The Selfless Virtue of Sayyidina Ali {RA}

“The best of your leaders are those whom you love and they love you, you pray for them and they pray for you.”—Muslim

Like the other youths, I entered the vast open ground of Kufa, where I witnessed Amirul Mu’mineen {RA} standing beside two containers which were filled with gold and silver coins. 

He had a small whip in his hand. A huge crowd had gathered around him and he kept them back by means of the whip, to prevent them from hampering the distribution of the money.

Amirul Mu’mineen {RA} began distributing the money amongst the people until nothing remained for himself and he returned home empty-handed.

I went home and said to my father, “I witnessed a very strange act today but fail to comprehend if this person’s action was good or bad because he never retained anything for himself!”

My father inquired, “Who was the person?”

“Amirul Mu’mineen {RA},” I replied and then went on to narrate what had transpired earlier. 

Upon hearing Ali’s selfless fairness in distributing the money to everyone except himself, my father began to weep and said to me, “My son, you have witnessed the most excellent person from amongst the people.”

Indeed, he served the people for the pleasure of God.

May Allah {SWT} increase His blessings on him and bless us with the virtue of righteous selflessness. Aameen.

Reference:

Al-Ghaaraat

Dastaanhai Az Zindagi Ali

Anecdotes for Reflection