Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

1393 - أصحابُ اليَمينِ والشمال‏

1393. THE PEOPLE OF THE RIGHT HAND AND OF THE LEFT HAND

4676. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : إنَّ اللَّهَ تَبارَكَ وتَعالى‏ إذا أرادَ أن يُحاسِبَ المُؤمِنَ أعطاهُ كِتابَهُ بِيَمينِه وحاسَبَهُ فيما بَينَهُ وبَينَهُ ، فيَقولُ : عَبدي ، فَعَلتَ كَذا وكَذا وعَمِلتَ كَذا وكَذا ! فيَقولُ : نَعَم يا رَبِّ قَد فَعَلتُ ذلكَ ، فيَقولُ : قَد غَفَرتُها لَكَ وأبدَلتُها حَسَناتٍ ، فيَقولُ النّاسُ : سُبحانَ اللَّهِ أما كانَ لِهذا العَبدِ سَيِّئَةٌ واحِدَةٌ ؟! وهُوَ قَولُ اللَّهِ عَزَّوجلَّ : (فَأَمّا مَن اُوتِيَ كِتابَهُ بِيَمينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يُحاسَبُ حِساباً يَسيراً وَيَنْقَلِبُ إلى‏ أهْلِهِ مَسروراً)1

4676. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Verily when Allah, Blessed and most High, will wish to deal with the believer’s account, He will give him his book in his right hand and will then take him to account for all that is between him and Himself, and will say, ‘My servant, you have committed such and such and have done such and such!’ and he will reply, ‘Yes, my Lord, I have done that.’ And Allah will say, ‘I have forgiven you for them and have transformed them into good deeds’, so people will ask, ‘Glory be to Allah, did this man not have a single evil deed?!’ and this is the purport of Allah’s verse:“Then as for him who is given his record in his right hand, he shall soon receive an easy reckoning, and he will return to his folks joyfully.” 23

4677. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : إنَّ اللَّهَ تَبارَكَ وتَعالى‏ إذا أرادَ بِعَبدٍ شَرّاً حاسَبَهُ عَلى‏ رُؤوسِ النّاسِ ، وبَكَّتهُ‏4 ، وأعطاهُ كِتابَهُ بِشِمالِهِ ، وهُوَ قَولُ اللَّهِ عَزَّوجلَّ : (وَأمّا مَنْ اُوتِيَ كِتابَهُ وَراءَ ظَهْرِهِ فَسَوْفَ يَدْعو ثُبوراً * وَيَصْلى‏ سَعيراً * إنّهُ كانَ في أهْلِهِ مَسروراً)5

4677. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Verily when Allah, Blessed and most High, wishes to requite his servant with evil [as a result of his deeds], He will take him to account for them in front of everyone, and will reduce him to tears [on account of the proofs against him], and will give him his book in his left hand, and this is the purport of Allah’s verse:“But as for him who is given his record from behind his back, he will pray for annihilation, and he will enter the Blaze. Indeed he used to be joyful among his folk.” 67

(اُنظر) الحساب : باب 526

(See also: THE RECKONING: section 526)

Notes

1. الزهد للحسين بن سعيد : 92 / 246

2. Qur’an 84 :7-9

3. al-Zuhd li al-Husayn b. Said, p. 92, no. 246

4. التبكيت : التقريع والتوبيخ ، ويقال : بكته بالحجّة : إذا غلبه (مجمع البحرين : 1 / 177 )

5. الزهد للحسين بن سعيد : 92 / 246

6. Qur’an 84 :10-13

7. al-Zuhd li al-Husayn b. Said, p. 92, no. 246

293 - العادَة

293. THE HABIT

1394 - دورُ العادَةِ فِي الحَياةِ

1394. THE ROLE OF HABIT IN LIFE

4678. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : العادَةُ طَبعٌ ثانٍ1

4678. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Habit is second nature.’2

4679. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لِلعادَةِ عَلى‏ كُلِّ إنسانٍ سُلطانٌ3

4679. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘A habit holds every man under its authority.’4

4680. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : غَيرُ مُدرِكِ الدَّرَجاتِ مَن أطاعَ العاداتِ5

4680. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who obeys habits does not attain high levels.’6

4681. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لِسانُكَ يَستَدعيكَ ما عَوَّدتَهَ ، ونَفسُكَ تَقتَضيكَ ما ألِفتَهُ7

4681. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Your tongue will urge you to whatever you have accustomed it [to say], and your inner self will require you to do whatever you have made it fond of.’8

4682. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لا تُسرِعَنَّ إلَى الغَضَبِ فيَتَسَلَّطَ عَلَيكَ بِالعادَةِ9

4682. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Do not hasten to resort to anger lest it prevail over you by becoming a habit.’10

4683. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - في وَصِيَّتِه لِابنِه الحَسَنِ عليه السلام - : إنَّما قَلبُ الحَدَثِ كالأرضِ الخالِيَةِ ما اُلقِيَ فيها مِن شَي‏ءٍ قَبِلَتهُ ، فبادَرتُكَ بِالأدَبِ قَبلَ أن يَقسُوَ قَلبُكَ ، ويَشتَغِلَ لُبُّكَ11

4683. Imam Ali (AS) said in his will to his son, al-Hasan (AS), ‘Verily the heart of a young person is like the untilled earth, which accepts whatever is placed therein. I, therefore, urge you to hasten to self-discipline before your heart hardens, and your mind becomes preoccupied.’12

4684. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - لَمّا اُتِيَ بِفالوذَجٍ فوُضِعَ قُدّامَهُ - : إنَّكَ طَيِّبُ الرّيحِ حَسَنُ اللَّونِ طَيِّبُ الطَّعمِ ، ولكن أكرَهُ أن اُعَوِّدَ نَفسي ما لَم تَعتَدْ13

4684. Imam Ali (AS), was once offered a sweet called faludhaj,14 so he placed it in front of him, saying, ‘Verily you have a fragrant smell, are of a beautiful colour, and taste delicious, but I hate to habituate my soul [to anything] since it has not yet formed any habits.’15

4685. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : عَوِّدْ نَفسَكَ فِعلَ المَكارِمِ ، وتَحَمَّلْ أعباءَ المَغارِمِ ، تَشرُفْ نَفسُكَ ، وتُعمَرْ آخِرَتُكَ ، ويَكثُرْ حامِدوكَ16

4685. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Habituate yourself to performing noble actions and to bear the burdensome consequences [of your actions], and your soul will be elevated as a result, your Hereafter will flourish, and your admirers will increase.’17

4686. الإمامُ الحسنُ عليه السلام : العاداتُ قاهِراتٌ ، فَمَنِ اعتادَ شَيئاً في سِرِّهِ وخَلَواتِهِ، فَضَحَهُ في عَلانِيَتِهِ وعِندَ المَلَأِ.18

4686. Imam al-Hasan (AS) said, ‘Habits are overpowering, for he who forms a habit to something in secret and during his free times is plagued by them in public and when occupied.’19

Notes

1. غرر الحكم : 702

2. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 702

3. غرر الحكم : 7327

4. Ibid. no. 7327

5. غرر الحكم : 6409

6. Ibid. no. 6409

7. غرر الحكم : 7634

8. Ibid. no. 7634

9. غرر الحكم : 10288

10. Ibid. no. 10288

11. نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 31

12. Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 31

13. كنز العمّال : 36549

14. A sweet made from water, flour and honey

15. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 36549

16. غرر الحكم : 6232

17. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6232

18. تنبيه الخواطر : 2 / 113

19. Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 2, p. 113

1395 - غَلَبَةُ العادَةِ

1395. OVERCOMING THE HABIT

4687. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : الفَضيلَةُ غَلَبَةُ العادَةِ.1

4687. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Virtue is overcoming one’s habit.’2

4688. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أفضَلُ العِبادَةِ غَلَبَةُ العادَةِ3

4688. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The best of worship is to overcome one’s habit.’4

4689. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : بِغَلَبَةِ العاداتِ الوُصولُ إلى‏ أشرَفِ المَقاماتِ5

4689. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘[Only] Through overcoming one’s habits are the highest of stations attained.’6

4690. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : غَيِّروا العاداتِ تَسهُلْ عَلَيكُمُ الطّاعاتُ7

4690. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Change your habits and your acts of obedience will become easier for you.’8

4691. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : ذَلِّلوا أنفُسَكُم بِتَركِ العاداتِ ، وَقودوها إلى‏ فِعلِ الطّاعاتِ ، وحَمِّلوها أعباءَ المَغارِمِ ، وحَلُّوها بِفِعلِ المَكارِمِ ، وصُونوها عَن دَنَسِ المَآثِمِ9

4691. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Subjugate your souls to abandon their habits, drive them to perform acts of obedience, make them bear the burdensome consequences of their actions, adorn them with the performance of noble acts, and protect them against the pollution of sins.’10

Notes

1. غرر الحكم : 357

2. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 357

3. غرر الحكم : 2873

4. Ibid. no. 2873

5. غرر الحكم : 4300

6. Ibid. no. 4300

7. غرر الحكم : 6405

8. Ibid. no. 6405

9. غرر الحكم : 5199

10. Ibid. no. 5199

1396 - صُعوبَةُ نَقلِ العاداتِ‏

1396. THE DIFFICULTY OF REMOVING A HABIT

4692. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أصعَبُ السِّياساتِ نَقلُ العاداتِ1

4692. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The most difficult of things to manage is the removal of habits.’2

4693. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : كُلُّ شَي‏ءٍ يُستَطاعُ ، إلّا نَقلَ الطِّباعِ3

4693. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Everything is achievable, except the removal of an ingrained habit.’4

4694. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أيُّها النّاسُ ، تَوَلَّوا مِن أنفُسِكُم تَأديبَها ، وَاعدِلوا بِها عَن ضَرَاوَةِ عاداتِها5

4694. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘O people, take upon yourselves your own training, and turn away from the voracious dictates of your habits.’6

Notes

1. غرر الحكم : 2969

2. Ibid. no. 2969

3. غرر الحكم : 6906

4. Ibid. no. 6906

5. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 359

6. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 359

294 - العِيد

294. ID – THE FESTIVAL

1397 - العيدُ الحَقِيقي‏

1397. ID – THE TRUE FESTIVAL

( قالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنا أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنا مائِدَةً مِنَ السَّماءِ تَكُونُ لَنا عِيداً لِأَوَّلِنا وَآخِرِنا وَآيَةً مِنْكَ وَارْزُقْنا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ)1

“Said Jesus son of Mary, ‘O Allah! Our Lord! Send down to us a table from the sky, to be a festival for us, for the first ones and the last ones among us and as a sign from You, and provide for us; for you are the best of providers.” 2

4695. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - قالَ في بَعضِ الأعيادِ - : إنَّما هُوَ عيدٌ لِمَن قَبِلَ اللَّهُ صِيامَهُ وشَكَرَ قِيامَهُ ، وكُلُّ يَومٍ لا يُعصى‏ اللَّهُ فيهِ فهُوَ عيدٌ3

4695. Imam Ali (AS) said regarding one of the festivals, ‘Verily it is only a festival for he whose fasts Allah has accepted and whose prayers He has acknowledged, and every day in which we do not disobey Allah is a day of celebration.’4

4696. بحار الأنوار عن سُوَيدِ بنِ غَفلَة : دَخَلتُ عَلَيهِ [ يَعني أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام ]يَومَ عيدٍ ، فإذا عِندَهُ فاثورٌ عَلَيهِ خُبزُ السَّمراءِ وصَفحَةٌ فيها خَطيفَةٌ ومِلبَنَةٌ5 ، فقُلتُ : يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ، يَومُ عيدٍ وخَطيفَةٌ ؟ ! فقالَ : إنَّما هذا عيدُ مَن غُفِرَ لَهُ6

4696. Suwayd b. Ghafla narrated, ‘I went to visit him [i.e. Imam Ali (AS)] on one of the festivals, and he had a small table in front of him on which was wheat bread, and a plate of khatifa7 and milbana8 , so I asked, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, it is a day of celebration and you are eating khatifa?! to which he replied, ‘It is only a day of celebration for whoever has been forgiven.’9

Notes

1. المائدة : 114

2. Qur’an 5 :114

3. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 428

4. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 428

5. فاثور : أي خِوانٌ ، والسمراء : الحنطة، والخطيفة : لبن يُطبخ بدقيق ويُختطف بالملاعق بسرعة، والملبنة : الملعقة (النهاية : 3 / 412 و 2 / 399 و ص 49 و ج 4 / 229 )

6. بحار الأنوار : 40 / 326 / 7

7. Khatifa: a food made of flour and milk (ed.)

8. Milbana: a food made of bran, milk and honey (ed.)

9. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 40, p. 326, no. 7

1398 - عيدُ النَّيروزِ

1398. NAYRuZ FESTIVAL

1

4697. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - لمّا اُتيَ بِهَدِيَّةِ النَّيروزِ - : ما هذا ؟ قالوا : يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ، اليَومُ النَّيروزُ ، فقالَ عليه السلام : اِصنَعوا لَنا كُلَّ يَومٍ نَيروزاً !2

4697. Imam Ali (AS), when he was brought a gift for Nayruz, exclaimed, ‘What is this?’ to which they replied, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, today is Nayruz.’ He replied, ‘Make everyday Nayruz for us [i.e. through your good actions].’3

4698. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : نَيْروزُنا كُلُّ يَومٍ4

4698. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Our Nayruz is everyday.’5

4699. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام - لمُعلّى بن خُنيس لمّا دخَلَ عليه يومَ النَّيروزِ - : أتَعرِفَ هذا اليَومَ ؟ قُلتُ : جُعِلتُ فِداكَ ، هذا يَومٌ تُعَظِّمُهُ العَجَمُ وتَتَهادى‏ فيهِ، فقالَ أبوعَبدِاللَّهِ الصّادِقُ عليه السلام : والبَيتِ العَتيقِ الّذي بِمَكَّةَ ! ما هذا إلّا لِأمرٍ قَديمٍ اُفَسِّرُهُ لَكَ حَتّى‏ تَفهَمَهُ

يا مُعَلّى ، إنَّ يَومَ النَّيروزِ هُوَ اليَومُ الّذي أخَذَ اللَّهُ فيهِ مَواثيقَ العِبادِ أن يَعبُدوهُ ولا يُشرِكوا بِه شَيئاً ، وأن يُؤمِنوا بِرُسُلِهِ وحُجَجِهِ ، وأن يُؤمِنوا بِالأئمَّةِ عليهم السلام ، وهُوَ أوَّلُ يَومٍ طَلَعَت فيهِ الشَّمسُ... وما مِن يَومِ نَيروزٍ إلّا ونَحنُ نَتَوَقَّعُ فيهِ الفَرَجَ لِأ نَّهُ مِن أيّامِنا وأيّامِ شيعَتِنا ، حَفَظَتهُ العَجَمُ وضَيَّعتُموهُ أنتُم وهُوَ أوَّلُ يَومٍ مِن سَنَةِ الفُرسِ فَعَاشُوا وَهُمْ ثَلَاثُونَ أَلْفاً فَصَارَ صَبُّ الْمَاءِ فِي النَّيرُوزِ سُنَّةً .6

4699. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said to Mualla b. Khunays when he came to visit him for Nayruz, ‘Do you know what this day is?’ to which he replied, ‘May I be your ransom, this is a day to which the Persians attach great importance and in which they give each other gifts.’ So Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘By the Ancient House in Makkah! That is only because of a much older reason which I will explain to you so that you may understand … O Mualli, verily the day of Nayruz is the day when Allah took the servants’ covenants from them that they would worship Him and that they would not associate anything with Him, and that they would believe in His prophets and His divine proofs, and that they would believe in the Imams (AS). This is also the day when the sun rose for the first time … Every day of Nayruz is a day when we await the Relief [the coming of the Awaited Saviour], for verily it is one of our special days and one of the days of our Shia. The Persians have kept its significance whereas you have lost it…This is the first day of the Persians’ new year, and they have managed to stay alive since having been only thirty thousand in number. The pouring of water on the day of Nayruz has become a practice…’7

4700. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : إذا كانَ يَومُ النَّيروزِ فَاغتَسِلْ وَالبَسْ أنظَفَ ثِيابِكَ ، وتَطَيَّبْ بِأطيَبِ طِيبِكَ ، وتَكونُ ذلكَ اليَومَ صائماً8

4700. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘On the day of Nayruz, take a bath and wear your cleanest clothes, and perfume yourself with the best of fragrances, and fast on that day.’9

4701. بحار الأنوار : حُكِيَ أنَّ المَنصورَ تَقَدَّمَ إلى‏ موسَى بنِ جَعفَرٍ عليهما السلام بِالجُلوسِ لِلتَّهنِئَةِ في يَومِ النَّيروزِ وقَبضِ ما يُحمَلُ إلَيهِ ، فقالَ : إنّي قَد فَتَّشتُ الأخبارَ عَن جَدّي رَسولِ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله فلَم أجِدْ لِهذا العيدِ خَبَراً ، وإنَّهُ سُنَّةُ الفُرسِ ومَحاها الإسلامُ ، ومَعاذَ اللَّهِ أن نُحيِيَ ما مَحاها الإسلامُ ، فَقالَ المَنصورُ : إنَّما نَفعَلُ هذا سِياسَةً لِلجُندِ ، فسَألتُكَ بِاللَّهِ العَظيمِ إلّا جَلَستَ ، فجَلَسَ10 11

4701. It is narrated in Bihar al-Anwar: ‘It has been related that Mansur [Dawaniqi]12 ordered Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS) to sit with him to receive gifts and greetings for the day of Nayruz, so that he may take the gifts presented to him, so Imam replied, ‘Verily I have examined the traditions from my grandfather the Prophet (SAWA) and have not found a single tradition about this festival. Rather it is a practice of the Persians which Islam eradicated, and God forbid that we should revive what Islam has eradicated.’ So Mansur said, ‘We only celebrate it as a matter of policy for our army, so I request you by Allah the Great to sit down’, so he sat down …’ 1314

Notes

1. Nayruz: The first day of spring, marking the Persian New Year (ed.)

2. كتاب من لا يحضره الفقيه : 3 / 300 / 4073

3. al-Faqih, v. 3, p. 300, no. 4073

4. كتاب من لا يحضره الفقيه : 3 / 300 / 4074

5. Ibid. no. 4074

6. بحار الأنوار : 59 / 92 / 1

7. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 59, p. 92, no.

8. وسائل الشيعة : 7 / 346 / 1

9. Wasa’il al-Shia, v. 7, p. 346, no. 1

10. بحار الأنوار : 59 / 100 / 2 و 48 / 108 / 9

11. قال المجلسيّ بعد نقل الخبر : هذا الخبر مخالف لأخبار المُعلّى ، ويدلّ على‏ عدم اعتبار النيروز شرعاً ، وأخبار المعلّى أقوى‏ سنداً وأشهر بين الأصحاب ، ويمكن حمل هذا على التقيّة ، لاشتمال خبر المعلّى‏ على‏ ما يتّقى فيه . . راجع كلام المحشّي فيما ردّ به على ما قاله المجلسيّ ، بحار الأنوار : 59 / 100 أقول : كِلا الخبرين فاقِد لشرائط الحجّيّة ، وكما مرّ عن أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام : نيروزنا كلّ يوم ، وكلّ يوم لا يُعصى اللَّه فيه فهو يوم عيد ، نعم لا بأس بالتزاور كما هو سنّة في إيران

12. One of the Abbasid Caliphs (ed.)

13. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 59, p. 100, no. 2, and v. 48, p. 108, no. 9

14. After quoting this tradition Allama al-Majlisi says: This tradtion is in contradiction with the traditions of al-Mualla and indicates that Nayruz does not possess any religious credit, and the tradition narrated by al-Mualla is more authentic in its source and more well known among the scholars of hadith. It is possible to interpret this tradition as based on dissimulation (taqiyya), as there are some signs in al-Mualla’s tradition that reveal this fact.(See footnote of Bihar al-Anwar, v. 59, p. 100). [The author says] In our view, both the traditions lack the conditions of credibility, and as we have previously quoted from the Commander of the Faithful (AS) as saying, ‘Our Nayruz is everyday’, and also, ‘Every day in which Allah is not sinned in is a festive day. of course, there is no problem with visiting one another on this day which is a good act, as is a custom in Iran.

1399 - زينَةُ الأعيادِ

1399. THE ADORNMENT OF THE FESTIVALS

4702. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : زَيِّنوا أعيادَكُم بِالتَّكبيرِ1

4702. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Adorn your festivals with frequent chants of Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest).’2

4703. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : زَيِّنوا العيدَينِ بِالتَّهليلِ والتَّكبيرِ والتَّحميدِ والتَّقديسِ3

4703. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Adorn the two festivals (‘id al-fitr and ‘id al-adha) with frequent chants of la ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah), Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), al-Hamdu lillah (All praise is due to Allah), and with glorification of Allah.’4

4704. كنز العمّال : كانَ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله يَخرُجُ فِي العيدَينِ رافِعاً صَوتَهُ بِالتَّهليلِ والتَّكبيرِ5

4704. It is narrated in Kanz al-Ummal: The Prophet (SAWA) used to go out in the streets on the two festivals chanting la ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah) and Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) in a loud voice.’6

Notes

1. كنز العمّال : 24094

2. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 24094

3. كنز العمّال : 24095

4. Ibid. no. 24095

5. كنز العمّال : 18101

6. Ibid. no. 18101

295 - العَيب‏

295. THE FAULT

1400 - مَدحُ مَن شَغَلَهُ عَيبُهُ عَن عُيوبِ النّاسِ‏

1400. PRAISE FOR ONE WHOSE OWN Fault Preoccupies Him from FINDING FAULT IN OTHERS

4705. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : طوبى‏ لِمَن شَغَلَهُ عَيبُهُ عَن عُيوبِ النّاسِ1

4705. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Blessed be the one whose own fault preoccupies him from finding faults in others.’2

4706. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أعقَلُ النّاسِ مَن كانَ بِعَيبِهِ بَصيراً ، وعَن عَيبِ غَيرِهِ ضَريراً3

4706. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The most intelligent of people is he who is well aware of his own faults and blind to others’ faults.’4

4707. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : مَن أبصَرَ عَيبَ نَفسِهِ شُغِلَ عَن عَيبِ غَيرِه5

4707. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who observes his own faults is preoccupied from others’ faults.’6

4708. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : أنفَعُ الأشياءِ لِلمَرءِ سَبقُهُ النّاسَ إلى‏ عَيبِ نَفسِهِ7

4708. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘The most beneficial thing for a man is his precedence over others at knowing his own fault.’8

4709. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : إذا رَأيتُمُ العَبدَ مُتَفَقِّداً لِذُنوبِ (النّاسِ) ناسِياً لِذُنوبِهِ ، فَاعلَموا أنَّهُ قَد مُكِرَ بِهِ9

4709. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘When you see a man inspecting other people’s sins and forgetting his own sins, then know that he is deluding himself.’10

Notes

1. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 176

2. Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 176

3. غرر الحكم : 3233

4. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3233

5. تحف العقول : 88

6. Tuhaf al-Uqul, no. 88

7. الكافي : 8 / 243 / 337

8. al-Kafi, v. 8, p. 243, no. 337

9. مستطرفات السرائر : 48 / 7

10. Mustatrafat al-Sara’ir, p. 48, no. 7

1401 - ذَمُّ الاشتِغالِ بِعُيوبِ النّاسِ ومُداهَنَةِ النَّفسِ‏

1401. THE REPREHENSION OF PREOCCUPYING ONESELF WITH THE FAULTS OF WHILST FLATTERING ONESELF

4710. عيسى عليه السلام : يا عَبيدَ السّوءِ ، تَلومونَ النّاسَ عَلَى الظَّنِّ ، ولا تَلومونَ أنفُسَكُم عَلَى اليَقينِ ؟ !1

4710. Prophet Jesus (AS) said, ‘O iniquitous servants, you blame others based on what you conjecture about them and do not blame yourselves in that which you know for certain [of your own wrong doings]?!’2

4711. كنز العمّال : قالَ رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : يُبصِرُ أحَدُكُمُ القَذى‏ في عَينِ أخيهِ ، ويَنسى الجِذعَ - أو قالَ : الجِذْلَ - في عَينِه !3

4711. Kanz al-Ummal: ‘The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘How can you notice a speck in your brother’s eye but overlook the tree stump in your own?!’4

4712. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : كَفى‏ بِالمَرءِ عَيباً أن يَنظُرَ مِنَ النّاسِ إلى‏ ما يَعمى‏ عَنهُ مِن نَفسِهِ ، ويُعَيِّرَ النّاسَ بِما لا يَستَطيعُ تَركَهُ ، ويُؤذي جَليسَهُ بِما لا يَعنيهِ5

4712. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The fault that lies within a man’s own self is more than enough to prevent him from prying into other people’s faults, which he himself possesses but to which he is blind; or from blaming others for that which he himself is unable to abandon; or from bothering the one he is sitting next to by prying into matters that are none of his business.’6

4713. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : مَن نَظَرَ في عُيوبِ النّاسِ فأنكَرَها ثُمَّ رَضِيَها لِنَفسِهِ ، فذلكَ الأحمَقُ بِعَينِهِ7

4713. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The one who pries into others’ faults, disapproves of them, and then adopts them for himself, is truly a fool.’8

4714. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أكبَرُ (أكثرُ) العَيبِ أن تَعيبَ ما فيكَ مِثلُه9

4714. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The greatest fault is when one criticises others for the same faults present in oneself.’10

Notes

1. تحف العقول : 501

2. Tuhaf al-Uqul, no. 501

3. كنز العمّال : 44141

4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 44141

5. الخصال : 110 / 81

6. al-Khisal, p. 110, no. 81

7. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 349

8. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 349

9. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 353

10. Ibid. Saying 353

1402 - فَضلُ سَترِ العُيوبِ‏

1402. THE VIRTUE OF CONCEALING FAULTS

4715. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : مَن سَتَرَ عَلى‏ مُؤمِنٍ خِزيَةً فكأنَّما أحيا مَوؤودَةً مِن قَبرِها1

4715. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘He who conceals a fellow believer’s shameful act is as if he has revived a newborn girl buried-alive2 from her grave.’3

4716. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : مَن عَلِمَ مِن أخيهِ سَيِّئَةً فسَتَرَها ، سَتَرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيهِ يَومَ القِيامَةِ4

4716. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘He who knows a fellow brother’s evil deed and conceals it [from others], Allah will conceal his faults on the Day of Resurrection.’5

4717. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : يَجِبُ لِلمُؤمِنِ عَلَى المُؤمِنِ أن يَستُرَ عَلَيهِ سَبعينَ كَبيرَةً !6

4717. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘It is the duty of a believer towards a fellow believer to conceal seventy of his grave sins!’7

4718. تنبيه الخواطر : رُوِيَ أنّ عيسى‏ عليه السلام مَرَّ والحَوارِيّونَ عَلى‏ جيفَةِ كَلبٍ ، فقالَ الحَوارِيّونَ : ما أنتَنَ ريحَ هذا الكَلبَ ! فقالَ عيسى‏ عليه السلام : ما أشَدَّ بَياضَ أسنانِهِ!8

4718. It is narrated in Tanbih al-Khawatir that Prophet Jesus (AS) was passing with his disciples by the corpse of a dog, when the disciples exclaimed, ‘What an awful stench this dog has!’ to which Prophet Jesus (AS) retorted, ‘How white are his teeth!’9

Notes

1. كنزالعمّال : 6387

2. It was a pre-Islamic pagan practice to bury newborn daughters alive as a result of the disgrace they brought to a family, which Islam abolished (ed.)

3. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 6387

4. الترغيب والترهيب : 3 / 239 / 7

5. al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib, v. 3, p. 239, no. 7

6. الكافي : 2 / 207 / 8

7. al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 207, no. 8

8. تنبيه الخواطر : 1 / 117

9. Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 1, p. 117

1403 - الحَثُّ عَلى‏ إهداءِ العُيوبِ‏

1403. ENCOURAGING CONFERRING SOMEONE’S FAULTS TO THEM

4719. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : مَن كاشَفَكَ في عَيبِكَ حَفِظَكَ في غَيبِكَ ، مَن داهَنَكَ في عَيبِكَ عابَكَ في غَيبِكَ1

4719. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who informs you of your faults will guard you in your absence, whereas he who flatters you with respect to your faults will point the finger at you in your absence.’2

4720. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : ما يَمنَعُ أحَدَكُم أن يَستَقبِلَ أخاهُ بِما يَخافُ مِن عَيبِهِ إلّا مَخافَة أن يَستَقبِلَهُ بِمِثلِهِ ، قَد تَصافَيتُم عَلى‏ رَفضِ الآجِلِ وحُبِّ العاجِلِ!3

4720. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Nothing prevents anyone from among you from disclosing to a fellow brother a fault that he fears in him, except for the very fear that he too will disclose the same fault to him. You are all accomplices in your rejection of the next world and loving this world.’4

4721. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : أحَبُّ إخواني إلَيَّ مَن أهدى‏ إلَيَّ عُيوبي5

4721. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘The most beloved of my brothers to me is he who confers my faults to me.’6

Notes

1. غرر الحكم : 8260 و 8261

2. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 8260, 8261

3. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 113

4. Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 113

5. تحف العقول : 366

6. Tuhaf al-Uqul, no. 366