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

حدثنا الحسين بن سعيد عن محمد بن الفضل عن عذافر قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: إن الله ارتضى الاسلام لنفسه دينا فأحسنوا صحبته بالسخاء وحسن الخلق.

1.Al-Ḥusayn ibn Saʿīd narrated to us from Muḥammad ibn al-Faḍl, from ʿUdhāfir who said, “I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) say, ‘Verily Allah has chosen Islam for Himself as a religion, so be its virtuous followers through generosity and good character.’”

عثمان بن عيسى عن سماعة قال: ذكر أبو عبد الله عليه السلام يوما حسن الخلق فقال: مات مولى لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله فامر أن يحفروا له فانطلقوا فحفروا فعرضت لهم صخرة في القبر فلم يستطيعوا أن يحفروا فاتوا النبي صلى الله عليه وآله فقالوا يا رسول الله: انا حفرنا لفلان فعرضت لنا صخرة فجعلنا نضرب حتى تثلمت معاولنا فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وآله: كيف؟ وقد كان حسن الخلق ارجعوا فاحفروا فرجعوا فسهل الله حتى أمكنهم دفنه.

2.ʿUthmān ibn ʿĪsā narrated from Samāʿah who said, “One day Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) mentioned good character and said, ‘A servant of the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) passed away, so he instructed that they should dig a grave for him. They proceeded to dig when [suddenly] they came across a rock in the grave and were unable to continue digging. So they came to the Prophet (ṣ) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, we dug the grave for so-and-so and came across a large rock, so we began to strike it until our pickaxes became blunt [yet it did not break]!’ The Prophet (ṣ) said, ‘How can that be while he was a man of good character? Go back and dig.’ So they went back and Allah made it easy for them until they were able to bury him [in that grave].”

علي بن النعمان عن عمرو بن شمر عن جابر عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: لو كان حسن الخلق خلقا يرى ما كان شئ أحسن خلقا منه ولو كان سوء الخلق خلقا يرى ما كان شئ، أسوء خلقا منه وان الله ليبلغ العبد بحسن الخلق درجة الصائم القائم.

3.ʿAlī ibn al-Nuʿmān narrated from ʿAmr ibn Shimr, from Jābir, from Abū Jaʿfar (a) who said, “The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said, ‘If good character was a creature that could be seen, there would be nothing more beautiful than it in creation; and if evil character was a creature that could be seen, there would be nothing uglier than it in creation. Verily Allah makes the servant with good character attain the station of one who fasts [by day] and stands to worship [by night].”

النضر بن سويد عن عبد الله بن سنان عن رجل من بني هاشم قال: سمعته يقول: أربع من كن فيه كمل اسلامه ولو كان ما بين قرنه وقدمه خطايا لم ينقصه ذلك : الصدق والحيا وحسن الخلق والشكر.

4.Al-Naḍr ibn Suwayd narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn Sinān, from a man of the Banī Hāshim saying, “I heard him say, ‘Four traits are such that whoever possesses them, his submission [to Allah] is complete, even if he is covered in misdeeds from head to toe. They are: truthfulness, modesty, good character, and gratitude.’”

فضالة بن أيوب عن داود بن فرقد عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال جاء اعرابي إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله فقال: يا رسول الله علمني شيئا واحدا فانى رجل أسافر فأكون في البادية قال: لا تغضب، واستيسرها الأعرابي فرجع إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وآله فقال: يا رسول الله علمني شيئا واحدا فانى أسافر وأكون في البادية فقال له النبي صلى الله عليه وآله: لا تغضب فاستيسرها الأعرابي فرجع فأعاد السؤال فاجابه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله فرجع الرجل إلى نفسه وقال: (لا اسئل عن شئ بعد هذا، البحار: انى وجدته قد نصحني وحذرني لئلا افترى حين اغضب ولئلا اقتل حين اغضب وقال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: الغضب مفتاح كل شر وقال: انه إبليس كان مع الملائكة وكانت الملائكة تحسب انه منهم وكان في علم الله انه ليس منهم فلما أمر بالسجود لآدم حمى وغضب فاخرج الله ما كان في نفسه بالحمية والغضب.

5.Faḍālah ibn Ayyūb narrated from Dāwūd ibn Farqad, from Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) who said, “A bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, teach me one thing, for I am a man who journeys [regularly] and I stay in the desert.’ He said, ‘Do not get angry.’ The bedouin found that to be too trivial, so he returned to the Prophet (ṣ) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, teach me one thing, for I am a man who journeys [regularly] and I stay in the desert.’ So the Prophet (ṣ) said to him, ‘Do not get angry.’ The bedouin took that to be trivial [advice] so he returned once more and repeated his request. So the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) answered him [in the same way]. The man thought to himself, ‘I will not ask about anything else after this. I understand that he has advised me and warned me not to accuse [anyone] falsely when I get angry, and not to kill [or fight with anyone] when I get angry.’” Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) said, “Anger is the key to all evil.” And he said, “Iblīs used to be with the angels and the angels considered him to be one of them, yet in the knowledge of Allah he was not one of them. When the command to prostrate before Ādam was issued, he was filled with prejudice and anger, so Allah brought out what he held within himself of prejudice and anger.”

حماد بن عيسى عن ربعي قال قال: أبو عبد الله عليه السلام ليحيى السقاء: يا محيى ان الخلق الحسن يسر وان الخلق السئ نكد.

6.Ḥammād ibn ʿĪsā narrated from Ribʿī who said, “Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) said to Yaḥyā al-Saqqāʾ, ‘O Yaḥyā, verily good character is a means of ease, and verily bad character causes difficulty.’”

لمحاملي عن ذريح عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: إذا أراد الله باهل بيت خيرا رزقهم الرفق في المعيشة وحسن الخلق.

7.Al-Maḥāmilī narrated from Dharīḥ, from Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) who said, “The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said, ‘When Allah wishes goodness for a household, He grants them moderation [and judiciousness] in life[1] and good character.’”

حماد بن عيسى عن الحسين بن المختار عن العلاء بن كامل قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: إذا خالطت الناس فان أستطع ان لا تخالط أحدا من الناس الا كانت يدك عليه العليا فافعل فان العبد يكون منه بعض التقصير في العبادة ويكون له الخلق الحسن فيبلغه الله بخلقه درجة الصائم القائم.

8.Ḥammād ibn ʿĪsā narrated from al-Ḥusayn ibn al-Mukhtār, from al- ʿAlāʾ ibn Kāmil who said, “Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) said, ‘Whenever you mingle with people, if it is possible for you to ensure that you always have the upper hand[1] over the one you mingle with, then do so. Verily the servant may have some shortcomings in his worship, yet he has a good character so Allah elevates him thereby to the level of one who fasts [and worships often].’”

حماد بن عيسى عن شعيب العقرقوفي عن أبي بصير عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: أقربكم منى غدا أحسنكم خلقا وأقربكم من الناس.

9.Ḥammād ibn ʿĪsā narrated from Shuʿayb al-ʿAqarqūfī, from Abū Baṣīr, from Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) who said, “The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said, ‘Those who will be closest to me tomorrow (in the Hereafter) are the ones with the best character and the closest of you to the people.’”

حماد بن عيسى عن ربعي عن الفضيل عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: جاء رجل إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وآله فقال يا رسول الله: أي الناس أكمل ايمانا قال: أحسنهم خلقا.

10.Ḥammād ibn ʿĪsā narrated from Ribʿī, from al-Fuḍayl, from Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) who said, “A man came to the Prophet (ṣ) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, who among the people have the most perfect faith?’ He said, ‘Those who have the best character.’”

النضر عن القاسم بن سليمان قال: حدثني الصباح عن زيد بن علي قال: أوحى الله عز وجل إلى نبيه داود عليه السلام: إذا ذكرني عبدي حين يغضب ذكرته يوم القيامة في جميع خلقي ولا أمحقه فيما أمحق.

11.Al-Naḍr narrated from al-Qāsim ibn Sulaymān who said, “Al-Ṣabbāḥ narrated to me from Zayd ibn ʿAlī who said, ‘Allah, to Whom belong might and majesty, revealed to His Prophet, Dāwūd (a), “When My servant remembers Me in his anger [and thereby restrains it], I remember him on the Day of Resurrection in front of all My creation, and I do not cause him to perish along with that which I annihilate.”’”

عليّ بن النعمان عن جابر، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: إن الله رفيق يعطي الثواب ويحبّ كلّ رفيق، ويعطي على الرفق ما لا يعطي على العنف.

12.ʿAlī ibn al-Nuʿmān narrated from Jābir, from Abū Jaʿfar (a) who said, “The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said, ‘Verily Allah is kind, He grants [abundant] reward [to the virtuous] and He loves every kind [and gentle] person. He grants for gentleness that which He does not grant for [anything which involves] harshness.’”[1]

علي بن النعمان عن عمرو بن شمر عن جابر عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: أيها الناس والله انى لاعلم انكم لا تسعون الناس بأموالكم ولكن بالطلاقة وحسن الخلق قال: وسمعته يقول: رحم الله كل سهل طلق.

13.ʿAlī ibn al-Nuʿmān narrated from ʿAmr ibn Shimr, from Jābir, from Abū Jaʿfar (a) who said, “The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said, ‘O people! By Allah, I surely know that you cannot bring [joy or] comfort to the people with your wealth, rather [you can only do it] with cheerfulness and good character.’”[1] He (the narrator) also said that he heard him say, “May Allah have mercy on every easy-going, cheerful one.”

محمد بن سنان عن إسحاق بن عمار قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: الخلق منحة يمنحها الله من شاء من خلقه فمنه سجية ومنه بنية فقلت: فأيهما أفضل؟ قال: صاحب النية أفضل فان صاحب السجية هو المجبور على الامر الذي لا يستطيع غيره وصاحب النية هو الذي يتصبر على الطاعة فيصبر فهذا أفضل.

14.Muḥammad ibn Sinān narrated from Ishāq ibn ʿAmmār who said, “I heard Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) say, ‘[Good] character is a gift that Allah bestows to whomever He wills from His creation. Some of it is a natural disposition and some of it is [adopted and] practiced intentionally.’ I asked, ‘Which of these two is better?’ He said, ‘The one who intends it is better. For verily the one who has a natural disposition is compelled to act that way and cannot behave in any other manner, whereas the one who voluntarily intends it makes himself remain patient in obedience [to Allah] and perseveres, so he is better.’”

بعض أصحابنا عن جابر بن سدير عن معاذ بن مسلم قال: دخلت على أبى عبد الله عليه السلام وعنده رجل فقال له أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله : الرفق يمن والخرق شوم.

15.One of our companions narrated from Jābir ibn Sadīr, from Muʿādh ibn Muslim who said, “I went to meet Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) while there was a man with him, and [I heard that] Abū ʿAbdullāh (a) told him, ‘The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said, “Gentle kindness is propitious, whereas roughness is inauspicious.”’”

ابن أبي عمير عن عبد الله بن سنان قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: يا ابن سنان ان النبي صلى الله عليه وآله كان قوته الشعير من غير أدم ان البر وحسن الخلق يعمر ان الديار ويزيد ان في الأعمار.

16.Ibn Abī ʿUmayr narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn Sinān who said, “Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) said [to me], ‘O Ibn Sinān, verily the meal of the Prophet (ṣ) would consist of barley without seasoning [or condiments]. Indeed, righteousness and good character make communities thrive and increase in [peoples’] lifespans.’”

محمد بن أبي عمير عن علي الأخمشي عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: إن حسن الخلق يذيب الخطيئة كما تذيب الشمس الجليد وان سوء الخلق ليفسد العمل كما يفسد الخلق العسل.

17.Muḥammad ibn Abī ʿUmayr narrated from ʿAlī al-Aḥmasī, from Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) who said, “Verily good character melts away sin the way ice is melted by the sun, and bad character corrupts action the way vinegar spoils honey.”

ابن أبي عمير عن هشام بن سالم عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: اتى النبي صلى الله عليه وآله رجل فقال: ان فلانا مات فحفرنا له فامتنعت الأرض فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله انه كان سيئ الخلق.

18.Ibn Abī ʿUmayr narrated from Hishām ibn Sālim, from Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) who said, “A man came to the Prophet (ṣ) and said, ‘So-and-so died and we dug a grave for him, but the earth prevented it.’ He (ṣ) said, ‘He was [a person] of bad character.’”

ابن أبي عمير عن حبيب الخثعمي عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: ألا أنبئكم بخياركم؟ قالوا: بلى يا رسول الله قال: أحسنكم أخلاقا الموطؤن أكنافا الذين يألفون ويؤلفون.

19.Ibn Abī ʿUmayr narrated from Ḥabīb al-Khathʿamī, from Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) who said, “The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said, ‘Should I not inform you of the best among you?’ They said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah!’ He said, ‘Those with the best character, those who are amiable and hospitable, and those who get along with people and with whom others get along well.’”

بن العباس عن ابن شجرة عن إبراهيم بن أبي رجاء قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: حسن الخلق يزيد في الزرق.

Ibn ʿAbbās narrated from Ibn Shajarah, from Ibrāhīm ibn Abī Rajāʾ who said, “Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) said, ‘[Espousing] a good character increases [one’s] livelihood.’”

Kitāb al-Zuhd

Book 2, Chapter 3