Rizk (Sustenance)

Summary:

Earning livelihood is essential in order to maintain a decent living and perform our social and religious duties. Some Ahadith are presented here related to ‘Rizq’ (sustenance/livelihood).  We start with a beautiful Hadith of Rasool Allah^-saww:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي الْبَخْتَرِيِّ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي الْخُبْزِ وَ لَا تُفَرِّقْ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُ فَلَوْ لَا الْخُبْزُ مَا صَلَّيْنَا وَ لَا صُمْنَا وَ لَا أَدَّيْنَا فَرَائِضَ رَبِّنَا

A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Abu Abd Allah from his father from abu al-Bakhtariy in a marfu’ manner who has said:

‘Rasool Allah^-saww has said: ‘O Allah^-azwj, Grant us blessings with our loaves of bread and do not take them away from us. Without bread we neither are able to perform Salat or fast, nor can we perform our obligations toward our Lord’.[1]

These days, a believer will find it difficult to acquire livelihood, so he/she will only manage to acquire the bare minimum, as also predicted by Rasool Allah^-saww:

أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنِ الْعَرْزَمِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) سَيَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لَا يُنَالُ الْمُلْكُ فِيهِ إِلَّا بِالْقَتْلِ وَ التَّجَبُّرِ وَ لَا الْغِنَى إِلَّا بِالْغَصْبِ وَ الْبُخْلِ وَ لَا الْمَحَبَّةُ إِلَّا بِاسْتِخْرَاجِ الدِّينِ وَ اتِّبَاعِ الْهَوَى

Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Al Hassan Bin Ali Al Kufy, from Al Abbas Bin Aamir, from Al Arzamy, from

Abu Abdullah^-asws has reported that ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘There would be coming such a time period upon the people that they would not be attaining a kingdom except by the killing and the tyranny, nor (attaining) riches except by the usurpation and the stinginess, nor the love except by the removal of the Religion and following of the personal desires.

فَمَنْ أَدْرَكَ ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانَ فَصَبَرَ عَلَى الْفَقْرِ وَ هُوَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْغِنَى وَ صَبَرَ عَلَى الْبِغْضَةِ وَ هُوَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْمَحَبَّةِ وَ صَبَرَ عَلَى الذُّلِّ وَ هُوَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْعِزِّ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ ثَوَابَ خَمْسِينَ صِدِّيقاً مِمَّنْ صَدَّقَ بِي .

So the one who comes across that time period, and he observes patience upon the poverty despite being able upon the riches, and observes patience upon the hatred despite being able upon the love, and observes patience upon the humiliation despite being able upon the honour, Allah^-azwj would Give him the Rewards of fifty truthful ones from the ones who ratified me^-saww’.[2]

Allah^-azwj always Helps the devout believers, if they are sincerely worshiping, in winning the rizq:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ مَكْتُوبٌ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ تَفَرَّغْ لِعِبَادَتِي أَمْلَأُ قَلْبَكَ غِنًى وَ لَا أَكِلْكَ إِلَى طَلَبِكَ وَ عَلَيَّ أَنْ أَسُدَّ فَاقَتَكَ وَ أَمْلَأَ قَلْبَكَ خَوْفاً مِنِّي وَ إِنْ لَا تَفَرَّغْ لِعِبَادَتِي أَمْلَأُ قَلْبَكَ شُغُلًا بِالدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ لَا أَسُدَّ فَاقَتَكَ وَ أَكِلْكَ إِلَى طَلَبِكَ .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Mahboub, from Umar Bin Yazeed,

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: ‘it is written in the Torah: ‘O son of Adam^-as! Free yourself for My^-azwj worship, I^-azwj shall Fill your heart with riches and will not Fatigue you to your seeking (sustenance), and it would be upon Me^-azwj to Aim to excel you and fill your heart with fear from Me^-azwj, and that if you don’t free yourself for My^-azwj worship, I^-azwj shall Fill your heart with a pre-occupation with the world, then I^-azwj will not Excel you and will Exhaust you to the seeking (of the livelihood)’.[3]

Introduction:

Rizq (sustenance/livelihood/income) finds it owner, as we will see from Ahadith. It is difficult, under most circumstances, to predict from where and when Rizq will come and where it will be spent.  We present some Ahadith on various aspects of interest on acquiring Rizq.

. عنه عليه السلام قال: كلّما ازداد العبد إيماناً ازداد ضيقاً في معيشته.

Imam Sadiq^-asws said: “As a servant’s degree of Eman (belief) increases, his difficulties to provide for his living expenses will (also) increase (correspondingly).”[4]

Rizq is not only a Worldly Income but also Gains for the Spiritual Elevation:

Rizq is generally related to the worldly income but it is more important to relate it to the religious gains as per the above Hadith, so that our spiritual level is elevated for the best rewards and recompensed in the Hereafter.

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَنْ ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنْكاً قَالَ يَعْنِي بِهِ وَلَايَةَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام )

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Salma Bin Al Khattab, from Al Husayn Bin Abdul Rahman, from Ali Bin Abu Hamza, from Abu Baseer, from

Abu Abdullah^-asws regarding the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic:

And whoever ignores My Guidance will live a woeful life [20:124]. He^-asws said: ‘It Means ignoring the Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws’.

قُلْتُ وَ نَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ أَعْمى قَالَ يَعْنِي أَعْمَى الْبَصَرِ فِي الْآخِرَةِ أَعْمَى الْقَلْبِ فِي الدُّنْيَا عَنْ وَلَايَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ وَ هُوَ مُتَحَيِّرٌ فِي الْقِيَامَةِ يَقُولُ لِمَ حَشَرْتَنِي أَعْمى وَ قَدْ كُنْتُ بَصِيراً قالَ كَذلِكَ أَتَتْكَ آياتُنا فَنَسِيتَها قَالَ الْآيَاتُ الْأَئِمَّةُ ( عليهم السلام ) فَنَسِيتَها وَ كَذلِكَ الْيَوْمَ تُنْسى يَعْنِي تَرَكْتَهَا وَ كَذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ تُتْرَكُ فِي النَّارِ كَمَا تَرَكْتَ الْأَئِمَّةَ ( عليهم السلام ) فَلَمْ تُطِعْ أَمْرَهُمْ وَ لَمْ تَسْمَعْ قَوْلَهُمْ

‘and We will Resurrect him on the Day of Judgement, blind [20:124].’ He^-asws said: ‘It Means blind of vision in the Hereafter, and blind of the heart in the world from the Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws. And he would be confused on the Day of Judgment.

[20:125] He shall say: Lord! Why have You Resurrected me blind and I was a seeing one beforehand? [20:126] He will say: Even so, Our Signs came to you. The Signs are the Imams^-asws, but you forgot them; even thus shall you be Forsaken this Day. He^-asws said: You forgot, meaning neglected them^-asws, and similarly you will be neglected in the Fire just as you neglected the Imams^-asws. So you did not obey their^-asws orders and did not listen to their^-asws speech’.

قُلْتُ وَ كَذلِكَ نَجْزِي مَنْ أَسْرَفَ وَ لَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِآياتِ رَبِّهِ وَ لَعَذابُ الْآخِرَةِ أَشَدُّ وَ أَبْقى قَالَ يَعْنِي مَنْ أَشْرَكَ بِوَلَايَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) غَيْرَهُ وَ لَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ وَ تَرَكَ الْأَئِمَّةَ مُعَانَدَةً فَلَمْ يَتَّبِعْ آثَارَهُمْ وَ لَمْ يَتَوَلَّهُمْ

I said, ‘[20:127] And thus do We Recompense him who is extravagant and does not believe in the Signs of his Lord, and the Punishment of the Hereafter is severer and more lasting’. He^-asws said: ‘It Means the one who associates with the Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws someone else and does not believe in the Signs of his Lord^-azwj, and deliberately neglects the Imams^-asws. So he neither follows their^-asws Ahadeeth, nor acknowledges their^-asws Wilayah’.

قُلْتُ اللَّهُ لَطِيفٌ بِعِبادِهِ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَشاءُ قَالَ وَلَايَةُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) قُلْتُ مَنْ كانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ الْآخِرَةِ قَالَ مَعْرِفَةُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) وَ الْأَئِمَّةِ نَزِدْ لَهُ فِي حَرْثِهِ قَالَ نَزِيدُهُ مِنْهَا قَالَ يَسْتَوْفِي نَصِيبَهُ مِنْ دَوْلَتِهِمْ وَ مَنْ كانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ الدُّنْيا نُؤْتِهِ مِنْها وَ ما لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ نَصِيبٍ قَالَ لَيْسَ لَهُ فِي دَوْلَةِ الْحَقِّ مَعَ الْقَائِمِ نَصِيبٌ .

I said, ‘[42:19] Allah is Gentle to His servants; He Gives sustenance to whom He Desires to’. He^-asws said: ‘Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws’. I said, ‘[42:20] Whoever desires the gain of the Hereafter’. He^-asws said: ‘Recognition of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws and the Imams^-asws, We will give him more of that gain. He^-asws said: ‘We^-azwj shall Increase him from it’. He^-asws said: ‘He would be fulfilled his share from their^-asws government. and whoever desires the gain of this world, We give him of it, and in the Hereafter he has no portion. He^-asws said: ‘There wouldn’t be a share for him, in the government of the truth along with Al-Qaim^-asws’.[5]

The Mystery of Rizq and its Distribution:

عَنْهُ عَنْ مُعَلًّى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي وَلَّادٍ الْحَنَّاطِ وَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ مِنْ صِحَّةِ يَقِينِ الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ لَا يُرْضِيَ النَّاسَ بِسَخَطِ اللَّهِ وَ لَا يَلُومَهُمْ عَلَى مَا لَمْ يُؤْتِهِ اللَّهُ فَإِنَّ الرِّزْقَ لَا يَسُوقُهُ حِرْصُ حَرِيصٍ وَ لَا يَرُدُّهُ كَرَاهِيَةُ كَارِهٍ وَ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ فَرَّ مِنْ رِزْقِهِ كَمَا يَفِرُّ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ لَأَدْرَكَهُ رِزْقُهُ كَمَا يُدْرِكُهُ الْمَوْتُ

From him, from Moalla, from Al Hassan Bin Ali A lWasha, from Abdullah Bin Sinan,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws,

and Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Mahboub, deom Abu Wallad Al Hannat, and Abdullah Bin Sinan,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘It is from the correctness of the conviction, the personality of the Muslim that he does not please the people by Angering Allah^-azwj, and does not accuse them upon what Allah^-azwj did not Give him, for his sustenance is neither ushered by the greed not the greedy one, nor is it repelled by the dislike of the dislike; and if one of you were to flee from his sustenance just as he flees from the death, his sustenance would come across him just as he would come across the death’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِعَدْلِهِ وَ قِسْطِهِ جَعَلَ الرَّوْحَ وَ الرَّاحَةَ فِي الْيَقِينِ وَ الرِّضَا وَ جَعَلَ الْهَمَّ وَ الْحَزَنَ فِي الشَّكِّ وَ السَّخَطِ .

Then he^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj, by His^-azwj Justice and His^-azwj Fairness, Made the spirit and the rest to be in the conviction and the pleasure, and Made the worries and the grief to be in the doubt and the anger’.[6]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ يُقَرِّبُكُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ يُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِهِ وَ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ يُقَرِّبُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ يُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْهُ

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Fazzal, from Aasim Bin Humeyd, from Abu Hamza Al Sumaly,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww addressed (the people) during the farewell Hajj, so he^-saww said: ‘O you people! By Allah^-azwj! There is none from the things which brings you closer to the Paradise and distance you from the Fire except that I^-saww have ordered you with it; and there is none from a thing which brings you closer to the Fire and distances you from the Paradise, except that I^-saww have forbidden you from it.

أَلَا وَ إِنَّ الرُّوحَ الْأَمِينَ نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي أَنَّهُ لَنْ تَمُوتَ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَكْمِلَ رِزْقَهَا فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ أَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ وَ لَا يَحْمِلْ أَحَدَكُمْ اسْتِبْطَاءُ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ أَنْ يَطْلُبَهُ بِغَيْرِ حِلِّهِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُدْرَكُ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا بِطَاعَتِهِ .

Indeed! And the trustworthy spirit (Jibraeel^-as) blew into my^-saww person that not a soul would be dying until its sustenance is completed. Therefore, fear Allah^-azwj and be vigorous in the seeking (of the livelihood), and not one of you should bear indolence for anything from the sustenance if he seeks it without its Permissibility, for whatever is in the Presence of Allah^-azwj cannot be realised except being in His^-azwj obedience’.[7]

Sustenance is Restricted for a Believer:

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) لَوْ لَا إِلْحَاحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى اللَّهِ فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ لَنَقَلَهُمْ مِنَ الْحَالِ الَّتِي هُمْ فِيهَا إِلَى حَالٍ أَضْيَقَ مِنْهَا .

And by his chain, said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘Had it not been for the pleading of the Momineen to Allah^-azwj regarding seeking of the sustenance, He^-azwj would have Transferred them from a state which they were in to a state more constricted than it’.[8]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بَكْرٌ الْأَرْقَطُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَوْ عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) أَنَّهُ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ وَاحِدٌ فَقَالَ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ إِنِّي رَجُلٌ مُنْقَطِعٌ إِلَيْكُمْ بِمَوَدَّتِي وَ قَدْ أَصَابَتْنِي حَاجَةٌ شَدِيدَةٌ وَ قَدْ تَقَرَّبْتُ بِذَلِكَ إِلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِي وَ قَوْمِي فَلَمْ يَزِدْنِي بِذَلِكَ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا بُعْداً قَالَ فَمَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا أَخَذَ مِنْكَ

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Aban Bin Abdul Malik who said, ‘Bakr Al Arqat narrated to me, from Abu Abdullah,

(It has been narrated) from Shuayb, from Abu Abdullah^-asws, that he went over to him^-asws alone and he said, ‘May Allah^-azwj Keep you^-asws well! I am a man who has been cut-off to you^-asws due to my cordiality and I have been hit by a severe need. I had approached with that to my family and my people but that did not increase me from them except for the distance’. He^-asws said: ‘So whatever Allah^-azwj has Given you is better than what He^-azwj has Taken from you’.

قَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ ادْعُ اللَّهَ لِي أَنْ يُغْنِيَنِي عَنْ خَلْقِهِ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَسَّمَ رِزْقَ مَنْ شَاءَ عَلَى يَدَيْ مَنْ شَاءَ وَ لَكِنْ سَلِ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُغْنِيَكَ عَنِ الْحَاجَةِ الَّتِي تَضْطَرُّكَ إِلَى لِئَامِ خَلْقِهِ .

He said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! Supplicate for me that He^-azwj Makes me to be needless from His^-azwj creatures’. He^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj Distributes sustenance to whoever He^-azwj so Desires to, upon the hands of the ones whom He^-azwj so Desires to. But, ask Allah^-azwj that He^-azwj Makes you to be self-sufficient from the needs which are making you desperate to the ignoble ones of His^-azwj creatures’.[9]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ دُعَاءُ الْمَرْءِ لِأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ يُدِرُّ الرِّزْقَ وَ يَدْفَعُ الْمَكْرُوهَ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Al Hassan Bin Mahboub, from Abdullah Bin Sinan, from

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: ‘A supplication of the man from his brother in his absence would cause the sustenance to flow and repel misfortunes’.[10]

سن، 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’’.[11]

وَ عَنْهُ ع قَالَ: كُلَّمَا ازْدَادَ الْعَبْدُ إِيمَاناً ازْدَادَ ضِيقاً فِي مَعِيشَتِهِ‏.

And from him^–asws having said: ‘Every time the servant increases the Eman, there will be a narrowness in his livelihood’’.[12]

Sustenance is Veiled:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ النَّضْرِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) الْأَيْدِي ثَلَاثٌ يَدُ اللَّهِ الْعُلْيَا وَ يَدُ الْمُعْطِي الَّتِي تَلِيهَا وَ يَدُ الْمُعْطَى أَسْفَلُ الْأَيْدِي فَاسْتَعِفُّوا عَنِ السُّؤَالِ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ إِنَّ الْأَرْزَاقَ دُونَهَا حُجُبٌ فَمَنْ شَاءَ قَنَى حَيَاءَهُ وَ أَخَذَ رِزْقَهُ وَ مَنْ شَاءَ هَتَكَ الْحِجَابَ وَ أَخَذَ رِزْقَهُ وَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَأَنْ يَأْخُذَ أَحَدُكُمْ حَبْلًا ثُمَّ يَدْخُلَ عَرْضَ هَذَا الْوَادِي فَيَحْتَطِبَ حَتَّى لَا يَلْتَقِيَ طَرَفَاهُ ثُمَّ يَدْخُلَ بِهِ السُّوقَ فَيَبِيعَهُ بِمُدٍّ مِنْ تَمْرٍ وَ يَأْخُذَ ثُلُثَهُ وَ يَتَصَدَّقَ بِثُلُثَيْهِ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ النَّاسَ أَعْطَوْهُ أَوْ حَرَمُوهُ .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from his father, from Ahmad Bin Al Nazar, raising it, said,

‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The hands are three – The Hand of Allah^-azwj being the upper one, and the hand of the giver is what follows it, and the hand of the recipient being the lowest of the hands. Therefore, refrain from the begging to the extent of your ability. The sustenance is behind a veil, so the one who so desires to would veil his shame and take his sustenance, and the one who so desires to would tear down the veil and take his sustenance.

By the One in Whose Hand is my^-saww soul, if one of you were to take a rope, then (this person) would enter a land of this valley, where he would collect firewood until its (rope’s) ends do not meet, then he enters the market with it, so he sells it for a handful of dates, and he takes a third of it, and gives in charity with two thirds of it, it would be better for him, than if he were to ask the people who would either give him or prevent him’.[13]

عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي الْهَزْهَازِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ السَّرِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ جَعَلَ أَرْزَاقَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُونَ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا لَمْ يَعْرِفْ وَجْهَ رِزْقِهِ كَثُرَ دُعَاؤُهُ .

From him, from his father, from Safwan, from Muhammad Bin Abu Al Hazhaaz, from Ali Bin Al Sarayy who said,

‘I heard Abu Abdullah^-asws saying that Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Made the sustenance of the believers from where they are not reckoning, and in the case of a servant, when he does not know the direction of his sustenance, would supplicate frequently for it’.[14]

The ‘Permissible’ and ‘Extensive’ Sustenance:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ( عليه السلام ) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَدْعُو اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يَرْزُقَنِي الْحَلَالَ فَقَالَ أَ تَدْرِي مَا الْحَلَالُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَمَّا الَّذِي عِنْدَنَا فَالْكَسْبُ الطَّيِّبُ فَقَالَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ الْحَلَالُ قُوتُ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ وَ لَكِنْ قُلْ أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ الْوَاسِعِ .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Abu Nasr who said,

‘I said to Abu Al-Hassan^-asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! Supplicate to Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic that He^-azwj should Grace me the Permissible sustenance’. So he^-asws said: ‘Do you know what is the Permissible (sustenance)?’ So I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! (That) which is with the goodly earnings’. So he^-asws said: ‘Ali^-asws Bin Al-Husayn^-asws was saying: ‘The Permissible livelihood is the food of the ‘Chosen Ones’ (only the Prophets^-as and the Imams^-as), but say, ‘I ask You^-azwj from the extensive sustenance’.[15]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلَّادٍ وَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بُنْدَارَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى جَمِيعاً عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلَّادٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الثَّانِي ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ نَظَرَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) إِلَى رَجُلٍ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ الْحَلَالِ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) سَأَلْتَ قُوتَ النَّبِيِّينَ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقاً وَاسِعاً طَيِّباً مِنْ رِزْقِكَ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Moammar Bin Khallad and Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Bundar, from Ahmad Bin Abu Abdullah, from Muhammad Bin Isa, altogether from Moammar Bin Khallad,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Al-Hassan^-asws the 2^nd having said: ‘Abu Ja’far^-asws looked at a man and he was saying, ‘O Allah^-azwj! I ask You^-azwj of the Permissible sustenance’. So Abu Ja’far^-asws said: ‘You ask for the food of the Prophets^-as. Say, ‘O Allah^-azwj! I ask You^-azwj for extensive goodly sustenance from Your^-azwj sustenances’.[16]

One Must Never Seize Buying:

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 spoiled, 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)’.[17]

Never Belittle Small Gains (from a business or a small job):

سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُرَازِمٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ مَنْ طَلَبَ قَلِيلَ الرِّزْقِ كَانَ ذَلِكَ دَاعِيَهُ إِلَى اجْتِلَابِ كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ [وَ مَنْ تَرَكَ قَلِيلًا مِنَ الرِّزْقِ كَانَ ذَلِكَ دَاعِيَهُ إِلَى ذَهَابِ كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ] .

Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Yaqoub Bin Yazeed, from Muhammad Bin Murazim, from a man, from Ishaq Bin Ammar who said,

‘I heard Abu Abdullah^-asws saying: ‘The one who seeks the little sustenance, that would be inviting him towards a lot (a bigger amount) of the sustenance; (and the one who neglects a little (sale/project/income) from the sustenance, that would be inviting him to the going away of a lot of the sustenance)’.[18]

Rizq is 9 out 10 Parts in the Business:

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْعَاصِمِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ النَّهْدِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ شَرِيفِ بْنِ سَابِقٍ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ أَبِي قُرَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ أَتَتِ الْمَوَالِي أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) فَقَالُوا نَشْكُو إِلَيْكَ هَؤُلَاءِ الْعَرَبَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) كَانَ يُعْطِينَا مَعَهُمُ الْعَطَايَا بِالسَّوِيَّةِ وَ زَوَّجَ سَلْمَانَ وَ بِلَالًا وَ صُهَيْباً وَ أَبَوْا عَلَيْنَا هَؤُلَاءِ وَ قَالُوا لَا نَفْعَلُ

Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al Asamy, from Muhammad Bin Ahmad Al nahdy, from Muhammad Bin Ali, from Shareef Bin Sabiq, from Al Fazl Bin Abu Qurra, from

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: ‘The partisans came over to Amir Al-Momineen^-asws, so they said, ‘We complain to you^-asws of these Arabs. Rasool-Allah^-saww would give us the gifts along with them with the equality, and he^-saww got Salman^-as, and Bilal, and Suhayb married, and they are refusing upon us, and they are saying, We will not do it’.

فَذَهَبَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) فَكَلَّمَهُمْ فِيهِمْ فَصَاحَ الْأَعَارِيبُ أَبَيْنَا ذَلِكَ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ أَبَيْنَا ذَلِكَ فَخَرَجَ وَ هُوَ مُغْضَبٌ  يُجَرُّ رِدَاؤُهُ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمَوَالِي إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ قَدْ صَيَّرُوكُمْ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْيَهُودِ وَ النَّصَارَى يَتَزَوَّجُونَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَ لَا يُزَوِّجُونَكُمْ وَ لَا يُعْطُونَكُمْ مِثْلَ مَا يَأْخُذُونَ فَاتَّجِرُوا بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ فَإِنِّي قَدْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يَقُولُ الرِّزْقُ عَشَرَةُ أَجْزَاءٍ تِسْعَةُ أَجْزَاءٍ فِي التِّجَارَةِ وَ وَاحِدَةٌ فِي غَيْرِهَا .

So Amir Al-Momineen^-asws went to them and he^-asws spoke among them. So the Bedouins shouted, ‘We refuse that, O Abu Al-Hassan^-asws! We refuse that’. So he^-asws went out and he^-asws was angered with his^-asws cloak dragging, and he^-asws was saying: ‘O group of partisans! They have considered you at the status of the Jews and the Christians. They are getting married to you (your daughters), but they are not marrying (their daughters) to you, and they are not giving you the like of what they are taking. Therefore, do business! Allah^-azwj will Bless for you, for I^-asws have heard Rasool-Allah^-saww saying: ‘The sustenance is of ten parts. Nine parts are in the business and one is in something else’.[19]

Marriage Expands Sustenance:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ وَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ابْنَيْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَشَكَا إِلَيْهِ الْحَاجَةَ فَقَالَ تَزَوَّجْ فَتَزَوَّجَ فَوُسِّعَ عَلَيْهِ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad and Abdullah two sones of Isa, from Ali Bin Al Hakam, from Hisham Bin Salim,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘A man came over to the Prophet^-saww, so he complained to him^-saww of the destitution (lack of resources), so he^-saww said: ‘Get married’. So he got married, and it (sustenance) was expanded upon him’.[20]

The Sustenance of the Less Clever is Extended:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ رَبِيعِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُسْلِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى وَسَّعَ فِي أَرْزَاقِ الْحَمْقَى لِيَعْتَبِرَ الْعُقَلَاءُ وَ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا لَيْسَ يُنَالُ مَا فِيهَا بِعَمَلٍ وَ لَا حِيلَةٍ .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ali Bin Al Hakam, from Rabie Bin Muhammad Al Musally, from Abdullah Bin Suleyman who said,

‘I heard Abu Abdullah^-asws saying that Allah^-azwj the Exalted has Expanded in the sustenances of the stupid ones in order for the intellectuals to learn a lesson, and they would know that the world and whatever is in it, cannot be achieved by actions nor means’.[21]

Charity (Sadaqa) Brings in Rizq:

قَالَ وَ حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ حَسَّانَ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ اسْتَنْزِلُوا الرِّزْقَ بِالصَّدَقَةِ .

He said, ‘And it has been narrated to me by Ali Bin Hassan, from Musa Bin Bakr,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Al-Hassan^-asws having said: ‘Cause the sustenance to descend by the charity’.[22]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ وَهْبَانَ عَنْ عَمِّهِ هَارُونَ بْنِ عِيسَى قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) لِمُحَمَّدٍ ابْنِهِ يَا بُنَيَّ كَمْ فَضَلَ مَعَكَ مِنْ تِلْكَ النَّفَقَةِ قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ دِينَاراً قَالَ اخْرُجْ فَتَصَدَّقْ بِهَا قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَبْقَ مَعِي غَيْرُهَا قَالَ تَصَدَّقْ بِهَا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُخْلِفُهَا أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِفْتَاحاً وَ مِفْتَاحُ الرِّزْقِ الصَّدَقَةُ فَتَصَدَّقْ بِهَا

Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from his father, from Ali Bin Wahbaan, from his uncle Haroun Bin Isa who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said to Muhammad, his^-asws son: ‘O my^-asws son! How much excess is there with you from those expenses?’ He said, ‘Forty Dinars’. He^-asws said: ‘Bring it out and give charity with it’. He said, ‘There does not remain with me anything apart from it’. He^-asws said: ‘Give in charity with it, for Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic would Replace it. But, do you not know that for everything there is a key, and a key for the sustenance is the charity, therefore give charity with it’.

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) دَاوُوا مَرْضَاكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ وَ ادْفَعُوا الْبَلَاءَ بِالدُّعَاءِ وَ اسْتَنْزِلُوا الرِّزْقَ بِالصَّدَقَةِ فَإِنَّهَا تُفَكُّ مِنْ بَيْنِ لُحِيِّ سَبْعِمِائَةِ شَيْطَانٍ وَ لَيْسَ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَثْقَلَ عَلَى الشَّيْطَانِ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ هِيَ تَقَعُ فِي يَدِ الرَّبِّ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى قَبْلَ أَنْ تَقَعَ فِي يَدِ الْعَبْدِ .

Ali Bin Muhammad, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Abdullah Bin Al Qasim, from Abdullah Bin Sinan who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘Treat your sick ones with the charity and repel the afflictions with the supplication, and cause the sustenance to descend with the charity.  Charity finds its way through the beards of seven hundred devils, and there is nothing heavier upon the Satan^-la than the charity upon the Believer, and it falls into the Hand of the Lord^-azwj Blessed and High before it falls into the hand of the servant’.[23]

Worshiping Eases the Coming of the Sustenance:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ مَكْتُوبٌ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ تَفَرَّغْ لِعِبَادَتِي أَمْلَأُ قَلْبَكَ غِنًى وَ لَا أَكِلْكَ إِلَى طَلَبِكَ وَ عَلَيَّ أَنْ أَسُدَّ فَاقَتَكَ وَ أَمْلَأَ قَلْبَكَ خَوْفاً مِنِّي وَ إِنْ لَا تَفَرَّغْ لِعِبَادَتِي أَمْلَأُ قَلْبَكَ شُغُلًا بِالدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ لَا أَسُدَّ فَاقَتَكَ وَ أَكِلْكَ إِلَى طَلَبِكَ .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Mahboub, from Umar Bin Yazeed, from

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: ‘It is written in the Torah: ‘O son of Adam^-as! Free yourself for My^-azwj worship, I^-azwj shall Fill your heart with riches and will not Fatigue you to your seeking (sustenance), and it would be upon Me^-azwj to Aim to excel you and fill your heart with fear from Me^-azwj, and that if you don’t free yourself for My^-azwj worship, I^-azwj shall fill your heart with a pre-occupation with the world, then I^-azwj will not excel you and will Exhaust you to the seeking (of the livelihood)’.[24]

Inviting Believers for Food Brings in Rizq:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ ( عليه السلام ) أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) قَالَ الرِّزْقُ أَسْرَعُ إِلَى مَنْ يُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ مِنَ السِّكِّينِ فِي السَّنَامِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ibn Fazzal, from Abdullah Bin Maymoun,

(It has been narrated) from Ja’far^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws that the Prophet^-saww said: ‘The sustenance is quicker to the one who feeds the food than the knife in the hump (of a camel)’.[25]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ هَاشِمٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الطَّيَّارِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ مَا مِنْ قَبْضٍ وَ لَا بَسْطٍ إِلَّا وَ لِلَّهِ فِيهِ مَشِيئَةٌ وَ قَضَاءٌ وَ ابْتِلَاءٌ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim Bin Hashim, from Muhammad Bin Isa, from Yunus Bin Abdul Rahman, from Hamza Bin Muhammad Al Tayyar,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘There is no constriction (of sustenance) nor an extension (of sustenance) except for Allah^-azwj therein is a Desire, and Ordainment, and a Trial’.[26]

Rizq, Misfortune and Sources:

ما كان لكم من رزق فسيأتيكم على ضعفكم و ما كان عليكم فلن تقدروا على دفعه بحيلة

The sustenance that is decided for you will reach you even if you are weak, and you will never stop the misfortune that is decided for you even if you exert all efforts.

الآمِدِيُّ فِي الْغُرَرِ، عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ صُنْ دِينَكَ بِدُنْيَاكَ تَرْبَحْهُمَا وَ لَا تَصُنْ دُنْيَاكَ بِدِينِكَ فَتَخْسَرَهُمَا

Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws said:’ He who holds on to the religion through striving in the world secures his religion but that who earns sustenance through religion loses his religion all together’.[27]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي لَمْ أَدَعْ شَيْئاً يُقَرِّبُكُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَ يُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ نَبَّأْتُكُمْ بِهِ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ رُوحَ الْقُدُسِ [قَدْ] نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي وَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَنْ لَا تَمُوتُ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَكْمِلَ رِزْقَهَا فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ وَ لَا يَحْمِلَنَّكُمُ اسْتِبْطَاءُ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ أَنْ تَطْلُبُوهُ بِمَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُنَالُ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ جَلَّ اسْمُهُ إِلَّا بِطَاعَتِهِ

Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from ‘Amr ibn Shamir from Jabir who has narrated the following from Abu Ja’far^-asws:

‘Abu Ja’far^-asws has said that the Rasool Allah^-saww has said: ‘I have not left anything that can take you closer to Paradise or keep you away from Hellfire but that I^-saww have informed you of all such matters. You must take notice that the Holy Spirit^-as has inspired my^-saww understanding and has told me that a soul does not die until it completes (depleting) its sustenance (Rizq). You must maintain piety before Allah^-azwj and work for your (earning) living painstakingly. Certain delays in reaching of sustenance (Rizq) must not take you to find sustenance by means of disobedience to Allah^-azwj, what is with Allah^-azwj can be achieved only by means of obedience to Him^-azwj’.[28]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ فِي آجَالٍ مَقْبُوضَةٍ وَ أَيَّامٍ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَ الْمَوْتُ يَأْتِي بَغْتَةً مَنْ يَزْرَعْ خَيْراً يَحْصُدْ غِبْطَةً وَ مَنْ يَزْرَعْ شَرّاً يَحْصِدْ نَدَامَةً وَ لِكُلِّ زَارِعٍ مَا زَرَعَ وَ لَا يَسْبِقُ الْبَطِي‏ءَ مِنْكُمْ حَظُّهُ وَ لَا يُدْرِكُ حَرِيصٌ مَا لَمْ يُقَدَّرْ لَهُ مَنْ أُعْطِيَ خَيْراً فَاللَّهُ أَعْطَاهُ وَ مَنْ وُقِيَ شَرّاً فَاللَّهُ وَقَاهُ

A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Abu Abd Allah from ibn Faddal from those whom has mentioned (in his book) the following from Abu’ Abd Allah^-asws:

Abu Abd Allah^-asws has said: ‘You live in a period of time that is depleting continuously and (was made available to you) in calculated days. Death comes suddenly. Whoever sows goodness will harvest what is very much sought after. Whoever sows evil will harvest regret. Every farmer finds what he has planted. The sustenance of the slow-moving ones among you will not move ahead of him and the greedy will not achieve what is not assigned for him. Whoever does good, Allah^-azwj Grants him good and whoever safeguards against evil, Allah^-azwj Protects him’.[29]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ رَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا دَخَلَ بَيْتَهُ وَ أَغْلَقَ بَابَهُ أَ كَانَ يَسْقُطُ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hiaasen ibn ‘Atiyah from ‘Umar ibn Yazid who has said the following:

‘Abu Abd Allah^-asws has said: ‘Do you think the sustenance of a man who stays in his home and closes his door, his sustenance will not fall from the sky?’[30]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبِي زِيَادٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ وَ خَلَقَ مَعَهُمْ أَرْزَاقَهُمْ حَلَالًا طَيِّباً فَمَنْ تَنَاوَلَ شَيْئاً مِنْهَا حَرَاماً قُصَّ بِهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْحَلَالِ

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn al-Sindiy from Ja’far ibn Bashir from. Umar ibn abu Ziyad from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following:

‘Abu’ Abd Allah^-asws has said that Allah^-azwj has Created the creatures and with them He^-azwj has Created their sustenance of the lawful and beautiful kind. If anyone acquires a certain amount of unlawful sustenance, then the same (amount) is deducted from his lawful sustenance’.[31]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ قَالَ كَتَبَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَلَا تُجَادِلِ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَ لَا تُمَارِ السُّفَهَاءَ فَيُبْغِضَكَ الْعُلَمَاءُ وَ يَشْتِمَكَ السُّفَهَاءُ وَ لَا تَكْسَلْ عَنْ مَعِيشَتِكَ فَتَكُونَ كَلًّا عَلَى غَيْرِكَ أَوْ قَالَ عَلَى أَهْلِكَ

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Saclaqah who has said the following:

‘Abu Abd Allah^-asws once wrote to one of his companions the following: ‘You must not excessively argue with the scholars, you must not verbally quarrel with the dimwitted ones; the scholars will hate you and the dimwitted ones will abuse you. You must not be lazy in the work for your sustenance; you will become a burden on the others or a burden on your family’.^[32]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ شَجَرَةَ عَنْ بَشِيرٍ النَّبَّالِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ إِذَا رُزِقْتَ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ فَالْزَمْهُ

A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Ali ibn Shajarah from Bashir al-Nabbal who has said the following:

‘Abu Abd Allah^-asws has said: ‘When you (in a business) find sustenance in a certain item then you must continue with it’.[33]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْهَيْثَمِ بْنِ أَبِي مَسْرُوقٍ النَّهْدِيِّ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ رَوَوْا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ إِذَا أَخَذَ فِي طَرِيقٍ رَجَعَ فِي غَيْرِهِ فَكَذَا كَانَ يَفْعَلُ قَالَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ وَ أَنَا أَفْعَلُهُ كَثِيراً فَافْعَلْهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي أَمَا إِنَّهُ أَرْزَقُ لَكَ

A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Haytham ibn abu Masruq al-Nahdiy from Musa ibn ‘Umar ibn Bazi’ who has said:

‘I once asked Al-Reza^-asws, saying: ‘I pray to Allah^-azwj to keep my soul in service for your cause, people narrate that whenever the Messenger of Allah^-saww walked on a road, he^-saww would not return from the same path, was this the case? The Imam^-asws said: ‘Yes, that is how it was and very often I also do so and you should also do it.’ The Imam^-asws said: ‘It gives you a greater chance to increase your sustenance’.^[34]

سفي المسجد بعد طلوع الفجر إلى طلوع الشمس أسرع في طلب الرزق من الضرب في الأرض

(Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws says): Sitting in mosques from start of Fajr until sunrise is better for the acquisition of sustenance rather than running around in the world (to earn wages).[35]

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَهْزِيَارَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَسَدٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَقْظَانَ رَفَعَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ ( عليهم السلام ) قَالَ يَقُولُ الرَّجُلُ إِذَا فَرَغَ مِنَ الْأَذَانِ وَ جَلَسَ اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ قَلْبِي بَارّاً وَ عَيْشِي قَارّاً وَ رِزْقِي دَارّاً وَ اجْعَلْ لِي عِنْدَ قَبْرِ نَبِيِّكَ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) قَرَاراً وَ مُسْتَقَرّاً .

AI-Hussain ibn Mohammed has narrated from’ Abd Allah ibn ‘Amir from Ali ibn Mahziyar from al-Husayn ibn Asad from Ja’far ibn Mohammed ibn Yaqzan in a marfu, manner from the Imam who has said the following:

‘The Imam^-asws has said: ‘When one completes reciting Azan and sits down, he should say, “O Allah, make my heart virtuous, my livelihood constant, my sustenance to come continuously and assign for me a place near the grave of your Prophet^-saww to rest and dwell.’

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ   (عليه السلام ) إِذَا جَلَسْتَ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الْأَوَّلَتَيْنِ فَتَشَهَّدْتَ ثُمَّ قُمْتَ فَقُلْ بِحَوْلِ اللَّهِ وَ قُوتِهِ أَقُومُ وَ أَقْعُدُ .

Mohammed ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Mohammed, who from Hammad ibn ‘Isa, who from Hariz, who from Mohammed ibn Muslim, who has said the following:

‘Abu ‘Abd Allah^-asws has said: ‘When you sit up straight after the first two Rak’at, say Tashahhud, then during standing up say, “By the means of Allah and His power I stand up and sit down.’

إذا فرغ أحدكم من الصلاة فليرفع يديه إلى السماء في الدعاء و لينتصب فقال ابن سبإ يا أمير المؤمنين أ ليس الله بكل مكان قال بلى قال فلم نرفع أيدينا إلى السماء فقال ويحك أ ما تقرأ وَ فِي السَّماءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَ ما تُوعَدُونَ فمن أين نطلب الرزق إلا من موضعه و هو ما وعد الله في السماء

(Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws says): When you finish your prayers, you should raise your hands upward for supplication and sit straight.  Ibn Saba asked, “O Amir-ul-Momaneen^-asws, it is true that Allah^-azwj is everywhere, is it not?” “Yes, it is true,” answered Imam Ali^-asws. “Why do we then raise our hands to the heavens?” wondered Ibn Saba. The Imam^-asws answered him by reciting Allah^-azwj’s saying: In the heavens there is your sustenance and (it is) that which you were promised. We should seek the sustenance from its source. It is that of which Allah^-azwj promises in the heavens.[36]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ أَبِي رَجَاءٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ حُسْنُ الْجِوَارِ يَزِيدُ فِي الرِّزْقِ

A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Mohammed ibn Khalid from Isma’il ibn Mehran from Ibrahim ibn abu Raja’ who has narrated the following from Abu Abd Allah^-asws:

‘Maintaining good neighbourly relations increases one’s sustenance.’[37]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ الْبَخْتَرِيِّ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لِي تُحِبُّهُ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لِي وَ لِمَ لَا تُحِبُّهُ وَ هُوَ أَخُوكَ وَ شَرِيكُكَ فِي دِينِكَ وَ عَوْنُكَ عَلَى عَدُوِّكَ وَ رِزْقُهُ عَلَى غَيْرِكَ

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his rather from ibn abu Umayr from Hafs ibn al-Bakhtari who has said the following:

‘Once I was in the presence of Abu Abd Allah^-asws when a man came in and the Imam^-asws asked me: ‘Do you like him?’ I said, ‘Yes, I like him.’ The Imam^-asws asked me: ‘How would you not like him when he is your brother (in belief), your associate in religion, your supporter against your enemies and Someone^-azwj other than you Provides his sustenance!’[38]

لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا إِلَّا سَلَامًا وَلَهُمْ رِزْقُهُمْ فِيهَا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا {6219:}

They shall not hear therein any vain discourse, but only: Salam, and they shall have their sustenance therein morning and evening.

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.[39]

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 the following:

‘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.’[40]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَسَّانَ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع يَقُولُ الرِّفْقُ نِصْفُ الْعَيْشِ وَ مَا عَالَ امْرُؤٌ فِي اقْتِصَادِهِ

A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Hassan from Musa ibn Bakr who has said the following:

‘I heard abu al-Hassan, Musa^-asws say: ‘Easing off in spending is half of one’s sustenance, and with observance of moderation, one does not become poor.’[41]

Rizq from Unexpected Sources:

عَلِيٌّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ الْكُنَاسِيِّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَنْ رَفَعَهُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ وَ مَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجاً وَ يَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُ قَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ قَوْمٌ مِنْ شِيعَتِنَا ضُعَفَاءُ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُمْ مَا يَتَحَمَّلُونَ بِهِ إِلَيْنَا فَيَسْمَعُونَ حَدِيثَنَا وَ يَقْتَبِسُونَ مِنْ عِلْمِنَا فَيَرْحَلُ قَوْمٌ فَوْقَهُمْ وَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ وَ يُتْعِبُونَ أَبْدَانَهُمْ حَتَّى يَدْخُلُوا عَلَيْنَا فَيَسْمَعُوا حَدِيثَنَا فَيَنْقُلُونَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ فَيَعِيهِ هَؤُلَاءِ وَ تُضَيِّعُهُ هَؤُلَاءِ فَأُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَجْعَلُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ لَهُمْ مَخْرَجاً وَ يَرْزُقُهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُونَ

Ali, from Ali Bin Al Husayn, from Muhammad Al Kunary who said:

‘It was narrated to us with an unbroken chain going up to Abu Abdullah^-asws regarding His^-azwj Statement, Mighty is His^-azwj Mention: “[65:2] and whoever is careful of (his duty to) Allah, He will make for him an outlet [65:3] And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine”. He^-asws said: ‘These are our^-asws weak Shiites who do not have the means in order to take (Hadeeth) it (directly) from us^-asws. So they hear our^-asws Hadeeth and they try to accumulate from our^-asws Knowledge. A (collection of) people who are higher than them, who spend their wealth, tiring their bodies to the extent that they came up to us^-asws, hear our^-asws Hadeeth and transmit these to them. So these ones preserve them, whilst those ones waste them. So they are the ones for whom Allah^-azwj Mighty is His^-azwj Mention Makes an outlet for them and Gives them Sustenance (Hadeeth) from a source which they had not even considered beforehand.

وَ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ هَلْ أَتاكَ حَدِيثُ الْغاشِيَةِ قَالَ الَّذِينَ يَغْشَوْنَ الْإِمَامَ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لا يُسْمِنُ وَ لا يُغْنِي مِنْ جُوعٍ قَالَ لَا يَنْفَعُهُمْ وَ لَا يُغْنِيهِمْ لَا يَنْفَعُهُمُ الدُّخُولُ وَ لَا يُغْنِيهِمُ الْقُعُودُ.

And with regards to the Statement of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: “[88:1] Has not there come to you the news of the overwhelming calamity?” he^-asws said; ‘These are the ones who have cheated the Imam^-asws’ – up to the Statement of the Mighty and Majestic: “[88:7] Which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger”, said: ‘It will neither benefit them, nor free them from need, nor will it benefit them with the entering (marital relationships), nor free them from the need of sitting down’.[42]

ابن بابويه، قال: حدثنا أبي، قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسين، عن‏ ابن محبوب، عن إبراهيم الجازي، عن أبي بصير، قال: ذكرنا عند أبي جعفر (عليه السلام) من الأغنياء من الشيعة، فكأنه كره ما سمع منا فيهم،

Ibn Babuwayh said, ‘My father narrated to me, from Sa’ad Bin Abdullah, from Muhammad Bin Al-Husayn, from Ibn Mahboub, from Ibrahim Al-Jazy, from Abu Baseer who said,

‘We mentioned the rich among the Shias, in the presence of Abu Abdullah^-asws, and it was as if he^-asws did not like what he^-asws heard from us, with regards to them.

قال: «يا أبا محمد، إذا كان المؤمن غنيا، رحيما، وصولا، له معروف إلى أصحابه أعطاه الله أجر ما ينفق في البر أجره مرتين ضعفين، لأن الله عز و جل يقول في كتابه: وَ ما أَمْوالُكُمْ وَ لا أَوْلادُكُمْ بِالَّتِي تُقَرِّبُكُمْ عِنْدَنا زُلْفى إِلَّا مَنْ آمَنَ وَ عَمِلَ صالِحاً فَأُولئِكَ لَهُمْ جَزاءُ الضِّعْفِ بِما عَمِلُوا وَ هُمْ فِي الْغُرُفاتِ آمِنُونَ».

He^-asws said: ‘O Abu Muhammad! When the Momin is rich, merciful, maintains good relations, well known amongst his companions, Allah^-azwj Would Give him the recompense for what he spent in the righteousness, twice, double the Recompense of the weak ones, because Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying in His^-azwj Book: And neither your wealth nor your children would be those drawing you closer in Our Presence, except one who believes and does righteous deeds. So they, for them would be the double Recompense due to what they had done, and they would be secure in the chambers [34:37]’.[43]

في امالي شيخ الطائفة قدس سره باسناده إلى أمير المؤمنين حديث طويل يقول فيه عليه السلام: حتى إذا كان يوم القيامة حسب لهم ثم أعطاهم بكل واحدة عشر أمثالها إلى سبعمأة ضعف، قال الله عزوجل: (جزاء من ربك عطاءا حسابا) وقال: (اولئك لهم جزاء الضعف بما عملوا وهم في الغرفات آمنون).

In Amaali of Sheykh Al-Taaifa, by his chain going up to

Amir-Al-Momineen^-asws –  a lengthy Hadeeth – in which he^-asws is saying: ‘When it will be the Day of Judgement, they would be Reckoned with, then each one of them would be Given the like of ten times of it, up to seven hundred times the increase’.[44]

قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ ۚ وَمَا أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ {39}

Say: ‘Surely my Lord Extends the sustenance for one He so Desires to from His servants, and He Straitens for him. And whatever you spend from anything, He will Replace it, and He is the best of the Sustainers [34:39]

محمد بن يعقوب: عن علي بن إبراهيم، عن أبيه، عن عثمان بن عيسى، عمن حدثه، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) قال: قلت: آيتان في كتاب الله عز و جل أطلبهما فلا أجدهما، قال: «و ما هما؟» قلت: قول الله عز و جل: ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ، فندعوه و لا نرى إجابة!

Muhammad Bin Yaqoub, from Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Usman Bin Isa, from the one who narrated it to him,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws, when ‘I said, ‘There are two Verses in the Book of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic, I seek by these two but I do not find (a result from) these two’. He^-asws said: ‘And what are these two?’ I said, ‘(The first one is) the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: “Supplicate to Me, I will Answer you [40:60]. So we supplicate to Him^-azwj, and we do not see an Answer!’

قال: «أفترى الله عز و جل أخلف وعده؟» قلت: لا. قال: «فبما ذلك؟» قلت: لا أدري.

He^-asws said; ‘Do you think that Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Opposing His^-azwj Own Promise?’ I said, ‘No’. He^-asws said: ‘So why is it like that?’ I said, ‘I do not know’.

قال: «و لكني أخبرك، من أطاع الله عز و جل فيما أمره من دعائه من جهة الدعاء أجابه». قلت: و ما جهة الدعاء؟ قال: «تبدأ فتحمد الله و تذكر نعمه عندك، ثم تشكره، ثم تصلي على النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله)، ثم تذكر ذنوبك فتعترف بها، ثم تستعيذ منها، فهذا جهة الدعاء».

He^-asws said: ‘But, I^-asws shall inform you. The one who obeys Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic regarding whatever He^-azwj has Commanded him from the mannerisms of the supplication, He^-azwj would Answer him’. I said, ‘And what are its mannerisms of the supplication?’ He^-asws said: ‘You begin by the Praise of Allah^-azwj and mention His^-azwj Bounties which are with you. Then thank Him^-azwj, then send greetings upon the Prophet^-saww. Then recall your sins and admit having committed them, then seek Refuge from these. So these are the mannerisms of the supplication’.

ثم قال: «و ما الآية الاخرى؟» قلت: قول الله عز و جل: وَ ما أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَ هُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ، و إني أنفق و لا أرى خلفا!

Then he^-asws said: ‘And what was the other Verse?’ I said, ‘The Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: And whatever you spend from anything, He will Replace it, and He is the best of the Sustainers [34:39]. And I spend but I do not see its replacement!’

قال: «أفترى الله عز و جل أخلف وعده؟» فقلت: لا. قال: «فمم ذلك؟» قلت: لا أدري.

He^-asws said: ‘Do you think that Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Opposes His^-azwj Own Promise?’ So I said, ‘No’. He^-asws said: ‘So why is that then?’ I said, ‘I do not know’.

قال: «لو أن أحدكم اكتسب المال من حله و أنفقه في حله، لم ينفق درهما إلا أخلف عليه».

The Imam^-asws said: ‘If one of you were to attain your wealth from its Permissible way, and spend it in its Permissible way, (you) would not spend a Dirham except that it would be Replaced’.[45]

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’.[46]

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’.[47]

لَقَدْ كَانَ لِسَبَإٍ فِي مَسْكَنِهِمْ آيَةٌ ۖ جَنَّتَانِ عَنْ يَمِينٍ وَشِمَالٍ ۖ كُلُوا مِنْ رِزْقِ رَبِّكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لَهُ ۚ بَلْدَةٌ طَيِّبَةٌ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٌ {15}

Certainly, there was a Sign for Saba in their dwellings of two gardens on the right and left: “Eat from the sustenance of your Lord and be thankful to Him!” A good city and a Forgiving Lord [34:15]

قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ {3634:}

Say: ‘Surely my Lord Extends the sustenance for whom He so Desires to and straitens, but most of the people are ignorant (don’t want to learn)’ [34:36]

قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ ۚ وَمَا أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ {39}

Say: ‘Surely my Lord Extends the sustenance for one He so Desires to from His servants, and He Straitens for him. And whatever you spend from anything, He will Replace it, and He is the best of the Sustainers [34:39]

علي بن إبراهيم، قال: حدثني أبي، عن حماد، عن حريز، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)، قال: «إن الرب تبارك و تعالى ينزل أمره كل ليلة جمعة إلى السماء الدنيا من أول الليل، و في كل ليلة في الثلث الأخير، و أمامه ملكان يناديان: هل من تائب يتاب عليه؟ هل من مستغفر فيغفر له؟ هل من سائل فيعطى سؤله

Ali Bin Ibrahim said, ‘My father narrated to me, from Hamaad, from Hareyz,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: ‘The Lord^-azwj Blessed and Exalted, His^-azwj Command Descends every Friday night to the sky of the world from the beginning of the night, and in every night in the last third of it. And in front of it are two Angels Calling out: ‘Is there one who is repenting, so He^-azwj Turns toward him? Is there one who seeks Forgiveness so He^-azwj Forgives him? Is there one who asks, so He^-azwj Gives it to him?

اللهم أعط كل منفق خلفا، و كل ممسك تلفا. فإذا طلع الفجر عاد أمر الرب إلى عرشه، فيقسم الأرزاق بين العباد».

O Allah^-azwj! Give each spender its replacement, and Rectify to each holder its damage!’ So when the dawn emerges, they return the Command of the Lord^-azwj to His^-azwj Throne, and He^-azwj Distributes the sustenance between the servants’.

ثم قال للفضيل بن يسار: «يا فضيل، نصيبك من ذلك، و هو قول الله: وَ ما أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَ هُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ وَ يَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعاً ثُمَّ يَقُولُ لِلْمَلائِكَةِ أَ هؤُلاءِ إِيَّاكُمْ كانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ فتقول الملائكة: سُبْحانَكَ أَنْتَ وَلِيُّنا مِنْ دُونِهِمْ بَلْ كانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ الْجِنَّ أَكْثَرُهُمْ بِهِمْ مُؤْمِنُونَ».

The he^-asws said to Al-Fazeyl: ‘O Fazeyl, your share from that, and these are the Words of Allah^-azwj: And whatever you spend from anything, He will Replace it, and He is the best of the Sustainers [34:39] And on the Day He will Gather them all together, then He would be Saying to the Angels: “Are these who were worshipping you?” [34:40] They shall say: ‘Glory be to You! You are our Guardian from besides them. But, they were worshipping the Jinn. Most of them were believing in them [34:41]’.[48]

وعنه، قال: حدثني محمد بن عبد الله بن جعفر الحميري، عن أبيه، عن محمد بن عبد الحميد، عن سيف بن عميرة، عن منصور بن حازم، قال: سمعناه يقول: «من أتى عليه حول لم يأت قبر الحسين (عليه السلام) أنقض الله من عمره حولا، و لو قلت أن أحدكم يموت قبل أجله بثلاثين سنة لكنت صادقا، و ذلك أنكم تتركون زيارته، فلا تدعوا زيارته يمد الله في أعماركم و يزيد في أرزاقكم، و إذا تركتم زيارته نقص الله من أعماركم و أرزاقكم،

And from him (Qulawayh) who said, ‘Muhammad Bin Abdullah Bin Ja’far Al Humeyri narrated to me, from his father, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Hameed, from Sayf Bin Umeyra, from Mansour Bin Haazim who said,

‘I heard him^-asws saying: ‘The one who comes around it (travels) but does not go to the grave of Al-Husayn^-asws, Allah^-azwj Reduces from his lifetime, around it. And if you were to say that death came upon a person thirty years too soon, it would be true, and that is when you leave his^-asws visitation (Ziyarat). Therefore do not leave his^-asws Ziyarat. Allah^-azwj would Extend your lifetime and Increase your sustenance. And when you neglect his^-asws Ziyarat, Allah^-azwj Reduces from your lifetime and your sustenance.

فسابقوا في زيارته، و لا تدعوا ذلك فإن الحسين بن علي (عليهما السلام) شاهد لكم في ذلك عند الله، و عند رسوله، و عند علي و فاطمة (عليهم السلام)».

You should therefore race (compete) in visiting him^-asws, and do not leave that, for Al-Husayn^-asws Bin Ali^-asws would testify for you in the Presence of Allah^-azwj for that, and in the presence of His^-azwj Rasool^-saww, and in the presence of Amir-al-Momineen^-asws and (Syeda) Fatima^-asws’.[49]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْقَاسَانِيِّ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع كُنْ لِمَا لَا تَرْجُو أَرْجَى مِنْكَ لِمَا تَرْجُو فَإِنَّ مُوسَى بْنَ عِمْرَانَ ع خَرَجَ يَقْتَبِسُ لِأَهْلِهِ نَاراً فَكَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ رَجَعَ نَبِيّاً مُرْسَلًا وَ خَرَجَتْ مَلِكَةُ سَبَإٍ فَأَسْلَمَتْ مَعَ‏ سُلَيْمَانَ ع وَ خَرَجَتْ سَحَرَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ يَطْلُبُونَ الْعِزَّ لِفِرْعَوْنَ فَرَجَعُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ

A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘ Abd Allah from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasaniy from the one whom he has mentioned from’ Abd Allah ibn al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Abu Abd Allah^-asws from his father, from his grandfather^-asws who has said the following:

‘Abu Ja’far^-asws has said that Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws has said: ‘Your hope for help from an unexpected source should be greater than an expected source. Musa^-as [50]went to find fire for his family, Allah^-azwj Spoke to him^-as and he^-as came back as a Prophet. Queen of Sheba’[51] went out and became a Muslim with Sulayman[52]. The magician went out to defend Pharaoh’s majesty but they returned as believing people’.[53]

One Must Always be Seeking Livelihood:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمِنْقَرِيِّ عَنْ هِشَامٍ الصَّيْدَلَانِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَا هِشَامُ إِنْ رَأَيْتَ الصَّفَّيْنِ قَدِ الْتَقَيَا فَلَا تَدَعْ طَلَبَ الرِّزْقِ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Ismail Bin Muhammad Al Minqary, from Hisham Al Saydalany who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘O Hisham! Even if you were to see the two swords having met (in battle), so do not leave seeking the livelihood during that day’.[54]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ شِهَابِ بْنِ عَبْدِ رَبِّهِ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) إِنْ ظَنَنْتَ أَوْ بَلَغَكَ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ كَائِنٌ فِي غَدٍ فَلَا تَدَعَنَّ طَلَبَ الرِّزْقِ وَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ لَا تَكُونَ كَلًّا فَافْعَلْ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Al Husayn Bin Ahmad, from Shihab Bin Abd Rabbihi who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said to me: ‘Even if you think, or it reaches you, that this matter (Rising of Al-Qaim^-asws) would be occurring the next morning, so do not leave seeking of the livelihood, and even if you have the ability to do both, so (still) do it (seek livelihood)’.[55]

What Should One do to Seek Rizq?

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ زِيَادٍ الْقَنْدِيِّ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ الصَّحَّافِ عَنْ سَدِيرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) أَيُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ فَقَالَ إِذَا فَتَحْتَ بَابَكَ وَ بَسَطْتَ بِسَاطَكَ فَقَدْ قَضَيْتَ مَا عَلَيْكَ .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Abdul Rahman Bin Hammad, from Ziyad Al Qindy, from Al Husayn Al Sahhaf, from Sadeyr who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘Which thing is upon the man regarding seeking of the livelihood?’ So he^-asws said: ‘If you open your door (of shop) and spread out (neatly) your merchandise, so you have fulfilled what is upon you’.[56]

Rizq that is more than what one needs is not Beneficial:

عن عليّ بن الحسين عليهما السلام قال: مرَّ رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم بِراعي إبلٍ فبعث إليه يستسقيه، فقال: أمّا ما في ضُروعها فصبوح الحي وأمّا ما في آنيتها فغبوقهم، فقال رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: اللّهمّ أكثر ماله وولده، ثمَّ مرَّ براعي غنمٍ فبعث إليه يستسقيه، فحَلب له ما في ضروعها وأكفأ ما في إنائه في إناء رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم وبعث إليه بشاةٍ، وقال: هذا ما عندنا، وإن أحببتَ أن نزيدك زِدناك، فقال رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: اللّهمّ ارزُقه الكفَاف، فقال له بعض أصحابه: يا رسول الله، دعوتَ للّذي ردَّك بدُعاء عامّتنا نُحبّه، ودعوتُ للّذي أسعفك بحاجتك بدُعاءٍ كُلُّنا نكرهه، فقال رسول الله صلي الله عليه و اله و سلم: إنّ ما قلّ وكفى خيرٌ ممّا كَثُرَ وألهى، اللّهمّ اجعل رِزقَ محمّدٍ وآل محمّدٍ الكفاف.

Imam Sajjad^-asws said: “Rasool Allah^-saww passed by a cameleer. He^-saww sent someone to ask for some milk. The cameleer said: “What is in the pans is the dinner for the tribe and what is in their breasts is the breakfast for the tribe.”

Rasool Allah^-saww said: “O’ Allah^-azwj! Please increase his wealth and children.”

Then he^-saww went on until they reached a shepherd. He^-saww sent someone to ask for some milk. The shepherd milked the sheep and gave all the milk in the pans plus that milk to the Prophet^-saww, along with one sheep and said: “This was what we had, and we will even give you^-saww more if you want.”

Rasool Allah^-saww said: “O’ Allah^-azwj! Please give him only his sustenance.”

One of the companions said: “O’ Rasool Allah^-saww! You^-saww prayed the way we all like to be prayed for, for the man who turned you^-saww down.

But you^-saww prayed the way none of us like to be prayed for the man who fulfilled your^-saww needs.” Rasool Allah^-saww said: “What is available but is little is better than what is a lot but takes away one’s peace of mind. O’ Allah^-azwj! Please Provide for Muhammad^-saww and his family^-asws just their sustenance.”[57]

Extraordinary Blessings of Allah^-azwj for Non-Believers in the World:

. عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: إنّ الله أهبط ملكا إلى الأرض فلبث فيها دهراً طويلاً، ثمّ عرج إلى السماء فقيل له: ما رأيت؟ قال: رأيتُ عجائب كثيرةً، ومِن أعجب ما رأيت إنّي رأيتُ مُتقلّباً في نعمك يأكل رزقك ويدّعي الربُوبيّة لنفسه فعجبتُ مِن جرأته عليك ومِن حِلمك منه! فقال الله: أفمِن حِلمي عجبت؟ فإنّي قد أملكتُه أربعمائة عامٍ لا يضرب عليه عرقٌ ولا يريد مِن الدُنيا شيئاً إلا أتاه ولا يتغيّر عليه مَطعمٌ ولا مشربٌ.

Imam Sadiq^-asws said: “Allah^-azwj Sent down an angel to Earth. He stayed on the Earth for a long time and then returned to the heavens. He was asked: “What did you see there?” He said: “I saw many amazing things there, but the most amazing thing that I saw was someone who abused Your^-azwj blessings. He ate of what You^-azwj Provided for his sustenance, but claimed to be god.

I was amazed at his boldness and Your^-azwj Patience.” Allah^-azwj Said: “You were amazed at My^-azwj Patience? I^-azwj Let him live for four hundred years, and he never got ill. I^-azwj Granted to him whatever he wanted in the world, and I^-azwj never Changed his food and drinks.”[58]

A Supplication for Asking for Rizq:

There are several supplications for asking for Rizq, here we present two Ahadith, which also clarify the above Hadith.

أَبُو بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ( عليه السلام ) يَدْعُو بِهَذَا الدُّعَاءِ

Abu Baseer,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘It was so that Ali^-asws Bin Al-Husayn^-asws used to supplicate with this supplication:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ حُسْنَ الْمَعِيشَةِ مَعِيشَةً أَتَقَوَّى بِهَا عَلَى جَمِيعِ حَوَائِجِي وَ أَتَوَصَّلُ بِهَا فِي الْحَيَاةِ إِلَى آخِرَتِي مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ تُتْرِفَنِي فِيهَا فَأَطْغَى أَوْ تَقْتُرَ بِهَا عَلَيَّ فَأَشْقَى أَوْسِعْ عَلَيَّ مِنْ حَلَالِ رِزْقِكَ وَ أَفِضْ عَلَيَّ مِنْ سَيْبِ فَضْلِكَ نِعْمَةً مِنْكَ سَابِغَةً وَ عَطَاءً غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ

‘O Allah^-azwj! I plead before You^-azwj for good means of living with which I may gain power for all of my needs and continue my life to the next life, but not so affluently with which I may rebel, or such constraints that make me miserable.  Expand for me Your^-azwj lawful sustenance and Increase for me Your^-azwj generous favour, a delightful bounty, and a charity for me without being burdened.  Do not Cause me to be held back from paying thanks for Your^-azwj bounties (due to the abundance of them).

ثُمَّ لَا تَشْغَلْنِي عَنْ شُكْرِ نِعْمَتِكَ بِإِكْثَارٍ مِنْهَا تُلْهِينِي بَهْجَتُهُ وَ تَفْتِنِّي زَهَرَاتُ زَهْوَتِهِ وَ لَا بِإِقْلَالٍ عَلَيَّ مِنْهَا يَقْصُرُ بِعَمَلِي كَدُّهُ وَ يَمْلَأُ صَدْرِي هَمُّهُ

Then do not Let me^-asws be too pre-occupied from thanking for Your^-azwj Bounties due to the abundance from it, and its delight would distract me^-asws and the blossoms of its flowers would tempt me^-asws, nor by the scarcity upon me^-asws from it, reducing my^-asws toiling for it, and filling my^-asws chest with its worries.

أَعْطِنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ يَا إِلَهِي غِنًى عَنْ شِرَارِ خَلْقِكَ وَ بَلَاغاً أَنَالُ بِهِ رِضْوَانَكَ وَ أَعُوذُ بِكَ يَا إِلَهِي مِنْ شَرِّ الدُّنْيَا وَ شَرِّ مَا فِيهَا لَا تَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا عَلَيَّ سِجْناً وَ لَا فِرَاقَهَا عَلَيَّ حُزْناً أَخْرِجْنِي مِنْ فِتْنَتِهَا مَرْضِيّاً عَنِّي مَقْبُولًا فِيهَا عَمَلِي إِلَى دَارِ الْحَيَوَانِ وَ مَسَاكِنِ الْأَخْيَارِ وَ أَبْدِلْنِي بِالدُّنْيَا الْفَانِيَةِ نَعِيمَ الدَّارِ الْبَاقِيَةِ

Give it to me^-asws from that, O my^-asws God, self-sufficiency from the evil of Your^-azwj creatures, and adequate (sustenance, so that) I^-asws can take Your^-azwj Pleasure with it, and I^-asws can seek Refuge with You^-azwj, O my^-asws God, from the evil of the world and the evil of whatever is in it. Make the prison to be a prison upon me^-asws and do not (Make) its separation to be a grief upon me^-asws. Extract me^-asws from its strife being Pleased from me^-asws, my^-asws deeds having been Accepted in it, to the house of (eternal) life and the dwelling of the Chosen ones, and Exchange for me with the perishable world, the Bounties of the House of the Remaining.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَزْلِهَا وَ زِلْزَالِهَا وَ سَطَوَاتِ شَيَاطِينِهَا وَ سَلَاطِينِهَا وَ نَكَالِهَا وَ مِنْ بَغْيِ مَنْ بَغَى عَلَيَّ فِيهَا

O Allah^-azwj! I seek Refuge with You^-azwj from its decline and its turbulence, and the hold-ups of its Satans^-la, and its ruling authorities, and its troubles, and the ones who rebel, the ones who rebel against me in it.

اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ كَادَنِي فَكِدْهُ وَ مَنْ أَرَادَنِي فَأَرِدْهُ وَ فُلَّ عَنِّي حَدَّ مَنْ نَصَبَ لِي حَدَّهُ وَ أَطْفِ عَنِّي نَارَ مَنْ شَبَّ لِي وَقُودَهُ وَ اكْفِنِي مَكْرَ الْمَكَرَةِ وَ افْقَأْ عَنِّي عُيُونَ الْكَفَرَةِ وَ اكْفِنِي هَمَّ مَنْ أَدْخَلَ عَلَيَّ هَمَّهُ وَ ادْفَعْ عَنِّي شَرَّ الْحَسَدَةِ وَ اعْصِمْنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِالسَّكِينَةِ وَ أَلْبِسْنِي دِرْعَكَ الْحَصِينَةَ وَ اخْبَأْنِي فِي سِتْرِكَ الْوَاقِي وَ أَصْلِحْ لِي حَالِي وَ صَدِّقْ قَوْلِي بِفَعَالِي وَ بَارِكْ لِي فِي أَهْلِي وَ مَالِي .

O Allah^-azwj! The one who plots against me^-asws, Plan against him, and the one intends (to harm) me^-asws, so Harm him, and Neutralise from me a limit from the one who establishes a limitation to me^-asws, and Extinguish from me^-asws the fire of the one who lights it to me and fuels it; and Suffice me for the plots of the plotters, and Divert from me^-asws the spying eyes of the disbelievers, and Suffice me^-asws for the worries of the one who enters the worries upon me^-asws, and Repel from me^-asws the evil of the envy and Rescue me^-asws from that with the tranquillity, and Clothe me^-asws with Your^-azwj Fortified Shield, and Hide me^-asws in Your^-azwj Defensive Veil, and Correct my^-asws situation for me^-asws, and Verify my^-asws words with my^-asws deeds, and Bless for me^-asws in my^-asws family and my^-asws wealth’’.[59]

عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ أَخَذْتُ هَذَا الدُّعَاءَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ وَ كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ يُسَمِّيهِ الْجَامِعَ

Ali, from his father, from Ibn Mahboub, from Hisham Bin Salim, from

(It has been narrated) from Abu Hamza who said, ‘I took this supplication from Abu Ja’far^-asws Muhammad Bin Ali^-asws, and Abu Ja’far^-asws used to call it, ‘The Comprehensive’.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ وَ بِجَمِيعِ رُسُلِهِ وَ بِجَمِيعِ مَا أَنْزَلَ بِهِ عَلَى جَمِيعِ الرُّسُلِ وَ أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَ لِقَاءَهُ حَقٌّ وَ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَ بَلَّغَ الْمُرْسَلُونَ

In the Name of Allah^-azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful. I testify that there is no god except Allah^-azwj, Alone, there being no associate for Him^-azwj. And I testify that Muhammad^-saww is His^-azwj servant and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww. I believe in Allah^-azwj and in the entirety of His^-azwj Rasool^-as, and in the entirety of what He^-azwj Revealed with upon the entirety of the Rasools^-as, and that the Promise of Allah^-azwj is True, and His^-azwj Meeting is True, and Allah^-azwj Spoke the Truth and the Mursil Prophets^-as delivered (the Message).

وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ كُلَّمَا سَبَّحَ اللَّهَ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَ كَمَا يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُسَبَّحَ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كُلَّمَا حَمِدَ اللَّهَ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَ كَمَا يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُحْمَدَ وَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ كُلَّمَا هَلَّلَ اللَّهَ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَ كَمَا يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُهَلَّلَ وَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كُلَّمَا كَبَّرَ اللَّهَ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَ كَمَا يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُكَبَّرَ

And the Praise is for Allah^-azwj, Lord^-azwj of the worlds, and Glory be to Allah^-azwj every time something Glorifies Allah^-azwj, and just as Allah^-azwj Loves that He^-azwj be Glorified. And the Praise is for Allah^-azwj every time something praises Him^-azwj, and just as He^-azwj Loves that He^-azwj be Glorifed. And there is no god except Allah^-azwj, every time something Extols the Oneness of Allah^-azwj, and just as Allah^-azwj Loves that He^-azwj be Extolled. And Allah^-azwj is the Greatest, every time something exclaims the Greatness of Allah^-azwj and just as Allah^-azwj Loves that His^-azwj Greatness be exclaimed.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مَفَاتِيحَ الْخَيْرِ وَ خَوَاتِيمَهُ وَ سَوَابِغَهُ وَ فَوَائِدَهُ وَ بَرَكَاتِهِ وَ مَا بَلَغَ عِلْمَهُ عِلْمِي وَ مَا قَصَرَ عَنْ إِحْصَائِهِ حِفْظِي اللَّهُمَّ انْهَجْ إِلَيَّ أَسْبَابَ مَعْرِفَتِهِ وَ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَهُ وَ غَشِّنِي بِبَرَكَاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ وَ مُنَّ عَلَيَّ بِعِصْمَةٍ عَنِ الْإِزَالَةِ عَنْ دِينِكَ

O Allah^-azwj! I ask You^-azwj for the Opening of the goodness, and for its completion, and for its pleasures, and its benefits, and blessings, and what my knowledge reaches it, and what my memory falls short of its counting. O Allah^-azwj! Draw closer to me the causes for its recognition, and Open its doors for me, and Overwhelm me with the Blessings of Your^-azwj Mercy, and Bestow upon me the infallibility from the decline from Your^-azwj Religion.

وَ طَهِّرْ قَلْبِي مِنَ الشَّكِّ وَ لَا تَشْغَلْ قَلْبِي بِدُنْيَايَ وَ عَاجِلِ مَعَاشِي عَنْ آجِلِ ثَوَابِ آخِرَتِي وَ اشْغَلْ قَلْبِي بِحِفْظِ مَا لَا تَقْبَلُ مِنِّي جَهْلَهُ وَ ذَلِّلْ لِكُلِّ خَيْرٍ لِسَانِي وَ طَهِّرْ قَلْبِي مِنَ الرِّيَاءِ وَ لَا تُجْرِهِ فِي مَفَاصِلِي وَ اجْعَلْ عَمَلِي خَالِصاً لَكَ

And Purify my heart from the doubts, and do not Let my heart to be pre-occupied with my world and my immediate life from the deferred Rewards of my Hereafter, and Pre-occupy my heart with the preservation of what is not Acceptable from me from being ignorant of it, and Humble my tongue for every goodness, and Purify my heart from the showing off, and do not Cause it (showing off) to flow in my joints, and Make my deeds to be sincerely for You^-azwj.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ وَ أَنْوَاعِ الْفَوَاحِشِ كُلِّهَا ظَاهِرِهَا وَ بَاطِنِهَا وَ غَفَلَاتِهَا وَ جَمِيعِ مَا يُرِيدُنِي بِهِ الشَّيْطَانُ الرَّجِيمُ وَ مَا يُرِيدُنِي بِهِ السُّلْطَانُ الْعَنِيدُ مِمَّا أَحَطْتَ بِعِلْمِهِ وَ أَنْتَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى صَرْفِهِ عَنِّي

O Allah^-azwj! I seek Refuge with You^-azwj from the evil and the varieties of the immoralities, all of them, its apparent ones and its hidden ones, and its neglectful ones, and the entirety of what the Pelted Satan^-la intends me with, and what the obstinate ruling authorities intend me with from what his knowledge encompasses, and You^-azwj are Able upon Exchanging it from me.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ طَوَارِقِ الْجِنِّ وَ الْإِنْسِ وَ زَوَابِعِهِمْ وَ بَوَائِقِهِمْ وَ مَكَايِدِهِمْ وَ مَشَاهِدِ الْفَسَقَةِ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَ الْإِنْسِ وَ أَنْ أُسْتَزَلَّ عَنْ دِينِي فَتَفْسُدَ عَلَيَّ آخِرَتِي وَ أَنْ يَكُونَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُمْ ضَرَراً عَلَيَّ فِي مَعَاشِي أَوْ يَعْرِضُ بَلَاءٌ يُصِيبُنِي مِنْهُمْ لَا قُوَّةَ لِي بِهِ وَ لَا صَبْرَ لِي عَلَى احْتِمَالِهِ

O Allah^-azwj! I seek Refuge with You^-azwj from the ways of the Jinn and the human beings, and their furies, and their noisy disputes, and their plots, and facing the mischief from the Jinn and the human beings and that they would waver me from my Religion so they would spoil my Hereafter upon me, and that would happen to be harmful upon me during my life-time, or they would present an affliction to hit me from them, there neither being any strength for me with it nor patience for me upon bearing it.

فَلَا تَبْتَلِنِي يَا إِلَهِي بِمُقَاسَاتِهِ فَيَمْنَعَنِي ذَلِكَ عَنْ ذِكْرِكَ وَ يَشْغَلَنِي عَنْ عِبَادَتِكَ أَنْتَ الْعَاصِمُ الْمَانِعُ الدَّافِعُ الْوَاقِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ أَسْأَلُكَ اللَّهُمَّ الرَّفَاهِيَةَ فِي مَعِيشَتِي مَا أَبْقَيْتَنِي مَعِيشَةً أَقْوَى بِهَا عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ وَ أَبْلُغُ بِهَا رِضْوَانَكَ وَ أَصِيرُ بِهَا إِلَى دَارِ الْحَيَوَانِ غَداً

Therefore, do not Try me (through lack of Rizq), O my God, with its measures (small quantity) so that would prevent me from remembering You^-azwj and pre-occupy me from worshipping You^-azwj. You^-azwj are the Rescuer, the Defender, the Repeller, the Saver from all of that. I ask You^-azwj, O Allah^-azwj, for the ease in my living for what remains of my life-time, I can strengthen by being upon Your^-azwj obedience, and reach Your^-azwj Pleasure by it, and by it I can come to the House of (eternal) living tomorrow.

وَ لَا تَرْزُقْنِي رِزْقاً يُطْغِينِي وَ لَا تَبْتَلِنِي بِفَقْرٍ أَشْقَى بِهِ مُضَيَّقاً عَلَيَّ أَعْطِنِي حَظّاً وَافِراً فِي آخِرَتِي وَ مَعَاشاً وَاسِعاً هَنِيئاً مَرِيئاً فِي دُنْيَايَ وَ لَا تَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا عَلَيَّ سِجْناً وَ لَا تَجْعَلْ فِرَاقَهَا عَلَيَّ حُزْناً أَجِرْنِي مِنْ فِتْنَتِهَا وَ اجْعَلْ عَمَلِي فِيهَا مَقْبُولًا وَ سَعْيِي فِيهَا مَشْكُوراً

And do not Grace me with such a sustenance which would cause me to transgress, and nor Try me with poverty which I would be miserable with, being constrained upon me. Give me an abundant share in my Hereafter, and a capacious living, welcoming, pleasant in my world, and do not Make the world to be a prison upon me, nor Making its separation upon me to be a grief. Rescue me from its strife and Make my deeds therein to be Acceptable, and my striving in it to be grateful.

اللَّهُمَّ وَ مَنْ أَرَادَنِي بِسُوءٍ فَأَرِدْهُ بِمِثْلِهِ وَ مَنْ كَادَنِي فِيهَا فَكِدْهُ وَ اصْرِفْ عَنِّي هَمَّ مَنْ أَدْخَلَ عَلَيَّ هَمَّهُ وَ امْكُرْ بِمَنْ مَكَرَ بِي فَإِنَّكَ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ وَ افْقَأْ عَنِّي عُيُونَ الْكَفَرَةِ الظَّلَمَةِ وَ الطُّغَاةِ وَ الْحَسَدَةِ

O Allah^-azwj! And the one who intends evil with me, Return it to him with the like of it, and the one who plots against me therein, so Plot (against) him, and Exchange from me its worries from entering upon me, and Plan against the one who plans against me, for You^-azwj are the Best of the planners, and Blind from me the eyes of the disbelievers, and the oppressors, and the arrogant ones, and the envious ones.

اللَّهُمَّ وَ أَنْزِلْ عَلَيَّ مِنْكَ السَّكِينَةَ وَ أَلْبِسْنِي دِرْعَكَ الْحَصِينَةَ وَ احْفَظْنِي بِسِتْرِكَ الْوَاقِي وَ جَلِّلْنِي عَافِيَتَكَ النَّافِعَةَ وَ صَدِّقْ قَوْلِي وَ فَعَالِي وَ بَارِكْ لِي فِي وُلْدِي وَ أَهْلِي وَ مَالِي

O Allah^-azwj! And Send down the tranquillity upon me, from You^-azwj, and Clothe me with Your^-azwj Fortified Shield, and Protect me with Your^-azwj Defensive Veil, and Wrap me with Your^-azwj goodly beneficial health, and Ratify my words and my deeds, and Bless for me regarding my children, and my family, and my wealth.

اللَّهُمَّ مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَ مَا أَخَّرْتُ وَ مَا أَغْفَلْتُ وَ مَا تَعَمَّدْتُ وَ مَا تَوَانَيْتُ وَ مَا أَعْلَنْتُ وَ مَا أَسْرَرْتُ فَاغْفِرْهُ لِي يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ .

O Allah^-azwj! Whatever I have sent forward, and whatever I have delayed, and whatever I neglected, and whatever I deliberated, and whatever I slackened, and whatever I (did) publicly, and whatever I (did) privately, so Forgive it for me, O Most Merciful of the merciful ones!’’.[60]

[1] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 8324, Ch. 3, h, 13

[2] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 47 H 12

[3] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 42 H 1

[4] MISHKAT UL-ANWAR FI GHURAR AL-AKHBAR, H. 637

[5] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 108 H 92

[6] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 31 H 2

[7] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 36 H 2

[8] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 107 H 5

[9] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 108 H 1

[10] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 30 H 2

[11] Bihar Al Awaar – V 46, The book of History – Ja’far Al Sadiq^asws, Ch 4 H 22

[12] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 64 The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 12 H 54 / 17

[13] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Zakaat Ch 64 H 3

[14] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 8 H 4

[15] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 14 H 1

[16] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 14 H 2

[17] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 53 H 13

[18] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 156 H 29

[19] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 156 H 58

[20] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 10 H 2

[21] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 7 H 10

[22] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Zakaat Ch 52 H 4

[23] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Zakaat Ch 48 H 5

[24] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 42 H 1

[25] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Zakat Ch 79 H 10

[26] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah^azwj) CH 27 H 1

[27] Mastadrak ul Wasail, vol. 12, ch. 6, h. 52          مستدرك‏الوسائل     12     6    52- باب تحريم اختتال الدنيا بالدين

[28] Al-Kafi, Vol. 5, H. 8366.

[29] Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, H. 3024

[30] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 8344, Ch. 5, h, 2    الكافي ج : 5 ص : 78

[31] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 8360, Ch. 7, h, 5

[32] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 8383, Ch.10, h, 9

[33] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 8726, Ch. 67, h, 3

[34] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 9349, Ch. 157, h, 41

[35] Ibid

[36] Al-Kasail, vol. 2, pg. 611                        الخصال ج : 2 ص : 611

[37] Al-Kafi, vol, 2, H. 3739, Ch. 24, h 3

[38] Al-Kafi, vol, 2, H. 2035, Ch. 68, h 6

[39] Wasail ul Shai, H. 21664, originally from Manla Yazar ul Faqih,

[40] Al-Kafi, vol, 4, H. 6183, Ch. 39, h 12

[41] Al-Kafi, vol, 4, H. 6184, Ch. 39, h 13

[42] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14649

[43] علل الشرائع: 604/ 73

[44] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn – CH 34 H 71

[45] الكافي 2: 352/ 8.

[46] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn – CH 34 H 74

[47] Al Kafi – H 14993

[48] تفسير القمّي 2: 204

[49] كامل الزيارات: 151.

[50] Prophet Moses

[51] Saba

[52] Prophet Solomon

[53] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, H. 8369, Ch. 8, h, 3           الكافي ج : 5 ص : 84

[54] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 5 H 7

[55] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 5 H 9

[56] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 6 H 1

[57] MISHKAT UL-ANWAR FI GHURAR AL-AKHBAR, H. 1652

[58] MISHKAT UL-ANWAR FI GHURAR AL-AKHBAR, H. 1692

[59] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 53 H 13

[60] Al-Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 60 H 26