Pearl of Wisdom
'It is related that a companion of the Commander of the Faithful (AS) whose name was Hammam and was a devoted worshipper had said to him, ?O Commander of the Faithful, describe to me the Godwary in such a way as though I was to see them.' So he (AS) praised Allah and extolled Him, and praised the Prophet (SAWA) and then said: 'The Godwary [in this world] are the people of virtue. Their speech is to the point, their dress is moderate and their gait is humble. They keep their eyes closed to what Allah has made unlawful for them, and they put their ears to that knowledge which is beneficial to them. They remain in times of trials as they have been in times of comfort. If there had not been fixed periods [of life] ordained for each, their spirits would not have remained in their bodies even for the twinkling of an eye because of [their] eagerness for the reward and fear of chastisement... The sign of any one of them is that you will see that he has strength in religion, prudence along with leniency, faith with conviction, eagerness in [seeking] knowledge with forbearance, moderation in wealth, devotion in worship, gracefulness in neediness, endurance in hardship, desire for the lawful, pleasure in guidance and hatred of greed. He performs virtuous deeds but still feels afraid. In the evening he is anxious to offer thanks [to Allah]. In the morning his anxiety is to remember [Allah]. He passes the night in fear and rises in the morning in joy fear lest night is passed in forgetfulness, and joy over the favour and mercy received by him. If his self refuses to endure a thing which it does not like he does not grant its request towards what it likes. The coolness of his eye lies in what is to last forever, while from the things [of this world] that will not last he keeps aloof. He transfuses knowledge with forbearance, and speech with action. You will see his hopes simple, his shortcomings few, his heart fearing, his spirit contented, his meal small arid simple, his religion safe, his desires dead and his anger suppressed. Good alone is expected from him. Evil from him is not to be feared.'
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib [as] Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 193
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The following is a letter to the people of Basra |
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Letter 29 The following is a letter to the people of Basra
Your activities revealed your disloyalty to Islam, your enmity towards me and the intense malice you nurse against me, the things which you wanted to conceal and which you knew so well. I have forgiven the offenders and I do not want to punish those whose once faced me in the battlefield and then fled. I have accepted the excuses of those who came back to me repenting. If you again do what you have done once before, if you readopt schism and if once again advice of unwise and wicked people drives you towards animosity against Islam, then remember, I shall chastise you. I shall invade you at the head of my army. If you compel me to that then remember that this invasion will be such that the Battle of Jamal will look like a child's play when compared to it. I know you all and appreciate the sincerity of those who are faithful to me and the excellence of those who come to me with their sincere advice and good wishes. I am willing to forgive and to forget those who have wronged me and to requite those who have exhibited fidelity towards me.
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