Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

1732 - الحَثُّ عَلى‏ غَضِّ البَصَرِ

1732. ENJOINMENT OF LOWERING ONE'S GAZE

( قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذلِكَ أَزْكَى‏ لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ * وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا)1

“Tell the faithful men to cast down their looks and guard their private parts. That is more decent for them. Allah is indeed well aware of what they do. And tell the faithful women to cast down their looks and to guard their private parts, and not to display their charms, except for what is outward.” 2

6129. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : لِكُلِّ عُضوٍ مِن ابنِ آدمَ حَظٌّ مِن الزِّنا : العَينُ زِناها النَّظَرُ3

6129. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Every limb of man has a part in adultery: the adultery of the eye is looking [unlawfully].'4

6130. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : غُضُّوا أبصارَكُم تَرَونَ العَجائبَ5

6130. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Lower your gazes [from the forbidden] and you will see wonders.'6

6131. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : مَن مَلأَ عَينَهُ مِن حَرامٍ مَلأَ اللَّهُ عَينَهُ يَومَ القِيامَةِ مِن النّارِ ، إلّا أن يَتوبَ ويَرجِعَ7

6131. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Whoever fills his gaze with what is prohibited, Allah will fill his eyes with fire on the Day of Judgment, unless he repents and returns.'8

6132. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : اِشتَدَّ غَضَبُ اللَّهِ عَزَّوجلَّ علَى امرأةٍ ذاتِ بَعلٍ مَلأت عَينَها مِن غَيرِ زَوجِها أو غَيرِ ذِي مَحرَمٍ مِنها9

6132. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The anger of Allah is intensified towards a married woman who fills her eyes with [lust for] someone other than her husband and other than those of her blood relatives [mahram].'10

6133. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : مَن غَضَّ طَرفَهُ أراحَ قَلبَهُ11

6133. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'He who lowers his gaze will rest his heart.'12

6134. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : النَّظرَةُ سَهمٌ مِن سِهامِ إبليسَ مَسمومٌ ، مَن تَرَكَها للَّهِ عَزَّوجلَّ لا لغَيرِهِ أعقَبَهُ اللَّهُ إيماناً يَجِدُ طَعمَهُ13

6134. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'A glance is a poisoned arrow from the arrows of Satan. He who refrains from it [glancing] for the sake of Allah and for nothing other than Him, Allah will grant him a faith, the taste of which he will experience.'14

6135. الإمامُ الرِّضا عليه السلام - مِمّا كَتَبَ في جَوابِ مَسائلِ محمّدِ بنِ سِنانٍ - : وحُرِّمَ النَّظَرُ إلى‏ شُعورِ النِّساءِ المَحجوباتِ بالأزواجِ وإلى‏ غَيرِهِنَّ مِن النِّساءِ ؛ لِما فيهِ مِن تَهييجِ الرِّجالِ ، وما يَدعو التَّهييجُ إلَيهِ مِن الفَسادِ والدُّخولِ فيما لا يَحِلُّ ولايَجمُلُ ، وكذلكَ ما أشبَهَ الشُّعورَ ، إلّا الّذي قالَ اللَّهُ تعالى‏ : (والقَواعِدُ مِن النِّساءِ اللاتي لا يَرجُونَ نِكاحاً ...)15 فلا بأسَ بالنَّظَرِ إلى‏ شُعورِ مِثلِهِنَّ16

6135. Imam al-Rida (AS), in what he wrote in answer to some queries of Muhammad b. Sinan, said, 'Looking at the hair of veiled women with husbands, and all women besides them is prohibited, for what it arouses in men, and for what that arousal engenders in terms of corruption and embarking upon what is not permitted and not good. And also, what is similar to hair, except those women whom Allah mentions:“As for women advanced in years” 17 as there is no problem in looking at the hair of their like.'18

(اُنظر) الزنا : باب 863

(See also: FORNICATION: section 863)

Notes

1. النور : 30 و 31

2. Quran 24 :30,31

3. جامع الأخبار : 408 / 1129

4. Jami al-Akhbar, p. 408, no. 1129

5. بحار الأنوار : 104 / 41 / 52

6. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 104, p. 41, no. 52

7. بحار الأنوار : 76 / 334 / 1

8. Ibid. v. 76, p. 334, no. 1

9. ثواب‏الأعمال : 338 / 1

10. Thawab al-A'mal, p. 338, no. 1

11. غرر الحكم : 9122

12. Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9122

13. كتاب من لا يحضره الفقيه : 4 / 18 / 4969

14. al-Faqih, v. 4, p. 18, no. 4969

15. النور : 60

16. عيون أخبار الرِّضا : 2 / 97 / 1

17. Quran 24 :60

18. Uyun Akhbar al-Rida (AS), v. 2, p. 97

1733 - النَّظرَةُ الاُولى‏ خَطَأٌ وَالثّانِيَةُ عَمدٌ

1733. THE FIRST GLANCE IS A MISTAKE AND THE SECOND IS INTENTIONAL

6136. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله - لعَليٍّ عليه السلام - : يا عليُّ، لكَ أوّلُ نَظرَةٍ ، والثّانِيَةُ علَيكَ ولا لَكَ1

6136. The Prophet (SAWA) said to Ali (AS), 'O Ali, you are allowed the first glance, but the second is against you, not in your favour.'2

6137. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : أوّلُ النَّظرَةِ لكَ ، والثّانِيَةُ علَيكَ ولا لَكَ ، والثّالِثَةُ فيها الهَلاكُ3

6137. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'The first glance is allowed to you, but the second is against you and not in your favour. In the third lies your ruin.'4

6138. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : النَّظرَةُ بعدَ النَّظرَةِ تَزرَعُ في القَلبِ الشَّهوَةَ ، وكفى‏ بها لِصاحِبِها فِتنَةً5

6138. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Glance after glance plants desire in the heart, and that is enough of a temptation for the onlooker.'6

Notes

1. كتاب من لا يحضره الفقيه : 4 / 19 / 4971

2. al-Faqih, v. ,4 p. 19, no. 4971

3. كتاب من لا يحضره الفقيه : 3 / 474 / 4658

4. Ibid. v. 3, p. 474, no. 4658

5. كتاب من لا يحضره الفقيه : 4 / 18 / 4970

6. Ibid. v. 4, p. 18, no. 4970

1734 - مَن رَأى‏ امرَأةً تُعجِبُهُ‏

1734. HE WHO SEES A WOMAN THAT PLEASES HIM

6139. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : إذا رأى‏ أحَدُكُمُ امرأةً تُعجِبُهُ فلْيَأْتِ أهلَهُ ؛ فإنَّ عِندَ أهلهِ مِثلَ ما رأى‏ ، ولا يَجعَلَنَّ لِلشَّيطانِ إلى‏ قَلبِهِ سَبيلاً ، وليَصرِفْ بَصَرَهُ عَنها ، فإن لَم تَكُنْ لَهُ زَوجَةٌ فَلْيُصَلِّ رَكعَتَينِ ويَحمَدِ اللَّهَ كثيراً ، ويُصَلّي علَى النَّبيِّ وآلِهِ ، ثُمّ ليَسألِ‏اللَّهَ مِن فَضلِهِ فإنّهُ يُبيحُ لَهُ برأفتِهِ ما يُغنيهِ1

6139. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'If one of you sees a woman he is interested in, he should go to his wife, for she possesses whatever he saw. He should not allow the devil a path to his heart, and he should avert his eyes away from her. If he does not have a wife, he should offer two units of prayer and praise Allah a lot, and invoke blessings on the Prophet and his household, then he should ask from the grace of Allah, for He will grant him from His compassion that which will make him free from need.'2

Notes

1. بحار الأنوار : 10 / 115 / 1

2. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 10, p. 115, no. 1

377 - المناظرة

377. DEBATE

1735 - المُناظَرَةُ

1735. Debate

6140. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - في وَصيَّتِهِ لِكُمَيلٍ - : يا كُمَيلُ ، في كُلِّ صِنفٍ قَومٌ أرفَعُ مِن قَومٍ ، فإيّاكَ ومُناظَرَةَ الخَسيسِ مِنهُم ، وإن أسمَعوكَ فاحتَمِلْ وكُن مِن الّذينَ وَصَفَهُمُ اللَّهُ تعالى‏ بقولِهِ : (وإذا خاطَبَهُمُ الجاهِلونَ قالوا سَلاماً)1 .2

6140. Imam Ali (AS), in his advice to Kumayl said, 'O Kumayl, in every race there are groups better than groups, so beware of debating with the vile of them, and if they insult you, then tolerate them, and be of those whom Allah has described in His verse: “and when the ignorant address them, say, 'Peace!'.34

6141. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام - لَمّا سَألَهُ الطَّيّارُ عَن كَراهَةِ مُناظَرَةِ النّاسِ - : أمّا كَلامُ مِثلِكَ فلا يُكرَهُ ، مَن إذا طارَ يُحسِنُ أن يَقَعَ ، وإن وَقَعَ يُحسِنُ أن يَطيرَ ، فمَن كانَ هكذا لا نَكرَهُهُ5

6141. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) when al-Tayyar asked him about the detesting of debating with people said, 'As for the speech of the likes of you, it is not disliked. He who flies knows how to descend, and if he was to descend he knows how ascend again, so if one is like this, we do not dislike it.'6

6142. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام لأبي جعفر الأحول : ما فَعَلَ ابنُ الطَّيَّارِ ؟ فقلتُ : تُوُفِّي ، فقالَ : رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ ، أدخَلَ اللَّهُ علَيهِ الرَّحمَة والنَّضرَةَ ؛ فإنّهُ كانَ يُخاصِمُ عنّا أهلَ البَيتِ7

6142. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said to Abu Jafar al-Ahwal, 'How is Ibn al-Tayyar?' al-Ahwal said, 'He has passed away.' He (AS), 'The mercy of Allah be upon him, and may Allah give him mercy and blissfulness, as he would debate for the sake of us Ahl al-Bayt.'8

Notes

1. الفرقان : 63

2. بشارة المصطفى‏ : 26

3. Quran 25 :63

4. Basharat al-Mustafa, p. 26

5. بحار الأنوار : 2 / 136 / 39

6. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 2, p. 136, no. 39

7. بحار الأنوار : 2 / 136 / 41

8. Ibid. v. 2, p. 136, no. 41

1736 - جَوابُ الإمامِ لِمَن دَعاهُ إلَى المُناظَرَةِ

1736. THE IMAM'S ANSWER TO ONE WHO INVITED HIM TO DEBATE

6143. الإمامُ الحسينُ عليه السلام - لرجُلٍ قالَ لَهُ : اجلِسْ حتّى‏ نَتَناظَرَ في الدِّينِ - : يا هذا أنا بَصيرٌ بدِيني مَكشوفٌ علَيَّ هُداي ، فإن كُنتَ جاهِلاً بدِينِكَ فاذهَبْ واطلُبْهُ ، ما لي ولِلمُماراةِ ؟! وإنَّ الشَّيطانَ لَيُوَسوِسُ لِلرّجُلِ ويُناجيهِ ويقولُ : ناظِرِ النّاسَ في الدِّينِ كيلا يَظُنّوا بكَ العَجزَ والجَهلَ !1

6143. Imam Husayn (AS) replied to a man who said, 'Sit down so we can debate about religion' - 'O you, I am aware of my religion, and my path is clear for me. So, if you are ignorant about your religion then go and seek it. What do I have to do with disputation?! Indeed the devil tempts a person and calls him, saying, 'Debate with people regarding their religion so that they do not think of you as incapable and ignorant.'2

Notes

1. بحار الأنوار : 2 / 135 / 32

2. Ibid. v. 2, p. 135, no. 32

378 - النّظافة

378. CLEANLINESS

1737 - الحَثُّ عَلَى النَّظافَةِ

1737. ENJOINMENT OF CLEANLINESS

6144. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنَّ اللَّهَ طَيِّبٌ يُحِبُّ الطَّيِّبَ، نَظيفٌ يُحِبُّ النَّظافَةَ1

6144. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Indeed Allah is pleasant and loves all that is pleasant. He is clean and loves cleanliness.'2

6145. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : طَهِّروا هذهِ الأجسادَ طَهَّرَكُمُ اللَّهُ ؛ فإنّهُ لَيسَ عَبدٌ يَبيتُ طاهِراً إلّا باتَ مَعَهُ مَلَكٌ في شِعارِهِ ، ولا يَتَقَلَّبُ ساعَةً مِن اللّيلِ إلّا قالَ : اللّهُمّ اغفِرْ لعَبدِكَ فإنّهُ باتَ طاهِراً3

6145. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Purify these bodies and Allah will purify you. For when a servant sleeps in a state of purity, an angel sleeps with him [engaged] in his remembrance. Any time of the night when he turns over, the angel says, 'O Allah forgive Your servant, for he has slept pure.'4

6146. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله - لَمّا أبصَرَ رجُلاً شَعثاً شَعرُ رأسِهِ ، وَسخَةً ثِيابُهُ ، سَيّئةً حالُهُ - : مِن الدِّينِ المُتعَةُ وإظهارُ النِّعمَةِ5

6146. The Prophet (SAWA), when he saw a man whose hair on his head was dishevelled, whose clothes were dirty, and who had a bad appearance, said, 'It is part of religion to enjoy oneself and to display one's bounties.'6

6147. جابرُ بنُ عبد اللَّهِ : أتانا رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله فرأى‏ رجُلاً شَعِثاً قد تَفَرَّقَ شَعرُهُ ، فقالَ : أما كانَ يَجِدُ هذا ما يُسَكِّنُ بهِ شَعرَهُ ؟ ! ورأى‏ رجُلاً آخَرَ (و) علَيهِ ثيابٌ وسِخَةٌ فقالَ : أما كانَ هذا يَجِدُ ماءً يَغسِلُ بهِ ثَوبَهُ ؟ !7

6147. Jabir b. Abdullah al-Ansari said, 'The Prophet (SAWA) visited us, and he saw an untidy man whose hair was dishevelled, so he said, 'Did this man not find anything with which to tame his hair?!' He then saw another man, who was wearing dirty clothes, so he said, 'Did this man not have any water to wash his clothes with?!'8

6148. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : تَنَظَّفوا بكُلِّ ما استَطَعتُم ؛ فإنَّ اللَّهَ تعالى‏ بَنَى الإسلامَ علَى النَّظافَةِ ، ولَن يَدخُلَ الجَنَّةَ إلّا كُلُّ نَظيفٍ9

6148. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Keep yourselves as clean as possible, for Allah Almighty built Islam on cleanliness, and no one will ever enter Heaven unless they are clean.'10

6149. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ النّاسِكَ النَّظيفَ.11

6149. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Indeed Allah loves the clean worshipper.'12

6150. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : مَنِ اتَّخَذَ ثَوباً فلْيُنَظِّفْهُ13

6150. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Whoever wears clothes must clean them.'14

6151. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : النَّظيفُ مِن الثِّيابِ يُذهِبُ الهَمَّ والحُزنَ ، وهُو طَهورٌ للصَّلاةِ15

6151. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Clean clothes take away sorrow and grief, and it is [a condition of] purity for prayers.'16

6152. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : كَنسُ البُيوتِ يَنفي الفَقرَ17

6152. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, 'Sweeping of the houses eradicates poverty.'18

6153. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : غَسلُ الإناءِ وكَسحُ الفِناءِ، مَجلَبَةٌ للرِّزقِ19

6153. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Washing dishes and sweeping the courtyard attracts sustenance.'20

6154. الإمامُ الرِّضا عليه السلام : مِن أخلاقِ الأنبياءِ التَّنَظُّفُ21

6154. Imam al-Rida (AS) said, 'From the morals of the prophets is cleanliness.'22

Notes

1. سنن الترمذي : 5 / 112 / 2799

2. Sunan al-Tirmidhi, no. 2799

3. كنز العمّال : 26003

4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 26003

5. الكافي : 6 / 439 / 5

6. al-Kafi, v. 6, p. 439, no. 5

7. سنن أبي داوود : 4 / 51 / 4062

8. Sunan Abi Dawud, no. 4062

9. كنز العمّال : 26002

10. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 26002

11. كنز العمّال : 26000

12. Ibid. no. 26000

13. الكافي : 6 / 441 / 3

14. al-Kafi, v. 6, p. 441, no. 3

15. الكافي : 6 / 444 / 14

16. Ibid. v. 6, p. 444, no. 14

17. وسائل الشيعة : 3 / 571 / 2

18. Wasa'il al-Shia, v. 3, p. 571, no. 2

19. الخصال : 54 / 73

20. al-Khisal, p. 54, no. 73

21. بحار الأنوار : 78 / 335 / 4

22. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 335, no. 4

1738 - التَّحذيرُ مِن تَركِ النّظافَةِ

1738. WARNING AGAINST UNCLEANLINESS

6155. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : بِئسَ العَبدُ القاذُورَةُ1

6155. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'How wretched is the servant who is filthy.'2

6156. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : هَلَكَ المُتَقذَّرونَ3

6156. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The filthy ones perish.'4

6157. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : لا تُؤْوُا التُّرابَ خَلفَ البابِ ؛ فإنّهُ مَأوَى الشَّيطانِ5

6157. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Do not place dirt behind the door, for it is the shelter of the devil.'6

6158. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : لا تُبَيِّتوا القُمامَةَ في بُيوتِكُم وأخرِجوها نَهاراً ؛ فإنّها مَقعَدُ الشَّيطانِ7

6158. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Do not leave garbage overnight in your houses, and take it out in the daytime, for it is the dwelling place of the devil.'8

6159. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : تَنَظّفوا بالماءِ مِن النَّتنِ الرِّيحِ الّذي يُتأذّى‏ بِهِ ، تَعَهَّدوا أنفُسَكُم ؛ فإنّ اللَّهَ عَزَّوجلَّ يُبغِضُ مِن عِبادِهِ القاذُورَةَ الّذي يَتأنَّفُ بهِ مَن جَلَسَ إلَيهِ9

6159. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Clean yourselves with water from the bad smells that are offensive, and attend to yourselves; for Allah Almighty hates the dirty from among His servants whose seating companions become disdained as a result of him.'10

6160. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : نَظِّفوا بُيوتَكُم مِن حَوكِ العَنكَبوتِ ؛ فإنَّ تَركَهُ في البَيتِ يُورِثُ الفَقرَ11

6160. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Clean your houses of cobwebs, for leaving them in the house brings about poverty.'12

(اُنظر) عنوان 254 «الطهارة»

(See also: PURITY 254)

Notes

1. الكافي : 6 / 439 / 6

2. al-Kafi, v. 6, p. 439, no. 6

3. كنز العمّال : 7422

4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 7422

5. وسائل الشيعة : 3 / 572 / 3

6. Wasa'il al-Shia, v. 3, p. 572, no. 3

7. كتاب من لا يحضره الفقيه : 4 / 5 / 4968

8. al-Faqih, v. 4, p. 5, no. 4968

9. الخصال : 620 / 10

10. al-Khisal, p. 620, no. 10

11. وسائل الشيعة : 3 / 575 / 2

12. Wasa'il al-Shia, v. 3, p. 575, no. 2

379 - النّعمة

379. BOUNTIES

1739 - نِعَمُ اللَّهِ لا تُحصى‏

1739. THE BOUNTIES OF ALLAH CANNOT BE ENUMERATED

( وَآتَاكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ وَإِنْ تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ)1

“And He gave you all that you had asked Him. If you enumerate Allah's blessing, you will not be able to count them. Indeed man is most unfair and ungrateful!” 2

6161. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : مَن لَم يَرَ للَّهِ عَزَّوجلَّ علَيهِ نِعمَةً إلّا في مَطعَمٍ أو مَشرَبٍ أو مَلبَسٍ ، فقد قَصُرَ عَملُهُ ودنا عَذابُهُ3

6161. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'He who does not see the bounties of Allah upon himself other than in his food, drink, and clothes, surely his actions fall short and his punishment is near.'4

6162. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام: الحَمدُ للَّهِ الذي لا يَبلُغُ مِدحَتَهُ القائلونَ ، ولا يُحصِي نَعماءَهُ العادُّونَ5

6162. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Praise be to Allah whose extolment speakers cannot attain, and whose bounties cannot be enumerated by those who count.'6

6163. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - في وَصيَّتِهِ لِكُميلٍ - : يا كُمَيلُ ، إنّهُ لا تَخلو مِن نِعمَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّوجلَّ عِندَكَ وعافِيَتِهِ ، فلا تَخْلُ مِن تَحميدِهِ وتَمجيدِهِ وتَسبيحِهِ وتَقديسِهِ وشُكرِهِ وذِكرِهِ على‏ كلِّ حالٍ7

6163. Imam Ali (AS), in his advice to Kumayl said, 'O Kumayl, you cannot ever be devoid of the bounties of Allah and the good health [given to you by Him], so do not remain without praising Him, exalting Him, glorifying Him, sanctifying Him, thanking Him and remembering Him in every situation.'8

Notes

1. إبراهيم : 34

2. Quran 14 :34

3. الكافي : 2 / 316 / 5

4. al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 316, no. 5

5. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 1

6. Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 1

7. بشارة المصطفى‏ : 28

8. Bashara al-Mustafa, p. 28

1740 - الغَفلَةُ عَنِ النِّعَمِ‏

1740. NEGLIGENCE OF BOUNTIES

6164. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : نِعمَتانِ مَفتونٌ فيهِما كَثيرٌ مِن النّاسِ : الفَراغُ والصِّحَّةُ1

6164. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'There are two bounties that most people are tested with: free time and health.'2

6165. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : نِعمَتانِ مَكفورَتانِ : الأمنُ والعافِيَةُ3

6165. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'There are two bounties that people are ungrateful for: safety and good health.'4

6166. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : مَن كانَ في النِّعمَةِ جَهِلَ قَدرَ البَلِيَّةِ5

6166. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'He who lives in bounties is ignorant of the worth of the calamity.'6

6167. الإمامُ الحسنُ عليه السلام: تُجهَلُ النِّعَمُ ما أقامَت ، فإذا وَلَّت عُرِفَت7

6167. Imam Hasan (AS) said, 'Bounties are ignored as long as they exist, but when they go they [their worth] are known.'8

Notes

1. الخصال : 35 / 7

2. al-Khisal, p. 35, no. 7

3. بحار الأنوار : 81 / 170 / 1

4. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 81, p. 170, no. 1

5. بحار الأنوار : 78 / 12 / 70

6. Ibid. v. 78, p. 12, no. 70

7. بحار الأنوار : 78 / 115 / 12

8. Ibid. v. 78, p. 115, no. 12

1741 - إحسانُ مُجاوَرَةِ النِّعَمِ‏

1741. EMBRACING BOUNTIES

6168. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام: أحسِنوا صُحبَةَ النِّعَمِ قَبلَ فِراقِها ؛ فإنّها تَزولُ وتَشهَدُ على‏ صاحِبِها بما عَمِلَ فيها1

6168. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Appreciate the having of bounties before their departure, for they will leave and testify against their owner with respect to what he has done with them.'2

6169. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : اِحذَروا نِفارَ النِّعَمِ ؛ فما كلُّ شارِدٍ بمَردُودٍ3

6169. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Beware the fleeing of bounties, for not every runaway returns.'4

6170. الإمامُ الهادي عليه السلام : ألقُوا النِّعَمَ بحُسنِ مُجاوَرَتِها ؛ والتَمِسوا الزِّيادَةَ فيها بالشُّكرِ علَيها ، واعلَموا أنّ النَّفسَ أقبَلُ شي‏ءٍ لِما اُعطِيَت ، وأمنَعُ شَي‏ءٍ لِما مُنِعَت5

6170. Imam al-Hadi (AS) said, 'Meet bounties by embracing them, and plead for an increase in them by giving thanks for them, and know that the self is the most accepting of what it is given and the most resistant against that which it has been deprived of.'6

Notes

1. علل الشرائع: 464 / 12

2. Ilal al-Sharai, p. 464, no. 12

3. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 246

4. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 246

5. أعلام الدين : 312

6. Alam al-Din, p. 312

1742 - ما يوجِبُ بَقاءَ النِّعَمِ‏

1742. THAT WHICH CAUSES BOUNTIES TO REMAIN

( وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ القُرَى‏ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَرَكَاتٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأرْضِ وَلكِنْ كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ)1

“If the people of the towns had been faithful and Godwary, We would have opened to them bounties from the Heaven and the earth. But they denied; so we seized them because of what they used to earn.” 2

( ذلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَكُ مُغَيِّراً نِعْمَةً أَنْعَمَهَا عَلَى‏ قَوْمٍ حَتَّى‏ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ)3

“That is because Allah never changes a blessing that He has bestowed on a people unless they change what is in their own souls, and Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.” 4

6171. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنّ للَّهِ عِباداً اختَصَّهُم بالنِّعَمِ ، يُقِرُّها فيهِم ما بَذَلوها للنّاسِ ، فإذا مَنَعوها حَوَّلَها مِنهُم إلى‏ غَيرِهِم5

6171. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Allah has servants whom He has chosen for bounties. He establishes these in them as long as they distribute them to people, but if they withhold them [the bounties], He transfers them to other people.'6

6172. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : مَن كَثُرَت نِعَمُ اللَّهِ علَيهِ كَثُرَت حَوائجُ النّاسِ إلَيهِ ، فمَن قامَ للَّهِ فيها بما يَجِبُ فيها عَرَّضَها لِلدَّوامِ والبَقاءِ ، ومَن لَم يَقُمْ فيها بما يَجِبُ عَرَّضَها لِلزَّوالِ والفَناءِ7

6172. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'He upon whom the bounties of Allah are plenty, people's needs from him increase accordingly. So, if he uses them for Allah in the way he must do so, He causes them to continue and remain. But if he does not use them in the way that he must, He will make them cease and perish.'8

6173. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أقلُّ ما يَلزَمُكُم للَّهِ ألّا تَستَعينوا بنِعَمهِ على‏ مَعاصيهِ9

6173. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'The least of what you are obliged to do for Allah is to not use His bounties to commit acts of disobedience to Him.'10

6174. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : لا تَدومُ النِّعَمُ إلّا بعدَ ثَلاثٍ (إلّا بثَلاثٍ) : مَعرِفَةٌ بما يَلزَمُ للَّهِ سبحانَهُ فيها ، وأداءُ شُكرِها ، والتَّعَبُ فيها11

6174. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Bounties only remain when accompanied by three things: knowledge of the status of Allah in the blessings [being from Him], fulfilment of thanks for them, and striving with them.'12

6175. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : مَن عَظُمَت نِعمَةُ اللَّهِ علَيهِ اشتَدَّت مَؤونَةُ النّاسِ علَيهِ ، فاستَديموا النِّعمَةَ باحتِمالِ المَؤونَةِ ولا تُعَرِّضوها لِلزَّوالِ ، فقَلَّ مَن زالَتَ عَنهُ النِّعمَةُ فكادَت أن تَعودَ إلَيهِ13

6175. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'He upon whom are great bounties from Allah, people's needs from him increase accordingly. So, seek continuity in your bounties through bearing the expenses [of people], and do not let them cease, for it is seldom that one's bounties cease and return to him again.'14

6176. الإمامُ الكاظمُ عليه السلام : مَنِ اقتَصَدَ وقَنَعَ بَقِيَت علَيهِ النِّعمَةُ، ومَن‏بَذَّرَ وأسرَفَ زالَت عنهُ‏النِّعمَةُ15

6176. Imam al-Kazim (AS) said, 'He who economizes and is content, his bounties will stay, and he who wastes and squanders, his bounties cease to remain with him.'16

6177. الإمامُ الرِّضا عليه السلام : اِستِعمالُ العَدلِ والإحسانِ مُؤْذِنٌ بِدَوامِ النِّعمَةِ17

6177. Imam al-Rida (AS) said, 'Observing justice and benevolence invites the continuation of bounties.'18

(اُنظر) الذنب : باب 777

(See also: SINNING: section 777)

Notes

1. الأعراف : 96

2. Quran 7 :96

3. الأنفال : 53

4. Quran 8 :53

5. بحار الأنوار : 75 / 353 / 62

6. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 75, p. 353, no. 62

7. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 372

8. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 372

9. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 330

10. Ibid. Saying 330

11. تحف العقول : 318

12. Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 318

13. الكافي : 4 / 37 / 1

14. al-Kafi, v. 4, p. 37, no. 1

15. بحار الأنوار : 78 / 327 / 4

16. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 327, no. 4

17. عيون أخبار الرِّضا : 2 / 24 / 52

18. Uyun Akhbar al-Rida (AS), v. 2, p. 24, no. 52

1743 - تَتابُعُ النِّعَمِ وَالاستِدراجُ‏

1743. CONSECUTIVE SUCCESSION OF BOUNTIES AND GRADUAL BAITING [FOR CHASTISEMENT]

( وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُوا إِثْماً وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ)1

“Let the faithless not suppose that the respite that We grant them is good for their souls: We give them respite only that they may increase in sin, and there is a humiliating punishment for them.” 2

6178. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : يابنَ آدمَ ، إذا رَأيتَ ربَّكَ سبحانَهُ يُتابِعُ علَيكَ نِعمَهُ وأنتَ تَعصيهِ فاحذَرْهُ3

6178. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'O son of Adam, if you see your Lord, glory be to Him, bestowing bounties upon you in continuous succession while you are disobeying Him, then be cautious of Him.'4

6179. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أيُّها النّاسُ، لِيَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ مِن النِّعمَةِ وَجِلِينَ كما يَراكُم مِن النِّقمَةِ فَرِقِينَ ؛ إنّهُ مَن وُسِّعَ علَيهِ في ذاتِ يَدِهِ فلَم يَرَ ذلكَ استِدراجاً فَقد أمِنَ مَخُوفاً ، ومَن ضُيِّقَ علَيهِ في ذاتِ يَدِهِ فلَم يَرَ ذلكَ اختِباراً فَقد ضَيَّعَ مَأمولاً5

6179. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'O people, let Allah see you fearing Him at the time of happiness just as you fear Him in time of distress. Certainly he who is given ease [of life] and does not consider it as a means of gradual baiting towards tribulation [wrongdoing], considers himself safe against what is to be feared, while he who is afflicted with straitened circumstances but does not perceive them to be a trial loses the coveted reward.'6

6180. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : رُبَّ مُنعَمٍ علَيهِ مُستَدرَجٌ بالنُّعمى‏ ، ورُبَّ مُبتَلىً مَصنوعٌ لَهُ بالبَلوى‏7

6180. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Very often a favoured person is gradually being driven [towards punishment] through these favours; and very often an afflicted person is being done good through his affliction.'8

6181. الإمامُ الحسينُ عليه السلام : الاستِدراجُ مِن اللَّهِ سبحانَهُ لِعَبدِهِ أن يُسبِغَ علَيهِ النِّعَمَ ويَسلُبَهُ الشُّكرَ9

6181. Imam Husayn (AS) said, 'Allah Almighty's gradual baiting of His servant is that He envelops him with bounties and eradicates thankfulness from him.'10

Notes

1. آل عمران : 178

2. Quran 3 :178

3. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 25

4. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 25

5. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 358

6. Ibid. Saying 358

7. نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 273

8. Ibid. Saying 273

9. بحار الأنوار : 78 / 117 / 7

10. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 117, no. 7