Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Tilib 343
knowledge and eagerness to acquire further knowledge. He used all
means and methods available at that time to acquire and preserve
knowledge, such as writing, studying and staying close to the Prophet
(g). With regard to his collecting the noble Qur'an, he said: "I swore
an oath that I would not wear my cloak except in prayer until I had
collected the ~nr'an."'~~ He also said: ''I did not sleep at the time of
the Messenger of Allah (g) until I found out what Jibreel (as) had
brought down that day of hala and hark, or Sunnah, or Qur'an, or
instructions or prohibitions, and concerning whom it had come
down."1z6 'Ali (&) would hear the text directly from the Messenger
of Allah (&), but if he heard a haAith from someone else, he would
be very cautious about accepting it, lest he attribute to the Messenger
of AUah (g) something that he did not say. Among the indications
that he used this method are his words: "If I heard a hadith from the
Messenger of Allah (g), I would benefit from it as much Allah (&)
willed, and if someone else told me a hadith from the Messenger of
Allah (s,)), I would ask him to swear to it, and if he swore to it I
would believe him."
He said: "Abn Balcr told me - and Ahu Bakr spoke the truth
(&) - I l~eard the Messenger of Allah say: 'There is no slave who
commits a sin then purifies himself properly, then stands up and
prays two raka'ahs and asks Allah for forgiveness, but AUah will
forgive him."' Then he recited this verse: (And those who, when
they have committed Fcihishah [illegal sexual intercourse] or
wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness
for their sins; and none can forgive sins but Allah - and do not
persist in what [wrong] they have done, while they know) (Qur'an 3:
135)."~ Yes, 'Ali ihn Abi Taib (&) asked the Companions of the
Messenger of AUah (g) to swear, even though they were trustworthy
and of good character. This is indicative of his extreme caution in
accepting hadiths that he received from anyone other than the
Messenger of Allah (@)."'