The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Repel the waves of affliction with supplication. The afflicted man, upon whom affliction has grown severe, is no more in need of supplication than the man in good health who is not safe from affliction. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 21)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Repel the waves of affliction from yourselves with abundant supplication. Indeed, one who is not stricken by affliction is just as much in need of abundant supplication as one who is stricken, so as to prevent affliction.
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: How strange is one who perishes while the means of deliverance is with him! It was said: And what is it? He said: Seeking forgiveness. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 31)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: How strange that a man should be destroyed while the means of deliverance is at his disposal. They said: What is that means? He said: Seeking forgiveness.
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: On the day of Badr I saw the Messenger of God (PBUH) in prostration, saying: O Living, O Self-Subsisting. I turned away to the battle, then came back and saw him still in prostration, saying: O Living, O Self-Subsisting. And he (PBUH) did not cease to be thus until God the Exalted granted him victory. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 44)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: On the day of the battle of Badr I saw the Messenger of God (PBUH) prostrating and continually saying: O Living One, O Self-Subsisting One. I left him and returned to the field of battle, and a little later, when I came back to him, I saw him still in prostration saying the same invocation. He remained so until God granted us victory.
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said to al-Bara' ibn Azib: Shall I not show you a practice by which, if you do it, you will truly be a friend of God? I said: Yes indeed, O friend of God. He said: You glorify God ten times after every prayer, praise Him ten times, magnify Him ten times, and say 'There is no god but God' ten times. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 49)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said to one of his special companions: Shall I teach you something by which you may become a friend of God? After every prayer, glorify God, praise Him and magnify Him ten times each, and say ten times: There is no god but God.
It is related that when Ali ibn al-Husayn (peace be upon them both) was brought before Yazid — upon whom be the curse — Yazid was speaking to him and Ali (AS) was answering him according to what he said, while in his hand was a small rosary which he was turning with his fingers as he spoke. Yazid — upon whom be what he deserves — said to him: I speak to you and you answer me, and yet you turn your fingers on a rosary in your hand; how can that be permissible? He (AS) said: My father related to me from my grandfather (PBUH) that when he had prayed the dawn prayer and turned from it, he would not speak until he had taken a rosary in his hands, and he would say: O God, I have entered this morning glorifying You, praising You, declaring Your oneness, magnifying You and extolling You by the number of times I turn my rosary. Then he would take the rosary in his hand and turn it while speaking of whatever he wished, without uttering the glorification aloud; and he stated that this was reckoned in his favor and was a protection for him until he took to his bed. And when he took to his bed he would say the like of that saying, and place his rosary beneath his head, and it was reckoned in his favor from that time until the next. So I did this in emulation of my grandfather (PBUH). Then Yazid — upon whom be the curse — said, again and again: I never speak to any one of you but that he answers me with something by which he prevails. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 61)
It is related that when Imam al-Sajjad (AS) was brought before Yazid, Yazid saw that he spoke with him and answered him, yet all the while kept turning a rosary in his hand. Yazid said: Are you answering me, or reciting invocations?! Imam al-Sajjad (AS) said: My father used to say of Ali (AS) that when the Commander of the Faithful (AS) finished the dawn prayer, he would speak to no one, but immediately took a rosary in his hand and said: O God, today I glorify You, praise You, declare Your oneness, and magnify and extol You with every turning of my rosary. Then he would take the rosary in his hand and keep turning it constantly, while he spoke with people and went about his affairs. And while speaking with people he no longer uttered the invocations with his tongue; he was simply mindful that this turning of the rosary connected him to God and was itself the glorification of God. Ali (AS) regarded this as a protection until night, when he went to bed. In bed he would again say a similar sentence to God, and this time he would place the rosary beneath his pillow, believing that the presence of the rosary beneath his head was itself an act of glorification on his part. I too follow my forefather Ali (AS) and do the same. When Yazid heard this, he said: I have never spoken with you, the household of prophethood, without learning something!
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: I have never suffered indigestion. It was said to him: And why is that, O friend of God? He said: I have never raised a morsel to my mouth without mentioning over it the name of God, glory be to Him. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 80)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: To this day I have never suffered stomach pain or indigestion! They asked: How so? He said: With every morsel, I mention the name of God.
From the Commander of the Faithful (AS), who said: The Messenger of God (PBUH) said: Whoever rises in the morning and does not mention four things, I fear for him the loss of blessing. The first is that he say: Praise be to God, who made Himself known to me and did not leave me blind of heart. The second, that he say: Praise be to God, who made me one of the community of Muhammad (PBUH). The third, that he say: Praise be to God, who placed my provision in His own hands and did not place my provision in the hands of people. The fourth, that he say: Praise be to God, who veiled my sins and my faults and did not disgrace me among the people. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 81)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Whoever does not call to mind four blessings each day is liable to lose those blessings: that God has made him one who knows God, and not blind of heart; second, that he is a Muslim; third, that He has granted him his provision, and that by His own hand rather than by the hand of people; fourth, that He has concealed his faults and sins and has not exposed him before the people.
From the Commander of the Faithful (AS), who said: The Messenger of God (PBUH) summoned me and said: O Ali, when you take to your bed, keep to seeking forgiveness and to invoking blessings upon me, and say: Glory be to God, praise be to God, there is no god but God, God is greatest, and there is no power nor strength save in God, the Most High, the Mighty. And recite abundantly 'Say: He is God, One,' for it is the light of the Qur'an. And keep to reciting the Verse of the Throne, for in every letter of it there are a thousand blessings and a thousand mercies. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 84)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: The Messenger of God (PBUH) used to instruct me that when you go to bed, before sleeping, seek forgiveness, invoke blessings upon the Prophet and his family, recite the four glorifications and the formula 'there is no power nor strength save in God', and recite the Surah of Divine Oneness several times, for it is the light of the Qur'an. Likewise, do not forget the Verse of the Throne, for every letter of it holds thousands of blessings and thousands of mercies.
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Remember God, for He remembers whoever remembers Him; and ask of Him His bounty and His mercy, for no believing supplicant is left disappointed by Him in his supplication. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 117)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Remember God, for God remembers whoever remembers Him. Likewise, ask of His bounty and His mercy, for in the end God does not leave anyone in despair.
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: In every draught there is a choking, and with every morsel there is a grief. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 121)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: In this world every draught can stick in the throat, and every morsel can bring grief.
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Whoever sets out on a journey having with him a staff of bitter almond wood and recites His words, 'And when he turned his face toward Madyan…' up to His words, '…is Guardian over what we say' [Qur'an 28:22-28], God grants him safety from every ravening beast, every aggressive thief, and every venomous creature. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 128)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: On journeys carry with you a staff of bitter almond wood, and recite from the verse: 'And when he turned his face toward Madyan, he said: It may be that my Lord will guide me to the even path' [Qur'an 28:22] through to the end of verse 28, so that you may be safe from beasts of prey, thieves and venomous creatures. We say: It seems that the phrase 'It may be that my Lord will guide me to the even path' suffices, and there is no need to recite the whole of page 388.
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Whoever is glad to have the good of his household increase, let him perform ablution when his food is set before him. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 143)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: So that the good and blessing of your household may increase, perform ablution before coming to the table.
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Abu Dharr fell ill with a fever, so I came to the Messenger of God (PBUH) and said: O Messenger of God, Abu Dharr has fallen ill with a fever. He said: Come with us to him, that we may visit him. So we went to him together, and when we had sat down the Messenger of God (PBUH) said to him: How have you risen this morning, O Abu Dharr? He said: I have risen fevered, O Messenger of God. He said: You have risen in a meadow among the meadows of Paradise; you have been immersed in the water of life, and God has forgiven you your past sins. So rejoice, O Abu Dharr. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 167)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Abu Dharr fell ill, and I went with the Prophet (PBUH) and a group of people to visit him. We sat down, and the Messenger of God (PBUH) asked: Are you well, Abu Dharr? He said: No, I am ill! The Messenger of God (PBUH) said: The sick man is in a meadow among the meadows of Paradise; he partakes of the water of life, and because of his illness God forgives his past sins.
The Commander of the Faithful Ali (AS) came in to al-Ala', one of his companions, to visit him in his illness. When he saw the spaciousness of his house he (AS) said: What were you doing with a house as spacious as this in this world, when you have greater need of it in the Hereafter? Yet indeed, if you wish, you may attain the Hereafter by means of it: you may receive the guest in it, join ties of kinship in it, and bring the rights due from it forth into the light. Then you will indeed have attained the Hereafter by means of it. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 230)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) went to visit one of his companions, and when he saw the spaciousness of his house he said: With this spacious house, what will you do for your Hereafter, which is the day of your need? Then he said: Show hospitality to guests, be good to your kin, and give everyone his due within this house; in this way, through this house, the Hereafter too will be secured for you.
From al-Sadiq (AS), who said: When death came upon one of the members of his household, the Commander of the Faithful (AS) would say to him: Say: There is no god but God, the Forbearing, the Generous; there is no god but God, the Most High, the Mighty; glory be to God, Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the seven earths, and of what is in them and what is between them, and Lord of the mighty Throne; and praise be to God, Lord of the worlds. And when the sick man had said it, he would say: Depart; there is no harm upon you. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 245)
Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said: When death came upon one of the members of his household, the Commander of the Faithful (AS) would prompt him to say: There is no god but God, the Forbearing, the Generous; there is no god but God, the Most High, the Mighty; glory be to God, Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the seven earths, and of what is in them and what is between them, and Lord of the mighty Throne; and praise be to God, Lord of the worlds. And when the sick person said this, he would say: Now die! There is no difficulty.
At the time of his death the Commander of the Faithful (AS) used to say: 'Help one another to righteousness and piety, and do not help one another to sin and enmity' [Qur'an 5:2]. Then he kept saying: There is no god but God, there is no god but God, until he passed away (AS). (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 249)
At the time of his death the Commander of the Faithful (AS) gave counsel and said: Help one another in goodness and piety, not in sin and enmity. Then he kept repeating 'There is no god but God' until he departed to the mercy of God.
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) prayed over a bier and then said: If you are forgiven, then blessed are we, who pray over one who is forgiven; and if we are forgiven, then blessed are you, over whom the forgiven pray. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 259)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) prayed over a bier and then said: If he is forgiven, then happy are we, who have prayed over one who is forgiven; and if we are forgiven, then happy is he, over whom a company of the forgiven have prayed.
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Whoever follows a funeral bier, four qirats are written for him: a qirat for following it, a qirat for praying over it, a qirat for waiting until its burial is completed, and a qirat for offering condolence. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 262)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: In a funeral procession, walking behind the bier has its reward; praying over the bier has another reward; waiting until the body is buried has yet another reward; and attending the gathering of mourning has yet another reward. These rewards are distinct from one another.
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Whoever's life is short, his affliction is in himself; and whoever's life is long, his afflictions come one after another, and he sees in himself and in those he loves what grieves him. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 287)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: One whose life is short endures little affliction, whereas length of life is equivalent to witnessing many calamities concerning oneself and one's loved ones.
Zayn al-Abidin (AS) said: No affliction ever befell the Commander of the Faithful (AS) without his praying a thousand rak'as that day, giving charity to sixty poor men, and fasting three days. And he said to his children: When affliction befalls you, do as I do, for I saw the Messenger of God (PBUH) do thus; so follow the way of your Prophet. And he would say: 'But whoever is patient and forgives — that is indeed among the matters of firm resolve' [Qur'an 42:43]. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 287)
Imam al-Sajjad (AS) said: Whenever an affliction befell the Commander of the Faithful (AS), that same day he would pray a thousand rak'as, give charity to sixty poor people, and fast for three days; and he also instructed his children to do the same when affliction descended, because the Messenger of God (PBUH) used to do so. And he would say: Whoever is patient and forgives has done a great thing.
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Whoever wrongs you has in truth benefited you and harmed himself. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 293)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Whoever wrongs you has in reality brought you benefit and harmed himself.
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Keep to the early morning, even if it proves unprofitable; to the main road, even if it winds about; and to the city, even if it deals unjustly. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 295)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) used to say: Leave the house early in the morning, even though at that hour there is little activity and you see no one. Travel by the main road, even though it twists and turns and lengthens the way. Settle in the cities, even though injustice and oppression among their people are widespread.
When the Commander of the Faithful (AS) halted at Nahrawan, he asked about Jamil ibn Busayhari, the secretary of Nushirvan. It was said: He is still alive and receiving his sustenance. So he ordered that he be brought, and when he was present he found all his senses sound except his sight, his mind clear, and his faculties intact. He asked him: How ought a man to be, O Jamil? He said: He ought to have few friends and many enemies. He said: You have said something novel, O Jamil, for people are agreed that many friends are better. He said: The matter is not as they suppose, for when friends are charged with striving to meet a man's need, they do not rise to it as they ought and should. The proverb concerning it is: from the multitude of sailors the ship sank. The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: I have tested this and found it correct. But what is the benefit of many enemies? He said: When enemies are many, a man is forever on his guard and watchful, lest he utter something that may be held against him or a slip escape him for which he may be taken to task; so he remains always in this state, safe from errors and lapses. And the Commander of the Faithful (AS) deemed this excellent. (Salwat al-Hazin, vol. 1, p. 297)
When the Commander of the Faithful (AS) reached the region of Nahrawan, he inquired after Jamil ibn Busayhari, the secretary of Anushirvan. They said that he had grown old and housebound. He said: I wish to see him! Jamil was brought. He saw that his mind and senses were sound and his wit and talent intact; only his eyes had gone blind. The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: O Jamil, how is it good for a man to be? Jamil said: With few friends and many enemies! The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: You say something we have not heard before. People say that however many friends a person has, it is still too few! Jamil said: A friend is a burden on one's shoulders, and when the time comes he does not come to one's aid. An abundance of friends is like an abundance of crew on a ship: when it passes a certain limit, it increases the likelihood of the ship sinking. The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Yes, I too have experienced this; but what is the secret of the merit of having many enemies? Jamil said: A man keeps watch over himself and his speech so as to give no one a handle against him, and so he is preserved from error and slips. The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Well said!