Imam Ali ibn Husayn [a]
118 sayings · page 1 of 3
"An oppressed person benefits from the faith of an oppressor much more than the oppressor benefits from the world of the oppressed person."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 341 link
The signs of a believer are five: piety [even] when in seclusion, giving charity in spite of lack, patience in the face of calamity, clemency when angered, and truthfulness in spite of fear.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 67, p. 293, no. 15; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 302 link
Adhere to the Qur'an for Allah has created Paradise, and has made its stations in accordance with the verses of the Qur'an. So whoever reads the Qur'an, it will say to him, 'Read and ascend!' So whoever from among them enters Paradise, there will not be a station higher than theirs except for the prophets and the truthful ones
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 8, p. 133, no. 39; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 671 link
O our Shi`a! As for Paradise, it will not escape you sooner or later, but do compete with each other to attain stations therein
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 74, p. 308, no. 61; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 673 link
"Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) said his morning prayer, sat in his place of prayer and waited until the sun started to rise. Then he faced the people and said: "I swear by Allah that I saw some people who stood up in prayer and prostrated in Allah's worship all night long, and pressed their knees and foreheads against the floor as if they heard the blazing Fire of Hell, and would shake like trees whenever they were reminded of Allah, as if they had been in ignorance." Imam Zayn al-Abedin (a.s) continued: "Then Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) stood up and was never seen to laugh again until he died."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 2 On Shiites: Their Signs, and Manners Chapter 1 On Shiite Characteristics, Hadees 295 link
Hazrat Imam Zainul Abedin (a.s.) advises his Shias:
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-SecondGreater Sin ,page 109 link
In Rauzat al-Vaezeen it is narrated that Imam Zayn al-Abedin (a.s) told his followers: "You ought to return what you are entrusted with to its owner. I swear by Allah who rightly appointed Muhammad to the prophethood that even if the murderer of my father Imam Hussein (a.s) entrusts me with his sword with which he killed my father, I shall return it to him."
Mishkat ul-Anwar, Section 1 on Faith, Islam & Related Issues,Chapter 14 On Being Trustworthy, Hadees 253 link
Hazrat Imam Zainul Aabedeen (a.s.) says in Dua Abu Hamza Thumali:
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-Fourth Greater Sin ,page 151 link
In the book Al Kafi there is a tradition, which says that a wife of Imam Sajjad (a.s.) had some connection with the tribe of Bani Hanifa. A Shia of Imam (a.s.) informed him that this wife of his bore enmity to Amirul Momineen (a.s.). After investigating the matter Imam (a.s.) divorced her. She had already received the Meher amount (Dower), but she filed a claim for it against Imam (a.s.) in the court of the ruler of Madinah. She demanded four hundred Dirhams as Meher from him. The ruler of Madinah told Imam Sajjad (a.s.), "Either you swear that you have already paid her or you pay the amount of Meher (now)." Hazrat Syed-e-Sajjad (a.s.) did not swear, but ordered his son Hazrat Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) to pay four hundred Dirhams to the woman. Hazrat Baqir (a.s.) said, "May I be sacrificed for you! Are you not on the right?"
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Eighteenth Greater Sin ,page 55; Al Kafi link
There are two actions, towards which, a step taken is liked by Allah more than anything else. One is the step taken to join a row formed in the name of Allah (for Jehad or Namaz); the second is the one taken to extend a hand of friendship towards kith and kin who want to break relations.
Greater Sins Vol 1, part 3, page 165; Behaarul Anwaar link
Abu Malik inquired from Imam Zainul Abedin (a.s.), "Inform me about all the rules of religion." Imam (a.s.) told him,
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 87; Khisaal link
Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.) narrates that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, "One who recites the first four verses of Surah Baqarah, Ayatal Kursi and two verses which follow it and the last three verses of this Surah he and his wealth would remain safe from all calamities. Satan would not come near him and he will never forget the Holy Quran."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 145/146 link
"One who recites Surah Mumtahena in his obligatory and recommended prayer, Allah examines his heart for belief, and brightens his sight and he is never ever afflicted with poverty, insanity in himself or his children."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 161 link
Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.) narrates that Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.) said, "Giving Sadaqah secretly cools the anger of Allah."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 189 link
Allah, the Mighty and Sublime says, "(I swear) by My Honor, Greatness, Beauty, Strength and high-rank, one who gives preference to My pleasure over his desires I will fulfill the aim of his hereafter. I will make his heart self-sufficient, earth and heavens are guarantors of his sustenance and he will get worldly wealth even without desiring it."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 218 link
"Having fever for a night compensates for sins of a year because its pain remains in the body for a year."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 246 link
"Fever is a good disease. It gives a part of suffering to each and every part of body. Not getting involved in it has no good."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 246 link
It is narrated by Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.) that his father narrated that Amirul Momineen (a.s.) said Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) visited a person from the children of Abdul Muttalib who was on his death bed and was not facing the Qibla. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) ordered him to turn his face towards qiblah and said, "If you turn his face towards qiblah, angels and God look at him till his soul is captured."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 248 link
I neither despair of Your Mercy nor am I in despondence regarding you. But I am aggrieved because my good deeds are less in number and bad deeds numerous. Otherwise Your position is so high that not a single creature turns away dejected from you."
Greater Sins Vol 1, Part 3, page 104; 39th Dua of Sahifa-e-Sajjadiyah link
The world is of two types: that which causes one to attain [success in the Hereafter] and that which is cursed.
al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 317, no. 8; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 997 link
Sitting with the righteous brings about righteousness
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 141, no. 35; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 878 link
As for the right of your sitting companion - it is that you lower your wing to him [in humbleness], be fair to him in exchanging words, and do not get up from your seat without his permission, even though the one who sits with you has the right to leave your company without your permission. Forget his shortcomings and remember his virtues, and do not make him listen to anything other than good
al-Khisal, p. 569, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 878 link
Whoever charges others with what is in them provokes them to charge him with what is not in him
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 160, no. 21; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 880 link
O my son, I am advising you of the same thing that my father advised me in his will when he was approaching death, and the same thing that he said his father advised him - O my son! Beware of wronging one who has no helper against you but Allah.
al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 231, no. 5; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 1024 link
"One who has extra clothes and he comes to know that there is a needy person in his neighborhood and if he does not give his clothes to the needy, the Almighty Allah will throw him headlong into Hell."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 315 link
"One who sleeps after having his fill while there is a believer in his neighborhood who is hungry, Allah will say: O My angels! I hold you witness for this servant that I had ordered him but he did not follow it and obeyed other's order. He relied upon someone other than Me in his deeds. I swear by My honor that I will never forgive him."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 3215 link
Man' s worst hours are three in number the hour wherein he will see the angel of death with his own eyes, the hour when he will rise up from his grave, and the hour when he will stand before Allah, Blessed and most High
al-Khisal, p. 119, no. 108; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 795 link
So how can I ever achieve thanksgiving?! For my thanking You requires thanksgiving in itself. Whenever I say, 'To You belongs Praise [Thanks]', it becomes thereby incumbent upon me to say, 'To You belongs Praise [Thanks].
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 94, p. 146, no. 21; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 933 link
"The human tongue does a favor on other parts of the body every day. It inquires about their condition. The parts of body say: If you spare us, we will remain in good condition. They beg for Allah's mercy and say that if they are rewarded, it is because of the tongue and if they are punished, it is also because of the tongue."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 299/300 link
He who does not place his hope in people for anything and refers all his matters instead to Allah, Allah - Mighty and Exalted - will grant his every need.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 75, p. 110. no. 16; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 916 link
Verily filling the stomach, weakness of will, the intoxication of being fully satiated and the delusion of power, all hinder and delay one from the performance [of good deeds] and cause one to forget Allah.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 129, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 783 link
Place us among those who extinguish the fire of desires by shedding the water of repentance, and wash the plates of ignorance with the purity of the water of life
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 94, p. 127, no. 19; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 785 link
A person told Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.), "You did not perform Jihad as it was difficult and performed Hajj as it is easy." Imam was resting his back against the wall. He sat up straight and said, "Woe be on you. The saying of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) at the time of the Last Hajj did not reach you. Surely, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) conveyed to people through Bilal at sunset to keep quiet. When people fell silent, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, "The Almighty Allah has made this day blessed for you. He has forgiven righteous among you and accepted their intercession for those who sinned. Go away for you are forgiven and you have gained the pleasure of Allah for those among you who were sinners."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 79 link
Im?m `Al? ibn Husayn (a.s.) bumped into the shoulder of a man circumambulating the ka`aba saying, 'O Allah verily I ask You for patience' , upon which the Imam said, 'You have asked to be tried! Say instead O Allah verily I ask You for vitality, and for the ability to thank You for my vitality
al-Da`awat, p. 114, no. 262; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 978 link
Beware of enjoying the sin, for verily that enjoyment is worse than the actual perpetration of it
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 159, no. 10; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 865 link
The sins that prevent rain from falling are: the judges' unjust rulings, the giving of false testimony and the concealing of one's testimony.
Nur al-Thaqalayn, v. 5, p. 597, no. 24; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 866 link
Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.) narrates that Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.) said, "Perform Hajj and Umrah so that your bodies remain healthy, earnings increase, your faith strengthens and the expenses of people and your family members are met through it."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 78 link
"One who offers food to a hungry believer, the Almighty Allah will give him fruits of Paradise to eat. One who offers water to a thirsty believer the Almighty Allah will satisfy him with the drinks of Paradise. One who offers clothes to a believer the Almighty Allah will dress him in Green Dress."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 181 link
Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.) says that Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.) willed to Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) at the time of his martyrdom, "I have performed twenty Hajjs on this she-camel and have not whipped it even once. When it dies, bury it, so that animals do not feed upon its flesh because I have heard the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) say that there is no camel who halts at Arafah during Hajj for seven years except that Allah makes it a camel of Paradise and blesses its progeny." When this she-camel died, Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) buried it.
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 82 link
Whoever quenches a believer of his thirst, Allah will quench him from the pure sealed wine [of Paradise].
al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 201, no. 5; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 757 link
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