10:52 - 2021/11/18
Imam Ali (as) had no liking for ruling the vast Islamic territory more than he had for a pair of old and torn shoes, unless he could establish justice and fight oppression and injustice and eradicate falsehood.
On their way to the Battle of the Camel, Imam Ali (as) and his army camped in Dhi Ghar, a place near the city of Basrah. Ibn Abbas has been narrated as saying,
I went to Imam Ali (as) and saw him busy mending his torn shoe. He asked me,
How much, in your opinion, is the value of this shoe?
Looking at the shoe, I said,
It has no value.
The imam (as) said,
By God, this torn shoe is mora valuable to me than being a ruler over you unless I establish a right or eradicate a falsehood.
Reference: Nahj al-Balaghah, Sermon 33.