During the reign of Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (RA), a traveler was journeying toward the city of Kufa on his camel. Along the way, he lost his mule and his belongings. With no food left, he entered the city of Kufa (Iraq) in a state of great distress.
Someone told the traveler, “There is an Islamic Caliph (ruler) here. Go to him for help; he is a man of generous character.”
The traveler reached the residence of Caliph Ali (RA), met his son Imam Hussain (RA), and explained his situation. Imam Hussain (RA) informed him that his father was out and said, “Please wait in the mosque until he returns. I will bring some food for you,” and went inside the house.
The traveler went to the mosque and sat there hungrily. He noticed a man on the other side of the mosque dipping dry bread into water and eating it. The traveler assumed that this man, too, was a traveler like himself.
After a short while, Imam Hussain (RA) arrived with food and invited the traveler to eat. The traveler replied, “Look over there! A poor man is eating bread dipped in water without even any curry. How pitiful. Please call him here as well; let us eat together.”
Imam Hussain (RA) looked in that direction, smiled, and said:
“He is none other than the Caliph you came searching for, and my father, Hazrat Ali (RA). He is currently eating the food he regularly consumes. He never eats food better than this.”
The traveler was struck with amazement, thinking, “Despite being the leader of a massive Islamic empire, is he eating nothing but dry bread?”
