وَقَالَ (عليه السلام):
Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said:
وَ سُئِلَ عَنِ الْخَيْرِ مَا هُوَ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ الْخَيْرُ أَنْ يَكْثُرَ مَالُكَ وَ وَلَدُكَ
was asked what is good and he replied: Good is not that your wealth and progeny should be much,
وَ لَكِنَّ الْخَيْرَ أَنْ يَكْثُرَ عِلْمُكَ
but good is that your knowledge should be much,
وَ أَنْ يَعْظُمَ حِلْمُكَ
your forbearance should be great,
وَ أَنْ تُبَاهِيَ النَّاسَ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّكَ
and that you should vie with other people in worship of Allah.
فَإِنْ أَحْسَنْتَ حَمِدْتَ اللَّهَ
If you do good deeds you thank Allah,
وَ إِنْ أَسَأْتَ اسْتَغْفَرْتَ اللَّهَ
but if you commit evil you seek forgiveness of Allah.
وَ لَا خَيْرَ فِى الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لِرَجُلَيْنِ
In this world good is for two persons only;
رَجُلٍ أَذْنَبَ ذُنُوباً فَهُوَ يَتَدَارَكُهَا بِالتَّوْبَةِ
the man who commits sins but rectifies them by repentance;
وَ رَجُلٍ يُسَارِعُ فِى الْخَيْرَاتِ .
and the man who hastens towards good actions.