القاسم

“A believer asks Allah for help but does not envy, and a hypocrite envies, but does not ask Allah for help.”

“Envy consumes belief just as fire consumes firewood.”

Rasool Allah (saww) said: ‘Do not tell your dream except to a Believer who is free from the envy and the rebellion’.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was asked, ‘Which deed is more excellent before Allah?’ The Imam said, ‘No deed, after knowing Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and knowing the Messenger of Allah, is more excellent than hating the world. It has many branches, and the sins have branches also. The first sin committed was Arrogance, the sin of Satan, when he refused to obey (Allah), assumed arrogance and became an unbeliever. Thereafter it is Greed, the sin of Adam and Eve. When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, told them, ‘Enjoy the foods therein, but do not go near a certain tree lest you become of the transgressors.’ (2:35) They took what they did not need and it remained in their descendents to the Day of Judgment. For this reason most of the things that the children of Adam want do not need them. Thereafter is Envy. It is the sin of the son of Adam who envied his brother and killed him. From this branches love for women, love for the world, love to become the leader, the love to be comfortable, the love to speak, the love to be superior and rich. They total seven characteristics and all are found in the love for the world. The prophets and the scholars after knowing this have said, ‘Love for the world is the head of all sins.’ The world is of two kinds: The world of bare necessities and the condemned one.’”

When Allah liberated Mecca, we went out, and we had eight thousand men; and when we entered the evening, we had ten thousand Muslims. So, emigration was mentioned, and the Messenger of Allah (s) said: There is no emigration after the conquest of Mecca. He said: Then, we ended up in Hawazin, and the Prophet (s) said to `Ali b. Abi Talib (as): O `Ali! Stand, and look to your honour with Allah. Speak to the Sun once it rises. Ibn `Abbas said: By Allah, I did not envy anyone except `Ali b. Abi Talib (as) on that day. So, I said to Fadl: Stand up so that we may see how `Ali b. Abi Talib speaks to the Sun. So, when the Sun rose, `Ali b. Abi Talib (as) stood and said: Peace be unto you – O perpetual, obedient, and righteous servant – in the obedience of Allah, its Lord. So, the Sun replied to him, saying: And also with you, O brother and deputy of the Messenger of Allah, O Proof of Allah over His creation. So, `Ali (as) fell [weeping] in a prostration of gratitude toward Allah. He said: By Allah, I saw the Messenger of Allah (s) stand, take `Ali (as) by the head, help him stand up, and wipe his face, saying: Stand, my beloved, for you have made the people of heaven weep from your weeping. Allah has boasted to the carriers of the Throne about you.

“O my son! There are signs for everything by which they are known and which indicate those things. There are three signs for religion which are knowledge, faith and acting accordingly. There are three signs for knowledge which are knowledge of God, knowledge of what God likes and what God disapproves of. There are three signs for faith which are faith in God, His Book and His Messenger. There are also three signs for acting accordingly which are praying, fasting and paying the alms-tax. There are three signs for one who is a show-off which are quarrelling with ones who are better; speaking out of ignorance; and seeking what is extremely hard to find. There are three signs for the oppressor which are oppressively harming those who are superior; being forceful with those who are inferior; and helping those who are oppressors. There are three signs for the corrupt which are constant disagreement between what he says and what is in his heart; constant disagreement between his heart and his deeds; and constant disagreement between his outward appearance and his inward thoughts. There are three signs for the sinner which are he is treacherous, he lies and he acts opposite to what he says. There are three signs for the show-off which are he is lazy, but he acts as if he is steadfast in public and he always seeks to be praised.There are three signs for the haughty which are he blames others in their absence; he boastfully praises others in front of them; and he blames the events which bring about calamities. There are three signs for the wasteful which are he buys what he doesn’t deserve to have; he wears what he doesn’t deserve to wear; and he eats what he doesn’t deserve to eat. There are three signs for the lazy which are he is so sluggish that he starts to commit criminal acts; he has shortcomings that lead him to being ungrateful; and he wastes things so much that he becomes a criminal. There are three signs for the ignorant which are inattentiveness, playfulness and forgetfulness.” Hammad ibn Isa added that Aba Abdullah as-Sadiq (MGB) said, “For each of these signs there are more than a thousand indications. O Himad! Seek knowledge during the day and the night. Stop being greedy for what others possess, if you wish to be able to see the good in this world and attain the Eternal Abode. Consider yourself to be amongst the dead. Do not consider yourself to be superior to anyone else. Keep your mouth shut and keep your aspirations to yourself.”