ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Imam ‘Ali’s First Treatise On The Islamic Ethics And Education The Fourteen Attributes of Imam ‘Ali's Son After counting seven attributes for himself, Imam ‘Ali (as) mentions the following fourteen attributes for his son's self-improvement: To a son who hopes for what is unattainable “الى المَولُود المؤمِّل ما لا يُدْرَك” God has equipped man with instincts and desires to be able to sustain life.

If these instincts and desires are employed in the right situations, they will add up to our vigor and satisfaction. Our wishes, too, are among these means: If man lacked these wishes, life would be impossible. Regarding this, the Great Prophet (S) has stated: "الأمَلُ رَحمَةٌ لأمَّتي وَلَولا الأمَلِ مَا رَضَّعَت وَالِدَةٌ وَلَدَها وَلا غَرَسَ غَارِسٌ شَجَراً" "Hope is a mercy for my people.

If hope did not exist no mother would ever breastfeed her child and no gardener would ever plant a tree." [^1] In a tradition, it is stated, "Jesus Christ (as) saw an old man plowing the ground. Jesus asked God to take his desire away from him. Then, Jesus saw that the old man threw the spade on the ground and lay on the ground, resting. Then Jesus asked God to give him back his desires. He saw the old man stand up and start working. Jesus asked the old man the secret behind this.

The old man answered. "When I was working, I told myself: How long do you have to work when you are so old. Then I threw the spade down and started resting. Then I told myself: I swear to God that as long as I am alive, I need life equipments. Then I rose and started working."[^2] These two traditions clearly show the dynamic role of wishes in our lives. But, as it was stated earlier, wishes are good if they are fulfilled with care or else they will destroy the community if they go on extremes.

Imam ‘Ali (as) in the sermon 42 of Nahj al-Balaghah states: "اَيُّها النّاسُ اِنَّ اَخوَفَ مَا اَخافُ عَلَيكُم اِثنَانِ: اتِّبَاعُ الهَوَى وَطُولُ الأمَلِ فامَّا اتِّبَاعُ الهَوَى فَيَصُدُّ عَنِ الحَقِّ وَامَّا طُولُ الأمَلِ فَيُنسِي الآخِرَةَ.

اَلا واِنَّ الدُّنيَا قَد وَلَّت حذّاءُ فلم يبق منها الا صبابة كصبابة الاناء اصطبَّها صابّها الا وان الآخرة قد اقبلت ولكل منهما بنون فكونوا من ابناء الآخرة ولا تكونوا من ابناء الدنيا فان كل ولد سيلحق بأمه يوم القيامة وان اليوم عمل ولا حساب وغدا حساب ولا عمل" “O people! The greatest things that I fear for you are two: following (your) desires and farfetched hopes.