SHAFAQNA – Mas’adah narrated: I heard one day Imam Sadeq (AS) telling his companions: A person who comes to you through friendship (wants to be friend with you), do not offend him/her in sarcastic way by talking about his/her faults and bad deeds which by mentioning them he/she will be humiliated. This is an inappropriate act and is neither the behaviour of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH)), nor the behaviour of the friends of God [1]. This narration is saying that if someone wants to be friend with you and you know about a fault of that person, do not reject his/her offer of friendship. If that person has a fault; tell him/her about it, try to correct that fault of his/her in a proper manner. There is nothing wrong in doing so, but do not reject the offer of friendship just for the sake of that fault. In another narration, Imam Sadeq (AS) said: My most likeable brother is the one who present to me my faults as a gift [2].
[1] Al-Shafi, Page 851.
[2] Beharul Anwaar, Vol. 74, Page 282.