Giving Ring as Charity

Ring-giving refers to giving Imam Ali's (a) ring (khatam) to a beggar in the ruku' of his prayer. This event has been narrated in Shi'a and Sunni books of hadiths and according to exegetes, the verse of Wilaya was revealed about it. Ring-giving is mentioned among the merits of Imam Ali (a). Some Shi'a fiqh scholars referred to it and concluded that: minor movements of the body in prayer, do not make it invalid. Some others have raised this question that hearing others during prayer is incompatible with descriptions of the mystical states of Imam Ali (a) during prayer. Some others have answered this question that both Imam Ali’s (a) prayer and his giving were for God; thus, there is no conflict between the two.

The Event

According to some hadiths, one day a beggar entered the mosque of the Prophet (s) and asked for help; but, no one gave him anything. He raised his hands toward the sky and said, "O God! Witness that I asked for help in the mosque of Your Prophet (s) and no one gave me anything." When he said this, Imam Ali (a) was performing ruku' and pointed to the small finger of his right hand which had a ring on. The beggar went near and took the ring off Imam's (s) finger. This event is reported to have happened in 9 or 10 AH.

Revelation of the Verse of Wilaya

Exegetes have considered the event of Imam Ali's (a) ring-giving as the context of the revelation of the verse of Wilaya. Qadi Iji said that there is a consensus among exegetes over the revelation of this verse about Ali (a); however, in some Sunni commentaries, it is mentioned that the verse of Wilaya was revealed about other people.

Features of the Ring

It is transmitted form Imam al-Sadiq (a) that the ring Imam Ali (a) gave to the beggar weighed 4 mithqals and its stone weighed 5 mithqals which was a red ruby and its price was equal to the tax of Sham (300 camel-bearing parcels of silver and 4 camel-bearing parcels of gold). It belonged to Marwan b. Tawq who was killed by Imam Ali (a) in the war. Imam Ali (a) took the ring as a booty to the Prophet (s) and the Prophet (s) gave it to him as a gift.

Understandings in Fiqh

Some Shi’a fiqh scholars refer to Imam Ali’s (a) ring-giving in ruku’ to prove that minor movements of the body do not make the prayer invalid. Also, some others have referred to it as an argument to prove that intention is an act of heart and does not need to be mentioned by the tongue. Also, since the verse refers to the ring-giving as zakat, they have deduced from it that zakat can include recommended acts of charity as well.

Some have said that paying attention to the beggar and hearing his words in the prayer is incompatible with descriptions of the mystical states of Imam Ali (a) during prayer. Some others have answered this question, saying that both Imam Ali’s (a) prayer and his giving were for God; thus, there is no problem if someone hears the voice of a beggar and also gives him for the sake of God; the same way that the Prophet (a) heard the voice of a crying child and finished the prayer faster than usual. ‘Allama Majlisi said that paying attention to another person’s prayer does not disagree with the perfection of prayer and presence of heart in the prayer.