A series of moral, doctrinal, and social statements from the esteemed religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, may his shadow remain (Words of Wisdom, episode number 5)
"The Impact of Human Actions on Their Lifespan"
In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
In a noble hadith from Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), it is stated:
"Those who die because of their sins are more numerous than those who die because their appointed time has arrived. And those who live because of their good deeds live longer than those who live according to their fixed lifespan."
Introduction
God Almighty has predetermined a set lifespan for every person, and this appointed time is fixed and unchanging in His eternal knowledge. When it arrives, neither a moment is added nor subtracted. However, in this narration and many others, there are factors that can either increase or decrease a person's lifespan. While there are many causes that can lengthen or shorten a person’s life, this hadith succinctly captures the essence: charity (ihsan) is a means of extending life, while sin is a factor that diminishes it.
For instance, if God has decreed a person’s lifespan to be fifty years, acts of kindness and good deeds may increase it to sixty, seventy, or even longer. Conversely, sins may reduce it by many years, so much so that some narrations mention that a thirty-year-old could be made to live like a three-year-old or, conversely, a three-year-old could be made to live like a thirty-year-old. This is, of course, an illustrative example, and God is more knowledgeable about the lifespan and what adds or subtracts from it.
Another point is that the word "man" (مَنْ) used in this narration refers to all people in general, not to a specific group. Men and women, young and old, rich and poor, healthy and ill — all are included in this narration and can either increase their lifespan through good deeds or have their life shortened through sins.
A Narration from Shu'ayb Qufi
With a little search, one can find many examples of people whose lives have either increased or decreased depending on their good or bad actions. Numerous cases are mentioned in history and narrations. One such story is about a companion of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq and Imam Musa al-Kadhim (peace be upon them), named Shu'ayb Qufi.
After the martyrdom of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), the tyrant caliph Mansur Dawaniqi sought to martyr Imam Musa al-Kadhim (peace be upon him) as well. Imam al-Kadhim (peace be upon him) secretly left Medina for Makkah. In Makkah, he hid in a house and did not leave during the day, coming out only at night to secretly worship in the Masjid al-Haram. Very few of his companions knew of his whereabouts. Some of his companions, including Shu'ayb Qufi, would visit him and present the needs of the people.
Shu'ayb recounts that one day while in the presence of Imam al-Kadhim (peace be upon him), the Imam told him, "Tomorrow, you will meet a person at the Tawaf (the circumambulation around the Ka'bah) who matches a description I will give you. If he asks you questions, answer him, and if he wishes to come to me, bring him to me."
From the narration, it is understood that this person was also a distinguished figure but had been misled by the whispers of Satan. A person should never feel safe from the deceptive thoughts of Satan or the evil inclinations of the soul, no matter how virtuous they may be. They must always be cautious, as the Qur'an has emphasized caution, seeking refuge in God, the Blessed and Exalted, from both Satan and the evil soul.
Shu'ayb says: "The next day, I saw that person during Tawaf and he asked me some questions, which I answered. I then invited him to meet the Imam, and when the Imam saw him, he asked, 'Where is your brother?' The man replied, 'He stayed on the way to Makkah, and I came ahead.' The Imam recounted the story of their journey, saying, 'When you both reached a certain place, you argued, insulted each other, and parted ways in anger.' This caused the Angel of Death to be sent for both of you, for your premature death was a consequence of this sin. On your way, you visited your aunt, and because of the act of maintaining family ties, your life was prolonged. However, your brother, before returning to his family, died."
The man then asked the Imam, "How much of my life remains?" The Imam replied, "Twenty years."
The narrator says: "I met that man again the next year during Hajj, and I informed him that his brother had died before returning to his family. I continued to meet him during Hajj for the next twenty years, and after that, I did not see him again."
The Trickery of Satan
It is essential that when anger overtakes a person, they refrain from cursing others, even if the other person curses them, as this leads to the severing of family ties, which is strongly forbidden in the narrations. Moreover, one should never feel safe from the whispers of Satan. No matter how virtuous or well-mannered a person is, they must seek refuge in God from the mischief of Satan and the evil soul. Always being aware of God's presence is a necessary condition to protect oneself from the whispers of Satan. Additionally, repentance and seeking refuge in God from sins are greatly emphasized. Seeking forgiveness (istighfar) and fulfilling the rights of others are crucial components of repentance.
Humans always expect good and kindness from others, and so it is fitting that they lead the way in being kind and virtuous towards their family and peers. All of this contributes to increasing a person's lifespan. Life is a blessing granted by God, during which one can increase their good deeds and repent from their bad actions. Even a single day of a person's life can affect their well-being and elevate their status.
In conclusion, it is crucial to take this narration seriously from both perspectives: practicing kindness and refraining from sins. One should learn from these narrations and make a firm decision to act accordingly.
Finally, it is said that the exact moment of a person’s death is concealed from them, and when it arrives, they are given no delay, even for the blink of an eye. When an infallible Imam was asked why the eyes of some deceased remain open while others remain closed, he responded: "When the appointed time of death comes for a person, it does not even delay for the blink of an eye." Thus, a person will not have the opportunity to close their eyes after death. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to what can change the length of one's life.
May God's peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his pure family.
