Among the many great invocations and benedictions of the infallible ones that deal especially with the issue of Tawhid or unity of God, in the most profound manner is the famous invocation of Imam Hussein (AS) which illustrates the great meanings. Imam Hussein beseeches God in this Invocation saying: “How can we take the help of those beings that are dependent on You for their very existence as Your proof? Is there anything more Glorious that can introduce you?” (1)
In another portion of this prayer he says: “God! I am dependent on you even when I am wealthy and strong then how can I not be dependent on you when I am a needy destitute?”
In a very famous Hadith the Messenger of God is reported to have said, “Poverty is my glory and I am proud about it” (2)
The famous explanation for this Hadith is that the reason that Messenger of God boasted about his poverty is that it is glorious even to feel one’s poverty in the presence of God. Poverty here does not mean destitution and dependence of a being because this idea has been refuted in the Hadiths.
“It is quite possible that poverty and destitution be called disbelief.” (3) This is the reason that in another Hadith the Messenger of God beseeches Him saying, “God! Make needless of others in place of my dependence on You and do not make me a beseecher (due to need and destitution) in front of any other through your needlessness,” (4)
A poet said, “Whatever exists other than the true love (for God) is problem and tribulation, whatever is left after the loved one is only thoughts. Needlessness comes only after joining you and there is only sadness, poverty, destitution and tribulations in the life without you.