It Doesn't Matter What People Say/Think

One day a group of people gathered at the house of Imam Ridha (as).Yunus Ibn Abd al-Rahman who happened to be a very trusted companion of the Imam was among them. While everyone was busy talking, another group of people from Basra asked for permission to enter the house. 

Imam told Yunus, “Enter that room; show no reaction at all and stay there until I asked you to come out.” Then Imam Ridha (as) granted permission for the new group to enter. Once entered the room, they started to talk behind the back of Yunus. Meanwhile Imam (as) was looking at the ground; he didn’t say anything and showed no reaction until they said farewell and left the house. Then Imam asked Yunus to come out of the room.

Yunus entered while his face was full of sorrow and his eyes were in tears. He said, “My master! I have only defended my beliefs and religion while my own friends are thinking about me like that.”

Imam Ridha (as) passionately said, “O Yunus! Do not be sad; it does not matter what people think. Such things said by other people do not matter at all. When your Imam is satisfied with you, there is nothing to worry or be sad about.”

The Imam added then, ''O Yunus! Always try to talk to people to the extent of their capacity of hearing. Do not talk about divine topics if it might be beyond their understanding. O Yunus! When you have a gem in your hand andpeople say that you have a dirty rock in your hand, how does it affect the gem in your hand? And if they say you have gem in your hand while you are holding a rock, how does this help you? How can their words affect your belief? How does it benefit or harm you in anyways?''

Yunus was calmed down by Imam’s words and said, “No, their words do not matter to me anymore.”

Then Imam Ridha (as) told him, “So if you understand the truth and you can see the right path and your Imam is satisfied from you, then the thoughts and words of the people should not affect your beliefs and way of thinking; people can say whatever they wish.”

(Selection from “Rijal Kashshi”, p.487, No. 924)
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