The Sayings of Hazrat Ali r.a.

"A true believer is one whose face wears a smile
even though his heart is distressed."

Hazrat Ali r.a.

Fear God and you will have no cause to fear anyone.
Lead such a life that when you die, people mourn you, and while you live , they long for your company.
The strongest amongst you is the one who subdues his self.
He who praises you murders you.
The tongue of a wise man lies behind his heart.
Speech is like medicine, a small dose of which cures, and an excess of which kills.
He who teaches you a letter, binds you with a fetter of gratitude.
Prayer is like a hot spring of water which flows at your door, and provides you the wherewithal for cleanliness.
The days of life pass as the passing of clouds on the sky; do good as long as you are alive.
There can be no body without a head, and so there can be no faith without patience.
He said about Gratitude to God: By God! If for the love of God you melt your hearts away, and for the love of His rewards and fear of His punishment your eyes shed blood instead of tears and you live in this condition till this world lasts, even then your indefatigable and untiring efforts can be of no match for the numerous blessings which God has so kindly bestowed upon you.
The Word of God is the medicine of the heart.
We thank God for what He has taken, for what He has given; for what kindness He has done, and what tests He has taken. He is aware of all that is hidden. He knows every secret. Whatever is concealed in one’s heart is known to Him. He is Omnipotent and Omniscient. None is to be worshipped except Him. He has no partner. He has no parallel. He is Unique. He is Might, Majesty and Mercy. He is our Creator. We come from Him and we are to ultimately return to Him. His bounties are unlimited.
Resignation to the will of God is the best policy. Knowledge is the best inheritance. Good conduct is the best ornament. The best wealth is the suppression of desires. The middle course is the best course.
When you succeed do not feel proud. When you fail do not lose patience.
A true believer is one whose face wears a smile even though his heart is distressed.
One cannot trust two things, namely, wealth and health. You never know when they might forsake you.
Faith lies in preferring truth to falsehood even when the truth might lead to harm and falsehood might lead to any advantage.
He who seeks the world, death runs after him; he who seeks the hereafter, the world runs after him.
Forgiveness is the zakaat of success. If you wish to succeed in life, learn to forgive others.

The Bequest of Hazrat Ali r.a.

Before his death he said:

I declare in my will that except for God there is no one to be worshipped. He is Unique. He has no partner. Muhammad [peace be upon him] is His Prophet and Messenger whom He commissioned to give the people guidance through the religion of Islam. Islam is the most perfect religion and it is destined to prevail over all other faiths. All our prayers, our sacrifices, our life, our death, our everything is for God. I require all my children and family members to fear God. I wish that all of you should die in Islam. Hold fast to the faith of Islam. Remain united, for according to the Prophet unity in ranks is better than prayers. Be kind to your relatives so that Allah may be kind to you. Remain steadfast in piety and resign yourself to the Will of God. Never aspire to anything which is beyond your reach. Be truthful always. Be kind to the orphans and in their affairs fear God. See that in your presence they are not overcome by any anxiety or care. Be mindful of God in respect of the rights of your neighbours over you. Follow the Quran in letter and spirit, and see that nothing takes precedence over the observation of the injunctions of the Quran. In matters of prayer be very particular for it is the basic pillar of Islam. Fear Allah in the matter of zakaat for it extinguishes the wrath of God. Fear God in respect of your regard for the companions of the Prophet for the Prophet made particular mention of them in his will. Fear Allah in the matter of the poor and the needy. Make them share your wealth. Fulfill your obligations. Do not be afraid of those who disparage your religion. If they wish to harm you, Allah will be enough to protect you. Try to live in the world in a way which might help it to become better. Stop the tyrant from oppression. Act upon the commandments of God. Face the realities of life with courage and fortitude. Help each other in the doing of good. May God be merciful to all who belong to the House of the Holy Prophet. I entrust you to the protection of God.

A PRAYER BY HAZRAT ALI r.a

O God, forgive me my sins of which you are more aware than me. And if I commit these sins again, even then forgive me. Whatever promises I had made with myself to follow your commands have not been fulfilled. I seek your forbearance. If I have sought your proximity with my tongue, but my heart did not keep pace with my tongue, overlook my lapse. O God, forgive me for my futile talk, vain desires and lapses of the tongue.

ABOUT GNOSIS OF GOD.

"I know God by God, and I know that which is not God by the Light of God."

A PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF HAZRAT ALI r.a.

Hazrat Ali was of medium height. His face was noble. His nose was straight and his mouth beautifully carved. His eyes were most commanding, full of light and lustre. His voice was melodious. He carried an aura of spirituality and a strong personal magnetism. In his youth he was handsome and full of fiery vigour. In his later age he became somewhat bulky. His grey hair of the head gave way to baldness. His beard however remained thick and luxuriant.

HIS BURIAL.

Hazrat Ali instructed that his burial place should remain secret. According to legend the dead body of Hazrat Ali was placed on a camel which was driven from Kufa. The camel stopped a few miles west of Kufa, and here the dead body of Hazrat Ali was buried secretly. No tomb was raised and nobody knew of the burial place except a few trusted persons It is narrated that more than a hundred years later, the Abbasid Caliph, Harun-ur-Rashid went deer-hunting outside Kufa, and the deer sought sanctuary at a place where the hounds would not pursue it. On enquiry as to why the place was a sanctuary, Harun-ur-Rashid was told that it was the burial place of Hazrat Ali r.a. Harun-ur-Rashid ordered a mausoleum to be built on the spot. In due course the town of Najaf grew round the mausoleum.