Abstract: This article contains some advices given by Abozar Ghefari on choosing an Imam of the congregational prayer, learning the knowledge of the other world and some ways of taking provisions for the travel to the Other World of which are: fasting in a hot day to the memory of the Day of Judgment, doing pilgrimage to Mecca, donating charity to the needy people and etc. Then the words to his lost youth. Abozar also advices people on not making harm to themselves and not keeping themselves busy with family and world's property.

   Keywords: Shafi' (intercessor), Eftar

A short biography of Abozar

Jondab - son of Jonade - was a member of Bani Kelabe (sons of Kelabe) tribe who lived in Yaman. He avoided worshiping the idol of his tribe "Fals" before the Be'sat of the holy Prophet and came to believe God. Once hearing the Prophethood of Muhammad in Mecca, he sent his brother there to find information about that event. But after returning his brother from his trip, he traveled to Mecca to calm his own heart. He spent 3 nights in the house of Ali (p.b.u.h.). He asked Ali about the holy Prophet and then by Ali's guidance went to Argham's home.

Abozar was among the first who believed in Islam. He stayed with the holy Prophet in Mecca up to Prophet's migration to Medina. After establishing the Islamic government, he migrated to Medina. He fought with the enemies in Wars of "Namabe, Honain, Tabok,..." besides Prophet. In the time of Kheibar War, he stayed in the city as the Prophet's deputy.  After Prophet's demise, he joined the followers of Imam Ali (p.b.u.h.). At the time of the Prophet's daughter's death, he helped Ali (p.b.u.h.) to bury her. Abozar was exiled to Sham. But after a while, he returned to Mecca out of Moaviah's insist on his returning; Moaviah was afraid of people's rebellion. But then, Osman exiled him to Rabaze.

Abozar - the honest narrator of Prophet's words - passed away in 32 A.H.

1.                        Shafi' (intercessor)

Abozar said: "The one whom you choose as Imam of the congregational Salat (prayer), is your intercessor towards the Almighty God. So, do not choose a sinner or an ignorant one as your intercessor."[1]

2.                        In search of knowledge

Abozar said:" Anyone who learns knowledge the other world to satisfy worldly affair with it, will not smell the heaven's flavor. "[2]

3.                        Provisions' of the travel

Abozar stood up besides Ka'bba and said:" I am Jondab Ibn sakan."

The people gathered around him and he continued:" When you are about to go on a trip, you will take some provisions with you, so take provisions for your travel to the Last Day. Don't you need anything on this travel?

They said:" Show us the way!"

He said:" in a hot / warm day, fast to the memory of the Day of Judgment.

-     For the difficulties of the Day of Judgment, do pilgrimage to Mecca.

-     In the heart of night, do prayer for the loneliness of your grave.The provision of this trip is the beneficent (good word) you say and the malevolent word you avoid telling it; or the alms and charity you donate to the needy people to save

-      yourself from the difficulties of the Day of Judgment! If your  whole worldly wealth is two Dirhams give the one for your family, and the other one should be spent - in advance - for your the other world. And be aware that the third Dirham only will hurt you and no benefit is in it! So you will never need it.

Summarize this world in two words:

One to gain lawful (Halal) daily bread, and the other for the other world. The third word is harmful for you. And you will not need it.

4.                        The words to the lost youth

Zarr- son of Abozar- passed away. Abozar stood on his grave, draw his hand on his grave and said:" O'Zarr! May God blessings be on you! I swear God that you were very kind to me and I have been very satisfied with you. I do not need anyone but God. If it was not the great fear of the after death, I had wished to be in your place!

The sadness and fear that I feel for your status after death, obviates me from the sadness of your death.

I swear God, I did not cry for your absence but it was for difficulties awaiting you.

I wish I knew what did they ask and what you have answered.

Oh' God! I forgive my right over him and please you forgive your rights, which were incumbent on him to him, you are much more merciful and benevolent than me.[3]

5.                        Do not be enemy of yourself

Imam Sadiq:" Someone wrote a letter to Abozar and asked him a teaching about knowledge. Abozar wrote:    

" Knowledge  (wisdom) is abundant, but (One of the best one is: ) if you can avoid harming someone whom you like, be like that. "

That person asked;" Is there anyone who likes to harm someone who he likes?"Abozar says:" yes, your soul is the dearest things before you. When you commit a sin, you are making enmity towards it!"[4]

6.                        Ignorance

Imam Sadiq quotes a poem from Abozar. Translations of some of its verses are as following:

"- you are in ignorance and your heart is obsessed, spending your life and your sins are still in their places.

-     The works you've done, all are written in your report card, and you are unaware of them!

-     You have hope and do repent till you become old! But this hope is vain and illusive.

-     How surprising it is! How do you laugh out of ignorance? While your sins are obvious to God.

-     So, today, do think of your soul, do attempt, and set your soul free from this sleep, O' perplexed wanderer![5]

7.                        Between two blessings

Someone said to Abozar," O' companion of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h)! How do you see yourself?

He said:" I find myself between two blessings: the sin of mine that God hides and the praise of those who are fascinated by my appearance."[6]

8.                        Two partner

Abozar told someone," you have 2 partners in your properties: the coming events and the inheritors. Do your best not to be a loser in this company.[7]

9.                        Fasting and Eftar[8]

Abozar said:" I advise you 3 things: be satisfied with your daily food; be worry for your death; put the world your fasting and the death its Eftar.[9]

10. O'! Seeker of knowledge!

Imam Sadiq (p.b.u.h) says: "Abozar said in his sermon," O'! The seeker of knowledge! Family and world's property should not keep you busy; one day, you will leave them like a guest who stays with his host and then you will leave them to somewhere else.

This world and the other world are like two residences, which you travel from one to the other.

The period between death and Resurrection is just like a short sleep which you go to sleep and then wake up.

O', The seeker of knowledge! For standing in front of the Almighty God send some benevolence before going there,

because your award will be given based on your deed. You are treated like the way you treat others.[10]

O'! The seeker of knowledge! Pray (as much as you can) before getting to that day you can not pray. Praying for God is somehow similar to someone who goes to a king. The king keeps silence to listen to his words to the end. It is true about someone who prays. The one whom God becomes satisfied of, will be free from Hell.

O', The seeker of knowledge!

The heart which is empty of rightness is like a destroyed that which no one will thinks of fixing it.

O', The seeker of knowledge!

This tongue is both the key of goodness and the key of evil. So, choose someone as a guard for it, like the way you save your gold and means!

O', The seeker of knowledge!

We make these examples for people and only those who are the holders of knowledge will think and ponder on them.[11]

His prayer, during his prayer God keeps eyes on him till his prayer finishes.

O', The seeker of knowledge! Donate charity before coming the time when you can not donate in the way of God. Charity for the donor provides a respite and grace time. Thus a person, whenever donate charities, enters a treaty with God. When he dies God is satisfied with him. And one, who gets the God's satisfaction, will be free from the Hell fire.

[1] Man la yahzaro al-faghih, vol. 1, p.378, No.1102

[2] Mostatrafat al-saraer, 143, No. 9

[3] Man la yahzaro al-faghih, vol. 185, No. 558

[4]kafi 458/ 2

[5] Bihar Al-Anvar 78/ 453

[6] Amali, Shaykh Sadough 50 - 49

[7] Madan AL-Javaher, karjaki/62

[8]Breaking fasting by eating and drinking

[9] Madan al-Javaher/80, Kanz al-Foad 305/1

[10] Kafi/2/134-Bihar-al-Anwar 22/401-402

[11] Majalis mofid. 179-189 majlis 23