ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Ethical Discourses: Volume 1 Discourse 11: Five Good Qualities عَنْ أََنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكِ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللٌّهِ فِي بَعْضِ خُطَبِهِ وَمَوَاعِظِهِ: رَحِمَ اللٌّهُ امْرَاءً قَدَّمَ خَيْراً، وَ أَنْفَقَ قَصْداً، وَ قَالَ صِدْقاً، وَ مَلَكَ دَوَاعِي شَهْوَتِهِ وَ لَمْ تَمْلِكْهُ، وَ عَصى أَمْرَ نَفْسِهِ فَلَمْ تَمْلِكْهُ. It has been narrated from Anas b.

Malik that, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (S) say in one of his speeches and words of admonition, 'May the mercy of Allah be upon that person who sends forth (for himself) something good; and who gives charity from the middle path (not too much or too little) and who speaks the truth; and who is the owner (in control) of his own desires and is not held captive by them; and who controls his own soul so that it does not take charge over him.”[^1] In this tradition, the Noble Prophet (S) sent mercy upon a person who possess the following five characteristics: He is not waiting for others to send things ahead for him (in Paradise), rather he himself sends things forward for his own soul and he tried to make his home in the next life a habitable place.

He treads upon the middle path (in giving charity) meaning he is not extravagant, nor is he miserly - when he gives out of his wealth. Thus, he is sure to follow the moderate course - he does not give out so much that he himself becomes poor and without anything, nor does he give out so little that the goodness which he has been given does not reach other people.

It has been mentioned in the Qur`an that: وَلاَ تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلـى عُنُقِكَ وَلاَ تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُوماً مَحْسُوراً “Do not make your hand tied to your neck (do not be miserly), nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach (nor be too generous) such that you become blameworthy and destitute.”[^2] In another verse it states: وَالَّذِينَ إِذا أَنْـفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذٌلِكَ قَوَاماً “Those who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not stingy, but hold a just (balance) between these (extremes).”[^3] A person's tongue is not polluted with lies and speaking false things.

All of these three things listed so far are good however the emphasis is more on the fourth and fifth characteristics: 4 and 5. What is important here is that a person captures his own soul and enslaves it - one controls and keeps reins over it - not that one is made the slave of his own soul.

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