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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Misbah-uz-Zulam, Roots of the Karbala’ Tragedy Piety Of His Eminence, Ali Muhammad bin Qays narrates from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that Ali (a.s.) used to partake simple food like the slaves. His Eminence, Ali (a.s.) used to buy two shirts and ask his slave to choose one he liked and only after that, did His Eminence, Ali (a.s.) put on the shirt. He fed the poor, mutton and leavened bread and himself he subsisted on barely bread, olive oil and vinegar.

He never chose prosperity and comforts for himself and was always diligent in the way of Allah. He emancipated several slaves that he had obtained through the strength of his arms and had brought them up for the sake of Allah. No deed of any human could supercede his actions. He used to pray 1000 units of prayers everyday. Allamah Qaushiji writes in Sharh Tajrid[^1] that he was the most pious after the Prophet.

Despite having the means, he used to lead a life of recluse and he used to say: “O world! You try to lure me and want to cheat me. I don’t need any of your pleasures. I have divorced you thrice. Your pleasure is short-lived and danger is great and your dominion is ungrateful. By Allah, the world in my sight is like perspiration in the hand of leprous man.” He used to wear coarse garments and ate very simple food.

Ibn Rafe says: “One day I came to His Eminence, Ali (a.s.) and saw a bag containing dry pieces of bread. I asked, ‘O Amirul Mo-mineen! Why have you kept the mouth of the bag sealed?’ His Eminence, Ali (a.s.) said: ‘So that my children do not mix butter or olive oil in it.’” These clothes and food were especially for His Eminence, Ali (a.s.) and none should share them. He used to mend his clothes and shoes from the rind of dates. He ate meat in very small quantity and used to say: “O people!

Do not make your stomach, a graveyard of animals.” He was such a worshipper that due to prostration, he had a mark (callus) on his forehead like the knee of camels. He used to recite many supererogatory prayers. People pulled out arrows from his body at the time of prayer and he did not feel the pain due to his concentration and the same thing happened during his supplications. He was so tolerant that he knew about Ibn Muljim but did not deprive him from his stipend and other acts of generosity.

In spite of severe enmity, he did not take revenge from Marwan in the Battle of Jamal and left him alive.