By: Moulana Afzal Ismail
Source: Pearls from the Path v.1, pg.95
‘Ali, may Allāh be pleased with him, was walking in the market place when he saw a shield, that had been stolen from him some time ago, in the possession of a Jewish man. He confronted the man and informed him that the shield belonged to him. The Jew refused to return it and claimed that it was his. ‘Ali, may Allāh be pleased with him, decided to take the matter to court and requested Qadhi (Justice) Shuraih, may Allah grant him mercy, to settle the dispute between them. Qadhi Shuraih, may Allah grant him mercy, was the Muslim Judge of Kufa at the time and had been appointed by ‘Ali, may Allāh be pleased with him, himself. The following discussion took place in the court:
Shuraih, may Allah grant him mercy: “O Amir al-Muminin, what is your claim?”
‘Ali, may Allāh be pleased with him: “This shield belongs to me. It was stolen from me some time ago.”
Shuraih, may Allah grant him mercy: “What do you have to say, O Jew?”
Jew: “The Amir ul Mu’minin is a grave liar! The shield is mine.”
Shuraih, may Allah grant him mercy: “‘Ali, do you have any witnesses?”
‘Ali, may Allāh be pleased with him: “Yes. Hasan, my son, and Qunbar, my slave, are my witnesses.”
Shuraih, may Allah grant him mercy: “The testimony of your slave is acceptable but your son cannot testify in your favour.”
‘Ali, may Allāh be pleased with him, lost the case. He turned to the Jewish man, saying, “You may keep the shield.”
Jewish man: “The Amir ul Mu’minin brought me to a Muslim judge and is pleased with the judgement passed against him! You have spoken the truth, O ‘Ali. The shield was yours all along. I picked it up one day, after you had dropped it. I declare that there is no god but Allâh and that Muhammad, may Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon him, is His messenger.”
‘Ali, may Allāh be pleased with him, gave the shield to him anyway. He thereafter remained faithful to ‘Ali, may Allāh be pleased with him, until he was killed in the battle of Siffin.
Reproduced from Al-Ihsan, Madrasah Darul Qur’aan newsletter.
