8.Ḥammād ibn ʿĪsā narrated from al-Ḥusayn ibn al-Mukhtār, from al- ʿAlāʾ ibn Kāmil who said,

“Abū ʿAbdillāh said, ‘Whenever you mingle with people, if it is possible for you to ensure that you always have the upper hand[1] over the one you mingle with, then do so. Verily the servant may have some shortcomings in his worship, yet he has a good character so Allah elevates him thereby to the level of one who fasts [and worships often].’”