Taking Account of Our Primordial Nature

🌼🔆🌼The Locking of the Innate Nature🌼🔆🌼

🌹🔅☘️ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ ☘️🔅🌹

🔅🌹 “The Great Family”  “The Sweet Fruit of the Prayer-Forged Virtues”  “The Banner of the Ahl al-Bayt” “Commentary on Supplication 20 of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya”  “Session 223” and … Summary with Supplement       1403.04.14    Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat) 110.141 (903)  🌹🔅

🔅🌼A Map and Guide to the Topics: Taking Account of the Innate Nature🌼🔅

🌼 To develop the intention is to bring it to maturity, to make it sound and well-grounded.

🌼 Right guidance is steadfastness and resilience on the path of truth: traversing the land of servitude to God with speed and reaching what lies with the Lord.

🌼 Turning away from the innate nature is tantamount to drawing a sword against the Imam.

🌼 Turning away from the innate nature causes us to be turned upside down and to follow the path of polytheism instead of the path of tawhid. Virtues will give way to vices, and we will see light as darkness.

🌼 One sign that the innate nature has been locked is resistance to knowledge and wisdom.

🌼 We should question ourselves a little—and the things we believe we know, which may have come from the ego or Satan.

🌼 Denying the light leads to entrapment in darkness.

🌼 Every choice we make affects the entire world.

🌼 A good choice will add to the world’s beauty; a bad one will do the opposite.

🌼 We are always at Saqifah or Ghadir; not for a moment are we apart from them.

🌼 Our will must align with the will of Allah. The Imams, peace be upon them, are vessels of Allah’s will; they must be our models.

🌼 Our choices have both outward and inward effects. A good choice quickens our journey in servitude to God.

🌼 Let us make sure Satan is not our mount—and, worse still, that we do not become Satan’s mount! Let us not strive to increase wickedness.

🌼 The state we are in today is the image of our tomorrow.

🌼 The Imam of the Age is chosen and elect: he is not to be chosen, for he has already been chosen. We must pledge allegiance to him, not choose him. He is God’s proof. His Eminence marks the end of the path of Saqifah.

🌼 The finest service to people comes from the virtues forged through prayer and fasting. Such service is blessed, healing and beneficial; apart from it, every kind of service will be without blessing.

🌼 Let us not be disarmed by the pleasant manners of hypocrites: no sweet fruit grows from a corrupt vessel!

🌼 A believer follows all that is good and right.

🌼 Mere verbal acknowledgement of the Imams’ authority is not enough; it must be accompanied by action.

🌼 Let us serve God’s creation, but let us be ready to give our lives for the believers.

🔅🌼Virtues Cannot Flourish Alongside Vices🌼🔅

🌹So long as vices remain within a person, the splendors of virtue will not unfold. Worse still, when vices are mistaken for virtues, virtues will take root within that person, while vices become the accursed rulers of soul and body.

🌹To speak of cultivating a celestial form while one bears a satanic form and breathes with the breath of Iblis is a mark of ignorance and folly.

🔅🌼Taking Account of the Innate Nature🌼🔅

🌹Examining and taking account of our innate nature is an essential duty, day and night.

🌹To struggle against the innate nature is to struggle against God, God’s proof, and divine laws.

🔅🌼The Locking of the Innate Nature🌼🔅

🌹Resistance to truth, knowledge, wisdom and light is a clear sign that the innate nature has been locked and turned its back.

🌹Whoever resists and opposes the innate nature will, after a spiritual metamorphosis, be transformed into a lowly animal form.

🔅🌼False Certainty Must Crumble🌼🔅

🌹Let us question our “certainty in falsehood,” so that the lie may collapse and “certainty in truth” may emerge.

🔅🌼Sin leaves the world on its deathbed 🌼🔅

🌹Every wrong choice—at any point, whether concerning ourselves, others, or even the universe—is manifest injustice. The very life and spirit of the world are disturbed by unsound choices.

🌹At Saqifah, the world fell into its death throes, and believers on earth and in heaven were plunged into grief.

🌹The order of created beings is the outcome of their choices.

🌹Choices between good and evil, and between what is best and what is worst, have existed since creation and will continue to the end of the world. From the beginning, reason has stood against ignorance, light against darkness, and purity against corruption. Whichever is chosen, the order of things is reshaped accordingly.

🌹In certain circumstances, the choices we make can at least lessen the bloodshed.

🌹An excellent choice brings an excellent reward; a person can become a channel for the divine will.

🌷🔆بَلْ قُلُوبُنَا أَوْعِيَةٌ لِمَشِيئَةِ اللَّهِ، فَإِذَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ شِئْنَا، وَ اللَّهُ (عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ) يَقُولُ: وَ ما تَشاؤُنَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشاءَ اللَّه‏[1]

Imam al-Mahdi, peace be upon him: “…Rather, our hearts are vessels for God’s will. When God wills, we will; and God, Mighty and Exalted, says: ‘And they do not will unless God wills.’”

🔅🌼The Chosen One is not chosen by us 🌼🔅

🌹We do not have the right to choose the Imam of our time. Our duty is to pledge allegiance and reaffirm our covenant of wilayah, for he is God’s chosen and elect, His light and proof, His vicegerent and His proof. What we do today bears witness to the sincerity of our pledge tomorrow: tomorrow, we will be either at Ghadir or at Saqifah.

🌹The Imam of our time is God’s proof for those on earth and beyond it.

🔅🌼One great family🌼🔅

🌹God’s creatures are, as it were, God’s family. Whoever serves them pleases God. But no act of service should come at the cost of neglecting God’s laws or other ways of earning His pleasure.

🌹We should care for all of God’s creatures, but give particular—and above all, special—attention to the believers and God’s righteous servants, and be ready to give our lives for them.

🌷🔆قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ الْخَلْقُ عِيَالُ‏ اللَّهِ‏ فَأَحَبُّ الْخَلْقِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَنْ نَفَعَ عِيَالَ‏ اللَّهِ‏ وَ أَدْخَلَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ سُرُوراً.[2]

🔆The Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him and his family: “People are God’s family; so the most beloved of people to God is the one who benefits His family and brings joy to a family.”

🌷🔆مَنْ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‏ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ أَحَبُّ النَّاسِ إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ أَنْفَعُ النَّاسِ لِلنَّاسِ.[3]

🔆Imam al-Sadiq, peace be upon him: The Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, was asked, “Who is the most beloved of people to God?” He replied, “The one who is of the greatest benefit to people.”

🌹Spiritual concern for others is more beneficial than material concern, though both should be shown together. Being sincere in counsel and making sound choices for the common good are the best ways to benefit people.

🔅🌼There is no such thing as an imperfect believer 🌼🔅

🌹All the virtues should be among the qualities we choose through our faith. Incomplete faith is faithlessness. We should not deprive ourselves of other obligatory and recommended acts on account of the importance and emphasis placed on certain duties and devotional practices.

🌹Emphasis on attending to people’s needs should not distract us from the foundations of religious duties, such as prayer and fasting, and the like.

🌷🔆 عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ Peace be upon him قَالَ: إِنَّا لَا نَعُدُّ الرَّجُلَ مُؤْمِناً حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِجَمِيعِ أَمْرِنَا مُتَّبِعاً مُرِيداً أَلَا وَ إِنَّ مِنِ اتِّبَاعِ أَمْرِنَا وَ إِرَادَتِهِ الْوَرَعَ فَتَزَيَّنُوا بِهِ يَرْحَمْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ كَبِّدُوا أَعْدَاءَنَا بِهِ يَنْعَشْكُمُ اللَّه‏[4]

🔆Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: We do not consider anyone a believer until he follows all that we command and desires to do so. Surely, piety is part of following our commands and desiring to do so, so adorn yourselves with it. May God forgive you; through piety, prevail over our enemies. May God raise you in rank.

🔅🌼The Fruits of the Art of Prayer 🌼🔅

🌹 The fruits of the art of prayer and other religious duties are sweet, blessed, and healing; the fruits of the art without prayer are bitter and barren.

🌹 Every good deed that grows from the heart of the art of prayer and other religious duties is sweet, wholesome, and healing. Good deeds by a non-believer bear fruit too, but that fruit is bitter, useless or of little benefit, and ugly.

🌹 The fruit of a believer is like a beautiful, fragrant flower; the fruit of a non-believer is the ugliest and most rotten.

🔅🌼The Unbeliever: Fair in Appearance, Corrupt Within 🌼🔅

🌹 An irreligious person with good manners is, in truth, like someone wearing fine clothes over an animal’s body; those virtues are not truly his own, but borrowed.

🌷🔆 عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَعَارَ أَعْدَاءَهُ‏ أَخْلَاقاً مِنْ أَخْلَاقِ أَوْلِيَائِهِ لِيَعِيشَ أَوْلِيَاؤُهُ مَعَ أَعْدَائِهِ‏ فِي دَوْلَاتِهِمْ. وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَمَا تَرَكُوا وَلِيّاً لِلَّهِ إِلَّا قَتَلُوه‏ [5]

🔆 Truly, God, Blessed and Exalted, has lent some of the good character of His friends to His enemies, so that His friends can live alongside His enemies when they hold power and enjoy their era of dominance. In another report, he said: Were it not so, they would leave no friend of God alive; they would kill them all.

🌹 God gives from the storehouse of His friends to His enemies, so that the foul stench of the unbeliever may be bearable to the believers.

🌻🔆Āl ʿImrān: 91   إِنَّ الَّذينَ كَفَرُوا وَ ماتُوا وَ هُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمْ مِلْ‏ءُ الْأَرْضِ ذَهَباً وَ لَوِ افْتَدى‏ بِهِ أُولئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذابٌ أَليمٌ وَ ما لَهُمْ مِنْ ناصِرينَ

🔆Those who disbelieve and die as disbelievers—even if the whole earth were filled with gold and they offered it as ransom (and atonement for their evil deeds)—it would never be accepted from any of them. They will have a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers.

🔅🌼Forbidding Good Is Worse Than Forbidding Evil 🌼🔅

🌹 Promoting and commanding one good deed by undermining another is, in a way, forbidding what is right and enjoining what is wrong.

🔅🌼Not Everyone Holds the Key to Spiritual Authority  🌼🔅

🌷🔆 عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ قَالَ لِي‏ يَا جَابِرُ أَ يَكْتَفِي مَنِ انْتَحَلَ التَّشَيُّعَ‏  أَنْ يَقُولَ بِحُبِّنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا شِيعَتُنَا إِلَّا مَنِ‏ اتَّقَى‏ اللَّهَ‏ وَ أَطَاعَهُ وَ مَا كَانُوا يُعْرَفُونَ يَا جَابِرُ إِلَّا بِالتَّوَاضُعِ وَ التَّخَشُّعِ وَ الْأَمَانَةِ وَ كَثْرَةِ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَ الصَّوْمِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ وَ الْبِرِّ بِالْوَالِدَيْنِ وَ التَّعَاهُدِ لِلْجِيرَانِ مِنَ الْفُقَرَاءِ وَ أَهْلِ الْمَسْكَنَةِ وَ الْغَارِمِينَ وَ الْأَيْتَامِ وَ صِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ وَ تِلَاوَةِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ كَفِّ الْأَلْسُنِ عَنِ النَّاسِ إِلَّا مِنْ خَيْرٍ وَ كَانُوا أُمَنَاءَ عَشَائِرِهِمْ فِي الْأَشْيَاءِ قَالَ جَابِرٌ فَقُلْتُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ مَا نَعْرِفُ الْيَوْمَ أَحَداً بِهَذِهِ الصِّفَةِ فَقَالَ يَا جَابِرُ لَا تَذْهَبَنَّ بِكَ الْمَذَاهِبُ حَسْبُ الرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَقُولَ أُحِبُّ عَلِيّاً وَ أَتَوَلَّاهُ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونَ مَعَ ذَلِكَ فَعَّالًا فَلَوْ قَالَ إِنِّي أُحِبُّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ- فَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص خَيْرٌ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ ع ثُمَّ لَا يَتَّبِعُ سِيرَتَهُ وَ لَا يَعْمَلُ بِسُنَّتِهِ مَا نَفَعَهُ حُبُّهُ إِيَّاهُ شَيْئاً فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ اعْمَلُوا لِمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ لَيْسَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ قَرَابَةٌ  أَحَبُّ الْعِبَادِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَكْرَمُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَتْقَاهُمْ وَ أَعْمَلُهُمْ بِطَاعَتِهِ يَا جَابِرُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا يُتَقَرَّبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِلَّا بِالطَّاعَةِ وَ مَا مَعَنَا بَرَاءَةٌ مِنَ‏ النَّارِ  وَ لَا عَلَى اللَّهِ لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ حُجَّةٍ مَنْ كَانَ لِلَّهِ مُطِيعاً فَهُوَ لَنَا وَلِيٌّ وَ مَنْ كَانَ لِلَّهِ عَاصِياً فَهُوَ لَنَا عَدُوٌّ وَ مَا تُنَالُ وَلَايَتُنَا إِلَّا بِالْعَمَلِ وَ الْوَرَعِ.[6]

🌷🔆Imam al-Baqir, peace be upon him, said to Jabir: “Is it enough for someone who claims to be a Shi‘i simply to profess love for us, the Ahl al-Bayt? By God, none is truly one of our Shi‘a unless they are mindful of God and obedient to Him. Our Shi‘a are known only by their humility and submission, their frequent remembrance of God, their fasting and prayer, and their care for poor and needy neighbours, the indebted and the orphans. They are truthful, recite the Qur’an, and guard their tongues when speaking to people, speaking only what is good. In all matters, they were trusted by their tribes.”

Jabir said: “I asked, ‘O son of the Messenger of God, we know no one with these qualities.’ He replied: ‘Jabir, do not let what people say affect you. Is it enough for someone to say, “I love ‘Ali and follow him,” yet do nothing? And if someone says, “I love the Messenger of God”—and the Messenger of God is greater than ‘Ali—but does not act according to his way and follow his Sunna, his love for the Prophet will do him no good. So be mindful of God and strive for what is with Him, for no one is related to God. The most beloved of God’s servants to Him, and the most honoured in His sight, are those most mindful of Him and most diligent in obeying Him. By God, no one can draw near to God except through obedience and worship. We do not hold the writ of release from Hell, nor does anyone have a claim against God. Whoever obeys God is our friend, and whoever disobeys Him is our enemy. On the Day of Resurrection, no one will attain our friendship except through virtue and abstaining from sin.’”

🔅🌼 The Judges of Paradise 🌼🔅

🌷🔆 عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ص قَالَ‏ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى إِلَى مُوسَى ص أَنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِي مَنْ يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيَّ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَأُحَكِّمُهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ قَالَ وَ مَا تِلْكَ الْحَسَنَةُ قَالَ يَمْشِي‏  فِي حَاجَةِ مُؤْمِنٍ‏ [7]

🌷🔆Imam al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, said: “God, Exalted is He, revealed to Moses: ‘Some of My servants draw near to Me through doing good, and I appoint them as judges in Paradise (or make their place in Paradise secure).’ Moses asked: ‘My Lord, what is this good deed?’ He replied: ‘To take care of the needs of one’s believing brother.’”

🔅🌼 Outdo One Another in Serving the Leader of the Believers 🌼🔅

🌷🔆أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ص‏ قَالَ‏ فِيمَا نَاجَى اللَّهُ مُوسَى ع أَنْ قَالَ إِنَّ لِي عِبَاداً أُبِيحُهُمْ جَنَّتِي وَ أُحَكِّمُهُمْ فِيهَا قَالَ مُوسَى مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ أَبَحْتَهُمْ جَنَّتَكَ وَ تُحَكِّمُهُمْ فِيهَا قَالَ مَنْ أَدْخَلَ عَلَى مُؤْمِنٍ سُرُوراً [8]

🌷🔆He (AS) used to say: Among the things God, Mighty and Majestic, whispered to His servant Moses, He said: “Moses, I have servants to whom I grant free access to My Paradise, and whom I appoint as arbiters there” (or: “whose place in Paradise I make secure”). Moses asked, “My Lord, who are they, whom You appoint as arbiters there” (or: “whose place in Paradise You make secure”)?” He replied, “Anyone who brings joy to a believer.”

🌹Let us spare no effort in hastening to meet believers’ needs and in bringing them joy.

🔅🌼Seek out the believers and hasten to serve them 🌼🔅

🌷🔆وَ قَالَ زَيْنُ الْعَابِدِينَ ع‏ مَنْ قَضَى لِأَخِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ حَاجَةً فَبِحَاجَةِ اللَّهِ بَدَأَ وَ قَضَى اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهَا مِائَةَ حَاجَةٍ فِي إِحْدَاهُنَّ الْجَنَّةُ وَ مَنْ نَفَّسَ عَنْ مُؤْمِنٍ كُرْبَةً نَفَّسَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرَبَ الْقِيَامَةِ بَالِغاً مَا بَلَغَتْ وَ مَنْ أَعَانَهُ عَلَى ظَالِمٍ لَهُ أَعَانَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى إِجَازَةِ الصِّرَاطِ عِنْدَ دَحْضِ الْأَقْدَامِ وَ مَنْ سَعَى لَهُ فِي حَاجَتِهِ حَتَّى قَضَاهَا لَهُ فَيُسَرَّ بِقَضَائِهَا كَانَ إِدْخَالَ السُّرُورِ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ مَنْ سَقَاهُ مِنْ ظَمَإٍ سَقَاهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الرَّحِيقِ الْمَخْتُومِ وَ مَنْ أَطْعَمَهُ مِنْ جُوعٍ أَطْعَمَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ ثِمَارِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ مَنْ نَفَّسَ عَنْ مُؤْمِنٍ كُرْبَةً نَفَّسَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرَبَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ بَالِغاً مَا بَلَغَتْ وَ مَنْ كَسَاهُ مِنْ عُرْيٍ كَسَاهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ إِسْتَبْرَقٍ وَ حَرِيرٍ وَ مَنْ كَسَاهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ عُرْيٍ لَمْ يَزَلْ فِي ضَمَانِ اللَّهِ مَا دَامَ عَلَى الْمَكْسُوِّ مِنَ الثَّوْبِ سِلْكٌ وَ مَنْ أَخْدَمَ أَخَاهُ الْمُؤْمِنَ أَخْدَمَهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْوِلْدَانِ وَ أَسْكَنَهُ مَعَ أَوْلِيَائِهِ وَ مَنْ حَمَلَهُ عَلَى رَحْلِهِ بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى نَاقَةٍ مِنْ نُوقِ الْجَنَّةِ يُبَاهِي بِهِ الْمَلَائِكَةَ وَ مَنْ كَفَّنَهُ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا كَسَاهُ مِنْ يَوْمَ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ يَمُوتُ وَ مَنْ زَوَّجَهُ زَوْجَةً يَأْنَسُ بِهَا وَ يَسْكُنُ إِلَيْهَا آنَسَهُ اللَّهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ بِصُورَةِ أَحَبِّ أَهْلِهِ إِلَيْهِ وَ مَنْ عَادَهُ فِي مَرَضِهِ حَفَّتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَدْعُو لَهُ حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ وَ يَقُولُ طِبْتَ وَ طَابَتْ لَكَ الْجَنَّةُ وَ اللَّهِ لَقَضَاءُ حَاجَةِ مُؤْمِنٍ‏ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ صِيَامِ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ وَ اعْتِكَافِهِمَا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ‏ [9]

🔆Abu Hamza al-Thumali relates from Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS) that he said: “Whoever fulfills the need of a fellow believer has begun by fulfilling a need of God, and God will fulfill a hundred of that person’s needs, one of which is Paradise. Whoever relieves a believer’s distress, God will remove from them every distress of the Day of Resurrection, however great it may be. Whoever helps a believer against an enemy, God will help them cross the Bridge of Sirat when feet begin to slip. Whoever strives to fulfill a believer’s request and bring them joy is as one who has brought joy to the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him and his family. Whoever gives a believer water to drink, God will quench their thirst with a sealed draught from Paradise. Whoever feeds a believer and relieves their hunger, God will grant them fruits from Paradise. Whoever clothes a believer who is naked, God will clothe them in brocade and silk from Paradise. And whoever clothes a believer who is not naked will remain under God’s protection for as long as a single thread of that garment remains. Whoever saves a believer from something that would bring them humiliation and disgrace, preserves their dignity, and rushes to their aid, God will place the ever-youthful youths of Paradise at their service. Whoever gives a believer a ride on their mount, God will bring them to the assembly on the Day of Resurrection riding a heavenly she-camel, so that they may take pride before the angels. Whoever shrouds a believer after death is as one who had clothed their body from the day they were born until the day they died. Whoever finds a believer a spouse who will bring them companionship and peace of mind, God will grant them companionship in the grave with their most beloved kin. Whoever visits a believer when they are ill will be surrounded by angels, who will pray for them until the visitor returns home. They will say to them: ‘Blessed are you! May Paradise be your joy.’”

He also said: “By God, fulfilling the request and need of a fellow believer is dearer to God than two months spent fasting and observing consecutive retreats in a sacred month.”

🔅🌼 A believer is a true pilgrim; rise to serve them 🌼🔅

🌷🔆وَ رَوَى الْمُشْمَعِلُّ الْأَسَدِيُّ قَالَ‏ خَرَجْتُ سَنَةً حَاجّاً فَانْصَرَفْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ مِنْ أَيْنَ بِكَ يَا مُشْمَعِلُّ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كُنْتُ حَاجّاً فَقَالَ ع أَ وَ تَدْرِي مَا لِلْحَاجِّ مِنَ الثَّوَابِ فَقُلْتُ مَا أَدْرِي حَتَّى تُعَلِّمَنِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا طَافَ بِهَذَا الْبَيْتِ أُسْبُوعاً وَ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْهِ وَ سَعَى بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَ الْمَرْوَةِ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ سِتَّةَ آلَافِ حَسَنَةٍ وَ حَطَّ عَنْهُ سِتَّةَ آلَافِ سَيِّئَةٍ وَ رَفَعَ لَهُ سِتَّةَ آلَافِ دَرَجَةٍ وَ قَضَى لَهُ سِتَّةَ آلَافِ حَاجَةٍ لِلدُّنْيَا كَذَا وَ ادَّخَرَ لَهُ لِلْآخِرَةِ كَذَا فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ هَذَا لَكَثِيرٌ فَقَالَ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِمَا هُوَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْهُ قُلْتُ بَلَى فَقَالَ ع لَقَضَاءُ حَاجَةِ مُؤْمِنٍ‏ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ حِجَّةٍ وَ حِجَّةٍ حَتَّى عَدَّ عَشْرا[10]

🔆Mushammiʿ al-Asadi relates: “One year, I went on pilgrimage. On my return, I visited Imam al-Sadiq (AS). He asked, ‘Where have you come from?’ ‘From the pilgrimage, may I be your ransom,’ I replied. He said, ‘Do you know what reward a pilgrim receives?’ ‘I cannot know unless you teach me,’ I answered. He said, ‘When a servant makes seven circuits around this House, performs the two rakʿahs of prayer that follow, and walks between Safa and Marwa, God records six thousand good deeds for him, erases six thousand of his sins, raises him six thousand degrees, grants him six thousand of his needs in this world, and stores up an equal reward for him in the Hereafter.’ ‘May I be your ransom,’ I said, ‘that is a great reward.’ He asked, ‘Shall I tell you of something greater?’ ‘Yes,’ I replied. He said, ‘Whoever fulfils the need of a believer is better than performing the pilgrimage, and the pilgrimage, and the pilgrimage’—and he counted this ten times.”

🌹Why is serving a believer better than pilgrimage? Because the believer yearns for the pilgrimage, loves it and keeps its spirit alive; he brings the sacred law to life, rises in worship at night, and is devoted to prayer and fasting. He is a stronghold of the sacred law and a centre of struggle, for the believer is the banner of religion, and the banner must always be held aloft.

🔅🌼A Shiʿi is the banner of the Ahl al-Bayt.🌼🔅

🌷🔆عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ: مَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَصِلَنَا فَلْيَصِلْ فُقَرَاءَ شِيعَتِنَا وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَزُورَ قُبُورَنَا فَلْيَزُرْ قُبُورَ صُلَحَاءِ إِخْوَانِنَا.[11]

🔆The Seventh Imam (AS) said: “Whoever wishes to see us in person but is unable to meet us should visit the poor among our Shiʿa, for visiting poor Shiʿa is like visiting us. And whoever wishes to be present at our tombs but cannot visit them should visit the graves of our righteous brothers.”

🌷🔆وَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ الصَّدَقَةُ بِعَشَرَةٍ وَ الْقَرْضُ بِثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ وَ صِلَةُ الْإِخْوَانِ بِعِشْرِينَ وَ صِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ بِأَرْبَعَةٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ. [12]

🔆The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: “Giving charity earns ten good deeds, lending earns eighteen, keeping ties with one’s brothers in faith earns twenty, and maintaining family ties earns twenty-four.”

🌷🔆قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع‏ مَشْيُ الْمُسْلِمِ فِي حَاجَةِ الْمُسْلِمِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ طَوَافاً بِالْبَيْتِ الْحَرَامِ‏.[13]

🔆A Muslim’s effort to meet another Muslim’s need is better than making seventy circuits around the Sacred House.

🌷🔆قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع‏ الْمُؤْمِنُ أَخُو الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ عَيْنُهُ وَ دَلِيلُهُ لَا يَخُونُهُ وَ لَا يَخْذُلُهُ. [14]

🔆A believer is the brother of another believer, his guardian and guide. He never betrays him in any way, nor leaves him without support.

🔅🌼Good deeds are among the fruits of faith and worship.🌼🔅

🌷🔆وَ قَالَ ع‏ الْمُؤْمِنُ بَرَكَةٌ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ. [15]

🔆A believer is a blessing to another believer.

🌷🔆وَ قَالَ ع‏ احْرِصُوا عَلَى قَضَاءِ حَوَائِجِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ إِدْخَالِ السُّرُورِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ دَفْعِ الْمَكْرُوهِ عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنَ الْأَعْمَالِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بَعْدَ الْإِيمَانِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ إِدْخَالِ السُّرُورِ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ.[16]

🔆Imam al-Rida (peace be upon him) said: “Be eager to meet the needs of the believers, bring them joy and ease their distress. After faith, no deed is better than making a believer happy.”

🌷🔆 قَالَ الْكَاظِمُ ع لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ يَقْطِينٍ‏ مَنْ سَرَّ مُؤْمِناً فَبِاللَّهِ بَدَأَ وَ بِالنَّبِيِّ ص ثَنَّى وَ بِنَا ثَلَّثَ وَ قَالَ ع إِنَّ لِلَّهِ حَسَنَةً ادَّخَرَهَا لِثَلَاثَةٍ لِإِمَامٍ عَادِلٍ وَ مُؤْمِنٍ حَكَّمَ أَخَاهُ فِي مَالِهِ وَ مَنْ سَعَى لِأَخِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ فِي حَاجَتِهِ.[17]

🔆Imam al-Kazim (peace be upon him) said to ʿAli ibn Yaqtin: “Whoever brings joy to a believer has first brought joy to God, then to the Messenger of God, and finally to us.”

He also said: “God has a good deed reserved for three people: a just leader; a believer who gives his brother free access to his wealth; and one who strives to meet the needs of his believing brother.”

🌷🔆وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع لِكُمَيْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ يَا كُمَيْلُ مُرْ أَهْلَكَ أَنْ يَسْعَوْا فِي الْمَكَارِمِ وَ يُدْلِجُوا فِي حَاجَةِ مَنْ هُوَ نَائِمٌ فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا أَدْخَلَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى قَلْبِ مُؤْمِنٍ سُرُوراً إِلَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ السُّرُورِ لُطْفاً فَإِذَا نَزَلَتْ بِهِ نَائِبَةٌ كَانَ أَسْرَعَ إِلَيْهَا مِنَ السَّيْلِ فِي انْحِدَارِهِ حَتَّى يَطْرُدَهَا عَنْهُ كَمَا يَطْرُدُ غَرِيبَةَ الْإِبِلِ‏ [18]

🌷🔆The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) said to Kumayl ibn Ziyad: “Kumayl, tell your family to strive for good character and to rise before dawn to meet the needs of someone who is still asleep. By Him in whose hand is my soul, whenever someone brings joy to a believer’s heart, God creates a kindness from that joy. When hardship befalls that person, this kindness rushes to him as swiftly as a torrent down a slope, driving the hardship away from him as a stranger’s camel is driven off.”

🌷🔆 عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ: مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ أَدْخَلَ عَلَى قَوْمٍ سُرُوراً إِلَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ السُّرُورِ مَلَكاً يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى وَ يُمَجِّدُهُ وَ يُوَحِّدُهُ فَإِذَا صَارَ الْمُؤْمِنُ فِي لَحْدِهِ أَتَاهُ السُّرُورُ الَّذِي أَدْخَلَهُ عَلَيْهِ فَيَقُولُ أَ مَا تَعْرِفُنِي فَيَقُولُ وَ مَنْ أَنْتَ فَيَقُولُ أَنَا السُّرُورُ الَّذِي‏ أَدْخَلْتَنِي عَلَى فُلَانٍ أَنَا الْيَوْمَ أُونِسُ وَحْشَتَكَ وَ أُلَقِّنُكَ حُجَّتَكَ وَ أُثَبِّتُكَ بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ وَ أَشْهَدُ بِكَ مَشَاهِدَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ أَشْفَعُ لَكَ إِلَى رَبِّكَ وَ أُرِيكَ مَنْزِلَتَكَ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ.[19]

🔆Imam al-Sajjad (peace be upon him) said: “Whenever a believer brings joy to someone, God creates an angel from that joy to worship and glorify Him and proclaim His oneness. When that believer is laid in his grave, the joy he bestowed comes to him and says, ‘Do you know me?’ He replies, ‘Who are you?’ It says, ‘I am the joy you brought to so-and-so. Today I am your companion through the terrors of loneliness. I will place your proof upon your tongue, strengthen you to speak the truth, accompany you at every station on the Day of Resurrection, intercede for you before your Lord, and show you your place in Paradise.’”

🌷🔆 قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع: يَا ابْنَ جُنْدَبٍ الْمَاشِي فِي حَاجَةِ أَخِيهِ كَالسَّاعِي بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَ الْمَرْوَةِ وَ قَاضِي حَاجَتِهِ كَالْمُتَشَحِّطِ بِدَمِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ وَ أُحُدٍ وَ مَا عَذَّبَ اللَّهُ أُمَّةً إِلَّا عِنْدَ اسْتَهَانَتِهِمْ بِحُقُوقِ فُقَرَاءِ إِخْوَانِهِمْ الْخَبَرَ[20]

🔆Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever takes a step to meet the needs of his brother is like one who performs the saʿi between Safa and Marwa.”

🌷🔆عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ: أَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ نَفَّسَ عَنْ مُؤْمِنٍ كُرْبَةً نَفَّسَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ سَبْعِينَ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ الدُّنْيَا وَ كُرَبِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ قَالَ وَ مَنْ يَسَّرَ عَلَى مُؤْمِنٍ وَ هُوَ مُعْسِرٌ يَسَّرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ حَوَائِجَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ مَنْ سَتَرَ عَلَى مُؤْمِنٍ عَوْرَةً سَتَرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ سَبْعِينَ عَوْرَةً مِنْ عَوْرَاتِهِ الَّتِي يُخَلِّفُهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ قَالَ وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَفِي عَوْنِ الْمُؤْمِنِ مَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُ فِي عَوْنِ أَخِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَانْتَفِعُوا بِالْعِظَةِ وَ ارْغَبُوا فِي الْخَيْرِ[21]

🔆Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said: “Whoever relieves a fellow believer’s distress, God will relieve seventy of his distresses in this world and the Hereafter.” He also said: “Whoever makes things easier for a fellow believer who is poor, God will ease and fulfil his needs in this world and the Hereafter.” And he said: “Whoever conceals a fellow believer’s fault, a fault he fears will be exposed, God will conceal seventy of his faults that he fears will be exposed, in this world and the Hereafter.” He added: “Indeed, so long as a believer continues to help his believing brother, God, the Mighty and Exalted, will be his helper.” So take heed from this counsel and aspire to do good.

🌷🔆وَ عَنْهُ ع قَالَ: وَ مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ يُفَرِّجُ عَنْ أَخِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ كُرْبَةً إِلَّا فَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ الْآخِرَةِ وَ مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ يُعِينُ مَظْلُوماً إِلَّا كَانَ ذَلِكَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ صِيَامِ شَهْرٍ وَ اعْتِكَافِهِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَام‏[22]

🔆It is narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (AS) that he said: “Whenever a believer relieves another believer of distress, God will relieve him of seventy distresses from among the distresses of this world and the Hereafter. And whenever a believer helps a wronged believer, his deed is worth more than a month of fasting and retreat in the Sacred Mosque.”

🌼Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat) 110.141(903)🌼

[1] Dalāʾil al-Imāmah (modern edition), p. 506Ṭabari Amuli al-Saghir, Baʿthat Publications, Qom, first edition, 1413 AH.

[2] Al-Kāfī (Islamic edition), vol. 2, p. 164Kulaynī, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah, Tehran, fourth edition, 1407 AH.

[3] Al-Kāfī (Islamic edition), vol. 2, p. 164Kulaynī, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah, Tehran, fourth edition, 1407 AH.

[4] Al-Kāfī (Islamic edition), vol. 2, p. 78Kulaynī, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah, Tehran, fourth edition, 1407 AH.

[5] Al-Kāfī (Islamic edition), vol. 2, p. 101Kulaynī, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah, Tehran, fourth edition, 1407 AH.

[6] Al-Kāfī (Islamic edition), vol. 2, p. 74Kulaynī, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah, Tehran, fourth edition, 1407 AH.

[7] Qiṣaṣ al-Anbiyāʾ (al-Rawandi), p. 165Qutb al-Din Rawandi, Islamic Research Centre, Mashhad, first edition, 1409 AH.

[8] Qiṣaṣ al-Anbiyāʾ (al-Rawandi), p. 165Qutb al-Din Rawandi, Islamic Research Centre, Mashhad, first edition, 1409 AH.

[9]ʿAwālī al-Laʾālī al-ʿAzīziyya fī al-Aḥādīth al-Dīniyya, vol. 1, p. 355. Ibn Abi Jumhur, Dar Sayyid al-Shuhada Publishing, Qom, first edition, 1405 AH.

[10] ʿAwālī al-Laʾālī al-ʿAzīziyya fī al-Aḥādīth al-Dīniyya, vol. 4, p. 25Ibn Abi Jumhur, Dar Sayyid al-Shuhada Publishing, Qom, first edition, 1405 AH.

[11] Biḥār al-Anwār (Beirut edition), vol. 71, p. 311Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir ibn Muhammad Taqi, Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut, second edition, 1403 AH.

[12] Bihār al-Anwār (Beirut edition), vol. 71, p. 311 Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir ibn Muḥammad Taqī, Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, Beirut, second edition, 1403 AH.

[13] Bihār al-Anwār (Beirut edition), vol. 71, p. 311 Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir ibn Muḥammad Taqī, Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, Beirut, second edition, 1403 AH.

[14] Bihār al-Anwār (Beirut edition), vol. 71, p. 311 Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir ibn Muḥammad Taqī, Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, Beirut, second edition, 1403 AH.

[15] Bihār al-Anwār (Beirut edition), vol. 71, p. 311 Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir ibn Muḥammad Taqī, Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, Beirut, second edition, 1403 AH.

[16] Bihār al-Anwār (Beirut edition), vol. 71, p. 313 Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir ibn Muḥammad Taqī, Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, Beirut, second edition, 1403 AH.

[17] Bihār al-Anwār (Beirut edition), vol. 71, p. 314 Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir ibn Muḥammad Taqī, Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, Beirut, second edition, 1403 AH.

[18] Bihār al-Anwār (Beirut edition), vol. 71, p. 314 Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir ibn Muḥammad Taqī, Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, Beirut, second edition, 1403 AH.

[19] Bihār al-Anwār (Beirut edition), vol. 71, p. 314 Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir ibn Muḥammad Taqī, Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, Beirut, second edition, 1403 AH.

[20] Mustadrak al-Wasāʾil wa Mustanbaṭ al-Masāʾil, vol. 12, p. 413 Nūrī, Ḥusayn ibn Muḥammad Taqī, Āl al-Bayt Foundation, Qom, first edition, 1408 AH.

[21] Mustadrak al-Wasāʾil wa Mustanbaṭ al-Masāʾil, vol. 12, p. 413 Nūrī, Ḥusayn ibn Muḥammad Taqī, Āl al-Bayt Foundation, Qom, first edition, 1408 AH.

[22] Mustadrak al-Wasāʾil wa Mustanbaṭ al-Masāʾil, vol. 12, p. 413 Nūrī, Ḥusayn ibn Muḥammad Taqī, Āl al-Bayt Foundation, Qom, first edition, 1408 AH.