SOME OF ALI’S WISE SAYINGS, SERMONS AND MORAL VALUES
On the authority ‘Abdullaah Ibn Razeen who says: “I went to ‘Ali Ibn Abi Taalib on the feast of sacrifice day, and some other people and I said: ‘May Allah bless you, we wish you could make us eat of this duck, for Allah has granted us much goodness’. He replied: ‘O Ibn Razeen, I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: ‘The Caliph is not permitted to have anything of Allah’s Wealth (public property) except two bowls, one for him and his family to eat from, and another for his guests.'” (Reported by Ahmad.)
In his book At-Taqwa, Ahmad reports on the authority of the freed-slave of Abu Ghascen who says: “I saw ‘Ali go out and return with a man from Al-Karabees, and said to him: “Do you have a “Sunbulan“ shirt? The man showed him a shirt, which he (‘Ali) wore; it went down to his calf. He looked at the right and left sides of ‘Ali and said: I think this shirt fits nicely; it costs four Dirhams, Leader of the faithful. ‘Ali took the money from his wraparound, gave it to the man, and departed.
‘ Abdullaah Ibn Al-Mubarak reports on the authority of Wahab Al-Juhanyy who says: “‘ Ali came to us one day while he was wearing two garments (one of them an outer one). One side of his wraparound was loose while the other was held light with a piece of cloth. A Bedouin passed by and said to him: “Do you wear all these clothes, when you will die one day or be filled? ‘Ali replied: “O you Bedouin, I wear these clothes so that will make me distant myself from self-pride, be good for performing Salaah. and as a means of following the path of believers.
Abu Al-Qasim AI-Baghawi reports on the authority of the grandmother of Saalih the Draper who said: I saw ‘ Ali buy dates costing one dirham and carry them in his outer-garment. A man said to him: “Commander of the faithful, why not make me carry them for you?” ‘ Ali replied: “The father’s children have a better right to carry them.”
Ibn Hishaam reports on the authority of Zadhaan who says: “‘Ali used to walk in the market place alone* while he was the Caliph. He used to direct people who lost their way, assist the weak reciting to them the Qur’anic verse,
“That Home of the Hereafter we shall give to those who intend not high handedness or mischief on earth: and the End is (best) for the righteous.” (Al-Qasas: 83)
He would then comment: “This verse was revealed in connection with just and humble leaders, and those who generally have authority over people.”
Saalih Ibn Abi Al-Aswad’ narrates that someone informed him that he saw Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, riding a donkey while his feet were on one side of the animal, and said, (i.e. ‘ Ali): “I am the one who has demeaned the world”.
Yahya Ibn Mu’een narrates on the authority of Al-Hasan Ibn Saalih who says: “Those who practiced abstinence were mentioned to ‘Umar Ibn ‘ Abdel-‘Azeez, and some people said: “So and so practiced it much”, while others suggested some other names. But ‘Umar Ibn ‘ Abdel-‘Azeez said: “The most abstemious person in the world is ‘ Ali Ibn Abi Taalib.
Hisham Ibn Hasan narrates: “We were with Al-Hasan Al-Basri when a man from Al-Azaariqah came and asked: “Abu Sa’eed, what’s your opinion about ‘ Ali Ibn Abi Taalib? He (Hisham) said: “Al-Hasan Al-Basri’s countenance changed, and said: “May Allah have mercy upon ‘Ali, he was “Allah’s arrow” that did not miss its target (Allah’s enemies), the most honorable scholar, the closest person to Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and one of the most pious people of the Uinmcih. He used not to steal public money, nor was he neglectful of carrying out Allah’s Commands. The lie gave all his attention to people. The Divine Book was like a beautiful garden to him in which he saw the secrets of the world and the Hereafter clarified.
To quote some of his wise words, Ibn Abi Dunya narrates on the authority of Abu Araakah who says: “I offered the Fajr prayer with ‘Ali, and he leaned on the right side of his body as if he felt bored. When the sun rose and shone on the wall of the mosque, he performed a two-Rak’ah prayer.
Then he opened his hands in astonishment and said: “By Allah, I saw the Companions of the Prophet who cannot be compared with anyone today. They used to wake up in the morning disheveled, with dust on them, and sorrowful eyes as if they were in a funeral procession. They used to spend the night in performing Salaah and reciting the Qur’an; standing and prostrating in Salaah gave them solace at night, and when they woke up in the morning they remembered Allah much. They used to shiver out of fear of Almighty Allah like the unstable state of trees on a windy day, and they shed tears profusely till their clothes got wet. But now, people pass their nights in forgetfulness. After the aforementioned account given by Ali, he was not seen laughing or joking till he was murdered by Allah’s enemy Ibn Maljam.”
Wakee narrates on the authority of ‘ Ali Ibn Abi Taalib who said: “Seek knowledge so that you will be regarded and recognized as scholars. There will come a time when the truth will be denied by nine tenths of people. None will gain salvation at that lime except those who seek closeness to Almighty Allah. They will be the “leaders of guidance” and the “guiding lights” of knowledge.
The world is a passing one, and the Hereafter is approaching; both worlds have people who belong to them. I advise you to be “people of the Hereafter” not people of this passing world. Indeed, those who have turned their backs against this world regard it as a “mat”, and the earth, bed coverings. They also regard water as a kind of perfume. He who longs for the Hereafter has less regard for his sensual pleasures, and he who fears the Hell-Fire refrains from doing what Allah forbids. A person whose goal is to enter Paradise hastens towards acts of worship, and he who abstains from worldly pleasure has less regard for tribulations. Indeed, there are some slaves of Allah who are in this world but appear to have seen the dwellers of Paradise living there forever, and the dwellers of Hell being punished therein. Such slaves of Allah make people feel safe when they are with them, their hearts are kind, they are chaste and their needs are few.
They have opted for being patient in suffering for a short time, so that they would get everlasting comfort. During the night they stand up in Salaah, tears How on their cheeks and they seek the closeness of Almighty Allah. During the day they are seen as mild, righteous and pious people and one may look at them and say: “They are sick”. But in actual fact they are not sick at all. They interact freely with people, but they have been engaged in a noble undertaking, i.e. worshipping Allah, Exalted be He.
Al-Asbagh Ibn Nabaatah narrates: ‘ Ali ascended the pulpit one day, thanked Allah, praised Him and spoke about death saying: “O Allah’s slaves, no one can escape death. It will come to you whether you wait or flee from it, so seek salvation and be on your guard. There’s something lying in wait for you, i.e. the grave, so beware of its pressure, darkness and the loneliness found therein. Indeed, the grave may be a pit of Hell-Fire of or a garden of Paradise. The grave “calls out” three times everyday: ‘I am a “house” of darkness, a house of worms and a wilderness.’ There is also that awful day (the Day of Judgement) in which the young will become old men and grownups will be like drunkards (because of the horror of that day). Allah says:
“Every mother giving suck shall forget her suckling babe, and every pregnant female shall drop her load (unformed): thou shall see mankind as in a drunken riot, yet not drunk: but dreadful will be the wrath of Allah.” (Al-Hajj: 2)
Apart from this there are other horrors which are more severe: A fire that is extremely hot, coming from a very deep pit, and people thrown therein will be chained. The water found in Hell will be of pus, and the angels who guard it (Hell) would receive command from Allah not to show mercy. “Ali then cried, and the Muslims who were with him did the same. He then went on to say: “But on the other hand there is Paradise whose area is like that of (he heavens and earth which will be the abode of the righteous. May Allah make you and I pious, and save us from that painful punishment.”
Wakee’ reports that ‘ Awfa Ibn Dalham said: ‘Ali gave a Khutbah, and said: “This worldly life is about to end and the Hereafter is fast approaching. The “arena” is in this world, and the winner of the “competition” will be determined in the Hereafter. You are living “days of hope”, which will be followed by an inevitable end of life. He who neglects doing good deeds during those days, and before the end of his life, will be disappointed. As you know, desires are attained by working against anything that stands in the way of achieving them. Indeed, those who hope to enter Paradise ought not to sleep a lot, and whosoever wants to be saved from the Hell-Fire should not sleep a lot. He who is not benefited by the truth will be affected by falsehood. And whoever is not guided to the right path, will follow the path of misguidance. You have been ordered to “depart” (for the Hereafter) and given provision for that “journey”; and take note that this world is a passing one in which the righteous and the shameless sinners get their daily bread. But in the Hereafter, the true promise of the All- Powerful Lord will be fulfilled. Indeed:
“The devil promiselh you destitution and enjoineth on you lewdness. But Allah promiseth you forgiveness from Himself with bounty. Allah is All Embracing, All Knowing.” (Al- Baqarah: 168)
O you people, make good use of your days on earth, and you will be saved in the Hereafter. Thus, Allah has promised to grant Paradise to whoever worships Him, and will make Hell the abode of whoever disobeys Him. The flames of the Hell- Fire will not be put out; the person trapped therein will neither be released nor granted respite. The fire of Hell will be extremely hot, it will come from a very deep pit and its dwellers will have pus as a drink.
My greatest fear for you is following your base desires and vain hope of long life. (In another version of this narration, following one’s base desires is a bar to truthfulness, and vain hope of long life makes one forget about the Hereafter.)
‘Aasini Ibn Dhamrah reports that a man expressed hatred of this world to ‘ Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, who replied: “The world is a “place of honesty” for those who are honest with it; it is a place of gaining salvation for those who know about it (the world), and a place of gaining wealth and provision for the Hereafter for those who seek them herein. The world is also the place wherein Allah sent Divine Revelation, the praying-place of Allah’s Angels, the earth in which His Prophets’ places of worship are found, and the “market place” of those closest to Allah. In this “market place”. In this “market place” (the world), such people gain Allah’s Mercy and strive to enter Paradise. He who denounces the world ought to know that it has warned of its dangers, it is coming to an end, the evil that is behind the happiness felt in it and the misfortune of those who desire it. The world has also warned those who are attached to it”. ‘ Ali added: “O you who have denounced the world because your desires have not been fulfilled, when did it (the world) deceive you? When was it “harsh” with you? Was it because of the death of your father or your mother being buried in her grave?”
Ibn Abi Ad-Dunya reports on the authority of Yahya Ibn Ya’mur who narrated that ‘Ali said: “Everything is predestined from the Heavens like drops of rain which fall from the sky. Every soul will get that which Allah predestines for it – this may be in the form an increase or decrease in one’s well being, the number of his children, or amount of his wealth. If one finds a decrease in the aforementioned, he should not consider this a misfortune. The Muslim who does not indulge in worldly pleasures turns out to be humble, and evil people are those who are tempted by the “seducing beauty” of this world. A man who is miserable and has lost hope of getting fire is eager to see sparks flare up from fire iron, so that he would stop worrying.
Thus, a Muslim who does not resort to deception, hopes to be rewarded in this world or the Hereafter when he supplicates Allah Almighty. He may be rewarded in this world by being blessed with children, wealth, honor and being religious. Or, Allah Almighty may reward him in the Hereafter, which is far more better and everlasting. There are two kinds of benefits: worldly benefit, which takes the form of piety and wealth, and the benefit of the Hereafter which comprises those good things that are everlasting. Allah, through His Grace, may make one enjoy the benefits of both worlds. Sufyaan Ath-Thawri commented that such wise sayings could only have been uttered by ‘Ali.
Zubayd Al-Yami reports on the authority of Muhajir Al- ‘Aamiri, who narrates that ‘Ali Ibn Abi Taalib wrote some words of advice to a companion of his, who was the governor of a certain city: “Don’t isolate yourself from your subjects for a long period of time, if you do so, this will cause you worry and make you ignorant of their affairs. Isolation will cause the subjects not to know anything about their ruler, so old people will be suppressed, and young people will be honored and held in high esteem. Also, when a ruler does not know much about his subjects, what is good in the society will be considered evil, and vice versa; and truth will be tainted with falsehood.
It must also be remembered that the ruler is an ordinary human being who doesn’t know those issues which people keep secret; for there is no art of telling a man’s construction from his face. It is, therefore, difficult for him to distinguish between a liar and someone who is honest; thus, the ruler can be able to give people their rights by being in close contact with them.
Ali went on to say to his companion that one could only be either of two people: one who exerts effort in giving people their rights, and therefore does not need to isolate himself from such people. It is, therefore, incumbent upon him to give them their due rights. The other kind of person is he who miserly. How fast is it for such a person to lose his bounties! And how fast will people stop from requesting something from who is a miser.
Hammaad Ibn Salam reports that Ayyoob As-Sakhtiaani said: “He who loves Abu Bakr makes religion (Islam) firmly established; he who loves ‘ Umar treads the path to righteousness; he who loves ‘Uthman is guided by Allah’s Light. And he who loves ‘Ali “grasps a firm handhold”. Finally, he who says good things about the Companions of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, makes himself devoid of hypocrisy.
Abu Dawood reports in the Book of Predestination that during the days of the Kharijities (those who revolted against ‘ Ali), ten of ‘ Ali ‘s Companions used to guard him every night with their arms. ‘Ali saw them and asked, “What has kept you waiting?” they answered, “We have come to guard you”. ‘Ali said, “Will you guard me from what has been predestined?” He then went on to say: “Nothing happens on earth except that which Allah has predestined, for I hope the Almighty will protect me in Heaven.”
(Source: Biographies of the Rightly Guided Caliphs )
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