4/6
Commitment to the Truth in Knowing Men
165. al-Amāli –narrated by Asbaq ibn Nubāta: “Hārith ibn Hamdāni along with a group of Shi’ites, including myself, went to visit the Commander of the Faithful Ali ibn Abi Tālib (a.s.). Being sick, Hārith walked in with a bent back and a walking stick. The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) came towards him, for Hārith was highly esteemed by him, and said: ‘How are you feeling Hārith?’
He said: “Life has done to me what it has pleased, O Commander of the Faithful, and the conflict of your companions at your doorstep is irritating and infuriating me.”
He asked: “What is their conflict about?”
He replied: “About you and the previous three caliphs. One
of them is an extremists and zealot, another falls short, and a third is hesitant who does not know whether to go forth or back.”
Ali (a.s.) said: “Enough O brother from Hamadan! You should know that the best of my followers are the middle group; he who exceeds the due bounds shall be brought back to them, and he who falls short shall be made to reach them.”
Hārith told him: “May my father and mother be your ransom! Would you cleanse our sullied hearts and elucidate our affairs for us!”
Ali (a.s.) said: It is enough. You are confused in (certain) affairs. The religion of God is not known through men, but with the sign of the truth. So come to know the truth and you will only then know its people.
‘O Hārith! Truth is the best of words, and he who declares it is a struggler (mujāhid).”1
1.. al-Amāli by al-Mufid, , vol. ۳, p. ۳. al-Amāli by al-Tusi, p. ۶۲۵, h. ۱۲۹۲, Bishārat al-Mustafa, p. ۴.
