Chapter 4 - On Privacy and Seclusion

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Approaching God is more efficient through the heart than the body, since spiritual motions are more efficient than physical motions.”

“Seclusion is a form of worship, but staying at home is a man’s smallest fault.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “God will take whoever imprisons his own self for the sake of God to Heaven.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “The Almighty God revealed to one of the Prophets of the Israelites: “If you wish to see Me in Paradise in the Hereafter, be lonely, sad, fear the people as a bird which flies over dry land and eats the top of branches and drinks from the springs and goes to its nest at night, and does not seek refuge in the nests of other birds. It is accustomed to its Lord and fears other birds.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “God, whose Majesty is Exalted revealed to the world: Put whoever serves you in hardship; serve whoever abandons you. Whenever one sits in the privacy of the night and prays to and calls on his Master, God will illuminate his heart. Whenever he says: “O' Lord!” God whose Majesty is Exalted will respond to him and say: “O' My servant! I heard you. Ask Me for whatever you want. I will grant it to you. Rely on Me, and I will suffice you.” Then the One whose Majesty is exalted tells the angels: “O' My angels! Notice My servant who is having a private time with Me in the darkness of this night, while the rogues are having fun, and the ignorant people are asleep. Witness that I have created him.” Then God's Prophet (a.s) said: “Fear God and strive to worship. Abstain from this world which abstains from you. The world is tricky, transient and ephemeral. Many are fooled by it and get ruined. The world was treacherous to many who trusted it. The world tricked many who relied on it. The world forced them to submit to it. Beware that you have an awesome path to go on, and a long trip to make before you can cross the Bridge to the Hereafter. A traveler should pick up the necessary things for his trip. Whoever does not, will suffer hardships. The best thing to pick up for the trip to the Hereafter is piety.”

“Do not ask for this. Ask God for health, and success in thanking Him for your health, since thanking for being healthy is better than perseverance in the face of trouble. The Prophet of God (a.s) prayed this way: “O' God! I ask You for health, and thanking for being healthy. I ask You for perfect health in this world and the Hereafter.”