Ali's (a.s) guests

Astrologer

Riding on the horses, the Commander of believers, Imam Ali (a.s) and his army set for Nahrawan. Suddenly, one of the heads of his Companions arrived, accompanied with a man, and said: "0 Commander of believers! This man is an astrologer; he has something to say to you!

The astrologer: "O Commander of believers! Do not move at this hour. Wait for a while! At least, let two or three hours of the day pass before departing!"

The Imam (a.s) asked: "What for?

The astrologer replied: "Because the position of the stars indicates that whoever starts on the way at this moment will be defeated by his enemy and will sustain a heavy loss for himself and his Companions, but if you depart at the time that I have indicated, you will gain the victory and will attain your goal.

Imam Ali (a.s) said: "This mare of mine is pregnant, can you tell me her colt is male or female?!

The astrologer: "If I do a calculation, I will be able to say that.

lmam Ali (a.s): "You are telling a lie, you won't be able to do so!; The Holy Qur'an says: "No one except Allah is aware of unseen. Only Allah knows what He has created in the womb. Muhammad (s.a.w) the Messenger of Allah, did not pretend what you are pretending; do you affirm your being informed of what all is happening and do you know at what moment the good luck and bad luck arrives? Thus, if some one has confidence on you with this pretending and perfect science, he will not be in need of Allah.

Then he (a.s) addressed the assembly: "Take care to follow these things which lead you to divination and to pretention of prophecy. The diviner is like a sorcerer; a sorcerer is the same as an infidel, and an infidel is in the Fire (Hell).

Turning his face towards the sky, he (a.s) recited some words of prayer relative to the confidence and reliance on the Almighty Allah, then he (a.s) looked at the astrologer and said: "We will oppose your prescription deliberately and we will set out just now.

Imam Ali (a.s) issued an immediate order to depart and move towards the enemy.

The victory and success achieved in this war by main Ali (a.s) was more easier than any other of his earlier wars

Ali's (a.s) guests

A man with his son entered Imam Ali's (a.s) house as his guests. The Imam (a.s) made them sit respectfully in the place of honour, and he (a.s) took his seat opposite them. It was time for meals, and the food was served; after they finished eating; Qanbar, the well-known Imam Ali's (a.s) servant, brought a towel, basin and an ewer for washing the guests' hands. The Imam (a.s) took the ewer from Qanbar and went near to wash the guests' hands. The guest drew back his hands and said: "It is not possible that I stretch my hands so that you wash them.

Ali (a.s) said: "Here is your brother in faith, and your resemblance in creation, without any distinction he is eager to serve you and in turn Allah will recompensate. Why do you want to prevent a good action?

Once again the man refused it, but Ali (a.s) put him under an oath to accept and said: "1 would like to attain the honour of serving my faithful brother in Islam; do not oppose me! The guest complied with it shamefully.

Ali (a.s) said: "I request you to let me wash your hands thoroughly as Qanbar wanted to wash your hands. So, do not feel ashamed, and put all formalities aside".

When Ali (a.s) finished washing his guest's hands, he (a.s) said to his own honourable son, Muhammad ibn Hanafia: "Wash his son's hands. As I am your father, I washed the father's hands, and you wash the son's hands. If his father had not been here, and only his son was our guest, I would have washed his hands myself. But Allah loves to see that when a father and a son are present in one place, father enjoys a privilege and a priority".

Muhammad, by the order of his father, stood up and washed the hands of the guest's son.

While narrating this event, Imam Askarl (a.s) said: "A real and faithful Shi'i must behave to"

The christian and Ali's (a.s) cuirass

At the time of the Caliphat of Imam Ali (a.s) in Kufah, the Imam (a.s) lost his cuirass which was later found with a Christian.

Imam Ali (a.s) took him to the court, lodged a complaint against him: "This cuirass is mine; neither I sold it nor I gave it as a present to anyone; for the time being, I have found it with this man.

The Judge asked the Christian: "The Caliph has laid his claim, so what is your reply?

 He answered: "This is my nevertheless I do not object to Caliph's claim. It is possible that the Caliph might have mistaken.

The judge turned towards Ali (a.s) and paid: "You are a plaintiff and this man is denying. Accordingly, it is f or you to present a witness in your demand.

Ali (a.s) began laughing and said: "The judge is right, and now I should present the witness, but I have none.

Since the plaintiff has no witness, the judge passed a sentence in favour of the Christian. Thus, he took the cuirass and set off on his way.

After taking a few steps the Christian realized and knew the cuirass did not belonged to him and to whom it belonged. Getting conscience-stricken, he returned and said: "such a manner of rule and conduct is not of an ordinary human being; it is rather the government of the prophets'. He asserted that the cuirass belonged to Ali (a.s). It did not took a long time that he was seen with a firm belief and as a Muslim, fighting in the battle of Nahrawan under the banner of Imam Ali (a.s).'

Aqil, a guest of Ali (a.s)

In the days of the Caliphate of his brother, Ali (a.s), Aqil arrived as a guest at his house in Kufah. Ali (a.s) made a sign to his elder son, Hasan ibn Ali (a.s), to present a garment to his uncle. Imam Hasan (a.s) offered a robe and a cloak to his uncle from his own personal property. The night fell; the weather was warm. Ali (a.s) and Aqil were sitting on the roof of the Government I-louse and were busy talking. The time came for dinner.

Considering himself as the guest of the Caliph, Aqil naturally expected a colourful dining-table. But contrary to his expectation, it was a very simple and ordinary one.

To his surprise, he said: "whatever food you have, is this all?

Ali (a.s): "Is it not Allah's blessing? I praise the Almighty Allah whole-heartedly for all these Divine gifts.

Aqil: I should tell you my needs as soon as possible and make my own way. I am in debt. Issue an order to wipe off my debt as soon as possible; also help your bother as much as you can so that I do not disturb you any more and return to my own house.

-"How much debt do you have?

-"One hundred thousand Dirhams!

-"Oh, one hundred thousand! A huge amount! I am sorry, brother! I don't have so much money to pay off your debt but wait till the time comes for the disbursement of stipends. I shall deduct my personal share and give it to you so that I will fullfil the conditions of brotherhood and equity. If my family were not in need of their own expenses, I would have given you my own personal share.

- What!? I should wait till the time of payment comes? The public treasury and the revenue of the state is at your disposal; you still ask me to wait till the time of disbursement; then you will give me only from your personal share! You can withdraw any amount you want from the public treasury. So why are you making me wait till then? Besides, how much is your share from the public treasury? Supposing you give me your whole share, how far will it relieve me of my problem?

-"I am surprised of your proposal whether there is money in public treasury or not!? That is none of my business, and we both are equal to any other fellow Muslim. That is true you are my brother and I must help you from my own personal money as much as possible, but not from the public treasury.

The discussion continued and Aqil insisted obstinately that Ali (a.s) should give him enough money from the public treasury so that he could look after his personal affair.

The place where they were sitting had a view towards the market of Kufah, and the cash-boxes of merchants were visible from there. In the meanwhile Aqil was persisting pleadingly, Ali (a.s) said: "If you refuse my proposal yet and insist upon your request, I have another proposition for you; if you accept it, you can pay off your debts and have plenty of money left

-"What can I do?

-"Down over there are cash boxes. As soon as the market is closed and nobody is there, go down and break open the boxes; take as much as you wish?

-"Whose boxes are they?

-"They belong to the merchants of this market. They keep their cash in them.

-"Strange! Do you suggest me to break the people's boxes and take the money of those poor persons who have earned it with their hard labour, whereas they left it there and ~went home trusting in Allah?!

-"Then, how do you suggest me to open the box of public treasury for you? To whom it belongs? This also belongs to the people who are at sleep in their houses. Now I have another suggestion if you like, you accept this proposal!

-"What is that?

-"If you are ready, take your sword. And so do I. In the vicinity of Kufah, there is an old city of "Hirah where the great merchants and rich people live. We will go together there and in the darkness of the night we will make a surprise attack on one of them, and bring with us an enormous wealth.

-"Dear brother! I have not come here for theft that you are suggesting me these words. I say, you order your official to pay me the money from the public treasury which is at your disposal so that I can wipe off my debts.

-"Is it not better to steal the property of one person than to steal of millions of Muslims?, that is to say, to steal the property of all Muslims?

You consider taking the property of an individual with force by a sword as theft, and what about usurping the property of all innocent people!?

You think that theft is confined to attacking someone and taking their property by force.

"The baseless type of theft is the same thing which you are suggesting me at present

Ali (a.s) and Assem

After the end of the battle of Jamal, (1) .Ali (a.s) arrived in Basrah. During his stay in Basrah, once he went to visit one of his Companions named 'Ala ibn Zaid Haressi.' This man owned a very big and luxurious residence with all comforts. Ali (a.s), after traversing his eyes on such a big and magnificent building, said: "What is the use of such a big residence in this world while you are in more need of a vast in the hereafter? If you wish to make use of it as a mean to attain a spacious residence in the hereafter, you must welcome and entertain guests, be friendly with your blood relatives, clarify the rights of Muslims, take an advantage to vitalize and reveal the rights of others and neglect your personal greedy monopoly and individuality in its use.

Ala said: "O Leader of the Believers! I complain to you of my brother, Assem". (2)

Imam Ali (a.s): "What is the complain?

Ala: "He has started the life of a recluse, dressed himself in rags, isolated himself from this world, and deserted everything and everyone.

Imam Ali (a.s): "Bring him in front of me!" Assem was brought before the Imam (a.s). Ali (a.s) turned the face towards him and said: "O enemy of your own life! The devil has stolen your sense. Why don't you have sympathy for your wife and children? Do you believe that Allah, Who made the pure bounties of life licit for you, will be displeased with you if you benefit them? You are smaller than that before Allah."

Assem: "O Leader of Believers! You are also like me, imposing the difficulties on yourself! You do not cover your body with soft dresses, nor eat delicious meals. Therefore, I am doing the same thing which you are doing, and I am following the same path which you have chosen."

Ali (a.s): "You are making a mistake. There is a difference between me and you. I shoulder responsibilities of Leadership and Government but you do not. The duties of a Leader and Governor is something else. Allah made incumbent on the just leaders to take the weakest social classes of people as an example for their own personal lives and live in the same manner as the most empty-handed ones survive so that poverty and indigency does not leave impression on them. Therefore, I am having responsibilities and you have another obligation." (3)

Notes: 1. The battle of Jamal took place in the vicinity Basrah between Imam 'Ali (a.s), the Commander of believers, on one side and 'A'ishah, Talhah and Zubair on the other side.

It was named the battle of Jamal, for 'A'ishah directed the army while mounting a camel (Jamal in Arabic language means camel). After the allocation of Calipath to Imam Ali (a.s) and observance of his equitable conduct in conceding no privilege for the aristocrats, 'A'ishah, Talhah and Zubair launched the military attack against the Imam (a.s). The battle resulted in a decisive victory for Imam Ali (a.s) over them.

2. Narrated by Ibn Abl al-Hadid in his interpretation on Nahj al-balaghah, v. 3, p. 19.

3. Nahj al-Balaghah, Sermon 208.