Imam Al-Sadiq

than them), then you wrong them or humiliate them when they prevent from (spending). So,
accompany your matches, accompany your matches."
The Imam said these words when Shahab said to him: "You have known my condition, my
open- hand, and my generosity toward my brothers. I accompany the person of them to cover
the road to Mecca and I become generous toward him."(408)
I (the author) say: The person humiliates others when he spends on them. In the meantime,
others humiliate him when they spend on him. So, the Imam prevented (Muslims) from
adopting both cases. He said to Abu Basir: "I do not want (the person) to humiliate himself,
so he should accompany those who match him."
The Imam said these words when Abu Basir asked about the person who accompanies the
rich, while he is inferior to them (in spending). So, the men take out the expense, while he is
not able to take out what they do."
When Hisham b al- Hakam asked the Imam about some cases, the Imam answered:
"Accompany those who are like you."(409)
Accordingly, the Imam regard the companionship of the match as a rule for both causes, lest
the person should humiliate himself or humiliate the others. This is among his great wisdoms
which he adopted to make people follow good manners.
Good Neighborhood:
It is an act of the politeness of the person and of his superior intellect is to adopt good
neighborhood. Besides, it is a virtuous act which the wise summon people to put it into effect.
The Arabs vied with each other for treating their neighbor kindly. Also they did their best to
defend the neighbor When Islam came it adopted this noble trait, increased the respect for it,
and urged the Muslims to cling to it. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, gave
frequent commandments concerning it. For this reason, Amir al- Mu'minin (Imam 'Ali), peace
be on him, said: "Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, went on advising us
(to treat) the neighbor (kindly). So, we thought that he would bequeath him."
The grandsons of the Prophet followed the same manner in regard with the neighbor. For
example, al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said: "Cleave to Allah fearingness.... good manners, and
good neighborhood."(410) Al- Sadiq repeated these commandments many times. So, he
blamed those who neglected them. In this connection, he, peace be on him, said: "Do the
person of you not feel shame that his neighbor knows his right, while he does not know his
neighbor's right?"