On Poems About Patience and Silence in Front of the Ignorant, and Not Treating Friends With Reproach, and Attracting the Enemy So That He Becomes Friends and on Hiding Secrets

Then recite to us the best poem that they have recited to you about patience.” He (a.s.) said,Whenever I face someone lower than mehurt me out of ignoranceI honor myself anddo not treat him out of ignorance, too.If he equals me in terms of intelligenceI treat him with patience so as to be nobler than him.And if he is higher than me in terms of nobility and sagacityThen I recognize his right of superiority and nobility.Then Al-Ma’mun said, “How excellent! Who said it?” He (a.s.) replied, “One of our youth.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Please recite for us the best poem you have heard regarding remaining silent in the presence of the ignorant and not fighting with friends. He (a.s.) said,My friend stays away from me to break upI show him that there are means to break up.I see that if I treat him with reproachI have pushed him to break upThen I consider to abandon reproach.When I face an ignorant, selfish friendWho believes in the feasibility of the unfeasibleI prefer to remain silent, perhapsSilence is itself a form of response!Al-Ma’mun said, “How excellent! Who has said it?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “One of our youth.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Please tell me the best poems about turning enemies into friends.” He (a.s.) said,Treating ogres with friendship I have overcome themAnd have heavily burdened them under my debt by forgiving.One who does not fend off the wicked deeds of his enemy with friendlinessHas not learned toleration from the highest ranks.I have not seen any faster way to alleviateOld grudges than with quick friendliness.Then Al-Ma’mun said, “How excellent! Who has said it?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “One of our youth.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Please tell me the best poems about hiding secrets.” He (a.s.) said,I am used to forgetting secretsso that I do not spread them around.Then guard the secrets you know by forgetting them.I fear that I might remember itAnd my heart may spread it around.It is probable that one does not divulge a secret, but so oftenIt comes to his mind that he cannot bear to keep it imprisoned!Then Al-Ma’mun said, “What would you say if you want the people to throw dirt over a book?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “I would say: ‘Tarrab.” Al-Ma’mun said, “What if it is from ‘al-Sahha?” He (a.s.) replied, “Sahe.” He asked, “What about ‘Tayn?” He (a.s.) replied, “‘Tayyan.” Then Al-Ma’mun told his servant, “Pour dirt over this writing and fold it. Place it in clay and seal it. Then send it to Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl. Take three hundred thousand Dirhams from him for Abil Hassan (a.s.).”The author of this book (a.s.heikh Sadooq) - may God be pleased with him - said, “What Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) accepted from Al-Ma’mun is similar to what the Prophet (S) accepted from the kings, and is similar to what Al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.) accepted from Mo’awiya, and the other Immaculate Imams (a.s.) accepted from the Caliphs. It is proper for one to accept things when the whole world belongs to him and they confiscate it all, but return some of it to him.”

How come it could not be thatThe pagans be the pillars of Islam?The children of the daughter inherit from their grandfatherWhile the uncle is abandoned without any share.How could the one captured and freed inherit?Many of the captured confessed fearing the sword.And the Qur’an informed you about the nobility of the oneAnd has told you about all the relevant decrees.Indeed the son of Fatima, well-known by his nameIs the one to inherit from the Prophet from his paternal uncles.But the son of Notayla will stand wondering on the sideCrying while the relatives sympathize.

“The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) said,He created the creatures with His Ability.Some are generous and some are miserlyBut the generous ones are in comfortBut the miserly has long misery.”

“Al-Ma’mun sent a young girl to Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). Upon entering, she expressed her dislike of his white hair. When the Imam (a.s.) noticed this he returned her to Al-Ma’mun with the following poem that he (a.s.) himself composed:My white hair informs me of the approach of my deathAt old age one accepts adviceYes, indeed youth passed and has ended nowAnd I will never experience its returnI cry and weep over it having gone byAnd keep on calling it perhaps it hears my callAh! What I have lostMy lying self forces me to want it backBeautiful women fear my white hairBut whoever stays too long will get oldI see the beautiful silver-colored women running away from me.Now my share is their separation from meIf youth which has now gone by was my beloved friendNow it is old age that is my friendI will be in its company with piety untilThe soon to arrive death separates us!