Al-Kāfi - Volume 8


Book 1, Chapter 189

Advice of Abu 'Abd Allah, 'Alayhim al-Salam
1 Ḥadīth

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ عَنْ زَيْدٍ الشَّحَّامِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ هِلَالٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) إِنِّي لَا أَكَادُ أَلْقَاكَ إِلَّا فِي السِّنِينَ فَأَوْصِنِي بِشَيْ‏ءٍ آخُذُ بِهِ قَالَ أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ صِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ وَ الْوَرَعِ وَ الِاجْتِهَادِ وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْفَعُ اجْتِهَادٌ لَا وَرَعَ مَعَهُ وَ إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تُطْمِحَ نَفْسَكَ إِلَى مَنْ فَوْقَكَ وَ كَفَى بِمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِرَسُولِهِ (صلى الله عليه وآله) فَلا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوالُهُمْ وَ لا أَوْلادُهُمْ وَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِرَسُولِهِ وَ لا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلى ما مَتَّعْنا بِهِ أَزْواجاً مِنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ الْحَياةِ الدُّنْيا فَإِنْ خِفْتَ شَيْئاً مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَاذْكُرْ عَيْشَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ (صلى الله عليه وآله) فَإِنَّمَا كَانَ قُوتُهُ الشَّعِيرَ وَ حَلْوَاهُ التَّمْرَ وَ وَقُودُهُ السَّعَفَ إِذَا وَجَدَهُ وَ إِذَا أُصِبْتَ بِمُصِيبَةٍ فَاذْكُرْ مُصَابَكَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ (صلى الله عليه وآله) فَإِنَّ الْخَلْقَ لَمْ يُصَابُوا بِمِثْلِهِ (عليه السلام) قَطُّ.


189. A number of our companions narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, from Ali ibn Al-Hakam, from Abu al-Maghra', from Zayd al-Shahaam that Amru ibn Sa'eed ibn Hilal asked Abu 'Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (a.s), "I do not get to meet you for many years at a time so bequeath me something that I can hold on to." He (a.s) said, "I commend to you Taqwa (fear) of Allah, restraint (from sins) and striving (in worship). Beware of setting [your sight] on the one who is above you (i.ecoveting what he has of wealth). It should be sufficient (for you) what Allah (azwj) said to His Messenger: "Let not their wealth and children impress you" (9:55), and He (also) said: "Extend not your gaze (in yearning) to that which We have granted groups of them for (temporary) enjoyment, (it is merely) an adornment of the life of the world" (20:131), but if you fear something of the sort (will happen) then bring to mind the life of Rasulullah ﷺ, for his diet was barley, his dessert was dates, and his kindling was palm-leaves, if he could find them! And if you are afflicted with an affliction in your person (by sickness), or your wealth (by its loss), or your children (by their death), then recall your affliction in the passing of Rasulullah ﷺ for the creation have not been afflicted by its like ever!".