http://www.go2iwp.com/compilations/wisdom_prophets_imams/knowledge_vs_wealth.htm
Imam Ali as once replied to a group of ten learned men who said, “We seek your permission for our putting a question to you.”
Imam Ali as replied, “You are at perfect liberty.”
They said, “Of knowledge and wealth, which is better and why. Please give a separate answer to each of us.
“Imam Ali as answered in ten parts:
1. Knowledge is the legacy of the Prophets; wealth is the inheritance of the Pharaohs. Therefore, knowledge is better than wealth.
2. You are to guard your wealth but knowledge guards you. Therefore,knowledge is better.
3. A man of wealth has many enemies, while a man of knowledge has many friends. Hence, knowledge is better.
4. Knowledge is better because it increases with distribution, while wealth decreases by that act.
5. Knowledge is better because a learned man is apt to be generous while a wealthy person is apt to be miserly.
6. Knowledge is better because it cannot be stolen while wealth can be stolen.
7. Knowledge is better because time cannot harm knowledge but wealth rusts in course of time and wears away.
8. Knowledge is better because it is boundless while wealth is limited and you can keep account of it.
9. Knowledge is better because it illuminates the mind while wealth is apt to blacken it.
10.Knowledge is better because knowledge induced the humanity in our Prophet to say to GOD “We worship thee as we are your servants,” while wealth engendered in Pharaoh and Nimrod the vanity which made them claim god-head.
16 November 06 at 6:36 am
jsut wanted to thank you for sharing this! I was searching the web, looking for a specific incident whereby some jews came to ask one of the khalifas of the time a few questions and when they couldn’t answer them, one of the companions of Ali as (who was witnessing this) hurried to call Ali as who answered all their questions.
Some of the questions asked were as follows;
what part of the world never saw the sun?
what part of the world only saw the sun once and never saw it again?
answers
the part of the world that never saw the sun is the depth of the ocean.
the part of the world that saw the sun only once, was the ground when Moses as split the ocean!
I was looking for a complete account of this incident and I came to your page. An way, thanks! and if you can find out or if you already know of the situation im talking about, Please let me know, because it sounds really interesting! SALAM
ammar_al-nashed@hotmail.co.uk
17 November 06 at 8:31 pm
I certainly will keep a watch on it and also refer to the books I have on Imam Ali (a).
Thanks for the update and enlightening all of us with further information.
7 December 06 at 10:24 pm
allah yilan omar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
20 September 08 at 9:06 am
hi dear
thanks alot for the best informations.
wealth is the real enemy of us but knowledge is the real freinds to us.
wealth, by spending it, it decreases but by spending our knowledge it increases.
ok best regards
19 June 09 at 9:42 am
Thanks for sharing this. Much-needed inspiration to continue with another degreee, rather than advance in career for more money.