Now I want you to accompany me andhear what I have to say in...

Now I want you to accompany me andhear what I have to say in response to his abuses and insults.” The companions complied, “We shall surely accompany you; in fact we had hoped that youwould reply to him at that very moment.” The Imam (a.s.) set off towards the person’s house and was heard reciting the following Qur’anic verse: And who restrain (their) anger, and forgive (the faults of) men; for God loves those who d o good (to others) .[^7] The narrator says: “ When we heard the recitation of this verse, we realized that the Imam (a.s.) intended to exhibit goodness towards the person who had just insulted him.” When he reached the person’s house, the Imam (a.s.) called out to him and announced his arrival.

On seeing the Imam, the person immediately assumed that he had come to respond to his abuses. However, as soon as the Imam (a.s.) saw the man, he said, “O’ Brother! You came to me and uttered things which were appalling and unpleasant. If what you have attributed to meis true, I seek forgiveness for myself from God, but if it is not so, then I pray that God forgives you.” The man was shocked to hear these words and repented.

He kissed Imam Sajjad (a.s.) between the eyes and apologised, saying: “My insults and abuse were unfounded and cannot be attributed to your character. In fact, those insults befit me more than you.”[^8]13 Imam 'Ali and the Discourteous Trader Imam Ali (a.s.), during his Calphate, would often undertake tours to survey the markets and advise and guide the traders there. One day, while passing through the date market, he noticed that a small girl was weeping.

Imam asked her the reason for her tears at which she explained: “My master had given me a dirham to purchase some dates. I purchased them from this trader here, but when I returned home, my master did not approve of them. Now I wish to return them but the trader refuses to take them back.” Imam 'Ali (a.s.), turned to the trader and said to him, “This child is a slave-girl and has no authority of her own.

Take back the dates and return her money to her.” The trader stepped forward and, in full view of the other traders and onlookers, struck the Imam (a.s.) on the chest in an attempt to shove him away from the front of his shop. The people who were witnessing the incident, rushed forward and said to the man: “What do you think you are doing? This is Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.)!” The trader’s face went pale as he stood flabbergasted.