Journey in the Sea for Business

“Abu Ja‘far, and abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have said, ‘We dislike sailing on the sea for business.’”

How beautiful is the quest for trade to sail on the sea!”’ [Note: H 9118 and H 9119 appear to occur during two different eras, perhaps of safe and unsafe sailing times]

“I had carried goods with me to Makkah. I faced severe competition there so I went to visit abu al- Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), and told him (the Imam) that I had carried goods to Makkah but I faced competition and I decided to travel to Egypt. Should I travel by land or by sea? He (the Imam) said, ’Egypt is destructive. It wrecks the youngest in age. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “How beautiful is sailing on the sea in quest for trade.’” He (the Imam) said, ‘It will not be against you if you go to the shrine of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, perform near him two Rak’at Salat (prayer) and ask Allah for what is good, one hundred times; then whatever decision comes to your mind follow that decision. When you ride say, “All praise belongs to Allah who has made it possible for us when we were not able to reach it. To our Lord, we return.” After you sail on the sea in the ship say, “In the name of Allah who has made it to flow and sail. My Lord is forgiving and merciful.” If waves agitate on you, lean to your left and make a gesture to your right to the waves and say, “Calm down through the calmness of Allah and be tranquil through tranquility of Allah. There is no means and power except the power and means of Allah, the most High, most Great.’” “Ali ibn Asbat has said, ‘I sailed on the sea and waves rose. I would say what I was told to say. It would break into pieces as if there was nothing.’ Ali ibn Asbat has said, ‘I asked him (the Imam) saying I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what is al-Sakinah ?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a wind from paradise with a face like the face of the human being, more sweet smelling than musk, and it is the one Allah sent to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, in Hunayn (name of a place) which defeated the pagans.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘In sailing on the sea for trade one is deceived in his religion.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who traveled and sailed on the sea. He (the Imam) said, ‘My father would say that it causes harms to one’s religion. There are people who find their livelihood and sustenance.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man came to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and said, ‘We work for business in these mountains and come upon areas where we cannot perform Salat (prayer) except on snow. He (the Imam) said, ‘Why can you not be like so and so who is happy with less and does not demand such things because of which he cannot performing Salat (prayer) except on snow.’”