الكافي- ط الاسلامية, volume 2, page 641

7. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman from Muhammad ibn ‘Adhafir from certain individuals of their people from Muhammad ibn Muslim and abu Hamza from abu ‘Abd Allah and his father (a.s.) who has said the following: “My father, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) once said to me, ‘My son, look for five kinds of people. Do not befriend them, speak to or accompany them on a road.’ 1 then asked, ‘O father, who are they? Define them for me.’ He said, ‘Never befriend a liar; he is like a mirage. He shows what is far very near and what is near, in fact, very far. Never befriend a sinful person; he may sell you for a meal or even less. Never befriend a stingy person; he betrays you in the matter of his property at a time when you need help urgently. Never befriend an idiotic person; he may intend to benefit you, instead he causes you injuries. Never befriend one who has failed to maintain good relations with relatives; I have found him condemned in the book of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, in three places. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said: “If you ignore the commands of Allah, would you then also spread evil in the land and sever the ties of kinship? (47:22) Allah has condemned these people and made them deaf, dumb, and blind.” (47:23) ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “Those who disregard their covenant with Allah after He has taken such a pledge from them, who sever the proper relations that Allah has commanded them to establish, and those who spread evil in the land will have Allah’s condemnation instead of reward and will face the most terrible end.” (13:25) ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “. . . who break their established covenant with Him and the relations He has commanded to be kept and who spread evil in the land. These are the ones who lose a great deal.”’” (2:27)

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

8. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Musa ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “I heard al-Muharibi narrate from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) from his ancestors (a.s.) who has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “Association with three kinds of people deadens the heart (reason): association with the lowly, speaking to women and sitting with the wealthy.”’”

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

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from certain individuals of his people from Ibrahim ibn abu al-Balad from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) who has said the following: “Luqman (mentioned in Chapter 3 1 of the Holy Quran), peace be upon him, said to his son, ‘Do not become very close (to people), lest you become the farthest from them (frequent involvement may cause friction and disturbance) and do not keep very far in total isolation and oblivion. Every moving thing loves its kind and the sons of Adam love their kind. Do not spread your goods when there is demand. Just as there is no friendship between the wolf and the sheep so also there is no friendship between a virtuous person and an evildoer. Whoever moves close to asphalt and tar, it will smear him out so also is association with an evildoer whose manners may spread to his associates. Whoever likes to dispute will be abused. Whoever enters places of evil activities will be accused (of evil doing). Whoever associates with an evildoer will not remain safe. Whoever does not control his tongue will regret.”’

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