Summary:

Imam Zayn Al-Abideen^-asws said: ‘No calamity afflicted Amir Al-Momineen^-asws except he^-asws prayed during that day a thousand Cycles Salat, and he^-asws gave in charity to sixty poor ones, and fasted three months.

And Imam Ali^-asws said to his^-asws children: ‘Whenever you are afflicted with a calamity, then do similar to what (I^-asws) do, for I^-asws have seen Rasool-Allah^-saww doing like that, therefore follow the impacts of your Prophet^-saww, and do not oppose him^-saww, for Allah^-azwj will be Opposed to you. Allah^-azwj the Exalted Says: And the one who is patient and forgives, surely that is from the matters requiring determination [42:43]’.

Then Zayn Al-Abideen^-asws said: ‘Thus, I^-asws have not ceased to do the deeds of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws.^[1]

Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘One from you who is afflicted with a calamity, let him remember my^-saww calamity, for he will never be afflicted with a calamity mightier than it![2]

Facing the Calamities:

نَهْجُ الْبَلَاغَةِ، قَالَ ع‏ مَرَارَةُ الدُّنْيَا حَلَاوَةُ الْآخِرَةِ وَ حَلَاوَةُ الدُّنْيَا مَرَارَةُ الْآخِرَةِ

(The book) ‘Nahj Al Balagah’ – He^-asws (Amir Al-Momineen^-asws) said: ‘Bitterness of the world is sweetness of the Hereafter, and sweetness of the world is bitterness of the Hereafter’’.^[3]

وَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ بِإِسْنَادِهِ قَالَ: لَمَّا أُصِيبَ عَلِيٌّ ع بَعَثَنِي الْحَسَنُ إِلَى الْحُسَيْنِ ع وَ هُوَ بِالْمَدَائِنِ فَلَمَّا قَرَأَ الْكِتَابَ قَالَ يَا لَهَا مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ مَا أَعْظَمَهَا مَعَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ مَنْ أُصِيبَ مِنْكُمْ بِمُصِيبَةٍ فَلْيَذْكُرْ مُصَابِي فَإِنَّهُ لَنْ يُصَابَ بِمُصِيبَةٍ أَعْظَمَ مِنْهَا

And from Abdullah Bin Al Waleed, by his chain, said,

‘When Ali^-asws was killed, Al-Hassan^-asws sent me to Al-Husayn^-asws, and he^-asws was at Al-Madain. When he^-asws read the letter, he^-asws said: ‘O the calamity of it! How mighty it is, along with that Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘One from you who is afflicted with a calamity, let him remember my^-saww calamity, for he will never be afflicted with a calamity mightier than it!’’[4]

وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‏ مَنْ قَصُرَ عُمُرُهُ كَانَتْ مُصِيبَتُهُ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَ مَنْ طَالَ عُمُرُهُ تَوَاتَرَتْ مَصَائِبُهُ وَ رَأَى فِي نَفْسِهِ وَ أَحِبَّائِهِ مَا يَسُوؤُهُ

And Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said: ‘One whose lifespan is short, his calamities would be within himself, and one whose lifespan is prolonged, his calamities would be recurring, and he would see in himself and his loved ones what would worsen him.[5]

وَ قَالَ زَيْنُ الْعَابِدِينَ ع‏ مَا أُصِيبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بِمُصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا صَلَّى فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ أَلْفَ رَكْعَةٍ وَ تَصَدَّقَ عَلَى سِتِّينَ مِسْكِيناً وَ صَامَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ

And Zayn Al-Abideen^-asws said: ‘No calamity afflicted Amir Al-Momineen^-asws except he^-asws prayed during that day a thousand Cycles Salat, and he^-asws gave in charity to sixty poor ones, and fasted three months’.

وَ قَالَ لِأَوْلَادِهِ إِذَا أُصِبْتُمْ بِمُصِيبَةٍ فَافْعَلُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا أَفْعَلُ فَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص هَكَذَا يَفْعَلُ فَاتَّبِعُوا أَثَرَ نَبِيِّكُمْ وَ لَا تُخَالِفُوهُ فَيُخَالِفَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ وَ لَمَنْ صَبَرَ وَ غَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ذلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ

And he^-asws said to his^-asws children: ‘Whenever you are afflicted with a calamity, then do similar to what (I^-asws) do, for I^-asws have seen Rasool-Allah^-saww doing like that, therefore follow the impacts of your Prophet^-saww, and do not oppose him^-saww, for Allah^-azwj will be Opposed to you. Allah^-azwj the Exalted Says: And the one who is patient and forgives, surely that is from the matters requiring determination [42:43]’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ زَيْنُ الْعَابِدِينَ ع فَمَا زِلْتُ أَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع

Then Zayn Al-Abideen^-asws said: ‘Thus, I^-asws have not ceased to do the deeds of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws’’.^[6]

وَ رُوِيَ‏ أَنَّ مُوسَى ع قَالَ يَا رَبِّ دُلَّنِي عَلَى عَمَلٍ إِذَا أَنَا عَمِلْتُهُ نِلْتُ بِهِ رِضَاكَ

And it is reported that Musa^-as said: ‘O Lord^-azwj! Point me^-as upon a deed, when I^-as were to do it, I^-as would achieve Your^-azwj Satisfaction with it’.

فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ يَا ابْنَ عِمْرَانَ إِنَّ رِضَايَ فِي كُرْهِكَ وَ لَنْ تُطِيقَ ذَلِكَ

Allah^-azwj Revealed to him^-as:“O son^-as of Imran^-as! My^-azwj Satisfaction is in your^-as dislike, and you^-as will never (be able to) endure that!”

قَالَ فَخَرَّ مُوسَى ع سَاجِداً بَاكِياً فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ خَصَصْتَنِي بِالْكَلَامِ وَ لَمْ تُكَلِّمْ بَشَراً قَبْلِي وَ لَمْ تَدُلَّنِي عَلَى عَمَلٍ أَنَالُ بِهِ رِضَاكَ

He (the narrator) said, ‘Musa^-as fell down in Sajdah, crying. He^-as said: ‘O Lord^-azwj! You^-azwj have Particularised me^-as with the speech, and You^-azwj have not Spoken to a mortal before me^-as, and You^-azwj did not point upon a deed I^-as can achieve Your^-azwj Satisfaction with it!’

فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّ رِضَايَ فِي رِضَاكَ بِقَضَائِي

Allah^-azwj Revealed to him^-as: “My^-azwj Satisfaction in your^-as being satisfied with My^-azwj Decree!”’^[7]

وَ قَالَ ع‏ عَلَى قَبْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص سَاعَةَ دُفِنَ إِنَّ الصَّبْرَ لَجَمِيلٌ إِلَّا عَنْكَ وَ إِنَّ الْجَزَعَ لَقَبِيحٌ إِلَّا عَلَيْكَ وَ إِنَّ الْمُصَابَ بِكَ لَجَلِيلٌ وَ إِنَّهُ قَبْلَكَ وَ بَعْدَكَ لَجَلَلٌ‏

And he^-asws said at the grave of Rasool-Allah^-saww the time he^-saww was buried: ‘The patience is beautiful except about you^-saww, and the alarm is ugly except upon you^-saww, and the calamity with you^-saww is majestic, and it was little before you^-saww and after you^-saww’’.^[8]

20- نَهْجُ الْبَلَاغَةِ، وَ دَعَوَاتُ الرَّاوَنْدِيِّ، قَالَ ع‏ مَنْ عَظَّمَ صِغَارَ الْمَصَائِبِ ابْتَلَاهُ اللَّهُ بِكِبَارِهَا

(The book) ‘Nahj Al Balagah’, and ‘Dawaat’ of Al Rawandy –

‘He^-asws said: ‘One who magnifies the small difficulties, Allah^-azwj will Afflict him with its big ones’’.^[9]

21- كَنْزُ الْكَرَاجُكِيِّ، رُوِيَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أَنَّهُ قَالَ: الصَّبْرُ سِتْرٌ مِنَ الْكُرُوبِ وَ عَوْنٌ عَلَى الْخُطُوبِ

(The book) ‘Kanz’ of Al Karajaky’ –

‘It is reported from Rasool-Allah^-saww having said: ‘The patience is a veil (shield) from the sorrows and a support upon the distress’’.^[10]

وَ قَالَ ص‏ الصَّبْرُ صَبْرَانِ صَبْرٌ عِنْدَ الْبَلَاءِ وَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْهُ الصَّبْرُ عِنْدَ الْمَحَارِمِ

And he^-saww said: ‘The patience is two (types of) patience – patience upon the affliction, and better than it is the patience from the Prohibitions’’.^[11]

وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‏ مِنْ كُنُوزِ الْإِيمَانِ الصَّبْرُ عَلَى الْمُصَابِ

And Amir Al-Momineen^-asws: ‘From the treasures of Eman is the Patience upon the calamities’’.^[12]

وَ قَالَ ع‏ الصَّبْرُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الرَّأْسِ مِنَ الْجَسَدِ وَ لَا إِيمَانَ لِمَنْ لَا صَبْرَ لَهُ

And he^-asws said: ‘The patience from the Eman is as the status of the head from the body, and there is no Eman for the one having no patience for him’’.^[13]

وَ قَالَ ع‏ اطْرَحْ عَنْكَ الْهُمُومَ بِعَزَائِمِ الصَّبْرِ وَ حُسْنِ الْيَقِينِ

And he^-asws said: ‘Drop the worries away from you by the determined patience and good certainty’’.^[14]

وَ قَالَ ع‏ مَنْ صَبَرَ سَاعَةً حُمِدَ سَاعَاتٍ

And he^-asws said: ‘One who is patient for an hour, would be praised for hours’’.^[15]

وَ قَالَ ع‏ الصَّبْرُ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَوْجُهٍ صَبْرٌ عَلَى الْمَعْصِيَةِ وَ صَبْرٌ عَلَى الْمُصِيبَةِ وَ صَبْرٌ عَلَى الطَّاعَةِ.

And he^-asws said: ‘The patience is based upon three aspects – patience upon (from) the disobedience, and patience upon the calamity, and patience upon the obedience’’.^[16]

وَ قَالَ ع‏ مَنْ جَعَلَ لَهُ الصَّبْرَ وَالِياً لَمْ يَكُنْ بِحَدَثٍ مُبَالِياً

And he^-asws said: ‘One who makes the patience a guardian for him, would not care about an unfortunate incident’’.^[17]

وَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: كُنْتُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ يَا غُلَامُ أَوْ يَا غُلَيْمُ أَ لَا أُعَلِّمُكَ كَلِمَاتٍ يَنْفَعُكَ اللَّهُ بِهِنَّ

And from Ibn Abbas who said,

‘I was in the presence of Rasool-Allah^-saww. He^-saww said: ‘O slave!’ (or said: ‘O boy!’) – ‘Shall I^‑saww teach you phrases Allah^-azwj will Cause you to benefit by these?’

فَقُلْتُ بَلَى

I said, ‘Yes’.

فَقَالَ احْفَظِ اللَّهَ يَحْفَظْكَ احْفَظِ اللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ أَمَامَكَ تَعَرَّفْ إِلَى اللَّهِ فِي الرَّخَاءِ يَعْرِفْكَ فِي الشِّدَّةِ إِذَا سَأَلْتَ فَاسْأَلِ اللَّهَ فَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْتَ فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ

He^-saww said: ‘Guard (yourself for) Allah^-azwj, Allah^-azwj will Guard you. You will find Him^-azwj in front of you. Familiarise to Allah^-azwj during the prosperity, He^-azwj will Familiarise with you during the adversity. When you ask, then ask Allah^-azwj. When you seek assistance, seek Assistance with Allah^-azwj.

وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ فِي الصَّبْرِ عَلَى مَا نَكْرَهُ خَيْراً كَثِيراً وَ أَنَّ النَّصْرَ مَعَ الصَّبْرِ وَ أَنَّ الْفَرَجَ مَعَ الْكَرْبِ وَ أَنَ‏ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً.

And know that in the patience upon what we dislike, there is a lot of good, and the Help is with the patience, and the relief is with the distress, and with the difficulty, there is ease’’.^[18]

الْمُسَكِّنُ عَنْ رِبْعِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ ع قَالَ: إِنَّ الصَّبْرَ وَ الْبَلَاءَ يَسْتَبِقَانِ إِلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ فَيَأْتِيهِ الْبَلَاءُ وَ هُوَ صَبُورٌ وَ إِنَّ الْجَزَعَ وَ الْبَلَاءَ يَسْتَبِقَانِ إِلَى الْكَافِرِ فَيَأْتِيهِ الْبَلَاءُ وَ هُوَ جَزُوعٌ

(The book) ‘Al Musakkin’ – from Rabie Bin Abdullah,

‘From Al-Sadiq^-asws having said: ‘The patience and the affliction run to the Momin. The afflictions come to him, and he is patient; and the panic and the affliction run to the Kafir and he flees, and calamity comes upon him and he panics’’.^[19]

وَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي مَرَضِ مَوْتِهِ‏ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَيُّمَا عَبْدٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أُصِيبَ بِمُصِيبَةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِي فَلْيَتَعَزَّ بِمُصِيبَتِهِ بِي عَنِ الْمُصِيبَةِ الَّتِي تُصِيبُهُ بِغَيْرِي فَإِنَّ أَحَداً مِنْ أُمَّتِي لَنْ يُصَابَ بِمُصِيبَةٍ بَعْدِي أَشَدَّ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ مُصِيبَتِي

And from the Prophet^-saww having said during his^-saww fatal illness: ‘O you people! A servant from my^-saww community is afflicted with a calamity from after me^-saww, let him be consoled with his calamity with (having lost) me^-saww, from the calamity which has afflicted him with others, for no one from my^-saww community will ever be afflicted with a calamity (bereavement) after me^-saww, severer upon him that my^-saww calamity (bereavement).^[20]

[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 17 d (Chapters on Funerals)

[2] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 26 g (Chapters on Funerals)

[3] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 28 (Chapters on Funerals)

[4] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 26 g (Chapters on Funerals)

[5] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 17 b (Chapters on Funerals)

[6] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 17 d (Chapters on Funerals)

[7] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 17 g (Chapters on Funerals)

[8] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 18 b (Chapters on Funerals)

[9] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 20 (Chapters on Funerals)

[10] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 21 a (Chapters on Funerals)

[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 21 b (Chapters on Funerals)

[12] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 21 c (Chapters on Funerals)

[13] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 21 d (Chapters on Funerals)

[14] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 21 e (Chapters on Funerals)

[15] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 21 f (Chapters on Funerals)

[16] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 21 g (Chapters on Funerals)

[17] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 21 h (Chapters on Funerals)

[18] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 22 / 17 (Chapters on Funerals)

[19] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 25 a (Chapters on Funerals)

[20] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 78 – The Book Cleanliness – Ch 18 H 26 f (Chapters on Funerals)