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Refraining from Delaying the Distribution of Public Assets
214. Ansāb al-Ashrāf – narrating from Abi Sālih al-Sammān: “I saw Ali (a.s.) enter the public treasury and he noticed some money there and he said: “These are here while there are people in need?” He then ordered the money to be distributed among people. He had the place swept and sprinkled with water and he said his prayers there.”1
215. al-Ghārāt – narrating from Bakr ibn `Isā mentioning the conduct (sira) of Imām Ali (a.s.): “Verily he distributed (among the people) whatever there was in the public treasury. There came no Friday when anything would remain in the treasury. Every Thursday evening, he ordered the treasury to be cleaned and sprinkled with water and he would then perform two units (rak’as) of prayers.”2
1.. Ansāb al-Ashrāf, vol. ۲, p. ۳۷۱. Tārikh Dimashq, vol. ۴۲, p. ۴۷۶.
2.. al-Ghārāt, vol. ۱, p. ۶۹. Also cf., Hiliyat al-Awliyā, vol.۷, p. ۳۰۰.
