Upon seeing Janabe-Jabir bin Abdullah^a.r take a long deep sigh, Hazrat Ali^-asws asked him;

‘O Jabir! Are you moaning for the worldly desires?

Jabir replied, ‘yes, Mola^-asws it is true.’

Amir-ul-Momaneen^-asws then said;

‘Listen Jabir! people very much depend and crave for the following seven things which are very attractive (superficially): O Jabir! But contemplate at their true nature,’

‘As the most tasty food is honey which is made from the saliva of a fly.’
‘The best thirst-quenching drink is water which is seen running down in abundance without getting much attention’
‘The best outfit is silk-cloth which is a dribble of an insect.’
‘The best comfort is marrying a woman but what people fancy about, is the most dirtiest part of her body.’
‘The best ride is to ride on a horse which is used in the wars for killings.’
‘The best smell is the ‘mushak’ which is made out of the dried blood from tummy of an animal.’
‘The best sound for ears is a song but it is barred for being a great sin.’

O Jabir! Why one would moan for them unless he is ignorant (about their true nature)’

Jabir said, after listening to the advise of Amir-ul-momaneen^-asws I never craved for worldly attractions!

(Nahjul Israr, vol. 1)