Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ ع: "أَوْحَى اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى آدَمَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "يَا آدَمُ إِنِّي أَجْمَعُ لَكَ اَلْخَيْرَ كُلَّهُ فِي أَرْبَعِ كَلِمَاتٍ وَاحِدَةٌ لِي وَ وَاحِدٌ لَكَ وَ وَاحِدَةٌ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ وَ وَاحِدَةٌ فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ اَلنَّاسِ فَأَمَّا اَلَّتِي لِي فَتَعْبُدُنِي وَ لاَ تُشْرِكُ بِي شَيْئاً وَ أَمَّا اَلَّتِي لَكَ فَأُجَازِيكَ بِعَمَلِكَ أَحْوَجَ مَا تَكُونُ إِلَيْهِ وَ أَمَّا اَلَّتِي فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ فَعَلَيْكَ اَلدُّعَاءُ وَ عَلَيَّ اَلْإِجَابَةُ وَ أَمَّا اَلَّتِي بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ اَلنَّاسِ فَتَرْضَى لِلنَّاسِ مَا تَرْضَى لِنَفْسِكَ" ".

Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) said: "Allah (swt), the Almighty, revealed to Adam, peace be upon him: 'O' Adam, I have gathered all goodness for you in four words: one is for Me (swt), one is for you, one is between Me (swt) and you, and one is between you and the people. As for the one for Me (swt), worship Me (swt) and do not associate anything with Me (swt). As for the one for you, I will reward you for your deeds when you are in most need of it. As for the one between Me (swt) and you, it is upon you to supplicate and upon Me (swt) to answer. And as for the one between you and the people, be pleased for them with what you are pleased for yourself.'"

وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "اَلْعَافِيَةُ نِعْمَةٌ خَفِيَّةٌ إِذَا وُجِدَتْ نُسِيَتْ وَ إِذَا فُقِدَتْ ذُكِرَتْ".

Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s), said: "Well-being is a hidden blessing. When it is present, it is forgotten, and when it is lost, it is remembered."

وَ رَوَى اَلسَّكُونِيُّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَلَيْهِمُ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: "كَلِمَتَانِ غَرِيبَتَانِ فَاحْتَمِلُوهُمَا كَلِمَةُ حِكْمَةٍ مِنْ سَفِيهٍ فَاقْبَلُوهَا وَ كَلِمَةُ سَفَهٍ مِنْ حَكِيمٍ فَاغْفِرُوهَا".

Al-Sakuni 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, that the Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: "Two words are strange, so bear them patiently: A word of wisdom from a foolish person - accept it; and a foolish word from a wise person - forgive it."

وَ رَوَى عَمْرُو بْنُ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ اَلْجُعْفِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ اَلْبَاقِرِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَلَيْهِمُ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّ أَمِيرَ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ فِي خُطْبَةٍ خَطَبَهَا بَعْدَ مَوْتِ اَلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: "أَيُّهَا اَلنَّاسُ إِنَّهُ لاَ شَرَفَ أَعْلَى مِنَ اَلْإِسْلاَمِ وَ لاَ كَرَمَ أَعَزُّ مِنَ اَلتَّقْوَى وَ لاَ مَعْقِلَ أَحْرَزُ مِنَ اَلْوَرَعِ وَ لاَ شَفِيعَ أَنْجَحُ مِنَ اَلتَّوْبَةِ وَ لاَ كَنْزَ أَنْفَعُ مِنَ اَلْعِلْمِ وَ لاَ عِزَّ أَرْفَعُ مِنَ اَلْحِلْمِ وَ لاَ حَسَبَ أَبْلَغُ مِنَ اَلْأَدَبِ وَ لاَ نَصَبَ أَوْضَعُ مِنَ اَلْغَضَبِ وَ لاَ جَمَالَ أَزْيَنُ مِنَ اَلْعَقْلِ وَ لاَ سَوْأَةَ أَسْوَأُ مِنَ اَلْكَذِبِ وَ لاَ حَافِظَ أَحْفَظُ مِنَ اَلصَّمْتِ وَ لاَ لِبَاسَ أَجْمَلُ مِنَ اَلْعَافِيَةِ وَ لاَ غَائِبَ أَقْرَبُ مِنَ اَلْمَوْتِ أَيُّهَا اَلنَّاسُ إِنَّهُ مَنْ مَشَى عَلَى وَجْهِ اَلْأَرْضِ فَإِنَّهُ يَصِيرُ إِلَى بَطْنِهَا وَ اَللَّيْلُ وَ اَلنَّهَارُ مُسْرِعَانِ فِي هَدْمِ اَلْأَعْمَارِ وَ لِكُلِّ ذِي رَمَقٍ قُوتٌ وَ لِكُلِّ حَبَّةٍ آكِلٌ وَ أَنْتَ قُوتُ اَلْمَوْتِ وَ إِنَّ مَنْ عَرَفَ اَلْأَيَّامَ لَنْ يَغْفُلَ عَنِ اَلاِسْتِعْدَادِ لَنْ يَنْجُوَ مِنَ اَلْمَوْتِ غَنِيٌّ بِمَالِهِ وَ لاَ فَقِيرٌ لِإِقْلاَلِهِ أَيُّهَا اَلنَّاسُ مَنْ خَافَ رَبَّهُ كَفَّ ظُلْمَهُ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَرْعَ فِي كَلاَمِهِ أَظْهَرَ هُجْرَهُ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفِ اَلْخَيْرَ مِنَ اَلشَّرِّ فَهُوَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ اَلْبَهْمِ مَا أَصْغَرَ اَلْمُصِيبَةَ مَعَ عِظَمِ اَلْفَاقَةِ غَداً هَيْهَاتَ وَ مَا تَنَاكَرْتُمْ إِلاَّ لِمَا فِيكُمْ مِنَ اَلْمَعَاصِي وَ اَلذُّنُوبِ فَمَا أَقْرَبَ اَلرَّاحَةَ مِنَ اَلتَّعَبِ وَ اَلْبُؤْسَ مِنَ اَلنَّعِيمِ وَ مَا شَرٌّ بِشَرٍّ بَعْدَهُ اَلْجَنَّةُ وَ مَا خَيْرٌ بِخَيْرٍ بَعْدَهُ اَلنَّارُ وَ كُلُّ نَعِيمٍ دُونَ اَلْجَنَّةِ مَحْقُورٌ وَ كُلُّ بَلاَءٍ دُونَ اَلنَّارِ عَافِيَةٌ".

Amr ibn Shimr narrated from Jabir ibn Yazid Al-Ju'fi from Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s) from his father from his grandfather, peace be upon them, that Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, said in a sermon he delivered after the death of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family: "O' people, there is no honor higher than Islam, No dignity more precious than piety, No fortress more secure than restraint, No intercessor more successful than repentance, No treasure more beneficial than knowledge, No dignity more elevated than forbearance, No lineage more effective than good manners, No burden heavier than anger, No beauty more adorned than intellect, No disgrace worse than lying, No guard more vigilant than silence, No attire more beautiful than well-being, And no absent thing closer than death. O' people, whoever walks on the surface of the earth will eventually end up in its depths. The night and day hasten in demolishing the lifespan, and for every living soul, there is sustenance; for every grain, there is a consumer; and you are the sustenance of death. Whoever understands the nature of time will not neglect to prepare. Neither the wealthy due to their wealth nor the poor due to their lack will escape death. O' people, whoever fears his Lord (azj) will restrain his oppression. Whoever does not guard his speech reveals his foolishness. Whoever does not distinguish between good and evil is like the cattle. How insignificant is affliction compared to the great deprivation that awaits tomorrow! Alas! The only reason you have become estranged from each other is due to your sins and transgressions. How near is relief after hardship, and distress after prosperity! No evil is truly evil if followed by Paradise, and no good is truly good if followed by Hellfire. Every comfort short of Paradise is insignificant, and every trial short of Hellfire is safety.

وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: "ثَلاَثٌ أَخَافُهُنَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي اَلضَّلاَلَةُ بَعْدَ اَلْهُدَى وَ مَضَلاَّتُ اَلْفِتَنِ وَ شَهْوَةُ اَلْبَطْنِ وَ اَلْفَرْجِ".

In the narration of Ismail ibn Muslim, the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Three things I fear for my nation after me: deviation after guidance, misleading temptations, and the desires of the stomach and the private parts."

وَ مَرَّ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بِقَوْمٍ يَتَشَاءَلُونَ حَجَراً فَقَالَ "مَا هَذَا وَ مَا يَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَيْهِ" قَالُوا لِنَعْرِفَ أَشَدَّنَا وَ أَقْوَانَا قَالَ "أَ فَلاَ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى أَشَدِّكُمْ وَ أَقْوَاكُمْ" قَالُوا بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ قَالَ "أَشَدُّكُمْ وَ أَقْوَاكُمُ اَلَّذِي إِذَا رَضِيَ لَمْ يُدْخِلْهُ رِضَاهُ فِي إِثْمٍ وَ لاَ بَاطِلٍ وَ إِذَا سَخِطَ لَمْ يُخْرِجْهُ سَخَطُهُ مِنْ قَوْلِ اَلْحَقِّ وَ إِذْ مَلَكَ لَمْ يَتَعَاطَ مَا لَيْسَ لَهُ" وَ فِي خَبَرٍ آخَرَ "وَ إِذَا قَدَرَ لَمْ يَتَعَاطَ مَا لَيْسَ لَهُ بِحَقٍّ".

The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) passed by a group of people lifting a stone and said: "What is this and what drives you to do it?" They replied: "So we may know who among us is the strongest and most powerful." Prophet (saws) said: "Shall I not guide you to the strongest and mightiest among you?" They said: "Yes, O' Messenger of Allah (swt)." Prophet (saws) said: "The strongest and mightiest among you is the one who, when pleased, is not led by his pleasure into sin or falsehood, and when angry, his anger does not drive him away from speaking the truth, and when he possesses power, he does not take what is not rightfully his." In another narration, Prophet (saws) added: "And when he has authority, he does not claim what is not his by right."

وَ رَوَى اَلْحَسَنُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي وَلاَّدٍ اَلْحَنَّاطِ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ اَلصَّادِقَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: "وَ بِالْوٰالِدَيْنِ إِحْسٰاناً" مَا هَذَا اَلْإِحْسَانُ فَقَالَ "اَلْإِحْسَانُ أَنْ تُحْسِنَ صُحْبَتَهُمَا وَ أَنْ لاَ تُكَلِّفَهُمَا أَنْ يَسْأَلاَكَ شَيْئاً مِمَّا يَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَا مُسْتَغْنِيَيْنِ إِنَّ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ: لَنْ تَنٰالُوا اَلْبِرَّ حَتّٰى تُنْفِقُوا مِمّٰا تُحِبُّونَ ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ " "إِمّٰا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِنْدَكَ اَلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمٰا أَوْ كِلاٰهُمٰا فَلاٰ تَقُلْ لَهُمٰا أُفٍّ" إِنْ أَضْجَرَاكَ "وَ لاٰ تَنْهَرْهُمٰا" إِنْ ضَرَبَاكَ "وَ قُلْ لَهُمٰا قَوْلاً كَرِيماً" وَ اَلْقَوْلُ اَلْكَرِيمُ أَنْ تَقُولَ لَهُمَا غَفَرَ اَللَّهُ لَكُمَا فَذَاكَ مِنْكَ قَوْلٌ كَرِيمٌ "وَ اِخْفِضْ لَهُمٰا جَنٰاحَ اَلذُّلِّ مِنَ اَلرَّحْمَةِ " وَ هُوَ أَنْ لاَ تَمْلَأَ عَيْنَيْكَ مِنَ اَلنَّظَرِ إِلَيْهِمَا وَ تَنْظُرَ إِلَيْهِمَا بِرَحْمَةٍ وَ رَأْفَةٍ وَ أَنْ لاَ تَرْفَعَ صَوْتَكَ فَوْقَ أَصْوَاتِهِمَا وَ لاَ يَدَكَ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمَا وَ لاَ تَتَقَدَّمَ قُدَّامَهُمَا".

Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Abu Walad Al-Hannat that he asked Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) about the saying of Allah (swt), the Exalted: "And be good to parents." He asked: "What is this goodness (ihsan)?" Imam (a.s) replied: "Goodness is to treat them well in companionship and not to burden them to ask you for anything they need, even if they are self-sufficient. Indeed, Allah (swt), the Exalted, says: 'You will never attain righteousness until you spend out of what you love.'" (Surah AAl-E-Imran 3:92) Then Imam (a.s) said: "If one or both of them reach old age in your care, do not say to them 'uff' (a word of annoyance) if they irritate you, and do not repel them if they strike you, but speak to them noble words." The noble words mean that you say to them, 'May Allah (swt) forgive you both.' That is noble speech from you. "And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy." This means that you should not fix your eyes on them with sharpness but look at them with mercy and compassion. Do not raise your voice above theirs, nor your hand above theirs, and do not walk ahead of them."

وَ رَوَى اَلْحَسَنُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ عَائِذٍ اَلْأَحْمَسِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ اَلثُّمَالِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ زَيْنُ اَلْعَابِدِينَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ اَلْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِمَا اَلسَّلاَمُ: "أَلاَ إِنَّ أَحَبَّكُمْ إِلَى اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَحْسَنُكُمْ عَمَلاً وَ إِنَّ أَعْظَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اَللَّهِ حَظّاً أَعْظَمُكُمْ فِيمَا عِنْدَ اَللَّهِ رَغْبَةً وَ إِنَّ أَنْجَى اَلنَّاسِ مِنْ عَذَابِ اَللَّهِ أَشَدُّهُمْ لِلَّهِ خَشْيَةً وَ إِنَّ أَقْرَبَكُمْ مِنَ اَللَّهِ أَوْسَعُكُمْ خُلُقاً وَ إِنَّ أَرْضَاكُمْ عِنْدَ اَللَّهِ أَسْبَغُكُمْ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ وَ "إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اَللّٰهِ أَتْقٰاكُمْ" "

Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Malik ibn Atiyyah, from Aidh Al-Ahmasi, from Abu Hamzah Al-Thumali, who said that Zayn Al-Abidin Imam Ali ibn Al-Hussain (a.s) said: "Behold, the most beloved of you to Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, is the one with the best deeds. Indeed, the greatest among you in reward with Allah (swt) is the one with the greatest desire for what is with Allah (swt). The safest of people from Allah's (swt) punishment is the one who fears Allah (swt) the most. The closest of you to Allah (swt) is the one with the most expansive and noble character. The most pleasing to Allah (swt) among you is the one who is most generous toward his family. Indeed, the most honored of you in the sight of Allah (swt) is the most God-conscious among you."

وَ رَوَى اَلْحَسَنُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي خَلَفٍ عَنْ أَبِي اَلْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِمَا اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِبَعْضِ وُلْدِهِ: "يَا بُنَيَّ إِيَّاكَ أَنْ يَرَاكَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي مَعْصِيَةٍ نَهَاكَ عَنْهَا وَ إِيَّاكَ أَنْ يَفْقِدَكَ اَللَّهُ تَعَالَى عِنْدَ طَاعَةٍ أَمَرَكَ بِهَا وَ عَلَيْكَ بِالْجِدِّ وَ لاَ تُخْرِجَنَّ نَفْسَكَ مِنَ اَلتَّقْصِيرِ فِي عِبَادَةِ اَللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لاَ يُعْبَدُ حَقَّ عِبَادَتِهِ وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ اَلْمِزَاحَ فَإِنَّهُ يَذْهَبُ بِنُورِ إِيمَانِكَ وَ يَسْتَخِفُّ بِمُرُوءَتِكَ وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ اَلْكَسَلَ وَ اَلضَّجَرَ فَإِنَّهُمَا يَمْنَعَانِكَ حَظَّكَ مِنَ اَلدُّنْيَا وَ اَلْآخِرَةِ".

Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Sa'd ibn Abi Khalaf, from Abu Al-Hasan Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (a.s) that Imam (a.s) said to one of his sons: "My son, beware that Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, sees you committing a sin He (swt) has forbidden you from. And beware that Allah (swt), the Exalted, does not find you present in an act of obedience that He (swt) has commanded you to perform. Be diligent and do not excuse yourself from shortcomings in worship of Allah (swt), for Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, is never worshipped as He (swt) truly deserves. Avoid excessive joking, for it extinguishes the light of your faith and diminishes your dignity. Also, beware of laziness and boredom, for they will deprive you of your share in this world and the Hereafter."

وَ رَوَى عَلِيُّ بْنُ اَلْحَكَمِ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنِ اَلصَّادِقِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "اَلدُّنْيَا طَالِبَةٌ وَ مَطْلُوبَةٌ فَمَنْ طَلَبَ اَلدُّنْيَا طَلَبَهُ اَلْمَوْتُ حَتَّى يُخْرِجَهُ مِنْهَا وَ مَنْ طَلَبَ اَلْآخِرَةَ طَلَبَتْهُ اَلدُّنْيَا حَتَّى تُوَفِّيَهُ رِزْقَهُ".

Ali ibn Al-Hakam narrated from Hisham ibn Salim, from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s), who said: "The world is both a seeker and one being sought. Whoever seeks the world, death will pursue him until it removes him from it. And whoever seeks Hereafter, the world will pursue him until it delivers his sustenance to him."