Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Yahya al-`Attar narrated to us. He said: My father narrated to us from Ahmad b. Muhammad b. `Isa from Nuh b. Shu`ayb al-Nishapuri from `Ubaydullah b. `Abdullah al-Dahqan from `Urwa the nephew of Shu`ayb al-`Aqraquqi from Shu`ayb from Abi Basir. He said: I heard al-Sadiq Ja`far b. Muhammad narrate from his father from his forefathers as). He said:

The Messenger of Allah (s) said one day to his companions: Which of you fast the whole year? So, Salman said: I, O Messenger of Allah. So, the Messenger of Allah (s) said: So, which of you keep vigil at night? So, Salman said: I, O Messenger of Allah. He said: So, which of you completes the Quran every day? So, Salman said: I, O Messenger of Allah. So, one of his companions became angry and said: O Messenger of Allah! Salman is a man from Persia, and he wants to boast pretentiously over us, the people of Quraysh. You said, “Which of you fast the whole year?”, and he said, “I”, when he eats on most days. You said, “Which of you keep vigil at night?”, and he said, “I”, when he sleeps most of the night. You said, “Which of you completes the Quran everyday?”, and he said, “I”, when he is silent for most of the day.” So, the Prophet (s) said: Cease, O person. I am to you as Luqman the Wise was. Ask him, and he will inform you. So, the man said to Salman: O Aba `Abdillah! Did you not allege that you fast every day? So, he said: Yes. So, he said: I saw you eating on most days! So, he said: It is not as you have interpreted, for I fast three days in a month, and Allah says, “Whoever comes with a good deed will have ten the like thereof.” (6:160) And, I connect Sha`ban with the month of Ramadan, which is like fasting the whole year. So, he said: Did you not allege that you keep vigil at night? So, he said: Yes. So, he said: You sleep for most of the night! So, he said: It is not as you have interpreted, for I have heard my Beloved, the Messenger of Allah (s) say: “Whoever goes to sleep in a state of [ritual] purity, it is as though he has kept vigil all night”, and I go to sleep in a state of purity. So, he said: Did you not allege that you complete the Quran every day? He said: Yes. He said: But you are silent on most days. So, he said: It is not as you have interpreted, as I have heard my Beloved, the Messenger of Allah (s) say to `Ali : “O Abu’l Hasan! Your likeness to my Nation is like that of Surat al-Tawhid (qul huwallahu ahad), for whoever recites it once, it is as though he has recited one third of the Quran; and whoever recites it twice, it is as though he has recited two thirds of the Quran; and whoever recites it three times, it is as though he has completed the Quran. [Likewise,] whoever loves you with his tongue has completed one third of faith, and whoever loves you with his tongue and his heart has completed two thirds of faith, and whoever loves you with his tongue and his heart, and supports you with his hand has completed [his] faith. By He who has sent me with the truth! O `Ali, if the people of the Earth loved you in the same way that the people of heaven love you, no one would be punished in the Fire.” And, I read qul huwallahu ahad three times every day. Then, the man stood as though he had been pelted with a stone.