What is the beauty of companionship?
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) traveled with a non-Muslim man. The man asked Imam Ali (peace be upon him), “O servant of God, where are you going?”
The Imam replied, “I am going to Kufa.”
They traveled together for part of the journey, until the man decided to change his direction. At that point, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) also changed his direction to accompany him.
The companion said to Imam Ali (peace be upon him), “Did you not say you were going to Kufa?”
Imam replied, “Yes.”
The man said, “But you have changed your course.”
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) responded, “I know.”
The man asked, “Then why did you change your path knowing this?”
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said, “This is an example of the perfection of good companionship, where a person continues to accompany their companion for a little while even after they part ways. This is how our Prophet has instructed us.”
The man asked, “Did the Prophet say this?”
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) replied, “Yes.”
The man said, “Surely, anyone who follows him does so because of his noble character. I too bear witness that I follow your religion.”
Then the man returned with Imam Ali (peace be upon him), and when he recognized him, he embraced Islam.[1]
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Footnotes:
[1] Al-Kafi, Volume 2, Page 670