Personalities Involved:
i. Hadhrat Ali (ra)
ii. Qazi Shureh (ra), a judge, appointed to this position by Hadhrat Umar (Ra) during his khalifat;
iii. a Yahud who lived in Madina as a subject, under the rule of Amirul Mu’minin.

Amirul Mu’minin, Hadhrat Ali’s (ra) armour had been stolen. One day, while walking through the market place, he recognized his armour in the possession of a Yahud. He went up to the Yahud and said, “This is my armour.” The Yahud retorted, “Bring witnesses to prove it. Alternatively, file a law-suit!”

Hadhrat Ali (ra) proceeded to Qazi Shureh (ra) and laid a charge of theft against the Yahud. The case came before the Qazi. Both Plaintiff and defendant presented themselves in front of the Qazi on an equal footing.

Qazi Shureh (ra), without being overawed by the presence of Amirul Mu’minin, Hadhrat Ali (ra), seated himself with the pomp that the situation demanded. Calmly, without any trace of discomfiture or panic, he started his questioning. he asked the Yahud,”Does the armour belong to Hadhrat Ali (ra)?” The Yahud flatly denied it.

Thereupon Qazi Shureh (ra) turned to Hadhrat Ali (ra) and calmly requested, “Bring witnesses to support your claim.”

[Hadhratwala comments: to doubt the validity of the claim of Amirul Mu’minin, Hadhrat Ali (ra) was unthinkable. Yet, Proceeding had to be in accordance with the rules laiddown by the shariat. Wallah! Others who have adopted civilized attitudes have learnt these from Islam and then, too, they could not equal the standards laid out by Islam!]

Hadhrat Ali (ra), produced two witnesses. One was his son, Imam Hasan (ra) and the other was his freed slave, whose name was Qambar. In his opinion, the evidence of these two was acceptable in the Islamic law-court. However, Qazi Shureh (ra) differed inhis understanding ofthe law related to acceptability of wintesses. In his opinion, the evidence of the son in favour of his father was not acceptable. He thus rejected the evidence of Imam Hasan (ra), accepting the evidence of the freed slave only.

Qazi Shureh (ra) addressed Hadhrat Ali (ra), “Bring another witness in place of Imam Hasan (ra). the evidence of your slave, seeing he has been freed, is accepted.” Hadhrat Ali (ra) replied, ” I have no other witnesses.” Because of a lack of sufficient evidence-a second acceptable witness- Qazi Shureh (ra) dismissed Hadhrat Ali’s (ra) claim, acting according to the Shariat and not according to his personal i’tiqad(faith and confidence) on the truthfullness of Hadhrat Ali (ra).

The Yahud, in the mean time, was observing the whole proceedings with full attention. On leaving the courtroom, he watched intently to see the reaction of Hadhrat Ali (ra). There was not even a flicker of annoyance on Hadhrat Ali’s (ra) face. Not a word of displeasure at the verdict passed his lips, despite being “Asadullah”- “The Lion of Allah”-the title that he had earned for his ferociousness and courage in Jihad against the Kuffar.

Coming out of his reverie, the Yahud addressed Hadhrat Ali (ra) thus: “The reality of the situation has become quite clear to me, that your mazhab (religion) is a ture one and your attitude is its effect on you.” The Yahud continued, ” Here, take it-this armour is yours! And i herewith proclaim that I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammed is his slave and messenger.

Hadhrat Ali (ra) siad, “I, in turn, present this armour to you!”

The net outcome was that the Yahud became a Muslim. He remained with Hadhrat Ali (ra), until a day came when he became Shahid in a battle. (i.e. he was martyred.)

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