Imam Ali (as) had the habit of walking into markets and admonishing the Muslims from the Holy Quran against fraud, deceit and cheat. He (as) also recited verses from the Holy Quran to awaken the people who were engrossed in worldly transactions.

Hasan al-Basri reports that:

[Imam Ali (as) once came to Basra in ‘Iraq and entered into its market place. Suddenly his eyes fell upon a person who was deeply engrossed in a transaction. Imam (as) addressed him and said,

“O servant of Allah! Know for certain that one who toils in this world for the sake of the Hereafter, he shall definitely receive the fruits of his labour in the Hereafter; as for him who toils in this world only for its sake (to accumulate material gains) then the end result of such a person shall be hellfire”.

Thereafter, the Imam (as) recited the following verse of the Holy Quran:

“As for him who was rebellious and preferred the life of this world, his refuge will indeed be hell”. (79:37-39)]  (Aamaali of Shaykh Mufeed)

Imam Ali (as) has said,

“If the people knew the merits of AAYATUL-KURSI they would have most certainly not slacked in its recitation. The Messenger of Allah had told me that: ‘AAYATUL-KURSI has been gifted to me from the treasures of the Divine Throne – which no prophet before me was given to bring in this world’. Since I have heard about AAYATUL-KURSI from the Holy Prophet (saww), not a single night passes without me reciting it”. (Quran-o-‘Itrat)

Imam Ali (as) had the habit of reciting certain verses of the Holy Quran in certain situations. Imam Hasan ibn Ali al-‘Askary (as) has reported that:

[Qanbar, the slave of Imam Ali (as) was arrested and presented before Hajjaj ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi.

Hajjaj asked him: “Why are you still following Ali?”

Qanbar replied, “Because I am still performing my wudhoo according to Imam Ali (as)’s wudhoo”.

What Qanbar was implying is that not only was his wudhoo in accordance to the wudhoo of his Imam (as), he was also reciting the same verse which the Imam (as) used to recite after every wudhoo that has a serious admonition which kept Qanbar steadfast on the path of his master.

Hajjaj asked, “What was Ali saying whenever he completed his wudhoo?”

Qanbar said, “He (as) used to recite the following verse: “So when they forgot what they had been admonished of, We opened for them the gates of all (good) things. When they rejoiced in what they were given, We seized them suddenly, whereat, behold, they were despondent. Thus the wrongdoing lot were rooted out, and all praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds”. (6:44-45)

Hajjaj said, “It was his (Ali’s) imagination that this verse refers to us”.

Qanbar said, “The truth is that it does (refer to people like you)”.

Hajjaj said, “If I severe your head, what will happen?”

Qanbar replied, “I will become among the joyful ones and you among the wretched”.

Hearing this, Hajjaj became so furious that he ordered the head of Qanbar to be severed.] (Ikhtiyaar Ma’rifah al-Rijaal)