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life? They both opted for the longer life and showed no self-sacrifice. At that time, God Almighty by sending a revelation asked: Why are you not like `Ali who, by making a contract of brotherhood between Muhammad and `Ali, lay in his bed and sacrificed his life for him, preferring Muhammad’s life. I now give you a mission to go down to the earth and safeguard him from the harms of the enemy. Gabriel and Michael, to fulfill the divine order, came down to the earth. Gabriel stood at the head and Michael at the foot of `Ali safeguarding him from the harms of the enemies. Addressing `Ali, Gabriel said: Hail to you, O son of Abu-Talib! Is there anyone like you while God prides Himself on your position to angels?[128]

`Ali’s property which was four Dirhams on the whole, was given as charity, one by night, one by day, the third secretly, and the fourth openly. God Almighty revealed the verse “As for those who spend their property by night and by day, secretly and openly, they have their reward from their Lord and they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve. (2:274)” On the same occasion like some of the other verses, this verse is not applied to anyone but `Ali. Hence, the revelation of this verse about `Ali is one of his special merits. Most of the commentators of the Holy Qur’an believe that the verse was revealed in relation to the purified `Ali.[129]

Tha`labi and some other commentators in their interpretations on the occasion of revelation of Surah Hal-Ata (Surah al-Dahr or al-Insan No. 76) have written: Hasan and Husayn fell sick. Their grandfather, the Messenger of Allah went to `Ali’s house to visit them. All the people who had gathered in `Ali’s house called on him to make a vow for the healing of Holy Prophet’s young sons, a vow entailing some sort of undertaking. `Ali agreed to this suggestion, saying: If my sons are healed, I will fast for three days as a sign of thanks to please Allah. Lady Fatimah too said: If my sons are healed, I will fast for three days to thank Allah. Fiddah, the female servant too said: If my masters are healed, I will fast three days to thank this blessing. God healed Hasan and Husayn, so `Ali, Fatimah, and Fiddah prepared themselves to fast. But there was nothing in `Ali’s house for eating. So `Ali went to Simon, the Jew, and borrowed three kilos of barley from him. Lady Fatimah personally rose up to bake the bread so she grinded the barley baking five loaves of bread.

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مِنْ عُمْرِ الآخَرِ، فَأَيُّكُمَا يُؤْثِرُ أخَاهُ؟ فَاخْتَارَ كُلٌّ مِنْهُمْا الحَيَاةَ. فَأَوْحَى اللهُ تَعالَى إلَيْهِما: ألاَ كُنْتُمَا مِثْلَ عَلِيٍّ؟ آخَيْتُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ فَبَاتَ عَلَى فِرَاشِهِ يُفَدِّيهِ بِنَفْسِهِ وَيُؤْثِرُهُ بِالحَيَاةِ؟ إهْبِطَا إلَيْهِ فَاحْفَظَاهُ مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ. فَنَزَلا إلَيْهِ فَحَفِظَاهُ؛ جِبْريلُ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ وَمِيكائِيلُ عِنْدَ رِجْلَيْهِ، وَجِبْريلُ يَقولُ: بَخٍ بَخٍ يَا بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ. مَنْ مِثْلُكَ وَقَدْ بَاهَى اللهُ بِكَ المَلائِكَةَ.

وَكَانَ عِنْدَ أمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَرْبَعَةُ دَراهِمَ لَمْ يَمْلِكْ سِوَاها، فَتَصَدَّقَ بِدِرْهَمٍ لَيْلاً وَبِدِرْهَمٍ نَهَاراً وَبِدِرْهَمٍ سِرَّاً وَبِدِرْهَمٍ عَلانِيَةً. فَنَزَلَ قَوْلُهُ تَعالَى: ﴿الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلاَنِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ.﴾

وَمِنْ تَفْسيرِ الثَّعْلَبِيِّ وَغَيْرِهِ مِنَ المُفَسِّرينَ أنَّ الحَسَنَ وَالحُسَيْنَ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلامُ مَرِضَا فَعادَهُمَا جَدُّهُمَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَمَعَهُ أبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ، وَعَادَهُما عَامَّةُ العَرَبِ. فَقَالُوا: يَا أبَا الْحَسَنِ، لَوْ نَذَرْتَ عَلَى وَلَدَيْكَ نَذْراً، وَكُلُّ نَذْرٍ لاَ يَكُونُ لَهُ وَفَاءٌ فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْءٍ.

فَقالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: إنْ بَرِئَ وَلَدَايَ مِمَّا بِهِمَا صُمْتُ للهِ ثَلاثَةَ أيَّامٍ شُكْراً. وَقَالَتْ فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْها السَّلامُ: إنْ بَرِئَ وَلَدَايَ مِمَّا بِهِمَا صُمْتُ للهِ ثَلاثَةَ أيَّامٍ شُكْراً. وَقَالَتْ جَارِيَتُهُمَا فِضَّةُ: إنْ بَرِئَ سَيِّدايَ مِمَّا بِهِمَا صُمْتُ للهِ ثَلاثَةَ أيَّامٍ شُكْراً.

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The first day all were fasting, `Ali went to the mosque to perform his evening prayer behind the Messenger of Allah. Having completed his prayer, `Ali came home to break his fast. The tablecloth was spread with five loaves of bread on it. Before they start eating, a poor man stood at the door, saying: Greeting to you the Ahl al-Bayt of Muhammad.

I am a poor man among Muslims seeking refuge to your house. Give some food to me. May God feed you with heavenly food. Hearing this, `Ali said: Give my share of food to this man! Fatimah said: I will do the same. Hence, there was nothing but water for them to break their fast with. The second day, Fatimah grinded another kilo of barley baking five loaves of bread for five persons. In the evening, again `Ali went to the mosque for performing evening prayer and returned home after completing his prayer. When the tablecloth was spread, immediately an orphan came to the door, saying: Hail to you, the Ahl al-Bayt of Muhammad. I am an orphan of the immigrants. My father was martyred on the day of `Aqabah. I am starving. Give me some food. May God feed you with heavenly food. Giving their food to the orphan, `Ali and Fatimah broke their fast with plain water again.

In the third night too, the same thing happened. Fatimah grinded one more Kilo of barley baking five loaves of bread again. Having performed his evening prayer in the mosque, `Ali returned home. This time, a captive came to the door, saying: Greeting to you Ahl al-Bayt  of the Messenger of Allah. Is it right to make me a captive but not feed me? I am a captive of Muhammad. Give some food to me. May God feed you with heavenly food. Hearing this, `Ali gave his own food and that of others to the captive. Hence, they had nothing but water instead of food for three straight nights.

On the fourth day, when they were completing the vow, `Ali took the hand of Hasan in his right hand and the hand of Husayn in his left hand heading for the Holy Prophet (s.a) while they were shivering from hunger. As soon as the Holy Prophet saw them, he said: This scene has greatly saddened me. So they decided to go and visit Fatimah. At this time, Lady Fatimah was engaged in prayer in the altar. Her eyes were sunken and her belly stuck to her back because of hunger! This scene was so heavy to the Messenger of Allah that he raised his hands in prayer immediately, saying: O Lord! I seek refuge in you and ask help from you.

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مِنْهُمْ قُرْصٌ. وَصَلَّى أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ المَغْرِبَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ ثُمَّ أَتَى المَنْزِلَ فَوُضِعَ الطَّعامُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ إذْ أتَاهُمْ مِسْكينٌ مِنْ مَساكِينِ المُسْلِمينَ فَوَقَفَ بِالبَابِ وَقالَ: السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا أهْلَ بَيْتِ مُحَمَّدٍ؛ مِسْكينٌ مِنْ مَسَاكِيِن المُسْلِمينَ، أطْعِمُونِي أَطْعَمَكُمُ اللهُ مِنْ مَوائِدِ الجَنَّةِ. فَسَمِعَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقالَ: أعْطُوهُ حِصَّتِي. فَقَالَتْ فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْها السَّلامُ وَالبَاقُونَ كَذَلِكَ. فَأَعْطَوْهُ الطَّعامَ وَمَكَثوا يَوْمَهُمْ وَلَيْلَتَهُمْ لَمْ يَذُوقوا إلاَّ المَاءَ القُراحَ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ اليَوْمُ الثَّاني طَحَنَتْ فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْها السَّلامُ صاعاً وَاخْتَبَزَتْهُ وَأَتى أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِنْ صَلاةِ المَغْرِبِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَوُضِعَ الطَّعامُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ إذْ أتَاهُمْ يَتِيمٌ فَقالَ: السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُمْ أهْلَ بَيْتِ مُحَمَّدٍ؛ يَتِيمٌ مِنْ أَوْلادِ المُهاجِرِينَ، إسْتُشْهِدَ وَالِدِي يَوْمَ العَقَبَةِ، أَطْعِمُونِي أَطْعَمَكُمُ اللهُ مِنْ مَوَائِدِ الجَنَّةِ. فَسَمِعَهُ عَلِيٌّ وَفاطِمَةُ عَلَيْها السَّلامُ وَالبَاقُونَ فَأَعْطَوْهُ الطَّعامَ وَمَكَثوا يَوْمَيْنِ وَلَيْلَتَيْنِ لَمْ يَذوقوا إلاَّ المَاءَ القُراحَ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ اليَوْمُ الثَّالِثُ قَامَتْ فَاطِمَة عَلَيْها السَّلامُ إلَى الصَّاعِ البَاقي فَطَحَنَتْهُ وَاخْتَبَزَتْهُ وَصَلّى عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ المَغْرِبَ ثُمَّ أَتَى المَنْزِلَ فَوُضِعَ الطَّعامُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ إذْ أتَاهُمْ أَسيرٌ فَوَقَفَ عَلَى البَابِ فَقالَ: السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُمْ أهْلَ بَيْتِ مُحَمَّدٍ؛ تَأْسِرُونَنا وَلا تُطْعِمونَنا، أَطْعِمُونِي فَإنّي أسِيرُ مُحَمَّدٍ أَطْعَمَكُمُ اللهُ مِنْ مَوائِدِ الجَنَّةِ. فَسَمِعَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَآثَرَهُ وَآثَرُوهُ مَعَهُ وَمَكَثوا ثَلاثَةَ أيَّامٍ بِلَيالِيها لَمْ يَذُوقوا سِوَى المَاءِ القُراحِ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ اليَوْمُ الرَّابِعُ وَقَدْ قَضَوا نَذْرَهُمْ أَخَذَ عَلِيٌّ الحَسَنَ بِيَدِهِ اليُمْنى وَالحُسَيْنَ بِاليُسْرى وَأقْبَلَ نَحْوَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَهُما يَرْتَعِشانِ كالفِراخِ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الجُوعِ. فَلَمَّا بَصُرَ بِهِمُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ قَالَ: يَا أَبَا الحَسَنِ مَا أَشَدَّ مَا يَسُوءُنِي مِمَّا أرَى بِكُمْ. إنْطَلِقْ إلَى ابْنَتِي فَاطِمَةَ. فَانْطَلَقوا إلَيْها وَهِيَ فِي مِحْرابِها قَدْ لَصِقَ بَطْنُها بِظَهْرِها مِنْ شِدَّةِ الجُوعِ وَغَارَتْ عَيْناهــا. فَلَمَّا رَآه

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was always answered. It is for the same reason that the Messenger of Allah resorted to him on the day of mutual curse (Mubahalah), for no companion could match him.

The Holy Prophet (s.a), threatening the rebels of Quraysh said: O rebels! Stop your hostile act, or God will raise a man whose heart he has tested with faith to fight you and to behead you for promoting faith and justice. The Messenger of Allah was asked: Is it Abu-Bakr? He said: No. they asked: Is it `Umar? He said: No, he is the one who is mending sandals.[138]

Khawarizmi has reported: addressing `Ali on the day of Khaybar’s conquest, the Messenger of Allah said: If I were sure a group of my Ummah did not attribute to you what the Christians attributed to Jesus, son of Mary, I would say about your high position something that wherever you passed by people they would take the dust under your feet as something holy, using the water with which you perform ablution as a cure for their pains. But for certain exigency, I will not speak of it. As for your superiority over others, it would suffice to say that you are from me and I am from you. I will inherit you and you will inherit me. Your position to me is like that of Aaron to Moses except that there is no prophet after me.

O `Ali, you will propagate my faith, you will fight the enemies of Islam after me, you are the nearest to me on the Day of Judgment, you are my vicegerent at the Pond, which is the gathering place of the people, rejecting the hypocrites! And you are the first to meet me at the Pond and the first of my Ummah to enter paradise.

Your followers on the Day of Judgment will be quenched by the water of Kawthar; they will come to me with bright faces; I will intercede for them and will be my neighbors in paradise; your enemies on the Day of Judgment will be restless out of thirst, their faces are black and wrinkled. O `Ali, enmity with you is enmity with me and friendship with you is friendship with me. There is no open or hidden distance between you and me. What is hidden in my breast and I am informed of it is in your breast too. Your children are truly my children. You are the gate of my knowledge and whoever seeks it must hear it from your tongue. Your flesh is my flesh and the blood running in your veins is running in my veins with no difference.

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وَآلِهِ فِي الْمُباهَلَةِ، وَلَوْ كَانَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أصْحَابِهِ يُقارِبُهُ لأَخْرَجَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لأَنَّهُ وَقْتُ الْحَاجَةِ إلَى الدُّعَاءِ وَالإسْتِعانَةِ فِيهِ بِمُسْتَجَابِ الدُّعاءِ.

وقَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، لَتَنْتَهُنَّ يَا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ أوْ لَيَبْعَثُنَّ اللهُ عَلَيْكُمْ رَجُلاً إمْتَحَنَ اللهُ قَلْبَهُ بِالإيمانِ يَضْرِبُ رِقابَكُمْ عَلَى الدِّينِ. قِيلَ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، أَهُوَ أبُو بَكْرٍ؟ قَالَ: لاَ. فَقيلَ: فَعُمَرُ؟ قَالَ: لاَ، وَلَكِنَّهُ خاصِفُ النَّعْلِ الَّذِي فِي الحُجْرَةِ.

وَمِنْ كِتابِ المَناقِبِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَوْمَ فَتْحِ خَيْبَرٍ لِعَلِيٍّ: لَوْلا أنْ تَقولَ فِيكَ طَوائِفُ مِنْ أُمَّتِي مَا قَالَتِ النَّصَارى فِي عِيسَى بْنِ مَرْيَمَ لَقُلْتُ فِيكَ اليَوْمَ مَقالاً لاَ تَمُرُّ عَلَى مَلأٍ مِنَ المُسْلِمينَ إلاَّ أخَذوا مِنْ تُرابِ نَعْلَيْكَ وَفَضْلِ طَهُورِكَ يَسْتَشْفُونَ بِهِ. وَلَكِنْ حَسْبُكَ أَنْ تَكونَ مِنّي وَأنا مِنْكَ تَرِثُنِي وَأَرِثُكَ وَأنْتَ مِنّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إلاَّ أنَّهُ لاَ نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي. أَنْتَ تُؤَدِّي عَنّي دَيْنِي وَتُقاتِلُ عَلَى سُنَّتِي، وَأَنْتَ فِي الآخِرَةِ أقْرَبُ النَّاسِ مِنّي، وأَنْتَ غَداً عَلَى الحَوْضِ خَليفَتِي تَذودُ عَنْهُ المُنافِقِينَ، وَأَنْتَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ يَرِدُ عَلَيَّ الحَوْضَ، وأَنْتَ أَوَّلُ دَاخِلٍ لِلْجَنَّةِ مِنْ أُمَّتِي، وَإنَّ شِيعَتَكَ عَلَى مَنابِرَ مِنْ نُورٍ رُواءٌ مَرْوِيُّونَ مُبْيَضَّةٌ وُجُوهُهُمْ حَولِي أَشْفَعُ لَهُمْ فَيَكونونَ غَداً فِي الجَنَّةِ جِيرَانِي. وَإنَّ أَعْداءَكَ غَداً ظِماءٌ مُظْمَئونَ مُسْوَدَّةٌ وُجُوهُهُمْ مُقْمَحُونَ. حَرْبُكَ حَرْبِي وَسِلْمُكَ سِلْمِي وَسِرُّكَ سِرِّي وَعَلانِيَتُكَ عَلانِيَتِي وَسَرِيرَةُ صَدْرِكَ كَسَريرَةِ صَدْري، وَأَنْتَ بَابُ عِلْمي وَأنَّ وِلْدَكَ وِلْدِي وَلَحْمَكَ لَحْمي وَدَمَكَ دَمي. وَأنَّ الْحَقَّ مَعَكَ وَالْحَقُّ

(104)

master, I saw a strange scene from you which was imitating the bleating of lambs. Carrying the food was certainly aimed at winning God’s pleasure, nearness to Him and a reward in the hereafter. Imam `Ali said: When we entered the old woman’s house, her children were crying from hunger. I intended to make them happy in addition to feeding them. I found no way better than that for making them happy.

Dirar ibn Damarah reports: Following the martyrdom of Amir al-Mu’minin, I headed for Syria to see Mu`awiyah. Knowing that I was a devotee of Imam `Ali, Mu`awiyah said: Describe `Ali for me. I said: accept my excuse, for my tongue cannot possibly describe him. Mu`awiyah said: Your excuse is not accepted. You have to describe him to me. I said: Now that you refuse to accept my excuse, listen carefully! `Ali was sharp-sighted, prudent, powerful, and strong in the way of Allah. What he said was a criterion to distinguish between what was just and unjust. His judgments were fair. He was abounding in knowledge. Wisdom was evident in all dimensions of his character. His intuition satiated those who had a thirst for it. He feared the ornaments of the world. He was devoted to the nightly supplications. Pondering on the tumultuous future made him cry ceaselessly. Wearing coarse garment was pleasant for him. He loved plain food. He was not pretentious but was like one of us. If we had any question, we would pose it to him and he would immediately answer it. If we asked for any help, he would immediately help us. Although he was very intimate, he was so awesome that we would never dare to say anything in vain. He was so dignified that we would never open our eyes on his face. He honored people of religion and pleased the poor by fondling them. No man of authority dared to misuse his power in his presence so as to get his approval for the unjust act he had done. No common man was made disappointed by his justice, thinking that since he had no power, he would be deprived of his justice.

Dirar ibn Damarah then said: I take God as witness that in the middle of night and also when the stars were about to disappear, I saw him holding his beard in his hands, and like one bitten by a snake, he wept bitterly, saying: O world, go and deceive someone else, for I am not fond of you. Nevertheless, if you are offering yourself

(105)

مَوْلايَ، رَأَيْتُ اللَّيْلَةَ شَيْئاً عَجيباً، قَدْ عَلِمْتُ سَبَبَ بَعْضِهِ وَهُوَ حَمْلُكَ الزَّادَ طَلَباً لِلثَّوابِ. أمَّا طَوافُكَ فِي البَيْتِ عَلَى يَدَيْكَ وَرِجْلَيْكَ وَالبَعْبَعَةُ فَما أدْرِي سَبَبَ ذَلِكَ. فَقالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: يَا قَنْبَرُ إنّي دَخَلْتُ عَلَى هَؤلاءِ الأطْفالِ وَهُمْ يَبْكونَ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الجُوعِ فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أَخْرُجَ عَنْهُمْ وَهُمْ يَضْحَكونَ مَعَ الشَّبْعِ، فَلَمْ أَجِدْ سَبَباً سِوَى مَا فَعَلْتُ.

وَقالَ ضِرارُ بْنُ ضَمَرَةَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى مُعاوِيَةَ بَعْدَ قَتْلِ أمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، فَقالَ: صِفْ لِي عَلِيَّاً.

فَقُلْتُ: إعْفِنِي.

فَقالَ: لاَ بُدَّ أَنْ تَصِفَهُ.

فَقُلْتُ: أمَّا إذْ لاَ بُدَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، فَإنَّهُ كَانَ وَاللهِ بَعيدَ الْمَدَى، شَديدَ الْقِوَى، يَقولُ فَصْلاً، وَيَحْكُمُ عَدْلاً، يَتَفَجَّرُ العِلْمُ مِنْ جَوانِبِهِ، وَتَنْطِقُ الحِكْمَةُ مِنْ نَواحِيهِ، يَسْتَوْحِشُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَزَهْرَتِهَا، وَيَأْنَسُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَوَحْشَتِهِ، غَزيرَ العَبْرَةِ، طَويلَ الفِكْرَةِ، يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّهُ، وَيُخاطِبُ نَفْسَهُ، وَيُناجي رَبَّهُ، يُعْجِبُهُ مِنَ اللِّباسِ مَا خَشُنَ وَمِنَ الطَّعامِ مَا جَشُبَ، وَكَانَ فينا كَأَحَدِنَا، يُجيبُنا إذَا سَأَلْناهُ، وَيَأْتينا إذَا دَعَوْناهُ، وَنَحْنُ وَاللهِ مَعَ تَقَرُّبِهِ لَنا وَقُرْبِهِ مَنَّا لاَ نَكادُ نُكَلِّمُهُ هَيْبَةٍ لَهُ، يُعَظِّمُ أهْلَ الدِّين، وَيُقَرِّبُ المَساكِينَ، لاَ يَطْمَعُ القَوِيُّ فِي باطِلِهِ، وَلا يَيْأَسُ الضَّعيفُ مِنْ عَدْلِهِ.

(106)

to me, you are quite mistaken, for I have divorced you three times, giving you no chance of recourse. O world, know that your life is short, your worth little and your pleasure transient. Then he heaved a sigh, saying: Woe to little provision, long journey and a path full of horror. Hearing this, Mu`awiyah was deeply impressed and started weeping. Those who were present burst into tears and wept. Then Mu`awiyah said: May God bless you Abul Hasan `Ali ibn Abi-Talib. He is the very same you described, but Dirar, to what extent is your sorrow for `Ali? Dirar said: the sorrow of a woman whose child is beheaded in his lap, for neither her eyes become dry of tear nor her sorrows will come to an end.[147]

`Ali’s Forbearance

Beyond doubt, Imam `Ali was more patient and forbearing than all people. The best proof is the fact that he was deprived of his right and an unjust rule was imposed on him. Nevertheless, he adopted patience and restrained his anger.

Abu-Ayyub Ansari has been quoted as saying: The Messenger of Allah was afflicted with a little illness. Lady Fatimah went to visit her father. Finding her father ill and weak, she started weeping in a way that her tears dropped on the earth. To remove sorrows from his daughter, the Holy Prophet said: My dear daughter, one of God’s blessing bestowed upon you is that on the order of the Lord, I married you to one who was foremost in Islam, the most knowledgeable, and the most patient and forbearing man. God Almighty whose knowledge encompasses everything chose me as being worthy of prophethood, giving me the honor of a divine mission and with another grace, chose your husband ordering to me to give you in marriage to `Ali and appointing him as my successor.[148]

Imam `Ali’s Physical Excellence and Superiority

`Ali’s Worship

It is evident to everyone that Imam `Ali was the most pious of his time. He has left behind a heritage of night prayers and supplications. He was so devoted in his prayer that he did not pay attention to anything but Allah. He was detached from the world and so absorbed in Allah that he did not feel the pains. Once he was hit

(107)

دُنْيَا غُرِّي غَيْرِي! أَبِي تَعَرَّضْتِ أَمْ إلَيَّ تَشَوَّقْتِ! هَيْهاتَ هَيْهاتَ! قَدْ تُبْتُكِ ثَلاثاً لاَ رَجْعَةَ فِيهَا؛ فَعُمْرُكِ قَصيرٌ، وَخَطَرُكِ كَثيرٌ، وَعَيْشُكِ حَقيرٌ. آهٍ مِنْ قِلَّةِ الزَّادِ وَبُعْدِ السَّفَرِ وَوَحْشَةِ الطَّريقِ.

فَبَكى مُعاوِيَةُ وَقالَ: رَحِمَ اللهُ أَبَا الحَسَنِ، كَانَ وَاللهِ كَذَلِكَ. فَما حُزْنُكَ عَلَيْهِ يَا ضِرارُ؟ قَالَ: حُزْنُ مَنْ ذُبِحَ وَلَدُها فِي حِجْرِها، فَلا تَرْقى عَبْرَتُها وَلا يَسْكُنُ حُزْنُها.

فِي الْحِلْمِ:

لاَ خِلافَ فِي أنَّ عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ كَانَ أَحْلَمَ النَّاسِ. فَإنَّهُ أُخِذَ حَقُّهُ وَقُهِرَ عَلَيْهِ وَمُنِعَ مِنْ مَرْتَبَتِهِ وَصَبَرَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَكَظَمَ الغَيْظَ وَحَلِمَ.

وَرَوى صَاحِبُ المَناقِبِ عَنْ أَبِي أيُّوبٍ الأنْصارِيِّ: أنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مَرِضَ مَرَضَهُ فَأَتَتْهُ فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْها السَّلامُ تَعودُهُ. فَلَمَّا رَأَتْ مَا بِرَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مِنَ الجَهْدِ وَالضَّعْفِ إسْتَعْبَرَتْ فَبَكَتْ حَتَّى سالَتِ الدُّموعُ عَلَى خَدَّيْها. فَقالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: يَا فَاطِمَةُ إنَّ لِكَرامَةِ اللهِ إيَّاكِ زَوَّجْتُكِ مِنْ أقْدَمِهِمْ سِلْماً وَأَكْثَرِهِمْ عِلْماً وَأَعْظَمِهِمْ حِلْماً. إنَّ اللهَ تَعالَى إطَّلَعَ إلَى أهْلِ الأَرْضِ إطِّلاعَةً فَاخْتارَنِي مِنْهُمْ فَبَعَثَنِي نَبِيَّاً مُرْسَلاً. ثُمَّ إطَّلَعَ إطِّلاعَةً فَاخْتارَ مِنْهُمْ بَعْلَكِ، فَأَوْحَى إلَيَّ أنْ أُزَوِّجَهُ إيَّاكِ وَأَتَّخِذَهُ وَصِيَّاً وَأَخاً.

فِي الفَضائِلِ البَدَنِيَّةِ:

العِبادَةِ: