To Please the Believers

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘The messenger of Allah has said, “Whoever pleases a believer has pleased me, and whoever, pleases me has pleased Allah.’”

“The smiling of a man for his brother (in belief) is a good deed, so also is removing a speck from him (his eyes). Allah is not worshipped with anything more beloved to Him than bringing joy to the heart of a believer.”

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Of the private conversations that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, made with Moses was this: ‘Of my servants there are those to whom I have allotted my paradise and made them rule it.’ Moses then asked, Lord, ‘Who are these people to whom you have allotted your paradise and made them rule it?’ The Lord said, ‘They are those who bring joy to the heart of a believer.’ He then said, ‘A believing man once lived in the domain of a tyrant and because of fear he moved away from the tyrant into a pagan’s land and he found lodging with a pagan who provided him shadow, came forward with friendly behavior and entertained him as a guest. When death approached the pagan man, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, inspired him, ‘I swear by my Majesty and Glory, had I any place for you in my paradise I would have admitted you therein, but it is forbidden for those who die as pagans. However, O fire, calm down and do not hurt him. His sustenance will be provided in both ends of the day.’ I then asked the Imam, ‘(Does it come) from paradise?’ The Imam said, ‘It comes from wherever Allah wishes.’”

‘‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Of the most beloved deed to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, is bringing joy to the heart of the believer.’”

‘‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, sent revelations to David that said, ‘One of my servants may come to Me with a good deed and I admit him in paradise.’ David asked, ‘Lord, what is that good deed?’ The Lord said, ‘It is bringing joy to the heart of my believing servant even if it is by one piece of date.’ David then said, ‘Lord, it is very true that one who comes to know You must not lose hope of Your kindness.’”

“One of you must not think that when he brings joy to the heart of a believer he has brought joy to his heart only. I swear by Allah, in fact, he has done so to our hearts and also, I swear by Allah, he has done so to (the heart of) the Messenger of Allah.”

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘The most beloved of deeds to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, is bringing joy to the heart of a believer, by means of satisfying his hunger or paying off his debt.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said in a long Hadith, ‘When Allah raises a believer from his grave along with him, in front, comes out a form. When and wherever the believer faces a frightening scene of the scenes of the Day of Judgment the form says to him, “Do not be afraid or sad. There is good and joyful news of the honor from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy,” until he is before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy. He is held accountable very lightly and then is admitted into paradise with the form in front of him. The believer then says to the form, ‘May Allah grant you blessings, you have been a very good companion ever since you came out with me from my grave and continued speaking of joy and honor from Allah until 1 experienced them. Who are you?’ The form will say, ‘I am the joy that you had brought to the heart of your believing brother (in belief) in the worldly life. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, created me from it to carry good news to you.”’

“Al-Najashiy, is a man of the landlords (community) and an agent in al-Ahwaz and Fars. Certain persons of his workers once said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘In the office of al-Najashiy taxes are recorded as due by me. He is a believer and believes in obedience to you. If you consider it proper, write for me a letter to him (to relieve me of the taxes).’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) wrote him, ‘(I begin) in the name of Allah, the Beneficent the Merciful. Send joy to the heart of your brother, Allah will send joy to your heart.’ ‘‘When the letter came he took it to him in his office. When it was private he gave him the letter and said, ‘This is a letter from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.).’ He kissed the letter and placed it on his eyes and asked, ‘What do you want?’ He said, ‘Certain taxes are recorded in your office as due by me.’ He then asked, ‘How much are they?’ He said, ‘Ten thousand dirham.’ He then called his secretary and told him to write off all the taxes due by him, and he said not to levy any taxes on him in future. Then he asked, ‘Did I make you happy now?’ He replied, ‘Yes, may I be your servant.’ He then ordered to give him an animal so he could ride, a maid servant, a male servant and a set of dress and for each item he would ask, ‘Did I make you happy?’ He would say, ‘Yes, may I be your servant.’ As long as he said, ‘Yes, he increased his gifts until the last gift. He then said, ‘Take the floor covering of this house wherein you gave me the letter of my master and asked me to help you in your needs. ’ “I (the narrator) did so as I was told and then went to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and informed him of his story the way it had happened. The Imam enjoyed what he had done. 1 then said, ‘O descendent of the Messenger of Allah, it seems he has made you happy by means of his favors to me. ’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, by Allah, he certainly has made Allah and the Messenger of Allah happy.’”

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the rights of a believer on another believer. He has said that the Imam said, ‘The right of a believer on a believer is greater than that (description). If I tell you about it you will become unbelievers. When a believer comes out of his grave a form comes out with him and says, “There is good news of honor and happiness for you from Allah.” He then says to the form, ‘May Allah give you good news.’ He then moves with him and gives him good news as before and as they come across a frightening scene of the Day of Judgment the form says this is not against you. As they come across a good thing the form says this is for you. The form remains with him, giving him comfort and good news of what he loves until it stands with him before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, where He orders for him to be taken to paradise. The form says to him, ‘Good news for you; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has ordered that you be admitted in paradise. ’ “The Imam said, ‘He asks, “Who are you, may Allah grant you favors? You have been giving me good news from the time you came out with me from my grave. On the way you have been giving me comfort and informed me of the decision of my Lord?’” The form then says, ‘I am the joy that you had sent to the heart of your believing brothers (in belief) in the worldly life. I was created from it to give you good news and comfort you in frightening conditions.”’ Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal a similar Hadith.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The most beloved deed to Allah is the joy that you send to the heart of a believer by means of removing his hunger or relieving him of his suffering.’”

“Whoever sends joy to the heart of a believing man, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, creates from that joy a creature that meets him at the time of his death and says to him, ‘Good news for you, O friend of Allah, with honor from Allah and His happiness with you. The form (creature) remains with him until he is placed in his grave and speaks to him of similar good tidings. When he is raised out of the grave the form meets him and speaks to him of similar good things and remains with him. On coming across frightening things of the Day of Judgment the form gives him good news. He then asks the form, ‘Who are you, may Allah grant you favors?’ The form says, ‘I am the joy that you sent to the heart of so and so.’”

“Once a man, in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) recited this verse of the Holy Quran: ‘Those who annoy the believing men and women without reason will bear the sin for a false accusation, a manifest offense.’ (33:58) The narrator has said that Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) then asked, ‘What then is the reward for sending joy to his heart?’ I said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, ten good deeds.’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, by Allah, it is one million good deeds.’”

“Whoever sends joy to the heart of a believer he certainly has sent joy to the heart of the Messenger of Allah. If one sends joy to the heart of the Messenger of Allah such joy reaches Allah. The same is true of causing pain to the heart of a believer.”

“Any Muslim who, on his meeting another Muslim, sends joy to his heart, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, sends joy to his (initiator of joy) heart.”

“Of the most beloved deeds to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, is sending joy to the heart of a believer, by means of satisfying his hunger, relief for his suffering or paying off his debt.”