Virtue and Excellence of Serving in the Army

Jihad of Man and Woman

Kinds of Jihad (struggle)

To Whom Does the Obligation of Jihad Apply, and to Whom it Does not Apply

Mobilization Along with People when there is Fear for al-Islam

Under Whose Command Obligatory Jihad Takes Place?

‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd and al-Mu’taziliy Groups’ Visiting abu ‘Abd Allah ‘Alayhi al-Salam

The Recommendations of the Messenger of Allah and Amir al-Mu’minin, about Smaller Armed Expeditions

Chapter 9(a) - Granting Immunity

Chapter 9(b)

Chapter 9(c)

Challenging the Enemy for a Fight

Kindness to the Prisoners and Providing Him Food

Calling to al-Islam before Fighting

Chapter 13(a) - Matters about which Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s), Recommended at the Time of War

Chapter 13(b)

It is not Lawful for a Muslim to Reside in a War Zone

Chapter 15(a) - Distribution of the Properties Captured from the Enemy

Chapter 15(b)

Chapter 15(c)

The Slogan

The Virtue of Maintaining Horses, Racing and Sharp Shooting Contests

Man’s Defending Himself Against the Thief

The Case of one Murdered over His Stolen Property

Chapter 20(a) - The Excellence of Martyrdom

Chapter 20(b)

Chapter 20(c)

Commanding others what is Obligatory and to Prohibit them from doing Evil

Chapter 22(a) - Rejecting Evil in one’s Heart

Chapter 22(b)

The Case of those who Displease the Creator to Please the Creatures

It is Detestable to Expose One’s Self to What He Cannot Endure

Al-Sufiy People’s Visiting Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam

The Meaning of Zuhd (Asceticism)

Using the Worldly Resources as Means for Success in the Hereafter

The Degree Of Efforts Which One Must Make In Search For One’s Sustenance To Follow In the Footsteps of ‘A’immah ‘Alayhim al-Salam

Promoting The Quest For Sustenance And Work To Make A Living

Al^Ibla’ (Trying) in the Work for Living

Meticulous Effort to Make a Living

Receiving Sustenance from Unexpected Sources

The Detestability of Sleeping and Passing Time without Work

Detestability of Laziness

One’s Working in His House

Amending one’s Properties and Planning for one’s Living

Hard Work for the Family

Earning Lawful kind of Sustenance

Saving for One’s Living Expenses

Detestability of Offering Oneself for Hire

Performing Personally one’s Business Tasks

Buying and Selling Real Estate

Debts and Borrowing

Payment of Debts

To Retaliate and Offset for Debts

When a Man Dies Payment of his Debts becomes Due

The Case of One Who Borrows But Does Not Intend To Pay Back

Sell off Debts in Exchange for Debts

Etiquette of Asking for Payment

The Case of Delaying Due Payment

Lodging With a Borrower When Demanding Payment

Chapter 28(a) - The Case of Gift to a Creditor

Chapter 28(b) - Bail out and Assignment or Referral

Working for al-Sultan and his Rewards

The Conditions to Work for al-Sultan

Selling Arms to al- Sultan

The Crafts (Technologies)

The Legal Status of Income from Cupping Operation

Income from Eulogizing Someone to Make People Mourn

The Legal Status of Income from Hairdressing and Circumcising

The Legal Status of the Income of Female Singer from Singing and Selling Singers (Slave-girls)

The Legal Status of Income from Teaching

The legal Status of Income from Selling Copies of the Holy Quran

Gambling and Looting

Earning in Unlawful ways

Unlawful Earnings in the form of al-Suht such as Buying and Selling of Intoxicating Liquors . . .

Consuming the Properties of Orphans

The Amount a Supervisor of the Properties of Orphans Can Lawfully Use

Using the Properties of Orphans in Business and Lending

Safe Return of Trust

A Father and Son’s Using Each Others Properties

A Husband and Wife’s Using Each Other’s Properties

Found and Lost Properties

Gifts and Presents

Rule about Unlawful Interest

Unlawful Interest Does Not Apply Between a Father and Son

The Excellence of Doing Business and Giving It Proper Attention

Etiquettes of Doing Business

Excellence of Keeping Accounts and Books

Entering the Market Before Others

Speaking of Allah, Most High, in the Market

Words to Say When Buying for Resale Purposes

People With Whom Doing Business Is Not Recommended

Using Proper and Improper Measurements in Business

Cheating in Business

Swearing at the Time of Buying and Selling

The Case of Prices of Goods

The Case of Monopolization (Hoarding) Goods in Public Demand

Another Chapter

Excellence of Buying Wheat and Food

Detestability of Estimating and Preferability of Using Measurements

Continuing Profitable Businesses

1- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ أَلا إِنَّ الرُّوحَ الأمِينَ نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي أَنَّهُ لا تَمُوتُ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَكْمِلَ رِزْقَهَا فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ وَلا يَحْمِلَنَّكُمُ اسْتِبْطَاءُ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ أَنْ تَطْلُبُوهُ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ مَعْصِيَةِ اللهِ فَإِنَّ اللهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى قَسَمَ الأرْزَاقَ بَيْنَ خَلْقِهِ حَلالا وَلَمْ يَقْسِمْهَا حَرَاماً فَمَنِ اتَّقَى اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَصَبَرَ أَتَاهُ اللهُ بِرِزْقِهِ مِنْ حِلِّهِ وَمَنْ هَتَكَ حِجَابَ السِّتْرِ وَعَجَّلَ فَأَخَذَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ حِلِّهِ قُصَّ بِهِ مِنْ رِزْقِهِ الْحَلالِ وَحُوسِبَ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and a number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from Abu Hamza al-Thumali who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah during his farewell Hajj said, ‘The trustworthy spirit has inspired my understanding that no soul dies before its sustenance is complete (depleted). You must maintain piety before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, be meticulous in your work to make a living. You must not allow procrastination to make you fall behind in the work for living. You must not work in disobedience to Allah; Allah, most Blessed, most High, has divided sustenance among His creatures in a lawful way. He has not divided it in unlawful ways. One who maintains piety before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, He provides him sustenance from the lawful kind. One who tears the covering curtain in hastiness and takes it by unlawful ways, it is reduced from his lawful sustenance and he is held accountable for it on the Day of Judgment.’” 

2- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ أَبِي الْبِلادِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَيْسَ مِنْ نَفْسٍ إِلا وَقَدْ فَرَضَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهَا رِزْقَهَا حَلالا يَأْتِيهَا فِي عَافِيَةٍ وَعَرَضَ لَهَا بِالْحَرَامِ مِنْ وَجْهٍ آخَرَ فَإِنْ هِيَ تَنَاوَلَتْ شَيْئاً مِنَ الْحَرَامِ قَاصَّهَا بِهِ مِنَ الْحَلالِ الَّذِي فَرَضَ لَهَا وَعِنْدَ اللهِ سِوَاهُمَا فَضْلٌ كَثِيرٌ وَهُوَ قَوْلُهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَسْئَلُوا اللهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Ibrahim ibn abu al-Balad from his father who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘There is not a single soul whose sustenance Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has not assigned of the lawful kind and in good health. He has disclosed the unlawful kind also but in another aspect. If the soul achieves a certain amount of the unlawful kind it is reduced from its lawful sustenance which He has assigned for him. Besides these two kinds of sustenance, there is a great deal of extra with Allah as is mentioned in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘You must ask Allah to grant you (sustenance) from the extra with Him. . . .’ ( 3 : 37 )” 

3- إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ أَبِي الْبِلادِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا (عَلَيْهِما السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ قَدْ نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ أَنَّهُ لَنْ تَمُوتَ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَوْفِيَ رِزْقَهَا وَ إِنْ أَبْطَأَ عَلَيْهَا فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ وَلا يَحْمِلَنَّكُمُ اسْتِبْطَاءُ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِمَّا عِنْدَ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ تُصِيبُوهُ بِمَعْصِيَةِ اللهِ فَإِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لا يُنَالُ مَا عِنْدَهُ إِلا بِالطَّاعَةِ.

3. Ibrahim ibn abu al-Balad has narrated from his father from one of the two Imams (a.s.), who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘O people, the trustworthy spirit has inspired my understanding that a soul never dies until it completes (depleting of) its sustenance even if it takes place with a certain degree of delays. You must maintain piety before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and seek your sustenance meticulously. You must not allow certain degrees of delays from Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, to cause you to indulge in Allah’s disobedience. What is with Allah is only achieved through obedience to Him.’” 

4- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي هَاشِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي خَدِيجَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لَوْ كَانَ الْعَبْدُ فِي حَجَرٍ لأتَاهُ اللهُ بِرِزْقِهِ فَأَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Hashim from abu Khadijah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Even if a servant lives in a hole, Allah has his sustenance for him. Thus you must seek your sustenance meticulously.’” 

5- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبِي زِيَادٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ وَخَلَقَ مَعَهُمْ أَرْزَاقَهُمْ حَلالا طَيِّباً فَمَنْ تَنَاوَلَ شَيْئاً مِنْهَا حَرَاماً قُصَّ بِهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْحَلالِ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn al-Sindiy from Ja’far ibn Bashir from ‘Umar ibn abu Ziyad from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who said, “ Allah, the most Majestic and Glorious, has created the creatures and with them He has created their sustenance of the lawful and beautiful kind. If anyone achieves a certain amount of unlawful sustenance, then it is deducted from his lawful sustenance.’” 

6- عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَمْ مِنْ مُتْعِبٍ نَفْسَهُ مُقْتَرٍ عَلَيْهِ وَمُقْتَصِدٍ فِي الطَّلَبِ قَدْ سَاعَدَتْهُ الْمَقَادِيرُ.

6. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad in a marfu’ manner the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘There is many a soul who tires itself (by work) and lives stringently. On the other hand there are those who moderately seek their sustenance; and measures favorably assist them/” 

7- عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ الْقُمِّيُّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الْقَصِيرِ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ قَالَ ذُكِرَ عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلام) غَلاءُ السِّعْرِ فَقَالَ وَمَا عَلَيَّ مِنْ غَلائِهِ إِنْ غَلا فَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ رَخُصَ فَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ.

7. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Qummiy has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from ‘Isma’il al-Qasir from those whom he has mentioned from abu Hamzah al-Thumaliy who has said the following: “The condition of very high prices was mentioned before Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.). He (the Imam) said, ‘Very high prices do not affect me; it is only against Him. If it becomes very high, it is against Him, and if it becomes very low, it is against Him.’” 

8- عَنْهُ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لِيَكُنْ طَلَبُكَ لِلْمَعِيشَةِ فَوْقَ كَسْبِ الْمُضَيِّعِ وَدُونَ طَلَبِ الْحَرِيصِ الرَّاضِي بِدُنْيَاهُ الْمُطْمَئِنِّ إِلَيْهَا وَلَكِنْ أَنْزِلْ نَفْسَكَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْمُنْصِفِ الْمُتَعَفِّفِ تَرْفَعُ نَفْسَكَ عَنْ مَنْزِلَةِ الْوَاهِنِ الضَّعِيفِ وَتَكْتَسِبُ مَا لا بُدَّ مِنْهُ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُعْطُوا الْمَالَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَشْكُرُوا لا مَالَ لَهُمْ.

8. It is narrated from him (narrator of previous Hadith) from ibn Faddal from the one whom he has mentioned who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that your effort in work for living must be above the efforts of a losing person and below that of a greedy one who is happy with confidence in the worldly matters. You must keep your soul in the position of the fair and conservatives ones, and lift your soul above the position of neglectful and weak ones. You must earn what is necessary. Those who are granted wealth but do not appreciate it they, in fact, have no wealth at all.’” 

9- عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَثِيراً مَا يَقُولُ اعْلَمُوا عِلْماً يَقِيناً أَنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لِلْعَبْدِ وَإِنِ اشْتَدَّ جَهْدُهُ وَعَظُمَتْ حِيلَتُهُ وَكَثُرَتْ مُكَابَدَتُهُ أَنْ يَسْبِقَ مَا سُمِّيَ لَهُ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ وَلَمْ يَحُلْ مِنَ الْعَبْدِ فِي ضَعْفِهِ وَقِلَّةِ حِيلَتِهِ أَنْ يَبْلُغَ مَا سُمِّيَ لَهُ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ لَنْ يَزْدَادَ امْرُؤٌ نَقِيراً بِحِذْقِهِ وَلَمْ يَنْتَقِصِ امْرُؤٌ نَقِيراً لِحُمْقِهِ فَالْعَالِمُ لِهَذَا الْعَامِلُ بِهِ أَعْظَمُ النَّاسِ رَاحَةً فِي مَنْفَعَتِهِ وَالْعَالِمُ لِهَذَا التَّارِكُ لَهُ أَعْظَمُ النَّاسِ شُغُلا فِي مَضَرَّتِهِ وَرُبَّ مُنْعَمٍ عَلَيْهِ مُسْتَدْرَجٍ بِالإحْسَانِ إِلَيْهِ وَرُبَّ مَغْرُورٍ فِي النَّاسِ مَصْنُوعٍ لَهُ فَأَفِقْ أَيُّهَا السَّاعِي مِنْ سَعْيِكَ وَقَصِّرْ مِنْ عَجَلَتِكَ وَانْتَبِهْ مِنْ سِنَةِ غَفْلَتِكَ وَتَفَكَّرْ فِيمَا جَاءَ عَنِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَاحْتَفِظُوا بِهَذِهِ الْحُرُوفِ السَّبْعَةِ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ قَوْلِ أَهْلِ الْحِجَى وَمِنْ عَزَائِمِ اللهِ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لأحَدٍ أَنْ يَلْقَى اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِخَلَّةٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْخِلالِ الشِّرْكِ بِاللهِ فِيمَا افْتَرَضَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ أَوْ إِشْفَاءِ غَيْظٍ بِهَلاكِ نَفْسِهِ أَوْ إِقْرَارٍ بِأَمْرٍ يَفْعَلُ غَيْرُهُ أَوْ يَسْتَنْجِحَ إِلَى مَخْلُوقٍ بِإِظْهَارِ بِدْعَةٍ فِي دِينِهِ أَوْ يَسُرَّهُ أَنْ يَحْمَدَهُ النَّاسُ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلْ وَالْمُتَجَبِّرِ الْمُخْتَالِ وَصَاحِبِ الأبَّهَةِ وَالزَّهْوِ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ السِّبَاعَ هِمَّتُهَا التَّعَدِّي وَإِنَّ الْبَهَائِمَ هِمَّتُهَا بُطُونُهَا وَإِنَّ النِّسَاءَ هِمَّتُهُنَّ الرِّجَالُ وَإِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مُشْفِقُونَ خَائِفُونَ وَجِلُونَ جَعَلَنَا اللهُ وَإِيَّاكُمْ مِنْهُمْ.

9. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from ibn Jumhur from his father in a marfu’ manner who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), very often would say, ‘You must take notice with absolute certainty that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, does not allow a servant, no matter how intensely he strives, how great the kind of means he prepares, and no matter how numerously he suffers fatigue, to exceed the limit which He has mentioned in His book of wisdom. It does not change anything for a man, with his weakness and his little means, in reaching what is already assigned for him in the book of wisdom. O people, one’s wisdom does not increase a naqir (a certain unit of measurement) for him and one’s lack of understanding does not reduce anything against him. One who knows this and acts accordingly is the greatest of people to enjoy comfort in profit, and one who knows it but ignores to act accordingly does the biggest work to cause losses. There are many of those who are led to destruction in the process of receiving favors, and also there are many of those who are thought of among people as being deceived, but in reality receive favors. O you who strive hard, beware of your struggle, hold back your haste and wake up from the slumber of your unawareness. Think about what has come from Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, through the tongue of His Holy prophet. Preserve these seven letters; they are of the words of the people of reason and of the decisive issues in the book of wisdom. One cannot reach before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, with the presence of any single of these habits in him: considering things as partners of Allah in the matters that Allah has made obligatory on him, quenching his anger by destruction of his soul, claiming to have done what in fact others have done, seeking success before a creature by means of a heretic act in his religion, enjoying people’s praising him for what he has not done, acting oppressively and conceitedly, and being of honorable position but speaking lies. O people, what is important for beasts is transgression, and what is important for animals is to eat, what is important for women is their men; and believing people are anxious, fearful and afraid. I pray to Allah to make us one of them (such believers).”’ 

10- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ رَبِيعِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُسْلِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى وَسَّعَ فِي أَرْزَاقِ الْحَمْقَى لِيَعْتَبِرَ الْعُقَلاءُ وَيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا لَيْسَ يُنَالُ مَا فِيهَا بِعَمَلٍ وَلا حِيلَةٍ.

10. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Rabi’ ibn Muhammad al- Musalliy from ‘ Abd Allah ibn Sulayman who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Allah, most High, has expanded the sustenance of the dimwitted ones so that people of reason learn a lesson and take notice that the worldly things are not achieved by means of work and means only.”’ 

11- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي لَمْ أَدَعْ شَيْئاً يُقَرِّبُكُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَيُبَاعِدُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ إِلا وَقَدْ نَبَّأْتُكُمْ بِهِ أَلا وَإِنَّ رُوحَ الْقُدُسِ [قَدْ] نَفَثَ فِي رُوعِي وَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنْ لا تَمُوتُ نَفْسٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَكْمِلَ رِزْقَهَا فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ وَلا يَحْمِلَنَّكُمُ اسْتِبْطَاءُ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ أَنْ تَطْلُبُوهُ بِمَعْصِيَةِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَإِنَّهُ لا يُنَالُ مَا عِنْدَ اللهِ جَلَّ اسْمُهُ إِلا بِطَاعَتِهِ. 

11. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from ‘Amr ibn Shamir from Jabir from abu Ja’far ‘Alayhi al- Salam, who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘I have not left anything that can take you closer to paradise or keep you away from hellfire but that I have informed you of all such matters. You must take notice that the Holy Spirit has inspired my understanding and has told me that a soul does not die until it completes (depleting) its sustenance. You must maintain piety before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and work for your living meticulously. Certain delays in reaching of sustenance must not take you to find sustenance by means of disobedience to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious; what is with Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, can be achieved only by means of obedience to Him.” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 2, Chapter 7