Maʿānī al-ʾAkhbār

حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد - رضي الله عنه - قال: حدثنا الحسين ابن الحسن بن أبان، عن الحسين بن سعيد، عن القاسم بن عروة، عن ابن بكير، عن زرارة، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: في الموضحة خمس من الإبل، وفي السمحاق أربع من الإبل، وفي الباضعة ثلاث من الإبل، وفي المأمومة ثلاث وثلاثون من الإبل، وفي الجائفة ثلاث وثلاثون من الإبل، وفي المنقلة خمس عشرة من الإبل.

1. We were told by Muhammed bin Hasan bin Ahmad bin Waleed, may Allah be pleasedwith him, that he said: We were told by Hussain ibn Hasan bin Aban, from Hussain bin Sa’eed, from Qasem bin Urwa, from Ibn Bukair, from Zurara, from Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, that he said: For a muwaddiha are five camels, and for a samhaq are four camels, and for a badi’a are three camels, and for a ma’mura are thirty-three camels, and for a ja’ifa are thirty-three camels, and for a munqila are fifteen camels.

حدثنا أبو العباس محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسحاق الطالقاني، قال: حدثنا أبو محمد يحيى بن محمد بن صاعد بمدينة السلام، قال: حدثنا أزهر بن كميل، قال: حدثنا المعتمر بن سليمان، قال: قرأت على فضيل بن ميسرة، عن أبي جرير أن أبا بردة حدثه، عن أبي موسى الأشعري، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: ثلاثة لا يدخلون الجنة: مدمن خمر، ومدمن سحر، وقاطع رحم. ومن مات مدمن خمر سقاه الله عز وجل من نهر الغوطة. قيل وما نهر الغوطة؟ قال: نهر يجري من فروج المومسات يؤذي أهل النار ريحهن.

1. We were told by Abu’l-Abbas, Muhammed bin Ibrahim bin Ishaq al-Talaqani, that he said: We were told by Abu Muhammed, Yahya bin Muhammed bin Sa’id, in the City of Peace [1], that he said: We were told by Azhar bin Kumail, that he said: We were told by Mu’tamar bin Sulayman, that he said: I read for Fudail bin Maysara, from Abu Jareer, that Abu Barda told him, from Abu Musa al-Ash’ari, that he said: The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: Three who will not enter Paradise: one who is addicted to wine; one who is addicted to magic; and one who cuts kinship relations. The one who dies as an addicted to wine, Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, will make him drink from the River of Ghouta. It was said: And what is the River of Ghouta? It was said: A river that runs from the genitals of harlots, and their smell harms the people of the Fire.

حدثنا أبي - رحمه الله - قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن أحمد بن أبي عبد الله، عن أبيه، عن أحمد بن النضر، عن عمرو بن شمر، عن جابر، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: أخبرني جبرئيل عليه السلام أن ريح الجنة يوجد من مسيرة ألف عام ما يجدها عاق، ولا قاطع رحم: ولا شيخ زان، ولا جار إزاره خيلاء ، ولا فتان ، ولا منان ولا جعظري. قال: قلت: فما الجعظري؟ قال: الذي لا يشبع من الدنيا.

1. We were told by my father, may Allah grant him mercy, that he said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah, from Ahmad bin Abi Abdillah, from his father, from Ahmad bin Nadr, from Amru bin Shimr, from Jabir, from Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, that he said: The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: Jibra’eel, peace be upon him, informed me that the wind of Paradise is found from the journey of a thousand years. It will not be found by a disobedient, nor one who cuts kinship relations, nor an old man who fornicates, nor one who pulls his robe in haughtiness, nor one who causes seduction, nor one who offers favor (as a means to humiliate), nor a ja’dhari. He said: I said: And what is a ja’dhari? He said: The one who is not satisfied from this world.

حدثنا أبي - رحمه الله - قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن يعقوب بن يزيد، عن محمد بن أبي عمير، عن أبي المغرا حميد بن المثنى العجلي، عن أبي بصير، قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: صلاة الوسطى صلاة الظهر وهي أول صلاة أنزل الله على نبيه صلى الله عليه وآله.

1. We were told by my father, may Allah grant him mercy, that he said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah, from Ya’qoub bin Yazid, from Muhammed bin Abi ‘Umayr, from Abu’l-Mighra, Hameed bin Muthanna al-‘Ajali, from Abu Baseer, that he said: I heard Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, say: The middle prayer is the noon prayer, and it is the first prayer whom Allah sent down (in commandment) upon His Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family.

حدثنا علي بن عبد الله الوراق، وعلي بن محمد بن الحسن المعروف بابن مقبرة القزويني، قالا: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله بن أبي خلف الأشعري، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن [أبي] الصباح، قال: حدثنا محمد بن عاصم الرازي، قال: أخبرنا أبو نعيم الفضل بن دكين، عن هشام بن سعد، عن زيد بن أسلم، عن أبي يونس، قال: كتبت لعائشة مصحفا فقالت: إذا مررت بآية الصلاة فلا تكتبها حتى أمليها عليك، فلما مررت بها أملتها علي " حافظوا على الصلوات والصلاة الوسطى وصلاة العصر ".

2. We were told by Ali bin Abdullah al-Warraq, and Ali bin Muhammed bin Hasan, known as Ibn Maqbara al-Qazwini, that they both said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah bin Abi Khalaf al-Ash’ari, that he said: We were told by Ahmad bin Abi’l-Sabah, that he said: We were told by Muhammed bin ‘Asem al-Razi, that he said: We were informed by Abu Na’eem, Fadl bin Dakeen, from Hisham bin Sa’d, ob Zaid bin Aslam, from Abu Yunus, that he said: Aisha wrote a book (containing the Qur’an) and said: If you pass by the verse of prayer, then do not write it until I dictate it to you. Then, when I passed by it, she dictated it to me as: «Maintain the prayers, and (in particular) the middle prayer and the prayer of the afternoon». (2:238) [1]

حدثنا علي بن عبد الله الوراق، وعلي بن محمد بن الحسن القزويني، قالا: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله [قال: حدثنا أحمد] بن أبي خلف الأشعري، قال: حدثنا سعد بن داود، عن أبي دهر ، عن مالك بن أنس، عن زيد بن أسلم، عن عمرو بن نافع، قال: كنت أكتب مصحفا لحفصة زوجة النبي صلى الله عليه وآله فقالت: إذا بلغت هذه الآية فاكتب " حافظوا على الصلوات والصلاة الوسطى وصلاة العصر ".

3. We were told by Ali bin Abdullah al-Warraq, and Ali bin Muhammed bin Hasan al-Qazwini, that they both said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah, that he said: We were told by Ahmad bin Abi Khalaf al-Ash’ari, that he said: We were told by Sa’d bin Dawud, from Abu Dahr, from Malik bin Anas, from Zaid bin Aslam, from Amru bin Nafe’, that he said: I was writing the book (which contained the Qur’an) from Hafsa, the wife of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and she said: If you reach this verse, then write: «Maintain the prayers, and (in particular) the middle prayer and the prayer of the afternoon». (2:238)

حدثنا علي بن عبد الله الوراق، وعلي بن محمد بن الحسن القزويني، قالا حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله بن أبي خلف، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن أبي خلف الأشعري، قال: حدثنا سعد بن داود، عن مالك بن أنس، عن زيد بن أسلم، عن القعقاع بن حكيم، عن أبي يونس مولى عائشة زوجة النبي صلى الله عليه وآله قال: أمرتني عائشة أن اكتب لها مصحفا وقالت: إذا بلغت هذه الآية فاكتب " حافظوا على الصلوات والصلاة الوسطى (وصلاة العصر) وقوموا لله قانتين " ثم قالت عائشة: سمعتها والله من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله.

4. We were told by Ali bin Abdullah al-Warraq, and Ali bin Muhammed bin Hasan al-Qazwini, that they both said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah bin Abi Khalaf, that he said: We were told by Ahmad bin Abi Khalaf al-Ash’ari, that he said: We were told by Sa’d bin Dawud, from Malik bin Anas, from Zaid bin Aslam, from Qa’qa’ bin Hukaim, from Abu Yunus, the servant of Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, that he said: Aisha ordered me to write for her a book (containing the Qur’an), and she said: If you reach this verse, then write: «Maintain the prayers, and (in particular) the middle prayer and the prayer of the afternoon», and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.» (2:238) Then Aisha said: I heard it, by Allah, from the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family.

قال مصنف هذا الكتاب: فهذه الأخبار حجة لنا على المخالفين، وصلاة الوسطى صلاة الظهر.

The compiler of this book said: Hence, these reports are an argument in our favor against the opponents [1]. The middle prayer is the noon prayer.

حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد - رضي الله عنه - قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن عبد الرحمن بن أبي نجران، والحسين بن سعيد جميعا، عن حماد بن عيسى الجهني، عن حريز بن عبد الله السجستاني، عن زرارة بن أعين قال: سألته - يعني أبا جعفر عليه السلام - عما فرض الله عز وجل من الصلاة فقال: خمس صلوات في الليل والنهار. قلت: هل سماهن الله تعالى وبينهن في كتابه؟ فقال: نعم، قال الله تعالى لنبيه صلى الله عليه وآله: " أقم الصلاة لدلوك الشمس إلى غسق الليل " ودلوكها زوالها ففيما بين دلوك الشمس إلى غسق الليل أربع صلوات سماهن وبينهن ووقتهن، وغسق الليل انتصافه، ثم قال: " وقرآن الفجر إن قرآن الفجر كان مشهودا " فهده الخامسة، وقال تبارك وتعالى في ذلك: " أقم الصلاة طرفي النهار " وطرفاه صلاة المغرب والغداة. " وزلفا من الليل " فهي صلاة العشاء الآخرة. وقال عز وجل: " حافظوا على الصلوات والصلاة الوسطى " وهي صلاة الظهر وهي أول صلاة صلاها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وهي وسط صلاتين بالنهار صلاة الغداة وصلاة العصر. " وقوموا لله قانتين " في صلاة الوسطى.

5. We were told by Muhammed bin Hasan bin Ahmad bin Waleed, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: We were told by Muhammed bin Hasan al-Saffar, from Ahmad bin Muhammed bin Isa, from Abdul-Rahman bin Abi Najran, oand Hussain bin Sa’eed, all of them, from Hammad bin Isa al-Jahni, from Huraiz bin Abdullah al-Sijistani, from Zurara bin A’yan, that he said: I asked him, meaning Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, about what Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, has obliged with regards to prayer, so he said: Five prayers during the night and day. I said: Did Allah, Exalted is He, name them and clarify them in His Book? He said: Yes. Allah, Exalted is He, said to His Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family: «Establish the prayer at the setting of the sun until the darkness of the night» (17:78). Its setting is its vanishing. Hence, between the setting of the sun until the darkness of the night, there are four prayers which He named, clarified and set a time to. The darkness of the night is its middle-point. Then He said: «and the Qur’an of the dawn. Indeed, the Qur’an of the dawn is ever witnessed.» (17:78) This is the fifth. He, Blessed and Exalted is He, said with regards to that: «Establish the prayer at the two ends of the day» (11:114), and its two ends is the sundown and the early morning, «and at the approach of the night» (11:114), and that is the prayer of the last evening. He, Exalted and Glorious is He,also said: «Maintain the prayers, and (in particular) the middle prayer» (2:238), that is the noon prayer, and it was the first prayer the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and it is in the middle of two prayers during the day, the prayer of the early morning and the afternoon prayer, «and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient» (2:238) during the middle prayer.

حدثنا أبو الحسن علي بن عبد الله بن أحمد الأسواري، قال: حدثنا أبو يوسف أحمد بن محمد بن القيس السجزي المذكر، قال: حدثنا أبو الحسن عمرو بن حفص قال: حدثني أبو محمد عبيد الله بن محمد بن أسد ببغداد، قال: حدثنا الحسين بن إبراهيم أبو علي ، قال: حدثنا يحيى بن سعيد البصري، قال: حدثنا ابن جريج، عن عطاء، عن عبيد بن عمير الليثي، عن أبي ذر - رحمه الله - قال: دخلت على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وهو في المسجد جالسا وحده، فاغتنمت خلوته، فقال لي: يا أبا ذر إن للمسجد تحية قلت: وما تحيته؟ قال: ركعتان تركعهما، ثم التفت إليه فقلت: يا رسول الله إنك أمرتني بالصلاة فما الصلاة؟ قال: خير موضوع فمن شاء أقل ومن شاء أكثر، قال: قلت: أي الأعمال أحب إلى الله عز وجل؟ قال: إيمان بالله وجهاد في سبيله [قلت: فأي المؤمنين أكمل إيمانا؟ قال: أحسنهم خلقا. قلت: وأي المؤمنين أفضل؟ قال: من سلم المسلمون من لسانه ويده] قلت: فأي الليل أفضل؟ قال: جوف الليل الغابر، قلت: فأي الصلاة أفضل؟ قال: طول القنوت. قلت: فأي الصدقة أفضل؟ قال: جهد من مقل إلى فقير في سر، قلت: فما الصوم؟ قال: فرض مجزي وعند الله أضعاف كثيرة، قلت: فأي الرقاب أفضل؟ قال: أغلاها ثمنا وأنفسها عند أهلها، قلت: فأي الجهاد أفضل؟ قال: من عقر جواده واهريق دمه. قلت: فأي آية أنزلها الله عليك أعظم؟ قال: آية الكرسي. ثم قال: يا أبا ذر ما السماوات السبع في الكرسي إلا كحلقة ملقاة في أرض فلاة وفضل العرش على الكرسي كفضل الفلاة على تلك الحلقة. قلت: يا رسول الله كم النبيون؟ قال: مائة ألف وأربعة وعشرون ألف نبي. قلت: كم المرسلون منهم؟ قال: ثلاث مائة وثلاثة عشر جما غفيرا. قلت: من كان أول الأنبياء؟ قال: آدم، قلت: وكان من الأنبياء مرسلا؟ قال: نعم، خلقه الله بيده ونفخ فيه من روحه، ثم قال: يا أبا ذر، أربعة من الأنبياء سريانيون: آدم، وشيث، وأخنوخ وهو إدريس عليه السلام وهو أول من خط بالقلم، ونوح. وأربعة من العرب: هود، وصالح، وشعيب، ونبيك محمد، وأول نبي من بني إسرائيل موسى وآخرهم عيسى وست مائة نبي. قلت: يا رسول كم أنزل الله تعالى من كتاب؟ قال: مائة كتاب وأربعة كتب: أنزل الله تعالى على شيث عليه السلام خمسين صحيفة، وعلى إدريس ثلاثين صحيفة، وعلى إبراهيم عشرين صحيفة، وأنزل التوراة والإنجيل والزبور والفرقان. قلت: يا رسول الله فما كانت صحف إبراهيم؟ قال: كانت أمثالا كلها: أيها الملك المبتلى المغرور إني لم أبعثك لتجمع الدنيا بعضها على بعض ولكني بعثتك لترد عني دعوة المظلوم فإني لا أردها وإن كانت من كافر. وعلى العاقل ما لم يكن مغلوبا على عقله أن يكون له ساعات: ساعة يناجي فيها ربه عز وجل وساعة يحاسب فيها نفسه، وساعة يتفكر فيما صنع الله تعالى وساعة يخلو فيها بحظ نفسه من الحلال، وإن هذه الساعة عون لتلك الساعات واستجمام للقلوب وتفريغ لها. وعلى العاقل أن يكون بصيرا بزمانه، مقبلا على شأنه، حافظا للسانه، فإنه من حسب كلامه من عمله قل كلامه إلا فيما يعنيه. وعلى العاقل أن يكون طالبا لثلاث‍ [ة]: مرمة لمعاش، وتزود لمعاد، وتلذذ في غير محرم. قلت: يا رسول الله فما كانت صحف موسى؟ قال: كانت عبرا كلها: عجبت لمن أيقن بالموت لم يفرح؟! ولمن أيقن بالنار لم يضحك؟! ولمن يرى الدنيا وتقلبها بأهلها لم يطمئن إليها؟! ولمن أيقن بالقدر لم ينصب ؟! ولمن أيقن بالحساب لم لا يعمل؟!قلت: يا رسول الله هل في أيدينا مما أنزل الله تعالى عليك مما كان في صحف إبراهيم وموسى؟! قال: يا أبا ذر اقرأ: " قد أفلح من تزكى * وذكر اسم ربه فصلى * بل تؤثرون الحياة الدنيا * والآخرة خير وأبقى * إن هذا لفي الصحف الأولى * صحف إبراهيم وموسى " قلت: يا رسول الله أوصني. قال: أوصيك بتقوى الله فإنه رأس الامر كله، قلت: زدني، قال: عليك بتلاوة القرآن وذكر الله كثيرا فإنه ذكر لك في السماء ونور لك في الأرض، قلت: زدني، قال: عليك بطول الصمت فإنه مطردة للشياطين وعون لك على أمر دينك، قلت: زدني، قال: إياك وكثرة الضحك فإنه يميت القلب [ويذهب بنور الوجه، قلت: يا رسول الله زدني، قال: انظر إلى من هو تحتك ولا تنظر إلى من هو فوقك فإنه أجدر أن لا تزدري نعمة الله عليك، قلت: يا رسول الله زدني، قال: صل قرابتك وإن قطعوك]، قلت: زدني، قال: عليك بحب المساكين ومجالستهم، قلت: زدني قال: قل الحق وإن كان مرا، قلت: زدني، قال: لا تخف في الله لومة لائم، قلت: زدني، قال: ليحجزك عن الناس ما تعلم من نفسك ولا تجد عليهم فيما تأتي مثله. ثم قال: كفى بالمرء عيبا أن يكون فيه ثلاث خصال: يعرف من الناس ما يجهل من نفسه، ويستحي لهم مما هو فيه، ويؤذي جليسه فيما لا يعنيه. ثم قال: يا أبا ذر لا عقل كالتدبير، ولا ورع كالكف، ولا حسب كحسن الخلق.

1. We were told by Abu’l-Hasan, Ali bin Abdullah bin Ahmad al-Aswari, that he said: We were told by Abu Yusuf, Ahmad bin Muhammed bin Qais al-Sajzi al-Mudhakkar, that he said: We were told by Abu’l-Hasan, Amru bin Hafs, that he said: I was told by Abu Muhammed, Ubaidullah bin Muhammed bin Asad, in Baghdad, that he said: We were told by Hussain bin Ibrahim, Abu Ali, that he said: We were told by Yahya bin Sa’eed al-Basri, that he said: We were told by Ibn Jareeh, from ‘Ataa’, from ‘Ubaid bin ‘Umayr al-Laithi, from Abu Dharr, may Allah grant him mercy, that he said: I entered into the place of Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, while he was in the mosque, sitting alone, so I took profit from his solitude. He then said to me: O Abu Dharr, indeed, there is a salutation to the mosque. Then I said: And what is its salutation? He said: Two rak’a’s that you perform. He then turned to me, and I said: O Messenger of Allah, you have, indeed, ordered me to pray, so what is the prayer? He said: The best of places, hence, the one who wants may do less, and the one who wants may do more. He said: I said: Which of acts is the most beloved to Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He? He said: Faith in Allah and striving for His sake. I said: Then which of the believers has the most complete faith? He said: Those of them with the best mannerisms. I said: And which of the believers are the best? He said: The one whom Muslims are at safety from his tongue and hand. I said: And which part of the night is the best? He said: The core of the bygone night. I said: And which prayer is the best? He said: The prolonged qunut. I said: And which charity is the best? He said: (To spend) Effort from one destitute to a poor in secret. I said: And what is fasting? He said: A rewarding obligation, and with Allah are many multiples (of it). I said: And which of the necks (in captivity) is the best? He said: That which is of most expensive price, and which is most valuable to its people. I said: And what striving is the best? He said: The one in which one’s horse is slaughtered and one’s blood is shed. Then I said: And which verse whom Allah sent down upon you is the greatest? He said: The verse of the Chair. Then he said: O Abu Dharr, the Heavens are not, as compared to the Chair, except like a small ring thrown into an open land, and the preference of the Throne over the Chair is like preference of the open land over that small ring. I said: O Messenger of Allah, how many are the Prophets? He said: A hundred and twenty-four thousand Prophets. I said: How many are the Messengers among them? He said: Three hundred and thirteen, a numerous abundance. I said: Who was the first of the Prophets? He said: Adam. I said: And was he, from among the Prophets, a Messenger? He said: Yes, Allah created him with His Hand and blew into him from His Spirit. Then he said: O Abu Dharr, four of the Prophets were Syriac: Adam, Sheeth , Akhnoukh , that is Idrees, peace be upon him, and he was the first to write with the pen, and Nuh . And they were four from the Arabs: Hud, Saleh, Shu’ayb and your Prophet, Muhammed. The first Prophet from the sons of Isra’eel was Musa , and the last of them was Isa , and six hundred Prophets. I said: O Messenger of Allah, how many Books did Allah, Exalted is He, send down? He said: A hundred and four books. Allah, Exalted is He, sent down fifty Journals unto Sheeth, peace be upon him, and thirty Journals upon Idrees, and twenty Journals upon Ibrahim, and He sent down the Tawrat , Injeel , Zabour and the Criterion [1]. I said: O Messenger of Allah, and what were the Journals of Ibrahim? He said: They were proverbs, all of them: «O possession that is trialed and lured, indeed, I have not sent you that you might gather this world, some of it above another. However, I have sent you in order that you might respond, on behalf of Me, to the prayer of the oppressed, for indeed, I will not reject it, even if it may be from a disbeliever. Moreover, it is upon the rational, unless his sense of sanity is subjugated, that he has (made for himself) certain hours: an hour in which he confidentially talks to his Lord, Exalted and Glorious is He; an hour in which he puts himself in reckoning; an hour in which he thinks of what Allah, Exalted is He, has done; and an hour in which he secludes himself to (gain) a portion of his right from what is permissible, and indeed, this hour is an assistance to those hours and a relaxation to the hearts and an unloading of them. Moreover, it is upon the rational to be insightful in his age, moving forward upon his matter, preserving to his tongue, for indeed, the one who calculates his speech from his act, his speech will lessen, except for that which concerns him. Moreover, it is upon the rational that he seeks three: a means of amends for livelihood; a means of increasement for the revival; and pleasure in other than what is forbidden.» I said: O Messenger of Allah, and what were the Journals of Musa? He said: They were lessons, all of them: «I am amazed at the one who is certain of death, how can he rejoice? And of the one who is certain of the Fire, why does he smile? And the one who sees this world and its change with its people, why does he seek confidence to it? And the one who is certain of destiny, why does he strive excessively? And of the one who is certain of the Reckoning, why does he not act?» I said: O Messenger of Allah, is there in our hands from what Allah, Exalted is He, has sent down unto you, of that which was in the Journals of Ibrahim and Musa? He said: O Abu Dharr, recite: «Certainly, he has succeeded, the one who gives the alms tax, and mentions the Name of his Lord and prays. Rather, you are preferring the life of this world, whereas the Hereafter is better and more remaining? Indeed, this is, verily, in the first Journals, the Journals of Ibrahim and Musa.» (87:14-19) I said: O Messenger of Allah, bequeath to me. He said: I bequeath you to (establish) fear of Allah, for indeed, it is the head of the matter, all of it. I said: Increase me. He said: It is upon you to recite the Qur’an and to mention Allah in abundance, for indeed, it is (a cause to) mentioning of you in Heaven and a light for you on earth. I said: Increase me. He said: It is upon you to prolong silence, for indeed, it is (a means of) expelling devils and an assistance to you for the matters of your religion. I said: Increase me. He said: Beware from much laughing, for indeed, it causes the heart to die. I said: Increase me. He said: It is upon you to love the needy and sit with them. I said: Increase me. He said: Say the truth, even if it is bitter. I said: Increase me. He said: Do not fear, for the sake of Allah, the blame of a blamer. I said: Increase me. He said: Let yourself be constrained from people due to what you know about yourself, and do not find upon people (in search for blemish) in that which you do. He then said: It is sufficient for an individual’s blemish that there are three traits in him: that he knows about people that which he is unaware of (that he possesses) himself; that he is embarrassed to them from that which he himself is in; and that he harms the one he sits with by that which does not concern him. He then said: O Abu Dharr, there is no awareness like reflection; no piety like abstention; and no nobility like good mannerisms.