Islamic Justice Story: Hazrat Ali’s (RA) Timeless Lesson

Two men were walking side-by-side. They were companions on a journey. After walking for a long time, they became utterly exhausted and felt intensely hungry. It was time to stop walking, rest for a while, and have a meal. The two sat down to eat. On a plate before them were a total of eight loaves of bread. Five belonged to one man, and three to the other. Just as they were about to begin eating, an acquaintance of theirs happened to be walking down the same path. As a gesture of courtesy, they invited him to join their meal, an act of kindness that would soon lead to a remarkable Islamic Justice Story.

An Islamic Justice Story: The Dispute Over the Money

The three men ate the eight loaves of bread together. The third man thanked them. Then, upon his departure, he took out eight coins from his pocket, placed them before the two companions, and said, “I am giving these coins in exchange for the bread I ate from your shares. Please divide it between yourselves.” With that, he left.

Now, they sat down to distribute the coins they had received. The man with five loaves had already decided on the division and said, “Brother! The division is very simple. I had five loaves, so I will get five coins. And since you had three loaves, you will get three coins.”

The man with three loaves immediately rejected this arrangement. He said, “No, that won’t do. It can’t be. If it were just the two of us eating these loaves, we would have eaten equally. And he gave this money intending it for both of us equally. Therefore, I get four coins, and you get four coins.”

The five-loaf owner refused to accept this proposal, and the three-loaf owner remained firm in his position. He made it clear that he would not accept any alternative. Soon, their loud argument attracted a large crowd of people. They all tried to reason with both men, one by one, but nothing worked. Both remained unyielding in their decisions. No one was willing to change their mind. Finally, a person in the crowd said, “Very well, since you will not listen to us, you have no other option but to seek the counsel of the Amir al-Mu’minin (the Commander of the Faithful).”

In the Court of the Commander of the Faithful

The court of Ali (RA). The chamber was filled with absolute silence. Adorning the seat of judgment was the Caliph of the Muslims himself. The two men who owned the bread were seated on opposite sides. In due course, the petitioners presented their respective arguments.

After listening to everything, Ali (RA) thought for a moment. Then, looking at the three-loaf owner, he said, “Your companion wants to give you three coins. You should take it. In this lies your victory and your well-being! Because he had more loaves than you.”

Hearing the Caliph’s words, the three-loaf owner became furious. He said angrily, “Your Excellency! If I were to take three coins, I could have done so earlier. What have I gained by coming to your court? If this is the outcome, there was no need to come to you at all. In any case, I do not want anything else from you. I came here seeking the wisdom of a true Islamic Justice Story, and I only want your just verdict.”

The Just Verdict

At his words, Ali (RA) did not get angry but said in a gentle tone, “Brother! Now you have spoken well. Before, I was speaking of a compromise. But now that you have asked for a just ruling, then listen.” Saying this, he paused for a moment and then continued. “According to a just ruling, your companion will receive seven coins, and you will receive only one coin. Therefore, you must now be content with taking one coin.”

Hearing the new verdict, the three-loaf owner was livid. He thought to himself, “Is this what they call a just verdict? Is this the establishment of good governance?” After a moment, he contained his anger and, in an astonished voice, addressed the Caliph, “Your Holiness! What are you saying? He wanted to give me three coins, and I refused. You also requested that I take three coins, and I did not agree. And now you are telling me to take one coin. How is this possible?”

The Mathematical Analysis of the Verdict

The Caliph of the Muslims, Ali (RA), shifted slightly in his seat. He said, “The matter of three coins was a proposal for a compromise. But you were not willing to compromise. You want justice. You want a fair ruling. And from the perspective of justice and fairness, you cannot receive more than one coin. If you ask how, then I am ready to explain it to you not once, but a hundred times.”

At the firmness of Ali (RA), the man softened. Now, lowering his voice, he said politely, “Your Holiness! Please be kind enough to explain to me how I am entitled to only one coin. If you can explain it, I will take just one coin. I will not demand more.”

Ali (RA), in analyzing his own verdict, began to explain: “There were a total of eight loaves of bread. And three of you ate them. If we divide each loaf into three pieces, there would be a total of twenty-four pieces of bread. Your loaves were three. If each of your three loaves is divided into three parts, you have a total of nine pieces. And your companion’s loaves were five. If each of his five loaves is divided into three parts, he has a total of fifteen pieces.

In a shared meal, it is not differentiated who ate less or who ate more. Therefore, it will be assumed that each of you ate an equal amount. That is, from the twenty-four pieces of bread, each of you ate eight pieces.

Now, pay attention. You had nine pieces of bread. Out of those, you yourself ate eight pieces. What remained was one piece. Therefore, the visiting third person ate only one piece from your share. On the other hand, your companion had fifteen pieces. Out of those, he himself ate eight pieces. What remained were seven pieces. Therefore, the third person ate seven pieces from his share.

The man gave eight coins in exchange for eight pieces. Therefore, it is very clear that in exchange for seven pieces, your companion will receive seven coins, and in exchange for one piece, you will receive one coin.”

The Moral and Conclusion of the Incident

Hearing the brilliant analysis of the verdict, not only the three-loaf owner but everyone present was stunned. Everyone praised the Caliph’s sharp intellect profusely. Finally, the three-loaf owner was compelled to say, “Yes, I am indeed entitled to only one coin. Not more. Without understanding, I have been babbling like a fool all this time.” Saying so, he silently thanked the Caliph in his mind and left the court with his single coin.

Dear reader, in this classic Islamic Justice Story, we find proof of the depth of knowledge and the astonishing judicial wisdom of Hazrat Ali (RA). May Allah Almighty grant us all the grace to follow the path shown by the esteemed companions (Sahaba). Ameen.