Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him), through his noble forefathers, narrates from Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) said to him:
“O Ali, I give you advice that you must preserve, for as long as you act upon my advice, you will be in goodness and happiness:
O Ali, whoever swallows his anger while having the power to take revenge, Allah will place him in a secure place on the Day of Judgment, and he will taste the sweetness of forgiveness.
O Ali, the one whose tongue harms people is of the people of the Fire.
O Ali, the worst person is the one whom people respect out of fear to be safe from his harm.
O Ali, anyone who brings no benefit to you in this world or the Hereafter is not worthy of your companionship.
O Ali, it is worthy for a believer to have eight qualities: dignity during great trials, patience during hardships, gratitude during times of prosperity, contentment with what Allah has provided, not wronging enemies, not imposing oneself upon friends, taking discomfort upon oneself, and bringing peace to others by one’s actions.
O Ali, blessed is the one whose life is prolonged and whose deeds are good.
O Ali, there are four acts that when someone does, their reward is immediately received: a person whom you do good to, but he repays you with harm; someone you have no enmity with, but he becomes your enemy; someone you have made a covenant with, and you fulfill your part, but he betrays you; and someone who maintains connections with his relatives, but they cut off ties with him.
O Ali, three things are among the best of moral qualities in this world and the Hereafter: forgiving someone who has wronged you, connecting with someone who has cut you off, and being patient with someone who causes you harm out of ignorance.
O Ali, take advantage of four things before four other things: your youth before old age, your health before illness, your wealth before poverty, and your life before death.
O Ali, there are four qualities, and anyone who possesses them, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise: the one who shelters an orphan, shows mercy to the weak, honors his parents, and treats his subordinates with kindness.
O Ali, anyone who meets Allah with three qualities is among the best of people: the one who acts according to what Allah has commanded him, for he is among the most devout; the one who refrains from what Allah has forbidden, for he is among the most pious; and the one who is content with what Allah has given him, for he is among the wealthiest.
O Ali, three things are from the truths of faith: charity during times of hardship, forgiving others for the sake of people, and sharing knowledge with those who seek it.
O Ali, anyone who does not possess three qualities, his deeds will not be complete: fear that prevents him from disobeying Allah, good character with which he treats people kindly, and patience that shields him from the ignorance of the unlearned.”
(Taken from the book “Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih”, authored by Sheikh Saduq (may Allah have mercy on him), Volume 4, page 352).