Dignity of Youth in Ahadith
15.1 - The Youth
1) قال رسول اللّه صلّى اللّه عليه وآله و سلّم: ألشباب شعبة من الجنون.
1. The Messenger of Allāh (s.w.a.) has said: “The period of the youth is from the stages of obsession.”[30]
2) قال الإمام عليّ عليه السّلام: جهل الشاب معذور وعلمه محقور.
2. Imām ʿAlī ibne Abī Ṭālib (a.s.) has said: “The ignorance of the young person is excusable and his knowledge is limited.”[31]
3) قال الإمام عليّ عليه السّلام: شيئان لا يعرف فضلهما إلاّ من فقدهما: ألشّباب والعافية.
3. Imām ʿAlī ibne Abī Ṭālib (a.s.) has said: “There are two things which people do not recognize the greatness of until they lose them: their youth and good health.”[32]
4) قال رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وآله و سلّم: خير شبابكم من تشبّه بكهولكم وشرّ كهولكم من تشّبه بشبابكم.
4. The Messenger of Allāh (s.w.a.) has said: “The best of your youth are those who resemble your old people[33] and the worst of your old people are those who resemble your young people.” [34]
5) قال الإمام الصادق عليه السّلام: وصيّة ورقة بن نوفل لخديجة بنت خوليد إذا دخل عليها يقول لـها: إعلمي أن الشّاب الحسن الخلق مفتاح للخير مغلاق للشرّ، وأن الشّاب الشحيح الخلق مغلاق للخير مفتاح للشرّ.
5. Imām Jaʿfar ibne Muḥammad as-Ṣādiq (a.s.) has said: “Any time Waraqah ibne Nawfil would go to see Khadījah binte Khuwaylīd, he would advise her as such, ‘You should know that surely the young person who has good behaviour is the key to all goodness and is kept away from all evil, while the young person who has bad behaviour is kept away from all goodness and is the key to all evil.”[35]
6) قال الإمام عليّ عليه السّلام: إعلموا رحمكم اللّه أنّكم في زمان القائل فيه الحق قليل....فتاهم عارم، وشائبهم آثم، وعالـمهم منافق.
6. Imām ʿAlī ibne Abī Ṭālib (a.s.) has said: “You should know that, may Allāh have mercy upon you, surely you are living in a time in which those who profess to be on the Truth are very few in number … their youth are obstinate, their young people are sinners, and their scholars are hypocrites.”[36]
15.2 - Training of the Youth
7) قال الإمام عليّ عليه السّلام: إنّما قلب الحدث كالأرض الخالية، ما القي فيها من شيء إلاّ قبلته.
7. Imām ʿAlī ibne Abī Ṭālib (a.s.) has said: “Surely the heart of the youth is like the uncultivated ground – it will accept whatever you throw upon it [and that is what will grow from it].”[37]
8) قال الإمام الصّادق عليه السّلام: - للأحول -: أتيت البصرة؟ قال: نعم. قال: كيف رأيت مسارعة النّاس في هذا الأمر ودخولـهم فيه؟ فقال: واللّه إنـهم لقليل، وقد فعلوا وإن ذالك لقليل. فقال (عليه السّلام): عليك بالأحداث؛ فإنـهم أسرع إلى كلّ خير.
8. Imām Jaʿfar ibne Muḥammad as-Ṣādiq (a.s.) said to a companion named Al-Aḥwal: “’Have you been to Baṣrah?’ The man replied, ‘Yes.’ The Imām (a.s.) then asked him, ‘How did you find the enthusiasm of the people in regards to this issue [of the Wilāyah and Imāmate of the Ahlul Baīt] and their acceptance of it?’ The man replied, ‘I swear by Allāh surely those people [who follow and accept this] are few in number. They work upon this [propagating this belief to others, even though they are small in number.’ The Imām replied to him, ‘I advise you to work on the youth [in educating them on these issues] since surely they are quicker to accept all good things.’”[38]
15.3 - Seeking knowledge while a Youth
9) قال رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وآله و سلَم: من تعلّم في شبابه كان بـمنـزلة الرسم في الحجر، ومن تعلّم وهو كبير كان بـمنـزلة الكتاب على وجه الـماء.
ا. The Messenger of Allāh (s.w.a.) has said: “The person who seeks knowledge while in his youth is similar to the act of inscribing something upon a rock; while the person who seeks knowledge while he is old is similar to the act of writing something upon the water.”[39]
10) قال الإمام عليّ عليه السّلام: العلم من الصغر كالنقش في الحجر.
10. Imām ʿAlī ibne Abī Ṭālib (a.s.) has said: “Gaining knowledge in one’s youth is like imprinting something on a rock [it will always remain].”[40]
11) قال رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وآله و سلّم: من لـم يطلب العلم صغيرا فطلبه كبيرا فمات، مات شهيدا.
11. The Messenger of Allāh (s.w.a.) has said: “If a person who does not seek knowledge while he is youth, but rather goes to seek it when he becomes old and dies in this state, he dies as a martyr [Shahīd].”[41]
12) قال النبي أيّوب عليه السّلام: إن اللّه يزرع الحكمة في قلب الصغير والكبير، فإذا جعل اللّه العبد حكيما في الصبى لـم يضع منـزلته عند الحكماء حداثة سنّه وهم يرون عليه من اللّه نور كرامته.
12. The Prophet Ayyūb (a.s.) has said: “Surely Allāh implants wisdom [Al-Ḥikmah] in the heart of the young person and the old person. So then if Allāh makes a servant a wise person in his youth then he would not lower his status in the eyes of the intellectuals simply because he is of a young age since they will see the nūr (divine light) of Allāh radiating from this person.”[42]
15.4 - The Young person & refraining from seeking knowledge
13) قال الإمام الكاظم عليه السّلام: لو وجدت شابّاً من شبّان الشيعة لا يتفقه لضربته ضربة بالسيف.
13. Imām Mūsā ibne Jaʿfar al-Kādhim (a.s.) has said: “If I was to find a youth from amongst the youth of the Shīʾa not gaining a deep knowledge and understanding, I would surely strike him with a sword.”[43]
14) قال الإمام الباقر عليه السّلام: لو أُتيت بشاب من شباب الشيعة لا يتفقه (في الدين) لأدبته.
14. Imām Muḥammad ibne ʿAlī al-Bāqir (a.s.) has said: “If I were to find a youth from amongst the youth of the Shīʾa that was not engaged in gaining a deep knowledge and understanding [of the religion] I would seriously reprimand him.”[44]
15) قال الإمام الصّادق عليه السّلام: لستُ أُحب أن أرى الشاب منكم إلاّ غاديا في حالين: إمّا عالـما أو متعلما. فإن لـم يفعل فرّط، فإنّ فرّط ضيّع, فإنّ ضيّع أثـم، وإنْ أثـم سكن النار والّذي بعث محمّدا بالحق.
15. Imām Jaʿfar ibne Muḥammad as-Ṣādiq (a.s.) has said: “I do not like to see the youth from amongst yourselves except that he/she is passing the life in one of two states: either as a scholar or as a student. So then if he is not in one of these two states then he is one who has wasted (something) and surely the one who wastes is one who has squandered something and surely the act of squandering is a sin and the person who commits a sin shall reside in the Hell Fire – I swear by the one who appointed Muḥammad with The Truth.”[45]
15.5 - The greatness of a Young person who worships 'Allah
16) قال رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وآله و سلّم: إنّ اللّه تعالى يحب الشاب التائب.
16. The Messenger of Allāh (s.w.a.) has said: “Surely Allāh, the High, loves the young person who is repents [for his sins].”[46]
17) قال رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وآله و سلّم: ما من شيء أحب إلى اللّه تعالى من شاب تائب، وما من شيء أبغض إلى اللّه تعالى من شيخ مقيم على معاصيه.
17. The Messenger of Allāh (s.w.a.) has said: “There is nothing more beloved to Allāh, the High, than a young person who repents (for his sins); and there is nothing more detested in the sight of Allāh, the High, than an old person who perpetuates in disobeying Him.”[47]
18) قال رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وآله و سلّم: إنّ اللّه تعالى يباهي بالشابّ العابد الـملائكة، يقول: أنظروا إلى عبدي! ترك شهوته من أجلي.
18. The Messenger of Allāh (s.w.a.) has said: “Surely Allāh, The High, boasts to the Angels in regards to the young person who is a servant (of His) and He says, ‘Look towards my servant! He has refrained from following his lowly desires for My sake alone.’”[48]
19) قال رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وآله و سلّم: فضل الشاب العابد الذي تعبّد في صباه على الشيخ الذي تعبّد بعد ما كبرت سنّه كفضل الـمرسلين على سائر الناس.
19. The Messenger of Allāh (s.w.a.) has said: “The greatness of the worshipper of Allāh who is a youth and who worships Allāh while in the stage of his youth over the old person who worships [Allāh] after he has become of old age is like the greatness of the deputed ones [the Prophets and Messengers] over all other creations.”[49]
20) قال رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وآله و سلّم: سبعة في ظلّ عرش اللّه عزّ وجلّ يوم لا ظلّ إلاّ ظلّه: إمام عادل، وشاب نشأ في عبادة اللّه عزّ وجلّ.
20. The Messenger of Allāh (s.w.a.) has said: “There are seven individuals who shall be protected under the shade of the Throne [Power] of Allāh, the Noble and Grand on the day when there shall be no shade except for His shade: the just leader … and the youth who spent his time in the worship of Allāh, the Noble and Grand.”[50]
15.6 - The greatness of the person who spends his Youth in the obidience to Allah
21) قال رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وآله و سلّم: ما من شاب يدع للّه الدنيا ولـهوها وأهرم شبابه في طاعة الله إلاّ أعطاه اللّه أجر إثنين وسبعين صدّيقاً.
21. The Messenger of Allāh (s.w.a.) has said: “There is not a single young person who turns away from the transient world and its pleasures only for the [pleasure] of Allāh and spends his youth in the obedience of Allāh until he reaches to old age, except that Allāh would grant him the reward of seventy-two truthful [and righteous] people.”[51]
22) قال رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وآله و سلّم: إنّ أحب الخلائق إلى اللّه عزّ وجلّ شاب حدث السن في صورة حسنة جعل شبابه وجماله للّه وفي طاعته، ذلك الذي يباهي به الرحمن ملائكته, يقول: هذا عبدي حقّا.
22. The Messenger of Allāh (s.w.a.) has said: “Surely the most beloved of the creations to Allāh, the Noble and Grand, is the youth who is young in age and who is a very handsome/beautiful individual however he places his youth and his beauty in Allāh and in His obedience alone. This is the thing for which the Most Merciful [Al-Raḥmān] boasts to His Angels about and says, ‘This is truly my servant.’”[52]
23) قال رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وآله و سلّم: إنّ اللّه يحب الشاب الذي يفني شبابه في طاعة اللّه تعالى.
23. The Messenger of Allāh (s.w.a.) has said: “Surely Allāh loves that young person who spends his youth in the obedience of Allāh, the Most High.”[53]
24) قال النبي إبراهيم عليه السلام: لمـا أصبح فرأى في لحيته شيبا - شعرة بيضاء - : ألحمد للّه ربّ العالـمين الذي بلغني هذا المبلغ ولـم أعص اللّه طرفة عين.
24. It has been narrated about Prophet Ibrāhīm (a.s.) that one day he woke up and saw a white hair in his beard and said: “All praise belongs to Allāh, the Lord of the entire universe who has made me reach to this stage in my life in which I have not disobeyed Allāh for as much as the twinkling of the eye.”[54]
15.7 - The definition of a Youth
25) قال الإمام الصّادق عليه السّلام: لسليمان بن جعفر الـهذلي - : يا سليمان من الفتى؟ قال: قلت: جعلت فداك الفتى عندنا الشابّ, قال (عليه السّلام) لي: أما علمت أن أصحاب الكهف كانوا كلهم كهولا فسماهم اللّه فتية بإيـمانـهم؟! يا سليمان من آمن باللّه وأتّقى فهو الفتى.
25. Imām Jaʿfar ibne Muḥammad as-Ṣādiq (a.s.) said the following to Sulaymān ibne Jaʿfar Al-Hadhalī: “O’ Sulaymān, what is meant by a young person [Al-Fatā]?” He said, “May I be sacrificed for your sake. In our opinion, a young person [Al-Fatā] is a youth [Al-Shābb].” The Imām said to me, “However you should know that surely the Companions of the Cave [Aṣḥābul Kahf] were all old people, however Allāh refers to them as youth who have true faith?! O’ Sulaymān, the one who believes in Allāh and has consciousness of Him is a young person.”[55]
26) قال الإمام الصّادق عليه السّلام: - لرجل – ما الفتى عندكم؟ فقال له: الشابّ, فقال: لا. الفتى: المؤمن، إنّ أصحاب الكهف كانوا شيوخا فسماهم اللّه عزّ وجلّ فتية بإيـمانـهم.
26. Imām Jaʿfar ibne Muḥammad as-Ṣādiq (a.s.) said to a man: “What is meant by a young person [Al-Fatā] in your estimation?” The man replied, “A youth.” The Imām (a.s.) replied, “No, the young person [Al-Fatā] is the true believer. Surely the Companions of the Cave [Aṣḥābul Kahf] were all old people, however Allāh, Glory and Greatness be to Him, called them youth who believed in Him.”[56]
قال الإمام الحسن ابن علي المجتبـى عليه السلام:
إنكم صغار قوم و يوشك أن تكونوا كبار قوم آخرين فتعلموا العلم. فمن لم يستطع منكم أن يحفظه فليكتبه و
ليضعه في بيته
) بــحار الأنوار – ج 2 – ص 152 – ح 37 (
Imām Ḥasan ibne ʿAlī al-Mujtabā (peace be upon him) has said: “Surely today you are the youth of the nation, and tomorrow, you will be the leaders of the community, thus, it is incumbent upon you to seek knowledge. So then if you are not able to memorize all that you learn, then you must write it down and preserve it (for safe keeping) so that you can refer to it later on (when you need it).”
Biḥārul Anwār, Volume 2, Page 152, Ḥadīth 37
Notes:
[30] Al-Ikhtiṣāṣ, Page 343
[31] Ghururul Ḥikm, Ḥadīth 4768
[32] Ibid., Ḥadīth 5764
[33] You should know that people are of two categories of which the one category is the young person who has distanced himself from following the desires of his lower passions and is distanced from the ignorance which is accompanied by the period of the youth. He has a desire to gravitate towards goodness and to distance himself from bad traits and it is in regards to this type of youth that the Messenger of Allāh (blessings of Allāh be upon him and his family) has said:
يعجب ربك من شاب ليست له صبوة
“Your Lord is amazed to see a young person who has distanced himself from following the desires of his lower passions and is distanced from the ignorance which is accompanied by the period of the youth.”
[34] Kanzul `Ummāl, Ḥadīth 43058
[35] Amāli of al-Ṭūsī, Page 302 and 598
[36] Nahjul Balāgha, Sermon 233
[37] Tuḥaful `Uqūl, Page 70
[38] Qurbul Isnād, Page 128 and 450
[39] Biḥārul Anwār, Volume 1, Page 222, Ḥadīth 6 & Page 224, Ḥadīth 13
[40] Ibid.,
[41] Kanzul `Ummāl, Ḥadīth 28843
[42] Tanbīyatul Khawāṭir, Page 37
[43] Fiqhul Riẓā, Page 337
[44] Al-Maḥāsin, Volume 1, Pages 357 and 760
[45] Amālī of Al-Ṭūṣī, Pages 303 and 604
[46] Kanzul `Ummāl, Ḥadīth 10185
[47] Ibid., Ḥadīth 10233
[48] Ibid., Ḥadīth 43057
[49] Kanzul `Ummāl, Ḥadīth 43059
[50] Al-Khisāl, Page 343, Ḥadīth 8
[51] Makārimul Akhlāq, Volume 2, Page 373
[52] Kanzul `Ummāl, Ḥadīth 43103
[53] Kanzul `Ummāl, Ḥadīth 43060
[54] Illulush Sharā`iyah, Volume 2, Page 104, Ḥadīth 2
[55] Tafsīr al-`Ayāshi, Volume 2, Page 323, Ḥadīth 11
[56] Al-Kāfī, Volume 8, Page 395 and 595
Source: Imam Reza Network
