The Importance of Secret Charity: Lessons from the Life of Imam Ali (رضي الله عنه)
There is a particular kind of greatness that does not boast. It does not wear a crown to be seen, nor does it raise its voice to be heard. As the 21st of Ramadan approaches, marking the martyrdom of Imam Ali Ibn Abu Talib (رضي الله عنه), we are forced to look beyond the "Lion of Allah" who lifted the heavy gates of Khyber with his bare hands. his true strength lived in his quiet, gentle heart. He was a man who lived simply so that others could simply live, moving through the shadows of Kufa with a sack of grain upon his back.
In the eyes of history, he was the fourth Caliph, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), and a warrior of unmatched strength and wisdom. But to the fatherless and the weary, he was the anonymous hand that delivered Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) Rizq, a servant who sought no credit for the bread he placed at their feet.
True charity, as Imam Ali (رضي الله عنه) practiced it, was an act of profound spiritual labour. He understood a truth that many of us forget - that to give openly can sometimes wound the dignity of the receiver.
During his reign in Kufa, it was whispered that a mysterious stranger would walk the streets in the dead of night. This stranger would leave bags of flour and dates at the doorsteps of the widowed and the orphaned, knocking softly and vanishing before the door could swing open. It was only after his martyrdom, when the bread stopped arriving and the hunger returned- that the city realised their protector was none other than the Commander of the Faithful Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) himself.
He did not give as a ruler distributing a budget; he gave as a brother fulfilling a soul-bound debt. This is why he is forever remembered as the "Father of the Orphans."
In his famous letter to Malik al-Ashtar, Imam Ali (رضي الله عنه) wrote words that should haunt every person of means:
"Take care of the orphans and the aged who have no means... This is heavy on the officers; in fact, every right is heavy."
He recognised that the "right" of the poor is a burden we must carry willingly. He taught that for an act of kindness to be truly beautiful, it must possess three qualities:
The most powerful example of his heart happened at his very end. After being struck by a poisoned sword during his morning prayers, Imam Ali (رضي الله عنه) saw his attacker standing there, trembling with fear.
Instead of showing anger, the Imam looked at the man with a heart full of compassion. He told his companions to give his attacker a cool drink of milk to ease his thirst. This wasn’t just a religious rule he was following; it was a moment where his soul proved that love is much stronger than hate. Even in his own pain, he cared for the comfort of the person who had hurt him.
In that moment of ultimate trial, he uttered the words that have echoed through the centuries:
"Fuztu wa Rabbil Kaaba" — "By the Lord of the Kaaba, I have succeeded!"
To him, success wasn't about winning battles or holding power; it was about meeting Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) with a heart that had never stopped being kind, even to its enemies.
As we navigate the final days of Ramadan, we must ask ourselves: Where is the bread of the night in our own lives? The orphans and the elderly of whom the Imam spoke are not figures of the past. They are the children in Pakistan, the displaced families in Gaza, and the forgotten souls in Nepal and Bangladesh who wait for a sign that they have not been abandoned by the world.
In the spirit of the "Father of the Orphans," we invite you to turn your faith into a living, breathing act of compassion. This Ramadan, thousands of families will sit down to break their fast with nothing but water. You can be the hand that places a meal on their table.
Will you honour the legacy of Imam Al by feeding those he loved most?
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