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Ameerul Mo’mineen, Hadrat Sayyiduna Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – was the cousin of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him-. He was also the husband of Sayyidah Fatimah – may Allah be pleased with her. His brothers were Taalib, Aqeel and Jafer who were older than him. It is stated that ten years separated each brother. He also had two sisters, Umme Haani and Jamaanah. All of them were from Sayyidah Faatimah binte Asad – may Allah be pleased with them. He was fourth leader of the Muslims and he accepted Islam when he was only ten years old. Among the young people, he was the first to accept Islam.

 

It is reported that one day, a poor Bedouin approached Hadrat Sayyiduna Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – and asked him for some help. Hadrat Sayyiduna Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – replied, “I swear by Allah I do not even have any food which has been saved which I can give you. (Besides other items).” When the Bedouin heard this, he declared, “I swear by Allah that on the Day of Judgement, you would be questioned about the moment I had asked you for help.”

 

When Hadrat Sayyiduna Al – may Allah be pleased with him – heard the reply of the poor person, he wept and then called his servant Qambar to go and call this poor person. He also asked his servant to go and bring his armour as well.

 

When Qambar brought his armour, he said to the poor Bedouin, “Do not allow anyone to deceive you about the value of this. I had stopped many from attacking the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – through this armour.”

 

Qambar replied, “O Ameerul Mo’mineen! Merely twenty dirhams would be sufficient for this person.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – declared, “O Qambar! It does not please me that the riches of the world rain down upon me and I give all of this in charity and Allah Almighty accepts all of this in His Divine Court. However, I will never be able to face Allah Almighty on the Day of Judgement if He asks me about the Bedouin.” (Nawaadir)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – has stated that, “That person who has four qualities, he had attained the good of both worlds and he would certainly be very successful. They are:

  1. Piety which protects him against those things which Allah Almighty has prohibited.
  2. Good manners through which he presents himself in front of people.
  3. Steadfastness so that he can help and assist a person against ignorance and Jahaalat.
  4. A good wife who is able to help and assist him in doing good.”

(Nawaadir)