Ali (as) and the traders of Kufa

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Ali ibn Mahzyar, from al-Hasan ibn Mahboob, from Amru ibn Abi al-Miqdam (from Jabir), from:

Abu Ja’far, Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Baqir, peace be upon them both, who said: ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him, was among you in Kufa and he used to come out early in the morning from his residence, visiting each market of Kufa, one after another, with a whip on his shoulder. It had two sharp ends and was thus called al-Sabibah.

He said: He (i.e. ‘Ali) would stand in every market and say: “O business people! Seek providence of Allah and earn His bounty by easy trade! Endear yourselves to the buyers and adorn yourselves with patience. And do not swear or take oath; refrain from lies and do not associate with inequity. Come to the rescue of the wronged ones by obtaining justice for them, and do not deal in usury. Give full measure and weight and do not diminish for people their things, and do not work corruption on the earth.”

He said: Thus he (i.e. ‘Ali) toured all the markets of Kufa and then returned to his place for listening to the common people. He said: When the market people saw him approaching them, exclaiming: “O People!, they would stop their dealings, listen to him carefully and regard him respectfully till he finished.” Then they would respond: “With all readiness, we obey you O, Amirul Mu’mineen.”

Reference : Al-Amali, The Dictations of Shaykh al-Mufid