The most deserving of Allah’s mercy among the people are...

The most deserving of Allah’s mercy among the people are those who are most steadfast in His obedience. 16ـ أجْدَرُ النّاسِ بِرَحْمَةِ اللّهِ أقْوَمُهُمْ بِالطّاعَةِ. The most deserving of obedience is one from whom you cannot find any escape and the one whom you cannot turn down. 17ـ أحَقُّ مَنْ تُطيعُهُ مَنْ لاتَجِدُ مِنْهُ بُدّاً وَلاتَسْتَطيعُ لأمْرِهِ رَدّاً.

The most deserving of [obedience from] those whom you obey is the one who orders you to [maintain] piety and forbids you from [following] vain desires. 18ـ أحقُّ مَنْ أطَعْتَهُ مَنْ أمَرَكَ بِالتُّقى، ونَهاكَ عَنِ الهَوى. Verily the true friend of Muhammad, peace be upon him and his progeny, is one who obeys Allah even if his close relatives distance themselves from him [because of it]. 19ـ إنَّ وَلِيَّ مُحَمّدصلَّى اللّه عليه وآله وسلَّم مَنْ أطاعَ اللّهَ وإنْ بَعُدَتْ لُحْمَتُهُ.

Verily Allah, the Glorified, has made obedience an advantage for the sagacious when the incapable ones fall short. 20ـ إنَّ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ جَعَلَ الطّاعَةَ غَنِيمَةَ الأكْياسِ عِنْدَ تَفْريطِ العَجَزَةِ. Obedience saves and disobedience destroys. 21ـ اَلطّاعَةُ تُنْجي،اَلمَعْصِيَةُ تُرْدي. Obedience is compliance. 22ـ اَلطّاعَةُ إجابَةٌ. Obedience is the most protective of accoutrements. 23ـ اَلطّاعَةُ أحْرَزُ عَتاد. Obedience is the prize (or endeavor) of the sagacious.

24ـ اَلطّاعَةُ غَنِيمَةُ(هِمَّةُ) الأكْياسِ. Obedience [to Allah] is a profitable trade. 25ـ اَلطّاعَةُ مَتْجَرٌ رابِحٌ. Obedience is the longest lasting prestige. 26ـ اَلطّاعَةُ أَ بْقى عِزّاً. Obedience is the prestige of the underprivileged. 27ـ اَلطّاعَةُ عِزُّ المُعْسِرِ. Obedience brings forth [divine] reward. 28ـ اَلطّاعَةُ تَسْتَدِرُّ المَثُوبَةَ. Obedience is a mark of respect to the Imamate. 29ـ اَلطّاعَةُ تَعْظيمُ الإمامَةِ. Obedience extinguishes the anger of the Lord.

30ـ اَلطّاعَةُ تُطْفِئُ غَضَبَ الرَّبِّ. He who adorns himself with obedience possesses honour. 31ـ أخُو العِزِّ مَنْ تَحَلّى بِالطَّاعَةِ. Obedience to Allah is the strongest means [of attaining success in both worlds]. 32ـ اَلطّاعَةُ لِلّهِ أقْوى سَبَب. Obedience is the most protective (or most reliable) safeguard. 33ـ اَلطّاعةُ أَوْقى (أَوْفى) حِرْز.

Verily I do not urge you to any obedience but that I practice it before you, and I do not forbid you from any disobedience except that I desist from it before you. 34ـ إنّي لا أحُثُّكُمْ عَلى طاعَة إلاّ وأسْبِقُكُمْ إلَيْها ولا أنْهاكُمْ عَنْ مَعْصِيَة إلاّ وأتَناهى قَبْلَكُمْ عَنْها.