Self Control

The next account that I shall narrate, which has been mentioned by the Promised Messiah (as), has been quoted previously as well. However, it is regarding Hazrat Ali’s (ra) self-control and being free of any egotism; therefore I shall mention it once again. The Promised Messiah (as) states:

“Hazrat Ali (ra), may Allah exalt him, was once fighting against an enemy and he was doing so purely for the sake of Allah. At one point, Hazrat Ali (ra) felled the opponent and was kneeling over his chest when he suddenly spat in Hazrat Ali’s (ra) face. Hazrat Ali (ra) immediately stood off his chest and let him go. He said, ‘The reason for this was that till now, I was fighting against you for the sake of God, but now that you have spat in my face, therefore there is a personal incentive now. Therefore, I do not wish to kill you for any personal reason.’ Thus it is evidently clear that Hazrat Ali (ra) did not consider anyone with whom he had personal enmity as his enemy. This is the nature and habit that one should instil in themselves.” The Promised Messiah (as) advised the Jamaat, “What can displease God Almighty more than this that one causes pain to others and increases in enmity over personal reasons?”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 8, p. 105)

Then, on another occasion, the Promised Messiah (as) explained this in further detail:

“Learn from Hazrat Ali (ra) in relation to how one ought to distinguish between one’s personal desire and one’s passion for the sake of Allah the Almighty. Once, Hazrat Ali (ra) fought against a disbeliever who was very strong. Each time he would try to get hold of him, he would escape. Eventually, Hazrat Ali (ra) overcame him and firmly got hold of him and knelt upon his chest and was just about to kill him with his dagger, but he spat in his face. When he did this, Hazrat Ali (ra) immediately came off his chest and left him. Expressing his astonishment, the disbeliever asked Hazrat Ali (ra) why he let him go despite the fact that he had overcome him after so much struggle and also given the fact that he was an enemy of his and wanted to take his blood and kill him. Hazrat Ali (ra) replied:

“‘The fact is that there is no personal enmity between me and you. Since you torment the Muslims owing to your opposition of their faith, that is why you were deserving of death and I was only trying to overcome you for the sake of my faith. However, when you spat at me, I became angry and I realised that there was now a personal reason at stake and therefore, it would not be permissible for me to do anything against you, for there is nothing I do for the sake of any personal reason; rather, everything is for the sake of Allah the Almighty. When I return to my normal state and my anger subsides, I will continue to come against you as I was doing before.’

“Upon hearing this, it had such a profound impact on the disbeliever that his heart became free from any kind of disbelief and thought to himself as to which other faith could there be in this world which was better than this faith by which one becomes completely pure. And so, he immediately repented and became a Muslim.”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 9, p. 219)

Thus, this is true taqwa [righteousness] which then bears its fruits.