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"My advice to you is to be conscious of Allah and steadfast in
your religion. Do not yearn for the world, and do not be seduced by it. Do
not resent anything you have missed in it. Proclaim the truth; work for
the next world. Oppose the oppressor and support the oppressed.
I advise you, and all my children, my relatives, and whosoever receives
this message, to be conscious of Allah, to remove your differences, and to
strengthen your ties. I heard your grandfather, peace be upon him, say:
"Reconciliation of your differences is more worthy than all prayers
and all fasting."
Fear Allah in matters concerning orphans. Attend to their nutrition and
do not forget their interests in the middle of yours.
Fear Allah in your relations with your neighbours. Your Prophet often
recommended them to you, so much so that we thought he would give them a
share in inheritance.
Remain attached to the Qur'an. Nobody should surpass you in being
intent on it, or more sincere in implementing it.
Fear Allah in relation to your prayers. It is the pillar of your
religion.
Fear Allah in relation to His House; do not abandon it as long as you
live. If you should do that you would abandon your dignity.
Persist in jihad in the cause of Allah, with your money, your souls,
and your tongue.
Maintain communication and exchange of opinion among yourselves. Beware
of disunity and enmity. Do not desist from promoting good deeds and
cautioning against bad ones. Should you do that, the worst among you would
be your leaders, and you will call upon Allah without response.
O Children of Abdul Muttalib! Do not shed the blood of Muslims under
the banner: The Imam has been assassinated! Only the assassin should be
condemned to death.
If I die of this stroke of his, kill him with one similar stroke. Do
not mutilate him! I have heard the Prophet, peace be upon him, say:
"Mutilate not even a rabid dog."
(Source: Nahjul Balagha)
 In the 40th year of Hijri, in the early hours of the morning of 19th
Ramadhan, Imam Ali (AS) was struck with a poisoned sword by the Kharijite
Ibn Muljim (may the curse of Allah be upon him) while leading prayers in
the Masjid of Kufa.
He
was martyred on the 21st day of Ramadhan 40 A.H. and buried in
Najaf-ul-Ashraf. He was born in the House of Allah, the Ka'ba, and
martyred in the House of Allah, Masjid-e-Kufa.
The Lion of Allah, the most brave and gentle Muslim after the Holy
Prophet (pbuh&hf) himself, began his glorious life with devotion to
Allah and His Messenger, and ended it in the service of Islam.
"And do not speak of those who are slain in the the Way of
Allah as dead; nay, they are alive, but you perceive not." Qur'an
2:154
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