حَقيقَةُ الزُّهدِ The Real Meaning of Asceticism

6ـ رسولُ اللهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): الزُّهدُ في الدنيا قَصرُالأمَلِ ، وشُكرُ كُلِّ نِعمَةٍ ، والوَرَعُ عن كُلِّ ما حَرَّمَ اللّه‏ُ.

6– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Asceticism from worldly pleasures means to cut short one’s hopes of this world, to be grateful for every single bounty, to have piety and to keep away from all that which Allah has prohibited.’[Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 58]

 

7ـ رسولُ اللهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): الزُّهدُ لَيسَ بتَحريمِ الحَلالِ ، ولكنْ أن يكونَ بما في يَدَيِ اللّه‏ِ أوثَقَ مِنهُ بما في يَدَيهِ.

7– The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Asceticism is not to prohibit oneself that which is allowed. Rather it is to find that which is with Allah more secure than that which is in one's own possession.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 172, no. 8]

 

8ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الزُّهدُ كَلِمَةٌ بينَ كَلِمَتَينِ ، قالَ اللّه‏ُ تعالى: «لِكَيْلا تَأْسَوا عَلَى ما فاتَكُمْ وَلا تَفْرَحُوا بِما آتاكُمْ واللّه‏ُ لاَ يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتالٍ فَخُورٍ» فَمَن لَم يَأسَ على الماضِي ، ولَم يَفرَحْ بالآتي فقد أخَذَ الزُّهدَ بِطَرَفَيهِ.

8– Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Asceticism is summed up between two phrases in the Qur’an, where Allah, most High, says, "So that you may not grieve for what has escaped you, nor be exultant at what He has given you.” Therefore, one who neither grieves about past losses nor is overjoyed about the possessions he is granted has perfected his asceticism from both sides.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 70, p. 317, no. 23]

 

9ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الزُّهدُ مِفتاحُ بابِ الآخِرَةِ ، والبَراءةِ مِنَ النارِ ، وهُو تَركُكَ كُلَّ شيءٍ يَشغَلُكَ عنِ اللّه‏ِ ، مِن غَيرِ تَأسُّفٍ على فَوتِها ، ولا إعجابٍ في تَركِها ، ولا انتِظارِ فَرَجٍ مِنها ، ولا طَلَبِ مَحمَدَةٍ علَيها ، ولا عِوَضٍ مِنها ، بل تَرى فَوتَها راحَةً وكَونَها آفَةً ، وتكونُ أبدا هارِبا مِنَ الآفَةِ ، مُعتَصِما بِالرّاحَةِ.

9– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Asceticism is the key to the door of the Hereafter and immunity from the Fire, and it is to abandon all those things that preoccupy you from Allah, neither experiencing regret upon their loss, nor self-admiration for having abandoned them, nor awaiting deliverance from them, nor seeking praise on account of them, and nor anything else in exchange for them. Rather you see their loss as a source of comfort and their presence as a source of misfortune, such that you consistently run away from misfortune and seek refuge in comfort.’[Bihar al-Anwar, p. 315, no. 20]