Hadith

Imam Ali ibn Muhammad [a]

23 sayings

1. Hafsul Amr enquired from Imam Ali an-Naqi (a.s.): "The ruler has appointed agents to purchase our agricultural produce. Is it allowed for us to bribe those agents so that we may remain safe from the ruler's tyranny?"

   Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-Fifth Greater Sin ,page 161; Wasaelush-Shia link

2. The displeasing of parents causes decrease in sustenance and degradation (also follows)."

   Greater Sins Vol 1, part 3, page 141 link

3. The narrator says that a person from the people of Rayy went to Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.). Imam (a.s.) asked him, "Where are you coming from?" He replied, "I am coming after performing the Ziyarat of Imam Husain (a.s.)." The Imam said: However if you perform the Ziyarat of Abdul Azim in the city of Rayy it is as if you have performed the Ziyarat of Imam Husain bin Ali (a.s.)."

   Sawab al-A`amal, Page 139 link

4. Wisdom does not avail an immoral character.

   Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 370, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 995 link

5. It is not permissible for anyone to use the property of another without his permission.

   Wasael al-Shi`aah, v. 17, p 311, no. 1, p 309, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 968 link

6. The thankful person prospers more as a result of his thanks than as a result of the bounty which incited the thanks, because bounties are sources of delight whereas [the ability] to thank is not only the consequence [of the bounty] but a source of delight in itself

   Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 483; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 932 link

7. Miserliness is the most blameworthy vice.

   Bihar al-Anwar, v. 72, p. 199, no. 27; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 611 link

8. He who obeys the Creator is not bothered by the displeasure of the creation [i.e. other people].

   Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 366, no. 2; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 640 link

9. He who gives you both his affection and his good opinion is entitled to your giving him your obedience.

   Bihar al-Anwar, p. 365, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 641 link

10. Verily the Creator can only be described by that which He Himself has described Himself, and how can the Creator ever be described anyway, Whom the senses are incapable of perceiving and the imaginations unable to grasp and the ideas unable to confine and the sights unable to contain?! He is too exalted for the description of those who undertake to describe, and too high to be attributed by those who seek to attach attributes to Him.

    Kashf al-Ghamma, v. 3, p. 176; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 443 link

11. [Truly] Being rich is to wish for little and to be content with whatever suffices you, and [true] poverty is the voracity of the soul [for more] and severe despondence

    al-Durrah al-Bahirah, p. 41; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 804 link

12. Poverty is the greed of the self and the extremity of despair

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 368, no. 3; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 706 link

13. When Allah allowed [Prophet] Moses son of Amran (AS) to converse with Him, Moses (AS) asked, 'My God, what is the reward of one who maintains relations with his kin?' He replied, 'O Moses, I delay the appointed time of his death, and ease the pangs of death for him.

    Amali al-Saduq, p. 173, no. 8; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 216 link

14. [It is] when the inner self becomes identical to the outer behavior, and even better than it.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 6, p. 22, no. 20; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 788 link

15. Reproof [expressed] is better than resentment [harboured within].

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 369, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 791 link

16. Greed is an evil characteristic.

    al-Durrah al-Bahirah, p. 42; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 382 link

17. The quarrel corrupts a long friendship and dissolves strong ties, because it only really consists of strife, and strife is the main cause of a break in friendship

    A`alam al-Din, no. 311; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 346 link

18. Do not seek sincere amity from a man you have insincere sentiment for, nor honest advice from someone you direct your distrust towards, for another's feelings [lit. heart] towards you are similar to your feelings towards him.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 74, no. 181; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 152 link

19. The ignorant is a prisoner of his tongue.

    al-Durrah al-Bahirah, no. 41; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 423 link

20. The one who is wary of Allah, Allah will make everyone wary of him.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 366, no. 32; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 321 link

21. People transact through wealth in this world and through deeds in the Hereafter

    al-Durrah al-Bahirah, p. 41; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 76 link

22. Lack of sleep sweetens sleeping and hunger increases the tastiness of food.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 369, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 330 link

23. Better than good is its doer, more beautiful than beautiful words is the one who says them and weightier than knowledge is the one who carries it.

    Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 370, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 359 link

Shown with the book and page each saying is taken from. The collection carries no grading, and the English is the compiler’s. All speakers and subjects