Chapter 1 - On Choosing Friends

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Do not deceive others since you will then be left without any friends.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Any believer is the brother of any other believer. He will not oppress, humiliate, deceive or lie to his brothers.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “It is not appropriate for a believer to become friends with a believer or others of a higher rank through fear since a believer's religion is honorable.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Do not let the existing decency between you and your religious brother be removed since it will result in the loss of your honor, but its presence will help maintain manliness.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “You should inform your religious brothers whenever life gets hard for you. You should not rely solely on yourself as you may get overpowered.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Whoever values God's religion will honor the rights of his believing brothers, but whoever undervalues his religion will undervalue his believing brothers.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “If a believer is asked by another believer to help fulfill one of his vital needs, and he refuses to do so although he is able to directly or indirectly fulfill his needs, he will be resurrected with his hands tied to his neck and has to wait until God finishes the reckoning of all His creatures' accounts.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Whoever associates with his believing brother just because he needs something, and does not really wish him well is similar to one who is treacherous to God and His Prophet.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “A believer's right over other believers is to be sincerely advised.”

“Did you not think that he might get upset if you do so. Have you not read God's words in: “Those who join together those things which God hath commanded to be joined, hold their Lord in awe, and fear the terrible reckoning.” [The Holy Quran: Ra'd 13:21] “Do they fear that God may oppress them? No. They fear that they be asked for their account of deeds. God called it “the terrible reckoning”, implying that it is bad to reckon with your brother.”

“I have broken off from them, so you should break off from them too.”

“Do not embark in a deal in which there are more losses for you than there are gains for your believing brother.” Ibn San'an said: “This means that if a man has a lot of debts but you have only a little bit of money and wish to repay his debt, do not do so since you will lose all your money and his debt will not be settled either.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “On the Resurrection Day a believer will be asked to watch the people, and find out whoever has somehow helped him by feeding him, or giving him something to drink, etc. He will then be allowed to take the hands of all the people who somehow helped him and take them all to Heaven.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Whoever respects a believer it is as if he has respected God. Whoever prays for his believing brother, God will fend off calamities from him and increase his share of daily bread.”

Imam Ali (a.s) said: “Pay attention to your brothers as they will be useful for you in this world and the Hereafter. Have you not heard God quote the residents of Hell: “Now, then, we have none to intercede (for us), nor a single friend to feel (for us).” [The Holy Quran: Shu'araa 26:100-101]

Imam Ali (a.s) said: “Even if you stay up for many nights for worship, and fast for many days and make a sacrifice between the corner of the Ka'ba before the Black Stone (Hajar ul- Aswad), and the Position of Abraham, God will resurrect you on the Resurrection Day with whomever or whatever you love extremely. If it or they are supposed to be in Heaven, you will be in Heaven, and if it or they are to be in Hell, you will be in Hell, too.”

The Prophet (a.s) said: “Anyone who becomes friends with others for the sake of God, will attain a rank in Heaven.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “It is not fair to demand justice from your believing brothers.”

A man went to see Salman Farsi and told him that someone had invited him for dinner. He said: “Go greet him and ask him if I can bring all my companions with me.” The man went, and returned and said: “Yes. Come with all your companions.” There were thirteen people in all. They went to the man's house and asked for permission to enter. The host stepped out of his house, took Salman's hand, and directed them all into the house. He asked Salman to sit down and asked the rest to sit on the right and left hands sides. The weather was hot, so he unbuttoned his shirt and laughed. Then Salman laughed, and the others laughed, too. Then they asked why Salman had laughed. He said: “I heard God's Prophet say that God will look upon whoever honors his Muslim brothers with Godly intentions. And whoever is looked upon by God will never be punished.”

“But give them preference over themselves, even though poverty was their (own lot). And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls, -they are the ones that achieve prosperity.” [The Holy Quran: Hashr 59:9]

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “Whoever hears gossip about another believer and defends him, God will help him in this world and the Hereafter. But whoever hears gossip about another believer and can defend him but does not do so, God will scare him in this world and the Hereafter.”

“Whoever objects to and interrupts his Muslim brother has indeed violated his honor.”