Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) says: One day her Majesty Fatima Zahra (peace be upon him) said to Amir al-mu’minin Ali (peace be upon him): Go to my Honored father and take something from him for living.
Amir al-mu’minin Ali, peace be upon him, was honored to presence of the Prophet, peace be upon him. The reverend Prophet, peace be upon him, gave some dinars to Ali, peace be upon him, and said: buy food for your family with this money.
Amir al-mu’minin , Ali, peace be upon him, was dismissed from the presence of the reverend Messenger, peace be upon him, to go shopping. On the way, he met Miqdad. Miqdad complained to Ali about his indigence and trouble
Amir al-mu’minin , Ali, peace be upon him, gave him the dinars and went to the mosque. He laid his head on the ground and fell asleep. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, felt Ali, peace be upon him, had delayed. And he came looking for Monseigneur and found him sleeping. When he saw Ali, peace be upon him, H esaid: O Abul-Hasan! Whar did you do?
He said: O Prophet! I dismissed your service to go shopping, I saw Miqdad on the way. He informed me of his bad condition and I gave him the dinars.
O Prophet, may God bless him, said: Indeed, Jibraeel came and reported this news to me. Indeed, God Almighty revealed this noble verse for you:
«وَ يُؤْثِرُونَ عَلى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كانَ بِهِمْ خَصاصَةٌ وَ مَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَاُولئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ»(1) ؛
but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul – it is those who will be the successful.[1][2]
[1] Al-Hashr, verse 9.
[2] ta veil al ayat ,v2,p679
