Imam Baqir (pbuh): Earning livelihood is a worship

The town of Medina was burning under the exhalation of the heat of the
sun of Hejaz (Hijaz) and was thawing like thebenumbed sleepers under
the fire of the sky.
The branches of the palms were not oscillating under any breeze and
the trees were as weary men sleep-strucken while standing. The camels
were sheltering themselves under some shade of the palm branches,
exceeding the wall of gardens and wereruminating silently and
motionlessly. In the town every being was crawlingunder a shade and
nobody was seen in the palm gardens of the round about, except a
rather nice man having a slightly corpulent body which was leaning on
the shoulders of a young man, (perhaps his son), who was visiting his
farm. He was perspiring from the heat.
His eyes, which were half-closed because of the violent shining of
thesun, were so attractive that they recalled the looking of the most
beautiful gazelle. His nicefeature was adorned with a pretty beard and
mustache. But this handsome face was turning to purple under the sun
and the drops of perspiration were pouring from his cheeks, like the
drops of dew from a wild tulip. They were running from his face and
dropping into his chest.
At this moment another man was seen on the plain, which was advancing
towards this point. His name was Mohummad Ibn Monkader. He was
supposing himself to be apious and anchorite, a hermit man far from
Mormonism. He had a bowed down stature anda weary face. When he
reached the corpulent body man who was perspiring under the glow of
the sun, busy to supervise his farm, he wondered and said to himself:
"See how the greed of the mammon blinds the eyes of wisdom. This man
is melting like a candle under the sun. And he is not ready to stop to
hurt himself for his avidity. It is better to go to him andto advise
him. Perhaps hewill be guided."
When he came near, he knew the man and said:"Oh it's strange. This man
is Mohummad Ibn Ali, Imam Baqir, and the leader of the Shia faith. Why
this man is trying forworldly wealth?"
He goes then nearer, stood and greeted the Imam Baqir (pbuh).
ImamBaqir (pbuh), was busy with his work and was perspiring and
panting. Imam Baqir (pbuh) replied to his greeting. The man halted a
while and said: "Is it worthy fora great and pious man like you to
come out of home in this hour of the day, to seek worldly wealth? And
with this rather corpulent body you have to bear, of course, more
pain."
"If in this moment, (God forbids), your death comes, in what situation
are you going to meet Alah (SWT)? No, it is not worthy for you, with
this heat and this natural disposition, to be so concerned with
mammon."
Imam Baqir (pbuh) cleaned the perspiration off his forehead with the
back of his hand, stoppedthe work and looked at him.
"If my death in this very moment", said Imam Baqir (pbuh), "I will
meetAllah (SWT) in a state of worship." You think that the worship is
only to pray and to do religious ceremonies? I am living in the world
and I have to earn my livelihood. If I do not work I will need the
help of some men like you and I have to stretch my hands for begging.
I should fear the coming of my death when I am sinning and disobeying
my Allah (SWT). At this moment, when I am, working under the order of
Allah (SWT), I am trying not to be a weight on the shoulders of my
fellow beings.
Mohummad Ibn Monkader, struck with shame, said nothing and continued
his way, while he was humming with himself: "Wonderful. I was thinking
that I can advise him, but this was myself to earn an advice."
Moral: You should always try hard to do something by yourself and only
when you have tried and can not do it you should ask for help.
Earning livelihood is a Worship:
*. When Sa'd Ansari responded to the Holy Prophet Mohummad (saw) that
his hands were calloused because he used to work with a rope and a
shovel to earnmoney to spend for his wife and children, the Holy
Prophet Mohummad(saw) kissed his hand (as an honor) and said: "This is
a hand which the Fire (of Hell) will never touch."
*. The Holy Prophet Mohummad (saw) said:"There are seventy branches of
worship, the best of which is earning a living lawfully."
*. Imam Ali (pbuh) said:"Never, never will prosperity be reached by
remaining idle and lazy."
*. Imam Ali (pbuh) said:"One who is always lazyhis hope will be
scattered (here and there)."
*. Imam Baqir (pbuh) said: "Avoid laziness and discontent. These two
are the keys to every vice."
*. Imam Baqir (pbuh) said: "Refrain (be away)from Laziness and
impatience for both of them are surely are the keys of every evil."
*. Imam Baqir (pbuh) said: "Laziness harms both religion as well as this world."
*. Imam Baqir (pbuh) said: "I hate the person who is jobless and who
merely lies on his back and says, O Allah! Give me sustenance! He asks
Allah to do him a favor while the small Ant comes out of its Ant
colony to seek its livelihood!"

--

- - - - -

And Allah Knows the Best!

- - - - -

Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤

story - How can I live in peace with myself?

Hello!
Recently I feel very bad – I have no self confidence,no mood, no wish
for doing something, I am very confused…
Probably I am depressed, but I feel awfully!
We are living together with my boy-friend for one and a half year, but
I am very suspicious about his feelings. He is very kind with me, but
I am bored all the time, angry,I don't know what's going on with me?
I wish to be in peace with myself, but I don't know how.
How can I relax and how can I believe in myself?
I feel somehow under pressure and uncomfortable even when I am in a
taxi. That's disgusting!
Please, share with me your opinion – how can I achieve peace with myself?

story - I think i dont have a heart to love

my story starts from long time ago when i was 14. ifall in love with a
boy who was my first love. i loved him so much but unfortunately he
didnt and he doesnt like me what so ever, which was so understanable
this time.
after the years i was still thinkin eventhough i hada boyfriend and
argued about it once. when i was 19 i left my home town to london to
study, but i couldnt left without saying to him goodbye, so i called
his home and tried to talk to him, but his mom said he went to london
to study too. i was shocked asked his email address and when iwent to
london i left him an email saying that im in london i just wanted him
to know that im there, never expected him to reply me back.
maybe i was praying initially wished that to reply me back. he
replyedme and would like to chat with me and so on. after few weeks we
did meet and had lot of fun,i was living in my dream wishing that time
foreverif it could last i was happy all times, but he told me that he
would never see me as his girlfriend or anything because he has one
which is going to engagewith her.
i was shocked and cried many nights and see her pics from his computer
when im with him at his place. which was so hurting mentallly and
psychally. and after 4 months of our romance come to the ending
because he had to go back home for good. so i went to airport to say
bye to him but he just saw me for a secon and left me without saying
any single word.
all this confussion of our affair left with no heart to love to anyone
else. now im 24 still dont have no bf and just keep thinking he stole
my heart forever with him. i try to love someone but i loose my
interest for 2 weeks later. am i psycho or is it just cos i dont
findmy mr right?

Tears of Rasulullah (saw): How much do you Love Rasulullah (saw)?

Suddenly, there was a person said Salaam. "MayI come in?" he asked the
permission to enter.
But Fatimah daughter of Muhammad (saw) did notallow him to enter the
room. "I'm sorry, my father is ill," said Fatimahdaughter of Muhammad
(saw) turned back and closed the door.
Fatimah daughter of Muhammad (saw) went back to her father who had
opened his eyes and asked Fatimah, "Who washe, my daughter?"
"I don't know, my father. It's the first time I'm seeing him," Fatimah
daughter of Muhammad (saw) said gently.
Then, Rasulullah (saw) looked at his daughter with trembled look, as
if he wanted to reminisce about every part of her daughter's face.
"Know one thing! He is who erases the temporary pleasure; he is who
separates the companionship in the world. He is the angel of death
(Ezraeel)," said Rasulullah (saw).
Fatimah daughter of Muhammad (saw) bore the bomb of her cry. Then,
Rasulullah (saw) ask his daughter to allowthe angel of death (Ezraeel)
to enter.
The angel of death (Ezraeel) came toward him; But Rasulullah (saw)
asked why Jibril (Gabriel)did not come along with him. Then, Jibril
was called. Jibril was ready in the sky to welcome the soul of
Habibullah and the leader of the earth.
"O Jibril, explain me about my rights in front of ALLAH (SWT)?"
Rasulullah (saw) asked with a weak voice.
"The doors of sky has opened, the angels are waiting for your soul.
Paradise opens widely waiting for you," Jibril said. But, in fact,
those alldid not make Rasulullah (saw) relieve, his eyes were still
full of worry.
"You are not happy to hear this news?" asked Jibril.
"Tell me about the destiny of my people in future?"
"Don't worry, O Rasulullah. I heard ALLAH (SWT) told me: I make
Paradise Haram (forbidden) for every one, except the people
ofMuhammad," Jibril said.
It became closer and closer, the time for the angel of death (Ezraeel)
to do his work. Slowly, Rasulullah's soul was pulled. It was seemed
that the body of Rasulullah (saw) was full of sweat; the nerves of his
neck became tight.
"Jibril, how painful this Sakaratul Maut is?" Rasulullah (saw) uttered
a groan slowly. Fatimah daughter of Muhammad (saw) closed her eyes,
Imam Ali (as) sat beside her, bow deeply and Jibril turned his face
back.
"Am I repugnant to you that you turn your face back O Jibril?"
Rasulullah (saw) asked to the deliverer of Wahi. "Who is the one who
could see the Habibullah in his Sakaratul Maut," Jibril said.
Not for a while, Rasulullah uttered a groan because of unbearable pain.
"O ALLAH (SWT), how greatest is this Sakaratul Maut. Give me all these
pains, don't to my people." The body of Rasulullah (saw) became cold,
his feet and chest did not move anymore. His lips vibrated as if he
wanted to say something, Imam Ali (as) took his ear close to
Rasulullah. "Uushiikum bis salati, wa maa malakat aimanuku" -"take
care of the Salaat and take care of the weak people among you."
"Outside the room, there were cries shouted each other, Sahabah
(Companions) held each other. Fatimah daughter of Muhammad (saw)
closed her face with her hands and, again, Imam Ali (as) took his ear
close to Rasulullah's mouth which became bluish.
"Ummatii, Ummatii, Ummatii" - "My people, my people, my people." And
the life of the noble prophet ended.
Could we love each other like our prophet Muhammad (saw)?
Allahuma salli ala Muhammadin wa aale Muhammad (O Allah! Bestow Peace
on Muhammad and his Descendants)
How deep is Rasulullah's love to us? Indeed Rasulullah (saw) really
deserves best of our LOVE than everything in this world as shown in
the following narration.
Thawban, the Companionof Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw):
Thawban was one of the freed slaves of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw). He
was always with the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) at home or in journey.
Afterthe passing away of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) he stayed for
some years in Syria and later for some time in Egypt. He was present
at the time of the victory on Egypt. Thawban died at the age of 51
years.
It is found in Rewayat (narration) that he adored the Holy Prophet
Muhammad (saw) so much that for a single moment he could not bear his
absence. One day Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) saw him in a very sad
mood. He appeared to be weak. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) asked him,
"O' Thawban! What has happened to you? Thawban replied: "O Messenger
of Allah! I am not ill nor have any pain, but, I am worried about your
proximity which I will be missing in the Paradise. As you will be in a
higher station and I am in a lower position. I will not be able to see
you over there."
At the same moment an Ayat (verse of Noble Qur'an) was revealed."And
whoso obeys Allah and the Messenger, and then they will be in the
company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the
Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. And how
excellent these companions are!" Noble Qur'an (4:69) [Bihar al-Anwar
vol.2 pg.68)]
O Messenger of Allah! Indeed, I love you:
Aishah reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be
upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Indeed, I love you more
than I love myself, and I love you more than I love my family, and I
love you more than I lovemy children. When I am at home and I think of
you, I am unable to contain myself until I can come to you and look at
you. When I think about my death and your death, I know that when you
enter Paradise, you will be raised to where the Prophets are. But, if
I enter Paradise, I am afraid: will I be able to see you?"
So, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not answer him at
all until Jibril revealed to him: "And whoever obeys Allah and the
Messenger, then they willbe in the company of those on whom Allah has
bestowed His Grace - of the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and
the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!" [an-Nisa,
4:69]
[Silsilat al-Ahadith as-Sahihah; #2933]
Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) and his six true friends:
In the third year after Hijrah (Migration) , some members of the Ozal
and Qareh tribes who residednear Makkah and apparently had the same
origin with the Quraish tribe went to the honorable Prophet Muhammad
(saw) and said, "Some members of our tribes have chosen Islam as their
religion. Please send some Muslimsto our tribes to teach us the
meaning of religion, Noble Qur'an, Islamic principles and laws."
Having heard this, the glorious Prophet Muhammad (saw) chose six of
his Sahabah (Companions) to go with them. The leadership of those six
was on the shoulders of Marand ibn Abi Marthad or Asem ibn Sabet.
Holy Prophet Muhammad's (saw) messengers set off with that group and
left Medina. They continued their way till they arrivedin the domicile
of the Hozail tribe and they alighted there. Holy Prophet Muhammad's
(saw) friends, were resting when suddenly a gang of people from the
Hozail tribe attacked them with their swords.
Getting aware of the situation, the Holy Prophet Muhammad's (saw)
friends immediately went to their weapons and got ready to defend
themselves.
The attackers swore that they would not intend to kill them but to
hand them to the people of Quraish in Makkah in return for some money.
They offered them a deal.Three of them including Asem ibn Sabet
replied,"We never accept the meanness of dealing with Mushrikeen
(polytheists)." They fought and were killed.
The other three, Zaid ibn Dasaneh, Khabib ibn Oday and Abdullah ibn
Tareq did accept and yielded.
The people of Hozail bound them with rope tightly and set off for
Makkah. Abdullah ibn Tareq, getting near to Makkah, loosened the rope
on his hands and reached his sword but the enemy did not waste any
time and killed him.
Zaid ibn Dasaneh and Khabib ibn Oday, at the end of the trip, were
soldin exchange for two captives of Hozail in Makkah.
Safvan ibn Umayyah Quraishi bought Zaid ibn Dasaneh. Safvan's father
was killed in the battle ofBadr or Ohud so he intended to take his
revenge on Zaid ibn Dasaneh and kill him.
Zaid ibn Dasaneh was taken out of Makkah. Thepeople of Quraish
gathered to see the scene. Zaid ibn Dasaneh came in with steady
stepsand there was no sign of fear on his face.
Abu Sufyan was watchingthe scene. He thought that it was the best time
to make Zaid ibn Dasaneh insult the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)
because it was the last moments of his life. Abu Sufyan went to Zaid
ibn Dasaneh and said,"Do you not wish now that Muhammad was in your
place and we wouldcut his neck while you would go to your wife and
children comfortably?"
Zaid ibn Dasaneh replied,"I swear by Allah (SWT) that I do not like to
see a thorn in the Holy ProphetMuhammad's (saw) foot while I am
resting at my house beside my wife and children."
Abu Sufyan glared at him with his mouth open in surprise and then he
turned his head back to the people of Quraish and said, "I swear by
GodI have not seen somebody's friends love that person as much as
Muhammad's friends lovehim."
Holy Prophet Muhammad's (saw) friends loved him so much that they even
could not see his foot injured with a thorn.
Having seen this love, Abu Sufyan, one of the arch enemies of the Holy
Prophet Muhammad (saw), confessed that he had not seen somebody to be
loved as much as Muhammad.
After a while, it was time for Khabib ibn Oday to behanged so he was
taken out of Makkah. Khabib ibn Oday asked them to let him say his
Salaat (prayer). They let him and he said his prayer very humbly but
quickly.
Then he turned to the people and said, "I swearby Allah (SWT) that if
you did not accuse me of being frightened of death, I would say my
prayer more."
They bound him to the gallows tree. Then Khabib ibn Oday's voice was
heard while he was praying to Allah (SWT) in such a spiritual way that
many people were influenced by it and some threw themselves on the
ground.
What Khabib ibn Oday saying was is, "We performed the mission given to
us by Your Messenger (saw), please let him know about whathappened to
us this morning. O Allah (SWT)! See these cruel people, destroy them
all and do not let even one of them live."
By Martyred, Morteza Motahhari in Attraction and Repulsion of Imam Ali (as)
Farsighted [Save the honour of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)]:
A Jew lost his invaluable ring and accidentally a poor Muslim fellow
foundit. When this Muslim came to know that it belongs to that Jew he
went to return it to him. The Jew smiled and asked him: "Do you
knowits value?"
The Muslim replied: "Yes"
"You found this and you are also a poor and a needy!" said the Jew.
"Yes, you are right." The Muslim replied.
The Jew asked, "Did it notcome to your mind that by selling this ring
you can live a comfortable life as you had an excuse that it belonged
to a Jew?"
The Muslim told him,"Why, I should have thought that way?"
"So why did you return this ring to me while I was not knowing that
you have found it?" questioned the Jew.
The poor Muslim replied:"We believe on the Day of Judgement. I told
myself that if I do not give this ring to the owner, then during the
accounting of the deeds of the people during Qayamat my Holy
ProphetMuhammad (saw) and your Prophet Moses [Hazrat Musa (as)] would
be sitting together and you will be complaining about this to your
Prophet Moses [Hazrat Musa (as)] and then your Prophet Moses [Hazrat
Musa (as)] would complain to my Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) that a
person belonging from your Ummah (nation) has done such an act. And at
that moment my Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) would not be able to answer
him. I have returned this ring so that on the Day of Judgement,I save
the honour of my Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw).
Moral of the story: Think like a Muslim, act like a Muslim and love
Allah (SWT) and Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) like a true Muslim.
(Lessons from stories, Mohammad Mohammadi Ishtehardy)

--

- - - - -

And Allah Knows the Best!

- - - - -

Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤