Friendship & Companionship

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ فَنَظَرْتَ إِلَى الشَّمْسِ فِي غُرُوبٍ وَ إِدْبَارٍ فَقُلْ- بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ بِاللَّهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ صَاحِبَةً وَ لَا وَلَداً وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ وَلِيٌّ مِنَ الذُّلِّ وَ كَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيراً وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي يَصِفُ وَ لَا يُوصَفُ وَ يَعْلَمُ وَ لَا يُعْلَمُ‌ يَعْلَمُ خائِنَةَ الْأ

‘In the evening when you see the sun about to go down and disappear then say, “In the name of Allah, with (the help of) Allah, all praise belongs to Allah, Who has not taken any companion, or children. Who has no partner in His kingdom or a supporter against weakness, and He is greater than can be described, all praise

تَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ وَ لَمْ يَسْأَلِ الْعِبَادُ مِثْلَكَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيِّكَ وَ رَسُولِكَ وَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِكَ وَ صَفِيِّكَ وَ مُوسَى كَلِيمِكَ وَ نَجِيِّكَ وَ عِيسَى كَلِمَتِكَ وَ رُوحِكَ وَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِصُحُفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ تَوْرَاةِ مُوسَى وَ زَبُورِ دَاوُدَ وَ إِنْجِيلِ عِيسَى وَ قُرْآنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ بِكُلِّ وَحْيٍ أَوْحَيْتَهُ وَ قَضَاءٍ أَمْضَيْتَهُ وَ حَقٍّ قَضَيْتَ

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan from Aban ibn Taghlib from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has, when pleading for help to memorize the Holy Quran, said that one sh

كَتَبَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ بَصِيرٍ[1] يَسْأَلُهُ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ لَهُ فِي أَسْفَلِ كِتَابِهِ دُعَاءً يُعَلِّمُهُ إِيَّاهُ يَدْعُو بِهِ فَيُعْصَمُ بِهِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ جَامِعاً لِلدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ فَكَتَبَ ع بِخَطِّهِ- بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ* يَا مَنْ أَظْهَرَ الْجَمِيلَ وَ سَتَرَ الْقَبِيحَ وَ لَمْ يَهْتِكِ السِّتْرَ عَنِّي يَا كَرِيمَ الْعَفْوِ يَا حَسَنَ التَّجَاوُزِ يَا وَاسِعَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ يَا بَاسِطَ

“(I begin) in the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, O the One who manifests the good things, hides the bad ones, does not rip apart the covering from me (my privacy), O magnanimous in pardoning, O the One who overlooks faults with grace, whose forgiveness is vast, whose hands are wide open with kindness, who

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ ثِقَتِي فِي كُلِّ كُرْبَةٍ وَ أَنْتَ رَجَائِي‌ فِي كُلِّ شِدَّةٍ وَ أَنْتَ لِي فِي كُلِّ أَمْرٍ نَزَلَ بِي ثِقَةٌ وَ عُدَّةٌ كَمْ مِنْ كَرْبٍ يَضْعُفُ عَنْهُ الْفُؤَادُ وَ تَقِلُّ فِيهِ الْحِيلَةُ[1] وَ يَخْذُلُ عَنْهُ الْقَرِيبُ وَ الْبَعِيدُ وَ يَشْمَتُ بِهِ الْعَدُوُّ وَ تَعْنِينِي فِيهِ الْأُمُورُ أَنْزَلْتُهُ بِكَ وَ شَكَوْتُهُ إِلَيْكَ رَاغِباً فِيهِ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ فَفَرَّجْتَهُ وَ كَشَفْتَهُ

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from abu ‘Abd Allah al-Barqi and abu Talib from Bakr ibn Muhammad from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “O Lord, You are my trustee in every distressful condition. You are my hope in all suffering, You are for me in all of my problems,

وَ كَانَ مِنْ دُعَاءِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع- اللَّهُمَّ كَتَبْتَ الْآثَارَ وَ عَلِمْتَ الْأَخْبَارَ وَ اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَى الْأَسْرَارِ فَحُلْتَ‌[1] بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ الْقُلُوبِ فَالسِّرُّ عِنْدَكَ عَلَانِيَةٌ وَ الْقُلُوبُ إِلَيْكَ مُفْضَاةٌ وَ إِنَّمَا أَمْرُكَ لِشَيْ‌ءٍ إِذَا أَرَدْتَهُ أَنْ تَقُولَ لَهُ‌ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ* فَقُلْ بِرَحْمَتِكَ لِطَاعَتِكَ أَنْ تَدْخُلَ فِي كُلِّ عُضْوٍ مِنْ أَعْضَائِي وَ لَا تُفَار

30. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Ya’qub ibn Shu’ayb from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Say, ‘O my asset in my pain and suffering, O my companion in my severe hardships, O my benefactor, and O my abundant rain fall whenever I may desire.’ “The I

ادْعُ بِهَذَا الدُّعَاءِ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ الَّتِي لَا تُنَالُ مِنْكَ إِلَّا بِرِضَاكَ وَ الْخُرُوجَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ مَعَاصِيكَ وَ الدُّخُولَ فِي كُلِّ مَا يُرْضِيكَ وَ النَّجَاةَ مِنْ كُلِّ وَرْطَةٍ وَ الْمَخْرَجَ مِنْ كُلِّ كَبِيرَةٍ أَتَى بِهَا مِنِّي عَمْدٌ أَوْ زَلَّ بِهَا مِنِّي خَطَأٌ أَوْ خَطَرَ بِهَا عَلَيَّ خَطَرَاتُ الشَّيْطَانِ أَسْأَلُكَ خَوْفاً تُوقِفُنِي بِهِ عَلَى حُدُودِ رِضَاكَ

32. Ibn Mahbub has said that Nuh ibn Yaqdan has narrated from abu ’ Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Say this prayer, ‘O Lord, I plead before You for Your favor that cannot be achieved except with Your happiness, for (Your help to) come out of all disobedience that cannot happen without Your approval, for

يَا سَعْدُ تَعَلَّمُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِي أَحْسَنِ صُورَةٍ نَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا الْخَلْقُ وَ النَّاسُ صُفُوفٌ عِشْرُونَ وَ مِائَةُ أَلْفِ صَفٍّ ثَمَانُونَ أَلْفَ صَفٍّ أُمَّةُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَرْبَعُونَ أَلْفَ صَفٍّ مِنْ سَائِرِ الْأُمَمِ فَيَأْتِي عَلَى صَفِّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فِي صُورَةِ رَجُلٍ فَيُسَلِّمُ فَيَنْظُرُونَ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ

1. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-‘Abbas from h n Fadl ibn Shadhan ‘Abd al-Rahman from Sufyan al-Hariri from his father from Sa’d al-Khaffaf from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “O Sa’d, learn the Holy Quran; on the Day of Judgment the Holy Quran will come in the best form that people may have ever

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ تَعَلَّمُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ صَاحِبَهُ فِي صُورَةِ شَابٍّ جَمِيلٍ شَاحِبِ اللَّوْنِ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ الْقُرْآنُ‌[1] أَنَا الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَسْهَرْتُ لَيْلَكَ وَ أَظْمَأْتُ هَوَاجِرَكَ وَ أَجْفَفْتُ رِيقَكَ وَ أَسَلْتُ دَمْعَتَكَ أَئُولُ مَعَكَ حَيْثُمَا أُلْتَ وَ كُلُّ تَاجِرٍ مِنْ وَرَاءِ تِجَارَتِهِ وَ أَنَا الْيَوْمَ لَكَ مِنْ وَرَاءِ تِجَارَةِ كُلِّ تَاجِرٍ وَ

3. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: ‘‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Learn the Holy Quran; on the Day of Judgment it will come to his friends in the form of a most beautiful young person of pale complexion and will speak to his friend saying, “

لَا تَمَلُّوا مِنْ قِرَاءَةِ- إِذا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزالَها فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ كَانَتْ قِرَاءَتُهُ بِهَا فِي نَوَافِلِهِ لَمْ يُصِبْهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِزَلْزَلَةٍ أَبَداً وَ لَمْ يَمُتْ بِهَا وَ لَا بِصَاعِقَةٍ وَ لَا بِآفَةٍ مِنْ آفَاتِ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَمُوتَ وَ إِذَا مَاتَ نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّهِ فَيَقْعُدُ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ فَيَقُولُ يَا مَلَكَ الْمَوْتِ ارْفُقْ بِوَلِيِّ الل

“Do not be dismayed in reading Chapter 99 of the Holy Quran. If one reads it in the optional prayers, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, protects him, all the time, against earthquakes and will not die thereby or by lightening and of worldly calamities until the time of his death. When he dies a noble angel comes

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ الْبَيْتُ غَاصٌّ بِأَهْلِهِ فِيهِ الْخُرَاسَانِيُّ وَ الشَّامِيُّ وَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْآفَاقِ فَلَمْ أَجِدْ مَوْضِعاً أَقْعُدُ فِيهِ فَجَلَسَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ كَانَ مُتَّكِئاً ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا شِيعَةَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يَمْلِكْ نَفْسَهُ عِنْدَ غَضَبِهِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يُحْسِنْ صُحْبَةَ مَنْ صَحِبَهُ وَ مُخَالَقَةَ مَنْ خَالَقَهُ وَ مُرَا

“Once I went in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and the house was full of people. There were people from Khurasan, from al-Sham and from various horizons and I could not find a place to sit. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) sat in his place and he was leaning against a pillow. He said, ‘O Shi’a (followers) of the family of M

كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ عَظِّمُوا أَصْحَابَكُمْ وَ وَقِّرُوهُمْ وَ لَا يَتَهَجَّمْ بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَ لَا تَضَارُّوا وَ لَا تَحَاسَدُوا وَ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ الْبُخْلَ كُونُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ الصَّالِحِينَ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Ala’ ibn al-Fudayl from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) would say, ‘Show respect for your friends and dignify them. Do not be aggressive to each other, do not harm or envy each other. Beware of

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَا عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَصْحَبَ ذَا الْعَقْلِ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَحْمَدْ كَرَمَهُ‌[1] وَ لَكِنِ انْتَفِعْ بِعَقْلِهِ وَ احْتَرِسْ مِنْ سَيِّئِ أَخْلَاقِهِ وَ لَا تَدَعَنَّ صُحْبَةَ الْكَرِيمِ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَنْتَفِعْ بِعَقْلِهِ- وَ لَكِنِ انْتَفِعْ بِكَرَمِهِ بِعَقْلِكَ وَ افْرِرْ كُلَّ الْفِرَارِ مِنَ اللَّئِيمِ الْأَحْمَقِ.

“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

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ يَا صَالِحُ اتَّبِعْ مَنْ يُبْكِيكَ وَ هُوَ لَكَ نَاصِحٌ وَ لَا تَتَّبِعْ مَنْ يُضْحِكُكَ وَ هُوَ لَكَ غَاشٌّ وَ سَتَرِدُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعاً فَتَعْلَمُونَ.

“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.”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ انْظُرُوا مَنْ تُحَادِثُونَ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَنْزِلُ بِهِ الْمَوْتُ إِلَّا مُثِّلَ لَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ‌[2] إِلَى اللَّهِ إِنْ كَانُوا خِيَاراً فَخِيَاراً وَ إِنْ كَانُوا شِرَاراً فَشِرَاراً وَ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ يَمُوتُ إِلَّا تَمَثَّلْتُ لَهُ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ.

“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

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ عَلَيْكَ بِالتِّلَادِ[1] وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ كُلَّ مُحْدَثٍ لَا عَهْدَ لَهُ وَ لَا أَمَانَ وَ لَا ذِمَّةَ وَ لَا مِيثَاقَ وَ كُنْ عَلَى حَذَرٍ مِنْ أَوْثَقِ النَّاسِ عِنْدَكَ.

“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.”

أَحَبُّ إِخْوَانِي إِلَيَّ مَنْ أَهْدَى إِلَيَّ عُيُوبِي.

“To me, the most beloved of my brethren (friends) is the one who most points out my defects to me.”

لَا تَكُونُ الصَّدَاقَةُ إِلَّا بِحُدُودِهَا فَمَنْ كَانَتْ فِيهِ هَذِهِ الْحُدُودُ أَوْ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنْهَا فَانْسُبْهُ إِلَى الصَّدَاقَةِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنْهَا فَلَا تَنْسُبْهُ إِلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الصَّدَاقَةِ فَأَوَّلُهَا أَنْ تَكُونَ سَرِيرَتُهُ وَ عَلَانِيَتُهُ لَكَ وَاحِدَةً وَ الثَّانِي أَنْ يَرَى زَيْنَكَ زَيْنَهُ وَ شَيْنَكَ شَيْنَهُ وَ الثَّالِثَةُ أَنْ لَا تُغَيِّرَهُ عَلَيْكَ وِلَايَةٌ وَ ل

“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 t

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِذَا صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ قَالَ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يَتَجَنَّبَ مُوَاخَاةَ ثَلَاثَةٍ الْمَاجِنِ الْفَاجِرِ وَ الْأَحْمَقِ وَ الْكَذَّابِ فَأَمَّا الْمَاجِنُ الْفَاجِرُ فَيُزَيِّنُ لَكَ فِعْلَهُ وَ يُحِبُّ أَنَّكَ مِثْلُهُ وَ لَا يُعِينُكَ عَلَى أَمْرِ دِينِكَ وَ مَعَادِكَ وَ مُقَارَبَتُهُ جَفَاءٌ وَ قَسْوَةٌ وَ مَدْخَلُهُ وَ مَخْرَجُهُ عَارٌ عَلَيْكَ وَ أَمَّا الْأَحْمَقُ فَإِنَّ

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Amr Aban ibn ‘Uthman ‘Uthman from Muhammad ibn Salim al-Kindy from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “When Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) were to take his place on

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يُوَاخِيَ الْفَاجِرَ فَإِنَّهُ يُزَيِّنُ لَهُ فِعْلَهُ وَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَكُونَ مِثْلَهُ وَ لَا يُعِينُهُ عَلَى أَمْرِ دُنْيَاهُ وَ لَا أَمْرِ مَعَادِهِ وَ مَدْخَلُهُ إِلَيْهِ وَ مَخْرَجُهُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ شَيْنٌ عَلَيْهِ.

“It is not proper for a Muslim man to become a friend of an indecent person; he tries to make his deeds seem attractive to him and loves that one to behave like him (indecent). He does not assist him in his religious matters or the matters of the hereafter. The coming and going of an indecent person is a disgrace to on

لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يُوَاخِيَ الْفَاجِرَ وَ لَا الْأَحْمَقَ وَ لَا الْكَذَّابَ.

“It is not proper for a Muslim man to become friends with an indecent, an idiot and a liar.”

قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ ع إِنَّ صَاحِبَ الشَّرِّ يُعْدِي‌[3] وَ قَرِينَ السَّوْءِ يُرْدِي فَانْظُرْ مَنْ تُقَارِنُ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from certain individuals of his people from Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) who has said the following: “Jesus, son of Mary has said, ‘An evil companion commits injustice and an evil friend brings destruction. Consider who to become friends with.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا عَمَّارُ إِنْ كُنْتَ تُحِبُّ أَنْ تَسْتَتِبَ‌[4] لَكَ النِّعْمَةُ وَ تَكْمُلَ لَكَ الْمُرُوءَةُ وَ تَصْلُحَ لَكَ الْمَعِيشَةُ فَلَا تُشَارِكِ الْعَبِيدَ وَ السَّفِلَةَ فِي أَمْرِكَ- فَإِنَّكَ إِنِ ائْتَمَنْتَهُمْ خَانُوكَ وَ إِنْ حَدَّثُوكَ كَذَبُوكَ وَ إِنْ نُكِبْتَ خَذَلُوكَ وَ إِنْ وَعَدُوكَ أَخْلَفُوكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once said to me, ‘O ‘Ammar, if you like bounties bring you delight, kindness becomes complete, and the affairs of life well- organized you then should not associate with the slaves and the lowly persons. If you trust them, they betray you, if they speak, they lie to you. If you may suffer a misfo

حُبُّ الْأَبْرَارِ لِلْأَبْرَارِ ثَوَابٌ لِلْأَبْرَارِ وَ حُبُّ الْفُجَّارِ لِلْأَبْرَارِ فَضِيلَةٌ لِلْأَبْرَارِ وَ بُغْضُ الْفُجَّارِ لِلْأَبْرَارِ زَيْنٌ لِلْأَبْرَارِ وَ بُغْضُ الْأَبْرَارِ لِلْفُجَّارِ خِزْيٌ عَلَى الْفُجَّارِ.

“The virtuous ones’ love of other virtuous ones is a rewarding deed for them. Indecent ones loving the virtuous ones is a credit for the virtuous ones. Indecent ones’ hating the virtuous ones beautifies the virtuous ones. Virtuous one’s hating the indecent ones is a loss to the indecent ones.”

قَالَ لِي أَبِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمَا يَا بُنَيَّ انْظُرْ خَمْسَةً فَلَا تُصَاحِبْهُمْ وَ لَا تُحَادِثْهُمْ وَ لَا تُرَافِقْهُمْ فِي طَرِيقٍ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَتِ مَنْ هُمْ عَرِّفْنِيهِمْ قَالَ إِيَّاكَ وَ مُصَاحَبَةَ الْكَذَّابِ فَإِنَّهُ بِمَنْزِلَةِ السَّرَابِ يُقَرِّبُ لَكَ الْبَعِيدَ وَ يُبَعِّدُ لَكَ الْقَرِيبَ وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ مُصَاحَبَةَ الْفَاسِقِ فَإِنَّهُ بَائِعُكَ بِأُكْلَةٍ أ

“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

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ ثَلَاثَةٌ مُجَالَسَتُهُمْ تُمِيتُ الْقَلْبَ الْجُلُوسُ مَعَ الْأَنْذَالِ‌[4] وَ الْحَدِيثُ مَعَ النِّسَاءِ وَ الْجُلُوسُ مَعَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ.

‘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.”’”

قَالَ لُقْمَانُ ع لِابْنِهِ‌ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَقْتَرِبْ فَتَكُونَ أَبْعَدَ لَكَ وَ لَا تَبْعُدْ فَتُهَانَ‌[2] كُلُّ دَابَّةٍ تُحِبُّ مِثْلَهَا وَ إِنَّ ابْنَ آدَمَ يُحِبُّ مِثْلَهُ وَ لَا تَنْشُرْ بَزَّكَ إِلَّا عِنْدَ بَاغِيهِ‌[3] كَمَا لَيْسَ بَيْنَ الذِّئْبِ وَ الْكَبْشِ خُلَّةٌ كَذَلِكَ لَيْسَ بَيْنَ الْبَارِّ وَ الْفَاجِرِ خُلَّةٌ مَنْ يَقْتَرِبْ مِنَ الزِّفْتِ‌[4] يَعْلَقْ بِهِ بَعْضُهُ كَذَلِكَ مَنْ يُشَارِكِ

“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 an

لَا تَصْحَبُوا أَهْلَ الْبِدَعِ وَ لَا تُجَالِسُوهُمْ فَتَصِيرُوا عِنْدَ النَّاسِ كَوَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْمَرْءُ عَلَى دِينِ خَلِيلِهِ وَ قَرِينِهِ.

“Do not befriend blasphemers and do not associate with them; people may consider you as one of them. The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘A man follows the religion of his friend and associates.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِيَّاكَ وَ مُصَادَقَةَ الْأَحْمَقِ فَإِنَّكَ أَسَرَّ مَا تَكُونُ مِنْ نَاحِيَتِهِ أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ إِلَى مَسَاءَتِكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Never befriend an idiotic person; the more delightful you may become from his side the closer it will get to your misfortune.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا تُفَتِّشِ النَّاسَ فَتَبْقَى بِلَا صَدِيقٍ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Do not be a spy against people; you will remain without friends.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ انْظُرْ قَلْبَكَ فَإِذَا أَنْكَرَ صَاحِبَكَ فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا قَدْ أَحْدَثَ‌[1].

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Look in your heart, if it dislikes your friend, one of you has done something (wrong).”’

انْظُرْ قَلْبَكَ فَإِنْ أَنْكَرَ صَاحِبَكَ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا قَدْ أَحْدَثَ.

“See your heart. If it dislikes your friend then notice that one of you have done something newly wrong.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لِلْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى أَخِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ عَلَيْهِ إِذَا لَقِيَهُ وَ يَعُودَهُ إِذَا مَرِضَ وَ يَنْصَحَ لَهُ إِذَا غَابَ وَ يُسَمِّتَهُ‌[1] إِذَا عَطَسَ يَقُولَ‌ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ يَقُولَ لَهُ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ فَيُجِيبَهُ فَيَقُولَ لَهُ يَهْدِيكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ يُصْلِحُ بَالَكُمْ وَ يُجِيبَهُ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَ يَتْبَعَهُ إِذَا مَاتَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘One of the rights of a Muslim on his brother (in belief) is that on meeting him he should offer him the greeting of peace, visit him when he is ill, look after his interests in his absence and when sneezing one should say: “All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, who has no pa

كُنْتُ أُجَالِسُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْتُ مَجْلِساً أَنْبَلَ مِنْ مَجَالِسِهِ‌[1] قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ مِنْ أَيْنَ تَخْرُجُ الْعَطْسَةُ فَقُلْتُ مِنَ الْأَنْفِ فَقَالَ لِي أَصَبْتَ الْخَطَأَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مِنْ أَيْنَ تَخْرُجُ فَقَالَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْبَدَنِ كَمَا أَنَّ النُّطْفَةَ تَخْرُجُ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْبَدَنِ وَ مَخْرَجُهَا مِنَ الْإِحْلِيلِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ مَا رَأَي

“I would sit in the meeting place of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) I swear by Allah that I had not seen any meeting place nobler than his meeting place. One day he asked me, ‘Where from does sneeze come?’ I said, ‘It comes out of the nose.’ He said, ‘You have got it wrong.’ I then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for yo

الْمَجَالِسُ بِالْأَمَانَةِ وَ لَيْسَ لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِحَدِيثٍ يَكْتُمُهُ صَاحِبُهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ ثِقَةً أَوْ ذِكْراً لَهُ بِخَيْرٍ.

“The meetings are trusts. No one must make public anything that one’s companion does not want to be made public unless it is with his permission, or he is trusted and does it only for his good.”

أَوْصَانِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ: أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ أَدَاءِ الْأَمَانَةِ وَ صِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ وَ حُسْنِ الصِّحَابَةِ لِمَنْ صَحِبْتَ‌[1] وَ لا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ‌.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan who has said the following: “Once Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) advised me, ‘You must remain pious before Allah, keep your trust, speak the truth, maintain good companionship relations and there is no power without Allah.’

مَنْ خَالَطْتَ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَكُونَ يَدُكَ الْعُلْيَا عَلَيْهِ فَافْعَلْ.

“If in your association with people you can maintain the upper hand (be more beneficial), you should do so.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا اصْطَحَبَ اثْنَانِ إِلَّا كَانَ أَعْظَمُهُمَا أَجْراً وَ أَحَبُّهُمَا إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَرْفَقَهُمَا بِصَاحِبِهِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Of the two companions, the one who is more kind to his companion is more beloved to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ حَقُّ الْمُسَافِرِ أَنْ يُقِيمَ عَلَيْهِ أَصْحَابُهُ إِذَا مَرِضَ ثَلَاثاً.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘It is of the rights of a traveler on his companions to look after him for three days if he falls ill.”’

لَهُ الذِّمِّيُّ أَيْنَ تُرِيدُ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ أُرِيدُ الْكُوفَةَ فَلَمَّا عَدَلَ الطَّرِيقُ بِالذِّمِّيِّ عَدَلَ مَعَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ الذِّمِّيُّ أَ لَسْتَ زَعَمْتَ أَنَّكَ تُرِيدُ الْكُوفَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَلَى فَقَالَ لَهُ الذِّمِّيُّ فَقَدْ تَرَكْتَ الطَّرِيقَ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَدْ عَلِمْتُ قَالَ فَلِمَ عَدَلْتَ مَعِي وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع هَذ

“Once, Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) accompanied a taxpaying non- Muslim. The taxpaying non-Muslim asked, ‘Where you want to go, O servant of Allah?’ Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) said, ‘I want to go to al-Kufah.’ The taxpayer’s road changed. Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) kept walking along with him. He asked, ‘Did yo

التَّوَاصُلُ بَيْنَ الْإِخْوَانِ فِي الْحَضَرِ التَّزَاوُرُ وَ فِي السَّفَرِ التَّكَاتُبُ.

“To maintain contact with friends in the town is by visiting, on a journey and out of town by correspondence.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا أَحَبَّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَخَاهُ الْمُسْلِمَ فَلْيَسْأَلْهُ عَنِ اسْمِهِ وَ اسْمِ أَبِيهِ وَ اسْمِ قَبِيلَتِهِ وَ عَشِيرَتِهِ فَإِنَّ مِنْ حَقِّهِ الْوَاجِبِ وَ صِدْقِ الْإِخَاءِ أَنْ يَسْأَلَهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَ إِلَّا فَإِنَّهَا مَعْرِفَةُ حُمْقٍ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever loves his Muslim brother should ask what his name, the name of his father, his tribe and family is. It is of necessary rights and truthful brotherhood (friendship) to ask such questions; otherwise, it is a foolish recognition.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَوْماً لِجُلَسَائِهِ‌ تَدْرُونَ مَا الْعَجْزُ قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ فَقَالَ الْعَجْزُ ثَلَاثَةٌ أَنْ يَبْدُرَ أَحَدُكُمْ بِطَعَامٍ يَصْنَعُهُ لِصَاحِبِهِ فَيُخْلِفَهُ وَ لَا يَأْتِيَهُ وَ الثَّانِيَةُ أَنْ يَصْحَبَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْكُمُ الرَّجُلَ أَوْ يُجَالِسَهُ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ مَنْ هُوَ وَ مِنْ أَيْنَ هُوَ فَيُفَارِقَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ ذَلِكَ وَ الثَّالِثَةُ أَمْرُ ا

“The Messenger of Allah one day said to the people in his meeting, ‘Do you know what is (of one’s) weakness?’ They said, ‘Allah and the Messenger of Allah know better.’ He then said, ‘There are three kinds of weaknesses: First, a friend prepares food for another friend but fails to keep his promise and does not come fo

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا تُذْهِبِ الْحِشْمَةَ بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ أَخِيكَ أَبْقِ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّ ذَهَابَهَا ذَهَابُ الْحَيَاءِ.

“I heard abu al-Hassan Musa saying, ‘Keep your decorum intact between yourself and your brother (friend) and preserve it; removal is the elimination of bashfulness.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا تَثِقْ بِأَخِيكَ كُلَّ الثِّقَةِ فَإِنَّ صَرْعَةَ الِاسْتِرْسَالِ لَنْ تُسْتَقَالَ‌[1].

‘Do not trust your brother (friend) in totality; a sudden fall of attachment is never repairable.’”

أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ اخْتَبِرُوا إِخْوَانَكُمْ بِخَصْلَتَيْنِ فَإِنْ كَانَتَا فِيهِمْ وَ إِلَّا فَاعْزُبْ ثُمَّ اعْزُبْ ثُمَّ اعْزُبْ مُحَافَظَةٍ عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ فِي مَوَاقِيتِهَا وَ الْبِرِّ بِالْإِخْوَانِ فِي الْعُسْرِ وَ الْيُسْرِ. بَابٌ‌

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from Mu’Alla ibn Khanis and ‘Uthman ibn Sulayman al- Nakhkhas from Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar and Yunus ibn Zabyan who have said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Try your brothers (friends) in two things that if not found th

لَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يَبْدَأَ الرَّجُلُ بِاسْمِ صَاحِبِهِ فِي الصَّحِيفَةِ قَبْلَ اسْمِهِ.

“It is not an offense for a man to begin with the name of his friend in a letter instead of his own name.”

قُلْتُ لَهُ‌[1] إِنَّ امْرَأَةَ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ وَلَدَتْ فَعَدَّ لَهَا أَيَّامَ حَيْضِهَا ثُمَّ أَمَرَهَا فَاغْتَسَلَتْ وَ احْتَشَتْ وَ أَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَلْبَسَ ثَوْبَيْنِ نَظِيفَيْنِ وَ أَمَرَهَا بِالصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ لَا تَطِيبُ نَفْسِي أَنْ أَدْخُلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَدَعْنِي أَقُومُ خَارِجاً عَنْهُ وَ أَسْجُدُ فِيهِ‌[2] فَقَالَ قَدْ أَمَرَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ قَالَ فَانْقَطَعَ الدَّمُ عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ وَ ر

“I once said to him (the Imam) (a.s.), that the wife of ‘Abd al-Malik gave birth. He instructed her to wait for the number of days of her Hayd (menses), then instructed her to take Ghusl (bath), fill up, wear two clean clothes and perform Salah (prayer). She said, ‘My soul does not feel happy to enter the Masjid; so al

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا مَرِضَ الْمُؤْمِنُ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى صَاحِبِ الشِّمَالِ لَا تَكْتُبْ عَلَى عَبْدِي مَا دَامَ فِي حَبْسِي وَ وَثَاقِي ذَنْباً وَ يُوحِي إِلَى صَاحِبِ الْيَمِينِ أَنِ اكْتُبْ لِعَبْدِي مَا كُنْتَ تَكْتُبُهُ فِي صِحَّتِهِ مِنَ الْحَسَنَاتِ.

’When a believing person becomes ill, Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, sends revelation to the guard angel on his left side that says, “Do not write any evil thing against My servant until he is in My prison and is tied down in My heavy impediment.” He then sends revelation to the guard angel on his right side that s

حَضَرَ رَجُلًا الْمَوْتُ فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ فُلَاناً قَدْ حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَنَهَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ مَعَهُ أُنَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ حَتَّى أَتَاهُ وَ هُوَ مُغْمًى عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا مَلَكَ الْمَوْتِ كُفَّ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ حَتَّى أَسْأَلَهُ فَأَفَاقَ الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص مَا رَأَيْتَ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ بَيَاضاً كَثِيراً وَ سَوَاداً كَثِيراً[1] قَالَ فَأَيُّهُمَا كَانَ أَقْرَبَ إِلَيْك

The Messenger of Allah decided to visit him along with a group of his companions and they found him fainted. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘O angel of death, do not do anything to him; I want to ask him a question.’ The man regained consciousness and the Holy Prophet asked, ‘What did you see?’ He replied, ‘I saw a great

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ هَلْ يُكْرَهُ الْمُؤْمِنُ عَلَى قَبْضِ رُوحِهِ قَالَ لَا وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ إِذَا أَتَاهُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ لِقَبْضِ رُوحِهِ جَزِعَ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ يَا وَلِيَّ اللَّهِ لَا تَجْزَعْ فَوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً ص لَأَنَا أَبَرُّ بِكَ وَ أَشْفَقُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ وَالِدٍ رَحِيمٍ لَوْ حَضَرَكَ افْتَحْ عَيْنَكَ فَانْظُر

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Sulayman from his father from Sadir al-Sayrafiy who has said the following: “Once I said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘May Allah keep my soul in the service of your cause, O child of the Messenger of Allah, is a believing person forced to die?’