Ten requests from Allah

In the sixth invocation of Sahifeh Sajjadieh, Imam Zaynol Abedin (a) has asked many things from Allah, the greatest which worth mentioning everywhere. Professor Hossein Ansarian, the great theologiest and researcher, in his book “ the land of lovers”  interprets these request one byo ne fluently. The present text is a cut from the book. 

1. Performing the good:

سُئِلَ أميرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَC عَنِ الْخَيرِ ما هوَ؟ فَقالَ: لَيْسَ الْخَيْرُ أنْ يَكْثُرَ مالُكَ وَوَلَدُكَ، وَلكِنَّ الْخَيْرَ أنْ يَكْثُرَ عِلْمُكَ وَعَمَلُكَ وَيَعْظُمَ حِلْمُكَ ... [1]

Imam Ali(s) was once asked: what is goodness? Imam answered: By goodness is not meant an increase in your possessions or in the number of your children. By goodness is meant an increase in your knowledge and in your actions. It will appear when you add up to your perseverance.

قالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ3: وَالَّذي نَفْسي بِيَدِهِ ما أنْفَقَ النّاسُ مِنْ نَفَقَةٍ أحَبُّ مِنْ قَوْلِ الْخَيْرِ. [2]

“The Prophet(s) has said: I swear to the One in whose hands lies my soul that no prodigality has ever been more admired than people's good speech.”

عَنْ مُوسى، عَنْ أبيهِ قالَ: أحْسَنُ مِنَ الصِّدقِ قائِلُهُ، وَخَيْرٌ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ فاعِلُهُ. [3]

Imam Musa Ibn Jaffar(s) narrates from Imam Sadiq(s): the teller of the truth is more important than the truth itself and the benefactor is more significant than an act of benefaction per se.

قالَ الصّادِقُC: إذا أرَدْتَ شَيْئاً مِنَ الْخَيْرِ فَلا تُؤْخِرْهُ.

Imam Sadiq(s) has stated: when you decided to carry out an act of benevolence, never put it off.

2. Abandoning the Evil:

By “evil” here is meant all sorts of sins and mischiefs which are the result of the unyielding and obstinate lusts and whims and Shaitans.

The Holy Quran refers to these:

مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ وَمِنْ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ  [4]

[I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn,] from the evil of what He has created, and from the evil of the utterly dark night when it comes.

“As soon as the darkness of the self dominated the mental phase of anybody and the light of faith and wisdom vanished, the animal instincts and lusts take over and encompass the whole sphere of man's humanity. These instincts then start controlling all human organs and destroying the whole integrity of man.”[5]

3 and 4. Saying thanks to God and following the Prophet's way:

These two have already been refered to in the previous chapters.

5. Staying away from innovations in religion:

By innovation is meant to impose upon the religion something made up from scratch by somebody and to introduce it as a religious program.

Innovation in this sense is reckoned as a huge crime. If the initiator of innovation did not repent the chances are that he would not receive God's Grace.

Imam Sadiq(s) has considered the innovation in religion as a major sin and has narrated the Prophet(s) having said: “Anybody who smiles at an initiator of religion innovation has helped the destruction of his religion.”[6]

قالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ3: مَنْ مَشى إلى صاحِبِ بِدْعَةٍ فَوَقَّرَهُ فَقَدْ مَشى في هَدْمِ الإسْلامِ.

God's Prophet(s) has said: Anybody who appreciates and admires the work of an initiator of religion innovation has laid the foundation for the destruction of Islam.

6.7. Enjoining the good and forbidding the evils:

The Holy Quran considers the enjoining the good and forbidding the evils as two obligatory tasks of the believers. According to the Holy Quran the safety of a society rests on the observing of these two Islamic principles.

وَلْتَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنْ الْمُنْكَرِ وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ الْمُفْلِحُونَ  [7]

And from among you there should be a party who invite to good and enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong, and these it is that shall be successful.

لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى لِسَانِ دَاوُودَ وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ذَلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوْا وَكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ كَانُوا لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَنْ مُنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ  [8]

Those who disbelieved from among the children of Israel were cursed by the tongue of Dawood and Isa, son of Marium; this was because they disobeyed and used to exceed the limit. They used not to forbid each other the hateful things which they did; certainly evil was that which they did.

وَتَرَى كَثِيرًا مِنْهُمْ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَأَكْلِهِمْ السُّحْتَ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ لَوْلَا يَنْهَاهُمْ الرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالْأَحْبَارُ عَنْ قَوْلِهِمْ الْإِثْمَ وَأَكْلِهِمْ السُّحْتَ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ   [9]

And you will see many of them striving with one another to hasten in sin and exceeding the limits, and their eating of what is unlawfully acquired; certainly evil is that which they do. Why do not the learned men prohibit them from their speaking of what is sinful and their eating of what is unlawfully acquired? Certainly evil is that which they work.

الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِنْدَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنْ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمْ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمْ الْخَبَائِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ مَعَهُ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ الْمُفْلِحُونَ   [10]

Those who follow the Apostle-Prophet, the Ummi, whom they find written down with them in the Tavrat and the Injeel, who enjoins them good and forbids them evil, and makes lawful to them the good things and makes unlawful to them impure things, and removes from them their burden and the shackles which were upon them; so as for those who believe in him and honor him and help him, and follow the light which has been sent down with him, these it is that are the successful.

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنْ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُوْلَئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمْ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ  [11]

And as for the believing men and the believing women, they are guardians of each other; they enjoin good and forbid evil and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, and obey Allah and His Apostle; as for these, Allah will show mercy to them; surely Allah is Mighty, wise.

عَنْ أميرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَC: لا تَتْرُكُوا الأمْرَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّهْيَ عَنِ المُنْكَرِ يُولِّي اللهُ اُمُورَكُم شِرارَكُم ثُمَّ تَدْعُونَ فَلا يُسْتَجابُ لَكُمْ دُعاءُكُمْ.

Imam Ali(s) has stated: Do not abandon enjoining good and forbidding evil. If you stopped such a practice the rascals would dominate you. Under such conditions you will get involved in invocation, but no result would ensue.

قالَ عليٌّ C: إنَّ اللهَ تَعالى ذِكْرُهُ لمْ يَرْضَ مِنْ أوْليائِهِ أنْ يُعْصى في الأرْضِ وَهُمْ سُكُوتٌ مُذْعِنُونَ لا يَأمُرُونَ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَلا يَنْهَوْنَ عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ. [12]

Imam Ali(s) has stated: God does not permit the Prophet(s) and His men to be indifferent while people perform sins. Neither does God like the Prophet not to engage in enjoining the good and forbidding the evils under these circumstances.

وَقالَ C: لَعَنَ اللهُ الآمِرِينَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ التّارِكِينَ لَهُ، وَالنّاهِينَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ الْعامِلِينَ بِهِ. [13]

8,9,10. Keeping the Islamic principles, Reproaching the falsehood and assisting the righteousness:

Islam which consists of faith, action and ethics, is handed down to us for our guidance from the Prophets, the Innocent and Infallible ones, the honest ones, the martyrs, the men of God, the Gnostics and the will-informed scholars.

Every believer is responsible for the dignity of Islam and its continuity. Sacrifices made with one's life and possession, with one's pen and with action and ethics are the requirements for keeping Islam.

Concerning the items 11,12 and 13, we will have a detailed discussion in the coming sections.

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ وَ اجْعَلْهُ أَيْمَنَ يَوْمٍ عَهِدْنَاهُ وَ أَفْضَلَ صَاحِبٍ صَحِبْنَاهُ وَ خَيْرَ وَقْتٍ ظَلِلْنَا فِيهِ * وَ اجْعَلْنَا مِنْ أَرْضَى مَنْ مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ مِنْ جُمْلَةِ خَلْقِكَ أَشْكَرَهُمْ لِمَا أَوْلَيْتَ مِنْ نِعَمِكَ وَ أَقْوَمَهُمْ بِمَا شَرَعْتَ مِنْ شَرَآئِعِكَ وَ أَوْقَفَهُمْ عَمَّا حَذَّرْتَ مِنْ نَهْيِكَ * اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُشْهِدُكَ وَكَفَى بِكَ شَهِيدًا وَ أُشْهِدُ سَمَآءَكَ وَأرْضَكَ وَ مَنْ أَسْكَنْتَهُمَا مِنْ مَلَآئِكَتِكَ وَ سَآئِرِ خَلْقِكَ فِي يَوْمِي هَذَا، وَ سَاعَتِي هَذِه، وَ لَيْلَتِي هَذِه وَ مُسْتَقَرِّي هَذَا أَنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَآ إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ قَآئِمٌ بِالْقِسْطِ عَدْلٌ فِي الْحُكْمِ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ مَالِكُ الْمُلْكِ رَحِيمٌ بِالْخَلْقِ

O God! Send your Greetings to Mohammad and his Household and Make today the happiest day of our life. Make us the happiest ones among your creatures. Make us the most appreciative ones among your creatures regarding your assets. O God! Make us the most responsible ones regarding your instructions and orders and make us the most obedient towards you and the most watchful against the forbidden acts.

O God! We see in you a sufficient witness. We take the sky, the Earth, the people and the angels as witness that we attest to your Divinity and that there is no God but you. You are the one who has erected justice in the whole creation; you are the kind one towards your servants and you are the king for your peasants.”

The issues of justice, government and affection, possession and God's kingdom and God's Mercy upon the creatures have already been discussed in volume one of this book.

وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُكَ وَرَسُولُكَ وَ خِيَرَتُكَ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ حَمَّلْتَهُ رِسَالَتَكَ فَأَدَّاهَا وَ أَمَرْتَهُ بِالنُّصْحِ لِأُمَّتِهِ فَنَصَحَ لَهَا * اللَّهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ أَكْثَرَ مَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ وَ آتِهِ عَنَّا أَفْضَلَ مَا آتَيْتَ أَحَدًا مِنْ عِبَادِكَ وَ اجْزِهِ عَنَّا أَفْضَلَ وَ أَكْرَمَ مَا جَزَيْتَ أَحَدًا مِنْ أَنْبِيَآئِكَ عَنْ أُمَّتِهِ * إِنَّك أَنْتَ الْمَنَّانُ بِالْجَسِيمِ وَالْغَافِرُ لِلْعَظِيمِ وَ أَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ مِنْ كُلِّ رَحِيمٍ فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ الطَّاهِرِينَ الْأَخْيَارِ الْأَنْجَبِينَ.

O God! I witness to the fact that Mohammad(s) is your servant and your envoy over your creatures. I attest to the fact that you appointed him to relay your message to us. Your apostle conveyed to us your message in the same way as you desired. You ordered him to sympathize with people and he showed such sympathy towards people.

O God! Send your praise to Mohammad(s) and His Household, the most elegant praise that you have ever sent to anyone of your creatures. Please bestow upon him the best asset ever granted to anyone of your servants. O God Provide Him the best reward that you have ever rewarded previously. You are in fact the best provider of assets; the Greatest Pardoner, and the Kindest. Therefore, send your praises to Mohammad(s) and His Household, who are the dearest, the purest, and the most honored.

The issues concerning the Prophethood, personality, and benevolence and grace of the Great Prophet(s) of Islam have already been dealt with in the second volume.

Refrence: The Land of Lovers by professor Hossein Ansarian