Similes of Ali

Ali had the peculiar skill to explain things by giving appropriate similes. In his various addresses and sermons we come across many instances of the brilliance of his expression in bringing home the truth through interesting examples.

The world

He likened the world to a serpent which was outwardly very soft skinned but poisonous from within.

Falsehood

Ali held that like toe feathers of a peacock, falsehood might look very attractive, but was as ugly as the feet of the peacock. Falsehood has no legs to stand upon.

The unbelievers

Ali compared the unbelievers to a bat which can see when it is dark, but which is blind and cannot see anything when it is daylight.

The people who did not respond to his call

When Ali exhorted the people of Iraq to respond to his call for war against Muawiyah, they did not respond to his call. He said, "You are like a pregnant woman who undergoes the ordeal of childbirth, but gives birth to a dead child."

The tree and the fruit

When after the death of the Holy Prophet, the Quraish based their claim to the caliphate on the ground that they belonged to the same tree as the Holy Prophet, Ali said, "It is strange that they look to the tree, but neglect its fruit".

The people of Basra

When the people of Basra who had originally taken the oath of allegiance to him, but later chose to fight against him, Ali said that these people were near the water but far from the sky.

People of the age of ignorance

Referring to the people of the age of ignorance in the pre-Islamic era, Ali said that they were like an egg which is broken in the nest.

The people of Kufa

Addressing the people of Kufa, Ali said: "When I invite you to fight, your eyes begin to move in your sockets as if you are in the agony of death. You are like the camels whose herdsmen have disappeared, and when these animals are collected on one side, they scatter on the other side".

Mughira b Shu'aba

Mughira was regarded by the Quraish as a wise man. When Mughira favored Muawiyah, Ali said, "Mughira has profited from Islam only to the extent seeking worldly end. He is oblivious of the Hereafter".

The people who run after the world

About the people who run after the world, Ali said: "Those people who run after the world are like beasts who fall at one another, with the strong oppressing the week.

The people who are not deceived by the world

About the people who are not deceived by the world Ali said, "Those who have understood the deceptive character of the world do not feel distressed on death. They are like the people who migrate from a famine-struck land to a land of plenty."

Ali's complaint against the Umayyads

During the caliphate of Othman, Ali had a complaint that the Umayyads were withholding from him what was due to him. He said, "The Umayyads are withholding what is due to me as the camel man, when milking the she camel, withholds the milk from the young one of the camel."

Falsehood of Muawiyah

Referring to the falsehood of Muawiyah, Ali said, that falsehood had appeared in his cave as the horns on the head of a young goat.

Shedding of Sins through prayer

In a sermon Ali said that through prayer the sins of a man are shed as a tree sheds its leaves.

Cleanliness and prayers

In another sermon, Ali said: "Prayer is like a hot spring of water which flows at your door, and provides you the wherewithal for cleanliness."

Crumbs after the meals

In a sermon, Ali said that the world had run its cause, and nothing had been left of it except the crumbs after the meals.

Heart of the people

In an address, Ali compared the people who did not respond to his call to a camel who ran away from the herd shrieking with the pain of a stomachache.

Ignorant persons

In a sermon Ali prayed for the heart of the people to melt at the mention of the Word of God as salt dissolves in the water.

Ashas b Qais

Ali said that among his companions Ashas b Qais was what Abdullah b Abi Sahi was in the time of the Holy Prophet.

Patience and faith

Ali held that patience and faith bear the same relation as in the case of a human being the head bears to the body. There can be no body without a head, and there can be no faith without patience.

Disease and sins

Ali held that disease sheds sins as the trees shed the dead leaves.

Death of the virtuous

Ali compared the death of the virtuous to the migration journey of the people from a famine-struck land to a land of plenty.

Days of life

Ali held that the days of life pass as the passing of clouds on the sky.

Devotion to the world

Ali held that those who are devoted to the world are like barking dogs and ferocious animals that fall at one another, and the strong devour the weak.

Seekers of the world

Ali compared the men seeking the world to camels which are let loose and which roam about causing mischief.

Virtue of silence

Ali advocated the virtue of silence by advancing the simile that water can be preserved in a water skin only when its mouth is tied.

Thirsty camels on a water pond

When the people flocked to him and urged him to accept their allegiance, Ali compared them to thirsty camels that flock to the water pond when their strings are untied.

The caliphate of Umar

When Abu Bakr died, and still ignoring his claims, Umar became the Caliph. Ali held that the second Caliph was like a person riding a camel whose rein if tightened would injure the camel, and if loosened would endanger the rider.

Umayyad use of the Baitul Mal

Referring to the appropriation of the funds of the Baitul Mal by the Umayyads for personal ends during the caliphate of Othman, Ali held that they ate away the public funds, as the camel eats away the grass.

Withholding the milk of the she camel from its young one

Ali had the complaint that during the caliphate of Othman, the Umayyads withheld from him what was his right line the camelman who, while milking the she camel, withholds its milk from its young one.

Handle of the grinding stone

When Abu Bakr became the Caliph, Ali held that Abu Bakr had assumed the mantle of the caliphate forcibly while he knew that he (Ali) was as essential for the caliphate as the handle is necessary for moving the grinding stone.

The simile of a sinner

Ali held that a sinner is like a person riding on an animal over which he has no control, and which is running fast to hurl him into precipice.

Drops of rain

Ali held that the injunctions of God descend like the drops of rain.

The summer clouds

When the people of Kufa did not respond to the call of Ali to rise to meet the challenge of Muawiyah, Ali said that he longed for warriors who in their action and speed should be like the summer clouds.

Goat and the lion

Addressing the people of Kufa, Ali said, "I want you to tread the path of the truth, but you run from it as the goat runs away on hearing the roar of a lion."

Taking the thorn out of the foot with a thorn

On another occasion Ali said that the people of Kufa were like a person who picked out the thorn from his foot with a thorn.

Solution of the salt in water

With reference to the people of Kufa, Ali prayed: "O God melt their hearts as the salt is dissolved in the water."

Bull with crooked horns

When Talha defected after taking the oath of allegiance to him, Ali likened Talha to a bull with crooked horns.

Shaking of Plants

Referring to the piety of the companions of the Holy Prophet, Ali said that they shuddered at the mention of the hereafter as the plants shake when a strong wind blow.

Pregnant women separated from the child

Addressing the people of Kufa, Ali said that they were not dependable and they were likely to leave him, as the pregnant women on childbirth is separated from the child bred in her womb.

Household of the Holy Prophet

Ali said that the simple of the household of the Holy Prophet was like stars which of one star sets another star rises.

Foaming waves of the Holy Prophet

While addressing Othman, Ali said that treason was likely to wage like the foaming waves of the sea.