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In Usul al-kafi the Imam said:

1654. 7. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p) quoted his father Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (p), who quoted his father Imam Zainul Abideen (p) said: O my son, beware of five kinds of people. Do not keep their company nor indulge in discussions with them. Do not take a stroll with them. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (p) asked: O my father, who are they? Please identify them for me.

Imam Zainul Abideen (p) replied: … Beware of the company of a habitual liar because he is like a mirage. Whatever is far from you he will make it appear to be near to you and whatever is near to you he will make it appear to be far from you. Avoid the company of the wicked and dissolute because he may sell you for (the price of) a square meal and for even less than that. Beware of the company of the miser because he will not help you (even when you are) in dire need and therefore subject you to disgrace. Avoid the company of the 'Stupiid' because in trying to do you a favour he will harm you (even with his best intention) and also beware of the one who causes breach of mutual sympathy because I find that God, the Mighty, the Glorious has cursed him in three verses of the Noble Quran God, the Mighty, the Glorious said: Then, is it to be expected of you, if you were put in authority, that you will do mischief in the land, and break your ties of kith and kin? Such are the men whom God has cursed, for He has made them deaf and blinded them (Q, 47:22, 23). And God, the Mighty, the Glorious said: … those who break the covenant of God, after having plighted their word thereto, and cut asunder those things which God has commended to be joined, and work mischief in the land; – on them is the curse; for them is the terrible home (Q, 13:25). And God has also said: Those who break the covenant of God after it is ratified, and who sunder what God has ordered to be joined, and do mischief on earth: these cause loss (only) to themselves (Q, 2:27).

1651. 1. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p): Whenever Imam Ali (p) used to ascend the pulpit; he used to warn against the company of three categories of people. Firstly, a brazen-faced libertine; secondly, one who is 'Stupiid'; and thirdly, a liar.

Explaining the dangers of mixing with these people, the Imam (p) said that the brazen-faced libertine will sing the praises of his misdeeds in order to inveigle you and would like to see you become like him. He will not help you in any matters of your religion and your fate, and his company will create estrangement, alienation and heartlessness and his frequent visits will become a disgrace for you.

As regards the Stupiid one, he will never give good advice to you and will not divert evil away from you even if he strives for it. He may try to do you a favour but will harm you in the process. So his death is better than his life (for you) and his silence is more profitable than his prattle, and his distance from you is better than his proximity.

And as regards the liar, he will spoil your ease and comfort. He will talk to you about others and he will talk about you to others and whenever he will narrate an episode, he will mix it up with another similar story and it will appear that he is speaking the truth while it will not be the truth, and he will create antagonism and enmity between people which will breed malice and rancour in their hearts. Hence, fear God, the Mighty, the Glorious, and maintain a careful watch on yourselves.