Short Introduction of Imam Ali (A.S)
Name: Ali
Title: Amiral Momineen (Leader of the believers)
By name: Abul Hassan, Abu Toraab, Asadollah
Father: Abu Talib ibne Abdul Motalleb
Mother: Fatima binte Asad
Date of birth: 13 Rajab 23B.H
Place of birth: Inside Ka’ba. Mecca, Arabia
Period of Imamat: 30 years as the first divine Imam
Period of khilaafat: about 5 years
Place of Martyrdom: Mosque in Kufa (while leading morning congregation prayers
on 19 Ramadan, Ali (A.S) was lethally wounded)
Date of Martyrdom: 21 Ramadan 40 A.H
Age: 63 years
Shrine: Najafe Ashraf, Iraq
The best and last Messenger of God has said: “No one could understand Ali
except God and myself.”
Ali was the only baby born inside Ka’aba, the house of God, built by Abraham (A.S).
He was brought up by Mohammad (peace be upon him and his household) from his
very childhood. He was a writer of the holy Quran with detailed references about
all verses revealed to the holy messenger (peace be upon him and his household).
Ali (A.S) was an embodiment of many divine and praiseworthy attributes of God,
During ascension of Mohammad (peace be upon him and his household) God spoke to
him in the voice or tone of Ali (A.S.). So ‘ghallat’ exaggerate or consider Ali
(A.S.) as God. But God is One and Unique and Immortal, so no mortal can ever be
regarded as God. Ali (A.S.) was in reality a super human being, physically and
spiritually.
He was a valiant warrior, whose one stroke of sword excelled the worship of all
men and jinn as declared by the holy messenger (peace be upon him and his
household) in the battle of Khandaq, a war between entire faith against entire
faithlessness.
Ali (A.S) was advised by the holy messenger (peace be upon him and his
household) to be patient under all conditions so he did not draw his sword for
twenty five years during plots and intrigues against him. Thus he prevented the
pristine true Islam from being nipped in the bud.
Ali (A.S) led a simple life; “low living and high thinking” was his way of life.
His food was also simple, mostly oat and barley. He was so rich that he donated
his own property e.g. date gardens grown by himself & wells which he dug and
underground channels for irrigation to the poor.
Ali (A.S) was extremely erudite and fluent. His sermons, letters and words of
wisdom have been partially compiled as Nahjol Balagha by Syed Razi. It is worthy
of being taught throughout the world as a text book for perfection of human
conduct and character.
Ali (A.S) was elected as the fourth khalifa by people. He dismissed those
corrupt officers who were employed by the previous khalifa and were not suitable
for their jobs.
Ali (A.S) is not less renowned than Daniel (A.S) for justice. Verdicts of Ali (A.S)
are compiled as a book and many Jews, Christians and Non-Muslims embraced Islam
appreciating his exquisite justice.
People of his time were so nincompoop that they could not appreciate the
superhuman qualities of Ali (A.S) and by order of his enemies specially Bani
Umayyah, Ali was cursed in sermons from pulpits in all the mosques in spite of
the hadith by the holy messenger (peace be upon him and his household): “One
who dies without cognizance of the Imam of his time, dies the death of the era
of ignorance (like idolaters).” So Ali (A.S) is regarded as the most
oppressed one in the history of the world. Ali (A.S) was not allowed to
establish the best form of government as a model for the world, because of
satanic enemies and plots and intrigues against him.
As people could not appreciate Ali (A.S), the best man of his time they were
punished by God to suffer the rule of Bani ummayah for a thousand months as
mentioned in the holy Quran, commentary of Qader chapter.
Golden words of the Leader of the Believers Imam Ali (A.S)
1. Wisdom.
• The most precious wealth is wisdom, and the most miserable poverty is
stupidity.
• Half of wisdom is love and friendship with people. (the other half is to guard
yourself against the evils of people) (Words of wisdom, Nahjul Balagha, 142)
• Get hold of wisdom irrespective of its source, as wisdom is even in the hearts
of hypocrites, where it is uneasy & flutters to emerge and occupy its proper
place in a believer’s heart. (Words of wisdom, Nahjul Balagha, 76)
• No wisdom is like planning thoughtfully with tact. (Words of wisdom, Nahjul
Balagha, 76)
Note: intelligence is not worthy of reliance when it is against obedience to God
and makes you exit from the highway of Gods blessed guides.
• Beware of companionship with the ignorant, he wishes to benefit you but in
reality he harms you.
(Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 38)
• Poisons for wisdom are:
1. Greed
2. Poverty
3. Pride
4. Materialism or secularism
5. Addiction to wine
6. Captivity in carnal desires and caprice
7. Lust or sensuality.
8. Suspicion and evil temptations
9. Mocking and ridiculing
10. Getting imprisoned in the caprice of a ruler by serving his interests. (in
disobedience to God)
(Nahjul Balagha)
Note: Wisdom is internal guide, whereas the holy Imams are external guides like
messengers from God.
2. God.
• Imam Ali (A.S) has said: If all the curtains between me and God are
removed, my belief in God (is so firm that it) will not increase any further.
• Someone asked Ali (A.S), “Do you worship a God, whom you have not seen?”
Ali (A.S) replied: “I do not worship a God whom I have not seen”
Note: Ali (A.S) has seen God through his heart & insight which is more reliable
than eyes. Eyes cannot see air, nor microbes & virus, nor Laser & x-rays, nor
invisible ultra violet and infra red-rays which are beyond the visible spectrum
(violet to red). Eyes are deceived by mirage. The holy Quran says:
﴾Eyes cannot see Him (God).﴿
No one has seen God neither His messengers nor Imams nor angels nor jinns nor
anybody else, yet. But all’ momins' have firm belief in God and they seek His
help by saying (بک يا الله) on the ‘Night of Destiny’ although atheists &
polytheists have been deceived by Satan, and their satanic evil spirit.
• One who has cognizance of his soul has cognizance of God. (Ghorarol hikam part
77 Hadith 301)
Note: a) Regarding ‘Soul’ God says:
﴾They ask you about the 'Soul' Say the soul is a command of God & you
are not given of its knowledge but a little.﴿
(S 17:A87)
When a person cannot understand his soul, He can never understand God’s Self, as
worthy of Him.
In the holy Quran it is stated that, God is Light of the heavens and the earth
and is present everywhere. So He has no body & no abode. He is the Hidden & the
Manifest, the Distant & the Near. Eyes cannot see Him but He is visible to our
heart & mind. He is Infinite & cannot be grasped by our finite knowledge:
Nothing is like Him & no light is like God's Light.
• Ali (A.S) says "O 'He' of whom no one knows WHAT 'He' (God) is, nor How
'He' is, nor WHERE 'He' is, nor in WHICH direction, 'He' is, except ‘He’ Himself
“. (Dua e Mashlool)
The holy messenger has said: “We could not understand You (God) to the extent
worthy of Your cognizance”.
No one has comprehension of God's Self but all mankind by human nature loves and
worships God and seeks His help when in danger and despair.
Men can understand some attributes of God as indicated in the holy Quran, such
as, God is Beneficent & Merciful. He is Just & Loving & Praiseworthy. He is the
Best Protector.
He is the Creator of everything merely with His Will & Intention. He is the
First & Primal Existence & is Everlasting. He is Ever Alive without death &
transformation.
He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing & All-Knowing and All Powerful. He can make trees
& stones & anything speak (e.g. God’s voice came from a tree for Moses A.S.), He
has no partner. He is the Unerring, the Holy & the Wise. He is absolute Truth.
He has guided us through His appointed messengers & Imams regarding the purpose
of our life with His commandments & prohibitions in Heavenly Books. (e.g. Torah,
Bible, Quran)
He is Extremely Patient, and gives respite to criminals, sinners & tyrants
before punishing them. He is Forgiving for those who repent and seek pardon. He
forgives the sinners, who love and follow God’s best pleaders & intercessors
i.e. the fourteen sinless personalities when they intercede, with His permission
He is the Reviver of the dead for reckoning equitably on the Day of Judgment for
eternal reward in Paradise or punishment in Hell.
3. Belief & Falsehood.
One never enjoys the relish of Belief until he gives up falsehood
both in humorous and serious situations.
(Usule Kafi Vol.2 P.340) Note: Belief is faith in 1. God the Just, 2. His
appointed divine guides (His messengers and Imams) 3. Resurrection or Day of
Judgment & Recompense in paradise or hell.
4. Pride.
It is astonishing that son of Adam should be proud, when his
beginning is a sperm and his end is a decaying corpse. (dead body). (Nahjol
Balagha, Words of wisdom 454)
5. Man’s worth.
Every person’s worth is as much as his good deeds. (Biharol Anvaar
vol 78 P.37)
Note: This sentence should be written with gold We live in deeds not years. A
person, whose life is full of good deeds, good thoughts & good feelings, is much
more precious than one, whose life is long but empty without precious good
deeds.
6. Honour.
Your Honor is solid, but it becomes liquid when you beg or ask for
something from people. Therefore you should see before whom your honor
liquefies. (Nahjol Balagha Words of wisdom 346)
Note: Men with high spirituality do not beg except from God or generous momins.
Men with no sense of honor sell themselves to devilish tyrants at a cheap price
& commit any sin or crime and earn eternal punishment in the hereafter.
7. Women.
Some good qualities of women are bad qualities for men: Pride,
modesty and miserliness are good for women but bad for men. Humility, Courage
and Generosity are good qualities for men, and these are exactly the opposite of
good qualities in women.
8. Adultery.
A person with sense of honor and sense of shame never commits
adultery. (Nahjol Balagha Words of wisdom 305)
a) To prevent Adultery, a person is allowed to marry up to four wives if he can
be equitable and just to them, otherwise he should marry only one wife. One who
is vicious and lacks justice should not marry even one good wife.One cannot
marry two sisters. (S4:A23)
b) A Muslim woman is not permitted to marry a non-Muslim even on temporary basis
unless he accepts Islam. A Muslim man can marry a good Christian or Jew woman by
a temporary marriage contract, which can be made permanent if the bride accepts
Islam.
c) Adultery is committed when a person disobeys the commandments of God about
marriage and obeys Satan or satanised men.
9. Friends and foes.
Ali (A.S) has said: "You have three categories of your friends &
enemies:
Your friends are: 1. your own friends. 2. your friends' friends 3. your enemy's
enemy.
And your enemies are 1. your own enemy 2. your friend’s enemy 3. your enemy's
friend." (Nahjol Balagha Words of wisdom 295)
Note: The above guidance should be taken into consideration by governments in
diplomatic and human relations.
10. Garrulity.
• When intelligence attains perfection a persons’ garrulity or
talkativeness is decreased
• One who is very talkative will make many mistakes, his mistakes will lessen
his sense of shame, and when sense of shame is reduced he will have less piety
and therefore a dead heart which will lead to hell. (Tohofal Oqul P.89)
11. Gifts.
If good behavior failed to reform a person good gift or recompense
will amend him. (Ghorarol Hikam part 77 Hadith 547)
12. Freedom.
"Do not enslave yourself to others when the Glorious God has
created you free." (Ghorarol Hikam part 85 Hadith 219)
Note: a) All persons should be true servants of God and obey Him and not the
tyrants. Those who enslave themselves to tyrants not only lose their freedom but
also become a fuel for hell in the everlasting life hereafter. No one lives
forever in this temporal world, so people should know their purpose of life and
strive to please God, the Creator, Who puts everyone to test before recompensing
him. Those who even agree with tyrants shall meet the same fate as the tyrants
no matter in which country they live and even if they are hundreds of years
distant from the tyrants.
God says:
﴾Do not obey the faithless and the hypocrites﴿
(Ahzaab 33:1)
And God says:
﴾Obey not from among them a sinner or a skeptic.﴿
(Dahr76: 24) So one should obey the messengers and Imams chosen by God; if they
are killed by tyrants, God recompenses them with paradise.
b) Imam Ali (A.S) was martyred in a mosque while saying prayers. The misleading
slogan of his enemies (kharejites) was:
﴾Sovereignty or judgment is for God alone﴿.
(Yosef 12:40)
Well the Aayat is quite true but it is misunderstood because God does not pass
every verdict or judgment. God entrusts judgment to His divine guides.
The holy Quran states:
﴾Judge between them by what God has revealed (the divine laws) and do
not follow their (people’s) desires against the truth that has come to you.﴿
(Maeda5:48)
Moreover, God says:
﴾If they obey most of those on the earth, they will lead you astray
from God’s way; they follow assumptions or conjectures and they fabricate lies﴿
(Ana’am6:116)
Furthermore the holy Quran states:
﴾Indeed God commands you that when you judge between people JUDGE WITH
JUSTICE.﴿
(Nisa 4: 58)
Justice of Imam Ali (A.S) is unquestionable. The holy messenger (peace be upon
him and his household) has said: “Ali is with the truth and the truth is with
Ali.”
c) Murtad
God says: There is no compulsion in religion. (Aayatal Korsi) Then
why should a person be punished if he gives up Islam?
Before accepting Islam one has freedom of choice to select whatever religion he
likes, but after accepting Islam, one has to abide by all its rules and
regulations and reach the highest peak of heavenly religion.
God says:
﴾what is there after truth except error.﴿
(Yunos:32 )
When a Muslim rejects Islam he is known as murtad and God has commanded capital
punishment for him to prevent hypocrisy and espionage and God does not commit a
particle weight of tyranny and injustice. (S4:A40)
Therefore, those who criticize beheading a murtad are opponents of the divine
finalized law of God and God says in sura e Maeda that those who do not
implement the laws of God for justice are Tyrants ‘Zalimoon’, Infidels
‘Kafiroon, and Polytheists ‘ Moshrekoon’.
13. Commandment, Prohibition & Justice.
If you obey God's commandments & His prohibitions they will neither
allow death to approach you soon nor reduce your sustenance, rather they double
your reward and make your recompense bountiful and what is superior to these two
is to manifest JUSTICE for its administration by a cruel ruler.
(Ghorarol hikam part 8 Hadith 272)
• A just Imam.
A just Imam for people is better than heavy rain. (Ghorarol Hikam V: 1 P.386)
14. Human relations.
Associate with people in such a way that they love you warm heartedly
during your lifetime, and weep for you when you die. (Nahjol Balagha Words of
wisdom 10 P.470)
15. Excessive attachment to family.
Beware of excessive attachment to your family & children because if
they are God- loving, He will not neglect or ruin them, and if they are
adversaries of God, why should you be attached to enemies of God? (Nahjol
Balagha Words of wisdom 352)
Note: Even the notorious son of Noah (A.S) the messenger of God, will not be
remembered by him in paradise.
16. Words for Kumayl.
• O Kumayl! These hearts are containers of (knowledge and secrets).
The best of them preserves its contents, so preserve & remember what I tell you.
People are of three categories:
1. The divine scholars (cognizant of God & Resurrection…)
2. The students who seek knowledge and are heading towards salvation
3. The common people who indiscriminately obey every croak speaker and go with
the wind (like dust and straw) in every direction, they are not illuminated by
the radiant knowledge (and remain in darkness & follow the strayed ones) and
they do not take refuge in the reliable shelters (of wise divine guides).
• O Kumayl! Knowledge is better than wealth. Knowledge guards you.(from the
calamities of this world and the Hereafter)but it is you who guard your wealth.
Wealth decreases by spending whereas knowledge increases by teaching others.
Productions of wealth diminish when wealth diminishes.
• O Kumayl! Religion is acquisition of divine knowledge by virtue of which one
is recompensed on the Day of Judgment. By this knowledge a person succeeds in
obedience (of God, His messenger and sinless Imams) during his lifetime and
earns a good name after his death. Knowledge is the ruler and wealth is ruled
over. (Nahjol Balagha Words of wisdom 147 P.495)
Note: Komayl was taught Dua e Komayl by Ali(A.S)when requested to teach him Doa
e Hazrat Khidr.
17. Tyranny.
• The worst tyranny is to tyrannize the humble and the meek. (Nahjol
Balagha, letter:31)
• Tyranny over people is a bad provision for the Day of Resurrection (Nahjol
Balagha, Words of
wisdom 221)
• Do not oppress others, as you do not like to be oppressed by them.(Nahjol
Balagha, letter 31)
• Severest punishment.
The severest punishment in the hereafter is for the tyrant ruler and the
unchaste learned scholar.
(Ghorarol Hikam V: 2 P.74)
Note: A country survives with skepticism but it cannot survive with tyranny.
18. Unity of Ummah.
In reply to the letter of Abu Musa Ash’ari
Be aware that no person is so covetous and zealous as me (Ali A.S) for the unity
and solidarity of the Ummah of Mohammad (peace be upon him and his household)
for love and attachment between the people and thereby I shall attain good
reward and worthy restoration (from God).
Note: Ali (A.S) was patient for 25 years in order to preserve the true religion
brought by the messenger of God and he did not draw his sword to claim his right
as a successor appointed by God on the 18th day of zilhaj at Ghadir. (Nahjul
Balagha, Letter No.78)
19. Sunnah of Mohammad (peace be upon him and his
household)
Letter No.77 written to Abdollah ibne Abbas when he was deputed to
clear the misunderstanding of the Kharejites.
Do not argue with them by the Quran because Quran has many aspects (for
interpretation of its hidden meanings). You will say (one meaning) and they will
say (another meaning). Hence argue and convince them by sunnah of the holy
messenger (peace be upon him and his household) then they will be unable to
escape from it. (Nahjol Balagha, Letter No.77)
Note: a) According to the Sunnah of the best messenger of God, Mohammad (peace
be upon him and his household) no one can approach the excellence of Ali (A.S).
From his very birth Ali (A.S) was brought up as a Muslim and he never worshipped
any idols like others. His parents (Abu Talib & Fatima binte Asad) and the
Messenger (peace be upon him and his household) and Khadijah (peace be upon him
and his household) and many Arabs followed monotheism as taught by Ismaiel and
Ibrahim (A.S)but many other Arabs deviated from monotheism and had become idol
worshippers.
20. Concern of women & men.
Concern of women is disbelief, and concern of men is belief. (Words
of wisdom, Nahjol Balagha, 119)
Note: a) Concern of women about men makes them jealous of other wives, as four
wives are permitted by God to prevent adultery and for many other reasons; but
concern of man about his wives is for guarding their chasteness therefore it is
belief and faith.
b) King Solomon was a messenger of God and he had a number of wives, similarly
the holy messenger Mohammad (peace be upon him and his household) and also many
holy Imams married a number of wives in obedience to God. Whereas adultery is
persuaded by Satan and it is a sin.
c) Hadrat Khadijah (peace be upon him and his household) was the only wife of
the holy Messenger (peace be upon him and his household) as long as she was
alive; but after her death, he (peace be upon him and his household) married
many women.
Indian Hindus used to burn a living wife with her dead husband, called Sati. It
was a great tyranny.
God has permitted remarriage of widows, so Mohammad (peace be upon him and his
household) married a number of widows not only to support them but also to give
them honor as ‘ummul momineen’,i.e. mother of all believers. Sati was prohibited
by impact of Muslim culture. Now women say ‘juti sati’ i.e. my shoe may be burnt
instead of me.
d) There was a war for a hundred years between Kurawas and Pandavas as mentioned
in Hindu mythology, Mahabharata over the issue of a common wife between many
men. Crimes in many countries are increasing because there is increase in the
number of illegitimate children. Illegitimate children like Amr bin A’as and
Obaydollah ibne Ziaad, were also responsible for martyrdom of Ali (A.S) & Imam
Hussein (A.S)Nabigah the mother of A’as was an adulteress like Marjaanah the
mother of Ibn Ziaad. These well known facts are mentioned in Nahjul Balagha as
well.
21. Deficiencies in women.
O people! Women are deficient in faith (worship of God) and deficient
in their shares and deficient in their intelligence; their deficiency in worship
is evident from their exemption from prayer and fasting during the period of
menses. Their deficiency in sagacity and intelligence is obvious from the fact
that witness of two women is equal to that of one man. Regarding deficiency in
shares they inherit only half the share of men (i.e. a son inherits twice the
share of a daughter.
Note: a) God has compensated deficiency of wisdom and intelligence of women by
making them richer in feelings and emotions. (Example love of mothers for their
children).
Since women lack intelligence their witness is likely to be diverted by feelings
and emotions, so witness of two women is equal to witness of one man. Moreover
women are not entrusted with the position of a judge by Islamic law. A minority
of women who are wise should not be hurt by the truth of this general statement.
There were exceptionally good women like Fatima Zahra (peace be upon him and his
household) Mary, the mother of Jesus (peace be upon him and his household)
Aasiah, the wife of Pharaoh who nourished Moses (A.S) and Khadija (peace be upon
him and his household), the first woman who embraced Islam and was the mother of
Orphans and she had saved her sister’s daughters from being buried alive and
adopted them in such a way that they considered her as their own mother.
22. Chastity of the poor.
Chasteness is ornament of the poor and thankfulness is ornament of
the rich.
23. Instructions for good administration.
Imam Ali (A.S) has given instructions to rulers for good
administration of a country. A summary of these rules is as follows:
a) There should be a permanent leader as a representative of God. He should be
strictly just and pious and implement the laws from the book of God,the holy
Quran; he should be valiant, wise and well aware of all conditions of his time.
Vali e Faqih is a permanent leader as representative of
Imam e Asr (A.F)
b) Rulers should be kind and loving towards their subjects & not wrathful. Anger
and vengeance do not assist good administration. Rulers and officers should win
confidence as friends and benefactors of their subjects or subordinates. Rulers
should be tolerant of mistakes of their subjects.
c) Muslims should be treated as brothers, and non-Muslims as human beings with
due justice
d) The best persons should be selected as secretaries for civil, judicial and
military services irrespective of age and period of service.
e) At first, appointments should be made on probation, to assess the ability and
potentialities of the employees
f) Confidential and reliable staff should report the activities and behavior of
officers.
g) Officers should be well paid to prevent bribery and corruption.
h) Persons who committed atrocities and torture in service of oppressive rulers
should not be employed in service. Advisors of rulers should be kind- hearted,
truthful and honest.
i) Ones duties towards God and mankind should not be waived off; lest favoritism
should make one unjust (e.g. the third khalifa Osman was killed because of
favoritism for Bani Omayyads). All officers should exercise their power and
experience in matters related to them and should not be
dictated by their favorite subordinates.
j) Merchants and traders should be well patronized but they should be prevented
from black marketing, hoarding and making excessive profits.
k) Farmers make a country wealthy (by production of cereals, fruits, grains,
vegetables, sugar, etc and also by production of eggs & poultry and lambs and
cattle & so on) Farmers should be provided with all facilities.
l) Handicrafts should be encouraged to eliminate poverty. Industries should be
established.
m) The poor, disabled, and orphans should never be humiliated or treated with
contempt.They should be given easy access and all help.
n) Avoid bloodshed; no one should be killed unless prescribed in the Islamic law
by God.
o) Promises and terms of a treaty should always be respected.
Ali (A.S) ruled the Muslim nation only for five years, because of satanic plots
and intrigues against him. Civil wars, mutiny and false accusation of murder of
Osman, Ali (A.S) was not allowed to establish the universal ideal government of
perfect justice. (Gist from Nahjol Balagha)
24. Monotheism.
Monotheism enlivens the soul. (Ghorar al Hikam Vol.1 P.145)
Note: please see Surah Tawhid in the holy Quran
25. Minority.
Do not be afraid of the fact that the followers of truth are in
minority. (Nahjol Balagha, Semon 201)
Note: The followers of God are few, but followers of Satan are always in
majority.
26. Amiral Momineen.
• How can I be content with the title of Amiral Momineen without
sharing the difficulties of believers or without being a model for them in the
ups and downs of life? (Nahjol Balagha, Words of wisdom 209)
• Indeed God has made it compulsory for the just leaders and Imams that they
should equalize their standard of life with the poor, lest poverty of the poor
should infuriate them. (Nahjol Balagha, Letter No 45)
27. Egotism.
• Egotism is a disease for nobleness. (Ghorarol Hikam Vol.1 P.233)
• Egotism goads a person to deviate from the right path. (Ghorarol Hikam Vol.1
P.124)
28. Gluttony.
Overeating (gluttony) ruins reason and wisdom. (Ghorarol Hikam Vol1
P.172)
29. Resurrection.
• Everyone will be resurrected with the group he befriends with, so
abstain from befriending enemies of God or loving those who are not God’s
friends.
Note: a) The Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his household) has said:
Be well aware that one, who dies with love of Ahle Bayt (A.S) in his heart, dies
as a martyr.
Be well aware that one who dies with love of Ahle Bayt (A.S) in his heart is
forgiven.
Be well aware that one who dies with love of Ahle Bayt (A.S)in his heart dies
like one who has turned to God with repentance.
Be well aware that one who dies with love of Ahle Bayt (A.S) in his heart dies
with perfection of faith.
Be well aware that one who dies with love of Ahle Bayt (A.S) in his heart is
given good tidings of paradise by Ezraiel(A.S) and also by the two angels Munkir
and Nakeer.
• Ali (A.S) has quoted from the holy Quran: We do not delay the Day of
Resurrection but for a determined term (Hud11:A104) (Nahjul Balagah, Sermon 189)
Note: Faith in Resurrection is of two kinds 1. Sincere 2. False (as seen in
hypocrites & usurpers)
No matter how distant the day of Resurrection, every person has time (respite)
up to his death for provision of good deeds for the hereafter, therefore, the
holy Messenger (peace be upon him and his household) has said: "I &
Resurrection are as near as two fingers in the hand."
30. Piety.
Ali (A.S) has quoted Aayat 23 from sura e Hadeed of the holy Quran
regarding piety: So do not WORRY about what has past, & do not EXULT for what
(God) gives you (in future), &God does not like any selfish & conceited person.
31. The Will of Ali (A.S.)
Every divine guide, i.e., Messenger or Imam is a spiritual father of
the nation. The Holy Messenger (peace be upon him and his household) has said:
“I and Ali are father of this ummah”. It is a matter of pride that we are
regarded as posterity of Mohammad (peace be upon him and his household) and Ali
(A.S) This will is addressed to Imam Hasan (A.S) but it is really meant for all
the nation. It will be extremely useful for our success in this life and in the
Hereafter and should be borne in mind throughout our life.
A few abstracts from the will are as follows:
Father’s love:
• “I consider you as a part of myself, rather you are my entire self,
so much so, that if anything befalls you, it has befallen me, and if death
approaches you, it has approached me”
Note: a) This statement teaches us how much we should love and care for our
children
b) Moses (A.S) had promised to patiently observe Hadrat e Khidr (A.S) without
questioning him, but when a young boy was killed by Khidr (A.S), Moses (AS )
criticized him. Khidr (A.S) explained to him that if the boy was alive he would
be a disgrace for his parents and God will compensate the loss of that boy.
(and Imam Sadeq (A.S) has explained that God granted them a daughter in whose
progeny there were seventy prophets of God)
Children’s mind.
• The heart of young children is like fertile land,
Whatever seed is sown therein it will grow”
It is the duty of parents not to neglect their children, otherwise their
fertile. Hearts & minds will accept evil seeds in bad company.”
Keys of Treasuries.
• God has given the keys of His treasuries in your hands, so whenever
you like you can open the doors of His blessings & favours with your prayers and
supplications; pray to Him for continuous drizzling of His Mercy. His gift
equals your sincerity & steadfastness in your intention.”
Note: a) Imam Sajjad (A.S) has advised not to let your mind become a pasture
ground for Satan to graze on, otherwise one should ask God to bless him with
death, so that his life does not become worse than animals. Mind! You have power
to think and make your life sublime.
Suicide is a sin, the wise never commit this sin. Imams (A.S) know their time of
death from the All knowing God and they are pleased to return to God, so they do
not take any step against the Will of God.
b) Your mental and physical diseases are cured by prayers. Good health is God’s
blessing. No medicine can match physical exercises in fresh & unpolluted air for
good health. Remember!
Prevention is better than cure. Do not drink wine, and be not like swine to
prevent crime.
c) Gluttony is an enemy of longevity. Light diet with empty stomach is good for
studies before dawn, especially after sleeping well. Balanced food, pure water &
sunshine are also necessary for good health. Thankfulness to God for all of His
blessings increases His blessings bountifully.
Prayers not answered, why?
• “Sometimes you ask for something from God and it is not given to you, instead
a better thing is given to you here or in the Hereafter.
• Sometimes you ask for something, which if given to you, your faith will be
ruined.”
Note: a) you may ask God for wealth which if given to you it may make you
faithless or a gambler e.g. gambling in horse racing, may make you bankrupt. You
may ask for power to rule, which if given to you may make you a tyrant & fuel
for hell. You may ask God for a beautiful wife if given to you she may not be
chaste or ruin your life and end in a divorce.
Supplication to God.
• You should implore sincerely to God only, because granting &
depriving is in His Hands Calamities.
• Repel the calamities that inflict you by strong resolution, with patience &
firm conviction (in God)
Aim of life.
• Be aware that you are created for the Hereafter & not for this world; for
extinction not for living perpetually here; for death, not for eternal
existence. You are on the way to the Hereafter.
The Creator.
• The Creator is the Destroyer, & the Destroyer is the Reviver
Note: The holy Quran states:
﴾Has not He, Who created the heavens & the earth, power to create
similar to them (again)? Yes, indeed! He is the Originator, the All- Knowing’﴿
(Yaseen36:81)
Death & Hereafter.
• Always remember death and remember the incidents that will take
place suddenly after death (so provide yourself with provisions for the
Hereafter).
Note: a) A person may live up to 120 years in good hygienic environment, but
because of sins, crimes, addiction, gluttony, grief and other factors his age is
reduced. All angels Gabriel, Michael, I’zrael, Israfiel, and Satan, jinns, and
everyone in the entire universe will perish by command of God, God alone never
dies.
• Therefore be on guard against it (death) lest it approaches you at a time when
you are in a sinful state, thinking to seek forgiveness and repentance later;
but death obstructs between you and repentance; in such a case, you have ruined
yourself.
Knowledge.
• Be aware there is no excellence in the knowledge that does not
benefit, & no benefit can be derived from knowledge which is not worthy of
learning.
Note: a) Magic & witchcraft & all things against the commandments of God should
not be learnt.
b) If all human knowledge from Adam to this day in different fields of knowledge
is accumulated together, it will be meager, as compared to what man does not
know. When the promised savior Imam Mahdi (A.S) appears, man will acquire
beneficial knowledge which will be fourteen times the present knowledge.
Good & Evil.
• There is no excellence in good deeds, which are based on evil.
Note: a. If a person acquires wealth or power by theft, murder, usury, gambling
bribery, hypocrisy & so on, & spends this ill-gotten wealth for hajj, charity, &
for building mosques, schools, orphanages, & other welfare activities, he cannot
expect reward from God.
b. Acquisition of power by murder of Imams & divine guides is condemned by every
wise person. Imam Hussain (A.S) Zacharia (A.S) &Yahya (A.S) were murdered by
secular rulers. Similarly Joseph (A.S) & Imam Moosa Kazim (A.S) were imprisoned
for a long time. Does it mean God’s intention & God’s party is defeated? It
means God is patient & He is putting rulers & people to test & trial and on the
Day of Judgment punishment is certain.
The Messenger (peace be upon him and his household)
• Be aware, no one has ever given news about God like the news given
by the Holy Messenger (peace be upon him and his household) hence regard him as
your benefactor & leader for rescue (from calamities & punishment)
Note: There is no compulsion in religion. All people are born monotheist, they
gladly welcome news about God and about continuation of life of all souls for
recompense in Paradise by obeying God’s commandments with their freewill & not
obeying God’s enemies like Satan, hypocrites, & self seeking and tyrant rulers.
The Blind guided.
• Sometimes a person with eyes strays from his right destination &
the blind finds the right way.
God.
• He (God) is far from being encompassed by heart or eye for
believing in His Lordship.
• Which link is stronger than the link between you &God if you clasp it firmly?
• Be aware, if there was a partner for God, his messengers too would have come
to guide you &you could have seen the effect of his sovereignty & you would have
recognized his conduct & attributes; but God is One & Unique as He has described
Himself in the holy Quran:
﴾Your God is the One God, so whoever expects to encounter his Lord
should act righteously, & not associate anyone with the worship of his Lord.﴿
(Kahf 18:110)
No one opposes Him in His Sovereignty & He can never be destroyed. He exists
from eternity and he shall exist for ever.
Note: a). Arabs became idol worshipers & built a number of idols in Ka’ba
although Abraham (A.S) had destroyed all the idols. Similarly Mohammad (peace be
upon him and his household) &Ali (A.S) destroyed all the idols, therefore all
Arab tribes became their enemies especially Bani Umayyah i.e. Abu Sufyan,
Moaviyah &Yazid (L.A), who are described as shajarahe malo’ona in the holy
Quran.(S17:A61)
b) Greeks were polytheists.Hindus are also polytheists, Some people consider
every attribute of God as a separate god and are therefore misguided.
• I advise you fear of God & obedience to His commandments & prohibitions & to
sustain your heart with His remembrance & to hold His Cord strongly.
Friends & Foes.
• Whoever is indifferent to your loss or gain is your enemy.
• A stranger is one who has no friends.
• A friendly companion is harmonious like your relatives (so treat him like a
relative)
• A friend is one who is true at heart and befriends you, even in your absence.
(otherwise he is a hypocrite and pretends to be a friend)
When asked whether a brother is better or a friend? The Imam replied, that a
brother is better if he is a friend, otherwise a friend is better than a
brother.
The distant & the near
• Many a time the distant one is much nearer to you than the near
one, and the near one is more distant from you than the distant.
Note: Salman Farsi although from a distant place like Iran was nearer to the
Holy Messenger (peace be upon him and his household) than many of his Arab
companions, so the Holy Messenger (peace be upon him and his household)
announced that Salman was his Ahle Bayt. The Arabs close to the Messenger (peace
be upon him and his household) could not attain this privileged position, so
they were jealous of him.
Sincerity in advice.
• Let your advice for your brother be sincere (to please God) no
matter whether your brother likes it or not.
(The above Hadith No 31 was abstracted from the Will of Ali (A.S) in Nahjol
balagha, Letter No 31)
32. Humbleness & honor.
• Humbleness is the ladder that leads to honor and dignity. (Nahjul
Balagha, Words of wisdom 396)
• Accept death but not contempt & dishonor (in the sight of God). (Nahjol
balagha, words of wisdom396)
• Magnanimity is to shun & avoid dishonor and contempt. (Ghorarol Hikam V: 1
P.239)
Note: It is not proper for a believer (momin) to make himself contemptible.
33. Independence & political freedom
God has created you free so do not enslave yourself to others. (Nahjol
Balagha, Letter 31)
Note: this statement of Ali (A.S) covers political, social, economical and
religious freedom.
Regarding political freedom we shall briefly consider Palestine and Iran.
a) In Palestine freedom of people i.e. Muslims, Christians, Jews and Zionist is
in danger if they do not come to an agreement and form a government to satisfy
all. Aqsa Mosque is a bone of contention which Zionist like to occupy on pretext
that king Solomon is buried there. It is the advice of Ali (A.S) that whenever a
tyrant enslaves the free people, it is their duty to disobey the tyrants and
obey God alone & implement the divine laws of God as explained by His divine
guide. Many International Organizations have so far failed to solve the problem
of Palestine. so it is necessary to overhaul international organizations in the
interest of justice and God is the Super most Judge.
b) Iran & Iraq. There was a war between them for eight years and it destroyed
both the countries economically, because petroleum was devalued to less than $5
per barrel; several thousand of Iranians were martyred by weapons & poisonous
gases which is an international crime. The neighboring Arab countries & super
powers were happy to support Sadaam & also to sell their weapons to him but God
helped Iran in this imposed battle. Saddam and all enemies of Iran were badly
disappointed when they could not enslave Iran nor oust Imam Khomeini (R.A).
Eventually those Iranians who had fled to Iraq and other countries and were
propagating against Iran will meet the same fate as Saddam.
Therefore it is necessary for all to maintain unity and peace without occupying
other countries except for reforming and developing them by bringing them under
one flag of Imam Mahdi (A.S).
34. Quran.
One who reads Quran and then dies and then enters hell, he is the one
of those who had ridiculed the Aayaat of Quran scornfully.
Note: In western countries Quran is the best selling heavenly Book now, because
someone had ridiculed it and taken it as an ordinary book, and not the book of
God. Many Christians and Jews have embraced Islam after reading the holy Quran,
which is a revelation from God and a lasting miracle, and There is a challenge
in the holy Quran that no one can bring the like of it up to Dooms Day regarding
its context and fluency in Arabic, and as the last book for human guidance all
over the globe.
35. Imam Mahdi (A.S).
You will wait for a period of time until He (God) manifests a person
(Imam Mahdi A.S) who brings about unity amongst you and relieves you from
divisions into sects. So do not covet for the present Imam (Ali (A.S) who does
not care for this world and has divorced her thrice) and do not lose hope about
the Imam of the age in concealment. (Imam Mahdi (A.S). Verily the likeness of
the posterity of Mohammad (peace be upon him and his household) is like heavenly
stars; whenever a star vanishes a star appears (i.e. the world is never devoid
of an Imam) in this manner blessings of God may be culminated on you and what
you desire will be granted on you. i.e. you shall see that divine personality &
definitely realize your aspiration for seeing the promised kingdom of justice of
God on earth. (Sermon No.99, Nahjol Balagha)
36. Desires.
Desires are the root of all afflictions & grief. (Ghorarol Hikam V: 1
P.262)
37. Loan.
When you are rich seize the opportunity to give loan to a person who
likes to pay you back when you direly need it.
Note: Loan without interest is called Qarzul Hasanah. God has prohibited
interest on loan for any borrower. Loan sans interest is like giving loan to
God. Who has Himself made you rich to test you?
Banks can make you a partner and pay you any amount of profit (not interest) as
your legitimate share in profitable investments of the bank. Interest is
prohibited because it makes a man lazy & without activity. Usury makes a lender
rich while the borrower becomes poor.
38. Physical and mental health.
a) Ali (A.S) has quoted from the Holy Messenger (peace be upon him
and his household): “Treat your sick ones with ‘ Sadaqah’ charity.
b) Implore God to give you from the treasures of His Mercy that which no one
else has the power to bestow. viz. lengthy lives, healthy bodies, abundance of
sustenance (both material & spiritual)
c) Often medicines bring illness,* and often illness serves as medicine*.
*.because of side effects and by weakening immunity i.e. resistance against
disease,*.cough safeguards you against paralysis.
Illness and disease makes you pray to God sincerely and thus cleans you from
sins.
d) For physical health lack of jealousy is vitally important.
e) Whoever is lacking in good deeds falls into grief & grief is half the cause
of oldness.
f) One of the calamities is poverty beware of it.
What is worse than poverty is physical illness, and worse than physical illness
is an evil heart.
Remember that piety of heart ensures a healthy body. (Nahjol Balagha)
(If wealth is lost, nothing is lost.
If health is lost something is lost
If character is lost everything is lost. (because a person becomes fuel for
hell)
• Quince: increases a man’s strength
and removes his weakness of heart (Isfahan is famous for its Quince; its
preserve is red in color and very tasty.)
• Pomegranate: Eat pomegranate with its pulp
(peah). It is good for abdomen and digestion of food and has a tanning effect
for stomach, it is good for heart and illuminate the soul. It is among the
fruits of paradise (Rahmaan :61)
• Pears: Eat pears because they burnish the
heart.
• Figs: relax obstructions (sadad) and is
beneficial for colic. Do not eat many figs at night but at day time.
• Brown Raisins (Maweez): Twenty one maweez
before breakfast repel every disease and illness (i.e. a person’s immunity
against diseases is strengthened) (Islamic Medical Wisdom translated by Batool
Ispahani)
39. Justice and benevolence
Ali (A.S) has explained the Aayat in the holy Quran: Indeed God
commands you justice and benevolence (Nahl: 90)
Justice is to be equitable and to see everything is in its proper place whereas
benevolence is boundless i.e. without limit and the Imam said: “justice (Adl)
is superior to benevolence (Ehsaan), because justice is administrator in general
and benevolence is only for special cases. (Words of wisdom 237)
40. A supplication of Ali (A.S).
A comprehensive supplication was taught by Imam Ali (A.S) to a person
who was reciting a lengthy supplication in a tiresome state:
In The Name Of Allah The Compassionate The Merciful.
Praise Be to God for All His Blessings.
And I beseech God for all virtues.
And I seek God’s refuge from all vices.
And I beg forgiveness from God for all sins.
O My God bless Mohammad and the descendants of Mohammad.