Father of the Orphans: Lesson3, Caring includes play-time
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Not only did Imam Ali make sure that orphaned children were fed and clothed well, but he went out of his way to play with them. One narration describes how Imam Ali visited the home of a widow and her children with a bag full of ingredients, and prepared a meal for them. When the children finished eating, Imam Ali “began to hop around the room (by mimicking a lamb) and bleating, making them laugh.” Qanbar, Imam Ali’s helper who had accompanied him, asked him later on, “Your carrying the food on your back was for earning good deeds, but I did not know the reason for your hopping around the room and baaing!’”, to which Imam Ali replied, “I liked to leave them while they were satiated and laughing, and I found no other way for making them laugh than how I did.’”
