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Esra NEWS Agency: This morning (Thursday, 19th of Mordad), the weekly Akhlaq session of Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli was held online
In this meeting, Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli continued the discussion of Nahj al-Balagha – 112th Wisdom.
His Eminence said, “The blessed existence of Amir al-Mominin, peace be upon him, says in this wise word in Nahj al-Balaghah, «مَنْ أَحَبَّنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ، فَلْيَسْتَعِدَّ لِلْفَقْرِ جِلْبَاباً» If someone, love this family of infallibility and purity, chooses a garment of poverty for himself, he should be prepared that such a garment will be covered on his body. This is the translation of this word. But what is meant by this poverty, preparation and garment should be clarified.”
He continued, “Financial poverty is not loved by this family. It is not loved by anyone. Even poverty itself is a vice; There is a word from Mullah Amir al-Mominin which says, «مَا ضَرَبَ اللهُ الْعُبَاد بِسُوطٍ أَوْجَعُ مِنَ الْفَقْرِ» Allah has not tormented a nation or an individual a more painful whip than poverty. No nation or group has tasted a more painful whip than poverty, because other pains only have physical and external problems, but poverty, in addition to physical problems, also causes spiritual pain and suffering.”
He stated, "Therefore, poverty is not a virtue that Shiites prepare for it. Although, sometimes it is a divine test, like the Shi’b of Abi Talib. In such situation the followers of Ahl al-Bayt must endure a divine test in order to protect their religion, and therefore, Shiites should always raise their hands towards the sky, as it is ﴿وَفِي السَّمَاءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ﴾; The sustenance of man and all the promises given are in the sky. We have been told, the secret for raising your hands to the sky when you pray, is that the sustenance is in the sky, both physical sustenance and spiritual sustenance are sent down from the sky to man. You should always pay attention to this matter.”
Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli stated, “Arabic language is very delicate. In Persian we call someone who is not in good financial condition a beggar, but the Quran says “Faqir”; “Faqir” means someone whose spine is broken and does not have the strength to stand up. God says in the Qur'an, ﴿لا تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهاءَ أَمْوالَكُمُ الَّتي جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِياماً﴾ . If a nation has not enough sustenance is not standing, it has fallen. This is not a beggar, this is a “Faqir” person. A “Faqir” person means that his spine is broken.”
He said, “Sometimes poverty is imposed on an individual or a population as a result of laziness, unemployment and poor management, this is divine punishment, and this poverty is not something that Shia should tolerate. So, when a man introduced to the dear Prophet of Islam, and they are jobless, His Holiness think less of him; Because a jobless person is a thorn in the eyes of Ahl al-Bayt!”
His Holiness said, “Therefore, financial and material poverty is not a virtue that if someone becomes household of Wilayat, he is ready for poverty, unless he means the constant need to Allah, which is the best virtue and the highest blessing, that a person feels the constant need to Allah, Glory be to Him, and see the health and wealth as the blessing come from Allah.
Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli said, “The righteous life is in contentment; Contentment is a virtue, but poverty is not a virtue.”
