Faith in God and its practical effects in mental comfort according to the remarks of Imam Reza (peace be upon him)

Introduction

The role of faith in God and its individual and social effects are one of the most basic matters. In traditional matters, remarks and beliefs have interpreted this matter with the titles '' the effects of the religion'', '' the effects of faith in God'', '' the role of the religion in individual an social life'' and …
A person without faith in God cannot have a moral life and cannot do useful actions human and the civilization of human. A person without faith in God will be a selfish person that will not leave his or her personal benefits and will be a hesitant and wanderer person that does not know his or her obligations in the life and moral matters.
The best way for getting rid of this dilemma and mental crises that come from lack of faith in God is that the interpretation of a person from events should be a way that we see God a supervisor in events. If the look of a person to the world is monotheistic and his or her interpretation from the world is that the world has been created from sagacious prudence and the system of the world is based on goodness, mercy and promoting creatures to their decent perfections and the creatures of the world will be complete with a coordinating system and a center. The creation of persons is not futile and without any specific purposes. The world is organized with a series of certain systems that is called '' the traditions of God''. There are reasons for the existence of sagacious and wise God in all particles of the world and each leaf of a tree is considered as a notebook in the understanding of God. Then the life in this world finds meaning, soul and purpose, grants human freshness and cheerfulness and saves human from declination into the horrible valley of nullity.
Faith in God does not only determine a series of obligations for human in spite of their natural desires, but it also changes the face of the world from the point of view of human and the interpretation of human toward the world and the creation.

The definition of faith in God

Faith in the remarks of Imam Reza (peace be upon him) is defined in this way '' this is treaty that is done into the heart, is expressed by mouth, is acted by body organs practically and it does not implement without these three pillars''.
Faith in God not only has heart treaty and contract, but it should also be reflected by body organs practically. In other words, a devout person should act to whatever he or she believes in and only heart belief is not enough. Faith in God is considered as the best properties of human and if they are implemented in the life of human, they will be the source of a lot of blessings. Quran states '' if a person does not have faith in God, he or she will be at problems. Faith in God is science along with belief and assurance. Tranquility and comfort are considered as the inseparable tools of faith in God. Faith in God includes results and effects and some them appear in the personal behavior of a devout person and some of them will appear in beliefs and it makes a person strong and comfortable.
The remarks of Quran about a devout person are that he or she will be under the umbrella of God and his support because a devout person does not know other supporters and guardians except God and consider God as his or her only supporter. A devout person needs God in all situations and affairs and considers God capable and needless. A devout person fears only from God and fears no one. A devout person doesn't feel sorry for whatever he or she has lost, does not become happy for whatever he or she gains and will not be worried for the future. These three conditions are the cause of fear and anxiety. The faith of a devout person will increase because he or she has comfort into his or her heart and his or her fear will go away. Hence, in the storm of disasters, he or she will be permanent. This comfort may have the aspect of beliefs and eradicates the declination of beliefs, or it may have practical aspect and it will make human permanent and patient. Finally, a devout person will not be weak against difficult events, will not become sad and will not consider himself or herself superior than enemies.
A devout person has no fear in his or her behaviors and will not be sad and grievous. A persons that does not commit any crimes and sins, believes in justice of God and God does not punish an innocent person and he or she is will be under the support of kind God will not have any reasons that he or she has any fears and should be grievous. Fear and sadness are against the orders of God and his enemies. A devout person should be loyal to his or her commitments, should be a reliable person in social and individual relationships, should avoid sexual deviations and should be demure. A devout person will be sent to the heaven for his or her right actions, will not surrender against hard events, will deal with the hard events with relying on the power of God and he or she will not have low self-confidence in the presence of others.

The pillars of faith in God

According to the remarks of Imam Reza (peace be upon him), faith in God has four pillars. He states '' faith in God is based on four pillars and if a person follows these four pillars, he or she will be considered as a devout person: first: resting on God; second: satisfaction to the provinces of God; third, leaving affairs to God and fourth: surrounding against the orders of God.
In other words, persons should always consider God in all of their individual and social affairs, pay attention to true path and reality, should not deviate from the road of the religion, consider exalted God effective in all affairs and get assistance from him and with resting on God, they get assistance from God in their affairs. It can be understood from the remarks of Imam Reza (peace be upon him) that the perfection of faith in God depends these four things: first: resting on God; second: satisfaction to the provinces of God; third, leaving affairs to God and fourth: surrounding against the orders of God.
From the point of view of Imam Reza (peace be upon him), faith in God is the secret of the happiness of human. He narrates from his father, the messenger of God (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) in a Hadith '' I heard from Gabriel that great God stated '' the phrase '' there is no God except single God, is my tower and if a person enters this tower, he or she will survive my torture ''. The narrator says '' when Imam Reza (peace be upon him) expressed such a matter, the caravan set off''. Imam Reza (peace be upon him) stated '' according to the conditions, I, belief in the Imamate and guardianship of Ahle Beit (peace be upon them), I am one of the conditions''.
The effect of recognition and belief in God in the happiness of Human depends on our recognition from human and his happiness. Material thoughts about human and his world cause that even persons that believe in God consider religious trains useless and escape reality. But a Muslim whose foundation about human is that the reality of human is not only reality of body and the basic reality of human is the reality of soul an soul whose nature is science and purity understands well that theoretical faith is the underlying of practical faith and it is considered as soul perfection, but it is the highest soul perfection and leads human toward reality, God, and makes him or her a complete person;
''مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ يَمْكُرُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۖ وَمَكْرُ أُولَٰئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ''
''If any do seek for glory and power,- to Allah belong all glory and power. To Him mount up (all) Words of Purity: It is He Who exalts each Deed of Righteousness. Those that lay Plots of Evil,- for them is a Penalty terrible; and the plotting of such will be void (of result)''.
Therefore, Imam Reza (peace be upon him) narrates from his great father, the messenger of God (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants), and ''belief in monotheism is the cost of the heaven''.
According to the statement of Imam Reza (peace be upon him), the first step in in faith, recognition and belief in God is resting on him. Hence, the first pillar in belief in God is resting a complete trust in God. This rank is from the perfection and understanding of human because if a person knows God more and becomes his power, mercy and wisdom more aware, his dependency on his unique nature will be more. If a person achieves the degrees of resting on God, he or she will not become disappointed and will not feel weak against hard events and disasters. Faith in God that comes from resting on God will give human mental power that can deal with the most difficult problems. Hence, we should look for solution in self-assurance, heart security and resting on God. This depends on the degree of faith of persons and exalted God states with high emphasis
''الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ''
'' Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction''.
With such a point of view, it can be said that faith in God and resting on him will have high effects on comfortable feeling and the mental security of human.
A person asked Imam Reza (peace be upon him) about this sacred verse
''وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا''
''And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion''.
Imam Reza (peace be upon him) answered '' resting on God has some ranks. One of its ranks is that we should rest on God for whatever we do.
Moreover, Imam Reza (peace be upon him) was asked another question, he answered '' the rank of resting on God that you should not fear anyone except God''.
If we rest on a force that is superior to all forces, we will have deep comfort feeling. In religious trains, whenever they want to force human to do something and prevent him or her from fear and worry, they express resting on God and announce human that they do not fear from difficulties and start their problems with the force of God and resting on him and God will assist them because resting on God will prevent from weak feeling and disappointment. A person that rests on God will not fail, will not feel weak during the path and the tolerance of difficulties and problems will be easy for him or her. Therefore, Quran states
''فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَأَشْهِدُوا ذَوَيْ عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا ''
''وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا''
''Thus when they fulfil their term appointed, either take them back on equitable terms or part with them on equitable terms; and take for witness two persons from among you, endued with justice, and establish the evidence (as) before Allah. Such is the admonition given to him who believes in Allah and the Last Day. And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out''.
'' And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion''.

Quran also states

''إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ''
''He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful''.
One of the considerations of the world is to rest on and trust in God. Resting on God means that a person does not hesitate in passing true path whether in positive aspects or negative aspects and if he or she considers a correct purpose in the process of the life not personal benefit and if he or she focuses on his or her duty not his or her desires and if he or she leaves his or her destination to God, he or she will be supported by God. Belief in the prudence and province of God whose result is resting on and trust in God will eradicate fear from death and declination and fear from poverty and it modifies the greatest weakness of human that is fear from nullity and existence.

Satisfaction in the province of God

According to the statement of Imam Reza (peace be upon him), '' one of other affairs that provides comfort for a devout person is satisfaction in the province of God. Amir Al-Momenin (peace be upon him) states
''اَفِرُّمن قَضاءِاللهِ الی قَدَرهِ''
'' Whatever happens in the world is the province of God''.
One of the benefits of the affection of God and the conditions of the implementation of complete faith in a devout person is satisfaction in the province of God. This rank of satisfaction is considered as the best rank of God and its root is friendship and faith in exalted God because friendship with God makes us surrender against him. The reality of satisfaction is that a person surrenders against God in spite of all problems and grieves, does not object to any things and should not be sad and angry for whatever he or she wants from God. This great rank that comes from understanding and faith in God is considered as the greatest actions of heart. Therefore, if a person has more understanding toward God, this reality (affection and satisfaction) will appear in him or her more.
It should be paid attention that the rank of satisfaction is different from resting on God, but it is better than it because a persons that rests on God looks for his or her goodness or favors, but a person that is satisfied of the province of God leaves his or her will to the will of God and does not consider any choices for himself or herself.
The education of satisfaction is that whatever God has determined for him or her is better than whatever he or she imagines for himself or herself although it is beyond understanding because God is wiser for whatever is beneficial for him or her in the world and the afterlife. It has been narrated from Imam Reza (peace be upon him) that the messenger of God (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) '' in the province of God, there are benefits for a devout person and you should know that if a person is not satisfied of the province of God, there will be no benefits for him or her''.
Achieving this rank has a lot of effects on the soul and psycho of human and his or her material and spiritual life''. One of important effects is the relaxation of soul and psycho and the prevention of depression and mental and spiritual crises that a lot of persons suffer from in societies because the rank of satisfaction and surrender are always along with faith in God, understanding and the affection of God. A satisfied person always remembers God and prefers the requests of God to his or her desires. On the other hand, he or she knows whatever God has determined for him or her is for his or her goodness. Hence, this makes him or her feel comfortable and he or she will get rid of anxiety and worry. This satisfaction is along with the surrender of heart. The reality of faith in God is the surrender of heart. If the surrender of language or the surrender of wisdom and thought is not accompanied with the surrender of heart, there will be no faith in God. The surrender of heart is equal with the surrender of whole body and the rejection of denial.

The practical benefits and consequences of faith in God

Faith in God has a lot of effects on the establishment of social behaviors and the decrease of worries.

The establishment of optimism

One of the effects of faith in God is optimism to the world and creation. Since faith in God forms the point of view of human toward the world, makes creation purposeful and makes a purpose good and complete, it makes the point of view of human the general system of the world and its dominant rules optimistic. Imam Reza (peace be upon him) expresses the benefits of optimism to God '' you should be optimistic to God because if a person is optimistic toward God, God will be with his or her good imagination and if a person is satisfied of little income, God will be satisfied of his or her small good actions and if a person is satisfied of little halal income, his or her burden will light and his or her family will have blessings and God will make him or her aware of his or her life problems and their solutions and will send him or her to the heaven''.

Foundation and intellectual point of view

Another effect of faith in God is foundation and intellectual point of view. If a person sees the world clearly with the light true path according to the rule of God and reality, it will make the atmosphere of his or her soul luminous and it will be like a light that had made his or her inner luminous. In contrast, if a person has no faith in God, he or she will see the world in a dark and empty way and without foundation and understanding. Therefore, the house of his or her heart is dark as he or she has supposed.

Hopefulness

Another effect of faith in God is hopefulness to the good result of a good action. From material logic, the world does not care about whether people pass in true or false path, in the path of justice or the path of tyranny and in right path or wrong path. Therefore, their action depends on one thing '' how much they try''. But in the logic of a devout person, the world is not indifferent to the attempt of these two groups and the reflection of the world toward the attempt of these two groups is equal, but the system of the creation supports people that try in the path of reality, rightness, benevolence and justice;
''ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ وَلَا نَصَبٌ وَلَا مَخْمَصَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَطَئُونَ مَوْطِئًا يَغِيظُ الْكُفَّارَ وَلَا يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَّيْلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُم بِهِ عَمَلٌ صَالِحٌ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ''
''It was not fitting for the people of Medina and the Bedouin Arabs of the neighborhood, to refuse to follow Allah´s Messenger, nor to prefer their own lives to his: because nothing could they suffer or do, but was reckoned to their credit as a deed of righteousness,- whether they suffered thirst, or fatigue, or hunger, in the cause of Allah, or trod paths to raise the ire of the Unbelievers, or received any injury whatever from an enemy: for Allah suffereth not the reward to be lost of those who do good''.
''يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَنصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ''
''O ye who believe! If ye will aid (the cause of) Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly''.

The comfort of soul

Another effect of faith in God is the comfort of soul. A person searches for his or her happiness in his or her nature. If a person achieves happiness, he or she will be drowned in cheerfulness and he or she will shiver from the imagination of an ominous future and deprivation and will feel anxious strongly. What leads to the happiness of human includes two things: attempt and making sure about the environment.
A person should not hesitate about whatever is related to himself or herself. The world makes a person anxious and it causes that human does not recognize his or her obligations. Does a good action have any advantages? Are honesty and trust useless and futile? Is the end of action deprivation in spite of all attempts and the fulfillment of duties? In such a situation, anxiety happens in the most horrible ways. Faith in God as one side of the trade and the world as the other side of the trade will make human feel comfortable and sure. Anxiety and worry toward behavior will make the world minor matter and instead, it will make human feel comfortable.
Imam Reza (peace be upon him) requests such a mood from God in a lot of prayers. It has been narrated in a narration that Imam Reza (peace be upon him) requests security and faith in God in the time of praying and he states '' O' person that has guided me toward yourself and has controlled my heart with your confirmation, I want you security and faith in the world and the afterlife''.

The role of faith in God in the improvement of social relationships

Human is a social creature and he or she cannot meet his or her needs by himself or herself. The life should be collaboratively and all persons should share in duties and uses and there is a kind of task division among persons. Human are free creatures and they should do their own jobs as duties and obligations. Human has social needs and his or her social desires should be fostered as a sequence of requests through the shadow of education. A social moral life is that persons should respect the rules and rights of each other, consider justice as a holy affair, have affection toward each other and a person should like a thing for others as he or she likes it for himself or herself and a person should not like a thing for others as he or she does not like it for himself or herself and they should have trust and assurance toward each other.
Imam Reza has stated about the way of behaving some persons'' you should behave kings prudently, should behave a friend in a modest way, should behave an enemy in a far relationship and should behave other persons mildly''.
The spiritual qualities of persons are the guarantee of mutual trust of persons. A person that is responsible for his or her community will have piety and chastity in the most mysterious houses as they show piety and chastity in the community. Finally, they will have goodness toward each other, will stand against tyranny, will prevent from the tyranny of tyrant persons, will respect moral values and will be united with each other like the organs of a body.
Imam Reza (peace be upon him) has stated from his great fathers about the condition of the implementation of blessings and security that the messenger of God (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) has stated '' when the nation is at peace and comfort, people should be friend with each other, give gifts to each other, give back trusts to their owners, avoid haram actions, welcome guests, fulfill prayers and pay zakat. Whenever they are not aware of these affairs and avoid taking care of them, they will have drought and famine.
Imam Reza (peace be upon him) states in another statement '' you will not be able to gain grace and honor with property and wealth; hence, you should dominate on hearts with generosity and good communication''.
What prioritizes true path over anything else, makes justice holy, makes hearts kind toward each other, penetrates piety and chastity into the depth of the conscience of human, promotes moral values, makes courage for dealing with tyranny and makes the organs of a body united with each other is religious faith.

The decrease of sadness

The life of human has good times, achievements, successes, sufferings, failures, losses and bitter times. Persons are obliged to deal with nature and change bad times to good times. This is considers as one of good attributes of a devout person. According to the interpretation of Imam Reza (peace be upon him), ''one of good attributes of a devout persons is to deal with plights and sufferings and to change them to sweet and good times. Moreover, he states '' a person will not achieve the perfection of faith except with these three features: awareness of the religion, the observation of balance in the life and patience in plights and difficulties''.
Moreover, Imam Reza (peace be upon him) states '' a person will not achieve the boundary of faith except with these three features: the tradition of God, the tradition of the prophet (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) and the tradition of Imam. The tradition of God is to cover secrets, the tradition of the prophet (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) is to tolerate with people and the tradition of Imam is to have patience against difficulty and trouble''.
Some events of the world cannot be prevented or removed, for example, becoming old. Human become older whether they like or not and the light of their life will turn off. Moreover, the thought of death, closing eyes from the world, passing away and leaving the world to others are considered as a kind of pain for human.
Religious faith creates the force of endurance for human and changes bitter times sweet for human. A devout person know that whatever is in this world has certain purpose and if the reaction of human is desirable against troubles, it will be made up by God suppose that this trouble cannot be made up. Aging is not the end and a devout persons worships and remembers God in free time and this stage of the life becomes pleasant and lovely and the enjoyment of the life will be more than young stage for devout people.