الكافي- ط الاسلامية, volume 2, page 423

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from abu Hamza al-Thumali from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Hearts are of three kinds: an upside down heart that holds nothing good is the heart of an unbeliever. The heart in which there is a black dot, thus, good and evil duel therein. Whichever dominates the heart defeats the other. There is the open heart. In it lamps shine and its light does not extinguish until the Day of Judgment and that is the heart of a believer.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and a number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from ibn Mahbub from Muhammad ibn al-Nu’man al-‘Ahwal from Sallam ibn al-Mustanir who has said the following: “Once I was in the presence of abu Ja’far (a.s.) when Humran ibn ‘A’yan came in and asked him a few things. When Humran wanted to stand up and leave he said to abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘I like to tell you, may Allah grant you long life for us so we benefit from you more, whenever we come to you and then leave our hearts feel affectionate, we forget ourselves in the world, and what is in the hands of people of belongings seem to us insignificant. When we leave you and meet others and business people we begin to love the world.’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.) said, ‘The hearts sometimes harden and at other times soften.’ “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) then said, ‘The companions of Muhammad (a.s.) had said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, we are afraid of hypocrisy.’ The Imam said that the Messenger of Allah then asked, ‘Why are you afraid of it?’ They said, ‘When we are in your presence, you remind us (of our religion), encourage us to good deeds, we feel fear, forget the world and restrain ourselves from it, as if we observe the next life, paradise and fire while we are in your presence. When we leave your presence, go to these houses, sense the smell of the children and see the family and relatives, our condition that we had in your presence changes. It is as if we are on nothing (of belief or religion). Do you fear that is hypocrisy in us?’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Beware; this is among the steps of Satan who encourages you to be interested in the world. By Allah, if you continue in such condition that you described to exist in you, the angels shake hands with you and you can walk over the water. Even if you do not commit any sin and do not need to ask Allah’s forgiveness, Allah will create a creature who will sin then ask Him for forgiveness and He will forgive them. Believing people are under trial and they repent. Have you not heard the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Allah loves those who repent and those who cleanse themselves,’ (2:222) also He has said, ‘Ask your Lord for forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance.’” (11:3)

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.