Al-Kāfi - Volume 2 > Restraint from Worldly Matters (Sins)
Hadith #1

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ عَنْ زَيْدٍ الشَّحَّامِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ هِلالٍ الثَّقَفِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي لا أَلْقَاكَ إِلا فِي السِّنِينَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي بِشَيْ‏ءٍ آخُذُ بِهِ فَقَالَ أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى الله وَالْوَرَعِ وَالإجْتِهَادِ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لا يَنْفَعُ اجْتِهَادٌ لا وَرَعَ فِيهِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from abu al- Maghra’ from Zayd al-Shahham from ‘Amr ibn Sa’id ibn Hilal al-Thaqafi who has said the following: “Once I said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) ‘I can visit you only once every several years. Teach me, please, something to which I can hold.’ The Imam said, ‘I advise you to be pious before Allah, restrain from worldly matters (sins) and work hard. Note it properly that hard work without restraint from worldly matters is of no benefit.’”



Hadith #2

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ حَدِيدِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ اتَّقُوا الله وَصُونُوا دِينَكُمْ بِالْوَرَعِ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al- Hassan ibn Mahbub from Hadid ibn Hakim who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘Be pious before Allah and protect your religion by means of restraint from worldly matters (sins).’”



Hadith #3

3ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ خَلِيفَةَ قَالَ وَعَظَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) فَأَمَرَ وَزَهَّدَ ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْوَرَعِ فَإِنَّهُ لا يُنَالُ مَا عِنْدَ الله إِلا بِالْوَرَعِ.

3. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Yazid ibn Khalifa who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) spoke to us to advise us. He gave orders and told us to abstain from indulging (ourselves) in worldly matters. He then said, ‘You must maintain restraint; one does not receive of the things with Allah except by means of restraint from worldly matters (sins).”’



Hadith #4

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لا يَنْفَعُ اجْتِهَادٌ لا وَرَعَ فِيهِ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ibn Faddal from abu Jamilah from ibn abu Ya’fur from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Hard work without restraint from worldly things (sins) is of no benefit.’”



Hadith #5

5ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ الصَّيْقَلِ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ أَشَدَّ الْعِبَادَةِ الْوَرَعُ.

5. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from his father from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from al-Hassan ibn Ziyad al-Sayqal from Fudayl ibn Yasar from abu Ja’far who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Restraining from worldly matters (sins) is the most intense form of worship.’”



Hadith #6

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ حَنَانِ بْنِ سَدِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو الصَّبَّاحِ الْكِنَانِيُّ لأبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) مَا نَلْقَى مِنَ النَّاسِ فِيكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) وَمَا الَّذِي تَلْقَى مِنَ النَّاسِ فِيَّ فَقَالَ لا يَزَالُ يَكُونُ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ الْكَلامُ فَيَقُولُ جَعْفَرِيٌّ خَبِيثٌ فَقَالَ يُعَيِّرُكُمُ النَّاسُ بِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو الصَّبَّاحِ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ مَا أَقَلَّ وَالله مَنْ يَتَّبِعُ جَعْفَراً مِنْكُمْ إِنَّمَا أَصْحَابِي مَنِ اشْتَدَّ وَرَعُهُ وَعَمِلَ لِخَالِقِهِ وَرَجَا ثَوَابَهُ فَهَؤُلاءِ أَصْحَابِي.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Isma’il ibn Bazi’ from Hanan ibn Sadir who has said that abu Sabah al-Kanani said to abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant:“Abu Sabah al-Kanani has said, ‘We are not received well among people because of you.’ The Imam said, ‘How are you received among people because of me?’ He said, ‘As soon as we speak to a man he then says, “He is a Ja’fari (follower of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq, recipient of divine supreme covenant) a filthy one.’” The Imam said, ‘Do they reprimand you because of me?’ He said, ‘Yes, they do so.’ The Imam said, ‘I swear by Allah, how few are among you who follow Ja’far ibn Muhammad, recipient of divine supreme covenant? My people and followers are only those who maintain forceful restraint from worldly things (sins), work for their creator, and hope to receive reward from their Lord. Only such people are of my followers.’”



Hadith #7

7ـ حَنَانُ بْنُ سَدِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَارَةَ الْغَزَّالِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ابْنَ آدَمَ اجْتَنِبْ مَا حَرَّمْتُ عَلَيْكَ تَكُنْ مِنْ أَوْرَعِ النَّاسِ.

7. Hanan ibn Sadir has narrated from abu Sara al-Ghazzal from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘O son of Adam, stay away from what 1 have made unlawful to you, you then will be of the people who restrain themselves from worldly matters the most.’”



Hadith #8

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَعَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ الْمِنْقَرِيِّ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الْوَرِعِ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ الَّذِي يَتَوَرَّعُ عَنْ مَحَارِمِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Ali ibn Muhammad from al- Qasim ibn Muhammad from Sulayman al-Minqari from Hafs ibn Ghiyath who has said the following: “I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) what kind of people are those who restrain from worldly matters? The Imam said, ‘They are those who stay away from what Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has made unlawful.’”



Hadith #9

9ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنْ أَبِي أُسَامَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ عَلَيْكَ بِتَقْوَى الله وَالْوَرَعِ وَالإجْتِهَادِ وَصِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ وَأَدَاءِ الأمَانَةِ وَحُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ وَحُسْنِ الْجِوَارِ وَكُونُوا دُعَاةً إِلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ بِغَيْرِ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَكُونُوا زَيْناً وَلا تَكُونُوا شَيْناً وَعَلَيْكُمْ بِطُولِ الرُّكُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا أَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ هَتَفَ إِبْلِيسُ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ وَقَالَ يَا وَيْلَهُ أَطَاعَ وَعَصَيْتُ وَسَجَدَ وَأَبَيْتُ.

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from abu ‘Usama who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘You must be pious before Allah, restrain yourself against worldly matters, work hard, speak the truth, keep the trust, have good moral behaviors, be good to your neighbors and be so good that you can attract people without preaching to them by your tongues. Be an honor for us and not a disgrace. You must take a long time during your Ruku’ and Sajda (bowing down in prayer and prostration). When one of you takes a long time during his Ruku’ and Sajda, Satan cries behind him, “Woe upon me, he is obedient and I disobeyed. He prostrates (before the Lord) and I refused.””’



Hadith #10

10ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) فَدَخَلَ عِيسَى بْنُ عَبْدِ الله الْقُمِّيُّ فَرَحَّبَ بِهِ وَقَرَّبَ مِنْ مَجْلِسِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عِيسَى بْنَ عَبْدِ الله لَيْسَ مِنَّا وَلا كَرَامَةَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي مِصْرٍ فِيهِ مِائَةُ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ وَكَانَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْمِصْرِ أَحَدٌ أَوْرَعَ مِنْهُ‏.

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn abu Zayd from his father who has said the following: “Once I was in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) when ‘Isa ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Qumi came to see him. The Imam greeted him and gave him a seat near his own seat. The Imam then said, ‘O ‘Isa ibn ‘Abd Allah, one is not from our people, and it is not an honor that one lives in a city of a hundred thousand people and someone else (one who is not a Shi ’a) therein excercises more restraint from worldly matters (sins) than he (a Shi’a) does.’”



Hadith #11

11ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ أَبِي كَهْمَسٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ هِلالٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) أَوْصِنِي قَالَ أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى الله وَالْوَرَعِ وَالإجْتِهَادِ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لا يَنْفَعُ اجْتِهَادٌ لا وَرَعَ فِيهِ.

11. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Faddal from Ali ibn ‘Aqaba from abu Kahmas from ‘Amr ibn Sa’id ibn Hilal who has said the following: “Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) to instruct me with good advice. The Imam said, ‘I recommend you to be pious before Allah, restrain from worldly matters (sins) and work hard. Note that there is no benefit in hard work without restraint from worldly matters.’”



Hadith #12

12ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ الْكِنَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ أَعِينُونَا بِالْوَرَعِ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ لَقِيَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْكُمْ بِالْوَرَعِ كَانَ لَهُ عِنْدَ الله فَرَجاً وَإِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ مَنْ يُطِعِ الله وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ الله عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَداءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولئِكَ رَفِيقاً فَمِنَّا النَّبِيُّ وَمِنَّا الصِّدِّيقُ وَالشُّهَدَاءُ وَالصَّالِحُونَ.

12. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from abu al-Sabah al-Kanani from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Support us by means of restraint from worldly matters; whoever of you will meet Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, with the quality of restraint from worldly matters will have enough good news from Allah. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “One who obeys Allah and the Messenger is a friend of the prophets, saints, martyrs and the righteous ones to whom Allah has granted His favors. They are the best friends that one can have.” (4:69) ‘Of our people are the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs and the virtuous people.’”



Hadith #13

13ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّا لا نَعُدُّ الرَّجُلَ مُؤْمِناً حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِجَمِيعِ أَمْرِنَا مُتَّبِعاً مُرِيداً أَلا وَإِنَّ مِنِ اتِّبَاعِ أَمْرِنَا وَإِرَادَتِهِ الْوَرَعَ فَتَزَيَّنُوا بِهِ يَرْحَمْكُمُ الله وَكَبِّدُوا أَعْدَاءَنَا بِهِ يَنْعَشْكُمُ الله.

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “We do not consider a person a believer until that person follows us in all of our orders and has firmly decided to do so. The decision to exercise restraint against worldly matters consists of following our orders and commands. You must have this beautiful quality. May Allah grant you blessings. With this Quality you defeat our enemies, and Allah will grant you delight and happiness.”



Hadith #14

14ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَجَّالِ عَنِ الْعَلاءِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) كُونُوا دُعَاةً لِلنَّاسِ بِغَيْرِ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ لِيَرَوْا مِنْكُمُ الْوَرَعَ وَالإجْتِهَادَ وَالصَّلاةَ وَالْخَيْرَ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ دَاعِيَةٌ.

14. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hajjal from al-‘Ala’ from ibn abu Ya’fur from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Preach to people without your tongue. You must show them restraint from worldly matters (sins). You should perform hard work, prayer and good deeds. Such behavior includes preaching.”



Hadith #15

15ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَمْزَةَ الْعَلَوِيِّ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُبَيْدُ الله بْنُ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الأوَّلِ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَثِيراً مَا كُنْتُ أَسْمَعُ أَبِي يَقُولُ لَيْسَ مِنْ شِيعَتِنَا مَنْ لا تَتَحَدَّثُ الْمُخَدَّرَاتُ بِوَرَعِهِ فِي خُدُورِهِنَّ وَلَيْسَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِنَا مَنْ هُوَ فِي قَرْيَةٍ فِيهَا عَشَرَةُ آلافِ رَجُلٍ فِيهِمْ مِنْ خَلْقِ الله أَوْرَعُ مِنْهُ.

15. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’id from Muhammad ibn Muslim from Muhammad ibn Hamza al-‘Alawi who has said the following: “’Ubayd Allah ibn Ali reported to me from abu al-Hassan the 1 st (a.s.) who has said, ‘I would hear my father saying, “One of whose restraint from worldly matters (sins) ladies in their private quarters would not speak, is not of our Shi’a, and neither is one who lives in a town of ten thousand people among whom Allah has created someone restraining more from worldly matters than he is.’”