Surah Al-Ghaafir

The Forgiver

Introduction

Name of Chapter and Reason for its Name

This chapter is called Surah Al-Ghaafir (The Forgiver). It has been given this name because of the 3rd verse in this chapter which begins with the word ‘Forgiver’ - one of the names and attributes of Allah. The chapter has also been referred to as Surah Al-Momin due to the mention of the incident between the party of Firaun and the believers, and its outcome.

Chapter Number

Surah Al-Ghaafir is the 40th chapter of the Holy Quran.

Number of Verses

The chapter consists of 85 verses in total.

Place of Revelation

Commentators of the Quran consider this chapter to be a Makki one.

Content

Important Concepts in this Chapter

Verses 4-6, 18-22, and 69-76

States different warnings for the non-believers.

A number of verses in this chapter are warnings to the non-believers, with mention of the punishments in this world, and the way former rebellious nations were afflicted with retribution for their sins. The verses of this chapter also discuss the punishments of the hereafter, stating their details and particular qualities.

Verses 7-12

Reference to the reactions and responses of the people towards the invitations of the Prophets.

In a few of the verses of Surah Al-Ghaafir, we are reminded that people are of two types in relation to the invitations by the Prophets (to guidance) - there are those who accept and follow the Prophets, and there are those who reject them. The ones who follow and accept them are those who repent and turn back to Allah, causing the angels who surround the Throne of Allah and those busy in circumvallation of it, to pray for the forgiveness of these people. They also pray for his righteous forefathers, spouse and lineage. As for the group of people who reject the call, they will be afflicted with the punishment of Allah.

Verses 23-54

Recounting the story of Prophet Musa and the believers, and the people of Firaun.

Some of the verses in this chapter speak about Prophet Musa and Firaun, and the believers from the nation of Firaun. In this way, the verses advise the non-believers to study and examine the remains of the previous nations, referring to their stories, and taking lessons from them. The verses offer the non-believers admonishment that the power of the powerful, the arrogance of the arrogant, and the planning of the planners, is no match for Allah, and nothing stops Him in His plans.

Verses 55-60

Ordering the Prophets to be patient and strong willed.

After mentioning the stories and the outcomes of those who have passed away in several verses of this chapter, Allah invites His own Prophets to uphold patience. He warns and reminds them that the promise of Allah to help the Prophets is the truth and will not cease, and the cunning and invalid rhetoric of the people and tyrants will soon be exposed for its falsehood. The efforts of the enemies and tyrants will not yield any results except against themselves.

Verses 61-68

Discussing Tawheed and the Oneness of Allah.

Numerous verses in this chapter bring arguments for the proof of Tawhid, and the Oneness of Allah in His Lordship and Divinity.

Discussions on this Chapter

According to the Sunni Traditions

Benefits of Reciting this Surah

عن رسول‌ الله صلی‌الله علیه و سلم: من قرأ سورة المؤمن لم یبق روح نبی و لا صدیق و لا شهید و لا مؤمن إلا صلی علیه و استغفر له

The Prophet of Allah has said: “Whoever recites Surah al-Momin (The Believer), there will not remain the soul of a Prophet, a truthful one, a martyr, or a believer, except that they will send salutations upon the reciter and pray for his forgiveness.”

Verse 5: “The people of Nuh denied before them and the [heathen] factions [who came] after them. Every nation attempted to lay hands on their apostle, and disputed erroneously to refute the truth. Then I seized them; so how was My retribution?!”

كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحٖ وَٱلۡأَحۡزَابُ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡۖ وَهَمَّتۡ كُلُّ أُمَّةِۢ بِرَسُولِهِمۡ لِيَأۡخُذُوهُۖ وَجَٰدَلُواْ بِٱلۡبَٰطِلِ لِيُدۡحِضُواْ بِهِ ٱلۡحَقَّ فَأَخَذۡتُهُمۡۖ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ ٥ قال أبو القاسم الطبرانی حدثنا علی بن عبد العزیز حدثنا عارم أبو النعمان حدثنا معتمر بن سلیمان قال سمعت أبی یحدث عن حنش عن عکرمة عن ابن عباس رضی الله عنه عن النبی صلی‌الله علیه و سلم قال: من أعان باطلا لیدحض به حقا فقد برئت منه ذمة الله تعالی و ذمة رسوله صلی‌الله علیه و سلم

Abu al-Qasim al-Tabarani says he heard Ali ibn Abd al-Azeez report to us from Arim Abu al-Numan, who reported to us from Mutamar ibn Sulayman, who said: “I heard my father reporting from Hanish, from Akramah, from Ibn Abbas from the Prophet who said, ‘Whoever supports falsehood in order to invalidate the truth through it, surely he will be removed from the protection of Allah and His Prophet.’”

Verse 7: “Those who bear the Throne, and those around it, celebrate the praise of their Lord and have faith in Him, and they plead for forgiveness for the faithful: ‘Our Lord! You comprehend all things in mercy and knowledge. So forgive those who repent and follow Your way and save them from the punishment of hell.”

ٱلَّذِينَ يَحۡمِلُونَ ٱلۡعَرۡشَ وَمَنۡ حَوۡلَهُۥ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّهِمۡ وَيُؤۡمِنُونَ بِهِۦ وَيَسۡتَغۡفِرُونَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْۖ رَبَّنَا وَسِعۡتَ كُلَّ شَيۡءٖ رَّحۡمَةٗ وَعِلۡمٗا فَٱغۡفِرۡ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُواْ وَٱتَّبَعُواْ سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ ٧ عن النبی صلی‌الله علیه و سلم «لا تتفکروا فی عظم ربکم و لکن تفکروا فیما خلق الله من الملائکة»

It has been reported from the Prophet that he said: “Do not contemplate on the greatness of your Lord, rather contemplate on what Allah has created in the form of the angels.”

Verse 14: “So supplicate (to) Allah, putting exclusive faith in Him, though the faithless should be averse.”

فَٱدۡعُواْ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَوۡ كَرِهَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ ١٤ و قال ابن أبی حاتم: حدثنا الربیع حدثنا الخصیب بن ناصح حدثنا صالح یعنی المری عن هشام بن حسان عن ابن سیرین عن أبی هریرة رضی الله عنه عن النبی صلی‌الله علیه و سلم قال: «ادعوا الله تبارک و تعالی و أنتم موقنون بالإجابة و اعلموا أن الله تعالی لا یستجیب دعاء من قلب غافل لاه»

Ibn Abu Haatim said that Al-Rabi reported from Al-Khaseeb ibn Nasih (meaning Al-Mara), who reported from Hashim ibn Hisaan, who reported from Ibn Siryeen, who reported from Abu Hurayrah from the Prophet who said: “Supplicate (to) Allah, the Blessed and Sublime while you feel certain that it (your supplication) will receive an answer. Also know that Allah does not answer a supplication that stems from an inattentive and negligent heart.”

Verse 17: “Today every soul shall be requited for what it has earned. There will be no injustice today. Indeed Allah is swift at reckoning.”

ٱلۡيَوۡمَ تُجۡزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفۡسِۢ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡۚ لَا ظُلۡمَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلۡحِسَابِ ١٧ ثبت فی صحیح مسلم عن أبی ذر رضی الله عنه عن رسول‌الله صلی‌الله علیه و سلم فیما یحکی عن ربه عز و جل أنه قال: «یا عبادی إنی حرمت الظلم علی نفسی و جعلته بینکم محرما فلا تظالموا- إلی أن قال- یا عبادی إنما هی أعمالکم أحصیها علیکم ثم أوفیکم إیاها، فمن وجد خیرا فلیحمد الله تبارک و تعالی و من وجد غیر ذلک فلا یلومن إلا نفسه»

It has been reported in Sahih Muslim from Abu Dharr, that he heard the Prophet who narrated that Allah said: “O My servants! I have forbidden oppression and injustice for Myself, and I have prohibited it for you, so do not oppress one another.’ Until and where He says, ‘O My servants, it is only your deeds that I account for you, and then recompense you for them. So one who finds good (in his actions), let him praise Allah; and one who finds other than that, let him blame no one but himself.”

Verse 46: “The Fire, to which they are exposed morning and evening. And on that day when the Hour sets in, Firaun’s clan will enter the severest punishment.”

ٱلنَّارُ يُعۡرَضُونَ عَلَيۡهَا غُدُوّٗا وَعَشِيّٗاۚ وَيَوۡمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدۡخِلُوٓاْ ءَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ أَشَدَّ ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٤٦ قال رسول‌الله صلی‌الله علیه و سلم: «إن أحدکم إذا مات عرض علیه مقعده بالغداة و العشی إن کان من أهل الجنة فمن أهل الجنة و إن کان من أهل النار فمن أهل النار فیقال هذا مقعدک حتی یبعثک الله عز و جل إلیه یوم القیامة»

The Messenger of Allah said: “When one of you dies, he is shown his abode morning and evening. So if he is from the people of heaven, then (he will be shown his abode) from the people of heaven; and if he is from the people of hell, then (he will be shown his abode) from the people of hell. Then it will be said to them, ‘This is your (final) abode where you will be raised when Allah establishes the Day of Resurrection.’”

Verse 60: “Your Lord has said, ‘Call Me, and I will hear you!’ Indeed those who are disdainful of My worship will enter hell in utter humility.”

وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ٱدۡعُونِيٓ أَسۡتَجِبۡ لَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدۡخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ ٦٠ روی النعمان بن بشیر رضی الله عنه عن رسول‌الله صلی‌الله علیه و سلم: «الدعاء هو العبادة»

It has been reported from Numan ibn Bashir that Messenger of Allah said: “Supplication is worship.”

قال الإمام الحافظ أبو یعلی أحمد بن علی بن المثنی الموصلی فی مسنده: حدثنا أبو إبراهیم الترجمانی حدثنا صالح المرّی قال: سمعت الحسن یحدث عن أنس بن مالک رضی الله عنه عن النبی صلی‌الله علیه و سلم فیما یروی عن ربه عز و جل قال: «أربع خصال واحدة منهن لی و واحدة لک و واحدة بینی و بینک و واحدة فیما بینک و بین عبادی، فأما آلتی لی فتعبدنی لا تشرک بی شیئا و أما آلتی لک علی فما عملت من خیر جزیتک به و أما آلتی بینی و بینک فمنک الدعاء و علی الإجابة و أما آلتی بینک و بین عبادی فارض لهم ما ترضی لنفسک»

Imam al-Haafiz, Abu Yala Ahmad ibn Ali ibn al-Muthana al-Mousali said in his Musnad, “Abu Ibrahim al-Turjumaani reports from Saleh al-Marri, who said, ‘I heard Hasan who narrated from Anas ibn Maalik, from the Prophet regarding the words of Allah, that He said, ‘There are four qualities (that a believer should have) - one of them is for Me, one of them is for you, one of them is between Me and you, and one of them is between you and My servants. The one that is for Me, is that I should be worshiped and nothing should be associated with Me, nor should anyone consider a partner for Me (in My Lordship). The one that is for you is that whatever good actions you perform, I will reward you for them. That which is between Me and you is that for you is supplication and upon Me is to answer it. Finally, what is between you and My servants is that you present to them (or act in a way) that which you would like for yourself.’”

قال الإمام أحمد: حدثنا یحیی بن سعید عن ابن عجلان حدثنی عمرو بن شعیب عن أبیه عن جده عن النبی صلی‌الله علیه و سلم قال: «یحشر المتکبرون یوم القیامة أمثال الذر فی صور الناس یعلوهم کل شی‌ء من الصغار حتی یدخلوا سجنا فی جهنم یقال له بولس تعلوهم نار الأنیار یسقون من طینة الخبال عصارة أهل النار»

Imam Ahmad said, ‘Yahya ibn Sad reported from Ibn Ijlan, from Amr ibn Shuayb, from his father, from his grandfather from the Prophet who said: “On the Day of Judgement, the arrogant will be raised and gathered like ants in the form of humans, and they will be humiliated from all sides (everything will be greater than them) - until they enter their place of imprisonment in hell called Bawlas. The fiercest of fires will cover them and they will be made to drink from the Tiynat al-Khibal (a drink) for the inhabitants of hell.”

According to the Shia Traditions

Benefits of Reciting this Surah

عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ جُوَیرِیةَ بْنِ أَبِی الْعَلَاءِ عَنْ أَبِی الصَّبَّاحِ عَنْ أَبِی جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ: مَنْ قَرَأَ حم الْمُؤْمِنَ فِی کلِ لَیلَةٍ غَفَرَ الله لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَ مَا تَأَخَّرَ وَ أَلْزَمَهُ کلِمَةَ التَّقْوی وَ جَعَلَ الْآخِرَةَ خَیراً لَهُ مِنَ الدُّنْیا

Hasan ibn Jawayriyyah ibn Abu al-Alaa al-Sabbah reported from Abu Jafar who said: “Whoever recites the (chapter) Ha Mim ‘The Believer’ every night, Allah will forgive them the sins that they have committed and their future sins. He will cause them to be committed towards piety, and will make the hereafter better for them then this world.”

Verse 16: “The day when they will emerge [from their graves], nothing about them will be hidden from Allah. ‘To whom does the sovereignty belong today?’ ‘To Allah, the One, the All-Paramount!’”

يَوۡمَ هُم بَٰرِزُونَۖ لَا يَخۡفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِنۡهُمۡ شَيۡءٞۚ لِّمَنِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَۖ لِلَّهِ ٱلۡوَٰحِدِ ٱلۡقَهَّارِ ١٦ فی نهج البلاغة و إِنَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ یعُودُ بَعْدَ فَنَاءِ الدُّنْیا وَحْدَهُ لَا شَی‌ءَ مَعَهُ کمَا کانَ قَبْلَ ابْتِدَائِهَا کذَلِک یکونُ بَعْدَ فَنَائِهَا بِلَا وَقْتٍ وَ لَا مَکانٍ وَ لَا حِینٍ وَ لَا زَمَانٍ عُدِمَتْ عِنْدَ ذَلِک الْآجَالُ وَ الْأَوْقَاتُ وَ زَالَتِ السِّنُونَ وَ السَّاعَاتُ فَلَا شَی‌ءَ إِلَّا الله الْواحِد الْقَهَّار الَّذِی إِلَیهِ مَصِیرُ جَمِیعِ الْأُمُورِ بِلَا قُدْرَةٍ مِنْهَا کانَ ابْتِدَاءُ خلق‌ها وَ بِغَیرِ امْتِنَاعٍ مِنْهَا کانَ فَنَاؤُهَا وَ لَوْ قَدَرَتْ عَلَی الِامْتِنَاعِ لَدَامَ بَقَاؤُهَا

The following sermon is recorded in Nahj al-Balagha: “Surely, after the extinction of this world, Allah, the Glorified will remain alone with nothing else besides Him. He will be after its destruction, as He was before its creation: without time, place, moment or period. During this phase, time will not exist, and years and hours will disappear. There will be nothing except Allah, the One, the All-Powerful. To Him will be the return of all matters. The initial creation was not in its power; and the prevention of its extinction is (also) not in its power. If it had the power to prevent it, then it would have existed forever.”

Verse 17: “Today every soul shall be requited for what it has earned. (There shall be) no injustice or oppression on this day. Indeed Allah is swift in reckoning.”

ٱلۡيَوۡمَ تُجۡزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفۡسِۢ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡۚ لَا ظُلۡمَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلۡحِسَابِ ١٧ فِی الْحَدِیثِ إنَّ الله تَعَالَی یقُولُ أَنَا الْمَلِک أَنَا الدَّیانُ لَا ینْبَغِی لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ أَنْ یدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ وَ لَا لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ أَنْ یدْخُلَ النَّارَ وَ عِنْدَهُ مَظْلِمَةٌ حَتَّی أَقُصُّهُ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآیةَ

It has been reported in a narration that Allah says: “I am the sovereign, I am the judge. It is not possible for any of the people of heaven to enter heaven, or any of the people of the fire to enter the fire, while they have been oppressed or treated unjustly, until I remove it from them.” He then recited this verse above.

Verse 18: “Warn them about the Imminent Day when the hearts will be at the throats, choking with suppressed agony, [and] the wrongdoers will have no sympathizer, nor any intercessor who might be heard.”

وَأَنذِرۡهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡأٓزِفَةِ إِذِ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ لَدَى ٱلۡحَنَاجِرِ كَٰظِمِينَۚ مَا لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ مِنۡ حَمِيمٖ وَلَا شَفِيعٖ يُطَاعُ ١٨ فی روضة الکافی، بإسناده عن ابن أبی عمیر عن موسی بن جعفر فی حدیث قَالَ یا أَبَا أَحْمَدَ مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ یرْتَکبُ ذَنْباً إِلَّا سَاءَهُ ذَلِک وَ نَدِمَ عَلَیهِ وَ قَدْ قَالَ النَّبِی ص کفَی بِالنَّدَمِ تَوْبَةً وَ قَالَ وَ مَنْ سَرَّتْهُ حَسَنَتُهُ وَ سَاءَتْهُ سَیئَتُهُ فَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَمَنْ لَمْ ینْدَمْ عَلَی ذَنْبٍ یرْتَکبُهُ فَلَیسَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ وَ لَمْ تَجِبْ لَهُ الشَّفَاعَةُ وَ کانَ ظَالِماً وَ الله تَعَالَی ذِکرُهُ یقُولُ- ما لِلظَّالِمِینَ مِنْ حَمِیمٍ وَ لا شَفِیعٍ یطاعُ

It has been recorded in Rawdhat al-Kafi, through a chain of narrators to Ibn Abu Umayr, from Imam Musa ibn Jafar, who said in a (part of a larger) narration, “O father of Ahmad, there is not a believer who falls into a sin without feeling remorse about it, and having a sense of grief for what one has committed. Indeed, the Prophet said, ‘Regret is enough for repentance.’ Then he (the Prophet) said, ‘Whoever becomes happy about one’s good deeds, and regrets and is upset by one’s evil deeds is a (true) believer. If a person does not feel guilty and unfortunate for having committed a sin, then he is not a believer. It is not necessary to intercede for him, while he is unjust.’ Allah, sublime is His remembrance, says, ‘[and] the wrongdoers will have no sympathizer, nor any intercessor who might be heard.’”

Verse 26: “And Firaun said, ‘Let me slay Musa, and let him invoke his Lord. Indeed I fear that he will change your religion, or bring forth corruption in the land.’”

وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ ذَرُونِيٓ أَقۡتُلۡ مُوسَىٰ وَلۡيَدۡعُ رَبَّهُۥٓۖ إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُبَدِّلَ دِينَكُمۡ أَوۡ أَن يُظۡهِرَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ٱلۡفَسَادَ ٢٦ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِیلَ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ أَبِی زِیادٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِی عَبْدِ الله فِی قَوْلِ فِرْعَوْنَ ذَرُونِی أَقْتُلْ مُوسی مَنْ کانَ یمْنَعُهُ قَالَ مَنَعَتْهُ رِشْدَتُهُ وَ لَا یقْتُلُ الْأَنْبِیاءَ وَ أَوْلَادَ الْأَنْبِیاءِ إِلَّا أَوْلَادُ الزِّنَا.

Ismail ibn Mansoor Abu Ziyaad, reported from a person, who reported from Abu Abdillah regarding the words of Firaun ‘Let me slay Moses’ and what prevented him from doing so, to which Abu Abdullah replied, “It was his understanding. No one kills the Prophets, or the children of the Prophets - except illegitimate children.”

Verse 28: “A man of faith from Pharaoh’s clan who concealed his faith said, ‘Will you kill a man for saying, ‘My Lord is Allah,’ while he has already brought you manifest proofs from your Lord? Should he be lying, his falsehood will be to his own detriment; but if he is truthful, there shall visit you some of what he promises you. Indeed Allah does not guide someone who is a profligate, a liar.’”

وَقَالَ رَجُلٞ مُّؤۡمِنٞ مِّنۡ ءَالِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ يَكۡتُمُ إِيمَٰنَهُۥٓ أَتَقۡتُلُونَ رَجُلًا أَن يَقُولَ رَبِّيَ ٱللَّهُ وَقَدۡ جَآءَكُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ مِن رَّبِّكُمۡۖ وَإِن يَكُ كَٰذِبٗا فَعَلَيۡهِ كَذِبُهُۥۖ وَإِن يَكُ صَادِقٗا يُصِبۡكُم بَعۡضُ ٱلَّذِي يَعِدُكُمۡۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِي مَنۡ هُوَ مُسۡرِفٞ كَذَّابٞ ٢٨ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله التَّقِیةُ مِنْ دِینِی وَ دِینِ آبَائِی وَ لَا دِینَ لِمَنْ لَا تَقِیةَ لَهُ وَ التَّقِیةُ تُرْسُ الله فِی الْأَرْضِ لِأَنَّ مُؤْمِنَ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ لَوْ أَظْهَرَ الْإِسْلَامَ لَقُتِلَ.

Abu Abdillah said, “Taqiyyah (religious dissimulation) is from my religion and the religion of my fathers, and there is no religion for whom there is no taqiyyah. (Furthermore) taqiyyah is the shield of Allah on earth, for if the believers from the people of Firaun had made apparent their submission to Allah, they would have been killed.”

Verse 55: “So be patient! Allah’s promise is indeed true. And plead for [Allah’s] forgiveness for your sin, and celebrate the praise of your Lord morning and evening.”

فَٱصۡبِرۡ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقّٞ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلۡعَشِيِّ وَٱلۡإِبۡكَٰرِ ٥٥ قَالَ النَّبِی ص قَالَ الله عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ یا ابْنَ آدَمَ اذْکرْنِی بَعْدَ الْغَدَاةِ سَاعَةً وَ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ سَاعَةً أَکفِیک مَا أَهَمَّک

The Prophet said, “Allah has said: ‘O son of Adam, remember Me (be mindful of Me) after the morning (fajr) for some time, and in the afternoon for some time. I will take care of what is important for you.’”

Verse 60: “Your Lord has said, ‘Call Me, and I will hear you!’ Indeed those who are disdainful of My worship will enter hell in utter humility.”

وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ٱدۡعُونِيٓ أَسۡتَجِبۡ لَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدۡخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ ٦٠ رَوَی حَنَانُ بْنِ سَدِیرٍ عَنْ أَبِیهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِی جَعْفَرٍ أَی الْعِبَادَةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ مَا مِنْ شَی‌ءٍ أَحَبّ إِلَی الله مِنْ أَنْ یسْأَلَ وَ یطْلَبَ مَا عِنْدَهُ وَ مَا أَحَدٌ أَبْغَض إِلَی الله عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِمَّنْ یسْتَکبِرُ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَ لَا یسْأَلُ مَا عِنْدَهُ

Hanan ibn Sadayr reported from his father, who said, “I asked Abu Jafar which form of worship is the best?” He replied: “There is nothing more beloved to Allah than asking for and requesting that which is with Him. Similarly, there is no one who is more disliked by Allah than one who is arrogant regarding the worship of Allah, and a person who does not ask for that which is with Him.”