Hadith

Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib [a]

1968 sayings · page 27 of 50

1. Verily the worst betrayal is the betrayal of the [religious] community, and the most repulsive deceit is that of the leaders

   Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 26; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 145 · permalink

2. Blessings are multiplied with justice.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4211; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 146 · permalink

3. When crimes prevail, blessings are lifted away.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4030; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 146 · permalink

4. If people were to fear and return to their Lord when calamities befall them and blessings are taken away from them, returning with truth in their intentions, and reverence in their hearts, He would return to them every runaway, and correct every corrupt person.

   Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 178; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 219 · permalink

5. The root of the intellect is power, and its fruit is happiness.

   Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 7, no. 59; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 395 · permalink

6. The most knowledgeable of people is he who is infatuated with knowledge.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3079; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 528 · permalink

7. If you were to acquire knowledge from its source, and drink water at its freshest, and amass good at its origin, and adopt a path at its clearest point, and adopt the path of truth at its most proper, the paths would open themselves to you indeed and the signs would become manifest to you.

   al-Kafi, v. 8, p. 32, no. 5; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 529 · permalink

8. The Prophet (SAWA)'s laughter was a smile.

   Amali al-Tusi, p. 522, no. 1156; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 529 · permalink

9. The earnestness of one who laughs too much deteriorates.

   Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, p. 96; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 530 · permalink

10. Cure poverty with charity and giving generously

    al-Khisal, p. 9, no. 22; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 708 · permalink

11. Poverty is decreed on those who indulge in it - meaning the world (duny?) - and those who turn away from it will be helped with ease.

    Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, p. 221; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 709 · permalink

12. Whoever opens the door of begging to themselves Allah will open for them a door of poverty

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 103, p. 20, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 710 · permalink

13. Self-restraint is the adornment of poverty

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 68; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 711 · permalink

14. Prayer elicits the descent of divine mercy.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2214; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 714 · permalink

15. The Prophet (SAWA) never put anything before his prayer, neither his dinner nor anything else. When the time for prayer would set in, it was as if he knew neither family nor close friend.

    Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 2, p. 87; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 714 · permalink

16. Prayer is the sacrificial offering of every pious one

    al-Khisal, p. 620, no. 10; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 714 · permalink

17. A man who is possessive [over his own wife] will never commit adultery.

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 305; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 336 · permalink

18. Fornication brings about poverty.

    Bihar al-Anwar, p. 23, no. 18; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 337 · permalink

19. O people! Indeed Adam did not beget a bondsman or bondswoman, so all people are free.

    Nahj al-Sa`ada, v. 1, p. 198; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 339 · permalink

20. Do not ever be a slave to others when Allah, glory be to Him, has made you free

    Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 31; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 339 · permalink

21. Cheerfulness is the distinguishing trait of the free.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 467; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 339 · permalink

22. Truly modesty and chastity are of the traits of faith, and they are the attributes of the free and the distinguishing marks of the righteous.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3605; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 339 · permalink

23. The servant of Allah is free so far as he remains content. The free man is a slave as long as he is greedy.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 413; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 340 · permalink

24. Treat your families to some fruits every Friday, so that they rejoice on Fridays.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 104, p. 73, no. 24; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 340 · permalink

25. Amir al-Mu'minin Im?m 'Al? ibn Ab? T?lib (a.s.) asked Ibn 'Abbas [according to another account], 'What is the value of this sandal?' Ibn 'Abbas said, 'It is worthless.' He (AS) said, 'I swear by Allah, it has more value to me than ruling over you, except for being able to do right and prevent injustice.'

    Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 33; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 376 · permalink

26. Amir al-Mu'minin Im?m 'Al? ibn Ab? T?lib (a.s.) wrote to Ibn 'Abbas: 'Do not let your share as a result of your rule be wealth that you derive [personal] gain from, nor rage that you satisfy [by revenge], but [let it be] the killing of injustice and the revival of equity.'

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 40, p. 328, no. 10; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 377 · permalink

27. The jihad of a woman is being a good wife to her husband.

    Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 378 · permalink

28. Jihad of the self is the dowry for Paradise.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4755; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 378 · permalink

29. Prevent your self from fulfilling its desires, and make it hold fast to the Book of Allah during misgivings.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5406; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 378 · permalink

30. No one is more despicable than a greedy person.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 10593; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 381 · permalink

31. The Prophet (SAWA) dispatched troops [to a mission]. On seeing the returning armies from the battlefront, he said, 'Blessed are those who have performed the lesser jihad, and have yet to perform the greater one.' When asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, what is the greater jihad?' the Prophet replied, 'The jihad of the self', and added, 'The best jihad is that of one who combats his own self that is between his two sides.

    Ma`ani al-Akhbar, p. 160, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 379 · permalink

32. The best jihad is combatting one's self against its desires, and weaning it from the pleasures of this world.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3232; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 379 · permalink

33. Gain control of your souls through constant self-struggle.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2489; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 379 · permalink

34. Struggle against your lower desires, overcome your anger, oppose your bad habits, purify your self, perfect your intellect, and bring to completion the reward that is with your Lord.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4760; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 380 · permalink

35. Controlling the self and combatting with it against its lower desires raises one's stations and multiplies one's rewards.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5407; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 380 · permalink

36. Salvation for the soul is [attained] through self-struggle.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4319; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 380 · permalink

37. Greed is an eternal slavery.

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 180; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 381 · permalink

38. Whoever wishes to spend the days of his life as a free man must not allow greed to abide in his heart.

    Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 1, p. 49; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 381 · permalink

39. The greedy person is shackled in disgrace.

    Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha by Abi al-Hadid, v. 19, p. 50; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 381 · permalink

40. The person most neglectful of his own soul is the one who is full of greed.

    Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha by Abi al-Hadid, v. 18, p. 84; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 381 · permalink

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