The Pandiyat-i Jawanmardi, or ‘Counsels of Chivalry’, is a compilation of the guidance of the fifteenth century Ismaili imam, Mustansir bi’llah (a.s.).
Today we are sharing an extract from the text:
“THE REAL BELIEVER”
The (real) believer (mu’min) is one who…throughout the whole year of twelve months acts properly and piously, continuously remembering the Truth (Haqq). He must speak the truth, listen to the truth, must abide in truth and walk in truth. His heart must be clean, and his thoughts sincere, he must remain clean.
The (real) believer is one whose self (nafs) is truth, who does not follow evil, nor pursue what is unlawful.
The (real) believer is one who possesses the eye which sees truth, who looks at what is lawful (haqq) to him, and does not cast his eyes on what is unlawful to him, such as the property or wives of others.
The (real) believer is one whose word is true, who does not use bad language, does not slander nor abuse (anybody), and does not do to anyone what he does not want to be done to himself.
The (real) believer is one whose word is one, straight, not ambiguous.
The (real) believer is one who never breaks his promise, whose promise is always sincere and reliable, who always remains faithful to the covenant (‘ahd) with God, into which he has entered.
The (real) believer is one who is sincere, who never nurses anger and hatred in his heart, who is neither irritable nor rash, and keeps his heart pure and sincere.
Source: W. A. Ivanow, (ed. and trans.), Advices of Manliness, pp. 2-3
