Preparation for Self:
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الْقَطَّانُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ السُّكَّرِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ زَكَرِيَّا الْجَوْهَرِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُمَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قَالَ الصَّادِقُ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ ع مَطْلُوبَاتُ النَّاسِ فِي الدُّنْيَا الْفَانِيَةِ أَرْبَعَةٌ الْغِنَى وَ الدَّعَةُ وَ قِلَّةُ الِاهْتِمَامِ وَ الْعِزُّ فَأَمَّا الْغِنَى فَمَوْجُودٌ فِي الْقَنَاعَةِ فَمَنْ طَلَبَهُ فِي كَثْرَةِ الْمَالِ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ وَ أَمَّا الدَّعَةُ فَمَوْجُودَةٌ فِي خِفَّةِ الْمَحْمِلِ فَمَنْ طَلَبَهَا فِي ثِقَلِهِ لَمْ يَجِدْهَا وَ أَمَّا قِلَّةُ الِاهْتِمَامِ فَمَوْجُودَةٌ فِي قِلَّةِ الشُّغُلِ فَمَنْ طَلَبَهَا مَعَ كَثْرَتِهِ لَمْ يَجِدْهَا وَ أَمَّا الْعِزُّ فَمَوْجُودٌ فِي خِدْمَةِ الْخَالِقِ فَمَنْ طَلَبَهُ فِي خِدْمَةِ الْمَخْلُوقِ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ.
Ahamd Bin Al-Hassan Al-Qatan narrated to us, from Al-Hassan Bin Ali Al-Sakary, from Muhammad Bin Zakariyya Al-Jowhary, from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Bin Amarat, from his father who said,
‘Al-Sadiq Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad-asws said: ‘The temporal wishes of the people in the world are four – The riches, and the relaxation (having fun), and less worries, and the honour.
- So, as for the riches, so it exists in the contentment, so the one who seeks it in the abundance of the wealth would not find it;
- And as for the relaxation, so it exists in the lightness of the load (burden), so the one who seeks in a heavy, would not find it;
- And as for the less worries, so it exists in the less occupations (engagements) , so the one who seeks it with abundant (occupations), would not find it;
- And as for the honour, so it exists in serving the Creator, so the one who seeks it in serving the people would not find it’.[1]
Preparation for Society:
قَالَ الْإِمَامُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْبَاقِرُ ع دَخَلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ [عَلِيِّ بْنِ] مُسْلِمِ بْنِ شِهَابٍ الزُّهْرِيُّ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ زَيْنِ الْعَابِدِينَ ع وَ هُوَ كَئِيبٌ حَزِينٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ زَيْنُ الْعَابِدِينَ ع: مَا بَالُكَ مَهْمُوماً مَغْمُوماً قَالَ: يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ هُمُومٌ وَ غُمُومٌ تَتَوَالَى عَلَيَّ- لِمَا امْتُحِنْتُ [بِهِ] مِنْ جِهَةِ حُسَّادِ (نِعْمَتِي، وَ الطَّامِعِينَ) فِيَّ، وَ مِمَّنْ أَرْجُوهُ وَ مِمَّنْ قَدْ أَحْسَنْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَيَخْلُفُ ظَنِّي.
The Holy Imam Muhammad-asws Bin Ali Al-Baqir-asws said: ‘Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Muslim Bin Shahaab Al-Zuhry came to Ali Husayn Zayn ul-Abideen-asws in a state of grief. Imam Zayn Ul Abideen-asws said to him: ‘ Why are you so worried and distressed?’ He replied: ‘I am distressed due to the greed of those who have their eyes set on my wealth. Those that I had set my hope on turned out to be opposite to that.
. فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ [زَيْنُ الْعَابِدِينَ] ع: احْفَظْ عَلَيْكَ لِسَانَكَ تَمْلِكْ بِهِ إِخْوَانَكَ. قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ: يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُحْسِنُ إِلَيْهِمْ بِمَا يَبْدُرُ مِنْ كَلَامِي. قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع: هَيْهَاتَ هَيْهَاتَ- إِيَّاكَ وَ أَنْ تُعْجَبَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ بِذَلِكَ وَ إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَتَكَلَّمَ بِمَا يَسْبِقُ إِلَى الْقُلُوبِ إِنْكَارُهُ، وَ إِنْ كَانَ عِنْدَكَ اعْتِذَارُهُ، فَلَيْسَ كُلُّ مَنْ تُسْمِعُهُ نُكْراً أَمْكَنَكَ أَنْ تُوَسِّعَهُ عُذْراً.
Ali Bin Al Husayn Zayn Ul Abideen-asws said to him: ‘Protect your tongue and you will overcome your brothers.’ Zuhry said: ‘O son of the Messenger of Allah-asws, I always talk to them nicely.’ Ali Bin Al Husayn-asws said: ‘Never! Never! I am surprised at this, which has come from your heart. And beware of saying that which hearts do not accept. If you had offered an apology, then it is quite possible that your apology has not reached to everyone (you have hurt).’
ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا زُهْرِيُّ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَقْلُهُ مِنْ أَكْمَلِ مَا فِيهِ، كَانَ هَلَاكُهُ مِنْ أَيْسَرِ مَا فِيهِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا زُهْرِيُّ وَ مَا عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ [مِنْكَ] بِمَنْزِلَةِ أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ فَتَجْعَلَ كَبِيرَهُمْ مِنْكَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ وَالِدِكَ، وَ تَجْعَلَ صَغِيرَهُمْ [مِنْكَ] بِمَنْزِلَةِ وَلَدِكَ، وَ تَجْعَلَ تِرْبَكَ مِنْهُمْ بِمَنْزِلَةِ أَخِيكَ، فَأَيَّ هَؤُلَاءِ تُحِبُّ أَنْ تَظْلِمَ وَ أَيُّ هَؤُلَاءِ تُحِبُّ أَنْ تَدْعُوَ عَلَيْهِ وَ أَيُّ هَؤُلَاءِ تُحِبُّ أَنْ تَهْتِكَ سِتْرَهُ.
Then he-asws said: ‘O Zuhry! One whose intellect is deficient, it is very easy for him to end up in destruction.’ Then he-asws said: ‘O Zuhry! You should consider all the Muslims like members of your household, the elderly like your father, the young ones like your children, and the equals of age as your brothers. Which of you would like to be unjust to? And which one of them would you like to send curses to? And which one of them would you like to expose?
وَ إِنْ عَرَضَ لَكَ إِبْلِيسُ لَعَنَهُ اللَّهُ- بِأَنَّ لَكَ فَضْلًا عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقِبْلَةِ- فَانْظُرْ إِنْ كَانَ أَكْبَرَ مِنْكَ فَقُلْ: قَدْ سَبَقَنِي بِالْإِيمَانِ وَ الْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ، فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي وَ إِنْ كَانَ أَصْغَرَ مِنْكَ، فَقُلْ: قَدْ سَبَقْتُهُ بِالْمَعَاصِي وَ الذُّنُوبِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي وَ إِنْ كَانَ تِرْبُكَ فَقُلْ: أَنَا عَلَى يَقِينٍ مِنْ ذَنْبِي، وَ فِي شَكٍّ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ، فَمَا لِي أَدَعُ يَقِينِي لِشَكِّي وَ إِنْ رَأَيْتَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ يُعَظِّمُونَكَ وَ يُوَقِّرُونَكَ وَ يُبَجِّلُونَكَ- فَقُلْ: هَذَا فَضْلٌ أَحْدَثُوهُ وَ إِنْ رَأَيْتَ مِنْهُمْ (جَفَاءً وَ انْقِبَاضاً عَنْكَ- فَقُلْ: هَذَا الَّذِي) أَحْدَثْتُهُ فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ، سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ عَيْشَكَ، وَ كَثُرَ أَصْدِقَاؤُكَ، وَ قَلَّ أَعْدَاؤُكَ، وَ فَرِحْتَ بِمَا يَكُونُ مِنْ بِرِّهِمْ، وَ لَمْ تَأْسَفْ عَلَى مَا يَكُونُ مِنْ جَفَائِهِمْ. وَ اعْلَمْ: أَنَّ أَكْرَمَ النَّاسِ عَلَى النَّاسِ- مَنْ كَانَ خَيْرُهُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَائِضاً، وَ كَانَ عَنْهُمْ مُسْتَغْنِياً مُتَعَفِّفاً، وَ أَكْرَمُ النَّاسِ بَعْدَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مَنْ كَانَ عَنْهُمْ مُتَعَفِّفاً، وَ إِنْ كَانَ إِلَيْهِمْ مُحْتَاجاً، فَإِنَّمَا أَهْلُ الدُّنْيَا (يَعْشَقُونَ الْأَمْوَالَ) ، فَمَنْ لَمْ يُزَاحِمْهُمْ فِيمَا يَعْشَقُونَهُ كَرُمَ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَ مَنْ لَمْ يُزَاحِمْهُمْ فِيهَا وَ مَكَّنَهُمْ مِنْهَا أَوْ مِنْ بَعْضِهَا- كَانَ أَعَزَّ [عَلَيْهِمْ] وَ أَكْرَمَ.
And if Iblees-la –curse be on him – were to present to you that you are somehow more virtuous than them, then look at the elder one from among them and think that he is ahead of you in faith and good deeds and he is better than you and your virtues are less than his. And when you look at the younger one, you should think that you have committed more sins and so he too is better than you. And when you look at the one equal in age to you then think that you have conviction of sins that you have committed but you are not sure of his sins so you cannot be better than him as you only have doubts over his sins but certainty over yours. And if you see that the Muslims hold you as an honourable person then think that it is because of their goodness that they do so.’ Then he-asws said: ‘This is commendable and if you see that they hold you in contempt, then think that this is due to your own bad actions that they do so. If you were to act upon what I have told you then Allah-azwj will make your life easier for you and you will have many friends and your enemies will be very few and you will be happy and not worried and distressed about their actions.
And know that the honourable one among the people’s eyes is that who is good to them and is not a ask them any favours (in return), and the more honourable, after this one, in their eyes will be the one who does not burden them with his requests although he is in need of them, as the people of the world are in love with their wealth, and whoever does not affect their loved entity (wealth) is honoured by them and one who increases their wealth through his own means, little or more, will be the most honourable to them.’[2]
Preparation for the Hereafter[3]:
قَالَ الْإِمَامُ ع (مالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ) أَيْ قَادِرٌ عَلَى إِقَامَةِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ، وَ هُوَ يَوْمُ الْحِسَابِ، قَادِرٌ عَلَى تَقْدِيمِهِ عَلَى وَقْتِهِ، وَ تَأْخِيرِهِ بَعْدَ وَقْتِهِ، وَ هُوَ الْمَالِكُ أَيْضاً فِي يَوْمِ الدِّينِ، فَهُوَ يَقْضِي بِالْحَقِ، لَا يَمْلِكُ الْحُكْمَ وَ الْقَضَاءَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ مَنْ يَظْلِمُ وَ يَجُورُ، كَمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَنْ يَمْلِكُ الْأَحْكَامَ.
The Imam (Hassan Al-Askari-asws) said: Master of the Day of Reckoning [1:4] – ‘Yes, He-azwj is so Powerful to establish the ‘Yawm Al-Deen’, and this is the Day of Reckoning, and He-azwj is so Powerful to Bring it forward or Move it back from its pre-Determined time, and He-azwj is the Master as well during that Day and will be Judging with the Truth. There will be no authority on that Day for those who used to be unjust and oppressors in the world from among the rulers, to issue orders like they used to issue in the world.
قَالَ: وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع: (يَوْمِ الدِّينِ) هُوَ يَوْمُ الْحِسَابِ.
He-asws said: ‘And Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘(The phrase) ‘Yawm Al-Deen’ – it is the Day of Reckoning’.
وَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ: أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِأَكْيَسِ الْكَيِّسِينَ وَ أَحْمَقِ الْحَمْقَى قَالُوا: بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ.
And he-asws said: ‘I-asws heard Rasool-Allah-saww saying: ‘Shall I-saww inform you with the cleverest of the clever ones and the most stupid of the stupid ones?’ They said, ‘Yes, O Rasool-Allah-saww!’.
قَالَ: أَكْيَسُ الْكَيِّسِينَ مَنْ حَاسَبَ نَفْسَهُ، وَ عَمِلَ لِمَا بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ، وَ إِنَّ أَحْمَقَ الْحَمْقَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ نَفْسُهُ هَوَاهَا، وَ تَمَنَّى عَلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى الْأَمَانِيَّ.
The most clever of the clever ones is the one who reckons himself, and works for what is after the death, and the most stupid of the stupid ones is the one who pursues his personal desires and wishes to Allah-azwj the Exalted of the wishes’’.
فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ كَيْفَ يُحَاسِبُ الرَّجُلُ نَفْسَهُ قَالَ: إِذَا أَصْبَحَ ثُمَّ أَمْسَى رَجَعَ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ- فَقَالَ: يَا نَفْسِ إِنَّ هَذَا يَوْمٌ مَضَى عَلَيْكِ لَا يَعُودُ إِلَيْكِ أَبَداً، وَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى يَسْأَلُكِ عَنْهُ فِيمَا أَفْنَيْتِيهِ- فَمَا الَّذِي عَمِلْتِ فِيهِ أَ ذَكَرْتِ اللَّهَ أَمْ حَمِدْتِيهِ أَ قَضَيْتِ حَوَائِجَ مُؤْمِنٍ أَ نَفَّسْتِ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً أَ حَفِظْتِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ فِي أَهْلِهِ وَ وُلْدِهِ أَ حَفِظْتِيهِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ فِي مُخَلَّفِيهِ أَ كَفَفْتِ عَنْ غِيبَةِ أَخٍ مُؤْمِنٍ بِفَضْلِ جَاهِكِ أَ أَعَنْتِ مُسْلِماً مَا الَّذِي صَنَعْتِ فِيهِ فَيَذْكُرُ مَا كَانَ مِنْهُ..
So the man said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! And how can the man reckon his own self?’ He-asws said: ‘When it is morning, then evening, he refers to himself and he says, ‘O self! This day has passed upon you, it would not be returning to you, ever, and Allah-azwj the Exalted will be Questioning you about it. What did you consume it in? So what is that which you did during it? Did you Mention Allah-azwj or praise Him-azwj? Did you fulfil the needs of a Momin? Did you relieve any worries from him? Did you protect his wife and his children in the apparent during his absence? Did you protect him with regards to his opponents after the death? Did you suffice a Momin brother of his honour during his absence? Did you assist a Muslim? What is that which you did during it?. Thus he recalls whatever was from it.
فَإِنْ ذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ جَرَى مِنْهُ خَيْرٌ، حَمِدَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى، وَ كَبَّرَهُ عَلَى تَوْفِيقِهِ، وَ إِنْ ذَكَرَ مَعْصِيَةً أَوْ تَقْصِيراً، اسْتَغْفَرَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى، وَ عَزَمَ عَلَى تَرْكِ مُعَاوَدَتِهِ، وَ مَحَا ذَلِكَ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ بِتَجْدِيدِ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ، وَ عَرَضَ بَيْعَةَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيٍّ ع عَلَى نَفْسِهِ، وَ قَبُولَهُ لَهَا، وَ إِعَادَةَ لَعْنِ أَعْدَائِهِ وَ شَانِئِيهِ وَ دَافِعِيهِ عَنْ حَقِّهِ..
So if he recalls that he has done good from it, he should praise Allah-azwj the Exalted, and exclaim His-azwj Greatness upon His-azwj Inclining him (for it). And if he recalls an (act of) disobedience, or a derogation, he should seek Forgiveness of Allah-azwj the Exalted, and be determined upon leaving its recurrence, and delete than from his self by renewing the Salawat upon Muhammad-saww and his-saww goodly Progeny-asws, and display the allegiance of Amir–Al-Momineen-asws upon himself, and his acceptance of it, and repeat the cursing his-asws enemies, and his-asws adversaries, and the ones who repelled him-asws from his-asws right.
فَإِذَا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ: لَسْتُ أُنَاقِشُكَ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ- مَعَ مُوَالاتِكَ أَوْلِيَائِي، وَ مُعَادَاتِكَ أَعْدَائِي.
So, when he does that, Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Says: “I-azwj shall not Discuss with regards to anything from the sins (as you are) with your friendship of My-azwj friends and the enmity of My-azwj enemies”.[4]
[1] ILLAL AL SHARAIE – V 2 CH 222 H 29
[2] التفسير المنسوب إلى الإمام الحسن العسكري عليه السلام، ص: 25 , H.8
[3] Tafseer-a-Imam Hassan Askarias.,
[4] التفسير المنسوب إلى الإمام الحسن العسكري عليه السلام، ص: 39 , H. 14