Chapter 12 - On Practicing the Traditions and the Quran

“Six things will benefit a believer after his death: 1- A child who seeks God for his forgiveness; 2- A book which he has left behind; 3- A tree which he has planted; 4- A water well which he has dug up; 5- Charity which he has established; and 6- A good tradition from him which is acted on after him.”

“Whoever opposes the tradition of Muhammad (the Prophet) is an infidel.”

Imam Sajjad (a.s) said: “The best practice near God is the practice of traditions, even if a little.”

“Whoever relies on my traditions in order to resolve the conflicts amongst my nation has the reward of one hundred martyrs.”

A man went to see Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) and said: “What does tradition, innovation, union and deviation mean?” Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) replied: “Tradition refers to the way of living that God's Prophet (a.s) has prescribed. Innovation refers to ways that have been proposed after the Prophet. Union refers to the assembly of a group of people who believe in God, even if they are few in number, and deviation refers to following what is wrong, even if the number of such followers is large.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Whoever opposes a tradition is an infidel.”

Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: “There are two types of traditions. Some traditions are related to the obligatory. Practicing them leads to guidance and abandoning them leads to deviation. Some other traditions are not obligatory. It is better to practice them, but it is not a sin to abandon them.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “Whoever transgresses against the traditions shall be returned towards traditions.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “There is no one without both enthusiasm and weakness. Whoever whose weakness is directed towards traditions, then he will find the right path. But if his weakness is directed towards innovations, then he will get deviated.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Everything is considered according to God's Book and traditions. Whatever tradition does not agree with God's Book is rejected.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “The heart moves from its place and reaches the throat before it can reach God, and calms down when it reaches God.” Then he closed his fist and recited the following verse: “Those whom God (in His Plan) willeth to guide, - He openeth their breasts to Islam; those whom He willeth to leave straying, - He makes their breast close and constircted” [The Holy Quran: Anam 6:125]

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “You cannot draw a comparison from traditions. How can you do so when a menstruating woman should not pray or fast, but has to make up her fasts but does not have to make up her prayers.”

“There is a reality for every right affair, and there is a light for every right affair. Therefore act according to the Quran and abandon whatever is opposed to the traditions of God's Prophet (a.s).”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “God bless whoever narrates traditions of the Prophet of God (a.s) and does not distort them in which case the people will abandon him.”

“Whenever you hear a tradition which contains contradictions, it is not what I have said, even if they claim I have said it. And if you hear a tradition that is not contradictory by itself, it is from me. Whoever sees me dead is similar to one who sees me when I am alive. I am a witness for whoever comes to visit my tomb, and I shall be his witness in the Hereafter.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) told Muhammad ibn Muslim: “O' Muhammad! Act according to any traditions that are brought to you if they agree with the Quran irrespective of whether an honest man or a wicked man brings it. On the other hand, do not act according to any traditions brought to you that disagree with the Quran.”

In a long tradition commenting on the “ALMS” in “Alif, Lam, Mim, Sad” - The Holy Quran Al-A’raf 7:1- Imam Baqir (a.s) told Labid: “whoever thinks that there is any vagueness in God's Book is ruined.” He then paused a little and added: “A is one, L is thirty, M is forty and S is ninety.” Then Labid asked him: “This adds up to the number 161. What does that imply?” Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “O' Labid! God shall take away the rule of a tribe in the year 161.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “The Quran has bounds as any house does.”

“By God I will chop off his head with this sword.” Right then the Prophet (a.s) arrived and asked: “Whose head will you chop off?” They informed the Prophet about what had been said. The Prophet (a.s) said: “O' Saed! Where are the four witnesses that God the Almighty has required?” Saed said: “O' Prophet of God! This act is done in front of my eyes and God is aware of it, too.” The Prophet (a.s) said: “O' Saed! Even though you see it yourself and God is aware, God has set some bounds for everything. He has also established a penalty for whoever transgresses any of these divine bounds. You should not spread the word about what is done away from the eyes of four witnesses among the Muslims.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) asked Ali ibn Abdul-Aziz: “Do You want me to tell you the major, the minor and the highest principles of Islam?” He said: “Yes.” Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “The major principle is prayer.” The minor principle is the payment of the alms tax. But the highest principle is holy war in the way of God. Do you want me to inform you about the gates of goodness? Fasting is similar to armor against the Fire of Hell. Charity will eliminate the sins. The same holds true for staying up late at night and praying to the Lord.” Then Imam Sadiq (a.s) recited the following verse: “Their limbs do forsake their beds of sleep, the while they call on their Lord, in fear and hope: and they spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which We have bestowed on them.” [The Holy Quran: Sajda 32:16]

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “After the obligatory acts, participating in a holy war is the noblest thing.”