423. Imām Ali (a.s.): “Do not feel safe from any enemy, even if he expresses appreciation.”1
424. Imām Ali (a.s.): “The worst of enemies is he who is more insightful and more covert in conspiracies.”2
425. Imām Ali (a.s.) – from an aphorism attributed to him: “Be more wary of a secretive enemy than the enemy who openly fights against you.”3
426. Imām Ali (a.s.): “The weakest enemy in deception is he who manifests his enmity.”4
427. Imām Ali (a.s.): “He who manifests his hostility is less deceitful.”5
428. Imām Ali (a.s.): “Do not be deceived by the enemy’s flattery, for the enemy is like water which, although taking long to boil with fire, it does not fail to put it out.” 6
1.. Ibid, ۱۰۱۹۷.
2.. Ibid, ۵۷۸۱.
3.. Sharh Nahj al-Balāghah, vol. ۲۰, p. ۳۱۱, h. ۵۷۵.
4.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۳۲۵۸, Sharh Nahj al-Balāghah, vol. ۲۰, p. ۳۴۳, h. ۹۴۷.
5.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۷۹۵۶.
6.Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۱۰۲۹۸.
Imām al-Bāqir (a.s.) says: “When the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) came down to the region of Nahrawān, he asked about Jamil ibn Bashiri, Anushirwān’s scribe. They said he was still alive and having [his] daily sustenance. He ordered him to be summoned. When he arrived, Ali (a.s.) found him sound in his senses (except for his sight), clear-minded and highly talented. He asked him: “O Jamil! How should a person be?”
He said: “He should have few friends and many enemies!”
The Imām said: “You uttered a strange thing, O Jamil, as people are unanimous that it is better to have many friends.”
He said: “It is not as they suppose; for when something is imposed on friends, they do not act as they should, there is also a proverb in this regard which says: “The ship sank because it had too many sailors.”
The Commander of the Faithful said: “I have tried this and it is true; but what benefit is there in having many enemies?”
He said: “When there are too many enemies, man is always cautious and careful not to utter a word by which to get stuck [in trouble], or make a blunder to be reprimanded for. Therefore, he is always protected from erring.” The Commander of the Faithful approved this. (al-Da`wāt, p. ۲۹۷, h. ۶۵, Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۳۴, p. ۳۴۵)
