Leniency - Page 1

165 - الرفق‏

165. LENIENCY 1

834 - فَضلُ الرِّفقِ‏

834. THE VIRTUE OF LENIENCY

2633.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنّ الرِّفقَ لَم يُوضَعْ على‏ شي‏ءٍ إلّا زانَهُ ، ولا نُزِعَ مِن شَي‏ءٍ إلّا شانَهُ .2

2633.The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'No sooner is leniency added to something than it adorns it, and no sooner is it taken away from something than it spoils it.' 3

2634.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : ما اصطَحَبَ اثنانِ إلّا كانَ أعظَمُهُما أجراً وأحَبُّهُما إلى اللَّهِ عزّوجلّ أرفَقَهُما بصاحِبِهِ .4

2634.The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'When two people become friends or accompany each other, the one with the greater reward and the most beloved in Allah's eyes is the one who is the most gentle towards his companion.' 5

2635.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إذا أرادَ اللَّهُ بأهلِ بيتٍ خَيراً أدخَلَ علَيهِم بابَ رِفقٍ .6

2635.The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'When Allah wishes to bestow good on a household, he introduces leniency into it.' 7

2636.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أعقَلُ الناسِ أشَدُّهُم مُداراةً للناسِ .8

2636.The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The most intelligent person is he who is the most tolerant towards people.' 9

2637.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنّ اللَّهَ عزّوجلّ رَفيقٌ يُحِبُّ الرِّفقَ في الأمرِ كُلِّهِ .10

2637.The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Verily Allah, Mighty and Exalted, is lenient and loves leniency in all matters.' 11

2638.الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : الرِّفقُ مِفتاحُ النَّجاحِ.12

2638.Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Leniency is the key to success.' 13

2639.الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام : إنَّ لِكُلِّ شَي‏ءٍ قُفْلاً وقُفلُ الإيمانِ الرِّفقُ .14

2639.Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, 'Everything has a lock, and the lock of faith is leniency.' 15

2640.الإمامُ الكاظمُ عليه السلام : الرِّفقُ نِصفُ العَيشِ .16

2640.Imam al-Kazim (AS) said, 'Moderation is worth half of one's livelihood.' 17

1.Translator's Note: The word rifq in Arabic has no exact English equivalent, and can be translated with two or three English words depending on the context it is used in. It denotes 'leniency', 'gentleness' or 'friendliness' when used to depict a trait or virtue, when used to describe one's attitude towards people or when used to describe Allah's leniency towards His creatures, or it can mean 'moderation' when used in an economic or practical context. In the text it has been translated differently in its different contexts in order to best convey the meaning of the traditions, though the title has been kept as 'leniency' because of its most general implication.

2.الكافي : ۲ / ۱۱۹ / ۶ .

3.al-Kafi, v. ۲, p. ۱۱۹, no. ۶

4.الكافي : ۲ / ۱۲۰ / ۱۵ .

5.Ibid. p. ۱۲۰, no. ۱۵

6.شرح نهج البلاغة : ۶ / ۳۳۹ .

7.Sharh Nahj al-Balagha li Ibn Abi al-Hadid, v. ۶, p. ۳۳۹

8.الأمالي للصدوق :۷۳ / ۴۱ .

9.Amali al-Saduq, p. ۲۸, no. ۴

10.كنز العمّال : ۵۳۷۰ .

11.Kanz al-Ummal, no. ۵۳۷

12.غرر الحكم : ۲۹۴ .

13.Ghurar al-Hikam, no. ۲۹۴

14.الكافي : ۲ / ۱۱۸ / ۱ .

15.al-Kafi, v. ۲, p. ۱۱۸, no. ۱

16.الكافي : ۲ / ۱۲۰ / ۱۱ .

17.Ibid. p. ۱۲۰, no. ۱۱

Page From 3