195- In Al-Mahasin it is narrated that Abi-Basir asked Imam Sadiq (a.s) regarding God’s statement: “Fear God as He should be feared” [The Holy Quran: Al-i-Imran 3:102], Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “It means that He should be obeyed, and not revolted against; He should be remembered, and not be blasphemed.”
196- Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: “Piety resembles faith.”
197- Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) was asked to describe this world. He said: “How can I describe the world for you in which you are accountable for what you rightfully earn, and will be punished for what you wrongfully earn. If you could only see what happens during and after death, you would give up all worldly aspirations and its tricky attractions.” He then added: “God will reward whoever is really pious with peace of mind without any need for a companion; and is self-sufficient without any wealth; and has dignity without being a ruler.”
198- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “The Resurrection Day is the day of happiness for pious people.”
199- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Do not be fooled by their crying since piety is rooted in one\’s soul.”
200- Imam Sadiq (a.s) explained God\’s statement: “He is the Lord of Righteousness, and the Lord of forgiveness.” [The Holy Quran: Muddaththir 74:56] as follows: “God the Almighty said that He deserves that His servants be divinely pious, and even if they do not do so, He has the right to forgive them.”
201- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Adhere to piety and thus protect your religion.”
202- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Any independent reasoning lacking piety is useless.”
203- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “No one gains anything except through his efforts, and you will not gain what is near God without piety.”
204- Fuzayl narrated that Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Express our greetings to whoever you see and tell them that-by God- none of us are of any use for them unless they themselves adhere to piety. Be careful about what you say and do, and be one of those who persevere and establish prayers since God is the Helper of those who persevere.”
205- Imam Baqir (a.s) said that God had said: “O\’ children of Adam! Abstain from what I have forbidden so that you may be of the pious ones.”
206- Imam Sadiq (a.s) was asked who the most pious people were. He replied: “The most pious people are those who abstain from what God has forbidden.”
207- Imam Sadiq (a.s) reported on the authority of Imam Sajjad (a.s), on the authority of the Prophet of God (a.s): “Perform divinely decreed duties to be one of the most pious people.”
208- Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “Always fear God and strive in the way of your religion, and beware that it does not suffice just to strive, but you must also adhere to piety.”
209- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said that in reply to the supplications of Moses, God replied: “O\’ Moses! Nothing is more effective than piety in making My servants closer to Me. I bestowed Heaven on them and will not let anyone else share it with them.”
210- Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: “The following are signs by which the pious ones can be recognized: honesty; trustworthiness; loyalty; lack of haughtiness and jealousy; observing the relations of kin; helping the poor; minimum sexual intercourse with women; doing good deeds; having a good temper; and having an in-depth knowledge of what can help one approach God. Blessed be them and how prosperous they are!”
211- In Rauzat al-Vaezeen it is narrated that Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: “Faith is preserved by piety, and destroyed by greed.”
212- The Prophet (a.s) said: “The best definition of piety is given in God\’s words:
“God commands justice, the doing of good…” (The Holy Quran: Nahl 16:90)
213- The Prophet (a.s) said: “Be pious, since piety is absolute goodness.”
214- The Prophet (a.s) said: “Whoever likes to be the noblest of the people must be pious.”
215- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Act as if you have realized the truth.”
216- Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Whoever does not fulfill his promise is not religious. Whoever is not trustworthy does not have faith. The prayers of those who do not pay the alms tax are not accepted. The payment of the alms tax by one who is not pious is not effective.”
217- In Sifat ul-Shi\’ia it is narrated that Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “God never appointed anyone to Prophethood unless he was honest and trustworthy. And we must return what we are entrusted with to its owner whether he is a good-doer or an evil-doer.”
218- Abi-Basir stated that he told Imam Sadiq (a.s): “Ibn Abi Ya\’fur sends his greetings to you.” Imam Sadiq (a.s) replied: “Greetings to him and you. Please deliver my greetings to him whenever you see him and tell him that Ja\’far the son of Muhammad1 says: “Consider what Ali got when he was with the Prophet, and protect these things. Beware that he only got these things through honesty and trustworthiness.”
219- Ibn-i-Abi Ya\’fur said that Imam Sadiq (a.s) told him: “Invite the people to the religion by means other than plain talk. Let them see your hard work, honesty and piety.”
220- Khaysameh stated that he went to say farewell to Imam Baqir (a.s). The Imam (a.s) told him: “Deliver our greetings to our friends, and instruct them to adhere to piety. O\’ Khaysameh! Inform them that they shall not find any position near God except through their efforts, and they will not be our friends except through piety. On Judgment Day, one who admires a just man but acts otherwise and follows others will be most sorry.”
221- Al-Fuzayl stated that Imam Sadiq (a.s) told him: “O\’ Fuzayl! Whenever you see one of our followers, express our greetings and tell him that he shall not find any position near God except through piety. Therefore be careful about what you say, and what you do. Be persevering and pray since God is with those who persevere.”
222- Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: “Whoever faces the Qibla1, and eats what is slaughtered according to our directions, and believes in our Prophets, and witnesses to what we witness to, and enters into our religion will be treated according to the Quranic decrees and Islamic ordinances. No one is superior to others except through piety. Beware that the pious ones have the best divine reward and the best ending.”
From
Mishkat ul-Anwar fi Ghurar al-Akhbar
