ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Self Building Fifth Means, Benevolence and Service to Humanity According to Islamic doctrine, God's worship and nearness neither can be summarized simply performance of prayer, fasting, Hajj, pilgrimages, invocations, and supplications, nor is limited to presence in mosques, temples, and tombs; instead, discharging social responsibilities, compassion, goodness, and serving God’s servants, if done with the intention of God's nearness, are considered as most superior worships and could become a means for self-building, self-purification, and God’s Nearness.

In Islam, devotion and undertaking spiritual journey towards God-Almighty do not necessarily require living in seclusion, rather could be done together with acceptance of social responsibilities as well as living a perfectly normal social life.

Cooperation in righteous deeds and benevolence; goodness, endeavors in fulfilling the needs of believers and making them happier; defense of oppressed and deprived; taking care of the affairs of Muslims; solving their problems and extending a helping hand towards God's servants, from the Islamic point of view are considered a great worship whose reward is ten times higher than performance of a Hajj pilgrimage.

Their exist hundreds of traditions narrated by the Holy Prophet (S) and Infallible Imams (a.s.) which emphasize the importance of this matter. e.g.: the following has been narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) that God-Almighty said: قال ابو عبدالله عليه السلام: قال الله عزوجل: الخلق عيالى فاحبهم الى الطفهم بهم واسعاهم فى حوائجهم.

“My servants are my children, therefore, the most beloved persons before me are those who are kindest towards them and do their best in taking care of their needs.” [^1] The Holy Prophet (S) has said: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: الخلق عيال الله فاحب الخلق الى الله من نفع عيال الله وادخل على أهل بيت سرورا.

“The people are God's children, therefore, the most beloved persons before God-Almighty are those whose benevolence reach to God's children, thus, making their families happier full of joy.” [^2] Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) said: عن ابى جعفر عليه السلام قال: تبسم الرجل فى وجه اخيه حسنة وصرف القذى عنه حسنة وماعبد الله بشيء احب إلى الله من ادخال السرور على المؤمن. “Smiling of a believer while encountering a fellow brother believer as well as solving his problems are accounted as righteous deeds.