Moral values of Quran a commentary on surah Hujurate chapter2

Moral values of Quran a commentary on surah Hujurate

Chapter2

Part 8

point 

﴿یَا أَیُّهَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا إِنْ جَاءَکُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَیَّنُوا أَنْ تُصِیبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَی مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِینَ. وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ فِیکُمْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ﴾ 

“O you who believe! If an evildoer comes to you with a report, look carefully into it, lest you harm a people in ignorance, then be sorry for what you have done. And know that among you is Allah’s Apostle… (49: 6-7) ” 

It is mentioned that this Holy verse was revealed by Allah in the context of the transgressor Walid and Bani Mustaliq; that some Muslims provoked the Prophet to send an army for killing the tribe (Bani Mustaliq). Then this verse was revealed: 

O those who believe! If a transgressor who crosses all limits and who does not obey God’s commands brings any news to you, you must not be impressed by him. Perhaps you may, through ignorance, inflict undue harm – Walid came and brought for you such falsehood and untrue allegations. You have no right to believe them and to send an army for 

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fighting. Make investigation and see that this man lies; he may be avenging his past dealings, he may be showing selfishness. That (the other) group may be faultless and may not have the alleged faults. So make inquiries. 

Khalid goes for investigation 

It is written in commentary of Qur’an that the Holy Prophet, in this dispute, sent Khalid and told him. Go and see how the behavior of these people is. Does Walid tell the truth? Have they left Islam or not? Khalid went alone, met the tribe and saw strange things! In the afternoon came the sound of the call for prayer (Allaho Akbar). Immediately after sunset also he heard this call. They all came and lined up in the mosque for prayers. Then he returned and informed the Holy Prophet of this. Walid became disgraceful and so also all those who had said that Walid told the truth and that army should be sent to Bani Mustaliq. 

Almighty God now gives an eternal command for all time to come that believers must never accept any allegation against any believer until they became certain about the matter. If someone comes and says such and such Muslim has become a disbeliever or transgressor it must not be believed instantly. If you Muslims believe him at once, you know how dangerous it is. They say such and such man is a Sufi. Let it no be so that you should believe whatever he says. How do you know what is the intention behind such words, jealousy 

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or hatred. Perhaps who did this wrong, did it for monetary gain. They did not get what they had hoped. Why should you give up your faith? He makes an error because of selfishness or Satanic misguidance but why should you believe him and give away your faith! 

Undue benefit of people’s ignorance 

Now what should be done if someone is like this? It was so in the time of Ali bin Abi Talib. Muawiyah took undue benefit of people’s ignorance. You must have heard that he propagated in Syria that Ali does not offer prayers. Did he not propagate this where Ali died? This is lying and falsehood. They told lies about the Holy Prophet too and people of Syria believed in it. Had you been there you would also have believed it. Today you accept whatever anybody says. Had you lived in those days in Syria you also would have said, “Yes! It is right that Ali does not pray. ” How is it that everyone in Syria accepts the word that Ali does not pray? Nobody went for inquiry. Their only foundation was that they heard a thing and believed in it instantly. Not only this, he also says that I heard it from a holy person. 

Lying about Imam’s word against the Imam himself! 

It is narrated that one day Ja’far bin Sadiq was sitting in a gathering in Masjid Khashaaf Haqaaiq. Some of his companions brought a traveler who was claiming that he was a scholar of traditions. He claimed, “I acquire traditions from every city I visit. I have learnt 

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thousands of traditions by heart. I remember the words of all great men, even of Ja’far bin Sadiq. ” He did not know that he was talking to Ja’far bin Muhammad himself. 

The Imam asked him, “What do you remember from the words of Ja’far? ” He said, “One of his sayings is, ‘If one is on a journey and one makes ablution without taking out the socks and does wiping (Masah) on those socks, it is sufficient. ’” The Imam asked, “From whom did you hear this? ” He replied, “From a man who says that he heard it from Imam Ja’far Sadiq. ” The Imam asked, “If Ja’far Ibn Muhammad says that he never said so? ” He replied, “I will not believe it. ” The Imam said, “I am Ja’far bin Muhammad and I say that I did not say so. ” That man replied, “I will not believe it because I have heard it from a good man that you have said so. Now how can I believe you? ” 

Most of the people are like this. 

Were all the companions of the Prophet just? 

The Sunnis, especially the Wahabis, as one of their objections against the Shias, say that the Shias dare to offend the companions of the Holy Prophet while all the companions of the Prophet were just. The Shias consider them all bad and curse them. 

In reply we say, “O Sunni gentleman! Why do you make allegations? May God curse the one who offends the true and real companions of Muhammad. ” In Sahifa Sajjadiya, the fourth supplication is for invoking blessings on 

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the companions of the Holy Prophet. Our Imam sends Salawat on the companions of the Holy Prophet. We do not close our eyes and we do not send Salawat on all the companions indiscriminately. Likewise, we do not close our eyes and speak ill of all of them. We do not send Salawat on every Muslim of the Prophet’s time, who lived near or around him or remained in the mosque with him. May Allah forgive us – Dust on our heads if we do like this. We are behind Imam Zainul Abideen. Our Imam has said: O! Lord Bless the companions of Muhammad. Thy peace and mercy on him and his descendants in particular, (Bless) those who were good companions of his. [1] 

Not everyone who became a Muslim, not everyone who came to the mosque was really a companion of Muhammad. No, instead, everyone who obeyed Muhammad, whoever became his follower and who did not obey his desires and passions, who never put off a compulsory or obligatory deed, who did not commit any unlawful deed was a true companion of the Prophet. Can we come and praise Walid, the transgressor, whom the Qur’an calls a transgressor. How can we say: Since he was one of the companions of the Prophet should we send Salawat on him? Even though after the Holy Prophet he makes mischiefs? You ask us: Why do you offend the companions of the Prophet? Was Walid a companion of the Prophet? No, he was a companion 

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of Satan. 

You are obedient not commanders 

The following verse of Qur’an says so. It addresses the people: 

﴿وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ فِیکُمْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ یُطِیعُکُمْ فِی کَثِیرٍ مِنْ الْأَمْرِ لَعَنِتُّمْ﴾ 

“And know that among you is Allah’s Apostle; should he obey you in many a matter, you would surely fall into distress… (49: 7) ” 

Know that Walid was not alone in lying and mischief making. A group of Muslims had also joined him. They instigated the Prophet and wanted that the fire of enmity should arise. God Almighty, in this verse, addressing Muslims says: Know that between you is the Messenger of God, Muhammad. How should you behave with Muhammad? You should come to him and say: O Messenger of Allah! What is your command? 

So that he may issue orders to you. Not that you should come and start making a move saying: O Messenger of Allah! Walid has told the truth – kill, and arrest. Suggesting things for the Prophet of God! If it so happens that Muhammad starts believing in whatever you say and begins to move and declares people disbelievers and transgressors and if he is impressed by you then you yourselves will be destroyed and you will fall into trouble, and be involved in reckless bloodshed and thus finally you will be oppressed. Muhammad is the Prophet of God. You must have Faith. What is the demand of true Faith? It is to obey Muhammad. You, instead, come with your ugly sins and want to instigate the Holy Prophet, to fan the fire of mischief 

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and corruption in land. Just listen to this fine point. 

God sent faith for you 

God has favored some of you: 

﴿وَلَکِنَّ اللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَیْکُمْ الْإِیمَانَ وَزَیَّنَهُ فِی قُلُوبِکُمْ﴾ 

“…but Allah has endeared the faith to you and has made it seemly in your hearts… (49: 7) ” 

The address is to “you”, but what is meant is “some of you” as understood from the last part of this Holy verse: 

﴿أُوْلَئِکَ هُمْ الرَّاشِدُونَ﴾ 

“…these it is that are the followers of a right way... (49: 7) ” 

This is also accompanied with additional qualities: 

﴿وَکَرَّهَ إِلَیْکُمْ الْکُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْیَانَ﴾ 

“…and He has made hateful to you unbelief and transgression and disobedience…” 

Thus it means: O Muslims! Rightly guided, successful and fortunate are those Muslims in whose hearts God makes Faith sweet and dear – Faith becomes the most beloved thing in their sight, they never give preference to desires over Faith; that is, they do not sell faith in exchange of worldly benefits (whatever is in the world) so much so that they are ever ready to sacrifice their lives, but they would never part with Faith. This is a true believer. But Walid and his like were in a pit of hatred and enmity, which they had from pre-Islamic times against the tribe of Bani Mustaliq. What did they want? Why should blood of innocent people flow unnecessarily due to this hatred? Why should Muslims be branded disbelievers? This should never happen. You must be of those who love their Faith. So there also were such Muslims who loved Faith more than they loved their 

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lives. 

Sumaiyah was bravery personified 

A woman is weak in comparison to a man, but what can she not do with the strength of Faith? Look at Sumaiyah. Actually, she was the first woman in the Muslim world who gave a grand sacrifice; that is, she gave away her life but did not give up her Faith (May God’s blessings be on her). She was the mother of Ammar and the wife of Yasir. When Abu Jahl, the cursed, Abu Sufyan and other polytheists caught them and were torturing these faithful ones terribly in the outskirts of Mecca, all they wanted was that they should stop saying: There is no god except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Yet they remained steadfast on it. 

They threatened them with death but both the courageous man and woman said: We will give away our lives but never leave the religion of Muhammad. So both of then were tortured to death, especially, they assassinated this Faithful lady in the worst brutal and atrocious manner. They brought two camels, tied her two legs to two different camels and with a stroke drove them in opposite directions, tearing her up into two pieces. Sumaiyah made her powerful honor manifest, declaring that honor is in “There is no god except Allah” and the most beloved is Muhammad the Messenger of Allah. 

Now, are these faithful persons the Companions of Muhammad or Walid the transgressor and his like? So, it is now known that Yasir, Ammar and Sumaiyah and their like are 

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the true companions of Muhammad and Walid and his like are the companions of Satan, who are in the path of desire, passion, jealousy, hatred and viciousness. A liar and a slanderer, unless he gives up faith and belief in the Day of Judgment, do not fabricate a false allegation against him. Even if it is apparently a man who prays and looks like a Muslim. This Walid was also offering prayer, attending the Mosque and saying: “There is no god except Allah”, but was surely unaware of Faith. He loved desires and passions. 

Sins are bitter to the Faithful 

Pay full attention to this Holy verse. What points does Almighty Allah present in this verse: 

﴿وَکَرَّهَ إِلَیْکُمْ الْکُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْیَانَ﴾ 

“…and He has made hateful to you unbelief and transgression and disobedience… (49: 7) ” 

Meaning: A true believer, a nice faithful person, a lucky one is such that God, by His Grace, helps him as a result of which a sin becomes bitter to him. If it is like this only then can he became a righteous man and a true companion of Muhammad even if there is a distance of a thousand years between him and Muhammad. Only now you can reach the point when Faith tastes sweet to you and sins become bitter. (made hateful to you unbelief) Here unbelief is in the meaning of denial and transgression is in the meaning of stepping out of obedience and sinning limitlessly greater sins and disobedience is absolute sin. 

After a believer attains the stage in which a sin tastes 

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bitter to him, if ever he commits a sin it is merely by chance. If incidentally his tongue speaks an indecent word, he himself feels very bad about it and he strikes his head with his hand. Every sin tastes bitter to him and hence very difficult to commit. If his eye falls on a sin he becomes disgusted. Here is something more. A point that there should not arise a doubt regarding compulsion that one is compelled to refrain from sin because it is bitter for him. 

God makes you taste the sweetness of Faith 

Faith becomes dear to someone it is from God. Man, by himself, is not capable to make faith dear to him. God becomes merciful to him in this regard. He makes him feel the sweetness of His remembrance. Once he tastes the delight of the Oneness of God, he never forsakes it. “Make me taste the sweetness of Your remembrance. ” (Supplication) Faith becomes dearer to you than your life, extremely dear, praiseworthy and honorable. May God give it to us all. Likewise how a

sin becomes detestable to human nature? Usually heart likes a sin. How can it become bitter to your mouth? It is impossible except by the Grace and kindness of God Almighty. So thereafter Allah says: God by His Grace favors a believer. He makes Faith dear to his heart and makes sin bitter for him.

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[1]: Sahifa Sajjadiya, 4th Supplication

Delight of faith for those who want it 

It is possible that you may say: It is a kind of force, as He wanted that sin should become detestable to me so that 

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I may not it; that He wanted to make faith increase in my heart etc. The reply to this doubt is in the last phrase of this Holy verse: 

﴿فَضْلاً مِنْ اللَّهِ وَنِعْمَةً وَاللَّهُ عَلِیمٌ حَکِیمٌ﴾ 

“By grace from Allah and as a favor; and Allah is Knowing, Wise. (49: 8) ” 

He does not make one taste the delight of faith for nothing and baselessly and likewise, He also does not give dislike for sin to anyone at random. It is not so. God is All wise. He only turns towards one who has a will and who himself walks on His path willfully, who fights with his heart’s desires, who does so much struggle with his desires and passions and keeps so much off sinning and prays so much to God in this matter that he becomes deserving of it. In this holy month of Ramadhan he says: O Lord! Grant me a faith, which sticks to my heart, which never changes, which never goes away, a faith that becomes most honorable in my sight. Allah “has endeared the faith to you and has made it seemly in your hearts”. It does not happen until you are prepared for it. God does not give anything forcibly to anyone. Unless and until you extend your hand for begging from Him, nothing is granted. 

Nothing until you ask for it 

According to a report in Usul al-Kafi, Imam Sadiq told Maisar: O Maisar! Do not say that whatever is destined happens. If a servant did not pray and did not ask 

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for a thing from God, he does not get it. [1] Nothing is forced upon anyone. For example, if one wants water, can it be given to him by force? If one is thirsty and he asks for water, water is given to him. 

Seek faith - unless you seek Faith it is not available. One of the supplications prayed while circumambulating the Ka’ba during Hajj is the subject of this Holy verse: O Lord! Make faith dear most to my heart; make it so beautiful that I may give up everything but never give up the faith. My Lord! Make disbelief so indignant and bitter for my heart that I may choke at the very thought of sinning. That I may become righteous. Resentfulness of sin is not something that can ever be forced upon anyone. Until a man does not develop qualification for this gift, it is not given. It is a situation of loftiness, a robe of honor, which is offered at the time of protecting oneself from sinning. This is what must be sought from God. O God! Give light to my heart with which I may realize the evil of a sin. Grant me a taste, which makes me realize the bitterness of sin. This is called “evidence of the Lord”. 

﴿وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِ؛ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلا أَنْ رَأَی بُرْهَانَ رَبِّهِ﴾ 

“And certainly she made for him, and he would have made for her, were it not that he had seen the manifest evidence of his Lord…” [2] 

It cannot be 

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achieved without demand in earnest and qualification. Thus there is no force. It is not granted without the labor and request of man himself. 

﴿وَأَنْ لَیْسَ لِلْإِنسَانِ إِلاّ مَا سَعَی﴾ 

“And that man shall have nothing but what he strives for;” [1] 

Seek earnestly and sincerely and then see how God deals with you. It is likely that even in the most difficult situations, God helps you in such a way that the divine help astonishes you. 

﴿وَکَرَّهَ إِلَیْکُمْ الْکُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْیَانَ﴾ 

“…and He has made hateful to you unbelief and transgression and disobedience…” 

Here it is better if I, for a little change in the subject, quote a relevant tradition and story. 

A thief, while sinning, gives guidance to others 

In the book Dua Al-Kafi, it is narrated from the fourth Imam Zainul Abideen that he narrated this story: 

In olden days a merchant sailed in a ship with his family and trade goods for business. They faced a severe mid-sea storm, which wrecked their ship. Everyone in that ship including the businessman, his sons, voyagers and their goods were drowned. Only the wife of the trader caught hold of a wooden plank and the waves of the sea carried her to a shore. The woman who survived was bare, hungry and had nothing with her. No human could be seen there but she found some grass to eat and remove her hunger to some extent, as she had not ate anything for several days. So she devoured grass, weeds and leaves. At night she took shelter under a tree for fear of wild animals and 

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hid herself between its branches. Next morning a thief saw her from a distance. No woman was ever seen at this place before. When he approached the woman having no proper clothes, it can be imagined what would be her condition as she was also beautiful and young. The forest thief was also young. They were in a wilderness and no one else was around. 

The brute did not give any chance to the woman, he grabbed her and felled her on the ground. The poor screamed and the cry and trembling of the woman was so terrible that it moved the heart of the thief. He asked her, “What happened? Why are you trembling and shivering so much? ” She replied, “Why should I not fear, I have never committed such a sin before, in front of God. I am terribly afraid of Him. ” She is in the midst of a dense forest but experienced shame in before God. This abhorrence in the heart of a faithful lady is a great favor of God. She shivers due to sinning. A sin is really detestable and extremely bad in her eyes. 

﴿وَکَرَّهَ إِلَیْکُمْ الْکُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْیَانَ﴾ 

“…and He has made hateful to you unbelief and transgression and disobedience… (49: 7) ” 

In fact, she was trembling at the sin, not due to the fear of punishment. Suppose no punishment was involved, even then she hated sin. This indeed is only God’s favor. God’s favor also is based on wisdom. It is not given to all indiscriminately 

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without any reason or base, unless one has made oneself deserving for it. This tradition is interesting and I conclude it here. So much light (noor) of the proof of the Lord shone in this woman that it made a wild thief bow down and also drew him towards God. Really, this is wonderful. One is young. The woman is also beautiful. There is no deterrent. 

He even holds her once. This is extraordinary. He said, “It is I, the unlucky one who should shiver, not you who are blameless. I should beat my head. I should be afraid. I am the cause of your sin, not you. ” Finally he moves away, without disturbing her. He also repents and seeks pardon. Then he arrives to a city with an intention to approach a scholar and to repent before him. So he decided to give up stealing and all other sins and evil deeds and reform himself thoroughly. On his way he met a worshipper. Thus worship and piety came together and began to walk. Both were facing a very hot sun. The worshipper looked at the thief and said, “Come let us pray to God so that He may provide the shade of a cloud as we are burning in this hot sun. ” The thief said, “I have no honor in the High Court of God, I am a sinner. My prayer is not likely to be answered. ” Let us be sacrificed for a sinner whom his sin makes him 

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to bow down in extreme humility before God. Woe unto the worship, which makes one proud whereby he imagines being a rightful and a great person. If one thinks due to his worships that: I am a servant of Imam Husain; that I am a Sayyid; I am a scholar, I hold meetings, I discuss problems, I make charities. Woe unto the worship, which thus makes a man egotist and makes him imagine that his prayer would be answered. 

The worshipper said, “All right, then I will pray and you say: Amen. ” Then the worshipper raised his hands saying, “O Lord! Today, in this desert, the burning sun has made us restless. Kindly send a cloud to give us shade and save us from this unbearable heat. ” The thief said, “O my God, Amen. ” Suddenly a cloud appeared in the sky and gave shade to both the travelers and both thanked Allah. They continued to walk and reached a crossroad where each one had to take a different route. So when they separated, the cloud continued to shade the thief. The worshipper wondered. 

In his own imagination, he may be a great worshipper, pious person and a jurist but the House of God requires true humility and lowliness. Your outward may be nice but what Almighty Allah desires is a sincere heart. It is the ego of man, which makes him such that he does not become humble before God. 

Imam Zainul Abideen addresses Abdul Malik Ibn Marwan 

Once, when Imam Zainul Abideen came to Abdul Malik Marwan his (Imam’s) eyes 

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were sunken due to frequent weeping. His cheeks had turned yellow because of night vigils and his forehead was swollen as a result of making frequent prostrations. His body looked like a dried up water skin. This extreme weakness of the Imam, made Abdul Malik also weep. He came down from the throne of caliphate, sat near the feet of the Imam and asked, “O son of the Holy Prophet! Why so much painstaking and difficult worship? Paradise is for you, as it belongs to your grandfather. Why are you troubling yourself so much? ” The holy Imam replied, “People used to say the same to my grandfather and he had replied, ‘Should I not be a grateful servant? ’ A servant must always be thankful to his Lord”, and then said (summary of narration): If I get a life extending from the first day of creation until the Day of Judgment and if I fast daily and prostrate often, until I turn into a skeleton; and if I weep so much that my eyes are washed away and if my food is only straw, I would not have done even a tenth of thanksgiving for the innumerable bounties of God. [1] Just look at this very bounty called the eye, the tongue, the bread, which nourishes you etc. The Bounties of God can never be counted. 

Imam says: I have not thanked for even a tenth of the Lord’s bounties. This is the meaning of ‘Knowing God’ (Marefat). Not that an ignorant worshipper 

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prayed and imagined he had a right over God! 

‘Amen’ of a sinner is better than the prayer of a worshipper 

When the worshipper saw that the cloud went with the other person he understood that it was not the result of his invocation. The thief continued to be humble and say, “I am a sinner, and my prayer is not answerable. ” The worshipper bowed down. Then he came to realize that it was due to the bliss of the thief who had sincerely said, ‘Amen’ who had repented and returned to God. Then the worshipper asked his fellow traveler, “For God’s sake, tell me who and what you are as the shade came because of you, not me. ” The sinner said, “I am no more than a sinful thief. ” The worshipper said, “It is not possible. You have done something great. Please tell what it is? ” Then he related the story of the God-fearing lady, her determination and his repentance etc. 

One who comes to the most supreme court of Only One God with humility earns honor if his sins make him shiver, tremble and frighten and humiliate himself in his own eyes.

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[1]: Usul al-Kafi, Book of Supplication 

[2]: Surah Yusuf 12: 24 

[1]: Surah Najm 53: 39 

[1]: Biharul Anwar, vol. 11; Account of Imam Sajjad

Trembling of Hurr on the Day of Ashura46 

How nice has Shaykh Shustari said, “You imagine that the value of Hurr bin Yazid Riyahi on the ground of Kerbala was less than that of Habib bin Mazahir as Hurr stalled the path for Husain. But have you heard his trembling voice on the Day of Ashura? ” 

Hurr was a colonel having 4000 soldiers under his command. He has all the comforts, the water of Euphrates, tents, shade, food, rights and 

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also a promise that he would be promoted in rank. Then he sees Husain coming to Ibn Saad and telling him, “O Ibn Saad! Do you intend to kill me? ” (Will you kill me when you know whose son I am)? Then he gave some admonitions, which made Hurr tremble. Hurr came to Ibn Saad and said, “What do you want to do with Husain? ” Ibn Saad replied, “I want to fight with him and at least, to cut his hands and severe his. ” Hurr asked, “Is it the final decision? ” “Yes,” Ibn Saad replied, “a firm and a final decision. ” Then Hurr said, “All right. ” He returned, but went aside, not to his army in such a manner that one could know his intention. Then he came back from behind the army and approached Husain. Now Hurr was ashamed. Shaykh Shustari says this shame is very precious. Let us be sacrificed for such a sinner. When his eye met Husain’s eye, he turned his sword upside down in such a way that it showed he had come for submission. He looked at Husain’s feet. 

The Master said: Raise your head, O gentleman! Who are you? What do you want? What do you want to say? 

Keeping his eyes at Husain’s feet, Hurr said, “I am that unfortunate fellow who obstructed your way. O Master! I never knew that matters would come to such a stage. I had never imagined that they would be so much harsh on you. Will my repentance 

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be accepted? ” “Yes”, replied the Imam, no one returns deprived from this door. 

Come back, come back, whoever and whatever you are, come back. Come back even if you are a denier, an infidel or an idol worshipper. This door of ours is not a door of despair. Come back even if you have broken repentance a hundred times. (Persian couplets) 

O sinner men and women! This is the holy month of Ramadhan. This is the month of repentance. Look at some of your sins, which made you bow down in shame so that your head may be high. Remember some of your sins, which made you tremble, so that God may grant you amnesty. 

I showed disrespect for a long time. Now I have awakened from my sleep. (Persian couplet) 

Sins have disfigured my heart. O Lord! Now grant me repentance. O my God! From this day, make sins feel bitter to me forever. 

﴿وَکَرَّهَ إِلَیْکُمْ الْکُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْیَانَ﴾ 

“…and He has made hateful to you unbelief and transgression and disobedience… (49: 7) ” 

So that committing sins may become abhorring to me. Please cleanse me from my past and save me in the future. 

There are numerous prayers of the holy Infallibles (Masoomeen) in this respect. In these days of Ramadhan you recite: O Lord! Today, forgive my past sins. For the sake of Your Honor and Might, kindly keep me sinless in future also. Grant me strength, grant me reasoning, grant me light (Noor). Give me abhorrence towards sins so that every sin may become hateful to 

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my nature.

Part 9 

point 

﴿وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ فِیکُمْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؛ لَوْ یُطِیعُکُمْ فِی کَثِیرٍ مِنْ الأَمْرِ لَعَنِتُّمْ، وَلَکِنَّ اللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَیْکُمْ الإِیمَانَ وَزَیَّنَهُ فِی قُلُوبِکُمْ، وَکَرَّهَ إِلَیْکُمْ الْکُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْیَانَ، أُوْلَئِکَ هُمْ الرَّاشِدُونَ. فَضْلاً مِنْ اللَّهِ وَنِعْمَةً، وَاللَّهُ عَلِیمٌ حَکِیمٌ. ﴾ 

“And know that among you is Allah’s Apostle; should he obey you in many a matter, you would surely fall into distress, but Allah has endeared the faith to you and has made it seemly in your hearts, and He has made hateful to you unbelief and transgression and disobedience; these it is that are the followers of a right way. By grace from Allah and as a favor; and Allah is Knowing, Wise. (49: 7-8) ” 

Religion is dearer than life to a faithful believer 

Muslim means the one who accepts the three basics, namely: Oneness of God, Prophethood and Hereafter. If he also accepts Justice of God and Vicegerency of Prophet (Imamat) he is a Shia and a perfect believer who deserves salvation, high ranks and positions as described in the Holy verse. He is higher than an ordinary Muslim. God beautifies Faith in his heart and makes it (faith) precious and dear and his condition is such that he is prepared to reduce his body into pieces to safeguard his religion just as our Master, Amirul Momineen had said, “O Messenger of Allah! Is my religion safe therein? ” O Shias of Ali! This is Faith. If I am killed and my head is torn apart, what about my Faith and religion? Will it remain safe and unharmed? The Holy Prophet replied, “Yes, 

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it is. ” 

Ali said, “Then I am unconcerned. I do not fear. ” Let my religion remain intact and protected, whatever may happen to my body. After all man has to die, either in his bed in his house or in a prayer niche of a Mosque, or under a taxi. At last one has to die. This body may be scattered. May God never make our Faith weak and scattered. When one goes from this world, he should go with complete faith in his heart. 

The Faithful feels disgusted due to sins 

Now as regards deeds, you should know who is a believer or a true faithful person? He is the one about whom God says: 

﴿وَکَرَّهَ إِلَیْکُمْ الْکُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْیَانَ﴾ 

“…and He has made hateful to you unbelief and transgression and disobedience… (49: 7) ” 

His nature abhors disbelief and he is disgusted with sins. 

There is difference between unbelief, transgression and disobedience. Unbelief means denial. Like one says, “O gentlemen! These things are now outdated and old. Now man has conquered space and is planning to colonize the moon. ” In a way you are mocking by saying, “What is this all about the first night in the grave? ” Unbelief means denial of the origin and end (of man). 

Transgression means sinning. It is not as adverse as disbelief. A transgressor does not deny and mock Allah and Judgment Day, accounting, heaven and hell. Rather he believes in them. Yet he becomes a bully and a ruffian. When he is asked, “Why do you not observe fast? ” He replies, “My heart is not inclined 

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to it. ” He turns his head and replies, “Why should God need my or your fasting? ” 

This is transgression. It is getting out of obedience, stepping out of God worship. He does not imagine himself to be a servant. Below this offence is disobedience. Some have said that transgression means greater sins especially falsehood, but disobedience is any type of sin, greater or smaller. Summarily, A pious believer is one who loves God, abhors disbelief, transgression and disobedience. 

Not the disobedience of people, but disobedience of his own self also. He dislikes obscenity and immorality. A true believer is one who dislikes abuse from the viewpoint that it, in itself, is bad, not because he has been abused. For example, if a woman walks in a street in a disastrous condition after applying perfume, the believer feels bad even whether she were his own daughter or that of any other Muslim. It makes no difference to him, as he abhors sin in itself. 

If sin becomes bitter to one, it is a sign of his piety, maturity, improvement and reform. Thereafter is said: 

﴿أُوْلَئِکَ هُمْ الرَّاشِدُونَ﴾ 

“…these it is that are the followers of a right way. (49: 7) ” 

It is these who are rightly guided and perfectly faithful. He is a true and good believer who dislikes every sin, offence and indecency. Neither every believer becomes like this nor does every Muslim reach this position. Maybe there is only one in a thousand who is such. 

“God, from His Grace, grants it to whomsoever is 

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qualified for it. ” 

Yesterday I told you that this verse is not confirming predestination; rather it is a reply to predestination: 

﴿فَضْلاً مِنْ اللَّهِ وَنِعْمَةً وَاللَّهُ عَلِیمٌ حَکِیمٌ﴾ 

“By grace from Allah and as a favor; and Allah is Knowing, Wise. (49: 8) ” 

This is a grace and a bounty from God and this rank in Faith and piety, which involves bitterness of sin in one’s heart is given by God only to him whom God considers worthy of it. Wretched, vicious and rebellious people cannot reach this rank. God knows everyone better than they know themselves. He is the knower of secrets and mysteries. He is Wise. Due to His wisdom, He never puts saffron before a donkey. He does not grant this Light of Faith and truthfulness to an undeserving person. 

It is indeed a wonderful and lofty stage to be reached by a man when Faith becomes the dear-most things for him, every sin tastes bitter to him and he is the Infallible one, fortunate to receive the Proof of his Lord. God is omniscient. He knows the proper place. He is Wise. So He grants only to the deserving person, not to anyone until one earns it. O People! One who cries ‘money, money’ from the morning till night, how can the light of Faith be given to him? His every desire and effort is only for material advancement and multiplication of property and financial power. What has such a fellow to do with Faith? As he does not deserve it, it 

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is not given to him. 

Reach truth through practice 

One who is not a seeker of Faith, who is not one of those who want to give up sinning, how can one be worth: 

﴿وَکَرَّهَ إِلَیْکُمْ الْکُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْیَانَ﴾ 

“…and He has made hateful to you unbelief and transgression and disobedience… (49: 7) ” 

How can a sin taste bitter to him unless he shows forbearance? There is a narration: [1] Unless one does not donate money and wealth, how can one develop the virtue of charity? Similarly one cannot attain the virtue of patience also. Unless one has a wound, how and why should he apply ointment? The ointment of Divine Mercy has no meaning for one has no pain for religion. One whose heart has nothing like sympathy, is not worthy of Divine favor.

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[1]: Safinatul Bihar, 1: 300

Relation of these two verses with preceding and succeeding ones 

Commentators have discussed a great deal regarding these verses. Its summary is that, they were recited from the pulpit, while showing the relation of the one prior to them: O believers! That is, O the ones who believed apparently or verbally, those of you who call themselves believers in Islam! There is a transgressor among you and so also there is a believer. Do not think that all of them are similar? No, it is not so. It is not enough for one to say that I am a Muslim. One should reach the state of: “has endeared the faith” You, poor fellow! You give away your Faith in exchange of a hundred Tooman currency note. A Muslim who kicks his religion for getting worldly wealth 

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and position and in whose eyes these material things are dearer than God and His Prophet, can nowhere be nearer to these Divine Gifts! 

Do you know who is a good believer? A truly faithful person is he for whom telling a lie or falsehood is very distasteful, he does not indulge in slander; he does not spread rumors (disturbing tranquility). 

The phrase “He has made hateful to you unbelief and transgression and disobedience” is there so that Momineen should try to be more and more pious and perfectly truthful. 

﴿أُوْلَئِکَ هُمْ الرَّاشِدُونَ﴾ 

“…these it is that are the followers of a right way. (49: 7) ” 

Hereafter, they may not make any mischief by telling lies, they may not instigate uprising and turmoil unjustly. As I have said some people wanted to make instigate the Prophet to fight. What is this? Being a believer and fanning fire of mischief? God is giving a believer good advice so that he may be careful and may not again turn transgressor, may not tell lies, may not indulge in tell-tales, may not fan fires of mischief. Alas, if one in a hundred Muslims becomes a guided believer! Today there are not less than eight hundred million Muslims. Alas had there been a thousandth or even a millionth of them guided ones in such a way that every sin may become bitter to them! The inevitable result of a weak faith and absence of the spirit of faith is passion and carnal desires and the inevitable result of passion and 

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carnal desires is disintegration and quarrelling with one another. This is a natural affair. 

The angels had said on the first day of creation: 

﴿أَتَجْعَلُ فِیهَا مَنْ یُفْسِدُ فِیهَا وَیَسْفِکُ الدِّمَاءَ؟ ﴾ 

“What! Wilt Thou place in it such as shall make mischief in it and shed blood? ” [1] 

They were not saying this aimlessly but it was on the base of a balanced view. Humans, under the influence of passion and desire quarrel with one another. An inevitable result of submission to desires is, in a way, to claim Godhood. Not only me, you and he; but each and every person has an individual claim. This is because one has not become guided, has not attained greatness and therefore, even for a trifling thing, we run after every sin. What do the corpse eaters do to the property of the dead? It is because they have not reached rectitude. Otherwise why any quarrel over worldly wealth between brothers, and between spouses? Worldly wealth is not worth a quarrel between brother and brother, man and wife and vice versa. How many children have troubled their parents because of worldly wealth on corpses? 

As there is weakness in Faith, there is no righteousness. There is no, “and He has made hateful to you unbelief and transgression and disobedience. ” Otherwise a Muslim is always for peace. A believer never indulges in mischief or corruption, he quarrels with none and has no carnal desires. Those who flare up due to one word only show that they are unaware 

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of the great universe. They have heard about grave life but their hearts are unaware of it. Had they certainty about grave and Barzakh, they would have never given any importance to this material world: 

﴿وَالآخِرَةُ خَیْرٌ وَأَبْقَی﴾ 

“The Hereafter is better and ever lasting. ” [1] 

Greatness of Imam’s army 

Once Mutawakkil the Abbaside called Imam Hadi and Imam Askari to Samarrah. Then he ordered that every soldier should throw a bagful of earth at a certain place. Soon there was a hillock at that place which later on came to be known as “Tallel Makhaali”. Then he asked Imam Hadi and Imam Askari, “Come up and look at my army. ” He wanted to awe the Imams and thereby to scare them by his kingdom and his army. The holy Imams who are never awed by such material things, said, “You also may see our army. ” Saying this, pointed to a place. When Mutawakkil looked there, he saw that from east to west wherever he could see he saw a surging army. All the angels were ready in attention, waiting for a command from the Imam. It is said that Mutawakkil fainted. Finally he apologized to the Imams. 

You are unaware of the greatness of the hidden world, and hence consider this material world and whatever is in it as great. Just peep into the world of Barzakh (life between death and resurrection) and then only you will know what is greatness: 

﴿وَالصَّافَّاتِ صَفًّا﴾ 

“I swear by those who draw themselves out in ranks. ” [2] 

It is one of the armies of 

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God Almighty. 

Amirul Momineen has said that a row of angels is standing shoulder-to-shoulder upto a path leading to seven hundred years’ journey. A number of them are constantly bowing and another in prostration. [1] 

There is a line of angels, which is extending their hands towards the most Supreme Court of Almighty God. I am telling something more astonishing. O those who are showing pride, you are being parsimonious only to yourselves. You do not drop a tear whereby you can benefit. Almighty Allah has lined up armies of angels, which as told by Amirul Momineen in Nahjul Balagha, shed tears perpetually for fear of God, so much that ships can sail in the sea of their tears. 

If you shed one tear on the threshold of Allah, pride cannot overtake you. There is nothing, which can be as precious as this threshold. If you think over those universes, you will consider yourselves but insignificant. Can you consider yourselves as a part of those worshippers? What have you done? What good deed have you ever performed? How did you qualify for this Door? 

God takes pride in worshippers at dawn 

Of course, God is Kind. With such a great and vast kingdom and Might, He is kind and merciful to His servants, who if, with a broken heart, and an ashamed mind, turn to Him, and shed tears and apologize, and prostrate before Him, He does accept our request. 

It is narrated that a midnight (better if it is in the holy month of Ramadhan) a faithful believer gets up from his 

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bed and prostrates before God, a voice is raised from the Higher World, “O Angels! Look at the prostration of My weak servant. ” That is, if all of you are in a taste of perpetual prostration, there is no conflict within you. But this servant of Mine, despite slumber in his eyes and tiredness in his body, does worship Me like this). 

How has he driven away sleep for his eyes! He has risen from his bed and come to Me. See how he is calling Me. Now, you tell me, how I should behave with him? The angel’s reply, “O Lord! Forgive him. ” The voice says, “I have forgiven him. What more should I grant him? ” They say, “O Lord! Grant Your Paradise to him. ” Comes the voice again, “I have granted Paradise also. ” Again comes the voice, “What more should I grant him (God is Generous and His Universe is also vast)? ” The summary of this narration is that the angels say, “O Lord! We do not know what is higher than Paradise. ” Comes the voice, “I know what is higher than Paradise. ” 

I do not know how should I explain its meaning: We point out towards the beauty of the Progeny of Muhammad. We wind up the distance between him and Ahle Bait and we indicate Our Beauty through them, as they are the original inhabitants of Paradise, rather they are makers of Paradise. O God! Give us guidance so that we may have everything to do 

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only with You. For the sake of Your honor and elegance, protect us from the evil of our selfish desires, lust and passions. For Your Might’s sake, make us love You the most. For the sake of Your Greatness, O Lord! Make us among the good and righteous people. You have power over everything. 

Weeping of a repentant is better than glorification by angels 

In this religious gathering (Majlis) are old people who are weak, tired, hungry and thirsty due to fasting and also there are youths who are but humble. If they, in this condition, call upon God Almighty, how effective will it be? It will be higher than the voice of an angel. 

I do not say this of my own accord. You too have heard the God’s saying (Hadith Qudsi) wherein Allah says, “The voice of a repenting sinner is to Me, dearer than glorification by the glorifiers. ” [1] The angels praise God perpetually, but an angel is not broken-hearted. How valuable is his broken heart? I do not know. Every vessel, when broken, loses its value to some extent. But a human heart, when broken, becomes more valuable than before. Where an angel and where a broken-hearted man? Where an angel and where a man who feels ashamed. 

These helpless traits belong to man. So it is here that God Almighty says, “In this Court, the weeping of a sinner servant is better than the glorification of a glorifier. ” So now say: O Lord Who likes the weeping of a sinner like me! Dust on my head if I 

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stop weeping. “O my God, forgive me, I seek the forgiveness of Allah, the One besides Whom there is no god, the Ever-living, the Permanent, One having Might and Honor, from all sins and disobediences.

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[1]: Surah Baqarah 2: 30 

[1]: Surah al-A’la 87: 17. 

[2]: Surah Saffat 37: 1 

[1]: Nahjul Balagha 

[1]: Wasaelush Shia Chapter of Sajdah

Part 10

point 

﴿وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ فِیکُمْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؛ لَوْ یُطِیعُکُمْ فِی کَثِیرٍ مِنْ الأَمْرِ لَعَنِتُّمْ، وَلَکِنَّ اللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَیْکُمْ الإِیمَانَ وَزَیَّنَهُ فِی قُلُوبِکُمْ، وَکَرَّهَ إِلَیْکُمْ الْکُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْیَانَ، أُوْلَئِکَ هُمْ الرَّاشِدُونَ. فَضْلاً مِنْ اللَّهِ وَنِعْمَةً، وَاللَّهُ عَلِیمٌ حَکِیمٌ. وَإِنْ طَائِفَتَانِ مِنْ الْمُؤْمِنِینَ اقْتَتَلُوا فَأَصْلِحُوا بَیْنَهُمَا، فَإِنْ بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَی الأُخْرَی فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِی تَبْغِی حَتَّی تَفِیءَ إِلَی أَمْرِ اللَّهِ، فَإِنْ فَاءَتْ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَیْنَهُمَا بِالْعَدْلِ، وَأَقْسِطُوا، إِنَّ اللَّهَ یُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِینَ. إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَیْنَ أَخَوَیْکُمْ، وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّکُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ. ﴾ 

“But Allah has endeared the faith to you and has made it seemly in your hearts, and He has made hateful to you unbelief and transgression and disobedience; these it is that are the followers of a right way. By grace from Allah and as a favor; and Allah is Knowing, Wise. And if two parties of the believers quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them acts wrongfully towards the other, fight that which acts wrongfully until it returns to Allah’s command; then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allah loves those who act equitably. The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you. (49: 7-10) ” 

Witticism in the interpretation of this verse 

Here is a fine point showing the extreme 

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eloquence of the Holy Qur’an in this verse. The Lord of the Universe, while pointing out a thing concerning some addresses all together. It is by way of wisdom and strategy: “endeared the faith to you. ” Among Muslims, the number of those is always small in whose hearts Faith is dear most and beautified and so also every sin is, for them, bitter than every bitter thing. This, indeed, involves discrimination. Not even a hundred out of a million Muslims belong to this category. Yet, if it is said: “endeared the faith to some of you. ” though factual, it would hint at some incompatibility with the unity and integrity of Muslims. 

In other words, God Almighty wishes to maintain the dignity of His friends, not to reveal or make known their weaknesses. One of the wisdoms behind this is, due to the nicety of one of them, all may look respectable. He has kept His friends hidden so that all may become honorable with this honor and that all may, due to the probability that the other one is God’s friend, appear respectable. But if it were to be recognized, then others would be unconcerned. Had He said: “endeared the faith to some of you” many Muslims might become disappointed and say: This does not concern us. 

The last part of this verse says: “these it is that are the followers of a right way. ” That is the people of guidance, those who walk on the path of truth, the 

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fortunate ones. So this is both in accordance with the fact and also as per the apparent meaning of the verse. The people of guidance among Muslims are always in minority. It is so, rather from the first day of creation until the final Day of Judgment. 

﴿وَقَلِیلٌ مِنْ عِبَادِی الشَّکُورُ﴾ 

“…and very few of My servants are grateful. ” [1] 

It also means reformation or improvement, meaning: Those who have reformed themselves from every angle and in every respect. There is no corruption or mischief in any of their deeds. Their deeds and words are true. The beliefs in their hearts are also correct and so their morals are good. Of course this group is small. Most of the people have not reached this stage and it is obvious from their quarrels and disputes. In other words, as was also hinted yesterday, excepting this little group, the remaining Muslims are lustful and slave of their desires. Everyone wishes that things should be as desired by them, by they religious or other than religious. Hearts of the people are never ready to recognize one another. 

Reconciliation between two groups of Muslim 

O those who have become pious and competent! O believers whom God favored! Have no more disputes with others. You have given up desires, lusts and greed and have attained agreement and peacefulness. If there is a quarrel between two groups of Muslims; if they draw swords against one another; if they point guns at one another, you, who have reformed, should not sit at rest. It is your duty to 

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make peace between the two parties. 

O reformed ones! You must not sit restfully if there is a dispute or quarrel in your families, among your relatives. Make reconciliation between them. The way of brining peace is that, first you should know the root cause of the dispute or unrest. Where is the point of leakage of unrest, plug it. See with whom is the truth. If truth is ascertained, the one who is in the wrong should be made to submit. If he agrees it is good. Otherwise use force until he improves and finally the dispute is solved. So the root of trouble has to be found out. Sometimes it is also possible that the quarrel was like a joke, which made the two parties fight while it was due only to some misunderstanding or an irresponsible word. 

Aws and Khazraj fight over urination of an ass 

As mentioned under the explanation of this holy verse, people informed the Prophet that two big Muslim groups, Aws and Khazraj are fighting with each another. After how much trouble, had the Holy Prophet calmed them earlier and now once again their ignorance had erupted and they began to throw stones on one another’s heads resulting in a strange turmoil. The Prophet arrived to make peace and asked, “What happened? How this fire has erupted so furiously? ” 

After inquiries, it was known that once the Holy Prophet was riding his donkey and the donkey urinated. There was a hypocrite named Abdullah bin Ubayy who though apparently a Muslim, all knew that 

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he was a liar and ill hearted disbeliever from within. He said, “Your donkey has suffocated us, go away. ” Thus he insulted the Holy Prophet, saying the above mischievous words. 

Abdullah bin Rawaha who belonged to the tribe of Khazraj and who respected the Holy Prophet very much told Abdullah bin Ubayy, “O shameless fellow! What do you say? The smell of the urine of the donkey of the Prophet is better than you. You are more disgusting than the urine of the donkey. ” That fellow also retorted and spoke harsher words. Summarily, voices rose and hands reached one another’s necks. The relatives of this person and the relatives of that person jumped into the fray. The Holy Prophet arrived and silenced them. 

The Holy Prophet told a word and all troubles were wiped out. He did not want that one word should bring in so much turmoil and destruction and such a rush for finishing one another. All those who are wise should also act like the Holy Prophet and must not remain unconcerned in times of quarrels. If situation demands force, they may apply force also but should not allow the trouble to prolong and spread further. 

It is easy to stem the flood at the beginning but very difficult afterwards. (Persian Saying) 

The war of Haider was a bounty for Iran 

If continued, it becomes bigger and bigger day by day. Perhaps you might have also heard the story of the war of Haider, which proved to be bounty for Iran. I also did not remember it but I have 

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read it several times in books. It continued perhaps for a hundred years. I wondered why no one came to settle it for such a long period! 

They write: A man named Sultan Haider was one of the forefathers of the Safavid kings in Tabriz and so also Shah Nematullah whose grave, as you also know, is in Kerman, who was a leader of a number of dervishes (Gnostics). It is said that, during that period of three hundred and a few more years before, some people became devotees of Sultan Haider and some became the followers of Nemat. 

Then enmity between them went on increasing day by day. What is astonishing is that both had put the word dervish before their names. In those days, in every city there were followers of both these dervishes and the followers of both were increasing day by day and so were their friends and relatives. These matters reached to the point of war which erupted after every three or four months every year. Every city was split into two groups, one Haideri and another Nemati and it is also said that during the public holidays of Ashura (10th Mohurrum) when sentiments were high, they rose against one another and killed one another. When the two groups came out for beating chests for Mohurrum mourning, they clashed and even killed one another. This continued till the time of Nasiruddin Shah Qachar, who it is said, for the first four years of his rule, made many 

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efforts tactfully to end this slowly and finally succeeded in bringing peace in Iran. 

Constitutional riots, tyranny and secret news foretold by Ali 

The Haideri and Nemati wars ended, but there arrived a worse trouble. You must have heard from your aged relatives what calamities had come on the heads of the people due to constitutional rioting and tyranny. How much splitting of hearts happened about seventy or eighty years ago when a lot of blood was shed in almost every city and how many Sayyids, scholars, good people and traders etc were killed. In Shiraz, they killed the late Hajj Shaykh Ali Akbar Istehbanati, who was also called the third great martyr. 

The late Sayyid Ahmed Dashtaki was hanged in the same Husainiyah. They collected his bones and threw them in a well and so on. How much trouble, mischief and turmoil related to the constitutional trouble and oppression. As per secret news, reportedly given by Amirul Momineen: Woe unto the mischief, which will arise out of a word of justice! 

Then what about that which happened after the Constitutional Riots! We have heard repeatedly that around the same city of Shiraz (I do not name them) there are some small hamlets and villages where there still is splitting of hearts due to disputes and differences. The upper street and the lower street is there everywhere. In such situation of enmities, the Divine Order is that some of the Muslims must come out to make peace, of course provided they are righteous themselves. If no action is taken according to 

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this holy verse, it is due to the fact that the number of righteous people is always less and that small group also has not enough power to bring people to agreement and peace. 

O Messenger of Allah! Your dear Husain rose up to bring reform. He himself said, “I have not come out to get kingdom and worldly wealth. Rather, I have come out to reform the community. So that killings of Shias, which was the way of Muawiyah, should be stopped. I intend to drive out the mischief that Umayyads have brought in. ” Then Husain moved. He also gave a call that a group of righteous people may come up but there was none prepared to help and get killed in the process. 

Before Husain, Amirul Momineen Ali had arisen. Though he made reform through the battle of Jamal and won and suppressed the unjust. But, alas, once again he had to be at war for eighteen months, but the mischief remained and falsehood was not destroyed completely. At last, he returned and was soon martyred.

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[1]: Surah Saba 34: 13

A pious person with power can make reform 

The complete reformation, which can per force remove troubles and disputes, will be in the time of the appearance of the Twelfth Imam Mahdi the Awaited one. One who wants to bring in reform requires two things. The first condition is that he himself must be pious and righteous and secondly, he should also have might and power. This is to found only in Mahdi. Prior to Mahdi, either there was piety or power. Those 

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who were pious had no might. A reformer must first be reformed himself, his desires must be under his control, he should not be a mischief-maker or a corrupt sinner as every sinner is a tyrant who has wronged and corrupted himself. So first of all, he must reform himself, that is, he must be like a physician who wants to treat a patient. Otherwise it will be said, ‘Physician, heal thyself’. How can one who is corrupt remove corruption? One who will remove all these sins and passion worship and bring total reform in the whole universe is only the Master of the Age (Imam Mahdi). 

Secondly the enforcing might of God which is with that great personality who is endowed with his righteousness; and God has also given him the authority to purify this world of all mischiefs, corruptions and tyranny, which have existed in all times and which are increasing day by day. Lies are told, properties are confiscated unjustly, honors are taken away and innocent blood shed, all this trouble will be stopped by the hand of Master of the Age. 

Now pay attention to the translation of these Holy verses: 

﴿وَإِنْ طَائِفَتَانِ مِنْ الْمُؤْمِنِینَ اقْتَتَلُوا فَأَصْلِحُوا بَیْنَهُمَا، فَإِنْ بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَی الأُخْرَی فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِی تَبْغِی حَتَّی تَفِیءَ إِلَی أَمْرِ اللَّهِ، فَإِنْ فَاءَتْ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَیْنَهُمَا بِالْعَدْلِ، وَأَقْسِطُوا، إِنَّ اللَّهَ یُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِینَ. إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَیْنَ أَخَوَیْکُمْ، وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّکُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ. ﴾ 

“And if two parties of the believers quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them 

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acts wrongfully towards the other, fight that which acts wrongfully until it returns to Allah’s command; then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allah loves those who act equitably. The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you. (49: 9-10) ” 

Here it means the believer Muslims, even if apparently Muslims, not those who truthfully say: There is no god except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. They recite Qur’an and offer prayer. If they disintegrate into two parties and fight with one another, you should not turn away from them and must not remain aloof, but make peace between them. Of course as far as possible. 

Now, when stepping forward to make peace, first see what is the root cause of quarrel. Set it right. Check with whom is truth and justice. If the one who is wrong submits, it is very good. Otherwise fight until the troublemaker is removed from the field. If one of the two parties lies and makes excesses then fight with it with arms and ammunition, come to battlefield with force, of course on condition that means are available and fight the oppressor. Force him until he submits to the Command of God and stops injustice and lying. If they turn back, repent and stop lying, you also issue orders for them both with full justice and fairplay, as Allah loves the just 

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people. 

The word “equitably” has been repeated so that after they reform, they should give up unjust and false talk and make peace and make up for the losses suffered by the oppressed; captured people must be released and total justice should be brought into action, in practice. Then Almighty God orders in general terms that the Muslims should realize the rights of one another and raise their morals. 

Brotherhood and equality between Believers 

Maintenance of brotherhood in the Muslim world is a God-given command, that is, the Almighty Allah Who has created man is also the giver of religion, a way of life or code of conduct. He himself has created brotherhood between the Muslims. Every Muslim is, by the order of God, brother of another: “The believers are but brethren. ” This verse is not introductory but is a Divine Command. There are orders regarding relatives, concerning marriage and inheritance. Then there is a ‘foster’ brotherhood. 

Foster siblings do not inherit one another but marriage rules apply to them, that is, the foster mother, sister and daughter cannot marry the foster son, brother and father (it is unlawful). But the religious brotherhood, which has been ordered does not involve rules regarding inheritance and marriage. These orders concern equality and brotherhood or being friends and helpers. A Muslim must help another Muslim as they are like organs of the same body. You return to one great grandfather, Muhammad Mustafa. You are like one organs of one body. 

All human beings are one another’s body organs as in 

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the matter of creation they are from one pearl. If one part of human body gets pain, other organs also become restless. (Persian couplets) 

Your condition should be such that if you come to know that a Muslim anywhere is in some trouble you should feel that you yourself are in distress. How much efforts you make for your own work, be just like that for others too. You must not look only at your own interest. On the contrary, you should give preference to the happiness of your brother over your own happiness or pleasure because it is said that he is your brother. Almighty God says that you are brothers. You have overlooked (as a Muslim) yourself and your desire, as you have believed in God’s Command and Qur’an. So this is the true path. “The believers are but brethren. ” Be one another’s eyes. What does it mean? It means faults, defects and troubles facing one another be made known tactfully. Be well wishers of one another; give good advice to one another. It is your duty to tell your brother to look ahead so that he may not be hit with a stone and he may not come in a danger. Help him in every possible manner. “Therefore make peace between your brethren. ” 

If two Muslims have an argument, you should come up and try to remove their disagreement and dispute. Do not say, “What I have to do with you! ” They (the two at dispute) may either 

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be a man and his wife, or a father and his son or two brothers. Any two whom the devil has thrown in dispute, you must hasten to bring them to agreement. Do not allow the dispute to linger on. If the matter is not settled soon it will result in hatred, furthering enmity from bad to worse. A matter, which was partial in the beginning, will turn into a whole big trouble. The way of settling disputes has been mentioned before. Pursue it and see where is the root cause of trouble. 

Then improve things therefrom. If it is about money, spend money, as it will be the best kind of spending (charity). Arrange a meeting for restoring relations between quarrelling man and his wife, as no other charity is better than it. If someone has a complaint and he calls you, reach him soon and ask him what the trouble is and how much does it cost. If ten thousand Toomans can improve relations, give that amount and go. Do not allow a Muslim to go to the court against a Muslim as it may result in imprisonment of one of them and even that may not settle things. 

﴿وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ﴾ 

“…and be careful of (your duty to) Allah… (49: 10) ” 

If you desire that Allah should be kind to you, then pay attention to what He commands. Leave aside your desires and inclinations. Do not give up efforts for settlement and agreement. Leave aside your own interests for the sake of 

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the brotherhood of Faith. See and hear what God says: Forgive and make peace. Give preference to others over your own self. Then see what God Almighty does to you: 

﴿لَعَلَّکُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ. ﴾ 

“…that mercy may be had on you. (49: 10) ” 

Here let me tell you a brief story.

Fulfilling the need of a Believer 

Ahmed bin Hasan bin Khalid al Barqi was one of the great Shia scholars. He had written a book Mahasin in the fourth century of the Hijri era. He was living during the earlier years of the Major Occultation of the Master of the Age. He has written about an event he himself has experienced. In a summary, he writes: I had yearly dues to be paid to the government of Kudakeen (Apparently Kudakeen was a governor appointed by the Abbaside Caliph in Iran). I had purchased land in Kashan. The government was collecting an amount of ten thousand dirhams from me. For some years I calculated the amounts regularly and no government officer visited me to claim any amount. One year there was an error in accounting in my case. 

Officials came to me and said, “Make payment of ten thousand dirhams on account of the land of Kashan. ” I was in trouble financially and did not have this amount to pay. I said, “Let me go and see the accountant and ask him to recheck. ” When I went to see him I found that he was kind hearted, aged and was physically very weak. His body was like a skeleton even having some scars. It 

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was very strange. When he saw me he fell on my feet and began to weep saying, “O my brother! Rush to help me. You are the Shia of the Progeny of Muhammad and I am also a Shia of the Progeny of Muhammad. Kindly help me. ” 

Finally the author of Mahasin says, “I asked him, ‘What is your problem? I may solve it. ’” He replied, “Some bad people have backbitten me. They have made an allegation against me before Kudakeen that I have corresponded with the caliph and have complained against Kudakeen and requested the caliph to remove him. So they caught me and beat me so much that you can see (my wounds) and they have confiscated all my possessions as well my property and taken away whatever cash I had. Now I have nothing. I am deprived of everything. My body is also weak and wounded. I do not know what more they will do to me. ” 

The author of Mahasin, this noble scholar, says, “I said to myself, ‘O My Lord! I wish I should go to the accountant, Mazandarani and do something for removing the trouble of this servant of God. Is it possible? Finally, I may talk about ten thousand dirhams myself and seek his relief. I may say it is my money, not his but this was against the friendship with the Progeny of Muhammad. He is also a friend of the Progeny of Muhammad. ’ I was confused when my eye fell on a 

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book in a corner of my room. I took it up. When I opened it, it was mentioned on its first page: ‘It is narrated in Kashaf that Ja’far bin Muhammad Sadiq has said that if one goes out with an intention for fulfilling the need of a faithful believer for God’s sake, God improves his affairs. If he himself has any need, God fulfils it. ’ When I read this statement, I got up and went ahead to solve the problem of that old gentleman. I reached the gathering of Mazandarani and he gave me a lot of respect (Of course he was one of the respectable scholars of his time). When he sat down he recited holy verses to the effect: 

﴿وَابْتَغِ فِیمَا آتَاکَ اللَّهُ الدَّارَ الآخِرَةَ، وَلا تَنسَ نَصِیبَکَ مِنْ الدُّنْیَا، وَأَحْسِنْ کَمَا أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَیْکَ، وَلا تَبْغِ الْفَسَادَ فِی الأَرْضِ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا یُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِینَ. ﴾ 

“And seek by means of what Allah has given you the future abode, and do not neglect your portion of this world, and do good (to others) as Allah has done good to you, and do not seek to make mischief in the land, surely Allah does not love the mischief-makers. ” [1] 

I recited in response: 

﴿هَلْ جَزَاءُ الإِحْسَانِ إِلاَّ الإِحْسَانُ؟ ﴾ 

“Is the reward of goodness aught but goodness? ” [2] 

Mazandarani, who was a wise person, said, “O Mr. Barqi! It seems you have something to recommend. Please ask. You have, purposefully, recited this verse of Qur’an. If you seek any help from me, please tell me, so 

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that I may do whatever you want. ” Baqi also did not make him wait and told everything about the poor oppressed man against whom allegations were made in the government office, that they complained to the caliph about him. Consequently they took away his wealth and beat him up. Then he asked, “Do you know him? ” He replied, “Yes. By God, he is a Shia, by God, he is one of the friends of Ahle Bait. ” He ordered, “Bring him here soon. ” 

Then said, “Bring his files. ” Then all that was confiscated from him was returned to him and so also all his money. He also gave him his personal dress and made much apology and gave him a lot of respect and honor and made him return to his business. Then he turned towards Ahmed bin Khalid Barqi and before the latter could speak a word, he said, “I want to give you the ten thousand dinars. So please bring me paper. ” Thus he did the work of Barqi without asking. Barqi was astonished. 

He thanked and apologized. He said, “Please do not destroy my deed. I have done nothing. Whatever I did it was only for God’s sake. ” Ahmed Barqi, the author of Mahasin wanted to kiss his hand. He said, “Woe unto me. Do you want to destroy my deed? I should kiss your hand. You are the means of a good deed in my favor. I, the unfortunate fellow, had done a sinful deed. You relieved 

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me. I had oppressed an innocent person without knowing the truth. You have done me a great favor. You guided me aright. You deserve that I should give you ten thousand dirhams in exchange of the guidance you gave me. Barqi says, “In addition to what he had paid to the government, he gave these ten thousand in cash. ” 

Blessings lifted up due to corruption 

You now understood the decision of God! Whoever works for God, He also will fulfill his affair in a nicer manner. May Allah make all of us work righteously. 

﴿وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّکُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ﴾ 

“And be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you… (49: 10) ” 

Come up to reform affairs and be certain that God will not destroy any place so long as the people there are reformed and righteous. 

﴿وَمَا کَانَ رَبُّکَ لِیُهْلِکَ الْقُرَی بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا مُصْلِحُونَ﴾ 

“And it did not beseem your Lord to have destroyed the towns tyrannously, while their people acted well. ” [1] 

If you give up improvement and reform and become corrupt, then calamities will also come, both external and internal troubles will surely arrive. Abundance will be lifted up from farmlands, so also from your animals and even from your life spans. You may not know how abundance was removed from life. Ask your elders. In olden days it was never heard that a youth of thirty died of a heart attack suddenly. At that time aged old people died in this way. Now you hear that a twenty-seven year old fainted and died at once. Thus 

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the abundance is lifted from lives. 

Even if such a heart patient survives, then what? He will not get any benefit from his weakened life. What is worse than this? Actually hearts should improve during the days and nights of holy Ramadhan. Such improvement must multiply everyday. But what is the current situation? Today so many days have passed but there is no difference from the first day! May be due to the lack of abundance. 

There should have been a continuous day-to-day reformation. If two of these days are alike then it means there has been fraud, which caused the loss. Is our heart’s condition today better than what it was on the first day? I do not know. You recite these days in Dua Abu Hamzah: No day passes over us wherein we get a fresh bounty from You whereas we commit a fresh sin and yet You do not take away Your bounty from us. O My Merciful Lord! When I look at my scroll of deeds I find that it is full of sins. Whenever I look into this heart of mine, which has become so bad that it is harder than a rock, darker than a moonless night, I find that it has made no progress at all since the first of Ramadhan, two- third of which has already passed away. My God! I cannot see any effect of my fasting, my early rising. O Allah! Kindly make it so that, due to the holiness of 

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Ramadhan I may be one of the real keeper of fasts. O God! Our faces are like those who fast, we fast and we pray. O Lord! Kindly make us of those real worshippers whose chief is the Master of the Age. Please improve our affairs. Verily You have power over everything.

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[1]: Surah Qasas 28: 77 

[2]: Surah Rahman 55: 60 

[1]: Surah Hud 11: 117

Part 11 

point 

﴿إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَیْنَ أَخَوَیْکُمْ، وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّکُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ. ﴾ 

“The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you. (49: 10) ”

Acceptance of reconciliation and agreement is also obligatory 

Some questions are asked regarding the meaning of this holy verse. So it is necessary that they should be clearly explained from the pulpit. One of the friends said, “You are advising us all to make amends of restrained relations; I have a dispute with a gentleman for the last four years. I went from this Jama Masjid straight to his house for making peace but he rejected me very forcefully and did not listen to me at all. Have I any more responsibility in this regard? ” 

Here it must be known that, in Islam, such orders are applicable to both the parties, they are not one-sided. For example, here it is commanded: Make peace. Similarly, it is also necessary for the other party to respond positively for making peace. If we have asked you to go to the other party, the other one is also expected to give a positive response. This is very important. It is reported that the Holy 

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Prophet said, “My intercession will not be available to the one who does not accept the apology or excuse of a peacemaker, not withstanding whether the peacemaker tells the truth or lies. ” 

There came about a discussion between you and him. Now he came and apologies. He says, “Please excuse me. I made a mistake. Please pardon me. ” It is ordered (by God) that you must oblige. It has been forcefully commanded that you must at once respond saying, “Very well. I let it go. ” The Holy Qur’an clearly commands: “Then forgive. ” This is a firm order. Forgive and even ignore a bad word as if you did not hear it. The order is, do pardon even if one has told a lie for peace making. If he says, “I was doubtful. ” Reply, “All right, let it be. ” Forget an event. God also promises that He will forgive and pardon you. 

﴿أَلا تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ یَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَکُمْ؟ ﴾ 

“Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? ” [1] 

Do you not like that God may pardon you? During the nights and at days in Ramadhan you recite: O Lord! Forgive me. Pardon me. One who seeks pardon should be a pardoner and a forgiver himself. How can one who does not forgive others, request God to forgive him? 

Everyone who is not acting according to his words is not praying sincerely and in its real sense. It is mere wordplay. It is false to say a thousand times: “O God! O the Most Merciful one! 

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Have mercy on me during my first night in grave. ” He is lying. If mercy is a nice thing and if he wants it, why he himself does not have this virtue? Why are you not kind to your wife and children? Why do you not have mercy on your friend? Why do you not help a weak person? This shows that, really, you do not want mercy. Only your tongue says so. It is same about saying: Pardon! You always say, “My God, pardon me. ” You say in your night prayer, “O Lord! Pardon my sins. Forgive my evil deeds. ” Is forgiving good or bad? You will say, “By God! It is very good. ” Then why did you not do it yourself? Today, they came to you for making peace. 

Why did you become tough and stubborn? If God has ordered to make peace He has also commanded that an offer of peace making also should be responded to. The command applies to both the parties at dispute. If someone comes to you to make peace, you have no right to turn away your face. It is incumbent on you to accept his excuse, even if you know that he is not telling the truth. If you do not respond positively to him, you have deprived yourself of the Prophet ‘s intercession. 

There are two instances wherein the Holy Prophet has quite clearly said that his intercession is not available. Woe unto the one who missed this great reward. He 

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is the one who did not accept the excuse of a peacemaker. Another unfortunate fellow is the one who considered prayer light (of less value). [1] 

God accepts repentance 

Responsibilities put on Muslims by Islam are also reciprocal. For example, on one hand, God has made it a must for you to repent: 

﴿وَتُوبُوا إِلَی اللَّهِ جَمِیعًا، أَیُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ، لَعَلَّکُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ. ﴾ 

“…and turn to Allah all of you, O believers, so that you may be successful. ” [2] 

O Muslims! It is your duty to repent; on the other hand, The Holy One Himself has also made it a must for Himself to accept that repentance: 

﴿کَتَبَ رَبُّکُمْ عَلَی نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ أَنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنْکُمْ سُوءًا بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِیمٌ﴾ 

“…your Lord has ordained mercy on Himself, (so) that if anyone of you does evil in ignorance, then turns after that and acts aright, then He is Forgiving, Merciful. ” [3] 

This is so because He Himself says: 

﴿وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلا تَنْهَرْ﴾ 

“And as for him who asks, do not chide (him). ” [4] 

Do not turn away anyone empty handed. How at all can He turn away a pardon seeker from His Court? God forbid. Such is not our opinion about You. He has made a must for both the parties at dispute to make peace. Whoever may make an advance; it is incumbent on the other one to respond positively. Reconciliation is a must for both the parties. One who goes first in this direction will enter Paradise earlier. One who made an advance did his duty. The other duty 

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is to accept peace effort. If you were clever, you made an advance for making peace. If you were lazy and he became a dweller of Paradise you should not be a dweller of hell. 

Islamic brotherhood is general 

Another meaning, which must be understood well is that is the generality of the command, which is given in the holy verse: 

﴿إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَیْنَ أَخَوَیْکُمْ﴾ 

“The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren… (49: 10) ” 

Here ‘believer’ has its common connotation. Anyone who said: I believe that God is Only One Allah and Muhammad is His last Prophet and I also give witness that Judgment Day is True and Accounting is True and that Paradise and Hell are True. Anyone who gave witness to these three basic facts and believed in them has also accepted all other essential orders of Islam, that is, all apparent things like prayer, fasts and Hajj, which no one can deny. 

He becomes a respectable Muslim. Shedding his blood is prohibited; may he belong to any sect. Apparently he is a Muslim. His body is clean and his life and honor are safe and so also his possessions and marriage with him is also valid. We have nothing to do with his Hereafter. Hereafter is relevant with a special meaning, but all the apparent orders (worldly matters) are based on the above mentioned three basic beliefs, be he a Sunni or a Shia. Sunni and Shia, both are Muslims. That is, both are the people of “There is no 

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god except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”. All general Islamic rules apply to him, which include brotherhood. 

Yesterday, I said that it is ordered through this verse that there must be brotherhood among (between) common Muslims, men and women. Anyone who believes in these two formulae of faith: There is no god except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and who accepted Qur’an as the Word of God and accepted the essentials of Islam is a ‘believer’ in the meaning of this verse and hence a brother of all other Muslims. Everyone must maintain this relation of brotherhood with him. They should consider him their brother and not an alien or outsider. 

From all this what we mean to say and what the Sunni and Wahabi brothers do not hear is: Are Shias other than the people of “There is no god except Allah”? Have we anything other than “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”? Have we any book other than Qur’an? Do we follow other than what Islam commands? Why do you call us polytheists? After all we are your brothers. What is very strange is that when we consider them our brothers, these gentlemen call us and believe that we are polytheists. It is because of that man named Ahmed Ibn Taiymiyah. This man, 150 or 200 years back, issued a religious decree that anyone who goes to a dead man’s grave is a polytheist. Ask this Shaykh on what ground he says this? How do you 

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take this man’s word as a proof and say that you Shias are polytheists! (If Allah wills, henceforth, we shall discuss this matter in detail while explaining a later verse). 

A Saudi policeman saw a Shia kissing the Zareeh (Sarcophagus) of the Prophet, in the Prophet’s mosque. When he intended to hit that man, he took out a copy of the Holy Qur’an from his pocket and handed it over to the said policeman. The policeman held the Holy Qur’an and kissed it. The Shia said, “O polytheist! ” The policeman asked, “What polytheism? ” The Shia said, “You kissed the leather. The cover of the Qur’an is made of leather. Kissing a piece of leather is just like kissing a piece of silver which I kissed. ” The policeman said, “No, it is not so. This leather is holy as it is related with Qur’an. ” The Shia said, “This shrine is also related with the Holy Prophet and hence it is respectable. ” 

There is no one who could come out and say: O Sunni gentlemen! O Wahabi people! Why are you making excess? Why are you excommunicating Shias who form a big part of Muslim population in the world; who believe in the truth of Islam. Shias are here ever since the advent of Islam. Whatever propagation work has been done in the world has been done mostly by the Shias, especially from Iran. They have written many books in support of Islam. The Shia is a faithful believer. You should consider us as 

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your brothers, especially those who enter Mecca during Hajj pilgrimage every year. Qur’an says, “Travelers and settlers, all who enter Mecca are equal. ” Those who arrive here are guests, honorable guests. They have arrived in Allah’s House. How much should you respect them! But here a man takes out a lash asking ‘why did you kiss the tomb? ’

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[1]: Surah Nur 24: 22 

[1]: Safinatul Bihar 2: 43 

[2]: Surah Nur 24: 31 

[3]: Surah Anam 6: 54 

[4]: Surah Zuha 93: 10

Defense of Islamic lands is a must for all 

﴿إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ﴾ 

“The believers are but brethren… (49: 10) ” 

A Shia has no right to be an enemy of a Sunni. Everyone and anyone who said: “There is no god except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”, and who believes in Qur’an and Judgment Day, even if he has no sense of the guardianship (Wilayat) of Ahle Bait, cannot be considered an enemy. He has no sense of Wilayat due to some misunderstanding. Yet he is a Muslim and therefore he must be considered a brother. This is the unanimous stand of all Shia jurisprudents. If, God forbid, an Islamic country, even if it is of the Sunni, is attacked by heathens, it is compulsory for all the Muslims, Shia as well as Sunni, to help that Muslim state. 

They must defend it. The Jews attacked Palestine and they intend to destroy Muslims and annihilate them. We cannot say that they are Sunni. Here there is no question of Shia or Sunni. All are Muslims. A Muslim must always be sympathetic towards another Muslim. Islam must be protected. There is no difference. Qur’an is one, Religion is one, God is one and Prophet is 

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one, common to both. So there is no difference. The only thing is that they, in the matter of jurisprudence and in their manners follow one of the four persons – Abu Hanifah, Ahmed bin Hanbal, Malik and Shafei. We also follow Ja’far bin Muhammad as Sadiq. 

What is your argument for following one these four? Your only argument is that since our elders did it, we also do it and because the caliph of the time appointed these four. Our argument also is that as Muhammad, the last Prophet, prescribed Qur’an and Progeny (Itrat) , we do not give up the Progeny. This is the difference between us. How strange! Some follow Ja’far and some Abu Hanifah. It is all right; the followers of all the four are good. We don’t know what the followers of Ja’far did that they have so much enmity towards them! 

Do not speak bad of religious leaders 

By the way, I would like to point out one thing. Shias also have a doubt and it should be removed. It is that they openly insult the chiefs of other sects while it is unlawful. For example, if one insults Abu Hanifah openly, it will make the Hanafis angry. Some kinds of enmities are against dissimulation (Taqayyah) while our duty is to observe it fully. 

﴿وَلا تَسُبُّوا الَّذِینَ یَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَیَسُبُّوا اللَّهَ عَدْوًا بِغَیْرِ عِلْمٍ﴾ 

“And do not abuse those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest exceeding the limits they should abuse Allah out of ignorance. ” [1] 

After all, they have followed them for a 

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time. Now, if you insult them openly they will resort to indecency. If you condemn Abu Hanifah, they will definitely speak and think badly about Ja’far bin Muhammad or his followers. So, the Shias should be very careful. Open condemnation is wrong. You do your best. Describe the virtues of Ali as much as you can. Mention the rightfulness of Ja’far. Leave alone Abu Hanifah and others. Why should you name them? This is the method of dissimulation. 

Observe rights of brotherhood 

The third point in today’s discussion is the fabrication of brotherly rights. We mention the fabricated rights from first to last. The first right was the same, which is mentioned in this verse, that is, a Muslim is a brother of another Muslim. The demand of brotherhood is that if one brother is in distress another must not sit at rest until the trouble of the former is removed. It means that if a Muslim falls in dispute and trouble, other Muslims must not rest until the fire of trouble is extinguished. This is the smallest right of one Muslim over another. 

This issue is religious. Do not take it lightly. It is a religious duty. Perhaps this matter may not come up again. Of course the condition for every duty is ability. If you are able, it is your duty to try to make peace and reconciliation. If you are unable, you are not bound. For example, if you are alone and you see that ten or twenty persons are fighting fiercely with 

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one another. In what way can you stop them? Suppose the quarrel is over a lot of money. You do not have enough to settle the dispute. Or for instance the fighting people are brutal bullies and it is not likely that they will at all listen to you as they look at you hatefully. 

Worst of all, they also have arms that you don’t have. Two hotheaded fellows are attacking one another dangerously. You should not approach them otherwise; you will be like that son of one of our friends. 

Mediator falls prey to corrupt fighters 

One of our friends who is also present today in this meeting has faith. He has a religious minded youthful son. Two months ago, this youth did an unwise thing. It resulted in serious trouble. In the words of his father: While passing by, this youth saw that two persons were quarrelling with one another. They were making contrary claims. This youth, with an intention to making peace, stepped forward. One of the ruthless fellows, in order to push him aside, hit him forcefully on his head. The youth fell down at once. 

He was taken to the hospital, where it was found that his brain has been damaged. He had to remain in hospital for a long time in an unconscious state. When those two devilish fellows came to know that this man may die of the injury inflicted by one of them and when they feared that they might fall in legal trouble, they at once, went to 

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the police station and filed a complaint against the (injured) youth and made false allegations against him saying that he had done so and so to us at such and such place on such and such day and wounded so and so etc. 

A warrant was issued against this youth who had not yet recovered and had not recovered consciousness. The poor youth who was injured badly experienced further mental trouble. His senses did not function properly. When it was decided to shift him from the hospital to his house, policemen arrived and arrested him. Now he is in a prison. Why did he interfere between two fighting bulls? 

What I mean to say is that though I have told you to make peace and reconciliation, but it is not everywhere. Just see who are up to kill one another? Should you come in between even if two wolves are fighting? Can a lamb or a deer make peace between the two? Sometimes you see that he has a Muslim name, but he is among the wolves of the time. Islam is higher than that such fellows may claim to be Muslims. A Muslim is more honorable. A believer is liked by God. For what should he be sacrificed? For the sake of these perverted people’s lust and greed? They are like two-footed animals, liars, slanderers and faithless. What kind of people are they who blame falsely a gentleman who came to make peace between them? These are real transgressors. 

Rights of brothers in faith 

Now I will 

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tell you about the higher rank. Rights of brotherhood are many. In a narration the holy Imam says that they number thirty and as per another narration, seventy. The narrator insists and says, “O master! Please tell us what they are all. ” According to reports the Imam said, “I am afraid, if I tell you, you will not observe them and will not act accordingly. ” Woe if one knows and does not act while these rights of brotherhood are such that if not observed both this world and Hereafter will be ruined. It will bring divine punishment in both worlds. 

According to one narration: One of the rights of brotherhood is that if one puts forth his need to the other, the latter must not reject it. His need had an aspect of honor. Since you had honor and influence, the seeker sought your influence and recommendation but you rejected his request. Consequently, when you will be called up on the Day of Judgment, there will be no flesh on your face. It will be a mark of your dishonor. Also in this world, you will not die before being dishonored. It will be so because you did not spend this honor, which you had and left that helpless person to himself. You did not do his work with the help of your influence. So you will also be dishonored here. Wait! He asked you to lend him some money. You did not give it despite your ability to do so. 

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So now, wait for the day when this money goes out of your pocket. The smallest or the least right, it is said in narrations that the smallest or lowest or the minimum right is that you should like for him what you like for yourself. 

O Mr. Grocer! You wish that when you go to a perfumer to purchase saffron, the latter should give pure saffron to you, not counterfeit. So when the perfumer comes to you to purchase oil from you, you too must give him pure oil, not impure or adulterated. Now, who is there among you who likes that someone should give you a bad name in your absence? So, you too must never give a Muslim a bad name in his absence. “Dislike for him what you dislike for yourself. ” Likewise, if you dislike that someone should destroy your effort in your absence, you also must never render someone’s effort fruitless. 

Be good to others as they are with you 

It is here that scholars and religious leaders have propounded as to what is our duty and responsibility. If the rights are just as reported above and if one has to behave in this way as said above with all Muslims, life might become difficult. For example, suppose, one of the rights is that if one asks for a loan the other one must not refuse. If you may go on giving like this during the day, you will have nothing left with you by the end of it. They may take and may not return, 

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especially the people of today. Or they borrowed something from you. They took it, broke it and then brought back to you making it useless. Then what should be done? They have not told you to do so with everyone. Be such with those who are so with you. If you want to become so with everyone then some people are so much selfish that they would like to trample you under their feet. So it is never so with everyone. According to a narration, someone said to the holy Imam, “My neighbor borrowed my carpet. After burning and destroying it he brought it back to me. If he asks me again for it, and if I do not oblige him, then will I be at fault? ” The Imam said, “No, in that case, you will not be held responsible. ” 

When it is told to you that you should give to your neighbor what he wants to borrow, Islam also orders the borrower to take care of the borrowed thing. So, if your neighbor does not fulfill his responsibility, you too are not duty-bound to give him what he asks. If you see that he does not return your thing, then do not give him. Take a guarantee from him. It is not ordered to you that if someone asks for a loan you must give it to him at once, even if you do not know him. The Holy Qur’an itself says: Take a bond, a deposit or a security. 

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Pawn his house so as to satisfy yourself about the return of your money. You may not give unless he agrees to such a condition. 

These rights are for those who do likewise with you. They must also be truthful. They should act according to their word. They must be righteous and God fearing. They should not be greedy, lustful and selfish. Where is that religious minded friend who befriends you for the sake of God? Who considers you his friend in faith? Such men are very less in number. Now, do not say that the responsibility or duty is much more. Say that responsible people are less. 

Who is he who wants you for God’s sake, who considers you a religious friend? Most of the people befriend one another due to selfishness and personal interest, not from religious viewpoint. I mean how many are there who befriend others hoping that this friendship will strengthen their faith? Do they desire piety and self-improvement? Do they befriend others with a hope to get salvation tomorrow as a result of such friendship? Such sincere friendship does never break off. One, sometimes, befriends another selfishly and to serve his own interest. They give loans also. But such friendships do not last, because they are not friendships in faith, religious brotherhood. It has no divine aspects. It is a farce!

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[1]: Surah Anam 6: 108

Faithful friends, here and in Hereafter 

Three God fearing persons were among the companions of Imam Sadiq, Imam Kazim and Imam Reza. The three were very righteous and virtuous. Their names were 

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Safwan bin Yahya, Abdullah bin Jundab and Ali bin Numan. These three friends in faith had one heart, one road, one aim, one goal, which was to gain the pleasure of God, His Prophet and the holy Imams. They wanted to tread the true path, the straight path and advancing on it to attain salvation. Their friendship was based only on this aim. Once all of them went to Mecca together. 

In the Great Mosque (Masjid-ul-Haraam) , they talked together and asked each other, “We are friends in this life. Why this friendship should end at the time of our death? Let us make a pledge that when one of us dies, the remaining two would continue the worship, which the dead one was doing. Then when one of the remaining two also dies, the last surviving one would carry out the worship and good deeds of the two dead ones. ” True friend is one who helps his friend. Now what help is greater than doing God worship? 

So they agreed on this covenant. Soon thereafter two of them viz. Abdullah bin Jundab and Ali bin Numan met their Lord while only the third one, namely Safwan bin Yahya remained alive as a friend in faith of the two departed ones. Now he wanted to fulfill his agreement. He had given a bold promise. What were the worship rituals of the departed ones? Everyday both of them offered fifty-one units of prayer. Every good believer offers these 51 units of prayer 

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during a day and night: 17 obligatory units of the five daily prayers, which are obligatory; plus 34 (double of 17) units being supererogatory. So, at the time of Zuhr (Noon) , Safwan offered first his own 4 units of the recommended prayer (Nafila) of Zuhr and then the same number of units for both of his two friends. Likewise he did for the Afternoon (Asr) prayer. At the time of Evening Prayer (Magrib) he did likewise. Again when he awoke after midnight, first he offered his own 11 units and then the same for his two late friends. He did this as long as he lived. You, and I sometimes, do not offer our own 51 units. Many times we miss Nafila prayers. How nice would Allah deal with the friend in faith who prayed 51 units for his two friends in addition to his own! 

Now about fasting. During the holy month of Ramadhan, every year, he fasted for his own self and during the months of Rajab and Shaban, he fasted for his two departed friends in faith. Now about Zakat. Some say: What is there in prayer and fasting? Money is more important. A man may give Zakat thrice and then Khums also thrice. Is this not very wonderful! Some nearly die if they are required to give Khums even once. Some say: Let me give only this much now, I will give the rest afterwards – God-willing! Only God knows from where he will bring the rest? 

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How then will one such person give amounts on behalf of his two friends in addition to his own? That too thrice! Safwan went to Hajj and Umrah every year not only for himself but also for his two friends. This was to complete friendship in faith. [1] Such are the brave and faithful men of courage in the Islamic world who are the examples of the Shias of Ali; models of believers and faithful ones. What beautiful lives! 

Camel owners permission 

The same Safwan once, for returning from Mecca, rented a camel. When he was about to ride the animal, a traveler gave him two gold coins as a trust and told him, “As you are going to Iraq, please give this amount to such and such person. ” Then Safwan came to the camel owner and told him, “When I hired this camel from you, I had only these clothes on my body and a little more. Now a load of two more gold coins is with me. Please allow me to carry the same. ” The camel owner replied, “I have no objection. ” Thus Safwan did not ride the camel unless the owner of the camel gave permission to do so. 

O those who load heavy luggage on rented cars; do you take permission from the car owners? Why are you doing so without proper permissions? With all this piety, I tell you that when Safwan left this world in Medina and when Imam Jawwad was given the news of the Safwan’s death, the Imam 

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said, “Please wait until I come for the funeral. ” Then the Imam himself arrived to the graveyard of Baqi and buried this God fearing man. Now what about you and me? Is there anyone to continue our friendship after we die? Who may, at the time of our death, come to us and say: Do not worry our faith will not go away; we will protect the friendship in faith. Sympathy will prolong. 

This friend comes to your grave after you are buried and weeps and raises his hands praying to God for your forgiveness or in the words of Imam Musa bin Ja’far, this friend comes, sits at your grave, recites Surah Qadr seven times and then prays to God: O Lord! This friend of mine is alone in a strange place; he is solitary. O God! Be kind towards his loneliness and change his fright into familiarity, pour Your Mercy on him so that he may not require anything except Your Mercy. O My Lord! This is the first night in grave of my friend. Kindly be merciful to him and to his loneliness. [1]

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[1]: Safinatul Bihar, vol. 2, pg. 38 

[1]: Wasaelush Shia

Part 12 

point 

﴿إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَیْنَ أَخَوَیْکُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّکُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ﴾ 

“The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you. (49: 10) ” 

Believers are like a single body 

It must be understood that the above verse, ordering brotherhood of the Faithful with one another is not only for reconciliation and improvement of relations. That only 

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if there arises a dispute, settle it. This is one of the commands. It is the demands of brotherhood that if two persons or two groups clash it is a must to make a settlement. Yet rights of one another are still more. 

The meaning or brotherhood is that a Muslim must not consider another Muslim an alien or not belonging to him. It should be like when a blood related brother comes to him. How he regards him as one of his own. Likewise when a Muslim reaches or approaches another he must consider him as his own not consider him separate. Imam Sadiq is reported to have said, “A believer, for another believer, is like a single body. If one of the organs is in pain all other parts of that body are also troubled. ” Similarly when a believer is in trouble all other Muslims too experience pain and restlessness. For example, if one’s tooth pains, his head also aches, his body temperature rises. When you check up you find that only one of his teeth has a trouble which resulted in pain all over the body due to fever. Likewise, it is the natural demand of unity of Muslim brotherhood that if one believer becomes restless all other Muslims must also feel the restlessness. Of course true believers are those who have the spirit of unity, who have given up lust and selfishness and have reached the state of humanity. This couplet of Shaykh Sadi explains this tradition: 

All 

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human beings are the organs of a single body as they are created from a single pearl or essence. If one of the body organs is in pain, all other physical parts also become restless. 

The narrator asked the Imam, “O Master! Sometimes I get disturbed without any apparent cause for pain. ” The summary of the Imam’s reply is: Muslims have a unity among them. Another believer fell in trouble and so you become restless as an effect of unity and brotherhood. What is meant is the unity of hearts and spirits. It is the unity, agreement and brotherhood of the faithful. In order to bring this desired amity among Muslims there is a chapter of morals in Islam for strengthening this unity day by day. I hint to the first of such etiquettes. 

Say Salam while visiting and meeting 

One of the rights of Islamic brotherhood is saluting (saying Salamun Alaikum). It is the Muslim duty to say Salam when one meets or visits another. This Salam should be before uttering any other word. The Imam says, “If someone tells you anything before saying Salam, then it is not compulsory to reply. ” 

There are some such persons who, for instance, ask you: Where is the house of so and so? If he said Salam first only then you should reply. But if he did not, you may not reply so that he may get a lesson in discipline. While meeting another Muslim a Muslim must begin a talk with Salam. Its reply is also compulsory. One who was 

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first in Salam is a wiser Muslim. Even though it was a must for him and similarly it was the duty of the other to give the reply, the one who says Salam first gets a higher reward. This is an exception in the matter of rewards. The Second Martyr, in Qawaid, says, “Generally the reward of an obligatory matter is not less than that of a voluntary and recommended deed. But there is exception in three situations: Firstly, the one who is the first in saying Salam gets ninety percent of the reward even though saying Salam is recommended while replying to it is obligatory. One who replies gets ten percent of the reward even though beginning with Salam was not voluntary; it was only recommended. ” 

A question may come up here. If two persons meet one another at the same time and both say Salam simultaneously and the two Salams meet one another. What about reward proportion? It is advisable that each one should reply to the Salam because as both had the intention to be the first in saying Salam but it happened simultaneously. Since it is obligatory to reply to Salam both must to one another. In brief, the brotherhood duties in Islam start from Salam and then rise higher. All this is to ensure that the unity of the faith of Muslims and the unity of their spirit becomes stronger and perfect. It is recommended that when they meet one another they should first say Salam 

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and then inquire about their health etc. 

Inquiry about health etc for thanksgiving 

It is written in one of the books authored by scholars of Islamic morality that in the beginning of Islamic era, it was the habit of Muslims that when they met one another, after saying Salam, they were inquiring about their condition and were asking about their health etc so that the replier would say: Praise be to Allah (Alhamdulillah) thereby making the other party thankful to Almighty Allah. Muslim society had adopted this way of initial talks after meeting one another. But it is not the case at present. Now, when one is asked about his condition the latter opens up a file of complaints to God and discusses adversities to such an extent that you feel sorry for asking! How strange!

Shake hands and hug 

Same is the case with shaking of hands, which is ordered for Muslims. One who meets his Muslim brother shakes his hands and sends Salawat. It is narrated that such manner of meeting results in dropping down of the sins of both like the falling of leaves in autumn. This of course is on condition that the handshake must accompany a smiling face. Faces should never be sulky. After the handshake, it is recommended that the two should hug or embrace one another and also kiss the forehead (place of prostration mark) of one another. 

Likewise, with regard to visiting one another; it is mentioned in the tenth volume of Wasa’il ‘ush-Shia that anyone who comes out of his house to visit his 

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brother-in-faith without any self interest (unlike people today who go to meet one another only with a selfish motive and hence do not get any reward in the Hereafter) , seventy thousand angels come to him saying, “O fortunate one! Be happy! ” Remember God together with whom you are going to meet. Describe the virtues of Ahle Bait. It is mentioned in some traditions that such a meeting is like meeting Almighty God. 

Tradition says: One who visits a believer at his house is like the one who visits Allah at His throne (Arsh). 

The Prophet says, “O Ali! Walk (travel) even upto to six miles for meeting a servant of God for Allah’s pleasure. ” It is recommended in the manners of meeting that, first of all, go without any selfishness. Go only to earn God’s pleasure. Then sit wherever the owner of the house asks you to sit. Never long for a higher place. Accept whatever respect he gives. For example, if he puts before you a mat or a carpet, sit thereon. Do not reject any honor. Consider his trouble or hardship as your own trouble or hardship. Never make that poor person uneasy for providing ease and comfort to you, lest he becomes indebted. The best hosting is that in which whatever is available is presented. 

Safiya hosts the Holy Prophet 

One day, the last Prophet Muhammad went to the house of Safiya who was his uncle’s daughter and the wife of Ammar. This honorable lady of the Quraish, at once, brought whatever was available in 

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her house. It was a piece of barely bread, some vinegar and a little olive oil. Only these three things were then in her house. So she brought them to the Holy Prophet, saying, “O Messenger of God! I feel ashamed. Please excuse me. ” The Holy Prophet replied, “What do you say? You have brought to me the food of Prophets of God and yet you are saying that it is not enough! ” 

Barely bread is very important and valuable as it has effects of spiritualism. It is the food of God’s messengers. 

As regard olive oil, the Qur’an says: 

﴿…یُوقَدُ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ مُبَارَکَةٍ زَیْتُونِةٍ لا شَرْقِیَّةٍ وَلا غَرْبِیَّةٍ ﴾ 

“…lit from a blessed olive-tree, neither eastern nor western…” [1] 

Olive is very bountiful and having abundance. Similarly, vinegar had also been the food of prophets. One of the bad habits we have (let us hope we will give it up soon – God willing) is that we do not appreciate what is offered by the host and we consider it below our dignity. But from whom is it? From a weak servant among God’s servants. This also is a bounty of God. You know how much one has toiled in fields to get some rice. That oil is also a very great bounty of Allah. That mutton too is very valuable which you must never consider low. No bounty must ever be underestimated. Never tell the host that you have favored him. Rather say: This is the best. 

Abu Dharr visits Salman 

Another point is that when you are a 

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guest be careful in your speech and actions so that the host may not experience any difficulty. I tell you the story of Abu Dharr and Salman so that you may get my point better. 

One day Abu Dharr became the guest of Salman. Salman had only bread and some salt in his house. So he put these things before Abu Dharr. Abu Dharr saw that onion was not there. He should not have said anything about it because had it been there Salman would surely have presented. But Abu Dharr said, “It would have been better if onion too had been there. ” Salman got up. He did not have any money. Yet he took up an ewer, went to the market, pawned it and purchased some onion and put them before his guest. Abu Dharr took up a morsel of salt, onion and bread saying, “Thanks to God that we are a contented people. ” Salman said, “O Friend! Had there been contentment, my ewer would not have been pawned. ” 

So do not ask a thing, which can put the host to trouble. The guest must hold himself content to the liking of the host. If he is likely to displease the host he should get up early. The aim of all these manners is to join the hearts. A thing, which can create ill will must be avoided. Such early rising up has especially been recommended in certain occasions, especially while visiting an ill person. An ill person has no 

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strength enough to hear your talks. It can also so happen that the patient desires solitude. He desires to be alone on certain occasions, for instance, taking medicine, purgation etc. It is all right, however, to sit longer in case the patient likes or desires it. You should not go on introducing yourself to him. The real purpose of this visit is to benefit the patient and to please him. 

Another manner of visit is that when you sit beside one in a meeting you should ask his name, addressing him with the best words. Then, do not look here and there in the house you visit. You have come to visit for God’s sake. What have you to do with the way of his living and his personal conditions? Woe unto you if you look at his wife or his daughter. In such a situation, it would have been better had you not visited him. 

Blind in the house of the host 

It is written in the events of Rabeeah bin Hazeem that he was a friend of Ibn Masood. For some years, he was visiting Ibn Masood daily, who was a reciter of Qur’an and a scholar of Islamic laws so as to benefit from his knowledge. When he did not visit him for some days, Ibn Masood’s wife inquired and asked her husband, “Why your blind friend has not come for so many days? ” Ibn Masood replied, “I do not have any blind friend. ” She said, “Why? That gentleman who used to see you almost every 

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day! What about him? ” Ibn Masood said, “He is not blind at all. ” The woman said, “Whenever I saw him his eyes appeared to be closed. I thought he was blind. ” 

Let us be sacrificed over a gentleman who, when he enters someone’s house, he never indulges in any interference, does not look through this door or that window, never looks at any woman or daughter. I seek refuge of Allah – such bad behavior makes life upside down. In short, one must always remain careful and control oneself. All such meetings and visits of the faithful are aimed at strengthening and furthering friendship in faith and mutual sincere love for the pleasure of Allah. It is not for fanning passions and lusts. Islamic visits and revisits are only for pleasing God. Visiting a patient and attending a funeral is also for this purpose. 

Manners for attending meetings 

Among the manners and etiquettes of brotherhood and rights of brother-in-faith, it is necessary that when a brother is speaking, you must not interrupt him. It is ordered that you should listen to him patiently and reply only if necessary after he finishes what he is saying. Another point is that never say anything, which can make your friend angry. If, God forbid, your friend in faith becomes angry you should try your best to calm him. It is mentioned in a narration that you must calm him by making an excuse in any way so that the meeting may end nicely. 

One more point is that if you 

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have to sit in a meeting with the faithful, you have no right to tell others what you saw in him. Here is a story of magnanimity. 

He deafens himself for lifetime 

It is written in the events of Shaykh Hatim Asamm that He was a scholar and a judge in the court of Khorasan. A respectable lady of Khorasan once sent a word to this judge that: I want to say something to you in private concerning a case. She took an appointment with the Shaykh went inside his room and began to talk about her case. During this talk, wind passed off her involuntarily. Naturally, a lady who has self-respect and is honorable in society becomes extremely ashamed and that too before of a judge of the town. 

The judge said, “Do you not know that my ears have become hard for hearing for quite some time? I do not follow what you are saying. So please speak somewhat loudly so that I can hear what you are saying. ” The lady felt happy to know that the Shaykh was deaf and he could not hear that which could have disgraced her. She asked, “Sir, from when have you been afflicted by this trouble? ” The Qazi said, “Do you not know it? For quite some time, and I could not hear anything of what you are saying now. Please therefore speak out loudly what you have to say. ” Thus not only at that time but also for a long time thereafter the Shaykh presented himself 

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as one who did not hear clearly. He came to be known as Hatim the Deaf (Asamm). It is written that he was not really deaf but had pretended to be thus, so as not to put a lady to shame. 

The summary is that you should not reveal anyone’s secret. Do not spread whatever you saw in somebody. The Holy Prophet has said, “Gatherings are trusts. ” So much so that it is ordered that even if a body washer sees any defect in any dead person he must not reveal it to others. Such orders are for protecting brotherhood. Indeed the believers are brothers. The faithful are eyes and ears of one another. So it should be up to this level of goodwill and well wishing for one another. If a Muslim raises a complaint, it is obligatory on all other Muslims to reach him to help him, whoever or whatever he or she may be. It is said, “If any Muslim cried, ‘O Muslims! Please help me’, then the one who does not go forth to help him is out of Islam. ” 

Faithful jinn comes to help faithful men 

This story is written in Usul al-Kafi. Some Muslims were traveling in a forest (perhaps in Africa). It was burning hot. All had become extremely weak due to thirst. Everyone had understood that he will be dead soon. Suddenly a man clothed in white came up to them and shouted, “Please get up and drink this water. ” When they raised their heads they saw this white clad person 

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with a vessel of water. All drank from it and got back to life and asked that person who he was? O servant of God! Who are you? You have come up to help us so kindly in this red-hot desert! Had you not helped us we were almost dead. We got back our lives. He replied, “I am one of the Muslim jinns. Like humans the jinns also have faithful persons and faithless fellows among them. 

There are mischief-makers as well as sympathetic jinns. I myself am one of the Muslims and I myself have heard the Holy prophet saying, “A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim”, and that a Muslim should never leave another Muslim without helping him and that he should not be dishonest towards his Muslim brother. I saw that my brothers in faith were in trouble. So I brought water for you. ” Then the jinn disappeared. 

What I mean to say is that even Jinns have followed and believed in the brotherhood of faith and they act according to this principle, but what about the human Muslims. Should you not remember: The believers are but brethren? Should you not act accordingly and help your Muslim brother? If a troubled Muslim brother comes to you, you must help him with all the power at your disposal and remove his hardship for the sake of God, for His pleasure. 

Now just listen to this good tiding.

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[1]: Surah Nur 24: 35

Helping a believer equals ten rounds of Ka’ba 

Both Imam Baqir and Imam Sadiq are quoted in Biharul Anwar, vol. 16 that 

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they first, pointed towards the Holy Ka’ba and said, “Whoever circles it (does Tawaf) seven times gets the reward of six thousand good deeds and six thousand sins drop down from his scroll of deeds and he gets six thousand rank promotions,” and then they said with regard to this tradition: “Anyone who fulfills the need of his brother-in-faith gets the reward of Tawaf and Tawaf and Tawaf… (and he went on counting till ten). ” 

Of course, this is in proportion to the need which has been met with and that what was the need and for whom and from whom. 

Once Imam Hasan was in Etekaaf (worship seclusion in mosque during the last ten days of Ramadhan) and it is known that during an Etekaaf, one should not get out of the Mosque as far as possible. One of the Shias came up and said, “I am indebted and one to whom I am indebted is not prepared to give me any respite. Please help me. ” The Imam said (summary of the story): I am really not in a position to meet your need (Whatever I have is not sufficient for your purpose). 

The man said, “Then please make a recommendation and get some respite for me. ” The Imam got up, took up his shoes and came out of the mosque. One of his companions came up to him and asked, “O Master! Where are you proceeding, O son of the Holy Prophet! ” The Imam replied, “I intend to stand a surety 

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for this indebted man. ” The companion said, “But, O Master! You are in Etekaaf! ” The Imam replied, “I have heard from my father, Amirul Momineen, that the Holy Prophet said, ‘One who fulfills any need of his brother-in-faith gets the reward of a Hajj, an Umrah and Etekaaf of two months. ’” Then he went out, fulfilled the need of that believer brother and returned to continue his Etekaaf. 

O Muslims! Fulfill the needs of your Muslim brothers to the best of your ability. A man comes to you. This believer brother of yours wants you to help him in the matter of money, honor or loan. Consider any kind of help a valuable occasion for yourself. How lucky is the man whose hand does a good deed and the trouble of a believer is removed. Win the heart of a believer. Make you believer brother happy. When such a helping believer comes out of his grave, he sees that an extremely beautiful person has come up to him saying, “Come up. ” The believer comes out of his grave without any fear and fright. Then that handsome personality leads this believer on the Sirat bridge right upto Paradise. When he intends to depart the believer asks, “O God’s servant! Who are you? Where is Sirat (bridge over hell) and Grand Gathering (Mahshar)? ” The bright face replies, “We have crossed both. ” The believer becomes highly astonished and asks, “Your company had made me so glad and happy that I did not have any 

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fear. Who are you? ” 

The companion replies, “I am the same happiness, which you gave to such and such believer at such and such time. You won the heart of that helpless person. You repaid the debt of that weak person. You pleased a believer! ” 

Equality with a Believer 

There are so many narrations regarding mutual help in the book Al Ashrah al Wasail that I say with wonder: O God! For whom are all these orders and rules? It is obligatory for us to tell them to one another and also it is a must for us all to act accordingly. All these narrations are for being acted upon. They are divided into chapters; like chapter of brotherhood and rights of brotherhood and then there is the chapter of equality. This equality or mutual help is one of the conditions of brotherhood. It means, if you want to ascertain whether one is worthy of brotherhood or not, then see if he has equality or not? 

Muhammad and Ali like the two brothers Musa and Haroon 

It is necessary for me first to take up the matter of virtues of my master, Ali, the Victorious Lion of Allah and it is brotherhood of the Holy Prophet with Ali. That is, establishing of brotherhood by the Holy Prophet. It mentioned in a large number of narrations of both Sunnis and Shias. The Prophet made Ali his brother by selecting him for himself. This is in addition to the general command of, “The believers are but brethren”. It is indeed a wonderful narration. Muhammad wants to establish Islamic 

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brotherhood. All know what kind of selection Muhammad has. What an important selection! For example, he established this sort of brotherhood between Abu Bakr and Umar, Talha and Zubair, Abdur Rahman bin Awf and Uthman, Salman and Abu Dharr and between Miqdad and Ammar. This brotherhood was so wide that, for instance, if one of such two brothers goes to war front in jihad, the other who does not go should take care of the household requirements of the former. In short, the Holy Prophet made pairs of such brothers among the Muslims. The only one for whom he did not mention a brother was Ali bin Abi Talib. 

Now, according to both Shia and Sunni narrations, Ali became gloomy. He said, “O Prophet of Allah! What has happened? You fixed brothers for everybody but not for me! ” The Holy Prophet replied, “I have reserved you for myself. ” Then the Prophet went up the pulpit and declared, “O people! This man is my brother. O Umar! Your brother is Abu Bakr. O Uthman! Your brother is Abdur Rahman. But as for Ali, his brother is Muhammad: You are my friend and helper. You are my brother. You are my flesh and blood. You are my inheritor…” 

Sometimes Ali himself lamented and said, “O Muslims! Who among you was the one whom the Holy Prophet made his brother except me? ” That is, O unjust ones! O those who went forth and brought others ahead of me! What ruthlessness and what perversity! 

Making brothers is a recommended deed 

It is from 

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this matter of making brothers by the Holy Prophet that the Islamic jurisprudents and scholars have derived that it is a recommended deed to make such brotherhood with one or two or more Muslims. So it is mentioned in the narrations of Ahle Bait that it is desirable that a believer should find out a brother-in-faith for such brotherhood. So see who among the believers is more suitable for such brotherhood and give hand in his hand so that he may be your brother and helper, not only till the time of death but also right upto Paradise. Such brother forever has no selfishness, passion, lust or greed to weaken the bond of fraternity. Such brotherhood is not possible where there is self-interest. With such selfishness the claim of brotherhood is false. Anything against ones wishes ends this brotherhood. 

Eternal spiritual fraternity requires that there must not be any selfishness and passion. Egotism destroys brotherhood. My comfort, my rest, my pleasure my taste, my entertainment; it takes one away from real friendship. Faithful friendship demands that ‘I’ and ‘my’ should become ‘We’ and ‘Our’. One must become a lowly servant having humility, who sacrifices himself for other good persons among his brothers. Only such behavior fulfills the covenant of spiritual brotherhood. 

This is why, the Imam in a narration, points out two signs for such persons. [1] If these two signs are present the brotherhood will last. One when the time for prayer arrives, he sets aside all other affairs and proceeds 

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to pray. Another sign of a faithful and reliable friend is that he helps his brothers in faith both in ease as well as in hardship. 

In other narrations, it is also mentioned that a faithful friend not only ever gives trouble to others for his comfort but he also distributes his own comfort to his friend who does not have it. So much so that if one has two wives and his friend has none, he divorces one of his two wives and gives her away to his friend in marriage. 

If he has two houses he gives one to his friend for the sake of equality. If he has only one servant, and if his friend has none, the former asks his servant to give some hours’ service to his friend. Not only monetary help but there is sacrifice of life also in a real spiritual brotherhood. 

﴿وَالَّذِینَ تَبَوَّءُوا الدَّارَ وَالإِیمَانَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ یُحِبُّونَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ إِلَیْهِمْ، وَلا یَجِدُونَ فِی صُدُورِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِمَّا أُوتُوا، وَیُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَی أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ کَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ، وَمَنْ یُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُوْلَئِکَ هُمْ الْمُفْلِحُونَ. ﴾ 

“And those who made their abode in the city and in the faith before them love those who have fled those who were driven from to them, and do not find in their hearts a need of what they are given, and prefer (them) before themselves though poverty may afflict them, and whoever is preserved from the niggardliness of his soul, these it is that are the successful ones. ” [1] 

I am afraid if 

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I explain this fully you may say this is strange and that now man is without a friend. I tell you a story of self-sacrifice for brotherhood in Islam. 

Example on self-sacrifice 

It is mentioned in Tafsir Majma-ul-Bayaan that once someone brought a gift for the Holy Prophet. The Prophet gave it to one of his neighbors. The latter too had a neighbor. So he gave it to his neighbor, as he was poorer than himself. Thus the gift went over to seven houses and, at last, came back to the Holy Prophet. How wonderful! 

In this Tafsir it is also mentioned that Hisham said, “During the battle of Uhad, I went to see my cousin. When I saw him I found that he was breathing his last. I knew from his dry lips that he was extremely thirst and was unable even to speak. So I brought some water. When I tried to drop that water in his mouth, he closed his lips tightly and pointed towards another wounded brother-in-faith near him. When I went to the other person I found he also was about to die of thirst. I tried to drop some water in his mouth but he also closed his lips and pointed towards a third wounded warrior. 

When I reached the third man I found that he had already died. So I returned to the second gentleman and I saw that he also was no more. Then I turned towards my cousin who also had already met his Lord. So 

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I returned with the pot of water. ” Now what Almighty God will give to such selfless Muslims? And what about those who snatch things from one another? But a true believer sacrifices his own life so that the life of his brother-in-faith may remain safe. The one who observes the rights of others gives benefit only to himself. Helping others is, in truth, helping oneself.

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[1]: Safinatul Bihar, vol. 2, pg. 44 

[1]: Surah Hashr 59: 9

Part 13 

point 

﴿إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَیْنَ أَخَوَیْکُمْ، وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّکُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ. یَا أَیُّهَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا: لا یَسْخَرْ قَومٌ مِنْ قَوْمٍ عَسَی أَنْ یَکُونُوا خَیْراً مِنْهُمْ، وَلا نِسَاءٌ مِنْ نِسَاءٍ عَسَی أَنْ یَکُنَّ خَیْراً مِنْهُنَّ، وَلا تَلْمِزُوا أَنفُسَکُمْ﴾ 

“The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you. O you who believe! Let not (one) people laugh at (another) people perchance they may be better than they, nor let women (laugh) at (other) women, perchance they may be better than they; and do not find fault with your own people. (49: 10-11) ”

Material and spiritual aspects in social life 

Man is in need of unity, co-operation and joining of hearts for securing of safety in this worldly life and for success in the Hereafter. If man wants that is worldly life and should pass with happiness and comfort, it is not possible by his own self alone. He needs a house, a wife/husband, clothing and food and also a carpet or a floor. This cannot be secured from one person. Therefore, he is obliged to co-operate with one another. 

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If people become one hearted and in one direction their lives pass with ease and nicety. Man and wife should be sympathetic with one another, so also a seller and a buyer both must have a co-operative integrity. If a happy life is desired, one must never trouble another due to selfishness. No one should play any trick with anybody. One must never fear another. This peaceful life is for this world. 

Meaning: Paradise is where nobody troubles anyone. 

But as regards the Hereafter, Faith, Piety and good deeds too cannot be acted upon solitarily. One cannot improve his Hereafter by sitting in a far off corner and remaining away from the world, the Faithful, the Religious brotherhood. How can Faith be obtained in this way? Faith is not a thing, which can be proud in someone’s throat. One must, sufficiently, sit with a scholar, have contacts with the Faithful, so that the light of Faith and knowledge may benefit him. This cannot be attained by remaining aloof and alone. 

It is mentioned in Usul al-Kafi that some people praised, before Imam Sadiq someone saying, “This person never comes out of his house. He forever and at all times remains busy in remembering God and the Hereafter. ” The holy Imam asked, “This one who sits in a lonely corner, how does he improve his religious behavior without seeing anybody? ” These gentlemen do not attend Mosque for years. They never see a scholar; they do not read books. How do they inculcate Faith? 

If there 

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is anything, it is following collective discipline. It is not a thing, which can be taken to grave with oneself. Faith in heart has to be earned with effort. A faith, which is obtained after research and study and through knowledge, brings light (Noor) in one’s heart. This is with regard to the origin or foundation of Faith. 

Satanic obsessions, a result of loneliness, for loneliness 

Every man always has Satans around him. They do not leave him to the lucky and successful. They put doubts and hesitations in his heart in order to shake his Faith. Such doubts are both about deeds and beliefs. The author of Urwathul Wuthqa has very rightly said that these Satans insert doubts at least about the appropriateness of the prayer leader so that one may not offer the prayer in congregation. So long as a believer is alone, Satan wins over him but if he is accompanied by another believer he becomes strong. It is a popular saying that is you break a stick once and then, after putting the two broken pieces one upon another, again try to break, it becomes difficult as the two became one. Their strength has also doubled. 

So long as a believer remains alone, Satan is able to pressurize him. He puts more and more pressure on him until he takes away his Faith. The Satan does not leave man until he makes him deprived. But if one Faithful person acquired true friendship with another true believer and makes spiritual unity, Satan is not able to 

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create doubts in their hearts. Some persons become doubtful about Cleanliness, doubtful in recitation. Such things are due to loneliness. But if a believer befriends another believer properly and they become one hearted, then Satan cannot defeat them. There is a narration that our Shias do not fall in doubts that is; they are joined with us. The one who joined with Ja’far, who becomes united with another believer than Satan has no power to play mischief with them. Satan waits for a disagreement or dispute between the two. Satan makes efforts to separate them. All the endeavor of Satan is for not allowing two Believers to join with one another. Satan tries his utmost to create rift between the two, by pouring a doubt in one’s heart. Anything, which is against one’s liking, is the net of Satan. Then Satan fans the fire of dispute and disagreement to make the two brothers separate. 

It is mentioned in Usul al-Kafi that the Imam says, “The Satan remains happy as long as a believer is separate and away from another believer. When the two brothers join together, Satan shrieks and falls down on earth. ” 

Who is the man who makes Satan shriek? He is the one who suppresses his own desires and passions. If such a faithful man, with a true heart and on the basis of truth and as per the Command of Allah, joins with a perfect Muslim, Satan and his doubts fail. Man is very much in need of a 

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spiritual friend, especially at the time of his death. 

The last Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said that when one is about to die, he sees the faces of those with whom he had remained connected during his worldly life. [1] If he had good friends he observes good faces. Otherwise he sees ugly faces. Woe unto you if you were a friend of a bad fellow. Woe unto you if you had friendship with a Satan. At your last moments that Satan appears before you. You face only misleading temptations. If you had a spiritual friend, his spiritualism helps you at the time of your death. Man requires much help (at the time of his death) , which is provided by a spiritual friendship, which continues in the other worlds also after death. As I told you yesterday, a permanent friend is for this purpose. Such a friend strengthens your religion and faith. The number of such persons was always less and it is lesser in the present times, such spiritual persons who have no personal desires and passions, friend who joins with you for God’s sake. Only God can grant us that. 

The things which join hearts are ordered 

The happiness and in this world and success in the Hereafter is, as I have said earlier, based on the joining (unity) of hearts. That is why, God Almighty, because of His Far-reaching Wisdom, through the mouths of His Prophets and Imams, commanded us to observe all those things, which are effective for the purpose of unity of hearts. 

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Likewise prohibited and banned are all those matters, which create disinterest and dislike and hatred and separation of hearts so that the Muslims may not become disintegrated and both of their world and the Hereafter may not be destroyed. For example, at present, really speaking the lives of Muslims is not very different from the lives of the deniers. They are in adversity and so are we too due to disunion and discord. 

No two hearts are united. You can see. Two twelver Imami Shias are observing the same prayer, fast and piety. Yet they are not at good terms with one another. 

There is a strange disunity because of self-interests and selfishness. Their life is totally like the life a denier. They are being hit by deniers! For so many times it has been said how three million Israelis have overpowered two hundred million Muslim Arabs! Why so? Here I must cry out that the lives of Muslims are just like the lives of non-Muslims. As their world is like theirs, I am afraid their Hereafter too will be like theirs. Moreover the deniers have power and strength but the unlucky Muslims do not have even that. It shows how will be their life in the Hereafter! 

Give importance of Islamic greetings 

Come out of self-seeking attitude. Take from Islam that which makes hearts united. Beginning from Salam greeting upto friendship (brotherhood in faith) and self-sacrifice. Do not give up these virtues. Whenever you meet any Muslim, greet him with Salam. What for is this Salam? The 

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Arabic word Salam is based on the root letters Sa La Ma. It is a prayer or supplication. Salamun Alaikum means: I seek your safety and security from Almighty Allah. May you always be in peace. The Salam, which we recite during prayers, is: Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. How is it? Do you know its manners and discipline? Whenever you recite “Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants,” you must think of (and pray for) all Faithful men and women. 

When you say: Peace be upon upon you. (As salaamu alaikum) , if it be before a group pray for the entire congregation. If you are not in a congregation but are praying prayer alone, then you think of Kiraaman Kaatibeen (the angles who keep everyone’s account of deeds) and all the Messengers and Prophets. All wish peace for one another from the depths of hearts, which then become united. Hundreds, thus wish safety of all, especially the leader of the congregation prayer. While concluding the prayer, the first Salam makes you think towards your right and the second towards the left. There must be unity. There must be integration of hearts. Thus the aim of everyone becomes one. Personal interest (selfishness) is driven out. You wish safety of each and every Muslim. Your only goal and aspiration is that no Muslim should experience trouble anywhere in the world. 

After this Salam, there 

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is compliment. If one, in the meeting sneezes, it is recommended that a Faithful must pray and compliment him saying: Yarhamukallaah (May Allah have mercy on you) and the former also replies saying: Yaghfirullaahu (May Allah forgive you). Sneezing is a blessing. It makes one’s head light, which is a kind of safety for the brain. Due to this sneezing, man feels a sort of relief. It is also mentioned in one of the narration that the Master of the Age said that sneezing secures a man’s life for three days. Perhaps it means that it may protect the brain from apoplexy causing a sudden death. Some have taken it to mean patience, which is not correct. Truly sneezing is a blessing. 

While associating with Muslims, give importance to cheerfulness, nicety of nature, love and good manners. Create amity and affection for one another. How graceful it is to host a believer can be imagined from the words of Imam Sadiq that: If the entire world turns into a morsel and if I put it into the mouth of a believer, I will think it insufficient and feel that I have not done anything. 

Elements causing disintegration are prohibited 

Islam has prohibited all those things, which cause hatred in hearts. It has prohibited everything, which distances one human from another. Rather, Islam has made it unlawful to cause grief to the heart of a Faithful, because it makes one close to and joining with Satan. We have told about this before. One of the prohibited matters, which 

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cause disintegration and dispute and grief is mocking and derision. It is mentioned in the Holy verse under discussion: O Believers! O those who believe in Qur’an! And O those who say: The hour of reckoning is to arrive! We are addressing you, not Jews or Christians. 

They have no belief or faith. It is you who say that Qur’an is truth, Judgment Day is true and Muhammad is true. O believer! We tell you that to mock and to make fun of a Muslim is unlawful. Such derision causes disunity, which, as its consequence, drives you away from God’s mercy. Woe unto the distancing which Satan brings between two of you. The men must not mock men, nor women should mock women. Arabic word ‘Istihzaa’ means to degrade or to make one lower. You utter a kind of word, which makes the other party degraded. It will be better if, here, I tell you some narrations in this connection. 

Ummul Momineen Safiya, with Ayesha and Hafsa 

Safiya, the wife of the Holy Prophet was the daughter of one of the nobles among the Jews, namely, Huyy Ibn Akhtab. After the Khyber fort was won by the hands of Amirul Momineen, Huyy was finally killed. This daughter of him had the honor of becoming a wife of the Holy Prophet. She herself had volunteered for this honor, which she was fortunate to get. Ever since Safiya entered the Holy home of the Holy Prophet. 

Ayesha and Hafsa used to taunt this poor lady telling her: O Jew! Your 

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father was a Jew. This poor lady who had lost her father, was feeling happiness in the Holy House due to this honor, the two women wanted to sting her with taunts. They were mocking Safiya. So she made a complaint to the Holy Prophet. The Holy Prophet too became very sad and he told Safiya, “Why did you not reply: My father is Haroon as he was from the progeny of Prophet Haroon; that my grand uncle is Musa bin Imran and my husband is the Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa? ” This example is regarding mocking and giving insulting titles. 

Here is a believer, a faithful Muslim. Why do you mock him? Giving such titles is unlawful – You are as your father and mother were. Allah says: Do not mock and humiliate others as it is prohibited: O the one who mocks others! What do you know about a believer? May the one whom you are mocking is better than you in the sight of God. You look only at the outer side. What do you know, what is hidden inside? How many people are there who are not being considered worth any value by others on account of their outward appearance. Yet they are precious in the Sight of Allah. They are valuable in the view of God Almighty. How many people are there who sit on the ground, who do not have more than a pair of clothing and yet, in the sight of God, they are honorable, 

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respectable, having ranks and whose prayer is acceptable to Almighty Allah.

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[1]: Wafi, pg. 210

The unknown Abdul Ghaffar who prayed behind Imam-e-Zaman 

I remember one, the late Abdul Ghaffar, who lived in this very city of Shiraz about eighty or ninety years ago. He was in army uniform. Nobody knew about him. He used to live in a solitary room of Madressah Khan Shiraz. 

None knew that he had acquired miraculous powers. He succeeded in praying behind Master of the Age. The only person who knew about this gentleman in Shiraz was the late Shaykh Mahdi Kajuri. This great man knew western sciences also. People knew him, as a scholar of western sciences, but only after it was too late, that is, only after his death. (Some old and aged gentlemen told me). This Shaykh comes to this Madressah Khan and says: O Muslims! Do you know what a precious pearl was this man (the late Abdul Ghaffar) and then tells them a little about his noble life and miraculous power? 

Even today, his grave is seen there in the old graveyard of Shiraz. It is a place where God answers people’s prayers. Apparently there are writings of the late Shaykh Kajuri so that the faithful may go there and request Almighty Allah to fulfill their needs. It is written there: It is being witnessed that this gentleman was fortunate to see and perform prayer behind Imam Mahdi. This great and noble man had much recognition of Allah, even though, outwardly he used to wear army uniform and nobody recognized him. 

I would like 

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to give you an example. 

May be he has friendship with God 

How do you know? Maybe the one whom you are mocking and at whom you are looking with contempt is one of the friends of Almighty Allah? What do I know? Woe unto you if the one whom you mock is a friend of God. You mocked him or her without knowing and recognizing. Be, therefore, warned. Woe unto you if you offend a friend of God. 

You say: Where is the friend of God? What do I know? None except God recognizes His friend. It is a hidden matter. Man should respect everyone. He must never mock anyone. He must never insult anybody. There is no open criterion, for example, the priestly turban. Even wonderful piety too is not the measure. The very first limit Piety is sufficient. I do not know who was it? If someone gives pain to the heart of a friend of God, he has, as if, given a challenge to fight with God. He is hated by God. There are many narrations to show this. [1] 

Compensate your oppressions through repentance 

Now I recite the last verse and deduce therefrom: Anyone who does not repent is an oppressor. The last verse is a good tiding and an invitation for repentance. Come let us act upon it. O Muslims! O those who have, during their lifetime, committed these sins. We said: Do not mock a believer. But you disobeyed this Command. Who is there among you who did not do such sins? Who feels assured that he never mocked 

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or ridiculed a Faithful, has not given a degrading title to anyone. 

Now, if it is so then make repentance and say: O Lord! For the sake of the reverence of the holy month of Ramadhan, have mercy on my tongue as I have through it, committed sins of every sort. Kindly make me pure. Secondly, make those also pleased with me whose rights I ignored. How do I know? Tomorrow, on the Day of Judgment, someone comes to me and holds me by my neck, saying: Do you remember, at such and such time, at such and such place, you had made a fun of me? My Lord! For the sake of Your Greatness, if I have, during my life, insulted any believer, please forgive me and also make that believer pleased with me. Allah is bountiful. His treasure it full and overflowing. If you did not repent, you are an oppressor. The gate of Forgiveness is wide open. 

What is the fault of a donor if a beggar is lazy? Everyone or anyone who does not repent is an oppressor. Now, come. If you remember, recall it. If you do not remember, God does know it as it is in your scroll of deeds. O My Lord! Please pardon the sin of mine whereby I, with this tongue to mine, trampled any right of any believer, insulted any faithful, kindly forgive me. Let us come out of oppression and recite Dua Tawbah along with Zainul Abideen. Imam says: O 

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My Lord! For whatever I have done against Your wish or for whatever has been the cause of the declination of my friendship with You, for whatever utterance my tongue has made which You did not like, I seek Your Forgiveness. 

The Holy Prophet has said, “Anyone who insults another believer or mocks any faithful is hated by Almighty Allah. ” I do not know what God will do with those who did such things with Husain, who mocked him and who shouted, “O Husain! Look at the water of river Euphrates. How its silvery waves are swelling. But we will not allow a single drop of it to reach your throat. ”

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[1]: Safinatul Bihar vol. 2, pg. 690

Part 14 

point 

﴿یَا أَیُّهَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا لا یَسْخَرْ قَومٌ مِنْ قَوْمٍ عَسَی أَنْ یَکُونُوا خَیْرًا مِنْهُمْ، وَلا نِسَاءٌ مِنْ نِسَاءٍ عَسَی أَنْ یَکُنَّ خَیْرًا مِنْهُنَّ، وَلا تَلْمِزُوا أَنفُسَکُمْ، وَلا تَنَابَزُوا بِالأَلْقَابِ، بِئْسَ الاِسْمُ الْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ الإِیمَانِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ یَتُبْ فَأُوْلَئِکَ هُمْ الظَّالِمُونَ. یَا أَیُّهَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا کَثِیرًا مِنْ الظَّنِّ، إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ﴾ 

“O you who believe! Let not (one) people laugh at (another) people perchance they may be better than they, nor let women (laugh) at (other) women, perchance they may be better than they; and do not find fault with your own people nor call one another by nicknames; evil is a bad name after faith, and whoever does not turn, these it is that are the unjust. O you who believe! Avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin. (49: 11-12) ” 

Today is Friday 

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of mid-Ramadhan. By the Grace of God, we have succeeded in fasting for the first half of the holy month. Let us hope further that Almighty Allah will make us succeed also in fasting for the another half of this month and also in benefiting from the recitations of the Holy Qur’an and in spending for His pleasure in various ways. 

Friday is the spring season of sending Salawat: 

﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلائِکَتَهُ یُصَلُّونَ عَلَی النَّبِیِّ، یَا أَیُّهَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَیْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِیمًا. ﴾ 

“Surely, Allah and His angels bless the Prophet. O you who believe! Call for (Divine) blessings on him and salute him with a (becoming) salutation. ” [1] 

It is mentioned in the book Kashful Ghummah that Imam Hasan said, “My father Amirul Momineen said that the Holy Prophet has said, ‘At any place and in any time you may be. Do not stop sending Salawat on me as your Salawat reach me. ’” 

As per the Holy verse, anyone who does a good deed gets a tenfold reward for it: 

﴿مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا﴾ 

“Whoever brings a good deed, he shall have ten like it,” [2] 

Anyone who sends Salawat on the Holy Prophet once, the Messenger of God will remember him ten times and prays in his or her favor. What a dealing full of profit this is! 

Salawat and rescuing in times of trouble 

Once a believer, in Mecca, instead of every Dua, sent Salawat on the Holy Prophet during Tawaf (circumambulating) of Ka’ba. What he recited after concluding a prayer of Tawaf was Salawat. During his Saee between Safa and 

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Marwah was Salawat. Everyone else was reciting particular supplications in Wuqoof at Mashar at Arafat and Mina but he was busy sending Salawat. People asked him, “How is it that we do not hear anything from your mouth except Salawat. ” 

He said, “There is a story behind this. I had my father who fell ill and almost fainted during this very journey for Hajj. I saw that his condition was very serious and hard. His face had darkened like a grave. I sought refuge in God and prayed: O My Lord! Please do not make my father die in this condition (which shows Your anger). He (father) is weeping and crying: I am burning. It is a terrible fire. I took refuge in Almighty Allah and said: O My Lord! Please do not make my father die in this condition. It is disgraceful for me. Before long, I could see that in the last moments, his condition changed. 

His face slowly-slowly turned bright showing signs of relief instead of distress. Then he departed from this world with ease and in tranquility. Then I said: O My God! Shall I know how this change came about? Then I saw my father in a dream that he was very happy. I asked about his condition. He replied: My deeds and manners were the cause of my condition, which you saw earlier. But then came a voice from the Holy Prophet of the last age: O the one who sent many Salawats on 

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me during his life! Now is the time for me to recompense you. So all this rewards from Muhammad in return of Salawats. ” 

From where and for what I came here and where I am going? 

These are the first questions, which are asked by the original nature of human being. These questions arise in everyone’s heart. What is the aim of our life? For what are we created? What is the way of our happiness? But most of the people have stifled this human nature. They have engaged in other things. Otherwise all seek happiness, by nature. 

What is the aim and goal of human life and of the creation of entire universe? There is no way of knowing it except by asking the Lord of the worlds! Who is the Owner of the universe? If all the people together put their minds and brains for searching a reply to this most important question, the aim of creation, they cannot succeed. Minds of all are similar in this matter. The brain is imperfect. We must ask the Lord and Owner of the universe. The One Who created says: It is only He Who knows. 

﴿أَلا یَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ؟ ﴾ 

“Does He not know, Who created? ” [1] 

So ask the Lord: O Lord! For what You created me and this universe too? What is the aim of creating us? What is the way of our success and happiness? 

Knowing God and worshipping (serving) God, aim of creation 

The Holy Qur’an says in clear terms: We did not create Jinn and men but only for serving (knowing and then worshipping) Me: 

﴿وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالإِنسَ إِلاَّ لِیَعْبُدُونِ﴾ 

“And I have not 

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created the jinn and the men except that they should serve Me. ” [1] 

A Hadith Qudsi says: Whatever you see, We created it for you, various fruits, many kinds of vegetables and different animals… Every bounty is for man and man is for Allah. Man has been created for God, for recognition and for serving (worshipping) and for loving, for recognizing God and for befriending God and for worshipping (serving) God. This is the aim. 

This is the happiness of human beings. If man walks on this way, every good luck and happiness is for him. The path of knowing and serving God can make man benefit from a pious life. If he does not deviate from this right path, he tastes the sweetness of this path. But if he does not tread this path and goes after lusts and desires he gets nothing except misery, regrets and ill luck. His life becomes worse than that of an animal. Every animal’s life is better than his as he distanced himself from the aim of his life. 

The aim of life is to see the bounties, to recognize the One Who provided these bounties and to befriend Him. So, open your eyes. Do not consider yourself away or apart from God. Do not imagine that you are independent and self- sufficient. Do not be in illusion that the burden of life is borne by you. Know that you have God; that you have a Creator and the One Who brings you and takes you 

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away and Who protects you. Your life is being directed by God. Lest you associate yourself with God. The life of man is sweet only when he understands that God is there; that the Lord Creator of the universe is his helper and protector that He is his life’s Director. 

His reliance must by on Only One God. Woe unto man who distances himself from God and imagines that he himself is bearing the burden of his life and that he must manage his affairs himself. At that time, many doubts and superstitions and aspirations and sorrows overtake him. How then can he taste the sweetness of life? A man’s life is tasteful only when he sees and knows that every bounty is only from God, if he praises and glorifies only God, be he on his own dining table or on that of anyone else.

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[1]: Surah Ahzab 33: 56 

[2]: Surah Anam 6: 160 

[1]: Surah Mulk 67: 14 

[1]: Surah Zariyat 51: 56

Reflection of his radiance, wherever you see 

In some of the villages they cultivate paddy. You can see as if there is a divine dinner-cloth of several square yards area, which provides good rice to His servants. How much pleased is a monotheist believing in Only One God looking at this grand gift for millions of His servants. Likewise are the growing of wheat and barely and other food grains in every season. 

Meaning: I am very much pleased with the universe as the universe is pleased with Him. I love the entire universe because the entire universe is from Him. 

Take up some earth and kiss it and put is on your eyes as 

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it is a divine bounty. How much water God Almighty has provided for His servants. A true Faithful person drinks this water with happiness and thankfulness. To suck (drink it slowly) it is recommended, that is, to drink a glass of water in several phases slowly – two or three phases and to say: Al hamdu lillaah (Thanks to God) every time. 

Truth and reality about bread is also known. A believing (believer) person eats every piece of it with a profound feeling of gratefulness and happiness. This is the life of a man. If man lives like this and, especially, follows the recommended hints while eating and drinking, it also ensures his health and safety. If you do so you will not fall ill. Insure yourself in this way: Until you are hungry, do not eat anything and stop eating before you are fully gratified, that is, eat two or three morsels less. Similarly it is mentioned in the manners of eating: The morsel must be little in size. Secondly, do not make haste in eating and chew the morsel well. [1] 

The longer food is in mouth and the more it is chewed the better for digestion. Firstly, the food is in mouth. The more saliva mixes with food the better for its turning into strength of body through digestion. Make no haste. Sit respectfully and with discipline on the ground on the dinner spread of God Almighty without any show of pride or arrogance as it is seen in 

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modern manners, as they eat standing. God’s bounty is very great. If something is placed on bread, lift it up. Bread is respected do not cut it with a knife. Kiss it. 

Consider God’s bounty precious. It is undesirable to cut. If man follows these manners of discipline and eats food with a feeling of profound gratitude towards Allah, it is better both for his this worldly life and also for his eternal life in the Hereafter. Both his body and his soul will be restful. But if there is not attention and gratitude, he is like a four footed animal, like a cow, 

﴿… وَیَأْکُلُونَ کَمَا تَأْکُلُ الأَنْعَامُ﴾ 

“…and eat as the beasts eat… [1] 

How does a donkey eat? Same is the manner of these people on their dining tables. Only belly – nothing else! Woe unto them if there is extravagance also. They hurl down morsels after morsels chewing less. Then they vomit – sour taste. It is due to deteriorating of food (undigested) in stomach. His body suffers. His head turns giddy. He does not understand things for some days. 

By the way, the remedy of such condition of stomach is, according to Avicenna, not to eat anything for a period and to eat fragrant things like pear, sweetbrier. 

Man’s prosperity is in knowing Almighty Allah 

If man walks on the path of humanity he fully tastes the sweetness of life. The path of humanity, the aim of man’s pure life is that he must be serene and sincere towards his Lord. He should be pleased and happy 

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with his Lord, he should not have any bad opinion in the matter of his Lord’s decisions and decreases. The path of man’s success and welfare is such knowledge. See God along with every existing thing and realize that you and everyone and everything is subject to Him: 

Meaning; O the One Who is the creator of everything. Humble earth became strong with Your Power. The entire universe is under Your Sight. We exist because of You and You exist by Yourself. 

Look at your own self fifty years back. What were you a hundred years ago? Say: A handful of dust in wilderness. Is it not true? These dusts, by and by, became rice or gram or bean or wheat. Father and mother devoured it. Particles gathered and, finally, man was born. After all, who brought them? Whose powerful hand collected these particles from forest then brought them from fathers back to mother’s womb? What a wonderful construction? O the intelligent man! Tell justly. Did you yourself made these changes from beginning to end? What is happening constantly at every instant in your body…Who brings about all these functions? Then what has God held up from you? What defect you have? Look at your teeth. When you came out of your mother’s womb your stomach had no strength to digest any solid food. What food for you lighter than milk and that too from the breasts of your mother! That too is such an astonishing manner where by it does not 

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pour out of breasts despite a number of holes! Who made all these provisions? 

Water carrier recognized God through his water skin 

Once a water carrier brought water to the late Hakim Bashi, the great. You know, in olden days, there were no water taps. A water carrier, with his water bag made of leather, came to the late Hakim. The latter asked the former, “O gentleman! How did you recognize God? ” The water carrier replied, “Through this watering which is on my shoulder. ” They asked, “How? ” 

The water carrier replied, “This bag has not more than one hole, the only one from which water goes in it and comes out of it. I tie up this mouth firmly, after tightly wringing it up. Yet some water seeps out of it. But when I look at my own body, I see that there are several outlets both up and down in it. My belly is full of water and food and air. Yet nothing ever seeps out of it! ” Say: Allah is the best Creator – Glory to Him. 

Female breast is full of milk. Yet no drop comes of it though there are several holes in it. Why? It is so, so that the breast may be useful for the baby. Whenever it wants to suckle, it sucks the breast and gets milk. When it does not, the holes close up. The milk never spills out, nor is it stifled! 

Pessimism and mistrust destroys mans life 

I want you to know that a man’s way to be happy is that he should have always a good 

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opinion about his Lord. He should be happy with Him. He must acknowledge His bounties. He must be extremely drowned in thankfulness to Him. If he has a bad opinion about God, he is deviated and he will have nothing but grief, ill luck and misfortune. The reason why the man of today has become so miserable and restless is that he has distanced himself from his Lord. He looks at everything but not at God. He trusts everyone and everything except God. He says: I have this and that. 

What he never says is that ‘I have my God with me’. That is why his life does not become better. Rather it is likely to become worse. By way of example, today, Switzerland is on top of all the countries of the world from the viewpoint of security, liberty and civilization. So naturally, people over there should be most happy and peaceful. But, as is reported by the press, there are a record number of suicides in that country! So, something is wrong somewhere. There are no apparent reasons for such suicides. It is not due to lack of money or power or independence. The defect is somewhere else. It is their distance from God. As man here has gone away from his Lord, he feels that he is alone and without any support. There is no other cause for this pitiable condition. He has a bad opinion about the universe. He has considered life aimless. A man who 

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has such opinion about this world and Hereafter cannot get anything but ill luck. 

﴿… الظَّانِّینَ بِاللَّهِ ظَنَّ السَّوْءِ، عَلَیْهِمْ دَائِرَةُ السَّوْءِ، وَغَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَیْهِمْ وَلَعَنَهُمْ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَهَنَّمَ، وَسَاءَتْ مَصِیرًا. ﴾ 

“…The entertainers of evil thoughts about Allah. On them is the evil turn, and Allah is wroth with them and has cursed them and prepared hell for them, and evil is the resort. ” [1] 

They have bad opinion about God’s messengers about the goings on in the world of existence, about the creations of God and, let me say, above all, they have a bad opinion with regard to themselves also. They have no good opinion about fellow human beings. What do they think about themselves? They have considered themselves animals. What do animals do? Eat and mate! Another passion for man is to gather wealth and seek beautification. Such animal-like inclinations have made man consider himself a miserable. He has forgotten himself because he has forgotten God. 

﴿وَلا تَکُونُوا کَالَّذِینَ نَسُوا اللَّهَ فَأَنْسَاهُمْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ﴾ 

“And be not like those who forsook Allah, so He made them forsake their own souls…” [2] 

Everyone considers others as dishonest and they only look at the dark side. No one thinks of virtues. It has become their habit to find faults in everyone because of the misconception mentioned in the verse under discussion. Here is an amusing example.

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[1]: Safinatul Bihar, vol. 1, pg. 27; Lughate Aql 

[1]: Surah Muhammad 47: 12 

[1]: Surah Fath 48: 6 

[2]: Surah Hashr 59: 19

A Melancholic youth turns into a cow 

It is written that during the rule of Izzud Daula Dailami, a youth belonging to the tribe of Diyalama, connected with the ruling powers, suffered from melancholy, which is an illness 

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of psyche and which is connected to both brain and body. It alters the temperament, increases ones anger and intensifies the emotions. He regards whatever comes to his thought as reality. It is indeed a serious and troublesome calamity. 

What is real appears to him as imaginary and imaginary things appear real. For example, suppose he is sitting in a garden. Suddenly a thought comes to his mind that all the trees, plants and greenery have caught fire and going up into flames. Thus his mind makes him see that everything is burning before his eyes. This poor youth had become melancholious and he imagined that he was a cow. Then he began to moo like a cow as he remembered that sound well. 

Then this devilish imagination turned more serious. People tried to give him food, but he resisted and said, “I do not want such food. You must, today, cut off my head and cook my flesh. ” He obtained promise from the people that they will surely slaughter him and prepare various kinds of meat dishes. The poor parents tried their best to give him human food but he just pushed everything back. By and by he became weak and thin. All the relatives feared that he would soon die. So they sent a word to Izzud Daula and sought his help in this matter. Izzud Daula asked Iran’s best doctor to attend this case. The expert physician also accepted the job. The way in which the doctor 

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treated the patient is also very interesting. 

He (the doctor) said, “When I come to you, you people should not address me as a doctor. You must say that the butcher has arrived. I pretend to be a butcher. When the youth says, ‘Slaughter me as I am a cow’, tell him, ‘All right, we have brought a butcher for you. ’ Then I know what to do. ” So the people said to that youth, “Today, the chief butcher is arriving to cut off your holy head, to divide your meat into two portions for making minced and roasted meat. ” This made the youth quite happy. He asked, “When will the butcher come? ” They replied, “Today is the appointed day. ” So the youth was awaiting the butcher and the parents and relatives of that youth were anxious to see what the chief doctor would do. 

Then came the doctor who had worn a butcher’s dress and was holding a knife in each hand. He was rubbing the knives to sharpen them. On reaching them, he asked, “Where is the cow? ” The youth himself mooed like a cow indicating that it was he. The doctor-turned-butcher said, “Very well, bring it to the open space in the garden. ” The youth came himself to the garden very happily and lied down at once with his head ready to be cut off. The butcher then said, “Very nice. Now tie up its hands and legs by way of precaution because, some cows fling their legs making 

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our job difficult. ” The doctor was trying to convince the youth that what he wanted was about to happen soon, so that he may be treated in the way the doctor has planned. 

Finally he repeated, “Tie up his hands and feet firmly. ” They acted accordingly. Then the ‘butcher’ knocked at the youth (cow’s) back and also at his chest and shook him with a jerk. Then he asked, “Who is the owner of this cow? ” The father of the youth came up and asked, “What is the matter? ” The ‘butcher’ said, “Cow’s meat is a nice food, but people usually feed it well to keep it healthy and get good beef. Only then do they slaughter it and benefit from its beef. This cow has no flesh. It is so weak! How should I slaughter it? ” The father asked, “Well, then what should I do? ” The ‘butcher’ said, “For the time being, take it back and give him food so that it puts on more flesh. ” The youth heard this and understood that the butcher was right. People do not slaughter a cow unless it is fat and fleshy. 

So he said, “All right, bring whatever food is there so that I may eat. ” The doctor prescribed some medicine. The youth took hoping to become fleshy enough for slaughter. After a month or forty days, the medicine showed its effect and his melancholy decreased and then vanished altogether, and the youth realized that he was human, not a cow. That 

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he was the eater, not an eatable. Man is not in the control of a cow. Cow is subservient to man. 

Melancholy has overtaken most people today 

You heard this story. Now, believe me. Today, most of the people are affected by a kind of melancholy, some clearly and some not so clearly, but all consider themselves animals. What is an animal? Its function is lust and passion, either stomach or that another inclination. It can do nothing beyond this. He says, “When I die, it’s all over. What is hereafter and what is eternity, spirit, night in the grave, Paradise and hell? What is all this? ” Are we different from cows? Cows and donkeys are free. Male and female animals confront each another in the streets. What happens when a female ass arrives and a male donkey’s sees her? It is like some youths of today. 

What is their behavior in gardens, on roads, in cinema houses? He says: Man must have liberty. Man is no different from a cow. Why? Why should there be any difference between the two? Have the female animals any hijab (veil)? All their bodies are bare. What is the difference between them and these two-footed animals? How are these women of today different from female donkeys? To what extent the melancholious man has advanced? They have missed their reality. For what are you created? In what type of a pit have you hurled yourself? They consider dancing as a perfect art! Monkey also dances. Is this the aim of creation? 

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O people! Why have you ignored and lost your reality? You must get treatment for this melancholy. Now let me show you the treatment. 

I ask you: What is your play and pastime, your dances, your films? Is all this meant for you? They say: Well, we do not make any distinction between a man and an animal. We must be free and at liberty. We must have entertainment. We should have pastimes. We ought to have television. In reply they must be told: Well, gentlemen! It is nice what you say. Verily, man requires entertainment in the house from morning to evening. Outside, one should attend cinema at least for two hours every day to kill himself. Right. A cow must have some flesh so that people may eat its beef. 

We also say so. We confirm it. O Man! You certainly do require entertainment, but healthy entertainment it should be. It should give true pleasure to your heart, not temporary and superficial. It should not fan the fire of passion inside you. These cinemas! Apparently there is pleasing entertainment therein, but it instigates passions and lusts in everyone. Consequently, a married man becomes disinterested in his own wife and runs after another woman. 

What a disaster it brings. What dirty corruption! I have repeatedly said that women who get distanced from their own houses finally fall down in dens of vice, due to these cinemas and television shows! How many men are there who did have warm households, wives 

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and children whom they have now discarded. What kind of entertainment is this? How much fiercely man burns from within after this entertainment? 

Violence after watching films 

A few months back there was a news report published in Iran. In a city, a ten-year-old boy killed his three years old sister in their house. He had killed her with a knife. Thereafter, police and court made inquiries to find out the motive. Finally, it was found that the child had seen a violent film on his home television and was influenced by the violence shown in it. O fathers! Bring televisions in your homes and turn your children into killers. 

Is this entertainment? It inflames fury and frenzy of passion and lust. What a fountainhead of lust, greed, passion, desire and sin, the five fingers of the devil’s hand! How does it drown you in a dirty well of misery and restlessness! Yes, you require entertainment, but it should be healthy entertainment. Almighty God says in Qur’an: 

﴿قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ، فَبِذَلِکَ فَلْیَفْرَحُوا، هُوَ خَیْرٌ مِمَّا یَجْمَعُونَ﴾ 

“Say: In the grace of Allah and in His mercy- in that they should rejoice; it is better than that which they gather. ” [1] 

Be happy and experience pleasure when you spread your dinner-cloth, when you eat this precious bread. You are tasting God’s bounties. Be happy with it. Where was this bread before it came into your hands? Thousands of hands had done their job before it reached you. 

How tasteful is the morsel, which has reached my hand and mouth. The cloud, 

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the wind, the moon, the sun and the sky all have performed their duty to provide me with this piece of bread!

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[1]: Surah Yunus 10: 58

God’s grace in Marital life 

Look at your wife and be happy and thank God Who made you contented lawfully in the matter of your natural sexual instinct and safeguarded your Faith. How has He made this lady a means of your rest, peace and gratification. God made her a means of rest and peace for you, through a permitted and lawful sexual benefit. This is entertainment. So be happy with the God-given grace. 

O women! Be happy and pleased by looking at your husbands. God, through this man, protected your faith, your chastity and your honor. He brought you out of loneliness. The duty of you women is to adorn yourselves for winning the hearts of your husbands. The Holy Prophet has cursed those women who give up beautification for their husbands. You should behave in such attractive manner with your husband that he may never be inclined to look at any other woman. You must take care of your husband’s attention through love, kindness, pleasing manners and adoration. There are numerous narrations regarding man’s pleasure while meeting his wife and the wife’s pleasure while meeting her husband. 

Children also are a bounty given by God. They take you out of loneliness. It is indeed God’s great grace. 

﴿قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ، فَبِذَلِکَ فَلْیَفْرَحُوا، هُوَ خَیْرٌ مِمَّا یَجْمَعُونَ﴾ 

“Say: In the grace of Allah and in His mercy- in that they should rejoice; it is better 

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than that which they gather. ” [1] 

It is also mentioned in narrations that Grace of God means Muhammad Mustafa and Mercy (Rahmat) of God is Ali bin Abi Talib. They show the path of humanity. They show how to attain the aim. It is being happy with God by looking at His bounties. Pondering over God’s construction of the universe gives pleasure to a healthy heart and mind. O wise and intelligent man! You observe that a truckload of watermelons arrives in your town. It has come from quite a long distance. Say: O Lord! What a wonderful thing You did you for Your servants! 

How pleasing it is in this terribly hot atmosphere and also so sweet. Bless also the cultivator who worked for its growth. Always look at the bright side of everything and feel happy. Do not find faults with everyone and everything. How much labor the farmers have undertaken in this hot season whereby this watermelon came to you at this time of breaking the fast. Now, while eating it, be mindful and think about the several hands, which toiled for this purpose. Under whose control all of them are? God and only God. It is You and You, O Allah! Who turned dry branches into green foliage to provide us with sweet grapes? How thankful should all of us be to Him! 

Appreciate the bounties of hand and tongue. Is there anyone who offers due thanks and gratitude? (Persian couplet) 

O man! Whenever you face some difficulty, you forget 

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all other positive points. Do not have any bad or adverse opinion about God’s creation. Instead of ‘Remembering God’s favors’ they distance themselves from God and say the days are now very difficult, the situation is very bad, the market is dull. He does say not even a single word of thankfulness to God and His favors. This is being away from God and having an adverse opinion about His creation. 

It is mentioned in a tradition that some people told the fourth Imam (Ali Ibnul Husain) , “O Master! There is much inflation. ” The Imam replied, “Let it be. What about it? God will give more. ” 

When a pound of bread cost one rial, God was giving us one rial. When it became costly He gave a Tooman to us. Now also he will give in proportion to it. The habit of having bad opinion about God must be given up soon, with the help of God, of course. Otherwise, I have no ability to make you look nicely towards God and know Him correctly. I cannot even make you have a good opinion about yourselves. This cynical pessimism of yours, this illness of melancholy can be cured with the Qur’anic medicine – the spiritual medicine. 

The dog’s white and strong fangs 

It is mentioned in narrations that some companions of Prophet Isa saw a dog, which looked very ugly and horrible. They expressed their hate towards that dog. Jesus Christ said, “Why do you not look at its fangs. How nice they are? ” God Almighty put them in 

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the mouth of a dog. How strong they are. They can crush hard bones by them. 

O Muslims! How much grateful should you be to Almighty Allah! Do not, always, look at the dark side. Look at the bright side also. How beautiful is Nature! If you see a fault in someone, do not consider it absolutely bad. How do you know that he will not do a good thing, which may dwarf his shortcoming? For example, someone usurped your money. Yet you should never say: O God! What a bad person You created! Yes, he did a wrong thing to you. Yet it is quite possible that he has some hidden virtues, which may make him nice in the sight of God. 

What you see apparently is that he is a sinner. Never look hatefully at anyone even if he is disbeliever, Jew, Christian or an atheist. We do not say that you should not act upon ‘Nahy Anil Munkar’ (prohibiting evil). Do prevent one from evil but do not think that he or she is absolute evil and that you yourselves are absolutely good. It is possible that, despite having drawbacks observed by you, that person may have some virtues, which are liked by God and may be their value is higher than what you imagined. You have remembrance and good attire. He may have generosity and charity. You may be reciting Ziyarat Ashura often and may be spending a lot in the path of Allah. Who is better? 

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To spend money or to spend words! It is better that we understand this from a narration. 

A Generous disbeliever is better than a miser Muslim 

Three polytheists came to Mecca and swore before their big idol and swore among themselves that they will go to Muhammad and kill him. So, with a view to kill the Holy Prophet, they traveled from Mecca to Medina. Angel Gabriel informed the Messenger of God that such and such three fellows are on their way to kill you. The Holy Prophet, after the Morning Prayer informed the worshippers of Only One God of this matter. 

Then he asked the gathering, “Who from you can suffice these three fellows? ” No one uttered a word. Then the Holy Prophet himself asked, “Where is Ali? ” They replied, “Ali is suffering from eye trouble. ” He asked them to inform Ali. So Ali was informed. He came up. In short, he covered himself with the armor of the Holy Prophet, took his sword and went out. After some stops, he met those three fellows. The one who was more robust and scurrilous than the other two asked, “Who are you? ” 

Amirul Momineen replied, “I am Ali bin Abi Talib, the cousin of the Holy Prophet of God. ” This abusive and ruffian fellow burst out, “I make no difference between you and Muhammad. We have decided to finish Muhammad. So now let us kill you just as Muhammad. ” Then he attacked Ali with his sword. Ali countered his attack with his sword. Suddenly, as per narrations, there flashed a lightning 

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and the word of the Prophet of God reached the ears of Ali. It was a heavenly voice mentioning: O Ali! I have opened up the joint of his armor nears his neck. Hit him at this particular place. 

Amirul Momineen also, accordingly, gave a hit at the said place, which was widened by a heavenly hand. Though hit badly the fellow did not fall down. Then came another heavenly voice: O Ali! Give another hit on his thigh. With this second attack the bully fell down. Without any delay, Ali cut off his head; the other two fellows finally understood that this was the courageous and the powerful Ali. They said, “O Ali! We have nothing against you and we submit. Our companion, whom you killed, was as strong as a thousand warriors. We have heard that your cousin Muhammad is a kind gentleman. Please take us to him. ” Amirul Momineen tied them up and took the two along with the decapitated head of the third accursed to the Holy Prophet. Then he narrated the whole story. 

The Prophet looked at one of the two and said, “Say: There is no god except Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah and believe in Islam and enter peace. Give up devilish thoughts and become Muslims. ” No war, no killing! But see what ill luck man brings upon himself. The first of the two said, “O Muhammad! It is easier for me to place Mount Abu Qais on my head than 

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leave my idols and say, ‘There is no god except Allah. ’” The Prophet said, “Kill him as he is a fatal substance, a grave obstruction and extremely dangerous. ” So he was executed. 

Then the Prophet said to the second one, “Believe in Islam. You saw that your companion did not believe in Islam and was punished. Put faith in Islam and become a Muslim. ” The man pondered for a while, and then said, “O Muhammad! The truth is that I do not like to live in this world, as my friend is gone. Make me also join him. ” The Holy Prophet said, “O Ali! This man himself desires that we should make him join his friend. ” When Ali took him, Jibraeel arrived and said, “O Muhammad! Do not kill him, because he has two qualities. ” A note should be taken of these two virtues which God likes: First is his generosity and munificence – equity and bounty – that is, man does not consider that his wealth is of and from him only. He considers it as belonging to all, may he enjoy it or anyone else enjoys it. If someone else sits on his dining table he becomes happy thinking that someone is benefiting from his wealth. Woe unto a miser. It is mentioned in some narrations that a miser is near hell despite his worship and a generous person is near Paradise despite being a disbeliever. [1] 

Another thing is good behavior. God likes it very much that man must be 

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nice while talking and be good while behaving with others, in his dealings, during his journeys, in his gatherings, with his friends and companions, with his wife, with his children, with his neighbors and in his society everywhere. 

Finally the Holy Prophet said, “Ask Ali to release him soon. ” When he was freed the disbeliever asked, “O Ali! How did this happen? ” Ali replied, “God sent a revelation commanding us not to kill you. ” He further asked, “Why? ” Ali replied, “God has said that we should not kill you because you have two virtues: Good behavior with people and generosity. ” That man said, “You are right. It seems Muhammad is telling the truth. The Lord of the world says the truth. God is the witness that during my whole life I never considered even a dirham from my wealth as my own exclusively. I never considered myself the owner of anything. I never said, ‘This is my property. ’ It seems Muhammad is absolutely right. I witness that: There is no god except Allah and I witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. ” So, his good behavior and generosity led him to Paradise. O Muslims! Know that miserliness of a Muslim leads him to hell. 

Therefore, O Muslims! Never look at anyone with contempt and hatred. How do you know that when you condemn someone for his dress he might be doing good deeds secretly which God likes!

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[1]: Surah Yunus 10: 58 

[1]: Safinatul Bihar, vol. 1, pg. 607

Damascus Police Chief, a true Shia 

Sayyid Jazaeri says: Some Iraqi Shias traders told me this story: During their journey to 

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Damascus, after midnight, they had to go to a public bath. All had woken up and were intending to first go to the bath and then to the mosque for morning prayers. On their way, the night police patrol detained them and took them to the chief who asked them, “Where are you from? ” “From Iraq,” they replied. He said, “They must be Rafidi thieves; take them to my house. We shall condemn them tomorrow. ” These poor Shias did not know what they were facing. They were detained in the house of the police chief till morning next. They saw that the police chief, at dawn, dressed up, made ablution and recited Qur’an and supplications like a Shia and also offered prayer like them. 

How strange! He was behaving like a great Shia scholar. He continued his rituals till sunrise. Then he called for these Shias. His men brought breakfast for all. Then he said, “Gentlemen! I tell you that I am a Shia and also I am not in need of the government salary. I am well to do and I own properties. I took up this post to help my Shia brothers because I know that these Sunnis have enmity against them. I bribe the authorities to hold this post so that, in case of need I may help people like you. ” Then he took breakfast with them and said, “Now you may leave safely. ” These people were very much surprised and they said, “Indeed we were astonished. 

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We thought bad of this police chief but afterwards learnt that in fact he was gentle and good-natured person! ” 

Imam Sadiq’s message a courtier of Mansoor 

A man told Imam Ja’far Sadiq, “O Master! I am in trouble in Mansoor’s court. What should I do? ” The holy Imam said, “There is such and such man in that court. Whisper in his ears, ‘Ja’far has sent me to you. ’” This man came to the court next morning and saw that man matching the Imam’s description. He was the favorite of Mansoor. The troubled man told softly in his ear, “Ja’far has sent me to you. ” He humbled himself the moment he heard the holy name of Ja’far Sadiq and asked, “What has troubled you? ” “I am in serious trouble as people have complained against me to Mansoor and made false allegations against me. ” 

The officer said, “Please be at ease, I will do the needful soon. ” Within a little time, he went to Mansoor and told him that this gentleman is not at fault. So his matter was solved. Then that man came to the holy Imam and said, “O Master! This gentleman in Mansoor’s court has much respect for you. He expressed respect on hearing your holy name…So, O Master! Ask him to give up this job in Mansoor’s court. How such a nice man can serve in that evil court? ” The Imam replied, “I myself have asked him to take up this job so that he may be able to help the oppressed. ” 

Repent for the past 

What I wanted to say 

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is that you must not look at anyone with contempt and hatred. Do not mock anyone. Do not ever have a low opinion about any person. Rather say: How do I know what this person is beneath his outer appearance. May be he has some virtues which I do not have. Perhaps his rank might be high in God’s sight. It is possible that my own deeds may appear very good to me, yet I may be wrong and at fault. May be this person’s virtues are heavier than his drawbacks. How shall we know? 

﴿…عَسَی أَنْ یَکُونُوا خَیْرًا مِنْهُمْ…﴾ 

“…perchance they may be better than they… (49: 11) ” 

We have committed this sin of having a bad opinion about God and a low idea about His creation. Come, today is Friday, mid-Ramadhan. O men and women! Let us repent over our past and resolve to give up such habits in future. Let us hope that today’s gathering becomes a gathering of repentance for us all. Consider death very near. Let us try our best not to die with sins in our scroll of deeds. It is very likely that we sinned all twenty-four hours, day and night, with every breath. It is like that if we have bad and low opinion about God, destiny and creation. Whenever anyone from us dies, let us think over it very seriously how bad we are doing in this respect. Come let us ask for forgiveness through sincere repentance and make a decision to discard all 

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such sins in the future. We may say: God willing, from today onwards we shall leave all such bad opinions about others, from now onwards we will become God’s lowly and submitting slaves. 

This is the month of Ramadhan, the month of seeking forgiveness. This month of Ramadhan has many names. One of them is the month of repentance. Therefore, one day the Holy Prophet said, as reported by Imam Sadiq and narrated by Shaykh Saduq: Away from God’s mercy is one whose sins are not washed away even after passing of the holy month of Ramadhan. Thereafter he has no hope of being purified. The days and nights of this holy month are so graceful, full of mercy and full of bliss and bounty, especially the time after Friday mid-day, after offering prayers in congregation. The mid-day of 15th Ramadhan is also the birthday of Imam Hasan. 

How bad if we do not repent even on this day! Say: For the sake of Hasan Mujtaba, O Allah! Recite the repentance of Imam Zainul Abideen. It is only two or three sentences in length. Recite: O Our Lord! I make repentance and seek Your Forgiveness for my greater sins and also small errors, faults and hidden shortcomings, both past and future. O Lord! We repent and seek Your forgiveness for greater and lesser sins, those I remember and those I do not recall, both open and hidden ones, including bad intentions in my heart and evil utterances of my tongue and 

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so also all wrong movements of my body, my dishonest glances and when I insulted someone and mocked anyone and when I looked down at a faithful believer. 

Kindness of Imam Hasan while eating 

It is mentioned in the book Kashful Ghummah that once Imam Hasan Mujtaba spread his dining cloth with an intention of taking food. A dog saw this from a distance, approached and sat in front of the holy Imam. The holy Imam was taking one morsel and giving one to that dog. One of his companions arrived and said, “O Master! Do you allow me to drive away this dog? ” “No. Let it be. ” What I want to convey is the reply of the holy Imam. He said, “I feel ashamed before Almighty God if a living thing is before me when I take my food and that one does not, even if it is a dog. It is after all, God’s creation. You must not belittle or humiliate it. ” 

On another occasion, Imam Hasan passed by a group of poor people who were eating dry pieces of bread. The Imam greeted them and they responded. The Imam alighted from his horse, sat on the ground and ate with them. Then he invited them to his house for a feast. 

Do not think yourself to be better than others. How do you know what is beneath the veil? All are servants of One God. Never imagine that you are aware and they are not. I am rich and they are poor? To whom does the 

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wealth actually belongs? 

Sit silently for a while facing the graveyard. Listen to the silent talks of those sleeping over there. (Persian saying) 

Millionaires are asleep in the graveyards. See what difference is there between them and the beggars. You should never say: My family is more respectable. Leave all such things. Such thoughts were vain. Do not repeat mistakes of others; take lesson from them. 

﴿ إِنَّ أَکْرَمَکُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاکُمْ﴾ 

“Surely, the most honorable of you with Allah is the one among you most careful (of his duty) … (49: 13) ” 

The most honorable among you in the sight of God is the most righteous one among you and that too is hidden. He Himself says: 

﴿فَلا تُزَکُّوا أَنفُسَکُمْ، هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ اتَّقَی﴾ 

“Therefore do not attribute purity to your souls; He knows him best who guards (against evil). ” [1]

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[1]: Surah Najm 53: 32

Part 15 

point 

﴿یَا أَیُّهَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا لا یَسْخَرْ قَومٌ مِنْ قَوْمٍ عَسَی أَنْ یَکُونُوا خَیْرًا مِنْهُمْ، وَلا نِسَاءٌ مِنْ نِسَاءٍ عَسَی أَنْ یَکُنَّ خَیْرًا مِنْهُنَّ، وَلا تَلْمِزُوا أَنفُسَکُمْ، وَلا تَنَابَزُوا بِالأَلْقَابِ، بِئْسَ الاِسْمُ الْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ الإِیمَانِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ یَتُبْ فَأُوْلَئِکَ هُمْ الظَّالِمُونَ﴾ 

“O you who believe! Let not (one) people laugh at (another) people perchance they may be better than they, nor let women (laugh) at (other) women, perchance they may be better than they; and do not find fault with your own people nor call one another by nicknames; evil is a bad name after faith, and whoever does not turn, these it is that are the unjust. (49: 11) ” 

Thabit recalls a Muslim’s mother in bad light 

It is written in commentaries of Holy Qur’an about 

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the circumstances in which the above verse was revealed. According to a narration, a companion of Prophet, Thabit bin Qais was an attendant of the congregation and he was hard of hearing. Therefore he always sat near the Prophet, so that he could hear him properly. 

One morning he arrived late for prayers and the Prophet was offering the second unit of the Morning Prayer. So he joined the congregation and standing in the last row, completed his second unit alone. The Prophet used to give admonitions after prayer, reciting Qur’anic verses. Thabit tried for the place where he used to sit daily (near the Holy Prophet). In his effort he pushed some people aside. No one told him anything thinking that being somewhat deaf he was trying to sit near the Holy Prophet. So they gave him room to move forward. There remained only one gentleman, who, if he moved slightly, Thabit could get his usual place. 

But that man did not oblige and told Thabit, “Sit where you are. ” Thabit helplessly sat there. As the Holy Prophet was speaking, Thabit looked at the person who did not utter a word until the former stopped his sermon. Then Thabit looked at the person who did not allow him space and asked, “Who are you? ” The person replied, “I am son of so and so. ” He took the name of his father, as he knew that his mother had a bad name in society before the advent of Islam. Thabit 

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said, “But you are son of such and such woman, who was notorious for her bad deeds. ” This poor Muslim became very sad and felt ashamed in front of the Holy Prophet and all the Muslims. Thabit did an unwise thing referring to his mother. He did give way; even then, he must not have been mocked and insulted and Thabit should not have said that he was son of such and such woman. 

So, these were the circumstances in which this verse under our study was revealed. 

Who is addressed? 

God has issued a general command for all time to come till Judgment Day: First He addressed the believers. The first part of the verse and the earlier order, which later on refers to suspicion (having bad opinion). He addresses the believers that they must act upon this order and fulfill their responsibility. As regards the one who is disbeliever, who has no faith in Allah and the Hereafter, it is said that do not make a mockery of anyone on account of his disbelief. Though he has no faith, all are servants of Only One God. All are made of dust. There is no cause for mockery. He has no faith to understand these words. He does not accept what is said about Judgment Day, Hereafter, ranks and reward. But how do you know that you are better than him? These very words are mocking for him. There is no benefit in such words. So this address must be made to you. O 

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those who say: There is no god except Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. 

﴿وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ آتِیَةٌ لا رَیْبَ فِیهَا﴾ 

“Most surely, the hour is coming, there is no doubt therein,” [1] 

Do you believe in Judgment Day? Have you accepted belief in reward and punishment? Then: 

﴿لا یَسْخَرْ قَومٌ مِنْ قَوْمٍ﴾ 

“…let not (one) people laugh at (another) people…” 

A group may not mock another, men must not mock men, and women should not mock women. Of course, there is no inconsistency in this. It is also unlawful if, for once, a man mocks a woman and vice versa. This verse mentions men by way of generality. Mostly men mock men, but the command is general. It makes no difference. In short, a Muslim has no right to mock a Muslim. Also: Do not find faults in one another nor use bad words for one another, do not give bad titles to one another. Do not, for example, say: You are the son of such and such mother. Do you intend to disgrace a Muslim? You have no right to do so. You cannot perturb another Muslim. 

Akrama, son of Abu Jahl, better than Muslims 

Here is the example of Akrama bin Abu Jahl. This gentleman was a pious and a pure Muslim. Yet some unwise people sometimes used to taunt him saying that this is the son of Abu Jahl. A Muslim’s honor is his Islam to which one has turned sincerely. Even if his father was what he was. Abu Jahl, a pagan, a disbeliever, wretched, vicious, Hell dweller etc. , but 

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what is important is the condition of Akrama himself. Look at his honor and respect, his Islam: Do not give him ugly titles. 

Thereafter, He gives a logical reason also. Logical, because it is against human wisdom to mock someone or to give a bad name to somebody. When someone belittles or humiliates a Muslim, what is the meaning of such humiliation? To pull down another and to think high of oneself. When somebody insults and belittles another person does it mean anything else but that the former imagines himself higher and the latter, lower. He disgraces another man.

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[1]: Surah Momin 40: 59

Maybe the mocked one is better than you 

Almighty Allah says: 

﴿یَا أَیُّهَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا لا یَسْخَرْ قَومٌ مِنْ قَوْمٍ عَسَی أَنْ یَکُونُوا خَیْرًا مِنْهُمْ، وَلا نِسَاءٌ مِنْ نِسَاءٍ عَسَی أَنْ یَکُنَّ خَیْرًا مِنْهُنَّ ﴾ 

“O you who believe! Let not (one) people laugh at (another) people perchance they may be better than they, nor let women (laugh) at (other) women, perchance they may be better than they… (49: 11) ” 

O ignorant one! On what criterion did you measure yourself higher and pulled down another one? Is it due to the apparent reason that, for example, you have wealth and he does not have; your dress is new and his old, you are handsome and he is ugly? If so, then this is not a criterion to measure good and evil. Real good and bad must be measured by one’s distance from God. In God’s sight, rich and poor, handsome and ugly are alike. The ignorant one who looks at only the outer things is 

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not wise. They do not know what is behind the apparent dress and appearance. 

The Messenger of God is reported to have said that several chairless persons who sit on ground and a number of persons who do not have new and shining dress are honorable in the sight of God. If they seek anything from God, God grants it to them; that is, their prayers are accepted. What do you know? Do not look at others with contempt as it is possible that some of them are really good servants of God. 

One may appear of no value apparently, but it is quite possible that from within God likes him or her. Apparent deeds also are no criterion. You are looking at only outward things and deeds and imagine that you are pious, clean and righteous. You consider yourself a religious scholar and look down at others, as they do not have knowledge; that he is not careful enough and so you look at him hatefully. If he says something, you retort: Go and obtain knowledge. Do you know what all this is? 

O Servant of God! The one whom you looked with contempt may be better than what you imagined. You may have apparent righteousness. You perform ablution but how is it that you do not keep yourself away from impermissible things! O pious gentleman! You, in your own opinion are knowledgeable and he, ignorant of religious affairs. But he avoids the illegal things more than you! Now, who is more 

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honorable, you or he? You dip your hands in water ten times for cleaning and he does only once, but when unlawful income comes, you fall on it like a cat falling on a rat. But he never indulges in impermissible things. Now, who is better, you or he? 

According to some narrations, if a man lies once, its foul smell rise upto high heavens and angels curse the liar. Such a man puts on nice clothes and applies scent and perfume. But he also has utterly foul smell, the smell of sins and miserliness. His forehead does have a mark of prostration but of what use is that piety when he also is a miser. He indeed belongs to hell even if he makes innumerable ablutions. Another man who makes ablution by dipping his hands in water only once is certainly better than this fellow if he is not a miser. 

If one considers himself better than others, one is certainly an ignorant man. It is possible that he avoids impurities, which you do not avoid. You do not avoid impurities, the bad smell of which is much more than common impurities. You may think that the other person is careless and hence belongs to hell. But from inside, that person may have much more love for Ahle Bait whereby he gets Paradise earlier than you. But you, the unlucky one, you have much attraction for wealth. Your love for money such, that finally it drives you to hell. How does 

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one know that the other person has a warm heart, he has a kind heart, he is just and equitable? Only God knows how many persons he helped during his life? How one knows what kind of a man he will be at the end of his life? 

Forgiven for giving water to a dog 

It is mentioned [1] that a woman of ill fame once reached a pit of water during her journey. She saw that a thirsty dog came to the water, which was deep (beyond its reach) and turned back and again came and turned back. Its tongue was hanging, as it was very thirsty in the hot atmosphere of the sandy land. This woman of loose character however became restless on seeing the poor and helpless condition of the thirsty dog and thought of doing something to help this creature of God. She observed that there was some water in the pit but it was very far down. What to do? From where to get a rope to fetch the water? She cut off her hair to make a sort of cup, tied it with her hands, fetched some water in this way and put it before the thirsty dog. She did not move away till the dog was gratified. 

The most merciful God pardoned that lady for this kind act towards one of His creatures. As her character was loose, you imagined she belonged to hell. Perhaps, the one whom you imagine as belonging to hell may become aware and repent. It is also 

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possible, that God forbid, you and I become proud and move away from the path of God’s service. How do we know? His Hereafter may be good and our bad! No one knows this. 

There are many instances of such change. If I want, I may relate many examples. Let me tell you only a story from the book Hayatul Haiwan by Damiri. In how much danger man is. 

Christian youths become rightly guided through Qur’an 

There were two persons formerly Christians but later on they became Muslim. They lived in a city called Taleetah, perhaps in Morocco. I asked them the cause of their conversion. I asked them how you, former Christians, are now in deep search of Islamic truths. They replied: A few years ago, we were imprisoned in a jail. An Iraqi Muslim was also with us in our cell. Everyday he used to read Qur’an. As we did not know Arabic language, by and by we learned some words from that gentleman and began to understand a little from what he recited. One day he recited the verse: 

﴿وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ﴾ 

“…and ask Allah of His grace… [1] 

Then he also recited the verse: 

﴿ادْعُونِی أَسْتَجِبْ لَکُمْ﴾ 

“Call upon Me, I will answer you…” [2] 

And he said that it was God’s Word. God also says: 

﴿وَإِذَا سَأَلَکَ عِبَادِی عَنِّی فَإِنِّی قَرِیبٌ أُجِیبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِی إِذَا دَعَانِ﴾ 

“And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me…” [3] 

If you want anything, say: O Allah, yourself. You 

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don’t have to come to the Mosque. He does not order to come and to give hand in the hand of a scholar, but He says: “Anyone from My servants who wants Me, I am near him. ” God is not far. He even does not want you to complain. He only asks to seek from Him whatever you want. You can even remember Him from your heart. He knows what is there in your heart. He says it is better if you recite supplication, as it is more effective. 

When I heard these two or three verses of the Holy Qur’an, I told my companion, “See what the Prophet of Islam says; being Christians, we do not have such belief. The Christian faith has ceremonies, protocols, and formalities. They say that man cannot approach God unless he comes to the priests and the priests seek forgiveness for his sins. So the helpless person is compelled to come to the church priests, who is the representative of their religion and makes a confession of his sin and gives him money of getting pardoned (whereas this priest himself has no approach to God). ” 

They also have lengthy machinery for this purpose in all Christian cities. One of the companions said, “Once I had gone to a Church in Paris to observe things. It is a very big church. ” He said the segments of pardoning were worth seeing. First were people who had sinned. They sat with humility in that section of the church 

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having a pen and paper in their hands. They wrote about the sin committed by them and took that piece of paper to another section from where they got instructions about the amount of money to be paid for the forgiveness of his sin. Then he pays the amount and gets a receipt for it and then proceeds to the last place where he is informed that his sin has been pardoned! 

Those two Christian gentlemen said that when they heard the above two or three verses of Qur’an wherein Almighty God conveys through His Prophet, that God is very near; that He needs no mediation; that He is not far; that ask for whatever you want from God, Who answers your request, we became very much astonished. Does Muhammad really tell the truth? Can everybody reach God? We were wondering about this matter in jail when we became very thirsty. There was no water and our thirst was very hard. There was no one to come to our help. We wished to die rather than remain in that condition. Then I recalled this verse and said: O God! If this verse: 

﴿وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ﴾ 

“…and ask Allah of His grace…” [1] 

Is Your Word, and if Muhammad has told the truth: 

﴿ادْعُونِی أَسْتَجِبْ لَکُمْ﴾ 

“Call upon Me, I will answer you…” [2] 

Then O Almighty! Help us as we are dying of severe thirst. Suddenly, before our eyes, from the wall in front of us, water began to flow. We drank it and quenched our thirst with 

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full gratification. Then and there, we decided to become Muslims. So, after our release from jail, we embraced Islam and put total faith in the Holy Qur’an. 

Guidance for some and misguidance for others 

The so-called Muslim who used to recite the Holy Qur’an and who had taught some Arabic grammar, saw that these two Christians, who were thirsty got water from an unexpected place in the wall. So he put the Qur’an aside and thought that the Christian faith was true; that truth was with Christianity and hence this miracle. The unwise fellow could not realize that it was due to the Qur’an. He thought that, as they were Christians, their prayer was answered. He fell down in front of them saying: I want to embrace your religion. They asked, “Why? ” 

The man replied, “I saw, with my own eyes that water flew for you from this wall. So it seems your religion is true. ” They (the two former Christians) replied, “We were helpless and we clung to the Holy verse of Qur’an. ” That fellow said, “I do not accept your word. Do you want deprive me and to prevent me from becoming a Christian? ” In short, that fellow converted to Christianity and put the Holy Qur’an aside. It was all because of a faulty imagination and an imaginary illusion.

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[1]: Biharul Anwar, vol. 4 

[1]: Surah Nisa 4: 32 

[2]: Surah Momin 40: 60 

[3]: Surah Baqarah 2: 186 

[1]: Surah Nisa 4: 32 

[2]: Surah Momin 40: 60

End of a learned Haji 

These two gentlemen again said: O God! By the truthfulness of Qur’an and by the honor of Muhammad guide us on the true path. That night, in a dream they were told: Go to Syria and contact scholars 

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of Islam. Subsequently they became very nice people. In one moment two Christians become true Muslims but a Muslim becomes a disbeliever. Man is unaware of his end. 

Fortunate is one who looks at his end. (Persian saying) 

One of my friends once told me: I myself have seen a man who used to stand in the first row in Mosque for prayer, in those hard days, he had also performed Hajj. He also had religious knowledge and used to answer relevant problems to people. The same Haji gentleman, after some years was seen engaged in house construction work. I was also there. Laborers and masons were busy doing building work in a corner of his garden. Then we saw the Haji was passing water standing facing Qibla. See what is this? I could not restrain myself from asking. I asked him, “O Haji! What are you doing? ” He replied, “O sir! We actually did not understand. For several years we prayed in mosque and went to Hajj where Arabs usurped our money. ” In short, he spoke up his disbelief himself. This man was once praying in the first row. He had performed Hajj. No one knows what and how his end will be. How he can lose Faith! 

Pray, so that we die in a good condition 

I have repeatedly heard that whenever students and scholar used to visit the late great scholar Mirza Hujjatul Islam Shirazi and also to visit graves, the said gentleman was recommending and requesting everyone: Please pray so that Allah may make my end a good 

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end. How do you know what is going to happen the next moment, or after two days or after two years? In your own view you are a very good person and you look at others with contempt. You are not afraid that maybe in a slip your heart becomes stony and dark. Then you may, by and by, stop attending the mosque and give up supplications and the recitations of Qur’an etc. 

We should always seek God’s refuge against a bad end. O the one who mocks others! How do you know, he may be better than you. You may not recognize him. How do you know, he may be a friend of God. Woe unto the one who mocks a friend of God. None except God knows a friend of God. There also is no criterion to know who is nearer to God? No one knows. Only God does. 

Three things hidden in three things 

Allah has kept three things hidden in three things: First, he has kept his friends hidden from the eyes of the creation so that no one may not mock others and look at them with contempt for fear of the possibility of the other being God’s friend. For the preservation of one’s honor He has kept His friend hidden from the eyes of people. Second, God has concealed His anger in sins. There are some sins, which draw God’s anger. It is mentioned in al-Kafi. There comes a voice: O one who committed this sin! Now you will not be forgiven. 

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The late Majlisi says explaining this tradition: It means that after committing this sin you will not able to repent. It is not that one repents but is not forgiven. What is meant is that, that person is not inclined to repent. Now what is that sin? Neither the Imam tells it nor anyone else knows it. It is kept hidden. Just know only that among sins there are some which, if one commits them it is certain that one will have a bad end and that his Hereafter is destroyed. God’s mercy is not to reach him. 

But what sin is that? I do not know. Nor the Imam has pointed it out. Why? So that people may fear all sins and may not go near any sin fearing that it could be the sin which attracts God’s wrath and anger and then man may not be able to find a way to salvation. 

Thirdly, among worships also there are some worship acts, which if performed, will give one salvation for sure. What is that act of God’s obedience? It is also not clearly mentioned. We do not know anything. Nor should we know, as it is a hidden matter. 

In short, a friend of God (Wali of Allah) is hidden. Nobody is able to find him out. Why? So that man may look at everyone and imagine that perhaps he is a friend of God. Of course, one has no right to imagine that one (he himself) is the friend of 

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God. God forbid, we may be friends of Satan instead! But we must imagine about others that God might like them and they might love God; that they might be obeying God in the right way. So they are better. 

O Women! You have no right to look with contempt at other women. You should not mock other women. How do you know? It is quite likely that some of them, who have sinned, may get guidance to repent. They might be having good deeds in their scroll of deeds, which draw Allah’s mercy. How do we know her actual condition? You see that a lady has no veil that she moves in streets and markets without her head wear. Do prevent her, but never mock her. Never consider yourself higher than her. It is possible that her condition may change with God’s guidance and she may become righteous after repenting and may become much better than a number of old women who are ashamed of showing their gray hair. 

On the other hand, it is likely that this lady who is not wearing Islamic modest dress (Hijab) may make amends after repentance and conceal her breast, head, legs and feet of God’s sake and may become more honorable in the sight of God than that aged woman who mocked others. The old lady may rank behind the young woman in the most supreme court of Almighty Allah. 

Those whose grief will be more 

There are three groups of people whose grief in the grand gathering field (Mahshar) , 

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tomorrow on the Judgment Day will be more than that of the entire gathering. Firstly, those scholars and orators who advise people to do good and refrain from evil, but who do not act according to what they say. You can see that such and such Haji lady admonished another woman to wear veil or Hijab. That lady did accept her advice and acted accordingly, wearing a veil. But the adviser lady proved so unlucky that she did not conceal herself from a stranger male. Tomorrow, on the Judgment Day, she burns in fire, but the lady who accepted her advice is in a high bliss. Most fear some burning is for the scholars whose sermons made many people benefit and provided salvation to them but they (the admonishers) went to hell, as they did not act themselves in the way desired by God Almighty. 

Secondly, in a more severe grief is a rich man who, till he was in this world, did not pay dues from his wealth but only kept it in front of his eyes and finally all of it went to his heirs. Then the latter spent it as liked by God and helped the needy. Tomorrow, on Judgment Day, the former will look at his heirs and see that they are in Paradise. But with the help of whose wealth? With the riches of their unfortunate father! The father burns in hell. He is most grievous and terribly unhappy. 

The unwise man only bore the burden and 

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the wise benefited fully. (Persian saying) 

He fanned fire for himself with this wealth. How fortunate was his heir who acted wisely and got full benefit from his wealth. 

The third group: The master and his servant, the lady and her mistress, the employer and his employee. O Master and servants, you ladies and your maidservants, employers and employees, workers, students! Know that, tomorrow in the Hereafter, the lower cadre will be in Paradise and the higher ups in hell. The master who looked with contempt in this world at his servant will see that the servant is on a high rank and he himself is in the lowest pits. How much he himself burns! How much sorrowful and in grief! So these are the three kinds of groups you are told about. Their grief is terrible. So never look down at your servant, peon, worker or slave. 

﴿عَسَی أَنْ یَکُونُوا خَیْرًا مِنْهُمْ﴾ 

“Perchance they may be better. (49: 11) ” 

The lowly became high 

I shall relate another narration. Waram, teacher of Sayyid bin Tawus has, in his compilation Majmae Waram written that a Messenger of God, in olden days asked God to show him His friend and, as per another quotation, he asked Almighty Allah to inform him as to who will be his (the Prophet’s) companion in the Hereafter. A revelation reached the Prophet indicating that such and such shoemaker would be his companion in the other life; that he was God’s friend. This messenger went to the person indicated in the revelation, sat by his shop 

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to observe what special virtues he had which made him a friend of God. Then he talked with him and asked some questions only to find that neither he has much knowledge nor any intelligence. 

Also, he was not a great worshipper either. In short, he could not find any extraordinary virtue in him. At last, the Prophet asked, “My friend! I want to know what virtue is there in you? ” The man replied, “Sir, I do not possess anything. I have no knowledge and no specialty in my deed. I am what you see. ” The Prophet again asked, “No, it cannot be so. You must be having something very extraordinary in your character. Please tell me truly. ” Finally that man replied, “I have neither any knowledge nor perfection. My condition is that whenever I meet anyone, I imagine that he has much higher rank in the sight of God. ” The Prophet replied, “This is the virtue which made you high-ranking in the Hereafter. ” 

Such is the humility, lowliness, and courtesy for God. Man considers himself low, weak and servile in front of Almighty Allah. Since he considers God as the greatest, he imagines himself to be nothing. Then, seeing anyone, he says, “Perhaps he is better than me; that he may have a standing in the sight of God. ” One who is a friend of God considers himself worthless. 

Once, angel Jibraeel came to Prophet Ibrahim and gave him good tidings that he was a friend of God. Ibrahim expressed wonder 

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saying, “Me and God’s friend? ” The angel replied, “Yes, you are God’s friend. ” Ibrahim asked again, “I do not have any special deed at my credit. How is it that God made me His friend? ” The angel said, “O Ibrahim! You have two virtues, which God likes very much and hence He made you His friend (Khalil). (These two virtues make one lovable). First, you do not ask anything from anyone except God. You seek help only from Him. You never put your need before His creation. Secondly, you never turned away any beggar from your door. You never turned away a needy person empty-handed from your door. ” 

O Lord! It is now known that You do not like the one who turns away the needy empty handed. We also have extended our begging hands before You. Please do not deprive us. 

Imam Zainul Abideen, in Dua Abu Hamzah, which you recite in these holy nights, prays: O Lord! You have ordered us not to turn away a needy from our door. Now, we are the needy beggars who have come to Your Door of Mercy. Your Honor will certainly not make us return empty handed. Our need is that kindly, do not leave any of our sins unforgiven by Your Mercy.