For instance...
For instance, according to a validly reported tradition, Murazim has reported Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) as saying: عَلَيْكُمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ وَحُسْنِ الْجِوَارِ لِلنَّاسِ وَإقَامَةِ الشَّهَادَةِ وَحُضُورِ الْجَنَائِزِ. إنَّهُ لاَ بُدَّ لَكُمْ مِنَ النَّاسِ. إنَّ أَحَداً لاَ يَسْتَغْنِي عَنِ النَّاسِ فِي حَيَاتِهِ، وَالنَّاسُ لاَ بُدَّ لِبَعْضِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ. Always offer prayers in the mosques (of the non-Shi’ah Muslims) and show good neighborliness to people.
Testify for rightful parties and attend their funeral ceremonies. Verily, you can never manage without other people. No one can manage without others throughout life, since people are in an indispensable need of each other. [^1] Making brethren-in-faith The Holy Imams of the (‘a), underscoring this trend in social relations, directed their followers towards making as many friendships and associations as possible.
In this respect, Imam al-Ridha (‘a) is reported to have said: مَنِ اسْتَفَادَ أَخاً فِي اللهِ اسْتَفَادَ بَيْتاً فِي الْجَنَّةِ. Whoever makes another their brother-in-faith has in fact won a house in Paradise. [^2] Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is also reported to have said: أَكْثِرُوا مِنَ الأََصْدِقَاءِ فِي الدُّنْيَا، فَإِنَّهُمْ يَنْفَعُونَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ.
أَمَّا فِي الدُّنْيَا، فَحَوَائِجُ يَقُومُونَ بِهَا، وَأَمَّا فِي الآخِرَةِ فَإِنَّ أَهْلَ جَهَنَّمَ قَالُوا: (مَا لَنَا مِنْ شَافِعِينَ. وَلاَ صَدِيقٍ حَمِيمٍ). Make friends with as many people as possible in this world, for they shall benefit in this world and in the Hereafter. In this world, they may set right your worldly needs. In the Hereafter, the inhabitants of Hellfire shall say, “So now we have neither intercessors nor a true friend.
(26:100-101)” [^3] Confirming this instruction, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is also reported to have said: إِسْتَكْثِرُوا مِنَ الإِخْوَانِ فَإِنَّ لِكُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ دَعْوَةً مُسْتَجَابَةً. Make brothers-in-faith with as many people as possible, for each faithful believer has answered prayers. إِسْتَكْثِرُوا مِنَ الإِخْوَانِ فَإِنَّ لِكُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ شَفَاعَةً. Make brothers-in-faith with as many people as possible, for each faithful believer will be granted [the] right to intercede.
أَكْثِرُوا مِنْ مُؤَاخَاةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَإِنَّ لَهُمْ عِنْدَ اللهِ يَداً يُكَافِئُهُمْ بِهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ. Make brothers-in-faith with as many faithful people as possible, for they will have some privilege with Almighty Allah by which He shall reward them on the Day of Resurrection.
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