The chapter of rare meanings

Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, said: Indeed, polytheism is more concealed than the creeping of ants. He also said: Among (the applications of) it is to turn a ring in order for one to remember a need, and the like of this.

I said to Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him. The saying of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «Due to that, We prescribed upon the sons of Isra’eel that whoever kills a life without (retaliation for) another life, or due to (the causing of) corruption on earth, it is as if he has killed all people» (5:32) whereas one only kills one? He said: He will placed in a spot of Hell to which ends the utmost severity of the torment of its people if one was to kill all people. He will then only enter that place. If he had killed one, he would only enter that place. I said: And if he kills another? He said: It shall be doubled upon him.

Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, said: It was found on the top of the sword of Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, a journal, and in it was written: «In the Name of Allah, the Merciful to all, the Merciful in particular. Indeed, the most unruly of people in the sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection is the one kills other than his killer, who hits other than his hitter and who befriends other than his allies. He is disbelieving in what Allah, Exalted is He, has sent down unto Muhammed, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family. Furthermore, the one who performs a sin or gives refuge to a sinner, Allah, Exalted is He, will not accept from him ransom, nor dispursal. He said: He then said: Do you know the meaning of his saying: «who befriends other than his allies»? I said: What does he mean with it? He said: He means the people of religion. The ransom is repentance, according to the saying of Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, and the dispursal is redemption, according to the saying of Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him.

I asked him about the saying of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «And the one who kills a believer intentionally, his reward is Hell» (4:93) He said: The one who kills a believer due to his religion, that is the intentional about whom Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, in His Book: «and He has prepared for him a painful torment.» (4:93) I said: And (what about) a man to whom it occurs something between him and another man, and so he hits him with his sword and kills him. He said: That is not the intentional about whom Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, spoke.

His reward is Hell when He is to reward him.

I heard al-Rida, peace be upon him, say: The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: May Allah curse the one who performs a sin or gives refuge to a sinner. I said: And what is the sin? He said: The one who murders.

Hasan bin Ali, peace be upon them both, was asked about the intellect. He said: To gulp a lump, and to flatter with the enemies.

8. TBA

Indeed, it is among humbleness that a man is pleased with one sitting place before more sitting places, that he sends peace upon the one he meets, that he abandons quarreling, even if he is rightful, and that he does not like to be praised for godfearness.

I was at the place of Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, and a man said to him: May Allah rectify you, indeed, in Kufa there are people who say a saying which they ascribe to you. He said: And what is it? He said: They say that faith is other than (acceptance of) Islam. Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, then said: Yes. The man then said to him: Describe it to be. He said: The one who testifies that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah and acknowledges what he has brought from Allah, he is a Muslim. He said: And faith? He said: The one who testifies that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah, acknowledges what he has brought from Allah, establishes the prayer, gives the alms tax, fasts the Month of Ramadan, performs pilgrimage to the House and will not meet Allah after having performed a sin for which the Fire has been promised, he is a believer. Abu Baseer said: May I be sacrificed for you, and who of us will not meet Allah with a sin for which the Fire has been promised? He said: It is not as you think. It is only the one who will not meet Allah with a sin for which the Fire has been promised and does not repent from it.

I said to Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him: Indeed, those before us say: Indeed, if Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, loves a servant, a caller from Heaven will call his name: «Indeed, Allah loves such-a-person, so love him», and so, love for him shall be cast in the hearts of the servants, and that if Allah, Exalted is He, hates a servant, a caller from Heaven will call his name: «Indeed, Allah hates such-a-person, so hate him». He said: Will Allah cast hatred towards him into the hearts of the servants? He said: He, peace be upon him, was leaning, so he sat upright and dust off himself three times, saying: Not, it is not like they are saying. However, if Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, loves a servant, He would seduce the people on earth that they speak (bad) of him, and so, He will declare them as sinful and reward him, and if Allah hates a servant, He makes him beloved to people that they speak (good) of him, and so, He will declare them and him as sinful. He, peace be upon him, then said: Who was more beloved to Allah than Yahya bin Zakariya [1], peace be upon him? Yet, He seduced them with regards to him until they killed him. And who was more beloved to Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, than Ali bin Abi Talib, peace be upon him? Yet, he faced from people what you know. And who was more beloved to Allah, Exalted is He, than Hussain bin Ali, Allah’s blessings be upon him? Yet, He seduced them with regards to him until they killed him.

I said to Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him: Indeed, people are saying: Indeed, Ali bin Abi Talib, Allah’s blessings be upon him, said: «Indeed, the best ihram is that you perform ihram from the circle of your people.» He said: Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, then died that and said: Indeed, the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, was among the people of Medina, yet his time was fixed at Dhu’l-Halifa, and it was six miles [1] between them. If it was an act of virtue, the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, had surely performed ihram from Medina. Rather, Ali, Allah’s blessings be upon him, used to say: Perform tamattu’ [2] with your clothes until your fixed time.

We were with him during a funeral attendance, during which some of the people said: «May Allah give blessings to me in death and in what is after death». Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, then said to him: What is after death is better. If it is given blessings to you in death, it is certainly given blessings to you in what is after it.

I said to him: Indeed, people are narrating that the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, did not fast the Month of Ramadan for twenty-nine (days) more than he fasted thirty (days). He said: They have lied. The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, did not fast but completely. Obligatory acts cannot be (performed whilst) lacking. Indeed, Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, created a year as having three hundred and sixty days, and He created the Heavens and the earth in six days, and so, He constrained it from three hundred and sixty. Hence, a year is (consisting of) three hundred and fifty-four days, and the Month of Ramadan is (consisting of) thirty days, due to the saying of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «and that you may complete the period» (2:185). That which is complete is (a) full (period). Shawwal is (consisting of) twenty-nine days, and Dhu’l-Qa’da is (consisting of) thirty days, due to the saying of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «And We made an appointment with Musa for thirty nights» (7:142). Hence, a month is like this. Furthermore, on this basis, a month is complete, and another month is lacking. The Month of Ramadan does never lack, and Sha’ban is never complete,

I asked Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, about the saying of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «And whatever afflicts you of a calamity, it is due to what your hands have acquired, and He pardons much.» (42:30) Have you seen that which afflicted Ali and his Household, was it due to what their hands acquired, while they are a Household of Purity and are Infallible? He said: Indeed, the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, used to repent to Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, and seek forgiveness from Him every day day and night a hundred times without a sin. Indeed, Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, specifies His Allies with calamities in order that He might reward them for them without (them having committed) a sin.

I was with Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, in the home (of his), sitting under the drain, while one man was quarreling with another man, and one of them was saying to his companion: By Allah, do you not know where the wind runs from? When he had said that much to him, Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, said to him: And do you know from where the winds runs? He said: No, but I hear the people say. I then said to Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him: From where does the wind run, may I be sacrificed for you? He said: Indeed, the wind is constrained under this Levantine pillar, and when Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, wants to send off some of it, He makes it come out: if it is (to be towards the) south, it is south; if it is (to be towards the) north, it is north; if it is (to be) cast fiercely, it is cast fiercely; and if it is (to be) mild, it is mild. He then said: The sign of that is that you still see this pillar moving during winter and summer, continuously, at the night along with the day.

I heard Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, say: Indeed, a man is surely to drink (by the amount of) a sip, and Allah will make him enter Paradise. I said: And how is that? He said: Indeed, a man is surely to drink water, then interrupt it, then move the container away while he desires it, and then he will praise Allah, then return it and drink. He will then move it away while he desires it, and then he will praise Allah, then return it and drink. By that, Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, will obligate Paradise to him for that.

It is disbelief in graces that a man says: «I ate such-and-such food, and it harmed me.»

Have you seen a poet being followed by anyone? They are only a people who gained (religious) knowledge for other than (the sake of) religion, and hence, they aberred and have caused aberration.

I heard Abu Abdillah, Ja’far bin Muhammed al-Sadiq, peace be upon them both, and he was, by Allah, Truthful , like how he was named, saying: O Sufyan, it is upon you to perform Taqiya, for indeed, it is the tradition of Ibrahim, the Close Friend, peace be upon him. Indeed, Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, said to Musa and Harun: «Go, both of you, to Pharao, for indeed, he has tyrannized, and say to him a tender saying, that he might remember or fear.» (20:43-44) Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, is saying: Call to him by his nickname and say to him: «O father of Mus’ab». Indeed, when the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, wanted to travel, he took cover with another person, and he said: My Lord has ordered me to use conformity with people like how He has ordered me to perform the obligatory acts. Certainly, Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, disciplined him with Taqiya and said: «Repel with that which is better. Thereupon, the one whom between you and him there is enmity, it is as if he is a devoted friend. However, none is granted it except those who ere patient, and none is granted it except one with a great portion (of goodness).» (41:34-35) O Sufyan, the one who uses Taqiya with regards to the Religion of Allah has certainly attained the highest top of honor. Indeed, the honor of the believer is in the preservation of his tongue, and the one who does not have control of his tongue, will regret. Sufyan said: Then I said to him: O son of Allah’s Messenger, is it possible that Allah makes, Exalted and Glorious is He, makes His servants seek to cause that which will not be? He said: No. I said: Then how did Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, say to Musa and Harun, peace be upon them both: «that he might remember or fear» (20:44) while He knew that Pharao will not remember, nor fear? He said: Indeed, Pharao did remember and fear, however, (it was) during when he saw the suffering, (at the moment) when faith does not benefit him. Do you not hear Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, say: «when drowning overtook him, he said: I have believed that there is no god except for the One whom the sons of Isra’eel believed in, and I am of the Muslims» (10:90) to which Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, did not accept his faith and said: «Now? And you had disobeyed before, and you were among the causers of corruption. Hence, today We will save you by your body that you might be, for those after you, a sign» (10:91-92)? He is saying: We will cast you on a peak of the earth that you might be for those after you a sign and a lesson. We were told by Abu’l-Abbas, Muhammed bin Ibrahim bin Ishaq al-Talaqani, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: We were told by Abu Bakr, Muhammed bin Qasem al-Anbari, that he said: We were told by Abu’l-Abbas, from Ahmad bin Yahya, from Salama, from al-Farra’, that he said: It is said: It is called a dhirwa of a mountain and its dhurwa [1], and it is said Fir’awn and Fur’awn [2], and it is said Sufyan and Sifyan. Abu Bakr said to me: And Yunus, the grammarian, said that it is Sufyan. It has been narrated of other than al-Farra’ that Sufyan is possible to have been derived from safan, that are the scales of a fish that are glued on swords. It is also possible that it is derived from: «The wind scattered [3] the wind, in a manner of scattering [4]» in a shortened form. Safaa’, as in the extended form, is ignorance.

When the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, was ascended and the (time for) prayer arrived, Jibra’eel, peace be upon him, performed the Adhan. When he said: «Allah is Greater» the Angels said: Allah is Greater, Allah is Greater. When he said: «I testify that there is no god but Allah» the Angels said: The opponents have been negated. When he said: «I testify that Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah» the Angels said: A Prophet has been sent. When he said: «Hasten to prayer» the Angels said: He has motivated to worship of his Lord. When he said: «Hasten to success» the Angels said: Successful is the one who follows him.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: Indeed, Abu Bakr is to me by the position of the hearing, and indeed, Umar is to me by the position of the vision, and indeed, Uthman is to me by the position of the heart. He said: When the other day came, I entered into his place, and with him was the Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him, as well as Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman, and I said to him: O father, I heard you say a saying about these companions of yours. What is it? He, peace be upon him, said: Yes. He then pointed with his hand towards them and said: They are the hearing, the vision and the heart, and they shall be asked about the Divine Authority of this Successor of mine. He then pointed towards Ali bin Abi Talib, peace be upon him, and then said: Indeed, Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, says: «Indeed, the hearing, the vision and the heart, all of those are to be asked about him.» (17:36) He, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, then said: My the Might of my Lord, indeed, all of my nation are to stand on the Day of Resurrection and are to be asked about his Divine Authority, and that is the saying of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «And stop them. Indeed, they are to be asked.» (37:24)

H24

I said to Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him: Indeed, the people are saying that the Throne shook due to the death of Sa’d bin Mu’adh. He said: It is only (referring to) the bed on which he was.

It was said to him: Indeed, Abu’l-Khattab is mentioning of you that you said to him: «If you know the truth, then do what you wish». He then said: May Allah curse Abu’l-Khattab. By Allah, I did not say it to him like this. However, I said: If you know the truth, then do what you wish of goodness, and it will be accepted from you. Indeed, Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, says: «The one who performs a righteous deed, be it a male or a female, while he is a believer, those will enter Paradise, being sustained in it without reckoning.» (40:40) He, Blessed and Exalted is He, also says: «The one who performs a righteous deed, be it a male or a female, while he is a believer, We will surely revive him to a good life.» (16:97)

I said to al-Rida, peace be upon him: O son of Allah’s Messenger, it has been narrated from your fathers, peace be upon them, that with regards to the one who has intercourse during the Month of Ramadan or breaks the fast during it, there are three expiations. It has also been narrated of them that there is one expiation (to it), so which of the two reports shall we take? He said: With both of them. Whenever a man has intercourse in a forbidden manner or breaks the fast with a forbidden thing during the Month of Ramadan, there are three expiations upon him: to liberate a neck (in slavery); to fast for two consecutive months; and to feed sixty poor ones. Additionally, there is the fulfillment (of the missing obligation of) that day. If he had performed intercourse in a lawful manner or broken the fast by a lawful means, one expiation is upon him, as well as the fulfillment (of the missing obligation of) that day, and if he was (performing it out of being) forgetful, there is nothing upon him.

Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, said: There is no right hand (valid in promise) in the case of anger, nor in coercion, nor in compulsion. He said: I said: May Allah rectify you, then what is the difference between compulsion and coercion? He said: Coercion is from the ruler, and compulsion is from a wife and a father, and that is nothing.

There was to Hasan bin Ali, peace be upon them both, a friend, and he was an impudent, so he slackened to him for days. He then came to him one day, and Hasan, peace be upon him, said to him: How have you become? He said: O son of Allah’s Messenger, I have become to the contrary of what I like, what Allah likes and what Shaytan likes. Hasan, peace be upon him, smiled and then said: And how is that? He said: Because Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, likes that I obey Him and do not disobey him, and I am not as such. Moreover, Shaytan likes that I disobey Allah and not obey him, and I am not as such. Moreover, I would like to not die, and I am not as such. A man then stood up to him and said: O son of Allah’s Messenger, what is it with us that we dislike death and do not love it? He said: Hasan, peace be upon him, then said: Because you have ruined your (state in the) Hereafter and built this life of yours, while you dislike to be transmitted from that which is built to that which is ruined.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: Alas, has it come to a man to deny me while he is leaning on his mattress? They said: O Messenger of Allah, and who would deny you? He said: The one to whom a narration reaches, and who says: «The Messenger of Allah never said this». Hence, whatever narration that reaches you of me that accords with the truth, I have said, and whatever narration that reaches you of me that does not accord with the truth, I have not said it, and I never say but the truth.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: Fear (by bewaring) the denial of Allah. It was said: O Messenger of Allah, and how is that? He said: That one of you says: «Allah said» to which Allah says: You have lied, I did not say so. Or that one says: «Allah does not say» to which Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, says: You have lied, I have certainly said so.

Beware from wrapping in the manner of ssammaa’. He said: I said: And what is ssammaa’? That you make the cloth enter beneath your side, and so you place it on one shoulder.

I heard Abu’l-Hasan or Abu Ja’far, peace be upon them both, say with regards to this verse: «nor do they disobey you with regards to a good thing» (60:12). He said: Indeed, the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said to Fatima, peace be upon her: When I will die, do not slap any face for my sake, nor unstring any hair for my sake, nor call with woe, nor perform any mourning for my sake. He then said: This is the good thing about which Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, said in His Book: «nor do they disobey you with regards to a good thing». (60:12)

I said to Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him: Which of the two of them was older, Isma’eel or Ishaq? And which of the two of them was the one to be slaughtered? He said: Isma’eel was older than Ishaq by five years, and the one to be slaughtered was Isma’eel. Mecca was the home of Isma’eel, and Ibrahim only intended to slaughter Isma’eel during the days of the season in Mina. He said: There were five years between Allah’s giving of glad tidings to Ibrahim about Isma’eel and between His giving of glad tidings about Ishaq. Do you not hear the saying of Ibrahim, peace be upon him, as he says: «My Lord, bestow upon me (one who is) from the righteous» (37:100)? He only asked Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, to grant him a child from the righteous. Moreover, He said in the chapter of al-Ssaffaat: «We then gave him glad tidings of a forbearing child» (37:101) meaning Isma’eel (who was) from Hajar. He said: He then sacrificed, for the sake of Isma’eel, a great sheep. Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, said: He then said: «And We gave him glad tidings of Ishaq, a Prophet from the righteous, and We blessed upon him and upon Ishaq.» (37:112-113) By that He meant Isma’eel before the glad tiding about Ishaq. Hence, the one who claims that Ishaq is older than Isma’eel and that the one to be slaughtered was Ishaq, has certainly denied what Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, has sent down in the Qur’an with regards to their news.

I said to him: May I be sacrificed for you, why did the Arabs name their sons dog , tiger , leopard and the likes of that? He said: The Arabs were people of war, and they used to frighten the enemy with the names of their children. Moreover, the used to name their slaves relief , blessed , fortunate and the likes of that, by which they sought luck.

Indeed, Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, will commence by looking at the visitors of the grave of Hussain bin Ali, peace be upon them both, at the late evening of (the Day of) Arafah. He said: I said: Before He looks towards the people at the standing? He said: Yes. I said: And how is that? He said: Because among those are ones begotten through fornication, whereas there are none begotten through fornication among these.

I said to Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him: Indeed, Abu’l-Khattab used to say: Indeed, for the Messenger of Allah, the deeds of his nation are presented to him every Thursday. Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, said: It is not as such. Rather, for the Messenger of Allah, the deeds of his nation are presented to him every morning, from their good ones and dissolute ones. Thus, beware, and that is the saying of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «And say: Do, for Allah will see your deed, and so will His Messenger and the believers.» (9:105) He then became silent. Abu Baseer said: He only meant the Imams, peace be upon them.

A gift is permissible, regardless if it is taken or not taken, divided or not divided. People, however, only wanted grants, and so, they were mistaken. A grant is not permissible until it is taken.

At ease! It is not (permissible) for you to enter into what is between us, except through a path of goodness. Indeed, no soul from us dies, except that happiness catches up to him before his soul goes out, even if by (the amount of) a hiccup of a camel. He said: And what is the hiccup of a camel? He said: Its milk.

Indeed, a man is surely to love you while he does not know what you say, and Allah will make him enter Paradise, and indeed, a man is surely to hate you while he does not know what you say, and Allah will make him enter the Fire, and indeed, a man from you is surely to fill his journal without (having performed any) deed. I said: And how would that be? He said: He would pass by people while while they are (verbally) offending us, and when they see him, some of them will say to others: Indeed, this man is of their party , and a man from our party will pass by them, and so, they will push him and speak (negatively) of him. Then, Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, will prescribe good deeds for that until his journal is filled without (him having performed a) deed.

I said to Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him: What is the least by which a servant is (considered to be a) believer? He said: That he testifies that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammed is His Servant and Messenger, and that he acknowledges obedience and knows the Imam of his era. If he does that, he is a believer.

I said: What is the least by which a man leaves faith? He said: An opinion, by which he sees it as being in opposition to the truth, and yet he remains on it.

I said to Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him: What is the least by which a servant is a disbeliever? He said: That he innovates a thing, and then befriends on the basis of it and dissociates from those who oppose it.

I asked him: 'What is the least that makes a man misguided?' He said: 'That he does not recognize the one whom Allah has commanded to obey, whose allegiance He has made obligatory, and whom He has made His proof on His earth and His witness over His creation.' I asked: 'Who are they, O Commander of the Faithful?' He said: 'They are those whom Allah has associated with Himself and His Prophet, saying: "O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you." [4:59]' I kissed his head and said: You have clarified for me, relieved me, and removed all doubt that was in my heart.

I said to him: What is the least by which a man is aberrant? He said: That he does not know whom Allah has ordered to obey, obliged his Divine Authority and made His Proof on His earth and His Observer upon His creation. I said: Then who are they, O Commander of the Believers? He said: Those whom Allah set parallel to Himself and His Prophet, to which He said: «O you who have believed, obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.» (4:59) He said: Then I kissed his head and said: You have clarified to me, relieved me and removed every doubt that was in my heart.

We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah, that he said: We were told by Ahmad bin Muhammed bin Isa, with a connected chain (reaching) to al-Sadiq, Ja’far bin Muhammed, peace be upon them both, that he said: The least that achieves fulfillment from supplication after an obligatory prayer is that one says: «O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammed and the Family of Muhammed. O Allah, indeed, I ask You from every good which Your knowledge encompasses, and I seek refuge in You from every evil which Your knowledge encompasses. O Allah, indeed, I ask You for Your comfort in my matters, all of them, and I seek refuge in You from the disgrace of this world and the torment of the Hereafter.»

I asked Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, about the least (degree of) faithlessness, and he said: Arrogance is from it.

The least by which a man leaves faith is that he declares a man as his brother in religion, and then counts his unintentional mistakes and slips in order to disgrace him with them one day.

I heard Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, say: I have the knowledge of people, all of them, in four: the first is that you know your Lord; the second is that you know what He has done to you; the third is that you know what He wants from you; and the fourth is that you know that which makes you leave your religion.

Hearts are (of) three (types): a capsized heart that does not comprehend anything of goodness, and that is the heart of a disbeliever; a heart in which there is a black mark, and so, good and evil are wrestling in it, and that which is the strongest will dominate it; and an open heart in which there is a lamp that radiates and whose light is not extinguished until the Day of Resurrection, and that is the heart of a believer.

Hearts are (of) four (types): a heart in which there is hypocrisy and faith; an overturned heart; a heart that is dispositioned; and a heart that is radiant and lightening. I said: What is the radiant? He said: Within it is like the shape of a lamp. As for the dispositioned, it is the heart of a hypocrite. As for the radiant, it is the heart of a believer; if Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, gives him, he tanks, and if He tests him, he is patient. As for the overturned, it is the heart of a polytheist. He then recited this verse: «Is the one who walks while overturned on his face, more guided, or the one who walks uprightly on a straight path?» (67:22) As for the heart in which there is faith and hypocrisy, they are a people who were in Ta’if; if the time of one of them approaches firstly to his hypocrisy, he is to perish, and if it approaches firstly to his faith, he is to be saved.

"The light of Fatimah (as) was created before the creation of the heavens and the earth." Some people said, "O Prophet of Allah, isn't she a human being?" He (sw) said, "Fatimah is a heavenly, human being." They asked, "O Prophet of Allah, how is she a heavenly, human being?" He said, "Allah, the Almighty, created her from His light before creating Adam when the souls were created. When Allah created Adam, the souls were presented to him." It was asked, "O Prophet of Allah, where was Fatimah at that time?" He said, "She was in a special place beneath the Throne." They asked, "O Prophet of Allah, what was her sustenance?" He said, "Her sustenance was glorification, praise, and exaltation." When Allah, the Almighty, created Adam and took me out from his loins, Allah loved to bring her out from my loins, so He made her a fruit in Paradise. Gabriel came to me with it and said, "Peace be upon you, O Muhammad, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings." I said, "And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O beloved Gabriel." He said, "O Muhammad, your Lord sends you greetings." I said, "From Him is peace, and to Him returns peace." He said, "O Muhammad, this is a fruit that Allah, the Almighty, has sent to you from Paradise." So, I took it and placed it on my chest. He said, "O Muhammad, Allah, the Majestic and Mighty, says, 'Eat it all.' So, I split it, and I saw a radiant light. I was startled by it, and he said, 'O Muhammad, why do you not eat? Eat all of it and do not be afraid. This light is victorious in the heavens, and on earth, it is Fatimah.'" I asked, "O beloved Gabriel, why is she called 'Al-Mansurah' in the heavens and 'Fatimah' on earth?" He said, "She is called 'Fatimah' on earth because she protects her followers from the fire and keeps her enemies away from her love. In the heavens, she is called 'Al-Mansurah,' and that is what Allah, the Almighty, says, 'On that day, the believers will rejoice in Allah's victory. He grants victory to whom He wills.' It means the victory of Fatimah for her lovers."

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: The light of Fatima, peace be upon her, was created before the earth and Heaven were created. Some of the people then said: O Prophet of Allah, is she not a human? He, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: Fatima is a human nymph. He said: O Prophet of Allah, and how is she a human nymph? He said: Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, created her from His Light before He created Adam, while the souls were. When Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, had created Adam, she was presented before Adam. It was said: O Prophet of Allah, and where was Fatima? He said: She was in a container beneath the leg of the Throne. They said: O Prophet of Allah, what was her food? He said: Glorification, declaring that there is no god but Allah, and praising. When Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, created Adam and brought me out of his backbone, Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, liked for Him to bring her out of my backbone. He then made her an apple in Paradise, and it was brought to me by Jibra’eel, peace be upon him, and he said to me: Peace be upon you, and so be the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O Muhammed. I said: And upon you be peace and the mercy and blessings of Allah, my beloved Jibra’eel. He said: O Muhammed, indeed, your Lord recites peace unto you. I said: From Him is the peace and to Him returns the peace. He said: O Muhammed, indeed, this is an apple whom Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, has gifted to you from Paradise. I then took it and took it close to my chest. He said: O Muhammed, Allah, Glorified be His Glory, says: Eat it. So I cut it open and I saw a brilliant light, and I was frightened by it, to which e said: O Muhammed, what is it with you that you do not eat? Eat it and do not fear, for indeed, that light is the Supported one in Heaven, and on earth she is to be Fatima. I said: My beloved Jibra’eel, and why was she named the Supported in Heaven, and Fatima on earth? He said: She was named Fatima on earth because she separated [1] her party from the Fire, and her enemies were separated [2] from her love. She is the Supported in Heaven, and that is the saying of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «On that day, the believers will rejoice, with the victory from Allah; He supports whomever He wishes.» (30:4-5) It means the support of Fatima to those who lover her.

I heard Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, say: When this verse was sent down unto the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family: «The one who brings a good deed, will have better than it» (27:89) the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: O Allah, increase me. Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, then sent down unto him: «Who is it who will loan to Allah a good loan, so that He may multiply it to him many times over?» (2:245) The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, then knew that abundance from Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, cannot be counted and has no end.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: Which of the ropes of faith is the most solid? They said: Allah and His Messenger are more knowledgeable. Some of them said (it is) prayer, some others said (it is) alms tax, some others said (it is) fasting, some others said (it is) pilgrimage and Umrah, and some others said (it is) striving. The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, then said: To all that which you said, there is virtue, but it is not with it. However, the most solid of the ropes of faith is love for the sake of Allah, hatred for the sake of Allah, befriending the Allies of Allah and dissociation from the enemies of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He.

Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: The one who obeys Allah has certainly remembered Allah, even if his prayers, fasting and recitation (of the Qur’an) are little. The one who disobeys Allah has certainly forgot Allah, even if his prayers, fasting and recitation of the Qur’an are much.

The Messenger of Allah (sw) said to some of his companions one day: O servant of Allah, love for the sake of Allah, hate for the sake of Allah, befriend for the sake of Allah and antagonize for the sake of Allah, for indeed, you will not attain the Guardianship of Allah except by that. A man will not find the taste of faith, even if his prayers and fasting are much, until he is like that. The fraternity between people on this day of yours has mostly become for the sake of this world, for whose sake they are affection, and for whose sake they hate. That will not avail them from Allah at all. Then the man said: O Messenger of Allah, and how can I know that I have befriended and antagonized for the sake of Allah? And who is the Ally of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, that I may befriend him? And who is His enemy that I may antagonize him? The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, then pointed for him towards Ali, peace be upon him, and said: Do you see him? He said: Sure. He said: The ally of him is an ally of Allah, so befriend him, and the enemy of him is the enemy of Allah, so antagonize him. Moreover, befriend the ally of him, even if he was to be the killer of your father and sons, and antagonize the enemy of him, even if he was to be your father and son

I heard the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, say: Indeed, on Friday there is an hour that is not observed by a Muslim man in which he asks Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, for goodness, except that He will give it to him. She said: Then I said: O Messenger of Allah, what hour is it? He said: When the half of the sun’s eye sinks down for sunset. He said: Fatima (sa) used to say to her servant: Climb on the elevated rock, and if you see that half of the sun’s eye has sunken for sunset, notify me that I may supplicate.

Al-Sadiq, Ja’far bin Muhammed, peace be upon them both, said: The one who does not care about what he says and what is said about him, is an associate of Shaytan. The one who does not care that people consider him to be a causer of harm, is an associate of Shaytan. The one who is fondly in love with the forbidden and lust for fornication, is an associate of Shaytan. He, peace be upon him, then said: Indeed, one who is begotten from fornication has signs: one of them is hatred towards us, the Household; a second of them is that he hankers for that from which he was created; a third of them is to take religion lightly; and a fourth of them is a bad manner of attendance with people, and that he does not attend badly with his brothers except with the one who is begotten from other than the mattress of his father or whose mother became pregnant with during her menstrual period.

I asked Abu Ja’far, Muhammed bin Ali al-Baqir, peace be upon them both, about the saying of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «like a good Tree whose root is firmly established and whose Branch is in Heaven? It brings its Fruit all the time, by the permission of its Lord.» (14:24-25) He said: As for the Tree, it is the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and its Branch is Ali (a.s) and the twig of the tree is Fatima, the daughter of Allah’s Messenger (sw) and its Fruits are her sons, peace be upon them, and its Leaves are our party . He, peace be upon him, then said: Indeed, a believer from our party is surely to die, and a leaf will fall from the Tree, and indeed, a newborn from our party is surely born and the Tree grows a leaf.

The Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him, asked his son, Hasan bin Ali, and said: O my son, what is the intellect? He said: That your heart preserves what you have stored. He said: And what is firmness? He said: That you wait for your chance and hasten as much as you are able to. He said: And what is glory? He said: To carry losses and to build noble traits. He said: And what is lenience? He said: To answer the requesting and to spend that which is obtained. He said: And what is avarice? He said: That you see the little as thriftlessness and that which you have spent as a waste. He said: And what is gentleness? He said: To seek the easy and to prevent the worthless. He said: And what is it to burden? He said: To adhere to that which does not assure you, and to look into that which does not concern you. He said: And what is ignorance? He said: To quickly jump onto a chance before consolidating oneself from (having to take) it, and to avoid an answer. A good assistant is silence in many occasions, even if you would be fluent. He, Allah’s blessings be upon him, then turned towards Hussain, his son, peace be upon him, and said to him: O my son, what is sovereignty? He said: To form a kin and to expect offenses. He said: And what is wealth? He said: That you have little desires and satisfaction with what is sufficient for you. He said: And what is poverty? He said: Covet and severe hopelessness. He said: And what is ignobility? He said: That an individual achieves himself and subjugates his spouse. He said: And what is violation? He said: That you antagonize your commander and the one who is able to harm you and benefit you. He then turned towards Harith, the half-blinded, and said: O Harith, teach these wisdoms to your children, for indeed, they are a means to increasement with regards to intellect, firmness and sound opinion.

“The best among your youths is the one who resembles your old ones, and the worst among your old ones is the one who resembles your youths.”

There will be a tribulation. Hence, if one of you observes it, it is upon him (to adhere to) two virtues: The Book of Allah, and Ali bin Abi Talib (as), for indeed, I heard the Prophet of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, say, while he had held the hand of Ali, peace be upon him: He is the first to have believed in me, and the first to handshake me on the Day of Resurrection. He is the Divider [1] of this nation, who divides between truth and falsehood. He is the Leader of the Believers, and property is the leader of oppressors. He is, indeed, the Greater Truthful , and he is my Door through I am approached, and he is my Successor after me.

I heard Abu Abdillah (as) say: “When Musa (as) climbed the mountain and silently called to his Lord, Exalted and Glorious is He, he said: O my Lord, show me Your treasures. He said: O Musa, My treasures is only that when I want something, I say to it: «Be» and it is.”

I heard Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, say: When Musa, peace be upon him, climbed the mountain and silently called to his Lord, Exalted and Glorious is He, he said: O my Lord, show me Your treasures. He said: O Musa, My treasures is only that when I want something, I say to it: «Be» and it is.

That which is between sixty and seventy is the battlefield of deaths. He, peace be upon him, then said: The poor are the tribulations of Islam.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: Cursed, cursed, is the one who causes permanent blindness to a blinded! Cursed, cursed, is the one who worships the dinar and the dirham! Cursed, cursed, is the one who has intercourse with an animal!

Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, said: Indeed, Fatima bint Asad, may Allah grant her mercy, came to Abu Talib, giving him glad tidings about the birth of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and so Abu Talib said to her: Be patient for me with a Saturday , and I will bring to you the same as he, except for Prophethood. He said: A Saturday is thirty years. There was between the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and the Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him, thirty years.

Jabir bin Abdullah said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, say to Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s) before his death with three (days), 'The peace of Allah be upon you, O father of the Two Aromas. I bequeath you with regards to my Aroma of this world, for soon will your pillars collapse, and Allah is the my Trustee upon you.' Then, when the Messenger of Allah, (s.w.) was taken, Ali said: This is one of my pillars about whom the Messenger of Allah spoke to me. Then, when Fatima (a.s) died, Ali (a.s) said: 'This is the second pillar about whom the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, spoke.'"

People are (of) three (types): An Arab, a convert [1] and a disbeliever [2]. As for the Arabs, they are us. As for the convert, it is the one who befriends us. As for the disbeliever, it is the one who dissociates from us and is hostile to us.

I heard Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, say: We are Quraish, our party are the Arabs and our enemies are the non-Arabs.

I said: And what is hamaj? He said: Flies. I said: And what is habaj? He said: Bugs.

I said to him: A man who remains among those who claim our cause will keep saying to the one whom Allah has favoured with Islam: «O Nabataean». He said: Then he, peace be upon him, said: We, the Household, and the Nabataean are from the progeny of Ibrahim. They are only two spurts from that which gushes out, that is water and mud, and it does not harm him in his progeny at all. Hence, they are a people who derived knowledge, and we are them.

I heard Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, say: The one who is born in (the fold of) Islam is an Arab, and the one who enters it willingly is better than the one who enters it out of compulsion. A mawla is the one who is taken as a captive from his land and then accepts Islam. That is a mawla.

I heard Abu Abdillah (a.s) say: “Nobility is good act. Honor is (possession of) property. Dignity is godfearness.”

“The one who is born in (the fold of) Islam is an Arab, and the one who has an oath and fulfills his oath, is a servant of Allah’s Messenger (sw) and the one who enters into Islam willingly is a migrant.”

“A man said to Abu Abdillah (a.s) : People are saying: «The one who is not of Arab origin, nor a clearly declared mawla, is an inferior. He said: And what thing is a clearly declared mawla? The man said to him: The one who owns his parents. He said: And why did they say this? He said: They said it due to the saying of Allah’s Messenger (sw): A people’s mawla is from themselves. He said: Glory be to Allah, has it not reached you that the Messenger of Allah (sw) said: «I am the Master [1] of the one who has no master, and I am the Master of every Muslim, Arab and non-Arab»? Hence, the one who befriends the Messenger of Allah (sw), will he not be from the self of Allah’s Messenger (sw)? He then said: Which of the two is more honored: the one who is from the self of Allah’s Messenger (sw); or the one who is from the self of an gross Arabian who urinates on his heels? Furthermore, he (sw) said: The one who enters into Islam willingly is better than the one who enters out of fear. The hypocrites entered out of fear, whereas the mawali [2] entered willingly."

A man said to Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him: People are saying: «The one who is not of Arab origin, nor a clearly declared mawla, is an inferior. He said: And what thing is a clearly declared mawla? The man said to him: The one who owns his parents. He said: And why did they say this? He said: They said it due to the saying of Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family: A people’s mawla is from themselves. He said: Glory be to Allah, has it not reached you that the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: «I am the Master [1] of the one who has no master, and I am the Master of every Muslim, Arab and non-Arab»? Hence, the one who befriends the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, will he not be from the self of Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family? He then said: Which of the two is more honored: the one who is from the self of Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family; or the one who is from the self of an gross Arabian who urinates on his heels? Furthermore, he, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: The one who enters into Islam willingly is better than the one who enters out of fear. The hypocrites entered out of fear, whereas the mawali [2] entered willingly.

I went with Bukayr and a man from the descendants of Ali to the sacred sites until we reached Uhud. He showed us the graves of the martyrs, then led us into the valley. We walked with him for a while until we arrived at a mosque, where he said: "The Messenger of Allah (saw) prayed here," so we prayed there. Then he showed us a place at the top of a mountain and said: "The Prophet (saw) climbed this and found rainwater here." Zurara said: It occurred to me that the Messenger of Allah (saw) would not have climbed to fetch water. So I said: "I will not continue with you. I will sleep here until you return." He and Bukayr went and then came back to me, and we all returned together. The next day, we visited Abu Ja'far (as), who asked us: "Where were you yesterday? I did not see you." We informed him and described to him the mosque and the place where it was claimed the Prophet (saw) had climbed and washed his face. Abu Ja'far said: "The Messenger of Allah (saw) never went to that place." We then said: "It has been narrated to us that his tooth was broken." He replied: "No, Allah took him back whole, but his face was injured. He sent Ali, who brought water in a shield, but the Messenger of Allah (saw) refused to drink from it and only washed his face."

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, prayed in it. Hence, we prayed in it, and then he showed us a place at the top of the mountain, and he said: The Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family climbed to it, and it used to be rain water there. Zurara said: It then hit within me that the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, did not climb to any water. I then said: I will not come with you. I will sleep here until you come. Then he and Bukair walked, and so they went and then came to me, and then we all went. Then, until the next day, we came to Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, and he said to us: Where were you yesterday, for indeed, I did not see you? So, we informed him and described to him the mosque and the spot in which it was claimed that the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, climbed to and and washed his face in. Abu Ja’far said: The Messenger of Allah never came to that place. We said to him: It has also been narrated to us that his front tooth were broken. He said: No. Allah took him unto Himself in safety, however, he was cut open in his face, and he sent Ali, so he brought him water in a leather vessel, and the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, felt disgusted to drink from it, and he washed his face.

I heard the Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him, while he was sitting and I was standing: I will surely come to Egypt to bring death, and I will surely come to demolish Damascus, stone by stone, and I will surely bring the Jews and the Christians out of all the nests of the Arabs, and I will surely drag the Arabs with this staff of mine. He said: I said to him: O Commander of the Believers, it is as if you are informing us that you will be revived after you die? He said: May such not be, O ‘Abaya. You thought into another direction of thoughts which a man from me knows. The compiler of this book, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Indeed, the Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him, used Taqiya with ‘Abaya al-Asadi in this narration, and he used Taqiya with Ibn al-Kawra’ in the previous narration, because they could not bear the secrets of the Family of Muhammed, peace be upon them.

I heard the Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him, while he was sitting and I was standing: I will surely come to Egypt to bring death, and I will surely come to demolish Damascus, stone by stone, and I will surely bring the Jews and the Christians out of all the nests of the Arabs, and I will surely drag the Arabs with this staff of mine. He said: I said to him: O Commander of the Believers, it is as if you are informing us that you will be revived after you die? He said: May such not be, O ‘Abaya. You thought into another direction of thoughts which a man from me knows. The compiler of this book, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Indeed, the Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him, used Taqiya with ‘Abaya al-Asadi in this narration, and he used Taqiya with Ibn al-Kawra’ in the previous narration, because they could not bear the secrets of the Family of Muhammed, peace be upon them.

I asked Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, about the saying of the Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him: «Indeed, our matter is difficult and complicated; it is not acknowledged except by an Angel who is brought near (to Allah), or a Prophet that is sent (with a Divine Message), or a servant whom Allah has tested his heart with faith.» He said: Because among the Angels are those who are brought near and those who are not brought near, and among the Prophets there are those who are sent and those who are not sent, and among the believers there are the tested and the untested. Hence, this matter of yours was presented to the Angels, and none acknowledged it except for those who are brought near, and (it was presented) upon the Prophets, and none acknowledged it except for those who were sent, and it was presented upon the believers, and none acknowledged it except for those who were tested. He said: He then said to me: Continue in your conversation.

I heard Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, say: The one who complains to a believer has certainly complained to Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, and the one who complains to an opponent (of us) has certainly complained about Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He.

I said to Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him: Your party is saying: For the performer of pilgrimage, his family and property are in the assurance of Allah. However, it might me that he bequeaths with regards to his family, and it might be that I see that he goes out and his family is afflicted with afflictions. He, peace be upon him, said: He would bequeath with regards to them in that which he used to do. As for what is present and he is not able to repel, then no.

I asked Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him: Was the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, asked about children? He said: He was certainly asked, and he said: Allah is more knowledgeable of what they are to do. He then said: O Zurara, do you know what is (the meaning of) his saying: «Allah is more knowledgeable of what they are to do»? He said: No. He said: To Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, is the will with regards to them. Indeed, when the Day of Resurrection will be, to Him will children be brought, and so will an old man who had reached an old age and does not rationalize due to aging and senility, and the one who dies in a period in which there are two Prophets, and the insane and the fool who does not rationalize. All of them will argue against Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, to which Allah, Exalted is He, will send to them an Angel from the Angels who will stir up a fire and say: Indeed, your Lord is commanding you to stay firm in it. Then, those who stay in it, it will be cold and a cause of peace to him, and those who disobey him will be dragged to the Fire.

The bliss in this world is safety and a healthy body. The completion of the grace in the Hereafter is to enter Paradise. The grace has never been completed for a servant who does not enter Paradise.

I heard the big judge, Abu’l-Hasan, Ali bin Ahmad al-Tabari, say: I was told by Abu Sa’eed, Hasan bin Ali bin Zakariya ibn Zafr al-‘Adawi al-Basri, that he said: I passed in Basra by the area of Tahhan, and it was a district, and suddenly I observed crowds by a door, and people entering a house, and other people leaving. I then entered, and suddenly I observed an old man say: I was told by my master, Anas bin Malik – and that was Khirash, the servant of Anas – that he said… Abu Sa’eed said: There were no paper with me, so I borrowed a pen and wrote these fourteen narrations on the external side of my sandal:

Fasting is a Garden – meaning a veil – from the Fire. He only said that because fasting is an internal devoutness in whom there is no incitement to evil by Shaytan, nor any means of ostentation before another human being.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: There are two joys for the one who fasts: a joy during his breaking of the fast; and a joy on the Day he will meet his Lord. With his joy during the breaking of his fast, he meant the joy of a Muslim with regards to attaining that day in the journal of his good deeds and virtuous acts, not that this joy of his is due to what is allowed to him of food at that time of his. Joy due to eating and the belly’s need is not among the honors of what the righteous are praised. As for his joy on the Day of the meeting with his Lord, Exalted and Glorious is He, it is due to what Allah will bestow upon him from the virtue of His grant, which none from among the people of the Resurrection will have the like of, except for those who did the same as his deed.

Indeed, for Paradise is a Gate called the Irrigating , from which none but the fasting will enter. This Gate was only named the Irrigating because the fasting is fatigued by thirst more than he is fatigued by hunger, and when the faster will enter through this Gate, he will be met with irrigation after which he will never become thirsty.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: The one who fasts a day voluntarily, if he is given the amount of what fills the earth with gold, his reward will not be fulfilled as compared to that of the Day of Reckoning. It means that the reward for fasting is not estimated like how one good deed is estimated by ten the likes of it. The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, said: All the deeds of the son of Adam are by ten the likes of them until seven hundred the likes of, except for patience, for indeed, it is for Me, and I will reward for it. Thus, the reward for patience is concealed in the Knowledge of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, and patience is fasting.

Modesty is good, all of it. It means that modesty repels the one with religion, as well as the one with no religion, from the horrid. Hence, it is the gatherer of every beauty.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: Modesty and faith, all of it, is in one horn; if one of them is pulled off, the other follows it. It means that the one whom modesty does not repel from horrid in what is between him and between people, will not repel himself from horrid in what is between him and between his Lord, Exalted and Glorious is He. The one who is not embarrassed before Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, and publicly challenges him with horrid acts, he has no (sincere adherence) religion.

performance of a horrid act after another horrid act ends with devilry, and the one who becomes a devil (in challenge) against Allah, is cursed by Allah.

The one who gazes behind a woman until it becomes clear to him the size of her bones from behind her clothes, while he is fasting, has broken the fast. It means that he has conditioned upon himself to break the fast due to what emerges from the motives of his inner self and inclinations of his interest, by which he would be in danger from falling into sin.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: The one who recites a hundred verses (of the Qur’an) will not be written to be among among the unaware. The one who recites two hundred verses, will be written to be among the devout. The one who recites three hundred verses will not be argued against from the Qur’an. It means those who learn by heart the amount of that from the Qur’an. It is said: «The boy recited the Qur’an» if he learns it by heart.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: My life is good for you, and my death is good for you. As for my life, it is that you speak to me and I speak to you. As for my death, it is that your deeds are presented to me at the evening of Monday and Thursday; whatever is of a righteous deed, I praise Allah for it, and whatever is of a misdeed, I ask Allah for forgiveness to you.

The one who says: «Glory be to Allah, and in the praise of Him» Allah will prescribe to him a thousand by a thousand good deed, erase from (the record of) him a thousand by a thousand misdeed and raise him by a thousand by a thousand degree. Moreover, the one who increases, Allah will increase to him, and the one who asks forgiveness, Allah will forgive him.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, went out to his companions and said: The one who assures two things for me, I will assure to him Paradise. Abu Huraira then said: May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah. I will assure them to you. What are they? He said: The one who assures to me that which is between his jawbones and that which is between his legs, I will assure Paradise to him. It means the one who assures (the preservation of) his tongue and genital. The causes of misfortunes open from these two parts. The offense of the tongue is disbelief in Allah, false saying, calumny and faithlessness with regards to the Names of Allah and His Attributes, backbiting, gossip and accusation. That is among the offenses of the tongue. The offense of the genital is intercourse when it is not permitted by marriage nor possession with the right hand. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said: «And those who are, to their genitals, preserving, except upon their wives or what their right hands possess; (in that) they are, indeed, not to be blamed. Hence, the one who seeks beyond that, those are the transgressors.» (70:30-31)

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: Surely, to mention Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, at the mornings and the evenings is better than to demolish with swords for the sake of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He. It means that the one who mentions Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, at morning and then remembers what was issued from him (of actions) at that night of his of misdeeds, asks forgiveness from Allah and repents to Him, if he goes to seek what Allah has divided for him, he would do so, his misdeeds will be nullified from him and his sins will be forgiven. If he mentions Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, at the evenings, that are nights, he examines himself with regards to what was issued from him (of actions) during that day of his of thriftlessness towards himself and waste of a matter relating to his Lord. If he then mentions Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, asks Allah, Exalted is He, for forgiveness and returns, he will go to his family after his sins from that day of his have been forgiven. Martyrdom is only praised as well if it is from one who has repented to Allah and sought forgiveness from disobedience to Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He.

The companions of Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, used to treat on the ocean. It means that trade and sailing on the ocean while it is not agitated is not among what is disliked (of acts), and it is one of the acts of dispersing and seeking which Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, has given permission to, with the saying of Him, Exalted and Glorious is He: «And when the prayer is fulfilled, disperse in the land and seek from the bounty of Allah» (60:10). A narration has been narrated with regards to sailing on the ocean and prohibition from it.

I asked Abu Abdillah (a.s.) about the meaning of the saying of the Commander of the Believers (AS) when he looked at the Second (Umar) while he was covered in his cloth: "Nothing is more beloved to me that I meet Allah with a journal from this covered person." He said: By that, he meant the journal which he wrote in the Ka’ba.

I asked him about what was narrated from the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, that he said: «Indeed, the begotten from fornication was the worst of the three» What is the meaning of it? He said: By that, he indicated the middle one, that he is worse than the one who preceded him and the one who succeeded him.

What is your trade? He said: I sell riding animals. Then, they conducted in marriage with him, and suddenly, it was observed that he sells fishing tackles. So, they brought the case to dispute before Ali bin Abi Talib, peace be upon him, and he declared his marriage as permissible, and he said: Fishing tackles are (an application of) riding animals.