In this post I will present to you an authentic teaching from Imam Ali ibn Hussain, peace be upon him, with regard to asceticism and being wary of this world.
Since this tradition is long, I will only post the English translation of it. If you would like to read the original Arabic text, or its Farsi translation, you could leave a comment with your e-mail, and I will post them to you.
Without any further ado, here’s what Imam Sajjad, peace be upon him, states about Asceticism [Zuhd].
Narrated by Mohamed Ibn Yehya from Ahmed Ibn Mohamed Ibn Eissa and Ali Ibn Ibrahim, from his father, narrated by all of them from Al-Hassan Ibn Mahboub from Malak Ibn Attiya from Abu Hamza who said:
I have heard of no one more ascetic than Ali Ibn Hussein (peace be upon him), except what I have heard about Ali Ibn Abu Talib (peace be upon him).”
Abu Hamza narrated: “When Imam Ali Ibn Al-Hussein (peace be upon him) spoke and preached about asceticism, he brought tears to the eyes of all who were present.”
Abu Hamza narrated, “I read a scroll on asceticism written by Ali Ibn Al-Hussein (peace be upon him). I copied it and brought it to Ali Ibn Al-Hussein. He recognized and confirmed the words. In it was written:
“In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. May Allah protect us and yourselves from the revenge of the unjust, the evil of the envious ones and the cruelty of tyrants. O ye faithful, do not be beguiled by the tyrants and their followers, those who desire this life and prefer it and are infatuated with it; those who seek this life and its crumbling ruins, its mortal fragments which will soon become extinct. Beware of that against which Allah has warned you. Relinquish what Allah enjoins you to relinquish and do not incline to what is in this life with absolute inclination.
He who takes this life as his abode and settlement, by Allah, you have before you proof and warning of its passing days and its upheavals and its manner of game with men. It elevates the indolent and drags down the honest and will drive flocks of people to hellfire. In this there is a moral and a trial and an injunction for the wary.
The things that befall you by day and by night of grievous temptations, incidents of innovation and all manner of injustice; the trumpeters of the age, the prestige of dominion and the whispers of Satan that inhibit hearts from wakefulness and stupefy them against seeking guidance and the knowledge of the people of truth, except for the few whose hearts Allah has safeguarded.
They heed not life’s changes and upheavals and the consequent damages of temptation, [except] only those whom God has safeguarded and guided to the path of rationality and the road of resolve; and they affirm that with asceticism. Thus they utilize reasoning and resort to patience and quickly become wary, abstain from the delights of the world and are hardened to its delights. They desire the paradise of the afterlife and strive for it. They await death, and not life with people who transgress. They see the world through new, enlightened eyes. They see the incidents of strife, the errors of innovation and the oppression of tyrant kings.
[I swear] upon my life, you should look at past affairs of olden days, the accumulation of strife and [instead] engage in avoiding tempters, innovators, transgressors, and those who corrupt unjustly throughout the land; seek the protection of God and return to the obedience of God, who is the Most Worthy of obedience. Beware, beware before you fall into regret and anguish when you are brought before God and stand between His hands. By Allah, there is no disobedience of Allah by a people but that they are led to suffer [the consequences of their disobedience]; there is no people that have preferred this world to the afterlife but that have come to be ruined. Knowledge of God and striving in His name are harmonious. Whomsoever knows and fears God, this fear drives him to strive for His obedience.
The people of knowledge and their followers are those who have known Allah, worked for Him and desired His closeness. Of these Allah has said, “It is the people of knowledge who fear Allah.”(35:28) Seek not the things of this world that would lead you to the disobedience of Allah. Work in this world with obedience to Him; make use of the days to strive for your salvation tomorrow from the punishment of Allah. For that is the better way to deter liability and to achieve salvation. Therefore, strive for the obedience of Allah and for what Allah has ordered to be obeyed above all else. Do not submit to the obedience of tyrants. Have obedience to Him and to your guardians [Ulil Amr] from amongst you.
Know that you are the servants of God as we are. He will judge us and yourselves as the Best of judges. Verily He shall bring you before Him and question you; prepare your answers before you come before Him to be questioned and judged by the Lord of the worlds. On that day “No soul speaks but with His permission.” (11:105) Verily, on that day, God believes not the liar nor disbelieves the truthful, nor does He ignore the justified, and pardons only the justified. He has given evidence in the creation of prophets and guardians [Awsiya] after them.
O servants of Allah, fear Him and hasten to reform yourselves and obey Allah and your leaders from amongst you; perhaps the remorseful may regret what they have neglected of their obligation to Allah; therefore “Seek forgiveness from Allah and repent to Him” for He accepts repentance and pardons sins and knows what you do.
Beware of befriending the disobedient and abetting the transgressors and taking as your companions those who are corrupt. Beware of their seduction and distance yourself from them. Know that he who disobeys the companions of Allah or embraces a religion other than the religion of Allah and follows not the decrees of the guardians [Wali] of Allah, will reside in hellfire that devours bodies that have lost their spirits [Arwah], wretched, for they are as dead souls who feel not the heat of the fire. Had they been alive they would be reluctant to face the fire.
Take heed, O you who have eyes and be thankful to Allah for His guidance. Know that you will find none more powerful than Allah, for God and His prophet see your deeds and “before Him you shall be gathered.” Benefit from this sermon and emulate the behaviour of the righteous.
Source:
Al-Kafi, Volume 8, Page 14, Tradition #2
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