Dua Kumayl Commentary M H Kermali

A Frecious Fearl (Jijt from
AMIR AL-MU’MINEEN, ‘ALIIBN ABI TALIB (A)

To the Muslim Ummah
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A Brief Commentary by
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MU’ALLIM MUHAMMADHUSEIN KERMALI
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Published by
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Organization of North American
Shia Ithna-asheri Muslim Communities
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A Precious Pearl Gift fi-om
AMIR AL-MU’MINEEN f
‘ALI IBN ABI TALIB (A)
To The Muslim Ummah
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DU’A KUMAYL
PART I: NATURE OF SINS AND

PREREQUISITES FOR FORGIVENESS
MU’ALLIM MUHAMMADHUSEIN
KERMALI
Published by
Organization of
North American Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities
(NASIMCO)
To
Amir Al-Mu'mineen, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a),
and
His Elite and Trustworthy Companion,
Kumayl ibn Ziyad Nakha'i
For Giving the Muslim Ummah the Gem of the Du'a

In the Name Allah the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful
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"Say (O' our Prophet Muhammad that Allah assures His

servants) "O', My servants who have committed
extravagances against their own selves, do not despair of the
Mercy of Allah. Surely, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, He is
the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful." (Q. 39:53)
*\A*\A (Jlj ÂÂ \\\
O' Allah, bless Muhammad and his Pure Progeny

COMMENTARY ON DU'A KUMAYL
Author: Mu'allim Muhammadhusein Kermali
Editor: Dr. Bashir Datoo
Formatted by: Shaykh Muhammadraza Janmohamed
First Edition: November, 2015 - Safar 1436
Quantity: 1000 copies
Printed by: Stellar Print Solutions

Markham, Ontario, Canada
ISBN: 978-0-9681529-5-9
Publishers: Organization of North American

Shia Ithna-asheri Muslim Communities
(NASIMCO)
CONTENTS
Contents 3
Profile: Marhum Jaffer Abdulhusein 7
Acknowledgments 9
Foreword 13
Overview Of Du'a Kumayl Ibn Ziyad 23
Introduction 25
Chapter One.............................. 41
Highlights................................... 43
The Sublime/Dynamic Opening: 45
Chapter Two.............................. 71
Highlights................................... 73
The Physics Of Sins................... 75
Chapter Three........................... 83
Highlights................................... 85
First Category Of Sins: Sins That Tear The Veil Of Defense Or
Immunity Against Sins............................................................. 87
Chapter Four............................................................................ 97
Highlights.................................................................................. 99
First Category Of Sins: Sins That Tear The Veil Of Defense Or
Immunity Against Sins (Cont'd) 101
Chapter Five............................. 127
Highlights 129
Second Category Of Sins: Sins That Bring Down Hardships,
Calamities And Grief.............................................................. 131
Chapter Six.............................................................................. 145
Highlights................................................................................. 147
Second Category Of Sins: Sins That Bring Down Calamities,
Disasters And Grief (Cont'd)................................................... 149
Chapter Seven........................................................................ 163

Highlights................................................................................. 165
Third Category Of Sins: Sins That Change Divine Favors Into

Divine Disfavors/Displeasure................................................ 167
Chapter Eight......................................................................... 183
Highlights................................................................................ 185
Fourth Category Of Sins: Sins That Block Supplications From
Acceptance... 187
Chapter Nine 207
Highlights.... . 209
Fourth Category Of Sins: Sins That Block Supplications From
Acceptance (Cont'd)...................................................... 211
Chapter Ten.................................................................. 235
Highlights....................................................................... 237
Fourth Category Of Sins: Sins That Block Prayers From
Acceptance (Cont'd)..................................................... 239
Chapter Eleven............................................................. 265
Highlights..................................................................... . 267
Fifth Category Of Sins: Sins That Bring Down Misfortunes And
Afflictions 269
Chapter Twelve 291
Highlights 293
Sixth Category Of Sins: Covers All Sins, Offenses, Errors And
Wrongdoings......................................................................... 295
Conclusion............................................................................. 303
Bibliography 315
PROFILE:
MARHUM JAFFER ABDULHUSEIN

BACKGROUND
Marhum Jaffer Abdulhusein, popularly known as Abdul, was the
eldest son of Marhum Mohamed Taki Abdulhusein Jaffer, who
was well-known as Taki Teacher. Marhum Jaffer took up his
father's profession and became himself a famous and popular
teacher in Zanzibar.
NEW YORK
Marhum moved with his family to New York in 1976 and
became a prominent member of the Shi'a Ithna-Asheri Jamaat
of New York. After playing a key role in the Jamaat for many
years, Marhum moved his business, together with his staff and
families, to Orlando which became attractive to investors as the
place was developing fast, particularly, in the building industry.
ORLANDO
Prior to Marhum's move to Orlando, the local Jamaat was very
small with only a handful of members. The new arrivals formed
the nucleus for the rapid growth of our community. Marhum
assisted the new families by providing them with
accommodation, advising them where and how to invest in
various businesses and avenues which were open for work and
employment.
ORLANDO JAMAAT
Marhum played a key role in the development and progress of
the local Jamaat which he supported in every respect. He
worked tirelessly in the framing of the first Constitution and
rv ~J r>j
later in revising it as the community grew in great numbers.
Marhum took great care in seeing that the management of the
Jamaat was strong and well-disciplined.
GENEROSITY AND PHILANTHROPY

Marhum's generosity and philanthropic nature were well-
known. Several institutions benefited from his generosity.
Marhum's philanthropy was not limited to the local institutions
but also extended to overseas countries, particularly India,
where several schools for the poor children are run under the
sponsorship of Mumtaz Foundation, a Charitable Institution
formed in 2002 in memory of Marhum's first wife, Marhuma
Mumtaz.
DU’A KUMAYL
Marhum was seen participating regularly in the recital of Du'a
Kumayl on Thursday nights at the Orlando Center. Marhum
loved this Du'a's central message of man's humility before his
creator and Allah (swt)'s all encompassing mercy towards His
creation. This publication has, therefore, been sponsored by
the Mumtaz Foundation in the memory of and "ithale thawabe
jariyah" for Marhum's soul.
THE END
The vacuum created among family and friends as well as
religious circles of the community and also in the business, civic
and political circles is evident by the fact that all miss him on his
departure from this world.
All are kindly requested to remember Marhum with du'a for

peace and tranquility and Allah (swt)'s Mercy for the Marhum's
soul.
~8~
\
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Shaykh Vinay Khetia has kindly written the Foreword for the
Book at my request. I acknowledge and appreciate his ready
response to my request and cannot but express my deep
gratitude and sincere thanks to him for devoting his valuable
time in spite of his busy schedule to check the text and write an
impressive Foreword, being best qualified in view of his
doctoral dissertation on, among other related topics, Du'a
Kumayl.
Shaykh Vinay has studied the philosophy of Du'a Kumayl in

depth and has done extensive research on it as part of his wider
doctoral dissertation that deals with the study of Shii'
devotional literature as a form of liturgical theology. He has also
done an annotated explanatory English translation of al-Fusul
al-Ashara fil al- Ghayba by Shaykh al-Mufid (1022 CE).
Shaykh Vinay is currently a fourth-year Ph.D. Candidate in

Religious Studies at McMaster University. He previously studied
in London and Damascus Seminaries. He has written and
published various articles on the subjects of the Qur'an and
Islamic Law in peer-reviewed academic publications such as al-
Bayan Journal of the Qur'an and Hadith.
Shaykh Vinay is an eloquent lecturer and a renowned scholar.

He is a well-known Muballigh who recites Majalis especially in
Muharram and Ramadhan at various locations of our Centers in
Canada and the U.S.A. Moreover, he conducts seminars on
various Islamic topics in our Center at Bathurst and is a visiting
lecturer at our seminaries in Canada and the U.S.A.
M Q ~
Du'a Kumayl: A Brief Commentary
The book has been ably and skillfully edited by Dr. Bashir Datoo
who made valuable contribution in improving the quality and
flow of the text. I am deeply indebted to him for devoting his
valuable time in making painstaking edits and suggesting ideas
for enriching the text.
Dr. Bashir did his doctoral studies at the London School of

Economics and Political Science of the University of London. He
was an Associate Professor at the University of Dar-es-Salaam
in Tanzania and a Visiting Research Fellow at Minnesota and
Princeton Universities in the U.S.A. He later left the academia
to enter the field of marketing research and consulting and
worked as Senior Vice President of leading firms in the U.S.A.
He is now retired and lives in Florida where he serves our

community as well as the World Federation as a member of the
Curriculum Development Team that is developing an
innovative, integrated curriculum for our worldwide madaris.
Dr. Bashir has contributed many articles to our Community

magazines and authored two religious books: "Perspectives on
Islamic Faith and History" (2nd enlarged edition, TTQ, 2013) and
"Bookend" Revolutions in Islamic History" (World Federation,
2015). They have both been acclaimed by the enlightened
readership in our community.
Shaykh Muhammadraza Janmohamed of Orlando, Florida has

kindly formatted the book beautifully ready for print. I am
grateful and indebted to him for his "lil-Llah" services for the
cause of Islam in general and for Madhab-e- Ahlul Bayt in
particular.
Shaykh is a well-known lecturer and Zakir. He has been serving

all the three Shi'a Centers in Orlando, Florida and especially
~ 10 ~
Acknowledgements
Husseini Islamic Center in various religious fields for more than

fifteen years.
He assists the Resident 'Aalim and, in his absence, conducts

Jama'at and Jum'ah Prayers and recites Majalis on different
occasions. He is indeed a great asset to the community. May
Allah (swt) increase his "Taufiqaat" to continue to render his
services and reward him amply in this world and in the
Hereafter.
■
;
FOREWORD
<uil ^joij
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aJI ^Îc. j (J^juoj ^Îc. 4«! (_5â J
jlg-LVl 0^=^'
In the Name of Allah the Most Beneficent the Most Merciful
And May the blessing of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah

and his pristinely purified progeny.
The supplication of Kumayl b. Ziyad has been ascribed by

Twelver ShTTs to the first Imam, 'AIT b. AbT Jalib (d. 40 A.H./661
C.E.) and various versions of the text can be found throughout
the various works of Shii-Muslim devotion from the 5th/Hth
century Baghdad up to and including the most famous
contemporary prayer manual, namely, Mafath al-jinan (The
Keys of Paradise) written by the late Shaykh 'Abbas al-Qumml
(ra). Contemporary ShiTs of varying linguistic-cultural
backgrounds tend to recite this prayer in their homes and
places of congregation as a part of their weekly Thursday night
religious programs.1 Thus, one could assert that Du'a Kumoyl is
/ I con certainly remark without hesitation that this prayer is
commonly known by both specialists and non-specialists alike in

the ShJ7 community in so far as I have witnessed its
performance in every community which I have visited. This
information can also be easily gleamed via online search ofShlT
communal programs worldwide.
~ 13 ~
among the most often recited supererogatory acts of worship

in the ShTT world.
On that note, I will briefly highlight the place of du'a literature

within the broader context of Twelver ShTT intellectual history
and then move on to provide a few brief comments on the
importance of the work at hand. By as early as the late 3rd/9th
and up to the 5th/llth centuries ImamT scholars had already
begun compiling major compendiums of transmitted material
(hadlth) with unmistakable scholarly conviction that much of
this material originated from the Prophet Muhammad and his
pristine progeny (as), collectively known as the people of the
house (ahl al-bayt).2 A key element of this 3 rd/9th - 5th/11th
century formative ImamT literature is a vast collection of
devotional literature described as 'adiyah (supplications, sing.
du'a') and ziyarat (visitations-devotional elegies).3 This material
is often found in specialized devotional-prayer manuals such as
the Mi$bah al-mutahajjid (The lantern of the night worshipper),
compiled by Shaykh al-TusT (d.460/1067), in addition to the
copious material found in the principle four hadTth
compendiums.4 Agha Buzurg TihranT emphasizes that upon
2 For the purposes of this study, the term ShJ7, Imam1 or

ImamTyah refers to the Twelver ShJT's unless stated otherwise.
3 Ziyarat refers to the act of visiting the graves of the Prophet

Muhammad and the Imams (as) as well as the devotion and
elegy recited when addressing them.
4 The four principle books of hadlth are al-Kafi compiled by

Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Kulaym (d.329/941), Man la
yahrfuruhu al-faqJh compiled by Ibn Babawayh al-Qumml
(Shaykh al-$aduq) (d.381/991), al-l$tibsar and TahdhJb al-
~ 14 ~
Foreword
recourse to the 4th and 5th century books of rijal and bio-
bibliographical indices one would come to learn that various
companions of the Imams had compiled a multitude of
devotional manuals often entitled 'Amol al-yawm wa al-laylah
(devotional acts for the day and the night) or Kitdb al-
du'a'/da'awat [The book of supplication(s)].5 Therefore it is not
surprising to see that all of the principle ShIT hadTth collections
of the formative period include sections on du'a' and ziyarat.
The renowned bibliophile and scholar of hadTth, Agha Buzurg
al-Tihranl (d.1970 C.E.), goes further and emphasizes that these
collections of supplications would have been primarily sourced
from the Buyid-ShTT library of Shapur in Baghdad. To this effect,
Agha Buzurg coins the term, "al-u$ul al-du'a'Iyah
(principle/original du'a' sources)" to describe the collections
from which various ShTT traditionists (muhaddithun) extracted
the various prayers attributed to the Imams prior to the SunnT-
ShTT riots which led to the burning of the library in 447/1055.6
Ahkdm compiled by AbJ Ja'far al-TusI, more commonly known

as Shaykh aI~Tusi.
5 Agha Buzurg TihranI, al-Dharl'ah ila ta$anlf al-Shl'ah (Beirut:

Ddr al-Adwa', 1983), 1:158-159; 5:172-173.
6 Ya'qut al-HamawI (d.1229 C.E.), Mu'jam al-buldan (Beirut:

Ddr $adir, 1990), 1:534. For detailed discussion regarding this
ShIT library, see: Agha Buzurg, 8:173. Agha Buzurg also
mentions that contemporaneous to the activity of compiling
devotional manuals, the famous four-hundred u$ul (parchments
or notebooks of hadith) works were also said to have been
housed in the expansive library of Shapur and other ShIT patrons
in Baghdad which were frequented by all the prominent ShIT
scholars of the day including Shaykh al-jusl. Amir Moezzi
~ 15 ~
among the most often recited supererogatory acts of worship

in the ShTT world.
On that note, I will briefly highlight the place of du'a literature

within the broader context of Twelver ShTT intellectual history
and then move on to provide a few brief comments on the
importance of the work at hand. By as early as the late 3rd/9th
and up to the 5th/llth centuries ImamT scholars had already
begun compiling major compendiums of transmitted material
(hadJth) with unmistakable scholarly conviction that much of
this material originated from the Prophet Muhammad and his
pristine progeny (as), collectively known as the people of the
house (ahl al-bayt).2 A key element of this 3 rd/9th - 5th/11th
century formative Imam! literature is a vast collection of
devotional literature described as 'adiyah (supplications, sing.
du'a') and ziyarat (visitations-devotional elegies).3 This material
is often found in specialized devotional-prayer manuals such as
the Mi$bah al-mutahajjid (The lantern of the night worshipper),
compiled by Shaykh al-TusT (d.460/1067), in addition to the
copious material found in the principle four hadlth
compendiums.4 Agha Buzurg TihranT emphasizes that upon
2 For the purposes of this study, the term ShTT, ImamT or

ImamTyah refers to the Twelver ShTT's unless stated otherwise.
3 Ziyarat refers to the act of visiting the graves of the Prophet

Muhammad and the Imams (as) as well as the devotion and
elegy recited when addressing them.
4 The four principle books of hadith are al-Kafi compiled by

Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Kulayni (d.329/941), Man la
yahtfuruhu al-faqTh compiled by Ibn Babawayh al-QummT
(Shaykh al-$aduq) (d.381/991), al-l$tibsar and TahdhTb o/-
~ 14 ~
Foreword
recourse to the 4th and 5th century books of rijal and bio-
bibliographical indices one would come to learn that various
companions of the Imams had compiled a multitude of
devotional manuals often entitled 'Amal al-yawm wa al-laylah
(devotional acts for the day and the night) or Kitab al-
du'a'/da'awat [The book of supplication(s)].5 Therefore it is not
surprising to see that all of the principle ShTT hadlth collections
of the formative period include sections on du'a' and ziyarat.
The renowned bibliophile and scholar of hadlth, Agha Buzurg
al-TihranT (d.1970 C.E.), goes further and emphasizes that these
collections of supplications would have been primarily sourced
from the Buyid-ShTT library of Shapur in Baghdad. To this effect,
Agha Buzurg coins the term, "al-u$ul al-du'a'Iyah
(principle/original du'a' sources)" to describe the collections
from which various ShTT traditionists (muhaddithun) extracted
the various prayers attributed to the Imams prior to the SunnT-
ShTT riots which led to the burning of the library in 447/1055.6
Ahkam compiled by AbJ Ja far al-fusT, more commonly known

as Shaykh al-TusI
5 Agha Buzurg Tihranl, al-DharJ'ah ila ta$anif al-Shl'ah (Beirut:

Dar ai-Ar)wa', 1983), 1:158-159; 5:172-173.
6 Ya'qut al-HamawJ (d.1229 C.E.), Mu'jam al-buldan (Beirut:

Dar $adir, 1990), 1:534. For detailed discussion regarding this
ShJ7 library, see: Agha Buzurg, 8:173. Agha Buzurg also
mentions that contemporaneous to the activity of compiling
devotional manuals, the famous four-hundred u$ul (parchments
or notebooks of hadlth) works were also said to have been
housed in the expansive library of Shapur and other ShJ7 patrons
in Baghdad which were frequented by all the prominent ShJ7
scholars of the day including Shaykh al-TusI. Amir Moezzi
~ 15 ~
To further attest to the importance and proliferation of this

genre of material, the prominent devotional specialist and
maternal descendent of Shaykh al-TusT, Ibn Jawus
(d.664/1266), claims to have owned seventy volumes of
supplications (sabTn mujalladan ff al-da'awat) in his personal
library which he used as source material in the compilation of
several of his own devotional manuals.7 This cumulative body
stresses a similar point in pointing out that it can be reasonably

asserted that the early prayer tradition was compiled based
upon earlier sources which most probably originated from the
period of the Imams themselves. In fact the vast majority of the
supplications and ziyarat referred to by those who had access
to these Buyid-era libraries would have been first-hand written
notes, recorded by the companions of the Imams (as)
themselves. We can deduce with near surety that scholars like
Shaykh al-Tusi had access to the original devotional
compositions of the Imams, as recorded verbatim by the a$hab
(companions), prior to their destruction. One such example is
the recording of Du'a Jawshan al-$aghTr as taught by Imam al-
Ka?Tm (as) to a group of companions who wrote the words of
the Imam right then and there. See: Agha Buzurg, 8:172-181.
7 Radi al-DIn 'All ibn Musa Tdwus (Ibn Jawus), Muhaj al-
da'awat. (Najaf: Dar al-Dhaka'ir, 1991), 347. Ibn Tawus (a
direct descendent of Shaykh al-Tusi) is especially recognized for
the emphasis he laid on devotional literature and practice. By
the end of his life, he had compiled two sets of devotional
regiments for those wishing to attain "eternal felicity" (in his
own words). The first regiment consisted of a compilation often
large texts consisting of copious supplications and the required
mannerisms associated with them, while the second regiment
~16~
Foreword
of devotional literature (du'a' and ziyarah), in addition to the

ritual regimens (al-'amal)8 associated with them, consist of an
elaborate braiding of various mystical, theological and political
motifs.9
consisted offive volumes with texts of a similar genre. See: Eton

Kohiberg. A Medieval Muslim Scholar At Work. (Leiden: Brill
Publications, 1991), 49-50.
8
In order to commemorate particular religious occasions such
as the night of power (iaylat al-qadr) or the 10th day of
Muharram ('dshurd), a ritual is performed which often includes
the performance of specific ritual regiments ('amal). These
regiments include the following: a ritual bath (al-ghusul), the
recitation of specific 'adlyah and ziyarat combined with a
specified number of units (rak'at) of recommended canonical
prayer ($alat) in addition to invoking specific names of God
(adhkar/awrad). These devotional rituals are performed as a
group or individually.
9 The content of these liturgies are filled with essential

theological and polemical themes. These themes include but are
not limited to the attributes of God, oneness of God, the
immanence of God, the Imamate, the legacy of oppression and
injustice (?ulm and jawr) experienced by the Imams and their
followers, mystical references to the journey (rihlah) to and
meeting with God ( liqa allah), details concerning life after
death and even matters of Islamic law. Such examples can of
course be identified in Du'a' Kumayl ascribed to the first Imam,
'All b. Abi Jdlib, or Du'a' AbT Hamzah Thumali ascribed to the
4th Imam, Zayn al-'Abidm( 'Allb. al-Husayn). For liturgies with
marked political and divisive sectarian overtones including
references to the divine presence and knowledge of the Imams,
~ 17 ~
On this note, the project embarked upon by Mu'allim

Mohamed Hussein Kermali is more than appropriate and
needed for the community at large. The reason is that, by the
grace of God the Twelver ShiT community and especially the
Twelver ShTT-Khoja community across North America, Europe,
Africa, and South Asia have been reciting this blessed
supplication for generations. However, in order for a
supplication to be truly appreciated, its basic meaning and
ideally, its bayan (exposition), should not be lost to those
desiring to garner its towering spiritual rewards. Until now,
accessible English literature on the topic of Twelver ShTT
supplication has been sparse, aside from a few recent beneficial
works published by the World Federation and other community
publishers. Therefore, when the author of the present work,
Mu'allim Mohamed Hussein Kermali, approached me to write
the foreword I hastened to accept the privilege to do so. My
acceptance was due to the fact that I am convinced that a book
of this nature will be of immense value to all those who are
seeking to develop a much needed and urgent literacy with the
kalam (words) of the Ahl al-Bayt (as). There is perhaps no better
place to start than to develop one's cognizance of a ritual (such
as Du'a Kumayl) which is already being performed but perhaps
not appreciated to the degree it should be in the absence of an
accessible commentary for the average English reader and the
faithful at large.
refer to: Ziydrat al-Warith ascribed to the 5th Imami, al-Baqir

and al-Ziydrat al-Jami'ah al-Kablrah ascribed to the 9th Imam,
Muhammad b. 'AIT al-Naql The liturgies referenced above can
be found in 4th century hijrJ work of Shaykh al-Jusi, Mifbah al-
mutahajjid (Beirut: Mu'assasat al-A'IamlHl-Matbu'at, 2002).
~ 18 ~
Foreword
The Book takes a deep look at the various principal themes and
analyses them briefly to see the meaning that lies behind these
themes, beginning with the select Asmaul Husna mentioned by
the Imam as a means of intercession and ending with the
various classifications of sins or defiance that thwart Allah's
mercy and forgiveness. The second part of the book at hand
goes on to describe, according to the author, the supplication
that the reciter makes to address Allah (swt) and to transcend
above all materialistic attractions to a spiritually elevated
mindset. It is in this sense that the Book constitutes the
precious pearl gift from Amir Mu'minTn 'AIT b. AbT Talib (a) to
the Muslim ummah.
From my humble perspective, the supplication of Kumayl can

be counted among most profound lessons gifted to humanity
by the Commander of the Faithful, 'AIT b. AbT Talib (as). If I had
to describe the supplication in a nutshell, I may venture to state
that on the 15th of Sha'ban whilst in sojda (prostration), the
Commander of the Faithful poured his heart out to God
Almighty. This most intimate form of devotion unveils for time
eternity the envisioned dialogical narrative between the
supplicant and God in which the beseecher embarks upon a
tumultuous journey of the 'self (nafs) which strives to unleash
itself from the shackles of spiritual poverty beset with sins
(dhunub) and self-delusion (ghurur), and instead hastens
upwards towards ma'rifah (cognizance) of God in His sheer
oneness to be brought nigh into the presence of His expansive
mercy (al-rahmah al-wasi'ah) and love (hubb). Thus, the prayer
could certainly be described as a 'sacred' lesson in devotional
theology in which 'AIT, akin to Saint Augustine (for the Christian
faithful), taught the 'seekers' how to "express their deepest
feelings and to find words for the dialectic" of the embattled
self before God.10 This interplay and braiding of concerns is not

something unique to this supplication. Sam Gill correctly
demonstrates that more often than not prayers, due to the
materials available to us, tend to be approached as texts. Gill
goes further and adds that these texts include within them an
eclectic array of "theological, doctrinal, cultural, historical,
aesthetic and creedal dimensions of a religious culture, "ll The
presence of a rich array of multivalent themes in a supplication
like Du'a Kumayl brings to light the arduous yet exciting task in
expounding upon the numerous sacred lessons therein, which
with God's grace, shall light the lantern of guidance in our soul
and enhance our determination ( 'azlma) to be faithful
followers of the Qur'an and the Ahl al-Bayt (as). Furthermore,
Du'a' Kumayl can be studied as a genre of religious text which
can be subject to a host of philological and literary inquiries,
similar to the approach of Constance Padwick in her classical
10 In light of the 'i$mah or infallibility of the Prophet and the ahl

al-bayt (the people of the house) which include, the Messenger
of Allah, Fatima al-Zahra and the twelve Imams (as). Thus it
would not be an exaggeration to describe this prayer as
constituting a source of sacred or divinely inspired knowledge
for those ShJTs who ascribe to the doctrine of infallibility. For the
quotation, see: Friedrich Heiler, Prayer: A Study in the History
and Psychology of Religion (Oxford: One world Publications,
1997 reprint), 127.
11 Sam D. Gill, "Prayer" in The Encyclopedia of Religion ed.

Lindsay Jones 2nd ed. (Farmington: McMillian Reference USA,
2005), 11: 7367-7372; Gregory D. Alles, "Prayer: Religious
Studies" in Religion Past and Present last accessed September
15th, 2013, www.brillonline.com.
i
~20~
Foreword
work on Muslim devotions ( 1961). More generally, the

supplications of the Ahl al-Bayt (as) would also be of interest to
those involved in the study of the Biblical Psalms (collection of
Biblical supplications) many of which are also exquisite Hebrew
literary compositions composed of many devotional themes
cognate to those found in the most eloquent and moving Arabic
supplications originating from the people of the house (ahl al-
bayt) (as).
Vinay Khetia
Toronto, Ontario
July 31st, 2015/ 14th of Shawwal, 1436 A.H.
~21~
*
!
j
i
OVERVIEW OF DU’A KUMAYL IBN
ZIYAD
Allamah Majlisi in Bihar al-Anwar and Shaykh al-Tusi in Misbah
al-Mutahajjid have included the complete text of this Du'a in
their respective books and have traced its source to the very
early period in the history of Islam. They have also written
about the merits of the Du'a. Great importance has been given
by our Ae'mmah (a) to the Du'a which belongs to their private
domain. It is a unique and dynamic Du'a for the spiritual
elevation of a believer for it has an enormous power of
reforming and changing a person into a spiritually- oriented
being away from materialistic tendencies.
Among the many benefits of the Du'a are: giving protection

against the evil of enemies, opening the gates of one's
abundant income, obtaining forgiveness of sins and
wrongdoings, instilling tranquility in the heart and bestowing
peace of mind, and providing a sense of satisfaction with the
feeling of forgiveness of one's sins.
The Du'a is originally that of Prophet Khidr (a) taught by Amir

al-Mu'mineen to Kumayl who wrote it down as dictated, word
by word, and has come down to us, generation after
generation, in its original authentic form.
The main theme of the Du'a is the Nature of Sins and the Pre
requisites for their Forgiveness. One of the pre-requisites is
Intercession. Amir al- Mu'mineen uses the Most Beautiful
Names of Allah (swt), "Asmaa' ul-Husna", for the intercession.
He selected the most powerful ten Names among the 99 Names
~ 23 ~
Du'o Kumayl: A Brief Commentary
to seek forgiveness. A detail description is given of the

characteristics of the ten Asmaa'.
Six categories of sins covering 46 of the most serious sins are

analyzed together with their spiritual and physical harmful
effects. The nature of these sins and the pre-requisites for their
forgiveness are also discussed in detail.
The book also gives the outline of the contents of Part Two
which will cover the remaining 146 verses of the Du'a, taking
the supplicant to its peak and completing his submission to
Allah (swt). The supplicant sees things differently. It reforms
him spiritually and gets him away from the materialistic
attractions to tasting the pleasure of feeling the connection
with the spiritual realms. His soul is tranquil (Nafs-e-
Mutmainnah) and he enjoys peace of mind and contentment.
~24~
AMIR AL-MU'MINEEN, ‘ALI IBN ABI TALIB (A)
INTRODUCTION
MU'ALLIM MUHAMMADHUSEIN KERMALI
1
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Who is more astray than he who calls on/invokes other than

Allah? They (those whom he calls) will not answer him till the
Day of Judgment and are even heedless or unaware of their
invocations. (Q: 46:5)
i
f
INTRODUCTION
IMAM ‘ALI TO KUMAYL
"I give this honor to you by entrusting this extraordinary Prayer
(Du'a) of Prophet Khidr to you in consideration of your
devoutness, piety, close companionship with me and your
intellect and understanding," so said Imam 'Ali (a) to Kumayl ibn
Ziyad Nakha'i.
Therefore, Du'a-e-Kumayl is not among the general du'as that

form a large portion of du'as given in Mafatihul Jinan by
Marhum Shaykh 'Abbas al-Qummi and in several other Books
of Du'a such as Misbah and Dhadul Ma'ad. No doubt these
du'as have been transmitted from our A'emmah (a) but they
were not specifically asked for by the people. They were
generally recommended by our Ae'mmah (a) to their followers
for recitation on specific occasions and times.
On the other hand, Du'a-e-Kumayl belongs to the private

domain as it was given in response to a special request by
Kumayl to Imam 'Ali (a). So we should realize its great
significance and give it due respect when it is recited. We
should also try to learn its in-depth meaning and transform our
lives accordingly.
PROPHET KHIDR
Prophet Khidr, by whose name this Du'a was originally known,
was an extraordinary Prophet to whom Allah (swt) had given
the knowledge of "ta'weel" (the secret knowledge of things and
upcoming future events) on which he acted with special
permission from Allah (swt) and also on the basis of his own
intellect and knowledge.
Prophet Muhammad(s) and all our Ae'mmah (a) were also

endowed with the knowledge of "ta'weel" and the unseen
(#lmul-ghayb), on the basis of which they acted for the pleasure
of Allah (swt) and only when the occasion demanded necessary
action. It is said that Imam 'Ali (a) acted on his knowledge of
"ta'weel" in fighting the battles of Jamal, Siffin and Nahrawan.
Similarly, Imam Husayn (a) fought the battle of Karbala on his
knowledge of "ta'weel"
Actions based on the knowledge of "ta'weel" are clearly

illustrated by the events related in detail in Surah al-Kahf of the
Qur'an (18: 60/82). Prophet Musa, an Ulul 'Azm Prophet, one
of the most high ranking Prophets, thought, just once, that he
was the most knowledgeable person of his time, and so was
commanded by Allah to go out and look for His servant ('"abd")
endowed with more knowledge than him, at a place where the
two seas joined together to form an estuary, and learn from
him the knowledge of things that he did not have.
Accompanied by his attendant, Prophet Musa set out in search

of the man whom Allah (swt) commanded him to meet. They
covered a very long distance before they reached the junction
of the two seas (the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez) at the
head of the Red Sea where he saw the man at the shore.
PROPHET KHIDR VS. PROPHET MUSA

The man was Prophet Khidr whom Allah (swt) had blessed with
the secret knowledge of "ta'weel" by which he could foresee
future events and act on the command of Allah (swt) and the
basis of his knowledge by taking appropriate steps to fix them.
After a short conversation in which Prophet Musa requested

Prophet Khidr to take him together on his journey, Prophet
Khidr agreed on the condition that Prophet Musa would not
~30~
Introduction
query him about his actions that Prophet Musa would consider
sinful, irrational and outrageous. However, he would not leave
Prophet Musa (in a state of confusion but would explain the
reasons for his actions later on during their journey. Prophet
Musa undertook to remain silent and only watch the actions.
So they both went on a journey together. During the journey

Prophet Khidr, acting on his secret knowledge, first,
deliberately damaged a passenger boat sailing on the sea by
boring a whole into its keel. Second, he killed an innocent boy
for no apparent reason. Third, he built a new wall over an old
one which had collapsed, while they visited a town whose
habitants were hostile to them.
Prophet Musa was baffled by those actions and could not

remain patient, so he queried Prophet Khidr about the action
he had taken each time in spite of repeated warnings not to do
so. Finally, owing to the impatience of Prophet Musa, Prophet
Khidr decided to part company. Before he did that, he explained
the reasons for his actions which are given in the verses
referred to above. This illustration explains clearly the meaning
of the term "ta'weel" used in several places in the Qur'an. It is
in contrast to the term "tafseer" which gives only the apparent
or outward explanation of the verses of the Qur'an.
All the present "tafaaseer" by various "mufassireen" give the

apparent exegesis of verses of the Qur'an. The knowledge of
"ta'weel" has been given to only a few who are described as
"rasikhuno fil 'ilm", people who are firmly rooted in
knowledge. (Q. 3:7)
There are several verses in the Qur'an which are categorized as

"mutashabih", meaning they have hidden meaning. Only Allah
~31~
(swt), His Messenger and those who are "rasikhuna fil 'ilm”
know the meaning of these verses. (Q. 3:7)
In reply to a query about who the "rasikhuna fil 'ilm" are, the
Prophet (s) replied, "They are those who do not do anything but
only that which is just, righteous and good; they do not speak
any word but that which is true; they are those whose hearts
and minds are enlightened and rational; their stomachs (flesh
and blood) are free from all that is forbidden to eat and drink"
The Qur'an identifies them in Chapter 33, Al- Ahzab, verse 33,
as those who have been purified with a thorough purification.
KUMAYL IBN ZIYAD’S BACKGROUND

It is important to look at the background of the person who has
transmitted the extraordinary private supplication of Imam 'Ali
ibn Abi Talib (a) so that its authenticity is established. It is also
important to know the circumstances in which the supplication
has been obtained from the Imam.
Kumayl ibn Ziyad Nakha'i belonged to one of the tribes from

Yemen. He was among the group of elite, most trusted and loyal
companions of Imam 'Ali (a). He was not a Sahaba as were
Miqdad and Abu Dharr who lived during the time of the
Prophet. Kumayl came from the subsequent second generation
after the Prophet (s). Muslims who belonged to the second
generation are called Tabi'een.
Imam 'Ali (a) had great confidence in Kumayl. He considered

him close to his family because of his knowledge, piety,
devoutness and unshakeable loyalty towards the Ahlul Bayt.
The Imam also shared some secrets of future events with him
and predicted that he would be killed mercilessly by Hajjaj ibn
Yusuf as-Saqafi who became Minister of Defense under the
~32~
Introduction
Umayyad Dynasty. The Imam appointed Kumayl as the

Governor of Heet known as Ambaar in today's Iraq.
The Imam mentions about him rather unfavorably in one of his

Letters in Nahjul Balagha for abandoning the strategy that was
set out for him by the Imam. Kumayl temporarily left Heet with
his army and went to a nearby town of Qarqisiya to sort out a
problem which had arisen there. Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, the
governor of Greater Syria, was informed about it. He
immediately sent his marauding army to pass through Heet
which had been left undefended. The enemy attacked and took
control of an important strategic town. The Imam was informed
about it and wrote the letter to reprimand Kumayl.
Subsequently, he repented for his lack of foresight in leaving
Heet exposing it to enemy attack which brought a lot of harm
to it. The Imam pardoned him for his failure in discharging his
responsibilities as the Governor and took him back as a close
companion. (N.B. Letter No 61)
As a close confidant, the Imam allowed him access to his house

late at night when he would not normally allow anyone else as
it would infringe on the privacy of the family and interrupt his
nightly prayers. This indicates how close Kumayl was to the
Imam and the Ahlul Bayt. Therefore, this Du'a is a great blessing
for us and we need to cherish it. It is a unique peak of eloquence
in the domain of Du'as that we have as means of
communication with Allah (swt).
KUMAYL’S BRAVERY
Kumayl was a brave man who stood firm against corruption,
oppression, and injustice, as did several elite, loyal and close
companions of Imam 'Ali (a) such as Malik al-Ashter, Zaid ibn
Sohan and Sa'sa ibn Sohan. Kumayl was politically and socially
~ 33 ~
aware of the oppressive and corrupt conditions that prevailed

at that time and did not hesitate to openly condemn actions of
the rulers who were engaged in enriching themselves and their
families through corruption and misappropriation of funds
from the Public Treasury ("Baytul Maal").
Kumayl's conduct in opposing the corrupt rulers resulted in his

exile and ultimate murder by the ruling regime in the year 82
A.H. He lived a long life of more than forty years after Imam 'Ali
(a) and suffered a lot of atrocities at the hands of the ruling
regimes. Many among Imam 'AM (a)'s loyal companions met the
same fate for their opposition against the rulers and their firm
stand in defense of the Ahlul Bayt.
Kumayl acquired a lot of knowledge and spiritual training from

Imam 'Ali (a) as most of the time he was in his companionship.
He served the Imam sincerely and devotedly. He participated in
several battles with Imam 'Ali (a); most notably in the Battle of
Siffin. He attained a high status and degree of spirituality.
History is silent about him during the period of the Imamat of
Imam Hasan (a) and Imam Husayn (a). He was not present in
Karbala during the time of the tragedy as he was not able to be
there.
KUMAYL’S DEATH
Kumayl stood firm against the enemies of the Ahlul Bayt at the
risk of his life and refused to denounce or speak a word against
Imam 'Ali (a) when forced and threatened by al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf.
On the contrary, Kumayl spoke in praise of the Imam and was,
consequently, killed cruelly and savagely by al-Hajjaj. Al-Hajjaj
was an evil man who has gone down in history as a deadly villain
because of his barbaric killings. He was thirsty for the blood of
~34~
Introduction
the followers and the lovers of Imam 'Ali (a) and killed
thousands of them in cold blood.
Al-Hajjaj was the villain who attacked Makka, the second time
that such an attack occurred during the Umayyad rule. His army
attacked the Ka'ba with stones and fire that burnt the black
cloth which covers the Ka'ba. Next the army went on a
rampage, looting Makkan houses and molesting their women.
They terrorized the population for three days and left the holy
city in ruins.
Kumayl's grave is visited by the multitude of pilgrims

("zayreen") who go for "ziyarat" of Sayyidu Shuhadaa, Imam
Husayn (a), and other Shrines of Ae'mmah (a) in Iraq every year.
The Du'a which is known by his name as Du'a-e-Kumayl and

read regularly and widely by lovers of the Ahlul Bayt is recited
at his grave with emotion and tears. It is one of the important
places for "ziyarat" when we go to Iraq and should not be
missed. It is located on the outskirts of the city of Najaf near
Masjid-e-Kufa. The place is called al- Thawiya. A masjid has
been built around the grave of Kumayl where people pray
regularly.
SOURCE OF THE DU’A

According to Allamah Majlisi, Kumayl requested Imam 'Ali (a) to
teach him a supplication which would give tranquility to his
heart. He made this request to the Imam at an assembly in the
mosque in Basra where the Imam spoke briefly about the
merits of the night of 15th Sha'ban and mentioned the
supplication of Prophet Khidr recited on that night.
After the congregation, Kumayl accompanied the Imam in the

dark of the night to the place where Imam stayed while he was
~35~
in Basra. There the Imam taught him this supplication and asked
him to write it down word- by- word and memorize it, as the
Imam dictated to him in his melodious and grief-stricken voice.
The Imam mentioned the merits of this supplication and said,

"O' Kumayl, take this supplication and recite it on the 15th night
of Sha'ban." The Imam added, "Whoever keeps awake and
spends the night in prayers and recites this supplication of
Prophet Khidr, Allah (swt) will certainly answer his supplication
and grant him his wishes."
In addition, the Imam advised him to recite this supplication

every Thursday night. If he could not do it every Thursday night,
he should make an effort to recite it once a month. If he still
could not do that, he should recite it once in a year on the night
of the 15th Sha'ban. If thattoo was not possible, then he should
recite it at least once in his lifetime.
This is an indication of the power and force of this supplication

that can change the destiny of a believer who recites it with
understanding and concentration and with tears naturally
flowing down from his eyes on account of the emotionally
moving words of the Du'a, especially when it reaches its peak
in the last part of the Du'a. It has got miraculous power of
changing one's life from the worldly and materially-oriented to
the spiritually-oriented life, a life full of tranquility of mind and
love for Allah (swt) in one's heart.
MERITS OF THE DU’A

Speaking of the merits of this supplication, Imam 'Ali (a) said,
"Allah will protect you from the evil acts of your enemies and
plots made against you by evil-minded people." He continued,
"Allah will also open the doors of ample sustenance (rizq) for
you and forgiveness for all your sins."
~36~
Introduction
Imam 'Ali (a) addressed Kumayl thus, "O' Kumayl, in

consideration of your loyalty and close companionship with me,
intellect and understanding, I grant you this honor of entrusting
this supplication to you." Shaykh Tusi and Sayyid ibn Taus have
related this supplication in Misbah al-Mutahajjad.
RECITATION OF THE DU’A

Imam 'Ali (a) used to recite the Du'a in "sajdah" which is the
lowest position of servitude ('"abdiyyat") to Allah (swt) that a
person can place himself. This gives us an idea of how the Imam
used to be totally absorbed in his '"abdiyyat" (Divine servitude)
in the presence of Allah (swt) to the point of becoming "fana
fil-Llah" (losing completely his self and his identity when
exposed to the Glory of Allah (swt).
We, as Shi'ayane 'Ali, should recite the supplication, at least as

advised by the Imam (a) to Kumayl, with knowledge and deeper
understanding of the words and with the full presence of mind.
This kind of recitation will bring tears in our eyes as we
remember with repentance the sins that we committed that fall
into the categories mentioned in the Du'a (to be enumerated
below) and ask for Divine Mercy and forgiveness of those sins.
As many of us do not understand the Arabic text fully, it is

important to have before us a simplified English translation to
help us understand at least the outer meaning of the
supplication.
If desired, the Du'a can be recited exclusively in English. The

importance of reciting it lies in obtaining greater spiritual
benefit so as to reform ourselves morally and ethically and raise
our spiritual status before Allah (swt).
~37~
CONCLUSION
Du'a-e-Kumayl is an extraordinary, unique and powerful Du'a.
We need to study it closely to gain an in- depth knowledge of
the main concepts contained in it. In conclusion, the Du'a ends
with the peak of supplication to Allah (swt), pleading for His
boundless Mercy and Magnanimity, as it began with the peak
of the prayer asking Allah (swt) by His ten Most Beautiful
Names, seeking forgiveness for all the sins, in particular, the six
types of gravest sins committed.
The concluding words of the Du'a are most moving. Addressing

Allah (swt), the supplicant says, "O', He whose name is a
remedy for all ills, whose remembrance provides a sure cure for
all sicknesses and whose obedience makes one self-sufficient
and independent. Have mercy on him whose asset is hope and
whose weapon is lamentation and tears.
O', the best giver who bestows his bounties amply and
abundantly and who wards off misfortunes and stops them
from coming. O', Light of those who are lost in darkness and
bewilderment. O', the All-Knowing who knows everything by
Himself, being knowledgeable of all things, Bless Muhammad
and his pure progeny, and bestow on me what is worthy of
you."
LESSONS TO LEARN
There are several lessons for us to learn from this Du'a:
1. We need to purify and strengthen our belief in

"Tawheed", the Oneness of God. Our concept of
"Tawheed" needs to be corrected to match with the
elementary attributes ("Sifate Dhaat") of Allah (swt).
1 ~ 38 ~
1
Introduction
The purity of belief in "Tawheed" rids "shirk" in all its

forms from our minds and inculcates its true concept.
We need to be aware of some small forms of "shirk"
which are imperceptible. They become manifest in our
words and pollute our belief system. We need
therefore to get rid of them.
2. Ten attributes have been mentioned that we need to

keep in mind all the time to keep our belief system pure
and the Divine presence felt all the time. These
attributes are: Mercy, Power, Might, Majesty,
Grandeur, Authority, Eternity, Divine Names,
Knowledge and Light.
3. We need to keep away from at least six types of sins

that are mentioned and seek forgiveness of Allah (swt):
sins that destroy our defense against committing
common sins in our day-to-day lives; sins that make us
suffer from calamities; sins that take away Divine
fortunes that we enjoy and change them into
misfortunes; sins that obstruct Du'as from being
accepted; sins that bring about afflictions; sins that
cause feeling of despair or hopelessness in receiving
the Mercy of Allah (swt).
4. We should seek closeness to and intercession of Allah

(swt) through His constant remembrance ("Dhikrul-
Llah"), gratitude for His bounties, feeling of His
overwhelming awe, submissiveness to all His
commandments and prohibitions with utmost humility,
and fear of standing before Him on the Day of
Judgment to account for our deeds.
~ 39 ~
5. We should seek forgiveness of Allah (swt) through His

Mercy and Compassion for all the sins that we have
committed and pray for a feeling of pleasure and
contentment for all the beautiful gifts of life that He has
through His Grace and benevolence given us.
6. We should pray to Allah (swt) to grant us modesty and

humility in all our affairs in life and bless us with
excellent morals in our conduct and behavior so as to
obtain His closeness and Grace.
~ 40 ~
AMIR AL-MU’MINEEN, ‘ALI IBN ABI TALIB (A)
CHAPTER ONE
THE SUBLIME/DYNAMIC
OPENING
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And your Lord has said: Call Me, I will answer you (your
supplication); indeed, those who are too arrogant to worship
Me, shall soon enter hell, disgraced.(Q: 40:60)
HIGHLIGHTS
CHAPTER ONE 45
THE SUBLIME/DYNAMIC OPENING: 45
THE BEST/MOST BEAUTIFUL NAMES OF ALLAH (ASMAA'-UL-

HUSNA)...... 45
"TAW HEED" 45
"ASMAA'-UL-HUSNA" (THE BEST AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL

NAMES) 45
DIVINE MERCY 46
DUA'-E-KUMAYL 46
THE TEXT: 47
COMMENTARY - VERSES 1 TO 11 49
ALLAH 50
HOW TO ADDRESS ALLAH 51

1. RAHMAH: AR-RAHMAN/AR-RAHIM - THE
BENEFICENT/THE MERCIFUL.............................. 51
2. "AL-QAWIYYTAL-MATEEN" - MOST POWERFUL..52
3. "AL-QAHHAR" - SUBDUER...................... 53
4. "AL-JABBAR"/"JABAROOr - MIGHTIEST 55
5. "AL-'AZIZ" - GLORIOUS/MAJESTIC.......... 56
6. "AL-'AZEEM" - GRANDEUR 57
7. "AL-BAQI" - ETERNAL, 58
~43~
Dj'o Kumayl: A Brief Commentary
8. "AL-ASM AA,W-THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND THE

EXCELLENT NAMES...................................................... 60
9. "AL-'ALEEM" - ALL-KNOWING 64
10. "AL-NOOR" - LIGHT 65
SUMMARY 67
INTERCESSION BY THE "ASM AA'" (NAMES) 68
INTERCESSION BY THE PROPHET................. 69

CONCLUSION 70
~ 44 ~
I: The Sublime/Dynamic Opening
CHAPTER ONE
THE SUBLIME/DYNAMIC OPENING:
THE BEST/MOST BEAUTIFUL NAMES OF
ALLAH (ASMAA’-UL-HUSNA)
Summary of the main themes in the opening passage of the
Du'a
“TAWHEED”
The absolute Oneness of God explained lucidly in the form of
the supplication which contains, in a nutshell, the description
of some of the Divine Qualities of Allah (swt) such as His
Singular and Absolute Oneness, Sovereignty, Supremacy,
Power, Knowledge, Mercy, Beneficence, Omnipresence, Self-
Existence, Self-Subsistence and Ever-Living.
“ASMAA’-UL-HUSNA” (THE BEST AND THE

MOST BEAUTIFUL NAMES)
Among the Ten Names out of the total of ninety nine Most
Beautiful Names ("Asmaa'-ul-Husna") relating to Divine
attributes of Allah (swt) that are mentioned, the most
outstanding is the Mercy ("Rahmah")by which Allah (swt) treats
His creation. "Rahman" (the Beneficent) and "Rahim" (the
Merciful) are the two derivatives of "Rahmah" (the Mercy) used
frequently in the Qur'an and generally by Muslims. Therefore,
the Ten Names mentioned in the Du'a, in sequence, are as
follows:
~45~
Du'a Kumoyl: A Brief Commentary
4 Beneficence ("Rahmah")
4 "Rahman"
4 "Rahim"
4 Power ("Quwwah")
4 Conquer ("Qahr")
4 Might ("Jabarut")
4 Majesty ("Tzzah")
4 Grandeur ('"Adhamah")
4 Eternity ("Baqaa")
4 Divine Names ("Asmaa"')
4 Knowledge ('"llm")
4 Light ("Noor")
4 Sovereignty ("Sultan") (Not part of "Asmaa'-ul-Husna")
DIVINE MERCY
Man's hope in the Divine Mercy, expressed in utmost humility
and heavy heart, regardless of his disobedience in committing
grave sins, six of which are mentioned in the supplication.
DUA’-E-KUMAYL
The Supplication of Kumayl
A/e will now take up for our study the opening passage of the
Du'a. It contains 11 short sentences. The words used are
powerful and have deep meaning. The translation given is in
simple explanatory English. References have been given where
required to the original source to enable those who want to
study the Du'a in greater detail.
~46~
THE TEXT:
Key Attributes: Al-Rahman (Beneficence) Al-Rahim (Merciful)
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In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent and the

Merciful
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0' Allah, Bless Muhammad and his pure progeny
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0' Allah, indeed, I ask you by your boundless Mercy

which encompasses and embraces all things
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And by your Power and Might by which you have

subdued and dominated all things; everything
submits to you and is humbled before you
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~47~
And by your Irresistible Force by which you have

conquered and dominated all things
And by your Glory and Grandeur before which

nothing can withstand
And by your Magnificence and Greatness which

permeates in and pervades over everything
And by your Sovereignty and Authority which is

exercised and enforced over everything
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And by your Essence which will continue to exist
forever in your Self-Existence after everything has
perished
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~48~
And by your Glorious and Excellent Names (Asmaa'-

ul-Husna) which manifest your Power that sustains
everything
And by your Knowledge which encompasses and

covers everything
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And by the Light of your appearance (Your Spirit and

its Brilliance) which illuminates everything.
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You who are the Light, O' You who are the Most
Holy, O' You who existed before the First of the first
existence, O' You who are the Last of the last
existence and continue to exist for ever.
COMMENTARY - VERSES 1 TO 11
"Asmaa'-ul-Husna" - The Best and the Most Beautiful Names of
Allah (swt)
The ten Names of Allah (swt) by which the supplication starts

are among the famous, ninety nine "Asmaa;-ul-Husna", the
most excellent and the best names of Allah (swt). They provide
~ 49 ~
the dynamics for the supplicant to move toward Allah (swt).

Allah (swt) says, "And Allah's are the Best Names; therefore call
on Him by them..." (Q. 7:180). At another place Allah (swt) says,
"And your Lord says: call upon Me. I will answer you ..." (Q.
40:60)
Shaykh Saduq has quoted Imam 'Ali (a) and Imam Ridha (a),
both of whom said, "There are ninety nine Names of God and
whoever calls Him by those Names, his Du'a will be answered."
The Prophet (s) said, "There are ninety nine Names of Allah, one
hundred less one. Whoever keeps their count and memorizes
them, he will enter the Paradise." So let us start by analyzing
the ten Names with which the supplication begins.
ALLAH
Du'a-e-Kumayl starts with the Original Prime Name which is
Allah (swt).This is the proper noun which belongs only to
Almighty Allah (swt). There is no equivalent word in English or
in any other language.
The word God in English is used for any object of worship. God
to a person is any object or person whom he loves, adores,
reveres, venerates, glorifies and worships. It can be of a male,
a female or a neutral gender. It can also be more than one such
gods and goddesses.
Allah in Arabic is the proper name that combines all the

exclusive and excellent attributes and is not used for anyone
else besides Allah (swt). Allah (swt) is the Ever-Existent; the
One who originates and is the source of all existence, who
maintains all existence. He is the Creator, the Nourisher and the
Accomplisher of the entire creation which will ultimately
perish. The sole existence thereafter will be that of Allah (swt)
who will continue to exist everlastingly. (Q. 55:26/27)
~50~
HOW TO ADDRESS ALLAH

When calling Allah (swt), He is addressed either by using the
word of exclamation "Ya" meaning "0" or by using the suffix
"Mim" at the end to read "Allahum'ma" meaning "O' Allah".
The Qur'an uses "Allahum'ma" in addressing Allah (swt) at
several places such as in Chapter 5:114, "'Isa, son of God said:
'0' Allah, Our Lord, send down to us from the Heaven a dinner
of delicious food (Ma-idah)and in Chapter 3:26, "Say, "O'
Allah, Master of the Kingdom ..."
1. RAHMAH: AR-RAHMAN/AR-RAHIM THE

BENEFICENT/THE MERCIFUL
AL-RAHMAN - THE BENEFICENT
"Al-Rahman" and "Al-Rahim" are derived from the root word

"Rahmah," and are two most important attributes of Allah (swt)
which remind people of His Mercy that encompasses and
embraces everything. These are two coexisting attributes of
Allah (swt), each possessing deeper meaning than the other
layers of Mercy and have different applications.
"Al-Rahman" is an attribute specifically meant for Allah (swt).

None besides Him can be called or referred to as such, while
"Rahim" can be used as the name of a person or for his quality
of being extremely kind and merciful.
The attribute of "Al-Rahman" for Allah (swt) signifies that He is

the ultimate source of all mercy. He is the One whose Mercy
is so great and countless that it is beyond the comprehension
of anyone and the like of which does not exist.
"AL-RAHIM" - THE MERCIFUL
~51~
"Al-Rahim" means all-embracing mercy and compassion. It

gives shelter to all who are blessed with it from harm and loss
and they get guidance, forgiveness and correct religious belief.
"Al-Rahim" is the one who grants "Rahmah" which is the

highest and matchless level of mercy reserved only for
believers, largely for the hereafter, while "Rahmaniyyat" is the
attribute of all-embracing mercy which extends to all the
creation, believers as well as unbelievers, animate as well as
inanimate. "He is the One who blesses you with His Mercy...so
that He may take you out from the darkness of ignorance and
evil into the light of knowledge and righteousness. He is
merciful to the believers." (Q. 33:43).
Allah (swt) has blessed us with abundant and countless mercy

and favors which we are enjoying continuously in life. He
expects us also to be compassionate and merciful to His
creation. The Prophet (s) said, "One who does not show
compassion and mercy toward the creation of Allah will be
deprived of Allah's compassion and mercy. " Compassion and
mercy toward the servants of Allah (swt) is a sure means of
achieving the mercy and compassion from Allah (swt). The
Prophet (s) also said, "Be merciful to those on the earth so that
those in the heavens may be merciful to you"
2. "AL-QAWIYY'7"AL-MATEEN" - MOST
POWERFUL
"Al-Qawiyy" and "Al-Mateen" are two of Allah (swt)'s attributes

that share the same basic meaning of absolute and perfect
strength, power, might and ability that nothing can stand
against it. "Al-Qawiyy" is derived from "quwwah" which is the
source of all power and strength; "Al-Mateen" is derived from
~52~
the root word "matana" which denotes solidness such as solid

rock.
"Al-Qawiyy" signifies the unlimited and the invincible power of

Allah (swt) before which the greatness of all the great is
completely humbled. "... surely, your Lord is the strong and the
Mighty." (Q. 11:66). Everything, be it the greatest of all great
mountains in the universe or, indeed, the universe itself with
everything contained in it trembles in awe and fear ("khashya")
of Allah (swt)'s greatness and power, coupled with His severity.
There are many verses in the Qur'an that state the strength and
power of Allah (swt). Among them are: Chapters 2:165; 18:39;
41:15. Besides, the attribute of "Al-Qawiyy" is reiterated in
Chapters 8:52 and 40:22. Whatever is willed by Him is
immediately done. He needs no helpers, assistants or
supporters. His might dominates and subdues everything.
Nothing in the heavens or the earth can stand in His way. His
Might is eternal and prevails over everything.
3. "AL-QAHHAR" - SUBDUER
"Al-Qahhar" is a noun derived from the root word "qahr" which

means taking someone against his will, subduing, humiliating,
conquering, overcoming and annihilating him. "Al-Qahhar" is a
superlative noun of "al-qahir," one who has subdued and taken
the upper hand over all creation. Indeed, Allah (swt) is the One
who, by His Might and Power, does what He wills to His creation
whether they like it or not. "... and Allah is the master who
dominates over His affairs ..."(Q. 12:21)
"Al-Qahhar" is the One whose wrath is unbearable. Nothing can

withstand His rage. He humiliates oppressors, breaks the backs
of the arrogant and splits the spines of kings and emperors. He
is the One beside whose Might all the creation is powerless and
~53~
I
without whose Power all the creation is helpless. There is

nothing in existence that can escape from His Might and Power.
Everything is helpless in His grip and His realm.
"Al-Qahhar" is the One who imposes His Will over His creation
whether they submit willingly or unwillingly. He instills His awe
and fear ("khashya") into the hearts of his servants endowed
with knowledge and the capacity of getting near to Him. He
unveils the truth about Him to the souls of those who love Him.
He has restrained the souls of those who worship Him by
instilling in their hearts the fear of reckoning.
Allah (swt) has destined death for all beings without exception
and the final return to Him. No Prophet, no Messenger, not
even Angels who have the special high status of being close to
Him, including the Angel of death ("Malakul-Maut"), will
eventually escape death. In this way Allah (swt) will manifest
"qahr" in His quality of "Al-Qahhar." The One and the only One
who is Ever-Living and who Himself is Life ("Al-Hayy") will
continue to exist for ever. He Himself will ask, "To whom does
:he kingdom belong this day?" He will answer Himself, "To
Allah, the One, and the only One, the All-Powerful (Lil-Llahil-
Wahidil-Qahhar)." (Q. 40:16)
The guidance that we derive from this Allah (swt)'s attribute of

"Al-Qahhar" is that we should apply "jabr" to our "nafs" which
exists within us until death. It sits firmly inside us as our internal
home-bred enemy that attacks us constantly using the
weapons of our sensual desires and evil whispers to get us to
commit sinful actions.
We should use all the force ("jabr") that we can put up to

strangle and kill it. At the same time we need to turn attention
to our external strong enemy who is all the time attacking us
~54~
with his huge army of shyateen made up of both Jinn and man
to dislodge us from the Right Path and lead us astray. We have
our weapon of "Taqwa", God consciousness, to defeat all of
them including the internal enemy.
4. "AL-JABBAR'7'MABAROOT" - MIGHTIEST
"Jabaroot" is derived from "al-Jabbar", a superlative adjective

derived from the root word of "jabr" which means fixing with
force a broken, fractured or crushed object. Another meaning
of the word "jabbar" is huge or beyond reach. Still another
meaning of the word "jabbar" is the One whose Will governs
and subjugates everything. Nothing can happen in His kingdom
except what He Wills to happen, whether or not His creatures
like it or wish it to happen or resent it to happen. A thing which
He does not Will to happen will never happen.
One of the derivatives of "al-jabbar" is "Jabaroot" which means

supremacy and greatness that prevails over everything. In one
of his statements, Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a) said, "He (Allah) is
the One whose Will manifests itself on the nature or the
mindset of hearts." It means that He molded or fashioned the
heart according to the level of its capacity or ability of knowing
("ma'rifat") Him. Those who acquire His "ma'rifat" are
successful and triumphant. Those who lack His "ma'rifat" are
losers in this world and in the hereafter. "Ma'rifat" of Allah
(swt) is acquired by efforts.
"Al-Jabbar" signifies application of force in the working of

things according to the Will of Allah (swt) as the Creator and
Master. This has been the case since the creation of the
universe and all that is in it. All objects in the heavens and the
earth that are seen and others far beyond our sight and reach,
present in the outer horizons of the universe, have been
~55~
functioning since their creation exactly according to the Will of

Allah (swt). They will all cease functioning and perish when
Allah (swt) Wills it at the end of time, at the dawn of "Yaumul
Qiyamah."
Man has free will that is limited only to certain domain of his
life. He has no control, for example, over the time when Allah
(swt) Wills to start and end his life. So is the case with all other
creations, animate as well as inanimate. Nobody has any choice
in this matter.
5. "AL-'AZIZ" ■ GLORIOUS/MAJESTIC
The root word of this attribute is '"izzat" used in Verse No. 4.

Among the various meanings of '"izzat" are strength, power,
elevation and might. When used as a verb '"azzaz", it means to
strengthen, to support. The Qur'an uses it in this sense in
Chapter 36:14. "... We strengthen them with a third (disciple)
..." As a verb it also means to overcome, to subdue, and to have
the upper hand.
"AI-'Aziz" when used for anyone means he commands all the

honor, integrity and high respect. Under no circumstances can
Allah (swt) ever be humiliated, hurt or harmed. He is always
victorious and never vanquished. He is the Mighty, the All-
powerful and beyond reach. He has no likeness. He is needless
but He is needed by all, all the time. Verily, it is only to the
Almighty Allah (swt) that these qualities can, truly, be
attributed.
^3
As one of the "Asmaa'-ul-Husna," the Most Beautiful Names of
Allah (swt), "AI-'Aziz" appears at several places in the Qur'an
where Allah (swt) describes Himself as "Al-Aziz." In Chapter
45:37, He says, "And to Him belongs greatness in the heavens
and the earth, and He is the Almighty and the wise." In Chapter
~56~
63:8, He says, "... to Allah belongs the honor and to His Prophet
and to the believers ..." In Chapter 37:80, He says, "Glory to
your Lord, the Lord of Honor and Majesty. He is far above what
they ascribe to Him." In Chapter 5:118, Prophet 'Isa appealing
to Allah (swt) pleads, "If You punish them, verily, they are Your
servants ('ibaaduk) and if You forgive them, surely, You are the
Mighty and Wise." In Chapter 38:82, addressing Allah (swt), Iblis
says, "... by Your Might, I will surely make them live an evil life,
all of them."
6. "AL-'AZEEM" - GRANDEUR
"AI-'Azeem" is a superlative noun derived from the root "'izam"

which means greatness, magnanimity, dignity, honor and
esteem.
When used for Allah (swt) as His Best Name, "AI-'Azeem"

means that He is the Absolute One whose greatness cannot be
grasped by vision. His Greatness has no limits. His Greatness is
beyond the comprehension of human intellect. Allah (swt) says,
"He is the Most High, the Great" (Q. 2:255). "Therefore, glorify
the Name of your Lord, the Highest and the Great" (Q. 56:96)
An example of His Greatness and Might is given in the Qur'an in

Chapter 31:28. Allah (swt) says, "Your creation and resurrection
is like that of a single soul..." The creation of the whole universe
for Allah (swt) is as easy as the creation of one single soul. The
Greatness and Might is manifested in Chapter 16:40 of the
Qur'an. Allah (swt) says, "Indeed, when We Will a thing to
happen, the only word We say to it is 'Be' and it comes to exist."
Ibn 'Abbas quotes the Prophet (s) as saying, "When a person

enters a room to visit a sick person who is on the verge of death
and he prays seven times to Allah and says, 'I beg Allah the
Great, ('Azeem) Lord of the Great Throne, (Rabbul 'Arshil
~57~
'Azeem) to cure you', that sick person will be cured by the Will
of Allah."
"Al-'Azeem" implies peak of greatness against which all

greatness appear dwarfed and insignificant. Imam Sajjad (a)
says, "No words can describe Him. (He is beyond description.)
Intellect cannot understand Him. No human mind can
comprehend Him. Oppressors and despots fall low in awe of
Him. Heads are humbled in fear of Him. All great powers
surrender to His Greatness." (Du'a for Monday from Sahifa al-
Sajjadiyyah)
A prominent wealthy person or a rich chief of a tribe used to be

called '"azeem" by the pagans who used to give exclusive
importance to wealth and worldly position. The Qur'an quotes
them: "They said: why was this Qur'an not sent down to some
great man from the two cities (of Makka and Madina)?" (Q.
43:31)
In their ignorance, they were unable to appreciate the high

intellectual and spiritual level of the Prophet (s) who did not
amass worldly possessions and riches. Indeed, this is the case
in all ages. A poor man with no money has no place in the
society, no matter how wise and intelligent he may be.
The word '"azeem" used in this sense is quite different from

'"Azeem", as one of the "Asmaa'-ul-Husna", used for Allah
(swt). This Name of Allah (swt) is amply used in the Qur'an and
in many Du'as with amazing effect.
7. "AL-BAQi"-ETERNAL
"Al-Baqi" is the noun derived from the root word "al-baqa"

which means eternity. "Al-Baqi" also means obedience to Allah
(swt), status of Divine goodness and waiting for Allah (swt)'s
~58~
rewards. "Al-Baqi", in reality, means Allah (swt)'s ever-enduring

existence. Endurance is one of Allah (swt)'s unique
characteristic features.
" Al-Baqi" is the One who has ever existed and continues to
exist for ever. There is neither a beginning nor an end to His
existence. It is an "abadi", "azali", endless, eternal existence.
His everlasting existence is necessitated by virtue of His own
merits and this attribute covers both of these meanings.
"Al-Baqi" is the One who is above the change of time, indeed,

above the concept of time itself. Therefore, the concept of the
changing time relating to the "past" and the "future" does not
apply to Him. He created time Himself which did not exist
before and will cease to exist at the end of time.
Allah (swt)'s existence is based on His own Essence of Self-

Existence. The concept of death, cessation of existence does
not at all apply to Him. Everything will perish and cease to exist
while for Him is "Baqa", the Ever-Lasting existence. The Qur'an
contains several verses relating to Allah (swt)'s attribute of "Al-
Baqi", the most outstanding of which are, Chapter 55 verses 26
and 27 which say, "All that is on the earth will perish. But the
Supreme Being of your glorious Lord will remain and endure
forever."
All things in nature will pass away at their appointed time and
the only one that will endure forever is the "face" symbolizing
the glory, power, majesty, essence and the divine attributes
which are associated with the beautiful Names of Allah (swt).
For a believer who remembers this attribute of "Al-Baqi"

frequently in his life, Allah (swt) will reveal to him enduring facts
of things that will remain and show him things that will perish.
~ 59 ~
He will be inspired to seek resort of "Al-Baqi", Allah (swt), and

His help in all the affairs of his life.
8. "AL-ASMAA"'- THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND THE

EXCELLENT NAMES
In this Du'a, "al-Asmaa"' refers to "Asmaa'-ul-Husna", the Most

Beautiful and the Excellent Names of Allah (swt). These Names
are the Divine pillars that constitute the supports which sustain
everything in existence. They refer to all the ninety nine Names
of Allah which make up His attributes.
These attributes are of two kinds. The first kind is the

Fundamental Attributes ("Sifat-e-Zaat"). They are the core
attributes of Allah (swt) and represent His very Essence. The
core attributes are inseparable from Him as they are one and
the same as Himself, such as Allah the Living, Allah the Eternal
and Allah the Everlasting.
The wonderful way in which the Qur'an has described the Unity
of the Divine Essence in the five short verses of Surah 112, al-
Ikhlas, is unique. The Chapter says, "He is Allah the One (and
the only One), Allah is needless, He is independent (while
everything depends on Him and needs Him), He does not beget
nor is He begotten (nothing ever comes out or is born of Him,
nor Has He come out of anything or has been born of any
being). And there is no one like Him (there is no match or equal
to Him in any aspect or any sense with regard to His Divine
Qualities."
=;
The second kind of attributes are those that are not related to
His Essence but represent His Qualities or His Makings ("Sifat-
e-llahiyyah") such as Allah the Merciful, Allah the Powerful and
Allah the Supreme. The majority of these Names relate to His
unique qualities and is not what He is in Essence.
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This does not mean that they can be shared with anyone.
Indeed, it would amount to self-styled "shirk" ("ilhad") and a
great sin for anyone to claim that he shares the Divine
Attributes. Allah (swt) can, by His Grace, bestow any of these
qualities to whomsoever He wishes, but Allah (swt) remains the
source and the sole owner of these qualities.
Imam 'Ali (a) addresses Allah (swt) in the following words which
have deep meaning relating to the higher level of "Tawheed":
"O' He, O' He whom nobody knows what He is, neither how He
is, nor in what respect He is, except He Himself Alone, the
owner of all Kingdoms and the Possessor of their entire
dominion and complete hold and control."(Du'a al-Mashlool)
Imam Sadiq (a) has explained the implications of having

incorrect and polluted belief in "Tawheed" against which we
should guard ourselves. He said, "Whoever worships God
according to his own impression or thoughts is an unbeliever
(kafir). Whoever worships the Names (asmaa') without the
meaning behind the Names is also an unbeliever (kafir).
Whoever worships both the Names and their meanings is a
polytheist (mushrik)."
The Imam continues to explain the correct belief that one

should have and equates such a believer to a companion of
Amir al-Mu'mineen (a). He says, "Whoever worships the
meaning behind the Names as expressed by the attributes by
which Allah has described Himself, and believes it in his heart
and expresses it in words openly and in secret, such a person is
a companion of Amir al-Mu'mineen." According to another
Hadith, he is a true believer.
According to another Hadith, Imam Sadiq (a) said to Hisham ibn

Hakam, "There are ninety nine Names for Allah. If these Names
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are interpreted as being one and the same according to what is

meant by each of them, it will mean that every Name
numerically represents one god. (We will then have ninety nine
gods)."
The Imam continued to give the correct interpretation saying,

"The correct interpretation of these Names is that they
represent the attributes of One Single Absolute Allah." It is very
important that we should try to understand this all important
concept of the Singleness of the Absolute, All-Supreme, All-
Powerful, All-Merciful, All-Sovereign, All-Knowing, Self-
Existent, Infinite Allah (swt)to avoid any kind of image, however
remote, to creep into our minds.
What we have discussed so far is the ground level of "Asmaa'-

ul-Husna", linked to "Tawheed". The higher and deeper levels
of "Tawheed" can be studied from the theological and
philosophical angles by analyzing in detail the following five
main fields:
a. Allah (swt)'s Divinity ("Uluhiyyat"): It is a state of

absolute purity, supreme existence and peak
perfection in every aspect. "Uluhiyyat" constitutes a
vast field of metaphysical and philosophical elements
to be able to get to even the fringes of it. It needs great
mind and intellect to explore the vast ocean only to
find one is still on the shore.
b. Allah (swt)'s Oneness ("Ahdaniyyat"): The concept of
oneness refers to an all-embracing absolute oneness,
beyond all intellectual paradigms and mental images
that creep sneakily into our minds. This "Oneness" is
not in terms of numerical number but it represents
Divine Unity and singleness of Allah (swt), the Unity of
1
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His Essence that embraces all the attributes, "Jami'-e-

Sifaat" of Allah (swt).
c. Allah (swt)'s Uniqueness ("Samadiyyat"): No likeness
of Allah (swt) exists in the whole of the universe, or
anywhere else. His uniqueness is unique by itself. He
is needless and the One sought eternally for help by
everyone. He says, "Call on Me and I will answer Your
call" (Q. 40:60). His existence is needed for everything
in the universe and beyond to exist and flourish.
Everything depends upon Him for its existence.
d. Allah (swt)'s Absolute Self-Purity ("Quddusiyyat"): "Al-
Quddus" means the One whose characteristics cannot
be perceived by the senses, nor can He be conceived
by imagination, nor can He be contained by any mind,
or understood by logic or reasoning, or
comprehended by any intellect. "Al-Quddus" is the
One who purifies and protects the souls from sinning.
He is not limited by space and time.
Allah (swt)'s "Quddusiyyat", His Absolute purity of self, allows

nothing to separate from Him or be born of Him because
separation would denote a material state and a measure of the
parts. Similarly, He has not separated from anything or born of
anything. The concept of separation either way would
contradict Allah (swt)'s absolute eternal single unity and would
assume the existence of a previous object.
e. Allah (swt)'s Matchlessness ("Kufu'iyyat"): "Kufu"'

means a match or equal. Allah (swt) is matchless and
has no equal. The state of matchlessness negates
semblance of all kinds. His pure and single unity allows
no imagery of any kind as representing Him. No duality
of His pure Self can be imagined or conceived. There is
~63~
nothing like Him. He is inimitable, the One and only

One in His Self.
9. "AL-'ALEEM" ■ ALL-KNOWING
"Al-'Aleem" is derived from the word '"ilm" which means

knowledge. When a person understands correctly the truth
which is in accord with reality, he develops a strong belief and
conviction. He is then said to possess knowledge of it.
"Al-'Aleem" when used for Allah (swt) means the One who is
All-Knowing. His knowledge encompasses everything presently
in existence and also in the past before its existence as well as
in the future during its continued existence. He is the One
whose knowledge is all-inclusive, whether the thing is manifest
or hidden, microscopic or mammoth. He knows its beginning
and its end and what is above or below it.
"Al-'Aleem" is also the One who has the knowledge of the past,
the present and the future. He has the knowledge of the
unknown and the knowledge of the Day of Resurrection. He
knows what a female has conceived in her womb, all births and
deaths taking place, and what every soul earns. He knows the
state of mind of people and thoughts that run in their minds,
what is hidden in our soul and conscious, and details of
everything in existence. Nothing, not even the weight of an
atom in the earth or in the heavens, is not in His knowledge.
The Qur'an contains numerous verses which relate to "Al-

'Aleem" as All-Knowing. A few examples are: Chapters 36:38;
40:2; 11:5; 2:32; 36:38.
Allah (swt) has made knowledge the core of faith in Islam and
the acquisition of knowledge an obligation of every Muslim,
man and woman. The Prophet (s) said, "Acquiring knowledge is
~64~
I
an obligation on every Muslim, man and woman. Therefore,

seek knowledge from its source and learn it from those who are
knowledgeable and worthy of it." He also said, "Knowledge
enlivens the dead hearts affected by ignorance, it is the light of
the eyes in darkness and the strength of the bodies against
weakness."
10. "AL-NOOR" - LIGHT
"Noor" literally means light. Light has several meanings. Light

can be physical or spiritual. Physical light illuminates physical
things, whereas Spiritual light illuminates the soul.
The source of physical light can be natural such as the sun and
the moon or electricity generated physically. The source of
spiritual light is the Divine light which illuminates the mind and
the intellect and guides it to do the right thing. Spiritual light is
also related to the life of the hereafter which will be illuminated
by the Divine Light.
The Qur'an contains numerous verses on the subject of light of

both this world and of the hereafter. There are more than forty
references to light. A few examples can be seen in Chapters
24:35; 5:15; 10:5; 39:69. Some scholars are of the opinion that
the attribute of "Al-Noor" is most probably the Greatest Name
("Ism-al-A'zam") of Allah (swt). They say that they cannot see
anything in existence without seeing the meaning of this
attribute manifested in it.
When used as a common noun, "noor" means light. Light here

has also several meanings. One of them is knowledge and
scholarship. The mind of a knowledgeable believer can perceive
the truth through the light of his knowledge. That is the reason
behind Islam laying emphasis on acquiring knowledge and on
the learning process. The first Revelation received by the
~65~
Prophet (s) consisted of the first five verses of Surah 96, al-'Alaq
(the clot), which oriented mankind to the Faculty of Knowledge
and learning through the medium of the Pen. The Message to
mankind was acquire knowledge and higher knowledge
through research into the deeper layers of knowledge that will
lead to wisdom.
As one of the "Asmaa'-ul-Husna", "Al-Noor" refers to Allah

(swt)'s attribute by which He has manifested Himself fully in all
things.
The Name of "Al-Noor" refers to the One who is manifest on His

own and who makes everything else clear and visible. He is the
Almighty Allah (swt) who has filled the world with light and
illuminated the apparent existence through His Manifestation
by the creation of the sun and the stars.
In his Du'a of the day of Arafat, Imam Husayn (a) has expressed
the attribute of "Al-Noor" in simple words. Addressing Allah
(swt), the Imam says, "You are the One who made yourself
known to me (introduced Yourself to me) in everything (in Your
every creation). And I have seen Your manifestation (Your glory)
openly in everything. And You manifest Yourself (you show Your
glory) to everything (to Your every creation)."
Allah (swt), through His attribute of Light, has illuminated the

spiritual world by sending His Prophet (s) and the Heavenly
Book to mankind. He illuminated people endowed with
knowledge with the light of His Divine manifestations. He has
illuminated the hearts of the truthful through the knowledge of
His Unity and the conscious of those who love Him by His
support for them. He beautified and brought life to the souls of
the pious through His worship. He guides the hearts to choose
~66~
what is right. He guides the innermost conscious to whisper to

Him in praise of Him.
Allah (swt) gives a beautiful account in the Qur'an by way of a

similitude of His "ism" of "Al-Noor" in Chapter 24 verse 35. He
says, "Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The
similitude of His light is a niche in which there is a lamp, the
lamp is in the glass, and the glass is as if it were a brightly shining
star, lit from a blessed olive tree, neither eastern nor western,
the oil of which lights up itself, though fire does not touch it.
Light upon Light. Allah guides whomsoever He wishes to His
Light. And Allah draws parables for mankind and Allah has
knowledge of all things."
The Arabic word "wajh" used in this verse has a wide meaning.
It includes cause, countenance, support, appearance, aspect
and look. Here it means the light of His Self. The interpretation
given by Imam Zainul 'Abidin (a), with reference to Chapter 55,
verse 27, is that the countenance is the Ae'mmah-al-
Ma'sumeen (a) of the Prophet (s)'s Ahlul Bayt.
SUMMARY
To summarize, the Du'a begins with beseeching Allah (swt) for
His Mercy which encompasses everything; His Power which
dominates everything; His Might which overwhelms
everything; His Majesty which captures everything; His Force
which overpowers everything; His Eternity which outlasts
everything; His Names which manifest His Glory in everything;
His Knowledge which permeates everything; His Light which
illuminates everything and His Supreme Authority which He
exercises over everything.
~67~
INTERCESSION BY THE “ASMAA’” (NAMES)

"And Allah's are the Best and the Most Beautiful Names,
therefore call on Him by (asking for the Intercession by) these
Names...." (Q. 7:180)
The choice by Imam 'Ali (a) of these ten Names of Allah

(swt)points to the power which these Names have in
beseeching Allah (swt)for the acceptance of the Du'a. By
analyzing these Names in detail, we have seen how powerful
they are in seeking intercession for the acceptance of our Du'a.
The amazing and powerful intercession these Names wield can

be assessed in the opening part of Du'a-e-Simaat in which the
supplicant beseeches Allah (swt) by the intercession of these
Names. They have the wonderful power of opening the closed
doors of the heavens; removing the narrowness of the doors of
the earth and enormously expanding them to make the ways
therein accessible; easing difficulties; bringing the dead back to
life and raising them from their graves; and removing miseries,
hardships and afflictions.
The Du'a continues to beseech Allah (swt) and says, "(O', Allah)
by the Majesty of Your Essence, the most Generous and the
most Honored, before whom everything bows down in
submission; and all heads are lowered in reverence and fear;
and all voices are humbled; and all hearts tremble in awe; and
by Your Might and Power through which the heavens are held
firm so they cannot fall apart or move away from their position
and orbits except by your permission;
And I beseech you by Your Will that makes the whole world
obey you; and by Your Word (of "be" and it is) that brought into
creation the heavens and the earth; and by Your Wisdom that
you created wonders in the form of darkness and made it night
~68~
and made the night the means of comfort and rest; and You
also created light and from it brought out the day; and fixed the
time for the day to rise and for people to engage in activities for
earning their living;
And by Your Power and Might you created the sun and made it
the source of light; and created the moon and lighted it; and
created the heavenly bodies in the form of stars and planets as
a means of guidance for travelers at night and as adornment for
the sky and also as weapons to drive away the evil spirits from
eavesdropping in the skies; and made the east and west as the
direction for their rising and setting and created for them their
orbits in which they float and revolve;
And You clustered the heavenly bodies into beautiful galaxies,

shining pulsars and quasars and other luminaries; and fixed for
them stations in the heavens; and gave them beautiful shapes;
and held them stable by the force of your Beautiful Names
(Asmaa'-ul-Husna) and designed a perfect system of stellar and
planetary organization; and made them subservient to the
changes of night and day; and regulated their timings; and
made them a scale for counting years; and made their (the
planets and the stars') appearance regular and universal."
INTERCESSION BY THE PROPHET

Besides Allah (swt), by the intercession of His "Asmaa'-ul-
Husna," He has with His permission given the right to intercede
to the Prophet (s) and his pure progeny, a certain restricted
class of people whom He has purified with thorough
purification (Q. 33:33). They include Prophet Muhammad (s), al
Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a), Sayyiditinah Fatemah bint
Muhammad (a) and their pure progeny, the "Itrah" al
A'emmah-al-Masumeen (a).
~69~
CONCLUSION
One of the hidden characteristics of all the Du'as that have
originated from our Prophet (s) and our Ae'mmah (a) is the
lessons they contain which we need to learn and emulate. The
same is the case with Du;a of Prophet Khidr which has come
down to us through Amir al- Mu'mineen 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a).
The opening chapter of the Du'a teaches us to ponder over the

basics of "Tawheed" and the functions of Allah (swt)'s "Asmaa"'
(Names). These Names are not just beautiful names for use in
our conversation or writing. Each one of them has an intrinsic
force of action to perform a certain task of creation, that of
control and administration in the realm of the Kingdom
("Mulk/Malakoot") of Allah (swt). This Kingdom extends
throughout this universe and beyond, to all the creations that
exists and will come to exist as the process of the creation
continues incessantly until the Final Hour. It is then that all the
creations in existence will perish and the second new level of
the creation will come into the existence.
Therefore, we need to study and learn about the basic functions

of these "Asmaa'." However, we all suffer from our weaknesses
that cause us to commit sins that hinder us from
comprehending and gaining "ma'rifat" (enlightenment) of the
Divinity and the philosophy of these Names and using them as
our intercession. So we need to remove these obstacles in our
path by asking for forgiveness from Allah (swt) and stopping to
commit these sins again. It is only then that we can begin to
derive both spiritual and material gains from these Names.
Amir al-Mu'mineen (a) has mentioned these sins and their

effects in this Du'a, which is the subject of our study in the next
chapter. We will see how these sins have harmful effects on our
lives and cause obstacles and problems for us.
~70~
CHAPTER TWO
THE PHYSICS OF SINS
(jjJukiJl
Supplicate to your Lord humbly and secretly; indeed, He does

not like the transgressors. (Q: 7:55)
i
II: The Physics of Sins
HIGHLIGHTS
CHAPTER TWO 75
THE PHYSICS OF SINS 75
DEFINITION 75
SOURCES OF SINS 75
"AMMARAH" - THE ENEMY WITHIN 75
"LAWWAMAH" - THE INSIDE PROTECTIVE FORCE 76
DUALISM - POLYTHEISM (SHIRK) 78
TYPES OF "SHIRK" 79
TERMINOLOGY OF SIN IN THE QUR'AN 81
~ 73 ~
I
CHAPTER TWO
THE PHYSICS OF SINS
DEFINITION
In the religious context, sin is an act that violates the
commandments of Allah (swt). It can also be considered as any
act of disobedience that results in the disconnection of the
relation between man as a servant ('"abd") and his Creator and
Master ("Maula"), Allah (swt). Until the servant repents and
seeks forgiveness from his Master, he remains disconnected
from Him.
The effect of sinning is that it distances man from his Master,

Allah (swt), at the same time as it leaves a black mark or a dark
spot on his soul. As long as he remains in that state, he is devoid
of the special Mercy of Allah (swt). Sincere repentance washes
away the dark spot from the soul. Frequent sinning has the
effect of darkening the soul and making it opaque to the ray of
light of guidance. Devoid of guidance, man is left in a state of
complete darkness and loses his way into spiritual wilderness.
SOURCES OF SINS
"AMMARAH" - THE ENEMY WITHIN
Human beings are inclined to sinning because they are

subjected to two enemy forces acting constantly on his mind.
The first force is the powerful in-built enemy of "Nafs-e-
Ammarah", the evil aspect of the mind that drives them to
~75~
commit evil acts. It is ingrained inside us like a wild, untamed,

uncontrollable horse ready to knock down any rider who dares
to sit on it. The two strong lusts ("shahwatain") on which it rides
are the lust for sumptuous food and the lust for sex. Books have
been written on this subject showing ways to combat these two
lusts.
The second force comes from the outside which can also make
inroads into the human mind and strongly influence it to
commit a sinful act. It is that of Shaytan Iblis who is constantly
tempting man toward committing evil acts. When Shaytan
gains complete control over the human mind, man becomes
deaf and blind at heart and loses his mental ability to think
properly. Consequently, he becomes a perpetual sinner and is
lost in the worldly wilderness.
"LAWWAMAH” - THE INSIDE PROTECTIVE FORCE
As mentioned, "Nafs-e-Ammarah" is the force that creates

urge within which influences man to commit an evil act. Allah
(swt), by His Grace and Compassion, has given man a protective
force of "Nafs-e-Lawwamah", the second aspect of man's soul
which scorns man and holds in check his urge to commit an evil
act.
This second aspect of the human soul has a characteristic

feature of self- reproach that prompts man to resist the force
of "Ammarah." "Lawwamah" also leads man to repent and turn
to Allah (swt) by making amends and pledging not to commit
the sin again, thereby restoring the relationship which had
temporarily been disconnected owing to disobedience.
Shaytan Iblis-The Enemy Outside
~ 76 ~
Shaytan Iblis, our second enemy, is the external force that

works in two ways. The first method is by sitting on the Right
Path and constantly trying to lead us astray from it by fouling
our minds and polluting our belief system and practices. The
second method is by entering our "Nafs- e-Ammarah" and using
it as a medium to make us commit sins.
WARNING
THE QUR'AN
Allah (swt) warns us to be on our guard. When Iblis was

accursed and outcast by Allah (swt), he responded, "O' Lord, as
you have abandoned me to go astray, / will certainly make (evil)
attractive to them (human beings) on the earth and I will
certainly cause them to stray away from the right path" (Q.
15:39). The Qur'an further says that a very large number of
people fall prey and succumb to Shaytan's plotting.
NAHJUL BALAGHA
Amir al-Mu'mineen, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a), has added to this
warning and said, "Shaytan is your strong and deadly enemy.
Take him as such and declare a war against him. Instead of
deploying your military forces to fight against people, you
should redirect all your forces to fight against him and defeat
him." The Imam further added, "You should take lesson from
what Allah did to Shaytan. He voided all his (Shaytan's) great
acts of worship and his rigorous endeavors of six thousand
years (to acquire superior position to that of the Angels) due to
a single act of arrogance in disobedience to Allah's Command
(of prostrating to Adam). Who can now remain safe from Allah's
wrath after Shaytan by committing a similar act of arrogance in
disobedience? Nay, Allah, the Glorified, would not let a human
~77~
Du'a Kumayh A Brief Commentary
being enter Paradise if he committed the same sin (of being

arrogant) for which Allah outcast and expelled an Angel (a
generic use of the word to denote Iblis)." (Sermon No.191)
"Kibr", arrogance, is the most detestable sin against Allah

(swt). It amounts to breaking into the exclusive domain of Allah
(swt) who has declared it to be His sole attribute. Nobody can
even touch it, let alone break into it.
DUALISM - POLYTHEISM (SHIRK)
The third source is the wrong and misguided belief system of

dualism or polytheism - "shirk" as it is termed in Islam - is the
product of the two forces mentioned above acting
simultaneously to make us commit the unforgivable and most
serious sin. it involves belief in dual or multiple gods or an
associate, a companion, a partner or a subordinate who shares
jointly with Allah (swt) in His attributes which belong exclusively
to Him and which are inseparable from Him.
It may also involve belief in sharing in Allah (swt)'s Creation, His

absolute authority over His creation and absolute and
independent Rule. It also involves setting up associates of Allah
(swt) by worshipping them as gods, semi- gods or superhuman
beings having power over nature and human affairs.
Therefore, all our beliefs, intentions, words and actions should

be judged by the above-mentioned yardstick. These criteria
have been laid down in the Qur'an in various Surahs to
determine what constitutes:
"Shirk bil Llah", fi Dhatil-Llah", Shirk in the essence of Allah

(swt),
"Shirk fi Asmaa'il-Liah", Shirk in the Names of Allah (swt),
"Shirk fi Af ali-Llah , Shirk in the actions of Allah (swt),
~78~
"Shirk fi Ta'atil-Uah", Shirk in the obedience of Allah (swt) and
"Shirk fi 'Ibadatil-Llah", Shirk in the worship of Allah (swt).
TYPES OF "SHIRK"
There are three types of "shirk" which are all equally

condemned in the Qur'an. The first type is called "Shirk al-Jali"
which is an open and manifest polytheism forming the belief
system of the majority of religions. Only Islam and, in particular,
the Shi'a sect can claim total freedom from it.
The second type of "shirk" is called "Shirk al-Khafi" which

means hidden or concealed in mind, thought and behavior.
Examples of this type of "shirk" are: "Kibr" (arrogance) and
"riya''' (show off). "Kibr" is the worst type of "shirk" because
"kibr" is the exclusive attribute of Allah (swt) who says, "I will
punish most severely anyone who nourishes in his mind kibr".
"Riya" involves show-off in any act of worship or charity done
to impress people so as to gain respect and reputation.
The third type of "shirk" is called "Shirk al-Akhfa" which means

the most concealed "shirk" which resides deep in the hearts,
totally invisible and imperceptible. Even the person himself
may not be aware of it. The Prophet (s) likened it to a black ant
moving on a black stone in the pitch darkness of a black night.
The Qur'an gives several examples of this type of "shirk." One
of them is to unconsciously thinking in one's heart that the
need for which the person prayed to Allah (swt) has been
fulfilled by an individual or a deity other than Allah (swt).
It is also reported that the Prophet (s) said, "I am more

concerned and fearful about my Ummah falling victim to Shirk
al-Khafi in far greater number than Shirk al-Jali." We see this as
a universal reality. "Kibr" and "riya", arrogance and show-off,
~79~
have always been the two characteristic features of the human

society.
UNFORGIVABLE SIN
The Qur'an says, "Allah does not forgive (anyone) for taking
(anyone or anything) as associated with or in partnership with
Him. But He forgives whomsoever He pleases for all sins
committed by him besides shirk. And whoever associates with
or takes as partner anyone or anything with Him (Allah) he has
indeed committed a great and most wicked sin" (Q. 4:48). This
is because it amounts to committing treason against Allah (swt)
by setting up creatures in rivalry with Him.
FORMS OF "SHIRK"
"Shirk" can take various forms, the most common being

excessive devotion, obsession, amounting to almost
worshipping a person or a thing. Allah (swt) says, "Have you
seen such a person who takes his god as his lustful desire
(hawa')? Allah knowing him such has left him astray and sealed
his hearing and his heart and put a thick veil over his sight. Who
then, will guide him after Allah has withheld His Grace and
Guidance from him; will you not then reflect?" (Q. 45:23).
The consequences of "hawa", lustful desire, has been

mentioned at several places in the Qur'an (2:7; 7:100/102;
10:74; 16:108; 17:46). "Hawa" literally means to fall down to
the ground from a height and be blown away by a blast of
strong wind and disappear into a far, distant place.
To put it simply, anyone who worships his own passions or

lustful desires becomes spiritually deaf and blind. Reason,
however strong, cannot prevail upon such a person because all
his faculties have been corrupted. He has now become a slave
~ 80 ~
to his sinful desires. No guidance or advice will affect him after

Allah (swt) has withheld His Grace and Guidance and has left
him astray.
The gravity of committing this unforgivable sin can be assessed

from a parable which Allah (swt) gives in Chapter 22, verse 31.
He says,"... if anyone assigns associates or partners to, it is as if
he has fallen dead from the sky and his corpse (has been)
snatched away by vultures who cannot continue to hold it as a
fierce blast of wind comes and carries the corpse away and
throws it into a distant place into the bottom of the Hell to burn
permanently therein."
TERMINOLOGY OF SIN IN THE QUR’AN

The Qur'an uses various terms which mean sin in a broad sense,
but they have different shades of meanings; some are grave
sins while others are not so grave. It is difficult to express in
English the actual meaning of the various Arabic words.
However, we can get some idea of the gravity of the sin in the
context of the particular verse of the Qur'an in which it occurs.
APPROXIMATE ENGLISH QUR'ANIC TERMINOLOGY

EQUIVALENT
Mistake, Lapse "SAW"'
Fault, Error "KHATA"'
Wrongdoing, Crime "DHANB"
Misdeed, Offense "ISM"
Aggressive, Blame "I'TADA"
~ 81 ~
Du'a KumoyhA Brief Commentary
Transgression, Misdemeanor "JUNAH"
Unlawful, Forbidden "HARAM"
Immorality, Viciousness "FISQ"
Injustice, Oppression "DHULM"
Disbelief, Faithlessness "KUFR"
Mischief, Corruption "FASAD"
Wickedness, Viciousness "FUJUR"
Arrogance, Insolence "ASHRAR"
This background to the study of the physics of sin will enable us

jo understand in a better light the six types of sins mentioned
i the Du'a and how they affect us spiritually, blocking our way
to our Rabb, the Lord, and disconnecting us from His Special
Mercy. The discussion of the different types of sins will begin
with Chapter Three.
~82~
CHAPTER THREE
FIRST CATEGORY OF SINS:

SINS THATTEAR THE VEIL OF
DEFENSE OR IMMUNITY AGAINST
SINS
ij l^LLal ^ IjiJS Vj
Jdll (jj ^ liJiiaj ll^-^.
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And do not cause corruption in the earth after its restoration,

and supplicate to Him with fear (of His wrath) and hope (for His
Mercy); indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to those who are
virtuous and do good (to others).(Q: 7:56)
Ill: The First Category of Sins
HIGHLIGHTS
CHAPTER THREE 87
FIRST CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS THAT TEAR THE VEIL OF

DEFENSE OR IMMUNITY AGAINST SINS.......................... 87
DU'A-E-KUMAYL - THE TEXT: 87
CATEGORIES 89
ANALYSIS 89
1. DRINKING OR USING INTOXICANTS ("SHURBUL

KHAMR").................................................................. 90
2. GAMES OF CHANCE/GAMBLING ("LA’ABU BIL-KIMAR")

92
~85~
.
I
CHAPTER THREE
FIRST CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS THAT
TEAR THE VEIL OF DEFENSE OR
IMMUNITY AGAINST SINS
Before analyzing each category of sin in detail and assessing
the degree of their harmful effects on our bodies and souls and
considering the question of their forgiveness, let us study the
simplified translation of verses 12 to 18 of the Du'a in which
Imam 'AM (a) is seeking forgiveness of these sins.
DU’A-E-KUMAYL - THE TEXT:
Verses 12 to 18
12
t i
O' Allah, forgive those of my sins that tear the veil

of immunity against sins
^ J j-f-'
13
~ 87 ~
O' Allah, forgive those of my sins that bring down

calamity
J-J" C5^' J J*^l fP'

14
O' Allah, forgive those of my sins that bring about

opposite changes in Divine Blessings
15
cp.lc.All
O' Allah, forgive those of my sins that block and

prevent supplications from reaching You
16
tOUl
O' Allah, forgive those of my sins that bring down
misfortunes and afflictions
./hi j jiii
17
O' Allah, forgive those of my sins that cut down and

crush my hope in the Divine Mercy
~88~
18
cl^jHaukl AlJn'V
O' Allah, forgive me for all the sins that I have

committed, and for all the wrongdoings that I have
done
CATEGORIES
We can divide these sins into six categories as follows:
Categories of Sins Mentioned in the Du'a:
1. Sins that tear the veil of defense or immunity against

sins
2. Sins that bring down hardships, calamities and grief
3. Sins that change Divine favors into Divine
disfavors/displeasure
4. Sins that block and prevent supplications from
acceptance
5. Sins that bring down misfortunes and afflictions
6. Sins that cut down and crush hope for Divine Mercy.
In addition to the above six categories, Amir al-Mu'mineen has

also included all other sins and transgressions committed by
the supplicant for which he seeks forgiveness from Allah (swt).
ANALYSIS
We shall now analyze each of the above-mentioned categories
of sins briefly and see how they adversely affect our physical
and spiritual lives to the extent that they block our way
completely to attaining nearness to God.
~ 89 ~
According to the Book of Ma'ani al-Akhbar (Meanings of

Hadith) by Shaykh Saduq, Imam Sajjad (a) is reported to have
specified five sins that tear the veil of defense or immunity
against sins as follows:
1. Drinking or using intoxicants for intoxication ("Shurbul

Khamr")
2. Playing games of chance such as gambling ("La'abu bil-
Kimar")
3. Causing laughter by caricaturing or ridiculing people
("Ta'ati ma'a Yuzhikun-Nas minal-Laghvi wal Mizahk")
4. Degrading and humiliating a person by exposing his
defects ("Zikru 'Uyubin-Nas")
5. Associating with cynics and skeptics, raising doubts in
one's faith ("Mujalasatu Ahlil Raib").
We will discuss briefly the above-mentioned sins.
1. DRINKING OR USING INTOXICANTS ("SHURBUL

KHAMR")
DEFINITION/DESCRIPTION
Intoxication is defined as drinking, eating, smoking, injecting or

using in any way intoxicants such as alcohol and drugs of all
kinds, liquid or solid, for the purpose of intoxicating a person.
The Qur7an describes such an act as outrageous and disgraceful
and is among the Devil, Shaytan's handiwork to lead man
astray, for it causes a person to lose his decency, dignity and
self-respect as a human being. (Q. 2:219; 4:43; 5:90/91)
The prohibition as indicated in these and other verses came in

stages to prepare Muslims for the eventual total prohibition,
calling it "rijs", "najis", meaning a shameful, detestable and an
abhorrent act of Shaytan. All the heavenly religions for which
~ 90 ~
Prophets were sent prohibited the use of intoxicants to their

followers, according to a tradition of Imam Ridha (a).
It is reported that the Prophet (s) used a parable to describe

the malaise of indulging in intoxicants, saying that all evils are
locked in a room and the key to that room is the use of
intoxicants. Liquor is called "ummul khabais", the mother of all
vices. Once a man gets intoxicated, he loses his human senses
He becomes brutal. In that state and condition, he can no
longer distinguish and differentiate between good and bad, and
virtue and vice.
The problem of alcoholism and the abuse of drugs leading to

domestic violence and serious crimes including child abuse,
rape and murder that we face in our societies today, proves the
reality of the Prophet (s)'s Hadith. Furthermore, the Qur'an
equates them to idolatry. Imam Sadiq (a) said, "One who is
addicted to alcohol will meet the Lord (on the appointed day)
as an idol worshipper."
A chronic alcoholic is a menace to his family and the society at

large as he is prone to committing any crime including murder
in a state of intoxication. It tears the veil of human dignity,
decency and respect which are part of the human nature that
Allah (swt) has kept in man, as a veil of defense against sins.
The declaration of its prohibition in the Qur'an was so effective

that when the verse was revealed and the message sent out,
Arabs who were notoriously addicted to drinking intoxicants
were seen emptying all jars of intoxicants they had in their
homes by pouring them out into the streets of Madina, soaking
its soil with intoxicants of all kinds.
In contrast, the situation today is seen to be exactly the

opposite, as alcoholism and the abuse of drugs have become a
social amenity as well as a menace widely prevalent among

both the young and the old with multifold increase in juvenile
crimes. The prevention of this major cause of crimes, murders
and deaths poses a great problem for the human society.
Apart from the social evils of alcoholism, the harms done to the
physical and mental health of an alcoholic are incalculable. He
ends up with several serious diseases of the liver, the kidney,
the lungs, the heart and the brain, impairing the ability to think
correctly and affecting mental faculties and the nervous system
badly with the loss of '"aql", intellect, and human senses which
distinguish a man from an animal.
The spiritual harm done by the use of the intoxicants is

indicated in a tradition from Imam Sadiq (a) who said, "Indeed,
when a person takes only a sip of intoxicant, at that very
moment the Angels, the Prophets and the righteous believers
curse him and when he drinks enough to intoxicate him, the
spirit of belief ("I'man") leaves his body and is replaced by the
unclean, accursed and devilish spirit."
Imam Baqir (a) said, "Disobedience to Allah is mostly due to

alcoholism. The alcoholic abandons prayers. He even commits
incest under the influence of alcohol. He loses his senses."
2. GAMES OF CHANCE/GAMBLING (“LA’ABU B1L-KIMAR")
A game of chance is a game played by contestants with the aim

of winning. The result of the game is strongly influenced by a
devise that randomly determines the outcome of the game,
players usually stake money or any object which has monetary
value. The winner takes the whole stake. The game can be
played on a small scale at home and clubs or on a giant scale
~92~
such as jackpots in which millions of dollars are staked and

drawn regularly. The turnover runs into billions and trillions
annually. Many people develop psychological addiction to
these games and will risk their property or prestige to continue
with the game.
Common devices used include dice, spinning tops, playing

cards, darts, roulette wheels, lottery machines and numbered
balls or cards drawn from a container. These devices, in
sophisticated forms, are seen at clubs, pubs and casinos. A
game of chance may require some skill to play successfully.
However, chance generally plays a greater role in determining
the outcome than skill. On the other hand, a game of skill such
as chess also has some element of chance, however slight, but
skill plays a greater role in determining the outcome.
Gambling is any game of chance that involves money or

monetary value. Gambling is known and played in nearly all
human societies on a smaller or larger scale. Many countries
have passed laws restricting it because of the tremendous
social and economic harm it causes and the consequent crimes
that are committed, over and above suicides that occur daily
around the world, especially in cities famous for their large
casinos.
In earlier times, people used knucklebones of sheep as dice. In

modern times gambling has become a fashionable and
sophisticated game played in high society and posh clubs.
Gamblers lose money in millions and are reduced to the state
of poverty some of whom even go so far as committing suicide
to save themselves from disgrace, degradation and disasters in
their lives.
THE ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE
~93~
Islam looks at all games of chance including gambling of all

kinds with contempt and condemns them as sinful, Devil's
(Shaytan's) handiwork and commands believers to stay far
away from them. Allah (swt) addresses the believers and says,
"O' you who believe, intoxicants (khamr) and games of chance
(mysir), dedications including sacrifices to false deities and idol
worshipping (ansab) and pitching by arrows (azlam) and
lotteries of all kinds, are the Devil's, Shaytan's disgraceful and
unclean handiwork, so keep far away from them, do not go even
near them, that you may be successful." (Q. 5:90)
"Maysir" is derived from the word "yusr" which means ease. A

sweepstake is easy money obtained without earning or labor.
"Azlam" is a game of chance which is played with stake using all
sorts of dices. Chess is included in this definition. "Azlam" is a
sort of bet, while "maysir" includes all kinds of gambling. Islam
has in clearest and strongest words prohibited and declared all
games of chance defined above and all intoxicants as "haram"
and "rijz", detestable act of the Devil Shaytan.
The reason for the prohibition of intoxicants is that they

degrade and disgrace the person in a state of intoxication,
misbehaving in public and private owing to the loss of his senses
("'aql"), robbing him of his dignity as a man. On the other hand,
gambling ultimately reduces a man who loses continuously to a
pauper, begging from others, ruining his human dignity. Socially
he becomes an outcast as people look at him with derision, and
economically he is reduced to a state of poverty. His life is
reduced to committing immoral acts and his family life is
ruined. Islam wants to see man maintain his human dignity and
respect and live a happy and respectable social and family life.
The Qur'an goes further in giving the consequence of drinking

and gambling and says, "The Devil Shaytan wants to cause
~ 94 ~
enmity and hatred between you through intoxicants and

gambling and keep you away from remembering God and from
prayer; would you not then refrain, abstain from them?" (Q.
5:91). Enmity between gamblers is the natural outcome in
gambling. The one who loses his money is bound to resent the
one who gains and have a feeling of vengeance against him.
Gamblers turn out to be enemies of one another and nourish
hatred among them.
There are numerous hadith of our A'emmah (a) relating to

drinking and gambling. A few of these hadith would suffice to
show how our A'emmah (a) condemned these practices. With
respect to drinking Imam 'Ali (a) said, "If a drop of liquor falls
into a well and a mosque is built near the well, I will not even
say "Azan" (the call for prayer) in that mosque (let alone pray in
it). And if a drop of it falls into a sea and the sea later dries up
and grass grows in its bed, I will not give that grass to my horse
to eat
The Prophet (s) said, "Allah's curse be on liquor and on the

person who manufactures it, the person who sells it, the person
who buys it, the person who distributes it, the person who drinks
it, the person who serves it, the person who uses its income, the
person who transports it, and the person who carries it" He also
said, "Cursed is the one who sits at a table where wine is being
served."
As regards gambling Imam Baqir (a) said, "All kinds of games of

betting constitute gambling and the sale, purchase and use of
all the gears and the tools of gambling are forbidden (haram).
It is an act that the Devil, the Shay tan prompts you to do."
(Tasfir al-Qummi)
~95~
Imam Sadiq (a) is reported to have told Abu Basir, his close
companion, "It is harom to sell chess. It is horam to spend the
income of this sale. To keep chess board and the articles of play
amount to kufr (disbelief). To play chess is equal to ascribing
partners to Ailah. It is a sin even to salute one who plays chess..."
He also said, "Do not even approach chess." (Wasaelush
Shi'a/Man la Yahzarul Faqih)
CONCLUSION
Alcohol and games of chance tear the cover of human decency

and dignity that all human beings have by nature. They
adversely affect the human intellect ('"aql"). They constitute
disobedience, defiance and rebellion against Allah (swt). They
block the path that takes a man nearer to Allah (swt). They are
the roots of all evils and are known to bring the downfall of
many celebrities. They cause disasters in domestic and family
life and are the causes of many crimes and murders.
We see the wisdom behind the commandment of Allah (swt)

to keep far away from these two sins termed as "rijs" which is
the strongest prohibitory term in the Qur'an. The pathetic sight
of a drunkard constantly in the state of intoxication and a
chronic gambler begging for money offers a good lesson to
mankind against these Satanic vices.
We shall continue in the next chapter with our analysis of the

remaining three sins, namely, caricaturing people to cause
laughter; degrading and humiliating people by exposing their
defects; associating with skeptics and agnostics, causing doubts
in one's beliefs, all of which tear the veil of defense or immunity
against sins. We shall then proceed further to discuss the other
five categories of sins mentioned earlier in the chapter.
~96~
CHAPTER FOUR
FIRST CATEGORY OF SINS:

SINS THAT TEAR THE VEIL OF
DEFENSE OR IMMUNITY AGAINST
SINS (CONTD)
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And when My servants ask you about Me then (tell them that)
I am Indeed most near; I answer the call of the supplicant
when he calls Me, they should (also) answer My call and have
faith in Me so that they may be guided to the right path. (Q:
2:186)
IV: The First Category of Sins (Cont)
HIGHLIGHTS
CHAPTER FOUR 101

FIRST CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS THAT TEAR THE VEIL OF
DEFENSE OR IMMUNITY AGAINST SINS (CONT'D).......... 101
BREACH OF THE ISLAMIC MORAL SYSTEM 101
CARICATURE/CHARACTER 101
CAUSES OF ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 103
A: SPREADING RUMORS 103
B: NICKNAMING/MOCKING.. 104
C: INQUISITIVENESS/SPYING 104
CAUSES OF BAD MORALS 105
A. SUPERIORITY COMPLEX/PRIDE ("KIBR") 105
B.ENVY ("HASAD")...................................... 109
C. PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 112
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CHAPTER FOUR
FIRST CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS THAT
TEAR THE VEIL OF DEFENSE OR
IMMUNITY AGAINST SINS (CONT’D)
BREACH OF THE ISLAMIC MORAL SYSTEM
We analyzed in detail the first two sins that tear the veil of
defense against sins, namely, alcoholism and games of chance,
in the previous chapter. We now continue with our analysis of
the remaining three types of sins that defy the Commandments
of Allah (swt) and infringe on the Islamic Moral system, in
addition to tearing the veil of defense against sins in an
individual:
1. Caricaturing and ridiculing a person causing laughter

("Ta'ati ma'a Yuzhikun-Nas minal-Laghvi wal Mizahk")
2. Degrading and humiliating a person by exposing his
defects ("Zikru 'Uyubin-Nas")
3. Associating with agnostics and skeptics raising doubts
in one's faith ("Mujalasatu Ahlil Raib").
CARICATURE/CHARACTER
Assassination/Degradation/Humiliation /laughter ("Ta'ati ma'a
Yuzhikun-Nas minal-Laghvi wal Mizahk" and "Zikru 'Uyubin-
Nas")
Caricaturing a person means deliberately drawing his picture or

describing him by words or imitating physically his certain
-101 ~
striking characteristic features by exaggerating them to create

a comic, ludicrous or grotesque image. In other words, it is a
deliberate act of degrading and humiliating a person by
exposing his defects.
Islam condemns such anti-social behavior and defends human

dignity which is an inborn right of every man. Mimicking
another person and hurting his feelings are all forbidden and
constitute sinful acts. It is a kind of oppression ("dhulm")
against a believer.
Adverse speculation about people without any grounds,

spreading rumors, mocking them in different ways, spying into
their affairs, speaking bad behind their backs which is equated
to eating the flesh of the dead, all these hurt their reputation,
lower their self-respect, social status and human dignity.
Three such actions are condemned in the strongest possible

words in the Qur'an. In Chapter 104, verses 1 to 7, Allah (swt)
says, "Wail, woe (a deep dark pit of painful punishment in the
Hell) is unto every slanderer, defamer who accumulates wealth
and hoards it. Does he think that his wealth will make him live
forever?"
First, Islam condemns making up rumors, prying into the lives

of others, defaming, and talking deridingly about a person by
word of mouth or by innuendo, and by behaving disrespectfully
or sarcastically or insultingly. The condemnation is because
these actions trample upon basic human rights, specifically, the
security of one's honor and dignity, and the protection of one's
integrity of character and personality as is emphasized by Islam.
Second, Islam also condemns mocking and mimicking peoples'

character behind their backs, even if things spoken are true but
the motive is bad as it amounts to character assassination. In
~102~
Islamic terminology it is called "ghibah" which means

backbiting. It constitutes a grave sin which can only be forgiven
by the victim whose character has been assassinated. It is a
violation of human right of the protection of one's privacy and
deficiencies from exposure to the public.
Third, Islam also condemns piling up wealth, not for use or for
the service of those who need it, but for miserly hoard thinking
that his wealth will last forever, ignoring the fact that he is going
to die and leave all that mass of wealth behind. The question
raised in the above verse is a warning against piling up wealth
that has no use to anyone, especially to those who need it.
Miserliness is the disease of the heart and is a great sin
punishable severely in the hereafter.
CAUSES OF ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR

The Qur'an mentions some of these anti-social practices at
many places, particularly in Chapter 104 verses 1 to 7 cited
above.
A: SPREADING RUMORS
One of the major sins is making up rumors, spreading them and

lying about the character of others. It is such a serious act that
it can put the lives of people in danger. It becomes most serious
when it strips off one's honor and dignity, damaging greatly
one's social, economic and political life within the society.
In Chapter 49 verses 11/12, (swt) addresses the believers, "O'

you who believe, do not let men of one group make fun of
another group of men, perhaps the latter may be better than
the former group. Also do not, likewise, let women make fun of
other women, for it may perhaps be that the latter may be
better than the former group. Do not find faults in yourselves
~ 103 ~
and do not defame one another by using bad nick names ....
Surely, these are the people who are the oppressors"
B: NICKNAMING/MOCKING
It is also forbidden for Muslims to make fun of or mock one

another by giving them nicknames which are derogatory to
their status and dignity, thereby hurting their feeling. The
Qur'an calls such people oppressors and defamers who throw
mud on the dignity of one another and make them look small
and insignificant.
C: INQUISITIVENESS/SPYING
Generally speaking, when we think why some inquisitive people

get into the bad habit of looking into the secrets of other
people, we find that the underlying cause is suspicion and
distrust of others. The Qur'an warns, "O'you who believe, avoid
too much suspicions, indeed, suspicion in some cases is a sin,
and do not be inquisitive about the secrets of others and do not
et some of you backbite others ..." (Q. 49:12) So we see from
iis verse that suspicion leads to prying into the secrets of
people which, in turn, leads to divulging them behind their
backs.
Islam has provided four types of security for believers ~ security

of life, security of property, security of honor and dignity, and
security against unwarranted suspicion. Snooping into the lives
of others violates the security provided by Islam and amounts
to committing a great sin. The consequence is that it leads to
divulging secrets and causing irreparable damage to one's
dignity and status within the society. There are many Hadith of
the Prophet (s) and Ae'mmah (a) which condemn prying into
other's secrets and publicizing them to dishonor individuals
concerned.
~104~
Addressing the people, the Prophet (s) is reported to have said,

"O' people, a person who merely gives lip service to Islam but
does not have true faith in his heart should not denigrate other
Muslims and should not look for shortcomings in others or
probe into their private affairs "(Shaykh Saduq, Thawabal
A'maal)
Imam Sadiq (a) is reported to have said, "The farthest that a

person can get from Allah is when he befriends another person
with the bad intention of knowing his shortcomings and
weaknesses so that he can one day publicize and dishonor him"
(Al-Kafi, Vol. 2). The gravity of this sin can be seen from the
spiritual harm that results from the person being thrown far
away from the proximity of Allah (swt).
CAUSES OF BAD MORALS

When we look deeply into the reasons why people commit such
acts, we find three main reasons that cause people to act in this
manner in spite of the Divine prohibition. First is superiority
complex, a psychological syndrome which the person exhibits.
Second is jealousy that the man nourishes in his heart for
lacking the merits which another person possesses. Third is
enjoyment that the person derives in assassinating the
character of other people and making fun of them either to
inflate their own ego or, due to their inferiority complex, to
compensate for their deficiencies.
A. SUPERIORITY COMPLEX/PRIDE f"KIBR")
Superiority Complex, pride or "kibr" in the religious

terminology, has been mentioned in the previous chapter. We
shall now analyze this factor in greater detail to get the insight
into why people feel themselves superior and treat others as
inferior to them to satisfy their ego in defiance of the tradition
~ 105 ~
that says, "Do not consider any of the Muslims as being

insignificant or inferior since in the eyes of Allah (that person
whom you consider as inferior or insignificant) actually has a
high rank."
DEFINITION
Pride or "kibr" is a psychic state of mind in which a person feels

a sense of superiority and behaves arrogantly with others. This
mental feeling of superiority or arrogance is reflected in the
behavior and speech of the person. He manifests self
admiration and self-love and treats others high-handedly.
Precise definition of "kibr" cannot be given owing to "kibr"
being an inner, hidden and psychic state of mind.
Levels and Kinds of "Kibr"
There are six kinds of "kibr." It can arise because of:
1. Having true faith and belief on account of which the

believer feels proud of himself
2. Believing in false doctrines considering them as valid
and true beliefs
3. Possessing good qualities and excellent, praiseworthy
ethical attributes commanding respect
4. Exhibiting immoral qualities and nasty behavior giving
rise to false impression of feeling great
5. Feeling of doing righteous deeds and being admired for
these philanthropic and devotional acts
6. Doing sinful and wicked, shameful deeds and becoming
dishonorable in society which produces a feeling of
being extraordinary.
The above-mentioned are the inner feelings arising out of pride.
~106~
\
There are also outer factors that give rise to pride, such as
family dignity, noble ancestry, economic wealth, social
standing, high political position, reputation of possessing a
wide-ranging, deep scholarly knowledge and considering
himself as a dignified person and treating manual work or any
other low-class work as below his dignity. Sometimes the traces
of pride are so subtle that the person who suffers from this
disease does not know that his actions indicate the presence of
"kibr" in his character.
There are also several other indirect types of "kibr" such as

deliberate defiance of the commandments of Allah (swt),
defiance of Allah (swt)'s authority and false claims of Divinity or
any one or more of the exclusive Divine Attributes ("Asmaa'-ul-
Husna"). Possession of knowledge and expertise in various
branches of religious and physical sciences and technologies
can give rise to a sense of pride and arrogance. Such persons
have a tendency of looking down on others and treating them
disrespectfully. It is strange that even bad and immoral persons
also look down on others haughtily because they consider their
vicious characteristics to be commendable.
We also see some rich people, great scholars and those who
occupy high positions tend to conceal their pride cleverly so as
not to be seen as proud but, as pride has its roots in the heart,
it manifests ostensibly in their behavior. Such people cannot
help but exhibit their pride and self- importance in social
gatherings by associating with people of their status and
avoiding the company of poor people. Pride also finds its
expression among people of high standing in turning their back
on others and among religious scholars and devotees in their
frowns and scornful looks at others.
~ 107 ~
All kinds of "kibr" stem from the false notion that the person
feels in his heart that he possesses some kind of excellence or
worth which makes him superior to others. As a result, he
harbors a feeling of high self-esteem in his heart which
manifests itself in his conduct. Islam condemns all kinds of
"kibr" or pride and arrogance. They constitute an offense to the
Power and sole Authority of Allah (swt). Man tends to forget
that all they possess, be it knowledge, wealth, power, status,
respect, is from Allah (swt) who is the source of all goodness.
All these sources of pride are detestable and constitute an

outrage against Allah (swt). It is a major sin that tears the veil
of defense against sins and severest punishment awaits the
person who commits this sin. Allah (swt) has declared
"Kibriyaa" as His exclusive and sacrosanct veil and warned man
not to go to its vicinity, let alone touch it as it would burn him
to ashes. The Prophet (s) is reported to have said, "Never and
absolutely never can a person enter the Paradise who has the
slightest spot of pride inside his heart." (Usui al-Kafi)
In his last will, Imam Sadiq (a) said, "Renounce and be far away
from pride and self-praise, since pride is Allah Almighty's robe
and a person who competes with Allah by putting on His robe,
Allah will crush him and disgrace him totally on the Day of
Resurrection." (Tuhaf-al-Uqoul)
Pride is the cause of incalculable social and spiritual harm. It

prevents man from rising socially and spiritually because it
generates hatred and rancor in human hearts, disgraces man in
the eyes of his fellow human beings, and brings about insult and
humiliation for him and a tendency for people to retaliate
against him.
~108~
It is reported that Imam Sadiq (a) said, "There is no person who

does not have a burden, a bondage carried on his head and an
angel who supervises it. Whenever he is proud, the angel says
to him, 'Be humble, lest God should disgrace you/ The man
feels himself great in his own eyes while in other people's eyes,
he looks small. However, when he becomes humble and
modest, Allah removes the bondage from his head and the
angel says to him, 'Elevate yourself as Allah, the Almighty, is
elevating you/ He then sees himself small in his own eyes, while
he is seen as great in the eyes of others." (Al-Kulayni, Usui al-
Kafi)
Pride, arrogance ("kibr") is the greatest of all sins besides

"shirk" that tears the veil of immunity or defense against sins.
B.ENVY ("HASAD”)
DEFINITION
Envy is defined as bitterness or resentment caused in one

person against another who has something such as talent,
merit, quality or possession which one does not have but
desires to have it for oneself only, or one may not even be able
to have it but the other person should not have it either. In
other words, not only is the envious person unhappy for lacking
the quality himself but also wishes to inflict misfortune on the
other person who has it.
JEALOUSY
Envy and jealousy are often used interchangeably in common

usage but strictly speaking the two words express two distinct
emotions. Jealousy is the fear of losing someone or something
that the person is attached to or possesses to another person.
A typical example is losing a woman one loves to another
~ 109 ~
person due to one reason or another. Envy, on the other hand,

is the resentment or bitterness caused in a person who does
not have and perhaps cannot even have something such as
material wealth or a high reputation which another person
possesses or enjoys.
ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE
In Islam envy/jealousy ("hasad") is one of the greatest sins that

tears the veil of immunity or defense in a person against sins.
Envy is a powerful negative emotion and, when its intensity
turns it into anger, it can bring about disastrous effects to the
extent that a person may commit murder. The Qur'an contains
a Chapter (113:5) in which in one of its verses, No.5, Allah
(swt)'s Protection is sought against the evils of the envious
person.
TYPES OF ENVY
There are various types and levels of envy. They include

possession of such qualities as intellectual talents, spiritual
heights, excellent morals, good humanitarian deeds, material
wealth, and social/political prestige, any or all of which can give
rise to various levels of envy among those who lack them. Other
types include enmity in the heart of the envious, feeling of
inferiority, sense of superiority, pride ("kibr"), and sometimes
even fear of an obstacle being put by another person in a
position of advantage that prevents him from rising or
obtaining the position for which he aspires.
There are two types of envy, namely, malicious and benign.

Malicious is the negative type which is dangerous and capable
of causing great harm to the extent of murder of the person
~ 110 ~
who is envied. Benign is the positive type which is beneficial and

acts as motivational force for a higher level of achievement.
CAUSES OF ENVY
Some Shi'a scholars such as Allamah Majlisi have given the

following seven causes of envy:
1. Enmity, animosity, hatred, rancor, all of which can

cause great harm
2. Superiority Complex - sense of greatness against the
person who enjoys higher scholarship, merits, status,
or greater wealth and/or social/political advantages
3. Pride (kibr) which due to a person's envy makes him
treat arrogantly another who has obtained merit or
favor
4. Fear of obstacles being put against a person by another
in a position of advantage to prevent him from rising or
obtaining the position for which the person aspires
5. Desire to exercise and preserve sole authority over
others so as to prevent any other person from sharing
in his authority and advantages
6. Wickedness in a person's character that causes envy
against persons who have good character and do good
deeds
7. Inferiority Complex - sense of inadequacy, doubt and
uncertainty, a feeling of not measuring up to what the
other person possesses in intellect or achievement.
EVIL EFFECTS OF ENVY
Envy is one of the deadliest diseases of the heart. It destroys

faith and reduces man to a burnt-up mental state in the same
way as fire burns up wood. The heart is afflicted with grief and
depression, the chest gets suffocated and the face frowns and
turns grim. The light of faith is dimmed and is eventually
extinguished. The malicious effect is manifested in the inner
and outer personality of a man who shows his resentment even
against God as he is displeased with what He has given him and
uses disrespectful words against Him.
There are many Hadith from our Ae'mmah (a) on this subject.
One outstanding Hadith has been quoted by Muhammad ibn
Ya'qub al-Kulayni in Usui al-Kafi in which Imam Sadiq (a) is
reported to have said, "The Prophet said that Allah addressed
Prophet Musa, 'O' son of 'Imran never be envious of people
about the favors I have bestowed on them by My grace, do not
frown at them and do not yield to your envious self. Indeed the
envious man is indignant at the bestowal of My favor and
contests My apportionment of gifts among my creatures. Such
a man neither belongs to Me nor do I belong to him/"
The above-mentioned Hadith should serve as a deterrent to all

of us not only not to feel envious but, on the contrary, to feel
joyous for the favors that Allah (swt)bestows on his servant
('"abd"), irrespective of whether he is a believer or a non
believer. To feel jealous of such a person is the gravest sin
against Allah (swt) and amounts to being displeased with His
actions and disbelieving in His "Tawheed fil Afaal." It is
therefore not surprising that according to this Hadith, Allah
(swt) disowns him and ousts him from His Domain
("Malakiyyat").
C PERSONAL ENJOYMENT
There are certain people of both genders in the society who

derive personal pleasure, per se, at the expense of damaging
the reputation and image of others whom they do not like by
~112~
making fun of them, mimicking them and disgracing them

without any rhyme or reason, just because they feel jealous
about them.
They do this merely to entertain themselves, satisfy their ego,

feel falsely great about themselves or cover up their
weaknesses and wickedness in defiance of Verse 1 of Chapter
104 in the Qur'an, which curses people who slander others to
cause contempt in the public eye. These people make up the
bad elements of the society as they bring about great harm by
damaging the public morality of the society as a whole.
A. BACKBITING ("GHI BAH")
Backbiting ("ghibah") is another great and foremost sin that

tears the veil of defense or immunity against sins. Therefore,
we need to discuss and analyze it in some detail to get the
insight into what it is and what moral and spiritual harms it
causes to the backbiter and also what bad effects it brings to
the society in general.
DEFINITION
A simple dictionary definition of backbiting is to attack the

character or reputation, or to speak critically or slanderously of
a person in his absence. The word "ghibah" is a verbal noun
originating from "ghaibah" which means saying such things
about a person when he is not present that would pain him if
he hears them. If what has been said is true it is "ghibah", and
if it is false it is "buhtan" (slander).
SCHOLARS HAVE GIVEN TWO DEFINITIONS

OF "GHIBAH":
~ 113 ~
The first definition which is popular among scholars is, "It

(ghibah) is what is said unfavorably of a person in his absence
which he would detest when he hears it and it is spoken with
the intention of harming his character and damaging his
reputation and belittling him before others." Obviously, this
definition restricts backbiting to speech only.
The second definition has wider application and covers, in

addition to speech, all forms of writing, narrations and other
modes of communication. The difference between the two
definitions arises in the interpretation of the word "dhikr" used
in the Arabic definition given in Kash al-Ribah, and Ahkam al-
Ghibah by al-Shahid al-Thani. But if ''dhikr7' were taken to mean
wider than oral speech, as it literally signifies, the two
definitions become similar.
When asked by Abu Dharr, the Prophet (s) defined "ghibah" as,
"to speak about your brother (in-faith) that which he dislikes "
Further, when asked if what was spoken about him was actually
true, the Prophet replied, "Know that, when you speak what is
true about him, you have committed his ghibah, while if what
you speak about him is not true, you have committed slander
against him." (Shaykh al-Tusi, 'Amali)
The wider application of the definition of "ghibah" that covers

all kinds of communication can be confirmed by the following
Hadith narrated by 'Aishah who says, "A woman came to visit
us, and when she turned to leave, I made a sign by my hand to
show that she is short in height. Immediately the Prophet (s)
said to me, 'You have committed her ghibah/" (al-Naraqi, Jami'
al- Sa'adah)
In fact, there are many traditions relating to the definition of

"ghibah" that do not limit the meaning of it to the spoken word.
~114~
The definition that restricts it is because, according to the

common usage of the word, "ghibah" is generally committed in
speech. It should also be noted that in accordance with many
traditions, it is forbidden ("haram") to reveal the secrets of your
brother in-faith, in speech or otherwise, to divulge and uncover
his concealed defects, regardless of whether it is physical,
moral or behavioral in nature and whether or not it is with
malicious intention.
CAUSES OF "GHIBAH"
There are several causes of people backbiting one another of

which the main ones can be summarized as follows:
1. Urge for revenge to obtain gratification from one's

anger against another person for his unfavorable past
behavior
2. Peer pressure that makes a person succumb to his
desire to fit in and be accepted by his companions who
have a habit of backbiting
3. Desire to elevate oneself by degrading another person
before others and making himself look great before
them
4. Jealousy in the mind of a person when he hears another
person being praised and therefore seeks to disparage
him
5. Desire to make people laugh by making jokes about a
person in his absence in a disrespectful manner, making
him a laughing stock before others. Some people make
a living out of this practice.
6. Means of seeking release or letting go of anger or
emotion against a person after a confrontation with
him
~ 115 ~
7. Divert blame to the aspirant of a position and establish

control in the hierarchy of the power structure to
maintain dominance.
THE ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE
There are several verses in the Qur'an which condemn

backbiting strongly. The prominent verse is Chapter 49, verse
12 in which (swt) says, "... nor let some of you backbite others.
Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Yet
you abhor it..." We need to understand the fact that our deeds
will assume different shapes in accordance with their nature
("Mujjasma-e-A'amal") in the hereafter.
According to various traditions relating to backbiting, it is

reported that a backbiter who tears other people's honor and
respect to shreds in this world and eats their moral flesh will
take a shape of a ferocious dog eating the flesh of dead bodies,
or eating his own flesh or appearing as a dead body that is eaten
up by hounds. It is reported by Shaykh Saduq in 'Amali that Amir
al-Mu'mineen, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a), is reported to have said to
Nawf al-Bakali, "Abstain from ghibah, for it is the food of the
dogs of Hell-Fire." Then he added, "O' Nawf, untrue is the one
who claims to be of legitimate birth and yet eats the flesh of the
people through backbiting "
In another tradition the Prophet (s) is reported to have said,

"One who takes up the practice of doing ghibah of his brother
in faith and discloses his defects, the first step that he will take
(when he is resurrected) will be into the Hell and Allah will
disclose his defects in front of all his creations." At another
place the Prophet (s) said, "No fire is faster in burning away dry
wood than ghibah in burning out the person's virtues."
~ 116 ~
With reference to the above-mentioned Hadith, the Prophet (s)

said, "A person will be given his Book (of his actions) in front of
Allah on the Day of Resurrection. On seeing his good deeds not
recorded in his Book he will complain, 'O', this is not my Book.
I do not see my virtuous deeds recorded in it/ He will be told,
'This is surely your Book. Your Lord does not commit an error
nor does He forget. Your good deeds have been deleted from
your Book and transferred to the Book of the persons you have
backbitten/
Another person will then be brought up and given his Book. He

will see many good deeds he performed in obedience to Allah
and he will exclaim, 'O' Allah this is not my Book. I did not
perform these good deeds in obedience to you/ He will be told,
'These good deeds have been transferred from the Book of the
persons who have done your ghibah and so they have been
awarded to you"
Shaykh Saduq reports that Imam Sadiq (a) said, "Whoever

commits "ghibah" and exposes the sins of a person (who knows
and admits in his heart that he is a sinner but conceals his sin
before others in his outside conduct) will be expelled from the
wilayah (domain) of Allah and get into the wilayah (domain) of
Shaytan" (Allamah Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar). Obviously, the fate
of such a person is similar to that of the Shaytan.
"Ghibah" constitutes violation of the rights of God ("huqquq-ul-

Llah") as well as of humans ("huqquq-un-Nnas"). Allah (swt)
may forgive the backbiter as far as His right is concerned
provided he sincerely repents, but the backbiter will need to
obtain the forgiveness of the victim which is not easy to obtain
because "ghibah" is behind-the-back insult, humiliation,
disparagement and defamation of a believer.
~ 117 ~
Imam Sadiq (s) is reported to have said, "One who reports every
undesirable thing he has seen and heard himself about a
believer behind his back belongs to those about whom Allah
says, 'There is grievous punishment for those who like to
publicize defects and deficiencies of the believers/" (Shaykh
Saduq, 'Iqab al-'Aamal)
LISTENING TO "GHIBAH"
In the same way as "ghibah" is prohibited, so is listening to it.

Both happen simultaneously, the speaker speaking on the one
hand and the listener listening on the other. According to
several traditions, both are equally condemned. The Prophet (s)
said, "The listener is one of the two backbiters." In a similar
tradition Imam 'Ali (a) said, "The listener is one of the two who
engage in backbiting (Ghurar al-Hikam)." It is necessary
therefore to keep away from listening to "ghibah" in order to
avoid committing that sin. Not only is it essential to avoid
listening, but according to many traditions, it is also obligatory
to refute "ghibah."
In a tradition reported by Shaykh Saduq from Imam Sadiq (a)

the Prophet (s) said, "Whoever does a favor to his brother by
refuting his ghibah on hearing it in a gathering, Allah will save
him from a thousand kinds of evils in this world and in the
hereafter. But if he does not refute it in spite of his ability to do
so, he will carry the burden of committing ghibah of that person
seventy times." (Wasail al-Shi'ah)
There are also several concealed and figurative ways to listen

piously or even silently to "ghibah" to encourage the backbiter
to say still more which our great scholars and researchers such
as al Shaykh al-Ansari and Shahid Thani have discussed in their
discourses. The ruling factor in all cases is the malicious
~ 118 ~
intention of the person which is only known to the person

himself irrespective of the figure of speech he uses to backbite
or the method he adopts to listen to it.
EFFECTS OF "GHIBAH"
SOCIAL/MORAL HARMS
Backbiting has numerous harmful effects both socially and

morally.
First, "ghibah" basically lowers the status of the backbiter in

the eyes of people as a man of bad morals and malicious mind.
People by nature love virtue and goodness and hate baseness
and bad heart. Accordingly, they differentiate between good
people who avoid divulging hidden defects and deficiencies and
bad people who tear the veil of honor and respect of people in
general. Even the backbiter, by virtue of his innate moral
nature, himself realizes the effects of his action and regards the
person who refrains from doing "ghibah" as superior to him.
Allah (swt) will disgrace forever the person who is engaged in
this vile practice in this world and severely punish him in the
hereafter.
Second, when the practice of backbiting becomes common in

the society, the effects assume dangerous levels as disunity and
conflicts are created within that society. Generally speaking,
the society which is contaminated with this mental illness will
never mature in humanity. There will be a lack of human values
that bind the society together. Compassion will give way to
hatred and enmity among people.
Third, people will cease to have confidence and trust among

themselves as their defects and deficiencies are openly talked
about. The veil that conceals private acts and deeds is torn and
~ 119 ~
people are ashamed to show their faces in public and goodness

in the society as a whole is destroyed.
Fourth, backbiting naturally causes hatred and enmity. A

person whose secrets has been made public and has been
robbed of his self respect and dignity is likely to resort to
violence as a means of revenge against the backbiter. In such
circumstances, crimes will become rampant creating havoc in
the society.
Fifth, many people refrain from committing sins and other bad
actions in private owing to fear of losing respect and honor in
case they become known to the public. In this way, it serves as
a deterrent to committing sins and bad actions.
Sixth and lastly, people sin in private in view of the veil of

secrecy that covers them from the public gaze. If the veil is torn
open and the sins of the person are exposed before the public,
his character and dignity will be ruined, so he will cease to
commit the sin in private. He now commits the sin in the open
as the advantage that existed previously has been quashed. It
makes no difference to him now whether the act is committed
in private or public.
When it becomes a social norm and every one openly indulges

in sinful acts, the moral fabric of the society will be torn to
shreds. The condition of human beings will go down to lower
than that of animals. Consequently, the Divine punishment will
descend upon the society and wipe it out completely from the
surface of the earth as happened in the ancient history of
mankind.
The best example is that of the people of Prophet Lut. The story
is too well-known to need any detailed mention here. Suffice it
to state that a gigantic landslide overturned the entire piece of
~120~
land where the people lived and buried them in it. Stones
rained from the sky for days and covered the earth with layers
over layers of stones.
SPIRITUAL HARM
Spiritually, the act of damaging the reputation of believers by

divulging their concealed defects condemns the man to a
painful life in the hereafter. However, when this act becomes a
part of a man's nature, in other words, he becomes a chronic
backbiter, his spiritual heart dies and his soul is completely
blackened becoming opaque to such an extent that not a single
ray of light of guidance can penetrate it.
The Qur'an refers to the condition of such people in Chapter

83, verses 14 to 17. "No indeed! Rather their hearts have been
over stained by what they have been earning (by what they
were doing). No indeed! They will be veiled and shut off from
(the Light) of their Lord on that day. Then they will indeed enter
the Hell-Fire, then they will be told, 'This is (the reality) of what
you used to deny (reject it as false)."'
The heart of man, as created by Allah (swt), is pure and

untainted. Every time a man commits a crime, it creates a stain
of rust on his heart. When such stains accumulate without
being removed by repentance and forgiveness, they deepen
and cover the whole heart which is then sealed. Eventually, the
man dies a spiritual death. He becomes unmindful and commits
all kinds of vices. Furthermore, he becomes insensitive and
mocks the Truth and ridicules the believers.
The stains of the evil deeds darken the mirror of their hearts
and prevent the light of guidance from entering and, on the Day
of Judgment, veils will fall on the eyes of the sinful so they
~ 121 ~
cannot see the Glory of their Lord , the joy of which the
righteous people will enjoy. The Fire of Hell will be the only
reality that they will perceive.
JUST SOCIETY- THE GOAL
The main objective of the teachings and the actions of all the
Prophets of God have been the formation of a just society, unity
in all important matters of life and resistance to injustices,
aggressions and oppressions which cause the corruption of
humanity and ruin the foundations of a wholesome human
society. All their efforts have revolved around this central and
rational divine goal. This cannot be achieved except with the
unity, solidarity, mutual love and brotherhood among members
of the society and with the sincerity of their hearts and the
purity of their inner self.
The Prophet of Islam (s) warned, "The disaster brought about

by ghibah on the believer's faith gets hold of him more rapidly
than the disease of aklah affecting the side of his body."
Allamah Majlisi explains the disease of "aklah" as an affliction
of an organ of the body that consumes and destroys it. In a
spiritual sense, it means that "ghibah" consumes the faith of a
man rapidly and destroys it.
In another Hadith, the Prophet (s) has also said, "To sit in a
mosque waiting for the time of the prayer is a form of worship,
so long as one does not commit ghibah." Therefore, "ghibah"
turns the period of waiting into a more serious sin as it is
committed inside the mosque.
The Prophet (s) established the covenant of brotherhood

among the early companions when they migrated to Madina
(the Muhajirin and the Ansar) and the relationship of
-122-
brotherhood prevailed among all Muslims on the basis of the

Qur'anic command of "Indeed, all the believers are brothers.
So, reconcile and make peace among your brothers ..." (49:10)
Imam Sadiq (a) said, "It is the duty of all Muslims to strive in
respect of mutual relations, cooperation, kindness and charity
to the needy, and joint affection among themselves and
merciful to one another as commanded by Allah who said,
'They (Muslims) are merciful to one another/" (Al-Kafi)
C. ASSOCIATING WITH AGNOSTICS AND

SKEPTICS ("MUJALASATUAHLIL RAIB")
AGNOSTICS
The sixth and the last sin that tears the veil of immunity against
sins is associating with agnostics and skeptics. A simple
definition and analysis of these two types of people gives us
some reasons as to why and how association with them
damages the immunity we have against sins as we come under
their direct or indirect influence.
An agnostic is a person who believes in accordance with the

logic of his mind that the existence of God is not provable by
the six senses of perception. His logic is so staunchly
entrenched in his mind that in spite of the overwhelming
evidence seen in the countless miracles of creation and the
uniformity of the design manifest in the creation, the agnostic
is not even prepared to consider the reality of the existence of
the creator. Therefore, an agnostic is so convinced of his
misdirected logic that he tries to confound his mind and of his
associates by his metaphysical and mystical questions which
cannot be answered by common sense.
SKEPTICS
~ 123 ~
On the other hand, a skeptic is one who instinctively or

habitually doubts, questions or disagrees with generally
accepted principles and doctrines relating to religious beliefs
and practices. He questions the validity, authenticity or truth of
some or all religious tenets.
Usually, he raises questions of distorted facts that appear

convincing but are in fact misleading. Sometimes, he would
quote something that had been misreported but he would
claim and believe it to be true, in spite of not being able to
support it. He himself would be confused and would confuse his
associates as well.
INFLUENCE OF AGNOSTICS AND SKEPTICS
People are normally influenced by their companions to a lesser

or greater degree depending upon their intellect. More often
than not, even those with intellect are influenced by the
misdirected logic of the agnostics. Therefore, the Qur'an and
the traditions of the Prophet (s) and the Ae'mmah (a) advise
believers to keep away from the company of sinners,
wrongdoers and those who nourish doubts about the
established doctrines of religion and question their validity. The
purpose is to avoid harmful influences which are likely to affect
their beliefs and practices. This would result in the loss of their
veil of immunity against sins and Allah (swt)'s Mercy on them.
Imam Sadiq (a) said, "It does not befit a believer to be in a

company in which Allah's orders are questioned and disobeyed
and he is unable to prevent it" (Al-Kafi). He also said, "A person
who sides with those people who speak badly of Allah's friends
(Awleeyah al-Llah) has certainly defied Allah." (Al-Kafi)
-124-
Amir al-Mu'mineen (a) said, "A person who believes in and the
Day of Resurrection would not stand at a place where people
doubt, question and speak in defiance of Allah" (Al-Kafi). He
also said, "Avoid the companionship of a wicked person
because such a companion destroys his companion materially
(by causing material loss) and spiritually (by causing doubts in
his beliefs) (Ghurar al-Hikam)."
Imam Jawad (a) said, "Avoid the companionship of a wicked

person since he is like an open sword without a sheath. It looks
attractive but it is, indeed, threatening and its consequence is
dreadful" (Bihar al-Anwar). Imam Sadiq (a) said, "Avoid the
companionship of three types of people, the untrustworthy,
the oppressor, and the informer because the untrustworthy
can let you down one day, the oppressor can oppress you as
well, and the informer can reveal your information (Tuhfa al-
'Uqul)."
Piety, chastity, honesty, worship and service to Allah (swt)'s

cause constitute a strong veil against the punishment and
wrath of Allah (swt). This veil can remain intact by refraining
from the above-mentioned companionships and avoiding
misfortunes and calamities that descend daily on mankind.
We have now come to the end of the first category of sins for
which Amir al-Mu'mineen, 'AN ibn Abi Talib (a), prays for
forgiveness. This category consists of five main types of sins
that tear the veil of defense or immunity against sins. It is an
intrinsic immunity possessed by all human beings as human
values which prevent us from disobeying Allah (swt).
The Qur'an and the traditions of our Prophet (s) and our
Ae'mmah (a) teach us valuable lessons and warn us to seek
forgiveness by sincerely repenting for our sins and resolving
~125~
firmly not to commit any of those sins that would kill our
immunity against sins of all categories mentioned in this Du'a.
We will now take up the second category of sins for discussion

in the next chapter that bring down afflictions and calamities.
~126~
CHAPTER FIVE
SECOND CATEGORY OF SINS:

SI NS THAT BRING DOWN HARDSHIPS,
CALAMITIES AND GRIEF
Li (jj^)>jjg»g 4jUjJ
And to Allah belong (all) the most beautiful names, therefore

supplicate to Him by them, and shun those who violate the
sanctity of His names; soon they shall be requited for what they
used to do.(Q: 7:180)
V: The Second Category of Sins
HIGHLIGHTS
CHAPTER FIVE 131
SECOND CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS THAT BRING DOWN
HARDSHIPS, CALAMITIES AND GRIEF............................ 131
1. DEFIANCE, DELIBERATE DISOBEDIENCE OF ALLAH'S
ORDERS ("BAGHY")....................................................... 132
2. VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ("AL 'UDWAN 'ALA
HUQQUQUN-NAS")....................................................... 135
DEFINITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 135
CLASSIFICATION 135
ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE 136
THE FIRST CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS 136
THE SECOND CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS 138
3. MOCKERY OF ALLAH'S SERVANTS ("AL-SAKHRIYAH MIN

'IBADIL-LLAH'') 140
4. BREACH OF COVENANTS/PROMISES ('"AHD", "W'AD")

141
DEFINITION 141
ETHICS 142
THE QUR'AN 142
BREACH 143
HADITH 144
SUMMARY 144
~ 129 ~
CHAPTER FIVE
SECOND CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS
THAT BRING DOWN HARDSHIPS,
CALAMITIES AND GRIEF
Imam Sajjad (a) mentions the following nine types of sins:
1. Defiance/Deliberate Disobedience of Allah (swt)'s

Orders ("Baghy")
2. Violation of Human Rights ("al 'Udwan 'ala Huqququn-
Nas")
3. Mockery of Allah (swt)'s Servants ("al Sikhriya min
'Ibadil-Llah")
4. Breach of Covenants/Promises ("Naqdh al 'Ahad")
5. Open Acts of Disgrace and Misconduct ("al- I'lan bil
Ma'asi")
6. Judgment against Allah (swt)'s Rules ("al-Hukm bi
Ghairi ma Unzila-Llah")
7. Failure to pay "Zakat" and preventing others from
paying "Zakat" ("al- imtina' an-Dafi' al-Zakat")
8. Deceit in Dealings/Defraud in Measures ("al-tataffif fil
Mizan")
9. Spread of Lies and False Information ("Shubu' al-Kizb")
Let us now look at the above-mentioned sins in a little more

detail.
~131~
1. DEFIANCE, DELIBERATE DISOBEDIENCE

OF ALLAITS ORDERS (“BAGHY”)
The Arabic word "baghy" means rebellion, an open act of
resistance and defiance against the Absolute authority of Allah
(swt) or deliberately and knowingly infringing Allah (swt)'s
commandments and rules. When a person commits a sin
unknowingly or by oversight forgetting that it is a sin, Allah
(swt) by His mercy, may forgive him after he repents sincerely,
and the sin can be cleaned off from his records.
However, when a person openly rebels and declares that he

does not care and acts blatantly in defiance of Allah (swt), he is
said to have committed "baghy." The Qur'an uses the word
"baghy" to also mean, among other things, corruption, crime
and infidelity. The following verses and hadith illustrate the
various meanings of the word "baghy":
a) "Qoroon was among the community of Musa, but he rebelled

against them and oppressed them. We gave him such a great
amount of treasures that the keys of the trunks that contained
the treasures would weigh heavy to the group of strong men
who carried the keys(Q. 28:76/81)
Qaroon was the cousin of Prophet Musa and initially was

among the believers but he turned into a disbeliever when Allah
(swt) tested him by giving him an abundance of wealth. He
became arrogant and worked with Firaun to oppress people by
extorting heavy taxes from them. The Qur'an gives a graphic
description of the way he used to dress and come out before
the people with pomp and show of wealth,
On the other hand, Prophet Musa and those who were given
knowledge kept advising him to give up his arrogance and
oppression of people and utilize his God-given wealth for his
~132~
wellbeing in the hereafter and warned him against Allah(swt)'s

punishment. His defiance finally resulted in his punishment. He
and his house in which his treasures were stored were pulled
into the earth forever.
The lesson we learn from this story is that the wealth we are
given by Allah (swt) should be utilized for the comfort of our life
in the hereafter. However, we are not prohibited to spend it for
our comfort and enjoyment in this life. In this respect the
Prophet (s) said, "The good among you are neither those who
give up the life of here for the life of the hereafter nor those
who give up the life of the hereafter for the life of the here, but
those who, through moderation and economy, balance both
the lives of the here and the hereafter"
b) "If Allah were to increase amply the sustenance of His

servants ('ibaad), they would certainly become corrupt and
spread corruption on the earth, but He sends it down in
measure as He wills. Indeed, with regard to His servants, He is
All-Aware, AII-seeing."(Q. 42:27)
The history of human beings since its inception, supported by

the day-to-day experience, proves that those who get rich and
wealthy and/or get into the position of power and authority
mostly lose their faith and go astray. Man prays to God to
endow him with these bounties but, when he gets them, he
loses his faith and becomes arrogant and oppressive. He rebels
against God and openly defies His commandments. He does not
care that he is being tested with what has been given to him.
At another place, Allah (swt) says, "His ore the treasures of the
heavens and the earth; He increases the sustenance of
whomsoever He wills and lessens the sustenance of
~ 133 ~
whomsoever He wills. Indeed[ He knows all things" (Q. 42:12).

According to this verse the test is for both, the one who gets in
abundance and the one who is disadvantaged.
Still at another place, Allah (swt) says, "Don't they see that Allah
increases the sustenance for whomsoever He wills and reduces
the sustenance for whomsoever He wills? Indeed, in this there
are signs for people who believe" (Q. 30:37). The various signs
of the Almighty power not only in the heavens and the earth
but also in the behavior of human beings and the process of life,
manifesting His merciful grace and bounties, mutual love and
engagements in the worldly affairs, prove His absolute
Authority over His creation which all submit to Him.
c) In Chapter 19 verse 28 (swt) says, "O' sister of Harun, your

father was not a bad man, nor was your mother an unchaste
woman." The verse refers to Janabe Maryam. When she
conceived in spite of being single, people accused her of being
unchaste. The verse quotes their words addressing her as
"sister of Harun". Harun (not Prophet Harun) was known to be
an exemplary righteous person who had become a symbol of
righteousness. Janabe Maryam was known for her ideal
chastity, modesty and purity. The words expressed the degree
of surprise of the people in referring to Janabe Maryam's pure
and priestly lineage and her parents' exceptional good morals.
Therefore, how could she, in their false notion, betray her lofty
position and bring disgrace to her noble and pure lineage?
d) Imam Sadiq (a) said, "Six negative attributes cannot be found

or exist in a believer: rigidity, miserliness, stubbornness,
untruthfulness, jealousy and disobedience of Allah's rules
(baghy)."
~134~
2. VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (“AL

‘UDWAN 'ALA HUQQUQUN-NAS”)
DEFINITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
We start with a simple definition. Human rights are based on

the respect and dignity of man, to which he is entitled as a
human being, irrespective of who he is, where he lives so long
as he is alive and continues to live. Human rights are
fundamental. Basically, they are natural sets of rights which
Allah (swt) has given universally to all human beings,
irrespective of their race and religion. The recognition of a
man's basic nature ("fitrah"), that he is born to a certain degree
with free will and equal in dignity and basic rights, forms the
foundation of freedom, respect and dignity, justice and peace,
and stability among the people and nations of the world.
CLASSIFICATION
Man-made classifications of these rights include civil, political,

economic, social and cultural rights. They are all based on the
natural fundamental rights which are: right of life, not to be
killed by another human being; freedom from torture when
being punished; freedom from slavery, not to be held in
servitude by another; right to a fair trial before being judged;
freedom of speech, subject to limitation of libel, slander and
defamation; freedom of thought, conscious, religion and
manifestation of one's belief and religion; freedom of
movement, liberty to travel, reside and work in any country;
freedom of teaching one's religion, practice, worship and
observance.
~ 135 ~
ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE
Islam has contributed to a very great extent in setting up a

strong structure of justice and equity in the human society. The
Prophet of Islam (s) brought about great and radical changes
within a short span of twenty three years of his life. The Qur'an
gave mankind its first and original charter of human rights and
the Prophet(s)'s Sunnah, his way of life, provided the model for
the practical application of the charter. In addition, the Qur'an
gave Islam its constitution and social and economic laws, all
based on justice and equity.
THE FIRST CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS
THE FOUNDATION
As a first step towards building the foundation of justice and

equity in the society, the Prophet (s) united mankind under the
banner of "Tawheed", the Oneness of God, and eradicated
idolatry and belief in multiple gods and demigods. He
eliminated all man-made distinctions and ranks, making piety
the sole criterion of superiority. He established brotherhood
among believers irrespective of their caste, color and lineage,
and instilled mutual love and respect among them.
PROHIBITION OF VIOLATION
The Prophet (s) instructed them strictly not to violate the rights
of each other. He said, "Give to everyone who possesses a right
his right (Kulli zi haqqin haqqah)." He further said, "Allah has
made seven rights obligatory upon the believer: to respect him
in his person; to love him sincerely in his heart; to share with
him his property; to consider backbiting against him as
unlawful; to visit him in his illness; to attend and participate in
his funeral; to say nothing but good about him after his death.”
~136~
TRANSFORMATION
Armed with the Word of Allah (swt) (that is, the Qur'an) on the
one hand, and the force of his character on the other, the
Prophet (s) led the great revolutionary movement to transform
the tribally-divided pagan and ignorant Arabs into one of the
most learned, cultured, dynamic, closely knit and highly
Integrated society based on the doctrine of "Tawheed", the
Oneness of God, and the Islamic ideology.
ABOLITION OF SLAVERY
The Prophet (s) abolished slavery in a most practical and

peaceful way by which slaves were gradually liberated and lived
honorable lives with their human rights fully protected. He
provided for the general welfare of all the people, including
liberated slaves, through a commonwealth called "Baytul Maal"
- the Treasury of the Islamic government - with strict
instructions to take care particularly of the poor in the society.
He instituted an economic system for equitable distribution of
wealth under which accumulation of wealth was checked
through laws of inheritance and taxation with prescribed rates.
ELEVATION OF WOMEN
Islam honored women and gave them respect and high position
in family and social life. As an example, the law gives a wife the
right to her personal life, welfare and basic needs, the right to
exercise her own free will and make her own decisions, the
right to own her own property, the right to keep her own
earnings from her work and income derived from her
investments exclusively for herself (the husband or anyone else
has no say or right in it), the right to complain against her
husband for mistreatment, the right to fight for her own right
~ 137 ~
Du'a Kumayi.A Brief Commentary
when deprived, the right to defend herself against injustice and

to speak out against oppression and abuse and seek redress (
Allamah Tabatabai, Al-Mizan, Chapter Four of the Qur'an).
THE SECOND CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS
The Charter of Human Rights of Imam Sajjad (a) ("Risa'alat al-

Huqquq") elaborates the well-known saying of the Prophet (s)
("Kulli zi Haqqin Haqqah") which has been quoted above in a
beautiful way. The word "haqq" in Arabic has a much wider
sense than the word "right" in English. "Haqq" means justice,
truth, reality, necessity, obligation, duty and responsibility.
RELATIONSHIPS
Islam views man first in his relationship with God and then in
his relationship with the creations of God. The right of God is to
be worshipped, only Him and Him alone, without ascribing any
partner to Him ("Tawheed"). The soul of man has a right to
redemption in the hereafter. The way to redemption is to obey
God, and through obedience, the servant opens himself to
compassion and mercy which depend upon following His
guidance given in the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (s).
THE THEME OF THE CHARTER
The theme of the charter of Rights of Imam Sajjad (a) is that the
primary duties of man are towards the various organs of his
body and the practices of the individual that determine his
relationship to God. The Organs have rights because they share
in man's destiny. The practices have rights because they shape
the destiny of the soul. Other human beings have rights
because they form the context within which practices of the
individual take place. Human actions can be correct only if the
rights of God's creations are understood and fulfilled. These
~138~
rights extend to the whole humanity. Any violation of these

rights will constitute a sin which brings down calamities
("Tunzilun-niqam").
UNO'S CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS
No concept of human rights existed in the West before the

17th Century. Since then the concept has undergone
development over the years and finally emerged in the first
Declaration of Human Rights codified by the United Nations
Organization as recently as 1948. Almost all countries in the
world are signatories to this document, yet violation of these
rights take place everywhere and all the time and nothing is
done about it.
COMPULSION IN FAITH PROHIBITED
The Prophet (s) prohibited compulsion in faith, not to force

Jews or people of other faiths to convert to Islam. He set up a
code of respect for the leaders of other faiths and protection of
life, property and places of worship of their adherents under
Islamic rule, including the choice of being adjudicated undj
their respective religions.
ISLAMIC MILITARY CODE
The Prophet (s) trained Muslims to strictly observe the military

code of conduct in battles that were fought in the defense of
Islam and enforced humane treatment of prisoners of war and
protection of their human rights under the Islamic rules.
These are given as few examples of how Islam has given

mankind the charter of human rights 1400 years ago and
provided safeguards so that they are not violated. Any violation
~139~
is considered as a sin against Allah (swt), punishable both here

in this world and in the hereafter.
3. MOCKERY OF ALLAH’S SERVANTS (“AL-

SAKHRIYAH MIN TBADIL-LLAH”)
Making fun of people, laughing and looking down at their poor
appearance, low grade, dirty work, belief or any other reason
that would harm them is a major sin that leads to bringing down
calamities ("tunzilun-niqam") in this world and punishment in
the hereafter. Mocking people amounts to insulting their
human dignity and belittling their self -respect. The Qur'an
considers people who make fun of other people as hypocrites,
oppressors and corrupt. Allah (swt) says, "When they meet with
those who believe, they say 'we believe/ but when they go back
to their fellow disbelievers (the devilish people)they say 'Surely,
we are with you, we were only mocking, laughing in our hearts
at them'" (2:14). At another place the Qur'an says, "O' you who
believe, do not let people mock, laugh at one another lest one
should be better than the other..." (49:11)
The Prophet (s) said, "Anyone who mocks to insult my friend (a

believer) has indeed set out to fight against me." Imam Sadiq
(a) said, "On the Day of Judgment a caller will call, pointing to a
group of faceless people, 'These are the people who harmed
the believers, disregarded them, insulted them and mocked
them for their belief.' These people will then be thrown into the
Hell-Fire." (Al-Kafi, 2/35)
WAY OF ENJOYMENT
Nowadays mocking and caricaturing political leaders and social

celebrities, in particular, has become a profession in the world
of entertainment, largely in the West. It forms a source of
-140-
enjoyment and laughter on a regular basis on TV Shows and

cartoons in newspapers and magazines.
These shows and cartoons are technically and professionally

produced. They attract large numbers of viewers who enjoy
laughing at the jokes that mock the personalities. Jokes are
made by professional actors who are employed by companies
working in this industry. It is a money-making profession for the
producers as well as the actors and the cartoonists who draw
up the cartoons.
Islam condemns this practice as it amounts to damaging the

character of human beings and lowering their status and
respect in the eyes of the people in the society. It has the overall
effect of lowering the general level of morality in the society.
Ultimately, such people who are engaged in mocking and
caricaturing end up suffering from negative psychological traits
and spiritual damage. It is a bad and harmful practice and that
is why Islam condemns it as sinful and a cause for affliction and
calamities ("tunzilun-niqam").
4- BREACH OF COVENANTS/PROMISES
(“‘AHD”, “W’AD”)
DEFINITION
A covenant is a formally binding spoken or written promise to

engage in, or refrain from a specified action(s). Usually, it is a
written, signed and sealed document. Historically, it refers to
treaties or other written agreements. Religiously, particularly in
Islam, it is a sacred and inviolable promise made to Allah (swt)
by a person to perform, or refrain from a specified action(s).
There are more than eighty verses in the Qur7an on this subject,
describing their types and obligation of fulfilling them, and
~ 141 ~
several Shari' rules and regulations relating to them, and the

punishment for violating them.
ETHICS
Entering into covenants and making promises or pledges are

two important moral and ethical issues in Islam. Fulfilling them
has been given as one of the signs of a believer ("Mu'min").
Breaching or breaking them is considered as sinful and brings
down calamities and afflictions. Islam has given great
importance to acting strictly in accordance with the
condition(s) made in the covenant or the promise. The Qur'an
contains many verses on this subject as indicated above. In
addition, the Prophet of Islam (s) and the Imams, who were the
successors after him, reinforced the Word of Allah (swt) by their
various sayings and actions.
THE QUR'AN
The following are a few verses quoted to illustrate the

importance Islam attaches to covenant ('"ahd") and promise
("w'ad"').
Allah (swt) says, "Fulfill Allah's covenant when you make a

covenant, and do not break the oaths after solemnizing them
when indeed you have appointed Allah as a security for it..."
(Q.16:91). The verse emphatically enjoins the fulfillment of any
promise, undertaking, pact or promise in which Allah (swt) has
been pledged as a guarantor for the fulfillment of it.
At another place, Allah (swt) says, "O' you who believe, fulfill
the covenants and the promises made by you..." (Q. 5:1). The
word '"uqud"' here has a very wide meaning. It covers
covenants, agreements, pacts, promises, engagements and
treaties, made with either a fellow human being or with Allah
~142~
(swt), His Prophets or with each other. It makes no difference

whether the promise is made to Allah (swt) in relation to an act
of worship or with the Prophet (s), the A'emmah (a) or with a
common man. This Divine order clearly shows the importance
that Islam gives to the welfare and harmony of the individual
and the society as a whole.
A Muslim is required to strictly obey Allah (swt) and abide by

His orders, in this respect, to fulfill the promises they make.
Allah (swt) says, "... indeed' Allah does not break His promise"
(Q. 3:9). In another verse, Allah (swt) says, "... and fulfill your
promise. Indeed\ every promise that you make shall surely be
questioned (about its fulfillment)." (Q. 17:34)
BREACH
The Qur'an condemns those people who break the covenant as

sinners, unbelievers and immoral and says, "Those who break
the covenant made with Allah after pledging it solemnly, they
are the ones who are the losers." (Q. 2:83)
Similarly, at several other places, Allah (swt) says, "They are tht
ones who made covenant, a group among them ignored their
covenant (did not fulfill), while the majority of them were
unbelievers" (Q. 2:100); "We did not find in most of them any
(trust of honoring) covenants. Indeed We found most of them
to be the wrongdoers." (Q.7:102)
"Those with whom you have made treaty and who violated
their treaty every time, they are the ones who have no piety" (Q.
8:56); "Fulfill Allah's covenant when you make it, and do not
break (your) oath after you make it solemnly, when you have
made Allah a witness over yourselves." (Q. 16:91)
~ 143 ~
HADITH
The importance that the Qur'an gives to fulfilling covenants and

promises is clear from theses verses. Similarly, their breach is
condemned as a great sin, hypocrisy, unbelief and
transgression against Allah (swt)'s order. The Prophet (s) has
reinforced these verses. He says, "Three qualities are found in
a hypocrite, regardless of the fact that he prays, fasts and
considers himself as a Muslim: when he is trusted, he betrays
the trust; when he speaks, he lies; and when he makes a
promise, he breaks it." (Al-Kafi, Bab al-Kufr)
We have analyzed four of the nine sins in this chapter that are
categorized as bringing down hardships and calamities. There
are five types of sins that remain but we will discuss them in the
next chapter.
SUMMARY
To summarize the four types of sins which we have discussed:

first is defiance against Allah (swt)'s orders ("baghy") due to
arrogance ("kibr") and self-glorification; second is the violation
of human rights resulting from greed and love of power to
dominate and rule over others; third is the mockery of people
owing to a sense of superiority and greatness; and fourth is
breach of covenants/promises brought about by disloyalty, lack
of faith and moral integrity.
We can clearly see the gravity of these sins and the reason why
they cause calamities, disasters and grief.
~ 144 ~
CHAPTER SIX
SECOND CATEGORY OF SINS:

SINS THAT BRING DOWN HARDSHIPS,
CALAMITIES AND GRIEF (CONT'D)
••£o j * *
*_iQ_h_ii
* cS^
To every nation We have prescribed rites of devotion which
they used to observe, therefore they should not dispute with
you about the matter and call/invite them to your Lord; Indeed
you are guided on the right path.(Q: 22:67)
.
I
i
VI: The Second Category of Sins (Cont)
HIGHLIGHTS
CHAPTER SIX 149

SECOND CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS THAT BRING DOWN
CALAMITIES, DISASTERS AND GRIEF (CONT'D)............. 149
OPEN ACTS OF DISGRACE AND MISCONDUCT ("AL-I'LAAN
BIL MA'ASI")...................................................................... 149
SPREAD OF LIES AND FALSE INFORMATION ("SHUY'U AL-

KIZB").................................................................................. 152
THE MALICE OF LYING................................................... 152
JUDGMENT AGAINST ALLAH (SWT)'S RULES ("AL-HUKMU Bl

GHAIRI MA ANZALAL-LAH")............................................. 155
FAILURE TO PAY "ZAKAT" AND PREVENT OTHERS FROM

PAYING "ZAKAT" ("AL- IMTINA' 'AN DAF 'I ZAKAT")....... 157
DECEIT IN DEALINGS/FRAUD IN WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

("AL-TTFIFFILMIZAN") 159
CONCLUSION.............. 162
~ 147 ~
CHAPTER SIX
SECOND CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS
THAT BRING DOWN CALAMITIES,
DISASTERS AND GRIEF (CONT’D)
We will now discuss briefly the remaining five types of sins
mentioned in the previous chapter. These are as follows:
1. Open Acts of Disgrace and Misconduct ("al-l'laan bil

Ma'asi")
2. Spread of Lies and False Information ("Shu/u al-Kizb")
3. Judgment against Allah (swt)'s Rules ("al-Hukmu bi
Ghairi ma Anzal-Llah")
4. Failure to pay "Zakat" and prevent others from paying
'Zakat" ("al-lmtina' 'an Dafi al-Zakat")
5. Deceit in Dealings/Fraud in Weights and Measures ("al-
Tatfif fil Mizan")
We start our discussion with:
OPEN ACTS OF DISGRACE AND MISCONDUCT

(“AL-TLAAN BIL MA’ASI”)
Chapter 6, Verse 151 of the Qur'an gives guiding principles of
life which are also given in Taurat revealed to Prophet Musa and
included as one of the Ten Commandments. Among these
principles is keeping far away, not even going near deeds that
constitute open as well hidden sins. Hidden sins harm man's
relationship with his Lord. Open sins exhibit total
~ 149 ~
shamelessness of the sinner and his open defiance of the Divine

laws and the norms of an Islamic society.
The harm done to the Islamic environment by those people

who commit sins openly and brag about their shameless
behavior of defiance in public is indeed horrific. The young
people in the society are attracted towards these people and
are adversely influenced by them. They lose their sense of
public morality and integrity and undermine the integrity and
the public image of the Islamic society.
Islam condemns corruption and every behavior in public that

leads to the spread of corruption in the public morality of the
Islamic society. It gives great importance to a morally healthy
society and makes it obligatory on Muslims to promote it under
the injunctions of "amr-bil-ma'ruf" and "nahi anil-munkar",
enjoining the good and prohibiting the bad. Therefore, it is no
wonder that the sin of shameless behavior committed in public
brings down calamities, disasters and grief on the society.
Man has been endowed with a natural attribute of "hayaa", a

word that describes both shyness and a deep sense of shame
before his Creator as well as his fellow human beings. It also
means restraint, self-control that prevents a man or a woman
from doing something shameful openly in public.
When a man or a woman destroys that attribute by their

repeated shameful deeds done in public, they become immune
from the embarrassment of the public gaze. It takes off
completely the veil of shamefulness which distinguishes
humans from animals. Animals follow their instincts without
feeling any shame or showing a sense of right and wrong.
Shameless people resemble animals in their behavior.
~150~
Modesty, another common word also used for shyness,

describes both shyness and a deep feeling of shame before God
and fellow human beings regardless of whether one is alone in
one's privacy or not. It is reflected in speech, dress and conduct
both in public and private of an individual to his Lord as well as
to the creation of his Lord.
In Chapter 7:26 of the Qur'an Allah (swt) says, "O' Children of

Adam, Indeed We have sent down unto you dress to cover your
private parts and for your beautification and means of bodily
comforts but mind well that the dress of piety is the best for a
healthy physical and spiritual growth ..." Modesty leads to
constant remembrance of Allah (swt) and the prevention of
even the smallest of sins. Being shy of public gaze is the driving
force for the attainment of modesty.
Several verses in the Qur'an prohibit and call for keeping away
from committing open acts of shamelessness both in public and
private. They range from seeking permission before entering
any room lest they should infringe on the privacy of those inside
to certain manner of dress for men as well as for women.
Chapter 24:30/31 contain injunctions to both men and women

to dress in a prescribed form so as to guard their chastity in
order to prevent them from committing vulgar acts in private
as well as in public. The modern cinematographic pictures
shown in public houses as well as in private on TVs at homes
lead to an unhealthy and immoral relationships between men
and women, and corrupt the young minds right from their
childhood.
It is reported from Imam Sadiq (a) that, "Belief in Allah brings

about humility and a feeling of shame and a sense of shyness
(hayaa) in man and leads man to the Paradise."
~151~
The Prophet (s) said, "Be modest, humble before Allah as He is

rightfully worthy of humility (kama haqqa hu)He also said,
"Be modest, humble before Allah the way you are humble
before a man of high integrity, piety and respect (saleh) in your
community."
SPREAD OF LIES AND FALSE INFORMATION

(“SHUY’U AL-KIZB”)
THE MALICE OF LYING
The phenomenon of lying and spreading lies through mass

media has regretfully become the "fabric of social and political
life " Lying is a common, bad and harmful part of human
relationship. Instead of helping the relationship, lying on the
contrary damages it. An exposed lie undermines trust and sows
suspicion among people.
For people who are habituated to lying, it becomes an

automatic impulse to lie when they open their mouths to speak.
Research shows that both men and women lie in approximately
the same proportion, in one-fifth of all their social interactions.
During one week, they deceive 30% of the people with whom
they interact on a one-on-one basis.
Lying is considered an integral part of several occupations. In

legal profession, lawyers constructing far-fetched defense on
behalf of their clients have to lie so as to lend credibility to their
case. In journalism, reporters have to misrepresent themselves
so as to gain access to good stories.
Lying has become a despicable vice rampant in our societies.

Deceiving others with canny use of words is seen as a quality of
cleverness. One of the distinctive features of our age is that
lying no longer carries the stigma it once did. Today lying has
~152~
been institutionalized. It is the way many of us live today

because we figure that if we are persuasive enough, lying would
work well. History shows that countries can be invaded and
wars started as a result of spreading lies. We bend the truth a
little bit, put a spin, having no intention to mislead, yet what we
say is a lie. Gone are the days when a lie destroyed the liar's
dignity and eroded his trustworthiness.
Islam considers lying as a great and serious sin. There are

numerous verses in the Qur'an and Hadith of the Prophet (s)
and Ae'mmah (a) that condemn lying and describe its harmful
and evil consequences. Let us look at a few verses to get an idea
of how great is this sin. "Surely; Allah does not guide on the right
path one who is a liar, ungrateful." (Q. 39:3). "... and pray for
the curse of Allah on the liars." (Q. 3:61 - the famous verse of
Mubahila). "... the curse of Allah be on him if he is one of the
liars" (Q. 24:7). "And do not follow that of which you have no
knowledge. Indeed' the hearing, the eye-sight and the heart -
all of these are accountable; they will be questioned about it"
(Q.17:36). "Only those who fabricate lies are the ones who do
not believe in the signs of Allah." (Q. 16:105)
The Prophet (s) said, "... beware of a lie (Qauluz-zur)." He also

said, "The worst speech is a lie," and "A liar has the least
humanity (morality)." Imam 'Ali (a) said, "Man does not taste
the sweetness of belief unless he avoids lying, be it serious or
joking." He also said, "Lying is the worst obscenity," and "Allah
has set some locks for sins; the key of these locks is drinking
intoxicants, and even worse than drinking intoxicants is lying."
All these verses and hadith give us a good idea of how seriously
Allah (swt) considers lying as a transgression against Him. The
evil of useless and harmful talk among men about the affairs of
others, idle chatter and uninformed or misinformed stories
~153~
about the character and conduct of others create mutual ill-

feelings and disharmony among people in the society.
We see how sinful and evil lying is in the eyes of Allah (swt),
how treacherous He considers spreading lies, rumors,
fabrications, false accusations and assassination of characters.
Today this practice is generally prevalent not only in the mass
media but also in the human societies all over the world. Some
are done with no apparent purpose, some with hidden motives
and others for personal gain. In Nahjul Balagha Imam 'Ali ibn
Abi Talib (a) says, "Do not quote everything circulating among
common people. It is likely to be a lie." The Prophet (s) is
reported to have said, "He who attributes something to me
which I have not said, shall sit in the Fire."
Listening to a lie is also prohibited ("haram"). Just as it is

"haram" to speak a lie, it is also "haram" to listen to it when
knowing that it is a lie. And also, just as it is prohibited to read
or write a lie, it is also prohibited to quote a lie. The Qur'an has
denounced Jews and polytheists for spreading untrue things. It
says regarding some of them "...They are listeners of a lie..." (Q.
5:42). At another place the Qur'an says "...avoid vain (false)
words." {Q. 22:30)
To conclude, it is most regretful that we, human beings,

endowed with intellect have fallen victims to this sinful and
vicious disease. It is not surprising therefore that the sin of
spreading lies is the cause of calamities, disasters and grief. In
this Du'a, Imam 'Ali (a) is asking for forgiveness from Allah (swt)
for this serious sin.
~154~
JUDGMENT AGAINST ALLAH (SWT)’S RULES

(“AL-HUKMU BI GHAIRI MA ANZALAL-LAH”)
Giving judgment contrary to Allah (swt)'s commandments
contained in the Qur'an and in our Ae'mmah (a)'s Hadith
constitutes a great sin, a transgression, oppression and a
disbelief in Allah (swt). If a judge is aware of Allah (swt)'s Rules
but acts against them in giving his judgment based on non
religious selfish motives, he is, in the words of the Qur'an, a
defiant transgressor. He is also an oppressor because he has
deprived a human being from his legal rights. He is also a
disbeliever ("kafir") because he has openly refused to accept
Allah (swt)'s laws. By knowingly giving a judgment in
contravention of Allah (swt)'s laws, he has gone out of the
bounds of Islam as well as humanity.
Surah 5, al-Ma'ida contains several verses relating to this

subject that condemn corrupt judges, lawyers and scholars
who act against Allah (swt)'s Rules given in the Qur'an. Let us
look at a few of these verses:
Verse 5:44 says, "We sent down the Torah (Taurat) containing
guidance and light. The Prophets who submitted to Allah's
commandments as revealed to Prophet Musa judged by it for
the Jews and so did the rabbis and "akhbar", the Doctors of
Jewish Law (Jewish priests and scholars of Jewish Laws who
were pious and had fear of Allah in their hearts): they were
entrusted with and ordered to preserve the Book of Allah
....Those who do not judge by what Allah sent down and were
witnesses to it, they are the unbelievers."
The verse contains the warning against deviating from judging

in accordance with the Divine Laws owing to fear or greed for
-155-
personal gains. This verse is also applicable to Muslims to judge

an act in accordance with the commandments of Allah (swt).
The next verse, 5:45 says, "And in it we prescribed for them, the
Jews: a life for a life, an eye for an eye... those who do not judge
by what Allah sent down, it is they who are the unjust, the
wrongdoers." The next verse, 5:46 says, "And we followed
them with Jesus (Prophet 'Isa), son of Mary (Maryam), to
confirm that which was before him of the Torah (Taurat), and
We gave him the Evangel (Injeel) containing guidance and light
..." The following verse 5:47 says, "Let the people of the Evangel
(Injeel) judge by what Allah has sent down in it. Those who do
not judge by what Allah has sent down, they are the ones who
are the transgressors."
To summarize, in all the four successive verses, 5:44/47, the

Qur'an has called those who do not act in accordance with what
Allah (swt) has revealed as "kafir" unbeliever, "dhalim" unjust/
oppressor and "fasiq" transgressor. The various words used
refer to the various aspects of not following the Divine Laws in
ruling and judging. It amounts to the defiance of Allah (swt)'s
absolute power and authority. These verses apply equally to
the people of the Book ("Ahl al-Kitab") and Muslims who follow
the Qur'an. All of them are required to submit to Allah (swt)'s
Laws contained in the three heavenly Scriptures.
Imam Sadiq (a) said, "One who gives a judgment in

contradiction to Allah's rules even on two drachmas (a handful
of coins) has committed blasphemy."
~156~
FAILURE TO PAY “ZAKAT” AND PREVENT

OTHERS FROM PAYING “ZAKAT” (“AL-
IMTINA’ ‘AN DAF T ZAKAT”)
"Zakat" in Arabic means that which purifies. In Islam, it is
defined as fixed rates of obligatory dues payable periodically by
Muslims to those who qualify under verse 2:177 of the Qur'an.
They are: (Ahle Tashayyu) Shi'a relatives who are poor; Shi'a
orphans who are needy; poor people in general, irrespective of
their religion; stranded travelers who are in need of help to
return to their home; persons who are genuinely and honestly
asking for help; persons who are in bondage such as debts;
persons who are not Muslims but have shown an inclination to
become Muslims or helping Muslims in their activities; those
working in the collection of "Zakat"; those who do any act of
charity in the way of Allah (swt) ("fi sabilil Llah").
The various articles constituting the wealth of the individual or

an industrial or business organization on which "Zakat" is
payable are: agricultural produce such as grains, wheat, barley
dates and raisins; animals who are produced and reared in the
animal husbandry industry such as cattle, sheep, goat and
camel; produce of mining industry such as gold and silver; and
all possessions which make up the capital of an individual or an
industrial or business organization based on its net worth. It
should be noted that payment of "Zakat" based on the net
worth of a business organization is obligatory as "ihtiyat-e-
wajib" according to the "fatwa" of our Marja'. Different rates,
quantities and times for each item have been fixed for "Zakat"
to become liable for payment. The details given in the rules of
"fiqh" contained in Taudhihul Masae'l are beyond the scope of
this book.
~157~
"Zakat" is an Islamic system for the redistribution of wealth so

as to ease the economic hardship of the poor and eliminate
inequality in society. It acts as a barrier to the accumulation of
wealth for any one individual. In the Qur'an, "Zakat" is jointly
and repeatedly mentioned with "Salat" at various places and
heavily stressed to indicate its importance. The Qur'an
mentions it at more than 30 different places, defining it as a
charity-based institution meant to eliminate poverty and
inequality in the society.
"Zakat" is reckoned as an act of piety through which a Muslim

expresses concern for the well-being of fellow Muslims as well
as other poor people in the society. It plays an important role
in preserving harmony between the wealthy and the poor. As
an act that promotes a more equitable redistribution of wealth,
"Zakat" fosters a sense of solidarity among the members of the
Muslim "Ummah" and the humanity as a whole. If all Muslims
on whom "Zakat" is obligatory were to pay "Zakat", there would
be no poor Muslims left in the "Ummah."
"Zakat" is also meant to discourage hoarding of capital goods,

especially foodstuffs, and to indirectly stimulate investment in
the business of individuals and business organizations by
ploughing profits back into the business for further growth. It
can also stimulate the economy as a whole as "Zakat" can also
be used to build hospitals, schools for religious education,
roads, bridges and such other public conveniences for the
benefit of Muslims as well as others. It can also be used to pay
for the educational expenses such as fees for students pursuing
religious studies.
We have also seen some Hadith that admonish those who do

not pay "Zakat." Refusal to pay it is considered a sign of
hypocrisy. Allah (swt) does not accept the prayers of such
~158~
people. On the Day of Judgment, the person who did not pay
"Zakat" while it was obligatory on him to pay will be held
accountable and punished.
Today, we see mankind suffering from calamities, misfortunes

and grief all around the world due to the failure of the majority
of Muslims to pay "Zakat" and lack of the proper machinery for
equitable distribution of the amounts collected. The rich are
becoming richer and the poor are becoming poorer. The
number of poor people in the world is on the increase. Some
are even going so far as discouraging and stopping others from
paying "Zakat" for the alleged reason that it is not obligatory to
pay it. Imam 'AM (a) has taught us in Du'a Kumayl to pray to
Allah (swt) for the forgiveness of our sins that bring about
calamities, misfortunes and grief.
DECEIT IN DEALINGS/FRAUD IN WEIGHTS

AND MEASURES (“AL-TTFIF FIL MIZAN”)
In Islam strict honesty, justice and fair play in dealings wit.
people and installing accurate weights and measures for
business transactions are heavily stressed. The Qur'an uses the
word "tatfif" and "mutaffifeen" for the deceit/fraud and the
deceiver/defrauder, respectively. The Qur'an defines what
these words mean in verses 2-3 of Chapter 83 which is solely
about this serious sin. After cursing defrauders in weights and
measures, Allah (swt) says, "... who, when they measure or
weigh a commodity bought from people, demand and take the
full measure or weight of the commodity, but defraud by giving
less in measure or weight when they sell a commodity to them."
This rule applies not only to weighing commodities which are

sold by weight but also to articles which are sold by various
other units of measurement both in metric and imperial units
~159~
Du'a Kumayl:A Brief Commentary
such as meters and yards for cloth, hectares and acres for land,
liters and gallons for liquids, and fraud in currency and other
monetary transactions. The rule also applies in selling
adulterated goods where a high-quality item is mixed with a
low-quality item to cheat, or low-quality goods are sold at
higher prices by labeling them as brand names. In short, the
rule applies equally to all kinds of cheatings regardless of
disguises or subtleties used in concealing the true nature of
business transactions.
The next five verses, 4 to 8, warn such people of the terrible

punishment awaiting them in the hereafter. "Do they think that
they will not be raised on the mighty Day (of Judgment), the day
when mankind shall stand before the Lord of all the worlds. No
indeed, the Book of the wicked and the vicious is in Sijjin and
what can tell you what Sijjin is? (It is beyond the human power
of perception to understand it)." It is a written Record which
predetermines the destination of all the transgressors and evil
doers.
When this Chapter was revealed to the Prophet (s), he went to

the open marketplace and amid traders selling and buying
goods, read it out loudly and mentioned the punishment
against five grievous sins and evil practices that call for
calamities, disasters and grief. These practices were commonly
taking place among those traders. They are: one, braking
promise or any solemn undertaking; two, telling people that
which Allah (swt) and his Prophet (s) have not said, in other
words, tell a lie about them; three, immoral and unethical
behavior; four, fraudulent dealing in weights and measures;
five, failure to pay "Zakat." (Minhajus Sadiqeen)
The Prophet (s) is also reported to have said, "One who

defrauds in measures by giving less while dealing with people
~160~
will be taken to the bottom of the Hell-Fire in the hereafter, and

thrown between two mountains of fire. He will then be told to
weigh the mountains and he will have to do so continuously
forever" (The Great Sins- "Gunahane Kabira", 1:418).
Imam 'Ali ibne Abi Talib (a), after his official work as Khalifatul
Muslimeen or the Ruler of Muslim Empire, used to go to the
marketplace and preach to the traders , "O' People, fear Allah
and practice justice and equity in the weights and measures of
goods. Do not take away unlawfully from people their rightful
dues, and do not commit mischief in the land." Once he found
merchant weighing saffron on a defective scale. He went to
him, threw down the saffron from the pan and ordered the
merchant to correct the balance first and then weigh it again.
So far we have discussed the spiritual aspect of this subject. On

the secular side, it is also considered a crime to defraud in
weighing and measuring commodities in business transactions.
Various mechanisms have been set up by governments as well
as international bodies and institutions to control and supervise
the products of foods and other manufactured commodities
which are sold in the market to test whether they conform to
the standards fixed nationally and internationally. Today,
national and international trade is infested by fraudulent
practices that harm the human society and are the cause of
damage and decline in morality and business ethics on a global
scale in spite of various controls and supervisions which have
been put in place.
It is therefore not surprising that this great sin spiritually

damages the heart and ultimately kills it, while in social and
business dealings it causes disharmony and damage to human
relationships that bring about calamities, misfortunes and grief
~161~
in the world. That is why Imam 'Ali (a) is asking forgiveness from
Allah (swt) for this in his Du'a Kumayl.
CONCLUSION
Gratitude ("shukr") in prosperity, patience ("sabr") in adversity,
and the heart ("qalb"), courage to uphold the truth even when
inconvenient and painful are the qualities that make up the
component parts of the concept of morality and ethics in Islam.
For an individual and society, morality and ethics are the
fundamental sources of strength, just as the opposite
characteristics of immorality and unethical practices are the
main causes of decline. Islam is concerned about the moral
health of the society so, in Islam, morality is universal in its
scope and applicability as it addresses every aspect of human
life.
A Muslim is expected not only to be virtuous but also to enjoin

virtue. He must not only refrain from committing evil and
vicious acts but also actively engage in enjoining people to
abstain from them. He is expected to be morally healthy and
also to be able to contribute to the moral health of the society
as a whole.
Chapters Four and Five cover the Du'a of Kumayl that relate
to the sins that violate Islamic morality and ethical issues as a
result of which we suffer from misfortunes, hardships,
calamities and grief.
~162~
CHAPTER SEVEN
THIRD CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS
THAT CHANGE DIVINE FAVORS INTO

DIVINE DISFAVORS/DISPLEASURE
IU Ijcil j! sSj! I<ja
VjE<^Jl £ULiVi Ala
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Say: Call upon/invoke Allah or call upon "Ar Rahman" (the

Beneficent Allah); whichever (name) you call upon (is the same
because) to him belong the most beautiful names; and do not
say your prayer too loudly nor too inaudibly but seek a middle
way between these two (extremes).(Q: 17:110)
VII: The Third Category of Sins
HIGHLIGHTS
CHAPTER SEVEN 167

THIRD CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS THAT CHANGE DIVINE
FAVORS INTO DIVINE DISFAVORS/DISPLEASURE.......... 167
OPPRESS PEOPLE ("DHULM AN-NAS")...................... 167
MEANING............................................................... 167
'ADL/JUSTICE 169
THE ROLE MODEL 169
OPPRESSION CONDEMNED AND CURSED 171
DESTINATION 172
GIVE UP THE PRACTICE OF DOING VIRTUOUS/GOOD DEEDS

AND INTENTIONS ("FAQAD AN-IRAD AL-KHAIR") 173
GOOD DEEDS.................................................... 173
"SALEH/SALIHAN"......................................................... 173
CARE/COMMITMENT.................................................... 174
TURN AWAY FROM ALLAH 'S GRACE AND ABANDON THE

PRACTICE OF DOING GOOD TO OTHERS ("NABAZ AL-
IHSAN")............................................................................... 174
HUMANITY 174
THE QUR'AN 174
SIN 175
~165~
UNGRATEFULNESS FOR ALLAH (SWT)'S BOUNTIES ("KUFR

ANI-N'IMATIL LLAH").................................................... 176
THE QUR'AN............................................................. 176
NEGLECT TO THANK ALLAH (SWT) FOR HIS BOUNTIES
("TARK AL-SHUKR")...................................................... 177
PRAISE/THANKS TO ALLAH....................................... 177
DEVELOPMENT OF FACULTIES 177
BEASTLINESS 178
KNOWLEDGE 178
OBLIGATORY 178
INHUMANITY 179
WAYS OF THANKSGIVING 179
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC GIFTS 180
COUNTLESS BLESSINGS 181
CONCLUSION 181
~166~
CHAPTER SEVEN
THIRD CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS THAT
CHANGE DIVINE FAVORS INTO DIVINE
DISFAVORS/DISPLEASURE
Sins which are included in this Category are:
1. Oppress People ("Dhulm an-Nas")

2. Give up the Practice of Virtuous/Good Deeds and
Intentions ("Faqad an-lrad al-Khayr")
3. Turn away from Allah (swt)'s Grace and abandon the
Practice of doing Good to Others ("Nabaz al-lhsan")
4. Ungrateful for Allah (swt)'s Bounties ("Kufr Anin-
N'imah")
5. Neglect to thank Allah (swt) for His Blessings ("Tark al-
Shukr")
We will now discuss each of these sins briefly.
OPPRESS PEOPLE (“DHULM AN-NAS”)

MEANING
In Arabic the word "dhulm", used generally to mean

oppression, has a wide meaning. In addition to oppress, it
means to do wrong or evil, to treat wrongly and unjustly, to
harm, to suppress, to tyrannize, and to commit outrage. From
the Islamic viewpoint, an act of moving a thing away from its
rightful place is "dhulm."
~167~
The word "dhulm", together with its derivatives such as

"dhalama", "dhalim" and "dhalimin", is a very important, stern
and frequently used term in the Qur'an and only the Qur'anic
context can provide us with the most reliable definition and
insight into the way the term has been used. The words
'oppression' and 'tyranny/ with their narrow political
connotation, cannot do justice to the wide range of meanings
embodied in the Qur'an.
According to the Qur'an, the basic meaning of "dhulm" is to

deny the existence and reality of Allah (swt) and His revelation,
and then to transgress the bounds, limits, laws,
commandments and prohibitions He has laid down. The
Qur'anic perspectives can clearly be understood in a few typical
verses such as: 2:140; 2:144; 2:229; 2;254; 5:45; 7:37; 10:17;
18:57; 32:22; 29:49; 31:13; 49:11; 65:1. The term "dhulm" is
used as the opposite of 'Adi or justice.
Du'a No. 14 of Imam Sajjad (a) in Sahifa as-Sajjadiyyah in which

he prays to Allah (swt) to ward off the oppression ("dhulm")of
the unjust rulers ("dhalimin"), who oppressed people cruelly
and killed them mercilessly, gives us a glimpse of the lives of the
oppressed people at that time. The state of affairs in this day
and age is much worse as oppression has taken manifest as well
as hidden forms at the political, economic, commercial, social
and even religious levels. Peoples' rights are suppressed or
denied to them. The rights are indeed extensive and cover the
whole field of personal, social and political life. "Risalatul
Huqquq", The Charter of Rights, of Imam Sajjad (a) gives details
of these rights. Suppression or denial of these rights is an open
oppression ("dhulm").
~ 168 ~
'APL/JUSTICE
It is therefore evident that "dhulm" is an atrocious and terrible

sin against humanity. Oppression of any kind, whether small or
big, is detestable. Allah (swt) says, "We shall set up the scales of
justice on the Day of Resurrection and no soul will be mistreated
in the least (absolute justice will be done), and even if it be the
weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it to account and We
are enough to take the account of it" (Q. 21:47); "On that day
(the Day of Resurrection) mankind will come forth in various
separate groups to be shown their deeds. So whoever does an
atom's weight of good will see it and whoever does an atom's
weight of evil will see it" (Q. 99:6/8). It is evident therefore that
everyone will be dealt with strict justice. Allah (swt) will be the
sole Judge on that Day.
THE ROLE MODEL
Amir al-Mu'mineen, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a), in his Sermor,

("Khutbah") No 224 of Nahjul Balagha, presents not only to us -
his followers and the Muslims in general - but also to the world
at large, the level of justice that rulers and common men should
all strive to achieve in order to remove poverty and improve the
quality of life of the poor, and bring about peace and security
at all levels of the society.
Amir al-Mu'mineen swears, " By Allah, I would rather pass a

night awake suffering from pain and injuries by lying on the
thorns, the sharp prickles of Sa'dan, (a plant with sharp spikes
that tears the skin on a slight movement), or be pulled in chains,
in pain and humiliation, as a prisoner than meet Allah and His
Messenger on the Day of Judgment as an oppressor (dhalim)
who did wrong to other people, or a usurper who wrongfully
took away from people (ghasiban) anything of material wealth.
~169~
And how can I do wrong and oppress any one (for the sake of
this life) that is moving fast towards destruction ..."
in a lengthy letter No. 45 in Nahjul Balagha to Uthman ibn

Hunayf al Ansari, a close companion of Imam 'Ali (a), whom he
made the governor of Basra, Imam 'Ali wrote to censure him for
his behavior when he heard that Uthman was associating with
rich people, attended a banquet arranged by them and came
under their influence to make policy that benefited them.
Among many other things the imam wrote, "Uthman, I never
thought that you would accept the banquet of people who turn
out the beggars and invite the rich ... If I were to be given the
kingdom and the rule of the whole world provided I took away
a tiny piece of grain from the mouth of an ant, by Allah, I would
never commit that act of dhulm that would deprive the ant
from the sustenance (rizq) that it got from Allah."
Such was the high degree of justice and equity of Amir al-
Mu'mineen (a) that it won him the acclamation of the world as
the Just Ruler that ever lived on this earth.
Imam 'Ali ibn al-Husayn Zainul 'Abidin (a) in his Du'a for each
day of the week contained in the Sahifa as-Sajjadiyyah goes
further in the Du'a for Monday(Du'a No. 63) than what Amir al-
Mu'mineen (a) says in his above mentioned sermon. He prays
to Allah (swt) thus: "I ask You with regard to the complaint of
wrongdoings (madhalim)l have committed to Your servants: if
there is Your male servant ('abdika) among Your servants
('ibadika), or a female servant (amatin) among Your female
servants (imaaika) who has a complaint against me for having
wronged him/ her, committed (dhulm) on him/her, or violated
his/her reputation, or usurped his/her property, or did wrong
to his wife or his child, or I spoke bad and evil things about him
behind his back, or I made him greedy, scornful and a bigot, or
~170~
I put evil desire in him, or made him commit sin of showing off
to people...
The Imam continues: "or I wronged him while he was present

or absent from his place, or whether he was living or dead at
that time and I was not able to reach him to ask for his pardon
or compensate him, or he was obstinate and refused to accept
apology or compensation or restitution: under these
conditions, therefore, I ask you, O' the One who has power to
grant my needs as You will, and have a complete control over
his (plaintiffs) mind and intentions, to bless Muhammad and
the progeny of Muhammad and make him pleased and happy
with me in whatever way You wish and grant me Your mercy
and forgiveness which neither decreases nor affects You in any
way, O', the Most Merciful."
(The above quotations have been paraphrased so as to make

them easily understandable.)
Such was the degree of utmost caution and care that our
A'emmah (a) took to see that nobody suffered from any
wrongdoing in any form or type which would amount to
"dhulm", however insignificant, committed by them. To
achieve this level of justice and equity, humanity has to wait for
the reappearance of Mahdi "al-Qayim" from the occultation
("ghaybah"). He will fill the world with justice and equity in the
same manner as it has been filled with injustice and oppression.
("Yamla ul- ardha Qistan wa 'adla kama muliat dhulman wa
jaura").
OPPRESSION CONDEMNED AND CURSED
The Qur'an contains countless verses relating to "dhulm" in

various verbal forms and the severe punishment for committing
it. Reference to a few of them has been given in the preceding
~171~
paragraph. Suffice it to say that Allah (swt) condemns "dhulm"

of all kinds to which people are subjected by all oppressors
("dhalimin"), past, present and future. Allah (swt) curses them
and warns them of the severest punishment that awaits them
in this world and the tormenting Hell-Fire in the hereafter. They
are mentioned 126 times in different chapters of the Qur'an
and cover oppression at the individual, family, societal as well
as economic and political levels. The Qur'an also contains
stories of many strong and prosperous nations which were
destroyed due to the oppression ("dhulm') which prevailed in
those nations. The same fate has also been seen of oppressive
regimes in modern times which ruled through tyranny and
merciless suppression.
DESTINATION
To quote only one verse in conclusion, verse 227 Chapter 26,

Allah (swt) says, "And soon those who oppress and do injustice
to people shall know at what evil destination they will end up."
This evil destination is both in this world and in the hereafter.
World history throughout the ages has proved the truth of this
verse. Tyrant oppressors have risen, fallen and perished in the
most brutal form and condition in this world. Even the ancient
pre-lslamic nations and communities such as those of "A'ad"
and "Thamood" were destroyed due to oppression. Moreover,
the most grievous and tormenting punishments are awaiting
them in the hereafter.
Thus oppressing people constitutes a sin that results in the

Divine Blessings changing into Divine Wrath.
~ 172 ~
GIVE UP THE PRACTICE OF DOING

VIRTUOUS/GOOD DEEDS AND INTENTIONS
(“FAQAD AN-IRAD AL-KHAIR”)
GOOD DEEDS
Good deeds are spontaneous acts of kindness, accommodation,

generosity, benevolence, charity, assistance, help and
sympathy .They also include acquiring more and more
knowledge through reading good books, humility in one's
behavior, patience in adversity and so on. The list is
inexhaustible.
When these acts are performed with selfless heart and with no
intention of receiving anything in return reward or
remuneration or even thanks - and done purely in the way of
Allah (swt) ("fi Sabilil-Llah") and for obtaining His pleasure ant
mercy, the individual develops a high spiritual status before
Allah (swt). When he forms the habit of performing such acts as
part of his character, it indicates the quality of moral excellence
and forms a valuable treasure of his life in this world and in the
hereafter.
"SALEH/SALIH AN"
The Qur'an uses the Arabic word "saleh/salihan" which means

good, righteous, pious, godly acts in about 40 verses spread
over the Qur'an. The deeds are linked to the belief system and
assure success and abundant rewards in the hereafter for those
believers who act accordingly. We cannot possibly go through
all these verses in this brief summary. Perhaps, one verse will
serve as an illustration. Verse No.40 of Chapter 40says,
"...whoever acts righteously, whether a male or a female, and
~173~
he/she being a believer, he/she will enter Paradise and will be

provided with countless sustenance."
CARE/COMMITMENT
When one forms such good habits of acting righteously and

doing good to people, one should exercise care and
commitment to keep the good habits and not to lose them. If
one happens to lose them and go back to bad habits, one has
committed a sin that will change Allah (swt)'s favors and
kindness into His disfavors and wrath.
TURN AWAY FROM ALLAH ’S GRACE AND

ABANDON THE PRACTICE OF DOING GOOD
TO OTHERS (“NABAZ AL-IHSAN”)
HUMANITY
We have already defined good deeds in the previous section.

Being kind and doing good and serving people are characteristic
signs of the sense of humanity in a man. Allah (swt) loves and
praises those people who do good and serve humanity
selflessly. The Qur'an uses the word ("ihsan") for such good
deeds and the word ("muhsin", plural "muhsineen") for such
people. They are mentioned at 24 different places in the Qur'an
and are promised handsome rewards in this world and in the
hereafter. Let us examine a couple of these verses and analyze
what they say.
THE QUR'AN
Allah (swt) says, "Those (the pious ones) who spend in charity
both in prosperity and adversity alike and who suppress their
anger (when they are wronged) and forgive the wrong doers
-174-
(for theirfaults) are the ones whom Allah loves and they are the
ones who do good to others (the muhsineen)." (Q. 3:134)
In another verse, (swt) says, "And those who strive hard to serve
Us (Allah), We will certainly guide them in Our ways and indeed
Allah is always with those who do good to others. (This is
obviously the most promising assurance for those who sincerely
strive in the way of the Lord.)" (Q. 29:69)
In this connection the Prophet of Islam (s) said, "A charitable

person is near to Allah (he is loved by Allah), near to Paradise
(entitled to enter the Paradise) and near to the people (he is
loved by the people)..."
We should always be mindful that, through neglect or

carelessness, we do not lose our spirit of doing good and
serving others at any time. We should ever be eager to serve
our fellow human beings. In fact, doing good is a form Oj'
worship of Allah (swt). It pleases Him to see that we do gooi
and serve His servants ('"ibadul- Llah"). The reward for such
acts is indeed great.
SIN
Abandoning charitable acts and losing the spirit of service to

humanity as a whole is a sin, and results in turning away from
(swt)'s grace and changing His favors into disfavors and wrath.
In the Du'a of Kumayl, we pray to Allah (swt) to forgive us of
such sins.
~175~
UNGRATEFULNESS FOR ALLAH (SWT)’S

BOUNTIES (“KUFR ANI-NTMATIL LLAH”)
THE QUR'AN
There are many verses in the Qur'an relating to the bounties

("n'imah") that Allah (swt), by His grace, has given to man. In
verse 34 Chapter 14, Allah (swt) says, "And He gave you all that
you had asked Him (that is, figuratively, He provided you with
everything that was necessary for your nature and your natural
capacities). If you attempt to enumerate those bounties you
will not be able to count them. Indeed man is most unfair,
unjust and ungrateful."
In verse 72 Chapter 16, Allah (swt) says, "...and We provided

them with all the good things, while they believe in falsehood
and disbelieve and deny in the bounty of Allah." Again, in verse
83 in the same Chapter, Allah (swt) says, "They recognize the
bounties of Allah, and yet they deny them and most of them are
ungrateful and deniers of the bounties."
Ungratefulness changes Allah (swt)'s favors into His disfavors

and wrath and results in His punishment. This is evident from
verse 28 of Chapter 14 in which Allah (swt) says, "Have you not
seen those who have changed Allah's bounties with ingratitude
and landed their people in the house of ruin, that is, the Hell-
Fire in which they shall enter and that is an evil house."
In verse 211 Chapter 2, Allah (swt) says, " Ask Bani Israel how
many of clear signs We have given them, and whoever changes
Allah's bounty after it has come to him, Allah is indeed severe
in exercising His justice." "N'imah" in this verse also means the
Word of God ("Kalamul-Llah").
~176~
Gratitude increases the blessing and the bounties and

ingratitude takes them away and is the cause of calamities and
punishment from Allah (swt). This is clearly stated in verse 7
Chapter 14 which says, "And when your Lord announced, 'If you
are grateful, I will, surely, increase My favors to you, but if you
are ungrateful, My punishment is indeed severe/"
In Du'a Kumayl, Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a) teaches us to

beseech Allah (swt) to forgive us for our ingratitude for His
bounties.
NEGLECT TO THANK ALLAH (SWT) FOR HIS

BOUNTIES (“TARK AL-SHUKR”)
PRAISE/THANKS TO ALLAH
First we should bear in mind that all praise and thanks ("hamd
wa shukr") belong to Allah (swt) who is the First, without a first
before Him and is the Last, without a last after Him. All the
creation that exists belongs to Him and sings His song in praise
and thanks to Him. Human beings are but a tiny part of His vast
creation. He fashioned us, as He did all the rest of the creation,
in accordance with His Will and made us evolve and progress
up to the limit He has fixed. We cannot either go back or move
forward beyond the limits He has fixed.
DEVELOPMENT OF FACULTIES
He assigned to each of us from His provisions known and

apportioned nourishment. No one can increase or decrease the
portion He has fixed. He endowed us with the faculty of speech
and intellect, and perfected our creation in an excellent fashion.
He blessed us with various bounties ("n'imah") for our physical
and mental development for the fixed term of our life. He gave
us the knowledge of praising and thanking Him.
~177~
BEASTLINESS
All praise and thanks belong to Allah (swt) for, had He withheld
from us the knowledge to praise and thank Him for the lavish
favors He has granted us, we would have been ungrateful. If
such had been the case, we would have left the bounds of
humanity and degenerated into the state of beastliness and
become, as He says in the Qur'an, "They are but as the cattle -
nay, they are further lost from the way!" (Q. 25:44)
KNOWLEDGE
All praise and thanks belong to Allah (swt) for the true
knowledge He has given us of Himself ("irfan"), the sense of
thanksgiving that He has inspired us to offer Him and the doors
to knowing His Lordship ("Rububiyyat") that He has opened for
us. He has guided us towards sincerity in our belief of His Unity
("Tawheed"). He has kept us far away from assigning His
singular attributes which belong to Him alone to somebody
other than Him ("ilhaad") and from holding doubts about His
Commands in our minds.
All our praise and thanks are due to Him who will raise us up to
the highest of the '"illeyoon" which is kept in the high heavens
and wherein the deeds of the righteous are recorded. Finally, it
should be realized that it is impossible to praise and thank Allah
(swt) ("kama haqqahu") as He rightfully deserves to be praised
and thanked (Imam Sajjad (a), Sahifa as-Sajjadiyyah, Du'a No.
1).
OBLIGATORY
It is therefore obligatory upon us to be always in a state of

praise and thanks to Allah (swt) for His countless "n'imah." The
Qur'an has taught us to pray to Allah (swt) that "...my Lord,
~178~
inspire me to give thanks to Your blessings and bounties with

which You have blessed me and my parents and that I may do
good and righteous deeds which may please You..." (Q. 46:15).
This Du'a can be read in full in the "qunut" of our daily prayers.
INHUMANITY
On the contrary, to neglect our obligation and abandon

thanksgiving is inhuman and against the nature of things, when
Allah (swt) at innumerable places says, as for an example in
Chapter 62 verse 1, "Whatever there is in the heavens adores
Allah and whatever there is in the earth (glorifies, praises and
thanks Allah), the Sovereign, the All-holy, the All-mighty, the
All-wise."
WAYS OF THANKSGIVING
The various organs of our body and the marvelous ways in they
work for the ease and the comfort of our life is a great blessin
from Allah (swt). i
Just to mention a few of these organs, let us consider the heart
which performs many most important physical functions.
The way to thank Allah (swt) for the blessing of the heart, which
performs many most important physical functions, is to
beautify it spiritually by believing in Allah (swt) and His Prophets
and their successors, the heavenly scriptures He sent down to
His Prophets, and the Day of Resurrection.
The way to thank Him for the blessings of the eyes for their
many wonderful uses, is to look at His beautiful creation and
ponder over His Power and Might, study and acquiring
knowledge, and abstain from looking at immoral and shameless
scenes and pictures He has prohibited us from looking.
~179~
The way to thank Allah (swt) for the blessing of the ears by
which we hear various sounds and speeches is to listen to the
truth embodied in the Qur'an and the sayings of the Prophet (s)
and adopt them in our daily life; in addition, to abstain from
listening to backbiting, slander and false accusation, and rumor
mongering concerning innocent people.
The way to thank Him for the blessing of the tongue for the
ability to speak and many other functions is to speak humbly,
respectfully and politely with good words; moreover, to employ
the tongue in reciting the verses of the Qur'an and "zikrul-Llah",
glorifying and praising Allah (swt), in remembrance of Him.
The way to thank Allah (swt) for the blessing of the legs for their
wonderful movements which allow the body to move freely the
way we wish, is to use them in going out to seek our "rizk", the
sustenance that Allah (swt) gives us to sustain ourselves and
our families, and serve the cause of Allah (swt) and be in the
service of His servants ('"ibadul-Llah"), the humanity as a
whole.
The way to thank Him for the wonderful gift of the brain and
the intellect and it's amazing structure, psychics and workings,
is to allow our thought processes to go in the rightly guided
directions and constructive thinking, and in the cause and
welfare of Islam and humanity as a whole.
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC GIFTS
The above are only a few examples of the human body and its
wonderful working that Allah (swt) has endowed us. In fact, all
organs of our body are meant to serve us in the most efficient
and perfect way for our utmost ease and comfort. In his Du'a of
the Day of Arafat, Imam Husayn (a) has described every organ
of our body and their functions, and glorified and praised Allah
~ 180 ~
(swt) for His boundless mercy and beneficence as well as His

perfect wisdom in the creation of man and the physical and
spiritual endowments He has given him. All this is apart from
the social and economic gifts that Allah (swt) has granted to
human beings.
Allah (swt) gives abundance of material sustenance, far in

excess of one's needs, and abundant wealth and riches to
whomsoever He chooses. Similarly, He gives a high social status
and a respectable ruling position in the society to whomsoever
He wishes. These are all parts of the social and economic gifts
for which man has to be most grateful and thankful.
COUNTLESS BLESSINGS
Referring to all the blessings and bounties that He has given us,
Allah (swt) says, "And He gave you oil that you hod asked Him
(that is, He provided you with everything demanded by you
nature and your original capacities), if you enumerate Allah's
blessings, you will not be able to count them. Indeed man is
most unjust, unfair and ungrateful" (Q. 14:34). In the light of all
that has been stated, neglect in thanking Allah (swt) for His
countless blessings and bounties is indeed a great sin which
changes them into His disfavors and become the cause of
calamities as punishment from Allah (swt).
CONCLUSION
When we look into these five types of sins that, according to
Imam Zaynul 'Abidin, (a), change Divine favors into Divine
Disfavors/Displeasure, we see a common theme that runs
through all of them and, that is, disintegration in morality and
defiance of moral values. When man, who is the best of all of
Allah (swt)'s creation, falls into the trap of Shyaitan and the
sensual self that prompts him to doing evil ("Nafs-e-
~181~
Du'a KumayhA Brief Commentary
Ammarah"), then his intrinsic nature of being good gives way to

nourishing evil intentions and committing evil acts, losing all his
sense of care and concern for the welfare of his fellow beings,
and becoming heedless and defiant against Allah (swt).
Therefore, Allah (swt) not only withdraws all His favors out of
His wrath but also changes them into disfavors, as a result of
which man gets into various misfortunes and suffers from
various calamities. He is reduced to a state of wretchedness and
beastliness and ceases to be a human being the way Allah (swt)
has originally created him.
~ 182 ~
CHAPTER EIGHT
FOURTH CATEGORY OF SINS:

SINS THAT BLOCK SUPPLICATIONS
FROM ACCEPTANCE
Ale*
t • 4 J \l "
-jjâla^ oôAij Wa
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Say: My Lord has enjoined justice, and (He has enjoined) to set
your hearts (on him) at every time and place of prayer and call
on Him, putting your sincere faith and devotion exclusively in
him; as He brought you into being in the beginning, so (to him)
shall you also return. (Q: 7:29)
VIII: The Fourth Category of Sins
HIGHLIGHTS
CHAPTER EIGHT 187

FOURTH CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS THAT BLOCK
SUPPLICATIONS FROM ACCEPTANCE................ 187
SPIRITUAL: 189
SOCIAL: 189
ETHICAL: 189
ECONOMIC: 189
RELIGIOUS: 189
POLITICAL: 189
SPIRITUAL- 190
HIDDEN OR CONCEALED VICES ("AL-INTIWA' 'ALA SIFATI

QABIHA")............................................................................ 190
PRAISING ONE'S SELF/PRIDING OVER ONE'S OWN GOOD

DEEDS ("AL-'UJB")............................................................. 191
DEFINITION 191
SHOW-OFF IN WORSHIP AND GOOD DEEDS TO GAIN

PRAISE/RESPECT ("AL-RIYA"')...................................... 193
DEFINITION 193
SOCIAL: 195
BAD/EVIL INTENTIONS ("SU' AL-NIYYAH") 195
~ 185 ~
Du'o Kumoyl: A Brief Commentary
DEFINITION 195
ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE 195
LOW OPINION AND MISTRUST OF BROTHERS-IN-FAITH ("SU'
AL-DHANN") 197
FEELINGS OF HATRED OR MISTRUST TOWARDS A FELLOW
HUMAN BEING ("AL-HAQ.D") 198
DEFINITION 198
MISTRUST 199
ABANDONING CHARITY AND GOOD DEEDS ("TARK AL-

SADQAH WAL AL- IHSAN")............................................ 201
CHARITY-BACKGROUND 201
RUDENESS AND USE OF OBSCENE LANGUAGE ("AL-FAHSH

WA AL-BIDHA'") 203
~ 186 ~
CHAPTER EIGHT
FOURTH CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS
THAT BLOCK SUPPLICATIONS FROM
ACCEPTANCE
Eighteen types of sins have been mentioned under this
category that block supplications from acceptance by Allah
(swt) according to various "riwaya" from our Ae'mmah (a),
mainly from Imam Sajjad (a) and Imam al Sadiq (a) reported in
various books of commentaries. These sins are as follows:
1. Bad/Evil Intentions ("Su' al-Niyyah")

2. Hidden/Concealed Vices ("al-lntiwa' 'ala Sifati
Qabihah")
3. Low Opinion of and Mistrust of Brothers-in-Faith ("Su'
al-Dhann")
4. Feelings of Hatred or Mistrust towards a Fellow Human
Being ("al-Haqd")
5. Praising One's Self/Priding over One's Own Good Deeds
("al-'Ujub")
6. Show-off in Worship and Good Deeds to gain
Praise/Respect ("al- Riya"')
7. Arrogance/Egotism/Pride ("Kibr/lstikbar")
8. Vanity/Snobbery ("Ghurur")
9. Greed/Stinginess ("Bukhl")
10. Avarice/Materialism ("Hirs")
11. Desire/Crave/Lust ("Tam'a")
12. Envy/Jealousy ("Hasad")
~187~
13. Friendship/Love of Allah (swt)'s Enemies ("Tawalla'

A'da al-Llah")
14. Duplicity/Double-faced/Hypocrisy ("Dhu Wajhain wa
an-Nifaq")
15. Lack of Certainty (Doubt) in the Acceptance of Du'a
("'Adam al-Taiqin bi Ijabati al-Du'a")
16. Delay in Praying the Regular Obligatory Salat ("al-Takhir
fi A'dai Farida al- Salat")
17. Abandoning Charity and Good Deeds ("Tark al-Sadaqah
wa al- Ihsan")
18. Rudeness and use of Obscene Language ("al-Fahsh wa
al- Badha'")
When we go through the above list carefully, we see that it

covers a wide range of sins that can be classified under six
categories: Spiritual, social, ethical, economic, religious and
political. We will discuss them very briefly under their
respective categories as several of these topics are, in fact,
subjects by themselves and can form separate chapters. We
propose to provide a bird's eye view, so all these topics will be
covered in two chapters to help us avoid them as they form
obstacles to the acceptance of our supplications by Allah (swt).
The following are the categories under which we are going to

discuss the sins. The classification depends upon how one views
the nature of a particular sin. It can fall under several
categories, depending upon what criteria are used to
determine the assignment. However, based upon the common
understanding of the terms, the following definitions have been
used.
~ 188 ~
SPIRITUAL:
Relating to and affecting adversely or damaging the spirit or the

heart/mind of an individual. The sins are listed above under
items 2, 5 and 6.
SOCIAL:
Relating to all aspects of community life, interaction within the

community, outreach activities and general welfare of the
society. The sins are listed above under items 1,3,4,17 and 18.
ETHICAL:
Relating to moral conduct and behavior as viewed by Islam and

practiced, especially, in Islamic but also generally in any society
as a whole. The sins are listed under items 7, 8,12 and 14.
ECONOMIC:
Relating to financial aspects of an individual and affecting

adversely his family and business finances. These sins are listed
under items 9,10 and 11.
RELIGIOUS:
Relating to Islamic beliefs and practices of an individual. The

sins are listed under items 15 and 16.
POLITICAL:
Relating to government administration and rules/ regulations

relating to the state and affecting adversely an individual's life,
such as living under an oppressive system. Only one sin, item
13, is listed under this category.
As stated earlier, we will look at the broad outline of the

individual sins and analyze them briefly. They can be studied in
~ 189 ~
detail from the various books of "Tafaasir" listed under Selected

References at the end of the book.
SPIRITUAL;
Sins that relate to and affect the spirit or the heart
HIDDEN OR CONCEALED VICES (“AL-INTIWA

‘ALA SIFATI QABIHA”)
Vice is a superlative noun which means extreme wickedness,
criminal and immoral practices, shameful deeds, dirty tricks,
corruption, serious and grave wrongdoings, and all other
abominal acts. When these take hidden or concealed forms,
they become extremely dangerous and harmful as they are
committed under the cover of piety and goodness. It amounts
to hypocrisy in its worst form since such a person carries a
hidden dagger under the pretense of being a friend and a good
man.
In whatever society these vices exist, they pose a great danger

and disruption not only to its social health but also to the lives
of the people. We have vivid examples of this happening today
in our society everywhere in the world in all walks of life.
The Qur'an condemns such persons in Chapter two in a long

series of verses running from verse Number 8 to 20. In addition,
the Qur'an assigns a whole Chapter, Number 63, giving it the
title of Hypocrites, on the qualities of a hypocrite. There are also
many Hadith from our Ae'mmah (a) on this subject which
describe the dangerous nature of this type of hidden and
heinous wickedness.
Imam Sadiq (a) is reported to have said, "One who meets

Muslims with a double face and dual tongue will on the Day of
Judgment come with two tongues of fire." Imam Baqir (a) said,
~190~
"A worst servant of Allah is one who is, on the hidden side, a
slanderer and defamer and, on the flip open side, a friend and
a man of honor "(Paraphrased)
Double-faced is the characteristic feature of a person who is

outwardly of a good behavior while inwardly is vicious at heart.
He displays sympathy and friendship in front of the people but
is an enemy behind their backs. Double-crossing is a vicious
quality of a person who praises and flatters people whenever
he meets them, putting up an appearance of a friend but
denounces them and speaks slanderously of them, defaming
them in their absence.
Several vices can take both hidden as well as open forms. While
they are hidden inside the heart, they show up in an open form
assuming a hypocritical characteristic, such as
distrust/suspicion, hatred, self-praise, arrogance, greed,
jealousy and befriending Islam's enemies. In whatever forms
they are, they are reckoned as great sins. They should be
avoided for the sake of our spiritual health and for being
obstacles to the acceptance of our Du'as by Allah (swt).
PRAISING ONE'S SELF/PRIDING OVER ONE'S

OWN GOOD DEEDS (“AL-‘UJB")
DEFINITION
Our Ulama, high ranking religious scholars, have defined "ujb"

as an exaggeration or overestimation of one's virtues and good
deeds, accompanied with a feeling of superiority and deceitful
pleasure and contentment on the one hand, and considering
oneself free from all faults and vices on the other hand.
There are several stages of'"ujb". One commonly seen is when

an individual considers himself as superior to others, and more
~ 191<v
pious thinking his own faith to be sounder and immaculate than

of other believers. He also thinks highly of himself as perfect
and free from faults, and prides himself for being in the
forefront in the performance of "wajibat", the obligatory acts
and "mustahabbat", the recommended acts of worship.
Such a person treats others as inferior and insignificant human

beings and looks at them with derision and disregard. He is not
prepared to accept and, if he somehow does, tends to
underrate the virtues and the good deeds of others. He
criticizes and magnifies the shortcomings and faults of others
but overlooks his own faults and misdoings. He looks down on
the achievements of others and has a high opinion of, and
magnifies his own meager achievements.
Admiring and glorifying oneself or priding over one's own good

deeds in one's own heart or openly in one's behavior is another
serious and great sin which is extremely harmful to one's
spiritual health and, in the long run, can damage one's heart
beyond repair. That person reaches the end of his life with a
dead and diseased spiritual heart. "Ujb" ruins the quality of the
deeds of human beings and is the main obstacle to their du'a
being accepted by Allah (swt).
To get away from it we should, as a first step, realize that we

are all servants of Allah (swt) ('"ibadul-Llah"). Our life and death
are in His Hands. We get our sustenance from Him. We worship
Him through His Favor and every good deep we perform is due
to His blessings. Therefore we, as His servants, depend entirely
on Him as our Lord. This realization is the first step towards
getting away from the destructive sin of "ujb" or feeling proud
and great within our minds for our beliefs and actions.
~ 192 ~
SHOW-OFF IN WORSHIP AND GOOD DEEDS

TO GAIN PRAISE/RESPECT (“AL-RIYA*”)
DEFINITION
"Riya'" can generally be defined as a false and fake appearance

for showing-off to other people as being pious, virtuous,
pleasant mannered, suave, generous and charitable for the
sake of earning their respect, honor, admiration and
reputation. In "riya'" there is a remarkable lack of integrity,
uprightness, honesty, sincerity and piety. The purpose is solely
to impress people so as to serve one's selfish interest of
appearing great and being big-hearted.
"Riya'" is revealed in three different forms. In the first form, the

person displays his religious beliefs and shows off his
knowledge to impress others that he is a very knowledgeable
scholar so as to gain their confidence and respect with the
ultimate objective of taking advantage of them for personal
gain and benefit.
In the second form, the person exhibits his piety and virtuous
deeds openly in words and conduct so as to show himself as a
man of integrity and high ranking while inwardly nourishing
selfish motives. This form of "riya"' is manifested in the
performance of prayers and good deeds, strictly following all
religious commandments and recommended acts
("mustahabbat") and abstaining from all prohibitions and
abhorrent acts ("makruhat"), to attract peoples' attention to
his piety and to win their confidence and favors. All such acts,
whether performed in total or in part, to please others and win
their trust is covert or open "riya"' and is condemned and
cursed by Allah (swt).
~ 193 ~
Du'a Kumayl:A Brief Commentary
There are several verses in the Qur'an that contain the curse
against such showy performance of worship and charitable
acts. One of them is in Chapter 107, verses 4 to 7 which say,
"Woe to them who pray, who are unmindful and neglectful of
their prayers, those who do good to show off to be seen but
refuse to give help (to the poor and the helpless whom they
treat with unkindness and disrespect) " Imam Sadiq (a) said, "A
person who performs worship and does good deeds, not for the
sake of the pleasure and blessing of Allah but for the purpose
of being considered a pious person by other people, and
publicizing his good deeds so that they come to know about
them will be counted among the polytheists who ascribe
partners to Allah"
"Riya777 in religious faith is the third form of "riya777 . This is the

worst kind of "riya777 and punishment for it is the severest. One
who is guilty of this sin and does not genuinely believe or only
pretends to be a believer is considered a hypocrite ("munafiq")
whose place is in the lowest reach of the Hell(Q. 4:145). It is an
open shirk (Polytheism) because while his religious beliefs and
acts should be purely for Allah (swt), he does that to please
others and seek their favors and admiration. As such, he makes
others partners of Allah (swt), sharing in His pleasure which
should be exclusively for Him.
However, if one believes firmly in all the religious tenets but

only as a show off to win peoples7 confidence and trust, or if
one conducts oneself ostentatiously and speaks in self-praise,
one is not reckoned as a hypocrite but a boast. However if one
stays in this condition permanently, the light of faith will
eventually fade away from one's heart and die out and the
darkness of faithlessness and disbelief will occupy the heart. He
finally dies as an unbeliever as he lost his faith while alive.
~ 194 ~
This fact is confirmed by a Hadith from Imam Sadiq (a) who

reported that Allah (swt) said, "I am the best of all friends; one
who makes others share in partnership with Me in any matter,
his deeds are not acceptable to Me. I accept only those acts
which are purely done for My sake." Therefore, in the light of
what has been stated about "riya"', it is not surprising that it is
a sin that blocks our du'as from being accepted by Allah (swt).
SOCIAL;
Sins relating to social and community life and interactions

within and outside the community.
BAD/EVIL INTENTIONS (“SIT AL-NIYYAH”)

DEFINITION
Intention can be defined as a thought process that runs in the

heart or mind, giving shape to a purpose, aim, objective, design
or an end that may or may not translate into action but remains
as a thought in the mind. An intention can be good or bad. Good
intentions are liked and admired while bad intentions are
disliked and abhorred.
ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE
Islamic ethics applied to a Muslim community requires Muslims

to abstain from having bad thoughts or being suspicious of
another Muslim. This principle is laid down, among other
places, in verse 12 of Chapter 49 of the Qur'an which says, "O'
you who believe, keep away from all sort of suspicions and
speculations since, surely, in some cases suspicion or
speculation is a vicious sin, a transgression and do not spy on or
back-bite one another...therefore, be conscious and wary of
Allah. Indeed, Allah is the one who is oft-forgiving when turned
to Him in repentance and Most Merciful."
~195~
When we look closely into the above-mentioned verse, we see

that it is clearly a commandment to the Muslim community to
observe three basic ethical principles which constitute rights
relating to human fellowship. The three principles can be stated
as: one, keep away from having bad thoughts, doubts and
suspicions of another religious or fellow human being and do
not be skeptical of one another; two, do not spy into the life of
another Muslim or an innocent fellow human being; and, three,
avoid back-biting, meaning talking bad about another Muslim
or an innocent fellow human being behind their backs.
These three basic ethical obligations in Islam play an important

role in the progress and social well-being of the Muslim
community and the society as a whole because they bring
about peace and prosperity. Islam aims at establishing social
discipline in the moral behavior of man by making the individual
the most peaceful and desirable member of the human family.
The main purpose is to bring about a world order in which
peace, prosperity and ethical life of man can thrive and grow to
raise him to the higher level of intellectual and spiritual
attainments.
Islam holds life, property and honor of a human being in high

regard, in particular, that of a Muslim as sanctified. This security
extends further to the safety of being judged by others, which
means that even in one's mind, one must not entertain bad and
hostile thoughts about others. Islam prohibits any sort of
doubts or misgivings which would lead to tainting the character
of another person.
In this respect the Prophet (s) is recorded to have said, "Indeed,

Allah has made sacred the blood, property and respect of a
Muslim (from being destroyed by a fellow Muslim), and also
from undermining them by engaging in evil thoughts." Islam is
~196~
the only religion that prohibits and protects man from this
danger of being looked at with suspicious eyes or evil thoughts
by others. No other worldly institution or power can do that as
it is beyond their boundaries.
LOW OPINION AND MISTRUST OF

BROTHERS-IN-FAITH (“SU’ AL-DHANN”)
Evil thoughts about others can cause several harms to the
person who harbors such thoughts and suspicions about
others.
Apart from the spiritual harm, the first harm is that the person's
mental health is adversely affected.
The second harm is the damage that is done to the friendship

and harmony among the people in the society and the resulting
severance of relations. In this respect the Hadith from our
Ae'mmah (s) says, "When the person whose evil thoughts
about others take control over him, they will destroy peace and
harmony that exists between him and his friends."
The third harm is the separation and removal from other people
due to fear and anxiety. He will not be able to socialize with
other people in the society. The Hadith says, "A person who
does not correct his thoughts about other people will always be
frightened of every single person."
The fourth harm is to his intellect and the thought processes

("Ghurur al-Hikm") which are adversely affected with the result
that he is not able to think or judge logically and see the reality
of the issue facing him.
~ 197 ~
The fifth harm is to the physical health of the person since the
bad state of his mind will affect his health and will reduce his
life span.
The sixth harm is that the people associated with the person
who holds bad thoughts about them, such as his wife, children,
friends, colleagues are frustrated to see that the person
interferes in their lives and nourishes negative thoughts about
them. The result is that he is hated and avoided by all those who
are around him.
We conclude the discussion on this topic by a quotation from

Amir al- Mu'mineen, 'Ali ibne Abi Talib (a) who said, "Base your
opinion about your brother on goodness, unless otherwise
proved." Hadith says, "We should look for seventy good
qualities in the person before we even think of any bad thought
about him."
FEELINGS OF HATRED OR MISTRUST

TOWARDS A FELLOW HUMAN BEING (“AL-
HAQD”)
DEFINITION
"Haqd" means to harbor feelings of hatred, malice, spite,

resentment, and rancor or to incite to hatred, resentment and
embitterment. A simple definition would be: "Haqd" is a deep
emotional feeling of intense dislike or extreme aversion or
hostility that is rooted in man's instinct which is caused by the
bad condition of the environment and the way we grow up that
teaches us what to hate.
Hate is a natural response to the fear of the unknown. For

example children as well as adults can be indoctrinated by their
~ 198 ~
parents, religious leaders, peers and role models to hate certain

individuals or entities. Hatred is often associated with feelings
of anger and jealousy and a disposition towards hostility and
animosity vis-a-vis a person or group of people.
The consequence of harboring or nourishing such feelings is

the severance of relations and animosity towards others,
instead of maintenance and strengthening of ties of
relationship, kindness and charity towards others. It poisons
one's heart, mind and thought. It is a sin that deprives the
person of Allah (swt)'s Mercy and blocks his supplication from
reaching Him.
Several Hadith of the Prophet (s) and our Ae'mmah(a) have

been reported about nourishing feelings of hatred against
people. The Prophet (s) said, "Jabraeel came over to me and
said, 'O' Muhammad, fear the hatred and enmity of people'"
(Al-Kafi). Amir al-Mu'mineen, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a), said, "The
core of foolishness is nurturing hatred against people." He also
said, "Hating people is the habit and practice of the foolish"
("Ghurar al-Hikam"). Imam Sadiq (a) said, "Avoid enmity of
people because it causes hatred and discloses deficiencies."
MISTRUST
Chapter 49, versel2 of the Qur'an says, "O' You who believe,
avoid assumption or suspicion as much as possible, for
suspicion in some cases is a sin." Lack of trust in and His
"Awleeyah" (the Divine representatives), and brothers in faith
in general is an explicit sin which is written in the Record of
Deeds brought to account on the Day of Resurrection and
punished severely.
The Prophet (s) said, "Allah is the one besides whom there is
no God. I swear by Allah, no good in this world or in the
~ 199 ^
hereafter will be granted to any believer, except due to his good

outlook and intentions towards Allah, his good behavior and his
refrain from back biting and slander of his fellow believer. I also
swear by Allah, there is no God besides Him, that Allah will not
punish anyone after he has repented and sought forgiveness
but for his bad attitude, lack of hope in the mercy of Allah, bad
behavior and back biting his fellow believers."
The Prophet (s) continues, "I also swear by Allah, there is no

God besides Him, that no believer who has good outlook and
intentions towards Allah will ever receive less than what he
expects from Him, since Allah is Benevolent and ample-giving
and has the Authority over all that is good. As such, it would be
unbefitting of Allah to act against the good outlook and
expectation of His servant. Therefore, have a good outlook
towards Allah and feel inclined towards Him." (Mishkat al-
Anwar)
Correct systems of beliefs, excellent morality, exemplary

behavior and full hope in Allah (swt)'s Mercy are the
characteristic virtues of a sincere believer. His outlook towards
Allah (swt) is full of hope and "Rajaa." He is forever optimistic
whereas pessimism has no place in him. On the other hand, a
believer who is a sinner, however great his sins maybe, can still
repent sincerely and compensate for his sins, and should never
be pessimistic and lose hope or have any doubt in the
boundless Mercy of Allah (swt) and forgiveness after sincere
repentance.
What is meant by optimistic and pessimistic outlook towards

Allah (swt) is explained clearly in a tradition narrated by
Allamah Majlisi. The tradition says, "A person should be hopeful
of Allah's forgiveness when he repents for his sins. He should
be confident when he turns to Allah that he will be accepted.
~200~
When he prays correctly and with concentration, he should be

hopeful that his prayer will be answered. When he asks for help
from Allah, he should feel assured that Allah is sufficient for him
to help. And when he performs a good deed for the sake of
Allah, he should be certain that Allah will accept his deed."
(Bihar al-Anwar) This is what is meant by optimism.
The opposite of it is pessimism. A person who is pessimistic

towards Allah (swt) commits a major sin. This is a sin mentioned
in Du'a Kumayl by Amir al-Mu'mineen (a). He says, "O' Allah,
forgive my sins that would cut off and destroy hope." According
to Imam Sadiq (a) these sins are: pessimism or hopelessness in
receiving the Mercy and Compassion of Allah (swt), reliance on
someone other than Him and mistrust in His promises.
A Muslim should look at his Muslim brother's conduct

favorably, however bad it may appear to him. It is not correct,
in fact it is sinful, to look at others' behavior negatively. If a
Muslim sees his Muslim brother in a sinful place such as a casino
or a bar or among a company of sinners, he should not assume
that the person is also one of them. Rather, he should give him
the benefit of being innocent unless he sees by his own eyes
that the person is engaged in a sinful activity.
ABANDONING CHARITY AND GOOD DEEDS

(“TARK AL-SADQAH WAL AL- IHSAN”)
CHARITY - BACKGROUND
Charity is a general term that covers a wide field of help and

assistance ranging from a small and seemingly insignificant act
of removing a stone or a brick from the side walk so as to save
an unwary person walking from tripping over it and falling
down, to running worldwide charitable institutions that help
the poor, the widows and the orphans, the needy, the
~201~
destitute, the sick and the injured, the refugees from the war-
torn countries, and the people stricken with natural disasters.
Charity provides a means of survival for millions of

impoverished people, particularly, in the Third World countries
where the majority of the poor people live under the most dire
conditions and die in thousands every day, especially children
who suffer from hunger and diseases, in spite of billions of
dollars poured into these countries in aid.
In Islam all acts of charity rank as acts of worship ("Ibadah") and

are either referred to as "Zakat" or "Sadaqah" given out directly
or indirectly, as a religious obligation or a voluntary act
respectively, in the way of and for the pleasure of Allah (swt).
In Islam, "Zakat" is a form of obligatory charity tax that
constitutes a pillar of faith. Similarly, "Sadaqah" is a form of
voluntary charity that is highly recommended and results in an
abundant reward from Allah (swt) in this world and the
hereafter.
There are huge number of verses in the Qur'an and Hadith of

our Ae'mmah (a) exhorting us to pay "Zakat" and "Sadaqah"
regularly and never to fail or falter in discharging our
obligations to Allah (swt) and the humanity as a whole as we
are brothers of one another in humanity. Doing good to people
and giving charity to the poor and the needy pleases Allah (swt)
and ensures His abundant Mercy as well as ready acceptance of
our prayers and supplications to Him. Charity, according to the
Hadith of our Ae'mmah (a), prevents seventy kinds of calamities
and takes away illnesses and grief.
Both of these Islamic terminologies of "Zakat" and "Sadaqah"

have extensive and deeper meanings than the English word
charity which, etymologically, has a Christian origin. Charity can
~202~
take many forms such as caring and looking after the sick, even
visiting the sick and speaking a few words of kindness and
empathy to them are all spiritually very rewarding acts. Helping
a stranded traveler, educating an orphan, donating to causes
that benefit the unfortunate indirectly such as donations to
cancer research are other forms of charity. However, most
forms of charity are concerned with providing basic necessities
of life, such as food, water, clothing, health care and shelter.
Many charitable institutions have evolved which carry out the

functions of providing the basic necessities of life to the poor as
well as to orphanages, homeless shelters, food banks, religious
institutions dedicated to the care of the poor, hospitals,
hospices and nursing homes. These institutions facilitate those
engaged in businesses, working class people and others who
cannot themselves directly care for the poor and the needy to
donate money to enable the institutions carry out their
functions. Many retired professionals provide voluntary
services to these institutions.
Against this background, with all available facilities to give

charity, withholding or abandoning charity constitutes not only
a great sin in the eyes of Allah (swt) but also an outrage against
the spirit of humanity and goodness inherent in the nature of
man. Man no longer remains a man when he loses this inherent
attribute. Justice demands that all his prayers and supplications
be blocked from reaching Allah (swt) in this world and he be
subjected to severe punishment in the hereafter.
RUDENESS AND USE OF OBSCENE

LANGUAGE (“AL-FAHSH WA AL-BIDHA’”)
This category of sins includes all kinds of indecencies, obscenity,
shamefulness, vile deeds, adultery and fornication ("al-
~203~
fuhsha#"). Words are spoken through the human faculty of

speech. Bad words are spoken out of impudence and rudeness
and they hurt the person to whom the words are spoken. They
are usually in the form of backbiting, accusations, slander,
spreading false rumors, swearing and using foul and obscene
words.
Most of the human failings originate from or are committed by

the tongue. Words can make or break a man. Good or bad
words indicate the character of a person, whether he is good or
bad. Speaking good and truthful words, guiding people towards
goodness and helping the innocent through the power speech
bring great rewards to man. On the other hand, bad and
obscene words, and rude and impudent behavior ruin the
reputation of a man and, consequently, he is looked down in
the society.
Therefore, it is necessary that children are educated right from

their childhood to build a strong moral character so as to get rid
of rudeness when they talk and indecencies, obscenity,
wickedness in their behavior, and sexual offences such as
adultery and fornication. If the sins that block prayers are not
committed, people in the society can leave in peace and
security. This is, in fact, an elementary moral imperative and is
required to be followed by every ordinary, civilized and
cultured man and every one of their children.
Imam Sadiq (a) said, "Among the signs that indicate the
Shaytan's interfering in human activities is that the person
becomes insulting and abusive. He has no fear of anything and
does not care what he says and what is said about him." The
Imam also said, "Abusive language is caused by saying what is
untrue and the place of the untrue is the Fire of Hell." In some
Hadith, Allah (swt) withdraws His blessings from the sustenance
~204~
of that person and terminates the facilities He has given him for
his living.
The remaining categories of ethical, economic, religious and

political sins that block the acceptance of Du'a by Allah (swt)
will be the subject of the next chapter.
~205~
CHAPTER NINE

FROM ACCEPTANCE (CONT'D)
He is the ever-Living, there is no god but He, therefore call
on/supplicate to Him, putting sincere and exclusive faith in
him(be sincerely and exclusivly devoted to his way); (all) praise
is for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. (Q: 40:65)
IX: The Fourth Category of Sins (Cont)
HIGHLIGHTS
CHAPTER NINE 211

FOURTH CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS THAT BLOCK
SUPPLICATIONS FROM ACCEPTANCE (CONT'D). 211
ETHICAL: 211
ARROGANCE/EGOTISM/PRIDE ("KIBR/ISTIKBAR") 212
DEFINITION 212
CAUSES AND FORMS 212

ISLAM CONDEMNS ARROGANCE 213
THE QUR'AN 213
PROPHET AND AE'MMAH'S HADITH 21?
VANITY/SNOBBERY ("GHURUR") 217
DEFINITION/DESCRIPTION.... 217
THE QUR'AN 218
HADITH 219
SUMMARY 221
ENVY/JEALOUSY ("HASAD")......... 221
WHAT ENVY ("HASAD") MEANS 222
WHAT JEALOUSY MEANS......... 222
SYMPTOMS OF THE SICKNESS 223
~ 209 ~
Du'a Kumayl.A Brief Commentary
THE QUR'AN.............................................................. 223
DUPLICITY/DOUBLE CROSSING/HYPOCRISY ("DHU AL-

WAJHAIN WA AN-NIFAQ")............................................ 226
DEFINITION 226
MORAL 226
SOCIAL 227
MANIFESTATION 227
THE QUR'AN 228
~210~
CHAPTER NINE
THAT BLOCK SUPPLICATIONS FROM
ACCEPTANCE (CONT’D)
In this chapter we continue to discuss sins that block our Du;as
from reaching Allah (swt) for His acceptance. We have four
categories of sins left for discussion. These are: Ethical,
Economic, Religious and Political. We will only discuss ethical
sins in this chapter.
Several of these ethical sins have already been discussed in

greater or lesser details under various categories in the
previous chapters. Previously we discussed them from moral
and spiritual aspects. They are also included in the category of
sins that block our Du'as from reaching Allah (swt). However,
instead of just mentioning them, we will benefit by briefly
discussing these sins from the theological aspect to refresh our
memories and also to increase our understanding of them.
ETHICAL:
Sins relating to moral conduct and behavior practiced generally

in any society
~211~
Du'o KumoyhA Brief Commentary
ARROGANCE/EGOTISM/PRIDE
(“KIBR/ISTIKBAR”)
DEFINITION
Arrogance is defined as an attitude or sense of superiority

displayed in a bossy behavior and speech by inflating one's own
worth or importance. It is also shown or reflected in making
undue claim of rank, dignity, power, elevating the self-worth or
self-importance to an unjustified degree, and perceiving
oneself as superior while holding others as inferior and
denouncing them for their shortcomings. Intellectual arrogance
is a mental condition whereby an individual lets his pride for
being very smart in his field of life go to his head and become
swollen- headed.
CAUSES AND FORMS
Arrogance can take several forms, common among which arise

from being very rich; holding high social, political, intellectual
or religious rank or position; having nobility in ancestry;
possessing extraordinary merits; receiving high honors in any
branch of science and technology or any field of knowledge;
achieving extraordinarily high success in any field of business or
industrial or commercial undertaking. These and other such
causes give rise to arrogance and so can raise popularity, power
and celebrity in any professional life.
The worst and evil type of arrogance is that which is shown in

rejecting the Truth and acting in defiance of Allah (swt)'s rules,
commandments and prohibitions and then feeling proud for
violating Allah (swt)'s Word. Shaytan was outcast and cursed by
Allah (swt) for committing this sin. Another worst type of
arrogance is shown in trying to lower the high status of the
~212~
Prophets and the "Awleeyah" of Allah (swt), making them

appear equal to us and belittling the values of their traditions.
This attitude was more prevalent during the time of our

Prophet (s). Now-a-days the same attitude still persists but in a
refined and intellectual form by those who claim to be highly
educated and modern in their thinking, mostly coming from
higher institutes of learning.
Arrogance in all forms is detestable. It can also generate many

other vices. It gives rise to hatred and rancor in human hearts,
disgraces man in the eyes of his fellow human beings and brings
about ultimate humiliation for him. It compels others to
retaliate and despise him for looking down on them.
ISLAM CONDEMNS ARROGANCE
Islam denounces arrogance as one of the great and

unpardonable sins against Allah (swt). It defines it as psychic
state in which a person feels a sense of superiority and behaves
haughtily with others. Arrogance is considered as one of the
. H
most dangerous inner diseases of the heart and its destructive
effects are reflected in the behavior and conduct of the person
suffering from this serious sickness.
The Qur'an contains over sixty verses condemning arrogance

("kibr/istikbar") and arrogant people
("mustakbirin/mutakabbirin") and so do many Hadith of our
Ae'mmah (a). We will mention only a few verses and Hadith
relating to this topic.
THE QUR'AN
The translations of the verses given below are explanatory and

some are paraphrased to facilitate their understanding.
~213~
Chapter 7 verse 36: "And those who deny Our Signs

(interpreted to include the divinely appointed guides and their
guidance) and, declaring their disrespect against and turning
away from them, they shall be the inmates of the Hell-Fire and
they shall remain in it forever."
Chapter 7 verse 40: "Indeed, those who deny Our Signs

(interpreted as in the preceding verse) and proudly turn away
from them disrespectfully, the gates of Heaven shall not be
opened for them nor shall they ever enter the Paradise ... (it will
be impossible for them to ever enter the Paradise)."
Chapter 32 verse 15: "Only those believe in Our Signs who,

when reminded of them fall down in prostration to their Lord,
raising His glorification by praising Him highly and never
elevating themselves arrogantly." (It is reported that this verse
was revealed about Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a) and his true
followers, the Shias.)
Chapter 40 verse 56: "Indeed those who dispute about the

Signs of Allah without any authority that may have come to
them, they have only vanity in their heart, a futile ambition or
desire to become great which they will never attain. So seek
protection from Allah. Indeed He is the All-Hearing, the All-
Seeing."
Chapter 39 verse 59: "Yes, My Signs certainly came to you but

you denied them and acted arrogantly, proudly and you were
among the unbelievers."
Chapter 39 verse 72: "It will be said to them, 'Enter the gates of
Hell to remain in it forever. Evil is the ultimate home of the
arrogant/"
~214~
Chapter 37 verse 35: "Indeed, they were the ones who, when
they were told, There is no God except Allah' used to turn
away, behave proudly, arrogantly."
Chapter 16 verse 29: "Miserable indeed will be the place to stay

of the arrogant."
The story of the Shaytan given in detail in the Qur'an is well

known. He was outcast, cursed and removed from Allah (swt)'s
Mercy and doomed for punishment of the Hell-Fire for his
arrogance. It is therefore obvious that an arrogant person is not
only far away from Allah(swt)'s Mercy but is also doomed to be
cast into the Hell-Fire to dwell in there forever. The Qur'an
considers such a person as an unbeliever.
PROPHET AND AE'MMAH'S HADITH
Arrogance against accepting the Truth or Allah (swt)'s and His

Prophet (s)'s Rules and Commandments is the same as
Shaytan's action in disobeying and defying Allah (swt)'s
Commandment to prostrate in front of Adam when His Spirit
was blown in him. The punishment of such a person is the Hell-
Fire and, in this world, he will be deprived of Allah (swt)'s
Mercy.
Imam Sadiq (a) said, "Glory, Dignity and Greatness belong

exclusively to Allah. Anyone who tries to touch or break through
this wall by his arrogance will be placed in the Hell." (Bihar al-
Anwar)
When asked by the Imam's companion what arrogance is, the

Imam Sadiq (a) replied, 'The highest and worst degree of
arrogance is belittling the truth and the people worthy ("ahl")
of the truth." And when further asked how that is done, the
Imam replied, "Belittling the truth is misinterpreting it and
~215~
admonishing or criticizing those who interpret it correctly and

support it."
Imam Baqir (a) said, "When some amount of pride enters the
heart of a person, his intellect is reduced by the same amount
or even greater amount" (Bihar al-Anwar). Both Imam Baqir (a)
and Imam Sadiq (a) said, "One who has even an atom weight of
arrogance in his heart would not enter the Paradise" (Al-Kafi).
Imam Sadiq (a) also said, "Indeed, there is a place in the Hell
called 'Saqar7 for the arrogant to dwell in. Owing to its extreme
heat, it complains to Allah to allow it to take a breath. When it
takes a breath and breaths out, it sets the whole Hell into a
fierce fire." This is a metaphorical expression to give an idea of
what "Saqar" is.
In fact, Allah (swt) in Chapter 74:27 says, "Wa ma adraka ma

Saqar? And what will showyou or make you realize what 'Saqar'
is?" There are seven places where (swt) uses the words "wa ma
adraka" to tell us that it is beyond the human power of
perception to imagine what the place is.
While addressing a group of sinful and misguided people, Imam

'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a) in one of his short sayings said, "Between
yourself and good guidance exists the veil of
arrogance/egotism." It means the veil of arrogance/egotism
blocks good guidance and advice from entering the mind of an
arrogant person. His heart becomes opaque, so no ray of light
of guidance can now enter.
The Imam has indicated how arrogance develops step-by-step

in a man. The process begins with the love of the self. As the
love of one's self increases to its highest point, the man
becomes completely self-centered. He now perceives himself
to be superior to all the rest. When this feeling of superiority
~216~
intensifies, the man becomes arrogant and considers himself to

be at the top of the ladder, unreachable with all the rest of the
people being below him. He now starts dominating them.
He perceives himself to be the standard of merits and

importance by which others should be judged accordingly.
Everyone necessarily falls short of the standard as he perceives
himself to be the epitome of all values, merits and
achievements.
Imam 'Ali (a) also said, "The worst and most destructible
sickness of the intellect is pride." Therefore,
pride/egotism/arrogance causes the impregnable veil to cover
the intellect and becomes a barrier between him and Allah
(swt). It blocks his supplication and communication to Allah
(swt) and he is left to grope in the darkness of his arrogance and
to finally fall from his self-perceived high status to total
destruction.
In conclusion, unless the mind is cured of this disease and the

soul is cleared of all the traits of pride/arrogance/egotism, it is
not possible for a person to become worthy of achieving
nearness to Allah (swt) and experiencing the taste of His
Pleasure and Mercy and the spiritual radiance and shine in his
mind.
VANITY/SNOBBERY (“GHURUR”)
"Ghurur" literarily means deception, delusion, illusion, conceit.

However, the general and comprehensive interpretation of the
word "gurur" used in the Qur'an as made by various
interpreters says that any action and speech that does not carry
any significant benefit is vain. This basic concept is extended to
~217~
include all frivolities and useless plays, singing, and music that
are harmful. Some interpreters have construed it as polytheism
while others have considered it as a great sin.
Vanity does not only mean idle talk and action but also idle,
futile and baseless thoughts that take one away from the
remembrance of Allah (swt). It also prevents one from
pondering upon good and constructive things. All of these
characteristics are summed up in the concept of one Qur'anic
word, "laghw", which also similarly means vanity.
Vanity is a spiritual disease of the heart. It pollutes the mind

that becomes oblivious of the realities of the materialistic world
and its delusions. It then leads to excessive, temporary
materialistic enjoyments and neglect of the permanent
pleasures of the life in the hereafter. We shall limit our
discussion to looking at a few verses of the Qur'an which point
to these tendencies in human beings.
THE QUR'AN
The Qur'an contains about 27 verses relating to "ghurur",

vanity, from which we can extract its various meanings and
warnings to guard ourselves against contracting this disease.
So let us look at the following few verses and their explanatory
translations:
Chapter 3:185: "... and the life of this world is nothing but a
setting up of vanity, the producer of delusion
and false impression; it has no stability or reality in it."
Chapter 4:120k: "He (Shaytan) makes false promises to them

(mankind) and he stimulates vain desires in them and gives
them false promises, yet Shaytan does not promise them
anything but deception."
~218~
Chapter 31:33: "... so do not let the life of this world deceive
you, nor let the deceiver (that is, anyone or anything that
diverts one from the path of Allah) deceive you concerning
Allah."
Chapter 33:12: "And when the hypocrite, as well as those in

whose hearts was a disease (of kufr), were saying, 'Allah and His
Apostle did not promise us anything but deception, delusion/"
(The hypocrites had doubted the assurance given to them by
the Prophet (s) about the ultimate victory of Islam against the
most formidable forces of the enemy ("al-Ahzab"); the promise,
they claimed, was only a deceptive measure adopted by the
Prophet (s) to encourage them to face the enemy.)
Chapter 35:5: "O' people, Allah's promise is, indeed true. So do

not let the life of this world deceive you, nor let the deceiver
(anyone or anything that diverts one from the path of Allah)
deceive you about Allah (taking His mercy for granted and going
on and on committing sins after sins.)"
I
B
Chapter 57:14: "... you doubted in Allah's warning and your
vain desires deceived you until the Decree of Allah came to pass
(death) and the deceiver (Shaytan) deceived you concerning
8
Allah (and made you commit sins after sins until death overtook
you...)"
HADITH
We will now look at a few, among numerous hadith of our

Prophet (s) and our Ae'mmah (a) with regard to "ghurur"
(vanity) and try to reflect upon what they said about it.
1. The Prophet (s) said, "The most honorable of people

are those who restrain themselves from what is
useless." (Shaykh Saduq, Al-Amali)
~219~
2. The Prophet (s) also said, "Peace of one's mind is

achieved by keeping away from vain affairs." (Al-Bihar)
3. In a letter to Abdullah ibn 'Abbas, Imam 'Ali ibn Abi
Talib (a) said, "So follow what is beneficial and leave out
what is vain." (Al-Bihar)
4. Imam 'Ali (a) also said, "Every speech in which there is
no remembrance of Allah is vain." (Al-Bihar)
5. The Prophet (s) said, "Do not bring the flames of fire
upon your faces by involving yourselves in vain
activities." (Al-Bihar)
6. The Prophet (s) also said, "A good sign of a person's
belief in Islam is giving up what is vain" (Shaykh Saduq,
Al-Amali). Imam Sadiq (a) said, "Refrain from doing
what is vain, for you will become miserable and
detested." (Al-Bihar)
7. Imam Sadiq (a) used to say in a prayer, "O' Allah, Have
Mercy on me (in granting me resistance) against sins
totally in my life and be merciful to me so that I do not
get into trouble due to doing what is vain." (al-'lkhtisas)
8. Imam Baqir (a) said, "You should act with justice and do
not fix the difficulties you face with unjust means and
abstain from what is vain." (Al-Bihar)
9. Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a) said, "A vain word in a speech
and a vain act in conduct bring about evil
consequences." (Al-Bihar)
10. Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a) also said, "Recovering from
the intoxication of vanity (ghurur) and heedlessness
(ghaflah) is a lot harder than recovering from the
intoxication of liquor." (Mlzan al- Hikmah)
11. The Prophet (s) said to ibn Masud, "Do not get into
neglect of Allah by being deceived by the feeling of
~ 220 ~
vanity (ghurur) for your own intense worship,

knowledge and good deeds." (Mizan al-Hikmah)
SUMMARY
To summarize, we can understand vanity better if we look at

the other side of the picture, that is, at the people who are not
vain. The qualities of those who avoid vanity totally, in all its
aspects and forms, are that they are mindful of the realities of
this life. They are fully aware of the transitory nature of this
world and are not deceived by the worldly wealth, but rather,
occupy themselves in virtuous deeds.
Verse 3 of Chapter 23 of the Qur'an gives us one of several

qualities of the believers. The verse says, "And those who keep
aloof from that which is vain." In fact, all the activities and
programs in life of such people have a useful and constructive
purpose, because uselessness means futile, irrelevant anc
ineffective action. By contrast, people who are vain and
snobbish ("maghrur") do not care about the hereafter. They are
heedless of what they do in this world. They believe in worldly
pleasures and doubt about the life in the hereafter. It is obvious
V u
that vanity is a sin that blocks the Du'a from reaching Allah (swt)
for His acceptance.
ENVY/JEALOUSY (“HASAD”)
We have partly discussed this subject in Chapter Three under
Islamic Moral Issues (Ref. Pages ). We will now discuss it
fully as an Ethical Issue, quoting various verses of the Qur'an
and Hadith of our Prophet (s) and the Ae'mmah (a) to show how
"hasad" has been condemned as a great sin against Allah (swt)
and why it blocks our Du'as from reaching Allah (swt), let alone
getting them accepted.
~221~
WHAT ENVY ("HASAD") MEANS
Envy ("hasad") is a mental state in which the emotions and

feelings of a person show that he is suffering from sickness or
disease of the soul. Its symptom is that he wishes the blessing
or the talent or the merit, whether real or imagined, which the
other person has should be taken away from him.
WHAT JEALOUSY MEANS
Jealousy is another word that is also used for "hasad." It is a

mild form of the same sickness of the soul but less destructive
than envy. Although in Arabic both words are used to mean
"hasad", the two have different shades of meanings.
To put it simply, jealousy is to want something that one does

not have but the other fellow has it, while envy is to want the
other fellow not to have it under any circumstance, regardless
of whether or not one has it.
Envy is among the most destructive emotions which a person

may have towards his fellow human being. It causes him to wish
evil for the other fellow and to be happy when an adversity
overtakes him. Another characteristic of this sickness is that it
makes no difference whether or not the other fellow has that
quality or possession, but he should not by any means have it.
In a worst case scenario, the envious person can go as far as
killing the other person when the intensity of the envy reaches
its climax.
The last verse of Chapter 113:5 says, "And (I seek protection

from the Lord) against the evil of the envious when he envies."
One should therefore seek protection from Allah (swt) from the
harm such an envious person can cause to one whom he envies.
~ 222~
SYMPTOMS OF THE SICKNESS
1. Inferiority complex - The person feels inferior to others

whom he perceives to be better than himself
intellectually, morally, materially, socially or in terms of
achievements.
2. Superiority complex-The person, in contrast to feeling
inferior, feels superior. He exhibits pride, self
admiration, and excellence in performance and
expertise in all fields.
3. Depression and dejection - This state of mind
generates a desire to destroy or harm other's merits,
social or religious status, material wealth, great
achievements and high reputation.
4. Evil and wicked mindset - In this state of mind the
person intensely dislikes others who have any kind of
material, intellectual, spiritual or social achievements
which he may or may not have and desires that they
should lose them even if it means losing whatever he k
C
himself has.
t
THE QUR'AN
Envy/Jealousy is condemned in the Qur'an

in several verses:
Chapter 4:54: "Or do they envy the people of what Allah has
given them out of His Grace ..."
The background to the revelation of this verse is the promise of

a kingdom given to the progeny of Prophet Ibrahim. However,
the Kingdom was denied to the Jews who also belonged to the
progeny of Prophet Ibrahim from Prophet Is'haq and instead
went to the progeny of Prophet Ismail, the other son of Prophet
~223~
Ibrahim in accordance to the covenant made with Prophet

Ibrahim. This was the cause of the envy of the Jews which
intensified after their defeat in several battles that they fought
against our Prophet (s), including the battle of Khaibar.
The gift given to the progeny of Prophet Ismail consisted of the

Book, the wisdom and the Kingdom. Generation after
generation has elapsed following Prophet Ismail through to the
Last Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad (s) from the descendants of
Hashim, son of Abdul Muttalib , but the promise has not yet
been fulfilled. It will finally be fulfilled by the Last Imam,
Muhammad al-Mahdi (a), from the pure progeny of Prophet
Muhammad (s), who will be given this Kingdom. He will
eliminate all the roots of oppression and injustice and fill the
earth with Justice and equity.
The concept can also be extended to any bounties and favors

that Allah (swt) provides to His servant. When it gives rise to
envy in another man against the person who is the recipient of
the blessings, it constitutes a clear sign of discontent and
defiance against Allah (swt)'s choice of His servants to bless.
This is a great sin since it goes against Allah (swt)'s Will. For
Allah (swt) has, by His Wisdom, kept His bounties, favors,
provisions for the maintenance of His servants ('"ibaad") in His
sole control. He apportions and gives them as He wills.
A true believer is satisfied and pleased with what he and others

get. He is not envious of those who get more than himself. In
fact he is pleased when he sees others getting more than
himself. By contrast, a person who is envious of others who
have been blessed with abundance of bounties is a rebel
against Allah (swt)'s Will.
~224~
Referring to an envious person, Imam Sadiq (a) said, "Such a

person neither belongs to Allah nor does Allah belong to him."
The magnitude of the consequence of Allah (swt) disowning
such a person and removing His Mercy and guardianship over
him is such that there will be neither salvation nor intercession
for him.
There are several evil impacts that envy has on the person who
envies. We have seen the adverse impact on his fortune. In
extreme cases it can provoke the person to harm the person
whom he envies or even to commit murder.
In conclusion, to paraphrase what Imam Sadiq (a) said, "Indeed,

envy/jealousy consumes belief the way fire burns out wood
reducing it to ashes" (Al-Kafi). We have seen how thousands of
acres of woodland are destroyed within a short time by a raging
fire that sweeps across the woodland, destroying everything in
its path.
The Imam also said, "The calamity that befalls belief anc
destroys it completely consists of envy/jealousy, self-praise
and pride" (Al-Kafi). He also said, "The Prophet sought
protection from Allah from six moral sicknesses. These are:
suspicion, disbelief, arrogance, anger, oppression and envy."
(Bihar al-Anwar)
Prophet Musa, Kalimul-Llah, was once talking and praying to

Allah (swt) when he saw a man under the shade of Allah (swt)'s
Empyrean ("Arsh"). He asked Allah (swt), "O' Lord, who is this
man whom your Highest Heaven is shadowing him?" The
answer that Prophet Musa got was, 'This man is one of those
who are not jealous of what Allah has bestowed upon others."
In fact, a person who has noble moral traits would feel happy
on account of the other fellow having excellent merits or
~225~
possessions and would wish that he always kept it, while at the
same time desire the same for himself, regardless of whether
or not he gets it.
It is therefore clear that envy/jealousy acts as a barrier that

blocks Du'as from reaching Allah (swt) while, on the other hand,
excellent moral qualities in a person raises his supplications to
the High heavens to reach Allah (swt) for His acceptance.
DUPLICITY/DOUBLE CROSSING/HYPOCRISY
(“DHU AL-WAJHAIN WA AN-NIFAQ”)
DEFINITION
Hypocrisy has a variety of meanings. It is the act, claim or

pretense of professing or holding beliefs, feelings, standards,
qualities, opinions, behaviors, virtues, mindsets or other
characteristics that do not, in actual fact, exist in the person. In
other words, these are insincere, dishonest, double-faced
claims of high principles or false pretense of possession of
admirable qualities when the person does not, in fact, have
them.
MORAL
Morally, hypocrisy is the failure to follow one's own expressed

moral rules and principles; in other words, preaching what one
does not practice. This is the characteristic of a person who
assumes an outward appearance and fakes a behavior which is
contrary to his inner state. As an example, a person may give an
outward impression of friendship and affection and pretend to
be sincere and sympathetic, while in his heart he nourishes the
opposite feeling. In public, he shows admirable behavior and
conduct, whereas in private he is wicked and vicious, a kind of
Jekyll and Hyde personality.
~226~
SOCIAL
Socially, double standard is the quality of a person who praises

and flatters people whenever he meets them. He interacts with
them as a friend but denounces them and slanders and
defames them in their absence. In religious terms, double
standard or "nifaq" is manifested in these two ways; one is in
speech and the other is in conduct and action.
These two features are among the prominent and weird

characteristics of the hypocrites ("munafiqun"). Individually,
when they meet anyone, their conduct towards that person will
be to greet him double-facedly and speak with double tongue.
Socially, his relations and interactions with others will be tense
with duplicity and double-cross. They will lack truthfulness,
sincerity, nobility and heartiness. Such a person lacks human
qualities and on the Day of Judgment he will be resurrected as
a companion of Shaytan and will live in the deepest valley of
the Hell to burn permanently in the raging and roaring fire.
4
m
MANIFESTATION
There are several ways in which hypocrisy manifests itself:
One way is hypocrisy shows its self in a religious garb. The

person appears as pious and religious in public in his interaction
with people, while in private he is an irreligious and wicked
person acting viciously and oppressing others.
A second way is that the person poses as a most virtuous and

religious fellow to deceive and steal things from people. At
other times, the person appears as the most trustworthy fellow
in public to deceive people and then betrays the trust that
people put in him and robs them of their money and other
belongings.
~ 227 ~
A third way is that the person shows himself as righteous in his

deeds, while his actions away from the public view are wicked
and malicious.
A fourth way is that we see in our day-to-day life and

interactions, people double cross one another and cause loss
and harm, both among those who belong to the same faith and
with others who belong to different communities and faith.
They are all one in terms of being humans, irrespective of who
they are.
In all its manifestations, hypocrisy is a grievous and great sin

against God and humanity and is detestable in all its forms. It
acts as a solid block against any supplication from reaching
Allah (swt).
THE QUR'AN
The Qur'an is severe on hypocrisy ("nifaq") and the hypocrites

("munafiqun") and condemns it/them in the most stark and
scornful words. The punishment for them is said to be the
raging fire in the deepest burning valley at the bottom of the
Hell (Q. 4:145).
The Qur'an contains numerous verses, running sometimes in

series of ten or more verses, describing their qualities, their
characteristic features, their conduct and behavior in public
and private, and their contradictory words when they speak
while they interact with believers and non-believers. We will
look at a few of the verses to get a glimpse of the sin's severity
and gravity.
The background of most of these verses revealed both in

Makka and Madina is seen in the earliest Arab converts,
including the chiefs of their tribes, who came into the fold of
~228~
Islam under the current prevailing circumstances and not by

individual independent conviction. It was caused more by
pretense, than sincere belief. It was all superficial show and
never reached their heart.
The hypocrisy was not limited to one class but extended right
across the board from religious, social, ethical to political fields.
These hypocrites were those who had intense love of the
material world. They strongly longed for political power and
authority to rule over Muslims and amass wealth.
The rapidly spreading supreme ideology of Islam which

developed under the comprehensive authority of the Prophet
(s) shattered the hopes of the hypocrites of gaining hold over
the people. This led them to become the hidden enemies of the
Prophet (s) and the companions who were faithful to him.
These fellows were false and fake believers who, having failed
to achieve their ambition during the lifetime of the Prophet (s),
started to misinterpret and misrepresent the verses of Qur'an
to suit their selfish aims and corrupt conduct immediately after
his departure from this world. They usurped power and
authority from the rightful successors of the Prophet (s) whom
they oppressed, ostracized, imprisoned and finally killed by
sword or poison.
We should bear in mind that hypocrisy might lurk in any heart

which is not properly purified. Therefore every sincere believer,
knowing that his heart is not pure to the required degree,
should always guard himself against hypocrisy creeping
secretly, unconsciously and imperceptibly in his heart.
Given below are a few main verses among numerous verses of

the Qur'an relating to hypocrisy and hypocrites:
~229~
Chapter 2 verses 8 to 10 give the qualities of the hypocrites,

their malice and false pride, illustrated graphically by simple
similes and metaphors. Starting from verse 2, "And among the
people are those who say, 'We believe in God and the Last Day
(the Day of Judgment)'while, in fact, they are not at all
believers. They seek to deceive God and those who believe,
while they only deceive themselves but they are not aware."
The verses continue, "There is a spiritual sickness

(envy/jealousy and hypocrisy) in their hearts, and God
increases their sickness and a painful punishment has been kept
for them because of the lies they used to tell. " The series
continues to Verse No. 20, all of which point to the same theme
of spiritual sickness of hypocrisy killing the heart, and the
hypocrites getting lost in a thick forest of spiritual darkness.
Chapter 4 verse 140: "... Allah will gather the hypocrites

(munafiqun) and the non-believers (kafirun) in the Hell all
together." One of the qualities of a hypocrite given in this verse
is that they not only disbelieve but also mock at the Signs of
Allah (swt). They are in this way worse than disbelievers. They
will be grouped together in the Hell.
Chapter 4 verse 142: "Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive

Allah, while it is He who outwits them; and when they stand up
for prayers, they stand up lazily (not sincerely), they do so only
to show off to the people, and they hardly remember Allah."
The hypocrites know inside their hearts that Allah (swt) is
beyond being deceived. The verse actually indicates that they
attempt is to deceive believers.
The hypocrites imagine themselves to be good. They base their

belief on their own imaginations and false conceptions. When
they do any good deed, the purpose is to obtain worldly respect
~230~
and reputation, and gain goodwill of the people. They are

acclaimed and honored by the people and expect Allah (swt)
also to reward them for the good deed. Allah (swt) allows them
to remain in their state of delusion and does not expose them.
When they are finally found to be deceiving the people, it brings
their downfall. People no longer trust or respect them.
Chapter 4 verse 145: "Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the

lowest level of the Hell-Fire, and you will never find any helper
for them." This is the worst stage of punishment. They deserve
much more than this because they are the hidden enemies of
Islam and the Prophet of Islam (s). Hidden enemies are worse
than open enemies because of the tremendous harm that they
cause to Islam.
Chapter 9 verse 68: "Allah has promised the hypocrites, men

and women, and the disbelievers, the Fire of Hell, to dwell in it
for ever. That is sufficient for them. Allah has cursed them and
there is a lasting punishment for them." Whomsoever Allah
(swt) curses, he is doomed to suffer terribly in the last stage of
the Hell-Fire.
Chapter 9 verse 101: "And those who are around you amon^
the desert- dweller Arabs are hypocrites, together with those

among the peoples of Madina, they are obstinate and deep-
rooted in hypocrisy. You (referring to the Prophet) do not know
them, We know them and, We will punish them twice, and they
will be given a grievous punishment."
Chapter 40, verse 35: "Those who dispute about the Signs of
Allah without authority having been given to them by Allah are
greatly hated by Allah and by those who believe; thus Allah sets
a seal over every heart of those who are arrogant, haughty and
tyrannical." This verse clearly states that those who defy and
~231~
disregard the Signs of Allah (swt) due to their arrogance, vanity,

self-conceit and self-centeredness have spiritual dark veil cast
over their hearts.
Their hearts have become completely opaque to the

perception of the truth due to the sickness rooted in their
arrogance and self-conceit. Such hearts are suffocated in the
absence of spiritual light and eventually die. They are blind in
this world and will be resurrected blind on the Day of Judgment
and will be doomed to burn in the Hell-Fire forever. To use
another simile, their hearts become like a closed container.
Neither can the filthy contents in it come out nor can the clean
and wholesome contents go in.
Chapter 63 verses 1 to 4 (Surah al-Munafiqun): The Surah takes

the name from its main topic, the hypocrites (munafiqun), and
gives their main characteristic features. The verses say, "When
the hypocrites come to you (referring to the Prophet) and say
that 'you are indeed the Prophet of Allah' and Allah knows that
you are His Prophet and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites
are indeed liars."
"They make shield of their oaths, and block and bar others from
the way of Allah. Evil indeed is what they used to do. That is
because they believed and then disbelieved and so their hearts
were sealed, and that is why they do not understand."
The verses continue, "When you see them, their bodies marvel
and impress you. And if they speak, you listen to what they say.
They are like dry blocks of wood covered with cloth, set
reclining against a wall. They assume that every cry is against
them. They are your enemies, so beware of them. May Allah
annihilate them, wherever, that is, in whatever direction, they
stray away from the Right Path."
~232~
We conclude this chapter by quoting Hadith of Imam 'Ali ibn Abi

Talib (a), Imam Ridha (a), Imam Sadiq (a) and Imam Baqir (a).
According to Imam 'AN (a), hypocrisy rests on, is supported by

any one of the following four posts or pillars:
1. Worship of one's vain and immoral desires of worldly,

materialistic attractions that pull man to commit
sinful acts
2. Delay due to laziness in fulfilling religious obligations
3. Anger and
4. Greed
In addition, these four factors also bring down a thick veil over
the vision of the intellect.
In reply to Muhammad ibn Fudhayl, Imam Ridha (a) wrote,

"The hypocrites behave double-facedly in their relation with
Allah. Allah knows it well and therefore leaves them alone (to
their fate)... They also double cross the Prophet and his pure
progeny and the Mu'mineen and Muslimeen by professing
outwardly that they are believers and concealing in their hearts
their disbelief and lies. These are the people who are all cursec
by Allah."
Imam Sadiq (a) said, "Among the signs of hypocrisy are:

insensitivity, hardheartedness, inability to cry in tragedy owing
to their callousness, persistence on committing sins and greed
for the worldly wealth." These signs are so glaring in them that
they cannot conceal.
Imam Baqir (a) said, "Verily, there are four kinds of hearts:
1. The heart in which there is both hypocrisy and belief;

2. The heart which is inverted and upturned;
3. The heart which is stained and sealed;
~233~
4. The heart which is clean and enlightened."
The companion then asked the Imam, "What is the enlightened

heart?" The Imam replied:
1. "The heart which is enlightened has inside it a shining

lamp (reflecting genuineness and conviction);
2. The heart which has been sealed is the heart of a
hypocrite;
3. The heart which is inverted and upturned is the heart
of a polytheist;
4. The heart which is clean and shining is the heart of a
true believer. When Allah favors him, he is thankful and
when Allah tests him he is patient." (Usui al-Kafi)
Finally, hypocrisy prompts an individual to take side with every

group, good or bad, religious or irreligious, and thus turns the
individual into a chameleon that takes on the color of the
environment in which he finds himself, be it beautiful or ugly. A
hypocrite is like a straw in the wind. He is swayed to the
direction in which the wind blows and ultimately falls flat on the
ground, losing his personal and independent freedom of
thought and action.
We will discuss the remaining categories of sins that block our

Du'as from reaching Allah (swt) for His acceptance in the next
chapter. The categories are: Economic, Religious and Political.
~234~
AMIR AL-MU*MINEEN, ‘ALI IBN ABI TALIB (A)
CHAPTER TEN

FROM ACCEPTANCE (CONT'D)
J ilil (JjJ) QA J
cs5j e^ ljj^' Vi ^c.

And I dissociate (myself)from you and whatever you call
on/invoke besides Allah; and I call upon/supplicate to my Lord;
hopefully, I shall not be disappointed in calling
upon/supplicating to my Lord. (Q: 19:48)
X: The Fourth Category of Sins (Cont)
HIGHLIGHTS
CHAPTER TEN 239

FOURTH CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS THAT BLOCK PRAYERS
FROM ACCEPTANCE (CONTD)........................................... 239
A: Economic sins such as: 239
B. Religious sins such as: 239
ECONOMIC SINS 240
DEFINITION/ANALYSIS........... 240
CONSEQUENCE/CONCLUSION 241
9. STINGINESS 242
DEFINITION/ANALYSIS 24
ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE 24i
THE QUR'AN ON GREED AND STINGINESS 243
10. AVARICE/MATERIALISM ("HIRS") 245
DEFINITION/CONSEQUENCE......... 245
MATERIALISM 246
CONSEQUENCES......................... 246
11. DESIRE/CRAVE/LUST ("TAM'A") 247
RELIGIOUS SINS 250
15. LACK OF CERTAINTY (DOUBT) IN THE ACCEPTANCE

OF DU'A ("'ADAM AL-TAIQIN Bl IJABATI AL-DU'A")..........250
~237~
IMPORTANCE OF "SALAT" 253
IMPACT 253
MERITS 254
CORE 255
GIFT 256
PUNISHMENT 256
BARRIER 256
POLITICAL SINS 257
13 .FRIENDSHIP/LOVE OF ALLAH'S ENEMIES ("TAWALLA'

A'DAAL-LLAH").................................................................. 257
MEANING....................................................................... 257
THE QUR'AN 259
CONCLUSION 262
~238~
CHAPTER TEN
THAT BLOCK PRAYERS FROM
ACCEPTANCE (CONT’D)
In this chapter, we still continue to discuss sins that block
prayers from acceptance by Allah (swt). They are categorized
under:
A: ECONOMIC SINS SUCH AS:
4 Greed/Stinginess ("Bukhl")
4 Avarice/ Materialism ("Hirs")
4- Desire/Crave/Lust ("Tam'a")
At some points, these sins overlap or merge into one another.

Therefore, our discussion will apply to several common
features of these sins.
B. RELIGIOUS SINS SUCH AS:
4 Lack of Certainty (Doubt) in the Acceptance of

Supplication ('"Adam al-Taiqin bi Ijabati al-Du'a")
4- Delay in Praying the Regular Obligatory "Salat" ("al-
Takhirfi a'dai Farida al-Salat")
4 C. Political sin such as:
4 Friendship/Love of Allah (swt)'s Enemies ("Tawalla'
A'da al-Llah")
We will briefly discuss these sins under their respective

categories.
~239~
ECONOMIC SINS
9. Greed/Stinginess ("Bukhl")
DEFINITION/ANALYSIS
Greed is defined as intense and excessive selfish desire for

something, especially wealth, status, power or food.
When a man becomes greedy, he is overcome by extreme

desire to acquire or possess far more than one's needs. It is said
that it is "a bottomless pit which exhorts a person in an endless
effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching the end."
The purpose for getting greedy and any actions associated with
it is possibly to deprive others of potential means of earning or
basic survival and comfort or future opportunities or obstruct
them from making progress. The purpose has an insidious or
negative connotation of causing harm to others. Greed is
therefore one of the major obstacles to eradicating poverty.
When hearts of people are so intensely attached to the wealth
and love of this world, the suffering of the poor, the needy and
the hungry around them do not touch them and they do not
therefore care what happens to them.
If everyone had the consciousness to take care of other

unfortunate people suffering from poverty rather than buying
something that they do not actually need, poverty would not
have existed. Islam offers the path towards this goal by
prescribing religious taxes such as "Zakat" and "Khums" based
on wealth and income, respectively, as obligatory for all
Muslims for distribution to the poor and the needy. In addition,
Islam has highly recommended regular payment of "Sadaqah",
voluntary charity, to the poor and the needy. If all Muslims
were to fulfill their obligations and pay their religious dues
~240~
regularly, poverty prevalent among them today would be

eradicated and the condition of their lives would be greatly
improved.
CONSEQUENCE/CONCLUSION
Some of the consequences of greed are that they cause man to

disregard and disparage Allah (swt)'s commandments and
prohibitions. They also break the moral bonds between man
and man. As result, man loses his sense of humanity by
unlawfully consuming people's property and rights in the same
way as fire eats up wood and reduces it to ashes.
Allah (swt) has preordained sustenance for man according to

his wants. He obtains it by working for it legitimately and
observing human rights and moral codes. When greed for more
and more wealth overtakes him, he bulldozes all the rules to
acquire wealth through illegitimate means. Today, we see many
examples of this economic malaise all over the world.
Greed has been the underlying cause of the failure of several

big corporations in the US history due to a number of white
collar crimes, such as stock exchange frauds, insider trading,
substantial losses in retirement and trust funds, and
bankruptcies. Greed has also been the underlying cause of
financial frauds such as fraud in insurance and other investment
funds, Ponzi schemes and real estate frauds. Moreover, greed
is the cause of bank robberies, identity thefts, medical frauds,
credit card frauds, money laundering and embezzlement of
cash.
Greed to make huge tons of money is the cause of buying out

all the stocks of goods in the market and hoarding them to
create artificial shortages in order to inflate prices. Household
thefts and robberies by means of violence and trickery,
~ 241 ~
manipulation and misuse of authority to extract money are all

actions that are inspired by greed. Greed is therefore the root
of evils.
9. STINGINESS
DEFINITION/ANALYSIS
In the common language, the word stinginess means

miserliness. Stinginess is a negative trait in human beings that
prevents and discourages man from spending money or using
possessions for his own wellbeing as well as for the welfare of
his fellow human beings. Basically, it is motivated by greed and
intense desire to pile up wealth for the love of it.
Stinginess is thus a side-shoot of greed and is closely associated

with it. The Arabic word for stinginess is "bukhl." It can take a
worse form when in addition to being stingy, one tries to
dissuade and prevent others from giving in charity.
ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE
Islam lays down a basic principle of social and economic equity

and justice which requires that money and material wealth
should not accumulate but should be spent and used for one's
wellbeing and the welfare of the society as a whole. If these
assets circulate among people in the society, they benefit the
society as a whole both socially and economically.
Islam also considers all wealth, possessions and property

obtained and earned by legal means as given by Allah (swt) in
trust. In that wealth there is a share of Allah (swt), His Prophet
(s) and his pure progeny, as well as a share for his own self and
his family, and a share of mankind in general among whom are
the orphans, the needy and the stranded travelers. In Hadis-e-
Qudsi Allah (swt) says, "The rich and the wealthy are My agents
~242~
and representatives (wukalayee) and the poor and the needy

are My family ('ayalee)." Man, as Allah (swt)'s servant, has the
duty to follow His Owner's instructions and commandments
with regard to its usage.
THE QUR'AN ON GREED AND STINGINESS
The Qur'an contains approximately 20 verses on the subject of

greed and stinginess. Let us look at a few outstanding verses
and draw conclusions from them.
Chapter 3:180: "And let those who are stingy in giving what
Allah has granted them of His Grace, consider that it is good for
them; no, on the contrary, it is bad for them; they will be shortly
seized with what they have been stingily holding back (without
spending in the way of Allah); to Allah belongs the heritage of
the heavens and the earth; and indeed Allah is fully aware of
what you do."
There cannot be a more severe warning against holding bac.

that which one can spend on the needy out of one's wealth.
Chapter 4:37: "Those who are stingy and advise other people to
be stingy as well and conceal whatever Allah has given them out
of His grace, and we have prepared a humiliating punishment
for the disbelievers."
Allah (swt) condemns and warns of a humiliating punishment

for those who are stingy and, worse still, advise other people
also to be stingy, while they hide their possessions from people
and do not spend in the way of Allah (swt).
Chapter 9:34/35:"... Those who stockpile gold and silver and do

not spend it in the way of Allah, inform them of a painful
punishment on the day when these shall be heated in Hell-Fire
and shall be branded on the foreheads, their sides and backs
~243~
and they will be told, 'this is what you amassed for yourselves,
so taste what you hoarded up/"
Islam dislikes unlawful acquisition of wealth and its hoarding

and warns of severe punishment for those who do it. Islam
allows Muslims to acquire wealth lawfully and to accumulate it
after paying all the obligatory taxes such as "Zakat" (the
prescribed poor-rate payable on the net wealth) and "Khums"
(one-fifth on the net annual savings) as well as "Sadaqah" to the
poor and the needy for the pleasure of Allah (swt). (Q. 8:41)
Chapter 92:8/11: "And for him who is stingy and considers

himself free from need (that is, independent of Allah) and
denies the best (the Truth), We will surely facilitate, make way
for him to get into affliction and hardship. His wealth will not
benefit him when he passes away from this life."
A stingy person tends to neglect the life of the hereafter and

ignores to provide or prepare himself for the afterlife due to his
stinginess to spend for any charity until he passes away. Such a
oerson tends to deny the Truth and lacks sincerity in his heart.
He will be disqualified from receiving any mercy from Allah
(swt) on the Day of Judgment. No amount of wealth amassed in
this world will benefit him on that Day. Only the purity of faith
and goodness in deeds will help in obtaining relief from the
Hell-Fire.
Chapter 104: "Woe is to every slanderer and defamer, who

amasses wealth, counts it over and over, and hoards it. He
expects his wealth will make him live forever. No, never,
indeed, he will surely be thrown into the 'Hutamah' (consuming
and crushing disaster)..."
The background to the revelation of this verse is in respect of

the person called Walid bin Mughaira who used to defame the
~244~
Prophet (s) by spreading rumors against him. He was motivated

by another person called Akhnas bin Quraishi who was very rich
but greedy and stingy. That led Akhnas to amass his wealth,
thinking that it will make him live forever. He was obsessed by
his economic power and social influence which made him
arrogant.
Akhnas found the Prophet (s) gaining power and popularity

rapidly by his propagation of Islam. In order to counter his
influence he used Walid, who was good in the art of spreading
false rumor and defaming and slandering people, to spread
false rumor against the Prophet (s) and defame him and lower
his respect in the eyes of the Muslims. This is the characteristic
feature of the rich people who are faithless. They enjoy looking
down and slandering the pious and poor people. This also
serves as a warning to the believers to guard themselves
against falling victim to these qualities.
10. AVARICE/MATERIALISM (“HIRS”)

DEFINITION/CONSEQUENCE
While "bukhl" and "hirs" have different shades of meaning in
Arabic, there is only one word in English, greed, for both.
However, avarice is more acute and so is defined as insatiable
extreme greed for materialistic wealth and riches accompanied
by intense miserly desire to amass and hoard it. Avarice is such
a deadly disease of the heart that it finally destroys a person.
Such a person is completely absorbed and sunk into his
occupation, working day and night to make more and more
money and hoard it until he is finally overtaken by death,
leaving behind all that wealth which he hoarded all his life,
neither spending it for himself and his family nor giving it in
charity to the poor people around him. Avarice has plagued the
~245~
market today, specially the stock market, and plunged

corporations into heavy losses to the extent that several of
them were on the verge of bankruptcy and had to be rescued
by the Government which gave them huge amount of money to
continue to operate.
MATERIALISM
What does materialism mean?
Materialism is an immoral mental condition which expels love,

respect, empathy and understanding of hunger and
homelessness from the heart of a person who is inflicted with
this condition. He becomes obsessed with material things and
physical comforts such as money, expensive and fashionable
cars, posh buildings in most expensive locations, and delicacies
in food, as opposed to the spiritual and emotional values in life.
CONSEQUENCES
Deep attachment to materialism that causes negative

sufferings such as self-importance, self-elevation, arrogance,
pride, prejudice, anger, aggressiveness, and race for material
gains is the main cause of miserable life for human beings in
this world. When the mind is wrapped and totally absorbed in
acquiring material wealth, attention is completely diverted
from other important things in life, especially for the life of the
hereafter.
In chapter 57:20, Allah (swt) says, "Know that the life of this
world is only a sport and a play and a distraction, a glamour and
a glitter, and a mutual rivalry and show off among you for
wealth and children ... while in the hereafter there is a severe
punishment and [also] forgiveness from Allah and His
~246~
pleasures, and the life of this world is nothing but a stuff of

fantasy and illusion."
The real life of the hereafter is traded in for not even a penny's
worth of an illusory life of this world. The realization will only
come when the curtain falls on this life at the time of death.
Various types of sports and games have occupied the most
important place in modern lifestyle and the countries'
economies as people spend millions on them. Children waste a
lot of their study time not only watching but also playing various
games.
Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a) is reported to have said to Ammar al-
Yasir, "O' Ammar, do not be upset in respect of this world, for
all amusement of this world is in six things: (paraphrased to
show the harm they cause in modern times. Originally the
quotation was to show the dirt from which they originate.)
'A- Eating (rich food causes sickness)

•4 Drinking (delicious beverage causes sickness)
-4 Dressing (in expensive, stylish and latest fashion
clothes waste time and money)
i- Wedding (wives to provide sexual pleasures causes
distraction/deviation)
•4 Riding (fancy cars in modern times is the main cause of
fatal road accidents)
-4. Fragrance (expensive perfumes for sweetness of smell
take away a big portion of income)."
11. DESIRE/CRAVE/LUST (“TAM’A”)

Several meanings have been given to the Arabic word "tam'a."
Among them are greed, desire, crave, covet, ambition, aspire,
~ 247 ~
lust and hope. The Qur'an uses the word "tam'a'" nine times,
some in the positive and others in the negative sense. Here the
word "tam'a" has been used in a negative sense of greedy
desire and lustful longing. (Positive and legitimate desire or
hope is acceptable and praiseworthy.)
Lust is an emotion or feeling of intense desire for a thing. It can

take any form such as the lust for sex, power, popularity,
expensive delicacies of food, posh residence and superb and
unique possessions. Lust is a powerful force producing intense
wanting for an object or an opportunity for fulfilling an emotion
such as an uncontrollable sexual lust. It becomes an addiction
and is the first step toward committing adultery, rape and
fornication and even killing in a worst case scenario.
In chapter 24 verse31 Allah (swt) says to the Prophet (s), "And

say to the believing women to lower their eyes, guard their
private parts and not display their beauty and make up or any
kind of beautification except what is natural and apparent, and
draw their veils over their chest... and not to walk with their
feet in a manner so as to indicate what is hidden of their
ornaments..." The purpose of all this is not to stimulate sexual
desire and lust in men, and give any kind of indication of
immorality and lack of chastity in women.
Let us look at one verse from a few verses from the Qur'an as
an example of the negative use of the word "tam'a":
Chapter 33:32: "0 wives of the Prophet; you are not like other
women. If you have fear of Allah, do not be too obliging or
affectionate in your speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease
may lust for you, but be serious and restrained in your speech."
The warning in this verse is not to be too friendly or pleasing in

your speech or behavior lest someone is moved with lust or a
~248~
bad desire. As the wives of the Prophet (s), they were expected
not to display their beauty or personal beautification, but to
show moral and spiritual excellence in their character. In this
there is guidance for all women that they should keep their
distance from men and not give the slightest, unconscious
indication of an immoral desire when they interact with men.
Let us now look at a few Hadith of our Ae'mmah (a) which

explain further and emphasize what the Qur'an says about
"tam'a."
Imam Sajjad (a) said, "I see all the goodness, righteousness in
keeping away from the vain desire and crave for acquiring the
wealth and position that others possess" (Bihar al-Anwar). This
Hadith instructs us to avoid nourishing such selfish desire of
acquiring the property that other people possess. Indeed, it is
immoral to nourish such a desire.
Imam Hadi (a) said, "Lust is a very obscene negative attribute

or quality in a person." This Hadith condemns lust as indecent,
lewd and offensive quality in a person. It makes the person
immoral with a very low integrity and untrustworthiness in the
society.
Imam Sadiq (a) said, "If you want to feel happy at heart and
delighted, and gain goodness and virtue in this world and in the
hereafter, do not long for what others have" (Bihar al-Anwar).
This Hadith shows us the way of getting a satisfied and tranquil
mind so as to enjoy life with what one has without having the
slightest desire of acquiring what others possess.
Imam 'Ali (a) said, "One who wants to live all the days of one's
entire life free from all kinds of unhappiness should not give
place to any sort of craving or longing in one's heart" (Majmu'l-
~249~
yi Warram; al-Hikmah). Indeed, how true and pragmatic is this

hadith for our guidance in the way we should live our lives.
To summarize, we have briefly discussed the economic sins

which block our Du'as from reaching Allah (swt) consisting of
greed/stinginess ("bukhl"), avarice/ materialism ("hirs") and
desire/crave/lust ("tam'a"). We have seen that greed is central
and cuts across the rest of the sins which are subsidiary or the
outcome of it. They all have harmful effects on the economy at
the individual, national and international levels.
We will now analyze the next categories of sins which are the
religious and political sins that block our Du'as from reaching
Allah (swt).
RELIGIOUS SINS
15. LACK OF CERTAINTY (DOUBT) IN THE
ACCEPTANCE OF DU'A (‘“ADAM AL-TAIQIN BI
IJABATI AL-DU’A”)
When a person starts developing a negative attitude in respect

of the mercy of Allah (swt) in granting him any legitimate wish
when he supplicates, it amounts to sinning against Allah (swt)
because His Mercy is boundless. It embraces and manifests
itself in all His creation. When a person begins to doubt the
acceptance of his supplication for any reason, or lose hope
completely owing to his wants being unfulfilled in spite of
supplicating repeatedly, he should understand that this is
because of committing a certain sin which results in his
supplication being blocked.
~250~
Imam 'Ali (a) said, "... if you knock the door repeatedly (with
positive attitude, hoping for the mercy of Allah), the door (for
the acceptance of the supplication) will finally open one day."
The Prophet (s) said, "Prayer, supplication is a tool of a believer
and a pillar of his faith." There are numerous Hadith of our
Ae'mmah (a) that give hope to those who experience hardship
in getting their supplications accepted by Allah (swt). What are
required are patience, perseverance and a positive attitude.
Allah (swt) assures us of His Mercy and Forgiveness at

numerous places in the Qur'an. Let us look at a few examples:
Chapter 2:186 Allah (swt) says, "When My servants ask you (O'
Prophet Muhammad) about Me, tell them I am very near to
them. When they call Me in their prayers, I hear them and
answer their prayers ..." Chapter 27:62 Allah (swt) says, "Isn't
He who answers the afflicted when he calls Him and relieves
the pains and grief, and makes you the successors in the earth'
Is there (other) god besides Allah? Little is what you reflect!"
Chapter 39:53 Allah (swt) says, "O' (Prophet Muhammad) te*

My servants who have committed extravagances or excesses
(asraf) upon their own souls, should not at all lose hope in the
mercy of Allah. Surely, Allah would forgive totally all sins
committed; Allah is the Oft-forgiving, the Most Forgiving."
It is evident from the numerous verses of the Qur'an that Allah

(swt)'s mercy is limitless. He is such a merciful God that He does
not wait to punish the sinners but rather pardons them when
they seek forgiveness from Him. Notwithstanding the fact that
He says He would punish the sinner for an atom weight of the
sin committed, yet His justice is tempered with mercy. He
grants His mercy to whosoever He pleases.
~251~
Du'a KumaykA Brief Commentary
Allah (swt) actually invites sinners and even encourages them

to hasten in seeking His pardon. He does not want any sinner
who has come to Him in time and in a state of humiliation to
seek His pardon go back disappointed. He would even wipe out
all sins committed by a person if He so wished.
Chapter 11:114 Allah (swt) says, "And supplicate (pray Salat) at

dawn and sunset and at the early hours of the night. Surely, the
good deeds take away, wipe out the evil deeds, virtues destroy
vices; this is a reminder for the (believers who are) mindful,
aware (of their Lord)."
The above verse assures the person who has lost hope in
getting forgiveness for his sins and getting fulfillment of his
wants that by doing good deeds Allah (swt) will compensate for
the evil deeds, by wiping them out in return. So one should
never despair or be doubtful that one is condemned to one's
bad state forever. In this respect, the Prophet (s) has given us a
Du'a to recite after every "Salat."
In this Du'a we say to Allah (swt), "O' Allah, Your power of

forgiveness supersedes my evil deeds and the infinity of Your
mercy is far greater than my sins. O' Allah, in case my sins that
I have committed against You are so huge that they have deeply
displeased You, Your power of forgiveness is such that it would
override my sins, and Your forgiveness is much greater than my
sins. O' Allah, if I am not worthy of Your mercy, Your mercy is
worthy and limitless that it envelops me and covers me
completely; indeed Your mercy is such boundless that it
surrounds everything that exists."
The establishment of the obligatory prayers five times a day

gives the exclusive and matchless chances to Muslims to ask for
the forgiveness of their sins and the acceptance of their
~252~
supplications. The Prophet (s) said, "The likeness of the

prescribed five times of prayer is that of a river flowing at every
door and the person who takes a bath in it five times every day,
that is, prays regularly and punctually, cleanses himself from
the dirt of all sins committed by him during the day."
16. Delay in Praying the Regular Obligatory "Salat" ("al-

Takhir fi a'dai Farida al-Salat")
IMPORTANCE OF "SALAT"
"Salat" is a unique form of prayer in Islam that cannot be

compared with any other form of prayer performed by people
of all other religions. It offers a unique experience for a person
praying "Salat" who understands the true meaning and the
philosophy behind each element of "Salat" and follows all the
disciplines that have been laid down for its correct
performance. A person who prays "Salat" realizes the
overwhelming presence of Allah (swt) under whose imposing
glory he feels a nonentity and stands in total humility,
prostrating before Allah (swt) as His most obedient, poor,
helpless, humble servant, seeking protection from his Lord. He
experiences the taste of the higher spiritual elevation.
IMPACT
The powerful inner impact generated in such a person absorbs

him completely in the spirit of Almighty Allah (swt) and finds
him covered by the mercy of the Most Merciful. The mind gets
tranquility and the soul rests in peace all the time because of
the daily prayers that he performs. In addition, "Salat" has
many mental, psychological and physical benefits and instills
disciplines of punctuality, morality, ethical and humane values.
"Salat" has also a powerful force that produces spiritual, mental
and moral reforms in a person who prays with inner and deeper
~253~
understanding and in accordance with the outer and inner

disciplines.
MERITS
Islam lays great emphasis on "Salat" Prophet Muhammad (s)

said, "The first thing about which man will be questioned is the
Salat." He explained that "Salat is a pillar of faith. If it is
accepted, all other acts of worship are accepted; but if it is
rejected all other acts of worship are rejected." There are more
than 70 verses in the Qur'an that stress the importance of
establishing regular "Salat." The "fitrah", the natural spiritual
nature in a human being, which makes him submit to All-
Powerful Lord causes him to prostrate before his Lord. "Salat"
is the expression of a man's quest for the grace of his Creator
and prays to Him to grant His grace to him. The Lord says in the
Qur'an that He is very near to His servant ("'abd") and his
supplication and responds to His servant's supplication and
grants him his needs. (Q. 2:186)
'he Prophet (s) said, "To Allah the performance of an obligatory

jrayer (Salat) is equivalent to performing one thousand Hajj
and one thousand Umrah correctly and acceptable to Allah." He
also said, "The most beloved action before Allah is to pray Salat
immediately on time." He also said, "One who does not give
importance to Salat and considers it insignificant is worthy of
punishment in the hereafter."
Imam Sadiq (a) said, "One who does not give importance to
Salat and considers it insignificant will never receive our
intercession." The Imam also said, "Anyone of our Shias who
does not recognize the importance of Salat and denies our
rights, ceases to be our Shia." Not to pray knowingly and
regularly the obligatory "Salat" due to negligence (yet claiming
~254~
to believe in it) is a sign of disbelief and, according to the

Prophet (s)'s Hadith, the status of that person is between Islam
and "kufr." It means that the person is outside the parameters
of Islam and near to its denial ("kufr").
CORE
Total submission to Allah (swt) is the underpinning or core of

Islam. This finds expression in "Salat" which is the essential
element of Islam and cannot be separated from it. The degree
of submission depends upon our realization of the Greatness
and the Majesty of our Lord. Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an,
"Successful indeed are the believers who are submissive in their
Salat" (Q.23:l/2). A Muslim cannot remain a Muslim if he
neither prays nor cares for "Salat." Sadly if he prays at all, he
does so heedlessly.
The Qur'an condemns such a person strongly in the following

verse: "And woe to the worshippers who pray Salat but are
heedless, careless of their prayers" (Q. 107:4/5). This verse
applies to all those people who pray irregularly, unpunctually in
spite of the prescribed times as well as to those who pray only
occasionally when it suits them or just to show off that they are
pious.
Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a) said, "People who disregard the
prescribed prayer time, allowing it to lapse beyond its time
limit, are hypocrites." The daily obligatory prayers have been
prescribed according to their fixed time and it is a sin to delay
beyond it and praying "kadha."
Awareness: The Prophet (s) said, "Salat is the Me'raj (Spiritual

Ascension) or elevation for a Mu'min." "Salat" is thus the
source of spiritual orientation and self-purification, raising us
spiritually to the state of awareness or realization of Allah (swt).
~255~
It contains the essential components for our spiritual progress

and development without which we would spiritually stagnate.
GIFT
Finally, "Salat" is a precious gift for the "Ummah" that the

Prophet (s) received when he went on the Spiritual Ascension
of "Me'rajIt is our prime duty to hold it in high esteem and
establish it as an essential part of our life. Failure to do so will
result in the loss of this precious gift with terrible consequences
for our life in the hereafter. Allah (swt) says, "Establish Salat
and do not be among the polytheists."(Q. 30:31)
PUNISHMENT
The Qur'an gives a scenario of a dying man, twisting one leg

around the other in extreme pain and agony, as the punishment
is further intensified. The Qur'an gives the reason for his
terrible condition in Chapter 75:31. The verse says, "For he
neither believed nor gave charity, nor prayed the prescribed
regular Salat." The punishment starts from the time of his death
and continues after his death until he is resurrected on the Day
of Judgment. There are several verses that show that the final
destination of those people who do not pray is the Hell-Fire.
Chapter 74:40-43 give a graphic scenario of a person who is
suffering in the Hell-Fire for, among other sins, not praying the
obligatory daily "Salat"
BARRIER
Owing to His boundless Mercy and Grace, Allah (swt) has done
us a great favor by giving us the "Salat" as a means of acquiring
mental tranquility, self-reformation and self-purification in this
world and of a great reward, forgiveness of all our sins and
salvation in the hereafter.
~256~
In view of all these favors, our procrastination, neglect,

defiance and heedlessness would amount to disrespect,
denigration and belittling of Allah (swt)'s favors and His
injunctions. It is therefore not surprising that our negative
response to the call of Allah (swt) to pray would block all our
supplications for fulfillment of our needs and wants.
POLITICAL SINS
13 .FRIENDSHIP/LOVE OF ALLAH'S ENEMIES
(“TAWALLA' A'DA AL-LLAH”)
MEANING
The equivalent Arabic meaning of the word friendship is "wali".

The plural of "wali" is "awleeyah." The word has several
meanings from the linguistic as well Islamic point of view. They
include helper, supporter, benefactor, friend, close associate,
relative, patron, protector, guardian, master, proprietor,
possessor and owner. From the Islamic point of view, it means
one who is devout, dedicated servant of Allah (swt) and close
to Him. Derivative of "wali" is "Wilayah" which means
sovereign power, guardianship, legal power, administration or
government.
In Islam, as a general rule, the true "Wilayah" is only Allah

(swt)'s, All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Absolutely Independent
("Samadiyyah"). As an extension to this rule, Shias believe that
there are two types of "Wilayah":
1) "Taqwini" which means God-given universal or pre-ordained

"Wilayah" that encompasses the whole creation;
2) "Tahriri" which means Legislative or Law-making,

Administrative "Wilayah" that governs all the worldly affairs.
The Prophet (s) and his divinely appointed Twelve Khulafa and
~257~
Imams from his pure progeny are the true spiritual and the
worldly guides for the "Ummah". They are the true inheritors
of the Prophets and the representatives of Allah (swt) as such
they are endowed with both "Wilayah", the "Taqwini" as well
as the "Tahriri"
On the other hand, the mainstream of the Ahlul Sunnah do not

accept this concept, but none-the-less respect the Imams of the
Shi'a faith. They are not the enemies of the Ahlul Bayt.
However, a small group among them headed by Ibn Taymiyya

came up with a new and false ideology. They consider that it is
"shirk" to build a shrine or visit the grave of the dead. The group
is known as Salafis. Abdulla ibn Wahhab of the Saudi dynasty
became a student of Ibn Taymiyyah and went on demolishing
the shrines, stopping and killing Shias who were the followers
of the Imams of Ahlul Bayt.
According to them, the true Khulafah were from the Umayyad

and later the Abbasid dynasties that came to power after the
rule of Khulafa al- Rashidun ended with the martyrdom of 'Ali
ibn Abi Talib (a) in the year 56 A.H. The Umayyad and the
Abbasid Khulafah were known to be the enemies of the divinely
appointed Imams from the Prophet (s)'s pure progeny. Those
who belong to this sect among the Sunnis, such as the
Wahabbis and the Salafis and others who are the followers of
Ibn Taymiyyah, are and have proved to be also the enemies of
Ahle Tashayyu by their attacks and killings of the Shias and
destruction of the shrines of the Imams.
Therefore, associating and forming friendship with such

Muslims who are enemies of the true Imams from the Ahlul
Bayt and their followers would be a sin that blocks our Du'as
from reaching Allah (swt).
~258~
Linguistically, the word "Wilayah" has several additional

meanings to what have been stated above, such as, relationship
pertaining to mutual attachment, solidarity and affection in
which each individual would be the friend and protector of the
other. In this sense, the "wali" would be that person or entity
that one regards as one's friend and ally with whom one would
associate and who could be relied upon to protect and defend
one against one's enemies.
The social, economic and defense pacts which various countries

friendly to one another enter into for their mutual benefits are
examples in today's world of politics. If these countries oppress
their populations, it will not be legitimate to be friends, help or
cooperate with them.
Let us look at a few examples of what Allah (swt) says in the

Qur'an with regard to the friendship which some people keep
with those who are enemies of our faith and of Allah (swt).
THE QUR'AN
Chapter 5:55: "Indeed, your guardian (Wali) is but Allah and His
Prophet (Muhammad) and those believers who establish
prayer and pay the obligatory charity (while they are in a state
of bowing down (ruku') in the worship of Allah" (interpreted as
referring to 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a) who gave charity in the state
described in this verse, as reported by both Shia and Sunni
sources).
The above-mentioned verse clearly establishes the true love of

Allah (swt) and of His divinely appointed successors with whom
we should establish our allegiance and to whom we should be
attached both physically and spiritually. In the Shi'a faith, this is
termed "Tawallah" which is a rational and natural principle of
~259~
Du'a KumaykA Brief Commentary
faith and practices. Opposite of this is "Tabarrah" which means

hatred or aversion against the wicked people.
Chapter 5:51: "O' you the believers, do not take those Jews and
Christians who are your enemies as your friends (Awleeyah),
indeed, they are friends of one another, and whoever among
you who takes them as friends, he becomes one of them. Verily,
Allah does not guide unjust people."
We see this happening in real life. When friendship gets intense

and brings the individuals close together, it exerts great
influence on them as they are tied to the promise of sincere
mutual love and willingness to sacrifice for one another. Islam
wants its believers not to come under the influence of wicked
people and unbelievers ("kafirun") thereby endangering their
faith. Therefore, it has provided a safeguard by making it an
obligatory act of worship to stay away from such people.
While the first verse cited above states who our friends are so
that we should love and pledge our allegiance and attachment
to them, the second verse cautions us as to who our enemies
are so that we should avoid all association with them.
Interaction at social or commercial levels for maintaining social
and business etiquette is appropriate but friendship in any form
of emotional attachment such as loving or being affectionate to
them will constitute a sin that blocks the Du'a from being
accepted as well as contravenes the doctrine of "Tabarrah" as
stated above.
Chapter 2:257: "Allah is the Friend (Wali) of those who believe

(here the word friend does not have the ordinary meaning of
the word; rather it means Allah as the Creator is the Protector
of His creation). He takes or guides them out of darkness into
light. And those who disbelieve (kuffar), Shaytan and the
~260~
=s X: The Fourth Category of Sins (Cont)
oppressors are their friends. They take them out from light into
m darkness..."
This is what a friend does. He guides his friends from the

darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. An enemy does
the opposite. He takes his friend out of the light of knowledge
into the darkness of ignorance.
Chapter 60:1: "O' you who believe, do not take my enemy and
your enemy for friends, submitting to them your love and
affection, while refusing to accept the Truth (Islam) that came
down to you..."
This is a clear injunction forbidding friendship with the enemies

of Allah (swt) and the enemies of the believers. It is another
i
verse which establishes the doctrine of "Tabarrah" which has
been explained above.
Chapter 58:22: "You will not find people believing in Allah and
the Last Day (of Judgment) being loving and affectionate
towards those who oppose and disobey Allah and His Prophet,
even though they happen to be their own fathers or their own
sons or their own brothers or their own family or their own
relatives. They are the people in whose hearts Allah has
engraved faith and strengthened them with Divine Spirit and
purified them Himself... Allah is pleased with them, and they
are pleased with Him. They belong to Allah as His friends. Let it
be known that those who belong to Allah as His friends are the
successful ones."
This verse establishes the criteria by which a true believer is

distinguished from one who is insincere and falsely puts up a
show of being a believer. It also declares that a true believer is
always supported with the spiritual power from Allah (swt) who
~261~
guides him in all his affairs and situations in life in making the
right decisions and taking the correct course of action.
Chapter 48:29: "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and

those who are with him (sincerely loving and supporting him as
his close companions) are severe (in their dealings) against
disbelievers, but merciful and compassionate among
themselves as true friends of one another..."
The verse gives the virtuous qualities of the true friends of Allah
(swt) and the pious and virtuous people. On the other hand, it
also gives the vicious qualities of the enemies of such beings
and forbids befriending them.
CONCLUSION
Making friends with the enemies of Allah (swt) is a symptom of

the disease of the heart. It is an inherent nature of a human
being to like goodness and love good virtuous people, and
dislike and hate wickedness and vicious people and the
wrongdoers who are the cause of crimes such as murders,
rapes, child abuse, robberies with violence and rampant killing
of innocent people, including school children. The Qur'an calls
such people animals, indeed, worse than animals.
On the other hand good, virtuous and pious people are given a
respectable and high status in society. People love and trust
them, and hold them in high esteem. This phenomenon applies
politically to all levels of society from the individual and
community levels to the national and international levels.
Nations are respected for treating other nations with respect,
fairness and justice and for their generosity and ever readiness
to help at all times.
~262~
It is therefore obvious that making friends, praising and treating

sympathetically the enemies of Allah (swt) and the wicked,
vicious people and the oppressors of humanity block our
supplications from reaching Allah (swt). The Qur'an and the
Hadith of our Prophet (s) and A'emmah (a) forbid us to befriend
them for the sake of our own moral and spiritual well-being
here and in the hereafter.
~263~
elc-i
CHAPTER ELEVEN
FIFTH CATEGORY OF SINS:
SINS THAT BRING DOWN

MISFORTUNES AND AFFLICTIONS
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And when We bless man with (our) favors , he is disregardful

(and) turns aside ; and when distress befalls him, he makes
lengthy and intensive supplications. (Q: 41:51)
XI: The Fifth Category of Sins
HIGHLIGHTS
■ CHAPTER ELEVEN 269

FIFTH CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS THAT BRING DOWN
MISFORTUNES AND AFFLICTIONS............................. 269
AFFLICTIONS AND THEIR MAIN CAUSES, 269
RESPONSE 275
HADITH 276
3. GIVING UP AND ABANDONING THE ACT OF ENJOINING

GOOD AND FORBIDDING EVIL PRACTICES ("TARK AMR BIL-
MA'RUF WA NAHI 'ANIL-MUNKAR") 278
DEFINITION 278
OBLIGATION 279
HADITH 282
CONCLUSION 283
SINS THAT SUPPRESS OR CAUSE A BREAKDOWN OF HOPE

(IN THE MERCY OF ALLAH): 287
~267~
—
CHAPTER ELEVEN
FIFTH CATEGORY OF SINS: SINS THAT
BRING DOWN MISFORTUNES AND
AFFLICTIONS
Three categories of sins have been have been mentioned by
Imam Zainul-'Abidin (a) that are the causes of misfortunes,
sufferings and afflictions coming down on man:
A- Abandoning or Stopping Aid to those suffering from

Afflictions and Oppression ("'Adam Ighastul Makrubin
wal Malhufin")
A Failure to respond to the Call for Help of the Afflicted
and Oppressed People ("Khidhlan al-Mazlumin")
'A Giving up the Act of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
Practices ("Tark al-Amr bil-Ma'ruf wa Nahi 'anil-
Munkar")
1. Abandoning or Stopping Aid to those suffering from

Afflictions and Oppression ("'Adam Ighastul Makrubin wal
Malhufin")
2. Failure to respond to the Call for Help of the Afflicted

and Oppressed People ("Khidhlan al-Mazlumin")
AFFLICTIONS AND THEIR MAIN CAUSES
Afflictions of various kinds come as divine test in the form of

trials and tribulations for mankind. Two main causes are
ascribed to them:
~269~
Firstly, man's actions in creating various types of disruptions,

such as in the eco system by releasing huge quantities of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere from factories, refineries and
millions of cars running on the roads round the clock S
throughout the world. =
Secondly, they also result from spreading malice on the earth, :

destroying lives and property, waging wars and bringing about
1
rampant killings, and oppressing the weak and the poor at all
levels of the society.
Allah (swt) says in chapter 30 verse 41, "Mischief has spread

over land and sea on account of what the hands of men have
wrought that He (God) may make them taste a part of what
they have done so that they may turn back from evil."
This verse indicates that the miseries, tortures and other

setbacks which man suffers in this world is partly the
consequence of his misdeeds. They are meant to set an
example and correct the behavior of man so that he gives up
his evil actions. They are also meant to serve as warning that
the sins he commits will put him into eternal punishment in the
hereafter.
Divine tests that include various kinds of trials and tribulations,

afflictions, hardships, and setbacks are mentioned in almost 40
verses in the Qur'an. They are for the purpose of testing
patience and perseverance of the believers in order to ascertain
their faith in Allah (swt) and His Absolute Divine Justice which
is tempered with His Divine Mercy and Beneficence for His true
believers.
Allah (swt) says, "We shall certainly test you with a little or
partial affliction offear and hunger and loss of wealth and lives
and fruits (referring to the loss of children), and give glad
~270~
tidings, good news to those who bear them with patience."((X.

S 2:155)
!
The following two verses, No. 156 and 157, state their
H
handsome reward and their high spiritual status which is

further raised as they successfully go through additional tests
which take them to the position of excellence and nearer and
nearer to Allah (swt).
Verse No. 156 says, "... give great and glad news to those who
are patient and who, when misfortune falls on them say,
'indeed, we belong to Allah, and surely we shall return to Him/"
These are the words a believer says when he is beset with
misfortunes. They indicate the sole purpose of the life of a
believer.
The following verse No. 157 says, "Those are the people who
get the blessings and the Mercy from their Lord and they are
the ones who are the rightly guided." The verse indicates the
very high spiritual status of such believers and their nearness to
their Lord.
In chapter 67:2 Allah says, "He (referring to Allah) who created

death and life so that He may test to see who is best amongst
you in the quality of his deeds; and He is the Exalted in Might
and Oft-Forgiving." The analysis of this verse reveals two
noteworthy points. First, He has created death before life; so
death is part of the creation which extends to life, and again to
death, and finally to a permanent life. Second, He has given us
the power of discretion and the intelligence to choose between
what is the best in quality among the deeds; the test is to see
whether we succeed by using that power fruitfully or fail to use
it and suffer the consequences." In this world, man
experiences in his individual and personal life happy days as
~271~
well as unhappy days; he sees fortunes as well as misfortunes

come and go; the cycle continues up to the end of the life her.
Poverty, pain, hunger, loss in income, property, and family

members, sickness, and misfortunes which man suffers during
the course of his life in this world are this life's common
characteristic features. Life in this world is a package mostly of
sadness and sorrows. Joys do come but only at times and are
short-lived. While the 'ups' are rare, the 'downs' are more
common and stay for a comparatively longer time. They cause
disturbance and disruption in the pattern of man's personal life.
In this lies the test for tolerance and perseverance in which man
unfortunately tends to fail. The Qur'an expresses this in chapter
89:15-16: "And for man, when his Lord tries him by bestowing
His bounties (n'imah) on him so as to honor him, the man says:
'my Lord has honored me.' But, when He tries him by restricting
his sustenance, he says: 'my Lord has disgraced me.'" It is clear
from these verses that Allah (swt) tries man by granting him
prosperity on the one hand and afflicting him with adversity on
the other hand.
When man enjoys prosperity instead of showing humility and

kindness, he becomes arrogant and proud with his worldly
possessions, forgetting that it is Allah (swt) who granted him
that prosperity; while suffering from affliction instead of
showing patience and faith in Allah (swt) when He withdraws
His bounties, he becomes bitter and resentful and complains
against Allah (swt) for being cruel and unjust to him.
This is a world of cut-throat competition and involves constant

struggle to survive. This life is a chain of never-ending changes
and transformations, of trials and tribulations and the survival
of the fittest. Allah (swt) says, "... you shall never find any
change in the course of Allah, nor will you see any variation in
~272~
the course of Allah" (Q. 35:43); this is repeatedly stated in

several verses in the Qur'an to emphasis the rule of Allah (swt)'s
laws.
When things are going on well, human beings often tend to

forget to remember Allah (swt). They generally become
heedless and forget the source of blessings and good things
which they enjoy in their life. They live in security and
protection, thinking that these are the product of their
intelligence and smartness.
Giving an example, Allah (swt) says, "And when distress befalls

you in the sea (during a severe storm when huge waves rock the
ship and raise fear of the ship sinking) and when your smartness
and intelligence are of no avail, He (Allah, alone) rescues you
and brings you to the shore when you call for His help, but when
you are rescued you disregard Him and turn away from Him,
indeed, man has always been ungrateful." (Q. 17:66/67). Man
is not safe either on land or at sea. This theme appears at
several places in the Qur'an to repeatedly remind man to turn
to Allah (swt) as his Protector and Guardian.
Trials, tribulations and sufferings have several benefits. A few

of these benefits are:
1. They help the person reconnect with Allah (swt) and

remember Him as the source of all goodness that he
enjoys in life and thank Allah constantly and glorify Him
in gratitude for the blessings and goodness he gets
from Him.
2. The soul is purified as sufferings have a strong impact
on it since the person repents and seeks forgiveness for
the sins committed and refrains from committing
further sins and turns back to Allah sincerely and in
~273~
total submission. In chapter 5:39, Allah (swt) says, "And

he who turns to Allah repentantly after having
committed injustice and oppression and reforms
himself, then Allah surely turns to him mercifully and
pardons him. Indeed, Allah is Oft-Pardoning and
Merciful."
3. The person becomes aware of the love of Allah (swt)
and realizes that He tests those whom He loves the
most to see if they bear the miseries with pleasure
considering that they come from Allah (swt).
4. The person hopes to be rewarded for his patience as he
knows that great rewards are waiting for those who are
successful in their tests. These rewards have been
promised by Allah (swt) at several places in the Qur'an
such as in chapter 28:54, He says, "They will be given
their reward twice for their patience and perseverance.
They perform good act to keep away from evil act and
spend for the cause of Allah out of what We have
provided them."
5. The tests aim at differentiating those who are sincere
believers from those who are hypocrites, only
pretending to believe while having disbelief in their
hearts. In chapter 29: 2/3 Allah (swt) says, "Do people
think that they will get away by saying, 'we believe/
and that they will not be tested? Indeed, We tested
those who were before them. So Allah surely knows
those who are true, and He knows those who are liars."
The aim is to see whether those who claim that they
have faith practice what they profess. No individual will
ever succeed by mere acceptance of faith without
disciplining himself in line with the requirements of
faith.
~274~
RESPONSE
People who are suffering in various parts of the world as a result

of the actions of human beings in general as outlined above or
natural disasters happening partly also as a result of man's
actions in polluting the air, deserve our sympathy and look
forward to receiving help from individuals and organizations
who have been spared from these calamities and are able to
help.
It is but human to show kindness, care and compassion. Social

ethics and moral obligation require fellow human beings to
come to the aid of the afflicted when they call for help. They
also include those who are living and suffering from the yolk of
oppression of the despotic rulers and internal insurgency and
fighting. Several countries in the world, especially in the Middle
East, are victims of such calamities and afflictions and people
die in thousands every day due to violence and hunger. They
include both women and children.
Today we have many individuals who are rich donors running

their own charitable trusts as well as other public and private
humanitarian charitable organizations run by Christians as well
as Muslims - among them Red Cross, Red Crescent, Islamic
Relief USA, and Life for Development - working constantly all
over the world. In addition, several rich nations who are ever
ready to respond to the calls coming from any afflicted and
suffering people from any part of the world help them in
providing food, shelter and medical aid.
The Qur'an commends them and says, "... indeed, Allah rewards
the charitable" (Q. 12:88). In another verse it says, "indeed, the
charitable men and the charitable women, and those who give
to God virtuous loan (give liberally in charity to help in the way
~275~
of Allah), what they give will be multiplied for them and there is
generous reward for them." (Q. 57:18)
There are many such verses in the Qur'an. The above two
verses have been given as examples.
HAD1TH
There are numerous Hadith on this subject as well. We will only

take a few as examples in order to see how important Islam
considers this subject. The Prophet (s) and all our A'emmah (a)
have emphasized charity in their sayings.
The Prophet (s) said, "A Muslim who gets up at dawn (after
spending the night sleeping in comfort) without being
concerned with and attempting to solve the problems
(including that of oppression) facing Muslims is not regarded
as Muslim."
The Prophet (s) also said, "Allah said, 'By My Glory and Might,
I would certainly take revenge on the oppressor immediately or
at any time; and I would surely take revenge on the one who
saw a person being oppressed and refused to help him in spite
of being able to help him/" (Kanz al-Ummal)
Imam Sadiq (a), "A Muslim who relieves his fellow Muslim from
his grief, Allah will relieve him from his torments and regrets in
the hereafter, raising him from his grave in a state of happiness
and joy. And one who feeds a hungry fellow believer, Allah will
relieve him from his hunger by feeding him with the fruits of
the Paradise. And the one who quenches the thirst of a fellow
believer, Allah will quench his thirst by "Rahiq al-Makhtum"
(the most delicious and choicest drink, sealed for purity,
exclusively reserved for the people of the Paradise)." (al-Kafi)
~276~
Imam Sadiq (a) also said, "One who responds by coming to the
help of his thirsty and afflicted Muslim brother begging for help,
and quenches his thirst, relieves him from affliction and helps
him in meeting his wants, Allah bestows seventy two blessings
on him, one of which is given to him here in this world to
redress his life and seventy one are reserved for him in the
hereafter to relieve him from the dreadful disgraces and the
terrible horrors of the Day of Resurrection ." (al-Kafi)
Imam Sadiq (a) also said, "The action of a Mu'min (a believer)in

helping an oppressed person ranks higher and is more
preferable than fasting for a month while in a state of "i'tiqaf"
in Masjid al-Haram in Mecca (spending the month while staying
in the Sacred Masjid in a state of worship); a Mu'min helping
his Mu'min brother when he is able to do so, gets Allah's help
in all his affairs in this world and in the hereafter; a Mu'min
who, in spite of being able to help his Mu'min brother yet does
not help, Allah will abandon him in this world and in the
hereafter." (Thawabal A'mal/Mizan al-Hikmah)
On the one hand, helping the afflicted and the oppressed

people is so important in Islam that it carries countless virtues;
on the other hand, indifference, disregard and stopping to help
the needy is such a great sin against Allah (swt) and humanity
that it is severely punishable in the hereafter.
The importance of helping the oppressed can also be seen from

the advice given by Amir al-Mu'mineen, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a), to
his sons, Imam Hasan (a) and Imam Husyan (a), during the last
minutes of his life on the 21st night of the month of Ramadan
when he said to them, "Be strong and staunch opponents of the
oppressors and constant and consistent helpers of the
oppressed." (al-Kafi)
~277~
In another Hadith, Imam 'AN (a) said, "When you see a person
being oppressed, help him against the oppressors." He also
said, "The best act of justice is to help an oppressed person"
(Ghurar al-Hikam and Mizan al-Hikmah). As the Shias of Imam
'AM (a), this advice applies to all of us. It is our religious and
moral obligation to follow it.
The Prophet (s) said, "One who would recover from the
oppressor the right of an oppressed person which had been
usurped by the oppressor would be my companion in the
Paradise." (Bihar al-Anwar)
Failure to respond to the call of people who are suffering from

afflictions and oppressions not only constitutes grievous sin
against God and humanity but also blocks supplications from
reaching Allah (swt).
3. GIVING UP AND ABANDONING THE ACT OF

ENJOINING GOOD AND FORBIDDING EVIL
PRACTICES (“TARK AMR BIL-MA’RUF WA
NAHI ‘ANIL-MUNKAR”)
DEFINITION
"Amr bil-Ma'ruf" and "nahi 'anil-Munkar" are two integral parts

of Shia belief system consisting "shari"') lawful ("halal") acts.
"Nahi 'anil-Munkar" is defined as dissuading, telling believers

not to do and keep away from acts which are evil, detestable,
hateful and religiously ("shari'") unlawful ("haram") acts.
These two acts are obligatory ("wajib") in the same way as are"
Salat", "Saum", and "Hajj".
~278~
OBLIGATION
Every Muslim is obliged and required by the Qur'an in several

verses to be good in behavior and ethics, to perform good
deeds, and also to tell and instruct fellow Muslims to do what
is right and good and to forbid them to do what is bad and evil.
Starting from the individual to the family and the community

levels, this obligatory act for all Muslims, when carried out
sincerely and with pure intention ("ikhlas") in obedience to the
commandment of Allah (swt), could transform the Muslim
society into a respectable, high social and spiritual status, apart
from reflecting the true Muslim character in the society as a
whole.
We will look at a few verses of the Qur'an and analyze them to

illustrate the importance of this concept at the individual, the
family, the society and the overall humanity levels.
Chapter 3:110 "You are the best group who has been created
for mankind; you enjoin good and virtuous acts and forbid bad
and evil acts, and you believe in Allah ..."
Although the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil

acts applies to all Muslims of both genders, it is obvious that
they all cannot fully fulfill this obligation because the
conditions attached to performing them cannot be met by
every Muslim. As we shall see, the first of these conditions is
that the person should possess full knowledge of this subject
and himself perform good and virtuous acts and abstain from
all evil and sinful acts.
The Qur'an, while addressing all Muslims, points out a specially

selected group among the Muslim community, made up of men
and women who have been purified by the Creator Himself (Q.
~279~
33:33), to carry out this great and onerous mission among all
Muslims. It is a mission that requires devotion, commitment
and great sacrifice when it comes to the honor and integrity of
Islam against the enemy's abuse and bad language.
There are several examples of this in the Islamic history. The

one that comes to the forefront is that of the Grandson of the
Prophet of Islam (s), the great Martyr Husayn ibn 'Ali (a). He was
mercilessly killed together with a small band of companions and
family members in their defensive battle against a huge army
which came to attack them at Karbala. The aim of the army was
to obtain his allegiance for the despotic ruler, Yazid ibn
Muawiya, who was out to destroy Islam.
That was the time when the Muslim "Ummah" had lost all the
Islamic values and was going back to the pre-lslamic age of
"jahiliyyah", the Age of Ignorance and Pagan practices in the
Arabian Peninsula. The Prophet of Islam (s) had destroyed all
those pagan practices and transformed the society by the
introduction of Islamic values at the expense of his sweat, tears
and blood and that of his family and a small army of loyal and
brave companions.
The rising of Imam Husayn ibn 'Ali (a) was purely for the
purpose of carrying out his duty of "Amr bil-Ma'ruf" and "Nahi
anil-MunkarHe clearly declared this purpose of his journey
before leaving his home in Madina. The sole aim was to save
Islam that his Grandfather, the Prophet of Islam (s), had built
with his great sacrifices and that of his family and small band of
loyal companions who fought in numerous battles against huge
armies raised by the enemies to defeat him and destroy Islam
while it was still in its infancy.
~ 280 ~
In another verse, chapter 3:110 Allah (swt) says, "And the

believing men and the believing women are the protectors of
one another. They enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil,
and they keep up prayers and pay Zakat.
They obey Allah and His Prophet. Allah will bestow Mercy on
them. Indeed Allah is All-Mighty, All-wise."
This verse is comprehensive in the sense that it covers

individuals, family and all believers of both genders in the
Muslim communities. They share the same characteristics as
described in the above-mentioned verse. They serve as role
models for all Muslims practicing what they preach at all levels,
as individuals, as parents and as members of the Muslim
Society.
In a family where parents act as role models for their children

by implementing "Amr bil-Ma'ruf" and "Nahi 'anil-Munkar" in
their homes and outside their home environment, it can bring
about the transformation of the whole Muslim society into the
most respectable status at a national level. It will reflect a true
picture of what Islam stands for and the core of its Message.
The key to the effectiveness of this pragmatic doctrine lies in

the practical application of the principle contained in chapter
61:2/3. Allah (swt) says, "O' you who believe, why do you say
that you, yourselves do not do." In the next verse Allah (swt)
says, "It is most detestable and disliked by Allah that you say
what you do not do." This is the universal principle that applies
to those who preach to the people to do what they themselves
do not do, or not to do what they themselves do. Their words
have no effect on their audience. On the contrary, they are
disrespected and become a laughing stock.
~ 281 ~
Words have to be backed up by deeds to be credible. Otherwise

they are considered as petty and frivolous. This applies most
especially to scholars, priests, writers and speakers who preach
to the people to do good acts and to avoid evil acts while they
themselves act contrary to their preaching.
Indeed, such people harm themselves by preaching because

firstly, they are ineffective and secondly, they incur the
displeasure and wrath of Allah (swt) as well as the disrespect of
the people who consider them as hypocrites.
HADITH
Promoting the two principles among the people, the Prophet

(s) said, "You people should enjoin good and forbid evil, or else
Allah will impose wicked people to rule over you, irrespective
of the existence of those who are good among you. Those who
are good among you would pray to Allah (for relief) but their
supplication would not be accepted." (Mahajjaat al-Bayzaa)
In another Hadith, the Prophet (s) instructed companions to

avoid blocking people's way by sitting on the road. Companions
replied that they could not help as they had no other place to
sit and talk. The Prophet (s) told them, "If you cannot help but
sit on the road, you should observe the rules of using the
roads."
The companions again asked, "What are these rules for using
the roads?" The Prophet (s) replied, "You should lower your
gaze, do not look at the women passing on the road; you should
not disturb or annoy people walking on it; you should answer
people when they greet you; and you should exhort them to do
good and forbid evil" ('Amr bil-Ma'ruf and Nahi 'anil-Munkar").
(Mahajjat al-Bayzaa)
~282~
In another Hadith, the Prophet (s) said, "All talks of a human

being are for himself, for his own good or bad. They do not
actually benefit him except what he says in exhorting people to
do good and forbidding them to commit evil. Words spoken in
remembrance of Allah also benefit them." (Mahajjat al-Bayzaa)
In another instance, a man from the Kath'am tribe came to the

Prophet (s) and said, "O' Prophet, what is the best ritual and
belief in Islam?" The Prophet replied, "Belief in Allah ." "What
is the best act after that?" The Prophet replied, "Maintaining
family ties." The man continued, "What is next?" The Prophet
responded, "Enjoining good and forbidding evil" Next, he
asked an opposite question, "What is that which is hated most
by Allah?" The Prophet replied, "Polytheism, next cutting family
ties, and next to it enjoining evil and forbidding good "(Al-Kafi)
Imam Baqir (a) said, "Allah revealed to Prophet Shuaiyb that

He would punish one hundred thousand people from his tribe
among whom there were evil people who do evil acts and sixty
thousand pious people who perform good deeds"
Prophet Shuaiyb asked, "O' Lord, the evil people should

certainly be punished. But why would you punish the pious
people as well?" Allah replied, "The pious people did not look
down or despise them nor forbid them from performing evil
acts and were not angry and scornful when I was wrathful to
them." (al-Kafi)
CONCLUSION
1. FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THE CALL FOR

HELP
Trials and tribulations, afflictions and setbacks are necessary

components of life. They serve as eye-openers for human
~283~
beings who always tend to forget God and get absorbed in their
quest for materialistic pleasures and enjoyments and love in
amassing wealth. They help man to reconnect and become
aware and conscious of God's existence and His Grace,
countless Blessings and abundant sustenance ("n'imah").
Therefore, man has to accept them as part of life and move on
instead of being bitter and resentful and blaming God for being
cruel and unjust.
On the contrary, when man is blessed with fortunes ("n'imah")

coming from all sides in abundance, he should help those who
are less fortunate, "have nots", suffering from poverty, diseases
and afflictions, needing help to ameliorate their sufferings. This
is one of the ways of thanking God for His Bounties that he
enjoys. Failure to help, ignoring the call to rescue the oppressed
when he is in a position to do so, amounts to the denial of God's
Bounties ("Kufran an-N'imah") which is a great and grave sin
against God, punishable most severely in the hereafter, in
addition to blocking the supplication from reaching Allah (swt).
2. GIVING UP OR STOPPING '"AMR BIL-

MA'RUF WA NAHI 'ANIL-MUNKAR"
"'Amr bil-Ma'ruf wa Nahi 'anil-Munkar", enjoining good and

forbidding evil, are two basic pillars upon which a socially
healthy and morally sound society can be built. They are closely
connected elements of the religion for which all the Prophets
from day one were appointed to establish. These two elements
form the foundation for the reforms that can be introduced in
the society to make it more progressive and vibrant.
Enjoining good and forbidding evil is not the concern of only a

few people. It is a religious and moral obligation of every
Muslim, man and woman, be he a scholar, a preacher, a writer
~ 284 ~
or a layman. Indeed, it is a universal moral and ethical

requirement of human society for a peaceful and well-balanced
life in the world. All religions require its followers to do it as a
duty. Islam has codified it and integrated it into its beliefs
system not only as a duty but also as an obligation.
In fact everyone should be involved in this mission. Whoever

sees a vice being committed should attempt to stop it physically
if it is desirable and possible or by talking to the person kindly
and softly not to do it. If that too does not work, he should at
least detest it and resent it in his heart for seeing an evil act
being committed that he cannot stop. Obviously, this act of
stopping cannot be done in an unruly manner. Otherwise, it
would create mischief and unnecessary fights and enmity in the
society.
In order to prevent such happenings, Islam has laid down

certain conditions for carrying out this obligation. The details
are contained in the "Risalah" of "Fiqhi Masael" of the MarajT
which can be briefly summarized as follows:
It is obligatory when a person:
1. Knows basically what is sharT lawful ("halal") and

unlawful ("haram") acts, unpleasant ("makruh") and
pleasant ("mubah") acts, and also virtuous
("mustahab") and nasty ("munkar") acts
2. Has fairly good hope and possibility of a positive
response in stopping sinful acts or, on the other hand,
encouraging virtuous acts
3. Sees promising signs of not persisting committing
sinful acts or, opposite to that, performing good and
virtuous acts
~285~
4. Is aware of the intention of the person to commit sinful

acts, or vice versa, to perform virtuous acts
5. Is not threatened from loss or harm to his life, his
family, his property, his reputation or his public
integrity.
WAYS OF ITS PERFORMANCE
The obligation is normally performed in three stages. By:
1. Showing displeasure and disapproval openly and

feeling sad in one's heart at seeing evil acts being
performed publicly with no one stopping them nor
anyone showing concern to what is happening
2. Privately and politely talking to those committing evil
acts to admonish them of the gravity of the sins they
are committing against God openly and publicly,
disobeying and defying His Commandments, or vice
versa, persuading them to perform good and virtuous
acts
3. Enforcing a stop to committing evil acts by appropriate
measures, short of physical violence, wherever
possible, without causing any harm to the person
performing the obligation, or vice versa, enforcing the
performance of good and virtuous acts such as "Salat",
wherever possible, without causing any problem or
harm to anyone.
To conclude, we can see clearly the merits of performing "Amr

bil-M'aruf" and "Nahi 'anil-Munkar" and the demerits of
stopping or abandoning to perform, as well as their positive and
negative consequences, respectively, on the individual, family,
society and nation as a whole. It is therefore rational and just
that abandoning or stopping it would block our supplications
~286~
from reaching Allah (swt) in this world and severe punishment

to follow in the hereafter.
Before we close the chapter, it is worthwhile to mention that

there is one final category of sins that has not been included in
the recent edition of the commonly used book of Du'a, the
famous Mafatih al-Jinan of Shaykh Abbas al-Qummi. However,
it appeared in the previous edition of the Mafatih. It also
appears in several authoritative books and also in the
commentaries that have been written by several renowned
authors and commentators.
The category of the sins is given below in the transliterated

Arabic script, its simple English translation and a brief
commentary.
SINS THAT SUPPRESS OR CAUSE A

BREAKDOWN OF HOPE (IN THE MERCY OF
ALLAH):
"O' Allah forgive my sins which suppress or cause a breakdown
of hope in Your Mercy/'
"We have discussed in detail about lack or loss of hope in the

Mercy of Allah (swt) in the previous chapter under the different
category of sins. Therefore, we do not need to discuss it again
here." According to Imam Sadiq (a), four types of sins result in
the suppression or the breakdown of hope in the mercy of Allah
(swt):
1. Sustaining a sense of sadness, despair, dejection as well

as lack of hope in getting the mercy of Allah (swt)
("Qat'ar-Raja' fi Rahmatil-Llah")
2. Lack of hope in Allah's compassion and clemency
('"Adam 'an Fadhlil-Llah wa Joodihi")
~287~
3. Reliance on someone other than Allah (swt)to get help

from him to meet his wants (Ttimad 'ala ghairil-Llah li
qadhail Hajaat")
4. Lack of belief in Allah (swt)'s words that He would
forgive all sins of His servant ("ibad") ( "Adamal Iman fi
Mawaidil-Llah 'anil-Ghufranuz-zunub").
With regard to relying on somebody other than Allah (swt),

Imam Sajjad (a), in one of his Du'as in Sahifa al-Sajjadiyyah says,
"My Lord, how many of them (people) who sought honor from
other than You have been dishonored; those who sought
wealth from other than You suffered from poverty; and those
who sought greatness from other than You were dishonored
and disgraced."
Disbelieving or doubting in Allah (swt)'s words that He will

surely grant the wants of those who pray to Him for their
fulfillment is a grievous sin. In this respect it is narrated by
Muhmmad ibn Abdullah, the grandson of Imam Baqir (a), that
he once met Muhammd ibn 'Ajlan who was in a dire need of
financial help and was on his way to see the governor of Madina
to beg for help. He told him that it would be futile for him to do
so because he had heard from his uncle Imam Sadiq (a) that
Allah (swt) said to one of His Prophets, "I swear by My
Greatness and Majesty that I will cut off the hope of every
distressed person who gets despaired of My help and instead
expects to get it from anyone other than Me.
I will also disgrace him in the eyes of the people and distance
him from My Grace and Favor. It is deplorable that My servant
gets dissatisfied and disappointed with Me and instead relies
for relief from anyone other than Me while he knows that I
control the destinies of everyone. What makes him hope to get
anything from anyone other than Me when I am the All-
~ 288 ~
Generous and All-Sufficing Lord of everyone?" (Anis al-Lail fi

Sharhi Du'a al-Kumayl)
- 289 ~
AMIR AL-MU’MINEEN, *ALI IBN ABI TALIB (A)
CHAPTER TWELVE
SIXTH CATEGORY OF SINS:
FORGIVENESS OF ALL SINS,

OFFENSES, ERRORS AND
WRONGDOINGS
Ofj ^ Pj
O' Lord! make me keep up prayer and (also) make my

descendants (keep up prayer), O' our Lord, accept my
supplication. (Q: 14:40)
XII: The Sixth Category of Sins
HIGHLIGHTS
CHAPTER TWELVE 295

SIXTH CATEGORY OF SINS: FORGIVENESS OF ALL SINS,
OFFENSES, ERRORS AND WRONGDOINGS................... 295
SIN 295
ERROR 296
~293~
CHAPTER TWELVE
SIXTH CATEGORY OF SINS: COVERS
ALL SINS, OFFENSES, ERRORS AND
WRONGDOINGS
"O' Allah, Forgive every sin and every offence that I have
committed against You and every error or mistake that I have
done against You"
We have now come to the last category of sins mentioned by
Imam 'Ali (a) in the Du'a. This is the general category which
embraces all sins and errors of all types we can think of that we
commit, some knowingly and others unknowingly. They are
innumerable. Many of them are against the rules of Allah (swt]
and many others are against the rights of fellow human beings
and other creatures of Allah (swt). First, let us examine the
difference between sin ("dhanmb") and error ("khatia"')
Difference between Sin ("dhanmb") and Mistake or Error
("khatia'")
SIN
Sin is an offence or a defiance against the rule of Allah (swt) or
an infringement of the right of a fellow human being committed
intentionally to oppress the individual. Sin can therefore be
against Allah (swt) or against a fellow human being. The physics
of sin have been discussed in detail in Chapter Three; unless
~295~
forgiven, Allah (swt) will punish the person who has committed
the sin; it suffices to say here that sin damages the spiritual
heart of an individual. When sins of all types are committed
repeatedly, the damage continues to mount and ultimately kills
the heart completely and irreparably.
A person who is outwardly moving with a dead spiritual heart is

now capable of committing any sin, even killing an innocent
human being remorselessly in cold blood. It also suffices to say
here that forgiveness cannot be obtained freely without first
reforming oneself.
Forgiveness has its limitations and also conditions such as, first,
one has to admit that one has committed the sin; second, that
one feels remorseful for having committed the sin; third, that
one is fully determined to exercise an iron will to reform oneself
not to commit the same sin again. The repentance should meet
the conditions of Taubatan Nasuha", defined fully in Chapter
Three, the Physics of Sins.
In this connection, our Ae'mmah (a) have also taught us the

prayer called Salat at-Tauba. It is a four-rakat Salat prayed in
two parts. In this Salat after Surah al-Hamd, we recite three
times Surah al-lkhlas and once Surah an-Nnas and once Surah
al-Falaq. After the Salat is over, a short Du'a is recited for one's
"maghfirat" and that of all Mu'mineen and Mu'minaat, along
with a strong determination not to commit the sin ever again.
ERROR
Error, on the other hand, is normally an unintentional mistake
which is done in good faith owing to either an oversight or
ignorance of the issue at hand. Error or mistake can occur as a
result of the ignorance of' Shari'" rule or an oversight in social
relationship and interaction with people. These errors
~296~
sometimes can cause social as well spiritual damage unless

forgiven by Allah (swt) or the person who has been offended.
When a person occasionally either owing to ignorance or

succumbing to his "Nafse-e-Ammarah" (that part of the human
heart or self that prompts man to commit an evil act) commits
a sin or later repents sincerely, the door for repentance is
always open for him provided he does not repeat the same sin.
"(Acceptance of) repentance by Allah (swt) is only for those who
commit evil out of ignorance, and then repent promptly, they
are the ones whose repentance Allah will accept and Allah is All-
Knowing and All-Wise." (Q. 4:17)
Basically, the heart of a human being created by Allah (swt) is

pure and untarnished. Every time that a man commits an evil
act, a sin, it creates a stain or rust on his heart. This stain or rust
deepens and spreads farther and farther until it covers the
whole heart. When the heart or soul is completely blackened
by the rust formed during the entire life of a person, then there
is no repentance for him. Allah (swt) says, "But repentance is
not for those who go on committing sins (all their life) and when
death approaches anyone of them, he says, 7 repent now"'...)
(Q. 4:18)
In another Chapter No. 83 verses 14-17 Allah (swt) says,

"Indeed, but on their hearts are rusts and stains of the sins
which they commit. Verily, on that Day (the Day o Resurrection)
they will be veiled, blocked from seeing the Light of Allah (swt).
The righteous will be joyous on seeing the Glory and the
dazzling Light of Allah (swt), while the eyes of the sinful will be
veiled from seeing this Glory and Light and the joy that the
righteous will experience. On the other hand, the sinful will see
and perceive the reality of the fire of punishment to which they
~297~
will be subjected. Furthermore, they will enter the Fire of Hell

and it
Imam 'Ali (a), in his final supplication for the forgiveness of the
sins mentioned in this series prays to Allah (swt) to forgive all
sins that have been specified in all the categories, ranging from
those that tear the veil of defense against sins through those
that bring down adversities and calamities, change favors into
disfavors, block supplications from reaching Allah (swt), and
bring about trials and tribulations to those that suppress or cut
down hope for the forgiveness of sins.
In addition, Imam supplicates to his Lord to forgive all other sins

and mistakes he has committed during his life. These sins and
errors include all major and minor sins of all categories
committed either intentionally or unintentionally, concealed or
exposed, committed during young as well as old age; in short,
every sin and every mistake committed throughout life. Indeed,
they are countless, many of which we do not even know until
we come to be given our Book of Record of our deeds on the
Day of Judgment.
When the infallible Imam, purified with thorough purification

by Allah (swt), prays in this moving supplication in a state of
prostration with tears flowing from his eyes, where do we stand
as servants who are full of sins and errors?
Imam teaches us how to supplicate to our Lord who is most

Merciful and Oft-Forgiving to forgive our sins and save us from
the torments of the Hell-Fire. We need first to understand what
we recite in the Du'a. Recitation without understanding will not
serve the purpose of the Du'a. Furthermore, even if we
understand what we recite but our mind is not focused and
~ 298 ~
distracted with worldly thoughts, we will not get the spiritual

benefit of the Du'a.
So the two essential requirements of effective recitation of the

Du'a are: firstly, to understand the Du'a and secondly, to have
full focus of the mind ("hudhur-e-qalb"). If we are able to fulfill
these conditions of effective recitation, we will be able to
achieve the full benefit of the Du'a. This is a powerful Du'a that
can reform us into changing our thinking and behavior so as to
achieve nearness to Allah (swt) whereby we can feel His Glory
and Majesty in our souls and minds and see things differently
from what we see now.
~299~
CONCLUSION
Conclusion
CONCLUSION
PART ONE: HIGHLIGHTS
GROUND LEVEL
We now summarize the topics we have discussed and analyzed

in the Twelve Chapters of the First Part of the Book on the
simple and easily comprehensible commentary on the Du'a of
Prophet Khidr (a) given by Amir al Mu'mineen 'Ali ibn Abi Talib
(a) to Kumayl ibn Ziyad al Nakha'i, a close and trusted
companion of the Imam as a gift after a special request. The
Du'a is well-known simply as Du'a-e-Kumayl which we recite
every Thursday in our Centers and as a part of our A'amal on
the 15 Night of Sha'ban for which it is specifically and strongly
recommended.
This Du'a belongs to the private domain of our Ae'mmah (a) and
has great merits and benefits when it is recited with discipline
and understanding. It is stated that this Du'a should be recited m
at least once in one's life. This signifies its great importance. The
Du'a can be divided into various levels for ease of
understanding. It has a logical flow and a gradual rise in the
spiritual levels, reaching the peak at the end.
LEVEL ONE
The ten most powerful "Asmaa'", specially selected by the

Imam from the ninety nine "Asmaa'-ul-Husna"', the Most
Beautiful Names of Allah (swt), as a means of intercession are
discussed in detail in Chapter One. These "Asmaa"' have the
wonderful effect of instilling in one's mind a sense of security
and peace and a feeling of satisfaction that Allah (swt) is the
~303~
Du'o Kumoyl: A Brief Commentary
only One who is the All-Merciful Lord who accepts supplication

for the grant of one's wants.
LEVEL TWO
The Nature of Sins and the categories of the six specifically

selected sins from countless sins that are usually committed
and for which the Imam asks Allah (swt) for forgiveness are also
analyzed and discussed in detail in Chapter Two. The
tremendous harm and destruction in the various fields of our
physical and spiritual existence here and in the hereafter are
explained at length to show the gravity and seriousness of the
sins and the need to avoid them. They range from those that
tear the veil of defense/destroy the immune system in-built in
man to those that cut down and crush hope for the Divine
Mercy to forgive all sins and errors, both minor and major,
exposed or concealed.
Chapters Three through to Chapter Twelve that follow are

devoted to describing and analyzing all the six categories in
great detail. A total of forty four types of major sins that cover
all aspects of life from personal to social, moral, religious and
political together with the grievous punishments for each
offence are explained in detail. In some cases measures to avoid
them are also suggested.
Forgiveness and the pre-requisites that one must fulfill to

obtain it are also briefly discussed. A strong commitment not to
repeat the sin is one of them, in addition to the
acknowledgement and reliance on the intercession. Lessons
that the Du'a teaches us are also discussed. It is important to
remember them while we recite the Du'a. The introductory
ground level of the Du'a ends here.
~304~
Conclusion
The principal aim is to remove the problems or the obstacles

created by tons of sins blocking the supplicant ("salik") from
advancing closer to Allah (swt) by obtaining forgiveness of the
sins which have been committed both in the past and in the
present time.
PART TWO: HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT TO

EXPECT
The second part of the Book will discuss and analyze the various
levels of the spiritual rise which the supplicant experiences
reaching the peak at the end of the Du'a. The total of 146 verses
in this part can be summarized into seven levels.
LEVEL ONE
At the first level the supplicant tries to gain closeness to Allah

(swt) by his constant remembrance (Zikr); he says, "O' Allah,
there is no one to forgive my sins or conceal my misdeeds and
change my wrongdoings into righteous deeds except You. ... I
have wronged myself, oppressed my soul by constantly sinning
against You in defiance and ignoring Your favors and blessings
to me." The supplicant continues to plead and says, "O' My
Master, I beg You by Your might not to let my sins and
wrongdoings prevent my Du'a from reaching You and not to
disgrace me by exposing my secret sins, my evil acts and my
constant negligence and defiance..."
LEVEL TWO
Finding his pleading inadequate and ineffective, the supplicant

continues, "O' my Lord, my Protector, my vain desires and my
enemies led me to exceed Your limits and disobey Your
commandments... I have come to You, O' my Lord, confessing,
apologizing, regretting, repentantly, admitting my sins; broken-
~305~
hearted and fully submitting to You, finding no place to run

away from wrongdoings, nor any place of escape"
"O', You who are the resort of the runaway and the guilty.
Accept me and shelter me under Your infinitive Mercy. Have
Mercy and free me from the heavy chains of sins."
"Have Mercy on the weakness of my body, the softness of my

skin and the fragility of my bones. O', You who created me,
nourished me and bestowed on me your favors abundantly by
your Kindness and Generosity have Mercy on me."
LEVEL THREE
At this level, the supplicant gets into the intense desire of

getting closer to Allah (swt), but his grave sins still pose a
problem preventing him to get closer. He sees the visions of the
punishment hanging over his head and in this state he
continues to supplicate saying with deeper emotions:
"O', my God, my Master, my Lord, will You see me being

punished with fire after I have declared my belief in Your unity,
and after my heart has taken in Your knowledge; and after my
tongue has been constantly active in Your remembrance; and
after my heart has been filled with Your love; and after my
sincere confession and my humble appeal to Your Lordship-?.
No! O', Allah. You are too kind and generous to abandon Your
servant whom You have nourished, protected and sheltered,
and to inflict miseries on him whom You have maintained and
brought up under the shadow of Your Mercy."
LEVEL FOUR
Carried by his heavy emotions and tears in his eyes, the

supplicant continues and says, "I cannot imagine, O', my
Master, my God and my Protector that You would slap fire on
~306~
Conclusion
the faces that submissively bowed down in prostration before

Your Greatness;
Or the tongues (the faculty of speech) that have sincerely

confirmed Your Unity and all the time express praise and
grateful thanks to You;
Or the hearts that have confirmed Your Divinity with conviction;
Or the minds that have built up the knowledge about You with
total submission to You;
Or the limbs that labored at the places of worship willingly in

complete obedience and submission, praising and glorifying
You and begging in all humility for forgiveness. Such sort of
severity cannot come nor expected of You as it is beyond Your
Grace, for You are the Most Generous (Allah) "
The supplication still continues with the following words: "O',

Lord, You know my weakness that I cannot bear even a minor
affliction of this world and the sufferings affecting the
population in this world even though such afflictions are
temporary and short-lived. So, how I can bear the enormous
and most painful sufferings and punishments of the hereafter
which are of long duration and everlasting effect, and whose
sufferers are given no rest as they are the result of Your wrath,
Your vengeance and Your severity that neither the heavens nor
the earth can withstand or bear? O', my Master how can your
servant who is weak, insignificant, poor, humble, and needy be
able to bear them?"
LEVEL FIVE
The supplicant is now entering into a deeper emotional state

and says, "O', my God, my Lord, my Master and my Guardian,
why and for what matters shall I complain to You and for which
~307~
of them shall I lament and weep; shall I lament for the extreme
pain of the punishment orthe length of the suffering? So, if you
punish me along with Your enemies, and those who are liable
for punishment, and separate me from Your close and beloved
servants, I will call out to you, O' my Lord."
"O', my God, my Master, my Guardian and my Lord, if I could

somehow bear Your punishment, how would I bear the
separation from You; and even if I could at all bear the
scorching fire of Your Hell, how would I bear being kept away
from Your Mercy and Kindness; and how could I remain burning
in the Fire while I would be longing for Your forgiveness?"
"So, by Your Honor and Might, O', my Master and Guardian I

swear that if You were to allow me to speak, I would cry out in
lamentation to You among the inmates like the cry of those who
long for Your kindness and compassion, and I would scream like
the agonizing call of those who call for help, and I shall weep
profusely (for having been cast away from Your nearness) like
the wailing of those who are mourning the passing away of a
beloved friend; and I shall call loudly and openly to You asking,
'Where are You, O', the Guardian of the believers; O', the hope
and the resort of those who "know" you; O' the helper of those
who call for help; O', the beloved of the hearts of the true
believers; O', the Lord of the universe?"
LEVEL SIX
At this semi-final level the supplicant is approaching the peak

of his emotions and says, "O' my God, Glory and Praise are for
You, would You wish to be seen as ignoring the voice of a
Muslim servant imprisoned in the Hell because of his defiance,
and tasting the punishment therein because of his sins, and
confined within its layers of fire because of his crimes and
~ 308 ~
Conclusion
evildoings, and he is crying out and speaks of faith in Your

Mercy, and calls out as those who believe in Your Unity, and
comes to You by seeking Your Lordship's intercession?"
"O', my Lord, how could he then remain under continuous

punishment when he hopefully relies on Your previous
Forbearance, Compassion and Mercy?"
"And how can the fire cause painful burns to him while he
hopes for Your Grace and Mercy? And how can its deafening
and roaring flames encompass him when You hear his voice and
see his place and predicament? And can he bear its groaning
flames when You know his weakness? And how can he be
thrown between its layers when You know his sincerity? And
how could its keepers torture him when he calls out to You, '0,
my Lord.' And how could You abandon him therein while he has
hope in Your Grace that you would free him from it? Far for it
be from You, it is not expected of You nor of what is well-known
of Your Grace nor is it similar to the goodness and kindness You
have shown to those who recognize your Unity."
The supplicant has by now raised his mental/spiritual level to

the point that he can now, with all humility and with a heavy
heart, ask tearfully for the forgiveness at that hour and in that
night, of all his sins and wrongdoings, all evil and shameful acts
done secretly and openly and many others which have been
covered and veiled by Allah (swt)'s Mercy and kindness. He
implores His Power and His predetermination of all affairs of
man. And, at the same time, he prays to Him to increase his joy
in all the goodness that He has bestowed on him, and the
kindness He has extended to him, and the virtues He has
opened up, and the sustenance He has increased abundantly,
and the sins He has forgiven, and the magnanimity by which He
~ 309 ~
has covered his wrongdoings. He also prays for the fulfillment

of several other wants and wishes.
LEVEL SEVEN
This brings the supplicant to the peak of his spiritual rise when
he raises his face and hands, absorbed in total submission to his
Lord and addresses Him,
"So, towards You, my Lord, I turn my face and look to You in

total humility and to You I stretch forth my hands."
"By Your Honor and Might answer my supplication, and grant

me my wishes, and by Your Grace do not cut off my hopes, and
protect me from the mischief and harm my enemies from
among the jinns and men might do to me. O', He whose
pleasure is readily and willingly obtained, forgive him who owns
nothing but supplications, for You do what You will. O', you
whose Name is the remedy for all illnesses, whose
remembrance is the cure of all diseases, and whose obedience
makes a man independent and self-sufficient, have mercy on
him whose capital asset is hope and whose weapon and shield
are tears. O' He who bestows his bounties amply. O', He who
wards off misfortunes. O', Light that illuminates the mind of
those who are lonely in darkness. O', the All-Knowing, who is
the original source of all knowledge which is in His essence.
Bless Muhammad and his pure progeny and grant me what
befits your Benevolence and Magnificence and Bless
Muhammad and his pure progeny."
We now come to the end of the Du'a which, if prayed with

utmost humility and all the heart and the mind put in it, can
reform a person to see things differently and enlighten him to
become one of the "urafaa" and draw him closer to Allah (swt).
~310~
Conclusion
Before we close it must be stressed that the core message of

the Du'a is that no one should ever lose hope in the limitless
Mercy of Allah (swt), for He can forgive all sins if the sinner
acknowledges his sins, makes a firm commitment never to
repeat them again and sincerely with all his heart and soul prays
to Allah (swt) by seeking the intercession of His Mercy. The
following Verse of the Qur'an assures all those who have done
"asraf", wrongdoings on their souls, committed huge sins in
defiance of their Lord, not to lose hope and that Allah (swt) can
forgive all sins except those which are unforgivable such as
"shirk" by associating a partner with Allah (swt).
V (jjAJI U (J5
"Say (O' our Prophet Muhammad that Allah assures His

servants) "O', My servants who have committed
extravagances against their own selves, do not despair of the
Mercy of Allah. Surely, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, He is
the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful." (Q. 39:53)
~311~
BIBLIOGRAPHY
!
'
ij
II
1
H
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ahmad 'Ali, S.V. Mir THE HOLY QUR'AN -

TEXT, TRANSLATION AND
COMMENTARY,
Second Edition, Tahrike
Tarsile Qur'an, New York,
1995
Al-Harrani ,Abu Mohammed TUHAF ALUQOUL

Al-Hasan bin Al-Hussein bin THE MASTERPIECES OF THE
Shu'ba INTELLECT
Translated by: BadrShahin
Ansariyan Publications,
Qum n.d..
'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a), Imam NAHJUL BALAGHA,

English Translation by Seyiyd
'Ali Reza and Seyyid
Muhammad Askari Jafrey,
Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, New
York, 1977
'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a), Imam SUPPLICATIONS (DU'A) OF

AMIRAL-AL-MU'MININ
'ALI IBN ABI TALIB (A),
Translated by William C.
Chittick, Muhammadi Trust
of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, n.d.
~ 315 ~
Ansariyan, Allama Husayn COMMENTARY ON KUMAYL
SUPPLICATION,
Translated into English by
Hamideh Elahinia, First
Edition, Ansariyan
Publications; 2006
Malbubi, Aqa Mohammed DARMAN RUHO-RAWAN,

Baqir A Commentary in Farsi of
the Du'a Kumeil, Ansariyan
Publications, n.d.
Malbubi, Aqa Mohammed ANISUL-LAYL FI SHARHI

Baqir DU'A AL-KUMEIL,
An Arabic Commentary;
Ansariyan Publications, n.d.
Puya, Aqa Mirza Mahdi THE HOLY QUR'AN -

TEXT,AND COMMENTARY,
First Edition, Peermahomed
Ebrahim Trust, Karachi, 2005
Qara'i, 'AN Quli THE QUR'AN -

WITH A PHRASE-BY-PHRASE
ENGLISH TRANSLATION,
First Edition, Islamic College
for Advanced Studies Press,
London 2004
Rahim, Husein A DU'A-E-KUMEIL,

A Translation and
Commentary in English, Bilal
Muslim Mission of Kenya,
Mombasa, n.d
~316~
i
\
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Shirazi, Ayatul-Llah Seyyid GREATER SINS
Abdul Husain Dastaghayb (GUNAHANE KABIRA) VOL
1 and VOL 2,
Quoting Original Sources
Translated by Syed Athar
j Husain S.H. Rizvi, Islamic
Study Circle, Mumbai, India,
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!
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[ ~ 317 ~
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!
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A Frecious Fearl (Jijt from

AMIR AL-MU’MINEEN, ‘ALIIBN ABI TALIB (A)

O 'He, whose pleasure is easily and readily obtained! <■ f £

PART I: NATURE OF SINS AND

Amir Al-Mu'mineen, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (a),

His Elite and Trustworthy Companion,

Kumayl ibn Ziyad Nakha'i

For Giving the Muslim Ummah the Gem of the Du'a

^)iiu ibl (jl C iiil \ jin.lSJ

"Say (O' our Prophet Muhammad that Allah assures His

*\A*\A (Jlj ^A^A \\\

O' Allah, bless Muhammad and his Pure Progeny

Author: Mu'allim Muhammadhusein Kermali

Editor: Dr. Bashir Datoo

Formatted by: Shaykh Muhammadraza Janmohamed

First Edition: November, 2015 - Safar 1436

Quantity: 1000 copies

Printed by: Stellar Print Solutions

Publishers: Organization of North American

Profile: Marhum Jaffer Abdulhusein 7

Chapter Six.............................................................................. 145

Chapter Seven........................................................................ 163

Third Category Of Sins: Sins That Change Divine Favors Into

MARHUM JAFFER ABDULHUSEIN

GENEROSITY AND PHILANTHROPY

All are kindly requested to remember Marhum with du'a for

Shaykh Vinay has studied the philosophy of Du'a Kumayl in

Shaykh Vinay is currently a fourth-year Ph.D. Candidate in

Shaykh Vinay is an eloquent lecturer and a renowned scholar.

Dr. Bashir did his doctoral studies at the London School of

He is now retired and lives in Florida where he serves our

Dr. Bashir has contributed many articles to our Community

Shaykh Muhammadraza Janmohamed of Orlando, Florida has

Shaykh is a well-known lecturer and Zakir. He has been serving

Husseini Islamic Center in various religious fields for more than

He assists the Resident 'Aalim and, in his absence, conducts

aJI ^Îc. j (J^juoj ^Îc. 4«! (_5â J

And May the blessing of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah

The supplication of Kumayl b. Ziyad has been ascribed by

/ I con certainly remark without hesitation that this prayer is

commonly known by both specialists and non-specialists alike in

among the most often recited supererogatory acts of worship

On that note, I will briefly highlight the place of du'a literature

2 For the purposes of this study, the term ShJ7, Imam1 or

3 Ziyarat refers to the act of visiting the graves of the Prophet

4 The four principle books of hadlth are al-Kafi compiled by

Ahkdm compiled by AbJ Ja'far al-TusI, more commonly known

5 Agha Buzurg TihranI, al-Dharl'ah ila ta$anlf al-Shl'ah (Beirut:

6 Ya'qut al-HamawI (d.1229 C.E.), Mu'jam al-buldan (Beirut:

among the most often recited supererogatory acts of worship

On that note, I will briefly highlight the place of du'a literature

2 For the purposes of this study, the term ShTT, ImamT or

3 Ziyarat refers to the act of visiting the graves of the Prophet

4 The four principle books of hadith are al-Kafi compiled by

Ahkam compiled by AbJ Ja far al-fusT, more commonly known

5 Agha Buzurg Tihranl, al-DharJ'ah ila ta$anif al-Shl'ah (Beirut:

6 Ya'qut al-HamawJ (d.1229 C.E.), Mu'jam al-buldan (Beirut:

To further attest to the importance and proliferation of this

stresses a similar point in pointing out that it can be reasonably

of devotional literature (du'a' and ziyarah), in addition to the

\A\A (Jlj ^A^A \\\