Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

382 The oath of allegiance to 'Ali, his characteristics & his way of life
[mankind, jinn and all that exists]. He has no partner. And of this I
have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.'#
(Qur'an 6: 162-163)
Worship was an important factor in purifying and enhancing
his good attitude and in his observance of the laws of Allah (&).
Hence Amir al-Mu'mineen 'Ali (&), in his commentary on the
verse %Verily, those who say: 'Our Lord is [only] Allah,' and
thereafter stand firm [on the Islamic Faith of Monotheism], on them
shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve# (Qur'an 46: 13), explained
'standing f ' as referring to the performance of the obligatory
duties of slam."'^
2.7. His gratitude to Allah (%)
Gratitude means using all the blessings that one has received
for the purpose for which one was created.245 Ln other words, all the
blessings, both apparent and hidden, in oneself and in one's wealth,
should he dedicated to worshipping one's Lord in a befitting manner,
using every faculty that Allah (&)has given in the most perfect way.
A person who does that will have acknowledged and shown the
blessings that Allah (B) has bestowed upon him and will have
fulfilled the duty of giving thanhs to Him (s)."~ Gratefnlness is one
of the most important attitudes that the believer should have in all
situations, because in doing so be is attributing blessings to the One
Who granted them. The high-ranking position of gratitude is
indicated by the fact that other good Islamic attitudes, such as love,
contentment and bust, stem from it. Gratitude is not complete unless
it is accompanied by these other attitudes, and it cannot be achieved
unless one feels these other qualities, too.247
The noble Qur'an paid a great deal of attention to gratitude, as
befits its noble position. It is mentioned in more than seventy verses,
which is indicative of how serious and important this attitude is.m