المؤمن

Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS) said, ‘The believer is silent in order that he remains safe, and speaks [only] in order to benefit.

Imam Ali (AS) said, describing the believer, ‘Great is his silence and occupied is his time.

Imam Ali (AS) said, A believer is one whose affair is near, whose sorrow is distant, whose silence is much and whose actions are sincere.

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “You are considered to be a good-doer as long as you are quiet, but as soon as you start to talk, you will be recorded as a good-doer or a wicked person.”

Beware from destroying your manners and changing them, maintain one tongue. A man should control his tongue because the tongue is obstinate with its master. By Allāh, I do not find that fear of Allāh benefits a man who practises it unless he controls his tongue. Certainly the tongue of a believer is at the back of his heart while the heart of a hypocrite is at the back of his tongue; because, when a believer intends to say anything, he thinks it over in his mind. If it is good he discloses it, but if it is bad he lets it remain concealed. While a hypocrite speaks whatever comes to his tongue, without knowing what is in his favour and what goes against him.

“The salvation of a believer is in his controlling his tongue.”

“A believing servant (of Allah) is considered a person of good deeds as long as he does not speak. When he speaks he is considered a person of good deeds or of evil deeds.”

“A believer is counted among virtuous till he is silent. As soon as he speaks, he is included either among good people or bad ones.”

"Whoever safeguards his tongue, Allah will conceal his faults."

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The believer is such that his joy is evident on his face whereas his sorrow is in his heart. His breast is at its widest [i.e. biggest heart] but his ego is at its lowest. He despises high rank and shuns reputation. His grief is long-lasting and his ambition is lofty. His silence is much and his time occupied. He is grateful, extremely patient, and immersed in deep thought. He is thrifty with his needs. He is good-natured and mild-tempered. His soul is firmer than steel whilst he [i.e. his ego] remains lower than a slave.

Imam Ali (AS) said to Qanbar when he wished to insult a man who had insulted him, 'Careful Qanbar! Leave your insulter to his disdain and you will please the Beneficent Lord, displease Satan and punish thereby your enemy, for by the One who split the grain and created the breeze, there is no stance better than clemency with which a believer can please his Lord, and nothing like silence to offend Satan, and an idiot is best punished by ignoring him.

Good deeds are recorded for a Muslim man as long as he remains quiet. However, once he starts to talk, good or bad deeds are recorded for him.”

Imam Ali (AS) said, The cheerfulness of a believer is in his face and his sorrow is in his heart. He has the broadest chest (i.e. has great patience, knowledge and virtue) and is most humble in spirit. He hates high position and dislikes renown. His grief is long, his sorrow is distant, his silence is much and his time is occupied. He is grateful and patient, submerged in his thoughts [about the Hereafter], sparing in his friendship, easy going and of soft temperament. He is firmer than a hard rock but humbler than a slave.

“A believer is one whose earning is pleasantly clean, whose moral behavior is excellent and whose conscience is not ill. He gives to charity the extra from his property and holds back the extra of his words. People do not feel threatened by his evil and he yields to justice for people against his own soul.”

“A believer is one whose business is legitimate; is good-tempered; has a good soul; gives charity from his excessive wealth; doesn’t talk a lot; the people are secure with him; and he treats others fairly.”

“A believer’s honor is in night prayers, and his glory is in not bothering the people.”

“The believer’s deeds are mixed with forbearance. He sits to learn and speaks to understand. He does not tell his friends about his trust and he does not hide his testimony for the enemies. He does not do any true thing to show off and does not ignore it due to shyness. If he purifies himself he fears what they may say and he asks forgiveness from Allah for what they do not know. The words of those who do not know him do not make him boastful. He fears from the record of his deeds.”

“The believer remains silent for safety and speaks to benefit. He does not speak of his trust to the friends and does not withhold his testimony for the people of distant relationships. He does not do anything good to show off and does not ignore it due to bashfulness. If he cleanses himself he fears what they (people) say, and asks forgiveness for what they do not know. The words (in his praise) of those who do not know do not make him boastful and he is afraid of the sum of his deeds.”

Once, Amirul Mu’mineen ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him heard someone abusing Qambar, and Qambar was about to answer back. So, Amirul Mu’mineen ‘Ali, peace be upon him, called out to Qambar: "Take it easy O, Qambar! Leave the one who abuses you to be ashamed of himself, so that Allah is pleased and Satan is resentful and your adversary is punished. For, By He Who, split the grain and created the breathing man, nothing from a believer pleases His Sustainer better than forbearance; and nothing makes Satan more indignant than the silence; and the fool is best punished when totally ignored."

The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, one day said to his companions: "Be it known that an evil from the bygone people has crept into you, and that is envy and jealousy. It does not shave off the hair, it shaves off the faith. A man can save himself from that if one controls his hands, spares his speech and does not slander his Mu’min brother." And may Allah bless our master, Muhammad, the Prophet and his pure progeny.