Virtue and Vice

‘Abū Jaʿfar (AS) said: “Doing good [to others] protects one from falling into ruin, and every good turn is a charity. Those whose want is to do good [to others] in this world are [known as] the doers of good in the Hereafter, while those who do evil in the world are [recognized] as the evildoers in the Hereafter. Verily the first of the inhabitants of Paradise to be admitted into it are the doers of good, and the first of the people of Hell to be thrown into it are the doers of evil.”’”

“I heard AbāʿAbdillāh (a) say, ‘There is a verse in the Qurʾān that is unrestrictedly applicable [to all].’ I asked, ‘Which [verse] is it?’ He said, ‘The verse wherein Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says: Is there any reward for goodness except goodness? (Q55:60) – it applies to the disbeliever and the believer, to the righteous and the wicked. Whoever is done a good turn, it is incumbent upon him to reciprocate; and reciprocation does not mean doing the same as what was done for him; rather, he must do good to the extent that he sees that by his action, he has attained the merit of the initiator [of goodness].’”

Whoever asks you by Allah, give to him; and whoever does a good turn to you, recompense him. If you do not find anything to recompense him with, then pray to Allah for him [continually] until you feel sure that you have recompensed him [thereby].”

“AbūʿAbdillāh (a) said, ‘A good turn is not considered a good turn except with one who possesses honor or religion.’”

“The poor believers will be stopped on the Day of Judgment and will be told by the Lord, Blessed and Exalted is He, ‘Indeed I did not make you poor due to your insignificance in My eyes; rather, I made you poor to test you. Go forth, and let there be no one who did good to you in the world but that you take his hand and make him enter Paradise [with you].’”

“Verily Paradise has a gate that is called ‘the Gate of Goodness’, and none shall enter it except those who did good [to others].”

“Do good to one who is worthy and one who is not worthy, for indeed if he is unworthy, then surely you are worthy.”

“I heard Abā Jaʿfar (a) say, ‘Verily Allah, the Almighty, made among His creatures some who are worthy of virtue. He made them love goodness and love doing good [to others]. He enjoined upon those who seek goodness that they should refer to them. And He made it is as easy for them to carry it out as He made it is easy for rain to flow on arid land in order to bring it to life and cause its inhabitants to thrive. Verily Allah made among His creatures some who are enemies of virtue. He made them detest goodness and made them hate acting upon it. He forbade those who seek goodness from referring to them, and prevented them from carrying it out just as He prevents rain from pouring on an arid land [in order] to destroy its inhabitants. And what Allah forgives is greater [than what He punishes].’”

“Abū ʿAbdillāh (a) said, ‘Verily Allah has created among His creatures some servants whom He has chosenfor [assisting] the poor among our followers, so that He may reward them for that. The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said, “It suffices for your praise of your brother when he does you a good turn that you say to him: may Allah reward you with goodness; and when he is mentioned in his absence that you say: may Allah reward him with goodness. Then you will have [adequately] reciprocated [his kindness].”’”