The holy prophet (SAW) said: Surely, a man’s lineage is his faith and bravery.

The holy prophet (SAW) said: Surely, a man’s lineage is his faith and bravery. A man’s intellect is his temper. God Almighty has said: “O you men! Surely We have created you of a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surely the most honorable of you with Allah is the one among you most careful (of his duty).” [^8] Turning to Salman, the holy prophet (SAW) said: “O Salman! There is no preference for you to any one of them save for piety (Taqwa).

Therefore, if you are more pious you will be better than them.” [^9] Imam Ali in Nahj al-Balaghah has commented on Taqwa on numerous occasions. Some of them are as follows: “Beware, Taqwa is like tame camels whose reins are in the hands of their riders, leading them to paradise.” [^10] In a sermon, Imam Ali (AS) says: “O creatures of Allah! I advise you to have fear of Allah which is the provision (for the next world) and with it is (your) return.

This provision would take you (to your destination) and the return would be successful. The best one, who is able to make people listen, has called towards it and the best listener has listened to it. So the caller has proclaimed and the listener has listened and preserved. O creatures of Allah! Certainly fear of Allah has saved the lovers of Allah from unlawful doings and gave drear to their hearts till their nights are spent in wakefulness and their days in thirst.

So they achieve comfort through trouble and copious watering through thirst. They regarded death to be near and therefore hastened towards (good) actions. They rejected their desire and so they kept death in their sight.” [^11] In another sermon, Imam Ali (AS) says: “Know O creatures of Allah that piety is a strong house of protection while impiety is a weak house which does not protect its people, and does not give security to him who takes refuge therein.

Know that the sting of sins is cut by piety and the final aim is achieved by conviction of belief.”[^12] Still in another sermon, Imam Ali (AS) has said: “I advise you O creatures of Allah, to exercise fear of Allah and obey Him because it is salvation tomorrow and deliverance forever.” [^13] On the same topic, Imam Ali (AS) says: “O creatures of Allah!