[^6] One Advice Once...

[^6] One Advice Once, a person approached the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) and said: Impart me knowledge and teach me the rulings of religion. He (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) said: Go and refrain from getting enraged. The man said: This very sentence shall suffice for me, and then proceeded to return to his tribe.

When he reached his tribe he observed that dispute had arisen amongst them and having armed themselves, they stood facing each other ready for battle. Observing this, the man too put on his battle-dress ready to join his friends for battle when suddenly he recollected the words of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) asking him to abstain from anger.

Dropping his weapons, he proceeded towards the opposition and began to reason with them: Battle and war shall not yield anything. I shall pay you from my own wealth whatever you desire! Realizing the truth of his words, they acquiesced: We are more deserving of disregarding and ignoring the differences that have taken place.

And thus, by this advice of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny), a major conflict was averted.[^7] The Imam (peace be upon him) and the Slave Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) had sent his servant out to perform a task for him. When a long time had passed and he had not returned, the Imam (peace be upon him) set out in search for him. After searching for a while, the Imam (peace be upon him) found him asleep.

Without the slightest exhibition of anger, the Imam (peace be upon him) sat down near his head and began to fan him till he woke up from his sleep. After he had woken up, he (peace be upon him) said to him: By God! It does not befit you that you sleep during the night as well as during the day. You ought to sleep during the night, but work for us during the day. [^8] Bad Disposition and the Servants Abdullah Ibn Taahir, after the death of his brother Talhah (d.

213 A.H.), was appointed the governor of Khorasan. He continued to rule over it till the time of Al-Waathiq Billah and, after seventeen years of governorship, died in the year 230 A.H. at the age of forty eight. Abdullah Ibn Taahir relates: One day when I was with the Abbasid Caliph, none of the servants were seen to be around. Observing this, the Caliph called out: O’ Slave! O’ Slave!