سورة الزخرف

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): It is narrated from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) that one day he said to one of his students: "What have you learned from me?" He said: "Master, I have learned eight matters from you." The Imam said: "State them so I may know them ... Fifth: I saw people, one group envying another group, and I heard the word of Allah the Exalted who says: نَحْنُ قَسَمْنا بَیْنَهُمْ مَعِیشَتَهُمْ فِی الحَیاةِ الدُّنْیا وَ رَفَعْنا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجاتٍ لِیَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً سُخْرِیًّا وَ رَحْمَتُ رَبِّکَ خَیْرٌ مِمَّا یَجْمَعُونَ [We have distributed among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and We have raised some of them above others in degrees, so that some may take others in service; and the mercy of your Lord is better than what they amass]. So when I recognized that the mercy of the Lord is better than what they gather, I envied no one and did not grieve over what I had lost." He said: "By Allah, you have done well."

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Ali (peace be upon him), in explaining the livelihoods of creatures [their means of income], said: "As for the proof of hire (ijara), it is in this verse: نَحْنُ قَسَمْنا بَیْنَهُمْ مَعِیشَتَهُمْ فِی الحَیاةِ الدُّنْیا وَ رَفَعْنا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجاتٍ لِیَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً سُخْرِیًّا وَ رَحْمَتُ رَبِّکَ خَیْرٌ مِمَّا یَجْمَعُونَ [We have distributed among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and We have raised some of them above others in degrees, so that some may take others in service; and the mercy of your Lord is better than what they amass]; in which Allah the Exalted indicates that hire is one of the means of livelihood of people. For Allah the Exalted, by His wisdom, makes people's wills, aspirations and other states differ from each other in order to bring about the stability of their lives. This means that every person, for what needs to be built and for his work, affairs, conduct and properties, employs another person [and makes use of his expertise], because if a person were compelled to become his own builder or carpenter or craftsman, or to prepare his own clothing, and to gain expertise in all that he needs, the order of the world would not endure — since all people are in need of such things. Moreover, they themselves would not have the capacity for it and would be unable to accomplish it. But Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has made His planning firm and has manifested the effects of His wisdom in setting people's resolves at variance with one another, so that each person moves toward that upon which his aspiration is turned; and as a result, one group takes on the tasks of another group, and in earning their living — in the way that is for their good — they seek help from one another."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): If a contented person were to swear by his ownership of both worlds, Allah would confirm him and, on account of the greatness of the station of contentment, would accept his oath. Then he said: "How can a servant not be content while Allah says: نَحْنُ قَسَمْنا بَیْنَهُمْ مَعِیشَتَهُمْ فِی الحَیاةِ الدُّنْیا [We distribute among them their livelihood in the life of this world]. Therefore, those who attain certainty and confirm the will of Allah and have no heedlessness and attain certainty in His Lordship and know that Allah has assigned the distribution of livelihood to Himself without any [external] cause — whoever is content with his own life and his own share becomes free from grief and sorrow, and finds rest from falsehood and hardship. Whoever is farther from contentment goes more in pursuit [of gain] and develops greed for the wealth of this world. Greed and covetousness are two roots that drag a person towards evil and corruption, and he does not escape from the Fire unless he repents. That is why the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: 'Contentment is a wealth that has no end.' Whoever mounts the steed of contentment and secures the pleasure of Allah — that steed conveys its rider to the presence of the Truth. So now, rely upon Allah and be pleased with whatever He has given you; and be patient with the afflictions that reach you, for indeed that is among the matters of firm resolve!" (Luqman/17).

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): I am the divider of the Fire and Paradise.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abu Basir said, Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: ... "Do not say [there is only] one Paradise, because Allah says: وَ مِنْ دُونِهِما جَنَّتانِ [And besides these two there are two other gardens] (Ar-Rahman/62). And do not say that it has only one degree, because Allah says: بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجاتٍ [some of them above others in degrees]. Indeed the superiority of groups over one another depends on their deeds." I said to the Imam: "If two believers enter Paradise and one of them has a higher station than the other, can he meet his friend?" The Imam said: "The one who is higher must descend, and the one whose rank is lower cannot go higher, because he does not reach that station. But if they wish and have a strong desire, they can meet each other on couches."

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): On the morrow of Resurrection, the degrees of the servants of Allah and their attainment of nearness and proximity to the Lord will be in accordance with the measure of their intellects.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): Its meaning is that prophethood for you is better than what they amass of wealth.