Hawzah News Agency | Imam Sajjad, peace be upon him, in Sahifa Sajjadiyyah, prays to God Almighty in this manner:
«وَ اعْصِمْنِی مِنْ أَنْ أَظُنَّ بِذِی عَدَمٍ خَسَاسَةً أَوْ أَظُنَّ بِصَاحِبِ ثَرْوَةٍ فَضْلاً فَإِنَّ الشَّرِیفَ مَنْ شَرَّفَتْهُ طَاعَتُکَ وَ الْعَزِیزَ مَنْ أَعَزَّتْهُ عِبَادَتُکَ.»
‘O God, protect me from assuming meanness towards the destitute, or assuming favor and honor towards the wealthy, for the honorable is he whom Your obedience has graced, and the mighty/honored is he whom Your worship has granted might.’ (Supplication no. 35)
Explanation:
The difference in how the rich and the poor are viewed is a spiritual problem and deficiency that humanity has suffered from and continues to suffer from. Material and worldly standards have become prominent in showing respect to individuals, while spiritual criteria are gradually fading away.
This is while, according to the teachings of Islam, the criterion for superiority is the degree of individuals’ closeness to God. In the logic of Islam, one who is a servant is honored; one who considers himself lowly and insignificant in the presence of God is honorable. This is why Imam Ali, peace be upon him, addresses God Almighty thus:
«إِلهِی کَفی بِی عِزّاً أَنْ أَکونَ لَک عَبْداً، وَکَفی بِی فَخْراً أَنْ تَکونَ لِی رَبّاً.»
‘O God! This honor is sufficient for me: that I am Your servant, and this pride is enough for me: that You are my Lord.’ (Bihar al-Anwar, v. 91, p. 94)
Considering these truths, the value of Imam Sajjad’s (peace be upon him) supplication becomes clear to us. That we ask God Almighty to make proximity and servitude to Him, as the standard in valuing individuals, and not allow fleeting worldly standards to influence our judgments of people; because the criterion of the servant is the same as the criterion of the Master, as He has said:
«إِنَّ أَکْرَمَکُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاکُمْ.»
‘Indeed the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most Godwary among you.’ (Quran 49:13)
On the other hand, let us also look at ourselves and not consider our fleeting worldly possessions as a basis for our superiority over others, for transient matters can never be a measure of superiority. This is why if we are seeking honor and dignity, we must seek it in the servitude of God and nowhere else. Therefore, Imam Sajjad, peace be upon him, in another passage of the Sahifa Sajjadiyyah, implores God Almighty thus:
«ذَلِّلْنِی بَیْنَ یَدَیْکَ وَ أَعِزَّنِی عِنْدَ خَلْقِکَ وَ ضَعْنِی إِذَا خَلَوتُ بِکَ وَ ارْفَعْنِی بَیْنَ عِبَادِکَ.»
‘O God! Humiliate me before You and make me honored among Your servants. When I am alone with You, bestow upon me humility, and among Your creation, grant me dignity.’" (Supplication no. 47)
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