Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib [a]
1968 sayings · page 2 of 50
Ibn Abi Ya'fur narrated that Imam Sadiq (a.s) said "We are those who possess the Message" regarding the verse: "If you realize this not, ask of those who possess the Message." [The Holy Quran: Nahl 16:43]
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 15 On Remembrance, Hadees 281 link
Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: "Daily bread is threatened by foolishness, deprivation is cured by intelligence, and calamities require certitude and patience."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 5 On Perseverance,Page 70, Hadees 63 link
"There are two types of patience. Patience with calamities is good, but patience with what Allah has forbidden is even better."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 5 On Perseverance,Page 72, Hadees 66 link
"There are two forms of patience: patience with what you dislike, and patience with what you like. The relationship between patience and faith is similar to that of the head and the body - that is a body is no good without a head, and faith is no good without patience."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 5 On Perseverance,Page 76, Hadees 77 link
"There are three forms of patience: being patient when obeying Allah; being patient during times of calamities, and being patient when faced with sin."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 5 On Perseverance,Page 76, Hadees 78 link
There are four things and even if one of them enters a house it causes economic catastrophe and it never remains blessed: defalcation, thievery, wine and adultery
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-SecondGreater Sin ,page 107; Wasaelush Shia link
It is said that when it was the time for prayers, Amirul Momineen Ali (a.s.) became fearful and restless and his face became pale. People were shocked to see him thus, and asked him the reason for it. He replied, "It is the time for prayers! It is the time of delivering the trust that Allah had offered to the heavens, the earth and the mountains, which they had refused. This is what I fear!"
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-SecondGreater Sin ,page 111,112 link
To divulge a secret that you are supposed to guard is Khayanat and betrayal
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-SecondGreater Sin ,page 123; Ghurarul Hikam link
Angels do not even enter a house that has wine, drum, tambourine or a flute. Even the prayers of the inhabitants of this house are unacceptable. They are deprived of barakat."
Greater Sins Vol 1, part 3, page 296; Wasaelush Shia link
"Piety resembles faith."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 12 On Piety, Hadees 196 link
"How can I describe the world for you in which you are accountable for what you rightfully earn, and will be punished for what you wrongfully earn. If you could only see what happens during and after death, you would give up all worldly aspirations and its tricky attractions." He then added: "Allah will reward whoever is really pious with peace of mind without any need for a companion; and is self-sufficient without any wealth; and has dignity without being a ruler."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 12 On Piety, Hadees 197 link
"The following are signs by which the pious ones can be recognized: honesty; trustworthiness; loyalty; lack of haughtiness and jealousy; observing the relations of kin; helping the poor; minimum sexual intercourse with women; doing good deeds; having a good temper; and having an in-depth knowledge of what can help one approach Allah. Blessed be them and how prosperous they are!"
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 12 On Piety, Hadees 210 link
In Rauzat al-Vaezeen it is narrated : "Faith is preserved by piety, and destroyed by greed."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 12 On Piety, Hadees 211 link
"O' Believers! Whoever sees that a wrong act is being done, or a forbidden act is being advertised for and disapproves of these acts with his heart, remains healthy and stays pure from such wrong acts. But whoever forbids such acts verbally is more superior and receives a higher reward. Whoever forbids such acts with his sword in order to establish Allah's words and reject the oppressors is on the straight path to guidance. He is on the path to prosperity, and his heart will be filled with the light of certitude."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues,Chapter 13 On Enjoining the Right and Forbidding the Wrong, Hadees 223 link
Allah's Prophet (a.s) sent some people to war and said "O' Allah! I promise to praise You as You deserve praise if they return healthy and successful." After some time they returned as he wished. Then the Prophet of Allah (a.s) said: "Thanks be to Allah for His various blessings."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 6 On Thanksgiving, Hadees 119 link
"Whenever you start to get some blessings, do not lose the rest of the blessings by not giving enough thanks."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 6 On Thanksgiving, Hadees 131 link
"Complement Allah's blessings by submitting to your destiny and giving thanks for the blessings."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 6 On Thanksgiving, Hadees 133 link
Sodomy is a Greater Sin and carries punishment when a man mounts upon another man but does not penetrate. If he penetrates, it is kufr
Greater Sins Vol 1, part 3, page 228; Al Kafi link
"Allaho Akbar! I have heard the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) saying that, 'Whosoever from my ummat commits the act of the ummat of Lut and dies before repenting for it shall not remain in the grave for more than three days. The earth will suck him inside and he shall reach the place of the dead of Lut. Where destiny annihilated them. Then that person will also be counted among them'."
Greater Sins Vol 1, part 3, page 230; Kitab Mualim-uz-zalfa link
One must also fulfill that promise that he has made to his wife. For a Muslim is always careful of his promise except when it is for making a prohibited thing legal or prohibiting that which is permitted.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 95; Tahzeeb link
By Allah, Muawiya is not more cunning than I am but he deceives and commits evil deeds. Had I not been hateful of deceit I would have been the most cunning of all men. But (the fact is that) every deceit is a sin and every sin is disobedience (of Allah), and every deceitful person will have a banner by which he will be recognised on the Day of Judgment
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 98; Nahjul Balagha Sermon 200 link
Surely fulfillment of pledge is the twin of truth. I do not know a better shield (against the assaults of sin) than it. One who realises the reality of return (to the next world) never betrays. We are in a period when most of the people regard betrayal as wisdom. In these days the ignorant call it excellence of cunning. What is the matter with them? Allah may destroy them. One who has been through thick and thin of life finds the excuses preventing him from orders and prohibitions of Allah, but he ignores them despite capability (to succumb to them and follows the command of Allah), while one who has no restraints of religion seizes the opportunity (and accepts the excuses for not following the commands of Allah).
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 98; Nahjul Balagha Sermon 42 link
"There are two types of remembrance: remembering Allah during times of calamities, and even better is remembering Allah when you are about to do what Allah has forbidden. This form of remembrance will cause you to abandon forbidden acts."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 15 On Remembrance, Hadees 262 link
"All good characteristics are summarized in three acts: looking, silence and talking. Any looking that is without learning is a waste of time. Any silence that is without pondering is due to ignorance. And any talking that is not accompanied by remembrance of Allah is vain talk. Then blessed be those who learn when they look; think when they are silent; remember Allah when they talk; are sorry for their wrong-doings; and the people are safe from their mischief."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 15 On Remembrance, Hadees 266 link
Amirul Momineen Ali (a.s.) advises his son Imam Hasan Mujtaba (a.s.) in his will:
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-Fourth Greater Sin ,page 152; Nahjul Balagha link
It is that person who fulfills the wish of his believing brother and accepts a gift in return
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-Fifth Greater Sin ,page 161 link
We are the People of remembrance (Ahle Zikr
Greater Sins Vol 1, Part 2, page 44 link
By Allah! If people knew what I know then very few would have laughed and many more would have wept.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Eighteenth Greater Sin ,page 55; Masaalik link
Allah's Prophet (a.s) said: "If a man sincerely relies on Allah, the rulers and others lower than them will certainly become needy of him. How can he be needy if his Master, the Praised One is not?"
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 4 On Reliance and Trust in God,Page 61, Hadees 49 link
In Al-Mahasin it is narrated that Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said: "There are four pillars for faith: reliance on Allah, trust in Allah, being content with what Allah has destined, and submission to Allah's orders."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues, Chapter 4 On Reliance and Trust in God,Page 62, Hadees 50 link
Those who flee from the battlefield should know that they have angered their Lord and have damned themselves to destruction because fleeing from the battle causes Allah's anger. And one who flees from the Holy war will be certain to face calamities and eternal degradation and his fleeing will not prevent death, and his life cannot be prolonged. That is, if the time of his death has arrived, his fleeing will not delay it. He will die due to some other reason. On the other hand, if the time of his death has not yet arrived and he participates in Jehad he will not die. Thus it is better for one to pledge his life to Allah rather than live in Allah's anger, degradation and dishonour.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-Seventh Greater Sin ,page 191 link
The order for Hijrat will be in force till Allah demands obedience from the inhabitants of the earth in the same way as the order was first promulgated in the time of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.).
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-eighth Greater Sin ,page 201 link
A man says that he has migrated, though in fact he has not. Because a migrant is the one who abandons sins and does not even go near them. And a person says that he has fought in the way of Allah but in reality he has not, because Jehad is the leaving of sinful acts and a war against enemy inside our own self. Whereas many people go out to fight not for the obedience and satisfaction of the Lord. Their motive is only to gain fame so that people may praise their bravery and fearlessness.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-eighth Greater Sin ,page 206; Behaarul Anwaar vol.15 link
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has cursed one who accepts interest, one who pays interest, one who buys interest, one who sells interest, one who writes the contract of interest and one who is the witness of this transaction."
Greater Sins Vol 1, part 3, page 200; Wasaelush Shia link
"On the day of Qiyamat a bad smell shall be released by the order of Allah. And all the people will become restless because of it. So much so that it would be difficult to breathe. Then a caller will proclaim loudly, 'O people of Mahshar! Do you know what this stench is?'
Greater Sins Vol 1, part 3, page 212; Wasaelush Shia link
In the time of the rule of Umar a woman came to him and confessed of adultery. She also said, "Please impose the penalty of fornication upon me."
Greater Sins Vol 1, part 3, page 219; Burhan - e - Quran link
One who claims (verbally) and says that I am hopeful of the Mercy of Allah, is a liar. By Allah if his claim is genuine then why is his sincerity not reflected in his actions.
Greater Sins Vol 1, part 3, page 120; Nahjul Balagha link
Ali (a.s.), inspite of his exalted position, is all humility when he addresses his Lord. Not an iota of significance does he attach to his outstanding achievements. They are all a Mercy from his Creator. In himself, he sees only shortcomings, faults and weaknesses for which he weeps and prays till he becomes unconscious. Abu Darda relates that I heard Ali (a.s.) reciting in a disconsolate voice: "O my Lord, there is no doubt that I have spent a good part of my life in Your disobedience.1 Still I do not hope for forgiveness from anyone but You. Nor do I intend to please anyone except You. O my real Master when I think of Your Mercy, the weight of my sins begins to feel light. But when I remember Your severity, the load of the difficulties crush me."
Greater Sins Vol 1, part 3, page 121 link
O Allah the trials have increased and my condition has deteriorated and my good deeds are very few.
Greater Sins Vol 1, part 3, page 121; Dua-e-Kumail link
"You cannot imitate me entirely, but you can imitate (to some extent) and follow us."
Greater Sins Vol 1, part 3, page 123 link
Shown with the book and page each saying is taken from. The collection carries no grading, and the English is the compiler’s. All speakers and subjects