Bounties of the Gracious God — Page 85
Teachings for the Community 85 footsteps of the accursed Satan. Do not disobey your Gracious Lord, even if you die of a painful affliction. Obey God with greater fidelity than the fidelity shown to you by your shadows and become purer than the purest water. Teach through your actions, not through mere verbosity. Keep watch over your tongues and keep your hearts clean. And when you have a dispute with some- body, put the matter before the Imam. And, once he has given his decision, then be content with the decision and let the dispute rest. And if you do not accept it wholeheartedly, that would mean that you merely claim to have faith while it has yet to become a part of your heart. Beware of wasting away your good deeds by persisting in your disobedience. Wake up, lest you go astray after guidance has come to you. Surrender yourself to your Lord and give preference to faith over the world. Do not become like those who do not fear Allah but are fearful of His servants, and who follow their sensual desires and forget the Will of their God. They seek honour in the courts of the sons of this world, even though there is nothing but disgrace. You are God’s witnesses, so do not conceal your testimony. Tell God’s servants that the fire is raging, so they should protect themselves from it. The land is stricken with the plague, so they should try to safeguard themselves from it. The world is like a dense forest and its lions are ferocious. Do not, therefore, wander about in its vales, and safeguard your souls from temerity and transgression. Cleanse your souls so that they shine forth like silver and do not put them aside until they are completely free from flaws and contamination; for whosoever cleanses his soul, attains his goal and whosoever soils it, is deprived. Do not put your faith in the Bai‘at [Pledge of Allegiance] without having cleansed and purified yourself, for if you pledge allegiance