Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 2 of 2

628 'Ali's anitude towards the Kharijites and Shia
the Prophet (g).' Then he said: 'Perhaps that annoys you? He said:
'Indeed it does.' He said: 'May Allah cause your nose to be rubbed in
the dust! Go away and do whatever you can against me.""269
4.5.11. How Mu1$wiyah responded
to the news of 'Ali's slaying
When the news of 'Ali's slaying reached Mu'zwiyah, he
began to weep. His wife said to him: "Are you weeping for him when
you fought him?" He said: "Woe to you, you do not know what the
people have lost of virtue, understanding and kn~wledge."'~'~
Mu'Zwiyah used to write to 'Ali ibn Abi T2ib (&) and ask him
about the new issues he faced. When ~u'Zwi~ah heard that 'Ali
(&,) had been killed, he said: "Knowledge and understanding have
been lost with the death of 'Ali ihn Abi TZlib." His brother 'Utbah
said to him: "Do not let the people of Syria hear you saying that." He
told him: "Leave me alone."'271
During his caliphate, Mu'Zwiyah asked Dirk as-Sa&i to
describe 'Ali(&) to him. He said: "Excuse me from that, 0 Amir al-
Mu'mineen." He said: "No, I insist." He said: "If I must describe
him, then by Allah he was far-sighted and strong in supporting Islam;
he spoke the truth'272 and ruled with justice; knowledge - flowed from
him, and his wisdom manifested itself in all that he did; he felt
alienated from this world and its adornments, and felt at ease with the
night and its loneliness; he shed tears frequently and thought deeply;
he liked gannents that were short and food that was coarse; he was
like one of us and would answer us if we asked him, and tell us if we
questioned him. By AUah, despite his bringing us close to him, we
could hardly speak to him, out of respect. He showed great respect to
people of piety and religious commitment and brought the poor
close; the strong man could not have any hope (of being let off by
'Ali) if he was in the wrong, and the weak man could never despair of