Pearls of Wisdom from Imam Ali

On this felicitous occasion of the birth anniversary of Imam Ali, I copy below some of his profound sayings that were quoted in the 2002 Arab Human Development Report, published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). As the title suggests, this report is an account of the current social, political, and economic conditions (including education, human rights, governance, and poverty related issues) of the Arab/Muslim world.

While reading these sayings any discerning eye can notice that they are as relevant and instructive today as they were fourteen hundred years ago. These are the hidden treasures of Islam, full of universal truths, profound wisdom, and comprehensive guidance. They can be the guiding principles upon which scholars, policy makers, and activists can build social perspectives and effective solutions for the problems humanity is facing today.

Any social system that does not take into account the various dimensions of human nature, including the material and the spiritual, any system that does not have a program for curing the problems in hearts and for developing the good potentials in human souls and only focuses upon the material factors is bound to fail, be they the socialist states or the welfare systems in capitalist economies. The strength and beauty of Islam is in its comprehensive-ness, in its comprehensive and wholistic guiding principles for all dimensions of human nature and for both individual lives and collective issues of society. (See an insightful discussion by Shaheed Baqir Sadr in this regard here . Also, see a related article by Dr. Ali Shariati here)

Imam Ali on Governance

"He who has appointed himself an Imam (ruler) of the people must begin by teaching himself before teaching others. His teaching of others must be first by setting an example rather than with his words, for he who begins by teaching and educating himself is more worthy of respect than he who teaches and educates others."

"Your concern with developing the land should be greater than your concern for collecting taxes, for the latter can only be obtained by developing; whereas he who seeks revenue without development destroys the country and the people."

"Seek the company of the learned and the wise in search of solving the problems of your country and the righteousness of your people."

"No good can come in keeping silent as to government or in speaking out of ignorance."

"The righteous are men of virtue, whose logic is straightforward, whose dress is unostentatious, whose path is modest, whose actions are many and who are undeterred by difficulties."

"Choose the best among your people to administer justice among them. Choose someone who does not easily give up, who is unruffled by enmities, someone who will not persist in wrong doings, who will not hesitate to pursue right once he knows it, someone whose heart knows no greed, who will not be satisfied with a minimum of explanation without seeking the maximum of understanding, who will be the most steadfast when doubt is cast, who will be the least impatient in correcting the opponent, the most patient in pursuing the truth, the most stern in meting out judgment, someone who is unaffected by flattery and not swayed by temptation and these are but few."

"Source: Nahg El Balagha, interpreted by Imam Mohammad Abdou, Part I, Dar El Balagha, second edition, Beirut, 1985."

Imam Ali on Knowledge and Work

“No vessel is limitless, except for the vessel of knowledge, which forever expands.”

“If God were to humiliate a human being, He would deny him knowledge.”

“No wealth equals the mind, no poverty equals ignorance, no heritage equals culture, and no support is greater than advice.”

“Wisdom is the believer’s quest, to be sought everywhere, even among the deceitful.”

“A person is worth what he excels at.”

“No wealth can profit you more than the mind, no isolation can be more desolate than conceit, no policy can be wiser than prudence, no generosity can be better than decency, no heritage can be more bountiful than culture, no guidance can be truer than inspiration, no enterprise can be more successful than goodness, and no honour can surpass knowledge.”

“Knowledge is superior to wealth. Knowledge guards you, whereas you guard wealth. Wealth decreases with expenditure, whereas knowledge multiplies with dissemination. A good material deed vanishes as the material resources behind it vanish, whereas to knowledge we are indebted forever.

Thanks to knowledge, you command people’s respect during your lifetime, and kind memory after your death. Knowledge rules over wealth. Those who treasure wealth perish while they are still alive, whereas scholars live forever; they only disappear in physical image, but in hearts, their memories are enshrined.”

“Knowledge is the twin of action. He who is knowledgeable must act. Knowledge calls upon action; if answered, it will stay; otherwise, it will depart.”

"Source: Nahg El Balagha, interpreted by Imam Mohammad Abdou, Part I, Dar El Balagha, second edition, Beirut, 1985."

See the 2002 Arab Human Development Report here: http://www.nakbaonline.org/download/UNDP/EnglishVersion/Ar-Human-Dev-2002.pdf