Judgment of the Prophets...

‘Ali, the Armor, and the Christian

During his Caliphate, ‘Ali b. Abi Talib – Allah be pleased with him – saw some armor of his with a Christian. He decided to take the matter up legally, so he took the dispute to Shurayh (the Judge).

‘Ali said, “This is my armor, and I have not sold it nor given it away.”

Shurayh said to the Christian, “What have you to say about what the Amir of the Believers claims?”

The Christian replied, “It is my armor, although I do not regard the Amir of the Believers to be a liar.”

Shurayh then turned to ‘Ali, “O Amir of the Believers, do you have any proof (of ownership)?”

‘Ali laughed and said, “Shurayh is correct, I have no proof.”

So Shurayh judged that the armor was the Christian’s. The Christian took it and began to walk away but then returned.

He proclaimed, “As for me, I testify that this is the judgment of the Prophets – the Amir of the Believers himself takes me to his judge and the judge rules against him! I bear witness that there is no deity deserving worship but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. By Allah, the armor is yours o Amir of the Believers. I followed the army when you were on your way to the Battle of Siffîn and the armor came out of your equipment.”

‘Ali said, “If you have accepted Islam the armor is yours.” And then he put him on his horse.

Al-Sha’bi (the reporter of this incident) said, “I was later informed by those who saw this man that he fought the Khawarij (alongside ‘Ali) at the battle of Nahrawan.”

Ibn Kathir, Al-Bidayah wa Al-Nihayah Vol.8 p5.