Kindness of Imam Ali (A.S)

Kindness



Ali was so kind to the common man that when his brother Aqeel requested him to give him something more from the public treasury than, his due share, he turned down his request and as a consequence thereof Aqcel went away to Mu'awiy:i. All tolerated separation from his brother but did not agree to give him anything from the public treasury of the Muslims without entitlement.

Ali was like a kind father for all human beings. He gave directions to the officers and aovernors to behave with the people gently. He behaved harshly with those who oppressed the people anti earned them of severe consequences. The following directions given by him reached the ears of the governors continuously: "Redress the grievances of the people anti meet their needs because you derive tour capital from them. Do not deprive anyone of what he needs, and (lo not obstruct him from attaining his object. Do not sell the summer or winter dress of anyone to realize revenue. Do not take away from am person a quadruped which is required by him for his business and do not whip a person for even a penny.

Ali was the person who wrote an excellent testament for Malik Ashtar Nakha'i at the time of appointing him the governor of Egypt and the adjoining areas. He wrote: "Do not live with people like ferocious animals, anti (lo not treat their sustenance to be war booty, because the Egyptians fall under one of the two categories: either they are your brethren-in-faith from the point of view of religion or your equals because of their being human beings. Ignore their shortcomings and forgive their mistakes, just as you hope that God will forgive your crimes and sins. Do not regret your forgiving a person and do not insist upon awarding punishment".

He added: "Prohibit hoarding". Ali strictly forbade hoarding, which was the main reason for Mu'awiya and his party opposing him, because they wanted the country, the wealth and the war booty for themselves whereas Ali wanted them for all human beings.

Ali was so kind m human beings that, as we shall mention in detail later, he ordered that his murderer, the wicked Ibn Muljim might be treated kindly.

In the recommendations made by him to his sons Hasan and Husayn he said: "Be enemies of the oppressors and supporters of the oppressed". He also said: "Be enemies of the oppressor even though he may be your near relative and support the oppressed person even though he may not be related to you and may be a stranger". He always endeavoured to punish the oppressors and relieve the people of their wickedness. To achieve this purpose he used his heart, tongue, sword and blood. Ile always remained a helper of the oppressed and an enemy of the oppressors. Following this path he never relaxed till the end of his life.