The Severity of a Believer’s Afflictions

The Exclusive Honors that Allah has Reserved for the Believers

The bond that Allah has set amongst the believers

The Rights of a Believer on a Fellow Believer.

The Reward of Helping a Believer, Relieving Him of Distress And Showing Him Kindness

Visiting a Believer Socially and When He is Ill

The Reward of one who Feeds a Believer, Quenches his Thirst, Clothes him or Pays off his Debt

What Allah (azwj) has Forbidden a Believer to do Against a Fellow Believer

171 - وعن زرارة قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: أقرب ما يكون العبد إلى الكفر أن يكون الرجل مواخيا للرجل على الدين، ثم يحفظ زلاته و عثراته ليضعه يوما ما.

171. It has been related that Zurarah said: I heard Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] saying: The closest stage to infidelity that one attains is that a person takes one to be his brother-in-faith then the latter keeps track of his mistakes and slips that he may use them against him someday.

172 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: من بهت مؤمنا أو مؤمنة بما ليس فيه، بعثه الله عز وجل في طينة خبال، حتى يخرج مما قال قلت: وما طينة الخبال؟ قال: صديد يخرج من فروج المومسات.

172. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: One who accuses a believing man or believing woman falsely will be raised on the Day of Judgment by Allah in a messy substance unless he unsays it. The reporter asked, 'What is this messy substance?' It is pus flowing from the genitals of the unchaste women,' the Imam [a.s] replied.

173 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قال النبي صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم: من أذاع فاحشة كان كمبتدئها، ومن عير مؤمنا بشئ لم يمت حتى يركبه.

173. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: The Prophet [a.s] said: One who spreads an indecency is like the one who started it; and one who dishonors a believer of something will not die until he perpetrates it himself.

174 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: ما من مؤمنين إلا وبينهما حجاب، فإن قال له، لست لي بولي فقد كفر، فإن اتهمه فقد انماث الايمان في قلبه، كما ينماث الملح في الماء.

174. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: Between every two believers there is a covering (that binds them); if one of them says to the other, 'you are not a friend to me' then he commits apostasy; and if he accuses him of something, faith will dissolve in his heart like salt in water.

175 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: لو قال الرجل لأخيه أف لك انقطع ما بينهما، قال، فإذا قال له: أنت عدوي فقد كفر أحدهما، فإن اتهمه انماث الايمان في قلبه، كما ينماث الملح في الماء.

175. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: If a person says to his brother the lease expression of contempt, he cut off any relation between them; and if he says to him, 'you are my enemy,' one of them has then committed apostasy; and if he accuses him falsely, faith will dissolve in his heart like salt in water.

176 - وقال النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: من لا يعرف لأخيه مثل ما يعرف له فليس بأخيه.

176. The Prophet [a.s] has said: One who does not care to know of his brother what he knows of him is not his brother.

177 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: أبى الله أن يظن بالمؤمن إلا خيرا، وكسر عظم المؤمن ميتا ككسره حيا.

177. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: It is Allah's will that a believer should always be thought of well; and to humiliate a dead believer is like humiliating him whilst alive.

178 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: ما من مؤمن يخذل أخاه وهو يقدر على نصرته، إلا خذله الله عز وجل في الدنيا والآخرة.

178. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: Any believer that disappoints his brother while he is able to help him, Allah will desert him in the world and the hereafter.

179 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: أيما مؤمن سأل أخاه المؤمن حاجة، وهو يقدر على قضائها، فرده بها، سلط الله عليه شجاعا في قبره ينهش أصابعه.

179. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: If any believer asks a fellow believer for help but the other refuses though he is able to do, Allah will impose a serpent in his grave biting his fingers.

180 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: أيما مؤمن مشى مع أخيه في حاجة ولم يناصحه، فقد خان الله ورسوله.

180. It has been narrated that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: Any believer who goes with his brother for a need to help him and does not counsel him correctly has been disloyal to Allah and His Messenger.

181 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: لا تستخف بأخيك المؤمن فيرحمه الله عز وجل عند استخفافك، ويغير ما بك.

181. It has been narrated that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: Do not belittle your brother-in-faith lest Allah [M.G] should show mercy to him while you are belittling him and your circumstances should change for worse.

182 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: من حقر مؤمنا فقيرا لم يزل الله عز وجل له حاقرا ماقتا حتى يرجع عن محقرته إياه.

It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: If one belittles a destitute believer, Allah [M.G] will not cease scorning and loathing him until he makes up for his looking down on the believer.

183 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: من أدخل السرور على مؤمن فقد أدخله على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم، ومن أدخل على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم فقد وصل ذلك إلى الله عز وجل، وكذلك من أدخل عليه كربا.

183. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: One who brings happiness to a believer has in fact brought it to the Messenger of Allah [a.s]; and one who brings happiness to the Messenger of Allah [a.s] has had the happiness reached Allah [M.G]; and the same is for one who causes him distress.

184 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: قال الله عز وجل: من أهان لي وليا فقد ارصد لمحاربتي.

184. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: the Messenger of Allah [a.s] said: Allah [M.G] says: One who humiliates a friend of Mine has prepared to confront Me;58 and I am the swiftest in coming to My friends' aid.

185 - وعن المعلي بن خنيس قال: سمعته يقول: إن الله عز وجل يقول: من أهان لي وليا فقد ارصد لمحاربتي، و أنا أسرع شئ إلى نصرة أوليائي.

185. It has been narrated that al-Mu'alla ibn Khunays said: I heard al-Sadiq [a.s] saying: Most surely, Allah [M.G] has declared: One who humiliates a friend of Mine has prepared for battle against Me; and I am the swiftest of all in coming to My friends' rescue.

186 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: نزل جبرئيل على النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم، وقال له: يا محمد إن ربك يقول: من أهان عبدي المؤمن فقد استقبلني بالمحاربة.

186. It has been narrated that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said that Archangel Gabriel descended to the Prophet [a.s] and said, 'O Muhammad, your Lord says: Whoever disgraces My believing servant has in fact confronted Me with war.'

187 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: من ستر عورة مؤمن ستر الله عز وجل عورته يوم القيامة، ومن هتك ستر مؤمن هتك الله ستره يوم القيامة.

187. It has been narrated that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: Whoever conceals the shame of a believer, Allah will conceal his shame on the Day of Resurrection; and whoever exposes a believer, Allah will expose him on the Day of Resurrection.

188 - وعن أبي جعفر عليه السلام أنه قال: لا ترموا المؤمنين، ولا تتبعوا عثراتهم، فإنه من يتبع عثرة مؤمن يتبع الله عز وجل عثرته، ومن يتبع الله عز وجل عثرته فضحه في بيته.

188. It has been narrated that Abu Ja'far [a.s] said: Do not revile at the believers and do not try and uncover their faults; for if one discloses the faults of a believer, Allah will disclose his; and if Allah discloses a person's faults, he will be disgraced even in his own home.

189 - وعن أبي جعفر عليه السلام أنه قال: من أدخل على رجل من شيعتنا سرورا فقد أدخله على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم، وكذلك من أدخل عليه أذى أو غما.

189. It has been narrated that Abu Ja'far [a.s] said: Whoever makes one of our Shi'ah happy will make happy the Messenger of Allah [a.s]; and the same is said about one who offends or causes grief.

190 - عن عبد الله بن سنان قال: قلت لأبي عبد الله عليه السلام: عورة المؤمن على المؤمن حرام؟ قال: نعم، قلت: يعني سبيليه؟ فقال: ليس حيث تذهب، إنما هو إذاعة سره.

190. It has been narrated that 'Abd Allah ibn Sinan said: I said to Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s], 'it is true that believers are forbidden from exposing other believers, is it not?' 'Yes, it is' he replied. 'Does this mean physical nakedness?' I asked. 'No, it is not,' he replied, 'rather it refers to disclosing his secrets.'

191 - وعنه عليه السلام أنه قال: من قال في مؤمن ما ليس فيه بعثه الله عز وجل في طينة خبال حتى يخرج مما قال فيه. وقال: إنما الغيبة: أن تقول في أخيك ما هو فيه مما قد ستره الله عز وجل عليه، فإذا قلت فيه ما ليس فيه، فذلك قول الله عز وجل في كتابه: " فقد احتمل بهتانا واثما مبينا ".

191. And from him (al-Sadiq) [a.s] it is reported that he said: One who accuses a believing man or believing woman falsely will be raised on the Day of Judgment by Allah in a messy substance unless he unsays it. He also said: Backbiting (ghibah) is to say about your brother what is true but Allah has hidden; for when you say about him what is untrue, then that refers to what Allah has said, '…he indeed takes upon himself the burden of a calumny and a manifest sin. [Holy Quran 4/112]'.

192 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: قال النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر، فلا يجلس في مجلس يسب فيه امام، أو يغتاب فيه مسلم، ان الله عز وجل يقول: " وإذ رأيت الذين يخوضون في آياتنا فأعرض عنهم حتى يخوضوا في حديث غيره واما ينسينك الشيطان فلا تقعد بعد الذكرى مع القوم الظالمين ".

192. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: the Prophet [a.s] said: Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day must not sit in a gathering in which an Imam is reviled or a Muslim is backbitten. Allah [M.G] says, 'And when you see those who enter into false discourses about Our communications, withdraw from them until they enter into some other discourse, and if Satan causes you to forget, then do not sit after recollection with the unjust people. [Holy Quran 6/68]'.

193 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: من روى على مؤمن رواية يريد بها عيبه، وهدم مروته، أقامه الله عز وجل مقام الذل يوم القيامة حتى يخرج مما قال.

193. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: One who narrates something concerning a believer with the intention of disgracing and defaming him, Allah will humiliate him on the Day of Resurrection unless he unsays.

194 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: يا معشر من آمن بلسانه، ولم يؤمن بقلبه، لا تطلبوا عورات المؤمنين، ولا تتبعوا عثراتهم، فإن من اتبع عثرة أخيه اتبع الله عثرته، ومن اتبع الله عثرته فضحه ولو في جوف بيته.

194. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: the Messenger of Allah [a.s] said: O community of those who have believed with their tongues but not with their hearts! Do not seek the shortcomings of believers and do not try to uncover their faults. Most surely, one who seeks to uncover the faults of his brother, Allah will disclose his faults; and for whomsoever Allah discloses his faults, He will disgrace him even if it be within his own home.

195 - عن محمد بن مسلم عن أحدهما عليهما السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: ليس بمؤمن من لم يأمن جاره بوائقه. قيل: يا رسول الله، وما بوائقه؟ قال: غشمه وأضله و أضله وغشمه.

195. It has been reported that Muhammad ibn Muslim said that one of the two (al-Baqir or al-Sadiq [a.s]) said: the Messenger of Allah [a.s] said: He is not a believer from whose actions his neighbor is not safe. 'O Allah's Messenger,' they asked, 'What are these?' 'These are the acts of wronging and oppression,' the Messenger of Allah replied.

196 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام: عورة المؤمن على المؤمن حرام، قال: ليس هو أن يكشف فيرى منه شيئا، إنما هو أن يزري عليه أو يعيبه.

196. It has been narrated that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: It is forbidden on believers to expose the secrets of each other. I do not mean that they see each other naked; rather they find faults in or disgrace each other.

197 - وعن أبي جعفر عليه السلام أنه قال: من اغتيب عنده أخوه المؤمن فلم ينصره، ولم يدفع عنه، وهو يقدر على نصرته وعونه فضحه الله عز وجل في الدنيا والآخرة.

197. It has been narrated that Abu Ja'far [a.s] said: If one's brother-in-faith is backbitten in his presence while he does neither aid nor defend him when he is able to do so, Allah will disgrace him in the world and the hereafter.

198 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: إذا قال المؤمن لأخيه أف، خرج من ولايته، وإذا قال: أنت لي عدو كفر أحدهما، لأنه لا يقبل الله عز وجل عملا من أحد يعجل في تثريب على مؤمن بفضيحته، ولا يقبل من مؤمن عملا، وهو يضمر في قلبه على المؤمن سوء، ولو كشف الغطاء عن الناس لنظروا إلى ما وصل بين الله عز وجل وبين المؤمن، وخضعت للمؤمنين رقابهم، وتسهلت لهم أمورهم ولانت لهم طاعتهم ولو نظروا إلى مردود الاعمال من السماء لقالوا: ما يقبل الله من أحد عملا.

198. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: When a believer says a word of contempt loses his friendship; and when he says to him, 'you are an enemy to me,' one of the two has become a disbeliever because Allah does not accept the actions of one who hastens to blame a believer for his faults; and He does not accept actions from a believer whilst he harbors evil in his heart against another believer. If the veils were to be lifted from people, they would have seen what bond there is between Allah [M.G] and a believer and their necks would bow for the believers. They would make the believers' affairs easy and yield to their obedience. If they were to see the amount of actions being rejected from the heavens, they would have said, 'Allah will not accept any action from anyone!'

199 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: قال النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: المؤمن حرام كله، عرضه وماله ودمه.

199. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: the Prophet [a.s] said: A believer is sacred - all of him - his dignity, his property and his life.

200 - وعن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: لا تبدأ الشماتة بأخيك 8 المؤمن، فيرحمه الله عز وجل، ويغير ما بك، قال: ومن شمت بمصيبة نزلت بأخيه، لم يخرج من الدنيا، حتى يغير ما به.

200. It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: Do not rejoice at the misfortune of your brother-in-faith lest Allah [M.G] should have mercy on him and change your condition. The Imam also said: One who rejoices at a misfortune that has befallen his brother will not leave this world before his condition changes to the worse.

201 - وعن أخي الطربال قال: سمعته يقول: ان لله عز وجل في الأرض حرمات، حرمة كتاب الله، وحرمة رسول الله، وحرمة أهل البيت، وحرمة الكعبة، وحرمة المسلم وحرمة المسلم، وحرمة المسلم.

201. It has been narrated that the brother of al-Tirbal (i.e. Ibrahim ibn Jamil al-Kufi) said: I heard al-Sadiq [a.s] saying: Allah holds some on the earth as sacred: the Book of Allah, the Messenger of Allah, the Ahl al-Bayt, the Ka'bah and a Muslim and a Muslim and a Muslim. (He repeated thrice).

Kitāb al-Muʾmin

Book 1, Chapter 8