After a fierce encounter, Imam Ali (a.

After a fierce encounter, Imam Ali (a.s.) eventually knocked him down and sat on his chest.[^6] Witnessing this, the entire Muslim army importuned the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.): “O’ Messenger of Allah, order Ali (a.s.) to kill A'mr immediately.” “Leave him alone for he is more aware of his deeds than anyone else,” replied the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) When Ali (a.s.) had severed the head of A'mr, he brought it to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.), who questioned him (peace be upon him), “O’ Ali!

What caused you to hesitate before killing A'mr?” He said, “O’ Messenger of Allah! When I had floored him, he abused me, as a result of which I was overcome by rage. I feared that if I were to kill him in that state of anger, it would be for consoling myself and pacifying my soul.

So I stepped away from him till my fury subsided when I returned to sever his head from his body only for the happiness of Allah and in obedience to Him*.*” It was because of this sincerity and invaluable combat on the part of Imam Ali that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “The strike of the sword of Ali on the day of the battle of Khandaq is superior to the worship of all men and jinn.[^7][^8] Shaitan and the Pious Worshipper In the tribe of Bani Israel, there once lived a pious worshipper.

One day, the people informed him that at a certain location, there existed a tree that was being worshipped by a tribe. When he heard this, the man flew into a rage, picked up his axe and set out to cut down the tree. Iblees, appearing before him in the form of an old man, asked, “Where are you headed for?” He replied, “I intend to cut down the tree, which is being worshipped so that the pe ople worship Allah instead.”[^9] “Hold yourself till you hear what I have to say,” said Iblees to him.

The worshipper urged him to carry on. Iblees continued, “God has His own Prophets and if it had been essential to cutdown the tree, He would have sent them to perform the task*.”* However, the worshipper did not agree with Iblees and continued on his way. “There is no way I shall let you do it,” said Iblees angrily, and he began to wrestle with the man. In the ensuing contest, the pious worshipper hurled Iblees onto the ground. “Wait! I have something else to say to you”, pleaded Iblees. “Listen!

You are a poor man. If you could possess some wealth by means of which you could give alms to the other worshippers it would be much better than cutting the tree.