Imam Ali's Letter of Advice to His Son: A Timeless Wisdom
Imam Ali's letter, written after the Battle of Siffin, imparts valuable advice to his son, covering various aspects of life for success in this world and the hereafter. The letter emphasizes mental preparedness, learning from experiences, and the profound love between a father and son. The guidance serves as a beacon of wisdom and foresight, reflecting the deep care and insight of Imam Ali (AS) for his son's well-being and spiritual growth.
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LETTER NO. 31 LETTER NO. 31 FROM FROM PRESENTED TO MS ALIYA JABEEN PRESENTED BY TAHIRA MUNIR & KARMALI KAWSAR Imam Ali (AS) Fall 2016
THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN PREPARED BY PREPARED BY TAHIRA TAHIRA
Background Written after returning from the Battle of Siffin in 36-37 AH Imam Ali (a) gave certain pieces of advice to one of his sons. Some historians consider him to be Imam Hasan (a) while others are of the opinion that he was Muhammad Hanafiya.
Subject Matter The advices are in the form of a will. They deal with almost every aspect of life which goes a long way to make a man successful in life of this world and the hereafter.
Purpose behind writing the letter Imam Ali a.s. felt it to be a duty to advice about the following matters: 1. Equipping the near ones mentally to face this world. 2. Preparing them for the next world. 3. The sons utilizing the right to learn from imam s experiences and knowledge, all the ups and downs of life, all the realities and all the truths about life in this world and in the Hereafter.
POINTS TO PONDER POINTS TO PONDER AS DERIVED FROM THE LETTER AS DERIVED FROM THE LETTER
PROPHECY ABOUT IMAMS END OF LIFE (The letter is written) to the son who is the heir to a person who is dead and gone and who finally ended his life as a martyr to the animosity of his enemies. A PROPHECY MADE BY IMAM ALI A.S. WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE.
FATHERSON LOVE It is seen in most cultures that fathers are not expressive in their love as. Here, Imam Ali a.s. depicts the finest example of the Prophet s (pbuhhp) sunnah: My dear son! You are part of my body and soul and whenever I look at you I feel as if I am looking at myself. If any calamities befalls you, I feel as if it has befallen me. Your death will make me feel as if it was my own death. Your affairs are to me like my own affairs. Therefore, I committed these pieces of advice to paper.
FEAR ALLAH Fear Allah. Be His obedient servant. Keep His thought always fresh in your mind. Be attached to and carefully guard the principles (Islam) which connect you with Him. Adopt piety and kill your inordinate desires with its help.
LEARN FROM HISTORY Study the lives of past people. See the ruined cities, the dilapidated palaces, decaying signs and relics of fallen empires of past nations. Meditate over what they did when they were alive; where, when and how they were and are now. Each one is now in a solitary abode, alone and unattended; and you also will be like him.
FIGHT FOR THE CAUSE OF ALLAH While defending the cause of Allah, do not be afraid that people will laugh at you, censure your action or slander you. Fearlessly and boldly help truth and justice. Bear patiently the sufferings and face bravely the obstacles. Adhere to the cause of truth and justice wherever you find it.
SABR O TAWAQQUL Be patient against sufferings, calamities and adversities. This virtue of patience is one of the highest values of morality, nobility and the best habit. Trust in Allah and His protection in every calamity Who is the Best Trustee and the Mightiest Guardian. Reserve your prayers, requests, solicitations, supplications, and entreaties to Him alone because everything lies only in His Power.
AVOID IGNORANCE AND DOUBT Don t speculate about and pass verdicts on subjects about which you are not in a position to form an opinion and are not called upon to do so. Avoid confusion in your ideas, and do not let disbelief take hold of your mind as these cause agnosticism, errors and sins. Possess a clear mind, a sincere and firm desire to reach the truth, to say the correct thing and to do the correct deed.
SEEK KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDANCE Seek His Guidance before you start thinking and deliberating over a problem. If you do not understand a thing, do not reject it. Remember that your lack of understanding is due to insufficiency of your knowledge. Gradually you acquired knowledge and in future your knowledge and vision may further expand.
PROOF OF ONENESS OF ALLAH Had there been any other god, besides the One, he would have also sent his messengers and prophets. They would have pointed out to mankind the domain and glory of this second god. No such incident ever took place. He is One Allah whom we should all recognize and worship
REALITY OF THIS WORLD This world: How fickle and fleeting is its attitude How short-lived and evanescent is everything that it holds or offers about How fast it changes its moods and favours. Eternal life in Paradise: Has pleasures, blessings, everlasting peace, comfort and happiness.
HOW SHOULD A PERSON LIVE IN THIS WORLD Pass the days as if you are a traveller, soon leaving this famine-stricken, unhealthy and uncongenial place, and proceeding towards fertile, congenial lands having abundant provision of all comforts and pleasures. Eagerly take up the journey, happy in the hope of future blessings and peace.
HOW SHOULD A PERSON LIVE IN THIS WORLD Willingly accept the sufferings, troubles and hazards of the way, parting of friends, scarcity of food and comfort during the pilgrimage. Do not refuse to bear any discomfort. Do not grudge any expenditure by way of giving out alms and charities. Help the poor and the needy.
BEHAVIOUR WITH OTHERS Do unto others as you wish others to do unto you. Whatever you like for yourself, like for others, and whatever you dislike to happen to you, spare others from such happenings. Do not oppress and tyrannize anybody because you surely do not like to be oppressed and tyrannized. Be kind and sympathetic to others as you certainly desire others to treat you kindly and sympathetically.
BEHAVIOUR WITH OTHERS If you find objectionable and loathsome habits in others, abstain from developing those traits of character in yourself. If you are satisfied or feel happy in receiving a certain kind of behaviour from others, you may behave with others in exactly the same way. Do not speak about them in the same way that you do not like others to speak about you.
BEHAVIOUR WITH OTHERS Do not speak on a subject about which you know little or nothing. if you at all want to speak on anything or about anyone of whom you are fully aware, then avoid scandal, libel and aspersion as you do not like yourself to be scandalized and scorned in the same manner.
PRIDE: THE UGLY VICE Vanity and conceit will bring to you serious harm and will be a constant source of danger to you. Lead a well-balanced life (neither be conceited nor suffer from inferiority complex) Exert yourself to earn an honest living. Do not get proud of your achievement but be humble and submissive to Him and realize that your success was due to His Mercy.
WEALTH AND POWER All you give out in charities and good deeds are like loans which will be paid back to you. When you are wealthy and powerful, make use of your wealth and power in such a way that you get all that back on the Day of Judgment When you will be poor and helpless, you are a man of light weight can travel fast and quickly to his last abode.
THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN PREPARED BY PREPARED BY KARMALI KARMALI KAWSAR KAWSAR
How to pray to Allah and not becoming hopeless from his mercy - Ask Allah for the acceptance of our prayers and to have mercy on us - Nothing is hidden to him from us - Even if we sin he doesn t humiliate and disappoint us for it, he is always ready to forgive us
how to pray to Allah and not becoming hopeless from his mercy - He counts our sin as 1 whereas he does 10 for our virtue - Ask him to help, whenever we are in need of it, since he has placed the keys of his treasuries in our hands, as he has shown us how to ask him
how to pray to Allah and not becoming hopeless from his mercy - Pray to him wherever we are, so that he can let abundant rains of His mercy fall on us. When a prayer is delayed we should expect to get something better than what we were asking, as he knows better than us what is best for us
Purpose of this life - Our purpose of this life is the hereafter, we are here to prepare for the next world, be aware of sinning and delaying in repenting - Constantly remind yourself of death, so that when it comes to us we don t be surprised - Avoid getting attracted by worldly attraction, and drown oneself inside it
How a man should live in this world - Be free and not enslaved by people since Allah created man free - We learn from our experience which give us some lessons - whatever is destined for you will come to you
How a man should live in this world - Be kind to everyone, even with an enemy, and swallow the anger - Keep the women safe and protected - Put the religion and the world at Allah s disposal and ask Him to ordain the best for us
