A brief description of Imam Ali’s Moral Virtues

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 `Al¢ 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 Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n.” 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 Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n! 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

Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n had sent an agent to arrest Lab¢d ibn `U§¡rad al-Tam¢m¢ for having uttered certain words. The agents passed by the alley of Ban£-Asad where Nu`aym ibn Daj¡jah al-Asad¢ captured Lab¢d. Imam `Al¢ (a.s) sent agents to arrest Lab¢d. 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

Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n (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 `Al¢ 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!”

On the second night, Imam `Al¢ 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 Mu¦ammad and the Family of Mu¦ammad! Grant me something no one but You can grant and avert from me what none but You can avert!”

Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n 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 `Al¢ (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 `Al¢ 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 `Al¢ ibn Ab£-±¡lib.” 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 Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n, shouting, “Who will lead me to the house of the Leader of the believers?” °usayn ibn `Al¢ who was then a child said, “I will lead you to his house. I am his son.” The Arab asked, “Who is your father?” °usayn said, “Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n, `Al¢ ibn Ab¢-±¡lib is my father.” He asked, “Who is your mother?” °usayn said, “F¡§imah al-Zahr¡’, the doyenne of the women of the world is my mother.” He asked, “Who is your grandfather?” °usayn said, “Allah’s Messenger, Mu¦ammad ibn `Abdull¡h ibn `Abd al-Mu§§alib is my grandfather.” He asked, “Who is your grandmother?” °usayn said: Khad¢jah daughter of Khuwaylid is my grandmother.” He asked, “Who is your brother?” °usayn said, “Ab£-Mu¦ammad, °asan ibn `Al¢, is my brother.” the Bedouin said, “You have got the whole world! Go to Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n and tell him that the Bedouin whose needs you had guaranteed to meet in Mecca is beside your house.” °usayn entered the house saying, “O father! The Bedouin whose needs you have guaranteed to meet is at the door.” Addressing F¡§imah, Imam `Al¢ said, “Is there any food at home for this Bedouin?” F¡§imah said, “No.” Hearing this, Imam `Al¢ put on his clothes and went outside home saying, “Call Ab£-`Abdull¡h, Salm¡n the Persian.” When Salm¡n came, the Imam said, “O Ab£-`Abdull¡h! Put to sale the orchard whose trees the Holy Prophet planted!” Salm¡n too sold the orchard for twelve thousand Dirhams. Imam `Al¢ 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 `Al¢. A man from the An¥¡r went to F¡§imah’s house and informed her of the event. F¡§imah said, “May Allah reward you for this news.” `Al¢ was sitting there giving away handfuls of Dirhams to the needy so much so that there was nothing left for him.”[3]

Pardoning Allah

After the Battle of the Camel, M£s¡ ibn ±al¦ah was brought to Imam `Al¢ who said, “Say three times: I seek forgiveness of Allah and I repent to Him.” Then he was set free. Addressing him, Imam `Al¢ 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.”[4]

Helping the Orphans

Although Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n 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, “`Al¢ ibn Ab£-±¡lib 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 `Al¢ 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 `Al¢.”

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 `Al¢ 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 `Al¢ 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 Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n!” 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.”[5]

Carrying a Heavy Load

Imam `Al¢ bought dates from the mart of K£fah 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.”[6]

Bare-Food On Five Occasions

Zayd ibn `Al¢ reports: `Al¢ would walk bare-footed holding his sandals in his left hand on five occasions: Feast of fast-breaking (`«d al-Fi§r), Feast of Sacrifices (`«d al-A¤¦¡), 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.”[7]

Moral Behavior In The Market

Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n 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’¡nic verse to the shop-keepers while passing by them,

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-¯¡diq has reported: Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n, 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.”[8]

A Jew Becomes Muslim

During Imam `Al¢’s caliphate, Shuray¦ was the judge. The Imam came to the court with a Jew so that Shuray¦ 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.” Shuray¦ asked the Imam to present a witness. Imam `Al¢ said, “Qanbar (his servant) and °usayn testify that the cuirass is mine.” Shuray¦ said, “sons’ testimonies for their fathers are not valid nor are these of servants, for they will witness in your favor.” Imam `Al¢ said, “Woe to you, Shuray¦! 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 °usayn 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 `Al¢ 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 `Al¢, it had fallen off the Imam’s black and white camel during the Battle of ¯iff¢n and he had taken it for himself.[9]

Justice in The Court

Once a plaintiff lodged a complaint before Umar ibn al-Kha§§¡b, 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 `Al¢ (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 `Al¢ and said, “O Ab£’l-°asan! Place yourself next to your plaintiff.” On hearing these words, `Al¢ became apparently angry.” The caliph said, “O `Al¢, you do not want to stand next to your adversary.” `Al¢ 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 Ab£’l-°asan 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.”[10]

Contentment

After the Battle of the Camel, when Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n was about to leave Ba¥rah for K£fah, said, “O people of Ba¥rah! 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.”[11]

Generosity

Being a child, some children of my age and I went to Ra¦bah one day. We saw `Al¢ standing beside a pile of gold and silver coins, pushing the people backward. He, then, divided the coins among them and took nothing home! 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 Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n…” As I told him the whole story, my father said, “O son! You have seen the best man.”[12]

No Desire For Wealth

Qanbar, Imam `Al¢’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 `Al¢ 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.”[13]

Justice

Fu¤ayl ibn al-Ja`d reports: The main reason the Arabs did not support Imam `Al¢ 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 `Al¢ and joined Mu`¡wiyah. `Al¢ complained to M¡lik Ashtar of his companions, failure to support him and the escape of some of them to Mu`¡wiyah. M¡lik Ashtar too would say, “O Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n! 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, `Al¢ said, “As for our just acts, Allah says:

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 give them more than what they deserve. Allah says:

How often has a small party vanquished numerous hosts by Allah’s permission, and Allah is with the patient. (2:249).

Allah commissioned Mu¦ammad 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.”[14]

Public Fund

One night Imam `Al¢ entered the house of public fund for apportioning the funds. At this time, ±al¦ah 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.”[15]

Old Garment

Quoting his father, H¡r£n ibn `Antarah reports: I went to the presence of `Al¢ at Khawarnaq. He was wearing a coarse old garment shivering from cold. I said, “O Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n! 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.”[16]

No Love Of Wealth

`Aq¢l ibn ``Abd al-Ra¦m¡n reports: My aunt, wife of `Aq¢l ibn Ab¢-±¡lib, came to see `Al¢ in K£fah while he was sitting on a packsaddle. At this time, a wife of `Al¢, from Banu-Tam¢m, entered. I said, “Woe to you! Your house is full of goods and here Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n 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.”[17]

Giving Clothes To The Naked

One day when Imam `Al¢ (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?” `Al¢ 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.”[18]

Charity

Once Imam `Al¢ (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,

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 (2:74)

Charity Changes People

On the above-mentioned story, ibn `Abb¡s, 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 `Al¢ three hundred Dinars, which they had given to him as gift. `Al¢ 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, “`Al¢ 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, “`Al¢ 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.” 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, `Al¢ 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 `Al¢! 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 `Al¢ ibn Ab£-±¡lib 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.[19]

Altruism

Both Sh¢`ite and Sunni scholars report: One day `Al¢ was extremely hungry so he asked for food from F¡§imah who said, “There is no food except the one I preferred to give to you than to myself as well as °asan and °usayn two days ago.” `Al¢ asked, “Why didn’t you tell me to prepare a food for you?” F¡§imah said, “O Ab£’l-°asan! I was ashamed to charge you with what is not in your power!” `Al¢ left the house, went to the Holy Prophet and borrowed one Dinar to buy food. On his way, he met al-Miqd¡d who said, “Whatever Allah wills (will come to pass)!” `Al¢ gave his one Dinar to him, went to mosque, lay down and went to sleep! Allah’s Messenger went to the mosque and found `Al¢ in that position. Awakening him, the Holy Prophet asked, “What did you do?” `Al¢ told him the story and then prayed with the Holy Prophet. When Allah’s Messenger completed his prayer, he asked, “O Ab£’l-°asan! Do you have any food to share with you?” `Al¢ kept silent and gave no answer out of shame. Allah revealed to the Holy Prophet to have the dinner with `Al¢ that night. So they both set out for `Al¢’s house. When they entered the house, F¡§imah was engaged in prayer and behind her was a big bowl steaming. F¡§imah brought that big bowl which was replete with food and placed it before her father and her husband. `Al¢ asked. Where has this food come from? She said: From Allah’s Favor and Benevolence,

Surely, Allah gives to whom He pleases without measure (3:37)

The Holy Prophet put his hand between the two shoulders of `Al¢ saying, “O `Al¢! 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.”[20]