Musa al-Kazim Quotes

"Silence is among the doors to wisdom; it brings about love and is a proof of all good things."^:151

"Misfortune is one for the patient and two for the impatient."^:151

"How base is the world for people, unless God gives them joy; and how great is this life, if God is not angry with them."^:157

When the fifth from my offspring disappears, then, I adjure you by Allah to watch for your religion so that no one would take it away from you. Without doubt, there shall be an occultation for the holder of this matter, until such time that (most) people who believe in his Imāmat would leave their belief. Verily this (occultation) is but a test by Allah, the Glorious, for his creation.

"You [i.e., the Shia] have nothing to do with analogical reasoning (qiyas); those who came before you perished because of such reasoning. When it comes to a case about which you have received information, speak about it; otherwise, keep silent."^:15

The likeness of this world is as the water of the sea - however much a thirsty person drinks from it, his thirst increases so much so that the water kills him.

Everything has a tax, and the tax for the bodies is recommended fasting.

Cheerfulness and good nature, purge hatred and rancour.

"Try hard that your time may be four hours: one hour is for supplicating God, one hour for the affairs of the livelihood, one hour for associating with the brothers (friends) and the reliable ones who let you know your defects and who are inwardly loyal to you, and one hour for that you are alone with yourselves (and) for non-forbidden things. Through this hour you have power over the three hours."^:309

A believer is as the two pans of a scale, that whenever his faith increases his afflictions increase.

The best means by which a slave seeks proximity to God after recognising Him, is praying, benevolence to the parents, and abandonment of envy, self-conceit and vaunting.

The most reasonable way of blessings and honesties will be obtained through opposing sensuality.

"Believers are few and the unbelievers are legion."^:162

Save yourself from the wrath of Allah (swt), and do not abandon speaking the truth, even though it (apparently) causes your destruction. Know that truth does not lead into your annihilation; rather it is a saviour. Always let go of the untruth; even though it (apparently) saves you. Untruth is never a saviour, and it eventually leads into annihilation.

"The generous and polite is under the protection of God; He does not leave him until He makes him enter the Garden. God sends out none as a prophet except the generous."^:151