Imam Ali ibn Husayn [a]
118 sayings · page 2 of 3
If someone insults you on your right hand side, then moves over to your left and apologises to you, accept his apology.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 141, no. 34; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 586 link
Blameworthy and punishable partisanship is when a person considers the evil people of his own community to be better and prefers them over the good people of another community. It is not considered partisanship or bigotry to love one' s own community, rather it is when a person loves them in spite of their wrongdoing and aids them therein
al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 308, no. 7; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 679 link
Those who act according to what Allah has made obligatory are the best of people
al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 81, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 643 link
By Allah, this world and the next are naught but two scales of a balance, so whichever scale is weightier, it will overpower the other.
al-Khisal, p. 64, no. 95; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 1007 link
And let me live so long as my life is spent in Your obedience, but when my life becomes a breeding ground for Satan, then take me to You.
al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, p. 82, Supplication 20; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 568 link
Supplication repels descended calamities and those which are yet to descend
al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 469, no. 5; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 902 link
Were it not for the fact that Satan misleads them from Your obedience, no disobeyer would have ever disobeyed You, and were it not for the fact that he portrays falsehood to them in the likeness of truth, no strayer would have ever strayed from Your path.
al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, supplication 37, line 144; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 817 link
The highest degree of asceticism is equivalent to the lowest degree of piety. And the highest degree of piety is equivalent to the lowest degree of certainty. And the highest degrees of certainty are equivalent to the lowest degrees of ultimate satisfaction (with Allah).
al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 128, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 820 link
Satisfaction with adversities is one of the highest stages of certainty.
al-Tamhis,p. 60, no. 131; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 820 link
If you take a captive who then cannot walk further, nor have you a carriage for him, then set him free and do not kill him, for you do not know what would be the Imam's ruling about him.
Ellal al-Shara'ie, p. 565, no. 2; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 983 link
Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS) said in one of his supplications, ' hold me back from wastefulness, fortify my provision against ruin, increase my possessions through blessing them, and set me upon the path of guidance through piety in what I spend of it.
al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, Supplication 20; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 985 link
The most thankful among you to Allah is he who is most thankful towards people
al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 99, no. 30; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 935 link
The right of he who does a kindly act towards you is that you thank him and mention his kindness; that you reward him with beautiful words and supplicate for him sincerely in that which is between you and Allah. If you do that, you have thanked him both secretly and openly. Then if you are able to repay him one day, repay him.
al-Khisal, p. 568, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 935 link
Allah will ask one of His servants on the Day of Resurrection, 'Did you thank x?', and the servant will reply, 'No, but I thanked You instead, O Lord.' Allah will reply, 'You have not thanked Me as long as you have not thanked him
al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 99, no. 30; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 935 link
There are three types of outcome from a believer's supplication: either it is stored away for him for later, or it is hastened for him, or it repels a calamity waiting to afflict him
Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 280; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 919 link
Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) narrates that Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.) said, "One who cries for Imam Husain (a.s.) and his tears flow from the eyes and fall on his cheeks Almighty Allah would give him a place on a high apartment where he would live in peace for years. One who cries on the troubles given to us by our enemies in this world and his tears fall on his cheeks, the Almighty Allah would grant him a place in Maqam-e-Sidq. If a believer bears difficulties and becomes aggrieved for the calamities, which we have suffered, his eyes become wet, tears flow on cheeks, Allah would remove sufferings from his face and keep him safe from difficulties and chastisement on the Day of Judgment."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 120/121 link
Poor man! Every day he is given three trials whereof he does not even take lesson from a single one. If he contemplated and drew a lesson thereof, these trials and this world would cease to be of importance to him. The first trial is the very day which is deducted from his life if it was a loss in his wealth that befell him, he would fall into great distress, even though the dirham [i.e. money] can always be substituted but the days of his life will never again return to him. The second trial is the way in which he goes to great lengths to procure the most sustenance, when he will have to account for it all if acquired by lawful means, and he will be punished for it all if acquired by unlawful means. The third trial is the greatest: every day that draws to an end has brought him a step closer to the Hereafter whether to Paradise or Hellfire, he does not know!
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 160, no. 20; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 620 link
"One who fulfils a need of a brother is like one who has begun with the desire of Allah. The Almighty Allah will fulfill his hundred desires, one of which is Paradise. One who solves the difficulty of a brother Allah will solve his difficulties on the Day of Judgment whatever be their number. One who helps a brother against an unjust man the Almighty Allah will save him from stumbling so that he can pass through the Sirat Bridge. One who tries to fulfill the desire of a brother and successfully does so is like a person who has pleased the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). One who satisfies the thirst of a person, Allah will offer him the drink of Makhtum (sealed). One who feeds a hungry person, Allah will give him fruits of Paradise to eat. If someone dresses a bare person Allah will grant him dresses made of satin and silk. One who dresses someone else, the former will remain in Allah's protection till that person is wearing the dress and even if a single thread is remaining. If someone protects the honor of a person Allah will appoint Wildan-e-Mukhalladin (boys who remain in Paradise forever) to serve him. If someone offers his mount to a person, Allah will make him ride a camel of Paradise and the angels will feel proud of him. One who gives shroud to a believing brother he is like a baby just born. If a person marries someone off to a loving and caring woman Allah will give him a beautiful face in grave, which will make his relatives happy. One who visits an ailing brother angels surround him and pray for him till he returns. Then angels tell him, 'You have become pure. Congratulations for getting a pure Paradise'. By Allah, I consider fulfilling the wish of a person better than fasting for those two consecutive months while spending two sacred months in Etekaf."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 192/193 link
I have attained knowledge of You through You, and You are the One Who indicated me to Yourself and called me to Yourself, and were it not for You, I would not know who You are.
Iqbal al-A`amal, v. 1, p. 157; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 440 link
The intellects are incapable of fathoming the essence of Your Beauty, the sights are restricted to looking at other than the splendour of Your Countenance, and You have not set aside any means for Your creation to get to know You except through their complete incapacity of knowing You.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 94, p. 150, no. 21; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 442 link
There is no point to worship unless performed with understanding.
Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 280; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 1013 link
Show your despair of people [and their possessions], for verily that is true wealth
Amali al-Mufid, p. 183, no. 6; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 803 link
"One who recites Takbir a hundred times in the evening is like one who has emancipated a hundred slaves."
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 213 link
(O Allah). Give me such a life that my (long) life is spent in obedience to you. And when my life becomes a field of Satan take away my soul towards you (before I become eligible for Divine retribution).
Greater Sins Vol 1, part 3, page 110; Dua-e-Makarimul Akhlaq link
The narrator says that Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.) asked him, "Which land is excellent?" The narrator said, "Allah, His messenger and the son of His messenger know best." Imam (a.s.) said, "The best place is the area between rukn and maqaam. One who gets a life as long as that of prophet Nuh i.e. of 950 years, and if he fasts during the day and offers prayers at this best place at night for his whole life and if he goes to Allah without our love, he will not get benefit of any of his deeds."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 259/260 link
Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS) in his counsel to his son al-Baqir (AS) said, 'My son, beware of taking a fool as a companion or mingling with him; keep away from him and do not converse with him for verily the fool is a lowly person whether he is absent or present. When he talks he exposes his foolishness and when he is silent he displays his inability to express himself. If he acts he spoils and when he is given responsibility he fails it. His own knowledge does not suffice him and others' knowledge is of no benefit to him, he does not follow the one who advises him, his associates do not find rest [from him], his mother wishes to be bereaved of him, his wife wishes to lose him, his neighbour wishes to live far from him and the one who sits with him would rather be absent from his company. If he is the lowest [in status] in the gathering he abases those above him and if he is the highest of them he denigrates the others.'
Amali al-Tusi, p. 613, no. 1278; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 334 link
O Lord! Discipline me not through Your punishment, and plot against me not by Your artfulness.
Iqbal al-A`amal, v. 1, p. 157; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 372 link
He who refrains from tarnishing fellow Muslims' reputations, Allah, Mighty and Exalted, regards his offence as undone on the Day of Resurrection.
Sahifat al-Imam al-Reza (a.s.), p. 85, no. 195q; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 373 link
Do not punish my sins by letting me to be heedless of your retribution
Greater Sins Vol 1, part 3, page 114; Dua-e-Abu Hamza Thumali link
Know O son of Adam that beyond this [life] is something greater, more horrendous and more painful for the hearts the Day of Resurrection. That is the day when people will be gathered and that will be an eventful day wherein Allah will gather people from the first to the last
al-Kafi, v. 8, p. 73, no. 29; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 794 link
When I consider my sins my Lord, I am horrified [at them], and when I consider Your pardon, I am avidly eager [for it].
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 98, p. 83, no. 2; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 383 link
For indeed I ask You because of my eternal hope in You and because of the great desire that I entertain about You; which is the graciousness and mercy that You have made obligatory upon Yourself.
Iqbal al-A`amal, v. 1, p. 168; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 383 link
The best of deeds in the sight of Allah are those that are performed habitually, even if they be few in number.
al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 70, no. 7; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 386 link
It is narrated in Da`aa'im al-Islam that when Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS) used to perform his ablution and prepare to begin his prayer, his face would become pale and change colour. When asked about this, he replied, 'Verily I am going to stand before the Great King
Da`aim al-Islam, v. 1, p. 158; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 718 link
I hate for a man to be immune [to ordeals] in this world's life and not suffer any affliction
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 81, p. 176, no. 14; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 657 link
Im?m `Al? ibn Husayn (a.s.), when he was asked about the condition for the acceptance of the prayer, replied, 'Our guardianship and disassociation from our enemies
al-Manaqib li Ibn Shahr ashUb, v. 4, p. 131; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 720 link
Verily the one who Allah is most pleased with from among you is the one who is the most generous towards his own dependents.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 136, no. 13; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 96 link
Perform the Hajj [obligatory pilgrimage] and the `umra [voluntary pilgrimage] so that your bodies become healthy, your sustenance expanded, and your faith improved; and suffice yourselves with the expenses of people and the expenses of your families.
Sawab al-A`amal, p. 70, no. 3; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 388 link
Im?m `Al? ibn Husayn (a.s.) in his advice to his son al-Baqir (AS), said, 'Beware of befriending one who has cut off relations with his kin, for verily I have seen him cursed in the Book of Allah, Mighty and Exalted, on three different occasions.'
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 74, v. 2, p. 377, no. 7; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 345 link
It is surprising to see an arrogant and proud person who yesterday was but a sperm and tomorrow will be but a carcass
al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 328, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 734 link
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