Hadith

 وَ بِهَذَا اَلْإِسْنَادِ قَالَ : قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع لِجَابِرٍ يَا جَابِرُ إِنَّمَا شِيعَةُ عَلِيٍّ ع مَنْ لاَ يَعْدُو صَوْتُهُ سَمْعَهُ وَ لاَ شَحْنَاؤُهُ بَدَنَهُ لاَ يَمْدَحُ لَنَا قَالِياً وَ لاَ يُوَاصِلُ لَنَا مُبْغِضاً وَ لاَ يُجَالِسُ لَنَا عَائِباً شِيعَةُ عَلِيٍّ ع مَنْ لاَ يَهِرُّ هَرِيرَ اَلْكَلْبِ وَ لاَ يَطْمَعُ طَمَعَ اَلْغُرَابِ وَ لاَ يَسْأَلُ اَلنَّاسَ وَ إِنْ مَاتَ جُوعاً أُولَئِكَ اَلْخَفِيفَةُ عَيْشَتُهُمْ اَلْمُنْتَقِلَةُ دِيَارُهُمْ إِنْ شَهِدُوا لَمْ يُعْرَفُوا وَ إِنْ غَابُوا لَمْ يُفْتَقَدُوا وَ إِنْ مَرِضُوا لَمْ يُعَادُوا وَ إِنْ مَاتُوا لَمْ يُشْهَدُوا فِي قُبُورِهِمْ يَتَزَاوَرُونَ قُلْتُ وَ أَيْنَ أَطْلُبُ هَؤُلاَءِ قَالَ فِي أَطْرَافِ اَلْأَرْضِ بَيْنَ اَلْأَسْوَاقِ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اَللَّهِ تَعَالَى عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى اَلْكََافِرِينَ .

 The same previous series of narration… that Abu Ja’far (a) said to Jabir: O Jabir, the Shia of Ali (a) are only those whose voices do not exceed their hearings and detestation does not exceed their bodies. They do not praise those who abhor us, regard those who hate us, or associate with those who revile at us. The true Shia of Ali (a) do not bark like dogs, covet like craws, or beg people openly even if they starve. Their living is hardly sufficient. Their dwellings are roving. When they are present, they are not recognized. When they are absent, they are not missed. When they are ailed, nobody visit them. When they die, nobody participate in their funeral ceremonies. They exchange visits in their graves. Jabir asked: Where can I find such people? The Imam (a) answered: You will find them living in the outskirts and among the marts. They are the intendeds in Allah’s saying: They are humble towards the believers and dignified to the unbelievers. ( : )

Ṣifāt al-Shīʿa

Book 1, Chapter 25