Al-Kāfi

23ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَعْرِفَ أَصْحَابِي فَانْظُرْ إِلَى مَنِ اشْتَدَّ وَرَعُهُ وَخَافَ خَالِقَهُ وَرَجَا ثَوَابَهُ وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ هَؤُلاءِ فَهَؤُلاءِ أَصْحَابِي.

23. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn al-Sindy from Ja’far ibn Bashir from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘If you want to see my companions then look to those whose restraining from worldly attraction (sins) is intense, who fear their Creator in the hope for His rewards. If you find such people they are my companions.’”

24ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ شَمُّونٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الأشْعَثِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ حَمَّادٍ الأنْصَارِيِّ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أَبِي الْمِقْدَامِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) شِيعَتُنَا الْمُتَبَاذِلُونَ فِي وَلايَتِنَا الْمُتَحَابُّونَ فِي مَوَدَّتِنَا الْمُتَزَاوِرُونَ فِي إِحْيَاءِ أَمْرِنَا الَّذِينَ إِنْ غَضِبُوا لَمْ يَظْلِمُوا وَإِنْ رَضُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا بَرَكَةٌ عَلَى مَنْ جَاوَرُوا سِلْمٌ لِمَنْ خَالَطُوا.

24. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn Shammun from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amr ibn al- Ash’ath from ‘Abd Allah ibn Hammad al-Ansari from ‘Amr ibn abu al-Miqdam from his father from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘Our Shi’a (followers) spend for (the cause of) our Walayah (Divine Authority), love each other for the sake of our love, and visit each other to preserve our cause. They are those who do not commit injustice when angered, and are not excessive when they agree. They are blessings for the neighbors and peace for those who associate with them.’”

25ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ عِيسَى النَّهْرِيرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) مَنْ عَرَفَ الله وَعَظَّمَهُ مَنَعَ فَاهُ مِنَ الْكَلامِ وَبَطْنَهُ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَعَفَا نَفْسَهُ بِالصِّيَامِ وَالْقِيَامِ قَالُوا بِ‏آبَائِنَا وَأُمَّهَاتِنَا يَا رَسُولَ الله هَؤُلاءِ أَوْلِيَاءُ الله قَالَ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ الله سَكَتُوا فَكَانَ سُكُوتُهُمْ ذِكْراً وَنَظَرُوا فَكَانَ نَظَرُهُمْ عِبْرَةً وَنَطَقُوا فَكَانَ نُطْقُهُمْ حِكْمَةً وَمَشَوْا فَكَانَ مَشْيُهُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بَرَكَةً لَوْ لا الآجَالُ الَّتِي قَدْ كُتِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ لَمْ تَقِرَّ أَرْوَاحُهُمْ فِي أَجْسَادِهِمْ خَوْفاً مِنَ الْعَذَابِ وَشَوْقاً إِلَى الثَّوَابِ.

25. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Muhammad ibn Ali from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Isa al-Nahriri from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever comes to know Allah and realizes His greatness does not allow his mouth to speak or his stomach to eat. He engages his soul in fasting and standing for prayer until it is clean and exhausted.’ They then said, ‘May Allah keep the souls of our parents in service for your cause, O Messenger of Allah, is it not that such people are close friends of Allah?’ The Messenger of Allah then said, ‘The close friends of Allah kept silent and it was considered speaking of Allah, they looked and it served as a good lesson, they spoke and it was wisdom, they walked and that was blessings among the people. Had it not been for the appointed time of their life span that was written down for them, their spirit would not have remained in their bodies for fear of torment and the desire for rewards.’”

26ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ مِنَ الْعِرَاقِيِّينَ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ خَطَبَ النَّاسَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنْ أَخٍ لِي كَانَ مِنْ أَعْظَمِ النَّاسِ فِي عَيْنِي وَكَانَ رَأْسُ مَا عَظُمَ بِهِ فِي عَيْنِي صِغَرَ الدُّنْيَا فِي عَيْنِهِ كَانَ خَارِجاً مِنْ سُلْطَانِ بَطْنِهِ فَلا يَشْتَهِي مَا لا يَجِدُ وَلا يُكْثِرُ إِذَا وَجَدَ كَانَ خَارِجاً مِنْ سُلْطَانِ فَرْجِهِ فَلا يَسْتَخِفُّ لَهُ عَقْلَهُ وَلا رَأْيَهُ كَانَ خَارِجاً مِنْ سُلْطَانِ الْجَهَالَةِ فَلا يَمُدُّ يَدَهُ إِلا عَلَى ثِقَةٍ لِمَنْفَعَةٍ كَانَ لا يَتَشَهَّى وَلا يَتَسَخَّطُ وَلا يَتَبَرَّمُ كَانَ أَكْثَرَ دَهْرِهِ صَمَّاتاً فَإِذَا قَالَ بَذَّ الْقَائِلِينَ كَانَ لا يَدْخُلُ فِي مِرَاءٍ وَلا يُشَارِكُ فِي دَعْوًى وَلا يُدْلِي بِحُجَّةٍ حَتَّى يَرَى قَاضِياً وَكَانَ لا يَغْفُلُ عَنْ إِخْوَانِهِ وَلا يَخُصُّ نَفْسَهُ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ دُونَهُمْ كَانَ ضَعِيفاً مُسْتَضْعَفاً فَإِذَا جَاءَ الْجِدُّ كَانَ لَيْثاً عَادِياً كَانَ لا يَلُومُ أَحَداً فِيمَا يَقَعُ الْعُذْرُ فِي مِثْلِهِ حَتَّى يَرَى اعْتِذَاراً كَانَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَقُولُ وَيَفْعَلُ مَا لا يَقُولُ كَانَ إِذَا ابْتَزَّهُ أَمْرَانِ لا يَدْرِي أَيُّهُمَا أَفْضَلُ نَظَرَ إِلَى أَقْرَبِهِمَا إِلَى الْهَوَى فَخَالَفَهُ كَانَ لا يَشْكُو وَجَعاً إِلا عِنْدَ مَنْ يَرْجُو عِنْدَهُ الْبُرْءَ وَلا يَسْتَشِيرُ إِلا مَنْ يَرْجُو عِنْدَهُ النَّصِيحَةَ كَانَ لا يَتَبَرَّمُ وَلا يَتَسَخَّطُ وَلا يَتَشَكَّى وَلا يَتَشَهَّى وَلا يَنْتَقِمُ وَلا يَغْفُلُ عَنِ الْعَدُوِّ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِمِثْلِ هَذِهِ الأخْلاقِ الْكَرِيمَةِ إِنْ أَطَقْتُمُوهَا فَإِنْ لَمْ تُطِيقُوهَا كُلَّهَا فَأَخْذُ الْقَلِيلِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ تَرْكِ الْكَثِيرِ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلا بِالله.

26. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from certain individuals of his people from the people of Iraq in a marfu’ manner who has said the following: “Al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.) once addressed the people saying, ‘I like to tell you about one of my friends who was the greatest in my sight. The head of what was the greatest in my sight about him was the worthlessness of the world in his sight. He was free of the control of his stomach, thus, he did not have any appetite for what he could not find; he, however, would not accede when he did find it. He was out of the control of his private parts and it would not weigh his reason and opinion lightly. He was out of the control of ignorance, thus, he would not extend his hands unless he was confident of its benefits. He did not desire, become angry, or disappointed. Most of the time he remained silent, and when he spoke, he surpassed the speakers. He did not enter in arguments or take part in claims. He would not testify without the presence of a judge. He was not unaware of his brothers (in belief) and did not appropriate anything for himself without them. He was the weakest of the weak people but in serious matters he acted as an advancing lion. He did not blame anyone without a good cause. He would do what he said, and would not say what he would not do. When he became attracted to two things that he did not know which is better he would ignore that which he desired most. He would not complain for any pain before anyone unless he had known that one had a cure for it and would not consult anyone unless he had hope for good advice from him. He did not become frustrated, angered, and did not complain, desire, revenge and did not remain neglectful of his enemies. Therefore, you must acquire such noble moral behaviors if you can. You must acquire the little if you cannot bear the whole. There is no means and power without Allah.”’

27ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ مِهْزَمٍ وَبَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ الْكَاهِلِيِّ وَأَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ رَبِيعِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ مِهْزَمٍ الأسَدِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَا مِهْزَمُ شِيعَتُنَا مَنْ لا يَعْدُو صَوْتُهُ سَمْعَهُ وَلا شَحْنَاؤُهُ بَدَنَهُ وَلا يَمْتَدِحُ بِنَا مُعْلِناً وَلا يُجَالِسُ لَنَا عَائِباً وَلا يُخَاصِمُ لَنَا قَالِياً إِنْ لَقِيَ مُؤْمِناً أَكْرَمَهُ وَإِنْ لَقِيَ جَاهِلاً هَجَرَهُ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَكَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ بِهَؤُلاءِ الْمُتَشَيِّعَةِ قَالَ فِيهِمُ التَّمْيِيزُ وَفِيهِمُ التَّبْدِيلُ وَفِيهِمُ التَّمْحِيصُ تَأْتِي عَلَيْهِمْ سِنُونَ تُفْنِيهِمْ وَطَاعُونٌ يَقْتُلُهُمْ وَاخْتِلافٌ يُبَدِّدُهُمْ شِيعَتُنَا مَنْ لا يَهِرُّ هَرِيرَ الْكَلْبِ وَلا يَطْمَعُ طَمَعَ الْغُرَابِ وَلا يَسْأَلُ عَدُوَّنَا وَإِنْ مَاتَ جُوعاً قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَأَيْنَ أَطْلُبُ هَؤُلاءِ قَالَ فِي أَطْرَافِ الأرْضِ أُولَئِكَ الْخَفِيضُ عَيْشُهُمْ الْمُنْتَقِلَةُ دِيَارُهُمْ إِنْ شَهِدُوا لَمْ يُعْرَفُوا وَإِنْ غَابُوا لَمْ يُفْتَقَدُوا وَمِنَ الْمَوْتِ لا يَجْزَعُونَ وَفِي الْقُبُورِ يَتَزَاوَرُونَ وَإِنْ لَجَأَ إِلَيْهِمْ ذُو حَاجَةٍ مِنْهُمْ رَحِمُوهُ لَنْ تَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِنِ اخْتَلَفَ بِهِمُ الدَّارُ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) أَنَا الْمَدِينَةُ وَعَلِيٌّ الْبَابُ وَكَذَبَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ يَدْخُلُ الْمَدِينَةَ لا مِنْ قِبَلِ الْبَابِ وَكَذَبَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ يُحِبُّنِي وَيُبْغِضُ عَلِيّاً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه).

27. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Mihzam and certain individuals of our people from Muhammad ibn Ali from Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Kahili and Abu Ali al-Ash’ari from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Kufi from al- ‘Abbas ibn ‘Amir from Rabi’ ibn Muhammad all from Mehzam al-Asadi who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once said, ‘O Mehzam, our Shi’a (followers) are those whose voices do not extend farther than their ears and their animosity do not reach beyond their bodies. They do not praise us openly, associate faultfinders with us and do not argue in our defense against our enemies. When they meet the believers they respect and honor them. When they meet the ignorant they distance themselves from him.’ I (the narrator) then asked the Imam, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, how should I deal with these pretending Shi’as?’ The Imam said, ‘With them there are cases of distinguishing, changes and filtrations. Certain years destroy them, plagues kill them, and schisms disintegrate them. Our Shi’a (followers) do not do the barking of a dog or the craving of a crow, do not ask our enemies for help even if he may die of hunger.’ The narrator has said that 1 then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, where can I find them?’ The Imam said, ‘You may find them around the world. The standard of living of our Shi’a (followers) is low and their homes are transient. Although present in a place, they are not noticeable, in their absence they are not missed, of death they are not frightened, on the graves they visit each other and on being asked for help they show kindness. Their hearts do not have differences even if their homes might be different.’ The Imam then said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “I am a city and Ali is the door. One who thinks he can enter the city but not through the door is a liar, so also is one who thinks he loves me but he hates Ali (a.s.).’”

28ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ مَنْ عَامَلَ النَّاسَ فَلَمْ يَظْلِمْهُمْ وَحَدَّثَهُمْ فَلَمْ يَكْذِبْهُمْ وَوَعَدَهُمْ فَلَمْ يُخْلِفْهُمْ كَانَ مِمَّنْ حُرِّمَتْ غِيبَتُهُ وَكَمَلَتْ مُرُوءَتُهُ وَظَهَرَ عَدْلُهُ وَوَجَبَتْ أُخُوَّتُهُ.

28. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama’a ibn Mehran from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Whoever in his dealing with people does not do injustice to them, in his speaking does not lie to them and in his promise does not fail to keep it is among those whose backbiting is unlawful, whose kindness is complete, whose justice has become public and it is necessary to establish brotherly relations with him.”

29ـ عَنْهُ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ أُمِّهِ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيهِما السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) ثَلاثُ خِصَالٍ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ اسْتَكْمَلَ خِصَالَ الإيمَانِ إِذَا رَضِيَ لَمْ يُدْخِلْهُ رِضَاهُ فِي بَاطِلٍ وَإِذَا غَضِبَ لَمْ يُخْرِجْهُ الْغَضَبُ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَإِذَا قَدَرَ لَمْ يَتَعَاطَ مَا لَيْسَ لَهُ.

29. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Faddal from ‘Asim ibn Humayd from abu Hamza al-Thumali from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Hassan from his mother, Fatimah bint al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever has three qualities, the quality of his belief is complete: if he is happy it does not lead him to falsehood, his anger does not lead him out of the truth and when in power does not take hold of what is not rightfully his.’”

30ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ لأهْلِ الدِّينِ عَلامَاتٍ يُعْرَفُونَ بِهَا صِدْقَ الْحَدِيثِ وَأَدَاءَ الأمَانَةِ وَوَفَاءً بِالْعَهْدِ وَصِلَةَ الأرْحَامِ وَرَحْمَةَ الضُّعَفَاءِ وَقِلَّةَ الْمُرَاقَبَةِ لِلنِّسَاءِ أَوْ قَالَ قِلَّةَ الْمُوَاتَاةِ لِلنِّسَاءِ وَبَذْلَ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَحُسْنَ الْخُلُقِ وَسَعَةَ الْخُلُقِ وَاتِّبَاعَ الْعِلْمِ وَمَا يُقَرِّبُ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ زُلْفَى طُوبَى لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَ‏آبٍ وَطُوبَى شَجَرَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَصْلُهَا فِي دَارِ النَّبِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) وَلَيْسَ مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ إِلا وَفِي دَارِهِ غُصْنٌ مِنْهَا لا يَخْطُرُ عَلَى قَلْبِهِ شَهْوَةُ شَيْ‏ءٍ إِلا أَتَاهُ بِهِ ذَلِكَ وَلَوْ أَنَّ رَاكِباً مُجِدّاً سَارَ فِي ظِلِّهَا مِائَةَ عَامٍ مَا خَرَجَ مِنْهُ وَلَوْ طَارَ مِنْ أَسْفَلِهَا غُرَابٌ مَا بَلَغَ أَعْلاهَا حَتَّى يَسْقُطَ هَرِماً أَلا فَفِي هَذَا فَارْغَبُوا إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ فِي شُغُلٍ وَالنَّاسُ مِنْهُ فِي رَاحَةٍ إِذَا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ افْتَرَشَ وَجْهَهُ وَسَجَدَ لله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِمَكَارِمِ بَدَنِهِ يُنَاجِي الَّذِي خَلَقَهُ فِي فَكَاكِ رَقَبَتِهِ أَلا فَهَكَذَا كُونُوا.

30. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Qasim from abu Basir from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘Religious people have certain signs by means of which they are recognized. Of such signs are truthfulness in their words, safekeeping of trust, steadfastness in their promise, maintaining good relations with relatives, kindness to weak ones, smaller degree of expectation from women, [or he said, yield to them in smaller degrees], excellence in moral behavior, vastness of moral discipline, following knowledge and that which leads closer to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, with distinction. Tuba’ is for them and the good ending. ‘Tuba’ is a tree in paradise that has its roots in the house of the Holy Prophet, Muhammad (a.s.). ‘Which quality is more graceful for a man?’ The Imam said. There will be no believer with a home without a branch of that tree. No desire will emerge in their heart but that the branch will provide. A horseman may run under its shadow for a hundred years and the shadow will not end. A crow (with the longest life span in birds) may fly from its trunk upward but before reaching the top of the tree will drop death due to old age. Therefore, you must develop an interest in this. Believers are busy with themselves and people are comfortable with them. When the night grows dark they fix their faces on earth in prostration before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, with the noblest parts of their body. They whisper to the the One Who has created them, about setting free of their necks from fire and as such you must also become.’”

31ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ عَمْرٍو النَّخَعِيِّ قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنِي الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ سَيْفٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) عَنْ خِيَارِ الْعِبَادِ فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَحْسَنُوا اسْتَبْشَرُوا وَإِذَا أَسَاءُوا اسْتَغْفَرُوا وَإِذَا أُعْطُوا شَكَرُوا وَإِذَا ابْتُلُوا صَبَرُوا وَإِذَا غَضِبُوا غَفَرُوا.

31. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Isma’il ibn Mehran from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from Sulayman ibn ‘Amr al-Nakha’i who has said that narrated to him al-Husayn ibn Sayf from his brother Ali from Sulayman from those who he mentioned (in his book) from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Holy Prophet was asked about the best ones among the servants (of Allah). The Holy Prophet said, ‘They are those who enjoy doing good deeds, and ask forgiveness when they do bad deeds, thank when they are favored, exercise patience when they suffer and forgive when they are subjected to anger.’”

32ـ وَبِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) إِنَّ خِيَارَكُمْ أُولُو النُّهَى قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ الله وَمَنْ أُولُو النُّهَى قَالَ هُمْ أُولُو الأخْلاقِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَالأحْلامِ الرَّزِينَةِ وَصَلَةُ الأرْحَامِ وَالْبَرَرَةُ بِالأمَّهَاتِ وَالآبَاءِ وَالْمُتَعَاهِدِينَ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْجِيرَانِ وَالْيَتَامَى وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ وَيُفْشُونَ السَّلامَ فِي الْعَالَمِ وَيُصَلُّونَ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ غَافِلُونَ.

32. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Holy Prophet has said, ‘The best among you are those who possess al-Nuha’.’ He was asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, who are possessors of al-Nuha’?’ He then said, ‘They are those who possess excellent moral discipline and a heavy power of reason, maintain good relations with relatives, who are kind to mothers and fathers, committed to help the poor, neighbors, orphans, who serve food (to the needy), who spread peace in the world and who pray when people sleep negligently.’”