Story No. 248 – Famous Sayings of Imam Ali, Abu Turab (as) on the reality of this World

Famous Sayings of Imam AliImam Ali, Abu Turab (as) said: “The world is a corpse. Whoever seeks it is a dog.”

 

Imam Ali, Abu Turab (as) said: “The pomp and glory of a vicious life is to me worth less than the sneeze of a goat.”

 

“O world, are you offering yourself to me? Do you desire me? Never! Never! Deceive someone other than me, I have divorced you for the third time, so that you cannot return to me (metaphorically, of course; he is alluding to the fact that, in Islam, the third divorce is final) your life is short, the existence you offer is base, and your danger is great. Alas for the scarcity of sustenance (good deeds), the great distance of the journey, and the loneliness of the road!”

 

Imam Ali, Abu Turab (as) said: “O Ammar, grieve not if the pleasures of this world are kept away from you. Honey, the best and sweetest food, is the saliva of an insect, the bee. The nicest dress is made of silk which is the refuse of a small worm. The most refreshing scent, musk, is the blood of an animal, the deer. The best drink is water which is also used by animals to quench their thirst. The most passionate act is cohabiting in which urinative organs are used.”

 

Imam Ali, Abu Turab (as) said: “This world is like a serpent, so soft to touch, but so full of lethal poison. Unwise people are allured by it and drawn towards it, and wise men avoid it and keep away from its poisonous effects.”

 

Imam Ali, Abu Turab (as) said: “When this world favors anybody it lends him qualifications, and attributes surpassing merits of others, and when it turns its face away from him it snatches away even his own excellences and fame.”

 

I wonder at the arrogance of a haughty and vain person. Yesterday he was only a drop of semen and tomorrow he will turn into a corpse.

 

I wonder at the man who observes the Universe created by Allah and doubts His Being and Existence.

 

I wonder at the man who sees people dying around him and yet he has forgotten his end. Also Imam Ali, Abu Turab (as) said: “Every breath you take is a step towards death.”

 

The people of this world are the example of a caravan that is taking them while they are sleeping.

 

I wonder at the man who has seen the first life (understands the marvel of genesis of creation) and denies the second life (refuses to accept that he will be brought back to life again).

 

I wonder at the man who takes great pains to decorate and to make comfortable this mortal habitat and totally forgets his permanent abode.”

 

Description of man according to Imam Ali, Abu Turab (as) : “Man is a wonderful creature; he sees through the layers of fat (eyes), hears through a bone (ears) and speaks through a lump of flesh (tongue).”