Nahj al-Balagha Hadith n. 422

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:

افْعَلُوا الْخَيْرَ

Do good

وَلاَ تَحْقِرُوا مِنْهُ شَيْئاً،

and do not regard any part of it small

فَإِنَّ صَغِيرَهُ كَبِيرٌ

because its small is big

وَقَلِيلَهُ كَثِيرٌ،

and its little is much.

وَلا يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ:

No one of you should say

إِنَّ أَحَداً أَوْلَى بِفِعْلِ الْخَيْرِ مِنِّي

that another person is more deserving than I in doing good.

فَيَكُونَ وَاللهِ كَذلِكَ،

Otherwise, by Allah, it would really be so.

إِنَّ لِلْخَيْرِ وَالشَّرِّ أَهْلاً،

There are people of good and evil.

فَمَهْمَا تَرَكْتُمُوهُ مِنْهُمَا

When you would leave either of the two,

كَفَاكُمُوهُ أَهْلُهُ.

others will perform them.