Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "إِنِّي لَأَرْحَمُ ثَلاَثَةً وَ حَقٌّ لَهُمْ أَنْ يُرْحَمُوا عَزِيزٌ أَصَابَتْهُ مَذَلَّةٌ بَعْدَ اَلْعِزِّ وَ غَنِيٌّ أَصَابَتْهُ حَاجَةٌ بَعْدَ اَلْغِنَى وَ عَالِمٌ يَسْتَخِفُّ بِهِ أَهْلُهُ وَ اَلْجَهَلَةُ".

Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s), said: "Indeed, I feel mercy for three people, and it is their right to be shown mercy: A noble person who has been humiliated after his honor, A wealthy person who has fallen into poverty after wealth, And a scholar who is belittled by his own people and the ignorant."

وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "خَمْسٌ هُنَّ كَمَا أَقُولُ لَيْسَتْ لِبَخِيلٍ رَاحَةٌ وَ لاَ لِحَسُودٍ لَذَّةٌ وَ لاَ لِلْمَمْلُوكِ وَفَاءٌ وَ لاَ لِكَذُوبٍ مُرُوءَةٌ وَ لاَ يَسُودُ سَفِيهٌ".

Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) said: "Five things are exactly as I say: A miser will never find comfort, A jealous person will never experience pleasure, A slave will not have loyalty, A liar will have no honor, And a foolish person will never attain leadership."

وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: "إِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَسَعُوا اَلنَّاسَ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ فَسَعُوهُمْ بِأَخْلاَقِكُمْ".

Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: "Indeed, you cannot encompass people with your wealth, so encompass them with your good character."

وَ رَوَى يُونُسُ بْنُ ظَبْيَانَ عَنِ اَلصَّادِقِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: "اَلاِشْتِهَارُ بِالْعِبَادَةِ رِيبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبِي حَدَّثَنِي عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَلَيْهِمُ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ قَالَ "أَعْبَدُ اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ أَقَامَ اَلْفَرَائِضَ وَ أَسْخَى اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ أَدَّى زَكَاةَ مَالِهِ وَ أَزْهَدُ اَلنَّاسِ مَنِ اِجْتَنَبَ اَلْحَرَامَ وَ أَتْقَى اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ قَالَ اَلْحَقَّ فِيمَا لَهُ وَ عَلَيْهِ وَ أَعْدَلُ اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ رَضِيَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا يَرْضَى لِنَفْسِهِ وَ كَرِهَ لَهُمْ مَا يَكْرَهُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَ أَكْيَسُ اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ كَانَ أَشَدَّ ذِكْراً لِلْمَوْتِ وَ أَغْبَطُ اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ كَانَ تَحْتَ اَلتُّرَابِ قَدْ أَمِنَ اَلْعِقَابَ وَ يَرْجُو اَلثَّوَابَ وَ أَغْفَلُ اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ لَمْ يَتَّعِظْ بِتَغَيُّرِ اَلدُّنْيَا مِنْ حَالٍ إِلَى حَالٍ وَ أَعْظَمُ اَلنَّاسِ فِي اَلدُّنْيَا خَطَراً مَنْ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لِلدُّنْيَا عِنْدَهُ خَطَراً وَ أَعْلَمُ اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ جَمَعَ عِلْمَ اَلنَّاسِ إِلَى عِلْمِهِ وَ أَشْجَعُ اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ غَلَبَ هَوَاهُ وَ أَكْثَرُ اَلنَّاسِ قِيمَةً أَكْثَرُهُمْ عِلْماً وَ أَقَلُّ اَلنَّاسِ قِيمَةً أَقَلُّهُمْ عِلْماً وَ أَقَلُّ اَلنَّاسِ لَذَّةً اَلْحَسُودُ وَ أَقَلُّ اَلنَّاسِ رَاحَةً اَلْبَخِيلُ وَ أَبْخَلُ اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ بَخِلَ بِمَا اِفْتَرَضَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِ وَ أَوْلَى اَلنَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ أَعْلَمُهُمْ بِهِ وَ أَقَلُّ اَلنَّاسِ حُرْمَةً اَلْفَاسِقُ وَ أَقَلُّ اَلنَّاسِ وَفَاءً اَلْمَمْلُوكُ وَ أَقَلُّ اَلنَّاسِ صَدِيقاً اَلْمَلِكُ وَ أَفْقَرُ اَلنَّاسِ اَلطَّامِعُ وَ أَغْنَى اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْحِرْصِ أَسِيراً وَ أَفْضَلُ اَلنَّاسِ إِيمَاناً أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقاً وَ أَكْرَمُ اَلنَّاسِ أَتْقَاهُمْ وَ أَعْظَمُ اَلنَّاسِ قَدْراً مَنْ تَرَكَ مَا لاَ يَعْنِيهِ وَ أَوْرَعُ اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ تَرَكَ اَلْمِرَاءَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ مُحِقّاً وَ أَقَلُّ اَلنَّاسِ مُرُوءَةً مَنْ كَانَ كَاذِباً وَ أَشْقَى اَلنَّاسِ اَلْمُلُوكُ وَ أَمْقَتُ اَلنَّاسِ اَلْمُتَكَبِّرُ وَ أَشَدُّ اَلنَّاسِ اِجْتِهَاداً مَنْ تَرَكَ اَلذُّنُوبَ وَ أَحْكَمُ اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ فَرَّ مِنْ جُهَّالِ اَلنَّاسِ وَ أَسْعَدُ اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ خَالَطَ كِرَامَ اَلنَّاسِ وَ أَعْقَلُ اَلنَّاسِ أَشَدُّهُمْ مُدَارَاةً لِلنَّاسِ وَ أَوْلَى اَلنَّاسِ بِالتُّهَمَةِ مَنْ جَالَسَ أَهْلَ اَلتُّهَمَةِ وَ أَعْتَى اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ قَتَلَ غَيْرَ قَاتِلِهِ أَوْ ضَرَبَ غَيْرَ ضَارِبِهِ وَ أَوْلَى اَلنَّاسِ بِالْعَفْوِ أَقْدَرُهُمْ عَلَى اَلْعُقُوبَةِ وَ أَحَقُّ اَلنَّاسِ بِالذَّنْبِ اَلسَّفِيهُ اَلْمُغْتَابُ وَ أَذَلُّ اَلنَّاسِ مَنْ أَهَانَ اَلنَّاسَ وَ أَحْزَمُ اَلنَّاسِ أَكْظَمُهُمْ لِلْغَيْظِ وَ أَصْلَحُ اَلنَّاسِ أَصْلَحُهُمْ لِلنَّاسِ وَ خَيْرُ اَلنَّاسِ مَنِ اِنْتَفَعَ بِهِ اَلنَّاسُ" ".

Yunus ibn Zabyan narrated from Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s), that he said: "Being well-known for worship is a source of suspicion. My father Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s), narrated to me from his father Imam Ali ibn Al-Hussain (a.s), from his grandfather Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s), peace be upon them, that the Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: 'The most devout of people, is the one who upholds the obligatory acts. The most generous of people, is the one who pays the zakat on his wealth. The most ascetic of people, is the one who avoids what is forbidden. The most God-fearing of people, is the one who speaks the truth, whether it is for or against him. The most just of people, is the one who is pleased for others with what he is pleased for himself and dislikes for them what he dislikes for himself. The wisest of people, is the one who remembers death the most. The most enviable of people, is the one who is under the earth (in the grave) but safe from punishment and hoping for reward. The most heedless of people, is the one who does not learn from the changing states of the world. The greatest in status in this world, is the one who considers the world to have no worth to him. The most knowledgeable of people, is the one who gathers the knowledge of others along with his own. The bravest of people, is the one who overcomes his desires. The most valuable of people, is the one with the most knowledge. The least valuable of people, is the one with the least knowledge. The least delighted of people, is the envious person. The least comfortable of people, is the miser. The stingiest of people, is the one who withholds what Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, has made obligatory.'" Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s): "The person most entitled to the truth is the one most knowledgeable of it. The least respected among people, is the sinner. The least loyal among people, is the servant. The one with the fewest friends, is the king. The poorest of people, is the one consumed by greed. The richest of people, is the one who is not enslaved by desire. The best in faith among people, is the one with the best character. The most honorable of people, is the most God-conscious. The greatest in status among people, is the one who abandons what does not concern him. The most pious of people, is the one who avoids argumentation, even when he is right. The least dignified among people, is the liar. The most wretched of people, are kings. The most hated of people, is the arrogant. The most diligent of people, is the one who abandons sins. The wisest of people, is the one who avoids ignorant people. The happiest of people, is the one who associates with honorable people. The most intelligent of people, is the one who deals most patiently with people. The most deserving of suspicion, is the one who keeps the company of suspicious people. The most rebellious of people, is the one who kills someone who did not kill him or strikes someone who did not strike him. The person most worthy of forgiveness, is the one most capable of punishment. The most deserving of blame, is the foolish backbiter. The most humiliated of people, is the one who humiliates others. The most composed of people, is the one who suppresses anger the most. The most righteous of people, is the one who is most beneficial to others. And the best of people, is the one from whom people benefit."

وَ مَرَّ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ بِرَجُلٍ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِفُضُولِ اَلْكَلاَمِ فَوَقَفَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ "يَا هَذَا إِنَّكَ تُمْلِي عَلَى حَافِظَيْكَ كِتَاباً إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَتَكَلَّمْ بِمَا يَعْنِيكَ وَ دَعْ مَا لاَ يَعْنِيكَ".

The Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, passed by a man who was speaking excessively and unnecessarily. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s) stopped and said to him: "O' man, you are dictating to your two recording angels a book to be presented to your Lord (azj). So speak only about what concerns you and leave what does not concern you."

وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "لاَ يَزَالُ اَلرَّجُلُ اَلْمُسْلِمُ يُكْتَبُ مُحْسِناً مَا دَامَ سَاكِتاً فَإِذَا تَكَلَّمَ كُتِبَ مُحْسِناً أَوْ مُسِيئاً".

The Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, said: "A Muslim man continues to be recorded as a doer of good as long as he remains silent. But when he speaks, he is recorded either as a doer of good or a doer of evil."

وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "اَلصَّمْتُ كَنْزٌ وَافِرٌ وَ زَيْنُ اَلْحَلِيمِ وَ سِتْرُ اَلْجَاهِلِ".

Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s), said: "Silence is a vast treasure, the adornment of the wise, and a covering for the ignorant."

وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "كَلاَمٌ فِي حَقٍّ خَيْرٌ مِنْ سُكُوتٍ عَلَى بَاطِلٍ".

Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s), said: "Speaking the truth is better than remaining silent upon falsehood."

وَ رَوَى إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ عَنِ اَلصَّادِقِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَلَيْهِمُ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "كَانَتِ اَلْفُقَهَاءُ وَ اَلْحُكَمَاءُ إِذَا كَاتَبَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً كَتَبُوا بِثَلاَثٍ لَيْسَ مَعَهُنَّ رَابِعَةٌ مَنْ كَانَتِ اَلْآخِرَةُ هَمَّهُ كَفَاهُ اَللَّهُ هَمَّهُ مِنَ اَلدُّنْيَا وَ مَنْ أَصْلَحَ سَرِيرَتَهُ أَصْلَحَ اَللَّهُ عَلاَنِيَتَهُ وَ مَنْ أَصْلَحَ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ اَللَّهِ أَصْلَحَ اَللَّهُ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ اَلنَّاسِ".

Isma'il ibn Muslim narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s), from his forefathers, peace be upon them, who said that the Commander of the Faithful, said: "The scholars and the wise, when writing to one another, would write with three pieces of advice, with no fourth: Whoever makes the Hereafter his concern, Allah (swt) will suffice him in his worldly concerns. Whoever rectifies his inner self, Allah (swt) will rectify his outward state. Whoever improves what is between him and Allah (swt), Allah (swt) will improve what is between him and people."

وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: "طُوبَى لِمَنْ طَالَ عُمُرُهُ وَ حَسُنَ عَمَلُهُ فَحَسُنَ مُنْقَلَبُهُ إِذْ رَضِيَ عَنْهُ رَبُّهُ وَ وَيْلٌ لِمَنْ طَالَ عُمُرُهُ وَ سَاءَ عَمَلُهُ فَسَاءَ مُنْقَلَبُهُ إِذْ سَخِطَ عَلَيْهِ رَبُّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ".

Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: "Glad tidings to the one whose life is long and whose deeds are good, for his outcome will be good as his Lord (azj) is pleased with him. And woe to the one whose life is long and whose deeds are evil, for his outcome will be bad as his Lord (azj), the Mighty and Majestic, is displeased with him."