Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

456 The oath ofallegiance to 'Ali, his characteristics & his way of l$e
will increase.' Then he went - with the Muslims with him - until
he came to the fish sellers and said: 'No fish that was found floating
dead should be sold in our marketplace.' Then he went to Dar Fnrit,
which is the market of the cotton ~10th."~~'
It was narrated that Zad2n said: " 'Ali used to walk in the
marketplace on his own, guiding those who had gone astray and
helping the weak. He would pass by the sellers and grocers and
would start with them, reciting Qur'an, and he would recite: (That
home of the hereafter [i.e. paradise], We shall assign to those who
rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor
do mischief by committing crimes.) (Qur'an 28: 83) Then he said:
'This verse was revealed concerning just and humble people among
the governors and people in power, to the exclusion of other
people."'479~l-~hal121 narrated with his chain of narration that Abu
Sa'eed said: " 'ALi used to go to the marketplace and say: '0 people
of the marketplace, fear Allah (&) and beware of swearing oaths, for
an oath may help to sell the item, but it erases the blessing. Traders
are evil, except the one who takes his dues and pays his dues. Peace
be upon you.' Then he left, then he came back to them and said
something similar to them."480
It was narrated that Abn asSahba' said: "I saw 'Ali ibn Abi
Tilib (&) in Shatj al-~ala'~~', asking about
This direct supervision on the part of Amir al-Mu'mineen 'Ali
ibn Abi Tab (&) may indicate a number of things, including the
following:
(a)
That his tour of the market was not limited to supervising and
giving guidelines only; rather it went further than that and
involved serving the people in their affairs, such as guiding
one who had gone astray and helping the weak. If a person is
like that, his words and exhortations will be more effective and
will have a greater impact on people's hearts.