Lesson Two: Measure of Deliberation
Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) said:
"صَلاحُ حالِ التَّعايُشِ و التَّعاشُرِ مِلء مِكْيال ثُلْثَاهُ فِطْنَةٌ وَ ثُلْثَهُ تَغافُلٌ"
Translation
Improving the situation of life and association is possible through using a measure, two thirds of which is vigilance and one third of which is negligence.1
Brief Description
No work project can be started without proper study, planning and vigilance, and yet a project cannot be completed in a timely manner without some bold decisions based on intuition, experience or outright risk-taking.
In other words, if we dive into endeavors without careful investigation, feasibility studies and work plans, we will not succeed. However, this should not mean that we get bogged down for months and years in trying to tie up all loose ends and going into unnecessary details to cover all possible uncertainties. In most cases, time is of essence for a successful outcome.
Hence the need to balance the vigilance for most part (two-third) with some non-vigilance or expediency (for the remaining one third).
- 1. From the book Tuhaful Uqul, page 267; Bihar Al-Anwar Vol 75, page 241
- One Hundred And Fifty Lessons For Life
- Translator Dedication
- Contents of This Book
- Biography of the Author
- Lesson one: Thinking, reflection, meditation
- Lesson Two: Measure of Deliberation
- Lesson Three: What About the Soul's Food?
- Lesson Four: Role of The Pen
- Lesson Five: Between Two Great Responsibilities
- Lesson Six: Causes for Destruction of a Society
- Lesson Seven: Indolence and Poverty
- Lesson Eight: Rain of Knowledge On Hearts
- Lesson Nine: Source of Arrogance
- Lesson Ten: Three Worthy Things Before God
- Lesson Eleven: Martyrdom of Imam Husayn (a.s.)
- Lesson Twelve: Two Signs of a Real Muslim
- Lesson Thirteen: Fire of Anger
- Lesson Fourteen: Source of Wealth
- Lesson Fifteen: The Worst Profession
- Lesson Sixteen: Mastership and Captivity
- Lesson Seventeen: Hypocrisy and Affectation
- Lesson Eighteen: Envy
- Lesson Nineteen: Those deprived from God’s mercy
- Lesson Twenty: The Worst Friends
- Lesson Twenty One: Completion of work
- Lesson twenty two: Everlasting Programs
- Lesson Twenty Three: The Most Severe Punishment
- Lesson Twenty Four: Calamity of Debt
- Lesson Twenty Five: A Healthy Social Life
- Lesson Twenty Six: Key of Misfortunes
- Lesson Twenty Seven: Signs of the People of Paradise
- Lesson Twenty Eight: Signs of a Hypocrite
- Lesson Twenty Nine: Counsel
- Lesson Thirty: Speech and Silence
- Lesson Thirty One: Delight of Forgiveness
- Lesson Thirty Two: Asceticism in its Real Sense
- Lesson Thirty Three: The rank of those who refrain from sins
- Lesson Thirty Four: The Best People
- Lesson Thirty Five: Worship of Free Men
- Lesson Thirty Six:What Breaks Man’s Back
- Lesson Thirty Seven: Be clean
- Lesson Thirty Eight: Consequences of Ignorance
- Lesson Thirty Nine: Foundations of Guidance
- Lesson Forty: Mourning
- Lesson Forty One: Examine Yourself Everyday
- Lesson Forty Two: Belief is Stronger than Iron
- Lesson Forty Three: Reality of unity and divine justice
- Lesson Forty Four: Some Signs of Belief
- Lesson Forty Five: World Is Not The Final Purpose, Rather It Is A Means
- Lesson Forty Six: Man, what is your price?
- Lesson Forty Seven: Truth and Falsehood
- Lesson Forty Eight: Most valuable heritage of Arab
- Lesson Forty Nine: Those who Defraud and Cheat
- Lesson Fifty: Slander
- Lesson Fifty One: Signs of an Oppressor
- Lesson Fifty Two: There is no incurable disease
- Lesson Fifty Three: Why are Favors Lost?
- Lesson Fifty Four: Martyrdom and Purity
- Lesson Fifty Five: Self Sacrificing Lovers
- Lesson Fifty Six: The Wise and The Fool
- Lesson Fifty Seven: The Real Religious Men Are Few
- Lesson Fifty Eight: Justice Among Children
- Lesson Fifty Nine: You Are Always Being Watched
- Lesson Sixty: Neither Flattery, Nor Envy
- Lesson Sixty One: Help Your Brothers
- Lesson Sixty Two: Do Not Dwell On The Past
- Lesson Sixty Three: The Universality of Islam
- Lesson Sixty Four: Do Not Belittle Any Sin!
- Lesson Sixty Five: Excellence of a Scholar
- Lesson Sixty Six: Mutual Rights
- Lesson Sixty Seven: Obedience Is Less Costly
- Lesson Sixty Eight: The World Is A Market
- Lesson Sixty Nine: The Most Dignified People
- Lesson Seventy: Three Basic Social Principles
- Lesson Seventy One: Hastiness And Precipitance
- Lesson Seventy Two: True Asceticism
- Lesson Seventy Three: Trial Of Dignity
- Lesson Seventy Four: Correct Program For World And Hereafter
- Lesson Seventy Five: Effect Of Sin
- Lesson Seventy Six: Shi’as And Divine Bounties
- Lesson Seventy Seven: With Whom We Shall Consult?
- Lesson Seventy Eight: The Best Favor
- Lesson Seventy Nine: A Hidden Imam
- Lesson Eighty: Do Not Listen To All Utterances!
- Lesson Eighty One: Devilish People
- Lesson Eighty Two: Real Feast
- Lesson Eighty Three: What Has Real Value
- Lesson Eighty Four: Two Things Cause Destruction Of People
- Lesson Eighty Six: Sins And Apology
- Lesson Eighty Seven: The Worst Method Of Life
- Lesson Eighty Eight: Our Promises Are Our Debts
- Lesson Eighty Nine: Illegitimate Property
- Lesson Ninety: Be Self-Sufficient
- Lesson Ninety One: Woe Unto Such Person!
- Lesson Ninety Two: Sinful Ways Solve Nothing!
- Lesson Ninety Three: The Self-Conceited!
- Lesson Ninety Four: Nearer Kinsfolk
- Lesson Ninety Five: Throwing Off A Habit
- Lesson Ninety Six: Epic Of Karbala
- Lesson Ninety Seven: Who Is Wise?
- Lesson Ninety Eight: Cause Of Enmity
- Lesson Ninety Nine: The Zealous
- Lesson One Hundred: The Believer is Useful
- Lesson One Hundred One: The Best Hands
- Lesson One Hundred Two: Worse Than Death
- Lesson One Hundred Three: Believers And Hypocrites
- Lesson One Hundred Four: The Best Heritage
- Lesson One Hundred Five: Respect Of Freedom Of Thought
- Lesson One Hundred Six: Six Flaws Not Found In Believers
- Lesson One Hundred Seven: Do Not Sever All Relations With God
- Lesson One Hundred Eight: True Worship
- Lesson One Hundred Nine: Do Not Forget Your Own Faults
- Lesson One Hundred Ten: Great Torment
- Lesson one Hundred Eleven: The Holy Quran is Evergreen
- Lesson One Hundred Twelve: Beware Of Sensuality
- Lesson One Hundred Thirteen: The Only Way Of Proximity To Allah
- Lesson One Hundred Fourteen: Ill-Gotten Wealth
- Lesson One Hundred Fifteen: The Most Truthful And Wise
- Lesson One Hundred Sixteen: Simple Life And Cooperation In House-Keeping
- Lesson One Hundred Seventeen: One Hour Of Justice
- Lesson One Hundred Eighteen: Real Physician
- Lesson One Hundred Nineteen: Successors Of The Prophet
- Lesson One Hundred Twenty: Sinful Feast
- Lesson One Hundred Twenty One: Do Productive Works
- Lesson One Hundred Twenty Two: Lifespan
- Lesson One Hundred Twenty Three: Cooperation With Satan!
- Lesson One Hundred Twenty Four: Take Counsel To Be Guided!
- Lesson One Hundred Twenty Five: Salam, Islamic Salutation
- Lesson One Hundred Twenty Six: Non Conformity Of Belief With Action
- Lesson One Hundred Twenty Seven: Divine Chastisement
- Lesson One Hundred Twenty Eight: A Forgotten Reality
- Lesson One Hundred Twenty Nine: Place Of Knowledge And Wisdom
- Lesson One Hundred Thirty: Heavy Duties Of Imam
- Lesson One Hundred Thirty One: Piety Opens All Doors
- Lesson One Hundred Thirty Two: Beware Of Mean People!
- Lesson One Hundred Thirty Three: Greater Jihad
- Lesson One Hundred Thirty Four: Occultation Of Imam Al- Mahdi (a.s.)
- Lesson One Hundred Thirty Five: Source Of Evils
- Lesson One Hundred Thirty Six: Fulfilment of Obligations
- Lesson One Hundred Thirty Seven: Inhabitants Of Stars
- Lesson One Hundred Thirty Eight: Holy Qur’an And The Law Of Gravity
- Lesson One Hundred Thirty Nine: Mystery Of Mountains!
- Lesson One Hundred Forty: Microscopic Creatures
- Lesson One Hundred Forty One: Only A Name From Islam
- Lesson One Hundred Forty Two: Criterion For Assessment Of Intellect And Ignorance
- Lesson One Hundred Forty Three: Higher Than Favor
- Lesson One Hundred Forty Four: Revival Of Doctrine Of The Prophet’s Household
- Lesson One Hundred Forty Five: Trust In Respect Of Keeping Secrets
- Lesson One Hundred Forty Six: Signs Of A Believer
- Lesson One Hundred Forty Seven: First Prerequisite For Any Work
- Lesson One Hundred Forty Eight: Importance of A Guest
- Lesson One Hundred Forty Nine: Respect And Affection
- Lesson One Hundred Fifty: Provide For Yourself In The Next World In Advance