ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Al-Amali, The Dictations of Shaykh al-Mufid Twentieth Assembly Met on Saturday, 8th of the month of Ramadhan, in the year 407; narration heard by Abul Fawaris, by audition from my brother Abu Muhammad - may Allah keep him, and al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali al-Nishaburi, among the people attending the session before this.

The grand Sheikh al-Mufid Abu Abdillah Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Nu’man - may Allah grant him beneficence, said: Do not transgress Divine limits He said: Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Umar al-Ji’abi reported to me from Abdullah ibn Ja'far ibn Muhammad ibn A'yan al-Bazzaz, who reported from Zakariyya ibn Yahya ibn Sabeeh, who reported from Khalaf ibn Khalifa, from Saeed ibn Ubaid al-Taee, from ‘Ali ibn Rabee'ah al-Walibi, from Amirul Mu’mineen, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him, who said: The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "Surely, Allah has set for you limits, so do not transgress them; and has made certain acts obligatory upon you, so do not waste them; and has set some traditions for you, so follow them; and has made sacred some sanctities, so do not desecrate them; and He has excused you about certain matters as a token of mercy for you, without forgetting them, so do not burden yourselves with them." Let no hopes or ambitions digress you He said: Abu Ubaidullah Muhammad ibn Imran al-Marzbani reported to me from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Makki, who reported from Abu al-Ayna, from Muhammad ibn al-Hakam, from Lut ibn Yahya, from al-Harith ibn Ka'b, from Mujahid who reported that: Amirul Mu’mineen ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him, said: "Be least interested in this world from which no one from your predecessors ever benefited, nor will it remain for anyone after you have gone!

The path you are walking on is the same as that of the bygones, totally cut off and subjected to annihilations, their good deeds forgotten and unknown. This world warns its inmates of destruction, and its residents of Death. That which was once sweet from it has become bitter; and that which was once clear has become turbid. Nothing has ever remained in it except like the last droplets of water in a vessel, or a few gulps, which if a thirsty were to suck up, would not be satiated.

So, be prepared for a journey from this abode, whose residents are destined to perish, and prevented from living forever. They have been submitted to dying, therefore no life should crave perpetuity. Everyone here awaits death.