Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

Xli ibn Abi Tilib 509
that the 'iddah of a woman whose husband dies is the longer of the
two periods."202 Perhaps 'Ali (&) said that because he had not
heard the hadith of Subay'ah, otherwise he would not have gone
against a proven, sound hadith from the Prophet (g).203
Some rulings having to do with financial dealings
1. Gifts hrom the ruler
Amir al-~u'mineen 'Ali (&) said: "There is nothing wrong
with gifts from the ruler, because what he gives you from halil
sources is more than what he gives you from hariim sources."204 He
also said: "Do not ask the ruler for anything. If he gives you
something, then take it, for what is in the public treasury of halil
wealth is more than what is in it of hark wealth."205
2. Gifts to undo injustice and attain rights
If a person helps someone to attain his rights or to ward off
injustice, it is not permissible for him to accept a gift from the person
he helped or from whom he warded off injustice, according to 'Ali
(&). That was narrated from him by Ibn ~azm."~
3. Not holding the borrower responsible
for damage done to a borrowed item
The borrower is not to be held responsible for damage done to
the borrowed item if it was damaged without any abuse or
transgression (on the borrower's part) according to 'Ali (&). 207
(&) said: "The borrower is not to be held responsible for the
borrowed item; rather it was a favour, unless the borrower
overstepped the mark, in which case he is to be held responsible."208
4. Not holding a person responsible
for an item deposited with him
An item deposited with a person is a trust entrusted to him. If it
is damaged when it is with him, without any betrayal or misconduct