This-Worldly Affairs and Preparation for Death from Imam Ali's Viewpoint

Concerning purpose of man’s creation there, at least, can be two viewpoints. First, man has no purpose but to participate in the competition of gathering wealth, reaching high ranks in the society, and taking power ignoring all human virtues and principles, as if he would live for good and death would never capture him. This is the practical conduct of human beings in general. The second is that of divine religions which stands in opposition to the first. The present essay is an attempt to describe the second viewpoint in a literally fashion, focusing on the words of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali.