Al-Kāfi

9- عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَثِيراً مَا يَقُولُ اعْلَمُوا عِلْماً يَقِيناً أَنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لِلْعَبْدِ وَإِنِ اشْتَدَّ جَهْدُهُ وَعَظُمَتْ حِيلَتُهُ وَكَثُرَتْ مُكَابَدَتُهُ أَنْ يَسْبِقَ مَا سُمِّيَ لَهُ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ وَلَمْ يَحُلْ مِنَ الْعَبْدِ فِي ضَعْفِهِ وَقِلَّةِ حِيلَتِهِ أَنْ يَبْلُغَ مَا سُمِّيَ لَهُ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ لَنْ يَزْدَادَ امْرُؤٌ نَقِيراً بِحِذْقِهِ وَلَمْ يَنْتَقِصِ امْرُؤٌ نَقِيراً لِحُمْقِهِ فَالْعَالِمُ لِهَذَا الْعَامِلُ بِهِ أَعْظَمُ النَّاسِ رَاحَةً فِي مَنْفَعَتِهِ وَالْعَالِمُ لِهَذَا التَّارِكُ لَهُ أَعْظَمُ النَّاسِ شُغُلا فِي مَضَرَّتِهِ وَرُبَّ مُنْعَمٍ عَلَيْهِ مُسْتَدْرَجٍ بِالإحْسَانِ إِلَيْهِ وَرُبَّ مَغْرُورٍ فِي النَّاسِ مَصْنُوعٍ لَهُ فَأَفِقْ أَيُّهَا السَّاعِي مِنْ سَعْيِكَ وَقَصِّرْ مِنْ عَجَلَتِكَ وَانْتَبِهْ مِنْ سِنَةِ غَفْلَتِكَ وَتَفَكَّرْ فِيمَا جَاءَ عَنِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَاحْتَفِظُوا بِهَذِهِ الْحُرُوفِ السَّبْعَةِ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ قَوْلِ أَهْلِ الْحِجَى وَمِنْ عَزَائِمِ اللهِ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لأحَدٍ أَنْ يَلْقَى اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِخَلَّةٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْخِلالِ الشِّرْكِ بِاللهِ فِيمَا افْتَرَضَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ أَوْ إِشْفَاءِ غَيْظٍ بِهَلاكِ نَفْسِهِ أَوْ إِقْرَارٍ بِأَمْرٍ يَفْعَلُ غَيْرُهُ أَوْ يَسْتَنْجِحَ إِلَى مَخْلُوقٍ بِإِظْهَارِ بِدْعَةٍ فِي دِينِهِ أَوْ يَسُرَّهُ أَنْ يَحْمَدَهُ النَّاسُ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلْ وَالْمُتَجَبِّرِ الْمُخْتَالِ وَصَاحِبِ الأبَّهَةِ وَالزَّهْوِ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ السِّبَاعَ هِمَّتُهَا التَّعَدِّي وَإِنَّ الْبَهَائِمَ هِمَّتُهَا بُطُونُهَا وَإِنَّ النِّسَاءَ هِمَّتُهُنَّ الرِّجَالُ وَإِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مُشْفِقُونَ خَائِفُونَ وَجِلُونَ جَعَلَنَا اللهُ وَإِيَّاكُمْ مِنْهُمْ.

9. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from ibn Jumhur from his father in a marfu’ manner who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), very often would say, ‘You must take notice with absolute certainty that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, does not allow a servant, no matter how intensely he strives, how great the kind of means he prepares, and no matter how numerously he suffers fatigue, to exceed the limit which He has mentioned in His book of wisdom. It does not change anything for a man, with his weakness and his little means, in reaching what is already assigned for him in the book of wisdom. O people, one’s wisdom does not increase a naqir (a certain unit of measurement) for him and one’s lack of understanding does not reduce anything against him. One who knows this and acts accordingly is the greatest of people to enjoy comfort in profit, and one who knows it but ignores to act accordingly does the biggest work to cause losses. There are many of those who are led to destruction in the process of receiving favors, and also there are many of those who are thought of among people as being deceived, but in reality receive favors. O you who strive hard, beware of your struggle, hold back your haste and wake up from the slumber of your unawareness. Think about what has come from Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, through the tongue of His Holy prophet. Preserve these seven letters; they are of the words of the people of reason and of the decisive issues in the book of wisdom. One cannot reach before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, with the presence of any single of these habits in him: considering things as partners of Allah in the matters that Allah has made obligatory on him, quenching his anger by destruction of his soul, claiming to have done what in fact others have done, seeking success before a creature by means of a heretic act in his religion, enjoying people’s praising him for what he has not done, acting oppressively and conceitedly, and being of honorable position but speaking lies. O people, what is important for beasts is transgression, and what is important for animals is to eat, what is important for women is their men; and believing people are anxious, fearful and afraid. I pray to Allah to make us one of them (such believers).”’

10- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ رَبِيعِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُسْلِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى وَسَّعَ فِي أَرْزَاقِ الْحَمْقَى لِيَعْتَبِرَ الْعُقَلاءُ وَيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا لَيْسَ يُنَالُ مَا فِيهَا بِعَمَلٍ وَلا حِيلَةٍ.

10. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Rabi’ ibn Muhammad al- Musalliy from ‘ Abd Allah ibn Sulayman who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Allah, most High, has expanded the sustenance of the dimwitted ones so that people of reason learn a lesson and take notice that the worldly things are not achieved by means of work and means only.”’

11- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي لَمْ أَدَعْ شَيْئاً يُقَرِّبُكُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَيُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ إِلا وَقَدْ نَبَّأْتُكُمْ بِهِ أَلا وَإِنَّ رُوحَ الْقُدُسِ [قَدْ] نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي وَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنْ لا تَمُوتُ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَكْمِلَ رِزْقَهَا فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ وَلا يَحْمِلَنَّكُمُ اسْتِبْطَاءُ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ أَنْ تَطْلُبُوهُ بِمَعْصِيَةِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَإِنَّهُ لا يُنَالُ مَا عِنْدَ اللهِ جَلَّ اسْمُهُ إِلا بِطَاعَتِهِ.

11. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from ‘Amr ibn Shamir from Jabir from abu Ja’far ‘Alayhi al- Salam, who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘I have not left anything that can take you closer to paradise or keep you away from hellfire but that I have informed you of all such matters. You must take notice that the Holy Spirit has inspired my understanding and has told me that a soul does not die until it completes (depleting) its sustenance. You must maintain piety before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and work for your living meticulously. Certain delays in reaching of sustenance must not take you to find sustenance by means of disobedience to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious; what is with Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, can be achieved only by means of obedience to Him.”

1- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ أَبَى اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلا أَنْ يَجْعَلَ أَرْزَاقَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُونَ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from abu Ayyub af-Khazzaz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, disdains to provide sustenance for a believing person from any source other than an unexpected source.”

2- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ كُنْ لِمَا لا تَرْجُو أَرْجَى مِنْكَ لِمَا تَرْجُو فَإِنَّ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) ذَهَبَ لِيَقْتَبِسَ لأهْلِهِ نَاراً فَانْصَرَفَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَهُوَ نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from abu Jamilah who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Your hope for help from an unexpected source should be greater than an expected source. Musa ‘Alayhi al-Salam, went to find fire for his family and came back as a prophet commissioned to preach.’”

3- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْقَاسَانِيِّ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كُنْ لِمَا لا تَرْجُو أَرْجَى مِنْكَ لِمَا تَرْجُو فَإِنَّ مُوسَى بْنَ عِمْرَانَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) خَرَجَ يَقْتَبِسُ لأهْلِهِ نَاراً فَكَلَّمَهُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَرَجَعَ نَبِيّاً مُرْسَلا وَخَرَجَتْ مَلِكَةُ سَبَإٍ فَأَسْلَمَتْ مَعَ سُلَيْمَانَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَخَرَجَتْ سَحَرَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ يَطْلُبُونَ الْعِزَّ لِفِرْعَوْنَ فَرَجَعُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasaniy from the one whom he has mentioned from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from abu ‘Abd Allah from his father, from his grandfather ‘Alayhi al- Salam, who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Your hope for help from an unexpected source should be greater than an expected source. Musa (Moses) ‘Alayhi al-Salam went to find fire for his family, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, spoke to him and he came back as a messenger prophet. Queen of Sheba’ (Saba’) went out and became a Muslim with Sulayman (Solomon). The magician went out to defend Pharaoh’s majesty then returned as believing people.’”

4- عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي الْهَزْهَازِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ السَّرِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ جَعَلَ أَرْزَاقَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُونَ وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا لَمْ يَعْرِفْ وَجْهَ رِزْقِهِ كَثُرَ دُعَاؤُهُ.

4. It is narrated from him (narrator of previous Hadith) from Safwan from Muhammad ibn abu al-Haz Haz from Ali ibn al-Sariy who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has made the sustenance of the believing people to come unexpectedly; when a servant (of Allah) does not know wherefrom his sustenance comes, he prays a great deal.’”

5- عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ حَمْزَةَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا فَعَلَ عُمَرُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى الْعِبَادَةِ وَتَرَكَ التِّجَارَةَ فَقَالَ وَيْحَهُ أَمَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ تَارِكَ الطَّلَبِ لا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُ إِنَّ قَوْماً مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجاً وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُ أَغْلَقُوا الأبْوَابَ وَأَقْبَلُوا عَلَى الْعِبَادَةِ وَقَالُوا قَدْ كُفِينَا فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ مَا حَمَلَكُمْ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتُمْ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ تُكُفِّلَ لَنَا بِأَرْزَاقِنَا فَأَقْبَلْنَا عَلَى الْعِبَادَةِ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ مَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ لَمْ يُسْتَجَبْ لَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالطَّلَبِ.

5. It is narrated from him (narrator of previous Hadith) from Muhammad ibn Ali from Harun ibn Hamzah from Ali ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once asked me, ‘What has ‘Umar ibn Muslim done?’ I replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, ‘he has devoted himself in worship and has given up doing any business.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Fie upon him! Does he not know that the prayer of one who neglects work to make a living is not answered? A people of the companions of the Messenger of Allah, when this was revealed, “Those who maintain piety before Allah, He makes a way out for them and provides them sustenance from unexpected sources” (66:7), closed their doors and begun to worship. They said, “We have found what we needed.” This was reported to the Holy Prophet who called them in his presence and asked, “What made you do what you had been doing?” They replied, O Messenger of Allah, you guaranteed our sustenance, and thus, we devoted ourselves in worship.” He said, “Whoever does this his prayer is not answered. You must work for your living.’””

1- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ قَالَ دَخَلَ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَرَأَى عَلَيْهِ ثِيَابَ بِيضٍ كَأَنَّهَا غِرْقِئُ الْبَيْضِ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ هَذَا اللِّبَاسَ لَيْسَ مِنْ لِبَاسِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ اسْمَعْ مِنِّي وَعِ مَا أَقُولُ لَكَ فَإِنَّهُ خَيْرٌ لَكَ عَاجِلا وَآجِلا إِنْ أَنْتَ مِتَّ عَلَى السُّنَّةِ وَالْحَقِّ وَلَمْ تَمُتْ عَلَى بِدْعَةٍ أُخْبِرُكَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) كَانَ فِي زَمَانٍ مُقْفِرٍ جَدْبٍ فَأَمَّا إِذَا أَقْبَلَتِ الدُّنْيَا فَأَحَقُّ أَهْلِهَا بِهَا أَبْرَارُهَا لا فُجَّارُهَا وَمُؤْمِنُوهَا لا مُنَافِقُوهَا وَمُسْلِمُوهَا لا كُفَّارُهَا فَمَا أنْكَرْتَ يَا ثَوْرِيُّ فَوَ اللهِ إِنَّنِي لَمَعَ مَا تَرَى مَا أَتَى عَلَيَّ مُذْ عَقَلْتُ صَبَاحٌ وَلا مَسَاءٌ وَللهِ فِي مَالِي حَقٌّ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَضَعَهُ مَوْضِعاً إِلا وَضَعْتُهُ قَالَ فَأَتَاهُ قَوْمٌ مِمَّنْ يُظْهِرُونَ الزُّهْدَ وَيَدْعُونَ النَّاسَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مَعَهُمْ عَلَى مِثْلِ الَّذِي هُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ التَّقَشُّفِ فَقَالُوا لَهُ إِنَّ صَاحِبَنَا حَصِرَ عَنْ كَلامِكَ وَلَمْ تَحْضُرْهُ حُجَجُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ فَهَاتُوا حُجَجَكُمْ فَقَالُوا لَهُ إِنَّ حُجَجَنَا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ فَأَدْلُوا بِهَا فَإِنَّهَا أَحَقُّ مَا اتُّبِعَ وَعُمِلَ بِهِ فَقَالُوا يَقُولُ اللهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مُخْبِراً عَنْ قَوْمٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلى‏ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كانَ بِهِمْ خَصاصَةٌ وَمَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ فَمَدَحَ فِعْلَهُمْ وَقَالَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ آخَرَ وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعامَ عَلى‏ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَيَتِيماً وَأَسِيراً فَنَحْنُ نَكْتَفِي بِهَذَا فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْجُلَسَاءِ إِنَّا رَأَيْنَاكُمْ تَزْهَدُونَ فِي الأطْعِمَةِ الطَّيِّبَةِ وَمَعَ ذَلِكَ تَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْخُرُوجِ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَتَّى تَمَتَّعُوا أَنْتُمْ مِنْهَا فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) دَعُوا عَنْكُمْ مَا لا تَنْتَفِعُونَ بِهِ أَخْبِرُونِي أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ أَلَكُمْ عِلْمٌ بِنَاسِخِ الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ مَنْسُوخِهِ وَمُحْكَمِهِ مِنْ مُتَشَابِهِهِ الَّذِي فِي مِثْلِهِ ضَلَّ مَنْ ضَلَّ وَهَلَكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الأمَّةِ فَقَالُوا لَهُ أَوْ بَعْضِهِ فَأَمَّا كُلُّهُ فَلا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ فَمِنْ هُنَا أُتِيتُمْ وَكَذَلِكَ أَحَادِيثُ رَسُولِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَأَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتُمْ مِنْ إِخْبَارِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِيَّانَا فِي كِتَابِهِ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ أَخْبَرَ عَنْهُمْ بِحُسْنِ فَعَالِهِمْ فَقَدْ كَانَ مُبَاحاً جَائِزاً وَلَمْ يَكُونُوا نُهُوا عَنْهُ وَثَوَابُهُمْ مِنْهُ عَلَى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ اللهَ جَلَّ وَتَقَدَّسَ أَمَرَ بِخِلافِ مَا عَمِلُوا بِهِ فَصَارَ أَمْرُهُ نَاسِخاً لِفِعْلِهِمْ وَكَانَ نَهَى اللهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى رَحْمَةً مِنْهُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَنَظَراً لِكَيْلا يُضِرُّوا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ وَعِيَالاتِهِمْ مِنْهُمُ الضَّعَفَةُ الصِّغَارُ وَالْوِلْدَانُ وَالشَّيْخُ الْفَانِي وَالْعَجُوزُ الْكَبِيرَةُ الَّذِينَ لا يَصْبِرُونَ عَلَى الْجُوعِ فَإِنْ تَصَدَّقْتُ بِرَغِيفِي وَلا رَغِيفَ لِي غَيْرُهُ ضَاعُوا وَهَلَكُوا جُوعاً فَمِنْ ثَمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) خَمْسُ تَمَرَاتٍ أَوْ خَمْسُ قُرَصٍ أَوْ دَنَانِيرُ أَوْ دَرَاهِمُ يَمْلِكُهَا الإنْسَانُ وَهُوَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُمْضِيَهَا فَأَفْضَلُهَا مَا أَنْفَقَهُ الإنْسَانُ عَلَى وَالِدَيْهِ ثُمَّ الثَّانِيَةُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ وَعِيَالِهِ ثُمَّ الثَّالِثَةُ عَلَى قَرَابَتِهِ الْفُقَرَاءِ ثُمَّ الرَّابِعَةُ عَلَى جِيرَانِهِ الْفُقَرَاءِ ثُمَّ الْخَامِسَةُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَهُوَ أَخَسُّهَا أَجْراً. وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لِلأنْصَارِيِّ حِينَ أَعْتَقَ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ خَمْسَةً أَوْ سِتَّةً مِنَ الرَّقِيقِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يَمْلِكُ غَيْرَهُمْ وَلَهُ أَوْلادٌ صِغَارٌ لَوْ أَعْلَمْتُمُونِي أَمْرَهُ مَا تَرَكْتُكُمْ تَدْفِنُوهُ مَعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ يَتْرُكُ صِبْيَةً صِغَاراً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ ثُمَّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ ابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ الأدْنَى فَالأدْنَى ثُمَّ هَذَا مَا نَطَقَ بِهِ الْكِتَابُ رَدّاً لِقَوْلِكُمْ وَنَهْياً عَنْهُ مَفْرُوضاً مِنَ اللهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ قَالَ وَالَّذِينَ إِذا أَنْفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكانَ بَيْنَ ذلِكَ قَواماً أَفَلا تَرَوْنَ أَنَّ اللهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى قَالَ غَيْرَ مَا أَرَاكُمْ تَدْعُونَ النَّاسَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الأثَرَةِ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَسَمَّى مَنْ فَعَلَ مَا تَدْعُونَ النَّاسَ إِلَيْهِ مُسْرِفاً وَفِي غَيْرِ آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ فَنَهَاهُمْ عَنِ الإسْرَافِ وَنَهَاهُمْ عَنِ التَّقْتِيرِ وَلَكِنْ أَمْرٌ بَيْنَ أَمْرَيْنِ لا يُعْطِي جَمِيعَ مَا عِنْدَهُ ثُمَّ يَدْعُو اللهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَهُ فَلا يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ لِلْحَدِيثِ الَّذِي جَاءَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّ أَصْنَافاً مِنْ أُمَّتِي لا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ دُعَاؤُهُمْ رَجُلٌ يَدْعُو عَلَى وَالِدَيْهِ وَرَجُلٌ يَدْعُو عَلَى غَرِيمٍ ذَهَبَ لَهُ بِمَالٍ فَلَمْ يَكْتُبْ عَلَيْهِ وَلَمْ يُشْهِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَجُلٌ يَدْعُو عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ وَقَدْ جَعَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ تَخْلِيَةَ سَبِيلِهَا بِيَدِهِ وَرَجُلٌ يَقْعُدُ فِي بَيْتِهِ وَيَقُولُ رَبِّ ارْزُقْنِي وَلا يَخْرُجُ وَلا يَطْلُبُ الرِّزْقَ فَيَقُولُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ عَبْدِي أَلَمْ أَجْعَلْ لَكَ السَّبِيلَ إِلَى الطَّلَبِ وَالضَّرْبِ فِي الأرْضِ بِجَوَارِحَ صَحِيحَةٍ فَتَكُونَ قَدْ أُعْذِرْتَ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ فِي الطَّلَبِ لاتِّبَاعِ أَمْرِي وَلِكَيْلا تَكُونَ كَلا عَلَى أَهْلِكَ فَإِنْ شِئْتُ رَزَقْتُكَ وَإِنْ شِئْتُ قَتَّرْتُ عَلَيْكَ وَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ مَعْذُورٍ عِنْدِي وَرَجُلٌ رَزَقَهُ اللهُ مَالا كَثِيراً فَأَنْفَقَهُ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ يَدْعُو يَا رَبِّ ارْزُقْنِي فَيَقُولُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَلَمْ أَرْزُقْكَ رِزْقاً وَاسِعاً فَهَلا اقْتَصَدْتَ فِيهِ كَمَا أَمَرْتُكَ وَلِمَ تُسْرِفُ وَقَدْ نَهَيْتُكَ عَنِ الإسْرَافِ وَرَجُلٌ يَدْعُو فِي قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ ثُمَّ عَلَّمَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ نَبِيَّهُ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) كَيْفَ يُنْفِقُ وَذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ كَانَتْ عِنْدَهُ أُوقِيَّةٌ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ فَكَرِهَ أَنْ يَبِيتَ عِنْدَهُ فَتَصَدَّقَ بِهَا فَأَصْبَحَ وَلَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَجَاءَهُ مَنْ يَسْأَلُهُ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُعْطِيهِ فَلامَهُ السَّائِلُ وَاغْتَمَّ هُوَ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُعْطِيهِ وَكَانَ رَحِيماً رَقِيقاً فَأَدَّبَ اللهُ تَعَالَى نَبِيَّهُ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) بِأَمْرِهِ فَقَالَ وَلا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلى‏ عُنُقِكَ وَلا تَبْسُطْها كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُوماً مَحْسُوراً يَقُولُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ يَسْأَلُونَكَ وَلا يَعْذِرُونَكَ فَإِذَا أَعْطَيْتَ جَمِيعَ مَا عِنْدَكَ مِنَ الْمَالِ كُنْتَ قَدْ حَسَرْتَ مِنَ الْمَالِ فَهَذِهِ أَحَادِيثُ رَسُولِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يُصَدِّقُهَا الْكِتَابُ وَالْكِتَابُ يُصَدِّقُهُ أَهْلُهُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ حَيْثُ قِيلَ لَهُ أَوْصِ فَقَالَ أُوصِي بِالْخُمُسِ وَالْخُمُسُ كَثِيرٌ فَإِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى قَدْ رَضِيَ بِالْخُمُسِ فَأَوْصَى بِالْخُمُسِ وَقَدْ جَعَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ الثُّلُثَ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ وَلَوْ عَلِمَ أَنَّ الثُّلُثَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ أَوْصَى بِهِ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ بَعْدَهُ فِي فَضْلِهِ وَزُهْدِهِ سَلْمَانُ وَأَبُو ذَرٍّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا فَأَمَّا سَلْمَانُ فَكَانَ إِذَا أَخَذَ عَطَاهُ رَفَعَ مِنْهُ قُوتَهُ لِسَنَتِهِ حَتَّى يَحْضُرَ عَطَاؤُهُ مِنْ قَابِلٍ فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ أَنْتَ فِي زُهْدِكَ تَصْنَعُ هَذَا وَأَنْتَ لا تَدْرِي لَعَلَّكَ تَمُوتُ الْيَوْمَ أَوْ غَداً فَكَانَ جَوَابَهُ أَنْ قَالَ مَا لَكُمْ لا تَرْجُونَ لِيَ الْبَقَاءَ كَمَا خِفْتُمْ عَلَيَّ الْفَنَاءَ أَمَا عَلِمْتُمْ يَا جَهَلَةُ أَنَّ النَّفْسَ قَدْ تَلْتَاثُ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهَا مِنَ الْعَيْشِ مَا يَعْتَمِدُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هِيَ أَحْرَزَتْ مَعِيشَتَهَا اطْمَأَنَّتْ وَأَمَّا أَبُو ذَرٍّ فَكَانَتْ لَهُ نُوَيْقَاتٌ وَشُوَيْهَاتٌ يَحْلُبُهَا وَيَذْبَحُ 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 وَيَأْخُذُ هُوَ كَنَصِيبِ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ لا يَتَفَضَّلُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَمَنْ أَزْهَدُ مِنْ هَؤُلاءِ وَقَدْ قَالَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَا قَالَ وَلَمْ يَبْلُغْ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمَا أَنْ صَارَا لا يَمْلِكَانِ شَيْئاً الْبَتَّةَ كَمَا تَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِإِلْقَاءِ أَمْتِعَتِهِمْ وَشَيْئِهِمْ وَيُؤْثِرُونَ بِهِ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَعِيَالاتِهِمْ. وَ اعْلَمُوا أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَرْوِي عَنْ آبَائِهِ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلام) أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ يَوْماً مَا عَجِبْتُ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ كَعَجَبِي مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّهُ إِنْ قُرِّضَ جَسَدُهُ فِي دَارِ الدُّنْيَا بِالْمَقَارِيضِ كَانَ خَيْراً لَهُ وَإِنْ مَلَكَ مَا بَيْنَ مَشَارِقِ الأرْضِ وَمَغَارِبِهَا كَانَ خَيْراً لَهُ وَكُلُّ مَا يَصْنَعُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِهِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ فَلَيْتَ شِعْرِي هَلْ يَحِيقُ فِيكُمْ مَا قَدْ شَرَحْتُ لَكُمْ مُنْذُ الْيَوْمِ أَمْ أَزِيدُكُمْ أَمَا عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَدْ فَرَضَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي أَوَّلِ الأمْرِ أَنْ يُقَاتِلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ عَشَرَةً مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يُوَلِّيَ وَجْهَهُ عَنْهُمْ وَمَنْ وَلاهُمْ 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 اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَنَسَخَ الرَّجُلانِ الْعَشَرَةَ وَأَخْبِرُونِي أَيْضاً عَنِ الْقُضَاةِ أَجَوَرَةٌ هُمْ حَيْثُ يَقْضُونَ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ مِنْكُمْ نَفَقَةَ امْرَأَتِهِ إِذَا قَالَ إِنِّي زَاهِدٌ وَإِنِّي لا شَيْ‏ءَ لِي فَإِنْ قُلْتُمْ جَوَرَةٌ ظَلَّمَكُمْ أَهْلُ الإسْلامِ وَإِنْ قُلْتُمْ بَلْ عُدُولٌ خَصَمْتُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَحَيْثُ تَرُدُّونَ صَدَقَةَ مَنْ تَصَدَّقَ عَلَى الْمَسَاكِينِ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ أَخْبِرُونِي لَوْ كَانَ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ كَالَّذِينَ تُرِيدُونَ زُهَّاداً لا حَاجَةَ لَهُمْ فِي مَتَاعِ غَيْرِهِمْ فَعَلَى مَنْ كَانَ يُتَصَدَّقُ بِكَفَّارَاتِ الأيْمَانِ وَالنُّذُورِ وَالصَّدَقَاتِ مِنْ فَرْضِ الزَّكَاةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالتَّمْرِ وَالزَّبِيبِ وَسَائِرِ مَا وَجَبَ فِيهِ الزَّكَاةُ مِنَ الإبِلِ وَالْبَقَرِ وَالْغَنَمِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ إِذَا كَانَ الأمْرُ كَمَا تَقُولُونَ لا يَنْبَغِي لأحَدٍ أَنْ يَحْبِسَ شَيْئاً مِنْ عَرَضِ الدُّنْيَا إِلا قَدَّمَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ بِهِ خَصَاصَةٌ فَبِئْسَمَا ذَهَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ وَحَمَلْتُمُ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ بِكِتَابِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَسُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَأَحَادِيثِهِ الَّتِي يُصَدِّقُهَا الْكِتَابُ الْمُنْزَلُ وَرَدِّكُمْ إِيَّاهَا بِجَهَالَتِكُمْ وَتَرْكِكُمُ النَّظَرَ فِي غَرَائِبِ الْقُرْآنِ مِنَ التَّفْسِيرِ بِالنَّاسِخِ مِنَ الْمَنْسُوخِ وَالْمُحْكَمِ وَالْمُتَشَابِهِ وَالأمْرِ وَالنَّهْيِ وَأَخْبِرُونِي أَيْنَ أَنْتُمْ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) حَيْثُ سَأَلَ اللهَ مُلْكاً لا يَنْبَغِي لأحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَأَعْطَاهُ اللهُ جَلَّ اسْمُهُ ذَلِكَ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ الْحَقَّ وَيَعْمَلُ بِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ نَجِدِ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَابَ عَلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ وَلا أَحَداً مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَدَاوُدَ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَبْلَهُ فِي مُلْكِهِ وَشِدَّةِ سُلْطَانِهِ ثُمَّ يُوسُفَ النَّبِيِّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) حَيْثُ قَالَ لِمَلِكِ مِصْرَ اجْعَلْنِي عَلى‏ خَزائِنِ الأرْضِ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ فَكَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ الَّذِي كَانَ أَنِ اخْتَارَ مَمْلَكَةَ الْمَلِكِ وَمَا حَوْلَهَا إِلَى الْيَمَنِ وَكَانُوا يَمْتَارُونَ الطَّعَامَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ لِمَجَاعَةٍ أَصَابَتْهُمْ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ الْحَقَّ وَيَعْمَلُ بِهِ فَلَمْ نَجِدْ أَحَداً عَابَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ ذُو الْقَرْنَيْنِ عَبْدٌ أَحَبَّ اللهَ فَأَحَبَّهُ اللهُ وَطَوَى لَهُ الأسْبَابَ وَمَلَّكَهُ مَشَارِقَ الأرْضِ وَمَغَارِبَهَا وَكَانَ يَقُولُ الْحَقَّ وَيَعْمَلُ بِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ نَجِدْ أَحَداً عَابَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ فَتَأَدَّبُوا أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ بِ‏آدَابِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَاقْتَصِرُوا عَلَى أَمْرِ اللهِ وَنَهْيِهِ وَدَعُوا عَنْكُمْ مَا اشْتَبَهَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِمَّا لا عِلْمَ لَكُمْ بِهِ وَرُدُّوا الْعِلْمَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ تُوجَرُوا وَتُعْذَرُوا عِنْدَ اللهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَكُونُوا فِي طَلَبِ عِلْمِ نَاسِخِ الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ مَنْسُوخِهِ وَمُحْكَمِهِ مِنْ مُتَشَابِهِهِ وَمَا أَحَلَّ اللهُ فِيهِ مِمَّا حَرَّمَ فَإِنَّهُ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ مِنَ اللهِ وَأَبْعَدُ لَكُمْ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ وَدَعُوا الْجَهَالَةَ لأهْلِهَا فَإِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَهْلِ كَثِيرٌ وَأَهْلَ الْعِلْمِ قَلِيلٌ وَقَدْ قَالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Harun ibn Muslim Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Once, Sufyan al-Thawriy visited abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.). He saw the Imam wearing a cloth that was pure white like the membrane between an egg shell and its contents. He then said to the Imam, ‘This is not the kind of cloth you should wear.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Listen to me and pay proper attention to what I say; it is good for you now and in future if you like to die following the Sunnah and truth and not in heresy. I can tell you that the Messenger of Allah lived at a time when poverty was rampant. When living conditions improve the people most deserving to benefit from the worldly facilities are the virtuous people and not the sinful ones, the believing people and not the hypocrites, the Muslims and not those who reject Islam. What then is it that you, O Thawriy, dislike? When you see me in this condition, you must take notice that, I swear by Allah, from the time I reached the age of maturity, there has never been an evening or morning when Allah had a right in my properties that He had commanded me to payoff and I had not already paid it off.’ He (the narrator) has said that then a group of people who showed themselves to people to be abstaining from the worldly matters and called people to become like them in treating their bodies with harshness said to the Imam, ‘Our fellow companion has become tonguetied before you and is unable to present his argument properly.’ He (the Imam) then asked them, ‘What is the argument that you think you have?’ They replied, ‘It is from the book of Allah.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘You then must present it; it is the most rightful fact to follow and upon which one must act.’ They said, ‘Allah, most Blessed, most High, speaking of a group of people of the companions of the Holy Prophet has said, “They give preference to others over their own-selves even though they particularly are in need of what they give away to the needy. Whoever controls the greed of his soul is of those who find true happiness.” (59:10) He has praised their deeds and in another passage He has said, “They offer food for His love to the destitute, the orphan and captives. . . .” (76:8) We think this much from the Holy Quran is enough to support our argument.’ A man from among the people present then said, ‘We know that you abstain from good food but at the same time ask people to give away from their properties so that you in turn benefit from such properties given away.’ “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘You should leave alone the matters that do not benefit you. You however must tell me this. Do you have the knowledge of the abrogating and abrogated matters of the Holy Quran; what are the unequivocal and ambiguous matters in which strayed those who strayed and faced destruction, those who were doomed to face destruction of the members of this nation?’ They or certain ones among them replied, ‘We do not know all of such matters.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘This is where you have difficulties. The same case applies to Ahadith of the Messenger of Allah. However, what you mentioned of the matters that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has spoken to us in His book about a people and their good deeds, you must take notice, such deeds were permissible and lawful. It was not prohibited for them, and their reward for such deeds is with Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. (It was not obligatory on them) because Allah, most Holy, has commanded to do what is opposite to what they had done. Therefore, His prohibition was abrogating their practice; Allah, most Blessed, most High, out of His mercy toward the believing people, stopped them from harming themselves, their dependents, the weak ones, the small ones like children, the old men and women who are not able to bear hunger. If the loaf of my bread is given away while I have no other loaf of bread, then the lives of such ones (of my dependents) are jeopardized because of hunger. For this reason the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “If one has five dates in his possession or five loaves and he wants to give charity, the best charity to give is to spend it on one’s parents, then on his own self and dependents, thirdly on his relatives, fourthly on his neighbors, fifthly he should spend it in the way of Allah which is of the lowest degree of rewards.” The Messenger of Allah once, when one of the people of al-Ansar at the time of his death had set free five or six of his slaves and had no other possession and had left behind small children, said, “Had you informed me before about what he has done, I would not have given you permission to bury him in the graveyard of the Muslims due to his leaving behind small children with their hands spread before people for help.’” He (the Imam) then said, ‘My father has narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah has said, “Begin, when giving charity, with your dependents, the nearest ones first and so on.” Allah, most Majestic, most Wise, has also said, “. . . those who when giving charity do not exceed proper limits and nor do they act stringently, but give charity in a moderate manner.” (25:67) Is it not true that Allah, most Blessed, most High, has said what is other than what I see you call people to do and to give others preference over their own selves, while He has called what you want people to do as exceeding the proper limits in spending? In more than a verse of His book He says, “He does not love those who exceed proper limits in spending.” (6:141 and 7:31) He has prohibited from acting as exceeding proper limits in spending and acting very stringently. He has told them to act moderately in between the two manners of spending. One must not give away all of his belongings and then begin to pray to Allah to grant him sustenance. His prayer then is not answered as it is mentioned in a Hadith, narrated from the Holy Prophet (a.s.), that says, “The prayers of certain individuals of my followers are not answered. Of such people is one who prays against his parents, one who prays against his debtor who borrowed money without writing down for the record and appointing two witnesses for what he has borrowed, one who prays against his wife when Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, in His laws has already authorized him to dissolve the contract of his marriage and one who sits at home without work, then prays to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, for sustenance but does not go out to work for a living. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says to him, “My servant, have I not made ways for you to seek means of living and go around in the land by the help of your healthy bodily abilities so that you would not leave any excuse between Me and yourself in matters of your seeking to make a living and in obedience to My command and to avoid becoming a burden on your family? Now you have no excuse. I may grant you sustenance or make you suffer stringent conditions.” Another person is a wealthy one who spends all of his wealth and then begins to pray to Allah for his sustenance. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, “Had I not given you a great wealth? Why did you not act moderately as I had commanded you to do and avoid exceeding the proper limits of spending manners? I had already prohibited you to do so.” Yet there is another person who prays against good relationships with his relatives. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, then taught his Prophet how to spend in charity. Once there were a few Awqiyyah (certain units of measurement) of gold and he did not like to keep them with him for the night while they are not given away to deserving people. So he gave them away and in the morning there was nothing left with him. A person came to him asking for help but he had nothing to give him. The person asking for help blamed him for his inability to provide any help and he became sad; nothing was left there with him to help and he was a very kindhearted person. Allah most High, disciplined His prophet, by means of commanding him, “You must not keep your hands tied up to your neck and you must not expand them altogether so much so that you then remain blamed and unable to provide any help.” (17:31) He says, “People ask you for help and they do not accept your excuses. If you give away all the properties you remain unable to help the needy.” These are of the Ahadith of the Messenger of Allah verified by the book which is confirmed by the believing people of the book. Abu Bakr at the time of his death, when asked to make a will, made a will about one-fifth of his legacy saying, “One-fifth is a great deal.” Allah, most High, has approved wills about one-fifth. So he made a will about one-fifth. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, had given the right to make a will about one-third of one’s legacy at the time of one’s death. If he knew that one-third is better for him he would have made a will for one-third. People other than abu Bakr, as you know their excellence and restraint from the worldly matters, were Salman and abu Dharr, may Allah be happy with them. Salman’s manners were such that whenever he received a gift he would keep aside one year’s expenses thereof until receiving his gift of the coming year. It was said to him, “O abu ‘ Abd Allah, why is it that with all the restraint you exercise in the worldly matters and you do not know whether you will die today or tomorrow, you still keep one year’s amount of your expenses aside from the gift you receive?” His answer was as follows, “Why do you not wish for me one more year of living instead of fearing for my death within a year?”’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘O ignorant people, have you not noticed that one’s soul becomes lazy and weak (in worship) when he does not have dependable means of living but when he gains his means of living his soul gains comfort. Abu Dharr owned camels and sheep. He would get milk from them and also use their meat for food whenever he wanted for his family and for his guests or for the people from whom he received water. Whenever he thought they desired he would slaughter for them a camel for food or of the sheep to satisfy their desire for meat. He would distribute the meat among them and himself would get one share without anything more than others. Who is more restraining from the worldly matters than these people? The Messenger of Allah has said about them all that he has said but he has not mentioned anything about their dispossessing themselves altogether of their belongings by giving away everything in charity, just as you command people to give away all of their belongings to give preference to others over themselves and families. ‘O people, you must take notice that I heard my father narrating from his ancestors, ‘Alayhim al- Salam, from the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, who one day said, “No other thing is as astonishing to me as the condition of a believing person. If his body is cut into pieces by scissors, it is because it is for his good and if everything between the east and west is made to become of his belongings is because it is for his good. Everything that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, does for him is for his good.” I like to know what I have said to you today had any effect on you or I increase my sayings. Have you not noticed that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, at the beginning of Islam had made it compulsory on the Muslims to fight each one against ten pagans without turning his back to the enemy and those who did so would have filled his seat with hellfire. He then changed their condition out of mercy and kindness to them and told them to fight each one of them against two men of the pagans. It was a measure of relief in favor of the believers from Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. This was an abrogation of one Muslims’ fighting against ten pagans. ‘You should tell me about the judges who rule against one of you to pay the expenses of his wife. Are they unjust judges if the defendant said, “I am a zahid (one who restrains from worldly matters) and I do not possess anything?” If you said such judges are unjust people, Islam will call you unjust, and if you said they are judges of justice, then you have defeated yourselves. By what means will you reject the validity of the will that leaves more than one-third for the poor out of the legacy of a deceased? You must answer to me about this. If all people were Zuhhad (restraining from worldly matters) as you like them to be without needing anything from the worldly matters, then who would receive the charities, expiation for disregard of one’s swearing and vows and charities like Zakat of gold, silver, dates, raisin and other items subject to Zakat like camel, cow, sheep and other goods? If it were as you say that no one should keep anything of the worldly things but instead send it as his supplies for the next life even though he may urgently need such items, what you maintain is bad and you have made people to follow what you follow due to ignorance of the book of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet of Allah and his Ahadith (sayings) which are verified by the divinely revealed book, and you have rejected them due to your ignorance and your disregard of the unique passages of the Holy Quran, the explanation of abrogating and abrogated matters, the unequivocal and ambiguous, the command and prohibitions therein. You must tell me if you know about Sulayman (the prophet) son of Dawud ‘Alayhi al-Salam, when he asked Allah to give him a kingdom which no one after him would ever have. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, gave him such kingdom. He spoke the truth and acted thereupon. We do not find Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, blaming him for possessing such kingdom, neither any of the believing people have ever blamed him for possessing such a kingdom. Before him lived Dawud, the prophet with great kingdom and strong control. There is Joseph, the prophet (a.s.), who said to the king of Egypt, “Appoint me a supervisor of the treasures of the land; I am a knowledgeable keeper.” (12:56) He became the person in charge of the kingdom of the king up to Yemen. People would come for food supplies to him during food shortages and famine. We do not find any one to blame him for it. Dhul Qarnayn was a servant of Allah who loved Allah and Allah loved him. He prepared for him means and made him to possess the east and west of the land. He spoke the truth and acted thereupon. We do not find any one to blame him for it. You people must discipline yourselves by the disciplines of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, for the believing people. Follow the commands and prohibitions of Allah, and leave alone what has become confusing for you and you have no knowledge thereof. Leave issues of knowledge to the people of knowledge; you will be rewarded and excused before Allah, most Blessed, most High. You must seek to learn the knowledge of abrogating and abrogated matters of the Holy Quran, its unequivocal and ambiguous matters thereof. You must learn what Allah has made lawful and what He has made unlawful. This takes you closer to Allah and farther from ignorance. You must leave alone ignorance to its people. People of ignorance are many and people of knowledge are fewer. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, “Over every person of knowledge there is one more knowledgeable. ” (12: 76)’”

1- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا الزُّهْدُ فِي الدُّنْيَا قَالَ وَيْحَكَ حَرَامَهَا فَتَنَكَّبْهُ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from af-Nawfafiy from af-Sakuniy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meaning of restraint from worldly matters. He (the Imam) said, Tie upon you! It is (not difficult to understand) knowing what is unlawful so that you can avoid it.’”