Ṣifāt al-Shīʿa

حَدَّثَنَا اَلْحَسَنُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ رَحِمَهُ اَللَّهُ عَنِ اَلْمُفَضَّلِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ ع إِنَّ اَللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَصْلٍ وَاحِدٍ لاَ يَدْخُلُ فِيهِمْ دَاخِلٌ وَ لاَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمْ خَارِجٌ مَثَلُهُمْ وَ اَللَّهِ مَثَلُ اَلرَّأْسِ فِي اَلْجَسَدِ وَ مَثَلُ اَلْأَصَابِعِ‌ فِي اَلْكَفِّ فَمَنْ رَأَيْتُمْ يُخَالِفُ ذَلِكَ فَاشْهَدُوا عَلَيْهِ بَتَاتاً أَنَّهُ مُنَافِقٌ.

Al-Hasan bin Ahmed, Allah may have mercy upon him, narrated from… al-Mufaddhal that Abu Abdullah (a) said: Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, has created all the believers from the same origin. No one is added to them and no one of them is excluded. By Allah (I swear), they are like a head for a body and fingers for a hand. If you notice anyone unlike this description, you should know that he is hypocrite.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ مَاجِيلَوَيْهِ رَحِمَهُ اَللَّهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ اَلدَّيْلَمِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ اَلشِّتَاءُ رَبِيعُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِ يَطُولُ فِيهِ لَيْلُهُ فَيَسْتَعِينُ بِهِ عَلَى قِيَامِهِ.

Mohammad bin Ali Majilwayh, Allah may have mercy upon him, narrated to us from… Mohammed bin Sulaiman ad-Dailami that Abu Abdullah (a) said: Winter is the believer’s spring. Its long nights help the believer offer his rites of worship.

أَبِي رَحِمَهُ اَللَّهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ هَاشِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ حُمْرَانَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ ع قَالَ : كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ اَلْحُسَيْنِ ع قَاعِداً فِي بَيْتِهِ إِذْ قَرَعَ قَوْمٌ عَلَيْهِمُ اَلْبَابَ فَقَالَ يَا جَارِيَةُ اُنْظُرِي‌ مَنْ بِالْبَابِ فَقَالُوا قَوْمٌ مِنْ شِيعَتِكَ فَوَثَبَ عَجْلاَنَ حَتَّى كَادَ أَنْ يَقَعَ فَلَمَّا فَتَحَ اَلْبَابَ وَ نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ رَجَعَ وَ قَالَ كَذَبُوا فَأَيْنَ اَلسَّمْتُ فِي اَلْوُجُوهِ أَيْنَ أَثَرُ اَلْعِبَادَةِ أَيْنَ سِيمَاءُ اَلسُّجُودِ إِنَّمَا شِيعَتُنَا يُعْرَفُونَ بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ وَ شَعَثِهِمْ قَدْ قَرَحَتِ اَلْعِبَادَةُ مِنْهُمُ اَلْآنَافَ وَ دَثَّرَتِ اَلْجِبَاهَ وَ اَلْمَسَاجِدَ خُمْصُ اَلْبُطُونِ ذُبُلُ اَلشِّفَاهِ قَدْ هَيَّجَتِ اَلْعِبَادَةُ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَ أَخْلَقَ سَهَرُ اَللَّيَالِي وَ قَطْعُ اَلْهَوَاجِرِ جُثَثَهُمْ اَلْمُسَبِّحُونَ إِذَا سَكَتَ اَلنَّاسُ وَ اَلْمُصَلُّونَ إِذَا نَامَ اَلنَّاسُ وَ اَلْمَحْزُونُونَ إِذَا فَرِحَ اَلنَّاسُ يُعْرَفُونَ بِالزُّهْدِ كَلاَمُهُمُ اَلرَّحْمَةُ وَ تَشَاغُلُهُمْ بِالْجَنَّةِ .

My father, Allah may have mercy upon him, narrated to us from Ali bin Ibrahim bin Hashim from his father from Ismaeel bin Mehran from Hamran bin Aayun that Abu Abdullah (a) related: Ali bin al-Hussein (a) was sitting in his house when the door was knocked. He asked one of his bondmaids to open the door. “We are some of your Shia,” they shouted from behind the door. As soon as he heard this statement, the Imam jumped so hurriedly that he was about to fall down. When he opened the door, he took back and said: You are lying. Where are the marks of your faces? Where are the signs of worship? Where are the features of prostration? Our Shia are characterized by their worship and shagginess. Their noses are impaired due to worship, and their foreheads, as well as organs of prostration, are effaced. Their stomachs are atrophied, and their lips are withered. Worship has changed their faces, staying up at nights has fatigued them, and hot weather has affected their bodies. They praise Allah when people are silent, offer prayers when people are asleep, and are sad when people are happy. Their distinctive feature is asceticism. Their wording is mercy and their main concern is Paradise.

وَ بِهَذَا اَلْإِسْنَادِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ ع قَالَ : لَنْ تَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ حَتَّى تَكُونُوا مُؤْتَمَنِينَ وَ حَتَّى تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اَلرَّخَاءِ مُصِيبَةً وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ اَلصَّبْرَ عَلَى اَلْبَلاَءِ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ اَلْعَافِيَةِ عِنْدَ اَلرَّخَاءِ.

(The same previous series of relaters)… from Mohammed bin Ahmed from Zaid that Abu Abdullah (a) said: You will not be considered as believers before you become trustworthy and regard the favor of luxury as misfortune. In fact, to be steadfast against misfortunes is better than to enjoy good health with luxury.

وَ بِهَذَا اَلْإِسْنَادِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ ع قَالَ صِفْ لِيَ اَلْمُؤْمِنَ قَالَ ع قُوَّةٌ فِي دِينٍ وَ حَزْمٌ فِي لِينٍ وَ إِيمَانٌ فِي يَقِينٍ وَ حِرْصٌ فِي فِقْهٍ وَ نَشَاطٌ فِي هُدًى وَ بِرٌّ فِي اِسْتِقَامَةٍ وَ عِلْمٌ فِي حِلْمٍ وَ شُكْرٌ فِي رِفْقٍ وَ سَخَاءٌ فِي حَقٍّ وَ قَصْدٌ فِي غِنًى وَ تَجَمُّلٌ فِي فَاقَةٍ وَ عَفْوٌ فِي قُدْرَةٍ وَ طَاعَةٌ فِي نَصِيحَةٍ وَ وَرَعٌ فِي رَغْبَةٍ وَ حِرْصٌ فِي جِهَادٍ وَ صَلاَةٌ فِي شُغُلٍ وَ صَبْرٌ فِي شِدَّةٍ- وَ فِي اَلْهَزَاهِزِ وَقُورٌ وَ فِي اَلْمَكَارِهِ صَبُورٌ وَ فِي اَلرَّخَاءِ شَكُورٌ وَ لاَ يَغْتَابُ وَ لاَ يَتَكَبَّرُ وَ لاَ يَقْطَعُ اَلرَّحِمَ وَ لَيْسَ بِوَاهِنٍ وَ لاَ فَظٍّ وَ لاَ غَلِيظٍ وَ لاَ يَسْبِقُهُ بَطَرُهُ وَ لاَ تَفْضَحُهُ بَطْنُهُ وَ لاَ يَغْلِبُهُ فَرْجُهُ وَ لاَ يَحْسُدُ اَلنَّاسَ وَ لاَ يَقْتُرُ وَ لاَ يُبَذِّرُ وَ لاَ يُسْرِفُ يَنْصُرُ اَلْمَظْلُومَ وَ يَرْحَمُ اَلْمَسَاكِينَ نَفْسُهُ مِنْهُ فِي عَنَاءٍ وَ اَلنَّاسُ مِنْهُ فِي رَاحَةٍ لاَ يَرْغَبُ فِي اَلدُّنْيَا وَ لاَ يَفْزَعُ مِنْ مَهَائِلِ اَلنَّاسِ لِلنَّاسِ هَمٌّ قَدْ أَقْبَلُوا عَلَيْهِ وَ لَهُ هَمٌّ قَدْ شَغَلَهُ لاَ يُرَى فِي حِلْمِهِ نَقْصٌ وَ لاَ فِي رَأْيِهِ وَهْنٌ وَ لاَ فِي دِينِهِ ضَيَاعٌ يُرْشِدُ مَنِ اِسْتَشَارَهُ وَ يُسَاعِدُ مَنْ سَاعَدَهُ وَ يَكِيعُ عَنِ اَلْبَاطِلِ وَ اَلْخَنَى وَ اَلْجَهْلِ فَهَذِهِ صِفَةُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِ .

(The same previous series of relaters)… from Mohammed bin Ahmed that a man asked Abu Abdullah (a) to describe the believer. He (a) said: The believer enjoys strength with religiousness, determination with lenience, faith with conviction, carefulness with understanding, activity with right guidance, charity with straightforwardness, overlooking with appetite, knowledge with clemency, wit with indulgence, rightful openhandedness, moderation in wealth, temperancein poverty, pardon in ability, obedience with advice, godliness in desires, prudence in jihad, praying in concern, and steadfastness against hardship. In shaking disasters, he is solemn. In misfortunes, he is steadfast. In luxury, he is thankful. He does not backbite anyone, pride himself against anyone, or oppress anyone. He shows tolerance when he is oppressed. He does not rupture his relations with his relatives. He is not weak, rude, or coarse. His sight does not precede him,his stomach does not disgrace him, and his carnal desire does not dominate him. He does not envy others. He does not scant, waste, or exceed the proper limits. He only economizes. He supports the wronged and compassions the poor. His own self is in distress because of him, while the people are in ease from him. He does not desire for the dignity of this world and does not worry about people’s humiliation. People are engaged in their concerns while the believer has his own concern. He does not see any blemish in his clemency, any weakness in his opinion, or any waste in his religion.He guides him whoever seeks his consultation, helps him who helped him, and refrains from the wrong, the obscene language, and ignorance. These are the moralities of the believer.

وَ بِهَذَا اَلْإِسْنَادِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ أَبِي اَلْعَلاَءِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ ع قَالَ : إِنَّ اَلْمُؤْمِنَ مَنْ يَخَافُهُ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ عَزِيزٌ فِي دِينِ اَللَّهِ وَ لاَ يَخَافُ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ وَ هُوَ عَلاَمَةُ كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ.

(The same previous series of relaters)… from Mohammed bin Ahmed from Abu al-Alaa that Abu Abdullah (a) said: The true believer is feared by everything, for he is powerful in the religion of Allah and he does not fear anything. This is the distinctive feature of the believers.

وَ بِهَذَا اَلْإِسْنَادِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ اَلْجَمَّالِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ ع قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّ اَلْمُؤْمِنَ يَخْشَعُ لَهُ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ ع إِذَا كَانَ مُخْلِصاً قَلْبَهُ لِلَّهِ أَخَافَ اَللَّهُ مِنْهُ كُلَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ حَتَّى هَوَامَّ اَلْأَرْضِ وَ سِبَاعَهَا وَ طَيْرَ اَلسَّمَاءِ.

(The same previous series of relaters)… from Mohammed bin Ahmed from … Safwan al-Jammal that he heard Abu Abdullah (a) saying: Everything is submissive to the believer. He (a) then added: Allah will cause everything, including vermin, beasts, and birds, to fear the believer if he is sincere to Allah.

أَبِي رَحِمَهُ اَللَّهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَنِ اَلْحَارِثِيِّ عَنْ زِيَادٍ اَلْقَنْدِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ ع قَالَ : كَفَى اَلْمُؤْمِنَ مِنَ اَللَّهِ نُصْرَةً أَنْ يَرَى عَدُوَّهُ يَعْمَلُ بِمَعَاصِي اَللَّهِ.

My father, Allah may have mercy upon him, narrated to us from Sa’d bin Abdullah from … al-Harithi from Ziyad al-Qandi that Abu Abdullah (a) said: To see the enemy plunge in the acts of disobedience to Allah is a sufficient victory that Allah bestows upon the servant.

أَبِي رَحِمَهُ اَللَّهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَنِ اَلْحَارِثِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ ع قَالَ : لاَ يُؤْمِنُ رَجُلٌ فِيهِ اَلشُّحُّ وَ اَلْحَسَدُ وَ اَلْجُبْنُ وَ لاَ يَكُونُ اَلْمُؤْمِنُ جَبَاناً وَ لاَ شَحِيحاً وَ لاَ حَرِيصاً.

My father, Allah may have mercy upon him, narrated to us from Sa’d bin Abdullah from … al-Harithi that Abu Abdullah (a) said: Anyone who enjoys stinginess, envy, and cowardice cannot be believer. The believer is never coward, stingy, or acquisitive.

أَبِي رَحِمَهُ اَللَّهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى اَلْعَطَّارِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ اَلْحَارِثِ بْنِ اَلدِّلْهَاثِ مَوْلَى اَلرِّضَا ع قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا اَلْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ لاَ يَكُونُ اَلْمُؤْمِنُ مُؤْمِناً حَتَّى تَكُونَ فِيهِ ثَلاَثُ خِصَالٍ سُنَّةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَ سُنَّةٌ مِنْ‌ نَبِيِّهِ وَ سُنَّةٌ مِنْ وَلِيِّهِ فَالسُّنَّةُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ كِتْمَانُ سِرِّهِ قَالَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- عََالِمُ اَلْغَيْبِ فَلاََ يُظْهِرُ عَلى‌ََ غَيْبِهِ أَحَداً `إِلاََّ مَنِ اِرْتَضى‌ََ مِنْ رَسُولٍ وَ أَمَّا اَلسُّنَّةُ مِنْ نَبِيِّهِ فَمُدَارَاةُ اَلنَّاسِ فَإِنَّ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَمَرَ نَبِيَّهُ بِمُدَارَاةِ اَلنَّاسِ فَقَالَ‌ خُذِ اَلْعَفْوَ وَ أْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَ أَعْرِضْ عَنِ اَلْجََاهِلِينَ وَ أَمَّا اَلسُّنَّةُ مِنْ وَلِيِّهِ فَالصَّبْرُ عَلَى اَلْبَأْسَاءِ وَ اَلضَّرَّاءِ فَإِنَّ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ اَلصََّابِرِينَ فِي اَلْبَأْسََاءِ وَ اَلضَّرََّاءِ

My father, Allah may have mercy upon him, narrated to us from Ahmed bin Idris from Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Yahya bin Imran al-Ash’ari from Sahl bin Ziyad from al-Harith bin ad-Delhath (the servant of Imam ar-Ridha) that Abu al-Hasan (a) said: A servant will not be a faithful believer before he learns three characters: one from the Lord, one from His Messenger, and one from the Imam. The character that he should learn from Allah is the concealment of secrets. Allah the Glorified says: He knows the unseen and He does not allow anyone to know His secrets… ( : ) The character that he should learn from the Prophet (s) is that he should treat people courteously. Allah says: Take the surplus, preach the truth, and keep away from the ignorant ones. ( : ) The character that he should learn from the Imam (a) is to be steadfast against situations of misfortune and crises. Allah says: … and those whoexercise patience in poverty and in distress. ( : )