Mishkat al-Masabih 4866 — Manners

Abu Dharr Narrated from:

I went to meet Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم Then he (or the sub-narrator) narrated the hadith (tradition) at length (but it is omitted here) till he came to: (i) "I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, give me some guidance.' He said, 'I enjoin you to fear Allah because that is the adornment for everything (worldly and religious) that concerns you.'(ii) I asked him, 'Give me more!' He said, 'you must bind yourself to recite the Quran and make dhikr of Allah, Mighty and Glorious. That will be a means of you being remembered in the heaven and will be a light for you on earth.' (The angels and, in fact, even Allah will mention you. And, light of guidance will shine for you on earth).(iii) I asked him, 'Give me more!' He said, 'You must observe long silence. It drives away the devil and helps you in your religion.'(iv) I asked him, 'Give me more!' He said, 'Refrain from much laughter, because it benumbs the heart and takes away the brightness from the face.' (The heart becomes dull and negligent and the face loses the light of awareness).(v) I asked him, 'Give me more!' He said, 'Speak the truth, even if it sounds bitter.' (Let it cause loss to others or to yourself).(vi) I asked him, 'Give me more!' He said, 'do not fear anyone's blame when you work for Allah (and His religion to propagate it).'(vii) I asked him, 'Give me more!' He said, 'You must be prevented from searching for faults of others by what you know of yourself.' (You must look at your own faults and not try to find faults of others.)" [1]