Hazrat husain's supposed Maxims - Durre Manshoor

[Dr. Shabbir]

The Way of Imam Husain (A.S.)

Maxims of Imam Husain (A.S.)

101 - Do not prescribe a medicine for a king , because if it cures him he will not thank you , and if it worsens his condition, he will blame you. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)

102 - Referring to a follower who had refrained from joining a war and then had apologized for it and sought to bring an excuse to justify it , Imam (A.S.) said :Apologizing for a sin committed consciously is worse than the sin itself. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 128)


103 - If you gather wealth but do not use it , you are not the owner of your wealth , rather , you are owned by it. So benefit from your possessions and do not let them benefit from you. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)

104 - Whoever accepts your grant, he has helped you with your generosity. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)


105 - Telling the truth brings about honor. (Tarikh al-Yakoobi , Vol. 2 , Najaf press , P. 246 , line 9)


106 - Telling lies is a sign of weakness. (Tarikh al-Yakoobi , Vol. 2 , Najaf press , P. 246 , line 9)


107 - " People's secrets are properties held in trust with you." (Tarikh al-Yakoobi, Vol. 2, Najaf press , P. 246 , line 9)


108 - "Your neighbours are like your relatives." (Tarikh al-Yakoobi, Vol. 2 , Najaf press , P. 246 , line 9)


109 - Aiding (others) is (a sign of) truthfulness. (Tarikh al-Yakoobi, Vol. 2 , Najaf press , P. 246 , line 9)


110 - " Working grants you experience."(Tarikh al-Yakoobi, Vol. 2 , Najaf press , P. 246)

111 - Good manner is (counted as) a worship. (Tarikh al-Yakoobi, Vol. 2, Najaf press , P. 246 , Line 9)


112 - Silence is an ornament (for man) (Tarikh al-Yakoobi, Vol. 2 , P. 246)

113 - Greediness is poverty. (Tarikh al-Yakoobi, Vol. 2, P. 246)

114 - Generosity is prosperity. (Tarikh al-Yakoobi, Vol. 2, P. 246)

115 - Moderation is wisdom. (Tarikh al-Yakoobi, Vol. 2 , Najaf press , P. 246 , Line 9)


116 - Once Imam (A.S.) advised Ibn- Abbas :" Do not talk about something which does not concern you , because I fear that you commit a sin , and do not talk in what concerns you unless there is an occasion for it. Very often a speaker is criticized for telling the truth (for it was not on the right occasion.) (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 127)


117 - Do not argue with two types of people: the patient and the stupid; the former will beat you, and the latter will bother you. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)

118 - In your friend's absence, speak of him the way that you like him to speak of you in your absence. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)

119 - Death with dignity is better than life with humility. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 192)

120 - Continuous experience increases intellect, honour and piety. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 128)

121 - Contentment causes the comfort of body. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 128 , Line 9)

122 - Imam (A.S.) was asked why the Almighty God made it compulsory to fast. He replied. "To make the rich taste hunger and be merciful towards the needy." (Manaqib Aal Abi-Talib by Ibn Shahrashoob , Vol. 4 , P. 68)

123 - Imam Hussain (A.S.) was asked: How great your fear of God is? He said: "Nobody will be safe in the Day of Judgement except those who fear God in this world. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 192)

124 – Imam Hussain (A.S.) was asked about Jihad, striving in the way of God, recommended or compulsory? He said, " Jihad in Islam is of four kinds: two of them on compulsory, one of them is recommended but cannot be performed except with a compulsory one , and one is solely recommended. One of the first two compulsory ones is striving of a man with himself to avoid committing sins which is greatest kind of Jihad. The second compulsory Jihad is fighting infidels. The third kind of Jihad which is recommended but cannot be carried out unless with a compulsory Jihad, is Jihad of the Islamic nation against their enemy which is compulsory on all the Muslim nation. If they live it away ,God's punishment will come , and this is a sort of nation punishment. But this Jihad is recommended for the Imam, leader of the Muslims , alone.
He is to come to the nation , and they together. Go for striving against the enemy. The fourth Jihad which is recommended is when a good tradition is initiated or revived by a person who strives for safeguarding it or improving it. This is among the best deeds, as it is reviving a good tradition. Surely, the Prophet (S.A.W.) said , " Whoever establishes a good tradition , he will be rewarded for it , and in addition , he will be rewarded for every other individual who has followed his tradition. (Tohaf al-Uqoul , P 243)


125 - O' the son of Adam! Your life comprises of passing days, with each day passing, a part of you goes away for good. "(Irshad al-Quloob by Dailami , P. 40)


126 - The Holy book of the Almighty contains four items: words , implications, esoteric points, and realities. Words for common people , implications for special people , esoteric points for divine leaders, and realities for the prophets (A.S.) (Jame al-Akhbar by Shaykh Sadook , P. 47)

127 - Those who are reduced to tears after hearing sufferings of my family, their tears will protect them from hell and God will place them up in Paradise. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 44, P. 279)

128 - Tears of the eyes and fear of the hearts are among graces of the Almighty God. (Mustadrak al-Wasael vol. 11, P. 245)

129 - Do not try to find fault with others instead, when someone makes a small blunder, try to cover up for him and justify his mistake. (Nuzhat al - Nadhir wa Tanbih al-Khater, P. 80)

130 - Endure difficulties when you walk on a divine path, and resist the temptation of worldly pleasures. (Nuzhat al - Nadhir wa Tanbih al-Khater, P. 85)

131 - Aban Ibn Taglib said he once heard the martyred Imam (A.S.) as saying:" Whoever likes us (the household of the Prophet) he becomes from us the house hold "(of the prophet).He had asked Imam (A.S.): " From you the household ? " Imam (A.S.) answered," From us the household," and repeated it three times. Then Imam (A.S.) went on to say, "Did you not hear the saying of the prophet Ibraham (in the Holy Quran) : " And whoever follows me , he is from me? "(Nuzhat al - Nadhir wa Tanbih al-Khater, P. 40)

132 - Nothing is more disgraceful for old people than being slaves to their worldly desires. (Kifayah al-Athar fi An-Nass Ala Aimma al- Ithna-Ashar, P. 233)

133 - Nothing is more disgraceful for rulers than treating their subordinates cruelly. (Kifayah al-Athar fi An-Nass Ala Aimma al- Ithna-Ashar, P. 233)

134 - Nothing is more disgraceful for noble people than telling lies. (Kifayah al-Athar fi An-Nass Ala Aimma al- Ithna-Ashar, p. 233)

135 - Nothing is more disgraceful for the learned than greed. (Kifayah al-Athar fi An-Nass Ala Aimma al- Ithna-Ashar, P.233)

136 - Amir al-Mo'menin Ali (A.S.) asked his son Hussain (A.S.):" O' Son !what is being honorable "? He replied: "Benevolence to family members , and bearing their losses. "(Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 102)


137 – Imam Husain (A.S.) was once asked: what is affluence? He said : " Decreasing your wishes , and being satisfied with what is enough for you. "(Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 102)


138 - What is poverty?" Being covetous and hopeless. "(Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 102)


139 - What is being low and base?" Saving yourself but leaving your spouse to grapple with difficulties at hard times. "(Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 102)


140 - What is stupidity? "Hostility to one's powerful and efficient commander, or to someone who can harm you or benefit you." (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78 , P.102)


141 - A man told Imam Hussain (A.S.): "I have built a new house. I like you to enter it and pray to God for me. Imam accepted. After entering the house, Imam (A.S.) had a look at it and said,” You have demolished your house and have built a larger and more luxurious house. People on the earth admire you and respect you for that house, while those up in the Heavens despise you. (Mustadrak al-Wasael , Vol. 3 , P. 467)


142 - The Holy Koran has an elegant outward and a profound inward (Jame al-Akhbar by Shaykh Sadook , P. 47)


143 - The intelligence of Muawiyah was being discussed when Imam said :" Man's intelligence would not be perfect unless truth is followed". (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78, P. 127)


144 - Imam Hussain (A.S.) said: "Our enemy is the enemy of my grandfather Muhammad (S.A.W.) "(Ihqaq al-Haq , Vol, 11 , P. 592)


145 - Habeeb Ibn Madaher narrated that once he asked Imam Hussain (A.S.): "What were you before the creation of Adam? ". Imam replied: " We were spiritual lights orbiting the highest Heaven , and teaching the angels praising and glorification. "(Biharol Anwar, Vol. 60, P. 311)


146 - Twelve Mahdis are to be from us. First of them is Amir al-Mo'menin Ali Ibn Abi Talib (A.S.), and the last is the Imam who rises by justice. Through him, God will revive the earth after its death, and let the real belief overcome other beliefs, in spite of the polytheists' dislike. He has a long occultation during which some will abandon their faith, and some will firmly stay in their belief. Then, they will be annoyed and asked: "When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are telling the truth? " Truly, whoever withstands annoyance and denial of others during the occultation of Mahdi is like the one who fights by sword alongside the Prophet (S.A.W.). (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 51, p. 133)


147 - Imam Husain (A.S.) was asked what virtue is. He said: "Holding your tongue, and good deed." Then he was asked what defect is. He said: "Involving yourself in a futile task." (Mustadrak al-Wasael , vol. 9 , P. 24)

148- There are seventy advantages for the greeting. Sixty-nine is given to the one who greets first and one is given to the one who responds to the greeting.




149- The true stingy is that who refrains from greeting.





150- He who tries to achieve something through acting disobediently to Allah will miss what he expects and fall in what he fears.