16. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ali ibn al-Hakam from abu ‘Abd Allah al-Mu’min from Jabir who has said the following:

“Once I went to visit abu la’ far and he said, ‘O Jabir, I swear by Allah, I am very sad and my heart is pre-occupied.’ I then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, what has pre-occupied your heart and what is the reason for your sadness?’ The Imam said, ‘O Jabir, if the religion of Allah in its pure form may enter one’s heart it preoccupies the heart above everything else. O Jabir, what is the world and what can one think it can be? Is it more than food to eat, clothes to wear and a woman whom you may find?’ “O Jabir, the believers are not satisfied with remaining in it (world) and they do not feel safe from the coming of the next life. O Jabir, the next life is the permanent house and this world is finishing and passing but the people of this world are neglectful. The believers are of deep understanding, people of thinking, of learning lessons and their speaking of Allah, Most Glorious is Whose name, is not silenced by means of what their ears hear. Their eyes are not blinded in speaking of Allah due to what they see of the worldly attractions (around). They have suceeded in gaining the rewards of the next life just as they have succeeded in gaining that knowledge. “O Jabir, you must know that people of piety are of smallest expenses and the most helpful to others. If you speak of them they will assist you and if you forget them they will speak of you. They are the most outspoken for the commands of Allah and steadfast in obeying the orders of Allah. They have discontinued their love (for others) with love for their Lord and they have cut themselves off from the world to obey their owner and king. They look to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and to His love with their hearts, and have learned that this is what they must look at due to its great position. Thus they have considered the world a temporary place to stay and then leave forever, or like a property that one finds in his dream and upon waking finds no trace of it. I give you this example because to people of reason and knowledge of Allah it is like fast-passing shadow. O Jabir, protect what Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, expects you to protect of His religion and wisdom. Never ask of things that are for you with Him but ask of His things that are with your soul. If the world is other than what I described for you, then consider it a house (a correctional facility) where you can seek to reform yourself. I swear by my life that many are those who are greedy for a certain matter but it makes them miserable when they achieve it and many are those who dislike a certain matter but it makes them fortunate when they find it. This is mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘So that Allah would test the faith of the believers, and deprive the unbelievers of (His) blessings.’” (3:141) Note: “House (correctional facility) and reform” is a reference to verse, 24, 84, 57, 35 and 24 of Chapters, 41, 16, 30, 45 and 41, respectively.