Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

1456 - سَماعُ الغيبَةِ

1456. LISTENING TO BACKBITING

4912. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : السامِعُ لِلغِيبَةِ كالمُغتابِ1

4912. Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The one who listens to backbiting is as [bad as] the backbiter.’2

4913. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - وقد نَظَرَ إلى‏ رجُلٍ يَغتابُ رجُلاً عندَ ابنِهِ الحسنِ عليه السلام - : يابُنَيَّ ، نَزِّهْ سَمعَكَ عن مِثلِ هذا ؛ فإنّهُ نَظَرَ إلى‏ أخبَثِ ما في وِعائهِ فَأفرَغَهُ في وِعائكَ !3

4913. Imam Ali (AS) saw a man backbiting someone in the presence of his son, al-Hasan (AS), to whom he said, ‘O my son, steer your hearing clear of such a person, for verily he took the most repulsive thing from his mind and poured it into yours!’4

4914. الإمامُ زينُ العابدينَ عليه السلام : حقُّ السَّمعِ تَنزيهُهُ عن سَماعِ الغِيبَةِ، وسَماعِ ما لايَحِلُّ سَماعُهُ5

4914. Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS) said, ‘The right of the ears is to keep them pure from listening to backbiting, and from that which is unlawful to listen to.’6

Notes

1. غرر الحكم : 1171

2. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1171

3. الاختصاص : 225

4. al-Ikhtisas, p. 225

5. الخصال : 566 / 1

6. al-Khisal, p. 566, no. 1

1457 - ثَوابُ رَدِّ الغيبَةِ

1457. THE REWARD FOR DETERRING BACKBITING

4915. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : مَن تَطَوَّلَ على‏ أخِيهِ في غِيبةٍ سَمِعَها فيهِ في مَجلِسٍ فَرَدَّها عَنهُ ، رَدَّ اللَّهُ عَنهُ ألفَ بابٍ مِن السُّوءِ فِي الدنيا والآخِرَةِ1

4915. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Whoever does a good service to his fellow brother by deterring people from talking behind his back in a gathering where he hears them backbiting him, Allah will repel from him a thousand types of evil in this world as well as in the Hereafter.’2

4916. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله: مَن اُغتِيبَ عِندَهُ أخوهُ المسلمُ، فاستَطاعَ نَصرَهُ فلم يَنصُرْهُ، خَذَلَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدنيا والآخِرَةِ3

4916. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘He in whose presence a fellow Muslim brother is talked about behind his back, and who does not defend him despite having the ability to do so, Allah disgraces him in this world as well as in the Hereafter.’4

(اُنظر) العِرض : باب 1245

(See also: GOOD REPUTE: section 1245)

Notes

1. الأمالي للصدوق : 516 / 707

2. Amali al-Saduq, p. 350

3. كتاب من لا يحضره الفقيه : 4 / 372

4. al-Faqih, v. 4, p. 372

1458 - كَفّارَةُ الاغتِيابِ‏

1458. THE PENANCE FOR BACKBITING

4917. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله - وقد سُئلَ عن كَفّارَةِ الاغتِيابِ - : تَستَغفِرُ اللَّهَ لِمَنِ اغتَبتَهُ كُلَّما ذَكَرتَهُ.1

4917. The Prophet (SAWA) was asked about the penance for backbiting, to which he replied, ‘You must seek Allah’s forgiveness on behalf of the one you have talked about every time you remember him.’2

4918. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إذا اغتابَ أحَدُكُم أخاهُ فلْيَستَغفِرِ اللَّهَ ؛ فإنَّها كفّارَةٌ لَهُ3

4918. The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘When one of you backbites about his fellow brother, he must seek forgiveness from Allah for that is penance for it.’4

Notes

1. الكافي : 2 / 357 / 4

2. al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 357, no. 4

3. كنز العمّال : 8037

4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 8037

311 - الغَيرة

311. POSSESSIVENESS

1

1459 - مدحُ الغَيرةِ

1459. THE PRAISE OF POSSESSIVENESS

4919. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنّ الغَيرَةَ مِن الإيمانِ2

4919. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Verily possessiveness is part of faith.'3

4920. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله: كانَ إبراهيمُ أبي غَيوراً وأنا أغيَرُ مِنهُ ، وأرغَمَ اللَّهُ أنفَ مَن لا يَغارُ مِن المؤمنينَ4

4920. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'My father Abraham [i.e. the prophet] was very possessive and I am even more possessive than him. Allah abases the one who has no sense of possessiveness from among the believers.'5

4921. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنّ اللَّهَ تعالى‏ يَغارُ وإنّ المؤمنَ يَغارُ ، وغَيرَةُ اللَّهِ أن يَأتِيَ المؤمنُ ما حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ علَيهِ6

4921. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Verily Allah, most High, is possessive, and verily the believer is possessive. Allah's possessiveness over a believer is when he approaches that which Allah has prohibited him from.'7

4922. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنَّ الجَنَّةَ لَتُوجَدُ ريحُها مِن مَسيرَةِ خَمسِمائةِ عامٍ ، ولايَجِدُها عاقٌّ ولا دَيُّوثٌ قيلَ : يا رسولَ اللَّهِ ، وما الدَّيُّوثُ ؟ قالَ : الذي تَزنِي امرأتُهُ وهُو يَعلَمُ بها8

4922. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Verily the fragrance of Paradise can be smelt from a distance of five hundred years, but neither the one who is insolent towards his parents not the cuckold will ever smell it.' When asked, 'O Prophet of Allah, what is a cuckold?' he replied, 'It is one whose wife commits adultery with his knowledge of it.'9

4923. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : قَدرُ الرجُلِ على‏ قَدرِ هِمَّتِهِ وشَجاعَتُهُ على‏ قَدرِ أنَفَتِهِ ، وعِفَّتُهُ على‏ قَدرِ غَيرَتِهِ10

4923. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'The worth of a man is in proportion to his ambition his courage is in proportion to his self-esteem, and his chastity is in proportion to his possessiveness [i.e. over his own wife].'11

4924. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : ما زَنى‏ غَيورٌ قطُّ12

4924. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'A man who is possessive [over his own wife] will never commit adultery.'13

4925. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام: إنَّ اللَّهَ يَغارُ للمؤمِنِ ، فَلْيَغَرْ مَن لايَغارُ ؛ فإنّهُ مَنكوسُ القَلبِ14

4925. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Verily Allah is possessive over the believer, so let him who is not possessive become possessive [through a sense of self-worth], for verily he has a degenerative heart.'15

4926. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : إنّ اللَّهَ تباركَ وتعالى‏ غَيورٌ يُحِبُّ كُلَّ غَيورٍ ، ولِغَيرَتِهِ حَرَّمَ الفواحِشَ ظاهِرَها وباطِنَها16

4926. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Verily Allah, Blessed and most High, is very possessive and loves every possessive one, and as a result of His possessiveness [over His servants], he has prohibited indecent acts, both those done in public as well as those done in secret.'17

Notes

1. ghira: This word, that has been translated as possessiveness, denotes a possessiveness stemming from a sense of self-honour and self-worth, where a man who has the quality of ghira would be a possessive or jealous husband, seen as a positive trait because of its stemming from self-honour. When ghira is ascribed to Allah, it denotes His being deserving of and demanding exclusive worship, loyalty and adherence. In other texts, ghira has been translated equally as jealousy, zeal, and fervour. In this text therefore, it will be translated according to its connotations in individual traditions (ed.)

2. كتاب من لا يحضره الفقيه : 3 / 444 / 4541

3. al-Faqih, v. 3, p. 444, no. 4541

4. بحار الأنوار : 103 / 248 / 33

5. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 103, p. 248, no. 33

6. كنز العمّال : 7072

7. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 7072

8. كتاب من لا يحضره الفقيه : 3 / 444 / 4542

9. al-Faqih, v. 3, p. 444, no. 4542

10. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 47

11. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 47

12. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 305

13. Ibid. Saying 305

14. المحاسن : 1 / 204 / 355

15. al-Mahasin, v. 1, p. 204, 455

16. الكافي : 5 / 535 / 1

17. al-Kafi, v. 5, p. 535, no. 1

1460 - ذمُّ التَّغايُرِ في غيرِ مَوضِعِ الغَيرةِ

1460. CENSURE OF BEING JEALOUS or Overpossessive Over One Another IN THE WRONG SITUATION

4927. سليمان عليه السلام لِابنِهِ : يا بُنَيّ لا تُكثِرِ الغَيرَةَ عَلى‏ أهلِكَ فَتُرمى‏ بِالسّوءِ مِن أجلِكَ وإن كانَت بَريئَةً1

4927. Prophet Solomon (AS) said to his son, 'O son, do not exceed your possessiveness over your family and you will accuse them of wrongdoing, even though they are innocent.'2

4928. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : مِن الغَيرَةِ مايُحِبُّ اللَّهُ ، ومِنها ما يَكرَهُ اللَّهُ ، فأمّا مايُحِبُّ فالغَيرَةُ فِي الرِّيبةِ، وأمّا ما يَكرَهُ فالغَيرَةُ في غيرِ الرِّيبةِ3

4928. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'There is possessiveness that Allah likes, and possessiveness that Allah dislikes. That which He likes is the possessiveness during doubt or misgiving [about one's wife], and the [over]possessiveness He dislikes is in a situation where there is no [reason to] doubt.'4

4929. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : غَيرَتانِ أحَدُهُما يُحِبُّهَا اللَّهُ وَالاُخرى‏ يُبغِضُهَا اللَّهُ : الغَيرَةُ مِنَ الرِّيبَةِ يُحِبُّهَا اللَّهُ وَالغَيرَةُ مِن غَيرِ الرِّيبَةِ يُبغِضُهَا اللَّهُ عَزَّوجَلَّ5

4929. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'There are two kinds of possessiveness in which Allah likes one of them and dislikes the other: Possessiveness over being accused, in which Allah likes, and possessiveness in not being accused, which Allah the Exalted dislikes.'6

4930. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - في وصيَّتِهِ لابنِهِ الحسنِ عليه السلام - : إيّاكَ والتَّغايُرَ في غيرِ مَوضِعِ الغَيرَةِ، فإنَّ ذلكَ يَدعُو الصَّحيحَةَ مِنهُنَّ إلَى السَّقَمِ ، ولكن أحكِمْ أمرَهُنَّ فإن رَأيتَ عَيباً فَعَجِّلِ النَّكيرَ علَى‏الكبيرِوالصغيرِ7 .8

4930. Imam Ali (AS) said in his will to his son, al-Hasan (AS), 'Beware of being overpossessive [of your wife] in a situation that does not necessitate it, for verily that will lead a wife of sound character from among them to become weak.'9

4931. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام: لا غَيرَةَ في الحَلالِ...10

4931. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'There is no jealous possessiveness [warranted] in what is lawful ...'11

Notes

1. الدر المنثور : 4 / 326

2. al-Dur al-Manthur, v. 4, p. 326

3. كنز العمّال : 7067

4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 7067

5. الفردوس : 3 / 106 / 4295

6. al-Firdaws, v. 3, p. 106, no. 4295

7. في نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 31 : «وإيّاك والتغاير في غير موضع غيرة، فإنّ ذلك يدعو الصحيحة إلى السقم، والبريئة إلى الرَّيب »

8. بحار الأنوار : 77 / 214 / 1

9. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 214, no. 1

10. الكافي : 5 / 537 / 1

11. al-Kafi, v. 5, p. 537, no. 1

312 - الفِتنة

312. TRIAL AND TEMPTATION

1461 - الفِتنَةِ

1461. Trial and Temptation

( أحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لا يُفْتَنُونَ * وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكاذِبِينَ)1

“Do people imagine that they will be left off (on their own) saying: 'We believe!' and they will not be tried? And indeed We did try those before them, so God certainly knows those who are true, and certainly He knows the liars.” 2

( أوَلا يَرَوْنَ أنَّهُمْ يُفْتَنُونَ فِي كُلِّ عامٍ مَرَّةً أوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ لا يَتُوبُونَ وَلَا هُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ)3

“See they not that they are tried once or twice in every year yet they do not turn (to God), and nor do they remember.” 4

(اُنظر) الأعراف : 155

(See also: Qur'an 7:155)

4932. مُعمَّر بنِ خَلّادٍ : سَمِعتُ أبا الحَسَنِ عليه السلام يقولُ : (الم * أحَسِبَ الناسُ أنْ يُتْرَكُوا أنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنّا وهُم لا يُفْتَنُونَ)5 ثُمّ قالَ لي : ما الفِتنَةُ ؟ قلتُ : جُعِلتُ فداكَ الذي عِندَنا الفِتنَةُ في الدِّينِ ، فقالَ : يُفتَنُونَ كما يُفتَنُ الذَّهبُ ، ثُمّ قالَ : يُخلَصُونَ كما يُخلَصُ الذَّهبُ6

4932. Muammar b. Khallad said, 'I heard Imam al-Rida (AS) say:“Alif, lam, mim. Do people imagine that they will be left off (on their own) saying: “We believe!” and they will not be tried”, and he then asked me, 'What is trial?' I said, 'May my soul be sacrificed for you, what I know is that it is to be tested in religion.' He said, 'They [the believers] will be tried the way gold is tried', he then said, 'They will be purified the way gold is purified.'7

Notes

1. العنكبوت : 2 و 3

2. Quran 29 :2-3

3. التوبة : 126

4. Quran 9 :126

5. العنكبوت : 1 و 2

6. الكافي : 1 / 370 / 4

7. al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 370, no. 4

1462 - أنواعُ الفِتَنِ‏

1462. KINDS OF TRIAL

( وَاعْلَمُوا أنَّما أمْوالُكُمْ وَأوْلادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ أجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ)1

“And know that your wealth and your children are a test [temptation], and that, God, with Him is a mighty reward.” 2

4933. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : ثلاثٌ فاتِناتٌ : الشَّعرُ الحَسَنُ ، والوَجهُ الحَسَنُ ، والصَّوتُ الحَسَنُ3

4933. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'There are three tempting trials: beautiful hair, a beautiful face, and a beautiful voice.'4

4934. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : لَأنا لِفِتنَةِ السَّرّاءِ أخوَفُ علَيكُم مِن فِتنَةِ الضَّرّاءِ ، إنّكُمُ ابتُلِيتُم بفِتنَةِ الضَّرّاءِ فَصَبَرتُم ، وإنّ الدنيا حُلوَةٌ خَضِرَةٌ5

4934. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'I fear for you the trials that are in good times more than in bad times. You have been struck with tests of bad times and you have endured them with patience, while verily the world remains sweet and luxuriant [to you].'6

4935. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : الفِتَنُ ثلاثٌ : حُبُّ النِّساءِ وهُو سَيفُ الشَّيطانِ ، وشُربُ الخَمرِ وهُو فَخُّ الشَّيطانِ ، وحُبُّ الدِّينارِ والدِّرهَمِ وهُو سَهمُ الشَّيطانِ ، فَمَن أحَبَّ النِّساءَ لم يَنتَفِعْ بعَيشِهِ ، ومَن أحَبَّ الأشرِبَةَ حَرُمَت علَيهِ الجَنّةُ ، ومَن أحَبَّ الدِّينارَ والدِّرهَمَ فهُو عَبدُ الدنيا7

4935. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Trials are of three kinds: love of women [unlawfully], and this is the sword of the devil; drinking of wine, and this is the snare of the devil; and the love of dinars and dirhams, which is the arrow of the devil. So those who love women will not benefit from life, and those who love drinking will be barred from Heaven, and those who love the dinar and dirham are slaves of the world.'8

4936. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - لرجُلٍ يُسَمّى‏ حَرباً يَمشي مَعهُ وهُو راكِبٌ - : ارجِعْ ، فإنَّ مَشيَ مِثلِكَ مَع مِثلِي فِتنَةٌ للوالي ، ومَذَلَّةٌ للمؤمنِ9

4936. Imam Ali (AS) who was riding, said to a person by the name of Harb who was walking with him, 'Go back, for the walking of someone like you with me is a trial for a governor and a [source of] humiliation for the believer.'10

Notes

1. الأنفال : 28

2. Quran 8 :28

3. كنز العمّال : 44129

4. Kanz al-'Ummal, no. 44129

5. الترغيب والترهيب :4 / 184 / 74

6. al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib, v. 4, p. 184, no. 74

7. بحار الأنوار : 73 / 140 / 12

8. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 73, p. 140, no. 12

9. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 322

10. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 322

1463 - مَن تَنجَلي عَنهُمُ الفِتَنُ‏

1463. THOSE WHO ARE CLEARED FROM TRIALS

4937. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله: طُوبى‏ لِلمُخلِصينَ ، اُولئكَ مَصابيحُ الهُدى‏ تَنجَلي عَنهُم كلُّ فِتنَةٍ ظَلماءَ1

4937. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Blessed are the sincere. They are the lanterns of guidance, and all dark trials are cleared away from them.'2

4938. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : سَتَكُونُ فِتَنٌ يُصبِحُ الرجُلُ فيها مؤمِناً ويُمسِي كافِراً ، إلّا مَن أحياهُ اللَّهُ تعالى‏ بالعِلمِ3

4938. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'There will come a time with troubles and trials where a person will rise in the morning a believer and turn a disbeliever in the evening, save those whom Allah, most High, revive with knowledge.'4

4939. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : اعلَمُوا أنّهُ مَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجعَلْ لَهُ مَخرجاً مِن الفِتَنِ ، ونوراً مِن الظُّلَمِ5

4939. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Know that those who are wary of their duty to Allah will find through Him a way out of the troubles of trials, and a light from darkness.'6

Notes

1. الترغيب والترهيب : 1 / 54 / 5

2. al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib, v. 1, p. 54, no. 5

3. كنز العمّال : 30883

4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 30883

5. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 183

6. Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 183

1464 - النَّوادِرُ

1464. Miscellaneous

4940. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : لَيَغشَيَنَّ اُمَّتِي مِن بَعدي فِتَنٌ كَقِطَعِ الليلِ المُظلِمِ ، يُصبِحُ الرجُلُ فيها مؤمِناً ويُمسِي كافِراً ، ويُمسِي مؤمِناً ويُصبِحُ كافِراً ، يَبيعُ أقوامٌ دِينَهُم بعَرَضٍ مِن الدنيا قَليلٍ1

4940. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Know that my community after me will become swathed with trials like parts of a dark night. At that time a person will be a believer in the morning and a disbeliever in the evening; he will sleep a believer and wake up a disbeliever. Groups will sell their religion for a small offer of the world.'2

4941. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : مَن شَبَّ نارَ الفِتنَةِ كانَ وَقوداً لها3

4941. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'He who ignites the fire of trouble will become its firewood.'4

4942. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : والٍ ظَلومٌ غَشومٌ خَيرٌ مِن فِتنَةٍ تَدُومُ5

4942. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'A brutal oppresssing governor is better than a continuous unrest.'6

4943. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : كُنْ في الفتنَةِ كَابنِ اللَّبونِ ؛ لا ظَهرٌ فَيُركَبَ ، ولاضَرعٌ فيُحلَبَ (فَيُحتَلَبَ)7

4943. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'You should be at the time of trouble like a baby camel, neither can it be mounted [and overcome as a result], nor can it be milked [and taken advantage of].'8

Notes

1. كنز العمّال : 30893

2. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 30893

3. غرر الحكم : 9163

4. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 10109

5. غرر الحكم : 10109

6. Ibid. no. 9163

7. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 1

8. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 1

313 - الفَتوى‏

313. THE VERDICT

1

1465 - مَن أفتَى النّاسَ بِرَأيِهِ‏

1465. THOSE WHO GIVE VERDICTS OF THEIR OWN OPINION TO PEOPLE

4944. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أجرَؤكُم علَى الفَتوى‏ أجرَؤكُم علَى النارِ2

4944. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The most audacious from among you at giving verdicts will be the most hasty from among you to enter the Hellfire.'3

4945. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : لو كنّا نُفتِي الناسَ بِرَأينا وهَوانا لَكُنّا مِن الهالِكِينَ ، ولَكُنّا نُفتِيهِم بآثارٍ مِن رسولِ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله واُصولِ عِلمٍ عِندَنا ، نَتَوارَثُها كابِراً عن كابِرٍ .4

4945. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, 'If we were to give verdicts to people according to our opinions and whims, we would be among those who perish. And, we would be giving them verdicts based on mere reports handed down from the Prophet (SAWA) and the principles of knowledge that we have, which we have inherited from our forefathers...'5

4946. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : مَن أفتَى النّاسَ بِرَأيهِ فَقَد دانَ بِما لا يَعلَمُ ، ومَن دانَ بِما لا يَعلَمُ فَقَد ضادَّ اللَّهَ حَيثُ أحَلَّ وَحَرَّمَ فِيما لايَعلَمُ6

4946. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Whoever gives a verdict to people from their opinion submits to that which they have no knowledge of, and whoever submits to that which he does not have knowledge of is opposing Allah as he permits and prohibits what he does not have knowledge of.'7

4947. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : اُهرُبْ مِن الفُتيا هَرَبَكَ مِنَ الأسَدِ ، ولاتَجعَلْ رَقَبَتَكَ للناسِ جِسراً8

4947. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Flee from a verdict the way you would flee from a lion, and do not let your neck be a bridge for others.'9

(اُنظر) الرأي : باب 795

(See also: OPINION: section 795)

Notes

1. The word 'fatwa' in Arabic specifically denotes a legal verdict or juristic edict (ed.)

2. بحارالأنوار : 2 / 123 / 48

3. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 2, p. 123, no. 48

4. بحار الأنوار : 2 / 172 / 3

5. Ibid. v. 2, p. 172, no. 3

6. بحار الأنوار : 2 / 299 / 25

7. Ibid. v. 2, p. 299, no. 25

8. بحار الأنوار : 2 / 260

9. Ibid. v. 2, p. 260

1466 - جَوازُ الإفتاءِ لِلعالِمِ‏

1466. THE PERMISSIBILITY FOR A SCHOLAR TO ISSUE A VERDICT

4948. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - فيما كَتَبَ إلى‏ قُثَمَ بنِ العبّاس - : وَاجلِسْ لَهُمُ العَصرَينِ، فَأفتِ المُستَفتيَ، وعَلِّمِ الجاهِلَ ، وذاكِرِ العالِمَ1

4948. Imam Ali (AS), in what he wrote to Qutham b. 'Abbas said, 'Sit for them in the afternoon, and give verdicts to the questioner, teach the ignorant, and discuss with the knowledgeable.'2

4949. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام - لأبانَ بنِ تَغلِبَ - : اِجلِسْ في مَجلِسِ‏3 المَدينةِ وأفتِ الناسَ ؛ فإنّي اُحِبُّ أن يُرى‏ في شِيعَتي مِثلُكَ4

4949. Imam al-Baqir (AS), speaking to Aban b. Taghlib said, 'Sit in the mosque of Madina and give verdicts to the people, for I love to see the likes of you among my followers.'5

Notes

1. نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 67

2. Nahj al-Balagha, letter 67

3. في مستدرك الوسائل 17 / 315 / 21452 : «مسجد» بدل «مجلس »

4. رجال النجاشي : 1 / 73 / 6

5. Mustadrak al-Wasa`il. v. 17, p. 315, no. 21452

314 - الفُحش‏

314. OBSCENE LANGUAGE

1467 - التَّحذيرُ مِنَ الفُحشِ‏

1467. CAUTION AGAINST THE USE OF OBSCENE LANGUAGE

4950. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : ما كانَ الفُحشُ في شي‏ءٍ قَطُّ إلّا شانَهُ ، ولا كانَ الحَياءُ في شي‏ءٍ قَطُّ إلّا زانَهُ1

4950. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'No sooner does obscene language accompany something than it disgraces it, and no sooner does modesty accompany something than it adorns it.'2

4951. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ الجَنَّةَ على‏ كُلِّ فَحّاشٍ بَذِي‏ءٍ، قَليلِ الحَياءِ، لا يُبالِي ما قالَ ولا ما قيلَ لَهُ3

4951. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Allah has prohibited Heaven to those who use obscenity, vulgarity, lack shame, and are not concerned about what they say and what is said to them.'4

4952. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنّ مِن شَرِّ عِبادِ اللَّهِ مَن تُكرَهُ مُجالَسَتُهُ لِفُحشِهِ5

4952. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The most evil of the servants of Allah are those whose company is abhorred [by people] because of their obscenity.'6

4953. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : ما أفحَشَ كريمٌ قَطُّ7

4953. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'A person of dignity would never use obscene language.'8

4954. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : إنَّ اللَّهَ يُبغِضُ الفاحِشَ المُتَفَحِّشَ9

4954. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, 'Allah hates the user of obscene language and the one who is shameless with it.'10

4955. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : قُولوا للناسِ أحسَنَ ما تُحِبُّونَ أن يُقالَ لَكُم ؛ فإنَّ اللَّهَ يُبغِضُ اللَّعّانَ السَّبّابَ الطَّعّانَ علَى المؤمنينَ ، الفاحِشَ المُتَفَحِّشَ ، السائلَ المُلحِفَ11

4955. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, 'Say unto people the best of what you would like them to say to you, for Allah hates the curser, swearer, and slanderer of believers, the user of obscene language and to do it shamelessly, and the importunate beggar.'12

4956. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : سِلاحُ اللِّئامِ قَبيحُ الكلامِ13

4956. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, 'The weapon of the wicked is foul language.'14

4957. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : الفُحشُ والبَذاءُ والسَّلاطَةُ مِن النِّفاقِ15

4957. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Obscene language, foulness, and impudence are all from hypocrisy.'16

4958. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : مَن خافَ الناسُ لِسانَهُ فهُو في النارِ17

4958. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'A person whose [foul] tongue people dread is in the Fire [i.e. his place is the Fire].'18

Notes

1. بحارالأنوار :79 / 111 / 6

2. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 79, p. 111, no. 6

3. الكافي : 2 / 323 / 3

4. al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 323, no. 3

5. الكافي : 2 / 325 / 8

6. Ibid. v. 2, p. 325, p. 8

7. غرر الحكم : 9478

8. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9478

9. الكافي : 2 / 324 / 4

10. al-Kafi, v. 2, no. 324, no. 4

11. بحار الأنوار : 78 / 181 / 67

12. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 181, no. 67

13. بحار الأنوار : 78 / 185 / 14

14. Ibid. v. 78, p. 185, no. 14

15. بحار الأنوار : 79 / 113 / 14

16. Ibid. v. 79, p. 113, no. 14

17. الكافي : 2 / 327 / 3

18. al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 328, no. 3

315 - الفَخر

315. PRIDE

1468 - ذَمُّ التَّفاخُرِ

1468. REPREHENSION OF SHOWING PRIDE

( اعْلَمُوا أنَّما الحَياةُ الدُّنْيا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ)1

“Know that the life of this world is just play and diversion, and glitter, and mutual vainglory among you.” 2

( إنَّ اللَّهَ لايُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتالٍ فَخُورٍ)3

“Indeed Allah does not like any swaggering braggart.” 4

(اُنظر) النساء : 36 و هود : 10 والحديد : 23

(See also: Qur'an 4:36; 11:10; 57:23)

4959. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنّ اللَّهَ أوحَى إلَيَّ أن تواضَعوا ، حتّى‏ لايَفخَرَ أحَدٌ على‏ أحَدٍ ، ولا يَبغي أحَدٌ على‏ أحَدٍ5

4959. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Allah revealed unto me that we should be humble, so that nobody shows pride over anybody else, and no one intimidates another.'6

4960. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : آفَةُ الحَسَبِ الافتِخارُ والعُجبُ7

4960. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The bane of [noble] lineage is pride of it.'8

4961. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام: أهلَكَ الناسَ اثنانِ: خَوفُ الفَقرِ ، وطَلَبُ الفَخرِ9

4961. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'There are two things that have ruined people: fear of poverty and going after pride.'10

4962. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : ضَعْ فَخرَكَ ، واحطُطْ كِبرَكَ ، واذكُرْ قَبرَكَ11

4962. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Let go of your pride, put down your arrogance, and remember your grave.'12

4963. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لا حُمقَ أعظَمُ مِن الفَخرِ13

4963. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'There is no stupidity greater than vanity.'14

4964. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : إنَّ مِن أسخَفِ حالاتِ الوُلاةِ عندَ صالِحِ الناسِ، أن يُظَنَّ بِهِم حُبُّ الفَخرِ، ويُوضَعَ أمرُهُم علَى الكِبرِ15

4964. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'The worst state of the rulers in the eyes of righteous people is for them to be assumed to love pride and be regarded as haughty.'16

4965. الإمامُ الرضا عليه السلام : إنَّ أميرَ المؤمنينَ عليه السلام عادَ صَعصَعةَ بنَ صُوحانَ في مَرَضِهِ ، فلمّا قامَ مِن عندِهِ قالَ : يا صَعصَعةُ ، لا تَفتَخِرَنَّ على‏ إخوانِكَ بعِيادَتي إيّاكَ واتَّقِ اللَّهَ17

4965. Imam al-Rida (AS) said, 'The Commander of the Faithful [Imam Ali] (AS) visited Sasaa b. Suhan when he was sick, so when he wanted to leave he stood up and said, 'O Sasaa, do not display pride in front of your brothers that I visited you, and fear Allah.'18

Notes

1. الحديد : 20

2. Quran 57 :20

3. لقمان : 18

4. Quran 31 :18

5. الترغيب والترهيب : 3 / 558 / 1

6. al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib, v. 3, p. 558, no. 1

7. الكافي : 2 / 328 / 2

8. al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 328, no. 2

9. الخصال : 69 / 102

10. al-Khisal, p. 69, no. 102

11. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 398

12. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 398

13. غرر الحكم : 10655

14. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 10655

15. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 216

16. Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 216

17. مستدرك الوسائل : 12 / 90 / 13599

18. Mustadrak al-Wasa?il, v. 12, p. 90, no. 13599