The sweetness and security of loneliness

Imam Ali (a.) said: „Continued loneliness is safer than mingling with people.“ [Ghurar-ul-Hikam, Page 388]

‎عن أمير المؤمنين عليه السّلام أنّه قال: مُداومة الوحدة أسلمُ من خُلطة النّاس

Imam Ar-Riḍā  said: „There will come a time upon the people when well-being has ten parts, nine of which consist in keeping one’s distance from the people and one of which consists in silence.” [Tuḥaf-ul-ʿUqūl ʿAn Āli r-Rasūl, short guidelines from Imām Ar-Riḍā, Ḥadīṯ 35, Page 446]

عن علي بن موسى الرضا عليه السلام أنه قال: يأتي على الناس زمان تكون العافية فيه عشرة أجزاء: تسعة منها في اعتزال الناس وواحد في الصمت

Ath-Thawri spoke to Ja’far Ibn Muhammad (a.): „O son of the Messenger of God, you withdrew from the people.“ Then he spoke (a.): „O Sufyan, time was deteriorating and the brothers and sisters were changing. Then I saw loneliness as the most soothing for the heart.“ [Bihar-ul-Anwar, Volume 47, Page 60]

العدد: قال الثوري لجعفر بن محمد: يا ابن رسول الله اعتزلت الناس فقال: يا سفيان، فسد الزمان، وتغير الاخوان، فرأيت الانفراد أسكن للفؤاد

It was said to Imam Sadiq (a.): „You have retreated to al-‘Aqīq – and you like the loneliness?” Then he said (a.): „If you would taste the sweetness of loneliness, then you would gain distance from yourself!” After that he said (a.): „The least that the servant experiences in loneliness is that he does not have to be considerate of anyone.” [Tuḥaf-ul-ʿUqūl ʿAn Āli r-Rasūl, short guidelines from Imām Sadiq, Ḥadīṯ 119, Seite 370]

قيل لجعفر بن محمد الصادق عليه السلام: خلوت بالعقيق وتعجبك الوحدة. فقال عليه السلام: لو ذقت حلاوة الوحدة لاستوحشت من نفسك. ثم قال عليه السلام: أقل ما يجد العبد في الوحدة أمن مداراة الناس

Imam Ali (a.) said: „Care for the preservation of your reputation through loneliness.” [Tuḥaf-ul-ʿUqūl ʿAn Āli r-Rasūl, short guidelines from Imām Ali, Ḥadīṯ 93, Page 215]

عن علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام أنه قال: تروح إلى بقاء عزك بالوحدة

Imam Sadiq (a.) said: „The believer is actually a stranger in this world. He neither allows himself to be saddened by its lowliness nor does he compete with its inhabitants for its appearance.” [Tuḥaf-ul-ʿUqūl ʿAn Āli r-Rasūl, short guidelines from Imām Sadiq, Ḥadīṯ 121, Page 370]

عن جعفر بن محمد الصادق عليه السلام أنه قال: المؤمن في الدنيا غريب، لا يجزع من ذلها ولا يتنافس أهلها في عزها