Registering Good Deeds

Condition for the Acceptance of Acts of Devotion.

Al-Harith Al-Hamadani and ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (as)

Four Habits from the treasures of Virtue

Helping a needy Mu’min

The Place of ‘Ali (as)

Dying with the love of ‘Ali (as)

The most beloved steps by a Mu’min

Witnessing Hearts

Reconciliation among people

Provision from unexpected quarters

On being mindful - not conceited

Love of Ahlul Bayt leads to Paradise

The System of Islam

Adam, Noah, Ibrahim & ‘Ali (as)

Mu’awiya’s Discussion on Imamah and Khilafa with Abdullah ibn Abbas

Words of Wisdom from Ibn Hanafiyya

On Ahlul Bayt (as)

Nine Testify to the Wilayah of ‘Ali (as)

Master Herein, Master Hereafter

Supplicate Constantly

Adopting Ignorant Leaders

Five Prostrations for glad tidings

Abu Hanifa acknowledges al-Sadiq’s authority

When the Angel came to greet ‘Ali (as)

The Prophet’s (SAW) inheritance: Knowledge of the unseen

Refraining from fault finding

When sins multiply

Events after the battle of Jamal

"Never confirm the tradition of Ghadeer-e-khumm" said Abu Hanifa

The Inner self

The status of the seeker

A deed performed with taqwa

Three groups within the Ummah

Saints & Nobles

The final Rites for our Prophet (SAW)

Asserting ones creed (and about Zaid ibn ‘Ali)

Helping Ahlul Bayt with one’s tongue

Love Ahlul Bayt with your heart and help with your hand & tongue

Spare your speech

Illness purifies a person of his sins

The Prophet (SAW) on his successor

The calamity of denying the pen to the Prophet (SAW)

Some companions who reneged

Some companions who will never see the Prophet (SAW) again

Allah tests His servants

Imam Husayn (as) as an ideal

Fatimah’s (as) elegy on Fadak

On constraint and indulgence

Traditions from a truthful source

Acting without understanding

Similitude of the transitory

Adhering to the Ahlul Bayt

Two types of manly virtues

The master of Arabs

Mahdi (as) will rise after a time of trials & tribulations

The Prophet’s (SAW) last assembly

Ibn Abbas’s address on Khilafah

The two who will be in deep anxiety

"I have not known of an assembly of people worse than you...." said Fatimah (as)

"Keep my cheek on the ground..." the last words of Umar

Earning the promised blessing one has not seen

About the people who apply analogy

Cursed are those who follow analogy

Traits of a religion person

"There is no way, other than my way..." said the Prophet (SAW)

Alms given early morning...

Cleanse and purify your heart before you ask Him

The four of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) virtues

‘Ali (as) forbade initiating the battle

We do not say except that which our Lord, Most High, has said

Die in the state of Taharat and you will die a martyr

‘Ali is my brother, my minister and my successor

What Jabir said about ‘Ali (as)

Umar’s comments about the Prophet’s companions

"My brothers are those who believe in me without ever having seen me" said the Prophet (SAW)

Seek refuge from Allah against the evil of the people of Al-Thatt

Allah helps according to the measure of our intentions

Knowledge precedes ignorance

Those nearest to the Prophet on the Day of Reckoning

Benevolence & Tyranny

Weeping for ones sins

Good deeds blot out evil ones

Obedience to the Imam

Uthman and Banu Umayya

The lonely martyr

Talha and al-Zubair

The first to enter Paradise

Surprise at the heedless

Dying the death of an infidel

Befriending for the sake of Allah

The four virtues of the people of Paradise

The Prophet commanded to reveal virtues of ‘Ali (as)

The Prophet’s prayers for his descendants

The Assasination of Malik al-Ashtar

Imamat, a continued covenant

A recitation to open the eight gates of Paradise

Allah reveals to Musa

Who are those devotees?

‘Ali’s faith and descent

3 - قال: أخبرني أبو الحسن علي بن محمد بن حبيش الكاتب قال: أخبرني الحسن بن علي الزعفراني قال: أخبرني أبو إسحاق إبراهيم بن محمد الثقفي قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن محمد بن عثمان  قال: حدثنا علي بن محمد بن أبي سعيد ، عن فضيل بن الجعد، عن أبي إسحاق الهمداني قال: لما ولي أمير المؤمنين علي بن أبي طالب عليه الصلاة والسلام محمد بن أبي بكر مصر وأعمالها كتب له كتابا، وأمره أن يقرأه على أهل مصر وليعمل بما وصاه به فيه فكان الكتاب: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم من عبد الله أمير المؤمنين علي بن أبي طالب إلى أهل مصر ومحمد بن أبي بكر: سلام عليكم فإني أحمد إليكم الله الذي لا إله إلا هو. أما بعد فإني أوصيكم بتقوى الله فيما أنتم عنه مسؤولون ، وإليه تصيرون، فإن الله تعالى يقول: " كل نفس بما كسبت رهينة  "، ويقول: " ويحذركم الله نفسه وإلى الله المصير ، ويقول: " فوربك لنسألنهم أجمعين * عما كانوا يعملون  ". فاعلموا يا عباد الله إن الله جل وعز سائلكم عن الصغير من عملكم والكبير، فإن يعذب فنحن أظلم، وإن يعف فهو أرحم الراحمين . يا عباد الله إن أقرب ما يكون العبد إلى المغفرة والرحمة حين يعمل لله بطاعته، وينصحه في التوبة. عليكم بتقوى الله، فإنها تجمع من الخير ما لا يجمع غيرها ، ويدرك بها من الخير ما لا يدرك بغيرها من خير الدنيا وخير الآخرة، قال الله عز وجل: " وقيل للذين اتقوا ماذا أنزل ربكم قالوا خيرا للذين أحسنوا في هذه الدنيا حسنة ولدار الآخرة خير ولنعم دار المتقين  ". اعلموا يا عباد الله إن المؤمن يعمل لثلاث من الثواب: إما لخير  [الدنيا] فإن الله يثيبه بعمله في دنياه، قال الله سبحانه لإبراهيم: " وآتيناه أجره في الدنيا وإنه في الآخرة لمن الصالحين  ". فمن عمل لله تعالى أعطاه أجره في الدنيا والآخرة، وكفاه المهم فيهما، وقد قال الله عز وجل: " يا عباد الذين آمنوا اتقوا ربكم للذين أحسنوا في هذه الدنيا حسنة وأرض الله واسعة إنما يوفى الصابرون أجرهم بغير حساب  ". فما أعطاهم الله في الدنيا لم يحاسبهم به في الآخرة، قال الله عز وجل: " للذين أحسنوا الحسنى وزيادة "  فالحسنى هي الجنة والزيادة هي الدنيا ، [وإما لخير الآخرة]  فإن الله عز وجل يكفر بكل حسنة سيئة، قال الله عز وجل: " إن الحسنات يذهبن السيئات ذلك ذكرى للذاكرين " ، حتى إذا كان يوم القيامة حسبت لهم حسناتهم ثم أعطاهم بكل واحدة عشر أمثالها إلى سبعمائة ضعف، قال الله عز وجل: " جزاء من ربك عطاء حسابا  "، وقال: " أولئك لهم جزاء الضعف بما عملوا وهم في الغرفات آمنون  "، فارغبوا في هذا رحمكم الله واعملوا له وتحاضوا عليه. واعملوا يا عباد الله إن المتقين حازوا عاجل الخير وآجله، شاركوا أهل الدنيا في دنياهم، ولم يشاركهم أهل الدنيا في آخرتهم، أباحهم الله من الدنيا ما كفاهم وبه أغناهم، قال الله عز اسمه: " قل من حرم زينة الله التي أخرج لعباده والطيبات من الرزق قل هي للذين آمنوا في الحياة الدنيا خالصة يوم القيامة كذلك نفصل الآيات لقوم يعلمون  ". سكنوا الدنيا بأفضل ما سكنت، وأكلوها بأفضل ما أكلت، شاركوا أهل الدنيا في دنياهم، فأكلوا معهم من طيبات ما يأكلون، وشربوا من طيبات ما يشربون، ولبسوا من أفضل ما يلبسون، وسكنوا من أفضل ما يسكنون، وتزوجوا من أفضل ما يتزوجون، وركبوا من أفضل ما يركبون، أصابوا لذة الدنيا مع أهل الدنيا  وهم غدا جيران الله، يتمنون عليه فيعطيهم ما تمنوه، ولا يرد لهم دعوة، ولا ينقص لهم نصيبا من اللذة. فإلى هذا يا عباد الله يشتاق إليه من كان له عقل، ويعمل له بتقوى الله، ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله. يا عباد الله إن اتقيتم الله، وحفظتم نبيكم في أهل بيته فقد عبدتموه بأفضل ما عبد، وذكرتموه بأفضل ما ذكر، وشكرتموه بأفضل ما شكر، وأخذتم بأفضل الصبر والشكر، واجتهدتم بأفضل الاجتهاد، وإن كان غيركم أطول منكم صلاة، وأكثر منكم صياما، فأنتم أتقى لله عز وجل منهم، وأنصح لأولي الأمر . احذروا يا عباد الله الموت وسكرته، وأعدوا له عدته فإنه يفجأكم بأمر عظيم: بخير لا يكون معه شر أبدا، أو بشر لا يكون معه خير أبدا. فمن أقرب إلى الجنة من عاملها؟ ومن أقرب من النار من عاملها؟ إنه ليس أحد من الناس تفارق روحه جسده حتى يعلم أي المنزلتين يصل، إلى الجنة أم إلى النار؟ أعدو هو لله أم ولي [له]، فإن كان وليا لله فتحت له أبواب الجنة، وشرعت له طرقها، ورأي ما أعد الله له فيها، ففرغ من كل شغل، ووضع عنه كل ثقل، وإن كان عدو الله فتحت له أبواب النار وشرعت له طرقها، ونظر إلى ما أعد الله له فيها، فاستقبل كل مكروه، وترك كل سرور، كل هذا يكون عند الموت، وعنده يكون اليقين. قال الله عز اسمه: " الذين تتوفاهم الملائكة طيبين يقولون سلام عليكم ادخلوا الجنة بما كنتم تعملون  "، ويقول: " الذين تتوفاهم الملائكة ظالمي أنفسهم فألقوا السلم ما كنا نعمل من سوء بلى إن الله عليم بما كنتم تعملون * فأدخلوا أبواب جهنم خالدين فيها فلبئس مثوى المتكبرين  ". يا عباد الله إن الموت ليس منه فوت، فاحذروه قبل وقوعه، وأعدوا له عدته، فإنكم طراد الموت ، إن أقمتم له أخذكم، وإن فررتم منه أدرككم، وهو ألزم لكم من ظلكم، الموت معقود بنواصيكم، والدنيا تطوى [من] خلفكم، فأكثروا ذكر الموت عندما تنازعكم أنفسكم إليه من الشهوات ، فكفى بالموت واعظا، وكان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله كثيرا ما يوصي [أصحابه] بذكر الموت، فيقول: أكثروا ذكر الموت فإنه هاذم اللذات، حائل بينكم وبين الشهوات. يا عباد الله ما بعد الموت لمن لم يغفر له أشد من الموت، القبر، فاحذروا ضيقه وضنكه وظلمته وغربته، إن القبر يقول كل يوم: أنا بيت الغربة، أنا بيت التراب، أنا بيت الوحشة، أنا بيت الدود والهوام. والقبر روضة من رياض الجنة، أو حفرة من حفر النار . إن العبد المؤمن إذا دفن قالت الأرض له: مرحبا وأهلا، قد كنت ممن أحب أن يمشي على ظهري، فإذا توليتك فستعلم كيف صنعي بك ، فتتسع له مد البصر، وإن الكافر إذا دفن قالت الأرض له: لا مرحبا ولا أهلا، قد كنت من أبغض من يمشي على ظهري، فإذا توليتك فستعلم كيف صنعي بك، فتضمنه حتى تلتقي أضلاعه. وإن المعيشة الضنك التي حذر الله منها عدوه عذاب القبر، أن يسلط الله على الكافر في قبره تسعة وتسعين تنينا، فينهشن لحمه، ويكسرن عظمه، يترددن عليه كذلك إلى يوم يبعث. لو أن تنينا منها نفخ في الأرض لم تنبت زرعا أبدا. اعلموا يا عباد الله إن أنفسكم الضعيفة، وأجسادكم الناعمة الرقيقة التي يكفيها اليسير [من العقاب] تضعف عن هذا، فإن استطعتم أن تجزعوا لأجسادكم وأنفسكم  مما لا طاقة لكم به ولا صبر لكم عليه فاعملوا بما أحب الله، واتركوا ما كره الله. يا عباد الله إن بعد البعث ما هو أشد من القبر، يوم يشيب فيه الصغير، ويسكر فيه الكبير، ويسقط فيه الجنين، وتذهل كل مرضعة عما أرضعت، يوم عبوس قمطرير، يوم كان شره مستطيرا. إن فزع ذلك اليوم ليرهب الملائكة الذين لا ذنب لهم، وترعد منه السبع الشداد، والجبال الأوتاد، والأرض المهاد، وتنشق السماء فهي يومئذ واهية، وتصير وردة كالدهان ، وتكون الجبال كثيبا مهيلا بعد ما كانت صما صلابا، وينفخ في الصور فيفزع من في السماوات ومن في الأرض إلا من شاء الله، فكيف من عصى  بالسمع والبصر واللسان واليد والرجل والفرج والبطن إن لم يغفر الله له ويرحمه من ذلك اليوم  لأنه يقضي ويصير إلى غيره، إلى نار قعرها بعيد، وحرها شديد، وشرابها صديد، وعذابها جديد، ومقامعها حديد، لا يفتر عذابها، ولا يموت سكانها، دار ليس فيها رحمة، ولا يسمع لأهلها دعوة. واعلموا يا عباد الله أن مع هذا رحمة الله التي لا تعجز عن العباد ، جنة عرضها كعرض السماء والأرض أعدت للمتقين [خير] لا يكون معها شر أبدا، لذاتها لا تمل، ومجتمعها لا يتفرق، سكاتها قد جاوروا الرحمن، وقام بين أيديهم الغلمان، بصحاف من الذهب فيها الفاكهة والريحان. ثم اعلم يا محمد بن أبي بكر إني قد وليتك أعظم أجنادي في نفسي: أهل مصر، فإذا وليتك ما وليتك من أمر الناس فأنت حقيق أن تخاف منه على نفسك، وأن تحذر منه على دينك، فإن استطعت أن لا تسخط ربك عز وجل برضا أحد من خلقه فافعل، فإن في الله عز وجل خلفا من غيره، وليس في شئ سواه خلف منه. اشتد على الظالم، وخذ عليه، ولن لأهل الخير، وقربهم، واجعلهم بطانتك وإخوانك. وانظر إلى صلاتك كيف هي، فإنك إمام القوم، [ينبغي لك]  أن تتمها ولا تخففها، فليس من إمام يصلي بقوم يكون في صلاتهم نقصان إلا كان [إثم ذلك] عليه ولا ينقص من صلاتهم شئ. وتممها وتحفظ فيها يكن لك مثل أجورهم ولا ينقص ذلك من أجرهم شيئا. ثم أنظر إلى الوضوء فإنه من تمام الصلاة، وتمضمض ثلاث مرات، واستنشق ثلاثا، واغسل وجهك، ثم يدك اليمنى، ثم يدك اليسرى، ثم امسح رأسك ورجليك، فإني رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله يصنع ذلك، واعلم أن الوضوء نصف الإيمان. ثم ارتقب وقت الصلاة فصلها لوقتها ولا تعجل بها قبله لفراغ، ولا تؤخرها عنه لشغل، فإن رجلا سأل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم عن أوقات الصلاة، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: أتاني جبرئيل عليه السلام فأراني وقت الصلاة [، فصلى الظهر] حين زالت الشمس فكانت على حاجبه الأيمن، ثم أراني وقت العصر فكان ظل كل شئ مثله، ثم صلى المغرب حين غربت الشمس، ثم صلى العشاء الآخرة حين غاب الشفق، ثم صلى الصبح فغلس بها  والنجوم مشتبكة، فصل لهذه الأوقات، والزم السنة المعروفة والطريق الواضح . ثم أنظر ركوعك وسجودك، فإن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم كان أتم الناس صلاة، وأخفهم عملا فيها . واعلم أن كل شئ من عملك تبع لصلاتك، فمن ضيع الصلاة فإنه لغيرها أضيع. أسأل الله الذي يرى ولا يرى وهو بالمنظر الأعلى أن يجعلنا وإياك ممن يحب ويرضى، حتى يعيننا وإياك على شكره وذكره وحسن عبادته وأداء حقه، وعلى كل شئ اختار لنا في دنيانا وآخرتنا. وأنتم يا أهل مصر فليصدق قولكم فعلكم، وسركم علانيتكم، ولا تخالف ألسنتكم قلوبكم، واعلموا أنه لا يستوي إمام الهدى وإمام الردى، ووصي النبي عليه السلام وعدوه. إنني لا أخاف عليكم مؤمنا ولا مشركا، أما المؤمن فيمنعه الله بإيمانه، وأما المشرك فيحجزه الله عنكم بشركه، لكن أخاف عليكم المنافق، يقول ما تعرفون، ويفعل ما تنكرون . يا محمد بن أبي بكر اعلم أن أفضل الفقه الورع في دين الله، والعمل بطاعته، وإني أوصيك بتقوى الله في سر أمرك وعلانيتك وعلى أي حال كنت عليه، الدنيا دار بلاء، والآخرة دار الجزاء ودار البقاء، فاعمل لما يبقى، واعدل عما يفنى، ولا تنس نصيبك من الدنيا . إني أوصيك بسبع  هن جوامع الإسلام: تخشى الله عز وجل ولا تخشى الناس في الله، وخير القول ما صدقه العمل، ولا تقض في أمر واحد بقضاءين مختلفين فيختلف أمرك وتزيغ عن الحق، وأحب لعامة رعيتك ما تحب لنفسك وأهل بيتك، وأكره لهم ما تكره لنفسك وأهل بيتك فإن ذلك أوجب للحجة وأصلح للرعية، وخض الغمرات إلى الحق، ولا تخف في الله لومة لائم، وانصح المرء إذا استشارك، واجعل نفسك أسوة لقريب المسلمين وبعيدهم، جعل الله عز وجل مودتنا في الدين، وحلانا وإياكم حلية المتقين، وأبقى لكم طاعتكم حتى يجعلنا وإياكم بها إخوانا على سرر متقابلين. أحسنوا أهل مصر مؤازرة محمد أميركم، واثبتوا على طاعتكم تردوا حوض نبيكم صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم، أعاننا الله وإياكم على ما يرضيه، والسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته. 

3. He said: Abul Hasan ‘Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Hubaysh al-Katib reported to me from al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali al-Za’farani, who reported from Aby Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Thaqafi, who reported from Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Uthman, who reported from ‘Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Saeed, from Fudhail ibnal-Ja’ad, from Abu Ishaq al-Hamdani, who said: When Amirul Mu’mineen ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him, appointed Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr as the governor of Egypt and its provinces, he wrote him a letter asking him to read it over to the people of Egypt and to act accordingly. The letter said: In the name of Allah, Most Merciful From the slave of Allah, Amirul Mu’mineen, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, to the people of Egypt and Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr. I convey to you my praise for Allah, other than Whom there is no god. Secondly, I exhort you to adopt the ways of Taqwa, to be mindful of your duties by guarding against all sins and evils, in all matters for which you are answerable to Him, for unto Him is your return. Surely, Allah, Most High, says (in Qur’an): ’Every soul is a hostage to what it has earned’ (74:38), and He says: ’Allah warns you to beware of Him, and unto Him is the ultimate return.’ (3:28). And He says: ’By your Lord, We shall question them all, regarding what they used to do.’ (15:92,93) And know you all, O slaves of Allah! He surely will ask you about all your deeds, small and big. If He punishes we are the wrongdoers, and if He forgives, He is the most Merciful. O slaves of Allah! When a slave acts for Allah in obedience to Him, he draws nearest to earning His pardon and mercy; and recommends him to penitence. Always adopt Taqwa, be mindful of your duties to Allah by guarding against sins, for that combines all good, the way nothing else does; and leads to the attainment of all good, the way nothing else does, encompassing the good of this world and of hereafter. Allah, Most High, says (in Qur’an): ’And it is said to those who fear Allah - what has your Lord revealed? They say: Something good. To those who do good in this world is the good reward, and the hereafter is surely much better. Blessed indeed is the abode of God-fearing.’ (16:30) Know you all, O slaves of Allah! A believer acts to earn the reward for three purposes: either it is for the good of this world. Then Allah rewards him for his deed in his lifetime here. As Allah said for Ibrahim: ’And We gave him his reward in this life, and in the hereafter he shall be among the righteous.’ (29:27). Or he does for Allah, Most High; then He rewards him here and hereafter, and becomes Sufficient for him in both the abodes. Indeed, Allah, Most High has said (in Qur’an): ’O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. Those who have been bounteous in this world will have a bounty, and Allah’s earth is vast. The steadfast will be paid their wages in full without reckoning.’ (39:10) And He will not take account for what He will give them here. He says: ’To those who do the good deed is the best reward and more.’ (10:26). So the best reward is the Paradise, and more is what he is rewarded here in the world. Or he works purely for the next world. (For him) Allah expiates every sin with good deed. He, Most High, says: ’Surely, the good deeds will wipe out the evil deeds, and that is a reminder for those who remember.’ (11:114). Till on the Day of Judgement, when all his good deeds will be counted, and Allah will reward him ten fold to seven hundred fold for every single act. Allah, Most High, says: ’A reward from your Lord, a sufficient gift’ (78:36), ’To those who will be meted out the double reward, and they shall be secure in the lofty chambers.’ (34:37) So be desirous of this, may Allah have mercy on you, and work (hard) for it, and urge each other to do accordingly. And be it known to you all, O, slaves of Allah! Those fearing Allah and mindful of their duties to Him, have gained both, the instant good (of this world) and the promised good (of hereafter). They share with the people of this world in their worldly gain, for Allah has made it legitimate for them that which is necessary from this life, and thus made them content; as Allah, Most High, says (in Qur’an): ’Say, who has forbidden Allah’s finery which He fashioned for His servants, or the good things He provided? Say: These are meant in the present world, for those who believe, and exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection. Thus We make clear our revelations for a people who know.’ (7:32). They lived on earth the best life and ate from it its best. They shared with the people of the world in their worldly bounties, eating with them the best of what they ate, drinking with them the best of what they drank, wearing the best of their attire, lived with them in the best of abodes. They married in the happiest way as they all did, and rode on the best means of transport as they did. Thus, they availed of the pleasures of this world with the worldly people, and at the same time, they will be in the proximity of Allah tomorrow! They will wish, and He will grant them their wish, and will not refuse them their prayers and not reduce their share in the (eternal) bliss; O servants of Allah! It is this end that the people of wisdom crave, and work for it by adopting Taqwa. And there is no might nor any strength but that from Allah! O servants of Allah! If you fear Allah, and safeguard the rights of your Prophet in respect of the inmates of his house, then you will have surely worshipped Him in the best way, and you will have remembered Him in the best manner; and you will have expressed your gratitude to Him in the best way. You will have then adopted the best style of patience and gratitude and the best method of endeavour. Even if there be some one invoking longer prayers, keeping more fasts, yet you will be classified as more fearful of Allah in His estimation, and worthiest advisers to the people holding (divine) authority. O servants of Allah! Be warned of death and it inebriating pang; and prepare yourselves for it, for it will indeed rush you into a terrible thing; it will either be good (experience) with no evil ever accompanying it; or it will be evil (experience) with no good ever going with it. So who is nearer to the Paradise than the one who works for it? And who is nearer to hellfire than the one who works for it? Surely, no soul leaves its body till it has known to which of the two abodes it will reach; to Paradise or to hellfire? Is he the enemy of Allah or His friend? So if he is a friend of Allah, the gates of Paradise will be opened for him, and its paths paved. He will see what Allah has kept ready for him. Then he will feel free from all worries, and he will find al burdens lifted from him. And if he is an enemy of Allah, the gates of hell will be opened for him, and its paths paved. Then he will find what Allah has prepared for him. He will face all the discomfort, and be deprived of all joy. All this will be at the time of death, and at that moment shall the certitude be. Allah says (in Qur’an): Those whom the angels will carry off while in state of grace, saying: Peace upon you, enter Paradise for what you did.’ (16:32). And then He says: ’Those who are carried off by the angels while still wrongdoing themselves; then they will offer submission saying: we did no evil. Yes, Allah surely knows well what you were doing. Enter them the gates of hell, abiding therein forever. Wretched indeed is the abode of the arrogant.’ (16:28,29) O slaves of Allah! There is no escape from death, so beware of it before it occurs and be prepared for it. You are being hunted by death; if you stop, it will capture you, and if you be a fugitive, it will find you. Its company with you is more constant than your own shadow! It is tied to your forelocks, and the (life on) earth is being folded (like a scroll from) behind you. So remember death frequently, (especially) when your mind fights you for temptations, for death is a sufficient admonisher. And the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, often reminded his companions to remember death, saying: ’Remember death as often as you can, for it demolishes all pleasures, and is a barrier between you and your base desires.’ O slaves of Allah! That which will happen to the unforgiven one, after death, is indeed more severe than death itself. The grave! Beware of its constriction, its hardship, its darkness and the loneliness in it. Every day, the grave exclaims: ’I am the house of loneliness, I am the house of dust; I am the house of gloom, I am the house of insects and vermins.’ So, a grave is either a garden from the gardens of Paradise, or a pit from the pits of hell. When a believing slave is buried, the earth says: ’Welcome! You were among those who I loved when they walked on my back. When you will be in my charge, you will see how I deal with you!’ Then it will expand for as far as one can see. But when an unbeliever in interred, the earth says: ’You are not welcome! For you were among those who I hated most as they walked on my back. When you will be in my charge, you will know how I deal with you!’ Then it will squeeze it hard, till the ribs will come together. Surely, the life of hardship for which Allah has warned (in Qur’an) refers to the grave, where Allah will make an unbeliever a victim of ninty nine dragons, which will devour his flesh and break his bones, frequenting upon him the same way till resurrection. If only one of those dragons were to blow into the earth, nothing would ever grow from it. Know you, O slaves of Allah! Your weak spirits and your delicate bodies for which little discomfort is enough (to break it down), will be terribly weakened because of this. So, if you can have mercy over your bodies and your spirits by saving them from what they can not bear, then act according to what Allah likes, and discard that which He dislikes. O slaves of Allah! And the day of resurrection is more severe than the grave. It will be a day when the young will grow old, and the old ones will get inebriated; the wombs will abort, and every suckling mother will be distracted from the child she is suckling; it will be a dark dreadful day, a day whose evil will be rampant. The angels, who have no sins, will be scared by the terror of that day, and the hard seven (skies) will tremble, together with the peg-like mountains, and the couch-like earth. The heavens will be rent asunder and on that day it will be tottering, and it will turn red like pigment. And the mountains shall turn into heaps of sand, after it had once been hard rock. And then the trumpet will be blown, so those in the heavens and on earth will be terrified, except for whoever Allah wills: (So what will be for those who have sinned with their ears, eyes, tongue, hand, foot, private parts and the stomach; if Allah does not forgive them and be compassionate on that day? For they will be judged and then consigned to the fire whose pit is deep, whose heat is severe, and where stinking water is for drink. There will be ever renewed chastisement with iron rods. They will not be relieved of its torment, nor will the inmates die. An abode where there will be no mercy and where prayers of the inmates will not be heard. And know you O slaves of Allah! Together with this there will be mercy of Allah, which will not be thwarted from the slaves, with Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who fear Allah. There will be good, with no evil accompanying it at any time; its pleasures will never be satiated and its meeting will never disperse. Its inmates will be in proximity of the Merciful, attended by the youths with golden saucers containing fruits and sweet basils. Then know you, O Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr! I have indeed appointed you to govern the greatest of my troops in my mind, the people of Egypt. So, when I have given you that type of appointment, you deserve most to be cautious about yourself! And to be watchful over your faith. And try your best not to displease your Lord, Most High, for the sake of the people’s pleasure. For in (the pleasure of) Allah, there is a substitute for everything else; but in anything else, there is no substitute for Him (i.e. His pleasure). Be severe to the oppressors, and censure them. Be lenient to the righteous, bring them closer, and appoint them in your inner circle of brotherhood. And watch your daily prayers, as how you perform them, for you will be leading the people, and therefore you must fulfil all its conditions, and not try to belittle it. Whenever an Imam leads the prayers with deficiency, he bears the responsibility, while the people following him suffer no loss in their prayers. So fulfil it and guard it; you will earn the same reward as theirs without their reward being reduced. Then be mindful of your Wudhoo, for it is a condition for the fulfilment of the prayers. You must wash your mouth three times, draw water in your nose three times, then wash your face, then the right hand, followed by the left hand, and then wipe your head and two feet. Surely, I saw the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, do the same way. And know that Wudhoo is half of the faith. Then be watchful about the time of Daily Prayers. Do not offer them before time because you are free, nor delay them because you are busy. For someone asked the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, about the timings of the Daily Prayers, and the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, replied: ’Jibraeel came to me and showed me the timings. He prayed Zohr when the sun passed the meridian as it declined to his right, and then he showed me the time of Asr, when the shadows of every object become equal to its size. Then he prayed Maghrib when the sun set, and he prayed Isha when the twilight disappeared. And he prayed the Subh prayers in the last part of the night’s darkness (near dawn) as the stars flickered. So you say your prayers on these times, and remain constant on the known tradition and upon the clear path. Then look at your Ruku and Sujood, for the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, prayed the most complete prayers, though in practice, it was least burdensome. And known that all your affairs follow your Prayers. Whoever is negligent of his Prayers, will be more negligent in other acts of worship. I beseech Him Who sees and cannot be seen, and He is on the highest horizon; that He may take us and you among those He loves and with whom He is pleased; so that He may help us be among those who remember and praise Him, and who worship Him best and fulfil His covenant, and in all that He determines in our affairs here and hereafter. And you, O people of Egypt! Let your speech be confirmed by your conduct, and your public life be confirmed by your private life; and let not your tongues contradict your hearts. Let it be known, to you that a leader who guides to the right path cannot be equated to a leader who lends to ruination, nor does the successor of your Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) compare with his adversary. And I am not anxious or afraid about a believer or an unbeliever doing you any harm. As for the believer, Allah prevents him from causing harm because of his faith, and as for the unbelievers, Allah constrains him from you because of his disbelief. But I am worried about the hypocrites misleading you, for he says what you approve, but does what you disapprove. O Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr, the best instruction in religion is piety in the practice of religion, and to act in His obedience. And I exhort you to be God-fearing in your private and public matters, and in any situation you may be. This world is a place of test and tribulation, and the hereafter is an abode of reward and eternity. So act for the abode, which is forever, and turn away from that which will perish, but do not forget your portion from the bounties of this world. And I enjoy you seven virtues; they represent complete Islam: Fear Allah and in His Presence, do not fear people; The best speech is that when its truth is confirmed by conduct; Do not give two contradicting judgements in one matter, for that will cause discrepancy in your directive, and you will deviate from truth; Love for your subjects what you love for yourself and your family, and detest for them what you detest for yourself and your family, for that is most appropriate to establish the authority and most beneficial to the people; Fight in the way of Truth, and do not fear any reproach in the way of Allah; Give good advice when someone consults you; Make yourself an ideal for those Muslims who are around you, and also for those who are far away. May Allah tie us with the bond of love in religion, and adorn us with the adornment of those who fear Allah. And may your obedience to Allah subsist till you and I meet as brothers reclining on the beds, facing each other (i.e. in Paradise). O people of Egypt! Do your best to support your governor Muhammad, and remain unflinchingly in your obedience, till when you arrive near the Prophet at his Pool. May Allah help you and us on the way of His pleasure. Peace be upon you from Allah and His mercy and blessings."

Al-Amālī

Book 31, Chapter 3