Focus on your own

With so much anxiety and frustration coming one's way these days, it can be very easy to lose your akhlaq. As the world has become more fast paced, selfish and self centered it is easy to be disappointed or hurt by the behavior of people. In such times, its easy to feel if that person doesn't behave well with us, why should we? This can affect our behavior with our friends, family and even strangers. It more so effects when someone close to us hurst us or misbehaves with us.

The important thing to remember is the lesson taught to us by Ahlulbayt(s.a). To sum it up they always showed us that no matter how anyone behaves we should never shirk on our responsibilities and generosity. Once someone asked one of the Imam(a.s) that these people misbehave with you so much, yet you still answer their questions and help them? The Imam(a.s) replied that they may have forgotten that i am their Imam but i haven't forgotten that they are my followers.

Once when Imam Hassan Askari(a.s) was in the prison, a shia of the imam(a.s) managed to get 4 pomegranates to him. At that time, he was being guraded by a very cruel secuirty guard who always used to harass the imam(a.s).In those days imam(a.s) was only being fed 2 loaves of bread and cold water. After giving the fruit to the imam(a.s), the guard was giving hungry looks to the fruit. Imam(a.s) looked at the guard and told him to take one of the fruits. After sometime, the imam(a.s) notice that the guard still hadn't eaten the fruit, so he inquired. The guard replied that he was saving it for his kids. On hearing this the Imam(a.s) gave him the rest of the fruit as well so he could eat some himself and save the rest. Imagine the level of generosity...even though the guard forgot his akhlaq and responsibility, the Imam(a.s) remembered what he(a.s) had to do.

Sometimes we feel that our parents, our relatives or friends are being unfair and we start misbehaving. It is understandable more so in close family situations especially if you feel slighted or mistreated by your parents or some close relatives. At such times, we shouldn't give up hope and forget our manners. These people and relations might have forgotten their responsibilities BUT we shouldn't. Doing so will only earn us sins. We should trust Allah(swt) and preform our duties and responsibilities for HIS(swt) sake and trust only HIM to do right by us instead of basing our expectations on people.

 Keep your hand extended for the sake of Allah(swt).

Mirror Mirror on the Wall...

This is not gonna be a long post, just a question i want to ask. Yesterday i was watching the program in which a guy has the ability to see the true nature of people. For example if someone is a killer, thief etc he is able to see. This made me think about how Islam talks about people changing into different animals to reflect their true nature after death.

Have you ever really thought about who you truly are? Are you sure that if you look into a mirror with a clear eyesight you will see a human and not an animal? even if you are fooling the world, can you fool yourself as well? Have you become so deceived yourself that when you look in the mirror you don't see your reality?!

Please be honest and truly look into the mirror to see yourself for who you are, otherwise it might be too late. Rather than being raised as a human after death, you might just be an animal.

It has been recorded from the Prophet (S) of God that some persons will be raised on the Last Day in such a mien that even monkeys and dog flies will appear better looking than that. It is also possible that several forms may be prescribed for one individual in that world. Because that world is not like this world, where one individual cannot acquire more than one form. This account itself is logical as well as self-evident. Because, the criterion of those different forms (of which human form is one) would be the state of soul at the time of death the state in which the soul departs from the body. It is in this very state and form that man's soul enters the realm of Barzakh. At the time of entering the other world, that is, the domain of the Hereafter, the first stage of which is Barzakh, in whichever state one's soul departs from the body, it assumes a form suited to it in the next world also. It is the same form in which he is perceived by the inhabitants of Barzakh and by himself, when he first opens his eyes there, if he has not lost his sight to do so. Because, it is not necessary that man may enter the next world in the same physical state as he had in this world. God Himself says that on the Last Day some of the persons will ask God that why has He raised them as blind while they possessed eyes in the world. God will answer them that as they disregarded His clear signs in the world, they are forgotten and disregarded by God today.

ref:First Hadith: On the Tradition of the Forty Ahadith

Good disposition

I think having a good disposition is one of the great struggles of these days. Society has become such that we are faced with rude, arrogant, mean people at every turn of our lives. It becomes that much harder when its someone closer to us. Sometimes its our relatives themselves who behave in such a manner that it becomes difficult to maintain good akhlaq. We feel like lashing out, showing our frustration, being rude to them etc. BUT is this the way we should act? I know it's very hard, i only felt the need to write this because sometimes i struggle with this as well. Its obvious that the more closer and attached you are to someone the more power they get over you to hurt you.


Now let us look what Islam teaches us to do in such conditions. We can look at examples from the lives of Ahlul Bayt(s.a) and Quran to learn.

Once A man asked the Holy Prophet: “What is the best of all actions”? The Holy Prophet replied: “Akhlaq”.

The Holy Prophet(saww) has also said: " you should create within yourself the Akhlaq(behavior) of Allah". For example Allah(swt) is merciful: we should be merciful to others. Allah(swt) is forgiving: we should also forgive others when they are at fault. Allah(swt) treats even his enemies with love and magnanimity, we should also do likewise.

ref:On Akhlaq

In a tradition in which Holy Prophet(saww) narrates the true characteristics of a believer he says: ”(The complete true believer is one who) is sweeter than honey; and is stronger than the outside of a rock; and who does not expose the secrets that people confide in him; and if he himself finds out something about other people, he does not expose this information.”
ref:Characteristics of a True Believer– Part V

If we focus on the first part it talks about honey. This means that whoever comes in contact with honey feels a sweetness. Believers should be the same way. Imagine this: if honey was put in something sour, it would turn it sweet. This means that if we come in contact with unpleasant people, we should not let ourselves become unpleasant rather we should act like honey and counter affect their sourness. This is a very difficult thing, but as a wise friend said, practice makes perfect. So the next time, you meet someone rude or mean, think of it as a practice situation.

It may be hard BUT with practice may Allah(swt) give us taufeeq to be patient and kind to those who do wrong unto us....(ameen).

Humbleness

Once a Jew came to Imam Ali(a.s) in time of his khilafat and pointing at his chain mail armor said this is mine. He said he won't leave till Imam Ali(a.s) presented this matter to a judge. Imam(a.s) went with him and the judge seeing the chain mail armor in the hand of the Jew declared it to be his. Imam Ali(a.s) handed the armor to the Jew.
The Jew seeing this fell at the feet of Imam(a.s) and said i just acted this way to see if this is indeed the religion propehsized by Hazart Musa(a.s). And said that this armor is indeed yours, i laid a false claim.

Think about this incident! If this isn't the height of humbleness then what is?! This man who held the khilafat over Rome and Persia. This man about whom the Holy Prophet(pbuh) said that all the prophets are under my banner and this banner is held by Imam Ali(a.s). Imagine...he not only had the spiritual superiority but also this worldly superiority YET he was humble enough to go along with someone when they even laid a false claim.

Can you comprehend this?

Ponder over this and think about it when you feel superior and look down upon people just because you learned 5 things about Islam. Learn a lesson from the life of Imam Ali(a.s) instead of just paying lip service. True love comes not from words BUT from displaying some action!

Oppressors

I know many of you would object or be amused by this comparison but ideas and guidance could come from any kind of sources. Yesterday i had gone to watch Harry Potter and it made me ponder on the point that what power does the oppressor hold if not for his/her supporters?! If in the movie, no one would have supported Voldermort, would he have managed to wreak the destruction he did, or would he have been resurrected?

There are many kinds of oppressors in this world, some in the world politics, some in the country, some in the community and some even in our homes. Have we ever thought that we might be the ones from whom the oppressors are deriving their power?! Have you ever stopped and considered whose side are you supporting?

Many times we think that we might not be able to make a difference, but just look how one action of lying to Voldermort by Draco's mother helped the cause of Harry. The events might have taken a very different turn if she had told that Harry was alive. So never belittle the power you might have to change the course of history.

We always complain about oppression but BEWARE that it might be you that's providing the lifeline to the oppressor. So please STOP and THINK!

Riyya

Riyya could be termed as the act of trying to show off for others while engaging in worship. Its something that many of us might suffer from while not even being aware. Its a problem and sometimes it scares me to think that after death we might realize that all our worship had been based on riyya.
While reading an article about the life of Aytollah Behjat(r.a) some lines really struck me. Here is the excerpt:

Agha Behjat stated in reply, “Riya is only relevant in acts of worship (‘ibadat). And any act of worship that has riya associated with it is a sin, and it makes the act null and void.
However, riya itself can become a counter and cure for riya, by simply changing the focus of who one is trying to impress! If a man can approach a president to sort out his problem directly, would he waste time in trying to convince the president’s servants? In the same manner, if a man has sense, he would raise his sights from the people, and attempt to impress and perfect his actions for God, who is the Creator of man - this attitude would itself become the cure for his riya.”
At another time, he said, “About riya, there is a hadith that says, “Whoever tries to impress the people by his manner of prayers (salat), will be resurrected in the form of a donkey.” And this is quite true because what can be more donkey-like than a man trying to impress the slaves of God instead of directing his attention to God Himself?! Now, if someone calls us a donkey, we feel insulted, but why should we feel insulted, if night and day our acts resemble those of a donkey?”

ref: Biography of Ayatollah Behjat

Even apart from riyya, we focus too much on what people think, or how they may react to us doing certain things. For example we sometimes nod our heads while people are gossiping just to be part of a group, or we have issue wearing hijab, keeping a beard or giving up music. We worry about the labels people might put on us. But what Ayt. Behjat(r.a) said was so simple, just change the focus. When we are getting the approval of the highest Authority, the one that matters the most, the Creator, Allah(swt) then why do we need to worry about anyone else? If he is happy with us what do others matter?
Please next time someone upsets you, insults you or stereotypes you...just remember that no one's opinion matters except that of Allah(swt). Just make it an aim to please him and no one else.

Pride & Arrogance

History has shown that pride has led to the downfall of many. It was pride that wasted so many years of Ibadat of Iblees and made him an enemy of Allah(swt). These days pride is also one of the reasons that society faces so many problems. People are so full of themselves that they fail to see what wrongs they are committing. A husband would be too proud to apologize to the wife or the wife would be too proud to do the same, children are too proud to bend a little and listen to parents, the parents think that they would be insulted if they listened to the children. Its a vicious cycle that hasnt left anyone. 
Why dont people look at the consequences of all this sense of false pride...a divorce, break up of relations between parents and children etc. People think that apologizing would lower them BUT they fail to understand that only someone with a big heart and great honor would forgive the other and instead of blaming would apologize. Saying sorry doesnt lower you instead it lifts you up because forgiveness is the tradition of great people like the Prophets(a.s) and Ahlul Bayt(s.a). If they can forgive and forget why not you? Are you above them?

Pride is one of the most condemned sins in Islam. Four verses of the Qur’an clearly state that Hell is the abode of proud persons. The Holy Prophet has said: “Allah says, greatness is My prerogative, and whoever tries to share it with me (becomes proud) I will put him in Hell”.

Some narrations:

1. Always stay away from pride (arrogance). I have often seen that Allah insults and disgraces one who is arrogant. Arrogance results in failure, disappointment, insult and disrepute.
2. Allah does not like such proud people who walk arrogantly; the earth and the sky curses such people.(Wasael – 2, p. 472)
3. An arrogant man is an enemy of good people.(Wasael – 2, p. 330)
4. Arrogance and pride results in madness and foolishness. Otherwise what is the cause of a man’s arrogance? He should remember his beginning and end. In the beginning he was a drop of ‘najis’ sperm and in the end he is going to die. After this what reason does he have for arrogance?(Mustadrak – 2, p. 330)
5. It is said in the tradition that there is an excreta in one’s stomach so that his pride gets destroyed. One who carries such dirt in ones stomach, why should he be proud?(Furu-e-Kafi-3, p 70)
6. Allah, the Wise, has said:  فَالَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِالآخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ مُّـنْكِرَةٌ وَّ هُمْ مُسْـتَكْبِرُونَ  “As to those who believe not in the Hereafter, their hearts refuse to know, and they are arrogant.” Noble Qur’an, Suratul Nahl (16) Verse 22
7. The Noble Prophet (sa) said: لاَ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ کاَنَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقاَلَُ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ مِنْ کِبْرٍ. “One, whose heart contains pride, (even if it is) in the measure of a mustard-seed, shall not enter Paradise.” Jamea al-Saaadat, Volume 1, Page 346

These narrations signify how much pride and arrogance are hated in Islam. Its not wrong to be proud of one's achievements and feel good about oneself, the problem lies when this reaches a level when a person deems himself above all and refuses to bow down. As the saying goes, those who dont bend break!

The question arises that how to get rid of this pride. some of the ways this could be done are:

1. Take the initiative of saying salaam to other people be they young or old. This will remove any sense of false pride present in the heart.
2. Go pray in the mosque and you will see that its not whether someone is rich or poor that they get to stand near the imam. Rather everyone is the same.
3. A similar lesson can be learned by thinking about Hajj, it doesnt matter how much money you have. A beggar and a millionaire would have the same level.
4. Visit the graveyard and look at the dead, think about how everyone will end up in the same dirt no matter what position they held in this world. In the end piety will determine everything.
5. Read Quran, narrations and ponder over them. think about ayats like this and then ask yourself what makes you so proud: Perish man! How unthankful he is! Of what did He create him? Of a sperm drop. He created him, and proportioned him, then the way eased for him, then makes him to die, and buries him; then, when He wills, He raises him. (80:17-22)

Think about all this before it takes over your heart and destroys your eeman!


References:
http://www.al-islam.org/al-tawhid/felicities/4.htm
http://www.al-islam.org/anecdotes-reflection-2/8.htm
http://www.al-islam.org/anecdotes-reflection-2/8.htm#_ftn51
http://www.al-islam.org/anecdotes-reflection-2/8.htm#_ftn52
http://www.al-islam.org/short/wasiyatnama/31.htm
http://www.al-islam.org/inner-voice-rizvi/37.htm

Blinded by Greed

I thought i should write about the so called *seven deadly sins*. I have already written about Anger and thought should write about Greed now. One of the reasons that i am writing about Greed is the way society is becoming. If you look at people you would be able to see that one of the reasons of constant impatience, anxiety, selfishness, murders etc is Greed. We become so involved in trying to quench our thirst for our desires that we forget the main reason we have been brought in this world. These days its always about material things, people have simply forgotten that relations, religion etc matter more. What would you do with a lot of money or material things if you were left alone? Is a big mansion with all the luxuries any good if you were to live alone in it? Would delicious gourmet food matter if you were sitting at the table alone? why dont we think about these things when we trample on people to fulfill our Greed. Please think about it! I will post some references from Islamic material so that the issue could be better understood.

The Holy Prophet(pbuh) has said: “Allah says, ‘The poor are my dependants, the rich my agents; if my agents will not give to my dependents their due I shall put them in Hell and I shall not care 

Greed is everlasting slavery.Nahj al-balaghah, Hikam,No. 103 

Imam Sadiq (AS), as stated in Misbahush-Shari'ah, said: "This world is like a portrait: its head is arrogance, its eye is greed, its ear is covetousness, its tongue is pretence, its hand is desire, its leg is conceit, its heart is negligence, its being is perishing and its destiny is decline. Whoever loves it, it gives him arrogance, whoever approves of it, it grants him greed, whoever demands it, it drives him to covetousness, whoever praises it, it clothes him with pretence, whoever wants it, it offers him conceit, whoever trusts it, it neglects him, whoever admires its properties, it ruins him, and whoever accumulates it and does not spend it, it turns him down to its dwelling place, the Fire"

Greed makes us a slave and takes us away from our spiritual journey. One lecturer said that even if you dont admit that you are greedy think about this:

When you have crisp new notes(money) and old notes and someone asks you for a change etc....you would always give them old notes. What is this? Is their a difference in the value of the old and new notes? If not then why this attachment to a piece of paper?

When ever you are about to give charity, why do you give old clothes? Would you be able to give some clothes you like or of the same standard as you wear?

Its exactly this attachment and greed that Islam wants us to move away from. Zakat, Khums, other ways of charity are some of the ways we can get rid of this disease. Lets all pray for Allah(swt) to remove greed from us...Ameen.


Ref: www.al-islam.org

Anger

None of us is free from the vice of anger but the true test is that can we control it or not?! As the world around us has become more chaotic and frustrating, anger has also increased. The tiniest of things make us angry...be it on the road, talking to an annoying/irritating person, in the market, at the office and even at home. Are we using our full capacity and potential to try and control our anger. Please think about it the next time you feel the onslaught of anger. Lets look at what Islam has to say about it.

1. Quran says:... (The believers) are hard against the unbelievers and merciful among themselves... (48:29)
2. Allah loves a believer who is polite. It is one of the qualities of a momin.-[Mustatul Anwar, p. 195]
3. Once a man approached the Messenger of Allah [s] and asked: "Advise me". Then the Messenger of Allah [s] said: "Do not be angry". The man repeated the same question and (the Prophet) again said: "Do not be angry," and continued: "He is not strong and powerful who throws people down but he is strong who withholds himself from anger."
4. ...Muhammad ibn Ya'qub (al-Kulayni), from 'Ali ibn Ibrahim, from Muhammad ibn 'Isa, from Yunus, from Dawud ibn Farqad, who reports al 'Imam al-Sadiq (A) to have said: "Anger is the key (that opens the door) to all kinds of vices."[Al-Kulayni, Usul al-Kafi (Tehran), Vol. III (Arabic text with Persian translation by Sayyid Jawad Mustafawi, p. 412.]
5. It is reported from Imam al-Baqir (a): “It is recorded in the Torah regarding which God Almighty confided to Moses (a), saying: "O Moses, control your anger towards those over whom I have given you authority, so that I may spare you from My Wrath." [Al-Kulayni, al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 302, hadith # 7]
6. Imam Ali (a) said: “Protect yourself from anger for its beginning is insanity and its end is remorse.” [Al-Amidi, Gharar ul-Hikam wa darar ul-Kalim, hadith # 2635]
7. It is reported from al 'Imam al-Baqir (A) that he said. "Verily, anger is a spark ignited by the Devil in the human heart. Indeed, when anyone of you gets angry, his eyes become red, the veins of his neck become swollen and Satan enters them. Therefore, whosoever among you is concerned about himself on account of it, he should lie down for a while so that the filth of Satan may be removed from him at the time." 
8. Imam Ali (a) said: “The most powerful person is the one who is victorious over his anger with his forbearance.” [Al-Rayshahri, Mizan al-Hikmah, hadith # 15027]
9. Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a) said: “One who retrains his anger (towards someone), God will cover his secrets.” [Al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar vol. 73, p. 264 hadith # 11]

These were just to show how much anger is hated by Allah(swt) and ahlul Bayt(s.a). Now the question arises what to do when one gets angry. Lets look at some traditions and hopefully we would be able to use them the next time we would become angry.

1. Imam al-Baqir (a) said “..whosoever is angry with someone let him sit down immediately if he is standing; for, indeed, doing so will repel from him the uncleanliness of Satan. And whoever gets angry with his family member, let him approach and (gently) touch him; for the feeling of family affiliation, when stimulated by touch, induces calmness.” [Al-Kulayni, al-Kafi, vol. 2, p 302, hadith # 2]
2. Imam Ali (a) said “When a person gets angry, if he is standing, he should immediately lie down (sit down) on earth for a while as this removes the filth of Satan from him at that time." [Al-Rayshahri, Mizan al-Hikmah, hadith # 15059] 
3. Among the fundamental remedies of anger is to get rid of the factors responsible for its provocation. These factors include self-love, which in turn causes love of wealth, glory, and honour, and the desire to impose one's will and expand one's domain of power on the creatures of God. These inherently excite the fire of anger, as the individual infatuated with them tends to hold them in high regard. When someone loves these things, he gets excited and angry if any one of his aspired goals is not achieved. Another factor that sometimes arouses anger is that it is imagined to be a merit and confused with bravery due to one’s ignorance. Anger is thus the product of spiritual weakness, insufficiency of faith, immoderation of character and soul.
4. Certain other causes of anger are `ujb, bragging (iftikhar), pride(kibr), disputatiousness (mira'), obstinacy (lajaj), jesting and the like. to control anger one should get rid of these characteristics.

Sources:Al-islam.org

Sliding Morality?

Its amazing how the Pakistani society has changed over the years yet remained the same. From the dupattas sliding from the head to the base of the head, distance between males and females becoming reduced much has changed and become accepted in the media. These might be just random stuff which were destined to change after Zia...BUT whats more disturbing is the way the morning and Live shows are becoming. This is the second time that i saw random guys calling and singing songs for the female guests and anchor.I mean what is happening...how is it right for some strange guy to call up females and start singing songs with weird lyrics...*nuts*...!!! Aren't they just making this practice acceptable...where has the respect one shows for females gone?

The irony is that this superficial modernism is progressing at a rather fast pace where as the reality on ground remains the same...honor killings, domestic violence, no rights whatsoever are still as rampant as they were when the media was all hush hush.

The question remains that till when will we improve just superficially...from the concept of independence to the basic rights of humans? when will the time come and we will realize that we need to do more...go much deeper.

OR might we just change the name of the country to superficilistan...since the country is becoming acceptable towards name changing...!!!

Using Bad Language

An increasing problem that can be seen in the society today is the use of bad language. Somehow it has become so common that it baffles the mind. You can see little children use all the swear words possible without a thought as to the effect it might have on the soul. People who would normally have a very polite and sweet speech on a slight provocation start using all the bad words. Examples of this could be seen on roads in traffic jams, jokes between friends, cursing enemies or people one is in conflict with!

Can anyone tell me how it justifies using bad language while even cursing enemies...is this what the Holy Prophet(pbuh) and his Ahlul Bayt(s.a) taught us?There are many other ways to show displeasure or anger which can be seen from the lives of Holy Prophet(pbuh) and his Ahlul Bayt(s.a).

How can we use such words and then utter holy names, stand in front of Allah(swt) and recite words of Holy Quran from the same tongue?! Please Ponder upon this and whenever an urge occurs to use such words, think what Imam-e-Zamana(ajtf) would be feeling? Would you use the same language if he were sitting in your company?!


********************References:*********************(http://www.shiachat.com/forum/index.php?%2Ftopic%2F234974311-foul-language-in-a-muslims-life%2Fpage__p__2021057__fromsearch__1&#entry2021057)

1ـ رسولُ اللهِِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): ما كانَ الفُحشُ في شيءٍ قَطُّ إلّا شانَهُ، ولا كانَ الحَياءُ في شيءٍ قَطُّ إلّا زانَهُ.
1– The Prophet (s) said, ‘No sooner does obscene language accompany something than it disgraces it, and no sooner does modesty accompany something than it adorns it.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 79, p. 111, no. 6]


2ـ رسولُ اللهِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): إنّ اللّهَ حَرَّمَ الجَنَّةَ على كُلِّ فَحّاشٍ بَذِيءٍ، قَليلِ الحَياءِ، لا يُبالِي ما قالَ ولا ما قيلَ لَهُ.
2– The Prophet (s) said, ‘Allah has prohibited Heaven to those who use obscenity, vulgarity, lack shame, and are not concerned about what is said or not said to them.’[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 323, no. 3]


3ـ رسولُ اللهِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): إنّ مِن شَرِّ عِبادِ اللّهِ مَن تُكرَهُ مُجالَسَتُهُ لِفُحشِهِ.
3– The Prophet (s) said, ‘The most evil of the servants of Allah are those whose company is abhorred [by people] because of their obscenity.’[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 325, p. 8]


4ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): ما أفحَشَ كريمٌ قَطُّ.
4– Imam Ali (a) said, ‘A person of dignity would never use obscene language.’[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9478]

5ـ الإمامُ الباقرُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إنَّ اللّهَ يُبغِضُ الفاحِشَ المُتَفَحِّشَ.
5– Imam al-Baqir (a) said, ‘Allah hates the user of obscene language and the one who is shameless with it.’[al-Kafi, v. 2, no. 324, no. 4]


6ـ الإمامُ الباقرُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): قُولوا للناسِ أحسَنَ ما تُحِبُّونَ أن يُقالَ لَكُم ؛ فإنَّ اللّهَ يُبغِضُ اللَّعّانَ السَّبّابَ الطَّعّانَ علَى المؤمنينَ، الفاحِشَ المُتَفَحِّشَ، السائلَ المُلحِفَ.
6– Imam al-Baqir (a) said, ‘Say unto people the best of what you would like them to say to you, for Allah hates the curser, swearer, and slanderer of believers, the user of obscene language and to do it shamelessly, and the importunate beggar.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 181, no. 67]


7ـ الإمامُ الباقرُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): سِلاحُ اللِّئامِ قَبيحُ الكلامِ.
7– Imam al-Baqir (a) said, ‘The weapon of the wicked is foul language.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 185, no. 14]


8ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الفُحشُ والبَذاءُ والسَّلاطَةُ مِن النِّفاقِ.
8– Imam al-Sadiq (a) said, ‘Obscene language, foulness, and impudence are all from hypocrisy.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 79, p. 113, no. 14]


9ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مَن خافَ الناسُ لِسانَهُ فهُو في النارِ.
9– Imam al-Sadiq (a) said, ‘A person whose [foul] tongue people dread is in the Fire [i.e. his place is the Fire].’ [al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 328, no. 3] 

Self-Struggle[Jihad-e Akbar]

In order to defeat the self and to control passions we must fight hard by strictly following the commands of Prophet (S) and Infallible Imams (A); with the help of reason must march forward preventing transgressions and encroachment of the self, and  destroying the roots of his forces, so that reason could take over the power, and by taking inspirations from religious law could guide us upon the path of human perfection leading towards God's-Nearness.

We must know while confronting self, compromise and piece settlement is not possible, and what is required is a devastating blow making him crippled permanently from plotting any further conspiracies. In order to achieve happiness and salvation there is no other alternative except to follow this course, and because, of this reason struggle against the self has been called in traditions as -"Greater-Crusade" (Jihad-e-Akbar). Here we would quote few examples from the Commander of the Faithful Imam' Ali (A): 

"Take over the possession of yourself--through continuous struggle.”

                                                                                              -Ghararal-Hukm, vol. l, p-131.

And said: 

”Fight and dominate over self’s whims and passions. Because otherwise if they succeeded in making you their prisoner -they will treat you in a most humiliating manner destroying you eventually.                                               

   -Gharar al-Hukm, vol. 1, p-138.

And said: 

"A wise man keeps himself engaged in struggle against his self, thus, reforming and preventing him from indulging into passions and amusements, and in this manner subdues him ultimately taking over his possession. Such a wise person is so must preoccupied in his self-refinement that he is totally detached with the world, whatever it contains and its dwellers."                                              

  -Gharar al-Hukm, vol. 1, p-237.

And said:

"That the Prophet (S) dispatched his soldiers to battle front to fight against the enemy. When the soldiers returned triumphant, the Prophet said: ' Congratulations! For those who have successfully completed the "Minor-Struggle " (Jihad-e-Asghar), but they have yet to engage themselves into Greater-Struggle (Jihad-e-Akbar) '. He was asked: 'Oh Prophet of God! What is the Greater- Struggle?” 

'Struggle against the self.’ Replied the Prophet (S).”

-Wasail al-Shia, vol. 2, p-124.

Ref:http://www.al-islam.org/selfbuilding/

Words of wisdom

"There are six traits that must not be found in a true believer [of complete faith],

1. viciousness and ill-temperedness,

2. miserliness,

3. obstinacy,

4. dishonesty,

5. jealousy,

6. oppression [of others]."



Mola Imam Jaafer Al Sadiq (a.s)!