Many people think that prosperity and adversity are the result of factors like reaches. Status and authority. However, according to Islam, prosperity springs form matter which increases man’s spiritual and moral values and the fundamentals thereof have been explained in the sayings of the leaders of Islam one of them being cheerfulness and decent behaviour. Imam Ja’far Sadiq, peace be on him, says, “good behaviour is one of the factors of human prosperity”.
(Ref: Mustadrakul Wasa’il v. II, p. 38).
And that being so it is not surprising that the Almighty Allah commends His Prophet for his noble character and He says:
“Yours is a sublime nature.”
(Ref: Surah al-Qalam, 68:4).
And Allah also bases the rapid advancement of Islam on this factor and says: “Had you been harsh and cold blooded they would have surely deserted you.”
(Ref: Surah ale Imran, 3:159).
Islam accords a special consideration to sublime nature and decent behaviour Imam Ali, peace be on him, says: “The faith of one who possesses decent morals is more complete.”
(Ref: Wasa’ilush Shi’ah, vol. II, P. 220).
Imam Ja’far Sadiq, peace be on him, says: “Whoever is more well behaved is wiser than the others”.
(Ref: Wasa’ilush Shi’ah, vol. II, p. 221).
“The lord has granted you Islam. You, too should guard it well by being forgiving and tolerant”.
(Ref: Wasa’ilush Shi’ah, vol. II, p. 445).
At times Islam invites people to think about the good spiritual effects of proper behaviour and good morals. For example the Holy Prophet, peace be on him and his progeny, says: “The spiritual reward of one who possesses good morals is like that of one who fasts and worships continuously.” (Ref: Wasai’lush Shi’ah, vol., II, p. 221) “Piety and good morals are the things which will lead most of my followers to paradise.”
(Ref: Wasai’lush Shi’ah, vol., II, p. 221).
Imam Ja’far Sadiq, peace be on him and his progeny, says: “The spiritual reward given by Allah for decent behaviour and good morals is equal to that of struggling in His path.”
(Ref: Wasai’lush Shi’ah, vol., II, p. 221).
“Good morals melt the sins (and make them disappear) just as the sun melts snow on the face of the earth”. (Ref: Wasai’lush Shi’ah, vol., II, p. 221). “And (on the other side) misconduct spoils the good deeds of man just as vinegar spoils honey.”
(Ref: Wasai’lush Shi’ah, vol., II, p. 221).
The Holy prophet, peace on him and his progeny, says: “An immoral person can never repent for his sins for whenever he forsakes one sin he will become involved is still a graver sin”.
(Ref: Wasai’lush Shi’ah, vol., II, p. 485).
At time Islam mentions the social and individual losses which man has to face on account of bad morals and also describes the advantages which accrue form good morals. Imam Ja’far Sadiq, peace be on him, Says: “Doing good to the people and behaving properly with them make the cities populous and increase the span of life”.
(Ref: Wasai’lush Shi’ah, vol., II, p. 221).
“An immoral person remains involved in torture and anguish”.
(Ref: Wasai’lush Shi’ah, vol., II, p. 475).
The Holy Prophet, peace be on him and his progeny, tells his kinsmen: “O son of Abdul Mutallib! You cannot please all the people with money but you can meet them with cheerful faces and good behaviour so that you may be liked by them for wealth is limited in any case but the decent morals and cheerfulness is inexhaustible”.
(Ref: Wasai’lush Shi’ah, vol., II, p. 222).
Imam Ja’far Sadiq, peace be on him, when asked about good behaviour, replied: “Good behaviour is that you should be kind to the people and speak with them in a niece manner and meet them with a cheerful face”.
(Ref: Wasai’lush Shi’ah, vol., II, p. 222).
Az Zahra 