Introduction

God is One and Only

Abandoning the Present to Attain the Promised

Oppressive Characteristics

Characteristics Rooted in Love for Religion

One Characteristic for Five Characteristics

A Characteristic for a Characteristic

A Saving Characteristic

The Loftiest Characteristic of the Religion

No Two Things Combined which are Better than the Combination of Two Characteristics

A Characteristic that is the Honor of This World and the Hereafter

The Most Knowledgeable Person Is One who Combines One Characteristic with Another One

There Is One True Prosperity And One True Misery

A Characteristic for Which the People Deserve to be Rewarded or Punished

A Characteristic that Is the Noblest Holy War

The Hardest Thing is One Characteristic that Cannot Be Avoided Unless We Abandon Another Characteristic

A Believer’s Honor Is in One Characteristic and His Glory Is In Another Characteristic

One Characteristic Is the Key to All Evil

A Characteristic Due to Justice

A Characteristic Due to Which We Are Interested in How Others Judge About Us

Seek Nearness to God with One Characteristic

God Has Not Tested the Servants with Anything Harder Than One Characteristic

A Characteristic that Is the Result of Being Kind

A Characteristic that Stabilizes One’s Faith and One that Makes Him Lose His Faith

A Characteristic that Destroys a Believer’s Dignity

A Good Characteristic Which No Other Characteristic Is Better Than, and a Bad Characteristic That No Other Characteristic Is Worse Than

A Characteristic That Guarantees Who Will Not Become Poor

The Form of Chivalry of the Members of the Holy Household

A Characteristic Due to One’s Chivalry

A Characteristic that Is Not Good for a Dignified Man

God Loves One Characteristic and Despises One Characteristic

One Who has This Characteristic Would Not Be Thankful for Blessings

A Characteristic Due to Humbleness

A Characteristic that Is Close to Blasphemy and A Characteristic that Might Change Destiny

A Characteristic that Destroyed Previous Nations

Martyrdom Is Expiation for Every Sin Except for One’s Debt

God the Almighty Has Sent Muhammad (sw) and His Nation a Gift That He Has Not Given to Any Other Nation

A Characteristic that One Should Have If He Wants to Increase Goodness in His House

God Will Look at Whom He Likes. Once He Looks at Him, He Shall Grant Him One of Three Gifts

The Hereafter is the Wedding of the Pious Ones

A Characteristic That is Like its Opposite

The Most Wicked People Are Those Who Are Respected for Possessing One Characteristic

A Characteristic in This World is Abstinence, and a Characteristic That is Gratitude for all Blessings

Nothing Deserves to Be Restrained More Than the Tongue

Whoever Raises his Aspirations Does Wrong

Good Deeds Are Recorded for a Muslim as Long as He Remains Quiet

A Characteristic Having Which Will Result in God Saving You From the Fear of the Hereafter

The Most Intelligent Characteristic

The Most Pious, the Best Worshipping, the Most Ascetic and the Most Hard-Working People

Becoming Sorry Is the Same as Repenting

Whoever Earns More Than His Meals fom This World

A Characteristic That Deserves to Be Willed

A Characteristic That Causes One to Be Thrown Out and a Characteristic That Causes One to Be Joined

Lofty Characteristics and Bad Characteristics for the People of the World

There Is No Honor Except Through One Characteristic. There Is No Nobility Except Through Another Characteristic

When God Loves a Servant He Will Make Him Suffer from a Great Calamity

A Characteristic That Leads to Hemorrhoids

A Hand on Which There Is an Iron Ring Is Not Clean

Do Not Respond to Whoever Talks Before He Greets You

A Characteristic That if Practiced Implies Despise for Muhammad’s Religion

Only One of the Proverbs of the Prophets Has Remained

When God Wishes a Servant Well, He Will Expedite His Punishment in This World, and When He Wishes Someone Bad, He Will Procrastinate His Punishment

Be Patient with the Enemies of the Blessings

The Prophet (sw) and Ali Ibn Abi Talib Were Created from the Same Root

A Characteristic That is Gratitude for All Blessings

Religion Is the Same as Love

When Two Believers Shake Hands They Shall Depart from Each Other Void of Any Sins

A Characteristic That Revives the Hearts

A Characteristic That Revives the Affairs of the Almighty God’s Proofs

God the Almighty Has Not Created Anything More Delightful Than This Characteristic

A Characteristic That Constitutes Nine-Tenths of Religion

Whoever is Pleased with His Destiny or is Displeased with it

A Characteristic for Which Even Red-Haired Camels Are Not Loved

A Characteristic That Increases the Daily Bread

A Characteristic That Leads to Hypocrisy and Poverty

The First Gift Given to a Believer Due to a Characteristic

A Characteristic for Which One Who Has No Good Deeds is Forgiven on the Resurrection Day

A Characteristic That is the Root of All Sins

How Awkward It Is If a Man Enters Heaven Having Lost His Honor

A Characteristic Doing Which Will Cause the Almighty God to Have Mercy Upon You

A Characteristic Doing Which Will Cause Increased Good for One’s House

On Him Whose Health Has Overcome His Illness but He Treats Himself and Dies

A Characteristic Which a Believer Avoids

Nothing Ruins Faith as Much as One Characteristic Does

One Who Lives to See his Successor Is Prosperous

A Believer’s Honor is More Than That of the Ka’ba

It Suffices for a Believer to See God’s Aid in the Form of His Enemies Engaged in the Almighty God’s Disobedience

A Gift Will Eliminate Animosities

Prosperous Be the One Who is Indifferent

A Characteristic That Will Make One Poor in the Hereafter

A Group of People Who Are the Masters of Heaven

God’s Prophet Made His Ablutions One Organ at a Time

The Characteristic That Is the Best Goodness

The Prophet Put off His Special Prayer for One Characteristic

A Characteristic That is the Best Form of Worshipping and a Characteristic That is the Noblest Form of Being Religious

What Is A Lot but Its Doers Are A Few

A Characteristic That Constitutes Half of the Religion

A Characteristic That is the Best Thing Given to a Muslim

The Prophet and Ali Ibn Abi Talib Were Created from One Light

A Servant’s Well-Being Depends Upon the Well-Being of One of His Organs

20-13 حدثنا أبوالحسن علي بن عبد الله بن أحمد الاسواري المذكر قال: حدثنا أبويوسف أحمد بن محمد بن قيس السجزي المذكر قال: حدثنا أبوالحسن عمر ابن حفص قال: حدثني أبومحمد عبيدالله بن محمد بن أسد ببغداد قال: حدثنا الحسين ابن إبراهيم أبوعلي قال: حدثنا يحيى بن سعيد البصري قال: حدثني ابن جريج عن عطاء، عن عبيد بن عمير الليثي، عن أبي ذر رحمة الله عليه قال: دخلت على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وهو جالس في المسجد وحده، فاغتنمت خلوته فقال لي: يا أباذر للمسجد تحية، قلت: وما تحيته؟ قال: ركعتان تركعهما، فقلت: يا رسوالله إنك أمرتني بالصلاة فما الصلاة قال: خير موضوع فمن شاء أقل ومن شاء أكثر. قلـت: يـا رسول الله أي الاعمال أحب إلي الله عز وجل؟ فقال: إيـمان بالله، وجهاد في سبيله قلت: فأي [وقت] الليل أفضل؟ قال: جوف الليل الغابر، قلت: فأي الصلاة أفضل؟ قال: طول القنوت، قلت: وأي الصدقة أفضل؟ قال: جهد من مقل إلى فقير ذي سن، قلت: ما الصوم؟ قال: فرض مجزي وعند الله أضعاف كثيرة، قلت: فأي الرقاب أفضل؟ قال: أغلاها ثمنا وأنفسها عند أهلها، قلت: فأي الجهاد أفضل قال: من عقر جواده واهريق دمه، قلت: فأي آية أنزلها الله عليك أعظم؟ قال: آية الكرسي. ثم قال: يا أباذر ما السماوات السبع في الكرسي إلا كحلقة ملقاة في أرض فلاة، وفضل العرش على الكرسي كفضل الفلاة على تلك الحلقة، قلت: يا رسول الله كم النبيون؟ قال: مائة ألف وأربعة وعشرون ألف نبي، قلت: كم المرسلون منهم؟ قال: ثلاثمائة وثلاثة عشر جماء غفيراء قلت: من كان أول الانبياء؟ قال: آدم، قلت: وكان من الانبياء مرسلا، قال: نعم خلقه الله بيده ونفخ فيه من روحه. ثم قال صلى الله عليه وآله: يا أباذر أربعة من الانبياء سريانيون: آدم شيث واخنوخ، وهو إدريس عليهم السلام وهو أول من خط بالقلم ونوح عليه السلم. وأربعة من الانبياء من العرب: هود وصالح وشعيب ونبيك محمد. وأول نبي من بني إسرائيل موسى، وآخرهم عيسى، وستمائة نبي، قلت: يا رسول الله كم أنزل الله من كتاب؟ قال: مائة كتاب وأربعة كتب، أنزل الله على شيث خمسين صحيفة، وعلى إدريس ثلاثين صحيفة، وعلى إبراهيم عشرين صحيفة، وأنزل التوراة والانجيل والزبور والفرقان، قلت: يا رسول الله فما كانت صحف إبراهيم؟ قال: كانت أمثالا كلها وكان فيها "أيها الملك المبتلى المغرور إني لم أبعثك لتجمع الدنيا بعضها إلى بعض ولكن بعثتك لترد عني دعوة المظلوم، فإني لا أردها وإن كانت من كافر، وعلى العاقل ما لم يكن مغلوبا على عقله أن يكون له ساعات: ساعة يناجي فيها ربه عز وجل، وساعة يحاسب نفسه، وساعة يتفكر فيما صنع الله عز وجل إليه، وساعة يخلو فيها بحظ نفسه من الحلال، فإن هذه الساعة عون لتلك الساعات واستجمام للقلوب، وتوزيع لها، وعلى العاقل أن يكون بصيرا بزمانه، مقبلا على شأنه، حافظا للسانه، فإن من حسب كلامه من عمله قل كلامه إلا فيما يعنيه، وعلى العاقل أن يكون طالبا لثلاث: مرمة لمعاش أو تزود لمعاد أو تلذذ في غير محرم ". قلت: يا رسول الله فما كانت صحف موسى؟ قال: كانت عبرانية كلها، وفيها "عجبت لمن أيقن بالموت كيف يفرح، ولمن أيقن بالنار لم يضحك، ولمن يرى الدنيا وتقلبها بأهلها لم يطمئن إليها، ولمن يؤمن بالقدر كيف ينصب ولمن أيقن بالحساب لم لا يعمل ". قلت: يا رسول الله هل في أيدينا مما أنزل الله عليك شيء مما كان في صحف إبراهيم وموسى؟ قال: يا أباذر اقرأ "قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى. وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّى. بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ الْحَيَوةَ الدُّنْيَا. وَالآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى. إِنَّ هَذَا لَفِي الصُّحُفِ الأُولَى. صُحُفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى ." قلت: يا رسول الله: أوصني، قال: اوصيك بتقوى الله فإنه رأس الامر كله، قلت: زدني قال: عليك بتلاوة القرآن، وذكر الله كثيرا، فإنه ذكر لك في السماء، ونور لك في الارض،قلت: زدني، قال: عليك بطول الصمت فإنه مطردة للشياطين، وعون لـك علـى أمـر دينـك. قلـت: زدنـي.، قال: إياك وكثرة الضحك فإنه يميت القلب ويذهب بنور الوجه، قلت: يا رسول الله زدني، قال: انظر إلى من هو تحتك ولا تنظر إلى من هو فوقك فانه أجدر أن لا تزدري نعمة الله عليك، قلت: يا رسول الله زدني، قال: صل قرابتك وإن قطعوك، قلت: زدني، قال: احب المساكين ومجالستهم، قلت: زدني، قال: قل الحق وإن كان مرا، قلت: زدني قال: لا تخف في الله لومة لائم، قلت: زدني، قال: ليحجزك عن الناس ما تعلم من نفسك، ولا تجد عليهم فيما تأتي [مثله].ثم قال: كفى بالمرء عيبا أن يكون فيه ثلاث خصال: يعرف من الناس ما يجهل من نفسه، ويستحيي لهم مما هو فيه، ويؤذي جليسه بما لا يعنيه، ثم قال عليه السلام: لا عقل كالتدبير، ولا ورع كالكف، ولا حسب كحسن الخلق

20-13 Abul Hassan Ali ibn Abdullah ibn Ahmad al-Asvari narrated that Abu Yusuf Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Qays al-Sejezi al-Mozakar quoted Abul Hassan Amr ibn Hafs, on the authority of Abu Muhammad Ubaydullah ibn Muhammad ibn Asad in Baghdad, on the authority of Al-Hussein ibn Ibrahim Abu Ali, on the authority of Yahya ibn Sa’id al-Basry, on the authority of Ibn Jarih, on the authority of Ata, on the authority of Ubayd ibn Umar al-Laysee, on the authority of Abuzar, “I went to see God’s Prophet (MGB). He (MGB) was sitting alone in the mosque. The Prophet (MGB) was alone so I enjoyed his company in private. He (MGB) told me, ‘O Abuzar! The mosque has certain salutations.’ I asked, ‘What is the mosque’s salutation?’ He (MGB) said, ‘Two units of prayers.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! You are ordering me to say prayers. What are prayers?’ He (MGB) said, ‘It is the best thing. Anyone who wants to say more of it can do so and anyone who wishes to say less of it can do so.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! What is most loved by the Honorable the Exalted God?’ He said, ‘Believing in God and participating in a holy war in His way.’ I asked, ‘What is the best time to pray?’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘In the darkness of the night.’ I asked, ‘What is the best part of praying?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘The lengthening of the Qunut . I asked, ‘What is the best form of giving charity?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘The little bit of charity that a poor man gives an old needy person.’ I asked, ‘What is fasting?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘It is an obligatory act which has a reward near God and is reckoned several-fold by God.’ I asked, ‘Which is the best form of freeing a slave?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘Freeing one who is more expensive and dearer to his family.’ I asked, ‘What is the best form of holy war?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘The one in which one rides his own horse and fights until his blood is shed.’ I asked, ‘Which of the verses of the Holy Quran which God has sent upon you is greater?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘The verse of the Throne (Ayat al-Kursi).’ Then The Prophet (MGB) added, ‘O Abuzar! The seven heavens compared to the Throne are like a ring that has fallen in a broad region of space and the size of the Empyrean Heaven compared to the Throne is like that of a desert in comparison with a ring. I asked, ‘O Prophet of God! How many Prophets were there?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘There have been one-hundred twenty-four thousand Prophets.’ I asked, ‘How many of them were Messengers?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘Three-hundred and thirteen of them that is a large number.’ I asked, ‘Who was the first Prophet?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘Adam.’ I asked, ‘Was he one of the Messengers?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘Yes. God created him with His own Hand and gave to him of His own Spirit.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) added, “O Abuzar! Four of the Prophets spoke in Syriac language namely Adam (MGB); Shees (MGB); Akhnookh - that is Idris (MGB) who is the first to inscribe with a pen and Noah (MGB). Four of the Prophets have been Arabs. They were Hood, Salih, Shoayb and your Prophet Muhammad! The first of the Prophets from the Children of Israel was Moses (MGB) and the last of them was Jesus (MGB). Six-hundred Prophets were from the Children of Israel.’ I asked, ‘O Prophet of God! How many Books did God reveal?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘God revealed one-hundred and four Books. God revealed fifty leafs (Sahifa’s) to Shees, thirty leafs (Sahifa’s) to Idris, twenty leafs (Sahifa’s) to Abraham. God also revealed the Torah, the Bible, the Psalms of David and the Quran.’ I asked, ‘O Prophet of God! What was the leaf sent to Abraham about?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘It all contained proverbs and pieces of advice such as ‘O proud king! I did not appoint you to collect worldly wealth! Rather I appointed you so that you do not let the oppressed ask me for their needs! I shall not turn down the prayers of the oppressed even if they are atheists. A wise man whose mind has not been overwhelmed should divide up his time into three portions. He should supplicate to his Honorable and the Exalted Lord in one portion of his time. He should reckon his deeds in another portion of his time. And in the third portion he should ponder over what the Honorable the Exalted God has created. He should also spent some time in private to enjoy the lawful pleasures. This would assist him in the performance of what he has to do in the other portions of his time. It would calm his heart and prepare him for the rest of his deeds. A wise man should see his life’s condition, recognize his own position and keep his tongue in his mouth. One who considers what he says as a part of his deeds would speak a little and only when it would benefit him. A wise man should always seeks three things. He should either improve his life, provide the savings for the Hereafter, or enjoy the lawful things.’ I asked, ‘O Prophet of God! What was the leaf revealed to Moses about?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘It was all in Hebrew. It contained advice such as, ‘I wonder how one who believes in death can be happy! I wonder how one who believes in the Reckoning and the Resurrection Day can laugh! I wonder how one who has seen this world and its vicissitudes can trust it! I wonder how one who believes in destiny can exert useless efforts! I wonder how one who believes in the Reckoning of deeds doesn’t do anything for his eternity?’ I asked, ‘O Prophet of God! Do we have any of what God revealed to Moses and Abraham in what God has revealed to you?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘O Abuzar! Read: ‘He is successful who growth, And remembereth the name of his Lord, so prayeth. But ye prefer the life of the world although the Hereafter is better and more lasting. Lo! This is in the former scrolls: The Book of Abraham and Moses.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! Please give me some advice.’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘I advise you to fear God as that is the utmost important issue.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! Give me more advice.’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘I advise you to recite the Quran, remember God often as possible, since then you will be remembered in the Heavens and your light shall shine upon the Earth.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! Please give me more advice.’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘I advise you to be as quiet as possible, since that would fend off Satan who is the main enemy of your religion.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! Give me more advice.’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘I admonish you against laughing a lot, since that would cause the heart to perish and the light of your face to fade.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! Please give me more advice.’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘I advise you to always consider the situation of the people who are in an inferior position than you are, not those who are in a better position than you are. This way you will be more grateful for what God has bestowed upon you.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! Please give me more advice.’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘I advise you to visit your relations of kin even if they may have cut off from you.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! Please give me more advice.’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘I advise you to like the poor and associate with them.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! Please give me more advice.’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘I advise you to tell the truth even though it may be unpleasant.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! Please give me more advice.’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘I advise you not to fear the blame of those who blame you for the sake of God.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! Please give me more advice.’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘I advise you that what you know about yourself should hinder you from finding faults with others.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) said, ‘It is bad enough for one to have three characteristics: to know faults in others while he himself has them and is unaware of them; to feel ashamed of what others do while he himself has those characteristics to be ashamed of; and unduly hurt his companions.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) added, ‘There is no intellect better than moderation; there is no piety like abstinence from the acts that God has forbidden; and there is no good thing like being good-tempered.’

Al-Khiṣāl

Book 21, Chapter 9