Nahj al-Balagha Hadith n. 240

Selections from The Sayings and Preaching of Amir al-Muminin Ali ibn Abi Talib (Peace Be Upon Him) Including His Replies to Questions and Maxims Expressed for Various Purposes.
Translated by Sayyid Ali Reza

وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام):

Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said:

الْحَجَرُ الْغَصِيبُ فِي الدَّارِ

One ill-gotten piece of stone in a house

رَهْنٌ عَلَى خَرَابِهَا.

is a guarantee for its ruin.

قال الرضى و يروى هذا الكلام عن النبى (ص) و لا عجب أن يشتبه الكلامان لأن مستقاهما من قليب و مفرغهما من ذنوب .

As-Sayyid ar-Radi says: In one tradition this saying is attributed to the Prophet. It is no wonder that the two sayings should resemble each other because they are driven from the same source and dispersed through the same means.