Imam Ali (a.s.) was very kind to children, especially to orphans. If he ever saw an orphan crying, he would stop whatever he was doing, bend down, give the child his salam, wipe away the child’s tears, put his hand on the child’s shoulder and say, “My child, why are you crying? Has someone hurt you? Come, let me take you to my house.”
Ali (a.s.) would take the child home and treat him better than any father. He would bring the child sweets, breads and honey, and put them in the child’s mouth himself. Imam Ali (a.s.) used to tell his followers to love and be kind to orphans of martyrs killed in the path of Allah. “They have lost their loving fathers”, he used to say, “So cheer them up and look after them just like a father.”
“Their fathers were martyred in Jihad and for the sake of Islam, and they have the rights on you. Make their souls pleased with you by cheering up their children and looking after them.”
Imam Ali (a.s.) was always attentive to orphans, especially to those of the martyrs. He used to visit them and sit and chat and play with them. He used to take care of their education and training. He would strive to solve their difficulties and always
offered them guidance and advice. He would bring them gifts and, if they were poor, he would respectfully provide their expenses.
Imam Ali (a.s.) was so kind to orphans and laid so much stress on them in his teaching that one of his companions said: “How I wish that I too were a young orphan so that I would receive such kindness and love from Imam Ali (a.s.)”
“Love and be kind to orphans.”
Questions and Exercise:
- What did Imam Ali (a.s.) tell his followers about children, especially orphans?
- What did Imam Ali’s (a.s.) companions say about his treatment of orphans?
- If Imam Ali (a.s.) saw a young orphan; what would he do?
Complete the following sentences:
- Imam Ali (a.s.) was very kind to …………..
- Imam Ali (a.s.) would bend down and give the child his ………….
- He would take home and treat him better than …………….
- Imam Ali (a.s.) was continually telling his followers to love and be kind to……………
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