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Maxims of Imam Hasan Askari (A.S.)
Compiled By: Syed Zainul Abideen Razavi, Tehran, Iran
1. Two Attribute
Nothing can excel the following two attributes:
1. Firm belief in God
2. Benevolence to brethren in faith (Exegesis by Imam Askari (A.S)
2. A key for all evils
All wickedness and evils locked up in a house can be opened by the key to its lock that is falsehood.
3. Seven recommendation
I recommend to you:
1. Fear of God
2. Piety in religion
3. Endeavor in God’s way
4. Truthfulness
5. Trustworthiness i.e. returning a deposit without any breach of trust to a virtuous person as well as an evil person who trusts you.
6. Lengthy prostrations
7. Good relations with neighbors (Tuhaf al-Uqool, p 477)
4. Calamities and Blessings
There is no calamity without a blessing in it. (Tuhaf al-Uqool,p489)
Note: calamity is a blessing in disguise as it is a challenge for a person to exercise his ability and patience in overcoming the troubles thereby gaining experience in attaining a higher rank near God.
5. Signs of a believer:
1. A believer performs 51 rak’at of salat every day (17 rak’at obligatory and 34 rak’at non obligatory salat.)
2. A believer recites Ziarate Arbaien.
3. A believer wears an agate ring in his right hand.
4. A believer prefers to prostrate on the ground or dust.
5. A believer recites Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim loudly. (Mafatih ul jinan)
Note a: “Belief in God and His commandments has undeniable power and influence. Mohammad (S.A) with his religion made this world peaceful. He was a victor and has conquered (the heart of) the whole world.” (Napoleon)
Note b: Jesus (A.S) was a monotheist and his mother Mary(A.S) was also a monotheist and the present Christianity is not the same religion as practiced by Jesus(A.S). The Christians who become Muslims say that their religion was innovated by priests to please the Roman emperors, who crucified an apostle of Jesus (who resembled him) and Jesus (A.S) shall be sent by God to assist the promised savior Imam Mahdi (A.S).
Note c: Infidels and skeptics considered God’s last messenger (S.A) as a magician or a mad person. Others considered him as the best messenger of God and Aale Mohammad as Aalullah. Aalullah does not mean family of God but it means that Aale Mohammad are followers or party of God but God has no son or daughter or family. If a person believes that God has family he is considered as a polytheist, and polytheism is a major sin. A polytheist cannot pass over the bridge which leads to paradise.
Some dictionaries are not precise and cause misunderstanding as the meaning of Aal is given as family but its second meaning is followers.
Note d: Bernard Shaw a Christian philosopher had prophesied that the United Kingdom (Britain) will accept Islam in the next century, because Islam is the best religion but, Muslims are the worst people because they do not understand their religion.
6. Humility
Humility is a blessing that arouses no jealousy.
Note: Imam Khomeini has narrated in his book Hadith e Aql va Jahl that Jesus (A.S) washed the feet of his apostles to teach them humility.
7. The pious vs. the unchaste
Mutual love of the pious is a blessing for the pious
Love for the pious by the unchaste depicts excellence of the pious.
Hatred against the pious by the unchaste is a medal or a jewel for the pious.
Wrath of the pious against the unchaste is dishonor for the unchaste. (Tuhaf al-Uqool, p 487)
8. The best ones.
a) The most God-fearing person abstains from what is suspicious.
b) The most devoted worshipper performs every obligatory duty sincerely.
c) The most pious person abstains from everything that is prohibited.
d) The most endeavoring, striving and prudent jurisprudent abstains from every crime and sin. (Tuhaf al-Uqool, p 489)
Note: Once a Persian king, along with his family and children, went into a forest for hunting as a pastime. Suddenly the weather changed and a severe storm of rain and wind tore the royal family apart and they took shelter under different trees.
One of the daughters of the king ran towards a hut to take refuge. She knocked the door, it was opened by a young student who always studied there in that peaceful and healthy environment. The student was happy to give her shelter against torrential rain and storm of wind which continued all the night. The king’s daughter slept there.
Next morning, the king’s guards searched for the lost princess and found her in that hut. They brought her to the palace along with the student. The princess told the king that the student was engaged all the night in his studies. The student told the king that he placed one of his fingers on the lamp for prevention of distraction from satanic thoughts and for concentration of his mind in studies. His burnt finger was a witness of his pious attitude.
The king appreciated the behavior of the student and was proud to propose to him to marry his daughter. This student is well-known as Mirdamad and his descendants are known by Mirdamad as their family name. (Damad means son – in law)
9. Fasting
Fasting is made compulsory by God so that the wealthy should feel hunger and thirst and be kind to the poor. (Kashful Ghumma V2 p193)
10. Salawat on Ali (A.S)
O God! Send blessing on Amir al momineen, Ali ibne Abi Talib, brother of Thy prophet and his confident associate, his distinguished authority, his vazir, his trusted worthy place for entrusting knowledge and secret cognizance, the gateway of his wisdom, his spokesman with reason for people, the herald of ‘shariah’ and divine laws, and his successor for the nation. The reliever of pain and grief from the worthy personality of the prophet (S.A), the destroyer of factions of skeptics, the annihilator of the unchaste, the person whom Thou hast described as Haroon for Moses.
O God! Befriend him who befriends Ali, and be hostile to him who is hostile to Ali and assist him who assists Ali and humiliate him who abandons Ali; and denounce them who are against him in the beginning and at the end. And send on him Thy blessings-- the most excellent blessings that Thou hast sent on a successor of Thy prophets, O the sustainer of all the inhabitants of the universe!
11. When is poverty better than prosperity?
Mohammad bin Hasan bin Sham’un wrote a letter to Imam Askari (A.S) and complained about his poverty then he remembered the narration of Imam Sadiq(A.S) that poverty with love of Ahle Bayt (A.S) is better than prosperity with their enemies.
In the meanwhile he received the reply to his letter from Imam Askari (A.S) stating that God relieves our friends when they are involved in sins by imposing poverty on them though he forgives many sins. It is better for you to be with us and be poor as you were a prey to your evil self. So prefer to be poor with our love rather than prosperous with our enemies. Well we are shelter for those who seek refuge. We illuminate those who seek our light and hold us firmly and consider our love as a firm handle for attaining higher ranks with us near God whereas those who turn away from us their place shall be in hell. (Manaqeb V4 P435-439)
12. Heart’s Inclination
When hearts are cheerful and vivacious teach them knowledge and learning, and when they are depressed and dejected leave them alone. (Bihar al-Anwaar, V 78 p 379)
13. Non-Imams
Once Imam Akari (A.S) was asked: “Is it allowed to befriend those who believe up to Imam Musa Kazim (A.S) only, or should they be boycotted? The Imam wrote in reply boycott them.” It makes no difference between a person who refuses to accept an Imam or considers a non-imam as an Imam or believes in three gods or increases or diminishes the number of Imams. (Bihar al-Anwaar, V50 P274)
Note: If a person does not believe in all the twelve Imams up to the promised savior Imam Mahdi (A.F) he lacks Wilayat, and without wilayat none of the good deeds of a person are accepted by God.
Six thousand years of worship of Satan were rejected by God because Satan lacked Wilayat (of Adam (A.S).
14. Letter to Abol Hasan Ali bin Hossain Qommi (Ibne Babewyh)
Babewyh Qommi was a learned jurisprudent of Islam. The Imam wrote to him as follows:
1. Hold the cord of God firmly.
2. Perpetual success in the life hereafter is for the pious.
3. Paradise is the resort of God’s devoted servants and hell is for the infidels.
4. Enmity is not permissible except against the tyrant.
5. There is no other god except God the best of creators. (Men also create a number of things but they owe their creations to their excellent brain created by God).
6. Pray for blessings on Hazrate Mohammad (A.S) and his ‘Itrat’ the pious progeny. They are the best creations of God.
7. The holy messenger has said: “The best of deeds of my Ummah is to await patiently for the ‘Faraj’ to relieve grief and sorrow of my loving followers Shiayan). Imam Mahdi (A.F) shall fill the earth with justice and equity to the same extent as it would be replete with tyranny and oppression.
Note: Faraj means emergence of the twelfth Imam, Mahdi (A.F) the promised savior.
O Sheikh! Be patient and order all my loving followers to be patient as ultimately the pious servants of God shall inherit this earth by God’s will and intention.
Salam on you and all our loving followers (Shias) and God’s mercy and bounty and his blessings on Mohammad and his Aal. (Bihar al-Anwaar, V50 P318)
15. Explanation of an Aayat
Abi Hashim has said that he asked Imam Askari (A.S) to explain the following Aayat “Then We made heirs to the Book (Quran) those whom We chose from Our servants, yet some of them are those who wrong themselves, and some of them are moderate and some of them are those who take the lead in all good works by God’s will. That is the great grace of God” (Fatir 32) The Imam explained that all the three groups are from the holy messenger’s followers. Those who committed tyranny on themselves are the ones who did not recognize the Imam of their time. And the moderate ones are those who had cognizance of the status of the Imam and the third group are those who compete for obtaining blessings and favor of the Imam.
16. Taqiyah
Ali ibne Ja’far has narrated that Imam Hasan Askari (A.S) had once written to them that they should not say salam to him and should not point towards him for the sake of their own safety and security when awaiting on the street to catch a glimpse of the Imam.
A youth from the posterity of Abuzar Ghaffari was awaiting on the street with me to see the Imam of his time. When the Imam reached that street he looked at this youngster and asked him: “Are you Ghaffari?”and mentioned the name of his mother ‘Hamdanyah’ as well and passed onwards I asked the youngster: “Did you see the Imam before?” He replied: “I had never seen him.” but Ghaffari was happy to know that the Imam had knowledge about all people in advance. (Bihar al-Anwaar, V50 P274)
17. Al Ghadir
Hasan bin Tarif said that he wrote a letter to Imam Askari (A.S) asking him to explain the announcement of the holy prophet (S.A) regarding Amir al Momeneen Ali (A.S): “To whomsoever I am movla, this Ali is his movla.” The Imam replied to him: “God’s messenger (S.A) by this announcement wanted Ali (A.S) to be the leader and guide of the party of God during differences and discord.” (Bihar al-Anwaar, V50 p 276-290)
Note: There are many Aayats in the holy Quran which indicate excellence and superiority of Imam Ali (A.S): The holy Quran states “O messenger! Convey that which has been revealed to you from your Lord and if you do it not then you have not delivered His message and God shall protect you from the people. Indeed God does not guide the unbelieving people. (5: A67)
Note: Al Ghadir is also name of a book by Allamah Amini, who made a detailed investigation of all the Islamic literature and compiled forty volumes about this extremely significant event. May God bless Allamah Amini for carrying on this research.
18. Respect for Sayyeds
One of the grandsons of Imam Sadiq (A.S) named Husain resident of Qum was addicted to wine. He wanted to see Ahmad bin Ishaq, in charge of endowments of Qum, but he was not given permission to enter the house of Ahmad bin Ishaq.
In the same year Ahmad bin Ishaq performed pilgrimage at Mecca and there from he returned via Samerah to pay homage to Imam Hasan Askari (A.S) but the Imam refused to see him. Therefore Ahmad bin Ishaq was stricken with sorrow and wept for a long time. Ultimately he was admitted to see the Imam. On seeing the Imam, he complained that in spite of being a true Shia, he was not allowed to enter the Imam’s house. The Imam told him: “That’s because you had refused to see one of my relatives.” Ishaq started weeping again and said: “By God! I wanted Hussain to seek forgiveness from God for his sin.”
The Imam said: “You have told the truth, but you should respect the sayyeds and never look down at them with contempt. As it may be harmful to you because they are related to us.”
It is said when Husain learnt about this he destroyed all the bottles and goblets of wine and led a very pious life and was interred near the grave of Hazrate Fatima Masumah (S.A). (Bihar al-Anwaar, V50 p 323)
Note: The Imam had prior knowledge about Husain that he will change to a pious person by God’s goodwill.
19. Knowledge of languages
Abu Hamza has said: “I was amazed on observing the Imam speaking to his servants who were from Turkey, Rome, Russia and Deylam in their own languages I wondered that Imam was born in Medina and had not travelled to those countries, how did he learn different languages.”
The Imam read his thoughts and told him: “The All Knowing God who distinguished the Imam from the rest of His creatures has taught me everything, various vocabularies, different genealogies and future events. If it were not so, there would be no difference between the Imam and the people.
Note 1: Imam Reza’s (A.S) debate and discussion with learned men of different religions is well known his arguments were from their own books in different languages.
Note 2: Many a time when Omar (the second Khalifa appointed by Abubakr) was unable to reply to questions, without the guidance of Ali (A.S) he said: “If Ali (A.S) was not there, Omar would have perished”
20. Salawat on the Imam Hasan(A.S.) and Imam Husain (A.S.)
O God! Send Blessings on Hasan and Husain (A.S) the two of Thy sincere servants and friends, the two grandsons of Thy beneficent messenger, the two chiefs of youth in paradise. May these blessings excel all blessings that Thou hast sent on the descendants of Thy prophets and messengers.
Salawat on Imam Hasan (A.S.)
O God! Bless Hasan the grandson of the chief of prophets and the successor of Amir al Momineen. Salam on you O the grandson of God’s messenger, Salam on you O the son of the chief of successors. I bear witness that you are the worthy son of Amir al Momineen, God’s trustworthy authority and the son of God’s trustworthy authority. You lived an aggrieved life as a victim of injustice and returned to God as a martyr.
I bear witness that you were righteous, guiding leader and a divinely guided Imam for the nation.
O God! Bless him and covey on his soul and body the most excellent greetings and Salam from me at this very hour.
Salawat on Imam Husain (A.S.)
O God! Send blessings on Husain bin Ali (A.S) the tyrannized martyr, slain by the disbelievers and cast out by the unchaste libertines.
Salam on you O Aba Abdillah, Salam on you O the grandson of God’s messenger (S.A), Salam on you O son of Amir al Momineen (A.S) I bear witness with perfect certitude that you are the trusted authority of the Almighty God, who shall avenge your blood and fulfil His promise of assistance, and support the vengeance by slaughter of your enemies (by means of Imam Mahdi (A.F) who shall respond to your eternal call for help).
I bear witness that you have fulfilled your promise with God and have fought for God and have served God with all sincerity until the approach of the certain end (of life here)
May God damn the community that slaughtered you, and may God damn the community that deserted you. May God damn the community that gathered together against you.
I flee towards the Almighty God from those who falsified you and trampled your rights and shed your blood considering it as legal.
O Aba Abdillah May my father and mother be sacrificed for you. May God damn your murderers and deserters and may God damn all those who heard your call for help but did not respond to help you.
May God damn those who captivated your honorable women and children.
I flee and take refuge in God from those tyrants and from all those who befriend them and take their side and help the tyrants (until the Day of Judgment).
I bear witness that you and the Imams from your descendants were the core and heart of piety and gateway of guidance and strong handle of firm belief and the guides with wisdom and reason for mankind.
I bear witness that I firmly believe in you and have firm certitude in your status (as divine Imams) and I obey you with all my heart and soul in the laws of religion and in the close up of my performance in life to return to this world and the hereafter.
Note: It was customary to fight singly one person against another person but it is cowardice when people flock together and kill one person.
Imam Husain sacrificed everything in the way of God to perpetuate Islam. He is loved and honored by all the lovers of freedom irrespective of color, creed, and country.
Imam Husain (A.S) taught the people of the world for all times how to liberate liberty from the prison from the prison of oppressive and tyrant rulers and how to live a life of piety with freedom given by God.
If Mohammad (S.A) God’s last and best messenger returns today, can followers of different sects of Islam tell him: “We were deceived by opportunists and hypocrites who were greedy for power and domination so we killed your beloved daughter and Imam Hasan and Imam Husain, the two chives of paradise and all other Imams sent for our guidance to the way of eternal bliss in paradise by developing our conduct and character?” Would the best messenger of God be pleased or aggrieved by such behavior of the people towards God’s divine guides?
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