Hadith

Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib [a]

1968 sayings · page 11 of 50

1. Beware of cowardice, for it is a [source of] shame and a defect.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2582; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 231 · permalink

2. The intellect is sharpened by good manners.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4333; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 367 · permalink

3. The more the keepers of secrets increase, the more the divulgers of secrets increase

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 7197; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 826 · permalink

4. Shower all your love on your friend but do not shower all your trust on him

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2463; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 826 · permalink

5. The most successful of matters is the one that is kept confidential

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3384; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 826 · permalink

6. Do not entrust your secret, except to someone who has your absolute trust

   Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 235, no. 3; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 827 · permalink

7. It does not matter if your secret is unknown

   Bihar al-Anwar, p. 269, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 827 · permalink

8. The one who is unable to keep his own secret will be unable to keep anyone else's

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 8941; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 827 · permalink

9. Do not confide anything in an ignorant person for he will not be able to guard it.'

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 10265; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 828 · permalink

10. Do not ever entrust your secret to someone who has no integrity

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 10166; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 828 · permalink

11. Three types of people should not be entrusted with a secret: a woman, a slanderer and an idiot

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4662; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 828 · permalink

12. I am surprised at the one who despairs whilst he has [the ability to seek] forgiveness!

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 87; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 829 · permalink

13. Perfume yourselves with seeking forgiveness so that you are not exposed to the stench of sins

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 93, p. 278, no. 7; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 829 · permalink

14. He who is given the opportunity to seek forgiveness is not deprived forgiveness.

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 135; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 829 · permalink

15. Seeking forgiveness increases sustenance

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 93, p. 277, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 830 · permalink

16. Seek forgiveness and you will be provided sustenance.

    Mustadrak al-Wasa`il, v. 12, p. 122, no. 13686; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 830 · permalink

17. Act in accordance with knowledge and you will prosper.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2479; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 746 · permalink

18. Sit in the company of scholars and you will prosper

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4717; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 747 · permalink

19. Prosperity lies in adhering to the truth

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6489; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 747 · permalink

20. Whoever takes account of himself prospers.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 7887; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 747 · permalink

21. Whoever exerts his soul in a bid to improve himself prospers, and whoever neglects and abandons his soul to its pleasures attracts misfortune and becomes distant [from Allah].

    Ghurar al-Hikam, 8246-8247; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 747 · permalink

22. Having a heart free from rancour and jealousy is part of a man's prosperity.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5803; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 747 · permalink

23. Accomplishment of good deeds constitutes prosperity

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9296; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 747 · permalink

24. The reality of prosperity is that a man's tasks conclude with success, and the reality of misfortune is that a man's tasks conclude with failure.

    Ma`ani al-Akhbar, p. 345, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 748 · permalink

25. I hate it for a man to have a smooth forehead not having any trace of prostration on it.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 71, p. 344, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 750 · permalink

26. You should be in a trial like a baby camel, neither can it be mounted [and overcome as a result], nor can it be milked [and taken advantage of].

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 955 · permalink

27. The best form of faith is trustworthiness, and the worst vice is betrayal.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2905-2906; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 955 · permalink

28. Do not betray a man who trusts you, even if he betrays you. And do not disclose his secrets even if he discloses yours

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 208, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 956 · permalink

29. When trustworthiness is fortified, truthfulness increases.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4053; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 957 · permalink

30. The truth is the strongest support

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 716; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 958 · permalink

31. Know that the truth is [like] tame mounts, whose owners have mounted them and have been handed their reins. They take them gently until they came to ample shade

    Nahj al-Sa`ada, v. 3, p. 294; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 958 · permalink

32. He who seeks might unrightfully will be humiliated, and he who opposes the truth will be afflicted with weakness

    Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 95; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 958 · permalink

33. Truly the truth is heavy but wholesome, whereas falsehood is light but plagued

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 376; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 959 · permalink

34. It is written on the hilt of one of the Prophet (SAWA)'s swords: 'Speak the truth even if it be against yourself.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 74, p. 157, no. 2; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 960 · permalink

35. The best of people in the sight of Allah is he who likes to act according to what is right - even if it brings him loss and misery - more than what is wrong, even if it brings him profit and increase of wealth

    Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 125; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 960 · permalink

36. Amir al-Mu'minin Im?m 'Al? ibn Ab? T?lib (a.s.), said in one of his wills to his son, al-Husayn (AS), 'O my son! I advise you to fear Allah in both affluence and poverty, and to tell the truth both when pleased as well as when angered

    Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 88; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 960 · permalink

37. The bosom of the wise man is the strongbox guarding his secret

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 6; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 826 · permalink

38. It is narrated in al-Da`awat on the authority of al-Harith al-Hamdani, 'One day I went to visit the Commander of the Faithful (AS) at noon. He asked, 'What has brought you here?' I answered, 'By Allah, it is love for you.' He said, 'If you are truthful, you will see me at three positions: when your soul comes to this - and then he pointed to his throat , on the Bridge [outstretched over Hell], and at the Heavenly Waters.

    al-Da`awat, p. 249, no. 699; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 582 · permalink

39. If a mountain were to love me, it would crumble.

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 111; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 582 · permalink

40. Irascibility is a type of madness, since its perpetrator always regrets. If however, he does not regret, his madness is confirmed.

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 255; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 584 · permalink

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