(583) It was related that the High World asked the Master — exalted be his glory — to lighten for their brothers among humanity the chains, the burdens, and the heat of diseases? He replied: "I have lightened that for them and imposed upon them the rights of their brothers. They must practice mutual consolation (muwasat) with them; if they cannot achieve equality (musawat) with them, let them feed their hungry, connect with their poor, aid their oppressed, and help their weak. This is what God has imposed upon them of the rights of their brothers, so you must show compassion and tenderness toward them."

Let each of you be as the Scholar — exalted be his glory — said: "Whoever asks us, we give to him; and whoever does not ask us, we initiate the giving. For he who has no outward that he maintains, nor consolation for his brothers, to what can he attach himself and upon what can he rely?"

He is not a believer who does not maintain the Outward with its people and connect with his brothers. You must rely upon both states together: the maintenance of the Outward with its people and the connection with your brothers. Strive to avoid your enemies in religion who are the adversaries; beware of mixing with any of them. Isolate yourself from them as much as you can. Do not advise any of them, nor eat with them, nor drink with them, for that is forbidden to you.

One of my brothers narrated to me that a group of believers were traveling for their trade, and on their way was a village containing a believing man from among the brothers. They used to stop at his place, and he would reach the limit in their hospitality and honoring them according to his means and strength. A person who claimed to be one of them accompanied them, so they stopped in that village at their brother's house and stayed the night. When morning came, they bid him farewell and traveled. That man said to them: "O our companions, was the yellow handmaid who was serving us a slave or one of his family?" They replied: "We do not know her color, whether she was yellow or white." When they departed from their journey and returned after a time, they found that man blind. They said: "O our brother, your looking at the yellow handmaid has blinded your eyes."