6. The Personality of ‘Alī
Accordingtothetestimonyoffriendandfoealike,‘Alīhadnoshortcom-
ingsfromthepointofviewofhumanperfection.AndintheIslamicvir-
tueshewasaperfectexample ofthe upbringingandtraininggivenby
theProphet.Thediscussionthathastakenplaceconcerninghispersonal-
ityandthebookswrittenonthissubjectbyShi‘ites,Sunnisandmembers
ofotherreligiousbodies,arehardlyequaledinthecaseofanyotherper-
sonality in history.
Inscienceandknowledge,‘Alīwasthe mostlearnedofthe compan-
ionsoftheProphet,andofMuslimsingeneral.Inhislearneddiscourses
hewasthefirstinIslamtoopenthedoorforlogicaldemonstrationand
proof and to discuss the "divine sciences" or metaphysics (ma’ārif-i il-
ahiyah). He spokeconcerningthe esoteric aspectof the Qur’ānandde-
visedArabicgrammarinordertopreservetheQur’ān’sformofexpres-
sion. He was the most eloquent Arab in speech. The Prophet
Muhammad (s.a.w.) said, “I am the city of knowledge and ‘Alī is its
gate.”
‘Alīwasalsowithoutequalinreligiousasceticismandtheworshipof
God. In answer to some who had complained of ‘Alī’s anger toward
them,theProphetsaid,“Donotreproach‘AlīforheisinastateofDiv-
ineecstasyandbewilderment.”AbuDarda’,acompanionoftheProph-
et,onedaysawthebodyof‘AlīinoneofthepalmplantationsofMedina
lyingonthegroundasstiffaswood.Hewentto‘Alī’shousetoinform
hisnoble wife,the daughterofthe Prophet,andtoexpress hiscondol-
ences.ThedaughteroftheProphetsaid,“Mycousin(‘Alī)hasnotdied.
Rather, in fear of God he has fainted. This condition overcomes him
often.”
Therearemanystoriestoldof‘Alī’skindnesstothelowly,compassion
for the needy and the poor, and generosity and munificence towards
those in misery and poverty. ‘Alī spent all that he earnedto help the
poorandtheneedy,andhimselflivedinthestrictestandsimplemanner.
‘Alīlovedagricultureandspentmuchofhistimediggingwells,planting
treesandcultivatingfields.Butallthefieldsthathecultivatedorwells
thathebuilthegaveinendowment(waqf)tothepoor.Hisendowments,
knownasthe“almsof‘Alī,”hadthenoteworthyincomeoftwenty-four
thousand gold dinars towards the end of his life.