عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ رَفَعَهُ اِلَى اَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَؑ قَالَ سَلُونِي قَبْلَ اَنْ تَفْقِدُونِي اَ لَا تَسْاَلُونَ مَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْمَنَايَا وَ الْبَلَايَا وَ الْقَضَايَا وَ فَصْلِ الْخِطَابِ
Hisham Ibn Saalim (al-Jawaaleeqi) [a great companion of Imam Sadeq a.s.] narrates a chainless tradition from Ameer al-Momineen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him),
“Ask me before you lose me. Will you not ask the one who has the knowledge of the time of deaths, calamities, judgments and decisive statement?”
Notes:
1) The above narration shows the eagerness of Ameer al-Momineen (peace be upon him) that people should learn from him.
2) It also proves his humility as we observe that great teachers of the world – of course they cannot be compared to Ali (peace be upon him) – never exhort the masses to learn from them. Unfortunately, people did not go to him (peace be upon him) barring very few who could be counted on finger-tips.
3) We see the same approach even today. People are not at all interested in the knowledge of the Ahle Bait (peace be upon them). If at all some people are keen, they are more interested in minor jurisprudence (laws) than major jurisprudence (beliefs).
References:
1. Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 26, p. 146, H. 24
2. Basaaer al-Darajaat, p. 267, H. 7, Chapter 2
3. Kitaab Sulaim Ibn Qais al-Hilaali (r.a.), p. 712, H. 17 with more detail