“Indeed, how are the good servants of God? How should our lives be so that we may be counted among these servants?”
It was asked from the eighth Imam, Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (peace be upon him), about the qualities of the good servants of God. He mentioned five characteristics:
First, they are those who, when they perform a good deed or an act of worship, feel joyful and pleased with their success in doing so.
Second, if they fall into negligence and their hands become stained with wrongdoing, they seek forgiveness from God and do not remain indifferent.
Third, if God grants them a blessing or a favor, they express gratitude and do not remain indifferent; rather, they thank the great giver of blessings.
Fourth, if a difficulty arises in their lives and they face a trial, they do not complain to God, but rather they remain patient and are not people of grievance.
Fifth, when they become angry, they forgive and do not seek revenge.[1]
Therefore, if our lives are such that we are happy with the success of performing good deeds and acts of worship, feel ashamed and regretful of our sins, seek forgiveness, express gratitude for God’s blessings, remain patient in hardships and calamities, and are able to control our anger, according to the words of Imam al-Reza (peace be upon him), we will be counted among the good servants of God.
(Taken from the statements of Ayatollah Hajj Agha Mojtaba Tehrani)
Footnote:
[1] Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 445