Amir al-Muminin (PBUH) began his\neconomic activities from point zero. It\nwas so extreme that he didn\u2019t have enough to eat in the first few years of the\nHijrah. But holding steadfastly to the\npower of faith, thought and effort, Amir al-Muminin (PBUH) attained great\nsuccesses in a somewhat short period, all to the extent that he was able to\nfinancially support hundreds of families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As evident in various sources the Imam\nwas very active in various areas of the city of Medina during and even before\nhis rule. He was engaged in construction projects such as the digging of\nnumerous wells, setting up farms and palm gardens. What was obvious in all of\nthis was the efforts of Amir al-Muminin (PBUH) for establishing Islamic and\nhumane institutions for the satisfaction of Allah and the comfort of man,\nefforts that were far from greed, and showing off. For many people of the time, such an example\nwas not very understood and some of them would even accuse Amir al-Muminin\n(PBUH) of poverty and pennilessness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along these lines, direct monetary\nhelp to the poor, those families who had lost their jobs or income providers\nwere first to be taken care of in the distribution of his wealth. What people had a chance to see throughout\nhis lifetime was how the Imam took care of the needs of others before his own\nneeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amir al-Muminin (PBUH) had this\npractice in life not only in the last years of his life which he owned great\nwealth but even during the poverty years in the beginnings of the Hijrah. It\nwas such that various verses in the Quran were revealed about the sacrifice and\nmagnanimity of the Imam, such as the verse of giving1, verses from the chapter\n\u201cThe Night\u201d and the verse of Wilayat2, verses from the chapter \u201cTime\u201d3, verse\n274 of the second chapter \u201cThe Cow, and verses 37 and 38 of the chapter \u201cThe\nLight\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These verses show the giving attitude\nof the Imam even in a time of his own need. \nIn the final years of the life\ntime of the Imam, the revenue from his crops was a good 40,000 Dinars (gold\ncoins), almost all of which was spent towards the needs of those in need, and\nhis own share was so small that at times he had to sell his own sword to cover\nhis costs.4 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Muhammad ibn Semah narrates, \u201cOne\nnight in Medinah I saw a man who had leathered-skin pouch on his shoulders and\na bowl in his hand who would say, \u2018O Lord! O You who are in charge of all\naffairs and the Creator and the haven of the pious. Please accept my sacrifice\ntonight. I have left my house tonight in\nneed and have nothing but this bowl and what I have in this pouch. You are\naware that despite my grave hunger and the need that I have to this pouch, I\nhave brought it as an offering to You. O Lord! Then do not turn me away and\naccept my prayers.\u2019 I then approached him and recognized him. He was Ali ibn Abi Talib. He went towards a man and gave him food.\u201d5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to this, the economic\nsuccess of Amir al-Muminin (PBUH) is a magnanimous act because it was based on\nthe understanding of humanity; the topic widely discussed in today\u2019s world\nabout humanity is totally different. In\nthe view of Ali (PBUH), man is Allah\u2019s (SWT) servant. Thus, his true prosperity\nremains not in the material margin of revenue, but in the attainment of the\nsatisfaction of the Lord. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Selection from\nImam Ali\u2019s encyclopedia, vol. 7, article \u201cEconomical practices of Imam Ali\n(PBUH)\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Roshd Website congratulates all\nMuslims, especially you dear friend, upon 13th of Rajab, the birthday\nanniversary of the Imam of eloquence and the leader of justice, and the first\nImam of Shiites, Amir al-Mu\u2019minin,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (PBUH).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Holy Quran,\n59:9<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Holy Quran,\n5:55<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Holy Quran,\n76:8-10<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Ansaab\nal-Ashraaf, vol. 2, pg. 117 \u2013 al-gharaat, vol. 1, pg. 63<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Manaqib Ibn\nShahr Ashoob, vol. 2, pg. 76<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Amir al-Muminin (PBUH) began his economic activities from point zero. It was so extreme that he didn\u2019t have enough to eat in the first few years of the Hijrah. But holding steadfastly to the power of faith, thought and effort, Amir al-Muminin (PBUH) attained great successes in a somewhat short period, all to the extent […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248],"tags":[18850,18849,18726,18854,18855,18418,18852,18853,18401],"class_list":["post-3998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2015-05-02","tag-a-different-motivation","tag-amir-al-muminin","tag-families","tag-medina","tag-occasion-letters","tag-power","tag-successes","tag-the-great-prophet-of-islam"],"yoast_head":"\n