When Mu’awiyah controlled the watering places in Siffeen...

When Mu’awiyah controlled the watering places in Siffeen, he prevented Imam ‘Ali's army from getting water to cause them to thirst in order to surrender. When Imam ‘Ali’s army controlled the watering places by force later on, they wanted to do the same as Mu’awiyah and his army did. Imam ‘Ali (as) said to them: “Do not require evil for evil.

This is far away from humanity.” His enemies (the Kharijites) could come and go through Kufa freely where they frequently caused many troubles for him and in spite of this, they were paid their salaries from the treasury (Bayt al-Mal). One day Imam ‘Ali was passing by the streets of Kufa when he came across a woman carrying a pot of water on her shoulder and she was out of breath. He asked if he could help her.

When he knew that her husband had been killed in the battle and that she and her four children had been left without a breadwinner, he went to help her in ding some of her domestic affairs although he was the caliph. It was mentioned that he had seen an old Christian carrying a heavy load on his back and he was troubled with it. It seemed that he was obliged to work so hard in this age for making his living.

Imam ‘Ali ordered that this old Christian would receive his monthly expense from the treasury of the Muslims. In this way he had founded the social insurance of today. One day Imam ‘Ali was on a trip about Kufa. On his way back, a Jew man joined him. They discussed some various subjects. When the Jew wanted to leave, Imam ‘Ali (as) escorted him to some distance. He asked why Imam ‘Ali (as) had done so.

Imam ‘Ali said: “We enjoyed our companionship and friendship requires me to escort you to some distance to see you off.” Consequently the man resigned himself to Islam after seeing so much humility and politeness from Imam ‘Ali (as) . Have you ever heard of somebody recommending his successors to treat his murderer well? Certainly not but ‘Ali! He said to his son Imam Hasan: “Look at him (ibn Muljim, Imam ‘Ali’s murderer) how upset he is!

Give him from the same milk that I used to drink and feed him from what you you eat. If I restore to health, I myself know better how to deal with him and if not, forgive him if you can endure to see him, otherwise kill him with only one stroke of sword.