Promptness in Good Deeds

2. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ali ibn al-Hakam from abu Jamilah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام has said, ‘Begin your day with a good deed, dictate to your guards (angels on both shoulders) good in the beginning and in the end of the day, all that is in between is forgiven if Allah so wills.’”

3. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Marazim ibn Hakim from Abu ‘Abdillah عليه السلام who has said the following: “My father عليه السلام would say, ‘When you intend to perform a good deed, do not delay; you may not know what happens next.’”

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn ‘Udhayna from Zurara from abu Ja’far عليه السلام who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Of the good deeds that Allah loves is that which is done without delays.’”

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Bashir ibn Yasar from Abu ‘Abdillah عليه السلام who has said the following: “When you intend to perform anything good, then do not delay. A man may fast on a hot day and hope thereby to receive what is with Allah, and Allah then sets him free from fire. Do not underestimate the good deeds with which one may seek nearness to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, even if it is a piece of a date.”

6. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from certain individuals of our people from Abu ‘Abdillah عليه السلام who has said the following: “Whoever intends to perform a good deed should act fast and do not delay. Perhaps a servant (of Allah) performs a deed and Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, says, ‘I have granted you forgiveness and will never write down anything against you.’ Whoever intends to perform an evil deed he must not do it. Perhaps a man does an evil deed and Allah, the Most Holy, sees it and says, “I swear by My Majesty and Glory to never forgive you hereafter.’”

7. Ali has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from Abu ‘Abdillah عليه السلام who has said the following: “When you intend to perform a good deed, do not delay doing it; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, perhaps finds a servant (of Allah) during a good deed of obedience and He, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, may say, ‘I will never subject you to punishment hereafter.’ If you intend to do an evil deed, you must not do it; perhaps Allah finds a servant during an act of disobedience and may say, “I swear by My Majesty and Glory to never forgive you hereafter.’”

8. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from ibn Faddal from abu Jamilah from Muhammad ibn Humran from Abu ‘Abdillah عليه السلام who has said the following: “When one of you intends to perform a good deed or establish good relations there will be two Satans, one on each side. He, thus, should perform it immediately before they prevent him from the good deed.”

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from abu al-Jarud who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far عليه السلام say, ‘Whoever intends to perform a good deed he should do it without delay; Satan keeps an eye on anything that is delayed.’”

10. Muhammad ibnY ahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ali ibn Asbat from al-‘Ala’ from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far عليه السلام say, ‘Allah has made good deeds heavy for the people of the world like its weight in their balance on the Day of Judgment. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has made evil of a light weight on the people of the world just as it will be of a light weight (no value) in their balance on the Day of Judgment.’”