The Reward of Helping a Believer, Relieving Him of Distress And Showing Him Kindness — Hadith 26

132. Safwan reported: I was with Abu 'Abd Allah (a. s) on the Day of al-Tarwiyah when Maymun al-Qaddah visited him and complained to him about a difficulty in arranging a hire. Imam al-Sadiq (a. s) said to me, 'Go and help your brother. ' So, I went out with him and Allah eased his difficulty and I returned to my gathering. Imam al-Sadiq (a. s) asked me, 'What did you do in helping your Muslim brother? ' 'Allah fulfilled it, ' I replied. He said, 'Indeed, if you help your brother, it will be more loved by me than circumambulating around the Ka'bah for a week. ' Then he continued, 'A man once came to al-Hasan ibn 'Ali (a. s) and said, 'May my father and mother be ransomed for you, O Abu Muhammad, help me with my need? ' So, he put on his shoes and rose (to go) with him. They passed by Al-Husayn ibn 'Ali (a. s) who was standing in prayer. Imam al-Hasan (a. s) asked to the man, 'Why did you not ask Abu 'Abd Allah (i. e. Imam Al-Husayn) to help you? ' 'I wanted, ' replied the man, 'but it was said to me that he was in the state of i'tikaf. ' 'Had he helped you in your need, ' al-Hasan (a. s) commented, 'it would have been better for him than a whole month's i'tikaf. '