The holy Imam (a) said': "Fast and give alms!

The holy Imam (a) said': "Fast and give alms!" I said: 'Could I give alms from what I receive myself as alms, however meager it is?' The Imam (a) replied: "Give alms from what God grants you as sustenance, even if you should spend it for yourself!"[^4] Benevolence to a Jobless Person Encumbered by a Large Family One of the Shaykh's friends said: 'I was jobless and very depressed for some time, so I went to his house to find a way to get rid of the plight.

As soon as I entered the Shaykh's room and upon seeing me, he said: "You are in such a veil that I have rarely seen one like that! Why have you given up your trust in God? The Satan has covered you with a veil that you are unable to perceive on high!" His words moved me very deeply and prompted a profound contrition in my heart. He said then: "Your veil is removed, but take heed it would not return." After that he said: "Somebody is jobless and sick and he has to run two families.

If you can afford, go and buy some cloth for his children and bring it here." Although I was jobless and broke, I went to an old friend's draper's and bought some cloth on credit and took it to the Shaykh. Once I placed the pack of cloth before him, the Shaykh looked at me and highly admired my endeavor. Dr. Thubati said: 'One of the things he highly stressed was doing good to people.

He regarded this as extremely valuable and viewed it as one of very close and effective ways in faring the path to Allah. Thereupon, when one failed in his spiritual seeking, he would recommend: "Do not be negligent of benevolence and do good (to people as much as you are able to)." 'Serve the needy as long as you can in you life, Either through your words, money, pen, or (taking) steps.' He was himself also a pioneer in doing good to people.

Someone had gotten into trouble; he visited the reverend Shaykh who said: "This person helps his relatives only through khums (one fifth levy) and do not do any other good to them." That meant giving only khums is not sufficient. Benevolence to the Sister One of the Shaykh's disciples narrated: 'One day I requested the Shaykh to contact with my late father's spirit and ask him if there is anything I can do for him.

The Shaykh said: "Recite the Surah Al-Hamd !" When I recited the sura, he immediately described the appearance and stature of my father who had died forty years before.