You used to fast and pray for one you did not recognize; now that you have recognized Him, why do you not pray and fast, and why are you not sincere and striving in His worship and obedience? Rather, be a worshipper, an ascetic, possessing ritual devotion, piety, tranquility, and Dissimulation (taqiyya), just as your Masters—exalted be their glory—manifested in the stations and refined their partisans through the manifestation of ritual devotion and the aspects of worship.

(638) My Lord Abu al-Fath Muhammad ibn al-Hasan related by his chain from Umar ibn Yazid, the seller of consulting-cloths, who said: I entered upon our Master al-Sadiq—exalted be his glory—and said: "O our Master, which of us is most intense in love for his religion?" He replied: "The one among you most intense in love for his brothers. Any believer who treats his brother as he treats the rest of the people is quit of that which we believe."

(639) When my Master vanished, I entered upon our Master Musa—exalted be his glory—and said to him: "O my Master, which of us is most intense in love for his religion?" He replied just as our Master al-Sadiq—exalted be his glory—had said: "O Umar ibn Yazid, any believer who treats his brother as he treats the rest of the people is quit of that which we believe."

It was as if the two statements issued from a single mouth. Then a need occurred to me after leaving Him, and it was said to me: "It is with someone who opposes me in my religion." I said: "By God, I shall not ask him regarding it except by the command of my Master." I entered upon my Master on the morning of that day while He was praying. When He saw me, He shortened His prayer and said to me, initiating before I spoke regarding what I intended: "O Umar ibn Yazid, indeed God, His Messenger, Amir Almuminin, al-Hasan, al-Husayn, Ali, Muhammad, Ja'far, and I are quit of whoever has a need with an Adversary and asks him a question therein, such that the Adversary bestows a favor upon him."