The way of happiness: movement on the circuit of principles

What you read is about the luminous life of the head and leader of Shiite school, Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him), and it has been written by the expression, interpretation and attractive and useful expression of Allame Javadi Amoli. It is a selection of his speech before the sermons of Friday Prayer during the years of the war in Tehran and it is an expression about the political and devotional actions of Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) and his recommendations to Islamic nation.
You should be honest in all situations.
A part from the general benefits of Imamate and guardianship, Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) has a special feature and like other Imams (peace be upon them), he is the representative of a special name of the names of God. Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) that has acquired the title of '' honesty'' invites human to learn honesty and states
''تعلّموا الصّدق قبل الحديث''
'' Before you talk, you should learn the courtesy of honesty''.
Whether talking is related to theoretical affairs or practical affairs, you should be honest. If a person is not honest, he or she is not aware of honesty and when he or she is not aware of honesty, the norm of talking will not be under his or her control. Such a person can neither talk and nor measure the remarks of talkers because the norm of talking is honesty and this honesty is into the soul of human and if the soul of a person is not honest, he or she will not know the norm of talking.
Honesty is the same as reality and only the pivot of the recognition of reality is wisdom. Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) summons us to determine the pivot of honest that is same wisdom and he states;
'' دعامه النسان العقل''
'' The underlying of the life of human is thought''. If is said about the matters of idea '' O' brother! You are same thoughts'' and it is said about the matters of action '' O' brother! You are same will and intention''. A person should understand well and he should act whatever he or she understands. Hence, Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) considers the column of though wisdom and considers the pillar of action wisdom;
''به يعبد الرّحمن و يكتسب الج نان''
These Imams (peace be upon them) are the wisdom of the Islamic nation and we express to them;
''بكم يعبد'' الرّحمن''
If the wisdom of each person is the norm of his or her worshipping, innocent Imams (peace be upon them) are the wisdom of the Islamic nation and if the Islamic nation has the honor of worshipping, it will be in relationship with Imams (peace be upon them).
If a person wants to be wise in theoretical aspect and he or she has a strong will in the aspect of action, God has taught all of us;
''اصل المرء لبّه''
In other words, a person is composed of two equal realities of body and soul. A person has a reality, its main part is soul and its minor part is body.
The power of will or power of body?
If you read in the remarks of Ali Ibn Abi Taleb (peace be upon him) within the remark of Amir, purpose will be the power of will;
'' قلعت باب خيبر بقوّه جسدان يّه و لا قوّه غ ذائيه و لكن بقوّه ملكوت يه و نفس بنور ربّ ها مض يئه''
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) states '' I did not pluck the Kheibar Door with the power of my body, but I plucked this door with the power of my body. If will becomes power, body will become more powerful as well. The power of soul makes body strong and the weakness of soul influences body.
This expression of Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) orders each person the improvement of will and you should not think about something else except God. The power of will is only about his quantity matters. A person that is powerful in material matters suffers from the weakness of will and the power of body. A person that is powerful in doing sins is a captured person and a captured person is a humiliated person. A person that tyrannizes himself or others is a mean person and a mean person is deprived of power of will. Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) has stated '' a tyrant person is mean''. Meanness appears in tyranny and greatness appears in obedience. Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) has stated '' no one accepts except a mean person''. If a person tyrannizes, he or she will be a mean person and if a person accepts tyranny, he or she will be a mean person. The power of the will of human summons human to fairness and he or she should not tyrannize others and should not accept tyranny. If a person can solve any tyranny with relying on the power of reality, why should not he or she get help from will and prevent from the tyranny of a tyrant person? Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) states
''دعوه المظلوم تصعد لي السّماء
'' The sigh of an innocent person and tyrannized person ascends the sky''.
God states
''ل يه يصعد الكلم الطيّب''
Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) is the preacher of the Quran and says '' the prayer of a tyrannized person ascends the sky''. This sky is upper atmosphere. It is the sky that grants our daily bread;
''وفي السّماء ر زقكم''
It is the sky whose doors are open to believers and it never opens toward polytheists;
''لا تفتّح لهم ابواب السّماء''
It is the sky that specific angels are its owner and the receiver divine messages.
''و اوحي في كلّ سماء امرها'
'' The sky is a place that the prayer of tyrannized persons ascends''. If a person knows that his or her prayer will ascend the sky, he or she will not accept tyranny and he or she will not would like to tyrannize anyone''.
Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) has taught us these matters and the way of the improvement of will that is same wisdom should be evaluated in worshipping. He has told us '' only way of empowering will is worshipping. Only way of empowering intention is worshipping. He has stated
''كأنّك تراهفن لم تكن تراهفنّه يراك . و ن كنت تري أنّه لا يراك فقد كفرت. و ن كنت تري أنّه يراك و لكن بارزتب المعص يه. فقد جعلته اهول الناظ رين ليك''
He also stated '' fear from God as if you see him''.
It has been said
''الحسان أن تعبد الله كأنّك يراه ''
Imam as the pattern of the nation
Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) has stated ''
''Fear from God as if you see him''. Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) says to his students '' fear from God''. Such a fear is not fear from God. Such fear is the fear of soul, but it is fear of wisdom. Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) fears from God as if he sees God. The nation that is the follower of Imams fears from God as they see God. Imam is the pattern of the nation and he sees God and fears from God. Imam Sade (peace be upon him) has taught us such an exalted position. When Ibn Abi Al- Uja expressed to Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) in the debate '' do you leave us to an absent person?'';
''ذكرت فأحلت علي غائب''
We do not accept something if we do not see and do not feel it because his though was material and was in line with the principle of senses. Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) stated
''ك يفيكون غائ باً من هو خلقه شاهد لا يخلوا منه مكان''
Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) stated '' I have invited you to a present witness. God is not absent and God is seen anywhere and he is with you and all of time you are in the presence of God;
''و هو اقرب لينا من حبل الوريد''
How is God absent?
This is the remark of a person that sees God with soul not with eyes;
''كه لا تدر كه الأبصار و هو يدر ك الأبصار''
Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) has achieved such a religious rank as Amir Al-Momenin (peace be upon him) says
''ما كنت أعبد ربّاً لم أره''
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) sees God and invites others to this point of view. He says '' you can achieve a rank as if you see God''. This rank can be possible only through worshipping. Innocent Imams (peace be upon them) denigrated persons that considered for Imams another rank except possible rank.
Imams as direct intermediate of God blessings with people
A man thought about Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) so much. When he came to the presence of Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him), Imam Sadeq ordered '' water for performing ablution and worshipping should be provided''. Then he performed ablution and worshipped. Then he stated '' you should know that
''لا تحمل علي الب ناء فوق ما يطيق ، نّها عبيد المخلوقون''
''Do not obey anyone more than necessary rate. We are the creatures of the creator. Do not consider the exalted rank of the creator for creatures. God cannot tolerate such a thing. This rank does not belong us. Do not consider us a higher rank than the creatures of God and do not promote us beyond possible boundary'';
''لا تحم ل علي الب ناء فوق ما يطيق فنّا عبيأ مخلوقون''
Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) expressed clearly that Imams are the persons and creatures of God and they have achieved this exalted rank through worshipping God. Then we see what Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) does in the highest rank. Salem Ibn Abi Afseh says '' after Imam Baqer (peace be upon him) deceased, I came to the presence of Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) in order to condole him. I came to him and said
''لا تحمل علي اميأ خيّ أ مطاع. سوّم: طبيأ بصيأ ثقه. فن عد موا ذلك كانوا همجً ر عاع الب ناء فوق ما يطيق فنّا عبيأ مخلوقون''
''نّا لله و نّا ليه رّاج عون . ذهب و الله من كان يقول قال رسول الله و لا يسئل عمّن بينه و بين رسول الله عليه آلاف التحيّه والثناء''
I said to Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) '' the decease of the fifth Imam is a vacuum that cannot be filled because he was only persons that said '' the messenger of God (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) said''. No one could ask Imam Baqer (peace be upon him) '' how can you talk about the prophet (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants)) whereas you did not see him? There was a lot of time difference between you and the prophet. When the messenger of God (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) was alive, you were not in the world. How can you talk about the prophet (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants)) whereas you did not see him?'' We have lost such an Imam''.
Salem Ibn Abi Hafseh says '' when such remarks finished, I saw that Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) became quiet for few minutes and then he said
''قال : قال الله عزّ و جلّ : نّمنع باد ي من يتصدّق بشقّ تمره فاربيها له كما يربّي احدكم فلوه حتّي اجعلها لهمثل احد''
'' God states '' if you gives alms half of date to someone, I grow the half of the date and change it to the Ohod Mountain as you bring up a lamb''. I got surprised. He could talk about God without any intermediates. He was in a rank that he talked about the prophet (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) without any intermediates. But Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) talked about God without any intermediates. Who are they? What are they? Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) gave such a permission to himself to narrate such matters from God without any intermediates. He saw God with the eye of the heart and heard the remarks of God with the eye of the heart. If the first complete person is the first sender and appearance, other creatures will be other senders and appearances. Any blessings that are sent to other persons are for the goodness of the sending and appearance of such a complete person.
The way of happiness: the movement on the circuit of principles
A person that the leader of our religion has direct relationship with God. We should recognize what the leader of our religion and Islam says to us. There are some orders from Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) and we will read some of them so that it becomes clear how kind, hardworking and sympathetic Imam Sadeq is in the modification of the Islamic nation. Imam Baqer (peace be upon him) states about Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him)
''هذا خير البر يه ''
Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) states '' the will of my father influenced me as much as I swear God that I try for the independence of my nation as much as I can;
'' والله لا ادعنّهم حتّي يكون رجل منهم في الم ثل لا يسئل احداً''
He stated '' I swear God that I provide a situation that a person does not need another person''. They can be independent about the matters of science, thoughts and policy and do not need other persons. This is the remark of Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him).
He states '' O' people! If you want that you have a good society, you should follow these principles. Some of these principles are related to the matters of comfort. The other parts of these underlying principles are related to the matters of beliefs and the civilization. But he has stated about whatever is related to the matters of comfort;
''ثلاث لا تطيب السّكني لا بهنّ ؛ الهوي الطّيب ، و الماء الغزير ، و الأرض الخوّار ه''
He has stated '' there are three things that make the life pleasant for people '' having clean weather, a lot of water and land for agriculture. You should try to have a clean environment, to produce water and should try to provide a land for agriculture. These are related to the matters of comfort. But what is the underlying of the Islamic society is that if a nation does not have such principles, it will not be civilized any more. Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) has stated
'' ثلاث لا يستغن ي اهل كلّ بلد عنها''
'' There are three things that all of people need them. First thing,
''فق يأ عال أ ور ع ، اميأ خيّ أ مطاع ، طبيأ بصيأ ث قه''
And the second and third things include
''طبيأ بصيأ ث قه. فن عد موا ذل ك كانوا همجً ر عاع''
He has stated '' If a nation is deprived of a fair jurisprudent, a powerful army, kind and benevolent commanders and reliable physicians, they will have no share of civilization and happiness''.
You should be only poor person on the earth.
Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) has a lot of attempts in order to teach his students. Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) said to them in order to make them great person in the afterlife'' do you know who can become Imam? Do you know who can be the inheritors of the prophet? Do you know who can be the righteous caliphs of the prophet?'' '' Persons that are poor on the earth will be in the great persons in the inner of the world. In the school of Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him), a poor person that is poor only on the earth can gain victory. If a person is poor on the earth and in the sky, he or she will not gain victory. A person that is poor only on the earth will gain victory. If a devout person is poor, he or she will be poor only on the earth; otherwise, he or she will be great in the afterlife. Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) introduced his students as great persons in the sky. He stated
''من تعلّم الع لم و عمل به و علّمه لله دعي في ملكوت السّماوات عظيماً''
If a person become a scientist for God, acts science for the satisfaction of God and teaches science to others for the satisfaction of God, he or she will be a great person in the inner of the world with his or her pen and expression. This great person can become the inheritor of the prophet. Every poor person cannot become the Imam of the earth.
If you look at this this sacred verse, you will see that it says
''و نريد أن نمنّ علي الّذ ين استضع فوا ف ي الأرض و نجعلهم ائمهً و نجعلهم الوار ثين''
The explicators of the book '' the principles of Kafi'' have said about the explanation of this sentence that Imam Baqer (peace be upon him) read this verse about Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him); deceased Kalini says '' when Imam Baqer (peace be upon him) saw his child, Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him), he said '' my child is someone that God has said about him
''و نريد أن نمنّ علي الّذ ين استضع فوا في الأرض و نجعلهم ائ مهً و نجعلهم الوار ثين''
It has been said about the explanation of this statement of Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) that has referred to this verse '' a person that is poor o the earth will gain victory. He or she will be a Muslim poor person. If a Muslim is poor on the earth, he or will be poor only on the earth, but he or she will be a dear person in the sky. He or she will be a dear person in the inner of the world.
Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) saved his students from the hole of Marvan Government and prevented them from falling the hole of Marvan Government and stated '' neither Abasi nor Marvan Governments''. The poor person of the earth can become Imam and if someone becomes the poor person of the earth and the sky, he or she will fall another if he or she falls a hole. Only the poor person of the earth can become Imam.
The policy of Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him)
You have heard about the conspiracy of Abasi Government that they prepared money and brought it to Medina as the share of the Shias of Khorasan and distributed among Bani Hashem and received receipt. He went to Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) and saw that he was praying at the mosque of the prophet. He sat behind Imam and said
'' عجّل و انصرف والصفد ليه''
Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) finished his praying and said '' give up your conspiracy'';
'' نّهم قر يبوالعهد من دوله بني مروان ''
Bani Hashem had just got rid of the domination of Marvan Government and they said '' neither Marvai nor Abasi Governments''. We have not got rid of the paw of Marvan Government in order to sign up the conspiracy of Abasi Government. We stood against their tyranny and will stand against another tyranny.
This is considered as the school of Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) and he can the Imam of the earth, the inheritor of the prophet (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants). The person that survived from the paw of Bani Omaye and resorted to Bani Al-Abas is not an inheritor. God does not promise him and the promise of god cannot be gained. When the letter of Mansour Davaniqi reached Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him), he had written '' why don't you come to our court like other advisors? '' Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) answered '' I do not have a world to come to you in order to preserve it and you do not have an afterlife to socialize with you so that you can learn the trains of the afterlife. My coming there has no benefits. When he expressed such remarks, he had such serious remarks about Bani Marvan. Then Mansour Davaniqi wrote in order to deceive '' come to us in order to advise us like other advisors. Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) stated
''أمّا من أراد الآخ ره فلا يصحبك و أمّا من أراد الدّنيا فلا ينصحك''
''A person that is the lover of the world talks according to your desire and does not advise you''. An advisor is a person that invites and encourages people toward God. Attracting is different from advertising. Attracting is different from speech, saying, writing and teaching scientific points. An advisor is a person that has the art of attraction. A person may give a talk and write books, but he or she cannot attract others. Attracting others is a difficult job. If a person is not attractive, he or she cannot attract others. If a person does not believe in God, he or she will not be able to attract others with his or her remarks. Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) states '' I cannot attract a person that says in his or her heart
''سوآ أعلينا و عظلت أم لم تكنمن الواع ظين''
''أمّا من أراد الآخ ره فلا يصحبك ، و أمّا من أراد الدّنياء فلا يذهب ''
Then they saw that Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) was not attracted by money, but he said against money '' neither Bani Marvan nor Bani Abbas''. If you say nowadays '' neither the east nor the west'', because you are the students of Imam that said on the day '' neither Bani Marvan nor Bani Abbas''. When he saw that that Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) was not attracted with money and with invitation to the group of advisors, he ordered to fire the house of Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him). Deceased Kalini narrates ''people saw that Imam Sadeq was putting his feet on the flames of fire of house and he was saying
''أنا ابن اعراق الثّري ، أنا ابن ا براهيم خليل الله''
People saw that Imam Sadeq was putting his feet on the flames of fire of house and he was saying '' we are the children of the basic of the earth and the children of Ibrahim''. His meaning was ''Namrud has gone away and You, Mansour Davaniqi, has sat in the place of Namrud. In spite of the fact that Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him) has gone away, but I have sat in the place of Ibrahim. Reality is that we have dealt with fire. Didn't Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him) say
''و من ذر يّتي؟''
Didn't Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him) deal with fire? Such guardianship has appeared from me.
Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) stood against the policy of Abbasian and Marvian in this way. These are the remarks of Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) and his practical and orders. Hence Imam Baqer (peace be upon him) stated
''هذا خير البر يه''