The Commander of the Faithful (AS) struck his hand upon his chest and then said: Thirteen sects out of the seventy-three all lay claim to affection and love for me; [only one of them is in Paradise,] and twelve of them are in the Fire. (Book of Sulaym, vol. 2, p. 803)
Sulaym relates: Ali (AS) struck his hand upon his chest and said: Thirteen sects out of the seventy-three sects of the Muslims claim devotion and love for me. Yet only one of those sects is destined for Paradise, and twelve sects have their place in Hell.
Sulaym said: I said to Ibn Abbas, "Tell me the greatest thing you have heard from Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS)." He then related to me something that I myself had already heard from Ali (AS). He said: Ali (AS) said: The Messenger of God (PBUH) called for me while a book was in his hand, and he said: "O Ali, take this book." I said: "O Prophet of God, what is this book?" He said: "A book that God has written, in which are recorded the names of the people of felicity and the people of wretchedness from my community until the Day of Resurrection. My Lord has commanded me to hand it over to you." (Book of Sulaym, vol. 2, p. 804)
Sulaym said: I asked Ibn Abbas, "What is the most astonishing thing you have heard from Ali (AS)?" Ibn Abbas then related something that I too had once heard from Ali (AS). He said that Ali (AS) said: The Messenger of God (PBUH) had a book in his hand; he summoned me and said: "O Ali! Let this book be with you." I said: "O Prophet of God! What book is this?" He said: "A book that God has written, in which are recorded the names of the felicitous and the wretched of my community until the Day of Resurrection. My Lord has commanded me to give it to you."
From the Commander of the Faithful (AS): Truly, none knows our affair except three kinds of creatures: an angel brought near, a prophet sent forth, or a servant whose heart God has tested for faith. O Sulaym, the criterion of this affair is piety (wara'), for our wilayah (guardianship) is attained only through piety. (Book of Sulaym, vol. 2, p. 826)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said to Sulaym: Comprehending our wilayah is possible for none save an angel brought near, a prophet sent forth, or a servant whose faith has been tried and proven. O Sulaym, the criterion for comprehending the wilayah is God-wariness. Only through God-wariness can one attain our wilayah.
From the Commander of the Faithful (AS): Whoever's heart does not come to hold affection for us, faith dissolves in his heart just as salt dissolves in water. (Book of Sulaym, vol. 2, p. 830)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Whoever does not have affection for us in his heart, faith gradually vanishes from his heart, just as salt dissolves in water.
From Sulaym ibn Qays al-Hilali, who said: I heard Ali (AS) speaking in the month of Ramadan — the very month in which he was slain — while he was between his two sons Hasan and Husayn (AS), the sons of Abdullah ibn Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, and his closest Shia, and he was saying: Leave the people to what they have chosen for themselves, and bind yourselves to silence while the state belongs to your enemy; for you will never lack those who falsely lay claim to your cause, nor an aggressive, envious enemy. People are of three kinds: one kind adorns itself with our light; one kind makes its living through us; and one kind has been guided by us and follows our command — and they are the fewest of the kinds. They are the noble Shia — the wise, the learned, the jurists, the God-fearing, the generous. Blessed are they, and theirs is a beautiful final abode. (Book of Sulaym, vol. 2, p. 943)
Sulaym relates: In that same month of Ramadan in which the Commander of the Faithful (AS) was martyred, I came into his presence. Hasan and Husayn (AS), the sons of Abdullah ibn Ja'far, and several of his closest Shia were also present. He said: Leave the people to go wherever they wish. Occupy yourselves with your own affairs and adopt silence, for the reign of your enemy has arrived! If you attend to your own affairs, you will come through safely, even though your enemy be tyrannical and malevolent. Then he said: People are of three kinds: one group attaches itself to us to gain prestige; one group earns its livelihood by claiming love for us; and one group — the fewest of all — follows us and is guided through us. These are our true Shia. They are noble, wise, learned, versed in religion, God-fearing, and generous. Blessed are they, and how happy is their end.
From Sulaym ibn Qays al-Hilali, who said: I heard Ali (AS) say: Knowledge is of two kinds: a knowledge that people cannot avoid inquiring into, which is the hue (sibghah) of Islam; and a knowledge that people are permitted to leave uninvestigated, which is the power of God, the Mighty and Majestic. (Book of Sulaym, vol. 2, p. 954)
Sulaym relates: I heard the Commander of the Faithful (AS) say: Learning Islam and reflecting deeply upon it is a duty incumbent upon all people; but comprehending the power of the Lord is not obligatory upon everyone, nor has it been demanded of all.
From Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS), who said: Part of a man's sound understanding is the scarcity of his speech about that which does not concern him. (Book of Sulaym, vol. 2, p. 957)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: It is a mark of a man's wisdom that he keeps silent regarding that which does not concern him.