Chapter 4 - On Peace of Mind — Mishkāt al-Anwār

hadith 1647

In Elal al-Sharayeh it is narrated that Abdul Rahman said to Imam Kazim (a.s): “Sometimes I get so sad that I cannot recognize my family, property or children.” Imam Kazim (a.s) said

“Every person has a special angel and an evil one. When you get happy, the angel approaches you, and when you get sad, the evil one will approach you. This is the interpretation of the Almighty God's statement: “The Evil One threatens you with poverty and bids you to conduct unseemly. God promiseth you His forgiveness and bounties. And God careth for all and He knoweth all things.” [The Holy Quran: Baqara 2:268]

من كتاب علل الشرائع: قال عبد الرحمان لأبي عبد الله (عليه السلام): إني ربما حزنت فلا أعرف في أهل ولا مال ولا ولد، وربما فرحت فلا أعرف في أهل ولا مال ولا ولد، فقال: إنه ليس من أحد إلا ومعه ملك وشيطان، فإذا كان فرحه كان دنو الملك منه، وإذا كان حزنه كان دنو الشيطان منه، وذلك قول الله عز وجل: ﴿الشيطان يعدكم الفقر ويأمركم بالفحشاء والله يعدكم مغفرة منه وفضلا والله واسع عليم﴾.

hadith 1648

In Al-Mahasin it is narrated that Imam Baqir (a.s) said

“If the believers did not insist on their demands for a better life, God would have made their lives even harder.”

من كتاب المحاسن: عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) قال

لولا إلحاح المؤمنين على الله عز وجل في طلب الرزق لنقلهم من الحال التي هم فيها إلى حال هي أضيق منها.

hadith 1649

The disciples of Jesus (a.s) complained to him about the people humiliating them. He said: “Be patient. The believers always experience the animosity of others towards them. Their similitude is like that of wheat that is sweet but has lots of enemies.”

شكا الحواريون إلى عيسى بن مريم تهاون الناس بهم وبغضهم لهم، فقال: اصبروا، كذلك المؤمنون مبغضون في الناس، مثلهم كمثل القمح ما أحلى مذاقها وأكثر أعداءها.

hadith 1650

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Those who love to become unknown, and those who like to remain unknown will become famous.”

عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) قال

من أحب أن يذكر خمل، ومن أحب أن يخمل ذكر.

hadith 1651

Imam Sadiq (a.s) quoted on the authority of God's Prophet (a.s): “Islam was strange at first, and will soon return to its original state. Blessed be strangers! Then he said

“Have you not seen any good men in a tribe about whom they say: He is like a stranger among them?”

عنه (عليه السلام) قال

قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله): إن الإسلام بدأ غريبا وسيعود كما بدأ، فطوبى للغرباء، ثم قال: أما رأيت الرجل يكون في القبيلة صالحا، فيقال: إن فلانا لغريب فيهم.

hadith 1652

Imam Sajjad (a.s) said: “God's Prophet passed by a cameleer. He sent someone to ask for some milk. The cameleer said: “What is in the pans is the dinner for the tribe and what is in their breasts is the breakfast for the tribe.” The Prophet (a.s) said: “O' God! Please increase his wealth and children.” Then he went on until they reached a shepherd. He sent someone to ask for some milk. The shepherd milked the sheep and gave all the milk in the pans plus that milk to the Prophet, along with one sheep and said: “This was what we had, and we will even give you more if you want.” God's Prophet (a.s) said: “O' God! Please give him only his sustenance.” One of the companions said: “O' Prophet of God! You prayed the way we all like to be prayed for, for the man who turned you down. But you prayed the way none of us like to be prayed for the man who fulfilled your needs.” God's Prophet (a.s) said: “What is available but is little is better than what is a lot but takes away one's peace of mind. O' God! Please provide for Muhammad and his family just their sustenance.”

عن علي بن الحسين (عليهما السلام) قال

مر رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله) براعي إبل فبعث إليه يستسقيه، فقال: أما ما في ضروعها فصبوح الحي وأما ما في آنيتها فغبوقهم، فقال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله): اللهم أكثر ماله وولده، ثم مر براعي غنم فبعث إليه يستسقيه، فحلب له ما في ضروعها وأكفأ ما في إنائه في إناء رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله) وبعث إليه بشاة، وقال: هذا ما عندنا، وإن أحببت أن نزيدك زدناك، فقال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله): اللهم ارزقه الكفاف، فقال له بعض أصحابه: يا رسول الله، دعوت للذي ردك بدعاء عامتنا نحبه، ودعوت للذي أسعفك بحاجتك بدعاء كلنا نكرهه، فقال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله): إن ما قل وكفى خير مما كثر وألهى، اللهم اجعل رزق محمد وآل محمد الكفاف.

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