Hadith

Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib [a]

1968 sayings · page 19 of 50

1. People' s intellects can be tested when they speak impulsively.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6221; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 474 · permalink

2. A man' s opinion is the measure of his intellect.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5422; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 474 · permalink

3. The abundance of reason is an indication of flourishing intellect.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 7091; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 474 · permalink

4. When intellect is complete speech decreases.

   Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 71; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 474 · permalink

5. He whose intellect is perfected regards carnal desires with disdain.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 8226; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 474 · permalink

6. The intellect disappears between the whims and the carnal desires.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5180; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 474 · permalink

7. The loss of the intellect occurs in the quest for all that is superfluous.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5901; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 475 · permalink

8. Man' s admiration and satisfaction with himself is a proof of his weak intellect.

   Kanz al-Fawa' id li al-Karajiki, v. 1, p. 200; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 475 · permalink

9. Whoever keeps the company of an ignorant man incurs a loss in his intellect.

   Kanz al-Fawa' id li al-Karajiki, v. 1, p. 199; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 475 · permalink

10. Whenever a man cracks a joke, a part of his intellect trickles away.

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 450; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 475 · permalink

11. He who abandons listening to intellectual people, his own intellect dies.

    Kanz al-Fawa' id li al-Karajiki, v. 1, p. 199; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 475 · permalink

12. When intellect is little, superfluity thrives

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4043; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 475 · permalink

13. Modesty is the key to all goodness

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 340; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 615 · permalink

14. The most intelligent person is the most modest one.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2900; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 615 · permalink

15. Modesty prevents ugly actions.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1393; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 615 · permalink

16. The means to chastity is modesty

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5527; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 615 · permalink

17. Shame has been associated with deprivation.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6714; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 616 · permalink

18. Shame prevents sustenance.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 274; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 616 · permalink

19. One who is not ashamed in front of people is not ashamed in front of Allah, Glory be to Him

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9081; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 616 · permalink

20. The peak of modesty is for a man to be modest in the presence of his own self.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6369; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 617 · permalink

21. The believer looks at the world with contemplative consideration, and only consumes thereof within the bounds of necessity

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 267; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 618 · permalink

22. The ignorant one rarely takes lesson [from experiences].

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 7837; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 618 · permalink

23. The most despised of creatures in the sight of Allah is a man who gathers scattered pieces of knowledge, deceiving [people] in the darkness of chaos, and blinded to what lies hidden in tranquility. His peers from among the people call him a scholar, but he himself has never benefited one full day from his knowledge.

    Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 44220; Mizan ul Hikmah page No. 114 · permalink

24. Allah made faith incumbent in order to purify [people] from polytheism, and prayer to eliminate arrogance, and the alms-tax as a mediator for [the descent of] sustenance

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 252; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 644 · permalink

25. Allah has ordained a duty for all of your body parts, and they will be used as proofs and witnesses over you on the Day of Resurrection

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 382; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 644 · permalink

26. Manage your selves with piety, and cure the sick ones from among you with charity.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5588; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 590 · permalink

27. The limits of the greatest obligations that Allah has ordained upon His creation are five: prayer, the alms-tax (zakat), the obligatory pilgrimage (Hajj), fasting, and the guardianship [of those divinely appointed by Allah] (wilaya), which is the protector for the former four.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 68, p. 388, no. 39; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 645 · permalink

28. A person of dignity would never use obscene language.'

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9478; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 646 · permalink

29. The obscure matter has been termed obscure for the very fact that it resembles [and therefore obscures] the truth. The friends of Allah take recourse in conviction as their light therein and the direction of the right path itself as their guide, whereas the enemies of Allah use it to call [others] to deviation and blind following is their guide therein.

    Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 38; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 647 · permalink

30. Be on your guard against the obscure matter, for verily it has been set down in order to test [people].

    Nahj al-Sa`ada, v. 2, p. 320; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 647 · permalink

31. Gray hair is the herald of death.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1202; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 648 · permalink

32. Old age suffices as a warning.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 7019; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 648 · permalink

33. The dignified bearing that comes with old age is more beloved to me than the vigour of youth

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 10099; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 648 · permalink

34. When an intelligent man grows old, his intellect remains young [and sharp], and when the ignorant man grows old, his ignorance too remains young [and more reckless].

    Ghurar al-Hikam, nos. 4169-4170; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 648 · permalink

35. Know that Muawiya will oppose you just as he opposed me, and in conciliating and making peace with him, you will be following in the footsteps of your grandfather (AS) when he conciliated with the Bani Aamra and the Bani Ashja`a tribes and if instead you wish to fight your enemy, know that you will not find any from among your followers willing to make peace alongside you, as your father's followers did alongside him.

    Nahj al-Sa`ada, v. 2, p. 742; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 690 · permalink

36. Perfume is an amulet [on one's person].

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 400; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 692 · permalink

37. The worst of your brothers is he who flatters you and conceals [from you] your faults

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5725; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 695 · permalink

38. Whoever flatters himself trespasses into the forbidden transgressions

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9022; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 695 · permalink

39. Do not compromise the truth when you come across it and you recognize that it is the truth, lest you suffer clear loss

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 291, no. 2; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 695 · permalink

40. Once a group of people were present before Amirul Momineen (a.s.) when the narrator asked, "What is your opinion about Qadiriya?" Imam asked, "Is there any Qadiri with you or in this house?" The narrator asked, "What will you tell them?" Imam (a.s.) replied, "I will ask them to repent and if they do not repent, I will behead them."

    Iqbal al-A`amal, page 270 · permalink

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