كثير

Certainly, many people have turned away from many a (lasting) benefit (of the next life), for they bent towards the world and spoke with passions. I have been struck with wonder in this matter, upon which people who are self-conceited have agreed. I am providing a cure for their wound but I fear lest it develops into a clot of blood (and becomes incurable).

When I am dead hard circumstances and distressing events would befall you, many persons in the position of asking question would remain silent with cast down eye, while those in the position of replying would lose courage. This would be at a time when wars would descend upon you with all hardship, and days would be so hard on you that you would feel them prolonged because of hardship till Allāh would give victory to those remaining virtuous among you.

Imam Ali (AS) said, Views are many but foresight is little.

Imam Ali (AS) said, A little knowledge removes a lot of ignorance.

Imam Ali (AS) said, Knowledge is abundant but action is scarce.

Imam Ali (AS) said, Verily the narrators of knowledge are many, but those who are careful of [acting upon] it are few.

Imam Ali (AS) said, Little with a praised outcome is better than plenty with a harmful consequence.

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘A little knowledge is better than a lot of worship.

Imam Ali (AS) said, The sagacious person is one who is inattentive towards others while expecting much from [and constantly judging] himself.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘When you hear a report, scrutinize it with the reasoning of careful attention and not the reasoning of the report itself, for verily the reporters of knowledge are many but those who attend to it are few.

Hadith.2457 - Luqman said to his son: "O my son, the world is a deep ocean in which many people have drowned. Make your ship in it faith in Allah (swt), make its sail reliance upon Allah (swt), and make your provision in it piety toward Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious. If you are saved, it is by the mercy of Allah (swt), and if you perish, it is due to your sins."

They are life for knowledge and death for ignorance. Their forbearance tells you of their knowledge, their outer self of their inner self, and their silence of the wisdom of their speaking. They do not go against right nor do they differ (among themselves) about it. They are the pillars of Islam and the asylums of (its) protection. With them right has returned to its position and wrong has left its place and its tongue is severed from its root. They have understood the religion attentively and carefully, not by mere heresy or from relaters, because the relaters of knowledge are many but its understanders are few.

I asked Abu Abdillah al-Sadiq (as) about teaching. He replied: 'Do not take a fee for teaching.' I then asked: 'What about poetry, letters, and the like? Can I charge for them?' He said: 'Yes, as long as the children under your instruction are treated equally in teaching, and you do not show favoritism between them.'

Luqman said to his son: O son! Take one thousand friends for yourself, for one thousand is few; and do not take one enemy for yourself, for one is too many. Amir al-Mu’minin (as) said: Increase in brethren as much as you can, They are pillars and backs if you seek their help, One thousand friends and companions is not many, But one enemy is too many.

Abu Abdullah (asws), from his (asws) father (asws) having said to a man who spoke to him by a lengthy speech, so he (asws) said: ‘O you man who belittles the speech, and considers knowledge to be insignificant, know that Allah (azwj) did not Send His (azwj) Rasool (as) along with gold and silver, but He (azwj) Sent him (saww) by the speech. But rather, Allah (azwj) Majestic and Mighty Made Himself (azwj) Recognised to the creatures by the speech, and the evidence (pointing) towards Him (azwj), and the Signs’.

Call in my friend.’ They sent someone after Ali (MGB). When Ali (MGB) came in, the Prophet (MGB) and Ali (MGB) turned their faces towards the wall and pulled their cloak over their heads. The people were standing still outside the door until Ali (MGB) came out. A man asked him (MGB), ‘Did God’s Prophet (MGB) disclose any secrets to you?’ Ali (MGB) replied, ‘Yes. The Prophet (MGB) disclosed to me one-thousand gates each of which opens up to another one-thousand gates.’ The man said, ‘Did you memorize them?’ Ali (MGB) replied, ‘Yes. Moreover I understood them.’ The man asked, ‘What is the blackness that is in the moon?’ Ali (MGB) replied, ‘Indeed the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘We have made the Night and the Day as two(of Our) Signs: the Sign of the Night have We obscured, while the Sign of the Day We have made to enlighten you; that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the number and count of the years: all things have We explained in detail.’’ The man told him, ‘O Ali! You truly understood it.’”

27-4 Be hopeful. Do not lose hopes in God’s Mercy. The best deed in the sight of the Honorable the Exalted God is being hopeful for relief so that one can survive with that hope.You should seek God’s help by reliance on Him when you say your morning prayers, since that is the time when the rewards are bestowed.Do not enter a shrine with a sword.You should not put the sword in front of you while you pray, since the Qibla (prayer direction) is a secure turning point.Whenever you go on the Hajj pilgrimage, you should also go and visit the shrine of God’s Prophet (MGB). It would be ungrateful not to do so.You should also visit other shrines which the Honorable the Exalted God has made it incumbent upon you to visit. You should ask for your share of daily bread there.Do not underestimate minor sins since they might lead to major sins.Lengthen your prostration because nothing is harsher for Satan to bear than to see the prostration of man, since Satan was ordered to prostrate but he disobeyed and man was ordered to prostrate and he obeyed and was saved.You should often remember death and your departure from the grave and standing up in front of God so that difficulties become easy for you.Whenever you get a pain in the eye you should recite the verse of the Throne (Ayat al-Kursi) hoping that you get better if God wills. I advise you to abstain from committing sins since any calamities, restrictions in your share of the daily bread, scratches, or bruises are due to committing sins.The Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because on the things your hands have wrought, and for many (of them) He grants forgiveness.’ You should often remember God when you eat food. You should not rebel since the food is also one of God’s blessings, and it is a part of your daily bread. It is incumbent upon you to thank and praise God for it.It would be better if you are grateful for the blessings when you get them and before they are gone. Blessings will testify as to how their owner treated them.God would be pleased with a little bit of good deeds of anyone who is pleased with a little bit of daily bread from God.I admonish you against immoderation as it will result in regret when there is no use in regret.When you are in the battlefield and you encounter your enemies, you should talk less and remember God a lot. You should not flee since then you will face God’s Wrath. When you encounter your wounded brethren you should rescue them. You should do as many good deeds as you can so as to be saved from a bad death.If you wish to know about your rank in the sight of God, you should consider God’s rank in your sight when you are committing sins. This would be your rank in the sight of the Blessed the Sublime God.The best thing you can get in your house for your wife is a sheep. The angels would sanctify you once a day, if you have one sheep in your house. They would sanctify you twice a day if you have two sheep in your house. They would sanctify you three times, if you have three sheep in your house.Whenever a Muslim gets weak, he should eat meat and dairy products since the Honorable the Exalted God has placed strength in them.Whenever you decide to go on the Hajj pilgrimage, you should prepare for the trip in advance as the Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘If they had intended to come out, they would certainly have made some preparation.’