The Sahifa of Ali ibn al-Husayn, 'Alayhim al-Salam, and his words on restraint from unlawful matters.

2. Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, and Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, altogether from Al-Hassan Bin Mahboub, from Malik Bin Atiyya, from Abu Hamza who said, ‘I have not heard of anyone who was more ascetic (pious) than Ali عليه الصلاة والسلام Bin Al-Husayn عليه الصلاة والسلام except for what has reached to me from Ali عليه الصلاة والسلام Bin Abu Talib عليه الصلاة والسلام’. Abu Hamza said, ‘Whenever Ali عليه الصلاة والسلام Bin Al-Husayn عليه الصلاة والسلام spoke regarding the ascetism (self restrain), those who were present with him عليه الصلاة والسلام , (their eyes) would be filled with tears’. Abu Hamza said, ‘And I read a Parchment in which was the speech on ascetism from the speeches of Ali عليه الصلاة والسلام Bin Al-Husayn عليه الصلاة والسلام, and I wrote down what was in it. Then I came to Ali عليه الصلاة والسلام Bin Al-Husayn عليه الصلاة والسلام, so I presented what was in it to him عليه الصلاة والسلام. He عليه الصلاة والسلام recognised it, and corrected (my mistakes) from what I had (in my notes)’. In the Name of Allah عز وجل, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Allah عز وجل is sufficient for us عليه الصلاة والسلام. And beware of the plots of the unjust ones, and the rebellion of the envious ones, and the threats of the aggressors. O you Believers! Do not be deceived by the tyrants and those who follow them, from the people who covet this world, those that are inclined towards it, those who have been deceived by it, those who go towards it, and to its lifeless ruins, and its chaff which will be defunct tomorrow. And be cautious of what Allah عز وجل has Cautioned you from it, and abstain with regards to what Allah عز وجل has Told you to abstain from it, and do not incline towards what is in this world, inclining like the ones who has taken it to be as a house for permanent dwelling. By Allah عز وجل, that which is in it is evidence for you and a warning from the changing of its days, and its conditions, and its examples, and it’s playing with its people. It raises the fallen one and degrades the honourable one, and it will return its people to the Fire tomorrow. In it, there is a significant learning and warning, that the affairs which you come across every day and night from the darkness of the strife, and the new innovations, and the unjust traditions, and the commotions of the era, and the dignity of the Sultan, and the whisperings of the Satan (la), all discourage the hearts from taking lessons from it, and boggle it from finding guidance, and the recognition of the people of the truth, except for a few whom Allah عز وجل has Protected. There is no one who will understand the changing of its days, and the alteration of its conditions, and hurtful consequences of its strife except for the one who is Protected by Allah عز وجل, and Makes him to approach the way of guidance, and travels on the road purposefully. Then (he obtains) help against that by the ascetism, frequent thinking, paying attention to patience in order to notice the warning, and abstain from the immediate delights of the world, and defy its pleasures, and desire the Eternal Bliss of the Hereafter, and strive for it a striving. And he monitors the (approach of) death and passing away of the life with the unjust people. He looks at what is in the world with an illuminated vision, and the strife-taking place, and the misguidance of the innovations, and the injustices of the unjust kings. By my عليه الصلاة والسلام life, you have matters from the past which were from days in which were free from strife, pre-occupations and engagements which have evidenced for you on avoiding the misguided and the people of innovation (Heretics) who rebel and create mischief in the earth without any right to do so. So seek Help from Allah عز وجل and return to the obedience of Allah عز وجل and the obedience of the one عليه الصلاة والسلام who is the foremost for the obedience and to be followed and obeyed. So beware of the danger before the remorse and the regret before proceeding to Allah عز وجل and the pausing in front of Him عز وجل, and no people ever went to Allah عز وجل after having disobeyed Him عز وجل except to His عز وجل Punishment, and no people preferred the world over the Hereafter at all except that evil was their return, and evil was their journey. The Knowledge, by Allah عز وجل and the deeds are nothing but two harmonious matters. So the one who recognises Allah عز وجل fears Him عز وجل, and the fear urges him to the deeds in obedience to Allah عز وجل and that the heads of the knowledge and those that follow them recognise Allah عز وجل so they work (do deeds) for Him عز وجل and desire towards Him عز وجل, and Allah عز وجل has Said: “[35:28] Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants, who have knowledge”. So do not seek anything from this world by being disobedient to Allah عز وجل, and preoccupy yourselves in this world by obedience to Allah عز وجل, and seize its days, in a way to ensure your salvation ‘Tomorrow’ from the Punishment of Allah عز وجل. That is the smallest consequence and the lowest form of excuse and the hope for the salvation. So give priority to the Commands of Allah عز وجل and the obedience to the one عليه الصلاة والسلام whose obedience Allah عز وجل has Made it to be more than obligatory in all the matters in front of you. Do not give priority to the commands, which come to you from being obedient to the tyrants about the attractions of this world as oppose to that of Allah عز وجل but rather submit to Him عز وجل, and to the Masters of the Command عليه الصلاة والسلام (Ul Al-Amr) from among you. And know that you are all servants of Allah عز وجل and we عليه الصلاة والسلام are with you. There is a Ruler عز وجل Who will Rule over us عليه الصلاة والسلام and you tomorrow, who is the Chief of the rulers. And He عز وجل will Make you to pause and Question you, so prepare the answer before the pausing and the Questioning and presentation to the Lord عز وجل of the Worlds on the Day in which no soul shall speak except by His عز وجل Permission. And know that Allah عز وجل, on that Day, will neither Ratify a liar nor will He عز وجل Belie a truthful one, nor will He عز وجل Reject the excuse of a deserving one, nor Excuse the one who has no justification, as He عز وجل has the Proof over His عز وجل creatures by the Messengers عليه السلام and the successors عليه السلام of the Messengers عليها السلام. So fear Allah عز وجل, servants of Allah عز وجل, and welcome the correctors to yourselves, and the obedience to Allah عز وجل and the obedience to the ones عليه الصلاة والسلام whom Allah عز وجل has Made to be Guardians regarding it. Perhaps the remorseful ones may regret for having wasted their yesterday regarding the Side of Allah عز وجل (Junb Allah عز وجل i.e. Ali عليه الصلاة والسلام), and wasted the Rights of Allah عز وجل. And seek Forgiveness from Allah عز وجل and repent to Him عز وجل for He عز وجل Accepts the repentance, and Forgives the sins and Knows what you are doing. And beware of the company of the disobedience ones, and the help of the unjust ones, and the compulsions of the mischievous ones. Be cautious of their strife and distance yourselves from their places. And know that the one who opposes the Guardians عليه الصلاة والسلام of Allah عز وجل, and makes it to be a Religion without the Religion of Allah عز وجل, and issues commands other than the commands of the Guardians عليه الصلاة والسلام of Allah عز وجل will be in the Inflamed Fire, which consumes the bodies from which its spirit is absent, and which have been overcome by its misfortune. (At preent) they are dead, not feeling the heat of the Fire, and had they been alive they would have found their suffering in the heat of the Fire. And take a lesson, O people of vision, and Praise Allah عز وجل for what He عز وجل has Guided you with, and know that you cannot escape from the Power of Allah عز وجل to another power. Allah عز وجل Sees your deeds, as well as His عز وجل Messenger, then to them will be your resurrection. So benefit from the advice, and educate yourselves with the discipline of the righteous.