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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Ethical Discourses: Volume 1 Discourse 27: Characteristics of the True Believer – Part IX We were previously narrating a tradition from the Noble Prophet (S) to the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali b. Abi Talib (as) in which a total of one hundred and three characteristics of a true believer were explained.

Instead of aimlessly wandering around (spiritually), the person who wishes to tread upon the path of Islamic 'Irfan (mysticism) should make use and act upon that which is mentioned in this tradition and one will get closer in his journey towards Allah (SwT). In our previous gatherings, we discussed forty-one characteristics and today, we cover another four characteristics of a true believer.

… وُقُوراً، صَبُوراً، رَضِياً، شُكُوراً… The Prophet (S) continued: ”(A true believer) is: dignified (in the face of challenges), patient, content (with whatever Allah decrees for him), thankful (for the blessings that Allah gives him).”[^1] We can actually place this tradition alongside the Khutbah of the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali b. Abi Talib (as) given to Hammam in which 110 characteristics that a muttaqin (those who have Allah consciousness) must possess was explained.

Three of the characteristics given by the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali b. Abi Talib (as) in his talk to Hammam were actually explanations of the words of the Prophet (S) in this tradition: فِي الزَلاَزِلِ وُقُوراً وَ فِي الْمَكَارِهِ صَبُوراً وَ فَي الرَّخَاءِ شَكُوراً.

“In the face of calamities they are dignified, and in the face of detestable acts they are patient; and in the face of ease and comfort, they are thankful.”[^2] The forty-second characteristic of a true believer is that of “وقوراً”.

The word “وقور” is in the meaning of something heavy, and in the Noble Qur'an, we read: وَ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْراً “And in their ears is a heaviness.”[^3] Thus, we see that due to the sins that people commit, Allah (SwT) places heaviness in their ears such that they are no longer able to hear the Truth. In the above mentioned speech to Hammam, the Commander of the Faithful,, 'Ali b.

Abi Talib (as) further said, “They (those who have consciousness of Allah) remain in the time of trials the way they remain in comfort.” Sometimes, we see that certain people are like feathers such that even with the slightest movement (in the world around them), they lose their footing because they have absolutely no foundation.

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