1281 - النَّهيُ عَن تَحقيرِ المَعروفِ‏

1281. PROHIBITION OF HOLDING ACTS OF COMMON COURTESY IN CONTEMPT

4182.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : لا تُحَقِّرَنَّ شَيئاً مِنَ المَعروفِ ، ولَو أن تَلقى‏ أخاكَ ووَجهُكَ مَبسوطٌ إلَيهِ .¹

4182.The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Never underestimate any act of common courtesy, even simply meeting a fellow brother with a face displaying pleasure at seeing him.’²

4183.الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لا تَستَصغِر شَيئاً مِنَ المَعروفِ قَدَرتَ عَلَى اصطِناعِه إيثاراً لِما هُوَ أكثَرُ مِنهُ ؛ فإنَّ اليَسيرَ في حالِ الحاجَةِ إلَيهِ أنفَعُ لأِهلِهِ مِن ذلكَ الكَثيرِ في حالِ الغَناءِ عَنهُ ، واعمَلْ لِكُلِّ يَومٍ بِما فيهِ تَرشُدُ .³

4183.Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Never deem any act of common courtesy that you are able to carry out as insignificant in comparing it to a greater act, for verily the simple act performed when the need for it arises is more beneficial to its receptor than the great act for which there is no need. Perform for each day good acts that befit it and you will grow on the right course.’⁴

1280 - إتمامُ المَعروفِ‏

1280. COMPLETION OF A GOOD ACT

4179.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله: استِتمامُ المَعروفِ أفضَلُ مِنِ ابتِدائهِ .¹

4179.The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Bringing a good act to completion is better than [merely] initiating it.’²

4180.الإمام عليٌّ عليه السلام: مَن لَم يُرَبِّ مَعروفَهُ فقَد ضَيَّعَهُ .³

4180.Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘One who does not sustain his good action loses it.’⁴

4181.الإمامُ الكاظمُ عليه السلام : الصَّنيعَةُ لا تَتِمُّ صَنيعَةً عِندَ المُؤمِنِ لِصاحِبِها إلّا بِثَلاثَةِ أشياءَ : تَصغيرِها ، وسَترِها ، وتَعجيلِها ، فمَن صَغَّرَ الصَّنيعَةَ عِندَ المُؤمِنِ فقَد عَظَّمَ أخاهُ ، ومَن عَظَّمَ الصَّنيعَةَ عِندَهُ فقَد صَغَّرَ أخاهُ ، ومَن كَتَمَ ما أولاهُ مِن صَنيعِهِ فقَد كَرَّمَ فِعالَهُ ، ومَن عَجَّلَ ما وَعَدَ فقَد هَنِئَ العَطِيَّةَ .⁵

4181.Imam al-Kazim (AS) said, ‘A good favour done to a fellow believer is not considered complete until accompanied by three things: underestimation of the act, concealing it, and hastening its completion. He who underestimates his good turn to a fellow believer has esteemed his brother highly indeed, whereas he who esteems his good turn to be great has deemed his brother to be insignificant. He who conceals the good turn that he has done has honoured his action, and he who hastens to fulfil his promise takes pleasure in the gift too.’⁶