[1] Although all those who fought under the banner of Amīr al-mu’minīn were called Shī‘ahs of ‘Alī, yet only those who had tears in their eyes, paleness on their faces, the Qur’ānic verses on their tongues, zeal of religion in their hearts, steadfastness in their feet, determination and courage in their spirits, and patience and endurance in their minds could in true sense be called Shī‘ahs of ‘Alī. These were the people in whose separation Amīr al-mu’minīn’s feelings were coming out in the shape of sighs through the breath, while the flames of the fire of separation were consuming his heart and spirit. These were the people who leapt towards death like mad men and did not feel happy if they survived. Rather, their heart’s slogan was as the Persian hemistich says : We are ashamed why we have remained alive. He who has even a slight brilliance of these qualities can alone be called the follower of the Descendants of the Prophet or the Shī‘ahs of ‘Alī, otherwise it would be a word which has lost its meaning and been bereft of its dignity through misuse. Thus tradition has it that Amīr al-mu’minīn saw a group of men at his door and enquired from Qanbar who they were and he answered they were his Shī‘ahs . On hearing this Amīr al-mu’minīn had a frown on his forehead and said, “Why are They called Shī‘ahs? They have no sign of Shī‘ahs.” Thereupon Qanbar enquired what were the signs of Shī‘ahs and Amīr al-mu’minīn replied: Their bellies are thin through hunger, their lips dry through thirst and their eyes bleared through weeping.