Strivers for People’s Needs

One of the recommendations of Al imam Al Sadek (pbuh) to his friend Abdullah bin Jndab:” O ibn Jandab: striving for your brother’s need is like the Sa’i between the Safa and the Marwa”.

The Safa and the Marwa is the place where Hajar Halila, the wife of the merciful messenger Ibrahim (pbuh), sought for water for God’s prophet Isma’il (pbuh) to chill his liver when he was weaned. So God eternalized that act for her in the holy Quran that recites the vessels of love and the edges of martyrdom. He almighty made strolling (Al Sa’i), where she was strolling, one of God’s great rites so He says:” The Safa and the Marwa are among the rites of God”1 , and He, whose blessings are honored, says :”He who venerates the rites of God, surely it is from the piety of the hearts”2 . It was also narrated by Al Imam Al Sadek (pbuh):” There is no place more favorable for God than the place of making Al Sa’i…”. 3

Al Imam Abu Ja'far Mohammad bin Ali Al Baker peace be upon them says: God’s messenger (pbuh) said for one of the followers:” If you stroll between the Safa and the Marwa you gets the good deeds of he who goes from his country by foot to perform the Hajj and the good deeds of liberating 70 faithful slaves”. 4

Al Imam Zain Al Abedeen (pbuh): ”The angels intercede for whoever strolls between the Safa and the Marwa with affirmative ”5 , which means that God almighty accepts this intercession affirmatively.

This is some of what we received from the infallible guided messenger (peace be upon them) in the merit of strolling between the Safa and the Marwa. This information that equals a drop of the sea and a fragment of the seed are enough to show God’s almighty generosity and grace on his servants that strive for each other's needs. It is not hard for God almighty to give all of these merits to his servants that help their muslim brothers. This was revealed by Al Imam Al Sadek when he used the word “like” when saying that seeking your brother’s need is like the Sa’i between the Safa and the Marwa”. This is the reward for those who strive only, and the Imam, peace be upon him, did not mention in this part of his hadith (saying) whetherhis need was fulfilled or not, but he (pbuh) explained the consequence of this action in another hadith in which he said: “Whoever strives for the needs of his Muslim brother and makes efforts, then if it’s fulfilled by him, God writes for him a Hajj and a Umrah and a two-month i’tikaaf (reigious retreat) and fasting in the Sacred Mosque. On the other hand, if he makes efforts striving for his muslim brother need without fulfilling it, Godwrites for him a Hajj and a Umrah”.6 It was narrated by the Imam Abu Ja'far Al Baqir, peace be upon them, : “God Almighty revealed to Mousa, (pbuh) that some of my servants try being close to me by doing a good deed, so reward him the Paradise, so Mousa asked, O Lord, what is that good deed? God answered: he who strives for his brother’s needs whether they are fulfilled or not”.7

It is clearly stated in the sayings of the prophet’s family (pbuh) that the reward of the one who strives for the needs of his faithful brother is doubled. Al Imam Al Sadiq (pbuh) said: “There is no believer who walks for fulfilling a need for his faithful brother except that God Almighty writes for him a good deed for every step, deletes a sin, raises him a rank, and then He adds ten good deeds for him, and he intercedes for ten needs.”8

We end this chapter with the saying of our master Al Imam Ali bin Mousa Al Rida, narrated by Muammar bin Khallad, peace be upon them both,: “God has servants on earth who strive to fulfill people’s needs. They are the safe ones on the Day of Judgment, and whoever brings joy to a believer, God will make his heart happy on the Day of Judgment” 9

Vanguards of Hearts, Al Maaref Islamic and Cultural Institution

[1] Surat Al-Baqarah, Verse 158.
[2] Surat Al-Hajj, Verse 32.
[3] Sheikh al-Kulayni, al-Kafi, vol. 4, p. 434, chapter of Al Sa’i between al-Safa and al-Marwah, edition: 4, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyya, Tehran.
[4] Ahmed bin Muhammad bin Khalid Al-Barqi, Al-Mahasin, Part 1, p. 65, The reward of the Al Sa’i, Edition: 2, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyya, Qom.
[5] Sheikh Al-Saduq Muhammad bin Ali bin Al-Hussein bin Babawayh Al-Qummi, Who Doesn’t Be Prepared by the Jurist, Volume 2, p. 208, Hadith 2168, Edition: 2, Islamic Publication Institution of the Teachers’ Community, Qom.
[6] Sheikh al-Kulayni, al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 198, chapter on striving for the needs of the believer.
[7] M. N, part 2, p. 196, chapter on fulfilling the needs of the believer.
[8] M. N, C2, pp. 192-193.
[9] m. N, Part 2, p. 197, Chapter: Seeking the Needs of the Believer.