Tradition

مَنْ كَانَ فِى حاجَةِ أَخِيْهِ الْمُسْلِم كَانَ اللّهُ فى حاجَتِهِ

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is narrated to have said: “He who helps fulfill the needs of his religious brothers will find that God will help him in fulfilling his needs.”1

Brief Commentary

People typically think that if they were to help others resolve their problems, then they would fall behind and not progress in their own lives. Islam has explained that the reality is other than this and the Prophet, in the aforementioned tradition, has explained to us that if we help our brothers in religion, then God will in turn help us with the problems that we face. God is the one who holds true power and he is able to help us with any issue that we have. This is something which many have experienced in their own lives as well.

Whenever they help others overcome their problems, they are helped in resolving theirs. In some cases, this help comes in strange and unexpected ways, and there is no doubt that this is a form of divine mercy and help.

• 1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 74, p. 286, Wasa'il Al-Shi’a, vol. 16, p. 359, Mustadrak Al-Wasa'il, vol. 12, p. 414, Al-Amali, p, 97, Awali Al-Laali, vol. 1, p.375.