Chapter 1 - On Shiite Characteristics

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Once a group of people started walking behind Ameer al-Momineen (a.s). He asked them who they were. They said that they were his followers. He asked them why they did not have the signs of his followers. They asked him what the signs of the Shiites are. He said: “Paleness due to shortage of sleep, being slim due to fasting, dried lips due to extensive praying and humbleness.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Ali's follower is one who is careful about what he eats and guards his honor, is hard-working, works for his Creator and expects his rewards from Him, and fears His chastisement. When you see such people, they are my followers also.”

The Blessed Musa ibn Ja'far (a.s) said: “Three acts perfect good deeds: rushing in performing them, hiding them, and not making a big deal out of them. Good deeds are pleasant if done fast. They are important if one does not make a big deal out of them. They are perfect if they are done in secret.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “There are some servants of God on the Earth who struggle to fulfill the needs of other people. They will be saved on the Resurrection Day.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “How good it is for an eloquent person to be silent! There are instances of slip of the tongue in talking that might cause one's failure.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “There are some servants of God who are eloquent, wise and knowledgeable but their hearts are filled with the fear of God and have stopped talking. They compete with each other in doing good deeds to approach God. They do not overestimate their deeds, and do not get pleased with the small amount of good deeds that they perform. Although they are intelligent and good people, they consider themselves to be wicked people.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “God will humiliate anyone who humiliates a believer due to his being poor. He will remain in such a state until he repents.” He also said: “On the Resurrection Day believers will be proud.”

Prophet of God (a.s) entered the House of God accompanied by Fazl ibn Abbas and Usamat ibn Zayd the year he conquered Mecca. When he left that House, he held the door knob in his hands and said: “Praise be to God who fulfilled His promise and acknowledged His servant, and conquered all the parties alone. God removed all the Arab's hatred and arrogance due to their lineage. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was made of clay. The noblest one among you is the most pious one.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) asked Jabir: “Does it suffice for one who claims to be our follower to just express his friendship with the members of the Holy Household? I swear by God that no one is our true follower unless he fears God and obeys Him. Our followers are known for their humbleness and frequent remembrance of God; fasting; praying; helping the orphans, the needy, the ones in debt and needy neighbors; reading the Quran; and talking properly with the people. They have always been trustworthy in their tribes.” Jabir asked: “O' Grandson of the Prophet! I do not know anybody with these traits.” Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “O' Jabir! Do not let the various sects affect you. Do you think that it suffices for one to say that he likes Imam Ali (a.s) and he is his follower, but does not do anything to support his claim? Or he says that he likes the Prophet, who is even better than Imam Ali (a.s), but does not take his example and follow his deeds and act according to the Prophet's tradition. Just having love for the Prophet (a.s) is of no use for him. Therefore fear God, and act in such a way as to attain what is near God, since there is no relation of kin between God and anyone. The one most loved by God is the one who is the most pious, and the noblest one is the one who fears God and obeys Him. I swear by God that it is not possible to get close to God unless by His obedience, and we do not hold the key to relief from the Fire of Hell, and no one has any authority over God. Whoever is obedient to God is our friend, and whoever disobeys God is our enemy. No one can attain our friendship unless by having nobility and piety.”

Amr ibn Sa'eed ibn Bilal said that he and some other people went to see Imam Baqir (a.s). The Imam (a.s) said: “Lean on the mid-sized cushion so that those who have gone too far return and those who have been too slow reach you. By God, O' followers of the family of Muhammad! Beware that there are no relations of kin between God and us and we have no authority over God. One cannot get close to God except by obeying Him. Our friendship is useful for those who obey God, and is useless for those who are disobedient to Him. Amr said that the Imam (a.s) then turned around, faced them and said: “Do not be fooled, and do not accuse.” Amr asked: “What is meant by the mid-sized cushion?” The Imam (a.s) said: “Have you not noticed that when a group of people enter a house in which there are a variety of cushions, they choose the mid- sized ones to lean on and rest?”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “I advise you to be careful about what you say and guard your honor.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Those who possess knowledge are the ones who are trustworthy. The pious people are the ones who strictly guard the religion, and the ones who act according to religious decrees are the masters of religion.”

“God's saints are quiet, and their silence is in remembrance of God. They look, and their looking is to learn a lesson. They talk, and their sayings are words of wisdom. They walk around, and their walking is a blessing for the people. If their life was not predestined for them, their souls would leave their bodies from the fear of divine chastisement and the eagerness for receiving divine rewards.”

Imam Zayn al-Abedin (a.s) said: “Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said his morning prayer, sat in his place of prayer and waited until the sun started to rise. Then he faced the people and said: “I swear by God that I saw some people who stood up in prayer and prostrated in God's worship all night long, and pressed their knees and foreheads against the floor as if they heard the blazing Fire of Hell, and would shake like trees whenever they were reminded of God, as if they had been in ignorance.” Imam Zayn al-Abedin (a.s) continued: “Then Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) stood up and was never seen to laugh again until he died.”