Chapter 6 - On Zeal

“God the Almighty considers any man who does not defend against those who attack his house to be His enemy.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “God the Almighty is Zealous, and loves the zealous. It is for this zeal that He has forbidden all public or private obscene deeds.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Abraham was zealous. He would lock the door and take the key whenever he left the house.”

“Saed is zealous, and I am even more zealous than him. May God chop off the nose of the believers and Muslims who are not zealous.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “The heart of any man who is not zealous is turned upside down.”

“God is indeed zealous about believing men and women. Believers should also be zealous, since the heart of anyone who is not zealous is upside down.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “Islamic zeal will not be destroyed except through infidelity after faith, fornication after chastity, killing someone who is forbidden to kill, or not defending your privacy. God's Prophet (a.s) said: “You can kill whoever sneaks into your house at night, and blind whoever peeks into your house from the top of the wall.” He added: “The Prophet is zealous.”

Ishaq ibn Am'mar asked Imam Kazim (a.s): “What should a man do who has wives, a maid or maids in the house when he leaves the house?” The Imam (a.s) replied: “He should be zealous and lock the doors and be strict with them. The Prophet of God (a.s) said: “Abraham (a.s) was zealous, and I am even more zealous than him. May God chop off the nose of any believer who is not zealous.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “There is no blood money required for blinding or injuring anyone who takes a furtive look into a house at women.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “God's Prophet (a.s) was sitting in his house with his cane leaning on the wall. He noticed someone looking at him. He said: “O' you the one who is looking at me! If you stay where you are I will come and take out your eyes using this cane.” They asked Imam Baqir (a.s): “How did the Prophet realize that someone was looking at him while he was sitting down?” Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “From the gaps inside the wall woven from palm.”

“O' people of Iraq! I have heard that your women run into men in the streets. Are you not ashamed?”

In another tradition we read: “Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: “Are you not ashamed? Where is your zeal? Your women leave the house and run into strangers?”

Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: “There is no zeal in what is legitimate.” The Prophet of God told Imam Ali and Fatima on the night of their wedding: “Do not force me to come back to you.”

“Are you zealous of what you have not seen? Beware that if they oppress you regarding themselves it is better than you oppressing them.”