Ali

"Imam Ali" directs here. Follow the link for the film with the same name.

Ali bin Abu-Talib (Arabic: علي بن أبي طالب) (c. 600 - 661) was the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, as well as being the first Shī‘ah Imām and fourth Sunni Caliph. Ali was revered for his knowledge and wisdom, and also for his eloquence as an orator and a poet.

It has been suggested that Nahj al-Balagha be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

See also: Nahj al-Balagha.

Sourced

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

• Fear only the will of God and you will have no cause to fear anyone else.
  • [1]

• The best companion and helper is admirable morals.
  • Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.77, p.149.

• There are so many highly esteemed ones who became miserable and humiliated just because of their bad temper and morals; and humble people who have attained eminence and the highest honors because of good temper and morals.
  • Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.71, p.396.

• The weakest man is the one who is able to correct his moral defects, but doesn't take action.
  • Husayn al-Nuri al-Tabarsi, Mustadrak al-Wasā'il, vol.11, p.324.

• He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare, while he who has one enemy will meet him everywhere.
  • As quoted in "Considerations By the Way" in Conduct of Life by Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • Variant translation: Believe me, a thousand friends suffice thee not; In a single enemy thou hast more than enough.

• 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.
  • Nahj ul-Balāgha.

• Two things cause people to be destroyed: fear of poverty and seeking superiority through pride.
  • Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.72, p.39.

The way of governance

Nahj ul Balagha Letter 53.

• These are the orders issued by the creature of Allah, Ali, the son Abu Taalib (a) to Maalik, the son of Ashtar when he appointed Maalik as the Governor of Egypt to collect Zakat there, to combat the enemies of Islam and Egypt, to work for the welfare of its people and to look after its prosperity.

• Do not feel ashamed to forgive and forget. Do not hurry over punishments and do not be pleased and do not be proud of your power to punish. Do not get angry and lose your temper quickly over the mistakes and failures of those over whom you rule. On the contrary, be patient and sympathetic with them. Anger and desire of vengeance are not going to be of much help to you in your administration. Never say to yourself, "I am their Lord, their ruler and all in all over them and that I must be obeyed submissively and humbly" because such a thought will unbalance your mind, will make you vain and arrogant, will weaken your faith in religion and will make you seek support of any power other than that of Allah . If you ever feel any pride or vanity on account of your sway and rule over your subjects then think of the supreme sway and rule of the Lord over the Universe, the extent of His creations, the supremacy of His Might and Glory, His Power to do things which you cannot even dream of doing and His control over you which is more dominating than that which you can ever achieve over anything around you. Such thoughts will cure your mental weakness, will keep you away from vanity and rebellion (against Allah), will reduce your arrogance and haughtiness and will take you back to the sanity which you had foolishly deserted... Try carefully to realize that a ruler can create goodwill in the minds of his subjects and can make them faithful and sincere to him only when he is kind and considerate to them, when he reduces their troubles, when he does not oppress them and when he never asks for things which are beyond their power. These are the principles which you should keep in mind and act upon".

• Awaken your heart to kindness and mercy for the people and love and tenderness for them. Never, never act with them like a predatory beast which seeks to be satiated by devouring them, for the people fall into two categories: they are either your brethren in faith or your kindred in creation ... Do not ever say, 'I have been given authority' or 'My command should be obeyed.' Because it corrupts the heart, consumes one's faith, and invites calamities.
  • Part of the famous epistle to Malik al-Ashtar [2]

Regarding Knowledge & Wisdom

General

• There is no capital more useful than intellect and wisdom, and there is no indigence more injurious than ignorance and unawareness.
  • Ibn Shu’ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p.198
  • Variant translation: There is no wealth like knowledge, no poverty like ignorance.

• There is no knowledge and science like pondering and thought; and there is no prosperity and advancement like knowledge and science.
  • Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.1, p.179

• Associating with the wise and the knowledgeable people adds to the prestige of a person.
  • Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.78, p.6.

• An alert and learned man will take advice from any event.
  • Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.1, p.160.

• There are three signs of a knowledgeable person: knowledge, forbearance and silence.
  • Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.2, p.59.

Religious

• When wisdom reaches the acme of perfection it, will suppress the vicious instincts and injurious desires.
  • Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.78, p.6.

• To whatever extent a person's knowledge increases, his attention will be turned more towards his soul.
  • Husayn al-Nuri al-Tabarsi, Mustadrak al-Wasā'il, vol.11, p.323.

• Allah, the Exalted, gave the angels intellect without desires, He gave the animals desires without intellect, and He gave both to the sons of Adam. So a man whose intellect prevails over his desires is better than the angels, whilst a man whose desire prevails over his intellect is worse than the animals.
  • Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.60, p.299, no.5.

Regarding the Qur'an

• Recitation of the Qur'an without contemplation and thought is futile.
  • Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.92, p.211.

• Reciter and listener of the Qur'an are alike in prize and reward.
  • Husayn al-Nuri al-Tabarsi, Mustadrak al-Wasā'il, vol.4, p.261.

• Understanding the knowledge and wisdom of the Qur'an is by far, higher than memorizing.
  • Muhammad Kulayni, Usūl al-Kāfī, vol.4, p.418.

• The one from among the Muslims who recites the Qur'an but in the end finds his way to hell, is considerd to be among those that have taken the word of Allah in jest.
  • Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.92, p.182.

See also

• Nahj al-Balagha
• Muhammad
• Fātimah
• ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib
• Hasan ibn ‘Alī
• Husayn ibn ‘Alī
• ‘Alī Zaynul ‘Ābidīn
• ‘Alī al-Akbar
• ‘Alī al-Aṣghar
• Sakina(Fāṭimah Kubra)
• Sakina(Rukayya).
• Muhammad al-Bāqir
• Ja‘far as-Sādiq
• Ismā‘īl
• Muḥammad
• al-Mahdī
• al-Mu‘izz
• al-Ḥākim
• al-Mustansir
• al-Musta′lī
• al-Qāṣim
• Musā al-Kādhim
• ‘Alī ar-Ridhā
• Muhammad at-Taqī
• ‘Alī al-Hādi
• Hasan al-Askarī
• Muhammad al-Mahdī
• The Last Sermon of Muhammad
• The Sermon of Ali ibn Husayn in Damascus

External links

• Nahjolbalaqa : The most saying of imam Ali (pbuh)
• Imam Ali in the eyes of non-Muslims (PDF document)
• Nahjul Balagha, among the works of The Infallibles at The Light of Islam
• Commentaries on Nahj ul Balagha (The Peak of Eloquence) including translations of "The Sayings of Ali"
• The book Peak of Eloquence
• Imam Ali; Sayings of Ali 1-114, 115-206