Part 4: On Four-Numbered Characteristics
There Are Four Types of People
4-77 حدثني أبي، ومحمد بن الحسن رضي الله عنهما قالا: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن الهيثم بن أبي مسروق النهدي بإسناده يرفعه إلى الحسن بن علي عليهما السلام قال:الناس أربعة: فمنهم من له خلق ولا خلاق له، ومنهم من له خلاق ولا خلق له، ومنهم من لا خلق ولا خلاق له، وذلك [من] شر الناس، ومنهم من له خلق وخلاق فذلك خير الناس
4-77 (The compiler of the book narrated) that his father and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan - may God be pleased with them - narrated that Sa’ed ibn Abdullah quoted Al-Haysam ibn Abi Masruq al-Nehdi who linked it up through a chain of narrators to Al-Hassan ibn Ali (MGB), “There are four types of people. Some people are good-tempered but poor. Some people are wealthy but bad-tempered. Some people are neither good-tempered nor wealthy. They are the worst of the people. However, there are some people who are both good-tempered and wealthy. They are the best of the people.”
Part 4: On Four-Numbered Characteristics
a Distance as short as Four Fingers Between Right and Wrong
4-78 حدثنا محمد بن الحسن رضي الله عنه قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار، عن محمد بن أحمد، عن علي بن السندي، عن محمد بن عمرو بن سعيد، عن كرام، عن ميسر بن عبد العزيز قال:سمعت أبا جعفر عليه السلام وهو يقول: سئل أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: كم بين الحق والباطل؟ فقال: أربع أصابع، ووضع أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام يده على اذنه وعينيه فقال: ما رأته عيناك فهو الحق وما سمعته اذناك فأكثره باطل
4-78 Muhammad ibn al-Hassan - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Attar quoted Muhammad ibn Ahmad, on the authority of Ali ibn al-Sindy, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Amr ibn Sa’id, on the authority of Kiram, on the authority of Maysar ibn Abdul Aziz that he had heard Aba Ja’far al-Baqir (MGB) say, “The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (MGB) was asked, ‘How much distance is there between right and wrong?’ He (MGB) replied, ‘As much as four fingers.’ The Commander of the Faithful Ali (MGB) put his hand between his ear and eyes and said, ‘What you see by the eyes is right, but what you hear by the ears is wrong.’”
Part 4: On Four-Numbered Characteristics
The treasures of two orphans were four pieces of advice
4-79 حدثنا أبي رضي الله عنه قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله قال: حدثنا محمد ابن عبدالحميد العطار قال: حدثنا العلاء بن رزين، عن محمد بن مسلم الثقفي، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام في قول الله عز وجل "وكان تحته كنز لهما" قال: والله ما كان من ذهب ولا فضة وما كان إلا لوحا فيه كلمات أربع: إني أنا الله لا إله إلا أنا، ومحمد رسولي، عجبت لمن أيقن بالموت كيف يفرح قلبه، وعجبت لمن أيقن بالحساب كيف يضحك سنه، وعجبت لمن أيقن بالقدر كيف يستبطئ الله في رزقه، وعجبت لمن يرى النشأة الاولى كيف ينكر النشأة الاخرى
4-79 (The compiler of the book narrated) that his father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’ed ibn Abdullah quoted Muhammad ibn Abdul Hamid al-At’tar, on the authority of Al-Ala’ ibn Razin, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Muslim al-Saqafy, on the authority of Abi Ja’far al-Baqir (MGB) who said the following regarding the words of the Honorable the Exalted God, ‘…there was, beneath it, a buried treasure, to which they were entitled.’ “I swear by God that the treasure referred to here was not gold or silver. Rather it was a tablet on which it was written, ‘Inni ana Allah! La ilaha illa ana! Va Muhammad Rasuli! (Indeed I am God. There are no gods but Me. Muhammad is My Prophet). I wonder how one who believes in death can be happy! I wonder how one who believes in the Reckoning and the Resurrection Day can laugh! I wonder how one who believes in destiny can doubt the fact that God would send down the daily bread! I wonder how one who has seen this world can deny the Hereafter!”
Part 4: On Four-Numbered Characteristics
Four People Whom You Should Not Greet
4-80 حدثنا محمد بن الحسن رضي الله عنه قال: حدثنا أحمد بن إدريس، عن محمد بن أحمد بن يحيى بن عمران الاشعري باسناده رفعه إلى أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام قال: نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله أن يسلم على أربعة: على السكران في سكره، وعلى من يعمل التماثيل، وعلى من يلعب بالنرد، وعلى من يلعب بالاربعة عشر، وأنا أزيدكم الخامسة أنهاكم أن تسلموا على أصحاب الشطرنج
4-80 Muhammad ibn al-Hassan - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Idris quoted Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Imran al-Ash’ari, who linked it up through a chain of narrators to the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (MGB), “God’s Prophet (MGB) forbade greeting four people: a drunk person, a sculptor, one who throws dice, and one who gambles. I will add one case and forbid you to greet one who plays chess.”
Part 4: On Four-Numbered Characteristics
Four Things Cheer You Up
4-81 حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن يحيى العطار رضي الله عنه قال: حدثني أبي، عن محمد بن أحمد، عن حمدان بن سليمان، عن علي بن الحسن بن علي بن فضال، ومحمد بن أحمد الادمي، عن أحمد بن محمد بن مسلمة، عن زياد بن بندار، عن عبد الله بن سنان قال: قال أبوعبد الله عليه السلام: أربع يضئن الوجه: النظر إلى الوجه الحسن، والنظر إلى الماء والنظر إلى الخضرة، والكحل عند النوم
4-81 Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Attar - may God be pleased with him - narrated that his father quoted Muhammad ibn Ahmad, on the authority of Himdan ibn Suleiman, on the authority of Ali ibn al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Faz’zal and Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Adamy, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Muslimah, on the authority of Zyad ibn Bindar, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Sin’an that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (MGB) said, “There are four things which will cheer you up: looking at a beautiful face; looking at flowing water; looking at green grass; and anointing the eyes with collyrium at bedtime.”
Part 4: On Four-Numbered Characteristics
The Four Companions Most Loved By God
4-82 حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن يحيى العطار رضي الله عنه قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن أحمد بن أبي عبد الله، عن الحسين بن سيف، عن أخيه علي بن سيف، عن أبيه سيف بن عميرة، عن محمد بن موسى، عن رجل من بني نوفل بن المطلب، عن أبيه، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام أنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: أحب الصحابة إلى الله عز وجل أربعة، وما زاد قوم على سبعة إلا زاد لغطهم
4-82 Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Attar - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’ed ibn Abdullah quoted Ahmad ibn Aba Abdullah, on the authority of Al-Hussein ibn Sayf, on the authority of his brother Ali ibn Sayf, on the authority of his father Sayf ibn Umayrih, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Musa, on the authority of someone from the progeny of Nofl ibn al-Mutalib, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abi Ja’far al-Baqir (MGB) that God’s Prophet (MGB) said, “The companions (on a trip) most loved by the Honorable the Exalted God are four. They will talk a lot and make too much noise if they are more than seven.”
Part 4: On Four-Numbered Characteristics
The Fire Will Be Forbidden For Four On the Resurrection Day
4-83 حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد الوليد رضي الله عنه قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، عن العباس بن معروف، عن سعدان بن مسلم، عن عبد الله بن سنان عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: ألا اخبركم بمن تحرم عليه النار غدا؟ قيل: بلى يا رسول الله، قال: الهين اللين القريب السهل
4-83 Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn Ahmad al-Walid - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn al-Hassan al-Saffar quoted Al-Abbas ibn Ma’ruf, on the authority of Sa’dan ibn Muslim, on the authority of Sa’dan ibn Muslim, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Sin’an, on the authority of Aba Abdullah as-Sadiq (MGB) that God’s Prophet (MGB) said, “Do you want me to tell you from whom the fire will be forbidden in the Hereafter? The people said, “O Prophet of God! Yes.” God’s Prophet (MGB) said, “Humble ones; sociable ones; helpful ones; and simple ones.”
Part 4: On Four-Numbered Characteristics
Four Things A Little of which Is A Lot
4-84 حدثنا محمد بن علي ماجيلويه رضي الله عنه قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار، عن محمد بن أحمد بن يحيى بن عمران الاشعري، عن صالح يرفعه باسناده قال: أربعة القليل منها كثير: النار القليل منها كثير، والنوم القليل منه كثير، والمرض القليل منه كثير، والعداوة القليل منها كثير
4-84 Muhammad ibn Ali Majiluyih - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Attar quoted Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Imran al-Ash’ari, on the authority of Salih who linked it up through a chain of narrators to the Divine Leader, “There are four things a little of which is a lot: fire, sleep, disease and animosity.”
Part 4: On Four-Numbered Characteristics
Use four things before four things happen
4-85 حدثنا أبي رضي الله عنه قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله قال: حدثني يعقوب ابن يزيد، عن موسى بن القاسم، عن محمد بن سعيد بن غزوان، عن إسماعيل بن مسلم السكوني، عن جعفر بن محمد، عن آبائه، عن علي عليهم السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: بادر بأربع قبل أربع، بشبابك قبل هرمك، وصحتك قبل سقمك، وغناك قبل فقرك، وحياتك قبل مماتك
4-85 (The compiler of the book narrated) that his father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’ed ibn Abdullah quoted Yaqoob ibn Yazid, on the authority of Musa ibn al-Qasim, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Sa’id ibn Qazvan, on the authority of Isma’il ibn Muslim al-Sakoony, on the authority of Ja’far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq(MGB), on the authority of his forefathers (MGB), on the authority of Ali (MGB) that God’s Prophet (MGB) said, “You should benefit from four things before four things happen: use your youth before you get old; use your health before you get ill; use your wealth before you get poor; and use your life before your death.”
4-86 حدثنا محمد بن علي بن الشاه قال: حدثنا أبوحامد أحمد بن محمد بن الحسين، قال حدثنا أبويزيد أحمد بن خالد الخالدي قال: حدثنا محمد بن أحمد بن صالح التميمي قال: حدثنا أبي قال: حدثني أنس بن محمد أبومالك، عن أبيه، عن جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه، عن جده، عن علي بن أبي طالب عليهم السلام، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله أنه قال في وصيته له: يا علي بادر بأربع قبل أربع بشبابك قبل هرمك، وصحتك قبل سقمك، وغناك قبل فقرك، وحياتك قبل موتك
4-86 Muhammad ibn Ali ibn ash-Shah narrated that Abu Hamid Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hussein quoted Abu Yazid Ahmad ibn Khalid al-Khalidy, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Salih al-Tamimy, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Anas ibn Muhammad Abu Malik, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ja’far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (MGB), on the authority of his father (MGB), on the authority of his grandfather (MGB), on the authority of Ali ibn Abi Talib (MGB) that in his will to Ali (MGB) God’s Prophet (MGB) told him, “O Ali! You should benefit from four things before four things happen: use your youth before you get old; use your health before you get ill; use your wealth before you get poor; and use your life before your death.”