ابن أبي عمير

he heard saying, “Verily there are two angels in the sky who have been placed in charge of [observing] the servants, so whoever humbles himself before Allah is elevated by them and whoever is haughty is abased by them.”

“I never saw Abā ʿAbdillāh (a) eat while reclining.” Then he remembered the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) and said, “He never ate while reclining until he passed away.”

“I heard the Imam saying, ‘In heaven there are two angels who guard the servants (of Allah). Whoever is humble before Allah, they raise him up, and whoever is arrogant, they bring him low.’”

“Whoever feels content with a seat without formalities in a gathering, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and His angels continue doing and asking favors for him until he leaves the gathering.”

“I do not love to have the most noble of the bounties at the cost of humiliation to my soul. I have not swallowed any drop more beloved to me than the drop of anger for which I did not compensate from the one who caused it (my anger).”

“I do not love to humiliate my soul even to achieve the best of the bounties. I have not swallowed a drop more beloved to me than the drop (in the form) of my anger for which I did not seek compensation from the source that had caused it to stir up.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Whenever Imam Sajjad (a.s) walked he would never put his right foot ahead of his left one (implying that he was very humble). One day he was passing by a few people who had leprosy and were eating food. He greeted them, and they invited him to eat with them. He accepted their invitation and said: “God does not like haughty people.” He went to them, and since he was fasting he said: “I am fasting, but come to my house tomorrow.” They went to his house the next day, and ate and the Imam (a.s) gave them some gifts.” Some traditions state that the Imam (a.s) dined with them.

“Once, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was passing by the lepers while riding his donkey. They were having their lunch so they invited him to join them for food. The Imam said, ‘Had 1 not been fasting I would have joined you.’ When he returned home he asked that good food be prepared. He then invited the lepers for food and he (Ali ibn al-Husayn) (a.s.) joined them at the table.’” (Leprosy is a contagious disease.)

“Every servant (of Allah) has in his head a certain degree of wisdom being held therein by an angel. When he expresses arrogance the angel says, ‘Be humble, may Allah bring you low.’ Thereafter he thinks himself to be the greatest of people but in the eyes of the people he remains the lowest of all. When he behaves humbly, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, lifts him up. The angel then says, ‘Be lofty, may Allah grant you dignity.’ He thereafter remains the lowest of all people before his own soul and the most dignified in the eyes of people.’”

‘‘In a Thursday evening the Messenger of Allah had completed his day’s fasting and dinner was served in the Mosque of Quba. He asked, ‘Is there any drink?’ Aws ibn Khuli brought him a bowl of milk mixed with honey. When he touched it with his lips he moved it away saying, ‘There are two drinks each of which is enough drink. I will not drink it and I am not making unlawful to drink it, but I want to be humble before Allah. Whoever is humble before Allah, He raises him up, and whoever is arrogant, Allah brings him low. Whoever economizes in his living Allah grants him sustenance. Whoever is a spendthrift, Allah deprives him. Whoever speaks of death very often, Allah loves him.’”

“‘Abbad al-Basriy was once with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), while eating, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), placed his hand on the ground. ‘Abbad said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well. Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah prohibited this (manner of sitting).’ He (the Imam) raised his hand, ate, and placed his hand on the ground again. ‘Abbad said what he had said before. He (the Imam) raised his hand, then ate and placed his hand on the ground again and ‘Abbad said what he had said before. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘No, by Allah, the Messenger of Allah never prohibited it.’”