One of the attributes of the Imams is their generosity. In Al-Ziyarah al-Jami’a al-Kabira, we read: “Sajiyyatukum al-Karam” [your attribute is generosity]; Sajiyya is an innate attribute which springs from within and Karim is the one whose generosity springs from within. The infallible family of the Prophet (s) are as such that their innate natures are the springs of generosity. Here, we mention a hadith about the generosity of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a) towards his enemy in the battlefield.
In one of the battles, Imam Ali (a) was fighting an unbeliever.
The man requested: “O Ali, give me your sword.” Imam Ali (a) threw his sword to him.
The man asked with surprise: “O son of Abi Talib, I am surprised how you give such your sword to the enemy in such a situation?!
Imam (a) replied: “you extended your hand to request, and it is remote from generosity to reject a request” (meaning that the manner of Ahl al-Bayt (a) is not to reject a request, even if the requester is their enemy).
The unbeliever man got off his horse and said: “This is the manner of religious people”. Then he kissed the blessed feet of Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a), proclaimed faith and became a Muslim.
Sources:
Furu’ al-Kafi, vol. 4, p. 39.
