Hadith

Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib [a]

1968 sayings · page 44 of 50

1. The inner knowledge of Allah, Glory be to Him, is the highest of knowable truths.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9864; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 436 · permalink

2. The fruit of knowledge is attaining inner knowledge of Allah.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4586; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 436 · permalink

3. He whose heart finds peace in knowing Allah, finds peace in being needless of Allah's creatures.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 8896; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 437 · permalink

4. The least knowledge of Allah leads one to abstain from the vanities of this world.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 10984; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 438 · permalink

5. Verily it does not befit one who has attained inner knowledge of the grandeur of Allah to behave proudly, for verily the elevation of those who acknowledge His grandeur comes from their abasing themselves in front of Him.

   Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 147; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 438 · permalink

6. The peak of inner knowledge of Allah is fear [of Him].

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6359; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 438 · permalink

7. The person who best knows Allah asks of Him the most.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3260; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 438 · permalink

8. The gnostic's face is cheerful and smily, whereas his heart is apprehensive and sorrowful.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1985; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 439 · permalink

9. Longing [for Allah] is the sincerest friend of the gnostics.

   Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 855; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 439 · permalink

10. Fear is the cloak of the gnostics.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 664; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 439 · permalink

11. Crying much due to fear of Allah for any possible distance between oneself and Allah is the regular worshipful state of the gnostics.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1791; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 439 · permalink

12. Get to know Allah through Allah, and the Prophet through the message he brought, and those vested with authority through their command to do good, their justice and righteousness.

    al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 85, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 440 · permalink

13. The best of deeds is adherence to the truth

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3322; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 78 · permalink

14. Be cautious of every deed which the doer is pleased to perform himself but hates Muslims at large to perform it.

    Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha by Abi al-Hadid, v. 18, p. 41; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 80 · permalink

15. Be cautious of every deed which is performed in secret but is embarrassing to perform in public.

    Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 69; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 80 · permalink

16. Beware of any deed whose performance would be denied by its doer if mentioned to him.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 71, p. 369, no. 19]; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 80 · permalink

17. The angel on man's right [shoulder] records his good deeds, whilst the angel on the left records his evil deeds. The two angels of the day record the servant' s deeds by day, and the two angels of the night record the servant' s deeds by night.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 5, p. 327, no. 22; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 82 · permalink

18. You should adorn yourself for your fellow Muslim brother when you go to visit him just as you adorn yourself for a stranger for whom you want to make a good first impression.

    Bihar al-Anwar, p. 298, no. 3; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 83 · permalink

19. The adornment of your inner selves is more beautiful than the adornment of the outer.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5503; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 83 · permalink

20. The adornment of faith is purity of one's innermost thoughts coupled with good actions manifested outwardly.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5504; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 83 · permalink

21. The best attire is that which enables you to blend in with people, which makes you look presentable in front of them, and which does not give tongues an excuse to wag about you.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3470; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 84 · permalink

22. No one can adorn himself with a better adornment than the obedience of Allah.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9489; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 84 · permalink

23. Amir al-Mu'minin Im?m 'Al? ibn Ab? T?lib (a.s.) was once asked what the worst affliction was, to which he replied, 'To be afflicted with a blow to one's faith.'

    Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 85 · permalink

24. The greatest affliction and source of wretchedness is infatuation with this world.

    Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 85 · permalink

25. The greatest affliction is ignorance

    Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 85 · permalink

26. There is no loneliness more miserable than self-admiration.

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 113; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 831 · permalink

27. Seeking forgiveness alongside persistent sinning is renewing one's sins.

    Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 223; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 830 · permalink

28. Self-admiration shows up your faults

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 954; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 831 · permalink

29. Self-admiration is foolishness

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 62; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 831 · permalink

30. An evil deed [of yours] that upsets you is better in the sight of Allah than a good deed which you feel proud about

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 46; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 831 · permalink

31. Beware of self-satisfaction lest it increases the cause for [Allah's] wrath against you

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2642; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 831 · permalink

32. The consequence of self-admiration is hatred [of other people towards you].

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4606; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 831 · permalink

33. Self-admiration prevents progress

    Nahj al-Balagha, no. 167; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 832 · permalink

34. What is the matter with man that he is so given to self-admiration when his origin was but a putrid droplet, and his end is as a filthy corpse, and between these states he is but a vessel for excrement?!

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9666; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 833 · permalink

35. The fighter who is martyred in the way of Allah has no greater reward than the one who is able to sate himself but remains chaste. The chaste person may well become one of the angels

    Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 474; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 834 · permalink

36. Self-restraint is the root of all good

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1168; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 834 · permalink

37. Self-restraint is the best part of spiritual chivalry (futuwwa).

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 529; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 834 · permalink

38. Verily Allah has made jihad obligatory and has magnified it and made it a [source of] triumph and a helper. By Allah, neither one's worldly affairs nor one's religion are set aright except through it.

    Wasael al-Shi`aah, v. 11, p. 9, no. 15; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 559 · permalink

39. Certainly jihad is the noblest of deeds after [acceptance of] Islam, and it is the pillar of religion. The reward for it is great, while at the same time, consistently maintaining one's honour and strength. There are rewards and good tidings of Paradise after martyrdom.

    Nur al-Thaqalayn, v. 1, p. 408, no. 429; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 559 · permalink

40. The doors of the heavens are opened for those who wage jihad.

    Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1347; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 560 · permalink

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