Monday, January 11, 2021

SAYINGS OF IMAM ALI (A.S.), THE GATEWAY OF KNOWLEDGE-PART THREE

 

Blessed is the person who keeps the next life in mind, acts to be able to render his account, remains contended with what suffices him and remains pleased with Allah.

Even if I strike the nose of a believer with my sword, so he may hate me, he will not hate me, and even if I pile all the wealth of the world before a hypocrite (Muslim) so he may love me, he will not love me. Because the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) has said, “O Ali! A believer will never hate you and a hypocrite (Muslim) will never love you.”

The sin that displeases you is better in the view of Allah than the virtue that makes you pride.

The worth of a man is according to his courage, his truthfulness is according to his balance of temper, his valor is according to his self-respect and his chastity is according to his sense of shame.

Victory is with determination; determination is pondering over thoughts and thoughts are formed by guarding secrets.

Beware of the might of a noble person when he is hungry and of an ignoble one when his belly is full.

So long as your status is good, your defects will remain covered.

The most capable of pardoning is one who is the ablest to punish.

Generosity is that which is by one’s own initiative because giving on being asked is either because one’s own esteem or to avoid rebuke. Do not feel ashamed of giving little because refusal is even less than that.

There is no wealth like wisdom, no destitution like ignorance, no inheritance like refinement and no support like consultation.

Patience is of two kinds: patience over what pains you, and patience regarding what you covet (long to possess).

With wealth, a strange land is your homeland, while with destitution, even a homeland is a strange land.

Wealth is the substance of passions.

One who warns you is like one who gives you glad tidings (of safety)

The tongue is a beast; when it is let loose, it devours (destroys).

If you are met with a greeting (Salaam), give a better greeting in return. If a helping hand is extended to you, do a better favor in return, although the credit will remain with the one who was the first.

One who intercedes is like

the wing of one who seeks (intercession)

The people of the world are like travelers who are being carried away as they are asleep.

To miss what one needs is easier than to beg the wrong person.

You will not find an ignorant person but at one extreme: exaggerating or neglecting.

As intelligence increases, speech decreases.

Each breath taken by a man is a step towards his death.

Wisdom is the believer’s pursuit; therefore, attain wisdom even if it may be from the people of hypocrisy.

Whoever abandons saying ‘I do not know’ meets his destruction.

I love the opinion of an old man more than the determination of a young man.

The perfect jurist of Islam is whoever does not let people lose hope of the mercy of Allah, does not make him despondent of Allah’s kindness and does not make them feel safe from Allah’s punishment.

The hearts become bored as bodies become bored; so, look for beautiful wise sayings for them.  

 

Source: Peak of Eloquence translated by Yasin T. al-Jibouri

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