2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Isma’il ibn Mehran from Sayf ibn ‘ Amirah from those whom has mentioned (in his book) from abu Ja’far who has said the following:

“Ali ibn al-Husayn would say to his children, ‘Be on your guard against lies, the small lies and the bigger lies in all the serious and trivial matters. If a man lies in a small matter, he grows bold to lie in a bigger one. Have you not noted that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘As long as a servant (of Allah) speaks the truth Allah writes him down as the truthful one and, if one continues speaking lies Allah writes him down as a liar?