1. Ali: Anecdotes and Sayings #2
By A.S. Hashim. MD
Sayings: Translation by Baaqir Al-Hassani
Ziyarah of Imams taken from:

2. About this slide show:
This slide show follows a previous show of the same subject that deals with:
Imam Ali’s Sayings
Various topics
Advice
Counsel
Ziyarah (Visitation) with its translation

3. Selections from Du’aas and Sayings

4. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
A true believer (Mu'min) divides his time into three portions:
One portion in which he prays and worships his Lord,
the second in which he strives for his livelihood, and
the third for venting his lawful desires by obtaining fair and permissible pleasures.
There is no wealth greater than reason, no poverty like ignorance, and no heritage better than noble manners.
Oh Allah! I do not worship Thee because I am afraid of hell or out of greed for Thy paradise. I worship Thee because I find Thee exclusively worthy-of-worship.
By his character:
Many a mighty man was ruined and
Many a humble one rose to honor and glory on account of it.

5. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
The most effective way of achieving Divine blessing is to harbor universal love for humanity
For one who is possessed of conceit, do not look forward to his good deeds.
He, whose humility has diminished, his piety has dwindled.
The ultimate wisdom for man is to know himself; and so, the one who knows his own self attains wisdom and the one who disregards it is lost.
 Religion is a store, and knowledge is the route to it.
 There is not greater worship than meditation on the handiwork of Allah, the Great and Mighty.

6. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
To kiss a child is compassion; to kiss a woman is passion; to kiss one's parent is like prayer and to kiss a brother Muslim is a demonstration of faith.
Excessive censure and reproach open the door to obstinacy and persistence.
Destroy the evil in others by eliminating it from yourself. 
No Muslim being of service to brother Muslims (will go) without Allah granting him in heaven an equal number of servants.
The servant of Allah will not enjoy belief until he abandons lying in his serious talks or in his wit.
Nothing except true light can ever purify life.
I have never argued with an ignorant fool and won; nor have I argued with a rational person and lost.

7. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
Forgiveness is at its best when you forgive while you have the upper hand
If you doubt the sincerity of a person, just ask your heart.
Work for your temporal world as if you will live forever; and work for the Hereafter as if you will die tomorrow.
The oppressor and the oppressed will both suffer in the Hereafter; the oppressor for his tyranny and the oppressed for accepting it.
Righteousness left me alone with no companions.
The weakest of people are those unable to make friends; even weaker are those who lose the friends they have gained.
If you are running away and death is approaching, the encounter will be soon.

8. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
Do not be too hard, lest you will be broken; Do not be too soft, lest you will be squeezed.
The greatest wealth is in giving up sinful desires.
To prolong hope is ill-doing.
Beware the anger of a kind and generous person when in starvation; and the wrath of a mean person when full.
Wealth in an alien country is a homeland; poverty in your homeland is alienation.
Contentment is a perpetual treasure.
Your friends are many when you count them, but in hardships they become few.
People are enemies of what they do not know.
Greed is eternal slavery.

9. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
Honesty is a Divine tongue. To fulfill promises is the highest form of integrity. Truth means conformity of speech with the Divine mode of working
O people! know that maturity in religion lies in the pursuit of knowledge and putting it into practice. Indeed! The pursuit of knowledge is more incumbent upon you than endeavor for livelihood; for, your livelihood has been apportioned by Allah the Just One and will be provided to you. Knowledge is stored with its possessors and you have been commanded to acquire it from them."
Many quote knowledge and few note it in mind.
Allah's most complete gift is life based on knowledge.
The innumerable fools have made the learned very scarce.
The learned men are the living ones within the seas of ignorance.
Knowledge kills ignorance.
Knowledge gives life to the soul.

10. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
Little knowledge of Allah damages conduct.
To respect the learned is to respect Allah. Knowledge creates fear of Allah.
Practice makes knowledge perfect.
To teach is to learn.
Had it been so, that we had not to hope for heaven or fear from hell, and there had been no Divine reward or punishment, it would still behoove us to strive for nobility of character, for it is that which indicates the way to salvation.
Noble character is the best companion of man.
Verily, Allah singled out and chose his blessed Prophets for nobility of their character.
In good manners is hidden the wealth of good fortune

11. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
The malady of lying is the ugliest of diseases.
Falsehood is not good—whether in earnest or in jest. It is not fit that any of you makes a promise to his child and not fulfill his promise.
There is no evil greater than falsehood.
It is Allah's desire that every man should have goodwill toward the rest of humanity.
Lack of forgiveness in a man is his greatest shortcoming, and vindictiveness is the worst of transgressions.
Enhance your worthiness by overlooking matters of inconsequence.
A man's hypocrisy is due to degradation he experiences within himself.
Vicious people take delight in publishing the vices of others, so that, they might thereby extend the ground of excuses for their own.

12. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
Self-esteem exposes one's faults and failings.
To covet praise which one does not deserve is foolishness.
Breach of promise incurs the detestation of Allah and man.
The reasonable man is admonished politely and the beasts are upbraided with blows.
The mettle of men is revealed in times of reverse.
Aspire not for something you do not deserve.
Every kind of excess in praise or blame is due to one's overindulgence and this is folly.
The sense of shame dissuades one from disgraceful acts.
The one who is fond of pleasure and subdued by sensual delights, and the other who is infatuated by gathering of wealth—none of these heed their faith in any matter. That which comes closest to resemble them are the grazing cattle.

13. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
Good manners are an evidence of noble descent.
When a man's origin is noble, both his exterior and interior are honorable.
A man may conceal a matter in his heart but gives himself away in slips of the tongue or expressions of the face.
The highest knowledge for man is the knowledge of his own self.
Be the Father of Wisdom even among those who are astray.
The greatest ignorance for man is his ignorance of his own self.
Knowledge is the compensation for mental exertion.
The chief aim of knowledge is virtue.
Fear of Allah is the ultimate epicenter of knowledge.
The sum of excellence is knowledge.

14. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
Who teaches me a letter binds me with a fetter.
The best knowledge is what benefits its possessor.
Knowledge is life and health.
Humility is the outcome of knowledge.
The learned man is alive even if he had died.
To be successful, obey knowledge and discard ignorance.
The wise man is the one who puts the right thing in its right place.
It suffices that Wisdom is to distinguish the path of guidance from the path of ignorance and sin.

15. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
A wise man relies on his efforts and the fool relies on his hopes.
To flatter and to envy are not in the nature of a Mu'min (a true believer), save, in the course of pursuit of knowledge.
The one who scrutinizes his own self is benefited thereby, and the one who overlooks it is lost.
Kumayl ibn Ziyad, a Companion of the Imam, asked "Inform me about myself." The Imam answered, "O Kumayl, which self do you want to know about?' "Master, is there more than one of them?" asked Kumayl in surprise.
"O Kumayl," Imam Ali answered, "there are four: the growing Vegetative self, the perceiving Animal self, the venerable Rational self and the Angelic Divine self."

16. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
To be sure, the body has six states which are:
health and malady,
sleep and wakefulness, and
life and death; and
So does the self: since:
doubt is its malady and
conviction its health;
indifference is its slumber and
vigilance its wakefulness;
self-knowledge is its life and
self-ignorance its death.

17. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
Once, during his reign, when a quantity of honey was brought to the public treasury, Imam Ali, the Prince of the Believers, asked for the orphans to be brought to him; and
While he distributed it, he himself fed the honey to the orphans.
When people expressed wonder at his action, he told them, “The Imam is the father of the orphans and so I feed them like a father would have."
Good etiquette is the best form of inheritance that parents can leave behind for their children.
One who does not learn in his early years will not lead in his later ones.
None of you should ever feel embarrassed when asked about something you do not know; just admit your ignorance.

18. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
Avarice is disgrace; cowardice is a defect; poverty often disables an intelligent man from arguing his case;
A poor man is a stranger in his own town; misfortune and helplessness are calamities;
Patience is a kind of bravery; to sever attachments with the wicked world is the greatest wealth;
Piety is the best weapon of defense.
Submission to Allah's Will is the best companion; wisdom is the noblest heritage; theoretical and practical knowledge are the best signs of distinction; deep thinking will present the clearest picture of every problem.

19. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
Live amongst people in such a manner that if you die they weep over you and if you are alive they crave for your company.
Unfortunate is he who cannot gain a few sincere friends during his life and more unfortunate is the one who has gained them and then lost them through his deeds.
When some blessings come to you, do not drive them away through ingratitude.
Failures are often the results of fears and timidity;
Disappointments are the results of bashfulness;
Hours of leisure pass away like summer-clouds, therefore, do not waste opportunity of doing good.

20. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
There are four causes of infidelity and loss of belief in Allah: 1. hankering after whims, 2. a passion to dispute every argument, 3. deviation from truth; 4. and dissension, since:
Whoever hankers after whims does not incline towards Truth;
Whoever keeps disputing every argument due to his ignorance, will always remain blind to the Truth,
Whoever deviates from the Truth because of ignorance, will always take good for evil and evil for good and he will remain intoxicated with misguidance.
And whoever makes a breach with Allah and His Messenger his path becomes difficult, his affairs will become complicated and his way to salvation will be uncertain.

21. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
One who has accustomed himself to unreasonable discussions will not see the Light of Truth and will live in the darkness of ignorance.
One who is afraid to face facts (of life, death and the life hereafter) will always turn away from ultimate reality,
One who allows doubts in his faith will be under the control of Satan and
One who surrenders himself to infidelity accepts damnation in both this world as well as in the life hereafter.

22. Select Sayings of Imam Ali
Similarly, doubt has also four aspects:
1. absurd reasoning;
2. fear;
3. hesitation;
4. and unreasonable surrender to infidelity,
because One who has accustomed himself to unreasonable discussions will not see the Light of Truth and will live in the darkness of ignorance.
One who is afraid to face facts (of life, death and the life hereafter) will always turn away from ultimate reality,
One who allows doubts in his faith will be under the control of Satan and
One who surrenders himself to infidelity accepts damnation in both this world as well as in the life hereafter.

23. Part of Ali’s Last Will and Testament
Remain attached to the Quran. Nobody should surpass you in being intent on it, or more sincere in implementing it.
Fear Allah in relation to your prayers. It is the pillar of your religion.
Fear Allah in relation to His House; do not abandon it as long as you live. If you do that you would abandon your worth.
Persist in jihad in the cause of Allah, with your money, your souls, and your tongue.
Maintain communication and exchange of opinion among yourselves. Beware of disunity and enmity. Do not desist from promoting the good deeds and cautioning against the bad ones, for, should you not do that, the worst of men would be your leaders, and you will call upon Allah but without response.
O Children of Abdul Mut'talib! Do not shed the blood of Muslims under the banner: The Imam has been assassinated! Only the assassin should in return be condemned to death.

24. Ali is buried Ali was taken to Najaf for burial, many miles from Kufa
Burial place remained secret, known to family and few others
Years later Imam Al-Saadiq declared the whereabouts of the burial site
A tomb was established then a town arose around it
It became the center of visitation and learning

25. Burial place in Najaf
Imam Ali’s Shrine: Multitudes of visitors every year.
Inside it reflects reverence that uniquely affects the heart.

26. Burial place in Najaf
The inside

27. Ziyarah of Imam Ali
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَخِي نَبِيِّكَ وَوَلِيِّهِ وَصَفِيِّهِ وَوَزِيرِهِ‏
وَمُسْتَوْدَعِ عِلْمِهِ وَمَوْضِعِ سِرِّهِ وَبَابِ حِكْمَتِهِ وَالنَّاطِقِ بِحُجَّتِهِ وَالدَّاعِي إِلَى شَرِيعَتِهِ وَخَلِيفَتِهِ فِي أُمَّتِهِ‏
وَمُفَرِّجِ الْكَرْبِ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ قَاصِمِ الْكَفَرَةِ وَمُرْغِمِ الْفَجَرَةِ الَّذِي جَعَلْتَهُ مِنْ نَبِيِّكَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى‏
اللَّهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالاَهُ وَعَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ وَانْصُرْ مَنْ نَصْرَهُ وَاخْذُلْ مَنْ خَذَلَهُ‏
وَ الْعَنْ مَنْ نَصَبَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَالْآخِرِينَ‏
وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِ أَفْضَلَ مَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَوْصِيَاءِ أَنْبِيَائِكَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِين

28. Ziyarah of Imam Ali
O Allah bless Amir al-Mu'mineen, All ibn abi Talib, the brother of Thy prophet, his successor, his supporter, his vicegerent,
The custodian of his knowledge, repository of his confidential and privileged matters, gateway of his wisdom, who gave tongue to his arguments, invited to his system, and took charge of the affairs of his followers after him,
He removed his worry and anguish, he tore apart the syndrome of infidelity to pieces, and demeaned the nose of evil into the dust, whom Thou united with Thy Prophet as Haroon was attached with Musa.
O Allah befriend those who make friends with him, discard those who show hostility to him, help those who support him, abandon those who forsake him,
damn those who set up and planted hostile opposition against him, whether they were his contemporaries or came after in succeeding generations…..
and send blessings on him, much and more blessings than Thou bestowed on any one from among the successors of Thy prophets, O the Lord of the worlds!

29. Ziyarah of Imam Ali
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَخِي نَبِيِّكَ وَوَلِيِّهِ وَصَفِيِّهِ وَوَزِيرِهِ‏
وَمُسْتَوْدَعِ عِلْمِهِ وَمَوْضِعِ سِرِّهِ وَبَابِ حِكْمَتِهِ وَالنَّاطِقِ بِحُجَّتِهِ وَالدَّاعِي إِلَى شَرِيعَتِهِ وَخَلِيفَتِهِ فِي أُمَّتِهِ‏
وَمُفَرِّجِ الْكَرْبِ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ قَاصِمِ الْكَفَرَةِ وَمُرْغِمِ الْفَجَرَةِ الَّذِي جَعَلْتَهُ مِنْ نَبِيِّكَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى‏
اللَّهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالاَهُ وَعَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ وَانْصُرْ مَنْ نَصْرَهُ وَاخْذُلْ مَنْ خَذَلَهُ‏
وَ الْعَنْ مَنْ نَصَبَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَالْآخِرِينَ‏
وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِ أَفْضَلَ مَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَوْصِيَاءِ أَنْبِيَائِكَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِين

30. Ziyarah of Imam Ali
O Allah bless Amir al-Mu'mineen, All ibn Abi Talib, the brother of Thy Prophet who is:
His successor, supporter, and vicegerent,
The custodian of his knowledge, repository of his confidential and privileged matters,
The gateway of his wisdom,
Who gave tongue to his arguments, invited to his system, and took charge of the affairs of his followers after him,
Who removed his worry and anguish, who tore apart the syndrome of infidelity to pieces, and who demeaned the nose of evil, whom Thou united with Thy Prophet as Haroon was attached with Musa.
O Allah befriend those who befriends him, antagonize those who antagonize him, help those who support him, and forsake those who forsake him,
Be hostile to those who had set up and planted hostility against him, be they his contemporaries or those in the future…..

31. Listen to Ziyarah of Imam Ali
السلام عليك يا أمير المؤمنين
السلام عليك يا حبيب الله
السلام عليك يا صفوة الله
السلام عليك يا ولي الله
السلام عليك يا حجة الله
السلام عليك يا إمام الهدى
السلام عليك يا علم التقى
السلام عليك أيها الوصي البر التقي النقي الوفي
السلام عليك يا أبا الحسن والحسين
السلام عليك يا عمود الدين السلام عليك يا سيد الوصيين وأمين رب العالمين

32. In Conclusion Ali is the very model after the Prophet (pbuh)
Lived in the house of the Prophet and raised by him
Along with the Prophet, he was the backbone of Islam
His Khilaafah faced very troublesome people
Du’aas are very moving and the guiding Light to all
His sayings are remarkable and incredible, indicating an acute mind dedicated to the Almighty

33. Thank you and May God Bless you.
Be in Allah’s Care
Thank you and May God Bless you.
Dr. A.S. Hashim