Ali’s Generosity and Magnanimity

Beyond doubt, Imam `Ali was the most generous and the most honest man after the Holy Prophet (s.a) for the highest degree of generosity is to offer one’s life and `Ali, by lying in the bed of the Holy Prophet at Laylat al-Mabit, sacrificed his life for the sake of the Messenger of Allah.

Ibn Athir reports: The Qur’anic verse “And among men is he who sells himself to seek the pleasure of Allah” (2:207) was revealed about Imam `Ali when the Holy Prophet (s.a) left Mecca for Medina, ordering `Ali to lie in his bed and to transfer people’s trust to them the next day. This was at a time when the atheists of Quraysh had brotherhood between you, making the life of one of you longer. Does anyone of you prefers his brother to himself and accepts his shorter

فِي السَّخَاءِ وَالكَرَمِ:

لاَ خِلافَ فِي أنَّ أمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أسْخَى النَّاسِ بَعْدَ رَسُول اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَأكْرَمُهُمْ وَأَشْرَفُهُمْ.

جَادَ بِنَفْسِهِ حينَ بَاتَ عَلَى فِرَاشِ رَسُول اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ.

قَالَ ابْنُ الأَثيرِ: إنَّ قَوْلَهُ تَعالَى: ﴿وَمِنْ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاةِ اللَّهِ﴾ نَزَلَ فِي عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ. ذَلِكَ لأَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لَمَّا هَاجَرَ وَتَرَكَ عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي بَيْتِهِ بِمَكَّةَ وَأَمَرَهُ أنْ يَنامَ عَلَى فِراشِهِ لِيُوصِلَ إذَا أَصْبَحَ وَدائِعَ النَّاسِ إِلَيْهِمْ. فَقالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجلَّ لِجَبْرَئيلَ وَمِيكائِيلَ: إنِّي قَدْ آخَيْتُ بَيْنَكُمَا وَجَعَلْتُ عُمُرَ أَحَدِكُمَا أَطْوَلَ

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.

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.

فَأُلْبِسَ الغُلامَانِ الْعَافِيَةَ وَلَيْسَ عِنْدَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ قَليلٌ وَلا كَثيرٌ. فَانْطَلَقَ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إلَى شَمْعونَ بْنِ حابا الخَيْبَرِيِّ وَكَانَ يَهودِيَّاً فَاقْتَرَضَ مِنْهُ ثَلاثَةَ أَصْوُعٍ مِنْ شَعيرٍ. فَقَامَتْ فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْها السَّلامُ إلَى صاعٍ فَطَحَنَتْهُ وَاخْتَبَزَتْ مِنْهُ خَمْسَةَ أقْراصٍ؛ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ

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.

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

Turning to Ahl al-Bayt, he said: I do not think there is anything left of your life as a result of hunger, for you may soon depart from this world! At this time, Gabriel came down saying: O Muhammad! Take this divine blessing. The Holy Prophet (s.a) said: What is it? Gabriel recited to him the verse “Hal Ata.”[130]

Tha`labi  has quoted `Abayah ibn Rab`i as saying: Once `Abdullah Ibn `Abbas was sitting among a group of people near ZamZam relating Hadiths from the Holy Prophet (s.a), a man who had covered his head and face with a turban joined them and began to relate Hadiths from the Holy Prophet (s.a) like Ibn `Abbas. Being surprised, Ibn `Abbas said: For the sake of God, tell us who you are. He removed his turban and said: Whoever knows me has recognized me, and whoever has not recognized me, I am Jundub ibn Janadah, Abu-Dharr Ghifari. I heard the Messenger of Allah, with my two ears and if I am lying, may I be deprived of my hearing, and saw with these two eyes, if I am lying, may I be deprived of seeing, as saying: `Ali is the leader of benefactors and the slayer of the atheists. Whoever helps him, will be helped by God and whoever refuses to help him will be deprived of God’s help forever.

Tha`labi further said: Let it be known to you that one day I performed noon prayer with the Messenger of Allah in the mosque. Amid this, a needy man rose up to ask for help but no one responded. The needy man raised his hands towards the sky, saying: O Lord, you are witnessing that I asked for help but no one took heed of my request. At that time `Ali who was bowing in his prayer pointed with the small finger of his right hand to the needy man. He went to `Ali and took the ring. The Messenger of Allah was looking this scene from near.

After completing his prayer, the Messenger of Allah raising his hand towards the sky, said: “O Lord! Expand my breast for me, and make my affair easy to me, and loose the knot from my tongue, that they may understand my word and give to me an aide from my family: Harun, my brother” (20:24-31) and You revealed the verse “We will strengthen your arm with your brother and we will give you both an authority, so that they shall not reach you; go with our signs” (28:35). O Lord! I am your chosen prophet. Expand my breast for me, and make my affair easy to me, and set `Ali who is from my family my vizier so that he will support me.[131]

النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ قَالَ: وَاغَوْثاهُ! يَا للهِ! أهْلَ بَيْتِ مُحَمَّدٍ تَمُوتُونَ جُوعاً! فَهَبَطَ جِبْريلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَقالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ خُذْها هَنَّأَكَ اللهُ فِي أهْلِ بَيْتِكَ. قَالَ: وَمَاذا آخُذُ يَا جِبْريلُ؟ فَأَقْرَأَهُ ﴿هَلْ أَتَى عَلَى الإِنْسَانِ…﴾

وَمِنْ تَفْسيرِ الثَّعْلَبِيِّ: عَنْ غبايَةَ بْنِ الرَّبْعِيِّ قَالَ: بَيْنا عَبْدُاللهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ جَالِسٌ عَلَى شَفِيرِ زَمْزَمَ يَقولُ قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، إذْ أَقْبَلَ رَجُلٌ مُتَعَمِّمٌ بِعِمامَةٍ. فَجَعَلَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ لاَ يَقول قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ إلاَّ وَقالَ الرَّجُلُ قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ. فَقالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: سَأَلْتُكَ بِاللهِ أنْ تَكْشِفَ عَنْ وَجْهِكَ. فَكَشَفَ العِمَامَةَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ وَقالَ: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَنْ عَرَفَنِي فَقَدْ عَرَفَنِي وَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْنِي فَأَنا أُعَرِّفُهُ بِنَفْسِي. أَنَا جُنْدُبُ بْنُ جَنادَةَ الْبَدْرِيُّ أبُو ذَرٍّ الغِفارِيُّ، سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بِهاتَيْنِ وَإلاّ فَصُمَّتا، وَرَأَيْتُهُ بِهاتَيْنِ وَإلاّ فَعَمِيَتا يَقولُ: عَلِيٌّ قائِدُ البَرَرَةِ وَقَاتِلُ الكَفَرَةِ، مَنْصورٌ مَنْ نَصَرَهُ مَخْذولٌ مَنْ خَذَلَهُ. أمَا إنّي صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَوماً مِنَ الأيَّامِ صَلاةَ الظُّهْرِ، فَسَأَلَ سائِلٌ فِي المَسْجِدِ فَلَمْ يُعْطِهِ أحَدٌ شَيْئاً. فَرَفَعَ السَّائِلُ يَدَهُ إلَى السَّماءِ وَقالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إشْهَدْ أنّي سَأَلْتُ فِي مَسْجِدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ فَلَمْ يُعْطِنِي أحَدٌ شَيْئاً. وَكَانَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ راكِعاً فَأَوْمَأَ إلَيْهِ بِخُنْصُرِهِ اليُمْنَى وَكَانَ يَتَخَتَّمُ فِيهَا، فَأَقْبَلَ السَّائِلُ حَتَّى أخَذَ الخَاتَمَ مِنْ خُنْصُرِهِ، وَذَلِكَ بِعَيْنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ صَلاتِهِ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إلَى السَّماءِ وَقالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إنَّ مُوسَى سَأَلَكَ فَقَالَ: ﴿قَالَ رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي. وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي. وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي. يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي. وَاجْعَلْ لِي وَزِيرًا مِنْ أَهْلِي. هَارُونَ أَخِي. اشْدُدْ بِهِ أَزْرِي. وَأَشْرِكْهُ فِي أَمْرِي.﴾ فَأَنْزَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ قُرْآناً ناطِقاً: ﴿قَالَ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجْعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلْطَانًا فَلاَ يَصِلُونَ إِلَيْكُمَا بِآيَاتِنَاز﴾ اللَّهُمَّ وَأَنا مُحَمَّدٌ نَبِيُّكَ وَصَفِيُّكَ فَاشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أمْرِي وَاجْعَلْ لِي وَزيراً مِنْ أهْلِي عَلِيَّاً أخِي اشْدُدْ بِهِ ظَهْرِي.

Abu-Dharr reports: The Messenger of Allah had hardly finished this when Gabriel came down, saying: O Muhammad, Read! He said: What shall I read? Gabriel said: “Only Allah is your Wali and His Apostle and who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow” (5:55).

In Tha`labi’s commentary (Tafsir), we read that this verse has been mentioned in the six most reliable Sunni reference books of Hadith.[132]

Mujahid reports: God Almighty prohibited consulting the Holy Prophet without giving charity. Following the revelation of this verse, no one consulted him except `Ali ibn Abi-Talib who did so after giving one Dinar in charity. Then the verse was abrogated and the permission was given.[133]

Imam `Ali (a.s) has said: There is a verse in the Holy Qur’an that no one but me has acted on it;[134] “O you who believe! When you consult the Apostle, then offer something in charity before your consultation.” (58:12). Amir al-Mu’minin said: God Almighty discharged this Ummah of a duty because of me, for if I did not act according to that verse, it would remain valid forever while no one could act to it, that is to offer charity he wished to consult the Messenger of Allah. Therefore, it was I who removed the heavy burden from the shoulder of this Ummah. I am the true proof of this verse which is not applicable to anyone before or after me.[135]

`Abdullah `Umar has said: `Ali ibn Abi-Talib had three features and if I had just one of them, it was more valuable than having red-haired camels! The first is marriage with Lady Fatimah, second is having the honor of standard bearing on the day of Khaybar and the third is the verse “Najwa” which is applicable to no one but `Ali.[136]

`Ali used to plant trees and irrigate orchards with his own holy and powerful hands. He made orchards one after the other giving them in the path of Allah and never saved the money for himself and his family.[137]