14 Ahadith on Parents.

1 - The Greatest Obligatory Act

عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ )ع) أَنَّهُ قَالَ: بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ أَكْبَرُ فَرِيضَـةٍ.

The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) has said:“Goodness towards (one’s) parents is the greatest obligatory act.”

Mizanul Hikmah, Volume 10, Page 709

2 - The Best of Deeds

قَالَ الصَّادِقُ )ع): أَفْضَلُ الأَعْمَالِ الصَّلاَةُ لِوَقْتِهَا وَ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَينِ وَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَـبِيلِ اللٌّهِ.

Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “The best deeds are: Salat in its stipulated hour, goodness towards parents and Jihad in the way of Allah.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 85

3 - Attachment to Parents

فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص): فَقِرَّ مَعَ وَالِدَيْكَ فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَأَُنْسُهُمَا بِكَ يَوْماً وَ لَيْلَةً خَيْرٌ مِنْ جِهَادِ سَنَةٍ.

[A person once approached the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) and said: “I have an old father and mother, who due to their attachment towards me, are not keen for me to go to Jihad.”] 

[Hearing this], the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: “(If such is the case then) Stay with your parents for, by the One in whose control lies my soul,  their attachment of one day and one night to you is better than one year of Jihad.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 82

4 - The Most Beloved Deed

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللٌّهِ )ص): أَيُّ الأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلـى اللٌّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ؟ قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ لِوَقْتِهَا. قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ شَيْ‏ٍءٍ؟ قَالَ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَينِ. قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ شَيء‏ٍٍ؟ قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللٌّهِ.‏

[Ibne `Abbas states:] “I questioned the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): Which deed is the most beloved in the eyes of Allah, the Mighty, the Glorious?”  He (peace be upon him and his family) replied: “(Offering) prayers at their stipulated times.” I then asked: “Which is the next most beloved deed?” He (peace be upon him and his family) answered: “Goodness towards (one’s) parents.”  I asked him again: “After this which is the most beloved act?”  He (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Jihad in the way of Allah.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 70

5 - Looking at Parents

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص): مَا مِنْ وَلَدٍ بَارٍّ نَظَرَ إِلـى أَبَوَيْهِ بِرَحْمَةٍ إِلاَّ كَانَ لَهُ بِكُلِّ نَظْرَةٍ حَجَّةٌ مَبْرُورَةٌ. فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللٌّهِ وَ إِنْ نَظَرَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مِائَةَ نَظْرَةٍ؟  قَالَ نَعَمْ. أَللٌّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَ أَطْيَبُ.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Every righteous child who casts a look of mercy and affection upon his parents shall be granted, for every look of his, rewards equivalent to that of an accepted Hajj.”  Those around the Prophet questioned: “O’ Prophet of Allah!  Even if he were to look at them a hundred times a day?”  The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) replied: “Indeed!  Allah is the Greatest and Most Kind.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 73

6 - The Great Rank of Parents

عَن أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا )ع) قَالَ: إِنَّ اللٌّهَ أَمَرَ بِثَلاَثَةٍ مَقْرُونٍ بِهَا ثَلاَثَةٌ أُخْرَى: أَمَرَ بِالصَّلاَةِ وَ الزَّكَاةِ فَمَنْ صَلَّى وَ لَمْ يُزَكِّ لَمْ تُقْبَلْ مِنْهُ صَلاَتُهُ وَ أَمَرَ بِالشُّكْرِ لَهُ وَ لِلْوَالِدَيْنِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَشْكُرْ وَالِدَيْهِ لَمْ يَشْكُرِ اللٌّهَ وَ أَمَرَ بِاتِّقَاءِ اللٌّهِ وَ صِلَةِ الرَّحِمِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ لَمْ يَتَّقِ اللٌّهَ‏.

Imam al-Ridha (peace be upon him) has said: “Allah, the Mighty, the Glorious, has commanded three things with which he has associated three other things. He associated payment of zakat along with prayers such that one who offers prayers, but desists from offering zakat, his prayers are rejected. He associated gratitude to Him with gratitude towards parents such that one who is grateful to Allah, but ungrateful to his parents, will be deemed as ungrateful to Allah.  He associated righteousness with bonds of kinship such that one who is righteous, but has severed relations with his kin, will be deemed as not being righteous.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 77 

7 - Kindness to Parents

قَالَ الصَّادِقُ )ع): بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ مِنْ حُسْنِ مَعْرِفَةِ الْعَبْدِ بِاللٌّهِ إِذْ لاَ عِبَادَةَ أَسْرَعُ بُلُوغاً بِصَاحِبِهَا إِلَى رِضَى اللٌّهِ مِنْ بِرِّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ الْمُسْلِمَيْنِ لِوَجْهِ اللٌّهِ.

Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “Goodness towards the parents is an indication of a person’s excellent cognizance of Allah.  This is because there is no worship that can take a person towards the happiness of Allah faster than exhibiting respect towards his Muslim parents for the sake of Allah.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, pg.77

8 - Obedience Towards One’s Parents

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص): مَنْ أَصبَحَ مُطِيعاً لِلٌّهِ فِي الْواَلِدَينِ أَصبَحَ لَهُ بَابَانِ مَفْتُوحَانِ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ وَاحِداً فَوَاحِداً.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “One, who follows the orders of Allah with regards to obeying parents, shall have two doors of Paradise opened up for him.  And if there happens to be only one parent, one door of Paradise shall open up for him.”

Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 67

9 - The Most Exalted Station

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص): أَلْعَبْدُ الْمُطِيعُ لِوَالِدَيهِ وَ لِرَبِّهِ فِي أَعْلَى عِلِّيِينَ.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) has stated: “One who is obedient towards his parents and his Lord shall be accommodated in the most exalted of places on the Day of Judgment.”

Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 467

10 - Repayment Of Debts

  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللٌّهِ )ص):مَنْ حَجَّ عَنْ وَالِدَيهِ أَوْ قَضى عَنْهُمَا مَغْرَماً بَعَثَهُ اللٌّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِـيَامَةِ مَعَ الأَبْرَارِ.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) has said: “One who performs Hajj on behalf of his parents and repays their debts shall be raised by Allah on the Day of Judgement amongst the righteous ones.”

Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 468

11 - Pleasing Parents

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص): مَنْ أَرْضَى وَالِدَيْهِ فَقَدْ أَرْضَى اللٌّهَ وَ مَنْ أََسْخَطَ وَالِدَيْهِ فَقَدَ أَسْخَطَ اللٌّهَ.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “One who pleases his parents has verily pleased Allah, and one who has angered his parents has verily angered Allah.”

Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 470

12 - Sheltered by the ‘Arsh (Throne) of Allah

عَنِ الصَّادِقِ )ع): قَالَ بَيْنَا مُوسى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ يُنَاجِي رَبَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذْ رَأَى رَجُلاً تَحْتَ ظِلِّ عَرْشِ اللٌّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ. فَقَالَ: يَا رَبِّ مَنْ هٌذَا الَّذِي قَدْ أَظَلَّهُ عَرْشُكَ؟ فَقَالَ: هٌذَا كَانَ بَارًّا بِوَالِدَيْهِ وَ لَمْ يَمْشِ بَالنَّمِيمَةِ.

Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) related: “Once when Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) was engaged in a conversation with his Lord, The Mighty, The Glorious, he observed a person beneath the `Arsh (Throne) of Allah, whereupon he (peace be upon him) asked:  O’ My Lord!  Who is this person, who is being sheltered by Your `Arsh?”  Allah replied: “This person had been kind and good towards his parents and never indulged in slandering (them).”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 65

13 - Travel and be Good!

قاَلَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص): سِرْ سَنَتَيْنِ بَرَّ وَالِدَيْكَ سِرْ سَنَةً صِلْ رَحِمَكَ.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Travel even for two years to do good to your parents.  Journey (even) for one year to establish bonds of kinship (with your relatives).”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 83

14 - Increase in Life and Livelihood

  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص): مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَمُدُّ لَهُ عُمْرَهُ وَ أَنْ يَزْدَادُ فِي رِزْقِهِ فَلْـيَبِرْ وَالِدَيْهِ وَ لْـيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “One who desires a long life and an increase in livelihood should exhibit goodness towards his parents and establish bonds of kinship (with his relatives).”

Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 16, Page 475

Benefits of Kindness to Parents.

فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ )ع): يَا مُيَسِّرُ قَدْ حَضَرَ أَجْلُكَ غَيْرُ مَرَّةٍ وَ لاَ مَرَّتَينِ كُلُّ ذٌلِكَ يُؤَخِّرُ اللٌّهُ أَجَلَكَ لِصِلَّتِكَ قُرَابَتِكَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ يُزَادَ فِي عُمْرِكَ فَبِرْ شَيْخَيكَ يَعْنِي أَبَوَيهِ.

[Hanan Ibn Sudair narrates: “We were in the presence of Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) and a midst us was Muyassir.  During the discussion, the topic of silah rahim (establishing bonds of kinship with one’s relatives) came to the fore, whereupon] the Imam (peace be upon him), [addressing Muyassir], said: ‘O’ Muyassir!  On several occasions, your end had drawn near, but on each occasion, Allah delayed your death due to your acts of silah rahim with your relatives.  If you desire to have your life-span increased, exhibit goodness and kindness towards your parents.’

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 84

First and Foremost - be Good to your Mother

عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ )ع): قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ )ص) فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللٌّهِ مَنْ أَبَرُّ؟ قَالَ أُمَّكَ. قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ أُمَّكَ. قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ أُمَّكَ. قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ أَبَاكَ‏.

Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) relates that once a person approached the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and asked: “O’ Prophet of Allah!  Towards whom should I exhibit goodness and kindness?”  The Noble Prophet replied: “Towards your mother.”  The man then asked: “And after that towards whom?”  The Noble Prophet again said: “Your Mother.”  He asked again: “And then?”  Once again, he replied: “Your mother.”  For the fourth time the man asked: “And then?”  This time he said: “(Then towards) Your father.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 49

Knowing Allah, His Greatness and His Grace

قالَ رَسُولُ الله (ص) :

اَيّهَا النّاسُ اِنّهُ لا نَبِيَّ بَعدي وَ لا اُمّةَ بَعدَكُم ألا فَاعبُـدُوا رَبّكُـم وَصَلّوا خَمسَكُم وَصُومُوا شَهرَكُم وَ حِجُّـوا بَيتَ رَبِّكُم وَ اَدّوا زَكوةَ اَموالِكُم طيّبَةً بِها اَنفُسُكُم وَ اَطيعُوا وُلاةَ اَمرِكُم تَدخُلُـوا جَنّةَ رَبِّكُم

الخصال/322

The Holy Prophet [p.b.u.h.] said: "O' people! Verily, there is no prophet after me, nor any Ummah after you (Muslims). So, take care to worship your Lord, perform your five ritual prayers, fast in the appointed month (Ramadan), make pilgrimage to the House of your Lord (Mecca), give the alms of your wealth in order to purify your souls thereby, and obey the Holders of Authority, so that you enter the Paradise of your Lord."

Khisal-al-Saduq, p. 152

قالَ الا ِمامُ اَميرُالمُومنينَ عَلِيّ (ع) :

عِظَمُ الخالِقِ عِندكَ يُصَغِّرُ المَخلُوقَ في عَينك

نهج البلاغه الكلمات القصار 129

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a.s.] said: "Having the Greatness of the Creator in your mind would make you realize the insignificance of the creatures in your view."

Nahjul-Balagha, Statement 129

قالَ الا ِمامُ اَميرُالمُومنينَ عَلِيّ (ع) :

طُوبى لِمَن اَخلَصَ لِلّهِ عَمَلَهُ وَ عِلْمَهُ وَ حُبّهُ وَ بُغْضَـهُ وَ اَخْذَهُ وَ تَرْكَهُ وَ كَلامَهُ وَ صَمْتَهُ وَ فِعْلَهُ وَ قَوْلَهُ

بحارالانوار/77/289

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a.s.] said: " Blessed is he who sincerely devotes the entirety of his actions, knowledge, love, hatred, receiving, relinquishing, speech, silence, deeds, and statements absolutely to Allah."

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 77, p. 289

قالَ الا ِمامُ الصّـادِقُ (ع) :

اَلقَلبُ حَرَمُ الله فَلا تُسكِنْ حَرَمَ اللهِ غَيرَ اللهِ

بحارالانوار/70/25

Imam Sadiq [a.s.] said: "The heart is the sanctuary of Allah, therefore, do not settle therein anything but Allah (The sacred place of the heart belongs to and Him alone. Therefore, keep the love of the world out of it.)

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 70, p. 25

قالَ الا ِمامُ الصّـادِقُ (ع) :

شيعَتُنَا الّذينَ اِذا خَلَوا ذَكَرُوا اللّهَ كَثيرًا

بحارالانوار/93/162

Imam Sadiq [a.s.] said: "Our true followers are those who, when they are alone, remember Allah abundantly." (That is, they avoid committing vices in private where there is no barrier for them to commit sin by the mere remembrance of Allah.)

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 93, p. 162

قالَ الا ِمامُ البـاقِرُ (ع) :

لا وَاللهِ ما اَرادَ اللّهُ تَعالى مِنَ النّاسِ إلّا خَصلَتَينِ: اَن يُقِرّوا لَهُ بِالنِّعَمِ فَيَزيدَهُم وَ بِالذُّنُوبِ فَيَغفِرَها لَهُم

الكافي/2/426

Imam Baqir [a.s.] said: "By Allah, He, the Exalted, expects of people but two traits: that they confess for Him the blessings in order that He increases His bounties for them; and that they make confessions about their evil actions and then He forgives those sins for them."

Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 426

قالَ الا ِمامُ الحُسَينُ (ع) :

اِنّ اللّه جَـلّ ذِكـرُهُ ما خَلَـقَ العِبـادَ إلّا لِيَعرِفُـوهُ فَـاِذا عَرَفـُوهُ عَبَـدُوهُ, فاِذا عَبَدُوهُ اِستَغنَوْا بِعِبادَتِهِ عَن عِبَادَة ما سِواهُ 

سفينةالبحار/2/180

Imam Husayn ibn Ali [a.s.] said: "Verily, Allah, the Exalted, has not created human beings except for recognizing Him and worshipping Him as (the consequence of) knowing Him; and when they worship Him they would lack the need of adoring any human being (or things) other than Him because of that worship."

Safinat-ul-Bihar, vol. 2, p. 180

قالَ الا ِمامُ عَلِيّ بنُ الحُسَينِ (ع) :

لا يُهلَكُ مُؤمِنٌ بَينَ ثَلاثِ خِصـالٍ: شَهـادَةِ اَن لا اِلهَ إلّاَ اللهُ وَحدَهُ لا شَريك لَهُ, وَ شَفاعَةِ رَسُولِ الله, وَ سِعَةِ رَحمَةِ الله

سفينةالبحار/517

The fourth Imam, Ali ibn Husayn [a.s.] said: "There is no destruction (Hell) for a believer having three qualities:

Confessing that there is no god besides Allah, the One Who has no partner; the intercession of the Messenger of Allah and the vastness of the Grace of Allah.

Safinat-ul-Bihar, p. 517

Lesson 2; Death part 1 of 5

One of the fearsome stages of the Hereafter is the grave, which calls out daily: “I am the abode of loneliness, I am the house of terror, I am the home of worms”.

 

Terror of the Grave

It is quoted in Man La Yahzaruhul Faqih, that when a dead body is brought for burial, it should not be buried immediately. For there is no doubt that the terror of the grave horrifies the dead person, and he seeks refuge from Allah's wrath. The dead body should be laid to rest for sometime far from the grave, so that it prepares itself, and gets accustomed to it. Again one should stop and then take it to the grave. Allamah Majlisi while commenting on the above, says that even though the spirit is separated from the body, it is still maintains relation with it, and remains somewhat attached to it. The darkness & loneliness, questioning by ‘Munkir & Nakeer’, Squeezing in the grave (Fishar), and the chastisement in hell are some of the frightful stages. Hence it is necessary for man to take lessons from a dead man's state, and reflect upon it, because one day he himself will have to pass through these stages. Yunus narrates that one day he asked Imam Moosa-al-Kazim (A.S.) that, “Whenever I think about the door of a house, the house becomes narrow in my sight, why is it so”? Imam (A.S.) replied, “It is so because whenever you take a dead body for burial, you should lay it to rest for sometime near the grave, so that the dead person may ready itself to enter there in, and collect strength to answer the questions of ‘Munkir’ & Nakeer’”.

Bara bin Azib, one of the companions (Ashab) of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) says that one day I was in the presence of the Prophet, when we saw a group of people gathered. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) asked them as to why they had gathered? They replied that they had gathered to dig a grave. As soon as the Prophet heard the name of the grave, he hurried towards it and sat on one side of the grave. I sat on the other side facing him so as to get a clear view of what he did. I saw that the Prophet (S.A.W.S) started weeping bitterly so much so that his face became wet, then he looked at us and said, “O my brothers! Prepare yourselves for this house”.

Shaikh Bahai says that at times he saw many kings and rulers regretting their sins and wailing over their lives while dying. The Shaikh asked one such person who was about to die as to what was the reason for such regret. The dying king replied, “What do you have to say about the person who is proceeding for a journey without having gathered any provisions for it, and devoid of a helpful companion. He is stopped on the way in a horrifying grave, to be produced later before the Almighty Ruler, without having any goodness in store”.

Allamah Qutubuddin Rawandi says, that after the death of Hazrat Maryam (A.S.), her son Prophet Isa (A.S.) called her, “O mother! Please speak to me, and tell me whether you are desirous of returning back to this world”. Hazrat Maryam (A.S.) answered, “Yes, I desire to return back, so that during the cold winter nights I could recite Namaz, and during the hot summer days I could fast. O my dear! Verily the way to the hereafter is very difficult.”

It is narrated that when the last moments of Hazrat Fatema (A.S.) neared, She called Amirul Mo'meneen Ali (A.S.) and said, “When I die, you bathe me, shroud me, pray Namaz over my dead body, and bury me. When you do so, sit near my grave for sometime and recite the Holy Qur'an, and pray for my forgiveness. For verily after death the dead person relies totally on the prayers (dua's) and affection of the living ones”.

When Hazrat Fatema binte Asad (the mother of Hazrat Ali) died, Amirul Mo'meneen (A.S.) came weeping to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) and gave Him the new of her death. The Prophet was grieved and said, “My mother has died”. History bears witness that she had brought up the Prophet affectionately like a mother. The Prophet (S.A.W.S) gave her his own gown for the shroud (Kafan), and Himself lay in the grave for sometime before burying her. After burying her, he stood near the grave and called out: “Your son, your son, not Aqeel, nor Ja'far”. People were surprised and asked him the reason for uttering these words. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) replied that, “One day we were discussing about Qayamat, and I said that on that day people will be come out of their graves in a state of nakedness. My aunt (Fatema binte Asad) started crying, so I assured her that I would give her my own gown for shroud, so she would not have to face that humiliation. She was scared of the squeeze in the grave (Fishare Qabr) , so I lay myself in her grave so as to save her from this too. After burying her, Munkir & Nakeer came to question her. They asked her about her Lord, she replied that Almighty Allah was her Lord. Then they asked her about Prophet hood (Nabuwwah), she bore testimony that I was Allah's Apostle. But when they questioned her about her Imam, she was a bit confused. Hence I called out to her that “Your son, your son, not Aqeel nor Ja'far (but Ali)”. Fatema binte Asad was a distinguished lady, who had the honor of giving birth to a son like Ali (A.S.), and herself remaining in the Ka'bah for three days as Allah's guest. She was the second woman who accepted the Prophet hood of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) the first being Hazrat Khadija (A.S.) even then she was fearful of the hereafter and wept. And we being sinful have forgotten our end, and do not take account of our deeds, but are averse to the terror of the hereafter.

Sayyed ibne Tawoos relates from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) that he said that the first night is the most fearful and difficult for the dead person, hence give Sadqa for his safety. If you do not have to give anything as ‘Sadqa’ then recite two unit (Rak'at) Namaz: In the first Rak'at after Surah-al-Hamd recite twice Surah-at-Tawheed, and in the second Rak'at after Surah-al-Hamd recite ten times Surah-at-Takasur. After finishing the Namaz recite the following dua:

اَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ على مُحَمَّدٍ وآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وابْعَثَ ثَوابَها اِلى قَبْرِ ذِلِكَ المَيِّتِ فُلان بن فُلان.

(here take the name of the dead man)

Allah will immediately send one thousand Angels to the grave of the dead person with attires of Paradise, and expand his grave till Qayamat. And for the one who recites this Namaz, Allah will offer him great rewards and exalt his position forty times.

The other Namaz to be recited on the first night of burial is as follows: Two Rak'at Namaz is to be recited, in the first Rak'at after Surah-al-Hamd recite once Ayatal Kursi, and in the second Rak'at after Surah-al-Hamd recite ten times surah-al-Qadr. After finishing Namaz say:

اَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ على مُحَمَّدٍ وآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وابْعَثَ ثَوابَها اِلى قَبْرِ فُلان

(here take the name of the deceased person).

My teacher Allamah Mirza Husain Noori (may Allah exalt his position) quotes in his book Darus Salaam from his teacher Haj Fath Ali Sultanabadi that he said: It was my routine that whenever I heard about the death of follower (Shi'ah) of Ahlulbait (A.S.), whether known or unknown to me, I recited (the above stated) Namaz, and this was not known to anyone else except myself. One day I met one of my friends who told me that the previous night he saw in a dream a Shi'ah who had died some days ago. May friend asked him as to how his state was. He replied that he was in deep trouble facing the consequences of his deeds, till one so and so (he took my name) person recited Namaz for him. He said that, “May Allah bless his father, he rescued me from severe chastisement”. My friend asked me regarding the Namaz and I had to tell him.

 

Those deeds which are beneficial for warding off fear of the Grave.

One of them is performing Ruku' with entire recitation. Imam Mohammad-al-Baqir (A.S.) says, that a person reciting entire recitation of Ruku' in Namaz will be saved from the fear of the grave. And one who recites.

لا إلهَ إلاّ اللهُ المَلِكُ الحَقُّ المُبينُ

100 times daily, will be saved from anxiety in the grave, will become prosperous  and the doors of Paradise will be opened for him. It is also related that the person who recites Surah-al-Yaseen before going to bed, and the following Namaz (Namaze Laylatur Raghaib), he will be saved from the terror of the grave. The first night of the month of Rajab is known as Laylatur Raghaib.

The Holy Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.S.) used to fast on the first Thursday of the month of Rajab, and between Maghrib and Isha Prayers recite twelve Rak'at Namaz (in si sets of two units) as under:

In every Rak'at after Surah-al-Hamd recite three times Surah-al-Qadr and twelve times Surah-an-Naas. After Salaam recite seventy times:

اَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ على مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبيِّ الأمِّي وَعلى آلِهِ

Then go into prostration (Sajdah) and say seventy times:

سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبَّ المَلائِكَةِ والرُّوحِ

Then sit erect and say seventy times:

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَتَجاوَزْ عَمَّا تَعْلَمُ إنَّكَ أنْتَ العَليُّ الأعْظَمُ

Then again go into Sajdah and say seventy times:

سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبَّ المَلائِكَةِ والرُّوحِ

It has been related that a person who fasts for twelve days in the month of Sha'ban, Allah will send seventy thousand Angels daily to his grave. And if a person visits an ailing man, Allah appoints an Angel for him who accompanies him in his grave till Qayamat.

Abu Sa'eed Khudri says, that he heard the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) telling Amirul Mo'mineen Ali (A.S.), “O Ali! Give glad tidings to your Shi'ahs that their death will be eased, and they will be saved from the terror of the grave and Qayamat”.

Narrowness of. and Squeeze in the Grave (Fishare Qabr).

This event is so horrifying, that it makes a person shiver with fright in this very world. Amirul Mo'meneen Ali (A.S.) says: “O the servants of Allah! The state in the grave of a person whose sins are not forgiven is more horrifying than death it self. Fear it's (grave's) narrowness, it's squeezing, it's imprisonment  and it's loneliness. Verily the grave calls out daily: I am the house of loneliness, of terror and worms. Grave is like a garden of Paradise for a good doer, while it is like a dungeon of hell for the evil doer. Allah tells His enemies that He will send ninety nine serpents in their graves, who will tear their flesh and smash their bones, and this punishment will continue till the outbreak of Qayamat. If one of the serpents exhales towards this earth, all plants and trees will be destroyed. O servants of Allah! Your souls are tender, and your bodies delicate, you cannot confront any ordinary serpent of this world, how then will you face them”. It is related that Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) used to get up daily in the middle of the night and call out in a loud voice so that everyone in the house could hear, and would say:

اللّهُمَّ أعِنِّي عَلى حَوْلِ المُطَّلَعِ وَوَسِّعْ على ضِيقِ المَضْجَعِ وَارْزُقْني ما قَبلَ المَوتِ وارْزُقني خَيرَ ما بَعدَ المَوتِ.

One of his (A.S.)'s Supplication (Du'a) is also stated:

اللّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لي في المَوتِ اللّهُمَّ أعِنّي على سَكَراتِ المَوتِ اللّهُمَّ أعِنّي على غَمِّ القَبْرِ اللّهُمَّ أعِنّي على ضَيْقِ القَبْرِ اللّهُمَّ أعِنّي على وَحْشَةِ القَبْرِ اللّهُمَّ زَوِّجْني مَنَ الحُورِ العِينِ.

 

Worship in Looking

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ )ص): نَظَرُ الْوَلَدِ إِلَى وَالِدَيْهِ حُبّاً لَهُمَا عِبَادَةٌ.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) has said: “The look of a child towards his parents out of love for them is an act of worship.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 80

Meaning of Good Conduct

عَنْ أَبِي وَلاَدِ الْحَنَّاطِ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ )ع) عَنْ قَوْلِ اللٌّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ } وَ بِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْساناً { مَا هٌذَا الإِِحْسَانُ؟ فَقَالَ: الإِِحْسَانُ أَنْ تُحْسِنَ صُحْبَتَهُمَا وَ أَنْ لاَ تُكَلِّفَهُمَا أَنْ يَسْأَلاَكَ شَيْئاً مِمَّا يَحْتَاجَانِ إِلَيْهِ‏.

Abu Wallad al-Hannat narrates that he once asked Imam as-Sadiq (as) about the meaning of the words of Allah (in the Qur’an): (And be good to parents.”) [1]

The Imam (peace be upon him) replied: “Being good to them means to accompany them in a good manner and never to wait for them to ask you for what they need.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 79

[1] - Al-Qur’an, Suratul Baqarah (2), Verse 83

Responsibilities Towards One’s Parents

قَالَ الصَّادِقُ )ع): لاَ تَمْلاَ عَيْنَيْكَ مِنَ النَّظَرِ إِلَيْهِمَا إِلاَ بِرَحْمَةٍ وَ رِقَّةٍ وَ لاَ تَرْفَعْ صَوْتَكَ فَوْقَ أَصْوَاتِهِمَا وَ لاَ يَدَيْكَ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمَا وَ لاَ تَتَقَدَّمْ قُدَّامَهُمَا.

Imam as-Sadiq (as) has said (in regards to one’s parents): “Do not cast your gaze upon them except with love and compassion; do not raise your voice above theirs; do not raise your hands above theirs; do not walk ahead of them.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 79

To dye hair, advise for men and women

It is mustahab (commendable) for men to dye their head and beard.
There are fourteen advantages for women in dyeing their hair and applying
henna to their head and feet:
a) Deafness is cured
b) Brightness in the eyes is increased
c) Dryness of nose is lessened
d) There is good breath in the mouth
e) Gums are strengthened
f) There is no bad smell in the under arms
g) There is less temptation from the devil
h) The angels are happy
i) It is a means to the happiness of a momin
j) The nonbelievers get jealous
k) It is beauty in itself
l) It is good scent in itself
m) It is a means to the salvation from the curse of the grave
n) It makes Munker and Nakeer feel shy
According to a tradition, a certain person visited the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) and when the Holy Prophet saw a few white hair in his beard,
he said that these hair are light and all the muslims who possess a single
white hair in the beard, there will be a light for them on the day of
judgement.
According to another tradition, Hazrat Ali (a.s.) said that he did not
apply dye (khizab) as he was mourning for the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
Another reliable tradition states that Imam Ja'far-e-Sadiq (a.s.) said
that among a few bad signs o which will appear in the world during the
last days will be that men of Bani Abbas will act like their women by applying
henna to the hands and feet and comb like them.
According to Imam Ja'far-e-Sadiq (a.s.), the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
ordered every woman to apply henna whether she was a widow or a
happily married woman, the former as not to let her hands resemble
men, the latter to beautify them for her husband.

-Allama Majlisi's Tehzee ul Islam, Part 2, Ch.11 

On Behalf of Parents

  

قَالَ الصَّادِقُ )ع): مَا يَمْنَعُ الرَّجُلَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَبَرَّ وَالِدَيْهِ حَيَّيْنِ وَ مَيِّتَيْنِ يُصَلِّيَ عَنْهُمَا وَ يَتَصَدَّقَ عَنْهُمَا وَ يَحُجَّ عَنْهُمَا وَ يَصُومَ عَنْهُمَا فَيَكُونَ الَّذِي صَنَعَ لَهُمَا وَ لَهُ مِثْلُ ذٌلِكَ فَيَزِيدَهُ اللٌّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِبِرِّهِ وَ صِلَتِهِ خَيْراً كَثِيراً.

Imam as-Sadiq (as) had said: “What prevents a person from doing good to his parents - whether alive or dead - by offering prayers, giving charity, performing Hajj on behalf of them, (knowing that) the rewards of these acts are also granted to him, in addition to his parents?  Besides, due to his good deeds and prayers (for them), Allah, the Mighty and the Glorious, shall grant him abundant good.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 46

Evil Parents And Kindness

عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ )ع) قَالَ: ثَلاَثٌ لَمْ يَجْعَلِ اللٌّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِأَحَدٍ فِيهِنَّ رُخْصَةً أَدَاءُ الأََمَانَةِ إِلَى الْبَرِّ وَ الْفَاجِرِ وَ الْوَفَاءُ بِالْعَهْدِ لِلْبَرِّ وَ الْفَاجِرِ وَ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ بَرَّيْنِ كَانَا أَوْ فَاجِرَيْنِ.

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as) has said: “There are three things which Allah, the Mighty and the Glorious has not permitted anyone to forsake: returning a trust to its owner, irrespective of whether he is a good person or an evil one; fulfilling one’s promises and covenants, irrespective of whether it has been made to a good person or an evil one; being good and kind towards one’s parents, irrespective of whether they are good or evil.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 56

Manners of Using the Mirror:

According to the reliable tradition related to Imam Ja'far-e-Sadiq (a.s.), the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had said that heaven is definitely rewarded to that young fellow who looks in the mirror and thanks God for the beauty given to him.
According to another tradition, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) kept on looking in the mirror while combing his hair and beard. He also ordered his wives and other companions to beautify themselves as God liked that a muslim should, before meeting another person, make himself acceptable to the other's eyes.
According to a tradition related to Hazrat Ali (a.s.), one should recite the following prayer while looking into the mirror.
‘All praise is worthy of that Allah who has created me and made my creation the best. He has made my face as it was the best possible to make. He has beautified me with such things, had these been found in others, they would have been considered as faults and then He has blessed me with Islam.’
_____________________________
From Allama Majlisi's Tehzeeb-ul-Islam Ch. 10 p 24

Polytheist Parents

عَنِ الرِّضَا )ع) فِي كِتَابِهِ إِلَى الْمَأْمُونِ قَالَ: وَ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَاجِبٌ وَ إِنْ كَانَا مُشْرِكَيْنِ وَ لاَ طَاعَةَ لَهُمَا فِي مَعْصِيَةِ الْخَالِقِ.

In a letter to Ma`mun, Imam ar-Ridha (as) wrote: “To do good to one’s parents is obligatory, even if they are of the polytheists, however, they should not be obeyed in acts that go against the commands of Allah.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 72

AhlulBayt are like Noah's ark!

قالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (ص) :

مَثَلُ أَهلِ بَيتي في اُمَّتي مَثَلُ سَفينَة نُوحٍ مَن رَكِبَها نَجا وَ مَن رَغِبَ عَنها هَلَكَ

بحار الأنوار/27/113

The Holy Prophet [p.b.u.h.] said: "The likeness of my Ahlul-Bayt (progeny) amongst my Ummah (followers) is similar to Noah's Ark. Those who embarked on it were rescued and those who rejected it perished...."

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 27, p. 113

Love for AhlulBayt

 قالَ الإمامُ الصّادِقُ (ع) :

اِنَّ فَوقَ كُلِّ عِبادَة عِبادَة وَ حُبُّنا أَهلَ البَيتِ أَفضَلُ عِبادَةٍ

بحار الأنوار/27/91

Imam Sadiq [a.s.] said: "Verily, there are various degrees of serving Allah, but affection (and cordial inclination) for us, Ahlul Bayt, is the highest one."

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 27, p. 91

Suitable Engravings for Every Gem:

Husain ibne Khalid visited Imam Reza (a.s.) and asked him if it was permissible
to visit the toilet wearing a gem on which was engraved:
‘There is no God but Allah.’
The Imam (a.s.) replied that this act was good for no one. Husain further
asked if the Prophet and other ancestors did not visit the toilet with
the ring on. The Imam (a.s.) replied in the affirmative but also stated that
the ring was in the right hand and that Husain should stop defaming his
ancestors. Then Imam (a.s.) said that naqsh (engraving) on the gem of
Adam, which was brought from heaven, was thus:
‘There is no God but one Allah and Mohammed is the Messenger of
Allah.’
The engraving on the Prophet's ring was:
‘There is no God but Allah, Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah.’
The engraving on Hazrat Ali (a.s.)'s ring was:
‘Allah is Master of the kingdom.’
The engraving on Imam Hasan (a.s.)'s ring was:
‘Verily, All honour (as a whole) belongeth (only) to God.’
The engraving on Imam Husain (a.s.)'s ring was:
‘Verily God accomplisheth His purpose.’
The ring worn by Hazrat Ali ibnul Husain (a.s.) and Imam Mohammed
Baqir (a.s.) belonged to Imam Husain (a.s.).
The engraving on the ring of Imam Ja'far-e-Sadiq (a.s.) was:
‘Allah is my master and He will safeguard me from His creatures.’
The engraving on the ring of Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s.) was:
‘Sufficient for me is Allah.’
After speaking about the engraving of Imam Ali Reza (a.s.), he put
forth his hand on which he was wearing the ring of his father.
According to the tradition from Syed Ibne Taoos (r.a.), a person visited
Imam Ja'far-e-Sadiq (a.s.) and said that he was scared of the ruler of Jazeerah
as his enemies had poisoned the ears of ruler and he may kill him.
The Imam (a.s.) ordered him to make a ring set in with a thick gem of
Hadeed Cheeni on one side of which the following three sentences
should be engraved:
‘I seek the refuge of the Mightiness of Allah. I seek the shelter of the
words of Allah. I seek the shelter of the Prophet of Allah.’
and at the back of the gem the following two lines should be engraved:
‘I have brought faith on Allah and his Books. I myself rely on Allah
and his Prophets.’ and further, the following should be engraved on all the four corners
of the gem:
‘I stand witness with all submission to there being no Creator except
Allah.’
When he will wear this ring all his difficulties will be solved; especially
he will not be afraid of the wicked. And if the ring is tied, women
will have an easy delivery and they will not be affected by any evil eye.
It is very important to protect this gem. Dirt should be kept away from it
and it should not be taken in bathroom or toilet as it contains the secrets
of God. Shias of Ahle Bait (a.s.) who are afraid of the enemy should keep
this ring dearer than life and hide it from their enemies and keep it a
secret except from those who are reliable. According to the traditionalist,
his experience proved what the Imam (a.s.) had said.
According to Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s.), if a person possesses a
ring set in with Aqiq and turns it towards his palm and then looks at it
and recites the 97th chapter of the Holy Book (Sura Inna Anzalna):
‘In the name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful.
Verily, We sent it (The Quran) down in the night of Qadr! What can
make thee know what the night of Qadr is? The night of Qadr is better
than a thousand months. The Angels and the Spirit descend therein with
the permission of their Lord, with (decrees) of all affairs; Peace is (in the
whole night) till the breaking of the dawn!’
And recites this prayer:
‘I have brought faith on that One Allah who has no partner and I do
not believe in Jibl and Taghoot (idols)! And have also brought faith on
the beginning and the end, the visible and the invisible (aspects) of Mohammed
(s.a.w.a.) and Ale Mohammed (a.s.) whether their Imamat has
been declared or they are in their temporary disappearance. Mohammed
(s.a.w.a.) is the Prophet of Allah and Hazrat Ali (a.s.) is the Divine Vicegerent
of Allah.’
then God keeps him protected the whole day from trouble whether
they are descendent from heaven or earth and he will be protected till
the evening by God and God's friends will guide him.
According to another tradition, a person who makes a ring set in Aqiq
should have the following engraved on it so that God will protect him
from a bad death and he will die in his faith:
‘Mohammed (s.a.w.a.) is the Prophet of Allah and Hazrat Ali (a.s.) is
the Divine Vicegerent of Allah.’

Secure your love.

Love for AhlulBayt

قالَ الإمامُ الصّادِقُ (ع) :

مَن لَم يَقدِر عَلى صِلَتِنا فَليَصِـلْ صالِحي مَوالينا وَ مَن لَـم يَقـدِر عَلى زيارَتِنا فَليَزُر صالِحي مَوالينا يُكتَـبْ لَهُ ثَوابُ زِيارَتِنا

بحار الأنوار/74/354

Imam Sadiq [a.s.] said: "He who is not able to do any good unto us (Ahlul-Bayt) then be may do good to our pious adherents; and he who is not able to visit us, he may visit our righteous followers by which the reward of visiting us (pilgrimage) will be recorded for him."

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 74, p. 354

Making the Parents Sad

قَالَ أَمِيـرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ )ع): مَنْ أَحْزَنَ وَالِدَيْهِ فَقَدْ عَقَّهُمَا.

The Commander of the Faithful (as) has said: “One who causes his parents to become sad has indeed been disowned by them.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 64

The Imam’s Displeasure

  

عن أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ )ع) قَالَ: إِنَّ أَبِي نَظَرَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ وَ مَعَهُ ابْنُهُ يَمْشِي وَ الإِبْنُ مُتَّكِئٌ عَلَى ذِرَاعِ الأََبِ قَالَ فَمَا كَلَّمَهُ أَبِي )ع) مَقْتاً لَهُ حَتَّى فَارَقَ الدُّنْيَا.

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as) relates: “Once my father saw a person and his son walking together. As they walked, the son was leaning against the arm of his father. (This act of the son was so abhorrent and infuriating to my father that) he (as) never spoke to him throughout his life.”

Biharul Anwar, Volume 74, Page 64