Among the most radiant virtues of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) was his deep humility toward the poor, the weak, and the destitute. His kindness and compassion toward them were ever-present — following the example of his cousin and brother, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). For the believers, he was a father; for the poor, a brother.
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His Humble Conduct Toward Guests
A man once came to Imam Ali (peace be upon him) with his son. The Imam welcomed them warmly and seated them in a place of honor. He then invited them to partake in food.
When they finished eating, the Imam brought water for them to wash their hands. The man hesitated and said,
“O Commander of the Faithful, how can I let you pour water over my hands while Allah watches?”
The Imam (peace be upon him) replied gently:
“Indeed, Allah sees me as your brother, and there is no superiority between us — except that He may raise my rank in Paradise through acts of humility.”
The man complied, and the Imam poured water over his hands. Then he handed the jug to his son, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, and said:
“My son, had this young man come without his father, I would have poured water for him myself. But Allah dislikes that a father and son be treated equally in this regard.”
So Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah poured water for the young man.
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His Response to People’s Royal Reception
When Imam Ali (peace be upon him) returned from the Battle of Ṣiffin, he passed through the town of Anbar. The townspeople came out in large numbers to greet him, bowing and treating him as kings were treated. The Imam (peace be upon him) was displeased and said:
“By Allah, your rulers gain nothing from such acts, and you only burden yourselves — earning hardship in this life and loss in the next. How harmful is the effort that leads to punishment, and how blessed is the restraint that ensures safety from the Fire.”
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His Humility Toward His Companions
Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) narrated:
“The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) once set out with his companions. He was mounted while they walked behind him. The Imam noticed them and said:
‘Do you need anything?’
They said, ‘No, but we love to walk with you.’
He said: ‘Then return, for walking on foot behind a rider brings corruption to the rider and humiliation to the walker.’”
The Imam then took another path, but when his companions followed him again, he said:
“Go back! The sound of footsteps behind a man brings temptation.”
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His Humility in Household Work
Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) narrated:
“The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) would personally fetch firewood and water for his home, and sweep the floor, while Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) would grind the flour, knead the dough, and bake the bread.”
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His Simplicity in Daily Life
It is related that Imam Ali (peace be upon him) once purchased dates in Kufa and carried them in his cloak.
When people rushed forward and said,
“O Commander of the Faithful, let us carry it for you,”
he replied:
“A man who has a family is more deserving of carrying his own provisions.”
