Social Relations as Viewed by Imam Hasan al-Askari (A)

In this article we are going to have a brief look at some of the narrations and hadiths narrated from Imam Askari (A) on the commemoration of his birthday. One of the important issues that Imam Askari (A) emphasizes upon is morality and the social relation between Muslims. According to the eleventh Imam (A) Muslims must try to be very friendly and kind to each other. Since morality is one of the main elements in Islamic teachings, Imam Askari (A) in many of his sayings stresses the importance of truthfulness as a significant moral principle.

Imam Abu Muhammad (A) said: ‘What a bad man he is who has two faces and two tongues! He praises his brother when he is present, and eats his flesh (backbites him) when he is absent. He envies him if he is given (becomes in good state), and betrays him if he is afflicted.’[1] In another hadith Imam (A) says: “I recommend you to fear Allah, be pious in your religion, strive for Allah, be truthful in speaking, give deposits back to their owners, whether he be good or evil, increase prostration, and to be good to neighbors" [2] In these two narrations Imam (A) emphasizes the importance of being honest and truthful towards people, to say that Muslims should not be hypocrite.

Another important Moral value that is emphasized in the traditions of the eleventh imam is being respectful and humble towards others which is "a blessing that is not envied." [3] “It is from humbleness to greet everyone you pass by, and to sit in other than the distinctive place in a meeting.” [4] Not only a Muslim must respect others but also according to the Imam (A) "He, who does not regard people, does not regard Allah" [5]

But some may ask what will be the consequences of being disrespectful towards others, to answer this question we must pay attention to another meaningful hadith of Imam Askari (A) who says: “Do not dispute with others so that you lose your gravity, and do not joke so that it is dared against you.” [6] Imam (A) also says that “It is not from politeness to show joy before a distressed person.” [7] Actually, due to the importance of respecting others Imam (A) tells his followers that “Whoever advises his fellow brother in hidden in fact adorns him, and whoever advices his fellow brother apparently, indeed degrades him.” [8]     

It must be taken into consideration that being respectful towards others does never mean that Muslims should be unkind to each other due to the respect and humbleness. Imam (A) says “A believer is a blessing for a believer and an authority on an unbeliever.” [9] He (A) also says “There are two qualities such that there is no quality above them; faith in Allah and the serving of brothers.” [10]   

Finally it should be mentioned that Imam (A) himself was the exact symbol of morality in a way that if the most evil man accompanied him for a while he would become the best man of faith and worship. Muhammad b. Ismail narrated, 'The Abbasids visited Salih b. Wasif, and Salih b. Ali and a few other deviated people from this location also visited Salih b. Wasif when Abu Muhammad (AS) [Imam al-Askari] was in the prison. He said to him, 'Put him in strict confinement and give him no ease.' Salih replied, 'What more can I do with him when I have assigned two of the most evil men I could find to guard him, and surprisingly those two have turned to worship and prayers [as a result of the Imam]!' [11]

Notes:
[1] Bihar al-Anwar, vol.78 p.373. قالَ (علیه السلام) : بِئْسَ الْعَبْدُ عَبْدٌ یَكُونُ ذا وَجْهَیْنِ وَ  
ذالِسانَیْنِ، یَطْرى أخاهُ شاهِداً وَ یَأكُلُهُ غائِباً، إنْ أُعْطِىَ حَسَدَهُ، وَ إنْ ابْتُلِىَ خَذَلَهُ
[2] قالَ (علیه السلام) لِشیعَتِهِ: أوُصیكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللهِ وَالْوَرَعِ فى دینِكُمْ وَالاْجْتِهادِ لِلّهِ، وَ صِدْقِ الْحَدیثِ، وَأداءِ الاْمانَهِ إلى مَنِ ائْتَمَنَكِمْ مِنْ بِرٍّ أوْ فاجِر، وِطُولِ السُّجُودِ، وَحُسْنِ الْجَوارِ. أعیان الشّیعه: ج 2، ص 41، س 30، بحارالأنوار: ج 75، ص 372، ح 12.
[3] See: "Library of Shia Ahadith". http://www.hadithlib.com/guides/view/13 أَلتَّواضُعُ نِعْمَةٌ لا يُحْسَدُ عَلَيْهاآ
[4] Bihar al-Anwar, vol.75 p.372, no. 9. مِنَ التَّواضُعِ السَّلامُ عَلی کُلِّ مَنْ تَمُرُّ بِهِ، وَ الْجُلُوسُ دُونَ شَرَفِ الْمَجْلِسِ.
[5] http://www.hadithlib.com/guides/view/13/page:2 مَن لَم يَتَّقِ وُجُوهَ النّاسِ لَم يَتَّقِ اللّه
[6] أعیان الشّیعه، ج ۲، ص ۴۱   لا تُمارِ فَیَذْهَبُ بَهاؤُکَ، وَ لا تُمازِحْ فَیُجْتَرَأُ عَلَیْکَ.
[7] Bihar al-Anwar, vol.75 p.374, no. 28.   لَیْسَ مِنَ الاْدَبِ إظْهارُ الْفَرَحِ عِنْدَ الْمَحْزُونِ.
[8]  تحف العقول، ص ۴۸۹  مَنْ وَعَظَ أخاهُ سِرّاً فَقَدْ زانَهُ، وَمَنْ وَعَظَهُ عَلانِیَهً فَقَدْ شانَهُ.
[9] تحف العقول، ص ۴۸۹  .الْمُؤْمِنُ بَرَکَهٌ عَلَی الْمؤْمِنِ وَ حُجَّهٌ عَلَی الْکافِرِ
[10] تحف العقول، ص ۴۸۹   خَصْلَتانِ لَیْسَ فَوْقَهُما شَیءٌ: الاْیمانُ بِاللهِ، وَنَفْعُ الاْخْوانِ.
[11] Bihar al-Anwar, v. 50, p. 308, no. 6.