What is Islam?

Aban ibn Abi Ayyash has narrated from Sulaym  ibn Qays al Hilali:

 A person came to Imam Ali (AS) and asked a question concerning Islam, So Imam  Ali(a.s) said: “Allah (s.u.b.t) sent Islam and made its  Laws easy for those who accepted Islam and made its pillars strong against those who bear enmity towards it, and for those who befriend Islam, He made Islam their dignity and for those who accept it, Islam s peace and it is guide for the followers, it is decoration. For those who associate themselves to Islam it is beneficial for them. For those who want to safeguard themselves from with it, it is a strong rope and for those who accept, it is a cord. Those who acquire its knowledge it is an argument and those who want to enlighten with it, it is a light. Those who want to overpower an enemy with it, it is a witness. Those who make it a judge, it is a success for them and those who remember it, for them it is knowledge. Those who narrate it, it is Hadith  for them. Those who want a decision through it, it is command, and it is patience for those who want experience through it. To those who think through it, it is intelligence and is the cure. It is understanding for those who work with intelligence, and for those who act with understanding it is surety.For those who work with determination it is understanding with heart. For those who make it a mark it is a sign. Those who want advice from it, it is a lesson. For the honest one, it is success. It is love for those who put themselves right. For those who are near it, it is a source of nearness; for those who depend on it, it is trust; those who leave all their tasks on it, it is hope. For the one who has faith it is a cave and for the one who bows his head, it is shelter. For the honest one it is pleasure. For the pious one it is advice, and for the successful ones it is success.It is truth, its way is guidance, its attributes is goodness, and its effect is greatness. From all the ways it is brightest and from all minarets it is most enlightened. Its light is very bright and its end is very high. Its ground is very easy; it is a center of goodness. Everyone wants to go forward with it.And its punishment is painful, its blessing is very old, and the useful things are from ever before. Its riders are reputable, its way is faith, and its good deeds are its minaret. Understanding is its light - death is its end, this world is its ground, the day of resurrection is its result. Heaven is its present, Hell is its punishment (chastisement). Piety is its luggage and the good doer is its rider.

  Good deeds are understood through faith, and through them understanding becomes inhibited and through understanding is fear of death, and this world reaches its end through death, and Duniya(amal) will pass on the day of judgment and the day of judgment brings nearer to Heaven and Heaven is the longing for the Hell dwellers and Hell is exhortation for the pious ones. Piety is a branch of faith.And this is Islam.”