Part 2 (Things only ALI would do)
By: Hussein Al-Rumaithi
Paul Salamah the famous Lebanese poet and author writes about Ali and says: Truth has been so evident for a Christian that he identifies himself as follower of Ali. If Ali was not a messenger, then his creation and attributes were prophet-like. Therefore, O’ sky be my witness and O’ earth acknowledge that I love Ali and don’t say Shi’as are the only followers of Ali, when every impartial person is a Shi’a.
These were the words of a Christian writer about Imam Ali and what it means to read about Ali and what it means to follow Ali, since Ali has defined perfection and everything noble in his conduct and personality. In the previous part, I stated some of the stories, which showed the noble attributes of this great man, and in this part I will continue by giving more examples about the beauty of Ali’s presence.
Ali Defines Justice, Tolerance and
It is narrated that one day Imam Ali the caliph of Muslims had a dispute with a Jewish man about an armor, where Imam Ali claimed the armor was his and the Jewish man denied the allegation. Therefore, Imam Ali asked the Jewish man to come with him to the Judge and resolve the matter before him. The Jewish man accepted the offer and went with Imam Ali to the judge. The judge heard the story from Imam Ali, and then asked him: do you have a witness to testify the armor is yours? Imam Ali replied: Yes my son Hussein is my witness, and his son Imam Hussein testified that the armor was his father’s. The Judge asked Imam Ali once more, if he had a second witness, and Imam Ali said that he does not have a second witness. Therefore, the judge ruled in favor of the Jewish man, and said due to absence of sufficient witnesses the armor belongs to the defendant. Imam Ali, accepted the ruling and was about to leave the place, when the Jewish man said: you are the caliph of Muslims, and you brought me here to a Judge, and the Judge ruled in my favor, and you are fine with this notion. You are the true successor of Mohammad. You were right, the armor is yours. It fell of your camel when you were leaving for a battle, and I took it. Then the Jewish man converted to Islam, when he saw the tolerance of Ali and his Justice and acceptance of others.
Ali Defines Justice, Tolerance and Coexistence 2
Caliph of Muslims, Imam Ali was walking in the Bazar with his companions one day and he witnesses an old man begging in the street. Imam Ali, asks his companions: why is this man begging in my state? They reply by saying that he is an old Christian man. Imam Ali tells them: How can you say such a thing, you used his as a member of the society when he was young and full of energy and now that he needs help, we offer him nothing? Then Imam Ali, orders his companions to address the needs of that Christian man and take care of his necessities and provide for him.
Satisfaction Equals Dignity
One of the companions of Imam Ali witnesses the cloak, which Imam Ali is wearing is very old and in poor condition and it is falling apart. Therefore, he tells Imam Ali, O’ master of the faithful, you are the caliph of Muslims and your cloak is in very poor condition. Why don’t you buy a new one and throw this one away? Imam Ali replies: I became the caliph and I only had this cloak and I am leaving my post with this only cloak as well. I don’t people to say Ali used his position to buy fancy and new cloths for himself, when there is a possibility that I have a needy man/women in my state.
Without pointing fingers, I must say the closet of many state leaders and officials cannot hold the expensive suits and clothing they keep buying, when there are homeless people in their nations.
Ethics, Morals and Mercy at All Times with Everyone, Even the Enemy.
During the battle of Seffin, which was one of the battles Imam Ali had to face during his Caliphate, his army was against the corrupt governor of Levant Muawiya Ibn Abi Sufyan. Imam Ali had replaced Muawiay with another governor, but Muawiya rejected leaving his post and remained in Damascus and waged a war against Imam Ali. The two armies met in the modern Iraqi-Syrian border region, in what is today called the city of Reqqa, which hosts the Euphrates as well. Therefore, at one stage during the battle the army of Levant took control of the river and banned the army of Imam Ali from accessing any water. However, during a maneuver the army of Imam Ali was able to regain control over the river and make the other army withdraw. Nevertheless, the action that made everyone including the army of Muawiya be in state of shock, was that Imam Ali did not ban the other army from accessing water. When he was asked about the rationale behind his decision, he replied: if we do the same thing they did, then there is no difference between us and our battle here is waste of time. We are fighting for values and morals and we are the followers of Mohammad, who was the peak of ethics and morals.
No Place for Negativism
It is narrated during the battle of Seffin, some members of Imam Ali’s army were gathered around each other and were cursing and insulting the army of Muawiya. Imam Ali was passing by and he heard his those men in his army talking about their enemy in that kind of degrading manner. He stopped and hold those men: do not be cursers and insulters. Talk about, what they did and what they do, it will be more appraised and valued for evidence.
This notion shows that Imam Ali wanted to teach the future generations about the value of being positive in all situations, and negativity against any side would have negative results. Just viewing the candidates ads during the elections would show how negativity would actually lower the chances of a candidate, when he/she could be offering his/her alternative programs and solutions for the society they are running for.
TO BE CONTINUED.