Quotes from book
Nahj al-Balagha

Ali

The Nahj al-Balagha is the most famous collection of sermons, letters, tafsirs and narrations attributed to Ali, cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad. It was collected by Sharif Razi,

“A greedy man will always find himself in the shackles of humility.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“Silence will create respect and dignity; justice and fairplay will bring more friends; benevolence and charity will enhance prestige and position; courtesy will draw benevolence; service of mankind will secure leadership and good words will overcome powerful enemies.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“It is wiser to abstain than to repent.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“Anger and desire of vengeance are not going to be of much help to you in your administration.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 53: An order to Malik Al-Ashtar

“Islam does not mean mere faith, but faith plus deeds”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha
Context: I define Islam for you in a way that nobody dared do it before me. Islam means obedience to Allah, obedience to Allah means having sincere faith in Him, such a faith means to believe in His Power, belief in His Power means recognizing and accepting His Majesty, acceptance of His Majesty means fulfilling the obligations laid down by Him and fulfillment of obligations means actions (Therefore, Islam does not mean mere faith, but faith plus deeds).

“Loving one another is half of wisdom.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“O son of Adam, if you have collected anything in excess of your actual need, you will act only as its trustee for someone else to use it.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“One who takes account of his shortcomings will always gain by it; one who is unmindful of them will always suffer. One who is afraid of the Day of Judgment, is safe from the Wrath of Allah. One who takes lessons from the events of life, gets vision, one who acquires vision becomes wise and one who attains wisdom achieves knowledge.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“O' my Allah! Sustainer of the high sky and the suspended firmament which Thou hast made a shelter for the night and the day, an orbit for the sun and the moon and a path for the rotating stars, and for populating it Thou hast created a group of Thy angels who do not get weary of worshipping Thee. O' Sustainer of this earth which Thou hast made an abode for people and a place for the movement of insects and beasts and countless other creatures seen and unseen. O' Sustainer of strong mountains which Thou hast made as pegs for the earth and (a means of) support for people. If Thou givest us victory over our enemy, save us from excesses and keep us on the straight path of truth. But if Thou givest them victory over us, then grant us martyrdom and save us from mischief.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“Only he who has the power to punish can pardon.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“Time wears out bodies, renews hopes, brings death nearer and takes away aspirations. Whoever gets anything from the world lives in anxiety for holding it and whoever loses anything passes his days grieving over the loss.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“Tongue is a beast, if it is let loose, it devours.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“To refrain from unlawful and impious source of pleasures is an ornament to the poor and to be thankful for the riches granted is the adornment of wealth.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“Anything which can be counted is finite and will come to an end.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“Many persons get nothing out of their fasts but hunger and thirst, many more get nothing out of their night prayers but exertions and sleepless nights. Wise and sagacious persons are praiseworthy even if they do not fast and sleep during the nights.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“A conceited and self-admiring person is disliked by others; charity and alms are the best remedy for ailments and calamities; one has to account in the next world for the deeds that he has done in this world.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“Nawf bin Fizala Bakali, the famous scholar of the early Islamic days says that one night he was with Imam Ali. In the middle of the night, Imam Ali got up from his bed, looked for sometime at the stars and inquired of Nawf whether he was awake. Nawf said: "I got from my bed replying, "Yes, Amirul Mo'minin (Commander of the Faithful)! I am awake."”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“Allah seeks you to thank Him and assigns to you His affairs. He has allowed time in the limited field (of life) so that you may vie with each other in seeking the reward (of Paradise). Therefore, tight up your girdles and wrap up the skirts. High courage and dinners do not go together. Sleep causes weakness in the big affairs of the day and (its) darkness obliterates the memories of courage.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha