1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Sahl ibn Ziyad all from ibn Mahbub from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “To maintain contact with friends in the town is by visiting, on a journey and out of town by correspondence.”

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

2. Ibn Mahbub has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “It is necessary to reply a letter just as it is necessary to answer a greeting of peace. The initiator of a greeting of peace is closer to Allah and His messenger.”

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