Imam Al-Sadiq

Moreover, al- Sadiq excluded those who do not treat their neighbors kindly. He, peace be on
him, said: "Whoever does not treat his neighbor kindly is not one of us."(411)
Accepting Advice:
People know that the person has superior intellect when he listens to advice and conforms to
the words of the adviser, for the ignorant person sticks to fanaticism that he does not listen to
the adviser. Besides, he thinks that the adviser may disclose his defects. However, he forgets
that disclosing. his defects urges him to reform them. For this reason, al- Sadiq, peace be on
him, said: "The most desirable one of my brothers for me is he who gifts me my
defects."(412) He said these words to teach us, for he is far above defects.
I (the author) say: Of course, such a person is the most desirable one because he wants to save
himself from -the vices and adorn it with the virtue. As this quality is good, al- Sadiq, peace
be on him, regarded disclosing the defects as a gift. This was his maximum aim to encourage
the brothers (i.e. friends) to adopt this quality to disclose the defects of each other to reform
them.
Al- Sadiq made it necessary for the believer to accept advice. He, peace be on him, said: "The
believer is in need of three traits: success granted by Allah, the great and Almighty, a
preacher from his own self, and accepting advice."(413)
Consultation:
Whoever asks the advice of the wise knows the ways of the entries and of the outlets and
discovers the ways of success. So, he saves himself from dangers. Abu Abd Allah (al- Sadiq),
peace be on him, discovered this fact for us when he said: "The person who asks the advice
(of others) does not perish."(414) Also he guided us to the consultant when we face accidental
vague things. He said: "When the person of you faces (a thing) which he has no ability to
solve, Why does he not ask the advice of the wise man with has religion and piety?"(415)
Al- Sadiq increased the conditions of consultation and of the consultant when he, peace be on
him, said: "Consultation does not take place except within its (limits. So, the advice- seeker
should know it with in its limits; otherwise it harms him more than it avails him. Firstly, the
consultant should be wise. Secondly, he should be free and religious. Thirdly, he should be a
close friend lastly, you should tell him about your secret that his knowledge of it is as your
knowledge of yourself. Then he keeps your secret. Indeed, if he (the consultant) is wise, you
make use of his advice. If he is free and religious, he does his best to advise you. If he is a
close friend, he keeps your secret when you tell him about it. And if you tell him about your
secret that his knowledge of it is as your knowledge of it, then consultation is perfect."(416)