Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

126 'Ali ibn Abi T&b in Makkah
mentioned in his description of the Messenger of Allah (&) when the
Jews asked him about him: "He was the most merciful of people
towards people; to the orphan he was like a compassionate father,
and to widows he was generous and kind. He was thc bravest of
people and the most generous in giving, and he was the most
handsome in appearance. His gannent was a cloak, his food was
barley bread, his condiment was milk, his pillow was leather stuffed
with palm fibres, and his bed was made from a tree called umm
gheelan, covered with woven material."248 He had two turbans; one
was called ~s-sahcib,~~~ and the other was called al-'iqib. His sword
was ~ hul-~i~~r~~'; his banner was al-Gharra'; his she-camel was
al-'~dba'~~'; his mule was ~ aldal~~~; his donkey was Ya'foor; his
horse was ~urtajaz~~~; his ewe was Barakah; his banner was al-
Hamd. He used to tie up the camel, feed the camel that was used for
bringing water, patch his garment and repair his shoes.254
4.1.6. Examples of 'AliEs following the Sunnah
Amir al-Mu'mineen 'Ali (&) was always eager to follow the
example of the Prophet (g), and his life is the best indication of that.
The following are various examples showing that he did not
differentiate between major and minor issues in following the
Prophet.
- Supplication when mounting one's horse
It was narrated from 'Abdur-RazzQ: Someone who saw 'Ali
(&) when he rode told me: When he placed his foot in the sthp, he
said: In the name of Allah. When he mounted, he said: "All praise be
to Allah, Who has placed this (transport) at our service; we ourselves
would not have been capable of that, and to our Lord is our final
destiny." Then he said Al-hamdu Lillih (praise be to Allah) three
times and Allihu akbar (Allah is most Great) three times, then he
said: "0 Allah, there is no god but You, Glory be to You. Verily I