This is part 4 of 5 of “The Book of Social Conduct (al-'Ishra)”, book 9 of Al-Kafi — Hadith 3,734–3,783. The book is long enough that it is split across 5 pages so each one stays quick to load; the parts run in order and are linked at the foot of the page.
13. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Khalid ibn Tahman from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “If you have laughed loudly, say, ‘O Lord, please, do not hate me.’”
14. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hajjal from Dawud ibn Farqad and Ali ibn ‘Aqabah and Tha’Labah in a marfu’ manner from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) and abu Ja’far (a.s.) or one of them who has said the following: “Much joking eliminates the dignity of one’s face and much laughing hurls belief far away.”
15. Hamid ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan al-Maythami from ‘Anbasah al-‘Abid who has said that I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) say the following: “Joking is a minor form of name-calling.”
16. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from ibn Muskan from Muhammad ibn Marwan from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Beware of joking; it eliminates the dignity of one’s face and his respect.”
17. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Barqi from abu al-‘ Abbas from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Do not quarrel; it eliminates your brilliance and do not play jokes; people grow rude and daring against you.”
18. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Salih ibn al-Sindi from abu Ja’far ibn Bashir from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Do not play jokes; rudeness will be used against you.”
19. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Sa’d ibn abu Khalaf from abu al-Hassan (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Imam said in his will to one of his sons or that he said, ‘My father said to one of his sons: “Beware of playing jokes; it eliminates the light of your belief, and decreases your manhood.’”
20. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Faddal from al- Hassan ibn al-Jahm from Ibrahim ibn Mehzam from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from abu al-Hassan, the first (a.s.) who has said the following: “Y ahya (John) ibn Zakariya would weep and would not laugh. Jesus, son of Mary would laugh and weep. What Jesus did was better than what Yahya would do.”
1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr and Muhammad ibn Yahya from al-Husayn ibn Ishaq from Ali ibn Mahziyar from Ali ibn Faddal from Fadalah ibn Ayyub all from Mu’awiyah ibn ‘Ammar from ‘Amr ibn ‘Akramah who has said the following: “Once I went in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) and said to him, ‘My neighbor causes me suffering.’ The Imam said, ‘Be kind to him.’ I said, ‘I wish Allah will not grant him any kindness.’ The Imam turned away from me and I did not like to leave him and I said, ‘He does this and that to me and keeps causing me to suffer. ’ The Imam said, ‘Had you come openly against him could you defend your self sufficiently?’ I said, ‘Yes, I could certainly have the upper hand.’ The Imam said, ‘This is one of those who envy people for what Allah has granted them through His generosity. If he finds one enjoying bounties, he then turns his anguish against that person’s family, and if he did not have family, he turns against his servants, and if he did not have any servant he then remains sleepless for the whole night and spends the day in anguish and anger. ‘Once a man from Ansar (people of Madinah) came to the Messenger of Allah and said, “I have purchased a house in the neighborhood of such and such tribe. The nearest neighbor is as such that not only do I not have any hope for receiving any good from him, I do not feel safe from him also.” The Imam said that the Messenger of Allah commanded Ali (a.s.) Salman, abu Dharr and, I forgot the other one, 1 think he mentioned Miqdad, to announce in the Mosque at the top of their voices, “One from whose hands his neighbors are not safe has no belief and faith.” They announced it three times. He then pointed out that each forty house in front back, right and left are neighbors.’”
2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Talhah ibn Zayd from abu ‘Abd Allah from his father (a.s.) who has said the following: “I have read in the book of Ali (a.s.) that the Messenger of Allah wrote (and got it signed) for the people of Ansar and Muhajirin and people related to them from Yathrib: ‘The neighbor is like one’s soul that cannot be harmed or made to sin. The respect for the neighbor is like the respect for one’s mother.’ This is the Hadith in brief.’”
3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Isma’il ibn Mehran from Ibrahim ibn abu Raja’ from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Maintaining good neighborly relations increases one’s sustenance.”
4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from h is uncle Ya’qub ibn Salim from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘When Benjamin also was taken away from Jacob, he pleaded before Allah for help, saying, “Have mercy on me. You have taken away my eyesight and my son.” Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, sent him inspiration, “Even if I will cause them to die I will give them life again for you so you will live with them, however, remember the sheep that you slaughtered, you and so and so used it for food and so and so in your neighborhood was fasting but he receive nothing from it.’””
5. From the previous chain:In another Hadith it is said that Jacob thereafter would announce around his home up to a distance of three miles every morning, “Whoever needs food, come to the house of Jacob” and in the evening also would announce, ‘Whoever needs dinner come to the house of Jacob.’”
6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from Zurara from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once Fatimah (a.s.) came to the Messenger of Allah and complained about certain matters. The Messenger of Allah gave her a tablet to read. It was written on the tablet: ‘Whoever believes in Allah and the Day of Judgment must not cause suffering to his neighbor. Whoever believes in Allah and the Day of Judgment must treat his guest with honor. Whoever believes in Allah and the Day of Judgment must speak of good or remain silent.’”
7. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Sa’dan from abu Mas’ud who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once said to me, ‘Maintaining good neighborly relations increases one’s life span and the development of the country.”’
8. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from al-Nahiki from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from al-Hakam al-Khayyat who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Maintaining good neighborly relations increases the development of the country and one’s life span.’”
9. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from certain individuals of his people from Salih ibn Hamza from al-Hassan ibn ‘Abd Allah from ‘Abd Salih (a.s.) who has said the following: “Not to cause suffering to neighbors is not a good neighborly relation, however, to be a good neighbor and to exercise patience in suffering (caused by the neighbors) is a good neighborly relations.”
10. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Kufi from ‘Uthman bays ibn Hisham from Mu’awiyah ibn ‘Ammar from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Maintaining good neighborly relations develops the country and extends one’s lifespan.”
11. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah from Isma’il ibn Mehran from Muhammad ibn Hafs from abu al-Rabi’ al-Shami who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once speaking to the people who had filled up his house said, ‘You must take notice that those who fail to maintain good relations with their neighbors are not of our people and followers.’”
12. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Muhammad ibn Ali from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu Hamza who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) saying, ‘A believing person is one whose neighbors are safe from his bawa’iq, I then asked, ‘What is bawa’iq ,’ The Imam said, ‘His injustice and transgressions.’”
13. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Muhammad b n Isma’il from Hanan ibn Sadir from his father from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once a man came to the Holy Prophet and complained against his neighbor. The Messenger of Allah said to him, ‘Bear patience.’ The man came the second time. The Holy Prophet said, ‘Bear patience.’ The man came the third time. The Holy Prophet said to him, ‘On Friday when people go to the Mosque take your belongings out and place them on the road so that all who go to the Mosque see them. If they asked you tell them your story. He did as he was told to do. His neighbor came and asked him to return his belongings home saying, ‘Allah will be against me in your favor if I will not stop doing what I would do before.’”
14. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Muhammad ibn Isma’il from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Uthman from abu al-Hassan al-Bajali from ‘Ubayd Allah al-Wasafi from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘One who spends the night with his stomach full while his neighbor is hungry does not believe in me. Any (people of the town) who sleep at night with their stomachs full while among them are hungry people, to such people, on the Day of Judgment, Allah will not look with kindness.’”
15. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from abu Jamilah from Sa’d ibn Tarif from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Of the back-breaking misfortunes, one is a bad neighbor who hides all good things about his neighbor and publicizes all the bad things about him.”
16. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Muhammad ibn Ali from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘I seek protection with Allah against a bad neighbor of a residence. The neighbor whose eye sees you and whose heart is against you. When he observes a good thing it disappoints him and if he sees a bad thing he becomes happy.’”
1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Mu’awiyah ibn ‘Ammar from ‘Amr ibn ‘Akramah from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Every forty houses from the front, back, right and left are neighbors. ’”
2. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Jamil ibn Darraj from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The limits of a neighborhood are forty houses on all sides, front, back, right and left.”
1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan who has said the following: “Once Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) advised me, ‘You must remain pious before Allah, keep your trust, speak the truth, maintain good companionship relations and there is no power without Allah.’”
2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu Ja’far who has said the following: “If in your association with people you can maintain the upper hand (be more beneficial), you should do so.”
3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Of the two companions, the one who is more kind to his companion is more beloved to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’”
4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Ya’qub ibn Yazid from A number of our people have narrated from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘It is of the rights of a traveler on his companions to look after him for three days if he falls ill.”’
5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once, Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) accompanied a taxpaying non- Muslim. The taxpaying non-Muslim asked, ‘Where you want to go, O servant of Allah?’ Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) said, ‘I want to go to al-Kufah.’ The taxpayer’s road changed. Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) kept walking along with him. He asked, ‘Did you not say that you wanted to go to al-Kufah? He said, ‘Yes, that is true.’ The non-Muslim taxpayer said, ‘You have missed the road to al-Kufah.’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, I know that.’ The non-Muslim asked, ‘Why are you then coming with me when you know the road?’ Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) said, ‘This is to observe a part of the companionship rights, that is, escorting one gently on their departing each other. This is what our Holy Prophet has instructed us with.’ The non-Muslim asked, ‘Has he said that?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, that is what he has said.’ The non-Muslim said, ‘It is true that whoever followed him did so because of his noble deeds. I testify that I have accepted your religion. The non-Muslim came back along with Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) and when he recognized him, he became a Muslim.’”
1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Sahl ibn Ziyad all from ibn Mahbub from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “To maintain contact with friends in the town is by visiting, on a journey and out of town by correspondence.”
2. Ibn Mahbub has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “It is necessary to reply a letter just as it is necessary to answer a greeting of peace. The initiator of a greeting of peace is closer to Allah and His messenger.”
1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al- Washsha’ from Jamil ibn Darraj from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah would look to every one of his companions in equal proportions of time. He would look to this and then to that person. The Messenger of Allah was never seen stretching his legs in a gathering of his companions. When he would shake hands, with a person, the Messenger of Allah would not pull back his hand before the other man. When they noticed it thereafter a man shaking hands with him would pull his hand away quickly.”
2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Mu’ammar ibn Khallad from abu al-Hassan (a.s.) who has said the following: “When a man is present, call him by his Kunyah (father of so and so) and in his absence call him by his name.”
3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever loves his Muslim brother should ask what his name, the name of his father, his tribe and family is. It is of necessary rights and truthful brotherhood (friendship) to ask such questions; otherwise, it is a foolish recognition.’”
4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ya’qub ibn Yazid from Ali ibn Ja’far from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Qudamah from his father from Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah one day said to the people in his meeting, ‘Do you know what is (of one’s) weakness?’ They said, ‘Allah and the Messenger of Allah know better.’ He then said, ‘There are three kinds of weaknesses: First, a friend prepares food for another friend but fails to keep his promise and does not come for food. Second, one of you meets a man and wants to know who he is but fails to acquire such information and he departs the man. Third, is about women, one becomes close to his wife and depletes his energy before she is satisfied.’ ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amr al-‘As asked, ‘What should he do, O the Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘He should hold back until it comes from both of them in concert.’” “In another Hadith it is said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The weakest of all is one who meets a man and is attracted to him but does not ask his name, his relationships or where he lives.’”
5. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama’a who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan Musa saying, ‘Keep your decorum intact between yourself and your brother (friend) and preserve it; removal is the elimination of bashfulness.’”
6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ وَاصِلٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) لا تَثِقْ بِأَخِيكَ كُلَّ الثِّقَةِ فَإِنَّ صِرْعَةَ الإسْتِرْسَالِ لَنْ تُسْتَقَالَ.
6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Isma’il from ‘Abd Allah ibn Wasil from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Do not trust your brother (friend) in totality; a sudden fall of attachment is never repairable.’”
7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from Mu’Alla ibn Khanis and ‘Uthman ibn Sulayman al- Nakhkhas from Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar and Yunus ibn Zabyan who have said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Try your brothers (friends) in two things that if not found then keep away from them, keep away, keep away from them. The two qualities are the preservation of their prayers on time and kindness to their brethren in good and bad times.’”
1. Allah Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from Jamil ibn Darraj who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Do not ignore the expression, “(I begin) in the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,” even if it is followed by a poem.’”
2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Ali from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Yusuf ibn ‘Abd al-Salam from Sayf ibn Harun Mawla Ale (family) Ju’dah who has said the following:“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Write “(I begin) in the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,” with the best of your handwriting. Do not extend the letter ‘B’ more than the letter ‘S’.’” [Note: this may apply to kufi handwriting only].
3. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Hassan ibn al-Sari from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Do not write, ‘(I begin) in the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,’ ‘for so and so’ (in a letter), but it is not an offense to write at the back of the letter, ‘for so and so’.’”
4. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Muhammad ibn Ali from al-Nadr ibn Shu’ayb from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from al-Hassan ibn al-Sari from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Do not write in the letter: ‘For abu so and so’ but write ‘To abu so and so’. In the address area one should write, ‘For abu so and so’.”
5. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama’a who has said the following: “Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) about a man who initiates writing to another man. The Imam said, ‘It is not an offense. It is an excellent act when a man initiates honoring his brother (in belief).”’
6. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ibn al-Ahmar from Hadid ibn Hakim from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “It is not an offense for a man to begin with the name of his friend in a letter instead of his own name.”
7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Murazim ibn Hakim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) ordered to write a letter about an issue. The letter was written and was shown to him and there was no exception in it. The Imam said, ‘How can you expect that this may be completed without exception (that is, if Allah so wills)? Look into it and write down exceptions whenever needed.”’
8. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) would dry up the ink on a newlywritten letter by means of placing soil on it and would say that doing so is not an offense.”
9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Ali ibn ‘Atiyyah who has said the following: “He had seen a soiled letter of abu al-Hassan al-Rida, recipient of divine supreme covenant.”
1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Utbah who has said the following: “Once I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.) about the papers that accumulate if they can be burned in which names of Allah may also be found. The Imam said, ‘No, they must not be burned instead, first they should be washed with water.’”
Sahih· al-Majlisi
Sunni collections: text from the open hadith-api dataset. Al-Kafi: Arabic text, Muhammad Sarwar's translation and gradings from Thaqalayn.net via the Thaqalayn API. Hadith numbering follows those editions and can differ from a printed copy — check the Arabic against a trusted edition before relying on a reference.
