يحيى

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah (saww) would eat like a slave, sit like one and knew that he was a slave (of Allah).”’

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Which quality is more graceful for a man?’ The Imam said, ‘Of such qualities are: reverence that is not a cause for any fear, magnanimity without expecting any recompense, and business, but not in worldly matters.’”

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘It is astonishing how one who yesterday was only a sperm and tomorrow will turn into a carcass displays arrogance and boastfulness.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when you stand up for Salah (prayer), you must not play with your beard, your head or with pebbles while you pray, except when you prepare (pebbles) as you are about to do sajdah in which case it is not an offense.”

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Believers must not humiliate themselves.’ It was asked, ‘How can one humiliate himself?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘This happens when he does things that are not bearable.’”

Abu Abdullah (asws) has said: ‘The one who repairs his owns shoes, and stitches his own clothes, and carries his own commodities is free from the arrogance’.

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) sneezed and said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds,’ then he placed his finger over his nose and said, ‘Humble is my nose before Allah with complete humility.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One, when reading from the Holy Quran, should, upon coming across a verse that speaks of prayer or warning, ask Allah for what is good that one hopes for and for safety from fire and torment.’”

“Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said. “Seek knowledge and beautify it with forbearance and dignity. Be humble to your students and to those from whom you learn. Do not be a tyrant scholar lest your falsehood would destroy the truth in you.”

I heard Aba Abdillah عليه السلام saying: seek knowledge and adorn yourself with forbearance and dignity together with it (knowledge), and humble yourself to the one you teach knowledge, and humble yourself to the one from whom you seek knowledge, and do not be tyrannical scholars so that your falsehood drives away your truth.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that a man once visited Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), and found him sitting on a camel-load of date stones. He asked, ‘What is it on which you are sitting, O abu al-Hassan?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is a hundred thousand palm trees, by the will of Allah.’ He planted them and not one date stone failed sprouting.’”

“I asked Aba Abdullah as-Sadiq (MGB), ‘Which characteristics are better for a man?’ The Imam (MGB) replied, ‘Dignity without being awesome, generosity without demanding something in return, and attending to affairs other than worldly affairs.’”

For there to be joined in your heart between the need for people and suffiency from them, is that your need of them is with regards to the softness of your speech and good giving of glad tidings, and that your suffiency from them is with regards to decency of your honor (relating to female relatives) and the maintenance of your dignity.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘No one expresses arrogance but because of lowliness that he feels in his soul.’ In another Hadith Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) has said, ‘There is no man who expresses arrogance or tyranny but because of lowliness that he feels in his soul.”

“I was sitting in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when Najiyyah abu Habib asked the Imam saying, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I have a flour-mill. During the night I wake up (for Salah (prayer)) and notice from the mill that the servant is gone to sleep. (Can) I then knock at the wall to wake him up?’ The Imam replied, ‘Yes, you are in the condition of obeying Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, when you are seeking to make a living.’” (Please consult a fatwa also.)

A man told Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ’By God, considering who your father is, there is no one on the Earth who is nobler than you are.’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, ‘Piety granted them this nobility, and obedience to God enabled them to benefit from it.’ Someone else said, ‘By God, you are the best of the people.’ Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “Do not swear. Whoever fears God the Sublime more than me is better than I am, and is more obedient than I am. By God, the following verse has not been abolished, ‘…and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you…’”

No.” He said, “This is Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.).” The people fell to his feet, kissed his hands and feet and said, “O son of the Prophet of God! Do you want us to burn in the Fire of Hell? Will we not be ruined for as long as the world lasts, if we should ever insult you?” He said, “I am worried about being treated as before. Once I was traveling with some people who knew me. They treated me the way that I did not deserve to be treated - due to their respect for God’s Prophet (S). That is why I prefer to not disclose my identity.”

“I heard Aba Abdullah as-Sadiq (MGB) say ‘Three groups of people will be under the Shade of the Honorable the Exalted God on the Day in which there is no shade other than God’s Shade. The first group are those who treat the people fairly. The second group are those who only do what pleases God, and do not do anything which would raise God’s Wrath. The third group of people are those who do not express the faults of their Muslim brothers in their absence, unless they first remove such faults from themselves. It is better to attend to the improvement of one’s own faults than to seek out other people’s faults.’”

Commander of the Faithful (ʿas) said, "Ten bring trials to themselves and to others: the one with little learning who takes it upon himself to teach a great deal to others. The prudent man possessing knowledge but not intellect. The one who seeks something he cannot attain and which is not suitable for him. The one fatigued but lacks steadiness. The steady one who, despite his steadiness, lacks knowledge. The knowledgeable one who does not desire improvement. The one who desires improvement but lacks knowledge. The knowledgeable one who loves the world. The one merciful with people but miserly with his possessions. The one seeking knowledge but disputing with those more knowledgeable than him in it such that whenever they teach him, he does not accept it from them."

Abu Abdullah (asws) said: ‘The Rasool Allah (saww) did not eat whilst leaning, since he (saww) was Sent by Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic, up to his (saww) passing away. He (saww) was modest for the Sake of Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic, and no one ever saw his (saww) knees is a gathering at all. And the Rasool Allah (saww) did not shake hands with a man at all by pulling his (saww) hand from his hand until the man would pull his own hand from his (saww) hands. The Rasool Allah (saww) did not recompense anyone with evil at all. Allah (azwj) the High Said to him (saww): “[23:96] Repel evil by what is best”, so he (saww) did it. And he never denied any beggar at all. If he (saww) had it with him (saww) he (saww) would give it, or else he (saww) would say: ‘Allah (azwj) will Give it’. And he (saww) did not Give anything at all on the Authorisation of Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic except that Allah (azwj) Authorised that for him (saww) even if it was the Paradise, Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic Authorised that for him (saww)’. He (asws) said: ‘And his (saww) brother (Ali (asws)) from after him (saww), by the One Who (azwj) Took his (asws) soul, did not eat anything at all Prohibited in the world until he (asws) exited from it. By Allah (azwj), if two matters were presented to him (asws) in both of which was the obedience to Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic, he (asws) would take the one which was more difficult upon his (asws) body. By Allah (azwj), he (asws) freed a thousand slaves for the Sake of Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic, from the work of his (asws) own hands. By Allah (azwj), no one could endure the deeds of the Rasool Allah (saww) after him (saww), apart from him (asws). By Allah (azwj), there did not descend upon the Rasool Allah (saww) any (difficulty) at all except that he (asws) was the foremost in facing it, being a reliable one from him (saww) for it. And whenever the Rasool Allah (saww) sent him (asws) with his (saww) flag, so Jibraeel would fight on his (asws) right and Mikaeel on his (asws) left. Then he (asws) would not return until Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic Granted victory to him (asws)’.