“When Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, wants good for a person He places a point of light in his heart and opens the ears of his heart and assigns an angel to support him. When He wants bad fortune for a person He places a dark black spot in his heart, closes the ears of his heart and assigns a shaytan to mislead him. The Imam (a.s.) then recited the following verse of the Holy Quran. “Allah (God) will open the hearts of whomever He wants to guide to Islam, but He will constrict the chest of one whom He has led astray, as though he was climbing high up into the sky. . . .” (6:125) (Imam Jafer Sadeq (AS) H 409, Ch. 34, h 2)

Whoever possesses in his heart ‘asabiyyah (prejudice in any of its forms such as tribalism, racism, nationalism) even to an extent of a mustard seed, Allah will raise him on the Day of Resurrection with the beduins of the jahiliyyah.

(The Prophet (peace and blessings on him and his family) - narrated by Imam Jafer Sadiq (AS) - Eighth hadith of Imam Khomeini’s Forty Hadith).

Their parable is that of people who kindle a fire: but as soon as it has illumined all around them, God takes away their light and leaves them in utter darkness, wherein they cannot see. (Qur’an 2:17)

Imam Reza (a.s) said: “One cannot be a momin unless he possesses the following three traits - one from his Lord, one from his Prophet and one from his Imam. The one from his Lord is guarding secrets as Allah the Almighty said: “He (alone) knows the Unseen, nor does He make anyone acquainted with his Mysteries, except an Apostle whom He has chosen.” [The Holy Quran: Jinn 72:25-26]

But the one from the Prophet is kind treatment with people, as Allah has ordered the Prophet to treat the people with kindness and patience and said: “Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; but turn away from the ignorant.” [The Holy Quran: Araf 7:199]

And the one from the Imams (a.s) is patience and perseverance during times of hardship and calamities.” (Mishkat, h. 406)

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “Whoever relies on Allah will never be defeated, and whoever takes refuge in Allah will never fail.” (Mishkat, h.#45)

We praise Allah for what has happened and seek His succour in our affairs for what is yet to happen, and we beg Him for safety in faith, just as we beg Him for safety in our bodies. (Imam Ali (AS) sermon#98)