After Imam Jaffar Sadigh (PBUH) began\nspreading science and virtue in Medina, the ninety-four year old Onwan Basri,\nattended the Imam\u2019s sessions. In one of the sessions, following the Imam\u2019s\nlecture on the nature of servitude, Basri narrates what the Imam recommended on\nproximity to Allah (SWT).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Onwan Basri says: I asked the Imam for\nadvice, \u201cO Aba \u2018Abdellah. Advise me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imam Sadigh (PBUH) said: \u201cI advise you\nto nine practices, which are prudent for those who want to grow closer to Allah\n(SWT); I pray Allah (SWT) helps you in doing them. Three are related to the\ntraining of the body, three are (in regards) to moderation and self-control,\nand three pertain to science; remain steadfast to these advices, do not set\nthem aside and do not underestimate them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Onwan Basri says I prepared to listen,\nas he began: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe three advices that pertain to the body are, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do not eat food when you don\u2019t have\nappetite for it as it causes foolishness and ignorance;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do not eat until you are hungry<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you want to eat, eat Halal, and\nstate the name of Allah (SWT)\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The three traits that pertain to\nself-restraint:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If someone told you \u201csay one and hear\nten,\u201d say [in response] \u201cif you say ten you won\u2019t hear even one;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If someone slandered you, say if what\nyou say is true I pray to Allah (SWT) that He forgives me, and if what you say\nis false, I ask Allah (SWT) to forgive you;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And if someone threatened to harm you,\nadvise him and pray for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the three traits that pertain to\nscience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ask the scholars what you don\u2019t know,\nand never ask (when your intention is to) test their knowledge;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t be self-opined and always keep\nvigilant;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be careful in issuing a judgment (on\nmatters that you are not qualified) just as you fear a lion, and don\u2019t make\nyour neck a bridge for people to cross\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Selection\nchosen from Mishkat al-Anwar by Ali ibn Hassan Tabarsi (with minor changes))<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After Imam Jaffar Sadigh (PBUH) began spreading science and virtue in Medina, the ninety-four year old Onwan Basri, attended the Imam\u2019s sessions. In one of the sessions, following the Imam\u2019s lecture on the nature of servitude, Basri narrates what the Imam recommended on proximity to Allah (SWT). Onwan Basri says: I asked the Imam for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248],"tags":[21797,20081,17778,19634,20151,18855,18418,18125,21796],"class_list":["post-4438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2016-07-30","tag-advice","tag-allah","tag-hungry","tag-imam-sadiq","tag-medina","tag-occasion-letters","tag-pray","tag-the-mean-to-approximation"],"yoast_head":"\n