Haqq and Sabr

    Sheikh al-Ridha (peace be upon him) once explained: “Allah, the Mighty, the Glorious, has commanded three things with which he has associated three other things. He associated payment of zakat along with prayers such that one who offers prayers, but desists from offering zakat, his prayers are rejected. He associated gratitude to Him with gratitude towards parents such that one who is grateful to Allah, but ungrateful to his parents, will be deemed as ungrateful to Allah.   He associated righteousness with bonds of kinship such that one who is righteous, but has severed relations with his kin, will be deemed as not being righteous.”  

  A man once asked Abū Al-Dardāʾ – Allāh be pleased with him – for advice. He said :   Remember Allāh in good times and He will mention you in hard times. When you remember those who have passed away , consider yourself like one of them. And when you think of involving yourself in some worldly matter, consider first what it will lead to in the end .   Al-Dhahabī in Siyar Aʿlām Al-Nubalāʾ, under the biography of Abū Al-Dardāʾ .