Is it true that agate dispels poverty?

.

In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful

And all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds

It has been reported that Imam al-Rida (a) said: (Agate dispels poverty, and wearing agate dispels hypocrisy), and there are several narrations with this meaning, and narrations saying that it is blessed and good for protection while traveling, and the like.

As for the issue of the sahih and the mutawatir: the sahih differs from the mutawatir. Tawātur is authoritative proof (ḥujja) by the consensus of the jurists, and the sahih is authoritative proof too; however, authoritative proof is not confined to the mutawatir and the sahih—there is also the reliable (mawthūq) report, and this is not the place to discuss it. In any case, the narrations issued concerning stones in general, and concerning agate, yield assurance (iṭmiʾnān), and many of them are also sahih, and they indicate that it has an effect.

The effects of stones are not strange: just as colors have effects on the soul, and as the atmosphere has effects on a person's spirit, and words have effects on his heart, and as physical elements and chemical substances have effects, so too precious stones have their own particular effects. Whoever follows scientific news knows that there are discoveries about the properties of some stones and substances on the blood and on the brain, and likewise on some insects, snakes and the like..

But it is important to know that the effects of the stones mentioned do not mean that a person should rely on them; rather, he must “tie it and rely on Allah,” as in the noble hadith.

We are required to take caution when traveling in order to protect ourselves, required to strive for livelihood, and required to keep hypocrisy away from our hearts by disciplining the self; then wearing agate, or anything else, will be a contributing factor, owing to secrets in the universe that we do not know..

In the same way we should understand the remembrances (adhkār) reported from the Ahl al-Bayt concerning livelihood, healing and so on: we are responsible for following the outward means, and likewise we must seek help from Allah the Exalted.. As for the state of passive dependence (tawākul) that some may practice without striving, it is contrary to the spirit of the religion, because Allah the Exalted says: “that nothing belongs to man except what he strives for” (Qurʾan 53:39).

My greetings and my prayers

Mahmoud Al-Mosawi