20 Maxims By Imam Al-Hasan Al-Mujtaba (a.s.) Shrine of Imam al-Hasan (a.s.) in Al-Baqi’ before its destruction by the Wahabbies

When Imam al-Hasan was asked about what piety is, he replied: Piety is yearning for virtue and not longing for this world

When asked what manliness is, Imam al-Hasan answered : Manliness is holding to religion, self-respect, lenience, benevolence, discharging one's duties, and showing grace towards people.

When asked what generosity is, Imam al-Hasan answered : Generosity is donating before being asked and feeding people during drought.

When asked what stingy is, Imam al-Hasan answered : Stingy is to consider what you have as dignity and what you spend as waste.

When asked what freedom from want is, Imam al-Hasan answered : Freedom from want is satisfaction with one's destiny, however meager it may be.

When asked what poverty is, Imam al-Hasan answered : Poverty is to be greedy for everything.

When asked what dignity is, Imam al-Hasan answered : Dignity is being agreeable with friends and maintaining good neighbourly relations.

When asked what meanness is, Imam al-Hasan answered : Meanness is being self-centered and having disregards for the wife.

The person who takes refuge in God feels at ease and secure whereas his enemy is fearful and friendless.

Be cognizant of God by frequently remembering Him, and be fearful of God by being pious, and approach God through obedience, for indeed He is near and responsive.

The greatness of those who came to know Allah’s greatness lies in their modesty. The dignity of those who came to know His glory lies in their humility. The security of those who came to know Allah’s power lies in their submission to Him.

You should know that God has not created you for no reason and that has not left you to your own. He has determined your life time and divided your sustenance among you so that every wise man knows his share and understands whatever he receives has been predestined and that he would not receive what does not belong to him. God has provided you with sufficient income to have enough time to worship and thank Him. He made remembrance and prayer obligatory and recommended you to be pious to gain his utmost satisfaction.

O' servants of God ! Be in God-fearing state and do know that God enables the God-fearing people to overcome trials, and to succeed in their affairs. He will also smooth the path of the right for them.

People who are properly guided consult one another. Meanness is to fail to thank God for His blessings.

Do not take victory for granted, do not trust predestination like the yielding, for it is a tradition to be in pursuit of sustenance. Thus, moderation in search of one's livelihood comes from chastity which is not on the way of sustenance. By the same token, avarice does not increase sustenance. In deed, sustenance has been predestined and avarice brings about sins. One is free as long as has not promised. However when one promises, he shoulders responsibility and shall not be released until he fulfils his promise.

The person having confidence in God's free-will (satisfied with divine destiny) does not wish to be in a condition other than the one chosen for him by God.

The good is to thank God for the blessings, and patience in afflictions and hardships. Al-Hasan said to a man just cured from a disease: God remembered you, then you remember Him. He pardoned you, you should thank him.

This presentation is produced by AlMujtaba Home Page Please Recite Surat AlFatiha On Grand Ayatullah Sayed Muhammed Kadhim Al-Yazdi, Grand Ayatullah Sayed Mohsin Al-Hakeem, Ayatullah Sayed Ibrahim Tabatabai, Ayatullah Sayed Muhammed Mahdi AlHakeem, Ayatullah Sayed Muhammed Baqir AlHakeem, And All The Martyrs Of The Family Of AlHakeem.

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