Islam Guidance

21st of Ramadan Martyrdom of Imam Ali (A.S) English Majlis
By: Hajj Mohammad Taleb

The following is taken from the book Al-Qatra by Sayed Ahmad Mustanbat Vol. 2, Pg. 205, and Hadith. 57 From the book ‘Al-Majmoe al-Raiq min azhaar al-Hadaiq’, 100 merits specifically for the commander of the faithful (A.S), from those which Shaikh Sadooq narrated on the day of Ghadeer in the year 361 Hijri, with the chain of narrators going up to the Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) about those merits which Allah (S.W.T) chose specifically for the commander of the faithful (A.S). And from those we have chosen 28 merits:
Allah (S.W.T) created Imam Ali (A.S) from the light (noor) of His greatness/Majesty, as the Prophet (PBUHHP) has said, "I and Ali were created from a single light (noor)."
Imam Ali (A.S) worshiped Allah (S.W.T) in the loins of His forefathers and wombs of his mother's since Adam (A.S).
When Imam Ali (A.S) was born, light (noor) appeared from the sky to the surface of the Ka'ba. And the idols that were upon the Ka’ba fell down [upon their faces]. And Satan cried out saying, 'Woe be to the Idols and its worshipers from this new born'
Imam Ali (A.S) used to explain of the sayings (hadith) of the Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) and He used to narrate (or remember?) the sayings (hadith) of all the Messengers.
Imam Ali (A.S) is the container of the knowledge of the Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P).
Imam Ali (A.S) was the one to drive away distress/worries from the face of the Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P).
Imam Ali (A.S) is similar to Isa bin Maryam (S.A) in his proofs except for Prophet Hood.
Imam Ali (A.S) is similar to Ayyub (A.S) in his patience.
Imam Ali (A.S) is similar to Abraham (A.S) in his generosity.
Imam Ali (A.S) is similar to Dawood (A.S) in his power/strength and in his voice.
Imam Ali (A.S) is similar to Solomon (A.S) in his splendor/beauty and his supremacy.
Imam Ali (A.S) is similar to Luckman (A.S) in his wisdom.
Imam Ali (A.S) is similar to Ismael (A.S) in his acceptance/submission and honesty.
Imam Ali (A.S) is similar to Noah (A.S) in the acceptance of his prayer.
Imam Ali (A.S) is similar to Yunus (A.S) in his affairs.
Imam Ali (A.S) is similar to the Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) in his judgement/ruling except for Prophet Hood.
Imam Ali (A.S) when in battles had Gabriel on his right side and Mikael on his left side and the angel of death in front of Him. And He did not return until Allah (S.W.T) granted victory upon Him.
Imam Ali (A.S) is the first one to be called by His name on the day of Judgement.
The angels seek nearness to Allah (S.W.T) by means of Wilayat of Imam Ali (A.S).
Imam Ali (A.S) uprooted the door of Khaibar and threw it behind his back to a distance of 40 arm’s length. Then made it a bridge, carrying it upon the palm of his hand until all the soldiers crossed over.
The Wilayah of Imam Ali (A.S) was put forth to parts of the earth. So those parts that accepted His Wilayah become beautiful and pure. And those who did not accept His Wilayah became salty land (not supporting any growth)
The Wilayah of Imam Ali (A.S) was put forth to the plants. So those that accepted His Wilayah became beneficial/useful for the people and those that did not accept His Wilayah became poisonous killing.
The moon talked to Imam Ali (A.S) on night of Qadr.
Imam Ali (A.S) was free (in no need) from all the people and the people were in need of Imam Ali (A.S) in knowledge.
Imam Ali (A.S) was along with all the Prophets secretly and with Prophet Mohammad apparently.
When the ring of the door of paradise is hit/struck, it rings and says ‘Ya Ali’.
The tree of Tooba in Paradise is in the house of Imam Ali (A.S) and its branches are in the houses of the believers.
Imam Ali (A.S) is the speaking book of Allah (S.W.T).
[Source: Al-Majmoe al-Raiq min azhaar al-Hadaiq, Vol. 2, Pg. 320]

Source: Marefate AhleBait (A.S).com

The Muslims of Medina were of mainly of two groups: the Ansar (the ‘helpers’ natives of Medina) and the Muhajirin (the immigrants mostly the Qurayshi who migrated from Mecca). The Ansar themselves consisted of two tribes: the Aws and Khazraj who were enemies of each other in pre-Islamic days.
After the Prophet's death and even before his burial, the Ansar gathered in Saqifah and proposed to declare Sa‘d bin Ubadah (an Ansari from the tribe of Khazraj) as the new leader of the Muslims. Some among them started a discussion about how should they respond if the Qurayshi disputed with them in the issue of leadership.
While this discussion was going on among the Ansar in Saqifah, Umar ibn Khattab (a Qurayshi Muhajir) was informed about it. He sent for Abu Bakr who left the Prophet's body and joined Umar. In Saqifah, Abu Bakr gave a speech in which he exhorted the virtues of the Muhajirin and proposed that the leader should be from the Muhajirin. He ended his speech as follows: “So we are the rulers, and you are the ministers and the counselors. We will not do anything without consulting you.”
Habab ibn Mundhir, an Ansari, stood up and said, “O Ansar, beware! Take the reins of government in your hands; for the people [i.e., Muhajirin] are under your protection, no one can quarrel with you. Do not fall out between yourselves, so that what you do is ruined.”
Umar, a Muhajir, responded: “That can never be! The Arabs would never submit to your rule; they will not yield, for the Prophet was not from you.” Then very heated words were exchanged between Habab and Umar.
In the middle of all this chaos, Umar swore allegiance to Abu-Bakr. Then Bashir ibn Saad, leader of the Aws tribe of Ansar, swore allegiance to Abu-Bakr. Seeing this, the other Ansaris of the tribe of Khazraj also pledged allegiance so as not to lose favor in the eyes of Abu-Bakr against their rival Aws!
This is the basis of Abu-Bakr's caliphate.

Ref: Alhassanain.com

Amidst the chaos of the everyday life, certain phrases like Brotherhood, Dignity, and Forbearance have lost their meaning.  One might think those phrases belonged to a previous age and to another period of time. The age that a father would ask his son while he did not need to ask; and the son would reply while he knew the father already knows the answer. It was all so a time would come, when some exhausted souls like me, you, and us, would ponder upon their dialog and breaks the barriers of ambiguity to these strange words.
The commander of the faithful (A.S) asked his son Hassan: "O my son, what is righteousness?"
Hassan Ibn Ali (A.S) replied: "O father, righteousness is to replace the bad things with good deeds."
- What is Dignity?
- To be good with relatives, and to remain tolerant of their cruel deeds.
- What is Bravery?
- To be chaste
- What is Lowliness?
- To think of cheap things in life and to refuse giving even smallest belongings in charity.
- What is Generosity?
- To give away (in charity) before requested.
- What is Cheapness?
- To seek owns comfort and ignore one’s spouse.
- What is Mercy?
- To give and benefit others, whether we are in need and whether full.
- What is Stinginess?
- To consider your property as (your) honor, and what you have given away in charity as wealth that has been wasted.
- What is Brotherhood?
- To have Devotion and loyalty in the time of hardship and peace.
- What is Fear?
- To act brave upon friends, and to run away from the enemy.
- What is Opportunity?
- To be pious in this world?
- What is Forbearance?
- To control one’s anger and to keep resentment.
- What is Wealth?
- To be satisfied with what Allah has given, no matter how small?
- What is Poverty?
- To greed for everything.
- What is Abjectness?
- To fear the truth?
- What is Worthless Suffering?
- To talk about something that does not benefit you in any way.
- What is Greatness?
- To give away (in charity) in your time of need and to forgive the bad deeds of others.
- What is wisely?
- To take good care of what is given to you...
- What is Great status?
- To do what is beautiful and to refrain from what is ugly.
- What is Providence?
- To be very patient and to treat people with leniency.
- What is Silliness?
- To follow those who think cheap and interact with those who are not on the guided path.
- What is deprivation?
- To lose a benefit that had been granted to you.
- What is Foolishness?
- To rush in reaching opportunities before having them available, and to refrain from answering (to what you already know). Nonetheless, silence is a great companion in most cases, no matter how eloquent of a speaker you are.
When we think about phrases we see:
As a matter of fact, it is possible to look at life through a different perspective, to experience a more pleasant taste of life, and to experience even more beauty in life.

This article borrowed from Roshd Islamic Shia Website

Nasr ibn Muzahim, in his book of Waq'a Siffin (one of the oldest books that were written nearly in the age of the Holy Imams), has reported that Habbah al-Arani, a companion of Imam Ali (A.S), to say:
When we landed in the region of al-Riqqah on our way of Siffin Battle, we camped near a monastery in which a Christian monk was engaged in worship. Seeing our soldiers, he came out of the monastery and headed for the commander of the faithful (A.S), saying:
“In this monastery, there is a book I have inherited from my ancestors; a book written by the disciples of Jesus during his lifetime. I would like to show the book to you.” The Imam said, “Go and bring it here.” The monk fetched the book and asked the Imam to give him permission to read it. Then, he began to read, “In the Name of Allah; Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. It is recorded in the Preserved Tablet that God will appoint from among the people of Mecca a prophet who will teach them the Book and Wisdom and will guide them to the right path and one of his signs is that he is neither rough nor bad-tempered. He is a man who when walking among people does not raise his voice nor does he compensate sin by sin, rather he forgives all. As for the community of that prophet, they are very thankful to God, praising Him under all conditions. Their tongues are tamed for the professing grandeur and glory of God. Their eyes will be tearful from fear of God. God will give victory to that Prophet over the arrogant. When he passes away, his community will be divided with rancor and enmity. They will have differences, then get together, and keep on living as long as God wills. A man from his community will cross by the Euphrates. This man will invite people to good and forbid them from evil. His judgment among people will be just, never issuing an unjust order. The world to him is less in value than the ashes blown away by wind on a stormy day. For him, death will be more pleasant than drinking of water by a thirsty person! He will fear God in hiding and give away in the path of Allah openly. He is not afraid of anyone who blames him on the straight path. Anyone who is living in these cities at that time and believes in that prophet will have heaven as his reward. And, everyone who understands this righteous servant crossing by the Euphrates must help him. After reading from the book, the monk said, “You are that righteous servant of God. I will come with you and will not leave you so that what will happen to you will happen to me. If you are martyred, I will be with you to be martyred.
Hearing this, the commander of the faithful (A.S) wept and said, “Thanks Allah; He has not forgotten me as He had my name among benefactors.” The monk accompanied the Imam and never left him until he was martyred in Siffin Battle. After the end of the battle, Imam Ali ordered the martyrs to be buried. Some were missioned to find the body of the monk and when they found it, the Imam stood at his head saying: “He is from us, Ahlul-Bayt.” Then, the Imam himself dug a grave for him and buried him as a Muslim.
(Source: Waq'a Siffin: 147)

Ref: Imam Reza.Network

The author of Asraar al-Shahaadah has narrated from a few books of Maqatil:

فقد روي في (الأسرار) نقلاً عن بعض كتب المقاتل: إنه إذا كان يوم القيامة وإشتد الأمر على الناس بعث رسول الله (ص) أمير المؤمنين إلى مولاتنا فاطمة عليها السلام لتحضر مقام الشفاعة فيقول أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: يا فاطمة ما عندك من أسباب الشفاعة وما ادخرت لأجل هذا اليوم الذي فيه الفزع الأكبر، فتقول عليها السلام: يا أمير المؤمنين كفانا لأجل هذا المقام اليدان المقطوعتان من ابني العباس

.On the Day of Judgment, when the people gathered will encounter the harsh difficulties of the Hereafter, the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H&H.P) will send the commander of the faithful (A.S) to Hazrat Zahra (S.A) and invite her to the position of intercession.
The commander or the faithful (A.S) will ask her, “What do you have for intercession? What have you stored for this great and frightful day?”
She (A.S) will reply, “O The commander of the faithful (A.S)! On this great day, I have the two chopped hands of my son Abbas!
[Source: Asraar Al Shahadat Pg. 325]

Ref: Marefate AhleBait (A.S).com

Abbas, the name of endless love or loyalty...
Narrations of Abbas (A.S) Birth

By: Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini

Aerial view of the Shrine of the Commander of the Faithful (A.S) in the nights of destiny - Najaf - 2017

Abu Bakr, son of Imam al-Hassan son of the Commander of the Faithful (A.S), came out. His first name was Abdullah al-Akbar [Abdullah senior] and his mother was Ramla. He fought till he was killed.
After the latter, his full-blooded brother, Qasim, came out. He was a lad who had not yet come of age. When Hussain (A.S), looked at him, he hugged him and wept. Then he permitted him to fight, so he came out with a face looking like a full moon bearing a sword and wearing a shirt and a mantle. On his feet he wore sandals. He had to fight on foot. The sandal's string on his left foot was cut off, so he, the son of the great Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) hated to walk bare-footed on the battlefield. He, therefore, stopped for a moment to tie his sandal6, regarding those enemies as no more valuable than his own sandal, paying no heed to their multitude, feeling unconcerned about their thousands.
As he was thus engaged, ` Amr Ibn Sa'd Ibn Nafil al-Azdi attacked him. Hamid ibn Muslim asked him: “What do you want to do to this lad? Are you not satisfied to see the entire crowd that surrounds him?”
He said: “By Allah I shall attack him!”
He hit Qasim with his sword. The lad fell face-long crying out: “O uncle!”
Hussain (A.S) came out to his help like an angry lion and struck Amr with his sword. Amr tried to avoid it with his arm, so the Imam cut it off from the elbow, causing him to let out a very loud scream which was heard by the entire army. The cavalry of Ibn Sa'd charged in order to rescue him. Amr met them face-to-face, causing their horses to trample upon him and to eventually kill him.
After some time the cloud of dust dissipated, so Hussain (A.S) was now seen standing at the head of the young boy, examining his feet. Hussain (A.S) said:  “Away with people who have killed you while their opponent on the Day of Judgment will be your grandfather (P.B.U.H&H.P)!” Then he said: “Hard it is, by Allah, that you call upon your uncle to help you and he cannot answer your call, or that he does answer it but cannot do much for you. It is a lone voice whose enemies are numerous and whose supporters are few.” Then he carried him away.
Qasim was on Hussain's chest; his legs were dragging on the ground. Hussain (A.S) put the corpse beside that of Ali al-Akbar and of those of his family who had been killed. Then he raised his eyes to the heavens and supplicated thus:
O Allah! Count their numbers, and do not leave any of them alone, and do not forgive a single one of them! Be patient, O cousins! Be patient, O my Ahlulbayt! You shall never meet any hardship after today at all. [Al-Khwarizmi, Maqtal al-Hussain, Vol. 2, p. 28]

Maqtal al-Hussain- Martyrdom Epic of Imam al-Hussain
By: Abd al-Razzaq al-Muqarram

Since most of the world-lovers are not lagging behind dogs in their stinginess, jealousy and harshness the commander of the faithful (A.S) addresses them as dogs when he says, “When you see world-lovers rushing towards things passionately, do not get deceived. Beware of them as they are barking dogs and hunting animals that are ever ready to harm others. The powerful among them eats up the weak and the majority devours the minority.”
It should be noted that the narrations quoted here and so also the Quranic verses are but only a fraction of such overall verses and traditions condemning worldly love. What has been quoted about any sin is less than one-tenth of the texts. Yet whatever has been given here is sufficient enough to prove the graveness of the sin of worldly love and the importance of this prohibition.

Source: Qalb-e-Saleem
By: Sayed Abdul Hussain Dastghaib

Narrated from Abdul Rahman bin Kaseer:

عن عبد الرحمن بن كثير عن أبى عبد الله عليه السلام في قوله:” حافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَواتِ وَ الصَّلاةِ الْوُسْطى‏ وَ قُومُوا لِلَّهِ قانِتِينَ”
 قال الصلوات رسول الله و أمير المؤمنين و فاطمة و الحسن و الحسين عليهم السلام، و الوسطى، أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام و قُومُوا لِلَّهِ قانِتِينَ طائعين للائمة.

Imam Sadiq (A.S) said regarding the verse of Quran;
"Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout" [2:238]
"Prayers" is (refers to) the Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P), the commander of the faithful (A.S), Fatima (S.A), Hassan (A.S) and Hussein (A.S). And the "Middle Prayer" is (refers to) the commander of the faithful (A.S). And "Stand before Allah in devout" is obedient to the Imam's (A.S).
[Source: Tafseer Noor us Saqlain Vol.1 Pg.237-238]

Ref: Marefate AhleBait (AS).com

No one in the history of Islam shares the words of praise that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H&H.P) used for Imam Ali (A.S). For example he said:
“If all the trees were pens, if all the seas were ink, if all the jinn and men wrote them down, even then the merits of Ali ibn Abi Talib (A.S) could not be counted.”
“Ali and I are from the same Light”
“Ali is from me and I am from Ali.”
“Ali is the first person to believe in my Prophet hood and will be the first person to meet me on the Day of Judgment.”
“I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its door. He who wants to gain knowledge should come through the door.”
“I am the store-house of wisdom and Ali is its door.”
“Whoever wishes to see Adam in his knowledge, Noah in his piety, Abraham in his patience, Moses in his strength, and Jesus in his worship and devotion should look at Ali ibn Abi Talib.”
“He who loves Ali loves me and he who hates Ali hates me.”
“O Ali! You are the leader in this world and the hereafter.”
“Ali is with the Truth and Truth is with Ali.”

Ref: Shia Books for Children

Abu Bakr Muhammad b. Umar al-Je'abi reported from Abu Abdullah Muhammad b. al-Qasim al-Muharibi, who reports from Ismail b. Ishaq al-Rashidi, who reported from Muhammad b. al-Harith, who reported from Ibrahim b. Muhammad, from Muslim al-A'awar, from Habbah al-Arni, from Abu al-Haytham b. al-Teehan al-Ansari, who reported that:
The Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) said: "Allah, Most High, created the souls two thousand years earlier than the bodies attached it to the Throne and ordered them to greet me and obey me. So the first one among men who greeted me and expressed his obedience to me was the soul of Ali Ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him."

Ref: Al Hassanain.com

The city of Kufa was the capital of the Islamic Government. People from all over the World used to gather at that point to get the benefit of knowledge and learning from that great Islamic University.
One of those days two men came across each other in the vicinity of the city one of them was Ali (A.S) and the other was a Christian who did not recognize him. The Christian man was moving towards the suburban area of Kufa, whereas, Ali (A.S) was on his way to kufa.
They mutually agreed to accompany each other for a while, talking to each other, so that they do not get tired.
They reached a point where two ways split out, so that each one wanted to move on one of those two different roads. The Christian bade Farwell and went on his way but he observed that his Muslim companion, whose way was on the opposite side, was moving towards him. So he stopped and questioned him, "Don't you want to go to kufa?"
Ali (A.S) said, "Yes". The Christian man said, "Then why are you coming towards this direction?"
Ali (A.S) replied, "I wish to accompany you to a certain length of distance because the Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) said, "When two persons are together on a way (journey companions) they get a right over each other."
"Now that you have got a right upon me, I go along with you up to a certain distance so that I must pay you (discharge) that light of yours in this world. Then I will part off on my own way." The Christian man was much pleased and moved by this humanly attitude and conduct and he liked his talk and said, "It is befitting that I should also embrace Islam which has such a culture and students."
His amazement and astonishment was only too enhanced when he discovered that his travel companion is Ali (A.S), the ruler of Islam. So he immediately accepted and embraced Islam at his hand.

Ref: Almujtaba Islamic Articles Page

Ibn Abi al-Hadeed said the best thing about this aspect:
The virtues of Imam Ali (A.S) had reached a high standard of greatness, majesty, to extent that it is ugly to account it and explain it. What can I say about a man whose enemies and opponents admitted his merit? They could not deny his attributes nor conceal his virtues. I knew that Umayyad seized the authorities of Islam in east and west of the earth and they worked hard all the tricks to extinguish his light, incite him, claim defects, and disadvantages to him and curse him on all platforms. They threatened his eulogists, locked, and killed them. They prevented narrating any Hadiths about his virtue to the extent that they banned naming anyone after his name. Nevertheless, that raised his status and name. Imam was like musk when it was covered, its perfume spread, like the sun that cannot be covered with hands, and like day. What can I say about a man to whom all virtues were ascribed and he is the peak and fountain of virtues. All those who came after him followed his style and took advantage of his knowledge.
The most honorable knowledge is the divine science, because the honor knowledge is linked to the topic and the topic is the most honorable in existence. From the words of Allah: Holy Quran, Imam Ali quoted, narrated, to Imam Ali ended, and from him began the Mu'tazila. Mu'tazilites are the masters of monotheism, justice and thinking deeply. People – from them – learnt this art because their master is Wasil bin Ata'a who learned from Abu Hashim Ibn Abdul Allah bin Mohammad bin al-Hanafiya.
Abu Hashim is the student of his father and his father is the student of Imam Ali (A.S). While Ash'arism are belong to Abu al-Hassan who is Ali bin Ismail Ibn Abi Bashar al-Ash'ari, a disciple of Abi Ali al-Jebaee and Abu Ali is one of the masters of Mu'tazila. Therefore, Ash'ari – at the end – belongs to the master and teacher of Mu'tazila: Ali Ibn Abi Talib (A.S). The Imami and Zaidi belong clearly to Imam Ali.
What can I say about a man preceded people in faith? He believed in Allah and his prophet, while all people were worshiping stones and denying Allah. No one preceded him in faith. It was narrated that Imam Ali is the first person who believed in Allah and a very few people contradicted that.
If we want to explain his merits and virtue, we shall need volumes to cover them all.

Derived from: Imam Ali Network

The Eighth Holy Imam Ali Al-Ridha (A.S) son of the Imam Musa al-Kadhim (A.S) and lady Najmah. He died, by poisoning mixed in his fruit by Al-Ma'mun.
His body was prepared for burial by his son the Imam Mohammad AI-Jawad (A.S) and he was buried in Mashhad, Khorasan in Iran, where his shrine stands now.
It is needless to speak of his achievements in vast knowledge, virtue, nobility, generosity, moral perfections, humbleness and worship of Allah (S.W.T).
Ma'mun Al-Abbassi, then the Caliph asked him to take charge of the administration of the Muslim government but he did not accept it because he knew that things will not go the way he liked them to go.
It was just like the case of his great grandfather the Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (A.S) who did not accept the post of leadership with the condition set by the counsel that he should run the government according to the book of Allah (S.W.T), the traditions of The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) and the policies of the two previous Caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar ibn Al-Khattab.
Imam Ali (A.S) couldn't of course and didn't accept such an offer but Othman accepted it. Hence he was appointed the third Caliph, over Imam Ali (A.S)!
When the Eighth Imam (A.S) did not accept the post of the leadership of the Muslim government, Ma'mun then asked him to be his successor and the Imam (A.S) reluctantly accepted it with the condition that he will not be asked to take part in any governmental tasks and policies, , during the life time of Ma'mun.
Because quite simply, Ma’mun’s government policies were completely contrary to Islam principles and the teachings of The Holy Prophet Mohammad Al-Mustafa (P.B.U.H&H.P).
Some examples of his vast knowledge came to light when Ma'mun invited the scholars of different schools of thought to attend a seminar of debate over the theological issues and matters of the doctrines of faith.
For his worship he would stay up for many nights and read the whole book of Holy Koran in just over three days. Very often he would fast and also pray a thousand prayers in twenty four hours.
He was very generous to everyone especially the poor. He would help the needy during the night so that no one would recognize him.
Imam Ali Al- Ridha (A.S) never did any injustice to any one in words or deeds. He was not loud spoken but always spoke softly with a polite manner and was cordial with everyone. He always sat very politely and never slouched in the presence of others. He would call all the members of his family and servants to have dinner or lunch together.

Taken from: Almujtaba Islamic Articles Page

Ibn Abbas has commented on the above-mentioned event, saying about the following holy verse:
“Men whom neither merchandise nor selling diverts from the remembrance of Allah and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of poor-rate; they fear a day in which the hearts and eyes shall turnabout; That Allah may give them the best reward of what they have done, and give them more out of His grace; and Allah gives sustenance to whom He pleases without measure” (24:37-38).
He says: The occasion of the revelation was that one day the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) gave Ali (A.S) three hundred dinars, which they had given to him as gift. Ali (A.S) said: I took the money and said to myself by Allah, I will give such a charity with these dinars that Allah will accept. When I completed the night prayer with Allah’s Messenger, I took a hundred dinars and left the mosque. On my way, I came across a woman to whom I gave one hundred dinars. The following day, people said, “Ali (A.S) has given charity to a corrupt woman!” It was a great sorrow for me.
The night of that day, I performed the night prayer, took a hundred dinars in my hand, left the mosque and said to myself, “By Allah! I will give a charity, which will be accepted by my Lord. I saw a man and gave away the one hundred dinars to him.” The following day, the people of Medina said, “Ali (A.S) has given away a hundred dinars to a thief.” Again a great sorrow came to me but said to myself, “By Allah! I will give a charity tonight that Allah will accept from me.”
So, I performed my night prayer with Allah’s Messenger and then left the mosque having a hundred dinars with me. I saw a man to whom I gave the money. The next day, the people Medina said, “Last night, Ali (A.S) gave a hundred dinars to a rich man.” Again, a great sorrow came to me.
I went to Allah’s Messenger and told him the event. The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) said: O Ali (A.S)! Gabriel says to you: Allah has accepted your charity and purified your acts: The one hundred Dinars you gave as charity was put at the disposal of a corrupt woman who repented to Allah and used the money as earnings for her living. She also intends to get married with this money.
The charity of the second night went to a thief who repented thereafter and used the money for running a business. The charity of the third night went to a rich man who had not paid alms (Zakat) for years. He went home and blamed himself saying, “How miser I am! This is Ali ibn Abi Talib (A.S) who gave away a hundred Dinars to me while he has nothing whereas I am a rich man who has not paid his obligatory alms (Zakat)!” So, he reckoned his alms (Zakat) and put it aside. It was for this reason that Allah revealed the above-mentioned verses.
(Al-Manaqib: 74/2)

Taken from: Imam Reza.Network

Jabir, the son of Abdullah Ansari has been narrated as saying: The Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) saw a man with badly disheveled hair. He asked him: Did he not find anything to comb his hair with? He saw another person with filthy clothes. He shouted: Did he not find any water to wash his clothes? [Mizan al-Hikmat, v.10, p.92]
Imam Baqir (A.S) said: Sweeping your houses will eliminate poverty. [Mizan al-Hikmat, v.10, p.93]
The sixth Imam (A.S) said: Washing the dishes and sweeping your courtyards will increase your daily bread. [Mizan al-Hikmat, v.10, p.93]
The Commander of the Faithful (A.S) said: Do not collect the trash outside your house since it is a source of evil. [Mizan al-Hikmat, v.10, p.93]
It is wonderful that the divine viewpoint of the Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) and the Imams informed the people about microbes’ centuries before their discovery.
The Prophet (P.B.U.H&H.P) said: Do not leave the unusable food leftovers at home overnight, and take them out of the house in broad daylight. In fact, these unusable leftovers are a source of evil. [Mizan al-Hikmat, v.10, p.95]
He also said: Attend to cleaning with all your strength, since God the Almighty has established Islam on cleanliness. No one shall enter Heaven, but the clean. [Mizan al-Hikmat, v.10, p.95]
Imam Reza (A.S) said: Cleanliness is one of the attributes of divine Prophets. [Mizan al-Hikmat, v.10, p.95]
Considering the verses of the Quran regarding cleanliness and cleansing agents, and God's love of cleanliness and purity, and many traditions in this regard, it is the duty of the members of the family to clean their body and clothes, the furniture and the house as much as they can. As the Quran has recommended mutual cooperation based on kindness and piety, the man should help his wife in cleaning. Women are morally bound to clean the house, the furniture and clothes to please their husbands and God. This will also guarantee the family's health and will defeat pain, illness, distress and suffering. Housewives should remember that working at home to provide for the family's comfort is a form of worship and it certainly has divine reward.

Ref: Aldhiaa.com

Divine justice in the goverment of Imam Ali (A.S) - Even Ibn Muljim didn't sleep hungry in the government of Imam Ali (A.S)/ Sheikh M.Towhidi