155. Imām Ali (a.s.) – in response to someone who had asked him to define faith for him: “Come to me tomorrow so that I enlighten you in the presence of all the people, so that if you forget what I say, others might retain it, for an utterance is like a frightened away prey which may be caught by someone but missed by others.”1
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Prohibition of Abolishing Proper Customs
156. Imām Ali (a.s.) – from his instructions to Mālik al-Ashtar: “Abolish no proper custom (sunna) which has been acted upon by the leaders of this community, through which harmony has been strengthened and because of which the subjects have prospered. Create no new custom which might in any way damage the customs of the past, lest their reward belong to him who originated them and the burden be upon you for abolishing them. It is incumbent upon you to recall the just government, the excellent customs, the sunna of our Prophet (s.a.w.) and the obligations (promulgated) in the Book of God, which preceded you (and follow them).”2
157. Imām Ali (a.s.) – in his instructions to Mālik al-Ashtar (as narrated in Tuhaf al-`Uqul): “Study much with men of knowledge (`ulamā) and converse much with sages (hukamā) concerning the consolidation of that which causes the state of your land to prosper and the establishment of that by which the people before you remain strong, since this will establish rightfulness more firmly and repel falsehood; and this will suffice as guidance and exemplar. Indeed proper customs are the path toward obedience to God.”3
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Fighting against Evil Customs
158. Imām Ali (a.s.): “Know that the most distinguished servants of God before Him is the just leader who has been guided (by
God) and guides others. He establishes the recognized customs (of the Prophet's Sunnah) and destroys the unrecognized innovations. The [Prophet's] ways are clear and have their signs, while innovations are also clear and they too have their signs.”4
1.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Aphorism ۲۶۶, Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۲, p. ۱۶۰, h. ۸.
2.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Letter ۵۳, Tuhaf al-`Uqul, p. ۱۳۰, Ibid. Also cf. Da`ā'im al-Islām, vol. ۱, p. ۳۵۶ ۳۵۷.
3.. Tuhaf al-`Uqul, p. ۱۳۱.
4.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Sermon ۱۶۴, al-Jamal, p. ۱۸۷, Tārikh al-Tabari, vol. ۴, p. ۳۳۷, al-Bidāya wa al-Nihāya, vol. ۷, p. ۱۶۸.