When he knocked at the door, the woman asked who it was.

When he knocked at the door, the woman asked who it was. The Imam (a.s) said that he was the same person who had carried the water bag to he home. She opened the door and the Imam (a.s) entered. He gave her the food materials he had brought. He asked her if she wanted to knead the flour or to tend to her children. She said that she would knead the flour and he can tend to her children in that time. When she finished the kneading she said, O kind person!

Now put fire to the oven!” The Imam (a.s) put firewood in the oven and lighted it. When the flames rose, he felt the heat and thought: “O `Ali! Feel the heat of keeping away from the orphans and the widows!” In that time a woman from the neighborhood came and told the woman if she was not ashamed of asking Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) to work on the hot oven. When she heard this, she was very sorry. She craved his pardons telling him that she had not recognized him.

The Imam (a.s) said that he himself was sorry that he did not care for her and the children for so long. Once he came out of the Mosque after the prayers. He saw a woman crying at the threshold. The Imam (a.s) inquired the reason of her crying. She said that her husband was cruel and was committing excesses on her and he had sworn that he would kill her. The Imam (a.s) told her that he would call him over after the sun goes down and try to correct him.

She expressed her doubt and fear that he might do something serious in that time. The Imam (a.s) then agreed to go to her house immediately in the hot sun. Reaching the house, he called for the man who came out. The Imam (a.s) told him that he should have fear of Allah and he should not trouble his wife. The man could not recognize the Imam (a.s) and asked who was he to interfere in his domestic matters. He stubbornly said that even if he were not troubling his wife earlier, he would do it.

In that, time some of the neighbors too assembled there. When they saw Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) they told the person that he was speaking in that manner with the Imam (a.s). The man repented his behavior and promised that he would not be harsh with his wife thenceforth even if she were very unreasonable. The Imam (a.s) sent the woman home advising her not to disobey her husband.

The Imam (a.s) used to do social service and give monetary assistance to the deserving at the cost of his own essential needs. No person asking for help went empty-handed from his door.