Faith Freedom International

[baqar]

In the extremely superfine, grand and noble character of Ali, there are two traits which it is difficult to believe can be united in any one man. Besides Ali, history cannot show any other who has displayed these two qualities at one and the same time, and each in such a marked way that none could surpass him, and few could reach him. He was the greatest Marshal of his time, even of all times, and he was the wisest man who could explain and expound on religion, philosophy, science, sociology and ethics, in a style which cannot be improved upon. What is more, he was such a speaker that his speeches enchant you even thirteen centuries after his death.

-- Gabriel Enkiri, French orientalist, in his book ‘Le Chevalier de Islam’.

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Here are some of Hazrat Ali's sayings :


1) Abstinence from vice is better than the pursuance of virtue.

2) It is wiser to abstain from evil than to repent.

3) Giving way to anger is shame and sin.

4) Greatness lies in the nobility of your aspirations, not in the decaying bones of your ancestors.

5) The highest wisdom is to take up arms against your desires.

6) If you find yourself in a position of strength over your adversary, then in gratitude to God, forgive him.

7) To 'forgive and forget' is among the best deeds of a great man.

8) Be generous but not extravagant; be frugal but not miserly.

9) There is no shame in giving a little, there is greater shame in sending the needy away.

10) To provide relief to the grief-stricken and comfort to those in hardship is atonement for major sins.

11) Treat people in a way and live amongst them in a manner that if you die, they weep for you; if you live, they long for you.

12) Humility despite authority is like mercy despite power.

13) Patience is of two kinds :-
(a) Endurance of suffering, and
(b) Abstinence from pleasure.

14) How I wonder at the man who loses hope of salvation while the door of repentance is still open to him !

15) Sinning is a disease, the treatment for which is repentance and the cure abstinence.

16) The sin which makes you sad and repentant finds more favour with the Lord than the good deed which makes you proud and conceited.

17) A fool's mind is at the mercy of his tongue; the wise man's tongue is controlled by his mind.

18) A wise man thinks first and then speaks; the fool speaks first and then thinks.

19) Watch your tongue, for it is an arrow that often goes wrong.

20) How different these two kinds of deeds are – those whose fleeting pleasure passes leaving the consequences behind, and those whose suffering is short-lived but the reward is endless.

21) The world is a transit lounge, not a home for long-term residence. People here are of two kinds: those who sell themselves to their desires and thus ruin themselves and those who master their desires and thus find freedom.

22) Seek livelihood by giving charity.

23) People are enemies of what they are ignorant of.

24) Whatever you earn beyond your immediate needs, will only be there for you to keep watch over for others.

25) A judgment based on probability is not judicious.

26) The worst of actions is high-handedness.

27) The greatest wealth is to abstain from envying others for their wealth.

28) Contentment is a wealth that is never exhausted.

29) Speaking behind somebody's back is the tool of the helpless.

30) The worst sin is the one which the sinner tends to underestimate.

[rand]

Dear Baqar,

These statements are oversimplifications and are not always true. Some examples:

[CroMagnon]

It seems some muslims think that only islamic prophets or imams were able to come up with 'pearls of wisdom'. As if there was no wisdom in pre-islamic times.

Here are just some of the many pre-islamic, pagan words of wisdom I found on the web during a quick search :

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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180 AD) Roman Emperor

All is ephemeral,--fame and the famous as well.

If you are distressed by any external thing, it is not this thing which disturbs you, but your own judgment about it. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgment now.

Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

Anything in any way beautiful derives its beauty from itself and asks nothing beyond itself. Praise is no part of it, for nothing is made worse or better by praise.

How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.

Remember this -- very little is needed to make a happy life.

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Epictetus (ca. 55-135 AD)

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.

Where is the good? In the will. Where is the evil? In the will. Where is neither of them? In those things which are independent of the will.

Freedom is secured not by the fulfilling of one's desires, but by the removal of desire.

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Seneca (BC 3-65 AD)

We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers.

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.

The point is, not how long you live, but how nobly you live.

Virtue is nothing else than right reason.

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Confucius (551-479 BC)

When wealth is centralized, the people are dispersed. When wealth is distributed, the people are brought together.

To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness.

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Lao Tzu (604-531 B.C.)

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.

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Buddha (BC 568-488)

Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind.
Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten

When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear.

Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.

If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him.

Meditation brings wisdom; lack of mediation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them.

We are what we think. All that we are arises With our thoughts. With our thoughts, We make our world.

They are not following dharma who resort to violence to achieve their purpose. But those who lead others through nonviolent means, knowing right and wrong, may be called guardians of the dharma.

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_________________
Sheikh Ahmad al Kat'ani:
"every hour 667 muslims are converting to christianity"

[baqar]

[baqar]

[CroMagnon]

[baqar]

Thanks, CroMagnon and God bless you !

As for Hazrat Ali, I have no intentions of imposing my views on anyone.

But while I do believe, like Gabriel Enkiri, and many others, that he was exceptional, I will merely present material from history and leave it to everyone to make objective judgments for themselves.

Regards and Best Wishes !

[CroMagnon]

Thank you Baqar, I wish you peace & happyness
_________________
Sheikh Ahmad al Kat'ani:
"every hour 667 muslims are converting to christianity"

[rand]

Dear Baqar,

CroMagnon quoted sayings attributed to Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Seneca, Confucius, Lao Tzu, and Budha. You quoted sayings attributed to Ali. I want to understand the difference between them.
If I go my whole life without reading CroMagnon's authors, I'd feel that with so many millions of other authors, I could still be well-read and learned. Can the same be true with missing Ali's statements? With Cromagnon's lists of sayings, I feel that they are human beings statements and so they are fallible, is the same true with Ali's statements? Is Ali a spokesperson for God, and what evidence do you have to support that?

Best wishes,
Rand

[baqar]

Dear Rand

If you went through life without reading about Hazrat Ali's sayings, you could still be well-read. Of course you could be. Why not ? As for Hazrat Ali's status in Islam, for some denominations, he is an Imam of the highest order, he has the status of a representative of God, though not a prophet. For others, he is a caliph.

In any case, the intention of my posts was to present Hazrat Ali's humanity and his concern for human beings, including non-Muslims. There are reliable reports that when he died, the Jewish and Christian women of Kufa went into mourning, because for them, it was the death of a very great benefactor and a man of great humanity and compassion. This report has also been quoted by a certain Professor Reynolds, in a book on Islam, though I have not read the book myself. The book was probably written in the 19th century. I believe when the news reached Jerusalem, even the Lord Bishop's eyes moistened.

His position as a leader of Islam is a different subject altogether. It is too voluminous to discuss in these forums.

For those interested in finding out more, perhaps the best thing would be to do their own reading, in their own time, without any pressures, rather than just rely on discussions and articles in the internet.

Best Regards

Baqar