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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Masterpieces of Rhetoric Methood (nahj Al-balagha) A Commandment To His Son Al-hassan After Siffin O’ my son, make yourself the criterion between you and others. Thus, you should desire for others what you desire for yourself and hate for others what you hate for yourself. Do not oppress as you do not like to be oppressed. Do good to others as you like good to be done to you. Regard as bad of yourself whatever you regard bad of others.

Accept that (treatment) from others which you would like others to accept from you. Do not talk about what you do not know even though what you know is little. Do not say to others what you do not like to be said to you. O’ my son, beware, lest you become deceived by the leanings of people to wordly attractions and their rushing upon it. Allah has told you about it, and it has announced to you her death (mortality) and unveiled to you its evils.

Those (who go) after it, surely are like barking dogs or devouring carnivore one growls at the other. The stronger of them eat away the weaker and the big of them tramples over the small. Know that one whose mount is night and day is being moved on with though he is stopping, and he is covering the distance even though he is resident and resting.

Keep yourself away from every blemish even though they may take you to your desired aims, because you can not gain a worthy recompensation for what you spend of your dignity. Do not be the slave of others for Allah had made you free. The good which is not achieved but through evil is not good, and a facility that is achieved through (disgracing) hardship is not a facility. Associate with people of virtue, you will become one of them. Part with people of vice, you will be distinguished from them.

The worst food is that which is unlawful. Oppressing a weak person is the worst oppression. Oblige yourself to assocciate with your brother when he break off; when he turns away be kind to him; when he withhold spend for him; when he goes away approach to him; when he is harsh be lenient; when he commits a wrong think of an excuse for it so much so as though he is the benevolent master over you. Be lenient to him who is harsh to you for it is likely that he will shortly become lenient to you.

Treat your enemy with favours. If you intend to cut yourself off from a friend leave som scope for him from your side by which he may resume friendship if it so occurs to him one day.