محمد بن علي الباقر عليه السلام

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “In fact, we the Shiites talk a little.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “There are three groups of people: those who are quiet; those who remember God; and those who say things to cause discord among the people.”

“It is sufficient as a flaw in a person that he sees those faults in others which he is blind to [and disregards] in himself, or that he should fault other people for a matter which is also in himself, and which he cannot turn away from; and that he disturbs the one who sits with him by [discussing] that which does not concern [or benefit] him.”’”

The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "When you see a person not engaging in a purposeless chatter, then that is the sign of his excellent (understanding of) Islam."

All goodness is in three actions: sight, silence, and speech. Every sight that is devoid of consideration is negligence. Every silence that is devoid of thought is heedlessness. Every speech that is devoid of the remembrance [of Allah] is prattle. Blessed is he in whose sight is consideration, and in whose silence is thought, and in whose words is remembrance – who cries over his mistakes and from whose evil the people are safe.

“Once we in a group went to see abu Ja’far (a.s.) and said to him, ‘O descendent of the Messenger of Allah, we intend to travel to Iraq, and request your recommendations.’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.) said, ‘The stronger ones among you must support the weak ones, the well to do among you must reach out to the poor ones among you, do not expose our secrets and do not publicize our cause. When you receive a Hadith from us accept it only if you find sufficient, two or at least one, supporting evidence from the book of Allah, otherwise, keep it on hold and then refer it to us for verification. You must know that those waiting for this matter (coming of Imam al-Mahdi) have a reward like those who fast all the time and pray every night. Whoever will find himself with our al-Qa’im (al-Mahdi) and will come out with him to do away with our enemies he will have a reward equal to that for twenty martyrs and whoever will be killed supporting our al- Qa’im, his reward will be equal to that for fifteen martyrs.’”

2. Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) narrates from his ancestors that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, “One who is committing sins secretly, it is harmful for that individual himself. However if he is sinning openly and is not being restrained, it is harmful for everyone.” Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) said, “It is an insult of Allah’s religion. The sinners and their followers are like enemies of Allah.”

Say to the people better than what you would like said to you, for Allah hates persistent cursing, insulting, condemning, and obscenity for the believers. He loves the modest, the forbearing, the virtuous and the pure.

“Blessed be one who thinks when he is quiet; is admonished when he looks; invokes the name of God when he talks; cries over his own sins; and the people are safe from his hands and tongue.”

Nothing has been combined with anything better than forbearance with knowledge.”

Blessed be those who have five characteristics. Blessed be those who think when they are silent; who get advice by looking; who sit at home and cry over their sins; and do not bother the people with their hands or tongues.”

The Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him, said: All goodness has been gathered in three traits: reflection, silence and speech. Every reflection in which there is no consideration, is an omission. Every silence in which there is no thought, is inattention. Every speech in which there is no mentioning (of Allah), is nonsense. Hence, Tuba is for the one whose reflection is a lesson, whose silence is a thought and whose speech is mentioning (of Allah), and who weeps due to his mistake and whom people are at safety from (any potential of) his evil.

Amir al-Mu’minin (as) said: All goodness is in three actions: sight, silence, and speech. Every sight that is devoid of consideration is negligence. Every silence that is devoid of thought is heedlessness. Every speech that is devoid of the remembrance [of Allah] is prattle. Blessed is he in whose sight is consideration, and in whose silence is thought, and in whose words is remembrance – who cries over his mistakes and from whose evil the people are safe.

1. Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) narrates that Amirul Momineen (a.s.) said, “All the good deeds are hidden in three qualities – seeing, silence and speech. One who’s seeing is not a lesson is useless. One who is not a fountain of silence and deep thought is ignorant. One whose speech is not the remembrance of Allah is worthless. A person whose seeing is a lesson, silence is thought, conversation is remembrance of Allah, who cries over his sins and from whom people remain safe, is indeed fortunate (there is Tooba for him).”

"O' people, there is no honor higher than Islam, No dignity more precious than piety, No fortress more secure than restraint, No intercessor more successful than repentance, No treasure more beneficial than knowledge, No dignity more elevated than forbearance, No lineage more effective than good manners, No burden heavier than anger, No beauty more adorned than intellect, No disgrace worse than lying, No guard more vigilant than silence, No attire more beautiful than well-being, And no absent thing closer than death. O' people, whoever walks on the surface of the earth will eventually end up in its depths. The night and day hasten in demolishing the lifespan, and for every living soul, there is sustenance; for every grain, there is a consumer; and you are the sustenance of death. Whoever understands the nature of time will not neglect to prepare. Neither the wealthy due to their wealth nor the poor due to their lack will escape death. O' people, whoever fears his Lord (azj) will restrain his oppression. Whoever does not guard his speech reveals his foolishness. Whoever does not distinguish between good and evil is like the cattle. How insignificant is affliction compared to the great deprivation that awaits tomorrow! Alas! The only reason you have become estranged from each other is due to your sins and transgressions. How near is relief after hardship, and distress after prosperity! No evil is truly evil if followed by Paradise, and no good is truly good if followed by Hellfire. Every comfort short of Paradise is insignificant, and every trial short of Hellfire is safety.