1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Husayn ibn al-Hassan from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Ammar ibn Musa from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘It is not against you to associate with a person of reason even though you may not appreciate his generosity but you can benefit from his reason. However, you must avoid his immoral manners. Do not ignore the association of a magnanimous person, even though you may not benefit from his reason but you can benefit from his magnanimity by the help of your own reason. Flee, very far away from a power- hungry, irrational person.’”

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

2. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Najran from Muhammad ibn al-Salt from Aban from abu al-’Udays who has said the following: “O Salih, follow the one who makes you cry while providing good advice and do not follow the one who makes you laugh but is cheating. You will all return to Allah and will find out.”

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

3. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Muhammad ibn Ali from Musa ibn Yasar al-Qattan from al-Mas’udi from Dawud from Thabit ibn abu Sakhrah from abu al-Za’Li who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Consider who you talk to (make friendship). Everyone after death will find the forms of his associates in the presence of Allah; these forms follow the worldly origins. A good form is from a good origin and an evil form is from an evil origin. At the time of his death everyone observes me in my person.’”

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from certain individuals from al-Halab from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muskan from a man from people of al-Jabal whose name is not mentioned and who has said the following: “You should maintain good relations with your old associates and friends, be cautious about a new one who does not have any protection, responsibility, or commitment and always avoid (caution) the one whom you trust the most.”

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

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad in a marfu’ manner from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “To me, the most beloved of my brethren (friends) is the one who most points out my defects to me.”

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

6. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from ‘Ubayd Allah al-Dehqan from Ahmad ibn ‘A’idh from ‘Ubayd Allah al-Halabi from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “There can be no friendship without its rules. You may call one a friend only when he follows such rules and those who do not follow such rules cannot be called a friend. First of all a friend must be the same inside and outside. Secondly, he must consider your beauty his own beauty and your flaw as his flaw. Thirdly that he does not change because of high position and wealth. Fourth, that he does not hold back from you what is within his capabilities. Fifth, with the above, he does not leave you out in unfortunate circumstances.”

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