Hawzah News Agency | Imam Sajjad, peace be upon him, addresses Almighty God in Sahifa Sajjadiyyah as follows:
«اَللَّهُمَّ لَکَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَی سِتْرِکَ بَعْدَ عِلْمِکَ.»
“O God, praise and gratitude belong to You, for You know the sins and cover them.” (Supplication no. 34)
Explanation:
One of the characteristics of a "true servant” is to become a perfect mirror of their Beloved. It is for this reason that when the disciples asked Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, with whom they should associate, he replied:
«مَنْ یُذَکِّرُکُمُ اَللَّهَ رُؤْیَتُهُ.»
“One whose presence reminds you of God.” (Osul al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 39)
The Unique and Peerless God, despite knowing our faults and having the power to expose us, chooses to conceal them. Is it possible, then, for a servant of God to not emulate their Lord and be adorned with His qualities? How could a servant of such a Master ever expose the faults of others and bring about their ruin?
The value of concealing the faults of God’s servants is so great that He desires His servants to be adorned with this very trait. Hence, Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, states:
«مَنْ سَتَرَ عَوْرَةَ مُؤْمِنٍ سَتَرَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَوْرَتَهُ یَوْمَ اَلْقِیَامَةِ وَ مَنْ هَتَکَ سِتْرَ مُؤْمِنٍ هَتَکَ اَللَّهُ سِتْرَهُ یَوْمَ اَلْقِیَامَةِ.»
“Whoever conceals the fault of a believer, God will conceal his fault on the Day of Resurrection; and whoever exposes a believer, God will expose him on the Day of Resurrection.” (Mustadrak al-Wasa'il, v. 9. p. 109)
Thus, Almighty God treats us in the same manner that we treat others.
Another strategy that can assist us on the path of servitude and help us attain the attribute of “concealing faults” is to focus on our own flaws instead of dwelling on the faults of others. As the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, states:
«مَنْ أَبْصَرَ عَیْبَ نَفْسِهِ شُغِلَ عَنْ عَیْبِ غَیْرِهِ.»
“He who sees his own faults is deterred from concerning himself with the faults of others.” (Meaning: There will be no room left for him to focus on the faults of others.) (Tuhaf al-Oghul, v. 1, p. 88)
However, it is necessary to mention that these teachings do not mean we should be indifferent or insensitive to the errors and faults of others. For a mistake or a sin represents a departure from the path of guidance. A true servant of God cannot bear to see one of God’s servants distance themselves from Him. Therefore, out of love and compassion, they inform the person of their error privately and sincerely.
The significance of this is such that Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, says:
«أَحَبُّ إِخْوَانِی إِلَیَّ مَنْ أَهْدَی إِلَیَّ عُیُوبِی.»
“My most beloved brother is the one who ‘gifts’ my faults to me (and benevolently reminds me of them).” (Osul al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 639)
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