Attributes of a believer?

[Zainuu]

Salamunalaikum

Certainly something really important I am curious about. Their are many hadith about the qualities of a believer. 

How do you define a true believer from all those sources? I mean their are many qualities and every person has some of them while lacks the other qualities. (Not quoting narrations assuming that we all have a rough idea about this)

One very important specific question is that in Salat al Layl we ask mercy and forgiveness for atleast forty believers. So, who are the people that actually fill the criteria of a believer???  

@Mahdavist @ali_fatheroforphans @Ashvazdanghe @313_Waiter @F.M @Sabrejet

Rest of the people too. I hope it would be a fruitful discussion.

Edited December 7, 2020 by Zainuu

[GEU_40]

One of my favourite traditions is from Imam Baqar ((عليه السلام)). He said that some signs of a true believer are:

 1- they do not divulge private information others have confided in him

2- they don't spread baseless rumors about others

3- they aren't strict and severe (a lot of religious people are; they should read this tradition)

4- during the day, they are like lions (energetic, active in worldly affairs like jobs, studies, raising a family etc) and monks during the night i.e. they indulge in acts of worship

[Zainuu]

9 minutes ago, Sabrejet said:

One of my favourite traditions is from Imam Baqar ((عليه السلام)). He said that some signs of a true believer are:

 1- they do not divulge private information others have confided in him

2- they don't spread baseless rumors about others

3- they aren't strict and severe (a lot of religious people are; they should read this tradition)

4- during the day, they are like lions (energetic, active in worldly affairs like jobs, studies, raising a family etc) and monks during the night i.e. they indulge in acts of worship

Their was one more which I haven't found anyone following. It is quite famous from Imam al Askari (AS):

“[t]he signs of the believer are five: praying fifty-one Rak’at [including mandatory and optional prayers], Ziyarat al-Arba’een, wearing a ring in the right hand, prostration on dirt, and saying ‘Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem‘ in a raised voice.”

I rarely see such attributes. So, those who might not pray 51 rakats, are they not believers?

[GEU_40]

19 minutes ago, Zainuu said:

[t]he signs of the believer are five: praying fifty-one Rak’at

Insha'Allah one of these days . My grandmother used to pray these, may Allah bless her soul. One of my aunts too. I find that women tend to be better in this arena than men.

 

[313_Waiter]

1 hour ago, Zainuu said:

Not quoting narrations assuming that we all have a rough idea about this

Forgive me for quoting this, but I think Nahj al Balagha Sermon 193 is an amazing description of a pious believer:

Quote

Sermon 193: Now then, Allah the Glorified, the Sublime, created…

It is related that a companion of Amir al-mu'minin called Hammam1 who was a man devoted to worship said to him, "O' Amir al-mu'minin, describe to me the pious man in such a way as though I see them." Amir al-mu'minin avoided the reply and said, "O Hammam, fear Allah and perform good acts because 'Verily, Allah is with those who guard (themselves against evil), and those who do good (to others)'" (Qur'an, 16:128). Hammam was not satisfied with this and pushed him to speak. Thereupon, Amir al-mu'minin praised Allah and extolled Him and sought His blessings on the Holy Prophet and then spoke:

ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام)

يصف فيها المتقين

روي أنّ صاحباً لاميرالمؤمنين(عليه السلام) يقال له همّامٌ كان رجلاً عابداً، فقال له:

يا أميرالمؤمنين، صف لي المتقين كأني أنظر إليهم.

إنَّ اللهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا والَّذِينَ هُمْ مُحْسِنُونَ) فتثاقل عن جوابه، ثم قال(عليه السلام): يا همّامُ، اتقِ اللهَ وأحْسِنْ فَـ (

فلم يقنع همّامٌ بِذَلِكَ القول حتّى عزم عليه

قال: فحمد الله وأثنى عليه، وصلّى على النبي (صلى الله عليه وآله)، ثم قال (عليه السلام):

Now then, Allah the Glorified, the Sublime, created (the things of) creation. He created them without any need for their obedience or being safe from their sinning, because the sin of anyone who sins does not harm Him nor does the obedience of anyone who obeys Him benefit Him. He has distributed among them their livelihood, and has assigned them their positions in the world.

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ اللهَ ـ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى ـ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ حِينَ خَلَقَهُمْ غَنِيّاً عَنْ طَاعَتِهِمْ آمِناً مِنْ مَعْصِيَتِهِمْ، لاِنَّةُ لاَ تَضُرُّهُ مَعْصِيَةُ مَنْ عَصَاهُ، وَلاَ تَنْفَعُهُ طَاعَةُ مَنْ أَطَاعَهُ، فَقَسَمَ بَيْنَهُمْ مَعَايِشَهُمْ، وَوَضَعَهُمْ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا مَوَاضِعَهُمْ.

Thus, the God-fearing, in it are the people of distinction. Their speech is to the point, their dress is moderate and their gait is humble. They keep their eyes closed to what Allah has made unlawful for them, and they put their ears to that knowledge which is beneficial to them. They remain in the time of trials as though they remain in comfort. If there had not been fixed periods (of life) ordained for each, their spirits would not have remained in their bodies even for the twinkling of an eye because of (their) eagerness for the reward and fear of chastisement. The greatness of the Creator is seated in their heart, and, so, everything else appears small in their eyes. Thus to them Paradise is as though they see it and are enjoying its favours. To them, Hell is also as if they see it and are suffering punishment in it.

فَالْمُتَّقُونَ فِيهَا هُمْ أَهْلُ الْفَضَائِلِ: مَنْطِقُهُمُ الصَّوَابُ، وَمَلْبَسُهُمُ الاْقْتِصَادُ، وَمَشْيُهُمُ التَّوَاضُعُ. غَضُّوا أَبْصَارَهُمْ عَمَّا حَرَّمَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَوَقَفُوا أَسْمَاعَهُمْ عَلَى الْعِلْمِ النَّافِعِ لَهُمْ. نَزَلَتْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ مِنْهُمْ فِي الْبَلاَءِ كَالَّتِي نَزَلَتْ فِي الرَّخَاءِ. لَوْ لاَ الاْجَلُ الَّذِي كَتَبَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِمُ لَمْ تَسْتَقِرَّ أَرْوَاحُهُمْ فِي أَجْسَادِهِمْ طَرْفَةَ عَيْن، شَوْقاً إِلَى الثَّوَابِ، وَخَوْفاً مِنَ الْعِقَابِ. عَظُمَ الْخَالِقُ فِي أنْفُسِهِمْ فَصَغُرَ مَا دُونَهُ فِي أَعْيُنِهِمْ، فَهُمْ وَالْجَنَّةُ كَمَنْ قَدْ رَآهَا، فَهُمْ فِيهَا مُنَعَّمُونَ، وَهُمْ وَالنَّارُ كَمَنْ قَدْ رَآهَا، فَهُمْ فِيهَا مُعَذَّبُونَ.

Their hearts are grieved, others are protected from their evils, their bodies are thin, their needs are scanty, and their souls are chaste. They endured (hardship) for a short while, and in consequence they secured comfort for a long time. It is a beneficial transaction that Allah made easy for them. The world aimed at them, but they did not aim at it. It captured them, but they freed themselves from it by a ransom.

قُلُوبُهُمْ مَحْزُونَةٌ، وَشُرُورُهُمْ مَأْمُونَةٌ، وَأَجْسَادُهُمْ نَحِيفَةٌ، وَحَاجَاتُهُمْ خَفِيفَةٌ، وَأَنْفُسُهُمْ عَفِيفَةٌ. صَبَرُوا أَيَّاماً قَصِيرَةً أَعْقَبَتْهُمْ رَاحَةً طَوِيلَةً، تِجَارَةٌ مَرْبِحَةٌ، يَسَّرَهَا لَهُمْ رَبُّهُم. أَرَادَتْهُمُ الْدُّنْيَا وَلَمْ يُرِيدُوهَا، وَأَسَرَتْهُمْ فَفَدَوْا أُنْفُسَهُمْ مِنْهَا.

During a night they are upstanding on their feet reading portions of the Qur'an and reciting it in a well-measured way, creating through it grief for themselves and seeking by it the cure for their ailments. If they come across a verse creating eagerness (for Paradise) they pursue it avidly, and their spirits turn towards it eagerly, and they feel as if it is in front of them. And when they come across a verse which contains fear (of Hell) they bend the ears of their hearts towards it, and feel as though the sound of Hell and its cries are reaching their ears. 

They bend themselves from their backs, prostrate themselves on their foreheads, their palms, their knees and their toes, and beseech Allah, the Sublime, for their deliverance. During the day they are enduring, learned, virtuous and God-fearing. Fear (of Allah) has made them thin like arrows. If any one looks at them he believes they are sick, although they are not sick, and he says that they have gone mad. In fact, great concern (i.e., fear) has made them mad.

أَمَّا اللَّيْلَ فَصَافُّونَ أَقْدَامَهُمْ، تَالِينَ لاَِجْزَاءِ الْقُرْآنِ يُرَتِّلُونَهَا تَرْتِيلاً، يُحَزِّنُونَ بِهِ أَنْفُسَهُمْ، وَيَسْتَثِيرُونَ بِهِ دَوَاءَ دَائِهِمْ، فَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِآيَة فِيهَا تَشْوِيقٌ رَكَنُوا إِلَيْهَا طَمَعاً، وَتَطَلَّعَتْ نُفُوسُهُمْ إِلَيْهَا شَوْقاً، وَظَنُّوا أنَّهَا نُصْبَ أَعْيُنِهِمْ، وَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِآيَة فِيهَا تَخْوِيفٌ أَصْغَوْا إِلَيْهَا مَسَامِعَ قُلُوبِهِمْ، وَظَنُّوا أَنَّ زَفِيرَ جَهَنَّمَ وَشَهِيقَهَا فِي أُصُولِ آذَانِهِمْ، فَهُمْ حَانُونَ عَلَى أَوْسَاطِهِمْ، مُفْتَرِشُونَ لِجَبَاهِهِمْ وَأَكُفِّهِمْ، وَأَطْرَافِ أَقْدَامِهِمْ، يَطْلُبُونَ إِلَى اللهِ فِي فَكَاكِ رِقَابِهِمْ.

وَأَمَّا النَّهَارَ فَحُلَمَاءُ عُلَمَاءُ، أَبْرَارٌ أَتْقِيَاءُ، قَدْ بَرَاهُمْ الْخَوْفُ بَرْيَ الْقِدَاحِ، يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهمُ الْنَّاظِرُ فَيَحْسَبُهُمْ مَرْضَى، وَمَا بِالْقَوْمِ مِنْ مَرَض، وَيَقُولُ: قَدْ خُولِطُوا! وَلَقَدْ خَالَطَهُمْ أَمْرٌ عَظِيمٌ!

They are not satisfied with their meagre good acts, and do not regard their major acts as great. They always blame themselves and are afraid of their deeds. When anyone of them is spoken of highly, he says: "I know myself better than others, and my Lord knows me better than I know. O Allah, do not deal with me according to what they say, and make me better than they think of me and forgive me (those shortcomings) which they do not know."

لاَ يَرْضَوْنَ مِنْ أَعْمَالِهِمُ الْقَلِيلَ، وَلاَ يَسْتَكْثِرُونَ الْكَثِيرَ، فَهُمْ لاِنْفُسِهِمْ مُتَّهِمُونَ، وَمِنْ أَعْمَالِهِمْ مُشْفِقُونَ. إِذَا زُكِّيَ أَحَدٌ مِنْهْمْ خَافَ مِمَّا يُقَالُ لَهُ، فَيَقُولُ: أَنَا أَعْلَمُ بِنَفْسِي مِنْ غَيْرِي، وَرَبِّي أَعْلَمُ مِنِّي بِنَفْسي! اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا يَقُولُونَ، وَاجْعَلْنِي أَفْضَلَ مِمَّا يَظُنُّونَ، وَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ.

Among the signs of anyone of them is that you will see that he has strength in religion, determination along with leniency, faith with conviction, eagerness for knowledge, and knowledge with forbearance, moderation in riches, devotion in worship, gracefulness in starvation, endurance in hardship, desire for the lawful, pleasure in guidance and hatred from greed. He performs virtuous deeds but still feels afraid. In the evening he is anxious to offer thanks (to Allah). In the morning his anxiety is to remember (Allah). 

He passes the night in fear and rises in the morning in joy - fear lest night is passed in forgetfulness, and joy over the favour and mercy received by him. If his self refuses to endure a thing which it does not like he does not grant its request towards what it likes. The coolness of his eye lies in what is to last for ever, while from the things (of this world) that will not last he keeps aloof. He transfuses knowledge with forbearance, and speech with action.

فَمِنْ عَلاَمَةِ أَحَدِهِمْ أَنَّكَ تَرَى لَهُ قُوَّةً فِي دِين، وَحَزْماً فِي لِين، وَإِيمَاناً فِي يَقِين، وَحِرْصاً فِي عِلْم، وَعِلْماً فِي حِلْم، وَقَصْداً فِي غِنىً، وَخُشُوعاً فِي عِبَادَة، وَتَجَمُّلاً فِي فَاقَة، وَصَبْراً فِي شِدَّة، وَطَلَباً فِي حَلاَل، وَنَشاطاً فِي هُدىً، وَتَحَرُّجاً عَنْ طَمَع. يَعْمَلُ الاْعْمَالَ الصَّالِحَةَ وَهُوَ عَلَى وَجَل، يُمْسِي وَهَمُّهُ الشُّكْرُ، وَيُصْبِحُ وَهَمُّهُ الذِّكْرُ، يَبِيتُ حَذِراً، وَيُصْبِحُ فَرِحاً، حَذِراً لَمَّا حُذِّرَ مِنَ الْغَفْلَةِ، وَفَرِحاً بِمَا أَصَابَ مِنَ الْفَضْلِ وَالرَّحْمَةِ. إِنِ اسْتَصْعَبَتْ عَلَيْهِ نَفْسُهُ فِيَما تَكْرَهُ لَمْ يُعْطِهَا سُؤْلَهَا فِيَما تُحِبُّ. قُرَّةُ عَيْنِهِ فِيَما لاَ يَزُولُ، وَزَهَادَتُهُ فِيَما لاَ يَبْقَى، يَمْزُجُ الْحِلْمَ بِالْعِلْمَ، وَالْقَوْلَ بِالْعَمَلِ.

You will see his hopes simple, his shortcomings few, his heart fearing, his spirit contented, his meal small and simple, his religion safe, his desires dead and his anger suppressed. Good alone is expected from him. Evil from him is not to be feared. Even if he is found among those who forget (Allah) he is counted among those who remember (Him), but if he is among the rememberers he is not counted among the forgetful. He forgives him who is unjust to him, and he gives to him who deprives him. He behaves well with him who behaves ill with him.

تَرَاهُ قَرِيباً أَمَلُهُ، قَلِيلاً زَللُ هُ خَاشِعاً قَلْبُهُ، قَانِعَةً نَفْسُهُ، مَنْزُوراً أَكْلُهُ، سَهْلاً أَمْرُهُ، حَرِيزاً دِينُهُ، مَيِّتَةً شَهْوَتُهُ، مَكْظُوماً غُيْظُهُ. الْخَيْرُ مِنْهُ مَأْمُولٌ، وَالشَّرُّ مِنْهُ مَأْمُونٌ. إِنْ كَانَ فِي الْغَافِلِينَ كُتِبَ فِي الذَّاكِرِينَ، وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي الذَّاكِرِينَ لَمْ يُكْتَبْ مِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ. يَعْفُو عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَهُ، وَيُعْطِي مَنْ حَرَمَهُ، وَيَصِلُ مَنْ قَطَعَهُ.

Indecent speech is far from him, his utterance is lenient, his evils are non-existent his virtues are ever present, his good is ahead and mischief has turned its face (from him). He is dignified during calamities, patient in distresses, and thankful during ease. He does not commit excess over him whom he hates, and does not commit sin for the sake of him whom he loves. He admits truth before evidence is brought against him. He does not misappropriate what is placed in his custody, and does not forget what he is required to remember. He does not call others bad names, he does not cause harm to his neighbour, he does not feel happy at others misfortunes, he does not enter into wrong and does not go out of right.

بَعِيداً فُحشُهُ، لَيِّناً قَوْلُهُ، غَائِباً مُنْكَرُهُ، حَاضِراً مَعْرُوفُهُ، مُقْبِلاً خَيْرُهُ، مُدْبِراً شَرُّهُ. فِي الزَّلاَزِلِ وَقُورٌ، وَفِي الْمَكَارِهِ صَبُورٌ، وَفِي الرَّخَاءِ شَكُورٌ. لاَ يَحِيفُ عَلَى مَنْ يُبْغِضُ، وَلاَ يَأْثَمُ فِيمَنْ يُحِبُّ. يَعْتَرِفُ بِالْحَقِّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُشْهَدَ عَلَيْهِ. لاَ يُضَيِّعُ مَا اسْتُحْفِظَ، وَلاَ يَنْسَى مَا ذُكِّرَ، وَلاَ يُنَابِزُ بِالاْلْقَابِ، وَلاَ يُضَارُّ بالْجارِ، وَلاَ يَشْمَتُ بالْمَصَائِبِ، وَلاَ يَدْخُلُ فِي الْبَاطِلِ، ولاَ يَخْرُجُ مِنَ الْحَقِّ.

If he is silent his silence does not grieve him, if he laughs he does not raise his voice, and if he is wronged he endures till Allah takes revenge on his behalf. His own self is in distress because of him, while the people are in ease from him. He puts himself in hardship for the sake of his next life, and makes people feel safe from himself. His keeping away from those who distance themselves from him is by way of asceticism and purification, and his nearness to those who draw near to him is by way of leniency and mercifulness. His keeping away is not by way of vanity or feeling of greatness, nor his nearness by way of deceit and cheating.

إِنْ صَمَتَ لَمْ يَغُمَّهُ صَمْتُهُ، وَإِنْ ضَحِكَ لَمْ يَعْلُ صَوْتُهُ، وَإِنْ بُغِيَ عَلَيْهِ صَبَرَ حَتّى يَكُونَ اللهُ هُوَ الَّذِي يَنْتَقِمُ لَهُ. نَفْسُهُ مِنْهُ فِي عَنَاء، وَالنَّاسُ مِنْهُ فِي رَاحَة. أَتْعَبَ نفسه لاِخِرَتِهِ، وَأَرَاحَ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ. بُعْدُهُ عَمَّنْ تَبَاعَدَ عَنْهُ زُهْدٌ وَنَزاهَةٌ، وَدُنُوُّهُ مِمَّنْ دَنَا مِنَهُ لِينٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ، لَيْسَ تَبَاعُدُهُ بِكِبْر وَعَظَمَة، وَلاَ دُنُوُّهُ بِمَكْر وَخَدِيعَة.

It is related that Hammam passed into a deep swoon and then expired. Then Amir al-mu'minin said: Verily, by Allah I had this fear about him. Then he added: Effective advice produces such effects on receptive minds. Someone 2said to him: O Amir al-mu'minin, how is it you do not receive such an effect? Amir al-mu'minin replied: Woe to you! For death there is a fixed hour which cannot be exceeded, and a cause which does not change. Now look, never repeat such talk which Satan had put on your tongue.

قال: فصعق همّام رحمه الله صعقةً كانت نفسُه فيها. فقال أميرالمؤمنين (عليه السلام): أَمَا وَاللهِ لَقَدْ كُنْتُ أَخَافُهَا عَلَيْهِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: هكَذَا تَصْنَعُ الْمَوَاعِظُ البَالِغَةُ بِأَهْلِهَا!

فقال له قائل: فما بالك يا أميرالمؤمنين ؟ فقال(عليه السلام): وَيْحَكَ، إِنَّ لِكُلِّ أَجَل وَقْتاً لاَ يَعْدُوهُ، وَسَبَباً لاَ يَتَجَاوَزُهُ، فَمَهْلاً، لاَ تعُدْ لِمِثْلِهَا، فَإِنَّمَا نَفَثَ الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَى لِسَانِكَ!

Alternative Sources for Sermon 193

(1) Kitab Sulaym ibn Qays, 211;

(2) al-Saduq, al-'Amali, 340;

(3) Ibn Qutaybah, ‘Uyun, II, 352;

(4) al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 159;

(5) Sibt ibn al-Jawzi, Tadhkirah, 148;

(6) Ibn Talhah, Matalib, I, 151;

(7) al-Karajiki, Kanz, 31;

(8) al-Mas’udi, Muruj, II, 420. ‘Abd al-Zahra' mentions 8 commentaries on this famous khutbah al-Qasi’ah.

 

[313_Waiter]

Surah Muminoon is the first thing that came to my mind:

• Who are humble in their prayers,
• And who keep aloof from what is vain,
• And who are givers of poor-rate (zakāt),
• And who guard their private parts, except before their mates or those whom their right hands possess, for they surely are not blameable, but whoever seeks to go beyond that, these are they that exceed the limits;
• And those who are keepers of their trusts and their covenant,
• And those who keep a guard on their prayers.

Other than that, advice of Luqman to his son comes to mind:

• Not ascribing partners to Allah
• Giving thanks to Allah and one’s parents 
• Obedience to one’s parents in that which is halāl
• Maintaining one’s salaah and enjoining what is right as well as forbidding what is wrong
• Not turning one’s cheek from people disdainfully, or walking proudly on the earth
• Being modest and low in one’s voice

(I cheated and looked up the surahs )

[Zainuu]

17 minutes ago, Sabrejet said:

Insha'Allah one of these days . My grandmother used to pray these, may Allah bless her soul. One of my aunts too. I find that women tend to be better in this arena than men.

 

Salaam

I believe, it's not about women. Among our elders, Salat al Layl was prayed as if it was Wajib. Their were many who followed these Hadith consistently and proved themselves a true believer. 

Only in this era I see that amazing levels to distinguish between Wajib and Mustahabb are considered. 

Even a tasbeeh after salaat is avoiding, calling mustahab. 

I don't think it is right. Makrooh is considered okay to follow. A person becomes hesitant only when he finds something to be Haraam. 

May Allah forgive us and have merc ur on us but these attributes in today's world appear to be less. 

It feels to me a real sign of end times. 

People in previous generations who were hard working and devout were good in number whereas now, it doesn't seem to be the case. 

And this drift (what I believe) has occurred only in this time. The gaps were not this huge before. And future generations literally make me tremble. 

May Allah make us more steadfast and firm on faith. May Allah give us the taufeeq to guarantee these attributes in us. 

[Zainuu]

20 minutes ago, 313_Waiter said:

Surah Muminoon is the first thing that came to my mind:

• Who are humble in their prayers,
• And who keep aloof from what is vain,
• And who are givers of poor-rate (zakāt),
• And who guard their private parts, except before their mates or those whom their right hands possess, for they surely are not blameable, but whoever seeks to go beyond that, these are they that exceed the limits;
• And those who are keepers of their trusts and their covenant,
• And those who keep a guard on their prayers.

Other than that, advice of Luqman to his son comes to mind:

• Not ascribing partners to Allah
• Giving thanks to Allah and one’s parents 
• Obedience to one’s parents in that which is halāl
• Maintaining one’s salaah and enjoining what is right as well as forbidding what is wrong
• Not turning one’s cheek from people disdainfully, or walking proudly on the earth
• Being modest and low in one’s voice

(I cheated and looked up the surahs )

How can I name someone among 40 in salat al Layl then?

It literally feels bad. Neither we are so amazing nor we have someone to accompany us (if we even become so pious).

May Allah fill these attributes in all of us. 

It would be so great if most of the people become like this. 

[GEU_40]

10 minutes ago, Zainuu said:

How can I name someone among 40 in salat al Layl then

Is there any restriction naming dead ancestors/relatives. Can someone clarify this point, I'm not sure...

[Zainuu]

1 minute ago, Sabrejet said:

Is there any restriction naming dead ancestors/relatives. Can someone clarify this point, I'm not sure...

No. You can take names of dead too. 

Though, I just read that friends/relatives should not be included. But in other source, from where I saw the method, they didn't give this restriction.

[GEU_40]

@Zainuu here's an interesting thought: if we combine all the signs of believers from various ahadith, I think only a select few might have those attritubes. For example, those from the 313 who may have been born right now. Or maybe someone like the late Ayatollah Bahjat, may Allah bless his soul.

Perhaps there are various degrees of true believers; the lower degrees might have some of the signs, but not all of them? Maybe we can name them among the 40.

[Zainuu]

9 minutes ago, Sabrejet said:

@Zainuu here's an interesting thought: if we combine all the signs of believers from various ahadith, I think only a select few might have those attritubes. For example, those from the 313 who may have been born right now. Or maybe someone like the late Ayatollah Bahjat, may Allah bless his soul.

Perhaps there are various degrees of true believers; the lower degrees might have some of the signs, but not all of them? Maybe we can name them among the 40.

Let us make this thread more fruitful in action. Let us include all possible signs of a believer over here. Whatever we get from Qur'an and the hadith. 

1. Then whoever checks this thread, may keep it as a kind of a to-do list for himself. 

2. Also, as you just said, we might get some names of believers who actually have all this in them. They will be I think among the 313.

I will try my best to put it. But will also need the help of all you guys on S.C.

It can be a good contribution. 

[Ansar Shiat Ali]

2 hours ago, Zainuu said:

Salamunalaikum

Certainly something really important I am curious about. Their are many hadith about the qualities of a believer. 

How do you define a true believer from all those sources? I mean their are many qualities and every person has some of them while lacks the other qualities. (Not quoting narrations assuming that we all have a rough idea about this)

One very important specific question is that in Salat al Layl we ask mercy and forgiveness for atleast forty believers. So, who are the people that actually fill the criteria of a believer???  

@Mahdavist @ali_fatheroforphans @Ashvazdanghe @313_Waiter @F.M @Sabrejet

Rest of the people too. I hope it would be a fruitful discussion.

For me, a major attribute of a true believer is helping and donating to orphans. InshAllah everyone does so. 

[GEU_40]

According to Bihar ul Anwar, volume 64 page 310, tradition 45, there are a total of 103 signs!

I don't have Bihar ul Anwar with me though; I got this number from here: Ethical Discourses Vol 1 by Grand Ayatollah Makram Shirazi.

I'll try to list them here after I've read these.

[Abu_Zahra]

There are different levels of imaan, so I wouldn't say that someone lacking one or more of the signs is not a believer, but we can say that they (and most of us in fact) have not yet reached the description of a believer as per the narrations. 

Consider it like a journey that has a starting point (testifying your belief) and a long road ahead consisting of all the signs and duties of a believer. 

[Zainuu]

(I have distributed this in points) 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (s) describes the believer in his sermon:

“Blessed is he who earns his living through lawful ways

he whose inward status is good, outward is decent;

spends his surplus wealth in charity;

abstains from excessive talking;

people remain safe of (any) evil from him;

he treats others with justice.

Surely whoever believes in Allah fears Him,

whoever fears Allah guards himself against the evils of this world.”

Ya'qoobi, Tarikh al-Ya'qoobi, vol. 2, p.89, Dar Sadir, Beirut, Harrani, Tuhaf al-Uqul an aal al-Rasul, Mawa'idh al-Rasul

[Zainuu]

This article has some really wonderful hadith distributed according to the characterstics from various books

[Muhammad A-H]

On 12/8/2020 at 12:06 AM, Zainuu said:

Salamunalaikum

Certainly something really important I am curious about. Their are many hadith about the qualities of a believer. 

How do you define a true believer from all those sources? I mean their are many qualities and every person has some of them while lacks the other qualities. (Not quoting narrations assuming that we all have a rough idea about this)

One very important specific question is that in Salat al Layl we ask mercy and forgiveness for atleast forty believers. So, who are the people that actually fill the criteria of a believer???  

@Mahdavist @ali_fatheroforphans @Ashvazdanghe @313_Waiter @F.M @Sabrejet

Rest of the people too. I hope it would be a fruitful discussion.

Rasūl Allāh (S) said:
“A hypocrite is someone who has the following three qualities, even if he fasts and offers prayers and thinks that he is a Muslim: When he is trusted he is dishonest, when he talks he lies, and when he makes a promise he breaks it.”

Hence, a true believer (Muslim) is one who is completely trustworthy, never lies and always keeps his promises. Also, in my opinion, those who are true believers never intentionally sin for they would never dare disobey Allah. According to the Quran, whenever the true believers are conscious they are always mindful and they always remember Allah.

[Zainuu]

Some of the good Hadith regarding the True shias and believers.