Translator's Preface
Translator's Preface
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate, Who honored us with the opportunity to serve the teachings of His chosen servants. Blessings and peace be upon our Master, Hazrat Muhammad (s.a.w.a.), the Seal of the Prophets, and upon Ameerul Momineen Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.), the Gate of the City of Knowledge, and upon the pure and immaculate Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.).
With humility and gratitude, we thank Allah for granting us the opportunity to contribute this modest work. We dedicate this book, The Believer's Guide to Good Character, with love and devotion to Ameerul Momineen Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) on the blessed occasion of Eid al-Ghadeer.
This dedication is especially appropriate because the honor, dignity, and sacred rights of the believer discussed throughout this book are rooted in the covenant of Wilayah proclaimed at Ghadeer. It is through attachment to Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and the pure Imams from his progeny that the believer attains this noble status before Allah.
As an illustration of this reality, we quote a tradition included in this very book. Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) narrates that during the Meʿrāj, Allah said to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.):
“Whoever harms a friend of Mine has declared war against Me.”
When the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) asked who this friend was, Allah replied:
“He is the one from whom I took the covenant of your Wilayah, and of your successor, and of the inheritors of both of you.” (Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 72, Ch. 56, Tradition 18)
Thus, the believer whose rights, dignity, and honor are emphasized throughout these narrations is one whose status before Allah is connected to the covenant of Wilayah—a covenant publicly proclaimed and perfected on the Day of Ghadeer.
This book is a translation of selected chapters and traditions from Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 72 of Allama Majlisi (a.r.). Its purpose is to introduce readers to the noble character, manners, and social conduct that the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) taught and exemplified. The narrations collected in these chapters provide practical guidance on how a believer should interact with family, friends, fellow believers, and society at large.
In an age where artificial intelligence has made knowledge more accessible than ever before, we have been blessed with tools that can assist in making the treasures of Islamic scholarship available to a wider audience. The website TwelverBooks.com was established with the aim of providing English access to classical Arabic and Persian texts, particularly for readers who may not have the opportunity to study these works in their original languages. The objective is not to produce academic or highly polished scholarly translations, but rather to make the essential teachings of these valuable sources available in English in a timely manner.
This translation is part of that effort. Readers are encouraged to benefit from the translated material while referring back to the original Arabic texts whenever possible for verification, deeper study, and reflection. Since this translation has been generated with the assistance of ChatGPT and other modern tools, it should be reviewed and verified where precision is required. To facilitate this, the original Arabic text has been included alongside the translation.
We conclude by praying to Allah for the hastening of the reappearance of our Master, Imam al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s.). May Allah grant us the honor of being among his sincere helpers and companions. We also pray that Imam Ameerul Momeneen Ali ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) intercedes for us on the Day of Judgment and that Allah accepts this small effort despite its shortcomings, making it a means of nearness to Him and service to the cause of the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.).