Hadith

Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib [a]

1968 sayings · page 43 of 50

1. Clemency and forbearance are two twins that produce great resolution.

   Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 460; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 189 · permalink

2. One who is clement has the upper hand.

   Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 208, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 190 · permalink

3. One who is clement with his enemy is victorious.

   Kanz al-Fawa' id li al-Karajiki, v. 1, p. 319; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 190 · permalink

4. Verily the first recompense from the qualities of the clement person is that the people will assist him against the ignorant one.

   Jami`a al-Akhbar, p. 319, no. 897; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 190 · permalink

5. Clemency in the midst of severe anger will protect one from the anger of the Almighty.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1776; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 190 · permalink

6. Amir al-Mu'minin Im?m 'Al? ibn Ab? T?lib (a.s.) when asked about the most clement person, said, 'The one who does not become enraged.'

   Amali al-Saduq, p. 322, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 191 · permalink

7. He who has confidence in the fact that whatever sustenance Allah has apportioned for him will definitely reach him has secured comfort for his heart.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 8763; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 191 · permalink

8. A compatible wife is one of the two main comforts.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1633; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 191 · permalink

9. He who restricts himself to what is just sufficient for maintenance has secured comfort and leads a carefree life.

   Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 371; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 191 · permalink

10. The greatest comfort lies in practicing abstemiousness in this world.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1316; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 192 · permalink

11. Practice the various trades, for there is in them independence for you from what is in the hands of others, and indeed Allah loves the one gainfully engaged in a profession.

    Wasael al-Shi`aah, v. 12, p. 4, no. 6; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 193 · permalink

12. A good action is easier [to do] than a bad one.

    Ghurar al-Hikam,. no. 1199; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 351 · permalink

13. Three things sum up all of goodness: bestowing of favours, maintaining covenants and pacts, and strengthening blood-kinship.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4675; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 352 · permalink

14. All of goodness is contained in those actions which remain, and in contempt for all that is transient.

    Ghurar al-Hikam,. no. 4735; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 352 · permalink

15. All of goodness is in friendship for the sake of Allah, enmity for the sake of Allah, love for the sake of Allah and hate for the sake of Allah.

    Ghurar al-Hikam,. no. 4781; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 352 · permalink

16. The good of this world and the Hereafter has been brought together in the concealing of secrets and the befriending of good people.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 74, p. 178, no. 17; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 353 · permalink

17. There are three things which if one possesses, they have been endowed with the good of this world and the Hereafter. They are: contentment with [Allah's] decree, patience in the face of tribulation, and thankfulness in times of ease.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4670; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 353 · permalink

18. Allah glory be to Him - does not give His servant any good of this world or the Hereafter except as a result of his good nature and good intention.

    Ghurar al-Hikam,. no. 9670; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 353 · permalink

19. There are four things which when given to someone, they have indeed been given the good of this world and the Hereafter: truthful speech, fulfilment of trust, restraint in [filling] one's stomach, and a good nature.

    Ghurar al-Hikam,. no. 2142; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 353 · permalink

20. Goodness does not lie in the increase of your wealth and of your progeny, rather goodness lies in the increase of your knowledge, and the heightening of your clemency, and in your vying with other people in the worship of Allah. If you do good then you should praise Allah, but if you commit evil then seek forgiveness from Allah.

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 94; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 354 · permalink

21. When Allah wants good for a servant, He inspires him with contentment and gives him a righteous spouse.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4115; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 355 · permalink

22. Rush to undertake good actions before you are preoccupied with other things.

    al-Khisal, p. 620, no. 10; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 356 · permalink

23. The best of matters are those that are easy to start, pleasant to finish and whose outcome is praiseworthy.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5032; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 357 · permalink

24. Excellent chastity, and satisfaction with the bare necessities are among the pillars of faith.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4838; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 291 · permalink

25. A part of faith is that which is firm and steadfast in the hearts, and another part is that which remains temporarily in the hearts and the breasts up until a certain time.

    Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 189; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 292 · permalink

26. A servant will never savour the taste of faith until he abandons lying, both in jest and earnestness.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 72, p. 249, no. 14; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 293 · permalink

27. A servant will never savour the taste of faith until he knows that that which afflicts him would never have missed him, and that that which has missed him would never have touched him, and that the only One to induce harm and benefit is Allah, Mighty and Exalted.

    al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 58, no. 7; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 293 · permalink

28. Man will never taste the reality of faith until he possesses three qualities: understanding of religion, perseverance in calamities, and a good assessment of his income.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 71, p. 85, no. 29; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 293 · permalink

29. The believer is such that his joy is evident on his face whereas his sorrow is in his heart. His breast is at its widest [i.e. biggest heart] but his ego is at its lowest. He despises high rank and shuns reputation. His grief is long-lasting and his ambition is lofty. His silence is much and his time occupied. He is grateful, extremely patient, and immersed in deep thought. He is thrifty with his needs. He is good-natured and mild-tempered. His soul is firmer than steel whilst he [i.e. his ego] remains lower than a slave.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 69, p. 410, no. 127; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 299 · permalink

30. The believer is grateful in times of prosperity, patient during tribulation, and fearful in times of ease.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1743; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 299 · permalink

31. The believer is gullible and kind, secure from his own lower self, yet wary and distressed [on account of it].

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1901; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 299 · permalink

32. The believer is he who has purified his heart of all that is base.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1956; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 299 · permalink

33. The believer is he who protects his religion by putting his world at stake, whereas the impudent one is he who protects his worldly affairs by putting his religion at stake.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2160; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 299 · permalink

34. Obedience to Allah cannot be attained except by one who possesses earnestness and exerts himself to the utmost.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6009; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 493 · permalink

35. Learn the Quran for it is the best of speeches, and study it for it is the spring of the hearts.

    Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 110; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 495 · permalink

36. Shall I inform you of a true learned person? He who does not allow people to commit acts of disobedience to Allah, does not let them lose hope in the mercy of Allah, does not assure them against the devices of Allah, and does not leave the Quran in his desire for something other than it.

    Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, p. 204; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 496 · permalink

37. Justice is the regulatory system of authority.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 774; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 498 · permalink

38. Nothing can cause nations to flourish like justice.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9534; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 498 · permalink

39. was once asked which was better, justice or generosity, to which he replied, 'Justice puts things in their rightful place, whereas generosity takes them away from their course. Justice is a general predominant state, whereas generosity is a transient characteristic. Justice is therefore the nobler and better of the two.'

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 437; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 499 · permalink

40. The one who practices asceticism from worldly pleasures is such that he neither allows the prohibited things to overcome his perseverance [in the way of Allah], nor the permissible things to distract him from gratefulness to Allah.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 37, no. 3; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 120 · permalink

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