Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Tilib 433
5. Presenting a vivid image by using the past tense (in Arabic) to
describe something that is going to happen in the future, so that
the listener can imagine what is awaiting him. For example, he
said: "for soon you will die and will be buried [this appears in the
past tense in the Arabic original]."
6. Using a gentle approach so as to attract listeners and not put
them off.380
These are a few examples of the speeches and exhortations of
Amir d-Mu'mineen 'Ali ibn Abi T2ib (&) that became widely
known among the people and played a role in educating them,
teaching them good manners and purifying their hearts. Their impact
was felt in his generation and the generations that came after him,
until the present day.
3.3. Amir al-Mu'mineen 'Ali ibn Abi TSlib (&)
and poetry
From the reports that have reached us, it seems that the poetry
movement was active at the time of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. The
sources for information on poetry and poets at the time of Amir d-
Mu'mineen 'Ali (&) are the books of literary works, which are rich
in this regard. ~l&ugh it is well known that literary works did not
rely on trnstworthy narration with regard to the way they were
transmitted, they are the main sources for information on literature
and literaq criticism having to do with the Rightly Guided Caliphs
and the Companions in general, and those who followed them in
truth. The only exceptions are some lines of verse that were recited at
the time of the Prophet (g) and mentioned in the books of hadith.381
'Ali's attitude towards poetry was no different from that of the
Rightly Guided Caliphs who came before him. Their attitude was
based on the Book of Allah 1%) and the Sumah of His Messenger