THE WORDS OF WISDOM OF IMAM ALI (A.S.) ABOUT "THINKING"

 

The “Nafse Rasool”, “The Gateway of Knowledge”, the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) possessed supernatural knowledge. He was born inside the Holy Ka’ba, did not open his eyes for three days but opened it in the lap of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), who gave his tongue in baby’s mouth transferring all the streams of knowledge to him. He had spoken about everything, and his short sayings were collected in the late fifth century in a book known as “Ghurar Al Hikam” by Abdul Wahid al-Tamimi al-Amudi. The book contains more than Eleven Thousand Pearl of Wisdom. The Book can be seen online. There are seventy-seven sayings about “Thinking”. A selection is appended below:

The root of wisdom is reflection, its fruit is well-being.

The root of safety from error is thinking before acting and reflecting before speaking.

Contemplation is worship and it illuminates the mind. Thought is a gleaming mirror.

The benefit of thinking is finding solutions. Contemplations leads to gaining wisdom.

Think about the bounties of Allah is the best worship.

Thinking about the good (action) invites one to act upon it.

By repeated thinking (and contemplation), doubt is dispelled. By considering the consequences, 

one is saved from harm.

The cornerstone of insight is contemplation.

Think before you decide, consult before you proceed, and ponder before you rush forward.

The deliberation of the slow is better than the impulsiveness of the hasty.

Your contemplation guides you to the right path and motivates you to improve your Hereafter.

Thinking for a short while is better than prolonged worship.

Your thinking about worship prompts you to act upon it.

Your thinking about sin drives you to fall into it. Measure and then cut, think, and then speak, 

verify, and then act.

One who thinks a lot about (worldly) pleasures is overpowered by them.

One who thinks and reflects learns a lesson from everything.

There is no worship like contemplation.

Thinking about the kingdom of the heavens and earth is the worship of the sincere ones. 

Contemplation guides to the right path.