Summary:
Allah-azwj Likes devoutness (piety-Taqwa- Fearing Allah-azwj) and does not like persistence upon sins.
وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى أَلَا لَا خَيْرَ فِي عِلْمٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِ تَفَهُّمٌ أَلَا لَا خَيْرَ فِي قِرَاءَةٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا تَدَبُّرٌ أَلَا لَا خَيْرَ فِي عِبَادَةٍ لَا فِقْهَ فِيهَا أَلَا لَا خَيْرَ فِي نُسُكٍ لَا وَرَعَ فِيهِ
(Amir ul-Momineen-asws said) And in another report, (He-asws said): ‘Indeed! There is no goodness in a knowledge wherein there is no understanding. Indeed! There is no goodness in a recitation (of the Quran) wherein there is no pondering. Indeed! There is no goodness in a worship there being no thinking in it. There is no goodness in a ritual, there being no piety in it’ (An extract).[1]
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ الْإِيمَانُ فَوْقَ الْإِسْلَامِ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَ التَّقْوَى فَوْقَ الْإِيمَانِ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَ الْيَقِينُ فَوْقَ التَّقْوَى بِدَرَجَةٍ وَ مَا قُسِمَ فِي النَّاسِ شَيْءٌ أَقَلُّ مِنَ الْيَقِينِ .
A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, and Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moalla Bin Muhammad, altogether from Al Washha,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Al-Hassan-asws, said, ‘I heard him-asws saying: ‘The Emān is above the Islām by a level, and ‘التَّقْوَى’ the piety is above the Emān by a level, and ‘الْيَقِينَ’ the conviction is above ‘التَّقْوَى’ the piety by a level, and nothing has been distributed among the people as scarcely than ‘الْيَقِينَ’ the conviction’.[2]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ لَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ شَيْئاً مِنْ طَاعَتِهِ عَلَى الْإِصْرَارِ عَلَى شَيْءٍ مِنْ مَعَاصِيهِ .
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Mansour Bin Yunus, from Abu Baseer who said,
‘I heard Abu Abdullah-asws saying: ‘No, by Allah-azwj! Allah-azwj will not Accept anything from his obedience, upon his persistence upon something from his disobedience’.[3]
وَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص أَصْلُ الدِّينِ الْوَرَعُ كُنْ وَرِعاً تَكُنْ أَعْبَدَ النَّاسِ وَ كُنْ بِالْعَمَلِ بِالتَّقْوَى أَشَدَّ اهْتِمَاماً مِنْكَ بِالْعَمَلِ بِغَيْرِهِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَقِلُّ عَمَلٌ بِالتَّقْوَى وَ كَيْفَ يَقِلُّ عَمَلٌ يُتَقَبَّلُ لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ إِنَّما يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
And the Prophet-saww said: ‘A principle of religion is the devoutness (piety). Be devout, you will become the most worshipping of the people, and be more attentive with the deeds with the piety than with the deeds with something else. Do not belittle a deed with the piety, and how can an Accepted deed be little, due to the Words of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: ‘But rather, Allah only Accepts from the pious ones [5:27]’.
وَ فِي الْوَحْيِ الْقَدِيمِ الْعَمَلُ مَعَ أَكْلِ الْحَرَامِ كَنَاقِلِ الْمَاءِ فِي الْمُنْخُلِ.
And in the preceding Revelation: ‘The deed with consuming the Prohibited is like the carrier of water in the sieve’’.[4]
وَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص قَالَ: لَيَجِيئَنَّ أَقْوَامٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَهُمْ مِنَ الْحَسَنَاتِ كَجِبَالِ تِهَامَةَ فَيُؤْمَرُ بِهِمْ إِلَى النَّارِ
And from the Prophet-saww having said: ‘A people will be coming on the Day of Qiyamah, for them would be from the good deeds like mount Tihama. He-azwj will Command with them to the Fire!’
فَقِيلَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ أَ مُصَلُّونَ
It was said, ‘O Prophet-saww of Allah-azwj! Would they be the praying ones?’
قَالَ كَانُوا يُصَلُّونَ وَ يَصُومُونَ وَ يَأْخُذُونَ وَهْناً مِنَ اللَّيْلِ لَكِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا لَاحَ لَهُمْ شَيْءٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَثَبُوا عَلَيْهِ.
He-asws said: ‘They had been praying Salat, and fasting, and they were taking weakness from the night (by holding vigil), but they were such, whenever something from the world (from illegitimate) become apparent to them, they leapt upon it’’.[5]
ضا، فقه الرضا عليه السلام أَرْوِي مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَعَزَّ النَّاسِ فَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ فِي سِرِّهِ وَ عَلَانِيَتِهِ.
(The book) ‘Fiqh Al-Reza-asws’, may the greetings be upon him-asws – ‘It is reported, ‘The one who wants to become most honourable of the people, let him fear Allah-azwj in his secrecy and his openness’’.[6]
يد، التوحيد الْقَطَّانُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مَرْوَانَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنِ الثُّمَالِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ طَرِيفٍ عَنِ ابْنِ نُبَاتَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَوْحَى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى إِلَى دَاوُدَ ع يَا دَاوُدُ تُرِيدُ وَ أُرِيدُ وَ لَا يَكُونُ إِلَّا مَا أُرِيدُ فَإِنْ أَسْلَمْتَ لِمَا أُرِيدُ أَعْطَيْتُكَ مَا تُرِيدُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تُسْلِمْ لِمَا أُرِيدُ أَتْعَبْتُكَ فِيمَا تُرِيدُ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُ إِلَّا مَا أُرِيدُ.
(The book) ‘Al Tawheed’ – Al Qattan, from Ahmad Al Hamdany, from Ali Bin Al-Hassan Bin Fazzal, from his father, from Marwan Bin Muslim, from Al Sumali, from Ibn Tareyf, from Ibn Nubatah who said,
‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘Allah-azwj the Exalted Revealed to Dawood-as: “O Dawood-as! You-as want and I-azwj Want, it cannot happen except what I-azwj Want. So if you-as were to submit to what I-azwj Want, I-azwj shall Give you what you-as want, and if you-as do not submit to what I-azwj Want, I-saww shall Delay you-as regarding what you-as want, then it will not happen except what I-azwj Want!”’[7]
Introduction:
We review some Ahadith here related to Piety – Taqwa.
What is Piety (Taqwa)?
وَ سُئِلَ الصَّادِقُ ع عَنْ تَفْسِيرِ التَّقْوَى فَقَالَ أَنْ لَا يَفْقِدَكَ اللَّهُ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكَ وَ لَا يَرَاكَ حَيْثُ نَهَاكَ.
And Al-Sadiq-asws was asked about the interpretation of piety. He-asws said: ‘Do not let Allah-azwj Miss you where He-azwj has Commanded you, nor Let him See you where He-azwj has Prohibited you’’.[8]
مِشْكَاةُ الْأَنْوَارِ، نَقْلًا مِنَ الْمَحَاسِنِ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع التَّقْوَى سِنْخُ الْإِيمَانِ
(The book) ‘Mishakat Al Anwaar’ – Copied from Al Mahasin,
‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘The piety is the root (origin) of Eman!
وَ قِيلَ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع صِفْ لَنَا الدُّنْيَا
And it was said to Amir Al-Momineen-asws, ‘Describe the world to us!’
فَقَالَ وَ مَا أَصِفُ لَكُمْ مِنْهَا لِحَلَالِهَا حِسَابٌ وَ لِحَرَامِهَا عَذَابٌ لَوْ رَأَيْتُمُ الْأَجَلَ وَ مَسِيرَهُ لَلُهِيتُمْ عَنِ الْأَمَلِ وَ غُرُورِهِ
He-asws said: ‘And what shall I-asws described to you all? For its Permissible(s) there is Reckoning, and for it’s Prohibited there is Punishment. If you could have seen the death and its travelling (coming), you would have been distracted away from the hopes and its deceptions’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ مَنِ اتَّقَى اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ أُنْساً بِلَا أَنِيسٍ وَ غَنَاءً بِلَا مَالٍ وَ عِزّاً بِلَا سُلْطَانٍ.
Then he-asws said: ‘One who observes pity (fears Allah-azwj) as is the right of fearing Him-azwj, Allah-azwj would Give him comfort without a comforter, and riches without wealth, and honour without a ruling authority’’.[9]
وَ عَنْهُمْ ع جِدُّوا وَ اجْتَهِدُوا وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَعْمَلُوا فَلَا تَعْصُوا فَإِنَّ مَنْ يَبْنِي وَ لَا يَهْدِمُ يَرْتَفِعُ بِنَاؤُهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ يَسِيراً وَ إِنَّ مَنْ يَبْنِي وَ يَهْدِمُ يُوشِكُ أَنْ لَا يَرْتَفِعَ بِنَاؤُهُ.
And from them-asws: ‘Exert efforts and strive, and if you don’t do (good deeds), then do not disobey, for the one who builds and does not demolish, his building would rise higher, and even if it was little, and the one who builds and demolished, there is no doubt his building will not rise higher’’.[10]
مص، مصباح الشريعة قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع التَّقْوَى عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَوْجُهٍ تَقْوَى بِاللَّهِ فِي اللَّهِ وَ هُوَ تَرْكُ الْحَلَالِ فَضْلًا عَنِ الشُّبْهَةِ وَ هُوَ تَقْوَى خَاصِّ الْخَاصِّ وَ تَقْوَى مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ هُوَ تَرْكُ الشُّبُهَاتِ فَضْلًا عَنْ حَرَامٍ وَ هُوَ تَقْوَى الْخَاصِّ وَ تَقْوَى مِنْ خَوْفِ النَّارِ وَ الْعِقَابِ وَ هُوَ تَرْكُ الْحَرَامِ وَ هُوَ تَقْوَى الْعَامِّ
(The book) ‘Misbah Al Sharia’ –
‘Al-Sadiq-asws said: ‘The piety is based upon three aspects – piety with Allah-azwj for the Sake of Allah-azwj, and it is neglecting the Permissible(s) in addition to the suspect issues, and it is the most special piety; and the piety from Allah-azwj, and it is neglecting the suspect in addition from the Prohibitions, and it is the special piety; and the piety from fear of the Fire and the Punishments, and it is neglecting the Prohibitions, and it is the general piety.
وَ مَثَلُ التَّقْوَى كَمَاءٍ يَجْرِي فِي نَهَرٍ وَ مَثَلُ هَذِهِ الطَّبَقَاتِ الثَّلَاثِ فِي مَعْنَى التَّقْوَى كَأَشْجَارٍ مَغْرُوسَةٍ عَلَى حَافَّةِ ذَلِكَ النَّهَرِ مِنْ كُلِّ لَوْنٍ وَ جِنْسٍ وَ كُلُّ شَجَرَةٍ مِنْهَا يَسْتَمِصُّ الْمَاءَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ النَّهَرِ عَلَى قَدْرِ جَوْهَرِهِ وَ طَعْمِهِ وَ لَطَافَتِهِ وَ كَثَافَتِهِ
And an example of the piety is like water flowing in a river, and an example of these three categories in the meaning is, the piety is like the tree having been planted upon the banks of that river or every type and species, and every tree from these suck the water from that river in accordant to its essence and its taste, and its subtlety, and its thinness and its thickness.
ثُمَّ مَنَافِعُ الْخَلْقِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْأَشْجَارِ وَ الثِّمَارِ عَلَى قَدْرِهَا وَ قِيمَتِهَا قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى صِنْوانٌ وَ غَيْرُ صِنْوانٍ يُسْقى بِماءٍ واحِدٍ وَ نُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَها عَلى بَعْضٍ فِي الْأُكُلِ الْآيَةَ
Then the benefits of the creatures from those trees and fruits are based upon their worth and their values. Allah-azwj the Exalted Says: and single-rooted palm trees other than single-rooted, being irrigated by one water source, and We Prefer some of it upon the others regarding the eating. [13:4] – the Verse.
فَالتَّقْوَى لِلطَّاعَاتِ كَالْمَاءِ لِلْأَشْجَارِ وَ مَثَلُ طَبَائِعِ الْأَشْجَارِ وَ الثِّمَارِ فِي لَوْنِهَا وَ طَعْمِهَا مَثَلُ مَقَادِيرِ الْإِيمَانِ فَمَنْ كَانَ أَعْلَى دَرَجَةً فِي الْإِيمَانِ وَ أَصْفَى جَوْهَراً بِالرُّوحِ كَانَ أَتْقَى وَ مَنْ كَانَ أَتْقَى كَانَتْ عِبَادَتُهُ أَخْلَصَ وَ أَطْهَرَ وَ مَنْ كَانَ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ مِنَ اللَّهِ أَقْرَبَ
The piety for the obedience is like the water for the trees, and an example of the natures of the trees and the fruits in their types and their tastes is an example of the precepts of Eman. The one who was at the top rank regarding the Eman and cleanest of the essence with the soul, would be the most pious; and the one who was the most pious, his worship would be the most sincere and cleanest; and the one who was like that, he would be the closest from Allah-azwj.
وَ كُلُّ عِبَادَةٍ غَيْرِ مُؤَسَّسَةٍ عَلَى التَّقْوَى فَهُوَ هَبَاءٌ مَنْثُورٌ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ أَ فَمَنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيانَهُ عَلى تَقْوى مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ رِضْوانٍ خَيْرٌ أَمْ مَنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيانَهُ عَلى شَفا جُرُفٍ هارٍ فَانْهارَ بِهِ فِي نارِ جَهَنَّمَ الْآيَةَ
And every worship not based upon the piety, so it is floating dust (worthless). Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Says: Is the one who lays the foundation of his building on fear of Allah and Pleasure, better, or the one who lays the foundation of his building upon the brink of a cliff so it collapses with him into the Fire of Hell? [9:109] – the Verse.
وَ تَفْسِيرُ التَّقْوَى تَرْكُ مَا لَيْسَ بِأَخْذِهِ بَأْسٌ حَذَراً عَمَّا بِهِ بَأْسٌ وَ هُوَ فِي الْحَقِيقَةِ طَاعَةٌ وَ ذِكْرٌ بِلَا نِسْيَانٍ وَ عِلْمٌ بِلَا جَهْلٍ مَقْبُولٌ غَيْرُ مَرْدُودٍ.
And the interpretation of piety is neglecting there is no problem with taking it, being careful from what there is a problem with taking it, and in the reality, it is obedience; and Zikr without forgetfulness, and knowledge without ignorance, are Accepted without being Rejected’’.[11]
ع، علل الشرائع ابْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ هَاشِمٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ دِينَارٍ يَرْفَعُهُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: افْتَخَرَ رَجُلَانِ عِنْدَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَقَالَ أَ تَفْتَخِرَانِ بِأَجْسَادٍ بَالِيَةٍ وَ أَرْوَاحٍ فِي النَّارِ إِنْ يَكُنْ لَكَ عَقْلٌ فَإِنَّ لَكَ خُلُقاً وَ إِنْ يَكُنْ لَكَ تَقْوَى فَإِنَّ لَكَ كَرَماً وَ إِلَّا فَالْحِمَارُ خَيْرٌ مِنْكَ وَ لَسْتَ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْ أَحَدٍ.
(The book) ‘Ilal Al Sharaie’ – Ibn Idrees, from his father, from Al Ashari, from Ibrahim Bin Hashim, from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Bin Ibrahim Al Hamdany, from Al Abbas Bin Aamir, from Ismail Bin Dinar, raising it to,
‘Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘Two men prided (with their ancestors) in the presence of Amir Al-Momineen-asws. He-asws said: ‘Are you priding with the decayed bodies and the souls in the Fire? If there happens to be intellect for you then there will be morals for you, and if there happens to be piety for you, then there will be benevolence for you, or else the donkey is better than you are, and you are no better than anyone (else)!’’[12]
A Story – End result is good for the Pious one (one with Piety)
ص، قصص الأنبياء عليهم السلام بِالْإِسْنَادِ إِلَى الصَّدُوقِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَعْدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: كَانَ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ رَجُلٌ يُكْثِرُ أَنْ يَقُولَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ وَ الْعاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
(The book) ‘Qasas Al Anbiya’, may the greetings be upon them-as – by the chain to Al Sadouq, from his father, from Sa’ad, from Ibn Isa, from Al Washa, from Al Hasan Bin Al Jahm, from a man,
‘From Abu Abdullah-asws, upon him-asws be the Salawaat and the greetings, said: ‘The was a man among the children of Israel who used to frequently say: ‘The Praise is for Lord-azwj of the worlds and the end-result is for the pious!’
فَغَاظَ إِبْلِيسَ ذَلِكَ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ شَيْطَاناً فَقَالَ قُلِ الْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْأَغْنِيَاءِ فَجَاءَهُ فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ فَتَحَاكَمَا إِلَى أَوَّلِ مَنْ يَطْلُعُ عَلَيْهِمَا عَلَى قَطْعِ يَدِ الَّذِي يَحْكُمُ عَلَيْهِ
That enraged Iblees-la, so he-la sent a Satan-la to him. He-la said, ‘Say, ‘The end result is for the rich’!’ He-la came to him and said that. They both took the judgment to the first one to emerge to them, based upon that the one who he judges against, his hand would be cut.
فَلَقِيَا شَخْصاً فَأَخْبَرَاهُ بِحَالِهِمَا فَقَالَ الْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْأَغْنِيَاءِ فَرَجَعَ وَ هُوَ يَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ وَ يَقُولُ الْعاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
They met a person and informed him with their situation. He said, ‘The end-result is for the rich’. (His hand was cut), and he returned praising Allah-azwj and saying, ‘The end-result is for the pious’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ تَعُودُ أَيْضاً فَقَالَ نَعَمْ عَلَى يَدِيَ الْأُخْرَى
He-as said to him, ‘Shall we repeat as well?’ He said, ‘Yes’, based upon another hand (being cut).
فَخَرَجَا فَطَلَعَ الْآخَرُ فَحَكَمَ عَلَيْهِ أَيْضاً فَقُطِعَتْ يَدُهُ الْأُخْرَى وَ عَادَ أَيْضاً يَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ وَ يَقُولُ الْعاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
They went out, and another one emerged. He judged against him as well, so his other hand was cut, and he returned as well praising Allah-azwj and saying, ‘The end-result is for the pious’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ تُحَاكِمُنِي عَلَى ضَرْبِ الْعُنُقِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ
He-la said to him, ‘Will you go for judgment upon striking of the neck?’ He said, ‘Yes’.
فَخَرَجَا فَرَأَيَا مِثَالًا فَوَقَفَا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ حَاكَمْتُ هَذَا وَ قَصَّا عَلَيْهِ قِصَّتَهُمَا
They went out and saw a similar one. They paused to him. He-la said, ‘If you could judge this one’, and he narrated their story to him’.
قَالَ فَمَسَحَ يَدَيْهِ فَعَادَتَا ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ عُنُقَ ذَلِكَ الْخَبِيثِ وَ قَالَ هَكَذَا الْعاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ.
He-asws said: ‘He wiped his hand and it returned (to normal), then he struck off the neck of that wicked one and said, ‘The end-result is for the pious’’.[13]
A Little Deed with Piety is better than more worship without Piety:
ما، الأمالي للشيخ الطوسي الْمُفِيدُ عَنِ الْجِعَابِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ عُقْدَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ هَارُونَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عِيسَى بْنِ أَبِي الْوَرْدِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع لَا يَقِلُّ مَعَ التَّقْوَى عَمَلٌ وَ كَيْفَ يَقِلُّ مَا يُتَقَبَّلُ.
(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of the sheykh Al Tusi – Al Mufeed, from Al Jiany, from Ibn Uqdah, from Muhammad Bin Haroun Bin Abdul Rahman, from his father, from Isa Bin Abu Al Warad, from Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz,
‘From Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘Do not belittle a deed with piety, and how can it be little what is Accepted?’’
مع، معاني الأخبار ابْنُ الْوَلِيدِ عَنِ الصَّفَّارِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّصْرِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقاتِهِ قَالَ يُطَاعُ فَلَا يُعْصَى وَ يُذْكَرُ فَلَا يُنْسَى وَ يُشْكَرُ فَلَا يُكْفَرُ.
(The book) ‘Ma’any Al Akhbar’ – Ibn Al Waleed, from Al Saffar, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from his father, from Al Nasr, from Abu Husayn, from Abu Baseer who said,
‘I asked Abu Abdullah-asws about Words of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: Fear Allah as is His right to be feared [3:102]. He-asws said: ‘Obeyed. He should not disobey and be mindful. He should remember and not forget, and he should be thankful and not disbelieve (deny the bounties)’’.[14]
Rely more on what is for you with Allah-azwj than what you have in your hands
مع، معاني الأخبار عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص قَالَ: مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَتْقَى النَّاسِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَغْنَى النَّاسِ فَلْيَكُنْ بِمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَوْثَقَ مِنْهُ بِمَا فِي يَدِهِ.
(The book) ‘Ma’any Al Akhbar’ –
‘From the Prophet-saww said: ‘One who loves to be the most pious of the people, let him rely upon Allah-azwj, and the one who loves to be richest of the people, let him be more trusting with what is in the Presence of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic than what is in his hands’’.[15]
Short Ahadith on Piety:
لي، الأمالي للصدوق عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع لَا كَرَمَ أَعَزُّ مِنَ التَّقْوَى
(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of Al Sadouq,
‘From Amir Al-Momineen-asws: ‘The is no honour dearer than the piety’.
وَ سُئِلَ ع أَيُّ عَمَلٍ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ التَّقْوَى.
And he-asws was asked, ‘Which deed is the most superior?’ He-asws said: ‘The piety’’.[16]
ل، الخصال عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع لَا حَسَبَ لِقُرَشِيٍّ وَ لَا عَرَبِيٍّ إِلَّا بِتَوَاضُعٍ وَ لَا كَرَمَ إِلَّا بِتَقْوَى.
There is neither any affiliation for a Qureyshi nor an Arabian except with humbleness, not any honour except by piety’’.[17]
– وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْقِيَامَةُ عُرْسُ الْمُتَّقِينَ.
And Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘The Qiyamah is a wedding (day) of the pious’’.
– وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَا يَغُرَّنَّكَ بُكَاؤُهُمْ إِنَّمَا التَّقْوَى فِي الْقَلْبِ.
And Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘Do not be deceived by their crying, but rather the piety is in the heart!’’
وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي قَوْلِهِ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ هُوَ أَهْلُ التَّقْوى وَ أَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ قَالَ أَنَا أَهْلٌ أَنْ يَتَّقِيَنِي عَبْدِي فَإِنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَأَنَا أَهْلٌ أَنْ أَغْفِرَ لَهُ.
And Abu Abdullah-asws said regarding Words of the, Majestic is His-azwj Praise: He is rightful to be feared and rightful for (Granting) the Forgiveness [74:56]. He-asws said: “I-azwj am Rightful that My-azwj servant should fear Me-azwj. If he does not do so, then I-azwj am Rightful to Forgive (his sins) for him’’.[18]
ما، الأمالي للشيخ الطوسي الْمُفِيدُ عَنِ الْجِعَابِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ عُقْدَةَ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِمْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى الْكِنْدِيِّ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ ع قَالَ: مَنْ أَخْرَجَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ ذُلِّ الْمَعْصِيَةِ إِلَى عِزِّ التَّقْوَى أَغْنَاهُ اللَّهُ بِلَا مَالٍ وَ أَعَزَّهُ بِلَا عَشِيرَةٍ وَ آنَسَهُ بِلَا بَشَرٍ وَ مَنْ خَافَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَخَافَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَخَفِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَخَافَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ.
(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of the sheykh Al Tusi – Al Mufeed, from Al Jiany, from Ibn Uqdah, from Suleyman Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Imran, from Muhammad Bin Isa Al Kindy,
‘From Al-Sadiq-asws having said: ‘One whom Allah-azwj Extracts from the disgrace of disobedience to the honour of piety, Allah-azwj will Enrich him without any wealth, and Honour him without any clan, and Comfort him without any person; and the one who fears Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, Allah-azwj would Cause all things to fear from him, and the one who does not fear Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, Allah-azwj would Cause him to fear from all things’’.[19]
[1] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Intellect and Ignorance CH 5 H 3
[2] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 27 H 2
[3] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 114 H 3
[4] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 8 e
[5] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 8 h
[6] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 39 a
[7] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 63 H 24
[8] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 8 d
[9] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 8 i
[10] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 8 f
[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 41
[12] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 29
[13] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 36
[14] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 31
[15] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 63 H 22
[16] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 16
[17] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 19
[18] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 9
[19] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 22