work and charity
imam ali (a.s) was hard working and very capable to accomplish great or small
tasks. he would work hard in plantations and farming. he had established
several farms and gardens and gave them in charity for the cause of allah.
he achieved a piece of land around the city of madina and established it
as a farm. for this purpose he needed a well to water the farm. he worked
for days in digging the well but there was no sign of water. one day he worked
very hard but still there was no sign of water. he came out for a little
rest and cleaning up his perspiration and then climbed down to dig harder.
he would work with the pick and shovel so hard that one could easily hear
his hard breathing.
this time imam ali succeeded and water started to gush in the well. he came
out quickly and people began to admire him. some said that he is very hard
working that he is very fortunate and lucky that his intentions are very
pure and sincere and this brings him all the success.
some people congratulated imam ali and others were jealous of his success.
the imam asked his people to bring him a pen and some paper and he wrote
the following as the deed of trust for his newly established piece of real
estate:
in the name of allah, the beneficent, the merciful.
i have made this well and the land around it waqaf, charitable, for the following
causes:
to help with income from it the needy and destitute.
to help with the income thereof those who may run out of money while on a
journey.
to help with the income thereof the young orphans who need help for the expenses
of their marriage.
to help with the income thereof the sick people who need help for medical
treatment.
to help with the income thereof the causes of general public welfare.
i have made this property charitable for the pleasure of allah so that he
will through his mercy grant me salvation and safety from hell fire on the
day of judgment.
signed: ali ibn abutalib
questions
(1) for what causes was the charity?(2) how many causes of general welfare can you mention?
(3) can you mention some of the things that are good for your friends?
(4) why did imam ali make the property waqaf, charitable?
(5) what would you do for protection against hell fire?
(6) can you mention three good deeds of imam ali?