ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Elixir of Love Benevolence of the Friends of God Rendering service to people is one of the most important Islamic educational issues that is highly emphasized in Islamic traditions. The Holy Prophet (s) said: "خير الناس من انتفع به الناس" "The best of people are those who are (most) beneficial to (other) people.[^1] The Mystery of Creation The reverend Shaykh highly stressed this educational principle.

One of his disciples quotes him as saying: "I had a proximity to God; I implored Him to tell me the mystery of Creation. I was told (by inspiration) that the mystery of Creation is benevolence to the people." Imam Ali (a) said: "بتقوى الله أمرتم، وللاحسان والطاعة خلقتم" "You are commanded to God fearing and you are created for doing benevolence and obeying (God)."[^2] One of the Shaykh's disciples said: 'Once I told him, "O Shaykh!

Tell me something to be of benefit to me!" He twisted my ear and said: "Serving people! Serving people!" The Shaykh would say: "If you want to find your way to the truth of monotheism, do good to people. The burden of monotheism is heavy and hazardous, and everyone is not able to tolerate that burden.

However, benevolence to the people makes its tolerance easy." And sometimes, he would say humorously: "Help the creatures of God during the day and beg at His doorstep at night!" The late Fayz Kashani (ra) put it in the following poem: All through the night lament humbly at the doorstep of the Sustainer, When the day breaks, help out the wounded at heart and the heart-broken.' Giving Alms while in Poverty An important aspect that is stressed in Islamic traditions in relation to giving alms and doing good to people is giving alms in poverty.

The Holy Prophet (s) said: "ثلاثة من حقائق الايمان: الانفاق من الاقتار، وانصافك الناس من نفسك، وبذل العلم للمتعلم" "There are three signs to faithfulness: Giving alms in poverty; equity toward people; and imparting knowledge to the seekers of knowledge."[^3] Similarly, Hafiz touches upon the impact of giving alms in poverty on the spiritual self-building of man in the following poem: 'In poverty, strive for joyfulness and intoxication, That this elixir of the whole being turns a mendicant into a Qarun.' "Fast and Give Alms!" One of the companions of Imam al-Kazim (a) related: 'I complained to his holiness of my poverty and said that I suffered poverty so severely that such and such took off his own clothing and gave it to me to wear!