Golden Sayings of Hazrat Imam Ali Ibn e Abi Talib a.s

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Golden Sayings & Speeches of 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.

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.

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.

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

    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.

    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.

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

    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.

    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 ).

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.

    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.

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.

    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.

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).

    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.

    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

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

    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".

    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".

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.

    860. One, who is willful and conceited will suffer losses and
    calamities and one who seeks advice can secure advan- tages of
    many counsels.

863. One, who serves a person from whom he gets no reci- procal
performance of duties, in fact, worships him.

    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.

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.

    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.

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.

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

    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.

    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.

    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 .

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.

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.

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....

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.Im�m �All (AS) was thinking the same when he spoke of Hadrat Zahr� (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 Im�m �All (AS) and Hadrat Zahr� (AS), went
to congratulatue them in their house and know about their welfare. He asked Im�m �All (AS):
�How do you find your spouse?� The Im�m 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.Im�m �Ali (AS), in one sentence, introduced the best woman in Islam and expressed the main
purpose of marriage.

1139. Im�m �Ali (AS) stated: �The Jih�d 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. Im�m �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. Im�m �Ali (AS) stated: �One is never able to do without his relatives, even though he may
possess wealth and children�.

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

1143.Im�m �Ali (AS) stated: �The chest of a wise man is tsafe for his secrets�.

1144.�Im�in �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. Im�m �Ali (AS) stated: �Keep your house clean of spider�s webs, because a spider�s web is a
cause of poverty�

1147. Im�m �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. Im�m �Ali (AS) stated: �Allah likes a pious person who is honestly engaged in doing a job�

1149. Im�m �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. Im�m �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.�Im�m �Ali (AS) also stated: �It is written in the Tawr�h: whoever makes a complaint about a
hardship which has befallen him, is in fact complaining about Allah�.�

1153. �Im�m �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. �Im�m �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. �Im�m �Ali (AS) stated to his son, Im�m 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. �Im�m �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"

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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."

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.

Exalted is His Name from the polytheism of polytheists of the dwellers of Earth, And

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."

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"

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. '"

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

~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

O Allah, send thy Blessings on Mohammad and the descendents of Mohammad.