The advantages of some good manners

Patience

Patience, according to the Qur’anic verses and the traditions, is one of the divine and moral facts. The sacred Sharia has ordered of it and considered it as something highly admired by Allah and patient people deserve great reward for it.

Patience protects man and religion from deviation and it strengthens man’s morale and will and saves him from slipping in the traps of the devils of human beings and jinn.

If one becomes patient in the good and bad events that may deprive man of his religion and faith, becomes patient at worshipping and obeying Allah, becomes patient before sins and disobedience or in a word that he follows the orders of Allah and the Sharia, performs the obligations on time, submits totally to Allah, resists his worldly desires and lusts, prefers the bitterness of obedience and worships to the sweetness of disobedience and sins, he will deserve the blessings and mercy of Allah as the Qur'an declares:

“And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient, who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: Surely we are Allah's and to Him we shall surely return. Those are they on whom are blessings and mercy from their Lord, and those are the followers of the right course.” Qur'an, 2:155-157

“…and the angels will enter in upon them from every gate. Peace be on you because you were constant, how excellent, is then, the issue of the abode.” Qur'an, 13:23-24

“What is with you passes away and what is with Allah is enduring; and We will most certainly give to those who are patient their reward for the best of what they did.” Qur'an, 16:96

“These shall be granted their reward twice, because they are steadfast.” Qur'an, 28:54

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘Whoever tries to be patient Allah assists him to be patient, whoever tries to be chaste Allah makes him chaste and whoever becomes satisfied Allah enriches him. No one has been granted something better and greater than patience.’[1]

Ameerul Mo'mineen (s) has said, ‘The truth is heavy but Allah may make it light for the people who look forward to the end and so they forbear trust in the truthful promise of Allah to those who become patient and content with what Allah has promised them. Be among these people and rely on Allah!’[2]

Imam Ali, the head of the pious, has said, ‘Forbear the bitterness of the truth and beware to be deceived by the sweetness of the falseness!’[3]

It has been narrated that one day a man asked Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (s) about a certain religious matter and Imam as-Sadiq (s) replied to him with a fatwa unlike what he liked. Imam as-Sadiq (s) noticed that the man had become unpleased. He said to him, ‘O man, forbear the truth because whoever becomes patient with the truth Allah will recompense him with what is better to him.’[4]

Imam al-Baqir (s) has said, ‘The Paradise is surrounded with misfortunes and patience. Whoever becomes patient with the misfortunes of the worldly life will be in Paradise. The Hell is surrounded with pleasures and lusts. Whoever gives his self all what it likes will be in Hell.’[5]

Imam al-Baqir (s) has also said, ‘Patience is two kinds; patience with misfortunes which is good patience…and the better of the two kinds is to refrain from the prohibited things.’[6]

In fact, patience in all circumstances makes man submit to the irreversible reality and keeps his religion, deeds and morals safe and consequently the patient will win the best end. Is there anything better than patience for man to adorn himself with?

A repentant of sins must be patient to resist his desires to keep on repenting and refraining from sins and disobedience in order to get rid forever of the desires and satanic whispers that take him to the abyss of sins. Man cannot purify himself from the dregs of sins and disobedience except by being patient and then he can draw forth the Divine mercy and care forever.

Lawful wealth

Allah has made it obligatory on Himself to supply all the creatures with required livelihood that no one of the creatures remains in need of livelihood or its name is omitted from the record of livelihoods at all.

But there are ways and canals through which livelihood reaches man. Some of these ways are: inheritance, donation, finding treasures and the most important way is “lawful gaining”.

Lawful gaining is like agriculture, industry, trade, grazing, handicrafts and other activities.

The wealth that one gets from unlawful way makes that one lead a deviate life and then will deserve severe punishment on the Day of Resurrection.

Stealing, extorting, bribe, giving deficient measures (in the scales), cheating, robbing, spoliation and the likes are all unlawful and prohibited things. Committing these things drives man away from the mercy of Allah and deprives him of His care. We find in the Holy Qur'an and the traditions a strong emphasis on lawful gaining. Allah has ordered the prophets of lawful gaining and then of worshipping.

“O messengers! eat of the good things and do good.” Qur'an, 23:51

It has been narrated that once Umm Abdullah (sister of Shaddad bin Owss) sent a cup of milk to the Prophet (s) at sunset to break his fasting with. The Prophet (s) sent her messenger back to her asking her, ‘Where have you got this milk from?’ She said, ‘From an ewe of mine.’ The Prophet (s) sent the messenger back again asking, ‘Where have you got this ewe from?’ She said, ‘I have bought it with my own money.’ Then the Prophet (s) drank the milk. The next day Umm Abdullah came to the Prophet (s) and said to him, ‘O messenger of Allah, I sent you some milk but you sent my messenger back with it!’ The Prophet (s) said, ‘Such all the prophets before me have been ordered not to eat except good (lawful food) and not to do except good.’[7]

The Qur'an orders all the people in the world to eat lawful and legally gotten food and to get lawful wealth and not to allow the Satan to intervene in their livings affairs because the Satan incites them to commit vices, sins and oppression against the others.

“O people! eat the lawful and good things out of what is in the earth, and do not follow the footsteps of the Shaitan; surely he is your open enemy. He only enjoins you evil and indecency, and that you may speak against Allah what you do not know.” Qur'an, 2:168-169

A believer, when gaining lawful livelihood, must pay attention to the quantity and be satisfied with what Allah has granted him and not to covet what the others have. A believer must pay much attention to this important fact that the Prophet (s) has announced to all the Muslims, ‘The inviolability of a Muslim’s property is like the inviolability of his blood.’[8]

It means: as you try the best to save the lives of the believers, you should try the best to save their properties. Aggression against Muslim’s properties and robbing the wealth he has without any right is as shedding his blood wrongfully.

Endeavoring to gain lawful livelihood and being satisfied with it whatever little it is are among the good morale; in fact, they are the essence of moral beauty and perfection.

Among the obligatory matters, that a repentant must promptly care for is purifying his properties. It means that if he has among his properties dues or rights of others or extorted monies, he must pay them back to their owners willingly. He has to keep on getting lawful livelihood until the last moment of his life.

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘Whoever eats an unlawful bite, his prayers of forty days will not be accepted.’[9]

‘Allah has prohibited the Paradise for a body that has been fed on unlawful food.’[10]

‘Avoiding an unlawful bite is more beloved to Allah than praying two thousand rak’as offered voluntarily.’[11]

Piety

Piety is protecting oneself from slipping into sins and disobedience and involving in perishing plagues as it has been mentioned in the Qur'an and the Sharia.

Piety is a spiritual condition one gets when keeping away from sins and keeping on worships. It has a high rank among the religious values and moral aspects of perfection.

The effects of the Divine guidance are not open for the all. They do not appear except on pious people. On the Day of Resurrection Paradise will not be prepared and adorned except for the pious.

“This Book, there is no doubt in it, is a guide to those who guard (against evil).” Qur'an, 2:2

“And the garden shall be brought near for those who guard (against evil).” Qur'an, 26:90

Piety has many good results and advantages. Here are some of them that have been mentioned in the Qur’anic verses and the traditions;

“…and fear Allah, that you may be successful.” Qur'an, 2:189

“…and fear Allah and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.” Qur'an, 2:194

“…then surely Allah loves those who guard (against evil).” Qur'an, 3:76

“Be careful of (your duty to) Allah then, that you may give thanks.” Qur'an, 3:123

“…and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is swift in reckoning.” Qur'an, 5:4

“…those among them who do good (to others) and guard (against evil) shall have a great reward.” Qur'an, 3:127

“…Allah only accepts from those who guard (against evil).” Qur'an, 5:27

“And naught of the reckoning of their (deeds) shall be against those who guard (against evil).” Qur'an, 6:69

“…and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you.” Qur'an, 49:10

“…and Allah is the guardian of those who guard (against evil).” Qur'an, 45:19

“Surely the most honorable of you with Allah is the one among you most careful (of his duty).” Qur'an, 49:13

Ameerul Mo'mineen (s) has mentioned the aspects of the pious as following:

Truthfulness, giving deposits back to their owners, carrying out covenants, generosity, good kinship, being kind to the weak, little sleeping with women, giving charities, doing favors, courtesy, patience, prudence and following the knowledge that nears to Allah. Then he said, ‘A good final state shall be theirs and a goodly return’.[12]

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘If the heavens and the earth are closed up for a man and then he fears Allah, Allah will open a way to him between them and will grant him deliverance.’[13]

The Prophet (s) has also said, ‘There is a quality whoever keeps to, this world and the afterworld will obey him and he will win the Paradise.’ He was asked what it was and he said, ‘It is piety. Whoever wants to be the most honorable among people has to fear Allah and be pious.’[14]

Charity and benevolence

The Qur'an emphasizes on believing in Allah, the Day of Resurrection, the angels, the Divine books, the prophets and spending abundantly on the orphans, the poor and the wayfarers, helping the needy, setting slaves free, offering prayers, paying zakat, carrying out covenants and being patient with misfortunes, distresses and illnesses. All these are aspects of good, benevolence, truthfulness and piety.[15]

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘The promptest goodness to be rewarded is benevolence and the promptest evil to be punished is aggression.’[16]

The Prophet (s) has mentioned ten aspects of the benevolent; ‘They love for the sake of Allah, hate for the sake of Allah, make friends for the sake of Allah, part from some people for the sake of Allah, become angry for the sake of Allah, become pleased for the sake of Allah, act for the sake of Allah, beseech Allah, submit to Him frightenedly, purely, sincerely, coyly and watchfully and give charities for the sake of Allah.’[17]

Imam Ali (s) has said, ‘There are three things that are considered as qualities of charity; generosity, courtesy and patience with harms.’[18]

Imam al-Baqir (s) has said, ‘Four things are from the treasures of charity; to hide one’s neediness, to keep giving charity secret, to hide one’s pain and to hide distresses.’[19]

Musa bin Ja’far al-Kadhim (s) has said, ‘Whoever is charitable and benevolent to his kin and brothers his life will be prolonged.’[20]

Jealousy

Jealousy and zealotry are among high morals. Jealousy imposes on one to protect his honor and family from the others, from the aggression of dissolute and bad people.

Jealousy in fact is one of the prominent aspects of all the prophets, the saints and the lovers of the truth.

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘My father Abraham was jealous and I am more jealous than him. May Allah disgrace whoever of the believers that is not jealous.’[21]

Ameerul Mo'mineen (s) has chided the people of Kufa by saying, ‘Do you not feel shy? Do you not have jealousy? Your women go to the markets competing with the infidels.’[22]

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘The fragrance of Paradise can be felt at a distance of five hundred years but neither an undutiful nor a cuckold will feel it.’ It was asked, ‘What a cuckold is?’ The Prophet (s) said, ‘It is he, whose wife commits adultery and he is aware of that.’[23]

Imam as-Sadiq (s) has said, ‘Allah is jealous and He loves every jealous person. From His jealousy that He has prohibited adultery whether openly or secretly.’[24]