Translator’s Introduction

On silence Except when Speaking what is Good, Abandonment of what does not concern one, and Slander

On Etiquette and Encouraging Others to do Good

On Good Character, Kindness and Anger

Virtue and Vice

Kindness to Parents, Relatives, Kinsfolk and Severance of Ties

The Rights of Neighbors

What has come in Reference to Slaves

What has come in Reference to this World and One who Seeks it

The Two Angels and what they Record

Humility and Arrogance

Showing off, Hypocrisy, Self-Admiration, and Conceit

Repentance, Seeking Forgiveness, Regret, and Admission (of Guilt)

Crying out of Fear of Allah

Remembering Death and the Grave

What the Believer and Disbeliever will See (Before Dying)

Questioning in the Grave, Chastisement in the Grave, and Barzakh

Resurrection, Reckoning, Standing Before Allah, the Exalted, and al-Ṣirāṭ

Intercession and Those who will come out of the Fire (of Hell)

Traditions About Paradise and Hell

Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil

الحسين بن سعيد عن محمد بن أبي عمير عن زيد القرشي عن عبيد زرارة قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: إذا أمات الله أهل الأرض أمات أهل السماء الدنيا ثم أمات أهل السماء الثانية ثم أمات أهل السماء الثالثة ثم أمات أهل السماء الرابعة ثم أمات أهل السماء الخامسة ثم أمات أهل السماء السادسة ثم أمات أهل السماء السابعة ثم أمات ميكائيل قال أو جبرائيل ثم أمات جبرائيل ثم أمات إسرافيل ثم أمات ملك الموت ثم ينفخ في الصور وبعث، قال ثم يقول الله تبارك وتعالى: لمن الملك اليوم؟ فيرد على نفسه فيقول: لله الخالق الباري المصور وتعالى الله الواحد القهار ثم يقول: أين الجبارون؟ أين الذين كانوا يدعون معي الها أين المتكبرون؟ - ونحو هذا - ثم يبعث الخلق.

1.Al-Ḥusayn ibn Saʿīd narrated from Muḥammad ibn Abī ʿUmayr, from Zayd al-Qurashī, from ʿUbayd ibn Zurārah who said, “I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) say, ‘When Allah causes the inhabitants of the world to die,He will make the inhabitants of the lowest heaven [also] die, then He will make the inhabitants of the second heaven die, then He will make the inhabitants of the third heaven die, then He will make the inhabitants of the fourth heaven die, then He will make the inhabitants of the fifth heaven die, then He will make the inhabitants of the sixth heaven die, then He will make the inhabitants of the seventh heaven die. Then He will cause Mīkāʾīl to die, then He will make Jibraʾīl die, then He will make Isrāfīl die, then He will cause the Angel of Death to die. Then the horn will be blown and He will resurrect [them all].’ [In another report,] he said, ‘Then Allah, the Blessed and Exalted will ask, “To whom does the Kingdom belong this Day?” Then He will respond Himself saying, “To Allah, the Creator, the Originator, and the Fashioner; and Exalted is Allah, the One, the Subduer.” Then He will ask, “Where are the tyrants? Where are those who called upon another god besides Me? Where are the arrogant ones?...” then He will resurrect the creation.’”

الحسن بن محبوب عن علي بن رئاب عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: إن الله ليمن على عبده المؤمن يوم القيامة ويدنيه من كرامته ثم يعرفه ما أنعم به عليه يقول ليمن على عبده المؤمن يوم القيامة ويدنيه من كرامته ثم يعرفه ما أنعم به عليه يقول تبارك وتعالى: ألم تدعني يوم كذا وكذا (بكذا وكذا فأجبت عدوتك؟ ألم تسألني يوم كذا وكذا) فأعطيتك مسألتك؟ ألم تستغثني (في) يوم كذا وكذا (فأغثتك؟ ألم تسألني في ضر كذا وكذا) فكشفت ضرك ورحمت صوتك؟ ألم تسألني مالا فملكتك؟ ألم تستخدمني فأخدمتك؟ ألم تسألني أن أزوجك فلانة فزوجتك - وهي منيعة عند أهلها - فزوجناكها؟ قال: فيقول العبد: بلى يا رب قد أعطيتني كل ما سألتك وقد كنت أسألك (سألتك) الجنة قال: فيقول الله: (عز وجل الا فانى منجزلك ما سألتنيه، هذه الجنة لك مباحة أرضيتك (أرضيت) فيقول المؤمن: نعم يا رب (أرضيتني) وقد رضيت قال فيقول تبارك وتعالى (الله له: عبدي) انى كنت أرضى أعمالك وأنا ارضى لك حسن الجزاء فان أفضل جزائك عندي أن أسكنك الجنة.

2.Al-Ḥasan ibn Maḥbūb narrated from ʿAlī ibn Riʾāb, from Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) who said, “Verily Allah will favour His believing servant on the Day of Resurrection and bring him close to His Grace. Then He will show him that with which He blessed him. He, the Blessed and Exalted, will say, ‘Did you not supplicate to Me on such and such day for such and such and I answered your supplication? Did you not ask Me on such and such day and I granted you what you asked for? Did you not seek My help on such and such day and I helped you?’ Did you not ask that I relieve you of such and such hardship so I relieved your hardship and showed mercy to your plea? Did you not ask Me for wealth so I granted you its possession? Did you not seek My assistance so I assisted you? Did you not ask Me to get you married to so and so while she was with her family and not [directly] approachable, yet I got you married to her?’ So the servant will say, ‘Yes indeed, O Lord! You have granted me everything I asked for, and I used to ask You for Paradise [as well].’ So Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, will say, ‘Indeed, I will grant You what you have asked Me for – here is Paradise, you are permitted [to enter] it. Have I pleased you?’ The believer will say, ‘Yes, my Lord! I am pleased.’ Then He, the Blessed and Exalted, will say, ‘I was pleased with your deeds, so I selected for you the best of rewards. Verily the best of your rewards with Me is that I have made you reside in Paradise.’”

القاسم عن علي عن أبي بصير عن أبي عبد الله صلى الله عليه وآله قال: إذا كان المؤمن يحاسب تنتظره أزواجه على عتبات (اعتبا) الأبواب كما ينتظرن أزواجهن في الدنيا من الغيبة (عند العتبة) قال: فيجئ الرسول فيبشرهن فيقول: قد والله انقلب فلان من الحساب (الحسنات) قال: فيقلن: بالله؟ فيقول: قد والله لقد رأيته انقلب من الحساب قال: فإذا جاء هن قلن مرحبا وأهلا ما أهلك الذين كنت عندهم في الدنيا بأحق بك منا.

3.Al-Qāsim narrated from ʿAlī, from Abū Baṣīr, from Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) who said, “When the believer is taken to account [for his deeds], his [heavenly] wives will be waiting for him on the thresholds of the doors just as wives wait for their husbands in this world when they are absent.Then a messenger will come and give them glad tidings saying, ‘So-andso has, by Allah, passed the accounting.’ They will say, ‘[Really,] by Allah?’ He will say, ‘By Allah he has; I saw him returning from the reckoning.’ When he comes to them, they will say, ‘Welcome, welcome! Your family whom you used to be with in the world are not more deserving of you than us!’”

محمد بن عيسى عن عمر بن إبراهيم بياع السابري عن حجر بن زائدة عن رجل عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: قلت له: يا بن رسول الله ان لي حاجة فقال: تلقاني بمكة فقلت يا بن رسول الله ان لي حاجة فقال: هات حاجتك فقلت: يا بن رسول الله انى أذنبت ذنبا بيني وبين الله لم يطلع عليه أحد فعظم على وأجلك أن استقبلك به فقال: انه إذا كان يوم القيامة وحاسب الله عبده المؤمن أوقفه على ذنوبه ذنبا ذنبا ثم غفر هاله لا يطلع على ذلك ملكا مقربا ولا نبيا مرسلا، قال عمر بن إبراهيم: وأخبرني عن غير واحد أنه قال: ويستر عليه من ذنوبه ما يكره أن يوقفه عليها قال: ويقول لسيئاته: كونى حسنات قال: وذلك قول الله تبارك وتعالى: (أولئك يبدل الله سيئاتهم حسنات وكان الله غفورا رحيما

4.Muḥammad ibn ʿĪsā narrated from ʿUmar ibn Ibrāhīm Bayyāʿ al-Sābirī,[1] from Ḥujr ibn Zāʾidah, from a man, from Abū Jaʿfar (a) to whom he said, “O son of the Messenger of Allah, verily I have a need.” So he said, “Meet me at Makkah.” [The narrator said,] “I said, ‘O son of the Messenger of Allah, verily I have a need.’ So he said, ‘Meet me at Minā.’ I said [again], ‘O son of the Messenger of Allah, verily I have a need.’ So he said, ‘Alright, tell me your needs.’ I said, ‘O son of the Messenger of Allah, verily I have committed a sin between myself and Allah which no one else is privy to, yet it weighs heavy on me, and I revere you too much to mention it to you.’ So he said, ‘When the Day of Judgment comes, and Allah takes account from His believing servant, He stops [and questions] him about all his sins, one by one, then He forgives him for them. No one comes to know of it, neither a close angel nor a chosen Prophet.’” ʿUmar ibn Ibrāhīm said, “I was informed by more than one person that he (a) said, ‘He conceals those of his sins that he dislikes to be questioned about.’ He [further] said, ‘And He says to his misdeeds, “Turn into good deeds!” That is [the interpretation of] the verse wherein Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says: They are the ones whose evil deeds Allah will change into good deeds, for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Merciful (Q25:70).’”

القاسم بن محمد عن علي قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول. ان الله تبارك وتعالى إذا أراد أن يحاسب المؤمن أعطاه كتابه بيمينه وحسابه فيما بينه وبينه فيقول: عبدي فعلت كذا وكذا وعملت كذا وكذا؟ فيقول: نعم يا رب قد فعلت ذلك فيقول: قد غفرتها لك وأبدلتها حسنات فيقول الناس: سبحان الله أما كان لهذا العبد سيئة واحدة وهو قول الله عز وجل: (فاما من أوتي كتابه بيمينه فسوف يحاسب حسابا يسيرا وينقلب إلى أهله مسرورا) قلت: أي أهل؟ قال: أهله في الدنيا هم أهله في الجنة ان كانوا مؤمنين قال: وإذا أراد بعبد شرا حاسبه على رؤوس الناس وبكته وأعطاه كتابه بشماله وهو قول الله عز وجل (واما من أوتي كتابه وراء ظهره فسوف يدعو ثبورا ويصلى سعيرا انه كان في أهله مسرورا) قلت: أي أهل؟ قال: أهله في الدنيا قلت: قوله: (انه ظن أن لن يحور) قال ظن أنه لن يرجع.

5.Al-Qāsim ibn Muḥammad narrated from ʿAlī who said, “I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) say, ‘Verily when Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, wants to take account [of the actions] of the believer, He gives him his book [of deeds] in his right hand and calls him to account [in private] between Himself and him. He says, “My servant, did you do such and such, and performed such and such [deeds]?” So he will say, “Yes my Lord, I have done that.” He will say, “I hereby forgive you [for these misdeeds] and transform them into good deeds.” So [when they see his book of deeds] the people will say, “Glory be to Allah! Did this servant not have [even] a single evil deed?” And this is [the interpretation of] the verses wherein Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says: As for the one who is given his record in his right hand, he will have an easy reckoning, and will return to his people well pleased (Q84:7-9).’ I asked, ‘Who are his people [being referred to in the verse]?’ He said, ‘His people in the world will be his people in Paradise, if they were believers.’[1] And if He wishes ill for His servant [due to his evil], He calls him to account in front of all the people, reproves him, and gives him his book [of deeds] in his left hand. This is [the interpretation of] the verses wherein Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says: And as for the one who is given his record [in his left hand] from behind his back, he will cry for [instant] destruction and will burn in a blazing fire. He used to [previously] live among his people well pleased [with himself]. (Q84:11-13)’ I asked, ‘Which people [is it referring to]?’ He replied, ‘His people in the world.’ I asked, ‘[What is the meaning of] the statement: He thought he would never return (Q84:14)?’ He said, ‘He assumed that he would never return [to his Lord].’”

القاسم عن علي عن أبي بصير قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: إن المؤمن يعطى يوم القيامة كتابا منشورا (كتاب منشور) مكتوب فيه: كتاب الله العزيز الحكيم ادخلوا فلانا الجنة.

6.Al-Qāsim narrated from ʿAlī, from Abū Baṣīr who said, “I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) say, ‘Verily the believer will be given, on the Day of Judgment, an opened scroll in which will be written: “[This is] a decree of Allah, the Mighty, the Wise. Admit so-and-so into Paradise.”’”

القاسم عن علي عن أبي بصير عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: إن الناس يمرون على الصراط طبقات والصراط أدق من الشعر ومن حد السيف فمنهم من يمر مثل البرق ومنهم من يمر مثل عدو الفرس (ومنهم من يمر حببا) (مرا) (جرا) ومنهم من يمر حبوا ومنهم من يمر مشيا ومنهم من يمر (معلقا) متعلقا قد تأخذ النار منه شيئا وتترك شيئا.

7.Al-Qāsim narrated from ʿAlī, from Abū Baṣīr, from Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) who said, “Verily people will pass the bridge [of ṣirāt] in ranks, and the ṣirāt is thinner than [a strand of] hair and the edge of a sword. Some will pass over it like lightning, some of them will pass like a galloping horse, others will pass sliding along, yet others will pass it crawling [quickly on all fours]. Others will pass it walking, and another among them will pass hanging from it, with fire taking [and burning] part of him and leaving another part.”

القاسم عن علي عن أبي بصير قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: ان الناس يقسم بينهم النور يوم القيامة على قدر ايمانهم ويقسم (يقسمه) للمنافق فيكون نوره على (قدر) ابهام رجله اليسرى (فيطفؤ) فيعطى نوره فيقول: مكانكم حتى اقتبس من نوركم قيل: (ارجعوا ورائكم فالتمسوا نورا) - يعنى حيث قسم النور - قال: فيرجعون فيضرب بينهم السور قال: فينادونهم من وراء السور: (ألم نكن معكم قالوا بلى ولكنكم فتنتم أنفسكم فتربصتم وارتبتم وغرتكم الأماني حتى جاء أمر الله و غركم بالله الغرور فاليوم لا يؤخذ منكم فدية ولا من الذين كفروا مأواكم النار هي مولاكم وبئس المصير) ثم قال: يا أبا محمد إما والله ما قال الله لليهود والنصارى ولكنه عنى أهل القبلة

8.Al-Qāsim narrated from ʿAlī, from Abū Baṣīr who said, “Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) said, ‘Verily the light on the Day of Judgment will be divided among the people in accordance to the extent of their belief. The share of the hypocrite will be such that his light will only extend to the tip of his left toe, then when it is extinguished, he will say [to the believer], “Stay where you are so that I can take from some of your light.” [But] it will be said, “Go back and seek a light [there],” (Q57:13) meaning where the light was [first] distributed. So they will [try to] return but a separating wall will be erected [to block them]. They will thus call out to them from behind the wall, “Were we not with you [in the world]?” They will reply, “Yes [you were], but you allowed yourselves to be tempted, awaited [our demise], doubted [the truth], and were deluded by false hopes until Allah’s decree came to pass. Hence the Deceiver deceived you about Allah. So today no ransom will be accepted from you [hypocrites], nor from the disbelievers. Your home is the Fire – that is where you belong. What an evil destination!” (Q57:14-15).’ Then he said, ‘O Abā Muḥammad,[1] by Allah this was not said to the Jews or the Christians; rather, it refers to the people of the Qiblah (i.e. those who outwardly profess Islam).’”

محمد بن أبي عمير عن إبراهيم بن عبد الحميد عن أبي حمزة الثمالي قال: قال لي علي بن الحسين عليهما السلام. إذا كان يوم القيامة جمع الله بين الخلائق الأولين والآخرين في صعيد واحد ثم ينادى مناد أين أهل الفضل قال: فيقوم عنق من الناس فتتلقاهم الملائكة فيقولون: ما كان فضلكم؟ فيقولون: كنا نصل من قطعنا ونعطى من حرمنا ونعفو عمن ظلمنا فيقولون: ادخلوا الجنة، ثنا ينادى مناد:أين جيران الله في داره؟ فيقوم عنق آخر من الناس فتقول لهم الملائكة بم جاورتم الله؟ فيقولون: (كنا نتبادر في الله) نتباغض في الله ونتحابب في الله و (نتشارك) نتباذل في الله (ونحاسب في الله ونتبارك في الله) ثم ينادى مناد أين أهل الصبر؟ قال فيقوم عنق من الناس فتتلقاهم الملائكة فيقول: على ما كنتم تصبرون؟ فيقولون: كنا نصبر على طاعة الله ونصبر أنفسنا عن معاصيه فيقال لهم: ادخلوا الجنة.

9.Muḥammad ibn Abī ʿUmayr narrated from Ibrāhīm ibn ʿAbd al- Ḥamīd, from Abū Ḥamzah al-Thumālī who said, “ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn (a) said to me, ‘When the Day of Judgment comes, Allah will gather all of creation, from the first to the last, on one plain. Then a caller will call out, “Where are the people of merit?” So a group of people will stand up and they will be met by the angels who will ask, “What was your merit?” They will reply, “We would establish ties with those who cut us off, give to those who deprived us, and forgive those who wronged us.” Thus they (i.e. the angels) will say, “Enter Paradise!” Then a caller will call out, “Where are the neighbours of Allah in His abode?” So another group of people will stand up. The angels will ask them, “How were you neighbours of Allah?” They will respond, “We used to take the initiative [in action] for the sake of Allah. We would hate for the sake of Allah and love for the sake of Allah. We would [share and] give for the sake of Allah. We would reckon for the sake of Allah, and we would seek blessings [for each other] for the sake of Allah.” Then a caller will call out, “Where are the people of patience?” So a group of people will stand up. The angels will meet them and ask, “With what were you patient?” They will reply, “We were patient in the obedience of Allah, and we would compel ourselves to remain patient in refraining from disobeying Him.” So they will be told, “Enter Paradise.”’”

الحسن بن محبوب عن مالك بن عطية عن فلان بن عمار قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: الدواوين يوم القيامة (ثلاث) ثلاثة: ديوان فيه النعم (النعيم) و ديوان فيه الحسنات وديوان فيه الذنوب فيقابل بين ديوان النعم (النعيم) وديوان الحسنات فيستغرق عامة الحسنات وتبقى الذنوب.

10.Al-Ḥasan ibn Maḥbūb narrated from Mālik ibn ʿAṭiyyah, from Fulān[1] ibn ʿAmmār who said, “Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) said, ‘The registers on the Day of Judgment will be three: A register in which the blessings are listed, the register in which is the [record of one’s] good deeds, and the register in which will be the [record of] sins. Then the register of blessings will be juxtaposed with the register of good deeds, so all the good deeds will be taken up [as what was due for the blessings that were granted], and [only] sins will remain.’”

الحسن بن محبوب عن أبي حمزة عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: لا يزال قائما يوم القيامة بين يدي الله عز وجل حتى يسأله عن أربع خصال: عمرك فيما أفنيته؟ وجسدك فيما أبليته؟ ومالك من أين كسبته وأين وضعته؟ وعن حبنا أهل البيت.

11.Al-Ḥasan ibn Maḥbūb narrated from Abū Ḥamzah, from Abū Jaʿfar (a) who said, “The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said, ‘The servant will remain standing in front of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, until He asks him about four aspects [of his life in the world]: “Your lifetime – what did you spend it on? Your body – what did you exhaust it for? Your wealth – where did you earn it from and where did you invest it?” And [he will be asked] about our love – the Ahl al-Bayt.’”

إبراهيم بن أبي البلاد عن بعض أصحابنا عن أبي عبد الله عن أبيه عليهما السلام قال: أتى جبرئيل عليه السلام إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وآله فاخذ بيده فأخرجه إلى البقيع فانتهى إلى قبر فصوت بصاحبه فقال: قم بإذن الله قال: فخرج منه رجل مبيض الوجه يمسح التراب عن وجهه وهو يقول: الحمد لله والله أكبر فقال جبرئيل عد بإذن الله ثم انتهى به إلى قبر آخر فصوت بصاحبه وقال له: قم بإذن الله فخرج منه رجل مسود الوجه وهو يقول: وا حسرتاه وا ثبوراه ثم قال (له جبرئيل): عد (إلى ما كنت) بإذن الله ثم قال: يا محمد هكذا يحشرون يوم القيامة، المؤمنون يقولون هذا القول وهؤلاء يقولون ما تراءى.

12.Ibrāhīm ibn Abī al-Bilād narrated from one of our fellow companions, from Abū ʿAbdillāh, from his father (a) who said, “Jibraʾīl (a) came to the Prophet (ṣ), took him by the hand and led him to al-Baqīʿ. They came to a grave, and he called out to its occupant saying, ‘Rise by the permission of Allah!’ So a man with a bright face came out from it. He wiped away the earth from his face saying, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, and Allah is the greatest!’ Jibraʾīl then said [to him], ‘Return [as you were] with the permission of Allah.’ Then he took him to another grave and called out to its occupant saying, ‘Rise by the permission of Allah!’ So a man with a dark face came out from it saying, ‘Alas, what regret! Alas, what ruin!’ Then Jibraʾīl told him, ‘Return to your previous state with the permission of Allah!’ Then he said, ‘O Muḥammad, this is how they will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment; the believers will utter this statement and these others will say what you see.’”

إبراهيم بن أبي البلاد عن يعقوب بن شعيب بن ميثم قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: نار تخرج من قعر عدن تضئ لها أعناق الإبل تبصر من أرض الشام تسوق الناس إلى المحشر.

13.Ibrāhīm ibn Abī al-Bilād narrated from Yaʿqūb ibn Shuʿayb ibn Mītham who said, “I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) say, ‘A fire will come out from inside the city of Aden by which the necks of camels[1] will be illuminated. It will be visible from the land of Shām and will drive people towards the [gathering] plain of maḥshar.’”

الحسن بن محبوب عن الحسن بن علي قال: سمعت أبا الحسن عليه السلام يقول: قال محمد بن علي عليهما السلام: إذا كان يوم القيامة نادى مناد: أين الصابرون؟ فيقوم عنق من الناس ثم ينادى (مناد): أين المتصبرون؟ فيقول عنق من الناس فقلت: جعلت فداك وما الصابرون؟ قال: الصابرون على أداء الفرائض والمتصبرون على ترك المعاصي.

14.Al-Ḥasan ibn Maḥbūb narrated from al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī who said, “I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) say, ‘Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī (a) said, “When the Day of Resurrection comes, a caller will call out, ‘Where are the patient ones?’ So a group of people will stand up. Then a caller will call out, ‘Where are those who exercised self-control?’ So a group of people will stand up.” I said, “May I be your ransom! Who are the patient ones [and those with self-control]?” He said, “Those who are patient in performing what is obligatory upon them and those who exercise self control in abandoning [acts of] disobedience.”’”

Kitāb al-Zuhd

Book 2, Chapter 17