On the 20th of Ramadan 40 AH, Imam Ali (‘a) dictated this document to his son, Imam Hasan (‘a).
In the Name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most MercifulIn the Name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most MercifulIn the Name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful
Ali ibn e Talib, on his deathbed, declares the following as his will:Ali ibn e Talib, on his deathbed, declares the following as his will:Ali ibn e Talib, on his deathbed, declares the following as his will:
Ali testifies to the Oneness of Allah Almighty (SWT) and declares that Muhammad (S) is His Prophet. Allah (SWT) sent him on earth to make His faith supersede all other faiths and beliefs prevalent on earth. Certainly, my worship and devotion, my life and death, are from Allah, and for Allah alone. There is no god but Allah, and He has no partner. This is my faith and belief and I am among those who submit to His Will.Ali testifies to the Oneness of Allah Almighty (SWT) and declares that Muhammad (S) is His Prophet. Allah (SWT) sent him on earth to make His faith supersede all other faiths and beliefs prevalent on earth. Certainly, my worship and devotion, my life and death, are from Allah, and for Allah alone. There is no god but Allah, and He has no partner. This is my faith and belief and I am among those who submit to His Will.Ali testifies to the Oneness of Allah Almighty (SWT) and declares that Muhammad (S) is His Prophet. Allah (SWT) sent him on earth to make His faith supersede all other faiths and beliefs prevalent on earth. Certainly, my worship and devotion, my life and death, are from Allah, and for Allah alone. There is no god but Allah, and He has no partner. This is my faith and belief and I am among those who submit to His Will.
Hasan, I bequeath unto you, all my sons, and members of my family, the following deeds:
1) Never give up piety and fear of God, and try hard to remain steadfast in the faith of Allah, until your very last breath.Never give up piety and fear of God, and try hard to remain steadfast in the faith of Allah, until your very last breath.Never give up piety and fear of God, and try hard to remain steadfast in the faith of Allah, until your very last breath.
2) Firmly grasp the cord of Allah. Remain united with amity, and avoid discord. The Holy Prophet (s)said, “Unity among people on the basis of peace, accord, and harmony is better than constantly praying and fasting. Discord and unrest destroy faith.” said, “Unity among people on the basis of peace, accord, and harmony is better than constantly praying and fasting. Discord and unrest destroy faith.” said, “Unity among people on the basis of peace, accord, and harmony is better than constantly praying and fasting. Discord and unrest destroy faith.”
3) Do not neglect your women and relatives. Be sympathetic towards them, because sympathy will help man account for his deeds on the Day of Judgment.Do not neglect your women and relatives. Be sympathetic towards them, because sympathy will help man account for his deeds on the Day of Judgment.Do not neglect your women and relatives. Be sympathetic towards them, because sympathy will help man account for his deeds on the Day of Judgment.
4) Beware! Beware! Do not ever be neglectful of orphans. I warn you again, never leave an orphan hungry and unprotected.
5) For the sake of Allah, be mindful of your neighbors and fulfill your duties towards them. The Holy Prophet (s) emphasized the rights of neighbors so emphatically that we felt he wished to include them in our inheritance. emphasized the rights of neighbors so emphatically that we felt he wished to include them in our inheritance. emphasized the rights of neighbors so emphatically that we felt he wished to include them in our inheritance.
6) Remember! Remember! Attend to your obligatory prayers with concentration, because Prayer is a pillar of faith.
7) Remember! Remember! Carefully obey the commands revealed in the Holy Quran. Do not let others supersede you in obeying them.Remember! Remember! Carefully obey the commands revealed in the Holy Quran. Do not let others supersede you in obeying them.Remember! Remember! Carefully obey the commands revealed in the Holy Quran. Do not let others supersede you in obeying them.
8) Remember! Remember! Maintain the K’aaba as your focus of attention. Ensure the performance of Hajj. Let it not lose its importance, for if you do, other people will wipe you out without giving you a moment’s respite.Remember! Remember! Maintain the K’aaba as your focus of attention. Ensure the performance of Hajj. Let it not lose its importance, for if you do, other people will wipe you out without giving you a moment’s respite.Remember! Remember! Maintain the K’aaba as your focus of attention. Ensure the performance of Hajj. Let it not lose its importance, for if you do, other people will wipe you out without giving you a moment’s respite.
9) Do not ever consider your life and property more valuable than fighting in the way of Allah (SWT).Do not ever consider your life and property more valuable than fighting in the way of Allah (SWT).Do not ever consider your life and property more valuable than fighting in the way of Allah (SWT).
10) Remember! Remember! Do not neglect paying the poor tax (zak’aat), for it saves the giver from the wrath of God.), for it saves the giver from the wrath of God.), for it saves the giver from the wrath of God.
11) Never neglect the household of the Holy Prophet (s). Protect them from becoming victims of injustice and oppression.
12) Be attentive towards the companions and friends of the Holy Prophet (s). He himself (s) has requested courteous and affectionate behavior towards them. has requested courteous and affectionate behavior towards them. has requested courteous and affectionate behavior towards them.
13) Beware of indifference towards the poor and needy. Make them a constant part of your lives.Beware of indifference towards the poor and needy. Make them a constant part of your lives.Beware of indifference towards the poor and needy. Make them a constant part of your lives.
14) Never be careless regarding slaves. The Holy Prophet’s (s) last request was for them. last request was for them. last request was for them.
15) Strive to perform an act that pleases Allah (SWT), without bothering about public opinion.Strive to perform an act that pleases Allah (SWT), without bothering about public opinion.Strive to perform an act that pleases Allah (SWT), without bothering about public opinion.
16) Urging the lawful and obligatory, and preventing forbidden acts must be your habitual routine. If you give this up, bad intentioned and unjust rulers will instate themselves over you and oppress you severely. Then all the prayers of the pious will prove to be useless.Urging the lawful and obligatory, and preventing forbidden acts must be your habitual routine. If you give this up, bad intentioned and unjust rulers will instate themselves over you and oppress you severely. Then all the prayers of the pious will prove to be useless.Urging the lawful and obligatory, and preventing forbidden acts must be your habitual routine. If you give this up, bad intentioned and unjust rulers will instate themselves over you and oppress you severely. Then all the prayers of the pious will prove to be useless.
17) Always be courteous towards others, for the Holy Quran has made it obligatory upon you.Always be courteous towards others, for the Holy Quran has made it obligatory upon you.Always be courteous towards others, for the Holy Quran has made it obligatory upon you.
18) It is your responsibility to encourage and maintain friendly relations between yourselves. Be good to each other. Avoid creating differences, or isolating, separating, alienating, and distancing yourself from each other.
19) Unite in the performance of good deeds. Do not involve yourself in deeds that are sinful, and cause unpleasantness and hatred leading to enmity.Unite in the performance of good deeds. Do not involve yourself in deeds that are sinful, and cause unpleasantness and hatred leading to enmity.Unite in the performance of good deeds. Do not involve yourself in deeds that are sinful, and cause unpleasantness and hatred leading to enmity.
20) Remember, God’s punishment is severe, so fear it.Remember, God’s punishment is severe, so fear it.Remember, God’s punishment is severe, so fear it.
May God keep you safe in His protection, and grant the Holy Prophet’s (s) followers the capacity and will to protect your honour and that of their Holy Prophet (s). I give you all in the protection of Almighty Allah (SWT). Peace be upon you all.. I give you all in the protection of Almighty Allah (SWT). Peace be upon you all.. I give you all in the protection of Almighty Allah (SWT). Peace be upon you all.
Reference : Anecdotes of The Ahlul Bayt (Daastaan e Raastaan ) by Ayatullah Murtadha Mutahhari