Hence we can see that the phenomenon of good morals...

Hence we can see that the phenomenon of good morals; forgiveness, peace, open-heartedness, kindness, humility, patience, not retaliating in the same way, but responding in the nicest way, ap pears in the lives of the all the great Prophets of Allah and the Impeccable Imams (A) and the great reformers.

We see Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen (A) in the war of Basra (The battle of the Jamal), which was the first war to be waged against him, when the fighting had finished, Imam 'Ali strengthened the side of peace and sent a messenger to 'Aisha56 saying she should return to her house in Madinah in peace. The Imam actually also clothed forty women in the clothes of men and sent them with 'Aisha to take her back to Madinah with her honour intact.

They had donned the clothes of men for the reason that passing caravans would think that they were men and not attack them. Also 'Aisha, being the wife of the Prophet (S), Amir-ul- Mu'mineen (A) was loath to send her with men but preferred to send her with women. And indeed, 'Aisha went to Madinah from Basra in the company of these women. This is truly an example of the highest of morals.

We can also see that Imam 'Ali (A) forgave those who had stirred up the war with him even when there were amongst them those who would come under the category of war criminals in the modern terminology - the likes of Marwan and Ibn Zubeir who he pardoned. He also pardoned the opposing army saying: 'I grant to the people of Basra what the 5 6 'Aisha had led a war against Imam 'Ali, which became known as the War of Jamal.

Messenger of Allah (S) granted to the people of Mecca.' And he set them at liberty and did not take revenge of them and did not return their evil with evil but rather returned it with pardoning and kindness and he ordered that all the belongings that had been taken as spoils from the defeated army be returned. Everything was returned, even a cooking pot that had been taken and was being used to cook some broth was emptied of broth and returned.

One time the Imam went on a reconnaissance mission to a grand house. He was told that women had gathered in it and were bewailing their dead soldiers from the defeated army and were cursing the Imam and his army. The Imam entered the house which was very large and full of the wives of the defeated army. The Imam said to his companions: 'Do not touch them even if they curse your manhood and your honour.' So he withheld his hands from them and replied to their curses with kindness.