Ameer al-Momineen, Imam Ali (as), during his Caliphate (Khilafat), would often undertake tours to survey the markets. He (as) used to walk in the markets alone, with no escort, no servant and no companion and advice and guide the traders there. He (as) had a very soft corner in his heart for old, weak, infirm, disabled, orphans, poor and children were always his favourites.
It was the hottest day of the season, Commander of the Faithful, Moula Ali (as) had finished his noon-prayers in the mosque and was passing through the bazaar; he noticed that a little girl was weeping. Moula Ali (as) asked her the reason for her tears at which she explained: “My master had given me a dirham to purchase some dates. I purchased them from this trader here, but when I returned home, my master did not approve of them. Now I wish to return them but the trader refuses to take them back.”
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) accompanied the little girl to the trader and said to him, “This little girl is a slave girl and has no authority of her own. Take back the dates and return the money to her.”
The trader was a new comer to Kufa and did not recognize Maula Ali (as) and was rude to him, some passerby intervened and told him who Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) was.
The trader’s face went pale as he stood flabbergasted. Trader immediately took the dates from the little girl and handed back the money to her. Then, turning to Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as), he implored, “O’ Ameer al-Momineen (Commander of the Faithful)! Be pleased with me and forgive me.”
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) replied, “I shall only be pleased with you when you change your behaviour for the better and pay close attention to morals and courtesy.”
The owner of the slave girl had also heard the news of this incident and ran to meet Moula Ali (as) to apologize for the trouble caused by the slave girl. Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) told him:
You have no mercy for a person who is under your power and cannot forgive her mistake, have you a right to expect Mercy and Forgiveness from the Lord? You people have acquired nothing from Islam but its name.
Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (as) and taking care of Helpless in Islam
One day Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (as) saw an old woman carrying a heavy load of firewood which she could ill afford to lift, she was tottering under the weight. Maula-e-Kainat, Imam Ali (as) relieved her of her weight carried it to her hamlet and on her request lighted her oven for her and gave her some money also. Old woman did not know who Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) was and was thanking him for his kindness when a neighbour entered the hamlet, recognized Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) and told her, who he was, only then she realized that who had served her like an obedient servant was the Caliph and the king of a fast growing kingdom.
Only after Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib’s (as) death the world came to know that he had provided a shelter for a leper in an advanced stage of the disease. The shelter was outside the town, he used to go there daily, dress his wounds, feed him with his own hands (because the leper had lost his hands), wash him, put his bed in order and carry him out of the shelter for little time, so that he may get fresh air. Accidentally relatives and friends of Moula Ali (as) came across this shelter and found a leper in it, learned his history and told him Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) was martyred and they had just then buried him. The news so affected the poor cripple that he died on the spot.
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Tired and exhausted with the water skin on her back, she was gasping and going towards her house where innocent children, their eyes fixed at the door, were eagerly waiting for the arrival of their mother. On her way, stranger man approached her. He took the water skin from her and placed it on his back. The door opened and the children saw their mother entering the house with a stranger. He placed the water skin on the ground and said:
“Well, it seems you don’t have anyone to fetch water for you; how come you are so forlorn?”
She replied: “My husband was a soldier; Ali sent him to the frontier where he was killed. Now I am alone with these small children.”
Stranger said no more. Bowing down his head he went away. But the thought of the helpless widow and orphans remained in his mind. He could hardly sleep in the night. Early in the morning he picked up a basket; put some meat, flour and dates in it; went straight to her house and knocked at the door.
“Who are you?”
Stranger replied: “I am the man who brought your water yesterday. 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 stranger said: “I wish to do some good acts. Either let me knead the flour and bake the bread or allow me to look after the children.”
“Very well, but I can do the job of kneading and cooking better than you. You take care of the children till I finish cooking.”
She went to knead the flour. Immediately he grilled some meat, which he had brought and fed the children saying to each child while putting morsel in his mouth: “My son, forgive Ali if he has failed in his duty towards you.”
The flour got ready; she called: “Gentleman! Put fire in the oven.” Stranger went and put fire in the oven. 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 the stranger, she cried: “Woe, don’t you recognize the man who is helping you? He is Amir al-Muminin (commander of the faithful), Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as).”
The widow came forward and shamefacedly cried: “Curse and shame to me. I beg your pardon.”
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) replied, “No, I beg your pardon for I failed in my duty towards you.”
Maula-e-Kainat, Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) and the Astrologer
There are some who are heedless with respect to reflection, reasoning and Tawakkul (Absolute Trust), and instead, turn to soothsayers and astrologers, who have cleverly started their business in order to swindle the people of their money.
Of course, the issue of Aulia Allah (Friends of Allah) and those, who have strived towards spiritual purification, differ vastly from the others, for their words are light (nur) and if, at times, they were to say something to someone, it would surely occur and hence such personalities should not be compared to the others.
As an example, we shall present an incident that transpired during the time of Maula Ali (as). Ameer al-Momineen, Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) and his army had started out for the battle of Nahrawan against the Kharjites (Kharjite means one who rebels against religion), and having reached the city of Madain, they pitched their tents. The next morning, as they were about to commence their journey, an astrologer approached them and said: “My astrological calculations reveal that it is not in your interest to advance in this hour. Commence your journey after three hours and you shall be victorious.”
Hearing this, Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) said: “Whoever upholds your words has rejected the Noble Qur’an of Allah (SWT).”
Surely Allah is He with Whom is the knowledge of the hour, and He sends down the rain and He knows what is in the wombs; and no one knows what he shall earn on the morrow; and no one knows in what land he shall die; surely Allah is Knowing, Aware. Noble Qur’an (31:34)
Moula Ali (as) then asked: “Do you possess knowledge as to which family has taken over the reins of leadership in China?”
The astrologer replied: “I have no knowledge.”
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) questioned: “What is that star, which when rises, stirs up lust within the camels?”
The astrologer confessed: “I have no idea.”
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) asked: “The rise of which star stirs up passion within the cats?”
The astrologer said: “I do not know!”
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) asked: “Inform me of the thing that is concealed beneath the hoofs of my horse.”
When the astrologer had once again pleaded ignorance, Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) said to him: “Within the earth, below the feet of my horse, lies a jar filled with gold coins and beneath which a serpent lies asleep.”
When the place was dug up, the people witnessed that the scenario was exactly as it had been described by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as).
Observing this, the astrologer was totally bewildered; Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) took possession of his books, ordered them to be destroyed and then said to him: “The next time you try to attract the people towards yourself by means of astrology; I shall put you behind bars.”
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