Thus, search (for provisions) for yourself before your...

Thus, search (for provisions) for yourself before your descent, and prepare the station before your arrival, for after death there is no seeking of (God’s) favour or any return to this world.” Commentary In this section of the letter, Imam ‘Ali (as) talks about the perilous road to Doomsday, and the hardships which exist there. He says no excuses are accepted and a return to the world is impossible. Whatever we are able to do, we should do here.

Imam ‘Ali (as) has invited his son and all of his other spiritual sons to prepare provisions for Doomsday. The following points in Imam ‘Ali’s letter are worth considering: A. Sufficient Provisions And Light-Load Of Possessions In this difficult and long road two things are essential: First, enough provisions which can help us there and which includes piety and good deeds.

Imam ‘‘Ali (as) has said: خَيرُ الزَّادِ التَّقوَى "The best kind of provision is God-wariness." And secondly, the light load of possessions in this world. We would suffer a lot in that long, tedious journey of ours. We will be destroyed if the load is too heavy. B.

Be Aware Of The Significance Of Those Who Carry Your Provisions On The Way Or Pay You Back What They Owe You On Difficult Days In emphasizing our struggles to prepare the provisions, Imam ‘Ali (as) uses two beautiful similes and metaphors: Firstly: In this long and tiring way if you can find somebody to be able to carry some of your provisions to your destination, you are lucky.

Be aware that when you help the needy today, in fact you have put your provisions for the next world over their shoulders to deliver them to you in the next world. You might not be lucky enough to have a chance like this tomorrow: Secondly: There are people who are ready to borrow from you when you are rich, to give it back to you when you are poor. Make the best of this situation.

Be aware that to give away your wealth to the needy for God's sake is to lend to God.[^1] This is easy for you today to perform such a good act. However, on Doomsday, when it is the time of hardship, despair and misery, the result is of significant consequences: C. In Hard To Cross Roads, The Light – Loaded Travelers Are More At Ease Imam ‘Ali (as) talks about hard–to–cross roads in the direction of Resurrection Day.

These are mentioned in the books on traditions.[^2] Naturally, those who are light–loaded in sins pass both speedily and easily but the heavy–loaded sinners either fall or stumble on the way. D.