From the above verse it could be realized that to stay a human being, we must thank God for what He has bestowed upon us. Anybody who refrains from doing so is not considered a human being.
The tools to recognize the asset-Giver and the assets are wisdom, man’s nature, conscience, Nobovvat (Prophethood), Imamate and the Holy Quran. The tools for praising God are our limbs and organs.
How miserable are those who merely engaged in eating, sleep and lusts! How wretched and tyrant are those who did not thank the Creator for His favors! Quran considers them lower in rank than animals. This is because animals lacking wisdom, and conscience, carry on the duties they are created for and perform them skillfully.
And how lucky are those who make use of wisdom, nature, conscience, Nobovvat, Imamate and the Holy Quran to recognize the Creator and His favors! These are better than the angels.
Here I will present you two excellent narrations concerning cognizance. Then I will deal with true human beings. Later I will pick up the explanation for the sentences from Sahifeh. These two narrations are well-documented.
عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ4: جُلُوسُ ساعَةٍ عِنْدَ مُذاكَرَةِ العِلْمِ أحَبُّ إلى اللهِ مِنْ قِيامِ ألفِ لَيلَةٍ يُصَلّى في كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ ألفِ رَكْعَةٍ، وَأحَبُّ إلَيْهِ مِنْ ألفِ غَزوَةٍ، وَمِن قِراءَةِ القُرآنِ كُلِّهِ اثنَي عَشَرَ ألْفَ مَرَّةٍ، وَخَيرٌ مِنْ عِبادَةِ سَنَةٍ صامَ نَهارَها، وَقامَ لَيلَها.
وَمَنْ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ لِيَلْتَمِسَ باباً مِنَ العِلمِ كَتَبَ اللهُ عَزَّوجَلَّ لَهُ بِكُلِّ قَدَمٍ ثَوابَ نَبيٍّ مِنَ الأنْبِياءِ وَثَوابَ ألفِ شَهِيدٍ مِن شُهَداءِ بَدْرٍ، وَأعْطاهُ بِكُلِّ حَرْفٍ يَسْمَعُ أو يَكْتُبُ مَدِينَةً فِي الجَنَّةِ.
وَطالِبُ العِلمِ يُحِبُّهُ اللهُ وَتُحِبُّهُ المَلائِكَةُ وَالنَبِيُّونَ، وَلا يُحِبُّ العِلمَ إلاّ السَّعيدُ، وَطُوبى لِطالبِ العِلْمِ.
وَالنَّظَرُ في وَجْهِ العالِمِ خَيرٌ مِنْ عِبْقِ ألفِ رَقَبَةٍ، وَمَنْ أحَبَّ العِلمَ وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الجَنَّةُ، وَيُصْبِحُ وَيُمْسِي في رِضى اللهِ، وَلا يَخْرُجُ مِنَ الدُّنيا حَتّى يَشْرَبَ مِنَ الكَوْثَرِ وَيَأكُلَ مِنْ ثَمَرَةِ الجَنَّةِ، وَلا يأكُلُ الدُّودُ جَسَدَهُ، وَيَكُونُ فِي الجّنَّةِ رَفيقَ خِضْرٍ.
The Prophet (s) has said: Spending one hour with God at the Forum of knowledge is better than praying a thousand nights, in each night of which a thousand of three postures: standing, genuflection and prostration are performed. Spending one hour with God at the forum of knowledge is superior to a thousand holy wars. It is also better than twelve thousand times of reciting the whole Quran and a year of prayers.
For any step a man takes in order to solve a chapter of science and knowledge, the following rewards are considered: A reward like that of the prophet’s, the reward of a thousand martyrs of the holy wars. For any word that he writes, there is a city in the paradise for him.
The acquirer of knowledge is beloved by God, angels and the Prophet alike. It is the prosperous one who goes after the acquisition of knowledge. Such a person is lucky indeed.
Looking at the face of a scholar is better than freeing a thousand slaves. Paradise belongs to the men of knowledge. A scholar spends his day and night to seek for God’s satisfaction. When he passes away he will drink Zam Zam water. He will eat the fruits of the heaven. The earth worms shall not eat his body. At the paradise he is a company to Khezr.
عَن الصادقA: لَو يَعلَمُ النّاسُ ما في فَضْلِ مَعْرِفَةِ اللهِ تعالى ما مَدُّوا أعْيُنَهُم إلى ما مَنَعَ بِهِ الأعْداءَ مِنْ زَهْرَةِ الحَياةِ الدُّنيا وَنَعِيمها، وَ كانَتْ دُنياهُم أقَلَّ عِنْدَهُم مِمّا يَطَؤونَ بِأرْجُلِهِم، وَلتنعموا بمعرفة الله و تلذذوا بها تلذذ من لم يزل في روضات الجنان مع أولياء الله.
إن معرفة الله تعالى اُنسٌ من كل وحشة، و صاحب من كل وحدة و نور من كل ظلمة و قوة من كل ضعف و شفاء من كل سقم.
قد كان قوم قبلكم يقتلون و يحرقون و ينشرون و تضيق عليهم الارض برحبها فما يردهم عما هم عليه شئ مما هم فيه من غير ترة وتر من فعل ذلك بهم و لا اذى بما نقموا منهم (وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ). فاسئلوا ربكم درجاتهم، و اصبروا على نوائب دهركم تدركوا سعيهم.
If people knew how significant it is to recognize the Great Giver, they would not consider important the things which are important for the infidels. The world then would be as mean and worthless as the earth below their steps. Their enjoyment of knowledge then would be like that of the Prophet in heaven.
The recognition of the Creator is immunity against fright and terror; it is a companion for one’s loneliness; it is light for any darkness; it is strength in the face of weakness and it is a cure for any pain.
Before you, there used to live a tribe and people who were burned and tortured, and who were mutilated. The earth in their view looked a small place. But because of their knowledge they did not refrain from worshipping God. Their only offence was their faith in God.
Ask Allah to give you the same status which He gave them. Be patient in the recognition of hardships so that you may earn what they did earn.
The land of lovers by Professor Hossein Ansarian
source : The land of lovers by Professor Hossein Ansarian
