Maxims of Imam Hussein A.S
part 7
91 - A man told Imam Hussain (A.S.): O' the son of the Prophet! I am your Shi’a (follower)! Imam (A.S.) replied: "Fear God and don't claim this, otherwise God will tell you: You are a liar in what you claimed. Surely our Shi’as ( followers ) are those whose hearts are pure and free from insincerity and treason , you had better say you are an admirer and friend". (Biharol Anwar Vol. 68 , P. 156)
92 - Brothers are of four kinds: A brother who cares both about you and about himself, a brother who is only concerned about you, a brother who is only after harming you , and a brother who benefits neither you nor himself. When asked to clarify this , Imam Husain (A.S.) said , " A brother , who cares about you and himself , is beneficial for both you and himself. such a brother maintains friendship with you , as in a perfect friendship , the two friends live together happily , but in a deficient one relations sour soon. The brother who is only concerned about you, he does not seek any material gains in his friendship with you. Rather , he will make every effort to help , and that is true friendship. The brother who constantly seeks to harm you : such a brother is in fact an enemy disguised and masked. He looks for an opportunity to harm you. He cleverly hides his real face from you. He lies about you in your absence, and he is jealous of you. May he suffer eternal damnation: And the brother who benefits neither you nor himself , he is a truly stupid person. Avoid making friends with his type. Such a friend seeks superiority to you and plots to possess whatever you have. (Biharol Anwar Vol. 78, P 119)
93 - Imam Hussain (A.S.) said to one of his followers: Which one is preferred to you? Saving the life of a weak man who is being killed by an oppressor , or saving a poor believer from among our Shias , who is being misled by an unbeliever and an enemy to the household of the prophet , through false reasoning and arguing ?Then Imam (A.S.) himself replied : Certainly saving the poor believer , as God Almighty says. "Reviving a misguided man by enlightening him, is tantamount to reviving all the world's people. "(Tafseer al-Askari or Biharol Anwar, Vol. 2 , P. 9)
94 - For a king, the worst characteristics are three: fearing enemies, oppressing the weak, and being ungenerous. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 44 , P. 189)
95 - "Avoid embarking on a task that is beyond your tolerance."(Ayaan al-Shi'a, Vol. 1 , P. 621)
96 - " Do not try for what you cannot win. "(Ayaan al-Shi'a, Vol. 1 , P. 621)
97 - " Spend as much as you earn, not more." (Ayaan al-Shi'a, Vol. 1, P. 621)
98 - "Do not expect to be rewarded more than you deserve." (Ayaan al-Shi'a, Vol. 1 , P. 621)
99 - Do not be pleased save to what you have got of Allah's obedience. (Ayaan al-Shi'a, Vol. 1 , P. 621)
100 - Do not assume responsibility for a task, unless you are sure you can handle it competently. (Aaian Ashi'a , Vol. 1 , P. 621)
101 - Do not prescribe a medicine for a king , because if it cures him he will not thank you , and if it worsens his condition, he will blame you. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)
102 - Referring to a follower who had refrained from joining a war and then had apologized for it and sought to bring an excuse to justify it , Imam (A.S.) said :Apologizing for a sin committed consciously is worse than the sin itself. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 128)
103 - If you gather wealth but do not use it , you are not the owner of your wealth , rather , you are owned by it. So benefit from your possessions and do not let them benefit from you. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)
104 - Whoever accepts your grant, he has helped you with your generosity. (Biharol Anwar, Vol. 78 , P. 127)
105 - Telling the truth brings about honor. (Tarikh al-Yakoobi , Vol. 2 , Najaf press , P. 246 , line 9)
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