Story of a Great Youth

Here is a beautiful Ṣaḥīḥ (Authentic) ḥadīth about a young man during the time of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم). One thing we must remember, this one man is not an infallible, he is just an ordinary person, but he has reached this level of Imaan (faith). Inshā’Allāh, we can attain this level of faith.

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى وَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ الْوَابِشِيِّ وَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مِهْزَمٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص صَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ الصُّبْحَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى شَابٍّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَ هُوَ يَخْفِقُ وَ يَهْوِي بِرَأْسِهِ مُصْفَرّاً لَوْنُهُ قَدْ نَحِفَ جِسْمُهُ وَ غَارَتْ عَيْنَاهُ فِي رَأْسِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص كَيْفَ أَصْبَحْتَ يَا فُلَانُ قَالَ أَصْبَحْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مُوقِناً فَعَجِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مِنْ قَوْلِهِ وَ قَالَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ يَقِينٍ حَقِيقَةً فَمَا حَقِيقَةُ يَقِينِكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ يَقِينِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هُوَ الَّذِي أَحْزَنَنِي وَ أَسْهَرَ لَيْلِي وَ أَظْمَأَ هَوَاجِرِي فَعَزَفَتْ نَفْسِي عَنِ الدُّنْيَا وَ مَا فِيهَا حَتَّى كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى عَرْشِ رَبِّي وَ قَدْ نُصِبَ لِلْحِسَابِ وَ حُشِرَ الْخَلَائِقُ لِذَلِكَ وَ أَنَا فِيهِمْ وَ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ يَتَنَعَّمُونَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَ يَتَعَارَفُونَ وَ عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ مُتَّكِئُونَ وَ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى أَهْلِ النَّارِ وَ هُمْ فِيهَا مُعَذَّبُونَ مُصْطَرِخُونَ وَ كَأَنِّي الْآنَ أَسْمَعُ زَفِيرَ النَّارِ يَدُورُ فِي مَسَامِعِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِأَصْحَابِهِ هَذَا عَبْدٌ نَوَّرَ اللَّهُ قَلْبَهُ بِالْإِيمَانِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ الْزَمْ مَا أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ الشَّابُّ ادْعُ اللَّهَ لِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنْ أُرْزَقَ الشَّهَادَةَ مَعَكَ فَدَعَا لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فَلَمْ يَلْبَثْ أَنْ خَرَجَ فِي بَعْضِ غَزَوَاتِ النَّبِيِّ ص فَاسْتُشْهِدَ بَعْدَ تِسْعَةِ نَفَرٍ وَ كَانَ هُوَ الْعَاشِرَ

From Ishāq bin `Ammār said, I heard Abā `Abd Allāh (عليه السلام) saying: “The Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was praying the morning prayer with the people, and he saw a young man in the masjid, and his head was hanging down. His color was pale, and he had a thin body, and his eyes were sunk in his head. So the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said to him, ‘How is your morning, O so and so?’ He (the young man) said: ‘O Messenger of Allāh, (this) morning I am confident’. The Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was amazed at what he said, and he said: ‘Verily, For every reality there is certainty (yaqeen), so what reality are you certain (about)?’ He said: ‘I am certain, O Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), is that which makes me sad and stay awake at night and endure thirst during the day. So I abstain myself from the world and what is in it until I see the `arsh (throne) of my Lord and we are resurrected for our actions and He assembles the creations for that, and I am among them. And it is like I am looking at the people of jannah, enjoying themselves in jannah and are informed and upon reclining coaches. And it is like I am looking at the people of the fire (hell) and those in it being tortured and crying aloud (for help). Right now, it is as if I hear roaring of the fire and it is circulating in my ears.’ So the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said to his companions, ‘Allāh has illuminated this servant’s heart with Imaan (faith)’, then he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said to him: ‘Stick (keep up) what you are doing’. So the young man said: ‘Pray to Allāh for me, O Messenger of Allāh, that he provides me with shahaadah with you’ So the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) did du`ā for him, and not long he (the young man) left in one of the expeditions with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and after nine people became shaheed (a martyr) he was the tenth”

Source:

1.     Al-Kulaynī, Al-Kāfī, ed. `Alī Akbar al-Ghaffārī, 8 vols., (Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyyah, 3^rd Edition, 1388 AH), vol. 2, pg. 53, hadeeth # 2

Grading:

1.     Al-Majlisī said this hadeeth is Muwaththaq (Reliable)
à Mir’āt Al-`Uqūl, 26 vols., (Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyyah, 1410 AH), vol. 7, pg. 333

Replying to Salam in Salat

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُسَلَّمُ عَلَيْهِ وَ هُوَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ قَالَ يَرُدُّ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ لَا يَقُولُ وَ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ قَائِماً يُصَلِّي فَمَرَّ بِهِ عَمَّارُ بْنُ يَاسِرٍ- فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ عَمَّارٌ فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ ص هَكَذَا

From Samā`ah from Abī `Abd Allāh (عليه السلام) said, I asked him (عليه السلام) about a man who salaam is said upon him and he is in salaah. He (عليه السلام) said: He replies “salaamun `alaykum”, and he does not say “wa `alaykum asslaam”, for verily the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was standing and praying and `Ammār bin Yāsir passed by him and `Ammaar said salaam upon him, and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) replied to him as such

Source:

1.     Al-Kulaynī, Al-Kāfī, ed. `Alī Akbar al-Ghaffārī, 8 vols., (Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyyah, 3^rd Edition, 1388 AH), vol. 3, pg. 366, hadeeth # 1

Grading:

1.     Al-Majlisī said this hadeeth is Muwaththaq
à Mir’āt Al-`Uqūl, 26 vols., (Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyyah, 1410 AH), vol. 15, pg. 240

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ سَعْدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ إِذَا سَلَّمَ عَلَيْكَ الرَّجُلُ وَ أَنْتَ تُصَلِّي قَالَ تَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ خَفِيّاً كَمَا قَالَ

From Manṣūr bin Hāzim from Abī `Abd Allāh (عليه السلام) said: “When a man says salaam upon you, and you are praying, He says (عليه السلام) said: “reply to him like he said”

Source:

1.     Al-Tūsī, Tahdhīb al-Aḥkām, 10 vols., (Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyyah, 4^th Edition, 1407 AH), vol. 2, pg. 332, hadeeth # 222

Grading:

1.     Al-Majlisī said this hadeeth is Muwaththaq (Reliable)
à Milādh al-Akhyār, 16 vols., (Qum: Maktabah Ayatollah al-Mar`ashī al-Najafī, 1406 AH), vol. 5, pg. 510

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ هُوَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَقُلْتُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ فَقَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ فَقُلْتُ كَيْفَ أَصْبَحْتَ فَسَكَتَ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قُلْتُ أَ يَرُدُّ السَّلَامَ وَ هُوَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ قَالَ نَعَمْ مِثْلَ مَا قِيلَ لَهُ

From Muhammad bin Muslim said, I entered upon Abī Ja`far (عليه السلام) and he was in salaah, I said: “Assalaamu `Alayka”, so he (عليه السلام) said: “Assalaamu `Alayka”. So I said: “I became silent (and waited) and when he departed (praying) I said: “Can he reply salaam and he is in salaah? He (عليه السلام) said: “Yes, like what was said to him”

Source:

1.     Al-Tūsī, Tahdhīb al-Aḥkām, 10 vols., (Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyyah, 4^th Edition, 1407 AH), vol. 2, pg. 329, hadeeth # 205

Grading:

1.     Al-Majlisī said this hadeeth is Ṣaḥīḥ (Authentic)
à Milādh al-Akhyār, 16 vols., (Qum: Maktabah Ayatollah al-Mar`ashī al-Najafī, 1406 AH), vol. 4, pg. 503

Here is a hadeeth at face value you would think that it is not right to send salaam upon someone who is praying, but the scholars interpret it as it being makrooh (disliked) to send salaam. But this hadeeth is da`eef (weak).

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ فِي الْخِصَالِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ مَاجِيلَوَيْهِ عَنْ عَمِّهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مُصَدِّقِ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ ع قَالَ لَا تُسَلِّمُوا عَلَى الْيَهُودِ وَ لَا النَّصَارَى- إِلَى أَنْ قَالَ وَ لَا عَلَى الْمُصَلِّي وَ ذَلِكَ لِأَنَّ الْمُصَلِّيَ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَرُدَّ السَّلَامَ لِأَنَّ التَّسْلِيمَ مِنَ الْمُسَلِّمِ تَطَوُّعٌ وَ الرَّدُّ فَرِيضَةٌ وَ لَا عَلَى آكِلِ الرِّبَا وَ لَا عَلَى رَجُلٍ جَالِسٍ عَلَى غَائِطٍ وَ لَا عَلَى الَّذِي فِي الْحَمَّامِ الْحَدِيثَ

From Masadaq bin Sadaqah from Ja`far bin Muhammad from his father (عليه السلام): Do not send salaam upon the Jew, Christian – until He (عليه السلام): “and not upon the person praying, that is because he may not be able to reply to the salaam, and because sending salaam from a Muslim is voluntary and replying is obligatory, and not upon those who eat from ribaa, and not upon a man who is sitting upon the toilet, and not upon those who are in a bathhouse”

Source:

1.     Al-Sadūq, al-KhiSāl, (Qum: Mu`assassah al-Nashr al-Islāmī, 2^nd ed., 1403), vol. 2, ch. 12, pg. 484, hadeeth # 57

Belittling Sins

 Here is a Muwaththaq (Reliable) ḥadīth from Imām al-Kādhim (عليه السلام) telling us not to belittle out sins, because if we do, they will pile up to become many sins.

(Taken from my personal copy of al-Mufeed’s al-Amaali, (Beirut, Dār al-Murtada), Majlis # 19, pg. 157)

(Click to enlarge)

قال أخبرني أبو جعفر محمد بن علي بن الحسين بن بابويه رحمه الله عن أبيه عن علي بن إبراهيم عن محمد بن عيسى بن عبيد عن عثمان بن عيسى عن سماعة بن مهران عن أبي الحسن موسى بن جعفر ع قال سمعته يقول لا تستكثروا كثير الخير و لا تستقلوا قليل الذنوب فإن قليل الذنوب يجتمع حتى يكون كثيرا و خافوا الله عز و جل في السر حتى تعطوا من أنفسكم النصف و سارعوا إلى طاعة الله و اصدقوا الحديث و أدوا الأمانة فإنما ذلك لكم و لا تدخلوا فيما لا يحل فإنما ذلك عليكم

From Samā`ah bin Mihrān from Abī al-Hasan Mūsa bin Ja`far (عليه السلام) said, I heard him (عليه السلام) said: “Do not deem your good (deeds) as excessive, and do not belittle your minor sins. For verily, minor sins can pile up until they become many, and fear Allāh (عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ) in secret, so as you can award yourself with justice, and hasten to the obedience of Allāh and be true in your speech, and return the entrustments (al-amānah), for that is (good) for you, and do not enter into (things) that are not halāl for that is (bad) for you”

Source:

1.     Al-Mufeed, al-Amālī, ed. `Alī Akbar al-Ghaffāri, (Qum: Jamā`ah al-Mudarrisīn fī al-Hawzah al-`Ilmiyyah, 1403), Majlis # 19, pg. 157, ḥadīth # 8

Beware of the People of Qiyas

Here is a Ṣaḥīḥ (Authentic) ḥadīth about be wary of the people of Qiyās, and what it does to the religion.

(Taken from my personal copy of al-Mufeed’s al-Amaali, (Beirut, Dār al-Murtaḍa), Majlis # 6, pg. 51-52)

(Click to enlarge)

قال أخبرني أبو جعفر محمد بن علي قال حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن الوليد قال حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار قال حدثنا يعقوب بن يزيد عن حماد بن عيسى عن حماد بن عثمان عن زرارة بن أعين قال قال لي أبو جعفر محمد بن علي ع يا زرارة إياك و أصحاب القياس في الدين فإنهم تركوا علم ما وكلوا به و تكلفوا ما قد كفوه يتأولون الأخبار و يكذبون على الله عز و جل و كأني بالرجل منهم ينادى من بين يديه فيجيب من خلفه و ينادى من خلفه فيجيب من بين يديه قد تاهوا و تحيروا في الأرض و الدين

From Zurārah bin A`yan said, Abū Ja`far Muhammad bin `Alī (عليه السلام) said to me: “O Zurārah, beware of the people who use qiyās in religion. For verily, they have abandoned the knowledge which they had been assigned and burdened themselves with that which is similar to it. They interpret (ta’wil) traditions and lie upon Allāh (عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ). As if I see a man from among them being called from the (lit. his) front and he answers from (his) behind, and he is called from (his) behind and he answeres from the (his) front. Certainly, they are lost and confused in the earth and in the religion”

Source:

1.     Al-Mufeed, al-Amālī, ed. `Alī Akbar al-Ghaffāri, (Qum: Jamā`ah al-Mudarrisīn fī al-Hawzah al-`Ilmiyyah, 1403), Majlis # 6, pg. 51-52, ḥadīth # 12

Boundaries of the Neighbor

Here is a Hasan (Good) ḥadīth that shows us the limit of your neighbor, so when we read ḥadīth from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) that says:  ‘One who spends the night with his stomach full while his neighbor is hungry does not believe in me’, we know now what is meant by “neighbor”.

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ دَرَّاجٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ حَدُّ الْجِوَارِ أَرْبَعُونَ دَاراً مِنْ كُلِّ جَانِبٍ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ وَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ

From Jamīl bin Darrāj from Abī Ja`far (عليه السلام) said: “The boundaries of the neighbor is forty houses from each side: from in front of him, from behind him, from his right and from his left”

Source:

1.     Al-Kulaynī, Al-Kāfī, ed. `Alī Akbar al-Ghaffārī, 8 vols., (Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyyah, 3^rd Edition, 1388 AH), vol. 2, pg. 669, hadeeth # 2

Grading:

1.     Al-Majlisī said this hadeeth is Hasan (Good)
à Mir’āt Al-`Uqūl, 26 vols., (Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyyah, 1410 AH), vol. 12, pg. 575

Zakat in Shia Islam

As Shī`ahs we are constantly bombarded with questions and accusations. One of these accusations is that we, Shī`ahs, abandon the paying of al-Zakāh. We do not abandon the paying of al-Zakāh, rather we have a limited number of things that it is obligatory to pay it on.


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Click here -> Zakat in Shia Islam

Mannerism of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) - Twelve Dirham Story

Here is a beautiful Muwaththaq (Reliable) ḥadīth that tells a story about twelve dirham that was given to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم). This allows us to see the great akhlāq (manners) of the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).

حديث الدراهم الاثني عشر التي أهديت إلى رسول الله ص

Narration of the Twelve Dirham That was Gifted to the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)

حدثنا أبي رضي الله عنه قال حدثنا علي بن إبراهيم بن هاشم عن أبيه عن محمد بن أبي عمير عن أبان الأحمر عن الصادق أبي عبد الله جعفر بن محمد ع قال جاء رجل إلى رسول الله ص و قد بلي ثوبه فحمل إليه اثني عشر درهما فقال ع يا علي خذ هذه الدراهم فاشتر لي بها ثوبا ألبسه

From Abān al-Aḥmar from al-Sādiq Abī `Abd Allāh Ja`far bin Muhammad (عليه السلام) said: “A man came to the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and (saw) his (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) tattered garment, so he (the man) gave him (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) twelve dirham” So he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said: “O `Alī, take this money and purchase me a garment with it.”

قال علي ع فجئت إلى السوق فاشتريت له قميصا باثني عشر درهما و جئت به إلى رسول الله ص فنظر إليه فقال يا علي غير هذا أحب إلي أ ترى صاحبه يقيلنا فقلت لا أدري فقال انظر

`Alī (عليه السلام) said: “I went to the market and bought for him (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) a shirt with the twelve dirham, and I took it to the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), and he looked at it and said: ‘O `Alī, I would like something other than this, do you think the owner will take it (back)?’ I (`Alī) said: ‘I do not know’ So he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said: ‘Go and see’”

فجئت إلى صاحبه فقلت إن رسول الله ص قد كره هذا يريد غيره فأقلنا فيه فرد علي الدراهم و جئت بها إلى رسول الله ص فمشى معه إلى السوق ليبتاع قميصا فنظر إلى جارية قاعدة على الطريق تبكي فقال لها رسول الله ص و ما شأنك قالت يا رسول الله إن أهلي أعطوني أربعة دراهم لأشتري لهم حاجة فضاعت فلا أجسر أن أرجع إليهم فأعطاها رسول الله ص أربعة دراهم و قال ارجعي إلى أهلك

I went back to the owner and I said: “The Messenger of Allāh does not like this, he wants another (shirt), (please) take it back and return the money. So I (`Alī) went back to the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), and he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) walked with him (`Alī) to the market to buy a shirt, and he saw a slave girl sitting on the street crying. So the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said to her: ‘What is your issue?’ She said: ‘O Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), my master gave me four dirham to purchase for them a thing, but I lost it (the money), and I do not dare to return to them (without purchasing something or the money). So the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) gave her four dirham, and he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said: ‘Return to your master’

و مضى رسول الله ص إلى السوق فاشترى قميصا بأربعة دراهم و لبسه و حمد الله عز و جل فرأى رجلا عريانا يقول من كساني كساه الله من ثياب الجنة فخلع رسول الله ص قميصه الذي اشتراه و كساه السائل

And the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) went to the market to purchase a shirt with four dirham, he wore it, and praised Allāh (عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ). (on his way back) He saw a man naked and he (the man) said: ‘Allāh will clothe with the garments from heaven whoever clothes me’. And the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) removed his shirt that he had bought and clothed the beggar.

ثم رجع ع إلى السوق فاشترى بالأربعة التي بقيت قميصا آخر فلبسه و حمد الله عز و جل و رجع إلى منزله فإذا الجارية قاعدة على الطريق تبكي فقال لها رسول الله ص ما لك لا تأتين أهلك قالت يا رسول الله إني قد أبطأت عليهم أخاف أن يضربوني فقال رسول الله ص مري بين يدي و دليني على أهلك و جاء رسول الله ص حتى وقف على باب دارهم ثم قال السلام عليكم يا أهل الدار فلم يجيبوه فأعاد السلام فلم يجيبوه فأعاد السلام فقالوا و عليك السلام يا رسول الله و رحمة الله و بركاته فقال ع ما لكم تركتم إجابتي في أول السلام و الثاني فقالوا يا رسول الله سمعنا كلامك فأحببنا أن نستكثر منه فقال رسول الله ص إن هذه الجارية أبطأت عليكم فلا تؤذوها فقالوا يا رسول الله هي حرة لممشاك فقال رسول الله ص الحمد لله ما رأيت اثني عشر درهما أعظم بركة من هذه كسا الله بها عاريين و أعتق نسمة

Then he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) returned to the market to purchase with the remaining four dirham a shirt, he wore it and praised Allāh (عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ), and on his return to his (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) house, he saw the (same) slave girl who was sitting on the street crying, so he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said to her: ‘Why haven’t you returned to your master?’ She said: ‘O Messenger of Allāh, I have delayed in returning to them, and I fear they will beat me’ So the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said: ‘Walk in front of me and guide me to your master, and the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) went until he stopped at the door of the house, then he said: ‘al-Salaamu `Alaykum, O people of house’, and no one responded to him. And the Messenger of Allāh repeated the Salām, and no one responded and he repeated the Salām, and they said: ‘Wa `Alayka al-Salaam Wa Rahmah Allāh Wa Barakaatuh, O Messenger of Allāh’. So he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said: ‘Why did you abandon answering my Salām the first and second (time)?’ So they said: ‘O Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), we love to hear you speak often’. So the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said: ‘Here is your slave girl, she has delayed (returning) to you, but do not harm her’. So they said: ‘O Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) she is free because you came’ So the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said: ‘Praise be to Allāh, look at what great blessing this twelve dirham is, this has clothed two naked people and has freed a person’

Source:

1.     Al-Sadūq, al-KhiSāl, (Qum: Mu`assassah al-Nashr al-Islāmī, 2^nd ed., 1403), vol. 2, ch. 12, pg. 490-491, hadeeth # 69

Decorating the Qur'an in Gold

We see many times that the Qur’ān is decorated in gold or even written in gold. According to the Ahl al-Bayt (عليهم السلام) this is incorrect, and they do not like that the Qur’ān be decorated in gold.  Here is a Muwaththaq (Reliable) ḥadīth that a man asked Imām al-Sādiq (عليه السلام) about decorated the Qur’ān in gold, the Imām (عليه السلام) said this is incorrect.

The second ḥadīth that is found in al-Kulaynī’s al-Kāfī says the Imām (عليه السلام) did not object to a Qur’ān being decorated in gold, he (عليه السلام) only objected to the Qur’ān being written in gold. This ḥadīth is da`īf (weak), because the primary narrator (Muhammad bin al-Warrāq) from the Imām in red is majhūl (uknown).

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ يُعَشِّرُ الْمَصَاحِفَ بِالذَّهَبِ فَقَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ مَعِيشَتِي فَقَالَ إِنَّكَ إِنْ تَرَكْتَهُ لِلَّهِ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكَ مَخْرَجاً

From Samā`ah said I asked him (عليه السلام) about a man decorating the masāḥif (The Qur’ān) with gold? So he (عليه السلام) said: ‘This is not correct.’ So he (the man) said: ‘That is my livelihood.’ So he (عليه السلام) said: ‘If you abandon it for (the sake) of Allāh, Allāh will make for you an escape (way out)’

Source:

1. Al-Tūsī, Tahdhīb al-Aḥkām, 10 vols., (Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyyah, 4^th Edition, 1407 AH), vol. 6, pg. 366, hadeeth # 176

Grading:

1. Al-Majlisī said this hadeeth is Muwaththaq (Reliable)à Milādh al-Akhyār, 16 vols., (Qum: Maktabah Ayatollah al-Mar`ashī al-Najafī, 1406 AH), vol. 10, pg. 361

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْوَرَّاقِ قَالَ عَرَضْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كِتَاباً فِيهِ قُرْآنٌ مُخَتَّمٌ مُعَشَّرٌ بِالذَّهَبِ وَ كُتِبَ فِي آخِرِهِ سُورَةٌ بِالذَّهَبِ فَأَرَيْتُهُ إِيَّاهُ فَلَمْ يَعِبْ فِيهِ شَيْئاً إِلَّا كِتَابَةَ الْقُرْآنِ بِالذَّهَبِ وَ قَالَ لَا يُعْجِبُنِي أَنْ يُكْتَبَ الْقُرْآنُ إِلَّا بِالسَّوَادِ كَمَا كُتِبَ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ

From Muhammad bin al-Warrāq said, I presented a Qur’ān to Abī `Abd Allāh (عليه السلام) that was decorated with gold and the final chapters were written in gold. So I showed it to him, and he did not criticize anything in it, except the writing of the Qur’ān in gold. So he (عليه السلام) said: “I am not pleased that the Qur’ān is written in (anything) except in black, like it was written the first time”

Source:

1. Al-Kulaynī, Al-Kāfī, ed. `Alī Akbar al-Ghaffārī, 8 vols., (Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyyah, 3^rd Edition, 1388 AH), vol. 2, pg. 629, hadeeth # 8

Grading:

1. Al-Majlisī said this hadeeth is Majhūl (Unknown)à Mir’āt Al-`Uqūl, 26 vols., (Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyyah, 1410 AH), vol. 12, pg. 519

Supplicating for Forty Believers Before Supplicating For Yourself

Here is a ḥasan (Good) ḥadīth that says that if you do du’ā for forty mu’minīn before doing du’ā for yourself, your du’ā will be accepted.

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ مَنْ قَدَّمَ أَرْبَعِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ثُمَّ دَعَا اسْتُجِيبَ لَهُ

From Hishām bin Sālim from Abī `Abd Allāh (عليه السلام) said: “Whoever does (du’ā) for forty mu’minīn then does du`aa (for himself), it will be accepted”

Source:

1.     Al-Kulaynī, Al-Kāfī, ed. `Alī Akbar al-Ghaffārī, 8 vols., (Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyyah, 3^rd Edition, 1388 AH), vol. 2, pg. 509, hadeeth # 5

Grading:

1.     Al-Majlisī said this hadeeth is Hasan Kal-Ṣaḥīḥ (Hasan like a Ṣaḥīḥ)
à Mir’āt Al-`Uqūl (Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyyah, 1410 AH), vol. 12, pg. 173

The View of Nepotism in Shia Islam

Here is a Ṣaḥīḥ ḥadīth that talks about Shī`ah Islām’s view on Nepotism. Just because you are from the lineage of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) does not make you any better than any other person, Allāh cares about the person’s taqwah.

حدثنا محمد بن موسى بن المتوكل رحمه الله قال حدثنا محمد بن جعفر الحميري عن أحمد بن محمد بن علي عن الحسن بن محبوب عن علي بن رئاب عن أبي عبيدة الحذاء قال سمعت أبا عبد الله ع يقول لما فتح رسول الله ص مكة قام على الصفا فقال يا بني هاشم يا بني عبد المطلب إني رسول الله إليكم و إني شفيق عليكم لا تقولوا إن محمدا منا فو الله ما أوليائي منكم و لا من غيركم إلا المتقون ألا فلا أعرفكم تأتوني يوم القيامة تحملون الدنيا على رقابكم و يأتي الناس يحملون الآخرة إلا و إني قد أعذرت فيما بيني و بينكم و فيما بين الله عز و جل و بينكم و إن لي عملي و لكم عملكم

From Abī `Ubaydah al-ḥadhā’ said, I heard Abā `Abd Allāh (عليه السلام) and say: “When the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) conquered Makkah, he stood upon al-ṣaffā (hill) and he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said: “O children of Haashim, O children of `Abd al-Muttalib, I am a Messenger of Allaah (sent) to you, and I am compassionate towards you. Do not say, ‘Verily Muhammad is from us’. By Allāh, there are no followers from you and none from other than you except the muttaqūn (ones who have taqwah). I will not recognized you if you come to me on the Day of Judgment bearing this world upon your shoulders. And the people come to me bearing the akhirah. Indeed, I have excused myself from what is between me and you, and what is between Allāh (عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ) and you, and I have my deeds and you have your deeds”

Source:

1.   Al-Sadūq, Sifāt al-Shī`ah (Tehran: Dār al-`Alami, n.d.), pg. 5-6, hadeeth # 8