It is narrated from the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) who said: Whoever wants to find about Adam (AS) and his knowledge; and Noah (AS) and his piety; and Ibrahim (AS) and his tolerance; and Moses (AS) and his awe; and Jesus (AS) and his prayers; look at Ali Ibn Abitaleb (AS)
Imam Ali (AS) the inheritor of Divine Prophets
It is narrated from the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) who said: Whoever wants to find about Adam (AS) and his knowledge; and Noah (AS) and his piety; and Ibrahim (AS) and his tolerance; and Moses (AS) and his awe; and Jesus (AS) and his prayers; look at Ali Ibn Abitaleb (AS) [1].
What did Imam Ali (AS) and Lady Fatima Zahra (AS) say about each other?
One day the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) asked Imam Ali (AS): How do you find your wife? Imam Ali (AS) replied: What a good friend and companion in the way of obeying Allah (SWT). Then The Prophet (PBUH) asked his daughter Lady Fatima Zahra (AS): How do you find your husband? Lady Fatima Zahra (AS) replied: He is the best husband [1].
How Lady Fatima Zahra (AS) described Imam Ali (AS)?
In her description of Imam Ali (AS), Lady Fatima Zahra (AS) said: He is a Divine Leader, the manifestation of light and luminosity, he is the centre of the attention of all the creatures and seekers of the truth, a pure child from a pure family, he is a truthful speaker and a guide, he is the centre and axis of Imamate and leadership [1].
How old was Imam Ali (AS) on the day of Ghadir?
The event of Ghadir took place on the tenth of the hegira year but there are different views about Imam Ali’s date of birth. However, if we are to determine the Imam’s date of birth, it depends on which report is considered to be stronger and more authentic. Only then one can determine, with relative confidence, the Imam’s date of birth. According to a more famous account by historians about Imam Ali’s date of birth, he was born on 30th ‘Am al-Fil (the year of the elephant) which is ten years before the prophetic mission of the Holy Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him and his descendants.[1] Therefore, Imam Ali (AS) was ten years old when the Holy Prophet (S) was appointed for the prophetic mission. Considering that the Holy Prophet (S) was in Mecca during the first 13 years of the prophetic mission, the event of Ghadir Khum took place ten years after the Prophet (S) migrated to Medina. Hence, on this basis, the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, was 33 years old on Ghadir Day.
How did Imam Ali (AS) describe this world?
Dharar, a close companion of Imam Ali (AS) arrived at Shaam (Damascus) and Moawiyeh asked him about Imam Ali (AS). Dharar replied: I saw Ali (AS) when it was night and he was standing in praying alter (Mehraab), holding his beard in his hand and twisting like someone who was bitten by a snake, and whilst he was crying, said [1]: “O’ world, O’ the Haram world; stay away from me, do you want to show off to me? Or have you fallen for me, so that you can find a place in my heart one day? This will never happen, deceive another one because I do not need you, I have divorced you three times so that there can be no return; your era is short, you are worth a little, and your wishes are wicked. Alas, the provision is little, and the road is long, destination is far away and the grandeur of the Day of Judgment!”
Treating enemies according to Imam Ali (AS)
Hojr ibn Oday and Amr ibn Hamq were two brave and loyal companions of Imam Ali (AS). During the War of Siffin, they expressed their disgust at the Shaam (Damascus) army and used some inappropriate language against them. The news reached Imam Ali (AS) and Imam (AS) sent them message asking them not to use inappropriate language.
They came to Imam Ali (AS) and said: The Shaam army are the followers of Moawiyeh, are they not on the unjust path? Imam Ali (AS) replied: Yes, they are on the unjust path. They asked: So, why do you forbid us to express our disgust at them? Imam Ali (AS) replied: I do not approve any inappropriate language but if you reveal their behaviour and corrupt ways, then your words are true and your cause plausible.
Imam Ali (AS) added: Instead of saying other things, you should have prayed to God, saying: O’ God, preserve our blood and their blood and make the situation between us better, guide them from state of being misled so that they can recognise the truth, and stop those who fight the truth [1].
Mountains may move from their positions but you should stand firm …
Imam Ali (AS) said: Mountains may move from their positions but you should stand firm … and rest assured that victory is from Allah, the Glorified. (Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 11)
Description of a believer by Imam Ali (AS)
Imam Ali (AS) said: O’ servants of God beware, a believer is the one who now (currently) considers God’s Halal as Halal and God’s Haram as Haram, and whatever others changed by heresy, he/she will not change anything from Haram to Halal because Halal is the same as that which has been made Halal by the Supreme Being and Haram is the same as that Allah (SWT) has made Haram [1].
Nine Rules For Happiness By Imam Ali (as)
SHAFAQNA- Everyone aspires to be happy in his life. Imam Ali (as) provides you with a nine-point canon to reach this goal thus:
قَوَاعِد الْسَّعَادَة الْتِسع لِأَمِير الْمُؤْمِنِيْن عَلِي عَلَيْه الْسَّلَام:
Nine rules for happiness by the Commander of the Faithful Ali :
أولاً: توكل على الله في السراء والضراء
FIRST: Rely on Allah when pleased and when grieved.
ثانياً: اتق الله في خلواتك و سفرك وحضرك
SECOND: Fear Allah when you are alone, when travelling and when at home.
ثالثاً: لَا تُكْرَه أَحَدا مُهِمَّا أَخْطَأ فِي حَقِّك
THIRD: Do not coerce anyone, no matter how much he wrongs you.
رابعاً: لَا تَقْلَق أَبَدا مَهْمَا بَلَّغْت الْهُمُوْم ذروتها
FOURTH: Do not worry, no matter how high your concerns may pile up.
خامساً: عِش فِي بَسَاطَة مَهْمَا عَلَا شَأْنُك
FIFTH: Live simply no matter how high your prestige may be.
سادساً: تَوَقَّع خَيْرَا مَهْمَا كَثُر الْبَلَاء
SIXTH: Anticipate goodness no matter how serious the affliction may be.
سابعاً: أُعْطِي كَثِيْرَا و لَو حُرِمْت القليل
SEVENTH: Give a lot though you may be deprived even of a little.
ثامناً: ابْتَسِم و لَو الْقَلْب يَقْطُر دَمَا
EIGHTH: Smile even if your heart may be bleeding.
تاسعاً: لَا تَقْطَع دُعَاءَك لِأَخِيْك الْمُسْلِم بِظَهْر الْغَيب
NINTH: Do not stop supplicating for your Muslim brother when he is absent.
Nahjul Balagha