The meaning of abstinence
1
أبي - رحمه الله - قال: حدثنا علي بن إبراهيم، عن أبيه، عن النوفلي، عن السكوني، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قيل لأمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: ما الزهد في الدنيا؟ قال: تنكب حرامها.
1. My father, may Allah grant him mercy, said: We were told by Ali bin Ibrahim, from his father, from al-Nawfali, from al-Sukuni, from Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, that he said: It was said to the Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him: What is abstinence in this world? He said: Avoiding from what is forbidden of it.
2
حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد - رضي الله عنه - قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، عن أحمد بن أبي عبد الله، عن أبيه، عن محمد بن سنان، عن مالك بن عطية الأحمسي، عن معروف بن خربوذ، عن أبي الطفيل، قال: سمعت أمير المؤمنين صلوات الله عليه يقول: الزهد في الدنيا قصر الامل. وشكر كل نعمة والورع عما حرم الله عليك.
2. We were told by Muhammed bin Hasan bin Ahmad bin Waleed, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: We were told by Muhammed bin Hasan al-Saffar, from Ahmad bin Abi Abdillah, from his father, from Muhammed bin Sinan, from Malik bin ‘Atiya al-Ahmasi, from Ma’ruf bin Kharboudh, from Abu’l-Tufail, that he said: I heard the Commander of the Believers, Allah’s blessings be upon him, say: Abstinence in this world is to have short aspiration, thankfulness to every grace and piety with regards to (avoiding) what Allah has forbidden upon you.
3
وبهذا الاسناد، عن أحمد بن أبي عبد الله، قال: حدثني الجهم بن الحكم، عن إسماعيل بن مسلم، قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: ليس الزهد في الدنيا بإضاعة المال ولا بتحريم الحلال بل الزهد في الدنيا أن لا تكون بما في يدك أوثق منك بما في يد الله عز وجل.
3. With this chain of narrators, from Ahmad bin Abi Abdillah, that he said: Iwas told by Jahm bin Hakam, from Isma’eel bin Muslim, that he said: Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, said: Abstinence in this world is not by wasting property, nor by declaring the allowable as forbidden. Rather, abstinence in this world is that you are not, towards what is in your hand, more confident than towards what is in the Hand of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He.
4
حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد - رضي الله عنه - قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن القاسم بن محمد الأصبهاني، عن سليمان بن داود المنقري، عن علي بن هاشم البريد، عن أبيه، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام أن رجلا سأله عن الزهد فقال: الزهد عشرة أشياء فأعلى درجات الزهد أدنى درجات الورع، وأعلى درجات الورع أدنى درجات اليقين وأعلى درجات اليقين أدنى درجات الرضا. ألا وإن الزهد في آية من كتاب الله عز و جل: " لكيلا تأسوا على ما فاتكم ولا تفرحوا بما آتكم ".
4. We were told by Muhammed bin Hasan bin Ahmad bin Waleed, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah, from Qasem bin Muhammed al-Esbahani, from Sulayman bin Dawud al-Manqari, from Ali bin Hashim al-Bareed, from his father, from Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, that a man asked him about abstinence. He said: Abstinence are ten things. The highest ranks of abstinence are the lowest ranks of piety, and the highest ranks of piety are lowest ranks of certainty, and the highest ranks of certainty are the lowest ranks of satisfaction (from Allah). Alas, abstinence is, indeed, in a verse from the Book of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «That you will not despair for what has eluded you, nor rejoice for what I give you.» (57:23) [1]
5
أبي - رحمه الله - قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن أحمد بن محمد بن خالد، عن علي بن حديد، عمن ذكره، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قال عيسى ابن مريم عليه السلام في خطبة قام بها في بني إسرائيل: أصبحت فيكم وإدامي الجوع، وطعامي ما تنبت الأرض للوحوش والانعام، وسراجي القمر، وفراشي التراب، ووسادتي الحجر، ليس لي بيت يخرب ولا مال يتلف ولا ولد يموت ولا امرأة تحزن، أصبحت. وليس لي شئ وأمسيت وليس لي شئ، وأنا أغنى ولد آدم.
5. My father, may Allah grant him mercy, said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah, from Ahmad bin Muhammed bin Khalid, from Ali bin Hadid, from the one he mentioned, from Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, that he said: Isa bin Mariam, peace be upon him, said in a sermon in which he stood up among the sons of Isra’eel: I have awoken this morning among you, and my condiment is hunger, my food is what the earth vegetates for beasts and cattle, my lamp is the moon, my mattress is the sand and my pillow is the stone. I have no home that is to be demolished, nor property that is to be consumed, nor a child that is to die, nor a woman who will grieve. I have awoken this morning whilst I have nothing, and I slept at night whilst I had nothing, and I am the richest among the sons of Adam.