SPYING

Prohibition of Following Up Peoples Flaws

1- The Prophet (PBUH) said, Beware of suspicion, for verily suspicion is the
greatest lie; and do not probe one another [for information] nor spy on one
another.[Sahihe Muslim, no. 2563]
2- The Prophet (SAWA) said, I have not been ordered to pry open the hearts of
people nor to cleave their bellies [for information or flaws].[Kanz al-`Ummal, nos.
31597, 15035]
3- The Prophet (SAWA) said, Do not probe for flaws in believers, for a man that
probes the flaws of his brother will have Allah probe his own flaws; and when Allah
probes the flaws of a man, He will expose him even if he were inside his own
home.[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 355, no. 5]
4- The Prophet (SAWA) said, Do not ask the woman who fornicates about her
partner in the offense; for just like it was easy for her to commit fornication, so it
will be easy for her to accuse an innocent Muslim.[al-Tahdhib, v. 10, p. 48, no.
177]
5- Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, Do not probe into the religiosity of people lest you
remain without a friend.[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 253, no. 109]

---------------------secrecy
.
One who discloses your secret may ruin your project.
.
He who is unable to keep his own secrets will never be able to keep others
secrets.

.
One who confides his secret to another, acquiesces in his own disrepute
.
Your secret is your captive as long as it is hidden and when it is divulged
you will then be its slave.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Silence
1 The Prophet (SAWA) said to Abu Dharr, exhorting him, There are four things
that none can accomplish apart from the believer: silence, and this is the first stage
of worship[Makarim al-Akhlaq, v. 2, no. 377]
2 Imam Ali (AS) said, Silence is the sign of nobility and the fruit of the
intellect.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1343]

3
.


:)
(
3 Imam Ali (AS) said, describing the believer, Great is his silence and occupied
is his time.[Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 333]

-----------------------------------------------------------

Lying

1
.

:)(

1 The Prophet (SAWA) said, The worst form of usury is lying.[Bihar al-Anwar, v.
72, p. 263, no. 47]

2

.





:)(

2 The Prophet (SAWA) said, When a servant tells one lie, the angels distance
themselves a mile away from him because of his foul smell.[Sharh Nahj alBalagha li ibn Abi al-Hadid, v. 6 p. 357]
3


.
:)(

3 The Prophet (SAWA) said, Lying is one door of the doors of hypocrisy.[Kanz
al-`Ummal, no. 8212]

:)(

4 The Prophet (SAWA) said, A liar only lies because of his disgraceful self, and
the origin of mockery is sympathising with people who lie.[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 72, p.
262, no. 45]

5
.
:)

(

5 Imam Ali (AS) said, Lying is treachery.[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 72, p. 261, no. 37]

:)(
.

6 Imam Ali (AS) said, The most evil of speech is lying.[Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon
84]

.

)






:)

(
(

7 Imam Ali (AS) said, The sign of faith is that you prefer truthfulness where it is to
your own detriment over lying where it is to your benefit.[Nahj al-Balagha, Saying
458]

8
.

(
:)

8 Imam Ali (AS) said, A liar is degraded and humiliated.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no.
339]

.


(
:)

9 Imam Ali (AS) said, There is no bad thing worse than lying.[Bihar al-Anwar, v.
72, p. 259, no. 23]

( )
.

11
:

10 Imam al-Kazim (AS), advising Hisham, said, An intelligent person does not lie
even whimsically.[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 305, no. 1]

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Self-Admiration

1

.


:)
(
1 Imam Ali (AS) said, There is no loneliness more miserable than self-

admiration.[Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 113]

2
.


:)
(

2 Imam Ali (AS) said, Self-admiration shows up your faults.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no.
954]
3
.

:)
(

3 Imam Ali (AS) said, Self-admiration is foolishness.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 62]

4
.


(
:)

4 Imam Ali (AS) said, An evil deed [of yours] that upsets you is better in the sight
of Allah than a good deed which you feel proud about.[Nahj al-Balagha, Saying
46]

5
.

:)


(

5 Imam Ali (AS) said, Beware of self-satisfaction lest it increases the cause for
[Allahs] wrath against you.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2642]

6

.

:)
(

6 Imam Ali (AS) said, The consequence of self-admiration is hatred [of other
people towards you].[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4606]

.
:)



(

7 Imam Ali (AS) said, Self-admiration is the opposite of proper conduct, and is
the bane of the hearts.[Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 74]

8
.


:)
(

8 Imam Ali (AS) said, Self-admiration corrupts reason.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no.

726]

9
.
:)


(

9 Imam Ali (AS) said, Self-admiration prevents progress.[Nahj al-Balagha, no.

167]

:
:)

(

11



.

10 Imam al-Baqir and Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, Verily Allah, Blessed and most

High, says, Verily from among My servants is he who asks Me to enable him to
perform an act of obedience to Me in order that he may procure My love, but I
however, withhold that from him in order that he does not come to feel proud of
that action of his.[al-Zuhd li al-Husayn b. Sa`aid, p. 68, no. 179]

.



:)
(
11

11 Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, He who is overtaken by self-admiration

perishes.[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 313, no. 2]

--------------------------------------------------

Enjoinment of True Hope

1

.
:)


(

1 Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Every hopeful person continues seeking, and every fearful
one runs away.[Amali al-Mufid, p. 207, no. 38]

(

:)

.



2 Imam Ali (AS) said to a man soliciting advice from him, 'Do not be of those who
hope for [bliss in] the life of the Hereafter without action, and delay repentance by
having high expectations [of being forgiven], and who utter words like the ascetics
with regard to this world, though in practice they behave like those who covet
it.[Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 150]

:

(

:

)

3 Someone came to Imam al-Sadiq (AS) and told him that there was a group of
people who were disobeying Allah, but at the same time they were saying that
they hoped [in His mercy], and remained thus until death overtook them. Imam
(AS) said, These are people who swing back and forth between their desires.
They are lying and are not really hopeful, for the one who hopes for something
seeks it, and the one who fears something flees from it.[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 68, no. 5]

------------------------------------------

The Habit

 :) ( 1
.

1 Imam Ali (AS) said, Habit is second nature. [Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 702]

:) ( 2
.

2 Imam Ali (AS) said, A habit holds every man under its authority. [Ghurar alHikam, no. 7327]

:) ( 3
.

3 Imam Ali (AS) said, He who obeys habits does not attain high levels. [Ghurar
al-Hikam, no. 6409]

4
.



:)

(

4 Imam Ali (AS) said, Your tongue will urge you to whatever you have
accustomed it [to say], and your inner self will require you to do whatever you have
made it fond of. [Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 7634]
5

.


:)


(

5 Imam Ali (AS) said, Do not hasten to resort to anger lest it prevail over you by
becoming a habit. [Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 10288]

: ( ) ( ) 6

.




6 Imam Ali (AS) said in his will to his son, al-Hasan (AS), Verily the heart of a
young person is like the untilled earth, which accepts whatever is placed therein. I,
therefore, urge you to hasten to self-discipline before your heart hardens, and your
mind becomes preoccupied. [Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 31]
7

.

:)

(




7 Imam Ali (AS), was once offered a sweetmeat called faludhaj, so he placed it in
front of him, saying, Verily you have a fragrant smell, are of a beautiful colour, and
taste delicious, but I hate to habituate my soul [to anything] since it has not yet
formed any habits. [Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 36549]

:) ( 8

8 Imam Ali (AS) said, Habituate yourself to performing noble actions and to bear
the burdensome consequences [of your actions], and your soul will be elevated as
a result, your Hereafter will flourish, and your admirers will increase. [Ghurar alHikam, no. 6232]

 :) ( 9

.

9 Imam al-Hasan (AS) said, Habits are overpowering, for he who forms a habit to
something in secret and during his free times is plagued by them in public and
when occupied. [Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 2, p. 113]

-------------------------------------------

Prohibition of Backbiting
:

1


:)(




:

.


1 The Prophet (SAWA) said, On the night that I was taken on my Night-Journey
[to the heavens], I passed by a group of people scratching their own faces with
their nails, so I asked, O Gabriel, who are these people? so he replied, These
are people who backbit about other people and disparaged their
reputations.[Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 1, p. 115]

: 2

:)(
:



:

2 The Prophet (SAWA) said, Backbiting is worse than adultery, at which he was
asked, How so? He replied, A man commits adultery, then repents, and Allah
pardons him for it, whereas the backbiter is not forgiven until his victim forgives
him.[al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib, v. 3, p. 511, no. 24]

:) ( 3
.

3 Imam Ali (AS) said, Backbiting is the attempt of one who is incapable [of doing
better himself].[Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 461]

4

.

:



(

)
4 Imam al-Husayn (AS) said to a man who was backbiting about a man in his
presence, Stop backbiting, for verily it is the food of the dogs of Hell.[Tuhaf al`Uqoul, no. 245]

.




(
5
:)

5 Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, Do not backbite lest you become a victim of
backbiting, and do not dig a hole for your brother lest you fall in it yourself, for you
will be paid back whatever you put in.[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 75, p. 249, no. 16]

!
:)

(
6
:

... !

6 Imam al-Sadiq (AS) narrated, A man once came and told Ali b. al-Husayn (AS)
[i.e. Imam Zayn al-Abidin], Verily x has said that you are astray and that you are
an innovator! So Ali b. al-Husayn (AS) said to him, Neither have you observed the
right of the man you sat with by transmitting to us what he spoke about, nor have
you observed my right by informing me of something about my brother which I
would not have known! Beware of backbiting for verily it is the food of the dogs
of Hell, and know that whoever frequently talks about peoples faults, the
frequency of his backbiting is a witness [to the fact] that he only finds faults in
others according to the extent present in himself.[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 75, p. 246,
no. 8]

--------------------------------------------DIVORCE

The Censure of Divorce

:) (
.
1

1 The Prophet (SAWA) said, Allah has not made permissible anything more
abominable to Him than divorce.[Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 27871]

2

:)(
.

2 The Prophet (SAWA) said, Verily Allah, Mighty and Exalted, despises or
excludes from His mercy every man who is quick to contract new marriages, and
every woman who does so.[al-Kafi, v. 6, p. 54, no. 1]

3

.

:)
(

3 Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, Verily Allah, Mighty and Exalted, despises every man
who is quick to contract new divorces and marriages.[al-Kafi, v. 6, p. 55, no. 4]

.







(
4
:)

4 Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, Nothing is more abominable to Allah from all that He
has made permissible than divorce, and verily Allah despises one who is quick to

]contract new divorces and marriages.[al-Kafi, v. 6, p. 54, no. 2

) :

(
5

.

5 Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, Verily Allah, Mighty and Exalted, loves the house
wherein a wedding is taking place, and despises the house wherein a divorce is in
]process, and nothing is more abominable to Allah than divorce.[al-Kafi, v. 6, no. 3

() :
( )

() :

() ( : )
.
() ( : )
( ) :
.
() :
.
() :
.

--------------------------------------------------

CHILDHOOD

Childhood
1

.
( ) :

1 The Prophet (SAWA) said, Chiding a boy in his childhood [as discipline] leads
]to an increase in his intellect as an adult.[Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 30747

.

(
:)

2 Imam Ali (AS) said, He who does not exert himself in his childhood will not be
high-minded when he grows up.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 8272]

:) ( 3
.

3 Imam Ali (AS) said, He who asks questions as a child is able to answer them
himself as an adult.[Ibid. no. 8273]

4
.
:)


(

4 Imam Ali (AS) said, He who does not learn as a child does not progress as an
adult.[Ibid. no. 8937]

:) ( 5
.

5 Imam Ali (AS) said, The ignorant man is a child even though he may be old,
while the knowledgeable man is an adult even though he be young.[Bihar alAnwar, v. 1, p. 183, no. 85]

6

.

(

:)

6 Imam al-Kazim (AS) said, It is recommended to discipline a boy in his

childhood in order that he be clement as an adult.[al-Faqih, v. 3, p. 493, no. 4748]

-------------------------------FOOD

Little [Consumption of] Food

-1
.

: )(

1- The Prophet (SAWA) said, A man whose [consumption of] food is little has a
healthy stomach and a pure heart, and a man whose food is plenty has a sickly
stomach and a hard heart.[Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 1, p. 46]

: ) ( -2
.

2- Imam Ali (AS) said, Eating little is a sign of self-restraint, and eating a lot is a
sign of wastefulness.[Mustadrak al-Wasail, v. 16, p. 213, no. 19634]

Eating Excessively

-3
.
: )(

3- The Prophet (SAWA) said, Man cannot fill a container worse than his
stomach.[Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 1, p. 100]

: ) (

.
-4



4- The Prophet (SAWA) said, A man who fills his stomach will not enter the
dominion of the heavens and the earth.[Ibid.]

-5


: )(





.

5- The Prophet (SAWA) said, Be warned against excessive food, for it poisons the
heart with hardness, slows the limbs in performing acts of obedience, and blocks
the souls from hearing counsel. [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 182, no. 10]
: ) ( -6
.

6- Imam Ali (AS) said, A man who eats excessively, his health declines and his
burden becomes heavier than he can endure. [Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 8903]

-7
(

: )

7- Imam Ali (AS) said, Hunger and disease cannot coexist. [Mustadrak al-Wasail,
v. 16, p. 222, no. 19652]

---------------------------------------THE FRIEND

The Friend


1
.

:)(

1 The Prophet (SAWA) said, Man follows the same creed as his friend, so
consider carefully who it is you befriend.[Amali al-Tusi, p. 518, no. 1135]
2
.
:)


(

2 Imam Ali (AS) said, Ones friend is the closest of ones relations.[Ghurar alHikam, no. 674]

:) ( 3
.

3 Imam Ali (AS) said, He who lacks friends lacks a necessity.[Ibid. no. 8760]

4
.
:)

(

4 Imam Ali (AS) said, Friends are a single soul divided between different
bodies.[Ibid. no. 2059]

Resemblance of Souls

5
.

(

:)

5 Imam Ali (AS) said, Souls resemble other souls, and those that resemble each
other are in harmony, that is why people are attracted towards those they
resemble.[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 92, no. 100]

6
.

(
:)

6 Imam Ali (AS) said, Every person is inclined towards one who is like
him.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6865]

People Whom One Should Befriend

7


.

:)(

7 The Prophet (SAWA) said, The most prosperous of people is he who mingles
with honourable people.[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 74, p. 185, no. 2]

8


.


:)

(

8 Imam Ali (AS) said, The most goodness and righteousness is to be found in
the company of people of reason and understanding.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3129]

9
.

:)






(

9 Imam Ali (AS) said, The one who invites you to the everlasting abode and
helps you work towards it is a compassionate friend indeed.[Ibid. no. 8775]
:) ( 11

10 Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, Do not call a man your friend with the true stamp of
friendship until you have tested him in three matters: anger him so that you may
see whether his anger takes him away from right into wrong; test him with the
money; and travel with him.[Amali al-Tusi, p. 646, no. 1339]

.



(
11

:)

11 Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, Befriend one who gives you a good image, and do
not befriend one who uses you to boost his own image.[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 76, p.
267, no. 9]

-----------------------------THE GIFT

The Role of Gifts in Love

1

.
:)(

1 The Prophet (SAWA) said, Give gifts to each other and you will love each
other; give gifts to each other for it removes grudges.[al-Kafi, v. 5, p. 144, no. 14]

2
.

:)(

2 The Prophet (SAWA) said, A gift brings about affection, reinforces

brotherhood, and removes grudges. Give gifts to each other and you will love each
other.[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 166, no. 2]

3
.




(

:)
3 Imam Ali (AS) said, Giving a gift to my Muslim brother that he would benefit
from is more beloved to me than giving its like in charity.[al-Kafi, v. 5, p. 144, no.
12]

----------------------------

LAUGHTER

Laughing and Smiling
1
.

:)


(

1 Imam Ali (AS) said, The Prophet (SAWA)s laughter was a smile.[Amali alTusi, p. 522, no. 1156]

-2
. :


:)
(

2 Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, When you laugh boisterously, say, O Allah do not
despise me when you have finished.[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 664, no. 13]

:) (

-3

3 Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, Loud boisterous laughter is from Satan.[al-Kafi, v. 2,

p. 664, no. 10]

.
:)


(
-4

4 Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, The laughter of a believer is a smile.[al-Kafi, v. 2, p.

664, no. 5]

:) (
.


-5

5 Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, He who smiles at his brother gets the reward of a
good deed.[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 206, no. 1]

--------------------JEALOUSY

Jealousy

1
:
.
: )(





1- The Prophet (SAWA) said, Allah, Mighty and Exalted, said to Moses son of
Amran (AS) [known in the Arabic tradition as `Aimran], Verily the jealous is
discontented with My bounties, and wards off the shares I have apportioned to My

servants.[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 307, no. 6]

2
.


: )

(

2- Imam Ali (AS) said, Jealousy is the spirits imprisonment.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no.
372]

3

.
: )


(

3- Imam Ali (AS) said, Jealousy is the worst disease.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 332]

4

.



(
: )

4- Imam Ali (AS) said, The most important evil is jealousy.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no.
5242]

!
5
.

(
: )

5- Imam Ali (AS) said, How capable jealousy is! And how just it is, that it starts off
with its perpetrator and ends up killing him![Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha li Ibn Abi alHadid, v. 1, p. 316]

: ) ( 6

.

6- Imam Ali (AS) said, The fruit of jealousy is the misery of this world and the
Hereafter.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4632]

: ) ( 7

.

7- Imam Ali (AS) said, The jealous one sees a loss for the one he is jealous of as
a gain for himself.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1832]

8
.


: )
(




:

8- Imam Ali (AS) said, I have not seen a wrong-doer resemble a wronged person
more than the jealous one: he has an exhausted spirit, a wandering heart, and an
inherent sorrow.[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 76, p. 256, no. 29]

: ) ( 9
.

9- Imam Ali (AS) said, That which he suffers is [torment] enough for the jealous
one.[Mustadrak al-Wasail, v. 12, p. 17, no. 13388]

11
.



: )


(

10- Imam Ali (AS) said, The jealous one has many regrets, and his vices are

manifold.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1520]

11
.

: )

(

11- Imam Ali (AS) said, The jealous one can never rule.[Ghurar al-Hikam, no.
1017]

-------------------------ANGER

Anger is the Key to All Evils

1

.

:)(

1 The Prophet (SAWA) said, Anger is a smouldering ember [kindled by]

Satan.[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 73, p. 265, no. 15]

2


.


:)
(

2 Imam Ali (AS) said, Rage is a type of madness because the one enraged feels
regret later on, and if he does not feel regret, then his madness has become
ingrained.[Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 255]

:) (
.


3

3 Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, Anger is the key to all evils.[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 303, no.
3]

.


(
4
:)

4 Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, Anger is such that it destroys the heart of even the
wise man.[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 305, no. 13]