1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنِ الْعَلاءِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ فُقَرَاءَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ يَتَقَلَّبُونَ فِي رِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ قَبْلَ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ بِأَرْبَعِينَ خَرِيفاً ثُمَّ قَالَ سَأَضْرِبُ لَكَ مَثَلَ ذَلِكَ إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ ذَلِكَ مَثَلُ سَفِينَتَيْنِ مُرَّ بِهِمَا عَلَى عَاشِرٍ فَنَظَرَ فِي إِحْدَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يَرَ فِيهَا شَيْئاً فَقَالَ أَسْرِبُوهَا وَنَظَرَ فِي الأخْرَى فَإِذَا هِيَ مَوْقُورَةٌ فَقَالَ احْبِسُوهَا.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Muhammad ibn Sinan from al-‘Ala’ from ibn abu Ya’fur from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The poor Muslims will stroll in the gardens of paradise forty years before the wealthy Muslims. An example of this is the case of two ships arriving at the tax collector’s post. The tax collector searches one of the ships and finds it empty. He withdraws and the ship is free to go. But he finds the other ship fill of goods. He then orders his people to follow the accounting procedure.’”

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَعْدَانَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) الْمَصَائِبُ مِنَحٌ مِنَ الله وَالْفَقْرُ مَخْزُونٌ عِنْدَ الله.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Sa’dan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Misfortunes are gifts from Allah and poverty is in His treasure.’”

3ـ وَعَنْهُ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) يَا عَلِيُّ إِنَّ الله جَعَلَ الْفَقْرَ أَمَانَةً عِنْدَ خَلْقِهِ فَمَنْ سَتَرَهُ أَعْطَاهُ الله مِثْلَ أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ الْقَائِمِ وَمَنْ أَفْشَاهُ إِلَى مَنْ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى قَضَاءِ حَاجَتِهِ فَلَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَقَدْ قَتَلَهُ أَمَا إِنَّهُ مَا قَتَلَهُ بِسَيْفٍ وَلا رُمْحٍ وَلَكِنَّهُ قَتَلَهُ بِمَا نَكَى مِنْ قَلْبِهِ.

3. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) in a marfu’ manner from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘O Ali, Allah has made poverty a trust in His creatures. Whoever hides it, Allah grants him a reward equal to the reward for a fasting person who stands at night to worship Allah. One who reveals it to a person, who is able to help but does not help, it is then as if he has killed him. Although he has not killed him with a sword, or with a spear, but has done so by breaking his heart.’”

4ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ دَاوُدَ الْحَذَّاءِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ صَغِيرٍ عَنْ جَدِّهِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ مُفَضَّلٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) كُلَّمَا ازْدَادَ الْعَبْدُ إِيمَاناً ازْدَادَ ضِيقاً فِي مَعِيشَتِهِ.

4. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Muhammad ibn Ali from Dawud al-Hadhdha’ from Muhammad ibn Saghir from his grandfather, Shu’ayb from Mufaddal who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘As the belief of a person increases in strength, his poverty intensifies.’”

5ـ وَبِإِسْنَادِهِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) لَوْ لا إِلْحَاحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى الله فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ لَنَقَلَهُمْ مِنَ الْحَالِ الَّتِي هُمْ فِيهَا إِلَى حَالٍ أَضْيَقَ مِنْهَا.

5. Through his chain of narrators (Ali ibn Ibrahim) has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Had it not been due to the believers’ pleading before Allah to increase their sustenance, He would have moved them to a poorer condition.’”

6ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) مَا أُعْطِيَ عَبْدٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلا اعْتِبَاراً وَمَا زُوِيَ عَنْهُ إِلا اخْتِبَاراً.

6. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from certain individuals of his people in a marfu’ manner from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Whatever a servant is given of worldly things is to make him learn a lesson and whatever is withheld from him is to place him under the trial.’”

7ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ نُوحِ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ وَأَبِي إِسْحَاقَ الْخَفَّافِ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَيْسَ لِمُصَاصِ شِيعَتِنَا فِي دَوْلَةِ الْبَاطِلِ إِلا الْقُوتُ شَرِّقُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ أَوْ غَرِّبُوا لَنْ تُرْزَقُوا إِلا الْقُوتَ.

7. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Nuh ibn Shu’ayb and abu Ishaq al-Khaffaf from a man from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “For our pure Shi’a (followers) there is nothing under the rule of the unjust power more than bare necessities. Westernize or Easternize, you will never gain more than bare necessities.”

8ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الأشْعَرِيِّ عَنْ بَعْضِ مَشَايِخِهِ عَنْ إِدْرِيسَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) يَا عَلِيُّ الْحَاجَةُ أَمَانَةُ الله عِنْدَ خَلْقِهِ فَمَنْ كَتَمَهَا عَلَى نَفْسِهِ أَعْطَاهُ الله ثَوَابَ مَنْ صَلَّى وَمَنْ كَشَفَهَا إِلَى مَنْ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يُفَرِّجَ عَنْهُ وَلَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَقَدْ قَتَلَهُ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَقْتُلْهُ بِسَيْفٍ وَلا سِنَانٍ وَلا سَهْمٍ وَلَكِنْ قَتَلَهُ بِمَا نَكَى مِنْ قَلْبِهِ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan al-Ash’ari from certain individuals of his teachers from Edris ibn ‘Abd Allah from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Holy Prophet has said, ‘O Ali, the need (poverty) is Allah’s trust with His creatures. Whoever keeps it secret Allah grants him a reward equal to that for one who prays, but if he reveals it to one who is able to help and does not help he has killed him, not with a sword or spears, but has killed him by breaking his heart.’”

9ـ وَعَنْهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَعْدَانَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَلْتَفِتُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلَى فُقَرَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ شَبِيهاً بِالْمُعْتَذِرِ إِلَيْهِمْ فَيَقُولُ وَعِزَّتِي وَجَلالِي مَا أَفْقَرْتُكُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا مِنْ هَوَانٍ بِكُمْ عَلَيَّ وَلَتَرَوُنَّ مَا أَصْنَعُ بِكُمُ الْيَوْمَ فَمَنْ زَوَّدَ أَحَداً مِنْكُمْ فِي دَارِ الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفاً فَخُذُوا بِيَدِهِ فَأَدْخِلُوهُ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ فَيَقُولُ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الدُّنْيَا تَنَافَسُوا فِي دُنْيَاهُمْ فَنَكَحُوا النِّسَاءَ وَلَبِسُوا الثِّيَابَ اللَّيِّنَةَ وَأَكَلُوا الطَّعَامَ وَسَكَنُوا الدُّورَ وَرَكِبُوا الْمَشْهُورَ مِنَ الدَّوَابِّ فَأَعْطِنِي مِثْلَ مَا أَعْطَيْتَهُمْ فَيَقُولُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لَكَ وَلِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مِنْكُمْ مِثْلُ مَا أَعْطَيْتُ أَهْلَ الدُّنْيَا مُنْذُ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا إِلَى أَنِ انْقَضَتِ الدُّنْيَا سَبْعُونَ ضِعْفاً.

9. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sa’dan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘On the Day of Judgment Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, will turn to the poor believing people, similar to an apologetic one, and will say, “I swear by My Majesty and Glory that I did not make you suffer poverty in the world, considering you insignificant. You will find out how I treat you today. Hold the hands of those who helped you in the worldly life and take them to paradise.” The narrator has said that the Imam then said, ‘A man from among them will say, ‘O Lord, people competed in their world to marry, dress up in fine garments, to have fine food, nice houses, and riding best animals, thus, give me what you had given to them.’ Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, will say, ‘You and every one of you will have what I had given to the people of the world from its beginning to its end, seventy times as much.’”

10ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ سَهْلٍ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ عَبَّادٍ جَمِيعاً يَرْفَعَانِهِ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَا كَانَ مِنْ وُلْدِ آدَمَ مُؤْمِنٌ إِلا فَقِيراً وَلا كَافِرٌ إِلا غَنِيّاً حَتَّى جَاءَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ رَبَّنا لا تَجْعَلْنا فِتْنَةً لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَصَيَّرَ الله فِي هَؤُلاءِ أَمْوَالاً وَحَاجَةً وَفِي هَؤُلاءِ أَمْوَالاً وَحَاجَةً.

10. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ibrahim ibn ‘Aqabah from Isma’il ibn Sahl and Isma’il ibn ‘Abbad all in a marfu’ manner from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “There was no one of the children of Adam who was a believer but that was poor and there was no one of the children of Adam who was an unbeliever but that was rich until Ibrahim came. He said, ‘O Lord, save us from the evil intentions of the unbelievers. . . .’ (60:5) Thereafter Allah made these (believing people) rich as well as needy and those (unbelievers) wealthy as well as poor and needy.’”

11ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ مُوسِرٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) نَقِيُّ الثَّوْبِ فَجَلَسَ إِلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ مُعْسِرٌ دَرِنُ الثَّوْبِ فَجَلَسَ إِلَى جَنْبِ الْمُوسِرِ فَقَبَضَ الْمُوسِرُ ثِيَابَهُ مِنْ تَحْتِ فَخِذَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) أَ خِفْتَ أَنْ يَمَسَّكَ مِنْ فَقْرِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ قَالَ لا قَالَ فَخِفْتَ أَنْ يُصِيبَهُ مِنْ غِنَاكَ شَيْ‏ءٌ قَالَ لا قَالَ فَخِفْتَ أَنْ يُوَسِّخَ ثِيَابَكَ قَالَ لا قَالَ فَمَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ الله إِنَّ لِي قَرِيناً يُزَيِّنُ لِي كُلَّ قَبِيحٍ وَيُقَبِّحُ لِي كُلَّ حَسَنٍ وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُ لَهُ نِصْفَ مَالِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) لِلْمُعْسِرِ أَ تَقْبَلُ قَالَ لا فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ وَلِمَ قَالَ أَخَافُ أَنْ يَدْخُلَنِي مَا دَخَلَكَ.

11. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from those he has mentioned (in his book) from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once a wealthy man in clean clothes came to the Messenger of Allah and sat down near the Messenger of Allah. Thereafter a poor man in not so clean clothes came and sat next to the wealthy man who then pulled his clothes away from underneath the thighs of the poor man. The Messenger of Allah then asked the wealthy man, ‘Did you fear his poverty might stick to you?’ The wealthy man said, ‘No, that was not the reason.’ The Messenger of Allah asked, ‘Did you fear that something from your wealth might go to him?’ He said, ‘No, that was not the reason.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Did you fear that your clothes may get dirty?’ He said, ‘No, that was not the reason.’ The Messenger of Allah asked, ‘What then was the reason?’ He said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have an associate who makes every evil thing attractive to me and vice versa in every good thing. I have decided to give half of my wealth to him (the poor man).’ The Messenger of Allah asked the poor man, ‘Do you accept it?’ He said, ‘No, I do not accept it.’ The wealthy man asked the poor man, ‘Why do you not accept my offer?’ The poor man said, ‘I am afraid, I will began to feel the way your associate makes you feel.’”

12ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْقَاسَانِيِّ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ الْمِنْقَرِيِّ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ فِي مُنَاجَاةِ مُوسَى (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَا مُوسَى إِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْفَقْرَ مُقْبِلاً فَقُلْ مَرْحَباً بِشِعَارِ الصَّالِحِينَ وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْغِنَى مُقْبِلاً فَقُلْ ذَنْبٌ عُجِّلَتْ عُقُوبَتُهُ.

12. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasani from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Sulayman ibn Dawud al-Minqari from Hafs ibn Ghiyath from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “It is in the conversation of Moses, ‘O Moses, when you see poverty coming say, “Welcome to the way of life of the virtuous people. When, you see wealth coming, say, ‘It is a sin. I wanted to experience its punishment early (before the Day of Judgment).”’

13ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) طُوبَى لِلْمَسَاكِينِ بِالصَّبْرِ وَهُمُ الَّذِينَ يَرَوْنَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضِ.

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Holy Prophet has said, ‘Tuba (a tree in paradise) is for the destitutes who bear patience and they are the ones who observe the kingdom of heavens and earth.’”

14ـ وَبِإِسْنَادِهِ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمَسَاكِينِ طِيبُوا نَفْساً وَأَعْطُوا الله الرِّضَا مِنْ قُلُوبِكُمْ يُثِبْكُمُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى فَقْرِكِمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَلا ثَوَابَ لَكُمْ.

14. Through the same chain of narrators he has said the following: “The Holy Prophet has said, ‘O destitute people, rejoice and be happy wholeheartedly with Allah. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will reward you because of your poverty, if you did not do so, you will not receive any rewards.”

15ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ عِيسَى الْفَرَّاءِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ أَمَرَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مُنَادِياً يُنَادِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ أَيْنَ الْفُقَرَاءُ فَيَقُومُ عُنُقٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ كَثِيرٌ فَيَقُولُ عِبَادِي فَيَقُولُونَ لَبَّيْكَ رَبَّنَا فَيَقُولُ إِنِّي لَمْ أُفْقِرْكُمْ لِهَوَانٍ بِكُمْ عَلَيَّ وَلَكِنِّي إِنَّمَا اخْتَرْتُكُمْ لِمِثْلِ هَذَا الْيَوْمِ تَصَفَّحُوا وُجُوهَ النَّاسِ فَمَنْ صَنَعَ إِلَيْكُمْ مَعْرُوفاً لَمْ يَصْنَعْهُ إِلا فِيَّ فَكَافُوهُ عَنِّي بِالْجَنَّةِ.

15. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from ‘Isa al-Farra’ from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “When it will be the Day of Judgment, Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, will command an announcer to announce and call before Him, ‘Where are the poor people?’ certain heads will rise and they will be many. Allah will say, ‘My servants.’ They will say, ‘Yes, our Lord.’ Allah will say, ‘I did not make you poor considering you as insignificant. I chose you for this day. Search among the people those who helped you for My sake and compensate them on My behalf with paradise.’”

16ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْحَذَّاءِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ صَغِيرٍ عَنْ جَدِّهِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ مُفَضَّلٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) لَوْ لا إِلْحَاحُ هَذِهِ الشِّيعَةِ عَلَى الله فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ لَنَقَلَهُمْ مِنَ الْحَالِ الَّتِي هُمْ فِيهَا إِلَى مَا هُوَ أَضْيَقُ مِنْهَا.

16. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim al-Hadhdha’ from Muhammad ibn Saghir from his grandfather, Shu’ayb from Mufaddal who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Had it not been for this Shi’a’s (followers) insistence on receiving more sustenance from Allah He would have moved them from their present condition to a more severe poverty.”

17ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَ مَا تَدْخُلُ السُّوقَ أَ مَا تَرَى الْفَاكِهَةَ تُبَاعُ وَالشَّيْ‏ءَ مِمَّا تَشْتَهِيهِ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّ لَكَ بِكُلِّ مَا تَرَاهُ فَلا تَقْدِرُ عَلَى شِرَائِهِ حَسَنَةً.

17. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from ibn Faddal from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Kathir al-Khazzaz who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) asked me, ‘Do you want to go to the market where fruits and things that you desire are sold?’ I said, ‘Yes, 1 like to go.’ The Imam said, ‘However, for everything that you like to buy but cannot buy there is a reward of one good deed for you.’”

18ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَفَّانَ عَنْ مُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الله جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ لَيَعْتَذِرُ إِلَى عَبْدِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ الْمُحْوِجِ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَمَا يَعْتَذِرُ الأخُ إِلَى أَخِيهِ فَيَقُولُ وَعِزَّتِي وَجَلالِي مَا أَحْوَجْتُكَ فِي الدُّنْيَا مِنْ هَوَانٍ كَانَ بِكَ عَلَيَّ فَارْفَعْ هَذَا السَّجْفَ فَانْظُرْ إِلَى مَا عَوَّضْتُكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا قَالَ فَيَرْفَعُ فَيَقُولُ مَا ضَرَّنِي مَا مَنَعْتَنِي مَعَ مَا عَوَّضْتَنِي.

18. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Ali ibn ‘Affan from Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Exalted of praise, will apologize to His believing servants who are poor in this world just as a brother apologizes to a brother and He will say, ‘I swear by my Majesty and Glory that I did not make you poor in the world considering you insignificant. Remove this curtain and look what I have given you in exchange for your poverty in the world. ’ The Imam said, ‘He will then raise the curtain and say, ‘(O Lord,) your withholding the wealth of the world from me in exchange for what You have kept in reserve for me has not harmed me at all.”’

19ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ قَامَ عُنُقٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ حَتَّى يَأْتُوا بَابَ الْجَنَّةِ فَيَضْرِبُوا بَابَ الْجَنَّةِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ مَنْ أَنْتُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ نَحْنُ الْفُقَرَاءُ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ أَ قَبْلَ الْحِسَابِ فَيَقُولُونَ مَا أَعْطَيْتُمُونَا شَيْئاً تُحَاسِبُونَّا عَلَيْهِ فَيَقُولُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ صَدَقُوا ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ.

19. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn al-Hakam from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “When it will be the Day of Judgment certain necks of people will rise, approach the door of paradise and knock on it. They will be asked, ‘Who are you?’ They will say, ‘We are the poor people.’ They will be told, ‘Show your accounts.’ They will say, ‘You did not give us anything. Why do you ask us for accounts?’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will say they have spoken the truth admit them into paradise.’”

20ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُبَارَكٍ غُلامِ شُعَيْبٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ إِنِّي لَمْ أُغْنِ الْغَنِيَّ لِكَرَامَةٍ بِهِ عَلَيَّ وَلَمْ أُفْقِرِ الْفَقِيرَ لِهَوَانٍ بِهِ عَلَيَّ وَهُوَ مِمَّا ابْتَلَيْتُ بِهِ الأغْنِيَاءَ بِالْفُقَرَاءِ وَلَوْ لا الْفُقَرَاءُ لَمْ يَسْتَوْجِبِ الأغْنِيَاءُ الْجَنَّةَ.

20. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Mubarak slave of Shu’ayb who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, “I have not made certain people rich because they are important to Me and I have not made certain people poor because they are insignificant to Me. It is because I wanted to try the rich through the poor. Had there been no poor, the rich ones would not have deserved paradise.’”

21ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ وَالْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالا قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) مَيَاسِيرُ شِيعَتِنَا أُمَنَاؤُنَا عَلَى مَحَاوِيجِهِمْ فَاحْفَظُونَا فِيهِمْ يَحْفَظْكُمُ الله.

21. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Ishaq ibn ‘Isa from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar and al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who have said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Our wealthy Shi’a (followers) are our trustees for our poor Shi’a. Protect us by protecting them (the poor Shi’a).”’

22ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) الْفَقْرُ أَزْيَنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ مِنَ الْعِذَارِ عَلَى خَدِّ الْفَرَسِ.

22. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘Poverty is more beautifying for the believers than the best decorated harness with ornament is for the head of a horse.’”

23ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ غَالِبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيهِما السَّلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلَوْ لا أَنْ يَكُونَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً واحِدَةً قَالَ عَنَى بِذَلِكَ أُمَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) أَنْ يَكُونُوا عَلَى دِينٍ وَاحِدٍ كُفَّاراً كُلَّهُمْ لَجَعَلْنا لِمَنْ يَكْفُرُ بِالرَّحْمنِ لِبُيُوتِهِمْ سُقُفاً مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَلَوْ فَعَلَ الله ذَلِكَ بِأُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) لَحَزِنَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَغَمَّهُمْ ذَلِكَ وَلَمْ يُنَاكِحُوهُمْ وَلَمْ يُوَارِثُوهُمْ.

23. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Ghalib from his father from Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib who has said the following: “Once I asked Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Were it not that all people would become one nation, . . .’ - and the Imam said, ‘It (all people) stands for the followers of Muhammad (a.s.) all of whom might turn to disbelief, - ‘ ... We would have made for the unbelievers in the Beneficent, ceilings out of silver. . . (43:33) Had Allah done so to the followers of Muhammad (a.s.) the believers might feel very depressed and they would not establish any marital relations with and inheritance for those turning to disbelief (thus, they might become extinct).’” Note: To understand better, read the whole verse: ‘Were it not that all people would become one nation, We would have made for the unbelievers in the Beneficent, ceilings out of silver. . . (43:33 Had all unbelievers been given so much wealth, the common Muslims might have abandoned their religion considering the prosperity of the unbelievers as a sign of Allah’s happiness with them. In fact, according to Allah, worldly things are of no significance at all.