سورة القيامة

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): بَلِ الْإِنسَانُ عَلَی نَفْسِهِ بَصِیرَةٌ، وَ لَوْ أَلْقَی مَعَاذِیرَهُ [Nay! man is evidence against himself, though he puts forth his excuses] — this means that he is aware of the deeds that have issued from him, even though he has offered excuses.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Umar ibn Yazid says: I was having dinner with Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) when he recited these verses: بَلِ الْإِنسَانُ عَلَی نَفْسِهِ بَصِیرَةٌ، وَلَوْ أَلْقَی مَعَاذِیرَهُ [Nay! man is evidence against himself, though he puts forth his excuses], and he said: "O Abu Hafs! How can a person draw near to Allah through an outward trait, when Allah is aware of his reality, his character and his traits?" The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) says: "Whoever conceals an inner secret or trait, Allah clothes him in the garment of that trait — if it is good, then good, and if it is evil, then evil."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): How can he display his good deeds and hide his evil ones? Does he not return to himself, so as to realise that his inner is not the same as his outer? Allah the Mighty and Majestic says in this regard: بَلِ الْإِنسَانُ عَلَی نَفْسِهِ بَصِیرَةٌ [Nay! man is evidence against himself]. If the essence of a person (his inner traits) becomes good, his outward (outward traits) also become good and strong.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) was asked: "In what condition must the sick break their fast and pray sitting down?" The Imam (peace be upon him) said: بَلِ الْإِنْسانُ عَلی نَفْسِهِ بَصِیرَةٌ [Nay! man is evidence against himself]. The judgement in such matters lies with the sick person himself. Every sick person knows his own state best."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj says: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): "Does one nod or two nods of drowsiness break the wudu?" The Imam (peace be upon him) said: "I do not know what one nod or two nods are. Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: بَلِ الْإِنْسانُ عَلی نَفْسِهِ بَصِیرَةٌ [Nay! man is evidence against himself]. Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) used to say: 'Whoever tastes the taste of sleep, whether standing or sitting, wudu becomes obligatory upon him.'"

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): It is narrated from Kahili: I was with Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him). A blind man asked him: "We go to the house of a brother of ours where orphans live and they have a servant. May we sit on their carpet, drink from their water, and have their servant serve us, while sometimes we eat food brought by our brother that also has some of the orphans' food mixed in it? What do you say about this, aslahaka Allah [may Allah set your affairs right]?" He said: "If your entering upon them brings them benefit, there is no objection, and if it brings harm, it should not be done." And he said: "It is the word of Allah, who says: بَلِ الْإِنْسانُ عَلی نَفْسِهِ بَصِیرَةٌ [Nay! man is evidence against himself], so nothing is hidden from you yourselves. And if you mix your life with their life, [there is no objection], they are your [religious] brothers. (al-Baqarah/220). And Allah the Great said: And Allah knows the reformer better than the corrupter."

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Muhammad ibn Imran narrated from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) in the hadith about a group who broke their fast in the month of Ramadan and were brought before Ali (peace be upon him), that he said to them: "Are you travellers?" They said: "No." He said: "Do you have an illness which made breaking the fast necessary? We do not perceive it, and you are more aware of your own state; because Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: بَلِ الْإِنْسانُ عَلی نَفْسِهِ بَصِیرَةٌ [Nay! man is evidence against himself]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Hisham ibn Salim narrates from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) that he said: "When you reach Makkah, wear old clothes or coarse clothes, for no one reaches the valley of Makkah with his heart empty of arrogance except that Allah forgives him." Abdullah ibn Abi Ya'fur asked: "What is the limit of arrogance?" The Imam (peace be upon him) said: "That a man, when he wears a fine garment, looks himself over and wishes that everyone would look at him." Then he said: "بَلِ الْإِنْسانُ عَلی نَفْسِهِ بَصِیرَةٌ [Nay! man is evidence against himself]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Muhammad ibn Udhafir says: I said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): "A man is at the time of the obligatory prayer and, due to the abundance of snow, water, rain, and mud, the ground does not permit him to stand upon it or prostrate upon it; is it permissible for him to perform the obligatory prayer in the litter [howdah]?" He said: "Yes, it is like a ship; if he is able, standing, and otherwise seated [he should pray], and whatever occurs of that, Allah is more deserving of accepting the excuse. Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: بَلِ الْإِنْسانُ عَلی نَفْسِهِ بَصِیرَةٌ [Nay! man is evidence against himself]."

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): بَلِ الْإِنْسانُ عَلی نَفْسِهِ بَصِیرَةٌ [Nay! man is evidence against himself] — meaning that a person's limbs and organs bear witness against him regarding what he has done; so a person, through the testimony of his limbs and organs against him, is a witness against himself.