2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn ‘Abd Allah from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muskan from Layth al- Muradi who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘The most knowledgeable among people is the one who agrees with the decisions of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’”

3. It is narrated from him from Yahya ibn Ibrahim ibn abu al-Balad from ‘Asim ibn Humayd from abu Hamza al-Thumali from Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) who has said the following: “Patience and satisfaction with Allah is the head of obedience to Allah. If one exercises patience and satisfaction with Allah in all the matters which he loves or dislikes, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will not make any decision in any of his affairs which he loves or dislikes but that the decisions are in his best interest.”

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from Dawud al-Riqqiy from ‘Ubayda al-Hadhdha’ from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘Among My believing servants there are those whose religious lives can only be at their best with wealth, comfort and good health. I try them by means of wealth, comfort and good health and this makes their religious affairs to be in the best condition. Also among My believing servants there are those whose religious lives are only at their best with poverty, destitution and ailing health. I try them by means of poverty, destitution and ailing health and this helps their religious lives to be in the best condition. I know what is good for the religious matters of my believing servants. Among My believing servants there are those who strive to worship Me. They wake up from sleep leaving their comfortable pillow for Tahajjud (special prayer at night). They experiences fatigue and I allow slumber overcome them on one or two nights, a trial from Me to see if he continues, he goes to sleep and wakes up upset and angry over his own self. If I allow him to do the way he wants to worship, he may develop a sense of conceit (unwanted pride) that can lead him to mischief in his deeds. This may bring about his destruction. It can so happen due to his happiness with whatever his soul desires. He may begin to feel as if he has excelled all worshippers and has surpassed the limits of defective worship. In so doing he moves away from Me even though he thinks that he is getting closer to Me. Therefore, they must not rely on their good deeds that they do to receive rewards from Me. Even if they strive hard, tire themselves and finish their lives worshipping Me they fall short, in worshipping Me truly, in their quest for My generous rewards, My bounties in paradise and high positions near Me. They must only trust in My mercy, be happy with My generosity and always be hopeful about Me. In such cases My mercy will reach them as well as my approval and forgiveness and my pardon will provide them cover; I am Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, and thus I have taken such names.’”

5. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Safwan al-Jammal from abu al-Hassan, the 1 st ’ recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following: “One who has proper understanding about Allah must not feel that Allah procrastinates in sending his sustenance or accuse Him in His decisions.”

6. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Muhammad ibn Isma’il from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from ‘Amr ibn al-Nuhayk Bayya’ al-Harawi who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “Whatever conditions I may turn My believing servant to are for his good. He then must agree with My decisions, be patient in My trial and appreciate My favors. I will then, O Muhammad, count him among the truthful ones.”’”

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Malik ibn ‘Atiyah from Dawud ibn Farqad from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: "Of the revelations that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, sent to Musa ibn ‘Imran was as follows: ‘O Musa ibn ‘Imran, I have not created anything more beloved to Me than My believing servant. I try him only because it is for his good. I give him good health just for his good. I hold back what is evil for him in favor of what is for his good. I know best in what conditions My servant works for his own best interest. He then must bear patience in My trials, appreciate My favors and agree with My decision. I count him among the truthful ones before Me if he acts according to My pleasure and obeys My command.’”

8. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Fudayl ibn ‘Uthman from ibn abu Ya’fur from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The case of a Muslim (believer) man is amazing. There is no decision that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, makes about him but that it is in his best interest. Even if he is cut in pieces with scissors, still it is for his good. If he may possess the kingdom of the East and West of the earth, still it is for his good.”

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Sinan from Salih ibn ‘Aqaba from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Ja’fi from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: "The most righteous people to agree with the decisions of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, are those who have recognized Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy. Whoever is satisfied with the decision of Allah that is to take place anyway, Allah increases his reward. Whoever disagrees with the decision of Allah, the decision is, inevitably, applied to him but his reward becomes void.”

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from al-Minqari form Ali ibn Hashim ibn al-Burayd from his father who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘Abstinence from worldly pleasures has ten levels. Its highest level is the lowest level of piety and reserve. The highest level of piety and reserve is the lowest level of certainty. The highest level of certainty is the lowest level of satisfaction to the decision of Allah.’”

11. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Ali from Ali ibn Asbat from those whom he has mentioned from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Al-Hasan ibn Ali (a.s.) once met ‘Abd Allah ibn Ja’far and said to him, ‘O ‘Abd Allah, how can a believer be a believer when he is dissatisfied with the decision of Allah about his share and belittles his position while the ruler over him is Allah? I guarantee that Allah accepts the prayer of one in whose heart (mind) no suggestion takes place except satisfaction with the decisions of Allah.’”

12. It is narrated from him from his father from ibn Sinan from those whom he has mentioned from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “I (the narrator) asked him, (Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.)), ‘By what means can a believer know that he is a believer?’ The Imam said, ‘(He can find out) by means of his submitting himself to Allah, and being satisfied with whatever happiness or sadness that he may experience.’”