‘Ali’s Will Excerpts from the Commander of the Faithful’s...

‘Ali’s Will Excerpts from the Commander of the Faithful’s recommendations to his son, Imam Hasan (‘a). Say your prayers on time and pay your alms taxes ( zakat ) punctually and under any circumstances, whether you feel pleased or angry or furious, observe the golden mean. Be friendly to the needy and consort with them. O my son! Endeavor in the cause of God and don’t quit recommending decency and forbidding indecency. Behave in a brotherly manner toward your fellow-Muslims for the sake of God.

Mu’awiyah did not heed her protest and threatened to send her to the same ruler to be at his mercy. Sudah bowed her head for a while and then raised it and recited this verse, “May God bestow His blessing upon the body which when it was placed in the grave, justice was buried simultaneously, too.” “The one who was allied with truth and was inextricably linked to faith and truth.” Mu’awiyah said, “Perhaps you mean ‘Ali.” She said, “Yes, I mean ‘Ali (‘a)”.

Then she recounted her memory of that Imam, “During his rule, we were oppressed by one of his appointees, we expressed our discontent to ‘Ali. Having listened to our complaint, he started crying and said, “O God you bear witness that I have never told them to wrong people.” And he immediately sacked that oppressive appointee. [^3] [^1]: This was discussed in lesson thirteen, reread that carefully. [^2]: Al-Amali by Shaykh Tusi, first print, p. 4. [^3]: Al-Fosul al-Muhimmah, Tehran, p.