[9] \n \u2018A man asked Abu Ja\u2019far -asws (5 th Imam)...

[9] \n \u2018A man asked Abu Ja\u2019far -asws (5 th Imam) about the Words of Allah -azwj Mighty and Majestic: But they said, \u2018Our Lord! Lengthen the distance between our journeys! And they were unjust to themselves [34:19] . He -asws said: \u2018They were a people who lived in two inter-connected villages and were able to see each other, and rivers which flowed, and had phenomenal wealth.

They denied the Favours of Allah -azwj and changed what was in themselves, so Allah -azwj Mighty and Majestic Sent the flood of Al-Aram against them. Their two villages were submerged, and their houses were spoilt, and their wealth was gone. It changed their plantations into two plantations to be only with the edible plants of bitter tamarisk (a troublesome weed) and a few Lotus trees.

\n Then Allah -azwj Mighty and Majestic Said: That was our Retaliation due to their committing Kufr; and do We Retaliate except for the Kufr? [34:17] \u2019\u2019. [10] \n Amir Al-Momineen Ali -asws Ibn Abi Talib -asws said in a sermon: \n And as for the rich from the affluent communities, they were prejudicial to the effects of the places of bounties, And they said, \u2018We are more in wealth and children, and we shall not be the Punished ones\u2019 [34:35] .

\n In case you cannot avoid prejudice, your prejudice should be for good qualities, praiseworthy acts, and admirable matters with which the dignified and noble chiefs of the Arab families distinguished themselves, as attractive manners, high thinking, respectable position and good performances.

You too should show prejudice towards praiseworthy habits like the protection of the neighbour, the fulfilment of agreements, obedience to the virtuous, opposition to the haughty, extending generosity to others, abstention from rebellion, keeping aloof from blood-shed, doing justice to people, suppressing anger and avoiding trouble on the earth. \n You should also fear what calamities befell people before you an account of their evil deeds and detestable actions.