From the general stories about the life-style of the
Infallible Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.), people think that he was
a poor man. Imam Ali (a,s,) was a wealthy man, but unlike the wealthy men of
this world who spend a sizeable amount of their wealth on themselves and their
families. Imam Ali (a.s.) generated wealth by his own hands by making wells, gardens
of fruits etc. and formed a trust and directed his son Imam Hasan (a.s.) to use
the income for general provision of food to poor and needy. He had about 50,000 slaves male and female,
who worked on Imam Ali (a.s.) agricultural estates. But the Imam himself led a
simple life to the basic standard of the poorest men in Arabia. The names of 18
estates are mentioned in the book “Nau ki Tahreer” by Talat Sayyida. Waqidi
reports that the value of these may be assessed by the fact that in the estate
of Baghibagha produced 32,400 Kilo Grams of dates. Similarly, Moavia bin Abu
Sufyan offered 30 lakh dinars to Imam Husayn (a.s.) for one well dug by Imam
Ali (a.s.)
According to Imam
Ja’afar al-Sadiq (a.s.), Imam Ali (a.s.) had bought 1,000 slaves in his
life-time and set them free. In the book “History of Balazari” Faza’il Ahmad wrote:
“One day, Imam Ali (a.s.) distributed 40,000 dinar grains as sadaqa and on the
same day he sold one of his swords saying: “If would have sufficient money I
would have not sold this sword”
The revered scholars
like, Kulayni, Tusi, Majlisi, and Hurre A’mili had reported the details of a
Trust which Imam Ali (a.s.) himself had written and witnessed by his
companions. The Trust was communicated by Imam Musa-al-Kazim (a.s.). The
salient features of the Trust covering 18 agricultural properties are
reproduced below:
By the name of Allah, the Beneficent and Merciful. It is my
will regarding my estate.
1.
Yanbu: All the land at Yanbu which is my
property are being managed by my slaves who are now free whose names are Rabah,
Abu Naizar, and Jubair. Other workmen on these lands are “Sadaqa” or welfare
assets and free to work for 5 years. They are entitled to take for life their
reasonable share for sustenance.
2.
Valley of Qura (Wadi-e-Qura): The entire
property and the slaves are the property of the children of Sayyida Fatima
Zahra (s.a.)
3.
Valley of Tar’a: The property and the slaves are
welfare assets.
4.
Azeenah: The entire property and the slaves
working on it are the welfare assets (sadaqa)
5.
Faqirain: the property and the working slaves
are sadaqa and the income be used in the way of Allah.
The
income of all my properties is to be spent for the cause and in the way of
Allah. It may also be spent for the welfare of Bani Hashim and Bani Muttalib,
near or far relations of mine.
All
my trusts will be managed by my son Hasan ibne Ali who may take reasonable
amounts for his sustenance. The remaining portion should be spent for the
Pleasure of Allah. He may also sell these properties to pay off any debt.
If Hasan ibne Ali’s house is not a part of
sadaqat or the trust and if he wants to sell it then the proceeds should be
divided into three portions; one part in the way of Allah, one part for Bani
Hashim and Bani Muttalib and one part on the families of Abu Talib. If Hasan is martyred in the lifetime of
Husayn, then Husayn will take over the Trust and follow the instructions as
stated for Hasan.
The
properties held by Muhammad ibne Hanafiya and the children of Sayyida Fatima
Zahra are excluded from this Trust.
No
one who believes in Allah and the Day of Judgment have right to change this
Trust in any way neither now or in future.
I have taken this decision at Maskan, a
place near Kufa on 10 Jumadi al-U’lah 36 A.H. and witnessed by Abu Shimar bin
Abraha, Sasa bin Sauha’an, Yazeed bin Qaise, Miyaj bin Abi Miyaj.
Condensed
from: Maula Ali’s 25 years in Madina (from the demise of the Noble Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s) to Khilafat)
By
Professor Doctor Sayyid Manzar Husayn Kazmi
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