The document describes the characteristics of people with taqwa (piety). It states that they speak truthfully, dress modestly, walk humbly, are grateful in the evening and remember God in the morning. They lower their gazes from forbidden things and listen to beneficial knowledge. They maintain integrity in both hardship and ease. They sleep in alarm and wake in joy. They deprive themselves of what they like to fulfill what they dislike. Their focus is on the imperishable rather than what disappears. Their souls yearn for reward and fear punishment.
3. Hammam ibn Shuraih - a companion of Ali (radia Allahu 'anhu) - asked him to narrate the qualities of the people of taqwa so that he would be able to see them in front of him. Ali (RA) said
4. 'When Allah created His creation, He did so while He was completely independent of their obedience towards Him and of their disobedience towards Him.
5. No disobedience can hurt Him and no obedience can benefit Him. Then He distributed amongst them (the creation) their means of sustenance and placed them on earth.
14. If their carnal selves make it difficult for them to fulfill that which they dislike they deprive them (their selves) of that which they like.
15. The apple of their eyes is in what does not perish and their abstemiousness is in what disappears.
16. Had it not been for the appointed time that Allah has written for them (death), their souls would not remain an extra second in their bodies out of yearning for reward and fear of punishment.
17. their hearts humble their selves content their diet meager their matters simple; their deen safe-guarded, their desires killed and their anger subdued.
38. This is a profitable exchange that their Lord has made pleasant for them.
39. The world tempts them, but they do not succumb. It imprisons them, but they ransomed themselves in exchange.
40. During the nights they stand in rows and read portions of the Qur'an.
41. They recite it with proper recitation which grieves their hearts and drink the Qur'an like medicine.
42. If a verse of yearning comes along, they reach for it and believe it is their destination.
43. If an intimidating verse comes along, they pour their hearts towards it and believe that Hell and its screams are in their ears
44. They sleep on their foreheads and elbows (i.e. they engage in prayers so much that it is as if they sleep in those postures) and implore Allah to deliver them.
45. In the day they are tolerant and learned, kind and God-fearing.
50. They are never content to do only a few actions (during the day), nor do they ask for a great deal.
51. If one of them is called 'pious' he fears what will be said of him and says: 'I know myself better than you do. My Lord knows me better than I do.
52. They say O Allah! Do not take me to task for what they are saying about me and (O Lord) make me better than they think. Forgive my sins which they do not know about.'
53. Their signs are that they are strong in Islam, resolute in their softness, firm in their belief.
54. They crave for knowledge and are knowledgeable with tolerance.
55. They perform good deeds in They perform good deeds in fear (of rejection).
56. Moderate in richness; pleasant in hunger; forbearing in distress; seeking halal; active in (pursuing) guidance and they abhor greed.
57. Silence does not bother them and if they laugh they do not raise their voices.
58. If they are treated with injustice they remain patient until Allah vindicates them
59. Their own selves live in toil while others are comfortable around them
60. Their abstinence from those who stay away from them is their exoneration (from malice).
61. Their proximity to those who are close to them is a means of mercy (for those who are close to them).
#45: They sleep on their foreheads and elbows (i.e. they engage in prayers so much that it is as if they sleep in those postures) and implore Allah to deliver them.