I didn't see anyone at all in the masjid except the...

I didn't see anyone at all in the masjid except the Messenger of Allah (s) and ‘Ali (s) who was sitting by his side, so I took the opportunity of the emptiness of the masjid (to approach the Prophet (s) )." I said, " Oh RasulAllah (s) , by my father and mother, please advise me with such advice that Allah will benefit me by it." فقال: نعم وأكرم بك يا أبا ذر إنك منا أهل البيت وإني موصيك بوصية فاحفظها، فإنها جامعة لطرق الخير وسبله، فإنك إن حفظتها كان لك بها كفلان.

So he said,"Yes, and how noble you are Oh Abu Dharr! Most surely You are from us, the Ahl Al Bait (a), and I am giving You advise so remember it, for surely it is the collection of (all) the paths of goodness. Surely if You memorize them and put them into practice (hafiztaha), You will have by it `Kiflan'." (Two folds of mercy, in this world and the hereafter) يا أبا ذر: اعبد الله كأنك تراه فإن كنت لا تراه فإنه يراك.

واعلم أن أول عبادة الله المعرفة به فهو الاول قبل كل شئ فلا شئ قبله، والفرد فلا ثاني له، والباقي لا إلى غاية، فاطر السموات والارض وما فيهما وما بينهما من شئ وهو الله اللطيف الخبير وهو على كل شئ قدير، ثم الايمان بي والاقرار بأن الله تعالى أرسلني إلى كافة الناس بشيرا ونذيرا وداعيا إلى الله بإذنه وسراجا منيرا، ثم حب أهل بيتي الذين أذهب الله عنهم الرجس وطهرهم تطهيرا. Oh Abu Dharr! "Worship Allah as if You see Him and if You weren't seeing Him (You must understand that) surely He sees You.

Know that the first of worship of Allah is (Ma'rifa) gnosis, for He is surely the first before every other thing, so there is nothing before Him, The singlemost without any second, the continuing but not to an end.

He is the Creator of the heavens and earth and whatever is in them and between them and He is the Subtle, the Aware, and He has power over all things; then (the second most important factor in the worship of God is) belief in me and acknowledgment that Allah sent me to all of humanity as a bearer of glad tidings, a warner, a caller (of people) to Allah by His permission an a illuminating torch of light; Then (the third most important factor in God's worship is) the love of the people of my house, Those from whom Allah has removed (from them) every impurity and purified them a perfect purification.1 واعلم يا أبا ذر: إن الله عزوجل جعل أهل بيتي في أمتي كسفينة نوح من ركبها نجا ومن رغب عنها غرق، ومثل باب حطة في بني إسرائيل من دخلها كان آمنا.