١ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ دَاهِرٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ قُثَمَ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ الْحَرَّانِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَامَ رَجُلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ هَمَّامٌ وَكَانَ عَابِداً نَاسِكاً مُجْتَهِداً إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) وَهُوَ يَخْطُبُ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صِفْ لَنَا صِفَةَ الْمُؤْمِنِ كَأَنَّنَا نَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَا هَمَّامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ هُوَ الْكَيِّسُ الْفَطِنُ بِشْرُهُ فِي وَجْهِهِ وَحُزْنُهُ فِي قَلْبِهِ أَوْسَعُ شَيْ‏ءٍ صَدْراً وَأَذَلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ نَفْساً زَاجِرٌ عَنْ كُلِّ فَانٍ حَاضٌّ عَلَى كُلِّ حَسَنٍ لا حَقُودٌ وَلا حَسُودٌ وَلا وَثَّابٌ وَلا سَبَّابٌ وَلا عَيَّابٌ وَلا مُغْتَابٌ يَكْرَهُ الرِّفْعَةَ وَيَشْنَأُ السُّمْعَةَ طَوِيلُ الْغَمِّ بَعِيدُ الْهَمِّ كَثِيرُ الصَّمْتِ وَقُورٌ ذَكُورٌ صَبُورٌ شَكُورٌ مَغْمُومٌ بِفِكْرِهِ مَسْرُورٌ بِفَقْرِهِ سَهْلُ الْخَلِيقَةِ لَيِّنُ الْعَرِيكَةِ رَصِينُ الْوَفَاءِ قَلِيلُ الأذَى لا مُتَأَفِّكٌ وَلا مُتَهَتِّكٌ إِنْ ضَحِكَ لَمْ يَخْرَقْ وَإِنْ غَضِبَ لَمْ يَنْزَقْ ضِحْكُهُ تَبَسُّمٌ وَاسْتِفْهَامُهُ تَعَلُّمٌ وَمُرَاجَعَتُهُ تَفَهُّمٌ كَثِيرٌ عِلْمُهُ عَظِيمٌ حِلْمُهُ كَثِيرُ الرَّحْمَةِ لا يَبْخَلُ وَلا يَعْجَلُ وَلا يَضْجَرُ وَلا يَبْطَرُ وَلا يَحِيفُ فِي حُكْمِهِ وَلا يَجُورُ فِي عِلْمِهِ نَفْسُهُ أَصْلَبُ مِنَ الصَّلْدِ وَمُكَادَحَتُهُ أَحْلَى مِنَ الشَّهْدِ لا جَشِعٌ وَلا هَلِعٌ وَلا عَنِفٌ وَلا صَلِفٌ وَلا مُتَكَلِّفٌ وَلا مُتَعَمِّقٌ جَمِيلُ الْمُنَازَعَةِ كَرِيمُ الْمُرَاجَعَةِ عَدْلٌ إِنْ غَضِبَ رَفِيقٌ إِنْ طَلَبَ لا يَتَهَوَّرُ وَلا يَتَهَتَّكُ وَلا يَتَجَبَّرُ خَالِصُ الْوُدِّ وَثِيقُ الْعَهْدِ وَفِيُّ الْعَقْدِ شَفِيقٌ وَصُولٌ حَلِيمٌ خَمُولٌ قَلِيلُ الْفُضُولِ رَاضٍ عَنِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مُخَالِفٌ لِهَوَاهُ لا يَغْلُظُ عَلَى مَنْ دُونَهُ وَلا يَخُوضُ فِيمَا لا يَعْنِيهِ نَاصِرٌ لِلدِّينِ مُحَامٍ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَهْفٌ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ لا يَخْرِقُ الثَّنَاءُ سَمْعَهُ وَلا يَنْكِي الطَّمَعُ قَلْبَهُ وَلا يَصْرِفُ اللَّعِبُ حُكْمَهُ وَلا يُطْلِعُ الْجَاهِلَ عِلْمَهُ قَوَّالٌ عَمَّالٌ عَالِمٌ حَازِمٌ لا بِفَحَّاشٍ وَلا بِطَيَّاشٍ وَصُولٌ فِي غَيْرِ عُنْفٍ بَذُولٌ فِي غَيْرِ سَرَفٍ لا بِخَتَّالٍ وَلا بِغَدَّارٍ وَلا يَقْتَفِي أَثَراً وَلا يَحِيفُ بَشَراً رَفِيقٌ بِالْخَلْقِ سَاعٍ فِي الأرْضِ عَوْنٌ لِلضَّعِيفِ غَوْثٌ لِلْمَلْهُوفِ لا يَهْتِكُ سِتْراً وَلا يَكْشِفُ سِرّاً كَثِيرُ الْبَلْوَى قَلِيلُ الشَّكْوَى إِنْ رَأَى خَيْراً ذَكَرَهُ وَإِنْ عَايَنَ شَرّاً سَتَرَهُ يَسْتُرُ الْعَيْبَ وَيَحْفَظُ الْغَيْبَ وَيُقِيلُ الْعَثْرَةَ وَيَغْفِرُ الزَّلَّةَ لا يَطَّلِعُ عَلَى نُصْحٍ فَيَذَرَهُ وَلا يَدَعُ جِنْحَ حَيْفٍ فَيُصْلِحَهُ أَمِينٌ رَصِينٌ تَقِيٌّ نَقِيٌّ زَكِيٌّ رَضِيٌّ يَقْبَلُ الْعُذْرَ وَيُجْمِلُ الذِّكْرَ وَيُحْسِنُ بِالنَّاسِ الظَّنَّ وَيَتَّهِمُ عَلَى الْعَيْبِ نَفْسَهُ يُحِبُّ فِي الله بِفِقْهٍ وَعِلْمٍ وَيَقْطَعُ فِي الله بِحَزْمٍ وَعَزْمٍ لا يَخْرَقُ بِهِ فَرَحٌ وَلا يَطِيشُ بِهِ مَرَحٌ مُذَكِّرٌ لِلْعَالِمِ مُعَلِّمٌ لِلْجَاهِلِ لا يُتَوَقَّعُ لَهُ بَائِقَةٌ وَلا يُخَافُ لَهُ غَائِلَةٌ كُلُّ سَعْيٍ أَخْلَصُ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ سَعْيِهِ وَكُلُّ نَفْسٍ أَصْلَحُ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ عَالِمٌ بِعَيْبِهِ شَاغِلٌ بِغَمِّهِ لا يَثِقُ بِغَيْرِ رَبِّهِ غَرِيبٌ وَحِيدٌ جَرِيدٌ حَزِينٌ يُحِبُّ فِي الله وَيُجَاهِدُ فِي الله لِيَتَّبِعَ رِضَاهُ وَلا يَنْتَقِمُ لِنَفْسِهِ بِنَفْسِهِ وَلا يُوَالِي فِي سَخَطِ رَبِّهِ مُجَالِسٌ لأهْلِ الْفَقْرِ مُصَادِقٌ لأهْلِ الصِّدْقِ مُؤَازِرٌ لأهْلِ الْحَقِّ عَوْنٌ لِلْقَرِيبِ أَبٌ لِلْيَتِيمِ بَعْلٌ لِلأرْمَلَةِ حَفِيٌّ بِأَهْلِ الْمَسْكَنَةِ مَرْجُوٌّ لِكُلِّ كَرِيهَةٍ مَأْمُولٌ لِكُلِّ شِدَّةٍ هَشَّاشٌ بَشَّاشٌ لا بِعَبَّاسٍ وَلا بِجَسَّاسٍ صَلِيبٌ كَظَّامٌ بَسَّامٌ دَقِيقُ النَّظَرِ عَظِيمُ الْحَذَرِ لا يَجْهَلُ وَإِنْ جُهِلَ عَلَيْهِ يَحْلُمُ لا يَبْخَلُ وَإِنْ بُخِلَ عَلَيْهِ صَبَرَ عَقَلَ فَاسْتَحْيَا. وَقَنِعَ فَاسْتَغْنَى حَيَاؤُهُ يَعْلُو شَهْوَتَهُ وَوُدُّهُ يَعْلُو حَسَدَهُ وَعَفْوُهُ يَعْلُو حِقْدَهُ لا يَنْطِقُ بِغَيْرِ صَوَابٍ وَلا يَلْبَسُ إِلا الإقْتِصَادِ مَشْيُهُ التَّوَاضُعُ خَاضِعٌ لِرَبِّهِ بِطَاعَتِهِ رَاضٍ عَنْهُ فِي كُلِّ حَالاتِهِ نِيَّتُهُ خَالِصَةٌ أَعْمَالُهُ لَيْسَ فِيهَا غِشٌّ وَلا خَدِيعَةٌ نَظَرُهُ عِبْرَةٌ سُكُوتُهُ فِكْرَةٌ وَكَلامُهُ حِكْمَةٌ مُنَاصِحاً مُتَبَاذِلاً مُتَوَاخِياً نَاصِحٌ فِي السِّرِّ وَالْعَلانِيَةِ لا يَهْجُرُ أَخَاهُ وَلا يَغْتَابُهُ وَلا يَمْكُرُ بِهِ وَلا يَأْسَفُ عَلَى مَا فَاتَهُ وَلا يَحْزَنُ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَهُ وَلا يَرْجُو مَا لا يَجُوزُ لَهُ الرَّجَاءُ وَلا يَفْشَلُ فِي الشِّدَّةِ وَلا يَبْطَرُ فِي الرَّخَاءِ يَمْزُجُ الْحِلْمَ بِالْعِلْمِ وَالْعَقْلَ بِالصَّبْرِ تَرَاهُ بَعِيداً كَسَلُهُ دَائِماً نَشَاطُهُ قَرِيباً أَمَلُهُ قَلِيلاً زَلَلُهُ مُتَوَقِّعاً لأجَلِهِ خَاشِعاً قَلْبُهُ ذَاكِراً رَبَّهُ قَانِعَةً نَفْسُهُ مَنْفِيّاً جَهْلُهُ سَهْلاً أَمْرُهُ حَزِيناً لِذَنْبِهِ مَيِّتَةً شَهْوَتُهُ كَظُوماً غَيْظَهُ صَافِياً خُلُقُهُ آمِناً مِنْهُ جَارُهُ ضَعِيفاً كِبْرُهُ قَانِعاً بِالَّذِي قُدِّرَ لَهُ مَتِيناً صَبْرُهُ مُحْكَماً أَمْرُهُ كَثِيراً ذِكْرُهُ يُخَالِطُ النَّاسَ لِيَعْلَمَ وَيَصْمُتُ لِيَسْلَمَ وَيَسْأَلُ لِيَفْهَمَ وَيَتَّجِرُ لِيَغْنَمَ لا يُنْصِتُ لِلْخَبَرِ لِيَفْجُرَ بِهِ وَلا يَتَكَلَّمُ لِيَتَجَبَّرَ بِهِ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُ نَفْسُهُ مِنْهُ فِي عَنَاءٍ وَالنَّاسُ مِنْهُ فِي رَاحَةٍ أَتْعَبَ نَفْسَهُ لآِخِرَتِهِ فَأَرَاحَ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ إِنْ بُغِيَ عَلَيْهِ صَبَرَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ الله الَّذِي يَنْتَصِرُ لَهُ بُعْدُهُ مِمَّنْ تَبَاعَدَ مِنْهُ بُغْضٌ وَنَزَاهَةٌ وَدُنُوُّهُ مِمَّنْ دَنَا مِنْهُ لِينٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لَيْسَ تَبَاعُدُهُ تَكَبُّراً وَلا عَظَمَةً وَلا دُنُوُّهُ خَدِيعَةً وَلا خِلابَةً بَلْ يَقْتَدِي بِمَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْخَيْرِ فَهُوَ إِمَامٌ لِمَنْ بَعْدَهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبِرِّ قَالَ فَصَاحَ هَمَّامٌ صَيْحَةً ثُمَّ وَقَعَ مَغْشِيّاً عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) أَمَا وَالله لَقَدْ كُنْتُ أَخَافُهَا عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ هَكَذَا تَصْنَعُ الْمَوْعِظَةُ الْبَالِغَةُ بِأَهْلِهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ قَائِلٌ فَمَا بَالُكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِكُلٍّ أَجَلاً لا يَعْدُوهُ وَسَبَباً لا يُجَاوِزُهُ فَمَهْلاً لا تُعِدْ فَإِنَّمَا نَفَثَ عَلَى لِسَانِكَ شَيْطَانٌ.
1. Muhammad ibn Ja’far has narrated from Muhammad ibn Isma’il from ‘Abd Allah ibn Dahir from al-Hassan ibn Yahya from Qathm abu Qatadah al-Harrani from ‘Abd Allah ibn Yunus from Abu ‘Abdillah  who has said the following: “Once a man called Hammam, an assiduous worshipper practicing religious rules and a hardworking man came to Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib)  during his speech and said, ‘O Amir al-Mu’minin, describe for us the qualities of the believer as if we see him before our eyes.’ “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib)  said, ‘O Hammam, a believer is a smart, intelligent one whose delight is on his face and whose sadness is in his heart, his chest is vastly open, his soul is most humble, he criticizes one’s leaning to every mortal, exhorts to go for everything good. He is not hateful, quarrelsome, scandalous, faultfinding or backbiting. He dislikes high positions (of negative nature) and is an enemy of fame and publicity. His sadness remains for a long time, his ambition is far reaching. He very often remains silent, dignified, ever remembering (the Lord), exercising patience, grateful, sad due to his thoughts, happy with his poverty, easy in his nature, kindhearted, of strong loyalty, of very little trouble, not a liar or insulting. “When laughing, he does not burst. When angry he does not msh. His laughing is smiles, his question is to learn, his review is to understand, his knowledge is plentiful, his forbearance is great and his blessing is a great deal. He is not stingy, he does not hasten, irritate or act as an extremist, is not unjust in his judgment, or unfair due to his knowledge. His soul is more solid than a rock, his labor is more sweet than honey. He is not greedy, intolerant, violent, conceited, pretending or exaggerating. He is graceful in disputed matters, of honorable visitation, a man of justice when angry, a friend when asked. He is not adventurous, or insulting and coercive. His love is pure, he is of solid promise, of fulfilling commitment, affectionate, a keeper of good relations, forbearing, calm, of very little that is extraneous, happy with Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and opposes his own desires. He is not rough toward his inferiors and does not indulge in what is not his business. He is a supporter of religion, a defender of believers, a stronghold for Muslims, and admiration does not affect him negatively, greed does not hurt his heart, playfulness does not change his judgment and ignorant ones cannot find the limits of his knowledge. “His words are many and he is a determined scholar. He is not abusive or furious. He reaches out without harshness, is generous not a spendthrift, is not deceitful or treacherous, is not a faultfinder or unjust to a human being. He is a friend of the creatures, effortful on earth, assistant of the weak and a helper of the helpless. He does not violate what is hidden or uncover secrets, his trials are a great deal and his complaints very little. He remembers the good that he had seen, covers up the evil that he may observe, hides the defects, safeguards the unseen, corrects slips and forgives mistakes. He does not walk away from an advice that he can give, and he does not give up reforming an unjust instance. He is trustworthy, steadfast, pious, clean, purified and consenting. He accepts excuses, speaks of someone with grace and he is good and expects good from people. “He accuses his soul of defects, loves for the sake of Allah with understanding and knowledge, cuts off relations for the sake of Allah with firmness and determination. Happiness does not trespass upon him and intense happiness does not make him excited. He is a reminder for the scholar and a teacher for the ignorant. He is not expected to cause a calamity. He is not feared for causing a tragedy, every effort to him is more sincere than his own and every soul is more correct than his own. He knows his defects. He is busy with his own sadness. He does not trust anyone except his Lord. He feels a stranger, lonely, dispossessed and sad. He loves for the sake of Allah, strives for the sake of Allah to follow His happiness. He does not revenge by himself for his own self. He does not make friends to make his Lord angry. He sits with the poor, is a friend of the truthful ones, a supporter of the people of truth and an assistant for those near to him. He is like a father for the orphans, like a husband for the widows, the first hope for the destitute, expected to remove every resentful matter and to relieve every difficulty. “He is light and happy, is not frowning or sly, is strong, controlling of anger, smiling, sharp-sighted and greatly cautious. He does not ignore, and if ignored, he is forbearing. He is not stingy and if stinginess, is used against him he exercises patience. He understands, thus he is bashful, is content, independent and is self-sufficient. His bashfulness is higher than his lust, his love is higher than his jealousy and his forgiveness is higher than his hate. He does not speak without correctness and does not dress unless it is economical. He walks humbly, is submissive before his Lord in obedience and is happy with Him in all conditions. His intention is pure and sincere. His deeds are free of fraud and deceit. His observations are good lessons, his silence is thoughtful and his words are wisdom. He is advising, charitable and brotherly. He gives good advice in public and in private. He does not abandon his brother, does not backbite him and does not plot against him. He does not regret what he has missed, and does not become sad for whatever befalls him. He does not hope for what is not lawful. He does not fail in hardships and does not perpetrate in comfort. He mixes forbearance with knowledge and reason with patience. He is not lazy but is always active, of very short longing and of very few slips. (Good) is expected through him, his heart is fearful, he always speaks of his Lord, his soul is content, his ignorance is negative, his affairs are easy, he is sad for his sins, his lust is dead, his anger is controlled and his moral behaviors are lucent. “His neighbors live safely with him, his pride is weak, he is content with whatever is determined for him, his patience is strong, his affair is well established and his remembering (the Lord) is a great deal. He meets people to learn and remains silent for safety, he asks questions to understand, and he trades to earn. He does not remain silent for good to be subjected to injustice, and does not speak to be used in doing injustice to others. His soul is tired of him and people are comfortable with him. He has tired his soul for the gains of the next life and has provided comfort to others by means of his soul. If rebellion is committed against him he exercises patience until Allah finds support for him. His distancing when distancing is needed comes in overlooking and in graceful disregard, and his closeness when closeness is needed comes as kindness and blessings. His distancing is not out of boastfulness or greatness and his closeness is not a plot or deceit. It is because he follows the footsteps of those before him, the people of goodness. Thus, he is the leader for those after him. “The narrator has said that Hammam breathed very deeply and fell down unconscious. Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib)  said, ‘By Allah I was afraid of its effect for him. This is how effective advice works on people deserving such advice. Someone said, ‘Why does it not apply to you, O Amir al-Mu’minin?’ The Imam said, ‘For everything there is an appointed time that is not surpassed and a cause that does not fail. Wait, and do not transgress. It was a blow that Satan made to flow through your tongue.’” 