The following are the maxims, exhortatory instructions, and words of wisdom that are related to the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him and his pure progeny).

To Imam Ali

To Imam Ali (peace be upon him)1

Conviction

إِنَّ مِنَ الْيَقِينِ أَنْ لَا تُرْضِيَ أَحَداً بِسَخَطِ اللَّهِ وَ لَا تَحْمَدَ أَحَداً بِمَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ وَ لَا تَذُمَّ أَحَداً عَلَى مَا لَمْ يُؤْتِكَ اللَّهُ فَإِنَّ الرِّزْقَ لَا يَجُرُّهُ حِرْصُ حَرِيصٍ وَ لَا تَصْرِفُهُ كَرَاهَةُ كَارِهٍ.

To avoid pleasing anyone and discontenting God, thanking anyone for a favor that God has given to you, and reproaching anyone for something that God has not given to you — these are parts of the conviction. The sustenance cannot be obtained through (any sort of) niggardliness and will not be ceased when someone hates it.

Better than the Intellect

يَا عَلِيُّ إِنَّهُ لَا فَقْرَ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ وَ لَا مَالَ أَعْوَدُ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ‏ وَ لَا وَحْدَةَ أَوْحَشُ مِنَ الْعُجْبِ وَ لَا مُظَاهَرَةَ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ الْمُشَاوَرَةِ وَ لَا عَقْلَ كَالتَّدْبِيرِ وَ لَا حَسَبَ كَحُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ‏ وَ لَا عِبَادَةَ كَالتَّفَكُّرِ.

No poverty is harsher than ignorance, no fortune better than the intellect, no loneliness drearier than pride, no victory like counseling, no intellect like moderation, no lineage like good manners, and no worship like pondering (over things).

Tell the Truth

عَلَيْكَ بِالصِّدْقِ وَ لَا تَخْرُجْ مِنْ فِيكَ كَذِبَةٌ أَبَداً وَ لَا تَجْتَرِئَنَّ عَلَى خِيَانَةٍ أَبَداً.

Keep up saying the truth. Your mouth should never utter any single lie. Never approach any treason.

For Religion

ابْذُلْ مَالَكَ وَ نَفْسَكَ دُونَ دِينِكَ.

Sacrifice your property and soul for the sake of your religion.

The Wealthiest Person

مَنْ قَنِعَ بِمَا رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ مِنْ أَغْنَى النَّاسِ.

The wealthiest of people is he who satisfies himself with that which God has given to him.

The High Moral Standards

ثَلَاثٌ مِنْ مَكَارِمِ الْأَخْلَاقِ تَصِلُ مَنْ قَطَعَكَ وَ تُعْطِي مَنْ حَرَمَكَ وَ تَعْفُو عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَكَ.

Three characters are the high moral standards: they are to regard him who ruptured his relations with you, give him who deprived you (of his bestowals), and pardon him who wronged you.

Three Redeemer

ثَلَاثٌ مُنْجِيَاتٌ تَكُفُّ لِسَانَكَ وَ تَبْكِي عَلَى خَطِيئَتِكَ وَ يَسَعُكَ بَيْتُكَ.

Three matters save you: (They are) to control your tongue (stop saying obscene language or stop reviling at people), to weep for your sins, and to stay your home (and disconnect the evil people).

The Masters of Deeds

سَيِّدُ الْأَعْمَالِ ثَلَاثُ خِصَالٍ إِنْصَافُكَ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ وَ مُسَاوَاةُ [مُوَاسَاةُ] الْأَخِ فِي اللَّهِ وَ ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ.

Three characters are the masters of deeds: they are to treat people fairly, justify your friends, and to praise God under any condition.

The God’s Guest

رَجُلٌ زَارَ أَخَاهُ الْمُؤْمِنَ فِي اللَّهِ فَهُوَ زَوْرُ اللَّهِ وَ حَقٌّ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكْرِمَ زَوْرَهُ‏ وَ يُعْطِيَهُ مَا سَأَلَ.

A man who visits his faithful brother2 for God’s sake is certainly God’s guest, and it is incumbent upon God to honor His guests and satisfy their needs.

Deeds that are Nil

ثَلَاثٌ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنَّ فِيهِ لَمْ يَقُمْ لَهُ عَمَلٌ وَرَعٌ يَحْجُزُهُ عَنْ مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ عِلْمٌ يَرُدُّ بِهِ جَهْلَ السَّفِيهِ وَ عَقْلٌ يُدَارِي بِهِ النَّاسَ.

The deeds of those who do not enjoy the following three characters are nil: piety that impedes against committing acts of disobedience to God the Glorified the Majestic, knowledge that protects against the ignorance of the foolish ones, and an intellect that helps in associating with people courteously.

Under the Shade of the Throne

ثَلَاثَةٌ تَحْتَ ظِلِّ الْعَرْشِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ رَجُلٌ أَحَبَّ لِأَخِيهِ مَا أَحَبَّ لِنَفْسِهِ وَ رَجُلٌ بَلَغَهُ أَمْرٌ فَلَمْ يَتَقَدَّمْ فِيهِ وَ لَمْ يَتَأَخَّرْ حَتَّى يَعْلَمَ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ الْأَمْرَ لِلَّهِ رِضًا أَوْ سَخَطٌ وَ رَجُلٌ لَمْ يَعِبْ أَخَاهُ بِعَيْبٍ حَتَّى يُصْلِحَ ذَلِكَ الْعَيْبَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ فَإِنَّهُ كُلَّمَا أَصْلَحَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ عَيْباً بَدَا لَهُ مِنْهَا آخَرُ وَ كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ فِي نَفْسِهِ شُغُلًا.

Three men will be stood under the shade of the (Divine) Throne on the Day of Resurrection. They are a man who likes for his friend whatever he likes for himself; a man who stops doing anything before he realizes whether it pleases or displeases God; and a man who does not find fault with his friends before he himself gets rid of that fault.

A man will find a new fault with himself whenever he gets rid of one. It is sufficient for a man to engage with himself.

Weeping Eyes

كُلُّ عَيْنٍ بَاكِيَةٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلَّا ثَلَاثَ أَعْيُنٍ عَيْنٌ سَهِرَتْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ‏ وَ عَيْنٌ غُضَّتْ عَنْ مَحَارِمِ اللَّهِ وَ عَيْنٌ فَاضَتْ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ‏.

Except three, every eye will be weeping on the Day of Resurrection. These three are an eye that spent a night sleeplessly for God’s sake, an eye that is lowered before what God has prohibited to gaze, and an eye that shed tears due to fearing God.

Blessed Face

طُوبَى لِصُورَةٍ نَظَرَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهَا تَبْكِي عَلَى ذَنْبٍ لَمْ يَطَّلِعْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ الذَّنْبِ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ.

Blessed be the face (of an individual) that God notices (him) weeping for a sin, which no one has seen except Him.

Discommended Truth

ثَلَاثٌ يَقْبُحُ فِيهِنَّ الصِّدْقُ النَّمِيمَةُ وَ إِخْبَارُكَ الرَّجُلَ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ وَ تَكْذِيبُكَ الرَّجُلَ عَنِ الْخَيْرِ.

Truth is discommended in three situations; in states of tale bearing, informing the husband of what he does not like to hear about his wife, and telling the falsity of a speech of goodness.

Perfect Islam

أَرْبَعٌ مَنْ يَكُنَّ فِيهِ كَمَلَ إِسْلَامُهُ الصِّدْقُ وَ الشُّكْرُ وَ الْحَيَاءُ وَ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ.

Those who keep these four characters enjoy perfect Islam. These characters are honesty, thankfulness, modesty, and good manners.

The Present Richness

قِلَّةُ طَلَبِ الْحَوَائِجِ مِنَ النَّاسِ هُوَ الْغِنَى الْحَاضِرُ وَ كَثْرَةُ الْحَوَائِجِ إِلَى النَّاسِ مَذَلَّةٌ وَ هُوَ الْفَقْرُ الْحَاضِرُ.

The fewness of asking from people is surely the present richness. To ask from people frequently is surely humility and the present poverty.

The Showy

لِلْمُرَائِي ثَلَاثُ عَلَامَاتٍ يَنْشَطُ إِذَا كَانَ عِنْدَ النَّاسِ.

The showy has three characteristics: he activates among people, he becomes lazy when he is alone, and he desires to be praised in all states.

Signs of Unhappiness

أَرْبَعُ خِصَالٍ مِنَ الشَّقَاءِ جُمُودُ الْعَيْنِ وَ قَسَاوَةُ الْقَلْبِ وَ بُعْدُ الْأَمَلِ وَ حُبُّ الدُّنْيَا.

Four characters are signs of unhappiness: they are solidity of the eye, hardheartedness, long desire, and fondness of the worldly pleasures.

The Evilest People

شَرُّ النَّاسِ مَنْ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَ لَا يُقِيلُ الْعَثْرَةَ. شَرٌّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَنْ لَا يُؤْمَنُ شَرُّهُ وَ لَا يُرْجَى خَيْرُهُ.

The evilest people are those who never forgive and never overlook. Worse than these people are those, whose evil is not secured and good is not expected from them.

Telling Untruth

إِيَّاكَ وَ الْكَذِبَ فَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يُسَوِّدُ الْوَجْهَ ثُمَّ يُكْتَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَذَّاباً وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ الصِّدْقَ مُبَارَكٌ وَ الْكَذِبَ مَشْئُومٌ.

Beware of telling untruth; for it blackens the face then the teller of lies will be recorded with God as liar. You should know that honesty is blessed and lie is ill omened.

Swear by God

لَا تَحْلِفْ بِاللَّهِ كَاذِباً وَ لَا صَادِقاً مِنْ غَيْرِ ضَرُورَةٍ وَ لَا تَجْعَلِ اللَّهَ عُرْضَةً لِيَمِينِكَ‏ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَرْحَمُ وَ لَا يَرْعَى مَنْ حَلَفَ بِاسْمِهِ كَاذِباً

Do not swear by God whether you say the truth or not except in cases of emergency. Do not make God the subject of your oath, for God will never keep or compassionate him who swears by His Name falsely.

Good Manners

أَحْسِنْ خُلُقَكَ مَعَ أَهْلِكَ وَ جِيرَانِكَ وَ مَنْ تُعَاشِرُ وَ تُصَاحِبُ مِنَ النَّاسِ تُكْتَبْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فِي الدَّرَجَاتِ الْعُلَى.

Show good manners to your folks, neighbors, associates, and friends, so that God will record the highest grades for you.

مَا كَرِهْتَهُ لِنَفْسِكَ فَاكْرَهْ لِغَيْرِكَ وَ مَا أَحْبَبْتَهُ لِنَفْسِكَ فَأَحْبِبْهُ لِأَخِيكَ تَكُنْ عَادِلًا فِي حُكْمِكَ مُقْسِطاً فِي عَدْلِكَ مُحَبّاً فِي أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ مَوْدُوداً فِي صُدُورِ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ‏.

You should dislike for others whatever you dislike for yourself and like for them whatever you like for yourself. This will make you a just arbitrator and a fair judge. Furthermore, the inhabitants of the heavens will favor you and the inhabitants of the earth will love you.

To His Companion, Abu Dharr

To His Companion, Abu Dharr3

Abu Dharr narrated, “I entered one day in the midday in the presence of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his pure progeny) in the mosque. I did not see anyone at all in the mosque except the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his pure progeny) and Ali (peace be upon him) who was sitting by his side, so I took the opportunity of the emptiness of the mosque (to approach the Prophet).

I said, “Oh Messenger of God, by my father and mother, please advise me with such advice that God will benefit me by it.”

The Messenger of God replied, “Yes, and how noble you are O, Abu Dharr! Most surely, you are from us, and I am giving you advise so remember it, for surely it is the collection of (all) the paths of goodness.

Surely if you memorize them and put them into practice, it will be so useful for you in this world and in the Hereafter.”4

Worship God

Worship God as if you see Him and if you were not seeing Him (you must understand that) surely He sees you. Know that the first of worship of God is gnosis, for He is surely the first before every other thing, so there is nothing before Him, the single most without any second, the continuing but not to an end.

He is the Creator of the heavens and earth and whatever is in them and between them and He is the Subtle, the Aware, and He has power over all things. (The second most important factor in the worship of God is) belief in me and acknowledgment that God sent me to all of humanity as a bearer of glad tidings, a warner, a caller (of people) to God by His permission an illuminating torch of light.

اعْبُدِ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ‏ تَرَاهُ‏ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ لَا تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ‏ يَرَاكَ‏ وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَ عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ الْمَعْرِفَةُ بِهِ فَهُوَ الْأَوَّلُ قَبْلَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَلَا شَيْ‏ءَ قَبْلَهُ وَ الْفَرْدُ فَلَا ثَانِيَ لَهُ وَ الْبَاقِي لَا إِلَى غَايَةٍ فَاطِرُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَا فِيهِمَا وَ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَ هُوَ اللَّهُ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ وَ هُوَ عَلى‏ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ ثُمَّ الْإِيمَانُ بِي وَ الْإِقْرَارُ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى أَرْسَلَنِي إِلَى كَافَّةِ النَّاسِ‏ بَشِيراً وَ نَذِيراً وَ داعِياً إِلَى اللَّهِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَ سِراجاً مُنِيراً ثُمَّ حُبُّ أَهْلِ بَيْتِيَ الَّذِينَ أَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْسَ وَ طَهَّرَهُمْ تَطْهِيرا.

(The third most important factor in God’s worship is) the love of the people of my house, those from whom God has removed (from them) every impurity and purified them a perfect purification5.

Health and Wealth

There are two blessings seriously taken for granted (misused) by mankind, health and spare time.

نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُونٌ فِيهِمَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ الصِّحَّةُ وَ الْفَرَاغُ. اغْتَنِمْ خَمْساً قَبْلَ خَمْسٍ شَبَابَكَ قَبْلَ هَرَمِكَ وَ صِحَّتَكَ قَبْلَ سُقْمِكَ وَ غِنَاكَ قَبْلَ فَقْرِكَ وَ فَرَاغَكَ قَبْلَ شُغْلِكَ وَ حَيَاتَكَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِك.‏

Take advantage of five things before five things seize you; your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your spare time before your being busy and your life before you death.

Beware of Procrastination

Beware of procrastination, for you are (in) today and not (in) tomorrow. If there is a tomorrow for you, be then as you are today. If there is not a tomorrow for you, you will not regret the opportunity you missed today.

How many a person there is who has met a day he did not complete! How many a waiter there is of tomorrow who does not find it!

إِيَّاكَ وَ التَّسْوِيفَ بِعَمَلِكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِيَوْمِكَ وَ لَسْتَ بِمَا بَعْدَهُ فَإِنْ يَكُنْ غَدٌ لَكَ فَكُنْ فِي الْغَدِ كَمَا كُنْتَ فِي الْيَوْمِ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ غدا [غَدٌ لَكَ‏] لَمْ تَنْدَمْ عَلَى مَا فَرَّطْتَ فِي الْيَوْمِ. كَمْ مِنْ مُسْتَقْبِلٍ يَوْماً لَا يَسْتَكْمِلُهُ وَ مُنْتَظِرٍ غَداً لَا يَبْلُغُهُ. لَوْ نَظَرْتَ إِلَى الْأَجَلِ وَ مَسِيرِهِ لَأَبْغَضْتَ الْأَمَلَ وَ غُرُورَه‏.

Had you know the exact period of time you will live and realize your fate, you would hate the desire and its deception.

Be as a Passenger

Be in the world as if you are a stranger or like one simply passing by as in a journey and count yourself as among the people of the graves.

كُنْ كَأَنَّكَ فِي الدُّنْيَا غَرِيبٌ أَوْ كَعَابِرِ سَبِيلٍ وَ عُدَّ نَفْسَكَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْقُبُورِ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَلَا تُحَدِّثْ نَفْسَكَ بِالْمَسَاءِ وَ إِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ فَلَا تُحَدِّثْ نَفْسَكَ بِالصَّبَاحِ وَ خُذْ مِنْ صِحَّتِكَ قَبْلَ سُقْمِكَ وَ مِنْ حَيَاتِكَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِكَ فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَدْرِي مَا اسْمُكَ غَدا.

When you wake up in the morning do not talk to yourself about tonight and when night has come do not worry of the morning for surely you do not know what your state will be tomorrow.

The Importance of Time

كُنْ عَلَى عُمُرِكَ أَشَحَّ مِنْكَ عَلَى دِرْهَمِكَ وَ دِينَارِك.‏

Be greedier, in terms of your time (life span) more than of your gold and silver coins (wealth).

Taking Advantage of Knowledge

إِنَّ شَرَّ النَّاسِ مَنْزِلَةً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَالِمٌ لَا يُنْتَفَعُ بِعِلْمِهِ وَ مَنْ طَلَبَ عِلْماً لِيَصْرِفَ بِهِ وُجُوهَ النَّاسِ إِلَيْهِ لَمْ يَجِدْ رِيحَ الْجَنَّةِ. مَنِ ابْتَغَى الْعِلْمَ لِيَخْدَعَ بِهِ النَّاسَ لَمْ يَجِدْ رِيحَ الْجَنَّة.

Indeed the worst of human in position with God on the Day of Judgment is the one who did not take advantage of his knowledge. The one, who seeks knowledge in order to divert people’s attention towards himself or seeks knowledge to deceive by it others, will surely not smell the fragrance of Paradise.

إِذَا سُئِلْتَ عَنْ عِلْمٍ لَا تَعْلَمُهُ فَقُلْ لَا أَعْلَمُهُ تَنْجَ مِنْ تَبِعَتِهِ وَ لَا تُفْتِ بِمَا لَا عِلْمَ لَكَ بِهِ تَنْجُ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة.

When you are asked of some knowledge that you do not know, say, “I do not know” then you will be saved of its consequences. Do not follow that of which you have no knowledge then you will be saved from the wrath of God on the Day of Judgment.

يَطَّلِعُ قَوْمٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ عَلَى قَوْمٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ فَيَقُولُونَ مَا أَدْخَلَكُمُ النَّارَ وَ قَدْ دَخَلْنَا الْجَنَّةَ بِتَأْدِيبِكُمْ وَ تَعْلِيمِكُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّا كُنَّا نَأْمُرُ بِالْخَيْرِ وَ لَا نَفْعَلُه‏.

There will be a day when a group of people of Paradise will be over a group of people of Hell and they will say, “What has made you enter hell-fire? For surely we entered paradise by you teaching us and your disciplining (educating) us!” They will say, “We used to bid others to do good while we ourselves did not do it.”

You Reap What You Sow

إِنَّكَ فِي مَمَرِّ اللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ فِي آجَالٍ مَنْقُوصَةٍ وَ أَعْمَالٍ مَحْفُوظَةٍ وَ الْمَوْتُ يَأْتِي بَغْتَةً وَ مَنْ يَزْرَعْ خَيْراً يُوشِكْ أَنْ يَحْصُدَ خَيْراً وَ مَنْ يَزْرَعْ شَرّاً يُوشِكْ أَنْ يَحْصُدَ نَدَامَةً وَ لِكُلِّ زَارِعٍ مِثْلُ مَا زَرَع‏.

Indeed, you are in the passing of night and day where life is short, deeds are recorded, and death comes suddenly. Whoever sows good is on the verge of reaping good and whoever sows evil is on the verge of reaping regret. The sower went out to sow his seed.

Sin

Indeed, when God wishes good for a servant, He puts his sins before his eyes (to remember them and repent) and committing sin will be difficult for him.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِذَا أَرَادَ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْراً جَعَلَ ذُنُوبَهُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ مُمَثَّلَةً وَ الْإِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ثَقِيلًا وَبِيلًا. لَا تَنْظُرْ إِلَى صِغَرِ الْخَطِيئَةِ وَ لَكِنِ انْظُرْ إِلَى مَنْ عَصَيْتَهُ.

Do not look at the smallness of the sin but look at the one you disobeyed.

Sin and Sustenance

إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيُحْرَمُ رِزْقَهُ بِالذَّنْبِ يُصِيبُهُ.

Indeed, man’s sustenance is prohibited (from reaching him) because of a sin he commits.

Guard Your Tongue

دَعْ مَا لَسْتَ مِنْهُ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ فَلَا تَنْطِقْ بِمَا لَا يَعْنِيكَ وَ اخْزُنْ لِسَانَكَ‏كَمَا تَخْزُنُ وَرِقَكَ.

Leave that which you have nothing to do with and is not related to you. Do not speak of that which does not concern you, and guard your tongue as you guard your money.

Prayer

إِنَّكَ مَا دُمْتَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْرَعُ بَابَ الْمَلِكِ الْجَبَّارِ وَ مَنْ يُكْثِرْ قَرْعَ بَابِ الْمَلِكِ يُفْتَحْ لَهُ.

Indeed, as long as you are praying, you are knocking on the door of the Great King, and whoever knocks much on the door of the King it will be opened for him.

مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ يَقُومُ مُصَلِّياً إِلَّا وُكِّلَ بِهِ مَلَكٌ يُنَادِي يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ لَوْ تَعْلَمُ مَا لَكَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَ مَنْ تُنَاجِي مَا انْفَتَلْتَ.

When a believer is praying an angel is appointed for him that calls out, “Oh son of Adam, if you knew what there is for you in prayer and who you are calling, you would not turn away.

The Believer in this World

الدُّنْيَا سِجْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ جَنَّةُ الْكَافِرِ وَ مَا أَصْبَحَ فِيهَا مُؤْمِنٌ إِلَّا حَزِيناً فَكَيْفَ لَا يَحْزَنُ الْمُؤْمِنُ وَ لَيَلْقَيَنَّ أَعْرَاضاً وَ مُصِيبَاتٍ وَ أُمُوراً تَغِيظُهُ وَ لَيُظْلَمَنَّ فَلَا يُنْتَصَرُ. يَبْتَغِي ثَوَاباً مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فَلَا يَزَالُ حَزِيناً حَتَّى يُفَارِقَهَا فَإِذَا فَارَقَهَا أَفْضَى إِلَى الرَّاحَةِ وَ الْكَرَامَةِ.

This world is the prison of the believer and the paradise of the unbeliever. No believer wakes up but is grieved in it. How can he not be grieved while he shall meet sicknesses, hardships, and matters, which will anger him, and he will be wronged and will not be helped.

He seeks reward from God and continues to be in grief (in it) until he departs from this world. When he departs from it, he attains to comfort and honor.

Holy Grief

مَا عُبِدَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى مِثْلِ طُولِ الْحُزْنِ.

God the Almighty has not been worshipped with a thing like that of long grief (of separation from God).

مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ أَنْ يَبْكِيَ فَلْيَبْكِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَلْيُشْعِرْ قَلْبَهُ الْحُزْنَ. إِنَّ الْقَلْبَ الْقَاسِيَ بَعِيدٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى‏ وَ لكِنْ لا يَشْعُرُونَ‏.

Whoever is able to cry let him cry (out of reverence for God). Whoever is not able to cry then let him have his heart feel sadness (due to separation from God). Indeed, the hard heart is far from God, but they do not realize.

Hope without Action

الْكَيِّسُ مَنْ دَانَ نَفْسَهُ وَ عَمِلَ لِمَا بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ وَ الْعَاجِزُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ نَفْسَهُ وَ هَوَاهَا وَ تَمَنَّى عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْأَمَانِيَّ.

Smart is the one who subjugates himself and acts for that which is after death, and weak is the one who follows his self and its caprice and then expects Almighty God so many desires.

The Reality of this World

By Him in whose hand the soul of Muhammad is, if the world was equal, with God, to that of a wing of a fly, the unbeliever would not even get from it a glass of water.

The world is cursed and is cursed what is in it except that by which God’s pleasure is sought.

وَ الَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَوْ أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا كَانَتْ تَعْدِلُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ جَنَاحَ بَعُوضَةٍ أَوْ ذُبَابٍ مَا سَقَى الْكَافِرَ مِنْهَا شَرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ. إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا مَلْعُونَةٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَا فِيهَا إِلَّا مَا ابْتُغِيَ بِهِ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ.

Indeed, God, revealed to my brother Jesus (peace be upon him), “Oh Jesus! Do not love the world for surely I do not love it and love the Hereafter for surely it is the house of return.”

Faith

مَا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ بِهِ وَ تَرْكِ مَا أَمَرَ بِتَرْكِهِ.

There is nothing more loveable to God than faith in Him and abandoning of that which He ordered to be abandoned.

To Abstain in the World

إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْراً فَقَّهَهُ فِي الدِّينِ وَ زَهَّدَهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ بَصَّرَهُ بِعُيُوبِ نَفْسِهِ.

When God wants good for a servant He gives him understanding in religion, makes him abstemious in the world, and makes him to see his own faults.

مَا زَهِدَ عَبْدٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا أَنْبَتَ اللَّهُ الْحِكْمَةَ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَ أَنْطَقَ بِهَا لِسَانَهُ وَ بَصَّرَهُ بِعُيُوبِ الدُّنْيَا وَ دَائِهَا وَ دَوَائِهَا وَ أَخْرَجَهُ مِنْهَا سَالِماً إِلَى دَارِ السَّلَامِ.

No servant abstains in the world but God causes wisdom to grow in his heart, and causes his tongue to utter it, and gives him insight of the faults of the world and its sickness and its cure and causes him to leave from it safely into the abode of peace.

إِذَا رَأَيْتَ أَخَاكَ قَدْ زَهِدَ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَاسْتَمِعْ مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ يُلَقِّنُ الْحِكْمَةَ.

When you see your brother abstaining from worldliness, listen to him for surely he is dictating wisdom.

Who is the Most Abstemious (Zahid)?

أَزْهَدُ النَّاسِ مَنْ لَمْ يَنْسَ الْمَقَابِرَ وَ الْبِلَى وَ تَرَكَ فَضْلَ زِينَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَ آثَرَ مَا يَبْقَى عَلَى مَا يَفْنَى وَ لَمْ يَعُدَّ غَداً مِنْ أَيَّامِهِ وَ عَدَّ نَفْسَهُ فِي الْمَوْتَى.

The most abstemious is the One who does not forget the graves and the deterioration (of the world) and leaves the excess of the adornment of the world and prefers what lasts over that which perishes and he does not count tomorrow among his days and counts himself among the dead.

The Love of Wealth

حُبُّ الْمَالِ وَ الشَّرَفِ أَذْهَبُ لِدِينِ الرَّجُلِ مِنْ ذِئْبَيْنِ ضَارِيَيْنِ فِي زِرْبِ الْغَنَمِ فَأَغَارَا فِيهَا حَتَّى أَصْبَحَا فَمَا ذَا أَبْقَيَا مِنْهَا.

Love of wealth and honor are stronger in stripping a man of his religion than two ferocious wolves in a cattle pen of sheep; so they attack in it until morning. What will remain of it?

Busy Hearts

إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا مَشْغَلَةٌ لِلْقُلُوبِ وَ الْأَبْدَانِ وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى سَائِلُنَا عَمَّا نَعَّمَنَا فِي حَلَالِهِ فَكَيْفَ بِمَا أَنْعَمَنَا فِي حَرَامِهِ.

The world keeps our hearts and bodies busy and God will ask us about what we were favored with of His lawful (halal), then what about that which we enjoyed in His unlawful (haram)!

Blessed People

طُوبَى لِلزَّاهِدِينَ فِي الدُّنْيَا الرَّاغِبِينَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا أَرْضَ اللَّهِ بِسَاطاً وَ تُرَابَهَا فِرَاشاً وَ مَاءَهَا طِيباً وَ اتَّخَذُوا كِتَابَ اللَّهِ شِعَاراً وَ دُعَاءَهُ دِثَاراً يَقْرِضُونَ الدُّنْيَا قَرْضاً.

Blessedness is for those who are abstemious in the world, those who long for the hereafter; they take the earth of God as a carpet and its soil as a pillow and its water as perfume. They are familiar with the book of God, recite it constantly, and call Him loudly and they cut themselves off from worldliness completely.

The Most Intelligent Believer

أَيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَكْيَسُ؟ قَالَ: أَكْثَرُهُمْ لِلْمَوْتِ ذِكْراً وَ أَحْسَنُهُمْ لَهُ اسْتِعْدَاداً.

The most intelligent believers are those who remember death most and prepare for it in the best way.

Do not pretend

اتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَ لَا تُرِ النَّاسَ أَنَّكَ تَخْشَى اللَّهَ فَيُكْرِمُوكَ وَ قَلْبُكَ فَاجِرٌ.

Be wary of God and do not show people that you fear God so they honor you while your heart is evil.

Pious Intention

لِيَكُنْ لَكَ فِي كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ نِيَّةٌ صَالِحَةٌ حَتَّى فِي النَّوْمِ وَ الْأَكْلِ.

Let there be for you in everything a pious intention, even when it comes to sleeping and eating.

Cautious Heart

رَكْعَتَانِ مُقْتَصَدَتَانِ فِي التَّفَكُّرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ قِيَامِ لَيْلَةٍ وَ الْقَلْبُ سَاهٍ.

Two moderate cycles (rak’at) of prayer with pondering is better than standing all night in prayer with a neglectful heart.

Lust of a Moment

الْحَقُّ ثَقِيلٌ مُرٌّ وَ الْبَاطِلُ خَفِيفٌ حُلْوٌ وَ رُبَّ شَهْوَةِ سَاعَةٍ تُوجِبُ حُزْناً طَوِيلًا.

The truth is heavy and bitter and the falsehood is light and sweet. It may be that the (fulfillment of the) lust for a moment (that is false) will yield a long period of grief.

Take Account of Yourself

حَاسِبْ نَفْسَكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُحَاسَبَ فَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ لِحِسَابِكَ غَداً وَ زِنْ نَفْسَكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوزَنَ وَ تَجَهَّزْ لِلْعَرْضِ الْأَكْبَرِ يَوْمَ تُعْرَضُ لَا تَخْفَى مِنْكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ خَافِيَةٌ.

Take account of yourself before you are taken account of, so your accounting will be easier tomorrow. Weigh yourself before you are weighed and prepare for the great staging; the day you will be presented, not the least of a hidden thing of you will be hidden from God.

To be Ashamed of God

أَ تُحِبُّ أَنْ تَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَاقْصِرْ مِنَ الْأَمَلِ وَ اجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ نُصْبَ عَيْنَيْكَ وَ اسْتَحِ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَقَّ الْحَيَاءِ. الْحَيَاءَ مِنَ اللَّهِ أَنْ لَا تَنْسَى الْمَقَابِرَ وَ الْبِلَى وَ تَحْفَظَ الْجَوْفَ وَ مَا وَعَى وَ الرَّأْسَ وَ مَا حَوَى.

If you like to enter heaven cut your desires short, put death before your eyes, and feel shy of God, the shyness due to Him. This shyness is to not forget the graves and deterioration and protecting your stomach and what concerns it and the head and what it contains.

مَنْ أَرَادَ كَرَامَةَ الْآخِرَةِ فَلْيَدَعْ زِينَةَ الدُّنْيَا.

Whoever wants the honor of the Hereafter, so let him leave the embellishments of the worldly life.

Supplication without Deed

مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَدْعُو بِغَيْرِ عَمَلٍ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي يَرْمِي بِغَيْرِ وَتَرٍ.

The one who supplicates without deed is like the one who tries to shoot his arrow without a string on his bow.

Remembrance of God

الذَّاكِرُ فِي الْغَافِلِينَ كَالْمُقَاتِلِ فِي الْفَارِّينَ.

He who remembers (God) among the careless is like a warrior among the fleeing.

Pious Companion

الْجَلِيسُ الصَّالِحُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْوَحْدَةِ وَ الْوَحْدَةُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ جَلِيسِ السَّوْءِ.

A pious companion is better than being alone and being alone is better than an evil companion.

Speaking or Silence

إِمْلَاءُ الْخَيْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ السُّكُوتِ وَ السُّكُوتُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ إِمْلَاءِ الشَّرِّ.

Speaking good is better than silence and silence is better than speaking evil.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عِنْدَ لِسَانِ كُلِّ قَائِلٍ فَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ امْرُؤٌ وَ لْيَعْلَمْ مَا يَقُولُ. اتْرُكْ فُضُولَ الْكَلَامِ وَ حَسْبُكَ مِنَ الْكَلَامِ مَا تَبْلُغُ بِهِ حَاجَتَكَ. كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ كَذِباً أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا يَسْمَعُ.

Indeed, God the Almighty is with the tongue of every speaker. So let every person be wary of God and know what he is saying. Leave excessive speech and it is enough for you what you reach by it your need. It is enough for a man as a lie to say everything he hears.

مَا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ أَحَقَّ بِطُولِ السِّجْنِ مِنَ اللِّسَانِ.

There is nothing more deserving of being imprisoned than the tongue.

Feeding Others

لَا تُصَاحِبْ إِلَّا مُؤْمِناً وَ لَا يَأْكُلْ طَعَامَكَ إِلَّا تَقِيٌّ وَ لَا تَأْكُلْ طَعَامَ الْفَاسِقِينَ. أَطْعِمْ طَعَامَكَ مَنْ تُحِبُّهُ فِي اللَّهِ وَ كُلْ طَعَامَ مَنْ يُحِبُّكَ فِي اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏.

Do not accompany but a believer and do not eat the food of the evil doers. Feed the one who you love for the sake of God and eat the food of one who loves you for the sake of Almighty God.

Seeker of Faults

لَا تَكُنْ عَيَّاباً وَ لَا مَدَّاحاً وَ لَا طَعَّاناً وَ لَا مُمَارِياً.

Do not be a seeker of faults (in others) nor a person who over praises (others in there face), nor a defamer nor a wrangler.

Bad Behaviour

لَا يَزَالُ الْعَبْدُ يَزْدَادُ مِنَ اللَّهِ بُعْداً مَا سَاءَ خُلُقُهُ.

A servant continues to increase in distance from God so long as his behaviour is bad.

Charity

الْكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَةُ صَدَقَةٌ وَ كُلُّ خُطْوَةٍ تَخْطُوهَا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ صَدَقَةٌ.

A good word (of advice) is charity and every step you take towards Prayer is (also) charity.

Inhabiting the Mosque

مَنْ أَجَابَ دَاعِيَ اللَّهِ وَ أَحْسَنَ عِمَارَةَ مَسَاجِدِ اللَّهِ كَانَ ثَوَابُهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْجَنَّةَ.

Whoever answers the caller of God and does well in inhabiting and maintaining mosques of God, his reward from God is paradise.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يُعْطِيكَ مَا دُمْتَ جَالِساً فِي الْمَسْجِدِ بِكُلِّ نَفَسٍ تَنَفَّسْتَ فِيهِ دَرَجَةً فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَ تُصَلِّي عَلَيْكَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ.

Indeed, God gives, so long as you are sitting in the mosque, for every breath taken in it, a degree in paradise, and the angels send blessings on you.

كُلُّ جُلُوسٍ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ لَغْوٌ إِلَّا ثلاث [ثَلَاثَةً] قِرَاءَةُ مُصَلٍّ أَوْ ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَوْ سَائِلٌ عَنْ عِلْمٍ.

Every sitting in the mosque is a waste except three; the recitation of one offering prayers, the remembrance of God, and the asking of knowledge.

Pious Deed

كُنْ بِالْعَمَلِ بِالتَّقْوَى أَشَدَّ اهْتِمَاماً مِنْكَ بِالْعَمَلِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَقِلُّ عَمَلٌ بِالتَّقْوَى وَ كَيْفَ يَقِلُّ عَمَلٌ يُتَقَبَّلُ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ إِنَّما يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ.

Be more concerned about doing deeds with piety than just doing deeds. Because it is not deemed little, that which is done with piety. How can a deed be deemed little, which is accepted?

Almighty God says,

“God accepts only from the pious.”(5:27)

Self-Accounting

لَا يَكُونُ الرَّجُلُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ حَتَّى يُحَاسِبَ نَفْسَهُ أَشَدَّ مِنْ مُحَاسَبَةِ الشَّرِيكِ شَرِيكَهُ فَيَعْلَمَ مِنْ أَيْنَ مَطْعَمُهُ وَ مِنْ أَيْنَ مَشْرَبُهُ وَ مِنْ أَيْنَ مَلْبَسُهُ أَ مِنْ حِلٍّ أَمْ مِنْ حَرَامٍ.

A man cannot be among the God wary until his accounting of himself is stronger than the accounting a (business) partner takes of his partner. He knows from where his food and his drink and his cloths come from; from a lawful means or from a prohibited one.

The Most Honourable

يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ مَنْ لَمْ يُبَالِ مِنْ أَيْنَ يَكْتَسِبُ الْمَالَ لَمْ يُبَالِ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ أَيْنَ أَدْخَلَهُ النَّارَ.

Whoever it pleases that he may be the most honourable of mankind, let him be wary of God.

مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَكْرَمَ النَّاسِ فَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِنَّ أَحَبَّكُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ أَكْثَرُكُمْ ذِكْراً لَهُ وَ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَتْقَاكُمْ لَهُ وَ أَنْجَاكُمْ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ أَشَدُّكُمْ لَهُ خَوْفاً.

The most beloved of you to God, magnificent is His praise, is the one who remembers Him most. The most honourable of you to God is the most pious among you, and the most saved of you from the punishment of God is the strongest of you in awe of Him.

The Importance of Obedience

مَنْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقَدْ ذَكَرَ اللَّهَ وَ إِنْ قَلَّتْ صَلَاتُهُ وَ صِيَامُهُ وَ تِلَاوَتُهُ لِلْقُرْآنِ.

Whoever obeys God has remembered Him even if his prayers, fasting, and recitation of Qur’an are little.

The Criterion of Religion

مِلَاكُ الدِّينِ الْوَرَعُ وَ رَأْسُهُ الطَّاعَةُ. كُنْ وَرِعاً تَكُنْ أَعْبَدَ النَّاسِ.

The criterion of religion is piety and its crown is obedience. Be pious! You will be the best in worship among mankind.

وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّكُمْ لَوْ صَلَّيْتُمْ حَتَّى تَكُونُوا كَالْحَنَايَا وَ صُمْتُمْ حَتَّى تَكُونُوا كَالْأَوْتَارِ مَا يَنْفَعُكُمْ ذَلِكَ إِلَّا بِوَرَعٍ.

Know that if you prayed until your back becomes bent and you fasted until you became thin as strings that would not benefit you unless it is done with piety.

The Virtue of Knowledge

فَضْلُ الْعِلْمِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ فَضْلِ الْعِبَادَةِ.

The Virtue of knowledge is greater than that of worship.

Friends of God

إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْوَرَعِ وَ الزُّهْدِ فِي الدُّنْيَا هُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى حَقّاً.

Surely, the people of piety and abstinence in this world, they are the real friends of Almighty God.

The Loser

مَنْ لَمْ يَأْتِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِثَلَاثٍ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ. وَرَعٌ يَحْجُزُهُ عَمَّا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِ وَ حِلْمٌ يَرُدُّ بِهِ جَهْلَ السُّفَهَاءِ وَ خُلُقٌ يُدَارِي بِهِ النَّاسَ.

Whoever does not come on the Day of Judgment with three qualities he has surely lost. They are Piety that prevents him from that which God the Great and Majestic has made forbidden for him, and clemency by which he refutes the ignorance of the fools and good manners with which he deals with people.

The Strongest

إِنْ سَرَّكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ أَقْوَى النَّاسِ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِنْ سَرَّكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ أَكْرَمَ النَّاسِ فَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَ إِنْ سَرَّكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ أَغْنَى النَّاسِ فَكُنْ بِمَا فِي يَدِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَوْثَقَ مِنْكَ بِمَا فِي يَدِكَ.

If you like to be the strongest among the people, then put your trust in God the Almighty. If you desire to be the most generous among the people, then be wary of God. If you want to be the wealthiest of people, then be more confident of what is in God’s hands than in what is in your hands.

If all of the people benefitted from this verse, it would have been enough for them:

لَوْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ كُلَّهُمْ أَخَذُوا بِهَذِهِ الْآيَةِ لَكَفَتْهُمْ‏ وَ مَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجاً وَ يَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُ وَ مَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بالِغُ أَمْرِهِ.

“And whoever is wary of God, He shall make a way out for him and provide for him from whence he does not reckon. Whoever puts his trust in God, He will suffice him. Indeed God carries through His command.”(65: 2 &3)

To Guarantee the Sustenance

يَقُولُ اللَّهُ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ وَ عِزَّتِي وَ جَلَالِي لَا يُؤْثِرُ عَبْدِي هَوَايَ عَلَى هَوَاهُ إِلَّا جَعَلْتُ غِنَاهُ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَ هُمُومَهُ فِي آخِرَتِهِ وَ ضَمَّنْتُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ رِزْقَهُ وَ كَفَفْتُ عَنْهُ ضِيقَهُ وَ كُنْتُ لَهُ مِنْ وَرَاءِ تِجَارَةِ كُلِّ تَاجِرٍ.

God the Almighty says,

“By My Dignity and Majesty, if my servant prefers My desire over his desire, I will grant him wealth in himself and make his worry be directed to the Hereafter. And the heavens and earths will guarantee his sustenance, and I will relieve him from his tough time, and I will back him up in every business transaction.”

In Time of Comfort

احْفَظِ اللَّهَ يَحْفَظْكَ. تَعَرَّفْ إِلَى اللَّهِ فِي الرَّخَاءِ يَعْرِفْكَ فِي الشِّدَّةِ.

Guard your actions and you will find God with you. Get to know God in your time of leisure and comfort and God will remember you in your hard times.

Only Ask God

إِذَا سَأَلْتَ فَاسْأَلِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِذَا اسْتَعَنْتَ فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ.

If you ask, then ask God the Almighty, and if you seek help, seek God’s help.

God Will

فَلَوْ أَنَّ الْخَلْقَ كُلَّهُمْ جَهَدُوا أَنْ يَنْفَعُوكَ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ لَمْ يُكْتَبْ لَكَ مَا قَدَرُوا عَلَيْهِ وَ لَوْ جَهَدُوا أَنْ يَضُرُّوكَ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ لَمْ يَكْتُبْهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ مَا قَدَرُوا عَلَيْهِ.

If all creatures tried to help or benefit you in something, which God did not will for you, they will not be able to do so. If they try to harm you with something, which God did not will for you, they will not be able to do so.

Victory and Patience

إِنَّ النَّصْرَ مَعَ الصَّبْرِ وَ إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً.

The victory is with patience and “indeed ease accompanies hardship.”(94:6)

The Wealthiest

اسْتَغْنِ بِغِنَى اللَّهِ يُغْنِكَ اللَّهُ فَمَنْ قَنِعَ بِمَا رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ أَغْنَى النَّاسِ.

Be satisfied with the wealth of God and God will grant you wealth. Whoever is content with whatever God gives him, he will be the wealthiest of people.

He Looks at Heart

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَ لَا إِلَى أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَ أَقْوَالِكُمْ وَ لَكِنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَ أَعْمَالِكُمْ.

God the Almighty does not look at your physical appearance or your financial status or your words, but He looks at your hearts and deeds.

Four Things for the Believer

أَرْبَعٌ لَا يُصِيبُهُنَّ إِلَّا مُؤْمِنٌ الصَّمْتُ وَ هُوَ أَوَّلُ الْعِبَادَةِ وَ التَّوَاضُعُ لِلَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَ ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فِي كُلِّ حَالٍ وَ قِلَّةُ الشَّيْ‏ءِ يَعْنِي قِلَّةَ الْمَالِ.

There are four things, which no one achieve it but the believer: silence, which is the first thing in worship, humility to God the Glorious, remembrance of God the Almighty in every situation, and having little wealth or money.

Among the Heedless

هُمَّ بِالْحَسَنَةِ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَعْمَلْهَا لِكَيْلَا تُكْتَبَ مِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ.

Hasten to do the good deed even if you do not get the opportunity to do it, so that you are not recorded among the heedless.

Lust and Tongue

مَنْ مَلَكَ مَا بَيْنَ فَخِذَيْهِ وَ بَيْنَ لَحْيَيْهِ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ. وَ هَلْ يَكُبُّ النَّاسَ عَلَى مَنَاخِرِهِمْ فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ إِنَّكَ لَا تَزَالُ سَالِماً مَا سَكَتَّ فَإِذَا تَكَلَّمْتَ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكَ أَوْ عَلَيْكَ‏.

Whoever owns his lust and his tongue will enter the Paradise. Surely, what brings people to fall into Hell-Fire on their noses is what their tongues say! You are safe so long as you are quiet, and when you speak, God writes it either for you or against you.

Woe to the Liar

وَيْلٌ لِلَّذِي يُحَدِّثُ وَ يَكْذِبُ لِيُضْحِكَ بِهِ الْقَوْمَ وَيْلٌ لَهُ. مَنْ صَمَتَ نَجَا فَعَلَيْكَ بِالصِّدْقِ وَ لَا تُخْرِجَنَّ مِنْ فِيكَ كَذِباً أَبَداً.

Woe to the one who talks and lies to make a group of people laugh, woe to him! Whoever observes silence will be saved, so be honest and do not ever lie.

Backbiting

إِيَّاكَ وَ الْغِيبَةَ فَإِنَّ الْغِيبَةَ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الزِّنَا، لِأَنَّ الرَّجُلَ يَزْنِي وَ يَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ فَيَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ الْغِيبَةُ لَا تُغْفَرُ حَتَّى يَغْفِرَهَا صَاحِبُهَا.

Beware of backbiting, for backbiting is worse than adultery! A person commits adultery and then repents to God and God may forgive him, but backbiting would not be forgiven until those who have been backbitten forgive first.

The Sanctity of the Believer

. سِبَابُ الْمُؤْمِنِ فُسُوقٌ وَ قِتَالُهُ كُفْرٌ وَ أَكْلُ لَحْمِهِ مِنْ مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ وَ حُرْمَةُ مَالِهِ كَحُرْمَةِ دَمِهِ

To curse a believer is corruption, fighting him is disbelief, and eating his flesh (backbiting)6 is a disobedience to God. The sanctity of his wealth and property is like the sanctity of his blood.

To Defend the Believer

مَنْ ذَبَّ عَنْ أَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ الْغِيبَةَ كَانَ حَقّاً عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُعْتِقَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ.

Whoever defends his Muslim brother from backbiting, he would deserve that God emancipates him from Hell-Fire.

مَنِ اغْتِيبَ عِنْدَهُ أَخُوهُ الْمُسْلِمُ وَ هُوَ يَسْتَطِيعُ نَصْرَهُ فَنَصَرَهُ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ فَإِنْ خَذَلَهُ وَ هُوَ يَسْتَطِيعُ نَصْرَهُ خَذَلَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ.

Whoever sees his Muslim brother being backbitten and he is able to defend him and he defends him, God the Almighty will defend him in this life and the Hereafter. However, if he fails to support him while he is capable of doing so, God will not support him in this life and the Hereafter.

Revealing the Secret

الْمَجَالِسُ بِالْأَمَانَةِ وَ إِفْشَاءُ سِرِّ أَخِيكَ خِيَانَةٌ فَاجْتَنِبْ ذَلِكَ.

The gatherings are confidential, and revealing the secret of your brother is betrayal, so avoid that.

Enmity

تُعْرَضُ أَعْمَالُ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى اللَّهِ فَيُسْتَغْفَرُ لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُؤْمِنٍ إِلَّا عَبْداً كَانَتْ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ أَخِيهِ شَحْنَاءُ فَيُقَالُ اتْرُكُوا عَمَلَ هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا.

The deeds of the people of this world are presented to God, and repentance would be done on behalf of each believer except a servant who has grudges towards another believer. It will be said, “Leave the deeds of these two people until they make peace.”

Desertion

Beware of abandoning your brother, as deeds do not accept with desertion.

إِيَّاكَ وَ هِجْرَانَ أَخِيكَ فَإِنَّ الْعَمَلَ لَا يُتَقَبَّلُ مَعَ الْهِجْرَانِ. أَنْهَاكَ عَنِ الْهِجْرَانِ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ لَا بُدَّ فَاعِلًا [فَلَا] تَهْجُرْهُ فَوْقَ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ‏ كَمَلًا فَمَنْ مَاتَ فِيهَا مُهَاجِراً لِأَخِيهِ كَانَتِ النَّارُ أَوْلَى بِهِ.

I forbid you from forsaking your brother, and if you must do so, do not abandon him more than three full days. Whoever dies within these three days while he have abandoned his brother, the Hell-Fire will be worthy of him.

Arrogance

Whoever likes others to stand up for him (when he enters), then let him take his place in Hell-Fire.

مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَتَمَثَّلَ لَهُ الرِّجَالُ قِيَاماً فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ. مَنْ مَاتَ وَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ لَمْ يَجِدْ رَائِحَةَ الْجَنَّةِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَتُوبَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ.

Whoever dies and has in his heart an atom of arrogance, he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise unless he repents before that.

To Help the Needy

مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ قَمِيصَانِ فَلْيَلْبَسْ أَحَدَهُمَا وَ لْيُلْبِسِ الْآخَرَ أَخَاهُ.

Whoever has two shirts, let him wear one and give the other one to his brother.

The Worst of Nation

سَيَكُونُ نَاسٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي يُولَدُونَ فِي النَّعِيمِ وَ يُغَذَّوْنَ بِهِ هِمَّتُهُمْ أَلْوَانُ الطَّعَامِ وَ الشَّرَابِ وَ يُمْدَحُونَ بِالْقَوْلِ أُولَئِكَ شِرَارُ أُمَّتِي.

There will be a group of people from my nation who will be born in luxury and would live continuously in it, their focus is the different colors of food and drink, and they praise by words. They are the worst of my nation.

Blessedness

طُوبَى لِمَنْ عَمِلَ بِعِلْمِهِ وَ أَنْفَقَ الْفَضْلَ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَ أَمْسَكَ الْفَضْلَ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ.

Glad tidings to the one who acts upon his knowledge and spends good from his wealth, and reduces his unnecessary words.

The Best Deeds

أَحَبُّ الْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِهِ.

The best deeds towards God are to believe in God, then to waging jihad (to strive) in the way of God.

The Best in Faith

أَحَبُّ الْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِهِ.

The best of believers in manners are the more perfect in faith, and the best believers are those whom people are safe from their tongues and hands.

The Best Charity

أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ جُهْدٌ مِنْ مُقِلٍّ إِلَى فَقِيرٍ فِي سِرٍّ.

The best charity is an effort of a low-income person that is given to a poor in secret.

A Sane Person

عَلَى الْعَاقِلِ أَنْ [لَا] يَكُونَ ظَاعِناً إِلَّا فِي ثَلَاثٍ تَزَوُّدٍ لِمَعَادٍ أَوْ مَرَمَّةٍ لِمَعَاشٍ أَوْ لَذَّةٍ فِي غَيْرِ مُحَرَّمٍ.

A sane person should dedicate his time except in three cases: taking provision for the Hereafter, or earning for worldly life, or enjoying in what is legitimate.

وَ عَلَى الْعَاقِلِ أَنْ يَكُونَ بَصِيراً بِزَمَانِهِ مُقْبِلًا عَلَى شَأْنِهِ حَافِظاً لِلِسَانِهِ.

A sane person should have insight and understand the circumstances of his time, mind his own business, and watch his tongue.

Words Are Deeds

مَنْ حَسَبَ كَلَامَهُ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ قَلَّ كَلَامُهُ إِلَّا فِيمَا يَعْنِيهِ.

Whoever counts his speech to be from his deeds, his speech will decrease except in what concerns him.

Life of This World

عَجَبٌ لِمَنْ أَبْصَرَ الدُّنْيَا وَ تَقَلُّبَهَا بِأَهْلِهَا حَالًا بَعْدَ حَالٍ ثُمَّ هُوَ يَطْمَئِنُّ إِلَيْهَا.

Wonders at he who observes how the life of this world changes with its people and situations, yet he feels secure in it.

Present Deeds

عَجَبٌ لِمَنْ أَيْقَنَ بِالْحِسَابِ غَداً ثُمَّ لَمْ يَعْمَلْ.

Wonders at he who is certain of the reckoning on the Day of Judgment, yet he does not present deeds.

Recite the Qur’an

عَلَيْكَ بِتِلَاوَةِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَإِنَّهُ ذِكْرٌ لَكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَ نُورٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ.

Recite the Qur’an and remember Almighty God, for it is remembrance for you in the heavens, and light in the earth.

Monasticism

عَلَيْكَ بِالْجِهَادِ فَإِنَّهُ رَهْبَانِيَّةُ أُمَّتِي.

Perform Jihad (strive in the way of God), for it is the monasticism of my nation.

Observing Silence

عَلَيْكَ بِالصَّمْتِ إِلَّا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّهُ مَطْرَدَةٌ لِلشَّيْطَانِ عَنْكَ وَ عَوْنٌ لَكَ عَلَى أُمُورِ دِينِكَ.

Observe silence except that which there is good in it, for it repels the devil from you and helps you in the matters of your religion.

Laughing a lot

إِيَّاكَ وَ كَثْرَةَ الضَّحِكِ فَإِنَّهُ يُمِيتُ الْقَلْبَ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِنُورِ الْوَجْهِ.

Beware of laughing a lot, for it kills the heart and removes the light from the face.

To Appreciate the Bounty of God

انْظُرْ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ تَحْتَكَ وَ لَا تَنْظُرْ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ فَوْقَكَ فَإِنَّهُ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ لَا تَزْدَرِيَ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ.

Look at the one who is below you and do not look at those who are above you, for it helps you to appreciate the bounty of God to you.

Ties of Kinship

صِلْ قَرَابَتَكَ وَ إِنْ قَطَعُوكَ وَ أَحِبَّ الْمَسَاكِينَ وَ أَكْثِرْ مُجَالَسَتَهُمْ.

Keep contact with your close kin even if they cut relations with you, and love the needy people and accompany them a lot.

Telling the Truth

قُلِ الْحَقَّ وَ إِنْ كَانَ مُرّاً. وَ لَا تَخَفْ فِي اللَّهِ لَوْمَةَ لَائِمٍ.

Tell the truth even if it is bitter and do not fear anything when it is for the sake of God.

Shortcomings

لِيَرُدَّكَ عَنِ النَّاسِ مَا تَعْرِفُ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ وَ لَا تجر [تَجِدْ] عَلَيْهِمْ فِيمَا تَأْتِي فَكَفَى بِالرَّجُلِ عَيْباً أَنْ يَعْرِفَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَا يَجْهَلُ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ وَ يجر [يَجِدَ] عَلَيْهِمْ فِيمَا يَأْتِي.

Let your shortcomings keep you busy from the shortcoming of others. It is enough of a deficiency in a man that knows shortcomings of others but does not recognize shortcomings of himself.

Good Manners

لَا عَقْلَ كَالتَّدْبِيرِ وَ لَا وَرَعَ كَالْكَفِّ عَنِ الْمَحَارِمِ وَلَاحَسَبَ كَحُسْنِ الْخُلُق.‏

There is no mind like contemplation, and no extreme piety like avoiding the forbidden, and no deed like good manners.

To His Companion, Abdullah ibn Masud

To His Companion, Abdullah ibn Masud7

It is reported that the Prophet (S) said,8

Except the Steadfast

إِنِّي قَرَأْتُ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَيَّ وَ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلِي فَمَا وَجَدْتُ مَنْ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ إِلَّا الصَّابِرُونَ.

I have read the Book of God that was revealed to me and to those who came before me and found that none should be allowed into Paradise except the steadfast ones.

Without any Reckoning

God the Almighty says,

“Indeed the patient will be paid in full their reward without any reckoning.(39:10)

Those shall be rewarded with sublime abodes for their patience.(Qur’an; 25:75)

قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ إِنَّما يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُمْ بِغَيْرِ حِسابٍ‏ أُوْلئِكَ يُجْزَوْنَ الْغُرْفَةَ بِما صَبَرُوا إِنِّي جَزَيْتُهُمُ الْيَوْمَ بِما صَبَرُوا أَنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْفائِزُونَ.

“Indeed, I have rewarded them today for their patience. They are indeed the triumphant.”(23:111)

Good News to the Patient

God the Almighty says,

“Do you suppose that you shall enter paradise though there has not yet come to you the like of what befell who went before you? Stress and distress befell them.”(2:214)

يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَ لَمَّا يَأْتِكُمْ مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ مَسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْساءُ وَ الضَّرَّاءُ وَ لَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَ الْجُوعِ وَ نَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوالِ وَ الْأَنْفُسِ وَ الثَّمَراتِ وَ بَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ.

“We will surely test you with a measure of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits; and give good news to the patient.”(2:155)

The Steadfast People

الصَّابِرُونَ هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَصْبِرُونَ عَلَى طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَ اجْتَنَبُوا مَعْصِيَتَهُ الَّذِينَ كَسَبُوا طَيِّباً وَ أَنْفَقُوا قَصْداً وَ قَدَّمُوا فَضْلًا فَأَفْلَحُوا وَ أَصْلَحُوا.

The steadfast people are those who patiently persevere in obedience to God, who avoid disobeying Him, who earn through legal means, who give alms moderately, and who do favors. Therefore, they succeeded and acted righteously.

The Patients

The patients act tolerantly when they face tribulations, thank those who give them, establish justice when they judge, tell only the truth when they speak, fulfill their promises when they promise, pray for God’s forgiveness when they do an evildoing, and feel delighted when they do good deeds.

“When the ignorant address them, they say, Peace!” (25:63)

“If they pass by futility, they pass by it with honourable avoidance.”(25:72)

“They spend the night in adoration of their Lord prostrate and standing.”(25:64)

الصَّابِرُونَ إِذَا ابْتُلُوا صَبَرُوا وَ إِذَا أُعْطُوا شَكَرُوا وَ إِذَا حَكَمُوا عَدَلُوا وَ إِذَا قَالُوا صَدَقُوا وَ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا وَفَوْا وَ إِذَا أَسَاءُوا اسْتَغْفَرُوا وَ إِذَا أَحْسَنُوا اسْتَبْشَرُوا وَ إِذا خاطَبَهُمُ الْجاهِلُونَ قالُوا سَلاماً وَ إِذا مَرُّوا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّوا كِراماً وَ الَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّداً وَ قِياماً وَ يَقُولُونَ لِلنَّاسِ حُسْناً. وَ الَّذِي بَعَثَنِي بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ.

They speak fair to the people. I swear by Him Who has sent me with the truth, these people are the true triumphant.

Leave the World!

مَنْ زَهِدَ فِي الدُّنْيَا قَصُرَ أَمَلُهُ فِيهَا وَ تَرَكَهَا لِأَهْلِهَا.

Whoever abstains in this worldly life will not have great expectation in it and will leave it for its adorers.

The Most Foolish

Indeed, the most foolish of all people are those who seek out this world.

إِنَّ أَحْمَقَ النَّاسِ مَنْ طَلَبَ الدُّنْيَا قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا الْحَياةُ الدُّنْيا لَعِبٌ وَ لَهْوٌ وَ زِينَةٌ وَ تَفاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ تَكاثُرٌ فِي الْأَمْوالِ وَ الْأَوْلادِ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَباتُهُ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَراهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطاماً وَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذابٌ شَدِيدٌ.

God the All-exalted says,

“Know you all that the life of this world is but play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting and multiplying, in rivalry among yourselves, riches, and children. Here is a similitude: How rain and the growth, which it brings forth, delights the hearts of the tillers; soon it withers; you will see it grow yellow; then it becomes dry and crumbles away. However, in the Hereafter is a penalty severe [for the devotees of wrong].”(57:20)

The Best Embellishment

قَالَ تَعَالَى لِمُوسَى (ع): يَا مُوسَى لَنْ يَتَزَيَّنَ الْمُتَزَيِّنُونَ بِزِينَةٍ أَزْيَنَ فِي عَيْنِي مِنَ الزُّهْدِ.

To Moses, God the All-exalted said, “O, Moses! No one who seeks the best embellishment can choose a better embellishment in My sight than abstinence from worldly pleasures.

The Slogan of the Righteous

قَالَ تَعَالَى لِمُوسَى (ع): يَا مُوسَى إِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْفَقْرَ مُقْبِلًا فَقُلْ مَرْحَباً بِشِعَارِ الصَّالِحِينَ وَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْغِنَى مُقْبِلًا فَقُلْ ذَنْبٌ عُجِّلَتْ عُقُوبَتُهُ.

God the All-exalted said to Moses!

“When you see poverty coming to you, say to it, ‘Welcome to the slogan of the righteous people!’ If you see fortune coming, say to it, ‘You are a sin the punishment of which has been precipitated.’”

Silver Roofs

انْظُرْ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى‏ وَ لَوْ لا أَنْ يَكُونَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً واحِدَةً لَجَعَلْنا لِمَنْ يَكْفُرُ بِالرَّحْمانِ لِبُيُوتِهِمْ سُقُفاً مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَ مَعارِجَ عَلَيْها يَظْهَرُونَ وَ لِبُيُوتِهِمْ أَبْواباً وَ سُرُراً عَلَيْها يَتَّكِؤُنَ وَ زُخْرُفاً وَ إِنْ كُلُّ ذلِكَ لَمَّا مَتاعُ الْحَياةِ الدُّنْيا وَ الْآخِرَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ.

God the All-exalted says,

“And were it not that all men might become of one evil way of life, We would provide for everyone that blasphemes against God the Most Gracious silver roofs for their houses and silver stair-ways on which to go up; and silver doors to their houses, and thrones of silver on which they could recline; and also adornments of gold. However, all this were nothing but conveniences of the present life. The Hereafter, in the sight of your Lord is for the righteous ones.”(43: 33-35)

Eager to Enter Paradise

مَنِ اشْتَاقَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ سَارَعَ إِلَى الْخَيْرَاتِ وَ مَنْ خَافَ النَّارَ تَرَكَ الشَّهَوَاتِ.

Whoever is eager to enter Paradise, should hasten in emulation in all good deeds. Whoever is fearful of Hellfire, should desert lustful things.

Expecting Death

مَنْ تَرَقَّبَ الْمَوْتَ أَعْرَضَ عَنِ اللَّذَّاتِ وَ مَنْ زَهِدَ فِي الدُّنْيَا هَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْمُصِيبَاتُ.

Whoever is really expecting death, should abandon pleasures. Whoever is abstinent from this world would care very little for misfortunes.

Hell or Paradise

النَّارُ لِمَنْ رَكِبَ مُحَرَّماً وَ الْجَنَّةُ لِمَنْ تَرَكَ الْحَلَالَ فَعَلَيْكَ بِالزُّهْدِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يُبَاهِي اللَّهُ بِهِ الْمَلَائِكَةَ وَ بِهِ يُقْبِلُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ بِوَجْهِهِ وَ يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكَ الْجَبَّارُ.

Hellfire is set for those who commit forbidden acts, while Paradise is prepared for those who abandon even the legal. So, adhere to abstinence from worldly pleasures, for this action is one of the actions in which God takes pride before the angels, through which God comes to you wholly, and due to which the Omnipotent Lord pours down His blessings on you.

The Hypocrites of the Last Time

After my departure shall come some peoples who eat the most delicious and most multifarious kinds of food, ride on the best riding animals (or tools), decorate themselves in the same decoration wives use for their husbands, adorn themselves in the same way as women do, and wear the same dresses of tyrannical kings.

These are the hypocrites of this community in the last time. They drink coffee, play with dices, commit every lustful deed, neglect presenting themselves in the congregations, sleep without doing the night devotional acts, and exceed all bounds at daylights.

سَيَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي أَقْوَامٌ يَأْكُلُونَ طَيِّبَاتِ الطَّعَامِ وَ أَلْوَانَهَا وَ يَرْكَبُونَ الدَّوَابَّ وَ يَتَزَيَّنُونَ بِزِينَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ لِزَوْجِهَا وَ يَتَبَرَّجُونَ تَبَرُّجَ النِّسَاءِ وَ زِيُّهُمْ مِثْلُ زِيِّ الْمُلُوكِ الْجَبَابِرَةِ هُمْ مُنَافِقُو هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ شَارِبُوا الْقَهَوَاتِ لَاعِبُونَ بِالْكِعَابِ رَاكِبُونَ الشَّهَوَاتِ تَارِكُونَ الْجَمَاعَاتِ رَاقِدُونَ عَنِ الْعَتَمَاتِ مُفَرِّطُونَ فِي الْغَدَوَاتِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ فَخَلَفَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضاعُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ اتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَواتِ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا.

God the All-exalted says,

“But after them there followed a posterity who missed prayers and followed after lusts. Soon then will they face destruction.”(19:59)

Useless Comfort

What is the use of those leading a life of comfort in this worldly life when they shall be placed in Hellfire forever?

“They know but the outer things in the life of this world: but of the end of things they are heedless.” (Qur’an; 30:7)

They build houses, construct palaces, and decorate the mosques; while they, by these acts, intend for nothing but worldly pleasures. They devote themselves to this world and count on it. Their stomachs have distracted them [from more important things than eating].

The Stranger

الْإِسْلَامُ بَدَأَ غَرِيباً وَ سَيَعُودُ غَرِيباً كَمَا بَدَأَ فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ. ‏

Islam began strange and it will return strange as same as it began. So, blessed are the strangers!

Death will Find You.

لَا تَخَافَنَّ أَحَداً غَيْرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ أَيْنَما تَكُونُوا يُدْرِكْكُمُ الْمَوْتُ وَ لَوْ كُنْتُمْ فِي بُرُوجٍ مُشَيَّدَةٍ.

Never fear anyone save God, for God the All-exalted says,

“Wherever you are, death will find you out, even if you are in towers built up strong and high!”(4:78)

Like a Donkey

قَالَ تَعَالَى‏ مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْراةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوها كَمَثَلِ الْحِمارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفاراً.

God, the All-exalted, says,

“The similitude of those on whom learning the Torah was an incumbent and they learned it without practicing the commandments, is as the likeness of a donkey who is under the burden of books to carry, without understanding one single word of them.”(62:5)

Harvest of this World

God the All-exalted says, “Those who desire the life of the present and its glitter, to them we shall pay the price of their deeds therein without diminution.”(Qur’an; 11:15)

قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ مَنْ كانَ يُرِيدُ الْحَياةَ الدُّنْيا وَ زِينَتَها نُوَفِّ إِلَيْهِمْ أَعْمالَهُمْ فِيها وَ هُمْ فِيها لا يُبْخَسُونَ‏ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ وَ مَنْ كانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ الدُّنْيا نُؤْتِهِ مِنْها وَ ما لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ نَصِيبٍ.‏

He also says,

“To any that desires the tillage of this world, We grant somewhat thereof, but he has no share or lot in the Hereafter.”(42:20)

Knowledge for Worldly Pleasures

مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْعِلْمَ يُرِيدُ بِهِ الدُّنْيَا وَ آثَرَ عَلَيْهِ حُبَّ الدُّنْيَا وَ زِينَتَهَا اسْتَوْجَبَ سَخَطَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَ كَانَ‏ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ.

Whoever learns an item of knowledge for seeking worldly gains and prefers love for worldly pleasures and embellishments to it has made himself deserve the wrath of God and will find himself a place in the lowest class of Hellfire.

The Blind

مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْعِلْمَ وَ لَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِمَا فِيهِ حَشَرَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَى.

Whoever learns knowledge but fails to act upon it, God will resurrect him on the Resurrection Day as blind.

To Learn for Showing Off

مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْعِلْمَ رِئَاءً وَ سُمْعَةً يُرِيدُ بِهِ الدُّنْيَا نَزَعَ اللَّهُ بَرَكَتَهُ وَ ضَيَّقَ عَلَيْهِ مَعِيشَتَهُ وَ وَكَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ وَ مَنْ وَكَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ فَقَدْ هَلَكَ.

Whoever learns knowledge on basis of ostentation and showing off so that he would gain worldly pleasures; God will strip him of the blessings of knowledge, straighten his livelihood, and leave him alone to himself. Verily, Whomsoever God leaves to himself will most surely perish.

To Meet the Lord

قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ فَمَنْ كانَ يَرْجُوا لِقاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صالِحاً وَ لا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَداً.

God the All-exalted says,

“Whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner.”(18:110)

The Best Companion

فَلْيَكُنْ جُلَسَاؤُكَ الْأَبْرَارَ وَ إِخْوَانُكَ الْأَتْقِيَاءَ وَ الزُّهَّادَ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى قَالَ فِي كِتَابِهِ‏ الْأَخِلَّاءُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقِينَ.‏

Your companions and those with whom you sit should be the righteous ones and your friends should be the pious ones and those who abstain from worldly pleasures. This is so because God the Almighty says in His Book,

“Friends on that day will be foes one to another, except the righteous.”(43:67)

For Justice

قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَداءَ لِلَّهِ وَ لَوْ عَلى‏ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوالِدَيْنِ وَ الْأَقْرَبِينَ.‏

God the All-exalted says,

“Stand out firmly for justice as witnesses to God even if it should be against yourselves or your parents and near relatives.”(4:135)

Worthy of Being Wary

Adhere to fear of God and establishment of the devotional duties, for He says,

“He is worthy of being wary [of Him] and He is the Source of Forgiveness.”(74:56)

عَلَيْكَ بِخَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَ أَدَاءِ الْفَرَائِضِ فَإِنَّهُ يَقُولُ‏ هُوَ أَهْلُ التَّقْوى‏ وَ أَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ وَ يَقُولُ‏ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَ رَضُوا عَنْهُ ذلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِيَ رَبَّهُ.‏

He also says,

“God is well pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. That is for those who fear (the disobedience of) their Lord and Cherisher.”(98:8)

Your Concern

دَعْ عَنْكَ مَا لَا يُغْنِيكَ وَ عَلَيْكَ بِمَا يُغْنِيكَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ شَأْنٌ يُغْنِيهِ‏

Leave that which is not of your concern and stick to what concerns you, for God the All-exalted says,

“Each one of them, that day, will have enough concern of his own to make him indifferent to the others.”(80:37)

Beware of Disobedience!

Beware of failing to carry out any act of obedience to God and beware of heading for committing any act of disobedience to Him out of your mercy to your family members.

إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَدَعَ طَاعَةَ اللَّهِ وَ تَقْصِدَ مَعْصِيَتَهُ شَفَقَةً عَلَى أَهْلِكَ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ يا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَ اخْشَوْا يَوْماً لا يَجْزِي والِدٌ عَنْ وَلَدِهِ وَ لا مَوْلُودٌ هُوَ جازٍ عَنْ والِدِهِ شَيْئاً إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَلا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَياةُ الدُّنْيا وَ لا يَغُرَّنَّكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ

Verily, God the All-exalted says,

“O mankind! Do your duty to your Lord and fear a Day when no father can avail aught for his child, nor a child avail aught for his father. Verily, the promise of God is true: let not then this present life deceives you, nor let the chief Deceiver deceive you about God.”(31:33)

Be Cautious of This World

Be cautious of this world along with its pleasures, lusts, glitter, devouring of illegal things, gold, silver, means of riding, and women.

احْذَرِ الدُّنْيَا وَ لَذَّاتِهَا وَ شَهَوَاتِهَا وَ زِينَتَهَا وَ أَكْلَ الْحَرَامِ وَ الذَّهَبَ‏ وَ الْفِضَّةَ وَ الرَّكْبَ وَ النِّسَاءَ فَإِنَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ يَقُولُ‏ زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَواتِ مِنَ النِّساءِ وَ الْبَنِينَ وَ الْقَناطِيرِ الْمُقَنْطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَ الْفِضَّةِ وَ الْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَ الْأَنْعامِ وَ الْحَرْثِ ذلِكَ مَتاعُ الْحَياةِ الدُّنْيا وَ اللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآبِ قُلْ أَ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْ ذلِكُمْ لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهارُ خالِدِينَ فِيها وَ أَزْواجٌ مُطَهَّرَةٌ وَ رِضْوانٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ اللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبادِ.

God the All-glorified says,

“To mankind has been made to seem decorous the love of worldly desires, including women and children, accumulated piles of gold and silver, horses of mark, livestock, and farms. Those are the wares of the life of this world; but God with Him is a good destination. Say, “Shall I inform you of something better than that? For those who are God wary there will be gardens near their Lord, with streams running in them, to remain in them forever, and chaste mates, and God’s pleasure.” God sees best the servants.”(3: 14&15)

Do not be Conceited!

لَا تَغْتَرَّنَّ بِاللَّهِ وَ لَا تَغْتَرَّنَّ بِصَلَاحِكَ وَ عِلْمِكَ وَ عَمَلِكَ وَ بِرِّكَ وَ عِبَادَتِكَ

Do not be conceited by the fact that God’s mercy is vast; and do not be allured by the prayers you perform, the righteous actions you do, the piety you show, and the devotional acts you carry out.

Avoid Sins!

Never deem trivial or worthless any sin and always avoid the deadly sins, because when a servant of God looks at his sins on the Resurrection Day, he sheds pus and blood from his eyes.

لَا تُحَقِّرَنَّ ذَنْباً وَ لَا تُصَغِّرَنَّهُ وَ اجْتَنِبِ الْكَبَائِرَ فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا نَظَرَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلَى ذُنُوبِهِ دَمَعَتْ عَيْنَاهُ قَيْحاً وَ دَماً يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ يَوْمَ تَجِدُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ما عَمِلَتْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ مُحْضَراً وَ ما عَمِلَتْ مِنْ سُوءٍ تَوَدُّ لَوْ أَنَّ بَيْنَها وَ بَيْنَهُ أَمَداً بَعِيداً.

God the All-exalted says,

“On the Day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done, and all the evil it has done, it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil.”(3:30)

Be Ready for Death!

قَصِّرْ أَمَلَكَ فَإِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَقُلْ إِنِّي لَا أُمْسِي وَ إِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ فَقُلْ إِنِّي لَا أُصْبِحُ وَ اعْزِمْ عَلَى مُفَارَقَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَ أَحِبَّ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ وَ لَا تَكْرَهْ لِقَاءَهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ لِقَاءَ مَنْ يُحِبُّ لِقَاءَهُ.

Do not place much hope in this world; rather, when you begin your day in the morning, expect that you will not live up to the evening, and when you live to the evening, expect that you will not live to the next morning. Be determined to depart from this worldly life. Always love meeting God and never hate meeting Him. Verily, God loves to meet those who love to meet Him.

The Fuddle of Sinning

Beware of the fuddle of sinning, because sins cause fuddle just like the fuddle caused by intoxicating beverages. Rather its influence is even worse than the influence of intoxicants.

احْذَرْ سُكْرَ الْخَطِيئَةِ فَإِنَّ لِلْخَطِيئَةِ سُكْراً كَسُكْرِ الشَّرَابِ بَلْ هِيَ أَشَدُّ سُكْراً مِنْهُ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لا يَرْجِعُونَ.

God the All-exalted says,

“(They are) deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return to the path.”(2:18)

Dedicated to God

Whenever you do any action, you should do it purely for the sake of God. This is so because He does not admit any action of His servants except those dedicated to Him purely.

إِذَا عَمِلْتَ عَمَلًا فَاعْمَلْهُ لِلَّهِ خَالِصاً لِأَنَّهُ لَا يَقْبَلُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْأَعْمَالَ إِلَّا مَا كَانَ لَهُ خَالِصاً فَإِنَّهُ يَقُولُ‏ وَ ما لِأَحَدٍ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ تُجْزى‏ إِلَّا ابْتِغاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الْأَعْلى‏ وَ لَسَوْفَ يَرْضى.

Thus, He says,

“And does not expect any reward from anyone, but seeks only the pleasure of his Lord, the Most Exalted, and, surely, soon he will be well-pleased.”(92: 19-21)

Control Yourself!

Leave behind you the bliss, food, sweetness, hotness, coldness, softness, and deliciousness of this worldly life; rather, you should control yourself against it through steadfastness, because you shall be questioned about all that.

دَعْ نَعِيمَ الدُّنْيَا وَ أَكْلَهَا وَ حَلَاوَتَهَا وَ حَارَّهَا وَ بَارِدَهَا وَ لَيِّنَهَا وَ طَيِّبَهَا وَ أَلْزِمْ نَفْسَكَ الصَّبْرَ عَنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ هَذَا كُلِّهِ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ ثُمَّ لَتُسْئَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ.‏

God the All-exalted says,

“Then, that day, you will surely be questioned concerning the blessing.”(102:8)

Never be Distracted!

Never be distracted by this world and its fancies, for God the All-exalted says,

لَا تُلْهِيَنَّكَ الدُّنْيَا وَ شَهَوَاتُهَا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ أَ فَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّما خَلَقْناكُمْ عَبَثاً وَ أَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنا لا تُرْجَعُونَ

“Did you suppose that We created you aimlessly, and that you will not be brought back to Us?”(23:115)

Divine Reward

If you do any act of charity but you desire to gain the reward of any other one than God, then do not expect to gain any Divine reward from that act, because God says,

إِذَا عَمِلْتَ عَمَلًا مِنَ الْبِرِّ وَ أَنْتَ تُرِيدُ بِذَلِكَ غَيْرَ اللَّهِ فَلَا تَرْجُ بِذَلِكَ مِنْهُ ثَوَاباً فَإِنَّهُ يَقُولُ‏ فَلا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ وَزْناً.

“On the Day of Judgment, We shall not give them (wrongdoers) any weight.”(18:105)

Do not be Delighted!

If people praise you for fasting during your days and doing devotional acts at nights while you are not such, then do not be delighted for that. God the All-exalted says,

إِذَا مَدَحَكَ النَّاسُ فَقَالُوا إِنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَ أَنْتَ عَلَى غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ فَلَا تَفْرَحْ بِذَلِكَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ لا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِما أَتَوْا وَ يُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يُحْمَدُوا بِما لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا فَلا تَحْسَبَنَّهُمْ بِمَفازَةٍ مِنَ الْعَذابِ وَ لَهُمْ عَذابٌ أَلِيمٌ.‏

“Do not suppose those who exult in what they have done, and love to be praised for what they have not done, do not suppose them saved from punishment, and there is a painful punishment for them.”(3:188)

Day of Regret

أَكْثِرْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ وَ الْبِرِّ فَإِنَّ الْمُحْسِنَ وَ الْمُسِي‏ءَ يَنْدَمَانِ يَقُولُ الْمُحْسِنُ يَا لَيْتَنِي ازْدَدْتُ مِنَ الْحَسَنَاتِ وَ يَقُولُ الْمُسِي‏ءُ قَصَّرْتُ.

Do as many righteous and charitable acts as you can, because the good-doer and the wrongdoer will eventually regret. The good-doer regrets and says, “Had I done more good deeds!” The wrongdoer regrets and says, “Had I not failed to do righteous deeds.”

Advance Repentance!

لَا تُقَدِّمِ الذَّنْبَ وَ لَا تُؤَخِّرِ التَّوْبَةَ وَ لَكِنْ قَدِّمِ التَّوْبَةَ وَ أَخِّرِ الذَّنْبَ.

Never advance committing a sin and never postpone repentance; rather, you should advance repentance and postpone sinning.

Inventing an Innovation

Beware of inventing an innovation. In fact, if a servant [of God] invents a wicked innovation, he will be burdened by the punishment of his invention as well as the punishments of all those who followed him. God the All-exalted says,

“We record that which they send before and that which they leave behind.”(36:12)

He, the All-glorified, also says,

إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَسُنَّ سُنَّةَ بِدْعَةٍ فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا سَنَّ سُنَّةَ سَيِّئَةٍ لَحِقَهُ وِزْرُهَا وَ وِزْرُ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ وَ نَكْتُبُ ما قَدَّمُوا وَ آثارَهُمْ‏ وَ قَالَ سُبْحَانَهُ‏ يُنَبَّؤُا الْإِنْسانُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِما قَدَّمَ وَ أَخَّرَ.

“That day will man be told all that he put forward and all that he put back.”(75:13)

Inclination to the World

Never incline to this world and never feel secure against it vicissitudes, because you shall very soon depart it. God the All-exalted says,

“So, We expelled them from gardens and springs.”(26:57)

لَا تَرْكَنْ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا وَ لَا تَطْمَئِنَّ إِلَيْهَا فَسَتُفَارِقُهَا عَنْ قَلِيلٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ فَأَخْرَجْناهُمْ مِنْ جَنَّاتٍ وَ عُيُونٍ‏ وَ زُرُوعٍ وَ نَخْلٍ طَلْعُها هَضِيمٌ.‏

“And corn-fields and date-palms with spates near breaking with the weight of fruit.”(26:148)

God Sees You!

Do not ever commit any sin, whether secretly, openly, trivial or big, because God the All-exalted sees you wherever you are;

إِيَّاكَ وَ الذَّنْبَ سِرّاً وَ عَلَانِيَةً صَغِيراً وَ كَبِيراً فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى حَيْثُمَا كُنْتَ يَرَاكَ‏ وَ هُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ ما كُنْتُمْ‏

“And He is with you wherever you may be.”(57:4)

God is with You!

Be wary of God secretly, openly, on lands, in sea, at night, and at daytimes, because He says,

اتَّقِ اللَّهَ فِي السِّرِّ وَ الْعَلَانِيَةِ وَ الْبَرِّ وَ الْبَحْرِ وَ اللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ فَإِنَّهُ يَقُولُ‏ ما يَكُونُ مِنْ نَجْوى‏ ثَلاثَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ رابِعُهُمْ وَ لا خَمْسَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ سادِسُهُمْ وَ لا أَدْنى‏ مِنْ ذلِكَ وَ لا أَكْثَرَ إِلَّا هُوَ مَعَهُمْ أَيْنَ ما كانُوا.

“There is no secret talk among three, but He is their fourth companion, nor among five but He is their sixth, nor less than that, nor more, but He is with them wherever they may be.”( 58:7)

The Enemy

Consider Satan as an enemy, for God the All-exalted says,

“Verily, Satan is an enemy to you; so, treat him as an enemy.”(35:6)

Conveying the words of Satan, He says,

اتَّخِذِ الشَّيْطَانَ عُدُوّاً فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ إِنَّ الشَّيْطانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا وَ يَقُولُ عَنْ إِبْلِيسَ‏ ثُمَّ لَآتِيَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَ عَنْ أَيْمانِهِمْ وَ عَنْ شَمائِلِهِمْ وَ لا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شاكِرِينَ‏ وَ يَقُولُ‏ فَالْحَقُّ وَ الْحَقَّ أَقُولُ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنْكَ وَ مِمَّنْ تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ‏

“Then I (Satan) shall attack them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left (from all directions), and You will not find most of them to be grateful.”(7:17)

In Awe of the Lord

Fear God in secret and in public, for God the All-exalted says,

خَفِ اللَّهَ فِي السِّرِّ وَ الْعَلَانِيَةِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ وَ لِمَنْ خافَ مَقامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتانِ‏

“For him who stands in awe of his Lord will be two gardens.”(55:46)

This Life or the Hereafter

Never prefer this worldly life to the Hereafter through indulging in lusts and pleasures, for God the All-exalted says in His Book,

“Then, for such as had transgressed all bounds and had preferred the life of this world, then indeed the Hell will be the right abode for them.”(79: 37-39)

لَا تُؤْثِرَنَّ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى الْآخِرَةِ بِاللَّذَّاتِ وَ الشَّهَوَاتِ فَإِنَّهُ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ فِي كِتَابِهِ‏ فَأَمَّا مَنْ طَغى‏ وَ آثَرَ الْحَياةَ الدُّنْيا فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِيَ الْمَأْوى‏ يَعْنِي الدُّنْيَا الْمَلْعُونَةَ وَ الْمَلْعُونُ مَا فِيهَا إِلَّا مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ.

This means that this worldly life is accursed along with whatever is therein except that which is intended purely for God.

Do not Betray!

Do not betray anyone who deposits a property with you and do not betray anyone who places his confidence in you, for God says,

لَا تَخُونَنَّ أَحَداً فِي مَالٍ يَضَعُهُ عِنْدَكَ أَوْ أَمَانَةٍ ائْتَمَنَكَ عَلَيْهَا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تُؤَدُّوا الْأَماناتِ إِلى‏ أَهْلِها.

“Indeed, God commands you to deliver the trusts to their [rightful] owners.”(4:58)

Nearer than Jugular Vein

Do not talk about anything you saw or heard except when you have full knowledge of its reality, for God the All-exalted says,

“And pursue not that of which you have no knowledge; for every act of hearing, or of seeing or of feeling in the heart will be enquired into on the Day of Reckoning.”(17:36)

He also says,

“Their evidence will be recorded and they will be called to account.”(43:19)

He further says,

“Behold! Two guardian angels appointed to learn his doings and note them, one sitting on the right and one on the left. Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him, ready to note it.”(50:17-18)

He also says,

لَا تَتَكَلَّمْ بِالْعِلْمِ إِلَّا بِشَيْ‏ءٍ سَمِعْتَهُ وَ رَأَيْتَهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ وَ لا تَقْفُ ما لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَ الْبَصَرَ وَ الْفُؤادَ كُلُّ أُولئِكَ كانَ عَنْهُ مَسْؤُلًا وَ قَالَ‏ سَتُكْتَبُ شَهادَتُهُمْ وَ يُسْئَلُونَ‏ وَ قَالَ‏ إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَ عَنِ الشِّمالِ قَعِيدٌ ما يَلْفِظُ مِنْ قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ وَ قَالَ‏ وَ نَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ.

“We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.”(50:16)

Promised Sustenance

Do not care excessively for your sustenance, because God the All-exalted says,

“There is no moving creature on earth but its sustenance depends on God.”(11:6)

He says,

“And in heaven is your sustenance as also that which you are promised.”(51:22)

He also says,

لَا تَهْتَمَّ لِلرِّزْقِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ وَ ما مِنْ دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُها وَ قَالَ‏ وَ فِي السَّماءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَ ما تُوعَدُونَ‏ وَ قَالَ‏ وَ إِنْ يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلا كاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ وَ إِنْ يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَهُوَ عَلى‏ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ

“If God touches you with affliction, none can remove it but He; and if He touches you with happiness, then He has power over all things.”(6:17)

Otherworldly Trade

I swear by Him Who has sent me with the truth, as for anyone who leaves this worldly pleasure and engages himself in the otherworldly trade, God the All-exalted shall most surely grant him additional profits besides the profits decided for him and God shall thus make his trade win.

وَ الَّذِي بَعَثَنِي بِالْحَقِّ نَبِيّاً إِنَّ مَنْ يَدَعُ الدُّنْيَا وَ يُقْبِلُ عَلَى تِجَارَةِ الْآخِرَةِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَتَّجِرُ لَهُ مِنْ وَرَاءِ [تِجَارَتِهِ‏] قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ رِجالٌ لا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجارَةٌ وَ لا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ

God the All-exalted says,

“By men whom neither traffic nor merchandise can divert from the remembrance of God.”(24:37)

Intend for God!

As for whatever is seen by your eyes and desired by your heart, you should intend it for God. This is the otherworldly trade, because God says,

كُلُّ مَا أَبْصَرْتَهُ بِعَيْنِكَ وَ اسْتَخْلَاهُ قَلْبُكَ فَاجْعَلْهُ لِلَّهِ فَذَلِكَ تِجَارَةُ الْآخِرَةِ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ‏ ما عِنْدَكُمْ يَنْفَدُ وَ ما عِنْدَ اللَّهِ باقٍ.

“That which is with you will be spent but what is with God shall last.”(16:96)

Love the Righteous!

أَحِبَّ الصَّالِحِينَ فَإِنَّ الْمَرْءَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَقْدِرْ عَلَى أَعْمَالِ الْبِرِّ فَأَحِبَّ الْعُلَمَاءَ.

Bear love toward the righteous people, because one shall be added to those whom he loves. If you fail to do righteous deeds, then (at least) love the people of knowledge.

Act Patiently!

Act patiently with those who remember God, glorify Him, profess that there is no god but He, praise Him, act obediently towards Him, and pray to Him in morns and eves. Verily, God says,

“Content yourself with the company of those who supplicate their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not your eyes pass beyond them.”(18:28)

Be Lenient!

عَلَيْكَ بِالسَّكِينَةِ وَ الْوَقَارِ وَ كُنْ سَهْلًا لَيِّناً عَفِيفاً مُسْلِماً تَقِيّاً نَقِيّاً بَارّاً طَاهِراً مُطَهَّراً صَادِقاً خَالِصاً سَلِيماً صَحِيحاً لَبِيباً صَالِحاً صَبُوراً شَكُوراً مُؤْمِناً وَرِعاً عَابِداً زَاهِداً رَحِيماً عَالِماً فَقِيهاً.

Stick to solemnity and sedateness and try to be soft, lenient, chaste, peaceful, pious, pure, righteous, innocent, unsullied, sound, defect-free, judicious, virtuous, steadfast, grateful, faithful, godly, worshipful, ascetic, merciful, knowledgeable, and well versed in religious laws.

The Servants of the All-Beneficent

يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ وَ عِبادُ الرَّحْمنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْناً وَ إِذا خاطَبَهُمُ الْجاهِلُونَ قالُوا سَلاماً

God the All-exalted says,

“The servants of the All-beneficent are those who walk humbly on the earth, and when the ignorant address them, they say, ‘Peace!’.”(25:63)

Wealth and Children

Do not let your compassion to your wife and children make you indulge in acts of disobedience to God and in committing the prohibited acts, for God the All-exalted says,

لَا تَحْمِلَنَّكَ الشَّفَقَةُ عَلَى أَهْلِكَ وَ وُلْدِكَ عَلَى الدُّخُولِ فِي الْمَعَاصِي وَ الْحَرَامِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ يَوْمَ لا يَنْفَعُ مالٌ وَ لا بَنُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ‏

“The day whereon neither wealth nor children will avail, but only he will prosper that brings to God a sound heart.”(26:88&89)

Righteous Deeds

Adhere to remembrance of God and to doing righteous deeds, for God the All-exalted says,

عَلَيْكَ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَ الْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ وَ الْباقِياتُ الصَّالِحاتُ خَيْرٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ ثَواباً وَ خَيْرٌ أَمَلًا

“The things that endure, good deeds, are best in the sight of your Lord, as rewards, and best as the foundation for hopes.”(18:46)

Inadvertent

Do not be one of those who guide the others to righteousness and enjoin the good but they are inadvertent to themselves. God the All-exalted says,

لَا تَكُونَنَّ مِمَّنْ يَهْدِي النَّاسَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَ يَأْمُرُهُمْ بِالْخَيْرِ وَ هُوَ غَافِلٌ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ أَ تَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَ تَنْسَوْنَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ‏

“Do you enjoin right conduct on the people and forget to practice it yourselves?”(2:44)

Scales of Justice

Beware of a day on which the records of deeds will be opened and scandals will be exposed. God the All-exalted says,

احْذَرِ يَوْماً تُنْشَرُ فِيهِ الصَّحَائِفُ وَ تَظْهَرُ فِيهِ الْفَضَائِحُ فَإِنَّهُ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ وَ نَضَعُ الْمَوازِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيامَةِ فَلا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئاً وَ إِنْ كانَ مِثْقالَ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنا بِها وَ كَفى‏ بِنا حاسِبِينَ‏

“We shall set up the scales of justice on the Day of Resurrection, and no soul will be wronged in the least. Even if it be the weight of a mustard seed We shall produce it and We suffice as reckoners.”(21:47)

Penitent Heart

Fear God the All-exalted in your most secret thoughts as if you can see Him before you. Yet, if you cannot see Him, He indeed sees you. God the All-exalted says,

اخْشَ اللَّهَ بِالْغَيْبِ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ وَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ مَنْ خَشِيَ الرَّحْمنَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَ جاءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُنِيبٍ ادْخُلُوها بِسَلامٍ ذلِكَ يَوْمُ الْخُلُودِ

“He who fears the All-beneficent in secret and comes with a penitent heart: “Enter therein in peace and security. This is a day of eternal life!”(50:33-34)

Treat Fairly!

أَنْصِفِ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ وَ انْصَحِ الْأُمَّةَ وَ ارْحَمْهُمْ.

Treat the others fairly against yourself, wish the community well, and show them mercy.

Showing Humility

Beware of showing the human beings how much you are submissive and humble while you insist on committing acts of disobedience to your Lord and insist on committing sins in your inner self. God the All-exalted says,

إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تُظْهِرَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ الْخُشُوعَ وَ التَّوَاضُعَ لِلْآدَمِيِّينَ وَ أَنْتَ فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ رَبِّكَ مُصِرٌّ عَلَى الْمَعَاصِي وَ الذُّنُوبِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ يَعْلَمُ خائِنَةَ الْأَعْيُنِ وَ ما تُخْفِي الصُّدُورُ

“God knows of the tricks that deceive with the eyes and all that the hearts of men conceal.”(40:19)

Do not be Strict!

لَا تَكُنْ مِمَّنْ يُشَدِّدُ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ يُخَفِّفُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ ما لا تَفْعَلُونَ

Do not be one of those who are strict to people but negligent to themselves. God the All-exalted says,

“Why do you say that which you do not do? (61:2)

Do with Knowledge!

Whenever you are determined to do something, try to do it with full knowledge and rationality. Do not ever do anything without contemplation and knowledge, for God the All-majestic says,

إِذَا عَمِلْتَ عَمَلًا فَاعْمَلْ بِعِلْمٍ وَ عَقْلٍ وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ أَنْ تَعْمَلَ عَمَلًا بِغَيْرِ تَدَبُّرٍ وَ عِلْمٍ فَإِنَّهُ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ يَقُولُ‏ وَ لا تَكُونُوا كَالَّتِي نَقَضَتْ غَزْلَها مِنْ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ أَنْكاثاً

“Do not be like her who would undo her yarn, breaking it up after spinning it to strength.”(16:92)

Tell the Truth!

Stick to telling the truth only; and never let any lie come out of your mouth. Treat the others fairly against yourself, always act charitably, encourage people to act charitably, build good relations with your relatives, never deceive others and always fulfill your promises to the people. God the All-exalted says,

أَنْصِفِ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ وَ أَحْسِنْ وَ ادْعُ النَّاسَ إِلَى الْإِحْسَانِ وَ صِلْ رَحِمَكَ وَ لَا تَمْكُرْ بِالنَّاسِ وَ أَوْفِ النَّاسَ بِمَا عَاهَدْتَهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَ الْإِحْسانِ وَ إِيتاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبى‏ وَ يَنْهى‏ عَنِ الْفَحْشاءِ وَ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ الْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُون‏

“Indeed Allah enjoins justice and kindness and generosity towards relatives, and He forbids indecency, wrong, and aggression. He advises you, so that you may take admonition.” (16:90)

Life of Moses

إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَى مُوسَى بِالْكَلَامِ وَ الْمُنَاجَاةِ حَتَّى كَانَ يُرَى خُضْرَةُ الْبَقْلِ فِي بَطْنِهِ مِنْ هُزَالِهِ.

Verily, God gave Moses exclusively the grace of speaking to him directly and confiding to him, so the greenness of vegetable was seen in his stomach due to his skinniness.

Lifestyle of Noah

إِنْ شِئْتَ نَبَّأْتُكَ بِأَمْرِ نُوحٍ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ (ع) إِنَّهُ عَاشَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَاماً يَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ فَكَانَ إِذَا أَصْبَحَ قَالَ لَا أُمْسِي وَ إِذَا أَمْسَى قَالَ لَا أُصْبِحُ وَ كَانَ لِبَاسُهُ الشَّعْرَ وَ طَعَامُهُ الشَّعِيرَ.

I tell you about the lifestyle of Noah the prophet of God. He lived for one thousand years except fifty calling to God. Every morning, he would say, ‘I may not live to the evening of this day.’ Every evening, he would say, ‘I may not live to the next morning.’ He wore clothes made of animal hair and fed on barley.

Lifestyle of David

إِنْ شِئْتَ نَبَّأْتُكَ بِأَمْرِ دَاوُدَ (ع) خَلِيفَةِ اللَّهِ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَانَ لِبَاسُهُ الشَّعْرَ وَ طَعَامُهُ الشَّعِيرَ

I tell you about the lifestyle of David the representative of God on the lands. He wore clothes made of animal hair and fed on barley.

Lifestyle of Solomon

إِنْ شِئْتَ نَبَّأْتُكَ بِأَمْرِ سُلَيْمَانَ (ع) مَعَ مَا كَانَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْمُلْكِ كَانَ يَأْكُلُ الشَّعِيرَ وَ يُطْعِمُ النَّاسَ الْحُوَّارَى‏ وَ كَانَ لِبَاسُهُ الشَّعْرَ وَ كَانَ إِذَا جَنَّهُ اللَّيْلُ شَدَّ يَدَهُ إِلَى عُنُقِهِ فَلَا يَزَالُ قَائِماً يُصَلِّي حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ.

I tell you about the lifestyle of Solomon. Although he enjoyed unmatched kingdom, he used to eat barley and give white wheat to his people to eat. He wore clothes made of animal hair. When night overcame him, he would tie his hand to his neck and go on doing devotional acts until morning came upon him.

Lifestyle of Abraham

إِنْ شِئْتَ نَبَّأْتُكَ بِأَمْرِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِ الرَّحْمَنِ (ع) كَانَ لِبَاسُهُ الصُّوفَ وَ طَعَامُهُ الشَّعِيرَ.

I tell you about the lifestyle of Abraham the intimate friend of the All-beneficent Lord. He used to wear clothes made of wool and feed on barley.

Lifestyle of John

إِنْ شِئْتَ نَبَّأْتُكَ بِأَمْرِ يَحْيَى (ع) كَانَ لِبَاسُهُ اللِّيفَ وَ كَانَ يَأْكُلُ وَرَقَ الشَّجَرِ.

I tell you about the lifestyle of John. He used to wear clothes made of fibers and eat leaves of trees.

Lifestyle of Jesus

إِنْ شِئْتَ نَبَّأْتُكَ بِأَمْرِ عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ (ع) فَهُوَ الْعَجَبُ كَانَ يَقُولُ إِدَامِيَ الْجُوعُ وَ شِعَارِيَ الْخَوْفُ وَ لِبَاسِيَ الصُّوفُ وَ دَابَّتِي رِجْلَايَ وَ سِرَاجِي بِاللَّيْلِ الْقَمَرُ وَ اصْطِلَائِي فِي الشِّتَاءِ مَشَارِقُ الشَّمْسِ وَ فَاكِهَتِي وَ رَيْحَانَتِي بُقُولُ الْأَرْضِ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ الْوُحُوشُ وَ الْأَنْعَامُ أَبِيتُ وَ لَيْسَ لِي شَيْ‏ءٌ وَ أُصْبِحُ وَ لَيْسَ لِي شَيْ‏ءٌ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ أَحَدٌ أَغْنَى مِنِّي.

I tell you about the lifestyle of Jesus the son of Mary. He was marvelous indeed. He used to say, ‘Hunger is my food, fear is my slogan, wool is my dress, my two feet are my riding animal, moonlight is my lamp at night, sunrise is my warming tool in winters, and herbs of the earth from which beasts and cattle eat are my fruits and roses. I enter into night while I have nothing in my possession, and I receive mornings while I have nothing in my possession. Nevertheless, no one living on the surface of this earth is wealthier than I am.’

• 1. Tohaf al-Oqoul, p. 6.
• 2. . All believers or real friends are as brothers.
• 3. Abu Dharr was one of the best companions of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his pure progeny).
• 4. Makaarim al-Akhlaaq, p. 458.
• 5. Allusion to the Qur’an; 33:33.
• 6. . Allusion to the Qur’an; 49:12.
  “And do not spy on or backbite one another. Will any of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it.”
• 7. Ibn Masud was one of the best companions of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his pure progeny).
• 8. . Makaarim al-Akhlaaq, p. 446.