“Each of you should give sincere advice to your brethren...
“Each of you should give sincere advice to your brethren just as you give sincere advice to yourselves.” ^2 Advisors Are the Best of the People Imam Sadiq quoted on the authority of God’s Prophet : إنَّ أعْظَمَ النّاسِ مَنْزِلَةً عِندَ اللهِ يَومَ القِيامَةِ أمشَاهُم في أرْضِهِ بِالنَّصِيحَةِ لخَلقِهِ.
“The people of the highest rank near God on the Resurrection Day are those who were the most active on His earth in counseling His creatures.” ^3 This implies exerting efforts to advise the people and to improve their conditions. Sufyan ibn Uyaynah narrated that he heard Imam Sadiq say: عَلَيكُم بالنُّصْحِ للهِ في خَلقِهِ فَلنْ تلقاهُ لِعَمَلٍ أفْضَلُ مِنهُ. “It is prescribed for you to advise the people for the sake of God.
You will not find any better deed than this.” ^4 We see that advice given sincerely for God’s sake is highly valued, not advice intended to corrupt the people or out of deceit or financial expectations. There is no reward but deprivation for such advice. The Noble Prophet of Islam delivered a sermon in Mina and said: ثَلاثٌ لا يَغِلُّ عَليْهِنَّ قَلبُ أمْرئٍ مُسلِمٍ: إخلاصُ العَمَلِ للهِ وَالنَّصيحَةُ لأئِمَّةِ المُسلِمينَ وَاللّزُومُ لجَماعَتِهِم.
“Three things for which a Muslim’s heart should have no malice: sincere deeds for God, sincere advice and desiring what is good for the Imams of the Muslims, and adhering to their community.” [^5] We note the importance of doing things for the sake of God, and the need of the leaders to be advised mentioned by the Prophet in this tradition. How to Advise We learned that advice should be given for the sake of God to be effective. It should also be as much as one being advised can accept.
We cannot advise people in any way we want. We must learn how to advise, how to express our advice and how to influence the person being advised. Imam Sajjad said: “You are not free to say whatever you wish, since the Prophet of God has said: رَحِمَ اللهُ عَبداً قَالَ خَيراً فَغَنِمَ أو صَمَتَ فَسَلِمَ.
“May God have mercy on the servant who speaks well and benefits, or is silent and remains secure.” [^6] Imam Ali said: إيّاكَ وَالكلامَ فيما لا تَعرِفُ طَريقَتَهُ وَلا تَعْلَمُ حَقيقَتَهُ، فإنَّ قَولَكَ يَدُلُّ عَلى عَقلِكَ وَعِبارَتُكَ تُنبِئ عَن مَعرِفَتِكَ. “Refrain from speaking about what you do not know how to do, and do not know the truth about it.