When we observe escalating prices, we get nervous as most of us have a fixed income. However, from financial point of view, inflation can be good or bad, depending on our situation, if we are owed money or people owe us money. Some financial experts see inflation as a sign of struggling economy whereas others embrace it as a sign of good times to come when wages will start increasing.
Historically, we have observed prices have never come down once climbing-up and lower prices of the past, our ancestors have enjoyed, surprise us. Nonetheless, we see living standards are rising and keeping up with the advances in the technologies! So why do we complain when prices increase? Is it lack of patience, as we panic upon noticing higher prices but slowly when we afford new luxuries of life, we fall short in thanking Allah-azwj. A cycle that has persisted for centuries!
With this opening statement, let’s review the Holy Ahadith and make up our own minds if ‘inflation is good or bad’.
Expensive Prices:
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْقُمِّيُّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الْقَصِيرِ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ قَالَ ذُكِرَ عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ( عليه السلام ) غَلَاءُ السِّعْرِ فَقَالَ وَ مَا عَلَيَّ مِنْ غَلَائِهِ إِنْ غَلَا فَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ رَخُصَ فَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ .
Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Abdullah Al Qummy, from Ahmad Bin Abu Abdullah, from his father, from Ismail Al Qaseer, from the one who mentioned it, from Abu Hamza Al Sumaly who said,
‘The expensive prices (inflation) was mentioned in the presence of Ali-asws Bin Al-Husayn-asws, so he-asws said: ‘So what is upon me-asws from its expensiveness. If it is expensive so it is upon Him-azwj, and if it is cheap so it is upon Him-azwj’.[1]
Modesty in Spending:
المحاسن أَبِي عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ قَالَ: كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رُبَّمَا أَطْعَمَنَا الْفَرَانِيَّ وَ الْأَخْبِصَةَ ثُمَّ يُطْعِمُ الْخُبْزَ وَ الزَّيْتَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ لَوْ دَبَّرْتَ أَمْرَكَ حَتَّى يَعْتَدِلَ
(The book) ‘Al Mahasin’ – My father, from Ibn Fazzal, from Ibn Bukeyr, from one of his companions who said,
‘Abu Abdullah-asws would sometimes feed us ‘Al-Farany’ and ‘Al-Akhbisa’, then (at other times) he-asws would feed us the bread and the oil. It was said to him-asws, ‘If you-asws could arrange your-asws affairs until you-asws equate (rich food with normal food)’.
فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا تَدْبِيرُنَا مِنَ اللَّهِ إِذَا وَسَّعَ عَلَيْنَا وَسَّعْنَا وَ إِذَا قَتَّرَ قَتَّرْنَا.
He-asws said: ‘But rather, our-asws arrangement is from Allah-azwj. When He-azwj Expands upon us-asws, we expand, and when He-azwj Contracts, we contract’’.[2]
أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنِ اقْتَصَدَ فِي مَعِيشَتِهِ رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ وَ مَنْ بَذَّرَ حَرَمَهُ اللَّهُ
Ahmad ibn ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn Ali al-Sayrafiy from ibn Sinan who has said:
‘Abu Abd Allah-asws has said that the Messenger of Allah-saww has said: ‘Whoever maintains moderation, Allah-azwj Grants him sustenance, but He-azwj Deprives one who spends excessively.’[3]
Rizk (Sustenance) is in accordance with Expenses:
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ ع قَالَ تَنْزِلُ الْمَعُونَةُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ عَلَى قَدْرِ الْمَئُونَةِ
Mohammed ibn Ali ibn al-Hussain reports with references from Ishaq ibn Ummar:
Imam-asws Al-Sadiq-asws said: Sustenance comes from (the skies) in accordance with the burden of expenses.[4]
Always be Hopeful of Good Rizk from an Unknown Source:
ثُمَّ قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع- إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَبَى إِلَّا أَنْ يَجْعَلَ أَرْزَاقَ الْمُتَّقِينَ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُونَ وَ لَا يُقْبَلَ لِأَوْلِيَائِهِ شَهَادَةٌ فِي دَوْلَةِ الظَّالِمِينَ.
Then Al-Sadiq-asws said: ‘Allah-azwj has Refused except that He-azwj would Make the sustenance of the pious to be from where they were not anticipating, nor does He-azwj Accept a testimony of His-azwj friend in the government of the oppressors’’.[5]
The Prices are regulated by Allah-azwj
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ وَكَّلَ بِالسِّعْرِ مَلَكاً فَلَنْ يَغْلُوَ مِنْ قِلَّةٍ وَ لَا يَرْخُصَ مِنْ كَثْرَةٍ .
A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Yaqoub Bin Yazeed, from Muhammad Bin Aslam, from the one who mentioned it,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘Allah-azwj Majestic and Mighty has Allocated an Angel to (regulate) the prices, so these would never be high from scarcity, nor would be low from abundance’.[6]
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ مَعْرُوفٍ عَنِ الْحَجَّالِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَكَّلَ بِالسِّعْرِ مَلَكاً يُدَبِّرُهُ بِأَمْرِهِ .
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Ahmad, from Al Abbas Bin marouf, from Al Hajjal, from one of his companions, from Abu Hamza Al Sumaly,
(It has been narrated) from Ali-asws Bin Al-Husayn-asws having said: ‘Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Allocated an Angel with the prices, managing these by His-azwj Command’.[7]
سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَكَّلَ بِالْأَسْعَارِ مَلَكاً يُدَبِّرُهَا .
Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Yaqoub Bin Yazeed, from the one who mentioned it, from;
Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘Allah-azwj has Allocated an Angel with the prices, to manage it’.[8]
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ سَعْدٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ لَمَّا صَارَتِ الْأَشْيَاءُ لِيُوسُفَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ ( عليهما السلام ) جَعَلَ الطَّعَامَ فِي بُيُوتٍ وَ أَمَرَ بَعْضَ وُكَلَائِهِ فَكَانَ يَقُولُ بِعْ بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ السِّعْرُ قَائِمٌ فَلَمَّا عَلِمَ أَنَّهُ يَزِيدُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ كَرِهَ أَنْ يَجْرِيَ الْغَلَاءُ عَلَى لِسَانِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ اذْهَبْ فَبِعْ وَ لَمْ يُسَمِّ لَهُ سِعْراً
A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Abdul Rahman Bin Hammad, from Yunus Bin Yaqoub, from Sa’ad, from a man, from;
Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘When the things came to be for Yusuf-as Bin Yaqoub-as, he-as made the good to be in the houses (granaries) and ordered one of his representatives, so he-as was saying: ‘Sell for such and such’, and the price was fixed. So when he-as came to know that it had increased during that day, he-as dislike that he speak of the high prices upon his-as tongue, so he-as said to him: ‘Go and sell’, but did not name the price for him.
فَذَهَبَ الْوَكِيلُ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ اذْهَبْ فَبِعْ وَ كَرِهَ أَنْ يَجْرِيَ الْغَلَاءُ عَلَى لِسَانِهِ فَذَهَبَ الْوَكِيلُ فَجَاءَ أَوَّلُ مَنِ اكْتَالَ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ دُونَ مَا كَانَ بِالْأَمْسِ بِمِكْيَالٍ قَالَ الْمُشْتَرِي حَسْبُكَ إِنَّمَا أَرَدْتُ بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا فَعَلِمَ الْوَكِيلُ أَنَّهُ قَدْ غَلَا بِمِكْيَالٍ
So the representative did not go far, then returned to him-as. So he-asws said to him: ‘Go and sell’, and he-asws did not speak of the high price upon his-as tongue. So the representative went. So the first (buyer) came for the measurement. So when it reached less that what was the day before with the measurement, the buyer said, ‘But rather, I wanted with such and such’. So the representative came to that he had priced it high with the measurement.
ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ آخَرُ فَقَالَ لَهُ كِلْ لِي فَكَالَ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ دُونَ الَّذِي كَالَ لِلْأَوَّلِ بِمِكْيَالٍ قَالَ لَهُ الْمُشْتَرِي حَسْبُكَ إِنَّمَا أَرَدْتُ بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا فَعَلِمَ الْوَكِيلُ أَنَّهُ قَدْ غَلَا بِمِكْيَالٍ حَتَّى صَارَ إِلَى وَاحِدٍ بِوَاحِدٍ .
Then another one came other, so he said to him, ‘Measure out for me’. So he measure out. So when it reached less than that which he had measured out for the first one, the buyer said to him, ‘Sufficient for you! But rather, I wanted with such and such’. So the representative came to know that he had priced it high (by giving out less measure) with the measurement, to the extent that it (prices came down) to one with one’.[9]
High Prices are a Trial:
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْمَاعِيلَ السَّرَّاجِ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ غَلَاءُ السِّعْرِ يُسِيءُ الْخُلُقَ وَ يُذْهِبُ الْأَمَانَةَ وَ يُضْجِرُ الْمَرْءَ الْمُسْلِمَ .
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahman Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Abu Ismail Al Sarraj, from Hafs Bin Umar, from a man, from;
Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘The high prices worsen the manners, and removes the trustworthiness, and wears out the magnanimity of the Muslim’.[10]
أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ رَفَعَهُ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِنِّي أَراكُمْ بِخَيْرٍ قَالَ كَانَ سِعْرُهُمْ رَخِيصاً .
Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from one of his companions, raising it,
‘Regarding the Words of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic [11:84] surely I see you with prosperity, he-asws said: ‘Their prices used to be low’.[11]
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ أَصَابَ أَهْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ غَلَاءٌ وَ قَحْطٌ حَتَّى أَقْبَلَ الرَّجُلُ الْمُوسِرُ يَخْلِطُ الْحِنْطَةَ بِالشَّعِيرِ وَ يَأْكُلُهُ وَ يَشْتَرِي بِبَعْضِ الطَّعَامِ وَ كَانَ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) طَعَامٌ جَيِّدٌ قَدِ اشْتَرَاهُ أَوَّلَ السَّنَةِ فَقَالَ لِبَعْضِ مَوَالِيهِ اشْتَرِ لَنَا شَعِيراً فَاخْلِطْ بِهَذَا الطَّعَامِ أَوْ بِعْهُ فَإِنَّا نَكْرَهُ أَنْ نَأْكُلَ جَيِّداً وَ يَأْكُلُ النَّاسُ رَدِيّاً .
A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Ismail Bin Mihran, from Hammad Bin Usman who said,
‘The people of Al-Medina were hit by high prices and a drought to the extent that the affluent used to mix the wheat with the barley and he would eat it, and they would buy only part of the food (required), and there was good quality food with Abu Abdullah-asws which he-asws had bought it at the beginning of the year. So he-asws said to one of his-asws adherents: ‘Buy some barley for us-asws so I-asws can mix it with this food, otherwise sell it, for we-asws do not like it that we-asws should eat good quality food while the people eat the perished (food)’.[12]
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ جَهْمِ بْنِ أَبِي جَهْمَةَ عَنْ مُعَتِّبٍ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) وَ قَدْ تَزَيَّدَ السِّعْرُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ كَمْ عِنْدَنَا مِنْ طَعَامٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ عِنْدَنَا مَا يَكْفِيكَ أَشْهُراً كَثِيرَةً قَالَ أَخْرِجْهُ وَ بِعْهُ
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ali Bin Ismail, from Ali Bin Al Hakam, from Jahm Bin Abu Jahma, from Mo’tab who said,
‘Abu Abdullah-asws said to me, and the prices had increased in Al-Median: ‘How much food is there with us-asws?’ I said, ‘With us is what would suffice you-asws for a month or more’. He-asws said: ‘Take it out and sell it’.
قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ وَ لَيْسَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ طَعَامٌ قَالَ بِعْهُ فَلَمَّا بِعْتُهُ قَالَ اشْتَرِ مَعَ النَّاسِ يَوْماً بِيَوْمٍ وَ قَالَ يَا مُعَتِّبُ اجْعَلْ قُوتَ عِيَالِي نِصْفاً شَعِيراً وَ نِصْفاً حِنْطَةً فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي وَاجِدٌ أَنْ أُطْعِمَهُمُ الْحِنْطَةَ عَلَى وَجْهِهَا وَ لَكِنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَرَانِيَ اللَّهُ قَدْ أَحْسَنْتُ تَقْدِيرَ الْمَعِيشَةِ .
He (the narrator) said, ‘I said to him-asws, ‘And there is no food in Al-Medina’. He-asws said: ‘Sell it’. So when I had sold it, he-asws said: ‘Buy (food) along with the people day after day’. And he-asws said: ‘O Mo’tab! Make the daily provision for my-asws dependents to be half barley and half wheat, for Allah-azwj Knows that I-asws can feed them the wheat upon its own aspect, but I-asws love it that Allah-azwj should See me-asws that I-asws have managed the living in a good way’.[13]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بُنْدَارَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ مُحَسِّنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ مُعَتِّبٍ قَالَ كَانَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ( عليه السلام ) يَأْمُرُنَا إِذَا أَدْرَكَتِ الثَّمَرَةُ أَنْ نُخْرِجَهَا فَنَبِيعَهَا وَ نَشْتَرِيَ مَعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ يَوْماً بِيَوْمٍ .
Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Bundar, from Ahmad Bin Abu Abdullah, from Mohsan Bin Ahmad, from Yunus Bin yaqoub, from Mo’tab who said,
‘Abu Al-Hassan-asws used to order us whenever we realised the fruit harvest that we should take it out and sell them, and buy along with the Muslims, on a day-to-day basis.[14]
Bargaining and Buying on Credit:
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ [عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ] عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) مَنْ بَاعَ سِلْعَةً فَقَالَ إِنَّ ثَمَنَهَا كَذَا وَ كَذَا يَداً بِيَدٍ وَ ثَمَنَهَا كَذَا وَ كَذَا نَظِرَةً فَخُذْهَا بِأَيِّ ثَمَنٍ شِئْتَ وَ جَعَلَ صَفْقَتَهَا وَاحِدَةً فَلَيْسَ لَهُ إِلَّا أَقَلُّهُمَا وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ نَظِرَةً
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Najran, from Aasim Bin Humeyd, from Muhammad Bin Qays, from;
Abu Ja’far-asws reports that ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘The one who sells a commodity, so he says, ‘Its price is such and such hand to hand (for cash), and its price is such and such with a deferment (on credit), so take it with whichever price you so desire to’, and he makes both their descriptions as one, so it is not for him except for the lesser of the two, and even if it was with a deferment’.
قَالَ وَ قَالَ ( عليه السلام ) مَنْ سَاوَمَ بِثَمَنَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا عَاجِلًا وَ الْآخَرُ نَظِرَةً فَلْيُسَمِّ أَحَدَهُمَا قَبْلَ الصَّفْقَةِ .
He (the narrator) said, ‘And he-asws said: ‘The one who haggles with two prices, one of the two being immediate (cash) and the other one on deferment (credit), so let him name one of the two before the deal’.[15]
Keep on Buying even Little:
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ قَالَ كَانَ أَبُو الْخَطَّابِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَفْسُدَ وَ هُوَ يَحْمِلُ الْمَسَائِلَ لِأَصْحَابِنَا وَ يَجِيءُ بِجَوَابَاتِهَا رَوَى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ اشْتَرُوا وَ إِنْ كَانَ غَالِياً فَإِنَّ الرِّزْقَ يَنْزِلُ مَعَ الشِّرَاءِ .
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ali Bin Al Hakam, from Ali Bin Uqba who said,
‘Abu Al-Khatab, before he was spoil, and he used to carry the questions of our companions, and come back with their answers, (he) reported from Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘Buy, even though it may be expensive, as the sustenance descends for the buyer (when he spends)’.[16]
محمد بن يحيى عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى عن يحيى عن أبى عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: من بسط يده بالمعروف إذا وجده يخلف الله له ما أنفق في دنياه، ويضاعف له في آخرته.
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa Bin Yahya,
‘Abu Abdullah-asws says that Amir-al-Momineen-asws said: ‘The one who extends his hand with the good deeds, he would find that Allah-azwj has Replaced for him whatever he spent in his world, and would Increase it for him in the Hereafter’.[17]
لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ {4}
For Him to Recompense those who believe and do righteous deeds. They, for them is Forgiveness and an honourable sustenance [34:4]
يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُ مَا يَشَاءُ مِنْ مَحَارِيبَ وَتَمَاثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍ كَالْجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٍ َاسِيَاتٍ ۚ اعْمَلُوا آلَ دَاوُودَ شُكْرًا ۚ وَقَلِيلٌ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ {1334:}
They were making for him whatever he so desired, from the prayer Niches, and figurines, and bowls like the watering troughs, and fixed cauldrons. Work gratefully, family of Dawood, and few from My servants are grateful [34:13]
قَالَ فَقَالَ فَمَنْ أَيْسَرَ مِنْكُمْ فَلْيَشْكُرِ اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَ قَالَ سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى اعْمَلُوا آلَ داوُدَ شُكْراً وَ قَلِيلٌ مِنْ عِبادِيَ الشَّكُورُ
He-asws said; ‘So the one who is contented among you, should be thankful to Allah-azwj. Allah‑azwj is Saying: “If you are grateful, I would Increase it for you [14:7]. And the Glorious and Exalted Said: Work gratefully, family of Dawood, and a few from My servants are grateful [34:13].
وَ أَحْسِنُوا الظَّنَّ بِاللَّهِ فَإِنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) كَانَ يَقُولُ مَنْ حَسُنَ ظَنُّهُ بِاللَّهِ كَانَ اللَّهُ عِنْدَ ظَنِّهِ بِهِ وَ مَنْ رَضِيَ بِالْقَلِيلِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ قَبِلَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ الْيَسِيرَ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ وَ مَنْ رَضِيَ بِالْيَسِيرِ مِنَ الْحَلَالِ خَفَّتْ مَئُونَتُهُ وَ تَنَعَّمَ أَهْلُهُ وَ بَصَّرَهُ اللَّهُ دَاءَ الدُّنْيَا وَ دَوَاءَهَا وَ أَخْرَجَهُ مِنْهَا سَالِماً إِلَى دَارِ السَّلَامِ
And think good with Allah-azwj, for Abu Abdullah-asws used to say; ‘The one who thinks about Allah-azwj, Allah-azwj would also Mention him (Reward him), and the one who is happy with a little from the sustenance, Allah-azwj would Accept even small amount of deeds. And the one who is happy with a small amount of Permissible, his expenses would be light and his family would enjoy, and Allah-azwj would Show him the sicknesses of the world and its cure and Bring him out from it safely to the House of Peace’.[18]
Signs of Pleasure and Wrath of Allah-azwj:
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنِ الْغِفَارِيِّ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) عَلَامَةُ رِضَا اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فِي خَلْقِهِ عَدْلُ سُلْطَانِهِمْ وَ رُخْصُ أَسْعَارِهِمْ وَ عَلَامَةُ غَضَبِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى عَلَى خَلْقِهِ جَوْرُ سُلْطَانِهِمْ وَ غَلَاءُ أَسْعَارِهِمْ .
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Ahmad, from Yaqoub Bin Yazeed, from Al Ghufary, from Al Qasim Bin Is’haq, from his father, from his grandfather who said,
‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘A sign of Pleasure of Allah-azwj the exalted among His-azwj creatures is the justice of their Sultan (ruling authority), and cheapness of their prices (low inflation); and a Sign of the Anger of Allah-azwj Blessed and High upon His-azwj creatures is the inequity of their Sultan (ruling authority) and the expensiveness of their prices (high inflation)’.[19]
أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ مَعْرُوفٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ مَنْدَلِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْعَنْزِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُطَرِّفٍ عَنْ مِسْمَعٍ عَنِ الْأَصْبَغِ بْنِ نُبَاتَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) إِذَا غَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَ لَمْ يُنْزِلْ بِهَا الْعَذَابَ غَلَتْ أَسْعَارُهَا وَ قَصُرَتْ أَعْمَارُهَا وَ لَمْ تَرْبَحْ تُجَّارُهَا وَ لَمْ تَزْكُ ثِمَارُهَا وَ لَمْ تَغْزُرْ أَنْهَارُهَا وَ حُبِسَ عَنْهَا أَمْطَارُهَا وَ سُلِّطَ عَلَيْهَا شِرَارُهَا .
Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Al Hassan Bin Al Kufy, from Al Abbas Bin Marouf, from a man from Mandal Bin Ali Al Anzy, from Muhammad Bin Motraf, from Misma’a, from Al Asbagh Bin Nubata who said,
‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Whenever Allah-azwj is Angered upon a community and the Punishment has not descended with it, their prices become expensive (high inflation), and their life-spans become shorter, and their merchants do not make a profit, and their fruits are not clean, and their rivers are not abundant, and their rains are withheld from them, and their evil ones become dominant over them’.[20]
Inflation caused by Hoarding:
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى تَطَوَّلَ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ بِثَلَاثٍ أَلْقَى عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّيحَ بَعْدَ الرُّوحِ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ مَا دَفَنَ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيماً وَ أَلْقَى عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلْوَةَ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَانْقَطَعَ النَّسْلُ وَ أَلْقَى عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَبَّةِ الدَّابَّةَ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَكَنَزَهَا مُلُوكُهُمْ كَمَا يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَ الْفِضَّةَ .
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Hisham Bin Salim,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘Allah-azwj Blessed and High Prolongs (Favour) upon His-azwj servants by three – He-azwj Casts the smell upon them after the (departure of the) soul, and had it not been for that, a friend would not bury a friend; and Casts comfort upon them, and had it not been for that, the lineages would be cut off; and Casts the insects upon these grains, and had it not been for that, their kings would have hoarded them just as they are hoarding the gold and the silver’.[21]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ الْحُكْرَةُ فِي الْخِصْبِ أَرْبَعُونَ يَوْماً وَ فِي الشِّدَّةِ وَ الْبَلَاءِ ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ فَمَا زَادَ عَلَى الْأَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً فِي الْخِصْبِ فَصَاحِبُهُ مَلْعُونٌ وَ مَا زَادَ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِي الْعُسْرَةِ فَصَاحِبُهُ مَلْعُونٌ .
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al Nowfaly, from Al Sakuny, from;
Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘The monopolising (hoarding) during the abundance is of forty days, and during the difficulty and the affliction is of three days. So, whatever is increased upon the forty days during the abundance, so its perpetrator is an accursed, and whatever is increased upon three days during the shortages, so its perpetrator is an accursed’.[22]
[1] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 7 H 7
[2] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 46, The book of History – Ja’far Al Sadiq-asws, Ch 4 H 22
[3] Al-Kafi, vol, 4, H. 6183, Ch. 39, h 12
[4] Wasail ul Shai, H. 21664, originally from Manla Yazar ul Faqih,
[5] وسائل الشيعة، ج17، ص: 56, H. 21967
[6] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 63 H 2
[7] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 63 H 3
[8] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 63 H 4
[9] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 63 H 5
[10] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 63 H 6
[11] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 63 H 7
[12] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 65 H 1
[13] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 65 H 2
[14] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 65 H 3
[15] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 89 H 1
[16] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 53 H 13
[17] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn – CH 34 H 74
[18] Al Kafi – H 14993
[19] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 63 H 1
[20] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 156 H 52
[21] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Funerals CH 83 H 2
[22] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 64 H 7