At this juncture...

At this juncture, a sheet of paper would be placed upon his good deeds as a result of which, the pan containing his good deeds would become heavier than the one containing his sins. Astonished, the person would ask: ‘O’ Lord! All the good deeds that I possessed had been placed in the pan, so what is this sheet of paper?’ I have never performed this good act.

`He would be informed: ‘This is in exchange for those evils that were spoken about you but which you did not possess’.” (Sheikh Bahaai continues in his letter): This tradition compels me to thank you for the gift that you have presented to me. Although, had you acted in this manner or even worse, in front of me, let me assure you that you would not have witnessed any response from me except forgiveness, pardon, friendship and faithfulness.

The years of life that remain are much too precious to waste in attempting to punish individuals for their deeds; rather, it ought to be spent in reflecting over that which has been lost and attempting to make amends for that which has passed. [^6] Impediment for the Rains One year, the Bani Israel were afflicted with famine and drought.

When Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) had offered the prayers for rain on numerous occasions and yet there was no sign of rains, God revealed to him (peace be upon him): I have not answered your prayers because of one person from amongst you, who constantly engages in backbiting and calumny. When he (peace be upon him) asked: O’ Lord! Who is that person? , God revealed: O’ Musa! How can I backbite when I command you to refrain from backbiting?

Tell all the people to seek forgiveness in order that I answer their prayers. When all the people had sought forgiveness, God showered them with His mercy in the form of rains.[^7] (In another tradition it has been reported that the person had backbitten about Musa (peace be upon him), who then requested God to reveal the person’s identity to him. Hearing this God said: I consider carrying of tales to be abhorrent and reprehensible, and yet you desire that I should indulge in it Myself?

A Thousand Lashings Once Haroon al-Rashid, received some distinguished, classy and pricey garments as gifts, which he gifted to his (Shiite) minister Ali Ibn Yaqteen; amongst them was a cuirass of fur and golden embroidery that, due to is grandeur and magnificence, resembled the garments worn by emperors. Ali Ibn Yaqteen sent those garments to Imam Kadhim (peace be upon him) along with numerous other riches.