We are all in search of progress and moving forward in life. In fact, progress, advancement, and reaching a higher and better position can be considered the driving force behind human activities. At the same time, we humans always use tools and means to accomplish tasks and achieve our goals. What, then, is the best tool for progress and achieving one’s objectives?
It has been narrated from Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) that he said: “Trust in God is the price of everything valuable and the ladder to every high position.”[1]
With this trust in God, anything precious can be obtained, and if you wish to ascend and reach scientific stages, this ladder will take you to the lofty and highest positions. Any elevated rank or position can be attained with trust in God’s mercy.
In this enlightening statement, Imam (peace be upon him) indicates that a person must place their trust in God. We, as human beings, are dependent on God. It is narrated from the noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that when he was asked, “Why are you so restless?” he replied: “Right now my eyes are open, but I do not know if I can close them and die, or if I will die with my eyes still open.”
Someone who is in the process of dying might not have the chance to even close their eyes before death, and if there is no one to close the eyes of the deceased, it will present a horrifying sight. When a person has so little power that they cannot even close their eyelids before dying, could they be weaker than this? Therefore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that we are beings who are this weak and dependent on God.
Thus, a person must remain humble and submissive before the Divine Majesty. This is the condition of all human beings, and it is not appropriate to say that we believe in ourselves and rely solely on ourselves.
However, we can connect to the divine source of grace and attain value, like the number zero that, when placed alongside other numbers, acquires significance. If zero is placed to the left of a number, it has no value and does not signify anything. Similarly, if there are only zeros without any number, they still represent nothing. But when a number is placed to the right of these zeros, they become meaningful. For example, with a “1” placed next to zero, we get the number ten, hundred, thousand, etc. Without a number, zero remains simply zero.
God’s grace is that number that makes a person meaningful; if this grace is taken away, a person remains like zero. The enlightened statement of Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) is that you humans are like zeros, and you can be placed next to a number, so you must benefit from that number. This divine grace should be considered as a ladder. If you want to ascend, this ladder is available to you. If you want to buy something valuable, this price and this value are at your disposal.
Therefore, the expressions “We are self-sufficient,” “We rely on ourselves,” and similar phrases are not acceptable. However, if we say that we trust in God’s grace and blessings, we depend on Him, and we submit to Him, then thousands of tasks will be accomplished through this trust in God. If someone trusts in God and relies on Him, they are connecting to the source that created us, and wherever we are, He is with us—whether inside us, outside us, in our outward appearance, or in our inner selves. God is with us in all circumstances, and His blessings and mercy are actively present. With this trust and reliance, one can acquire anything valuable and reach any high position.[2]
(Taken from the ethics lessons of Ayatollah Jawadi Amoli, with some additions)[3]
Footnotes:
[1] (Al-Durra al-Bahira, page 40; Nuzhat al-Nazir, page 136)
[2] (Surah Al-Hadid, verse 4)
[3] These statements were delivered in a lesson of ethics by Ayatollah Jawadi Amoli on 5/8/1390.