657. Imām Ali (a.s.): “Knowledge is a lost article of the believer. Therefore acquire wisdom even from people of hypocrisy.”1
658. Imām Ali (a.s.): “Acquire knowledge from wherever it may come, because if wisdom is in the heart of a hypocrite it stammers in his heart until it comes forth and settles in the breast of the believer.”2
10/3 – 7
Cultural Independence
659. Imām Ali (a.s.): “It is seldom that a man likens himself to people and does not become one of them.”3
660. Imām al-Sādiq (a.s.): “The Commander of the Faithful would say: ‘This nation will always live with happiness as long as they would not wear the clothing or eat the foods of foreigners. However, if they did so, God would inflict disgrace upon them.’”4
10/3 – 8
Miscellaneous
661. Imām Ali (a.s.): “There shall be no prosperity where a tyrant is ruling.”5
662. Imām Ali (a.s.): “The blight of prosperity is the tyranny of a ruler.”6
663. Imām Ali (a.s.): “Your turning away from him who inclines towards you is a loss of benefit while your inclination towards him who turns away from you is humiliation of the self.”7
1.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Aphorism ۸۰, Khasā'is al-A'imma, p. ۹۴.
2.. Khasā'is al-A'imma, p. ۹۴, Nahj al-Balāghah, Aphorism ۷۹, Rabi` al-Abrār, vol. ۳, p.۱۹۷.
3.. Nahj al-Balāghah: Aphorism ۲۰۷, Khasā'is al-A'imma, p. ۱۱۵, Nuzhat al-Nāzir, p.۵۳, h. ۳۱.
4.. al-Mahāsin, vol. ۲, p. ۱۷۸, h. ۱۵۰۴ p. ۲۲۲, h. ۱۶۶۹, Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۶۶, p. ۳۲۳, h.۶.
5.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۱۰۷۹۱, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۵۴۰, h. ۱۰۰۲۲.
6.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۳۹۵۴, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۱۸۱, h. ۳۷۱۷.
7.. Nahj al-Balāghah: Aphorism ۴۵۱, Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۷۴, p. ۱۶۴, Yanābi` al-Mawadda, vol. ۲, p. ۲۵۲, h. ۷۰۷.
