Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 2 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Tilib 621
do not cooperate in sin and transgression. Fear Allah, for Allah is
severe in punishment. May Allah take care of you, my household.
May the teachings of the Prophet (@) continue to guide you. I bid
you farewell, peace be upon you and the mercy of AUah."
Then he did not say anything except LA ilciha illci Allrih (There
is none worthy of worship other than Allah) until he died, may Allah
(s) he pleased with him, in the month of Ramadan 40 AH.'^^'
According to another report, he was killed on the morning of
21 t am ad an.'^^' This report may be understood as referring to the
day on which he left this world, because he remained alive for three
days after he was struck by this wretched man.'='
4.5.6. 'Ali's prohibition of mutilation
or torture of his killer
'Ali (&) said: "Detain this man. Then if I die, kill him, and if
I live, wounds equal for equal."1243 According to another report, he
said: "Feed him and give him water and treat him well. If I recover,
then I am in charge of the matter and I will forgive him if I want, or if
I want, I will settle the score."1244 There is some additional material
in another report, according to which he said: "If I die, then kill him
as he killed me but do not overstep the mark, for Allah likes not the
transgressors."'245 'Ah forbade al-Hasan to mutilate him and said:
"0 Banu 'Abdul-Mugalib, I do not want you to indulge in shedding
the blood of the Muslims, saying he killed Amir al-Mu'mineen, he
killed Amir al-Mu'mineen. No one should he killed in retaliation for
my killing except the one who killed me. Listen, 0 Hasan. If I die
from this blow of his, then give him hlow for hlow, but do not
mutilate the man, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (&2) saying:
'Beware of mutilation, even of a ferocious dog."''246