Archive for category: Lifestyle

The Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
“أَشَدُّ النّاسِ عَذَاباً فِى الْقِيامَةِ عَالِمٌ لَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِعِلْمِهِ وَ لَمْ يَنْفَعْهُ عِلْمُهُ”

Translation
One who knows something and does not observe it, and does not use his knowledge, his punishment in the hereafter would be the most severe.1

Brief Description
In Islam, knowledge is always regarded as a tool for practical application and for improving the life of an individual and the society. Otherwise it has no value.
Those who commit a sin unknowingly carry a lesser responsibility than those who do so with knowledge. The responsibility to enlighten others in the society is also proportionate to the degree of one’s knowledge.[divider]
•    1. Bihar al-Anwar, volume 2, page 38

The Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
“إسْتِتْمامُ الْمَعْرُوفِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ إِبْتِدائهِ”

Translation
Completion and continuation of a good deed is better and more important than beginning it.

Brief Description
We often see useful projects and actions in the milieu of our social life which are left uncompleted. Their doers have started them under the influence of a sudden motive, but they have lost their enthusiasm very soon and have left them uncompleted. Islam admires faithful and diligent individuals who accomplish the useful work which they commence.1[divider]
•    1. Nahjul Fasahah

Imam ‘Ali (a.s) said:
“مَنْ وَجَدَ ماءً وَ تُراباً فَافْتَقَرَ فَأَبْعَدَهُ اللّهُ”

Translation
Whoever has available water and land, and still he is poor and needy, should expect to be deprived from God’s mercy!1

Brief Description
It is clear from Islamic traditions that Muslims throughout the world should use all the available resources such as animal husbandry, agriculture, underground resources and mines, professions, industry and commerce for alleviating poverty.
With hard work and good governance, a nation that has even one of these resources should be able to fulfill its economic requirements. Those who remain needy despite access to many resources will be deprived of God’s mercy. Becoming needy and dependent on others is against the teachings and spirit of Islam.[divider]
• 1. Bihar al-Anwar, volume 103, page 65

Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) said:
“لا تُرّاءِ بِعَمَلِكَ مَنْ لاَ يُحْيي وَ لا يُمِيْتُ وَ لايُغْنِى عَنْكَ شَيْئاً”

Translation
Do not do your good deeds for affectation and trying to impress people. You should realize that people have no power on life or death nor can they solve any problem for you.1

Brief Description
All appearances of the life of those who have gotten used to pretension and hypocrisy become hollow and empty. They are contented with aspects of life that have little substance and spiritual meaning, leaning instead towards vain imaginations, illusions and empty religious rituals. They gain nothing save appearances! For this reason, Islam strongly criticizes this ugly attribute and says that your destiny in not under control of these people, so why this facade?[divider]
•    1. Bihar al-Anwar, volume 73, page 255

The Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
“اُطْلُبُوا الرِّزْقَ في خَبايَا الأرْضِ”

Translation
Seek for your sustenance in the depths of the Earth.1

Brief Description
This instruction was issued by the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his progeny) at a time when the importance of mines and other resources underneath the earth was not known.
Such instructions illustrate the richness of knowledge imparted to us by Islam as well as its emphasis on making efforts to search far and wide so as to exploit for our benefit the abundant natural resources including the ones hidden in the depths of the earth.[divider]
•    1. narrated from Nahjul Fasahah, Fuqh AlQuran, Volume 2, page 22