A righteous servant of God
If we purify our deed and creed for the sake of God, definitely it will help us achieve our goals in this world and in the afterworld. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) of Islam is most sublime example of acting, living, thinking, fighting and making peace only for the sake of God and in the way of God. All acts of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) without any exception were in the way and for the sake of Allah.
Imam Ali also being a true servant of God and a staunch follower of the Holy Prophet followed the example of the Prophet.
When Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein (PBUT) got sick, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and a group of his followers suggested to Imam Ali to vow to hold fast for three days for their health to improve. After they were healed, Imam Ali (PBUH) fulfilled his vow but donated the Iftar (food eaten after a daylong fasting) of all his three days to needy people who came to them for help and the following verse was revealed to admire this generosity:
“Surely, the righteous should drink of a cup the admixture of which is camphor, a fountain from which the servants of Allah shall drink; they make it to flow a (goodly) flowing forth; they fulfill vows and fear a day the evil of which shall be spreading far and wide; and they give food out of love for Him to the poor and the captive; we only feed you for Allah’s sake; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks; truly we fear from our Lord a stern distressful day.”[1]
Imam Ali (PBUH) says: “Fortunate are those who purify their deeds, acts, friendship, anger, giving, speaking, and silence for God.”[2]
Source: Dar Sayesare Aftab (Examples of Conducts of Imam Ali), Ismail Saadat
Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi
Notes:
[1] 76:5-10
[2] Tafsire Borhan, vol. 4, p. 412
Other links:
What the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH) Said About Imam Ali (A.S): Part 2
The Caliphate of Imam Ali (A.S) and His Method of Rule (Part 2)
Ali’s Genealogy (Part 2)
