notifications_active Weekly Meshkat-e Noor Session: Thursdays at 20:30 at Haj Reza Mosque
In view of the hadith, “A time will come upon people when well-being has ten parts: nine lie in withdrawing from people, and one in keeping silent,” does this hadith conflict with maintaining family ties?
The withdrawal from people mentioned in the hadith, “Well-being has ten parts, nine of which lie in withdrawing from people,” means distancing oneself from those given to folly and sin—not severing ties with relatives. The hadith points to particular conditions at the end of time, when protecting one’s faith and dignity may leave no choice but to avoid worldly people, fools, and those enslaved by desire and vice.
The call to withdraw from people certainly means to keep away from those who are foolish and given to sin. Note that the hadith in question says, «یأتی على الناس زمان»—“A time will come upon people”—pointing to particular conditions at the end of time, when a believer will have no choice but to distance himself from people who are worldly, foolish, enslaved to lust, base and sinful, in order to preserve his faith and dignity.
... أی بنی العافیه عشره أجزاء تسعه منها فی الصمت إلا بذکر الله و واحد فی ترک مجالسه السفهاء...
*Tuḥaf al-ʿuqūl*, text, p. 89
Well-being has ten parts: nine lie in silence, except for remembrance of God, and one in avoiding the company of fools.
عن علی بن مهزیار یرفعه قال: یأتی على الناس زمان یکون العافیه عشره أجزاء تسعه منها اعتزال الناس و واحد فی الصمت.
*Thawāb al-aʿmāl wa ʿiqāb al-aʿmāl*, text, p. 178.