Chapter on Chivalry in Travel
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 2|Book 3|Chapter 34
تَذَاكَرَ اَلنَّاسُ عِنْدَ اَلصَّادِقِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَمْرَ اَلْفُتُوَّةِ فَقَالَ «تَظُنُّونَ أَمْرَ اَلْفُتُوَّةِ بِالْفِسْقِ وَ اَلْفُجُورِ إِنَّمَا اَلْفُتُوَّةُ وَ اَلْمُرُوءَةُ طَعَامٌ مَوْضُوعٌ وَ نَائِلٌ مَبْذُولٌ بِشَيْءٍ مَعْرُوفٍ وَ أَذًى مَكْفُوفٌ فَأَمَّا تِلْكَ فَشَطَارَةٌ وَ فِسْقٌ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «مَا اَلْمُرُوءَةُ» فَقَالَ اَلنَّاسُ لاَ نَعْلَمُ قَالَ «اَلْمُرُوءَةُ وَ اَللَّهِ أَنْ يَضَعَ اَلرَّجُلُ خِوَانَهُ بِفِنَاءِ دَارِهِ وَ اَلْمُرُوءَةُ مُرُوءَتَانِ مُرُوءَةٌ فِي اَلْحَضَرِ وَ مُرُوءَةٌ فِي اَلسَّفَرِ فَأَمَّا اَلَّتِي فِي اَلْحَضَرِ فَتِلاَوَةُ اَلْقُرْآنِ وَ لُزُومُ اَلْمَسَاجِدِ وَ اَلْمَشْيُ مَعَ اَلْإِخْوَانِ فِي اَلْحَوَائِجِ وَ اَلنِّعْمَةُ تُرَى عَلَى اَلْخَادِمِ أَنَّهَا تَسُرُّ اَلصَّدِيقَ وَ تَكْبِتُ اَلْعَدُوَّ وَ أَمَّا اَلَّتِي فِي اَلسَّفَرِ فَكَثْرَةُ اَلزَّادِ وَ طِيبُهُ وَ بَذْلُهُ لِمَنْ كَانَ مَعَكَ وَ كِتْمَانُكَ عَلَى اَلْقَوْمِ أَمْرَهُمْ، بَعْدَ مُفَارَقَتِكَ إِيَّاهُمْ وَ كَثْرَةُ اَلْمِزَاحِ فِي غَيْرِ مَا يُسْخِطُ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ» ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ «وَ اَلَّذِي بَعَثَ جَدِّي صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بِالْحَقِّ نَبِيّاً إِنَّ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَيَرْزُقُ اَلْعَبْدَ عَلَى قَدْرِ اَلْمُرُوءَةِ وَ إِنَّ اَلْمَعُونَةَ تَنْزِلُ عَلَى قَدْرِ اَلْمَئُونَةِ وَ إِنَّ اَلصَّبْرَ يَنْزِلُ عَلَى قَدْرِ شِدَّةِ اَلْبَلاَءِ ».
People were discussing the concept of futuwwah (chivalry) in the presence of Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام, and Imam عليه السلام said: "Do you think that futuwwah is about immorality and corruption? Futuwwah and manliness (muru'ah) are about presenting food, offering generosity with what is well-known, and refraining from causing harm. As for those actions you describe, they are recklessness and immorality." Then Imam عليه السلام asked: "What is muru'ah?" The people replied: "We do not know." Imam عليه السلام said: "Muru'ah, by Allah سبحانه وتعالى, is for a person to set their table in the open courtyard of their house. Muru'ah is of two kinds: muru'ah in settled life and muru'ah in travel. As for muru'ah in settled life, it includes reciting the Quran, frequenting mosques, walking with one’s brothers to fulfill their needs, and showing kindness to servants such that it pleases friends and suppresses enemies. As for muru'ah in travel, it includes taking ample and good provisions, sharing them with one’s companions, keeping the matters of the group confidential after parting from them, and engaging in frequent humor that does not anger Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Glorious." Then Imam عليه السلام added: "By the One who sent my grandfather (peace and blessings of Allah سبحانه وتعالى be upon him and his family) as a Prophet with the truth, Allah سبحانه وتعالى provides for a servant in proportion to their muru'ah. Aid descends in proportion to the burden of responsibility, and patience descends in proportion to the severity of the trial."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh