Treachery's Necklace

Ibn Abi Rafe" has narrated thus: "I was the administrator of the public treasury during the period of the caliphate of Ali and was also his scribe. The property received from Basra for the public treasury included a pearl necklace. The daughter of Ali sent word to me saying: "I understand that there is a pearl necklace in the public treasury which is controlled by you. Send that necklace to me on loan so that I may wear it on Eid al-Azha day. Thereafter I shall return it".

I sent the necklace to her on the conditions that she would be responsible if it was lost or damaged, and that she would return it within three days. She accepted these conditions.

By chance the eyes of the Commander of the Faithful fell on the necklace and he recognized it. He asked his daughter as to where she had obtained it from. She replied: "I have taken it on loan from Ibn Abi Rafe" the in charge of the public treasury to wear it on Eid al-Azha day and have promised to return it to him within three days".

The Commander of the Faithful summoned me and said; "Do you consider it lawful to commit breach of trust with the Muslims"? I replied: "May God forbid that I may commit treachery with the Muslims". Thereupon he said: "Then why did you lend such and such necklace to my daughter without obtaining my permission and without the concurrence of the Muslims"?

I replied: "O Commander of the Faithful! She is your daughter. She borrowed it to adorn herself and guaranteed its safe return so that 1 might restore it to its proper place". Ali said: "Take it back today and do not do so in future otherwise I shall punish you".

When Ali"s daughter came to know about it she said to him: "O father! I am your dear daughter. Who else is more entitled to wear this necklace"?

Ali replied: "O daughter of Abu Talib! Don"t deviate from the right path. Can you tell me how many Muhajir and Ansar women adorn themselves with such necklaces"?

Eventually I took back the necklace from the daughter of the Commander of the Faithful and restored it to its proper place.