CHILDREN’S CORNER

A Unique Justice Ali at one time had a coat of armour, which he lost. One day he went to the market in Kufa, where he found that a Jew was selling a coat of armour. On closer inspection, it turned out to be the same coat of armour which he had lost. Ali was at that time ruler of the Muslim empire. If he had so desired, he could have taken possession of that coat of armour right there and then. But he did not consider himself above the law, and merely said to the person concerned that the coat of armour belonged to him and then asked him to come to the Qazi (judge), who would decide between them. At that time Shuraih was the Qazi for Muslims. So, both of them went to him. Shuraih in the capacity of Qazi addressed Ali, “O leader of the believers, what you have to say? Ali replied, “This coat of armour is mine. This should be returned to me.” Shuraih then asked the Jew what he had to say. He said that the leader of the believers was not telling the truth for the coat of armour was his. Qazi Shuraih then said to Ali, “I cannot order the coat of armour to be given to you just because of your claim. You must fetch two witnesses in support of your claim.” Ali said that Qazi Shuraih’s demand was proper. Then he presented two witnesses, one his slave Qambar and the other, his son, Hasan. Qazi Shuraih said that he would accept the testimony of Qambar, but that he would not accept that of Hasan. Ali asked, ‘How is it that you will not accept Hasan as a witness, although according to a Hadith the Prophet said, “Hasan and Husain are the leaders of the youths of Paradise.” Qazi Shuraih said: “That is a different thing. In worldly matters the principle of Islam is that evidence given by children in favour of their fathers is not reliable.” Ali being the Caliph had the power to dismiss the Qazi. But he surrendered before the judgement of the Qazi and withdrew his demand with regard to the coat of armour. On seeing this, the Jew was astonished. He exclaimed: “I bear witness it is by Allah’s commandments that the leader of the believers comes to the court like a common man and the Qazi may give a verdict against him. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship save Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” Then he said that the coat of armour really belonged to Ali and that once, when it had fallen off Ali’s camel, he had picked it up. Having heard his admission, Ali gave the coat of armour back to him and also gave him seven hundred dirhams.