Ageing and Growing Older

Allah^-azwj Honours the men of seventy and is too Embarrassed from men of eighty to be Punishing them.  Some Ahadith related to ageing are presented below.

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ إِذَا بَلَغَ الْمُؤْمِنُ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً آمَنَهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْأَدْوَاءِ الثَّلَاثَةِ الْبَرَصِ وَ الْجُذَامِ وَ الْجُنُونِ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ الْخَمْسِينَ خَفَّفَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حِسَابَهُ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ سِتِّينَ سَنَةً رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ الْإِنَابَةَ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ السَّبْعِينَ أَحَبَّهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ الثَّمَانِينَ أَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِإِثْبَاتِ حَسَنَاتِهِ وَ إِلْقَاءِ سَيِّئَاتِهِ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ التِّسْعِينَ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَ مَا تَأَخَّرَ وَ كُتِبَ أَسِيرَ اللَّهِ فِي أَرْضِهِ وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى فَإِذَا بَلَغَ الْمِائَةَ فَذَلِكَ أَرْذَلُ الْعُمُرِ

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Abu Najran, from Muhammad Bin Al-Qasim, from Ali Bin Al-Mugheira, who has said the following:

Abu Abdullah^-asws said, ‘I heard him^-asws saying: ‘When the ‘Momin’ (believer) reaches forty years, Allah^-azwj Secures him from three illnesses – the leprosy, and the albinism and the madness. So, when he reaches fifty, Allah^-azwj Makes his Accounting to be light. When he reaches sixty years, Allah^-azwj Grants him repentance. So, when he reaches seventy, the inhabitants of the sky love him.

So, when he reaches eighty, Allah^-azwj Commands to Write down his good deeds and Delete his bad deeds. So, when he reaches ninety, Allah^-azwj Forgives him what has preceded from his Religion and what has been delayed and Writes him down as a prisoner of Allah^-azwj in His^-azwj earth’. And in another report – ‘So when he reaches a hundred, so that is the very (feeble) end of life’.[1]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ دَاوُدَ عَنْ سَيْفٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَفِي فُسْحَةٍ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً فَإِذَا بَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى مَلَكَيْهِ قَدْ عَمَّرْتُ عَبْدِي هَذَا عُمُراً فَغَلِّظَا وَ شَدِّدَا وَ تَحَفَّظَا وَ اكْتُبَا عَلَيْهِ قَلِيلَ عَمَلِهِ وَ كَثِيرَهُ وَ صَغِيرَهُ وَ كَبِيرَهُ

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ali Bin Al-Hakam, from Dawood, from Sayf, from Abu Baseer who said:

Abu Abdullah^-asws said that: ‘The servant has the opportunity (to seek forgiveness) until he reaches the age of forty years. So, when he reaches the age of forty years, Allah^-azwj Reveals to His^-azwj two Angels: “I^-azwj have Let My^-azwj servant to get to this age, so stringent and be more strict with him and write down all from little, big, less, more from his deeds.[2]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَلِيٍّ الْوَاسِطِيِّ رَفَعَهُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام  قَالَ إِنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ إِذَا كَبِرَتْ ذَهَبَ خَيْرُ شَطْرَيْهَا وَ بَقِيَ شَرُّهُمَا ذَهَبَ جَمَالُهَا وَ عَقِمَ رَحِمُهَا وَ احْتَدَّ لِسَانُهَ

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al Barqy, from Abu Ali Al Wasity,

(It has been narrated) raising it to Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘The woman, when she ages, the goodness of her two halves goes away, and there remains both her evils. Her beauty goes away, and her womb becomes barren, and her tongue rages’.[3]

عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ اسْتَعِيذُوا بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شِرَارِ نِسَائِكُمْ وَ كُونُوا مِنْ خِيَارِهِنَّ عَلَى حَذَرٍ وَ لَا تُطِيعُوهُنَّ فِي الْمَعْرُوفِ فَيَدْعُونَكُمْ إِلَى الْمُنْكَرِ

Ali, from his father, from Amro Bin Usman, from one of his companions,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws, having said: ‘Seek Refuge with Allah^-azwj from the evil ones of your womenfolk, and become cautious of their good ones, and do not obey them regarding the good, so they would invite you to the evil’.

وَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) النِّسَاءُ لَا يُشَاوَرْنَ فِي النَّجْوَى وَ لَا يُطَعْنَ فِي ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى إِنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ إِذَا أَسَنَّتْ ذَهَبَ خَيْرُ شَطْرَيْهَا وَ بَقِيَ شَرُّهُمَا وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ يَعْقِمُ رَحِمُهَا وَ يَسُوءُ خُلُقُهَا وَ يَحْتَدُّ لِسَانُهَا وَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا أَسَنَّ ذَهَبَ شَرُّ شَطْرَيْهِ وَ بَقِيَ خَيْرُهُمَا وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ يَئُوبُ عَقْلُهُ وَ يَسْتَحْكِمُ رَأْيُهُ وَ يَحْسُنُ خُلُقُهُ 

And he^-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The women should not be consulted in the secret counsels, and should not be obeyed among the near relatives. The woman, when she becomes aged, both halves of the goodness goes away and there remain both of her evil halves, and that is her womb becomes barren, and her manners become evil, and her tongue rages; and the man, when he becomes aged, his two halves of evil go away, and there remains his two good halves, and that is his intellect gets refined, and his view becomes wiser, and his manners improve’.[4]

39 وقال (عليه السلام): الجمال في اللسان، والكمال في العقل، ولا يزال العقل والحمق تيغالبان على الرجل إلى ثماني عشرة سنة، فإذا بلغها غلب عليه أكثرهما فيه.

And he^-asws said: ‘The beauty is in the tongue, and the perfection is in the intellect; and the intellect and the stupidity do not cease to overcome each other upon the man up to the age of eighty (80) years. So, when he reaches it, the majority of the two which are within him, overcome him’.[5]

وقال (عليه السلام): يزيد عقل الرجل بعد الاربعين إلى خمسين وستين، ثم ينقص عقله بعد ذلك.

And he^-asws said: ‘The intellect of the man increases after (the age of) forty up to (the age of) sixty five, and his intellect reduces after that’.[6]

ما: بإسناد أبي قتادة عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) أنه قال: لست احب أن أرى الشاب منكم إلا غاديا في حالين: إما عالما أو متعلما فإن لم يفعل فرط فإن فرط ضيع، فإن ضيع أثم، وإن أثم سكن النار والذي بعث محمدا بالحق.

By a chain of Abu Qatada,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘I don’t like to see a youth from you except if he is an early riser in two states – either as a teacher or as a student, for if he is not active, then his activity would be wasted, and if it is wasted, he would sin, and if he sins, he would dwell in the Fire, by the One Who Sent Muhammad^-saww with the Truth’’.[7]

عن أبي بصير قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: إذا بلغ العبد ثلاثا وثلاثين سنة فقد بلغ أشده، وإذا بلغ أربعين سنة فقد انتهى منتهاه، وإذا بلغ إحدى وأربعين فهو في النقصان، وينبغي لصاحب الخمسين أن يكون كمن هو في النزع.

From Abu Baseer who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘When the servant reaches thirty-three years so he has reached (peak of his) strength, and when he reaches forty years, so he has ended to his end-point, and when he reaching forty-one (years) so he is in the reduction, and it is befitting for the one of fifty (years) that he becomes like the one who is in the pangs (of death)’’.[8]

دعوات الراوندي: قال النبي صلى الله عليه واله: المسلم إذا ضعف من الكبر يأمر الله الملك أن يكتب له في حاله تلك ما كان يعمل وهو شاب نشيط مجتمع.

(The book) Da’waat Al Rawandy –

‘The Prophet^-saww said: ‘The Muslim, when he is weak from the old age, Allah^-azwj Commands the Angel that he writes for him in that state of his, whatever he has done (of good deeds) while he was a youth, active (in his) community’’.[9]

نهج: قال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: العمر الذي أعذر الله فيه إلى ابن آدم ستون سنة.

Nahj (Al Balagah) –

‘Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said: ‘The age at which Allah^-azwj Excuses in it to a son of Adam^-as, is sixty years’’.[10]

محمد بن جعفر، عن محمد بن أحمد، عن العباس، عن ابن أبي نجران محمد بن القاسم، عن علي بن المغيرة، عن أبي عبد الله، عن أبيه عليهما السلام قال: إذا بلغ العبد مائة سنة فهي أرذل العمر.

Muhammad Bin Ja’far, from Muhammad Bin Ahmad, from Al Abbas, from Ibn Abu Najran Muhammad Bin Al Qasim, from Ali Bin Al Mugheira,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws having said: ‘When the (one) reaches one hundred years, then it is the worst age [16:70]’’.[11]

أبي، عن سعد، عن أحمد بن إدريس، عن الاشعري، عن ابن عبد الحميد، عمن حدثه قال: مات رجل من آل أبي طالب لم يكن حضره أبو الحسن عليه السلام، فجاءه قوم فلما جلس أمسك القوم كأن على رؤوسهم الطير، فكانوا في ذكر الفقراء والموت فلما جلس قال ابتداءا منه: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه واله: ما بين الستين إلى السبعين معترك المنايا، ثم قال عليه السلام: الفقراء محن الاسلام.

My father, from Sa’ad, from Ahmad Bin Idrees, from Al Ashary, from Ibn Abdul Hameed, from the one who narrated it, said,

‘A man from the family of Abu Talib^-as died and Abu Al-Hassan^-asws did not attend, so a group came to him^-asws. When they came, the group withheld as if there were birds upon their heads. They were in a mention of the poor ones and the death, and when he^-asws was seated, he^-asws said initiating from him^-asws: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘What is between the sixty up to seventy (years) are a battlefield of the deaths’’.[12]

عن سليمان بن جعفر الهذلي قال: قال لي جعفر بن محمد عليهما السلام: يا سليمان من الفتى ؟ قال: قلت: جعلت فداك الفتى عندنا الشاب، قال لي: أما علمت أن أصحاب الكهف كانوا كلهم كهولا فسماهم الله فتية بإيمانهم ؟ يا سليمان من آمن بالله و اتقى فهو الفتى.

From Suleyman Bin Ja’far Al Hazly who said,

‘Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws said to me: ‘O Suleyman! Who is the youth?’ I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! The youth, in our presence, is the young man’. He^-asws said to me: ‘But, do you not know that the companions of the cave, all of them were middle-aged, but Allah^-azwj Named them ‘youths’ due to their Eman? O Suleyman! One who believes in Allah^-azwj and fears, so he is the youth’’.[13]

علل الشرائع عَنِ ابْنِ الْوَلِيدِ عَنِ الصَّفَّارِ عَنِ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جُنْدَبٍ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ السِّمْطِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْراً فَأَذْنَبَ ذَنْباً تَبِعَهُ بِنَقِمَةٍ وَ يُذَكِّرُهُ الِاسْتِغْفَارَ

(The book) ‘Ilal Al Sharaie’ – From Ibn Al Waleed, from Al Saffar, from Al Barqy, from Ali Bin Al Hakam, from Abdullah Bin Jundab, from Sufyan Bin Al Simt who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘When Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Wants good with a servant, then he commits a sin, Pursues him with a Punishment and Reminds him of seeking the Forgiveness.

وَ إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِعَبْدٍ شَرّاً فَأَذْنَبَ ذَنْباً تَبِعَهُ بِنِعْمَةٍ لِيُنْسِيَهُ الِاسْتِغْفَارَ وَ يَتَمَادَى بِهِ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَعْلَمُونَ‏ بِالنِّعَمِ عِنْدَ الْمَعَاصِي‏.

And when Allah^-azwj Wants evil with a servant, then he commits a sin, He^-azwj Pursues him with a bounty and lets him forget seeking the Forgiveness, and he extends with it, and it is Word of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: We Let them be gradually enticed from where they are not knowing [7:182], by the bounties during the disobedience’’.[14]

الخصال أَبِي عَنْ سَعْدٍ عَنِ الْبَرْقِيِّ رَفَعَهُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ أَ وَ لَمْ نُعَمِّرْكُمْ ما يَتَذَكَّرُ فِيهِ مَنْ تَذَكَّرَ قَالَ تَوْبِيخٌ لِابْنِ ثَمَانَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً.

(The book) ‘Al Khisaal’ – My father, from Sa’ad, from Al Barqy,

‘Raising it to Abu Abdullah^-asws regarding Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: Or did We not Grant you a lifespan what he could be doing Zikr during it, one who was mindful? [35:37]. He^-asws said: ‘A rebuke for a son eighteen years old’’.[15]

ثواب الأعمال ل، الخصال أَبِي عَنْ سَعْدٍ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْخَالِقِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ طَلْحَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيُكْرِمُ ابْنَ السَّبْعِينَ وَ يَسْتَحْيِي مِنِ ابْنِ الثَّمَانِينَ‏.

(The book) ‘Sawaab Al Amaal’, (and) ‘Al Khisaal’ – My father, from Sa’ad, from Salama Bin Al Khattab, from Ahmad Bin Abdul Al Rahman, from Ismail Bin Abdul Khaliq, from Muhammad Bin Talha,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Allah^-azwj Honours a man of seventy and is Embarrassed from a man of eighty’’.[16]

الخصال ابْنُ الْوَلِيدِ عَنِ الصَّفَّارِ عَنِ ابْنِ هَاشِمٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْمِنْقَرِيِّ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ مَنْ عُمِّرَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً سَلِمَ مِنَ الْأَدْوَاءِ الثَّلَاثَةِ مِنَ الْجُنُونِ وَ الْجُذَامِ وَ الْبَرَصِ

(The book) ‘Al Khisaal’ – Ibn Al Waleed, from Al Saffar, from Ibn Hashim, from Muhammad Bin Ali Al Minqary, from Yahya Bin Al Mubarik, from Abdullah Bin Jabala, from Is’haq Bin Ammar,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws, from his^-asws forefathers^-asws, from Ali^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘One who lives for forty years would be safe from three diseases – from the insanity, and the leprosy, and the vitiligo.

وَ مَنْ عُمِّرَ خَمْسِينَ سَنَةً رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ الْإِنَابَةَ إِلَيْهِ وَ مَنْ عُمِّرَ سِتِّينَ سَنَةً هَوَّنَ اللَّهُ حِسَابَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ مَنْ عُمِّرَ سَبْعِينَ سَنَةً كُتِبَتْ حَسَنَاتُهُ وَ لَمْ تُكْتَبْ سَيِّئَاتُهُ

And one who lives for fifty years, Allah^-azwj will Grace him the penitence to Him^-azwj; and the one who lives for sixty years, Allah^-azwj will Ease his Reckoning on the Day of Qiyamah; and one who lives for seventy years, his good deeds will be written, and his evil deeds will not be written.

وَ مَنْ عُمِّرَ ثَمَانِينَ سَنَةً غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَ مَا تَأَخَّرَ وَ مَشَى عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مَغْفُوراً لَهُ وَ شُفِّعَ فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ‏.

And one who lives for eighty years, Allah^-azwj will Forgive for him whatever had preceded from his sins and whatever is delayed, and he will walk upon the earth having been Forgiven, and he will intercede regarding people of his household’’.[17]

الأمالي للصدوق عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَعْدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنْ سَيْفٍ التَّمَّارِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع‏ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَفِي فُسْحَةٍ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً فَإِذَا بَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى مَلَكَيْهِ أَنِّي قَدْ عَمَّرْتُ عَبْدِي عُمُراً فَغَلِّظَا وَ شَدِّدَا وَ تَحَفَّظَا وَ اكْتُبَا عَلَيْهِ قَلِيلَ عَمَلِهِ وَ كَثِيرَهُ وَ صَغِيرَهُ وَ كَبِيرَهُ‏.

(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of Al Sadouq – From his father, from Sa’ad, from Ibn Isa, from Ali Bin Al Hakam, from Dawood Bin Al Numan, from Sayf Al Tammar, from Abu Baseer who said,

‘Al-Sadiq^-asws said: ‘The servant is in a leeway from his age, what is between him and forty years. When he reaches forty years, Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Reveals to his two (allocated) Angels: ‘I^-azwj have Cause My^-azwj servant to live so be harsh and severe, and preserving, and write upon him the little of his deed and its more, and its small and its big![18]

الخصال بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ إِذَا بَلَغَ الْعَبْدُ ثَلَاثاً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ سَنَةً فَقَدْ بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً فَقَدْ بَلَغَ مُنْتَهَاهُ فَإِذَا طَعَنَ فِي إِحْدَى وَ أَرْبَعِينَ فَهُوَ فِي النُّقْصَانِ وَ يَنْبَغِي لِصَاحِبِ الْخَمْسِينَ أَنْ يَكُونَ كَمَنْ كَانَ فِي النَّزْعِ‏.

(The book) ‘Al Khisaal’ – By this chain, from Abu Baseer who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘When the servant reaches thirty-three years, so he has reached his maturity, and when he reaches forty years, so he has reached his peak. When he crosses in forty-one, so he is in the reduction, and it is befitting for the owner of the fifty that he would be like the one who were in the throes of death’’.[19]

الخصال بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‏ إِذَا أَتَتْ عَلَى الْعَبْدِ أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً قِيلَ لَهُ خُذْ حِذْرَكَ فَإِنَّكَ غَيْرُ مَعْذُورٍ وَ لَيْسَ ابْنُ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً أَحَقَّ بِالْعُذْرِ مِنِ ابْنِ عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً فَإِنَّ الَّذِي يَطْلُبُهُمَا وَاحِدٌ وَ لَيْسَ عَنْهُمَا بِرَاقِدٍ فَاعْمَلْ لِمَا أَمَامَكَ مِنَ الْهَوْلِ وَ دَعْ عَنْكَ فُضُولَ الْقَوْلِ‏.

(The book) ‘Al Khisaal’ – By this chain, from Abu Baseer who said,

‘Abu Ja’far^-asws said: ‘When forty years come to the servant, it is said to him, ‘Take your caution for you are without excuse; and a man of forty years isn’t more rightful with the excuse that a man of twenty years, for the one who seeks them is One^-azwj and He^-azwj isn’t Sleeping from them. Therefore, work for what is in front of you of the horrors and leave from you the useless words.[20]

الخصال عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْعَطَّارِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ مَعْرُوفٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‏ إِذَا بَلَغَ الْمَرْءُ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً آمَنَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنَ الْأَدْوَاءِ الثَّلَاثَةِ الْجُنُونِ وَ الْجُذَامِ وَ الْبَرَصِ

(The book) ‘Al Khisaal’ – from his father, from Al Attar, from his father, from Al Ashari, from Ibn Marouf, from Ibn Abu Najran, from Muhammad Bin Al Qasim, Ali Bin Al Mugheira,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws, He (the narrator) said, ‘I heard him^-asws saying: ‘When the man reaches forty years, Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Secures him from the three diseases – the insanity, and the leprosy, and the vitiligo.

فَإِذَا بَلَغَ الْخَمْسِينَ خَفَّفَ اللَّهُ حِسَابَهُ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ السِّتِّينَ رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ الْإِنَابَةَ إِلَيْهِ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ السَّبْعِينَ أَحَبَّهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ الثَّمَانِينَ أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِإِثْبَاتِ حَسَنَاتِهِ وَ إِلْقَاءِ سَيِّئَاتِهِ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ التِّسْعِينَ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَ مَا تَأَخَّرَ وَ كُتِبَ أَسِيرَ اللَّهِ فِي أَرْضِهِ‏.

When he reaches fifty, Allah^-azwj Lightens his Reckoning. When he reaches sixty, Allah^-azwj Graces him the penitence to Him^-azwj. When he reaches the seventy, people of the sky love him. When he reaches eighty, Allah^-azwj Commands with affirmation of his good deeds and throw away his evil deed. When he reaches ninety, Allah^-azwj Forgives for him whatever had preceded from his sins and whatever is delayed (yet to commit), and he is written as ‘Prisoner of Allah^-azwj in His^-azwj earth’’.[21]

الخصال وَ فِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ الْمِائَةَ فَذَلِكَ أَرْذَلُ الْعُمُرِ وَ رُوِيَ أَنَّ أَرْذَلَ الْعُمُرِ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَقْلُهُ عَقْلَ ابْنِ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ‏.

(The book) ‘Al Khisaal’ –

‘And in another Hadeeth: ‘When he reaches one hundred, so that is the worst age’. And it is reported that the worst age is if his intellect becomes the intellect of a seven-year-old’’.[22]

الخصال عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفَضْلِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ الْمُذَكِّرِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ الْأَصَمِّ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْمُهَاجِرِ عَنِ ابْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ مَيْسَرَةَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ مَا مِنْ مُعَمَّرٍ يُعَمَّرُ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً إِلَّا صَرَفَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَنْوَاعٍ مِنَ الْبَلَاءِ الْجُنُونَ وَ الْجُذَامَ وَ الْبَرَصَ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ الْخَمْسِينَ لَيَّنَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ حِسَابَهُ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ السِّتِّينَ رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ الْإِنَابَةَ إِلَيْهِ بِمَا يُحِبُّ وَ يَرْضَى

(The book) ‘Al Khisaal’ – From Muhammad Bin Al Fazl, from Muhammad Bin Is’haq Al Muzakkir, from Muhammad Bin Yaqoub Al Asamma, from Bakr Bin Sahl, from Abdullah Bin Al Muhajir, from Ibn Wahab, from Hafs Bin Maysara, from Zayd Bin Aslam, from Anas (well-known fabricator) who said,

‘There is no one living for forty years except Allah^-azwj Turns away from him three types of afflictions – the insanity, and the leprosy, and the vitiligo. When he reaches fifty, Allah^-azwj Softens His^-azwj Reckoning upon him. When he reaches sixty, Allah^-azwj Graces him the penitence to Him^-azwj what He^-azwj Loves and is Satisfied with.

فَإِذَا بَلَغَ السَّبْعِينَ أَحَبَّهُ اللَّهُ وَ أَحَبَّهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ الثَّمَانِينَ قَبِلَ اللَّهُ حَسَنَاتِهِ وَ تَجَاوَزَ عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِهِ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ التِّسْعِينَ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَ مَا تَأَخَّرَ وَ سُمِّيَ أَسِيرَ اللَّهِ فِي أَرْضِهِ وَ شُفِّعَ فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ‏.

When he reaches seventy, Allah^-azwj Loves him and people of the sky love him. When he reaches eighty, Allah^-azwj Accepts his good deeds and Overlooks his evil deeds. When he reaches ninety, Allah^-azwj Forgives for him whatever had preceded of his sins and whatever is delayed, and he is named as, ‘Prisoner of Allah^-azwj in His^-azwj earth’, and he will intercede regarding people of his household’’.[23]

الخصال عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَعْدٍ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُؤَدِّبِ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ خَالِدٍ الْقَلَانِسِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَسْتَحْيِي مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الثَّمَانِينَ أَنْ يُعَذِّبَهُمْ.

(The book) ‘Al Khisaal’ – From his father, from Sa’ad, from Salama Bin Al Khattab, from Ali Bin Al-Husayn, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al Muwaddib, from Aasim Bin Humeyd, from Khalid Al Qalanasy,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Allah^-azwj is too Embarrassed from sons (men) of eighty (years old) from Punishing them’’.[24]

– وَ قَالَ ع‏ يُؤْتَى بِشَيْخٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيُدْفَعُ إِلَيْهِ كِتَابُهُ ظَاهِرُهُ مِمَّا يَلِي النَّاسَ لَا يَرَى إِلَّا مَسَاوِيَ فَيَطُولُ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ أَ تَأْمُرُ بِي إِلَى النَّارِ

And he^-asws said: ‘They will bring an old man on the Day of Qiyamah and his book (register of deeds) will be handed to him, it’s apparent from what follows the people. He will not see except the equivalence (of good and evil deeds). So that would be prolonged upon him. He will say, ‘O Lord^-azwj! Are You^-azwj Commanding with me to go to the Fire?’

فَيَقُولُ الْجَبَّارُ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ يَا شَيْخُ إِنِّي أَسْتَحْيِي أَنْ أُعَذِّبَكَ وَ قَدْ كُنْتَ تُصَلِّي لِي فِي دَارِ الدُّنْيَا اذْهَبُوا بِعَبْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ.

The Subduer, Majestic is His^-azwj Majesty will Say: “O sheykh! I^-azwj am too Embarrassed from Punishing you, and you had been praying to Me^-azwj in house of the world. Go with My^-azwj servant to the Paradise!”’[25]

12- جع، جامع الأخبار قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَنْظُرُ فِي وَجْهِ الشَّيْخِ الْمُؤْمِنِ صَبَاحاً وَ مَسَاءً فَيَقُولُ يَا عَبْدِي كَبِرَ سِنُّكَ وَ دَقَّ عَظْمُكَ وَ رَقَّ جِلْدُكَ وَ قَرُبَ أَجَلُكَ وَ حَانَ قُدُومُكَ عَلَيَّ فَاسْتَحِ مِنِّي فَأَنَا أَسْتَحِي مِنْ شَيْبَتِكَ أَنْ أُعَذِّبَكَ بِالنَّارِ.

(The book) ‘Jamie Al Akhbar’ –

‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘Allah^-azwj the Exalted Looks into the face of a Momin old man, morning, and evening. He^-azwj Says: “O My^-azwj servant! Your age is old, and your bones a brittle, and your skin is thing, and your term (death) is near, and your proceeding to Me^-azwj is imminent, therefore be embarrassed from Me^-azwj, for I^-azwj am Embarrassed from your grey hair to Punish you with the Fire!”’[26]

– وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ عَنِ اللَّهِ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ الشَّيْبَةُ نُورِي فَلَا أُحْرِقُ نُورِي بِنَارِي.

And Rasool-Allah^-saww said on behalf of Allah^-azwj, Majestic is His^-azwj Majesty: ‘The grey hair is My^-azwj Noor (Light), so I^-azwj shall not Burn My^-azwj Noor (Light) with My^-azwj Fire!”’[27]

– وَ عَنْ حَازِمِ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ الْجُعْفِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ إِذَا بَلَغْتَ سِتِّينَ‏ سَنَةً فَاحْسُبْ نَفْسَكَ فِي الْمَوْتَى.

And from Hazim Bin Habeeb Al Jufy who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘When you reach sixty (years), then reckon yourself as being from the dead’’.[28]

– قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‏ أَبْنَاءُ الْأَرْبَعِينَ زَرْعٌ قَدْ دَنَا حَصَادُهُ أَبْنَاءَ الْخَمْسِينَ مَا ذَا قَدَّمْتُمْ وَ مَا ذَا أَخَّرْتُمْ أَبْنَاءَ السِّتِّينَ هَلُمُّوا إِلَى الْحِسَابِ لَا عُذْرَ لَكُمْ أَبْنَاءَ السَّبْعِينَ عُدُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ مِنَ الْمَوْتَى.

The Prophet^-saww said: ‘The men of forty are a vegetation whose harvest has approached. Men of fifty, what are you sending ahead and what are you delaying? Come to the Reckoning, there is no excuse for you all! Men of seventy, count yourselves as being from the dead!’’[29]

عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيُكْرِمُ أَبْنَاءَ السَّبْعِينَ وَ يَسْتَحْيِي مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الثَّمَانِينَ أَنْ يُعَذِّبَهُمْ.

From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Allah^-azwj Honours the men of seventy and is too Embarrassed from men of eighty to be Punishing them.[30]

[1] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14531

[2] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14532

[3] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 150 H 6

[4] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 152 H 12

[5] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 1, The book of intellect, and the knowledge, and the ignorance, S 1 Ch 1 H 39

[6] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 1, The book of intellect, and the knowledge, and the ignorance, S 1 Ch 4 H 27

[7] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 1, The book of intellect, and the knowledge, and the ignorance, S 2 Ch 1 H 22

[8] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 6, The book of Justice, S 2, Ch 2 H 7

[9] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 6, The book of Justice, S 2, Ch 2 H 8

[10] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 6, The book of Justice, S 2, Ch 2 H 9

[11] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 6, The book of Justice, S 2, Ch 2 H 3

[12] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 6, The book of Justice, S 2, Ch 2 H 2

[13] Bihar Al Anwaar– V 12, The book of Prophet-hood, Ch 27 H 10

[14] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 1

[15] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 2

[16] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 3

[17] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 4

[18] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 5

[19] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 6

[20] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 7

[21] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 8

[22] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 9

[23] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 10

[24] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 11 a

[25] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 11 b

[26] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 12 a

[27] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 12 b

[28] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 12 c

[29] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 12 d

[30] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 70 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 141 H 12 e