سورة سبإ

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Uthman ibn Isa narrates from someone who related from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): I said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): "There are two verses in the Book of Allah which I act upon, but I see no benefit." He (peace be upon him) asked: "Which two verses are they?" I said: "...the verse: وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَیْءٍ فَهُوَ یُخْلِفُهُ وَ هُوَ خَیْرُ الرَّازِقِینَ [And whatever thing you spend, He replaces it, and He is the best of Sustainers], and I spend but see no replacement." He (peace be upon him) said: "Do you think Allah the Mighty and Majestic does not fulfil His promise?" I said: "No [Allah's promise is true]!" He (peace be upon him) said: "Then what is the reason for it?" I said: "I do not know!" He (peace be upon him) said: "If any of you were to acquire his wealth from a lawful source and spend it in a lawful way, he would not spend a single dirham without being given a replacement for it."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Hariz said: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "The Lord, Blessed and Exalted, every Friday night from the beginning of the night, and in the final third of every night, sends down His command to the sky of this world, while before Him is an angel who calls out: 'Is there any repenter that his repentance may be accepted? Is there any seeker of forgiveness that he may be forgiven? Is there any petitioner that his request may be granted? O Allah! Grant every spender a replacement, and every withholder [and miser who refuses to spend] a loss.' Then, when dawn breaks, the divine command returns to the Throne of Allah, and He apportions sustenance among the servants." Then the Imam (peace be upon him) said to Fudayl ibn Yasar: "O Fudayl! Try to take a greater share of these sustenances, and this is also the meaning of this verse: [Remember] the Day when Allah will resurrect them all, then He will say to the angels: 'Did these worship you?' (Saba/40). Then the angels will say: سُبْحَانَکَ أَنتَ وَلِیُّنَا مِن دُونِهِم بَلْ کَانُوا یَعْبُدُونَ الْجِنَّ أَکْثَرُهُم بِهِم مُّؤْمِنُونَ [Glory be to You! You are our Guardian, not they; rather they used to worship the jinn — most of them believed in them]."

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): Whoever extends his hand in good [and spends] when he has the means, Allah replaces for him what he spent in his world and doubles it for him in his hereafter.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): If the reckoning of the Resurrection is true, then why gather wealth [through forbidden means]? And if Allah gives a replacement for what is spent, then why be miserly?

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): One who has certainty in the replacement [by Allah of what he spends], his soul becomes generous in spending, and Allah the Mighty and Majestic said: وَ ما أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ شَیْءٍ فَهُوَ یُخْلِفُهُ وَ هُوَ خَیْرُ الرَّازِقِینَ [And whatever thing you spend, He exceeds it in reward, and He is the best of Sustainers].

Imam Rida (peace be upon him): Safwan ibn Yahya said: I was in the presence of Imam Rida (peace be upon him) when one of his servants came in. Imam Rida (peace be upon him) said: "Have you spent anything today?" He said: "I have not spent anything." He said: "Then how will Allah give us anything [in exchange for what we would have given]?"

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Is there anyone who will commit to four qualities, so that four houses in Paradise may be guaranteed for him? Give in charity and do not fear poverty, deal with people with fairness, spread the greeting of salam openly in the world (give salam aloud), and abandon disputation (argument) even if the truth is on your side.

The Messenger (peace be upon him and his family): Avoid extravagance in spending wealth, and keep to moderation and thrift, for those who are moderate will never become poor.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Husayn ibn Ayman said: Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) said: "O Husayn! Spend [in the way of Allah] and be certain that Allah will replace it. No man or woman withholds spending his wealth in a way that pleases Allah, except that Allah [through calamities and misfortunes] will compel him to spend many times that amount in a way that will bring Allah's wrath upon him."

The Messenger (peace be upon him and his family): Every good deed is a charity, and the wealth by which a person protects his honor is a charity, and whatever a believer spends, Allah guarantees to replace it — except what is spent on a building [such as construction] or in disobedience.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): The sun rises every day and four angels come with it. One of them calls out: "O doer of good, complete your work and receive the glad tidings of your deed." Another angel calls out: "O doer of evil, withdraw your hand from your work and leave it." Another angel calls out: "Give to the one who spends a replacement, and bring destruction to the one who withholds his wealth." And another angel sprinkles water upon the sun to reduce its heat, for if it did not do so, the earth would be set ablaze.