‘Ali, Fatimah, and their sons once gave away whatever they...

‘Ali, Fatimah, and their sons once gave away whatever they had -which were no more than a few loaves of bread- to the poor for the sake of God, and despite their own distress. That is why this story circulated among the angels and a verse of the Quran was revealed in the praise of their act. Once when the Holy Prophet came to visit Hadrat al-Zahra, observing that his daughter had put on a silver bracelet and hung a new curtain on the door, signs of unease appeared upon his face.

Al-Zahra (‘a) was quick to discern the cause of her father’s reaction. When the Prophet (‘s) left, without losing time, she took out her bracelet and removing the curtain from the door, sent them to be carried to the Prophet (‘s) so that he might give them to the needy. When al-Zahra’s messenger brought them to the Prophet (‘s) he looked at them with amazement. He was glad that his daughter had taken the hint and foregone her simplest luxuries for the benefit of others.

‘The neighbours first’, was the maxim in the household of Imam Ali (a) and Fatimah (‘a). In khutbah 193, which describes the qualities of the pious, Imam Ali (a) says: The man of [taqwa] subjects his own self to hardships so that the people may live in comfort.

The Holy Quran describes the Ansar (the Helpers), who in spite of their poverty welcomed the Muhajirun (the Emigrants) as their own brethren, giving them preference over their own selves, in these words: They love whosoever has migrated to them, not finding in their breasts any need for what they have been given, and prefer others above themselves, even though poverty be their lot … .(1) Obviously, the altruistic ingredient of zuhd comes into play only under certain conditions.

In an affluent society, altruism is less frequently required. But in conditions where poverty and deprivation are prevalent-as in the society of al-Madinah during the Prophet’s time-its need is greater. This is one of the secrets of the apparent difference in the lifestyles of Imam Ali (a.s) and the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) with the rest of the Imams (a.s).

In any case, zuhd with its underlying altruistic motives has nothing in common with monasticism and escape from society; instead, it is a product of man’s gregarious instincts and a manifestation of his noblest feelings, which reinforce the social bonds between fellow human beings. Continue in the next article: ( Nahj al-Balaghah and Its Spiritual Teachings (7) ) NOTE: ______________________________________ Qur’an 59:9.