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The Arabic ma`aruf denotes common acts of courtesy, kindly favours towards others, good manners and general acts of goodness to people
1ـ الإمامُ عليٌ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): فِعلُ المَعروفِ ، وإغاثَةُ المَلهوفِ ، وإقراءُ الضُّيوفِ ، آلَةُ السِّيادَةِ. |
| 1– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Performing common acts of courtesy, bringing solace to a grief-stricken person, and being hospitable to guests is the instrument of leadership.’[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6585] |
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2ـ الإمامُ عليٌ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): المَعروفُ ذَخيرَةُ الأبَدِ. |
| 2– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Acts of courtesy are treasures for eternity.’[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 980] |
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3ـ الإمامُ الحسينُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): اعلَموا أنَّ المَعروفَ مُكِسبٌ حَمداً ، ومُعقِبٌ أجراً ، فلَو رَأيتُمُ المَعروفَ رَجُلاً لَرَأيتُموهُ حَسَناً جَميلاً يَسُرُّ النّاظِرينَ ويَفوقُ العالَمينَ ، ولَو رَأيتُمُ اللُّؤمَ رَأيتُموهُ سَمِجاً قَبيحاً مَشوماً تَنفِرُ مِنهُ القُلوبُ وتُغَضُّ دُونَهُ الأبصارُ. |
| 3– Imam al-Husayn (AS) said, ‘Know that acts of courtesy earn praiseworthy results, and end in rewardable gains. If you were to see acts of courtesy personified as a man, you would perceive him to be good and handsome, pleasing for people to behold and transcending all the worlds. And if you were to see acts of vileness personified, you would perceive an ugly, revolting, disfigured man, whom the hearts would be averse to and whom the eyes would turn away from in disgust.’[Mustadrak al-Wasail, v. 12, p. 343, no. 14242] |
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4ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): أوَّلُ مَن يَدخُلُ الجَنَّةَ أهلُ المَعروفِ. |
| 4– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘The first people to enter Paradise will be those who performed acts of common courtesy to others.’[al-Da`aawat, p. 108, no. 240] |
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5ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): أهلُ المَعروفِ في الدّنيا هُم أهلُ المَعروفِ في الآخِرَةِ ؛ لأِ نَّهُم في الآخِرَةِ تَرجَحُ لَهُمُ الحَسَناتُ ، فيَجودونَ بِها عَلى أهلِ المَعاصي . |
| 5– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘The people who perform acts of courtesy in this world will be the same ones to perform them in the Hereafter, for verily in the Hereafter their scales will be so laden with their good deeds that they will be able to bestow them generously on the sinners [in order to assist them].’[Amali al-Tusi, p. 304, no. 610] |
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6ـ الإمامُ الجوادُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): أهلُ المَعروفِ إلَى اصطِناعِه أحوَجُ مِن أهلِ الحاجَةِ إلَيهِ ؛ لأِنَّ لَهُم أجرَهُ وفَخرَهُ وذِكرَهُ ، فمَهما اصطَنَعَ الرَّجُلُ مِن مَعروفٍ فإنَّما يَبدأ فيهِ بِنَفسِهِ ، فلا يَطلُبَنَّ شُكرَ ما صَنَعَ إلى نَفسِهِ مِن غَيرِهِ . |
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6– Imam al-Jawad (AS) said, ‘People who perform acts of courtesy towards others benefit more from them than the receptors of their kindness, for verily they have the reward for them, the [rewarding feeling of] pride for having helped someone as well as a mention. So however much good a man may do for others, it ultimately always starts by benefiting himself, such that he never seeks thanks for the benefit incurred by himself through helping others.’[Kashf al-Ghamma, v. 3, p. 137] |
