Registering Good Deeds

Condition for the Acceptance of Acts of Devotion.

Al-Harith Al-Hamadani and ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (as)

Four Habits from the treasures of Virtue

Helping a needy Mu’min

The Place of ‘Ali (as)

Dying with the love of ‘Ali (as)

The most beloved steps by a Mu’min

Witnessing Hearts

Reconciliation among people

Provision from unexpected quarters

On being mindful - not conceited

Love of Ahlul Bayt leads to Paradise

The System of Islam

Adam, Noah, Ibrahim & ‘Ali (as)

Mu’awiya’s Discussion on Imamah and Khilafa with Abdullah ibn Abbas

Words of Wisdom from Ibn Hanafiyya

On Ahlul Bayt (as)

Nine Testify to the Wilayah of ‘Ali (as)

Master Herein, Master Hereafter

Supplicate Constantly

Adopting Ignorant Leaders

Five Prostrations for glad tidings

Abu Hanifa acknowledges al-Sadiq’s authority

When the Angel came to greet ‘Ali (as)

The Prophet’s (SAW) inheritance: Knowledge of the unseen

Refraining from fault finding

When sins multiply

Events after the battle of Jamal

"Never confirm the tradition of Ghadeer-e-khumm" said Abu Hanifa

The Inner self

The status of the seeker

A deed performed with taqwa

Three groups within the Ummah

Saints & Nobles

The final Rites for our Prophet (SAW)

Asserting ones creed (and about Zaid ibn ‘Ali)

Helping Ahlul Bayt with one’s tongue

Love Ahlul Bayt with your heart and help with your hand & tongue

Spare your speech

Illness purifies a person of his sins

The Prophet (SAW) on his successor

The calamity of denying the pen to the Prophet (SAW)

Some companions who reneged

Some companions who will never see the Prophet (SAW) again

Allah tests His servants

Imam Husayn (as) as an ideal

Fatimah’s (as) elegy on Fadak

On constraint and indulgence

Traditions from a truthful source

Acting without understanding

Similitude of the transitory

Adhering to the Ahlul Bayt

Two types of manly virtues

The master of Arabs

Mahdi (as) will rise after a time of trials & tribulations

The Prophet’s (SAW) last assembly

Ibn Abbas’s address on Khilafah

The two who will be in deep anxiety

"I have not known of an assembly of people worse than you...." said Fatimah (as)

"Keep my cheek on the ground..." the last words of Umar

Earning the promised blessing one has not seen

About the people who apply analogy

Cursed are those who follow analogy

Traits of a religion person

"There is no way, other than my way..." said the Prophet (SAW)

Alms given early morning...

Cleanse and purify your heart before you ask Him

The four of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) virtues

‘Ali (as) forbade initiating the battle

We do not say except that which our Lord, Most High, has said

Die in the state of Taharat and you will die a martyr

‘Ali is my brother, my minister and my successor

What Jabir said about ‘Ali (as)

Umar’s comments about the Prophet’s companions

"My brothers are those who believe in me without ever having seen me" said the Prophet (SAW)

Seek refuge from Allah against the evil of the people of Al-Thatt

Allah helps according to the measure of our intentions

Knowledge precedes ignorance

Those nearest to the Prophet on the Day of Reckoning

Benevolence & Tyranny

Weeping for ones sins

Good deeds blot out evil ones

Obedience to the Imam

Uthman and Banu Umayya

The lonely martyr

Talha and al-Zubair

The first to enter Paradise

Surprise at the heedless

Dying the death of an infidel

Befriending for the sake of Allah

The four virtues of the people of Paradise

The Prophet commanded to reveal virtues of ‘Ali (as)

The Prophet’s prayers for his descendants

The Assasination of Malik al-Ashtar

Imamat, a continued covenant

A recitation to open the eight gates of Paradise

Allah reveals to Musa

Who are those devotees?

‘Ali’s faith and descent

33 - وبالإسناد الأول عن علي بن مهزيار، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن مالك بن عطية، عن أبي حمزة الثمالي قال: ما سمعت بأحد من الناس كان أزهد من علي بن الحسين عليهما السلام إلا ما بلغني عن علي بن بن أبي طالب صلوات الله عليه. ثم قال أبو حمزة: كان علي بن الحسين عليهما السلام إذا تكلم في الزهد، ووعظ أبكى من بحضرته. قال أبو حمزة: فقرأت صحيفة فيها كلام زهد من كلام علي بن الحسين عليهما السلام فكتبت ما فيها، وأتيته به، فعرضته عليه، فعرفه وصححه وكان فيها: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم كفانا الله وإياكم كيد الظالمين، وبغي الحاسدين، وبطش الجبارين. أيها المؤمنون مصيبتكم الطواغيت من أهل الرغبة في الدنيا ، المائلون إليها، المفتونون بها، المقبلون عليها وعلى حطامها الهامد وهشيمها البائد غدا ، فاحذروا ما حذركم الله منها، وازهدوا فيما زهدكم الله فيه منها، ولا تركنوا إلى ما في هذه الدنيا ركون من اتخذها دار قرار ومنزل استيطان، وبالله إن لكم مما فيها عليها دليلا من زينتها ، وتصرف أيامها، وتغير انقلابها ومثلاتها ، وتلاعبها بأهلها. إنها لترفع الخميل  وتضع الشريف، وتورد النار أقواما غدا، ففي هذا معتبر ومختبر وزاجر للنبيه . إن الأمور الواردة عليكم في كل يوم وليلة من مضلات الفتن ، و حوادث البدع، وسنن الجور، وبوائق الزمان، وهيبة السلطان، ووسوسة الشيطان ليدرأ القلوب عن تنبهها ، وتذهلها عن موجود الهدى ، و معرفة أهل الحق إلا قليلا ممن عصم الله، وليس يعرف تصرف أيامها ، وتقلب حالاتها، وعاقبة ضرر فتنتها إلا من عصمه الله، ونهج سبيل الرشد، وسلك سبيل القصد ممن استعان على ذلك بالزهد، فكرر التفكر ، و اتعظ بالعبر  فازدجر، وزهد في عاجل بهجة الدنيا، فتجافى عن لذاتها ، ورغب في دائم نعيم الآخرة ، وسعى لها سعيها، وراقب الموت، وسئم الحياة مع القوم الظالمين ، فعند ذلك نظر إلى ما في الدنيا بعين نيرة حديدة النظر  فأبصر حوادث الفتن، وضلال البدع، وجور الملوك الظلمة. فقد لعمري استدبرتم [من] الأمور الماضية في الأيام الخالية من الفتن المتراكمة والانهماك فيها ما تستدلون  به على تجنب الغواة وأهل البدع والبغي و الفساد في الأرض بغير حق. فاستعينوا بالله، وارجعوا إلى طاعة الله، وطاعة من هو أولى بالطاعة ممن اتبع وأطيع . فالحذر الحذر من قبل الندامة والحسرة، والقدوم على الله، والوقوف بين يديه. وتالله ما صدر قوم قط عن معصية الله إلا إلى عذابه، وما آثر  قوم قط الدنيا على الآخرة إلا ساء منقلبهم وساء مصيرهم. وما العلم بالله و العمل بطاعته إلا إلفان مؤتلفان، [ف] من عرف الله خافه، فحثه الخوف على العمل بطاعة الله. وإن أرباب العلم وأتباعهم الذين عرفوا الله فعملوا له  و رغبوا إليه، وقد قال الله تعالى: " إنما يخشى الله من عباده العلماء " . فلا تلتمسوا شيئا مما في هذه الدنيا بمعصية الله، واشتغلوا في هذه الدنيا بطاعة الله، واغتنموا أيامها، واسعوا لما فيه نجاتكم غدا من عذاب الله، فإن ذلك أقل للتبعة، وأدنى من العذر، وأرجى للنجاة. فقدموا أمر الله وطاعته وطاعة من أوجب الله طاعته بين يدي الأمور كلها، ولا تقدموا الأمور الواردة عليكم من الطواغيت، من فتن زهرة الدنيا  بين يدي أمر الله وطاعته وطاعة أولي الأمر منكم. واعلموا أنكم ونحن عباد الله ، يحكم علينا وعليكم سيد حاكم غدا، وهو موقفكم ومسائلكم، فأعدوا الجواب قبل الوقوف والمسألة والعرض على رب العالمين، يومئذ لا تكلم نفس إلا بإذنه . واعلموا أن الله تعالى لا يصدق يومئذ كاذبا، ولا يكذب صادقا، ولا يرد عذر مستحق، ولا يعذر غير معذور، بل له الحجة على خلقه بالرسل وبالأوصياء بعد الرسل. فاتقوا الله عباد الله، واستقبلوا من إصلاح أنفسكم  وطاعة الله وطاعة من تولونه فيها، لعل نادما [و] قد ندم على ما قد فرط  بالأمس في جنب الله، وضيع من حقوق الله ، فاستغفروا الله وتوبوا إليه، فإنه يقبل التوبة، ويعفو عن السيئة، ويعلم ما تفعلون. وإياكم وصحبة العاصين ، ومعونة الظالمين، ومجاورة الفاسقين، احذروا فتنتهم، وتباعدوا من ساحتهم، واعلموا أنه من خالف أولياء الله، ودان بغير دين الله، واستبد بأمره دون أمر ولي في نار تلتهب، تأكل أبدانا قد غابت عنها أرواحها وغلبت عليها شقوتها، فهم موتى لا يجدون حر النار  فاعتبروا يا أولي الأبصار، واحمدوا الله على ما هداكم، واعلموا أنكم لا تخرجون من قدرة الله إلى غير قدرته، وسيرى الله عملكم  ثم إليه تحشرون، فانتفعوا بالعظة، وتأدبوا بآداب الصالحين. 

33. And with the first chain of narration from ‘Ali ibn Mahzyar, from al-Hasan ibn Mahboob, from Malik ibnAtiyya, from Abu Hamza al-Thumali, who said: "I had not heard of anyone more pious and ascetic than ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, peace be upon him, till I learnt about ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him." Then Abu Hamza said: "Whenever ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, peace be upon him, spoke about piety and asceticism and admonished people, he made all those present weep." Abu Hamza said: "I read a page which contained ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn’s admonition on piety and asceticism, so I copied from it and brought it before him. He recognized it and confirmed its content. It said: In the name of Allah, Most Merciful. "May Allah be sufficient for us and you to thwart the evil planning of the oppressors, the rancour of the jealous and the power of the tyrants. O believers, your main affliction is from the insolents who love this world, are grossly inclined towards it and are tempted by it. They fall for it and for that which will soon become lifeless chaff and dead straw tomorrow. So be aware of what Allah has cautioned you from, and detach yourselves from things Allah has enjoined you to remain aloof; and do not incline to worldly things like the one who has taken it as permanent abode or native place. And by Allah, the mundane has enough warning pointers for you, to its (wilting) flourish, to its changing times, to its revolutionary changes and to its exemplary punishments; and to the way it plays with its people. Surely, it raises the lowly and cuts down the noble ones, and it will despatch to hellfire many nations tomorrow. In this, indeed, is a lesson to draw and a test and a deterrent for the one who is cautious. Surely, the hearts (and minds) are prevented from awakening (to the truth) by the events which occur to you every day and night, like the misleading trials, the unprecedented events, the rampant inequities, the disasters wrought in every age and era; the fear of the ruling powers and the whispers of the devils. They distract them from the existing (divine) guidance and the recognition of the Truth; except a few who Allah has saved. And none can understand and appraise the influence of those days, its capriciousness and the harmful end of its temptation, except those who have been saved by Allah; those who have walked the path of right guidance, progressing on the way of temperance, seeking help from Him through abstinence and renunciation. Such a person persistently ponders, draws lessons from the happenings and is so deterred; remains unattended to the fleeting allurements of the world and its delectations. He is inclined towards the permanent bliss of the next abode (i.e. hereafter) and works hard for it. He is ever watchful about death and finds life in the company of the tyrants most loathsome. And then he is able to see the world with the sharp, penetrating eyes, appraising and perceiving the trials and tribulations, the misleading new events, the darkness of the tyrannical powers. And by my soul, you have had enough experience from the dark tyrannical order of the bygone days to guide you to disassociating from the despots, from the partisans of innovations and torment and from those who unjustly spread corruption on the earth. So seek help form Allah; return to His obedience and to the obedience of those who deserve best to be followed and obeyed. So, take your precautions before (the day of) remorse and distress dawns and before you are in presence of Allah, standing before Him! By Allah, whenever a nation proceeded from divine disobedience, it always ended up in His chastisement; and whenever a nation preferred this world over the hereafter, evil has been their road and evil has been their final abode! And Knowledge about Allah and acting in obedience to Him are nothing but the intimate couple. So, whoever knows Allah, fears Him and that fear prompts him to act obediently. Surely, the people of (that) knowledge and their followers have recognized Him, acted for Him and have remained inclined towards Him; and thus, Allah says (in the Qur’an): ’Surely, those of His servants who have knowledge fear Allah alone.’ (35:28) Do not solicit anything of this world in a sinful manner (or by transgressing the law of Allah) and engage yourselves in the world His way. So, take the advantage of its days and work hard in it to gain salvation tomorrow. Indeed, that is the least which is required of a true follower, nearest to the excuse (should he lapse) and most hopeful for salvation. Therefore, in all your affairs, put forward the command of Allah, His obedience and of those whose obedience He has made obligatory. And do not put forward the affairs brought upon you by the despots in the form of the worldly temptation of this world, before the commands of Allah, His obedience and the obedience of those who have divine authority upon you. Know you all that all of us are slaves of Allah; and He, the Master Judge, will judge us tomorrow. Before Him, you will be ranged and asked; so prepare for the answer before the halt, the interrogation and before presentation to the Lord of all the worlds. ’On that Day, no souls shall speak except by His leave.’ (11:105). And know you that on that Day, Allah will not confirm the liars, nor will He belie the truthful. And He will not reject the justifiable excuse, not will He excuse the wilful sinner. Rather, He will have the conclusive authority over His creatures for having sent His messengers and their successors. So, O slaves of Allah, be mindful of your duties to Allah (and fear him); meet Him with your reformed selves, in obedience unto Him and unto those who He made you follow. Lest there be one who repents (on the day) for having neglected his duties to Allah, or having wasted the rights of Allah! So, seek forgiveness from Allah and return unto Him! Indeed, He accepts repentence and forgives the sins and knows all that you do. Do not ever be in the company of the sinners, nor helpful to the oppressors, nor close to the transgressors. Be careful of their temptations and remain at a distance from their spheres. And know you all that he who opposes the righteous slaves of Allah and adopts a way other than His religion, and doggedly follows his own whims in the face of the guidance given by the righteous slaves of Allah, such a man is (already) in the bursting flame of fire, which eats up the bodies which have lost their souls, overwhelmed by their adversities. They are dead, insensitive to the heat of fire! So, take warning those who have eyes to see! And praise Allah with gratitude for having guided you. And know that you cannot get out of domain of His power to any other! Allah shall soon see your deeds and then you will be gathered to Him. So, take the benefit of the admonition and adopt the ways of the virtuous."

Al-Amālī

Book 23, Chapter 33