"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"

To You [alone] we turn for help

To say and write about a character who is superior, far beyond description, higher than thought, higher than the essence of expression, and whose valuable virtues and characteristics are so great and abundant that it cannot be enumerated and comprehended. This indeed is a very difficult task, rather without the guidance of the Almighty God, it is impossible.

In a hadith from the holy Prophet (ص), he says to Amirul-Mu’minin, Ali (ع):

"O Ali!" Nobody but God and I recognized you the way you deserved." (Ibn Shahr Ashoub, Manaqib Ali Abi Talib, V.3 page 60; Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, V.39, page 84.)

The various and seemingly contradictory dimensions of the existence of that Imam can only be comprehended and depicted by someone who is loftier than him or his equal and as the famous saying goes, "The introducer must be greater than the introduced one". So what can an earthly human being say about a majestic and all-embracing being whose "virtues cannot be numbered" and as the holy Prophet (ص) said:

“If all the trees were pens, and all the seas were its ink, and all the jinn were evaluator and all men wrote them down, even then the merits of Ali ibn Abi Talib (ع) cannot be enumerated.” (Kharazmi, Al-Manaqib, page 32; Karajki, Kanz ul-Fawaid, page 129; Arbali, Kashf al-Ghumma, V.1, page 109; Zhahabi, Mizan al-Itidal, V.3, page 466; Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Lisan al-Mizan, V.5, page 62; Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, V.38, page 197, V.40, page 49, V.70, 74; Qunduzi, Yanabi al-Muwadda, V.2, page 254)

Therefore, undoubtedly, the best and most documented source for knowing Ali is the holy Qur'an and the sweet and elegant words of the Messenger of God (ص).

According to what was said, most writers were better off looking at the radiant face of Amir al-Mu'minin (ع) in the mirror of Prophetic hadiths and observe for themselves how the teacher and confidant of Amir al-Mu’minin (ع) introduces and describes this Imam.

One of the distinguished scholars who has discerned the virtues, qualities and distinctions of Imam Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (ع) and recounted a drop from the boundless sea of Imam’s virtues from the graceful tongue of the holy Prophet (ص) but from the Sunni books and sources is the grand Ayatollah al-Haj Shaikh Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani. (may Allah’s Mercy be upon him).

Why have we translated this book?

Since the translation of such invaluable books will be beneficial for the Shiites who cannot make use of the Arabic sources, it therefore gives a solid foundation to their structures of beliefs and trusts, and enlightens their souls, purifies their hearts, enlightens their thoughts and gives awareness to themselves. The translator, out of love and affection for the leader of the righteous

and commander of the faithful, and in accordance with the duty upon himself, and with the help of the Almighty has translated this book so that those brothers and sisters of faith who do not have sufficient knowledge of Arabic and Persian language would not be deprived from this valuable book.

What we did in this discourse.

Besides the translation, we fixed titles for the hadith and added the list of sources independently to the end of the book. In a few instances, some explanations were included in the text or footnote [ ].

It is hoped that this trivial service will be accepted by Hazrat Baqiyatullah al-A’zam, Imam Zaman (a.t.f.s.) and the honorable author, translator and publisher will be endowed with the infinite mercy of the Almighty God and the special blessings of His trustee.

We seek His Grace and His Bounty.