Vanity
The Ima`m, peace be on him, said: "I wonder at the one who is vain and boastful. He was
created from a sperm. Then he becomes carrion. Between this and that, he does not know what will be done for him.
Al-Ba`qir's Supplications
There is wonderful heritage in the supplications of the Ima`ms of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. There are treasures of valuable maxims and morals in them. These supplications represent the absolute inclination of the Ima`ms, peace be on them, to Allah. They represent their relation with Him and their devotion to him. They also represent the spiritual qualities which the Ima`ms had such as asceticism, pity, and cleaving to religion. Moreover, they are rich in ethics, philosophy, and theology. Many
supplications were reported on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. The following are some of them:
1. Abu` Hamza al-Thuma`li reported this supplication on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. He called it al-Ja`mi' (the conclusive). This supplication is as follows: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. I bear witness that there is no god apart from Allah, who is unique and without partners. I also bear witness that Mohammed is His servant and His Apostle. I have believed in Allah, all His Apostles, and all what Allah revealed to His Apostles. Allah's promise is true. Meeting Him
is true. Allah is truthful. The Apostles conveyed (their messages). Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Glory belongs to Allah
____________
1. Ibid.
2. Ibid.
( 287 )
whenever a thing glorifies Allah, and as He wants (His creatures) to glorify Him. Praise belongs to Allah whenever a thing praises Allah, as He wants (His creatures) to praise Him. There is no god but Allah whenever a thing says: there is no god but Allah, as He wants (His creatures) to say: there is no god but Allah. Allah is Great whenever a thing says: Allah is Great, and as He wants (His creatures) to say: Allah is Great.
O Allah, I ask You (to give me) the keys of good, its ends, its laws, its precedents, its advantages, its blessings, what its knowledge has exceeded me, and what my memorization falls short of counting it. O Allah make clear for me the means of its knowledge. Open for me its doors. Bestow upon me the blessings of Your mercy. Grant me protection from the Cursed Satan, for he wants to deviate me from Your religion. Purify my heart from doubts. Do not busy my heart with my world. (Do not) distract (my heart) from the later reward of the hereafter through my sooner livelihood. Make my heart busy with memorizing the thing whose ignorance You do not accept from me. Make my tongue obedient to all good. Purify my heart from hypocrisy. Do not make it flow in my
joints. Make my deeds sincere to you.
"O Allah, I seek refuge with You from evil, all outward and inward ill-deeds, their heedlessness, and all what the stubborn ruler desires for me. You know that and you are able to keep it away from me.
"O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the misfortunes of the jinn and men. (I seek refuge with You) from their storms, their followers, their calamities, their tricks, seeing the sinners from among the jinn and men, and deviating from my religion so my life in the hereafter is corrupt. That will be a damage from them against me in my daily bread. Or intentional tribulation from them hits me. Thus, I have no ability for the tribulation nor have I patience to bear it. So, My Lord, do not test me with its sufferings. For that will prevent me from praising You and divert me from worshipping You. You are the Preserver, the Protector, the repeller, and the Guarder from that all.
O Allah, I ask You (to grant me) ease in my livelihood as long as You keep me alive in a livelihood through which I can obey You,
( 288 )
through which I can reach Your pleasure, and through which I will get to the everlasting life tomorrow. Do not provide me with the means of subsistence that makes me oppressive nor do You test me with poverty through which I become miserable to press me. Give me an abundant share in my life in the hereafter, and ample easy daily-bread in my life in this world. Do not make the world a prison against me. Do not make me sad when I leave it. Take me out of its temptations and be pleased with me. Make my deeds acceptable and my efforts laudable in it.
"O Allah, whoever desires evil for me-desire (it) for him! And whoever deceives me-deceive him. Turn away from me the worries of those who drive their worries in me. Plan against those who plan against me. Indeed, You are the best of planners. Tear out for me the eyes of the unbelievers, the oppressors, and the envious tyrants.
"O Allah, send down to me from you tranquillity and sobriety. Clothe me Your well-fortified shield. Protect me with Your preventive shelter. Make me (live) through Your useful health. Accept as true my words and deeds. Bless for me my children, my family, my property. Forgive me what I have brought forward, what I have delayed, what I have neglected, what I have (done) intentionally, what I have (done) slowly, and what I have concealed, through Your mercy, O Most Merciful of all the merciful.
This supplication denotes the intense devotion of the Ima`m to Allah. He relied on Him in all his affairs. He sought refuge in Him from the temptations and deception of the world. For he was afraid that the world would prevent him from remembering Allah, the Most High.
2. Al-Rabi' reported on the authority of 'Abd Allah b. 'Abd al-Rahma`n, on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, who said: "Shall I teach you a supplication? We, the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), recite the supplication when a certain affair grieves us, and when we are afraid of the evil of Satan.
Yes, may my father and mother be ransom for you," replied
____________
1. Muhajj al-Da'awat, pp. 213-215
(289)
Abd Allah.
"Say: O You Who were before all things! O You Who created all things! O You Who will remain after all things! Bless Mohammed and his Household. Then mention your need....
1
Other traditions were reported on the authority of the Ima`m. They show his high soul, and his strong relationship with his Creator.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir urged Moslems to Supplication.
The Ima`m, peace be on him, urged Moslems to supplicate to Allah. He, peace be on him, said: "Surely, Allah hates that people insist on each other for their request. However, He, Exalted be His name, loves that for Himself. He wants them to ask Him for what He has (with insistence).
2
Wonderful Maxims
Short wonderful maxims were reported on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. They are full of noble morals and are useful. The following maxims are some of them.
1. He, peace be on him, said: "If you can deal with anyone and do him a favor, do that."
2. He, peace be on him, said: "Flatter the hypocrite with your tongue. Make your love sincere to the believer. When a Jew associates with you, associate well with him.
3. He, peace be on him, said: "Nothing is mixed with a thing better than (mixing) clemency with knowledge.
4. He, peace be on him, said: "Assume the truth. Leave that which does not concern you. Avoid your enemy. Be careful of your friends except the trusty one who fears Allah. Do not make friends with the sinner. Do not inform him of your secrets. Ask the advice of those who fear Allah.
5. He, peace be on him, said: "The friendship of twenty years is
____________
1. Ibid, p. 215.
2. Tuhaf al-'Uqul.
( 290 )
kinship.
6. He, peace be on him, said: "The decree of Allah is good for the believer.
7. He, peace be on him, said: "He for whom Allah does not make a preacher from his own self, the preaching of people do not avail him."
8. He, peace be on him, said: "He whose outward (deeds) are heavier than his inward (deeds), his scales are light.
9. He, peace be on him, said: "How many a person meets a person and says to him: may Allah ruin your enemy, and he has no enemy except Allah.
10. He, peace be on him, said: "He who disobeys Allah does not recognize Him." Then the Ima`m composed:
Do you disobey the Lord and show your love (for Him)?
By your life, this is an innovation among deeds.
If your love was truthful, you would obey him.
Indeed the lover obeys him whom he loves.
11. He, peace be on him, said: "The need with the one who has recently gotten property is like the dirham in the mouth of the snake. You need him, and you are in danger.
12. He, peace be on him, said: "Know the love in the heart of your brother through what he has in your heart.
13. He, peace be on him, said: "Faith is love and hatred."
14. He, peace be on him, said: "Four (acts) are among the treasures of kindness: Concealing the need, concealing the alms, concealing the pain, and concealing, the misfortune.
15. He, peace be on him, said: "He whose tongue is truthful, his acts grow. He whose intention is good, his daily-bread increases. He whose kindness to his family is good, Allah prolongs his life.
16. He, peace be on him, said: "Whoever gets a brother in Allah in addition to faith in Allah and faithfulness to his brotherhood seeking Allah's pleasure gets a ray from Allah's light, safety from the punishment of Allah, a pilgrimage (to Mecca) through which he will
( 291 )
be successful on the Day of Judgment, everlasting honor, and increasing reputation. That is because the believer is neither mawsool nor mafsool from Allah, the Great and Almighty."He was asked: "What is the meaning of mawsool and mafsool?"He, peace be on him,
replied: "Mawsool meaning the believer is not connected to (Allah). Mafsool meaning the believer is not separated from (Allah).
17. He, peace be on him, said: "It is sufficient cheat for the person is that he sees from the people the vague affair of his own soul. Or he finds faults with other than him through what he cannot leave. Or he hurts his friend through that which does not concern him.
18. He, peace be on him, said: "Humbleness is that you should be satisfied with the humble
sitting-place, that you should greet whomever you meet, and that you should leave the dispute even if you are right."
19. He, peace be on him, said: "The believer is the brother of the believer. So, he should
not abuse him nor should he deprive him (of his rights) nor should he doubt him."
20. He, peace be on him, said: "He to whom clumsiness is apportioned, faith is veiled from him.
21. He, peace be on him, said: "Indeed Allah has punishments in the hearts, the bodies, the daily-bread, and the worship. However, the cruelty of the heart is the most intense punishment.
22. He, peace be on him, said: "On the Judgment Day, a caller will call: 'Where are al-Sa`biru`n (the patient)?' So, a group of people will rise. Then a caller will call : 'Where are al-Mutasabbiru`n?' Thus, a group of people will rise."He was asked: "Who are al-Sa`biru`n and al-Mutasabbiru`n?"He, peace be on him, replied: "Al-Sa`biru`n are those who are patient with performing the religious duties. Al-Mutasabbiru`n are those who are patient with the prohibitions.
23. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah says: 'O Son of Adam, refrain from what I have prohibited, so you are the most pious of all people.'
24. He, peace be on him, said: "The best worship is the abstinence of the private parts and the abdomen.
25. He, peace be on him, said: "Modesty and faith are coupled
( 292 )
with each other. If one of them goes away, the other will follow it.
26. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah gives this world to both the righteous and the sinners. However, He gives this religion to His close friends only.
27. He, peace be on him, said: Allah gives the world to those whom He loves and those whom He detests. However, He gives religion to those whom He loves only.
28. He, peace be on him, said: "If the beggar knew what was in begging, he would never beg anyone. If the begged one knew was in prevention, he would never prevent anybody.
29. He, peace be on him, said: "Some blessed rich servants belong to Allah. They associate with people. People live under their wing. Some wicked servants belong to Allah. They do not associate with people. People do not live under their protection. They are like grass -hoppers.
30. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah likes spreading greetings.
31. He, peace be on him, said: "Everything has a catastrophe. The catastrophe of knowledge is forgetfulness.
2
32. He, peace be on him, said: "O Allah, help with the world through riches, and with the hereafter through piety.
3
33. He, peace be on him, said: "The person increases in opinion when he gives sincere advice.
4
34. He, peace be on him, said: "The weapon of the ignoble person is ugly words.
5 A poet composed this wonderful maxim, saying:
Al-Ba`qir al-Murtada`, the descendant of the Ima`m, peace be on him, was truthful when he said: "Ugly words are the weapon of the
____________
1. Tuhaf al-'Uqul, pp. 292-300.
2. Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, vol. 9, p. 310.
3. Al-Bayan wa al-Tibiyyin, vol. 1.3, p. 222.
4. Ibn Qutayba, 'Yyun al-Akhbar, vol. 1, p. 300.
5. Hulyat al-Auliya', vol. 3, p. 300.
( 293)
ignoble.
1
35. He, peace be on him, said: "Thunderbolt strikes the believer and the unbelievers. However, it does not strike the person who praises (Allah).
2
36. He, peace be on him, said: "The best deeds are three: Praising Allah in all conditions, treating people with justice, and giving the friend money.
3
37. He, peace be on him, said: "Regard the good deed as small. Do it quickly, and conceal it.
4
38. He, peace be on him, said: "In the Sunna (the Prophet's practices) and the religion, it is not an act of truthfulness to turn away from the generous.
5
39. He, peace be on him, said: "How wonderful good deeds are after evil deeds! How shameful evil deeds are after good deeds!
6
40. He, peace be on him, said: "The person may earn money through four (sources). They are unfaithful act, usury, treason, and theft. Such money is not accepted in four (acts). They are zakat, alms, pilgrimage (to Mecca), and
omra.
7
41. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah, the Great and Almighty, refuses to accept the pilgrimage and omra performed through ill-gotten gains.
8
42. He, peace be on him, said: "He whose outward (deeds) are heavier than his inward (deeds), his balance is light.
43. He, peace be on him, said: "Lying destroys faith.
10
____________
1. Al-Ithaf bi Hub Al-Shraf, p. 53.
2. Hulyat al-Auliya', vol. 3, p. 181.
3. Ibid, p. 183.
4. Al-Akhbar al-Muwaffaqiyat, p. 400.
5. Al-Marzabani, al-Mardda, 2/b.
6. Al-Saduq, al-Amali, p. 224.
7. Ibid, p. 296.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Usul al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 339.
( 294 )
44. He, peace be on him, said: "I had a companion. The companion regarded the world as small. Thus, I regarded him as great.
1
45. He, peace be on him, said to his companions: "Do you enter your hands in the bags of your companions and take what you want?""No,"they replied. "You are not our companions as you say,"he, peace be on him, explained.
2
46. He, peace be on him, said: "Kindness may make the father go to extremes. This is the worst father. Negligence may make the child disobey (his parents). Such a child is the worst.
3
47. He, peace be on him, said: "Preach to your companions, and respect them. Do not attack each other.
4
48. He, peace be on him, said: "Sins make misfortunes strike the servant.
5
49. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah decreed that He would not take the blessing He bestowed on the servant. However, when the servant commits a sin, he is worthy of the adversity.
6
50. He, peace be on him, said: "If there is no love in my heart for the saints of Allah and no hatred for His enemies, nothing will avail me, even if I fast throughout the day, pray throughout the night, and spend all my money for Allah."
7
51. Zarara asked Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him: "What is the meaning of al-Hanafiya?"He, peace be on him, replied: "It is the nature Allah has created in men. He has created it in them to make them recognize Him."
8
____________
1. Mirr'at al-Jinan, vol. 1, p. 248.
2. Safwat al-Safwa, vol. 2, p. 63.
3. Usul, al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 53.
4. Usul al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 173.
5. Ibid, p. 269.
6. Ibid, p. 273.
7. Al-Ya'qubi, Tarikh, vol. 3, p. 61.
8. Al-Bihar, vol. 12, p. 87.
( 295 )
52. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far was asked: "Is there a thing better than gold?"He, peace be on him, answered: "Yes, the one who gives it.
1
53. He, peace be on him, said: "The tribulation of the people against us is burdensome. When we ask them (to follow us), they do not respond to us. When we leave them, they do not follow other than us.
2
54. He, peace be on him, said: "The chasteness of the abdomen and private parts is the best (quality) through which Allah is worshipped.
3
55. He, peace be on him, said: "Be patient towards misfortunes. Do not transgress(Allah's) rights. Do not give the person a thing that harms you more than it avails you.
4
56. He, peace be on him, said: "Our followers obey Allah.
5
57. He, peace be on him, said: "The friend may take care of you when you are rich, and abandon you when you are poor. How bad such a friend is!
6
58. He, peace be on him, said: "Kindness to friends is the best help in the world.
7
59. He, peace be on him, said: "Whomever is given ethics and kindness is given good and rest. Besides His state is good here and the hereafter. Whomever is deprived of them, that will be a way to evil and tribulations, except him whom Allah protects.
8
60. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah (sometimes) makes a person recognize the truth. So, the person can remain on the top of a mountain. He can eat from the plants of the earth till death comes to
____________
1. Al-Ya'qubi, Tarikh, vol. 3, p. 61.
2. A'lam al-Wara, p. 27.
3. Jami'a al-Sa'adat, vol. 2, p. 16.
4. Al-Ya'qubi, Tarikh, vol. 3, p. 61.
5. Al-Shiblanji, Nur al-Absar, p. 131.
6. Ibid.
7. Is'af al-Raghibin, p. 316.
8. Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, vol. 9, p. 311.
( 296 )
him. Still, he faces no problem.
1
61. He, peace be on him, was asked: "The people of the garden will enter the garden through their deeds. Will Allah release (some people) from the Fire?""Surely, Allah will release (some people) from the Fire,"he replied.
2
62. He, peace be on him, said: "He who has no precautionary dissimulation has no good."
3
63. He, peace be on him, said: "If you want to know that you have good, consider carefully your heart. Does your heart love obedience to Allah? Does it detest the disobedience to Him? If it is so, you have good and Allah loves you. Does it detest the obedience to Allah? Does it love the disobedience to Him? If it is so, you have no good and Allah detests you. The person is with his lover.
4
64. He, peace be on him, said: "Among the steps of Satan are the oath for divorce, the vow for sins, and the swearing by other than Allah, the Exalted.
5
65. He, peace be on him, said: "When the abdomen is full, (the person) becomes tyrannical.
6
66. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah detests the full abdomen.
7
67. He, peace be on him, said: "Whoever seeks the world to be chaste with the people, to maintain his family, and to help his neighbor, will meet Allah, the Great and Almighty, and his face will be like the full moon.
8
68. He, peace be on him, said: "Our talk is difficult. It is
____________
1. Ahmed bin Fahad al-Hilli, al-Tahsin, p. 225.
2. Al-Durr al-Nazim, p. 191.
3. 'Ilal al-Sharai', p. 51.
4. Ibid, p. 117.
5. Majjma' al-Bayan, vol. 1, p. 252.
6. Jami' al-Sa'adat, vol. 2, p. 5.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid, p. 21.
(297)
difficult (for people) to understand it. No one bears it except a close angel or a prophet or a servant whose heart Allah has tested for faith.
1
69. He, peace be on him, said: "I hate the person whose words are more than his knowledge. I also hate the person whose knowledge is more than his reason.
2
With this we will end our talk about some of the Ima`m's wise words that represent
genuine creative thinking.
Did al-Ba`qir write poetry?
The references did not mention that Ima`m Abu` Ja'far al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, wrote poetry. Rather they mentioned that he split open many doors to knowledge, that he founded most of its rules, and that he was given wisdom and sound judgments. However, Sayyid 'Ali Sadr al-Madani ascribed the following lines of
poetry to him.
I wonder at the one who admires his form
while he had been a sperm before.
Tomorrow, after his good form, he will be dirty carrion in the grave.
In spite of his admiration and haughtiness,
He carries stool between his two sides.
3
It is no matter whether the Ima`m, peace be on him, wrote poetry or not. Surely, he was the foremost eloquent person of the period. The large group of his first-class eloquent wise words proves that.
Now I want to end the talk about the talents of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him. It is an act of truthfulness to say that I have mentioned few examples of his knowledge and sciences. I do not say that I have encompassed them. It is difficult for me to do that. Thus, I have left the door open for other researchers to discover the other bright dimensions of his life. For it was a personal extension to his outstanding grandfathers, who illumined the cultural life for people.
