Der'ar, Murah, Harb, Zalim
The worst names are: Dera`r, Murah, Harb, and Zalim.
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The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, ordered the Moslems to call their children with blessed names and prevented them from calling them with evil names.
43. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "The servant will be asked about four (things) on the Day of Judgment before his legs disappear: in what he used up his age, in what he wore out his youth, from where he earned his money and in what he spent it, and our love, we, the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt).
2
Indeed Allah, the Exalted, will ask man on the Day of Judgment about all the affairs of his life in this world. He will ask him about whether he had used up his age in the obedience and pleasure of Allah to reward him or he had used it up in committing sins and oppressing the creatures to punish him. He will especially ask him about in what he had worn out his youth. He will ask him about whether he had lawfully earned his money to reward him or he had unlawfully earned it to punish him. He will also ask him about his love for
the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, for they are the source of light and good in the earth. If he (man) loves them, he will be successful; otherwise he will be unsuccessful.
44. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers, who said that the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, addressed the people on the last Friday of the month of Sha'ban. He thanked Allah, praised Him, and then said:
O People, indeed, a month will shade you. In it there is a night (that) is better than a thousand months. It is the month of Ramada`n.
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1. Ibid, p. 228.
2. Ibid, p. 231.
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Allah has imposed the fasting in it (on you). He has made performing a prayer willingly in a night of it as performing prayers willingly in seventy nights in months other than it. He has made (the reward) of him who does willingly good and kindness as the reward of him who carries out a commandment of the Commandments of Allah. Whoever carries out a commandment of the Commandments of Allah is like him who carries out seventy commandments in (months) other than it. It is the month of patience. The reward of patience is the garden. It is the month of help. It is the month in which Allah increases the livelihood of the believer. Whoever breaks the believer's fast, with that, has with Allah, the Great and Almighty, releasing a slave and forgiving his past sins.
It was said to him: O Apostle of Allah, not all of us are able to break the believer's fast. He said: Indeed Allah, the Blessed, is generous. He gives this reward to those of you who have nothing to break someone's fast except milk mixed with water or a drink of fresh water or few dates. Whoever helps his slave in it, Allah will commute his punishment. It is the month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and whose end is answer and releasing from fire. In it you are in need of four qualities: Two qualities through which you please Allah. Two qualities are necessary for you. As for the two (qualities) through which you please Allah, they are: Testify that there is no god but Allah, and that I am the Apostle of Allah. As for the two (qualities) that are necessary for you, they are: In it ask Allah for your needs and Paradise. In it ask Allah for good health and seek refuge with Him from the Fire.
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Surely, the month of Ramada`n has holiness and sacredness with Allah. Thus, Allah has preferred it to the other months. In it the Apostle summoned the people to obey (Allah) and to do good and kindness to the poor. He distinguished it very much from the other months.
45. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said to 'Ali in his testamentary bequest: "O
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1. Ibid, p. 236.
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'Ali, four (things) are in vain: eating after fullness, the lamp in the moon, planting in the salt ground, and doing a favor for the people who are not worthy of it.
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46. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "I summon (my community to follow) five (practices) till death: I will eat with the slaves at the foot (of the mountain). I will ride the donkey with saddle. I will milk the she-goat with my hand. I will greet the boys so as to be a practice (sunna) after me.
2
These affairs were among the high morals through which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, became the Lord of all the prophets and made the people believe in Islam.
47. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "Whoever sells and buys should refrain from five qualities; other wise he should refrain from selling and buying: usury, swearing (by Allah), concealing the defect, praising when he sells, dispraising when he buys.
3
In the light of this tradition, the jurists have given religious opinions in the Chapter on Sale as follows:
1. The seller and the buyer should understand the affairs of dealings to avoid the usurious dealings that are among the great prohibitions in Islam.
2. They should avoid swearing (by Allah) during the dealing. If they are truthful, it is hateful for them to do that. If they are liars, they commit a sin and a prohibition.
3. They should not conceal the defect whether in the cost or in the goods. When concealment occurs and then it is discovered, the deceived one has the right to repudiate the dealing.
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1. Ibid, p. 240.
2. Ibid, p. 247.
3. Ibid, p. 260.
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4. The seller should avoid praising his commodity.
5. The buyer should avoid dispraising what he has bought when it is sound.
48. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers, who said that a man came to the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, and asked him:
- O Apostle of Allah, what is knowledge?
- Listening.
- Then what?
- Listening to it.
- Then what?
- Memorizing it.
- Then what?
- Putting it into practice.
- Then what?
- Proclaiming it.
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49. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said to his Companions: "Feel shame before Allah very much. They said: What shall we do? He said: If you want to do (that), then no one of you should spend the
night but he is in fear of Him. He should keep the head and what it has contained and the abdomen and what it has included. He should recall the grave and death. Whoever likes the hereafter should leave the embellishment of the world.
2
Indeed man can accomplish shame through fearing his Lord, holding back his tongue from telling lies, preventing his eyes from looking at the unlawful, and recalling the grave and the fright therein. When man does that, he feels shame before Allah.
50. He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah
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1. Ibid, p. 262.
2. Ibid, p. 267.
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bless him and his family, was asked about the best servants. So, he said: "When they do good, they are cheerful (about it). When they misbehave, they ask Allah's forgiveness. When they are given, they thank. When they are tested, they are patient. When they are angered, they forgive.
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51. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers, who said that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, said to 'Ali in his commandment:
O 'Ali, there are six qualities in fornication: three of them are in the world, and the others are in the hereafter. As for those in the world, they take away glory, hasten ruin, and stop livelihood. As for those in the hereafter, (they will lead to) evil reckoning, the wrath of the Merciful (Allah), and immortality in the Fire.
2
Indeed fornication is a social catastrophe that destroy morals. Thus, Islam has intensely forbidden it and threatened those who commit it with various kinds of torment in the hereafter.
52. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "Monopoly is in six things: Wheat, barley, dates, raisins, (cooking) fat, and (animal) oil.
3
Monopoly is among the factors that paralyze the economic movement in the country and spread poverty and need among the people. Islam has severely forbidden monopoly, and ordered the rulers of the Moslems to price commodities so as not to harm the people.
53. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "Ill-gotten property is the price of the dead animal, of the dog, and of wine. (It is) the prostitution rate, the bribery in government,
and the wage of the magician.
4
Islam has forbidden spending money on these affairs, for they
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1. Ibid, p. 308.
2. Ibid, 310.
3. Ibid, p. 311.
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ruin morals and spread corruption in the earth.
54. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfather on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "Allah and every prophet with accepted (prayers) have cursed six (persons): the one who increases the Book of Allah, the one who accuses the determination of Allah of lying, the one who leaves my practices (sunna), the one who regards as lawful what Allah has prohibited concerning the members of my House (ahl al-Bayt), the one who dominates through tyranny to degrade those whom Allah has consolidated, to strengthen him whom Allah has lowered, and to possess alone the booty the Moslems gain without fighting and regards it as lawful.
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55. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said to 'Ali: "O 'Ali, seven things of the sheep are prohibited: blood, the penis, the bladder, the spinal cord, the glands, the spleen, and the gall bladder.
Islam has forbidden these parts to preserve public health and to guard society against diseases. Modern medicine has proved that they harm public health. Thus, it advises people to refrain from eating them.
56. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said to 'Ali: "O 'Ali, indeed, Allah has given me seven qualities concerning you: You and I are the first to whom the grave will split open. You will be the first to stop with me on the path. You will be the first to be clothed when I will be clothed and to live when I will live. You will be the first to dwell with me in the highest gardens. You will be the first to drink with me from the pure drink that is sealed (to others), whose sealing is musk.
3
57. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his
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1. Ibid, p. 308.
2. Ibid, 310.
3. Ibid, p. 311.
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grandfathers on the authority of the Apostles of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "Allah, the Great and Almighty, is not worshipped with a thing better than reason. The believer is not wise till ten qualities come together in him: good from him is hoped, evil from him is safe, regards little good from other than him as much, regards his own good as little, is not tired of seeking knowledge throughout his life, is not fed up with those who request needs from, humbleness is more lovable for him than high rank, poverty is more lovable for him than riches, his portion of the world is food, the tenth (quality), what is the tenth (quality)? When he sees someone, he says: he is better and more pious than me. People are two men- one man is better and more pious than him, the other is more evil and lower than him. So, if he sees the one who is better and more pious than him, he should behave humbly towards him to follow him. If he sees the one who is more evil and lower than him, he should say: perhaps the good of this (person) is hidden, and his evil hidden. May (Allah) make his final result good. If he does that, his glory becomes high and he is the lord of the people of his time.
1
This traditions, like the other Prophetic traditions, urges (people) to reform their souls and to educate them with good manners and deeds to be the source of guidance for people.
58. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "Ten (persons) are cursed because of wine: the one who plants it, the one who guards it, the one who presses it, the one who gives it, the one who drinks it, the one who carries it, the one to whom it is carried, the one who sells it, the one who buys it, and the one who takes its price.
2
Islam has strictly prohibited all the above-mentioned cases of wine. That is because wine is among the social catastrophes that harm public health and corrupt values and morals.
59. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his
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1. Ibid, p. 403.
2. Ibid, p. 414.
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grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "Blessing is ten parts: ten parts are in trade and one part is in the skins (i. e. sheep).
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60. He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "Islam has been built on ten parts: Testifying that there is no god but Allah- it is the religion, the prayer- it is the religious duty, fasting - it is the garden, zakat (alms)- it is purity, the hajj- it is the Islamic law, jihad (armed struggle) - it is invasion, enjoining (people) to do good deeds - it is the fulfillment, forbidding (them) from doing bad deeds - it is the proof, unity - it is familiarity, and
infallibility - it is obedience.
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61. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "When you ask Allah, then you ask Him with the palm of the hand. When you ask him for protection, then do not ask him with the outside of the hand.
62. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "If my community does fifteen qualities, the tribulation will afflict it: if they steal properties successively, regard the deposit of booty and zakat (alms) as loss, the men obey their wives and disobey theirs mothers, treats his friend with kindness and turns away from his brother, the voices become loud in the mosques, a man is honored out of fear of his evil, the leader of the people is the lowest of them, silk is worn, wine is drunk, female singers and stringed instruments are adopted, and the last (generation) of this community curses the earlier (generation) of it, after that, they must look forward to three qualities: red wind, transformation, and humiliation.
4
The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, warned (his
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1. Ibid, p. 415.
2. Ibid, p. 416.
3. Al-Bayan wa al-Tabyyin, vol. 2, p. 263.
4. Ibid, p. 262.
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community) of these affairs, for they ruin nations and peoples. If the Islamic community commits them, then Allah will punish it.
63. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "Whoever spends the night tired from earning the lawful spends the night forgiven.
1
Islam has also urged the community to earn its livelihood lawfully. It has regarded such a kind of livelihood as jihad and honor for its owner. Whoever strives to earn (the livelihood) of his family spends the night forgiven.
64. He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, was asked about the best creatures. So, he, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "When they do good, they are cheerful. When they are given, they are grateful. When they are tested, they are patient. When they are angered, they forgive.
2
Whoever has these qualities is the best of all the people and the most honorable than them. In other words he possesses the rein of his soul and his reason controls his desire.
65. He, peace be on him said, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "You are unable to encompass the people with your money, so encompass them with your ethics.
3
How high this wisdom is! It makes people love each other and unifies their feelings and sentiments. The power of money is unable to achieve that. However, morals are the strongest factor in building society on sound bases.
66. He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, passed by a group of people raising stones, so he said: "What is this?" "With that we know the strongest of us,"they said. Shall I tell you about the strongest of you?"asked the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family. "Yes,"they said. He, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "The strongest of you is he
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1. Al-Sadiq, p. 257.
2. Ibid, p. 9.
3. Ibid, p. 11.
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whose content enters him in neither sin nor falsehood when he is pleased, he whose discontent does not prevent him from saying the truth when he is displeased, who he does not take other than his right when he is powerful.
1
Islam takes care of only the strength of conscience towards the truth. As for the boast of the muscles is among the customs of the pre-Islamic times. However, Islam has forbidden them.
67. He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "Sitting with the people of religion is the honor of here and the hereafter.
2
Sociology has proven that man has an effect on the environment. Meanwhile the environment has an effect on him. Thus, it is natural that the righteous have an effect on those who makes friends with them.
They protect them from practicing evil habits and make them love doing good. So, with that, they obtain the honor of here and hereafter.
68. He, peace be on him, said: [The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said:] "Indeed this religion is strong. So, go deeply into it gradually. Do not make the servants of Allah hate worshipping Allah.
3
69. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "Whoever wants to seek access through me (to Allah) and that there will be a hand for him, through which I intercede for him (with Allah) on the Day of Judgment, then he should keep in contact with the members of my family and make them happy.
4
70. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said to 'Ali: "O 'Ali, I am the city of
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1. Ibid, p. 18.
2. Ibid, p. 54.
3. Usul al-Kafi.
4. Wasilat al=Mal fi'Ad Manaqib al-Al, p. 61.
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knowledge and you are the gate. He who claims that he can reach the city not through the gate tells lies.
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71. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of Umm Salama on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "The hajj is the jihad of every weak (person).
2
72. He, peace be on him, said: [The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said:] "Whomever Allah moves from the abasement of sins to the glory of (religious) devotion, then He (Allah) makes him rich without money, strong without a tribe, and entertains him without a close friend. Whoever fears Allah, Allah makes everything afraid of him. Whoever does not fear Allah, Allah makes him afraid of everything. Whoever is satisfied with the little livelihood of the property of Allah, He (Allah) is satisfied with his little deed.
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73. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "Indeed I and twelve members from my family, of whom 'Ali is the first, are the stakes through which Allah prevents the earth and its people from sinking. If the twelve members from my family depart, the earth and its people will sink.
74. He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "Twelve chiefs are from my family. They narrate traditions. Among them will be the one who will undertake (bring about) the truth (al-Qa`'m bi al-Haqq).
5
With this we end our talk about the traditions Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfather, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family.
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1. Ibn al-Maghazili, al-Manaqib, p. 85.
2. Siyar A'lam al-Nubala', vol. 4, p. 242.
3. Al-Sirat al-Sawi, p.
4. Al-Karak\jiki, al-Istinsar, 'ala al-A'imma al-Athar, p. 8.
5. Ibid.
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His Traditions on the Authority of the Ima`m, the Commander of the Faithful
On the authority of his grandfathers, Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, reported a group of the maxims of his grandfather, Ima`m ('Ali), the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him. The following are some of them:
1. He, peace be on him, said: A man from the people of Basrah rose and said to Ima`m ('Ali), the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him:
"O Commander of the Faithful, tell us about the brothers (i. e. friends).
The Ima`m, peace be on him, answered him: "The brothers are of two kinds: the reliable brothers and the laughing brothers. As for the reliable brothers, they are the hand, the wing, the family, and the property. If you have a reliable brother, then sacrifice for him your property and your body, be sincere to those who are sincere to him, make an enemy of those who make an enemy of him, conceal his secret and defect, and show his good (deeds). O Questioner, know that they are less than red sulfur. As for laughing brothers, you obtain your pleasure from them. Do not stop that from them. Do not request what is beyond that from the most lowly of them. Give them what they give you such as cheerfulness and sweet words.
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As for the laughing brothers at this time, they are the overwhelming majority. Ambitions, interests, and desires move them. As for the aspects of their friendship, they are cheerfulness and smooth words, as Ima`m 'Ali said.
2. He, peace be on him, said: The Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, said: "The temptations are three (kinds): the love of women- it is the sword of the Satan, drinking wine- it is the brain of the Satan, the love of the dirham and the dinar- it is the arrow of the Satan. Whoever loves women does not make use of his livelihood. Whoever likes drinking (wine) is deprived of Paradise. However loves
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1. Al-Khisal, p. 49.
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the dirham and the dinar is the slave of the dinar. He, peace be on him, added: Jesus, son of Marry, said: The ailment of religion is in the dinar. The (religious) scholar is the doctor of religion. When you see the doctor perform the ailment against himself, then accuse him. Know that he is not loyal to other than him.
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3. He, peace be on him, in 'Ali's letter there are three qualities: Their owner will never die till he sees their evil results: oppression, estranging blood relatives, and false oath through which (the person) fights with Allah. Linking blood relatives is the quickest obedience in reward. Perhaps the people are sinners. However, they link each other. Thus, their properties grow. They treat each other with kindness. So, their lives increase. False oath and estranging blood relatives make houses empty of their people. They disturb blood relatives. Disturbing blood relatives stops birth.
2
This paragraph of the letter of Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, is full of commandments on kindness, religious devotion, and what does general good for man in this life.
4. He, peace be on him, said: The Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, said: "Religion depends on four (persons): The scholar who proclaims and uses it. The rich one who does not refrain from granting his favor to the people of the religion of Allah. The poor one who does not sell his life in the
hereafter for his life in this world. The ignorant one who does not abstain from seeking knowledge. If the scholar conceals his knowledge, the rich one refrains from granting his money, the poor one sells his life in the hereafter for his life in this world, and the ignorant one abstains from seeking knowledge, then the world moves backward. So, many mosques and the different bodies of a certain group of people should not tempt you. It was said: How will (we) live at that time? He, peace be on him said: Associate with them apparently and oppose them internally. The person will have what he earns. He will be with those
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1. Ibid, p. 109.
2. Ibid, p. 119.
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whom he loves. Nevertheless, wait for the ease from Allah, the Great and Almighty.
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Indeed such kinds of people are able to reform the world when they shoulder their responsibilities and carry out their religious duties. However, if they deviate from that, life will move backward and all the high values in it decline.
5. He, peace be on him, said: The Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, was questioned: "How much is between truth and falsehood."He, peace be on him, replied: "Four fingers."He put his hand on his eyes and ears, and then he said: "What your eyes see is true. Most of what your ears hear is false.
2
6. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, who said: "The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, mentioned ten qualities concerning me. Each is more lovable for me than what the sun rises over. He said to me: You are my brother here and in the hereafter. You are the closest of all the creatures to me in the standing. You are my helper and successor and inheritor about my family and property. You are the carrier of my standard here and in the hereafter. Your friend is mine. My friend is Allah's. Your enemy is mine. My enemy is Allah's."
3 Allah, singled out Ima`m ('Ali), the Commander of the Faithful, peace be
on him, with many outstanding merits. He granted him many favors. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, mentioned some of them in this tradition.
7. He, peace be on him, said: [The Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, said:] "The pious have signs. They are known with them: truthful talk, paying the deposit, fulfilling the promise, little pride, miserliness, consideration for blood relatives, having pity on the weak, little sleeping with women, doing favors, good manners, vast clemency, adopting knowledge that bring (them) closer to Allah,
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1. Ibid, p. 180.
2. Ibid, p. 215.
3. Ibid, p. 398.
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the Great and Almighty. 'A good final state and a goodly return shall be theirs"
1
8. He, peace be on him said: [The Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him said:] "Indeed ambitions control the hearts of the ignorant. Desires take them as security. Tricks cling to them.
2
This tradition pictures the condition of the ignorant. It includes their qualities of which are: ambitions control their feelings and sentiments. Desires take their hearts as security. Tricks convince them easily, for they have little experience and knowledge.
9. He, peace be on him, said: [The Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him said:] "All good has been gathered in three qualities: thinking, silence, and speech. So, every thinking that has no viewpoint is inattention. Every silence that has no idea is heedlessness. Every speech that has no praise (of Allah) is nonsense. Therefore, a good final state shall be for him whose thinking is a viewpoint, silence is an idea, and speech is praise (of Allah), who weeps over his sin, of whose evil people are safe.
3
These are the qualities of those who know their Lord and turn to Him in repentance. They are appropriate for the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, and those who follow them.
10. He, peace be on him, said: The Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, said: "We, the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), are the tree of the Prophet, staying place of (Divine) Message, descending place of angels, sources of knowledge.
4
11. He, peace be on him, said: [The Commander, peace be on him, said:] "The one who acts with oppression, the one who supports him, and the one who is satisfied with him are three partners.
5
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1. Ibid,p. 454.
2. Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 23.
3. Al-Khisal, p. 95.
4. Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 220.
5. Al-Khisal, p. 103.
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His Narration from his Grandfather al-Husayn
He (Ima`m al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, reported on the authority of his father on the authority of his grandfather Ima`m Husayn, peace be on him, who said: [I heard my grandfather Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, say:]
"Act according to Allah's obligations to be the most pious of all people. Be satisfied with Allah's apportionment to be the richest of all people. Refrain from what Allah has forbidden to be a believer. Be a good friend of him who makes friends with you to be a Moslem.
1
His Narration from his Father
He reported on the authority of his father 'Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on him, who said: "He whose eyes shed tears for the murder of al-Husayn, Allah will settle him at the highest place in the garden. The believer whose eyes are filled with tears for the persecution our enemy practiced against us, Allah will settle him in the seat of honor. The believer who suffers from persecution for us and then his eyes shed tears for us, Allah will not punish him on the Day of Judgment and make will him safe from the wrath of the Fire.
2
His Narration from Ja`bir al-Ansa`ri
He, peace be on him, reported a group of traditions and events on the authority of Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah. Among them are:
1. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of Ja`bir, who said: "Indeed, when Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, stopped at al-Safa (a hill in Mecca near the Kaaba), he exclaimed three times:'Allah is Great’, and then he said: 'There is no god but Allah. He is One. There is no partner with Him. Supreme power and praise belong to Him. He has power over all things.’ He (the Prophet) did that three time. He did the like of that at al-Marwah
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1. Al-Saduq, al-Amali, p. 178.
2. Kamil al-Ziyarat.
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(a hill near the Kaaba).
1
2. He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of Ja`bir, who said: "Indeed, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, wore a ring on his right finger.
2
3. He, peace be on him, asked Ja`bir about what had happened between 'Ali and 'A'isha. So, Ja`bir said: "One day I went to 'A'isha and asked her about her opinion concerning 'Ali. She bowed her head. Then she raised it and composed:
When gold is rubbed against a touchstone
its adulteration appears without doubt.
Corruption is in us, and 'Ali, the purified gold,
is like the touchstone among us.
His Narration from 'Umar
He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of 'Umar b. al-Khatta`b, who said: [I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, say:] "Every means and lineage will break on the Day of Judgment except my means and lineage.
His Narration from b. 'Abba`s
He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of 'Abd Allah b. 'Abba`s, who said: ['Ali looked at the faces of the people, and then he said:] "Indeed I am the brother of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, and his helper. You know that I was the first to believe in Allah and his Apostle. Then you entered Islam one by one after me. I am the cousin of Allah's Apostle may Allah bless him and his family, his brother, and his partner in his lineage. (I am) the father of his (grand)sons, and his son-in-law (being married to his) daughter, the mistress of his children and of the women of the garden. You know that when we went out with Allah's Apostle and came back, he
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1. Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 51, pp, 37-38.
2. 'Illal al-Sharai', p. 158.
3. Al-Sirat al-Sawi, p. 119.
4. Ibn Sa'd al-Tabaqat, vol. 8, p. 463.
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loved and trusted me more than you. I was the most intense of you in defeating the enemy and affecting the equipment. You know when he sent me to Bara`'a. He made the Moslems associate with each other as brothers. He chose nobody other than me. Then he said to me: 'You are my brother and I am your brother in this life and the hereafter.’ He took the people out of the mosque and left me. Then he said to me: 'Your position to me is as Aaron with Moses, except that there will be no prophet after me.’
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His Narration from Zayd b. Arqam
He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of Zayd b. Arqam, who said: [We were sitting before the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family. He, peace be on him, said:] "Shall I show you him whom if you ask for advice you will not go astray nor will you perish?" "Yes, O Allah's Apostle,"they said. He said: "This." He pointed to 'Ali b. Abi Ta`lib. Then he said: "Associate with him as brothers, help him, believe him, and be loyal to him. Indeed Gabriel has told me about what I have said to you.
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His Narration From Abi Dharr
He, peace be on him, reported a group of sayings of the great reformer, Companion (of the Prophet), Abi Dharr. Among them are the following:
O you who seek knowledge, do not let your family and your money divert you from your soul. On the day when you leave them, you will be like the guest. (You will) spend the night among them, then you will leave them to other than them. Here and hereafter are like the house from which you move to other than it. There is nothing between death and raising from the dead except a short sleep, then you will wake up. O You who seek knowledge, indeed, the heart without knowledge is like the ruined house.
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1. Al-Khawarizmi, al-Manaqib, p. 226.
2. Al-Maghazili, p. 245.
3. Nasikh al-Tawarikh, vol. 2, p. 204.
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These are some of the traditions which have been reported on his authority. They concern the rules of conduct, morals, and the outstanding merits of the pure family that is equal to the Holy Book.
The Exegesis of the Holy Koran
Among the sciences which Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, presented during his lectures was the exegesis of the Holy Koran. Indeed he devoted a time of his times to it. He discussed all of its
affairs. The scholars of exegesis, though they had different opinions and trends, studied under him. Thus, he was the most brilliant explainer in Islam. Among his studies on the Koran are the following:
The Virtue of Reciting the Koran
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, urged (the community) to recite the Holy Book, for it is the abundant source that guides people to righteousness, enlivens their hearts, and supplies them with
abilities of light and awareness. He, peace be on him, reported what his grandfather Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said concerning the virtue of reciting the Koran. He, peace be on him, said: [Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said:] "Whoever recites ten verses on a night is not written among the heedless. Whoever recites fifty verses is written among those who praise (Allah). Whoever recites a hundred verses is written among the obedient. Whoever recites two hundred verses is written among the humble. Whoever recites three hundred verses is written among the successful. Whoever recites five hundred verses is written among the strivers. Whoever recites a thousand verses, a hundredweight of gold is written for him.
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Traditions similar to this have been reported on the authority of the Ima`ms of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. They urge Moslems to recite the Koran and to consider carefully its verses and to understand their secrets. Without doubt the verses of the Koran develop intellect,
educate souls, protect them
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1. Al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an, p. 25.
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from deviation, and guide them to the right path.
Repetition of Reciting the Koran
As for repeating and reciting the Koran with a good voice, it penetrates the depth of the heart and inner self. It reacts with sentiments, for the Koran has maxims and sciences necessary for life.
The Ima`ms of the members of the House (ahl al Bayt), peace be on them, took care of reciting the Holy Koran.
Thus, Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, was the best of all the people in reciting the Koran with a good voice.
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Abu` Basir reported: I said to Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir): "When I recite the Koran loudly, Satan comes to me and says: with this (recitation) you want to please your family and the people."Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, said: "Recite the Koran in an intermediate recitation. Let your family listen (to that). Read the Koran with a good voice. Indeed Allah likes reciting the Koran with a good voice.
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