Serving God

By: Mahdi Zainali

Ahmad’s Mother, after saying her daily prayers, prayed to God with these words: “O my God! Make me one of Your servants.” Ahmad heard these words and asked his mother: “Mom, how can I be a servant of God.”

In reply, his mother said: “You should do everything as God has wanted you and for pleasing your God. You should think, before doing anything, whether what you want to do pleases God or not, as Imam Ali (AS) has said: “Being a servant of God means your life and death should be in God’s way.”

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Hard work

Mostafa’s father returned home after a day of hard work. Mostafa brought him a glass of water and said: “Father, I wish you would work less and spend more time with us.”

His father thanked him and said: “My dear son! Working for supporting one’s family brings one closer to God.”

A man saw Imam Baqir (AS) working hard on a farm, and asked the Imam (AS): “What if you die while doing so?” The Imam (AS) replied: “I will be serving God if I die while working hard to become needless to the other than God.”

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Being careful about one’s doings

Maryam was writing something. Her father asked her what she was writing and she answered: “I am writing about what I did today, good and bad, to become more careful about my doings from now on.”

Her father became happy and said: “Good for you, my daughter!”  Then she added: “But I do not know whether to write down small good things too.” Her father replied: “God loves all good actions. Remember that small good actions can bring great blessings.”

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has said: “Do not think of any action which pleases God as small and unimportant, as that may lead to God’s giving you great rewards…”