Chapter 11 - On Numbered Characters

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “On the Resurrection Day people will be assembled together according to their intentions.”

Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: “Three things can save you: 1- Watching out what you say. 2- Crying over your mistakes, 3- Owning a big house.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “Three things raise your rank, three things are compensation for sins, three things are fatal and three things can save you. Greeting, feeding and praying at night when others are asleep raise your rank. Making ablution in cold weather, walking to perform the various prayers, and regularly attending the congregational prayers are compensation for sins. Deep jealousy, following selfish desires and being conceited are all fatal traits. Fearing God the Almighty both in public and private, moderation whether you are rich or poor, and speaking justly whether you are happy or angry are things that can save you.”

Three groups of people will oppress you if you do not oppress them: the ignorant ones, the wives and the servants.”

“Men's following deeds do not hinder Me: 1- Obtaining wealth through illegitimate means, 2- Not paying the dues of property, 3- Improper use of property.”

“Whoever has the following four characteristics is in the Great God's light: 1- Witnessing to God's unity and my Prophethood prevents him from committing sins, 2- Saying “From God we are and to Him is our return” at times of calamity, 3- Saying “Praise be to the Lord of the two worlds” when he receives some blessings, 4- Saying “I ask for forgiveness from Allah and repent to him” whenever he commits a sin.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Four groups of people will receive divine attention on the Resurrection Day: 1- Those who help the oppressed, 2- Those who free a slave, 3- Those who marry off an unmarried man, 4- Those whose holy pilgrimage is accepted.

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “The following four deeds will increase one's daily bread. 1- Being good-tempered, 2- Treating the neighbors with kindness, 3- Not bothering the people, 4- Not being talkative.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “A believer is not immune from the following: 1- Another jealous believer, this being the easiest problem, 2- A hypocrite trying to find his faults, 3- An enemy who fights with him, 4- Satan who tries to corrupt him.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “You cannot enjoy life if you lack the following five: 1- health, 2- security, 3- sufficient wealth, 4- contentment, and 5- a well-matched companion.”

“Seek refuge in God from the Fire under the following conditions: (1) Whenever widespread sexual corruption appears in a society, new illnesses and plagues will become epidemic, (2) whenever sellers cheat the buyers they will face high living expenses, the oppression of the king and famine, (3) whenever the people abandon the alms tax, it will not rain much, just some for the sake of animals, (4) whenever the people break their covenant with God and His Prophets, their enemies will conquer them and capture some of their wealth, and (5) whenever the people decree against divinely descended decrees, they will have fights among themselves and God will leave them alone.”

Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: “God the Almighty will punish six groups of people: 1- Arabs for racism, 2- The headmen, or chiefs of a village or town for haughtiness, 3- Rulers for oppression, 4- Jurisprudents for jealousy, 5- Businessmen for cheating, 6- Villagers for ignorance.”

“There are eight groups of people whose prayers are not accepted by God; 1- A runaway slave until he returns to his master, 2- A woman who does not give in to her husband and he is not happy with her, 3- One who does not pay the alms tax, 4- One who does not make ablution, 5- An adult girl who prays without a veil, 6- A prayer leader whose followers consider him not to be trustworthy, 7- One who has to go to the toilet but does not do so, 8- One who is drunk.”

“Gabriel informed me that eating dates has nine benefits: 1- It cuts off the hands of Satan, 2- It strengthens the back, 3- It increases sex drive, 4- It improves hearing and vision, 5- It brings man closer to God, 6- It takes man farther away from Satan, 7- It helps digest food, 8- It eliminates pain, 9- It makes your breath smell good.”

“Possessing the following four wil l perfect your Islam and eliminate your sins, and you will meet your Lord while God is pleased with you: 1- Fulfilling your promises to the people, 2-Being honest with the people, 3- Being ashamed of what is shameful near God and the people, 4- Being good- tempered with your family.”

“My nation should always do the following four: 1- They should love those who repent, 2- They should be sympathetic with the weak, 3- They should help the good-doers, 4- They should pray for all the people.”