Maxims of Imam
Hadi [a.s.]1
Compiled by Engineer Afsaneh Cooper
1. In a time where justice is more than oppression, it is unlawful to suspect anyone before being certain of that which is suspected of, and in a time where oppression is more than justice, one should not trust in anyone except after being certain of him.
2. An understanding oppressor is about to take attentions away from his oppression through his understanding, and a foolish just man is about to put out the light of his justice through his foolishness.
3. The anger at one, over whom you have authority, is meanness.
4. Whoever shows you his sincere love you are to show him your obedience.
5. Disputing destroys old friendship, and unties firm knots. The least of it is that it leads to hatred which is the first cause of the rupture of relations.
6. Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) said to al-Mutawakkil (the Abbasid caliph), “Do not expect good will from one whom you have offended, or loyalty from one whom you have betrayed, or sincerity from one whom you have suspected, because the hearts of others towards you are like your heart towards them.
7. Wealth is the littleness of wishing and the satisfaction with what suffices you, poverty is greediness and despair, and lowness is following the little and looking forward to insignificants.
8. The rider of a reluctant horse is a captive of himself. He, who walks in crooked ways, is led by his fancy that throws him into the abyss of misfortunes.
9. The evilest of misfortune is bad morals.
10. Worse than evil is its doer and more horrible than horror is an adventurer into it.
11. There is no cure for corrupted natures.
12. Ignorance and niggardliness are the worst of morals.
13. Stinginess is the worst of morals, and greediness is a bad nature.
14. The denying of blessings is a sign of ungratefulness and a cause for changing (of blessings).
15. Mockery is the joking of the foolish and the craft of the ignorant.
16. Un-dutifulness (to parents) lessens offspring and leads to meanness.
17. Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) was asked about resolution and he said, ‘It is to see your opportunity
and hurry to achieve it as possible as you can.
18. People (run their affairs) in this life with money and in the afterlife with deeds.
19. Allah made the worldly life a place of trying and the afterlife a place of reward. He made the misfortunes of the worldly life as a means for the reward of the afterlife, and the reward of the afterlife as a compensation for the misfortunes of the worldly life.
20. The world is a market in which some people gain and others lose.
21. Good appearance is apparent beauty and good mind is hidden beauty.
22. Think of your death between your family where no physician shall defend you and no friend shall benefit you!
23. Sleeplessness makes sleep more pleasant, and hunger makes food more delicious.
24. Fates show you what you do not imagine.
25. He, who asks for more than his merit, is worthier of deprivation.
26. Self-conceit turns one away from seeking knowledge and leads him to ignorance.
27. Patience is to possess yourself and control your anger when you are able to show it.
28. Misfortune for the patient is one, and for the impatient is two.
30. He said to one of his servants, ‘Blame so-and-so (friendly) and say to him: if Allah wants good for someone, He made him be pleased when he is blamed.’
31. The rightness of one, who ignores dignity, is his lowness.
32. Whoever is pleased with himself, many are those who are displeased at him.
33. An ignorant one is a captive of his tongue.
34. Blaming is the key to haughtiness, though it is better than spite.
35. One of Imam al-Hadi’s companions exaggerated in praising the Imam who said to him, ‘Much flattery attacks discernment. If you are trusted by your brother, turn from flattery to good will.
36. Envy eradicates good deeds, and pride brings detestation.
37. Associating with the wicked shows the wickedness of one who associates with them.
38. Importunity takes peacefulness away and leads to regret.
39. Think of the regrets of wasting to be more determined!
40. A niggard and a wise man do not rest.
41. He, who cannot prevent, cannot give.
42. Beware of envy for it harms you and not your enemy.
43. Retain blessings by being good neighbor to them (by spending them in the right way and helping people through charities), expect more by being grateful to Allah for them, and know that soul is very willing to what it is given and very unwilling to what it is prevented from, so carry it on a sumpter that does not slow.
44. It is from inadvertence to Allah that one keeps on disobedience and wishes forgiveness from Allah.
45. If people walked in a vast valley, I would walk in a valley of a man who worshipped Allah alone sincerely.
46. A grateful one is happier with gratitude than with the blessing that requires gratitude, because blessings are enjoyment and gratitude is a blessing.
47. Do not feel safe from the evil of one who despises himself.
References
1. These sayings are quoted from ad-Durr an-Nadhim, al-Ittihaf Bihubil Ashraf, Bihar al-Anwar, al-Amali of Sheikh at-Tusi, Aa’yan ash-Shi’a, Nuzhat an-Nadhir, Tuhaf al-Uqul, al-Amali of Sheikh al-Mufid, Ma’ani al-Akhbar of Sheikh as-Saduq, Ma’athir al-Kubara’.
2. http://www.al-islam.org/life-imam-ali-al-hadi-study-and-analysis-baqir-shareef-al- qurashi/his-knowledge-and-sciences
Compiled by Engineer Afsaneh Cooper
1. In a time where justice is more than oppression, it is unlawful to suspect anyone before being certain of that which is suspected of, and in a time where oppression is more than justice, one should not trust in anyone except after being certain of him.
2. An understanding oppressor is about to take attentions away from his oppression through his understanding, and a foolish just man is about to put out the light of his justice through his foolishness.
3. The anger at one, over whom you have authority, is meanness.
4. Whoever shows you his sincere love you are to show him your obedience.
5. Disputing destroys old friendship, and unties firm knots. The least of it is that it leads to hatred which is the first cause of the rupture of relations.
6. Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) said to al-Mutawakkil (the Abbasid caliph), “Do not expect good will from one whom you have offended, or loyalty from one whom you have betrayed, or sincerity from one whom you have suspected, because the hearts of others towards you are like your heart towards them.
7. Wealth is the littleness of wishing and the satisfaction with what suffices you, poverty is greediness and despair, and lowness is following the little and looking forward to insignificants.
8. The rider of a reluctant horse is a captive of himself. He, who walks in crooked ways, is led by his fancy that throws him into the abyss of misfortunes.
9. The evilest of misfortune is bad morals.
10. Worse than evil is its doer and more horrible than horror is an adventurer into it.
11. There is no cure for corrupted natures.
12. Ignorance and niggardliness are the worst of morals.
13. Stinginess is the worst of morals, and greediness is a bad nature.
14. The denying of blessings is a sign of ungratefulness and a cause for changing (of blessings).
15. Mockery is the joking of the foolish and the craft of the ignorant.
16. Un-dutifulness (to parents) lessens offspring and leads to meanness.
17. Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) was asked about resolution and he said, ‘It is to see your opportunity
and hurry to achieve it as possible as you can.
18. People (run their affairs) in this life with money and in the afterlife with deeds.
19. Allah made the worldly life a place of trying and the afterlife a place of reward. He made the misfortunes of the worldly life as a means for the reward of the afterlife, and the reward of the afterlife as a compensation for the misfortunes of the worldly life.
20. The world is a market in which some people gain and others lose.
21. Good appearance is apparent beauty and good mind is hidden beauty.
22. Think of your death between your family where no physician shall defend you and no friend shall benefit you!
23. Sleeplessness makes sleep more pleasant, and hunger makes food more delicious.
24. Fates show you what you do not imagine.
25. He, who asks for more than his merit, is worthier of deprivation.
26. Self-conceit turns one away from seeking knowledge and leads him to ignorance.
27. Patience is to possess yourself and control your anger when you are able to show it.
28. Misfortune for the patient is one, and for the impatient is two.
- Better than good is its doer, better than favor is
its sayer, and more preferable than
30. He said to one of his servants, ‘Blame so-and-so (friendly) and say to him: if Allah wants good for someone, He made him be pleased when he is blamed.’
31. The rightness of one, who ignores dignity, is his lowness.
32. Whoever is pleased with himself, many are those who are displeased at him.
33. An ignorant one is a captive of his tongue.
34. Blaming is the key to haughtiness, though it is better than spite.
35. One of Imam al-Hadi’s companions exaggerated in praising the Imam who said to him, ‘Much flattery attacks discernment. If you are trusted by your brother, turn from flattery to good will.
36. Envy eradicates good deeds, and pride brings detestation.
37. Associating with the wicked shows the wickedness of one who associates with them.
38. Importunity takes peacefulness away and leads to regret.
39. Think of the regrets of wasting to be more determined!
40. A niggard and a wise man do not rest.
41. He, who cannot prevent, cannot give.
42. Beware of envy for it harms you and not your enemy.
43. Retain blessings by being good neighbor to them (by spending them in the right way and helping people through charities), expect more by being grateful to Allah for them, and know that soul is very willing to what it is given and very unwilling to what it is prevented from, so carry it on a sumpter that does not slow.
44. It is from inadvertence to Allah that one keeps on disobedience and wishes forgiveness from Allah.
45. If people walked in a vast valley, I would walk in a valley of a man who worshipped Allah alone sincerely.
46. A grateful one is happier with gratitude than with the blessing that requires gratitude, because blessings are enjoyment and gratitude is a blessing.
47. Do not feel safe from the evil of one who despises himself.
References
1. These sayings are quoted from ad-Durr an-Nadhim, al-Ittihaf Bihubil Ashraf, Bihar al-Anwar, al-Amali of Sheikh at-Tusi, Aa’yan ash-Shi’a, Nuzhat an-Nadhir, Tuhaf al-Uqul, al-Amali of Sheikh al-Mufid, Ma’ani al-Akhbar of Sheikh as-Saduq, Ma’athir al-Kubara’.
2. http://www.al-islam.org/life-imam-ali-al-hadi-study-and-analysis-baqir-shareef-al- qurashi/his-knowledge-and-sciences
