Manners of Ali, 'Alayhim al-Salam, and his restraint from unlawful matters

173. Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ali Bin Al-No’man, from Ibn Muskaan, from Al-Hassan Al-Sayqal who said: I heard Abu Abdullah عليه الصلاة والسلام saying that a friend of Ali عليه الصلاة والسلام does not eat except for the Permissible because his Master عليه الصلاة والسلام was like that, and the friend of Usman does not care whether he eats the Permissible or the Prohibited because his master was like that’. He (the narrator) said, ‘Then he عليه الصلاة والسلام returned to the mention of Ali عليه الصلاة والسلام, so he عليه الصلاة والسلام said; ‘But, by the One Who عز وجل Took his عليه الصلاة والسلام soul, he عليه الصلاة والسلام did not eat anything Prohibited in the world, be it little or a lot, until he عليه الصلاة والسلام departed from it. And there were not presented to him عليه الصلاة والسلام two matters both of them in obedience to Allah عز وجل except that he عليه الصلاة والسلام chose the more difficult one of the two for his عليه الصلاة والسلام body, and there did not descend any difficulty upon the Rasool Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم at all except that he عليه الصلاة والسلام faced it, being relied upon for it. And no one from this community can endure the deeds of the Rasool Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم after him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم apart from him عليه الصلاة والسلام. And he عليه الصلاة والسلام would work like a man as if he could see into the Paradise and the Fire, and he عليه الصلاة والسلام had freed one thousand slaves from his عليه الصلاة والسلام wealth. All of that was from what he عليه الصلاة والسلام had worked by his عليه الصلاة والسلام own hands, making his عليه الصلاة والسلام forehead perspire for the Sake of Allah عز وجل Mighty and Majestic, seeking to be free from the Fire. And there was no meal for him عليه الصلاة والسلام except for the vinegar and oil, and the sweetness of the dates if he عليه الصلاة والسلام could find them. And his عليه الصلاة والسلام clothing was the cotton. If he عليه الصلاة والسلام found extra in his clothes, he عليه الصلاة والسلام would call for the scissors and cut it off’.