370. Rabi‘ al-Abrār, narrating from Abu Tufayl who said: “I saw ‘Ali (a.s.) calling the orphans and making them eat honey to the extent that one of his companions said: “I wish I was an orphan.”1
371. al-Manāqib, narrating from Ibn Shahr Ashub who said: “‘Ali (a.s.) saw a woman who was carrying a water-skin full of water on her shoulder, so he took the water-skin from her and took it to her house. He then asked her about their life [She did not know who he was].
The woman said: “‘Ali ibn Abu Tālib sent my husband to one of the borders and he was killed and I was left with his orphans now I have nothing, so I am forced to work as a servant for people.”
‘Ali (a.s.) returned and slept uneasily that night, and when he woke up in the morning, he carried a basket of food. A person said to him: “Let me carry it for you!” He said: “Who will carry my burden for me on the Judgment Day?”
Then he went to the woman’s house and knocked on the door. The woman said: “Who is it?”
He (a.s.) said: “I am the same servant who carried your water- skin yesterday. Open the door as I have brought some things for the children.”
The woman said: “May Allah be pleased with you and may He judge between me and ‘Ali ibn Abu Tālib.”
Then ‘Ali (a.s.) entered the house and said: “I would indeed like to obtain reward, so would you knead and bake bread, or would you entertain the children so that I could bake the bread?”
The woman said: “I am better and more capable in baking bread, so you stay with the children and entertain them until I finish baking bread.”
The woman took the flour and kneaded it while ‘Ali (a.s.) picked up the meat and cooked it, and in the meantime, he made morsels from dates, meat, and other food stuffs and fed it to the children. Whenever each of the children ate something, he would say to them: “My dear child! Forgive ‘Ali ibn Abu Tālib for what he has done to you!”
When the woman kneaded the flour, she said: “O servant of Allah! Kindle the oven!”
‘Ali (a.s.) hastened to kindle the oven, and when he lit it and the heat struck his face, he ceaselessly said: “O ‘Ali! Taste this! This is indeed the retribution of he who neglects widows and orphans.”
Another woman who knew ‘Ali (a.s.) came and saw him and she said to the mother: “Woe unto you! This is the Commander of the Faithful!”
The woman, confused, came to him and said: “O Commander of the Faithful! Shame on me!”
‘Ali (a.s.) said: “O servant of Allah! It is I indeed who should be ashamed for neglecting your affairs and needs.”2
1.. Rabi‘ al-Abrār, vol. ۲, p. ۱۴۸. al-Mi‘yār wa al-Muwāzanah, p. ۲۵۱. al-Manāqib by Ibn Shahr Ashub, vol. ۲, p. ۷۵.
2.. al-Manāqib by Ibn Shahr Ashub, vol. ۲, p. ۱۱۵. Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۴۱, p. ۵۲.