Says2

Golden Sayings Hazrat Ameer ul  Momineen Imam Ali Ibn Abitalib a.s.

(The Commander of the Faith)

Asalamoalaka ya Ameer ul Momineen Imam Ali Ibn Abitalib a.s.

1. The promised Mahdi will emerge at the End of Time from among us. There is no Mahdi in any nation other than him being awaited.
   
2. O act in accord with faith saves a man from misfortune.
   
3. Imam Ali (a.s) has said that nine definite signs will precede the emergence of Hazrat Mahdi (a.s). These nine signs are:
   Dajaal will emerge.
   A loud voice will be heard from the sky.
   Sufiani will appear and wage a fierce war.
   The army of Sufiani will be swallowed by a sudden opening of the land between Makka and Medina in the desert of Baida.
   A revered wise saint will be murdered in Makka. (This saint is to be a Hashimite descent.)
   A Seyyid descendant of Imam Hassan (a.s) will emerge with his army.
   The army of Seyyid-e-Hassan and an image of a man will appear in the sky opposite the sun.
   There will be two eclipses in the holy month of Ramadhan contrary to the normal order and calculation and the eclipse of the moon.
   On three occasions a loud voice from the sky will be heard in the holy month of Ramadhan.
   The Reappearance
   Hazrat Isa, Hazrat Khizr, Hazrat Ilias, and Hazrat Idris (a.s) will give allegiance to the Imam when he reapers. Also Jibrael will announce 313 companions of the Imam. These 313 companions will be people of eminent piety, great knowledge and absolutely steadfast in their determination and faith towards the Imam. Another 1000 people will be in the army of the Imam. These people will fight battles and kill enemies like Dajal, who will appear from India. Dajal will have the musical tunes with him. Then the Imam will lead the prayers, Hazrat Isa (a.s) will be behind him.
   Lets all pray for the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (a.s).
   
4. I used to go with the Holy Prophet like the baby camel goes with his mother.
   
5. The locks of the heavens are beliefs in more than one God, and its keys are the letters of “La Ilaha Illallah, Muhammad-Ur-Rasulallah.”
   
6. The promised Mahdi will be among my family. God will make the provisions for his emergence within a single night.
   
7. I asked the Prophet: "Is Mahdi going to be among our own family or from some other?" He replied: "He will be among us. God will conclude His religion through him, just as He began it with us. It will be through us that people will find refuge from sedition, just as it was through us that they were saved from polytheism. Moreover, it will be through us that God will bring their hearts together in brotherhood following the animosity sown by the sedition, just as they were brought together in brotherhood in their religion after the animosity sown by polytheism."
   

8. 'During Mahdi's time red and white death and locuts will become visible. otherwise too red coloured

   locusts will be found. red death refers to the sword and white death refers to plague.

   
   
9. Al Hassan Ibn Ali came to Abu Bakr when he was upon the mimbar of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said ‘Come down from my father’s seat’. He said ‘You have told the truth, it is your father’s seat,’ and he placed him in his lap and wept’. Ali said ‘By Allah this was not from my command’.
   
10. The scholar(Alim) who derives benefit from his knowledge is better than seventy thousand devotees(Abid).
    
11. These books are treasures of knowledge and they cannot say anything against the Holy Qur'an. On the contrary the knowledge contained therein would act as commentaries of the Holy Book and would assist and help in further explanations of the knowledge as presented by the Holy Prophet. Knowledge is an asset for human beings and a birth right of man. It should not be destroyed
    
12. During civil disturbance be like an adolescent camel who has neither a back strong enough for riding nor udders for milking.
    
13. Leave your matters on Allah & depend on Him.
    
14. Charity is an effective cure, and actions of people in their present life will be before their eyes in the next life.
    
15. Meet people in such a manner that if you die they should weep for you and if you live they should long for you.
    
16. Keep walking in your sickness as long as you can.
    
17. The tongue of the wiseman is behind his heart and the heart of the fool is behind his tongue.
    
18. A simple cure through exercise and ignoring the sickness as much as possible).
    
19. Beware of disobeying Allah in solitude, for the witness is also the judge.
    
20. Even if I strike the nose of a believer with this sword for hating me, he will not hate me, and even if I pile all the wealth of the world before a hypocrite for loving me he will not love. This is because it is pronounced by the tongue of the beloved Prophet. O’Ali, a believer will never hate you and a hypocrite (Muslim) will never love you.
    
21. Woe to you. For death there is a fixed hour which cannot be exceeded, and a cause which does not change. Now look, never repeat such talk which Satan had put on your tongue.
    
22. The perfect jurist of Islam is he who does not let people lose hope from the mercy of Allah, does not make him despondent of Allah’s kindness and does not make him feel safe from Allah’s punishment.
    
23. Two categories of persons will face ruin on account of me; he who loves me with exaggeration and he who hates me intensely.
    
24. . Protect your belief by charity, guard your wealth by paying Allah’s share, and ward off the waves of calamity by praying
    
25. There is no wealth like wisdom, no destitution like ignorance, no inheritance like refinement and no support like consultation.
    
26. The people of the world are like travellers who are being carried while asleep.
    
27. Do not feel ashamed for giving little, because refusal is smaller than that.
    
28. Faith stands on four supports: on endurance, conviction, justice and Jihad
    
29. He who adopts greed as a habit devalues himself, he who discloses his hardship agrees to humiliation, and he who allows his tongue to overpower his Nafs debases the Nafs.
    
30. Since you profess knowledge of the stars, tell me about the movement of such and such star.
    
31. There is a vessel filled with so many silver coins and the coins bear such and such emblem. How do you know enquired the monk
    
32. Beware of learning the science of stars except that with which guidance is sought on land or sea, because it leads to divining and an astrologer is a diviner, while a diviner is like the sorcerer, the sorcerer is like the unbeliever and the unbeliever’s place is in hell.
    
33. By God’s grace.
    
34. He said “ do you think you can tell the hour when a man goes out and no evil befall him. Whoever testifies this falsifies the Qoran and becomes unmindful of Allah in achieving his desired objective and in warding off the undesirable.”
    
35. Avarice destroys man.
    
36. Piety gains respect .
    
37. Worldly love ends in nothing but disgrace.
    
38. Ali, while looking at his son Hasan, said, 'This son of mine is the master (sayyid) as declared by the Prophet. Among his progeny will appear a man whose name will be that of the Prophet. He will resemble the Prophet in his demeanor; but he will not resemble him in appearance.
    
39. Life has definite ending.
    
40. Knowledge is helpful to man in all hardships of life.
    
41. Reason & wisdom guide to right path.
    
42. Ali b. Abi Talib told the people:
    I ask you to verify this, in the name of God: Do you recall what the Prophet said in his last speech: "O people! I leave among you the Book of God and my family? Hold on to them and you will never lose your way, because God, the Wise, has informed and assured me that these two will never part from each other till the Day of Judgement." At that time 'Umar b. al-Khattab got angry and stood up and asked: "Does this statement include all of your family?" The Prophet replied: "No. This includes my legatees among whom the first is 'Ali b. Abi Talib, my brother, vizier, heir and caliph. He is the one who has discretionary power over my community. Following 'Ali my son Hasan, following him my son Husayn, and then nine descendants of Husayn are the legatees. They will follow each other until the Day of Judgement. They are the proofs of God's existence for the people, the keepers of divine knowledge, and the repositories of wisdom on earth. Whoever obeys them has obeyed God, and whoever disobeys them has disobeyed God."
    
43. Every body likes justice & pair-play.
    
44. I am amazed at the heart of man: It possesses the substance of wisdom as well as
    the opposites contrary to it ... for if hope arises in it, it is brought low by
    covetousness: and if covetousness is aroused in it, greed destroys it. If
    despair possesses it, self piety kills it: and if it is seized by anger, this is
    intensified by rage. If it is blessed with contentment, then it forgets to be
    careful; and if it is filled with fear, then it becomes pre-occupied with being
    cautious. If it feels secure , then it is overcome by vain hopes; and if it is
    given wealth, then its independence makes it extra-vagant. If want strikes it,
    then it is smitten by anxiety. If it is weakened by hunger, then it gives way to
    exhaustion; and if it goes to far in satisfying its appetites, then its inner
    becomes clogged up. So all its shortcomings are harmful to it, and all its
    excesses corrupt it.
    There are four things that make the heart die: wrong action followed by wrong
    action, playing around with foolish people, spending a lot of time with women,
    and sitting with the dead. Then they asked Imam Ali: ' And who are the dead, O
    Commander of the believers? ' He replied: ' Every slave who follows his desires.
    '
    Surely want is a trial, and having sickness of the body is more difficult to
    bear than indigence, and having a sickness of the heart is more difficult to
    bear than having a sickness of the body. Surely being very wealthy is a
    blessing, and having a healthy body is better than being very wealthy, and
    having awe of Allah in your heart is better than having a healthy body.
    Surely hearts have desires, and they turn towards, and they turn away ... so
    approach them by means of what they desire and what they turn towards, for
    surely if the heart is forced to do some thing against its will, it goes blind.
     
    
45. Tyranny is hateful to all extents.
    
46. Truth is the best source of honour.
    
47. Pardon is social greatness.
    
48. Anger dissipates reasons.
    
49. Ibn Sa'd narrates from ash-Sha'bi:
    Imam 'Ali, while on his way to Siffin, passed through the desert of Karbala', there he stopped and wept very bitterly. When interrogated regarding the cause of his weeping, he commented that one day he visited the Holy Prophet and found him weeping. When he asked the Apostle of Allah as to what was the reason which made him weep, he replied, "O 'ALI, Gabriel has just been with me and informed me that my son Husayn would be martyred in Karbala', a place near the bank of the River Euphrates. This moved me so much that I could not help weeping."
    
50. Civility is source of greatness.
    
51. Sagacity & sensibility are  the best capitals.
    
52. Idleness & lethargy are foundations for misery.
    
53. Fulfilment of promise leads to greatness & respect.
    
54. Sincere friendship is synonymous to pious relationship.
    
55. Hospitality enhances man's respect.
    
56. Arrogance brings indignity.
    
57. A man is hidden under his tongue .
    
58. Chastity & piety are great blessings.
    
59. Kindness & generous are great virtues .
    
60. Loyalty is a pious quality.
    
61. Reasons is man's grace.
    
62. Stupidity is big vice.
    
63. Truth is synonymous to trust.
    
64. Falsehood is snaked breach of trust.
    
65. Justice is  source of contentment & peace.
    
66. Villainy is evil & indecent .
    
67. Heart are won over through charity.
    
68. Government & state establish through prudence.
    
69. Real faith lies in being trustworthy.
    
70. A smiling face is symbol of goodness & favour.
    
71. Maintain communication and exchange of opinion among yourselves. Beware of disunity and enmity. Do not desist from promoting good deeds and cautioning against bad ones. Should you do that, the worst among you would be your leaders, and you will call upon Allah without response.
    
72. A generous person is always happy.
    
73. A miser & wicked is always a loser.
    
74. During civil disturbance adopt such an attitude that people do not attach any importance to you they
    neither burden you with complicated affairs, nor try to derive any advantage out of you.
75. He who is greedy is disgraced; he who discloses his hardship will always be humiliated; he who has no
    control over his tongue will often have to face discomfort.
76. Avarice is disgrace; cowardice is a defect; poverty often disables an intelligent man from arguing his
    case; a poor man is a stranger in his own town; misfortune and helplessness are calamities; patience
    is a kind of bravery; to sever attachments with the wicked world is the greatest wealth; piety is the best
    weapon of defence.
77. Submission to Allah's Will is the best companion; wisdom is the noblest heritage; theoretical and
    practical knowledge are the best signs of distinction; deep thinking will present the clearest picture of
    every problem.
78. The mind of a wise man is the safest custody of secrets; cheerfulness is the key to friendship;
    patience and forbearance will conceal many defects.
79. A conceited and self-admiring person is disliked by others; charity and alms are the best remedy for
    ailments and calamities; one has to account in the next world for the deeds that he has done in this
    world.
80. Man is a wonderful creature; he sees through the layers of fat (eyes), hears through a bone (ears) and
    speaks through a lump of flesh (tongue).
81. When this world favors somebody, it lends him the attributes, and surpassing merits of others and when
    it turns its face away from him it snatches away even his own excellences and fame.
82. Live amongst people in such a manner that if you die they weep over you and if you are alive they crave for
    your company.
83. If you overpower your enemy, then pardon him by way of thankfulness to Allah, for being able to subdue him.
84. Unfortunate is he who cannot gain a few sincere friends during his life and more unfortunate is the
    one who has gained them and then lost them (through his deeds).
85. When some blessings come to you, do not drive them away through thanklessness.
86. He who is deserted by friends and relatives will often find help and sympathy from strangers.
87. Every person who is tempted to go astray, does not deserve punishment.
88. Our affairs are attached to the destiny decreed by Allah, even our best plans may lead us to destruction.
89. There is a tradition of the Holy Prophet "With the
    help of hair-dye turn old age into youth so that you
    do not resemble the Jews". When Imam Ali was asked to
    comment on this tradition, he said that in the early
    stage of Islam there were very few Muslims. The Holy
    Prophet advised them to look young and energetic and
    not to adopt the fashion of the Jews (priest) having
    long, white flowing beards. But the Muslims were not
    in minority then, theirs was a strong and powerful
    State, they could take up any style they liked.
90. For those who refused to side with any party, Imam Ali
    or his enemies, Imam Ali said: They have forsaken
    religion and are of no use to infidelity also.
91. One who rushes madly after inordinate desire, runs the risk of encountering destruction and death.
92. Overlook and forgive the weaknesses of the generous people because if they fall down, Allah will help
    them.
93. Failures are often the results of timidity and fears; disappointments are the results of bashfulness; hours
    of leisure pass away like summer-clouds, therefore, do not waste opportunity of doing good.
94. If the right usurped from us is given back to us we shall take it, otherwise we shall go on claiming it.
95. If someone's deeds lower his position, his pedigree cannot elevate it.
96. To render relief to the distressed and to help the oppressed make amends for great sins.
97. O son of Adam, when you see that your Lord, the
    Glorified, bestows His Favors on you while you disobey
    Him, you should fear Him (take warning that His Wrath
    may not turn those very blessings into misfortunes).
98. Often your utterances and expressions of your face leak out the secrets of your hidden thoughts.
99. When you get ill do not get nervous about it and try as much as possible to be hopeful.
100. The best form of devotion to the service of Allah is not to make a show of it.
101. When you have to depart from this world and have to meet death (eventually), then why wish delay (why feel nervous about death).
102. Take warning ! He has not exposed so many of your sinful activities that it appears as if He has
     forgiven you (it may be that He has given you time to repent).
103. Meditation leads to truth & facts .
     
104. Truth paves way to salvation .
     
105. Falsehood brings destruction .
     
106. When Imam Ali was asked about Faith in Religion, he replied that the structure of faith is supported by
     four pillars endurance, conviction, justice and jihad. Endurance is composed of four attributes: eagerness,
     fear, piety and anticipation (of death). so whoever is eager for Paradise will ignore temptations; whoever
     fears the fire of Hell will abstain from sins; whoever practices piety will easily bear the difficulties of
     life and whoever anticipates death will hasten towards good deeds. Conviction has also four aspects to guard oneself against infatuations of sin; to search for explanation of truth through knowledge; to gain
     lessons from instructive things and to follow the precedent of the past people, because whoever wants to
     guard himself against vices and sins will have to search for the true causes of infatuation and the true
     ways of combating them out and to find those true ways one has to search them with the help of knowledge,
     whoever gets fully acquainted with various branches of knowledge will take lessons from life and whoever
     tries to take lessons from life is actually engaged in the study of the causes of rise and fall of previous
     civilizations . Justice also has four aspects depth of understanding, profoundness of knowledge, fairness of
     judgment and dearness of mind; because whoever tries his best to under- stand a problem will have to study
     it, whoever has the practice of studying the subject he is to deal with, will develop a clear mind and will
     always come to correct decisions, whoever tries to achieve all this will have to develop ample patience
     and forbearance and whoever does this has done justice to the cause of religion and has led a life of good
     repute and fame. Jihad is divided into four branches: to persuade people to be obedient to Allah; to
     prohibit them from sin and vice; to struggle (in the cause of Allah) sincerely and firmly on all occasions
     and to detest the vicious. Whoever persuades people to obey the orders of Allah provides strength to the
     believers; whoever dissuades them from vices and sins humiliates the unbelievers; whoever struggles on all
     occasions discharges all his obligations and whoever detests the vicious only for the sake of Allah, then
     Allah will take revenge on his enemies and will be pleased with Him on the Day of Judgment.
     
107. Contentment makes man free of desire.
     
108. Capitalism creates arrogance.
     
109. Poverty breeds forgetfulness .
     
110. Wishful thinking leads to vicious action.
     
111. There are four causes of infidelity and loss of belief in Allah: hankering after whims, a passion to dispute
     every argument, deviation from truth; and dissension,because whoever hankers after whims does not incline
     towards truth; whoever keeps on disputing every argument on account of his ignorance, will always
     remain blind to truth, whoever deviates from truth because of ignorance, will always take good for evil
     and evil for good and he will always remain intoxicated with misguidance. And whoever makes a
     breach (with Allah and His Messenger) his path becomes difficult, his affairs will become complicated and his way to salvation will be uncertain. Similarly, doubt
     has also four aspects absurd reason- ing; fear; vacillation and hesitation; and unreasonable surrender
     to infidelity, because one who has accustomed himself to unreasonable and absurd discussions will never see the Light of Truth and will always live in the darkness of ignorance. One who is afraid to face facts (of life, death and the life after death) will always turn away from ultimate reality, one who allows doubts
     and uncertainties to vacillate him will always be under the control of Satan and one who surrenders
     himself to infidelity accepts damnation in both the worlds.
     
112. Felicities brings about profligacy.
     
113. Carnal desires end in destruction.
     
114. Jealousy makes man mean & confused .
     
115. Malice creates sickness of mind.
     
116. Faith is root of Allah's worship.
     
117. Real dignity lies in doing good.
     
118. Thankfulness multiplies blessing from Allah.
     
119. Virtue lies in refusing felicity .
     
120. Meditation over universe is worship.
     
121. A virtuous person is better then virtue and a vicious person is worse than vice.
     
122. Be generous but not extravagant, be frugal but not miserly.
     
123. The best kind of wealth is to give up inordinate desires.
     
124. One who says unpleasant things about others, will himself quickly become a target of their scandal.
     
125. One who hopes inordinately, impairs his deeds.
     
126. When Imam Ali, marching at the head of his army towards Syria, reached Ambar, the landlords of the
     place came out to meet him in zeal of their love, faithfulness and respect, no sooner had they seen Imam
     Ali they got down from their horses and started running in front of him. Imam Ali asked the reason of
     their strange actions. They replied that it was their custom to show their love and respect in that way.
     Imam Ali replied: "By Allah, by your action you do no good whatsoever to your rulers but you tire yourself
     and put yourself in toils in this world and in trouble in the next. How unfortunate is that exertion, which
     brings harm here and in the Hereafter and how useful is that ease which keeps you in comfort in this world
     and away from the Hell in the next.
     
127. Imam Ali once said to his son Imam Hasan, My son,learn four things from me and through them you will
     learn four more. If you keep them in mind your actions will not bring any harm to you: The greatest wealth is
     Wisdom; the greatest poverty is stupidity; the worst unso- ciableness is that of vanity and
     self-glorification; and the best nobility of descent exhibits itself in politeness and in refinement of
     manner. The next four things, my son, are: "Do not make friendship with a fool because when he will try
     to do you good he will do you harm; do not make a miser your friend because he will run away from you at
     the time of your dire need; do not be friendly with a vicious and wicked person because he will sell you and
     your friendship at the cheapest price and do not make friend of a liar because like a mirage he will make
     you visualize very near the things which lie at a great distance and will make you see at the great
     distance the things which are near to you".
     
128. Recommended prayers cannot attain the pleasures of Allah for you when obligatory prayers are left
     unattended.
     
129. A wise man first thinks and then speaks and a fool speaks first and then thinks.
     
130.  A fool's mind is at the mercy of his tongue and a wise man's tongue is under the control of his mind.
     
131. One of the companions of Imam fell ill. Imam Ali called upon him and thus advised him: "Be thankful to
     Allah. He has made this illness a thing to atone your sins because a disease in itself has nothing to bring
     reward to anyone, it merely expiates one's sins and so far as reward is concerned, one has to earn it with
     his good words and good deeds. The Almighty Lord grants Paradise to his creatures on account of their
     piety and noble thoughts".
     
132. May Allah Bless Kabbab bin Aratt. He embraced Islam of his own freewill and immigrated (from Makkah)
     cheerfully. He lived a contented life. He bowed happily before the Will of Allah and he led the life
     of a mujahid.
     
133. Blessed is the man who always kept the life after death in his view, who remembered the Day of Judgment
     through all his deeds, who led a contented life and who was happy with the lot that Allah had destined for
     him. 45. If I cut a faithful Muslim into pieces to make him hate me, he will not turn into my enemy and
     if I give all the wealth of this world to a hypocrite to make him my friend he will not befriend me. It is
     so because the Holy Prophet has said: " O Ali! No faithful Muslim will ever be your enemy and no
     hypocrite will ever be your friend. "
     
134. The sin which makes you sad and repentant is more liked by Allah than the good deed which turns you
     arrogant.
     
135. Value of a man depends upon his courage; his veracity depends upon his self-respect and his chastity depends upon his sense of honor.
     
136. Success is the result of foresight and resolution, foresight depends upon deep thinking and planning and
     the most important factor of planning is to keep your secrets to yourself.
     
137. Be afraid of a gentleman when he is hungry, and of a mean person when his stomach is full.
     
138. Hearts of people are like wild beasts. They attach themselves to those who love and train them.
     
139. So long as fortune is favouring you, your defects will remain covered.
     
140. Only he who has the power to punish can pardon.
     
141. Generosity is to help a deserving person without his request, and if you help him after his request, then
     it is either out of self-respect or to avoid rebuke.
     
142. There is no greater wealth than wisdom, no greater poverty than ignorance; no greater heritage than
     culture and no greater support than consultation.
     
143. Patience is of two kinds: patience over what pains you, and patience against what you covet.
     
144. Wealth converts a strange land into homeland and poverty turns a native place into a strange land.
     
145. Contentment is the capital which will never diminish.
     
146. Wealth is the fountain head of passions.
     
147. Whoever warns you against sins and vices is like the one who gives you good tidings.
     
148. Tongue is a beast, if it is let loose, it devours.
     
149. Woman is a scorpion whose grip is sweet.
     
150. If you are greeted then return the greetings more warmly. If you are favoured, then repay the obligation
     manifold; but he who takes the initiative will always excel in merit.
     
151. The source of success of a claimant is the mediator.
     
152. People in this world are like travelers whose journey is going on though they are asleep. ( Life's journey
     is going on though men may not feel it ).
     
153. Lack of friends means, stranger in one's own country.
     
154. Not to have a thing is less humiliating than to beg it.
     
155. Do not feel ashamed if the amount of charity is small because to refuse the needy is an act of greater shame.
     
156. To refrain from unlawful and impious source of pleasures is an ornament to the poor and to be
     thankful for the riches granted is the adornment of wealth.
     
157. If you cannot get things as much as you desire than be contented with what you have.
     
158. An ignorant person will always overdo a thing or neglect it totally.
     
159. The wiser a man is, the less talkative will he be.
     
160. Time wears out bodies, renews hopes, brings death nearer and takes away aspirations. Whoever gets
     anything from the world lives in anxiety for holding it and whoever loses anything passes his days grieving
     over the loss.
     
161. Whoever wants to be a leader should educate himself before educating others. Before preaching to others he should first practice himself. Whoever educates himself and improves his own morals is superior to the
     man who tries to teach and train others.
     
162. Every breath you take is a step towards death.
     
163. Anything which can be counted is finite and will come to an end.
     
164. Experience corrects worldly affairs .
     
165. Always think before y act.
     
166. Knowledge is founded on right through.
     
167. Right through is result of sagacity & perception.
     
168. Insight precedes sagacity .
     
169. Prudence creates correct planning.
     
170. Get your provision from the World and the best provision is to avoid comitting sin.
     
171. Far-sightedness comes through nothing but solicitude & reflection .
     
172. Secret of success is in Far-sightedness & reason.
     
173. Reason & Far-sightedness are deeply related with experience.
     
174. Greatness comes only through facing odds.
     
175. Hypocrisy is nothing but polytheism .
     
176. Egotism brings about misery.
     
177. Hypocrisy is polytheism .
     
178. Ignorance is death.
     
179. Idleness & negligence in doing good destroy aim of life.
     
180. Carnal desires create calamities.
     
181. Luxurious living brings ruin.
     
182. Desire are nothing but scattered throughts.
     
183. Not depending on others is symbol of real freedom.
     
184. Piety is real provision for the hereafter.
     
185. A man of justice gathers prestige .
     
186. A person prone to cruelty falls prey to disgrace & humility.
     
187. Good actions enslave others.
     
188. To respond goodness through good actions is synonymous to getting rid of slavery.
     
189. All good comes through patience & perseverance.
     
190. Improper complaint is root of all evil.
     
191. Prosperity lies in true love.
     
192. To act steadily is a good quality.
     
193. life deludes , brings disadvantage & then deserts .
     
194. Self-praise is nothing but foolishness & stupidity.
     
195. Stupidity lies in refuting reason .
     
196. Faith is strongest support for human life.
     
197. Real success lies in Allah's worship.
     
198. A man is known by his company.
     
199. To act according to dictates of faith brings pleasure & happiness.
     
200. True faith in Allah brings enlightenment of mind.
     
201. Faith in Allah is the only means to guard against destruction & failure.
     
202. To refuse presence of Allah  results in disgrace , shame & insult.
     
203. To accept decrees of Allah guards against humility .
     
204. To be offended on Allah's decree adds to sorrow & woe .
     
205. It is enough to resign before Allah's will in order to gain your objectives.
     
206. Success is always sequel to Allah's benevolence.
     
207. Piety of motive is great quality .
     
208. Fear of Allah ,all the time , guards against destruction & peril.
     
209. Attainment of truth creates piety of self.
     
210. To remain deprived of light of reality brings grief & sorrow.
     
211. Borrowing is equivalent to bonds of slavery .
     
212. Paying off a debt is gaining freedom.
     
213. Consultation & counselling strengthen the mind.
     
214. Secret of prestige of a man of faith lies in the way he acts.
     
215. Doing good shows a man's personal greatness & character .
     
216. Pious friendship shows real lineage & pure relationship.
     
217. Silence brings respects & grace .
     
218. Lose talk is a big vice.
     
219. Disturbing others is a vice .
     
220. Wrangling & enmity are signs of bad nature.
     
221. To act after proper reflecting is always fruitful.
     
222. Negligence results in frustration. of aim.
     
223. Piety means elimination of immorality .
     
224. Doubt in excess results in discontent & agitation.
     
225. Obedience of Allah leads to salvation .
     
226. Disobedient of Allah results in annihilation .
     
227. A learned man  recognises his worth while an ignorant man knows nothing about his own self.
     
228. Losing heart is symbol of stupidity.
     
229. A follower of right path attains his goal .
     
230. A person going the wrong way always fails to reach his goals .
     
231. Truth is real success .
     
232. Falsehood leads to infamy.
     
233. Knowledge brings prestige in society .
     
234. Allah's obedience is strong defence .
     
235. Patience is characteristic quality of reason .
     
236. Restless & anxiety are signs of detriment & weakness.
     
237. Valour is ornament of manhood.
     
238. Cowardice is a big fault .
     
239. Acting the right way brings security .
     
240. Reproach has to be faced by following the wrong way.
     
241. His Last Will and Testament to his sons Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Hussain (AS)
     
     My advice to you is to be conscious of Allah and steadfast in your religion. Do not yearn for the world, and do not be seduced by it. Do not resent anything you have missed in it. Proclaim the truth; work for the next world. Oppose the oppressor and support the oppressed.
     
     I advise you, and all my children, my relatives, and whosoever receives this message, to be conscious of Allah, to remove your differences, and to strengthen your ties. I heard your grandfather, peace be upon him, say: "Reconciliation of your differences is more worthy than all prayers and all fasting."
     
     Fear Allah in matters concerning orphans. Attend to their nutrition and do not forget their interests in the middle of yours.
     
     Fear Allah in your relations with your neighbors. Your Prophet often recommended them to you, so much so that we thought he would give them a share in inheritance.
     
     Remain attached to the Quran. Nobody should surpass you in being intent on it, or more sincere in implementing it.
     
     Fear Allah in relation to your prayers. It is the pillar of your religion.
     
     Fear Allah in relation to His House; do not abandon it as long as you live. If you should do that you would abandon your dignity.
     
     Persist in jihad in the cause of Allah, with your money, your souls, and your tongue.
     
     Maintain communication and exchange of opinion among yourselves. Beware of disunity and enmity. Do not desist from promoting good deeds and cautioning against bad ones. Should you do that, the worst among you would be your leaders, and you will call upon Allah without response.
     
     O Children of Abdul Muttalib! Do not shed the blood of Muslims under the banner: The Imam has been assassinated! Only the assassin should be condemned to death.
     
     If I die of this stroke of his, kill him with one similar stroke. Do not mutilate him! I have heard the Prophet, peace be upon him, say: "Mutilate not even a rabid dog."
     
242. Haste results in shame & repentance .
     
243. Ask in order to understand, and do not ask in order to find fault, for surely the ignorant man who wants to learn resembles a man of knowledge, and surely a man of knowledge who wants to be difficult resembles an ignorant man who wants to find fault. '
     
244. The Station of the men of Knowledge.
     
245. The man of knowledge is the one who recognizes that what is known is very little compared to what is not known, and as a result he considers himself ignorant, and accordingly he increases his efforts to know more by going out in search of knowledge.
     
246. The Purity and the Nobility of Knowledge
     
247. Do not talk about knowledge with the foolish so that they deny you, nor with the ignorant so that they find you oppressive, but talk about it with those of its people whom you meet who will accept it and understand it.
     
248. Knowledge and Acting on it.
     
249. O you who carry knowledge around with you; are you only carrying it around with you ? For surely knowledge belongs to who ever knows and then acts accordingly, so that his action corresponds to his knowledge. There will be a people who will carry knowledge around with them, but it will not pass beyond their shoulders. Their inner most thoughts will contradict what they display in public, and their actions will contradict what they know.
     
250. The purity and nobility of knowledge.
     
251. When a dead person is placed in his grave, four kinds of fire will cover him, but then the prayer will come and put one of them out, and the fast will come and put another one of them out, and then charity will come and put another one out, and knowledge will come and put the forth one out, and it will say : 'If I had come sooner, I would a have put all of them out, and given you delight for I am with you now, and you'll not see anything else distressing.
     
252. On the Heart I am amazed at the heart of man: It possesses the substance of wisdom as well as the opposites contrary to it ... for if hope arises in it, it is brought low by covetousness: and if covetousness is aroused in it, greed destroys it. If despair possesses it, self piety kills it: and if it is seized by anger, this is intensified by rage. If it is blessed with contentment, then it forgets to be careful; and if it is filled with fear, then it becomes preoccupied with being cautious. If it feels secure , then it is overcome by vain hopes; and if it is given wealth, then its independence makes it extravagant. If want strikes it, then it is smitten by anxiety. If it is weakened by hunger, then it gives way to exhaustion; and if it goes too far in satisfying its appetites, then its inner becomes clogged up. So all its shortcomings are harmful to it, and all its excesses corrupt it.
     
253. There are four things that make the heart die: wrong action followed by wrong action, playing around with foolish people, spending a lot of time with women, and sitting with the dead. Then they asked Imam Ali: 'And who are the dead, O Commander of the believers?' He replied: 'Every slave who follows his desires.'
     
254. Surely want is a trial, and having sickness of the body is more difficult to bear than indigence, and having a sickness of the heart is more difficult to bear than having a sickness of the body. Surely being very wealthy is a blessing, and having a healthy body is better than being very wealthy, and having awe of Allah in your heart is better than having a healthy body.
     
255. Surely hearts have desires, and they turn towards, and they turn away ... so approach them by means of what they desire and what they turn towards, for surely if the heart is forced to do some thing against its will, it goes blind.
     
256. Whatever I learnt from the Prophet I never forgot.
     
257. Ali b. Abi Talib told the people:
     I ask you to verify this, in the name of God: Do you recall what the Prophet said in his last speech: "O people! I leave among you the Book of God and my family? Hold on to them and you will never lose your way, because God, the Wise, has informed and assured me that these two will never part from each other till the Day of Judgement." At that time 'Umar b. al-Khattab got angry and stood up and asked: "Does this statement include all of your family?" The Prophet replied: "No. This includes my legatees among whom the first is 'Ali b. Abi Talib, my brother, vizier, heir and caliph. He is the one who has discretionary power over my community. Following 'Ali my son Hasan, following him my son Husayn, and then nine descendants of Husayn are the legatees. They will follow each other until the Day of Judgement. They are the proofs of God's existence for the people, the keepers of divine knowledge, and the repositories of wisdom on earth. Whoever obeys them has obeyed God, and whoever disobeys them has disobeyed God."
     
258. When 'Ali's answer reached this point, all those who were present said: 'We bear witness that the Prophet did say all that.
     
259. Ali was asked: "What is the reason that in comparison to other companions of the Prophet you have the most traditions?" He replied: "Whenever I asked the Prophet something he gave me an answer. And whenever I kept quiet he would begin the conversation."[23]
     
260. On Intellect
     A person's intellect becomes apparent through his dealings, and a man's character is known by the way he exercises authority. The intellect is a king and characteristics are its subjects, so if it is weak in governing them, disorder takes place.
     
261. The intellect is better than desire, for the intellect makes you a king over your destiny, and desire makes you a slave of your destiny.
     
262. The intellect is a natural disposition which learns from experience.
     
263. The intellect is what arrives at what is correct through reasoning, and recognizes what has not yet happened through what has already taken place. Use your intellect to understand something when you hear about the intellect that examines, that is, and not just the intellect that repeats what it hears, for surely there are many who repeat the knowledge that they hear, and there are few who examine it.
     
264. The one who has an intellect longs to be like the righteous people so that he can be of one of them, and he loves them so that he can be united with them in his love, even if he falls short in emulating their actions.
     
265. The one who has an intellect does not openly display it except in one of two situations: when he is furthest away from seeking something in the world, and when he is furthest away from abandoning it.
     
266. Surely hated adversity has final objectives in which it will inevitably end, so the one who has an intellect should try to sleep over it until this happens, for surely any attempt to stop it before it has come to an end will only intensify that hated diversity even more.
     
267. The first opinion of the person of intellect is the last opinion of an ignorant person.
     
268. The one who has an intellect finds harshness of life amongst persons of intellect more agreeable than a life of ease amongst the foolish.
     
269. The Station of men of Knowledge
     Know that the slaves of Allah are those who seek to preserve knowledge of Him, safeguarding what safeguards it, and lettings its springs flow freely. They are united by friendship, and they meet with love, and they drink from the cup that quenches their thirst, and they go on with their thirst satisfied. They are not troubled by doubt, and they are not quick to backbite. It is on this basis that their natural disposition and character rest, and on this is based their love, and by this they are united. They are like seeds that have been assessed and selected, some to be kept and some to be thrown away, identified through purification, and refined through clarification.
     
270. This World and the Next
     Imam Ali (as) wrote to Salman al Farsi (ra) : To continue, surely, the likeness of this world is that of a snake: it is soft to touch, and deadly poisonous. The ignorant child is distracted by it, and the one with understanding and intellect is cautious of it. So turn away from what fascinates you in it, for how little of it stays with you.
     
271. The Life Transaction ( Religion ) of Islam
     I am making a connection which no one has made before me: Islam is submission, and submission is certainty, and certainty is the affirmation of the truth, and affirmation of the truth is acknowledgement, and acknowledgement is performance of what is obligatory, and performance of what is obligatory is appropriate action.
     
272. Subsistence comes from Allah for all creations.
     
273. A greedy & avaricious person always meets disappointment.
     
274. Everybody condemns a miser.
     
275. A jealous person is always gloomy .
     
276. In another report he said: "The Prophet had assigned me a special hour in the night and the day when I used to present myself [to learn from him].
     
277. The Prophet, according to Imam 'Ali, used to ask him to write down what he said. 'Ali asked him if the Prophet thought 'Ali might forget. The Prophet said: "No, because I have prayed to God to make you among those who remembers things and records them. However, I want you to preserve it for your companions and the Imams who will come after you. It is because of the blessed existence of the Imams that the rain falls on earth for the people, their prayers get accepted, the calamities go by them and mercy descends on them." Then the Prophet pointed towards Hasan and said: "This is the second in the line of the Imams," and added, "the Imams will be from the descendants of Husyan."
     
278. A tyrant deserves reproach .
     
279. Tyranny is a serious vice .
     
280. Life is sweet as ell as bitter.
     
281. A far-sighted person is alive to all situations.
     
282. A negligent person is lascivious & senseless.
     
283. Allah's obedience is always beneficial .
     
284. Zeal for accumulation of wealth brings grief.
     
285. Improper & unlawful desires are source of deceit .
     
286. Active approach in every situation enlightens the mind.
     
287. Negligence is self-deception.
     
288. It is mean to defraud others.
     
289. Deceit is ignoble.
     
290. The result of avarice is deprivation .
     
291. Breach of trust is hateful like treachery .
     
292. Least doubt about Allah is infidelity .
     
293. Good conducts sequels love.
     
294. Avarice means exposure of faults .
     
295. Acting sensilbly brings your fellow-beings closer.
     
296. Foolishness results in remoteness .
     
297. Excellence lies in fulfilling wants of others before your own .
     
298. Storing of things is mean .
     
299. To give out somebody's secret is breach of trust.
     
300. To keep secrets of others is trustfulness.
     
301. Honesty lies in abstaining from the doubtful .
     
302. Piety brings respect .
     
303. Acting viciously brings disgrace & insult.
     
304. When few blessings come in your way do not drive them away through
     thanklessness.
     
305. The wise aims at perfection, the foolish aim at wealth.
     
306.  People,often hate those thing which they do not know or cannot understand.
     
307.  Ask your heart about Friendship, for surely it is a witness that cannot be bribed.
     
308.  One who does not realize his own value is condemned to utter failure.
     
309.  Truthfulness symbolises a sharp sword .
     
310. Feeling weak wastes the best & precious instances of life.
     
311. Piety is strong defence.
     
312. Avarice is a curse.
     
313. Obedience of Allah is wealth of wise people.
     
314. An impudent person commits open shamelessness.
     
315. Knowledge is real guide.
     
316. Good companions are very few.
     
317. Modesty is a virtue .
     
318. Greed & allurement from others amount to slavery.
     
319. Charity is result of high breeding & goodness.
     
320. Acting in contentment is source of achieving the goal .
     
321. Obedience & devotion lie in obeying & acting according to Allah's commandment.
     
322. Bowing before your fellow-beings results in meanness & disgrace.
     
323. Doing good makes a person indebted to you.
     
324. It is essential to be grateful for blessings.
     
325. Intelligent action achieves the goal .
     
326. Silence brings success.
     
327. Greed & avarice bring poverty & destitution .
     
328. Negligence & lack of attention result in ignominy.
     
329. Polytheism is disbelief in Allah.
     
330. Feelings shy in trade causes deprivation of benefits.
     
331. A wise man negates absurdities.
     
332. Ignoring carnal desires is real opulence.
     
333. Following of carnal desires is real folly.
     
334. Tolerance is the best way of winning over others.
     
335. Stupidity is crime in itself.
     
336. Long desires cheat a man.
     
337. Death brings man to dust in a moment .
     
338. Greed is harmful in all walks of life.
     
339. The life hereafter brings happiness & delight.
     
340. A good deed is washed away by reminding of an obligation.
     
341. Exit from life is close at hand.
     
342. Life passes away momentarily.
     
343. O Human beings !Knowledge gets u salvation.
     
344. O son of Adam ! Ignorance is source of your ruin.
     
345. Death brings freedom from confinement of life.
     
346. A man who is not sinful is always safe & sound.
     
347. Be prepared for death & accountability.
     
348. A hypocrite always makes others doubt truth & faith.
     
349. To seek help from others requires lot of intelligence.
     
350. To oblige others is blessing .
     
351. Justic means equal treatment towards all.
     
352. Contentment guards against begging .
     
353. A person who entrusts all his needs with Allah is saved of all evil .
     
354. Seeking support from all other than Allah , invites peril.
     
355. Death is defence against worldly calamities.
     
356. Success & guidance of Allah are result of His benevolence.
     
357. Greatness & wisdom lie in knowledge & reason .
     
358. Ignorance & lack of reason are nothing but disgrace & misleading .
     
359. Leisure is highly precious & is gained only through intelligence.
     
360. Not availing leisure beneficially brings confusion & distress.
     
361. Useless dignity & show of awe result in defeat of aim .
     
362. Make friends to save your dignity .
     
363. Patience & perseverance guard against calmities.
     
364. Losing heart amounts to ruin.
     
365. Inaction in important affairs is harmful.
     
366. A true friend is he who is ready to lay down his life for friendship.
     
367. It is blessing from Allah to resign before destiny.
     
368. To under-estimate calamities of life is to deceive yourself.
     
369. Allah's fear affords His support.
     
370. It is wise to admit good counsel.
     
371. Insight is achieved by remaining alive to face all situations.
     
372. To scare somebody of Allah's anger is to end the argument.
     
373. Penitence & craving Allah's mercy lie in repentance for sins.
     
374. Admitting a mistake is seeking apology.
     
375. People become sick of an excessively talkative person.
     
376. Not accepting an error means fondness of sin.
     
377. Consultation strengthens both through & action .
     
378. Wealth & opulence will have to be fully accounted for .
     
379. Tyranny & callousness result in Allah's wrath.
     
380. Worldly desires are fatally venomous.
     
381. Knowledge & reason are sources of life & happiness.
     
382. Faith is source of salvation from hell.
     
383. Contentment comes through negation of false hopes from others .
     
384. Penitence lies in abstaining from sin.
     
385. Suspicion is a kind of scepticism.
     
386. Wealth is reduced by spending while knowledge expands.
     
387. Remaining away from sin brings man closer to Allah .
     
388. A People who ill-treats others always receives disgrace.
     
389. People support a person who treats them nobly.
     
390. Satan is cunning , seek refuge against him.
     
391. To act with composure shows far-sightedness.
     
392. Leisure is a blessing , it must not be wasted .
     
393. Good deeds brings greatness.
     
394. Obligation towards others results in greatness & respect .
     
395. Negligence brings error.
     
396. To be taken in by somebody is symbol of negligence & obscurity .
     
397. Unwanted desires always falls prey to consternation.
     
398. An ignorant person always falls prey to consternation .
     
399. Obstinacy results in annihilation .
     
400. Inclination of mind towards worldly affairs results only in harm .
     
401. Taking pleasure in sinfulness is worse than committing sins.
     
402. Delights of life are nothing but miseries.
     
403. Knowledge brings greatness.
     
404. Ignorance is height of infamy .
     
405. Long desires entangle in chains of indignity.
     
406. Reasons brings cure from maladies of mind.
     
407. Ambitions of life are like a wall falling to demolish.
     
408. Charity is a safe treasure to afford succour in need .
     
409. Sincerity guarantees success .
     
410. Truth is a quality that leads too salvation.
     
411. Falsehood is a fatal disease .
     
412. A person who has committed no crime is always fearless.
     
413. Charity guards against calamity & catastrophe .
     
414. Faith is driven light in itself .
     
415. Conviction brings delight & happiness.
     
416. Patience results in success .
     
417. Faith resembles  a tree with confidence as roots & piety as branches .
     
418. A noble mind is indebted to act nobly necessarily .
     
419. Silence at the time when conversation is needy , shows weakness of mind .
     
420. Justice forms standard of action .
     
421. Tyranny destroys capital qualities of life.
     
422. Knowledge affords strong support .
     
423. Destiny over-rides strongest prudence.
     
424. Goodness is symbol of useful treasure , available in need.
     
425. A person who negates desire remains at case.
     
426. Lust is man's worst enemy .
     
427. Gratefulness over blessings augments them .
     
428. Lust for man's worst enemy .
     
429. Ingratitude brings harm .
     
430. Reason is blessing from Allah .
     
431. Good manners amount to noble achievements .
     
432. Worldly prestige lies in wealth .
     
433. Success in the hereafter is based on ability & deservedness .
     
434. Prestige of a man of faith lies in the way he acts .
     
435. A man's grace lies in reason & intelligence .
     
436. A man's is recognised by his valour & effort .
     
437. Manliness is exhibited through valour .
     
438. Man in reality is he who is alive with strong faith .
     
439. Benefit of knowledge les in acting accordingly .
     
440. Life stands on hope.
     
441. Cheerfulness is good habit .
     
442. Cynicism is a big vice.
     
443. Ignorance is a cruse .
     
444. Allah's guidance is a step towards good luck .
     
445. Illegitimate earning is transgression .
     
446. Death deprives from every thing .
     
447. Avaricious person is always victim of confusion .
     
448. Opulence is faithless companion .
     
449. Ignorance always shows its results .
     
450. Cleanliness is sign of intelligence .
     
451. Straightforward attitude brings health .
     
452. Vice results in shame.
     
453. Justice is life.
     
454. Tyranny ends in defeat .
     
455. Practising justice  is human virtue.
     
456. Truth is trust for conversation.
     
457. Lack of perseverance is harmful .
     
458. Hoarding results in ultimate deprivation .
     
459. Patience is symbol of greatness in faith .
     
460. Devotion creates love in devotee's mind .
     
461. Forgiveness is great virtue .
     
462. Tongue interprets the mind.
     
463. Hearts is treasure of speech.
     
464. Resignation to Allah's will is graceful .
     
465. A tyrant has to wait for punishment while the injured awaits reward .
     
466. Truth accompanies justice .
     
467. Carnal desires are rivals of reason .
     
468. Useless practices are sequel to ignorance .
     
469. Tyranny is contrary to justice .
     
470. Dignity is an ornament for reason .
     
471. Fidelity & truth go hand in hand .
     
472. Reason is messenger of truth .
     
473. Divine guidance is key to truthfulness .
     
474. Temporal alliance means severing from Allah .
     
475. Truth is language of justice .
     
476. Falsehood never befriends truth .
     
477. Tolerance is beauty of virtue .
     
478. Take care of the promise made to a friend, and allow him some concessions, so that you may enjoy the pleasures of his society.
     
479. Glorification of Allah brings contentment to men faith .
     
480. Carnal desires open avenues of sorrow & grief .
     
481. It is better to be dumb than to be a liar .
     
482. Knowledge is grace for excellence .
     
483. Civility is the best proficiency .
     
484. Faith is a star whose light never diminishes .
     
485. Charity brings man closer to his creator .
     
486. Loyalty is quality of noble people .
     
487. Treachery is practice of vicious men .
     
488. Good deeds prove good intentions .
     
489. There are the slaves of Allah whose hearts are broken due to fearing Him. Hence, they keep silent while they are eloquent and intelligent. They compete with each other on offering the pure deeds to Allah. They do not content with their many deeds and do not accept for themselves the few deeds. They see themselves as vicious while they are good and virtuous.
     
490. Charity is one of the best virtues .
     
491. Politeness is key to success.
     
492. divine guidance leads to virtue .
     
493. Cheerful attitude is first step towards virtue .
     
494. Patience is a vehicle that never stumbles .
     
495. Manusript interprets minds of its writer .
     
496. Character reflects conscience of man.
     
497. Dignity is outcome of tolerance .
     
498. Hospitality is sweet fruit of knowledge .
     
499. Justice is the best decision .
     
500. Candour is the best action .
     
501. Merit of man lies in his speech .
     
502. Generosity breeds love.
     
503. Greed amounts to manifest indigence .
     
504. Lack of expectations from others is great wealth .
     
505. Pride brings shame even to the biggest person .
     
506. Hospitality brings to the smallest person in society .
     
507. Politeness opens avenues of goodness .
     
508. Lack of reason results in disgrace .
     
509. Friendship reflects friendship .
     
510. Friendly complaint promotes friendship .
     
511. Presenting of gifts brings mutual love.
     
512. Death resembles a guard who comes without report .
     
513. Life is like a lengthening shadow .
     
514. Adoring yourself with good manners is real manliness .
     
515. Good advice enlivens the heart.
     
516. To remember a friend symbolises his company .
     
517. Faith is universal requirement of every human being .
     
518. Reason is true friend , it affords guidance everywhere.
     
519. Carnal desires subdue man in all walks of life .
     
520. Wise man loves his counterpart .
     
521. Ignorance begets ignorance .
     
522. Peace lies in solitude .
     
523. Mastering of desires brings peace of mind .
     
524. Seeking forgiveness of error is symbol of wisdom .
     
525. Man should be slave to piety & benefaction .
     
526. Patience is defence against misfortune .
     
527. Perfect truth is rare in life .
     
528. Jealousy is a fatal malady.
     
529. Friendship should not be expected of people in power .
     
530. Moderation should not be expected of people in power .
     
531. Extravagance is wastage .
     
532. Every moment of life is full of mishaps .
     
533. Every moment of life brings its end closer .
     
534. Truth brings honour & respect .
     
535. Lie always results in grief & disgrace .
     
536. Modesty is key to goodness .
     
537. Indecency is symbol of bad conscience .
     
538. Penitence & craving for mercy eradicate sin .
     
539. Repeated committal of sin is practice of the ill-naturned .
     
540. Eating to the fill weakness intelligence .
     
541. Doubt breeds suspicion .
     
542. Patience defends against fatal attacks of poverty .
     
543. Back-biting is a bad moral disease .
     
544. Conviction is quality of faith .
     
545. To show ill-will towards manifest vice is not slander .
     
546. Truth is essence of piety .
     
547. Standard of confidence lies in maintaining secrecy .
     
548. Justice is soul of evidence .
     
549. Suppressing of carnal desires is great virtue .
     
550. Forgiveness is pious symbol of success .
     
551. Dispute cultivates vice .
     
552. Death is better than cultivating vicious habits .
     
553. It is better to die than to live in insult & disgrace .
     
554. Contentment over little assets is better than getting rich through base means .
     
555. Bravery is synonymous to contentment & endurance .
     
556. Experiment never come to end .
     
557. Avaricious person is never satisfied .
     
558. Truth is practice of people of faith .
     
559. Woe annihilates all physical energies of man .
     
560. Ignorance stumbles every human being .
     
561. Meditation intensifies light of reason .
     
562. Indisposition amounts to prison for human body .
     
563. Perfidy & sedition multiply woe & distress .
     
564. Jealousy is another name of spiritual bondage .
     
565. Back-biter is a perpetual victim of condemnation & disgust .
     
566. To be woeful is synonymous to indisposition .
     
567. To quarrel is unbecoming for a reasonable person .
     
568. Worldly issue fall prey to misfortunes .
     
569. Opulence brings relief to heirs .
     
570. Time creates targets for experience .
     
571. Recommendation is support for needy .
     
572. Accountability will precede divine punishment .
     
573. retribution & reward will follow accountability .
     
574. Disobedience of Allah deprives from His blessings .
     
575. Man of weak convictions has no faith & belief .
     
576. Jealousy never results in moral cure , nor does fidelity emerge from a cheat .
     
577. Happiness comes only through mutual affection .
     
578. Agreement is a malady while its fulfilment brings cure .
     
579. Learned man is alive even after death while an ignorant person is dead even when living .
     
580. Sincerity is sweet fruit of worship .
     
581. Back-biting is practice 0of imperfect people only .
     
582. Hypocrisy is root of evil .
     
583. To stick to unlawful desires results in disappointment .
     
584. World is losing market .
     
585. Paradise is abode of peace & security .
     
586. Hoarding worldly belongings is source of woe & sorrow .
     
587. Belief in Allah is basis of faith .
     
588. Sacrifice amounts to great benefaction .
     
589. Patience over misfortunes opens avenues of retribution & reward .
     
590. Desires lead to violence & vice .
     
591. Deep through & solicitude result in effective planning .
     
592. Life is fragile for those who accept admonition .
     
593. Reason & intellect correct every process .
     
594. Sight is ambassador of mind .
     
595. Quarrels leads to dangerous disputes .
     
596. Virtue is characteristic of a man of faith .
     
597. Life is full of woes & calamities .
     
598. Resignation to destiny wards off calamities .
     
599. Patience & resignation result in firm faith .
     
600. Piety & abstinence show pious effects of divine faith .
     
601. Free is he who is content even as a slave .
     
602. Person habituated to greed & avarice is bound in chains of desire even in freedom .
     
603. Pride is symbol of ignorance .
     
604. Hospitality & humility are symbols of nobility .
     
605. Supplications leads to ruin .
     
606. Paradise is gift for people obedient to Allah .
     
607. Man's tongue symbolises a wild horse , it is virtuous to keep it bridled .
     
608. Vice defeats its exorcist .
     
609. A friend in need is real brother.
     
610. Hypocrisy is practised by the vicious .
     
611. Malice is conduct of the jealous .
     
612. Content throws the wrangler head-long .
     
613. Avarice brings sorrow to the avaricious .
     
614. Wise man is never misled .
     
615. Ignorant is never free of his vicious actions .
     
616. Tyranny ends in ill result .
     
617. Avarice brings disgrace .
     
618. Apology paves way to forgiveness .
     
619. Self-praise results in fault .
     
620. Peace & vigilance attract supporters .
     
621. Improper reproach brings basis for hell .
     
622. To have big longings is quality of fools .
     
623. Disobedience of Allah is obstacle in way of acceptance of a prayer .
     
624. World is abode of the virtuous .
     
625. Life is a transition towards the hereafter .
     
626. Paradise is abode of the virtuous .
     
627. World resembles a woman divorced by a wise man .
     
628. People having ill-desires love physical world .
     
629. Evasion of carnal desires brings grace .
     
630. Begging is source of insult .
     
631. Lovers of worldly affairs are often the opportunists .
     
632. Every wise man is enemy of carnal desires .
     
633. Ignorance makes man slave to his desires .
     
634. Good actions guard against calamities .
     
635. Wealth cannot be source of peace of mind .
     
636. Apprehension of facts is sign of knowledge .
     
637. To be pleased in this world is stupidity .
     
638. It is foolish to be proud of mortal world .
     
639. Islam is guidance towards salvation & virtue .
     
640. Truth is apparel of faith & honesty .
     
641. Piety & abstinence from vice are practical results of truth .
     
642. To abstinence from vice are practical results of truth .
     
643. Avaricious person wastes his values in boarding assets for his heirs .
     
644. Good treatment towards others multiplies Allah's blessing .
     
645. Thankfulness for blessings guards them .
     
646. No apparel is better than abstinence & piety .
     
647. Final destiny of persons who excel in virtue , is paradise .
     
648. Final destiny of shirkers of virtue , is hell .
     
649. First step towards severing of relations lies in having bad intentions .
     
650. Learned men are real rulers of mankind .
     
651. Amir al-mu'minin called Hammam(1) who was a man devoted to worship said to him, "O' Amir al-mu'minin, describe to me the pious man in such a way as though I see them."  Amir al-mu'minin avoided the reply and said, "O' Hammam, fear Allah and perform good acts because 'Verily, Allah is with those who guard (themselves against evil), and those who do good (to others)" (Qur'an, 16:128). Hammam was not satisfied with this and pushed him to speak.  Thereupon, Amir al-mu'minin praised Allah and extolled Him and sought His blessings on the Holy Prophet and then spoke:  Now then, Allah the Glorified, the Sublime, created (the things of) creation. He created them without any need for their obedience or being safe from their sinning, because the sin of anyone who sins does not harm Him nor does the obedience of anyone who obeys Him benefit Him. He has distributed among them their livelihood, and has assigned them their positions in the world.  Thus, the God-fearing, in it are the people of distinction. Their speech is to the point, their dress is moderate and their gait is humble. They keep their eyes closed to what Allah has made unlawful for them, and they put their ears to that knowledge which is beneficial to them. They remain in the time of trials as though they remain in comfort. If there had not been fixed periods (of life) ordained for each, their spirits would not have remained in their bodies even for the twinkling of an eye because of (their) eagerness for the reward and fear of chastisement. The greatness of the Creator is seated in their heart, and, so, everything else appears small in their eyes. Thus to them Paradise is as though they see it and are enjoying its favours. To them, Hell is also as if they see it and are suffering punishment in it.  Their hearts are grieved, they are protected against evils, their bodies are thin, their needs are scanty, and their souls are chaste. They endured (hardship) for a short while, and in consequence they secured comfort for a long time. It is a beneficial transaction that Allah made easy for them. The world aimed at them, but they did not aim at it. It captured them, but they freed themselves from it by a ransom.  During a night they are upstanding on their feet reading portions of the Qur'an and reciting it in a well-measured way, creating through it grief for themselves and seeking by it the cure for their ailments. If they come across a verse creating eagerness (for Paradise) they pursue it avidly, and their spirits turn towards it eagerly, and they feel as if it is in front of them. And when they come across a verse which contains fear (of Hell) they bend the ears of their hearts towards it, and feel as though the sound of Hell and its cries are reaching their ears. They bend themselves from their backs, prostrate themselves on their foreheads, their palms, their knees and their toes, and beseech Allah, the Sublime, for their deliverance. During the day they are enduring, learned, virtuous and God-fearing. Fear (of Allah) has made them thin like arrows. If any one looks at them he believes they are sick, although they are not sick, and he says that they have gone mad. In fact, great concern (i.e., fear) has made them mad.  They are not satisfied with their meager good acts, and do not regard their major acts as great. They always blame themselves and are afraid of their deeds. When any one of them is spoken of highly, he says: "I know myself better than others, and my Lord knows me better than I know. O' Allah do not deal with me according to what they say, and make me better than they think of me and forgive me (those shortcomings) which they do not know."
     
652. One is God who has no partners, two are Adam and Eve, three are the substances ( i.e. non-living matter, plants and animals), four are the Heavenly books: Torah of Moses, Bible of Jesus, Zubur of Dawood and the Qur'an of Muhammad (SA). Five are the daily prayers. Six are the days of creation of the heavens and earth, as per the verse of the Qur'an: “ And indeed We created the heavens and the earth and what is between them two, in six periods and touched us not any fatigue.” (Sura Qaf V.38). Seven are the seven heavens, in the light of the Qoranic Verse: “ And we have erected above you the seven strong ones.”(Sura An-Naba V12)Eight are those angels who bear the heavens, as per the Qur'anic Verse: “ And the angels shall be on the side of it; and above them shall bear that day ‘Arsh’(the throne of authority). of your Lord, eight of them (Sura Al-Haqqah.V.17) Nine are the nine signs given to Moses as stated by God: “And indeed we gave Moses nine clear signs (miracles); so ask the children of Israel when he came to them, Pharoah said to him; “Verily I deem you O’Moses one bewitched.”(Sura Bani Israel, V 101). Ten are the ten days, i.e. God had promissed Moses that he would stay on the mountain of Toor for thirty days, and later added ten more days to this duration, as it is stated in the Qoran.” And we made an appointment with Moses for thirty nights and completed it with ten more;” Thus was completed the term of his Lord, forty nights, and (before he went up) Moses said to his brother Aaron: You take my place among my people, act rightly and follow not the path of the mischief-makers.” (Sura Al-A’araf. V.142). Eleven are the brothers of Joseph, son of Jacob, as the Qur'an states, “When said Joseph to his father, O’my father; Verily I did see (dream) eleven stars and the sun and the moon,, I saw them all prostrating to me.” (Sura Yousuf.V.4) . Twelve are the Twelve water-springs manifested by the staff of Moses, as God states, “ And (remember) when Moses sought water for his people; said We, ‘Strike the rock with your staff’ Then gushed out therefrom twelve springs; each people knew their drinking place; “Eat and drink God’s provision, and commit not evil in the earth acting mischievously. ”(Sura Al BaqaraV60).
653. The five beings who were not born of ovaries are: Adam, Eve, the staff of Moses which used to change into a python, the camel of Saleh, and the sheep of Ibrahim (which was sent by God to become a ransom of the life of Ibrahim’s son Ismael).
654. The messenger who warned his people is the ant who, when Solomon’s army was passing by, said to his people, “ Enter your houses so that the army may not stamp you out (without intention)”. So God states in the Holy Qur'an, “ Until they came to the valley of the Ants, said an ant (addressing the other ants of the valley) O” you ants’ enter into your dwellings, so that Solomon and his hosts may not crush you while they know it not”. (Sura An-Naml.V 18)
655. During civil disturbance adopt such an attitude that people do not attach any importance to you - they neither burden you with complicated affairs, nor try to derive any advantage out of you.
656. He who is greedy is disgraced; he who discloses his hardship will always be humiliated; he who has no control over his tongue will often have to face discomfort.
657. Avarice is disgrace; cowardice is a defect; poverty often disables an intelligent man from arguing his case; a poor man is a stranger in his own town; misfortune and helplessness are calamities; patience is a kind of bravery; to sever attachments with the wicked world is the greatest wealth; piety is the best weapon of defence.

 Golden Sayings & Speeches of Hazrat Ameer ul Momineen Imam Ali Ibn Abitalib a.s.

(The Commander of the Faith)

Asalamoalaka ya Hazrat Ameer ul Momineen Imam Ali Ibn Abitalib a.s.

* ((One night, Ameer al-Mo’meneen, from the beginning of the darkness until the beginning of the light [the next day], taught me some of the meanings of the first letter of Besmellaah [the first word of the first aayah of the first soorah of the Holy Qor’aan], and said: If I wanted, I can overload forty camels with the interpretation of Besmellaah [In the name of Allaah].)). (Behaar al-Anwaar / al-Majlesi = vol. 40, page 186)
* Imam Ali (A.S.) says: Don't abandon Hajj rituals because you will be punished.
* Imam Ali (A.S.) : Don't you see that the Glorious God ever since Adam's time till the end of the world has tested people with rocks that are useless as well as harmless, blind as well as deaf, and with all his respect, built them into a place where people gather round. Then, it was placed in the most rocky, plant less, and harrow canyon which was between the toughest mountains, hottest pebbles, and waterless springs that was very far from plains, somewhere no camel, horse, cow, or sheep could grow fat. If the Glorious God with all his respect were to place his home and the Hajj's ceremonial place somewhere else that was in the middle of gardens, springs, plains full of trees, fruit, and close houses and villages, and where fields full of wheat, gardens full of flowers, fine land and sure enough however simple the examination is, the reward will be little.
* Imam Ali (A.S.) has said in his will that: For the sake of God, For the sake of God, It's the right of your Lord's home to not be left alone until you live, because if it is left alone, you won't stand a chance against God's punishment.
* Imam Ali (A.S.) says: The Zamzam's water (which is a holy well near Kaaba) is the best water on earth.
* Imam Ali (A.S.) says: Four heavenly places exists on earth: Masjid -ul- Haram, the mosque of the Prophet, the mosque of Bayt -al- Muqaddas and the mosque of Kufah.
* Imam Ali (A.S.) says: someone who goes to Hajj and Umrah, he is in fact going to God and God honors his guests and forgives them.
658. Submission to Allah's Will is the best companion; wisdom is the noblest heritage; theoretical and practical knowledge are the best signs of distinction; deep thinking will present the clearest picture of every problem.

659. The mind of a wise man is the safest custody of secrets; cheerfulness is the key to friendship; patience and forbearance will conceal many defects.

660. A conceited and self-admiring person is disliked by others; charity and alms are the best remedy for ailments and calamities; one has to account in the next world for the deeds that he has done in this world.

661. Man is a wonderful creature; he sees through the layers of fat (eyes), hears through a bone (ears) and speaks through a lump of flesh (tongue).

662. When this world favors somebody, it lends him the attributes, and surpassing merits of others and when it turns its face away from him it snatches away even his own excellences and fame.

663. Live amongst people in such a manner that if you die they weep over you and if you are alive they crave for your company.

664. If you overpower your enemy, then pardon him by way of thankfulness to Allah, for being able to subdue him.

665. Unfortunate is he who cannot gain a few sincere friends during his life and more unfortunate is the one who has gained them and then lost them (through his deeds).

666. When some blessings come to you, do not drive them away through thanklessness.

667. He who is deserted by friends and relatives will often find help and sympathy from strangers.

668.Every person who is tempted to go astray, does not deserve punishment.

669.Our affairs are attached to the destiny decreed by Allah, even our best plans may lead us to destruction.

670.There is a tradition of the Holy Prophet "With the help of hair-dye turn old age into youth so that you do not resemble the Jews". When Imam Ali was asked to comment on this tradition, he said that in the early stage of Islam there were very few Muslims. The Holy Prophet advised them to look young and energetic and not to adopt the fashion of the Jews (priest) having long, white flowing beards. But the Muslims were not in minority then, theirs was a strong and powerful State, they could take up any style they liked.

671. For those who refused to side with any party, Imam Ali or his enemies, Imam Ali said: They have forsaken religion and are of no use to infidelity also.

672. One who rushes madly after inordinate desire, runs the risk of encountering destruction and death.

673. Overlook and forgive the weaknesses of the generous people because if they fall down, Allah will help them.

674. Failures are often the results of timidity and fears; disappointments are the results of bashfulness; hours of leisure pass away like summer-clouds, therefore, do not waste opportunity of doing good.

675. If the right usurped from us is given back to us we shall take it, otherwise we shall go on claiming it.

676. If someone's deeds lower his position, his pedigree cannot elevate it.

677. To render relief to the distressed and to help the oppressed make amends for great sins.

678. O son of Adam, when you see that your Lord, the Glorified, bestows His Favors on you while you disobey Him, you should fear Him (take warning that His Wrath may not turn those very blessings into misfortunes).

679. Often your utterances and expressions of your face leak out the secrets of your hidden thoughts.

680. When you get ill do not get nervous about it and try as much as possible to be hopeful.

681. The best form of devotion to the service of Allah is not to make a show of it.

682. When you have to depart from this world and have to meet death (eventually), then why wish delay (why feel nervous about death).

683. Take warning ! He has not exposed so many of your sinful activities that it appears as if He has forgiven you (it may be that He has given you time to repent).

684. When Imam Ali was asked about Faith in Religion, he replied that the structure of faith is supported by four pillars endurance, conviction, justice and jihad.

Endurance is composed of four attributes: eagerness, fear, piety and anticipation (of death). so whoever is eager for Paradise will ignore temptations; whoever fears the fire of Hell will abstain from sins; whoever practices piety will easily bear the difficulties of life and whoever anticipates death will hasten towards good deeds.

Conviction has also four aspects to guard oneself against infatuations of sin; to search for explanation of truth through knowledge; to gain lessons from instructive things and to follow the precedent of the past people, because whoever wants to guard himself against vices and sins will have to search for the true causes of infatuation and the true ways of combating them out and to find those true ways one has to search them with the help of knowledge, whoever gets fully acquainted with various branches of knowledge will take lessons from life and whoever tries to take lessons from life is actually engaged in the study of the causes of rise and fall of previous civilizations .

Justice also has four aspects depth of understanding, profoundness of knowledge, fairness of judgment and dearness of mind; because whoever tries his best to under- stand a problem will have to study it, whoever has the practice of studying the subject he is to deal with, will develop a clear mind and will always come to correct decisions, whoever tries to achieve all this will have to develop ample patience and forbearance and whoever does this has done justice to the cause of religion and has led a life of good repute and fame.

Jihad is divided into four branches: to persuade people to be obedient to Allah; to prohibit them from sin and vice; to struggle (in the cause of Allah) sincerely and firmly on all occasions and to detest the vicious. Whoever persuades people to obey the orders of Allah provides strength to the believers; whoever dissuades them from vices and sins humiliates the unbelievers; whoever struggles on all occasions discharges all his obligations and whoever detests the vicious only for the sake of Allah, then Allah will take revenge on his enemies and will be pleased with Him on the Day of Judgment.

685. There are four causes of infidelity and loss of belief in Allah: hankering after whims, a passion to dispute every argument, deviation from truth; and dissension, because whoever hankers after whims does not incline towards truth; whoever keeps on disputing every argument on account of his ignorance, will always remain blind to truth, whoever deviates from truth because of ignorance, will always take good for evil and evil for good and he will always remain intoxicated with misguidance. And whoever makes a breach (with Allah and His Messenger) his path becomes difficult, his affairs will become complicated and his way to salvation will be uncertain.

Similarly, doubt has also four aspects absurd reason- ing; fear; vacillation and hesitation; and unreasonable surrender to infidelity, because one who has accustomed himself to unreasonable and absurd discussions will never see the Light of Truth and will always live in the darkness of ignorance. One who is afraid to face facts (of life, death and the life after death) will always turn away from ultimate reality, one who allows doubts and uncertainties to vacillate him will always be under the control of Satan and one who surrenders himself to infidelity accepts damnation in both the worlds.

686. A virtuous person is better then virtue and a vicious person is worse than vice.

687. Be generous but not extravagant, be frugal but not miserly.

688. The best kind of wealth is to give up inordinate desires.

689. One who says unpleasant things about others, will himself quickly become a target of their scandal.

690. One who hopes inordinately, impairs his deeds.

691. When Imam Ali, marching at the head of his army towards Syria, reached Ambar, the landlords of the place came out to meet him in zeal of their love, faithfulness and respect, no sooner had they seen Imam Ali they got down from their horses and started running in front of him. Imam Ali asked the reason of their strange actions. They replied that it was their custom to show their love and respect in that way. Imam Ali replied: "By Allah, by your action you do no good whatsoever to your rulers but you tire yourself and put yourself in toils in this world and in trouble in the next. How unfortunate is that exertion, which brings harm here and in the Hereafter and how useful is that ease which keeps you in comfort in this world and away from the Hell in the next.

692. Imam Ali once said to his son Imam Hasan, My son, learn four things from me and through them you will learn four more. If you keep them in mind your actions will not bring any harm to you: The greatest wealth is Wisdom; the greatest poverty is stupidity; the worst unso- ciableness is that of vanity and self-glorification; and the best nobility of descent exhibits itself in politeness and in refinement of manner. The next four things, my son, are: "Do not make friendship with a fool because when he will try to do you good he will do you harm; do not make a miser your friend because he will run away from you at the time of your dire need; do not be friendly with a vicious and wicked person because he will sell you and your friendship at the cheapest price and do not make friend of a liar because like a mirage he will make you visualize very near the things which lie at a great distance and will make you see at the great distance the things which are near to you".

693. Recommended prayers cannot attain the pleasures of Allah for you when obligatory prayers are left unattended.

694. A wise man first thinks and then speaks and a fool speaks first and then thinks.

695. A fool's mind is at the mercy of his tongue and a wise man's tongue is under the control of his mind.

696. One of the companions of Imam fell ill. Imam Ali called upon him and thus advised him: "Be thankful to Allah. He has made this illness a thing to atone your sins because a disease in itself has nothing to bring reward to anyone, it merely expiates one's sins and so far as reward is concerned, one has to earn it with his good words and good deeds. The Almighty Lord grants Paradise to his creatures on account of their piety and noble thoughts".

697. May Allah Bless Kabbab bin Aratt. He embraced Islam of his own freewill and immigrated (from Makkah) cheerfully. He lived a contented life. He bowed happily before the Will of Allah and he led the life of a mujahid.

698. Blessed is the man who always kept the life after death in his view, who remembered the Day of Judgment through all his deeds, who led a contented life and who was happy with the lot that Allah had destined for him. 45. If I cut a faithful Muslim into pieces to make him hate me, he will not turn into my enemy and if I give all the wealth of this world to a hypocrite to make him my friend he will not befriend me. It is so because the Holy Prophet has said: " O Ali! No faithful Muslim will ever be your enemy and no hypocrite will ever be your friend. "

699. The sin which makes you sad and repentant is more liked by Allah than the good deed which turns you arrogant.

700.. Value of a man depends upon his courage; his veracity depends upon his self-respect and his chastity depends upon his sense of honor.
701. During civil disturbance adopt such an attitude that people do not attach any importance to you - they neither burden you with complicated affairs, nor try to derive any advantage out of you.
702.  He who is greedy is disgraced; he who discloses his hardship will always be humiliated; he who has no control over his tongue will often have to face discomfort.
703. Avarice is disgrace; cowardice is a defect; poverty often disables an intelligent man from arguing his case; a poor man is a stranger in his own town; misfortune and helplessness are calamities; patience is a kind of bravery; to sever attachments with the wicked world is the greatest wealth; piety is the best weapon of defence.
704. Submission to Allah's Will is the best companion; wisdom is the noblest heritage; theoretical and practical knowledge are the best signs of distinction; deep thinking will present the clearest picture of every problem.
705.  The mind of a wise man is the safest custody of secrets; cheerfulness is the key to friendship; patience and forbearance will conceal many defects.
706.  A conceited and self-admiring person is disliked by others; charity and alms are the best remedy for ailments and calamities; one has to account in the next world for the deeds that he has done in this world.
707.  Man is a wonderful creature; he sees through the layers of fat (eyes), hears through a bone (ears) and speaks through a lump of flesh (tongue).
708. When this world favors somebody, it lends him the attributes, and surpassing merits of others and when it turns its face away from him it snatches away even his own excellences and fame.
709. Live amongst people in such a manner that if you die they weep over you and if you are alive they crave for your company.
710. If you overpower your enemy, then pardon him by way of thankfulness to Allah, for being able to subdue him.
711. Unfortunate is he who cannot gain a few sincere friends during his life and more unfortunate is the one who has gained them and then lost them (through his deeds).
712. When some blessings come to you, do not drive them away through thanklessness.
713. He who is deserted by friends and relatives will often find help and sympathy from strangers.
714. Every person who is tempted to go astray, does not deserve punishment.
715. Our affairs are attached to the destiny decreed by Allah, even our best plans may lead us to destruction.
716. There is a tradition of the Holy Prophet "With the help of hair-dye turn old age into youth so that you do not resemble the Jews". When Imam Ali was asked to comment on this tradition, he said that in the early stage of Islam there were very few Muslims. The Holy Prophet advised them to look young and energetic and not to adopt the fashion of the Jews (priest) having long, white flowing beards. But the Muslims were not in minority then, theirs was a strong and powerful State, they could take up any style they liked.
717. For those who refused to side with any party, Imam Ali or his enemies, Imam Ali said: They have forsaken religion and are of no use to infidelity also.
718. One who rushes madly after inordinate desire, runs the risk of encountering destruction and death.
719. Overlook and forgive the weaknesses of the generous people because if they fall down, Allah will help them.
720. Failures are often the results of timidity and fears; disappointments are the results of bashfulness; hours of leisure pass away like summer-clouds, therefore, do not waste opportunity of doing good.
721. If the right usurped from us is given back to us we shall take it, otherwise we shall go on claiming it.
722. If someone's deeds lower his position, his pedigree cannot elevate it.
723. To render relief to the distressed and to help the oppressed make amends for great sins.
724. O son of Adam, when you see that your Lord, the Glorified, bestows His Favors on you while you disobey Him, you should fear Him (take warning that His Wrath may not turn those very blessings into misfortunes).
725. Often your utterances and expressions of your face leak out the secrets of your hidden thoughts.
726. When you get ill do not get nervous about it and try as much as possible to be hopeful.
727. The best form of devotion to the service of Allah is not to make a show of it.
728. When you have to depart from this world and have to meet death (eventually), then why wish delay (why feel nervous about death).
729. Take warning ! He has not exposed so many of your sinful activities that it appears as if He has forgiven you (it may be that He has given you time to repent).
    730. When Imam Ali was asked about Faith in Religion, he replied
    that the structure of faith is supported by four pillars endurance,
    conviction, justice and jihad.
    Endurance is composed of four attributes: eagerness, fear, piety and
    anticipation (of death). so whoever is eager for Paradise will ignore
    temptations; whoever fears the fire of Hell will abstain from sins;
    whoever practices piety will easily bear the difficulties of life and
    whoever anticipates death will hasten towards good deeds.
    Conviction has also four aspects to guard oneself against infatuations
    of sin; to search for explanation of truth through knowledge; to gain
    lessons from instructive things and to follow the precedent of the past
    people, because whoever wants to guard himself against vices and
    sins will have to search for the true causes of infatuation and the true
    ways of combating them out and to find those true ways one has to
    search them with the help of knowledge, whoever gets fully
    acquainted with various branches of knowledge will take lessons
    from life and whoever tries to take lessons from life is actually
    engaged in the study of the causes of rise and fall of previous
    civilizations .
    Justice also has four aspects depth of understanding, profoundness of
    knowledge, fairness of judgment and dearness of mind; because
    whoever tries his best to under- stand a problem will have to study it,
    whoever has the practice of studying the subject he is to deal with,
    will develop a clear mind and will always come to correct decisions,
    whoever tries to achieve all this will have to develop ample patience
    and forbearance and whoever does this has done justice to the cause
    of religion and has led a life of good repute and fame.
    Jihad is divided into four branches: to persuade people to be
    obedient to Allah; to prohibit them from sin and vice; to struggle (in
    the cause of Allah) sincerely and firmly on all occasions and to detest
    the vicious. Whoever persuades people to obey the orders of Allah
    provides strength to the believers; whoever dissuades them from
    vices and sins humiliates the unbelievers; whoever struggles on all
    occasions discharges all his obligations and whoever detests the
    vicious only for the sake of Allah, then Allah will take revenge on his
    enemies and will be pleased with Him on the Day of Judgment.
   731. There are four causes of infidelity and loss of belief in Allah:
    hankering after whims, a passion to dispute every argument,
    deviation from truth; and dissension, because whoever hankers after
    whims does not incline towards truth; whoever keeps on disputing
    every argument on account of his ignorance, will always remain blind
    to truth, whoever deviates from truth because of ignorance, will
    always take good for evil and evil for good and he will always remain
    intoxicated with misguidance. And whoever makes a breach (with
    Allah and His Messenger) his path becomes difficult, his affairs will
    become complicated and his way to salvation will be uncertain.
    Similarly, doubt has also four aspects absurd reason- ing; fear;
    vacillation and hesitation; and unreasonable surrender to infidelity,
    because one who has accustomed himself to unreasonable and
    absurd discussions will never see the Light of Truth and will always
    live in the darkness of ignorance. One who is afraid to face facts (of
    life, death and the life after death) will always turn away from ultimate
    reality, one who allows doubts and uncertainties to vacillate him will
    always be under the control of Satan and one who surrenders himself
    to infidelity accepts damnation in both the worlds.
    732. A virtuous person is better then virtue and a vicious person is
    worse than vice.
    733. Be generous but not extravagant, be frugal but not miserly.
    734. The best kind of wealth is to give up inordinate desires.
    735. One who says unpleasant things about others, will himself quickly
    become a target of their scandal.
    736. One who hopes inordinately, impairs his deeds.
    737. When Imam Ali, marching at the head of his army towards Syria,
    reached Ambar, the landlords of the place came out to meet him in
    zeal of their love, faithfulness and respect, no sooner had they seen
    Imam Ali they got down from their horses and started running in front
    of him. Imam Ali asked the reason of their strange actions. They
    replied that it was their custom to show their love and respect in that
    way. Imam Ali replied: "By Allah, by your action you do no good
    whatsoever to your rulers but you tire yourself and put yourself in
    toils in this world and in trouble in the next. How unfortunate is that
    exertion, which brings harm here and in the Hereafter and how useful
    is that ease which keeps you in comfort in this world and away from
    the Hell in the next.
    738. Imam Ali once said to his son Imam Hasan, My son, learn four
    things from me and through them you will learn four more. If you
    keep them in mind your actions will not bring any harm to you: The
    greatest wealth is Wisdom; the greatest poverty is stupidity; the
    worst unso- ciableness is that of vanity and self-glorification; and the
    best nobility of descent exhibits itself in politeness and in refinement
    of manner. The next four things, my son, are: "Do not make
    friendship with a fool because when he will try to do you good he will
    do you harm; do not make a miser your friend because he will run
    away from you at the time of your dire need; do not be friendly with
    a vicious and wicked person because he will sell you and your
    friendship at the cheapest price and do not make friend of a liar
    because like a mirage he will make you visualize very near the things
    which lie at a great distance and will make you see at the great
    distance the things which are near to you".
    739. Recommended prayers cannot attain the pleasures of Allah for
    you when obligatory prayers are left unattended.
    740. A wise man first thinks and then speaks and a fool speaks first
    and then thinks.
    741. A fool's mind is at the mercy of his tongue and a wise man's
    tongue is under the control of his mind.
    742. One of the companions of Imam fell ill. Imam Ali called upon him
    and thus advised him: "Be thankful to Allah. He has made this illness
    a thing to atone your sins because a disease in itself has nothing to
    bring reward to anyone, it merely expiates one's sins and so far as
    reward is concerned, one has to earn it with his good words and
    good deeds. The Almighty Lord grants Paradise to his creatures on
    account of their piety and noble thoughts".
    743. May Allah Bless Kabbab bin Aratt. He embraced Islam of his
    own freewill and immigrated (from Makkah) cheerfully. He lived a
    contented life. He bowed happily before the Will of Allah and he led
    the life of a mujahid.
    744. Blessed is the man who always kept the life after death in his
    view, who remembered the Day of Judgment through all his deeds,
    who led a contented life and who was happy with the lot that Allah
    had destined for him. 45. If I cut a faithful Muslim into pieces to
    make him hate me, he will not turn into my enemy and if I give all the
    wealth of this world to a hypocrite to make him my friend he will not
    befriend me. It is so because the Holy Prophet has said: " O Ali! No
    faithful Muslim will ever be your enemy and no hypocrite will ever be
    your friend. "
    746. The sin which makes you sad and repentant is more liked by
    Allah than the good deed which turns you arrogant.
    747. Value of a man depends upon his courage; his veracity depends
    upon his self-respect and his chastity depends upon his sense of
    honor.
    748. Success is the result of foresight and resolution, foresight
    depends upon deep thinking and planning and the most important
    factor of planning is to keep your secrets to yourself.
    749. Be afraid of a gentleman when he is hungry, and of a mean
    person when his stomach is full.
    750. Hearts of people are like wild beasts. They attach themselves to
    those who love and train them.
    751. So long as fortune is favouring you, your defects will remain
    covered.
    752. Only he who has the power to punish can pardon.
    753. Generosity is to help a deserving person without his request, and
    if you help him after his request, then it is either out of self-respect or
    to avoid rebuke.
    754. There is no greater wealth than wisdom, no greater poverty than
    ignorance; no greater heritage than culture and no greater support
    than consultation.
    755. Patience is of two kinds: patience over what pains you, and
    patience against what you covet.
    756. Wealth converts a strange land into homeland and poverty turns
    a native place into a strange land.
    757. Contentment is the capital which will never diminish.
    758. Wealth is the fountain head of passions.
    759. Whoever warns you against sins and vices is like the one who
    gives you good tidings.
    760. Tongue is a beast, if it is let loose, it devours.
    761. Woman is a scorpion whose grip is sweet.
    762. If you are greeted then return the greetings more warmly. If you
    are favoured, then repay the obligation manifold; but he who takes
    the initiative will always excel in merit.
    763. The source of success of a claimant is the mediator.
    764. People in this world are like travelers whose journey is going on
    though they are asleep. ( Life's journey is going on though men may
    not feel it ).
    765. Lack of friends means, stranger in one's own country.
    766. Not to have a thing is less humiliating than to beg it.
    767. Do not feel ashamed if the amount of charity is small because to
    refuse the needy is an act of greater shame.
    768. To refrain from unlawful and impious source of pleasures is an
    ornament to the poor and to be thankful for the riches granted is the
    adornment of wealth.
    769. If you cannot get things as much as you desire than be contented
    with what you have.
    770. An ignorant person will always overdo a thing or neglect it
    totally.
    771. The wiser a man is, the less talkative will he be.
    772. Time wears out bodies, renews hopes, brings death nearer and
    takes away aspirations. Whoever gets anything from the world lives
    in anxiety for holding it and whoever loses anything passes his days
    grieving over the loss.
    773. Whoever wants to be a leader should educate himself before
    educating others. Before preaching to others he should first practice
    himself. Whoever educates himself and improves his own morals is
    superior to the man who tries to teach and train others.
    774. Every breath you take is a step towards death.
    775. Anything which can be counted is finite and will come to an end.
    776. If matters get mixed up then scrutinize the cause and you will
    know what the effects will be.
    777. Zirar bin Zamra Zibabi, known as Zirar Suda'i, was a companion
    of Imam Ali. When, after the martyrdom of Imam Ali, he went to
    Damascus, Muawiya called him and asked him to say something
    about Imam Ali. Zirar, knowing that Muawiya hated Imam Ali
    intensely tried to avoid this topic, but Muawiya forced him to speak.
    Thereupon, Zirar said: "O Amir, I had often seen Imam Ali in the
    depth of nights, when people were either sleeping or engrossed in
    amusements, he would be standing in the niche of the Masjid, with
    tears in his eyes and he would beseech Allah to help him maintain a
    pious, a virtuous and a noble character and to forsake the world. He
    would then address the world, saying 'O vicious world! Be away
    from me, why do you come in front of me like this ? Do you want to
    allure me ? Allah forbid that I should be allured and tempted by you
    and your pleasures. It is not possible. Go and try your allurements on
    somebody else. I do not desire to own you and do not want to have
    you. I have forsaken you thrice. It is like divorcing a woman thrice
    after which act she cannot be taken back as a wife. The life of
    pleasures that you offer is of a very little duration. There is no real
    importance in what you offer, the desire of holding you is an insult
    and a humiliation to sober minds. Sad is the plight of those who want
    to acquire you. They do not provide for the Hereafter. They have to
    pass through a long journey over a very difficult road towards a sat
    destination'. Zirar says that when he stopped, there were tears in the
    eyes of Muawiya who said, 'May peace of Allah be upon Abul
    Hasan Ali bin Abi Talib, he was undoubtedly like that. Now tell me,
    Zirar! How do you feel his separa- tion?' Zirar replied, "My sorrow
    and grief is like that of woman whose only child has been murdered
    in her lap". With this remark Zirar walked out of the court of
    Muawiya and left the city.
    778. After the Battle of Siffin, somebody asked Imam Ali whether
    they had been destined to fight against the Syrians. Imam Ali replied
    if by destiny you mean a compulsion (physical or otherwise) through
    which we are forced (by nature) to do a thing then it is not so. Had it
    been an obligation of that kind there would have been no question of
    reward for doing it and punishment for not doing it (when you are
    physically forced to do a thing, like breathing, sleeping, eating,
    drinking etc. then there can be no reward for doing it and no
    retribution for not doing it. In such cases nature forces you to do a
    thing and you cannot but do it), then the promised blessings and
    punishments in life after death will have no meaning. The Merciful
    Lord has given his creatures (human beings) complete freedom to do
    as they like, and then prohibited them from certain actions and
    warned them of the consequences of such actions (His Wrath and
    His Punishments). These orders of Allah carry in them the least
    trouble and lead us towards the most convenient ways of life and the
    rewards which He has promised for good deeds are many times
    more than the actions actually deserve. He sees people disobeying
    Him and tolerates them not because He can be overruled or be
    compelled to accept human supremacy over Him. He did not send
    His prophets to amuse Himself or provide amuse- ment for them. He
    did not reveal His orders without any genuine reason nor has He
    created the galaxies and the earth without any purpose. The Universe
    without plan, purpose and program is the idea of infidels and the
    pagans, sorry will be their plight in the leaping fires of Hell. Hearing
    this the man asked Imam Ali, "Then what kind of destiny was it that
    we had?" Imam Ali replied: "It was an order of Allah to do it like the
    order He has given in His Holy Book: You are destined by Allah to
    worship none but Him, here 'destined' means 'ordered' it does not
    mean physical compulsion".
    779. Acquire wisdom and truth from whomever you can because even
    an apostate can have them but unless they are passed over to a
    faithful Muslim and become part of wisdom and truth that he
    possesses, they have a confused existence in the minds of apostates.
    780. Knowledge and wisdom are really the privilege of a faithful
    Muslim. If you have lost them, get them back even though you may
    have to get them from the apostates.
    781. Value of each man depends upon the art and skill which he has
    attained.
    782. I want to teach you five of those things which deserve your
    greatest anxiety to acquire them: Have hope only in Allah. Be afraid
    of nothing but sins. If you do not know a thing never feel ashamed to
    admit ignorance. If you do not know a thing never hesitate or feel
    ashamed to learn it. Acquire patience and endurance because their
    relation with true faith is that of a head to a body, a body is of no use
    without a head, similarly true faith can be of no use without attributes
    of resignation, endurance and patience.
    783. A man hypocritically started praising Imam Ali, though he had no
    faith in him and Imam Ali hearing these praises from him said "I am
    less than what you tell about me but more than what you think about
    me".
    784. Those who have come alive out of a blood-bath live longer and
    have more children.
    785. One who imagines himself to be all-knowing will surely suffer on
    account of his ignorance.
    786. I appreciate an old man's cautious opinion more than the valor of
    a young man.
    787. I wonder at a man who loses hope of salvation when the door of
    repentance is open for him.
    788. Imam Muhammad Baqir says that Imam Ali once said: "There
    were two things in this world which softened the Wrath of Allah and
    prevented its descent upon man: One has been taken away from you;
    hold the other stead- fastly. The one which has been taken away
    from men is the Holy Prophet and the one which is still left with them
    and which they must hold steadfastly is repentance and atonement for
    sins because Allah at one place in the Holy Book addressed the Holy
    Prophet and said Allah would not punish them while you were among
    them nor while they were asking for forgiveness. (Surah Anfal, 8 :
    33)
    789. Whoever keeps in order his affairs with Allah (follows His orders
    sincerely), Allah will also put his affairs with men in order. Whoever
    makes arrangement for his salvation, Allah will arrange his worldly
    affairs; whoever is a preacher for himself, Allah will also protect him.
    790. He is the wisest and the most knowing man who advises people
    not to lose hope and faith in the Mercy of Allah and not to be too
    sure and over-confident of immunity from His Wrath and
    Punishment.
    791. Like your body your mind also gets tired so refresh it by wise
    sayings.
    792. That knowledge which remains only on your tongue is very
    superficial. The intrinsic value of knowledge is that you act upon it.
    793. Take care and do not pray to the Lord, saying, "Lord! I pray to
    You to protect and guard me from temptations and trials", for there is
    none who is not tempted and tried. But beseech Him to guard you
    against such temptation as may lead you towards wickedness and
    sins because Allah says in His Holy Book, Know that your wealth
    and children are temptations. (Surah al-Anfal, 8: 28) it means Allah
    tried people through wealth and children so that it may be tested as
    to who is content with what he gets honestly and who is thankful to
    Allah for the position he is placed in with regard to his children.
    Though Allah knows them better than even they know themselves,
    yet those trials and tests are for the purpose of their realizing and
    knowing those deeds which merit reward or which deserve
    punishment. There are some people who love to have male children
    and hate daughters and there are some who simply crave for wealth
    and hate poverty.
    794. Imam Ali was asked the meaning of being well-off or
    well-provided for. Imam Ali replied, "Your welfare does not lie in
    your having enormous wealth and numerous children but it rests in
    your being highly educated and forbearing and in your being proud of
    your obedience to Allah. If you do a good deed then thank Allah for
    it and if you commit a sin then repent and atone for it. In this world
    there is a real welfare for two kinds of people, one is the person
    who, when commits a sin, atones for it and the other is anxious to do
    good as much as possible.
    795. Importance of the deeds that you have done with fear of Allah
    cannot be minimized and how can the deeds which are acceptable to
    Allah be considered unimportant.
    796. "Nearest to the prophets are those persons who have to those
    prophets and obey them". Saying this, Imam Ali cited a passage from
    the Holy Qur'an 'Best liked by Abraham and nearest to him were the
    people who obeyed him'. He further said, "That the present times are
    the times of our Holy Prophet and his faithful followers. The best
    friend of our Holy Prophet is he who, though not related to him,
    obeys the orders of Allah and his greatest enemy is the man who
    though related to him, disobeys Allah '.
    797. Imam Ali was told of a Kharijite that he got up in the night to
    pray and recite the Holy Book. Imam Ali said, "To sleep with having
    sincere faith in religion and Allah is better than to pray with wavering
    faith".
    798. Whenever a tradition of the Holy Prophet is related to you,
    scrutinize it, do not be satisfied with mere verbatim repetition of the
    same because there are many people who repeat the words
    containing knowledge but only few ponder over them and try to fully
    grasp the meaning they convey.
    799. Imam Ali heard somebody reciting the passage of the Holy
    Qur'an we belong to Allah and our return is towards Him, Imam Ali
    said, "How true it is ! Our declaring that we belong to Allah indicates
    that we accept Him as our Master, Owner and Lord. And when we
    say that our return is towards Allah indicates that we accept our
    mortality".
    800. Some people praised Imam Ali on his face. He replied, "Allah
    knows me very well and I also know myself more than you. Please,
    Lord ! make me better than what they imagine me to be and please
    excuse those Weaknesses of mine which they are not aware of".
    801. To secure for you fame, credit as well as blessings, the help that
    you give to men in need, should possess the following attributes:
    whatever its extent, it should be considered by you as trifling so that
    it may be granted a high status; it should be given secretly, Allah will
    manifest it; and it must be given immediately so that it becomes
    pleasant.
    802. Your society will pass through a period when cunning and
    crafty intriguers will be favoured by status, when profligates will be
    considered as well-bred, well-behaved and elegant elites of the
    society, when just and honest persons will be considered as
    weaklings, when charity will be considered as a loss to wealth and
    property, when support and help to each other will be considered as
    favour and benevolence and when prayers and worship to Allah will
    be taken up for the sake of show to gain popularity and higher status,
    at such times regimes will be run under the advice of women and the
    youngsters will be the rulers and counselors of the State.
   803. Imam Ali's garment was very old with patches on it. When
    somebody drew his attention towards it, he replied, " Such dresses,
    when worn by men of status make them submissive to Allah and
    kind-hearted towards others and the faithful Muslims can
    conveniently follow the example ". Vicious pleasures of this world
    and salvation are like two enemies or two roads running in opposite
    directions or towards opposite poles, one to the North and the other
    to the South. Whoever likes to gain the pleasures and pomps of this
    world will hate austerity in life which is necessary to gain salvation.
    Reverse will be the attitude of a man desirous of achieving Eternal
    Bliss. One has to adopt either of the two ways of life, and as they
    both cannot be brought together, a man has to choose one of them.
    804. Nawf bin Fizala Bakali, the famous scholar of the early Islamic
    days says that one night he was with Imam Ali. In the middle of the
    night, Imam Ali got up from his bed, looked for sometime at the stars
    and inquired of Nawf whether he was awake. Nawf said: "I got from
    my bed replying, "Yes, Amirul Mo'minin (Commander of the
    Faithful) ! I am awake".
    Imam Ali said Nawf ! Those are the fortunate people who adopt
    piety as the principle of their lives and are fully attentive to their
    welfare for the Hereafter. They accept bare earth as the most
    comfortable bed and water as the most pleasant drink. They adopt
    the Holy Qur'an and prayers as their guide and protector and like
    Prophet Jesus Christ (Isa) they forsake the world and its vicious
    pleasure.
    Nawf ! Prophet David (Daud) once got up at such an hour in the
    night and said this was the hour when prayers of everyone who
    prayed were accepted except of those who forcibly collected
    revenues or who were scandal- mongers or were persons in the
    police force of a despotic regime or were musicians".
    805, Those who give up religion to better their lot in life seldom
    succeed. The Wrath of Allah makes them go through more calamities
    and losses than the gains they gather for themselves.
    806. There are many educated people who have ruined their future
    on account of their ignorance of religion. Their knowledge did not
    prove of any avail to them.
    807. More wonderful than man himself is that part of his body which
    is connected with his trunk with muscles. It is his brain (mind). Look
    what good and bad tendencies arise from it. On the one hand it holds
    treasures of know- ledge and wisdom and on the other it is found to
    harbour very ugly desires. If a man sees even a tiny gleam of success,
    then greed forces him to humiliate himself. If he gives way to avarice,
    then inordinate desires ruin him, if he is disappointed, then
    despondency almost kills him. If he is excited, then he loses temper
    and gets angry. If he is pleased, then he gives up precaution. Sudden
    fear makes him dull and nervous, and he is unable to think and find a
    way out of the situation. During the times of peace and prosperity he
    becomes careless and unmindful of the future. If he acquires wealth,
    then he becomes haughty and arrogant. If he is plunged in distress,
    then his agitation, impatience and nervousness disgrace him. If he is
    overtaken by poverty, then he finds himself in a very sad plight,
    hunger makes him weak, and over-feeding harms him equally. In
    short every kind of loss and gain makes his mind unbalanced.
    808. We, Ahlul Bayt (chosen descendants of the Holy Prophet),
    hold such central and balancing position in religion that those who are
    deficient in understanding and acting upon its principles, will have to
    come to us for reformation, and those who are overdoing it have got
    to learn moderation from us.
    809. A Divine rule can be established only by a man, who, where
    justice and equity are required, neither feels deficient nor weak and
    who is not greedy and avaricious.
    810. Sohayl bin Hunayf Ansari was a favourite companion of Imam
    Ali. At the time of Imam Ali's return from Siffin, he died at Kufa of
    the wounds sustained in the battle. His death left Imam Ali very sad
    and he said: "Even if a mountain loves me it will be crushed into bits".
    (it means people are tested with my love, and to prove it they have to
    pass through loss and calamities).
    811. Anyone who loves us Ahlul Bayt must be ready to face a life of
    austerity.
    812. No wealth is more useful than intelligence and wisdom; no
    solitude is more horrible than when people avoid you on account of
    your vanity and conceit or when you wrongly consider yourself
    above everybody to confide and consult; no eminence is more
    exalting than piety; no companion can prove more useful than
    politeness; no heritage is better than culture; no leader is superior to
    Divine Guidance; no deal is more profitable than good deeds; no
    profit is greater than Divine Reward; no abstinence is better than to
    restrain one's mind from doubts (about religion); no virtue is better
    than refraining from prohibited deeds; no knowledge is superior to
    deep thinking and prudence; no worship or prayers are more sacred
    than fulfillment of obligations and duties, no religious faith is loftier
    than feeling ashamed of doing wrong and bearing calamities patiently;
    no eminence is greater than to adopt humbleness; no exaltation is
    superior to knowledge; nothing is more respectable than forgiveness
    and forbear- ance; no support and defense are stronger than
    consultation.
    813. When a community is composed of honest, sober and virtuous
    people, your forming a bad opinion about anyone of its members,
    when nothing wicked has been seen of him, is a great injustice to him.
    On the contrary in a corrupt society to form good opinion of anyone
    of them and to trust him is to harm yourself.
    814. When somebody asked Imam Ali as to how he was getting on,
    he replied: "What do you want to know about a person whose life is
    leading him towards ultimate death, whose health is the first stage
    towards illness and whom society has forced out of his retreat".
    815. There are many persons whom constant grants of His Bounties
    turn them wicked and fit for His punishment and there are many more
    who have become vain and self- deceptive because the Merciful
    Allah has not exposed their weaknesses and vices to the world and
    the people speak highly about them. All this is an opportunity. No
    trial of the Lord is more severe than the time He allows (in which
    either you may repent or get deeper into vices).
    816. Two kinds of people will be damned on my account Those who
    form exaggerated opinion about me and those who under-estimate
    me because they hate me.
    817. To lose or to waste an opportunity will result in grief and
    sorrow.
    818. She world is like a serpent, so soft to touch, but so full of lethal
    poison. Unwise people are allured by it and drawn towards it, and
    wise men avoid it and keep away from its poisonous effects.
    819. When asked about Quraysh, Imam Ali replied that amongst
    them Bani Mukhzum are like sweet scented flower of Quraysh; their
    men are good to talk to and their women prove very good wives;
    Bani Abdush Shams are very intelligent and very prudent but we (of
    Bani Hashim) are very generous and very brave to face death. Bani
    Abdush Shams are more in numbers, ugly and intriguers but Bani
    Hashim are beautiful, good speakers and orators and very faithful as
    friends.
    820. What a difference is there between a deed whose pleasure
    passes away leaving behind it the pangs of pain and punishment and
    the deed whose oppressive harshness comes to an end leaving
    behind Divine rewards !
    821. Imam Ali was following a funeral and as it was passing along a
    road, somebody laughed loudly ( a sign of discourtesy and lack of
    manner ). Hearing this laugh, Imam Ali remarked, " Some of us feel
    that death is meant for everybody except themselves or it is destined
    to others and not to themselves or those whom we see dying around
    us are only travelers going on a journey and will come back to us. It
    is a sad sight to see that in one moment we commit them to earth and
    in the next we take hold of the things left by them as if we are going
    to remain permanently in this world after them. The fact is that we
    forget sensible advice given to us and become victim of every
    calamity.
    822. Blessings are for the man who humbles himself before Allah,
    whose sources of income are honest, whose inten- tions are always
    honorable, whose character is noble, whose habits are sober, who
    gives away in the cause and in the Name of Allah, the wealth which is
    lying surplus with him, who controls his tongue from vicious and
    useless talk, who abstains from oppression, who faithfully follows the
    traditions of the Holy Prophet and who keeps himself away from
    innovation in religion.
    823. Jealousy in woman is unpardonable but in man it is a sign of his
    faith in religion (because Islam has permitted polygamy and
    prohibited polyandry).
    824. I define Islam for you in a way that nobody dared do it before
    me. Islam means obedience to Allah, obedience to Allah means
    having sincere faith in Him, such a faith means to believe in His
    Power, belief in His Power means recognizing and accepting His
    Majesty, acceptance of His Majesty means fulfilling the obligations
    laid down by Him and fulfillment of obligations means actions
    (Therefore, Islam does not mean mere faith, but faith plus deeds).
    825. I wonder at the mentality of a miser, fearing poverty he takes to
    stinginess and thus hastily pushes himself head- long into a state of
    want and destitution, he madly desires plenty and ease, but throws it
    away without understand- ing. In this world he, of his own free will,
    leads the life of a a beggar and in the next world he will have to
    submit an account like the rich.
    I wonder at the arrogance of a haughty and vain person. Yesterday
    he was only a drop of semen and tomorrow he will turn into a
    corpse. I wonder at the man who observes the Universe created by
    Allah and doubts His Being and Existence. I wonder at the man who
    sees people dying around him and yet he has forgotten his end. I
    wonder at the man who understands the marvel of genesis of creation
    and refuses to accept that he will be brought back to life again. I
    wonder at the man who takes great pains to decorate and to make
    comfortable this mortal habitat and totally forgets his permanent
    abode.
    826. Whoever is not diligent in his work, will suffer; who- ever has
    no share of Allah in his wealth and in his life then there is no place for
    him in His Realm.
    827. Be very cautious of cold in the beginning of winter and welcome     it at the close of the season because cold season effects your bodies
    exactly as it effects the trees; in the early season its severity makes
    them shrivel and shed their leaves and at the end it helps them to
    revive.
    828. If you understand Allah's Majesty, then you will not attach any
    importance to the creatures.
    829. While returning from Siffin, Imam Ali passed along the cemetery
    of Kufa. Addressing the graves he said: "O you, who are lying in
    horrible and deserted houses. O you, who are shut up in the dark
    graves, who are alone in their abodes, strangers to the places
    assigned to them; you have gone ahead and preceded us, while we
    are also following your steps and shall shortly join you. Do you know
    what has happened aver you? Your houses and property was taken
    up by others, your widows have remarried, this is what we can tell
    you of this world. Can you give us some news about things around
    you?" Saying this, Imam Ali turned to his companions and said, "If
    they are permitted to speak they will inform you that the best
    provision for the next world is piety and virtue".
    830. Imam Ali heard someone abusing and blaming the world and
    said to him, "O you, who are blaming the world, who have been
    allured and enticed by it, and have been tempted by its false
    pretenses. You allowed yourself to be enamored of, to be captivated
    by it and then you accuse and blame it. Have you any reason or right
    to accuse it and to call it a sinner and seducer? Or is the world not
    justified in calling you a wicked knave and a sinning hypocrite? When
    did it make you lose your intelli- gence and reasoning? And how did
    it cheat you or snake false pretenses to you? Did it conceal from you
    the fact of the ultimate end of everything that it holds, the fact of the
    sway of death, decay and destruction in its domain? Did it keep you
    in the dark about the fate of your fore- fathers and their final abode
    under the earth? Did it keep the resting-place of your mothers a
    secret from you? Do you not know that they have returned to dust?
    Many a time you must have attended the sick persons and many of
    them you must have seen beyond the scope of medicine. Neither the
    science of healing nor could your nursing and attendance nor your
    prayers and weeping prolonged the span of their lives, and they died.
    You were anxious for them, you procured the best medical aid, you
    gathered famous physicians and provided best - medicines for them.
    Death could not be held back and life could not be pro- longed. In
    this drama and in this tragedy did the world not present you with a
    lesson and a moral?
    Certainly, this world is a house of truth for those who look into it
    carefully, an abode of peace and rest for those who understand its
    ways and moods and it is the best working ground for those who
    want to procure rewards for life in the Hereafter. It is a place of
    acquiring knowledge and wisdom for those who want to acquire
    them, a place of worship for the friends of Allah and for Angels. It is
    the place where prophets received revelations of Allah. It is the place
    for virtuous people and saints to do good deeds and to be assigned
    with rewards for the same. Only in this world they could trade with
    Allah's Favors and Blessings and only while living here they could
    barter their good deeds with His Blessings and Rewards. Where else
    could all this be done? Who are you to abuse the world when it has
    openly declared its mortality and mortality of everything connected
    with it, when it has given everyone of its inha- bitants to understand
    that all of them are to face death, when through its ways it has given
    them all an idea of calamities they have to face here, and through the
    sight of its temporary and fading pleasures it has given them glimpses
    of eternal pleasures of Paradise and suggested them to wish and
    work for the same. If you study it properly you will find that simply to
    warn and frighten you of the consequences of evil deeds and to
    persuade you towards good actions, every night it raises new hopes
    of peace and prosperity in you and every morning it places new
    anxieties and new worries before you. Those who passed such lives
    are ashamed of and repent the time so passed abuse this world. But
    there are people who will praise this world on the Day of Judgment
    that it reminded them of the Hereafter and they took advantage of
    these reminders. It informed them of the effects of good deeds and
    they made correct use of the information it advised them and they
    were benefited by its advice".
    831. An Angel announces daily: "Birth of more human beings means
    so many more will die, collection of more wealth means of much
    more will be destroyed, erection of more buildings means so many
    more ruins will come".
    832. This world is not a permanent place, it is a passage, a road on
    which you are passing. There are two kinds of people here: One is
    the kind of those who have sold their souls for eternal damnation, the
    other is of those who have purchased their souls and freed them from
    damnation.
    833. A friend cannot be considered a friend unless he is tested on
    three occasions: in time of need, behind your back and after your
    death.
    834. Anyone who has been granted four attributes will not be
    deprived of their (four) effects; one who prays to Allah and implores
    to Him will not be deprived of granting of his prayers; one who
    repents for his thoughts and deeds will not be refused acceptance of
    the repentance; one who has atoned for his sins will not be debarred
    from salvation and one who thanks Allah for the Blessings and
    Bounties will not be denied the increase in them.
    The truth of these facts is attested by the Holy Qur'an As far as
    prayers are concerned He says Pray to Me and I shall accept your
    prayers. About repentance He says: Whoever has done a bad deed
    or has indulged in sin and then repents and asks for His forgiveness
    will find Allah most Forgiving and Merciful. About being thankful He
    says if you are thankful for what you are given, I shall increase My
    Bounties and Blessings. About atonement of sin He says Allah
    accepts the repentance of those who have ignorantly committed vice
    and then soon repent for it, Allah accepts such repentance's, He is
    Wise and Omniscient. 135. Daily prayers are the best medium
    through which one can Seek the nearness to Allah. Hajj is Jihad
    (Holy War) for every weak person. For everything that you own
    there is Zakat, and Zakat of your body is fasting. The Jihad of a
    woman is to afford pleasant company to her husband.
    836. If you want to pray to Allah for better means of subsistence,
    then first give something in charity
    837. When someone is sure of the returns, then he shows generosity.
    838. Aid (from Allah) is in proportion to the trouble.
    839. He who practices moderation and frugality will never be
    threatened with poverty.
    840. One of the conveniences in life is to have less children.
    841. Loving one another is half of wisdom.
    842. Grief is half of old age.
    843. Grant of patience (from Allah) is in proportion to the extent of
    calamity you are passing through. If you exhibit fretfulness, irritation,
    and despair in calamities, then your patience and your exertions are
    wasted.
    844. Many persons get nothing out of their fasts but hunger and
    thirst, many more get nothing out of their night prayers but exertions
    and sleepless nights. Wise and sagacious persons are praiseworthy
    even if they do not fast and sleep during the nights.
    845. Defend your faith (in Allah) with the help of charity. Protect
    your wealth with the aid of Zakat. Let the prayers guard you from
    calamities and disasters.
    846. Kumayl bin Ziyad Nakha'i says that once Imam Ali put his hand
    in his hand and took me to the grave-yard. When he passed through
    it and left the city behind, he heaved a sigh and said "Kumayl, these
    hearts are containers of the secrets of knowledge and wisdom and
    the best container is the one which can hold the most and what it
    holds, it can preserve and protect in the best way. Therefore,
    remember carefully what I am telling you. Remember that there are
    three kinds of people: one kind is of those learned people who are
    highly versed in the ethics of truth and philosophy of religion, second
    is the kind of those who are acquiring the above knowledge and the
    third is that class of people who are uneducated. They follow every
    pretender and accept every slogan, they have neither acquired any
    knowledge nor have they secured any support of firm and rational
    convictions. Remember, Kumayl, knowledge is better than wealth
    because it protects you while you have to guard wealth. It decreases
    if you keep on spending it but the more you make use of knowledge
    the more it increases. What you get through wealth dis- appears as
    soon as wealth disappears but what you achieve through knowledge
    will remain even after you.
    O Kumayl ! Knowledge is power and it can command obedience. A
    man of knowledge during his lifetime can make people obey and
    follow him and he is praised and venerated after his death.
    Remember that knowledge is a ruler and wealth is its subject.
    O Kumayl ! Those who amass wealth, though alive, are dead to
    realities of life, and those who achieve know- ledge, will remain alive
    through their knowledge and wisdom even after their death, though
    their faces may disappear from the community of living beings, yet
    their ideas, the knowledge which they had left behind and their
    memory, will remain in the minds of people".
    Kumayl says that after this brief dissertation, Imam Ali pointed
    towards his chest and said, "Look Kumayl! Here I hold stores and
    treasures of knowledge. I wish I could find somebody to share it with
    me. Yes, I found a few, but one of them, though quite intelligent, was
    untrustworthy, he would sell his salvation to get hold of the world and
    its pleasures, he would make religion a pretence to grasp worldly
    power and wealth, he would make this Blessing of Allah
    (knowledge) serve him to get supremacy and control over friends of
    Allah and he would through knowledge exploit and suppress other
    human beings. The other person was such that he apparently obeyed
    truth and knowledge, yet his mind had not achieved the true light of
    religion, at the slightest ambiguity or doubt he would get suspicious of
    truth, mistrust religion and would rush towards skepticism. So neither
    of them was capable of acquiring the superior knowledge that I can
    impart. Besides these two I find some other person One of them is a
    slave of self and greedy for inordinate desires, which can easily drag
    him away from the path of religion, the other is an avaricious,
    grasping and acquisitive miser who will risk his life to grasp and hold
    wealth, none of these two will be of any use to religion or man, both
    of them resemble beasts having appetite for food. If sensible trustees
    of knowledge and wisdom totally disappear from human society then
    both knowledge and wisdom will suffer severely, may bring harm to
    humanity and may even die out. But this earth will never be without
    those persons who will prove the universality of truth as disclosed by
    Allah, they may be well-known persons, openly and fearlessly
    declaring the things revealed to them or they may, under fear of
    harm, injury or deaths hide themselves from the public gaze and may
    carry on their mission privately so that the reasons proving the reality
    of truth as preached by religion and as demonstrated by His Prophet
    may not totally disappear. How many are they and where could they
    be found? I swear by Allah that they are very few in number but their
    worth and their ranks before Allah are very high. Through them Allah
    preserves His Guidance so that they, while departing, may hand over
    these truths to persons like themselves. The knowledge which they
    have acquired has made them see the realities and visualize the truth
    and has instilled into them the spirit of faith and trust. The duties
    which were decreed as hard and unbearable by them. They feel
    happy in the company and association of things which frighten the
    ignorant and uneducated. They live in this world like everybody else
    but their souls soar to the heights of Divine Eminence. They are
    media of Allah on this earth and they invite people towards Him.
    How I love to meet them O Kumayl ! I have told you all that I have
    to say, you can go back to your place whenever you like".
    847. A man can be valued through his sayings.
    848. One who does not realize his own value is condemned to utter
    failure. (Every kind of complex, superiority or inferiority is harmful to
    man).
    849. Somebody requested Imam Ali to advise him how to lead a
    useful and sober life. Imam Ali thereupon advised him thus: "Do not
    be among those people who want to gain good returns without
    working hard for them, who have long hopes and keep on
    postponing repentance and penance, who talk like pious persons but
    run after vicious pleasures. Do not be among those who are not
    satisfied if they get more in life and are not content if their lot in life's
    pleasures is less (they are never satisfied), who never thank Allah for
    what they get and keep on constantly demanding increase in what is
    left with them; who advise others to such good deeds that they
    themselves refrain from; who appreciate good people but do not
    follow their ways of life; who hate bad and vicious people but follow
    their ways of life; who, on account of their excessive sins hate death
    but do not give up the sinful ways of life; who, if fallen ill, repent their
    ways of life and on regaining their health fearlessly readopt the same
    frivolous ways; who get despondent and lose all hopes, but on
    gaining health, become arrogant and careless; who, if faced with
    misfor- tunes, dangers or afflictions, turn to Allah and keep on
    beseeching Him for relief and when relieved or favoured with
    comfort and ease they are deceived by the comfortable conditions
    they found themselves in and forget Allah and forsake prayers;
    whose minds are allured by day dreams and forlorn hopes and who
    abhor to face realities of life; who fear for others the enormous
    repercussions of vices and sins but for their own deeds expect very
    high rewards or very light disciplinary actions. Riches make such
    people arrogant, rebellious and wicked, and poverty makes them
    despondent and lethargic. If they have to work, they work lazily and
    if they put up a demand they do it stubbornly.
    Under the influence of inordinate cravings, they commit sins in quick
    succession and keep on postponing repentance. Calamities and
    adversities make them give up the distinguished characteristics of
    Muslims (patience, hope in future and work for improvement of
    circumstances). They advise people with narration's of events and
    facts but do not take any lesson from them. They are good at
    preachings but bad at practice, therefore they always talk of lofty
    deeds but their actions belie their words. They are keen to acquire
    temporal pleasures but are careless and slow to achieve permanent
    (Divine) benefits. They think good for themselves the things which
    are actually injurious to them and regard harmful the things which
    really benefit them. They are afraid of death but waste their time and
    do not resort to good deeds before death overtakes them. The vices
    which they regard as enormous sins for others, they consider as
    minor shortcomings for themselves. Similarly, they attach great
    importance to their obedience to the orders of Allah and belittle
    similar actions in others. Therefore, they often criticize others and
    speak very highly of their own deeds. They are happy to spend their
    time in society of rich persons, wasting it in luxuries and vices but are
    averse to employing for useful purposes in company of the poor and
    pious people: They are quick and free to pass verdicts against others
    but they never pass a verdict against their own vicious deeds. They
    force others to obey them but they never obey Allah. They collect
    their dues carefully but never pay the dues they owe. They are not
    afraid of Allah but fear powerful men".
    850. Everyone has an end, it may be pleasant or sorrowful.
    851. Everyone, who is born, has to die and once dead he is as good
    as having not come into existence.
    852. One, who adopts patience, will never be deprived of success
    though it may take a long time to reach him.
    853. One who assents or subsribes to the actions of a group or a
    party is as good as having committed the deed himself. A man who
    joins a sinful deed makes himself responsible for two-fold
    punishments, one for doing the deed and the other for assenting and
    subscribing to it.
     854. Accept promises of only those persons who
    can stead- fastly-adhere to their pledges.
    855. You are ordained to recognize the Imams (the right successors
    of the Holy Prophet) and to obey them.
    856. You have been shown, if you only care to see; you have been
    advised if you care to take advantage of advice; you have been told
    if you care to listen to good counsels.
    857. Admonish your brother (comrade) by good deeds and kind
    regards, and ward off his evil by favouring him.
    858. One, who enters the places of evil repute has no right to
    complain against a man who speaks ill of him.
    859. One, who acquires power cannot avoid favouritism.
    860. One, who is willful and conceited will suffer losses and
    calamities and one who seeks advice can secure advan- tages of
    many counsels.
    861. One, who guards his secrets has complete control over his
    affairs.
    862. Poverty is the worst form of death.
    863. One, who serves a person from whom he gets no reci- procal
    performance of duties, in fact, worships him.
    864. One should not obey anyone against the commands of Allah.
    865. Do not blame a man who delays in securing what are his just
    rights but blame lies on him who grasps the rights which do not
    belong to him.
    866. Conceit is a barrier to progress and improvement.
    867. Death is near and our mutual company is short.
    868. There is enough light for one who wants to see.
    869. It is wiser to abstain then to repent.
    870. Often inordinate desire to secure a single gain acts as a
    hindrance for the quest of many profitable pursuits.
    871. People often hate those things which they do not know or
    cannot understand. 172. One, who seeks advice learns to realize his
    mistakes.
    873. One who struggles for the cause of Allah secures victory over  His enemies.
    874. When you feel afraid or nervous to do a thing then do it
    because the real harm which you may thus receive is less poignant
    than its expectation and fear. 175. Your supremacy over others is in
    proportion to the extent of your knowledge and wisdom.
    876. The best way to punish an evil-doer is to reward handsomely a
    good person for his good deeds.
    877. If you want to remove evil from the minds of others then first
    give up evil intentions yourself.
    878. Obstinacy will prevent you from a correct decision.
    879. Greed is permanent slavery.
    880. Deficiency will result in shame and sorrow but caution and
    foresight will bring peace and security.
    881. To keep silent when you can say something wise and useful is
    as bad as keeping on propagating foolish and unwise thoughts.
    882. If two opposite theories are propagated one will be wrong.
    883. When truth was revealed to me I never doubted it.
    884.I never lied and the things revealed to me were not false I never
    misled anybody nor was I misled.
    885. One, who starts tyranny, will repent soon.
    886. Death is never very far.
    887. One who forsakes truth earns eternal damnation.
    888. One who cannot benefit by patience will die in grief.
    889. In this world, man is a target of death, an easy prey to
    calamities, here every morsel and every draught is liable to choke
    one, here one never receives a favour until he loses another instead,
    here every additional day in one's life is a day reduced from the total
    span of his existence, when death is the natural outcome of life, how
    can we expect immortality?
    890. O son of Adam, if you have collected anything in excess of your
    actual need, you will act only as its trustee for someone else to use it.
    891. Hearts have the tendency of likes and dislikes and are liable to
    be energetic and lethargic, therefore, make them work when they are
    energetic because if hearts are forced (to do a thing) they will be
    blinded.
    892. When I feel angry with a person how and when should I satisfy
    my anger, whether at a time when I am not in a position to retaliate
    and people may advise me to bear patiently or when I have power to
    punish and I forgive. 193. Minds get tired like bodies. When you feel
    that your; mind is tired, then invigorate it with sober advice.
    894. If you find that somebody is not grateful for all that you have
    done for him, then do not get disappointed because often you will
    find that someone else feels under your obligation though you have
    done nothing for him and thus your good deeds will be compensated,
    and Allah will reward you for your goodness.
    895. The first fruit of forbearance is that people will sympathize with
    you and they will go against the man who offended you arrogantly.
    896. One who takes account of his shortcomings will always gain by
    it; one who is unmindful of them will always suffer. One who is afraid
    of the Day of Judgment, is safe from the Wrath of Allah. One who
    takes lessons from the events of life, gets vision, one who acquires
    vision becomes wise and one who attains wisdom achieves
    knowledge.
    897. Bear sorrows and calamities patiently, otherwise you will never
    be happy.
    898. One who comes into power often oppresses.
    899. Adversities often bring good qualities to the front.
    900. If a friend envies you, then he is not a true friend.
    901. Avarice dulls the faculties of judgment and wisdom.
    902. Oppression and tyranny are the worse companions for the
    Hereafter.
    903. The best deed of a great man is to forgive and forget.
    904. Silence will create respect and dignity; justice and fairplay will
    bring more friends; benevolence and charity will enhance prestige
    and position; courtesy will draw benevolence; service of mankind will
    secure leadership and good words will overcome powerful enemies.
    905. A greedy man will always find himself in the shackles of
    humility.
    906. There are people who worship Allah to gain His Favors, this is
    the worship of traders; while there are some who worship Him to
    keep themselves free from His Wrath, this is the worship of slaves; a
    few who obey Him out' of their sense of gratitude and obligations,
    this is the worship of free and noble men.
907. Success is the result of foresight and resolution, foresight depends upon deep thinking and planning and the most important factor of planning is to keep your secrets to yourself.

908. Be afraid of a gentleman when he is hungry, and of a mean person when his stomach is full.

909. Hearts of people are like wild beasts. They attach themselves to those who love and train them.

910. So long as fortune is favouring you, your defects will remain covered.

911. Only he who has the power to punish can pardon.

912. Generosity is to help a deserving person without his request, and if you help him after his request, then it is either out of self-respect or to avoid rebuke.

913. There is no greater wealth than wisdom, no greater poverty than ignorance; no greater heritage than culture and no greater support than consultation.

914. Patience is of two kinds: patience over what pains you, and patience against what you covet.

915. Wealth converts a strange land into homeland and poverty turns a native place into a strange land.

916. Contentment is the capital which will never diminish.

917. Wealth is the fountain head of passions.

59. Whoever warns you against sins and vices is like the one who gives you good tidings.

918. Tongue is a beast, if it is let loose, it devours.

919. Woman is a scorpion whose grip is sweet.

920. If you are greeted then return the greetings more warmly. If you are favoured, then repay the obligation manifold; but he who takes the initiative will always excel in merit.

921. The source of success of a claimant is the mediator.

922. People in this world are like travelers whose journey is going on though they are asleep. ( Life's journey is going on though men may not feel it ).

923. Lack of friends means, stranger in one's own country.

924. Not to have a thing is less humiliating than to beg it.

925. Do not feel ashamed if the amount of charity is small because to refuse the needy is an act of greater shame.

926. To refrain from unlawful and impious source of pleasures is an ornament to the poor and to be thankful for the riches granted is the adornment of wealth.

927. If you cannot get things as much as you desire than be contented with what you have.

928. An ignorant person will always overdo a thing or neglect it totally.

929. The wiser a man is, the less talkative will he be.

930. Time wears out bodies, renews hopes, brings death nearer and takes away aspirations. Whoever gets anything from the world lives in anxiety for holding it and whoever loses anything passes his days grieving over the loss.

931. Whoever wants to be a leader should educate himself before educating others. Before preaching to others he should first practice himself. Whoever educates himself and improves his own morals is superior to the man who tries to teach and train others.

932. Every breath you take is a step towards death.

933. Anything which can be counted is finite and will come to an end.

934. If matters get mixed up then scrutinize the cause and you will know what the effects will be.

935. Zirar bin Zamra Zibabi, known as Zirar Suda'i, was a companion of Imam Ali. When, after the martyrdom of Imam Ali, he went to Damascus, Muawiya called him and asked him to say something about Imam Ali. Zirar, knowing that Muawiya hated Imam Ali intensely tried to avoid this topic, but Muawiya forced him to speak. Thereupon, Zirar said: "O Amir, I had often seen Imam Ali in the depth of nights, when people were either sleeping or engrossed in amusements, he would be standing in the niche of the Masjid, with tears in his eyes and he would beseech Allah to help him maintain a pious, a virtuous and a noble character and to forsake the world. He would then address the world, saying 'O vicious world! Be away from me, why do you come in front of me like this ? Do you want to allure me ? Allah forbid that I should be allured and tempted by you and your pleasures. It is not possible. Go and try your allurements on somebody else. I do not desire to own you and do not want to have you. I have forsaken you thrice. It is like divorcing a woman thrice after which act she cannot be taken back as a wife. The life of pleasures that you offer is of a very little duration. There is no real importance in what you offer, the desire of holding you is an insult and a humiliation to sober minds. Sad is the plight of those who want to acquire you. They do not provide for the Hereafter. They have to pass through a long journey over a very difficult road towards a sat destination'. Zirar says that when he stopped, there were tears in the eyes of Muawiya who said, 'May peace of Allah be upon Abul Hasan Ali bin Abi Talib, he was undoubtedly like that. Now tell me, Zirar! How do you feel his separa- tion?' Zirar replied, "My sorrow and grief is like that of woman whose only child has been murdered in her lap". With this remark Zirar walked out of the court of Muawiya and left the city.

936. After the Battle of Siffin, somebody asked Imam Ali whether they had been destined to fight against the Syrians. Imam Ali replied if by destiny you mean a compul .
937. Be the enemy of the oppressor and the helper of the oppressed one.
938. Hazrat Ali While going to Syria ( Sham ) passed through Karbala. He stopped at Karbala and  wept so much that his face become wet with tears and said that once I was with Holy Prophet and he was weeping too much , I asked Ya Rasulallah, why you are weeping , Holy Prophet told that just now Jebraeil came and  told me that my Hussain will be killed near the bank of  river Farrat . The  name of that place is Karbala and Jebraeil has given me the clay of that place and when I smelled that clay my tears came out. ( Holy Prophet and Hazrat Ali both deeply wept over Hussain much before his martyrdom ....................   issue the Fattwa now  ! ! !. )
938.  While Hazrat Ali passing through Karbala  stopped there and  pointed to the place and said here their camels will stop , here they will get down . here the blood of Al-e- Mohammad will be shed, sky and  earth will weep on them.
939. Our sixth Imam Jaffer Sadiq (as) says that the Holy Prophet (saw) has made some specific mention to Imam Ali (as) while making his testament: "O Ali, I advise you emphatically to adopt certain habits for yourself", then after having enumerated the habits, he prayed: "O Allah, help Ali to remain steadfast with those habits", among them, he mentioned: "O Ali, never miss Namaze Shab", stressing this thrice.
940. Ameerul Momineen Imam Ali (as) said: "Never expect to attain three virtues from three sources, i.e. never expect to rise for Namaaze Shab with a full stomach; never expect the grace and elegance on your face if you sleep till the small hours of the night, and never expect to remain secure and unscathed from anguish and distress if you always be in the company of the indulgent.

941.Ali (a.s.) who, while describing the disposition of mahdi said:- 'he is a man with sparkling forehead, protracted nose and broad thighs. there exists a spot on his right cheek and there are gaps between his teeth

942.Abu jafar muhammad-ibn-ali baqer (a.s.) who said:-'Amir-ul-mumineen ali-ibn-abi talib was asked about mahdi's physical appearance and he replied: he is a youth with an average stature and a handsome face with hairs falling over his shoulders and light gleaming from his face.

943. Amir-ul- Mumineen (a.s.) who said about Mahdi's characteristics as such:- at the time when they (i.e. the people) shall suit the guidance to follow the desires, Mahdi shall alter the desires to follow the guidance. at the time when they shall interpret quran to follow their (own) prudence, Mahdi shall realign (their) prudence to follow the quran. Mahdi shall demonstrate to you the justice. mahdi shall enliven the commandments of the quran and the sunnah which was until then, dead and lifeless.

944.  'It has come in traditions that mahdi will become the master of the earth from east to west.

945. 'When the 'Qaim' from the progeny of Muhammad (s.aw.a.) emerges, Allah will gather for him the inhabitants of the east and west.'

946. From Ali-ibn-Abi Talib (a.s.) as such:- 'i asked the messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.): will Mahdi be from (our) progeny of Muhammad or will he be from some other progeny?

He replied: no, he shall be from us. Allah shall bring the religion to completion through his hands just as he expanded it through us. by our blessings they (i.e. the people) shall be released from turbulences just as they got released from polytheism. by our blessings Allah will unite their hearts after conspiratorial animosity just as he united their hearts after polytheistic animosity. by our blessings, they shall turn into brothers in faith after having become enemies to each other.

947. Hazrat Ali (a.s) said: 'Omer leave aside this matter because you are not the owner of (this) wealth. rather its owner is a young man from the tribe of quraish who shall, at the end of time distribute it in the way of allah.

948. Ali (a.s.) in «nahjul-balagha» says:- the earth shall not remain vacant of God's 'Hujjat' and 'Qaem'. he is either manifest and well-known or concealed and fearful (from his enemies).

949. Amir-ul-Mumineen Ali-ibn-Abi Talib (a.s.) that the holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said:-

'whenever the caller shall cry out from the heavens that the truth can be found in Muhammad's household, Mahdi shall emerge at that very moment.

950. Ali (a.s.) says as such:- 'know, o' creatures of Allah, that the one who fears Allah will certainly be shown (by Allah) the path of exit from seditions and will be bestowed a light for his darknesses. whatever he describes, will be granted to him. moreover Allah shall give him mansions besides himself in a beautiful place - a mansion which he himself has constructed, its canopy will be his throne and its brightness will be his own self, angels will be his visitors and prophets shall be his friends.'

951. 'Paradise is a place which Allah has prepared for his obedient servants. thus its inhabitants are the best ones and its residents are the most righteous ones. in them are the prophet, messengers, veracious believers and martyrs. with these specifications, Mahdi (a.s.) is amongst the seven chiefs of paradise and the great chief over here refers to the greatness of spirituality and not greatness in age.

952.Ali-ibn-Abi Talib (a.s.) that the holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said:-

'Whenever the caller shall cry out from the heavens that the truth can be found in Muhammad's household, mahdi shall emerge at that very moment.

953. Ali-ibn-Abi Talib (a.s.) as such:- 'I asked the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.): will Mahdi be from (our) progeny of Muhammad or will he be from some other progeny?

he replied: no, he shall be from us. allah shall bring the religion to completion through his hands just as he expanded it through us. by our blessings they (i.e. the people) shall be released from turbulences just as they got released from polytheism. by our blessings Allah will unite their hearts after conspiratorial animosity just as he united their hearts after polytheistic animosity. by our blessings, they shall turn into brothers in faith after having become enemies to each other.

954. Ali looked at Hussein and then said: indeed my son is «sayyid» (chief) just as the messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) named him so. very soon a person, whose name shall be the same as your prophet's name will emerge from Hussein's rear. he shall emerge at the time when people will be negligent and un-aware. a time when the truth will be dead and oppression will be in force. the inhabitants of the heavens and earth will rejoice from his emergence. he will be having a broad forehead, protracted nose, broad stomach, broad thighs, a spot on his right cheek and his front teeth separated from each other. he shall fill the earth with justice just as it had been filled with cruelty and oppression

955. [Abd Allah b. Sharik al-Amiri reported:]

I heard the followers of Ali say when 'Umar b. Sed went through the gate of the mosque: There is the killer of al-Husayn b. 'Ali, peace be on him. That was some time before he was killed. 

956. A self-respecting man never commits adultery.

957. Take care of the promise made to a friend, and allow him some concessions, so that you may enjoy the pleasures of his society.

958. Take care of the promise made to a friend, and allow him some concessions, so that you may enjoy the pleasures of his society.

959. Self-recognition is the perfect knowledge of God.

960. Be the enemy of the oppressor and the helper of the oppressed one.

961. Imam Mohammad Baqir (A.S.)  and Imam from his forefathers  up to hazrat Ali (A.S.) , Hassan Massana from his father hazrat Imam Hassan (A.S.) and Imam from his father hazrat Ali (A.S.) ,  Hasham bin Hassan from Imam Hussain (A.S.) , Ammash from Imam Jafar Sadeq (A.S.) and the Imam from his fore fathers .
                     In all the above mentioned series of references the Holy Prophet said, "  The stars are protection for the inhabitants of sky when the star will finish the inhabitants of sky will also finish and the same way my Ahlal  Bait are the protection for  the inhabitants of earth, when my Ahlal Bait will pass away from  the  earth the earth along with its all being will collapse.
962.Further in the same rewayaat the holy prophet said that I am going to leave two precious things among you and they are the book of Allah ( Quran ) and my Ahlal - Bait. If you (the direct address is to Sahabah Karam ) keep yourself linked with both of them you will never be misguided  from the right path of Allah . Still this rewayat is continuing, but here I will comment  a bit. From the saying of holy prophet it is very clear that to be with Quran and Ahlal Bait is the guarantee of right path . They are the standard of right path   Sahabah Karam and all other ummah have to be faithfully  link  themselves to them to insure that their are following the right path.  The Quran and the Ahlal Bait are the standard  and the whole ummah including Sahaba Karam are those who are to adapt the standard, and it is very clear to every sensible being that standard and those who are to  adapt  standard can never be of the same status.  Further in the same Rewayat the Holy Prophet said learn from them and don't teach them because they are given a knowledge from God which you do not have. To Allah they are highly respectable beings. 
963. Narrated by Hazrat Ali (A.S.)  "Holy Prophet said Ya Fatima God gets angry  with your anger  and God pleasures with your pleasure "  ( And it is very clear that Hazrat Zahra was very angry with some of the people among the ummah )
964.       While Hazrat Ali passing through Karbala  stopped there and  pointed to the place and said here their camels will stop , here they will get down . here the blood of Al-e- Mohammad will be shed, sky and  earth will weep on them.
965. Imam who will arise Hazrat Mahdi (Qa'im), peace be on him, and the events which will take place before his appearance, together with the indications and features of it.

Among them are:
- The Sufyani will come out in revolt;
- the Hasanid will be killed;
- the Abbasids will dispute over worldly kingdom;
- there will be an eclipse of the sun in the middle of the month of Ramadan;
- there will be an eclipse of the moon at the end of that month in contrast to ordinary happenings;
- the land will be swallowed up at al-Bayda'; it will be swallowed in the east-it will be swallowed up in the west;
- the sun will stay still from the time of its decline to the middle of the time for the afternoon prayer;
- it will rise from the west;
- a pure soul (nafs zakiyya) will be killed in the outskirts of Kufa with seventy righteous men;
- a Hashimite will be slaughtered between the corner (of the Ka'ba) and the station of Abraham);
- the wall of the mosque of Kufa will be destroyed;
- black standards will advance from Khurasan;
- al-Yamani will come out in revolt;
- al-Maghribi will appear in Egypt and take possession of it from Syria;
- the Turk will occupy the region of al-Jazira;
- the Byzantines will occupy Ramla;
- the star will appear in the east giving light just like the moon gives light;
- then (the new moon) will bend until its two tips almost meet;
- a colour will appear in the sky and spread to its horizons;
- a fire will appear for a long time in the east remaining in the air for three or seven days;
- the Arabs will throw off the reins and take possession of their land, throwing out the foreign authority;
- the people of Egypt will kill their ruler and destroy Syria; and three standards will dispute over it (Syria);
- the standards of Qays and the Arabs will come among the people of Egypt;
- the standards of Kinda (will go) to Khurasan;
- horses will come from the west until they are stabled in al-Hira;
- the black standards will advance towards them from the east; the Euphrates will flood so that the water comes into the alleys of Kufa;
- sixty liars will come forward, all of them claiming prophethood, and twelve will come forward from the family of Abu Talib, all of them claiming the Imamate; a man of important rank of the supporters of the 'Abbasids will be burnt between Jalula' and Khaniqin;
- the bridge next to Karkh in the city of Baghdad will be established;
- a black wind will raise it at the beginning of the day and then an earthquake will occur so that much of it will be swallowed up;
- fear will cover the people of Iraq and Baghdad; swift death (will occur) there and there will be a loss of property, lives and harvests;
- locusts will appear at their usual times and at times not usual so that they attack agricultural land and crops and there will be little harvest for what the people planted;
- two kinds of foreigners will dispute and much blood will be shed in their quarrel;
- slaves will rebel against obedience to their masters and kill their masters (mawali);
- a group of heretics (ahl al-bida) will be transformed until they become monkeys and pigs;
- slaves will conquer the land of their masters; a cry (will come) from the sky (in such a way) that all the people will hear it in their own languages;
- a face and a chest will appear in the sky before the people in the centre of the sun;
- the dead will arise from their graves so that they will return to the world and they will recognize one another and visit one another;
- that will come to an end with twenty-four continous rainstorms and the land will be revived by them after being dead and it will recognize its blessings;
- after that every disease will be taken away from those of the Shia of the Mahdi, peace be on him, who believe in the truth;
at that time they will know of his appearance in Mecca and they will go to him to support him.
(These signs) are as the reports have mentioned. Among the total of these events are some which are bound (to happen) and other which are conditional. God knows best what will take place. We have only mentioned them on the basis of what is recounted in basic sources of tradition (usul) because of their inclusion in traditions which have been handed down. From God we seek help and Him do we ask for success.
966.Knowledge is a venerable estate, good manners are new dresses and thinking is a clear mirror.
967. Ali-ibn-Abi Talib (a.s.) said: 'i asked the messenger of allah (s.a.w a.) as such: 'o messenger of Allah! is Mahdi from our progeny or from others? the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) replied: rather he is from us. religion shall terminate by his hands just as it commenced from us. people shall be delivered from seditions through Mahdi just as they got delivered from polytheism through us. through Mahdi (a.s.)Allah will create a feeling of intimacy between their hearts  (after hatred and sedition) just as he created intimacy amongst them through us after hatred and polytheism....
968. 'Ali b. Abi Talib has narrated from the Prophet, who said: "Even if there remains only a day on earth, God will bring forth a man from my progeny so that he will fill the earth with justice and equity as it is filled with tyranny.
969. 'Mahdi shall not emerge until out of three persons one gets killed, the other dies and the third remains.'
970. Ali-ibn-Abi Talib (a.s.) said: 'I asked the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w a.) as such: 'O Messenger ofAllah! is Mahdi from our progeny or from others? the holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) replied: rather he is fromus. religion shall terminate by his hands just as it commenced from us. people shall be delivered fromseditions through Mahdi just as they got delivered from polytheism through us. through Mahdi (a.s.) Allahwill create a feeling of intimacy between their hearts (after hatred and sedition) just as he created intimacy amongst them through us after hatred and polytheism....
971.How wonderful is a man that speaks with fat, talks with a piece of flesh, hears with a bone and breathes through a hole.

972. Meet people in such a manner that if you die they should weep for you and if you live they should long for you.

973.When you gain power over your adversary pardon him by way of thanks for being able to over-power him.

974. The most helpless of all men is he who cannot find a few brothers during his age, but still more helpless is he who finds such a brother but loses him.

975. Amirul Momineen, peace be upon him, said: O' son of Adam when you see that Allaah is bestowing His favours on you while you are disobeying Him, you should fear Him.

976.Keep walking in your sickness till you can.

977.Fear! Fear! By Allaah , He has hidden your sins so much so as He has forgiven.

978.The best riches is abandonment of desires.

979.Super numerate prayers (Mustahab Sallat) cannot bring about nearness to Allaah if they hamper obligatory ones.

980. The tongue of the wise man is behind his heart and the heart of a fool is behind his tongue.

981. Amirul Momineen (A.S.) said to a companion during his sickness: Allaah may make your illness a means for writing off your sins, because there is no reward for sickness but it erases sins and makes them fall like (dried) leaves: Reward lies in saying by tongue and doing something with hands and feet. Certainly Allaah , the Glorified admits into Paradise by virtue of truthfulness of intention and chastity of heart, whomever He wishes from among His people.

982. Victory is by determination; determination is by revolving of thoughts and thoughts are formed by guarding secrets.

983. With riches a strange land is homeland, while with destitution even homeland is a strange land.

984.Contentment is wealth that does not diminish.

985. Wealth is the fountainhead of passions.

986. Whoever warns you is like one who gives you good tidings.

987. The tongue is like beast; if it is let loose, it would devour.

988.. Trust on u Allah , & leave all matters to Him .

989.. The people of the world are like travellers who are being carried while they are asleep.

990. Do not feel ashamed for giving a little, because refusal is more little than that.

991. The breath of a man is a step towards death.

992. It is related that when Zerar bin Zamma Zubabi went to Muawiya and Muawiya enquired from him about Amirul Momineen (A.S), he said, " I stand witness that I have seen him on several occasions that night had spread and he was standing in the niche (of the mosque) holding his beard, groaning like a man bitten by snake and weeping as a grieved man, saying: O' world, O' world. Get away from me. Why do you present yourself to me? Or are you eager for me? You may not get that opportunity to impress me. Deceive some other person. I have no concern with you. I have divorced you thrice whereafter there is no restitution. Your life is short, your importance is little and your liking is humble. Alas! The provision is little, the way is long, the journey is far, extending and the goal is hard to get to."

993. about a man who praised him much, although he did not admire him. I am below what you express and above what you feel in your heart.

994. The survivors of a battle are large in number and have large progeny.

995. Whoever gives up saying "I do not know" meets destruction.

996. I love the opinion of an old man more than the determination of a young man; or according to another version, more than the martyrdom of a young man.

997. If a man behaves properly in matters between himself and Allaah , then Allaah keeps proper the maters between him and other people, and if a man keeps proper his affairs of the next life then Allaah keeps proper for him the affairs of this world. Whoever is a preacher for himself is protected by Allaah .

998. Amirul Momineen (A.S) heard about a Kharijee that he says mid-night prayer and recites Qu'ran, then he (Amirul Momineen) said: Sleeping in the state of firm belief is better than praying in the state of doubtfulness.

999. When you hear a tradition (Hadith) test it according to the criterion of intelligence not that of mere hearing, because relaters of knowledge are numerous but those who guard it are few.

1000. Whoever loves us, members of the Prophet's family, should be prepared to face destitution.

1001. It was said to Amirul Momineen (A.S) " How are you Amirul Momineen?" and he replied: " How can he be whom life is driving towards death, whose state of healthiness can change into sickness any moment and who is to be caught (by death) from his place of safety?"

1002. There are many people who are given time (by Allaah ) through go treatment towards them, and many get into deception because their sinful activities are veiled (by Allaah ) and many who get enamoured by good talk about themselves. And Allaah does not try anyone as seriously as He tries him whom He allows time (to remain sinful).

1003. Two categories of persons will face ruin on account of me- he who loves me with exaggeration and he who hates me with intensely.

1004. The example of the world is like a serpent. It is soft in touch but its inside is full of venom. An ignorant person who has fallen in deceit is attracted towards it but a wise and intelligent man keeps on guard from it.

1005. What a difference there is between two kinds of actions- an act whose pleasure passes away but it (ill) consequence remains and the act whose hardship passes away but its reward stays.

1006. Blessed be he who humbles himself, whose livelihood is pure, whose habits are virtuous, who spends his savings (in the name of Allaah ), who prevents his tongue from speaking rot, who keeps people safe from his evil, who is pleased with the (Prophets) Sunnah and who is unconnected with innovation (in religion).

1007. Guard against cold in its beginning (of the season) and welcome it towards its end because it affects bodies in the same way as it affects the plants. In the beginning it destroys them but in the end it gives them fresh leaves.

1008. When Amirul Momineen, (A.S) returned from Siffin and noticed the graves outside Kufa, he said: O' residents of houses, which give a sense of loneliness, of depopulated areas and gloomy graves? O' people of the dust, O' victims of strangeness, O' people of loneliness and O' people of desolateness! You have gone ahead and preceded us while we are following you and will meet you. The houses (you left) have been inhabited by others; the wives (you left) have been married by others; the properties have been distributed (among heirs). This is the news about those around us; what is the news about things around you?

1009. Loving one another is half wisdom.

1110. Grief is half old age.

1111. Meet people in such a manner that if you die they should weep for you and if you live they should long for you.

1112 . He who does not know his own worth gets ruined.

1113. The breath of a man is a step towards death.

1114. O people! ask me (any question) before you miss me, because certainly I am acquainted with the passages of the sky more than the passages of the earth, and before that mischief springs upon its feet which would trample even the nose-string and destroy the wits of the people.

1115. Ignore pains otherwise you would never be happy.

1116. People are enemies of what they do not know.

1117. I never found pleasure for the idle but shame and despair.

1118. ELOQUENCE A fluent speech is that which can be easily uttered by the tongue, and be not hard to hear i.e. be free affectation and artificiality.

1119. Take care of the promise made to a friend, and allow him some concessions, so that you may enjoy the pleasures of his society.

1120. Have you fully realized what Islam is? It is indeed a religion founded on truth.
It is such a fountainhead of learning that several streams of wisdom and knowledge flow from it.
It is such a lamp that several lamps will be lighted from it. It is a lofty beacon of light illuminating the path of Allah.
It is such a set of principles and beliefs that will fully satisfy every seeker of truth and reality.
Know you all that Allah has made Islam the most sublime path for the attainment of His supreme pleasure and
the highest standard of His worship and obedience. He has favored it with noble precepts and principles,
indubitable arguments, unchallangeable supremacy and undeniable wisdom.

1121. Spend (your money) according to your needs and for your benefit,
do not expect reward and return for more than what you have done.

1122. True Mulim never teases others with his hands or tounge .

1123. "Await deliverance (from Allah) and do not despair of His mercy, for the most beloved action before Allah, the Glorified, is awaiting deliverance."

1124. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD Self-recognition is the perfect knowledge of God.

1125.  The ways of this sacred religion (Islam) are quite open, and its roads are perfectly clear. It is
surrounded on all sides by light, and its status is very high and elevated.

1126. Be the enemy of the oppressor and the helper of the oppressed one.

1127. Imam Ali's (A.S.) last will to his sons Imam Hasan (A.S.) and Imam Hussain (A.S.) following a fatal blow on his head during morning prayers by the Kharijite Ibn Muljim (may the curse of Allah be upon him):
Imam Ali Murtaza Ibne Abi Talib (AS)

1128. One Day a Jewish (Yahudi) person came to Maula Ali (A.S.), thinking that "Ali" thinks he is too Smart, I will ask him such a tough question that he wont be able to answer it and I will have the chance to embarras him in front of whole Arab (Nauzubillah). He Asked "Ali tell me a number, that if we divide it by any number from 1-10 the answer will always come in the form of a whole number and not as a fraction" Maula Ali Looked back at him and said, "Take the number of days in a year and multiply it with the number of days in a week and you will have you answer"

1129.The person got astonished but as he was a Mushriq he still didn't believe Maula Ali (A.S.) and calculated the answer Maula Ali (A.S.) gave him. To his amaze he came across the following results The number of Days in a Year = 360 (in Arab) The Number of Days in a Week = 7 The product of the two numbers = 2520 Now ...
2520 ÷ 1 = 2520 ,2520 ÷ 2 = 1260 ,2520 ÷ 3 = 840 ,2520 ÷ 4 = 630 ,2520 ÷ 5 = 504
2520 ÷ 6 = 420 ,2520 ÷ 7 = 360 ,2520 ÷ 8 = 315 ,2520 ÷ 9 = 280 ,2520 ÷ 10= 252 .

1130.One day another Jewish (yahudi) guy came to Maula Ali (A.S.), he was planning to ask Maula Ali (A.S.) such a question which will take Maula Ali (A.S.) a long time to answer and he will miss the Maghrib Prayers.
He asked, "Ali u say u know everything in the World, then tell me which animals lay egg and which animals give birth to their young ones" Maula Ali (A.S.) looked back at him smiled and said, "The animals who have their 'EARS' outside their body give birth to their young ones and the animals who have their 'EARS' inside their body lay eggs"
A person was about to die, and before dying he wrote his Will which went as follows ... “I have 17 Camels, and I have three sons. Divide my Camels in such a way that My eldest son gets half of them, the second one gets 1 third of the total and my youngest son gets 1 ninth of the total number of Camels" After his death when the relatives read his will they got extremely perplexed and said to each other that how can we divide 17 camels like this.
So after a long hard thought they decided that there is only one man in the Arab who can help us and his name is "Ali Ibne Abi Taalib" So they all came to the door of Maula Ali (A.S.) and put forward their problem. Maula Ali (A.S.) said, "Ok ... I will divide the camels as per the man's will" Maula Ali (A.S.) said, "I will lend one of my camels to the total which makes it 18 (17+1=18), now lets divide as per his will" The Eldest gets 1/2 of 18 = 9 The second one gets 1/3 of 18 = 6 and The Youngest gets 1/9 of 18 = 2 Now the total number of camels = 17
Then Maula Ali (A.S.) said, "Now I will Take my Camel Back"

1131.One day 2 muslims went on a trip, soon after another person joined them. At lunch time the first two men took out their bread(roti) but the third person who had joined them later said tht I havent got any bread(roti) with me. The first two man kindly said tht dont worry we will share our lunch. The first man had 5 breads(rotis) the second had 3 breads(rotis). They shared and finished their lunch. Then they continued their journey. After a while the man who joined the first two men later said tht I have reached my Station and I will now be leaving u thanks for the lunch, here are 8 dinaar please divide them amongst ur self it is a gift for ur hospitality. The two man divided the money in such a way that the person with 5 rotis took 5 dinaars and the person with 3 rotis was left with only three. He got very angry on the division and said that it is unfair we both provided the hospitalityso we should both get equal shares. But the first person said tht it is totally fair I had 5 rotis I should get 5 dinaars you provided 3 rotis u should get 3. But non of the man agreed with each other so they decided that we should ask a 3rd person to settle our dispute. So they put forward their problem to many old and wise men, non were able to solve their problem in such a way tht both should get satisfied. So and old fellow suggested tht u should goto Ali ibne abi Taalib (A.S.) he will satisfy both of you. So they came to Maula Ali (A.S.) and put forward their dispute. Maula Ali (A.S.) looked at the person with 3 rotis smiled and said, "You should gratefully accept the 3 dinaars this other person is giving you, because if I give you my decision you wont even get these 3 dinars" The 2 persons said that Ali we know you very well and the decision you make we both will accept it. Now tell us what is your decision. Maula Ali (A.S.) said, "Ok, the first person had 5 and you had 3, now add the the two numbers you will get the total amount of rotis served to the third man" Now, Divide each roti into 3 pieces as you were three persons eating it. so we get ... 8 * 3 = 24 Now according to the above eqautions each person got 8 pieces of roti. Now the first person served 5 * 3 = 15 pieces and you served 3 * 3 = 9 pieces The first person ate 8 out of his 15 pieces so he served 15 - 6 = 7 pieces and you also ate 8 out of yours 9 pieces so you served 9 - 8 = 1 So according to my calculation you should get 1 dinar only. The two person praised Maula Ali (A.S.)'s knowledge and accepted his decision with open heart. These are some of the examples of Maula Ali's (A.S.) decisions. No doubt our prophet (SAWA) rightly titled him Bab-ul-Ilm. !!

1132.Imam Ali (A.S.) said: Nowadays the Ghadir feast is a great day. On this day blessings fell from heaven: the dignity of those who were eligible to rise, was enhanced, God's judgment became clear and He spoke expressly about pure rank. Today was the day when religion was perfected; a day fit to take the oath of allegiance.

1133. Knowledge is associated with action. Therefore he who knows should act, because knowledge
calls out for action; if there is response well and good, otherwise it departs from him. Maula Ali(a.s)

1134."Overlook the weaknesses of generous people, because if they fall down, the Hand of God lifts them up."

1135. Imam 'Ali that, "Almighty God created sexual desires in ten parts; then He gave nine
parts to women and one to men." But then Allah also gave them "equal parts of shyness.''

1136.Imam ‘Ali (AS) stated: ‘Engage in marriage; because this is the tradition of the Prophet (SA) of Allah’.

1137.Imãm ‘All (AS) was thinking the same when he spoke of Hadrat Zahrä (AS). He stated that
she was the best help for worshipping the Almighty Allah. History tells us that the
Prophet (SA), one day after the wedding of Imäm ‘All (AS) and Hadrat Zahrä (AS), went
to congratulatue them in their house and know about their welfare. He asked Imäm ‘All (AS):
‘How do you find your spouse?’ The Imäm replied: ‘I found Zahra as the best help in
worshipping the Almighty Allah.’ The Prophet (SA) then asked the same of Zahra (AS),
and she replied: ‘He is the best husband’.

1138.Imäm ‘Ali (AS), in one sentence, introduced the best woman in Islam and expressed the main
purpose of marriage.

1139. Imãm ‘Ali (AS) stated: ‘The Jihãd of a woman is to take care of her husband well’.
Considering that Jihdd is the struggle and holy war in the path of Allah including the
struggle for advancement and honour of Islam, defending the Islamic territories and execution
of social justice, it is one of the highest acts of worship. The value of fulfilling the
duties of a proper spouse is also reflected upon when considering Jihdd.

1140. Imãm ‘Ali (AS) stated: ‘Whoever leaves his eyes at liberty, will always suffer through his
nerves, and will be trapped in a permanent state of envy.

1141. Imäm ‘Ali (AS) stated: ‘One is never able to do without his relatives, even though he may
possess wealth and children’.

1142. Imäm ‘Ali (AS) stated: ‘Act moderately with the women in every instance. Speak to them nicely
in order that their deeds become good’.

1143.Imãm ‘Ali (AS) stated: ‘The chest of a wise man is tsafe for his secrets’.

1144.“Imàin ‘Ali (AS) also stated: ‘The benevolence of this world and the next is in two things:
keeping secrets, and friendship with the good people; and all the evils are in two things:
revealin secrets, and keeping bad company’.

1145. One Day a Jewish (Yahudi) person came to Maula Ali (A.S.), thinking that "Ali" thinks he
is too Smart, I will ask him such a tough question that he wont be able to answer it and
I will have the chance to embarras him in front of whole Arab (Nauzubillah).
He Asked "Ali tell me a number, that if we divide it by any number from 1-10 the answer
will always come in the form of a whole number and not as a fraction" Maula Ali Looked back
at him and said, "Take the number of days in a year and multiply it with the number of days
in a week and you will have you answer"
The person got astonished but as he was a Mushriq he still didn't   believe Maula Ali (A.S.) and calculated the answer Maula Ali  (A.S.) gave him. To his amaze he came across the following results
The number of Days in a Year = 360 (in Arab) The Number of Days in a Week = 7
The product of the two numbers = 2520 Now ...
2520 ÷ 1 = 2520 ,2520 ÷ 2 = 1260 ,2520 ÷ 3 = 840 ,2520 ÷ 4 = 630 ,2520 ÷ 5 = 504
2520 ÷ 6 = 420 ,2520 ÷ 7 = 360 ,2520 ÷ 8 = 315 ,2520 ÷ 9 = 280 ,2520 ÷ 10= 252

1146. Imãm ‘Ali (AS) stated: ‘Keep your house clean of spider’s webs, because a spider’s web is a
cause of poverty’

1147. Imãm ‘Ali (AS) stated: ‘Washing one’s hands, before having meals, would prolong life, prevent
one’s clothes from becoming dirty and would enlighten one’s eyes’.

1148. Imãm ‘Ali (AS) stated: ‘Allah likes a pious person who is honestly engaged in doing a job’

1149. Imãm ‘All (AS) stated: ‘There is no better and more“141 copious food than mother’s milk for a baby.

1150. “Imam ‘Ali (AS) stated: ‘Do not choose foolish women to feed (your children) with their milk,
because the milk makes their base qualities penetrated into the child’

1151. Imãm ‘Ali (AS) stated: ‘When hardship falls upon a Mu slim, he should not make complaints about
Allah to other people, but that he should take the problems to Allah who possesses the key to all problems’.

1152.“Imãm ‘Ali (AS) also stated: ‘It is written in the Tawrãh: whoever makes a complaint about a
hardship which has befallen him, is in fact complaining about Allah’.”

1153. “Imãm ‘Ali (AS) stated: ‘Allah is beautiful and he likes beauty. And he also likes to see the
effect of his blessings on

1154. Hasan ibn Jiham says: ‘I saw Hadrat Abu al-Hasan (AS) who had dyed his hair. I asked if indeed he had dyed his hair’. He stated: ‘Yes, adornment of man (for the sake of hi wife) helps her keep her chastity. Women who deviate from the path of chastity do so due to the carelessness and faults of their husbands.’ Hadrat Abu al-Hasan then stated: ‘Do you like to see your wife untidy?’ I replied: .No.’ He then added: ‘She thinks just as you do’

1155. Bakr ibn Saleh said: ‘I wrote a letter to Hadrat Abu Hasan (AS) saying that I had been taking measures against having a child for five years, because I wife had been reluctant to have one, and that she was lack of money would make it difficult for us to bring up child.’ I asked Hadrat Abu al-Hasan his opinion on this matter. He replied: ‘Do not prevent having a child, because the Almighty Allah would provide him sustenance’.

1156. “Imãm ‘Ali (AS) stated: ‘Women are entrusted to men, and as such are not owners of their fortunes and misfortunes. They are with you like a trust of Allah; so do not hurt them and do not make (the life) difficult for them’.

1157. “Imãm ‘Ali (AS) stated to his son, Imãm Hasan (AS): ‘Be careful not to act possessively when you should not. Because this would incline the right people towards corruption and the chaste people towards committing‘‘ sin.

1158. “Imäm ‘Ali (AS) stated: ‘Whoever exposes himself to accusation, must not blame those who become
suspicious of him’.

1159. Put faith in Allah. Seek His protection. Direct your prayers, requests, solicitations and supplications to Him and Him alone. To give as well as to withhold lies in His power.

1160. Ask as much of His favours as you can.

1161. Know that Allah owns the treasures of the heavens and the earth. Not only He has given permission to ask for His mercy and favours, but also has promised to listen to your prayers. He has not appointed guards to prevent your prayers reaching Him. Invoke His help in difficulties and distress. Implore Him to grant you long life and sound health. Pray to Him for prosperity.

1162. Think over it that by simply granting you the privilege of praying for His favours and mercy, He has handed over the keys of His treasures to you.

1163. Whenever you are in need, pray, and He gives His favours and blessings.Sometimes you find requests are not immediately granted. Do not be disappointed. Fulfillment of desires rest in the true purpose or intention of the prayer. More often fulfillment is delayed because merciful Lord wants to bestow upon you suitable rewards. In the meantime bear patiently hardships, believing sincerely in His help. You will get better .

1164. Imam Ali (A.S.) said: Nowadays the Ghadir feast is a great day. On this day blessings fell from heaven: the dignity of those who were eligible to rise, was enhanced, God's judgment became clear and He spoke expressly about pure rank. Today was the day when religion was perfected; a day fit to take the oath of allegiance.

1165.  "when a wife refuses intimacy with her husband, then that day the angels curse her"

1166.  He who guards his secrets retains control in his own hands.

1167.  For every thing to which people say "how good!" there is an evil hidden in this world.

1168. FINDING FAULT WITH OTHERS He who took care of his own defects kept from finding fault with others.

1169. Hazrat Ali (R.A.) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, "Even if only a day remains for Qiyamah to come, yet Allah will surely send a man from my family who will fill this world with such justice and fairness, just as it initally was filled with oppression."

1170. WORK AND IDLENESS Thou seekest honour and sleepest at night,while those who discover pearls dive into seas.

1171.   THE POWER OF GOD , God knows us more then we do ourselves.

1172.  People are enemies of what they do not know.

1173. WORK AND IDLENESS , I never found pleasure for the idle but shame and despair.

1174. ELOQUENCE A fluent speech is that which can be easily uttered by the tongue, and be not hard to
hear i.e. be free affectation and artificiality.

1175. Have you fully realized what Islam is? It is indeed a religion founded on truth. It is such a fountainhead of learning that several streams of wisdom and knowledge flow from it. It is such a lamp that several lamps will be lighted from it. It is a lofty beacon of light illuminating the path of Allah. It is such a set of principles and beliefs that will fully satisfy every seeker of truth and reality. Know you all that Allah has made Islam the most sublime path for the attainment of His supreme pleasure and the highest standard of His worship and obedience. He has favored it with noble precepts and principles, indubitable arguments, unchallange able supremacy and undeniable wisdom. It is upto you to maintain the eminence and dignity granted to it by the Lord, to follow it sincerely, to do justice to its articles of faith and belief, to obey implicitly its tenets and orders and to give it the proper place in your lives.

1176.Only those people who obey Allah and His Apostle shall go to Paradise and those who do otherwise shall go to Hell. Verily, Allah made you Muslims and He wants you to be sincere Muslims. He who recognizes Allah, His Prophet and his Ahlu'l-bayt and even if he dies in bed and not in Jihad he will be a martyr (Shahid).

1177.O people! ask me (any question) before you miss me, because certainly I am acquainted with the passages of the sky more than the passages of the earth, and before that mischief springs upon its feet which would trample even the nose-string and destroy the wits of the people.

1178. He who adopts greed as a habit devalues himself; he who discloses his hardship agrees to humiliation and he who allows his tongue to overpower his soul debases the soul.

1179. How wonderful is man that he speaks with fat, talks with a piece of flesh, hears with a bone and breathes through a hole.

1180. Meet people in such a manner that if you die they should weep for you and if you live they should long for you.

1181.When you are running away from the world and death is approaching, there is no question of delay in the encounter.

1182. The tongue of the wise man is behind his heart and the heart of the fool is behind his tongue.

1183. Wealth is the fountain head of passions.

1184. Do not feel ashamed for giving a little, because refusal is more little than that.

1185. The breath of a man is a step towards death.

1186. To miss an opportunity brings about grief.

1187. He who is sure of a good return is generous in giving.

1188. He who does not know his own worth gets ruined.

1189. He who guards his secrets retains control in his own hands.

1190. For every thing to which people say "how good!" there is an evil hidden in this world.

1191. A self-respecting man never commits adultery.

1192. Throw a stone in return from where one comes to you because evil can be met only with evil.

1193. The biggest wealth is that one should not have an eye on what others have.

1194. Backbiting is the tool of the helpless.

1195. Imam Ali's (A.S.) last will to his sons Imam Hasan (A.S.) and Imam Hussain (A.S.) following a fatal blow on his head during morning prayers by the Kharijite Ibn Muljim (may the curse of Allah be upon him):

1196. My advice to you is to be conscious of Allah and steadfast in your religion. Do not yearn for the world, and do not be seduced by it. Do not resent anything you have missed in it. Proclaim the truth; work for the next world. Oppose the Oppressor and support the oppressed. I advise you, and all my children, my relatives, and whosoever receives this message, to be conscious of Allah, to remove your differences, and to strengthen your ties. I heard your grandfather, peace be upon him, say: "Reconciliation of your differences is more worthy than all prayers and all fasting."

1197. Fear Allah in matters concerning orphans. Attend to their nutrition and do not forget their interests in the middle of yours.

1198. Fear Allah in your relations with your neighbors. Your Prophet often recommended them to you, so much so that we thought he would give them a share in inheritance.

1199. Remain attached to the Quran. Nobody should surpass you in being intent on it, or more sincere in implementing it.

1200. Fear Allah in relation to your prayers. It is the pillar of your religion.

1201. Fear Allah in relation to His House; do not abandon it as long as you live. If you should do that you would abandon your dignity.

1202. Persist in jihad in the cause of Allah, with your money, your souls, and your tongue.

1203. Maintain communication and exchange of opinion among yourselves. Beware of disunity and enmity. Do not desist from promoting good deeds and cautioning against bad ones. Should you do that, the worst among you would be your leaders, and you will call upon Allah without response.

1204. O Children of Abdul Muttalib! Do not shed the blood of Muslims under the banner: The Imam has been assassinated! Only the assassin should be condemned to death.

1205.  If I die of this stroke of his, kill him with one similar stroke. Do not mutilate him! I have heard the Prophet, peace be upon him, say: "Mutilate not even a rabid dog."

1206.  THE EXISTENCE OF GOD ,Self-recognition is the perfect knowledge of God.

1207.  “A person who is not afflicted and is living a happy life but is not “safe form afflictions in the future should not have this impression that the afflicted person is more in need of Dua than he himself.”

1208. “Dua” is the shield of a believer. If you keep on knocking the door of Divine Mercy, it will be opened to you.”

1209 .“On many occasions man desires something but when his desire is fulfilled he wishes his desire had never been fulfilled.”

1210.   “God takes Bilal’s “seen” as “sheen” (the Holy prophet’s Muezzin,Bilal could not pronounce sheen (sh) he would say seen (s) instead).A man came to Imam Ali (A.S.) saying: O Ameeralmoamenin, a person is talking to Bilal but since Bilal can not pronounce the words properly, he is ridiculing Balal. The Imam (A.S.) said:
“O servant of Allah! the proper articulation of Dua is meant to purify our deeds. Therefore, the beautiful words of one whose deeds is bad, will not avail him. Hence, Bilal’s wrong articulation will not affect his praiseworthy deeds.”

1211. “Whoever does not ask for God’s special grace, will remain destitute.”

1212. “Never have this impression that God Almighty has opened the door of Dua but has closed the door of answering Dua.”

1213. If God gives someone the blessing of Dua, He will not deprive him of answer.”

1214. “Sometimes God Almighty delays answering the Dua so as to give both a greater reward and a further blessing.

1215. of Imam Ali that God says: “O My servants! Obey My orders. Do not ever wish to tell Me what your interest are, for I am not a miser and I know them better than you do.”

1216. “Imam Ali says: The most praiseworthy deed on the earth to God is Dua, the best from of prayer is chastity. Then Imam Sadeq said Imam Ali was a man of abundant Dua.

1217. Hazrat Imam Ali a.s Golden Saying for our Life : "Whenever you are in need, pray, and He gives His favours and blessings. Sometimes you find requests are not immediately granted. Do not be disappointed. Fulfillment of desires rest in the true purpose or intention of the prayer. More often fulfillment is delayed because merciful Lord wants to bestow upon you suitable rewards. In the meantime bear patiently hardships, believing sincerely in His help. You will get better favours , because , unknowingly you may ask for things which are really harmful to you .Many of your requests , if granted may bring eternal damnation , So at time , with holding fulfillment is a blessing in disguise ."

1218. Imam Ali (A.S.) proved Fatima's infallibility using the verse of purification in his argument with Abu Bakr.
1219. The Imam (A.S.) said: "Abu Bakr, do you read Allah's book?" He answered: "yes"
1220. Imam Ali (A.S.) then said: "Then tell me about whom was the following verse revealed? 'And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye Members of the Family, and make you pure and spotless.' "Was it not revealed in regard to us, Ahlul-Bayt?" Abu Bakr said: "Yes, it was revealed regarding you"
1221. He (A.S.) said: "If some men testify that Fatima, the Messenger's daughter, committed an abomination what would you do?" He answered: "I would administer the legal punishment to her, just like any other Muslim woman!'
1222. He (A.S.) then said: "If you did so, you would be an infidel in the eyes of Allah." Abu Bakr said: "Why?"
1223. Imam (A.S.) replied: "Because you would have rejected Allah's testimony of her purity and virtue (infallibility), and surpassed people's testimony over it..."

1224. "Fatima vouched to take care of the household work, make dough, bake bread, and clean the house; in return, Au vouched to take care of the outside work (such as) gathering firewood, and bringing food."

1225. Ali Ibn Abu Talib said: The Messenger of Allah said:'My daughter was named Fatima because Allah (Glory be to Him) safeguarded her from the Fire."
1226. The Prophet said to Ali: "Do you possess anything (which you can pay for the dowry) to marry Fatima'?"
1227. Imam Ali answered: "May my parents be your sacrifice! By Allah, there is not a thing of my affairs hidden from you; I own my sword, shield and the camel which I use for irrigation!!"
1228. Indeed, this was everything that Ali possessed in this world when he was about to get married!!
1229. The Messenger openheartedly listened to Ali and said: "Ali, you cannot do without your sword, for you have to struggle with it and defend yourself against the enemies of Allah. As for your camel, you need it to irrigate palm trees and support your family, and you need it as a means of travel But I accept the shield as a dowry from you; thus, sell it and bring me the money!!"
1230. Ali had won this shield from the booty of the battle of Badr. It was given to him by the Messenger, who named it Al-Hademah; because it destroyed all the swords which stuck it.
1231. The Commander of the Faithful (a.s) sold the shield for 480 or 500 dirhams and brought the money to the Prophet (p.b.u.h). They both agreed that this money would be the dowry of the most honorable girl and most exalted female of the universe. Yes, Fatima was the Mistress of the women of the world, and the daughter of the Master of Prophets and Messengers, who was the best of Allah's creatures.
1232. Therefore, was it not possible for Fatima's wedding to have been celebrated in the exalted heavens, and attended by the nearest angels to Allah, the Exalted, as Prophetic traditions state?! Indeed, this is what happened in tribute to Fatima, her Father, her husband, and her future children who are the authorities of Allah on His creatures.
1233. The celebration took place in the fourth Heaven near Al-Bait Al-Ma'mour (the constantly attended house of Allah). It was a unique event the like of which the universe had never encountered before. Angels from all the Heavens gathered in the fourth Heaven and erected the Minbar of Honor, which is made of light. Then Allah, The Almighty, revealed to one of His angels, Rahil, to ascend the Minber and praise and glorify His names as He deserves. Rahil, who was the most eloquent of all angels, did what his Lord revealed to him and said: "Praise be to Allah, since sempiternity of the first (creatures); He who is ever-lasting (even) after the cessation of all beings; We praise Him for making us spiritual angels;, who are submitting to His Godship, and for making us grateful fo Him for His benevolence on us.
He safeguarded us from craving for lusts; and
made our only pleasure and enjoyment to glorify and exalt Him.
He Who extended His Mercy (upon everything);
and bestowed His benevolence (upon everyone).
Exalted is His Name from the polytheism of polytheists of the dwellers of Earth, And
Elevated by His Creatures from the fabrications of the atheists."
Allah, The Omnipotent King chose the one who was bestowed with special Divine Honor, and the worshipper of His Greatness, for His worshipper, the Mistress of women and the daughter of the best of prophets, the Master of all messengers and the Imam of the pious; so He brought into relations the Prophet with a man from his kin. One who is his believing companion, and was prompt in answering his call-Ali, the devout, with Fatima the splendid and the daughter of the Messenger."
Then Gabriel added the following words, which were from Allah, the Exalted:
 "Praise is My garment
Greatness is My Magnificence
All the creatures are My slaves men and women. I give Fatima, My Worshipper in marriage to Ali, My chosen worshipper. So bear witness O My angels."
1234. you know what my relations with the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) were. From the very beginning of my life, he loved me and I loved him. He took me in his lap when I was a baby and thence I was always with him. He often kept me embraced to his heart. He used to lay me next to him. We used to be so close to each other that I felt the warmth of his body and smelled the fragrance of his odor. When I was a baby, he fed me with his hands, often chewing hard bits for me. He never found me lying nor weak and wavering. From the time of his (the Prophet (s.a.w.)) infancy, Allah had appointed the greatest of His angels to always be with him, and His Arch Angel was leading him towards exemplary qualities and high moral values, and I followed him (s.a.w.) step by step as a baby camel follows its mother. Daily he used to place before me a fresh standard of efficiency and used to order me . to follow it. Every year he used to stay in a grotto of the Hara' for some time, and nobody used to be with him but I. None could then see or hear him but I. During those days Islam was the religion of only the Prophet and his wife, Khadijah. I was the third of the trio. Nobody else in this world had accepted Islam. Even then I used to see the divine light of revelation and prophethood and smell the heavenly fragrance of prophet hood." Ali said: "I was the first one to accept Islam at the hands of the Holy Prophet."

1235. Imam Ali (a.s.), remembering those momentus days, during a decisive period of his life, recalls "...Every year he used to stay in a grotto of Hira' Mountain for some time, and nobody would be with him but I..."

1236. Thus, he talked to Imam Ali (a.s.) and Khadijah about his Message and later on to Zaid bin Harithah. No one except these, and some others of his close household, knew about it.
Imam Ali bin Hussein (a.s.), in a speech about the Islam of his father, Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.), said:

1237. "....and he believed in Allah, the Exalted, and in His Messenger. He preceded the others in Islam and in reciting prayers by a three year interval."(

1238. Ali Ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said:"The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h) said to Fatima:'O Fatima, do you know why you have been named Fatima?'
1239 .Ali said: 'O Messenger of Allah, why was she named Fatima?' He said: 'Because Allah will surely safeguard her and her progeny from the Fire on The Day of Resurrection."
1240. When Umar Ibn Al-Khattab performed pilgrimage and embraced the (Black) Stone, he said: "I know-by Allah-that you are a stone which neither harms nor benefits, and had I not seen Allah s Messenger embrace you, I would not have embraced you." However, Imam Ali (a.s) said: "Abu Hafz, do not say this, for Allah s Messenger did not embrace it (the black stone) save for wisdom lie knew, and had you read the Quran and realized its interpretation, as others have, you would have understood that it can harm and bring benefits to you. It has two eyes and two lips and possesses a keen tongue that testifies for those who fulfill their obligations to it." Umar then said: "Then show me that in Allah's book, Abu Al-Hassan."
1241. Imam Ali (a.s) said: "Allah Almighty said: 'When thy Lord drew forth from the children of Adam (from their loins) their descendants and made them testify concerning themselves ( saying): Am I not your Lord? They answered: Yea! We do testify." Thus, when they affirmed their obedience to Him as their Lord and as His slaves, He make a covenant with them that they would make pilgrimage to His sacred House. He then created parchment finer than water and said to the Pen: Write down My creatures' fulfillment of pilgrimage to my Sacred House. The pen wrote mankind's fulfillment of pilgrimage on the parchment, then it was said to the (Black) Stone. Open your mouth; it opened it and the parchment was inserted there.
1242. He then said: 'Safeguard it and testify for My worshippers their fulfillment (of pilgrimage). The Stone then descended in obedience to Allah. "O Umar, do not you say when you embrace the stone- I have fulfilled my covenant, and kept my oath, so you may testify for me?' Umar said: "Yes, by Allah"
1243. Imam Ali (a.s) then said: "It is for this reason that you do so."
1244. The Prophet said to Ali: "Do you possess anything (which you can pay for the dowry) to marry Fatima'?"
1245. Imam Ali answered: "May my parents be your sacrifice! By Allah, there is not a thing of my affairs hidden from you; I own my sword, shield and the camel which I use for irrigation!!"
1246. Indeed, this was everything that Ali possessed in this world when he was about to get married!!
1247. The Messenger openheartedly listened to Ali and said: "Ali, you cannot do without your sword, for you have to struggle with it and defend yourself against the enemies of Allah. As for your camel, you need it to irrigate palm trees and support your family, and you need it as a means of travel But I accept the shield as a dowry from you; thus, sell it and bring me the money!!"

1248. Once All saw a woman who was carrying on her shoulders a waterskin which was too heavy a load for her feeble body. Ali took the load on to his own shoulder and accompanied her to her house. She had a number of children who awaited her arrival anxiously. In the course of talks, Ali came to know that her husband was a Kharijite who had fallen in a battle fighting against him (Ali). The widow tended the destitute children and earned her living by doing odd jobs and working for others. The next day Ali again repaired to the hut of the widow with a basketful of eatables. On his way towards her house, Ali met a number of people who wanted to carry the basket for him hut the Caliph refused to take any one's help saying, "You will share my burden today but who will be there to share it on the Day of Judgment. Thus carrying the basket on his shoulders the Caliph reached the widow's' house, knocked at her door and put the provisions before her. The poor woman was overjoyed and in great excitement said, "May God bless you. Let the Alimghty decide between me and Ali". At this Ali said, 

1249. "Either let me bake you some bread with this flour that I have brought you or you bake it and I will play with your children and try to cheer them up." The woman replied, "I will do the baking if you will light the oven for me." Ali, who had been distributing dates to the children immediately apologized for his discourtesy in not having offered to light the fire. When it flamed up and he felt the heat of the oven scorching his face, he said, "Taste the heat of his fire; imagine what punishment awaits one who has neglected the widows and orphans." In the meantime the next door neighborhood had come in and had recognized Ali as the Caliph. "Cursed be thou", she said, reprimanding the widow, "How dare you talk so insolently to the Commander of the Faithful?" The widow in great shame fell prostrate to the ground, begging forgiveness, but Ali said, "It is Ali who must feel ashamed at having neglected you."

1250. Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq
on the authority of Abdulla ibn Maimun that Fatima had (some) barley from which porridge was made
and placed before thent (for breaking the fast). Just then a beggar came and said, I am a poor
man, may Allah have mercy upon you. Ali (a.s.) got up and gave him one third of the food. Then
came an orphan and said, I am an orphan, may Allah have mercy upon you. Au (a.s.) got up and gave
him another third (of the food) Then came a pns~ oner (of war) and said, may Allah have mercy
upon you. Ali gave him the remaining one-third, without, they, the Ahlul- Bait tasting anything
and going without meals. Thereby Allah the Exalted revealed the said verses. It is clear that
this sura was revealed in Madina, and as a scholar of the stature Abu Harnza Thamali testifies,
the whole sura was revealed in favour of Ali and Fatima.
1251.Ali Ibn Abu Talib said: The Messenger of Allah said: My daughter was named Fatima because Allah (Glory be to Him) safeguarded her from the Fire." "Don't have an idiot woman nurse your children, for surely nursing is a means for passing on contagious diseases."  Standing behind the door, Fatima (a.s) reproachfully addressed the raiding people thus:"O people! You left behind the Prophet's dead body to us and proceeded to wring out the Caliphate for yourselves, extinguishing our rights." She (a.s) then burst into tears and cried: "O Father! 0 Prophet of Allah! How soon after you troubles are pouring on us at the hands of the son of Khattab (Umar) and the son of Abu Quhafa (Abu Bakr). How soon they have ignored your words at Ghadir Al-Khum and your saying that Ali was to you as Haroun was to Musa."
1252. Imam Ali (a.s) wrote in his letter to Uthman Ibn Hunaif: "Yes! Fadak was the only land from that which was under the heavens, in our hands; but the inclinations of certain men lusted for it and the souls of others relinquished it."
1253. Imam Redha (A.S.) said that his father quoted Amir Al-Mo'mineen (A.S.) as saying:  "I heard Allah's Messenger say: 'Fatima was given that name because Allah has safeguarded her and her progeny from the Fire; those who meet Allah as monotheists and believers in what 1 preach. "
1254. "Ali Ibn Abu Talib said: 'The Messenger of Allah said:  My daughter was named Fatima because Allah (Glory be to Him) safeguarded her from the Fire. '"
1255. It is written in Al-Bihar, on the authority of Manaqeb that Imam Ali (A.S.) said: "By Allah, I never angered Fatima, or forced her to do something (she did not like), up to the day she died; nor did she ever anger or disobey me. In fact, when I looked at her, depression and sadness would be removed from my (heart)."
1256. Another narration similar to the one stated above, is reported by Tabari and Ibn Hajar; according to this narration the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) is reported to have said:  "Surely Allah made it incumbent on you to love my kin, and I will ask you about them in the hereafter."
1257. It is written in al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah by Ibn Hajar that Imam Ali (A.S.) said: "It is stated in the (Quranic chapter) Ha Mim that no one upholds our love save the faithful ones." He then read:  "Say: `No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin, and if any one earns any good, We shall give him an increase of good in respect thereof; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, most ready to appreciate (service). " (42: 23)
1258. Fatima's marital life was also surrounded by modesty and satisfaction. Her husband Ali (A.S.) was a devout follower of the Prophet of Islam, and there was not a man known who was more modest than Ali (A.S.). Imam Ali (A.S.) was the man who used to speak to the silver and gold in the treasury by saying:
"O you yellow and white, deceive someone else save me!!"
1259. It has been reported that once a beduin approached Imam Ali (A.S.) for help. The Imam then ordered his agent to give the beduin a grant of one thousand dinars, the later exclaimed:
"Gold or silver dinars?"
1260. Imam Ali (A.S.) replied: "They are both just stones to me, so give the beduin that which is more beneficial to him."

1261.Imam 'Ali(A.S.) said: Surely, Allah has chosen for us followers (Shi'ites), who assist us and are happy at our happiness and are sad in our sadness.

1262. Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: Amirul Mu'mineen Ali (A.S.), along with two of his companions, happened to pass by Karbala and as he did so, tears filled his eyes. He said (to them), "This is the resting place of their animals; and this is where their luggage shall be laid down; and it is here that their blood shall be shed. Blessed are you O' Earth, that the blood of the beloved shall be spilled upon you."

1263. Imam A'li (A.S.) said to Ibn A'bbas: (Once when he happened to pass by Karbala), Isa Jesus (A.S.) sat down and began to weep. His disciples who were observing him, followed suit and began weeping too, but not comprehending the reason for this behaviour, they asked him: "O' Spirit of God! What is it that makes you weep?" Isa Jesus (A.S.) said: "Do you know what land this is?" The disciples replied: "No." He then said: "This is the land on which the son of the Prophet Ahmad (S.A.W.) shall be killed.

1264. Imam Ali (A.S.) said: Nowadays the Ghadir feast is a great day. On  this day blessings fell from heaven: the dignity of those who were  eligible to rise, was enhanced, God's judgment became clear and He spoke expressly about pure rank. Today was the day when religion was perfected; a day fit to take the oath of allegiance.
1265. For those who refused to side with any party, Imam Ali or his enemies, Imam Ali said: They have forsaken religion and are of no use to infidelity also.
1266. Every person who is tempted to go astray, does not deserve punishment.
1267. Our affairs are attached to the destiny decreed by Allah, even our best plans may lead us to destruction.
 1268. There is a tradition of the Holy Prophet "With the help of hair-dye turn old age into youth so that you do not resemble the Jews". When Imam Ali was asked to comment on this tradition, he said that in the early stage of Islam there were very few Muslims. The Holy Prophet advised them to look young and energetic and not to adopt the fashion of the Jews (priest) having long, white flowing beards. But the Muslims were not in minority then, theirs was a strong and powerful State, they could take up any style they liked.

1.  When there is silvery look in your hair, it means that your good deeds have ended. (Your death has come).

2.When there is number of troubles for you, its time to recognize that God is alarming you.

3. When Allah makes some one His friend, He advises him through ruins.

4.When wicket gets power, the pious confront massacre.

5.The world always cheats the one who seeks for it. Its luxuries do not accompany any one. Its luxuries are mortal. Leave the world before it will leave you. Buy the world here after in exchange.

6. It is above board that you have been created merely for the world here after. Struggle to achieve it.

7.The alms you give any beggar, is much more in reward than the beggar desires.

8. Your real asset is that one you send into the next world nor that one which your heir will get.

9. The best good deed is to keep good behavior with your parents.

10.Three things are the worst misfortunes. Much belongings, big loan and perpetual disease.

11.Three persons will be sent to heaven directly. The leader who justs, the one that cherishes truth and such individual who leads all his life to obey God.

12. Three things come of the treasure of faith and belief. Disclose own trouble; give true evidence, to bear the disease with patience.

13.Trail your soil before you have been trailed. Test your soil before you have been tested.

14.Blessing of Allah lie in the kind treatment with others.

15.A Muslim has seven rights toward the other Muslim. When sees, sends salam, accepts the feast when is invited, goes for help when other suffers in sickness, joins his funeral prayers when dies, seeks the same things for other he likes fro himself, dislike the thing for himself also spare other from it and help him with own health and wealth.

16. Recitation of Allah ensures the success of every matter.

17. The best worthy for friendship is that one who will not leave you helpless between the ruler, that rules both of you. 

18.The one not knows the loss of the sin, can't save itself from it happening.

19.Sleep in belief is better than the prayers performed in doubt.

20. The one who is ruled by his tongue, the decisions of his loss and death are also decided by it.

21.If you treat someone better, hide. If someone treats you better, disclose it.

22. The world is a station but the people has made it their land.

1. During civil disturbance adopt such an attitude that people do not attach any importance to you - they neither burden you with complicated affairs, nor try to derive any advantage out of you.

2. He who is greedy is disgraced; he who discloses his hardship will always be humiliated; he who has no control over his tongue will often have to face discomfort.

3. Avarice is disgrace; cowardice is a defect; poverty often disables an intelligent man from arguing his case; a poor man is a stranger in his own town; misfortune and helplessness are calamities; patience is a kind of bravery; to sever attachments with the wicked world is the greatest wealth; piety is the best weapon of defence.

4. Submission to Allah's Will is the best companion; wisdom is the noblest heritage; theoretical and practical knowledge are the best signs of distinction; deep thinking will present the clearest picture of every problem.

5. The mind of a wise man is the safest custody of secrets; cheerfulness is the key to friendship; patience and forbearance will conceal many defects.

6. A conceited and self-admiring person is disliked by others; charity and alms are the best remedy for ailments and calamities; one has to account in the next world for the deeds that he has done in this world.

7. Man is a wonderful creature; he sees through the layers of fat (eyes), hears through a bone (ears) and speaks through a lump of flesh (tongue).

8. When this world favors somebody, it lends him the attributes, and surpassing merits of others and when it turns its face away from him it snatches away even his own excellences and fame.
9. Live amongst people in such a manner that if you die they weep over you and if you are alive they crave for your company.
 

1299. "Knowledge is better than wealth because it protects you while you have to guard wealth. it decreases if you keep on spending it but the more you make use of knowledge ,the more it increases . what you get through wealth disappears as soon as wealth disappears but what you achieve through knowledge will remain even after you."

1300 .Overlook the weaknesses of generous people, because if they fall down, the Hand of God lifts them up."

~The best companion is submission (to Allah's will).
~He who discloses his hardship agrees to humiliation.
~He who allows his tongue to overpower his soul debases the soul.
~The bosom of the wise is the safe of his secrets.
~Cheerfulness is the bond of friendship.
~The person who teaches and instructs his own self is more entitled to esteem then he who teaches and instructs others.
~The example of the world is like serpent. It is soft to the touch but its inside is full of venom.
~Endurance is bravery.
~Abstinence is riches.
~Self-restraint is a shield (against sin).
~For the man who has eyes the dawn has already appeared.
~Stubbornness destroys (good) advice.
~Knowledge is a venerable estate.
~In this world good is for two persons only: the man who commits sins but rectifies them by repentance, and the man who hastens towards good actions.
Fear God and you will have no cause to fear any one

Resignation to the Will of God is the cure of the disease of the heart

The word of God is the medicine of the heart

Lead such a life, that, when you die, the people may mourn you, and while you are alive they long for your company

The days of life pass away like clouds, so do good while you are alive

Of all the follies the greatest is to love the world

Opportunity is swift of flight but slow to return

Pride, cowardice, and miserliness are bad for me but good for women

The most happy is he to whom God has given a good wife

He who knows himself knows God

Do not soil your conscience for anything but heaven

The disease of the heart is worse than the disease of the body

To fight against one's desires is the greatest of all fights

The strongest amongst you is he who subdues his self

Wealth and greed are the roots of all evils

Riches without faith are the greatest poverty

A man's worth depends upon the nobility of his aspirations

Knowledge enlivens the soul

The learned lives, although he dies

The sum total of excellence is knowledge

To respect the learned is to respect God

Generosity hides shortcomings

The wealth of a miser is as useless as a pebble

Desire is one's most inveterate enemy

Those who walk on the surface of the earth shall one day be interred in it

Every breath of man brings him nearer to death

People are asleep as long as they are alive; they are awakened when they die

Patience is the fruit of faith

Virtue never dies

A man's glory from his virtue is greater than the glory of his pedigree

No shelter is safer than piety

A man's behaviour is the index of his mind

Courtesy costs nothing but buys everything

Clemency graces power

Jealousy devours virtue as fire devours fuel

He that lends a listening ear to reproach is one of those that deserve reproach

Forgiveness is the crown of greatness

Carnal appetites are nets spread by the devil

Every arrow does not hit the mark, nor every prayer granted

Ostentatiousness spoils prayers

Fear none but your sins

He who praises you murders you

A man who praises himself displays his deficiency of intellect

Honour your parents and your sons will honour you

A man is hid under his tongue

The tongue of a wise man lies behind his heart

The tongue pierces deeper than the spear

He who purifies his heart from doubt is a believer

The opinion of a wise man is an oracle

To seek counsel is to go to the fountain of guidance

Association with a fool is tyrannical to the soul

God hastens the fall of tyrants

Tyranny leads to moral cowardice

A tyrant's success is his moral defeat

It is better to die than to beg

When a man begs he loses his faith

Hajj is the Jihad of every believer in faith

A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend

Silence is the best reply to a fool

The best speech is one that is short and reasonable

Speech is like a medicine, a small dose of which cures but an excess of which kills

He that has no courage has no religion

His grief is long whose hope is short

The right of freedom of speech consists in speaking the truth

Repentance washes away sins

Folly is an incurable disease

To assist the wrong is to oppress the right

Sinning is a disease, repentance is its medicine, and abstinence from it a sure cure

Sorrow makes a man old before his time

Pride impedes progress and mars greatness

To forgive is the crown of greatness

He who understands humanity seeks solitude

Right is the best argument

Misrepresentation spoils narration

As a man's wisdom increases, so his desire to speak decreases

He who seeks to do justice with men, let him desire for them what he desires for himself

The greatest sin is the sin that the sinner considers to be ordinary

Contentment is the asset which is never exhausted

Governments are a trial for men

He who fights against the truth, the truth will defeat him

Finding fault in others is one's greatest fault

Haste is a species of madness

Greed is perpetual enslavement

He who does not know his own worth is doomed to destruction

The best investment is one with which duties are performed

Anger is a fire kindled, he who restrains anger extinguishes the fire; he who gives vent to it is the first to be consumed by such fire

Jihad is the highway of prosperity

None is more solitary than a miser

Knowledge is the ornament of the rich, and the riches of the poor

Knowledge is the sum total of excellence

He who teaches you a letter binds you with a fetter of gratitude

As long as we do not hope, we do not fret

He who indulges in jokes and loose fall, loses a part of his wisdom

Truth is bitter, but its result is sweet; falsehood appears to be sweet but it is poisonous in its effect

Miserliness is the root of many evils

Knowledge and practice are twins, and both go together. There is no knowledge without practice, and no practice without knowledge

He who dissembles plays with his honour

When God wants to humiliate a person He deprives him of knowledge

When your power increases, decrease your desires accordingly

He who listens to a backbiter loses a friend

It is no justice to decide a case on mere conjecture

He who does not know his own worth is deemed to ignominy

He who practices thrift would never be in want

He who does not know should not be ashamed to learn

Patience is to faith, what head is to the body, when patience goes, faith goes, when head goes, the body goes

The grace of God is the best guide

A good disposition is the best companion

Wisdom is the best friend

Good breeding is the best inheritance

There is nothing more hateful than pride

Be among men like bee among birds

Mix with the people with your tongue, but be separate from them in your deeds

Be generous but do not be a spendthrift

Do not run after the world; let the world run after you

A wise man is he who does not despair of the bounty and mercy of God

He who is aware of his own faults is oblivious of the faults of others

What the eye sees the heart preserves

The vision of the eye is limited; the vision of the heart transcends all barriers of time and space

Do not be misled by appearances for these are apt to be deceptive

Do not have too many irons in the fire; concentrate on one thing at a time

What you do not like for your self, do not like it for others

Contentment is the treasure which is never exhausted

The advice of old men is dearer than the bravery of young men

That knowledge is superficial which is merely on the tongue; that knowledge is real which demonstrates itself in your practice

Waste of time is one's greatest loss

He who knows to keep his secret knows the way to success

Foresight is the way to safety

No relationship is stronger than the relationship that exists between man and God

Enlighten the heart with prayers

Strengthen your heart with faith

Suppress all lust with piety

Do not sell the Hereafter for the world

Do not speak in a state of ignorance

Refrain from unnecessary talk

Do not tread the path from which you can apprehend the danger of running astray

In the affairs of God, do not be afraid of the accusations of the evil mongers

In all that you do seek the protection of God

Do not covet what is undesirable

If you seek the truth, neither strays from the right path, nor be assailed by doubts

Do not become a slave of your desires

That wealth is no wealth which brings dishonour

Whatever harm accrues of silence can be remedied but whatever harm is done because of speech cannot be remedied

It is better to restrain your desires than to stretch your hand before others

A little that is earned because of honest labour is better than a larger amount gained through dishonest means

Guard well your secret

He who seeks more than what is necessary indulges in error

To oppress the weak is the worst tyranny

Do not bank on false hopes, for that is the capital of the dead

A wise man takes a lesson even from a minor lapse

Overpower desires and suspicions by patience and faith

He who does not take the middle course strays

A stranger is he who has no friends

When hopes are frustrated despair becomes the way of life

He who trusts the world, the world betrays him

The one, who knows himself, knows his creator

If you love God, tear out your heart's love of the world

The fear of God makes one secure

How can you rejoice this life that grows shorter each hour?

A world wide reputation can be undone by an hour's degradation

Three defects make life miserable; Vindictiveness, Jealousy, A bad character

One who is proud of worldly possessions in this fleeting existence is ignorant

Joy is followed by tears

Each breath of man is a step nearer to death

The best man among us is he who is most helpful to his fellow men

One who thinks himself the best is the worst

The hated person is one who returns evil for good

Virtue is the key to success

Learned men live after death; ignorant men are dead although alive

There is no treasure like knowledge gained

Knowledge is wisdom and educated man is the wise man

Experience is knowledge gained

He who never corrects himself will never correct another

Listen and you will teach yourself: remain silent, and you risk nothing

The one, who reflects on God’s gifts, succeeds

Ignorance harms a man more than a cancer

One of the signs of stupid man is the frequent change of opinion

Never speak when it is not the time for speech

Beware of backbiting it sows the seed of bitterness, and separates you from God and man

The best truth is the keeping of promises

Better be dumb than lie

Do not flatter, it is no sign of faith

A hypocrite's tongue is clean, but there is sickness in his heart.

Better to be alone than with bad company

Who ever sows good, reaps his rewards

The Holy Prophet Mohammad (s) said:

"I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate"

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Some Wise Sayings of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib

* Replied to a man who had ask him a difficult question; Ask me for understanding but do not ask me for getting confused, because the ignorant person who tries to learn is like the learned man, but the learned man who tries to create confusion is like the ignorant.

* There are three of people One is the Godly Scholars. The Second category is The student on the way of salvation. The the third ones are the silly and stupid ones who run after every call, and move to and from with each wind and blows. They are the same (people) who have not been illuminated by the light of knowledge and have not taken refuge in a strong and firm pillar.

* Imam Ali said: Knowledge is better than Wealth because of 7 (Reasons):
1. Knowledge is inheritence of Prophets while wealth is inheritence of Firauns (Pharohs).

2. Knowlege Does not Diminish (rather increases) with spending , while wealth diminishes with spending.

3. Wealth requires to be protected, while knowledge protects its owner.

4. Knowledge will enter the Kafan (Shroud) while wealth will be prevented from doing so.

5. Wealth reaches both believers and unbelievers (Kafir), while knowledge is reserved only for those who are worthy of it.

6. Knowledge will facilitate passing over the Seraat (Bridge over Hell) while wealth will pore hurdles.

7. People are always in need of scholars while they might not be in need of those possessing wealth.

* Among the Characteristics of the believer there is neither flattery nor envy, except in the pursuit of knowledge.

* Death and not infancy, endurance and not apathy.

* If a Pedestrian walks alongside a rider it is corruption, (ie, a false sense of superiority) for the rider and humiliation for the pedestrian.

* Give to your fellow believer your blood and your property and to your enemy your justice and fairness.

* You should have hope in God alone and should fear nothing but your sins.
* One’s character is hidden behind one’s tongue.

* There are two things that I fear for you most: following one’s passions and forever hoping, because following one’s passions impedes truth, and forever hoping causes one to forget the Hereafter.

* Refraining from sin is easier than Repentance.
* He who condones a shameful act, then it is as if he were a participant.

* There are four principles of Faith: Reliance on God, Accepting God’s supremity, Acceptance of God’s judgement and submission to God’s command.

* Patience is of two kinds: Patience in face of disaster which is good and commendable, (however better than that is) Patience in that which God has declared unlawful for you.

* Relinquishing one’s desires is the richest of all deeds.
* Be magnanimous but do not be a squanderer.

* Victory stems from firm resolution from decisiveness and decisiveness by keeping one’s plans secret.

* There is no wealth like reason, no poverty like ignorance, no heritage like culture and no aid like consultation.

* Wisdom is the goal of the believer, so acquire wisdom even from hypocrites.

* When you hear something then act upon it. Do not merely repeat it. For, if the transmitters of a piece of information are many, then little is acted upon.

* Hearts have desires, likes and dislikes and so try to approach them through their desires and likes, for if it is forced to feel, the heart becomes blind.

* Associate with people in such a way that when you have passed away they will cry for you, and while you are alive they will seek your company.

* The most incapable of people is he who is unable to acquire friends, and more incapable still is he who loses the friends he has already acquired.

* If the mind is perfect then speech is minimal.

* Verbal Knowledge is of the least value, while practical knowledge is of the highest.

* Anxiety cuts your life span in half.
* A person will be ruined if he does not appreciate his own limit.

* He who places himself in a blameworthy position should not blame anyone for thinking badly of him.

* He who can keep his own secrets has the power of choice in his hands.
* Do not obey him who disobeys the Creator.
* The tool of leadership is forbearance.
* There is no good in keeping silent in wisdom, just as there is no good in proposing ignorance.

* Islam is submission and submission is trust, trust is faith and faith is acceptance, acceptance is responsibility and responsibility is work.

* He who is able to refrain from the following four things deserves never to be afflicted by adversity : haste, argumentation, conceit, and lethargy.

* A believer does not enter into a matter in ignorance and never departs from the truth impotent.

* Life has two days: One in your favor and one to your disadvantage. If in your favor, then don’t let it be in vain and if to your disadvantage, then don’t be sad.

* A believer who is calm in a commotion is patient in distress and grateful in prosperity.

* The more knowledgeable the man, the more valuable the man.
* The most complete gift of God is a life based on knowledge.
* The innumerable fools have made the learned very scarce.

* The learned man understands the ignorant for he was once ignorant for he was once ignorant himself.

* The ignorant man does not understand the learned for he has never been learned himself.

* Knowledge gives life to the soul.
* To respect the learned is to respect God.
* Knowledge creates fear of God.
* Practice makes knowledge perfect.
* To teach is to learn.
* Honesty is Divine language.
* To fulfill promises is the highest form of integrity.
* Truth means conformity of speech with the Divine mode of working.
* Friendship is impossible with a liar.
* Misrepresentation spoils narration.
* Lying spoils news.
* Enemity is the occupation of fools.
* One's obedience to God is proportionate to one's wisdom.
* To fight against one's own desires is highest wisdom.
* The wise aim at perfection.
* The foolish aim at wealth.

* To separate oneself from things of time and to connect oneself with things of eternity is highest wisdom.

* He is really wise whose actions reflect his words.
* Humility is the product of knowledge.
* Self-conceit poisons the mind.
* Self-conceit impedes progress.
* Pride mars greatness.
* Humility is one of the nets spread by real greatness.
* Boasting issues from small minds.

* How wonderful is a man that speaks with fat, talks with a piece of flesh, hears with a bone and breathes through a hole.

* Meet people in such a manner that if you die they should weep for you and if you live they should long for you.

* When you gain power over your adversary pardon him by way of thanks for being able to over-power him.

* The most helpless of all men is he who cannot find a few brothers during his age, but still more helpless is he who finds such a brother but loses him.

* O' son of Adam when you see that Allah is bestowing His favours on you while you are disobeying Him, you should fear Him.

* Keep walking in your sickness till you can.

* Fear! Fear! By Allah, He has hidden your sins so much so as He has forgiven.

* The best riches is abandonment of desires.

* Super numerate prayers cannot bring about nearness to Allah if they hamper obligatory ones.

* The tongue of the wise man is behind his heart and the heart of a fool is behind his tongue.

* He said to a companion during his sickness: Allah may make your illness a means for writing off your sins, because there is no reward for sickness but it erases sins and makes them fall like (dried) leaves: Reward lies in saying by tongue and doing something with hands and feet. Certainly Allah, the Glorified admits into Paradise by virtue of truthfulness of intention and chastity of heart, whomever He wishes from among His people.

* Victory is by determination; determination is by revolving of thoughts and thoughts are formed by guarding secrets.

* With riches a strange land is homeland, while with destitution even homeland is a strange land.

* Contentment is wealth that does not diminish.
* Wealth is the fountainhead of passions.
* Whoever warns you is like one who gives you good tidings.
* The tongue is like beast; if it is let loose, it would devour.
* Woman is like a scorpion whose grip is sweet.
* The people of the world are like travellers who are being carried while they are asleep.
* Do not feel ashamed for giving a little, because refusal is more little than that.
* The breath of a man is a step towards death.
* The survivors of a battle are large in number and have large progeny.
* Whoever gives up saying "I do not know" meets destruction.

* I love the opinion of an old man more than the determination of a young man; or according to another version, more than the martyrdom of a young man.

* If a man behaves properly in matters between himself and Allah, then Allah keeps proper the maters between him and other people, and if a man keeps proper his affairs of the next life then Allah keeps proper for him the affairs of this world. Whoever is a preacher for himself is protected by Allah.

* Sleeping in the state of firm belief is better than praying in the state of doubtfulness.

* When you hear a tradition test it according to the criterion of intelligence not that of mere hearing, because relaters of knowledge are numerous but those who guard it are few.

* Whoever loves us, members of the Prophet's family, should be prepared to face destitution.

* It was said to Amirul Momineen (A.S) " How are you Amirul Momineen?" and he replied: " How can he be whom life is driving towards death, whose state of healthiness can change into sickness any moment and who is to be caught (by death) from his place of safety?"

* There are many people who are given time (by Allah) through goo treatment towards them, and many get into deception because their sinful activities are veiled (by Allah) and many who get enamoured by good talk about themselves. And Allah does not try anyone as seriously as He tries him whom He allows time (to remain sinful).

* Two categories of persons will face ruin on account of me- he who loves me with exaggeration and he who hates me with intensely.

* The example of the world is like a serpent. It is soft in touch but its inside is full of venom. An ignorant person who has fallen in deceit is attracted towards it but a wise and intelligent man keeps on guard from it.

* What a difference there is between two kinds of actions- an act whose pleasure passes away but it (ill) consequence remains and the act whose hardship passes away but its reward stays.

* Blessed be he who humbles himself, whose livelihood is pure, whose habits are virtuous, who spends his savings (in the name of Allah), who prevents his tongue from speaking rot, who keeps people safe from his evil, who is pleased with the (Prophets) Sunnah and who is unconnected with innovation (in religion).

* Guard against cold in its beginning (of the season) and welcome it towards its end because it affects bodies in the same way as it affects the plants. In the beginning it destroys them but in the end it gives them fresh leaves.

* When he returned from Siffin and noticed the graves outside Kufa, he said: O' residents of houses, which give a sense of loneliness, of depopulated areas and gloomy graves? O' people of the dust, O' victims of strangeness, O' people of loneliness and O' people of desolateness! You have gone ahead and preceded us while we are following you and will meet you. The houses (you left) have been inhabited by others; the wives (you left) have been married by others; the properties have been distributed (among heirs). This is the news about those around us; what is the news about things around you?

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A man came to Imam Ali and said: "I have seven questions to ask you ".
Man: What is bigger than the universe ?
Imam: Accusation of an innocent person is bigger than the universe
Man: What is wider than the earth ?
Imam: Justice is wider than the earth
Man: What is hotter than fire ?
Imam: Convetting is hotter than fire
Man: What is colder than ice ?
Imam: Anticipating help from a stingy person is colder than ice
Man: What is richer than ocean ?
Imam: The mind of a contended person is richer than the ocean
Man: What is harder than rock ?
Imam: The heart of an unbeliever is harder than a rock
Man: What is weaker than orphan ?
Imam: The back-biter is weaker than orphan

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Advices to his sons

"O' my son, learn four things and (a further) four things from me. Nothing will harm you if you practise them. That the richest of riches is intelligence; the biggest destitution is foolishness; the wildest wildness is vanity and the best achievement is goodness of moral character.

"O' my son, you should avoid making friends with a fool because he may intend to benefit you but may harm you; you should avoid making friends with a miser because he will run away from you when you need him most; you should avoid making friends with a sinful person because he will sell you for naught; and you should avoid making friends with a liar because he is like a mirage, making you feel far things near and near things far."

In the Name of GOD Who is the Most Beneficent And Mercifull!

ALLAH HOMAA SOULAY-ALLAH MOHAMMEDIN WA-AALAY MOHAMMED(PBUH).
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" Imam Ali(A.S) once said to his son Imam Hasan, My son, learn four things  from me and through them you will learn four more. If you keep them in mind  your actions will not bring any harm to you: The greatest wealth is Wisdom;  the greatest poverty is stupidity; the worst unso- ciableness is that of  vanity and self-glorification; and the best nobility of descent exhibits  itself in politeness and in refinement of manner. The next four things, my son, are: "Do not make friendship with a fool because when he will try to do  you good he will do you harm; do not make a miser your friend because he  will run away from you at the time of your dire need; do not be friendly with a vicious and wicked person because he will sell you and your  friendship at the cheapest price and do not make friend of a liar because  like a mirage he will make you visualize very near the things which lie at a  great distance and will make you see at the great distance the things which
are near to you". "

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The Last Will of Ali ibn Abi Talib

Imam Ali's last will to his sons Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Hussain (AS) after the attempt on his life by a stab from Ibn Muljam:

My advice to you is to be conscious of Allah and steadfast in your religion. Do not yearn for the world, and do not be seduced by it. Do not resent anything you have missed in it. Proclaim the truth; work for the next world. Oppose the oppressor and support the oppressed. I advise you, and all my children, my relatives, and whosoever receives this message, to be conscious of Allah, to remove your differences, and to strengthen your ties. I heard your grandfather (s) say: "Reconciliation of your differences is more worthy than all prayers and all fasting." Fear Allah in matters concerning orphans. Attend to their nutrition and do not forget their interests in the middle of yours. Fear Allah in your relations with your neighbors. Your Prophet often recommended them to you, so much so that we thought he would give them a share in inheritance. Remain attached to the Quran. Nobody should surpass you in being intent on it, or more sincere in implementing it. Fear Allah in relation to your prayers. It is the pillar of your religion. Fear Allah in relation to His House; do not abandon it as long as you live. It you should do that you would abandon your dignity. Persist in jihad in the cause of Allah, with your money, your souls, and your tongue. Maintain communication and exchange of opinion among yourselves. Beware of disunity and enmity. Do not desist from promoting good deeds and cautioning against bad ones. Should you do that,the worst among you would be your leaders, and you will call upon Allah without response. O Children of Abdul Mattaleb! Do not shed the blood of Muslims under the banner: The Imam has been assassinated! Only the assassin should be condemned to death. If I die of this stab of his, kill him with one similar stroke. Do not mutilate him! I have heard the Prophet, peace be upon him, say: "Mutilate not even a rabid dog."

In the 40th year of Hijri, in the small hours of the morning of 19th Ramadan, Imam Ali was struck with a poisoned sword by the Kharijite Ibn Maljam while offering his prayers in the Masjid of Kufa. He died on the 21st day of Ramadan 40 A.H. and buried in Najaf-ul-Ashraf. He was born in the House of Allah, the Kaaba, and martryed in the House of Allah, Masjid-e-Kufa. The Lion of Allah, the most brave and gentle Muslim after the Prophet (s) himself, began his glorious life with devotion to Allah and His Messenger, and ended it in the service of Islam. "And do not speak of those who are slain in the the Way of Allah as dead; nay, they are alive, but you perceive not." Quran 2:154

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The Holy Prophet Mohammad (s) said:

"I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate"

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Some Wise Sayings of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib

* When this world favours anybody it lends him qualification, attributes and surpassing merits of others and When it turns its face away from him it snatches away even his own excllences and fame.

* If you get an opportunity and power over your enemy then, in thankfulness to God for this, Forgive him.

* Treat people in such a way and Live amongst them in such a manner that if you die they weep over you and if you are alive they crave for your company.

* Our affairs are hinged to the destiny decreed by the lord; even our best though tout programmes may lead us to death and destruction.

* Failures are often result of timidity and fear; Disappointments are results of uncalled modesty;   Hours of leisure pass away like Summer-clouds, therefore do not waste opportunity of doing good.

* When few blessings come in your way do not drive them away through thanklessness.

* He is very unfortunate who cannot in his Lifetime gain a  Few Sincere Friends and sympathisers and more unfortunate is the one who gained them and then lost them.

* One who develops the traits of greediness and avarice invites degradation; One who keeps on advertising his poverty and ill-Luck will always be humiliated; One who has no control over his tongue will often have to face embarrassment and discomfort.

* The wise aims at perfection, the foolish aim at wealth.

* Silence will create respect and dignity;  Justice and Fair play will bring more friends; Benevolence and Charity will enhance prestige and position, Courtesy will draw benevolence; Services of Mankind will secure Leadership; Good Words will overcome powerful Enemies.

* Death is never very far.

* A Friend cannot be considered as a Friend unless he is tested on three occasions; In time of need, Behind your back and After your death.

* Be Generous but not Extravagant, be Frugal but not Miserly.

* A Fool's mind is at the mercy of his tongue and a Wise Man's tongue is under control of his mind.

* Endurance is of two kinds; When you endure unpleasant things coming to you and When you bear refusal of things pleasing you.

* I want to teach you five such things which deserve your greatest anxiety to acquire:
1. Have hope in God and none else.
2. Be afraid of nothing but sin.
3. If you do not know a thing never feel ashamed to admit ignorance.
4. If you do not know a thing never hesitate or feel ashamed to learn it.
5. Acquire patience and endurance, because their relation with true faith is that of a head to a body;  A body is of no use without a head, similarly true faith can be of no use without attributes of resignation, endurance and patience.

* Only he can Forgive who has power to Punish.

* There are many educated people who have ruined their future on account of their ignorance of religion.  Their Knowledge did not prove of any avail to them.

* Wealth converts every Foreign Country into your Native place and poverty turns your native place into a Strange Land.

* Overlook and forgive weakness of generous people, because if they fall down Hand of God lifts them.

* Often your utterances and expressions of your face leak out the Secrets of your hidden thoughts.

* Surrender and Acceptance to the will of God are the best companions; Wisdom is the noblest heritage; Theoretical and practical knowledge are best marks of distinction; Deep thinking will present the clearest picture of every problem.

* A wise man's mind is the safest custody of secrets; An open and pleasant countenance gets more friends;  Patience and Forbearance will Hide and Cover many defects.

* Be very cautious of cold in the beginning of winter and welcome it at the close of the season. Because cold season behaves with your bodies exactly as it does with trees; In the early season its severity makes them shrivel and shed their leaves and at the end it helps them to revive and rejuvenate.

* One who does not realize his own value is condemned to utter failure.

* To fix even a single unlawfully acquired stone in a house is to guarantee to its destruction.

* Bear sorrow and calamities patiently otherwise you will never be Happy.

* People, often hate those thing which they do not know or cannot understand.

* Trains yourself in good behaviour with regard to what you dislike in others.

* Ask your heart about Friendship, for surely it is a witness that cannot be bribed.

* Cut away evil from the chest of others by snatching it away from your own chest.

* Stubbornness destroys (good) advise.
* Greed is a lasting slavery.

* There is no advantage in keeping quiet about an issue of wisdom just as there is no good in speaking out an unintelligent thing.

* Whoever turned away from right got ruined.
* Woe to the faces who are seen only on foul occasions.

* Every container gets narrower with what is placed in it except knowledge which expands instead.

* The greedy is in the shackles of disgrace.

* Belief means appreciation with heart, acknowledgment with tongue and action with limbs.

* One ill gotten piece of stone in a house is a guarantee for its ruin.

* The day of the oppressed over the oppressor would be severer than the day of the oppressor over the oppressed.

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The Sayings of Imam Ali regarding the heart

I am amazed at the heart of man: It possesses the substance of wisdom as well as the opposites contrary to it ... for if hope arises in it, it is brought low by covetousness: and if covetousness is aroused in it, greed destroys it. If despair possesses it, self piety kills it: and if it is seized by anger, this is intensified by rage. If it is blessed with contentment, then it forgets to be careful; and if it is filled with fear, then it becomes pre-occupied with being cautious. If it feels secure , then it is overcome by vain hopes; and if it is given wealth, then its independence makes it extra-vagant. If want strikes it, then it is smitten by anxiety. If it is weakened by hunger, then it gives way to exhaustion; and if it goes to far in satisfying its appetites, then its inner becomes clogged up. So all its shortcomings are harmful to it, and all its excesses corrupt it.

There are four things that make the heart die: wrong action followed by wrong action, playing around with foolish people, spending a lot of time with women, and sitting with the dead. Then they asked Imam Ali: ' And who are the dead, O Commander of the believers? ' He replied: ' Every slave who follows his desires. '

Surely want is a trial, and having sickness of the body is more difficult to bear than indigence, and having a sickness of the heart is more difficult to bear than having a sickness of the body. Surely being very wealthy is a blessing, and having a healthy body is better than being very wealthy, and having awe of Allah in your heart is better than having a healthy body.

Surely hearts have desires, and they turn towards, and they turn away ... so approach them by means of what they desire and what they turn towards, for surely if the heart is forced to do some thing against its will, it goes blind.

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Education and Conduct

Do not share the knowledge with which you have been blessed with everyone in general, as you do with some people in particular; and know that there are some men in whom Allah, may He he glorified, has placed hidden secrets, which they are forbidden to reveal. Remember the reply of the righteous slave to Moses when he said to him: 'May I follow you so that you can teach me what you know about what is right?' He replied: 'Surely you will not be able to be patient with me. How can you be patient about something which you do not understand?'.

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Words of Wisdom: Faith in Religion

When Imam Ali was asked about Faith in Religion, he replied that the structure of faith is supported by four pillars endurance, conviction, justice and jihad.

Endurance is composed of four attributes: eagerness, fear, piety and anticipation (of death). So whoever is eager for Paradise will ignore temptations; whoever fears the fire of Hell will abstain from sins; whoever practises piety will easily bear the difficulties of life and whoever anticipates death will hasten towards good deeds.

Conviction has also four aspects to guard oneself against infatuations of sin; to search for explanation of truth through knowledge; to gain lessons from instructive things and to follow the precedent of the past people, Because whoever wants to guard himself against vices and sins will have to search for the true causes of infatuation and the true ways of combating them out and to find those true ways one has to search them with the help of knowledge, whoever gets fully acquainted with various branches of knowledge will take lessons from life and whoever tries to take lessons from life is actually engaged in the study of the causes of rise and fall of previous civilizations.

Justice also has four aspects depth of understanding, profoundeness of knowledge, fairness of judgement and dearness of mind; because whoever tries his best to under- stand a problem will have to study it, whoever has the practice of studying the subject he is to deal with, will develop a clear mind and will always come to correct decisions, whoever tries to achieve all this will have to develop ample patience and forbearance and whoever has done this has done justice to the cause of religion and has led a life of good repute and fame.

Jihad is divided into four branches: to persuade people to be obedient to Allah; to prohibit them from sin and vice; to struggle (in the cause of Allah) sincerely and firmly on all occasions and to detest the vicious. Whoever persuades people to obey the orders of Allah provides strength to the believers; whoever dissuades them from vices and sins humiliates the unbelievers; whoever struggles on all occasions discharges all his obligations and whoever detests the vicious only for the sake of Allah, then Allah will take revenge on his enemies and will be pleased with Him on the Day of Judgement.

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Have you fully realised what Islam is ? It is indeed a religion founded on truth. It is such a fountain-head of learning that several streams of wisdom and knowledge flow from it. It is such a lamp that several lamps will be lit from it. It is a lofty beacon of light Illuminating the path of Allah. It is such a set of principles and beliefs that will fully satisfy every seeker of truth and reality Know you all that Allah has made Islam, the most sublime path for the attainment of his supreme pleasure and the highest standard of his worship and obedience. He has favoured it with noble precepts, exalted principles, undoubtable arguments, unchallengeable supremecy and undeniable wisdom. It is up to you to maintain the eminence and dignity granted to it by the Lord, to follow it sincerely, to do justice to its articles of faith and belief, to obey implicitly its tenets and orders and to give it the proper place in your lives".

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Imam Ali on Knowledge

* Knowledge and Acting on it

O' you who carry knowledge around with you; are you only carrying it around with you ? For surely knowledge belongs to who ever knows and then acts accordingly, so that his action corresponds to his knowledge. There will be a people who will carry knowledge around with them, but it will not pass beyond their shoulders. Their inner most thoughts will contradict what they display in public, and their actions will contradict what they know.

* The purity and nobility of knowledge

When a dead person is placed in his grave, four kinds of fire will cover him, but then the prayer will come and put one of them out, and the fast will come and put another one of them out, and then charity will come and put another one out, and knowledge will come and put the forth one out, and it will say : ' If I had come sooner, I would a have put all of them out, and given you delight for I am with you now, and you'll not see anything else distressing.

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The Illusion of this World

Remember that this world which you covet so ardently and attempt to acquire so earnestly, and which sometimes annoys you and sometimes pleases you so much, is neither your home nor a permanent destination. You have not been created for it, nor invited to it as your resting-place. It shall neither remain with you for ever, nor will you remain in it eternally. If it has enticed you away with its charrns, it has also warned and cautioned you of real dangers lurking in its folds. Take account of the warnings it has given you and do not be seduced or deceived by its allurements. Let these warnings frighten you from being too greedy to possess it. Try to advance towards the place where you are invited for eternal bliss and turn your face away from the vicious world.

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On Intellect

* A person's intellect becomes apparent through his dealings, and a man's character is known by the way he exercises authority.

* The intellect is a king and characteristics are its subjects, so if it is weak in governing them, disorder takes place.

* The intellect is better than desire, for the intellect makes you a king over your destiny, and desire makes you a slave of your destiny.

* The intellect is a natural disposition which learns from experience.

* The intellect is what arrives at what is correct through reasoning, and recognizes what has not yet happened through what has already taken place.

* Use your intellect to understand something when you hear about it-the intellect that examines, that is, and not just the intellect that repeats what it hears, for surely there are many who repeat the knowledge that they hear, and there are few who examine it.

* The one who has an intellect longs to be like the righteous people so that he can be of one of them, and he loves them so that he can be united with them in his love, even if he falls short in emulating their actions.

* The one who has an intellect does not openly display it except in one of two situations: when he is furthest away from seeking something in the world, and when he is furthest away from abandoning it.

* Surely hated adversity has final objectives in which it will inevitably end, so the one who has an intellect should try to sleep over it until this happens, for surely any attempt to stop it before it has come to an end will only intensify that hated diversity even more.

* The first opinion of the person of intellect is the last opinion of an ignorant person.

* The one who has an intellect finds harshness of life amongst persons of intellect more agreeable than a life of ease amongst the foolish.

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Sayings of Imam Ali (a)

* During civil disturbance adopt such an attitude that people do not attach any importance to you, they neither burden you with complicated affairs, nor try to derive any advantage out of you.

* He who is greedy is disgraced; he who discloses his hardship will always be humiliated; he who has no control over his tongue will often have to face discomfort.

* Avarice is disgrace; cowardice is a defect; poverty often disables an intelligent man from arguing his case; a poor man is a stranger in his own town; misfortune and helplessness are calamities; patience is a kind of bravery; to sever attachments with the wicked world is the greatest wealth; piety is the best weapon of defence.

* Submission to Allah's Will is the best companion; wisdom is the noblest heritage; theoretical and practical knowledge are the best signs of distinction; deep thinking will present the clearest picture of every problem.

* The mind of a wise man is the safest custody of secrets; cheerfulness is the key to friendship; patience and forbearance will conceal many defects.

* A conceited and self-admiring person is disliked by others; charity and alms are the best remedy for ailments and calamities; one has to account in the next world for the deeds that he has done in this world.

* Man is a wonderful creature; he sees through the layers of fat (eyes), hears through a bone (ears) and speaks through a lump of flesh (tongue).

* When this world favors somebody, it lends him the attributes, and surpassing merits of others and when it turns its face away from him it snatches away even his own excellences and fame.

* Live amongst people in such a manner that if you die they weep over you and if you are alive they crave for your company.

* If you overpower your enemy, then pardon him by way of thankfulness to Allah, for being able to subdue him.

* Unfortunate is he who cannot gain a few sincere friends during his life and more unfortunate is the one who has gained them and then lost them (through his deeds).

* When some blessings come to you, do not drive them away through thanklessness.

* He who is deserted by friends and relatives will often find help and sympathy from strangers.

* Every person who is tempted to go astray, does not deserve punishment.

* Our affairs are attached to the destiny decreed by Allah, even our best plans may lead us to destruction.

* There is a tradition of the Holy Prophet "With the help of hair-dye turn old age into youth so that you do not resemble the Jews". When Imam Ali was asked to comment on this tradition, he said that in the early stage of Islam there were very few Muslims. The Holy Prophet advised them to look young and energetic and not to adopt the fashion of the Jews (priest) having long, white flowing beards. But the Muslims were not in minority then, theirs was a strong and powerful State, they could take up any style they liked.

* For those who refused to side with any party, Imam Ali or his enemies, Imam Ali said: They have forsaken religion and are of no use to infidelity also.

* One who rushes madly after inordinate desire, runs the risk of encountering destruction and death.

* Overlook and forgive the weaknesses of the generous people because if they fall down, Allah will help them.

* Failures are often the results of timidity and fears; disappointments are the results of bashfulness; hours of leisure pass away like summer-clouds, therefore, do not waste opportunity of doing good.

* If the right usurped from us is given back to us we shall take it, otherwise we shall go on claiming it.

* If someone's deeds lower his position, his pedigree cannot elevate it.

* To render relief to the distressed and to help the oppressed make amends for great sins.

* O son of Adam, when you see that your Lord, the Glorified, bestows His Favors on you while you disobey Him, you should fear Him (take warning that His Wrath may not turn those very blessings into misfortunes).

* Often your utterances and expressions of your face leak out the secrets of your hidden thoughts.

* When you get ill do not get nervous about it and try as much as possible to be hopeful.

* The best form of devotion to the service of Allah is not to make a show of it.

* When you have to depart from this world and have to meet death (eventually), then why wish delay (why feel nervous about death).

* Take warning ! He has not exposed so many of your sinful activities that it appears as if He has forgiven you (it may be that He has given you time to repent).

* When Imam Ali was asked about Faith in Religion, he replied that the structure of faith is supported by four pillars endurance, conviction, justice and jihad.

* Endurance is composed of four attributes: eagerness, fear, piety and anticipation (of death). so whoever is eager for Paradise will ignore temptations; whoever fears the fire of Hell will abstain from sins; whoever practices piety will easily bear the difficulties of life and whoever anticipates death will hasten towards good deeds.

* Conviction has also four aspects to guard oneself against infatuations of sin; to search for explanation of truth through knowledge; to gain lessons from instructive things and to follow the precedent of the past people, because whoever wants to guard himself against vices and sins will have to search for the true causes of infatuation and the true ways of combating them out and to find those true ways one has to search them with the help of knowledge, whoever gets fully acquainted with various branches of knowledge will take lessons from life and whoever tries to take lessons from life is actually engaged in the study of the causes of rise and fall of previous civilizations .

* Justice also has four aspects depth of understanding, profoundness of knowledge, fairness of judgment and dearness of mind; because whoever tries his best to understand a problem will have to study it, whoever has the practice of studying the subject he is to deal with, will develop a clear mind and will always come to correct decisions, whoever tries to achieve all this will have to develop ample patience and forbearance and whoever does this has done justice to the cause of religion and has led a life of good repute and fame.

* Jihad is divided into four branches: to persuade people to be obedient to Allah; to prohibit them from sin and vice; to struggle (in the cause of Allah) sincerely and firmly on all occasions and to detest the vicious. Whoever persuades people to obey the orders of Allah provides strength to the believers; whoever dissuades them from vices and sins humiliates the unbelievers; whoever struggles on all occasions discharges all his obligations and whoever detests the vicious only for the sake of Allah, then Allah will take revenge on his enemies and will be pleased with Him on the Day of Judgment.

* There are four causes of infidelity and loss of belief in Allah: hankering after whims, a passion to dispute every argument, deviation from truth; and dissension, because whoever hankers after whims does not incline towards truth; whoever keeps on disputing every argument on account of his ignorance, will always remain blind to truth, whoever deviates from truth because of ignorance, will always take good for evil and evil for good and he will always remain intoxicated with misguidance. And whoever makes a breach (with Allah and His Messenger) his path becomes difficult, his affairs will become complicated and his way to salvation will be uncertain.

* Similarly, doubt has also four aspects absurd reasoning; fear; vacillation and hesitation; and unreasonable surrender to infidelity, because one who has accustomed himself to unreasonable and absurd discussions will never see the Light of Truth and will always live in the darkness of ignorance. One who is afraid to face facts (of life, death and the life after death) will always turn away from ultimate reality, one who allows doubts and uncertainties to vacillate him will always be under the control of Satan and one who surrenders himself to infidelity accepts damnation in both the worlds.

* A virtuous person is better then virtue and a vicious person is worse than vice.

* Be generous but not extravagant, be frugal but not miserly.

* The best kind of wealth is to give up inordinate desires.

* One who says unpleasant things about others, will himself quickly become a target of their scandal.

* One who hopes inordinately, impairs his deeds.

* When Imam Ali, marching at the head of his army towards Syria, reached Ambar, the landlords of the place came out to meet him in zeal of their love, faithfulness and respect, no sooner had they seen Imam Ali they got down from their horses and started running in front of him. Imam Ali asked the reason of their strange actions. They replied that it was their custom to show their love and respect in that way. Imam Ali replied: By Allah, by your action you do no good whatsoever to your rulers but you tire yourself and put yourself in toils in this world and in trouble in the next. How unfortunate is that exertion, which brings harm here and in the Hereafter and how useful is that ease which keeps you in comfort in this world and away from the Hell in the next.

* Imam Ali once said to his son Imam Hasan, My son, learn four things from me and through them you will learn four more. If you keep them in mind your actions will not bring any harm to you: The greatest wealth is Wisdom; the greatest poverty is stupidity; the worst unsociableness is that of vanity and self-glorification; and the best nobility of descent exhibits itself in politeness and in refinement of manner. The next four things, my son, are: Do not make friendship with a fool because when he will try to do you good he will do you harm; do not make a miser your friend because he will run away from you at the time of your dire need; do not be friendly with a vicious and wicked person because he will sell you and your friendship at the cheapest price and do not make friend of a liar because like a mirage he will make you visualize very near the things which lie at a great distance and will make you see at the great distance the things which are near to you.

* Recommended prayers cannot attain the pleasures of Allah for you when obligatory prayers are left unattended.

* A wise man first thinks and then speaks and a fool speaks first and then thinks.

* A fool's mind is at the mercy of his tongue and a wise man's tongue is under the control of his mind.

* One of the companions of Imam fell ill. Imam Ali called upon him and thus advised him: Be thankful to Allah. He has made this illness a thing to atone your sins because a disease in itself has nothing to bring reward to anyone, it merely expiates one's sins and so far as reward is concerned, one has to earn it with his good words and good deeds. The Almighty Lord grants Paradise to his creatures on account of their piety and noble thoughts.

* May Allah Bless Kabbab bin Aratt. He embraced Islam of his own freewill and immigrated (from Makkah) cheerfully. He lived a contented life. He bowed happily before the Will of Allah and he led the life of a mujahid.

* Blessed is the man who always kept the life after death in his view, who remembered the Day of Judgment through all his deeds, who led a contented life and who was happy with the lot that Allah had destined for him. If I cut a faithful Muslim into pieces to make him hate me, he will not turn into my enemy and if I give all the wealth of this world to a hypocrite to make him my friend he will not befriend me. It is so because the Holy Prophet has said: "O Ali! No faithful Muslim will ever be your enemy and no hypocrite will ever be your friend."

* The sin which makes you sad and repentant is more liked by Allah than the good deed which turns you arrogant.

* Value of a man depends upon his courage; his veracity depends upon his self-respect and his chastity depends upon his sense of honor.

* Success is the result of foresight and resolution, foresight depends upon deep thinking and planning and the most important factor of planning is to keep your secrets to yourself.

* Be afraid of a gentleman when he is hungry, and of a mean person when his stomach is full.

* Hearts of people are like wild beasts. They attach themselves to those who love and train them.

* So long as fortune is favouring you, your defects will remain covered.

* Only he who has the power to punish can pardon.

* Generosity is to help a deserving person without his request, and if you help him after his request, then it is either out of self-respect or to avoid rebuke.

* There is no greater wealth than wisdom, no greater poverty than ignorance; no greater heritage than culture and no greater support than consultation.

* Patience is of two kinds: patience over what pains you, and patience against what you covet.

* Wealth converts a strange land into homeland and poverty turns a native place into a strange land.

* Contentment is the capital which will never diminish.

* Wealth is the fountain head of passions.

* Whoever warns you against sins and vices is like the one who gives you good tidings.

* Tongue is a beast, if it is let loose, it devours.

* Woman is a scorpion whose grip is sweet.

* If you are greeted then return the greetings more warmly. If you are favoured, then repay the obligation manifold; but he who takes the initiative will always excel in merit.

* The source of success of a claimant is the mediator.

* People in this world are like travelers whose journey is going on though they are asleep. (Life's journey is going on though men may not feel it).

* Lack of friends means, stranger in one's own country.

* Not to have a thing is less humiliating than to beg it.

* Do not feel ashamed if the amount of charity is small because to refuse the needy is an act of greater shame.

* To refrain from unlawful and impious source of pleasures is an ornament to the poor and to be thankful for the riches granted is the adornment of wealth.

* If you cannot get things as much as you desire than be contented with what you have.

* An ignorant person will always overdo a thing or neglect it totally.

* The wiser a man is, the less talkative will he be.

* Time wears out bodies, renews hopes, brings death nearer and takes away aspirations. Whoever gets anything from the world lives in anxiety for holding it and whoever loses anything passes his days grieving over the loss.

* Whoever wants to be a leader should educate himself before educating others. Before preaching to others he should first practice himself. Whoever educates himself and improves his own morals is superior to the man who tries to teach and train others.

* Every breath you take is a step towards death.

* Anything which can be counted is finite and will come to an end.

* If matters get mixed up then scrutinize the cause and you will know what the effects will be.

* Zirar bin Zamra Zibabi, known as Zirar Suda'i, was a companion of Imam Ali. When, after the martyrdom of Imam Ali, he went to Damascus, Muawiya called him and asked him to say something about Imam Ali. Zirar, knowing that Muawiya hated Imam Ali intensely tried to avoid this topic, but Muawiya forced him to speak. Thereupon, Zirar said: "O Amir, I had often seen Imam Ali in the depth of nights, when people were either sleeping or engrossed in amusements, he would be standing in the niche of the Masjid, with tears in his eyes and he would beseech Allah to help him maintain a pious, a virtuous and a noble character and to forsake the world. He would then address the world, saying 'O vicious world! Be away from me, why do you come in front of me like this ? Do you want to allure me ? Allah forbid that I should be allured and tempted by you and your pleasures. It is not possible. Go and try your allurements on somebody else. I do not desire to own you and do not want to have you. I have forsaken you thrice. It is like divorcing a woman thrice after which act she cannot be taken back as a wife. The life of pleasures that you offer is of a very little duration. There is no real importance in what you offer, the desire of holding you is an insult and a humiliation to sober minds. Sad is the plight of those who want to acquire you. They do not provide for the Hereafter. They have to pass through a long journey over a very difficult road towards a sat destination'. Zirar says that when he stopped, there were tears in the eyes of Muawiya who said, 'May peace of Allah be upon Abul Hasan Ali bin Abi Talib, he was undoubtedly like that. Now tell me, Zirar! How do you feel his separation? Zirar replied, "My sorrow and grief is like that of woman whose only child has been murdered in her lap". With this remark Zirar walked out of the court of Muawiya and left the city.

* After the Battle of Siffin, somebody asked Imam Ali whether they had been destined to fight against the Syrians. Imam Ali replied if by destiny you mean a compulsion (physical or otherwise) through which we are forced (by nature) to do a thing then it is not so. Had it been an obligation of that kind there would have been no question of reward for doing it and punishment for not doing it (when you are physically forced to do a thing, like breathing, sleeping, eating, drinking etc. then there can be no reward for doing it and no retribution for not doing it. In such cases nature forces you to do a thing and you cannot but do it), then the promised blessings and punishments in life after death will have no meaning. The Merciful Lord has given his creatures (human beings) complete freedom to do as they like, and then prohibited them from certain actions and warned them of the consequences of such actions (His Wrath and His Punishments). These orders of Allah carry in them the least trouble and lead us towards the most convenient ways of life and the rewards which He has promised for good deeds are many times more than the actions actually deserve. He sees people disobeying Him and tolerates them not because He can be overruled or be compelled to accept human supremacy over Him. He did not send His prophets to amuse Himself or provide amusement for them. He did not reveal His orders without any genuine reason nor has He created the galaxies and the earth without any purpose. The Universe without plan, purpose and program is the idea of infidels and the pagans, sorry will be their plight in the leaping fires of Hell. Hearing this the man asked Imam Ali, "Then what kind of destiny was it that we had? Imam Ali replied: It was an order of Allah to do it like the order He has given in His Holy Book: You are destined by Allah to worship none but Him, here 'destined' means 'ordered' it does not mean physical compulsion.

* Acquire wisdom and truth from whomever you can because even an apostate can have them but unless they are passed over to a faithful Muslim and become part of wisdom and truth that he possesses, they have a confused existence in the minds of apostates.

* Knowledge and wisdom are really the privilege of a faithful Muslim. If you have lost them, get them back even though you may have to get them from the apostates.

* Value of each man depends upon the art and skill which he has attained.

* I want to teach you five of those things which deserve your greatest anxiety to acquire them: Have hope only in Allah. Be afraid of nothing but sins. If you do not know a thing never feel ashamed to admit ignorance. If you do not know a thing never hesitate or feel ashamed to learn it. Acquire patience and endurance because their relation with true faith is that of a head to a body, a body is of no use without a head, similarly true faith can be of no use without attributes of resignation, endurance and patience.

* A man hypocritically started praising Imam Ali, though he had no faith in him and Imam Ali hearing these praises from him said I am less than what you tell about me but more than what you think about me".

* Those who have come alive out of a blood-bath live longer and have more children.

* One who imagines himself to be all-knowing will surely suffer on account of his ignorance.

* I appreciate an old man's cautious opinion more than the valor of a young man.

* I wonder at a man who loses hope of salvation when the door of repentance is open for him.

* Imam Muhammad Baqir says that Imam Ali once said: There were two things in this world which softened the Wrath of Allah and prevented its descent upon man: One has been taken away from you; hold the other steadfastly. The one which has been taken away from men is the Holy Prophet and the one which is still left with them and which they must hold steadfastly is repentance and atonement for sins because Allah at one place in the Holy Book addressed the Holy Prophet and said Allah would not punish them while you were among them nor while they were asking for forgiveness. (Surah Anfal 8:33)

* Whoever keeps in order his affairs with Allah (follows His orders sincerely), Allah will also put his affairs with men in order. Whoever makes arrangement for his salvation, Allah will arrange his worldly affairs; whoever is a preacher for himself, Allah will also protect him.

* He is the wisest and the most knowing man who advises people not to lose hope and faith in the Mercy of Allah and not to be too sure and over-confident of immunity from His Wrath and Punishment.

* Like your body your mind also gets tired so refresh it by wise sayings.

* That knowledge which remains only on your tongue is very superficial. The intrinsic value of knowledge is that you act upon it.

* Take care and do not pray to the Lord, saying, Lord! I pray to You to protect and guard me from temptations and trials, for there is none who is not tempted and tried. But beseech Him to guard you against such temptation as may lead you towards wickedness and sins because Allah says in His Holy Book, Know that your wealth and children are temptations. (Surah al-Anfal 8:28) it means Allah tried people through wealth and children so that it may be tested as to who is content with what he gets honestly and who is thankful to Allah for the position he is placed in with regard to his children. Though Allah knows them better than even they know themselves, yet those trials and tests are for the purpose of their realizing and knowing those deeds which merit reward or which deserve punishment. There are some people who love to have male children and hate daughters and there are some who simply crave for wealth and hate poverty.

* Imam Ali was asked the meaning of being well-off or well-provided for. Imam Ali replied, Your welfare does not lie in your having enormous wealth and numerous children but it rests in your being highly educated and forbearing and in your being proud of your obedience to Allah. If you do a good deed then thank Allah for it and if you commit a sin then repent and atone for it. In this world there is a real welfare for two kinds of people, one is the person who, when commits a sin, atones for it and the other is anxious to do good as much as possible.

* Importance of the deeds that you have done with fear of Allah cannot be minimized and how can the deeds which are acceptable to Allah be considered unimportant.

* Nearest to the prophets are those persons who have to those prophets and obey them. Saying this, Imam Ali cited a passage from the Holy Qur'an 'Best liked by Abraham and nearest to him were the people who obeyed him'. He further said, That the present times are the times of our Holy Prophet and his faithful followers. The best friend of our Holy Prophet is he who, though not related to him, obeys the orders of Allah and his greatest enemy is the man who though related to him, disobeys Allah '.

* Imam Ali was told of a Kharijite that he got up in the night to pray and recite the Holy Book. Imam Ali said, To sleep with having sincere faith in religion and Allah is better than to pray with wavering faith.

* Whenever a tradition of the Holy Prophet is related to you, scrutinize it, do not be satisfied with mere verbatim repetition of the same because there are many people who repeat the words containing knowledge but only few ponder over them and try to fully grasp the meaning they convey.

* Imam Ali heard somebody reciting the passage of the Holy Qur'an we belong to Allah and our return is towards Him, Imam Ali said, How true it is ! Our declaring that we belong to Allah indicates that we accept Him as our Master, Owner and Lord. And when we say that our return is towards Allah indicates that we accept our mortality.

* Some people praised Imam Ali on his face. He replied, Allah knows me very well and I also know myself more than you. Please, Lord ! make me better than what they imagine me to be and please excuse those Weaknesses of mine which they are not aware of.

* To secure for you fame, credit as well as blessings, the help that you give to men in need, should possess the following attributes: whatever its extent, it should be considered by you as trifling so that it may be granted a high status; it should be given secretly, Allah will manifest it; and it must be given immediately so that it becomes pleasant.

* Your society will pass through a period when cunning and crafty intriguers will be favoured by status, when profligates will be considered as well-bred, well-behaved and elegant elites of the society, when just and honest persons will be considered as weaklings, when charity will be considered as a loss to wealth and property, when support and help to each other will be considered as favour and benevolence and when prayers and worship to Allah will be taken up for the sake of show to gain popularity and higher status, at such times regimes will be run under the advice of women and the youngsters will be the rulers and counselors of the State.

* Imam Ali's garment was very old with patches on it. When somebody drew his attention towards it, he replied, Such dresses, when worn by men of status make them submissive to Allah and kind-hearted towards others and the faithful Muslims can conveniently follow the example. Vicious pleasures of this world and salvation are like two enemies or two roads running in opposite directions or towards opposite poles, one to the North and the other to the South. Whoever likes to gain the pleasures and pomps of this world will hate austerity in life which is necessary to gain salvation. Reverse will be the attitude of a man desirous of achieving Eternal Bliss. One has to adopt either of the two ways of life, and as they both cannot be brought together, a man has to choose one of them.

* Nawf bin Fizala Bakali, the famous scholar of the early Islamic days says that one night he was with Imam Ali. In the middle of the night, Imam Ali got up from his bed, looked for sometime at the stars and inquired of Nawf whether he was awake. Nawf said: I got from my bed replying, Yes, Amirul Mo'minin (Commander of the Faithful) ! I am awake. Imam Ali said Nawf! Those are the fortunate people who adopt piety as the principle of their lives and are fully attentive to their welfare for the Hereafter. They accept bare earth as the most comfortable bed and water as the most pleasant drink. They adopt the Holy Qur'an and prayers as their guide and protector and like Prophet Jesus Christ (Isa) they forsake the world and its vicious pleasure.

* Nawf ! Prophet David (Daud) once got up at such an hour in the night and said this was the hour when prayers of everyone who prayed were accepted except of those who forcibly collected revenues or who were scandal-mongers or were persons in the police force of a despotic regime or were musicians.

* , Those who give up religion to better their lot in life seldom succeed. The Wrath of Allah makes them go through more calamities and losses than the gains they gather for themselves.

* There are many educated people who have ruined their future on account of their ignorance of religion. Their knowledge did not prove of any avail to them.

* More wonderful than man himself is that part of his body which is connected with his trunk with muscles. It is his brain (mind). Look what good and bad tendencies arise from it. On the one hand it holds treasures of knowledge and wisdom and on the other it is found to harbour very ugly desires. If a man sees even a tiny gleam of success, then greed forces him to humiliate himself. If he gives way to avarice, then inordinate desires ruin him, if he is disappointed, then despondency almost kills him. If he is excited, then he loses temper and gets angry. If he is pleased, then he gives up precaution. Sudden fear makes him dull and nervous, and he is unable to think and find a way out of the situation. During the times of peace and prosperity he becomes careless and unmindful of the future. If he acquires wealth, then he becomes haughty and arrogant. If he is plunged in distress, then his agitation, impatience and nervousness disgrace him. If he is overtaken by poverty, then he finds himself in a very sad plight, hunger makes him weak, and over-feeding harms him equally. In short every kind of loss and gain makes his mind unbalanced.

* We, Ahlul Bayt (chosen descendants of the Holy Prophet), hold such central and balancing position in religion that those who are deficient in understanding and acting upon its principles, will have to come to us for reformation, and those who are overdoing it have got to learn moderation from us.

* A Divine rule can be established only by a man, who, where justice and equity are required, neither feels deficient nor weak and who is not greedy and avaricious.

* Sohayl bin Hunayf Ansari was a favourite companion of Imam Ali. At the time of Imam Ali's return from Siffin, he died at Kufa of the wounds sustained in the battle. His death left Imam Ali very sad and he said: Even if a mountain loves me it will be crushed into bits. (it means people are tested with my love, and to prove it they have to pass through loss and calamities).

* Anyone who loves us Ahlul Bayt must be ready to face a life of austerity.

* No wealth is more useful than intelligence and wisdom; no solitude is more horrible than when people avoid you on account of your vanity and conceit or when you wrongly consider yourself above everybody to confide and consult; no eminence is more exalting than piety; no companion can prove more useful than politeness; no heritage is better than culture; no leader is superior to Divine Guidance; no deal is more profitable than good deeds; no profit is greater than Divine Reward; no abstinence is better than to restrain one's mind from doubts (about religion); no virtue is better than refraining from prohibited deeds; no knowledge is superior to deep thinking and prudence; no worship or prayers are more sacred than fulfillment of obligations and duties, no religious faith is loftier than feeling ashamed of doing wrong and bearing calamities patiently; no eminence is greater than to adopt humbleness; no exaltation is superior to knowledge; nothing is more respectable than forgiveness and forbearance; no support and defense are stronger than consultation.

* When a community is composed of honest, sober and virtuous people, your forming a bad opinion about anyone of its members, when nothing wicked has been seen of him, is a great injustice to him. On the contrary in a corrupt society to form good opinion of anyone of them and to trust him is to harm yourself.

* When somebody asked Imam Ali as to how he was getting on, he replied: What do you want to know about a person whose life is leading him towards ultimate death, whose health is the first stage towards illness and whom society has forced out of his retreat.

* There are many persons whom constant grants of His Bounties turn them wicked and fit for His punishment and there are many more who have become vain and self-deceptive because the Merciful Allah has not exposed their weaknesses and vices to the world and the people speak highly about them. All this is an opportunity. No trial of the Lord is more severe than the time He allows (in which either you may repent or get deeper into vices).

* Two kinds of people will be damned on my account Those who form exaggerated opinion about me and those who under-estimate me because they hate me.

* To lose or to waste an opportunity will result in grief and sorrow.

* She world is like a serpent, so soft to touch, but so full of lethal poison. Unwise people are allured by it and drawn towards it, and wise men avoid it and keep away from its poisonous effects.

* When asked about Quraysh, Imam Ali replied that amongst them Bani Mukhzum are like sweet scented flower of Quraysh; their men are good to talk to and their women prove very good wives; Bani Abdush Shams are very intelligent and very prudent but we (of Bani Hashim) are very generous and very brave to face death. Bani Abdush Shams are more in numbers, ugly and intriguers but Bani Hashim are beautiful, good speakers and orators and very faithful as friends.

* What a difference is there between a deed whose pleasure passes away leaving behind it the pangs of pain and punishment and the deed whose oppressive harshness comes to an end leaving behind Divine rewards !

* Imam Ali was following a funeral and as it was passing along a road, somebody laughed loudly (a sign of discourtesy and lack of manner). Hearing this laugh, Imam Ali remarked, Some of us feel that death is meant for everybody except themselves or it is destined to others and not to themselves or those whom we see dying around us are only travelers going on a journey and will come back to us. It is a sad sight to see that in one moment we commit them to earth and in the next we take hold of the things left by them as if we are going to remain permanently in this world after them. The fact is that we forget sensible advice given to us and become victim of every calamity.

* Blessings are for the man who humbles himself before Allah, whose sources of income are honest, whose intentions are always honorable, whose character is noble, whose habits are sober, who gives away in the cause and in the Name of Allah, the wealth which is lying surplus with him, who controls his tongue from vicious and useless talk, who abstains from oppression, who faithfully follows the traditions of the Holy Prophet and who keeps himself away from innovation in religion.

* Jealousy in woman is unpardonable but in man it is a sign of his faith in religion (because Islam has permitted polygamy and prohibited polyandry).

* I define Islam for you in a way that nobody dared do it before me. Islam means obedience to Allah, obedience to Allah means having sincere faith in Him, such a faith means to believe in His Power, belief in His Power means recognizing and accepting His Majesty, acceptance of His Majesty means fulfilling the obligations laid down by Him and fulfillment of obligations means actions (Therefore, Islam does not mean mere faith, but faith plus deeds).

* I wonder at the mentality of a miser, fearing poverty he takes to stinginess and thus hastily pushes himself head-long into a state of want and destitution, he madly desires plenty and ease, but throws it away without understanding. In this world he, of his own free will, leads the life of a a beggar and in the next world he will have to submit an account like the rich.

* I wonder at the arrogance of a haughty and vain person. Yesterday he was only a drop of semen and tomorrow he will turn into a corpse. I wonder at the man who observes the Universe created by Allah and doubts His Being and Existence. I wonder at the man who sees people dying around him and yet he has forgotten his end. I wonder at the man who understands the marvel of genesis of creation and refuses to accept that he will be brought back to life again. I wonder at the man who takes great pains to decorate and to make comfortable this mortal habitat and totally forgets his permanent abode.

* Whoever is not diligent in his work, will suffer; whoever has no share of Allah in his wealth and in his life then there is no place for him in His Realm.

* Be very cautious of cold in the beginning of winter and welcome it at the close of the season because cold season effects your bodies exactly as it effects the trees; in the early season its severity makes them shrivel and shed their leaves and at the end it helps them to revive.

* If you understand Allah's Majesty, then you will not attach any importance to the creatures.

* While returning from Siffin, Imam Ali passed along the cemetery of Kufa. Addressing the graves he said: O you, who are lying in horrible and deserted houses. O you, who are shut up in the dark graves, who are alone in their abodes, strangers to the places assigned to them; you have gone ahead and preceded us, while we are also following your steps and shall shortly join you. Do you know what has happened aver you? Your houses and property was taken up by others, your widows have remarried, this is what we can tell you of this world. Can you give us some news about things around you? Saying this, Imam Ali turned to his companions and said, f they are permitted to speak they will inform you that the best provision for the next world is piety and virtue.

* Imam Ali heard someone abusing and blaming the world and said to him, O you, who are blaming the world, who have been allured and enticed by it, and have been tempted by its false pretenses. You allowed yourself to be enamored of, to be captivated by it and then you accuse and blame it. Have you any reason or right to accuse it and to call it a sinner and seducer? Or is the world not justified in calling you a wicked knave and a sinning hypocrite? When did it make you lose your intelligence and reasoning? And how did it cheat you or snake false pretenses to you? Did it conceal from you the fact of the ultimate end of everything that it holds, the fact of the sway of death, decay and destruction in its domain? Did it keep you in the dark about the fate of your fore-fathers and their final abode under the earth? Did it keep the resting-place of your mothers a secret from you? Do you not know that they have returned to dust? Many a time you must have attended the sick persons and many of them you must have seen beyond the scope of medicine. Neither the science of healing nor could your nursing and attendance nor your prayers and weeping prolonged the span of their lives, and they died. You were anxious for them, you procured the best medical aid, you gathered famous physicians and provided best - medicines for them. Death could not be held back and life could not be prolonged. In this drama and in this tragedy did the world not present you with a lesson and a moral?

* Certainly, this world is a house of truth for those who look into it carefully, an abode of peace and rest for those who understand its ways and moods and it is the best working ground for those who want to procure rewards for life in the Hereafter. It is a place of acquiring knowledge and wisdom for those who want to acquire them, a place of worship for the friends of Allah and for Angels. It is the place where prophets received revelations of Allah. It is the place for virtuous people and saints to do good deeds and to be assigned with rewards for the same. Only in this world they could trade with Allah's Favors and Blessings and only while living here they could barter their good deeds with His Blessings and Rewards. Where else could all this be done? Who are you to abuse the world when it has openly declared its mortality and mortality of everything connected with it, when it has given everyone of its inhabitants to understand that all of them are to face death, when through its ways it has given them all an idea of calamities they have to face here, and through the sight of its temporary and fading pleasures it has given them glimpses of eternal pleasures of Paradise and suggested them to wish and work for the same. If you study it properly you will find that simply to warn and frighten you of the consequences of evil deeds and to persuade you towards good actions, every night it raises new hopes of peace and prosperity in you and every morning it places new anxieties and new worries before you. Those who passed such lives are ashamed of and repent the time so passed abuse this world. But there are people who will praise this world on the Day of Judgment that it reminded them of the Hereafter and they took advantage of these reminders. It informed them of the effects of good deeds and they made correct use of the information it advised them and they were benefited by its advice.

* An Angel announces daily: Birth of more human beings means so many more will die, collection of more wealth means of much more will be destroyed, erection of more buildings means so many more ruins will come.

* This world is not a permanent place, it is a passage, a road on which you are passing. There are two kinds of people here: One is the kind of those who have sold their souls for eternal damnation, the other is of those who have purchased their souls and freed them from damnation.

* A friend cannot be considered a friend unless he is tested on three occasions: in time of need, behind your back and after your death.

* Anyone who has been granted four attributes will not be deprived of their (four) effects; one who prays to Allah and implores to Him will not be deprived of granting of his prayers; one who repents for his thoughts and deeds will not be refused acceptance of the repentance; one who has atoned for his sins will not be debarred from salvation and one who thanks Allah for the Blessings and Bounties will not be denied the increase in them.

* The truth of these facts is attested by the Holy Qur'an As far as prayers are concerned He says Pray to Me and I shall accept your prayers. About repentance He says: Whoever has done a bad deed or has indulged in sin and then repents and asks for His forgiveness will find Allah most Forgiving and Merciful. About being thankful He says if you are thankful for what you are given, I shall increase My Bounties and Blessings. About atonement of sin He says Allah accepts the repentance of those who have ignorantly committed vice and then soon repent for it, Allah accepts such repentance's, He is Wise and Omniscient. Daily prayers are the best medium through which one can Seek the nearness to Allah. Hajj is Jihad (Holy War) for every weak person. For everything that you own there is Zakat, and Zakat of your body is fasting. The Jihad of a woman is to afford pleasant company to her husband.

* If you want to pray to Allah for better means of subsistence, then first give something in charity

* When someone is sure of the returns, then he shows generosity.

* Aid (from Allah) is in proportion to the trouble.

* He who practices moderation and frugality will never be threatened with poverty.

* One of the conveniences in life is to have less children.

* Loving one another is half of wisdom.

* Grief is half of old age.

* Grant of patience (from Allah) is in proportion to the extent of calamity you are passing through. If you exhibit fretfulness, irritation, and despair in calamities, then your patience and your exertions are wasted.

* Many persons get nothing out of their fasts but hunger and thirst, many more get nothing out of their night prayers but exertions and sleepless nights. Wise and sagacious persons are praiseworthy even if they do not fast and sleep during the nights.

* Defend your faith (in Allah) with the help of charity. Protect your wealth with the aid of Zakat. Let the prayers guard you from calamities and disasters.

* Kumayl bin Ziyad Nakha'i says that once Imam Ali put his hand in his hand and took me to the grave-yard. When he passed through it and left the city behind, he heaved a sigh and said Kumayl, these hearts are containers of the secrets of knowledge and wisdom and the best container is the one which can hold the most and what it holds, it can preserve and protect in the best way. Therefore, remember carefully what I am telling you. Remember that there are three kinds of people: one kind is of those learned people who are highly versed in the ethics of truth and philosophy of religion, second is the kind of those who are acquiring the above knowledge and the third is that class of people who are uneducated. They follow every pretender and accept every slogan, they have neither acquired any knowledge nor have they secured any support of firm and rational convictions. Remember, Kumayl, knowledge is better than wealth because it protects you while you have to guard wealth. It decreases if you keep on spending it but the more you make use of knowledge the more it increases. What you get through wealth disappears as soon as wealth disappears but what you achieve through knowledge will remain even after you.

O Kumayl ! Knowledge is power and it can command obedience. A man of knowledge during his lifetime can make people obey and follow him and he is praised and venerated after his death. Remember that knowledge is a ruler and wealth is its subject.
O Kumayl ! Those who amass wealth, though alive, are dead to realities of life, and those who achieve knowledge, will remain alive through their knowledge and wisdom even after their death, though their faces may disappear from the community of living beings, yet their ideas, the knowledge which they had left behind and their memory, will remain in the minds of people.
Kumayl says that after this brief dissertation, Imam Ali pointed towards his chest and said, Look Kumayl! Here I hold stores and treasures of knowledge. I wish I could find somebody to share it with me. Yes, I found a few, but one of them, though quite intelligent, was untrustworthy, he would sell his salvation to get hold of the world and its pleasures, he would make religion a pretence to grasp worldly power and wealth, he would make this Blessing of Allah (knowledge) serve him to get supremacy and control over friends of Allah and he would through knowledge exploit and suppress other human beings. The other person was such that he apparently obeyed truth and knowledge, yet his mind had not achieved the true light of religion, at the slightest ambiguity or doubt he would get suspicious of truth, mistrust religion and would rush towards skepticism. So neither of them was capable of acquiring the superior knowledge that I can impart. Besides these two I find some other person One of them is a slave of self and greedy for inordinate desires, which can easily drag him away from the path of religion, the other is an avaricious, grasping and acquisitive miser who will risk his life to grasp and hold wealth, none of these two will be of any use to religion or man, both of them resemble beasts having appetite for food. If sensible trustees of knowledge and wisdom totally disappear from human society then both knowledge and wisdom will suffer severely, may bring harm to humanity and may even die out. But this earth will never be without those persons who will prove the universality of truth as disclosed by Allah, they may be well-known persons, openly and fearlessly declaring the things revealed to them or they may, under fear of harm, injury or deaths hide themselves from the public gaze and may carry on their mission privately so that the reasons proving the reality of truth as preached by religion and as demonstrated by His Prophet may not totally disappear. How many are they and where could they be found? I swear by Allah that they are very few in number but their worth and their ranks before Allah are very high. Through them Allah preserves His Guidance so that they, while departing, may hand over these truths to persons like themselves. The knowledge which they have acquired has made them see the realities and visualize the truth and has instilled into them the spirit of faith and trust. The duties which were decreed as hard and unbearable by them. They feel happy in the company and association of things which frighten the ignorant and uneducated. They live in this world like everybody else but their souls soar to the heights of Divine Eminence. They are media of Allah on this earth and they invite people towards Him. How I love to meet them O Kumayl ! I have told you all that I have to say, you can go back to your place whenever you like.

* A man can be valued through his sayings.

* One who does not realize his own value is condemned to utter failure. (Every kind of complex, superiority or inferiority is harmful to man).

* Somebody requested Imam Ali to advise him how to lead a useful and sober life. Imam Ali thereupon advised him thus: Do not be among those people who want to gain good returns without working hard for them, who have long hopes and keep on postponing repentance and penance, who talk like pious persons but run after vicious pleasures. Do not be among those who are not satisfied if they get more in life and are not content if their lot in life's pleasures is less (they are never satisfied), who never thank Allah for what they get and keep on constantly demanding increase in what is left with them; who advise others to such good deeds that they themselves refrain from; who appreciate good people but do not follow their ways of life; who hate bad and vicious people but follow their ways of life; who, on account of their excessive sins hate death but do not give up the sinful ways of life; who, if fallen ill, repent their ways of life and on regaining their health fearlessly readopt the same frivolous ways; who get despondent and lose all hopes, but on gaining health, become arrogant and careless; who, if faced with misfortunes, dangers or afflictions, turn to Allah and keep on beseeching Him for relief and when relieved or favoured with comfort and ease they are deceived by the comfortable conditions they found themselves in and forget Allah and forsake prayers; whose minds are allured by day dreams and forlorn hopes and who abhor to face realities of life; who fear for others the enormous repercussions of vices and sins but for their own deeds expect very high rewards or very light disciplinary actions. Riches make such people arrogant, rebellious and wicked, and poverty makes them despondent and lethargic. If they have to work, they work lazily and if they put up a demand they do it stubbornly.

* Under the influence of inordinate cravings, they commit sins in quick succession and keep on postponing repentance. Calamities and adversities make them give up the distinguished characteristics of Muslims (patience, hope in future and work for improvement of circumstances). They advise people with narration's of events and facts but do not take any lesson from them. They are good at preachings but bad at practice, therefore they always talk of lofty deeds but their actions belie their words. They are keen to acquire temporal pleasures but are careless and slow to achieve permanent (Divine) benefits. They think good for themselves the things which are actually injurious to them and regard harmful the things which really benefit them. They are afraid of death but waste their time and do not resort to good deeds before death overtakes them. The vices which they regard as enormous sins for others, they consider as minor shortcomings for themselves. Similarly, they attach great importance to their obedience to the orders of Allah and belittle similar actions in others. Therefore, they often criticize others and speak very highly of their own deeds. They are happy to spend their time in society of rich persons, wasting it in luxuries and vices but are averse to employing for useful purposes in company of the poor and pious people: They are quick and free to pass verdicts against others but they never pass a verdict against their own vicious deeds. They force others to obey them but they never obey Allah. They collect their dues carefully but never pay the dues they owe. They are not afraid of Allah but fear powerful men.

* Everyone has an end, it may be pleasant or sorrowful.

* Everyone, who is born, has to die and once dead he is as good as having not come into existence.

* One, who adopts patience, will never be deprived of success though it may take a long time to reach him.

* One who assents or subsribes to the actions of a group or a party is as good as having committed the deed himself. A man who joins a sinful deed makes himself responsible for two-fold punishments, one for doing the deed and the other for assenting and subscribing to it. Accept promises of only those persons who can steadfastly - adhere to their pledges.

* You are ordained to recognize the Imams (the right successors of the Holy Prophet) and to obey them.

* You have been shown, if you only care to see; you have been advised if you care to take advantage of advice; you have been told if you care to listen to good counsels.

* Admonish your brother (comrade) by good deeds and kind regards, and ward off his evil by favouring him.

* One, who enters the places of evil repute has no right to complain against a man who speaks ill of him.

* One, who acquires power cannot avoid favouritism.

* One, who is willful and conceited will suffer losses and calamities and one who seeks advice can secure advantages of many counsels.

* One, who guards his secrets has complete control over his affairs.

* Poverty is the worst form of death.

* One, who serves a person from whom he gets no reciprocal performance of duties, in fact, worships him.

* One should not obey anyone against the commands of Allah.

* Do not blame a man who delays in securing what are his just rights but blame lies on him who grasps the rights which do not belong to him.

* Conceit is a barrier to progress and improvement.

* Death is near and our mutual company is short.

* There is enough light for one who wants to see.

* It is wiser to abstain then to repent.

* Often inordinate desire to secure a single gain acts as a hindrance for the quest of many profitable pursuits.

* People often hate those things which they do not know or cannot understand. One, who seeks advice learns to realize his mistakes.

* One who struggles for the cause of Allah secures victory over His enemies.

* When you feel afraid or nervous to do a thing then do it because the real harm which you may thus receive is less poignant than its expectation and fear. Your supremacy over others is in proportion to the extent of your knowledge and wisdom.

* The best way to punish an evil-doer is to reward handsomely a good person for his good deeds.

* If you want to remove evil from the minds of others then first give up evil intentions yourself.

* Obstinacy will prevent you from a correct decision.

* Greed is permanent slavery.

* Deficiency will result in shame and sorrow but caution and foresight will bring peace and security.

* To keep silent when you can say something wise and useful is as bad as keeping on propagating foolish and unwise thoughts.

* If two opposite theories are propagated one will be wrong.

* When truth was revealed to me I never doubted it.

* I never lied and the things revealed to me were not false I never misled anybody nor was I misled.

* One, who starts tyranny, will repent soon.

* Death is never very far.

* One who forsakes truth earns eternal damnation.

* One who cannot benefit by patience will die in grief.

* In this world, man is a target of death, an easy prey to calamities, here every morsel and every draught is liable to choke one, here one never receives a favour until he loses another instead, here every additional day in one's life is a day reduced from the total span of his existence, when death is the natural outcome of life, how can we expect immortality?

* O son of Adam, if you have collected anything in excess of your actual need, you will act only as its trustee for someone else to use it.

* Hearts have the tendency of likes and dislikes and are liable to be energetic and lethargic, therefore, make them work when they are energetic because if hearts are forced (to do a thing) they will be blinded.

* When I feel angry with a person how and when should I satisfy my anger, whether at a time when I am not in a position to retaliate and people may advise me to bear patiently or when I have power to punish and I forgive. Minds get tired like bodies. When you feel that your; mind is tired, then invigorate it with sober advice.

* If you find that somebody is not grateful for all that you have done for him, then do not get disappointed because often you will find that someone else feels under your obligation though you have done nothing for him and thus your good deeds will be compensated, and Allah will reward you for your goodness.

* The first fruit of forbearance is that people will sympathize with you and they will go against the man who offended you arrogantly.

* One who takes account of his shortcomings will always gain by it; one who is unmindful of them will always suffer. One who is afraid of the Day of Judgment, is safe from the Wrath of Allah. One who takes lessons from the events of life, gets vision, one who acquires vision becomes wise and one who attains wisdom achieves knowledge.

* Bear sorrows and calamities patiently, otherwise you will never be happy.

* One who comes into power often oppresses.

* Adversities often bring good qualities to the front.

* If a friend envies you, then he is not a true friend.

* Avarice dulls the faculties of judgment and wisdom.

* Oppression and tyranny are the worse companions for the Hereafter.

* The best deed of a great man is to forgive and forget.

* Silence will create respect and dignity; justice and fairplay will bring more friends; benevolence and charity will enhance prestige and position; courtesy will draw benevolence; service of mankind will secure leadership and good words will overcome powerful enemies.

* A greedy man will always find himself in the shackles of humility.

* There are people who worship Allah to gain His Favors, this is the worship of traders; while there are some who worship Him to keep themselves free from His Wrath, this is the worship of slaves; a few who obey Him out of their sense of gratitude and obligations, this is the worship of free and noble men.

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al-Khutbah al-Shiqshaqiyyah --- Arabic --- English

Holy Prophet (s) and Ahlul-Bayt
Nahjul-Balaghah --- English --- Arabic
The Life of Imam Ali --- [ 1 ] --- [ 2 ]
Index
Wise Sayings of Amir Al Mo'meneen

Ali bin Abi Taleb (as). 

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Ali (as) said: Knowledge is better than Wealth because of 7 (Reasons):

1. Knowledge is inheritence of Prophets while wealth is inheritence of Firauns (Pharohs).
2. Knowlege Does not Diminish (rather increases) with spending , while wealth diminishes with spending.
3. Wealth requires to be protected, while knowledge protects its owner.
4. Knowledge will enter the Kafan (Shroud) while wealth will be prevented from doing so.
5. Wealth reaches both believers and unbelievers (Kafir), while knowledge is reserved only for those who are worthy of it.
6. Knowledge will facilitate passing over the Seraat (Bridge over Hell) while wealth will pore hurdles.
7. People are always in need of scholars while they might not be in need of those possessing wealth.

More Sayings Of Imam Ali (as);

• Among the Characteristics of the believer there is neither flattery nor   envy, except in the pursuit of knowledge.
• Death and not infancy, endurance and not apathy.
• If a Pedestrian walks alongside a rider it is corruption, (ie, a false sense of superiority) for the rider and humiliation for the pedestrian.
• Give to your fellow believer your blood and your property and to your enemy your justice and fairness.
• You should have hope in God alone and should fear nothing but your sins.
• One’s character is hidden behind one’s tongue.
• There are two things that I fear for you most: following one’s passions and forever hoping, because following one’s passions impedes truth, and forever hoping causes one to forget the Hereafter.
• Refraining from sin is easier than Repentance.
• He who condones a shameful act, then it is as if he were a participant.
• There are four principles of Faith: Reliance on God, Accepting God’s supremity,  Acceptance of God’s judgement and submission to God’s command.
• Patience is of two kinds:
• Patience in face of disaster which is good and commendable, (however better than that is) Patience in that which God has declared unlawful for you.
• Relinquishing one’s desires is the richest of all deeds.
• Be magnanimous but do not be a squanderer.
• Victory stems from firm resolution from decisiveness and decisiveness by keeping one’s plans secret.
• There is no wealth like reason, no poverty like ignorance, no heritage like culture and no aid like consultation.
• Wisdom is the goal of the believer, so acquire wisdom even from hypocrites.
• When you hear something then act upon it. Do not merely repeat it. For, if the transmitters of a piece of information are many, then little is acted upon.
• Hearts have desires, likes and dislikes and so try to approach them through their desires and likes, for if it is forced to feel, the heart becomes blind.
• Associate with people in such a way that when you have passed away they will cry for you, and while you are alive they will seek your company.
• The most incapable of people is he who is unable to acquire friends, and more incapable still is he who loses the friends he has already acquired.
• If the mind is perfect then speech is minimal.
• Verbal Knowledge is of the least value, while practical knowledge is of the highest.
• Anxiety cuts your life span in half.
• A person will be ruined if he does not appreciate his own limit.
• He who places himself in a blameworthy position should not blame anyone for thinking badly of him.
• He who can keep his own secrets has the power of choice in his hands.
• Do not obey him who disobeys the Creator.
• The tool of leadership is forbearance.
• There is no good in keeping silent in wisdom, just as there is no good in proposing  ignorance.
• Islam is submission and submission is trust, trust is faith and faith is acceptance, acceptance is responsibility and responsibility is work.
• He who is able to refrain from the following four things deserves never to be afflicted by adversity : haste, argumentation, conceit, and lethargy.
• A believer does not enter into a matter in ignorance and never departs from the truth impotent.
• Life has two days: One in your favor and one to your disadvantage. If in your favor, then don’t let it be in vain and if to your disadvantage, then don’t be sad.
• A believer who is calm in a commotion is patient in distress and grateful in prosperity.
• The more knowledgeable the man, the more valuable the man.
• The most complete gift of God is a life based on knowledge.
• The innumerable fools have made the learned very scarce.
• The learned man understands the ignorant for he was once ignorant for he was once ignorant himself.
• The ignorant man does not understand the learned for he has never been learned himself.
• Knowledge gives life to the soul.
• To respect the learned is to respect God.
• Knowledge creates fear of God.
• Practice makes knowledge perfect.
• To teach is to learn.
• Honesty is Divine language.
• To fulfill promises is the highest form of integrity.
• Truth means conformity of speech with the Divine mode of working.
• Friendship is impossible with a liar.
• Misrepresentation spoils narration.
• Lying spoils news.
• Enemity is the occupation of fools.
• One's obedience to God is proportionate to one's wisdom.
• To fight against one's own desires is highest wisdom.
• The wise aim at perfection.
• The foolish aim at wealth.
• To separate oneself from things of time and to connect oneself with things of eternity is highest wisdom.
• He is really wise whose actions reflect his words.
• Humility is the product of knowledge.
• Self-conceit poisons the mind.
• Self-conceit impedes progress.
• Pride mars greatness.
• Humility is one of the nets spread by real greatness.
• Boasting issues from small minds.
• *. The mind of a wise man is the safest custody of secrets; cheerfulness is the key to friendship; patience and forbearance will conceal many defects.
  
  *. Man is a wonderful creature; he sees through the layers of fat (eyes), hears through a bone (ears) and speaks through a lump of flesh (tongue).
  
  *. When this world favors somebody, it lends him the attributes, and surpassing merits of others and when it turns its face away from him it snatches away even his own excellences and fame.
  
  *. Live amongst people in such a manner that if you die they weep over you and if you are alive they crave for your company.
  
  *. If you overpower your enemy, then pardon him by way of thankfulness to Allah, for being able to subdue him.
  
  *. Unfortunate is he who cannot gain a few sincere friends during his life and more unfortunate is the one who has gained them and then lost them (through his deeds).
  
  *. When some blessings come to you, do not drive them away through thanklessness.
  
  *. He who is deserted by friends and relatives will often find help and sympathy from strangers.
  
  *. Every person who is tempted to go astray, does not deserve punishment.
  
  
  *. When you get ill do not get nervous about it and try as much as possible to be hopeful.
  
  *. The best form of devotion to the service of Allah is not to make a show of it.
  
  *. When you have to depart from this world and have to meet death (eventually), then why wish delay (why feel nervous about death).
   
  
   Golden Sayings & Speeches of Hazrat Ameer ul Momineen Imam Ali Ibn Abitalib a.s.
  (The Commander of the Faith)
  Asalamoalaka ya Hazrat Ameer ul Momineen Imam Ali Ibn Abitalib a.s.
  
  
  Imam Ali (as) says: “In fact the world is never deprived of a Hujjah (Imam), either obvious and known hujjah, or a hujjah who is hidden from the people’s eyes.
  * Ali-bin-Abi Talib(A.S.) related: We were receiving our shares that are decided in this Verse, which begins with instructions and ends with refraining, until the khums of Shush and Jundishapur came to Omar. The Muslims, Al-Abbas, and I were there when Omar said to us: "You have received many shares of Khums. Today, you are not in need for them while the Muslims are in urgent need. Borrow us your shares of this property and we will give it back to you as soon as Allah issues for the Muslims (additional) spoils.
  I did not want to answer him because I was afraid he, if we dispute with him about it, would say about our shares of khums the same thing that he had said about that which was greater than khums, namely the heritage of our Prophet(S.A.W.) when we insisted on receiving it.
  Al-Abbas said: O Omar, do not violate our shares, because Allah confirmed it to us in a way more manifest than the shares of heritage."
  Omar said; You are the foremost in showing kindness to the Muslims." He also sought my intercession in this question so importunately until he could seize our shares. After that, we did not receive anything as settlement of that loan until Omar was dead. After him, we could not demand with our shares.
  
  * Then Imam Ali(A.S.) said: Allah forbade His messenger(S.A.W.) to receive the alms. As compensation, He gave him a share in the khums. In like manner, it was illegal for the Prophet's family exclusively to receive the alms. Therefore, their little and big, male and female, poor, attendant, and absent-all these have shares in the khums, because their kinship to the Prophet(S.A.W.) will not change or vanish.
  
  * All praise is due to Allah Who made the Prophet from us and made us from him. The Prophet (S.A.W.) did not give anyone any share of the khums except us, our allies, and our adherents. This is because they are from us. He also gave some people a part of his share for the covenants that were concluded between them.
  
  * Previously, I have shown the ways of the four anfal (spoils of wars) that Allah manifested, ordered, and clarified by means of healing wording and luminous proof that was provided by the descended revelation and the Prophet(S.A.W.) applied.
  
  * He who distorts the words of Allah after he listened and understood, the sin will be afflicting only those who distort and Allah will be their adversary party in this regard.Peace and Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you.
  Reference:Tuhaf al-Uqool , From: Anecdotes of the Pious Ones, # 33, V. 1
  
  * After Fatima (S.A.) passed away Ali (A.S.) and the children became secluded and lonely. Ali (A.S.) sat by her grave and repeated a few sentences in a low voice and then facing the grave of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) he said, "Oh Prophet (P.B.U.H.) of God! I am returning to you that one which you had entrusted me. O Lord! Ask Fatima what happened with us. She will tell you all about it.
  Fatima was known to be very modest and humble. Because as man's desire of the Hereafter increases, his worldly lusts decrease; and when someone realizes the greatness and seriousness of the Day of Judgement, the worldly life becomes of little value to him. Besides, as man's reasoning and ability advances, his desire for lusts greatly decreases.
  Have you not seen that children play, have fun, become sad and fight over worthless objects; but as they grow up and their senses mature, they refrain from such actions because they consider them to be degrading to their personalities and contradicting to the rules of observing dignified conduct.
  This is the case of righteous worshippers of Allah who look down to the ephemeral things of this world, and their hearts cannot be attached to its vanities. They do not like this world for its worldly belongings, rather they enjoy living to gain good deeds and further worship Allah, the Exalted. They collect money to spend it in the way of Allah, feed the hungry, clothe and support the need and deprived. These were also the fundamentals of modesty on which Lady Fatima Zahra (A) depended. She deeply understood this worldly life, and realized the extent of the Hereafter. It is not amazing to learn that Fatima (A) was satisfied with the minimum requirements of life; she chose for herself the noble trait of preferring others over herself and aiding them, as we." as resenting sumptuous extravagant living. It is a small wonder, indeed, for Fatima was the daughter of the most modest whose religious and social life required him to live in modesty; and Fatima was the first person expected to follow the steps of her father, the modest Messenger.
  Fatima's marital life was also surrounded by modesty and satisfaction. Her husband Ali (A) was a devout follower of the Prophet of Islam, and there was not a man known who was more modest than Ali (A). Imam Ali (A) was the man who used to speak to the silver and gold in the treasury by saying:
  "O you yellow and white, deceive someone else save me!!"
  It has been reported that once a beduin approached Imam Ali (A) for help. The Imam then ordered his agent to give the beduin a grant of one thousand dinars, the later exclaimed:
  "Gold or silver dinars?"
  Imam Ali (A) replied: "They are both just stones to me, so give the beduin that which is more beneficial to him."
  * The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali(A.S.) himself took charge of her washing. It is reported that Asma' daughter of `Umays assisted him in washing her. Asma' related: "Fatimah(A.S.) had stated in her will that no one should wash her corpse except 'Ali(A.S.) and I. Thus we washed her together, and the Commander of the Faithful prayed over her along with Hasan(A.S.) and Husayn(A.S.), `Amman ibn Yasir, Miqdad, `Aqil, az-Zubayr, Abu Dharr, Salman, Buraydah and a few men of Banu Hashim. They prayed over her in the night, and in accordance with her own will 'Ali the Commander of the Faithful buried her in secret."
  *  Imam Ali said: "Don’t have an idiot woman nurse your children, for surely nursing is a means for passing on contagious diseases."
  * It is reported in Bihar that Ali (A) said to a man from Bani Sae'ed:
  "Should I speak to you about Fatima and Myself?
  She was my spouse who was the most beloved to the Prophet. Once, she carried water using a waterskin until it scarred her chest, she ground (grain) using a hand mill until blisters appeared on her hands, she swept the floor until her clothes became dusty and lit the fire under the cooking pot until her clothes became mud colored from the smoke.
  Fatima was inflicted by great pain as a result of this, so I said to her:
  `Why don't you ask your father for a servant to relieve you from these jobs?'
  When Fatima (A) went to the Prophet she found that he had company; and was too shy to talk to him, so she left the house. But the Prophet (S) knew that she had come for something."
  Imam Ali (A) continued:
  "The next morning, the Prophet came to the house while we were still under our quilt and said:
  'Assalamu Alaikum!'
  Yet because we were ashamed (of being under the quilt), we preferred to remain silent.
  The Prophet once again said:
  'Assalamu Alaikum!'
  Once again we remained silent. Then for the third time the Prophet said 'Assalamu Alaikum'. Now we feared that he would depart, for it was the prophet's habit to say Assalamu alaikum three times and then wait for permission to enter or leave.
  So I said:
  `Wa Alaik As-Salam, Messenger of Allah! Come in.'
  He (S) sat near our heads and said: 'Fatima, what was your need when you came to Muhammad yesterday?'
  Imam Ali added: "I was afraid that she (Fatima) would not tell him, so I pulled my head from under the cover and said:
  "I will inform you, Messenger of Allah!
  Surely she carried water using a water skin until her chest was scarred, she ground (grain) using a hand mill until blisters appeared on her hands, she swept the floor until her clothes became dusty and lit the fire under the cooling pot until her clothes were mud colored from the smoke. So 1 said to he:
  `Why don't ask your father for a servant to relieve you form these jobs?'"
  The Prophet (S) upon hearing this, said:
  `Shall I teach you something that is better for you than a servant and a world with everything in it? After every prayer say: Allahu Akbar thirty four (34) times, Alhamdulillah thirty three (33) times and Subhan Allah thirty three (33) times then conclude that with la illaha ila Allah. Surely this is better for you than that which you wanted and the world and its belongings.'
  Thus, Fatima adhered to this glorification after every prayer; and it came to be known as `Tasbih Fatima.'
  'Abu Haroun, surely we command our children to adhere to `Tasbih Fatima' the same way we command them to perform prayers. So perform the tasbih, for whoever adheres to it shall never be miserable.'"
  In reference to Fatima's beads, it was reported in Makarim al-Akhlaq that it was made of woven wool threads which had knots by the number of Takbir (Allahu Akbar), until when Hamza Ibn Abdal Muttalib (A) was martyred, she made them from the mud of his grave.
  Since the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (A), people have been using the mud surrounding his tomb for making beads for the great blessings, which lie in it.
  * It has been reported in Bihar that Imam Ali (A) said:
  "Once, the Messenger of Allah came to us while Fatima was sitting near the pot and I was cleaning some lentils; when the Prophet saw us he said:
  'Abu Al-Hassan!'
  I said: 'At your service! O Messenger of Allah!'
  He then said: `Listen to me, for I say not save that which is the word of Lord: There is not a man who helps his wife in her housework, save that with very hair on his body a whole year of worship-during which he fasted the days and kept up the nights in prayer is counted for him....' Although Fatima's dowry was modest, because of the Messenger's wish to set an example for the Muslims and for other implicit reasons, Fatima Zahra (A) did not ignore her greatness and exalted identity to obtain a fantastic gift for her wedding. Fatima's drive for excellence and perfection motivated her to ask for the right of intercedence-if Allah willed-for the sinners among the Muslims.
  * Lady Fatima Zahra (A) acted in such a manner when she realized that with the weaknesses, which afflicted her, she could not prevail. So she took refuge in a house in Baqi' near the tombs of martyrs, to cry for her father and complain to him about that which grieved her. Fatima (A) used to visit the great tomb of her father and take handful of the dirt from his grave and smell it then begin weeping. Fatima (A)would then return to her home and cry day and night. The elderly men of Medina came to Imam Ali (A) complaining and said:
  'Abu Al-Hassan! Fatima cries day and night so none of us can sleep comfortably. Hence, we demand you to ask her to either cry during the day or the night."
  Imam Ali (A) replied: "Most gladly"
  He then proceeded towards Fatima who was crying; when she saw him approaching, she stopped and Imam Ali (A) said:
  "Daughter of Allah's Messenger, the elderly men of Medina have asked me to ask you to either cry during the day or the night."
  Fatima answered:
  "Abu Al-Hassan, how short will my stay among them be? And soon I will depart from them. Therefore, by Allah, I join my father-Allah 's Messenger (S)."
  When Imam Ali (A) saw her insistence, he built a house for her behind Baqi' which later became known as "The house of griefs." Thereafter, with every sunrise, Fatima (A) would take Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain to that house and cry until sunset, when Imam Ali (A) would come and bring them back home.
  * Following are several narrations reported by Ahlul-Bayt (A) regarding Fatima (A) on the Last Day: 1. Hakim reported in Al-Mustadrak v.2, p.153 that Ali (S) said:
  "I heard the Prophet say:
  "On the Day of Rising, a caller shall announce from beyond the veil: "O gathered people, lower your eyes so that Fatima, the Daughter of Muhammad, may pass."
  This narration has also been reported by: Ibn Al-Athir in Usd al-Ghaba v.5, p.523;
  Ganji Shafiee in Kifayat At-Talib p. 212; Dhahabi in Mizan al-Etedal v.2, p.18; and by
  Hamwini in Yanabi' al-Mawaddah p.104, who added the following to it:
  * Ali (A) reported that the Prophet said:
  "On the Day of Rising, a caller shall call from the sole of the Throne:
  "O people of Resurrection, cast your eyes down, so that Fatima Bint Muhammad may pass-while holding Al-Hussain's shirt, which will (still) be saturated with blood.' She will then embrace the leg of the Throne and say:
  "O (Allah), You are the Omnipotent and Just; pass the judgment between me and those who killed my son." (The Prophet (S) added): "Then He shall judge according to my Sunnah, by the Lord of Kaaba, Fatima will then say: "O Allah! grant me intercedence for everyone who cried for his disaster; Allah will then grant her intercedence for them."
  * Ibn Abbas said: "I heard Amir Al-Mo'mineen, Ali (A) say:
  Once the Messenger of Allah entered the house of Fatima and found her in a sad mood. So he said: `What has made you sad daughter?'
  Fatima replied: `Father, I remembered the gathering (Day), and people standing naked on the Day of Resurrection!'
  He said: Daughter, surely it will be a great Day. But Gabriel informed me that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said that the first one upon whom the ground shall be split opened is me, then your husband, Ali Ibn Abu Talib (A); then Allah shall send Gabriel accompanied by seventy thousand angels and he will erect on your grave seven domes of light, after which Israfil will bring you three garments of light and stand by your head and say to you:
  "O Fatima Bint Muhammad, rise towards your gathering place."
  "You (Fatima) shall then rise secure from fear and veiled (in privacy). Israfil will hand you the garments and you will wear them. Rafael will then bring you a female camel of light; its muzzle shall be made of fresh pearls and on it shall be a howdan of gold. You will ride it and Rafael shall lead it by its muzzle while seventy thousand angels holding the banners of glorification accompany you.
  When the caravan hurries with you, seventy thousand Huris shall receive you rejoicing at seeing you; while every one of them will be holding a censer of light from which the fragrance of incense is spread without fire. They shall be wearing crowns of jewels embellished with green chrysolites."
  * The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali(a.s.) himself took charge of her washing. It is reported that Asma' daughter of `Umays assisted him in washing her. Asma' related: "Fatimah(a.s.) had stated in her will that no one should wash her corpse except 'Ali(a.s.) and I. Thus we washed her together, and the Commander of the Faithful prayed over her along with Hasan(a.s.) and Husayn(a.s.), `Amman ibn Yasir, Miqdad, `Aqil, az-Zubayr, Abu Dharr, Salman, Buraydah and a few men of Banu Hashim. They prayed over her in the night, and in accordance with her own will 'Ali the Commander of the Faithful buried her in secret."
  
  * Among the things which Allah completed the great honour of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali(a.s.)in this world and the world to come was His special favour towards him in having him unite in marriage with the noble daughter of the Messenger of Allah, who was the most beloved of all creatures to him, the consolation of his eyes and leader of the women of the world. Among the many ahadith (traditions) concerning this event is the sound hadith reported on the authority of Anas ibn Malik, who said: "As the Apostle of Allah(pbuh&hf) was sitting one day, 'Ali(a.s.) came to see him. He addressed him saying, `O 'Ali(a.s.), what brings you here?' `I came only to greet you with the salutation of peace', `Ali(a.s.) replied. The Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) declared: `Here comes Gabriel to tell me that Allah has willed to unite you in marriage with Fatimah(a.s.). He has, moreover, called as witnesses to her marriage a thousand angels. Allah has revealed to the tree of Tuba, "Scatter your pearls and rubies! " Black-eyed houris rushed to pick the precious stones up, which they shall exchange as presents among them till the Day of Resurrection.' "
  * It is related on the authority of Ibn `Abbas, who said: "On the night when Fatimah(a.s.) was married to 'Ali(a.s.), the Messenger of Allah(pbuh&hf) stood before her. Gabriel stood at her right hand and Michael at her left. Seventy thousand angels stood behind her, praising and sanctifying Allah. The Commander of the Faithful prided himself on his marriage to her on numerous occasions." Abu Ishaq ath-Thaqafi reported on the authority of Hakim ibn Jubayr, who reported from al-Hajari who related from his uncle who said: "I heard `Ali(a.s.) say one day, `I shall utter words which no other man would utter but that he would be a liar. I am `Abdullah (Allah's servant), and the brother of the Apostle of Allah. I am the one whose guardian is the Prophet of mercy, for I have married the mistress of all the women of the community. I am the best of the vicegerents.' " Numerous reports expressing similar ideas have been transmitted.
  * Ath -Thaqafi reported on the authority of Buraydah, who said: "On the nuptial night of `Ali(a.s.) and Fatimah(a.s.), the Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) said to 'Ali(a.s.), `Do not do anything until you see me.' He then brought water - or the traditionist reported that he called for water - which he used to perform his ablutions for prayers, pouring the rest over 'Ali(a.s.). The Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) then prayed, `O Allah, bless them! Shower your blessings over them, and bless for them their two young lions (that is, their two sons Hasan(a.s.) and Husayn(a.s.))."' ath-Thaqafi also related on the authority of Shurahil ibn Abi Sa'd, who said: "On the morning after Fatimah's wedding, the Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) brought a skinful of milk, and said to Fatimah(a.s.), 'Drink! May your father be a ransom for you.' He likewise said to `Ali(a.s.), 'Drink! May your cousin be a ransom for you.' "
  *  But wait... can't you hear the Commander of the faithful... the known hero... Ali... Don't you realize that he is crying? Yet, who would not cry for being separated from the Mistress of women?
  Listen to him, he is speaking to the Prophet (p.b.u.h):
  "O Prophet of Allah, peace be upon you from me and from your daughter who has come to you and who has hastened to meet you. O Prophet of Allah (p.b.u.h)! my patience about your chosen (daughter) has been exhausted and my power of endurance has weakened, except that I have ground for consolation in having endured the great hardship and heart-rending event of your separation. I laid you down in your grave while your last breath had passed (when your head)
  "Verily we are Allah's and verily unto Him shall we return.' (2:56) between my neck and chest.
  * Imam Ali (a.s) did not fight back after the Prophet's (p.b.u.h) death because he considered the Muslim's unity and overall interests. Yet, this did not mean that he would ignore their villainous crimes against Fatima even after her death. In other words, Ali was asked by the Prophet (a.s) to have patience, but only to a certain extent; when Ali (a.s) received the news of the about-to-be-executed plot, he put on his fighting gear and rushed towards Baqi'. A man from among the people called out:
  "This is Ali Ibn Abu Talib leveling his sword and saying.'
  If anyone moves even a more stone from these graves, I shall strike even the "back of the last follower of the unjust. '
  People who realized All's seriousness, took his threats with complete belief that he would do just as he said if anyone were to oppose him. Yet, a man from the governing ones addressed Ali (a.s) by saying:
  "What is the matter, Abu Al-Hassan?! By Allah, we shall dig her grave out and perform prayers on Ali (a.s) then grabbed the man by his clothes, shook him and threw him to the ground and said;
  
  * "Son of the Sawada! I have abandoned my right to prevent people from forsaking their faith, but as regards Fatima s grave, by Him in whose hand is my soul, if you and your followers attempt to do anything to it, I will irrigate the ground with your blood!!
  At this, Abu Bakr said; Abu Al-Hassan, I ask you by the right of Allah's Messenger, and by Him Who is above the Throne: leave him alone and we will not do anything which you would not approve of.. Thus, until this day, the location of Fatima's grave remains a secret.
  
  *  It has been narrated from Ibn ^cAbbaas, who said that Ameer al-Mo’meneen used to recite the do^caa’ of Sanamay Qoraysh, the Two Idols of Qoraysh, in the qonoot[95] of his salaat. Some parts of this do^caa’[96] are as follows:((O Allaah! Keep away from Your Mercy the Two Idols of Qoraysh…for surely they have demolished the House of the Prophethood, and blocked up its door…and exterminated its residents, and annihilated its supporters, and killed its children…and [for] the blood that they spilled…and the inheritance that they usurped…and the Khoms[97] that they took-over…and the stomach that they ruptured, and the fetus that they killed, and the rib that they broke…[98])).[95] A particular position in salaat in which the palms are brought up in line with the face, whilst the palms are placed adjacent side by side and facing upwards.[96] [96] Praying to Allaah, asking Him for something for oneself and/or for others… Do^caa’ can be positive or negative, and has many forms and many uses and effects. Some ad^ceyah (plural of do^caa’) should only be recited in specific times and/or places, whereas other ad^ceyah are not bound to any time or place restrictions. There is a huge number of set formal ad^ceyah narrated from the Fourteen Ma^csoomeen, the recitation of which is highly recommended, but it is also possible for any Moslem to compose his own do^caa’, in any language format, provided that he has a considerable knowledge of Islam.[97] An Islamic tax of 20% levied, among other things, on the annual superfluous income. Khoms is given to the Prophet or one of his kholafaa’ or one of the representatives of the final khaleefah—Maraaji^c[97], who then give it to its legal recipients accordingly. It could also be directly given to the legal recipients under the supervision or with the permission of the Maraaji`. Once Khoms is deducted from a certain amount, it will no longer be subject to Khoms in the coming years.[98] Behaar al-Anwaar / al-Majlesi = vol. 85, page 260.
  * Sayeda Fatima (as) delivered her firstborn, healthy baby boy at age 12. The midwives wrapped him in a yellow cloth, and presented him to his grandfather, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) of Islam (pbuh) who read the adhan in his right ear and the iqama in his left. The Prophet (pbuh) was displeased, and removed the yellow cloth, replacing it with a white one. At the time, nobody knew the reason for this, but modern experiments in psychology have shown that the color yellow makes newborns anxious and nervous, while white makes them feel calm and secure. Fatima (as) and Ali (as)asked the Prophet (pbuh) to name the child. The angel Gabriel revealed to the Prophet, that he should name him Shubbar, after the progeny of the Prophet (pbuh) Aaron, since Imam Ali (as) held the same position to the Prophet (pbuh) as Aaron to Moses, except there would be no Prophet (pbuh) after him. However, the Prophet (pbuh) replied to Gabriel that his tongue was Arabic, (he was an Arabic speaker). Gabriel then told him to call him Al Hassan (as), by the order of Allah, lord of the worlds.
  
  * The second part or stage of the role of Imam Hasan (a.s.) in the life of the Muslims commenced when his father appointed him as the next Imam. In the wake of the cruel attempt on his life by Abdul-Rahman bin Muljim and his cohorts the dying Imam (a.s.) said his last will to his son, Hasan (a.s.):
  "...my son, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) ordered me to inform you of my last will, and hand over my books and weapons to you, exactly as he told me his last will and gave me his books and weapons. He ordered me to order you to give them to your brother, Hussein, when death approaches you..."
  Then he turned to his son, Hussein, and said:
  "And the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) ordered you to hand them to this son of yours."
  Thereupon, he took hold of the hand of Ali bin Hussein (a.s.) and said to him:
  "And the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) ordered you to give them to your son, Muhammad bin Ali. Remember, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) and me to him."(20)
  *Al-Majlisi, quoting Fural Ibn Ibrahim's interpretation of The Holy Quran in his book Al-Bihar, said: 'Abu Saeed al-Khudari said: One morning Ali Ibn Abu Talib woke up very hungry and said: 'Fatima, do you have anything to feed us?' She answered: `No, by Him who honored father with Prophet hood, and honored you with successor ship, we have nothing edible this morning, and we haven't had any food for two days save that which I have preferred to give you and our two children, Hassan and Hussain.' Ali (A) said: 'Fatima! Why didn't you tell me, so I could bring some food for you?'   Fatima answered: 'Abu Al-Hassan, I surely become ashamed before my God to ask you to do something you cannot do. 'At this, Ali Ibn Abu Talib left Fatima, with full trust that Allah would help him. He borrowed a dinar, and while he was holding the dinar and trying to buy some food for his family, he came upon Miqdad Ibn Al Aswad. The sun had burnt Al-Miqdad's face and feet on that exceptionally hot day. When Ali (A) saw him, he exclaimed surprisingly: `Miqdad, what brings you out of your home at this hour?' Miqdad answered: 'Abu Al-Hassan, ask me not about what I have left behind in the house.' Ali (A) said: `My brother, I cannot leave you without knowing your problem.' Miqdad then said: 'Abu Al-Hassan, for Allah's sake and your sake leave me alone, and do not ask about my condition!!'   Imam Ali said: `My brother, you should not hide your condition from me.'  Miqdad replied: 'Abu Al-Hassan, now that you insist, by Him who honored Muhammad with Prophet hood and honored you with successor ship, nothing forced me out of my house save poverty. I left my children starving; when I heard their cries, there remained no place for me on earth-I have come out of my house in depression; this is my story.'  Imam Ali (A) cried when he heard the story; he cried until his beard was wet from tears and said: `By Allah, that which forced you out of your house and also forced me out of my house; I borrowed a dinar, but I prefer you to have it.'  When Imam Ali (A) had given the dinar to Miqdad, he went to the Mosque and performed his Dhuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon) and Maghrib (evening) prayers. When the Messenger of Allah had completed his prayers, he signaled Ali, who was in the first line, to follow him. Ali (A) obediently followed him out of the Mosque and after the Prophet greeted him said: 'Abu Al-Hassan, do you have some food for dinner so that I can accompany you?  Imam Ali was too shy to answer the Messenger; but the Prophet of Allah (S) had detailed knowledge about the dinar and what had happened to it; for Allah, the Exalted, had revealed to His Prophet to have dinner at Ali's house that night. When Ali did not answer, the Prophet said:  'Abu Al-Hassan, why don't you say no, so I may leave you; or yes, so I may accompany you?' Imam Ali (A) said: 'Accompany me!!'  The Prophet then took Ali's hand and proceeded toward Fatima's house. When they arrived, Fatima was just finishing her prayers and there was a pan oil fire behind her. When she heard the Prophet coming, who was the dearest person to her, she greeted him and he wiped his hand on her head and said:`How is your evening, my daughter?' She answered: `Fine!' He then said: `Give us some dinner, may Allah bless you, and surely He has.' Fatima (A) placed the pan in front of the Prophet (S) and Ali Ibn Abu Talib...  At that moment, the Messenger of Allah put his hand on Ali's shoulder and said:  'Ali, this is a substitute for your dinar. This is a reward from Allah for the dinar; surely Allah grants whoever He wills without limit.'  The Prophet (S) cried and said: "Praise be to Allah, Who insisted on rewarding you in this world, too, and made you Ali-like Zakariya and Fatima like Maryam Bint Imran, for whenever Zakariya entered the Mehrab, he found Maryam with her subsistence."
  * It has been reported in Bihar that Imam Ali (A) said:  "Once, the Messenger of Allah came to us while Fatima was sitting near the pot and I was cleaning some lentils; when the Prophet saw us he said: 'Abu Al-Hassan!' I said: 'At your service! O Messenger of Allah!' He then said: `Listen to me, for I say not save that which is the word of Lord: There is not a man who helps his wife in her housework, save that with very hair on his body a whole year of worship-during which he fasted the days and kept up the nights in prayer is counted for him....' Fatima (A) acquired her divine knowledge from the clear spring of Prophet hood and received the excellence of truth from the house of revelation. So her attentive heart was embellished with wisdom and her brilliant reason together with her brightness realized to the fullest extent the real meaning of every fact. Yet, despite the fact that Fatima heard an abundant volume of narrations from her father what has been reported on her authority is limited to certain issues. The reason for this will be explained later. 
  * Kashf al Ghumma:  Imam Ali (A) quoted Fatima as saying:  "The Messenger of Allah (S) said: 'Fatima, he who praises you, will be forgiven by Allah; Who will make him my companion where ever in Paradise I may be."
  * A rite in Karbalaa by the father of the martyr, the Commander of Believers Ali (as)
  Muhammad bin 'Ubaid, Sharhabeel bin Mudrik, Abdullah bin Naji: "his father walked with Ali (ra), when they reached Nainawa, the departure point to Siffien, Ali called: Be patient aba 'Abdullah! Be patient aba 'Abdullah at the river al-Furat (Euphrates)! I said: And what? He said: I entered on the messenger of Allah (s) one day and his eyes overflowing. I said: Oh, prophet of Allah! Anybody angered you? Why are your eyes overflowing (with tears)? He said: But Gabriel just left me and informed me: That al-Hussain will be killed at the river al-Furat (Shattul Furat). He said: Do you want me to show you from his sand? He said: I said yes. He extended his hand and grabbed and handful of dirt and gave it to me. So I could not help it, my eyes overflowed."
  Sunni Ref: al-Masnad, Ahmad bin Hanbal, v 2, pp 60-61.
  * Ibn Saad, Ali bin Muhammad, Yahya bin Zakariya, a man heard it from 'Amir al-Sha'bi say: "When Ali (as) passed by Karbalaa in his march to Siffien and lined up with Nainawa - a village on the Euphrates - he stopped and called one of them men: Tell aba 'Abdullah (al-Hussain ) what this land is called? He said: Karbalaa. Then he cried until the earth was wet from his tears. He then said: I entered on the messenger of Allah (s) and he was crying. So I said: What makes you cry? He said: Gabriel was with me, just now, and informed me: that my son al-Hussain will be killed at the banks of Furat in a location called Karbalaa. Then Gabriel grabbed a handful of dirt and let me smell it. So I could not help it, my eyes overflowed." Sunni Ref: al-Tabaqat, Ibn Saad , al-Musannaf, Ibn Abi Shaibeh, v12 (with "Patience aba 'Abdullah, patience aba 'Abdullah." al-Moejam al-Kabeer, al-Tabarani, v 1 ,Tareekh al-Shamm, Ibn 'Asakir
  * Also Ibn Abbas narrated that he met Imam Ali (A.S.) in Ziqar, and Imam Ali(A.S.) pulled out a book that was written of the words of Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) in which the Prophet had explained the tragedy of Ashura and the slaughtering of his grandson al-Husain and how he will be killed and who kills him and who assist them and who will be martyred with him. Then Imam Ali (A.S.) screamed severely and caused Ibn Abbas (RA) to cry.
  * Imam Ali (as) said: Tears don’t try except for in the hard hearted person, and the heart doesn’t harden except due to the excess or repetition of sins. Crying over material or worldly things is one matter, and crying over spiritual things is another. We cry spiritually over a man (Hussein) who is close to our hearts, as he is someone who brings us closer to our Lord. This kind of crying is that of the shia, the followers of Ali (as) who cry over a man who is so dear to us.
  * O' people, your bodies are together but your desires are divergent. You claim in your sittings that you would do this and that, but when fighting approaches, you say (to war), "turn thou away" (i.e. flee away).
  O' my Allah they are disgusted of me and I am disgusted of them. They are weary of me and I am weary of them. Change them for me with better ones and change me for them with worse one." .
  * Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) has reportedly said: A Muslim becomes perfect through three virtues: endeavor for faith and religion, moderation in lifestyles and forbearance while in difficulty.
  *  It is reported from Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.): O people! You have patience and forbearance in time of trouble. In truth,. One who has no patience has no religion.
  * Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) is reported to have said: Patience, good behavior, fine attitude and forbearance is the character of Gods messengers.
  *  The best worship is: patience, silence and wait for the arrival of Imam Mahdi (a.s.).
  * Ali (a.s.) said: Patience is a shield in times of pressure and empty handedness.
  * Asbagh quotes Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.): Forbearance is of two types: Patience in difficulties which is good and nice and better that that is the patience of restraining yourself from a thing which God has prohibited for you. And remembrances also are of two kinds: Remembrance of Almighty Allah in time of trouble and better than that remembrance is which prevents you from doing what God had made forbidden for you.
  * The Commander of the Faithful (Imam Ali) stated: The worst wife is a woman who is not complaisant. [Ibid]
  * Similarly, Ameerul Momineen (a.s) says 'Supplication is the essence of worship'.But man has become so immersed and polluted in this material world that he has forgotten the sayings of the infallible Imams (a.s). He will have to face the consequences of his deeds in this world as well in the hereafter. As Ameerul Momineen (a.s) asserts, '…today is the day of action and not of accounting while tomorrow is the day of accounting and not of action'. (Nahjul Balagha; Sermon no 24)
  * Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said: "O' Kumayl! Say what is just in any condition. Be friends with the righteous and avoid the evil doers, stay away from the hypocrites and do not accompany the treacherous. "Mustadrak-ul-Wasa'il, vol. 12, p. 197
  * He who is deserted by friends and relatives will often find help and sympathy from strangers.
  
  * If a friend envies you, then he is not a true friend .
   * Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said: "Verily, there are three (types of) friends for a Muslim:
  
  1. The friend who says: 'I am with you whether you are alive or dead', and this is his deed.
  2. The friend who says: ' I am with you unto the threshold of your grave and then I will leave you', and this is his child.
  3. The friend who says: 'I will be with you until when you die', and this is his wealth which will belong to the inheritors when he dies."