Sahifa Sajjadiyyah: 3 Du‘as ALI 137: Session 7 Jamadi II 30, 1429 July 4, 2008

Today’s lesson  Discussion on verse 2:215 & 216  Where to spend our wealth?  English translations of The Sahifa  Islam on giving loans to the needy  We should love the poor; why:  Real investment of wealth  Islamic objectives of material wealth.

Qur’ānic āyāt 2:215 & 216  يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلْ مَا أَنفَقْتُمْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالأَقْرَبِينَ وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ  كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمْ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَكُمْ وَعَسى أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ وَعَسَى أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ

Translation of HQ 2:215 & 216  2:215 They ask you as to what they should spend. Say, ‘Whatever wealth you spend, let it be for parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, and the traveler.’ And whatever good that you may do, God indeed knows it.  2:216 Warfare has been prescribed for you, though it is repulsive to you. Yet it may be that you dislike something while it is good for you, and it may be that you love something while it is bad for you, and God knows and you do not know.

Where to spend the wealth?  Blood relatives (16:90) & other needy (70:24 & 25) have right on our wealth  As-Sadiq (a): Do you think that Allah has fixed only Zakat on your wealth? That which Allah has fixed besides Zakat is more than Zakat, and the same should be spent on your relatives & those who ask for it.  As-Sadiq (a): when a Muslim who can help, refuses to help a needy brother, Allah abstains from helping in this world & hereafter.

English translations of The Sahifa  Famous translation by Dr W. Chittick: first published in 1988 & then numerous times & available online  Comments: phrase by phrase, literal & professional but difficult English, biblical & and not easy to reach Arabic text  Other by Syd Ahmed Muhani, 2 nd edition printed in 1984 by IPO  Easy to read but same shortcomings as above  The more we translate, the better we get

The 2 translations of 20:1  O Lord, bless Muhammad and his descendants. Advance my faith to the greatest perfection. Let my belief be the most excellent beliefs. Cause my motive to be the best of resolutions & my conduct the best of actions.  O God, bless Muhammad and his Household, bless Muhammad and his Household, cause my faith to reach the most perfect faith, cause my faith to reach the most perfect faith, make my certainty the most excellent certainty, make my certainty the most excellent certainty, and take my intention to the best of intentions and take my intention to the best of intentions and my works to the best of works! and my works to the best of works!

Islam on giving loan  More recommended than giving charity  Ma‘sumeen (a) have also taken loans in their lives  Reward of extending time to your debtors  Allah (swt) takes loan for our good spending  HP (s): Allah is with debtor provided he has not committed sin against Allah with that loan  And if [the debtor] is in straits, let there be a respite until the time of ease; and if you remit [the debt] as charity, it will be better for you, should you know.  Al-Kazim (a): when expenses exceed income, one may take loan... If dies without paying, the Imam will pay from public treasury.

Befriending the poor  O Allah, make me love the companionship of the poor and help me be their companion with excellent patience! (Sahifa 30:4)  Why should we love the poor & needy?  Seerah of the Prophet (s) & Imams (a)  The poor will go to paradise first  Majority of Allah’s friends & close servants (awliyaa) are not rich, & do not wish for it.

Real investment of the wealth  Whenever You take away from me the goods of this perishing world, store them for me in Your abiding treasuries! (The Sahifa 30:5)  Qur’anic verses on what remains with Allah endures what is with us will perish (16:96, 28:60; 35:29)  مَا عِنْدَكُمْ يَنفَدُ وَمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ 16:96  That which is with you will be spent but what is with God shall last, and We will surely pay the patient their reward by the best of what they used to do.  Who can be a better trustee than Allah?

Islamic objectives of wealth  Make this world's broken pieces which You have conferred upon me and its goods which You have quickly granted to me a way to reach Your neighborhood, a link to Your nearness, and a means to Your Garden! Verily You are Possessor of bounty abounding, and You are the Munificent, the Generous (Sahifa 30:6)  Achieving Allah’s presence, pleasure & place