Ain Al-Hayat, The Essence of Life.pdf - Higher Intellect | Content ...

goes to the extent of making a person infidel. The only remedy for this is that a person
must turn his attention towards Allah and should understand that the ultimate profit or
loss from any activity rests with the Almighty’s Wish. The benefits derived from the
world by any person are transient. They will dissipate fast. They should take lesson
from the lives of those who ruled the world for a while and death brought them
Retribution for all the power and pelf enjoyed by them. In contrast to this, knowledge
and action of a righteous person remain in perpetuity.
Someone asked Hazrat Imam Zain al Abedeen (a.s.), “ O Master! What action is most
valuable in the eyes of Allah?”
The Imam (a.s.) replied, “ After the obedience of the Prophet (a.s.) and the Imams (a.s.),
the most valuable act of a person in the eyes of Allah is his aversion to the world!”.
The first sin ever committed by a creature has been pride. It was Satan’s pride that
made him refrain from prostrating to Adam (a.s.) and thereby rendering himself an
infidel.
The second sin ever was avarice. Adam (a.s.) and Hawwa (a.s.) committed this sin by
eating the forbidden fruit. This has created the instinct of avarice in the progeny of
Adam (a.s.).
The third sin was jealousy that was first perpetrated by Qabeel. Feeling jealous of his
brother Habeel, he assassinated him.
Now the sin of desire for women commenced. This extended to love for power, love for
comforts, love of evil thoughts, love of superiority over others, love for wealth and
riches. All these seven evil instincts in man have their root in the love for the world.
The prophets (a.s.) and wise men have condemned these instincts in man.
The worldliness is of two distinct types. The first type of worldliness limits one to be
contented with what one achieves. The second type of worldliness is because of the
instinct of greed and avarice in the person. This worldliness is abhorrent. Man should
keep away from pride, avarice and jealousy. Pride is only for the Creator, man has to be
humble and down-to-earth. Because of the humility of man, he has been endowed with
the wealth and immeasurable bounties of the Earth! Allah has made the earth the
repository of invaluable jewels. He has made man from the very soil of the Earth! He
has given the singular privilege to the man that He ordered the Angels to prostrate to
Adam (a.s.)!
The fire, which had the instinct of rebelliousness was used by Allah to create Satan..
Therefore man must necessarily be humble and docile for the very reason that he has
been made from the soil!
Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) has said that a polite person should not look for a vantage
place when he attends a meeting. He should always try to be in a place that is slightly