أنس

Imam Ali (AS) said, Be most cautious of this world when you are most at ease with it.

Imam Ali (AS) said, Verily this world is like a snake, its feel is soft [but] its venom is deadly, so turn away from that which appeals to you of it for the little time that it is with you, and be most cautious of it when you are most inclined towards it.

Malik b. Anas said: And I heard al-Sadiq (as) say: It was said to Amir al-Mu’minin (as): Why do you not purchase a highborn horse? He said: I have no need for it, for I do not flee from one who attacks me, nor do I attack one who flees from me.

Now, the example of the world is like that of a snake which is soft in touch but whose poison is fatal. Therefore, keep yourself aloof from whatever appears good to you because of its short stay with you. Do not worry for it because of your conviction that it will leave you and that its circumstances are vicissitudes. When you feel most attracted towards it, shun it most, because whenever someone is assured of happiness in it, it throws him into danger; or when he feels secure in it, the world alters his security into fear; and that is an end to the matter.

[Caution against this world] Certainly this world is a dirty watering place and a muddy source of drinking. Its appearance is attractive and its inside is destructive. It is a changeable deception, a vanishing reflection and a bent pillar. When its despiser begins to like it and he who is not acquainted with it feels satisfied with it, then it raises and puts down its feet (in joy), entraps him in its trap, makes him the target of its arrows and puts round his neck the rope of death taking him to the narrow grave and fearful abode in order to show him his place of stay and the recompense of his acts. This goes on from generation to generation. Neither death stops from cutting them asunder nor do the survivors keep aloof from committing of sins. They are emulating each other and proceeding in groups towards the final objective and the rendezvous of death,

al-Sadiq Ja`far b. Muhammad (as) said: I am astonished at one who is stingy in this world when it presents itself to him or is stingy in it when it turns away from him. Spending when it presents itself will not harm him and withholding when it turns away will not benefit him.

Abu Ahmad Muhammad b. Ziyad al-Azdi narrated to us. He said: I heard Malik b. Anas the jurist of Medina say: I would visit al-Sadiq Ja`far b. Muhammad (as), and he would give me a pillow, exalt me, and say: O Malik, surely, I love you. I would become happy with that and praise Allah for it. He (as) was always upon three conditions: either he was fasting, standing in prayer, or remembering Allah. He was from the greatest worshipers and the greatest ascetics who were in awe of Allah. He would speak much, his gatherings were good, and he was of much benefit. Whenever he would say “the Messenger of Allah (s) said”, his colour would change from blue to pale, to the extent that one who knew him would deny him [because of how different he looked]. I performed Hajj with him one year. When I prepared his ride at the Sanctuary, he recited the talbiyya until he lost his voice and almost fell off his ride. So, I said: “Say it, O son of the Messenger of Allah, but not in that way.” So, he said: “O Ibn Abi `Amer! How can I dare say ‘I am at Your service, O Allah, I am at Your service!’ while I fear that He may reply to me with ‘I am not here for you, nor for your pleasure?!’”