Short Maxims of Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.)

Short Maxims of Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.)

1- He who treats people kindly will be accepted as arbiter. 
2- To trust everybody in times of injustice and cheating is disability. 
3- If problems are added to each other, they will give birth of relief. 
4- To recognize the actuality of your friend, you should enrage him. If he keeps up his friendship, he is true friend lest, he is false. 
5- Do not appreciate one's affection before you enrage him three times. 
6- Do not trust your friend perfectly, because the knockdown of the trustful is incurable. 
7- Islam is a definite rank. Faith is one rank higher than Islam. Conviction is one rank higher than faith. People have been given a rank lower than conviction. 
8- To remove a mountain is easier than removing faith. 
9- Faith is in heart and conviction is a number of inspirations. 
10- The desire for the worldly pleasures causes grief and sadness. Abstinence from the worldly pleasures brings about the rest of both heart and body. 
11- Life is to rent a house and buy bread. 
12- He who gains oppresson is not gaining welfare. He who mistreats people should not complain when people mistreat him. 
13- In homelands, exchanging visits is the means of association. In travel, correspondence is the means of association. 
14- A believer is not perfectly virtuous unless he enjoys three characters-- knowledgeability of the religious affairs, moderation in living, and steadfastness against misfortunes. 
15- An actual believer is that whose sexual appetite does not overcome him and whose stomach does not shame him. 
16- A twenty-year friendship is kinship. 
17- Favors should be done only to the highborn or the religious. Those who show gratitude are very few.
18- Enjoining good and forbidding evil should be practiced with a faithful believer that he would learn a lesson, or an ignorant that he would earn. Enjoining good and forbidding evil become surely worthless when they are applied to the powerful tyrants. 
19- Those who enjoin good and forbid evil should enjoy three characters: they should be aware of the matters that they enjoin and the matters that they forbid,fair in the matters that they enjoin and the matters that they forbid, and lenient in the matters that they enjoin and the matters that they forbid. 
20- He who suffers a misfortune due to obtruding upon an unjust ruler will be neither rewarded nor endowed with patience. 
21- As some people showed ingratitude for Allah's graces, He changed the graces into crises. As other people showed steadfastness against the misfortunes that inflicted them, Allah changed the misfortunes into graces. 
22- The prosperity of coexistence and association are three thirds: two thirds are acumen and one is overlooking. 
23- Revenging on the pauper is extremely ugly. 
24- Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) was asked about personality, he answered: Personality stands for that Allah should not see you in situations against which He warned, and miss you in situations of which He ordered. 
25- Thank him who did you favor, and confer upon him who thanked you. Graces that are shown gratitude will not be removed while those that are shown ingratitude will not persist. Thanks increase the graces and saves against poverty. 
26- To miss a need is better than asking it from other than its people. Bad mannerism in a misfortune is more catastrophic than the misfortune itself. 
27- As a man asked him a short item of instruction that collects the welfare of this world and the world to come, the Holy Imam (A.S.) said: Never tell untruths. 
28- Imam As-Sadiq (A.S.) was asked about eloquence. He answered: Eloquence is to express the idea in as few as possible words. The eloquent is that who attains his demand in the least effort. 
29- Debt is grief at night and humility in day. 
30- If your worldly demands are attainable, you should check your religion. 
31- Treat your fathers piously so that your sons will treat you piously. Keep yourselves away from the strange women so that your harem will be chaste. 
32- He who entrusts a betrayer with a deposit will be deprived of Allah's warranty. 
33- Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) said to Humran-bin-A'yun: O Humran, look to him who is less powerful that you are and do not look at him who is more powerful so that you will be more satisfied with what Allah has allotted for you and will be a greater motive to deserve the Lord's increase. Know that little permanent deed with conviction is more favorable to Allah than the many deeds that are lacking conviction. You should know also that no piety is more profitable than avoiding committing the prohibited matters and the abstinence from harming and backbiting the believers. No living is more pleasant than good mannerism, no fortune is more advantageous than satisfaction with the sufficient and the little, and no ignorance is more harmful than self-conceit. 
34- Pudency is of two faces: one is weakness while the other is power, submisison, and faith. 
35- Negligence of others' rights is humility. Certainly, the neglector of rights needs for forgery in this regard. 
36- It is sufficient for one of the group to salute. Similarly, it is sufficient for one of the group to respond the salutation. 
37- Salutation is voluntary while responding is obligatory. 
38- Do not answer those who speak before they greet you. 
39- Shaking hands is the perfect greeting of the resident and embracement is the perfect greeting of the traveler. 
40- Shake hands, because this will confiscate malice. 
41- Fear Allah even if to some extent. Construct a screen between Him and you even if transparent. 
42- As for those who control themselves in rage, desire, fear, and lust, Allah will prevent Hell from burning their bodies. 
43- Good health is a light grace; it is forgotten when found and mentioned when missed. 
44- In good days, Allah endows with the grace of consent. In distress, He endows with the grace of purification. 
45- It often happens that Allah endows a servant with a grace that he does not expect. It also happens that one hopes for something while his goodness is in its opposite. It also may happen that one is running for his doom, while he goes slowly for his goodness. 
46- He who does not show steadfastness against every misfortune, show gratitude for every grace, and show easiness for every complexity will surely be too short to continue. Be broad-minded whenever a misfortune inflicts you, whether in your son, wealth, or other matters. The fact of every misfortune is that Allah receives his loan and takes his gift back so as to test your tolerance and thanking. 
47- Everything has limits. The limit of conviction is not to fear anything besides Allah. 
48- The (Faithful) believer should enjoy eight characters; he should be venerable in shaking situations, steadfast against misfortunes, thankful in luxury, satisfied with what Allah has decided to him, avoid oppressing the enemies, avoid overtasing the associates, should fatigue his body, and make people feel glad with him. 
49- Knowledge is the comrade of the faithful believer, clemency is his supporter, patience is the commander of his army, lenience is his brother, and charity is his father. 
50- Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) said to Abu-Ubayda who asked him to supplicate to Allah for saving him from making his earnings pass by the mediation of the servants: Allah has arranged to make people's earnings in other people's hands. You should supplicate to Allah to make your earnings in the hands of the charitable people, because this is a sort of happiness, and not to make your earnings in the hands of the vicious, because it is a sort of despondency. 
51- As for those who practice without guidance, they are like him who walks without choosing a definite path. The more he walks, the remoter he becomes. 
52- The meaning of Allah's saying, "Have fear of Allah as you should be, (Holy Qur'an 3:102) is that Allah should be obeyed in such a way that He should not be disobeyed, mentioned in such a way that He should not be neglected, and thanked in such a way that He should not be shown ingratitude. 
53- He who recognizes Allah accurately will fear Him. He who fears Allah accurately will disregard the worldly pleasures. 
54- The actual fearful is that who cannot speak due to the intensity of fear. 
55- Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) was asked about the manners of some people who were committing the acts of disobedience to Allah and claiming that they were desiring for the mercy of Allah and kept on doing so until death attacks them.The Holy Imam(A.S.) said: As for those who act disobediently and claim expecting Allah's mercy until they die, they are rocking on hopes. They are surely liars. They do not expect Allah's mercy. He who expects something should seek it. Likewise, he who fears something should escape it. 
56- We love those who are intelligent. knowledgeable, perceptive, expert, clement, courteous, patient, veracious, and loyal. Allah gave the noble characters exclusively to the prophets(a.s). He who enjoys such characters should thank Allah for them. He who does not enjoy them should supplicate to Allah for them. As he was asked about these noble characters, Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) said: The noble characters are piety, satisfaction, patience, gratefulness, clemency, pudency, generosity, bravery, enthusiasm, veracity, charity, fulfillment of the trusts, conviction, good mannerism, and chivalry. 
57- The firmest handle of faith is to love, hate, give, and deprive-all for Allah's sake. 
58- Nothing will follow a dead person except three things: an alms that Allah gave permanetly in his life and it will follow him after death, a norm of guidance that others pursue, and a virtuous son that supplicates to Allah for his favor. 
59- Lying invalidates the ablution (for the prayers) and breaks the fasting. The attendants said: But we use to tell lies." The Holy Imam(A.S.) said: I do not mean lying due to garrulity, but I mean forging lies against Allah, His Messenger, and the Imams(A.S.). The Holy Imam (A.S.) then added: Fasting is not abstaining from food or drink only. Mary(A.S.) said, -as the Holy Quran reported- "I have promised the Beneficent Allah to fast. (Holy Qur'an19:26) This means to keep silent. Thus, you should keep silent, turn the sights away (from whatever Allah has forbidden), and stop envying and disputing with each other. Envy consumes the faith like the fire when consumes the wood. 
60- The Divine Throne will be shaken when one makes Allah the witness of a false matter. 
61- Allah knew that sin is better for the believer than self-conceit lest, Allah will never test the believers through the commitment of sins. 
62- He whose conducts are bad is tormenting himself. 
63- Favor is well-known. Except its reward, nothing is better than doing favor. 
64- Nothing like thanks in increasing the favorable matters and nothing like patience in decreasing the unfavorable matters. 
65- The most effective soldiers of Eblis are women and rage. 
66- The world is the believer's jail, patience is his fortress, and Paradise is his abode. The world is the disbeliever's paradise, grave is his jail, and Hell is his abode. 
67- Allah has not created doubtless conviction that is more similar to unspoiled doubt than death. 
68- Whenever you see a servant (of Allah) pursuing people's flaws and neglecting his own flaws, you should then realize that he has been trapped (by the Shaitan). 
69- The server of food who thanks (Allah for so) will be rewarded as same as those who fast just for gaining the rewards of Allah, and the individual who is cured and thanks (Allah for curing him) will be rewarded as same as the diseased one who is steadfast against that disease (for the sake of Allah). 
70- Those who are not scholars should not be regarded as happy, those who are not amiable should not be regarded as laudable, and those who are not tolerant should not be regarded as perfect. Those who do not guard themselves against the scholars' blame and censure should not be expected to gain the welfare of this world and the world to come. The intelligent should be veracious and thankful so that their sayings will be trusted and they will be given increasingly. 
71- You should not trust the betrayer after you had tested him and you should not accuse him whom you trusted. 
72- Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) was asked about the people who are most respected by Allah. He answered: The people who are most respected by Allah are those who mention and obey Him more than the others. He, then, was asked about the people that are most disrespected by Allah, Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) answered: The people that are most disrespected by Allah are those who accuse Him. "Is there anyone who accuses Allah?" I asked. The Holy Imam(A.S.) said: He who seeks Allah's decision and dissatisfies himself with it when it comes opposite to his will is accusing Allah." "Who else?" asked I. The Holy Imam(A.S.) answered: Then come those who complain against Allah." "Is there anyone who complains against Allah?" I asked. The Imam(A.S.) said: They are those who exaggerate in complaining about the misfortunes that they are suffering." Who else?" asked I. He(A.S.) answered: Then come those who neglect showing gratitude when they are endowed with a grace and show intolerance when they are inflicted by a problem." "Who are the most respected by Allah?" asked I. He(A.S.) answered: The most respected people are those who show gratitude when they are given a grace and treat with their problems tolerantly. 
73- The weary are friendless and the envious are fortuneless. Much looking into wisdom pollinates the mind. 
74- Fear of Allah is sufficient knowledge and deceit is sufficient ignorance. 
75- The best adoration is to know Allah and behave humbly with Him. 
76- One scholar is better than one thousand worshippers, one thousand ascetics, and one thousand hard-working persons in worship. 
77- Everything has its tax and the tax of knowledge is to teach its people. 
78- Judges are four categories three of whom will be in Hell while one only will be in Paradise. The judge who judges unjustly intentionally will surely be in Hell. The Judge who judges unjustly inadvertently will be in Hell. The Judge who judges unjustly inadverently will be in Hell. The judge who judges justly but unintentionally will be in Rell. The judge who judges justly intentionally will be in Paradise. 
79- Imam As-Sadiq(a.s) was asked about the character of decency. The Holy Imam(A.S.) said: The decent is that who turns his sight away from the forbidden views, holds up his tongue from the ill wording, and abstains from oppressing others. 
80- Allah will not ask people about things that are screened from them before He identifies them. 
81- To put your hand to the elbow between the jaws of a dragon is better than asking those who have got newly fortune. 
82- The settlement of needs is Allah's, but the ways are in the people' hands. You should thank Allah for the settlement of your needs, and you should submit, accept, and tolerate if they are not settled. Unsettlement of a need may be for your good. Allah knows your good while you do not know. 
83- A man's begging from another man is an ordeal: if he gains what he asked for he will then thank the one who did not give him and if he is refuted, he will censure the one who did not refute him. 
84- Allah has installed the whole goodness in leniency and courtesy. 
85- Beware of associating with the lowly, because the association with them will never lead to welfare. 
86- As a man worries about a little humility, this may engage him into a greater one. 
87- The most advantageous thing is to precede people to the recognition of your own flaws. The heaviest thing is to hide your poverty. The less fortunate thing is to provide the advice to him who refuses it and to live next to an acquisitive individual. The most relaxing thing is to despair of people's giving. Never be weary of obscure. Be modest by submitting to the opinions of him who is higher than you (in rank) and who did you favors when such opinions oppose yours. You have submitted to his being higher than you so as to avoid disagreeing with him. He who does not submit to anybody's favor is surely self-conceited. You should know that he who does not humble himself before Allah will never gain pride and he who is not modest before Allah will never gain haughtiness. 
88- To wear rings on the fingers is a prophetic tradition. 
89- The most favorable friend to me is that who shows me my flaws. 
90- Friendship is nil unless its limits are kept. He who does not keep these limits should not be regarded as friend. The first limit is that the inner self and the appearance should be identical. The second limit is that the friend should regard your goodness as his goodness and your evil as his evil. The third limit of friendship is that a position or fortunes should not change the friend's relation with his friends. The fourth limit is that the friend should not deprive his friend of anything that he is capable of doing. The fifth limit--which is the most comprehensive--, is that the friend should never leave his friend alone in calamities. 
91- Comity is one third of the mind. 
92- The believers' laughter should be only a smile. 
93- There is no difference between depositing a trust with a betrayer or a negligent. 
94- Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) said to Al-Mufaddal: I instruct you to stick on six characters and relate them to my adherents-Shia. You should fulfill the trust of him who entrusts you with anything. You should like for your brother whatever you like for yourself. You should know that every matter has an end; therefore, you should beware of the outcomes of matters. Similarly, every matter has a sudden event; hence, beware of the sudden events. Beware of climbing an easy mountain if its slope is uneven. Never promise your brother of a matter that you cannot fulfill. 
95- Allah has not permitted people in three matters: they should treat the parents kindly whether they are righteous or wicked, abide by the pledge whether to the righteous or the wicked, and fulfill the trust whether to the righteous or the wicked. 
96- I feel sympathetic to three classes of people. Anyhow, they should be treated mercifully. They are those who suffered humiliation after honor, those who became needy after having been wealthy, and the scholars whom have been belittled by their folks and the ignorant people. 
97- He whosever heart is attached to the fondness of this world will be suffering three matters-an everlasting care, an unattainable hope, and an unachievable expectation. 
98- Lying and treachery are not within the ethics of the believers. Two characters are not found together in the hypocrites: they are good-looking and understanding of a tradition. 
99- People are equal like the teeth of a comb. With the support of his brothers, a man can be regarded as great. No goodness is expected in the friendship of those who do not like for their friends whatever they like for themselves. 
100- Understanding is the ornament of faith, self-possession is the ornament of understanding,kindness is the ornament of self-possession and easiness is the ornament of leniency. 
101- You should regard him who became angry with you three times without addressing any bad saying to you as a true friend. 
102- People will live in a time when nothing will be dearer than a good friend and a legally gotten dirham. 
103- He who intrudes in situations of accusation should never blame those who mistrust him. He who conceals his secrets will possess the options. Every secret that exceeds more than two persons will spread. Regard the best meaning of your brother's saying and never search for an ill meaning in his saying if there is a probability of good intention. You should adhere to the veracious friends because they will be the allies in good days and the shelter in misfortunes. Regarding your affairs, you should counsel with those who fear Allah. You should regard your friends according to their God-fearing. Keep yourself away from the vicious women and beware of the good-natured ones. If they enjoin a good matter, you should oppose them so that they will not seek the evil for you. 
104- The hypocrites will surely forge lies if they relate something to Allah and His Messenger, will break their promises to Allah and His Messenger, and will betray Allah and His Messenger if they become rulers. This is Allah's saying: Allah will, for their disregard of their promise and their telling lies, place hypocrisy in their hearts which will not leave them until they face the consequences of their deeds. (Holy Qur'an 9:77) - "Do not be surprised that they want to be dishonest with you; they have always been dishonest with Allah. However, He has power over them. Allah is All-knowing and All-wise. (Holy Qur'an 8:71) 
105- It is a sufficient disgrace to wear a scandalous dress or ride on a scandalous animal." Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) was asked about the scandalous riding animal. He said: The scandalous riding animal is the piebald animal. 
106- You will not attain the actual faith unless you love the remotest and hate the nearest all for Allah's sake. 
107- He who attributes the grace that he acknowledges to Allah is showing gratefulness properly even if he does not use the tongue (for verbal thanks). He who believes that Allah will punish him for the sin that he committed is seeking Allah's forgiveness even if he does not say it orally." The Holy Imam(A.S.) then recited Allah's saying: Allah will call you to account for all that you may reveal from your souls and all that you may conceal. Allah will forgive or punish whomever He wants. Allah has power over all things. (Holy Qur'an 2:284) 
108- Beware of the two annihilating characters-they are issuing verdicts out of your own opinion and betaking what you do not know as creed. 
109- Imam As-Sadiq(a.s) said to Abu-Baseer: O Abu-Mohammed, do not spy on people's beliefs lest you will become friendless. 
110- The gracious forgiveness is to stop punishing for a sin and the gracious patience is that which is empty of complaint. 
111- He who enjoys veracity, pudency, good mannerism, and gratitude is a faithful believer even if he is fully sinful. 
112- You will not be faithful believer before you become fearful and hopeful. You will not be fearful and hopeful before you work for what you fear and hope. 
113- Faith is not identified through outer appearances and hopes. Faith is that which is pure in the hearts and assured by deeds. 
114- If a man is more than thirty year old, he is middle-aged. If he is more than forty year old, he is old man. 
115- Regarding monotheism, people are of three classes: believer, denier, and anthropomorphist. The denier is wrong, the believer is faithful, and the anthropomorphist is polytheist. 
116- Faith is declaration, practice, and internt. Islam is declaration and practice. 
117- Never break the respect between your friends and you. If respect is broken between you, pudency will vanish. Your amiability will endure as long as there is respect. 
118- He who puts his friend to shame will be deprived of his relationship with him. He who grieves his friend will lose respect. 
119- Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) answered those who asked him about his seclusion in Wadi Aqeeq - a place-: If you taste the good flavor of seclusion, you will feel an aversion for even yourself. At least, seclusion saves you from treating people punctiliously. 
120- Whenever Allah opens a door to the worldly pleasures, He will open two to acquisitiveness. 
121- The believer is strange in this world. He should not feel worry of its humility and should not compete with its people for gaining its honor. 
122- Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) was asked about the path of rest. He answered: The path of rest is the opposite of whims. The Holy Imam(A.S.) then was asked when the servants would find rest. He answered: The servants (of Allah) will find rest on the first day in Paradise. 
123- Allah does not gather good-looking, understandability, and good mannerism for the hypocrites and the corruptive. 
124- The flavor of water is life and the flavor of bread is power. The source of the physical weakness and power is the fats of the kidneys. The place of the mind is the brain while severity and tenderness are in the heart. 
125- Envy is of two sorts: the seditious envy and the inadvertent envy. As an example of the latter sort is the angels' saying to Allah, when He decided to choose a deputy on earth, "Are you going to appoint one who will commit corruption and bloodshed therein, even though we (are the only ones who) commemorate your Name and glorify You? (Holy Qur'an 2:30). This means that they suggested that the deputy should be one of them. This suggestion was not out of seditious, rejecting, and denial envy to Adam. As an example of the previous sort of envy, which causes atheism and polytheism, is the Shaitan's envying Adam(a.s) and refuting Allah's order when he regected to prostrate (himself before Adam). 
126- Regarding the concept of fatalism and indeterminism, people opt three different opinions. Those who claim that everything is optional are belitting Allah's predominance. They are wrong. Those who claim that Allah dragged the servants to disobey Him and charged people with what is over their capability are misjudging Him. They are wrong, too. There are also those who claim that Allah charged the servants with what they can do and did not oblige them to do what they cannot; hence, the servants thank Him when they do good and seek His forgiveness when they do wrong. These are surely the proper Muslims. 
127- Hasty walking removes the believers' brightenss and extinguishes their illumination. 
128- Allah surely hates the oppressive wealthy man. 
129- Rage eliminates the intelligence of the wise. He who cannot control his rage will not be able to control his mind. 
130- Al-Fudhayl-bin-Ayadh related: Abu-Abdillah [Imam Sadiq A.S.] asked me, "Do you know who is the avaricious?" "The avaricious is the niggardly," I answered. Holy Imam(A.S.) said: The avaricious is evil than the niggardly. The niggardly withholds what is in his hand, while the avaricious resents people to gain something and witholds what is in his hand. He wishes he would gain whatever is there in people's possession whether legally or illegally. Moreover, the avaricious is never satisfied and never profits by what Allah gives. 
131- The niggardly is that who gains wealth illegally and spends it unsuitably. 
132- Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) asked one of his adherents about the reason why one of his friends had been complaining against him. The man said, "He complaines just because I had demanded him with my rights wholly." The Holy Imam(A.S.) became angry as he said: Do you think that demanding with the whole rights is not offense? Have you seen those people about whom Allah said, "They fear the bad judgment?( Holy Qur'an13:21) Do they fear that their Lord may oppress them? No, at all. They fear that their Lord will demand with the rights perfectly. Hence, He named it "the bad judgment's. Surely, demanding with the whole rights is offense. 
133- Muchness of the ill-gotten properties will eradicate the earnings. 
134- Misdemeanor is embittered life. 
135- Faith is one rank higher than Islam and God-fearing is one rank higher than faith. However, they are parts of one another. It happens that a believer speaks some bad wording of which Allah did not threaten Hell. Allah says: If you avoid violating the grand sins that which has been prohibited, your sins will be forgiven and you will be admitted into an exalted dwelling.( Holy Qur'an 4:31). It also happens that another believer, who is more quick-witted, is more sinful. However, both are believers. Conviction is one rank higher thant GOd-fearing. Conviction is the most difficult thing ever given to people. Some people are more certain than others. Some are more steadfast against misforunes, poverty, ailment, and fear than others. 
136- Richness and dignity are touring. Whenever they notice a place of depending on Allah, they reside there. 
137- Good mannerism is a part of the religion. It increases the earnings. 
138- Morals are of two forms: one is intent while the other is nature. Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) was asked, "Which of them is better than the other?" He answered: The intentional morals are better than the natural, because the owner of natural morals cannot change them, while the owner of the intentional morals is preserving the acts of obedience (to Allah). 
139- The hearts of the pious harmonize with each other as velocious as the mixture of the water of rivers and the rainfall, even if they do not show harmony. The hearts of the irreverent disagree with each other like the animals when they show conflict after eating in one manger, even if they show agreement. 
140- The actual generous charitable individual is that who spends his wealth for fulfilling the rights of Allah. 
141- O people of faith and deposits of concealment! Ponder over things and remember when the oblivious are inadvertent. 
142- Al-Mufaddal-bin-Omar said: I asked Abu-Abdullah(A.S.) about ancestry, generosity, and sovereignty. Holy Imam(A.S.) said: Ancestry is the fortune, generosity is God-fearing, and sovereignty is openhandedness. Have you not noticed that Hatam became the master of his people because he was the most generous? 
143- Personality is of two sorts. The personality of residence is the recital of the Holy Quran, presence in mosques, association with the good people, and studying the jurisprudence. The personality of traveling is to offer victuals, joke in matters other than these which cause Allah's satisfaction, reduce disagreement with the companions, and reduce accusing them of bad things when you leave them. 
144- You should know that I will fulfill the trust of even the killer of Ali(A.S.) if he deposits something with me or seeks my advice of consultation. 
145- Sufian said: I asked Abu-Abdullah(A.S.) whether it is acceptable to praise oneself or not. He answered: It is acceptable to praise oneself in cases of necessity. Joseph the prophet(a.s.) said: Put me in charge of the treasuries of the land. I know how to manage them.( Holy Qur'an 12:55). The virtuous servant (of Allah) also said: I am a trustworthy advisor for you. (Holy Qur'an 7:68). 
146- Allah revealed to David the prophet(a.s.): O David, you will and I will. If You satisfy yourself with that which I will, I will provide you with what you will. If you reject that which I will and seek that which you will, I will exhaust you without gaining what you will, and there will be only that which I will. 
147- Mohammed-bin Qays said: I asked Abu-Abdullah(a.s) whether it is acceptable to sell weapon to the two parties both of whom are wrong. Holy Imam(A.S.) said: Sell to them only defensive weapons: armors, shields, helmets, and the like. 
148- Four characters are invalid in four situation: treachery, seizing excessive shares, stealth, and usury are invalid in hajj, umrah, jihad, and alms-giving. 
149- Allah gives the worldly pleasures to those whom He loves as well as those whom He dislikes, while He gives the faith only to whom He selects among the creatures. 
150- He who declares himself as the leader while there is someone who is more knowledgeable than he is heresiarch and deviant. 
151- Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) was asked about the commandment of Luqman. He answered: In the commandment of Luqman for his son, there were the marvels. The most marvelous statement of that commandment was his saying to his son: "Fear Allah so intensely as if He will punish you even if you provide the good deeds of all people and all jinn, and trust Him so perfectly as if He will be merciful to you even if you burden on your back the sins of all people and all jinn," Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) then said: Every believer inevitably has two illuminations in the heart: one is the illumination of fear and the other is the illumination of hope. These two illuminations are so equal that one will never be heavier than the other in any amount. 
152- Abu-Baseer related: I asked Abu-Abdullah(A.S.) about faith and Islam. He answered: Faith is the avoidance of acts of disobedience to Allah. Islam is to practice our rites and slaughter animals as we do.
153- He whosever word of guidance is followed will be gaining the same reward of those who follow it. He whosever word of deviation is followed will be charged of the same punishment of those who follow it. 
154- As some mentioned that the Christians claim that Jesus(a.s) was born on the twenty forth of December, Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) commented: They lied Jesus the Christ was born in the middle of June. Day and night become equal in the middle of March. 
155- Ishmael was five years older than Isaac. He was "the slain". Listen to the saying of Abraham (the prophet(a.s)): Lord, grant me a righteous son. (Holy Qur'an 37:100) This means that Abraham is supplicating to Allah to give him a righteous son. Allah says in Sura of As-Saaffat: We gave him the glad news of the birth of a forbearing son. (Holy Qur'an 37:101). This refers to Ishmael. Then Allah says: We gave him the glad news of the birth of Isaac, one of the righteous prophets. (Holy Qur'an 37:112). Hence, he who claims that Isaac was older than Ishmael is belying what Allah revealed in the Quran. 
156- Piety, openhandedness, steadfastness against misfortunes, and administration of the believers' rights-these four characters are within the ethics of the prophets. 
157- You should not regard a misfortune against which you are granted steadfastness and due to which you are rewarded as a true misfortune. The true misfortune is that which you are deprived of its reward and prize. 
158- There are definte servants of Allah on this earth to whom people beseech for settling their needs of this world and the world to come. They are the true faithful believers. They will be secured on the Day of Resurrection. Certainly, the most favorable believers to Allah are those who meet the living needs of the poor believers and those who support, benefit, and protect the believers against evil. 
159- Exchanging visits with the relatives and charity will make the Judgment easier and guard against sins. Hence, build good relations with your brothers and treat them charitably by good greeting and response at least. 
160-Sufian Athawri related: I visited As-Sadiq(A.S.). and asked for a commandment that I would apply to myself after him."Will you surely apply it, Sufian? wondered Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.). "Yes, son of the Prophet's daughter, I will," answered I. The Holy Imam(A.S.) spoke: O Sufian, the liars enjoy no personality, the envious are persistently restless, the kings keep no fraternity, the proud keep no friends, and the ill-mannered should not enjoy leadership. 
As the Imam stopped, I asked for more. He(A.S.) added: O Sufian, trust in Allah and you will be knowing. Satisfy yourself with that which Allah has allotted for you and you will be rich. Associate with others in the same way they associate with you and you will have more faith. Do not accompany the lecher so that they will not teach you matters of their lechery. Seek the advice of those who fear Allah the Glorified. 
As the Imam stopped, I asked for more. He(A.S.) said: O Sufian. he who searches for honor without sovereignty, might without need of brothers, and dignity without possessing wealth should shift from the humility of the acts of disobedience to Allah to the nobility of His obedience. 
As he stopped, I asked for more. He(A.S.) said: O Sufian, my father instructed me three matters and warned me against three. He instructed me that whoever associated with the vicious will not be saved, he who does not opt for good wording will regret, and he who intrudes himself in bad matters will be indicted. "O son of the Prophet's daughter" I asked, "What about the three against whom your father warned you?" He(A.S.) spoke: My father warned me against associating with the envious, those who rejoice at others' misfortunes, and the tale bearers. 
161- Bad-temperedness, bad humor, envy, obduracy, fabrication and oppression-these six characters should never be in the believers' behavior. 
162- The believer should live between two fears-the past sin that he does not know what Allah will do about it and the remaining days that he does not know what misfortunes he will encounter during them. Thus, the believer begins his day fearfully and ends his day fearfully. Except fear, nothing mends the believer. 
163- Allah will accept the few deeds of those who satisfy themselves with the little sustenance. He who satisfies himself with the few legal gotten sustenance will have light burdens and pure earnings and will be released from the frame of incapability. 
164- Sufian Athawri related: I attended before Abu-Abdullah(A.S.) and said, "O son of the Prophet's daughter, How is your morning?" He answered: Truly, I am grieved and my heart is engaged. I asked, What made you grieve and what engaged your heart? He(A.S.) answered: O Athawri, he whose heart is occupied by the purity of the decency of Allah's religion will surely be distracted from everything. O Athawri. what is the world? What is its reality/ Is it more than a meal that you had, a dress that you put on, or a pack animal that you rode? The believers do not trust the world and always expect the imminent coming of the world to come. This world is the place of the fated lapse while the world to come is the place of the eternal settlement. The people of this world are the people of inadvertence. The God-fearing ones are the people of the lightest burden and the most supportive. When you are oblivious, they remind you and when they remind you, they lead you to knowledge. You should regard this world as a lodging that you are temporarily taking and you will sooner or later leave it, or as a fortune that you got in dreams, but when you woke up you found nothing of it in your hands. It often happens that the matters for which the desirous have often longed would distress them. It also happens that the neglectors of matters will find happiness with them when they have them effortlessly. 
165- The Imam(A.S.) was asked about the evidence on the existence of the One Allah. He answered: The evidence is the need of the creatures to Him. 
166- You will not be regarded as (true) believers before you see the misfortunes as graces and the luxury as disaster. 
167- The possession of four thousand dirhams is fortune. The possession of twelve thousand dirhams is treasuring up. Twenty thousand dirhams cannot be amassed by legal ways. The possessor of thirty thousand dirhams will surely be suffering perdition. The possessors of one hundred thousand dirhams are definitely not reckoned with our adherents---Shia. 
168- The signs of the accuracy of a Muslim's conviction is to avoid pleasing people by means that enrage Allah, thanking them for receiving Allah's sustenance, and blaming them for matters that Allah has stopped. The earnings of the Muslims cannot be driven into them due to somebody's acquisitiveness and cannot be stopped due to somebody's refutation. If you try to escape getting your earnings as same as you escape from death, it will surely catch up with you as same as death when it will unquestionably catch up with you. 
169- Amont our adherents--Shia--are those whose voices do not exceed their hearing and whose detestation does not exceed their bodies. They avoid praising us declaratorily, regarding those who hate us, disputing with our supporters, and sitting with those who revile at us. Mihzam asked: "What about those who claim being Shia?" The Imam(a) answered: They will be distinguished, discriminated, and inflicted by misfortunes. In few years, they will be perishing, suffering plague, which will kill them, and encountering disagreements that will scatter them. Our true adherents do not bark like dogs, covet like craws, or beg even if they starve." Someone asked: "Where can I find such adherencts?" The Imam(A.S.) answered: You will find them living in the outskirts. Their living is hardly sufficient. Their dwellings are roving. When they are present, they are not recognized. When they are absent. they are not missed. When they are ailed, nobody visit them. When they betroth, nobody agree to them. When they notice an evil, they show displeasure. When the ignorant dispute with them, they say, "salaam". When the needy seek their support, they treat mercifully. When death comes near to them, they do not show grief. Although they live in different countries, their hearts will not be different. 
170- He who desires for enjoying a long age should do things precisely. He who desires for having his burdens--sins--lightened should put the screen of pudency. He who desires for being praised and estimated should hide his beliefs. 
171- The best deeds of the servanst are three: they are to treat the believers fairly, to console the friends, and to mention Allah in every situation. Some asked: "What is the meaning of mentioning Allah in every sutuation?" The Imam(A.S.) answered: This means to mention Allah when you want to commit a sin so that He will prevent you from committing it. 
172- Hamza-A symbol in the Arabic script representing the glottal stop -is an addition in the Quran. 
173- Beware of joking, because it causes rancor and drives into malice. Joking is the lesser revilement. 
174- Al-Hasan-bin-Rashid reported: Abu-Abdillah(A.s.) said: When a misfortune inflicts you, you should not complain about it to the embracers of other sects. You should complain about it to your brothers. You will certainly gain one of four: you will either find a solution, get a financial help, win a responded supplication, or have a counsel of wisdom. 
175- Do not roam in marts frequently. Do not buy the minute things yourself. It is abominable for the religious and the highborn to buy the minute things themselves except in three states: buying the real estates, the slaves, and the camels. 
176- Do not disuss matters that do not concern you. Leave discussing most of the matters that concern you until you find the appropriate time. It often happens that the rightful discusser of a matter that concerns him will be exhausted because he uses improper time. Do not dispute anyone; whether foolish or clement. The clement overcomes you and the ignorant embarrasses you. Mention your absent friends in the same way as you like him to mention you when you are absent. This is the true action. When you act, you should be certain that you will be rewarded for good deeds and punished for evildoings. 
177- Younus related: Before Imam as-Sadiq(A.S.) I said: My loyalty to you - the Holy Prophet's family - and recognition of your rights are most favorable to me than this world with all of its insides." I noticed the Holy Imam(A.S.) was enraged. After a while, he(A.S.) said: O Younus, you have evaluated us in an improper measurement. What is the world and what are its insides? It is no more than relief of a trouble or screening of a defect. By loyalty to us, you are gaining the endless life. 
178- O adherents of Mohammed's(S.A.W.) family, for those who do not possess themselves in rage, those who do not respect the companionship and association and compromise of their companions and associates and parties, and those who do not oppose others in a peaceful way, all these are not belonging to us. O adherents of Mohammed's(S.A.W.) family, exert all your efforts in fearing Allah. All might and power belong to Allah. 
179- Abdul-A'la reported: Abu-Abdillah(A.S.) asked me whether I had been associating with the people of Medina. I told that once I was sitting among people of Medina when they were talking about openhandedness. A man, named Abu-Dukein, spoke, "It is surely Ja'far except that he is like this." He then closed his hand. As he listened to this story, the Imam(A.S.) commented: "Woe to Abu-Dukein! His like is the feather; the wind flights it whenever it blows." After a pause, he(A.S.) added: The Holy Prophet(S.A.W.) said: "Any favor is charity. The best alms is that which does not influence one's expenditure of his family members. Begin, when you give alms, with those whose provisions are obligatory upon you. The hand or the giver is better than the hand of the receiver. Allah does not censure for the minimum sustenance." Do you think that Allah is ungenerous or there is something more generous than Him? The true generous and master is that who carries out Allah's rights correctly. He who gains money illegally and spends it unrightfully is not generous. Most surely, I desire for meeting Allah without taking anything that is illicit for me. I have fulfilled the rights in my fortune. 
180- Suckling after weaning is void. Continuous fasting is void. Orphanage after maturity is void. Keeping silent a day up to night is void. Migration after the conquest of Mecca is void. Migration to the non-Muslim countries (after living in a Muslim country) is void. The oath of sons, slaves, and wives regarding their fathers, masters, and husbands is void. Vow of an act of disobedience (to Allah) is void. Oath of rupturing relations is void. 
181- No one can attain good livelihood-even if he is so lucky - without passing through misfortunes. Days will usurp the opportunities of those who waste today's opportunity due to their expectation of tomorrow's opportunities. Day's custom is the usurpation of opportunities and the habit of time is wasting them. 
182- Doing favors is the tax of graces, intercession is the tax of the power, diseases are the tax of bodies, and forgiveness is the tax of success. Everything whose tax is defrayed will be guarded against loss. 
183-In misfortunes, Imam As-Sadiq(A.S.) used to say: All praise is due to Allah Who did not make my misfortune in my religious affairs. All praise is due to Allah Who could, if He willed, make my misfortune more catastrophic than what it is now. All praise is due to Allah for the matter that He willed to be, and it was as He willed. 
184- Allah says: For him who saves a confused individual, I will consider him as thankful and will lodge him in My Paradise. 
185- If the world advances to some people, it will garb them with the others' charms. If it leaves some people, it usurps their own charms. 
186- Daughters are advantages and sons are graces. You will be rewarded for the advantages and asked about the graces.

187. Obey your parents and your children obey you, and be chaste for the women of men and your women are chaste. 
188. The person is many with his brother, and there is no good in the friendship of him who does not wish you what you wish for him. 
189. Two men disputed at his presence, so he, peace be on him, said to them: Truly, whoever is victorious with oppression does not get good, and whoever does evil for people, then must not deny evil when it is done for him. 
190. No living is more comfortable than good behavior, no property is more useful than the satisfaction with the small profitable (thing), and no ignorance is more harmful than vanity. 
191. Shake hands with each other because it removes the spite. 
192. Fear Allah some fear even it is little, and leave a screen between you and Allah even if it is thin. 
193. Much thinking about the wise saying fertilizes intellect. 
194. He was asked about the quality of justice of the man, so he, peace on him, said: If he prevents his eyes from the forbidden, his tongue from sins, and his hand from the wrong. 
195. Whoever does not acknowledge some one's favor then he is self-conceited. 
196. Two qualities do not come together in a hypocrite a good way and understanding a norm. 
197. No one, even if the conditions help him, abstracts luxury living but through a misfortune, and whoever anticipates to postpone the m is fortune through hastening towards the chances, the days deprives him of his chance, because the state of the days is deprivation and the way of days is passing.
198. How many a deceived (person) in what Allah has bestowed upon him, how many a tempted (person) in Allah's concealment for him, and a how many charmed (person) by the praise of men for him.
199. Good health is a hidden blessing: if it is found it is forgotten, and if it is missed it is remembered. 
200. Good health is a blessing for which thankfulness is feeble.
201. Badness is in three (things): in the woman, the riding animal, and the house, as for the badness in the woman is her high dowry and her disobedience for her husband, as for the riding animal is its bad behavior and preventing its back, and as for the house is narrowness of its yard and the evil of its neighbors and the large number of its defects.
202. It was said to him: Which traits of the person are the best? So he, peace on him, said: Solemnity without awe, generosity without seeking a reward, and busyness in other than the belongings of this world. 
203. Whoever has no five (qualities) has not many enjoyable (things), It was said (to him): Son of the Prophet of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, what are they? So he, peace be on him, said: religion, intellect, modesty, good behavior, good manners And whoever has not five (qualities) is not happy at living: good health, security, riches, satisfaction, and an agreeable friend.
204. How much patience of an hour causes long happiness, and how much pleasure causes long sadness.
205. It is not (an act) of fairness to ask the brothers (to make) fairness.
206. The angry (person) has no idea, the bored (person) has no friend, the envier has no riches, whoever does not think about consequences is not determined, and thinking about consequences is the fertilization of hearts. 
207. Cleave to generosity and good behavior, because they adorn the person as the middle jewel adorns the necklace. 
208. Three (things) are of happiness: the agreeable wife, the obedient child, and (when) the person is given sustenance for which he goes early in the morning and comes back to his family.
209. Sleeping is rest for the body, speech is rest for the soul, and silence is rest for intellect.
210. Do not call the man a friend; call him acquaintance till you try him with three (things): make him angry, then wait (to know whether) his anger takes him out of the right to the falsehood (or not), during the Dinar and the Durham, and when you travel with him.
211. How many a blessing Allah bestows upon His servant without his act, how many a hoping (person) for a hope and the choice is in other than it, and how many a walker for his death and he is slow from his luck.
212. (It is an act) of injustice that the rider says to the walker: the road. 
213. If the man loves his religion, his brothers love him. 
214. The honor of a believer is his prayers at night, and his dignity is to refrain from harming people. 
215. Approach Allah through helping your brothers. 
216. I ensure him who economizes that he will not be poor. 
217. Be patient for the enemies of blessings, because you do not reward him who disobeys Allah through you better than you obey Allah through him. 
218. Whoever is satisfied with death, death will put an end to him and through it he will be rewarded, and whoever is dissatisfied with death, death will put an end to him and Allah will frustrate his action. 
219. Give presents to each other (to) love each other, because the present removes the spites.
220. Allah is not worshipped with better than silence and going to His House.
221. I prevent you from (having) two qualities through which the men get mined: that you borrow a loan from Allah with falsehood and give a legal opinion without knowledge. 
222. (Some) of the reality of faith is that you (should) prefer the truth even if it harms you to falsehood even if it avails you, and your words should not exceed your action. 
223. The greedy (person) is deprived of two qualities and two qualities are always present with him: He is deprived of satisfaction so he misses rest, and he is deprived of pleasure so he misses certainty.
224. Safety is with conviction, and regret is with hastiness. 
225. Whoever begins an action not in its time fulfills it not in its time. 
226. Men are three (kinds): a man is with his property, a man is with his high rank, and a man is with his tongue and is the best of the three (men).
227. Begging is not permitted but in three (states): unpayable blood money or a heavy debt or an extreme need. 
228. Indeed, the worthiest of men to wish men riches are the misers, because if men become rich they will refrain from their properties, the worthiest of men to wish men righteousness are the people of defects, because if men become righteous they will refrain from looking for their defects, and the worthiest of men to wish men clemency are the people of foolishness, who need (men) to forgive their foolishness, so the people of miserliness have wished men poverty, the people of defects have wished men defects, and the people of foolishness have wished men foolishness, because poverty (makes man) in need of the miser, corruption (makes man) look for the people of defected, and foolishness is a reward for sins. 
229. Whoever shows enmity toward three (persons) becomes humble: the parents, the supreme ruler, and the creditor.
230. The demands of men in this world are four (things): riches, gentleness, littleness of concern, and glory. As for riches, it is found in satisfaction. So, whoever seeks it in the muchness of property does not find it. As for the littleness of concern, it is found in the littleness (with the muchness of work) does not find it (concern). And as for glory, it is found in the service of the Creator. So, whoever seeks it in the service of the creature does not find it. 
231. I have found the knowledge of all men in four (things): the first of them is that you should know your Lord, the second is that you should know what He has made with you, the third is that you should know what He has wanted from you, and the fourth is that you should know what takes you out of your religion. 
232. If four (things) spread, four (things) appear: If adultery spreads, earth quakes appear. If Zakat (alms) is forbidden, cattle are perished. If the judge is unjust in judgment, rain does not come down from the sky. And if the non- Muslims guard, the polytheists over- come the Muslims. 
233. Verily, patience, piety, clemency, and good behavior are among the manners of prophets. 
234. Four (things) are in vain: eating after fullness, the lamp in the moon, the plant in the salty land, and the favor for the inappropriate person. 
235. Four (things) come to nothing: the affection you grant for him who has no faithfulness, favor for him who has no gratefulness, knowledge for him who has no listening for it, and a secret you entrust to him who has no keeping for it. 
236. Five (things) are impossible (to result from) five (things): advice from the envier is impossible, pity from the enemy is impossible, scacredness from the sinner is impossible, loyalty from the woman is impossible, and dignity from poverty is impossible. 
237. Five (things) are as I (the author) say: the miser has no rest, the envier has no pleasure, the bored (person) has no faithfulness, the liar has no manhood, and the foolish (person) does not become master. 
238. Five (persons) do not sleep: he who plans to shed blood, the owner of many properties, he who says falsity and slander against people to obtain a transient thing of the world, he who is fascinated by many properties (while) he has no property, and he who loves a dear (person) and expects his parting.
239. Whoever has no admonisher from him, and a deterrent from his own self, and he has no guide to fellow enables his enemy to his neck.
240. No person perishes because of consultation.
241. Making a compliment to people is one third of intellect.
242. (It is an act) of modesty to greet him whom you meet.
243. Reminding someone of a favor demolishes the favor.
244. The favor is that which is by one's own initiative, as for what you give after asking you match it with what he gives from his face.
245. The best alms is to cool a very thirsty liver.
246. He whose two days are equal then he is deceived, and he whose day on which he lives is better than his yesterday which departed from him then he is happy.
247. The believer complies (with someone's moods) and does not dispute. 
248. Whoever does not look for his own defect his defect lasts, and he whose defect lasts then death is good for him. 
249. Whoever commits a sin without intention is worthy of forgiveness.
250. To fear (Allah) is the inheritance of science and science is the rays of knowledge and heart of faith, and whoever is deprived of fear does not become a scientist even he splits perception in the ambiguous (matters) of science.
251. He who answers all that he is asked, surely is mad.
252. Whoever abuses men, his manhood is in vain.
253. Do not look for (the defects of) men so as not to become without a friend. 
254. Whoever does not accept (anything) from his friend but to prefer him to himself, his wrath lasts.
255. Enough for the fear of Allah is knowledge and enough for self-conceit is ignorance.