Compréhension de la générosité et de la munificence

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from certain individuals of our people who has said the following: “I asked abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘What is the limit of generosity?’ The Imam replied, ‘It is to pay what Allah has made obligatory on you to pay to properly deserving recipients.’”

Tu dois dépenser de ta richesse le droit qu'Allah t'a imposé et le placer à sa juste place.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, from his ancestors, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘A generous person is beloved in the heavens and on earth. Such persons are created from sweet clay. The water of the eyes of such people is created from the water of al-Kawthar. Stingy persons are hated in the heaven and on earth. Such people are created from salty clay and the water of the eyes of such people is created from the water of thorns.’”

أَنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ السَّخِيُّ مُحَبَّبٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ مُحَبَّبٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خُلِقَ مِنْ طِينَةٍ عَذْبَةٍ وَخُلِقَ مَاءُ عَيْنَيْهِ مِنْ مَاءِ الْكَوْثَرِ وَالْبَخِيلُ مُبَغَّضٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ مُبَغَّضٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خُلِقَ مِنْ طِينَةٍ سَبِخَةٍ وَخُلِقَ مَاءُ عَيْنَيْهِ مِنْ مَاءِ الْعَوْسَجِ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Faddal from Ali ibn ‘Uqbah from Mahdiy who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan Musa, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘A generous person who possesses good moral discipline is under Allah’s protection and Allah does not leave such a person alone until He admits him to Paradise. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has never sent a prophet or an executor of the will of the prophets who is not generous. All the people of good deeds were generous. My father continued to encourage me to be generous until he passed away. He said, ‘One who pays zakat completely and pays it to properly deserving persons is not questioned wherefrom he has earned his wealth.’”

Le Généreux aux nobles caractères est dans le giron d'Allah, Allah ne le destitue pas de cela jusqu'à ce qu'Il le fasse entrer au Paradis. Allah, le Très-Haut, n'a envoyé ni prophète ni successeur sans qu'il ne soit généreux. Aucun des pieux n'était avare. Mon père ne cessait de me recommander la générosité jusqu'à sa mort. Il disait : "Celui qui prélève intégralement l'aumône légale de ses biens et la place à son emplacement ne sera pas interrogé sur la provenance de sa richesse."

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Husayn ibn abu Sa‘id al-Mukariy from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that a delegate from Yemen once came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. Among them, there was a man who was the greatest among them in speaking and most intense in arguing with the Holy Prophet. The Holy Prophet became angry and the sweat of anger appeared between his eyes, his complexion changed, and he began to look down on the ground. Jibril (Gabriel) came to him and said, ‘Your Lord sends you greetings of peace and says, “This is a generous man. He provides food (for people).” The anger of the Holy Prophet calmed down. He raised his head and said,

Le Messager d'Allah (que la prière d'Allah et Son salut soient sur lui) a reçu une délégation du Yémen, parmi eux se trouvait un homme qui était le plus loquace et le plus pointilleux dans ses questions lors des discussions avec le Prophète (que la prière d'Allah et Son salut soient sur lui). Le Prophète (que la prière d'Allah et Son salut soient sur lui) se mit en colère au point que les veines de sa colère se gonflèrent entre ses yeux, son visage devint rouge et il baissa la tête vers le sol. Gabriel (que la paix soit sur lui) vint à lui et lui dit : "Ton Seigneur te salue et te dit que cet homme est généreux, il nourrit les affamés." La colère du Prophète (que la prière d'Allah et Son salut soient sur lui) se calma, il releva la tête et lui dit : "Si Gabriel ne m'avait pas informé que tu es généreux et que tu nourris les affamés, j'aurais fait de toi un exemple pour ceux qui viendront après toi." L'homme lui dit : "Certes, ton Seigneur aime la générosité." Le Prophète (que la prière d'Allah et Son salut soient sur lui) répondit : "Oui, je témoigne qu'il n'y a de divinité digne d'adoration qu'Allah et que tu es le Messager d'Allah, celui qui t'a envoyé avec la vérité. Je ne refuserai à personne de mon argent."

6. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘ Abd Allah has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from certain individuals of our people from Aban ibn Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar from Zayd al-Shahham who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that Ibrahim, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, was the father of guest- entertaining people. Whenever he did not have a guest, he would go out to search for a guest. He would close his door and take the keys with him when looking for guests. Once he returned home and found a person, or someone similar to a person, in his house. He asked, ‘Who are you, O servant of Allah and by whose permission have you come here?’ He replied, ‘I have come here by the permission of the owner of the house,’ and repeated it three times. Ibrahim then realized that he is Jibril. He thanked Allah and said, ‘Your Lord has sent me to one of His servants whom He has chosen as His friend.’ Ibrahim then said, ‘You should inform me, who is he so I serve him until the time of my death?’ He (Jibril) replied, ‘That person is yourself.’ He (Ibrahim) asked, ‘Why is that?’ He (Jibril) replied, ‘It is because you have never asked anyone for help and you are never asked.’ I said, ‘No, it has not happened.’”

Il a dit : "Certes, Ibrahim (paix soit sur lui) était accueillant envers les invités. Quand ils n'étaient pas présents, il sortait à leur recherche, fermait sa porte, prenait les clés et cherchait les invités. Il est rentré chez lui et a trouvé un homme ou quelqu'un qui lui ressemblait dans la maison. Il a dit : 'Ô Abdullah, avec la permission de qui es-tu entré dans cette maison ?' Il a répondu : 'J'y suis entré avec la permission de son Seigneur.' Il a répété cela trois fois. Ibrahim (paix soit sur lui) a alors su que c'était l'Ange Gabriel, il a loué Dieu puis a dit : 'Ton Seigneur m'envoie vers un serviteur parmi Ses serviteurs pour en faire un ami.' Ibrahim (paix soit sur lui) a demandé : 'Apprends-moi qui est celui que je servirai jusqu'à ma mort.' L'ange a répondu : 'C'est toi.' Ibrahim a demandé : 'Et pourquoi cela ?' L'ange a dit : 'Parce que tu n'as jamais demandé quoi que ce soit à qui que ce soit et que personne ne t'a jamais rien demandé, et tu as toujours dit non.'

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from abu ‘Abd al- Rahman who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that once a man came to the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and said, ‘O the Messenger of Allah, who among people is of more excellent belief?’ He replied, ‘He is one whose hands are more open than others.’”

Il est venu à l'Envoyé d'Allah (que la prière d'Allah et Son salut soient sur lui) et lui dit : "Ô Messager d'Allah, qui parmi les gens a le plus de foi ?" Il répondit : "Celui dont la main est la plus ouverte."

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from abu al-Hassan, Ali ibn Yahya from Ayyub ibn ‘A’yan from abu Hamzah who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘On the Day of Judgment a man will be brought and will be told to present his argument to support his merits. He will say,

Le Messager d'Allah (que la prière d'Allah et Son salut soient sur lui) a dit : "Un homme sera présenté le Jour du Jugement et il lui sera dit : 'Présente ta défense.' Il dira : 'Ô Seigneur, Tu m'as créé, Tu m'as guidé, Tu m'as pourvu de largesses et je n'ai cessé d'être généreux envers Ta création et de leur faciliter les choses afin que Ta miséricorde se répande sur moi en ce jour et que Tu me facilites les choses.' Le Seigneur, glorifié et exalté soit-Il, dira : 'Mon serviteur a dit la vérité. Faites-le entrer au Paradis.'"

9. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, say, ‘A generous person is close to Allah, close to Paradise and close to people.’ I also heard him say, ‘Generosity is a tree in Paradise. Whoever holds to one of its branches will enter Paradise.’”

Le généreux est proche de Dieu, proche du Paradis, proche des gens. J'ai entendu dire que la générosité est un arbre au Paradis, quiconque s'accroche à l'une de ses branches entre au Paradis.

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Yasar al-Khadim who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan al-Rida, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘A generous person eats people’s food so that they eat his food. A stingy person does not eat people’s food so that they will not eat his food.’”

Le généreux mange de la nourriture des gens pour qu'ils mangent de sa nourriture, tandis que l'avare ne mange pas de la nourriture des gens de peur qu'ils ne mangent de sa nourriture.

11. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah in a marfu‘ manner saying: “’Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, once asked his son, al-Hassan, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘My son, what is generosity?’ He replied, ‘It is providing assistance in both easy and difficult conditions.’”

"Ô mon fils, quelle est la générosité ?" Il répondit : "C'est donner dans l'aisance et la difficulté."

12. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, once said to a certain person in his presence, ‘Should I tell you about something that gets you close to Allah and to paradise and away from hell fire?’ He said, ‘Yes, please do so.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘You must maintain generosity. Allah has created a creature by His kindness for His kindness. He has made them true deserving recipients of Benevolent Assistance, the proper place for good deeds, and a direction for people to strive toward them, so that they revive them, just as rain revives the barren land. Such people are the believers who live in peace in paradise on the Day of Judgment.’”

قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) لِبَعْضِ جُلَسَائِهِ أَ لا أُخْبِرُكَ بِشَيْءٍ يُقَرِّبُ مِنَ الله وَيُقَرِّبُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةَ وَيُبَاعِدُ مِنَ النَّارِ فَقَالَ بَلَى فَقَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِالسَّخَاءِ فَإِنَّ الله خَلَقَ خَلْقاً بِرَحْمَتِهِ لِرَحْمَتِهِ فَجَعَلَهُمْ لِلْمَعْرُوفِ أَهْلاً وَلِلْخَيْرِ مَوْضِعاً وَلِلنَّاسِ وَجْهاً يُسْعَى إِلَيْهِمْ لِكَيْ يُحْيُوهُمْ كَمَا يُحْيِي الْمَطَرُ الأَرْضَ الْمُجْدِبَةَ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الآمِنُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated in a marfu‘ manner saying: “He (the Imam) has said, ‘Allah the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, sent revelation to Moses and told him not to kill the Samiriy because he was a generous person.”

Allah le Très-Haut a révélé à Moïse (paix soit sur lui) de ne pas tuer le Samaritain, car il est généreux.

14. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Amr ibn ‘Uthman from Muhammad ibn Shu’ayb from abu Ja’far al- Mada’iniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that a young generous man excessively involved in sins is more beloved to Allah than an old worshipping man who is stingy.”

"Un jeune homme généreux, accablé par les péchés, est plus aimé d'Allah qu'un vieil homme adorateur avare."

15. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Jamil ibn Darraj who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, say, ‘The virtuous ones among you are the generous ones, and the wicked ones among you are the stingy ones. You must do good to your brothers (in belief) and striving to help them comes from pure belief. The Beneficent loves those who do good to their brothers (in belief), and such manners humiliate Satan, distance one from the fire of hell, and admit one into paradise. O Jamil, inform the most distinguished ones of your people of this fact.’ I then asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, who are the most distinguished ones of my people?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘They are the ones who do good to their brothers (in belief) in both trouble-free and difficult conditions.’ He then said, ‘O Jamil, for affluent people, it is easy. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has praised the not-so-affluent ones in His book. ‘They give preference to them (the needy) over themselves, even concerning the things that they themselves urgently need. Whoever controls his greed will have everlasting happiness. (59:9)’”

"Les meilleurs d'entre vous sont les plus indulgents, et les pires d'entre vous sont les plus avares. Et parmi les plus sincères en leur foi se trouvent ceux qui sont bienfaisants envers leurs frères et qui s'efforcent de répondre à leurs besoins. Certes, celui qui est bienfaisant envers ses frères, le Tout Miséricordieux l'aime. Cela est une source de dégoût pour Satan, et cela éloigne du Feu de l'Enfer et conduit au Paradis. Ô Jamil, informe mes compagnons de cela." J'ai dit : "Puissé-je être sacrifié pour vous, qui sont mes compagnons ?" Il a dit : "Ce sont ceux qui sont bienfaisants envers leurs frères dans l'adversité et la prospérité." Puis il a dit : "Ô Jamil, certes, celui qui possède beaucoup trouve cela facile pour lui, alors que Dieu, exalté soit-Il, a loué celui qui préfère les autres à lui-même, même s'ils sont dans le besoin. Et celui qui réprime sa propre avarice, ceux-là sont les réussis."