Letter of Abi Abdillah (a. s) to a group of Shia — Hadith 1

, and his (saww) Sunnah, so adhere to it and do not follow your own desires, and your opinions, for you will go astray. The most misguided of the people with Allah (azwj) is the one who follows his own desires and his opinion without (following the) Guidance from Allah (azwj). And do good for yourselves in accordance with your abilities, for if you do good, it would be for your own selves, and if you violate, it would be against your own selves. <br>And intermingle with the people and do not burden them upon your necks, including along with that the obedience to your Lord (azwj). And beware of insulting the enemies of Allah (azwj) when they are listening to you, for the enemies will insult Allah (azwj) without awareness, and it is better that you should know the penalty of insulting Allah (azwj) and what it is. He who has insulted the friends of Allah (azwj) is like he has insulted Allah (azwj). And the one who is the most unjust with Allah (azwj) is the one who insults Allah (azwj) and the friends of Allah (azwj), so don’t do it, don’t do it. Follow the Commands of Allah (azwj). There is no Might, and no Power except by Allah (azwj)’. And he (asws) said: ‘O you group for whom Allah (azwj) has Protected for them their affairs! It is for you to follow the footsteps of the Messenger (saww) of Allah (azwj) and his (saww) Sunnah, and the footsteps of the Imams (asws) of Guidance from the People (asws) of the Household of the Messenger (saww) of Allah (azwj) from after him (saww) and their (asws) Sunnah. So the one who takes to that has been guided, and the one who avoided that and abandoned it, went astray, because they (asws) are the ones (asws) for whom Allah (azwj) Commanded (the people) to be obedient to, and for their (asws) Wilayah. And our (asws) father (asws) the Messenger (saww) of Allah (azwj) has said: ‘The continuation upon the deeds in the following of the footsteps and the Sunnah, even though they may be little, is more Pleasing to Allah (azwj) and beneficial with Him (azwj) in the Rewards, than the struggle in the ‘Bittah) heresy, and the desires. Indeed, the following of the desires, and the following of the heresies (innovations) without Guidance from Allah (azwj) is misguidance, and every misguidance is heresy, and every heretic will be in the Fire. And nothing can be achieved from the good with Allah (azwj) except by being obedient to Him (azwj), and the patience and being agreeable, because the patience and being agreeable is from the obedience to A