1. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH
MOST COMPASSIONATE
MOST MERCIFUL.
TEN REASONS WHY KNOWLEDGE
IS BETTER THAN WEALTH?
WISE RESPONSE OF
IMAM ‘ALI IBN ABI TALIB
(MAY ALLAH BE PLEASED WITH HIM AND
PRESERVE HIS NOBLE COUNTENANCE)
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

2. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
THE BACKGROUND
Imam Ali a.s. once replied to a group of ten learned
men who said, “We seek your permission for our
putting a question to you.”
Imam Ali a.s. replied, “You are at perfect liberty.”
They said, “Of knowledge and wealth, which is
better and why... and
... Please give a separate answer to each of us !
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

3. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
THE RESPONSE FROM IMAM ‘ALI
1. Knowledge is the legacy of the
Prophets; wealth is the inheritance of
the Pharaohs. Therefore, knowledge is
better than wealth.
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

4. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
THE RESPONSE FROM IMAM ‘ALI
2. You are to guard your wealth
but knowledge guards you.
Therefore, knowledge is better.
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

5. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
THE RESPONSE FROM IMAM ‘ALI
3. A man of wealth has many enemies,
while a man of knowledge has many
friends. Hence, knowledge is better.
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

6. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
THE RESPONSE FROM IMAM ‘ALI
4. Knowledge is better because it
increases with distribution, while
wealth decreases by that act.
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

7. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
THE RESPONSE FROM IMAM ‘ALI
5. Knowledge is better because a
learned man is apt to be generous
while a wealthy person is apt to be
miserly.
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

8. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
THE RESPONSE FROM IMAM ‘ALI
6. Knowledge is better because it
cannot be stolen while wealth can
be stolen.
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

9. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
THE RESPONSE FROM IMAM ‘ALI
7. Knowledge is better because
time cannot harm knowledge but
wealth rusts in course of time and
wears away.
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

10. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
THE RESPONSE FROM IMAM ‘ALI
8. Knowledge is better because it is
boundless while wealth is limited
and you can keep account of it.
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

11. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
THE RESPONSE FROM IMAM ‘ALI
9. Knowledge is better because it
illuminates the mind while wealth
is apt to blacken it.
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

12. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
THE RESPONSE FROM IMAM ‘ALI
10. Knowledge is better because
knowledge induced the humanity in our
Prophet to say to ALLAH “We worship
thee as we are your servants,” while
wealth engendered in Pharaoh (Fir’aun)
and Nimrod (Namruz)the vanity which
made them claim god-head.
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

13. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

14. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
“O Allah, (Your) salutations and blessings be upon our
master Muhammad, Your slave and Your Messenger,
the Unlettered Prophet, and upon the family of our
Master Muhammad, and his wives, the mothers of all
the Believers, and upon his descendants, the people
of his house, just as You have blessed Ibrahim and the
family of Ibrahim, in the worlds, for You are the
Praiseworthy, the Mighty!"
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

15. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

16. PEAK OF ELOQUENCE
“And sanctify our master Muhammad, Your slave and
Your Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, and upon
the family of our Master Muhammad, and his wives,
the mothers of all the Believers, and upon his
descendants, the people of his house, just as You
have sanctified Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, in
the worlds, for You are the Praiseworthy, the
Mighty!"
Prepared by Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)