O Ali! The following is written in the Torah: Four things always accompany other four ones. He, who begins his day avaricious to collect worldly pleasures, has in fact begun his day discontented with God. He, who complains about misfortunes, has in fact complained against his Lord. And whoever comes to a rich man and humbles himself before him, has in fact had two thirds of his faith gone. Those of this community whom will be doomed into Hellfire must be of those who have derided and disrespected God’s communications.

يا عَليُّ، في التَّوْراةِ أرْبَعٌ إلَى جَنْبِهِنَّ أرْبَعٌ: مَنْ أصْبَحَ عَلى الدُّنْيا حَريصًا، أصْبَحَ وَهُوَ عَلى اللهِ سَاخِطٌ. وَمَنْ أصْبَحَ يَشْكو مَصِيبَةً نَزَلَتْ بِهِ فَإنَّـمَا يَشْكُو رَبَّهُ. وَمَنْ أتَى غَنيًّا فَتَضَعْضَعَ لَهُ، ذَهَبَ ثُلُثا دِينِهِ. وَمَنْ دَخَلَ النَّارَ مِن هذِهِ الأُمَّةِ فَهُوَ مِـمَّنِ اتَّخَذَ آياتِ اللهِ هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا

These four are always found next to other four: Whoever assumes a leading position, will surely take for myself what is more than his due. Whoever fails to seek the others’ advices, will surely regret. As you subjugate, you will surely be subjugated. Poverty is the grand death…

أَرْبَعٌ إلى جَنْبِهِنَّ أرْبَعٌ: مَنْ مَلَكَ اسْتَأْثَرَ. وَمَنْ لَـمْ يَسْتَشِرْ يَنْدَمْ. كَما تَدِينُ تُدانُ. وَالفَقْرُ الـمَوْتُ الأكْبَر

O Ali! Except for these three eyes, each and every eye will weep on the Resurrection Day: An eye that spent a night sleeplessly defending in God’s cause; an eye that is lowered before what God has prohibited to gaze at; and an eye that shed tears for fear of God.

يا عَليُّ، كُلُّ عَينٍ بَاكِيَةٌ يَومَ القِيامَةِ إلاّ ثَلاثَ أعْيُنٍ: عَيْنٌ سَهَرَتْ في سَبِيلِ اللهِ، وَعَيْنُ غَضَّتْ عَنْ مَحارِمِ اللهِ، وَعَيْنٌ فَاضَتْ مِن خَشْيَةِ الله

O Ali! Blessed shall be the face (of one) that God notices (him) weeping over having committed a sin although none saw except God.

يا عَليُّ، طُوبى لِصُورَةٍ نَظَرَ اللهُ إلَيْها تَبْكي عَلى ذَنْبٍ لَـمْ يَطَّلِعْ عَلى ذلِكَ الذَّنْبِ أحَدٌ غَيرُ اللهِ

O Ali! These three things are destroying, while other three ones are redeeming. The three destroying things are the personal whims that are obeyed, niggardliness that is acted upon, and self-conceit.

The three redeeming things are to treat others fairly in both situations of satisfaction and displeasure, to be moderate in both situations of richness and poverty, and to fear God secretly and openly. Fear God as if you see Him before you. If you do not see Him, He can surely see you.

يا عَليُّ، ثَلاثٌ مُوبِقاتُ، وَثَلاثٌ مُنْجِياتٌ. فَأَمّا الـمُوبِقاتُ فَهَوًى مُتَّبَعٌ، وَشُحٌّ مُطاعٌ، وَإعْجابُ الـمَرْءِ بِنَفْسِهِ. وَأمّا الـمُنْجِياتُ فَالعَدْلُ في الرِّضا وَالغَضَبِ، وَالقَصْدُ في الغِنَى وَالفَقْرِ، وَخَوْفُ اللهِ في السِّرِّ وَالعَلانِيَةِ، كَأَنَّكَ تَراهُ فَإِنْ لَـمْ تَكُنْ تَراهُ فَإنَّهُ يَراكَ

O Ali! These four misdeeds are the quickest in punishment: For someone to mistreat you after you have done him a favor; for someone to transgress against you while you who not treated him transgressively; for someone to break his pledge to you although you have not broken yours to him; and for a relative to rupture his relationship with you while you have maintained your relationship with him.

يا عَليُّ، أَرْبَعُ أَسْرَعُ شَيْ‏ءٍ عُقُوبَةً: رَجُلٌ أحْسَنْتَ إلَيْهِ فَكافَأَكَ بِالإِحْسانِ إِساءَةً. وَرَجُلٌ لا تَبْغي عَلَيهِ وَهُوَ يَبْغِي عَلَيْكَ. وَرَجُلٌ عَاقَدْتَهُ عَلى أَمْرٍ، فَمِنْ أَمْرِكَ الوَفاءُ لَهُ، وَمِنْ أَمْرِهِ الغَدْرُ بِكَ. وَرَجُلٌ تَصِلُهُ رَحِمَهُ وَيَقْطَعُها

O Ali! Those who enjoy these four qualities enjoy perfect Islam: to tell truth only, to show gratitude, to act prudently, and to characterize oneself with good mannerism.

يا عَليُّ، أَرْبَعٌ مَنْ يَكُنَّ فِيهِ كَمُلَ إسْلامُهُ، الصِّدْقُ، وَالشُّكْرُ، وَالـحَياءُ، وَحُسْنُ الـخُلُقِ

O Ali! To seldom ask people for one’s needs is truly continuous richness. But to ask them for one’s needs so frequently is surely humility, which is continuous poverty.

يا عَليُّ، قِلَّةُ طَلَبِ الـحَوائِجِ مِن النَّاسِ هُوَ الغِنَى الحاضِرُ. وَكَثْرَةُ الحَوائِجِ إلى النَّاسِ مَذَلَّةٌ، وَهُوَ الفَقْرُ الحَاضِرُ