Tarikh (al-Tabari) 2048
The caliphate of ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib
فَصْلٌ فِي ذِكْرِ شَيْءٍ مِنْ سِيرَتِهِ الْعَادِلَةِ وَطَرِيقَتِهِ الْفَاضِلَةِ وَمَوَاعِظِهِ وَقَضَايَاهُ الْفَاصِلَةِ ، وَخُطَبِهِ الْكَامِلَةِ وَحِكَمِهِ الَّتِي هِيَ إِلَى الْقُلُوبِ وَاصِلَةٌ قَالَ عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَلَاءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: خَطَبَ عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، وَاللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ مَا رَزَأْتُ مِنْ مَالِكُمْ قَلِيلًا وَلَا كَثِيرًا إِلَّا هَذِهِ. وَأَخْرَجَ قَارُورَةً مِنْ كُمِّ قَمِيصِهِ فِيهَا طِيبٌ. فَقَالَ: أَهْدَاهَا إِلَى الدِّهْقَانُ. ثُمَّ أَتَى بَيْتَ الْمَالِ فَقَالَ: خُذُوا. وَأَنْشَأَ يَقُولُ: أَفْلَحَ مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ قَوْصَرَّهْ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهَا كُلَّ يَوْمٍ تَمْرَهْ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: مَرَّهْ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: طُوبَى لِمَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ قَوْصَرَّهْ................................ وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ زُرَيْرٍ الْغَافِقِيِّ قَالَ: دَخَلْنَا مَعَ عَلِيٍّ يَوْمَ الْأَضْحَى، فَقَرَّبَ إِلَيْنَا خَزِيرَةً، فَقُلْنَا: أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ، لَوْ قَدَّمْتَ إِلَيْنَا هَذَا الْبَطَّ وَالْإِوَزَّ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَكْثَرَ الْخَيْرَ. فَقَالَ: يَا ابْنَ زُرَيْرٍ، إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ: " لَا يَحِلُّ لِلْخَلِيفَةِ مِنْ مَالِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا قَصْعَتَانِ ; قَصْعَةٌ يَأْكُلُهَا هُوَ وَأَهْلُهُ، وَقَصْعَةٌ يُطْعِمُهَا النَّاسَ ". وَعَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ عَنْتَرَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ بِالْخَوَرْنَقِ وَعَلَيْهِ قَطِيفَةٌ وَهُوَ يُرْعِدُ مِنَ الْبَرْدِ، فَقُلْتُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ جَعَلَ لَكَ وَلِأَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ نَصِيبًا فِي هَذَا الْمَالِ، وَأَنْتَ تَفْعَلُ بِنَفْسِكَ هَذَا ؟ ! فَقَالَ: إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَا أَرْزَأُ مِنْ مَالِكُمْ شَيْئًا، وَهَذِهِ الْقَطِيفَةُ هِيَ الَّتِي خَرَجْتُ بِهَا مِنْ بَيْتِي. أَوْ قَالَ: مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ. وَقَالَ أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ: سَمِعْتُ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيَّ يَقُولُ: مَا بَنَى عَلِيٌّ لَبِنَةً عَلَى لَبِنَةٍ، وَلَا قَصَبَةً عَلَى قَصَبَةٍ، وَإِنْ كَانَ لَيُؤْتَى بِجَبُوبِهِ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ فِي جِرَابٍ. وَعَنْ مُجِمِّعِ بْنِ سَمْعَانَ التَّيْمِيِّ قَالَ: خَرَجَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ بِسَيْفِهِ إِلَى السُّوقِ فَقَالَ: مَنْ يَشْتَرِي مِنِّي سَيْفِي هَذَا ؟ فَلَوْ كَانَ عِنْدِي أَرْبَعَةُ دَرَاهِمَ أَشْتَرِي بِهَا إِزَارًا مَا بِعْتُهُ. وَعَنْ جَعْفَرٍ - قَالَ: أَظُنُّهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ - أَنَّ عَلِيًّا كَانَ إِذَا لَبِسَ قَمِيصًا مَدَّ يَدَهُ فِي كُمِّهِ، فَمَا فَضَلَ مِنَ الْكُمِّ عَنِ الْأَصَابِعِ قَطَعَهُ، وَقَالَ: لَيْسَ لِلْكُمِّ فَضْلٌ عَنِ الْأَصَابِعِ. وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: اشْتَرَى عَلِيٌّ قَمِيصًا بِثَلَاثَةِ دَرَاهِمَ وَهُوَ خَلِيفَةٌ، وَقَطَعَ كُمَّهُ مِنْ مَوْضِعِ الرُّسْغَيْنِ، وَقَالَ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَذَا مِنْ رِيَاشِهِ. وَعَنْ مَوْلًى لِأَبِي عُصَيْفِيرٍ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ عَلِيًّا خَرَجَ فَأَتَى رَجُلًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْكَرَابِيسِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: عِنْدَكَ قَمِيصٌ سُنْبُلَانِيٌّ ؟ قَالَ: فَأَخْرُجُ إِلَيْهِ قَمِيصًا فَلَبِسَهُ، فَإِذَا هُوَ إِلَى نِصْفِ سَاقَيْهِ، فَنَظَرَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَعَنْ شِمَالِهِ فَقَالَ: مَا أَرَى إِلَّا قَدْرًا حَسَنًا، بِكَمْ هُوَ ؟ قَالَ: بِأَرْبَعَةِ دَرَاهِمَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. قَالَ: فَحَلَّهَا مِنْ إِزَارِهِ فَدَفَعَهَا إِلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ. وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ: أَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ دُكَيْنٍ، أَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ جُرْمُوزٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ عَلِيًّا وَهُوَ يَخْرُجُ مِنَ الْقَصْرِ وَعَلَيْهِ قِطْرِيَّتَانِ ; إِزَارٌ إِلَى نِصْفِ السَّاقِ، وَرِدَاءٌ مُشَمَّرٌ قَرِيبٌ مِنْهُ، وَمَعَهُ دِرَّةٌ لَهُ يَمْشِي بِهَا فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ، وَيَأْمُرُ النَّاسَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَحُسْنِ الْبَيْعِ، وَيَقُولُ: أَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ وَالْمِيزَانَ. وَيَقُولُ: لَا تَنْفُخُوا اللَّحْمَ. وَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ فِي " الزُّهْدِ ": أَنَا رَجُلٌ، حَدَّثَنِي صَالِحُ بْنُ مِيثَمٍ، ثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ وَهْبٍ الْجُهَنِيُّ قَالَ: خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ وَعَلَيْهِ بُرْدَانِ، مُتَّزِرٌ بِأَحَدِهِمَا مُرْتَدٍ بِالْآخَرِ، قَدْ أَرْخَى جَانِبَ إِزَارِهِ وَرَفَعَ جَانِبًا، وَقَدْ رَفَعَ رِدَاءَهُ بِخِرْقَةٍ، فَمَرَّ بِهِ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَقَالَ: أَيُّهَا الْإِنْسَانُ، الْبَسْ مِنْ هَذِهِ الثِّيَابِ فَإِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ أَوْ مَقْتُولٌ. فَقَالَ: أَيُّهَا الْأَعْرَابِيُّ، إِنَّمَا أَلْبَسُ هَذَيْنِ الثَّوْبَيْنِ لِيَكُونَا أَبْعَدَ لِي مِنَ الزَّهْوِ، وَخَيْرًا لِي فِي صَلَاتِي، وَسُنَّةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِ. وَعَنْ أَبِي مَطَرٍ قَالَ: خَرَجْتُ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ يُنَادِي مِنْ خَلْفِي: ارْفَعْ إِزَارَكَ ; فَإِنَّهُ أَنْقَى لِثَوْبِكَ وَأَتْقَى لَكَ، وَخُذْ مِنْ رَأْسِكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مُسْلِمًا. فَمَشَيْتُ خَلْفَهُ وَهُوَ بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مُؤْتَزِرٌ بِإِزَارٍ مُرْتَدٍ بِرِدَاءٍ وَمَعَهُ الدِّرَّةُ، كَأَنَّهُ أَعْرَابِيٌّ بَدَوِيٌّ، فَقُلْتُ: مَنْ هَذَا ؟ فَقَالَ لِي رَجُلٌ: أَرَاكَ غَرِيبًا بِهَذَا الْبَلَدِ. فَقُلْتُ: أَجَلْ، أَنَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ. فَقَالَ: هَذَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى دَارِ بَنَى أَبِي مُعَيْطٍ وَهِيَ سُوقُ الْإِبِلِ، فَقَالَ: بِيعُوا وَلَا تَحْلِفُوا ; فَإِنَّ الْيَمِينَ تُنْفِقُ السِّلْعَةَ وَتَمْحَقُ الْبَرَكَةَ. ثُمَّ أَتَى أَصْحَابَ التَّمْرِ، فَإِذَا خَادِمٌ تَبْكِي فَقَالَ: مَا يُبْكِيكِ ؟ فَقَالَتْ: بَاعَنِي هَذَا الرَّجُلُ تَمْرًا بِدِرْهَمٍ فَرَدَّهُ مَوَالِيَّ، فَأَبَى أَنْ يَقْبَلَهُ. فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ: خُذْ تَمْرَكَ وَأَعْطِهَا دِرْهَمَهَا ; فَإِنَّهَا لَيْسَ لَهَا أَمْرٌ. فَدَفَعَهُ، فَقُلْتُ: أَتَدْرِي مَنْ هَذَا ؟ فَقَالَ: لَا. فَقُلْتُ: هَذَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. فَصَبَّتْ تَمْرَهُ وَأَعْطَاهَا دِرْهَمَهَا، ثُمَّ قَالَ الرَّجُلُ: أُحِبُّ أَنْ تَرْضَى عَنِّي يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. قَالَ: مَا أَرْضَانِي عَنْكَ إِذَا أَوْفَيْتَ النَّاسَ حُقُوقَهُمْ. ثُمَّ مَرَّ مُجْتَازًا بِأَصْحَابِ التَّمْرِ فَقَالَ: يَا أَصْحَابَ التَّمْرِ، أَطْعِمُوا الْمَسَاكِينَ يَرْبُ كَسْبُكُمْ. ثُمَّ مَرَّ مُجْتَازًا وَمَعَهُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ، حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى أَصْحَابِ السَّمَكِ، فَقَالَ: لَا يُبَاعُ فِي سُوقِنَا طَافٍ. ثُمَّ أَتَى دَارَ فُرَاتٍ وَهِيَ سُوقُ الْكَرَابِيسِ، فَأَتَى شَيْخًا فَقَالَ: يَا شَيْخُ، أَحْسِنْ بَيْعِي فِي قَمِيصٍ بِثَلَاثَةِ دَرَاهِمَ. فَلَمَّا عَرَفَهُ لَمْ يَشْتَرِ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا، ثُمَّ آخَرَ، فَلَمَّا عَرَفَهُ لَمْ يَشْتَرِ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا، فَأَتَى غُلَامًا حَدَثًا فَاشْتَرَى مِنْهُ قَمِيصًا بِثَلَاثَةِ دَرَاهِمَ، وَكُمُّهُ مَا بَيْنَ الرُّسْغَيْنِ إِلَى الْكَفَّيْنِ يَقُولُ فِي لُبْسِهِ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي رَزَقَنِي مِنَ الرِّيَاشِ مَا أَتَجَمَّلُ بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ، وَأُوَارِي بِهِ عَوْرَتِي. فَقِيلَ لَهُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، هَذَا شَيْءٌ تَرْوِيهِ عَنْ نَفْسِكَ، أَوْ شَيْءٌ سَمِعْتَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ؟ فَقَالَ: لَا، بَلْ شَيْءٌ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُهُ عِنْدَ الْكِسْوَةِ. فَجَاءَ أَبُو الْغُلَامِ صَاحِبُ الثَّوْبِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ: يَا فُلَانُ، قَدْ بَاعَ ابْنُكَ الْيَوْمَ مِنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَمِيصًا بِثَلَاثَةِ دَرَاهِمَ. قَالَ: أَفَلَا أَخَذْتَ مِنْهُ دِرْهَمَيْنِ ؟ فَأَخَذَ مِنْهُ أَبُوهُ دِرْهَمًا، ثُمَّ جَاءَ بِهِ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ مَعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ عَلَى بَابِ الرَّحْبَةِ، فَقَالَ: أَمْسِكْ هَذَا الدِّرْهَمَ. فَقَالَ: مَا شَأْنُ هَذَا الدِّرْهَمِ ؟ فَقَالَ: كَانَ قَمِيصًا ثُمِّنَ دِرْهَمَيْنِ. فَقَالَ: بَاعَنِي رِضَايَ وَأَخَذَ رِضَاهُ. وَعَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ قَالَ: وَجَدَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ دِرْعَهُ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ نَصْرَانِيٍّ، فَأَقْبَلَ بِهِ إِلَى شُرَيْحٍ يُخَاصِمُهُ. قَالَ: فَجَاءَ عَلِيٌّ حَتَّى جَلَسَ إِلَى جَنْبِ شُرَيْحٍ وَقَالَ: يَا شُرَيْحُ، لَوْ كَانَ خَصْمِي مُسْلِمًا مَا جَلَسْتُ إِلَّا مَعَهُ، وَلَكِنَّهُ نَصْرَانِيٌّ، وَقَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " إِذَا كُنْتُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ فِي طَرِيقٍ فَاضْطَرُّوهُمْ إِلَى مَضَايِقِهِ، وَصَغِّرُوا بِهِمْ كَمَا صَغَّرَ اللَّهُ بِهِمْ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ تَطْغَوْا ". ثُمَّ قَالَ: هَذَا الدِّرْعُ دِرْعِي وَلَمْ أَبِعْ وَلَمْ أَهَبْ. فَقَالَ شُرَيْحٌ لِلنَّصْرَانِيِّ: مَا تَقَولُ فِيمَا يَقُولُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ؟ فَقَالَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ: مَا الدِّرْعُ إِلَّا دِرْعِي، وَمَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عِنْدِي بِكَاذِبٍ. فَالْتَفَتَ شُرَيْحٌ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، هَلْ مِنْ بَيِّنَةٍ ؟ فَضَحِكَ عَلِيٌّ وَقَالَ: أَصَابَ شُرَيْحٌ، مَا لِي بَيِّنَةٌ. فَقَضَى بِهَا شُرَيْحٌ لِلنَّصْرَانِيِّ. قَالَ: فَأَخْذُهَا النَّصْرَانِيُّ، وَمَشَى خُطًى ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَقَالَ: أَمَّا أَنَا فَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ هَذِهِ أَحْكَامُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ، أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَدَّمَنِي إِلَى قَاضِيهِ، وَقَاضِيهِ يَقْضِي عَلَيْهِ ! أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، الدِّرْعُ وَاللَّهِ دِرْعُكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، اتَّبَعْتُ الْجَيْشَ وَأَنْتَ مُنْطَلِقٌ إِلَى صِفِّينَ فَخَرَجَتْ مِنْ بَعِيرِكَ الْأَوْرَقِ. فَقَالَ: أَمَا إِذْ أَسْلَمْتَ فَهِيَ لَكَ. وَحَمَلَهُ عَلَى فَرَسٍ. قَالَ الشَّعْبِيُّ: فَأَخْبَرَنِي مَنْ رَآهُ يُقَاتِلُ الْخَوَارِجَ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ يَوْمَ النَّهْرَوَانِ. وَقَالَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ: جَاءَ جَعْدَةُ بْنُ هُبَيْرَةَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، يَأْتِيكَ الرَّجُلَانِ أَنْتَ أَحَبُّ إِلَى أَحَدِهِمَا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ وَمَالِهِ، وَالْآخَرُ لَوْ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَذْبَحَكَ لَذَبَحَكَ، فَتَقْضِي لِهَذَا عَلَى هَذَا ! قَالَ: فَلَهَزَهُ عَلِيٌّ وَقَالَ: إِنَّ هَذَا شَيْءٌ لَوْ كَانَ لِي فَعَلْتُ، وَلَكِنْ إِنَّمَا ذَا شَيْءٌ لِلَّهِ. وَعَنْ صَالِحٍ بَيَّاعِ الْأَكْسِيَةِ، عَنْ جَدَّتِهِ قَالَتْ: رَأَيْتُ عَلِيًّا اشْتَرَى تَمْرًا بِدِرْهَمٍ، فَحَمَلَهُ فِي مِلْحَفَتِهِ، فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أَلَا نَحْمِلُهُ عَنْكَ. فَقَالَ: أَبُو الْعِيَالِ أَحَقُّ بِحَمْلِهِ. وَعَنْ أَبِي هَاشِمٍ، عَنْ زَاذَانَ قَالَ: كَانَ عَلِيٌّ يَمْشِي فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ وَحْدَهُ وَهُوَ خَلِيفَةٌ، يُرْشِدُ الضَّالَّ وَيُعِينُ الضَّعِيفَ، وَيَمُرُّ بِالْبَيَّاعِ وَالْبَقَّالِ فَيَفْتَحُ عَلَيْهِ الْقُرْآنَ، وَيَقْرَأُ تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا [ الْقَصَصِ: 83 ]. ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ فِي أَهْلِ الْعَدْلِ وَالتَّوَاضُعِ مِنَ الْوُلَاةِ وَأَهْلِ الْقُدْرَةِ مِنْ سَائِرِ النَّاسِ. وَعَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ زِيَادٍ، عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي الْأَسْوَدِ، عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ، أَنَّهُ رَأَى عَلِيًّا قَدْ رَكِبَ حِمَارًا وَدَلَّى رِجْلَيْهِ إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ وَاحِدٍ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَنَا الَّذِي أَهَنْتُ الدُّنْيَا. وَعَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ قَالَ: تَذَاكَرُوا الزُّهَّادَ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، فَقَالَ قَائِلُونَ: فُلَانٌ. وَقَالَ قَائِلُونَ: فُلَانٌ. فَقَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ: أَزْهَدُ النَّاسِ فِي الدُّنْيَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَقَالَ هِشَامُ بْنُ حَسَّانَ: بَيْنَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَ الْحَسَنِ الْبَصْرِيِّ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ رَجُلٌ مَنِ الْأَزَارِقَةِ فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا سَعِيدٍ، مَا تَقُولُ فِي عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ؟ قَالَ: فَاحْمَرَّتْ وَجْنَتَا الْحَسَنِ، وَقَالَ: رَحِمَ اللَّهُ عَلِيًّا، إِنَّ عَلِيًّا كَانَ سَهْمًا لِلَّهِ صَائِبًا فِي أَعْدَائِهِ، وَكَانَ فِي مَحَلَّةِ الْعِلْمِ أَشْرَفَهَا وَأَقْرَبَهَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ، وَكَانَ رَبَّانِيَّ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ، لَمْ يَكُنْ لَمِالِ اللَّهِ بِالسَّرُوقَةِ، وَلَا فِي أَمْرِ اللَّهِ بِالنَّئُومَةِ، أَعْطَى الْقُرْآنَ عَزَائِمَهُ وَعَمَلَهُ وَعِلْمَهُ، فَكَانَ مِنْهُ فِي رِيَاضٍ مُونِقَةٍ، وَأَعْلَامٍ بَيِّنَةٍ، ذَاكَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ يَا لُكَعُ. وَعَنْ أَبِي مَكِينٍ قَالَ: مَرَرْتُ أَنَا وَخَالِي أَبُو أُمَيَّةَ عَلَى دَارٍ فِي مَحَلِّ حَيٍّ مِنْ مُرَادٍ، فَقَالَ: تَرَى هَذِهِ الدَّارَ ؟ قُلْتُ: نَعَمْ. قَالَ: فَإِنَّ عَلِيًّا مَرَّ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ يَبْنُونَهَا، فَسَقَطَتْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْعَةٌ فَشَجَّتْهُ، فَدَعَا اللَّهَ أَنْ لَا يَكْمُلَ بِنَاؤُهَا. قَالَ: فَمَا وُضِعَتْ عَلَيْهَا لَبِنَةٌ. قَالَ: فَكُنْتُ أَمُرُّ عَلَيْهَا لَا تُشْبِهُ الدُّورَ. وَعَنْ أَبِي بَشِيرٍ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ قَالَ: شَهِدْتُ الْجَمَلَ مَعَ مَوْلَايَ، فَمَا رَأَيْتُ يَوْمًا قَطُّ أَكْثَرَ سَاعِدًا نَادِرًا وَقَدَمًا نَادِرَةً مِنْ يَوْمَئِذٍ، وَلَا مَرَرْتُ بِدَارِ الْوَلِيدِ قَطُّ إِلَّا ذَكَرْتُ يَوْمَ الْجَمَلِ. قَالَ: فَحَدَّثَنِي الْحَكَمُ بْنُ عُتَيْبَةَ أَنَّ عَلِيًّا دَعَا يَوْمَ الْجُمَلَ فَقَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ خُذْ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَقْدَامَهُمْ. مِنْ كَلَامِهِ الْحَسَنِ ؓ وَمِنْ كَلَامِهِ الْحَسَنِ، ؓ: عن أَبِي أَرَاكَةَ يَقُولُ: صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ صَلَاةَ الْفَجْرِ، فَلَمَّا انْفَتَلَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ مَكَثَ كَأَنَّ عَلَيْهِ كَآبَةً، حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى حَائِطِ الْمَسْجِدِ قَيْدَ رُمْحٍ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ قَلَّبَ يَدَهُ، فَقَالَ: وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَصْحَابَ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ فَمَا أَرَى الْيَوْمَ شَيْئًا يُشْبِهُهُمْ، لَقَدْ كَانُوا يُصْبِحُونَ صُفْرًا شُعْثًا غُبْرًا، بَيْنَ أَعْيُنِهِمْ كَأَمْثَالِ رُكَبِ الْمِعْزَى، قَدْ بَاتُوا لِلَّهِ سُجَّدًا وَقِيَامًا، يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ، يُرَاوِحُونَ بَيْنَ جِبَاهِهِمْ وَأَقْدَامِهِمْ، فَإِذَا أَصْبَحُوا فَذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ مَادُوا كَمَا يَمِيدُ الشَّجَرُ فِي يَوْمِ الرِّيحِ، وَهَمَلَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ حَتَّى تَبُلَّ ثِيَابَهُمْ، وَاللَّهِ لَكَأَنَّ الْقَوْمَ بَاتُوا غَافِلِينَ. ثُمَّ نَهَضَ، فَمَا رُئِيَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ مُفْتَرًّا يَضْحَكُ، حَتَّى قَتَلَهُ ابْنُ مُلْجَمٍ عَدُوُّ اللَّهِ الْفَاسِقُ. وَقَالَ وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، عَنْ أَوْفَى بْنِ دَلْهَمٍ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: تَعَلَّمُوا الْعِلْمَ تُعْرَفُوا بِهِ، وَاعْمَلُوا بِهِ تَكُونُوا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ، فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِكُمْ زَمَانٌ يُنْكَرُ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ تِسْعَةُ أَعْشَارِهِ، وَإِنَّهُ لَا يَنْجُو مِنْهُ إِلَّا كُلُّ نُوَمَةٍ مُنْبَتِّ الدَّاءِ، أُولَئِكَ أَئِمَّةُ الْهُدَى وَمَصَابِيحُ الْعِلْمِ، لَيْسُوا بِالْعُجُلِ الْمَذَايِيعِ الْبُذُرِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا قَدِ ارْتَحَلَتْ مُدْبِرَةً، وَإِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ قَدْ أَتَتْ مُقْبِلَةً، وَلِكُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُمَا بَنُونَ، فَكُونُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ، وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الدُّنْيَا، أَلَّا وَإِنَّ الزَّاهِدِينَ فِي الدُّنْيَا اتَّخَذُوا الْأَرْضَ بِسَاطًا، وَالتُّرَابَ فِرَاشًا، وَالْمَاءَ طِيبًا، أَلَا مَنِ اشْتَاقَ إِلَى الْآخِرَةِ سَلَا عَنِ الشَّهَوَاتِ، وَمَنْ أَشْفَقَ مِنَ النَّارِ رَجَعَ عَنِ الْحُرُمَاتِ، وَمَنْ طَلَبَ الْجَنَّةَ سَارَعَ إِلَى الطَّاعَاتِ، وَمَنْ زَهِدَ فِي الدُّنْيَا هَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْمُصِيبَاتُ، أَلَا إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عِبَادًا كَمَنْ رَأَى أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مُخَلَّدِينَ، وَأَهْلَ النَّارِ فِي النَّارِ مُعَذَّبِينَ، شُرُورُهُمْ مَأْمُونَةٌ، وَقُلُوبُهُمْ مَحْزُونَةٌ، وَأَنْفُسُهُمْ عَفِيفَةٌ، وَحَوَائِجُهُمْ خَفِيفَةٌ، صَبَرُوا أَيَّامًا قَلِيلَةً لِعُقْبَى رَاحَةٍ طَوِيلَةٍ، أَمَّا اللَّيْلُ فَصَافُّونَ أَقْدَامَهُمْ، تَجْرِي دُمُوعُهُمْ عَلَى خُدُودِهِمْ، يَجْأَرُونَ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ: رَبَّنَا رَبَّنَا. يَطْلُبُونَ فِكَاكَ رِقَابِهِمْ، وَأَمَّا النَّهَارُ فَعُلَمَاءُ حُلَمَاءُ، بَرَرَةٌ أَتْقِيَاءُ، كَأَنَّهُمُ الْقِدَاحُ، يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمُ النَّاظِرُ فَيَقُولُ: مَرْضَى. وَمَا بِالْقَوْمِ مِنْ مَرَضٍ، وَخُولِطُوا. وَلَقَدْ خَالَطَ الْقَوْمَ أَمْرٌ عَظِيمٌ. وَعَنِ الْأَصْبَغِ بْنِ نُبَاتَةَ قَالَ: صَعِدَ عَلِيٌّ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ الْمِنْبَرَ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَذَكَرَ الْمَوْتَ، فَقَالَ: عِبَادَ اللَّهِ، الْمَوْتُ لَيْسَ مِنْهُ فَوْتٌ، إِنْ أَقَمْتُمْ لَهُ أَخَذَكُمْ، وَإِنْ فَرَرْتُمْ مِنْهُ أَدْرَكَكُمْ، فَالنَّجَاءَ النَّجَاءَ، وَالْوَحَاءَ الْوَحَاءَ، وَرَاءَكُمْ طَالِبٌ حَثِيثٌ ; الْقَبْرُ، فَاحْذَرُوا ضَغْطَتَهُ وَظُلْمَتَهُ وَوَحْشَتَهُ، أَلَا وَإِنَّ الْقَبْرَ حُفْرَةٌ مِنْ حُفَرِ النَّارِ، أَوْ رَوْضَةٌ مِنْ رِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ، أَلَّا وَإِنَّهُ يَتَكَلَّمُ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَيَقُولُ: أَنَا بَيْتُ الظُّلْمَةِ، أَنَا بَيْتُ الدُّودِ، أَنَا بَيْتُ الْوَحْشَةِ. أَلَا وَإِنَّ وَرَاءَ ذَلِكَ يَوْمًا يَشِيبُ فِيهِ الصَّغِيرُ، وَيَسْكَرُ فِيهِ الْكَبِيرُ، وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا، وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَارَى، وَمَا هُمْ بِسُكَارَى وَلَكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ، أَلَا وَإِنَّ وَرَاءَ ذَلِكَ مَا هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ ; نَارٌ حَرُّهَا شَدِيدٌ، وَقَعْرُهَا بَعِيدٌ، وَحَلْيُهَا حَدِيدٌ، وَمَاؤُهَا صَدِيدٌ، وَخَازِنُهَا مَلَكٌ لَيْسَ لِلَّهِ فِيهِ رَحْمَةٌ. قَالَ: ثُمَّ بَكَى وَبَكَى الْمُسْلِمُونَ حَوْلَهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَلَا وَإِنَّ وَرَاءَ ذَلِكَ جَنَّةً، عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ، جَعَلَنَا اللَّهُ وَإِيَّاكُمْ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ، وَأَجَارَنَا وَإِيَّاكُمْ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَلِيمِ. وَعَنْ أَوْفَى بْنِ دَلْهَمٍ قَالَ: خَطَبَ عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ الدُّنْيَا قَدْ أَدْبَرَتْ وَآذَنَتْ بِوَدَاعٍ، وَإِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ قَدْ أَقْبَلَتْ وَأَشْرَفَتْ بِاطِّلَاعٍ، وَإِنَّ الْمِضْمَارَ الْيَوْمَ، وَغَدًا السِّبَاقُ، أَلَا وَإِنَّكُمْ فِي أَيَّامِ أَمَلٍ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ أَجْلٌ، فَمَنْ قَصَّرَ فِي أَيَّامِ أَمَلِهِ قَبْلَ حُضُورِ أَجْلِهِ فَقَدْ خُيِّبَ عَمَلُهُ، أَلَا فَاعْمَلُوا لِلَّهِ فِي الرَّغْبَةِ كَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ لَهُ فِي الرَّهْبَةِ، أَلَا وَإِنِّي لَمْ أَرَ كَالْجَنَّةِ نَامَ طَالِبُهَا، وَلَمْ أَرَ كَالنَّارِ نَامَ هَارِبُهَا، أَلَا وَإِنَّهُ مَنْ لَمْ يَنْفَعْهُ الْحَقُّ ضَرَّهُ الْبَاطِلُ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَقِمْ بِهِ الْهُدَى حَارَ بِهِ الضَّلَالُ، أَلَا وَإِنَّكُمْ قَدْ أُمِرْتُمْ بِالظَّعْنِ، وَدُلْلِتُمْ عَلَى الزَّادِ، أَلَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّمَا الدُّنْيَا عَرَضٌ حَاضِرٌ، يَأْكُلُ مِنْهَا الْبَرُّ وَالْفَاجِرُ، وَإِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ وَعْدٌ صَادِقٌ، يَحْكُمُ فِيهَا مَلِكٌ قَادِرٌ، أَلَا إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ، وَاللَّهُ يَعِدُكُمْ مَغْفِرَةً مِنْهُ وَفَضْلًا، وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ، أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، أَحْسِنُوا فِي عُمْرِكُمْ تُحْفَظُوا فِي عَقِبِكُمْ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ وَعَدَ جَنَّتَهُ مَنْ أَطَاعَهُ، وَأَوْعَدَ نَارَهُ مَنْ عَصَاهُ، إِنَّهَا نَارٌ لَا يَهْدَأُ زَفِيرُهَا، وَلَا يُفَكُّ أَسِيرُهَا، وَلَا يُجْبَرُ كَسِيرُهَا، حَرُّهَا شَدِيدٌ، وَقَعْرُهَا بَعِيدٌ، وَمَاؤُهَا صَدِيدٌ، وَإِنَّ أَخْوَفَ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمُ اتِّبَاعُ الْهَوَى وَطُولُ الْأَمَلِ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: فَإِنَّ اتِّبَاعَ الْهَوَى يَصُدُّ عَنِ الْحَقِّ، وَطُولُ الْأَمَلِ يُنْسِي الْآخِرَةَ. وَعَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ ضَمْرَةَ قَالَ: ذَمَّ رَجُلٌ الدُّنْيَا عِنْدَ عَلِيٍّ، فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ: الدُّنْيَا دَارُ صِدْقٍ لِمَنْ صَدَقَهَا، وَدَارُ نَجَاةٍ لِمَنْ فَهِمَ عَنْهَا، وَدَارُ غِنًى لِمَنْ تَزَوَّدَ مِنْهَا، مَهْبِطُ وَحْيِ اللَّهِ، وَمُصَلَّى مَلَائِكَتِهِ، وَمَسْجِدِ أَنْبِيَائِهِ، وَمَتْجَرُ أَوْلِيَائِهِ، رَبِحُوا فِيهَا الرَّحْمَةَ، وَاكْتَسَبُوا فِيهَا الْجَنَّةَ، فَمَنْ ذَا يَذُمُّهَا وَقَدْ آذَنَتْ بِبَيْنِهَا، وَنَادَتْ بِفِرَاقِهَا، وَشَبَّهَتْ بِشُرُورِهَا السُّرُورَ، وَبِبَلَائِهَا إِلَيْهِ تَرْغِيبًا وَتَرْهِيبًا، فَيَا أَيُّهَا الذَّامُّ لِلدُّنْيَا الْمُعَلِّلُ نَفْسَهُ، مَتَى خَدَعَتْكَ الدُّنْيَا، أَوْ مَتَى اسْتَذَمَّتْ إِلَيْكَ ؟ أَبِمَصَارِعِ آبَائِكَ فِي الْبِلَى ؟ أَمْ بِمَضَاجِعِ أُمَّهَاتِكَ تَحْتَ الثَّرَى ؟ ! كَمْ مَرِضْتَ بِيَدَيْكَ، وَعَلَّلَتْ بِكَفَّيْكَ، تَطْلُبُ لَهُ الشِّفَاءَ، وَتَسْتَوْصِفُ لَهُ الْأَطِبَّاءَ، لَا يُغْنِي عَنْكَ دَوَاؤُكَ، وَلَا يَنْفَعُكَ بُكَاؤُكَ. وَعَنْ أَبِي الْبَخْتَرِيِّ قَالَ: جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ فَأَطْرَاهُ، وَكَانَ يُبْغِضُ عَلِيًّا، فَقَالَ لَهُ: لَسْتُ كَمَا تَقُولُ، وَأَنَا فَوْقَ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ. وَرَوَى ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَالَ لِعَلِيٍّ: ثَبَّتَكَ اللَّهُ. قَالَ: عَلَى صَدْرِكَ. وَعَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ يَعْمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ عَلِيٌّ: إِنَّ الْأَمْرَ يَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ كَقَطْرِ الْمَطَرِ، لِكُلِّ نَفْسٍ مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهَا مِنْ زِيَادَةٍ أَوْ نُقْصَانٍ، فِي نَفْسٍ أَوْ أَهْلٍ أَوْ مَالٍ، فَمَنْ رَأَى نَقَصَا فِي نَفْسِهِ أَوْ أَهْلِهِ أَوْ مَالِهِ، وَرَأَى لِغَيْرِهِ غَفِيرَةً فَلَا يَكُونَنَّ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فِتْنَةً، فَإِنَّ الْمُسْلِمَ مَا لَمْ يَغْشَ دَنَاءَةً يُظْهِرُ تَخَشُّعًا لَهَا إِذَا ذُكِرَتْ، وَتُغْرِي بِهِ لِئَامَ النَّاسِ، كَالْيَاسِرِ الْفَالِجِ يَنْتَظِرُ أَوَّلَ فَوْزَةٍ مِنْ قِدَاحِهِ تُوجِبُ لَهُ الْمَغْنَمَ وَتَدْفَعُ عَنْهُ الْمَغْرَمَ، فَكَذَلِكَ الْمُسْلِمُ الْبَرِيءُ مِنَ الْخِيَانَةِ بَيْنَ إِحْدَى الْحُسْنَيَيْنِ إِذَا مَا دَعَا اللَّهَ، فَمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لَهُ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَرْزُقَهُ اللَّهُ مَالًا فَإِذَا هُوَ ذُو أَهْلٍ وَمَالٍ، وَمَعَهُ حَسَبُهُ وَدِينُهُ، الْحَرْثُ حَرْثَانِ ; فَحَرْثُ الدُّنْيَا الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ، وَحَرْثُ الْآخِرَةِ الْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ، وَقَدْ يَجْمَعُهُمَا اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لِأَقْوَامٍ. قَالَ سُفْيَانُ: وَمَنْ يُحْسِنُ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ بِهَذَا الْكَلَامِ إِلَّا عَلِيٌّ ؟ ! وَعَنْ مُهَاجِرٍ الْعَامِرِيِّ قَالَ: كَتَبَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَهْدًا لِبَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَلَى بَلَدٍ، فِيهِ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَلَا تُطَوِّلَنَّ حِجَابَكَ عَلَى رَعِيَّتِكَ، فَإِنَّ احْتِجَابَ الْوُلَاةِ عَنِ الرَّعِيَّةِ شُعْبَةُ الضِّيقِ، وَقِلَّةُ عِلْمٍ بِالْأُمُورِ، وَالِاحْتِجَابُ يَقْطَعُ عَنْهُمْ عِلْمَ مَا احْتُجِبُوا دُونَهُ، فَيَضْعُفُ عِنْدَهُمُ الْكَبِيرُ، وَيَعْظُمُ الصَّغِيرُ، وَيَقْبُحُ الْحَسَنُ، وَيَحْسُنُ الْقَبِيحُ، وَيُشَابُ الْحَقُّ بِالْبَاطِلِ، وَإِنَّمَا الْوَالِي بَشَرٌ لَا يَعْرِفُ مَا تَوَارَى عَنْهُ النَّاسُ بِهِ مِنَ الْأُمُورِ، وَلَيْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْلِ سِمَاتٌ يُعْرَفُ بِهَا ضُرُوبُ الصِّدْقِ مِنَ الْكَذِبِ، فَتَحَصَّنْ مِنَ الْإِدْخَالِ فِي الْحُقُوقِ بِلِينِ الْحِجَابِ، فَإِنَّمَا أَنْتَ أَحَدُ الرَّجُلَيْنِ ; إِمَّا امْرُؤٌ سَخَتْ نَفْسُكَ بِالْبَذْلِ فِي الْحَقِّ، فَفِيمَ احْتِجَابُكَ مِنْ حَقٍّ وَاجِبٍ أَنْ تُعْطِيَهُ، أَوْ خُلُقٍ كَرِيمٍ تُسَدِّدُ بِهِ ؟ وَإِمَّا مُبْتَلًى بِالْمَنْعِ وَالشُّحِّ، فَمَا أَسْرَعَ كَفَّ النَّاسِ عَنْ مَسْأَلَتِكَ إِذَا يَئِسُوا مِنْ خَيْرِكِ، مَعَ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَ حَاجَاتِ النَّاسِ إِلَيْكَ مَا لَا مُؤْنَةَ فِيهِ عَلَيْكَ ; مِنْ شَكَاةِ مَظْلَمَةٍ، أَوْ طَلَبِ إِنْصَافٍ، فَانْتَفِعْ بِمَا وَصَفْتُ لَكَ، وَاقْتَصِرْ عَلَى حَظِّكَ وَرُشْدِكَ، إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ. وَقَالَ الْمَدَائِنِيُّ: كَتَبَ عَلِيٌّ إِلَى بَعْضِ عُمَّالِهِ: رُوَيْدًا، فَكَأَنْ قَدْ بَلَغْتَ الْمَدَى، وَعُرِضَتْ عَلَيْكَ أَعْمَالُكَ بِالْمَحَلِّ الَّذِي يُنَادِي الْمُغْتَرُّ بِالْحَسْرَةِ، وَيَتَمَنَّى الْمُضَيِّعُ التَّوْبَةَ، وَالظَّالِمُ الرَّجْعَةَ. شعر علي بن أبي طالب وَعَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ قَالَ: كَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَقُولُ الشِّعْرَ، وَكَانَ عُمَرُ يَقُولُ الشِّعْرَ، وَكَانَ عَلِيٌّ يَقُولُ الشِّعْرَ، وَكَانَ عَلِيٌّ أَشْعَرَ الثَّلَاثَةِ. وَعَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ قَالَ: كَتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ: يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ، إِنَّ لِي فَضَائِلَ كَثِيرَةً، وَكَانَ أَبِي سَيِّدًا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَصِرْتُ مَلِكًا فِي الْإِسْلَامِ، وَأَنَا صِهْرُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ، وَخَالُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَكَاتِبُ الْوَحْيِ. فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ: أَبَالْفَضَائِلِ يَفْخَرُ عَلَيَّ ابْنُ آكِلَةِ الْأَكْبَادِ ؟ ! ثُمَّ قَالَ: اكْتُبْ يَا غُلَامُ: مُحَمَّدٌ النَّبِيُّ أَخِي وَصِهْرِي وَحَمْزَةُ سَيِّدُ الشُّهَدَاءِ عَمِّي وَجَعْفَرٌ الَّذِي يُمْسِي وَيُضْحِي يَطِيرُ مَعَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ ابْنُ أُمِّي وَبِنْتُ مُحَمَّدٍ سَكَنِي وَعِرْسِي مَسُوطٌ لَحْمُهَا بِدَمِي وَلَحْمِي وَسِبْطَا أَحْمَدَ وَلَدَايَ مِنْهَا فَأَيُّكُمُ لَهُ سَهْمٌ كَسَهْمِي سَبَقْتُكُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ طُرًّا صَغِيرًا مَا بَلَغْتُ أَوَانَ حُلْمِي قَالَ: فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ: أَخْفُوا هَذَا الْكِتَابَ لَا يَقْرَؤُهُ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ فَيَمِيلُوا إِلَى ابْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ. وَعَنِ الْأَصْبَغِ بْنِ نُبَاتَةَ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ أَنَّهُ جَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِنَّ لِي إِلَيْكَ حَاجَةً قَدْ رَفَعْتُهَا إِلَى اللَّهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَرْفَعَهَا إِلَيْكَ، فَإِنْ أَنْتَ قَضَيْتَهَا حَمِدْتُ اللَّهَ وَشَكَرْتُكَ، وَإِنْ أَنْتَ لَمْ تَقْضِهَا حَمِدْتُ اللَّهَ وَعَذَرْتُكَ. فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ: اكْتُبْ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ ; فَإِنِّي أَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَرَى ذُلَّ السُّؤَالِ فِي وَجْهِكَ. فَكَتَبَ: إِنِّي مُحْتَاجٌ. فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ: عَلِيَّ بِحُلَّةٍ. فَأَتَى بِهَا، فَأَخَذَهَا الرَّجُلُ فَلَبِسَهَا، ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ يَقُولُ: كَسَوْتَنِي حُلَّةً تَبْلَى مَحَاسِنُهَا فَسَوْفَ أَكْسُوكَ مِنْ حُسْنِ الثَّنَا حُلَلَا إِنْ نِلْتَ حَسَنَ ثَنَائِي نِلْتَ مَكْرُمَةً وَلَسْتَ تَبْغِي بِمَا قَدْ قُلْتُهُ بَدَلًا إِنَّ الثَّنَاءَ لَيُحْيِي ذِكْرَ صَاحِبِهِ كَالْغَيْثِ يُحْيِي نَدَاهُ السَّهْلَ وَالْجَبَلَا لَا تَزْهَدِ الدَّهْرَ فِي خَيْرٍ تُوَاقِعُهُ فَكُلُّ عَبْدٍ سَيُجْزَى بِالَّذِي عَمِلَا فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ: عَلَيَّ بِالدَّنَانِيرِ. فَأُتِيَ بِمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ، فَدَفَعَهَا إِلَيْهِ. قَالَ الْأَصْبَغُ: فَقُلْتُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، حُلَّةً وَمِائَةَ دِينَارٍ ؟ ! قَالَ: نَعَمْ. سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ: " أَنْزِلُوا النَّاسَ مَنَازِلَهُمْ ". وَهَذِهِ مَنْزِلَةُ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ عِنْدِي. وَمِمَّا أَنْشَدَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الصُّولِيُّ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ: أَلَّا فَاصْبِرْ عَلَى الْحَدَثِ الْجَلِيلِ وَدَاوِ جَوَاكَ بِالصَّبْرِ الْجَمِيلِ وَلَا تَجْزَعْ فَإِنْ أَعْسَرْتَ يَوْمًا فَقَدْ أَيْسَرْتَ فِي الدَّهْرِ الطَّوِيلِ وَلَا تَظْنُنْ بِرَبِّكَ ظَنَّ سَوْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَوْلَى بِالْجَمِيلِ فَإِنَّ الْعُسْرَ يَتْبَعُهُ يَسَارٌ وَقَوْلُ اللَّهِ أَصْدَقُ كُلِّ قِيلِ فَلَوْ أَنَّ الْعُقُولَ تَجُرُّ رِزْقًا لَكَانَ الرِّزْقُ عِنْدَ ذَوِي الْعُقُولِ فَكَمْ مِنْ م?ؤْمِنٍ قَدْ جَاعَ يَوْمًا سَيُرْوَى مِنْ رَحِيقِ السَّلْسَبِيلِ فَمِنْ هَوَانِ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ يُجِيعُ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنْ نَفَاسَتِهِ، وَيُشْبِعُ الْكَلْبَ مَعَ خَسَاسَتِهِ، وَالْكَافِرُ يَأْكُلُ وَيَشْرَبُ، وَيَلْبَسُ وَيَتَمَتَّعُ، وَالْمُؤْمِنُ يَجُوعُ وَيَعْرَى، وَذَلِكَ لِحِكْمَةٍ اقْتَضَتْهَا حِكْمَةُ أَحْكَمِ الْحَاكِمِينَ. وَمِمَّا أَنْشَدَهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْوَرَّاقُ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ: أَجِدِ الثِّيَابَ إِذَا اكْتَسَيْتَ فَإِنَّهَا زَيْنُ الرِّجَالِ بِهَا تُعَزُّ وَتُكْرَمُ وَدَعِ التَّوَاضُعَ فِي الثِّيَابِ تَخَوُّفًا فَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُجِنُّ وَتَكْتُمُ فَرَثَاثُ ثَوْبِكَ لَا يَزِيدُكَ زُلْفَةً عِنْدَ الْإِلَهِ وَأَنْتَ عَبْدٌ مُجْرِمٌ وَبَهَاءُ ثَوْبِكَ لَا يَضُرُّكَ بَعْدَ أَنْ تَخْشَى الْإِلَهَ وَتَتَّقِي مَا يَحْرُمُ وَهَذَا كَمَا جَاءَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ: " إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَلَا إِلَى ثِيَابِكُمْ، وَإِنَّمَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَأَعْمَالِكُمْ ". وَقَالَ الثَّوْرِيُّ: لَيْسَ الزُّهْدُ فِي الدُّنْيَا بِلُبْسِ الْعَبَاءِ وَلَا بِأَكْلِ الْخَشِنِ، إِنَّمَا الزُّهْدُ فِي الدُّنْيَا قِصَرُ الْأَمَلِ. وَعَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَلَاءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: وَقَفَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَى قَبْرِ فَاطِمَةَ، فَأَنْشَأَ يَقُولُ: ذَكَرْتُ أَبَا أَرْوَى فَبِتُّ كَأَنَّنِي بِرَدِّ الْهُمُومِ الْمَاضِيَاتِ وَكِيلُ لِكُلِّ اجْتِمَاعٍ مِنْ خَلِيلَيْنِ فُرْقَةٌ وَكُلِّ الَّذِي قَبْلَ الْمَمَاتِ قَلِيلُ وَإِنَّ افْتِقَادِي وَاحِدًا بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ دَلِيلٌ عَلَى أَنْ لَا يَدُومَ خَلِيلُ سَيُعْرَضُ عَنْ ذِكْرِي وَتُنْسَى مَوَدَّتِي وَيَحْدُثُ بَعْدِي لِلْخَلِيلِ خَلِيلُ إِذَا انْقَطَعَتْ يَومًا مِنَ الْعَيْشِ مُدَّتِي فَإِنَّ عَنَاءَ الْبَاكِيَاتِ قَلِيلُ وَأَنْشَدَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِعَلِيٍّ ؓ: حَقِيقٌ بِالتَّوَاضُعِ مَنْ يَمُوتُ وَيَكْفِي الْمَرْءَ مِنْ دُنْيَاهُ قُوتُ فَمَا لِلْمَرِءِ يُصْبِحُ ذَا هُمُومٍ وَحِرْصٍ لَيْسَ تُدْرِكُهُ النُّعُوتِ صَنِيعُ مَلِيكِنَا حَسَنٌ جَمِيلٌ وَمَا أَرْزَاقُهُ عَنَّا تَفُوتُ فَيَا هَذَا سَتَرْحَلُ عَنْ قَلِيلٍ إِلَى قَومٍ كَلَامُهُمُ السُّكُوتُ وَهَذَا الْفَصْلُ يَطُولُ اسْتِقْصَاؤُهُ، وَقَدْ ذَكَرْنَا مِنْهُ مَا فِيهِ مَقْنَعٌ لِمَنْ أَرَادَهُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ وَالْمِنَّةُ. وعَنْ أَيُّوبَ السَّخْتِيَانِيِّ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ: مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَقَدْ أَقَامَ الدِّينَ، وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ عُمَرَ فَقَدْ أَوْضَحَ السَّبِيلَ، وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ عُثْمَانَ فَقَدِ اسْتَنَارَ بِنُورِ اللَّهِ، وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيًّا فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَى، وَمَنْ قَالَ الْحُسْنَى فِي أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَدْ بَرِئَ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ. غَرِيبَةٌ مِنَ الْغَرَائِبِ وَآبِدَةٌ مِنَ الْأَوَابِدِ قَالَ: عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ قَالَ مَعْمَرٌ مَرَّةً وَأَنَا مُسْتَقْبِلُهُ، وَتَبَسَّمَ وَلَيْسَ مَعَنَا أَحَدٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: مَا شَأْنُكَ ؟ قَالَ: عَجِبْتُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ، كَأَنَّ الْكُوفَةَ إِنَّمَا بُنِيَتْ عَلَى حُبِّ عَلِيٍّ، مَا كَلَّمْتُ أَحَدًا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا وَجَدْتُ الْمُقْتَصِدَ مِنْهُمُ الَّذِي يُفَضِّلُ عَلِيًّا عَلَى أَبَى بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ، مِنْهُمْ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ. قَالَ: فَقُلْتُ لِمَعْمَرٍ: وَرَأَيْتَهُ ؟ - كَأَنِّي أَعْظَمْتُ ذَاكَ - فَقَالَ مَعْمَرٌ: وَمَا ذَاكَ ؟ ! لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَالَ: عَلِيٌّ أَفْضَلُ عِنْدِي مِنْهُمَا. مَا عَنَّفْتُهُ إِذَا ذَكَرَ فَضْلَهُمَا إِذَا قَالَ: عِنْدِي. وَلَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَالَ: عُمَرُ عِنْدِي أَفْضَلُ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ وَأَبِي بَكْرٍ. مَا عَنَّفُتُهُ. قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ: فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِوَكِيعِ بْنِ الْجَرَّاحِ وَنَحْنُ خَالِيَانِ فَاشْتَهَاهَا أَبُو سُفْيَانَ وَضَحِكَ وَقَالَ: لَمْ يَكُنْ سُفْيَانُ يَبْلُغُ بِنَا هَذَا الْحَدَّ، وَلَكِنَّهُ أَفْضَى إِلَى مَعْمَرٍ مَا لَمْ يُفْضِ إِلَيْنَا، وَكُنْتُ أَقُولُ لِسُفْيَانَ: يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ فَضَّلْنَا عَلِيًّا عَلَى أَبَى بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ، مَا تَقُولُ فِي ذَلِكَ ؟ فَيَسْكُتُ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: أَخْشَى أَنْ يَكُونَ ذَلِكَ طَعْنًا عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ، وَلَكِنَّا نَقِفُ. عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ الْحَنَفِيِّ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَخَذَ الْمُصْحَفَ فَوَضَعَهُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ، حَتَّى أَنِّي لَأَرَى وَرَقَهُ يَتَقَعْقَعُ. قَالَ: ثُمَّ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ مَنَعُونِي مَا فِيهِ فَأَعْطِنِي مَا فِيهِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي قَدْ مَلَلْتُهُمْ وَمَلُّونِي وَأَبْغَضْتُهُمْ وَأَبْغَضُونِي، وَحَمَلُونِي عَلَى غَيْرِ طَبِيعَتِي وَخُلُقِي وَأَخْلَاقٍ لَمْ تَكُنْ تُعْرَفُ لِي، اللَّهُمَّ فَأَبْدِلْنِي بِهِمْ خَيْرًا مِنْهُمْ، وَأَبْدِلْهُمْ بِي شَرًّا مِنِّي، اللَّهُمَّ أَمِثْ قُلُوبَهُمْ مَيْثَ الْمِلْحِ فِي الْمَاءِ. قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ: يَعْنِي أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ. وَعَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ لِي الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ: قَالَ لِي عَلِيٌّ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ سَنَحَ لِيَ اللَّيْلَةَ فِي مَنَامِي، فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، مَا لَقِيتُ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ مِنَ الْأَوَدِ وَاللَّدَدِ ؟ قَالَ: " ادْعُ عَلَيْهِمْ ". فَقُلْتُ: اللَّهُمَّ أَبْدِلْنِي بِهِمْ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنْهُمْ، وَأَبْدِلْهُمْ بِي مَنْ هُوَ شَرٌّ مِنِّي. فَخَرَجَ فَضَرَبَهُ الرَّجُلُ. الْأَوَدُ: الْعِوَجُ، وَاللَّدَدُ: الْخُصُومَةُ وَرَوَى أَبُو دَاوُدَ فِي كِتَابِ " الْقَدَرِ " أَنَّهُ لَمَّا كَانَ أَيَّامُ الْخَوَارِجِ كَانَ أَصْحَابُ عَلِيٍّ يَحْرُسُونَهُ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ عَشَرَةٌ يَبِيتُونَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ بِالسِّلَاحِ، فَرَآهُمْ عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ: مَا يُجْلِسُكُمْ ؟ فَقَالُوا: نَحْرُسُكَ. فَقَالَ: مِنْ أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ ؟ ثُمَّ قَالَ: إِنَّهُ لَا يَكُونُ فِي الْأَرْضِ شَيْءٌ حَتَّى يُقْضَى فِي السَّمَاءِ، وَإِنَّ عَلَيَّ مِنَ اللَّهِ جَنَّةً حَصِينَةً. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: وَإِنَّ الْأَجَلَّ جَنَّةٌ حَصِينَةٌ، وَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا وَقَدْ وُكِّلَ بِهِ مَلَكٌ، فَلَا تُرِيدُهُ دَابَّةٌ وَلَا شَيْءٌ إِلَّا قَالَ: اتَّقِهِ اتَّقِهِ. فَإِذَا جَاءَ الْقَدَرُ خَلَّى عَنْهُ - وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: مَلَكَانِ يَدْفَعَانِ عَنْهُ، فَإِذَا جَاءَ الْقَدَرُ خَلَّيَا عَنْهُ - وَإِنَّهُ لَا يَجِدُ عَبْدٌ حَلَاوَةَ الْإِيمَانِ حَتَّى يَعْلَمَ أَنَّ مَا أَصَابَهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيُخْطِئَهُ، وَمَا أَخْطَأَهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيُصِيبَهُ. وَكَانَ عَلِيٌّ يَدْخُلُ الْمَسْجِدَ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ فَيُصَلِّي فِيهِ، فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي قُتِلَ فِي صَبِيحَتِهَا قَلِقَ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ، وَجَمَعَ أَهْلَهُ، فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ صَرَخَ الْإِوَزُّ. فِي وَجْهِهِ، فَسَكَّتُوهُنَّ عَنْهُ، فَقَالَ: ذَرُوهُنَّ فَإِنَّهُنَّ نَوَائِحُ. فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ ضَرَبَهَ ابْنُ مُلْجَمٍ، فَكَانَ مَا ذَكَرْنَا قَبْلُ. فَقَالَ النَّاسُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أَلَا نَقْتُلُ مُرَادًا كُلَّهَا ؟ فَقَالَ: لَا، وَلَكِنِ احْبِسُوهُ وَأَحْسِنُوا إِسَارَهُ، فَإِنْ مِتُّ فَاقْتُلُوهُ، وَإِنْ عِشْتُ فَالْجُرُوحُ قِصَاصٌ. وَجَعَلَتْ أُمُّ كُلْثُومٍ بِنْتُ عَلِيٍّ تَقُولُ: مَا لِي وَلِصَلَاةِ الْغَدَاةِ، قُتِلَ زَوْجِي عُمَرُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَاةَ الْغَدَاةِ، وَقُتِلَ أَبِي أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَاةَ الْغَدَاةِ. ؓ. وَقِيلَ لِعَلِيٍّ: أَلَا تَسْتَخْلِفُ ؟ فَقَالَ: لَا، وَلَكِنْ أَتْرُكُكُمْ كَمَا تَرَكَكُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ، فَإِنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ خَيْرًا يَجْمَعْكُمْ عَلَى خَيْرِكُمْ كَمَا جَمَعَكُمْ عَلَى خَيْرِكُمْ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ. فَهَذَا اعْتِرَافٌ مِنْهُ فِي آخِرِ وَقْتٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا بِفَضْلِ الصِّدِّيقِ. وَقَدْ ثَبَتَ عَنْهُ بِالتَّوَاتُرِ أَنَّهُ خَطَبَ بِالْكُوفَةِ فِي أَيَّامِ خِلَافَتِهِ وَدَارِ إِمَارَتِهِ، فَقَالَ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّ خَيْرَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ، ثُمَّ عُمَرُ، وَلَوْ شِئْتُ أَنْ أُسَمِّيَ الثَّالِثَ لَسَمَّيْتُ. وَعَنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: وَهُوَ نَازِلٌ مِنَ الْمِنْبَرِ: ثُمَّ عُثْمَانُ ثُمَّ عُثْمَانُ. [قِصَّةُ الْأَرْغِفَةِ الثَّمَانِيَةِ وَدِقَّةُ قَضَائِهِ ؓ وَأُخْرِجَ عَنْ زَرِّ بْنِ حُبَيْشٍ قَالَ: (جَلَسَ رَجُلَانِ يَتَغَدَّيَانِ: مَعَ أَحَدِهِمَا خَمْسَةَ أَرْغِفَةٍ، وَمَعَ الْآخَرِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَرْغِفَةٍ، فَلَمَّا وَضَعَا الْغَدَاءَ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمَا.. مَرَّ بِهِمَا رَجُلٌ فَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَا: اجْلِسْ لِلْغَدَاءِ، فَجَلَسَ وَأَكَلَ مَعَهُمَا، وَاسْتَوَوْا فِي أَكْلِهِمُ الْأَرْغِفَةَ الثَّمَانِيَةَ، فَقَامَ الرَّجُلُ، وَطَرَحَ إِلَيْهِمَا ثَمَانِيَةَ دَرَاهِمَ، وَقَالَ: خُذَاهَا عِوَضًا مِمَّا أَكَلْتُ لَكُمَا، وَنِلْتُهُ مِنْ طَعَامِكُمَا، فَتَنَازَعَا. فَقَالَ صَاحِبُ الْخَمْسَةِ الْأَرْغِفَةِ: لِي خَمْسَةُ دَرَاهِمَ، وَلَكَ ثَلَاثَةٌ، وَقَالَ صَاحِبُ الْأَرْغِفَةِ الثَّلَاثَةِ: لَا أَرْضَى إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ الدَّرَاهِمُ بَيْنَنَا نِصْفَيْنِ. فَارْتَفَعَا إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيٍّ، فَقَصَّا عَلَيْهِ قَصَّتَهُمَا، فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِ الثَّلَاثَةِ: قَدْ عَرَضَ عَلَيْكَ صَاحِبُكَ مَا عَرَضَ، وَخُبْزُهُ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ خُبْزِكَ فَارْضَ بِالثَّلَاثَةِ. فَقَالَ: وَاللَّهِ؛ لَا رَضِيتُ عَنْهُ إِلَّا بِمُرِّ الْحَقِّ، فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ؓ: لَيْسَ لَكَ فِي مُرِّ الْحَقِّ إِلَّا دِرْهَمٌ وَاحِدٌ، وَلَهُ سَبْعَةُ دَرَاهِمَ. فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ!! قَالَ: هُوَ ذَلِكَ، قَالَ: فَعَرَّفَنِي الْوَجْهَ فِي مُرِّ الْحَقِّ حَتَّى أَقْبَلَهُ. فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ: أَلَيْسَ لِلثَّمَانِيَةِ أَرْغِفَةٍ أَرْبَعَةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ ثُلْثًا أَكَلْتُمُوهَا وَأَنْتُمْ ثَلَاثَةُ أَنْفُسٍ؟ وَلَا يُعْلَمُ الْأَكْثَرُ مِنْكُمْ أَكْلًا وَلَا الْأَقَلُّ؟ فَتُحْمَلُونَ فِي أَكْلِكُمْ عَلَى السَّوَاءِ، قَالَ: فَأَكَلْتَ أَنْتَ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَثْلَاثٍ، وَإِنَّمَا لَكَ تِسْعَةُ أَثْلَاثٍ، وَأَكَلَ صَاحِبُكَ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَثْلَاثٍ، وَلَهُ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ ثُلْثًا، أَكَلَ مِنْهَا ثَمَانِيَةً وَبَقِيَ سَبْعَةٌ، وَأَكَلَ لَكَ وَاحِدَةً مِنْ تِسْعَةٍ، فَلَكَ وَاحِدٌ بِوَاحِدِكَ، وَلَهُ سَبْعَةٌ، فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ: رَضِيتُ الْآنَ. وَأَخْرَجَ ابْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ فِي «الْمُصَنَّفِ» عَنْ عَطَاءٍ قَالَ: (أُتِيَ عَلِيٌّ بِرَجُلٍ وَشَهِدَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلَانِ أَنَّهُ سَرَقَ، فَأَخَذَ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ أُمُورِ النَّاسِ وَتَهَدَّدَ شُهُودَ الزُّورِ، وَقَالَ: (لَا أُوتِيَ بِشَاهِدِ زُورٍ... إِلَّا فَعَلْتُ بِهِ كَذَا وَكَذَا)، ثُمَّ طَلَبَ الشَّاهِدَيْنِ، فَلَمْ يَجِدْهُمَا، فَخَلَّى سَبِيلَهُ. [اضْرِبْ ظِلَّهُ] وَقَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ فِي «الْمُصَنَّفِ»: عَنْ عَلِيٍّ: أَنَّهُ أُتِيَ بِرَجُلٍ، فَقِيلَ لَهُ: (زَعَمَ هَذَا أَنَّهُ احْتَلَمَ بِأُمِّي؟ فَقَالَ: اذْهَبْ فَأَقِمْهُ فِي الشَّمْسِ فَاضْرِبْ ظِلَّهُ). [بَعْضُ حِكَمِهِ وَنُصْحِهِ ؓ لِحَمَلَةِ الْقُرْآنِ وَأَخْرَجَ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ نَاجِدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ عَلِيٌّ: (كُونُوا فِي النَّاسِ كَالنَّحْلَةِ فِي الطَّيْرِ؛ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِي الطَّيْرِ شَيْءٌ... إِلَّا وَهُوَ يَسْتَضْعِفُهَا، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُ الطَّيْرُ مَا فِي أَجْوَافِهَا مِنَ الْبَرَكَةِ... لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا ذَلِكَ بِهَا، خَالِطُوا النَّاسَ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَجْسَادِكُمْ، وَزَايَلُوهُمْ بِأَعْمَالِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِكُمْ، فَإِنَّ لِلْمَرْءِ مَا اكْتَسَبَ، وَهُوَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَعَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ). وَأُخْرِجَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: (كُونُوا بِقَبُولِ الْعَمَلِ أَشَدَّ اهْتِمَامًا مِنْكُمْ بِالْعَمَلِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ لَنْ يَقِلَّ عَمَلٌ مَعَ التَّقْوَى، وَكَيْفَ يَقِلُّ عَمَلٌ يُتَقَبَّلُ؟!) وَأُخْرِجَ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ جَعْدَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ؓ: (يَا حَمَلَةَ الْقُرْآنِ؛ اعْمَلُوا بِهِ، فَإِنَّمَا الْعَالِمُ مَنْ عَلِمَ ثُمَّ عَمِلَ بِمَا عَلِمَ، وَوَافَقَ عِلْمُهُ عَمَلَهُ، وَسَيَكُونُ أَقْوَامٌ يَحْمِلُونَ الْعِلْمَ لَا يُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِيَهُمْ، تُخَالِفُ سَرِيرَتُهُمْ عَلَانِيَتَهُمْ، وَيُخَالِفُ عَمَلُهُمْ عِلْمَهُمْ، يَجْلِسُونَ حِلَقًا، فَيُبَاهِي بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا، حَتَّى إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ يَغْضَبُ عَلَى جَلِيسِهِ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ وَيَدَعَهُ، أُولَئِكَ لَا تَصْعَدُ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي مَجَالِسِهِمْ تِلْكَ إِلَى اللَّهِ). وَأُخْرِجَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: (التَّوْفِيقُ خَيْرُ قَائِدٍ، وَحُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ خَيْرُ قَرِينٍ، وَالْعَقْلُ خَيْرُ صَاحِبٍ، وَالْأَدَبُ خَيْرُ مِيرَاثٍ، وَلَا وَحْشَةَ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْعُجْبِ). وَأُخْرِجَ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ قَالَ: (جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ؓ فَقَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْقَدَرِ، فَقَالَ: طَرِيقٌ مُظْلِمٌ لَا تَسْلُكْهُ، قَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْقَدَرِ؟ قَالَ: بَحْرٌ عَمِيقٌ لَا تَلِجْهُ، قَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْقَدَرِ، قَالَ: سِرُّ اللَّهِ قَدْ خَفِيَ عَلَيْكَ فَلَا تُفَتِّشْهُ، قَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْقَدَرِ؟ قَالَ: يَا أَيُّهَا السَّائِلُ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَكَ لِمَا شَاءَ أَوْ لِمَا شِئْتَ؟ قَالَ: بَلْ لِمَا شَاءَ، قَالَ: فَيَسْتَعْمِلُكَ فِيمَا شَاءَ). وَأُخْرِجَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: (إِنَّ لِلنَّكَبَاتِ نِهَايَاتٍ، وَلَابُدَّ لِأَحِدٍ إِذَا نُكِبَ.. مِنْ أَنْ يَنْتَهِيَ إِلَيْهَا، فَيَنْبَغِي لِلْعَاقِلِ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُ نَكْبَةٌ.. أَنْ يَنَامَ لَهَا حَتَّى تَنْقَضِيَ مُدَّتُهَا، فَإِنَّ فِي دَفْعِهَا قَبْلَ انْقِضَاءِ مُدَّتِهَا زِيَادَةً فِي مَكْرُوهِهَا). وَأُخْرِجَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ أَنَّهُ قِيلَ لَهُ: (مَا السَّخَاءُ؟ قَالَ: مَا كَانَ مِنْهُ ابْتِدَاءً، فَأَمَّا مَا كَانَ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ... فَحَيَاءٌ وَتَكَرَّمٌ). وَأُخْرِجَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ: (أَنَّهُ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ فَأَطْرَاهُ، وَكَانَ قَدْ بَلَغَهُ عَنْهُ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ: إِنِّي لَسْتُ كَمَا تَقُولُ، وَأَنَا فَوْقَ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ). وَأُخْرِجَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: (جَزَاءُ الْمَعْصِيَةِ الْوَهَنُ فِي الْعِبَادَةِ، وَالضِّيقُ فِي الْمَعِيشَةِ، وَالتَّعَسُ فِي اللَّذَّةِ، قِيلَ: وَمَا التَّعَسُ فِي اللَّذَّةِ؟ قَالَ: لَا يَنَالُ شَهْوَةً حَلَالًا إِلَّا جَاءَهُ مَا يُنَغِّصُهُ إِيَّاهَا). [احْفَظْ عَنِّي أَرْبَعًا وَأَرْبَعًا] وَأُخْرِجَ عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ أَبِي الصَّهْبَاءِ قَالَ: (لَمَّا ضَرَبَ ابْنُ مُلْجِمٍ عَلِيًّا.. دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْحَسَنُ وَهُوَ بَاكٍ، فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ: يَا بُنَيَّ؛ احْفَظْ عَنِّي أَرْبَعًا وَأَرْبَعًا، قَالَ: وَمَا هُنَّ يَا أَبَتِ؟ قَالَ: إِنَّ أَغْنَى الْغِنَى الْعَقْلُ، وَأَكْبَرُ الْفَقْرِ الْحُمْقُ، وَأَوْحَشُ الْوَحْشَةِ الْعُجْبُ، وَأَكْرَمُ الْكَرَمِ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ. قَالَ: فَالْأَرْبَعُ الْأُخْرَى؟ قَالَ: إِيَّاكَ وَمُصَاحَبَةَ الْأَحْمَقِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَنْفَعَكَ فَيَضُرَّكَ، وَإِيَّاكَ وَمُصَادَقَةَ الْكَذَّابِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ يُقَرِّبُ عَلَيْكَ الْبَعِيدَ وَيُبَعِّدُ عَلَيْكَ الْقَرِيبَ، وَإِيَّاكَ وَمُصَادَقَةَ الْبَخِيلِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ يَقْعُدُ عَنْكَ أَحْوَجَ مَا تَكُونُ إِلَيْهِ، وَإِيَّاكَ وَمُصَادَقَةَ الْفَاجِرِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ يَبِيعُكَ بِالتَّافِهِ). وَأَخْرَجَ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ أَنَّهُ أَتَاهُ يَهُودِيٌّ فَقَالَ لَهُ: (مَتَى كَانَ رَبُّنَا؟) فَتَمَعَّرَ وَجْهُ عَلِيٍّ، فَقَالَ: (لَمْ يَكُنْ فَكَانَ، هُوَ كَانَ وَلَا كَيْنُونَةَ، كَانَ بِلَا كَيْفَ، كَانَ لَيْسَ لَهُ قَبْلٌ وَلَا غَايَةٌ، انْقَطَعَتِ الْغَايَاتُ دُونَهُ، فَهُوَ غَايَةُ كُلِّ غَايَةٍ). فَأَسْلَمَ الْيَهُودِيُّ. ذكر بَعْضِ سِيرَتِهِ كَانَ أَبُو رَافِعٍ مَوْلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَازِنًا لَعَلِّي عَلَى بَيْتِ الْمَالِ، فَدَخَلَ عَلِيٌّ يَوْمًا وَقَدْ زُيِّنَتِ ابْنَتُهُ، فَرَأَى عَلَيْهَا لُؤْلُؤَةً كَانَ عَرَفَهَا لِبَيْتِ الْمَالِ، فَقَالَ: مِنْ أَيْنَ لَهَا هَذِهِ ؟ لَأَقْطَعَنَّ يَدَهَا ! فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَبُو رَافِعٍ جِدَّهُ فِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ: أَنَا وَاللَّهِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ زَيَّنْتُهَا بِهَا. فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ: لَقَدْ تَزَوَّجْتُ بِفَاطِمَةَ وَمَا لِي فِرَاشٌ إِلَّا جِلْدُ كَبْشٍ نَنَامُ عَلَيْهِ بِاللَّيْلِ وَنَعْلِفُ عَلَيْهِ نَاضِحَنَا بِالنَّهَارِ وَمَا لِي خَادِمٌ غَيْرَهَا. قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: قُسِّمَ عِلْمُ النَّاسِ خَمْسَةَ أَجْزَاءٍ، فَكَانَ لَعَلِيٍّ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةُ أَجْزَاءَ، وَلِسَائِرِ النَّاسِ جُزْءٌ شَارَكَهُمْ عَلِيٌّ فِيهِ فَكَانَ أَعْلَمَهُمْ بِهِ. وَقَالَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ: مَا جَاءَ لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مَا جَاءَ لَعَلِيٍّ. وَقَالَ عَمْرُو بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ: لَمَّا ضُرِبَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ وَجَعَلَ الْخِلَافَةَ فِي السِّتَّةِ مِنَ الصَّحَابَةِ، فَلَمَّا خَرَجُوا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ قَالَ: إِنْ يُوَلُّوهَا الْأَجْلَحَ يَسْلُكُ بِهِمُ الطَّرِيقَ، فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ: فَمَا يَمْنَعُكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( مِنْ تَوْلِيَتِهِ ) ؟ قَالَ: أَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَتَحَمَّلَهَا حَيًّا وَمَيِّتًا. وَقَالَ عَاصِمُ بْنُ كُلَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ: قَدِمَ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ مَالٌ مِنْ أَصْبَهَانَ، فَقَسَّمَهُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَسْهُمٍ، فَوَجَدَ فِيهِ رَغِيفًا فَقَسَّمَهُ عَلَى سَبْعَةٍ، وَدَعَا أُمَرَاءَ الْأَسْبَاعِ فَأَقْرَعَ بَيْنَهُمْ لِيَنْظُرَ أَيُّهُمْ يُعْطَى أَوَّلًا. وَقَالَ هَارُونُ بْنُ عَنْتَرَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ بِالْخَوَرْنَقِ - وَهُوَ فَصْلُ شِتَاءٍ - وَعَلَيْهِ خَلَقُ قَطِيفَةٍ، وَهُوَ يُرْعَدُ فِيهِ، فَقُلْتُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ جَعَلَ لَكَ وَلِأَهْلِكَ فِي هَذَا الْمَالِ نَصِيبًا وَأَنْتَ تَفْعَلُ هَذَا بِنَفْسِكَ ؟ فَقَالَ: وَاللَّهِ مَا أَرْزَأَكُمْ شَيْئًا، وَمَا هِيَ إِلَّا قَطِيفَتِي الَّتِي أَخْرَجْتُهَا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ. وَقَالَ يَحْيَى بْنُ سَلَمَةَ: اسْتَعْمَلَ عَلِيٌّ عَمْرَو بْنَ سَلَمَةَ عَلَى أَصْبَهَانَ، فَقَدِمَ وَمَعَهُ مَالٌ وَزِقَاقٌ فِيهَا عَسَلٌ وَسَمْنٌ، فَأَرْسَلَتْ أُمُّ كُلْثُومٍ بِنْتُ عَلِيٍّ إِلَى عَمْرٍو تَطْلُبُ مِنْهُ سَمْنًا وَعَسَلًا، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهَا ظَرْفَ عَسَلٍ وَظَرْفَ سَمْنٍ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْغَدُ خَرَجَ عَلِيٌّ وَأَحْضَرَ الْمَالَ وَالْعَسَلَ وَالسَّمْنَ لِيُقْسَمَ، فَعَدَّ الزِّقَاقَ فَنَقَصَتْ زِقَّيْنِ، فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْهُمَا، فَكَتَمَهُ وَقَالَ: نَحْنُ نُحْضِرُهَا، فَعَزَمَ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا ذَكَرَهَا لَهُ، فَأَخْبَرَهُ، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى أُمِّ كُلْثُومٍ فَأَخَذَ الزِّقَّيْنِ مِنْهَا، فَرَآهُمَا قَدْ نَقَصَا، فَأَمْرَ التُّجَّارَ بِتَقْوِيمِ مَا نَقَصَ مِنْهُمَا، فَكَانَ ثَلَاثَةَ دَرَاهِمَ، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهَا فَأَخَذَهَا مِنْهَا ثُمَّ قَسَّمَ الْجَمِيعَ. قِيلَ: وَخَرَجَ مِنْ هَمْدَانَ فَرَأَى رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ، فَفَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا ثُمَّ مَضَى، فَسَمِعَ صَوْتًا: يَا غَوْثَاهْ بِاللَّهِ ! فَخَرَجَ يَحْضُرُ نَحْوَهُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: أَتَاكَ الْغَوْثُ. فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ يُلَازِمُ رَجُلًا. فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِعْتُ هَذَا ثَوْبًا بِسَبْعَةِ دَرَاهِمَ، وَشَرَطْتُ أَنْ لَا يُعْطِيَنِي مَغْمُوزًا وَلَا مَقْطُوعًا، وَكَانَ شَرْطُهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ، فَأَتَانِي بِهَذِهِ الدَّرَاهِمِ، فَأَتَيْتُ وَلَزِمْتُهُ، فَلَطَمَنِي. فَقَالَ لِلَّاطِمِ: مَا تَقُولُ ؟ فَقَالَ: صَدَقَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. فَقَالَ: أَعْطِهُ شَرْطَهُ. فَأَعْطَاهُ. وَقَالَ لِلْمَلْطُومِ: اقْتَصَّ. قَالَ: أَوْ أَعْفُو يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ؟ قَالَ: ذَلِكَ إِلَيْكَ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ خُذُوهُ، فَأَخَذُوهُ، فَحُمِلَ عَلَى ظَهْرِ رَجُلٍ كَمَا يُحْمَلُ صِبْيَانُ الْكُتَّابِ، ثُمَّ ضَرَبَهُ خَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ دِرَّةً وَقَالَ: هَذَا نَكَالٌ لِمَا انْتَهَكْتَ مِنْ حُرْمَتِهِ. وَلَمَّا قُتِلَ - عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ - قَامَ ابْنُهُ الْحَسَنُ خَطِيبًا فَقَالَ: لَقَدْ قَتَلْتُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ رَجُلًا فِي لَيْلَةٍ نَزَلَ فِيهَا الْقُرْآنُ، وَفِيهَا رُفِعَ عِيسَى، وَفِيهَا قُتِلَ يُوشَعُ بْنُ نُونٍ، وَاللَّهِ مَا سَبَقَهُ أَحَدٌ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ، وَلَا يُدْرِكُهُ أَحَدٌ يَكُونُ بَعْدَهُ، وَاللَّهِ إِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَبْعَثُهُ فِي السَّرِيَّةِ وَجَبْرَائِيلُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ، وَمِيكَائِيلُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ، وَاللَّهِ مَا تَرَكَ ( صَفْرَاءَ وَلَا بَيْضَاءَ ) إِلَّا ثَمَانَمِائَةٍ أَوْ سَبْعَمِائَةٍ أَرْصَدَهَا لِجَارِيَةٍ. وَقَالَ سُفْيَانُ: إِنَّ عَلِيًّا لَمْ يَبْنِ آجُرَّةً عَلَى آجُرَّةٍ، وَلَا لَبِنَةً عَلَى لَبِنَةٍ، وَلَا قَصَبَةً عَلَى قَصَبَةٍ، وَإِنْ كَانَ لَيُؤْتَى بِحُبُوبِهِ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ فِي جِرَابٍ. ( وَقِيلَ: إِنَّهُ أَخْرَجَ سَيْفًا لَهُ إِلَى السُّوقِ فَبَاعَهُ وَقَالَ: لَوْ كَانَ عِنْدِي أَرْبَعَةُ دَرَاهِمَ ثَمَنُ إِزَارٍ لَمْ أَبِعْهُ. وَكَانَ لَا يَشْتَرِي مِمَّنْ يَعْرِفُهُ، وَإِذَا اشْتَرَى قَمِيصًا قَدَّرَ كُمَّهُ عَلَى طُولِ يَدِهِ وَقَطَعَ الْبَاقِي ). وَكَانَ يَخْتِمُ عَلَى الْجِرَابِ الَّذِي فِيهِ دَقِيقُ الشَّعِيرِ الَّذِي يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ وَيَقُولُ: لَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ بَطْنِي إِلَّا مَا أَعْلَمُ. وَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ: تَذَاكَرُوا الزُّهَّادَ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: أَزْهَدُ النَّاسِ فِي الدُّنْيَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ. وَقَالَ الْمَدَائِنِيُّ: نَظَرَ عَلِيٌّ إِلَى قَوْمٍ بِبَابِهِ، فَقَالَ لِقَنْبَرٍ مَوْلَاهُ: مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ ؟ قَالَ: شِيعَتُكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. قَالَ: وَمَا لِي لَا أَرَى فِيهِمْ سِيَمَا الشِّيعَةِ ؟ قَالَ: وَمَا سِيمَاهُمْ ؟ قَالَ: خُمْصُ الْبُطُونِ مِنَ الطَّوْيِ، يُبْسُ الشِّفَاهِ مِنَ الظَّمَإِ، عُمْشُ الْعُيُونِ مِنَ الْبُكَاءِ. ( وَمَنَاقِبُهُ لَا تُحْصَى، قَدْ جَمَعْتُ قَضَايَاهُ فِي كِتَابٍ مُفْرَدٍ ).
Translation
✧ A section on mentioning something of his just conduct, his virtuous way, his admonitions, his decisive judgments, his complete sermons, and his wise sayings that reach the hearts. ʿAbd al-Wārith said, from Abū ʿAmr b. al-ʿAlāʾ, from his father, who said: ʿAlī delivered a sermon and said: O people, by Allah besides whom there is no deity, I have taken nothing from your wealth, little or much, except this. And he took out a bottle from the sleeve of his shirt containing perfume. He said: The dihqān gave it to me as a gift. Then he went to the treasury and said: Take it. And he began to recite: He has prospered who had a basket / from which he ate dates every day. In one narration: once. In another narration: Blessed is he who had a basket................................ And from ʿAbd Allāh b. Zurayr al-Ghāfiqī, who said: We entered with ʿAlī on the day of the sacrifice, and he brought us khazīra. We said: May Allah keep you righteous, if only you had brought us these ducks and geese, for Allah has made good abundant. He said: O Ibn Zurayr, I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: "It is not lawful for the caliph from the wealth of Allah except two bowls: a bowl he and his family eat, and a bowl he feeds the people." And from Hārūn b. ʿAntara, from his father, who said: I entered upon ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib at al-Khawarnaq while he had a velvet cloak and was shivering from the cold. I said: O Commander of the Faithful, Allah has made for you and your household a share in this wealth, and you do this to yourself?! He said: By Allah, I will not take anything from your wealth, and this cloak is the one I came out with from my house. Or he said: from Madinah. And Abū Nuʿaym said: I heard Sufyān al-Thawrī say: ʿAlī did not build a brick upon a brick, nor a reed upon a reed, though his clay was brought to him from Madinah in a sack. And from Mujammiʿ b. Samʿān al-Taymī, who said: ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib went out with his sword to the market and said: Who will buy this sword of mine? For if I had four dirhams with which to buy a loincloth, I would not sell it. And from Jaʿfar — he said: I think it is from his father — that when ʿAlī wore a shirt, he would stretch his hand into its sleeve, and whatever of the sleeve extended beyond the fingers he would cut off, and he said: The sleeve has no right to extend beyond the fingers. And from Ibn ʿAbbās, who said: ʿAlī bought a shirt for three dirhams while he was caliph, and cut its sleeve from the place of the wrists, and said: Praise be to Allah, this is from His adornment. And from a client of Abū ʿUṣayfīr, who said: I saw ʿAlī go out and come to a man of the cloth merchants, and he said to him: Do you have a sunbulānī shirt? He said: He brought out a shirt to him, and he put it on, and it reached to the middle of his shins. He looked to his right and to his left and said: I see nothing but a good measure. How much is it? He said: Four dirhams, O Commander of the Faithful. He said: He untied them from his waist wrapper and gave them to him, then left. And Muḥammad b. Saʿd said: al-Faḍl b. Dukayn informed us, al-Ḥasan b. Jurmūz informed us, from his father, who said: I saw ʿAlī coming out of the palace wearing two Qaṭarī garments: a waist wrapper to the middle of his shin, and a cloak tucked up close to it, and with him was his whip, walking with it in the markets, commanding people to fear Allah and to sell well, and saying: Give full measure and weight. And he said: Do not inflate the meat. And ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Mubārak said in "al-Zuhd": A man informed us, Ṣāliḥ b. Maytham narrated to me, Zayd b. Wahb al-Juhanī narrated to us, who said: ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib came out to us one day wearing two cloaks, wrapping himself with one and covering himself with the other. He had let down one side of his waist wrapper and raised the other, and he had lifted his cloak with a rag. A bedouin passed by him and said: O man, wear these clothes, for you are dead or will be killed. He said: O bedouin, I wear these two garments only so that they may be farther from pride for me, and better for me in my prayer, and a Sunnah for the believer. And from Abū Maṭar, who said: I went out of the mosque, and behold a man called out from behind me: Raise your waist wrapper, for it is cleaner for your garment and more pious for you, and take from your head if you are a Muslim. I walked behind him while he was in front of me, wrapped in a waist wrapper and clad in a cloak, and with him was the whip, as if he were a desert bedouin. I said: Who is this? A man said to me: You seem a stranger in this town. I said: Yes, I am a man from the people of Baṣra. He said: This is ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib, Commander of the Faithful. Until he reached the house of the Banū Abī Muʿayṭ, which is the camel market, and he said: Sell and do not swear, for oaths sell goods but wipe out blessing. Then he came to the date sellers, and behold a servant girl was crying. He said: What makes you cry? She said: This man sold me dates for a dirham, and my masters rejected them, but he refuses to take them back. ʿAlī said to him: Take your dates and give her her dirham, for she has no authority. He gave it back. I said: Do you know who this is? He said: No. I said: This is ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib, Commander of the Faithful. So he poured out his dates and gave her her dirham. Then the man said: I would like you to be pleased with me, O Commander of the Faithful. He said: I am not pleased with you unless you give people their rights. Then he passed by the date sellers and said: O date sellers, feed the poor, and your earnings will increase. Then he passed by with the Muslims until he reached the fish sellers, and he said: No floating fish is sold in our market. Then he came to the house of Furāt, which is the cloth market, and he came to an old man and said: O old man, sell me a shirt for three dirhams. When the old man recognized him, he did not buy anything from him. Then another, and when he recognized him, he did not buy anything from him. Then he came to a young lad and bought from him a shirt for three dirhams, with sleeves from the wrists to the hands. When he put it on he said: Praise be to Allah who has provided me from the adornment something with which I beautify myself among the people and cover my private parts. It was said to him: O Commander of the Faithful, is this something you narrate from yourself, or something you heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? He said: No, rather something I heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying it when putting on clothes. Then the father of the lad, the owner of the garment, came and it was said to him: O so-and-so, your son sold a shirt today to the Commander of the Faithful for three dirhams. He said: Could you not have taken two dirhams from him? His father took a dirham from him, then came with it to the Commander of the Faithful while he was sitting with the Muslims at the gate of al-Raḥba, and said: Take this dirham. He said: What is the matter with this dirham? He said: The shirt was worth two dirhams. He said: He sold me with my consent and took with his consent. And from al-Shaʿbī, who said: ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib found his coat of mail with a Christian man, and he brought him to Shurayḥ to dispute with him. He said: ʿAlī came and sat beside Shurayḥ and said: O Shurayḥ, if my opponent were a Muslim I would not sit except with him, but he is a Christian, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "When you and they are on a road, force them to its narrowest parts, and belittle them as Allah belittled them, without transgressing." Then he said: This coat of mail is my coat of mail, and I did not sell it nor give it away. Shurayḥ said to the Christian: What do you say about what the Commander of the Faithful says? The Christian said: The coat of mail is none but my coat of mail, and I do not consider the Commander of the Faithful a liar. Shurayḥ turned to ʿAlī and said: O Commander of the Faithful, do you have any proof? ʿAlī laughed and said: Shurayḥ is right, I have no proof. So Shurayḥ ruled in favor of the Christian. He said: The Christian took it, walked a few steps, then returned and said: As for me, I bear witness that these are the judgments of the prophets. The Commander of the Faithful brought me before his judge, and his judge ruled against him! I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger. The coat of mail, by Allah, is your coat of mail, O Commander of the Faithful. I followed the army while you were going to Ṣiffīn, and it fell from your gray camel. He said: Now that you have become a Muslim, it is yours. And he mounted him on a horse. Al-Shaʿbī said: Someone who saw him told me that he fought the Khawārij alongside ʿAlī on the day of al-Nahrawān. And Saʿīd b. ʿUbayd said, from ʿAlī b. Rabīʿa: Jaʿda b. Hubayra came to ʿAlī and said: O Commander of the Faithful, two men come to you, one of whom loves you more than his family and wealth, and the other, if he could slaughter you, he would—and you judge for this one against that one! He said: ʿAlī pushed him and said: This is something that, if it were up to me, I would do, but this is something for Allah. And from Ṣāliḥ the seller of cloaks, from his grandmother, who said: I saw ʿAlī buy dates for a dirham and carry them in his blanket. A man said: O Commander of the Faithful, shall we not carry them for you? He said: The father of the household is more entitled to carry them. And from Abū Hāshim, from Zādhān, who said: ʿAlī used to walk in the markets alone while he was caliph, guiding the lost and helping the weak. He would pass by the seller and the grocer and recite the Qurʾān to him: "That home of the Hereafter We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness upon the earth or corruption" [al-Qaṣaṣ: 83]. Then he would say: This verse was revealed about the people of justice and humility among the rulers, and the people of power among the rest of the people. And from ʿUbāda b. Ziyād, from Ṣāliḥ b. Abī al-Aswad, from someone who narrated to him, that he saw ʿAlī riding a donkey and dangling his legs to one side, then he said: I am the one who humiliated this world. And from al-Ḥasan b. Ṣāliḥ, who said: They mentioned the ascetics in the presence of ʿUmar b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, and some said: So-and-so. Others said: So-and-so. ʿUmar b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz said: The most ascetic of people in this world is ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib. And Hishām b. Ḥassān said: While we were with al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī, a man from the Azāriqa came and said: O Abū Saʿīd, what do you say about ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib? He said: The cheeks of al-Ḥasan reddened, and he said: May Allah have mercy on ʿAlī. ʿAlī was an arrow of Allah hitting His enemies, and he was in the station of knowledge its noblest and closest to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He was the rabbānī of this ummah. He was not a thief of Allah's wealth, nor a sleeper in Allah's affairs. He gave the Qurʾān its obligations, its practice, and its knowledge. From it he was in flourishing gardens and clear signposts. That is ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib, O fool. And from Abū Makīn, who said: My maternal uncle Abū Umayya and I passed by a house in a district of the tribe of Murād, and he said: Do you see this house? I said: Yes. He said: ʿAlī passed by it while they were building it, and a piece fell on him and wounded his head, so he supplicated to Allah that its construction not be completed. He said: Not a brick was placed upon it. He said: I would pass by it and it did not resemble the houses. And from Abū Bashīr al-Shaybānī, who said: I witnessed the Battle of the Camel with my master, and I never saw a day with more severed forearms and severed feet than that day, and I never pass by the house of al-Walīd except that I remember the day of the Camel. He said: Al-Ḥakam b. ʿUtayba narrated to me that ʿAlī supplicated on the day of the Camel, saying: O Allah, seize their hands and their feet. From his fine speech, ؓ And from his fine speech, ؓ: From Abū Arāka, who says: I prayed the dawn prayer with ʿAlī, and when he turned to his right he remained as if there were grief upon him, until when the sun was on the wall of the mosque the height of a spear, he prayed two rakʿahs, then turned his hand over and said: By Allah, I have seen the companions of Muḥammad ﷺ, and today I see nothing that resembles them. They used to arise pale, disheveled, dusty, with marks on their foreheads like the knees of goats. They spent the night for Allah prostrating and standing, reciting the Book of Allah, alternating between their foreheads and their feet. When they arose and remembered Allah, they swayed as trees sway on a windy day, and their eyes shed tears until their clothes became wet. By Allah, it is as if the people spent the night heedless. Then he rose, and after that he was never seen smiling with his teeth showing until Ibn Muljam, the enemy of Allah, the wicked one, killed him. And Wakīʿ said, from ʿAmr b. Munabbih, from Awfā b. Dalham, from ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib, that he said: Learn knowledge, and you will be known by it. Act upon it, and you will be among its people. For a time will come after you in which nine-tenths of the truth will be denied, and none will be saved from it except every obscure one, severed from harm. Those are the leaders of guidance and the lamps of knowledge. They are not hasty, spreading rumors, or wasteful. Then he said: This world has departed, turning away, and the Hereafter has come, approaching. Each of them has children, so be among the children of the Hereafter, and do not be among the children of this world. Indeed, the ascetics in this world have taken the earth as a carpet, dust as a bed, and water as perfume. Indeed, whoever longs for the Hereafter forgets desires. Whoever fears the Fire turns away from forbidden things. Whoever seeks Paradise hastens to acts of obedience. Whoever is abstinent in this world, calamities become easy for him. Indeed, Allah has servants like those who have seen the people of Paradise in Paradise, abiding forever, and the people of the Fire in the Fire, being tormented. Their evils are safe from them, their hearts are sorrowful, their souls are chaste, and their needs are light. They endured a few days for the outcome of long rest. As for the night, they stand in rows on their feet, their tears flowing on their cheeks, crying out to their Lord: Our Lord, our Lord. Seeking the release of their necks. As for the day, they are learned, forbearing, righteous, pious, as if they were arrows. The observer looks at them and says: They are ill. But the people have no illness. And: They are deranged. Yet a great matter has affected the people. From al-Aṣbagh b. Nubātah, who said: One day ʿAlī ascended the pulpit, praised Allah and extolled Him, and mentioned death. He said: Servants of Allah, death is not to be escaped: if you stay for it, it seizes you; and if you flee from it, it overtakes you. So hasten, hasten, and hurry, hurry. Behind you is a swift pursuer – the grave. Beware its squeeze, its darkness, and its desolation. Truly the grave is one of the pits of Hell or a garden from the gardens of Paradise. Truly it speaks every day three times, saying: I am the house of darkness; I am the house of worms; I am the house of desolation. Truly beyond that is a day on which the young turn grey, and the old become intoxicated, and every pregnant female will cast her burden, and you will see people drunken, though they are not drunken – but the punishment of Allah is severe. Truly beyond that is what is even more severe: a Fire whose heat is intense, whose bottom is deep, whose ornament is iron, and whose water is pus, and whose keeper is an angel in whom Allah has placed no mercy. He said: Then he wept, and the Muslims around him wept. Then he said: Truly beyond that is a Garden whose width is the heavens and the earth, prepared for the God-fearing. May Allah make us and you among the God-fearing, and shelter us and you from the painful punishment. From Awfā b. Dalham, who said: ʿAlī delivered a sermon and said: To proceed: This world has turned away and called for farewell, while the Hereafter has drawn near and looked down upon us. The training track is today and tomorrow is the race. Truly you are in days of hope, behind which lies a term. Whoever falls short in the days of his hope before his term arrives, his deeds are thwarted. So work for Allah in desire as you work for Him in fear. Truly I have not seen anyone like the one who seeks the Garden sleeping, nor anyone like the one who flees the Fire sleeping. Truly whoever is not benefited by truth will be harmed by falsehood, and whoever is not set straight by guidance will be confounded by misguidance. Truly you have been commanded to depart, and you have been shown the provision. O people, this world is but a present transient good from which the righteous and the wicked eat, while the Hereafter is a true promise in which a powerful King will judge. Truly Satan promises you poverty and commands you to indecency, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty; and Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. O people, do good in your lifetime and you will be preserved in your offspring, for Allah has promised His Garden to those who obey Him and threatened with His Fire those who disobey Him. It is a Fire whose roaring does not subside, whose prisoner is not released, and whose broken one is not mended. Its heat is intense, its bottom is deep, and its water is pus. The most fearful thing I fear for you is following whims and prolonged hope. In one narration: Following whims turns one away from truth, and prolonged hope makes one forget the Hereafter. From ʿĀṣim b. Ḍamrah, who said: A man disparaged this world in ʿAlī's presence, and ʿAlī said: This world is the abode of truth for him who treats it truthfully, an abode of salvation for him who understands it, and an abode of sufficiency for him who takes provision from it. It is the place of descent of Allah's revelation, the prayer-place of His angels, the mosque of His prophets, and the market of His friends. They profited therein with mercy and earned therein the Garden. Who then would disparage it, when it has announced its departure, called for separation, mixed its joys with its evils and its afflictions toward Him in encouragement and warning? O you who disparage this world and delude yourself, when has this world deceived you, or when has it sought blame from you? By the fall of your fathers into decay, or by the resting places of your mothers beneath the dust? How often you toiled with your two hands and tended with your two palms, seeking a cure for it and asking physicians to describe remedies, when your medicine did not avail you, nor did your weeping benefit you. From Abū al-Bakhtarī, who said: A man came to ʿAlī and praised him excessively, though he hated ʿAlī. ʿAlī said to him: I am not as you say, yet I am above what is in your heart. Ibn ʿAsākir narrated that a man said to ʿAlī: May Allah make you firm. He replied: Upon your chest. From Yaḥyā b. Yaʿmar, who said: ʿAlī said: The matter descends from heaven like drops of rain, for every soul whatever Allah has decreed for it of increase or decrease, in person, family, or wealth. Whoever sees a decrease in himself, his family, or his wealth, and sees abundance for another, let that not be a trial for him. For the Muslim, so long as he does not sink into baseness that he displays by appearing humble when it is mentioned, and that incites the vile among people against him, is like the winning gambler awaiting the first successful arrow of his gaming arrows, which earns him the prize and wards off the loss. Likewise the Muslim who is free of treachery stands between one of two good outcomes when he calls upon Allah: either what is with Allah is better for him, or Allah provides him wealth and he becomes possessed of family and property, along with his nobility and religion. Cultivation is of two kinds: the cultivation of this world is wealth and sons, and the cultivation of the Hereafter is the enduring righteous deeds. Allah may combine both for some peoples. Sufyān said: Who can speak such words except ʿAlī? From Muhājir al-ʿĀmirī, who said: ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib wrote a covenant for one of his companions over a town, in which he said: To proceed: Do not keep your veil long against your subjects, for the seclusion of governors from their subjects is a branch of constriction and of little knowledge of affairs. Seclusion cuts off from them knowledge of what they are secluded from, so the great becomes small in their eyes, the small becomes great, the good becomes ugly, the ugly becomes good, and truth is mixed with falsehood. The governor is only a human being who does not know the affairs people conceal from him. Words bear no marks by which the types of truth and falsehood may be recognized. So shield yourself from causing injustice in rights by making the veil gentle. You are but one of two men: either a man whose soul is generous in giving for the truth – so why do you seclude yourself from a right you are obliged to give, or from a noble manner you would exercise? Or you are afflicted with withholding and stinginess – how quickly people will cease asking of you when they despair of your good. Besides, most of people's needs to you are things that cost you nothing: a complaint of injustice or a request for fairness. Benefit from what I have described to you, and content yourself with your portion and right guidance, if Allah wills. Al-Madāʾinī said: ʿAlī wrote to one of his officials: Gently! It is as if you have reached the end, and your deeds have been presented to you at the place where the deluded one cries out in regret, the negligent one wishes for repentance, and the wrongdoer wishes for a return. The poetry of ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib From al-Shaʿbī, who said: Abū Bakr used to utter poetry, ʿUmar used to utter poetry, and ʿAlī used to utter poetry, and ʿAlī was the most poetic of the three. From Abū ʿUbaydah, who said: Muʿāwiyah wrote to ʿAlī: O Abū al-Ḥasan, I possess many virtues, for my father was a chief in the Age of Ignorance, and I became a king in Islam, and I am the in-law of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the maternal uncle of the believers, and the scribe of revelation. ʿAlī said: Does the son of the eater of livers boast to me of virtues?! Then he said: Write, boy: Muḥammad the Prophet is my brother and my in-law, and Ḥamzah, chief of the martyrs, is my uncle. Jaʿfar, who goes morning and evening flying with the angels, is the son of my mother. The daughter of Muḥammad is my rest and my spouse, her flesh mingled with my blood and my flesh. The two grandsons of Aḥmad are my two sons from her, so which of you has an arrow like my arrow? I preceded you all to Islam, a child before I reached the age of discretion. He said: Muʿāwiyah said: Hide this letter, lest the people of Syria read it and incline to Ibn Abī Ṭālib. From al-Aṣbagh b. Nubātah, from ʿAlī, that a man came to him and said: O Commander of the Faithful, I have a need to you which I have raised to Allah before raising it to you. If you fulfill it, I will praise Allah and thank you; and if you do not fulfill it, I will praise Allah and excuse you. ʿAlī said: Write on the ground, for I dislike to see the humiliation of asking on your face. So he wrote: I am in need. ʿAlī said: Bring me a fine garment. It was brought, and the man took it and put it on, then he began to say: You have clothed me in a garment whose beauties will wear out, so I will clothe you in garments of beautiful praise. If you receive my beautiful praise, you have received an honor, and you seek no substitute for what I have said. Praise revives the remembrance of its possessor, as rain revives with its moisture the plain and the mountain. Do not abstain, O Time, from good you may meet, for every servant will be recompensed for what he has done. ʿAlī said: Bring me the dinars. A hundred dinars were brought, and he gave them to him. Al-Aṣbagh said: I said: O Commander of the Faithful, a garment and a hundred dinars?! He said: Yes. I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: "Place people in their rightful stations." This is the station of this man with me. Among the verses which Abū Bakr Muḥammad b. Yaḥyā al-Ṣūlī quoted for the Commander of the Faithful ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib: So be patient with the momentous event, and treat your anguish with beautiful patience. Do not despair, for if you are in hardship one day, you were in ease in the long ages. Do not think ill of your Lord, for Allah is most worthy of good thoughts. Hardship is followed by ease, and Allah's word is the truest of all sayings. If intellects brought provision, provision would belong to those of intellect. How many a believer hungered one day, who will be given to drink from the pure nectar of Salsabīl. It is of the lowliness of this world before Allah that He, glorified be He, makes the believer hungry despite his preciousness, and fills the dog despite its vileness. The disbeliever eats and drinks, dresses and enjoys, while the believer hungers and goes bare, and that is for a wisdom required by the wisdom of the most wise of judges. Among the verses quoted by ʿAlī b. Jaʿfar al-Warrāq for the Commander of the Faithful ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib: Wear good clothes when you dress, for they are the adornment of men, by which one is honored and respected. Abandon humility in dress out of fear, for Allah knows what you conceal and hide. The shabbiness of your garment does not bring you nearer to God, while you are a sinful servant. The splendor of your garment does not harm you, if you fear God and avoid what is forbidden. This is as it came in the hadith: "Allah does not look at your forms or your clothes, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds." Al-Thawrī said: Asceticism in this world is not in wearing wool or eating coarse food; asceticism in this world is only shortness of hope. From ʿAmr b. al-ʿAlāʾ, from his father, who said: ʿAlī stood at the grave of Fāṭimah and began to say: I remembered Abā Arwā, and spent the night as if I were the agent of past griefs. For every gathering of two friends there is a parting, and all that is before death is little. My loss of one after another is proof that no friend endures. My remembrance will be turned away from and my affection forgotten, and after me a friend will succeed a friend. When my span of life is cut off one day, the toil of the weeping women is little. Some of them recited for ʿAlī ؓ: He who dies deserves to be humble; the sustenance of this world is enough for a man. Why should a man wake with worries and greed that descriptions cannot reach? Our King's doing is good and beautiful, and His provisions will not miss us. O you, you will soon depart to a people whose speech is silence. This chapter, if exhaustively investigated, would be long, and we have mentioned of it what suffices for those who seek it. To Allah be praise and grace. From Ayyūb al-Sakhtiyānī, that he said: Whoever loves Abū Bakr has established the religion; whoever loves ʿUmar has made the path clear; whoever loves ʿUthmān has been illuminated by the light of Allah; whoever loves ʿAlī has clung to the firm handhold; and whoever speaks well of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has freed himself from hypocrisy. One of the strange and unparalleled reports. He said: ʿAbd al-Razzāq said: Maʿmar once came toward me, smiled, though there was no one with us, and I said to him: What is the matter? He said: I wondered at the people of Kufa. Kufa seems to have been built on love of ʿAlī. I spoke to no one among them but among their moderate ones I found one who preferred ʿAlī over Abū Bakr and ʿUmar, among them Sufyān al-Thawrī. He said: I said to Maʿmar: Did you witness it? As if I considered that grave. Maʿmar said: What of it?! If a man said: ʿAlī is more virtuous in my view than the two, I would not rebuke him, if he mentioned their virtue, when he says "in my view." And if a man said: ʿUmar in my view is more virtuous than ʿAlī and Abū Bakr, I would not rebuke him. ʿAbd al-Razzāq said: I mentioned that to Wakīʿ b. al-Jarrāḥ while we were alone, and Abū Sufyān relished it and laughed and said: Sufyān would not go to that limit with us, but he disclosed to Maʿmar what he did not disclose to us. I used to say to Sufyān: O Abū ʿAbd Allah, what if we preferred ʿAlī over Abū Bakr and ʿUmar, what would you say about that? He would remain silent for a while, then say: I fear that that would be a criticism of Abū Bakr and ʿUmar, but we hold back. From Abū Ṣāliḥ al-Ḥanafī, who said: I saw ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib take the muṣḥaf and place it on his head, until I saw its leaves quivering. He said: Then he said: O Allah, they have deprived me of what is in it, so give me what is in it. Then he said: O Allah, I have grown weary of them and they of me; I have detested them and they have detested me; they have burdened me with what is not my nature or my character and with manners that were never known of me. O Allah, replace me with better than them, and replace them with worse than me. O Allah, melt their hearts as salt melts in water. Ibrāhīm said: meaning the people of Kufa. From Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Sulamī, who said: Al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī said to me: ʿAlī said to me: The Messenger of Allah appeared to me last night in my sleep, and I said: O Messenger of Allah, what I have met from your community of crookedness and obstinacy! He said: "Invoke against them." So I said: O Allah, replace me with better than them, and replace them with worse than me. Then he went out, and the man struck him. Al-awad means crookedness, and al-ladad means contentiousness. Abū Dāwūd narrated in the Book of Divine Decree that in the days of the Kharijites, ten of ʿAlī's companions guarded him every night, spending the night in the mosque with weapons. ʿAlī saw them and said: What makes you sit here? They said: We guard you. He said: From the people of heaven? Then he said: Nothing happens on earth until it is decreed in heaven. There is upon me from Allah a fortified shield. In another narration: The appointed term is a fortified shield. There is no one among people but an angel has been assigned to him. No beast or anything intends him but the angel says: Beware of him, beware of him. When the decree comes, it leaves him. In another narration: Two angels ward off from him; when the decree comes, they leave him. A servant does not find the sweetness of faith until he knows that what struck him could not have missed him, and what missed him could not have struck him. And ʿAlī used to enter the mosque every night and pray in it. On the night on whose morning he was killed, he was restless that night and gathered his family. When he went out to the mosque, the geese shrieked in his face, and they silenced them for him. He said: Leave them, for they are wailing. When he went out to the mosque, Ibn Muljam struck him, and what we mentioned before happened. The people said: O Commander of the Faithful, shall we not kill all of Murād? He said: No, but imprison him and treat him well in his captivity. If I die, then execute him; if I live, then wounds are subject to retaliation. Umm Kulthūm bt. ʿAlī began to say: What have I to do with the morning prayer? My husband ʿUmar, Commander of the Faithful, was killed at the morning prayer, and my father, Commander of the Faithful, was killed at the morning prayer. ؓ. It was said to ʿAlī: Will you not appoint a successor? He said: No, but I leave you as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ left you; if Allah wills good for you, He will gather you around the best of you, just as He gathered you around the best of you after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. This is an acknowledgment from him at the last moment of this world of the excellence of al-Ṣiddīq. It has been established from him by tawātur that he delivered a sermon in Kufa during the days of his caliphate and seat of authority, saying: O people, the best of this community after its Prophet is Abū Bakr, then ʿUmar; and if I wished to name the third, I would name him. And it is reported from him that he said while descending from the pulpit: Then ʿUthmān, then ʿUthmān. [The story of the eight loaves and the precision of his judgment ؓ It is reported from Zarr b. Ḥubaysh that he said: (Two men sat down to eat lunch; one had five loaves, and the other had three loaves. When they placed the food before them, a man passed by and greeted them. They said: Sit down for lunch. He sat and ate with them, and they all shared equally in eating the eight loaves. The man then rose, threw eight dirhams to them, and said: Take them in compensation for what I ate of your food and obtained from your meal. The two disputed. The owner of the five loaves said: I get five dirhams, and you get three. The owner of the three loaves said: I will not accept anything but that the dirhams be split in half between us. So they went up to the Commander of the Faithful ʿAlī and told him their story. He said to the owner of the three: Your companion has offered you what he offered, and his bread is more than yours, so accept the three. He said: By Allah, I will not accept from him except by the bitterness of the truth. ʿAlī ؓ said: You have no share in the bitterness of the truth except one dirham, and he gets seven dirhams. The man said: Glory be to Allah!! He said: That is how it is. He said: Then explain to me the reasoning of the bitterness of the truth so that I may accept it. ʿAlī said: Do the eight loaves not consist of twenty-four thirds, which the three of you ate, and it is not known which of you ate more or less? So you are all assumed to have eaten equally. He said: You ate eight thirds, but you only had nine thirds; and your companion ate eight thirds, and he had fifteen thirds, of which he ate eight and seven remained; and he ate one of your nine, so you get one for your one, and he gets seven. The man said: I accept now. Ibn Abī Shaybah reported in al-Muṣannaf from ʿAṭāʾ that he said: (A man was brought to ʿAlī, and two men testified that he had stolen. He began to deal with some people's affairs and threatened the false witnesses, saying: Let no false witness be brought to me... except that I will do such-and-such to him. Then he sought the two witnesses but did not find them, so he released the man. [Strike his shadow] ʿAbd al-Razzāq said in al-Muṣannaf: From ʿAlī, that a man was brought to him, and it was said to him: (This man claims that he had a wet dream about my mother? He said: Go, make him stand in the sun and strike his shadow). [Some of his wisdom and advice ؓ to the bearers of the Qur'an Ibn ʿAsākir reported from Rabīʿa b. Nājid that he said: ʿAlī said: (Be among people like the bee among birds; for there is nothing among birds... but that it regards it as weak, and if the birds knew what blessing is in its belly... they would not do that to it. Mix with people with your tongues and bodies, but separate from them with your deeds and hearts; for a person gets what he earns, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be with those he loves). It is reported from ʿAlī that he said: (Be more concerned with your deeds being accepted than with the deeds themselves; for no deed is small with piety, and how can a deed that is accepted be small?!) It is reported from Yaḥyā b. Jaʿda that he said: ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib ؓ said: (O bearers of the Qur'an, act upon it; for the scholar is only one who has knowledge and then acts upon what he knows, and whose knowledge matches his deeds. There will be people who carry knowledge but it does not go beyond their collarbones; their inner selves contradict their outward appearance, and their deeds contradict their knowledge. They sit in circles, boasting to one another, to the point that a man becomes angry at his companion for sitting with someone else and leaving him. Those are the ones whose deeds will not ascend to Allah from those gatherings of theirs). It is reported from ʿAlī that he said: (Success is the best guide, good character is the best companion, intellect is the best friend, and discipline is the best inheritance; and there is no loneliness more severe than self-conceit). It is reported from al-Ḥārith that he said: (A man came to ʿAlī ؓ and said: Tell me about destiny. He said: A dark path, do not travel it. He said: Tell me about destiny. He said: A deep sea, do not enter it. He said: Tell me about destiny. He said: A secret of Allah that has been hidden from you, do not investigate it. He said: Tell me about destiny. He said: O questioner, did Allah create you for what He willed or for what you willed? He said: Rather for what He willed. He said: Then He employs you in whatever He wills). It is reported from ʿAlī that he said: (Calamities have ends, and when a person is afflicted, he must inevitably reach those ends. It behooves the wise person, when a calamity befalls him, to sleep through it until its duration passes; for pushing it away before its duration ends only increases its unpleasantness). It is reported from ʿAlī that he was asked: (What is generosity? He said: That which is initiated without being asked; as for what comes after a request... it is modesty and graciousness). It is reported from ʿAlī that a man came to him and praised him excessively, though reports about him had reached ʿAlī beforehand. ʿAlī said to him: I am not as you say, and I am above what is in your mind). It is reported from ʿAlī that he said: (The punishment for disobedience is weakness in worship, tightness in livelihood, and misery in pleasure. It was said: What is misery in pleasure? He said: He does not attain a lawful desire except that something comes to spoil it for him). [Memorize from me four and four] It is reported from ʿUqba b. Abī al-Ṣahbāʾ that he said: (When Ibn Muljam struck ʿAlī, al-Ḥasan entered upon him weeping. ʿAlī said to him: O my son, memorize from me four and four. He said: What are they, father? He said: The richest wealth is intellect, the greatest poverty is stupidity, the loneliest loneliness is self-conceit, and the noblest nobility is good character. He said: And the other four? He said: Beware of befriending a fool, for he wants to benefit you but harms you. Beware of befriending a liar, for he makes the far seem near to you and the near seem far. Beware of befriending a miser, for he will abandon you when you most need him. Beware of befriending a wicked person, for he will sell you for a pittance). Ibn ʿAsākir reported from ʿAlī that a Jew came to him and said: (When was our Lord?) ʿAlī's face changed color, and he said: (He was not, then He was. He is, without being; He was without how; He was, with no before and no limit; limits end before Him, and He is the limit of every limit). The Jew then embraced Islam. Mention of some of his conduct Abū Rāfiʿ, the freedman of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, was ʿAlī's treasurer over the public treasury. One day ʿAlī entered and his daughter had been adorned, and he saw on her a pearl that he recognized as belonging to the treasury. He said: Where did she get this? I will cut off her hand! When Abū Rāfiʿ saw how serious he was, he said: By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, I adorned her with it. ʿAlī said: I married Fāṭima and had no bedding except a ram's skin; we slept on it at night and fed our water-camel on it by day, and I had no servant other than her. Ibn ʿAbbās said: The knowledge of people was divided into five parts; ʿAlī had four of them, and the rest of the people had one part, in which ʿAlī shared with them, and he was the most knowledgeable of them in it. Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal said: No one among the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ received what ʿAlī received. ʿAmr b. Maymūn said: When ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb was struck and appointed the caliphate among the six Companions, when they left him he said: If they entrust it to the bald-headed one, he will lead them on the right path. His son ʿAbd Allāh said to him: What prevents you, O Commander of the Faithful, from appointing him? He said: I dislike carrying that burden alive and dead. ʿĀṣim b. Kulayb reported from his father: Money arrived to ʿAlī from Iṣbahān, and he divided it into seven shares. He found a loaf in it and divided it into seven, and he called the leaders of the sevenths and drew lots among them to see who would be given first. Hārūn b. ʿAntara reported from his father: I entered upon ʿAlī at al-Khawarnaq in winter, and he was wearing a worn velvet coverlet and shivering in it. I said: O Commander of the Faithful, Allah has given you and your family a share in this wealth, and you do this to yourself? He said: By Allah, I have not taken anything from you; this is only my coverlet that I brought from Madinah. Yaḥyā b. Salama said: ʿAlī appointed ʿAmr b. Salama over Iṣbahān. He returned with money and skins containing honey and ghee. Umm Kulthūm bt. ʿAlī sent to ʿAmr asking him for ghee and honey. He sent her a container of honey and a container of ghee. The next day, ʿAlī came out, brought the money, honey, and ghee to be divided, counted the skins, and found two skins missing. He asked him about them, but he concealed it and said: We will bring them. ʿAlī insisted that he mention them, so he told him. He sent to Umm Kulthūm, took the two skins from her, and saw that they had been diminished. He ordered the merchants to estimate the value of what had been taken from them, which was three dirhams. He sent to her and took it from her, then divided everything. It is said: He came out of Hamdān and saw two men fighting. He separated them and went on. Then he heard a voice: Help, for the sake of Allah! He hurried toward it, saying: Help has come to you. It turned out that one man was holding another. He said: O Commander of the Faithful, I sold this man a garment for seven dirhams and stipulated that he not give me any coins that were debased or clipped, as their custom was then. He brought me these dirhams, and I came and grabbed him, and he slapped me. He said to the slapper: What do you say? He said: He is truthful, O Commander of the Faithful. He said: Give him what he stipulated. So he gave it. And to the one who was slapped he said: Retaliate. He said: Or may I pardon, O Commander of the Faithful? He said: That is up to you. Then he said: O Muslims, take him. They took him, and he was carried on a man's back as schoolchildren are carried, then he struck him fifteen lashes and said: This is an exemplary punishment for violating his honor. When he was killed ﷺ, his son al-Ḥasan stood as a preacher and said: Tonight you have killed a man on a night in which the Qur'an was revealed, in which Jesus was raised, and in which Joshua b. Nūn was killed. By Allah, no one before him surpassed him, and no one after him will reach him. By Allah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to send him on raiding parties with Gabriel on his right and Michael on his left. By Allah, he left nothing of gold or silver except seven or eight hundred, which he had set aside for a slave girl. Sufyān said: ʿAlī never built a brick upon a brick, nor an adobe upon an adobe, nor a reed upon a reed, and his grains used to be brought to him from Madinah in a sack. It is said: He took out a sword of his to the market and sold it, saying: If I had four dirhams for the price of a waist-wrapper, I would not have sold it. He would not buy from anyone who knew him, and when he bought a shirt, he would measure its sleeve to the length of his hand and cut off the rest. He would seal the sack containing the barley flour that he ate from and say: I do not like anything to enter my stomach except what I know. Al-Ḥasan b. Ṣāliḥ said: They discussed ascetics in the presence of ʿUmar b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, and ʿUmar said: The most ascetic of people in this world is ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib. Al-Madāʾinī said: ʿAlī looked at some people at his door and said to Qanbar, his freedman: Who are these? He said: Your Shia, O Commander of the Faithful. He said: Why do I not see the mark of the Shia among them? He said: What is their mark? He said: Hollow bellies from hunger, dry lips from thirst, and bleary eyes from weeping. (His merits are countless; I have collected his judicial rulings in a separate book).
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