Safe Return of Trust

“I heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘There are three issues in which one has no choice: They are safe return of trust of a virtuous or sinful person, keeping one’s promise to a virtuous or sinful person, and kindness to parents, regardless, of their being virtuous or sinful ones.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘One of your Mawaliy (followers) considers use of the properties of Amawide people lawful as well as their lives. Something that they had left with him for safe-keeping is in his possession.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must return trusts to the rightful people even if they are of Zoroastrian people. Such matters will happen only when the one with Divine Authority from us, Ahl al-Bayt will rise. He will decide what is lawful and what is not lawful.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘You must return a trust even if an assassin of the children of the prophet has left it with you.’”

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘You must maintain piety before Allah and you must return a trust to the one who has entrusted you with it. Even if the assassin of Ali ibn abu Talib entrusted me with something, I had to return it to him safely.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said in one of his advices, ‘You must take notice that even if the assassin of Ali (a.s.), who struck him (the Imam) with his sword had entrusted me with something, asked for my opinion and consultation and I had accepted, I most certainly had to return his trust safely.’”

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘There was a woman in al-Madinah and people left their slave-girls with her to train them. We said that there is no one on whom wealth is poured as it is poured before her.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because she spoke the truth, returned the trust safely and that is what attracts wealth.’ Safwan has said, ‘I heard this Hadith from Hafs later on.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘One who does not keep a trust safely is not of our people/ The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Trustworthiness attracts wealth and treachery attracts poverty.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), about a man who entrusted another man with a certain amount of property. The man with whom goods were left was from Arab people and he was not able to return anything. The other man was not able to do anything against him. The entrusting man was a filthy foreigner and has not asked for anything.’ He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Tell him to return his trust; he entrusted him with trust of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’ I then said, ‘Ali ibn al- Nu’man has purchased from an ‘Abbaside woman a certain piece of their (land) and he has a document that says she has received payment; but in fact she has not received any payment. Should he pay her or refuse to pay?’ He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Tell him to deny paying her with strongest denial; she has sold what did not belong to her.’”

“When my father, Sayabah, passed away, one of his brothers came to me and knocked at the door. I went out to meet him. He offered me condolence and asked, ‘Has your father left anything?’ I replied, ‘No, he has not left anything.’ He then gave to me a bag with a thousand dirham in it and said, ‘Keep it (the capital) safe and use its profits.’ I went to my mother while I was very happy and informed her about it. During the night I visited a friend of my father and he purchased for me certain Sabiriy goods. I then opened a shop and Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, granted me a great deal of good things. The time for Hajj came and I felt in my heart about performing Hajj. I went to my mother and informed her of my feeling about performing Hajj . She then told me to return the dirhams of so and so. I then took the dirhams and gave it to him. He became so happy as if he had received a gift. He said, ‘Perhaps, it is not enough. I am ready to give you more dirhams.’ I replied, ‘No, I thank you. I desire to perform Hajj and I like that your thing is in your own possession.’ I left for Hajj and completed the acts of Hajj. I then returned to al-Madinah and along with people went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). Appointment was not required for visitation. I sat in the last rows of people; I was young. People asked him questions and he (the Imam) answered them. When many people left and the gathering was reduced he (the Imam) pointed to me and I went closer. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Do you need anything?’ I replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I am ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Sayabah.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What has your father done?’ I replied, ‘He has passed away.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘He (the Imam) expressed sorrow and sympathy.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘He (the Imam) then asked, ‘Has he left anything?’ I replied, ‘No, he has not left any thing.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘By what means then were you able to perform Hajj?’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I explained to him the story of the man with dirham. He (the Imam) did not allow me to finish the story and asked, ’What did you do with the thousand dirhams?’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I said, “I returned it to its owner.’” He (the narrator) has said that he (the Imam) said, ‘You have done a very good deed’ and he said to me, ‘Would you like if I give a good advice?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must speak the truth and return a trust safely; you will share people in their wealth like this’ -he joined his fingers side by side. I followed his advice and was able to pay in charity three hundred thousand dirham.’”