Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

13 - الإمارة

13 GOVERNMENT

72 - ضَرورَةُ الإمارَةِ

72 The Necessity of Government

222. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - في قَضيّةِ التَّحْكِيم - : إنَّ هؤلاءِ يَقُولُونَ : لَا إمْرَةَ ! وَلَابُدَّ مِنْ أمِيرٍ يَعْمَلُ فِي إمْرَتِهِ المُؤْمِنُ ، وَيَسْتَمْتِعُ الفَاجِرُ1

222. Imam Ali (AS) said regarding the arbitration, 'These [people] say, 'There is no need for government!' Indeed there has to be a ruler under whose rule the believer toils and the wicked seeks to make merry.'2

223. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لَايُصْلِحُ النَّاسَ إلَّا أمِيرٌ ؛ بَرٌّ أوْ فَاجِرٌ3

223. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'No one can straighten people other than a ruler - be he pious or wicked.'4

224. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : إنَّ مُعاوِيَةَ سَيَظْهَرُ عَلَيْكُمْ ، قَالُوا : فَلِمَ نُقَاتِلُ إذاً ؟ قَالَ : لَابُدَّ لِلنّاسِ مِنْ أمِيرٍ بَرٍّ أوْ فَاجِرٍ5

224. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Muawiya will prevail over you.' They asked, 'Why do you fight [him] then?' He replied, 'People must have a ruler - be he pious or wicked.'6

225. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - فِي الحَرُورِيَّةِ وَهُمْ يقولون : لا حُكْمَ إلّا للَّهِ‏ِ - : الحُكْمُ للَّهِ‏ِ ، وَفِي الأرْضِ حُكَّامٌ ، وَلكِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ : لَا إمَارةَ ، وَلَابُدَّ لِلنّاسِ مِنْ إمَارَةٍ؛ يَعْمَلُ فِيْها المُؤْمِنُ ، ويَسْتَمْتِعُ فِيَها الفَاجِرُ وَالكَافِرُ، وَيُبَلِّغُ اللَّهُ فِيهَا الأجَلَ7

225. Imam Ali (AS) said regarding the Haruriyya and they say that there is no rule other than Allah's, 'The rule is Allah's, and there are also rulers on earth, but they [retort and] say, 'There is no government' - 'There must be a government for the people under which the believer toils and the wicked and the unbeliever seek to make merry, and in which Allah decrees the final outcome.'8

226. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لَابُدّ لِلنَّاسِ مِنْ أمِيرٍ بَرٍّ أوْ فَاجِرٍ ، يَعْمَلُ فِي إمْرَتِهِ المُؤْمِنُ وَيَسْتَمْتِعُ فِيهَا الكَافِرُ ، وَيُبَلِّغُ اللَّهُ فِيهَا الأجَلَ ، ويُجْمَعُ بِهِ الفَيْ‏ءُ ، وَيُقَاتَلُ بهِ‏العَدُوُّ ، وَتَأمَنُ بِهِ السُّبُلُ ، وَيُؤْخَذُ بِهِ لِلضّعِيفِ مِنَ‏القَوِيِّ، حَتّى يَسْتَرِيحَ بَرٌّ وَيُسْتَراحَ مِنْ‏فَاجِرٍ9

226. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'The people have to have a ruler over them, be he pious or wicked, under whose rule the believer toils and the wicked seeks to make merry, and in which Allah decrees the final outcome, and under which the booty is collected, the enemy is fought, the roads are made safe, and the weak is protected from the powerful, until the pious rests and the wicked is cast aside.'10

227. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أسَدٌ حَطُومٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ ظَلُومٍ ، وَسُلْطانٌ ظَلُومٌ خَيرٌ مِنْ فِتَنٍ تَدُومُ11

227. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'A wild lion is better than an oppressive ruler, while an oppressive ruler is better than lasting schisms.'12

228. ك نز العمّال عن أبي البختريّ : دَخَل رَجُلٌ المَسْجِدَ فَقَالَ : لَا حُكْمَ إلّا للَّهِ‏ِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ آخَرُ : لَا حُكْمَ إلّا للَّهِ‏ِ،فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام: لَا حُكْمَ إلّا للَّهِ‏ِ (إنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَلَا يَسْتَخِفَنَّكَ الّذِينَ لا يُوقِنُونَ)13 ، فَمَا تَدْرُونَ مَا يَقُولُ هؤلَاءِ ، يَقُولُونَ : لَا إمَارَةَ أيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إنَّهُ لَا يُصْلِحُكُمْ إلَّا أمِيرٌ؛ بَرٌّ أوْ فَاجِرٌ

قَالُوا : هذَا البَرُّ فَقَدْ عَرَفْنَاهُ ، فَمَا بَالُ الفَاجِرِ ؟

فَقَالَ : يَعْمَلُ المُؤْمِنُ ، وَيُمْلَأُ لِلْفَاجِرِ ، ويُبَلِّغُ اللَّهُ الأجَلَ، وَتَأمَنُ سُبُلُكُمْ، وَتَقُومُ أسْواقُكُمْ، وَيُجْبى‏ فَيْئُكُمْ ، وَيُجَاهَدُ عَدُوُّكُمْ ، ويُؤخَذُ لِلضَّعِيفِ مِنَ الشَّدِيدِ مِنْكُمْ14

228. Abu al-Bakhtari said, 'A man entered the mosque and said, 'There is no rule save Allah's.' Then another man said, 'There is no rule save Allah's.' So [Imam] Ali said, 'There is no rule save Allah's.“Allah's promise is indeed true. And do not let yourself be upset by those who have no conviction.” 15 You do not know what these [men] are saying; they are saying, 'There [should] be no government'. O People! You are not set straight without a ruler, be he pious or wicked.' They replied, 'We understand about the pious, but what about the wicked?' He said, '[Under whom] the believer toils and the wicked thrives, and Allah decrees the final outcome, your roads become safe, your markets operate, your booty is collected, your enemy is fought, and your weak is protected from the powerful from among you.'16

Notes

1. أنساب الأشراف : 3 / 135 .

2. Ansab al-Ashraf, v. 3 , p. 135

3. كنز العمّال : 14286 .

4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 14286

5. كنز العمّال : 14366 .

6. Ibid. no. 14366

7. كنز العمّال : 31567 .

8. Ibid. no. 31567

9. بحار الأنوار : 75 / 358 / 72 .

10. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 75 , p. 358 , no. 72

11. بحار الأنوار : 75 / 359 / 74 .

12. Ibid. p. 359 , no. 74

13. الروم : 60 .

14. كنز العمّال : 31618 .

15. Qur'an 30 :60

16. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 31618

73 - إمَارَةُ الأشرارِ

73 The Rule of Wicked People

229. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إذَا كَانَ اُمَرَاؤكُمْ خِيَارَكُمْ، وَأغْنِيَاؤكُمْ سُمَحَاءَكُمْ، وأمْرُكُمْ شُورى‏ بَيْنَكُمْ؛ فَظَهْرُ الأرْضِ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ بَطْنِهَا وإذَا كَانَ اُمَراؤكُمْ شِرَارَكُمْ، وأغْنِيَاؤكُمْ بُخَلاءكُمْ ، فَبَطْنُ الأرْضِ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ ظَهْرِهَا1

229. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'When your rulers are the best ones from among you, and the richest people from among you are the most generous, and your affairs are settled by counsel (shura) between yourselves, then being above the ground [i.e. life in this world] will be better for you than being under it [i.e. death]. But when your rulers are the wicked ones from among you, and the richest the most miserly, then being under the ground will be better for you than being above it....'2

Notes

1. تحف العقول : 36 .

2. Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 36

74 - قيمَةُ الإمارَةِ

74 The Value of Government

230. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - لابنِ عَبّاسٍ إذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ : إنَّ الحَاجَّ قَدِ اجْتَمَعُوا لِيسْمَعُوا مِنْكَ ، وَهُوَ يَخْصِفُ نَعْلاً - : أمَا وَاللَّهِ لَهُما أحَبُّ إلَيَّ مِنْ أمْرِكُمْ هذَا ، إلّا أنْ اُقِيمَ حَدّاً أوْ أدْفَعَ بَاطِلاً1

230. Imam Ali (AS) said to ['Abdullah] Ibn 'Abbas, who entered his tent while he was mending his sandal, and told him, 'The pilgrims have gathered to listen to you' - 'I swear by Allah, these [sandals] have more value to me than ruling over you, except for being able to uphold the law and prevent wrongdoings.'2

231. ن هج البلاغة عن ابنِ عبّاسٍ : دَخلتُ على‏ أميرِ المؤمِنينَ عليه السلام بِذي قار وهوَ يَخصِفُ نَعلَه، فقالَ لِي : مَا قِيمَةُ هذَا النَّعْلِ ؟ فَقُلْتُ : لَا قِيمَةَ لَهَا! فَقَالَ عليه السلام : وَاللَّهِ لَهِيَ أحَبُّ إلَيَّ مِنْ إمْرَتِكُمْ، إلّا أنْ اُقِيمَ حَقّاً ، أوْ أدْفَعَ بَاطِلاً.3

231. Imam Ali (AS) asked Ibn 'Abbas [according to another account], 'What is the value of this sandal?' Ibn 'Abbas said, 'It is worthless.' He (AS) said, 'I swear by Allah, it has more value to me than ruling over you, except for being able to uphold the law and prevent wrong doing.'4

232. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - فِي كِتابِه إلَى‏ ابنِ عبّاسٍ - : أمّا بَعْدُ، فَلَا يَكُنْ حَظُّكَ في وِلَايتِكَ مَالاً تَسْتَفِيدُهُ ، وَلَا غَيْظاً تَشْتَفِيهِ ، وَلكنْ إمَاتَةُ بَاطِلٍ وإحْيَاءُ حَقٍّ5

232. Imam Ali (AS) wrote to Ibn 'Abbas: 'Do not let your share as a result of your rule be wealth that you derive [personal] gain from, nor rage that you satisfy [by revenge], but [let it be] the killing of injustice and the revival of equity.'6

(اُنظر) عنوان 196 «السلطان»

(See also: THE RULER [SULTAN] 196)

Notes

1. المناقب لابن شهرآشوب : 2 / 101 .

2. al-Manaqib li Ibn Shahr Ashub, v. 2 , p. 101

3. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 33 .

4. Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 33

5. بحار الأنوار : 40 / 328 / 10 .

6. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 40 , p. 328 , no. 10

14 - الأمل‏

14 EXPECTATION

75 - الأمَلُ رَحمَةٌ

75 Expectation is a Mercy

233. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : الأملُ رَحمةٌ لِاُمّتي ، ولَوْلا الأملُ ما أرْضَعَتْ والِدَةٌ وَلَدَها، ولا غَرَسَ غارِسٌ شَجَراً1

233. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Expectation is a mercy for my community; without expectation no mother would nurse her child, nor would anyone plant a tree.'2

234. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : الأملُ رَفيقٌ مُؤْنِسٌ3

234. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Expectation is an amiable companion.'4

235. ت نبيه الخواطر : بينما عيسَى بن مريم عليه السلام جالِسٌ وشَيخٌ يَعملُ بِمِسْحاةٍ ويُثيرُ بهِ الأرضَ ، فقالَ عيسى‏ عليه السلام: اللّهُمَّ انْزعْ عنه الأملَ فَوَضَعَ الشَّيخُ المِسْحاةَ واضْطَجَعَ، فَلَبِثَ ساعةً فقالَ عيسى‏ عليه السلام : اللّهُمَّ ارْدُدْ إليهِ الأملَ ، فقامَ فَجَعَلَ يَعملُ5

235. It is narrated in Tanbih al-Khawatir: 'While Jesus son of Mary (AS) was sitting, he saw a man working the land with a shovel. Jesus (AS) said, 'O Allah, take his expectation away from him!' The man put his shovel down and rested on the ground for an hour. Then Jesus (AS) said, 'O Allah, give him back his expectation!' The man stood up and returned to work.'6

Notes

1. بحار الأنوار : 77 / 173 / 8 .

2. Ibid. v. 77 , p. 173 , no. 8

3. غرر الحكم : 1042 .

4. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1042

5. تنبيه الخواطر : 1 / 272 .

6. Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 1 , p. 272

76 - الآمالُ لا تَنتَهي‏

76 Expectations Never Cease

236. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : مَن كانَ يَأمَلُ أن يَعيشَ غَداً فإنّهُ يَأمَلُ أن يَعيشَ أبَداً1

236. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'A man who expects to be alive tomorrow is a man who expects to be alive forever.'2

237. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : الأملُ لا غايةَ لَهُ3

237. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'There is no end to expectation.'4

238. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : الآمالُ لا تَنْتَهي5

238. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Expectations never cease.'6

Notes

1. بحار الأنوار : 73 / 167 / 31 .

2. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 73 , p. 167 , no. 31

3. غرر الحكم : 1010 .

4. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1010

5. غرر الحكم : 639 .

6. Ibid. no. 639

77 - التَّحذيرُ مِنَ الآمالِ الباطِلَةِ

77 Warning Against False Expectations

(ذَرْهُمْ يَأْكُلُوا وَيَتَمَتَّعُوا وَيُلْهِهِمُ الْأَمَلُ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ)1

“Leave them to eat and enjoy and to be diverted by expectations. Soon they will know.” 2

239. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : اتَّقُوا باطِلَ الأملِ ، فَرُبَّ مُسْتَقْبِلِ يومٍ ليسَ بِمُسْتَدْبِرِهِ ، ومَغْبُوطٍ في أوَّلِ لَيلِهِ‏3 قامَتْ بَواكِيهِ في آخِرِهِ4

239. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Guard yourselves against false expectation, for many a person who begins the day does not live to see its end, and many a one is envied at the beginning of the night while his mourners have assembled by the end of it.'5

240. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : الأملُ كالسَّرابِ : يَغِرُّ مَنْ رَآهُ ، ويُخْلِفُ مَن رَجاهُ6

240. Imam Ali (AS) said, '[False] Expectation is like the mirage - it deceives those who view it and leaves behind those who place their hope on it.'7

241. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : الأمانِيُّ تُعْمي عُيُونَ البصائرِ8

241. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Wishes blind the eyes of insight.'9

242. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : الأملُ سُلطانُ الشَّياطِينِ على‏ قُلُوبِ الغافِلِينَ10

242. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Expectation is the sultan of the Satans over the hearts of the oblivious.'11

243. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : ثَمَرَةُ الأملِ فَسادُ العَمَلِ12

243. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'The fruit of expectation is the spoilage of deeds.'13

244. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : إنّ الأملَ يُسْهي القلبَ ، ويُكْذِبُ الوَعْدَ ، ويُكْثِرُ الغَفْلَةَ ، ويُورِثُ الحَسْرَةَ14

244. Imam Ali (AS) said, '[False] Expectation causes the heart to forget, breaks promises, increases oblivion, and brings about grief.'15

245. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : إنَّ الأملَ يُذْهِبُ العقلَ ، ويُكْذِبُ الوَعدَ ، ويَحُثُّ علَى الغَفْلَةِ ، ويُورِثُ الحَسْرَةَ فأكْذِبوا الأملَ ؛ فإنّه غَرُورٌ ، وإنَّ صاحِبَهُ مَأزُورٌ16

245. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Expectation drives reason away, breaks promises, encourages oblivion, and brings about grief. So distrust expectation, for it is deceitful and its addict is a sinner.'17

246. ا لإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : كَمْ مِنْ نِعمةٍ للَّهِ على‏ عبدِهِ في غَيْرِ أملِهِ ، وكَمْ مِنْ مُؤَمِّلٍ أملاً الخِيارُ في غَيرِهِ18

246. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'How many a favour Allah grants His servant without him having expected them, and how many a hopeful one entertains high hopes when [Allah's] choice favours others.'19

Notes

1. الحِجر : 3 .

2. Qur'an 15 :3

3. في المصدر «في أوّل ليلةٍ» والصواب ما أثبتناه .

4. غرر الحكم : 2572 .

5. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2572

6. غرر الحكم : 1896 .

7. Ibid. no. 1896

8. غرر الحكم : 1375 .

9. Ibid. no. 1375

10. غرر الحكم : 1828 .

11. Ibid. no. 1828

12. غرر الحكم : 4641 .

13. Ibid. no. 4641

14. بحار الأنوار : 78 / 35 / 117 .

15. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78 , p. 35 , no. 117

16. بحار الأنوار : 77 / 293 / 2 .

17. Ibid. v. 77 , p. 293 , no. 2

18. بحار الأنوار : 71 / 152 / 55 .

19. Ibid. v. 71 , p. 152 , no. 55

78 - الأمَلُ وَالأجَلُ‏

78 Expectation and Death

247. ت نبيه الخواطر : رُويَ أنّهُ [رسول اللَّه‏] صلى اللَّه عليه وآله أخَذَ ثلاثةَ أعْوادٍ فَغَرَسَ عُوداً بين يَدَيْهِ والآخَرَ إلى‏ جَنْبِهِ ، وأمّا الثّالثُ فأبْعَدَهُ وقالَ : هَل تَدْرُونَ ما هذا ؟ قالوا : اللَّهُ ورسولُهُ أعْلَمُ قالَ : هذا الإنسانُ ، وهذا الأجلُ ، وهذا الأملُ يَتَعاطاهُ ابنُ آدمَ ويَخْتَلِجُهُ الأجلُ دُونَ الأملِ1

247. It has been narrated that the Prophet (SAWA) took three sticks and set one of them in front of him, another one next to it, and the third far away from the two. He then asked, 'Do you know what this is?' to which they replied, 'Allah and His Messenger know better.' He said, 'This one is man, and this is death [next to it], while that one is expectation, which man entertains [about his long life], but death falls upon him prior to his expectation.'2

248. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لو رأَى العبدُ أجلَهُ وسُرْعَتَهُ إلَيهِ أبْغَضَ الأملَ3

248. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'If man were to see his death [approaching] and the speed at which it draws near to him, he would despise expectation.'4

249. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : الأملُ يُنْسي الأجَلَ5

249. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Expectation makes one forget death.'6

250. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أقْرَبُ شَيْ‏ءٍ الأجلُ، أبْعَدُ شَيْ‏ءٍ الأملُ7

250. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'The closest thing is death, and the remotest thing is expectation.'8

251. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لا تَخْلو النَّفْسُ مِنَ الأملِ حتّى‏ تَدْخُلَ في الأجلِ‏9

251. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'A soul does not depart from expectation until it enters the realm of death.'10

252. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : ألَا وإنّكُمْ في أيّامِ أملٍ مِن وَرائهِ أجلٌ ، فَمَنْ عَمِلَ في أيّامِ أملِهِ قَبْلَ حُضُورِ أجلِهِ فَقَدْ نَفَعَهُ عَمَلُهُ ولَم يَضْرُرْهُ أجلُهُ11

252. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Indeed you are in the days of expectation that is followed by death. So he who works in the days of his expectation before death arrives will benefit from his work and will not be hurt by death.'12

253. ا لإمامُ الكاظمُ عليه السلام : لَو ظَهَرتِ الآجالُ افتَضَحَتِ الآمالُ13

253. Imam al-Kazim (AS) said, 'If times of death were revealed, expectations would be debunked.'14

Notes

1. تنبيه الخواطر : 1 / 272 .

2. Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 1 , p. 272

3. بحار الأنوار : 73 / 95 / 79 ، واُنظر أيضاً : 164 / 22 و 166 / 28 .

4. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 73 , p. 95 , no. 79

5. غرر الحكم : 874 .

6. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 874

7. غرر الحكم : 2920 و 2921 .

8. Ibid. no. 2920-2921

9. غرر الحكم : 10844 .

10. Ibid. no. 10844

11. بحار الأنوار : 77 / 333 / 21 .

12. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77 , p. 333 , no. 21

13. أعلام الدين : 305 .

14. Alam al-Din, p. 305

79 - ثَمَراتُ طولِ الأملِ‏

79 The Results of High Expectations

254. ا لكافي : فيما ناجَى اللَّهُ عزّ وجلّ بهِ موسى‏ عليه السلام : يا موسى‏ ، لا تُطَوِّلْ في الدُّنْيا أملَكَ فَيَقْسُوَ قَلْبُكَ ، والقاسِي القلبِ منّي بَعِيدٌ1

254. It is narrated in al-Kafi: Part of what Allah, the Exalted, told Prophet Moses2 (AS): 'O Moses! Do not extend your expectation in this world's life lest your heart become hard, for the hard-hearted is far from Me.'3

255. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : مَنِ اتَّسَعَ أملُهُ قَصُرَ عَمَلُهُ4

255. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'A man who has high expectations is deficient in his action.'5

256. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أمّا طُولُ الأملِ فَيُنْسي الآخِرَةَ6

256. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'As for high expectation, it causes you to forget the Hereafter.'7

Notes

1. الكافي : 2 / 329 / 1 .

2. Prophet Moses (AS) is known in the Arabic tradition as Musa.

3. al-Kafi, v. 2 , p. 329 , no. 1

4. بحار الأنوار : 77 / 421 / 40 .

5. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77 , p. 421 , no. 40

6. الكافي : 2 / 336 / 3 ، اُنظر تمام الحديث في باب 136 .

7. al-Kafi, v. 2 , p. 336 , no. 3

80 - قِصَرُ الأمَلِ‏

80 Low Expectation

257. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله - لابنِ مسعودٍ - : قَصِّرْ أمَلَكَ ، فإذا أصْبَحْتَ فَقُلْ : إنّي لا اُمْسِي ، وإذا أمْسَيْتَ فَقُلْ : إنّي لا اُصْبِحُ ، واعْزِمْ على‏ مُفارَقَةِ الدُّنْيا ، وأحِبَّ لِقاءَ اللَّهِ1

257. The Prophet (SAWA) told Ibn Masud, 'Lower your expectation such that when you wake up in the morning, you say, 'I will not see the night' and when you go to sleep at night, you say, 'I will not see the morning.' And be prepared to depart from this life and yearn to meet Allah.'2

258. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام: مَنْ أيْقَنَ أنّهُ يُفارِقُ الأحبابَ، ويَسكُنُ التُّرابَ، ويُواجِهُ الحِسابَ، ويَسْتَغْنِي عَمّا خَلَّفَ، ويَفْتَقِرُ إلى‏ ما قَدَّمَ ، كانَ حَرِيّاً بِقِصَرِ الأملِ وطُولِ العَملِ3

258. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'A man who is sure about leaving his loved ones, dwelling under the earth, facing the final Account, and that he will be needless of what he leaves behind, and needy of what he has sent forth [for the Hereafter] deserves to shorten his expectation and lengthen his action.'4

259. ا لإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : تَزَوَّدْ مِنَ الدُّنْيا بِقِصَرِ الأملِ5

259. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, 'Equip yourself with low expectation for this world's life.'6

Notes

1. بحار الأنوار : 77 / 101 / 1 .

2. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77 , p. 101 , no. 1

3. بحار الأنوار : 73 / 167 / 31 .

4. Ibid. v. 73 , p. 167 , no. 31

5. تحف العقول : 286 .

6. Tuhaf al-Uqul, no. 286

81 - النَّهيُ عَنِ التّأمِيلِ بِغَيرِ اللَّهِ‏

81 Prohibition of Placing One's Expectation in Other than Allah

260. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : يَقولُ اللَّهُ عزّ وجلّ : لَأقْطَعَنَّ أملَ كُلِّ مُؤمنٍ أمَّلَ دُوني بالإياسِ1

260. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Allah, Mighty and Exalted says, 'I will cut off the expectation of every believer who places it in someone other than Me [and replace it] with despair.'2

261. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : مَنْ أمَّلَ إنساناً فَقَدْ هابَهُ3

261. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'He who places his expectation in a human is indeed fearful of him.'4

(اُنظر) التوكّل : باب 1878

(See also: TRUST (IN ALLAH): section 1878)

Notes

1. صحيفة الإمام الرضا : 276 / 20 .

2. Sahifat al-Imam al-Rida (AS), p. 276 , no. 20

3. بحار الأنوار : 78 / 79 / 61 .

4. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78 , p. 79 , no. 61

15 - الاُمّة

15 THE [MUSLIM] COMMUNITY

82 - مَنزِلَةُ الاُمَّةِ الإسلامِيَّةِ

82 The Status of the Muslim Community

(كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتابِ لَكانَ خَيْراً لَهُم مِنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفاسِقُونَ)1

“You are the best nation [ever] brought forth for mankind: you bid what is right and forbid what is wrong and have faith in Allah. And if the people of the Book had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them some are faithful, but most of them are transgressors.” 2

262. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : اُمّتي اُمّةٌ مُبارَكَةٌ، لا يُدْرى‏ أوَّلُها خَيْرٌ أو آخِرُها خَيْرٌ3

262. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'My nation is a blessed one, whether its first [early Muslims] is the best or its last [at the end of time] is not known.'4

263. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : اُمَّتي هذهِ اُمّةٌ مَرْحومةٌ5

263. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'This community of mine is a nation compassioned upon by Allah.'6

264. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنَّكُمْ تُتِمُّونَ سَبْعينَ اُمّةً ،أنتُمْ خَيْرُها وأكْرَمُها علَى اللَّهِ7

264. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Surely you complete seventy communities, of which you are the best and the most honoured before Allah.'8

265. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : بَشِّرْ هذِهِ الاُمَّةَ بالسَّناءِ ، والدِّينِ ، والرِّفْعَةِ ، والنَّصْرِ ، والتَّمْكينِ في الأرضِ9

265. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Give good news to this nation of exaltedness, religion, superiority, victory and power in the land.'10

Notes

1. آل عمران : 110 .

2. Qur'an 3 :110

3. كنز العمّال : 34451 .

4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 34451

5. كنز العمّال : 34452 .

6. Ibid. no. 34452

7. كنز العمّال : 34462 .

8. Ibid. no. 34462

9. كنز العمّال : 34465 .

10. Ibid. no. 34465

83 - أخيارُ الاُمَّةِ

83 The Best of the Muslim Community

266. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : خَيْرُ اُمّتي أزْهَدُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيا، وأرْغَبُهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ1

266. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The best of my community are the most abstemious in the world and the most desirous of the Hereafter.'2

267. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله: خَيْرُ اُمّتي مَنْ هَدَمَ شَبابَهُ في طاعةِ اللَّهِ ، وفَطَمَ نَفْسَهُ عَنْ لَذّاتِ الدُّنْيا وتَوَلَّهَ بالآخِرَةِ ، إنّ جَزاءهُ علَى اللَّهِ أعلى‏ مَراتِبِ الجنّةِ3

267. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The best of my community are those who spend away their youth in Allah's obedience, wean themselves away from the worldly pleasures and are infatuated with the Hereafter. Surely their reward upon Allah is the highest levels of Paradise.'4

268. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : خَيْرُ اُمّتي مَن إذا سُفِهَ عَلَيْهِمْ احْتَمَلوا ، وإذا جُنِيَ‏عَلَيْهِمْ غَفَروا، وإذا اُوذُوا صَبَروا.5

268. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The best of my community are those who when treated foolishly are tolerant, and when wronged they forgive, and when they are hurt are patient.'6

Notes

1. تنبيه الخواطر : 2 / 123 .

2. Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 2 , p. 123

3. تنبيه الخواطر : 2 / 123 .

4. Ibid. v. 2 , p. 123

5. تنبيه الخواطر : 2 / 123 .

6. Ibid. v. 2 , p. 123

84 - الاُمَّةُ الوَسَطُ

84 The Middle Nation

(وَكَذلِكَ جَعَلْناكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطاً لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيداً).1

“Thus We have made you a middle nation that you may be witnessed to the people, and that the Apostle may be a witness to you.” 2

269. ا لإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : نَحْنُ شُهَداءُ اللَّهِ على‏ خَلْقِهِ ، وحُجَّتُهُ في أرضِهِ ، ونَحْنُ الّذينَ قالَ اللَّهُ جلّ اسمه : (وَكَذلِكَ جَعَلْناكُمْ اُمَّةً وَسَطاً)3

269. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'We are the witnesses of Allah on His creation and His proof on the earth, and we are those regarding whom Allah has said,“Thus We have made you a middle nation.” 4

Notes

1. البقرة : 143 .

2. Qur'an 2 :143

3. شواهد التنزيل : 1 / 119 / 129 .

4. Shawahid al-Tanzil, v. 1 , p. 119 , no. 129

85 - ما يوجِبُ خَيرَ الاُمَّةِ

85 Factors that Ensure the Goodness of the Muslim Nation

270. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : لا تَزالُ اُمّتي بِخَيْرٍ ما تَحابُّوا وأدَّوا الأمانَةَ ، واجْتَنَبوا الحَرامَ، وقَرَوُا الضَّيْفَ ، وأقامُوا الصَّلاةَ ، وآتَوا الزَّكاةَ1

270. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'My nation will continue to thrive as long as they love each other, deliver the trust, refrain from the forbidden, respect the guest, maintain the prayer, and pay the alms-tax (zakat).'2

271. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : لا تَزالُ هذِهِ الاُمّةُ تَحْتَ يَدِ اللَّهِ وفي كَنَفِهِ ما لَم يُداهِنْ قُرّاؤها اُمَراءَها ، ولَم يُزَكِّ عُلَماؤها فُجّارَها ، وما لَم يُهَنِّ خِيارُها أشْرارَها ، فإذا فَعَلوا ذلكَ رَفَع اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ يَدَهُ ثُمَّ سَلَّطَ عَلَيْهِمْ جَبابِرَتَهُمْ3

271. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'This nation will continue to remain under the supervision and protection of Allah as long as its reciters do not flatter the rulers, its scholars do not declare the vicious ingrates as innocents, and the good people do not approve of the evil ones; if they do that, Allah will take away His supervision and give reign to their oppressors over them.'4

Notes

1. بحار الأنوار : 69 / 394 / 77 .

2. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 69 , p. 394 , no. 77

3. تنبيه الخواطر : 1 / 84 وفيه «يزل» بدل «يُزكِّ» وهو تصحيف .

4. Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 1 , p. 84

86 - مَنزِلَةُ الاُمَّةِ الإسلامِيَّةِ فِي الآخِرَةِ

86 The Status of the Muslim Community in the Hereafter

272. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أنا أكْثَرُ النَّبِيِّينَ تَبَعاً يومَ القِيامةِ1

272. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Among all the prophets, my followers will be the most on the Day of Resurrection.'2

273. ر سولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنّ في الجنّةِ عِشْرينَ ومائةَ صَفٍّ ، اُمّتي منها ثَمانُونَ صَفّاً3

273. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Surely in Paradise there will be one hundred and twenty ranks, of which eighty will be occupied by my community.'4

Notes

1. بحار الأنوار : 7 / 130 / 1 .

2. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 7 , p. 130 , no. 3

3. بحار الأنوار : 7 / 130 / 3 .

4. Ibid. v. 7 , p. 130 , no. 3