100
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “He who is slain in the path of Allah (as a martyr), He will not recount anything of his sins to him, (his sins will be forgiven totally).”
Furu-I-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 54
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “…By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if all the members in the skies and on the earth gather to kill a (sinless) believer or be persuaded to it, Allah will surely put them all in the Fire.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 75, p. 149
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “No drop is more beloved with Allah, Almighty and Glorious, than the drop of blood which is poured in the way of Allah.
Wasa’il-ush Shi’ah, vol. 15, p. 14
The Expected Mahdi [a] and His Government of Justice
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “Al-Mahdi is of my progeny from the sons of Fatimah [a].”
Sunan-I-Abu Dawud, vol. 4, p. 107
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “Happiness is for the one who will attend the Qaim of my Ahlul Bayt and will follow him before his rise. This person will love his (Qaim’s) lovers and hate his enemies, and will accept the leadership of the Imams from before his advent. These ones are my friends, and are the most sincere members of my Ummah whom I honour very much.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 52, p. 129
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “Allah will raise a man from my progeny, from my Ahlul Bayt, by whom the earth will be filled with justice thoroughly the same as it has been filled with injustice and oppression.”
Al-Musannif, vol. 11, p. 371
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “The person who dies and has not known the Imam of his time (Imam Mahdi [a] is that of the present time) has died the same as one who died during the Age of Ignorance.”
Musnad-i-Ahmad-ibn-Hanbal, vol. 2, p. 83; vol. 3, p. 446 & vol. 4, p. 96: Sahih-i-Bukhari, vol. 5, p. 13 & Sahih-i-Muslim vol. 6, p. 21, No.1849. In addition to 25 other references introduced by Sunni scholars.
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “When our Qaim rises, the sky will send down its drops, the earth will grow its plants, enmity will come out from the servants’ hearts (in order that they live in peace and brotherly love), and savages and beasts will continue to live together peacefully….”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 52, p. 316
Abil-Jarud said: “I asked Imam Baqir [a] whether he knew about my love and sincerity for him and he answered he did. Then, I said I had a question for him to answer me, for my eyes were blind and I scarcely walked, so I could not always go to visit him. He wanted me to express my question. I requested him to inform me of the creed by which he and his household adored Allah, Almighty and Glorious, so that I could worship Him, too, by it. He responded:
‘You asked a great thing, though you stated a short expression. By Allah, I give you (your answer of) my religion and the religion of my fathers by which we worship Allah, Almighty and Glorious. It is: the confession of faith that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad [s] is the Messenger of Allah, with affirmation that what has come to him (the Qur’an) is from Allah, having affection (for us and) for the lovers and obedients to us (AhIul Bayt) and hatred to our enemies, surrender to our cause, awaiting our Qaim (the twelveth Imam, for whom there is a domination that will come whenever Allah wills), and endeavouring (for establishing divine obligatories and lawful matters) and being pious, (with avoiding unlawful things)’.”
Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 34
Imam Baqir [a] said: “When our Qaim rises, sets his hand (authority) over the heads of the servants, then, he will give them intellectual development and complete their patience and insights. After that, Allah will extend their sights and their hearing so that there will be no barrier between them and the Qaim when he decides to speak with them, then they hear, and they can watch him while he is in his place.”
Yaumul Khalas, p. 269
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “At the time of Al-Qaim (Al-Mahdi) [a] a believer who is in the East can see his (Muslim) brother who is in the West, and vice versa, the one who is in the West can see his (Muslim) brother who is the East.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 52, p. 391
Note:
Dear reader! Surely the existence of the means of communication such as satellites, televisions and the like can be helpful for us to understand this tradition although none of these technological devices existed when these precious words were uttered.
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “He (Al-Mahdi) will stay (in a place close to the Kabah) between the Pillar and the Standing place (of Abraham) and will call out saying: “O’ group of my administrators and the prominent people of mine whom Allah has stored preparing for my triumph before my advent over the face of the earth! Come to me obediently.” Then, his call will reach them while they are in their praying places and at home in their beds whether in the East of the Earth or in its West. So, they hear him with this single call which reaches the ears of every one, and, they totally respond (by coming to him) as well. Then, it takes for them but a moment that all of them gather there, between the Pillar and the Standing-place (of Abraham), attending him [a].”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 53, p. 7
Imam Sadiq [a] told his sincere companion, Al-Mufaddal, somethings from the story of Al-Mahdi and his advent, thus: “O’ Mufaddal! tell our followers the data (about Al-Mahdi) in order that they may not doubt in (their) religion.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 53, p. 6
Imam Mahdi [a] said: I am Al-Mahdi and I am the still-living one who will establish justice throughout the world the same as it has been filled with oppression. Surely the earth will never remain without a witness, and people will not live in lack of a leader. Thus, do not retell this deposite except for your (Muslim) brothers who are Men of God.”
Kamal-ud-Din, p. 445
Imam Mahdi [a] said: “But for the incidents that happen (for Muslims), refer to the narrators of our traditions, (i.e. scholars), because they are my witnesses upon you and I am the witness of Allah upon them.”
Kamal-ud-Din, p. 484
Imam Al-Mahdi [a] wrote in a letter to Ash-Shaykh Al-Mufid: “We are aware of your circumstances and nothing of your affairs is concealed from us.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 53, p. 175
Imam Mahdi [a] wrote in a letter to Ash-Shaykh Al-Mufid: “We are not regardless of considering you nor are we forgetful of you, because if it were not so, afflictions would shower upon you and enemies would eradicate you. Hence, fear Allah and obey Him, Glory be to His Majesty.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 53, p. 175
Supplication
May Allah (s.w.t.) hasten the reappearence of our 12th Imam [a] to establish equality, truth, and justice throughout the world.
The Muslim Ummah at the End of the Time
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “There will come a time for people that: they will not respect their scholars except for their good clothing; they will not hearken to the Qur’an except for the pleasant voice; and they will not worship Allah except for during the fasting month; there will be no shyness in their women, no patience in their poor ones; and no prosperity for their rich ones, they will not be contented with a small (portion), and they will not be satiated with abundance. They will strive (only) for their stomach; their religion is their money (wealth); their women are their Qiblah (direction of worship); and their homes are their mosques; they run away from their scholars just as lambs run away from wolves.Then, when they become like that, the Lord will afflict them with three conditions. At first, He takes the prosperity from their properties. The second is that a cruel ruler will dominate them. The third is that they will pass away from this world without having (true) Faith.”
Waqayi’-ul-’Ayyam, p. 439
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “There will come a time for my Ummah when their rulers will be cruel, their scholars will be greedy and have little piety, their worshippers (will act) hypocritically, their merchants will commit usury and conceal the defects of their buyings and sellings and their women will be busy with the ornaments of the world. Hence, at this time, the most vicious of them will dominate over them, and their good doers will invocate but they will not be answered.”
Bihar-uI-Anwar, vol. 23, p. 22
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “There will come a time for my Ummah when they will love five things while neglecting five others:
They will love this world and neglect the next world.
They will love wealth and forget (the Day of) Reckoning.
They (their men) will love (corruptive) women and forget the houries.
They will love buildings and forget the graves.
And, they will love (their) selves and forget the Lord. Those (such people) dislike me and I, too, dislike them.”
Al-Ithna ‘Ashariyyah, p. 202
Lifetime Should Be Well Spent
The holy Prophet [s] told Abu Dharr: “Take advantage of five opportunities before five other things:Your youth before your senescence, your health before your illness, your wealth before your poverty, your leisure before your haste, and your life before your death.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 77, p. 77
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “There is nothing worthier than gold save what remains of a true believer’s life.”
Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 257
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “When it is the Day of Judgement, a group of people stand and then come to the door of Heaven to knock on it. They will be asked who they are and they will say: ‘We are the people of patience.’ Then, they will be inquired upon what they were patient about, and they will respond: ‘We were patient with the obedience of Allah and were patient with avoiding the sins against Him’. So Allah, Almighty and Glorious, will say they are right and He will let them enter Heaven. This is the word of Allah, Almighty and Glorious, Who says: ‘Those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!’” (Sura 39. Verse 10)
AI-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 75
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “Happy is he who has not great expectations and wishes (in his life) and tries to make the most of his remaining life-time.”
Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 206
Religion and Studying Its Affairs
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “Fie upon that Muslim who does not allocate (at least) one day a week to the study of the details of his religion and to explore (the affairs) of his religion.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 1, p. 176
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “He who studies the religion of Allah, He is sufficient to remove his grief and provides him with sustenance from whence he could never imagine.”
Mahajjat-ul Bayda vol. 1, p.15
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “(Shi’ah youth should have religious instructional programs.) If I see a young one from Shi’ah who does not have this program, I will teach him a lesson.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 1, p. 214
Imam Baqir [a] said: “Inform our followers that they will surely be among the saved on the Resurrection Day if they establish what they are commanded to.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 2, p. 29
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “The one amongst my Ummah who memorizes forty traditions from among those which people need for their religious life (to propagate and instruct), Allah will raise him from the dead as a jurist on the Day of Resurrection.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 2, p. 153
Good Temper and Its Good Results
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “Verily, a servant can gain the rank of he who both fasts during the day and keeps vigil at night, keeping up prayers, through his good disposition.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 71, p. 373
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] told his son, Imam Hassan [a]: “0′ my son! No wealth is more valuable than intelligence and no poverty is similar to ignorance; no terror is worse than arrogance, and no life is more pleasant than being good tempered.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 111
Imam Hassan ibn Ali [a] said: “Verily, the best of bests is a good temper.”
Khisal-I-Saduq, p. 29
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “Good behaviour lies in three traits: Avoiding unlawful things, acquiring the lawful ones, and being fair to one’s family members.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 71, p. 394
Imam Ali ibn Husayn, the fourth Imam, [a] said: “Fair speech increases wealth, stretches sustenance, postpones death, creates love among family members, and causes the person to enter Heaven.”
Khisal by Saduq, p. 317
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “There are three things that each of which is brought by a person to Allah, He will necessitate Heaven for the one: donation in poverty, a good temper with all people, and justice to one’s self.”
Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 103
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “The things by which my Ummah can enjoy Heaven most of all are godliness, and a good temper.”
AI-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 100
The Disadvantages of Anger and an Ill Temper
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “Anger spoils Faith as much as vinegar spoils honey.”
AI-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 302
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “Wrath is the key to all vices.”
AI-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 303
Imam Ridha [a] narrated from his father [a] from Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen [a] who said that a man once asked the Prophet [s] to teach him an action to prevent a barrier between him and Paradise.
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “Do not get angry; do not ask people for things; wish for people whatever you wish for yourself.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 75, p. 27
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “He who restrains his anger, Allah will cover his blemishes.”
AI-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 303
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “Anger is a destroyer for the heart of a sage; and he who does not have his anger under his control does not have his wisdom under his control, either.”
AI-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 303
Asking for Divine Pardon
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] said: “Perfume yourself with penitence so that the stench of your sins do not disgrace you.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 6, p. 22
Imam Amir ul Mu’mineen Ali [a] taught someone to seek Allah in invocation in brief by saying: “Praise is (only) Allah’s for every blessing; and I ask Him for all goodness; and I take refuge in Allah from all vices; and, I seek Allah’s forgiveness for all sins.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 94, p. 242
Imam Baqir [a] said that the Holy Prophet [s] was once asked about the best servants and he replied:
“They are such that: when they do good, they are cheerful about it; when they do wrong, they seek forgiveness; when they are granted (something), they are thankful; when they are involved in a difficulty, they show patience; and when they become angry (with someone), they pardon.”
Khisal by Saduq, p. 317
Imam Sadiq [a] said: “When a believing Muslim frequently asks Allah for forgiveness, his record (of deeds) will ascend while it will be glowing.”
Makarim-ul-Akhlaq, p. 313
Congregation Prayer
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “Verily, when one of His servants establishes a prayer in congregation and asks Him something which He does not grant, Allah will be ashamed until He fulfils it.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 88, p. 4
Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha, the eighth Imam, [a] said: “The excellence of the congregational prayer, comparing with solitary prayer, is one rak’at to two thousand rak’ats.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 88, p. 4 & Wasa’il-ush Shi’ah, vol. 8, p. 290
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “One prayer of a man in congregation is worthier than his forty years of prayers at home (alone).”
Mustadrak-ul-Wasa’il, vol. 6, p. 446
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “The rows of my followers in the congregational prayer on the earth are like the rows of angels in the sky; and a rak’at of prayer in congregation is equivalent with twenty-four rak’ats, and every rak’at with Allah, Almighty and Glorious, is more beloved than forty years of worship. Therefore, on the Day of Justice, when Allah gathers all human beings from the beginning to the end for Reckoning, there will be no believer who has attended the congregational prayer but for whom Allah will decrease the grievousness of the Day of Reckoning and after that the one will be told to enter Heaven.
Bihar-uI-Anwar, vol. 88, p. 6
Once a blind man came to the Holy Prophet [s] and said that there was not anybody to take him to the mosque to attend the congregational prayer with him [s] when he heard the prayer call. Then the Holy Prophet [s] said: Stretch a thread from your house unto the mosque and attend the congregational prayer.”
At-Tahthib, vol. 3, p. 266
Imam Baqir [a] said: “The person who abandons the congregation (of prayer) without having an excuse but only for unwillingness, and in order to avoid attending the folk of Muslims, there will not be (considered) any prayer for him.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 88, p. 11
Imam Ridha [a] said: “Certainly the congregational prayer has been decreed in order that the pure Faith in Unity, in Islam, and in worshipping Allah be openly revealed and (publicly) manifested, because, thereby and with its apparency the reason of Allah, Almighty and Glorious, will be completed for the totality of people in the East and West (of the world). (Thus, the reality of Islam will be manifested and known and infidelity and paganism before Islam will be like darkness before light which cannot resist and vanishes at last.) Another reason (for decreeing the congregational prayer) is that those who are far from the truth, the hypocrite, and those who take it light but claim Islam, then they may, willy or nilly, treat accordingly and show Islam from them and try to protect (its laws in the society).
Again, the congregational prayer causes people to know each other which makes it allowed and possible that some of them bear witness for some others about their Islam, wherein there is the means of facility and association for righteous deeds and godly actions which prevents too much disobedience against Allah, Almighty and Glorious.”
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 88, p. 12
Supplication
O’ Lord! We eagerly desire that You assign us to the just, fair Islamic government, (the which is really the rightful government of Imam Mahdi, may Allah hasten his reappearance). Through his auspicious government, thou reactivate and dearly love Islam and its followers while thou humiliate hypocrisy and the hypocrite. And, in that period, include us among those who invite people unto Thy obedience and lead them to Thy path of guidance; and, endow us the honour and grandeur of both this world and the next.
Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 91, p. 6
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wassalam
