Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Trilib 335
not unknown; He has made the sanctity of the Muslim more sacred
than all other sacred limits; and He has brought the Muslims together
on the basis of devotion and tawheed. The Muslim is the one from
whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe, except when there is a
legitimate reason. It is not permissible to harm a Muslim except when
there is a legitimate reason. Pay attention to the interests of the
people ... for the people are in front of you (meaning that you could do
something for them), and the Hour is behind you and will catch up
with you. Show littleinterest in this world, and you will join the
righteous people, because what lies ahead of the people is their
destination in the hereafter. Fear Allah with regard to His slaves and
His land, for you are responsible even for the land and the animals.
Obey Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, and do not disobey
Him. If you see something good, then go ahead and do it; if you see
something evil, then leave it. jAnd remember when you were few
and were reckoned weak in the land) (Qur'an 8: 26)."93
Since the oath of allegiance to 'Ali (4) came after
overwhelming turmoil, the victim of which was the previous caliph
of the Muslims, he called the Muslims to do good and to stay away
from evil, and he explained to them that the sanctity of the Muslim
surpassed all others, and that it is not permissible to harm a Muslim
under any circumstances. Then he reminded them of death and the
hereafter, and he urged them to adhere to piety, obedience and
righteous deeds.94
The main points of this speech had to do with aspects of belief,
worship and attitude. He also referred to some of the aims of Sharia.
We may sum up the plan that he wanted to draw up for the people as
follows: Go back to the way you were at the time of the Messenger of
Allah (B)~' and the Rightly Guided Caliphs who came before 'Ali
(4). With wisdom and eloquence, Amir al-Mu'mineen explained
the foundation for the new era of the caliphate by saying: "If you see