A person named Abdul Ghaffar Nasrani once posed the following questions to Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s):
1. Who is a true Muslim? Imam replied, “One from whose tongue the Muslims are safe.” 2. Which is the best worship? “Patience” 3. Who is a better believer? “One who has the best behavior.” 4. Which is the best Jihad? “One in which the legs of the warrior’s horse are cut off and in which his blood is spilled.” 5. Which is the best prayer? “That which has a prolonged ‘Qunut’1” 6. Which is the better Sadaqah? “Remaining away from prohibited things.” 7. What do you say about visiting the rulers? “It is not good for you.” 8. I intend to visit Ibrahim bin Walid, the ruler of Syria, in Damascus. Is there anything wrong in that?
Imam replied, “Paying a visit to rulers attracts one towards three things, love of the world, forgetfulness of death and less contentment on divine will.”
He said, “Since I have to maintain a family, I aim to gain monetary benefits from there.” Imam said, “I am not asking you to forsake the world, I am only asking you to abandon sins.”