“Charity in the darkness of the night extinguishes the Lords anger.”

 

`Ali bin ‘l-Husayn and his charity during the night:

Ali bin ‘al-Husayn used to carry bread on his back in the darkness of the night and follow the poor people (to give it to them). He used to say, “Charity in the darkness of the night extinguishes the Lords anger.”

 
The poor people in Madînah used to live and would not know where they were getting their food from. When `Ali ibn Husayn passed away, they started missing what they used to be given at night. When he died, they found marks on his back from the sacks of provisions he used to carry at night to the houses of the widows and they found out that he used to provide for a hundred (poor) families.

 
This was the state of these people, they would hide their deeds, but Allâh made them apparent so that they become Imâms who are followed. Allâh says,
“…and make us an example for the righteous.”Qur’ân – al-Furqân (25):74.

 

“And We made them leaders guiding by Our command.” Qur’ân – al-Anbiyâ’ (21):73.

 

[ Siyâr ‘al-a`lâm an-Nubalâ’ by adh-Dhahabi. ]