What Qualities Should We Look for in Someone We Consult?

“…and consult in your affairs those who fear God, Mighty and Majestic.”

*Al-Khisal*, vol. 1, p. 169

Imam al-Baqir (AS): “…and consult in your affairs those who fear God.”

The Messenger of God (PBUH) said: “Ali, do not consult a coward, for he will narrow your way out; do not consult a miser, for he will hold you back from your goal; and do not consult a greedy person, for he will make greed seem attractive to you. Know, Ali, that cowardice, miserliness and greed are one and the same disposition: they are all rooted in mistrust.”

*Al-Khisal*, vol. 1, p. 102

The Messenger of God (PBUH) said: “Ali, do not consult a coward, for he will leave you with no way out. Do not consult a miser, for he will keep you from reaching your goal. And do not consult a greedy person, for he will make greed seem attractive to you. Know, Ali, that cowardice, miserliness and greed are all one disposition, united by mistrust of God.”

“Do not consult someone whom your reason cannot trust, even if people regard him as intelligent and devout. And when you have consulted someone your heart trusts, do not go against his advice, even if it runs counter to what you want. For the self resists accepting the truth, and nothing makes this resistance clearer than its reluctance to accept realities. God Most High says: ‘And consult them in the matter’; and He also says: ‘Their affairs are conducted by consultation among them’—that is, they consult one another about them.”

*Misbah al-Shari‘a*, p. 153

“Do not consult someone whom your reason and heart cannot trust, even if people consider him intelligent and devout. And once you have consulted someone qualified to advise you, do not oppose him, even if he expresses a view contrary to yours. The human self resists accepting the truth and refuses to acknowledge reality; for that reason, it is better to oppose the self when faced with the truth.

God Most High says: ‘Consult the Muslims in communal affairs and the events that arise.’ He also says: ‘And it is the way of the believers to consult one another.’”

*Misbah al-Shari‘a*, translated by Mustafa, text, p. 235

Abu Abd Allah (AS) said: “Consultation is sound only when it meets certain conditions. Whoever knows and observes these conditions will benefit from it; otherwise, its harm to the person seeking advice will outweigh its benefit. The first condition is that the person consulted be intelligent. The second is that he be free and devout. The third is that he be a sincere friend and brother. The fourth is that you disclose your secret to him, so that he knows it as well as you do, and then keeps it concealed. If he is intelligent, you will benefit from his advice; if he is free and devout, he will exert himself to counsel you sincerely; and if he is a sincere friend and brother, he will keep your secret when you entrust it to him. When you have disclosed your secret to him and he knows it as well as you do, the consultation is complete and the counsel sound.”

Al-Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said: “Consultation is good when it meets four conditions; otherwise, its harm to the person seeking advice will outweigh its benefit. First, the person consulted must be intelligent. Second, he must be devout and honourable. Third, he must be a friend and brother who, once entrusted with your secret, keeps it as carefully as you would. If he is intelligent, you will benefit from his advice; if he is devout and honourable, he will exert himself to counsel you sincerely; and if he is your friend and brother, he will keep your secret.”

*Al-Mahasin*, vol. 2, p. 602

The Messenger of God (PBUH) was asked, “What is prudence?” He replied: “Consulting people of sound judgment and following their advice.”

*Al-Mahasin*, vol. 2, p. 601

Abu Abd Allah (AS) said: “In your affairs, seek the counsel of those who fear their Lord.”

Ali (AS) said in one of his sermons: “Consult, in your affairs, those who fear God.”

*Al-Mahasin*, vol. 2, p. 602

Sulayman ibn Khalid said: “I heard Abu Abd Allah (AS) say: ‘Seek the advice of intelligent, devout men, for they will counsel you only toward what is good. Beware of opposing them, for going against the counsel of a devout and intelligent person brings corruption in both faith and worldly life.’”

His Eminence (AS) said: “Seek the counsel of intelligent and upright men, for they will guide you only toward what is good. Never oppose such a person’s judgment, for opposing one who is intelligent and God-fearing brings corruption in both faith and worldly life.”

The Messenger of God (PBUH) said: “The counsel of an intelligent and sincere adviser brings sound judgment, blessing and success from God. So when an intelligent and sincere adviser gives you counsel, beware of opposing him, for doing so leads to ruin.”

The Messenger of God (PBUH) said: “The counsel of an intelligent and sincere adviser brings sound judgment, blessing and success from God. When such a person advises you, beware of opposing him, for ruin lies in doing so.”

Abu Abd Allah (AS) said: “What prevents one of you, when faced with something beyond his capacity, from seeking the advice of an intelligent man who is devout and God-fearing?” Then Abu Abd Allah (AS) added: “If he does so, God will not abandon him. Rather, God will raise him up and guide him to what is best and nearest to Him.”