[7] A frequently presented Hadith of Amir ul-Momineen -asws ...

[7] A frequently presented Hadith of Amir ul-Momineen -asws , is interpreted in other than its intended meanings that if one loves Ahl Al-Bayt -asws , he/she should look forward to the poverty and destitution, our 6 th Imam -asws has clarified what Amir ul-Momineen -asws meant by his -asws statement: معاني الأخبار أَبِي عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ إِدْرِيسَ وَ مُحَمَّدٍ الْعَطَّارِ عَنِ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع حَدِيثٌ يُرْوَى أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَالَ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِنِّي أُحِبُّكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَعِدَّ لِلْفَقْرِ جِلْبَاباً (The book) ‘Ma’any Al Akhbar’ – My father, from Ahmad Bin Idrees, and Muhammad Al Attar, from Al Ashary, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn, from Mansour, from Ahmad Bin Khalid, from Ahmad Al Mubarak who said, ‘A man said to Abu Abdullah -asws , ‘There is a Hadeeth being reported that a man said to Amir Al-Momineen -asws , ‘I love you -asws !’ He -asws said to him: ‘Prepare a cloak for the poverty’’.

فَقَالَ لَيْسَ هَكَذَا قَالَ إِنَّمَا قَالَ لَهُ أَعْدَدْتَ لِفَاقَتِكَ جِلْبَاباً يَعْنِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ. He -asws said: ‘It isn’t like this! But rather he -asws had said to him: ‘Prepare a cloak for your destitution, meaning the Day of Qiyamah’’.

[8] In relation to the extreme poverty level, a Hadith of Amir ul-Momineen -asws which beautifully summarises the consequences of poverty is quoted: – قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع لِلْحَسَنِ ع‏ لَا تَلُمْ إِنْسَاناً يَطْلُبُ قُوتَهُ فَمَنْ عَدِمَ قُوتَهُ كَثُرَ خَطَايَاهُ Amir Al-Momineen -asws said to Al-Hassan -asws : ‘Do not blame a person seeking his daily subsistence. The one who lacks his daily subsistence, his mistakes (sins) would be many.

يَا بُنَيَّ الْفَقِيرُ حَقِيرٌ لَا يُسْمَعُ كَلَامُهُ وَ لَا يُعْرَفُ مَقَامُهُ لَوْ كَانَ الْفَقِيرُ صَادِقاً يُسَمُّونَهُ كَاذِباً وَ لَوْ كَانَ زَاهِداً يُسَمُّونَهُ جَاهِلًا O my -asws son -asws : ‘The poor one is belittled. Neither is his speech being listened to nor is his position recognised. Even if the poor one were to be truthful, he will be named as a liar, and even if he were to be ascetic, he would be named as ignorant.

يَا بُنَيَّ مَنِ ابْتُلِيَ بِالْفَقْرِ ابْتُلِيَ بِأَرْبَعِ خِصَالٍ بِالضَّعْفِ فِي يَقِينِهِ وَ النُّقْصَانِ فِي عَقْلِهِ وَ الرِّقَّةِ فِي دِينِهِ وَ قِلَّةِ الْحَيَاءِ فِي وَجْهِهِ فَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الْفَقْرِ. O my -asws son -asws !