Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

1357 - وجوب العمل بالعلم‏

1357. THE NECESSITY OF PRACTISING UPON ONE’S KNOWLEDGE

4540. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : تَناصَحوا فِي العِلمِ ؛ فإنَّ خِيانَةَ أحَدِكُم في عِلمِهِ أشَدُّ مِن خِيانَتِهِ في مالِهِ ، وإنَّ اللَّهَ سائلُكُم يَومَ القِيامَةِ1

4540. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Advise each other with knowledge, for verily your betrayal of someone in their knowledge is worse than your betraying him in their wealth, and verily Allah will question you on the Day of Resurrection.’2

4541. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : هِمَّةُ العُلَماءِ الوِعايَةُ ، وهِمَّةُ السُّفَهاءِ الرِّوايَةُ3

4541. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The ambition of knowledgeable people is greater awareness, whereas the ambition of fools is telling stories.’4

4542. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : يَطَّلِعُ قَومٌ مِن أهلِ الجَنَّةِ عَلى‏ قَومٍ مِن أهلِ النّارِ فيَقولونَ : ما أدخَلَكُمُ النَّارَ وقَد دَخَلنا الجَنَّةَ لِفَضلِ تَأديبِكُم وتَعليمِكُم ؟ ! فيَقولونَ : إنّا كُنّا نَأمُرُ بِالخَيرِ ولا نَفعَلُهُ5

4542. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘A group from among the dwellers of Paradise will look down upon a group from among the inmates of Hell, saying, ‘What brought you into the Fire when we ourselves entered Paradise by virtue of your education and instruction?!’ upon which they will reply, ‘Verily we used to enjoin good but did not act upon it.’6

4543. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام: إنَّما زَهَّد النّاسَ في طَلَبِ العِلمِ كَثرَةُ ما يَرَونَ مِن قِلَّةِ مَن عَمِلَ بِما عَلِمَ7

4543. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Verily people abstain from gaining knowledge because of the numerous instances they witness of the people’s lack of action in accordance with what they know.’8

4544. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : الدّنيا كُلُّها جَهلٌ إلّا مَواضِعَ العِلمِ ، وَالعِلمُ كُلُّه حُجَّةٌ إلّا ما عُمِلَ بِهِ9

4544. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The whole world is ignorance apart from the areas of knowledge, and all of knowledge will be held punishable apart from that which is acted upon.’10

4545. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : العِلمُ بِلا عَمَلٍ وَبالٌ ، العَمَلُ بِلا عِلمٍ ضَلالٌ11

4545. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Knowledge without action is a curse, and action without knowledge is straying in error.’12

4546. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : قَصَمَ ظَهري عالِمٌ مُتَهَتِّكٌ، وجاهِلٌ مُتَنَسِّكٌ ، فالجاهِلُ يَغُشُّ النّاسَ بِتَنَسُّكِهِ ، والعالِمُ يُنَفِّرُهُم بِتَهَتُّكِهِ13

4546. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘[To see] An impudent yet knowledgeable man and a religious but ignorant man is a mortal blow to me, for the ignorant man dupes people with his religiosity whilst the knowledgeable man drives them away through his impudence.’14

4547. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : اعقِلوا الخَبَرَ إذا سَمِعتُموهُ عَقلَ رِعايَةٍ لا عَقلَ رِوايَةٍ ؛ فإنَّ رُواةَ العِلمِ كَثيرٌ ورُعاتَهُ قَليلٌ15

4547. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘When you hear a narration, think of putting it into practise and not with the reasoning of just narrating it, for verily the narrators of knowledge are many but those who attend to it are few.’16

4548. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : مَن نَصَبَ نَفسَهُ لِلنّاسِ إماماً فعَلَيهِ أن يَبدَأ بِتَعليمِ نَفسِهِ قَبلَ تَعليمِ غَيرِهِ ، وَليَكُن تَأديبُهُ بِسيرَتِهِ قَبلَ تَأديبِهِ بِلِسانِهِ ، ومُعَلِّمُ نَفسِهِ ومُؤَدِّبُها أحَقُّ بِالإجلالِ مِن مُعَلِّمِ النّاسِ ومُؤَدِّبِهِم17

4548. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who appoints himself a leader of people must begin by teaching himself before teaching others. And his discipline of them must be through his own example rather than through his words. The one who teaches and disciplines himself is more worthy of esteem than the one who teaches and disciplines people.’18

4549. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : عَلَى العالِمِ أن يَعمَلَ بِما عَلِمَ ، ثُمَّ يَطلُبَ تَعَلُّمَ ما لَم يَعلَمْ19

4549. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘It is incumbent upon the knowledgeable man to act upon what he knows, and then to seek to learn that which he does not know.’20

4550. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : العِلمُ مَقرونٌ بِالعَمَلِ ، فمَن عَلِمَ عَمِلَ، والعِلمُ يَهتِفُ بِالعَمَلِ، فإن أجابَهُ وإلّا ارتَحَلَ عَنهُ.21

4550. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Knowledge is linked to action, so he who knows acts. And knowledge calls for action, so if one answers [the call] it remains, and if not it departs from him.’22

Notes

1. الأمالي للطوسي : 126 / 198

2. Amali al-Tusi, p. 126, no. 198

3. كنز العمّال : 29337

4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 29337

5. مكارم الأخلاق : 2 / 364 / 2661

6. Makarim al-Akhlaq, v. 2, p. 364, no. 2661

7. غرر الحكم : 3895

8. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3895

9. بحار الأنوار : 2 / 29 / 9

10. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 2, p. 29, no. 9

11. غرر الحكم : 1587 ، 1588

12. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1587

13. منية المريد : 181

14. Munyat al-Murid, p. 181

15. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 98

16. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 98

17. بحار الأنوار : 2 / 56 / 33

18. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 2, p. 56, no. 33

19. غرر الحكم : 6196

20. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6196

21. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 366

22. Nahj a-Balagha, Saying 366

1358 - تَشديدُ العُقوبَةِ عَلَى العالِمِ التّارِكِ لِعِلمِهِ‏

1358. THE SEVERITY OF THE CHASTISEMENT of the Knowledgeable Man Who ABANDONS HIS KNOWLEDGE

4551. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنَّ أهلَ النّارِ لَيَتَأذَّونَ مِن ريحِ العالِمِ التّارِكِ لِعِلمِهِ1

4551. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Verily the inmates of the Fire will be tormented by the stench of the knowledgeable man who had abandoned his knowledge.’2

4552. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لا يَستَوي عِندَ اللَّهِ في العُقوبَةِ الّذينَ يَعلَمونَ والّذينَ لا يَعلَمونَ ، نَفَعَنا اللَّهُ وإيّاكُم بِما عَلِمنا ، وجَعَلَهُ لِوَجهِهِ خالِصاً ، إنَّهُ سَميعٌ مُجيبٌ3

4552. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Those who know and those who do not know are not equal in the sight of Allah with regards to their chastisement. May Allah make us and you benefit from the knowledge we have and make it be reserved solely for His pleasure; verily He is all-hearing, responsive.’4

4553. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : زَلَّةُ العالِمِ كانكِسارِ السَّفينَةِ تَغرَقُ ، وتُغرِقُ5

4553. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘A knowledgeable man’s blunder is as the destruction of a boat which itself sinks and drowns [those aboard it].’6

4554. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : إنَّهُ يُغفَرُ لِلجاهِلِ سَبعونَ ذَنباً قَبلَ أن يُغفَرَ لِلعالِمِ ذَنبٌ واحِدٌ7

4554. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Verily the ignorant man is forgiven seventy sins before the knowledgeable man is forgiven a single one.’8

4555. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : أشَدُّ النّاسِ عَذاباً عالِمٌ لا يُنتَفَعُ مِن عِلمِهِ بِشَي‏ءٍ9

4555. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘The one amongst people to be the most severely punished will be the knowledgeable man who has not benefited from his knowledge one bit.’10

4556. بحارالأنوار : أوحى اللَّهُ تبارك وتعالى‏ إلى‏ داوُودَ عليه السلام: إنَّ أهوَنَ ما أنا صانِعٌ بِعالِمٍ غَيرِ عامِلٍ بِعِلمِه أشَدُّ مِن سَبعينَ عُقوبَةً ؛ أن اُخرِجَ مِن قَلبهِ حَلاوَةَ ذِكري11

4556. It is narrated in Bihar al-Anwar , Allah revealed to Prophet David (AS) saying, ‘Verily the least of what I will do to a knowledgeable man who does not act upon his knowledge, which is worse than seventy punishments, is that I remove the sweetness of My remembrance from his heart.’12

(اُنظر) الإيمان : باب 185 ؛ جهنّم : باب 403

(See also: FAITH: section 185; HELL: section 403)

Notes

1. بحار الأنوار : 2 / 34 / 30

2. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 2, p. 34, no. 30

3. الإرشاد : 1 / 230

4. al-Irshad, v. 1, p. 230

5. بحار الأنوار : 2 / 58 / 39

6. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 2, p. 58, no. 39

7. تفسير القمّيّ : 2 / 146

8. Tafsir al-Qummi, v. 2, p. 146

9. بحار الأنوار :2 / 37 / 53

10. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 2, p. 37, no. 53

11. بحارالأنوار : 2 / 32 / 25

12. Ibid. v. 2, p. 32, no. 25

1359 - ذَمُّ عُلَماءِ السُّوءِ

1359. REPREHENSION OF EVIL SCHOLARS

4557. عيسى عليه السلام : كَيفَ يَكونُ مِن أهلِ العِلمِ مَن دُنياهُ عِندَهُ آثَرُ مِن آخِرَتِهِ وهُوَ مُقبِلٌ عَلى‏ دُنياهُ ، وما يَضُرُّهُ أحَبُّ إلَيهِ مِمّا يَنفَعُهُ؟ !1

4557. Prophet Jesus (AS) said, ‘How can one whose worldly life is dearer to him than his Hereafter be considered among the people of knowledge, whilst he pursues his worldly life and considers that which harms him more beloved than that which benefits him?!’2

4558. عيسى عليه السلام : الدِّينارُ داءُ الدِّينِ ، والعالِمُ طَبيبُ الدِّينِ ، فإذا رَأيتُمُ الطَّبيبَ يَجُرُّ الدّاءَ إلى‏ نَفسِهِ فَاتَّهِموهُ ، وَاعلَموا أ نَّهُ غَيرُ ناصِحٍ لِغَيرِهِ3

4558. Prophet Jesus (AS) said, ‘The dinar [i.e. wealth] is religion’s affliction, and the knowledgeable man is religion’s doctor. So when you see the doctor drawing the affliction upon himself, be suspicious of him and know that he does not advise others well.’4

4559. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : ألا إنَّ شَرَّ الشّرِّ شِرارُ العُلَماءِ ، وإنَّ خَيرَ الخَيرِ خِيارُ العُلَماءِ5

4559. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Verily the worst of all evil are the evil scholars, and verily the best of all good are the good scholars.’6

4560. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : مَنِ ازدادَ عِلماً ولَم يَزدَدْ هُدىً ، لَم يَزدَدْ مِنَ اللَّهِ إلّا بُعداً7

4560. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘He who does not increase in guidance in spite of an increase in his knowledge only gets further away from Allah.’8

4561. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : مَلعونٌ مَلعونٌ عالِمٌ يَؤمُّ سُلطاناً جائراً ، مُعيناً لَهُ عَلى‏ جَورِهِ9

4561. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Cursed, cursed indeed is the knowledgeable man who frequents an unjust ruler, aiding him in his injustice.’10

4562. الإمامُ العسكريُّ عليه السلام - في صِفَةِ عُلَماءِ السُّوءِ - : وهُم أضَرُّ عَلى‏ ضُعَفاءِ شيعَتِنا مِن جَيشِ يَزيدَ عَلى الحُسَينِ بنِ عَلِيٍّ عليهما السلام وأصحابِهِ ، فإنَّهُم يَسلُبونَهُمُ الأرواحَ والأموالَ ، وهؤلاءِ عُلَماءُ السُّوءِ يُدخِلونَ الشَّكَّ والشُّبهَةَ عَلى‏ ضُعَفاءِ شيعَتِنا فيُضِلّونَهُم11

4562. Imam al-Askari (AS), in his description of evil scholars, said, ‘They cause more harm to the weak ones from among our Shia than the army of Yazid did to Husayn b. Ali (AS) and his companions, for they snatched away their lives and their property, whereas these evil scholars… enter doubt and obscurity into the weak ones from among our Shia and lead them astray.’12

Notes

1. منية المريد : 141

2. Munyat al-Murid, p. 141

3. الخصال : 113 / 91

4. al-Khisal, p. 113, no. 91

5. منية المريد : 137

6. Munyat al-Murid, p. 137

7. تنبيه الخواطر : 2 / 21

8. Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 2, p. 21

9. بحار الأنوار : 75 / 381 / 45

10. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 75, p. 381, no. 45

11. الاحتجاج : 2 / 512 / 337

12. al-Ihtijaj, v. 2, p. 512, no. 337

1360 - آدابُ العِلمِ‏

1360. THE ETIQUETTES OF KNOWLEDGE

4563. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : جاءَ رَجُلٌ إلى‏ رَسولِ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله فقالَ : يا رسولَ اللَّهِ ، ما العِلمُ ؟ قالَ : الإنصاتُ ، قالَ : ثُمَّ مَه ؟ قالَ : الاستِماعُ ، قالَ : ثُمَّ مَه ؟ قالَ : الحِفظُ ، قالَ : ثُمَّ مَه ؟ قالَ : العَمَلُ بِهِ ، قالَ : ثُمَّ مَه يارَسولَ اللَّهِ ؟ قالَ : نَشرُهُ1

4563. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) narrated, ‘A man once came to the Prophet (SAWA) asking, ‘O Prophet of Allah, what is knowledge?’ to which he replied, ‘Paying attention [being silent].’ The man asked, ‘Then what?’ He replied, ‘Listening.’ He asked, ‘Then what?’ The Prophet replied, ‘Memorising.’ The man asked, ‘Then what?’ He replied, ‘Acting upon it.’ He asked, ‘Then what O Prophet of Allah’, to which he replied, ‘Spreading it.’2

Notes

1. الكافي : 1 / 48 / 4

2. al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 48, no. 4

1361 - ذَمُّ عِلمٍ لا يَنفَعُ‏

1361. THE REPREHENSIBILITY OF KNOWLEDGE THAT IS OF NO USE

4564. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله - كانَ يَقولُ - : اللَّهُمَّ إنّي أعوذُ بِكَ مِن عِلمٍ لا يَنفَعُ ، ومِن قَلبٍ لا يَخشَعُ ، ومِن نَفسٍ لا تَشبَعُ ، ومِن دَعوَةٍ لا يُستَجابُ لَها1

4564. The Prophet (SAWA) used to say, ‘O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that is not fearful, and from a self that is never sated, from a supplication that is unheard.’2

4565. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : وَاعلَم أ نَّهُ لا خَيرَ في عِلمٍ لا يَنفَعُ ، ولا يُنتَفَعُ بِعِلمٍ لا يَحُقُّ تَعَلُّمُهُ3

4565. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘And know that there is no good in knowledge that is of no use, and that one cannot benefit from knowledge that is not worthy of being learnt.’4

4566. الإمامُ الكاظمُ عليه السلام : دَخَلَ رَسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله المَسجِدَ فإذا جَماعَةٌ قَد أطافوا بِرَجُلٍ ، فقالَ : ما هذا ؟ فقيلَ : عَلّامَةٌ ، قالَ : وما العَلّامَةُ ؟ قالوا : أعلَمُ النّاسِ بِأنسابِ العَرَبِ ووَقائعِها ، وأيّامِ الجاهِلِيَّةِ ، وبِالأشعارِ والعَرَبِيَّةِ ، فقالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : ذاكَ عِلمٌ لا يَضُرُّ مَن جَهِلَهُ ، ولا يَنفَعُ مَن عَلِمَهُ5

4566. Imam al-Kazim (AS) narrated, ‘The Prophet (SAWA) once entered the mosque to find a large group of people gathered around a man, so he asked, ‘Who is this?’ to which they replied, ‘A most learned scholar (‘allama).’ He then asked, ‘And what is a most learned scholar?’ to which they replied, ‘[He is] the most knowledgeable of all people about Arab ancestry and events, and pre-Islamic history, and Arab poetry.’ So the Prophet said, ‘That is knowledge which neither harms one who remains ignorant of it nor avails one who knows it.’6

Notes

1. الترغيب والترهيب : 1 / 124 / 1

2. al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib, v. 1, p. 124, no. 1

3. نهج البلاغة : الكتاب‏31

4. Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 31

5. الأمالي للصدوق : 340 / 403

6. Amali al-Saduq, p. 220, no. 13

1362 - أنواعُ العُلومِ‏

1362. THE VARIOUS TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE

4567. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنّما العِلمُ ثَلاثَةٌ : آيَةٌ مُحكَمَةٌ أو فَريضَةٌ عادِلَةٌ، أو سُنَّةٌ قائمَةٌ1 ، وما خَلاهُنَّ فهُوَ فَضلٌ.2

4567. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Verily knowledge is but three things: an unambiguous [a decisive] verse, or an upright obligatory act, or an established recommended act3 , and anything else apart from these is a virtue.’4

4568. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : العِلمُ عِلمانِ: عِلمُ الأديانِ، وعِلمُ الأبدانِ5

4568. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘There are two types of knowledge: the knowledge of ideologies, and the knowledge of physical bodies.’6

4569. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : العِلمُ أكثَرُ مِن أن يُحصى‏ ، فَخُذْ مِن كُلِّ شَي‏ءٍ أحسَنَهُ7

4569. The Prophet (SAWA) saying, ‘Knowledge is too great to be encompassed, so take the best from each thing.’8

4570. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : خَيرُ العِلمِ ما نَفَعَ9

4570. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The best type of knowledge is that which benefits.’10

4571. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : العُلومُ أربَعَةٌ : الفِقهُ لِلأديانِ ، والطِّبُّ لِلأبدانِ ، والنَّحوُ لِلّسانِ ، والنُّجومُ لِمَعرِفَةِ الأزمانِ11

4571. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘There are four categories of sciences: juristic science for religions, medicine for physical bodies, grammar for language, and astronomy for knowledge of the times.’12

4572. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : خَيرُ العُلومِ ما أصلَحَكَ13

4572. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The best type of knowledge is that which improves you.’14

4573. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : اِعلَمْ أ نَّهُ لا عِلمَ كطَلَبِ السَّلامَةِ ، ولا سَلامَةَ كسَلامَةِ القَلبِ15

4573. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘Know that there is no knowledge like the quest for integrity, and there is no integrity better than the integrity of the heart [i.e. the soul].’16

4574. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : لَيتَ السِّياطَ عَلى‏ رُؤوسِ أصحابي حَتّى‏ يَتَفَقَّهوا فِي الحَلالِ والحَرامِ17

4574. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘If only there were whips over my companions’ heads that they may gain an understanding of the difference between the lawful and the unlawful.’18

4575. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : لَيسَ العِلمُ بِالتَّعَلُّمِ ، إنَّما هُوَ نورٌ يَقَعُ في قَلبِ مَن يُريدُ اللَّهُ تَبارَكَ وتَعالى‏ أن يَهدِيَهُ ، فإن أرَدتَ العِلمَ فَاطلُب أوَّلاً في نَفسِكَ حَقيقَةَ العُبودِيَّةِ ، وَاطلُبِ العِلمَ بِاستِعمالِهِ ، وَاستَفهِمِ اللَّهَ يُفهِمْكَ19

4575. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Knowledge is not acquired through learning. Rather it is a light that illuminates in the heart of one who wants Allah, Blessed and most High, to guide him. So if you want knowledge, first seek out within yourself true servitude [to Allah], and seek knowledge according to its use, and ask Allah to make you understand, and He will make you understand.’20

Notes

1. يحتمل أن يكون المراد من «آية محكمة» العلم بالاُصول الاعتقاديّة ، والمراد من «فريضة عادلة» العلم بالأعمال الحسنة ، والمراد من «سُنّة قائمة» العلم بمحاسن الأخلاق (راجع شرح اُصول الكافي للمولى محمّد صالح المازندراني : 2 / 23 )

2. الكافي : 1 / 32 / 1

3. It is possible that what is meant by an unambiguous (muhkama) verse here is referring to the priciples of belief, an upright obligatory act is good deeds and an established recommended act is good morals. (See: Sharh al-Kafi, by al-Mazanderani, v. 2, p. 23)

4. al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 32, no. 1

5. بحار الأنوار : 1 / 220 / 52

6. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 1, p. 220, no. 52

7. كنز الفوائد : 2 / 31

8. Kanz al-Fawa’id, v. 2, p. 31

9. الأمالي للصدوق : 576 / 788

10. Amali al-Saduq, p. 394, no. 1

11. بحار الأنوار : 1 / 218 / 42

12. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 1, p. 218, no. 42

13. غرر الحكم : 4962

14. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4962

15. تحف العقول : 286

16. Tuhaf al-Uqul, no. 286

17. المحاسن :1 / 358 / 765

18. al-Mahasin, v. 1, p. 358, no. 765

19. بحار الأنوار : 1 / 225 / 17

20. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 1, p. 225, no. 17

1363 - العِلمُ اللّدُنِّيُ‏

1363. INSPIRED KNOWLEDGE

4576. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : عِلمُ الباطِنِ سِرٌّ مِن أسرارِ اللَّهِ عَزَّوجلَّ ، وحُكمٌ مِن حُكمِ اللَّهِ ، يَقذِفُه في قُلوبِ مَن شاءَ مِن عِبادِهِ1

4576. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The knowledge of the hidden is one of the secrets of Allah, Mighty and Exalted, and one of Allah’s commands which He divulges into the hearts of whom He wills from among His servants.’2

4577. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : لَو خِفتُمُ اللَّهَ حَقَّ خِيفَتِهِ لَعُلِّمتُمُ العِلمَ الّذي لا جَهلَ مَعَهُ3

4577. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘If you feared Allah with the fear that He is worthy of, you would be taught the knowledge after which no ignorance ever remains.’4

4578. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : مَن عَمِلَ بِما يَعلَمُ عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ ما لا يَعلَمُ5

4578. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘He who acts upon what he knows is taught by Allah that which he does not know.’6

(اُنظر) الإمامة : باب 114

(See also: DIVINE LEADERSHIP (IMAMA): section 114)

Notes

1. كنز العمّال : 28820

2. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 28820

3. كنز العمّال : 5881 ، 5893 نحوه

4. Ibid. no. 5881

5. أعلام الدين : 301

6. Alam al-Din, p. 301

1364 - أعلَمُ النّاسِ‏

1364. THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE OF PEOPLE

4579. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أعلَمُ النّاسِ مَن جَمَعَ عِلمَ النّاسِ إلى‏ عِلمِهِ1

4579. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The most knowledgeable of people is he who adds other people’s knowledge to his own.’2

4580. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله - لَمّا قيلَ لَهُ : اُحِبُّ أن أكونَ أعلَمَ النّاسِ - : اِتَّقِ اللَّهَ تَكُن أعلَمَ النّاسِ3

4580. The Prophet (SAWA) was once asked, ‘I would love to be the most knowledgeable of all people’, to which he replied, ‘Be wary of your duty to Allah and you will be the most knowledgeable of people.’4

4581. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أعلَمُ النّاسِ المُستَهتَرُ بِالعِلمِ5

4581. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The most knowledgeable of people is he who is infatuated with knowledge.’6

Notes

1. الأمالي للصدوق : 73 / 41

2. Amali al-Saduq, p. 27, no. 4

3. كنز العمّال : 44154

4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 44154

5. غرر الحكم : 3079

6. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3079

1365 - انحِصارُ العِلمِ الصَّحيحِ بِأهلِ البَيتِ عليهم السلام‏

1365. EXCLUSIVE CONFINEMENT OF TRUE Knowledge to The Household of THE PROPHET (AHL AL-BAYT)

4582. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لَوِ اقتَبَستُمُ العِلمَ مِن مَعدِنِهِ ، وشَرِبتُمُ الماءَ بِعُذوبَتِهِ ، وَادَّخَرتُمُ الخَيرَ مِن مَوضِعِهِ ، وأخَذتُمُ الطَّريقَ مِن واضِحِهِ ، وسَلَكتُم مِنَ الحَقِّ نَهجَهُ ، لَنَهَجَت بِكُمُ السُّبُلُ ، وبَدَت لَكُمُ الأعلامُ1

4582. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘If you were to acquire knowledge from its source, and drink water at its freshest, and amass good at its origin, and adopt a path at its clearest point, and adopt the path of truth at its most proper, the paths would open themselves to you indeed and the signs would become manifest to you.’2

4583. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام - لسَلَمَةَ بنِ كُهَيلٍ والحَكَمِ ابنِ عُتَيبَةَ - : شَرِّقا وغَرِّبا لَن تَجِدا عِلماً صَحيحاً إلّا شَيئاً يَخرُجُ مِن عِندِنا أهلَ البَيتِ3

4583. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said to Salama b. Kuhayl and al-Hakam b. Utayba, ‘Go to the east and go to the west but you will never find true knowledge except for what comes from us, the household of the Prophet.’4

Notes

1. الكافي : 8 / 32 / 5

2. al-Kafi, v. 8, p. 32, no. 5

3. بحار الأنوار : 2 / 92 / 20

4. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 2, p. 92, no. 20

289 - العُمر

289. LIFESPAN

1366 - العُمُرُ

1366. Lifespan

( وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ تُرابٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَكُمْ أزْوَاجاً وَما تَحْمِلُ مِنْ أُنْثَى‏ وَلا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلْمِهِ وَما يُعَمَّرُ مِنْ مُعَمَّرٍ وَلا يُنْقَصُ مِنْ عُمُرِهِ إلَّا فِي كِتابٍ إنَّ ذلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ)1

“Allah created you from dust, then from a drop of [seminal] fluid, then He made you mates. No female conceives or delivers except with His knowledge, and no elderly person advances in years, nor is anything diminished from his life, but it is [recorded] in a Book. That is indeed easy for Allah.” 2

4584. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : إنَّ عُمرَكَ عَدَدُ أنفاسِكَ ، وعَلَيها رَقيبٌ يُحصيها3

4584. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Verily your lifespan is the total number of your breaths, and there is a watcher over them counting them.’4

4585. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : إنَّهُ لَن يَستَقبِلَ أحَدُكُم يَوماً مِن عُمرِهِ إلّا بِفِراقِ آخَرَ مِن أجَلِهِ5

4585. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Verily nobody will receive another day of his lifespan except that another day will be taken from him from his end.’6

Notes

1. فاطر : 11

2. Qur’an 35 :11

3. غرر الحكم : 3434

4. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3434

5. تنبيه الخواطر : 2 / 218

6. Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 2, p. 218

1367 - الحَثُّ عَلى‏ اغتِنامِ العُمُرِ

1367. ENCOURAGING MAKING THE MOST OF ONE’S LIFE

4586. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : كُنْ عَلى‏ عُمرِكَ أشَحَّ مِنكَ عَلى‏ دِرهَمِكَ ودينارِكَ1

4586. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Be even more niggardly with your life than with your dirham and your dinar [i.e. your money].’2

4587. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنَّ العُمرَ مَحدودٌ لَن يَتَجاوَزَ أحَدٌ ماقُدِّرَ لَهُ، فبادِروا قَبلَ نَفاذِالأجَلِ3

4587. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Verily lifespan is fixed and no one will surpass that which has been allotted to him, so rush to make the most of it before time runs out.’4

4588. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام: ماضي يَومِكَ فائتٌ ، وآتيهِ مُتَّهَمٌ ، ووَقتُكَ مُغتَنَمٌ5

4588. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Your yesterday has passed on, your tomorrow is uncertain, and your today is to be taken advantage of.’6

4589. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : ما أسرَعَ السّاعاتِ فِي اليَومِ ، وأسرَعَ الأيّامَ فِي الشَّهرِ ، وأسرَعَ الشُّهورَ فِي السَّنَةِ ، وأسرَعَ السّنينَ (السَّنَةَ) فِي العُمرِ !7

4589. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘How fast the hours in a day go by, and how fast the days in a month, and how fast the months in a year, and how fast the years in a lifetime!’8

4590. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أيُّها النّاسُ ! الآنَ الآنَ مِن قَبلِ النَّدَمِ ، ومِن قَبلِ (أن تَقولَ نَفسٌ يا حَسرَتى‏ عَلى‏ ما فَرَّطتُ في جَنبِ اللَّهِ)9 !10

4590. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘O people! [take advantage of] Now! Now before regret sets in, and before“anyone should say, ‘Alas for my negligence in the vicinage of Allah!” 1112

4591. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام: رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امرَأً عَلِمَ أنَّ نَفَسَهُ خُطاهُ إلى‏ أجَلِهِ ، فبادَرَ عَمَلَهُ وقَصَّرَ أمَلَهُ13

4591. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Allah has mercy on the man who knows that his breaths are but his steps towards his end, so he hastens to perform good deeds and cuts short his high hopes.’14

4592. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : اِحذَروا ضَياعَ الأعمارِ فيما لا يَبقى‏ لَكُم ، فَفائتُها لا يَعودُ15

4592. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Be cautious of wasting away your lives in that which will not last for you, for whatever has passed of them never returns.’16

4593. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : إنَّ عُمرَكَ مَهرُ سَعادَتِكَ إن أنفَدتَهُ في طاعَةِ رَبِّكَ17

4593. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Verily your lifetime is the ransom for your eternal prosperity if you spend it in the obedience of your Lord.’18

Notes

1. مكارم الأخلاق : 2 / 364 / 2661

2. Makarim al-Akhlaq, v. 2, p. 364, no. 2661

3. أعلام الدين : 336 / 12

4. Alam al-Din, p. 336, no. 12

5. غرر الحكم : 9840

6. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9840

7. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 188

8. Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 188

9. الزمر : 56

10. تنبيه الخواطر : 2 / 89

11. Qur’an 39 :56

12. Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 2, p. 89

13. غرر الحكم : 5214

14. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5214

15. غرر الحكم : 2618

16. Ibid. no. 2618

17. غرر الحكم : 3429

18. Ibid. no. 3429