Short sayings of Imam Ali (a.s.) as
stated below are of immense value in our daily life. He
who adopts as himself a habit, devalues himself; he who discloses his hardship
agrees to humiliation and he who allows his tongue to overpower his soul,
debases the soul. Miserliness is shame, cowardice is a defect, poverty disables
an intelligent man from arguing his case, a destitute is a stranger in hid
hometown; incapability is a catastrophe, endurance is bravery, abstinence is riches,
and self-restraint is a shield against sins. The best companion is submission
to Allah’s will, knowledge is a venerable estate, good manners are new dresses and
thinking is clear mirror. The bosom of the wise is the safe of his secrets,
cheerfulness is his bond of affection forbearance is the grave of shortcomings
and mutual reconciliation is covering for shortcomings. He who admires himself
attracts many opponents against him, charity is an effective cure and the
actions of the people in this life would be in front of their eyes in the next
life. How wonderful is man that he speaks with fat, talks with the piece of
flesh, hears with bone breaths through a hole. When this world advances towards
anyone with its favors, it attributes to him other’s good; and when it turns
away from him it deprives him of his own good. Meet people in such a manner
that if you die, they should weep for you and if you live, they should long for
you. When you gain power over your adversary, pardon him by way of thanks for
being able to over-power him. The most helpless during his age of all men is he
who cannot find a few brothers, and still more helpless is he who finds such a
brother but loses him. When you get only a small favor, do not push them away
through lack of gratefulness. He who is abandoned by the near ones is endorsed
by the remote ones. Every mischief monger cannot be censured. All matters are
subject to destiny, so much so that sometimes death results from efforts. He
who gallops with loose rein stumbles with death. Forgive the shortcomings of
considerate people because when they fall into error Allah raises them up. The
consequences of fear are disappointment and shyness is frustration. Opportunity
passes like a cloud. Thefore make use of good opportunities. He whom his deeds
accord back position, cannot be given front position by: The richest his
lineage. To give relief to the grief stricken and to provide comfort in
hardship means atonement for big sins. O’ son of Adam! When you see that Allah
is bestowing His favors on you while you are disobeying Him, you should fear
Him. Whenever a person conceals a thing in his heart it manifests itself
through unintentional words of his tongue and the expressions of his face. Keep
walking in your sickness as long as you can. To protect your secrets is to
conceal them. When you are running away from death and world, there is no
question of delay in encounter. Fear! Fear! By Allah, He has hidden your sins
so much so as if He has forgiven. The doer of good is better than the good and
the doer of evil is worse than the evil itself. Be generous but not
extravagant; be spendthrift but not miserly. The best riches are abandonment of
desires. Whoever prolongs his desire ruins his actions?
Addressing his son Imam Hasan (a.s.)
The richest riches are intelligence; the biggest destitution is foolishness;
the wildest wildness is vanity, and the best achievement is courtesy. O’my son
you should avoid making friends with a fool because he may intend to benefit
you but may harm you; you should avoid making friends with a miser because he
would run away from you when you would need him most; you should avoid making
friends with a sinful person because he would sell you for nought and you
should avoid making friends with a liar because he is like a mirage, making you
feel remote things near and near things remote. Sunnati prayers cannot bring
about nearness to Allah if they hamper obligatory prayers. The tongue of the
wise man is behind his heart and the heart of fool is behind his tongue.
