Says7

Golden Sayings & Speeches of Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqir a.s.

Asalamoalaka ya Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqir a.s.

1.      The ink of the scholar is more Holy than the blood of the martyr.

2.      For those unable to go for the ziyarat of Imam Husain (A.S.) on the day of A'shura, Imam Baqir (A.S.) mentions the manner of performing A'zadari as follows: He should mourn over Husain (A.S.), weep for him and instruct the members of the house to weep for him. He should establish the mourning ceremony in the house by exhibiting lamentions and grief over him; the people should meet one another in their homes and offer condolences and consolations to each other over the calamities which befell him.

3.      Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (AS) once said to one of his companions: "O Jabir it is not enough that a person says; I am a Shi'ah and I love the Prophet (Pbuh&hp) and the Prophet's family and the Imams. By Allah, a Shiah is the one who is perfectly pious and obedient to Allah's commands. Anyone else is not a Shiah no matter how much they say they love Hazrat Ali (AS) and no matter what they call themselves. O Jabir Our Shi'ahs are known by these signs:

4.      a) They are truthful, trustworthy and loyal;

5.      b) They always remember Allah;

6.      c) They offer their prayers, observe fasts, and recite Qur'an;

7.      d) They help their neighbors, take care of orphans, and say nothing but good of people;

8.      e) They act nicely towards their parents;

9.      f) They are worthy of peoples trust and confidence.

10.  Imam said, Our followers are of three kinds, one who follows us but depends on others, one who is like a glass involved in his own reflections, but the best are those who are like gold, the more they suffer the more they shine.

11.  Whenever Allah wants to assist a sinner, He inflicts a disease on that person. If this does not happen, He makes that person dependant on another one. If this also does not happen, the Almighty makes his death a really hard one so that his sins are compensated. Ref Al Kaafi vol 2 pg# 444

12.  The scholar who derives benefit from his knowledge is better than 70,000 devotees.

13.  Man's tongue is the key to all good and evil. Therefore, a believer should lock his tongue like he would keep his gold and silver locked up. Ref- Biharul Anvaar vol 78 Pg# 178

14.  If man knew the rewards for hardships and suffering, he would cut himself to pieces (to suffer)! Ref Biharul Anvaar vol 81 Pg# 192

15.  Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S.) issued a directive which gave a definite form to the keeping of the memory of Imam Hussain (A.S.) alive. He recommended that for those believers for whom it was possible and convenient they should go for the ziyarah of the grave of Imam Hussain. For those for whom it was not possible or convenient, they should gather together and hold mourning ceremony and weep. Ibn Qawlawayah p. 104

16.  May Allah have mercy on a man who meets with another in order to remember our situation. There will be an angel with them who will seek forgiveness for them…………..If you gather together and occupy yourselves in remembering us, then our memory will be kept alive in your meetings and remembrances. The best of people after us are those who remember our situation and urge others to remember us. Ibn Qawlawayah p. 174/5

17.  O Jabir, is it enough for one, to say that 'I love Ali (a.s.) and I have achieved his Wilayat,' whereas he does not act upon it?" the nearness of Allah is not achieved without His obedience . When our Shias do not have obedience and action (to their credit) we have no authority to free them from Hell. Merely a verbal claim, "I am a Shia" is not sufficient argument for Allah. " ...

18.  One who does not cultivated patience for confronting the troubles of life becomes weak.

19.  A famous saying of Imam Muhammad bin Ali Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) is “I admonish you regarding five things: if you are wronged, do not commit wrong doing to others; if you are betrayed, do not betray anyone; if you are called a liar, do not be furious; if you are praised, do not be jubilant; if you are criticized, do not fret and think of what is said in criticism.”

20.  It is as if that the people called him al-Ba`qir because of his great knowledge and his many sciences. It was also said that he was given the nick-name of al-Ba`qir because of his many prostrations (in worship). Thus, he split open his forehead. (Mir'at al-Zaman fi Tawarikh al-A'yan, vol. 5, p. 78).
Moreover, he was given the nick-name (of al-Ba`qir) because of these words of his:
"The truth called me for help after the untruth had gathered it in its abdomen. So, I split open its flank and brought out the truth from its hiding, so it appeared and spread after it had been hidden.(Mir'at al-Zaman fi Tawarikh al-A'yan, vol. 5, p. 78).

21.  An adherent of a revealed religion (kitabi) attacked the Ima`m, was aggressive towards him, and addressed him with bitter words: "You are baqar (cows).
However, the Imam treated him kindly. He smiled at him, saying: "No, I am Ba`qir.

22.  The adherent went on attacking the Imam, saying: "You are the son of the cook.
The Imam smiled at him. This aggression did not excite him. Rather he said to him: "That is her job. (113)

23.  Still the adherent went on attacking the Imam, saying: You are the son of the black woman....
The Ima`m did not become angry. Rather he treated him kindly, saying:
If you are truthful, may Allah forgive you. If you are a liar, may Allah forgive you. Thus, the adherent admired the Ima`m's high morals that marked the morals of the prophets. Then he became Moslem. (A'yan al-Shi'a, 4/Q1/504)

24.  His Alms to the Poor of Medina, The Ima`m, peace be on him, did a lot of charity and favor for the poor of Medina (Yathrib). His alms for them were counted. They amounted eight thousands dinars. ( Sharh Shafiyat Abi Firas, vol. 2, p. 176)

25.  He gave them a dinar as alms every Friday. He said: "The alms on Friday is better than it is on the other days.(A'yan al-Shi'a, Q1/4/471).

26.  Imam Baqir (A.S.) said : Everyone completing a recitation of the Holy Quran in Makkah won't die unless he sees the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his own place in the Heaven.

27.  Someone asked Imam Baqir (A.S.): "Why Hajj has been named "The Hajj of God's House"? "Imam said: It means that the pilgrim has reached salvation.

28.  Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: God does not accept the Hajj and Umrah whose costs have been paid for through illegal means property. (Religiously prohibited).

29.  Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: One prayer in the Masjid-al-Haram is 100000 times more valuable than one prayer in any other mosques.

30.  Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: Respect people who had performed Hajj and Umrah, because you are obliged to respect them.

31.  Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: Hajj and Umrah are two bazaars of the hereafter. The person who does Hajj and Umrah very often is the God's guest. If God keeps him alive, he is kept forgiven and if God gets his life, he will enter the Paradise.

32.  Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: If someone dies in one of these two sanctuaries (that is Makkah or Madinah), he will be appointed without any fear in the resurrection day.

33.  Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: Someone who prostrates in Makkah is like the person who sheds his blood in the way of God.

34.  Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: There are three things which their spiritual rewards include both afterlife and this world: Hajj; which vanishes poverty, alms; which removes poverty, and goodness; which makes life last longer.

35.  Imam Sadiq (A.S.) says: God has provided 120 types of blessings around Kaaba, 60 of these blessings will be given to circumambulators, 40 of them will be given to prayers and 20 of these blessings will be for people who look at Kaaba. Regarding settlement in Arafat Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: None of good and wicked people would settle on the Arafat's mountain unless God accepts their prayers ; the chaste benediction for the mundane and afterlife matters will be accepted but the wicked prayers will be accepted just for their mundane matters.

36.  Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: Begin your Hajj from Makkah and finish it to us.

37.  Imam Baqir (A.S.): Hajj is peaceful for the soul.

38.  Imam Baqir (A.S.): Having complete Hajj is like meeting with the Imam.

39.  Imam Baqir (A.S.): Whoever comes to pilgrimage this house is not accepted if he/she doesn't have these three traits:1. Self-restraint from sinning.2. Forbearance to control his / her anger with.3. Treating his / her companions properly.

40.  Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: There are three things that are headed by God. His book, which is His order and light. His House which is the Qiblah (that is the direction to which Muslims turn in praying) and He just accepts full attention to this direction and the Etrat (that is the household of the Prophet of Islam (S.A.W.)

41.  His Commandments to his Shi'ites (41-110) Speech of Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqir a.s addressed to His Shias (or Message to Shia ) fwd to all ...
It is incumbent on those who adopt the doctrine of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, to follow these immortal commandments. They should put into effect their bright items to be an example to people. This is the text of his commandments:

42.  "O People of our Shi'ites, listen and understand our commandments and our covenant to our followers. Be truthful in your talk.

43.  Fulfill your oath to your friends and your enemies.

44.  Help each other with your properties.

45.  Love each other with your hearts.

46.  Give alms to your poor.

47.  Come together in your affairs.
Do not cheat nor betray anyone.

48.  Do not have doubts after certitude.

49.  Do not escape out of cowardice after intrepidity.

50.  Do not turn away from the people whom you love.

51.  Your desire should not be for the love of other than you nor should your love be for other than you nor should your act be for other than your lord nor should your faith and purpose be for other than your Prophet.

52.  Ask for the help of Allah, be patient. Indeed the earth belongs to Allah.

53.  He gives it to His servants whom He wants.

54.  And the final result is for the pious.

55.  He, peace be on him, added: Indeed, our Shi'ites, the friends of Allah and the friends of His Apostle, are those who tell the truth when they speak.

56.  They fulfill (the promise) when they promise.

57.  They pay (the deposit) when they are deposited.

58.  They endure with justice when they are forced to endure.

59.  They give when they are asked for the obligation.

60.  And do justice when they are asked (to do it).

61.  Our Shi'ites are those whose ears do not pass over their knowledge.

62.  Our Shi'ites are those who do not praise those who find fault with us, nor do they make friends with those who hate us, nor do they associate with those who betray us.

63.  When our Shi'ites meet a believer, they honor him.

64.  When they meet an ignorant person, they leave him.

65.  Our Shi'ites are those who do not growl as the dog does, nor are they greedy as the crow is, nor do they ask anyone (for alms) except their brothers even if they die of hunger.

66.  Our Shi'ites are those who believe in our doctrine, separate themselves from their beloved ones for us, approach the strangers who love us, and turn away from the strangers who hate us.

67.  One of those who were sitting with the Ima`m admired these words concerning the Shi'ites. Thus, he asked the Ima`m: Where are such as these (people)?
The Ima`m replied: They are in the ends of the lands.

68.  It is they whose livelihood is easy, who are delighted.

69.  When they are present, no one knows them.
When they are away, no one misses them.

70.  When they become ill, no one visits them.

71.  When they propose (marriage), no one marries them.

72.  When they enter a way, they do not deviate from (it).

73.  When the ignorant ones address them, they say : peace.

74.  And they pass the night prostrating themselves before their Lord and standing.

75.  One of those who were sitting with the Ima`m blamed the Shi'ites who were contemporary to the Ima`m, saying: "Oh son of Allah's Apostle, what about those who follow you with their tongues while their hearts are contrary to that? Thus, the Ima`m replied: The tribulation will bring about droughts against them to destroy them utterly, spites to ruin them completely, and disunion to kill them.

76.  By Him Who supported us at the hands of His angels, no one except Allah will kill them at their hands.

77.  Therefore, cleave to acknowledgment when you speak (to people).

78.  Leave quarreling, for it divides you. Beware,

79.  He (Allah) will raise you from the dead before the fixed time.

80.  So, your blood will appear, your souls will go, those who will come after you will dispraise you, and you will be an example to the beholders.

81.  Indeed the best of the people in action is the one who leaves the people of the world- such as the father, the friend, and the adviser- and associates with his brothers in Allah even if they are Abyssinians or Negroes.

82.  No one of the believers will be raised a Negro from the dead.

83.  Rather they will be as white as hail.

84.  They will be washed with the water of the gardens.

85.  They will win immortal Paradise.

86.  They will sit with the close angels, and accompany the prophets.

87.  No servant is more honorable with Allah than the servant who is rendered homeless for Allah till he meets Allah.

88.  Such are our Shi'ites who are the warners in the earth.

89.  They are lamps, signs, and light for those who seek what they seek.

90.  They are the leaders of the people of obedience to Allah.

91.  They bear witness against those who oppose their summons.

92.  They are tranquility for those who come to them.

93.  They are kind to those who follow them.

94.  They are generous, forgiving, and merciful.

95.  So, such are their attributes in the Torah, the Bible, and the Holy Qur'an.

96.  The learned man is from our Shi'ites when he keeps his tongue, obeys his leaders, shows enmity towards his enemies with his heart, knows their defects, does not show them what is in his heart, looks at their bad deeds with his own eye, and hears their offenses with his own ear.

97.  Those who hate his enemies are his friends. And those who love his enemies are his enemies.

98.  So, one of those who were present asked the Ima`m: "May my father and mother be ransom for you, what is the reward of the one whom you have described when he walks peacefully, gets up peacefully, and spends the night protected? What is his rank and his reward?

99.  Thus, the Ima`m, peace be on him, said: "The Sky commanded him to be protected, the Earth commanded him to be honored, and the Light commanded him to be believed.

100.                      So, it was said to the Ima`m: What is his attribute in the world?"

101.                      He, peace be on him, replied: "When he is asked (for alms), he gives.

102.                      When he is invited, he accepts.

103.                      When he seeks (something), he obtains (it). And when he supports an oppressed person, he strengthens him.(Ayun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, pp. 223-225)

104.                      I think that no commandments were reported on the authority of the Ima`ms of the pious such these commandments that raise man to the level of the righteous and the pious.

105.                      For they summon man to cleave to high moral standards and to refrain from bad manners.

106.                      If Moslems put them into effect, they would be the lords of nations and leaders of people.

107.                      Indeed these commandments are among the treasures of Islam.

108.                      They contain the aspects and essence of Islam.

109.                      They denote that Islam has good, mercy, and guidance for all people.

110.                      So, the Moslem must follow them throughout his life.

111.                      It has been narrated that Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A.S) was passing along with his companions and saw a group of people waiting for a Christian priest who was to come out from a cave after his meditation of one whole year. Imam Baqir (A.S.) also waited with other people; as soon as the priest came out he addressed everybody present there and addressed the Imam ‘you are not among these people’; the priest then asked ‘Are you among the educated or illiterate?’ The Imam replied ‘I am not amongst the illiterate.’ The Imam was the treasure of knowledge (Bakir al-Uloom). The Imam was carrying the same torch from Imam Ali (A.S.) of (Salooni) ASK ME? I HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF SKIES MORE THAN KNOWLEDGE OF EARTH. We as the followers of the Ahlul-Bait should acquire knowledge and part with knowledge whatever we can.

112.                      Rewards in this world:To pray for Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s) is in fact a way of being attached with the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a). Imam Baqir (a.s) narrates 'Joining relations (Sil-e-Rahm) purifies the actions, increases wealth, wards off calamities, makes accounting easy and postpones death.' (Beharul Anwaar vol. 47, p. 111)

113.                      Fadl Ibn Yasar heard Imam Baqir (عليه سلام)  saying: "When our Qa'im rises he will face so much difficulty from the people, that even An-Nabi during the period of Jahiliyah did not face." Fadl asked: "Why should that be so?" The Imam said: "When An-Nabi was appointed people worshipped stones and wood. However, when our Qa'im arises, people will interpret the ordinances of Allah against his interpretation, and will argue with him and dispute by means of Qur'an. By Allah, the justice of the Qa'im will enter inside their homes, just as the heat and cold enter them." Reference: Ithbat al-hudat, Vol. 7, p.86.

114.                      Then, Imam Baqir [a] asked his father who they were and might he introduce them to him. He responded: "Beware of and do not associate with the one who tells lies. He is as a mirage which makes near for you what is far, and makes far to you what is near."

115.                      "Beware of and do not associate with an immoral person, because he will sell you at the price of a morsel or less than that."

116.                      "Beware of and do not associate with a miser because he will deprive you of his wealth when you are seriously in need of it."

117.                      "Beware of and do not associate with a fool, because he wants to be of avail to you but he harms you."

118.                      "Beware of and do not associate with the one who disregards his kinfolks, because I found him (such a person) cursed in the Book Allah, Almighty and Glorious, in three occurrences."

119.                      Whenever Allah wants to assist a sinner, He inflicts a disease on that person. If this does not happen, He makes that person dependant on another one. If this also does not happen, the Almighty makes his death a really hard one so that his sins are compensated. Ref Al Kaafi vol 2 pg# 444

120.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, talked about the ranks of faith, saying: "Indeed the believers have various ranks: one of them has one (rank); one of them has two (ranks); one of them has three (ranks); one of them has four (ranks); one of them has five (ranks); one of them has six (ranks). If you impose two (ranks) on the possessor of the one (rank), he cannot bear them. If you impose three (ranks) on the possessor of the two (ranks), he will not bear them. If you impose four (ranks) on the possessor of the three (ranks), he will not bear them. If you impose five (ranks) on the possessor of the four (ranks), he will not bear them. If you impose six (ranks) on the possessor of the five (ranks), he will not bear them. If you impose seven (ranks) on the possessor of the six (ranks), he will not bear them. Such are the ranks (of faith). Surely, the ranks of faith (in Allah) and knowledge of Him vary. Thus, Allah, the Exalted, informed some of His prophets of the secrets of the universe and existence, and the events that occurred in the world. However, He did not inform some other prophets of that, for they were unable to bear that. Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, was the gate of the city of the knowledge of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, and the store of his secrets and maxims.

121.                      He, peace be on him, said: "The pious are the easiest of the people of the world in provision, and most of them in help. When you forget, they remind you. When you mention your (need), they help you. They believe in the right of Allah. They undertake the affairs of Allah.( Shadharat al-Dhahab, vol. 1, p. 149)

122.                      He, peace be on him, said: "When the believer is pleased, his pleasure does not make him enter sin and falsehood. When he is indignant, his wrath does not drive him out of saying the truth. When the believer is strong, his strength does not take him out to exceed what is right.(Al-Khisal, p. 101)

123.                      He, peace be on him, said: "Riches and glory wander about the heart. When they reach the place where the trust (in Allah) is, they settle in it.(Safwat al-Safwa, vol. 2, p. 61)

124.                      The difference between faith and Islam: Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, talked about the difference between faith and Islam. He said: "Faith is in the heart. Islam regulates marriage, inheritance, etc. It prevents blood from being shed. Faith is the partner of Islam, while Islam is not the partner of faith.(Tuhaf al-'Uqul. p. 297)

125.                      In another tradition, al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, mentioned the difference between faith and Islam. He, peace be on him, said: "Faith is acknowledgment and action; Islam is acknowledgment without action. (Tuhaf sl-'Uqul, p. 297)

126.                       Jaber Ibn Abdullah Ansari said: "I said to Abu Ja'far (Al-Baqir (A)): `May I be your sacrifice son of Allah's Messenger; narrate to me a hadith in regard to the noble traits of your grandmother Fatima, so that if I report it to your Shiites (followers), they would rejoice at (hearing) it!'

127.                      Abu Ja'far (A) said: `My father told me that my grandfather reported that Allah's Messenger said:
"On the Day of Rising, Minbars of light shall be erected for the prophets and messengers, of which my Minbar shall be the highest among all Minbars on that day.

128.                      Allah will then say: Deliver a speech,' so I will deliver a speech that none of the prophets or messengers have ever heard.

129.                      Then for the successors (of prophets) shall be erected Minbars of light, and in the middle of these Minbars one shall be erected for my successor, Ali Ibn Abu Talib, which will be higher than all their Minbars.

130.                      Allah will then say: "Ali, deliver a speech.' So he will deliver a speech like no successor has ever heard before.

131.                      Then for the children of the prophets and messengers shall be erected Minbars of light; among them shall be a Minber of light for my two sons, grandsons and the two flowers of my life (Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain).

132.                      Then it shall be said to them: "Deliver speeches." So they will deliver two speeches like none of the children of the prophets and messengers have ever heard before!

133.                      "A caller-Gabriel-shall then call:
`Where is Fatima Bint Muhammad?'
She (A) will rise..." (until he said):

134.                      'Allah, the blessed and exalted is His Name, shall say:
`O people of the gathering; to whom does honor belong today?'

135.                      So Muhammad, Ali, Hassan and Al-Hussain (A) will say:
'To Allah, The one, The Almighty

136.                      'Allah the Exalted will say:
"O people of the gathering: lower your heads and cast your eyes down, for this is Fatima proceeding towards Paradise.' Gabriel shall then bring her a female camel from the female camels of Paradise; its sides shall be embellished, its muzzle with fresh pearls, and it shall have a saddle of coral. It shall kneel down in her presence; so she will ride it.

137.                      Allah will then send 100, 000 angels to accompany her on her right side; and 100, 000 angels to accompany her on her left side; and 100, 000 angels to lift her onto their wings until they bring her to the gate of Paradise.

138.                      When she is near the gate of Paradise, she will look to her side.

139.                      Allah will then say: "Daughter of My beloved, why did you look to your side after I gave the command that you enter my Paradise?"

140.                      She will say: "My Lord, I wished that my position would be realized on such a Day!"

141.                      Allah will say: "Daughter of My beloved! Go back and look for everyone in whose heart was love for you or for any of your progeny; take their hand and lead them into paradise!"

142.                      Abu Ja'far (A) said: "By Allah; Jabir, she will pick her Shiites (followers) and those who love her just like a bird picks good seeds from bad seeds.

143.                      So that when her Shiites are near the gate of Paradise,

144.                      Allah will inspire their hearts to look to their sides; when they do--- Allah, The Almighty, will say:

145.                      My beloved ones, why did you look around when Fatima, the daughter of my beloved one, interceded for you?'

146.                      They will answer: `Our Lord! We hoped that our position would be known on such a day!'

147.                      Allah will then say: `My beloved ones, go back and look for everyone who loved you for your love for Fatima;

148.                      Look for everyone who fed you for the love of Fatima;

149.                      Look for everyone who clothed you for the love of Fatima;

150.                      Look for everyone who gave you a drink for the love of Fatima;

151.                      Look for everyone who prevented (Gheeba) backbiting from being done against you for the love of Fatima...

152.                      Take their hands and lead them into Paradise... "'

153. Bihar v.10, on the authority of Amali (by Saduq) reports that Imam Baqir (A) said:
     "I heard Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari say: Allah's Messenger said: "On the Day of Rising, My daughter, Fatima, shall arrive riding a female camel from among the camels of Paradise-to her right shall be seventy thousand angels and to her left shall also be seventy thousand angels; Gabriel will be holding its muzzle and calling with the loudest of voices: `Cast down your eyes so that Fatima Bint Muhammad may pass!"
154. "Then shall no prophet, messenger, truthful one, or martyr remain without casting their eyes down until Fatima passes... Then a call shall come from the side of Allah, the Exalted:
155. My beloved one and the daughter of my beloved one; ask Us and you shall be given (whatever you wish), and intercede, your intercedence shall be accepted. By my Honor and Exaltation, the oppression of no oppressor shall pass My (judgment) today.
156. She (Fatima) will then say: "O Allah, My Master;
     My progeny, My Shiites (followers), the Shiites of my progeny, those who love me and those who love my progeny."
157. She will then hear a call from Allah's side, may His Name be exalted: "Where are Fatima's progeny, her Shiites, those who love her, and those who love her progeny?
158. " They will then come forward, surrounded by angels of mercy, and Fatima will lead them into Paradise."
159. It was natural for the Prophet (S) who knew and foretold the future events, to reveal to his family, especially his beloved daughter Fatima (A), the events which they would face in the future. He (S) undoubtedly informed Fatima (A) that she was going to suffer from the harsh treatment of some so called Muslims after his death and that she would be the first to follow him to the blessings of Paradise after his departure.
160. Allah's gift for the believers: Allah granted the believers many of His favors. Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, talked about these favors of Allah, saying: "Indeed Allah has given the believers three qualities: glory in his religion in the world, success in the hereafter, and dignity in the hearts of people. (Al-Khisal, p. 133)
161. The Necessity of Improving Livelihood
     Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, urged the Moslem community to strive hard to seek a livelihood. Thus, man is able to afford his family a luxurious life. Meanwhile he is able to avoid poverty and unhappiness. In this connection, the Ima`m, peace be on him, said:
162. "Whoever strives hard to seek livelihood, becomes tranquil, his provision becomes light, and his family leads a life of ease and comfort.
163. He, peace be on him, said: "Through wide morals livelihood is good.
164. Indeed, if man strives hard to seek livelihood, he is able to secure an economic life full of welfare, blessings, tranquility, and stability.
165. Warning from Laziness
     Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, warned the Moslems community from laziness. That is because laziness paralyzes economic life, freezes man's abilities, and spreads corruption in the earth.
166. He, peace be on him, said: "Laziness damages the religion and the world.
167. Laziness damages the religion, for it prevents man from mentioning the Lord's name and His obligations and His duties.
168. Rather, the lazy person neglects religious obligations. So, which harm is greater than this harm?
169. Laziness damages the world, for the lazy person always inclines to inactivity and wishes for a miserable life full of needs and poverty.
170. He does not enter the fields of work that secure for him welfare and happiness.
171. Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, warned one of his children from laziness.
172. He said to him: "Beware of laziness and boredom, for they are the key for all evil things.
173. Whoever is lazy, does not carry out a right (work).
174. Whoever is tired, is impatient toward a right (work).
175. Surely, Islam wants man to work, produce, respect people's rights, associate with them, and perform the obligations imposed on him.
176. However, when the person is afflicted by the disease of laziness, he neglects Allah's and people's rights.
177. Al-Ba`qir detested those who left Work
     Ima`m Abu` Ja'far al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, detested those who left work.
178. He thought that leaving work would weaken production, increase unemployed, and spread economic crises in the country.
179. He, peace be on him, said: "I hate the jobless person who lies on his back and says:
180. O Allah, give me. He asks Allah to do him a favor, while the small ant comes out of its society to seek its livelihood.(Al-'Amal wa Huqquq al-'Amil fi al-Islam, p. 139)
181. Work is Obedience to Allah
     Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, thought that work was obedience to Allah.
182. So, he himself cultivated his own land. Mohammed b. al-Munzir said: "I went out to one of the suburbs of Medina.
183. There I met Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir) Mohammed b. 'Ali, peace be on him. He was a well-built man and he leaning on two servant boys. Either they were black slaves of his or they were retainers of his.
184. So, I said to myself: Glory belongs to Allah. Here is a venerable leader (shaykh) of Quraysh out at this time and in these conditions seeking worldly (advantage).
185.  I must warn him. So, I approached him and greeted him. He returned my greeting with anger.
186. The sweat was pouring down him. I said to him: May Allah make you righteous, does a venerable leader of Quraysh go out at this hour for worldly (advantage)? What would you do if death came upon you at this hour?
187. However, the Ima`m answered him with Islamic words: "Let death come upon me when I am obedient to Allah, the great and Almighty.
188. I work to prevent my soul and my family from you and the people.
189. I fear death when it comes upon me and I am disobedient to Allah.
190. So, Mohammed felt shame. He was unable to answer the Ima`m. Thus, he said to him: "You are right. May Allah have mercy on you.
191. I wanted to warn you, but you have warned me.
192. Indeed work is obedience to Allah, as the Ima`m said. For work prevents the soul and the family from asking people for alms.
193. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, talked very much about the importance of knowledge. He urged Moslems to seek knowledge, for it is the first pillar on which the lives of nations and peoples depend.
194. He, peace be on him, praised the virtue of scholars, for they are the source of culture and guidance for the community. The following are some of what has been reported on his authority in this respect:

195.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, limited the essence of faith when he said: "Faith is steadfast in the hearts, and certitude is notions. Then certitude passes through the heart, so it becomes (as strong) as the lumps of iron. And it goes out of the heart, so it becomes (as worn) as the worn rag.(Hulyat al-Auliya', vol. 3, p. 180)

196.                      The Virtue of Knowledge
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, glorified knowledge. He summoned Moslems to cling to it. He urged them to seek it. He lauded those who sought it.

197.                      He said: "Learn, for learning is protection.

198.                      Seeking knowledge is worship, studying it is glorification (of Allah), looking for it is jihad, teaching it (to others) is alms, and giving it to those who are appropriate for it is proximity (to Allah).

199.                      Knowledge is the signpost of the garden.

200.                      It is an intimate in lonesomeness, a companion in exile, a friend in estrangement, a guide to ease, a help against affliction, adornment with friends, and a weapon against enemies.

201.                      By it Allah promotes some people to make them Ima`ms (leaders) for good.

202.                      So, (people) follow their example and report their works.

203.                      All wet and dry things, the whales and vermin of the see, and the animals and livestock of the land ask (Allah) to bless them.(Ibn Hamadun, al-Tadhkira, p. 26)

204.                      The Virtue of the Scholar
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, lauded the virtue of the scholar. He explained his social rank, and the plentiful reward which Allah has prepared for him. The following are some of the sayings which have been reported on his authority:

205.                      He, peace be on him, said: "The scholar of whose knowledge (people) make use is better than seventy thousand worshipers.( Jami' Bayan al-Ilm wa Fadlah, vol. 1, p. 32)

206.                      He, peace be on him, said: "Whoever teaches a door of guidance, will have the same reward of those who put it into practice. Nothing of the rewards of those (who put guidance into practice) will be decreased. Whoever teaches a door of error, will have the same burdens of those who put in into effect. Nothing of the burdens of those (who put error into effect) will be decreased. (Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 34)

207.                      He, peace be on him, said: "The servant who goes early in the morning to seek knowledge goes into mercy thoroughly.(Nasikh al-Tawarikh, vol. 2, p. 205)

208.                      Associating with Scholars and the Pious
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, urged Moslems to associate with scholars and the pious to make use of their guidance and behavior. He, peace be on him, said: "Indeed association with him whom I trust is more reliable with me than a year's work.( Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 34)

209.                      Discussing Knowledge
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, summoned Moslems to discuss knowledge with each other, for that opens new doors to knowledge and science. He, peace be on him, said: "Discussing knowledge is studying, and studying is a good prayer.( Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 41)

210.                      Rules for the Student
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, suggested wonderful rules for the student. He, peace be on him, said: "When you sit with a scholar, then listen to him more than speaking to him. Learn good listening as you learn good speech. Do not interrupt (the scholar) while he is busy talking.(Nasikh al-Tawarikh, vol. 2, p. 205)

211.                      Proclaiming Knowledge
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, summoned scholars to proclaim and spread knowledge. So, no one will be ignorant. He, peace be on him, said: "The zakat (alms) of knowledge is that you teach it to the servants of Allah.( Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 41)

212.                      He, peace be on him, also said: "Whoever learns knowledge will have the same reward of him who teaches it, and will be better than him. Learn knowledge from scholars. Then teach it to your brothers as the scholars have taught it to you. (Nasikh al-Tawarikh, vol. 2, p. 205)

213.                      The Ima`m urged Moslems to learn
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, urged Moslems to learn (knowledge) and to ask scholars about it. He, peace be on him, said: "Knowledge is a treasure and the key is the question. Then, may Allah have mercy on you, ask (scholars). Indeed four persons will be rewarded out of knowledge: the questioner, the speaker, the listener, and the one who loves them. (Al-Khisal, p. 223)

214.                      Understanding the Religion
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, summoned Moslems to understand deeply the religion and to know the lawful and the unlawful. He, peace be on him, said: "All perfection is in understanding deeply the religion, patience towards misfortune, and taking livelihood into account.(. Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 32)
Surely, understanding the religion deeply maintains man's balance and behavior. It prevents man from committing ugly things. In the mean time it prevents him from deviating from the religion.

215.                      Putting Knowledge into effect
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, urged scholars to put their knowledge into practice. He, peace be on him, said: "When you hear knowledge, then put it into effect. Let your hearts be wide. For the person with the heart that does not encompass his abundant knowledge makes Satan powerful over him. If Satan disputed with you, then dispute with him through what you know.

216.                      Surely, the deception of Satan is weak. "Ibn Abu` Layla asked him: "What is the thing which we know?" So, he, peace be on him, replied: "Dispute with Satan through the manifest strength of Allah, the Great and Almighty.

217.                      Action coupled with knowing Allah is accepted
Knowing Allah is a condition in accepting an act. So, the one who acts and does not know Allah nor does he know the duty which he performs, then his action is useless. Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, said: "No act is accepted except through knowing (Allah). No knowledge (of Allah) is accepted except through an act. Whoever knows (Allah) his knowledge leads him to the act. He who does not know (Allah), his action is invalid (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 294)

218.                      Imam al-Baqir said, "By Allah Jabir, she will pick her Shiites (followers) and those who love her, just like a bird picks good seeds from bad seeds.

219.                      So that when her Shiites are near the gate of Paradise, Allah will inspire their hearts to look to their sides; when they do, Allah the Almighty, will say:

220.                      My beloved one, why did you look around when Fatima, the daughter of my beloved one, interceded for you.

221.                      They will answer Our Lord! We hoped that our position would be known on such a day!

222.                      "Allah will then say: My beloved ones go back and look for everyone who loved you for your love for Fatima.

223.                      Look for everyone who fed you for the love of Fatima.

224.                      Look for everyone that clothed you for the love of Fatima.

225.                      Look for everyone who gave you a drink for the love of Fatima. Look for everyone who prevented backbiting from being done against you for the love of Fatima….

226.                      Take their hands and lead them into Paradise…"

227.                      The Ima`m dispraised Boasting of Seeking Knowledge.
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, dispraised those who boasted of seeking knowledge. He urged the scholars to do their best to seek nearness to Allah and to wish for the hereafter through seeking knowledge.

228.                      He, peace be on him, said: "He who seeks knowledge to vie with the scholars for glory or to dispute with the foolish or to know the prominent figures, then he shall occupy his place in the Fire. Indeed leadership is inappropriate for anyone except those who are appropriate for it.(Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 47)

229.                      Surely, these corrupt ambitions invalidate the reward which Allah has prepared for the religious scholar, who is the propagator of Allah in the earth.

230.                      Therefore, if the religious scholar wants success in this world and happiness in the next world, then he should seek knowledge to please Allah.

231.                      Giving Religious Opinions without Knowledge
Several traditions on giving religious opinions without knowledge were reported on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, for such opinions mislead people. The following are some of them: Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, said: "Whoever gives people religious opinions without having knowledge and guidance, the angels of the Merciful (Allah) and the angels of torment will curse him, and he will shoulder the sins of those who put his religious opinions into effect. (Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 42)

232.                      He, peace be on him, said: "Say what you know. When you do not know, say: Allah knows best. If the person singles out a verse from the Koran (to misinterpret it), he falls down as far as the sky is from the earth.  (Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 42)

233.                      Zara`ra asked Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him: "What is Allah's right against the servants?" The Ima`m, peace be on him, replied: "They should say what they know and refrain from saying what they do not know. (Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 42)

234.                      He, peace be on him, said: "If the scholar is asked about a certain thing and he does not know that thing, he should say: Allah knows more. Other than the scholar has no right to say that. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 297)

235.                      The Qualities of the Scholar
In many of his traditions, Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, talked about the qualities of scholars. The following are some of them: He, peace be on him, said: "The servant who envies those who are superior to him and scorns those who are inferior to him is not a scholar. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 294)

236.                      Indeed the servant is a scholar when his soul is free from envy, which is among the greatest psychological catastrophes.

237.                      It is envy that throws people into the tribulation, for it brings about misfortunes.

238.                      However, the servant is not a scholar when he scorns those who are inferior to him.

239.                      This means that he does not make use of knowledge, which summons him to respect people and treat them with high morals.

240.                      Surely, the Prophet, may Allah bless him, was sent to complete high moral standards.

241.                      So, when the scholar follows bad manners, he deviates from the laws and morals of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family.

242.                      He, peace be on him, said: "The true jurist is he who renounces this world, wishes for the hereafter, and cleaves to the sunna (practices) of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family.( Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 70)

243.                      He, peace be on him, said: "If you see the scholar love the rich, then he loves (the life in) the world. If you see him associate with the Sultan (ruler) without a necessity, then he is a thief. (Abi Zahra, al-Imam al-Sadiq, p. 24)

244. When the scholar loves the rich, he wishes for their properties and to make use of them.
245. This is not among the morals of the scholars whom Allah has commanded to wish for what He has, not for what the others have.
246. As for association with the Sultan without a necessity, it proves that the scholar is not true and that he is a thief, as the Ima`m said. Mahmu`d al-Warraq satirized the religious scholars who made friends with the Sultan, saying:
247. They rode their horses and went in groups to the Caliph's house.
248. They arrived there in the early morning and stayed till evening to obtain high ranks.
249. When they got the nice condition they requested,
250. (When) the Caliph became glad with what the leaf contained,
251. (When) they harmed those who were inferior to them through oppression and violent conduct,
252. they broke the Caliph's promise through the oppression of fearful ways.
253. They sold truthfulness for treason and bought carrion for safety.
254. They hoard fat and weakened those absurd deposits.
255. The graves of the people became narrow. And their high palaces became wide.
256. From the possessors of politeness, knowledge, and wise opinions to the analogy of Abu` Hanifa are in agreement on the gathering of the tradition. When the fascinating world charms a person, the person does not make use of knowledge.( Jami' Bayan al-Ilm wa Fadla, vol. 1, p. 201)
257. He forgets Allah and takes shelter in the world through weak means.
     Abu` al-'Atahiya also satirized them: They looked for the vanities of the world  and forgot the grandson of the Prophet.( Jami' Bayan al-Ilm wa Fadla, vol. 1, p. 201)
258. With this we end our talk about the traditions reported on the authority of the Ima`m, peace be on him.
259. They concern the virtue of knowledge.
260. They praise scholars. Moreover, they are about the high moral standards which scholars should follow to be an example to the community.

261.                      So often a person is greedy for one of the affairs of this world which he had gained and this caused his wretchedness and trouble , and so often a person dislikes an affair of the affairs of the Hereafter that he has attained , however , this caused his happiness . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 166)

262.                      I admonish you of five things : If were oppressed , don't oppress ; if others were treacherous to you , don't be treacherous ( to others ) ; if were disclaimed , don't get angry ; if were praised , don't get happy ;
and if were reproached , don't be impatient . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 162)

263.                      Take the good speech from whoever said it even if his practice was not accordingly . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 170)

264.                      Nothing is mixed with another better than meekness with knowledge .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 172)

265.                      The utmost perfection is understanding in religion , patience in affliction , and moderation in life's spenditure .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 172)

266.                      Three are of the good traits of this world and the hereafter : forgiving the one who oppressed you , having relations with the one who interrupted their relations with you , and having forbearance when behaved
ignorantly with you . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 173)

267.                      God dislikes people's insisting in requisting from each other , however , he likes insisting in requesting from himself .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 173)

268.                      A scholar whose knowledge can be benefited from is better than seventy thousand worshippers .
(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 173)

269.                      A slave ( of God ) is not knowledgeable unless is not jealous from his superiors and is not humiliating to his subordinates . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 173)

270.                      Whoever has good intention , his sustenance is increased .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 175)

271.                      Whoever has good - treatment with his family , his life - time is increased . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 175)

272.                      Refrain from laziness and restlessness because these two are the key to all evils ; whoever is lazy doesn't fulfill the rights and whoever is restless is impatient with the truth . - Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya , Al -
torath .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 175)

273.                      Relations with relatives , purify the deeds , increase the wealths , keep away calamities , ease the reckoning of the hereafter , and delay death . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 71 , P . 111)

274.                      Tell the people the best thing you like to be told .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 65 , P . 152)

275.                      God favors his believer slave with afflictions as the traveler sends the gift for his family ; and he ( God ) protects him from this world as the doctor protects the patient . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 180)

276.                      Have piety , assiduity , truthfulness and paying trusts to whoever trusted you ( for that ) no matter if that person is good or bad . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 179)

277.                      Back - biting is to tell regarding your brother something which God has covered and consealed , and calumny is to accuse your brother of a fault which he doesn't have . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 178)

278.                      God hates the scurrilous that has no dignity . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 176)

279.                      Humbleness is to accept to set in a place below one's status , to greet ( say salam to ) everybody you meet , and to leave dispute and argumenting even it were right . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 176)

280.                      Best worship is chastity of the stomach and private parts . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 176)

281.                      God's exactness in reckoning his slaves in the day of judgement is according to the mind he bestowed upon them in this world .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 7 , P . 267)

282.                      The one of you who teaches knowledge to others has ( before the Exalted God ) the same reward as the learner , and even more . (Al - kafi , Vol . 1 , P . 35)

283.                      Whoever seeks knowledge for vaunting the scholars , argumenting the fool or attracting people's attention towards him should receive fire where ( he is ) seated . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 2 , P . 38)

284.                      The Exalted Glorious God likes the joker among the group , not using indecent words . (Al - kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 663)

285.                      There are three traits which their owner doesn't die until see their bad result : oppression , renouncing relatives , and false swearing which is combat against God .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 174)

286.                      Swearing to God that no slave has insisted in supplication and requesting before the Exalted Glorious God except that his need is fulfilled .(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 475)

287.                      The Exalted Glorious God likes , among his believer slaves , the slave who makes supplication a lot ; so make supplication at dawn till sun - rise , because , that is the time when the doors of heaven are open , provisions are distributed and great needs are fulfilled .(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 478)

288.                      The human's supplication for his believer brother in his absence is the fastest and closest for being answered .(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 507)

289.                      All eyes are crying in the day of judgement except for three : an eye stayed the night vigilent in the way of God , an eye cried in fear of God , and an eye guarded from the Godly unlawful . (Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 80)

290.                      The greedy to this world is as the silk worm the more silk it wove around itself the harder it is to come out until die of grief and sorrow .(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 316)

291.                      How good the good - deeds are after bad - deeds and how bad the bad - deeds are after good - deeds .
(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 458)

292.                      When a believer shake hands with another believer , they seperate from each other pure and having no sins .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 73 , P . 20)

293.                      Refrain from enmity because it makes your mind bussy and causes hypocracy . (Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 301)

294.                      No drop is more beloved to the Exalted God than a drop of tear in the middle of night out of his fear and for him .(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 482)

295.                      Whoever depends upon God is not beaten ; and whoever seeks refuge to God from sins is not defeated .
(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 68 , P . 151)

296.                      Increase of blessings is not interrupted by God except if thanking is interrupted by slaves .
(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 68 , P . 54)

297.                      God gives this world to his friends and enemies , but gives his religion only to his beloved .
(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 215)

298.                      The believer is the brother of the believer , doesn't use bad language with him , doesn't prevent from him , and doesn't have bad opinion towards him .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 45 , P . 176)

299.                      No one is safe from sins unless control his tongue .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 178)

300.                      Three things break one's back ( severe destruction ) : a man considering his deeds as great , forgetting his sins and being pleased with his opinion .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 69 , P . 314)

301.                      Whoever's appearance is better than his inside his balance of deeds becomes light . (Al - faqih , Vol . 4 , P . 404)

302.                      Today is the best opportunity ; while don't know tomorrow is whose .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 179)

303.                      The dirtiest earnings is the profit of usury .(Froo Al - Kafi , Vol . 5 , P . 147)

304.                      Whoever controlled his anger when able to show it , God fills his heart with peace and security in the day of judgement .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 7 , P . 303)

305.                      Four are of the treasures of goodness : consealing the need , hidding the charity , consealing the pain , and consealing the affliction . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 175)

306.                      Children are protected from deviation by goodness of their fathers ( parents ) . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 68 , P . 236)

307.                      Twenty years of friendship is kinship .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 302)

308.                      In all divine decree their is a good hidden for the believer .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 302)

309.                      Any innovation ( attributing lies to God's religion ) is deviation ; and any deviation leads to hell - fire . (Al - Kafi , Vol . 1 , P . 56)

310.                      The closest and fastest worship in reward is observing bonds of relationship . (Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 303)

311.                      Know your brothre's heartly love for you by the amount of heartly love you have for him . (Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 304)

312.                      Faith , is love ( to God's friends ) and enmity ( to God's enemies ) .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 304)

313.                      Faith is confession and action , and Islam is confession without action .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 307)

314.                      Give charities in the morning because it blackens the satan's face ( disgrace him ) , and keeps away evil of the oppressing ruler from you in that day .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 308)

315.                      Insist in forgiveness - seeking from God , because it causes the erasing of sins .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 308)

316.                      Know that the need - seeker ( from you ) didn't keep his dignity before you , so keep yours in not rejecting him .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 309)

317.                      The followers of Ali ( peace be upon him ) are , the generous to each other because of their loyality to us , the lovers to each other because of devotion to us , and the visitors to each other for reviving our affair , never oppress when get angry , never squander when pleased , a blessing to neighbours , and the cause of peace and seresnity to their associates .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 310)

318.                      God likes the modest , patient , chaste and pious .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 310)

319.                      God likes disclosing the greeting .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 311)

320.                      Have compromise with your tongue with the hypocrate , sincere love to the believer and good - behaviour if associated with a jew . (Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 301)

321.                      The tongue is the key to all good and bad ; it is worthy for the believer to stamp his tongue as he stamps his gold and silver . (Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 308)

322.                      If our up riser upraised , God puts the hand of mercy over the heads of the slaves , and put their minds together so their reasoning is perfected . (Al - Kafi , Vol . 1 , P . 25)

323.                      God's mercy be upon a slave who revives knowledge .(Al - Kafi , Vol . 1 , P . 41)

324.                      Envy eats up the faith as fire eats up the wood .(Al - kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 306)

325.                      Every thing has a spring and the spring of Quran is the month of Ramadan . (Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 630)

326.                      Imam Baqir (as) said: The shia of ahlul bayt are those who cry when they hear the story of Hussein (as).

327.                      As a man of his adherents asked him about the battles of Imam Ali Amirul Muminin(a), Imam Al-Baqir(a) said: Allah sent the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and his family, with five swords three of which are unsheathed until wars are ceased.

328.                      Wars will not cease unless the sun will rise from the west.

329.                      When this will fall all people will be secured.

330.                      On that day, "Its faith shall not profit a soul which did not believe before, or earn good through its faith. (Holy Qur'an 6:158) The fourth sword is detained.

331.                      The fifth is unsheathed; others unsheathe it and we judge in it.

332.                      The three unsheathed swords are as follows: One is unsheathed against the Arab polytheists. Allah the Glorified says: Slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush.( Holy Qur'an 9:5)

333.                      But if they repent-i.e. then believe-and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, they are your brethren in faith. (Holy Qur'an 9:11)

334.                      These people are either killed or convert to Islam.

335.                      Their fortunes are regarded as spoils.

336.                      Their progenies are captives according to the practices of the Prophet (S.A.W.). He captured, overlooked, and accepted atonement.

337.                      The second sword is against the Dhimmis. Allah the Praised says: And you shall speak to men-i.e. the Dhimmis-good words. (Holy Qur'an 2:83) This Verse was repealed afterwards by Allah's saying: Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection. (Holy Qur'an 9:29)

338.                      Nothing will be accepted from the Dhimmis, who are enjoying the protection of the Islamic state, except the tribute otherwise, they are killed, their fortunes taken as spoils, and their progenies as captives. If they accept to pay the tribute, it will be prohibited to take them as captives and to seize their fortunes. In addition, it will be lawful to marry from them. For those who declare war against us, it is lawful for us to capture them and seize their fortunes. In addition, it is prohibited to marry from them. Nothing will be accepted from them except converting to Islam, paying the tribute, or being fought to death.

339.                      The third sword is against the non-Arab polytheists, like the Turks,Daylam, and Khazar. In the beginning of the sura in which He mentions the affairs of the atheists, Allah says: If you encounter the disbelievers in a battle, strike-off their heads. Take them as captives when they are defeated. Then you may set them free - after capture - as a favor to them, with or without a ransom-between the Muslims and them-, when the battle is over (Holy Qur'an 47:4) Nothing will be accepted from these people except being killed or converting to Islam. It is unlawful for us to marry from them as long as they are in state of war against us.

340.                      The detained sword is that against people of rebel and interpretation. Allah says: If two parties among the believers start to fight against each other, restore peace among them. If one party rebels against the other, fight against the rebellious one until he surrenders to the command of Allah. (Holy Qu'ran 49:9) When this verse was revealed, the Prophet(S.A.W.) said: One of you will fight for the interpretation of the Quran in the same way as I fought for its revelations." As he was asked about that one, he (S.A.W.) said: He is Imam Ali Amirul Muminin (A.S.).

341.                      Ammar-bin-Yasir said: I fought under this pennon three times with the Prophet (S.A.W.). This is the fourth. By Allah I swear, if they beat us to take us back to Hagar - a region - , we will be sure that we are the right party and they are the wrong."

342.                      With these people, Amirul Muminin Ali (A.S.) followed the same practices that the Prophet (S.A.W.) followed with the people of Mecca when he conquered it. He did not capture their families.

343.                      The Prophet (S.A.W.) said: He who closes his door and keep himself indoors will be safe. He who disarms himself will be safe."

344.                      In the same way Amirul Muminin(A.S.) instructed his army-after the victory in the battle of Jamal-not to capture any one, kill a wounded, or chase any absconder. He who disarmed himself would be safe.

345.                      The unsheathed sword is that of retaliation. Allah the Glorified said: Capital punishment for the murder of a person: an eye for an eye... (Holy Qur'an 5:45) The custodians of the victim (the killed person) unsheathe this sword while the judge is ours.

346.                      These were the swords with which Allah sent Muhammad (S.A.W.). He who denies them or even one of them or anything of their narration or rulings will be reckoned as disbelieving in that which Allah the Elevated revealed to His Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).Reference:Tuhaf al-Uqool

347.                      The name and nickname of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) were given in advance by his great, great grandfather, the Holy Prophet of Islam (S.A.W.).

348.                      The revered companion of the Holy Prophet of Islam (S.A.W.), Jabir bin Abdulla Ansari, is reported to have said. "The Massenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said to me, You may live long enough to see a son of mine from the loins of Husayn (A.S.), called Muhammad.

349.                      He will certainly 'cut through' the science of religion. Should you see him, convey my greeting to him."

350.                      Aba`n b. Taghlub reported on the authority of Abi 'Abd Allah, peace be on him, who said: "Indeed Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansa`ri was the last of the surviving Companions of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family. He devoted himself to us, we, the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt).

351.                      He sat at the place of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family. He wore a black turban.

352.                      He called out:' O you who will split open knowledge (baqir)! 

353.                      You who will split open knowledge!'

354.                      Thus, the people of Medina said: 'Ja`bir is hallucinating!' So, he (Ja`bir) said: 'By Allah, I have never hallucinated.

355.                       However, I heard the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, say:' Indeed, you will meet a man who belongs to me.

356.                      His name is similar to mine.

357.                      His qualities are similar to mine.

358.                      He will split open knowledge thoroughly.

359.                      'These words have motivated me to say what I say.' He (Abi Abd Allah) said: "One day while Ja`bir was walking through some streets of Medina, he passed by a street. Mohammed b. 'Ali (al-Ba`qir) was in the street. When he looked at him he said: 'O boy, come.' The boy came. then Ja`bir said to the boy: 'Turn back.'

360.                      The boy turned back. Then Ja`bir said: "By him in whose hand is my soul, (they are) the qualities of the Apostle of Allah.

361.                      O Boy, what is your name?" The boy replied: "My name is Mohammed b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn."Ja`bir kissed his head and said: 'May my farther and mother be ransom for you, your grandfather, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, sends you his greetings.' Abi 'Abd Allah said: 'Mohammed came back frightened to his father and told him about what had happened. His father said to him: 'My little boy, has Ja`bir done it ?' Mohammed replied:'Yes.' His father said: 'Do not leave your house, my little boy.(Usul al-Kafi, vol.1, pp. 496-470. Al-Kashi, Rijal, pp. 27-28).

362.                      Ibn 'Asa`kir reported that Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, and his son, al-Ba`qir came to Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansa`ri. Ja`bir asked him: "Son of the Apostle of Allah, who is with you?"

363.                      My son, Mohammed, is with me," replied Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin. Ja`bir embraced Mohammed. Then he wept and said: "My death is at hand. Mohammed, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, sends you his greetings."

364.                      "What is that?" asked Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin. Ja`bir replied: "I heard Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, say to al-Husayn b. 'Ali: 'A son will be born for this grandson of mine. The son will be the Lord of worshipers. On the Day of Judgment, a caller will call:' Let the Lord of worshipers stand up.

365.                      So, 'Ali b. al-Husayn will rise. A son will be born for 'Ali b. al-Husayn. The son will be called Mohammed. Ja`bir, when you see him, give him my greetings. Ja`bir, know that al-Mahdi will be among his sons. Know, Ja`bir, that you will stay for a short time after him. (Ibn 'Asakir, Tarikh, vol 51, p. 41).

366.                      Taj al-Din b. Mohammed, the head of Aleppo , reported on the authority of Ima`m Mohammed al-Ba`qir, who said: "I came to Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah and greeted him. He said to me: 'Who are you?' That was after he had become blind.

367.                      I said to him: 'Mohammed b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn.' He said: 'May my father and mother be ransom for you, come nearer to me.' I came nearer to him. He kissed my hand, and then he stooped down to my foot to kiss it. However, I pulled it from him. Then he said: 'The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, recites his greeting to you.' 'Peace and Allah's mercy and blessings be on the Apostle of Allah,' I said.

368.                      'How is that, Ja`bir?' He said:' One day I was with him when he said to me: 'Perhaps you will live until you meet one of my descendants called Mohammed b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn on whom Allah will bestow light and wisdom. Then recite to him my greetigs.(Ghayat al-Ikhtisar, p. 64).

369.                      Salah al-Din al-Safadi said: Ja`bir walked in Medina and said: 'Ba`qir, when will I meet you?' One day he passed through a street in Medina. A female slave gave him the boy who was in her lap. He said to the female slave: 'Who is this?' 'Mohammed b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn,' she replied. He embraced him, kissed his head and his hands, and then he said: 'My little boy, your grandfather, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, sends you his greetings.' Then he said: 'Ba`qir, my death is at hand.' He died at that night.(Al-Wafi bi al-Wafayat, vol. 4, p. 192).

370.                      Some Isma`'ilis reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, said to Ja`bir: "You will meet a son of this son of mine. He appointed at al-Husayn. When you meet him, give him my greetings. Say to him: O you who will split open knowledge, split it completely. "Ja`bir did that.( Masa'il Majmu'a mina al-Hada'iq al-'Aliya wa al-Asrar al-Samiya, p. 99).

371.                      Al-Ha`fiz Nu`r al-Din al-Haythami reported on the authority of Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, who said: "Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah visited me while I was reading the Book. He said to me: 'Uncover your abdomen.' I uncovered my abdomen. He kissed it, and then he said: 'Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, ordered me to give you his greetings.(Majjma' al-Zawa'id, vol. 1, p. 22).

372.                      Abdullah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab was asked about something, but he failed to offer an answer. Instead he advised the questioner to visit Imam al-Baqir (AS) saying, "Go to that youth and put your question to him, and tell me afterwards what his answer was."

373.                      When the man asked the Imam about it, Imam (AS) answered him directly and immediately. The man then returned to Abdullah with the answer. "That came from a Household well-versed in knowledge", commented Abdullah.(6)

374.                      Amru ibn Ubayd, a leader and intellectual of al-Mu'tazilah (literally schismatics), a school of thought, called on Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir (AS) to test him with a question: "May I be your ransom," said he, "What is meant by this verse: `Or see not those who disbelieve that the heavens and the earth were one piece, before We clove them asunder, ...' (21:30).

375.                      "What is this one piece and what is meant by clove them asunder?"

376.                      "The heavens were one solid mass which rendered no rain," replied the Imam (AS). "And the earth was a solid mass which produced no plants. Allah tore asunder the heavens with the rain, and the earth with the plants."

377.                      Amru ibn Ubayd kept silent and did not comment.
Once again he returned, asking this question,
"May I be your ransom. Tell me what is meant by this verse: "... and those on whom My wrath descends do perish indeed!" (20:81). What is that wrath?"

378.                      Imam al-Baqir (AS) answered, "O Amru, the wrath is when a creature gets angry when something provokes him, changing him from one condition to another, and whoever claims that wrath and satisfaction change Allah, and that He regains His equanimity, he is describing Allah with the qualities of that creature."

379.                      Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (AS) is reported to have said: "Beware of sloth and boredom, for they are the key to every evil. Should you get lazy you will not do what you are obliged to do. And should you get bored you will not have the perseverance to do what you are obliged to do."

380.                      Again he said:
"There is nothing more lovable to Allah than to be implored.

381.                      Nothing other than supplication wards off fate.

382.                      The greatest punishable evil act is injustice.

383.                      Sufficient flaw is that one sees in other people what one is blind to see in oneself, enjoins them to do what he cannot bring himself to do, and annoys his visitor with what does not concern him."

384.                      He, peace be on him, said: "O People, you are targets in this world.

385.                      Deaths compete with each other for you.

386.                      No one of you receives a new day of his lifetime but through ending another day of his appointed time. Which meal has no lump (in the throat)?

387.                      Which drink has no lump (in the throat)? Set right what you will go to with what you will depart from.

388.                      As for today, it is booty. As for tomorrow, you do not know to whom it belongs.

389.                      The people of the world are traveling.

390.                      They will untie their baggage in (a place) other than it.

391.                      Origins have left us. We are their branches.

392.                      So, what is the survival of the branch after its origin?
Where are those whose lifetimes were longer than yours, and whose desires were farther than yours?

393.                      O Son of Adam, what you cannot repel, has come to you.

394.                      What does not come back, has left you.

395.                      So, do not number the livelihood that goes away as livelihood.

396.                      You have nothing of it except the pleasure that approaches you to your death and brings you nearer to your appointed time.

397.                      So, you look like the missing lover and torn blackness.

398.                      So, take care of your own soul.

399.                      Leave other than it. Ask Allah for help, and He will help you.( Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p.299)

400.                      Some of his Shi'ites came to him. He preached to them and warned them from the punishment of Allah. However, they paid no attention to his preaching.

401.                      That displeased him. So, he bowed his head for a while, and then he raised it.

402.                      He admonished them and preached to them again, saying: Surely, if part of this speech of mine came into the heart of one of you, he would be dead.

403.                      Indeed you are ghosts without souls and flies without a lamp.

404.                      You look like big pieces of wood clad with garments, and mutinous idols.

405.                      Do you not take gold from stone?

406.                      Do you not take light from the brightest light?

407.                      Do you not take pearls from the sea?

408.                      Take the good word from him who says it even if he does not put it into effect.

409.                      That is because Allah says: 'Those who listen to the word, then follow the best of it; those are they whom Allah has guided. (The Holy Qur'an, al-Zumar, 18)

410.                      O Conceited one, woe unto you! Would you not praise Him

411.                      Whom you gives something perishable and He gives you something remaining? (Give) one perishable dirham for ten dirhams to a hundred fold from the All-Generous (Allah).

412.                      Allah has given you a reward from Him.

413.                      It is He Who feeds you, waters you, clothes you, heals you, suffices you, and protects you from those who frighten you.

414.                      Who protects you by day and night, fulfills your urgent need, and tests you according to reason?

415.                      It seems that you have forgotten the nights of your aches and fear.

416.                      You asked Him, and He responded to you.

417.                      So, He is worthy of gratefulness for His favor.

418.                      However, you have forgotten Him concerning him whom He has mentioned.

419.                      Woe unto you! You are a thief from among the thieves of sins.

420.                      You hasten to desires and commit sins.

421.                      You do that through your ignorance.

422.                      It seems that your not under the oversight of Allah.

423.                      Or it seems that Allah does not watch you.

424.                      O Seeker of the garden, how long your sleep is! How weak your walking is!

425.                      How weak your intention is! By Allah, you are invoked and wanted.

426.                      O You who escape from the Fire, how quick your walking to it!

427.                      How fast you are in earning that which will throw you into it!

428.                      "Look at those lines of graves by the yards of the houses.

429.                      They (the dead) are near in their lines and their graves.

430.                      However, they are far in their meeting.

431.                      They lived long, and then they were ruined.

432.                      They associated (with people), and then they were forced to dwell deserted places.

433.                      They were tranquil, and then they were disturbed.

434.                      They were hopeless, and then they passed away.

435.                      Therefore, no one is near and far, far and near, living and ruined, sociable and lonely, tranquil and disturbed, inhabitant and departed, except the people of the graves.

436.                      O Son of the three days, (I mean) your day when you were born.

437.                      Your day when you will come down into your grave. And your day when you will come out (of your grave to meet) your Lord.

438.                      How important this day will be! O Possessors of the admirable appearance and of thirst-quenching and kneeling camels, why do I see your bodies sound and your hearts ruined?

439.                      By Allah, if you saw what you would meet and what you would come to, you would say:

440.                      'Would that we were sent back, and we would not reject the communications of our Lord and we would be of the believers.( The Holy Qur'an, al-An-'am, 27)

441.                      Allah, the Great and Almighty, said: 'And if they were sent back, they would certainly go back to that which they are forbidden, and most surely they are liars.( The Holy Qur'an, al-An-'am, 28)

442.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, blamed these people when they turned away from his preaching and directions. He wanted to set right their behavior.

443.                      He wanted them to follow righteousness to gain good here and in the hereafter.

444.                      He gave them these effective preaching to make them obey Allah.

445.                      For Allah is able to do good for them and to deprive them of that.
He preached to them with these lessons to which souls submit, and of which hearts are afraid.

446.                      Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, preached to one of his companions. He informed him of the reality of this life. He, peace be on him, said to him: "Regard the world as a house where you live, and then you leave the house. Or regard (it) as perfection you obtain in your sleep. When you wake, you find nothing of it. (Mirr'at al-Jinan, vol. 1, p. 149)
Indeed if man thinks about the world through this correct opinion, he will be free from conceit, selfishness, greediness, and other psychological diseases that deviate him from the right path.

447.                      Among his preaching is this: "If the eye is bathed in tears, Allah will protect its owner from the Fire. If the tear flows down the cheek, neither miserliness nor abasement will befall its owner. There is a punishment for everything except the tear. For Allah, the Most High, forgives the seas of sins through it. (Akhbar al-Duwak, p. 11)
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, summoned Moslems to weep out of fear of Allah. Weeping is among the signs of faith. It shows the relationship between the servant and his Lord and Creator.

448.                      Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, said: "Man should mention death very much. If he mentions death very much, he will refrain from the world.(. Jami'al-Sa'dat, vol. 2, p. 61)
Surely, if man mentions death, he will renounce the world and refrains from its vanities and pleasures.

449.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, was asked about the most ascetic of all the people. So, he, peace be on him, replied: "It is he who pays no attention to the world. "Then he was asked: "Who is the most hopeless of all the people?" "It is he who sells the remaining (life) for the transitory (life), "he replied. Then he was asked: "Who is the most important of all the people?" "It is he who thinks that the world is not important, "he answered. (Al-Bayan wa al-Tabiyyin, vol. 3, p. 161)

450.                      He, peace be on him, preached to his companions, saying: "Allah, the Exalted, says: 'O Son of Adam, I have done you three favors: I have concealed what your family does not know. For, if they knew it, they would not take care of you. I have given to you generously. Now, I ask you for a loan, but you have offered no good. I have had mercy on you in the third one, but you have offered no good. (Al-Khisal, p. 131)

451.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, talked about the virtue of reason. He denoted that it was the greatest of all things which Allah, the Exalted, created.

452.                      He, peace be on him, said: When Allah created reason, He tested it.

453.                      Then He ordered it to come forward and it came forward.

454.                      Then He ordered it to go back and it went back. Then Allah said: 'I swear by My power and majesty that no creation of Mine is dearer to Me than you are, and I have made you perfect in those whom I love.

455.                      Lo! To you are My orders and prohibitions.

456.                      And for you are My rewards and retributions reserved.

457.                      Surely, through reason, the value of man becomes high.

458.                      Were it not for reason, there would be no difference between man and the animal.

459.                      Reason is among the fundamental conditions necessary for performing the religious duties, as the jurists say.

460.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, praised cleverness. He regarded it as the only source of man's happiness and righteousness. He, peace be on him, said: "The goodness of all coexistence and living together is a full measure. Two thirds of the measure are cleverness. And one third of it is heedlessness. Nothing has a portion of good and righteousness except cleverness. That is because man feigns inattention to the things which he realizes and knows. (Al-Mubarrad, al-Kamil, vol. 1, p. 76)

461.                      How wonderful this maxim is! A religious scholar commented on it, saying: "Indeed, it has gathered together all the righteousness of the affairs of the world.

462.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, summoned Moslems to think things over. He, peace be on him, said: "Through thinking (things) over, the fruitful opinion is concluded.( Jami'al-Sa'adat, vol. 1, p. 165)

463.                      This word is among the wonderful maxims.

464.                      Man can come to a correct genuine opinion through considering things carefully.

465.                      He can conclude scientific facts and inventions through contemplating things. It is impossible for him to come to that without contemplation.

466.                      As for kindness to people, it plays an important role in strengthening social ties and spreading love and friendship among people. Islam has urged Moslems to cling to kindness to people. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, said: "Continuous kindness is the best means with me.( Tuhaf al-Uqul, pp. 296)

467.                      The most lovable things with the Imam, peace be on him, was continuing kindness to people, for he wanted to plant love and affection in their hearts through it.

468.                      He, peace be on him, said: "Indeed, Allah singles out people from among His creatures for fairness. He makes them love fairness. He makes them love fair acts. Then He orders the seekers of fairness to go to them. Then He makes it easy for them to do fairness, as He makes it easy for rain (to come down) to the arid land to enliven it and its people. Allah singles out people from among His creatures to be enemies of fairness. He makes them hate fairness. And He them hate fair acts. He prevents the seekers of fairness from going to them, as He prevents rain from (coming down) to the arid land to ruin it and its people. And what Allah forgives is more (than this).( Tuhaf al-Uqul, pp. 295)

469.                      He, peace be on him, said: "Fair acts prevent evil deaths (from happening). Every fair act is alms. The people of fairness here are the people of fairness in the hereafter. The people of the abominable acts here are the people of the abominable acts in the hereafter. The people of the fair acts will be the first to enter the garden. The people of the abominable acts will be the first to enter the Fire.( Al-Saduq, al-Amali, p. 225)

470.                      Kindness should be Equivalent to Fairness : Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, ordered his companions to repay fairness with much more kindness. He, peace be on him, said: "Whoever does a favor like that which is done for him returns like for like. Whoever doubles the favor is grateful. Whoever thanks (people for their favors) is generous. He who knows that what he does is for his own interest should not find people slow in their gratefulness (for him), nor should he ask them for more love (for him). So, do not ask other than you to thank you for what you do for your own interest, and through which you protect your honor. Know that the one who asks you for a need does not honor himself when he asks you (for a need). So, honor yourself through fulfilling his need. (Tuhaf al-Uqul, pp. 300)

471.                      When the Ima`m, peace be on him, had ordered his companions to return like for like, he summoned them to do kindness for kindness. He ordered them not to ask people for a reward. For they did that for their own interests and honor.

472.                      He, peace be on him, asked his companions to meet people with cheerfulness and good words. He, peace be on him, said: "Good words and cheerfulness lead to love and nearness to Allah. Bad words and frowning lead to hate and remoteness from Allah. (Tuhaf al-Uqul, pp. 296)

473.                      He, peace be on him, urged his companions to treat people kindly. He, peace be on him, said: "Say to people the best (words) which you want them to say to you. For Allah hates the one who curses and abuses and defames the believers. He detests the one who uses an obscene language and insists on begging. He loves the one who is modest, clement, chaste. (Tuhaf al-Uqul, pp. 300)

474.                      He, peace be on him, denoted the rights which Islam legislated for the Moslem towards his Moslem brother. He, peace be on him, said: "Love your Moslem brother. Love for him what you love for yourself. Hate for him what you hate for yourself. When you are in need of (a certain thing), then ask him for that. When he asks you for (a certain need), then give (it) to him. If you spare no good for him, he will spare no good for you. If you help him, he will help you. If he is absent, then keep him during his absence. If he is present, then visit him, and respect him. For he is from you, and you are from him. If he admonishes you, then do not leave him till his hate comes to an end. If good befalls him, then thank Allah for that. If a tribulation afflicts him, then help him (Al-Saduq, al-Amali, p. 288)

475.                      If Moslems put into effect these excellent teachings, they will be the strongest of all the peoples of the world, and nations will not invade them, enslave them, and plunder their wealth.

476.                      However, they have deviated from these true teachings, so they have become weak humble parties.

477.                      "Each party is happy with that which it has.

478.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, summoned the Moslems to fulfill the needs of their Moslem brothers. He warned them from leaving them. He, peace be on him, said: "If the servant refrains from helping his Moslem brother and does not strive to fulfill his need, he will be afflicted by the need causing a sin not a reward. If the servants refrains from spending on that which pleases Allah, then he will be afflicted by spending a hundred fold on that which displeases Allah. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 292)

479.                      Islam takes care of the relations with womb relatives. It summons Moslems to cling to them, for they strengthen the family and lead the community to fruitful results. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, urged the Moslems to cleave to them. He, peace be on him, said: "Relations with blood relatives increase acts, develop properties, repel the tribulation, make easy the reckoning, and postpone the a fixed term (of death). (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 298)

480.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, underlined alms. He mentioned the advantages which the one who gives alms obtains. He mentioned that before his companions. He, peace be on him, said: "Shall I tell you about the thing that drives away the ruler and the Satan from you?
Yes, tell us to do it," replied Abu` Hamza.
He, peace be on him, said: "Give alms early in the morning. For it blackens the Satan's face and breaks the greediness of the oppressive ruler on that days of
yours. Love each other for Allah. Help each other with the good deeds. For such deeds put end to the Satan and the oppressive ruler. Insist on asking Allah for forgiveness, for such insistence erases sins. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 298)

481.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, urged the Moslems to feel pity for the orphan and to have affection for the weak. He, peace be on him, said: "Whoever has four (qualities), Allah will build a house for him in the garden. The one who shelters the orphan, has mercy on the weak, feel compassion for his parents, and treats his slave gently.

482.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, talked about the good qualities that draw the servant nearer to Allah and make him far from His wrath and punishment. He, peace be on him, said: "Whoever has four (qualities), his Islam is perfect, is helped with his faith, his sins are erased, and meets Allah, the Great and Almighty, while He is pleased with him. If he has sins from his head to his feet, Allah forgives him his sins.
They are: Loyalty to Allah, the truthfulness of the tongue with the people, shame of the ugly (things) with Allah and people, and good manners towards the family and people. The believer who has four (qualities), Allah, the Exalted, will make him live in the rooms on the rooms in the most high gardens. It is he who shelters the orphan, has mercy on him, and is like the father for him. It is he who has mercy on the weak, helps them, and suffices them. It is he who spends on his parents, treats them gently, and pleases them. And it is he who helps and suffices his slave. (Al-Durr al-Nazim, p. 191)

483.                      The Ima`m, peace be on him, ordered man to do all things that drew him nearer to his Lord. He guided him to the good deeds which Allah loved, for which He rewarded him very much, and for which He did him many favors.

484.                      The Ima`m, peace be on him, summoned the Moslems to cling to silence. He ordered them to refrain from saying useless words. He, peace be on him, said: "Indeed, this tongue is the key of all good and evil. So, the believer must seal his tongue as he seals his gold and silver. For Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said: 'May Allah have mercy of the believer who restrains his tongue from all evil. For that is alms from him for himself. No one is safe from sins unless he restrains his tongue. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 298)

485.                      He, peace be on him, said: "If some haughtiness enters the person's heart, some of his reason decreases. (Safwat al-Safwa, vol. 2, p. 61)

486.                      He, peace be on him, said: "The haughty one quarrels with Allah about His gown.
Indeed, haughtiness results from ignorance and the decrease of reason. If man knows that he will be a mass of mean earth after death, he shows no haughtiness towards Allah's creatures.

487.                      The Ima`m, peace be on him, dispraised the hypocrite person, who is double-faced and double-tongued. He, peace be on him, said: "Bad is the servant who is double-faced and double-tongued. He flatters his brother when he is present. He backbites him when he is absent. He envies him brother when he is given. He betrays him when he is afflicted by a tribulation. (Al-Saduq, al-Amali, p. 30)

488.                      The Ima`m, peace be on him, warned the Moslems from having the following qualities. He, peace be on him, said: "Bad is captivity after victory, depression after the misfortune, rudeness with the poor, cruelty with the neighbor, miserliness towards the relative, disagreement with the friend, misbehavior towards the family, impudence through the power, greediness during poverty, backbiting the friend, telling lies, the slander, perfidy from the ruler, the rage from the generous. Whoever asks more than his right is worth of deprivation. Setting right the one who does not know dignity is through disgracing him. The careful one rises (in rank). The cautious one finds (good).( Ibn Hamdun, Tadhkirat, p. 60)

489.                      Whoever refrains from these qualities is endowed with high moral standards and is among the unique people.

490.                      The Ima`m, peace be on him, prevented the Moslems from practicing the following qualities. He, peace be on him, said: "The owner of three traits will not die till he sees their evil results: oppression, cutting off ties of relations, and binding oath through which he fights with Allah. Indeed the quickest obedience in reward is the relations with womb relatives. Perhaps some people are sinners. However, they visit each other. So, their properties increase and they become rich. Binding oath and cutting off ties of relations leave houses empty of their people. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 294)

491.                      The Ima`m, peace be on him, hated the people who were endowed with the following traits. He, peace be on him, said: "Four (traits) lead to the quickest punishment: The person whom you treat with kindness but he mistreats you. The person who you do not oppress but oppresses you. The person to whom you are loyal but he betrays you. The person who visits his relations but they end their relationship with him.( Al-Khisal, p. 210)

492.                      The Ima`m, peace be on him, prevented the Moslems from drinking wine. For it is among the mortal sins. He, peace be on him, said: "Indeed the one who is alcoholic is like the one who worships the idol. Wine makes him shake, and destroys his manhood. It makes him violate the prohibitions such as shedding blood and committing fornication. (Al-Bihar, vol. 16, p. 771)

493.                      Surely, wine is the source of all sins and offenses. It is among the social catastrophes that defame man and leads him to commit all the prohibitions. As for its bodily damages, we have talked about them in one of our books.

494.                      The Ima`m, peace be on him, dispraised the person who used obscene language. He, peace be on him, said: "Surely, Allah detests the one who uses obscene language. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 296)

495.                      The Ima`m, peace be on him, made a distinction between backbiting and slander. He, peace be on him, said: "It is an act of backbiting to say concerning your brother what Allah conceals for him. As for the manifest traits of him such as fury and hastiness, there is no harm in mentioning them. As for slander, it is that you say concerning your brother what he has not. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 298)

496.                      The Ima`m, peace be on him, warned the Moslems from anger. He provided a remedy for it. He, peace be on him, said : "Indeed this anger is an ember from Satan. The ember is burnt in the heart of the son of Adam (i. e. , man). When one of you becomes angry, his eyes become red and his jugular veins become swollen. Thus, Satan enters him. When he becomes angry, he must sit on the ground. With that he removes the cunning of Satan. (Jami' al-Sa'adat, vol. 1, p. 289).

497.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, underlined the affair of anger. He warned the Moslems of its final results. Ima`m al- Sa`diq, peace be on him, said: "My father said: 'There is nothing more intense than anger. Perhaps the person becomes angry. So, he kills the soul which Allah has forbidden and defames the chaste woman. (Jami' al-Sa'adat, vol. 1, p. 289)

498.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, said: "The person sometimes becomes angry and continues his anger till he enters the Fire. (Jami' al-Sa'adat, vol. 1, p. 289)

499.                      The Ima`m, peace be on him, said: "I wonder at the one who is vain and boastful. He was created from a sperm. Then he becomes carrion. Between this and that, he does not know what will be done for him. The talents and genius of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, resulted in great abilities of knowledge that included all sciences, such as the tradition, philosophy, theology, jurisprudence, high maxims, and standard morals. Moreover, it included the events the Ima`m had predicted before they occurred. Then they happened on the arena of life. His knowledge was vast. Though the scholars learned a lot of his pure knowledge, he found narrowness in himself because of his many sciences for which he found no way to proclaim. He, as the narrators said, heaved deep sighs and said with grief: If I found (carriers) for my knowledge which Allah, the Great and Almighty, has given to me, I would proclaim monotheism, Islam, religion, and Islamic laws. How can I do that? My grandfather, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, found no carriers for his knowledge for his knowledge. Thus, he sighed deeply on the pulpit and said: 'Question me before you lose me, for there is much knowledge among the ribs. (Safinat al-Bihar, vol. 2)

500.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, came to a world full of discords, disturbances, and events. He saw that the Islamic community had lost all of its qualities. It lost all the characteristics which Allah wanted for it, such as unity, perfection, and development in the fields of knowledge and production. So, through his spiritual leadership, the Ima`m did his best to renew the glory of the community and to rebuild its cultural entity. Thus, he proclaimed knowledge and thought. He refrained from practicing all political activities, and devoted himself to knowledge only. The orient list, Rowit M. Ronaldson, said: "He (al-Ba`qir) lived honored. He dedicated himself to knowledge during his isolation in Medina. The people came to him to ask him about the Ima`mate. (Aqidat al-Shi'a, p. 123)

501.                      Some notables of the community went to the Ima`m to study knowledge under him. Among them was the great scholar, Ja`bir b. Yazid al-Ju'fi. When the Ima`m met him for the first time, he asked him:
-Where are you from?
- From Ku`fa.
- From which tribe?
- From Ju'f.
- What has brought you here?
- Seeking knowledge.
- From whom?
- From you. (Al-Manaqib, vol. 3,p. 331).

502.                      Then knowledge-loving deputations came to the Ima`m frequently to learn knowledge and sciences from him. Shaykh Abu` Zahra said: "All the scholars who went to (Medina), the city of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, went to him to learn the principal features of religion from him.(*Al-Imam Zayd, p. 22) The jurists learned from him the lawful and the unlawful. ('Uyyun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 213)

503.                      The name and nickname of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) were given in advance by his great, great grandfather, the Apostle of Allah (s.a.w.). The revered companion of the Prophet Jabir bin Abdullah al-Ansari, is reported to have said, "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said to me, ‘You may live long enough to see a son of mine from the loins of Hussein (a.s.), called Muhammad.

504.                      He will certainly ‘cut through’ the sciences of religion. Should you see him, convey my greetings to him."

505.                      That is why Imam Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.) was called al-Baqir, which means ‘the man who is deeply knowledgeable and sharply wise, who discovers knowledge’s innermost mysteries and essence, and who is well-versed in its arts’, as weighty Arabic dictionaries explain.

506.                      Abdullah bin Ata’ al-Makki is reported to have said, "Never have I seen scholars so limited in knowledge in the presence of a scholar other than Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir."

507.                      Muhyil-Deen bin Sharafah Al-Nawawi said, "…He is a venerable man of the second Muslim generation.

508.                      He is a knowledgeable Imam unanimously agreed to be a man of dignity.

509.                      He is adjudged as one of the religious affairs authorities (fuqaha’) and Imams of the city of Madinah.

510.                      From Jabir and Anas he communicated Prophetic traditions. Abu-Ishaq, Ata’ bin Abi-Rabah, Amru bin Dinar al-A’raji (who was older than Al-Baqir), al-Zuhri, Rabi’ah and many more of the second generation and the great Imams of religious affairs (fiqh) reported Islamic Prophetic traditions from him. Both Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported from him."

511.                      Ibn al-Imad al-Hanbali said, "Abu-Jafar Muhammad al-Baqir was one of the fuqaha’ of Madinah. He was given the title of al-Baqir because he ripped open knowledge, knew its fine subtleties and expanded it…"

512.                      Muhammad bin Talhah al-Shafi’ is reported to have said that, "Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir was the one who cut through knowledge, collected and disseminated it. He raised it many degrees, outwitted others in exploiting it, imbibed it and decorated it with gems of thought. His heart was serene, his good deeds ever-growing, his soul chaste, and his morals noble. He would fill his time with deeds in obedience to Allah. His piety was unshakably firm. One could clearly see in him the signs of closeness to Allah, and the purity of the divine choice. Virtues hastened to him, and good qualities were honored by him."

513.                      Imadul-Deen Abul Fida’ Isma’il bin Umar bin Kuthayr testified that, "Abu-Jafar al-Baqir was a venerable man of the second Muslim generation who enjoyed great religious status. He was one of the foremost people of this ummah in knowledge, deeds, lordship and nobility. He was called al-Baqir ‘for he ripped open knowledge and inferred judgment.’ He was a religious man, a praiser of Allah, submissive and patient in worship. He descended from the family of the Prophet. Of what noble descent was! Spiritually lofty, he would weep profusely in fear of Allah. He shied from futile arguments and animosities."

514.                      When reporting from him, Jabir bin Yazid al-Ju’fi would say, "The trustee of trustees, the inheritor of the knowledge of the prophets, Muhammad bin Ali bin Hussein (a.s.), told me…"

515.                      Sayyid Hasan al-Sadr said: "Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, Mohammed b. 'Ali al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, was the first to open the chapters of this science and to split open its problems. Then his son Abu` 'Abd Allah, peace be on him, came after him to continue it. Then they dictated its rules and problems to a group of their students. Then the later generations regulated its chapters in books such as Usu`l Al al-Rasu`l, al-Fusu`l al-Muhima fi Usu`l al-A'imma, and al-Usu`l al-Asilah. The reliable narrators reported all these chapters on the authority of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them.(Al-Shi'a wa Funun al-Islam, p. 95)

516.                      This rule means that the act is correct at the time of doubt. (Hada'iq al-Usul, vol.2, p. 547)

517.                      This rule was reported on the authority of Mohammed b. Moslem on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, who said: "If you doubt all that which you have already completed, then let it as it is.(Mustamsak al-'Irwat al-Withqa, vol. 7, p. 350)

518.                      A true tradition which Mohammed b. Moslem reported on the authority of al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, also proved that. In this tradition it has been mentioned: "If doubt occurs after the time of the prayer has passed, one should ignore the doubt and not repeat (the prayer) (Mustamsak al-'Irwat al-Withqa, vol. 7, p. 349)

519.                      Among the important rules in Islamic law is the rule of removing harm. Shaykh al-Ansa`ri said: "It means removing the legal precept that leads to harm. "The jurists have mentioned many legal precepts regarding this rule. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, underlined this rule when he, peace be on him, said to Zara`ra: "Samra b. Jundub had a date-palm in the house of a man from the Ansa`r. The man's house was facing the gate of the garden. Samra entered the man's house without permission. Thus, the man spoke to Samra to ask his permission before entering. However, Samra refused that.
So, the man came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, and told him about that. Then Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, sent for Samra and ordered him to ask the man's permission.

520.                      However, Samra refused that. So, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, asked him to sell the date-palm at a good price. Still, Samra refused to sell it.

521.                      Then Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said to him: 'You shall have a date-palm in the garden.' Nevertheless, Samra refused that. So, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said to the (Ansa`ri) man:

522.                      'Go and uproot the date-palm and throw it at him for there is no harm. As for his traditions from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, they sometimes concern Islamic jurisprudence.

523.                      The encyclopedias of jurisprudence and traditions have mentioned them.

524.                      They sometimes concern behavior and morals.

525.                      Some of them also concern the outstanding merits and obligatory love of the pure family (of the Prophet). The following are some of the Ima`m's traditions from the Prophet:

526.                      The Ima`m, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "The virtue of knowledge is more lovable with Allah than the virtue of worship. The best (thing) in your religion is piety. (Al-Khisal, p. 4)
This tradition summons and urges people to seek knowledge, for knowledge is better than worship of which its owner makes no use. The tradition also urges people to refrain from what Allah has forbidden and to turn away from the sins that corrupt the person and deviate him from the right path.

527.                      He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "Adding clemency to knowledge is better than adding a thing to a thing.(Al-Khisal, p. 5)

528.                      Al-'Ayyashi, in his Tafsir (interpretation) of the Holy Quran, reported that Imam Baqir (A) said:  "Fatima vouched to take care of the household work, make dough, bake bread, and clean the house; in return, Ali vouched to take care of the outside work (such as) gathering firewood, and bringing food."

529.                      She was named Fatima by Allah (SWT). Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as) has said;
The Messenger of Allah said; O’Fatimah! Do you know why you have been given the name Fatima?
Ali (as) asked; Why was she named Fatima?
He (saw) replied; Because she and her followers are protected from hell”.

530.                     The Imam (peace be upon him) further said: “If you find in yourself what is criticized about you, then you are falling down in the eyes of God; when you are furious about the truth, it is much greater calamity then your falling down in the eyes of the people. And if you are opposite of what is said (in criticism) about you, then it is a merit you acquired without having to tire yourself in obtaining it.”

531.                      Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: Amirul Mu'mineen Ali (A.S.), along with two of his companions, happened to pass by Karbala and as he did so, tears filled his eyes. He said (to them), "This is the resting place of their animals; and this is where their luggage shall be laid down; and it is here that their blood shall be shed. Blessed are you O' Earth, that the blood of the beloved shall be spilled upon you."

532.                      He who remembers us, or in whose presence, we are remembered, and (as a result) tears flow from his eyes, even though they may be in the measure of a wing of a mosquito, Allah shall construct for him a house in paradise and make the tears a barrier between him and the fire (of hell).

533.                      Our followers are of three kinds: One who follows us but depends on others, one who is like a glass involved in his own reflections, but the best are those who are like gold, the more they suffer the more they shine.

534.                      Whenever Allah wants to assist a sinner, He inflicts a disease on that person. If this does not happen, He makes that person dependant on another one. If this also does not happen, the Almighty makes his death a really hard one so that his sins are compensated.

535.                      The height of perfection is excellence in the understanding of the religion, endurance in hardships and administration of the affairs of life according to one's means, in the right measure.

536.                      The scholar (`alim) who derives benefit from his knowledge is better than seventy thousand devotees ('abid ).

537.                      "My father had the least amount of money at his disposal compared with the rest of the members of his disposal compared with the rest of the members of his family, but his financial burden was the heaviest."

538.                      Sulaiman bin Qarm said,"Abu-Ja'far Muhammad bin Ali (A.S.) would reward us with five hundred, six hundred and up to one thousand dirhams. He never tired of helping his brethren, those who came from distant places to see him, and those who hoped he would help them."

539.                      Hassan bin Kuthayr said, "I once complained to Abu-Ja'far Muhammad bin Ali (A.S.) about my poverty and how my friends had abandoned me. 'How bad is the brother who cares for you when you are wealthy and abandons you when you are poor,' commented he.Then he beckoned to his servant who brought a bag in which there were seven hundred dirhams. 'Spend this', he said to me,' and when it runs out, notify me,"

540.                      The Rules of Fighting in Islam
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, talked about the rules of fighting in Islam when one of his followers asked him about the battles of Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him. So, he said to him: Allah sent Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, with five swords: three of them will not be sheathed till war comes to an end.

541.                      War will not come to an end till the sun rises in the West.

542.                      When the sun rises in the West, all the people will be believers on that day.

543.                      Then such belief will not avail the person who had not believed (in Allah) before or had not done good with his belief.

544.                      The forbidden sword, and the sheathed sword whose drawing is for other than us, and whose belongs to us.

545.                      As for the three unsheathed swords, they are: the first sword is against the Arab polytheists.

546.                      Allah, the Great and Almighty, said:' So, when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. (The Holy Qur'an, al-Touba, 5)

547.                      'However, if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, then they are your brethren in religion. (The Holy Qur'an, al-Touba,11)

548.                      Nothing is accepted from these people except killing or embracing Islam. Their properties are regarded as war booty, and their families are taken as prisoners. Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, practiced that when he took them as prisoners, forgave them, and accepted ransom from them.
The second sword is against the non-Moslem subjects. Allah, the Glorified, said: 'And you speak to men good words.( The Holy Qur'an, al-Baqara, 83)

549.                      This verse was revealed concerning the non-Moslem subjects. However, this verse was abrogated by these words of Allah: 'Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the jizya (tax) in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection. (The Holy Qur'an, al-Touba, 30)

550.                      Nothing is accepted from the non-Moslem subjects who live in the land of Islam except jizya or being killed. Moreover, their property is regarded as war booty, and their families are taken as prisoners. However, when they accept to pay jizya (tax), then it is forbidden for us to take them as prisoners and to regard their property as war booty.

551.                      Furthermore, it is lawful for us to marry from their women. It is lawful for us to take as prisoners those who are at the war-area and to regard their properties as war booty. It is unlawful for us to marry from their women. Nothing is accepted from them except adopting Islam and paying jizya or killing.

552.                      "The third sword is against non-Arab polytheists such as the Turkish, the Daylam, and the Khazar. Allah, the Great and Almighty, said: 'So, when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates. (The Holy Qur'an, Mohammed, 4)

553.                      As for His words: 'And afterwards either set them free.' He means after taking them as prisoners. 'Or let them ransom (themselves).' He means the ransom between them and the people of Islam. Nothing is accepted from these people except killing or entering Islam.
As for the forbidden sword, it is the sword against the people of aggression and interpretation. Allah said:' And if two parties of the believers quarrel, then make peace between them. However, if one of them aggresses against the other, then fight that which has aggressed until it returns to Allah's command.( The Holy Qur'an,al-Hujueat, 4)

554.                      When this verse was revealed, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said:' Indeed one of you will fight on (the basis of) interpretation as I fight (on the basis) of revelation.' So, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, was asked: 'Who is he?' Thus, he said: 'The one who mended the sandals (i. e. , the Commander of the Faithful).'

555.                      'Amma`r b. Ya`sir said: 'I fought beside Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. I carried this standard three times This is the fourth time. By Allah, if they fought against us and reached al-Sa'afa`t at Hajr we would know that we were right and they were wrong.' The Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, treated them in this manner as Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, treated the people of Mecca. That was on the day when he conquered Mecca. Indeed he did not take their families as prisoners.

556.                      Then he (Allah's Apostle) said: 'Whoever closes his door is safe. Whoever lays down his weapons is safe. Such said the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, at the Battle of Basrah. He commanded his fighters, saying: 'Do not take their children as prisoners. Do not kill the wounded. Do not chase those who escape. Who closes his door and lays down his weapons is safe.
And the sheathed sword: As for the sheathed sword, it is the sword through which the punishment is inflicted (for wrongdoing). Allah, the Great and Almighty, said: 'The soul for the soul and the eye for the eye.( The Holy Qur'an, al-Ma'ida, 47) The blood heirs draw this sword, and we decide its rule.

557.                      "Allah sent Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, to carry these swords. So, whoever denies them or one of them, denies what Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has revealed to His Apostle, Mohammed.(Tuhaf al'Uqul, p.. 288-290)
Wiping the two Light Leather Boots (khuffayn) with Water
The jurists of the Moslem doctrines have permitted the two light leather boots (khuffayn) to be wiped with water during performing the ablution. They have not considered the touching of the hand on the outward part of the two feet.(Al-Khilaf, vol. 1, p. 18)

558.                      As for the Ima`ms of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, they considered the wiping and did not permit other than it. Al-Rabi` said: "I asked Abu` Isha`q about the wiping. So, he said: 'I saw the people wipe (the two light leather boots) with water. Then I met a Hashmite called Mohammed b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn. I had never seen a man like him. Thus, I asked him about wiping (the two light leather boots) with water. He prevented me from that, and then he said: 'The Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, had not wiped (the two light leather boots) with water. He said: 'The Book had come before wiping the two light leather boots (with water). (Roudat al-Wa'izin, p. 243)
The great Book has proved touching the outward of the two feet. Allah, the Most High, said: "O You who believe, when you rise up to prayer, wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows, and rub your heads and your feet to the ankles." The verse clearly denotes the opinion of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them.

559.                      Touching the Vestibule of the Vulva does not invalidate Wudu'
Al-Sha`fi'i believed that touching the vestibule of the vulva was among the things that invalidated wudu'. In that he cleaved to what had been reported on the authority of b. 'Umar, Sa'd b. Abu` Waqa`s, Abu` Hurayra, 'A'isha, and Sa'id b. al-Musayyab, who said: "Touching the vestibule of vulva is among the things that invalidate wudu'."

560.                      As for Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, and all the Ima`ms of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, did not believe in that. Zara`ra reported on the authority of Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, who said: "Neither the kiss nor touching the woman's body nor touching the vestibule of the vulva invalidates wudu'.( Al-Khilaf, vo. 1, p. 23)
Besides invalidating ritual purity requests a proof.

561.                      Raising the Voice during the quiet Prayer
The Jurists of the Moslem doctrines believed that raising the voice intentionally during the quiet prayer or lowering it during the loud prayer was not among the things that invalidated the prayer. As for the jurists of the doctrine of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, they believe that it is among the things that invalidate the prayer.
Zara`ra reported on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, when he was asked about the man who performed the quiet prayers loudly and the loud prayer quietly. Thus, he, peace be on him, said: "If he did that intentionally, then he invalidated his prayer. So, he must repeat it. If he did that when he was forgetful or heedless or did not know (that), then nothing was against him. Thus, his prayer was perfect.( Al-Khilaf, vo. 1, p. 130)

562.                      Asking Allah to bless Mohammed and his Family in Tashahhud
Most Moslem jurists believe that it is obligatory to ask Allah to bless the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, in tashahhud (i. e. , I bear witness that there is no god apart from Allah, Who is unique and without partners. I also bear witness that Mohammed is His servant and His Apostle. O Allah, bless Mohammed and his family.) Ja`bir al-Ju'fi reported on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, who said:
"Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said:

563.                      'He who performs a prayer and does not ask Allah to bless me and my family, his prayer is not accepted from him.

564.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, had all the noble qualities that made him appropriate for undertaking the spiritual and the temporal leadership of this community. Each of his qualities raised him to the top which no one reaches except the unique people of the time. He was as the poet said:
He was from the Ha`shimites whose glory was as high as the sky.

565.                      Ima`m al-Baqir, peace be on him talked about his Ima`mate subjectively and inclusively. We will mention it when we talk about his intellectual and scientific heritage. As for his Ima`mate, the general and the private nominations indicated it. Among them was the nomination of Ima`m ('Ali), the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, and the Ima`mate of the pure Ima`ms after him.(Al-Saffar, Basar'ir al-Darajat, p. 108)

566.                      Among those wonderful examples of his clemency is a Syrian attended his assembly, listened to his lectures and admired them. Then the Syrian walked towards the Ima`m, saying: "Mohammed, I am afraid of your assembly. I do not love you. I say: No one is more hateful with me than you, the members of the House. I know that the obedience of Allah and the obedience of the Commander of the Faithful is through your hate. However, I think that you are an eloquent man with morals and good utterance. I visit you frequently because of your good manners!
However, the Ima`m treated him kindly. Then the Syrians became righteous. He loved the Ima`m and followed him. He became a friend of the Ima`m till death came to him. Thus, he asked the Ima`m to pray over him. (Bihar al-Anwar, vol.11, p. 66)

567.                      (The people of) authority disparaged his pure grandfathers. They cursed them openly on the pulpits and through the minarets (of the mosques). He , peace be on him, listened to that. However, he was unable to say even a word. He restrained his anger. He entrusted the affair to Allah to judge among his servants with the truth.

568.                      Among the hard misfortunes which the Ima`m endured was the headmen from the hirelings of the Umayyad authority who tortured severely and killed the followers of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. However, the Ima`m was unable to say even a word. That is because (the Umayyad) authority kept an intense eye on him. They surrounded him with their secret agents. They did not respond to any request from him concerning the affair of his followers.

569.                      Concerning the Ima`m's great patience, the historians reported that while he was sitting with his companions, he heard a loud cry from his house. One of his servants hurried to him and told him secretly (about the accident). However, the Ima`m, peace be on him, said to the servant: "Praise belongs to Allah for what he has given and praise belongs to Him for what he has taken. Prevent them from weeping. Prepare him for burial. Ask her to be calm and tell her: 'No harm will hit you. You are free for Allah because of the fear that has controlled you.

570.                      Then the Ima`m went back to his conversation. The people were unable to ask him (about the accident). Then his servant came to him and said to him: `We have prepared him for burial.' Thus, the Ima`m ordered his companions to pray over his son and to bury him. He told his companions concerning his son and said to them: ' He fell off a slave-girl who was carrying him and died.
('Uyun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 218)

571.                      The historians said: "The Ima`m had a son. The son became ill. Thus, the Ima`m feared for his safety, for he loved him very much. Then the son died. So, the patience of the Ima`m became calm. Thus, it was said to him:' We fear for your safety, son of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family.' However, the Ima`m answered with calmness and satisfaction with the decree of Allah, saying: 'Indeed we pray to Allah in what He loves. If what we hate occurs, we do not oppose Allah in what He loves. (Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 51, p. 52, Ibn Qutayba, 'Uyyun al-Akhbar, vol. 3, p. 57)

572.                      Among his high morals was that he glorified the poor and raised their position lest the people should see the abasement of the need on them. The historians said: "He ordered his family not to say to the beggar: 'Beggar, take this.' Rather he ordered them to say: 'Servant of Allah, you are blessed.( 'Uyyun al-Akhbar, vol. 3, p. 208)

573.                      His Releasing the Slaves : The great Ima`m was fond of releasing the slaves and saving them from enslavement. He released a family of eleven slaves.( Sharh Shafiyat Abi Firas, vol. 2, p. 176)

574.                      Sheik Majlisi reported on the authority of Ihtijaj and Tafsir Ali Ibn Ibrahim in Bihar that Abu Al-Jaroud said: ‘Abu Jaafar Al-Baqir (A.S.) said to me:
‘Abu Jaroud, what do they (followers of other than Ahlul-Bayt) say about Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain (A.S}?’
I said: They deny the fact that they are sons of Allah ‘s Apostle.’

575.                      He then said: ‘So with what do you debate them?’
I said: ‘With Allah’s saying about Isa Ibn Maryam:
"And among his progeny David and Solomon, Job. Joseph, Moses, and Aaron; thus; do we reward those who do good," and that Allah Almighty made Isa a descendant of Ibrahim.’

576.                      He said: ‘Then what do they say?’
I said: ‘They say: "A daughter’s son can be called a son but he is not actually a real descendant"’

577.                      He said: "How do you argue with them?"
I said: "We quote the following verse for them"

578.                      ‘Say: Come! Let us gather together, our sons and your sons, our women and your woman. ‘49
Then he said: ‘Then what do they say?’
I replied: ‘They say: "it is common in Arabic for a man to call another man children Our children while they are really others’ children.

579.                      Imam Baqir (Abu Jafar (A.S) then said:
‘By Allah, Abu Al-Jaroud, I shall quote a verse from the Book of Allah which shows that Hassan and Hussain are his (P.B.U.M.) direct children (form his loins); proof that can only be denied by infidel’
I said: May I be your sacrifice, what verse are you speaking of’ ~

580.                      He answered: ‘When Allah said: "Prohibited to you (for marriage) are your mothers; daughters... until (those who have been) wives of your sons proceeding from your loins,"

581.                      Ask them, Abu Al-Jaroud, was it peri’nitted for Allah ‘s Messenger to marty Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain ‘s wives (had they been divorced)?
If their response is affirmative, then they have lied and sinned; and if their answer is negative, it is because they are his children proceeding from his (P.B.U.H.) loins."

582.                      He also ordered them to call the beggars with their best names.( Al-Bayan wa al-Tabiyyin, p. 158)

583.                      One who disobeys Allah has no knowledge of Him.

584.                      Man's tongue is the key to all good and evil. Therefore, a believer should lock his tongue like he would keep his gold and silver locked up.

585.                      If man knew the rewards for hardships and suffering, he would cut himself to pieces (to suffer)!

586.                      All eyes except three kinds of eyes would weep on the Judgment Day:  Eyes that remain awake the whole night in Allah's service.

587.                      Eyes that weep from the fear of Allah.

588.                      Eyes that have saved themselves from sinning in the world.

589.                      Three things destroy a man:  considering his own deeds to be really great.

590.                      Forgetting the sins that have been committed.

591.                      Considering his own opinion to be the highest.

592.                      'Abd Allah b. 'Ubayd and 'Amru` b. Dina`r reported. They said: "When we met Abu` Ja'far Mohammed b. 'Ali (al-Ba`qir), he gave us money and clothes. Then he said: 'These had been prepared for you before you met me.(Al-Irshad, p. 299)

593.                      Sulayma`n b. Qaram reported: "Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir) gave us five hundred, six hundred, or one thousand dirhams. He was not tired of spending on the companions, those who came to him, and those who hoped from him.(Al-Irshad, p. 299)

594.                      Al-Hasan b. Kuthayr said: "I complained to Abi Ja'far Mohammed b. 'Ali (al-Ba`qir) of the need and the abandonment of the friends. He , peace be on him, was moved (by that). Then he said: `Bad is the friend who takes care of you when you are rich and abandons you when you are poor. ' Then he ordered his servant-boy to take out a pouch in which were seven hundred dirhams. Then he said: 'Spend these (dirhams). When you have used them, then inform me (of that).( Safwat al-Safwa, vol. 2, p. 63)

595.                      He, peace be on him, gave from a hundred to a thousand (dirhams) to the people who came frequently to his assembly. He liked sitting with them. Among them were 'Amru` b. Dina`r and 'Abd Allah b. Ubayd. He gave them gifts and clothes. Then he said to them: We have prepared them for you since the beginning of the year.('Uyun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 217)

596.                      His retainer, Salma, reported: "His companions came to him. They did not leave him till he offered them delicious food and gave them good clothes and granted them dirhams. "Salma blamed him for that. Thus, he said to her: "Nothing is hoped in this world except the relatives and the companions.(A'yan al-Shi'a, Q1/4/506. Safwat al-Safwa, vol.2, p. 63)

597.                      He used to say: "The world is not good except for the gift of the companions and the relatives. (A'yan al-Shi'a, Q1/4/506. Safwat al-Safwa, vol.2, p. 63)

598.                      The Early Shi'ites
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, praised the foremost Shi'ites. He mentioned their high moral standards and their high good qualities. He, peace be on him, said:
Our friends and Shi'ites were the best of their period. The Ima`m of the mosque in the district was from among them. The caller to prayers (mu'azin) in the direction to the Kaaba (Qibla) was from among them. The possessor of the deposit was from among them. The possessor of the trust was from among them. The religious scholar whom the people asked about their religious affairs was from among them.(Da'a'im al-Islam, vol. 1, p. 71)
These commandments show the qualities of the early Shi'ites, such as asceticism, piety, religious devotion, and cleaving to the religion. So, the people trusted them. They prayed behind them. Moreover, they regarded them as custodians over their properties and religion. Generally speaking, the early Shi'ites were famous for piety and righteousness.
It was reported that a Shi'ite stood before the judge as a witness. However, the judge refused to accept the Shi'ite's testimony, for he belonged to the Rafida. So, the Shi'ite burst into tears. Thus, the judge was astonished at him. He thought that the Shi'ite wept for his refused testimony. He asked him about that. So, the Shi'ites replied:
"You have deviated from the truth. You have ascribed me to this sect. No one joins it except the prophets and the righteous.

599.                      Isha`q b. 'Amma`r reported on the authority of Abi 'Abd Allah (al-Sa`diq), who said: "I prepared bed for my father and waited for him till he came. When he went to his bed and slept, I went to my bed. One night he was late. After the people had slept, I went to the mosque to look for him. There was no one in the mosque except him. Suddenly, I saw him prostrating in the mosque. I heard him say:
"O Allah, glory belongs to You. You are my true Lord. O My Lord, I am prostrating my self in worship and slavery. O Allah, my deed is weak, so double it for me. O Allah, protect me from Your torment on the day when You raise Your servants from the dead. Forgive me. Indeed You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.(Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 3, p. 323)

600.                      Abu` 'Ubayda al-Hadha' reported: While Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir) was prostrating himself in worship, I heard him say: "(O Allah), I ask You by Your beloved one, Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, to change my sins into good deeds and reckon me easily.

601.                      Then he said in the second prostration: I ask You by Your beloved one, Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, to suffice me the provision of the world and weaken the terror before Paradise.

602.                      Then he said in the third (prostration): I ask You by Your beloved one, Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, to forgive me my few and many sins and accept the little work from me. (121)

603.                      Then he said in the forth (prostration) I ask You by Your beloved one, Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, to make me enter Paradise, to make me among its dwellers, and to save me from the burning fire through Your mercy. May Allah bless Mohammed and his family.(Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 3, p. 323) These supplications denote his intense attachment to Allah, his great turn to Him in repentance, and his cleaving to His obedience.

604.                      His Supplication during his Personal Prayers
Some supplications which he said during his personal prayers have been reported on his authority. The following are some of them:
O Allah, indeed, my enemy has followed his vigor, persisted on his enmity, and felt safe from the consequence through the clemency that has included him. Thus, he has dared against You and disobeyed You when he has separated himself from You.

605.                      O Allah, You have moments of wrath at night when they are asleep, by day when they are heedless, openly when they play, and suddenly when they are forgetful.

606.                      Indeed the strangling rope has become more intense, the shackle has become stronger, the hearts have been eliminated, the minds are disguised, patience has perished and its strings are about to break.

607.                      Surely, You observe the oppressive and see the grieved.

608.                      The passing of overtaking does not hurry You and the prohibition of the forbidder does not make You powerless.

609.                      Rather You act carefully.

610.                      Your argument is intense and irrefutable in all circumstances.

611.                      The weakness of humanity and the feebleness of mankind are in Your servants.

612.                      The supreme power of divinity, the kingdom of creation, the violence of deliberateness, and the punishment of perpetuation are for You.

613.                      O Allah, if there is a reward in bearing patiently the cordiality of the supported one from the oppressive and the sadness of him who sees from those who alternate you, then grant me more support and a help of directing till the time when Your will is valid towards him whom You make happy and him whom You make unhappy.

614.                      Do me a favor to submit to Your inevitable decrees and to bear Your issued determinations.

615.                      Grant me love for what You love from the past and the next (things), the immediate and the postponed (things).

616.                      (Grant me) preference to what You choose from the close and the remote (things).

617.                      In spite of that, do not deprive us of the sentiments of Your mercy and Your good protection.

618.                      He, peace be on him, prayed to Allah with this supplication in his personal prayers: "Through Your favor and generosity. O You Who knows the obsessions of inner selves, the hidden places of consciences, and the facts of thoughts.

619.                      O You Who is present for every unseen, remember every forgotten (person), have power over all things, see all (the creatures), the slowness has become far, the moment of death has approached, the deed has become weak, and the hope is full of doubt.

620.                      O Allah, You are the last as You are the first. You destroy whom You originate and turn into wear.

621.                      You entrust their deeds to them and make them carry their burdens till the time of their resurrection from their raise from the dead when the trumpet will be blown, the sky split open with the light, and coming out of the place of resurrection to the yard of the gathering.

622.                      Their eyes will not revert to them and their hearts vacant.

623.                      They will run into the worry of their past deeds.

624.                      They will be asked for a long time when the had lived.

625.                      There they will be reckoned for what they had committed.

626.                      Their books will be wide open around their necks.

627.                      They shall bear their burdens on their backs.

628.                      There will be neither escape nor refuge from the punishment.

629.                      The proof will confute them. So, they will live in the perplexity of the destination and the whisper of the noise.

630.                      They will be deviated from the destination except him who Allah promised good.

631.                      So, he will be safe from the fearful sight and the great coming. And he was not among those who disobeyed (Allah) in the world. He did not annoy Allah's friends nor did he enslave them nor did he possess alone their rights.

632.                      O Allah, indeed the hearts have risen up to the throats, the souls have come up to the throats, and the lives have come to an end because of waiting (for Your ease), not because of the paucity of insight nor because of the accusation of a decree, but because they have disobeyed You, opposed Your orders and prohibitions, played with Your friends, and supported Your enemies.

633.                      O Allah, therefore, approach that which has become close, bring that which has become imminent, achieve the thoughts of those who are certain (of You), and make the believers achieve their hopes in establishing Your justice, supporting Your religion, and showing Your proof. (Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 3, p. 323)

634.                      Abu Baseer narrates that Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: The humans, the jinn, the birds and the wild beasts (all) mourned and wept over (the tragedy which befell) Husain Ibn A'li (A.S.)

635.                      In short and expressive words Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) depicts this bloody tragedy. He says: “...Our followers were killed in every city. Hands and legs were cut off at the slightest suspicion. Whoever was reported to love us or had any contact with us would either be imprisoned of robbed of his property or his house destroyed. Oppression increased in volume and became unduly harsh, till the time of Ubaidullah bin Ziyad, the murderer of Hussein (a.s.)”

636.                      Jaber Ibn Abdullah Ansari said: "I said to Abu Ja'far (Al-Baqir (A.S.)): `May I be your sacrifice son of Allah's Messenger; narrate to me a hadith in regard to the noble traits of your grandmother Fatima, so that if I report it to your Shiites (followers), they would rejoice at (hearing) it!' Abu Ja'far (A.S.) said: `My father told me that my grandfather reported that Allah's Messenger said: "On the Day of Rising, Minbars of light shall be erected for the prophets and messengers, of which my Minbar shall be the highest among all Minbars on that day. Allah will then say: Deliver a speech,' so I will deliver a speech that none of the prophets or messengers have ever heard. Then for the successors (of prophets) shall be erected Minbars of light, and in the middle of these Minbars one shall be erected for my successor, Ali Ibn Abu Talib, which will be higher than all their Minbars. Allah will then say:

637.                      "Ali, deliver a speech.' So he will deliver a speech like no successor has ever heard before. Then for the children of the prophets and messengers shall be erected Minbars of light; among them shall be a Minber of light for my two sons, grandsons and the two flowers of my life (Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain). Then it shall be said to them: "Deliver speeches." So they will deliver two speeches like none of the children of the prophets and messengers have ever heard before!

638.                      "A caller-Gabriel-shall then call: `Where is Fatima Bint Muhammad?' She (A.S.) will rise..." (until he said): 'Allah, the blessed and exalted is His Name, shall say: `O people of the gathering; to whom does honor belong today?' So Muhammad, Ali, Hassan and Al-Hussain (A.S.) will say: 'To Allah, The one, The Almighty 'Allah the Exalted will say: "O people of the gathering: lower your heads and cast your eyes down, for this is Fatima proceeding towards Paradise.' Gabriel shall then bring her a female camel from the female camels of Paradise; its sides shall be embellished, its muzzle with fresh pearls, and it shall have a saddle of coral. It shall kneel down in her presence; so she will ride it. Allah will then send 100, 000 angels to accompany her on her right side; and 100, 000 angels to accompany her on her left side; and 100, 000 angels to lift her onto their wings until they bring her to the gate of Paradise. When she is near the gate of Paradise, she will look to her side. Allah will then say: "Daughter of My beloved, why did you look to your side after I gave the command that you enter my Paradise?"

639.                      She will say: "My Lord, I wished that my position would be realized on such a Day!" Allah will say:

640.                      "Daughter of My beloved! Go back and look for everyone in whose heart was love for you or for any of your progeny; take their hand and lead them into paradise!"

641.                      Abu Ja'far (A.S.) said: "By Allah; Jabir, she will pick her Shiites (followers) and those who love her just like a bird picks good seeds from bad seeds. So that when her Shiites are near the gate of Paradise, Allah will inspire their hearts to look to their sides; when they do--- Allah, The Almighty, will say:

642.                      My beloved ones, why did you look around when Fatima, the daughter of my beloved one, interceded for you?' They will answer: `Our Lord! We hoped that our position would be known on such a day!'

643.                      Allah will then say: `My beloved ones, go back and look for everyone who loved you for your love for Fatima;

644.                      Look for everyone who fed you for the love of Fatima;

645.                      Look for everyone who clothed you for the love of Fatima;

646.                      Look for everyone who gave you a drink for the love of Fatima;

647.                      Look for everyone who prevented (Gheeba) backbiting from being done against you for the love of Fatima...

648.                      Take their hands and lead them into Paradise... "'

649.                      Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: "I heard Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari say: Allah's Messenger said: "On the Day of Rising, My daughter, Fatima, shall arrive riding a female camel from among the camels of Paradise-to her right shall be seventy thousand angels and to her left shall also be seventy thousand angels; Gabriel will be holding its muzzle and calling with the loudest of voices: `Cast down your eyes so that Fatima Bint Muhammad may pass!"

650.                      "Then shall no prophet, messenger, truthful one, or martyr remain without casting their eyes down until Fatima passes... Then a call shall come from the side of Allah, the Exalted:

651.                      My beloved one and the daughter of my beloved one; ask Us and you shall be given (whatever you wish), and intercede, your intercedence shall be accepted. By my Honor and Exaltation, the oppression of no oppressor shall pass My (judgment) today.

652.                      She (Fatima) will then say: "O Allah, My Master;

653.                      My progeny, My Shiites (followers), the Shiites of my progeny,

654.                      Those who love me and those who love my progeny."

655.                      She will then hear a call from Allah's side, may His Name be exalted:

656.                      Where are Fatima's progeny, her Shiites, those who love her, and those who love her progeny?"

657.                       They will then come forward, surrounded by angels of mercy, and Fatima will lead them into Paradise."

658.                      'A servant of a wife of Ali Ibn Al-Hussain (A.S.), named Abu Ayman, came (to the fifth Imam- (A.S.)) and said: `O Abu Ja'far! You mislead the people, saying intercession of Muhammad, intercession Muhammad.' (Hearing this) Abu Ja'far became so angry that his face took a glowering expression;

659.                      Then he said: `Woe unto you! O Abu Ayman! Are you deluded by chastity of your stomach and genitals?

660.                      Why, when you will see the terror of resurrection, you shall certainly be in need of intercession of Muhammad.

661.                      Fie on you! Would he intercede except for him who would have been sentenced to the fire?'

662.                      (Then) he said: `There is not one from the early people to the later ones but he will need the intercession of Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) on the Day of Resurrection.'

663.                      Then again Abu Ja'far said: `Certainly the Messenger of Allah has (authority of) intercession for his Ummah, and we have (authority of) intercession for our Shiites, and our Shiites have (authority of) intercession for their families.'

664.                      Then he said: And surely a believer shall intercede for (very large numbers of) people like the tribes of Rabi'ah and Mudhar.

665.                      And surely a believer shall intercede for his servant, saying: "O my Lord! I owe this to him, he protected me from heat and cold.""

666.                      The (fifth) Imam said about the verse, 'And intercession will not avail aught with Him save him whom He permits: "No prophet or apostle may intercede until Allah permits him, except the Apostle of Allah; because Allah has already given him permission before the Day of Resurrection; and intercession is (allowed) to him and to the Imams from his progeny, and after that to the prophets."

667.                      Imam Baqir (A.S.) on the account of Jabir Ibn Abdullah, said:  "It was said to the Messenger of Allah: Surely you kiss, embrace and bring Fatima close to you... and treat her better than your other daughters!"

668.                      He (A.S.) commented: "Indeed, for Gabriel brought me an apple from heaven, which I ate and it was transformed into sperm that I placed in Khadija who later bore Fatima. Hence, I smell paradise's fragrance in her."

669.                      "Fatima vouched to take care of the household work, make dough, bake bread, and clean the house; in return, Au vouched to take care of the outside work (such as) gathering firewood, and bringing food."

670.                      Zurarah reported that he inquired from Imam Baqir about what is meant by: "When thy Lord drew forth from the children of Adam-from their loins-their descendants," He said (It means that He drew forth) from Adam's loins his descendants until the Day of Resurrection, so they came forth in the form of corpusclens. He then taught and acquainted them to His creation; and had He not done so, no one would have known His Lord.

671.                      "By Allah, He (Glory be to Him) bestowed her with knowledge and safeguarded her from menstruation with the covenant."

672.                      Imam Baqir (a.s) pointed out that it was decreed that Fatima would be safeguarded from menstruation in that world, which is also called the "World of Covenant."

673.                      Do not fast nor journey on Monday, for on that day the prophet died".

674.                      "When Fatima was born, Allah (Exalted is His Name) revealed to an angel to speak the name Fatima with Muhammad's tongue. Allah then said: "I have bestowed knowledge upon you and safeguarded you from menstruation."

675.                      Then Abu Ja'far (A.S.) added:  "By Allah, Allah (Blessed and Exalted is His Name) bestowed knowledge on her and safeguarded her from menstruation with the covenant."

676.                      From what we have been told from hadith, the spirit and essence of religion is nothing but love. Burayd al-`Ijli said: "I was in the presence of Imam al-Baqir (as), and there was a traveller from Khurasan who had traversed that long journey on foot. He had the honour of meeting the Imam. His feet, which were showing through his shoes, were cut, and he had taken his shoes off. He said: "By God, the only thing that brought me from whence I have come is love of you, the Household (of the Prophet)." The Imam said: "By God, if a stone loved us, God would unite it with us, and join it to us. Is the religion other than love?"

677.                      Abu Jaafar Al-Baqir (a.s) said to me: 'Abu Jaroud, what do they (followers of other than Ahlul-Bayt,) say about Al-Hassan and A l-Hussain (a.s)?' I said. 'They deny the fact that they are sons of Allah's Apostle.'

678.                      He then said. 'So with what do you debate them?'I said: With Allah's saying about Isa Ibn Maryam:

679.                      "And among his progeny David and Solomon, Job. Joseph, Moses, and Aaron; thus, do we reward those who do good," and that Allah Almighty made Isa a descendant of Ibrahim.'

680.                      He said: 'Then what do they say?' I said: 'They say: "A daughter's son can be called a son but he is not actually a real descendant."

681.                      He said. 'How do you argue with them?' I said: 'We quote the following verse for them.'

682.                      'Say: Come! Let us gather together, our Sons and your sons, our women and your woman.' 49

683.                      Then he said: 'Then what do they say?' I replied. 'They say: "It is common in Arabic for a man to call another man's children Our children while they are really others' children."

684.                      Imam Baqir (Abu Jafar a.s) then said:' By Allah, Abu Al-Jaroud, I shall quote a verse from the Book of Allah which shows that Hassan and Hussain are his (p.b.u.h) direct children (form his loins); proof that can only be denied by infidels.'

685.                      I said: 'May I be your sacrifice, what verse are you speaking of?' He answered: When Allah said:

686.                      "Prohibited to you (for marriage) are your mothers, daughters... until (those who have been) wives of your Sons proceeding from your loins."

687.                      Imam Baqir said: "Fatima Bint Muhammad was born five years after the (first) revelation to Allah's Messenger. She died when she was eighteen years and seventy-five days old."

688.                      "When Fatima was born, Allah (Exalted is His Name) revealed to an angel to speak the name Fatima with Muhammad's tongue. Allah then said:

689.                      'I have bestowed knowledge upon you and safeguarded you from menstruation." Then Abu Jaafar (a.s) added:

690.                      "By Allah, Allah (Blessed and Exalted is His Name) bestowed knowledge on her and safeguarded her from menstruation with the covenant."

691.                      "When thy Lord drew forth from the children of Adam-from their loins-their descendants"

692.                      He said: "(It means that He drew forth) from Adam's loins his descendants until the Day of Resurrection, so they came forth in the form of corpusclens. He then taught and acquainted them to His creation; and had He not done so, no one would have known His Lord."

693.                       Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: "Fatima vouched to take care of the household work, make dough, bake bread, and clean the house; in return, Ali vouched to take care of the outside work (such as) gathering firewood, and bringing food."

694.                      'Abu Ja'far Al-Baqir (A.S.) said to me: 'Abu Jaroud, what do they (followers of other than Ahlul-Bayt) say about Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain (A.S.)?'

695.                      I said: 'They deny the fact that they are sons of Allah's Apostle.' He then said: 'So with what do you debate them?'

696.                      I said: 'With Allah's saying about Isa Ibn Maryam: "And among his progeny David and Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron; thus, do we reward those who do good," (6: 84) and that Allah Almighty made Isa a descendant of Ibrahim."

697.                      He said: 'Then what do they say?' I said: 'They say: 'A daughter's son can be called a son but he is not actually a real descendant.'

698.                      He said: 'How do you argue with them?' I said: 'We quote the following verse for them':

699.                      'Say: Come! Let us gather together, our sons and your sons, our women and your woman.'

700.                      Then he said: 'Then what do they say?' I replied: 'They say: "It is common in Arabic for a man to call another man's children Our children while they are really others' children."'

701.                      Imam Baqir (Abu Ja'far (A.S.)) then said: 'By Allah, Abu Al-Jaroud, I shall quote a verse from the Book of Allah which shows that Hassan and Hussain are his (P.B.U.H.)direct children (form his loins); proof that can only be denied by infidels.'

702.                      I said: `May I be your sacrifice, what verse are you speaking of?' He answered: `When Allah said: "Prohibited to you (for marriage) are your mothers, daughters... until (those who have been) wives of your sons proceeding from your loins. "

703.                      Ask them, Abu A1 Jaroud, was it permitted for Allah's Messenger to marry Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain's wives (had they been divorced)?

704.                      If their response is affirmative, then they have lied and sinned; and if their answer is negative, it is because they are his children proceeding from his loins. "'

705.                      Elsewhere he quotes Imam Baqir (AS), saying: "If the earth would be devoid of an Imam from our Household for even a single day, it would swallow in all its inhabitants. And Allah would afflict the dwellers of the earth with a severe punishment. The Lord Almighty has appointed us as this sign and for the safety of the dwellers of the earth. As long as we live among them, those who would otherwise be swallowed into the earth are in safety."

706.                      Athafer Al-Seirafi reported that he was with Al-Hakam Ibn Oyainah at the house of the Hazrat Imam Mohammad Al-Baqir a.ss (the father of Hazrat Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq a.s ). Oyainah asked Hazrat Imam Al-Baqir a.s about some Islamic rules. Abu Jafar a.s told his son to bring the book of Ali. He brought a huge book and Al-Baqir a.s opened it and looked at it until he found the subject in question. Abu Jafar a.s said: This is the writing of Ali and the dictation of the Messenger of God. Then he looked at Al-Hakam and said: "Abu Mohammad a.s , go, you and Selemah and Al-Miqdad wherever you want, right or left. By God, you will not find more reliable knowledge at any place than that of a people Gabriel used to come to."

707.                      Ima`m al-Ba`qir gave commandments to one of his children. They are as follows: "O My little son, when Allah bestows a blessing on you, say: praise belongs to Allah. When an intense affair befalls you, then say: There is neither power nor might but through Allah. When your daily bread is slow (in coming) for you, then say: I seek Allah's forgiveness. (l-Bayan wa al-Tabiyyin, vol. 3, p. 280)

Golden Sayings & Speeches of Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqir a.s.

Asalamoalaka ya Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqir a.s.

1.      When 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz became caliph, he asked Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, to give him useful commandments to manage his government. So, the Ima`m, peace be on him, said: "I advise you to fear Allah, and to regard the young one of the Moslems as your son, the middle one of them as your brother, and the old one of them as your father. So, have mercy on your son, treat your brother kindly, and obey your father. When you do a favor, then go on (doing) it.( Abi' Ali al-Qali, al-Amali, vol. 2, p. 302) 'Umar admired this maxim, saying: "By Allah, you have gathered things. If we put these things into effect and Allah helps us with them, good will continue for us, Allah willing. (Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 51, p. 38)

2.      Bring the sweetness of asceticism through the shortness of hope.

3.      Sever the means of greediness through the coolness of despair.

4.      Close up the way of conceit through knowing the soul.

5.      Get to the rest of the soul through soundness of the authorization.

6.      Seek the rest of the body through giving rest to the soul.

7.      Come to the rest of the soul through making few mistakes.

8.      Seek the mercy of the heart through praising (Allah) very much in private.

9.      Bring the light of the soul through the continuity of sadness.

10.  Remain wary of Iblis through the truthful fear (of Allah).

11.  Beware of the false hope, for it throws into the truthful fear.

12.  Adorn yourself for Allah, the Great and Almighty, through honesty in acts.

13.  Show love to him through the quick change.

14.  Be careful of postponement, for it is a sea in which the perished drown.

15.  Be cautious of heedlessness, for the cruelty of the heart is in it.

16.  Remain wary of slowness in what you have no excuse, for the regretful resort to it (the excuse).

17.  Recall the past sins through the intense regret and asking (Allah's) forgiveness very much.

18.  Seek Allah's mercy and forgiveness through the good repetition (of the past sins).

19.  Seek the help (of Allah) against the good repetition through the sincere supplication and whispered prayer in the darkness.

20.  Reach the great gratefulness through regarding the little livelihood as much and regarding obedience as little. Bring the increase of blessings through the great gratefulness.

21.  Make use of the great gratefulness through fearing the vanishing of blessings.

22.  Seek the continuity of glory through deadening greediness.

23.  Push away the abasement of greediness through the glory of despair.

24.  Bring the honor of despair through aspiration.

25.  Supply yourself with (provisions) from this world through the shortness of hope.

26.  Hasten to seize the purpose during the possibility of the opportunity.

27.  There is no possibility like the past days with the soundness of the bodies.

28.  Be careful not to trust the dishonest, for evil has violence as the violence of food.

29.  "Know that there is no knowledge like seeking safety, no safety like the safety of the heart, no reason like opposing the desire, no fear like the protective fear, no hope like the helping hope, no poverty like the poverty of the heart, no riches like the riches of the soul, no power like the victory over caprice, no light like the light of certitude, no certitude like your belittling the world, no knowledge like your knowledge of yourself, no blessing like health, no health like the assistance of success, no honor like aspiration, no asceticism like the shortness of hope, no desire like the competition for the ranks, no justice like equity, no aggression like injustice, no injustice like following caprice, no obedience like performing the obligations, no fear like sadness, no disaster like the lack of reason, no lack of reason like the littleness of certitude, no littleness of certitude like the loss of fear (of Allah), no loss of fear like the littleness of sadness for the loss of fear, no disaster like your disdaining the sin and your satisfaction with the condition in which you are, no virtue like jihad, no jihad like striving against caprice, no power like restraining anger, no offense is like the love of eternity, and no abasement like the abasement of greediness. Beware of negligence during the possibility of the opportunity, for it is the field that brings about loss to its people. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, pp.284-286)

30.  These wonderful commandments full of valuable maxims are proofs for the Ima`mate of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. They have illuminated a great part of his talents and genius. If he had nothing except these commandments, they would be sufficient evidence for his greatness and his limitless scientific abilities. For the Ima`m considered carefully the depth of the soul, understood it thoroughly, and analyzed its dimensions.

31.  Thus, he knew the psychological diseases and catastrophes that afflict man. Indeed man has been afflicted by ignorance, conceit, haughtiness, greediness, avarice, long hope, and the like. Surely, all these diseases urges man to sink into offenses and sins.

32.  So, he deviates from the right path and straight behavior.

33.  The Ima`m, peace be on him, studied these diseases and prescribed decisive remedies for them.

34.  If man puts into effect these commandments, he will be ideal and educated.

35.  Moreover, he will protect his soul and cling to his Creator to Whom he will return. Were it not for lengthiness, we would explain these commandments in detail and indicate the maxims and secrets in them.

36.  A Moslem came to Ima`m al-Ba`qir. The Moslem asked the Ima`m to give him some commandments to follow. So, the Ima`m, peace be on him, advised him, saying: "Prepare your necessary things, offer your provisions, and be a custodian over your soul.(Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 51, p. 38)
Surely, the Ima`m led the Moslem to what approached him to Allah and secured safety for him in the immortal abode. If man prepares his necessary things, he will secure his religion and the hereafter.

37.  One of the companions of the Ima`m, peace be on him, wanted to travel. So, the Ima`m, peace be on him, supplied him with these valuable commandments. He said to him:
Do not walk bare-footed. Do not dismount from your horse at night to relieve nature unless your feet are in the sandals. Do not urinate into a crack. Do not taste or smell a plant unless you know what it is. Do not drink out of a water skin unless you know what it is in it. Be careful of the one whom you know. Do not accompany the one whom you do not know. (Ibn Hamdun, Tadhkirat, p. 27)
The Ima`m, peace be on him, advised his companion to follow health methods and moral lessons that secured for him health and safety.

38.  Whoever with calmness of heart and without conceit and arrogance enters the Sanctuary of the Kaa'ba, his sins will be forgiven."

39.  The leaders as well as their supporters have to make sacrifices before they are successful. If this wouldn't be true then by Him in whose hands my life is, the Prophet of Islam would not have been wounded and His teeth would not have been broken in a battle."

40.  Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as) once said to one of his companions:
O' Jabir it is not enough that a person says; I am a Shi'ah and I love the Prophet and the Ahlul-Bayt and the Imams.

41.  By Allah, a Shiah is the one who is perfectly pious and obedient to Allah's commands.

42.  Anyone else is not a Shiah no matter how much they say they love Ali and no matter what they call themselves.

43.  A man giving in alms one piece of silver in his lifetime is better for him than giving one hundred when about to die.

44.  To meet friends cheerfully and invite them to a feast are charitable acts.

45.  To extend consideration towards neighbors and send them presents are charitable acts.Education

46.  To acquire knowledge is binding upon all Muslims, whether male or female.

47.  The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of the martyr.

48.  He who travels in the search of knowledge, to him God shows the way of Paradise.

49.  Acquire knowledge, because he who acquires it,

50.  In the way of the Lord, performs an act of piety;

51.  Who speaks of it praises the Lord; who seeks it, adores God,

52.  Who dispenses instruction in it, bestows alms;

53.  And who imparts it to its fitting objects,

54.  Performs an act of devotion to God.

55.  Knowledge enables its possessor to distinguish what is forbidden from what is not;

56.  Lights the way to Heaven; it is our friend in the desert,

57.  Our companion in solitude,

58.  Our companion, when bereft of friends;

59.  It guides us to happiness;

60.  It sustains us in misery;

61.  It is our ornament in the company of friends;

62.  It serves as an armor against our enemies.

63.  With knowledge the creatures of Allah rises to the heights of goodness and to noble position,

64.  Associates with the sovereigns in this world and attains the perfection of happiness in the next.

65.  Keep yourselves far from envy, because it eats up and takes away good actions, like the fire that eats up and burns wood.

66.  Whoever suppresses his anger, when he has in his power to show it, God will give him a great reward.

67.  He is not strong and powerful, who throws people down, but he is strong who withholds himself from anger.

68.  Behavior; Deal gently with a people, and be not harsh; cheer them and condemn not.

69.  Much silence and a good disposition; there are no two works better than these.

70.  The best of friends is he who is best in behavior and character.

71.  One who does not practice modesty and does not refrain from shameless deeds is not a Muslim.

72.  Parents and Family; Paradise lies at the feet of thy mother.

73.  He who wishes to enter Paradise must please his father and mother.

74.  Pride; No one who keeps his mind focused entirely upon himself, can grow large, strong and beautiful in character.

75.  Remembrance of God , Whoever loves to meet God, God loves to meet him.

76.  The five stated prayers erase the sins which have been committed during the intervals between them if they have not been mortal sins.

77.  Sympathy; God is not merciful to him who is not so to humankind.

78.  He who is not kind to God's creation and to his own children, God will not be kind to him.

79.  Whosoever visits a sick person, an angel calls from Heaven: "Be happy in the world and happy be your walking; and take your habitation in Paradise."

80.  Worldly Love and Materialism; The love of the world, is the root of all evils.

81.  Wealth properly employed is a blessing; and a man may lawfully endeavor to increase it by honest means.

82.  I solemnly declare that the Imamate is the divine covenant that has reached us from the Prophet. The Imams after the Prophet are twelve in number of whom nine are the descendants of Husayn. At the End of Time the Mahdi will also emerge from among us who will protect the religion of God.

83.  Imam said, "Our followers are of three kinds, one who follows us but depends on others, one who is like a glass involved in his own reflections, but the best are those who are like gold, the more they suffer the more they shine.

84.  In short and expressive words Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) depictsthis bloody tragedy. He says: “...Our followers were killed in every city. Hands and legs were cut off at the slightest suspicion. Whoever was reported to love us or had any contact with us would either be imprisoned of robbed of his property or his house destroyed. Oppression increased in volume and became unduly harsh, till the time of Ubaidullah bin Ziyad, the murderer of Hussein (a.s.)”

85.  The height of perfection is excellence in the understanding of the religion,
endurance in hardships and administration of the affairs of life according to one's means, in the right measure.

86.  The scholar (Alim) who derives benefit from his knowledge is better than seventy thousand devotees (Abid).

87. Ali ibn Hamzah narrates that one day he went to Imaam Kaazim^(AS)[104] and said:  ((I be your sacrifice. If you permit me, I will narrate to you a hadeeth from Abi Baseer about your grandfather [Imaam Baaqir]. Whenever he (Imaam Baaqir) fell ill, he used cold water to bring down his fever; so he would use two clothes, one in the cold water and one on his body, and he would alternate between them. Then he would scream loudly so that the people outside his house could hear him: “O Faatimah daughter of Mohammad!”[105])).[104] ^cAlayhes Salaam, peace be upon him.[105] Faatimah al-Zahraa’ min Qabl al-Meelaad elaa Ba^cd al-Estesh-haad / al-Haashimi = page 450.
88. It is reported in Bihar, V. 10, that Imam Abu Jafar Al-Baqir (a.s.) said: "When Fatima was born, Allah (Exalted is His Name) revealed to an angel to speak the name Fatima with Muhammad's tongue. Allah then said: 'I have bestowed knowledge upon you and safeguarded you from menstruation."' Then Abu Jafar (a.s.) added: "By Allah, Allah (Blessed and Exalted in His Name) bestowed knowledge on her and safeguarded her from menstruation with the covenant." It is narrated from Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said to Fatima: 'O Fatima, do you know why you have been named Fatima?' Ali said: 'O Messenger of Allah, why was she named Fatima?' He (s.a.w.): 'Because Allah will surely safeguard her and her progeny from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection."' Fatima's name was dear to Ahlul Bayt (a.s.), they respected the name and those who held it.
89. Imam Baqir (A.S.) on the account of Jabir Ibn Abdullah, said: "It was said to the Messenger of Allah: Surely you kiss, embrace and bring Fatima close to you... and treat her better than your other daughters!"

90.  One who disobeys Allah has no knowledge of Him.

91.  “Imäm Bäqir (AS) stated: ‘Choose noble women to feed (your children) with their milk, because
the base qualities of milk are passed from the feeding woman to the child’

92.  Abu Jafar Muhammad-ibn-Ali who said: 'Mahdi shall emerge on the day of 'Ashura' (and that is the day when Hussein-ibn-Ali will be martyred perhaps on Saturday the tenth of muharram) between 'rukn' and 'maqam' and on his right will be Gibra'eel and on his left micha'eel. allah will gather his shias around him from everywhere and the earth shall roll up for them

93.  "The most virtuous night after Laylat-ul Qadr is that of the 15th of Sha’ban, and Allah grants His blessings, during this night, to His servants and forgives them by means of His grace and greatness; hence, endeavor during this night with the intention to gain proximity to Almighty Allah.

94.  (Note that) Allah has sworn that He does not deprive any ‘beggar’ (one who earnestly requests/begs from Him) – unless the latter requests and searches for something sinful or unpleasant.

95.  This night is one which Almighty Allah has bestowed upon us, the Ahl-i Bayt, as Laylat-ul Qadr was granted to the Holy Prophet."

96.  “Shall I introduce to you something about which the Holy Prophet of Islam did not say Inshaallah (God willing)? I said: Yes. Then the Imam said it is “Dua” which reverts the divine destiny even if it is certain to happen.”

97.  “Nothing is more praiseworthy to God than a servant’s requests and no one is more detested than one who refrains from obeying God and asking something from Him.”

98.  “God says: those who refrain from worshipping Me will enter the Hell with disgrace. Prayer, here, means Dua which is the best form of prayer.”

99.  “Surely Ibrahim was very tender-hearted, forbearing.” The imam said tender hearted, here means one who frequently recites Dua.

100.                      If you decide to give charity, delay it until Friday.”

101.                      “Throughout Friday night God calls: -Isn’t there any believing servant who calls upon Me until before dawn so that I will grant his worldly and spiritual request?

102.                      -Isn’t there any believing servant who repents his sins before down so that I will forgive him?

103.                      -Isn’t there any believing servant whose sustenance is meager and asks Me to increase it before dawn so that I will increase his sustenance?

104.                      -Isn’t there any ailing and believing servant who asks Me to heal him before dawn so that I will heal him?

105.                      -Isn’t there any imprisoned servant who asks Me to free him from prison so that I will free him from prison?

106.                      -Isn’t there any oppressed believing servant who asks Me to take his right from the oppressor before dawn so that I will help him and restore his right?

107.                      “The believing servant makes a request to God and God too delays it until Friday.”

108.                      “On Friday one must keep a time from the beginning of moon until an hour, for the Holy Prophet of Islam (SAW) has said during this hour no servant requests anything from God unless his request is granted.

109.   The Narrator says: I said: 'O son of the messenger of Allah! when will your Qa'im emerge? 

He replied: at the time when men will imitate the women and women will imitate the men; when women will

ride on saddles; 

110.   when people will cause their prayers to die and will follow their carnal desires; 

111.   when people will turn usurers; when shedding of blood will become something insignificant; 

112.   when trade and business of the people will be based on usury; 

113.   when people will openly commit adultery; 

114.   when they will make towering constructions; 

115.   when they will consider lie to be lawful; 

116.   when they will accept bribes; 

117.   when they will follow their lusts and desire; 

118.   when they will sell their religion for this world; 

119.   when they will sever their relation (with others); 

120.   when they will hold under obligation the one whom they feed;

121.   when they will consider forbearance to be the sign of weakness and feebleness and injustice to be an honor;

122.   when their rulers will be evil and their ministers liars; 

123.   when the trustworthy amongst them will be traitors; 

124.   when the helpers amongst them will be unjust; 

125.   when the reciters of Quran will be transgressors; 

126.   when cruelty and oppression will become manifest; 

127.   when divorce will increase; 

128.   when people will engage in debauchery and libertinism; 

129.   when forced witness and lie will be accepted; 

130.   when they will engage in drinking and gambling; 

131.   when men will be mounted on; 

132.   when women shall engage with women (indecent acts); 

133.   when people will consider 'zakat' to be a booty and charity to be a loss; 

134.   when they will fear from the tongues of the wicked people; 

135.   when sufyani shall revolt from syria and yemen; 

136.   when 'baidah' which is between Mecca and medina will sink; 

137.   when a child from the progeny of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) will be killed between 'rukn' and 'maqaam' and 

138.   when a live voice will be heard from the heavens .

139.   crying out that the truth is with Mahdi and his followers. it will be then that our Qaim will emerge. 

140.   when he re-appears, he will stand with his back against the wall of ka'aba and 313 of his followers would gather

around him. the first speech of Qaim would be the following verse:--- 

'What remains, with Allah is better for you if you are believers'.

141.   Then he will say: I am the 'Baqiyatullah,' (god's remainder) representative and proof of Allah upon you.

after that, no Muslim would salute him but in this manner:

142.   Assalamu-alaika - Ya Baqiyatullah-fi-Arzeh (peace be upon you 'o god's remainder on the earth)

 as soon as 10000 men gather around him, no Jew or Christian will remain but that they will bring faith

in him and religion shall be confined only to Islam. 

143.   A fire shall descend from the sky and will burn every object of worship (other than Allah) on the earth.

144.   Some of the historians say: Mahdi is the same awaited Qa'im. 

traditions about Mahdi's emergence substantiate each other. traditions manifest the luminous of

Hazrat's light. 

145.   It will not be long when the gloomy day and night of his occultation will turn into brightness and luminosity. 

146.   due to his emergence the desired dawn shall rise and the veil of darkness of the night will be set aside. 

147.   Hazrat will emerge from behind the veil of occultation and the hearts will be filled with joy. 

148.   His justice, will reach the horizons and the luminousness of his justice will be more than

luminousness of the luminous moon. forsaking the matter of fixing the time of emergence 

149.                      Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) depicts this bloody tragedy. He says: “...Our followers were killed in every city. Hands and legs were cut off at the slightest suspicion.

150.                      Whoever was reported to love us or had any contact with us would either be imprisoned of robbed of his property or his house destroyed.

151.                      Oppression increased in volume and became unduly harsh, till the time of Ubaidullah bin Ziyad, the murderer of Hussein (a.s.)

152.                      Your followers in Iraq are numerous. By God, no one in your family has the status that you have. Why don't you rise?" The Imam said: "O 'Abd Allah, you have allowed nonsensical talk to enter your mind. By God, I am not the promised commander of the affairs." I asked: "Then who is the commander of the affairs?"

153.                      He said: "Look out for someone whose birth will be concealed from the people. He will be your commander.

154.                      There is a Hadith from Imam Muhammed Baqir (a.s) that for three or seven consecutive days, one will see reddish yellow fire raging in the East.

155.                      Sufiani will emerge in Palestine, where he will start a revolt in the month of Rajab.

156.                      He will be an uncompassionate rebel and his rule will last for eight consecutive months.

157.                      He will conquer and rule Egypt for four consecutive months.

158.                      Sufiani will conquer Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Jordan, and Syria.

159.                      Sufiani has been specifically described by Aimma A.S. as an ugly, blistered, green-eyed, cross-eyed person who will be an enemy of the friends of the Ahlul-Bait.

160.                      Imam Ali (a.s) has said that Sufiani’s hatred of the devotees of the Ahlul-Bait will be such that any person named Ali, Fatema, Hassan, Hussein, Zainab, Ruquaiya will be arrested and beheaded straight away without further investigations.

161.                      Sufiani will rip the Mimber of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.).

162.                      The holy house of the Prophet which contains his grave will be pulled and used as a stable.

163.                      Horses will be tied in that Holy place.

164.                      Sufiani will then decide to attack Makka.

165.                      His purpose would be to demolish the Holy Kaaba and kill the entire population of Makka.

166.                      Sufiani’s army will set out via Baghdad but, as Allah would have it, when they get between Medina and Makkah, in the desert of Baida, suddenly one night they will hear a voice from the sky which will say, “O Baida eat up the entire army of Sufiani.â€?

167.                      It is said that the entire army numbering 100,000 persons will be swallowed up by the earth, except for two.

168.                      The two who will be spared will suddenly encounter an angel.

169.                      He will slap both of them turning their faces right round, looking behind instead of front.

170.                      And that will be the time when Imam al-Mahdi (a.s) will already have reappeared in Makkah.

171.                      The Imam will establish his authority in the Holy Mosque at Makkah in the Haram.

172.                      The angel will then order one of them calling him Bashir. “O Bashir, go straight to Makkah, into the Haram and inform the Imam that Sufiani’s army has been swallowed up by the land.

173.                      The other called Nazir will be ordered to go to Sufiani and tell him that the Imam has already appeared.

174.                      He should proceed straight to Makka and declare allegiance to him.

175.                      Sufiani will prepare to attack the Imam but will not have enough courage.

176.                      The Imam will catch Sufiani in Jerusalem and will kill him.

177.                      Abu Jafar Muhammad-ibn-Ali Baqer (a.s.) who said:-'Amir-ul-Mumineen Ali-ibn-Abi Talib was asked about Mahdi's physical appearance and he replied: he is a youth with an average stature and a handsome face with hairs falling over his shoulders and light gleaming from his face.

178.                      Our fifth Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) said: "There is a devil for the night who dislikes any believer rising for Namaaze Shab and discourages him or her by saying "It is too early yet; the night is young".

179.                      The believer sleeps to rise later; to be discouraged once again.

180.                      And when the sun rises, the devil congratulates himself for having successfully prevented at least one from an early communion with his sustainer.

181.                      In another tradition Imam Baqir told Jabir: O Jabir, if I had expounded for you our belief and tenets we would have destroyed ourselves.

182.                      In any case, we are relating for you traditions which we collected from the Prophet, just as people collect gold and silver.

183.                      I admonish you regarding five things;

184.                      if you are wronged, do not commit wrong doing to others,

185.                      if you are betrayed, do not betray anyone,

186.                      if you are called a liar, do not be furious,

187.                      if you are praised, do not be jubilant,

188.                      if you are criticized do not fret and think of what is said in criticism,

189.                       if you find in yourself what is criticized about you,

190.                      then you are falling down in the eyes of God;

191.                      when you are furious about the truth, it is much greater calamity then your falling down in the eyes of the people.

192.                      And if you are opposite of what is said (in criticism) about you, then it is a merit you acquired without having to tire yourself in obtaining it.

193.                      The height of perfection is excellence in the understanding of the religion, endurance in hardships and administration of the affairs of life according to one's means, in the right measure.

194.                       The scholar who derives benefit from his knowledge is better then seventy thousand devotees.

195.                      One who disobeys Allah has no knowledge of him.

196.          We have heard that one among your ahl al-bayt will arise and will establish justice and equity. Is this true? He said: "We are also awaiting his appearance and living in hope."

197.                      [Maymun al-Qaddah reported on the authority of Jafar b. Muhammad, on the authority of his father, peace be on them:] I (i.e. al-Baqir) visited Jafar b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansari, may God be pleased with him. I greeted him and he returned my greeting. Then he said to me: "Who are you?" That was after he had lost his sight.

198.                      Muhammad b. Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, I answered. My young child, come close to me, he said. I went closer and he kissed my hand. Then he stooped down to my foot and kissed that. I turned away from him.  Then he said to me: "The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, recites his greeting to you."

199.                      Peace and God's mercy and blessings be on the Apostle of God," I said. "How is that, Jabir?"

200.                      He told me: "One day I was with him when he said to me: "Jabir, perhaps you will live until you meet one of my descendants called Muhammad b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, on whom God will bestow light and wisdom. Then recite to him my greetings."

201.                      The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, recites his greeting to you."

202.                      The obedience of Imam following His recognition is the loftiest apex and peak and the most worthy of stations and the key to the religion and gateway and door to the affairs and pleasure of the Merciful (Allah).

203.                      Moreover, if a man keeps standing whole night for prayers and keeps on fasting during the day and gives out all his wealth as alms and performs Hajj all the years of his life and does not recognize the guardianship of the saint of Allah so as to love him and perform all his practices under his guidance and leadership, he does not have any right out of His rewards and he is not from among the faithful.

204.                      There is no servant except that there exists a white spot upon his heart.

205.                      So when he commits a sin a black spot arises into that white spot.

206.                      So when he repents the black spot moves away.

207.                      And if he continues on committing sins the blackness of this spot increases till such time it overwhelms and overrides the whiteness.

208.                      When the whiteness is covered over (by the blackness) the owner of it (heart) does never at all return towards beneficence and goodness.

209.                      And this is what Allah means when He says: "Nay! Rather, what they used to do has become like a rust upon their hearts." (Surah Mutafafin Verse 14)

210.                      Indeed, when a man earns the wealth from haram (prohibited) sources, no Hajj and no umrah and no strengthening of his blood kinship is never at all accepted and approved (by Almighty God).

211.                      Allah dislikes and hates the importunately soliciting and arguing of men to the other men for some problems (needs, wants, desires) and He approves and loves it for Himself.

212.                      Certainly Allah grants this material world to the one whom

213.                      He loves and the one whom He despises.

214.                      And he does not bestow His religion to anyone except whom He loves.

215.                      Nobody remains safe from sin unless he guards his tongue.

216.                      Heaven is surrounded by unpleasantness and patience.

217.                      So, the one who remains patient over its unpleasantness in the world enters the paradise.

218.                      And the hell is surrounded by pleasures and lusts.

219.                      So the one who allows (gives) himself its pleasures and lustful desires enters the hellfire.

220.                      If people come to know what (evil) lies in begging, no one will beg from the other and if the one who is begged from knows the evil of rejecting the one who begs, nobody will turn down anyone’s request.

221.                      Allah revealed to Prophet Shohib (AS), "I will chastise one hundred thousand persons out of your community, forty thousand of their evil and wicked one, and sixty thousand from the pious ones among them.

222.                      " So Prophet said, " Oh Lord these (forty thousands) are the evil ones so what for these pious (are to be tormented)?"

223.                       Thus Allah revealed to him saying, "For the reason that those pious once coaxed and stooped the people of sin during their social intercourses they showed adaptability and sociability towards the sinner and did not become angry with them for the sake of My anger and displeasure.

224.                      That is, they did not perform the duty of ordering the good deeds and forbidding the evils-doings.

225.                      Imam who will arise Hazrat Mahdi (Qa'im), peace be on him, and the events which will take place before his appearance, together with the indications and features of it.
Among them are:
- The Sufyani will come out in revolt;
- the Hasanid will be killed;
- the Abbasids will dispute over worldly kingdom;
- there will be an eclipse of the sun in the middle of the month of Ramadan;
- there will be an eclipse of the moon at the end of that month in contrast to ordinary happenings;
- the land will be swallowed up at al-Bayda'; it will be swallowed in the east-it will be swallowed up in the west;
- the sun will stay still from the time of its decline to the middle of the time for the afternoon prayer;
- it will rise from the west;
- a pure soul (nafs zakiyya) will be killed in the outskirts of Kufa with seventy righteous men;
- a Hashimite will be slaughtered between the corner (of the Ka'ba) and the station of Abraham);
- the wall of the mosque of Kufa will be destroyed;
- black standards will advance from Khurasan;
- al-Yamani will come out in revolt;
- al-Maghribi will appear in Egypt and take possession of it from Syria;
- the Turk will occupy the region of al-Jazira;
- the Byzantines will occupy Ramla;
- the star will appear in the east giving light just like the moon gives light;
- then (the new moon) will bend until its two tips almost meet;
- a colour will appear in the sky and spread to its horizons;
- a fire will appear for a long time in the east remaining in the air for three or seven days;
- the Arabs will throw off the reins and take possession of their land, throwing out the foreign authority;
- the people of Egypt will kill their ruler and destroy Syria; and three standards will dispute over it (Syria);
- the standards of Qays and the Arabs will come among the people of Egypt;
- the standards of Kinda (will go) to Khurasan;
- horses will come from the west until they are stabled in al-Hira;
- the black standards will advance towards them from the east; the Euphrates will flood so that the water comes into the alleys of Kufa;
- sixty liars will come forward, all of them claiming prophethood, and twelve will come forward from the family of Abu Talib, all of them claiming the Imamate; a man of important rank of the supporters of the 'Abbasids will be burnt between Jalula' and Khaniqin;
- the bridge next to Karkh in the city of Baghdad will be established;
- a black wind will raise it at the beginning of the day and then an earthquake will occur so that much of it will be swallowed up;
- fear will cover the people of Iraq and Baghdad; swift death (will occur) there and there will be a loss of property, lives and harvests;
- locusts will appear at their usual times and at times not usual so that they attack agricultural land and crops and there will be little harvest for what the people planted;
- two kinds of foreigners will dispute and much blood will be shed in their quarrel;
- slaves will rebel against obedience to their masters and kill their masters (mawali);
- a group of heretics (ahl al-bida) will be transformed until they become monkeys and pigs;
- slaves will conquer the land of their masters; a cry (will come) from the sky (in such a way) that all the people will hear it in their own languages;
- a face and a chest will appear in the sky before the people in the centre of the sun;
- the dead will arise from their graves so that they will return to the world and they will recognize one another and visit one another;
- that will come to an end with twenty-four continous rainstorms and the land will be revived by them after being dead and it will recognize its blessings;
- after that every disease will be taken away from those of the Shia of the Mahdi, peace be on him, who believe in the truth;
at that time they will know of his appearance in Mecca and they will go to him to support him.
(These signs) are as the reports have mentioned. Among the total of these events are some which are bound (to happen) and other which are conditional. God knows best what will take place. We have only mentioned them on the basis of what is recounted in basic sources of tradition (usul) because of their inclusion in traditions which have been handed down. From God we seek help and Him do we ask for success.

226.                      Bakri scholars also narrate from Rasoolollaah’s fifth khaleefah, Imaam Baaqir^(AS)[50], who said: ((We are Ahl al-Dhekr[51].)). 

227.                      One day I was with him when he said to me: "Jabir, perhaps you will live until you meet one of my descendants called Muhammad b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, on whom God will bestow light and wisdom. Then recite to him my greetings.

228.                      [Al -Sharif Abu Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad informed me: My grandfather (Yahya b. al-Hasan) told me on the authority of Yaqub b. Yazid, who said: Muhammad b. Abi 'Umayr told us on the authority of Abd al-Rahman b. al-Hajja;, on the authority of Abu 'Abd Allah (Ja'far al-Sadiq), peace be on him, who said: Muhammad b. Munkadir used to say: "I did not use to think that the like of 'Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, could leave a successor because of the outstanding merit of 'Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them, until I saw his son, Muhammad b. Ali. I wanted to advise him but he advised me."

229.                      My companions asked me: "What did he warn you of?" I told them: I went out to one of the suburbs of Medina at a time when it was hot. There I met Muhammad b. Ali, peace be on him. He was a well built man and he was leaning on two servant boys. Either they were black slaves of his or they were retainers of his. I said to myself: Here is a venerable leader (shaykh) of Quraysh out at this time and in these circumstances seeking worldly (advantage). I must warn him. So I approached him and greeted him. He returned my greeting with anger. The sweat was pouring down him. I said: "May God remove you, a venerable leader of Quraysh, out at this time in these circumstances seeking worldly (advantage). If death came upon you while you were in this condition (what would you do)?"

230.                      He made the two servant-boys let go of his hand and held himself up. Then he said: "By God, if death came upon me while I was in this condition, it would come upon me while I am fulfilling) an act of obedience to God, by which I make myself withdraw from you and from the (rest of the) people. I would only fear death if it came upon me while I was performing an act of disobedience against God."

231.                      "Yes," he replied. "The call is one of the things which must happen as is the rising of the sun from the west one of the things which must happen. The dispute of the Abbasids over the state is also one of them and the killing of the pure soul (al-nafs al-zakiyya). The appearance of the one who will arise (Al-Qa'im) from the family of Muhammad, may God bless him and his family, is another of the things which must happen."

232.                      Then I replied: "May God have mercy on you, I wanted to warn you and you have warned me."

233.                      [Al-Sharif Abu Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad informed me: My grandfather (Yahya al-Hasan) told me: A shaykh from the people of al-Rayy, who was very old, told me: Yahya b. 'Abd al-Hamid al-Himmani told me on the authority of Mu'awiya b. Ammar al-Duhni, on the authority of Muhammad b. Ali b. al-Husayn, peacebe on them:] (Muhammad b. Ali was asked) about God's words: Ask the people of remembrance (ahl al-dhikr) if you do not know [XVI 43].

234.                      He said: "We are the people of remembrance (ahl al-dhikr)."

235.                      The shaykh from al-Rayy said: I asked Muhammad b. Muqatil about these (words). He spoke about them according to his opinion and he said: "The people of remembrance (ahl al-dhikr) are all the religious scholars (ulama')." I mentioned that to Abu Zura. He was astounded at his words.  Then I put before him what Yahya b. Abd al-Hamld had told me.

236.                      He said: "Muhammad b. Ali, peace be on them, speaks the truth. They are the people of remembrance (ahl al-dhikr). By my life, Abu Jafar, peace be on him, is one of the greatest scholars (ulama')."

237.                      Commander of the faithful," Salim said to (Hisham), "there is Muhammad b. Ali b. al-Husayn"
"The man for whom the people of Iraq are ready to revolt?" he asked .
"Yes," replied (Salim). "Go to him," (Hisham) told him, "and say to him:

238.                      The Commander of the faithful (i.e. Hisham) asks you: What is it that the people eat and drink until God has finished judging them on the Day of Resurrection?
Abu Jafar Muhammad, peace be on him, replied: The people will gather on (earth which will be) like a loaf of pure bread.

239.                      There, there will be rivers branching out.

240.                      They will eat and drink until the account (with God) is settled.
Hisham realised that (Abu Jafar Muhammad) had overcome him.

241.                      So he said: "God is greater. Go to him and say to him: (Hisham) says to you: What will keep men away from food and drink on that day?"

242.                      "Those in the fire of Hell will be too occupied," replied Abu Jafar, peace be on him,

243.                      "but they will say to those who have not been distracted from it:

244.                      Bestow upon us water and some of what God has provided for you .Hisham fell silent and did not reply.

245.                      Thus it is reported on the authority of Jabir b. Abd Allah in a direct (mujarrad) tradition:
The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, said to me: It will happen that you will live until you meet one of my children descended from al-Husayn, peace be on him, called Muhammad, who will split wide open knowledge of religion. When you meet him, recite my greeting to him. 

246.                      The Shia give an account of the tablet which Gabriel, peace be on him, brought down to the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, from heaven. (The Apostle) gave it to Fatima, peace be on her. In it are the names of the Imams after (the Apostle) and in it is Muhammad b. Ali, the Imam after his father.

247.                      Abu Jafar, peace be on him, recounted reports of the beginnings of history (mubtada') and reports of the prophets. Stories of the campaigns of the Prophet (maghazi) were written on his authority. (Men) followed the practices of the Prophet (sunan) on his authority and relied on him with regard to the rites of the pilgrimage which he reported on the authority of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family.

248.                      They (also) wrote a commentary of the Qur'an on his authority. Both the Shia (khassa) and the non-Shia (amma) report traditions on his authority. He debated with the exponents of individual reasoning (ahl al-ara') and the people learnt a great deal of theology (ilm al-kalam) from him.

249.                      Reports have come down that Nafi b. al-Azraq came to Muhammad b. Ali, peace be on them, and sat before him to ask him questions about what was permitted and what forbidden. Abu Jafar, peace be on him, said in the course of his answer: Say to these deviators (from the true course):

250.                      How did you make separation from the Commander of the faithful (Ali), peace be on him, lawful when you had earlier shed your own blood on his behalf and in obedience to him and (you were then close) to God through helping him?

251.                      Then they will answer you: He allowed arbitration with regard to the religion of God.

252.                      Say to them: God, the Exalted, allowed arbitration in the law (sharia) of His Prophet, may God bless him and his family, between two of His creatures.

253.                      For He said:  Send an arbitrator from his family and an arbitrator from her family if they want reconciliation (to take place) between them with the agreement of God.

254.                      The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, appointed Sad b. Muadh as an arbitrator over the tribe of Qurayza.

255.                      He judged them according to what God had accomplished.

256.                      Did you not know that the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, ordered the arbitrators only to judge according to the Qur'an and not to go beyond it?

257.                      He stipulated the rejection of any of the laws of men which opposed the Qur'an.

258.                      They said to him: 'You have appointed as arbitrator over yourself, men who will judge you.

259.                      ' He replied: 'I have not appointed a creature as an arbitrator.

260.                      I have only made the Book of God an arbitrator.

261.                      Therefore where do the deviators find the wrong-doing in the matter of arbitration by the Qur'an, when he stipulated the rejection of whatever opposed it, unless they are persisting in a false accusation? 

262.                      "By God", said Nafi b. al-Azraq, "these are words which I have never heard before and which have never occurred to my mind. It is the truth, God willing."

263.                      He, peace be on him, used to say: "The people cause us great trouble. We summon them but they do not answer us. If we abandoned them, they would be guided by no one." 

264.                      There is not anything that can be mixed with anything better than clemency (mixed) with knowledge."

265.                      [Thalaba b. Maymun (reported) on the authority of Shuayb al-Haddad, on the authority of Salih. b. Maytham, who said:] I (i.e. Salih b. Maytham) heard Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him, say: "There is no longer than fifteen nights between the appearance of the one who will rise (al-qa'im), peace be on him, and the killing of the pure soul (al-nafs al-zakiyya)."

266. (Imaam Saadiq narrates: My father [Imaam Baaqir] said to Jaabir ibn ^cAbdollaah al-Ansaari: I need to ask you something in private, what time is suitable for you? Jaabir answered him: Any time you like. So my father asked him: O Jaabir! Tell me about the tablet you saw in the hands of my mother Faatimah, Daughter of Rasoolollaah, and what she told you, and what was written on that tablet. Jaabir said: I take Allaah as my witness, I went to your mother Faatimah during the life of Rasoolollaah to congratulate her on the birth of Hosayn, and saw in her hand a green tablet which I thought was of emerald; and I saw on it a writing in white similar to sunlight. So I told her: My parents be your sacrifice O Daughter of Rasoolollaah! What is this tablet? She said: Allaah, the Great and Almighty, gave this to His Messenger. In it, there is my father’s name, and my husband’s name, and my two sons’ names, and the names of the awseyaa’[233] in my lineage. So my father gave it to me.
267. Then your mother Faatimah gave it to me, so I read and copied it. Then my father said to him: O Jaabir! Can you show it to me? Jaabir said: Yes. So they both walked to Jaabir’s home, where he gave my father a scroll. But my father said: O Jaabir! Look in your scroll while I read it to you [from myself]. So Jaabir looked in his scroll and my father read; and he did not make any mistakes. Jaabir said: I take Allaah as my witness, I surely saw on the tablet exactly as you said.
268. It was written: In the name of Allaah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. This is a written message from Allaah, the Great, the Wise, to Mohammad, His Light, and His Ambassador, and His Mediator, and His Guide. It is conveyed by Rooh al-Ameen[234], from the Lord of the nations.
269. Glorify O Mohammad! My names; and be thankful for My material gifts, and do not deny My immaterial gifts[235].
270. Indeed I am Allah, there is no God but Me. Breaker of the despots; and Destroyer of the haughty; and Humiliater of the tyrants; and Rewarder and Punisher of the Day of Reward and Punishment. Indeed I am Allah, there is no God but Me. So whomsoever wishes other than My Favor, or fears from other than My Punishment, I shall subject him to a punishment to which I do not subject any person. So it is Me you should worship, and on Me you should depend.
271. I have surely not sent a prophet whose days completed and whose time finished except that I chose a wasi for him. And I have surely favored you over the prophets, and favored your Wasi over the awseyaa’. And I have given you your two sons Hasan and Hosayn[236] as a present (to become imaam) after him.

Thus I made Hasan the source of my knowledge after his father’s time expired.

272. And made Hosayn the keeper of my revelation, and gifted him with martyrdom, and finished it for him with glory. So he is the best of those who were martyred, and the highest martyr to Me. I put My Word and Conclusive Proof with him. By his lineage I reward and punish. The first of them (Hosayn’s lineage) is ^cAli, master of the worshipers, and the jewel of my servants. And his son looks very much like his grandfather Mahmood[237]. Mohammad, the splitter of My knowledge, and the source of My wisdom.
273. The doubtful will soon go astray in Ja^cfar. Whomsoever refuses Ja^cfar, refuses me. I will most definitely make precious Ja^cfar’s stature, and I will most definitely make him happy in his followers and supporters and friends. And after him, I chose Moosaa, in a difficult test, and blind severe darkness. Because the line of My instruction shall not be cut, and My proof shall not be hidden, and My friends shall not ever go astray. Beware! Whomsoever denies any one of them, he has surely denied My bliss; and whoever changes an aayah from My Book, he has surely fabricated against Me. And woe unto the fabricating deniers when the time of My servant and friend and My chosen one Moosaa finishes.
274. Beware! Whomsoever accuses the Eighth of lying is indeed accusing all of my friends of lying. ^cAli is My friend and My supporter, and is he on whom I shall put the burdens of the prophet hood, and test him with carrying it. He will be killed by a deceitful haughty; he will be buried in the city that was built by the righteous servant Thol-Qarnayn[238] alongside my worst creature[239].
275. It is a foregone promise; I shall make him extremely happy with Mohammad, his son and his khaleefah after him. For he is the inheritor of My knowledge, and the source of My wisdom, and the keeper of My secret, and My proof over My creatures;
276. I make Heaven his home, and make him the intercessor for seventy thousand of his lineage, all of whom should indeed go to Hell.
277. And I shall finish him with glory with his son ^cAli, My defender and supporter, and the witness among My creatures, and My trustee over My revelation.
278. I shall create from him the one who calls to My way, and the holder of my knowledge Hasan.
279. Then I shall complete it with his son, mercy for the creatures of this world. He shall have the perfection of Moosaa[240], and the magnificence of ^cEesaa[241], and the patience of Ayyoob[242]. My defenders will be humiliated in his era; and their heads will be exchanged as gifts just as the heads of the Turks and the Daylam[243] are exchanged as gifts. They will be killed and burnt; and they will be frightened, terrorized, apprehensive; the earth will be painted with their blood, and grief and resonance will spread in their families.
280. They are truly My friends; by them I push away every blind dark test; and by them I lift the earthquake; and remove from them their burdens and the shekels,
281. “Those are they on whom are Blessings and Mercy from their Lord, and these are the followers of the right course”[244]/[245].)).

282.                      When Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, made the pilgrimage to Mecca, he dedicated himself to Allah and turned to Him in repentance. The marks of humility and obedience appeared on his face. His retainer, Aflah, reported: [I performed the hajj with Abi Ja'far, Mohammed al-Ba`qir. When he entered the mosque, he wept loudly. So, I said to him:] May my father and mother be ransom for you, the people are waiting for you. If you please, weep quietly.

283.                      However, the Ima`m paid no attention to him. Rather he said to him: "Aflah, woe unto you! I am weeping loudly in order that Allah may look at me through his mercy. So, I will win it tomorrow.

284.                      Then the Ima`m circumambulated the Kaaba, and he came to pray behind the standing place (of Prophet Abraham). When he ended (his prayers), the place of his prostration became wet out of the tears of his eyes. (Safwat al-Safwa, vol. 2, p. 63)

285.                      One time when he, peace be on him, performed the hajj, the pilgrims surrounded him and crowded around him. They asked him for legal opinions concerning the affairs of their religion. The Ima`m answered them. Thus, the people admired his vast knowledge. They asked each other about him. So, one of his companions introduced him to them, saying: This is the one who has split open the knowledge of the apostles. This is the one who has explained the ways. This is the best one who became firmly established in the backs of the owners of the ship. This is the (grand) son of Fatima, the Chaste. This is the (grand) son of Mohammed, Khadija, 'Ali, and Fatima. This is the standing signpost of religion. (Ibn Shahr Ashub, al-Manaqib, vol. 4, p. 183)

286.                      His Whispered Prayer with Allah : The Ima`m, peace be on him, said whispered prayers with Allah in the darkness of night. Among what he said in his whispered prayer is: You have ordered me, but I have not followed Your order. You have prevented me, but I have not followed Your prevention. Here I am, Your servant before You.( Nur al-Absar, p. 130)

287.                      His Praising Allah ; The historians said: "He always remembered Allah. His tongue praised Allah constantly. He walked and praised Allah. He spoke to the people, but that did not divert him from praising Allah. He gathered his children and ordered them to praise Allah till the sun rose. He also ordered them to recite the Quran. He ordered those who could not read to praise Allah.

288.                      His Whispered Prayer with Allah : The Ima`m, peace be on him, said whispered prayers with Allah in the darkness of night. Among what he said in his whispered prayer is: You have ordered me, but I have not followed Your order. You have prevented me, but I have not followed Your prevention. Here I am, Your servant before You.( Nur al-Absar, p. 130)

289.                      His Praising Allah ; The historians said: "He always remembered Allah. His tongue praised Allah constantly. He walked and praised Allah. He spoke to the people, but that did not divert him from praising Allah. He gathered his children and ordered them to praise Allah till the sun rose. He also ordered them to recite the Koran. He ordered those who could not read to praise Allah.

290.                      His Renouncing Worldly Pleasures ; Imam Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, renounced all the worldly pleasures. He turned away from the ornament of life. He did not furnished his house. Rather he spread out a mat at his sitting-place. (Da'a'im al-Islam, vol. 2, p. 158)

291.                      He looked deeply at life. He considered carefully all its affairs. Thus, he renounced its pleasures and devoted himself to Allah through a repenting heart. Ja`bir b. Zayd al-Ju'fi said: Mohammed b. 'Ali (al-Baqir) said to me:  Ja`bir, I am grieved and my heart is busy.
What is your grief? What has made your heart busy?" asked Ja`bir.

292.                      The Ima`m, peace be on him, spoke to him about what had made him grieved and made him renounce this world, saying: Ja`bir, whoever enters the religion of Allah, the Great and Almighty, through a pure heart, it (Allah's religion) diverts him from other than Allah. Ja`bir, what is the world? What may it be? Isn't it a mere riding animal you ride or a garment you wear or a woman you marry?

293.                      He, peace be on him, predicted the government of the 'Abba`sids. Al-Mubarrad reported: "When 'Ali b. 'Abd Allah b. al-'Abba`s was born, his father brought him to Ima`m 'Ali, peace be on him. The Ima`m said to 'Abd Allah: What have you named him?' Is it possible for me to name him before you name him?' asked Abd Allah. So, the Ima`m said: 'I have named him with my name and given him my kunya. He will have authority.'(Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 7, p. 358) 

294.                      He, peace be on him, predicted the murder of his son, the lord of martyrs, Ima`m Husayn, peace be on him. Al-Asbagh reported: "We came with 'Ali, peace be on him. We passed by the place of the grave of al-Husayn, peace be on him. So, 'Ali said: 'Their camels will kneel down here. Their baggage will be in this place. Their blood will be shed over there. Young men from the family of Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, will be killed on this ground. The sky and the earth will weep over them.' (Al-Riyad al-Nadira, vol. 2, p. 222)

295.                      He foresaw the government of the 'Abba`sids. Abu` Basir said: "I was with Mohammed (al-Ba`qir) b. 'Ali when al-Mansu`r and Da`wud b. Sulayma`n came to him. That was before the government of the 'Abba`sids. Da`wud came to the Ima`m and greeted him. The Ima`m, peace be on him, said to him: 'What prevented (al-Mansu`r) al-Dawa`niqi from coming?' Da`wud b. Sulayma`n apologized (to the Ima`m on behalf of him).

296.                      Then he said: 'He has turned away (from you).' The Ima`m, peace be on him, told Da`wud about al-Mansu`r's future, saying: 'In the future this man will be a ruler over the creation. He will persecute the men. He will govern over the east and west (of the earth). His life will be long. No one will gather properties as he will do.' Da`wud hurried to al-Mansu`r. He brought him the good words of the Ima`m. So, al-Mansu`r walked quickly toward the Ima`m to understand his words concerning him. He apologized to the Ima`m for being so rude. He said: "Nothing has prevented me from sitting with you but the esteem for you."Then he asked the Ima`m about what he had told Da`wud. Thus, the Ima`m, peace be on him, said: That will happen. Al-Mansu`r asked the Ima`m for more explanations, saying: Will we rule before you rule? "Yes.
Will one of my children rule after me? Yes. Which will be longer- the Umayyad period or ours? Yours will be longer. Your boys will play with government as they do with the football. My father had told me about that. Al-Mansu`r went away happy. He was sure that he would assume authority. He always remembered the Ima`m's words. When he became caliph, he admired the Imam's prediction.(Jami' Karamat al-Auliya', vol. 1, p. 97)

297.                      (Al-Mansur) al-Dawa`niqi said: "My brother Abu` al-'Abba`s and I escaped from the Umayyads. We passed by the Mosque of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family. Mohammed (al-Ba`qir) b. 'Ali was sitting there. He, peace be on him, said to a man sitting beside him: 'Those two (persons) will undertake authority.' He pointed with his hand to us. The man came and told us about the Ima`m's words.
So, we went to the Ima`m and said to him: 'O son of Allah's Apostle, what you have said?' He, peace be on him, said: 'You will shortly assume this authority. However, you will mistreat my progeny. Then woe unto you! That happened as the Ima`m, peace be on him, predicted.
When al-Mansu`r became caliph, he mistreated the descendants of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. He punished them severely. During the time of this tyrant, the descendants of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, suffered from various kinds of persecution to an extent that they did not suffer from such persecution during the time of the Umayyad. Generally speaking, throughout his days, they suffered from disasters, pains, and tortures.

298.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, predicted that the Black Stone would be put into the Great Mosque in Ku`fa.(Al-Maqrizi, Itti'az al-Hunafa', p. 245)
That happened during the days of the Karmatnians. They took it from the Kaaba and put it into the Mosque of Ku`fa. They thought that the hajj would depend on it. So, it would be performed in the Mosque of Ku`fa. Thus, the Black Stone remained there for about twenty years, and then it was brought back to its place.

299.                      He, peace be on him, foretold that Nafi' b. al-Azraq would invade Medina (Yathrib), and that he would permit his soldiers to profane it. Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him, said: "My father was at a general meeting. He bowed his head, and then he raised it and said: 'O People, a man along with four thousand (soldiers) will enter your city. They will fight against you with the sword for three successive days. They will kill your fighters. You will be unable to face that tribulation. That will happen in the next year. Therefore, be on the alert. Know, what I have told you will surely happen.' However, the people of Medina paid no attention to the Ima`m's words. They said: 'That will never happen.' In the next year Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir) took his family along with a group of the Ha`shimites and went out of Medina. Then Nafi' b. al-Azraq came. He was accompanied by four thousand (soldiers). He entered Medina and permitted his (soldiers) to profane it for three days. So, they killed many people. (Nur al-Abbsar, p. 130) Thus, the people of Media understood the Ima`m's truthful prediction.

300.                      He, peace be on him, foresaw that his brother Zayd would die a martyr. Zayd b. Ha`zim reported. He said: "I was with Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. Zayd passed by us. So, Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir) said to me: 'Have you not seen this? He will revolt (against the government) in Ku`fa. He will be killed. His head will be sent about.'(Nur al-Abbsar, p. 131)
Few days after that, Zayd was killed in Ku`fa and his head was sent about to countries and cities.

301.                      He, peace be on him, foretold that the house of Hisha`m b. 'Abd al-Malik would be demolished. It was the largest house in Medina (Yathrib). He built it of oil stones. The Ima`m, peace be on him, said: "By Allah, the house will be demolished. The oil stones will be rare."Abu` Ha`zim said: "When I heard that, I was astonished at it. Then I said: 'Who will demolish the house which Hisha`m, the Commander of the Faithful, has built?' Then Hisha`m died. So, al-Walid assumed the Caliphate after him. He ordered the house to be demolished, and then he ordered the oil stones to be moved from it. So, they became rare in Medina (Yathrib).( Dala'ilal-Imama, p. 110)

302.                      Al-Fudayl reported. He said: "I asked Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir): 'We have heard that the family of Ja'far (al-Sa`diq) will have one standard and the family of al-'Abba`s will have two standards. Do you have knowledge of that?'"The Ima`m, peace be on him, said: "As for the family of Ja'far, they will have nothing nor will my family. As for the family of al-'Abba`s, they will undertake a great kingdom. In it they will make friends with the strangers and abandon the relatives. Their authority will be rude. There will be no mercy in it. When they feel safe from Allah's punishment, He will destroy then all. Then no house will gather them together nor will an ear hear them. That is due to the Words of Allah, the Great and Almighty: 'Until when the earth puts on its golden ornament.'(Ithabat al-Hudat, vol. 5, p. 310)

303.                      Abu-Ja'far said: Allah make me your sacrifice, where is that (in the Qur'an)?" asked I. The Imam (A.S.) answered: This is in His saying: When they receive any news of peace or war, they anounce it in public. (Holy Qur'an 4:83)

304.                      He (A.S.) then added: The divulgers of our secrets are as same as those who unsheathe swords in our faces. Allah's mercy be upon him who buries under the feet whatever he hears from our concealed issues. I swear by Allah, I know the evil among you more accurately than a veterinarian's knowledge of his sick animals. The evil ones among you are those who recite the Qur'an only in public, offer the prayers in the final of their times, and do not control their tongues.

305.                      Indeed our speech is difficult and regarded as difficult. (No one) accepts it except a close angel or a sent prophet or a servant whose heart Allah tests for belief.

306.                      [Amr b Shamir (reported) on the authority of Jabir (al-Jufi) who said:] I (i.e. Jabir al-Jufi) said to Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir), peace be on him: "When will this event occur?" "Jabir, that will occur at a time when the killing between al-Hira and Kufa is considerable," he replied.

307.                      [Muhammad b. Sinan (reported) on the authority of al-Husayn b. al-Mukhtar, on the authority of Abu Abd Allah (Jafar al-Sadiq), peace be on him:] (Ja'far al-Sadiq) said: "When the wall of the mosque of Kufa, which adjoins the house of Abd Allah b. Masud is destroyed, then at that time the ruler of the people will disappear. At his disappearance, the one who will rise (al-qai'im), peace be on him, will come forth."

308.                      It is reported on his authority, peace be on him, that he was asked about traditions which he put forward and did not support with a chain of authorities. He said: If I report a tradition without giving it a chain of authorities, then my chain of authorities for it is in fact my father on the authority of my grandfather on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather, the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, on the authority of Gabriel, peace be on him, on the authority of God, the Mighty and High.

309.                      He, peace be on him, (also) used to say: "The people cause us great trouble. We summon them but they do not answer us. If we abandoned them, they would be guided by no one."

310.                      He, peace be on him, used to say: "What is it that the people hate in us who are the family of the House of Mercy, the Tree of Prophet hood, the Source of Wisdom, (the people) frequented by angels and (those upon whom) inspiration descended?"

311.   Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) said: 'when the Qaim shall emerge, his attention will be drawn towards kufa. 

He will develop the mosques of kufa, strike down the balconies overlooking the roads,

destroy the wells and drain-pipes on the road-paths, uproot all sorts of heresy, enliven every custom and

conquer istanbul, china and the mountains of dailam. this will remain so for seven years where each year

would be equal to ten years of your reckoning.

312.                      [Abu al-Hasan 'Ali b. Bilal al-Muhallabi informed me: Muhammad b. Jafar al-Mu'addib told me on the authority of Ahmad b. Idris, on the authority of 'Ali b. Muhammad b. Qutayba, on the authority of al-Fadl b. Shadhan, on the authority of Ismaeil b. al-Sabbah, who said: I heard an old man among our colleagues mention on the authority of Sayf b. Umayra, who said:] I (i.e. Sayf b. 'Umayra) was with Abu Jafar al-Mansur and he said to me of his own accord: "There will certainly be a voice calling from the sky the name of a man from the descendants of Abu Talib."

313.                      "May I be your ransom, Commander of the faithful," I said, "do you relate that?"

314.                      "Indeed, by Him in Whose hands is my life," he replied, "because my own ears have heard it."

315.                      "Commander of the faithful," I said, "this tradition which you have heard is before my time."

316.                      The Ima`m advised the Moslem not to walk bare-footed. For walking without sandals makes man liable to germs that may enter his body through the pores of his feet, such as the germs that bring about Bilharzia.

317.                      He advised him not to dismount his horse and walk bare-footed at night to relieve nature. For he might be liable to the stings and bitings of the creatures that had hidden them selves in the earth. So, they would come and sting or bite him while he did not know.

318.                      He advised him not to urinate into a crack. For some deadly animals might hide themselves in the crack. Thus, they would come out and kill him.

319.                      He advised him not to eat any plant in the desert. For some plants might be poisonous. So, if he had eaten them, they would have poisoned him or made him ill.

320.                      He advised him not to drink out of the water skin unless he knew what was in it. For it might have some bad drink. So, if he had drunk it, it would have killed him or made him sick.

321.                      He advised him to be careful of the unknown people. He advised him not to reveal his secrets for them. He advised him to accompany them well out of fear of them. Traveling usually discovers the true nature of a person and reveals his hidden secrets. Many friends travel together. They love each other. When they come back, they curse each other. So, during traveling, the righteous person must remain wary of those whom he knows and those whom he does not know.

322.                      He advised him not to travel with those whom he did not know. For such a journey might cause many difficulties for him or it might cause his death. Many times, that befell travelers who traveled with those whom they did not know.

323.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, and all the Ima`ms of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, took great care of their Shi'ites. They wanted them to follow their guidance and behavior.

324.                      They wanted them to be pious in their earnings.

325.                      Moreover, they wanted them to cleave to the affairs of their religion to be an example to all Moslems.

326.                      For the Shi'ites have bright Islamic abilities. With these abilities they are able to illuminate the way to the perplexed, and to show the great position of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them.

327.                      It was reported on the authority of Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him, who said to one of his Shi'ites: "Be an adornment for us. Do not be a disgrace for us.
So, people say: May Allah have mercy on Ja'far b. Mohammed. For he has educated his Shi'ites."Ima`m Mu`sa` b. Ja'far, peace be on him, knew that one of his Shi'ites misbehaved and committed what Allah prohibited. So, he, peace be on him, gave him this wonderful piece of advice: "The good (thing) from everyone is good, and from you is better. The ugly (thing) from everyone is ugly, and from you is uglier, for you follow us, and we are the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt).

328.                      "Sayf, it is the truth," he told me. "When it happens, we will be the first to answer it. Indeed the call will be for a man from the descendants of our uncle."

329.                      "A man from the descendants of Fatima, peace be on her?" I asked."Yes," he replied. "Sayf, if it was not for the fact that I have heard from Abu Jafar Muhammad b. Ali (al-Baqir), who told me about it, even though all the people of the earth have told me about it, I would not accept it from them. However it was Muhammad b. Ali (al-Baqir), peace be on them, (who told me)."

330.                      [Yahya b. Abi Talib reported on the authority of Ali b. Asim, on the authority of Ata' b. al-Sa'ib, on the authority of his father on the authority of Abd Allah b. Umar, who said:] The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, said: "The hour (of the end of the world) will not arise until the Mahdi from my descendants comes forth. The Mahdi will not come forth until sixty liars come forward, all of them declaring: 'I am a prophet.' "

331.                      [al-Fadl b. Shadhan reported on the authority of one who reported it on the authority of Abu Hamza al-Thumali, who said:] I (i.e. Abu Hamza al-Thumali) asked Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him: "Is the revolt of the Sufyani one of the things which must happen?" Yes," he replied. "The call is one of the things which must happen as is the rising of the sun from the west one of the things which must happen. The dispute of the Abbasids over the state is also one of them and the killing of the pure soul (al-nafs al-zakiyya). The appearance of the one who will arise (Al-Qa'im) from the family of Muhammad, may God bless him and his family, is another of the things which must happen."

332.                      "How will the call be?" I asked. "There will be a call from the sky at the beginning of the dayù indeed the truth is with Ali; and his Shia,'' he said. "Then at the end of the day, Satan will call from the earth - indeed the truth is with Uthman and his supporters. At that the false one will feel doubt."

333.                      [al-Hasan b. Ali al-Washsha' (reported) on the authority of Ahmad b. A'idh, on the authority of Abu Khadija, on the authority of Abu Abd Allah (Ja'far al-Sadiq, peace be on him:] (Jafar al-Sadiq) said: "The one who will arise (Al-Qa'im) will not come forth until twelve of the Banu Hashim come forth before him, all of them summoning men to themselves."

334.                      [Muhammad b. Abi al-Bilad (reported) on the authority of Ali b. Muhammad al-Azdi, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather, who said:] The Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, said: "Before the one who will arise (Al-Qa'im), there will be red death and white death; there will be locusts at their usual time and at their unusual time like the colors of blood. As for red death that is (from) the sword, while white death is (from) plague."

335.                      [al-Hasan b. Mahbub (reported) on the authority of 'Amr b. Abi Miqdam, on the authority of Jabir al-Jufi on the authority of Abu-Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him:] (Al-Baqir) said: "Stay close to the ground.

336.                      Don't move an arm or a leg until you see the signs which I will mention to youù I don't think that you will live until that time. The Abbasids will dispute; a voice will call from the sky; one of the villages of Syria called al-Jabiyya will be swallowed up; the Turks will occupy the region of al-Jazira; the Byzantines will attack al-Ramla; at that time there will be much conflict throughout the land until Syria is destroyed. The cause of its destruction will be the meeting of three standards there: the standard of the Red, the standard of the Spotted and the standard of the Sufyam."

337.                      (One day) his son, Abu Jafar (Muhammad al-Baqir), peace be on them, came to him. He had carried out in worship what no one had ever carried out. He saw that his colour had gone yellow from weeping all night; his eyes had used up all their water from being awake all night; his forehead was bruised and his nose squashed from prostrating; and his legs and feet were swollen from standing in prayer.

338.                      Abu Jafar, peace be on him, reported: I could not control myself from weeping when I saw him in that state and I wept, may God have mercy on him. Behold, he was thinking and he turned to me a short time after I had come and said: 'My son, give me some of those parchments in which there is the (practice of) worship of Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on him." I gave them to him and he read something from them for a while. Then he let them go from his hand in exasperation and said: 'Who is strong enough to perform the worship of Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on him?'

339.                      Abu-Jaffar (A.S.) is reported to have said , "He would go out in the darkness of the night carrying a bag on his back. He would come to a door and knock on it. He delivered food from his bag to anyone who would open the door. He used to keep his face covered when helping the poor, lest they recognize him".

340.                      [Ali b. Abi Hamza (reported) on the authority of Abu al-Hasan Musa, peace be on him:] Concerning the words of Him, the Mighty and High: We will show them our signs on the horizons and in themselves so that it will become clear to them that it is the truth [XLI 53], (Musa) said: "(There will be) a disturbance on the horizons and the enemies of truth will be changed in form."

341.                      [Wahb b. (Abi) Hafs (reported) on the authority of Abu Basir, who said:] I (i.e. Abu Basir) heard Abu Jafar (al-Baqir) speak concerning the words of Him, the Exalted: If We wish, We will send down on them signs from the sky, and their necks will remain bent submissively to them (XXVI 4). He said: "God will do that to them." "Who are they?" I asked. "The Umayyads and their supporters," he answered. "What is the sign?" I asked. "Between the decline of the sun (at noon) and the time of the afternoon prayer, the sun will remain still," he said. "The chest and face of man will appear in the centre of the sun, who will be recognized by his standing and genealogy. That will occur in the time of the Sufyani. At that moment his destruction will occur and the destruction of his people."

342.                      [Abd Allah b. Bukayr (reported) on the authority of Abd al-Malik b. Ismail, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Said b. Jubayr:] (Sa'id b. Jubayr) said: "In the year in which the Mahdl will rise, twenty rain storms will rain on the earth. You will see their effects and benefits."

343.                      [al-Fadl b. Shadhan (reported) on the authority of Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Abi Nasr , on the authority of Thalaba al-Azdi, who said:] Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him, said: "Two signs will come before the one who will arise (al-qa'im), peace be on him: there will be an eclipse of the sun in the middle of the month of Ramadan and an eclipse of the moon at the end of it."

344.                      "Son of the Apostle of God," I said, "usually the eclipse of the sun occurs at the end of the month and the eclipse of the moon occurs in the middle of it?"

345.                      "I know what I have said," replied Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him. "They are signs which have not occurred since Adam came down."

346.   Due to fear (which the enemies have of Hazrat) the Qa'em will be assisted (by Allah) and due to triumph,

will become victorious. the earth will roll for Mahdi and treasures will loom before him. his rule will

extend from east to west. Allah will place his religion above all other religions even though the 

polytheists may dislike it. there will be no dilapidated place but that Mahdi will develop it. the

earth will not cede anything from its herbs but that it will cause it to thrive. during Mahdi's time, the

people will enjoy such blessings which they had never enjoyed before. 

347.                      Jabir Juafi as such: I asked Imam Muhammad Baqir (as.): 'when will be your 'faraj' (deliverance)?
Imam (a.s.) replied: alas! alas! there shall be no 'faraj' until you all become a mesh (and he repeated this sentence three times) so that impure believers are exterminated and only the pure believers remain.

348.                      Abu Jafer Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) said: the Holy Prophet (s.a.w ) said: 'blessed is he who finds the 'Qaem' from my Ahl-e-bait in a state when he has followed him during the period of his occultation and has made friendship with his friends and enmity with his enemies. such a person is counted to be amongst my companions and friends and he shall be the most honourable person before me on the day of judgement.

349.                      Imam Muhammad Baqir says that Imam Ali once said: "There were two things in this world which softened the Wrath of Allah and prevented its descent upon man: One has been taken away from you; hold the other stead- fastly. The one which has been taken away  from men is the Holy Prophet and the one which is still left with them and which they must hold steadfastly is repentance and atonement for sins because Allah at one place in the Holy Book addressed the Holy Prophet and said Allah would not punish them while you were among  them nor while they were asking for forgiveness. (Surah Anfal, 8 : 33)

350.                      "Stay close to the ground. Don't move an arm or a leg until you see the signs which I will mention to youù I don't think that you will live until that time. The Abbasids will dispute; a voice will call from the sky; one of the villages of Syria called al-Jabiyya will be swallowed up; the Turks will occupy the region of al-Jazira; the Byzantines will attack al-Ramla; at that time there will be much conflict throughout the land until Syria is destroyed. The cause of its destruction will be the meeting of three standards there: the standard of the Red, the standard of the Spotted and the standard of the Sufyam."

351.   'Mahdi shall not emerge but after prevalence serve awe amongst the people, when people will be

afflicted with earthquakes and plagues, when strife and discord will emerge amongst the people, when

differences in religion will prevail amongst them, when people's condition will so change that they would

wish for death, day and night.... Mahdi shall emerge at the time of hoplessness and despair. blessed is he

who perceives Mahdi and joins the rank of his helpers.woe be to the one who opposes him and his commands.

352.                      I (i.e. Abu Hamza al-Thumali) asked Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him: "Is the revolt of the Sufyani one of the things which must happen?" "How will the call be?" I asked."There will be a call from the sky at the beginning of the dayù indeed the truth is with Ali; and his Shia,''

353.                      He said. "Then at the end of the day, Satan will call from the earth - indeed the truth is with Uthman and his supporters. At that the false one will feel doubt."

354.                       "God will do that to them." Who are they?" I asked."The Umayyads and their supporters,"

355.                      He answered. "What is the sign?" I asked. 

356.                      "Between the decline of the sun (at noon) and the time of the afternoon prayer, the sun will remain still,"

357.                      He said. "The chest and face of man will appear in the centre of the sun, who will be recognized by his standing and genealogy. That will occur in the time of the Sufyani.

358.                      At that moment his destruction will occur and the destruction of his people."

359.                      Two signs will come before the one who will arise (Al-Qa'im), peace be on him: there will be an eclipse of the sun in the middle of the month of Ramadan and an eclipse of the moon at the end of it."

360.                      "Son of the Apostle of God," I said, "usually the eclipse of the sun occurs at the end of the month and the eclipse of the moon occurs in the middle of it?"

361.                      "I know what I have said," replied Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him. "They are signs which have not occurred since Adam came down."

362.                      [Thalaba b. Maymun (reported) on the authority of Shuayb al-Haddad, on the authority of Salih. b. Maytham, who said:] I (i.e. Salih b. Maytham) heard Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him, say: "There is no longer than fifteen nights between the appearance of the one who will rise (Al-Qa'im), peace be on him, and the killing of the pure soul (al-nafs al-zakiyya)."

363.                      [Amr b Shamir (reported) on the authority of Jabir (al-Jufi) who said:] I (i.e. Jabir al-Jufi) said to Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir), peace be on him: "When will this event occur?"

364.                      "Jabir, that will occur at a time when the killing between al-Hira and Kufa is considerable," he replied.

365.   Hafiz abu-Abdullah , Na'eem-ibn-Hemmad and he, from Yazid-ibn-khalil asadi 

who said: 'I was in the presence of Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.). He mentioned two of the signs which

would occur before the emergence of Mahdi and which has not yet been witnessed (right from the time of

fall of Adam till now). 

366.   one sign is this that there shall occur an eclipse of the sun on 15th of Ramadan 

and the moon too shall be eclipsed at the end of Ramadan.

367.   A person said: 'O Son of Messenger of Allah! it is not as you say. rather the sun will be eclipsed at the end

of the month of Ramadan and the moon will be eclipsed during the middle of the month.

368.   Imam Baqir (a.s.) said: the one who says these words is knowing better (than you) that right from the time

of Adam's fall till today these two signs have not occurred.......

369.   'Mahdi shall not emerge but after prevalence serve awe amongst the people, 

370.   when people will be afflicted with earthquakes and plagues, 

371.   when strife and discord will emerge amongst the people, 

372.   when differences in religion will prevail amongst them, 

373.   when people's condition will so change that they would wish for death, day and night.... 

374.   Mahdi shall emerge at the time of hopelessness and despair. 

375.   blessed is he who perceives Mahdi and joins the rank of his helpers. 

376.   woe be to the one who opposes him and his commands.

377.   Ibn-abi Hadid says: Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) was asked whether every land was called as 'baidah' and

Imam replied: never. rather 'Baidah' is in medina.

378.   Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) said: 'when the Qaem shall emerge, his attention will be drawn towards kufa. 

379.   He will develop the mosques of kufa, strike down the balconies overlooking the roads,

destroy the wells and drain-pipes on the road-paths, uproot all sorts of heresy, enliven every custom and

conquer Istanbul, china and the mountains of dailam. this will remain so for seven years where each year

would be equal to ten years of your reckoning.

380.   Due to fear (which the enemies have of Hazrat) the Qa'em will be assisted (by Allah) and due to triumph,

will become victorious. the earth will roll for Mahdi and treasures will loom before him. his rule will

extend from east to west. 

381.   Allah will place his religion above all other religions even though the 

polytheists may dislike it. there will be no dilapidated place but that Mahdi will develop it. the

earth will not cede anything from its herbs but that it will cause it to thrive. during Mahdi's time, the

people will enjoy such blessings which they had never enjoyed before. 

382.                      Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S.)  and Imam from his forefathers  up to hazrat Ali (A.S.) , Hassan Massana from his father hazrat Imam Hassan (A.S.) and Imam from his father hazrat Ali (A.S.) ,  Hasham bin Hassan from Imam Hussain (A.S.) , Ammash from Imam Jafar Sadeq (A.S.) and the Imam from his fore fathers .In all the above mentioned series of references the Holy Prophet said, "  The stars are protection for the inhabitants of sky when the star will finish the inhabitants of sky will also finish and the same way my Ahlal  Bait are the protection for  the inhabitants of earth, when my Ahlal Bait will pass away from  the  earth the earth along with its all being will collapse.

383.                      Further in the same rewayaat the holy prophet said that I am going to leave two precious things among you and they are the book of Allah ( Quran ) and my Ahlal - Bait. If you (the direct address is to Sahabah Karam ) keep yourself linked with both of them you will never be misguided  from the right path of Allah . Still this rewayat is continuing, but here I will comment  a bit.

384.                      From the saying of holy prophet it is very clear that to be with Quran and Ahlal Bait is the guarantee of right path . They are the standard of right path   Sahabah Karam and all other ummah have to be faithfully  link  themselves to them to insure that their are following the right path. 

385.                      The Quran and the Ahlal Bait are the standard  and the whole ummah including Sahaba Karam are those who are to adapt the standard, and it is very clear to every sensible being that standard and those who are to  adapt  standard can never be of the same status. 

386.                      Further in the same Rewayat the Holy Prophet said learn from them and don't teach them because they are given a knowledge from God which you do not have. To Allah they are highly respectable beings. 

387.                      Everything has a spring and the spring of the Qur'an is the Holy Month of Ramadan.

388.                      He (Zurara b. Ayan) heard a voice calling in the middle of the night: "Where are those who abstain with regard to this world out of desire for the next?"

389.                      A voice called out in answer from the region (of the cemetery) of al-Baqi - he heard its voice without seeing the person "Such a man is Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on them." 

390.                      (One day) his son, Abu Jafar (Muhammad al-Baqir), peace be on them, came to him. He had carried out in worship what no one had ever carried out. He saw that his color had gone yellow from weeping all night; his eyes had used up all their water from being awake all night; his forehead was bruised and his nose squashed from prostrating; and his legs and feet were swollen from standing in prayer. 

391.                      Abu Jafar, peace be on him, reported:  I could not control myself from weeping when I saw him in that state and I wept, may God have mercy on him. Behold, he was thinking and he turned to me a short time after I had come and said: 'My son, give me some of those parchments in which there is the (practice of) worship of Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on him."  I gave them to him and he read something from them for a while. Then he let them go from his hand in exasperation and said: 'Who is strong enough to perform the worship of Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on him?' 

392.                      Imam Ali Raza a.s "My father Musa Al-Kadhim narrated to me from his father Ja'fer As-Sadiq from his father Mohammed Al-Baqir from his father Ali Zaynul Abedeen from his father , the martyr of Kerbala from his father Ali ibn Abu Talib saying :"My loved one, and the pleasure of my eyes, the Messenger of God (S.A.W.) told me once, that Jibrail told him from the Lord "The kalima of LA ILAHA ILLALLAH is my fort; whoever said it would enter my fort; and whoever entered my fort was safe from my punishment".

393.                      Those who wrote down the hadith numbered twenty thousand. People started reciting the Kalima when Imam put his hand up and continued: "Yes, the kalima is Allah's fort. It will provide you with excellent safety but on one condition only and that is that you obey and follow us - the holy Imams in the progeny of the holy Prophet (S.A.W.). On reaching Marw Mamun forced Imam to accept the heir apparency (To be the leader after him). Imam accepted unwillingly.

394.                      Verily, God, Almighty and Glorious, has assigned certain locks for evil and made wine the key to these locks. Yet falsehood is more evil than wine.

395.                      Lying is the ruin of faith.

396.                      "A great man from the people of Qaim will rise up and take a stand. He will invite people will invite people towards the truth. Brave people like strong mountains, not fearing fighting and having trust in Allah will come to his help.......... Finally the enemy of Islam will withdraw.............. The rule of Islamic Law will be established by the people themselves".

397.                      "Kufa will become barren of Islamic knowledge........... whilst Qum will become the centre of Islamic Fiqh............ so much so that it will spread throughout the world that not a single person will remain ignorant of the message of Islam".

398.                      "These people will be the vicegerents of the 12th Imam. Their rule will continue and link with the appearance of the 12th Imam. They will not entrust the rule established by them to any but Imam on his reappearance".

399.                      Ali Bin Abdullah reports from Abdur Rahman bin Abi Abdillah and he reports from Abi Jarood that (Hazrat) Imam Muhammad Baqir (AS) said the rule of Qa’im e Aal e Muhammad (ATF) will be on entire earth and his rule will be for 309 years – the period Ashab e Kahaf remained in sleep, and will conquer the whole earth with his sword, and no faith will remain in existence except the faith of (Hazrat) Muhammad (SAWW).

400.                      "A man from the descendants of Fatima, peace be on her?" I asked."Yes," he replied. "Sayf, if it was not for the fact that I have heard from Abu Jafar Muhammad b. Ali (al-Baqir), who told me about it, even though all the people of the earth have told me about it, I would not accept it from them. However it was Muhammad b. Ali (al-Baqir), peace be on them, (who told me)."

401.                      [Wahb b. (Abi) Hafs (reported) on the authority of Abu Basir, who said:] I (i.e. Abu Basir) heard Abu Jafar (al-Baqir) speak concerning the words of Him, the Exalted: If We wish, We will send down on them signs from the sky, and their necks will remain bent submissively to them (XXVI 4).

402.                      He said: "God will do that to them." "Who are they?" I asked. "The Umayyads and their supporters,"

403.                      He answered. "What is the sign?" I asked. "Between the decline of the sun (at noon) and the time of the afternoon prayer, the sun will remain still,"

404.                      He said. "The chest and face of man will appear in the centre of the sun, who will be recognized by his standing and genealogy.

405.                      That will occur in the time of the Sufyani. At that moment his destruction will occur and the destruction of his people."

406.                      [al-Fadl b. Shadhan reported on the authority of one who reported it on the authority of Abu Hamza al-Thumali, who said:] I (i.e. Abu Hamza al-Thumali) asked Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him: "Is the revolt of the Sufyani one of the things which must happen?"

407.                      "Yes," He replied. "The call is one of the things which must happen as is the rising of the sun from the west one of the things which must happen.

408.                      [al-Fadl b. Shadhan (reported) on the authority of Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Abi Nasr , on the authority of Thalaba al-Azdi, who said:] Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him, said: "Two signs will come before the one who will arise (Al-Qa'im), peace be on him: there will be an eclipse of the sun in the middle of the month of Ramadan and an eclipse of the moon at the end of it."

409.                      "Son of the Apostle of God," I said, "usually the eclipse of the sun occurs at the end of the month and the eclipse of the moon occurs in the middle of it?"

410.                      "I know what I have said," replied Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him. "They are signs which have not occurred since Adam came down."

411.                      [Thalaba b. Maymun (reported) on the authority of Shuayb al-Haddad, on the authority of Salih. b. Maytham, who said:] I (i.e. Salih b. Maytham) heard Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him, say: "There is no longer than fifteen nights between the appearance of the one who will rise (al-qa'im), peace be on him, and the killing of the pure soul (al-nafs al-zakiyya)."

412.                      [Amr b Shamir (reported) on the authority of Jabir (al-Jufi) who said:] (i.e. Jabir al-Jufi) said to Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir), peace be on him: "When will this event occur?" "Jabir, that will occur at a time when the killing between al-Hira and Kufa is considerable," he replied.

413.                      Imãm Baqir (AS) stated: ‘it is incumbent upon a woman to perfume herself, to wear her best
clothes, to adorn herself in the best way, and to meet her husband in this state day and night’

414.                      'Abd al-Malik gathered the people. He asked them about the affair. However, no one was able to give him a decisive answer. Then, Ru`h b. Zinba`' said to him: "You the person who is able to solve this affair. You want to leave him intentionally." 'Abd al-Malik blamed him for that, saying: "Woe unto you! Who is he?" "He is al-Ba`qir, who is from the members of the House of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family," replied Ru`h b. Zinba. So, 'Abd al-Malik submitted to Ru`h b. Zinba`'. He believed his view. He knew that he ignored Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him. Immediately, he wrote to his governor of Medina (Yathrib). He ordered him to send the Ima`m to him. Moreover, he ordered him to treat the Ima`m kindly and to give him four hundred thousand dirhams. When the governor received the letter, he carried out 'Abd al-Malik's orders. Thus, Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, went to Damascus. When he arrived there, 'Abd al-Malik received him warmly. Then he told him about the Roman Emperor's threats. Thus, Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, said: "Do not regard this affair as great. It nothing for two reasons.

415.                      The first is that Allah, the Great and Almighty, will not allow the Roman Emperor to carry out his threat concerning Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family.

416.                      The other is that there is a solution for this affair.
So, 'Abd al-Malik asked the Ima`m: "What is the solution?

417.                      Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, answered: "At this hour, summon some makers.

418.                      Order them to make coins of dirhams and dinars.

419.                      Then order them to engrave the Sura of al-Tawhid in one face and the name of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, in the other face.

420.                      Then order them to mention the year and country of minting.

421.                      Order them to make a dirham of ten weights and a dinar of seven weights.

422.                      'Abd al-Malik accepted that. He ordered the coins to be minted as Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, described. When the Roman Emperor found out about this, he kept silent. Thus, all his efforts were in vain. Accordingly, Moslems passed the coins Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, designed till the time of the Abbasids. (Al-Dimyari, Hayat al-Hayawan, vol. 1, pp. 63-64) Ibn Kuthayr said: "Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, suggested the coins. (Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, vol. 9, p. 68)

423.                      He, peace be on him, said: "O My little son, indeed, Allah has hidden three things in three things. He has hidden his pleasure in His obedience. So, do not scorn anything of obedience. Perhaps His pleasure is in it. He has hidden His wrath in His disobedience. So, do not scorn anything of disobedience.
Perhaps His wrath is in it. And He has hidden His friends among His creatures. So, do not scorn anyone. Perhaps he is a friend.(Al-Fusul al-Muhimma, p. 29)
These commandments are full of high moral standards. They urge people to obey Allah. They warn them intensely from disobeying Him. Moreover, they urge them to respect each other.

424.                      Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him, related to Sufya`n al-Thawri some of his father's commandments. He said to him: "O Sufya`n, my father ordered me (to do) three, and prevented me (from doing) three. Among what he said to me is: 'O My little son, he who makes friends with a bad friend is not safe. Whoever enters into evil affairs is accused. He who does not restrain his tongue is regretful. Then he recited to me: (If you) habituate your tongue to good words, you will have a high rank with it.
It is authorized to take the good and the bad (things) you have established for it.
So, think of the way to habituate it.( Al-Khisal, p. 157)

425.                      He, peace be on him, said: "Our Shi'ites fear Allah and obey Him. They are humble and pious. They pay the trust. They praise Allah very much. They perform the prayers and the fasting. They obey the parents. They take care of the poor neighbors, the needy, the debtors, and the orphans. They are truthful in talking. They recite the Koran. They hold back their tongues from (speaking against) people except good. Thus, they are the custodians of their tribes over all things.( Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 295)

426.                      No one has such qualities except the righteous and the pious who fear Allah, and are afraid of His punishment.

427.                      He, peace be on him, said: "The Shi'ites of 'Ali, peace be on him, sacrifice their lives for our authority. They love each other, for they love us. They visit each other to enliven our affair. When they become angry, they do not do wrong. When they are pleased, they do not go too far (in pleasure). They are a blessing for him who is their neighbor them. And they are peace for him who associates with them.( Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 300) The Shi'ites who have such qualities are blessing and mercy for those who are their neighbor. They are a safety and a peace for those who associate with them. For they do nothing except good for all people.

428.                      He, peace be on him, spoke to Abu` al-Muqda`m about the high moral standards of the Shi'ites of Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him. He, peace be on him, said: "O Abu` al-Muqda`m, the Shi'ites of 'Ali are pale, thin, and withered. Their lips are faded, their abdomens are slim, their colors are changeable, and their faces are yellow. When it becomes dark, they use the ground as a bed and receive the earth with their foreheads. Their prostration is much, their tears are many, their supplications are many, and their weeping is plentiful. The people become happy and they become sad. (Al-Khisal, p. 413)These are the attributes of the Shi'ites of whom were 'Amma`r b. Ya`sir, Abu` Dharr, Hijr b. 'Adi, Maytham al-Tamma`r, and the like.

429.                      Al-Ba`qir's Commandments to Shi'ites
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, supplied Shi'ites with excellent commandments and valuable teachings. The following are some of them: A. Ja`bir b. Yazid al-Ju'fi reported. He said: "We went in a group to Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him. We ended our ritual prayers. Before we saw him off, we had said to him: 'O Son of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, command us.' "He peace be on him, said: "Your strong one should help your weak one. Your rich one should be kind to your poor one. The man should be loyal to his brother as he is loyal to himself. Keep our secrets. Do not force the people to follow us. Consider carefully our affair and what has been mentioned on our authority. If you find it in agreement with the Koran, then put it into effect. If you find it contrary to the Koran, then leave it. If you doubt the affair, then stop and ask us to explain it to you.(Diya' al-Amilin, vol. 3)

430.                      Al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, commanded the Shi'ites to cling to high moral standards. He guided them to what reformed their life in this life and the hereafter. He also commanded them to compare the traditions reported on the authority of the Ima`ms with the Quran.

431.                      So, they were able to put into effect the traditions that were in harmony with the Quran.
Meanwhile, they were able to leave the traditions that were contrary to the Quran.

432.                      He ordered them to do that because many traditions were fabricated.

433.                      Those who were indifferent to religion fabricated these traditions to defame the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, and to distort their precepts.

434.                      He, peace be on him, said: "Cling to piety, hard work, and truthful talk. Pay the trust to him who trusts you, whether he is righteous or a sinner. If the murderer of 'Ali b. Abi Ta`lib gave a trust to me, I would pay the trust to him.(Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 299) Are there commandments higher and nobler than these valuable commandments that lead man to good behavior among people?

435.                      He, peace be on him, sent one of his companions to some of his Shi'ites, and ordered him to tell them the following: He, peace be on him, said: "Recite my greetings to my Shi'ites.

436.                      Order them to fear Allah, the Great.

437.                      Their rich one should visit their poor one.

438.                      Their sound one should visit their ill one. T

439.                      heir living one should attend the funeral of their dead one.

440.                      They should meet each other in their houses.

441.                      Indeed their meeting each other enlivens our affair.

442.                      May Allah have mercy on the one who enlivens our affair and puts into effect the best of it.

443.                      Say to them: We will suffice nothing for them with Allah except through the good deed.

444.                      They will not obtain our intercession but through piety and hard work.

445.                      Indeed the most intense of all people in regret on the Day of Judgment is the one who describes a certain deed, and then he does other than it.

446.                      Al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, advised Shi'ites to do all kinds of good, to support each other, and to refrain from discord and division.

447.                      He, peace be on him, said: "May Allah have mercy on the servant who makes people love us, and does not make them hate us.

448.                      By Allah, if they report what we say on our authority- if they do not distort it nor do they change it against us according to their opinions, no one will comment on it.

449.                      However, the one of them who hears the word, and then he adds ten (words) to it and explains it according to his own opinion.

450.                      Therefore, may Allah have mercy on the servant who hears some of our hidden secret, and then he buries it in his heart. By Allah, Allah will not bring together our followers and our enemies in one house. (Ayun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 223)
In this tradition, al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, warns Shi'ites from distorting or changing the traditions of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. For that will harm and defame them.

451.                      Love for Ahl al-Bayt
In a group of his traditions, Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, spoke to some of his companions about the love for the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. He denoted that a great reward from Allah would result from the love for them. The following are some of his traditions on that: A. Some of his Shi'ites from Khurasa`n came to him. He, peace be on him, looked at a man of them. He saw that the man's feet split open. So, he, peace be on him, asked him: "What is this?" "O Son of Allah's Apostle, the remote distance (has brought it about). By Allah, nothing has brought me from where I came except the love for you, ahl al-Bayt,"replied the man.

452.                      "Be cheerful! By Allah, you will be raised from the dead with us," said the Ima`m, peace be on him.
The Khurasa`ni man was so happy that he asked:
O Son of Allah's Apostle, will I be raised from the dead with you?"

453.                      The Ima`m, peace be on him, replied: "Yes. The servant who loves us, Allah will raise him from the dead with us. Religion is nothing except love (for us).

454.                      Surely, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said in His Book: 'Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. (Ayun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 223)

455.                      Ziya`d al-Aswad came to Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. He came to him from a remote distance and a far-off place. He walked so much that his feet split open. So, Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, asked him: "Ziya`d, what is this?"
My master, I came on the back of a weak young camel. So, I walked all the road. I had nothing to buy a camel. I added a thing to a thing so that I have bought this young camel, "Ziya`d replied.

456.                      Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, felt pity for him. He wept for him. Then Ziya`d said to him: "May Allah make me ransom for you. By Allah, I have extremely committed sins. Perhaps I said: 'I have perished!' Then, I remember my love for you, ahl al-Bayt. With that I wish for forgiveness." So, the Ima`m turned to him, and then he said to him with kindness and affection:

457.                      "Glory belongs to Allah. Religion is nothing but love (for us).
Indeed Allah, the Blessed and Exalted said in His Book: 'Allah has endeared the faith to you and has made it seemly in your hearts. The Holy Qur'an, al-Hujurat, 7)

458.                      He said: 'If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you. (The Holy Qur'an, Al-Umran, 31)

459.                      He said: 'They love those who have fled to them. ( The Holy Qur'an, al-Hashr, 9)

460.                      A man from the desert came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, and said to him:

461.                      'O Allah's Apostle, I love those who pray but I do not pray.

462.                      I love those who fast but I do not fast.' S

463.                      o, Allah's Apostle said to him: 'You are with those whom you love.' Whom do you seek?

464.                      By Allah, If something occurred to people, they would not resort to anyone except us.

465.                      And we would not resort to anyone except our Prophet.

466.                      You are with us. Be cheerful, be cheerful! By Allah, Allah will not make you equal to other than you. (Ayun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 226)

467.                      He, peace be on him, said: "Surely, the garden longs for and its light becomes intense for the coming of the family of Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, and their followers (Shi'ites). If a servant worshipped Allah between the rukn (the corner of the Kaaba) and the maqam (the standing place of Abraham) to the extent that his bodily members cut off, Allah would not accept his worship unless he adopts our authority and loves us. (Ayun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 227)

468.                      He, peace be on him, said to a group of his Shi'ites: "The one of you who becomes happy when his soul reaches here. He pointed to his mouth with his hand. The angel of death comes down to him and says to him: 'As for what you wish for, it has been given to you. As for what you fear, you are safe from it.' He will open the door of his abode in the garden and say to him: 'Look at your abode in the garden! Those are Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, 'Ali, al-Hasan, and al-Husayn. They are your friends.' This is what the words of Allah, the Great and Almighty, confirm: 'Those who believe and guard (against evil), they shall have good news in this world's life and in the hereafter. (Ayun al Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 227)
In this connection, many traditions were reported on the authority of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, and the pure Ima`ms. The books of traditions have mentioned them.

469.                      Why have Shi'ites been called ra`fida? Abu` Basir related. He said: [I said to Abu` Ja'far:]
May I be ransom for you. We have been given a name. Through the name, the rulers have regarded as lawful our blood, our properties, and our torture." He, peace be on him, asked:
What is it?" The Ra`fida"
He, peace be on him, answered: "Allah has given you this name. (Al-Barqi, al-Mahasin, p. 119)

470.                      This name has become a signpost for the Shi'ites who spare no effort to spread social reform in the earth. However, those who have no morals find fault with them. The Shi'ites boast of it, for it has become a proof for their love of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, "from whom Allah has taken away uncleanliness and whom He has purified completely.
"Ima`m al-Sha`fi'i boasted of this name when he said:
If the love for the family of Mohammed is rafd,
then let Jinn and men (thaqala`n) testify that I am ra`fidi.

471.                      Al-Ba`qir's Supplication for his Shi'ites
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, was very loyal to his followers (Shi'ites). So, he supplicated for them with this supplication:
Oh Near, not slow! Oh Most Merciful of all merciful! Make protection for my Shi'ites against the Fire. Be pleased with them.
Forgive them their sins. Make easy their affairs. Conceal their defects.
Forgive them the cardinal sins that are between You and them. Oh You Who is not afraid of oppression! Oh You Who slumber does not overtake, nor sleep! Relieve my worry, and remove my grief! (Muhajj al-Da'awat, p. 18)

472.                      He, peace be on him, recited the following supplication for his Shi'ites: O Allah, If I have pleasure and love (with you), then forgive me and those who follow me from my brothers and my Shi'ites. Make good that which is in my loins. By Your mercy, oh Most Merciful of the merciful. (Al-Kaf'ami, Musbah, p. 161)

473.                      The members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, received the baby with much rejoicing and pleasure. They were very happy with him, for he was in whom the elements of the two grandsons (of the Prophet), al-Hasan and al-Husayn , mixed. Those noble origins through which Allah strengthened the Arabs and the Moslems mixed in him, too. As for the noble backbones and the pure from which he branched, they are:

474.                      He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the authority of the of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, who said: "There is obedience over every obedience. However, when (the person) is killed for Allah, then there is no obedience over that. There is disobedience over every disobedience till the person kills one of his parents. If he kills one of them, then there is no disobedience over that. (Al-Khisal, p. 10)
Surely, the maximum degree of obedience is martyrdom for Allah. If the person is killed for that, then he will reach the maximum degree of obedience. Also the maximum degree of sin and disobedience is that when the person kills one of his parents. If he does that, then he will reach the maximum degree of sin and disobedience.

475.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "It is an act of generosity to reclaim property. (Al-Khisal, p. 11)
The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, urges the capitalists to invest their capitals to improve the general economy, to increase the individual income, and to meet the needs of the country. Meanwhile he prevents them from wasting and freezing capitals. That is because such acts harm the economy of the country.

476.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family said: "Indeed Allah, the Blessed and Most High, has given me and my community a gift which He had not given to any of the communities. It is dignity from Allah to us. "So, his Companions said: "O Apostle of Allah, what is that?" He said: "It is breaking the fast and shortening the prayers during the travel. (Al-Khisal, p. 14)
Indeed shortening the prayers and breaking the fast during the travel are among the favors of Allah, the Glorified, for this community. That is because the traveler suffers from tiredness during the travel. If Allah made it obligatory on the traveler to fast and complete the prayers, then He would add tiredness to his tiredness.

477.                      He, peace be on him, said: A man came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, and said to him: "Why do I not like death? "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "Have you a property? "The man said: "Yes. "The Prophet said: "Have you offered it? "The man said: "No. "The Prophet said: "For this reason, you do not like death. (Al-Khisal, p. 14)
Surely, if this person had offered his property for the hereafter and striven for it, he would have loved it to take the reward of what he had done. However, he had done nothing to approach him to Allah. So, he hated death and meeting Allah, the Most High.

478.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "Indeed the wicked of my community are those who are honored for their wickedness. Indeed whom the people honor to avoid his wickedness does not belong to me. (Al-Khisal, p. 15)
Surely, the wicked of this community are those who are honored and respected not for a virtue in them or for kindness they do for the people, but to avoid their evil or for fear of their oppression. Thus, such a kind of people do not belong to Islam that has brought mercy and kindness for people.

479.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "The head of intellect after the belief in Allah, the Great and Almighty, is showing love to people. (Al-Khisal, p. 17)
How wonderful and beautiful this wisdom is! Surely, showing love to people through meeting their needs or doing good for them or saving them from oppression results in spreading love among people and strengthening the links among them. This what Islam wants to establish its society.

480.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "O Group of the readers of the Koran, fear Allah, the Great and Almighty, in respect with His Book. I am responsible and you are responsible. I am responsible for conveying the message. You will be asked about undertaking the responsibility of the Book of Allah and my sunna (practices).
In this tradition (the Prophet) summons the readers of the Koran and all the men of religion to play an important role in guiding people and informing them of Allah's orders and prohibitions.

481.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "I and 'Ali were created from the same light. (Al-Khisal, p. 31)
Indeed Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, and 'Ali, peace be on him, were created from the same light that has illuminated the horizons of the universe. They are the source of thought and awareness of this community. They are the pioneers of people for all what they become high through.

482.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "Allah's anger and my anger are intense against him who sheds my blood and hurts me in respect with my family.( Ibn al-Maghazili, Manaqib 'Ali b. Abi Talib, p. 40)
Woe unto the traitorous group that did not keep the will of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, in respect with his family and his progeny! That is because this group killed them, cut off their limbs, took their women and children as prisoners, and violated their sacredness.

483.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "My (grand) father Abraham and 'Ali will be gathered together. A caller will call: O Mohammed, the best (grand) father is your (grand) father and the best bother is your brother.( Ibn al-Maghazili, Manaqib 'Ali b. Abi Talib, p. 42)

484.                      Indeed, blessed is that pure fatherhood of Abraham, the friend of the Merciful (Allah), and that truthful brotherhood of the Ima`m, the Commander of the Faithful, towards the great Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. On the day when the people will be gathered together on the land of the truth and justice, a caller will call Abraham and 'Ali to show their outstanding merits and their high rank with Allah.

485.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said to 'Ali: "Were it not for you, the believers would not be known after me.( Ibn al-Maghazili, Manaqib 'Ali b. Abi Talib, p. 44) The Ima`m, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, is the criteria of faith, the truth, and justice. No one believes in him except those who believe in their Lord, their homeland, and their community. No one disbelieves in him except those who disbelieve in justice and the interest of their community, turn away from praising Allah, and take his communications as mockery.

486.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "My daughter Fa`tima will be raised from the dead. Blood stained clothes will be with here. She will cling to the pillar of the throne and say: O Almighty, judge between me and the killer of my son (i. e. al-Husayn). By the Lord of the Kaaba, He (Allah) will give a judgment in favor of my daughter.( Ibn al-Maghazili, Manaqib 'Ali b. Abi Talib, p. 64)

487.                      The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, announced several times the murder of his great grandson, Ima`m Husayn, peace be on him, among the people. In this tradition, he announces that his part, the Mistress of the Women of the World, Fa`tima the Chaste, peace be on her, will raise on the Day of Judgment with her son's shirt stained with his pure blood. She will request the Just Judge (Allah) to judge between her and his killer. Woe unto him against whom the pure family will bring suit on the day when the liars will be losing.

488.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "Indeed Allah created the progeny of Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, from 'Ali's back.( Yanabi' al-Mawadda, P. 266) Surely, blessed is that progeny through whom Allah strengthened the word of truth, through whom He illuminated the way, through whom He made clear the aim, and whom He made guides to His obedience and leaders to His way.

489.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "Whoever performs his ritual ablution properly, performs his prayers well, pays the zakat (alms) of his property, stops his anger, prevents his tongue, does his favor, asks (Allah) to forgive him his sins, and is loyal to the members of my House meets the facts of belief and the doors of Paradise are open for him.(Ibn al-Maghazili, Manaqib 'Ali b. Abi Talib, p. 40). Indeed these deeds approach the servant to his Creator. The person reaches the fact of belief and is worthy of the gardens through them.

490.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "Bear two strange (things): accept the word of wisdom from the fool and forgive the word of foolishness from the wise man.(Al-Khisal, p. 34) It is strange that the fool says a wise word. If he says it, we must put it into effect regardless of him. It is also strange that the wise man says a foolish word, for he is wise and perfect. However, if he says it, we must not blame him for it.

491.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "(The people are) ungrateful for two blessings: security and good health. (Al-Khisal, p. 35) Surely, the people are ungrateful for these two blessings while life is not good without them. Moreover, they do not thank Allah for them.

492.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "If two kinds (of people) from my community are righteous, my community is righteous. When they are corrupt, my community is corrupt. It was said: O Apostle of who are they? He said: the jurists and the rulers.
(Al-Khisal, p. 36) Surely, social righteousness depends on the righteousness of these two kinds of people. When they are righteous, the community is happy and achieves its aims. When they deviate from the laws of the truth and justice, the community will suffer from a quick decline in all fields.

493.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "The smell of the garden is found from the walk of five hundred years. However, neither the disobedient one nor the cuckold finds it. It was said: O Apostle of Allah, who is the cuckold? He said: He whose wife commits adultery and he knows (that). (Al-Khisal, p. 36)
Indeed the person who disobeys his parents and the cuckold who has no honor are not worthy of Paradise that is the abode of the prophets and the righteous. Rather they are not worthy of anything except that they are shackled in the Fire.

494.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "There is no good in livelihood except for two men: an obeyed scholar and an aware listener. (Al-Khisal, p. 41)
Surely, good in this world is for the scholar whom the people obey when he orders them to follow noble values and high ideals. When the scholar finds such a kind of people, he is successful in conveying his message and achieving his aims. Good in life is also for the listener who is aware of the noble objectives in the message of the righteous and puts them into practice.

495.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "Whoever helps the poor and treats the people with justice is a true believer. (Al-Khisal, p.47)
Indeed, to help the poor materially and spiritually indicates strong perfect faith. To treat the people with justice also indicates that the person is noble and is free from selfishness and all psychological diseases. This is the reality of faith and essence of Islam.

496.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "The parents are ungrateful for their son when the son is righteous as the son is ungrateful for them. (Al-Khisal, p.58)
Surely, ungratefulness is not confined to the son when he is ungrateful for his parents. Rather, it includes the parents when they treat their son illegally. Thus, they commit a sin when they treat him in such a way.

497.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "The believer does not spend an expense more lovable with Allah, the Great and Almighty, than saying the truth during consent and anger. (Al-Khisal, p. 60) How wonderful this wisdom is! It is the rule of Islam that orders people to prefer the truth and justice to anything else.

498.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "Two kinds of my community have no share in Islam. (They are) : the extremists and the fatalists. (Al-Khisal, p. 71)
As for the extremists, the claim that the Ima`m, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, is Allah, the Exalted, or the son of Allah. The Shi'ites say that they do not belong to them. Rather, the Shi'ites say that they are unbelievers and are treated like them.
In satirizing them, Sayyid al-Himyari said:
(They) are the people who have gone too far in loving 'Ali.
Woe unto them!
They say: He ('Ali) is the son of Allah. Great is our Creator.
He has neither son nor father.(Al-'Aqd al-Farid, vol. 5, p. 277)

499.                      As for the fatalists, they say that all good and evil are from Allah. (That happens) through his determination and will. (Safinat al-Bihar, vol. 2, p. 409) They have no share in Islam.

500.                      He, peace be on him, said: The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said: "Whoever has three qualities or one of them will be in the shade of the throne of Allah, the Great and Almighty, on the Day of Judgment, the day when there will be no shade except His shade. (These qualities are): He should treat people with justice. He should do no thing till he knows that (his deed) pleases Allah or angers Him. He should find no fault with his Moslem brother till he frees himself from that fault. For when he frees it from a fault, he finds another fault in it. It is enough for the person that his soul diverts him from the people. (Al-Khisal, p. 78) This tradition summons the persons to cleave to high moral standards and good behavior towards people. It warns him of mentioning the faults of people.