88. Imām Ali (a.s.): “He who endeavors to establish the truth will succeed.”1
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Commitment to Law
89. Imām al-Bāqir: “He [Ali] (a.s.) arrested a man from the tribe of Bani Asad to carry out a punishment. His people gathered to mediate for him and asked Hasan (a.s.) to go along with them.”
“He [Hasan] (a.s.) said: “Go to him [Ali] (a.s.) for he is better aware of your affairs.”
They went to him and brought up their issue.
He said: “Ask me for anything which is at my disposal and I will grant it to you.”
They left him, thinking they were successful. Hasan (a.s.) asked them about what happened between them and they said: “We have come with the best of results”, and told him the story.
He said: “Do whatever you need to do for your friend when he is being punished.”
Ali (a.s.) took him out and carried out the punishment on him, and he then said: “By God this [execution of punishment] is an issue out of my power [rather, it is God’s command].”2
90. al-Ghārāt –in a report about the poet al-Najāshi: “In the battle of Siffin, al-Najāshi was Ali’s (a.s.) poet. He drank wine in Kufa and the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) executed the punishment on him. He became angry and joined Mu`āwiya and dispraised Ali (a.s.)….
When Ali (a.s.) punished al-Najāshi, those from among his companions from the Yamāniyah tribe got angry and the closest of them to Ali (a.s.), Tāriq ibn `Abdullah Nahdi, went to him and said: “O Commander of the Faithful! We did not imagine that the sinners and the obedient, the separatists and allies, are equal before the leaders of justice and the fountainheads of virtue until I saw your treatment of my brother Hārith [al-Najāshi]. You pained our hearts, dispersed our affairs and you made us choose a road which we previously thought that he who walks on it will be led to Hellfire.”
“Ali (a.s.) said: “…and it is indeed hard except for the humble.”3 O Brother from Bani Nahd! Was he not a Muslim man who violated one of God’s sanctities and we executed against him the
penalty which was his expiation? God Almighty has said: “…and ill feeling for a people should never lead you to be unfair. Be fair; that is nearer to Godwariness.”45
1.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۸۶۵۱, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۴۴۰, h. ۷۶۵۳.
2.. Manāqib Ali ibn Abi Tālib, vol. ۲, p. ۱۴۷, Da`ā'im al-Islām, vol. ۲, p. ۴۴۳, h. ۱۵۴۷, Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۴۱, p. ۹, h. ۱.
3.. Qur'ān, ۲: ۴۵.
4.. Qur'ān, ۵: ۸.
5.. al-Ghārāt, vol. ۲, p. ۵۳۳ ۵۳۹, Manāqib Ali ibn Abi Tālib, vol. ۲, p. ۱۴۷.
