Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

251 - الإطعام‏

251. FEEDING OTHERS

1181 - فَضلُ إطعامِ الجائِعِ‏

1181. THE VIRTUE OF FEEDING A HUNGRY PERSON

( وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعامَ عَلَى‏ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَيَتِيماً وَأَسِيراً * إِنَّما نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لا نُرِيدُ مِنْكُمْ جَزاءً وَلا شُكُوراً).1

“They give food for the love of Him, to the needy, the orphan and the prisoner, [saying], ‘We feed you only for the sake of Allah. We do not want any reward from you nor any thanks.” 2

( أَوْ إِطْعامٌ فِي يَوْمٍ ذِي مَسْغَبَةٍ * يَتِيماً ذا مَقْرَبَةٍ * أَوْ مِسْكِيناً ذا مَتْرَبَةٍ).3

“or feeding [the needy] on a day of starvation, or an orphan among relatives, or a needy man in desolation.” 4

3793. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : قوتُ الأجسادِ الطَّعامُ ، وقوتُ الأرواحِ الإطعامُ5

3793. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The nourishment of the body is food whilst the nourishment of the soul is feeding others.’6

3794. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : ما أكَلتَهُ راحَ، وما أطعَمتَهُ فاحَ7

3794. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘That which you yourself eat gets consumed whereas that which you feed others diffuses [i.e. the benediction in that sustenance].’8

3795. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : إنّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ إطعامَ الطَّعامِ وهِراقَةَ الدِّماءِ9

3795. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘Verily Allah loves the feeding of food to others, and the spilling of blood [offering a sacrifice].’10

3796. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : مِن مُوجِباتِ الجَنَّةِ والمَغفِرَةِ إطعامُ الطَّعامِ السَّغْبانَ، ثُمَّ تَلا قولَ اللَّهِ عَزَّوجلَّ : (أَوْ إِطْعامٌ في يَومٍ ذِي مَسْغَبةٍ ...).11

3796. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘One of the things which gives one obligatory entrance into Paradise and forgiveness is feeding a starving person’, then he went on to recite the verse of Allah in the Qur’an:“or feeding [the needy] on a day of starvation.” 12

3797. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : إنَّ أميرَ المؤمنينَ عليه السلام أشبَهُ الناسِ طُعمَةً برسولِ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله، كانَ يَأكُلُ الخُبزَ والخَلَّ والزَّيتَ، ويُطعِمُ الناسَ الخُبزَ واللَّحمَ13

3797. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) narrated, ‘Verily the Commander of the Faithful resembled the Prophet (SAWA) the most in the way that he ate. He used to eat bread, vinegar and (olive) oil, and feed others bread and meat.’14

(اُنظر) عنوان 249 «الضيافة»

(See also: HOSPITALITY 249)

Notes

1. الدهر : 8، 9

2. Qur’an 76 :8,9

3. البلد : 14 - 16

4. Qur’an 90 :14-16

5. مشكاة الأنوار : ص 325

6. Mishkat al-Anwar, no. 325

7. غرر الحكم : 9634

8. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9634

9. المحاسن : 2 / 142 / 1370

10. al-Mahasin, v. 2, p. 143, no. 1370

11. المحاسن : 2 / 145 / 1381

12. Ibid. v. 2, p. 145, no. 1381

13. المحاسن : 2 / 279 / 1901

14. Ibid. p. 279, no. 1901

252 - الطَّلاق‏

252. DIVORCE

1182 - ذَمُّ الطَّلاقِ‏

1182. THE CENSURE OF DIVORCE

3798. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : ما أحَلَّ اللَّهُ شيئاً أبغَضَ إلَيهِ مِن الطَّلاقِ1

3798. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Allah has not made permissible anything more abominable to Him than divorce.’2

3799. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّوجلَّ يُبغِضُ أو يَلعَنُ كُلَّ ذَوّاقٍ مِنَ الرِّجالِ، وكُلَّ ذَوّاقَةٍ مِن النِّساءِ3

3799. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Verily Allah, Mighty and Exalted, despises or excludes from His mercy every man who is quick to contract new marriages, and every woman who does so.’4

3800. الإمام الباقرُ عليه السلام : إنّ اللَّهَ عَزَّوجلَّ يُبغِضُ كُلَّ مِطلاقٍ ذَوّاقٍ5

3800. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘Verily Allah, Mighty and Exalted, despises every man who is quick to contract new divorces and marriages.’6

3801. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : ما مِن شَي‏ءٍ مِمّا أحَلَّهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّوجلَّ أبغَضَ إلَيهِ مِن الطلاقِ، وإنَّ اللَّهَ يُبغِضُ المِطلاقَ الذَّوّاقَ7

3801. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Nothing is more abominable to Allah from all that He has made permissible than divorce, and verily Allah despises one who is quick to contract new divorces and marriages.’8

3802. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : إنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّوجلَّ يُحِبُّ البيتَ الذي فيهِ العُرسُ، ويُبغِضُ البيتَ الذي فيهِ الطلاقُ، وما مِن شَي‏ءٍ أبغَضَ إلى اللَّهِ عَزَّوجلَّ مِن الطَّلاقِ9

3802. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Verily Allah, Mighty and Exalted, loves the house wherein a wedding is taking place, and despises the house wherein a divorce is in process, and nothing is more abominable to Allah than divorce.’10

Notes

1. كنز العمّال : 27871

2. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 27871

3. الكافي : 6 / 54 / 1

4. al-Kafi, v. 6, p. 54, no. 1

5. الكافي : 6 / 55 / 4

6. Ibid. p. 55, no. 4

7. الكافي : 6 / 54 / 2

8. Ibid. p. 54, no. 2

9. الكافي : 6 / 54 / 3

10. Ibid. no. 3

1183 - حِكمَةُ الطَّلاقِ ثَلاثاً

1183. THE WISDOM IN RESTRICTING THE DIVORCE TO THREE TIMES

( فَإِنْ طَلَّقَها فَلا تَحِلُّ لَهُ مِنْ بَعْدُ حَتَّى‏ تَنْكِحَ زَوْجاً غَيْرَهُ فَإِنْ طَلَّقَها فَلا جُناحَ عَلَيْهِما أَنْ يَتَراجَعا إِنْ ظَنَّا أَنْ يُقِيما حُدُودَ اللَّهِ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ يُبَيِّنُها لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ).1

“And if he divorces her, she will not be lawful for him until she marries a husband other than him, and if he divorces her2 , there is no sin upon them to remarry if they think that they can maintain Allah’s bounds. These are Allah’s bounds, which He clarifies for a people who have knowledge.” 3

3803. الإمامُ الرِّضا عليه السلام - لمّا سُئلَ عن العلّةِ التي من أجلِها لا تَحِلُّ المُطَلَّقَةُ لِلعِدَّةِ لِزَوجِها حتّى تَنكِحَ زَوجاً غيرَهُ - : إنَّ اللَّهَ تباركَ و تعالى‏ إنّما أذِنَ في الطلاقِ مَرَّتَينِ، فقالَ عَزَّوجلَّ : (الطَّلاقُ مَرَّتانِ فَإِمْساكٌ بِمَعْروفٍ أَوْ تَسْريحٌ بِإِحْسانٍ)4 يَعنِي في التَّطليقَةِ الثالثةِ، ولِدُخُولِهِ فيما كَرِهَ اللَّهُ عَزَّوجلَّ لَهُ مِن الطلاقِ الثالثِ حَرَّمَها اللَّهُ علَيهِ، فلا تَحِلُّ لَهُ مِن بعدُ حتّى‏ تَنكِحَ زَوجاً غَيرَهُ؛ لئلاّ يُوقِعَ الناسُ الاستِخفافَ بِالطلاقِ ولا تُضارَّ النِّساءُ5

3803. Imam al-Rida (AS) was once asked the reason why a man is not allowed to remarry his divorcée numerous times unless she has married another husband first, to which he replied, ‘Verily Allah, Blessed and most High, has permitted revocable divorce twice, and said:“[Revocable] divorce may be only twice; then [let there be] either an honourable retention, or a kindly release” 6 , meaning the third time around. Because of his contracting this divorce that Allah despises so, three times over, Allah prohibits him from doing it again, so she [his divorcée] is not lawful for him until she marries another husband [and he divorces her], in order that people do not plunge into divorce, taking it as a light matter, and in order that women may not be caused to suffer in the process.’7

3804. الإمامُ الرِّضا عليه السلام - مِمّا كَتَبَ إلى‏ محمّدِ بنِ سِنانٍ في عِلَّةِ الطلاقِ ثلاثاً - : وعِلَّةُ الطلاقِ ثلاثاً لِما فيهِ مِن المُهلَةِ فيما بينَ الواحِدَةِ إلى الثلاثِ؛ لرَغبَةٍ تَحدُثُ أو سُكونِ غَضَبٍ إن كانَ، ولِيَكُونَ ذلكَ تَخويفاً وتَأديباً للنِّساءِ وزَجِراً لهُنَّ عن مَعصيَةِ أزواجِهِنَّ فَاستَحَقَّتِ المرأةُ الفُرقَةَ والمُبايَنَةَ لدُخُولِها فيما لا يَنبَغي مِن مَعصيَةِ زَوجِها، وعِلَّةُ تَحريمِ المرأةِ بعدَ تِسعِ تَطليقاتٍ فلا تَحِلُّ لَهُ أبداً عُقوبَةً؛ لئلّا يُتَلاعَبَ بِالطلاقِ، ولا تُستَضعَفَ المرأةُ، ولِيَكُونَ ناظِراً في اُمورِهِ مُتَيَقِّظاً مُعتَبِراً، ولِيَكونَ يائساً لَها مِن الاجتِماعِ بعدَ تِسعِ تَطلِيقاتٍ8

3804. Imam al-Rida (AS) said in a letter that he wrote to Muhammad Ibn Sinan outlining the reason for restricting the divorce to three times, ‘The reasoning behind the divorce being permissible three times is to do with the respite it gives [each party to think] between the first to the third time – for in that time, a desire [for one’s spouse] may arise or one’s rage may subside. Also, [it has been restricted to three] in order to discipline and deter women from disobeying their husbands [time after time] whereby she may have become deserving of separation and distancing for doing something to disobey her husband. The reason why a woman becomes unlawful for a man after nine counts of divorce, where he is absolutely not allowed a woman and is punishable for it, is in order that people do not make a jest of divorce and so that women are not abased, and so that man may consider his situation carefully and vigilantly [before plunging into marriage and divorce], and that he may feel despair at ever coming back together with a woman after having divorced nine times.’9

Notes

1. البقرة : 230

2. That is, after she has been divorced by the second husband, the two of them may remarry if they think they can maintain a healthy marital relationship.

3. Qur’an 2 :230

4. البقرة : 229

5. عيون أخبار الرِّضا : 2 / 85 / 27

6. Qur’an 2 :229

7. Uyun Akhbar al-Rida (AS), v. 2, p. 85, no. 27

8. علل الشرائع : 507 / 1

9. Ilal al-Shara’i , p. 507, no. 1

253 - الطَّمَع‏

253. GREED

1184 - ذَمُّ الطَّمَعِ‏

1184. REPREHENSION OF GREED

3805. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : الطَّمَعُ يُذهِبُ الحِكمَةَ مِن قُلوبِ العُلَماءِ1

3805. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Greed takes away wisdom from the hearts of the knowledgeable men.’2

3806. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنّ الصَّفاةَ الزُّلالَ الذي لا تَثبُتُ علَيهِ أقدامُ العُلَماءِ الطَّمَعُ3

3806. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Verily greed is a slippery rock on which the feet of knowledgeable men never become firmly rooted.’4

3807. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إيّاكَ والطَّمَعَ؛ فإنّهُ فَقرٌ حاضِرٌ5

3807. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Beware of greed for it is ready poverty.’6

3808. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : الطَّمَعُ رِقٌّ مُؤَبَّدٌ7

3808. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Greed is an eternal slavery.’8

3809. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : مَن أرادَ أن يَعِيشَ حُرّاً أيّامَ حياتِهِ فلا يُسكِنِ الطَّمَعَ قَلبَهُ9

3809. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Whoever wishes to spend the days of his life as a free man must not allow greed to abide in his heart.’10

3810. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : الطامُعُ في وَثاقِ الذُّلِّ11

3810. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The greedy person is shackled in disgrace.’12

3811. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أزرى‏ بِنَفسِهِ مَنِ استَشعَرَ الطَّمعَ13

3811. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The person most neglectful of his own soul is the one who is full of greed.’14

3812. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لا أذَلَّ مِن طامِعٍ15

3812. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘No one is more despicable than a greedy person.’16

3813. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أكثَرُ مَصارِعِ العُقولِ تحتَ بُرُوقِ المَطامِعِ17

3813. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The intellects are most often destroyed as a result of their subservience to bursts of avid desires.’18

3814. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لا يَجتَمِعُ الوَرَعُ والطَّمَعُ19

3814. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Piety and greed can never come together.’20

3815. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : بِئسَ العَبدُ عَبدٌ لَهُ طَمَعٌ يَقودُهُ21

3815. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘How wretched the servant who is a slave of his own greed, which controls him.’22

3816. الإمامُ الكاظمُ عليه السلام - لهشامٍ وهُو يَعِظُهُ - : إيّاكَ والطَّمَعَ، وعلَيكَ باليَأسِ مِمّا في أيدِي الناسِ، وأمِتِ الطَّمَعَ مِن المَخلوقِينَ؛ فإنَّ الطَّمَعَ مِفتاحٌ لِلذُّلِّ، واختِلاسُ العَقلِ، واختِلاقُ المُرُوّاتِ، وتَدنِيسُ العِرضِ، والذَّهابُ بِالعِلمِ23

3816. Imam al-Kazim (AS) said to Hashim, exhorting him, ‘You must beware of greed, and despair of acquiring anything in the possession of others. Suppress the greed in others for verily greed is the key to disgrace, it exploits the intellect, fabricates valorous qualities for itself, tarnishes one’s reputation, and does away with one’s knowledge.’24

3817. الإمامُ الهاديُّ عليه السلام : الطَّمَعُ سَجِيَّةٌ سَيِّئَةٌ.25

3817. Imam al-Hadi (AS) said, ‘Greed is an evil characteristic.’26

3818. الإمامُ العسكريُّ عليه السلام : ما أقبَحَ بالمُؤمِنِ أن تكونَ لَهُ رَغبَةٌ تُذِلُّهُ27

3818. Imam al-Askari (AS) said, ‘How revolting it is for the believer to have an avid desire that disgraces him.’28

(اُنظر) عنوان 94 «الحرص»

(See also: AVARICE 94)

Notes

1. كنز العمّال : 7576

2. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 7576

3. تنبيه الخواطر : 1 / 49

4. Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 1, p. 49

5. كنز العمّال : 8852

6. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 8852

7. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 180

8. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 180

9. تنبيه الخواطر : 1 / 49

10. Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 1, p. 49

11. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 226

12. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 226

13. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 2

14. Ibid. Saying 2

15. غرر الحكم : 10593

16. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 10593

17. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 219

18. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 219

19. غرر الحكم : 10578

20. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 10578

21. الكافي : 2 / 320 / 2

22. al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 320, no. 2

23. بحار الأنوار : 78 / 315 / 1

24. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 315, no. 1

25. الدرّة الباهرة : 42

26. al-Durra al-Bahira, p. 42

27. بحار الأنوار : 78 / 374 / 35

28. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 374, no. 35

1185 - الطَّمَعُ المَمدوحُ‏

1185. PRAISEWORTHY AVIDITY

1

( تَتَجافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ المَضاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفاً وَطَمَعاً وَمِمَّا رَزَقْناهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ).2

“Their sides vacate their beds to supplicate their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend out of what We have provided them.” 3

( وَما لَنا لا نُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَما جاءَنا مِنَ الحَقِّ وَنَطْمَعُ أَن يُدْخِلَنا رَبُّنا مَعَ القَوْمِ الصَّالِحِينَ).4

“Why should we not believe in Allah and the truth that has come to us, avid as we are that our Lord should admit us among the righteous people?” 5

3819. الإمامُ زينُ العابدينَ عليه السلام - في الدعاءِ - : إذا رَأيتُ مَولايَ ذُنُوبي فَزِعتُ، وإذا رَأيتُ عَفوَكَ طَمِعتُ6

3819. Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS) said in one of his supplications, ‘When I consider my sins my Lord, I am horrified [at them], and when I consider Your pardon, I am avidly eager [for it].’7

3820. الإمامُ زينُ العابدينَ عليه السلام - أيضاً - : فإنّما أسألُكَ لِقَديمِ الرَّجاءِ فيكَ، وعَظيمِ الطَّمَعِ منكَ؛ الذي أوجَبتَهُ على‏ نفسِكَ مِن الرَّأفَةِ والرَّحمَةِ8

3820. Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS) said in another one of his supplications, ‘For indeed I ask You because of my eternal hope in You and because of the great desire that I entertain about You; which is the graciousness and mercy that You have made obligatory upon Yourself.’9

Notes

1. Translator’s Note: Since ‘greed’ is a word that has intrinsically negative implications, in this sub-section outlining its positive and praiseworthy aspects, we will proceed to refer to it as ‘avidity.’

2. السجدة : 16

3. Qur’an 32 :16

4. المائدة : 84

5. Qur’an 5 :84

6. بحار الأنوار : 98 / 83 / 2

7. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 98, p. 83, no. 2

8. الإقبال : 1 / 168

9. Iqbal al-Amal, v. 1, p. 168

254 - الطَّهارَة

254. PURITY

1186 - الطَّهورُ

1186. RITUAL PURIFICATION

1

3821. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : الطَّهُورُ شَطرُ الإيمانِ2

3821. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Purification is a portion of faith.’3

3822. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أوَّلُ مايُحاسَبُ بهِ العَبدُ طَهُورُهُ4

3822. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The first thing that the servant will have to account for is his ritual purification.’5

3823. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : لا تُقبَلُ صَلاةٌ بغَيرِ طَهورٍ6

3823. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘A prayer without ablution is not accepted.’7

Notes

1. Ritual purification (tahur): ablution (wudu’), major ablution (ghusl), dry ablution (tayammum), as well as cleaning and purifying one’s body from all things considered impure in Islam (ed.)

2. كنز العمّال : 25998

3. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 25998

4. كنز العمّال : 26010

5. Ibid. no. 26010

6. كنز العمّال : 26006

7. Ibid. no. 26006

1187 - المُطَهِّراتُ‏

1187. PURIFYING AGENTS

( وَهُوَ الَّذِي أرسَلَ الرِّياحَ بُشراً بَينَ يَدَي رَحمَتِهِ وَأنزَلنا مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً طَهُوراً).1

“And it is He who sends the winds as harbingers of His mercy, and We send down from the sky purifying water.” 2

(اُنظر) المائدة : 6 و التوبة : 108

(See also: Qur’an 5:6, 9:108)

1 - الماءُ

1. Water:

3824. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الماءَ طَهوراً لا يُنَجِّسُهُ شَي‏ءٌ، إلّا ما غَيَّرَ لَونَهُ أو طَعمَهُ أو رِيحَهُ3

3824. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Allah has created water to be a purifier where nothing can make it impure, except for that water whose colour, taste or smell has changed.’4

2 - الشّمسُ‏

2. The Sun:

3825. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : كُلُّ ما أشرَقَت علَيهِ الشَّمسُ فهُو طاهِرٌ5

3825. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘Everything that the sun shines on becomes purified.’6

3 - التُّرابُ‏

3. Earth:

3826. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : إنّ اللَّهَ عَزَّوجلَّ جَعَلَ التُّرابَ طَهوراً كما جَعَلَ الماءَ طَهوراً7

3826. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Verily Allah, Mighty and Exalted, made the earth a purifier just as he made water a purifier.’8

4 - النارُ

4. Fire:

3827. الإمامُ الكاظمُ عليه السلام - لمّا سُئلَ عنِ الجِصِّ يُوقَدُ عَلَيهِ بِالعذَرَةِ وعِظامِ المَوتى‏ ثُمَّ يُجَصَّصُ بِهِ المَسجِدُ ، أيُسجَدُ عَلَيهِ ؟ - : إنَّ الماءَ وَالنّارَ قَد طَهَّراهُ9

3827. Imam al-Kazim (AS) was once asked about gypsum that is burnt along with dried excrement and bone ash, and then used to plaster a mosque, and whether prostration on such plaster is allowed. He replied, ‘Verily water and fire [from the kilning process] have purified it.’10

Notes

1. الفرقان : 48

2. Qur’an 25 :48

3. وسائل الشيعة : 1 / 101 / 9

4. Wasa’il al-Shia, v. 1, p. 101, no. 9

5. وسائل الشيعة : 2 / 1043 / 6

6. Ibid. v. 2, p. 1043, no. 6

7. كتاب من لا يحضره الفقيه : 1 / 109 / 224

8. al-Faqih, v. 1, p. 109, no. 224

9. الكافي : 3 / 330 / 3

10. al-Kafi, v. 3, p. 330, no. 3

1188 - الطَّهارَةُ المَعنَوِيَّةُ

1188. SPIRITUAL PURITY

( إِنَّما يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ البَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيراً).1

“Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification.” 2

( خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِها وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ صَلَاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ).3

“Take charity from their possessions to cleanse them and purify them thereby, and bless them. Indeed your blessing is a comfort to them, and Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.” 4

3828. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : فَرَضَ اللَّهُ الإيمانَ تَطهيراً مِن الشِّركِ5

3828. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Allah has obligated faith in order to purify one from polytheism.’6

3829. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : إنَّ تَقوَى اللَّهِ دَواءُ داءِ قُلوبِكُم وطَهُورُ دَنَسِ أنفُسِكُم7

3829. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Verily being wary of one’s duty to Allah is the remedy for the disease of your hearts … and the purifier of the pollution in your souls.’8

3830. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : إن كُنتُم لا مَحالَةَ مُتَطَهِّرِينَ فَتَطَهَّرُوا مِن دَنَسِ العُيوبِ والذُّنوبِ9

3830. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Since you have no choice but to purify your bodies, then make a point of purifying yourselves of your faults and your sins.’10

(اُنظر) القلب : باب 1551

(See also: THE HEART: section 1551)

Notes

1. الأحزاب : 33

2. Qur’an 33 :33

3. التوبة : 103

4. Qur’an 9 :103

5. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 252

6. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 252

7. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 198

8. Ibid. no. 198

9. غرر الحكم : 3743

10. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3743

255 - الطاعة

255. OBEDIENCE

1189 - طاعَةُ اللَّهِ وآثارُها

1189. OBEDIENCE TO ALLAH AND ITS EFFECTS

( يا أَيُّها الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ).1

“O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those vested with authority among you.” 2

3831. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنّهُ لا يُدرَكُ ما عِندَ اللَّهِ إلّا بطاعَتِهِ3

3831. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Verily what is with Allah can only ever be attained through His obedience.’4

3832. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : طاعَةُ اللَّهِ مِفتاحُ كُلِّ سَدادٍ، وصَلاحُ كُلِّ فَسادٍ5

3832. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Obedience to Allah is the key to every efficient matter and the redressing of every immoral act.’6

3833. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أجدَرُ الناسِ برَحمَةِ اللَّهِ أقوَمُهُم بالطّاعَةِ7

3833. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The person most worthy of Allah’s mercy is the one most diligent in Allah’s obedience.’8

3834. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : علَيكُم بطاعَةِ مَن لا تُعذَرُونَ بجَهالَتِهِ9

3834. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘It is incumbent upon you to obey the One whom you hold no excuse to remain ignorant of.’10

3835. الإمامُ الهاديُّ عليه السلام : مَن أطاعَ الخالِقَ لَم يُبالِ بسَخَطِ المَخلوقِ11

3835. Imam al-Hadi (AS) said, ‘He who obeys the Creator is not bothered by the displeasure of the creation [i.e. other people].’12

Notes

1. النساء : 59

2. Qur’an 4 :69

3. وسائل الشيعة : 11 / 184 / 2

4. Wasa’il al-Shia, v. 11, p. 184, no. 2

5. غرر الحكم : 6012

6. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6012

7. غرر الحكم : 3192

8. Ibid. no. 3192

9. بحار الأنوار : 70 / 95 / 1

10. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 70, p. 95, no. 1

11. بحار الأنوار : 78 / 366 / 2

12. Ibid. v. 78, p. 366, no. 2

1190 - مَن يَنبَغي طاعَتُهُ‏

1190. HE WHO IS ENTITLED TO BE OBEYED

3836. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أطِعِ العاقِلَ تَغنَمْ، اِعْصِ الجاهِلَ تَسلَمْ1

3836. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Obey the intelligent man and you will gain, and disobey the ignorant man and you will remain safe.’2

3837. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أطِعِ العِلمَ واعْصِ الجَهلَ تُفلِحْ3

3837. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Obey knowledge and disobey ignorance and you will prosper.’4

3838. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لا دِينَ لمَن دانَ بطاعَةِ المَخلوقِ ومَعصيَةِ الخالِقِ5

3838. 3843. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The religion of one who adheres to obeying creatures and disobeying the Creator does not count.’6

3839. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أطِعْ مَن فَوقَكَ يُطِعْكَ مَن دُونَكَ7

3839. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Obey one who is above you [in authority] and the one below you will obey you.’8

3840. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : مَن تَواضَعَ قَلبُهُ للَّهِ‏ِ لَم يَسأمْ بَدَنُهُ مِن طاعَةِ اللَّهِ9

3840. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He whose heart submits to Allah, his body never tires of Allah’s obedience.’10

3841. الإمامُ الهاديُّ عليه السلام : مَن جَمَعَ لَكَ وُدَّهُ ورَأيَهُ فَاجمَعْ لَهُ طاعَتَكَ11

3841. Imam al-Hadi (AS) said, ‘He who gives you both his affection and his good opinion is entitled to your giving him your obedience.’12

Notes

1. غرر الحكم : 2263 - 2264

2. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2263-2264

3. غرر الحكم : 2309

4. Ibid. no. 2309

5. عيون أخبار الرِّضا : 2 / 43 / 149

6. Uyun Akhbar al-Rida (AS), v. 2, p. 69, no. 318

7. غرر الحكم : 2475

8. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2475

9. بحار الأنوار : 78 / 90 / 95

10. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 90, no. 95

11. بحار الأنوار : 78 / 365 / 4

12. Ibid. p. 365, no. 4

1191 - مَن لا يَنبَغي طاعَتُهُ‏

1191. HE WHO MUST NOT BE OBEYED

( وَقالُوا رَبَّنا إِنّا أَطَعْنا سادَتَنَا وَكُبَراءَنا فَأَضَلُّونَا السَّبِيلا * رَبَّنا آتِهِمْ ضِعْفَيْنِ مِنَ العَذابِ وَالْعَنْهُمْ لَعْناً كَبِيراً).1

“And they will say, ‘Our Lord! We obeyed our leaders and elders, and they led us astray from the way. Our Lord! Give them a double punishment and curse them with a mighty curse.” 2

3842. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : مَن أرضى‏ سُلطاناً بما يُسخِطُ اللَّهَ خَرَجَ عن دِينِ اللَّهِ عَزَّوجلَّ3

3842. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘He who pleases a ruler with regard to something that displeases Allah excludes himself from the religion of Allah, Mighty and Exalted.’4

3843. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : ألا فَالحَذَرَ الحَذَرَ مِن طاعَةِ ساداتِكم وكُبَرائكُمُ الَّذينَ تَكَبَّرُوا عن حَسَبِهِم، وتَرَفَّعُوا فَوقَ نَسَبِهِم ولا تُطِيعُوا الأدعِياءَ الذينَ شَرِبتُم بِصَفوِكُم كَدَرَهُم، وخَلَطتُم بِصِحَّتِكُم مَرَضَهُم، وأدخَلتُم في حَقِّكُم باطِلَهُم، وهُم أساسُ الفُسوقِ5

3843. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Beware O beware of obeying your leaders and your elders who felt proud of their achievements and boasted about their lineage … and do not obey those who claim to be Muslims [but are hypocrites] whose filth you imbibe alongside your propriety, whose ailments you mix with your healthiness, and whose wrongs you have allowed to infiltrate your rightful matters, while they are the very foundation of vice.’6

3844. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : مَن أطاعَ التَّوانِيَ ضَيَّعَ الحُقوقَ، ومَن أطاعَ الواشِيَ ضَيَّعَ الصَّدِيقَ7

3844. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who obeys an indifferent person ends up losing his rights, and he who obeys an informant ends up losing his friends.’8

Notes

1. الأحزاب : 67، 68

2. Qur’an 33 :67 , 68

3. عيون أخبار الرِّضا : 2 / 69 / 318

4. Uyun Akhbar al-Rida (AS), v. 2, p. 69, no. 318

5. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 192

6. Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 192

7. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 239

8. Ibid. Saying 239