Anonymous asked:
What would you recommend to better one’s character, also what book recs can you suggest (on any topic). Thank uu
Self-reflection.
I’m currently reading ‘Why We Watch’ by Jeffrey Goldstein
Hasan (al-Basri) said:
The Hawra’ (sing. of al-Hur al-‘Ayn) will say to the Waliyy of Allah, while lying with him by a river of honey and handing him the cup: 'Indeed, Allah looked at you on a very hot day, with a long period between the two ends (i.e., dawn and night), while you were enduring severe thirst during the midday heat. Then, He boasted about you to the Angels and said: 'Look at My servant: he has left his spouse, desire, pleasure, food, and drink for My sake, longing for what is with Me. Bear witness that I have forgiven him.’ So He forgave you and married me to you.’
Reference : Lata'if al-Ma'arif, Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali
Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام on friendship:
Friendship has conditions. Do not give your full friendship to him who does not have these conditions, and do not give anything of friendship to him who does not have any of these conditions. (1) His public and private self are the same with you. (2) He should consider your adornment to be his adornment, and your blemish to be his blemish. (3) His attitude does not change toward you when he has wealth or authority. (4) He should not withhold that which he is able to give you. (5) He should not leave you during hardship.
If one of your brethren becomes angry with you three times without saying anything evil about you, then take him as a friend.
Do not give your brother all your trust, for prudence is unceasing.
Do not tell a secret to your friend, unless it would not harm you if an enemy were to find out, for a friend can become an enemy one day.
Reference : From the Amālī of Shaykh al-Sadūq
When Allāh wishes Good for a person, he inflicts his heart with different punishments, if he turns away from Allāh & becomes occupied with the love of someone other than Him, till his hearts returns to the Love of Allāh. If his limbs become occupied with the obedience of someone other than Allāh, Allāh tests / inflicts him with different calamities.
