One look at the life of Amir ul-Mu'minin 'Ali (a.s.) will make the best of us hang our heads in shame. We would appear to be the most despicable and wretched creatures, when judged in the light of his excellence.
The Holy Prophet (S) says: "A stroke of 'Ali (a.s.) on the day of Khandaq (battle og Ahzab) is superior to the total worship of men and jinns." (Bihar al-Anwar)
'Ali (a.s.) inspite of his exalted position, is all humility when he addresses his Lord. Not an iota of significance does he attach to his outstanding achievements. They are all a Mercy from his Creator. ln himself, he sees only shortcomings, faults and weaknesses for which he weeps and prays till he becomes unconscious. Abu Darda relates that l heard 'Ali (a.s.) reciting in a disconsolate voice: "O my Lord, there is no doubt that l have spent a good part of my life in Your disobedience.
Still l do not hope for forgiveness from anyone but You. Nor do l intend to please anyone except You. O my real Master when l think of Your Mercy, the weight of my sins begins to feel light. But when l remember Your severity, the load of the difficulties crush me."
Abu Darda says, "When there was a silence after this, l moved forward and saw that 'Ali (a.s.) had fallen unconscious. When l shook his arm, it seemed lifeless. l thought that my master 'Ali (a.s.) has passed away."
Similarly Zorara says, "Once l saw 'Ali (a.s.) in the last part of a dark night. He was holding his beard and pleading in a sorrowful voice: "O! The provisions for the journey are less and the distance vast. The way is horrifying and the path dangerous."
'Ali (a.s.) says in Du'a Kumail: "O Allah the trials have increased and my condition has deteriorated and my good deeds are very few."
The personality of 'Ali (a.s.) is a Model for Us
Like his fear, the hope of 'Ali (a.s.) is also well known. Since his birth upto the last moments of his life he remained engrossed in worship and obedience. He did not forgo worship even for a single moment. Sometimes he used to pray a thousand rakats of prayers in a day. Throughout his life, he fasted the whole of the month of Shaban. He never missed the midnight prayers. Even in the night of the battle of Siffin, which is known as the coldest of the nights he offered his midnight prayers. For three continuous days he broke his fast with water. He gave his share of bread to the poor, the needy and the orphans. He gave in charity the proceeds of the sale of the garden that he had planted with his own hands. A detailed chapter of Bihar al-Anwar deals with the endowments of 'Ali (a.s.) and his charity. A few examples are quoted below.
An Excerpt from the Will of 'Ali (a.s.)
The will of 'Ali (a.s.) is phrased in the following manner: "This writing is that in which we have willed regarding one's belongings. The slave of Allah, 'Ali hopes that Allah shall reward him for this by Heaven and shall protect him from the fire of the Hell on the day when the faces of some people would be white and the others black. Whatever property l own in 'Yambao' and its suburbs, l leave all of it as an endowment to achieve the happiness of Allah." lnspite of excelling in good deeds and worship, while returning from a battle, he was seen exclaiming.
"Certainly, the best deed of a man is to die a martyr, l fear l may not get a chance to achieve martyrdom."
At last the Holy Prophet (S) informed him: "O 'Ali! Your end shall be martyrdom."
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