all about hazrath Ali (as)

Imam Ali Ibin Abe Taleb
AMEER Al-MU'MINEEN
( Salaam Allah A'lay )
Name:
ALI IBIN ABE TALEB(as)
Title:

AL-MURTATHA(as)
CALIPHA AL-MUSLIMEEN AJ'MA'EEN(as)
Kunyat:

ABUL HASSAN(as)
Also Know as:

HAIDAR - Lion
ABU TORAAB - Father of earth
WALLEE ALLAH - Viceregent of God
HUJJAT ALLAH
SAIF ALLAH - Sword of God
Born:

On Friday, 13th Rajab
In The Holy Kabah in Mecca, Arabia
Cousin:

To The Holy Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf)
Father:

Abu Taleb(as)
The Clan Chief of the Bani Hashim(as)
Mother:

Fatimah Bani Assad(as)
First Wife:

The Holy Lady Fatimah Al-Zahra(as)
The beloved and reveared Daughter of The Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf)
Her Children:

Imam Hassan(as)
The 2nd Holy Imam
Imam Hussain(as)
The 3rd Holy Imam and The Martyr of Karbala
Lady Zaynab(as)
The Herowin of Karbala(as)
Lady Umm Al-Kalthoum(as)
Muhsen(as)
Still born
Second Wife:

Umm Al-Baneen(as)
Married her after the death of The Lady Fatimah Al-Zahra(as)
Her Children:

Abul Fadhl Al-Abbass(as)
The devouted follower of his half brother Imam Hussain(as)
The Champion of Karbala

Date of Death:

On 21st Ramadan, 40 AH
Died from a fatal head wound at 63 years old
Cause of Death:

Assinated
During his Morning Prayer of Worship in the Mosque of Kufa, Iraq
Buried:

Najaf, Iraq
As per his instructions he was secretly buried in an unmarked grave
Brothers:

Taleb
Jafar Al-Daiyar(as)
Aqeel Ibin Abe Taleb(as)

The 1st Infallible Holy Imam Ali(as)
He is the youngest son of the Clan Chief Abu Taleb(as) of the family of Bani Hashim and his wife the Lady Fatimah Bint Al-Assad(as).
His is

The Cousin
By his birth right

The Son-In-Law
By marriage to The Holy Lady Fatimah Al-Zahra(as)

The Calipha
The Sole Successor by undisputed declaration
Of The Prophet Mohammad Al-Mustafa(pbuh&hf).

He is the only person undisputedly designated as:
The 1st legitimate Successor of The Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf)

Calipha of all Muslims

The Leader of all Mankind

The Holy Father of all the Infallible Eleven Holy Imams(as)

Nahjul Balagh

Honoured:
The Imam Ali Ibin Abe Taleb(as)
Is the only person to have the honour bestowed upon him of being born in The Sacred Holy Kabah in Mecca on Friday, 13th day of the month of Rajab, 600AD. Only thirty years after the year of the Elephant in 570 AD.
Nobody before him or after him
Has ever had this esteem honour bestowed upon him by The Grace of Allah(swt), to be born in The Sacred House of God, The Most High

His position in Islam
Is most unique and as being dignified in all its greatness.


His excellent attributes are of a great number
He was brought up and taught by
The Holy Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) himself
He was the first to become
Muslim
He never ever worshipped
Any kind of pagan idols or other gods or even attributed them to The One Almighty God, Allah(swt) by either partnership or kin!

That's why the Sinna
When utterring or hearing of Imam Ali's name. They always address him with revearance and attribute him the most respected title of:
'KARRAM ALLAH WAJJHA'
Meaning that he never had bowed down to any others than Allah(swt)!

He was the most closest and the most beloved to The Prophet(pbuh&hf) of all his Companions
He was most the faithfull to The Prophet(pbuh&hf) of all his Companions
He was the most loyal to The Prophet(pbuh&hf), of all his Companions
He was the most devouted follower of The Prophet(pbuh&hf), of all his Companions
Under his War Banner of Leadership, Victory was always assured.
He never ever retreated from the face of any enemy.
His courage was magnificient
His Judgement was most righteous and correct
So much so that he received this warm compliment from The Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf)
"Ali is the best Judge, amongst all of you."
About his vast knowledge The Prophet(pbuh&hf) had said,
"I am the city of knowledge. And Ali is it's gate!"
In Imam Ali's(as) relation to 'the Truth', The Prophet(pbuh&hf) had been recorded to have said,
"Ali is with the Truth. And the Truth is with Ali!"
He was just in all his dealings with all the people.
He treated all the people equally without discrimination.
He never indulged himself in the worldly materials and of it's luxuries.
He would enter the Bayt Al-Mal (Public Treasury) and would look at all the gold and silver stored and with indifference, and would address them by saying,

"White and yellow,
is an attraction to the people,
but not so with me!"
White here meaning Silver

Yellow here meaning Gold

He would then distribute them among all the needy and the poor

He would treat the destitute with patience, respect and mercy
He would grasp every opporturnity to socalise with the poor, the sick, the needy and the homeless
He would not hesitate to defend any innocent or helpless person
He would rush to help any sick person in need
He would speak out for the Truth and issue his Decrees on the basis of Justice.
He would never think of appeasing or to comprimise or to undertermine Justice for anyone
He would only deal honestly and speak the Truth
He would never put his own interest and of his family above Islam's Interest
He would never support any person's selfish interest over the interest of Islam and of Human Justice
He would never speak ill behind any person's back
He would never take advantage of his position to benefit himself and of his family over other's interest
He would never allowed corruption and corrupt officials to manifest over Islam's basic principles.

Assination:
He was fatally wounded on the head, by the blow from a sword laced with deadly poision, by a assasin Abdulrahman Ibin Al-Muljim on Friday, 19th. of the Month Ramadan in the great Mosque of Kufa, while the Imam(as) was leading the early morning prayers.
Three days latter at the age of 63, he died in his home, surround by his family of his fatal head wound.

Burial:
The Imam's(as) body was prepared for burial by his Two holy Sons:

Imam Al-Hassan(as)
Imam Al-Hussain(as)
Secret Burial
They secrectly buried his corpse, as explicitly willed by him, in an umarked grave, on a small green mound, where the Prophet Nuh(as) is buried.

At a place named Najaf, in southern Iraq, where his Sacred Shrine stands now.


In short:

"The Holy Imam Ali Ibin Abe Taleb(as) was very much like The Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) himself, in his virtuous attributes.
For this reason Allah, The Most High(swt), in His Wisdom had considered Ali(as) in the Holy Koran Al-Kareem as:


'The Soul'
Of The Holy Prophet Mohammad Al-Mustafa(pbuh&hf)".
History
Warn Thy Family
The Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) invites Ali(as) to help him in an important task, that God had commanded of him
Succession
Ali(as) here is clearly appointed Calipha to succeed The Messenger of God(pbuh&hf)

Migration
The Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) asks Ali(as) to cover for him, by pretending to be him sleeping in his bed, so that he may escape successfully undected by Quraysh assasins

Nahjul Balagh
A fine collection of Speeches and Hadeeths of Imam Ali(as)



His Exploits
Decribes how Imam Ali(as) endavoured himself for the sake of:
Allah
The Prophet
Islam


Born on friday 13th rajab at holy kaaba
The Holy Kabah
Ali's Birthplace

Honour Bestowed Only Upon the Imam Ali Ibin Abe Taleb(as)

Fatimah Bint Al-Assad
She was the clan chief of Bani Hashim Abu Taleb's wife, and like her husband she was a grandchild of the clan chief Hashim, of the Bani Hashim tribe of Quraysh. Her father was Assad, who was also half brother of Abd Al-Muttalib.
Fatimah Bint Al-Assad had already born her husband, Taleb, Jafar and Aqeel, and was now once more heavy with child, and as she approached the Holy House of God, The Holy Kabah, on her way to her humble house, across the main square.

She stop suddenly and reached for the Kabah wall for support when sudden labour pains came upon her. She lent her swollen body on the nearby Kabah sacred Walls for support for a while and the pain subdue. Another bolt of pain hit her as she again desperately steadied herself against the stonewalls.

Again she waited out her pains to subside so to continue her small journey to he home. But instead the pains increased and she realised that her time for birth was now upon her.

She frantically looked around her and saw the Kabah surrounding was busy with people, all strangers to her, paying their homage around the Holy House of God.

Then the frightening thought occurred to her, that she would give birth in front all these strangers. So she looked up and prayed for God to help her in her immediate dire need and to save her the embarrassment of giving birth to her child here in front of all these people.

No sooner had she prayed, the Kabah let out a sound as it's corner wall's stones began to split apart slowly. She looked up at the moving wall and at the split a bright light appeared and she feared for her self.

Then her feared forgotten by a soft voice filled her head beckoning her to enter without any fear. She then slipped into Holy House through the sudden opening. Which closed immediately after her.

She suddenly was enveloped by a tranquil air of peace and purity. Beautiful women all smiling warmly reached out to greet her and led her to a soft bed to lie upon. She must be in Heaven she thought.

The people looked with utmost disbelief and crowded around the Kabah's corner wall staring at the crack that was still visible where the pregnant women slipped through.


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Quraysh Elders
Quraysh elders too noticed what happen in disbelief and quickly called upon the keeper of the Holy House, a vile dirty looking dwarf of a hunchback, with skulls of different animals hanging on his neck down upon his chest, to open its doors immediately.
But the wooden key would not turn, until finally it broke in its lock. They tried to force open the doors but they wouldn't budge. Whatever they tried they couldn't enter the Kabah, so they sat vigilantly before the Sacred House, waiting to see what will happen soon.

And the idolaters and their priest all jumped up and down around and around the Kabah whistling and chanting their gibberish prayers to their great idol god Hubal. For three days and nights Fatimah Bint Al-Assad was within The Kabah Holy walls
Then on the third day the walls again began to split apart, just as before at the same place where they had split before.

Fatimah now appeared through the gap with rays of beautiful light glowing behind her figure.

She proudly held a small infant boy in her arms. Then Holy Kabah walls once again closed upon itself immediately after her.

The people gathered around the mother and child staring in wonderment at what had befalled before them. They questioned her of the miracle they had all just witnessed. The Miracle
Fatimah told them that in her plight she had prayed and pleaded to God for help and to provide her shelter to give birth to her child. When she suddenly she saw the walls split apart before her.

She cowered in fear as four beautiful Ladies of light within the sacred walls spoke softly to her, and told her not be afraid and that Allah(swt) had heard her prayer and wanted to help her.

They were all so beautiful and wore white clothes with white flowing robes covering their heads down to their ankles, as they glowed from a light of calm from an unseen source as they smiled at me kindly.

When they saw my fear had subsided, they all outstretched their hands towards me and invited me to step into the light of the Holy House of Sanctuary. She gladly took their hands and stepped into the beautiful light.

The Lady Fatimah said as soon she entered. The holy walls behind her closed and she was helped by the Ladies in her ordeal and she gave birth to her new born son.

The Lady Hawa(as)
first created woman and wife of the Prophet Adam(as)
The Lady Mariam(as)
mother of the Prophet Essa(as)
Sarah(as)
mother of the Prophet Ishaq(as)
The Lady Hajar(as)
mother of the Prophet Ismaeel(as)
The Lady Asyah(as)
Pharaoh's wife and foster mother of the Prophet Musa(as)
Archangel Jibraeel(as)
God's entrusted messenger
The Archangel Jibraeel(as) and all the holy Angels through out all the three days stood over the Ladies and handed down to them water and linen from the Heaven and they cleaned her and her baby and prepared clothes for the small infant.

For three days she was Allah's(swt) guest in His holy House. There she ate and slept in peace in the presence of the holy Ladies. And the Archangel joined by all the Angels sang lullabies to the new born.

At that point Mohammad Al-Ameen(pbuh&hf) with his two uncles Abu Taleb(as), his brothers Abbass and Hamzah who all arrived at the scene together, on hearing the news of Fatimah's exit from the Holy Kabah.

Mohammad(pbuh&hf) now stood before Fatimah Bint Assad his foster mother and he stretched out his arms and took the small child from her bosom and smiled warmly down at the babe.

The mother then proudly stated that she would name him:


'Haider' meaning 'Lion'
But the Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) warmly smiled down at her and instead renamed him:


A l i
The Holy Prophet Mohammad Al-Mustafa explained kindly to the confused boy's mother Fatimah that she should be honoured for he was instructed by Allah(swt) to name her son Ali.

A name no one before him had ever been named before, and Fatimah Bint Al-Assad rejoiced and thank Allah(swt) for His true Blessing and help. The Kabah Wall Crack
Till this very day the miracle split of the stone blocks of The Kabah wall is clearly visible. No matter how many times the Holy House is rebuilt the crack would still appear at the same place as where Fatimah Bint Assad had entered the Kabah to give birth to her son Ali(as), the son of Abe Taleb(as), the Chief of the Clan of tribe of Bani Hashim, .

The crack is now filled with lead and is still clearly visible.
The Hidden Sacred Grave
The Secret Burial Ground


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When death was finally close upon the Al-Ameer Al-Mou'ma'neen(as), he said to his two sons Hassan(as) and Hussain(as),
"When I die, put my body on my bier. Then take me out on the back of the bier. Both of you shall protect the front of the bier. Then bring me to place called Al-Ghariyyayn. Their you will see a white rock shining with light. Dig their and you will find a Shield and bury me on top of it."
So when the Holy Imam(as) finally died, his two sons took him out and carried him on the back of the bier and guarded the front of it, as their dead father as instructed them before on his death bed.
However, some of the Shia of Imam Ali(as) had followed them, and the Imam Hassan(as) stopped and turn to them and said,

"Your Imam had instructed us that his burial site is not to be witnessed!"
Then the two bereaved holy sons of Ali(as) proceed alone with their father's dead body on with their travel to the specified secret burial siteas instructed by Ali Ibin Abe Taleb(as).
As they arrived to the place of burial, they recounted,

"As we travelled, we began to hear a rustling and whistling of the wind, until we came to the burial site at Al-Ghariyayn. And Behold! There was a white rock whose light was shining, We dug there, and behold, there was a shield on which was written
'This is one of the things,
which Nuh has stored for
Ali Ibin Abe Taleb.'
So we buried him there and went away from the site, happy at seeing God's Mark of Honour to the Commander of the Faithful."

On the way back they met again with the Shia who had followed them earlier and told them about what had happened and about God's mark of honour to the Commander of the Faithful.
Then they said:

"We would like to see what you have seen of his affair!"

But we told them.

"Traces of the place have been removed according to his last dying bequest."
However, they kept coming back and forth to us and telling us that they had dug a place here and there but could not find anything.

Now the place of Al-Ghariyayn has been renamed as Najaf and is situated in the southern part of Iraq.
Where now stands the Imam's(as) sacred holy shrine with all its magnificence and splendour.

The Hidden Grave
The discovery of the hidden burial site


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They went out from the city of Kufa one day with Harroun Al-Abbassi to hunt, and came to the region of Al-Ghariyyayn and Al-Thawiyya.
There they saw some gazelle before them and set the falcons and dogs after them. They raced relentlessly after them for an hour but then the gazelle took refuge on a small hill top, stoped and turned and faced the oncoming dogs.

The dogs suddenly stopped in theit tracks before their helpless prey, and quietly return back to the heels of their masters. The falcons flew down to the nearby ground. Haroun was utterly amazed at that. Then after a while the gazelle came down from the hill, and the falcons and dogs descended towards them. But the gazelle sensing danger again returned to the refuge of the hill top, and the falcons and dogs again came away from them. This amazingly happened three times. Then Harroun said,

"Hurry and bring me whoever you meet of this land."

Harroun's men quickly searched the surrounding land and came upon a small dwelling, where a shaykh (old man) of the Bani Asad lived. They seized the frightened old man and brought him quickly before their Master, and he asked him:

"Tell me what this hill is?"

The old man still frightened hesistantly replied,

"I will only tell you, if you grant me your pledge of my security,"

Harroun replied,

"You may have the compact of God and His guarantee that I will not be roused against you or harm you,"

The old man then said,

"My father reported to me from his father, that they used to say that in this hill is the grave of the Imam Ali Ibin Abe Taleb(as), and that God has made it a Haram (sanctuary) so that whatever seeks refuge there will be safe."

To the surprise of all his men, Harroun immeadiately threw himself down from his horse and rolled about in the ground there and began to weep. Then he called for some water, and he made the ritual ablutions. He went up the hill and performed the prayer at the summit of the hill.

After finishing his prayers, he called out,

"O cousin, I know well your outstanding fadl (merit), and your precedence in Islam. By God, you have sat in my majlis (court) while I was not there, and you were then, what you were. But your descendants are harming me and revolting against me."

After this he stood up and prayed once again, then he began speaking again, calling out and weeping until it was daybreak. Then finally he said:

"Yasir, wake Essa."

Yasir awoke him and Harroun said to him:

"Essa, wake up and pray at the grave of your cousin."

Asked Essa of Harroun

"What cousin of mine is this?".

He replied,

"This is the grave of our cousin Ali Ibin Abe Taleb!"

Then both Essa and Yasir made their ritual ablutions and stood up to pray. They all did not stop praying until the dawn arose. Then Essa turned to Harroun and said,

"O, Commander of the Faithful, the morning has come."

They silently rode off slowly not looking either of them looking back and, neither of them spoke to each other either until they arrived in the city of Kufa.

Overlook and forgive the weaknesses of generous people, because if they fall down, the hand of God lifts them.

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

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

Parsimony and avarice is ignominy and disgrace; cowardice is a defect and a vice; poverty often makes the wisest and the most educated person hold his tongue even from the most reasonable argument; a poor man is a stranger in his own town; misfortune and helplessness are calamities; patience and the ability to suffer in silence is a kind of bravery; to sever connections with the vicious world is the greatest wealth and fortune; piety is the best defence and the best armor.

Surrender and acceptance to the Will of Allah are the best companions; wisdom is the noblest heritage; theoretical and practical knowledge are the best marks of distinction; deep thinking will present the clearest picture of every problem.

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

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 Judgement is safe from the wrath of Allah; one who takes lessons from the happenings of life obtains vision, one who aquires vision becomes wise, and one who attains wisdom achieves knowledge.

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

If you get an opportunity and power over your enemy, then, in thankfulness to Allah for this: forgive him.

He is very unfortunate who cannot in his lifetime gain even a few sincere friends and sympathisers and even more unfortunate is the one who has gained them and lost them (through his deeds).

For those who refused to side with any party, that of Hadrat or his enemies, Hadrat said: they have forsaken religion and were of no use to infidelity also.

Failures are often results of timidity and fears; disappointments are the results of uncalled-for modesty; hours of leisure pass away like summer clouds, therefore, do not waste the opportunity to do good.

Whose deeds lower him, his pedigree cannot elevate.

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

To give up inordinate desires is the best kind of wealth and fortune.

One who hopes inordinately impairs the standard of his work.

O son of Adam! When you see that in spite of Allah's constant favors your life is a continuous sin, then take warning (His Wrath may not turn those very blessings into misfortunes.)

Often your utterances and the expressions of your face reveal the secrets of your hidden thoughts.

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

One who is quick in saying unpleasant things about others, will himself quickly become a target to their scandal.

Happy is the man who always kept the afterlife in his view, who rememberes the Day of Reckoning through his deeds, who led a contented life and who was happy with the lot that Allah hath destined for him.

The sin which makes you sad and repentant is liked better by Allah than the good deed which turns you vain and conceited.

Adversities often bring your good qualities to the front.

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.

Hearts of people are like wild birds, they attach themselves to those who love and train them.

Only he can forgive who has power to punish.

If you help a deserving person without his request then it is generosity and if you help him after his request then mostly it is due to shyness to your refusal or fear of reproach.

There is no greater wealth than wisdom, no greater poverty than ignorance, no greater heritage than culture and no greater helpmate than consultation.

Wealth converts every foreign country into your native place, and poverty turns your native place into a strange land.

Contentment is the capital which will never come to an end.

Wealth is the fountainhead of inordinate cravings.

Whoever warns you against sins and vices is like the one who is carrying news of salvation to you.

The tongue is such a ferocious beast that if let loose, it will act ravenously.

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

To lose friends is to become a stranger in one's own country.

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

Do not be ashamed if the amount of charity is small because to return the needy empty-handed is an act of greater shame.

If you cannot get things as much as you desire, then be contented with what you have.

An uneducated man or a savage will always overdo a thing or neglect to do it properly.

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

Every breath you take is a step forward towards death.

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

If you are confused about good or bad effects of an action, then study carefully the cause and you will know what the effects will be.

Knowledge and wisdom are really properties of a faithful Muslim, even when lost to him; get them back though you may have to get them from apostates.

The value of each man depends upon the art and skill which he has attained.

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

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

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

Like your body, your mind also gets tired and fagged, in such case find educational diversions for it.

That knowledge is vry superficial which remains only on your tongue; the intrinsic merit and value of knowledge is that you act upon it.

Whenever a tradition of the holy Prophet (P) is related to you, examine it carefully and think over it deeply, do not be satisfied with mere verbatim repetition of the same, because there are many people who repeat the words containing knowledge, but there are few who ponder over them and try to fully grasp the meaning they convey.

To secure for yourself fame, credit as well as blessings the help that you give to men in need should possess the following attributes: (A) whatever its extent it should be considered by you as trifling so that it may be granted a high status; (B) it should be given secretly, then the Lord will bestow upon it fame and celebrity and (C) it must be given immediately, so that it may bring pleasure and utility to the receiver.

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

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

Only such a person can establish the Divine Rule, who, where justice and equity are required, will neither feel deficient nor weak and who is not greedy and avaricious.

When a community is composed of really honest, sober and virtuous people then your forming a bad opinion about any one 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 a good opinion of anyone out of those people and to trust him is doing harm to yourself.

When somebody asked Hazrat 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.

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

The world, which offers you vicious pleasures is like a snake, so soft to the 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.

What difference is there between a deed whose pleasure passes away leaving behind it the pangs of pain and punishment and the deed whose cruel severity or oppressive harshness comes to an end leaving behind it heavenly rewards and blessings.

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

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

Whoever is not diligent in his work will suffer sorrow and loss; whoever has no share of Allah in his wealth and in his life then there is no place for him in the realm of Allah.

If you understand the majesty of the Lord then you will not attach any importance to the universe and its marvels.

An angel announces daily: "The birth of more human beings means so many more will die; the collection of more wealth means so much more will be destroyed; the erection of more buildings means so many more ruins in time to come.

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

This world is not a place of permanant settlement, it is a passage, a road on which you are passing; there are two kinds of people here, one is the kind who have sold their sould to eternal damnation. The other is of those who have purchased their souls and freed them from damnation.

Daily prayers are the best medium to advance oneself in favor of the Lord. Haj is a Jehad (Holy War) for every weak person. For everything that you own, there is Zakaat, a tax paid to the Lord, and the tax of your health is that you keep fast. The best Jehad of a woman against men is to render his home life-pleasing and congenial.

If you want to pray to the Lord for better means of subsistence then first give something in charity.

Sorrow will make you half as decrepit as old age.

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.

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 aquiring 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 the support of firm and rational convictions.

Remember Kumail, Knowledge is better than and superior to wealth because it protects you and you have to guard wealth' because wealth decreases if you keep on spending it and knowledge increases the more you make use of it; and because what you get through wealth dissappears as soon as wealth dissappears.

A man can be values through his sayings.

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

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

One who assents or subscribes to the actions of a group or a party is as good as if he has commited 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.

One who enters the places of evil reputes has no right to complain against a man who talks evils of him.

One who is willful and conceited will suffer losses and calamity and one who seeks advices can secure advantages of many councels.

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

Oppression and tyranny are the worst companions for hereafter.

There is enough light for one who wants to see.

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

People often hate those things which they do not know or cannot understand.

One who seeks advices learns to recognise mistakes.

One who fights for the cause of Allah secures victory over his enemies.

When you feel afraid or nervous to do a thing then do it, because the real harm which you may thus receive is less poignant than its expectation and fear.

Your supremacy over others is in proportion to the extent of your knowledge and wisdom.

The best way to punish an evil-doer is to reward handsomely the good deeds of a good person.

Obstinacy and stubborness will not allow you to arrive at a correct decision.

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

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

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

O son of Adam! Whatever thou hath collected more than they actual need, thou art not going to use, thou wilt act only as a trustee for someone else.

One who starts tyranny will repent soon.

One who cannot benefit by patience will die of grief and excitement.

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.

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.

Hearts (minds) have the tendencies of likes and dislikes, and are liable to be energetic and lethargic, therefore, make them work when they are energetic and on subjects which they like.

The destitute is the messenger of Allah. Whoever denies him denies Allah and whoever gives him gives Allah.

His Last Will and Testament
Imam Ali's (AS) last will to his sons Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Hussain (AS) following a fatal blow on his head during morning prayers by Ibn Muljim (A Kharijite):

My advice to you is to be conscious of Allah and steadfast in your religion. Do not yearn for the world, and do not be seduced by it. Do not resent anything you have missed in it. Proclaim the truth; work for the next world. Oppose the oppressor and support the oppressed.

I advise you, and all my children, my relatives, and whosoever receives this message, to be conscious of Allah, to remove your differences, and to strengthen your ties. I heard your grandfather, peace be upon him, say: "Reconciliation of your differences is more worthy than all prayers and all fasting."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Nahjul Balagha

In the 40th year of Hijri, in the early hours of the morning of 19th Ramadhan, Imam Ali (AS) was struck with a poisoned sword by the Kharijite Ibn Muljim (may the curse of Allah be upon him) while leading prayers in the Masjid of Kufa. He was martyred on the 21st day of Ramadhan 40 A.H. and buried in Najaf-ul-Ashraf. He was born in the House of Allah, the Ka'ba, and martyred in the House of Allah, Masjid-e-Kufa. The Lion of Allah, the most brave and gentle Muslim after the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) himself, began his glorious life with devotion to Allah and His Messenger, and ended it in the service of Islam.

"And do not speak of those who are slain in the the Way of Allah as dead; nay, they are alive, but you perceive not." Qur'an 2:154



Knowledge and Ignorance

In reply to some one who posed Imam Ali (as) a difficult question, Imam Ali (as) said : 'Ask in order to understand, and do not ask in order to find fault, for surely the ignorant man who wants to learn resembles a man of knowledge, and surely a man of knowledge who wants to be difficult resembles an ignorant man who wants to find fault. '


The Station of the men of Knowledge

The man of knowledge is the one who recognizes that what is known is very little compared to what is not known, and as a result he considers himself ignorant, and accordingly he increases his efforts to know more by going out in search of knowledge.


The Purity and the Nobility of Knowledge

Do not talk about knowledge with the foolish so that they deny you, nor with the ignorant so that they find you oppressive, but talk about it with those of its people whom you meet who will accept it and understand it.


Knowledge and Acting on it

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


The purity and nobility of knowledge

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


On the Heart

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

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

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

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


On Intellect

A person's intellect becomes apparent through his dealings, and a man's character is known by the way he exercises authority. The intellect is a king and characteristics are its subjects, so if it is weak in governing them, disorder takes place.

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

The intellect is a natural disposition which learns from experience.

The intellect is what arrives at what is correct through reasoning, and recognizes what has not yet happened through what has already taken place. Use your intellect to understand something when you hear about the intellect that examines, that is, and not just the intellect that repeats what it hears, for surely there are many who repeat the knowledge that they hear, and there are few who examine it.

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

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

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

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

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


The Station of men of Knowledge

Know that the slaves of Allah are those who seek to preserve knowledge of Him, safeguarding what safeguards it, and lettings its springs flow freely. They are united by friendship, and they meet with love, and they drink from the cup that quenches their thirst, and they go on with their thirst satisfied. They are not troubled by doubt, and they are not quick to backbite. It is on this basis that their natural disposition and character rest, and on this is based their love, and by this they are united. They are like seeds that have been assessed and selected, some to be kept and some to be thrown away, identified through purification, and refined through clarification.


This World and the Next

Imam Ali (as) wrote to Salman al Farsi (ra) : To continue, surely, the likeness of this world is that of a snake: it is soft to touch, and deadly poisonous. The ignorant child is distracted by it, and the one with understanding and intellect is cautious of it. So turn away from what fascinates you in it, for how little of it stays with you.


The Life Transaction ( Religion ) of Islam

I am making a connection which no one has made before me: Islam is submission, and submission is certainty, and certainty is the affirmation of the truth, and affirmation of the truth is acknowledgement, and acknowledgement is performance of what is obligatory, and performance of what is obligatory is appropriate action.