The Eloquent Manner by Imam Ali (a.s.)

Selection by: Engineer Afsaneh Cooper

  
1.  The best companion is submission to Allah's will, knowledge is a venerable estate, good manners

    are new dresses and thinking is clear mirror.

2.  He who admires himself attracts many opponents against him, charity is an effective cure and the

    actions of the people in their present life would be in front of their eyes in the next life.

3.  How wonderful is man that he speaks with fat, talks with a piece of flesh, hears with a bone and

    breathes through a hole.

4.  When this world advances towards any one (with its favours) it attributes to him others' good; and

    when it turns away from him it deprives him of his own good.

5.  Meet people in such a manner that if you die they should weep for you and if you live they should

    long for you.

6.  The most helpless of all men is he who cannot find a few brothers during his age, but still more

    helpless is he who finds such a brother but loses him.

7.  When you get (only) small favours do not push them away through lack of gratefulness.

8.  Every mischief monger cannot even be reproved.

9.  All matters are subject to destiny, so much so that sometimes death results from effort.

10.  He who gallops with loose rein stumbles with death.

11.  The consequence of fear is disappointment and of bashfulness frustration. Opportunity passes

      away like the cloud.  Therefore make use of good opportunities.

12.  He whom his deeds accord back position cannot be given front position by his lineage.

13.  To render relief to the grief stricken and to provide comfort in hardship means atonement of big

      sins.

14.  Whoever prolongs his desire ruins his actions.

15.  Blessed is the person who kept in mind the next life, acted so as to be able to render account;

     remained content with what sufficed him and remained pleased with Allah.

16.  Victory is by determination; determinations is by revolving of thoughts and thoughts are formed

     by guarding secrets.

17.  Hearts of the people are like wild beasts. Whoever tames them they would pounce upon him.

18.  There is no riches like wisdom, no destitution like ignorance, no inheritance like refinement and

      no support like consultation.

19.  Wealth is the fountain head of passions.

20.  Woman is a scorpion whose grip is sweet.

22.  The people of the world are like travellers who are being carried while they are asleep.

23.  If what you aim at does not come about then do not worry as to what you were.

24.  As intelligence increases speech decreases.

25.  The worth of every man is by his attainments.

26.  These hearts get disgusted as the bodies get disgusted; so look for beautiful wise sayings for

      them.

27.  When you hear a tradition test it according to the criterion of intelligence not that of mere

      hearing, because relaters of knowledge are numerous but those who guard it are few.

28.  Whoever falls short of actions gets into grief, and Allah has nothing to do with him who spares

      nothing from his wealth in the name of Allah.

29.  A friend is not a friend unless he affords protection to his comrade on three occasions-in

     adversity, in his absence and at his death.

Reference

 

Imam Ali, 1981, "Nahjul-Balaghah" (The Eloquent Manner) by Imam Ali; Ansariyan Publications P.O.Box 37185/187 Qum, IRAN.

 

This book is the main holy book of Shi'a Muslims after the Qur'an. Imam Ali (A.S) was the cousin, son-in-law and successor of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h). He was the editor of the Qur'an.