On Etiquette and Encouraging Others to do Good

“I told Abū ʿAbdillāh (a), ‘I only get to meet you once every few years, so give me some advice that I can adopt [in the meantime].’ He said, ‘I advise you to be mindful of Allah, to espouse piety, and struggle [for the sake of Allah]. And beware of aspiring to the position of one who is above you. Indeed, what Allah, to Whom belong might and majesty, told the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) [about this] is sufficient: So do not be impressed by their wealth and children (Q9:55). And He said: And do not extend your gaze [yearningly] at what We have provided their groups of the embellishment of the life of this world (Q20:131). Indeed, if you fear any of this [happening to you] then recall the life of the Messenger of Allah (ṣ),

“I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) say, ‘Indeed I dislike a man who seeks to please his Lord with something while not having anything better than it [to offer]. So when I see him prolonging his bowing I say: O [base] soul! And when I see him prolonging his prostration, I say: O [base] soul!’”[1]

“Should I not inform you about Islam: its branch, its root, its summit and its peak?” I said, “Yes, indeed, may I be your ransom!” He said, “As for its root [and foundation], it is prayer; as for its branch, it is zakāt (alms-tax); as for its summit and peak, it is jihād (holy struggle).”

The best things through which the supplicants can entreat Allah are: faith in Allah and His Messenger, jihād in the way of Allah, acknowledgement of [His] oneness (kalimat al-ikhlāṣ) – for indeed it is something [that is embedded] in the innate nature (fiṭrah), establishing prayer – forindeed it is the [pillar of the] creed (millah), giving the zakāt (alms-tax) – for indeed it is part of what is obligatorily due to Allah, fasting in the month of Ramaḍān – forindeed it is a shield from His chastisement, pilgrimage to the House [of Allah] – forindeed it alleviates poverty and wipes away sin, maintaining ties with near of kin – for indeed it is a means of increasing one’s wealth and delaying one’s death, giving charity in secret – for indeed it does away with sin and extinguishes divine wrath, and [doing] good turns – for indeed they repel tragic death and protect [one] from falling into disrepute [and disgrace]. Ensure that you are [always] honest, for Allah is with the one who is truthful, and turn aside from falsehood, for indeed lies take one away from faith. Know that the truthful one is close to salvation and honor, while the liar is on the brink of humiliation and destruction. Speak [only] what is good and you will be known for it, act upon it and you will become one of its folk. Return the trust to the one who entrusted it to you, and keep ties with the near of kin and turn towards them in kindness.”

“I heard a statement that was attributed to the Prophet (ṣ), that he said, ‘The felicitous is he who was felicitous in the womb of his mother, and the wretched is he who was wretched in the womb of his mother. And the felicitous is he who takes admonition from [the condition of] others. The most sagacious of all is he who is Godwary while the most foolish of all is he who is morally corrupt. The worst of narrations is the false narration, and the worst of affairs are those that are innovated [in religion]. The worst blindness is the blindness of the heart, and the worst regret is when death comes to one of you. The greatest regret is the regret on the Day of Resurrection, and the greatest sin in the sight of Allah is that of a lying tongue. The worst profit is that which is earned through interest, and the worst provision is that which is consumed wrongfully from the wealth of orphans. The best adornment for a man is righteous guidance with faith, through it he acquires control of his affair and ensures a good end [to his worldly life]. He who desires renown, Allah causes him to be disgraced, and whoever relies on this world is let down [and rendered unable to attain what he seeks]. Whoever understands [the reality of] trial remains patient when faced by it, but he who does not understand it recoils [from it]. Sin is disbelief, and whoever acts arrogantly is abased by Allah. Whoever obeys Satan disobeys Allah, and whoever disobeys Allah will be punished by Him. Whoever is grateful He grants him more.” Al-Qāsim said in his narration, “Whoever bears the calamity [that befalls him] patiently, Allah will restore him [to his previous position, or better than that], and whoever puts his trust in Allah, then Allah will suffice him. Do not anger Allah for the sake of pleasing anyone among His creation, and do not [attempt to] get close to anyone among the creatures by distancing yourself from Allah, for verily there is nothing between Allah and any of His creation by which He grants him some good or repels from him something evil except through obedience to Him. Indeed, obedience to Allah is a means of successfully attaining all the good that is sought and deliverance from every evil that is dreaded. Verily Allah protects the one who obeys Him and does not protect the one who disobeys Him; and the fugitive from Allah finds no place to [which he may] escape. Certainly, the decree of Allah will come to pass even if the creatures are averse to it, and everything that approaches is near. Whatever Allah wills happens, and whatever He does not will does not happen. Assist each other in virtue and Godwariness, and do not cooperate in sin and transgression; and be mindful of Allah, indeed Allah is severe in punishment.’”

“I asked Abā ʿAbdillāh (a), ‘Is an hour of contemplation better than standing vigil [in worship] at night?’ He replied, ‘Yes. The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said that an hour of contemplation is better than standing for nightly-worship.’ I asked, ‘How should one contemplate?’ He said, ‘One should pass by ruins and [long abandoned] dwellings and [think to himself]saying, “Where are your inhabitants? Where are those who constructed you? Why do you not respond!?”’”

“The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said in a sermon, ‘Should I not inform you about the best of creation in this world and the Hereafter? [It is] the forgiveness offered to one who wrongs you, the good that is done to one who does you evil, and giving one who deprives you.’ And the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said, ‘In mutual hatred there is severance. I do not mean the severing of hair [through shaving]; rather, I mean the severance of faith.’”

“Abū ʿAbdillāh said to me, ‘Let people not delude you from yourself, for verily recompense [for your deeds] will reach you, not them. And let your day not be spent on this and that [which is of no benefit], for indeed with you is one who records your deeds. And do not consider the little good [you do] to be insignificant, for indeed you will see it tomorrow in a way that will please you. And do not consider the little evil [you do] to be insignificant, for indeed you will see it tomorrow in a manner that will displease you. And do good [to others], for I have not seen anything more intense in seeking out, nor quicker in catching up with, an old sin [and effacing it] than a good deed. Indeed Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says: Verily good deeds wipe out evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful. (Q11:114)”

“I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) saying to a man, ‘Why is it that you hurt the Messenger of Allah (ṣ)?’ So the man said to him, ‘May I be your ransom! How do we hurt him?’ He said, ‘Do you not know that your actions are presented to him? So when he sees that they contain [acts of] disobedience to Allah, that hurts him. Do not hurt the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) and please him [instead (by your good deeds)].’”

“I heard Abā alḤasan Mūsā (a) saying, ‘Do not consider [your] many good deeds as abundant, and do not consider [your] few sins as paltry, for verily sins that are few keep accumulating until they become many. And fear Allah in [both] private and public, until you behave in a fair manner [with others]. Hasten towards the obedience of Allah, be truthful in speech, and fulfil the trust [that is entrusted to you], for indeed this is for your own benefit. Do not oppress [anyone] and do not enter into that which is impermissible for you, as that is to your detriment.’”

“Whoever loves for the sake of Allah, hates for the sake of Allah, and gives for the sake of Allah, is among those whose faith is complete.”

12.Also [narrated] from him (a), that he said, “Among the firmest handles of faith are that you love for Allah, hate for Allah, give for Allah, and withhold for Allah.”

“I asked Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) about the verse wherein Allah, the Exalted, says: Guard yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is humans and stones (Q66:6), and said, ‘This is my soul that I am guarding, but how should I guard my family?’ He replied, ‘By instructing them to do as Allah has commanded, and forbidding them from what Allah has forbidden. Then if they obey you, you will have guarded them [from it], but if they disobey you, you will have fulfilled your responsibility.’”

“I asked Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) about the verse wherein Allah, to Whom belong might and majesty, says: Be mindful of Allah in the manner which He deserves (Q3:102), so he said, ‘He is to be obeyed and never disobeyed, remembered and never forgotten, thanked and never shown ingratitude.’”

“Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) said, ‘Three things are such that people cannot [easily] bear them: pardoning [the wrongs of] others, assisting someone [else] with one’s wealth, and remembering Allah often.’” Ibn Abī Yaʿqūb said, “Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) said, ‘Whoever speaks regarding [a matter pertaining to] justice yet goes against it [himself] to something else, he shall be burdened with [great] regret on the Day of Resurrection.’”

“I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) say, ‘Beware of the violent strikes of Allah by night and by day.’ So I asked, ‘What are the violent strikes of Allah?’ He said, ‘His punishment for [your] sins.’”

“ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn (a) said, ‘One who acts upon what Allah has made obligatory on him, he is among the best of people; and whoever eschews what Allah has forbidden him, he is among the most devoted of people; and whoever is content with what Allah has allotted for him, he is among the richest of people.’”

“Woe be to the one who does not obey Allah through enjoining good and forbidding evil.” He [further] said, “Whoever says ‘There is no god but Allah’ will never go through the heavenly realms until his statement is complemented with righteous action. And one who submits to Allah without following a just Imām has no religion; and one who submits to Allah yet obeys an unjust person has no religion.” He [also] said, “All communities were deluded by seeking more [of this world than others], until they visited the graves.” He [further] said, “One who does good and does not sin is better than one who does good and [also] sins. And one who does good and sins is better than one who [only] sins and does no good.” And he said, “Stopping when in doubt is better than plunging into destruction.”

I advise you to espouse Godwariness, be truthful in [your] speech, return the trusts [entrusted to you], and be a good companion to the one who accompanies you. In the moments just before sunrise and sunset, supplicate [to Allah] and strive hard [to maintain this practice], and do not hold back from asking anything from your Lord. Do not say [to yourself], ‘This is something that He will not grant me,’ and supplicate [for everything you need], for verily Allah does as He wills.”

“Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) said, ‘Treat people with fairness, assist them with your wealth, and wish for them what you wish for yourself. Remember Allah often and beware of laziness and ennui, for that's what my father used to advise me, and that is what his father would advise him, and it pertains [even more so] to the nightly prayer. Indeed if you are lazy, you will not fulfill the right of Allah and if you are lethargic, you will not fulfill anyone else’s right.’”

“A man sought permission from the family of the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) to enter [his house], then he said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, advise me.’ He (ṣ) said to him, ‘I advise you not to ascribe any partners to Allah – even if you are cut into pieces and burnt with fire, and not to disobey your parents – if they wish you to leave your [position in this] world then leave it, and not to curse people, and when you meet your Muslim brother, meet him with a cheerful face, and pour for him the extra water you have in your bucket.[1] Convey to the Muslims you meet salutations from me, and invite people to Islam – be sure that [in doing so,] for each person who responds [positively] to you, you will gain the reward of freeing a slave from the descendants of [Prophet] Yaʿqūb, and teach them that alṣughrāb [or al-ṣughayrāʾ] is forbidden upon them, meaning nabīdh, which is a [kind of] wine, and every intoxicant is forbidden.’”

“A bedouin came to the Prophet (ṣ) and took hold of the bridle of his mount as he was proceeding to one of his battles. Then he said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, teach me an action by which I may enter Paradise!’ He (ṣ) replied, ‘Whatever you like people to give to you, give to them, and whatever you dislike them to give to you, do not give to them. Now let go of the mount.’”

“I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) saying, ‘Verily the righteous deed goes to Paradise and paves the way for its doer just as a man sends his servant boy to prepare a place for him.’ Then he recited: ‘As for those who believe and do good deeds, they prepare for themselves [their eternal abode] (Q30:44).’”

“The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said to ʿAlī (a), ‘O ʿAlī, I advise you to espouse certain qualities, so learn them from me. O Allah, help him [to do so]! As for the first one, it is truthfulness – never let any lie be spoken from your mouth. The second is piety – never act treacherously. The third is fearing Allah as though you see Him. The fourth is crying out of fear [and awe] of Allah – for each tear a mansion will be built for you in Paradise. The fifth is spending your wealth and blood for your religion. The sixth is adhering to my sunnah in my prayers, my fasting and my giving charity. As for my prayer, it is fifty-one [rakʿahs]; as for my fasting, it is three days in every month, in its beginning, middle, and end; as for my charity, it is to spare no effort [in assisting the needy] until it is said that you have been extravagant, while you have not been extravagant. I bid you to maintain the nightly prayer, maintain the nightly prayer, maintain the nightly prayer! And I bid you to maintain the midday prayer, maintain the midday prayer, maintain the midday prayer! I bid you to recite the Qurʾān in every condition. And I bid you to raise your hands in supplication and then turn them back [towards yourself]. I bid you to brush your teeth during every ablution and prayer. And I bid you to [espouse] beautiful moral traits so inculcate them [in yourself], and I warn you against evil traits so eschew them. Then if you do not act upon what I advise you [herewith], then do not blame anyone but yourself [for the consequences].’”

“I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) say, ‘Maintain ties with each other, be kind to each other, have compassion for one another, and be righteous brothers as Allah has commanded you.’”

“Soften your speech with [even] the hypocrite, love the faithful believer sincerely, and [even] if a Jew were to sit with you, then be gracious in his company.”

“I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) say, ‘Verily Allah revealed to Ādam (a), “I have gathered for you all ordinances in four statements.” He asked, “What are they, O Lord?” He said, “One is for Me, one is for you, one is between Me and you, and one is between you and the people.” He (Ādam) said, “Explain them to me, O Lord, so that I may act upon them.” He said, “As for that which is for Me, it is that you worship Me and do not ascribe anything as a partner to Me. As for that which is for you, it is that I will recompense you for your actions when you are most in need of it. As for that which is between Me and you, it is upon you to supplicate to Me and it is upon Me to answer you. As for that which is between you and the people, it is that you should like for the people what you like for yourself.”’”

“I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) say, ‘You will not be a [true] believer until you have fear and hope, and until you act upon what you fear and hope for.’”

“I prayed the fajr prayer behind ʿAlī (a) in this mosque of yours, then [after completing the prayer,] he turned towards his right side and had a sorrowful disposition. [He remained there] until the sun rose over the wall of this mosque of yours to the extent of a spear – and it (the same wall) is not there today – then he came to the people and said, ‘Indeed, by Allah, the companions of the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) would spend this night alternating between [worshipping on] their foreheads and their knees [through prostration and bowing] and when morning came, they rose up, dusty and pale, with a mark between their eyes like the knee of a goat. Whenever Allah was mentioned, they would bend the way a tree bends on the windy day, and tears would flow from their eyes until their clothes became wet.’ Then he got up and departed saying, ‘By Allah, it is as though the people are asleep in their negligence.’ Then he was not seen laughing until the wicked one (Ibn Muljam) did what he did.”

[They are fearful] out of their concern and their hope; they fear that their deeds will be rejected if they do not obey Allah – and He has power over all things – and they hope that He accepts [their deeds] from them.”

“He gives what he does [as the people do] [1] while he is full of awe and hope.”

“They perform [good] deeds and know that they will be rewarded for it.”

“Allah, to Whom belong might and majesty, said, ‘By My might and My majesty, by My greatness and My power, by My grandeur and exaltedness, [I swear that] My servant does not prefer My desire over his own desire but that I place needlessness [and contentment] in his soul, make his [primary] concern for his Hereafter, prevent him from suffering loss, guarantee his sustenance from the skies and the earth, and stand behind him [to ensure his benefit] in the transaction of every trader.”