Some Ahadith are presented below regarding man-made rituals and beliefs that are claimed to be in the love of Allah-azwj – without prejudice and adding comments, we leave judgement and conclusions to the readers.
Note: The examples of earlier Sufis include Hassan Basri and Sufyan Al-Sowry who guided people to mystical rituals rather than the conventional practices of Rasool-Allah-saww which encouraged the learning of the Quran and Ahadith.
يج، الخرائج و الجرائح رُوِيَ عَنْ رُمَيْلَةَ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً ع مَرَّ بِرَجُلٍ يَخْبِطُ هُوَ هُوَ فَقَالَ يَا شَابُّ لَوْ قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ لَكَانَ خَيْراً لَكَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي لَا أُحْسِنُهُ وَ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنْ أُحْسِنَ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً فَقَالَ ادْنُ مِنِّي فَدَنَا مِنْهُ فَتَكَلَّمَ فِي أُذُنِهِ بِشَيْءٍ خَفِيٍّ فَصَوَّرَ اللَّهُ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّهُ فِي قَلْبِهِ فَحَفِظَ كُلَّهُ.
(The book) ‘Al Kharaij Wa Al Jaraih’ – It is reported from Rumeylah,
‘(Amir ul-Momineen) Ali-asws passed by a man stomping the ground (saying) ‘هُوَ هُوَ’ ‘(Name of Allah-azwj)! (acting on a Sufi ritual). He-asws said: ‘O youth! If you were to read the Quran, it would be better for you’. He said, ‘I am not good at it, and I would love to be good with something from it’. He-asws said: ‘Come near me-asws’. He went near him-asws. He-asws spoke in his ears with something in a low voice, and Allah-azwj Transferred the Quran, all of it into his heart. He memorised all of it’’.[1]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ سَدِيرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) وَ هُوَ دَاخِلٌ وَ أَنَا خَارِجٌ وَ أَخَذَ بِيَدِي ثُمَّ اسْتَقْبَلَ الْبَيْتَ فَقَالَ يَا سَدِيرُ إِنَّمَا أُمِرَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يَأْتُوا هَذِهِ الْأَحْجَارَ فَيَطُوفُوا بِهَا ثُمَّ يَأْتُونَا فَيُعْلِمُونَا وَلَايَتَهُمْ لَنَا وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ وَ إِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تابَ وَ آمَنَ وَ عَمِلَ صالِحاً ثُمَّ اهْتَدى ثُمَّ أَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ إِلَى وَلَايَتِنَا
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from Salih Bin Al Sindy, from Ja’far Bin Bashir and Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ibn Fazzal, altogether, from Abu Jameela, from Khalid Bin Ammar, from Sadeyr who said,
‘I heard Abu Ja’far-asws and he-asws was entering and I was exiting, and he-asws grabbed me by my hand, then faced the House (Kabah), so he-asws said: ‘Sadeyr! But rather, the people have been Commanded that they should be coming to these rocks, so they should circle with these, then they should come to us-asws, and they should let us-asws know of their Wilayah (love and submission) for us-asws, and these are the Words of Allah-azwj [20:82] And I am Forgiving to him who repents and believes and does righteous deeds, then follows the right Guidance’. Then he-asws (the Imam-asws) gestured by his-asws hand to his-asws chest (and said): ‘To our-asws Wilayah’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا سَدِيرُ فَأُرِيكَ الصَّادِّينَ عَنْ دِينِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَى أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ وَ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيِّ فِي ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ وَ هُمْ حَلَقٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ الصَّادُّونَ عَنْ دِينِ اللَّهِ بِلَا هُدًى مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ لَا كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ الْأَخَابِثَ لَوْ جَلَسُوا فِي بُيُوتِهِمْ فَجَالَ النَّاسُ فَلَمْ يَجِدُوا أَحَداً يُخْبِرُهُمْ عَنِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى وَ عَنْ رَسُولِهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) حَتَّى يَأْتُونَا فَنُخْبِرَهُمْ عَنِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى وَ عَنْ رَسُولِهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) .
Then he-asws said: ‘O Sadeyr! Shall I-asws show you the blockers from the Religion of Allah-asws?’ Then he-asws looked towards Abu Haneefa and Sufyan Al-Sowry at that time, and they had a circle (of people) in the Masjid, so he-asws said: ‘They are the blockers from the Religion of Allah-azwj, without any Guidance from Allah-azwj nor any evident Book. They are the malignant (wicked) ones. If they were to sit in their houses, so the people would go around, and they would not find anyone who would be informing them about Allah-azwj and about His-azwj Rasool-saww until they would come to us-asws. So we-asws would inform them about Allah-azwj and about His-azwj Rasool-saww’.[2]
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ مِسْكِينٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ قَالَ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ اذْهَبْ بِنَا إِلَى جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ فَذَهَبْتُ مَعَهُ إِلَيْهِ فَوَجَدْنَاهُ قَدْ رَكِبَ دَابَّتَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ سُفْيَانُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ حَدِّثْنَا بِحَدِيثِ خُطْبَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فِي مَسْجِدِ الْخَيْفِ قَالَ دَعْنِي حَتَّى أَذْهَبَ فِي حَاجَتِي فَإِنِّي قَدْ رَكِبْتُ فَإِذَا جِئْتُ حَدَّثْتُكَ
Muhammad Bin Al Hassan, from some of our companions, from Ali Bin Al Hakam, from Al Hakam Bin Miskeen, from a man of Quraysh from the people of Makkah who said,
‘Sufyan Al-Sowry (one of the earlier Sufis) said, ‘Come with us to Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad‑asws’. So, I went with him to him-asws, and we found him-asws to have ridden his-asws animal. So Sufyan said to him-asws: ‘O Abu Abdullah-asws! Narrate to us with the Hadeeth of the address of Rasool-Allah-saww in Masjid Al-Kheif’. He-asws said: ‘Leave me-asws until I-asws go regarding my-asws need, for I-asws have already mounted. So, when I-asws come back, I-asws shall narrate to you’.
فَقَالَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِقَرَابَتِكَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) لَمَّا حَدَّثْتَنِي قَالَ فَنَزَلَ فَقَالَ لَهُ سُفْيَانُ مُرْ لِي بِدَوَاةٍ وَ قِرْطَاسٍ حَتَّى أُثْبِتَهُ فَدَعَا بِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ اكْتُبْ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ خُطْبَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فِي مَسْجِدِ الْخَيْفِ نَضَّرَ اللَّهُ عَبْداً سَمِعَ مَقَالَتِي فَوَعَاهَا وَ بَلَّغَهَا مَنْ لَمْ تَبْلُغْهُ
So, he said: ‘I ask you-asws by your-asws relationship from Rasool-Allah-saww why not narrate to me (now)?’ So he-asws descended, and Sufyan said to him-asws, ‘Order with the ink and the paper until I affirm it’. So he-asws called for it, then said: ‘Write! In the Name of Allah-azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful. Rasool-Allah-saww addressed the people in Masjid Al-Kheif: ‘May Allah-azwj Flourish a servant who hears my-saww speech, so he retains it and delivers it to the one whom it has not reached.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ لِيُبَلِّغِ الشَّاهِدُ الْغَائِبَ فَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ لَيْسَ بِفَقِيهٍ وَ رُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنْهُ ثَلَاثٌ لَا يُغِلُّ عَلَيْهِنَّ قَلْبُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ إِخْلَاصُ الْعَمَلِ لِلَّهِ وَ النَّصِيحَةُ لِأَئِمَّةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ اللُّزُومُ لِجَمَاعَتِهِمْ فَإِنَّ دَعْوَتَهُمْ مُحِيطَةٌ مِنْ وَرَائِهِمْ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ تَتَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَ هُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ يَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ
O you people! Let the ones present deliver it to the absent ones, so sometimes the bearer isn’t with his understanding, and sometimes the bearer delivers it to the one who is more understanding that him. There are three things in which the heart of a Muslim does not feel treachery – (a) Sincerity of the deed for Allah-azwj, (b) and wishing well for Imams-asws of the Muslims, (c) and to stay close to the group of Muslims; for their-asws (Imam-asws’s) call (for prayer) encompass those who are behind. The Momineen are brethren, their bloods are a match for each other and they are one hand against the ones besides them, their lowest one striving for their responsibilities’’.
فَكَتَبَهُ سُفْيَانُ ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ رَكِبَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) وَ جِئْتُ أَنَا وَ سُفْيَانُ فَلَمَّا كُنَّا فِي بَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ قَالَ لِي كَمَا أَنْتَ حَتَّى أَنْظُرَ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَدْ وَ اللَّهِ أَلْزَمَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رَقَبَتَكَ شَيْئاً لَا يَذْهَبُ مِنْ رَقَبَتِكَ أَبَداً فَقَالَ وَ أَيُّ شَيْءٍ ذَلِكَ
So Sufyan wrote it, then displayed it to him-asws, and Abu Abdullah-asws mounted, and I and Sufyan came back. So, when we were in one of the roads, he said to me, ‘Stay as you are until I look into this Hadeeth’. So, I said to him, ‘But, by Allah-azwj, Abu Abdullah-asws has necessitated something on your neck which will never go away from your neck, ever!’ So, he said, ‘And which thing is that?’
فَقُلْتُ لَهُ ثَلَاثٌ لَا يُغِلُّ عَلَيْهِنَّ قَلْبُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ إِخْلَاصُ الْعَمَلِ لِلَّهِ قَدْ عَرَفْنَاهُ وَ النَّصِيحَةُ لِأَئِمَّةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ الْأَئِمَّةُ الَّذِينَ يَجِبُ عَلَيْنَا نَصِيحَتُهُمْ مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ وَ يَزِيدُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ مَرْوَانُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ وَ كُلُّ مَنْ لَا تَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُ عِنْدَنَا وَ لَا تَجُوزُ الصَّلَاةُ خَلْفَهُمْ
So, I said to him, ‘Three would not be begrudged upon by a heart of a Muslim person – Sincerity of the deed for Allah-azwj. We have recognised it. And the advice of the Imams-asws of the Muslim. Who are these Imams-asws whose advice is obligated upon us? Muawiya Bin Abu Sufyan, and Yazeed Bin Muawiya, and Marwan Bin Al-Hakam, and everyone who testimony is not allowed with us, and praying Salat behind them is not allowed?
وَ قَوْلُهُ وَ اللُّزُومُ لِجَمَاعَتِهِمْ فَأَيُّ الْجَمَاعَةِ مُرْجِئٌ يَقُولُ مَنْ لَمْ يُصَلِّ وَ لَمْ يَصُمْ وَ لَمْ يَغْتَسِلْ مِنْ جَنَابَةٍ وَ هَدَمَ الْكَعْبَةَ وَ نَكَحَ أُمَّهُ فَهُوَ عَلَى إِيمَانِ جَبْرَئِيلَ وَ مِيكَائِيلَ أَوْ قَدَرِيٌّ يَقُولُ لَا يَكُونُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ يَكُونُ مَا شَاءَ إِبْلِيسُ أَوْ حَرُورِيٌّ يَتَبَرَّأُ مِنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَ شَهِدَ عَلَيْهِ بِالْكُفْرِ أَوْ جَهْمِيٌّ يَقُولُ إِنَّمَا هِيَ مَعْرِفَةُ اللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ لَيْسَ الْإِيمَانُ شَيْءٌ غَيْرُهَا
And his-saww words: ‘and the necessity to their-asws gatherings’. So which gathering? The Murjiites are saying, ‘The one who does not pray Salat, and does not Fast, and does not wash from sexual impurities, and demolishes the Kabah, and marries his own mother, so he is upon the faith of Jibraeel-as and Mikaeel-as? Of the Qadiriites who are saying, ‘What Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Desires may not happen and what Iblees-la so desires may happen’? Or the Harouiryya who are disavowing from Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws and are testifying upon him-asws with the disbelief? Or the Jahmiys who are saying, ‘But rather it is the recognition that Allah-azwj is One, there isn’t the Eman anything other than it?’
قَالَ وَيْحَكَ وَ أَيَّ شَيْءٍ يَقُولُونَ فَقُلْتُ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ( عليه السلام ) وَ اللَّهِ الْإِمَامُ الَّذِي يَجِبُ عَلَيْنَا نَصِيحَتُهُ وَ لُزُومُ جَمَاعَتِهِمْ أَهْلُ بَيْتِهِ قَالَ فَأَخَذَ الْكِتَابَ فَخَرَقَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَا تُخْبِرْ بِهَا أَحَداً.
He said, ‘Woe be unto you! And which thing was he-asws saying: ‘So I said, ‘He-asws is saying that Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, by Allah-azwj, is the Imam-asws whose advice is Obligated upon us, and the necessitation of their-asws gatherings, the People-asws of his-saww Household’. So, he brought out the letter and burnt it, then said, ‘Do not inform anyone with it’.[3]
Debate of Sufis Against Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws:
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ قَالَ دَخَلَ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فَرَأَى عَلَيْهِ ثِيَابَ بِيضٍ كَأَنَّهَا غِرْقِئُ الْبَيْضِ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ هَذَا اللِّبَاسَ لَيْسَ مِنْ لِبَاسِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ اسْمَعْ مِنِّي وَ عِ مَا أَقُولُ لَكَ فَإِنَّهُ خَيْرٌ لَكَ عَاجِلًا وَ آجِلًا إِنْ أَنْتَ مِتَّ عَلَى السُّنَّةِ وَ الْحَقِّ وَ لَمْ تَمُتْ عَلَى بِدْعَةٍ
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from Haroun Bin Muslim, from Mas’ada Bin Sadaqa who said,
‘Sufyan Al-Sowry came over to Abu Abdullah-asws, so he saw white clothes upon him-asws, as if they were the albumin of the egg, so he said to him-asws, ‘This attire is not from your-asws attires’. So, he-asws said: ‘Listen from me-asws attentively what I-asws am going to say to you, for it would be better for you now and in the future, that you should die upon the Sunnah, and not die upon an innovation.
أُخْبِرُكَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) كَانَ فِي زَمَانٍ مُقْفِرٍ جَدْبٍ فَأَمَّا إِذَا أَقْبَلَتِ الدُّنْيَا فَأَحَقُّ أَهْلِهَا بِهَا أَبْرَارُهَا لَا فُجَّارُهَا وَ مُؤْمِنُوهَا لَا مُنَافِقُوهَا وَ مُسْلِمُوهَا لَا كُفَّارُهَا فَمَا أَنْكَرْتَ يَا ثَوْرِيُّ فَوَ اللَّهِ إِنَّنِي لَمَعَ مَا تَرَى مَا أَتَى عَلَيَّ مُذْ عَقَلْتُ صَبَاحٌ وَ لَا مَسَاءٌ وَ لِلَّهِ فِي مَالِي حَقٌّ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَضَعَهُ مَوْضِعاً إِلَّا وَضَعْتُهُ
I-asws hereby inform you that Rasool-Allah-saww was in an era which was desolate (barren) and waterless. So, when the world turns, so the most deserving of its inhabitants with it are its righteous ones (but) not its immoral ones, and its Believers not its hypocrites, and its Muslims not its Infidels. So, what are you criticizing, O Sowry, for by Allah-azwj, I-asws am with what you see. By Allah-azwj! There has never come upon me a morning nor an evening such that there is a right for Allah-azwj in my-asws wealth which He-azwj had Commanded me-asws to place it in a (particular) place, except that I-asws did place it’.
قَالَ فَأَتَاهُ قَوْمٌ مِمَّنْ يُظْهِرُونَ الزُّهْدَ وَ يَدْعُونَ النَّاسَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مَعَهُمْ عَلَى مِثْلِ الَّذِي هُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ التَّقَشُّفِ فَقَالُوا لَهُ إِنَّ صَاحِبَنَا حَصِرَ عَنْ كَلَامِكَ وَ لَمْ تَحْضُرْهُ حُجَجُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ فَهَاتُوا حُجَجَكُمْ فَقَالُوا لَهُ إِنَّ حُجَجَنَا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ فَأَدْلُوا بِهَا فَإِنَّهَا أَحَقُّ مَا اتُّبِعَ وَ عُمِلَ بِهِ
He (the narrator) said (in the meantime), ‘So a group came over to him-asws, from the ones who were manifesting the asceticism and calling the people that they should come to be with them upon the likes which they were upon, from the austerities (restrain). So they said to him-asws, ‘Our companion was tongue-tied from your-asws speech and could not present his arguments’. So he-asws said: ‘So you give your arguments’. So they said to him-asws, ‘Our argument is from the Book of Allah-azwj’. Therefore, he-asws said to them: ‘So indicate it, for it is most rightful of what is to be followed and acted by’.
فَقَالُوا يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى مُخْبِراً عَنْ قَوْمٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ يُؤْثِرُونَ عَلى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ لَوْ كانَ بِهِمْ خَصاصَةٌ وَ مَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ فَمَدَحَ فِعْلَهُمْ وَ قَالَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ آخَرَ وَ يُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعامَ عَلى حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَ يَتِيماً وَ أَسِيراً فَنَحْنُ نَكْتَفِي بِهَذَا فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْجُلَسَاءِ إِنَّا رَأَيْنَاكُمْ تَزْهَدُونَ فِي الْأَطْعِمَةِ الطَّيِّبَةِ وَ مَعَ ذَلِكَ تَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْخُرُوجِ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَتَّى تَمَتَّعُوا أَنْتُمْ مِنْهَا
So, they said, ‘Allah-azwj Blessed and High is Saying, Informing about a group of companions of the Prophet-saww [59:9] and they prefer (others) before themselves though poverty may afflict them, and whoever is preserved from the niggardliness of his soul, these are the ones who are the successful ones. Thus, He-azwj Complimented their deeds and Said in another place [76:8] And they give food out of love for Him to the poor and the orphan and the captive. Therefore, we are content with this’. So a man from the gathering said, ‘I am seeing you all manifesting ascetism in you all being fed the good food, and along with that you are instructing the people with the taking out from their wealth to the extent that you all are enjoying from it’.
فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) دَعُوا عَنْكُمْ مَا لَا تَنْتَفِعُونَ بِهِ أَخْبِرُونِي أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ أَ لَكُمْ عِلْمٌ بِنَاسِخِ الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ مَنْسُوخِهِ وَ مُحْكَمِهِ مِنْ مُتَشَابِهِهِ الَّذِي فِي مِثْلِهِ ضَلَّ مَنْ ضَلَّ وَ هَلَكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ فَقَالُوا لَهُ أَوْ بَعْضِهِ فَأَمَّا كُلُّهُ فَلَا
Therefore, Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘Leave from yourselves what you are not benefitting with. Inform me-asws, O you group! Is there anyone of you knowledgeable with the Abrogating (Verses) of the Quran from its Abrogated ones, and its Decisive from its Allegorical, those regarding the likes of which strayed the one who strayed, and destroyed was the one who was destroyed, from this community?’ So, they said to him-asws, ‘Of some of it. As for all of it (the Holy Verses), so no’.
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ فَمِنْ هُنَا أُتِيتُمْ وَ كَذَلِكَ أَحَادِيثُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَأَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتُمْ مِنْ إِخْبَارِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِيَّانَا فِي كِتَابِهِ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ أَخْبَرَ عَنْهُمْ بِحُسْنِ فَعَالِهِمْ فَقَدْ كَانَ مُبَاحاً جَائِزاً وَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا نُهُوا عَنْهُ وَ ثَوَابُهُمْ مِنْهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ
(To this) he-asws said to them; ‘So from over here you are coming (to the reality). And similar to that are the Ahadith of Rasool-Allah-saww. So as for what you have mentioned from the News of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, it is regarding us-asws in His-azwj Book, about the people who can inform about these with goodness of their-asws deeds. So, it was neutral, allowed, and it was not Forbidden from, and their Rewards from it is upon Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic.
وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ وَ تَقَدَّسَ أَمَرَ بِخِلَافِ مَا عَمِلُوا بِهِ فَصَارَ أَمْرُهُ نَاسِخاً لِفِعْلِهِمْ وَ كَانَ نَهَى اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى رَحْمَةً مِنْهُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ نَظَراً لِكَيْلَا يُضِرُّوا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ عِيَالَاتِهِمْ مِنْهُمُ الضَّعَفَةُ الصِّغَارُ وَ الْوِلْدَانُ وَ الشَّيْخُ الْفَانِي وَ الْعَجُوزُ الْكَبِيرَةُ الَّذِينَ لَا يَصْبِرُونَ عَلَى الْجُوعِ فَإِنْ تَصَدَّقْتُ بِرَغِيفِي وَ لَا رَغِيفَ لِي غَيْرُهُ ضَاعُوا وَ هَلَكُوا جُوعاً
And that is that Allah-azwj Sanctified a matter with opposite to what they (people) had been doing with, so His-azwj Commanded came to be Abrogating of their deeds. And the Prohibition of Allah-azwj Blessed and High is a Mercy from it for the Believers, and a Consideration that perhaps they may harm themselves and their families among whom would be the weak, and the young, and the parents, and the dying old man, and the aged woman, those who cannot be patient upon the hunger. Therefore, if I-asws were to give my-asws bread in charity, and there was no bread other than it with me-asws, they (family) would waste away and die of hunger.
فَمِنْ ثَمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) خَمْسُ تَمَرَاتٍ أَوْ خَمْسُ قُرَصٍ أَوْ دَنَانِيرُ أَوْ دَرَاهِمُ يَمْلِكُهَا الْإِنْسَانُ وَ هُوَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُمْضِيَهَا فَأَفْضَلُهَا مَا أَنْفَقَهُ الْإِنْسَانُ عَلَى وَالِدَيْهِ ثُمَّ الثَّانِيَةُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ وَ عِيَالِهِ ثُمَّ الثَّالِثَةُ عَلَى قَرَابَتِهِ الْفُقَرَاءِ ثُمَّ الرَّابِعَةُ عَلَى جِيرَانِهِ الْفُقَرَاءِ ثُمَّ الْخَامِسَةُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ هُوَ أَخَسُّهَا أَجْر
Thus, Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Five dates, or five discs (of bread), or five Dinars or Dirhams which the human being owns, and he wants to spend these, so the most superior of what the human being can spend upon are his parents. Then secondly upon himself and his family. Then thirdly upon his poor relatives. Then fourthly upon his poor neighbours. Then fifthly in the Way of Allah-azwj, and it is of the lowest Recompense.
اًوَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) لِلْأَنْصَارِيِّ حِينَ أَعْتَقَ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ خَمْسَةً أَوْ سِتَّةً مِنَ الرَّقِيقِ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَمْلِكُ غَيْرَهُمْ وَ لَهُ أَوْلَادٌ صِغَارٌ لَوْ أَعْلَمْتُمُونِي أَمْرَهُ مَا تَرَكْتُكُمْ تَدْفِنُوهُ مَعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ يَتْرُكُ صِبْيَةً صِغَاراً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ
Rasool-Allah-saww said to the (one of the) ‘Ansar’ (the Helpers in Madina) when he freed, at the time of his death, five or six of his slaves, and he did not own other than them, and for him were young children: ‘Had you let me-saww know, I-saww would have ordered you all not to bury him with the Muslims. He left young children to spread their hands to the people?’
ثُمَّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) قَالَ ابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ الْأَدْنَى فَالْأَدْنَى ثُمَّ هَذَا مَا نَطَقَ بِهِ الْكِتَابُ رَدّاً لِقَوْلِكُمْ وَ نَهْياً عَنْهُ مَفْرُوضاً مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ قَالَ وَ الَّذِينَ إِذا أَنْفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَ لَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَ كانَ بَيْنَ ذلِكَ قَواماً
Then he-asws said: ‘My-asws father-asws narrated to me-asws that Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Begin with the ones reliant (upon you), so the closest one, then the next closest one’. Then this what the Book Speaks with is a rebuttal to your words, and Forbidden from it being an Obligation from Allah-azwj, the Mighty, the Wise. He-azwj Said [25:67] And they who when they spend, are neither extravagant nor stingy, and between that by stature (status).
أَ فَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى قَالَ غَيْرَ مَا أَرَاكُمْ تَدْعُونَ النَّاسَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْأَثَرَةِ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ سَمَّى مَنْ فَعَلَ مَا تَدْعُونَ النَّاسَ إِلَيْهِ مُسْرِفاً وَ فِي غَيْرِ آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ فَنَهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْإِسْرَافِ وَ نَهَاهُمْ عَنِ التَّقْتِيرِ وَ لَكِنْ أَمْرٌ بَيْنَ أَمْرَيْنِ لَا يُعْطِي جَمِيعَ مَا عِنْدَهُ ثُمَّ يَدْعُو اللَّهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَهُ
Are you not seeing that Allah-azwj Blessed and High Says other than what you all are showing, calling the people towards it from the preferring of (others) over their own selves, and Named the one who does what you are calling the people towards as being extravagant? And in another Verse from the Book of Allah-azwj He-azwj is Saying [7:31] surely He does not Love the extravagant. So, He-azwj has Forbidden them from the extravagance, and Forbidden them from the miserliness, but has Commanded between the two matters, that one should not give away the entirety of what is in his presence, then he supplicates to Allah-azwj that He-azwj Grace him.
فَلَا يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ لِلْحَدِيثِ الَّذِي جَاءَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) إِنَّ أَصْنَافاً مِنْ أُمَّتِي لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ دُعَاؤُهُمْ رَجُلٌ يَدْعُو عَلَى وَالِدَيْهِ وَ رَجُلٌ يَدْعُو عَلَى غَرِيمٍ ذَهَبَ لَهُ بِمَالٍ فَلَمْ يَكْتُبْ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَمْ يُشْهِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَ رَجُلٌ يَدْعُو عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ وَ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ تَخْلِيَةَ سَبِيلِهَا بِيَدِهِ
So it would not be Answered to him due to the Hadeeth which has come from the Prophet‑saww that: ‘A category (of people) from my-saww community, their supplication would not be Answered to them – a man who supplicates against his parents; and a man who supplicates against a creditor who went away with his wealth and he had no written agreement against him and did not have a witness upon him; and a man who supplicates against his wife and Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Made a freeing of the way (divorce) to be in his hands;
وَ رَجُلٌ يَقْعُدُ فِي بَيْتِهِ وَ يَقُولُ رَبِّ ارْزُقْنِي وَ لَا يَخْرُجُ وَ لَا يَطْلُبُ الرِّزْقَ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ عَبْدِي أَ لَمْ أَجْعَلْ لَكَ السَّبِيلَ إِلَى الطَّلَبِ وَ الضَّرْبِ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِجَوَارِحَ صَحِيحَةٍ فَتَكُونَ قَدْ أُعْذِرْتَ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ فِي الطَّلَبِ لِاتِّبَاعِ أَمْرِي وَ لِكَيْلَا تَكُونَ كَلًّا عَلَى أَهْلِكَ فَإِنْ شِئْتُ رَزَقْتُكَ وَ إِنْ شِئْتُ قَتَّرْتُ عَلَيْكَ وَ أَنْتَ غَيْرُ مَعْذُورٍ عِنْدِي
and a man who sits in his house and is saying, ‘Lord-azwj! Grant me sustenance’, and he neither goes out nor seeks the livelihood. So, Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying: “My-azwj servant! Did I-azwj not Make the way for you to the seeking and the going around in the land with healthy limbs? So you have become paralysed in what is between Me-azwj and you with regards to the seeking in following My-azwj Command, and perhaps you would become a burden upon your family. So if I-azwj so Desire to I-azwj would Grace you, and if I-azwj so Desire to be Straiten upon you, and you would be without an excuse in my Presence”.
وَ رَجُلٌ رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ مَالًا كَثِيراً فَأَنْفَقَهُ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ يَدْعُو يَا رَبِّ ارْزُقْنِي فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَ لَمْ أَرْزُقْكَ رِزْقاً وَاسِعاً فَهَلَّا اقْتَصَدْتَ فِيهِ كَمَا أَمَرْتُكَ وَ لِمَ تُسْرِفُ وَ قَدْ نَهَيْتُكَ عَنِ الْإِسْرَافِ وَ رَجُلٌ يَدْعُو فِي قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ
And a man whom Allah-azwj had Graced with abundant wealth, so he spends it (all), then turns supplicating, ‘O Lord-azwj! Grace me”. Therefore, Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying: “Did I-azwj not Grace you extensive sustenance? So, you were not moderate in it as I-azwj had Commanded you, and why were you extravagant and I-azwj had Forbidden you from the extravagance?” And a man who supplicates regarding a cutting-off of a relationship.
ثُمَّ عَلَّمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ نَبِيَّهُ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) كَيْفَ يُنْفِقُ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ كَانَتْ عِنْدَهُ أُوقِيَّةٌ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ فَكَرِهَ أَنْ يَبِيتَ عِنْدَهُ فَتَصَدَّقَ بِهَا فَأَصْبَحَ وَ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ شَيْءٌ وَ جَاءَهُ مَنْ يَسْأَلُهُ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُعْطِيهِ فَلَامَهُ السَّائِلُ وَ اغْتَمَّ هُوَ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُعْطِيهِ وَ كَانَ رَحِيماً رَقِيقاً
Then Allah-azwj Taught His-azwj Prophet-saww how he-saww should spend, and that is once he-saww had an Owqiya (unit of measurement) of gold, so he-saww disliked that it should be with him-saww overnight. So, he-saww gave in charity with it. So, in the morning there was nothing with him-saww, and there came a beggar asking him-saww, but there did not happen to be anything with him-saww what he-saww could give him. So, the beggar accused him-saww, and he-saww was saddened that there did not happen to be anything with him-saww what he-saww could give him, as he-saww was merciful, gentle.
فَأَدَّبَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى نَبِيَّهُ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) بِأَمْرِهِ فَقَالَ وَ لا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلى عُنُقِكَ وَ لا تَبْسُطْها كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُوماً مَحْسُوراً يَقُولُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ يَسْأَلُونَكَ وَ لَا يَعْذِرُونَكَ فَإِذَا أَعْطَيْتَ جَمِيعَ مَا عِنْدَكَ مِنَ الْمَالِ كُنْتَ قَدْ حَسَرْتَ مِنَ الْمَالِ
So, Allah-azwj the Exalted Educated His-azwj Prophet-saww with His-azwj Command, so He-azwj Said [17:29] And do not make your hand to be shackled to your neck nor extend it to its limit, lest you should become blameworthy, destitute. He-azwj is Saying that the people have asked you-saww and will not excuse you-saww. So if you-saww were to give away the entirety of what is with you-saww from the wealth, you-saww would be regretful from the wealth (unable to help anymore).
فَهَذِهِ أَحَادِيثُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يُصَدِّقُهَا الْكِتَابُ وَ الْكِتَابُ يُصَدِّقُهُ أَهْلُهُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ حَيْثُ قِيلَ لَهُ أَوْصِ فَقَالَ أُوصِي بِالْخُمُسِ وَ الْخُمُسُ كَثِيرٌ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى قَدْ رَضِيَ بِالْخُمُسِ فَأَوْصَى بِالْخُمُسِ وَ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ الثُّلُثَ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ وَ لَوْ عَلِمَ أَنَّ الثُّلُثَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ أَوْصَى بِهِ
Thus, these are the Ahadith of Rasool-Allah-saww ratifying the Book (Quran) and the Book Ratifies its people from the Believers. And Abu Bakr said at the time of his death when it was said to him, ‘Bequeath’. So he said, ‘I bequeath with the fifth, and the fifth is a lot, for Allah-azwj the Exalted is Pleased with the fifth’. So he bequeathed with the fifth, and Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic had Made the third to be for him at the time of his death, and had he known that the third is better for him, he would have bequeathed with it.
ثُمَّ مَنْ قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ بَعْدَهُ فِي فَضْلِهِ وَ زُهْدِهِ سَلْمَانُ وَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا فَأَمَّا سَلْمَانُ فَكَانَ إِذَا أَخَذَ عَطَاهُ رَفَعَ مِنْهُ قُوتَهُ لِسَنَتِهِ حَتَّى يَحْضُرَ عَطَاؤُهُ مِنْ قَابِلٍ فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنْتَ فِي زُهْدِكَ تَصْنَعُ هَذَا وَ أَنْتَ لَا تَدْرِي لَعَلَّكَ تَمُوتُ الْيَوْمَ أَوْ غَداً فَكَانَ جَوَابَهُ أَنْ قَالَ مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُونَ لِيَ الْبَقَاءَ كَمَا خِفْتُمْ عَلَيَّ الْفَنَاءَ أَ مَا عَلِمْتُمْ يَا جَهَلَةُ أَنَّ النَّفْسَ قَدْ تَلْتَاثُ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهَا مِنَ الْعَيْشِ مَا يَعْتَمِدُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هِيَ أَحْرَزَتْ مَعِيشَتَهَا اطْمَأَنَّتْ
Then the ones you know of after him in their merits and their ascetism, Salman-ra and Abu Zarr-ra, may Allah-azwj be Pleased with both of them-ra. So as for Salman-ra, whenever he-ra took his-ra contribution, extracted from it a provision for his year until his contribution comes up the following year. So it was said to him-as, ‘O servant of Allah-azwj! You-ra in your-ra ascetism are doing this, and you-as do not know perhaps you-as would be dying today or tomorrow?’. So his-ra answer was that he-ra said: ‘What is the matter with you that you are not hoping that I-as would remain, just as you are fearing the death upon me-ra? Do you not know, O ignoramus, that the self becomes lethargic (restless) upon its owner when there does not happen to be the subsistence for it what he can depend upon. So when the subsistence is present, it is tranquil (peace of mind)?’
وَ أَمَّا أَبُو ذَرٍّ فَكَانَتْ لَهُ نُوَيْقَاتٌ وَ شُوَيْهَاتٌ يَحْلُبُهَا وَ يَذْبَحُ مِنْهَا إِذَا اشْتَهَى أَهْلُهُ اللَّحْمَ أَوْ نَزَلَ بِهِ ضَيْفٌ أَوْ رَأَى بِأَهْلِ الْمَاءِ الَّذِينَ هُمْ مَعَهُ خَصَاصَةٌ نَحَرَ لَهُمُ الْجَزُورَ أَوْ مِنَ الشِّيَاهِ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَا يَذْهَبُ عَنْهُمْ بِقَرَمِ اللَّحْمِ فَيَقْسِمُهُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَ يَأْخُذُ هُوَ كَنَصِيبِ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ لَا يَتَفَضَّلُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ مَنْ أَزْهَدُ مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ وَ قَدْ قَالَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مَا قَالَ وَ لَمْ يَبْلُغْ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمَا أَنْ صَارَا لَا يَمْلِكَانِ شَيْئاً الْبَتَّةَ كَمَا تَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِإِلْقَاءِ أَمْتِعَتِهِمْ وَ شَيْئِهِمْ وَ يُؤْثِرُونَ بِهِ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ عِيَالَاتِهِمْ
And as for Abu Zarr-ra, so there used to be for him-ra camels and sheep for milking them, and he-ra used to slaughter from them whenever his-ra family desired the meat, or if a guest were to lodge with him-ra, or if he-ra saw the people of the water who were with him-ra as destitute, he-ra would sacrifice the camel for them or from the sheep upon a measurement of what would remove the craving of the meat from them. So he-ra would distribute between them, and he-ra himself would take one share from them, not preferring himself upon them. And who is more ascetic that them (Salman-ra and Abu Zarr-ra), and Rasool-Allah-saww has said regarding them what he-saww said? And it (news) has not reached from the affairs of them both-ra that they-ra came to be in a state of not owning anything. In no way it is as you are instructing the people with, the throwing away of their belongings and their things and preferring others by it upon their own selves, and their families.
وَ اعْلَمُوا أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَرْوِي عَنْ آبَائِهِ ( عليهم السلام ) أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) قَالَ يَوْماً مَا عَجِبْتُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ كَعَجَبِي مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّهُ إِنْ قُرِّضَ جَسَدُهُ فِي دَارِ الدُّنْيَا بِالْمَقَارِيضِ كَانَ خَيْراً لَهُ وَ إِنْ مَلَكَ مَا بَيْنَ مَشَارِقِ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَغَارِبِهَا كَانَ خَيْراً لَهُ وَ كُلُّ مَا يَصْنَعُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ
And know, O you group! I-asws heard my-asws father-asws reporting from his-asws forefathers-asws that Rasool-Allah-saww said one day: ‘I-saww am not astounded (amazed) from anything like I‑saww am astounded from the Believer. If his body is cut into pieces in the house of the world with the scissors it would be good for him, and if he owns whatever is between the east of the earth and its west, it would be good for him, and everything what Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Does with him, so it is good for him’.
فَلَيْتَ شِعْرِي هَلْ يَحِيقُ فِيكُمْ مَا قَدْ شَرَحْتُ لَكُمْ مُنْذُ الْيَوْمِ أَمْ أَزِيدُكُمْ أَ مَا عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَدْ فَرَضَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي أَوَّلِ الْأَمْرِ أَنْ يُقَاتِلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ عَشَرَةً مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
So, I-asws am not aware, whether it has had any effect among you what I-asws have commented to you today, or whether I-asws should increase for you all. Do you not know that Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Obligated upon the Believers at first that the man among them should fight against ten from the Polytheists?
لَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يُوَلِّيَ وَجْهَهُ عَنْهُمْ وَ مَنْ وَلَّاهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُ فَقَدْ تَبَوَّأَ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ثُمَّ حَوَّلَهُمْ عَنْ حَالِهِمْ رَحْمَةً مِنْهُ لَهُمْ فَصَارَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُقَاتِلَ رَجُلَيْنِ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ تَخْفِيفاً مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَنَسَخَ الرَّجُلَانِ الْعَشَرَةَ
It was not for him that he should be turning his face away from them, and the one who turned back on his heels in those days, so he has reserved his seat in the Fire. Then He-azwj Changed for them about their situation out of Mercy from Him-azwj, so that man from them came to be Obligated that he fights two men from the Polytheists, being a Lightening from Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic for the Believers. So the (Command) of two men Abrogated the (Command of) the ten.
وَ أَخْبِرُونِي أَيْضاً عَنِ الْقُضَاةِ أَ جَوَرَةٌ هُمْ حَيْثُ يَقْضُونَ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ مِنْكُمْ نَفَقَةَ امْرَأَتِهِ إِذَا قَالَ إِنِّي زَاهِدٌ وَ إِنِّي لَا شَيْءَ لِي فَإِنْ قُلْتُمْ جَوَرَةٌ ظَلَّمَكُمْ أَهْلُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ إِنْ قُلْتُمْ بَلْ عُدُولٌ خَصَمْتُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَ حَيْثُ تَرُدُّونَ صَدَقَةَ مَنْ تَصَدَّقَ عَلَى الْمَسَاكِينِ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ
And inform me-asws as well about the judges. Would they be unjust when they are judging upon the man among you for payment of the expenses to his wife, if you were to say, ‘I am an ascetic. I am such that there is nothing for me’. If you were to say they are inequitable, the people of Al-Islam would call you as unjust. And if you were to say they have been just with you, you would be disputing against yourselves. And where would you be able to refute a charity given by the one who gives it to the poor at the time of his death, with more than a third?
أَخْبِرُونِي لَوْ كَانَ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ كَالَّذِينَ تُرِيدُونَ زُهَّاداً لَا حَاجَةَ لَهُمْ فِي مَتَاعِ غَيْرِهِمْ فَعَلَى مَنْ كَانَ يُتَصَدَّقُ بِكَفَّارَاتِ الْأَيْمَانِ وَ النُّذُورِ وَ الصَّدَقَاتِ مِنْ فَرْضِ الزَّكَاةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَ الْفِضَّةِ وَ التَّمْرِ وَ الزَّبِيبِ وَ سَائِرِ مَا وَجَبَ فِيهِ الزَّكَاةُ مِنَ الْإِبِلِ وَ الْبَقَرِ وَ الْغَنَمِ وَ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ
Inform me-asws, if the people, all of them were to be like what you want them to be, as ascetics, there would not be any need for them regarding the belongings for others, so upon whom would they give charity with an expiation of the oaths, and the vows, and the charities from the Obligatory Zakat from the gold, and the silver, and the dates, and the raisins, and the rest of what is Obligated regarding it, the Zakat from the camels, and the cows, and the sheep, and other such when the matter was as you are saying it to be.
إِذَا كَانَ الْأَمْرُ كَمَا تَقُولُونَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يَحْبِسَ شَيْئاً مِنْ عَرَضِ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا قَدَّمَهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ بِهِ خَصَاصَةٌ فَبِئْسَمَا ذَهَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ وَ حَمَلْتُمُ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ أَحَادِيثِهِ الَّتِي يُصَدِّقُهَا الْكِتَابُ الْمُنْزَلُ وَ رَدِّكُمْ إِيَّاهَا بِجَهَالَتِكُمْ وَ تَرْكِكُمُ النَّظَرَ فِي غَرَائِبِ الْقُرْآنِ مِنَ التَّفْسِيرِ بِالنَّاسِخِ مِنَ الْمَنْسُوخِ وَ الْمُحْكَمِ وَ الْمُتَشَابِهِ وَ الْأَمْرِ وَ النَّهْيِ
If the matter was as you are saying it to be, that it is not befitting for anyone that he should withhold anything from the goods of the world except that he should send it forward (for the Hereafter), even though he may become a destitute by it, so evil it is what you are taking (the people) towards and carrying the people upon, due to your ignorance of the Book of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, and a Sunnah of His-azwj Prophet-saww, and the Ahadith which are ratified by the Revealed Book, and you are rejecting these by your ignorance, and forsaking the consideration in the strangeness of the Quran from the interpretation of the Abrogating (Verses) from the Abrogated, and the Decisive and the Allegorical, and the Commands and the Prohibitions.
وَ أَخْبِرُونِي أَيْنَ أَنْتُمْ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ ( عليه السلام ) حَيْثُ سَأَلَ اللَّهَ مُلْكاً لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَأَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ جَلَّ اسْمُهُ ذَلِكَ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ الْحَقَّ وَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ نَجِدِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَابَ عَلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ وَ لَا أَحَداً مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ دَاوُدَ النَّبِيِّ ( صلوات الله عليه ) قَبْلَهُ فِي مُلْكِهِ وَ شِدَّةِ سُلْطَانِهِ
And inform me-asws, where are you (saying) about Suleyman-as Bin Dawood-as, where he-as asked Allah-azwj for a kingdom which would not be befitting for anyone (else) from after him‑as? So, Allah-azwj, Majestic is His-azwj Name, Granted him-as that, and he-as was speaking the rightfulness and was acting by it. Then we do not find Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Faulting him-as over that, nor anyone from the Believers. And the Prophet Dawood-as before him-as regarding his-as kingdom and the force of his-as authority.
ثُمَّ يُوسُفَ النَّبِيِّ ( عليه السلام ) حَيْثُ قَالَ لِمَلِكِ مِصْرَ اجْعَلْنِي عَلى خَزائِنِ الْأَرْضِ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ فَكَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ الَّذِي كَانَ أَنِ اخْتَارَ مَمْلَكَةَ الْمَلِكِ وَ مَا حَوْلَهَا إِلَى الْيَمَنِ وَ كَانُوا يَمْتَارُونَ الطَّعَامَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ لِمَجَاعَةٍ أَصَابَتْهُمْ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ الْحَقَّ وَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِ فَلَمْ نَجِدْ أَحَداً عَابَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ
Then the Prophet Yusuf-as when he-as said to the king of Egypt [12:55] Place me (in authority) over the treasures of the land, I am a good keeper, knowing well. So, from his-as matter was that he-as chose a kingdom of the king and what was around it up to Al-Yemen. And they (people) used to get their provisions from him-as due to them being hit by the famine, and he-as was speaking the truth and acting by it. So we do not find anyone faulting that upon him-as.
ثُمَّ ذُو الْقَرْنَيْنِ عَبْدٌ أَحَبَّ اللَّهَ فَأَحَبَّهُ اللَّهُ وَ طَوَى لَهُ الْأَسْبَابَ وَ مَلَّكَهُ مَشَارِقَ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَغَارِبَهَا وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ الْحَقَّ وَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ نَجِدْ أَحَداً عَابَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ
Then Zulqarnayn, a righteous one who loved Allah-azwj, so Allah-azwj Loved him and Rolled up his causes for him and Made him a king of the east of the earth and its west, and he was speaking the truth and was acting by it. Then we do not find anyone faulting that upon him.
فَتَأَدَّبُوا أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ بِآدَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ اقْتَصِرُوا عَلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ وَ نَهْيِهِ وَ دَعُوا عَنْكُمْ مَا اشْتَبَهَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِمَّا لَا عِلْمَ لَكُمْ بِهِ وَ رُدُّوا الْعِلْمَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ تُوجَرُوا وَ تُعْذَرُوا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى
So educate yourselves, O group, by the Education of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic for the Believers, and moderate yourselves upon the Commands of Allah-azwj, and His-azwj Prohibitions, and leave from yourselves what is doubtful upon you, from what there is no knowledge for you of it, and refer the knowledge to its rightful ones, so you would be Recompensed, and Excused in the Presence of Allah-azwj Blessed and High.
وَ كُونُوا فِي طَلَبِ عِلْمِ نَاسِخِ الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ مَنْسُوخِهِ وَ مُحْكَمِهِ مِنْ مُتَشَابِهِهِ وَ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ فِيهِ مِمَّا حَرَّمَ فَإِنَّهُ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ أَبْعَدُ لَكُمْ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ وَ دَعُوا الْجَهَالَةَ لِأَهْلِهَا فَإِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَهْلِ كَثِيرٌ وَ أَهْلَ الْعِلْمِ قَلِيلٌ وَ قَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ فَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ .
And become the seekers of the knowledge of the Abrogating (Verses) of the Quran from its Abrogated, and its Decisive from its Allegorical, and what Allah-azwj has Permitted regarding it from what is Prohibited. Thus, it would take you all closer to Allah-azwj and remote from the ignorance. And leave the ignorance to its people, for the people of the ignorance are many, and the people of the knowledge are a few. And Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Said [12:74] and above every one possessed of knowledge, is the All-knowing one’.[4]
From where should one Acquire Knowledge?
وعنهم عن أحمد ، عن الوشاء ، عن ثعلبة بن ميمون ، عن أبي مريم قال : قال أبو جعفر ( عليه السلام ) لسلمة بن كهيل ، والحكم بن عتيبة : شرقا وغربا ، فلا تجدان علما صحيحا إلا شيئا خرج من عندنا أهل البيت .
And from them, from Ahmad, from Al Washaa, from Tha’lbat Bin Maymoun, from Abu Maryam who said that Abu Ja’far-asws said the following to Salmat Bin Kaheel, and Al Hakam Bin Utayba:
Imam Abu Ja’far-asws said: ‘Go to the East or go to the West, you will not find correct knowledge except that which has come out from us-asws (Ahadith) the People of the Household-asws’.[5]
علي بن محمد الخزاز في كتاب ( الكفاية ) في النصوص على عدد الأئمة (عليهم السلام ) عن الحسين بن محمد بن سعيد ، عن محمد بن أحمد الصفواني ، عن مروان بن محمد السنجاري ، عن أبي يحيى التميمي ، عن يحيى البكاء ، عن علي ( عليه السلام ) قال : قال رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) : ستفترق امتي على ثلاث وسبعين فرقة ، فرقة منها ناجية ، والباقون هالكون ، والناجون الذين يتمسكون بولايتكم ، ويقتبسون من علمكم ، ولا يعملون برأيهم ، فاولئك ما عليهم من سبيل . الحديث .
Ali Bin Muhammad Al Khazaaz in the book Al Kifaya regarding the number of the Imams-asws, narrates from Al Husayn Bin Muhammad Bin Sa’eed, from Muhammad Bin Ahmad Al Safwani, from Marwaan Bin Muhammad Al Sanjaari, from Abu Yahya Al Tamimi, from Yahya Al Baka’ who has narrated the following from Ali-asws:
‘The Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘My-saww community will be divided into seventy three sects, one of these sects will achieve salvation, and the rest of them will be destroyed, and the one which will achieve salvation is the one which will attach itself to your-asws Wilayah[6], will take from your-asws knowledge, and will not act according to their opinions, those ones (the other 72) will not find a way’.[7]
Finally, Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws, himself disapproved emulating others and asked us to learn religion from the Holy Quran and the Sunnah (traditions), e.g.,
روي عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام: أنه قال: من دخل في هذا الدين بالرجال أخرجه منه الرجال كما أدخلوه فيه، ومن دخل فيه بالكتاب والسنة زالت الجبال قبل أن يزول
Imam Abu Abdullah-asws said: If someone takes up religion (of Muhammad-saww and Alay Muhammad-asws) from another person (Taqleed) then his religion remains infirm and is easily destroyed by others (preachers) but if he takes it from ‘Quran and Sunnah’, then mountains may tremble but not his faith.[8]
Addendum:
تحف العقول دَخَلَ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَرَأَى عَلَيْهِ ثِيَابَ بَيَاضٍ كَأَنَّهَا غِرْقِئُ الْبَيْضِ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ هَذَا اللِّبَاسَ لَيْسَ مِنْ لِبَاسِكَ
(The book) ‘Tohaf Al Uqool’ –
‘Sufyan Al-Sowry entered to see Abu Abdullah-asws. He saw white clothes being upon him-asws as if these were soft egg white. He said to him-asws, ‘This clothing isn’t from your-asws clothing!’
فَقَالَ لَهُ اسْمَعْ مِنِّي وَ عِ مَا أَقُولُ لَكَ فَإِنَّهُ خَيْرٌ لَكَ عَاجِلًا وَ آجِلًا إِنْ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ مِتَّ عَلَى السُّنَّةِ وَ الْحَقِّ وَ لَمْ تَمُتْ عَلَى بِدْعَةٍ
He-asws said to him: ‘Listen from me-asws and retain what I-asws am saying to you, for it is better for you for current and future, if you were to die upon the Sunnah and the truth, and do not die upon innovation!
أُخْبِرُكَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ فِي زَمَانٍ مُقْفِرٍ جَشِبٍ فَإِذَا أَقْبَلَتِ الدُّنْيَا فَأَحَقُّ أَهْلِهَا بِهَا أَبْرَارُهَا لَا فُجَّارُهَا وَ مُؤْمِنُهَا لَا مُنَافِقُوهَا وَ مُسْلِمُوهَا لَا كُفَّارُهَا
I-asws inform you that Rasool-Allah-saww was in a time of financial constraints and drought. When the world (affluence) cam, the most rightful of its people with it were its righteous ones not its immoral ones, and its Momineen not its hypocrites, and its Muslims not its Kafirs.
فَمَا أَنْكَرْتَ يَا ثَوْرِيُّ فَوَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَمَعَ مَا تَرَى مَا أَتَى عَلَيَّ مُذْ عَقَلْتُ صَبَاحٌ وَ لَا مَسَاءٌ وَ لِلَّهِ فِي مَالِي حَقٌّ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَضَعَهُ مَوْضِعاً إِلَّا وَضَعْتُهُ
So, what are you disliking, O Sowry? By Allah-azwj! I-asws am as sure as you can see. There has not come upon me-asws, since I-asws had sense, neither a morning nor an evening and for Allah‑azwj in my-asws wealth there is a right He-azwj had Commanded me-asws to place it in a place, except I-asws have placed it’.
فَقَالَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ قَوْمُهُ مِمَّنْ يُظْهِرُ التَّزَهُّدَ وَ يَدْعُونَ النَّاسَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مَعَهُمْ مِثْلَ الَّذِي هُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ التَّقَشُّفِ فَقَالُوا إِنَّ صَاحِبَنَا حَصِرَ عَنْ كَلَامِكَ وَ لَمْ تَحْضُرْهُ حُجَّةٌ
He (the narrator) said, ‘Then his-asws people came to him-asws, from the ones who manifest ascetism and calling the people to be with them similar to that which they are upon, from the austerity. They said, ‘Our companions are confining to your-asws speech! – and did not present an argument to him-asws.
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ هَاتُوا حُجَجَكُمْ
He-asws said to them: ‘Give your arguments!’
فَقَالُوا إِنَّ حُجَجَنَا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ
They said, ‘Our arguments are from the Book of Allah-azwj!’
قَالَ لَهُمْ فَأَدْلُوا بِهَا فَإِنَّهَا أَحَقُّ مَا اتُّبِعَ وَ عُمِلَ بِهِ.
He-asws said to them: ‘Evidence with it (Quran) for it is most rightful of what should be followed and worked with’.
فَقَالُوا يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يُخْبِرُ عَنْ قَوْمٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ص وَ يُؤْثِرُونَ عَلى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ لَوْ كانَ بِهِمْ خَصاصَةٌ وَ مَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ فَمَدَحَ فِعْلَهُمْ وَ قَالَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ آخَرَ وَ يُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعامَ عَلى حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَ يَتِيماً وَ أَسِيراً فَنَحْنُ نَكْتَفِي بِهَذَا
They said, ‘Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted Says Informing about a group from companions of the Prophet-saww: and they are preferring (others) over their own selves, and even though there was extreme poverty with them. And one who preserves himself from stinginess, so those, they are the successful ones [59:9]. He-azwj Praised their deeds. And He-azwj Said in another place: And they fed the food to a poor, and an orphan and a captive out of love (for Allah), [76:8]. So we are sufficing with this’.
فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْجُلَسَاءِ إِنَّا مَا رَأَيْنَاكُمْ تَزْهَدُونَ فِي الْأَطْعِمَةِ الطَّيِّبَةِ وَ مَعَ ذَلِكَ تَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْخُرُوجِ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَتَّى تَتَمَتَّعُوا أَنْتُمْ مِنْهَا
A man from the gatherers said, ‘We have not seen you being ascetic regarding the good foods, and along with that you-asws are instructing the people with extracting from your wealth (Khums) until you-asws are enjoying yourselves from it’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع دَعُوا عَنْكُمْ مَا لَا يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ أَخْبِرُونِي أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ أَ لَكُمْ عِلْمٌ بِنَاسِخِ الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ مَنْسُوخِهِ وَ مُحْكَمِهِ مِنْ مُتَشَابِهِهِ الَّذِي فِي مِثْلِهِ ضَلَّ مَنْ ضَلَّ وَ هَلَكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ
Abu Abdullah-asws said to him: ‘Leave regarding what you will not benefit with. Inform me, O you persons! Is there knowledge for you with the Abrogating (Verses) of the Quran from its Abrogated, and its Decisive from its Allegorical in the likes of which strayed the ones who strayed, and destroyed the ones from this community who were destroyed?’
فَقَالُوا لَهُ أَوْ بَعْضِهِ فَأَمَّا كُلُّهُ فَلَا
They said to him-asws, ‘Or some of these. As for all of it, so no’.
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ مِنْ هَاهُنَا أُتِيتُمْ وَ كَذَلِكَ أَحَادِيثُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص
He-asws said to them: ‘Here is where you are coming from, and like that are the Ahadeeth of Rasool-Allah-saww.
فَأَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتُمْ مِنْ إِخْبَارِ اللَّهِ إِيَّانَا فِي كِتَابِهِ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ أَخْبَرَ عَنْهُمْ بِحُسْنِ فِعَالِهِمْ فَقَدْ كَانَ مُبَاحاً جَائِزاً وَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا نُهُوا عَنْهُ وَ ثَوَابُهُمْ مِنْهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ وَ تَقَدَّسَ أَمَرَ بِخِلَافِ مَا عَمِلُوا بِهِ فَصَارَ أَمْرُهُ نَاسِخاً لِفِعْلِهِمْ
As for what you mentioned from Allah-azwj Informing us in His-azwj Book about the people, those He-azwj has Informed about with goodness of their deeds, so it was legal, allowed, and they had not been Prohibited from it, and their Rewards from it is upon Allah-azwj, and that is because Allah-azwj, Majestic and Holy, had Commanded with different to what they had worked with, so His-azwj Command became abrogated due to their deeds.
وَ كَانَ نَهَى اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى رَحْمَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ نَظَراً لِكَيْ لَا يُضِرُّوا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ عِيَالاتِهِمْ مِنْهُمُ الضَّعَفَةُ الصِّغَارُ وَ الْوِلْدَانُ وَ الشَّيْخُ الْفَانِ وَ الْعَجُوزُ الْكَبِيرَةُ الَّذِينَ لَا يَصْبِرُونَ عَلَى الْجُوعِ فَإِنْ تَصَدَّقْتُ بِرَغِيفِي وَ لَا رَغِيفَ لِي غَيْرُهُ ضَاعُوا وَ هَلَكُوا جُوعاً
And Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted has Prohibited as a Mercy to the Momineen and a Consideration, lest they harm themselves and their dependants, from them being the weak, and the young, and the children, and the aged old men, and aged old women, those who cannot be patient upon the hunger. So if I-asws were to give in charity with my-asws loaf of bread, and there is no loaf for me-asws other than it, they would be wasted and die of hunger.
فَمِنْ ثَمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص خَمْسُ تَمَرَاتٍ أَوْ خَمْسُ قُرَصٍ أَوْ دَنَانِيرُ أَوْ دَرَاهِمُ يَمْلِكُهَا الْإِنْسَانُ وَ هُوَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُمْضِيَهَا فَأَفْضَلُهَا مَا أَنْفَقَهُ الْإِنْسَانُ عَلَى وَالِدَيْهِ ثُمَّ الثَّانِيَةُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ وَ عِيَالِهِ ثُمَّ الثَّالِثَةُ الْقَرَابَةِ وَ إِخْوَانِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ثُمَّ الرَّابِعَةُ عَلَى جِيرَانِهِ الْفُقَرَاءِ ثُمَّ الْخَامِسَةُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ هُوَ أَخَسُّهَا أَجْراً
So, from there, Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Five dates of five discs (of bread), or two Dinars, or Dirhams the human being owns, and he wants to spend these, so the most superior of what the human being can spend is upon his parents, then secondly upon himself and his dependants, and thirdly the relatives and his Momineen brethren, then fourthly upon his poor neighbours, then fifthly in the Way of Allah-azwj, and it is the lowest in Recompense.
وَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص لِلْأَنْصَارِيِّ حَيْثُ أَعْتَقَ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ خَمْسَةً أَوْ سِتَّةً مِنَ الرَّقِيقِ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَمْلِكُ غَيْرَهُمْ وَ لَهُ أَوْلَادٌ صِغَارٌ لَوْ أَعْلَمْتُمُونِي أَمْرَهُ مَا تَرَكْتُكُمْ تَدْفِنُونَهُ مَعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ تَرَكَ صِبْيَةً صِغَاراً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ
And the Prophet-saww said to Al-Ansari, when he liberated at this death, five or six of the slaves and he did not happen to own other than them, and there were small children for him: ‘Had you let me-saww know, of his matter, I-saww would not have left you to bury him with the Muslims. He left young children to be sufficed by the people!’’
ثُمَّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص قَالَ ابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ الْأَدْنَى فَالْأَدْنَى ثُمَّ هَذَا مَا نَطَقَ بِهِ الْكِتَابُ رَدّاً لِقَوْلِكُمْ وَ نَهْياً عَنْهُ مَفْرُوضٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ قَالَ الَّذِينَ إِذا أَنْفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَ لَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَ كانَ بَيْنَ ذلِكَ قَواماً
Then he-asws said: ‘My-asws father-asws narrated to me-asws that the Prophet-saww said: ‘Begin with the closest, then the closest. Then this what the Book Speaks with is a rebuttal to your words and a Prohibition from it, an Imposition from Allah-azwj the Mighty the Wise. He-azwj Said: And those, when they spend, are not being extravagant and are not stingy, and are moderate between that [25:67].
أَ فَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى قَالَ غَيْرَ مَا أَرَاكُمْ تَدْعُونَ النَّاسَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْأَثَرَةِ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ سَمَّى مَنْ فَعَلَ مَا تَدْعُونَ إِلَيْهِ مُسْرِفاً
Are you not seeing that Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted has Said other than what I-asws am seeing you calling the people to, from the stumbles upon yourselves, and He-azwj has Named the ones who does what you are calling to as being extravagant.
وَ فِي غَيْرِ آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ فَنَهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْإِسْرَافِ وَ نَهَاهُمْ عَنِ التَّقْتِيرِ لَكِنْ أَمْرٌ بَيْنَ أَمْرَيْنِ لَا يُعْطِي جَمِيعَ مَا عِنْدَهُ ثُمَّ يَدْعُو اللَّهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَهُ
And in another Verse from the Book, Allah-azwj Says: surely, He does not Love the extravagant ones [7:31]. He-azwj has Forbidden them from the extravagance and Forbidden them from the stinginess, but He-azwj has Commanded a matter between the two matters. He should not give entirety of what is in his possession then supplicates to Allah-azwj to Grace him.
فَلَا يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ لِلْحَدِيثِ الَّذِي جَاءَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص أَنَّ أَصْنَافاً مِنْ أُمَّتِي لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ دُعَاؤُهُمْ رَجُلٌ يَدْعُو عَلَى وَالِدَيْهِ وَ رَجُلٌ يَدْعُو عَلَى غَرِيمٍ ذَهَبَ لَهُ بِمَالٍ وَ لَمْ يُشْهِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَ رَجُلٌ يَدْعُو عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ وَ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ تَخْلِيَةَ سَبِيلِهَا بِيَدِهِ
He-azwj will not Answer to him due to the Hadeeth which has come from the Prophet-saww: ‘There are types from my-saww community, their supplications will not be Answered for them – a man supplicating against his parents, and a man supplicating upon a debtor who went away with wealth of his and he had not witness upon it, and a man supplicating against his wife and Allah-azwj has Made the freeing of her way to be in his hands.
وَ رَجُلٌ يَقْعُدُ فِي الْبَيْتِ يَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ ارْزُقْنِي وَ لَا يَخْرُجُ يَطْلُبُ الرِّزْقَ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ عَبْدِي أَ وَ لَمْ أَجْعَلْ لَكَ السَّبِيلَ إِلَى الطَّلَبِ وَ الضَّرْبِ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِجَوَارِحَ صَحِيحَةٍ فَتَكُونَ قَدْ أُعْذِرْتَ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ فِي الطَّلَبِ لِاتِّبَاعِ أَمْرِي وَ لِكَيْلَا تَكُونَ كَلًّا عَلَى أَهْلِكَ فَإِنْ شِئْتُ رَزَقْتُكَ وَ إِنْ شِئْتُ قَتَّرْتُ عَلَيْكَ وَ أَنْتَ مَعْذُورٌ عِنْدِي
And a man who sits in the house saying, ‘O Lord-azwj! Grace me!’, and he does not go out seeking the sustenance. Allah-azwj Majestic and Mighty Says: “My-azwj servant! And have I-azwj not Made the way for you to the seeking and striking in the land with the healthy limbs, so you would have an excuse regarding what is between Me-azwj and you regarding the seeking to follow My-azwj Command, and lest you become a weight (dependant) upon your family. If I‑azwj so Desire, I-azwj will Grace you, and if I-azwj so Desire I-azwj will be Stingy upon you, and you will be excused in My-azwj Presence!”
وَ رَجُلٌ رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ مَالًا كَثِيراً فَأَنْفَقَهُ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ يَدْعُو يَا رَبِّ ارْزُقْنِي فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ أَ لَمْ أَرْزُقْكَ رِزْقاً وَاسِعاً أَ فَلَا اقْتَصَدْتَ فِيهِ كَمَا أَمَرْتُكَ وَ لَمْ تُسْرِفْ كَمَا نَهَيْتُكَ
And a man Allah-azwj has Graced a lot of wealth, so he spends it, then comes supplicating, ‘O Lord-azwj, Grace me!’ Allah-azwj will Say: “Did I-azwj not Grace you a vast sustenance? Why weren’t you moderate regarding it like what I-azwj had Commanded you and why were you extravagant like what I-azwj had Forbidden you?!”
وَ رَجُلٌ يَدْعُو فِي قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ
And a man supplicating in cutting off a kinship.
ثُمَّ عَلَّمَ اللَّهُ نَبِيَّهُ كَيْفَ يُنْفِقُ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ عِنْدَهُ أُوقِيَّةٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَكَرِهَ أَنْ تَبِيتَ عِنْدَهُ فَصَدَّقَ وَ أَصْبَحَ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ شَيْءٌ وَ جَاءَهُ مَنْ يَسْأَلُهُ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُعْطِيهِ فَلَامَهُ السَّائِلُ وَ اغْتَمَّ هُوَ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُعْطِيهِ وَ كَانَ رَحِيماً رَفِيقاً
Then Allah-azwj Informed His-azwj Prophet-saww how he-saww should spend, and that is because there was an ounce of gold with him-asws, so he-saww disliked for it to spend the night with him‑saww. So he-saww gave it in charity, and he-saww woke up in the morning and there was nothing with him-saww, and there came someone begging him-saww, be there wasn’t with him‑saww what he-saww could give him. The beggar blamed him-saww and he-saww was gloomy when there did not happen to be with him-saww what he-saww could have given him, and he-saww was merciful, friendly (kind).
فَأَدَّبَ اللَّهُ نَبِيَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِ إِيَّاهُ فَقَالَ وَ لا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلى عُنُقِكَ وَ لا تَبْسُطْها كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُوماً مَحْسُوراً يَقُولُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ يَسْأَلُونَكَ وَ لَا يَعْذِرُونَكَ فَإِذَا أَعْطَيْتَ جَمِيعَ مَا عِنْدَكَ كُنْتَ قَدْ حَسَرْتَ مِنَ الْمَالِ
Allah-azwj Educated His-azwj Prophet-saww by Commanding him-saww of it. He-azwj Said: And do not make your hand to be shackled to your neck nor extend it with every extension for you will sit back blamed, insolvent [17:29]. He-azwj is Saying that if the people were to ask you-saww and they will not excuse you-saww. So when you-saww give entirety of what is with you-saww, you have been insolvent from the wealth.
فَهَذِهِ أَحَادِيثُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص يُصَدِّقُهَا الْكِتَابُ وَ الْكِتَابُ يُصَدِّقُهُ أَهْلُهُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
So, these are Ahadeeth of Rasool-Allah-saww ratified by the Book, and the Book is ratifying its people from the Momineen.
وَ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ أُوصِي بِالْخُمُسِ وَ الْخُمُسُ كَثِيرٌ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ رَضِيَ بِالْخُمُسِ فَأَوْصَى بِالْخُمُسِ وَ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ الثُّلُثَ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ وَ لَوْ عَلِمَ أَنَّ الثُّلُثَ خيرا [خَيْرٌ] لَهُ أَوْصَى بِهِ
And Abu Bakr had said at his death, ‘I am bequeathing with the fifth, and a fifth is a lot, for Allah-azwj is Pleased with the fifth’. So he bequeathed with the fifth, and Allah-azwj had Made the third to be for him at his death, and had he known that the third is better for him, he would have bequeathed with it.
ثُمَّ مَنْ قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ بَعْدَهُ فِي فَضْلِهِ وَ زُهْدِهِ سَلْمَانُ وَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ فَأَمَّا سَلْمَانُ فَكَانَ إِذَا أَخَذَ عَطَاءَهُ رَفَعَ مِنْهُ قُوتَهُ لِسَنَتِهِ حَتَّى يَحْضُرَهُ عَطَاؤُهُ مِنْ قَابِلٍ فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنْتَ فِي زُهْدِكَ تَصْنَعُ هَذَا وَ إِنَّكَ لَا تَدْرِي لَعَلَّكَ تَمُوتُ الْيَوْمَ أَوْ غَداً
Then the one after him you know regarding his merits and his asceticism, Salman-ra and Abu Zarr-ra. As for Salman-ra, whenever he-ra took his-ra award, raised from it his-ra subsistence for his-ra years until his-ra award for the following year would present. It was said to him-ra, ‘O Abu Abdullah-ra! You-ra, in your-ra ascetism are doing this, and you-ra don’t know perhaps you-ra will be dying today, or tomorrow!’
وَ كَانَ جَوَابُهُ أَنْ قَالَ مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُونَ لِيَ الْبَقَاءَ كَمَا خِفْتُمْ عَلَيَّ الْفَنَاءَ أَ وَ مَا عَلِمْتُمْ يَا جَهَلَةُ أَنَّ النَّفْسَ قَدْ تَلْتَاثُ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهَا مِنَ الْعَيْشِ مَا يَعْتَمِدُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هِيَ أَحْرَزَتْ مَعِيشَتَهَا اطْمَأَنَّتْ
And his-ra answer was that he-ra said, ‘What is the matter with you all not hoping for me-ra to live like what you are fearing the death upon me-ra? Don’t you know, O ignoramuses, that the soul tends to be stained upon its owner when there does not happen to be for it of the livelihood what he can rely upon? When its livelihood is protected, it is reassured’.
فَأَمَّا أَبُو ذَرٍّ فَكَانَتْ لَهُ نُوَيْقَاتٌ وَ شُوَيْهَاتٌ يَحْلُبُهَا وَ يَذْبَحُ مِنْهَا إِذَا اشْتَهَى أَهْلُهُ اللَّحْمَ أَوْ نَزَلَ بِهِ ضَيْفٌ أَوْ رَأَى بِأَهْلِ الْمَاءِ الَّذِينَ هُمْ مَعَهُ خَصَاصَةً نَحَرَ لَهُمُ الْجَزُورَ أَوْ مِنَ الشَّاةِ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَا يُذْهِبُ عَنْهُمْ قَرَمَ اللَّحْمِ فَيَقْسِمُهُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَ يَأْخُذُ كَنَصِيبِ أَحَدِهِمْ لَا يَفْضُلُ عَلَيْهِمْ
As for Abu Zarr-ra, there were young camels and sheep for him-ra. He-ra would milk these and slaughter from these whenever his-ra family desired the meat, or if a guest descended with him-ra, or if he-ra saw a shortage with the people of water, so he-ra would either slaughter for them the camel or from sheep, in accordance with whatever had gone from them from the meat. So he-ra would distribute between them and he-ra would take like a share of one of them, not preferring (himself-ra) over them.
وَ مَنْ أَزْهَدُ مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ وَ قَدْ قَالَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَا قَالَ وَ لَمْ يَبْلُغْ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمَا أَنْ صَارَا لَا يَمْلِكَانِ شَيْئاً الْبَتَّةَ كَمَا تَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِإِلْقَاءِ أَمْتِعَتِهِمْ وَ شَيْئِهِمْ وَ يُؤْثِرُونَ بِهِ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ عِيَالاتِهِمْ
And who can be more ascetic than them-ra? And Rasool-Allah-saww had said regarding them-ra what he-ra said, and it had reached from their-ra affairs that they-ra did not own anything just as they-ra had been instructing the people with throwing away their belongings and their things, and they-ra were preferring (others) with it over their-ra own selves and their-ra dependants.
وَ اعْلَمُوا أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَرْوِي عَنْ آبَائِهِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ يَوْماً مَا عَجِبْتُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ كَعَجَبِي مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّهُ إِنْ قُرِّضَ جَسَدُهُ فِي دَارِ الدُّنْيَا بِالْمَقَارِيضِ كَانَ خَيْراً لَهُ وَ إِنْ مَلَكَ مَا بَيْنَ مَشَارِقِ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَغَارِبِهَا كَانَ خَيْراً لَهُ فَكُلُّ مَا يَصْنَعُ اللَّهُ بِهِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ
And know, O you persons! I-asws have heard my-asws father-asws reporting from his-asws forefathers-asws that Rasool-Allah-saww said one day: ‘I-saww have not been surprised from anything like my-saww surprise from the Momin. Even if his body were to be snipped with the scissors in the house of the world it would be better for him, and even if he were to own whatever is between the east of the earth and its west, it would be better for him. So all what Allah-azwj Does with him, it is better for him’.
فَلَيْتَ شِعْرِي هَلْ يَحِيقُ فِيكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مَا قَدْ شَرَحْتُ لَكُمْ أَمْ أَزِيدُكُمْ أَ وَ مَا عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ اسْمُهُ فَرَضَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي أَوَّلِ الْأَمْرِ أَنْ يُقَاتِلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ عَشَرَةً مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يُوَلِّيَ وَجْهَهُ عَنْهُمْ وَ مَنْ وَلَّاهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُ فَقَدْ تَبَوَّأَ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ
Consider here! Are there among you today what I-asws have explained to you, or shall I-asws increase for you? Or don’t you know that Allah-azwj, Majestic is His-azwj Name had Imposed upon the Momineen in the beginning of the matter that the man from them should fight against ten from the Polytheists? It wasn’t for him to turn his face around from them, and the one who turned around in those day, so he would have assumed his seat from the Fire.
ثُمَّ حَوَّلَهُمْ مِنْ حَالِهِمْ رَحْمَةً مِنْهُ لَهُمْ فَصَارَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُقَاتِلَ الرَّجُلَيْنِ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ تَخْفِيفاً مِنَ اللَّهِ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَنَسَخَ الرَّجُلَانِ الْعَشَرَةَ
Then He-azwj Transferred them from their state as a Mercy from Him-azwj for them. So the man from the became upon it fighting the two men from the Polytheists, being a lightening from the Momineen. Thus the (criteria of) two men abrogated the ten.
وَ أَخْبِرُونِي أَيْضاً عَنِ الْقُضَاةِ أَ جَوْرٌ مِنْهُمْ حَيْثُ يَفْرُضُونَ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ مِنْكُمْ نَفَقَةَ امْرَأَتِهِ إِذَا قَالَ أَنَا زَاهِدٌ وَ أَنَّهُ لَا شَيْءَ لِي فَإِنْ قُلْتُمْ جَوْرٌ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَهْلَ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ إِنْ قُلْتُمْ بَلْ عَدْلٌ خَصَمْتُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَ حَيْثُ يَرُدُّونَ صَدَقَةَ مَنْ تَصَدَّقَ عَلَى الْمَسَاكِينِ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ
And inform me-asws as well about the Decree. Is it tyrannical upon them whereby He-azwj Imposed upon the man from you the expenditure of his wife? When he says, ‘I am an ascetic. There is nothing for me’. If you were to say, ‘tyranny’, you will be unjust to the people of Al Islam, and if you were to say, ‘But it is justice’, you will be particularising yourselves, and whereby you will be rejecting the charity of the one giving charity upon the poor during the death with more than the third.
أَخْبِرُونِي لَوْ كَانَ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ كَمَا تُرِيدُونَ زُهَّاداً لَا حَاجَةَ لَهُمْ فِي مَتَاعِ غَيْرِهِمْ فَعَلَى مَنْ كَانَ يُتَصَدَّقُ بِكَفَّارَاتِ الْأَيْمَانِ وَ النُّذُورِ وَ الصَّدَقَاتِ مِنْ فَرْضِ الزَّكَاةِ مِنَ الْإِبِلِ وَ الْغَنَمِ وَ الْبَقَرِ وَ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَ الْفِضَّةِ وَ النَّخْلِ وَ الزَّبِيبِ وَ سَائِرِ مَا قَدْ وَجَبَتْ فِيهِ الزَّكَاةُ
Inform me-asws! If the people, all of them were to be like what you are wanting, ascetics, there will be no need for them regarding the belongings of others, then upon whom will you be giving the charity with the expiations of the oaths and the vows, and the charities from the obligation of the Zakat, from the camels, and the sheep, and the cows, and other than that from the gold and the silver, and the palm trees and the raisins, and rest of what the Zakat has been obligated in.
إِذَا كَانَ الْأَمْرُ عَلَى مَا تَقُولُونَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يَحْبِسَ شَيْئاً مِنْ عَرَضِ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا قَدَّمَهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ بِهِ خَصَاصَةٌ
When the matter was upon what you are saying, it would not be appropriate for anyone to withhold anything from the display of the world except he would send it ahead, and even though there may be extreme poverty with him.
فَبِئْسَ مَا ذَهَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ وَ حَمَلْتُمُ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ وَ أَحَادِيثِهِ الَّتِي يُصَدِّقُهَا الْكِتَابُ الْمُنْزَلُ وَ رَدِّكُمْ إِيَّاهَا بِجَهَالَتِكُمْ وَ تَرْكِكُمُ النَّظَرَ فِي غَرَائِبِ الْقُرْآنِ مِنَ التَّفْسِيرِ بِالنَّاسِخِ مِنَ الْمَنْسُوخِ وَ الْمُحْكَمِ وَ الْمُتَشَابِهِ وَ الْأَمْرِ وَ النَّهْيِ
Evils is what you are going to, and you are carrying the people upon it from the ignorance with the Book of Allah-azwj and Sunnah of His-azwj Prophet-saww and his-saww Ahadeeth which the Revealed Book has verified, and it has rebutted you all due to your ignorance and your neglecting the consideration regarding the oddities of the Quran, from the interpretation with the Abrogating from the Abrogated, and the Decisive and its Allegorical, and the Commands and the Prohibitions.
وَ أَخْبِرُونِي أَنْتُمْ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ ع حَيْثُ سَأَلَ اللَّهَ مُلْكاً لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَأَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ ذَلِكَ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ الْحَقَّ وَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ نَجِدِ اللَّهَ عَابَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا أَحَداً مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ دَاوُدَ قَبْلَهُ فِي مُلْكِهِ وَ شِدَّةِ سُلْطَانِهِ
And inform me-asws you all about Suleyman Bin Dawood-as whereby he-as asked Allah-azwj for a kingdom not befitting for anyone from after him-as, so Allah-azwj gave him-as that, and he-as was speaking the truth and working with it. Then we do not find Allah-azwj Faulting that upon him‑as, nor anyone from the Momineen, and Dawood-as before him-as regarding his-as kingdom and the strength of his-as rule.
ثُمَّ يُوسُفَ النَّبِيِّ حَيْثُ قَالَ لِمَلِكِ مِصْرَ اجْعَلْنِي عَلى خَزائِنِ الْأَرْضِ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ فَكَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ الَّذِي كَانَ أَنِ اخْتَارَ مَمْلَكَةَ الْمَلِكِ وَ مَا حَوْلَهَا إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَكَانُوا يَمْتَارُونَ الطَّعَامَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ لِمَجَاعَةٍ أَصَابَتْهُمْ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ الْحَقَ وَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِ فَلَمْ نَجِدْ أَحَداً عَابَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ
Then Yusuf-as the Prophet-as whereby he-as said to the king of Egypt: ‘Make me (in charge) upon the treasures of the land. I am a Place me (in authority) over the treasures of the land, I am a knowledgeable protector [12:55]. It happened from his-as matter which happened. He‑as chose the kingdom of the king and what surrounded it up to Al-Yemen. They used to seek the food from him-as due to the famine which had afflicted them, and he-as was speaking the truth and working with it. We do not find anyone faulting that upon him-as.
ثُمَّ ذُو الْقَرْنَيْنِ عَبْدٌ أَحَبَّ اللَّهَ فَأَحَبَّهُ طَوَى لَهُ الْأَسْبَابَ وَ مَلَّكَهُ مَشَارِقَ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَغَارِبَهَا وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ بِالْحَقِّ وَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ نَجِدْ أَحَداً عَابَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ
The Zulqarnayn-as, a servant who loved Allah-azwj So He-azwj Loved him-as. He-azwj Folded the means for him-as and Caused him-as to rule the easts of the earth and its wests, and he-as was speaking the truth and working with it. Then we do not find anyone faulting that upon him-as.
فَتَأَدَّبُوا أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ بِآدَابِ اللَّهِ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ اقْتَصِرُوا عَلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ وَ نَهْيِهِ وَ دَعُوا عَنْكُمْ مَا اشْتَبَهَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِمَّا لَا عِلْمَ لَكُمْ بِهِ وَ رُدُّوا الْعِلْمَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ تُؤْجَرُوا وَ تُعْذَرُوا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ
So be educated, O you persons, with the Education of Allah-azwj to the Momineen and restrict yourselves upon the Commands of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Prohibitions and leave whatever is confusing upon you from what there is no knowledge for you all with it, and refer the knowledge to its people, you will be Rewarded and be Excused in the Presence of Allah-azwj.
وَ كُونُوا فِي طَلَبِ عِلْمِ النَّاسِخِ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ مَنْسُوخِهِ وَ مُحْكَمِهِ مِنْ مُتَشَابِهِهِ وَ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ فِيهِ مِمَّا حَرَّمَ فَإِنَّهُ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ أَبْعَدُ لَكُمْ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ وَ دَعُوا الْجَهَالَةَ لِأَهْلِهَا فَإِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَهْلِ كَثِيرٌ وَ أَهْلَ الْعِلْمِ قَلِيلٌ وَ قَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ فَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ.
And be in the seeking knowledge of the Abrogating from the Quran from its Abrogated, and its Decisive from its Allegorical, and what Allah-azwj has Permitted in it from what He-azwj has Prohibited, for it would be the closest for you from Allah-azwj and remotest for you from the ignorance, and leave the ignorance to its people, for the people of ignorance are many, and the people of knowledge are few, and Allah-azwj has Said: and above every one with knowledge is a more knowledgeable one [12:76]’’.[9]
14- نبه، تنبيه الخاطر قِيلَ إِنَّ سَلْمَانَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ جَاءَ زَائِراً لِأَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ فَوَجَدَ أُمَّ الدَّرْدَاءِ مُبْتَذِلَةً فَقَالَ مَا شَأْنُكِ قَالَتْ إِنَّ أَخَاكَ لَيْسَتْ لَهُ حَاجَةٌ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا
(The book) ‘Tanbeeh Al Khatir’ –
‘It is said that Salman-ra, may Allah-azwj be Pleased with him-ra, came as a visitor to Abu Al-Darda’a. He-ra found Umm Al-Darda’a as shabby. He-ra said, ‘What is your concern?’ She said, ‘Your-ra brother, there isn’t for him any need regarding anything from the matters of the world’.
قَالَ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ رَحَّبَ لِسَلْمَانَ وَ قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهِ طَعَاماً فَقَالَ لِسَلْمَانَ اطْعَمْ فَقَالَ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ قَالَ أَقْسَمْتُ عَلَيْكَ إِلَّا مَا طَعِمْتَ فَقَالَ مَا أَنَا بِآكِلٍ حَتَّى تَأْكُلَ
He (the narrator) said, ‘When Abu Al-Darda’a came, he welcomed Salman-ra and forwarded a meal to him-ra. He said to Salman-ra, ‘Feed (please eat)!’ He-ra said, ‘I-ra am fasting’. He said, ‘I swear upon you-asws except if you-ra could eat!’ He-ra said, ‘I-ra will not eat until you eat’’.
قَالَ وَ بَاتَ عِنْدَهُ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ اللَّيْلُ قَامَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ فَحَبَسَهُ سَلْمَانُ قَالَ يَا أَبَا الدَّرْدَاءِ إِنَّ لِرَبِّكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقّاً إِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقّاً وَ لِأَهْلِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقّاً فَصُمْ وَ أَفْطِرْ وَ صَلِّ وَ نَمْ وَ أَعْطِ كُلَّ ذِي حَقٍّ حَقَّهُ
He (the narrator) said, ‘And he-ra spent the night in his presence. When the night came, Abu Al-Darda’a stood up (to pray Salat). Salman-ra withheld him. He-ra said, ‘O Abu Al-Darda’a! For your Lord-azwj, there is a right upon you, and for your family there is a right, so fast, and break, and pray, and sleep, and give everyone with a right, his right’.
فَأَتَى أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ النَّبِيَّ ص فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِمَا قَالَ سَلْمَانُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ قَوْلِ سَلْمَانَ.
Abu Al Darda’a came to the Prophet-saww and informed him-saww with what Salman-ra had said. He-saww said to him similar to the words of Salman-ra’’.[10]
15 نَوَادِرُ الرَّاوَنْدِيِّ، بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَأْتِي أَهْلَ الصُّفَّةِ وَ كَانُوا ضِيفَانَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص كَانُوا هَاجَرُوا مِنْ أَهَالِيهِمْ وَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَأَسْكَنَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص صُفَّةَ الْمَسْجِدِ وَ هُمْ أَرْبَعُمِائَةِ رَجُلٍ
(The book) ‘Nawadir’ of Al Rawandy – by his chain,
‘From Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad-asws, from his-asws forefathers-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah‑saww used to come to the people of the platform, and they would host Rasool-Allah-saww. They had emigrated from their families and their wealth to Al-Medina, so Rasool-Allah-saww had settled them on a platform of the Masjid, and they were four hundred men.
فَكَانَ يُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ وَ الْعَشِيِّ فَأَتَاهُمْ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَخْصِفُ نَعْلَهُ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَرْقَعُ ثَوْبَهُ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَتَفَلَّى وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَرْزُقُهُمْ مُدّاً مُدّاً مِنْ تَمْرٍ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ
He-saww would greet unto them in the morning and evening. One day he-saww came to them. From them was one who was repairing his slippers, and from them was one patching his clothes, and from them was one cleaning himself, and Rasool-Allah-saww used to grace them a handful by a handful of dates during every day.
فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ التَّمْرُ الَّذِي تَرْزُقُنَا قَدْ أَحْرَقَ بُطُونَنَا
A man from them stood up. He said, ‘O Rasool-Allah-saww! The dates which you-saww are sustaining us have burnt our bellies’.
فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ أَمَا إِنِّي لَوِ اسْتَطَعْتُ أَنْ أُطْعِمَكُمُ الدُّنْيَا لَأَطْعَمْتُكُمْ وَ لَكِنْ مَنْ عَاشَ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي يُغْدَى عَلَيْهِ بِالْجِفَانِ وَ يُرَاحُ عَلَيْهِ بِالْجِفَانِ وَ يَغْدُو أَحَدُكُمْ فِي قَمِيصَةٍ وَ يَرُوحُ فِي أُخْرَى وَ تُنَجِّدُونَ بُيُوتَكُمْ كَمَا تُنَجَّدُ الْكَعْبَةُ
Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘But if I-saww had the capacity to feed you the (whole) world, I-saww would have fed you, but the one from you who lives after me-saww, he will have lunch with the pots (variety of meal) and they will depart upon it with the pots (variety of meal), and one of you will go in one shirt and return in another, and you will be finding your houses (adorned) like what you are finding the Kabah’.
فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَا إِلَى ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ بِالْأَشْوَاقِ فَمَتَى هُوَ
A man stood up. He said, ‘O Rasool-Allah-saww! I am yearning to that time, so when will it be?’
قَالَ ص زَمَانُكُمْ هَذَا خَيْرٌ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ إِنَّكُمْ إِنْ مَلَأْتُمْ بُطُونَكُمْ مِنَ الْحَلَالِ تُوشِكُونَ أَنْ تَمْلَئُوهَا مِنَ الْحَرَامِ
He-saww said: ‘This time of yours is better than that time. You are filling your bellies from the Permissibles, and you are about to fill these from the Prohibitions’.
فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ أَشَجَّ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا يُفْعَلُ بِنَا بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ
Sa’ad Bin Ashajja stood up. He said, ‘O Rasool-Allah-saww! What will be done with us after the death?’
قَالَ الْحِسَابُ وَ الْقَبْرُ ثُمَّ ضِيقُهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَوْ سَعَتُهُ
He-saww said: ‘The Reckoning and the grave, then its narrowness after that or its vastness’.
فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ تَخَافُ أَنْتَ ذَلِكَ
He said, ‘O Rasool-Allah-saww! Are you-saww fearing that?’
فَقَالَ لَا وَ لَكِنْ أَسْتَحْيِي مِنَ النِّعَمِ الْمُتَظَاهِرَةِ الَّتِي لَا أُجَازِيهَا وَ لَا جُزْءاً مِنْ سَبْعَةٍ
He-saww said: ‘No, but I-asws am embarrassed from the apparent bounties which I-saww not allowing these, not even one part from seven!’
فَقَالَ سَعْدُ بْنُ أَشَجَّ إِنِّي أُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ وَ أُشْهِدُ رَسُولَهُ وَ مَنْ حَضَرَنِي أَنَّ نَوْمَ اللَّيْلِ عَلَيَّ حَرَامٌ وَ الْأَكْلَ بِالنَّهَارِ عَلَيَّ حَرَامٌ وَ لِبَاسَ اللَّيْلِ عَلَيَّ حَرَامٌ وَ مُخَالَطَةَ النَّاسِ عَلَيَّ حَرَامٌ وَ إِتْيَانَ النِّسَاءِ عَلَيَّ حَرَامٌ
Sa’ad Bin Ashajja said, ‘I keep Allah-azwj as Witness, and I keep His-azwj Rasool-saww as witness and the ones present with me that the sleep of the night is prohibited unto me, and the eating at daytime is prohibited unto me, and wearing the night clothes is prohibited unto me, and mingling with the people is prohibited unto me, and going to the women is prohibited unto me!’
فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ يَا سَعْدُ لَمْ تَصْنَعْ شَيْئاً كَيْفَ تَأْمُرُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ إِذَا لَمْ تُخَالِطِ النَّاسَ وَ سُكُونُ الْبَرِّيَّةِ بَعْدَ الْحَضَرِ كُفْرٌ لِلنِّعْمَةِ نَمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ كُلْ بِالنَّهَارِ وَ الْبَسْ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ ذَهَباً أَوْ حَرِيراً أَوْ مُعَصْفَراً وَ آتِ النِّسَاءَ
Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘O Sa’ad! (If) you don’t do anything, how will you instruct with the act of kindness and forbid from the evil when you don’t mingle with the people and dwelling in the wilderness after the urban (dwelling) is Kufr of the bounties. Sleep at night and eat at daytime, and wear what does not happen to be gold or silk, or dyed in gold, and go to the women.
يَا سَعْدُ اذْهَبْ إِلَى بَنِي الْمُصْطَلِقِ فَإِنَّهُمْ قَدْ رَدُّوا رَسُولِي فَذَهَبَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَجَاءَ بِصَدَقَةٍ
O Sa’ad! Go to the clan of Al-Mustalaq for they have rejected my-saww messenger!’ He went to them and came with charity.
فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص كَيْفَ رَأَيْتَهُمْ
Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘How did you see them (as being)?’
قَالَ خَيْرَ قَوْمٍ مَا رَأَيْتُ قَوْماً قَطُّ أَحْسَنَ أَخْلَاقاً فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمْ مِنْ قَوْمٍ بَعَثْتَنِي إِلَيْهِمْ
He said, ‘Good people! I have not seen any people at all of more excellent manners in what is between them, from any people you-saww sent me to’.
فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّهُ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَوْلِيَاءِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مِنْ أَهْلِ دَارِ الْخُلُودِ الَّذِينَ كَانَ لَهَا سَعْيُهُمْ وَ فِيهَا رَغْبَتُهُمْ أَنْ يَكُونُوا أَوْلِيَاءَ الشَّيْطَانِ مِنْ أَهْلِ دَارِ الْغُرُورِ الَّذِينَ كَانَ لَهَا سَعْيُهُمْ وَ فِيهَا رَغْبَتُهُمْ
Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘It is not befitting for the friends of Allah-azwj the Exalted, from the people of the eternal house which their striving is for it, and in it is their desires, that they would be friends of the Satan-la from the people of deception, those whose striving was for it and in it was their desires’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ بِئْسَ الْقَوْمُ قَوْمٌ لَا يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ لَا يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ بِئْسَ الْقَوْمُ قَوْمٌ يَقْذِفُونَ الْآمِرِينَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ النَّاهِينَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ
Then he-saww said: ‘The evil people are a people neither instructing with the act of kindness nor forbidding from the evil. The evil people are a people throwing away the instructing with the act of kindness and forbidding from the evil.
بِئْسَ الْقَوْمُ قَوْمٌ لَا يَقُومُونَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى بِالْقِسْطِ بِئْسَ الْقَوْمُ قَوْمٌ يَقْتُلُونَ الَّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْقِسْطِ فِي النَّاسِ
The evil people are a people who are not standing with the fairness for Allah-azwj the Exalted. The evil people are people killing the ones instructing the people with the fairness among the people.
بِئْسَ الْقَوْمُ قَوْمٌ يَكُونُ الطَّلَاقُ عِنْدَهُمْ أَوْثَقَ مِنْ عَهْدِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى بِئْسَ الْقَوْمُ قَوْمٌ جَعَلُوا طَاعَةَ إِمَامِهِمْ دُونَ طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ
The evil people are a people, the divorce in their view is more trusted than the Pact of Allah‑azwj the Exalted. The evil people are a people making the obedience to their leader besides the obedience to Allah-azwj.
بِئْسَ الْقَوْمُ قَوْمٌ يَخْتَارُونَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى الدِّينِ بِئْسَ الْقَوْمُ قَوْمٌ يَسْتَحِلُّونَ الْمَحَارِمَ وَ الشَّهَوَاتِ وَ الشُّبُهَاتِ
The evil people are a people choosing the world over the religion. The evil people are a people permitting the Prohibitions, and the lustful desires, and the suspicions!’
قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَأَيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَكْيَسُ
It was said, ‘O Rasool-Allah-saww! Which of the Momineen are the cleverest?’
قَالَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لِلْمَوْتِ ذِكْراً وَ أَحْسَنُهُمْ لَهُ اسْتِعْدَاداً أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْأَكْيَاسُ.
He-saww said: ‘The ones most frequently remembering the death and are of the best prepared for it. These ones, they are the cleverest!’’[11]
– وَ قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي الْحَدِيدِ فِي شَرْحِ نَهْجِ الْبَلَاغَةِ، رُوِيَ أَنَّ قَوْماً مِنَ الْمُتَصَوِّفَةِ دَخَلُوا بِخُرَاسَانَ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى ع فَقَالُوا لَهُ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَكَّرَ فِيمَا وَلَّاهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْأُمُورِ فَرَآكُمْ أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ أَنْ تَؤُمُّوا النَّاسَ وَ نَظَرَ فِيكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَرَآكَ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِالنَّاسِ فَرَأَى أَنْ يُرَدَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ إِلَيْكَ وَ الْإِمَامَةُ تَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مَنْ يَأْكُلُ الْجَشِبَ وَ يَلْبَسُ الْخَشِنَ وَ يَرْكَبُ الْحِمَارَ وَ يَعُودُ الْمَرِيضَ
Abd Ibn Abi Al Hadeed said in the commentary of Nahj Al Balagah,
‘It is reported that a group of Sufis entered to see Ali-asws Bin Musa-asws. They said to him-asws, ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws, I thought regarding what Allah-azwj had made him-asws in charge of the affairs, and I see you-asws People-asws of the Household as being foremost of the people to lead the people, and I looked among you-asws People-asws of the Household, and I see you-asws are being foremost of the people with the people. I see that this command has been returned to you-asws and the Imamate is needy to someone who eats the dry food, and wears the coarse, and rides the donkey, and consoles the sick!’
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ إِنَّ يُوسُفَ كَانَ نَبِيّاً يَلْبَسُ أَقْبِيَةَ الدِّيبَاجِ الْمُزَرَّدَةَ بِالذَّهَبِ وَ يَجْلِسُ عَلَى مُتَّكَآتِ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ وَ يَحْكُمُ إِنَّمَا يُرَادُ مِنَ الْإِمَامِ قِسْطُهُ وَ عَدْلُهُ إِذَا قَالَ صَدَقَ وَ إِذَا حَكَمَ عَدَلَ وَ إِذَا وَعَدَ أَنْجَزَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يُحَرِّمْ لَبُوساً وَ لَا مَطْعَماً
He-asws said to them: ‘Yusuf-as was a Prophet-saww. He-asws wore a collar of brocade woven with the gold, and he-as sat upon the recliners of the people of Pharaoh-la. Woe be unto you all! But rather, it is wanted from the Imam-asws, his-asws fairness and his-asws justice. When he-asws speaks he-asws is truthful, and when he-asws judges he-asws is just, and when he-asws promises he-asws fulfills. Allah-azwj has neither Prohibited clothing nor foods!’
ثُمَّ قَرَأَ قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبادِهِ وَ الطَّيِّباتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ الْآيَةَ.
Then he-asws recited: Say: ‘Who prohibited adornments of Allah which He Brought out for His servants, and the good from the sustenance?’ [7:32] – the Verse’’.[12]
ثُمَّ قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي الْحَدِيدِ رُوِّيْتُ عَنِ الشُّيُوخِ وَ رَأَيْتُ بِخَطِّ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ الْخَشَّابِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ أَنَّ الرَّبِيعَ بْنَ زِيَادٍ الْحَارِثِيَّ أَصَابَتْهُ نُشَّابَةٌ فِي جَبِينِهِ فَكَانَتْ تَنْتَقِضُ عَلَيْهِ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ فَأَتَاهُ عَلِيٌّ ع عَائِداً فَقَالَ كَيْفَ تَجِدُكَ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ
Then Abi Al Hadeed said, ‘It is reported from the sheykhs, and I have seen in the handwriting of Abdullah Bin Ahmad Al-Khashab, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on him, ‘Al-Rabie Bin Ziyad Al-Harisy was hit by an arrow in his forehead, and it was getting worse upon him every year. Ali‑asws came to him consoling. He-asws said: ‘How are you feeling, O Abdul Rahman?’
قَالَ أَجِدُنِي يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَوْ كَانَ لَا يَذْهَبُ مَا بِي إِلَّا بِذَهَابِ بَصَرِي لَتَمَنَّيْتُ ذَهَابَهُ
O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! I am feeling (so much pain), if what is with me cannot go away except by the loss of my sight, I would wish to lose it’.
قَالَ وَ مَا قِيمَةُ بَصَرِكَ عِنْدَكَ
He-asws said: ‘And what is the value of your sight, in your view?’
قَالَ لَوْ كَانَتْ لِيَ الدُّنْيَا لَفَدَيْتُهُ بِهَا
He said, ‘If the (whole) world had been for me, I would have ransomed it with it (pain)!’
قَالَ لَا جَرَمَ لَيُعْطِيَنَّكَ اللَّهُ عَلَى قَدْرِ ذَلِكَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُعْطِي عَلَى قَدْرِ الْأَلَمِ وَ الْمُصِيبَةِ وَ عِنْدَهُ تَضْعِيفٌ كَثِيرٌ
He-asws said: ‘There is no doubt Allah-azwj will Give you upon a measurement of that. Allah-azwj Gives based upon a measurement of the pain and the calamity, and in His-azwj Presence there manifold multiple’.
قَالَ الرَّبِيعُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَ لَا أَشْكُو إِلَيْكَ عَاصِمَ بْنَ زِيَادٍ أَخِي
Al-Rabie said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Shall I complain to you-asws of my brother Aasim Bin Ziyad?’
قَالَ مَا لَهُ
He-asws said: ‘What is the matter with him?’
قَالَ لَبِسَ الْعَبَاءَ وَ تَرَكَ الْمُلَاءَ وَ غَمَّ أَهْلَهُ وَ حَزَّنَ وُلْدَهُ
He said, ‘He wears the cloak, and neglects the assembly, and distresses his wife and aggrieves his children’.
فَقَالَ ع ادْعُوا لِي عَاصِماً
He-asws said: ‘Call Aasim to me-asws!’
فَلَمَّا أَتَاهُ عَبَسَ فِي وَجْهِهِ وَ قَالَ وَيْحَكَ يَا عَاصِمُ أَ تَرَى اللَّهَ أَبَاحَ لَكَ اللَّذَّاتِ وَ هُوَ يَكْرَهُ مَا أَخَذْتَ مِنْهَا لَأَنْتَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ
When he came to him-asws, he-asws frowned in his face and said ‘Woe be to you, O Aasim! Do you view that Allah-azwj would Legalise the pleasures for you and He-azwj would Dislike what you take from it? You are more insignificant to Allah-azwj than that!
أَ وَ مَا سَمِعْتَهُ يَقُولُ مَرَجَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيانِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمَا اللُّؤْلُؤُ وَ الْمَرْجانُ وَ قَالَ وَ مِنْ كُلٍّ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْماً طَرِيًّا وَ تَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَها
Or have you not heard Him-azwj Saying: He Let loose the two seas to meet [55:19], then Said: There come forth from them the pearls and the rubies [55:22]? And He-azwj Said: And from each you are eating fresh meat and are extracting ornament (for) you to wear, [35:12].
أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَابْتِذَالُ نِعَمِ اللَّهِ بِالْفَعَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنِ ابْتِذَالِهَا بِالْمَقَالِ
But, by Allah-azwj! Trivialising a bounty of Allah-azwj with the deed is more beloved to Him-azwj than trivialising it with the words!
وَ قَدْ سَمِعْتُمُ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ وَ أَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ وَ قَوْلَهُ قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبادِهِ وَ الطَّيِّباتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ
And you have heard Allah-azwj Saying: And as for the Favour of your Lord, so do announce (it) [93:11], and His-azwj Words: Say: ‘Who prohibited adornments of Allah which He Brought out for His servants, and the good from the sustenance?’ [7:32].
إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَاطَبَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِمَا خَاطَبَ بِهِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ فَقَالَ يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّباتِ ما رَزَقْناكُمْ وَ قَالَ يا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّباتِ وَ اعْمَلُوا صالِحاً
Allah-azwj has Addressed the Momineen with what He-azwj had Addressed the Messengers-as with. He-azwj Said: O you who believe! [5:87] And eat from what Allah has Graced [5:88]; and Said: O you Rasool! Eat from the good things and do righteous deeds, [23:51].
وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِبَعْضِ نِسَائِهِ مَا لِي أَرَاكِ شَعْثَاءَ مَرْهَاءَ صَلْتَاءَ
And Rasool-Allah-saww said to one of his-saww wives: ‘What is the matter I-saww see you as unkempt, unkohled, undyed?’’
قَالَ عَاصِمٌ فَلِمَ اقْتَصَرْتَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى لُبْسِ الْخَشِنِ وَ أَكْلِ الْجَشِبِ
Aasim said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Why have you-asws restricted yourself-asws upon wearing the coarse and eating the dry food?’
قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى افْتَرَضَ عَلَى أَئِمَّةِ الْعَدْلِ أَنْ يُقَدِّرُوا لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ بِالْقَوْمِ كَيْلَا يَتَبَيَّغَ بِالْفَقِيرِ فَقْرُهُ
He-asws said: ‘Allah-azwj the Exalted has Imposed upon the just Imams-asws that they-asws should maintain themselves-asws with the people, lest the poor one be overwhelmed by his poverty’.
فَمَا قَامَ عَلِيٌّ ع حَتَّى نَزَعَ عَاصِمٌ الْعَبَاءَةَ وَ لَبِسَ مُلَاءَةً.
Ali-asws did not arise (to leave) until Aasim has removed the (coarse) cloak and had worn the normal clothes’’.[13]
تحف العقول دَخَلَ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَرَأَى عَلَيْهِ ثِيَابَ بَيَاضٍ كَأَنَّهَا غِرْقِئُ الْبَيْضِ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ هَذَا اللِّبَاسَ لَيْسَ مِنْ لِبَاسِكَ
(The book) ‘Tohaf Al Uqool’ –
‘Sufyan Al-Sowry entered to see Abu Abdullah-asws. He saw white clothes being upon him-asws as if these were soft egg white. He said to him-asws, ‘This clothing isn’t from your-asws clothing!’
فَقَالَ لَهُ اسْمَعْ مِنِّي وَ عِ مَا أَقُولُ لَكَ فَإِنَّهُ خَيْرٌ لَكَ عَاجِلًا وَ آجِلًا إِنْ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ مِتَّ عَلَى السُّنَّةِ وَ الْحَقِّ وَ لَمْ تَمُتْ عَلَى بِدْعَةٍ
He-asws said to him: ‘Listen from me-asws and retain what I-asws am saying to you, for it is better for you for current and future, if you were to die upon the Sunnah and the truth, and do not die upon innovation!
أُخْبِرُكَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ فِي زَمَانٍ مُقْفِرٍ جَشِبٍ فَإِذَا أَقْبَلَتِ الدُّنْيَا فَأَحَقُّ أَهْلِهَا بِهَا أَبْرَارُهَا لَا فُجَّارُهَا وَ مُؤْمِنُهَا لَا مُنَافِقُوهَا وَ مُسْلِمُوهَا لَا كُفَّارُهَا
I-asws inform you that Rasool-Allah-saww was in a time of financial constraints and drought. When the world (affluence) cam, the most rightful of its people with it were its righteous ones not its immoral ones, and its Momineen not its hypocrites, and its Muslims not its Kafirs.
فَمَا أَنْكَرْتَ يَا ثَوْرِيُّ فَوَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَمَعَ مَا تَرَى مَا أَتَى عَلَيَّ مُذْ عَقَلْتُ صَبَاحٌ وَ لَا مَسَاءٌ وَ لِلَّهِ فِي مَالِي حَقٌّ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَضَعَهُ مَوْضِعاً إِلَّا وَضَعْتُهُ
So, what are you disliking, O Sowry? By Allah-azwj! I-asws am as sure as you can see. There has not come upon me-asws, since I-asws had sense, neither a morning nor an evening and for Allah‑azwj in my-asws wealth there is a right He-azwj had Commanded me-asws to place it in a place, except I-asws have placed it’.
فَقَالَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ قَوْمُهُ مِمَّنْ يُظْهِرُ التَّزَهُّدَ وَ يَدْعُونَ النَّاسَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مَعَهُمْ مِثْلَ الَّذِي هُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ التَّقَشُّفِ فَقَالُوا إِنَّ صَاحِبَنَا حَصِرَ عَنْ كَلَامِكَ وَ لَمْ تَحْضُرْهُ حُجَّةٌ
He (the narrator) said, ‘Then his-asws people came to him-asws, from the ones who manifest ascetism and calling the people to be with them similar to that which they are upon, from the austerity. They said, ‘Our companions are confining to your-asws speech! – and did not present an argument to him-asws.
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ هَاتُوا حُجَجَكُمْ
He-asws said to them: ‘Give your arguments!’
فَقَالُوا إِنَّ حُجَجَنَا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ
They said, ‘Our arguments are from the Book of Allah-azwj!’
قَالَ لَهُمْ فَأَدْلُوا بِهَا فَإِنَّهَا أَحَقُّ مَا اتُّبِعَ وَ عُمِلَ بِهِ.
He-asws said to them: ‘Evidence with it (Quran) for it is most rightful of what should be followed and worked with’.
فَقَالُوا يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يُخْبِرُ عَنْ قَوْمٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ص وَ يُؤْثِرُونَ عَلى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ لَوْ كانَ بِهِمْ خَصاصَةٌ وَ مَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ فَمَدَحَ فِعْلَهُمْ وَ قَالَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ آخَرَ وَ يُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعامَ عَلى حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَ يَتِيماً وَ أَسِيراً فَنَحْنُ نَكْتَفِي بِهَذَا
They said, ‘Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted Says Informing about a group from companions of the Prophet-saww: and they are preferring (others) over their own selves, and even though there was extreme poverty with them. And one who preserves himself from stinginess, so those, they are the successful ones [59:9]. He-azwj Praised their deeds. And He-azwj Said in another place: And they fed the food to a poor, and an orphan and a captive out of love (for Allah), [76:8]. So we are sufficing with this’.
فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْجُلَسَاءِ إِنَّا مَا رَأَيْنَاكُمْ تَزْهَدُونَ فِي الْأَطْعِمَةِ الطَّيِّبَةِ وَ مَعَ ذَلِكَ تَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْخُرُوجِ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَتَّى تَتَمَتَّعُوا أَنْتُمْ مِنْهَا
A man from the gatherers said, ‘We have not seen you being ascetic regarding the good foods, and along with that you-asws are instructing the people with extracting from your wealth (Khums) until you-asws are enjoying yourselves from it’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع دَعُوا عَنْكُمْ مَا لَا يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ أَخْبِرُونِي أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ أَ لَكُمْ عِلْمٌ بِنَاسِخِ الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ مَنْسُوخِهِ وَ مُحْكَمِهِ مِنْ مُتَشَابِهِهِ الَّذِي فِي مِثْلِهِ ضَلَّ مَنْ ضَلَّ وَ هَلَكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ
Abu Abdullah-asws said to him: ‘Leave regarding what you will not benefit with. Inform me, O you persons! Is there knowledge for you with the Abrogating (Verses) of the Quran from its Abrogated, and its Decisive from its Allegorical in the likes of which strayed the ones who strayed, and destroyed the ones from this community who were destroyed?’
فَقَالُوا لَهُ أَوْ بَعْضِهِ فَأَمَّا كُلُّهُ فَلَا
They said to him-asws, ‘Or some of these. As for all of it, so no’.
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ مِنْ هَاهُنَا أُتِيتُمْ وَ كَذَلِكَ أَحَادِيثُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص
He-asws said to them: ‘Here is where you are coming from, and like that are the Ahadeeth of Rasool-Allah-saww.
فَأَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتُمْ مِنْ إِخْبَارِ اللَّهِ إِيَّانَا فِي كِتَابِهِ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ أَخْبَرَ عَنْهُمْ بِحُسْنِ فِعَالِهِمْ فَقَدْ كَانَ مُبَاحاً جَائِزاً وَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا نُهُوا عَنْهُ وَ ثَوَابُهُمْ مِنْهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ وَ تَقَدَّسَ أَمَرَ بِخِلَافِ مَا عَمِلُوا بِهِ فَصَارَ أَمْرُهُ نَاسِخاً لِفِعْلِهِمْ
As for what you mentioned from Allah-azwj Informing us in His-azwj Book about the people, those He-azwj has Informed about with goodness of their deeds, so it was legal, allowed, and they had not been Prohibited from it, and their Rewards from it is upon Allah-azwj, and that is because Allah-azwj, Majestic and Holy, had Commanded with different to what they had worked with, so His-azwj Command became abrogated due to their deeds.
وَ كَانَ نَهَى اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى رَحْمَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ نَظَراً لِكَيْ لَا يُضِرُّوا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ عِيَالاتِهِمْ مِنْهُمُ الضَّعَفَةُ الصِّغَارُ وَ الْوِلْدَانُ وَ الشَّيْخُ الْفَانِ وَ الْعَجُوزُ الْكَبِيرَةُ الَّذِينَ لَا يَصْبِرُونَ عَلَى الْجُوعِ فَإِنْ تَصَدَّقْتُ بِرَغِيفِي وَ لَا رَغِيفَ لِي غَيْرُهُ ضَاعُوا وَ هَلَكُوا جُوعاً
And Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted has Prohibited as a Mercy to the Momineen and a Consideration, lest they harm themselves and their dependants, from them being the weak, and the young, and the children, and the aged old men, and aged old women, those who cannot be patient upon the hunger. So if I-asws were to give in charity with my-asws loaf of bread, and there is no loaf for me-asws other than it, they would be wasted and die of hunger.
فَمِنْ ثَمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص خَمْسُ تَمَرَاتٍ أَوْ خَمْسُ قُرَصٍ أَوْ دَنَانِيرُ أَوْ دَرَاهِمُ يَمْلِكُهَا الْإِنْسَانُ وَ هُوَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُمْضِيَهَا فَأَفْضَلُهَا مَا أَنْفَقَهُ الْإِنْسَانُ عَلَى وَالِدَيْهِ ثُمَّ الثَّانِيَةُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ وَ عِيَالِهِ ثُمَّ الثَّالِثَةُ الْقَرَابَةِ وَ إِخْوَانِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ثُمَّ الرَّابِعَةُ عَلَى جِيرَانِهِ الْفُقَرَاءِ ثُمَّ الْخَامِسَةُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ هُوَ أَخَسُّهَا أَجْراً
So, from there, Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Five dates of five discs (of bread), or two Dinars, or Dirhams the human being owns, and he wants to spend these, so the most superior of what the human being can spend is upon his parents, then secondly upon himself and his dependants, and thirdly the relatives and his Momineen brethren, then fourthly upon his poor neighbours, then fifthly in the Way of Allah-azwj, and it is the lowest in Recompense.
وَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص لِلْأَنْصَارِيِّ حَيْثُ أَعْتَقَ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ خَمْسَةً أَوْ سِتَّةً مِنَ الرَّقِيقِ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَمْلِكُ غَيْرَهُمْ وَ لَهُ أَوْلَادٌ صِغَارٌ لَوْ أَعْلَمْتُمُونِي أَمْرَهُ مَا تَرَكْتُكُمْ تَدْفِنُونَهُ مَعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ تَرَكَ صِبْيَةً صِغَاراً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ
And the Prophet-saww said to Al-Ansari, when he liberated at this death, five or six of the slaves and he did not happen to own other than them, and there were small children for him: ‘Had you let me-saww know, of his matter, I-saww would not have left you to bury him with the Muslims. He left young children to be sufficed by the people!’’
ثُمَّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص قَالَ ابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ الْأَدْنَى فَالْأَدْنَى ثُمَّ هَذَا مَا نَطَقَ بِهِ الْكِتَابُ رَدّاً لِقَوْلِكُمْ وَ نَهْياً عَنْهُ مَفْرُوضٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ قَالَ الَّذِينَ إِذا أَنْفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَ لَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَ كانَ بَيْنَ ذلِكَ قَواماً
Then he-asws said: ‘My-asws father-asws narrated to me-asws that the Prophet-saww said: ‘Begin with the closest, then the closest. Then this what the Book Speaks with is a rebuttal to your words and a Prohibition from it, an Imposition from Allah-azwj the Mighty the Wise. He-azwj Said: And those, when they spend, are not being extravagant and are not stingy, and are moderate between that [25:67].
أَ فَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى قَالَ غَيْرَ مَا أَرَاكُمْ تَدْعُونَ النَّاسَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْأَثَرَةِ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ سَمَّى مَنْ فَعَلَ مَا تَدْعُونَ إِلَيْهِ مُسْرِفاً
Are you not seeing that Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted has Said other than what I-asws am seeing you calling the people to, from the stumbles upon yourselves, and He-azwj has Named the ones who does what you are calling to as being extravagant.
وَ فِي غَيْرِ آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ فَنَهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْإِسْرَافِ وَ نَهَاهُمْ عَنِ التَّقْتِيرِ لَكِنْ أَمْرٌ بَيْنَ أَمْرَيْنِ لَا يُعْطِي جَمِيعَ مَا عِنْدَهُ ثُمَّ يَدْعُو اللَّهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَهُ
And in another Verse from the Book, Allah-azwj Says: surely, He does not Love the extravagant ones [7:31]. He-azwj has Forbidden them from the extravagance and Forbidden them from the stinginess, but He-azwj has Commanded a matter between the two matters. He should not give entirety of what is in his possession then supplicates to Allah-azwj to Grace him.
فَلَا يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ لِلْحَدِيثِ الَّذِي جَاءَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص أَنَّ أَصْنَافاً مِنْ أُمَّتِي لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ دُعَاؤُهُمْ رَجُلٌ يَدْعُو عَلَى وَالِدَيْهِ وَ رَجُلٌ يَدْعُو عَلَى غَرِيمٍ ذَهَبَ لَهُ بِمَالٍ وَ لَمْ يُشْهِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَ رَجُلٌ يَدْعُو عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ وَ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ تَخْلِيَةَ سَبِيلِهَا بِيَدِهِ
He-azwj will not Answer to him due to the Hadeeth which has come from the Prophet-saww: ‘There are types from my-saww community, their supplications will not be Answered for them – a man supplicating against his parents, and a man supplicating upon a debtor who went away with wealth of his and he had not witness upon it, and a man supplicating against his wife and Allah-azwj has Made the freeing of her way to be in his hands.
وَ رَجُلٌ يَقْعُدُ فِي الْبَيْتِ يَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ ارْزُقْنِي وَ لَا يَخْرُجُ يَطْلُبُ الرِّزْقَ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ عَبْدِي أَ وَ لَمْ أَجْعَلْ لَكَ السَّبِيلَ إِلَى الطَّلَبِ وَ الضَّرْبِ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِجَوَارِحَ صَحِيحَةٍ فَتَكُونَ قَدْ أُعْذِرْتَ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ فِي الطَّلَبِ لِاتِّبَاعِ أَمْرِي وَ لِكَيْلَا تَكُونَ كَلًّا عَلَى أَهْلِكَ فَإِنْ شِئْتُ رَزَقْتُكَ وَ إِنْ شِئْتُ قَتَّرْتُ عَلَيْكَ وَ أَنْتَ مَعْذُورٌ عِنْدِي
And a man who sits in the house saying, ‘O Lord-azwj! Grace me!’, and he does not go out seeking the sustenance. Allah-azwj Majestic and Mighty Says: “My-azwj servant! And have I-azwj not Made the way for you to the seeking and striking in the land with the healthy limbs, so you would have an excuse regarding what is between Me-azwj and you regarding the seeking to follow My-azwj Command, and lest you become a weight (dependant) upon your family. If I‑azwj so Desire, I-azwj will Grace you, and if I-azwj so Desire I-azwj will be Stingy upon you, and you will be excused in My-azwj Presence!”
وَ رَجُلٌ رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ مَالًا كَثِيراً فَأَنْفَقَهُ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ يَدْعُو يَا رَبِّ ارْزُقْنِي فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ أَ لَمْ أَرْزُقْكَ رِزْقاً وَاسِعاً أَ فَلَا اقْتَصَدْتَ فِيهِ كَمَا أَمَرْتُكَ وَ لَمْ تُسْرِفْ كَمَا نَهَيْتُكَ
And a man Allah-azwj has Graced a lot of wealth, so he spends it, then comes supplicating, ‘O Lord-azwj, Grace me!’ Allah-azwj will Say: “Did I-azwj not Grace you a vast sustenance? Why weren’t you moderate regarding it like what I-azwj had Commanded you and why were you extravagant like what I-azwj had Forbidden you?!”
وَ رَجُلٌ يَدْعُو فِي قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ
And a man supplicating in cutting off a kinship.
ثُمَّ عَلَّمَ اللَّهُ نَبِيَّهُ كَيْفَ يُنْفِقُ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ عِنْدَهُ أُوقِيَّةٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَكَرِهَ أَنْ تَبِيتَ عِنْدَهُ فَصَدَّقَ وَ أَصْبَحَ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ شَيْءٌ وَ جَاءَهُ مَنْ يَسْأَلُهُ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُعْطِيهِ فَلَامَهُ السَّائِلُ وَ اغْتَمَّ هُوَ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُعْطِيهِ وَ كَانَ رَحِيماً رَفِيقاً
Then Allah-azwj Informed His-azwj Prophet-saww how he-saww should spend, and that is because there was an ounce of gold with him-asws, so he-saww disliked for it to spend the night with him‑saww. So he-saww gave it in charity, and he-saww woke up in the morning and there was nothing with him-saww, and there came someone begging him-saww, be there wasn’t with him‑saww what he-saww could give him. The beggar blamed him-saww and he-saww was gloomy when there did not happen to be with him-saww what he-saww could have given him, and he-saww was merciful, friendly (kind).
فَأَدَّبَ اللَّهُ نَبِيَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِ إِيَّاهُ فَقَالَ وَ لا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلى عُنُقِكَ وَ لا تَبْسُطْها كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُوماً مَحْسُوراً يَقُولُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ يَسْأَلُونَكَ وَ لَا يَعْذِرُونَكَ فَإِذَا أَعْطَيْتَ جَمِيعَ مَا عِنْدَكَ كُنْتَ قَدْ حَسَرْتَ مِنَ الْمَالِ
Allah-azwj Educated His-azwj Prophet-saww by Commanding him-saww of it. He-azwj Said: And do not make your hand to be shackled to your neck nor extend it with every extension for you will sit back blamed, insolvent [17:29]. He-azwj is Saying that if the people were to ask you-saww and they will not excuse you-saww. So when you-saww give entirety of what is with you-saww, you have been insolvent from the wealth.
فَهَذِهِ أَحَادِيثُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص يُصَدِّقُهَا الْكِتَابُ وَ الْكِتَابُ يُصَدِّقُهُ أَهْلُهُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
So, these are Ahadeeth of Rasool-Allah-saww ratified by the Book, and the Book is ratifying its people from the Momineen.
وَ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ أُوصِي بِالْخُمُسِ وَ الْخُمُسُ كَثِيرٌ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ رَضِيَ بِالْخُمُسِ فَأَوْصَى بِالْخُمُسِ وَ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ الثُّلُثَ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ وَ لَوْ عَلِمَ أَنَّ الثُّلُثَ خيرا [خَيْرٌ] لَهُ أَوْصَى بِهِ
And Abu Bakr had said at his death, ‘I am bequeathing with the fifth, and a fifth is a lot, for Allah-azwj is Pleased with the fifth’. So he bequeathed with the fifth, and Allah-azwj had Made the third to be for him at his death, and had he known that the third is better for him, he would have bequeathed with it.
ثُمَّ مَنْ قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ بَعْدَهُ فِي فَضْلِهِ وَ زُهْدِهِ سَلْمَانُ وَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ فَأَمَّا سَلْمَانُ فَكَانَ إِذَا أَخَذَ عَطَاءَهُ رَفَعَ مِنْهُ قُوتَهُ لِسَنَتِهِ حَتَّى يَحْضُرَهُ عَطَاؤُهُ مِنْ قَابِلٍ فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنْتَ فِي زُهْدِكَ تَصْنَعُ هَذَا وَ إِنَّكَ لَا تَدْرِي لَعَلَّكَ تَمُوتُ الْيَوْمَ أَوْ غَداً
Then the one after him you know regarding his merits and his asceticism, Salman-ra and Abu Zarr-ra. As for Salman-ra, whenever he-ra took his-ra award, raised from it his-ra subsistence for his-ra years until his-ra award for the following year would present. It was said to him-ra, ‘O Abu Abdullah-ra! You-ra, in your-ra ascetism are doing this, and you-ra don’t know perhaps you-ra will be dying today, or tomorrow!’
وَ كَانَ جَوَابُهُ أَنْ قَالَ مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُونَ لِيَ الْبَقَاءَ كَمَا خِفْتُمْ عَلَيَّ الْفَنَاءَ أَ وَ مَا عَلِمْتُمْ يَا جَهَلَةُ أَنَّ النَّفْسَ قَدْ تَلْتَاثُ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهَا مِنَ الْعَيْشِ مَا يَعْتَمِدُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هِيَ أَحْرَزَتْ مَعِيشَتَهَا اطْمَأَنَّتْ
And his-ra answer was that he-ra said, ‘What is the matter with you all not hoping for me-ra to live like what you are fearing the death upon me-ra? Don’t you know, O ignoramuses, that the soul tends to be stained upon its owner when there does not happen to be for it of the livelihood what he can rely upon? When its livelihood is protected, it is reassured’.
فَأَمَّا أَبُو ذَرٍّ فَكَانَتْ لَهُ نُوَيْقَاتٌ وَ شُوَيْهَاتٌ يَحْلُبُهَا وَ يَذْبَحُ مِنْهَا إِذَا اشْتَهَى أَهْلُهُ اللَّحْمَ أَوْ نَزَلَ بِهِ ضَيْفٌ أَوْ رَأَى بِأَهْلِ الْمَاءِ الَّذِينَ هُمْ مَعَهُ خَصَاصَةً نَحَرَ لَهُمُ الْجَزُورَ أَوْ مِنَ الشَّاةِ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَا يُذْهِبُ عَنْهُمْ قَرَمَ اللَّحْمِ فَيَقْسِمُهُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَ يَأْخُذُ كَنَصِيبِ أَحَدِهِمْ لَا يَفْضُلُ عَلَيْهِمْ
As for Abu Zarr-ra, there were young camels and sheep for him-ra. He-ra would milk these and slaughter from these whenever his-ra family desired the meat, or if a guest descended with him-ra, or if he-ra saw a shortage with the people of water, so he-ra would either slaughter for them the camel or from sheep, in accordance with whatever had gone from them from the meat. So he-ra would distribute between them and he-ra would take like a share of one of them, not preferring (himself-ra) over them.
وَ مَنْ أَزْهَدُ مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ وَ قَدْ قَالَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَا قَالَ وَ لَمْ يَبْلُغْ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمَا أَنْ صَارَا لَا يَمْلِكَانِ شَيْئاً الْبَتَّةَ كَمَا تَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِإِلْقَاءِ أَمْتِعَتِهِمْ وَ شَيْئِهِمْ وَ يُؤْثِرُونَ بِهِ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ عِيَالاتِهِمْ
And who can be more ascetic than them-ra? And Rasool-Allah-saww had said regarding them-ra what he-ra said, and it had reached from their-ra affairs that they-ra did not own anything just as they-ra had been instructing the people with throwing away their belongings and their things, and they-ra were preferring (others) with it over their-ra own selves and their-ra dependants.
وَ اعْلَمُوا أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَرْوِي عَنْ آبَائِهِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ يَوْماً مَا عَجِبْتُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ كَعَجَبِي مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّهُ إِنْ قُرِّضَ جَسَدُهُ فِي دَارِ الدُّنْيَا بِالْمَقَارِيضِ كَانَ خَيْراً لَهُ وَ إِنْ مَلَكَ مَا بَيْنَ مَشَارِقِ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَغَارِبِهَا كَانَ خَيْراً لَهُ فَكُلُّ مَا يَصْنَعُ اللَّهُ بِهِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ
And know, O you persons! I-asws have heard my-asws father-asws reporting from his-asws forefathers-asws that Rasool-Allah-saww said one day: ‘I-saww have not been surprised from anything like my-saww surprise from the Momin. Even if his body were to be snipped with the scissors in the house of the world it would be better for him, and even if he were to own whatever is between the east of the earth and its west, it would be better for him. So all what Allah-azwj Does with him, it is better for him’.
فَلَيْتَ شِعْرِي هَلْ يَحِيقُ فِيكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مَا قَدْ شَرَحْتُ لَكُمْ أَمْ أَزِيدُكُمْ أَ وَ مَا عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ اسْمُهُ فَرَضَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي أَوَّلِ الْأَمْرِ أَنْ يُقَاتِلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ عَشَرَةً مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يُوَلِّيَ وَجْهَهُ عَنْهُمْ وَ مَنْ وَلَّاهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُ فَقَدْ تَبَوَّأَ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ
Consider here! Are there among you today what I-asws have explained to you, or shall I-asws increase for you? Or don’t you know that Allah-azwj, Majestic is His-azwj Name had Imposed upon the Momineen in the beginning of the matter that the man from them should fight against ten from the Polytheists? It wasn’t for him to turn his face around from them, and the one who turned around in those day, so he would have assumed his seat from the Fire.
ثُمَّ حَوَّلَهُمْ مِنْ حَالِهِمْ رَحْمَةً مِنْهُ لَهُمْ فَصَارَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُقَاتِلَ الرَّجُلَيْنِ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ تَخْفِيفاً مِنَ اللَّهِ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَنَسَخَ الرَّجُلَانِ الْعَشَرَةَ
Then He-azwj Transferred them from their state as a Mercy from Him-azwj for them. So the man from the became upon it fighting the two men from the Polytheists, being a lightening from the Momineen. Thus the (criteria of) two men abrogated the ten.
وَ أَخْبِرُونِي أَيْضاً عَنِ الْقُضَاةِ أَ جَوْرٌ مِنْهُمْ حَيْثُ يَفْرُضُونَ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ مِنْكُمْ نَفَقَةَ امْرَأَتِهِ إِذَا قَالَ أَنَا زَاهِدٌ وَ أَنَّهُ لَا شَيْءَ لِي فَإِنْ قُلْتُمْ جَوْرٌ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَهْلَ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ إِنْ قُلْتُمْ بَلْ عَدْلٌ خَصَمْتُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَ حَيْثُ يَرُدُّونَ صَدَقَةَ مَنْ تَصَدَّقَ عَلَى الْمَسَاكِينِ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ
And inform me-asws as well about the Decree. Is it tyrannical upon them whereby He-azwj Imposed upon the man from you the expenditure of his wife? When he says, ‘I am an ascetic. There is nothing for me’. If you were to say, ‘tyranny’, you will be unjust to the people of Al Islam, and if you were to say, ‘But it is justice’, you will be particularising yourselves, and whereby you will be rejecting the charity of the one giving charity upon the poor during the death with more than the third.
أَخْبِرُونِي لَوْ كَانَ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ كَمَا تُرِيدُونَ زُهَّاداً لَا حَاجَةَ لَهُمْ فِي مَتَاعِ غَيْرِهِمْ فَعَلَى مَنْ كَانَ يُتَصَدَّقُ بِكَفَّارَاتِ الْأَيْمَانِ وَ النُّذُورِ وَ الصَّدَقَاتِ مِنْ فَرْضِ الزَّكَاةِ مِنَ الْإِبِلِ وَ الْغَنَمِ وَ الْبَقَرِ وَ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَ الْفِضَّةِ وَ النَّخْلِ وَ الزَّبِيبِ وَ سَائِرِ مَا قَدْ وَجَبَتْ فِيهِ الزَّكَاةُ
Inform me-asws! If the people, all of them were to be like what you are wanting, ascetics, there will be no need for them regarding the belongings of others, then upon whom will you be giving the charity with the expiations of the oaths and the vows, and the charities from the obligation of the Zakat, from the camels, and the sheep, and the cows, and other than that from the gold and the silver, and the palm trees and the raisins, and rest of what the Zakat has been obligated in.
إِذَا كَانَ الْأَمْرُ عَلَى مَا تَقُولُونَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يَحْبِسَ شَيْئاً مِنْ عَرَضِ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا قَدَّمَهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ بِهِ خَصَاصَةٌ
When the matter was upon what you are saying, it would not be appropriate for anyone to withhold anything from the display of the world except he would send it ahead, and even though there may be extreme poverty with him.
فَبِئْسَ مَا ذَهَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ وَ حَمَلْتُمُ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ وَ أَحَادِيثِهِ الَّتِي يُصَدِّقُهَا الْكِتَابُ الْمُنْزَلُ وَ رَدِّكُمْ إِيَّاهَا بِجَهَالَتِكُمْ وَ تَرْكِكُمُ النَّظَرَ فِي غَرَائِبِ الْقُرْآنِ مِنَ التَّفْسِيرِ بِالنَّاسِخِ مِنَ الْمَنْسُوخِ وَ الْمُحْكَمِ وَ الْمُتَشَابِهِ وَ الْأَمْرِ وَ النَّهْيِ
Evils is what you are going to, and you are carrying the people upon it from the ignorance with the Book of Allah-azwj and Sunnah of His-azwj Prophet-saww and his-saww Ahadeeth which the Revealed Book has verified, and it has rebutted you all due to your ignorance and your neglecting the consideration regarding the oddities of the Quran, from the interpretation with the Abrogating from the Abrogated, and the Decisive and its Allegorical, and the Commands and the Prohibitions.
وَ أَخْبِرُونِي أَنْتُمْ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ ع حَيْثُ سَأَلَ اللَّهَ مُلْكاً لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَأَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ ذَلِكَ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ الْحَقَّ وَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ نَجِدِ اللَّهَ عَابَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا أَحَداً مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ دَاوُدَ قَبْلَهُ فِي مُلْكِهِ وَ شِدَّةِ سُلْطَانِهِ
And inform me-asws you all about Suleyman Bin Dawood-as whereby he-as asked Allah-azwj for a kingdom not befitting for anyone from after him-as, so Allah-azwj gave him-as that, and he-as was speaking the truth and working with it. Then we do not find Allah-azwj Faulting that upon him‑as, nor anyone from the Momineen, and Dawood-as before him-as regarding his-as kingdom and the strength of his-as rule.
ثُمَّ يُوسُفَ النَّبِيِّ حَيْثُ قَالَ لِمَلِكِ مِصْرَ اجْعَلْنِي عَلى خَزائِنِ الْأَرْضِ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ فَكَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ الَّذِي كَانَ أَنِ اخْتَارَ مَمْلَكَةَ الْمَلِكِ وَ مَا حَوْلَهَا إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَكَانُوا يَمْتَارُونَ الطَّعَامَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ لِمَجَاعَةٍ أَصَابَتْهُمْ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ الْحَقَ وَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِ فَلَمْ نَجِدْ أَحَداً عَابَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ
Then Yusuf-as the Prophet-as whereby he-as said to the king of Egypt: ‘Make me (in charge) upon the treasures of the land. I am a Place me (in authority) over the treasures of the land, I am a knowledgeable protector [12:55]. It happened from his-as matter which happened. He‑as chose the kingdom of the king and what surrounded it up to Al-Yemen. They used to seek the food from him-as due to the famine which had afflicted them, and he-as was speaking the truth and working with it. We do not find anyone faulting that upon him-as.
ثُمَّ ذُو الْقَرْنَيْنِ عَبْدٌ أَحَبَّ اللَّهَ فَأَحَبَّهُ طَوَى لَهُ الْأَسْبَابَ وَ مَلَّكَهُ مَشَارِقَ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَغَارِبَهَا وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ بِالْحَقِّ وَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ نَجِدْ أَحَداً عَابَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ
The Zulqarnayn-as, a servant who loved Allah-azwj So He-azwj Loved him-as. He-azwj Folded the means for him-as and Caused him-as to rule the easts of the earth and its wests, and he-as was speaking the truth and working with it. Then we do not find anyone faulting that upon him-as.
فَتَأَدَّبُوا أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ بِآدَابِ اللَّهِ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ اقْتَصِرُوا عَلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ وَ نَهْيِهِ وَ دَعُوا عَنْكُمْ مَا اشْتَبَهَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِمَّا لَا عِلْمَ لَكُمْ بِهِ وَ رُدُّوا الْعِلْمَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ تُؤْجَرُوا وَ تُعْذَرُوا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ
So be educated, O you persons, with the Education of Allah-azwj to the Momineen and restrict yourselves upon the Commands of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Prohibitions and leave whatever is confusing upon you from what there is no knowledge for you all with it, and refer the knowledge to its people, you will be Rewarded and be Excused in the Presence of Allah-azwj.
وَ كُونُوا فِي طَلَبِ عِلْمِ النَّاسِخِ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ مَنْسُوخِهِ وَ مُحْكَمِهِ مِنْ مُتَشَابِهِهِ وَ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ فِيهِ مِمَّا حَرَّمَ فَإِنَّهُ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ أَبْعَدُ لَكُمْ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ وَ دَعُوا الْجَهَالَةَ لِأَهْلِهَا فَإِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَهْلِ كَثِيرٌ وَ أَهْلَ الْعِلْمِ قَلِيلٌ وَ قَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ فَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ.
And be in the seeking knowledge of the Abrogating from the Quran from its Abrogated, and its Decisive from its Allegorical, and what Allah-azwj has Permitted in it from what He-azwj has Prohibited, for it would be the closest for you from Allah-azwj and remotest for you from the ignorance, and leave the ignorance to its people, for the people of ignorance are many, and the people of knowledge are few, and Allah-azwj has Said: and above every one with knowledge is a more knowledgeable one [12:76]’’.[14]
– لي، الأمالي للصدوق ابْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ الْأَرْمَنِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الْبَاقِرِ ع قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ قَوْماً إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ أَوْ حُدِّثُوا بِهِ صَعِقَ أَحَدُهُمْ حَتَّى يُرَى أَنَّهُ لَوْ قُطِعَتْ يَدَاهُ وَ رِجْلَاهُ لَمْ يَشْعُرْ بِذَلِكَ
(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of Al Sadouq – Ibn Idrees, from his father, from Al Ashary, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Jabbar, from Abu Imran Al Armany, from Abdullah Bin Al Hakam, from Jabir,
‘From Abu Ja’far Al Baqir-asws, he the narrator said, ‘I said to him-asws, ‘There are people, whenever something from the Quran is mentioned or they discuss with it, one of them shrieks until it is seen that even if his hands and his legs were to be cut off, he would not be aware of that’.
فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ ذَاكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ مَا بِهَذَا أُمِرُوا إِنَّمَا هُوَ اللِّينُ وَ الرِّقَّةُ وَ الدَّمْعَةُ وَ الْوَجَلُ.
He-asws said: ‘Glory be to Allah-azwj! That is from the Satan-la! This is not what they have been Commanded with. But rather it is the gentleness, and the kindness, and the tears, and the fear’’.[15]
أقول: سيجيء بعض أخبار هذا الباب في باب آداب القراءة و أوقاتها و ذم من يظهر الغشية عندها من كتاب القرآن و الذكر و الدعاء.
Note – ‘I (Majlisi) am saying, ‘There will come some of the Ahadeeth of this subject in the chapters on ettiquettes of the recitation and its timings, and condemnation of the who manifests the trance during it, from the book of the Quran and the Zikr and the supplication’.
[1] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 40, The book of History – Amir Al Momineen-asws, Ch 116 H 1
[2] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 96 H 3
[3] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 103 H 2
[4] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 1 H 1
[5] Wasail ul Shia, H. 33166.
[6] Mastership
[7] Wasail ul Shia, H. 33180.
[8] Mustadrak ul Wasail, vol. 17, pp. 308
[9] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 51 H 13
[10] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 51 H 14
[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 51 H 15
[12] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 51 H 11
[13] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 51 H 12
[14] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 51 H 13
[15] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 50 H 1