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Culture of Ahl al-Bayt: Excerpts

Ahl al-Bayt’s culture is the most perfect moral, ideological, socio-political, educational and scientific culture, a large section of which has been compiled by the believing Shi`ite narrators. Such books as al-Kafi, Man-La-Yah¤uruhu-l-Faqih, Tahdhib al-Ahkam, al-Istibsar, Basa'ir al-Darajat, al-Mahasin by al-Barqi, al-Amali by Shaykh al-Mufid, al-Amali by Shaykh al-Tusi, , al-Khisal, Jami` al-Akhbar, `Ilal al-Shara'i`, al-Wafi, al-Shafi, Nur al-Thaqalayn, Bihar al-Anwar, Wasa'il al-Shi`ah, Mustadrak al-Wasa'il, al-`Awalim, al-Mahajjah al-Bay¤a'… etc. containing narratives on the culture of Ahl al-Bayt the practice of which will ensure good life in this world and the Hereafter as well as Allah’s pleasure and the eternal Paradise. The Holy Prophet has said:

مَا خُلِقْتُمْ لِلْفَنَاءِ، بَلْ خُلِقْتُمْ لِلْبَقَاءِ. وَإنَّمَا تُنْقَلُونَ مِنْ دَارٍ إلَى دَارٍ.

You were not born for extinction rather for survival. With death, you are only displaced; that is you are transferred from one house to another house.[1]

He has also said:

إنَّ أخْوَفَ مَا أخَافُ عَلَى أمَّتِي الْهَوَى وَطُولُ الأمَلِ.

I fear two things for my ummah: carnal and far-away desires.[2]

He has also said:

عِزُّ الْمُؤْمِنِ اسْتِغْنَاؤُهُ عَنِ النَّاسِ، وَفِي الْقَنَاعَةِ الْحُرِّيَّةُ وَالْعِزُّ.

A believer’s honor lies in his independence from people and his freedom and honor lie in contentment.[3]

Imam `Ali (a.s) has said:

الْمَرْءُ يُوزَنُ بِقَوْلِهِ وَيُقَوَّمُ بِفِعْلِهِ؛ فَقُلْ مَا تَرْجَحُ زِنَتُهُ، وَافْعَلْ مَا تَجِلُّ قِيمَتُهُ.

Man is evaluated by his words and assessed by his deeds. Therefore, say what makes your words weighty and act in such a way that makes your behavior valuable.[4]  

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He has also said:

تَحَلَّوا بِالأخْذِ بِالْفَضْلِ وَالْكَفِّ عَنِ الْبَغْيِ وَالْعَمَلِ بِالْحَقِّ وَالإنْصَافِ مِنَ النَّفْسِ.

Adorn yourself with moral virtues and avoid tyranny. Behave justly and be fair to all.

He further says:

يَنْبَغِي لِلْعَاقِلِ أنْ يَحْتَرِسَ مِنْ سُكْرِ الْمَالِ وَسُكْرِ الْقُدْرَةِ وَسُكْرِ الْعِلْمِ وَسُكْرِ الْمَدْحِ وَسُكْرِ الشَّبَابِ؛ فَإنَّ لِكُلِّ ذَلِكَ رِيَاحاً خَبِيثَةً تَسْلُبُ الْعَقْلَ وَتَسْتَخِفُّ الوَقَارَ.

Man should preserve himself from being intoxicated with wealth, power, knowledge, praise, flattery and youth, for each of these intoxications are poisoned winds which obliterates wisdom and reduces man’s dignity.[1]

Lady Fatimah (a.s) has said:

إنِّي حِبُّ مِنْ دُنْيَاكُمْ ثَلأثاً: الإنْفَاقَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ، وَتِلأوَةَ كِتَابِ اللهِ، وَالنَّظَرَ إلَى وَجْهِ أبِي رَسُولِ اللهِ.

I love three things of your world: Giving away in the way of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah, and looking at the face of my father, Allah’s Messenger.[2]

Imam Hasan (a.s) was asked the meaning of magnanimity; he replied:

شُحُّ الرَّجُلِ عَلَى دِينِهِ، وَإصْلأحُهُ مَالَهُ، وَقِيَامُهُ بِالْحُقُوقِ.

Zeal for faith, rectification of wealth, observation of Allah’s and people’s rights, as well as manliness and fairness.[3]

Addressing Imam Husayn, a man said, “I am a sinner. I can’t stop committing sin. Give me an advice.” The Imam said:

إفْعَلْ خَمْسَةَ أشْيَاءَ وَأذْنِبْ مَا شِئْتَ. فَأوَّلُ ذَلِكَ: لأ تَأكُلْ رِزْقَ اللهِ وَأذْنِبْ مَا شِئْتَ. وَالثَّانِي: أخْرُجْ مِنْ وِلأيَةِ اللهِ وَأذْنِبْ مَا شِئْتَ. وَالثَّالِثُ: أطْلُبْ مَوْضِعاً لأ يَرَاكَ اللهُ وَأذْنِبْ مَا شِئْتَ. وَالرَّابِعُ: إذَا جَاءَ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ لِيَقْبِضَ رُوحَكَ فَادْفَعْهُ عَنْ نَفْسِكَ وَأذْنِبْ مَا شِئْتَ. وَالْخَامِسُ: إذَا أدْخَلَكَ مَالِكٌ فِي النَّارِ فَلأ تَدْخُلْ فِي النَّارِ وَأذْنِبْ مَا شِئْتَ.  

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Do five things and then commit any sin you wish: Firstly, do not eat sustenance given by Allah and then commit any sin you wish. Secondly, come out of the guardianship of Allah and then commit any sin you wish. Thirdly, go to a place where Allah cannot see you and then commit any sin you whish. Fourthly, when the Angel of Death comes to take your life, escape from him and commit any sin you wish. Fifthly, when the gate keeper of the Hell intends to throw you into it, do not enter and then commit any sin you wish.[1]

Imam Zayn al-`Abidin has said:

وَأمَّا حَقُّ وَلَدِكَ فَتَعْلَمَ أنَّهُ مِنْكَ وَمُضَافٌ إلَيكَ فِي عَاجِلِ الدُنْيَا بخَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ، وَأنَّكَ مَسْئولٌ عَمَّا ولِِّيتَهُ مِنْ حُسْنِ الأدَب وَالدِّلالَةِ عَلَى رَبهِ وَالْمَعُونةِ لَهُ عَلَى طَاعَتِهِ فِيكَ وَفِي نفْسِهِ، فَمُثابٌ عَلَى ذلِكَ وَمُعَاقَبٌ، فَاعْمَلْ فِي أمْرِهِ عَمَلَ الْمُتَزَيِّنِ بحُسْنِ أثرِهِ عَلَيْهِ فِي عَاجِلِ الدُّنْيَا، الْمُعْذِرِ إلَى رَبهِ فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وبَيْنَهُ بحُسْنِ الْقِيَامِ عَلَيْهِ وَالأخذُ لَهُ مِنْهُ.

The right of your child is that you should know that he is from you and will be ascribed to you, through both his good and his evil, in the immediate affairs of this world. You are responsible for what has been entrusted to you, such as educating him in good conduct, pointing him in the direction of his Lord, and helping him to obey Him. So act toward him with the action of one who knows that he will be rewarded for good doing toward him and punished for evildoing.[2]

Imam al-Baqir (a.s) has said:

إنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ جَعَلَ لِلشَّرِّ أقْفَالاً، وَجَعَلَ مَفَاتِيحَ تَلْكَ الأقْفَالِ الشَّرَابَ. وَالْكَذِبُ شَرٌّ مِنَ الشَّرَابِ.

Allah has set locks for evil things so as to protect men from their harms. Wine, this intoxicating liquid, is the key to all evil things. Telling lie is worse than drinking wine.[3]

Imam al-Baqir (a.s) says:

إنَّ مُدْمِنَ الْخَمْرِ كَعَابِدِ وَثَنٍ؛ وَتُورِثُهُ الإرْتِعَاشَ وَتَهْدِمُ مُرُوئَتَهُ وَتَحْمِلُهُ عَلَى التَّجَسُّرِ عَلَى الْمَحَارِمِ مِنْ سَفْكِ الدِّمَاءِ وَرُكُوبِ الزِّنَا.