„Oppression and tyranny are the worse companions for the Hereafter.“
— Ali, book Nahj al-Balagha
Nahj al-Balagha
Birthdate: 15. September 601
Date of death: 29. January 661
Ali was the cousin and the son-in-law of Muhammad, the last prophet of Islam. He ruled as the fourth caliph from 656 to 661, but is regarded as the rightful immediate successor to Muhammad as an Imam by Shia Muslims.
Born to Abu Talib and Fatimah bint Asad, Ali is the only person to be born in the sacred sanctuary of the Kaaba in Mecca, the holiest place in Islam. Ali was the first male who accepted Islam, and, according to some authors, the first Muslim. Ali protected Muhammad from an early age and took part in almost all the battles fought by the nascent Muslim community. After migrating to Medina, he married Muhammad's daughter Fatimah. He was appointed caliph by Muhammad's companions in 656, after Caliph Uthman ibn Affan was assassinated. Ali's reign saw civil wars and in 661, he was attacked and assassinated by a Kharijite while praying in the Great Mosque of Kufa, being martyred two days later.Ali is important to both Shias and Sunnis, politically and spiritually. The numerous biographical sources about Ali are often biased according to sectarian lines, but they agree that he was a pious Muslim, devoted to the cause of Islam and a just ruler in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah. While Sunnis consider Ali the fourth and final of the Rashidun caliphs, Shia Muslims regard Ali as the first Imam after Muhammad due to their interpretation of the events at Ghadir Khumm. Shia Muslims also believe that Ali and the other Shia Imams are the rightful successors to Muhammad. It was this disagreement that split the ummah into the Shia and Sunni branches.
„Oppression and tyranny are the worse companions for the Hereafter.“
— Ali, book Nahj al-Balagha
Nahj al-Balagha
„Like your body your mind also gets tired so refresh it by wise sayings.“
— Ali, book Nahj al-Balagha
Nahj al-Balagha
„The weakest man is the one who is able to correct his moral defects, but doesn't take action.“
— Ali
Husayn al-Nuri al-Tabarsi, Mustadrak al-Wasā'il, vol. 11, p. 324
— Ali, book Nahj al-Balagha
Nahj al-Balagha
— Ali
Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol. 78, p. 6
Regarding Knowledge & Wisdom, Religious
„Do not feel ashamed to forgive and forget.“
— Ali, book Nahj al-Balagha
Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 53: An order to Malik Al-Ashtar
Variant: The best deed of a great man is to forgive and forget.
„One of the conveniences in life is to have less children.“
— Ali, book Nahj al-Balagha
Nahj al-Balagha
„He who practices moderation and frugality will never be threatened with poverty.“
— Ali, book Nahj al-Balagha
Nahj al-Balagha
„Two things cause people to be destroyed: fear of poverty and seeking superiority through pride.“
— Ali
Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol. 72, p. 39
„When some blessings come to you, do not drive them away through thanklessness.“
— Ali, book Nahj al-Balagha
Nahj al-Balagha