Making Claims

Pearl of Wisdom

in a letter he wrote to al-Ashtar when he appointed him governor of Egypt, said, 'The furthest of your subjects from you, and the worst of them in your view should be the one who is the most eager to pursue people's shortcomings, because people do have faults and the ruler is the most appropriate person to conceal them, so do not ever seek to discover those faults which are hidden from you.'

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib [as]

Nahj al-Baldgha, Letter 53

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Library » The Lantern of the Path » Making Claims

Making Claims

In reality the claim belongs to the prophets, the Imams and the truthful, and a man who makes a claim improperly is like the accursed Iblis. He lays claim to devoutness while in reality he contends with his Lord and opposes His command.

Whoever makes such claims reveals his lie, and the liar is not trustworthy; whoever claims what is not lawful for him has the gates of affliction opened for him. Anyone who makes a claim will doubtless be asked for clear proof, upon which he is shown to be bankrupt and disgraced. The truthful person is not asked the reason for his actions; as 'Ali said, 'No one sees a truthful person without being in awe of him.'