Examples of Imam `Ali�s Moral Virtues
from AHL AL-BAYT -THE
CELESTIAL BEINGS ON THE EARTH
Author: Allama Hussein
Ansariyan
Translator: Dr. Ali Akbar Aghili
Ashtiani
Imam `Ali (a.s) Intervenes
Imam `Ali (a.s) was once passing by
date sellers when he saw a slave-girl crying. He asked the reason, and
she said, �My master sent me with one dirham to buy dates. I bought the
dates from this man and took them home. But my master did not like them.
I have returned them but this man refuses to take them back.� Addressing
the date seller, Imam `Ali said, �O servant of Allah! This is a
slave-girl having no authority of herself. Give back her one dirham and
take back the dates.� The date seller rose up and gave him a fist.�
People said, �What have you done? This is Amir al-Mu�minin.� The man
turned pale and started gasping out of fear. He took back the dates and
returned the one dirham to her. he then said, �O Amir al-Mu�minin! Be
pleased with me.� The Imam said, �The fact that you have amended your
conduct has satisfied me. I am pleased only to see that you have given
people their due right.�[1]
A Beautiful Pardon
Amir al-Mu�minin had sent an agent to
arrest Labid ibn `Utarad al-Tamimi for having uttered certain words. The
agents passed by the alley of Banu-Asad where Nu`aym ibn Dajajah al-Asadi
captured Labid. Imam `Ali (a.s) sent agents to arrest Labid. When he was
arrested, the Imam ordered a physical punishment. Nu`aym said, �By
Allah, to be with you is humiliation and separation from you is
atheism!� The Imam said, �I pardoned you. Allah says: �Repel evil by
what is best (23:96)�. As for your saying, �to be with you is
humiliation� it is something bad you have acquired; and as for �separation
from you is atheism� it is something good you have acquired. So tit
for tat.�[2]
Another Example Of Pardon
Amir al-Mu�minin (a.s) entered Mecca for
some affairs. He saw a Bedouin clutching the curtain of Ka`bah saying,
�O Lord of the House! The House is Yours and the guest is Yours. Every
host prepares certain means to receive his guest. Tonight, bless me by
receiving me.� Addressing his friends, Imam `Ali said, �Are you not
listening to this Bedouin?� They said, �Yes, we are.� The Imam said,
�Allah is too Great to return His guest empty-handed!�
[1] Al-Manaqib: 1112/2.
[2] Al-Kafi: 268/7, H 40.
| On the second night, Imam `Ali found the same
man clutching the same pillar of Ka`bah saying, �O Almighty!
There is no one mightier than You! By Your Honor! Honor me
in a way no one knows how! I resort to you by the honor of
Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad! Grant me something no
one but You can grant and avert from me what none but You
can avert!�
Amir al-Mu�minin said to his friends, �By Allah! These
words are the chief name of Allah in Syriac. My beloved,
Allah�s Messenger, has informed me that tonight this Arab
has asked for Paradise from Allah and his prayer was granted
and asked for the aversion of Hellfire, which was granted
too!�
On the third night, Imam `Ali (a.s) again saw him in the
same place saying, �O Allah Who is not contained in a space
and no space is devoid of Him! Give this Arab four thousand
Dirhams as sustenance!� Imam `Ali went forth saying, �O
Arab! You asked Allah to host you, and He did; you wished
Paradise; and it was granted to you; you asked for aversion
of fire; and your prayer was granted; tonight, you are
asking for four thousand Dirhams?� The Arab said, �Who are
you?� The Imam said, �I am `Ali ibn Abu-Talib.� The Arab
said, �By Allah! You are the one I desire and you can meet
my need!� The Imam said, �O Bedouin! Ask for it.� The man
said, �A Thousand Dirhams for dowry; a thousand for paying
my debt; a thousand for purchasing a house; and a thousand
for running the affairs of my life!� The Imam said, �You
have been fair in asking for your needs. Whenever you left
Mecca for Medina, ask for my house.� The Arab stayed in
Mecca for a week and then came to Medina looking for Amir
al-Mu�minin, shouting, �Who will lead me to the house of the
Leader of the believers?� Husayn ibn `Ali who was then a
child said, �I will lead you to his house. I am his son.�
The Arab asked, �Who is your father?� Husayn said, �Amir al-Mu�minin,
`Ali ibn Abi-Talib is my father.� He asked, �Who is your
mother?� Husayn said, �Fatimah al-Zahra�, the doyenne of the
women of the world is my mother.� He asked, �Who is your
grandfather?� Husayn said, �Allah�s Messenger, Muhammad ibn
`Abdullah ibn `Abd al-Muttalib is my grandfather.� He asked,
�Who is your grandmother?� Husayn said: Khadijah daughter of
Khuwaylid is my grandmother.� He asked, �Who is your
brother?� Husayn said, �Abu-Muhammad, Hasan ibn `Ali, is my
brother.� the Bedouin said, �You have got the whole world!
Go to Amir al-Mu�minin and tell him that the Bedouin whose
needs you had guaranteed to meet in Mecca is beside your
house.� Husayn entered the house saying, �O father! The
Bedouin whose needs you have guaranteed to meet is at the
door.� Addressing Fatimah, Imam `Ali said, �Is there any
food at home for this Bedouin?� Fatimah said, �No.� Hearing
this, Imam `Ali put on his clothes and went outside home
saying, �Call Abu-`Abdullah, Salman the Persian.� When
Salman came, the Imam said, �O Abu-`Abdullah! Put to sale
the orchard whose trees the Holy Prophet planted!� Salman
too sold the orchard for twelve thousand Dirhams. Imam `Ali
took the money and called for the Bedouin. Four thousand
Dirhams were given to him to meet his needs and forty
Dirhams for his expenses.
The news spread among the needy in Medina. They too came
to Imam `Ali. A man from the Ansar went to Fatimah�s house
and informed her of the event. Fatimah said, �May Allah
reward you for this news.� `Ali was sitting there giving
away handfuls of Dirhams to the needy so much so that there
was nothing left for him.�[1] |
Pardoning Talhah
After the Battle of the Camel, Musa ibn Talhah was
brought to Imam `Ali who said, �Say three times: I seek
forgiveness of Allah and I repent to Him.� Then he was set
free. Addressing him, Imam `Ali said, �Go wherever you wish
and take for yourself whatever you find of horses and
weapons in the camp. But fear Allah in your future life and
stay at home.�[2]
Helping the Orphans
Although Amir al-Mu�minin was aware of the situation in
the realm of Muslims and paid special attention to the
situation of the orphans, widows and the needy, he would
sometimes act like an ordinary person to give lesson to
rulers and to the community.
One day, he saw a woman carrying a water-skin on her
back. He took the water-skin from her and placed it on his
back. When he inquired about her situation, she said, �`Ali
ibn Abu-Talib sent my husband to the battle where he was
killed. Now I am alone with my children and I have to work
for others to make the ends meet.� Imam `Ali returned home
but had no peace of mind during the whole night. In the
morning, he took a basket, put some meat, flour and dates in
it and set out for the woman�s house. Some friends suggested
to carry the basket but the Imam said, �Who will carry the
heavy load for me on the Judgment Day?� Reaching the woman�s
house, he knocked at the door.
- �Who are you?�
- �I am the man who brought the water-skin for you. Now I
have brought some food for the children.�
- �May Allah bless you and judge between us and `Ali.�
She opened the door. Entering the house, he said, �I wish
to do some good acts. Allow me either to knead the flour and
bake it or to look after the children.� The woman said, �I
will knead the flour.�
Imam `Ali too cooked the meat and fed the children with
his own hand saying to each child while putting morsel in
his mouth, �My son, forgive `Ali if he has failed in his
duty towards you.� When the bread was ready, the woman said,
�O servant of Allah! Put fire in the oven.� He did. When
flames rose up, he brought his face near the fire and said,
�Taste the heat of fire. It is the punishment for those who
fail in their duty towards orphans and widows.�
By chance, a woman from the neighboring house came in.
Recognizing him, she cried at the woman, �Woe to you, don�t
you recognize the man who is helping you? He is Amir al-Mu�minin!�
The widow came forward and shamefacedly cried, �Curse and
shame to me. I beg your pardon.� The Imam said, �No, I beg
your pardon, for I failed in my duty towards you.�[1]
[1] Al-Amali: 467, H 10.
[2] Al-Manaqib: 114/2.
|
Carrying a Heavy Load
Imam `Ali bought dates from the mart of Kufah putting
them in a corner of his cloak. People rushed to him to carry
the dates, but he refused, saying, �One who has a wife and
children is more deserving of carrying them.�[2]
Bare-Food On Five Occasions
Zayd ibn `Ali reports: `Ali would walk bare-footed
holding his sandals in his left hand on five occasions:
Feast of fast-breaking (`�d al-Fitr), Feast of Sacrifices
(`�d al-A�ha), Fridays, on visiting the sick, and during
funeral service. He would say, �These five occasions are the
places of Allah and I would like to be bare-footed therein.�[3]
[1] Al-Manaqib: 115/2.
[2] Bihar al-Anwar, 54/41, H 1.
[3] Al-Manaqib: 104/2.
|
Moral Behavior In The Market
Amir al-Mu�minin would always walk by himself in the
market, showing the way to those who had lost their way,
helping those who were incapable, reciting the following
Qur�anic verse to the shop-keepers while passing by them,
تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا
لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا
فَسَادًا وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ (83)
As for that future abode, We assign it to those who have
no desire to exalt themselves in the earth nor to make
mischief and the good end is for those who guard against
evil. (28:83)
Those On Foot Not To Follow Riders
Imam al-Sadiq has reported: Amir al-Mu�minin, once, was
riding when his companions started following him on foot out
of respect. At this moment, he turned to them saying, �Are
you in need of something?� They said, �We would like to
accompany you.� The Imam said, �Go back, for walking or
running on foot along with a rider will be a cause of
corruption for the rider and a cause of humiliation for
those on foot.�[1]
A Jew Becomes Muslim
During Imam `Ali�s caliphate, Shurayh was the judge. The
Imam came to the court with a Jew so that Shurayh will judge
between them. The Imam said, �The cuirass which is in your
hand is mine, for I have neither sold it nor have I given it
as a present.� The Jew said, �The cuirass is mine and now it
is in my hands.� Shurayh asked the Imam to present a
witness. Imam `Ali said, �Qanbar (his servant) and Husayn
testify that the cuirass is mine.� Shurayh said, �sons�
testimonies for their fathers are not valid nor are these of
servants, for they will witness in your favor.� Imam `Ali
said, �Woe to you, Shurayh! You have certainly made several
mistakes. Firstly, I am your leader and you obey Allah
because you obey me and you know that what I say is not
false. Secondly, you claimed that Qanbar and Husayn
witnessed in my favor. The punishment for this is to judge
among the Jew for three days.� The Imam sent the judge to a
Jewish neighborhood to judge among them and then to come
back to his place of work. When the Jew heard that although
`Ali had two witnesses but did not misuse his authority and
the judge too passed a judgment against him, said, �This is
truly the Leader of the believers.� Hence he became Muslim;
he confessed that the cuirass belonged to Imam `Ali, it had
fallen off the
[1] Al-Mahasin: 629/2, 12, H 104.
|
|
Imam�s black and white camel during the Battle
of Siffin and he had taken it for himself.[1]
Justice in The Court
Once a plaintiff lodged a complaint before Umar ibn al-Khattab,
the Caliph of those days. Both parties of litigation should
appear before the court and lay their complaints. The one
against whom the complaint was lodged was Imam `Ali (a.s).
Convoking both parties, Umar went and sat down on the seat
of judgment. According to the Islamic law, both parties
ought to station next to each other and the principle of
equality before the Tribunal should be respected.
Accordingly, the Caliph called out the plaintiff by name and
beckoned him to stand up in a peculiar place before the
judge. Then he turned to `Ali and said, �O Abu�l-Hasan!
Place yourself next to your plaintiff.� On hearing these
words, `Ali became apparently angry.� The caliph said, �O
`Ali, you do not want to stand next to your adversary.� `Ali
said, �No, that is not the reason for my anger; the reason
is that you have not entirely respected the norms of
justice, for you called me respectfully by my nickname
Abu�l-Hasan but you called the other person by his
ordinary name.� Umar hugged the Imam and kissed him between
the eyes saying, �May my father be your ransom! Allah guided
us with your mediation and brought us out of darkness into
light through you.�[2]
Contentment
After the Battle of the Camel, when Amir al-Mu�minin was
about to leave Basrah for Kufah, said, �O people of Basrah!
Why are you displeased with me?� Referring to his shirt and
cloak, the Imam said, �By Allah, I paid the price of this
shirt and cloak through spinning. So why are you truing to
find fault with me?� Referring to the purse which he held in
his hand, the Imam said, �By Allah! The money in this purse
is from selling what I have produced in Medina. If there is
anything with me more than this, I will be a traitor.�[3]
Generosity
Being a child, some children of my age and I went to
Rahbah one day. We saw `Ali standing beside a pile of gold
and silver coins, pushing the people backward. He, then,
divided the coins among them and took nothing home!
[1] Hilyat al-Awliya�: 139/4.
[2] Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah: 65/17.
[3] Al-Manaqib: 98/2.
|
When I returned home, I said to my father, �Today I have
seen the wisest and the most unwise person in my life.� My
father asked, �Who is he?� I said, �He is Amir al-Mu�minin��
As I told him the whole story, my father said, �O son! You
have seen the best man.�[1]No Desire For Wealth
Qanbar, Imam `Ali�s servant, asked his master to go to a
room where he had hidden bags full of gold and silver
vessels. The Imam asked, �What are these?� Qanbar said, �You
always divide every thing among people but I have reserved
all these for you.� Imam `Ali asked, �Would you like to
bring fire to my house?� Being angry, he drew his sword and
broke those vessels into pieces ordering him to divide them
among people. He further said, �O Gold and silver! Deceive
anyone but me.�[2]
Justice
Fu�ayl ibn al-Ja`d reports: The main reason the Arabs did
not support Imam `Ali was the wealth. He never preferred an
Arab to a non-Arab or an aristocrat to an ordinary man. He
never compromised with the chiefs of tribes nor with the
kings. That is why the people abandoned `Ali and joined
Mu`awiyah. `Ali complained to Malik Ashtar of his
companions, failure to support him and the escape of some of
them to Mu`awiyah. Malik Ashtar too would say, �O Amir al-Mu�minin!
Some people cannot tolerate your justice, for they are the
people of the world! May Allah pave the way for your
justice, oppress your enemies, disperse them, foil their
plan and break their unity against you: Surely He is Aware
of what they do.�
In response, `Ali said, �As for our just acts, Allah
says:
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ
أَسَاءَ فَعَلَيْهَا وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
(46)
Whoever does good, it is for his own soul, and whoever
does evil, it is against it; and your Lord is not in the
least unjust to the servants. (41: 46)
As for your opinion that justice is hard for them hence
they abandoned us, Allah knows that they did not leave us
for any injustice. They left us for worldly riches, a world
which they will leave and on the Judgment Day. They will be
questioned whether they fought for the world or Allah! As
for saying that we do not give away to them from the public
fund, we cannot
[1] Al-Gharat: 35/1.
[2] Al-Gharat: 36/1.
|
|
give them more than what they deserve. Allah
says:
كَم مِّن فِئَةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ
فِئَةً كَثِيرَةً بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ وَاللّهُ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
(249)
How often has a small party vanquished numerous hosts by
Allah�s permission, and Allah is with the patient. (2:249).
Allah commissioned Muhammad as a prophet with a small
number of people around him but they increased in number and
honored them while they were humiliated before. If Allah
wills, He will support us, remove our problems and sorrows.
I approve of your union which pleases Allah. You are the
most benevolent and trustworthy of them with me, Allah
willing.�[1]
Public Fund
One night Imam `Ali entered the house of public fund for
apportioning the funds. At this time, Talhah and Zubayr came
to him. The Imam put out the torch before him and ordered to
bring another torch from his house. They asked the reason.
The Imam said, �The oil in that torch belonged to the public
fund and it was not right to speak to you under its light.�[2]
Old Garment
Quoting his father, Harun ibn `Antarah reports: I went to
the presence of `Ali at Khawarnaq. He was wearing a coarse
old garment shivering from cold. I said, �O Amir
al-Mu�minin! You and Ahl al-Bayt, like others, have a share
in the public fund. So why aren�t you using your share?� The
Imam said, �By Allah, I do not take anything from the public
fund. The garment I am wearing is the same I brought from
Medina and I have no garment other than this.�[3]
No Love Of Wealth
`Aqil ibn ``Abd al-Rahman reports: My aunt, wife of `Aqil
ibn Abi-Talib, came to see `Ali in Kufah while he was
sitting on a packsaddle. At this time, a wife of `Ali, from
Banu-Tamim, entered. I said, �Woe to you! Your house is full
of goods and here Amir al-Mu�minin is sitting on a
packsaddle!� She said, �Do not blame me! By Allah! He put
everything which is unfamiliar to him in the public fund.�[4]
[1] Al-Gharat: 46/1.
[2] Ihqaq al-Haqq; 539/8.
[3] Kashf al-Ghummah: 173/1.
[4] Al-Manaqib: 97/2.
|
Giving Clothes To The
Naked
One day when Imam `Ali (a.s)
was in the presence of the Holy Prophet, he was found
with a worn-out garment. So Allah�s Messenger said,
�What happened to the good garment I gave you?� `Ali
said, �O Allah�s Messenger! I saw one of your companions
complaining of his own nakedness and of his wife. So I
gave it away knowing that Allah will give me a better
one.�[1]
Charity
Once Imam `Ali (a.s) had
four Dirhams. He divided them into four. He gave away
one dirham for the sake of Allah by night and one dirham
by day. He gave away the third dirham secretly and the
fourth openly. The following holy verse was revealed on
the same occasion,
الَّذِينَ
يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا
وَعَلاَنِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلاَ
خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ (274)
As for those who spend
their property by night and by day, secretly and openly,
they shall have their reward from their Lord and they
shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve (2:274)
Charity Changes People
On the above-mentioned
story, ibn `Abbas, commenting on the following holy
verse, �Men whom neither merchandise nor selling
diverts from the remembrance of Allah� without measure
(24:37-38)� says: The occasion of the revelation was
that one day the Holy Prophet gave `Ali three hundred
Dinars, which they had given to him as gift. `Ali said:
I took the money and said to myself by Allah, I will
give such a charity with these Dinars that Allah will
accept. When I completed the night prayer with Allah�s
Messenger, I took a hundred Dinars and left the mosque.
On my way, I came across a woman to whom I gave one
hundred Dinars. The following day, people said, �`Ali
has given charity to a corrupt woman!� It was a grant
sorrow for me. The night of that day, I performed the
night prayer, took a hundred Dinars in my hand, left the
mosque and said to myself, �By Allah! I will give a
charity which will be accepted by my Lord. I saw a man
and gave away the one hundred Dinars to him.� The
following day, the people of Medina said, �`Ali has
given away a hundred Dinars to a thief.� Again a great
sorrow came to me but said to myself, �By Allah! I will
give a charity tonight that Allah will accept from me.�
[1] The Path of `Ali: 42.
|
So, I performed my night prayer with Allah�s
Messenger and then left the mosque having a hundred
Dinars with me. I saw a man to whom I gave the money.
The next day, the people Medina said, �Last night, `Ali
gave a hundred Dinars to a rich man.� Again, a great
sorrow came to me. I went to Allah�s Messenger and told
him the story. The Holy Prophet said: O `Ali! Gabriel
says to you: Allah has accepted your charity and
purified your acts: The one hundred Dinars you gave as
charity was put at the disposal of a corrupt woman who
repented to Allah and used the money as earnings for her
living. She also intends to get married with this money.
The charity of the second night went to a thief who
repented thereafter and used the money for running
business. The charity of the third night went to a rich
man who had not paid alms for years. He went home and
blamed himself saying, �How miser I am! This is `Ali ibn
Abu-Talib who gave away a hundred Dinars to me while he
has nothing whereas I am a rich man who has not paid his
obligatory alms!� So, he reckoned his alms and put it
aside. It was for this reason that Allah revealed the
above-mentioned verses.[1]Altruism
Both Shi`ite and Sunni scholars report: One day `Ali
was extremely hungry so he asked for food from Fatimah
who said, �There is no food except the one I preferred
to give to you than to myself as well as Hasan and
Husayn two days ago.� `Ali asked, �Why didn�t you tell
me to prepare a food for you?� Fatimah said, �O Abu�l-Hasan!
I was ashamed to charge you with what is not in your
power!� `Ali left the house, went to the Holy Prophet
and borrowed one Dinar to buy food. On his way, he met
al-Miqdad who said, �Whatever Allah wills (will come to
pass)!� `Ali gave his one Dinar to him, went to mosque,
lay down and went to sleep! Allah�s Messenger went to
the mosque and found `Ali in that position. Awakening
him, the Holy Prophet asked, �What did you do?� `Ali
told him the story and then prayed with the Holy
Prophet. When Allah�s Messenger completed his prayer, he
asked, �O Abu�l-Hasan! Do you have any food to share
with you?� `Ali kept silent and gave no answer out of
shame. Allah revealed to the Holy Prophet to have the
dinner with `Ali that night. So they both set out for
`Ali�s house. When they entered the house, Fatimah was
engaged in prayer and behind her was a big bowl
steaming. Fatimah brought that big bowl which was
replete with food and placed it before her father and
her husband. `Ali asked. Where has this food come from?
She said: From Allah�s Favor and Benevolence,
[1] Al-Manaqib: 74/2.
|
|
إنَّ اللّهَ يَرْز ُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ
حِسَابٍ (37)
Surely, Allah gives to whom He pleases without
measure (3:37)
The Holy Prophet put his hand between the two
shoulders of `Ali saying, �O `Ali! This is in lieu of
your Dinar.� Then he was choked with tears saying,
�Thanks Allah that I have not died to see in my daughter
what (Prophet) Zachariah saw in (Saint) Mary.�[1]
An Extraordinary Example of Altruism
The Battle Of Camel
Imam `Ali (a.s) made his utmost effort not to enter
battle so that no one would be killed. When he was
informed in Medina that the leaders of the Camel Army
have left Mecca for Basrah, he quickly left Medina to
hold talks with them. He sent them a letter through
Sa`sa`ah, a great man of Basrah. In that letter, he gave
them advice with the utmost degree of kindness and
magnanimity. Once again, he sent Ibn `Abbas to al-Zubayr
to talk to him saying, �Do not go or speak to Talhah,
for it will be useless. Speak to al-Zubayr who is
softer. Tell him, your cousin says: In Hijaz you were my
friend. How come you have become my enemy in Iraq?�
Then, he sent a letter to Talhah and al-Zubayr through
`Imran al-Khuza`i which reads, �Though people may deny,
but I did not go to people rather they came to me to
pledge allegiance with me. Their allegiance with me was
not out of fear, force or allurement. If your allegiance
has not been out of fear, repent quickly and turn to
Allah. You claim that I have killed `Uthman! I leave the
judgment to unbiased people. Anyone who is condemned
should be punished. You two elderly men of Quraish! Stop
behaving like this before this disgrace will be
accompanied with Hellfire.� When Imam `Ali arrived in
the land of Zaviah on his way to Basrah, he performed a
four-Rak`ah prayer saying, �O Lord of heavens and what
cast shadow on them! O Lord of the earths and what they
have on shoulders! O Lord of the Great Throne! This is
Basrah! I ask You to put the good of this people in my
hand and I seek refuge in You from their evil. O Lord!
These people have disobeyed me, rebelled against me and
broken allegiance with me. O Lord! Preserve the blood of
Muslims and let not any blood be shed!�
When `Ali was placed against the army of Basrah, he
called, �O people! Do not make haste!� Then the Imam
called Ibn `Abbas ordering him to go
[1] Al-Manaqib: 76/2.
|
|
to Talhah, al-Zubayr and `A�ishah and call
them to Allah. Then `Ammar ibn Yasir, the great
companion and elderly man of truth, stood between the
two armies, addressing the army of Basrah as such, �O
people! It is not fair that you have kept your wives
behind curtains while you have brought the Holy
Prophet�s wife to be faced with arrows and swords.� Then
he went to `A�ishah, asking, �What do you want?� `A�ishah
said, �I am here to seek the revenge of `Uthman!� `Ammar
said, �May Allah on this day kill the oppressor, perish
the rebel and destroy falsehood.�
Then, addressing the army of Basrah he cried out, �O
people! Do you know which of the two parties has had a
hand in killing `Uthman?� The arrows were coming towards
`Ammar. The answer was arrows! `Ammar came to `Ali
saying, �O Amir al-Mu�minin: What are you waiting for?
They have no goal but killing arrows showered on the
army of `Ali. There was no permission for battle yet!�
Imam `Ali (a.s) addressed his army as such, �Who is here
to take this Qur�an to the people and call them to it?
Whoever does this will be killed but I will guarantee
his going to Paradise.� A young man by the name of
Muslim rose up, saying, �O Amir al-Mu�minin: I will take
the Qur�an to them and do what you said.� He took the
Qur�an, went to the enemy and called them to the Qur�an.
They pierced his body with spear. He fell on the ground
and was martyred. Was killing with spear an answer to
logic?
`Ali told his army to be prepared for battle but not
start it. Ibn Badil, a brave soldier, brought the dead
body of his brother saying: O Amir al-Mu�minin! Until
when should we wait? Should they kill us and we look
on?� The dead body of another soldier was brought to
`Ali but he still did not give the permission to fight.
He just said, �O Lord! You are the Witness.� Then, he
turned to his army saying, �Have mercy on the people!�
Then, he took off his armor, rode on the mule of the
Holy Prophet, went to the battlefield and cried out, �O
Zubayr! Come to me.� Al-Zubayr came to the field with
full arms. Seeing that `Ali called al-Zubayr to the
field, `A�ishah said to herself, �Woe to me, my sister
Asma��al-Zubayr�s wife�will became a widow!� When
`A�ishah was told that `Ali has come to the battlefield
without arms, she calmed down.
In the battle field, `Ali hugged al-Zubayr, saying,
�Why have you rebelled against me?� Al-Zubayr said, �I
have come to take the revenge of `Uthman!� `Ali said,
�May God kill either of us who has had a hand in the
killing of `Uthman.� Then he spoke softly to him
reminding him of Allah�s Messenger, who had said, �You
will fight `Ali and you will be the wrong party.�
Al-Zubayr said, �I seek Allah�s forgiveness. If I had
not forgotten |
|
this
word, I would not have rebelled.� The Imam said,
�Zubayr! Now, go back.� Al-Zubayr said, �How can I
go back? My going back would be considered as fear,
a disgrace which cannot be washed away.� The Imam
said, �Go back before disgrace is accompanied with
Hellfire.� Al-Zubayr went back and as soon as he
intended to go out of the Army of the Camel, his son
`Abdullah cried out, �Where are you going?�
Al-Zubayr said, �My Son! `Ali reminded me of
something I had forgotten.� The son said, �This is
no the case, you are afraid of the swords of the
Hashimites!� The father said, �No, I remembered what
the time had made me forget. Are you blaming me for
fear?� He took the spear and attacked the right wing
of `Ali�s army. Addressing his soldiers, `Ali said,
�Let no one fight him. Open the way for him. They
have provoked him!� Al-Zubayr so attacked both sides
of the army. No one fought him or resisted against
him. Returning to his army he said to his son, �Does
a timid man act like that?� Then he took his way and
left.
`Ali�s kindness
towards the enemy made a hero of him in the
battlefield. Did the Army of the Camel realize that
what the Holy Prophet had foreseen was not
particular to al-Zubayr alone but everyone who
fought `Ali would be a wrongdoer?
Again `Ali came to
the battlefield and called Talhah saying, �Why did
you rebel against me?� Talhah claimed that he wanted
to take the revenge of `Uthman. `Ali said, �May
Allah kill either of us who has had a hand in
killing `Uthman. Haven�t you heard the words of the
Holy Prophet saying: (O God) Befriend one who
befriends `Ali and bear enmity to one who bears
enmity to `Ali. Were you not the first man who swore
allegiance with me and breached your allegiance?
Allah says:
فَمَن
نَّكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنكُثُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ
Whoever breaks his
faith, he breaks it only to the injury of his own
soul (48:10)�
Expressing his
regret, Talhah said, �I seek Allah�s forgiveness.�
He went back. Sensing that Talhah intends to leave
the battlefield, Marwan ibn Hakam threw an arrow
towards him. Talhah died immediately without having
a chance to inform the people of Basrah of their
treacherous and unjust act which he and al-Zubayr
had planned.
Addressing his army,
`Ali said, �When you defeat the Army of the Camel,
do not kill the wounded and the captives, nor follow
the deserters, nor expose people�s private parts,
nor cut anyone�s ears or noses, nor loot anyone�s
property except what they leave in the battlefield.� |
The enemy�s defeat was certain. Yet, no order of
attack was issued. The Army of the Camel attacked
the right wing of `Ali�s army, pushing them back. It
was at this moment that the order of attack was
issued and the Army of the Camel suffered a
disgraceful defeat, this is `Ali�s kindness towards
the enemy and his mercy on people in the
battlefield. Does history remember a ruler to have
behaved like this towards the rebels?The Battle
of Siffin
Siffin was a region by the river Euphrates. When
the army of `Ali reached it, he was told to block
the army of Mu`awiyah from having access to the
river, but `Ali did not accept the idea. Mu`awiyah
took advantage of this situation, seized all the
ways leading to the river and blocked the army of
`Ali from having access to the river. By his
command, the army opened ways to the river. To
retaliate, Imam `Ali�s companions decided to block
Mu`awiyah�s army from access to river, but again
`Ali did not permit. The Battle of Siffin lasted for
eighteen months. The offensive by `Ali�s army was
started hoping that the Syrians would give up and
less blood would be shed!
The Battle Of Nahrawan
The best definition we can use in describing the
Kharijites is that they were people afflicted with
the disease of enmity with `Ali and they did not
stop this enmity until they killed him. If we use
the word disease, it is because enmity with
anyone needs a reason. A person bears enmity to
someone for personal reasons, for being jealous of
that person�s position, for having been hurt or
harmed by that person, for having experienced a
tyranny, a family feud or religious differences.
None of those reasons existed for those who were
hostile to `Ali. They simply could not see `Ali
alive and victorious.
These people were in the army of `Ali in the
Battle of Siffin but when he overcame the enemy,
they drew their swords against him and deprived him
of victory. They did not accept the intelligent
arbiter Imam `Ali had chosen and selected the
arbiter who was `Ali�s enemy! They were the enemies
of Mu`awiyah too but unknowingly assisted him and
compelled `Ali to accept the mediation of the
arbiters.
When the treachery of mediation became clear,
they started to disagree with `Ali so much so that
they disrespected him in his presence and absence.
`Ali too had left them to themselves showing no
reaction to what they said and did. |
| `Ali�s friends who could not tolerate hearing their
sarcastic and insulting remarks would often ask `Ali to suppress
and imprison them or check their activities. However, `Ali would
not agree, saying, �As long as they do not do anything against
us, we will not harm them nor will we cut their stipend from the
public fund. We will allow them to come to the mosque but if
they kill anyone, we will retaliate.� The inner disease of
Kharijites was being intensified. Hence, they could not stay in
Kufah, for they saw `Ali there. So, they left it for Nahrawan.
Still `Ali let them act freely and had nothing to do with them.
When he set out to suppress Mu`awiyah, he wrote a letter as
such, �We are going to suppress your enemies, a common enemy;
come long with us.� The Kharijites did not accept the offer and
declared war against him! Still `Ali did not go to them and set
off for Syria. `Ali was asked to put an end to the enmity of
Kharijites first and then set out for Syria. It was not accepted
and the order to move to Syria was issued.
`Ali�s army was or the way to Syria when news reached that
the Kharijites have become active, forcing people to curse `Ali
and anyone who does not comply with it, is killed. `Ali headed
for Nahrawan, the Kharijites base. He still refused to enter
battle against them. So, he started to admonish and guide them.
He managed to dissuade many of them from fighting though they
refused to assist `Ali in suppressing Mu`awiyah. Those
Kharijites who were dissuaded to fight `Ali returned to Kufah
but remained `Ali�s enemies.
The seeds of Kharijites in the history of Islam were sown by
same people and the rest did not accept any option but fighting
and preferred death to living with `Ali. So they attacked `Ali�s
army with the motto of �we are going to Paradise�. Still
no order of counterattack was issued until one of `Ali�s
soldiers was killed. It was then that Imam `Ali said, �It is now
the right time to fight them.� `Ali�s army started its attack
which put the Kharijites to flight.[1]
A Light Diet
Suwayd ibn Ghaflah reports: I went to see Imam `Ali while he
was in governor�s seat. Before the Imam was a bowl of sour
yoghurt the smell of which I could feel. A loaf of bread of
barley the husk of which I could see was in his hand. The Imam
was breaking the dry bread either with his hand or with his
knee!
[1] The path of `Ali: 53.
|
At this time, I said to Fi��ah, his slave-girl who was
standing by him, �Don�t you fear Allah for treating this old man
as such? Don�t you sieve the barley flour?� Fi��ah said, �He has
asked me not to sieve the flour.� `Ali asked, �What are you
talking about?� I told him the story. At this time, `Ali said,
�May my parents be ransom for the one for whom the flour was not
sieved, nor did he ate fill bread of wheat for three straight
days until he passed away.�[1]One Of The Days
Abu-Matar, one of the inhabitants of Basrah, reports: I was
coming out of Kufah Mosque when suddenly a man called from
behind, �Hold up your garment which makes it last longer and cut
your hair short, if you are a Muslim.�
I followed him while he had covered himself with a cloak and
held a lash in his hand like a Bedouin, �Who is this man?� He
said, �I find you a stranger in this city!� I said, �Yes, I am a
man from Basrah.� He said, �This is `Ali, the Leader of the
believers.�
I followed him until he reached the neighborhood of
Banu-Mohit which was the camels� market-place. There, he said,
�Sell but do not take oath, for it will destroy goods and
blessing.� Then, he went to date sellers. There, he found a
slave-girl crying. He asked the reason. She said, �This man sold
me date for one dirham but my master did not like it and he does
not take it back.� The Imam said, �Take back your date and give
her back the one dirham, for she is a slave and has no
authority.� He pushed back the Imam! I said, �Do you know this
man?� He said, �No.� I said, �He is `Ali ibn Abi-Talib, the
Leader of the believers.� The man took back the date and gave
back her money. Then, the man said, �I hope you are pleased with
me.� He said, �Now that you have given people�s right, I am
pleased with you..� Then while passing through the date sellers,
he said, �Give of these dates to the needy so that Allah will
bless your business.� Then he went to fish mongers telling them
to be careful not to sell the fish which has died in water!
Then, he went to the market of canvas sellers and visited an old
man selling canvas and said, �I want a shirt for three Dirhams.�
As soon as the man recognized him, he refused to sell anything
to him. He went to another seller but since he too recognized
the Imam, he did not buy from him until he came to a young man.
He bought a shirt for three Dirhams, put it on while praying as
such to Allah,
[1] Kashf al-Yaqin: 86.
|
|
ألحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي رَزَقَنِي مِنَ الرِّيَاشِ مَا
أتَجَمَّلُ بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ وَأوَارِي بِهِ عَوْرَتِي.
�Praise be to Allah who provided me with a good garment to
adorn myself and to cover my private parts with.�
He was asked whether these were his words or he had heard it
from Allah�s Messenger. He said, �I heard from the Holy Prophet
saying it while he was wearing a garment.�
Amidst this, the father of the young man arrived. He was told
that his son sold a shirt for three Dirhams to Amir al-Mu�minin.
Turning to his son, he asked, �Why did you charge more than two
Dirhams?� The father took the one dirham and came to Amir
al-Mu�minin who was now sitting with Muslims at the gate of
Rahbah, saying, �O Amir al-Mu�minin! Take this one dirham!� The
Imam asked about the story of this dirham. The man said, �The
price of the shirt was two Dirhams.� The Imam said, �He sold it
with consent and I bought it with consent.�[1]
Recompense
In the eighth year after Hijrah, Mecca was conquered by
Allah�s Messenger. The House of Allah was purified from the
filth of idols with `Ali�s idol-breaking act. Allah�s Messenger
sent groups to propagate Islam and to invite people to
monotheism. He did not declare war. One of these persons was
Khalid ibn Walid who was dispatched not as fighter but as
propagator. On his way Khalid came to a tribe one of whom had
killed his uncle in the pre-Islamic era and had looted whatever
belonged to him. When Khalid was alight near the water sources
of Banu-Judhaymah, they took arms. Khalid said, �Put aside your
arms, for people have become Muslims.� He had their hands tied
and killed whomever he wished. When the news came to Allah�s
Messenger, he raised his hands saying, �O Lord! I seek immunity
from what Khalid has done!� Then, the Holy Prophet sent `Ali
with money to look into their affairs. `Ali gave them back
whatever Khalid had taken from them. He paid the blood money for
all and the extra money which `Ali had with him was paid to them
by the command of the Holy Prophet. When `Ali came back, the
Holy Prophet said that what he had done was good and right. On
the words of Ya`qubi, the Holy Prophet said, �What you have done
is better than the red camels.� It was at this time addressing
`Ali, Allah�s Messenger said, �May my father and mother be your
ransom.�[2]
[1] Kashf al-Ghummah: 163/1.
[2] Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah: 430/2.
|
The Blazing Iron Bar
Mu`awiyah asked `Aqil to tell him the story of the blazing
iron bar. `Aqil said: Life had become extremely hard for me. I
pleaded with my brother `Ali but he took no heed of it. One day,
I took my children in whose appearance poverty and indigence
could be seen to `Ali. He said, �Come at night so that I will
give you something.� At night, when one of my sons was holding
my hand led me to `Ali. I said to my son, �Go and sit at a
distance.� Having this impression that `Ali was going to give me
a purse of money, I stretched out my hand. But what I touched
was a blazing iron bar. I withdrew my hand with a loud cry. At
this moment `Ali said, �This is the iron bar blazed by the fire
of the world. How will be our situation on the Judgment Day when
we are fastened with the chains of Hell?� Then he recited this
verse:
إِذِ الْأَغْلَالُ فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ وَالسَّلَاسِلُ
يُسْحَبُونَ (71)
When the fetters and the chains shall be on their necks; they
shall be dragged (40:71)
Imam `Ali (a.s), commented, �You have no right on me except
what Allah has made obligatory for you. Go back home!�
Mu`awiyah was extremely amazed and said, �Alas, alas! Women
are barren to give birth to his peer.�[1]
An Extraordinary Example of Piety
Imam al-Sadiq has been reported by Mu`awiyah Ibn `Ammar as
saying:
If there were two options for `Ali to do something for the
sake of Allah, he would choose the harder. O people of Kufah,
you all know that when he was ruling in this city, he used his
income in Medina for living. He would put the roasted flour he
ate in a bag and seal it not be mixed with anything else. Who
was more pious than `Ali in the world![2]
Dry Bread And Sour Yoghurt
`Aqabah ibn `Alqamah is reported by Na�r ibn Mansur as
saying: I went to `Ali�s house in Kufah, finding before him a
bowl of sour yoghurt which harmed me as well as several pieces
of dry bread. I said, �O Amir al-Mu�minin! Are you eating such a
food?� He said, �Allah�s Messenger ate
[1] Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah: 253/11.
[2] Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah: 201/2.
|
|
from bread drier
than this.� Referring to his garment, `Ali said, �Allah�s
Messenger would wear a garment with a more rough texture. If
I do not follow his example, I fear not to join him.�[1]
Self-Sacrifice and
Generosity
In the Battle of the Camel,
the soldiers who fought along with him were twelve thousand
in number. When the fighting came to an end with the defeat
of the enemies, Amir al-Mu�minin had the public fund divided
with each person having five hundred Dirhams as a share.
`Ali took the same amount of dirham for himself. Addressing
the public fund, he said,
غُرِّي غَيْرِي.
�Deceive anyone but me.�
After the division of the
public fund, a man came about saying, �O Amir al Mu�minin!
My heart was with you though I could no take part in the
battle. Do me a favor by giving something to me.� The Imam
gave his share to him, going back home empty-handed.�[2]
Pardon
One day, Amir al-Mu�minin was
in the gathering of his companions. While a biased man of
Kharijites was present, the Imam was admonishing his
friends. His heavenly words were so charming which impressed
that blind-hearted man but because of his inner enmity to
`Ali, he impudently said, �May Allah kill him for his
unbelief. How knowledgeable he is!�
Hearing such insolence,
the companions of the Imam made an attempt to kill him but
Imam `Ali said, �Grant a respite; calm down; either curse
against curse or pardon against sin.�[3]
A Model Of Generosity
An indigent man came to Imam
`Ali saying, �I am suffering from three diseases: body,
poverty, and ignorance.� The Imam said, �O Arab brother! You
should see a physician for your physical disease, a wise man
for ignorance and a generous person for poverty.� The Arab
said, �You are a physician, a wise man, and a generous man
at the same time.� Amir al-Mu�minin ordered to give three
thousand Dirhams from the public fund, saying, �Spend one
thousand Dirhams on your physical disease, one thousand
Dirhams on your poverty and one thousand Dirhams on your
ignorance.�[4]
[1] Al-Gharat: 55/1.
[2] Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah: 249/1.
[3] Nahj al-Balaghah: 880, Maxim, 412.
[4] Jami` al-Akhbar: 138.
|
Favoring A Servant
When Amir al-Mu�minin ruled over the vast Islamic
territories, he along with Qanbar (his servant) went to a
draper, asking, �Do you have two shirts for five Dirhams?� The
young draper said, �Yes, but one is better than the other; one
costs three Dirhams and the other costs two Dirhams.� Imam `Ali
said, �Bring both of them.� When the young man brought the two
shirts, the Imam said to Qanbar, �Take the shirt which costs
three Dirhams.� Qanbar said, �O Amir al-Mu�minin! You go up the
pulpit and deliver sermons for people. You take the better one.�
The Imam said, �Qanbar! You are young and have the desires of a
young man. I am ashamed before Allah to count myself superior to
you! I heard Allah�s Messenger saying: Whatever you wear, let
your servant wear too and whatever you eat let your servants eat
too.� Then, the Imam put on the shirt which cost two Dirhams
realizing that the sleeves were too long so he said to the
draper, �Cut the sleeve short a little bit.� He did so and said,
�Let me fold it, old man!� The Imam said, �Let it be as it is.
There is no time for such a thing.�[1]
Guidelines to rulers
Reporting Imam al-Sadiq (a.s), `Abd al-Rahman ibn Sulayman
says: Amir al-Mu�minin sent a man to the desert of Kufah to
collect alms, saying:
O servant of Allah! Fear Allah and do not prefer the world to
the Hereafter. Be careful about what I have trusted you. Guard
Allah�s right until you reach such and such tribe. Place
yourself in their region with out residing near their houses.
Then proceed towards them solemnly so as to be among them. Greet
them and say: O servants of Allah! The friend of Allah has sent
men to you to receive what is due to Allah from you. Is there
anything due to Allah in your property to pay to the friend of
Allah? If anyone them of answers negatively, say no more. If a
rich man answers affirmatively, go with him, without
intimidating him. Do not promise (of anything) but good to him
until you reach his camels and cattle. Do not go among them
unless you are given permission, for most of them belong to him.
Say to him: O servant of Allah! Will you permit me to go among
them? If he says yes, do not go among the camels and the cattle
like a rough man who has an upper hand. Divide them into two
halves. Then let him choose the one he likes. Do not protest him
for his choice. Divide the
[1] Al-Gharat: 65/1.
|
|
 (188)
remaining into two. Keep on this division until
what is due to Allah will remain and then collect it. If he asks
you to cancel the division, accept it. Mix them altogether and
so the same as you have done before until you collect of the
camels and cattle what is due to god. Then take for yourself an
agent who is benevolent, Muslim, sympathetic, trustworthy and a
safe keeper who does not treat them roughly. Therefore send to
me immediately whatever you collect of each of the tribes to be
put in a place Allah has commanded. If your emissary brings them
here, advise him not to hide the young camel from its mother,
nor milk it fully so as to harm the young camel, nor tire it by
riding but to ride them equally, to take them to a place to
drink water, not to push them from pasture to the plain road
when they are having rest and at times it is hard for them, to
make use of them softly so that Allah willing, they will come to
us fat and fleshy, not tired out or exhausted so that they will
be divided according to the Book of Allah and the tradition of
Allah�s Messenger.
This attitude will make your reward greater and is closer to
your interest. Allah will look at them, you, your endeavor and
sympathy with the one who has sent you and the ones who need the
alms.
Allah�s Messenger has said: Allah favors an agent who does
his best to obey his leader with sympathy.[1]
Fighting Oppression
Imam al-Baqir has reported: One Day when Amir al-Mu�minin was
returning home, found a woman waiting. Seeing him, she came near
and said, �I am in trouble. My husband oppresses me. He has
turned me out form the house and has threatened to beat me. If I
go to him, he will beat me. I request you to do justice between
us.� Amir al-Mu�minin said, �O Servant of Allah! It is too hot
now. Wait until it cools down in the afternoon. Then I shall
come with you and redress your grievances.� The woman said, �If
I stay out too long, I am afraid it may increase his anger.� For
a moment he bowed his head and then raised it up saying to
himself:
By Allah, justice to the oppressed should not be delayed. The
right of the oppressed should certainly be taken from the
oppressor; and every fear should be taken out from her heart so
that she may stand boldly before the oppressor and demand her
right.
[1] Al-Gharat: 75/1.
|
(189)
The Imam further asked where her house
was and she told him. He accompanied her to her house, stood at the door
and called loudly, �O master of the house! Peace be upon you.� A young
man came out. He was her husband. He did not recognize the Imam; he
found that an old man of about sixty years had accompanied her and
assumed that she had brought him for support and mediation, but he kept
silent. At this moment `Ali said, �This lady has a complaint against
you. She says that you have done injustice to her and turned her out of
the house. Besides you have threatened to beat her. I have come here to
tell you to fear Allah and be kind to your wife.�
The man said, �In what way does it
concern you if I have not treated my wife well? Yes, I had threatened to
beat her, but now, since she has brought you to plead for her, I shall
throw her into fire and burn her alive.�
`Ali was disturbed by the impudence of
the man. Drawing out his sword, he said, �I am admonishing you from bad
deeds but you are replying me in such manner clearly saying to burn this
woman in fire! Do you think there is no authority in this world?� His
loud voice drew the attention of the passers by and a huge crowd
gathered. Whoever came saluted him respectfully saying, �Peace be on you
Amir al-Mu�minin.� When the rude young man realized as to whom he was
talking, he trembled and supplicated, �O Amir al-Mu�minin! Forgive me. I
confess my faults and promise that henceforth I shall obey my wife.�
`Ali turned to the woman and told her to go to the house and cautioned
her not to behave in such a manner that her husband had to be angry
again.[1]
[1] Al-Manaqib: 106/2.
|
