Merits

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Merits come through good perfection [of character] and noble actions, and not through excess money and eminent feats.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The merit of chiefs lies in the goodness of their worship.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘So the pious among them are the people of merits; their speech is truth and their dress [attitude] is moderate.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who lifts his head [i.e. holds himself] from misjudging has acquired the sum of all the merits.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who is good to one who does bad to him has attained all merits.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Be forgiving with your power, generous in spite of your own hardship and effective in spite of your own neediness, and your virtue will be perfected.

Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS) said, ‘When the Day of Judgment comes Allah, Blessed and most High, will gather the first and the last of creation in one place. A caller will cry out, ‘Where are the people of merit? The Imam then said, ‘Then a handful of people will rise, and the angels will receive them asking them, ‘What were your merits? They will say, ‘We used to visit those who cut us off, give to those who deprived us, and forgive those who oppressed us. It will then be said to them, ‘You have spoken the truth. Enter Paradise.

Imam al-Jawad (AS) said, ‘There are four types of merits: the first is wisdom, and its basis is thinking. The second is chastity, and its basis is desire. The third is power, and its basis is anger. The fourth is justice, and its basis is moderation in the faculties of the self.