Story No. 260 – Amount received by Hadrat Ali Murtada (as): Miracle of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as)

It has been recorded in “Arbaeen” “Fazael-e-Shazaan” and “Tuhfatul Izhaar” the following incident related by Ibrahim Bin Mehram, who said: One of my neighbors in Kufa was a man named Abu Ja’far, who was very good-natured. Anytime a Sayyed would approach and request something from him, he would give. If they could pay, he would take the price of the things and if not, he would ask his servant to write: “This amount has been received by Hadrat Ali Murtada (as).”

 

He lived in such a manner till he found himself poor and destitute. He would sit in his house and open his book of accounts and if he found someone indebted to him, he would send someone to recover from that person. And when he would find the person to have died, he would draw a line over it.

 

During this period, once he was sitting near the door of his house examining that book, a Nasibi [enemy of Ahlul Bayt (as)] taunted him by saying: “What did your biggest creditor Hadrat Ali Murtada (as) do for you?” Abu Ja’far felt grieved and went inside the house.

 

Miracle of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as)That night, he saw in his dream, Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), Imam Hasan (as) and Imam Hussain (as). The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) asked them “Where is your father?” Hadrat Ali Murtada (as) replied, “Here I am” and came from behind. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) asked: “What happened that you do not pay this man’s dues? Hadrat Ali Murtada (as) replied. “O Messenger of Allah! This is his due which I’ve brought with me”. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “Give it to him”. Hadrat Ali Murtada (as) gave a pouch to Abu Ja’far. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “Take it and do not deny anyone from his sons (Sayyed) who ask you something that you possess. Return such that destitution will not touch you again”.

 

Abu Ja’far said: “I woke up such that the pouch was in my hand and I woke up my wife and asked her to light the lamps. I found 1000 Ashrafis (Gold Coins) in that pouch”. My wife said: “Fear Allah, should poverty force you to deceive some traders and usurp their money”. I said: “By Allah, the matter is such and such. When I opened my book of accounts I saw that the total amount that I had given on behalf of Hadrat Ali Murtada (as) was 1000 Ashrafis, neither less nor more”.

Story No. 259 – Hadrat Ali Murtada (as) and Sustenance (Rizq): Lawfully (Halaal) or unlawfully (Haram)

Allah expands the sustenance for whomsoever He desires and straitens it for whomsoever He desires. (Noble Qur’an, 13:26)

One day Hadrat Ali Murtada (as) went to a Mosque (Masjid) to say his Prayers (Salat). Hadrat Ali Murtada (as) asked a man standing nearby to look after his Horse. When Hadrat Ali Murtada (as) came out, he had two dirhams in his hand which he (as) intended to give to that man as reward. But that man was nowhere to be seen. Hadrat Ali Murtada (as) came to the Horse and found that his rein was missing.

Hadrat Ali Murtada (as) went to the market to buy another rein. Hadrat Ali Murtada (as) went to a shop where he (as) found the exact rein that had gone missing. Hadrat Ali Murtada (as) recognized the rein as it was his own and asked the shopkeeper the price of that rein.

Shopkeeper: A man had just been to my shop and sold this rein to me for two dirhams. You can have it for the same price.

Hadrat Ali Murtada (as): Showing him the two dirhams that he was holding in his hands and said, “This man did me a favour of looking after my Horse. So, I decided to give him two dirhams in return. He could not wait to get this lawfully. Instead he robbed and sold it you. He still got the same amount of money and not a penny more! His anxiety did not increase his wages at all and made him a criminal into the bargain.”

Sometimes people become so greedy that in order to obtain their sustenance, they would do anything. What they fail to understand is that Allah (SWT) has already destined their sustenance (Rizq). Now whether he earns it lawfully (Halaal) or unlawfully (Haram), begs or steals or gambles, he is not going to get anything more.

The only difference is that if you earn lawfully, you will have to give account to Allah (SWT) and if you earn it unlawfully, there is a punishment for it.

Story No. 258 – Complaint against Husband: Taking care of oppressed woman in Islam

Ameer ul Momineen, Imam Ali (as) during the days of his Caliphate (Khilafat) used to personally listen to the grievances and complaints of the people. Once, the days were hot and people did not venture out of their houses after midday. Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (as) sat everyday outside his house under the shade of a wall so that if someone had any complaints, could lodge the same to him directly. Sometimes he walked in lanes and streets observing the general condition of the people.

 

One day he returned to his residence tired and sweating, and found a woman waiting. Seeing Amirul Mumineen, she came near and said:

 

“I am in trouble. My husband oppresses me. He has turned me out from the house and has threatened to beat me. If I go to him he will beat me. I request you to do justice between us”.

 

“O Servant of Allah (SWT), it is too hot now. Wait till it cools down in the afternoon. Then I shall come with you and redress your grievances”.

 

“If I stay out too long, I am afraid it may increase his anger”.

 

For a moment he bowed his head and then raised it up saying to himself, “No, By God, justice to the oppressed should not be delayed. The right of the oppressed should certainly be taken from the oppressor; and every fear should be taken out from her heart so that she may stand boldly before the oppressor and demand her right”.

 

“Tell me where your house is?” Ameer ul Momineen, Imam Ali (as) asked.

 

“It is in such and such place”, replied the woman.

 

“Let us go.” Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali (as) said.

 

He accompanied her to her house, stood at the door and called loudly, “O Master of the house! Peace be upon thee”.

 

A young man came out. He was her husband. He did not recognize Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as). He found that an old man of about sixty years had accompanied her and assumed that she had brought him for support and mediation; but he kept silent.

 

“This lady has a complaint against you. She says that you have oppressed her and have ousted her from the house. Besides you have threatened to beat her. I have come here to tell you to fear Allah (SWT) and be kind to your wife”. Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali (as) said.

 

“In what way does it concern you if I have not treated my wife well. Yes, I had threatened to beat her, but now, since she has brought you to obey plead for her, I shall throw her into fire and burn her alive”.

 

Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) was disturbed by the impudence of the young man. Drawing out his sword he said, “I am only advising you to do good and admonishing you from bad deeds; but you are replying me in such manner clearly saying to burn this woman in fire. Do you think there is no authority in this world?”

 

Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib’s (as) loud voice drew the attention of the passers by, and a huge crowd gathered. Whoever came bowed down with reverence before the old man and saluted him by saying “Peace be on you O Commander of the Faithful”.

 

When the rude young man realized as to whom he was talking with, he trembled and supplicated, “O Ameer ul Momineen! Forgive me. I confess my faults and promise that henceforth I shall obey my wife”.

 

Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) turned to the woman and told her to go in the house and cautioned her not to behave in such a manner that her husband had to be angry again.

Story No. 257 – Judgement of Ameer ul Momineen: Five Fornicators and Five Different Rulings

Judgement of Ameer ul Momineen Five persons, who had committed fornication, were brought before Umar ibn Khattab, who ordered them to be subjected to the legal punishment for the crime. At that moment Ameer ul Momineen, Imam Ali (as) arrived and said: “O’ Umar ibn Khattab! Allah’s ruling in their case is not as you have ruled!” Umar ibn Khattab requested: “You issue the ruling for them and implement the legal punishment.”

 

Ameer ul Momineen, Imam Ali (as) beheaded the first person, stoned the second, subjected the third to the full punishment of eighty lashes, the fourth to half the punishment and ordered the discretionary punishment for the fifth!

 

Umar ibn Khattab was amazed and the people astounded over the Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib’s (as) ruling. Umar ibn Khattab asked him: “O’ Abul Hasan! Five persons were involved in one crime and you have issued different rulings for all of them?”

 

Ameer ul Momineen, Imam Ali (as) explained: “The first person was a Dhimmi (A free non-Muslim subject living in a Muslim country) who had transgressed (the honour of) a Muslim woman and so had fallen out of the Dhimmah (Covenant of protection.) as such, his punishment could only be death.

 

The second person who had committed fornication possessed a spouse and so I had him stoned. The third one to have been involved in the crime did not have a wife and so I punished him with eighty lashes.

 

The fourth was a slave and therefore I subjected him to half the legal punishment (of eighty lashes), while the fifth one was poor of intellect due to which I subjected him to the discretionary punishment (few lashes).”

 

Hearing the explanation Umar ibn Khattab exclaimed: “O’ Abul Hasan! May it never happen that I have to live with the people when you are not around (to help me)!

Story No. 256 – Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali (as) and Mat al-Din (Religion died)

Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali (as) was passing by a place where a group of children were engaged in play. However, there was one boy who was not playing with them but stood aloof and sad. Imam Ali (as) approached him and asked: “What is your name?” He replied: “Mat al-Din (Religion died).”

Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali (as) desired to know the reason for such a name and so inquired about the child’s father. He was informed that his father had died, but his mother was alive. Imam Ali (as) called for his mother and inquired about the reason for such a strange name, whereupon the mother said: “When this child was in my womb, his father had embarked upon a journey.” After a period his companions approached me and said: “Your husband fell ill on the way and died, but before his death he requested us that if his child was born, he should be named Mat al-Din (Religion died).”

Having heard this, Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali (as) comprehended the reason for such a name and ordered all the people to gather in the mosque. When the people had gathered, Imam Ali (as) said to them: “Whenever I recite Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), all of you should recite it in unison too.”

Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali (as) then called for the dead person’s companions, who were four in number and subjected them to individual and separate interrogation.

Turning to the first person, Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (as) sought to know how he had killed the boy’s father. The man, who was stunned to hear the question, blurted out: “All I did was to present the cord.” Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali (as) recited Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), and the people in the mosque chorused.

The second one, in answer to the Imam Ali’s (as) question, said: “My only crime was to tie the cord around his neck.” The third person said: “I had brought the knife”, while the fourth person, recounting the incident explicitly, said: “We collectively murdered him for the purpose of seizing and appropriating his wealth.” Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali (as) recited Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), and the people too recited in unison.

Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali (as) took possession of the wealth which they had stolen from the deceased and handed it to the boy’s mother, and then subjected the killers to a severe punishment. Then turning to the boy’s mother, Imam Ali (as) said: “Change his name to Asha al-Din (religion is alive).”

Story No. 255 – Justice as part of Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali’s (as) life: Behavior towards guests

There are numerous incidents from the life of Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali (as) which we have read and heard from others. We must carefully analyze those incidents to see the core message. Justice had become such an integral part of Imam Ali’s (as) life that whatever he said and did, Adl (Justice) was projected from it. Study the following incidents:

A father and a son were once guests of Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali (as). As they arrived, Imam Ali (as) received them warmly and arranged for their comfortable accommodation. In a room where they were seated, Imam Ali (as) sat opposite to them, engaging them in a friendly conversation. And then it was time for the meal. After food had been served and eaten, Qambar, Amirul Mumineen’s well known servant, brought a basin and a pitcher full of water for washing the guest’s hands. Imam Ali (as) took the pitcher himself and asked the father to extend his hands so that he would pour the water.

“How is it possible that my Amir (Leader) serves me? It should be other way,” the guest said.

Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali (as) said: “Here is your brother in faith, eager to serve his brother and to earn the pleasure of Allah (SWT). Why do you prevent him?”

But the guest hesitated. Finally Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (as) said: “As your Amir, I request that you allow me the honor of this service.”

And when the guest complied, Imam Ali (as) said: “Let your hands be washed thoroughly. Do not hasten, thinking that I should be relieved of this duty early.”

When it was the son’s turn, Amirul Mumineen, Imam Ali (as) instructed his own son Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyah, to hold the pitcher and wash the guest’s hands. Looking at his son, Imam Ali (as) said:

I washed your father’s hands. My son washed your hands. If your father had not been my guest today, I would have washed your hands myself. But Allah (SWT) loves to see that when a father and a son are present in a place, the father enjoys a privilege and a priority.

Story No. 254 – Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb’s (as) Brilliant Judgement: A Camel Shared by Three

Three men shared a Camel equally. One of them tied his forelegs and went away for some work. In the meantime, the other two returned to their place of stay and untied one of the foreleg and they also went away together. The Camel in their absence, walked with one untied leg off the place where the first man had tied him and fell in a well and wounded himself by the fall. The two men returned again, saw the Camel fallen in the well, got him out somehow or other, and butchered him and sold the meat for collecting some money in view of a little compensation for the loss.

When the first partner returned, he saw the skin of the Camel. On enquiry, the two other partners told him what had happened. He took an objection to it, and rather complained against their untying the Camel which resulted in the heavy loss to him.

He then took the case to Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as), who ordered for payment of 1/3 of the actual price of the Camel to him. When the cash which was collected by selling the meat of the camel was counted it was one third of the cost price of the Camel.

This amount was paid in full to the first partner of the Camel and the other two went away empty handed.

While they were about to leave, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as) told them that as they had not taken proper care for the safety of the Camel and the safeguard of their shares, whereas their first partner had by tying his two legs, hence it is their loss.

Story No. 253 – Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb’s (as) Mathematical Brilliance: Five Loaves of Bread

Zarr Bin Hobeish relates this story: Two travelers sat together on the way to their destination to have a meal. One had five loaves of bread. The other had three. A third traveler was passing by and at the request of the two joined in the meal.

The travelers cut each of the loaf of bread in three equal parts. Each of the travelers ate eight broken pieces of the loaf.

At the time of leaving the third traveler took out eight dirhams and gave to the first two men who had offered him the meal, and went away. On receiving the money the two travelers started quarrelling as to who should have how much of the money.

The five loaf man demanded five dirhams. The three loaf man insisted on dividing the money in two equal parts.

The dispute was brought to Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as) (the Caliph of the time in Arabia) to be decided.

Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as) requested the three loaf man to accept three dirhams, because five-loaf-man has been more than fair to you. The three loaf man refused and said that he would take only four dirhams. At this Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as) replied, “You can have only one dirham.” You had eight loaves between yourselves. Each loaf was broken in three parts. Therefore, you had 24 equal parts. Your three loaves made nine parts out of which you have eaten eight portions, leaving just one to the third traveler. Your friend had five loaves which divided into three made fifteen pieces. He ate eight pieces and gave seven pieces to the guest. As such the guest shared one part from your loaves and seven from those of your friend. So you should get one dirham and your friend should receive seven dirhams.

Story No. 252 – Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb’s (as) Mathematical Brilliance: Dividing 17 Camels

A person was about to die, and before dying he wrote his Will which went as follows:

“I have 17 Camels, and I have three sons. Divide my Camels in such a way that my eldest son gets half of them, the second one gets 1/3rd of the total and my youngest son gets 1/9th of the total number of Camels.”

After his death when the relatives read his will they got extremely perplexed and said to each other that how can we divide 17 camels like this.

So after a long hard thought they decided that there was only one man in Arabia who could help them: “Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as).”

So they all came to the door of Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as) and put forward their problem.

Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as) said, “Ok, I will divide the camels as per the man’s will.”

Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as) said, “I will lend one of my camels to the total which makes it 18 (17+1=18), now lets divide as per his will.”

The eldest son gets 1/2 of 18 = 9
The second one gets 1/3 of 18 = 6
The youngest gets 1/9 of 18 = 2
Now the total number of camels = 17 (9+6+2=17)

Then Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as) said, “Now I will take my Camel back.”

Story No. 251 – Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb’s (as) Mathematical Brilliance: Whole Number and Not A Fraction

One Day a Jewish person came to Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as), thinking that since Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb thinks he is too smart, I will ask him such a tough question that he won’t be able to answer it and I will have the chance to embarrass him in front of all the Arabs.

 

Jewish person asked “Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb, tell me a number, that if we divide it by any number from 1-10 the answer will always come in the form of a whole number and not as a fraction.”

 

Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as) looked back at him and said, “Take the number of days in a year and multiply it with the number of days in a week and you will have your answer.”

 

The Jewish person got astonished but as he was a polytheist (Mushrik), he still didn’t believe Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as). He calculated the answer Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as) gave him.

 

To his amazement he came across the following results:

 

Whole Number and Not A FractionThe number of Days in a Year = 360 (in Arab)

 

The Number of Days in a Week = 7

 

The product of the two numbers = 2520

 

Now…

 

2520 ÷ 1 = 2520

2520 ÷ 2 = 1260

2520 ÷ 3 = 840

2520 ÷ 4 = 630

2520 ÷ 5 = 504

2520 ÷ 6 = 420

2520 ÷ 7 = 360

2520 ÷ 8 = 315

2520 ÷ 9 = 280

2520 ÷ 10= 252

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