Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

388 The oath of allegiance to 'Ali, his characteristics & his way of life
say these words, recite them over one who was sick with a fever, and
teach them to his daughter, who was living away from home.268
These are some of the characteristics that were the fruit of his
tawheed, his faith in Allah and his preparations to meet Allah (&).
As we cover the events of his Life, the reader will notice many of his
attributes, including courage, forbearance and eloquence.
2.9. The ultimate reference points
for the government of Amir al-Mu'mineen
'Ali ibn Abi Tglib (&)
The ultimate reference points for the government of A& d-
Mu'mineen 'Ali ibn Abi Tilib (&) were the Book of Allah (g) and
the Sunnah of His Messenger (&), following the example of the two
shaykhs Ahu Bakr and 'umar~(may Allah be pleased with them).
2.9.1. The Book of Allah (&)
Allah (s) says: dSurely, We have sent down to you [O
Muhammad] the Book [this Qur'an] in truth that you might judge
between men by that which Allah has shown you [i.e. has taught you
through Divine Revelation], so be not a pleader for the treacherous)
(Qur'an 4: 105). The Book of Allah contains all Sharia rnlings that
have to do with worldly affairs. The noble Qur'an also tells the
Muslims everything they need to know of the foundations on which
their state is to be established. Amir al-Mn'mineen 'Ali ihn Abi Tilib
(&>) said: "Adhere to your religion, follow the guidance of your
Prophet, follow his Snnnah and try to find an answer in the Qnr'an
about whatever you are uncertain of. Whatever the Qur'an approves,
adhere to it, and whatever it disapproves of, turn away from it."269