Men Are of Three Kinds
1
3-95 حدثنا أبي رضي الله عنه قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن أحمد أبي عبد الله البرقي، عن الحسن بن علي بن فضال، عن ثعلبة بن ميمون، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: الرجال ثلاثة: رجل بماله، ورجل بجاهه، ورجل بلسانه، وهو أفضل الثلاثة
3-95 (The compiler of the book narrated) that his father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’ed ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Ahmad Aba Abdullah al-Barqy, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Faz’zal, on the authority of Sa’alabat ibn Maymun that Aba Abdullah as-Sadiq (MGB) said, “Men are of three kinds: A man (can be known) by his wealth, a man by his position, and a man by his tongue. And that is the best of the three.”
2
3-96 وبهذا الاسناد قال: قال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: الرجال ثلاثة: عاقل وأحمق وفاجر، فالعاقل الدين شريعته، والحلم طبيعته، والرأي سجيته، وإن سئل أجاب، وإن تكلم أصاب، وإن سمع وعى، وإن حدث صدق، وإن اطمأن إليه أحد وفى، والاحمق إن استنبه بجميل غفل، وإن استنزل عن حسن نزل، وإن حمل على جهل جهل، وإن حدث كذب، لا يفقه وإن فقه لا يتفقه، والفاجر إن ائتمنته خانك، وإن صاحبته شانك وإن وثقت به لم ينصحك
3-96 And with these same documents he narrated that the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (MGB) said, “Men are of three types: intelligent, stupid and corrupt. For the intelligent, religion is his way; patience is his nature, and thinking is in his character. If questioned, he will respond. If he talks, he says the right words. If he listens, he perceives. If he speaks, he tells the truth. If someone trusts him, he will be loyal to him. However, if you direct a stupid person to the good, he will neglect it. If he is directed away from the good, he will follow. If he is guided towards ignorance, he becomes ignorant. If he talks, he lies. He doesn’t understand. Even if you try to make him understand, he will not understand. And a corrupt person is such that if you entrust him with something, he will cheat you. If you become his companion, he will debase you. And if you trust him in some affairs, he will not be sincere to you.”