634. Imām Ali (a.s.): “The peak of ignorance is enmity with people.”1
635. Imām Ali (a.s.): “It is among unseemly choices to seek dominance over one’s peers and to incur enmity towards people.”2
636. Imām Ali (a.s.): “He who fights against people will be fought against.”3
637. Imām Ali (a.s.): “Sociability prolongs friendship.”4
638. Imām Ali (a.s.): “Through having good relationship, friendship is prolonged.”5
639. Imām Ali (a.s.): “Deceptions are the roots of the transformations of the states.”6
640. Imām Ali (a.s.): “Even one enemy is too many.”7
641. Imām Ali (a.s.): “My children! Beware of hostility to people, since they are either of the two groups: the wise who would play tricks on you; or the ignorant who would quickly retaliate. Statement is masculine while response is feminine, so whenever the masculine and the feminine become one, then there must be a result.”
He then recited the following poem:
“The honorable is he who avoids responding;
And he who is tolerant towards people will achieve his goal.
He who has respect for people will be respected by them too;
And he who humiliates people, will receive no respect.”8
10/3 – 4
Loyalty in Agreements
642. Imām Ali (a.s.): “O People! Surely loyalty in agreements is the soulmate and twin of truth. I do not know a better shield more protective (against the assaults of sin) than it. One who knows how the Resurrection Day is
shall never betray. We are in a period when most of the people regard betrayal as wisdom. In these days the ignorant call it the excellence of cunning.”9
1.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۵۲۴۷, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۲۶۴, h. ۴۸۱۴.
2.. Ghurar al-Hikam: h. ۹۳۵۲ ۹۴۲۹, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, ۴۶۹, h. ۸۵۵۵.
3.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۹۰۱۳, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۴۲۷, h. ۷۲۵۲.
4.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۴۸۱۱, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۲۲۸, h. ۴۳۸۰.
5.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۴۲۰۰, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۱۸۷, h. ۳۸۲۰.
6.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۱۲۳۰, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۱۲۷, h. ۲۹۰۲.
7.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۱۱۴۹, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۴۵, h. ۱۱۰۷.
8.. al-Khisāl, p. ۷۲, h. ۱۱۱, Rawdatul Wā`izin, p. ۴۱۲.
9.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Sermon ۴۱, Khasā'is al-A'imma, p. ۹۸, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۱۵۲, h. ۳۳۳۴.