ومن كلام له (عليه السلام) كلم به عبد الله بن زمعة و هو من شيعته وذلك أنه قدم عليه في خلافته يطلب منه مالاً، فقال (عليه السلام):
‘Abdullāh ihn Zama‘ah who was one of the followers of Amīr al-mu’minīn came to him during his Caliphate to ask for some money when Amīr al-mu’minīn said:
إِنَّ هذَا الْمَالَ لَيْسَ لِي وَلاَ لَكَ، وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ فَيْءٌ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَجَلْبُ أَسْيَافِهِمْ، فَإِنْ شَرِكْتَهُمْ فِي حَرْبِهِمْ كَانَ لَكَ مِثْلُ حَظِّهِمْ، وَإِلاَّ فَجَنَاةُ أَيْدِيهِمْ لاَ تَكُونُ لِغَيْرِ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ.
This money is neither for me nor for you, but it is the collective property of the Muslims and the acquisition of their swords. If you had taken part with them in their fighting you would have a share equal to theirs, otherwise the earning of their hands cannot be for other than their mouths.