al-Sharīf al-Raḍī · The essence of good lies in knowledge, forbearance, and worship
٩٤. وَسُئِلَ (عليه السلام) وَعَنِ الْخَيْرِ مَا هُوَ؟ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ الْخَيْرُ أَنْ يَكْثُرَ مَالُكَ وَ وَلَدُكَ وَلَكِنَّ الْخَيْرَ أَنْ يَكْثُرَ عِلْمُكَ وَأَنْ يَعْظُمَ حِلْمُكَ وَأَنْ تُبَاهِيَ النَّاسَ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنْ أَحْسَنْتَ حَمِدْتَ اللَّهَ وَإِنْ أَسَأْتَ اسْتَغْفَرْتَ اللَّهَ وَلَا خَيْرَ فِى الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لِرَجُلَيْنِ رَجُلٍ أَذْنَبَ ذُنُوباً فَهُوَ يَتَدَارَكُهَا بِالتَّوْبَةِ وَرَجُلٍ يُسَارِعُ فِى الْخَيْرَاتِ.
94. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, was asked what is good and he replied: Good is not that your wealth and progeny should be much, but good is that your knowledge should be much, your forbearance should be great, and that you should vie with other people in worship of Allāh. If you do good deeds you thank Allāh, but if you commit evil you seek forgiveness of Allāh. In this world good is for two persons only; the man who commits sins but rectifies them by repentance; and the man who hastens towards good actions.
Translation: Sayed Ali Raza — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.
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Persian rendering (AI)
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