Liberality

On the day of `Ashura' (the tenth Muharram), Imam Hussein was told to submit to the rule of Yazid and pledge allegiance to him. Imam replied:

وَاللهِ لأ أعْطِيكُمْ بِيَدِي إعْطَاءَ الذَّلِيلِ وَلا أفِرُّ فَرَارَ الْعَبِيدِ.

By Allah! I will not put my hand in your hand like the abased people nor will I escape from the battlefield like slaves.

Raising his voice, Imam added:

عِبَادَ اللهِ، إنِّي عُذْتُ بِرَبِّي وَرَبِّكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ مُتَكَبِّرٍ لأ يُۆْمِنُ بِيَوْمِ الْحِسَابِ.

O servants of Allah! I seek refuge to my Lord and Your Lord from every arrogant person who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning.

Better Greeting

Anas reports: I was in the presence of Imam Hussein when his slave-girl entered the room presenting a bunch of basil as greeting. Imam said, “You are free in the way of Allah!”‌ I said to Imam, “She presented an inexpensive bunch of basil to you and you set her free!?”‌ Imam said,  "Allah has taught us courtesy as such when He has said:

وَإِذَا حُيِّيْتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّواْ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا

And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with a better greeting than it or return it, surely Allah takes account of all things. (4:86)

Therefore, in this case, a better greeting was to set her free.”‌

Man’s Value

An Arab came to Imam Hussein saying, “O son of Allah’s Messenger! I have undertaken to pay blood money but I cannot afford it. I said to myself: I will ask it from the most generous man and I don’t find anyone more generous than Ahl al-Bayt.”‌ Imam said, “O Arab brother! I will ask you three questions. Should you answer one of them, I will give you a third of what you need. If you answer the second question, I will give you two-thirds of it and finally if you answer all the three questions, I will give to you all you need.”‌ The Arab said, “Will you””man of knowledge and honor””ask questions from such a person as me?”‌ Imam said, “Yes, I heard my grandfather saying: everyone’s value is to the extent of his knowledge.”‌ The Arab said, “All right, ask me your questions. I will answer if I can. Even if I can’t answer your questions, I will learn them from you. “What is the best deed? Imam asked. ”‌ The Arab said, “Belief in Allah.”‌ Imam asked, “What is salvation?”‌ The Arab said, “Trust in Allah.”‌ Imam asked, “What is an ornament for men?”‌ The Arab said, “Knowledge accompanied with forbearance.”‌ Imam said, “What if there were no forbearance?”‌ The Arab said, “A wealth accompanied by generosity.”‌ Imam said, “What if there was no generosity?”‌ The Arab said, “Indigence accompanied by patience.”‌ Imam said, “What if there was no patience?”‌ The Arab said, “A thunderbolt coming down from heaven to burn such a person who deserves it.”‌ Then Imam smiled, gave him a purse of one thousand Dinars as well as his ring with a gem worth two hundred Dirhams saying, “O Arab! Give the one thousand Dinars to your creditors and leave the ring for living expenditures.”‌ The Arab took them reading the holy verse,

اللّهُ أَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُ

Allah best knows where He places His message. (6:124)

Source:

AHL AL-BAYT,THE CELESTIAL BEINGS ON THE EARTH

Author: Allama Hussein Ansariyan

Translator: Dr. Ali Akbar Aghili Ashtiani

P. 200-203