Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

448 The oath ofallegiance to 'Ali, his characteristics & his way of life
intention is good unless it is in accordance with the ~ unuah."~~~ It
was narrated from al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyid that he recited the verse:
cf... that He may test you which of you is best in deed ... Bi (Qur'an 67: 2)
He said: 'The most sincere and most correct." They said: "0 Abu
'Ali, what is the most sincere and most correct?He said: "If the
deed is sincere but not correct, it is not accepted, and if it is correct
but not sincere, it is not accepted, unless it is both sincere and correct.
It is sincere when it is done solely for the sake of Allah (&), and it is
correct when it is in accordance with the ~unnah."~~'
The forms of showing off are many, including those which
involve actions, such as when a person prays and makes the standing,
bowing and prostrating lengthy and makes a show of humility when
people are looking at him. It may involve words, such as showing off
by exhorting, reminding, memorising stories and reports for the
purpose of debating and making a show of abundant knowledge, or
moving one's lips in dhikr when in the presence of people but
neglecting it at home. Showing off may involve clothing and
appearance, such as leaving the mark of prostration on the forehead;
wearing rough and coarse clothing and making it very short (above
the ankles, for men) so that it might be said that one is an ascetic and
worshipper; or wearing a certain type of clothing that is usually wom
by those who are regarded by people as scholars, so that it might be
said that one is a scholar. Showing off may also involve one's friends
and visitors, like the one who tries to ask a scholar or worshipper to
visit him, so that it might be said that so-and-so visited him, or
inviting people to visit him so that it might be said that good people
often come to his house. It may involve keeping company with
shaykhs, so that it might be said that so-and-so met many shaykhs
and learned from them, so that he can boast about it. Showing off
may be in worldly terms, such as the one who walks and struts in a
proud manner, or turns his cheek from others or wraps himself in a