Manners in Speech

Delivering justice regardless of rank Ali ibn Abu Talib lost a coat of armour in the Battle of Jamal. One day when he was walking in the market place, he saw a Christian selling coats of armour, one of which he recognized as his own. He pointed it out to the Christian, telling him that the matter would have to be brought before a Muslim judge. Ali, who was Commander of the Faithful at the time, asked his chief Justice, Shurayh, to settle the dispute between himself and the Christian. Shurayh then asked Ali to put forward his case. “This coat of armour is mine,” replied Ali “And what do you have to say?” asked the judge, turning to the Christian, who accused the Commander of the Faithful of falsifying the facts. “It belongs to me,” he asserted. The judge thereupon asked Ali who his witnesses were and Ali produced his son, Hasan, and a slave, Qambar. The judge then told him that he would have to bring another witness in place of Hasan. “Do you reject the testimony of Hasan?” asked Ali, to which Shurayh replied, “That is besides the point. You yourself have taught me that a son’s evidence in support of his father is not acceptable.” (AL-SHA‘BI)