Source: Shaheed Murtada Mutahhari, The Narrative of Veracious, Vol.2, STORY
NO.115, p.148-149
'Abdul 'Ala, the son of 'Ayun, set out from Kufãh for Madinah. Friends and
followers of Imam Sãdiq ('a) in Kufãh took this opportunity to write many
imperative questions and handed them over to Abdul 'Ala so that he would bring
them back the answers given by the Imam ('a). They also asked him to inquire
orally about a particular question relative to the rights which a Muslim had
upon another Muslim from the legal point of view, and bring his reply too.
Abdul 'Ala arrived in Madinah and went to the presence of the Imam ('a). He
handed the written questions to the Imam ('a) and brought up the oral problem.
But, contrary to his expectation, the Imam ('a) replied to all of the questions
with exception of the latter. 'Abdul 'Ala did not say anything that day and went
off. The next day, the Imam ('a) did not say anything about the question. When
Abdul 'Ala was about to leave Madinah, he went to the lmam ('a) to bid farewell.
He thought to expose again his question; thus he said: "0 descendant of the
Messenger of Allah! You have not replied to my question yet."
The Imam Sâdiq ('a): "I did not answer to it intentionally."
--"Why?"
—"Because I fear to tell the truth and you do not carry it out and then leave
the religion of Allah!"
The Imam ('a) continued his words and said: "In fact, among the most difficult
duties facing the creatures of Allah, there are three of them: Firstly
respecting the justice and equity between himself and the others to such an
extent that he behaves towards his Muslim brother just as he likes to see the
others behave towards him. Secondly, not refusing his property with the Muslim
brothers in giving them a hand. Thirdly, remembering Allah in all circumstances.
I do not mean by that to go on repeating "Subhanallah"1 or "Alhamdulillah "2
unceasingly, but I would like to say that one should be in such an attitude that
if he faces an illegal action (Haram), while the remembrance of Allah always
being in his heart will prevent him from committing it.3