Chapter 10 - On Faith and Islam

Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: “All good is contained in three traits: looking, being quiet and talking. If one does not get admonished when he sees things, he is in error. Not thinking when you are quiet equals ignorance, and any talk in which there is no remembrance of God is in vain.”

“A man went to the Prophet of God (a.s) and said that he had come to swear allegiance to Islam. God's Prophet (a.s) said: “So that you kill your father?” The man withdrew his hand and changed his mind. Later he returned and said he had come to swear allegiance to Islam. God's Prophet (a.s) said: “So that you kill your father?” The man said: “Yes.” The Prophet (a.s) said: “A believer sees his faith in his actions and an unbeliever sees his disbelief in his actions. I swear by Him who has control over my life! They do not realize their own position and learn a lesson from the evil deeds of the hypocrites and the infidels which are due to the disbelief.”

“There are certain signs by which religious people can be recognized. These are truthfulness, trustworthiness, fulfilling one's promise, observing the relations of kin, being kind with the weak ones, and the subordinates, minimal sexual intercourse with women, doing good deeds, being good-tempered, using knowledge, and doing whatever helps man approach God. Blessed be such people. They shall prosper, and have a good place to return to.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) reported the following on the authority of Ameer al-Momineen (a.s): “No one shall experience real faith unless he realizes that he shall suffer from whatever he is to suffer, and he shall be safe from whatever he should be saved from. Indeed it is God who brings forth loss or gain.”

“God has established faith on four pillars: perseverance, certitude, justice and Jihad.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “God will grant material goods to both His friends and His enemies. But He will only grant faith to those whom He loves.”

“Whoever performs ablution and prays properly, pays the alms tax, overcomes his anger, controls his tongue, seeks God's forgiveness for his sins, and guides his family members has indeed completed the real aspects of faith and the gates of Heaven are open to him.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “One day when the Prophet of God (a.s) saw Harith ibn Malik ibn al-Naemane al-Ansarie, he asked him: “O' Harith! How did you spent the night until the morning?” Harith replied: “O' Prophet of God! I spent the night until the morning as a true believer.” The Prophet (a.s) said: “There is a certain truth to all faith. What is the truth of your faith?” He replied: “I abstained from worldly affairs, stayed up all night long, and fasted all day. Then when I looked up to my Lord's heavens, it was as if the Judgment Day had approached, and I joined the residents of Heaven while they were going to visit each other, and the residents of Hell were being tortured.” God's Prophet (a.s) said: “You are a believer. God has enlightened your heart with faith. Then remain steadfast, and may God make you steadfast.” Then Harith said: “O' Prophet of God! I fear none of my parts (to sin) but my eyes.” So the Prophet of God (a.s) prayed for him and he lost his sight.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said the following regarding God's statement: “And most of them believe not in God without associating (others as partners) with Him: [The Holy Quran: Yusuf 12:106] They follow Satan in the same way that they attribute partners to God.”

“God has granted three things to believers: Nobility in the world and his religion, prosperity in the Hereafter, and dignity in the hearts of the people of the world.”

“Do you want me to tell you who a believer is? A believer is one with whom the believers trust their lives and property. Do you want me to tell you who a Muslim is? A Muslim is one from whose hands and tongue other Muslims are safe. And an emigrant is one who abstains from doing evil deeds and does not do whatever God has forbidden him to do.”

The Prophet (a.s) was asked whose faith is superior to other people's faith. He replied: “The one who is more generous.”

Prophet of God (a.s) said: “A believer's house is simple, his food is little, his hair is not styled, his clothes are simple, but he is humble and does not exchange his health with anything.”