57 – ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; Isḥāq b. Ismāʿīl narrated to us; Sufyān narrated to us; ʿAmmār b. Ruzayq al-Ḍabbī narrated to me, saying:

ʿAli b. Abi Ṭālib (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“A man can never dispense with his tribe, even if he were …, nor can children do without their affection for him …; he still needs the awe they inspire behind him, their tenderness toward him, and their defence of him with their hands and their tongues whenever a calamity strikes or some unwelcome matter befalls him. Should he pull his hand away from his kinsfolk, he is only withdrawing one hand from among many helping hands. … His close circle knows his true friend … and … let him show kindness whenever he is able; Allah will replace whatever he spends and will multiply his reward in the Hereafter. Let not any one of you, out of indifference or aloofness, withhold proper courtesy from his brother when he perceives in him a trace of honour, even though the man may have little wealth. Nor should anyone’s refinement lead him to arrogance or pride that estranges him from his clan, even if … … … for what he withholds will not benefit him if he keeps it, nor will it harm him if he gives it away.”