Adequacy

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) say, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, ‘The most envied person among My servants is a man whose needs are light, has a good share in prayer, who performs the worship of his Lord unseen, is obscure among the people, whose expenses are within the limits of bare necessities with which he exercises patience, whose death is quick (like a dead person free from worldly desires) and whose heirs and mourners are very few.’”

“Tuba (a tree in paradise) is for those who have become Muslims and whose expenses are within the limits of bare necessities.”

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘O Allah, grant Muhammad, the family of Muhammad and those who love Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, chastity in their personality, and sustenance enough for their exact necessities. Give those who hate Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, property and children.’”

“The Messenger of Allah once passed by a shepherd of camels and asked him for a drink and he said, ‘The milk in their udder is for the morning drink of the people of the village and the milk in the containers is for their evening drink.’ The Messenger of Allah then prayed, ‘O Lord, give him many children and much wealth.’ The Messenger of Allah then passed by a shepherd of sheep and sent his people to ask him for a drink. He milked them and poured it from his milk container altogether in the container for the Messenger of Allah. Along with all the milk he also sent a sheep for him, saying, ‘This is what we have and we can bring you more if you like.’ The Imam said, ‘The Messenger of Allah prayed for him, “O Lord, give him sustenance adequate only for his bare necessities.” A certain man of his companion then asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, how is it that you prayed for the shepherd who refused to give you any milk in such a way that we all love. However, for the one who readily provided what you asked, you prayed for him with a prayer that we all dislike?’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘The little thing that is adequate is better than a great deal that diverts one’s mind (from Allah). O Lord, grant to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad only that much which is adequate for them.’”

“Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘I find My believing servant depressed if I provide his sustenance in stringent measures; a condition that is closer to Me but 1 find My believing servant happier when I provide his sustenance plentifully; however, such condition is further away from Me.’”

“The Messenger of Allah has said that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘The most enviable among My friends is a believer who has his share of salvation, performs the worship of his Lord well, worships Allah privately, is obscure among people and no finger rises to point him out. His sustenance is only adequate for his basic needs and he bears it patiently. I cause him to die faster, thus his legacy is little and his mourners are very few.’”