The Story of Sayyidina Ali (R.A) and a Jew

[Haroon Ali]

Once a Jew came to ALi (R.A) with a view to ridiculing Islam

The Jew was very rich, he mocked the Islamic way of simplicity. He tried to enter into an argument with Ali (R.A) and declared that if his questions were answered to his satisfaction he might become a Muslim

Ali (R.A) said that he would be glad to answer any questions put to him. The Jew said "Suppose you are standing at the roof of a multistoried building at a great height. Who will protect you?". Of course Allah will protect protect me" said Ali (R.A). The Jew thereupon said "Do you feel confident that Allah will really protect you?"

Ali (R.A) said "Certainly, it is our faith that as long as we are ordained to live Allah will protect us." The Jew observed: "if you are so confident of the protection of Allah, would you be prepared to climb a high building and the jump therefrom in order to see how Allah protects you?"

Ali (R.A) said that he was not a fool to jump from a hight building for nothing. The Jew said that he did not want him to undertake the exercise for nothing, because if Allah protected him, he (the jew) would become a Muslim.

Ali (R.A) said that suck stipulation was erroneous and foolish. "How was that so" enquired the Jew. Ali (R.A) said that it must be realised that Allah is Master and man is servant. It is open to the Master to put the servant to test, but does not behove a servant to put the Master to any test. If Allah put any test that means a lack of faith, and when faith is lost everything is lost. The Jew said "This means that you are afraid taht if you take a jump you will die and Allah will not protect you"

Ali (R.A) said "I am not afraid of death, but as a servant I cannot defy the Master. Everything in the universe is subject to the will of Allah. That will is the law, and man has been endowedwith reason to discern the law. If knowing the law I choose to defy it I will have to suffer for breaking the law. When i deliberatly break the law laid down by the Master i lose the right of the Masters protection. More over, Allah protects us as long as we are ordained to live. If i take a jump and die as a consequence it would not mean that Allah has withdrawn His protection. It would merely mean that i was ordained to die like that". There upon the Jew said. "Ali (R.A), you are right, hasten to convert me to Islam". And the Jew was duly converted to Islam, and for the rest of his life he remained a staunch Muslim.

MORAL

As Muslims, we should have full Yakeen (Faith) that all occurances on the earth are only due to the command of Allah Ta'ala. We should also try to fully understand our deen so that we may not be tricked or confused by people trying to take us away from Islam.

[nik61]

MORAL

As Muslims, we should have full Yakeen (Faith) that all occurances on the earth are only due to the command of Allah Ta'ala. We should also try to fully understand our deen so that we may not be tricked or confused by people trying to take us away from Islam.

Allow me to add another famous story concerning Sayyidina Ali karramallahu wajhah...

At the Battle of the Ditch, the noble Imam 'Ali had knocked an enemy soldier to the ground and was raising his sword to kill him, when the unbeliever spat in the blessed face of the Valiant Lion, may Allah be pleased with him. Imam 'Ali at once stood still and refrained from killing his enemy. Hardly able to believe his own eyes, the unbeliever asked: "Why have you spared me, O gracious one?"

To this, the noble 'Ali replied:

"Your property and your life have become sacrosanct to me. I am not authorized to slay you. I can receive permission to kill only in holy combat, in fighting commanded by Allah. Just a few moments ago, I had overcome you in battle, knocked you to the ground and was on the point of slaying you. But when you spat in my face, my selfish anger was aroused against you. If I had killed you, I would have slain you not for Allah's sake but for my own selfish reason; they would then have called me not a champion warrior, but a murderer. When you spat in my face, my selfish passion threatened to overwhelm me, so instead of striking you with the sword for my own sake I struck my passion for the sake of Allah, Exalted is He. There you have the reason for your escape."

The unbeliever was left in awe and amazement. This event made him realize that he was a direct witness to the worth and value of being Muslim. As he felt the light of Islam descending into his heart, he was quite unconscious of the tears streaming down from his eyes. He could he be aware of them? ... In the space of a few seconds he was being saved from dying as an unbeliever -- saved from being an unbeliever at all -- and was becoming a Muslim. Moreover, the cause of his conversion, the person standing before him, was none other than the Noble Imam 'Ali (Radhi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu).

Indeed, friendship and affection, as well as enmity, should be in the manner determined by Allah. That is to say, the object to be ever kept in view is the good pleasure of the Exalted Lord.

Taken from ummah.net

[jaylen]

I love this story. it's great.

jazak Allah kahyr

[AllahIsGreater]

Salamun Alaykum

The nahjul balagha contains great, inspirational sayings and letters by Imam Ali (pbuh).

Inshallah, I will try and find it - if any of you find an online link, post it here for us please.