Do not look down upon anyone of the Muslims because even a...

Do not look down upon anyone of the Muslims because even a humble Muslim is great before Allah. (ibid. Indifference towards friends is against courtesy and this wrong attitude shakes the foundation of friendship, creating heartache. Imam `Ali (a.s.) said: لا تٌضيعن حق أخيك إتكالاً على ما بينك وبينه فإنه ليس لك بإخٍ من ضيعت حقه.

“Do not neglect the right of your brother, trusting the relation between you and him (i.e., thinking that the relationship between you and him is above such requirements) because the person whose right you have neglected, is not your brother.” ^6 Ignoring the people, or abusing and humiliating them is a condemnable attitude because ridicule and hatred are the two acts which can never win friends.

Aristotle said that for preservation of friendship, the friends should recognise status and pay due regard to each other. If two friends do not recognise and respect each other, there is no possibility of cordial relations and sincere friendship between them. Courtesy costs nothing, but pays a lot. One can achieve through courtesy what one cannot do through gold and silver. Once a man, named az-Zuhri[^7], came to the fourth Imam 'Ali ibn al-Husayn (a. s.) with a gloomy face.

The Imam asked him the reason of his sadness. az-Zuhri said: "O son of the Messenger of Allah, sorrow and distress are attacking me from all sides. On one hand, the envious people cannot bear my comfort and well-being, and make me sad by their behaviour. On the other hand, the enemies and ill-wishers cause me distress.

Above all, the people to whom I had done some good turn and expected friendship and love from them are creating obstacles in my way." The Imam said: "O az-Zuhri, keep your tongue under control, and do not say whatever comes to your mind, lest you lose your friends and turn them into enemies." az-Zuhri repled, "O son of the Messenger of Allah, I do them a good turn by the words I tell them." The Imam: "It is not so.

Resist from saying a thing which the minds of people are not ready to accept." Then the Imam said: "O az-Zuhri, a man whose mind is not mature, may get doomed by even small things." Thereafter, the Imam gave him a code of conduct, so that by following it he may not get distressed by the behaviour of the people. The Imam told him, "O az-Zuhri, is it really difficult if you deem all Muslims like your family members and dependants.

elders like your father, youngsters like your children and contemporaries like your brothers?