O, Muslim! O, human being! Have only divine motivations!

What should be our motivations?

It has been narrated from Imam Baqir (as) in the book Tuhaful Uqul (Narration No.: 284) that he said to one of his students:

‘You will never be considered Shi’ah until you reach that level, that if all the people of the city say that you are a bad person; you will not be discouraged, and if they say that you are righteous, you wouldn’t be happy. But put yourself in front of the Qur’an! If you refrain from what is forbidden in it and wish for something that is encouraged in it, then be happy and satisfied that the words of people don’t matter. And if you are far from the Qur’an, the appreciated words of the people should not deceive you.’

One believes that this text should answer the following questions:

1. How should one measure the acts?
2. Should others’ approval or disapproval be the crucial point in shaping the believers’ mind?
3. The process of decision making should one pay great and special attention to others’ approval?

The crucial messages of this Hadith are as follows: (A) that the believer should only be motivated by seeking the divine, i.e. The Lord’s approval; (B) that neither the appreciative words of people, nor their disapproval should be considered as the measure to either the correctness or the falsehood of actions. One should never be pleased by disingenuous flattery, nor be saddened by people’s wrong disapproval.

As such, if one wants to know whether he is a righteous person, he must put his actions in blunt comparison with the divine commandments and Qur’anic teachings. Therefore, after each recitation of the Qur’an and/or reading the traditions of the infallibles (as), it is recommended to make a firm decision to avoid any form of bad behavior. For example, if s/he reads the verse restraining anger, “and restrain [their anger] And forgive others; and verily, Allah likes the good-doers;” (Al-Imran: 134), then s/he should decide to control anger and remain patient. Whenever an individual attempts to harmonize his/her behaviors with the Qur’anic teachings and the traditions of the infallible Imams (as), then s/he may consider himself or herself righteous, even if others may consider him ‘a bad person’! But if it was difficult for him to follow the Qur’anic teachings; for example when he reads about the prohibition of backbiting “Do not backbite about one another” (Hujurat: 12), but s/he finds it hard to practice it and to refrain from this bad behavior, s/he should never be pleased with himself or herself, even if other people consider him righteous.

Based on that, if an individual finds it hard to refrain from bad behavior, while reading the Qur’an’s verses and other divine teachings, then s/he should question what is the cause of it? When one won’t adhere to the divine commands and is not willing to coordinate the act and behavior with the Divine instruction, it means there must be something wrong! Does s/he think that the behavior and actions, from the point of view of others indicates that s/he is a righteous person? Is s/he satisfied and thinks that there is no need to purify the heart? Does s/he really think that one does not have any bad behavior, such as intended lying, fraud in business, laziness in acts and superficial prayers? The very reluctance to learn, study, yet wasting time and speaking idle talks are all bad qualities. No one can be sure that s/he has no anger, impatience, stinginess, disrespect of parents, and/or neglecting others’ rights, but they are all negative qualities, and none of those acts are in accordance with the Qur’anic teachings.

One should never forget the Divine promises, namely that God blesses those who purify their hearts “the gardens of Eden through which rivers flow, to live in forever. That will be the reward for anyone who becomes purified.” (Taha: 76). Then, one takes them into consideration and acts accordingly! Whenever a person is not willing to purify the heart from bad intentions, s/he must know the Qur’anic warning: The love of passions [that come] from women and children has attracted mankind, as well as accumulated gold and silver treasures, pedigree horses, livestock and crops. That means enjoyment during the worldly life, while God holds the finest retreat. (Al- Imran: 14) Thus one should be precautious and return to the Lord with remorseful heart in order to act and be purified.