Sayyid Adil al-Alawi narrates about his teacher, Ayatullah Sayyid Shahab al-Din Mar’ashi Najafi:
‘I was sitting in his room next to him [Ayatullah Mar’ashi Najafi] when a very old man from the community entered the room. After exchanging salutations and welcoming him, he said, “My master, I would like to introduce myself to you. I was responsible for opening and closing the public bath houses and I want to remind you about an incident from your life.
‘“When I was responsible for opening the public baths, you were in the prime of your youth and you used to come with your small children to that place. One day you entered and you saw other children and you asked me about them and I told you that they were orphans. You turned to your children and said, “Do not call me by the name, ‘baba’ [father]’ so as to protect the feelings of those orphans who didn’t have a father11. Then you gave me some money so that I should buy for them stationary for their school needs and I bought it for them.12”’
Sayyid al-Alawi adds, ‘When I heard about this story I was moved by it. I said to myself, “God is great! What sympathy and feeling Sayyid Mar’ashi has for others!”’
Ref : The Ways Of The Righteous Vol. 1