Restraint from Worldly Matters (Sins)

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) spoke to us to advise us. He gave orders and told us to abstain from indulging (ourselves) in worldly matters. He then said, ‘You must maintain restraint; one does not receive of the things with Allah except by means of restraint from worldly matters (sins).”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Hard work without restraint from worldly things (sins) is of no benefit.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Restraining from worldly matters (sins) is the most intense form of worship.’”

abu Sabah al-Kanani said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.):“Abu Sabah al-Kanani has said, ‘We are not received well among people because of you.’ The Imam said, ‘How are you received among people because of me?’ He said, ‘As soon as we speak to a man he then says, “He is a Ja’fari (follower of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s.)) a filthy one.’” The Imam said, ‘Do they reprimand you because of me?’ He said, ‘Yes, they do so.’ The Imam said, ‘I swear by Allah, how few are among you who follow Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.)? My people and followers are only those who maintain forceful restraint from worldly things (sins), work for their creator, and hope to receive reward from their Lord. Only such people are of my followers.’”

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) what kind of people are those who restrain from worldly matters? The Imam said, ‘They are those who stay away from what Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has made unlawful.’”

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) to instruct me with good advice. The Imam said, ‘I recommend you to be pious before Allah, restrain from worldly matters (sins) and work hard. Note that there is no benefit in hard work without restraint from worldly matters.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Support us by means of restraint from worldly matters; whoever of you will meet Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, with the quality of restraint from worldly matters will have enough good news from Allah. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “One who obeys Allah and the Messenger is a friend of the prophets, saints, martyrs and the righteous ones to whom Allah has granted His favors. They are the best friends that one can have.” (4:69) ‘Of our people are the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs and the virtuous people.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Preach to people without your tongue. You must show them restraint from worldly matters (sins). You should perform hard work, prayer and good deeds. Such behavior includes preaching.”

“’Ubayd Allah ibn Ali reported to me from Abu al-Hasan the 1st (a.s.) who has said, ‘I would often hear my father saying, 'He is not one of our Shia who the women in their homes do not speak of his piety, and he is not from our supporters if he lives in a village with ten thousand men and there is someone among them more pious than him.'"