He replayed...

He replayed: community of the follower of right even though they are few” [^18] Back to the original topic, it has become clear that the Islamic ideology calls the Moslem to join the community, there is an inquiry here which imposes itself: there are so many “hadeeths” in our sources calling the Moslem to prefer solitude and finally to keep far away from people, the author of “Jaame’a elsaa’adaat” Sheikh Alnaraaqi answers this question by saying: “The ascendants adhered to generalize the praise of seclusion, to its advantages such as the prophet’s (S.W.A.) saying “Allah loves the hidden pious servant”, and his (S.W.A.) saying “The best of all people is a believer who strives in the path of Allah sacrificing his spirit and money, then a man secluded in one of the mountain passes” And Imam Alsaadiq’s saying “Time has corrupted, brothers have changed, seclusion has become more tranquil to one’s heart” and his (A.S.) saying “lessen your acquaintances and denounce whom you know of them”, till he (Sheikh Neraki) said: the right is to say: the priority of which of them i-e seclusion or association varies according to the persons, circumstances, times and places so every one must consider his state… For some people it is better to seclude themselves completely, for others association is better, for another kind a midway between seclusion and association” [^19] To reconcile the two tendencies we can say: the tendency, which calls for seclusion can be taken for several facets, one of them is that be taking oneself to warship demands staying far from people for a certain time to dedicate oneself to Allah (be exalted).

This matter- naturally- is not applied to all kinds of worship as “Alhaaj” (pilgrimage) for example, which is a worship with a social nature during which people gather from everywhere in one place at a definite time to perform certain rituals.

From another side seclusion can be taken for avoiding association with evil people, it is stated in the prophet’s (S.W.A) sermon to Abbizer Alghifaari (A.S.) “…O Abbazar’ good friend is better than seclusion, seclusion is better than bad friend…”[^20] As to associating with good people it is a recommended matter and Islam-as we have mentioned- urges to it.

Generally there are exceptional states which demand seclusion from people, as the general rule in Islam insists on associating with people and to forbear their harms.