موسى بن جعفر البغدادي

“Ali ibn Abi Talib (MGB) was at the Jamea Mosque in Kufa. A man from Syria got up and asked him several questions. One of these questions was, ‘Can you tell me what the Honorable the Exalted God means when he says, ‘That Day shall a man flee from his own brother, And from his mother and his father, And from his wife and his children. Each one of them, that Day, will have enough concern (of his own) to make him indifferent to the others…’ Who are being referred to in these verses?’Ali ibn Abi Talib (MGB) replied, ‘The one who flees from his brother refers to Cane who flees from Abel. The one who flees from his mother refers to Moses (MGB) who flees from his mother. The one who flees from his father refers to Abraham (MGB). The one who flees from his wife is the Prophet Lot (MGB). The one who flees from his son refers to Noah (MGB) who flees from his son Kan’an.’”The compiler of the book - may God be pleased with him - said, “Moses (MGB) will escape from his mother due to his feeling of not having paid due respect to his mother’s rights. Abraham (MGB) will escape from Azar who was his trainer, not his real father who was Tarukh.”

It was on the last Wednesday of the month on which Abel killed Cane. Abraham (MGB) was cast into fire on a Wednesday. The catapult (with which Abraham was thrown into the fire) was built on a Wednesday. God drowned the Pharaoh on a Wednesday. On Wednesday the Honorable the Exalted God destroyed the land of the people of Lot. On Wednesday the Honorable the Exalted God sent the fiery winds to the people of Ad. On Wednesday their gardens turned black and fell down. On Wednesday the Honorable the Exalted God made a mosquito overcome Nimrood. On Wednesday Pharaoh called in Moses (MGB) in order to kill him. On Wednesday the roof collapsed over their head. On Wednesday Pharaoh ordered the boys of the Israelites to be killed. On Wednesday the Holy Shrine (Bayt ul-Muqadas) in Jerusalem was destroyed. On Wednesday the Mosque of David - the son of Solomon (MGB) was put on fire. On Wednesday Yahya - the son of Zakariya was killed. On Wednesday the first shadow of punishment descended upon the people of Pharaoh. On Wednesday God had Qarun (Korah) sunk into the Earth. On Wednesday God had Ayoob (MGB) suffer from the loss of wealth and children. On Wednesday Joseph (MGB) entered jail. The Honorable the Exalted God said on Wednesday ‘that We destroyed them and their people, all (of them).’ On Wednesday they were caught by the cries. OnWednesday they slaughtered the she-camel. On Wednesday ‘stones of baked clay’ fell over them. On Wednesday the Prophet (MGB) was injured and his tooth broke. On Wednesday the coffin was stolen from the Israelites.”The compiler of the book - may God be pleased with him - said, “It is fine for one who needs to travel to travel on Wednesday or one who has to have phlebotomy done on Wednesday to have it done. There is no bad omen in such an act especially for those who do so to discredit the claim of those who consider this to be unlucky. However, it is better not to go on a journey or have phlebotomy done on Wednesday, if it is not absolutely necessary.”

Al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, said with regards to the saying of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «The Day when Allah will gather the Messengers and say: What were you responded with? They will say: We have no knowledge.» (5:109) He said: They will say: We have no knowledge of other than You. He said: Al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, said: The Qur’an, all of it, is reproach, and its internal meaning is an approximation.

I asked my maternal uncle, Hind ibn Abi Hala, about the looks of God’s Prophet (s). He was good at describing the looks of God’s Prophet (s). He said, ‘God’s Prophet (s) was magnificent. His face shined as bright as the full moon (on the fourteenth night of the month). He was taller than the medium-sized people and shorter than the thin and tall people. He had a big head. His hair was neither too curly nor was it too soft and straight. He (s) parted his hair when it grew long. Otherwise he left it alone. Whenever his hair grew long, he never let it grow lower than his earlobes. His complexion was shining brightly. He had a broad forehead. His eyebrows were long and curved, yet they were hairy but not attached to each other. Whenever he (s) got angry, the veins between his eyebrows got swelled up. His nose was slim and slightly raised in the middle. He possessed an illumination which always accompanied him in such a way that whoever did not ponder carefully over him thought he (s) was haughty.His beard was short but bushy. His cheeks were flat and thin. His mouth was big, and his teeth were bright white. He had a thin layer of hair extending from his chest down to his belly button. His neck looked like a silver jar. He had a balanced build. His body was strong, and his chest and stomach were in line with each other. He had wide muscular shoulders. His body was brilliant white. There was a thin layer of hair from his neck down to his belly button, but his lower chest and stomach had no hair. However, his upper chest and shoulders were hairy. His elbows were large, his palms were sturdy, his hands and feet were rough. His hands and legs were coordinated and his bones were straight without any crookedness. The sole of his feet were curved, and his heels were not chubby such that water passed under his feet and was not blocked.When he (s) moved he took firm steps. He leaned to one side slightly, and walked fast but gently as if he was moving fast downhill. When he turned to the right or left, he turned his whole body around. He lowered his eyes and looked to the Earth more than he looked up to the sky. He never stared, and greeted everyone he (s) saw.’Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s) added, ‘I asked him to tell me about the Prophet’s sayings. Hind ibn Abi Hala replied, ‘He (s) was always sad and was continuously thinking. He was never comfortable. He never spoke when not necessary. He was careful about when to start and when to stop talking. He never talked too much or too little. His words were to the point. He never said vulgar things. He always highly valued other people’s kindness and affection, even if it was very little. He never blamed any of them. He neither spoke good of nor spoke bad of the taste of food. He never got angry about the world. However, when there was a question of rights, nothing could stifle his anger until he established the right. He used all of his hand to point to things. He used to turn around his hands when he was surprised. He used to bring his right hand close to his left hand, and touch the palm of his left hand with his right thumb when he spoke. He used to turn his face around when he got angry. He used to look down when he was happy. Most of the time his laughter was just limited to a smile. He looked splendid when he laughed and also his white teeth could be seen.’Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s) added, ‘I hid this from Al-Hussein (s) for sometime, and then narrated it for him. However, I discovered that he (s) had already asked about the Prophet (s). I found out that he (s) had even asked our father (Ali ibn Abi Talib (s)) about the Prophet’s way of coming in, going out, sitting and his looks. He (s) had not left anything out.’Al-Hussein (s) said, ‘I asked my father (s) about God’s Prophet (s) way of coming in. He (s) said, ‘Only the Prophet (s) was allowed to go in and out from his place of entrance. When the Prophet (s) went home, he divided his time into three portions. One portion was for the Sublime God. Another portion was for his family, and the third portion was for himself. He (s) divided his own personal time into two parts - between himself and the people. First the elite entered and then the other people. He never withheld anything from them. Regarding the nation, he (s) preferred the noble ones by giving them a portion of his time according to their degree of nobility in religion. Some had only one request, others had two or more. He attended to their needs and pleased them by saying what would improve their affairs and the affairs of the nation. He also asked them about their health. He (s) would also ask those present to inform those who were absent, and to convey to him (s) the requests ofthe people who had no access to him (s). He (s) said that on the Resurrection Day, God will firmly establish the steps of whoever presents the requests of a needy one who cannot be present before the ruler. Nothing but these needs were presented to him. He did not accept any other thing to be presented there. He (s) always entered like the seeking scout with a full hand and knowing the religion, and left having guided the people.’’Al-Hussein (s) said, ‘I asked my father (s) about how God’s Prophet (s) after he left.’ He (s) said, ‘God’s Prophet (s) kept quiet except about what was relevant to him. He (s) sought the love of the people and never drove the people away from himself. He honored the noblest person in each tribe and appointed him as its head. He avoided the people without them feeling that they were not welcome. He asked about his companions and how they were doing. He asked the people about their affairs. He used to acknowledge good deeds and denounce wicked deeds without any exaggerations or underestimations. He was moderate. He was never negligent, fearing that the people might become negligent or get tired. He never forsook the right. His companions were of the best of the good-doing Muslims. To him the one who did the most good was the noblest. Whoever was more sympathetic and more helpful with others had a higher rank in his opinion.’’Al-Hussein (s) added, ‘I asked my father (s) about his meetings. My father (s) said, ‘The Prophet (s) was always remembering God in his meetings, whether he sat down or stood up. He never held meetings in public places and admonished against doing so. He always took a back seat whenever he attended a meeting. He always recommended this. He always treated his companions equally, so that no one thought that others were more honored than he is. Whenever he had company, he waited until they got up and left the meeting. Whoever asked him for something returned with full hands, or received a gentle verbal response. His manners were the same with everyone. He was like a kind father for the people. Everyone was the same in his sight as far as the right was concerned.His meetings were meetings of patience, shyness, honesty and trustworthiness. No one raised his voice there. No one was disrespected. No one’s faults were divulged. Everyone was humble to others due to piety.They respected the elder ones. They were kind with the younger ones. They preferred the needy to themselves and safeguarded the strangers.’’Al-Hussein (s) added, ‘I asked my father (s) about the way the Prophet (s) treated his companions? My father (s) said, ‘He was always cheerful, good tempered and easy-going. He was neither stern nor was he very harsh. He neither yelled nor did he swear. He never found faults with others. He neither made fun of anyone nor did he praise anyone. He ignored what he disliked. No one got disappointed with him. Those who placed hopes in him were never deprived. He never did the following three things with the people. He never blamed anyone; he never pursued the people’s minor faults or private affairs; and he only talked about things which he hoped deserved a good reward. Everyone was silent whenever he spoke. Others spoke only when he was silent. No one interrupted others’ words in his presence. When someone was talking in his presence, others remained silent until he finished talking, then they continued on. He laughed at whatever made others laugh. He got surprised at whatever made others get surprised. He was patient with strangers who did not talk or act properly. Even his companions sought such people (to assist them). The Prophet (s) used to tell them to assist needy persons who are trying to fulfill their needs when they see them. The Prophet (s) never accepted the praise of those weak in faith or the hypocrites. He never interrupted anyone unless they stopped talking themselves or the time passed by in which case he would get up to leave and the talk ended.’’Al-Hussein (s) added, ‘I asked my father (s) about the silence of God’s Prophet. My father (s) said, ‘The Prophet’s silence was due to four reasons: patience, avoidance and caution, testing and measurement, and thinking. Testing and measurement were done in the form of equally listening to and looking at different people. His thinking concerned the lasting and ephemeral affairs. He was patient and perseverant. He never got angry about anything and lose his temper. He acted with extreme caution in four situations: doing good deeds so that others follow suit; abandoning wicked deeds so that others abandon such deeds too; struggling to improve the affairs of his nation and attempting to do what was for the good of this world and the Hereafter for all. May God’s Blessings be upon him and his Holy Household.’’”(The author of the book Sheikh Sadooq said,) I have seen this tradition narrated by various Sheikhs with different chains of narrations which I have mentioned in my book Nubowwa. However, I have narrated the one on the authority of Al-Ridha (s) here since this book is about the best of his (s) traditions. I have included the interpretation of this tradition in my book Ma’ani al-Akhbar.

“Applying Antimony before going to bed stops watering of the eyes.”

“When the Imam (a.s.) would will to know something Allah will grant him such knowledge.”

Indeed, Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, created the intellect from a stored and concealed Light during His knowledge that has preceded, which has not been observed by any sent Prophet, nor Angel that is brought near. Then, He made Knowledge its inner self, Understanding its spirit, Abstinence its head, Modesty its eyes, Wisdom its tongue, Compassion its mouth and Mercy its heart. Then, He filled it amd strengthened it with ten things: certainty, faith, truthfulness, tranquility, sincerity, friendliness, giving, contentment, submission and thankfulness. He then said to it: «Return» and it returned, and then He said to it: «Come forward» and it came forward. He then said to it: «Speak» and it said: «Praise be to Allah who has no opponent, nor similar, nor resembling, nor equivalent, nor an alike, nor equal, nor an example (like Himself), whom everything is, to His Greatness, is subservient and submissive. Then the Lord, Blessed and Exalted is He, said: «By My Might and My Glory, I have not created a creation that is better than you, nor more complying than you, nor loftier than you, nor more dignified than you, nor more honored than you. Through you I shall be declared as One, and through you I shall be worshipped, and through you I shall be prayed to, and through you I shall be sought, and through you I shall be wished for, and through you I shall be feared, and through you I shall be warned from, and through you shall reward be, and through you shall punishment be. The intellect therein fell in prostration, and it remained in its prostration for a thousand years. Then the Lord, Blessed and Exalted is He, said after that: «Raise your head, and ask, and you will be given, and give salvation, and salvation shall be given through you.» Then the intellect raised its head and said: «My God, I ask you to make me give salvation for the one in whom You created me.» Then Allah, Glorified be His Glory, said to His Angels: «I am testifying you that I have, certainly, made it give salvation to the one in whom I create it.»

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who made a will that said I must give something to his uncle every year, but the uncle has died. He (the Imam) (a.s.), wrote, ‘You must give it to his heirs.’”

“I once wrote to abu Ja‘far, al-Thaniy (a.s.), and asked about a land that my grandfather had made an endowment for the needy children of so and so who are of a large number in different places. He (the Imam) (a.s.), said, ‘You have mentioned the land that your grandfather had made an endowment for the needy children of so and so. It is for those of them who are in the area (town) in which the endowment exists and you do not have to search for everyone who is absent.’”

“The people who do innovation (Bid-a’t) will be brought on the Day of Judgment in the same way as black and white bullocks are prominent. Qadiris will in the same way appear prominent among them and Allah, the Mighty and Sublime will ask: What was your intention? They will reply: Our intention was to seek Your pleasure. Allah will say: Your sins are forgiven but of the Qadiris are not. This is so because they committed polytheism in ignorance.”

The Messenger of Allah (s) said: Eating while full begets leprosy.

Now our great protection is no longer with the world and the only thing remaining is repentance. So repent a lot for it wipes sins as Almighty Allah says: But Allah was not going to chastise them while you were among them, nor is Allah going to chastise them while yet they ask for forgiveness.”15

‘You must not marry al-Zanj and al-Khazar; they have such wombs that indicate disloyalty.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Of Indians, al-Sind and al-Qand - meaning al-Qandahar - a hybrid does not exist among them.’

Abu Ja’far (asws) has said that Allah (azwj) has servants who are auspicious and righteous who are living, and the people live in their protection, and they are among His (azwj) servants at the status of the country. And Allah (azwj) has servants who are accursed and deniers. Neither do they live (a good life) nor do the people in their protection, and they are among His (azwj) servants at the status of the locusts. They do not occur on something except that they devour it’.

a man commits fornication with a woman; if she is lawful for his father to marry, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘No, it is not permissible. Only if the man marries her and goes to bed with her then his son commits fornication with her it does not harm him because unlawful does not make lawful ones unlawful and so also is the case of the slave-girl.’”

A Jew had lent the Messenger of Allah (s) gold coins, and he came to collect the debt. So, he said to him: O Jew! I do not have anything to give you. He said: I will not leave you, Muhammad, until I collect the debt from you. So, he (s) said: Allow me to sit with you. So, he (s) sat with him until he prayed Dhuhr, `Asr, Maghrib, the final `Isha’, and the morning prayer in that spot. The companions of the Messenger of Allah were threatening him and making promises to him. So, the Messenger of Allah (s) looked at them and said: What are you doing with him? So, they said: O Messenger of Allah! A Jew has confined you! So, he (s) said: My Lord did not send me to persecute a person of a treaty or others. So, when daytime came, the Jew said: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and His Messenger. I give half my wealth in the way of Allah. Surely, by Allah, I did not do what I did to you except so that I may see your description in the Torah, for surely, I read in your description in the Torah: “Muhammad, the son of `Abdullah. He is born in Mecca, and he will flee to Tayba. He is neither rude, nor difficult, nor boisterous. He does not adorn himself with revilement nor with profane speech.” I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah. Here is my wealth, so do with it as Allah reveals regarding it – and he was a Jew with great wealth.

“I never had a child . I went to Makkah and did not have any children. A man met me and gave good news of the birth of a boy to me. I then went on and visited Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.). When I went before him (the Imam), he (the Imam) asked, ‘How are you and how is your son?’ I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I left home but I did not have a son. My neighbor met me and said, “A boy is born to you .’” He (the Imam) smiled and asked, ‘Have you given him a name?’ I replied, ‘No, I have not given him a name.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Name him Ali; whenever a delay would take place in giving birth of any of my father’s girls he would ask her to keep her intention to name him Ali, then without much delay she would give birth to a boy.’”

1. Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) narrates that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, “Whenever the time of Salaat starts, an angel calls out to the people, ‘O people, stand up! Extinguish the fire, which you have lighted on your backs with the help of Salaat.”

Indeed, the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, once sent a brigade, and when they returned, he said: Welcome to a people who have performed the Minor Striving and upon whom remains the Major Striving. It was said: O Messenger of Allah, and what is the Major Striving? He said: Combating one’s self. He, peace be upon him, said: The best of striving is that of the one who combats his self that is between his sides.

The Messenger of Allah (s) said: Whomever sweeps up a mosque on Thursday on the eve of Friday, and a speck of dust comes into his eye, he is forgiven.