Of course we cannot find a ruler like Imam Ali (AS) who despite ruling over a great part of the world (Iran, Iraq, Hijaz, part of Africa, etc.), yet his personal life could be compared with that of the poorest people of his country. As it is narrated, on the last night (the eve of the 19th of Ramazan, 40 A.H.) he was a guest of one of his daughters, Umm Kolthum. She brought him bread, baked by burly flour, milk and salt for Iftar. Imam Ali tells to his dear daughter: You know that I never use two kinds of foods in may mills, why have you brought both milk and salt together? She decides to remove the salt, but Imam urges her to take the milk away.

However, Imam does not more than two loaves of bread with salt. When he was attacked on the next morning, he did not leave any noticeable items for his inheritors. Of course we cannot establish such a government, but we are trying to establish a government whose ruler does not spend the wealth of the Muslims for himself, his family and his supporters as well as for the countries that support his throne." 18-November-1978 Sahifeh-e Noor, Vol. 3, P. 188, Vol. 5, P. 149, Vol.6, P. 147.