whenever I was told that a man was righteous, I did not regard his righteousness as confirmed until I had inquired about three particular traits. If all three were present, his righteousness was complete; but if even one was missing, that shortcoming would mar whatever uprightness he possessed.

41 – ʿAbd Allāh narrated to us; ʿĀṣim ibn ʿUmar ibn ʿAlī ibn Muqaddam related to us; he said: my father, Abū al-ʿAbbās al-Hilālī, narrated to us; he said: I heard al-Ḍaḥḥāk ibn Muzāḥim say:

1. I ask about his intellect, for a fool destroys himself and brings ruin upon whole groups of people. He passes by a gathering without offering the greeting of peace, and when questioned he says, “They are merely people of this world.” He neglects to visit a sick neighbour, and when reproached he answers, “They are people of this world.” He lets a funeral procession go by without following it for the same reason, and even allows his father’s food to grow cold—thus becoming disobedient to his parent.

2. I inquire about the greatest blessing—none is greater than it—namely Islam: has he carried this blessing well, untainted by innovation or deviation? If so, I take his righteousness into account; otherwise I place no weight on anything else he may possess.

3. I ask about the means by which he earns his livelihood. If he has no honest means of sustenance, I cannot feel secure about him, and I fear that, in such a state, he may be closer to his appointed end than to any genuine rectitude.