قُلْتُ: زِدْنِي. قَالَ: «عَلَيْكَ بِطُولِ الصَّمْتِ، فَإِنَّهُ مَطْرَدَةٌ لِلشَّيْطَانِ، وَعَوْنٌ لَكَ عَلَى أَمْرِ دِينِكَ». قُلْتُ: زِدْنِي. قَالَ: «إِيَّاكَ وَكَثْرَةَ الضَّحِكِ، فَإِنَّهُ يُمِيتُ الْقَلْبَ، وَيَذْهَبُ بِنُورِ الْوَجْهِ». قُلْتُ: زِدْنِي. قَالَ: «قُلِ الْحَقَّ وَإِنْ كَانَ مُرًّا». قُلْتُ: زِدْنِي. قَالَ: «لَا تَخَفْ فِي اللَّهِ لَوْمَةَ لَائِمٍ». قُلْتُ: زِدْنِي. قَالَ: «لِيَحْجُزْكَ عَنِ النَّاسِ مَا تَعْلَمُ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ». (Reported by al-Bayhaqi in Shuʿab al-Īmān)
Translation: Seeking further counsel, Abu Dharr was advised to practice extended silence as protection from the devil and an aid to religion; to avoid excessive laughter, which harms the heart and removes radiance from the face; to speak truth even when bitter; not to fear blame when acting for Allah; and to let awareness of his own faults restrain him from fault-finding in others.
These counsels share one principle: a person should monitor their own heart, speech and conduct before becoming preoccupied with the failings of others.