Chapter 6 - On Comfort

Ishaq ibn Am'mar said: “I heard Imam Sadiq (a.s) advise his women and family members: “Do not say the glorifications to God less than three times in your prayers. If you say them three times, there is nothing else that is better.”

“A believer will not be questioned about three things: the food he eats, the clothes he wears and the good woman who helps him and guards her chastity.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “There are three things which comfort a believer: a big house in which he guards his privacy and his bad states of health from the people, a good wife who assists him in the affairs of this life and the Hereafter, and a daughter or a sister who leaves his house either by death or through marriage.”

“Whoever starts his day with healthy eyes, ears and mind, and is secure from the ruler, and has his daily bread for that day, has been granted blessings that are better than whatever is illuminated by sunlight from the East to the West.”

“Cut your hair short. There are three things which one will never abandon doing, once he starts doing them. The first one is cutting his hair. Once he cuts his hair short and feels how comfortable it is, he will never again let his hair grow long. The second one is cutting short his robe. Whoever wears a long robe, and then cuts it a little to make it shorter will feel so comfortable that he will never again wear a long robe. The third one is related to marriage and divorce. Whoever divorces his free wife, and then marries a maid, will never again marry a free woman, since the maid expects very little and always obeys his orders. God the Almighty told the Prophet: “And thy garments keep free from stain!” [The Holy Quran: Mudaththir 74:4], This was revealed even though the Prophet's garment was clean. God just ordered him to shorten it a little bit.”

Imam Sajjad (a.s) said: “Some of the means of prosperity are to work in the same town that you live in, and have good friends, and have good children who are helpful. And one of the means of a man's misery is to have a wife who is conceited, and cheats him.”

Uthman ibn Mazoon told the Prophet (a.s): “O' Prophet of God! I have decided to castrate myself.” He replied: “O' Uthman! Calm down. Castration among my people is achieved by fasting and praying.” He said: “I place a lot of value on travelling.” The Prophet (a.s) said: “O' Uthman! Wait. My nation's travelling is their presence in the mosques and waiting for prayers after prayers.” He said: “I have decided not to have any meat.”The Prophet (a.s) said: “O' Uthman! Give me a chance. I eat meat and like it. I will even eat meat everyday if I can get some.” He said: “O' Prophet of God! May my parents be your devoted servants. I have decided not to use scent anymore.” The Prophet (a.s) said: “O' Uthman! Wait a moment. I use scent and like good scents. It is one of my traditions and one of the traditions of the previous Prophets.”

“Whoever has long hair should either keep it clean or cut it short. Whoever buys a pair of shoes should keep them clean or buy a new pair of shoes. Whoever keeps an animal or a pet should take good care of it so that it gets chubby. Whoever has a dress should keep it clean or buy a new dress.”