Aqil, a guest of Ali (a.s)

In the days of the Caliphate of his brother, Ali (a.s), Aqil arrived as a guest at his house in Kufah. Ali (a.s) made a sign to his elder son, Hasan ibn Ali (a.s), to present a garment to his uncle. Imam Hasan (a.s) offered a robe and a cloak to his uncle from his own personal property. The night fell; the weather was warm. Ali (a.s) and Aqil were sitting on the roof of the Government I-louse and were busy talking. The time came for dinner.

Considering himself as the guest of the Caliph, Aqil naturally expected a colourful dining-table. But contrary to his expectation, it was a very simple and ordinary one.

To his surprise, he said: "whatever food you have, is this all?

Ali (a.s): "Is it not Allah's blessing? I praise the Almighty Allah whole-heartedly for all these Divine gifts.

Aqil: I should tell you my needs as soon as possible and make my own way. I am in debt. Issue an order to wipe off my debt as soon as possible; also help your bother as much as you can so that I do not disturb you any more and return to my own house.

-"How much debt do you have?

-"One hundred thousand Dirhams!

-"Oh, one hundred thousand! A huge amount! I am sorry, brother! I don't have so much money to pay off your debt but wait till the time comes for the disbursement of stipends. I shall deduct my personal share and give it to you so that I will fullfil the conditions of brotherhood and equity. If my family were not in need of their own expenses, I would have given you my own personal share.

- What!? I should wait till the time of payment comes? The public treasury and the revenue of the state is at your disposal; you still ask me to wait till the time of disbursement; then you will give me only from your personal share! You can withdraw any amount you want from the public treasury. So why are you making me wait till then? Besides, how much is your share from the public treasury? Supposing you give me your whole share, how far will it relieve me of my problem?

-"I am surprised of your proposal whether there is money in public treasury or not!? That is none of my business, and we both are equal to any other fellow Muslim. That is true you are my brother and I must help you from my own personal money as much as possible, but not from the public treasury.

The discussion continued and Aqil insisted obstinately that Ali (a.s) should give him enough money from the public treasury so that he could look after his personal affair.

The place where they were sitting had a view towards the market of Kufah, and the cash-boxes of merchants were visible from there. In the meanwhile Aqil was persisting pleadingly, Ali (a.s) said: "If you refuse my proposal yet and insist upon your request, I have another proposition for you; if you accept it, you can pay off your debts and have plenty of money left

-"What can I do?

-"Down over there are cash boxes. As soon as the market is closed and nobody is there, go down and break open the boxes; take as much as you wish?

-"Whose boxes are they?

-"They belong to the merchants of this market. They keep their cash in them.

-"Strange! Do you suggest me to break the people's boxes and take the money of those poor persons who have earned it with their hard labour, whereas they left it there and ~went home trusting in Allah?!

-"Then, how do you suggest me to open the box of public treasury for you? To whom it belongs? This also belongs to the people who are at sleep in their houses. Now I have another suggestion if you like, you accept this proposal!

-"What is that?

-"If you are ready, take your sword. And so do I. In the vicinity of Kufah, there is an old city of "Hirah where the great merchants and rich people live. We will go together there and in the darkness of the night we will make a surprise attack on one of them, and bring with us an enormous wealth.

-"Dear brother! I have not come here for theft that you are suggesting me these words. I say, you order your official to pay me the money from the public treasury which is at your disposal so that I can wipe off my debts.

-"Is it not better to steal the property of one person than to steal of millions of Muslims?, that is to say, to steal the property of all Muslims?

You consider taking the property of an individual with force by a sword as theft, and what about usurping the property of all innocent people!?

You think that theft is confined to attacking someone and taking their property by force.

Notes: 1. Bahar ul-Anwar, v. 9, p. 613.

Source - The Narrative of Veracious - Vol. II, by Shahid Murtadha Mutahhari.