Ask the hearts about [your] affections...

Ask the hearts about [your] affections, for indeed they are witnesses that do not accept bribes. 23ـ سَلُوا القُلُوبَ عَنِ المَودّاتِ: فَإنَّها شَواهِدُ لاتَقْبَلُ الرُّشا. Soundness of friendship is part of honouring one’s promise. 24ـ صِحَّةُ الوُدِّمِنْ كَرَمِ العَهْدِ. In times of hardship and adversity, the value of [one’s] friendship becomes apparent. 25ـ فِي الضّيقِ وَالشِّدَّةِ يَظْهَرُ حُسْنُ المَوَدَّةِ.

Every friendship [and affection] that is based on [anything] other than seeking proximity to Allah is misguidance, and relying on it is impossible. 26ـ كُلُّ مَوَدَّة مَبْنِيَّة عَلى غَيْرِ ذاتِ اللّهِ ضَلالٌ والاِعْتِمادُ عَلَيْها مُحالٌ. Be an upholder of friendship even if you do not find any custodian [for it]. 27ـ كُنْ لِلْوُدِّ حافِظاً وإنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ مُحافِظاً. One whose friendship is sincere, his audacity is tolerated. 28ـ مَنْ خَلُصَتْ مَوَدَّتُهُ اُحْتُمِلَتْ دالَّتُهُ.

Whoever befriends a silly person proclaims his own silliness. 29ـ مَنْ وادَّ السَّخيفَ أعْرَبَ عَنْ سَخَفِهِ. One who befriends you for a [specific] objective, turns his back [on you] once it is accomplished. 30ـ مَنْ وادَّكَ لأمْر وَلّى عِنْدَ اِنْقِضائِهِ. Nothing brings about love like generosity, companionship and good character. 31ـ مَا اسْتُجْلِبَتِ المَحَبَّةُ بِمِثْلِ السَّخاءِ، والرِّفْقِ، وحُسْنِ الخُلْقِ. One who does not give good advice is not sincere in his friendship.

32ـ ما أخْلَصَ المَوَدَّةَ مَنْ لَمْ يَنْصَحْ. The friendship of the religious ones does not get severed quickly and is ever firm and lasting. 33ـ مَوَدَّةُ ذَوِى الدّينِ بَطيئَةُ الاِنْقـطاعِ، دائِمَةُ الثَّباتِ والبَقاءِ. The friendship of a fool is like a tree of fire, part of it consumes [its] other parts. 34ـ مَوَدَّةُ الأحْمَقِ كَشَجَرَةِ النّارِ، يَأْكُلُ بَعْضُها بَعْضاً. The friendship of a fool vanishes the way a mirage vanishes and is dispersed the way mist gets dispersed.

35ـ مَوَدَّةُ الحَمْقى تَزُولُ كَما يَزُولُ السَّرابُ، وتُقْشِعُ كَما يُقْشِعُ الضَّبابُ. The friendship of ignorant people constantly changes [with changes in circumstances] and quickly transforms [into enmity]. 36ـ مَوَدَّةُ الجُهّالِ مُتَغَيِّرَةُ الأحْوالِ وشيكَةُ الاِنْتِقالِ. The friendship of lay people parts like the parting of clouds, and disappears like the mirage disappears. 37ـ مَوَدَّةُ العَوامِّ تَنْقَطِعُ كَانْقِطاعِ السَّحابِ، وتَنْقَشِعُ كَما يَنْقَشِعُ السَّرابُ.