Love of a Friend

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                          * Love of a Friend *
                          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

        There was a friend of Amir al-Muminin, a good and believing  man,
who unfortunately fell into error, and who had to be punished. Imam   Ali
cut off the fingers of his right hand. The man took hold of his cut hand,
with the blood dripping from it, with his left hand and went away. He was
then instigated by a seditious Kharijite, who wanted to take advantage of
the course of events for his own party and against Imam   Ali, so he came
up to the man with an utter of compassion and said:

        Who cutt your hands off?

     The Chief  of  the  Prophet's successors, he said,  the leader of the
     untainted ones at the Resurrection,  the  most  righteous  among  the
     believers, Ali ibn Abi Talib, the Imam  of  Right  Guidance,  cutt of
     the fingers of my right hand ..... the first  to  reach  the  Gardens
     of Felicity, the hero of the brave, the avenger against the promoters
     of ignorance, the giver of zakat .... the leader on the right and the
     perfect path,  the speaker of  what  is true  and  appropriate, the
     Champion of Mecca, the steadfast exceller.

     Poor you! said the man, he cutt of your hands, and You extol him thus!

     Why should I not extol him,  replied  the  companion,  now  that  his
     friendship is mixed with my  flesh  and  blood?  I swear by God that
     he did not cutt off   my hand   except  with  a  right  that God has
     established.


  Such was the love, attraction and the affection of the companion for Ali.

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Sunni reference: Tafsir al-Kabir, by Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, v9 - Under
                 the explanation of the chapter of al-Kahf - 9 ]

Shi'i reference: Bihar al-Anwar, v40, pp 281-282
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                        * On Imam Ali (AS) *
                        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
        Kufa was now the seat of the Islamic rule. The entire Muslim world
with the exception of Damascus looked towards Kufa for guidance. They
travelled to Kufa often.

        Two men were in each other's company on the road to Kufa. One was a
muslim and the other was a non muslim. As they progressed, the non muslim
traveller asked his companion:

     I am going further than Kufa, to a small village where I live. Where
     are You going?

His muslim companion said:

        I live in Kufa

They proclaimed happily, discussing various things, helping each other, all
in a spirit of cordiality. When they drew near to Kufa, the non muslim took
a side road towards his village. Just as he was about to bid farewell, he
observed that his muslim companion was coming with him.

        Didn't you tell me that You are going to Kufa where You lived?

The muslim replied

        Yes of course

On this the non muslim inquired

        Then why were you coming this way? That is the only road leading to
        Kufa?

     I know, said the muslim, But we have long been companions. Our Prophet
     (PBUH&HF) said that when two are companions to each other on a journey
     they have obligations and duties towards each other. You gave me
     company and now it is my duty to follow You a few steps and then make
     a gentle departure.

     No wonder that Your Prophet (PBUH&HF) managed to spread his faith so
     quickly. His (PBUH&HF) teachings were indeed great.

And then it so happened that once the same non muslim entered Kufa. There
he found that his muslim companion had been none other but the Khalifa of
his time, Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS). He soon became a muslim and remained the
most faithful of companion of the Imam.
----------
     To  judge  Your  own  souls  before  the  time of judging of  your
     action arrives. Make an assessment of Yourself before You are called
     upon to account for Your conduct in this existence.
                                                         [ Imam Ali (AS)
----------

        Sources:
                 Peak Of Eloquence
                 Nahjul Balagha
                 Sermons, Letters and Sayings of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib
                 Translated by Askari Jafari
                 Islamic Seminary Publications

----------
       Sources:
        Unto Thee I grant ........
        A collection of historical events from the following books
        o Tuhaful Uqool - Abu Muhammad al-Harrani
        o Biharul Anwar - Allamah Majlisi
        o al-Amthalan Nabawiyyah - Muhammad al-Gharawi
        o Dastan e Rastan - Allama Murtaza Mutahhari