If He punishes you it is because you have been oppressive...

If He punishes you it is because you have been oppressive, and if He forgives, then it is because He is the Most Generous.”[^5] Imam Ali (a.s.) – from his words when he was spoken ill of for showing equality in the distribution (of shares from public treasury): “Do you command me that I should seek support by oppressing those over whom I have been placed? By Allah, I won't do so as long as the world goes on, and as long as one star leads another in the sky!

Even if it were my property, I would have distributed it equally among them, then why not when the property is that of Allah.”[^6] Imam Ali (a.s.): “By Allah, I would rather pass a night in wakefulness on prickly thorns or be driven in chains as a prisoner than meet Allah and His Messenger on the Day of Judgment as an oppressor over any person or a usurper of anything out of worldly wealth.

And how can I oppress any one for the sake of a life that is fast moving towards destruction and is to remain under the earth for a long time.”[^7] Imam Ali (a.s.): “By Allah, even if I am given all the domains of the seven (spheres) with all that exists under the skies in order that I may disobey Allah to the extent of snatching one grain of barley from an ant I would not do it. For me your world is lighter than the leaf in the mouth of a locust that is chewing it.

What has Ali to do with bounties that will pass away and pleasures that will not last?”[^8] Imam Ali (a.s.): “On the Day of Resurrection I will argue with people in nine things: performing prayers (salat), paying alms tax (zakat), bidding what is good and forbidding what is wrong, doing justice among people, equal distribution, fighting in the way of Allah, implementing punishments, and the like.”[^9] Tarikh Damishq – related by Ali b. Rabi’a: “Ja’da b.

Hubayra came to Ali (a.s.) and said, ‘O Amir al-Mu’minin! If two men come to, and you are more likeable to one of them than his own soul or his household or his property, and the other one would kill you if he could, then would you judge in favor of the first man and against the second one?!’” “He struck me on the chest and said, ‘Certainly, if it were up to me, I would do so; but this is an affair pertaining to Allah.”[^10] Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh – in a report about ‘Ubayd Allah b.

al-Hurr al-Ju’fi[^11]: “When ‘Uthman was killed and the war broke out between Ali (a.s.) and Mu’awiya, he [‘Ubayd Allah] went toward Mu’awiya and remained with him because of his love for ‘Uthman. He and Malik b.