Introduction The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said: Those people from amongst my ummah, who memorise forty tr...
Introduction
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said:
Those people from amongst my ummah, who memorise forty traditions pertaining to those issues of religion, which they are in need of, Allah shall resurrect them on the Day of Judgment as jurisprudents and scholars. (Bihar al-Anwaar, vol. 2, p. 156; Al-Ikhtasaas, p.2)
Hadith No.1
Superior to Everything in the World
Imam A’li (A.S.) said:
When the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) intended to send me to Yemen, he said to me: O’A'li! Do not kill anyone till you (first) invite him to Islam. By God! If God, the Mighty and the Glorious, were to guide (even) one person at your hands, it would be better for you than all the things upon which the shines.
Al-Kafi, vol. 5 pg. 36; Bihar al-Anwaar, vol.21, pg. 361
Hadith No. 2
The Preference of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)
A’bd al-Rahman Ibn A’sadh said:
Whenever the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) dispatched an army for an expedition, he instrusted them: Establish intimacy with the people, do not exhibit hastiness with respect to them and do not attack them till you have invited them (to Islam) for, there exist no Bedouins or city-dwellers upon this earth except that it is dearer to me that you bring them to me as Muslims rather than Kill their males and bring their ladies (as captives) before me.
Al-Mataalib al-A’aliyah, vol. 2, pg. 166, tr. 1962; Kanz al-U’mmaal,/ vol. 4, pg. 437, tr. 11300.
Hadith No. 3
Guarantee of Assistance
Imam A’li (A.S.) has said:
Assist God using your heart, tongue and limbs for verily, God, The Glorified, has guaranteed assistance to one who assists Him.
Ghurar al-Hikam, tr. 2382.
Hadith No.4
Status and Esteem – the Recompense for Tabligh
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)said:
God shall grant status and esteem to a person who, upon hearing my teachings, pays heed to them, retains them in memory and conveys them to those who have not heard them.
Al-Kafi, vol.1, pg.403; Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol.2, pg. 148
Hadith No. 5
The Best One from the Ummah
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said:
The best one fram amongst my ummah is one who invites (the people) towards God, the Exalted, and makes them such that they are loved by Him.
Kanz al-U’mmaal, vol. 10, pg. 152, tr. 28779.
Hadith No. 6
The Vicegerents of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)
Amirul Mu’mineen Ali (A.S.) related:
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said: O’Lord! Be Merciful towards my vicegerents!
He was asked: O’ Prophet of God! Who are your vicegerents?
He replied: They are those who shall, after me, convey (and narrate) my traditions and customs (to others.)
Al-Amaali (Shaykh Saduq), pg. 247; U’yun Akhbar al-Reza, vol. 2, pg. 37.
Hadith No. 7
Muballighs along with the Prophets
Imam Baqir (A.S.), in a letter to Sa’d al-Khair, wrote:
O’ My brother! Surely God has placed with each of the Prophets (peace be upon them), people of knowledge, who bear up the hardships along with them (peace be upon them), call towards guidance those who are misguided, answer the call of those who invite towards God and invite (people) towards God.
Al-Kafi, vol. 8,pg. 56; Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 78,pg. 363.
Hadith No.8
Paradise for Conveying a Teaching
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said:
Paradise shall be (the abode) for one who conveys to my ummah a teaching, which serves to establish a (good) custom or break an innovation.
Munyah al-Mureed, pg. 37; Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 2, pg. 152.
Hadith No.9
Teaching Others
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said:
A person shall arrive on the Day of Judgment and shall be in possession of good deeds in the measure of vastly accumulated clouds or towering mountains. (Witnessing them) he shall ask: O’ My Lord! How can these be for me when I have not performed them? God shall reply: This is your knowledge that you had taught and conveyed to the people, and which was acted upon after you had died.
Basaair al-Darajaat, vol. 5, pg. 16; Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 2 ,pg. 18.
Hadith No. 10
Rewards for both the Guide and the Guided
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said:
There is none who invites (others) towards guidance, except that for him shall be the rewards of all those who follow him – and this shall not in the slightest cause a reduction in their own rewards.
Hilyah al-Auliya, vol. 9, pg. 305; Sahih Muslim, vol. 4, pg. 2060,tr. 2674.
Hadith No. 11
Permission for Intercession
Imam Baqir (A.S.) related that once, when God was conversing with Prophet Musa Ibn Imran (peace be upon him), Hadrat Musa (A.S.) asked: O’ My Lord! What is the reward of one, who pulls a person out of kufr and brings him into Islam?
God replied: O’ Musa! On the Day of Judgment, I shall grant him permission to intercede for whomever he pleases!
Al-Amali (Shaykh Saduq) , pg. 277; Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 69, pg 413.
Hadith No. 12
Preaching and Forgiveness of all Sins
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) has stated:
When a person preaches something and God, by means of it, instils faith and belief into the heart of another person, then (in such a case) He shall forgive all the sins of both them.
Al-Mahaasin, vol. 1, pg. 361; Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 2, pg. 73.
Hadith No.13
Imam Sajjad (A.S.) and the Manner of Tabligh
Once, some people from the tribe of Quraish approached Imam A’li Ibn al-Husain (A.S.) and asked him: How do we invite (others) towards the religion (of Islam)?
He replied: You must say: “Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem. I invite you towards Allah, the Mighty and the Glorious, and towards His religion, which comprises of two things: One of them is cognizance of Allah, the Mighty and the Glorious, while the other is performance of deeds in accordance with His pleasure”.
Al-Kafi, vol.5, pg.36; Tahdheeb al-Ahkaam, vol.6, pg. 141.
Hadith No. 14
More Excellent than One Hundred Years of Worship!
God, the Mighty and the Glorious, revealed to Prophet Musa (A.S.):
If you were to return to me someone who has run away from My door or (guide aright) someone who has gone astray from My threshold, it would be more excellent for you than if you were to worship Me for a (hundred) year(s), spending its days in a state of fast and its nights in worship and prayers.
Munyah al-Mureed, pg. 116; Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 2, pg. 4.
Hadith No. 15
Abandoning Tabligh and God’s Curse
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) has said:
When innovation raise their head in my ummah, it is incumbent upon the scholars to make manifest their knowledge (to eradicate the innovations) and one who fails to do so, upon him shall be the curse of God!
Al-Kafi, vol. 1, pg. 54; Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 57, pg. 234.
Hadith No.16
Invitation through a Truthful Tongue
Imam A’li (A.S.), speaking in connection with the Prophets sent by Allah towards mankind for propagating His religion, said:
Allah deputed prophets and distinguished them with His revelation. He made them His Proof over His creation so that there remains no excuse for the people, and so (by means of the Prophets) He invited the people to the right path through a truthful tongue.
Nahjul Balaghah, sermon 144; Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 5, pg. 315.
Hadith No. 17
Reviving the Mission of the Ahlul Bayt (A.S.)
A’bd al-Salaam Ibn Saaleh al-Hirawi states: I heard Imam Reza (A.S.) say: May God have mercy on one who revives our mission!
I said to him (peace be upon him): How can one revive your mission?
He (peace be upon him) said: He should learn our teachings and impart them to the people, for if the people become aware of the beauty and charm of our words and teachings, they shall surely follow us.
Ma’ani al-Akhbaar, pg. 180; U’yun Akbaar al-Reza, vol, 1, pg. 307.
Hadith No. 18
Invite People to Islam
Abu Baradah reports from his father, who says:
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) asked Mu’aadh and me to proceed to Yemen and instructed us: Invite the people (towards Islam), make them happy and do not bring about distaste and aversion, and make things easy for them and not harsh and difficult.
Sahih Muslim, vol. 3, pg. 1587, tr. 71; Kanz al-U’mmaal, vol. 3, pg. 29, 5306.
Hadith No. 19
Tabligh and Patience
Imam Sadiq (A.S.), enumerating the characteristics to be possessed by one who conveys the teachings of Islam to others and seeks to guide others towards the right path, said:
If they oppose and offend him, he should exhibit patience and if they side with him and accept him and his words, he should thank (God), entrusting all his affairs to Him.
Misbaah al-Sharia’h, pg. 362; Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 100, pg. 83.
Hadith No. 20
Sincerity – An Important Quality in Tabligh
Imam A’li (A.S.) has said:
If a speech emanates from the heart (with sincerity), it shall enter into the heart (and be effective), but if it emanates from the tongue, it shall not go beyond the ears.
Sharh Nahjul Balaghah, vol. 20, pg. 287.
Hadith No. 21
Supplication of Imam Sadiq (A.S.)
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) prayed:
May God shower (His) mercy upon a people, who had been lamps and illumination (for guiding others); they used to invite people towards us by means of their deeds!
Tuhaf al-U’qool, pg. 301; Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 78, pg. 280.
Hadith No. 22
The Essence of Tabligh
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) has said:
Invite towards your Lord! Make people enter into Islam and do not pull them out of it.
Al-Usul al-Sittah A’shar, pg. 69.
Hadith No. 23
Pulpits of Light
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said:
Should I not inform you of a peoole, who are neither Prophets nor martyrs but, on the Day of Judgment, seated on pulpits of light they would be in possession of such a status before God, that (even) the Prophets and martyrs would be desirous of their rank?
He was asked: Who are these, O’ Prophet of God?
He replied: They are those, who cause the people to become the beloved of God and cause Him to become the beloved of the people.
Mustadrak al-Wasaail, vol. 12, pg. 182.
Hadith No. 24
Reward Without Deeds!
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) has declared:
One who guides towards (an act of) goodness is like one who has (actually) peformed it.
Al-Kafi, vol. 4, pg. 27; Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 71, pg. 16.
Hadith No. 25
Simple but Weighty
At the onset of the propagation of Islam, Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) gathered his near and close relatives, and inviting them to Islam, said:
O’ Children of A’bdul Muttalib! God has sent me (as a Prophet) to entire mankind and has sent me to you in particular, as He has said: “And warn your nearest relations”. And (so), I invite you to two sentences, simple upon the tongue (but) weighty in the Scales.
By means of them you shall come to prevail over the Arabs and non-Arabs, and by means of them nations shall submit before you, and by means of them you shall enter the Paradise, and by means of them you shall deliver yourself from the fire (of Hell); and that ‘I am the Messenger of Allah’.
Al-Irshaad, vol. 1, pg. 49; A’alaam al-Waraa, vol. 1, pg, 322.
Hadith No. 26
Recollecting the Bounties of God
God, the Mighty and the Glorious, revealed to Prophet Dawood (A.S.): Love Me and make Me beloved in the eyes of My creation!
He inquired: O’ My Lord! I love you, but how do I make you beloved in the eyes of your creation?
God revealed: Inform them and get them to recollect My bounties that are with them, for if you do so, they would (begin to) love Me.
Qisas al-Anbiyaa, pg. 205; Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 14, pg. 37.
Hadith No. 27
No Fear in Tabligh
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said to his companions:
Do not allow the fear of people to prevent any of you from speaking out the truth when you witness it, for speaking out neither hastens death nor decreases the livelihood.
Kanz al-U’mmaal, vol. 3, pg.75, tr. 5567; Musnad Ibn Hanbal, vol. 4, pg. 102, tr. 11474.
Hadith No. 28
Let the Deeds Speak
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said:
Do not call people (towards guidance and goodness) by means of your tongues! (Rather), call them by means of your (good) deeds.
Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 5, pg. 198.
Hadith No. 29
Rein of Fire for Concealing Knowledge
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) has said:
One who withholds and conceals beneficial knowledge, Allah, on the Day of Judgment, shall bridle him by means of a rein made of fire.
Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 2, pg. 78; Kanz al-U’mmaal, vol. 10, pg. 196, tr. 29031.
Hadith No. 30
A Listener and a Scholar
Imam Musa Al Kazim (A.S.) said to Hisham bin Al Hakam:
O Hisham! Life is worthless except for two (kinds of) people: A willing listener and a scholar who imparts (knowledge).
Tohaf al-Uqool pg. 397.
Hadith No. 31
Better than a Million Worshippers
Imam Musa Al-Kazim (A.S.) said:
A learned scholar who rescues one of our orphans – those who are deprived of us and of seeing us – by teaching him something useful is, to Iblis, graver than a thousand worshippers because a worshipper’s concern is only his self whereas this (learned) person is concerned not only for himself, but also for others worshipping Allah – he wishes to save them from the clutches of Iblis and his soldiers. He is therefore better than a million male worshippers and a million female worshippers.
Bihaar al-Anwaar vol 3, pg 5 Hadith 10
Hadith No. 32
Accounting for Surplus Knowledge and Wealth
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said: Allah will enquire about the surplus of a person’s knowledge just as He will ask about his surplus wealth.
Kanzul Ummal vol 10, pg 188 Hadith 28983
Hadith No. 33
Covenant from the Learned
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said:
Allah took the covenant from people to learn only after He had taken the covenant from the learned to teach.
Alaam ud-Din, pg 80
Hadith No. 34
Ask Those who Know
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said:
Neither the learned should remain quiet with his knowledge nor the ignorant about his ignorance. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:
“Ask those who know if you know not” (An-Nahl 43)
Kanzul Ummal vol 10, pg 238 Hadith 29264
Hadith No. 35
Teachers are the Best
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said:
Teachers are the best! Every time truth is forgotten, they are the ones who revive it. Give them (gifts) and do not hire them as it may embarrass them. A teacher who successfully teaches a child the words “Bismillahir Rahmaanir Rahim” gets salvation from the fire of Hell just as the child and his parents do.
Al Firdaws, vol 4, pg 193 Hadith 6597
Hadith No. 36
Save Yourselves from Fire
Abu Basir asked Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (A.S.) on the verse: “Save yourselves and your family from the fire, the fuel of which is human beings and stones”.
Abu Basir said, “I can try and save myself, but my family as well?”
Imam (A.S.) replied: “Direct them to what Allah has directed and prohibit them from what Allah has prohibited. If they obey you, you have saved them and if they choose to ignore you, you have fulfilled your duty”.
Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol 100, pg 74 Hadith 12
Hadith No. 37
Four Types of People
Some Masumin (A.S.) have said:
People are of four types:
1. One who is learned and knows that he is learned.
This type is the learned – follow them.
2. One who is learned but is unaware that he is learned.
This type is in a slumber. Wake him up.
3. One who does not know and is aware that he knows not . This type is an ignorant – teach him.
4. One who does not know and thinks he knows. This type is lost – guide him.
‘Awali Al-Lu’ali, vol 4, pg 79 Hadith 74
Hadith No. 38
Spreading Knowledge
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said:
A man who acquires knowledge and then does not disclose for fear of people is not from me.
Kanzul Ummal, vol 10, pg 217 Hadith 29152
Hadith No. 39
Teach and Discipline Yourself First
Imam Ali (A.S.) has said:
One who proclaims himself to lead others should start by teaching himself before he teaches others. He should teach through his character before using his tongue to teach. One who is able to teach and discipline oneself is more worthy of esteem then one who teaches and disciplines others.
Nahjul Balaqhah: Sayinq 73
Hadith No. 40
dvice of Imam Sadiq (A.S.) for his Shias
Imam Sadiq (A.S.) told Mufazzal:
O Mufazzal, tell our Shias to call towards us by refraining from what God has prohibited and avoiding committing sins and pursuing what pleases God. If they were to be like that, people would rush towards us (and our message).
Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol 2, pg 309 Hadith 73
