ج 32
Volume 32
Part 4 out of 4
بحار الانوار الجامعة لدرر أخبار الائمة الاطهار
Bihar Al-Anwaar – The summary of the pearls of the Ahadeeth of the Pure Imams-asws
تأليف العلامة فخر الامة المولى الشيخ محمد باقر المجلسيى
Author – The Allama, the pride of the community, the Mullah, the Sheikh Muhammad Baqir Al Majlisi
باب 12 باب جمل ما وقع بصفين من المحاربات و الاحتجاجات إلى التحكيم
CHAPTER 12 – SUMMARY OF WHAT OCCURRED AT SIFFEEN, FROM THE BATTLES AND THE ARGUMENTATION TO THE ARBITRATION
394- قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي الْحَدِيدِ مُوَافِقاً لِمَا وَجَدْتُهُ فِي أَصْلِ كِتَابِ صِفِّينَ لِنَصْرِ بْنِ الْمُزَاحِمِ لَمَّا مَلَكَ عَلِيٌّ ع الْمَاءَ بِصِفِّينَ ثُمَّ سَمَحَ لِأَهْلِ الشَّامِ بِالْمُشَارَكَةِ فِيهِ وَ الْمُسَاهَمَةِ اسْتِمَالَةً لِقُلُوبِهِمْ مَكَثَ أَيَّاماً لَا يُرْسِلُ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ أَحَداً وَ لَا يَأْتِيهِ مِنْ عِنْدِ مُعَاوِيَةَ أَحَدٌ وَ اسْتَبْطَأَ أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ إِذْنَهُ لَهُمْ فِي الْقِتَالِ وَ قَالُوا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ خَلَّفْنَا ذَرَارِيَّنَا وَ نِسَاءَنَا بِالْكُوفَةِ ائْذَنْ لَنَا فِي قِتَالِ الْقَوْمِ فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ قَالُوا
Ibn Abi Al Hadeed concordant to what he found in the original Kitab Siffeed of Nasr Bin Al Muzahim,
‘When Ali-asws controlled the water at Siffeen, then he-asws listened to the people of Syria of the participation in it, and the apportionment of its use for their hearts, he-asws remained for days not sending any one to Muawiya nor did anyone come to him from Muawiya, and he-asws delayed his-asws permission to them for the fighting, and they said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! We have left behind our offspring and our womenfolk at Al-Kufa. Give permission to us in fighting the people, for the people are saying so’.
قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع مَا قَالُوا؟ فَقَالَ مِنْهُمْ قَائِلٌ إِنَّهُمْ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّكَ تَكْرَهُ الْحَرْبَ كَرَاهِيَةً لِلْمَوْتِ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَظُنُّ أَنَّكَ فِي شَكٍّ فِي قِتَالِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ
Ali-asws said: ‘What are they saying?’ He said, ‘From them is a speaker, they are thinking that you-asws dislike the war, being abhorrent to the death, and from them is one who thinks you-asws are in doubt regarding fighting the people of Syria’.
فَقَالَ ع وَ مَتَى كُنْتُ كَارِهاً لِلْحَرْبِ قَطُّ إِنَّ مِنَ الْعَجَبِ حُبِّي لَهَا غُلَاماً وَ يَفَعاً وَ كَرَاهِيَتِي لَهَا شَيْخاً بَعْدَ نَفَادِ الْعُمُرِ وَ قُرْبِ الْوَقْتِ وَ أَمَّا شَكِّي فِي الْقَوْمِ فَلَوْ شَكَكْتُ فِيهِمْ لَشَكَكْتُ فِي أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ
He-asws said: ‘And when have I-asws been abhorrent to the war at all? It is from the surprising matters my-asws love for it as a boy, and as a young man, and my-asws abhorrent for it as an old man after depletion of the age, and nearer to the time (of death). And as for my-asws doubts regarding the people (of Syria), if I-asws were to be in doubt regarding them, I-asws would be in doubt regarding the people of Al-Basra.
فَوَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ ضَرَبْتُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ ظَهْراً وَ بَطْناً فَمَا وَجَدْتُ يَسَعُنِي إِلَّا الْقِتَالُ أَوْ أَنْ أَعْصِيَ اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ وَ لَكِنِّي أَسْتَأْنِي بِالْقَوْمِ عَسَى أَنْ يَهْتَدُوا أَوْ يَهْتَدِيَ فِيهِمْ طَائِفَةٌ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ لِي يَوْمَ الْخَيْبَرِ لَأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللَّهُ بِكَ رَجُلًا وَاحِداً خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ
By Allah-azwj! I-asws have struck this matter on the back and belly (looked at all options), but I-asws could not find what would be a leeway for me-asws except for the fighting, or that I-asws disobey Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww. But, I-asws am assisted by the people, perhaps they would be guided or a section of them would be guided, for Rasool-Allah-saww had said to me-asws on the day of Al-Khyber: ‘If Allah-azwj were to Guide one man through you-asws, it would be better for you-asws than whatever the sun emerges upon’’.
قَالَ نَصْرُ بْنُ مُزَاحِمٍ فَبَعَثَ عَلِيٌّ ع إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ بِشْرَ بْنَ عَمْرٍو وَ سَعِيدَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ وَ شَبَثَ بْنَ رِبْعِيٍّ فَقَالَ ائْتُوا هَذَا الرَّجُلَ فَادْعُوهُ إِلَى الطَّاعَةِ وَ الْجَمَاعَةِ وَ إِلَى اتِّبَاعِ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ
Nasr Bin Muzahim (reporter) said, ‘Ali-asws sent Bashar Bin Amro and Saeed Bin Qays and Shabas Bin Rabie to Muawiya. He-asws said: ‘Go to this man and invite him to the obedience, and the unity, and to following the Commands of Allah-azwj the Glorious’.
فَقَالَ شَبَثٌ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَ لَا نُطْمِعُهُ فِي سُلْطَانٍ تُوَلِّيهِ إِيَّاهُ وَ مَنْزِلَةٍ يَكُونُ لَهُ بِهَا أَثَرَةٌ عِنْدَكَ إِنْ هُوَ بَايَعَكَ
Shabas said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Will you-asws not feed him some authority he can be in-charge of it, and a status to be for him by it, in consequence with you-asws that he would pledge allegiance to you-asws?’
قَالَ ائْتُوهُ الْآنَ وَ الْقَوْهُ وَ احْتَجُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَ انْظُرُوا مَا رَأْيُهُ فِي هَذَا
He-asws said: ‘Go to him now and meet him, and present arguments to him, and consider what his view is regarding this’.
فَدَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَابْتَدَأَ بِشْرُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ مِحْصَنٍ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ فَإِنَّ الدُّنْيَا عَنْكَ زَائِلَةٌ وَ إِنَّكَ رَاجِعٌ إِلَى الْآخِرَةِ وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مُجَازِيكَ بِعَمَلِكَ وَ مُحَاسِبُكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاكَ وَ إِنَّنِي أَنْشُدُكَ اللَّهَ أَنْ تُفَرِّقَ جَمَاعَةَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ وَ أَنْ تَسْفِكَ دِمَاءَهَا بَيْنَهَا
They entered to see him. Bishr Bin Amro Bin Mihsan began by praising Allah-azwj and extolling upon Him-azwj, and said, ‘As for after, O Muawiya! The world is declining from you and you are returning to the Hereafter and Allah-azwj will be Recompensing you due to your work, and Reckon with what you have sent ahead, and I adjure you with Allah-azwj not to separate a group of this community, and spill its blood between them’.
فَقَطَعَ مُعَاوِيَةُ عَلَيْهِ الْكَلَامَ فَقَالَ فَهَلَّا أَوْصَيْتَ صَاحِبَكَ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ صَاحِبِي لَا يُوصَى إِنَّ صَاحِبِي لَيْسَ مِثْلَكَ صَاحِبِي أَحَقُّ النَّاسِ بِهَذَا الْأَمْرِ فِي الْفَضْلِ وَ الدِّينِ وَ السَّابِقَةِ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ وَ الْقَرَابَةِ مِنَ الرَّسُولِ
Muawiya cut off his speech and said, ‘Why don’t you advise your Master-asws?’ He said, ‘Glory be to Allah-azwj! My Master-asws is not (to be) advised. My Master-asws isn’t like you. My Master-asws is most rightful of the people with this command regarding the merits, and the religion, and the precedence in Al-Islam, and the relationship from the Rasool-saww’.
قَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فَتَقُولُ مَا ذَا قَالَ أَدْعُوكَ إِلَى تَقْوَى رَبِّكَ وَ إِجَابَةِ ابْنِ عَمِّكَ إِلَى مَا يَدْعُوكَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ فَإِنَّهُ أَسْلَمُ لَكَ فِي دِينِكَ وَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ فِي عَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِكَ قَالَ وَ يُطَلُّ دَمُ عُثْمَانَ لَا وَ الرَّحْمَنِ لَا أَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ أَبَداً
Muawiya said, ‘So what is that which you are saying?’ He said, ‘I invite you to fear your Lord-azwj, and answer to the son-asws of your uncle-as to what he-asws is calling you to, from the truth, for it would be safer for you in your religion and better for you in end-result of your matter’. He said, ‘And suspend the blood of Usman? No, by the Beneficent, I will not do that, ever!’
فَذَهَبَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ لِيَتَكَلَّمَ فَبَدَرَهُ شَبَثُ بْنُ رِبْعِيٍّ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ قَدْ فَهِمْتُ مَا رَدَدْتَ عَلَى ابْنِ مِحْصَنٍ إِنَّهُ لَا يَخْفَى عَلَيْنَا مَا تَطْلُبُ إِنَّكَ لَا تَجِدُ شَيْئاً تَسْتَغْوِي بِهِ النَّاسَ وَ تَسْتَمِيلُ بِهِ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ قُلْتَ لَهُمْ قُتِلَ إِمَامُكُمْ مَظْلُوماً فَهَلُمُّوا نَطْلُبْ بِدَمِهِ
Saeed Bin Qays went to speak, but Shabas Bin Rabie interject. He praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, then said, ‘O Muawiya! I have understood what you responded to Ibn Mihsan. It is not hidden unto us from you are seeking. You will not find anything to deviate the people with, and incline their opinions with except if you say to them, ‘Your leader has been killed as unjust, so come, we shall seek his blood’.
فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكَ سَفِلَةٌ طَغَامٌ رُذَالٌ وَ قَدْ عَلِمْنَا أَنَّكَ أَبْطَأْتَ عَنْهُ بِالنَّصْرِ وَ أَحْبَبْتَ لَهُ الْقَتْلَ لِهَذِهِ الْمَنْزِلَةِ الَّتِي تَطْلُبُ وَ رُبَّ مبتغي [مُبْتَغٍ] أَمْراً وَ طَالِبٍ لَهُ يَحُولُ اللَّهُ دُونَهُ وَ رُبَّمَا أُوتِيَ الْمُتَمَنِّي أُمْنِيَّتَهُ وَ رُبَّمَا لَمْ يُؤْتَهَا وَ وَ اللَّهِ مَا لَكَ فِي وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُمَا خَيْرٌ
The lowly, riffraff, abject mob have answered to you, and we have known that you had delayed the help from him (Usman) and had loved for him to be killed for this status which you are seeking, and sometime there is a matter you seek and Allah-azwj Turns it to something else, and sometime you are given hope and you hope for it, and sometimes you are not given it, and by Allah-azwj there is no good for you in even one of these.
وَ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَخْطَأَكَ مَا تَرْجُو إِنَّكَ لَشَرُّ الْعَرَبِ حَالًا وَ لَئِنْ أَصَبْتَ مَا تَتَمَنَّاهُ لَا تُصِيبُهُ حَتَّى تَسْتَحِقَّ صَلَى النَّارِ فَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ دَعْ مَا أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا تُنَازِعِ الْأَمْرَ أَهْلَهُ
By Allah-azwj! If you err in what you are desiring, you would be of evilest states of the Arabs, and if you are correct what you are hoping for, you will not attain it until you become deserving of arriving to the Fire. Fear Allah-azwj, O Muawiya! Leave what you are upon and do not dispute the command against its rightful one’.
فَحَمِدَ مُعَاوِيَةُ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا عَرَفْتُ بِهِ سَفَهَكَ وَ خِفَّةَ حِلْمِكَ قَطْعُكَ عَلَى هَذَا الْحَسِيبِ الشَّرِيفِ سَيِّدِ قَوْمِهِ مَنْطِقَهُ ثُمَّ عَنَّفْتَ بَعْدُ فِيمَا لَا عِلْمَ لَكَ بِهِ وَ لَقَدْ كَذَبْتَ وَ لَوَّمْتَ
Muawiya praised Allah-azwj and Extolled upon Him-azwj and said, ‘As for after, surely the first of what you are known with is your foolishness and lightness of your forbearance. A chief of his people of noble descent has cut you to be upon this his-asws area, then afterwards you rebuked regarding what there is no knowledge for you with it, and you have lied and blamed.
أَيُّهَا الْأَعْرَابِيُّ الْجِلْفُ الْجَافِي فِي كُلِّ مَا وَصَفْتَ انْصَرِفُوا مِنْ عِنْدِي فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكُمْ إِلَّا السَّيْفُ وَ غَضِبَ فَخَرَجَ الْقَوْمُ وَ شَبَثٌ يَقُولُ أَ عَلَيْنَا تُهَوِّلُ بِالسَّيْفِ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَنُعَجِّلَنَّهُ إِلَيْكَ
O you Bedouin, the villain, the rude in all what you described, leave from my presence, for there wouldn’t be anything between me and you all except the sword’, and he was angry. The group went out and Shabas was saying, ‘Is it upon us to dramatize with the sword? But, by Allah-azwj! We shall hasten it to you’’.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ خَرَجَ قُرَّاءُ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَ قُرَّاءُ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَعَسْكَرُوا فِي نَاحِيَةِ صِفِّينَ فِي ثَلَاثِينَ أَلْفاً قَالَ وَ عَسْكَرُ عَلِيٍّ ع عَلَى الْمَاءِ وَ عَسْكَرُ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَوْقَهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ أَيْضاً وَ مَشَتِ الْقُرَّاءُ بَيْنَ عَلِيٍّ ع وَ مُعَاوِيَةَ مِنْهُمْ عُبَيْدَةُ السَّلْمَانِيُّ وَ عَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ النَّخَعِيُّ وَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُتْبَةَ وَ عَمَّارُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْقَيْسِ
Nasr (the narrator) said, ‘And readers of the people of Al-Iraq and readers of the people of Syria came out and they encamped in an area of Siffeen among thirty thousand, and the soldiers of Ali-asws were at the water and soldiers of Muawiya had paused at the water as well, and the readers walked in front of Ali-asws and Muawiya – from them were Ubeyda Al-Salmany, and Alqama Bin Qays Al-Nakhaie, and Abdullah Bin Utba, and Ammar Bin Abdul Qays.
فَدَخَلُوا عَلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ فَقَالُوا يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ مَا الَّذِي تَطْلُبُ قَالَ أَطْلُبُ بِدَمِ عُثْمَانَ قَالُوا مِمَّنْ تَطْلُبُ بِدَمِ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ أَطْلُبُهُ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالُوا أَ وَ عَلِيٌّ قَتَلَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ هُوَ قَتَلَهُ وَ آوَى قَتَلَتَهُ
They entered unto Muawiya and said, ‘O Muawiya! What is that which you are seeking?’ He said, ‘I seek the blood of Usman’. They said, ‘From who are you seeking the blood of Usman?’ He said, ‘I seek it from Ali-asws’. They said, ‘Or did Ali-asws kill him?’ He said, ‘Yes, he-asws is his killer, and has sheltered his killer’.
فَانْصَرَفُوا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ فَدَخَلُوا عَلَى عَلِيٍّ ع وَ قَالُوا إِنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ زَعَمَ أَنَّكَ قَتَلْتَ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَذَبَ عَلَيَّ لَمْ أَقْتُلْهُ
They left from his presence and entered unto Ali-asws and said, ‘Muawiya claims that you-asws killed Usman’. He-asws said: ‘O Allah-azwj! He is lying upon me-asws! I-asws did not kill him’.
فَرَجَعُوا إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ فَقَالَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ قَتَلَهُ بِيَدِهِ فَقَدْ أَمَرَ وَ مَالَأَ
They returned to Muawiya and informed him. He said, ‘If he-asws did not happen to have killed him by his-asws hands, so he-asws had instructed and dictated (it)’.
فَرَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِ ع وَ قَالُوا يَزْعُمُ أَنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ قَتَلْتَ بِيَدِكَ فَقَدْ أَمَرْتَ وَ مَالَأْتَ عَلَى قَتْلِ عُثْمَانَ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَذَبَ فِيمَا قَالَ
They returned to him-asws and said, ‘He claims you-asws, if you-asws did not happen to have killed him by your-asws hands, so you-asws had instructed and dictated upon the killing of Usman’. He-asws said: ‘O Allah-azwj! He is lying in what he says’.
فَرَجَعُوا إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ فَقَالُوا إِنَّ عَلِيّاً يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِنْ كَانَ صَادِقاً فَلْيُقِدْنَا مِنْ قَتَلَةِ عُثْمَانَ فَإِنَّهُمْ فِي عَسْكَرِهِ وَ جُنْدِهِ وَ أَصْحَابُهُ وَ عَضُدُهُ
They returned to Muawiya and said, ‘Ali-asws claims that he-asws did not do it’. Muawiya said, ‘If he-asws was truthful, then let him-asws guide us to the ones who killed Usman, for they are among his soldiers, and his-asws army, and his-asws companions, and his-asws supporters’.
فَرَجَعُوا إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع فَقَالُوا إِنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ يَقُولُ لَكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ صَادِقاً فَادْفَعْ إِلَيْنَا قَتَلَةَ عُثْمَانَ أَوْ مَكِّنَّا مِنْهُمْ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ تَأَوَّلُوا عَلَيْهِ الْقُرْآنَ وَ وَقَعَتِ الْفُرْقَةُ وَ قَتَلُوهُ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَى ضَرْبِهِمْ قَوَدٌ
They returned to Ali-asws and said, ‘Muawiya is saying to you-asws, ‘If you-asws were truthful, then hand over to us the killers of Usman, or enable us from them’’. He-asws said to them: ‘The group had interpreted the Quran upon him, and the sectarianism occurred, and they killed him in his authority, and there isn’t any retaliation upon their strikes’.
فَخَصَمَ عَلِيٌّ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِنْ كَانَ الْأَمْرُ كَمَا تَزْعُمُونَ فَلِمَ ابْتَزَّ الْأَمْرَ دُونَنَا عَلَى غَيْرِ مَشُورَةٍ مِنَّا وَ لَا مِمَّنْ هَاهُنَا مَعَنَا
Muawiya disputed with Ali-asws. Muawiya said to them, ‘If the matter happened just as you are claiming, then why was the command cut off from us without there being any consultation from us, nor from the ones who are here with us’.
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ تَبَعُ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَ الْأَنْصَارِ وَ هُمْ شُهُودٌ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ فِي الْبِلَادِ عَلَى وُلَاتِهِمْ وَ أُمَرَاءِ دِينِهِمْ فَرَضُوا بِي وَ بَايَعُونِي وَ لَسْتُ أَسْتَحِلُّ أَنْ أَدَعَ ضَرْبَ مُعَاوِيَةَ يَحْكُمُ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ وَ يَرْكَبُهُمْ وَ يَشُقُّ عَصَاهُمْ
Ali-asws said: ‘The people followed the Emigrants and the Helpers, and they are witnesses of the Muslims in the country to their rulers, and are commanders of their religion. They were pleased with me-asws and pledged allegiance to me-asws, and it isn’t possible that I-asws should leave Muawiya striking judgments upon this community and riding (upon) them, and splitting their stick’.
فَرَجَعُوا إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ كَمَا يَقُولُ فَمَا بَالُ مَنْ هَاهُنَا مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَ الْأَنْصَارِ لَمْ يَدْخُلُوا فِي هَذَا الْأَمْرِ
They returned to Muawiya and informed him with that. He said, ‘It isn’t as they are saying. What is the matter with the ones over here, from the Emigrants and the Helpers, they were not included in this matter?’
فَانْصَرَفُوا إِلَيْهِ ع فَأَخْبَرُوهُ بِقَوْلِهِ: فَقَالَ: وَيْحَكُمْ هَذَا لِلْبَدْرِيِّينَ دُونَ الصَّحَابَةِ وَ لَيْسَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بَدْرِيٌّ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ بَايَعَنِي وَ هُوَ مَعِي أَوْ قَدْ أَقَامَ وَ رَضِيَ فَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُمْ مُعَاوِيَةُ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَ دِينِكُمْ
They left to go to him-asws and informed him-asws with his words. He-asws said: ‘Woe be unto you all! These are the participants besides the companions, and there isn’t any participant of Badr except he had pledged allegiance to me-asws and he is with me-asws, or is standing and is pleased, so do not let Muawiya deceive you all from yourselves and your religion’’.
قال نصر: فتراسلوا بذلك ثلاثة أشهر ربيع الآخر و جماديين و هم مع ذلك يفزعون الفزعة فيما بينها و يزحف بعضهم إلى بعض و يحجز القراء بينهم
Nasr (the narrator) said, ‘They corresponded with that for three months – Rabbi Al-Akhar and the two Jumadis (Awwal and Akhar), and they were panicking with that alarm in what was between these, and were marching to each other, and the readers were confined between them’.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ خَرَجَ أَبُو أُمَامَةَ الْبَاهِلِيُّ وَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ فَدَخَلَا عَلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ فَقَالا يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ عَلَامَ تُقَاتِلُ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ فَوَ اللَّهِ لَهُوَ أَقْدَمُ مِنْكَ سِلْماً وَ أَحَقُّ مِنْكَ بِهَذَا الْأَمْرِ وَ أَقْرَبُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَعَلَامَ تُقَاتِلُهُ
Nasr (the narrator) said, ‘And Abu Amama Al-Nahily, and Abu Al-Darda’a came out and entered to see Muawiya. They said, ‘O Muawiya! Upon what are you fighting this man (Ali-asws)? By Allah-azwj! He-asws is ahead of you in being a Muslim, and more rightful than you with this command, and closer from Rasool-Allah-saww, so upon what are you fighting him-asws?’
قَالَ أُقَاتِلُهُ عَلَى دَمِ عُثْمَانَ فَإِنَّهُ آوَى قَتَلَتَهُ فَقُولُوا لَهُ فَلْيُقِدْنَا مِنْ قَتَلَتِهِ وَ أَنَا أَوَّلُ مَنْ بَايَعَهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ
He said, ‘I am fighting him-asws upon the blood of Usman, for he-asws is sheltering his killers. Tell him-asws to guide us to the ones who killed him, and I would be the first one from the people of Syria to pledge allegiance to him-asws’.
فَانْطَلَقُوا إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع فَأَخْبَرُوهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا يَطْلُبُ الَّذِينَ تَرَوْنَ فَخَرَجَ عِشْرُونَ أَلْفاً وَ أَكْثَرُ مُتَسَرْبِلِينَ فِي الْحَدِيدِ لَا يُرَى مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا الْحَدَقُ فَقَالُوا كُلُّنَا قَتَلَهُ فَإِنْ شَاءُوا فَلْيَرُومُوا ذَلِكَ مِنَّا
They went to Ali-asws and informed him-asws. He-asws said: ‘But rather he is seeking the ones you see’. Twenty thousand and more came out, clad in iron, nothing could be seen from them except for the eyes, and they said, ‘We all killed him, so if they desire, let them blame that on us’.
فَرَجَعَ أَبُو أُمَامَةَ وَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ فَلَمْ يَشْهَدَا شَيْئاً مِنَ الْقِتَالِ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ فِي رَجَبٍ وَ خَشِيَ مُعَاوِيَةُ أَنْ يُبَايِعَ الْقُرَّاءُ عَلِيّاً ع جَدَّ فِي الْمَكْرِ وَ كَتَبَ فِي سَهْمٍ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ النَّاصِحِ أَنِّي أُخْبِرُكُمْ أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَفْجُرَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْفُرَاتَ فَيُغْرِقَكُم فَخُذُوا حِذْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ رَمَى السَّهْمَ فِي عَسْكَرِ عَلِيٍّ ع
Abu Amama and Abu Al-Darda’a went out and did not witness anything from the fighting until when it was (month of) Rajab, and Muawiya feared that the readers would pledge allegiance to Ali-asws, he strived in the plotting and wrote (in a letter tied to an arrow), ‘From a servant of Allah-azwj, the adviser. I am informing you all that Muawiya intends to burst the Euphrates upon you and drown you all, so take your caution’. Then he shot the arrow among the soldiers of Ali-asws.
فَوَقَعَ السَّهْمُ فِي يَدِ رَجُلٍ فَقَرَأَهُ ثُمَّ أَقْرَأَ صَاحِبَهُ فَلَمَّا قَرَأَهُ مَنْ أَقْبَلَ وَ أَدْبَرَ قَالُوا هَذَا أَخٌ لَنَا نَاصِحٌ كَتَبَ إِلَيْكُمْ يُخْبِرُكُمْ بِمَا أَرَادَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فَلَمْ يَزَلِ السَّهْمُ يُقْرَأُ وَ يُرْتَفَعُ حَتَّى رُفِعَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع
The arrow fell into the hands of a man, and he read it, then his companion read it. When the ones in front and back had read it, they said, ‘This one is an adviser to us, writing to you all informing you with what Muawiya intends’. The arrow did not cease to be read and raised until it was raised to Ali-asws.
وَ بَعَثَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فَأَتَى رِجَالٌ مِنَ الْعَمَلَةِ إِلَى عَاقُولٍ مِنَ النَّهَرِ بِأَيْدِيهِمُ الْمُرُورُ وَ الزُّبُلُ يَحْفِرُونَ فِيهَا بِحِيَالِ عَسْكَرِ عَلِيٍّ ع فَقَالَ ع وَيْحَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِي يُعَالِجُ مُعَاوِيَةُ لَا يَسْتَقِيمُ لَهُ وَ لَا يَقْوَى عَلَيْهِ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُزِيلَكُمْ عَنِ مَكَانِكُمْ فَانْتَهُوا عَنِ ذَلِكَ وَ دَعُوهُ
And Muawiya sent a detachment and the men from the workers came to a point of the river having the spades and the pick-axes in their hands digging therein by the horses of soldiers of Ali-asws. He-asws said: ‘Woe be unto you! That which Muawiya is trying to do will not be straight for him, nor has he the strength upon it. But rather, he is intending to remove you from your positions, so end from that and leave him’.
فَقَالُوا لَهُ هُمْ وَ اللَّهِ يَحْفِرُونَ وَ اللَّهِ لَنَرْتَحِلَنَّ وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَقِمْ فَارْتَحَلُوا وَ صَعِدُوا بِعَسْكَرِهِمْ مَلِيّاً وَ ارْتَحَلَ عَلِيٌّ ع فِي أُخْرَيَاتِ النَّاسِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ
| فَلَوْ أَنِّي أُطِعْتُ عَصَبْتُ قُومِي | إِلَى رُكْنِ الْيَمَامَةِ أَوْ شَمَامٍ- | |
| وَ لَكِنِّي مَتَى أَبْرَمْتُ أَمْراً | مُنِيتُ بِخُلْفِ آرَاءِ الطَّغَامِ |
They said to him-asws, ‘By Allah-azwj, they are digging! By Allah-azwj, we should be departing, and if you-asws so desire, you-asws stay’. They departed and ascended with their soldiers for a whole, and Ali-asws departed among the last of the people and he-asws was saying: ‘If I-asws were to obey a gang of my-asws people to a corner of Al-Yamama or Syria, but I-asws would be killed if I-asws were to conclude a matter opposite to the views of the mob’.
قَالَ فَارْتَحَلَ مُعَاوِيَةُ حَتَّى نَزَلَ بِمُعَسْكَرِ عَلِيٍّ ع الَّذِي كَانَ فِيهِ:
He (the narrator) said, ‘Muawiya departed until he descended at the army camp of Ali-asws in which he-asws was in.
فَدَعَا عَلِيٌّ ع الْأَشْتَرَ فَقَالَ: أَ لَمْ تَغْلِبْنِي عَلَى رَأْيِي أَنْتَ وَ الْأَشْعَثُ بِرَأْيِكُمَا فَقَالَ الْأَشْعَثُ أَنَا أَكْفِيكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَأُدَاوِي مَا أَفْسَدْتُ الْيَوْمَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَجَمَعَ كِنْدَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ يَا مَعْشَرَ كِنْدَةَ لَا تَفْضَحُونِي الْيَوْمَ وَ لَا تُخْزُونِي فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا أُقَارِعُ بِكُمْ أَهْلَ الشَّامِ
Ali-asws called Al-Ashtar and said, ‘Didn’t you and Al-Ash’as overcome me-asws upon my-asws view with both your view?’ Al-Ash’as said, ‘I shall suffice you-asws, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws. I will be curing what I have spoilt today from that’. He gathered (clan of) Kinda and said to them, ‘O community of Kinda! Neither shame me today nor disgrace me, for rather I shall be facing the people of Syria with you today’.
فَخَرَجُوا مَعَهُ رَجَّالَةٌ يَمْشُونَ وَ بِيَدِهِ رُمْحٌ لَهُ يُلْقِيهِ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ وَ يَقُولُ امْشُوا قِيسَ رُمْحِي هَذَا فَيَمْشُونَ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَقِيسُ لَهُمُ الْأَرْضَ بِرُمْحِهِ وَ يَمْشُونَ مَعَهُ حَتَّى أَتَى مُعَاوِيَةَ وَسَطَ بَنِي سُلَيْمٍ وَاقِفاً عَلَى الْمَاءِ وَ قَدْ جَاءَهُ أَدَانِي عَسْكَرِهِ فَاقْتَتَلُوا قِتَالًا شَدِيداً عَلَى الْمَاءِ سَاعَةً
An infantry came out with him walking, and in his hand was a spear of his, casting it into the ground and saying, ‘Walk a measurement of this spear of mine’. They walked. He did not cease to measure out the ground for them with his spear and they were walking with him, until he came to Muawiya, in the midst of the clan of Suleym paused at the water, and the near ones of his soldiers came to him. They fought a severe battle upon the water for a time.
وَ انْتَهَى أَوَائِلَ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ فَنَزَلُوا وَ أَقْبَلَ الْأَشْتَرُ فِي جُنْدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ فَحَمَلَ عَلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ الْأَشْعَثُ يُحَارِبُ فِي نَاحِيَةٍ أُخْرَى فَانْحَازَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فِي بَنِي سُلَيْمٍ فَرَدُّوا وُجُوهَ إِبِلِهِ قَدْرَ ثَلَاثَةِ فَرَاسِخَ ثُمَّ نَزَلَ وَ وَضَعَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ أَثْقَالَهُمْ وَ الْأَشْعَثُ يَهْدِرُ وَ يَقُولُ أَرْضَيْتُكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ قَالَ الْأَشْتَرُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَدْ غَلَبَ اللَّهُ لَكَ عَلَى الْمَاءِ
And the early ones of the people of Al-Iraq came and descended, and Al Ashtar came among an army from the people of Al-Iraq and attacked upon Muawiya, and Al-Ash’as was battling in another area. Muawiya aligned among the clan of Suleym and they returned the faces of his camels for a measurement of three Farsakhs. Then he descended and the people of Syria placed down their loads, and Al-Ash’as came down and he was saying, ‘Have I pleased you-asws, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws?’ And Al-Ashtar said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Allah-azwj has Overcome upon the water for you-asws’’.
قال نصر: و كان كل واحد من علي و معاوية يخرج الرجل الشريف في جماعة و يقاتل مثله و كانوا يكرهون أن يزاحفوا بجميع الفيلق مخافة الاستيصال و الهلاك فاقتتل الناس ذا الحجة كله فلما انقضى تداعوا إلى أن يكف بعضهم عن بعض إلى أن ينقضي المحرم لعل الله أن يجري صلحا أو اجتماعا فكف الناس في المحرم بعضهم عن بعض-
Nasr (the narrator) said, ‘And each one from Ali-asws and Muawiya, the noble man came out among a group and fought his like, and they were disliking to march with the entire legion fearing the overcoming and the destruction. So, the people fought (month of) Zul Hijja, all of it. When it expired, they called out that they should refrain from each other until Al-Muharram (a sacred month) passed by, perhaps Allah-azwj would Flow the reconciliation or unity. The people refrained from each other during Al-Muharram’’.[1]
قال نصر حدثنا عمر بن سعد عن أبي المجاهد عن المحل بن خليفة قال لما توادعوا في المحرم اختلف الرسل فيما بين الرجلين رجاء الصلح فأرسل علي ع إلى معاوية عدي بن حاتم و شبث بن ربعي و يزيد بن قيس و زياد بن خصفة فلما دخلوا عليه حمد الله تعالى عدي بن حاتم و أثنى عليه و قال أما بعد فقد أتيناك لندعوك إلى أمر يجمع الله به كلمتنا و أمتنا و يحقن دماء المسلمين
Nasr said, ‘It is narrated to us by Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Abu Al Mujahid, from Al Mahal Bin Haleefa who said,
‘When they had bid farewell to (month of) Al-Muharram, the messages were interchanged between the two men wishing for the reconciliation. Ali-asws sent Uday Bin Hatim and Shabas Bin Rabie and Yazeed Bin Qays and Ziyad Bin Khasfa to Muawiya. When they entered unto him, Uday Bin Hatim praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj and said, ‘As for after, we have come to you to call you to a matter Allah-azwj would Unite our words with it and Secure us and Save the blood of the Muslims.
ندعوك إلى أفضل الناس سابقة و أحسنهم في الإسلام آثارا و قد اجتمع له الناس و قد أرشدهم الله بالذي رأوا و أتوا فلم يبق أحد غيرك و غير من معك فانته يا معاوية من قبل أن يصيبك الله و أصحابك بمثل يوم الجمل
We call you to the most superior of the people in precedence, and of the best impact in Al-Islam, and the people have united to him-asws, and Allah-azwj has Guided them with that which they have seen and received. So, there does not remain anyone apart from you and the ones with you. So, end it O Muawiya, before Allah-azwj Afflicts you and your companions with the like of the day of the camel’.
فقال له معاوية كأنك إنما جئت متهددا و لم تأت مصلحا هيهات يا عدي إني لابن حرب ما يقعقع لي بالشنان أما و الله إنك من المجلبين على عثمان و إنك لمن قتلته و إني لأرجو أن تكون ممن يقتله الله
Muawiya said to him, ‘It is as if you have rather come to threaten and did not come for reconciliation. Far be it, O Uday! I am a son of Harb, there will not be hastening for me with the movement. But, by Allah-azwj, you are from the fetchers against Usman, and you are from the ones who killed him, and I wish that you be from the ones whom Allah-azwj Kills’.
فقال له شبث بن ربعي و زياد بن خصفة و تنازعا كلاما واحدا أتيناك فيما يصلحنا و إياك فأقبلت تضرب لنا الأمثال دع ما لا ينفع من القول و الفعل و أجبنا فيما يعمنا و إياك نفعه
Shabas Bin Rabie and Ziyad Bin Khasfa said to him, and they contended with one speech, ‘We have come to you regarding what would reconcile us and you, but you have turned to strike the examples for us. Leave what does not benefit from the words and the deeds, and answer us regarding what is meaningful to us and you in benefit’.
و تكلم يزيد بن قيس فقال إنا لم نأتك إلا لنبلغك الذي بعثنا به إليك و لنؤدي عنك ما سمعنا منك و لم ندع أن ننصح لك و أن نذكر ما ظننا أن فيه عليك حجة أو أنه راجع بك إلى الأمة و الجماعة إن صاحبنا من قد عرفت و عرف المسلمون فضله و لا أظنه يخفى عليك
And Yazeed Bin Qays spoke. He said, ‘We did not come to you except to deliver that which we have been sent with to you, and for us to deliver from you what we hear from you, and we will not leave advising to you, and we shall mentioned what we think there is an argument upon you in it, or that it would return you to the community and the unity. Our Master-asws is someone you know, and the Muslims recognise his-asws merits, and I do not think it is hidden from you.
إن أهل الدين و الفضل لا يعدلونك بعلي و لا يساوون بينك و بينه فاتق الله يا معاوية و لا تخالف عليا فإنا و الله ما رأينا رجلا قط أعلم بالتقوى و لا أزهد في الدنيا و لا أجمع لخصال الخير كلها منه
The people of religion and the merits cannot equate you with Ali-asws, nor is there any comparison between you and him-asws, so fear Allah-azwj, O Muawiya, and do not oppose Ali-asws, for by Allah-azwj, we have not seen any man more learned with the piety nor more abstemious in the world, nor with a collection of all the good characteristics, than him-asws’.
فحمد معاوية الله و أثنى عليه و قال أما بعد فإنكم دعوتم إلى الجماعة و الطاعة فأما التي دعوتهم إليها فنعما هي و أما الطاعة لصاحبكم فإنه لا نرضى به إن صاحبكم قتل خليفتنا و فرق جماعتنا و آوى ثارنا و قتلتنا و صاحبكم يزعم أنه لم يقتله فنحن لا نرد ذلك عليه أ رأيتم قتلة صاحبنا أ لستم تعلمون أنهم أصحاب صاحبكم فليدفعهم إلينا فلنقتلنهم به و نحن نجيبكم إلى الطاعة و الجماعة
Muawiya praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj and said, ‘As for after, you are calling to the unity and the obedience. As for that which you are calling to, so it is good, and as for the obedience to your Master-asws, surely, we cannot agree with it. Your Master-asws has killed our caliph and divided our community, and sheltered ones we can avenge from, and our killers, and your Master-asws is claiming that he-asws did not kill him. We shall not refer that upon him-asws. What is your view of the killers of our companion (Usman)? Don’t you know they are companions of your Master-asws? Let him-asws hand the mover to us so we can kill them for it, and we shall answer to the obedience and the unity’.
فقال له شبث أ يسرك يا معاوية إن أمكنت من عمار بن ياسر فقتلته قال و ما يمنعني من ذلك و الله لو أمكنني صاحبكم من ابن سمية ما أقتله بعثمان و لكن كنت أقتله بنائل مولى عثمان
Shabas said to him, ‘Would it make you happy, O Muawiya, if you were to be enabled from Ammar Bin Yasser and kill him?’ He said, ‘And what would prevent me from that? By Allah-azwj! If your Master-asws were to enable me from Ibn Sumayya (Ammar), I would not kill him for Usman, but I would kill him for Na’il a slave of Usman’.
فقال شبث و إله السماء ما عدلت معدلا و لا و الذي لا إله إلا هو لا تصل إلى قتل ابن ياسر حتى تندر الهام عن كواهل الرجال و تضيق الأرض الفضاء عليك برحبها فقال معاوية إذا كان ذلك كانت عليك أضيق
Shabas said, ‘And God-azwj of the sky would not Straighten a converted. And no, by the One-azwj Who, there is no god except He-azwj! You will not (be able to) arrive to kill Ibn Yasser until the worries falls off from the middle-aged men (a metaphor) and the earth straitens the atmosphere upon you with its vastness’. Muawiya said, ‘When that happens, it would be narrower upon you’.
ثم رجع القوم عن معاوية فبعث إلى زياد بن خصفة من بينهم فأدخل عليه فحمد معاوية الله و أثنى عليه ثم قال أما بعد يا أخا ربيعة فإن عليا قطع أرحامنا و قتل إمامنا و آوى قتلة صاحبنا و إني أسألك النصرة عليه بأسرتك و عشيرتك و لك على عهد الله و ميثاقه إذا ظهرت أن أوليك أي المصرين أحببت
Then the group returned from Muawiya. Then he Ziyad Bin Khasfa from between them. He entered to see him. Muawiya praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, then said, ‘As for after, O brother of Rabie! Ali-asws has cut off our relationships, and killed our leader, and has sheltered the killers of our companion (Usman), and I am asking you for the help against him-asws with your family and your clan, for you upon me is a Pact of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Covenant, when I prevail, I shall make you in-charge of whichever two cities you like’.
قال زياد فلما قضى معاوية كلامه حمدت الله و أثنيت عليه ثم قلت أما بعد فإني لعلى بينة من ربي و بما أنعم الله علي فَلَنْ أَكُونَ ظَهِيراً لِلْمُجْرِمِينَ ثم قمت
Ziyad said, ‘When Muawiya had finished his speech, I praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, then said, ‘As for after, I am upon a proof from my Lord-azwj and with what Allah-azwj has Favoured upon me, so I will never be a backer for the criminals’ [28:17]’. Then I stood up.
فقال معاوية لعمرو بن العاص و كان إلى جانبه ما لهم عضبهم الله ما قلبهم إلا قلب رجل واحد
Muawiya said to Amro Bin Al-Aas, and he was to his side, ‘What is the matter with them? Allah-azwj has not Made their hearts to be keen to except the heart of one man!’’
قال نصر و بعث معاوية حبيب بن مسلمة الفهري إلى علي ع و بعث معه شرحبيل بن السمط و معن بن يزيد فدخلوا عليه ع فتكلم حبيب و حمد الله و أثنى عليه و قال أما بعد فإن عثمان بن عفان كان خليفة مهديا يعمل بكتاب الله و ينيب إلى أمر الله فاستثقلتم حياته و استبطأتم وفاته فعدوتم عليه فقتلتموه
Nasr said, ‘And Muawiya sent Habeeb Bin Maslama Al-Fihry to Ali-asws, and sent Shirjeel Bin Al-Simt and Ma’an Bin Yazeed with him. They entered to see him-asws. Habeeb spoke and praise Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, and said, ‘As for after, Usman Bin Affan was a guided caliph working in accordance to the Book of Allah-azwj and penitent to the Commands of Allah-azwj, but you-asws made his life heavy and gave him a slow death, and were inimical upon him, and you-asws killed him.
فادفع إلينا قتلة عثمان لنقتلهم به فإن قلت إنك لم تقتله فاعتزل أمر الناس فيكون أَمْرُهُمْ شُورى بَيْنَهُمْ يولي الناس أمرهم من أجمع عليه رأيهم
Hand over the killers of Usman to us so we can kill them due to it. If you-asws are saying you-asws did not kill him, then isolate yourself-asws from the affairs of the people so their affairs would be a consultation between them. The people can place in-charge someone their views are united upon’.
فقال له علي ع: و من أنت لا أم لك و الولاية و العزل و الدخول في هذا الأمر اسكت فإنك لست هناك و لا بأهل لذاك
Ali-asws said to him: ‘May there be no mother for you! And who are you, and the governance and the removal and the entering into this command? Be quiet, for you are neither over there, nor rightful of that’.
فقام حبيب بن مسلمة و قال و الله لتريني حيث تكره
Habeeb Bin Maslama stood up and said, ‘By Allah-azwj! You-asws will see me where you will dislike it’.
فقال له علي ع و ما أنت و لو أجلبت بخيلك و رجلك اذهب فصوب و صعد ما بدا لك فلا أبقى الله عليك إن أبقيت
Ali-asws said to him: ‘And what are you? If only you had brought your cavalry and your infantry. Go! Descend and ascend, whatever comes to you. May Allah-azwj not let you remain if I-asws were to remain’.
فقال شرحبيل بن السمط إن كلمتك فلعمري ما كلامي لك إلا نحو كلام صاحبي فهل عندك جواب غير الذي أجبته قال نعم قال فقله
Shirjeel Bin Al-Simt said, ‘By my life! If I speak to you, my speech to you-asws would not be except approximate to the talk of my companions. So, is there any answer with you-asws apart from that which you-asws have answered?’ He-asws said: ‘Yes’. He said, ‘Say it!’
فحمد الله علي ع و أثنى عليه ثم قال أما بعد فإن الله سبحانه بعث محمدا ص فأنقذ به من الضلالة و نعش به من الهلكة و جمع به بعد الفرقة ثم قبضه الله إليه و قد أدى ما عليه
Ali-asws praise Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, then said: ‘As for after, surely Allah-azwj the Glorious Sent Muhammad-saww to Save through him-asws from the straying, and we can be revived through him-saww from the devastation, and unite through him-saww after the sectarianism. Then Allah-azwj Caused him-saww to pass away, and he-saww had fulfilled whatever was upon him-saww.
فاستخلف الناس أبا بكر ثم استخلف أبو بكر عمر فأحسنا السيرة و عدلا في الأمة و قد وجدنا عليهما أن توليا الأمر دوننا و نحن آل الرسول و أحق بالأمر فغفرنا ذلك لهما
The people made Abu Bakr the caliph, then Abu Bakr made Umar the caliph, and they were both of good mode and just among the community, and we have found upon them both that they had taken charge of the command besides us-asws and although we-asws are family-asws of the Rasool-saww, and more rightful with the command. We forgave them both of that.
ثم ولي أمر الناس عثمان فعمل بأشياء عابها الناس عليه فسار إليه ناس فقتلوه ثم أتاني الناس و أنا معتزل أمرهم فقالوا لي بايع فأبيت عليهم فقالوا لي بايع فإن الأمة لن ترضى إلا بك و إنا نخاف إن لم تفعل أن يفترق الناس فبايعتهم
Then Usman was in-charge of the command, and he worked with things the people faulted upon him. The people went to him and killed him. Then the people came to me-asws, and I-asws had isolated away from their affairs. They said to me-asws, ‘Take our pledges of allegiance!’ I refused to them. They said to me-asws, ‘Take the pledges for the community will never be pleased except with you-asws, and we fear that if you-asws do not do it, the people would separate’. So, I-asws took their allegiances.
فلم يرعني إلا شقاق رجلين قد بايعاني و خلاف معاوية إياي الذي لم يجعل الله له سابقة في الدين و لا سلف صدق في الإسلام طليق ابن طليق و حزب من الأحزاب لم يزل لله و لرسوله عدوا هو و أبوه حتى دخلا في الإسلام كارهين مكرهين
But nothing concerned me-asws except the wretchedness of two men (Talha and Al-Zubeyr) and opposition of Muawiya to me-asws which Allah-azwj had not Made any precedence for him in the religion, nor any honest predecessor in Al-Islam, being a freed one (at the conquest of Makkah) son of a freed one, and having fled from the confederates. He did not cease to be an enemy to Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww, he and his father, until they both entered into Al-Islam unwillingly, compelled.
فيا عجبا لكم و لانقيادكم له و تدعون آل نبيكم الذي لا ينبغي لكم شقاقهم و لا خلافهم و لا أن تعدلوا بهم أحدا من الناس إني أدعوكم إلى كتاب الله عز و جل و سنة نبيكم ص و إماتة الباطل و إحياء معالم الدين أقول قولي هذا و أستغفر الله لنا و لكل مؤمن و مؤمنة و مسلم و مسلمة
O (you) how strange of your all, and your succumbing to him and calling the family-asws of your Prophet-saww which is not befitting for you being wretched to them-asws, nor opposing them-asws, nor that you should be equating anyone from the people with them-asws. I-asws invite you all to the Book of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic and Sunnah of your Prophet-saww, and (be against) the false imamate, and revive the teaching of the religion. I-asws am saying these words of mine-asws, and I-asws seek Forgiveness for us and for you all, Momin and Momina, and Muslim and Muslimah’.
فقال له شرحبيل و معن بن يزيد أ تشهد أن عثمان قتل مظلوما فقال لهما إني لا أقول ذلك قالا فمن لا يشهد أن عثمان قتل مظلوما فنحن برآء منه ثم قاما فانصرفا
Shirjeel and Ma’an Bin Yazeed said to him-asws, ‘Are you-asws testifying that Usman was killed as oppressed?’ He-asws said to them: ‘I-asws am not saying that’. They said, ‘So, the one who does not testify that Usman was killed as oppressed, we are disavowed from him’. Then then stood up and left.
فقال علي ع إِنَّكَ لا تُسْمِعُ الْمَوْتى وَ لا تُسْمِعُ الصُّمَّ الدُّعاءَ إِذا وَلَّوْا مُدْبِرِينَ وَ ما أَنْتَ بِهادِي الْعُمْيِ عَنْ ضَلالَتِهِمْ إِنْ تُسْمِعُ إِلَّا مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِآياتِنا فَهُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
Ali-asws said: ‘You can neither make the dead to hear, nor can you make the deaf to hear the call when they turn back retreating [27:80] Nor can you guide the blind out of their straying. Surely, you can only make hear the one who believes in Our Signs and they are submitters [27:81]’.
ثم أقبل على أصحابه فقال لا يكن هؤلاء في ضلالتهم بأولى بالجد منكم في حقكم و طاعة إمامكم
Then Ali-asws faced towards his-asws companions and said: ‘They, in their straying, cannot be foremost with the struggle than you all regarding your rights and obedience to your Imam-asws’.
ثم مكث الناس متوادعين إلى انسلاخ المحرم فلما انسلخ شهر المحرم و استقبل الناس صفر من سنة سبع و ثلاثين من هجرة النبي بعث علي ع نفرا من أصحابه حتى إذا كانوا من عسكر معاوية حيث يسمعونهم الصوت قام يزيد بن الحارث فنادى عند غروب الشمس يا أهل الشام إن أمير المؤمنين عليا ع و أصحاب رسول الله ص يقولون لكم إنا و الله لم نكف عنكم شكا في أمركم و لا بقيا عليكم و إنما كففنا عنكم لخروج المحرم و قد انسلخ و إنا قد نبذنا إليكم على سواء ف إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُحِبُّ الْخائِنِينَ
Then the people remained ready to the ending of Al-Muharram. So, when the month of Muharram ended and the people welcomed Safar of the year thirty-six from the emigration of the Prophet-saww, Ali-asws sent a number of his-asws companions until when they were from the soldiers of Muawiya when they could make them listen to the voice, Yazeed Bin Al-Haris stood up and called out at the setting of the sun, ‘O people of Syria! Amir Al-Momineen Ali-asws and companions of Rasool-Allah-saww are saying to you all, ‘By Allah-azwj! We did not refrain from you due to doubt in your affairs, nor to let you live, and rather we refrained from you to the exit of Al-Muharram, and it has ended, and we have renounced to you all upon the equality, surely Allah does not Love the treacherous [8:58]!’
قال فسار الناس إلى رؤسائهم و أمرائهم
He (the narrator) said, ‘The people went to their chiefs and their commanders’’.[2]
395 قال نصر: و أما- رواية عمرو بن شمر عن جابر عن أبي الزبير أن نداء ابن مرثد الخثعمي كانت صورته يا أهل الشام ألا إن أمير المؤمنين ع يقول لكم إني قد استأنيت بكم لتراجعوا الحق و تنيبوا إليه و احتججت عليكم بكتاب الله و دعوتكم إليه فلم تتناهوا عن طغيان و لم تجيبوا إلى حق فإني قد نبذت إليكم عَلى سَواءٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُحِبُّ الْخائِنِينَ
Nasr said, ‘And as for the report of Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir Bin Abu Al Zubeyr,
‘The call of Ibn Marsad Al-Khas’amy was his voice, ‘O people of Syria! Indeed, Amir Al-Momineen-asws is saying to you all: ‘I-asws had respited you all for you to be returning to the truth and be penitent to it, and I-asws argued upon you by the Book of Allah-azwj and called you to it. But you did not end from the tyranny, and did not respond to a right, so I-asws am renouncing to you all upon equality, surely Allah does not Love the treacherous [8:58]!’’
قال فسار الناس إلى رؤسائهم و خرج معاوية و عمرو بن العاص يكتبان الكتائب و يعبئان العساكر و أوقدوا النيران و جاءوا بالشموع و بات علي ع ليلته تلك كلها يعبئ الناس و يكتب الكتائب و يدور في الناس و يحرضهم
He (the narrator) said, ‘The people went to their chiefs, and Muawiya and Amro Bin Al-Aas came out composing the battalions and composing the soldiers, and they ignited the fires and came with the flames; and Ali-asws spent that night of his-asws, all of it organising the people, and composing the battalions, and circling around among the people and mobilising them’.
قال نصر فخرجوا أول يوم من صفر سنة سبع و ثلاثين و هو يوم الأربعاء فاقتتلوا قتالا شديدا جل النهار ثم تراجعوا و قد انتصف بعضهم من بعض
Nasr said, ‘They came out on the first day of Safar of the year thirty-seven, and it was the day of Wednesday. They fought a severe battle most of the day. Then they retreated and they had avenged from each other.
ثم خرج في اليوم الثاني هاشم بن عتبة في خيل و رجال حسن عددها و عدتها فخرج إليه من أهل الشام أبو الأعور السلمي فاقتتلوا يومهم ذلك تحمل الخيل على الخيل و الرجال على الرجال ثم انصرفوا و قد صبر القوم بعضهم لبعض
Then Hashim Bin Utba came out during the second day among a cavalry and an infantry, good was their number and their preparation. Abu Al-Awr Al-Salmy, from the people of Syria, came out to them, and they fought that day of theirs, the cavalry attacking upon the cavalry and the infantry upon the infantry. Then they left and the group had combatted each other.
و خرج في اليوم الثالث عمار بن ياسر و خرج إليه عمرو بن العاص فاقتتل الناس كأشد قتال كان و جعل عمار يقول يا أهل الإسلام أ تريدون أن تنظروا إلى من عادى الله و رسوله و جاهدهما و بغى على المسلمين و ظاهر المشركين
And during the third day, Ammar Bin Yasser came out, and Amro Bin Al-Aas came out to him, and the people fought as severely a battle as could be, and Ammar went on saying, ‘O people of Al-Islam! Do you want to be looking at the one who was an enemy to Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww, and fought them and rebelled against the Muslims, and backed the Polytheists?
فلما أراد الله أن يظهر دينه و ينصر رسوله أتى إلى النبي ص فأسلم و هو و الله فيما يرى راهب غير راغب ثم قبض الله رسوله و إنا و الله لنعرفه بعداوة المسلم و مودة المجرم
When Allah-azwj Wanted His-azwj religion to prevail and Help His-azwj Rasool-saww he came to the Prophet-saww and became a Muslim, and by Allah-azwj, he was in awe regarding what he had seen, without desired. Then Allah-azwj Caused His-azwj Rasool-saww to pass away, and by Allah-azwj I do recognise him by the enmity towards the Muslims and cordiality of the criminals.
ألا و إنه معاوية فقاتلوه و العنوة فإنه ممن يطفي نور الله و يظاهر أعداء الله
Indeed! It is Muawiya. So, fight him and be forceful, for he is from the ones extinguishing the Noor Allah-azwj and backing the enemies of Allah-azwj!’
قال و كان مع عمار زياد بن النضر على الخيل فأمره أن يحمل في الخيل فحمل فصبروا له و شد عمار في الرجالة فأزال عمرو بن العاص عن موقفه و رجع الناس يومهم ذلك.
He (the narrator) said, ‘And with Ammar was Ziyad Bin Al-Nazar upon the cavalry. He instructed him to attack among the cavalry. He attacked, and they combatted to him, and Ammar strengthened among the infantry. Amro Bin Al-Aas was removed from his place and the people retreated that day of theirs’’.[3]
396- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمَسْعُودِيُّ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ الْأَرْقَمِ عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ مِنْ شُيُوخِ بَكْرِ بْنِ وَائِلٍ قَالَ: كُنَّا مَعَ عَلِيٍّ ع بِصِفِّينَ فَرَفَعَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ شِقَّةً خَمِيصَةً سَوْدَاءَ فِي رَأْسِ رُمْحٍ فَقَالَ نَاسٌ هَذَا لِوَاءٌ عَقَدَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فَلَمْ يَزَالُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ حَتَّى وَصَلَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to me by Abu Abdul Rahman Al Masoudy, from Yunus Bin Al Arqam, from the one who narrated it, from elders of Bakr Bin Wail who said,
‘We were with Ali-asws at Siffeen, and Amro Bin Al-Aas raised a strip of black cloth at the top of a spear. The people said, ‘This is a flag Rasool-Allah-saww had tied for him. They did not cease to be narrating until that arrived to Ali-asws.
فَقَالَ أَ تَدْرُونَ مَا هَذَا اللِّوَاءُ إِنَّ عَمْراً أَخْرَجَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص هَذِهِ الشِّقَّةَ فَقَالَ مَنْ يَأْخُذُهَا بِمَا فِيهَا فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو وَ مَا فِيهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ لَا تُقَاتِلْ بِهَا مُسْلِماً وَ لَا تُقَرِّبْهَا مِنْ كَافِرٍ فَأَخَذَهَا فَقَدْ وَ اللَّهِ قَرَّبَهَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَ قَاتَلَ بِهَا الْيَوْمَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
He-asws said: ‘Do you know what this flag is? This is not a flag. Amr, Rasool-Allah-saww had brought out this cloth for him and said: ‘Who will take it with whatever is in it?’ Amro said, ‘And what is in it, O Rasool-Allah-saww?’ He-saww said: ‘You will not fight any Muslim with it, nor draw it closer to any Kafir’. So, he had taken it. By Allah-azwj! He has drawing it closer to the Polytheists, and fought the Muslims by it today.
وَ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ مَا أَسْلَمُوا وَ لَكِنَّهُمُ اسْتَسْلَمُوا وَ أَسَرُّوا الْكُفْرَ فَلَمَّا وَجَدُوا عَلَيْهِ أَعْوَاناً أَظْهَرُوهُ.
By the One-azwj Who Split the seed and Formed the person! They had not become Muslims, but they had submitted, and they kept the Kufr as secret. When they found supporters upon it, they revealed it’’.[4]
قَالَ نَصْرُ بْنُ مُزَاحِمٍ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَرْكَبُ بَغْلَةً لَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَلْتَقِيَ الْفِئَتَانِ بِصِفِّينَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرَتِ الْحَرْبُ وَ بَاتَ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ يُعَبِّئُ الْكَتَائِبَ حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ قَالَ ائْتُونِي بِفَرَسِي فَأُتِيَ بِفَرَسٍ لَهُ أَدْهَمَ يَبْحَثُ الْأَرْضَ بِيَدَيْهِ جَمِيعاً لَهُ حَمْحَمَةٌ وَ صَهِيلٌ فَرَكِبَهُ وَ قَالَ سُبْحانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنا هذا وَ ما كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ.
Nasr Bin Muzahim said, ‘Ali-asws rode a mule of his-asws before the two armies met (in battle) at Siffeen. When the war presented and he-asws spent that night composing the battalions until morning, he-asws said: ‘Bring my-asws horse to me-asws!’ They came with a horse of his-asws, pitch black, scratching the ground with both its forelegs. For it was neighing and whinnying. He-asws rode it and said: ‘Glory be to the One Who Subjugated this one for us, and we were not capable for it [43:13]. And there is neither might nor strength except with Allah-azwj, the Exalted, the Magnificent’’.[5]
397- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ الْجُعْفِيِّ قَالَ: كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع إِذَا سَارَ إِلَى قِتَالٍ ذَكَرَ اسْمَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى حِينَ يَرْكَبُ كَانَ يَقُولُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ عَلَيْنَا وَ فَضْلِهِ الْعَظِيمِ سُبْحانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنا هذا وَ ما كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَ إِنَّا إِلى رَبِّنا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to us by Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir Al Jufy who said,
‘It was such that whenever Ali-asws went to fight, he-asws mentioned a Name of Allah-azwj the Exalted. When he-asws rode, he-asws was saying, ‘The Praise is for Allah-azwj upon His-azwj Favours upon us, and His-azwj Magnificent Grace. ‘Glory be to the One Who Subjugated this one for us, and we were not capable for it [43:13] And we would be returning to our Lord’ [43:14]’.
ثُمَّ يَسْتَقْبِلُ الْقِبْلَةَ وَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ نُقِلَتِ الْأَقْدَامُ وَ أُتْعِبَتِ الْأَبْدَانُ وَ أَفْضَتِ الْقُلُوبُ وَ رُفِعَتِ الْأَيْدِي وَ شَخَصَتِ الْأَبْصَارُ رَبَّنَا افْتَحْ بَيْنَنا وَ بَيْنَ قَوْمِنا بِالْحَقِّ وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْفاتِحِينَ
Then he-asws faced towards the Qiblah and raised his-asws hands towards the sky and said: ‘O Allah-azwj! The feet are returning to You-asws, and the bodies are exhausted, and the hearts are in anticipation, and the hands are raised, and the sights are staring. ‘Our Lord! Decide between us and our people with the Truth, and You are the best of the deciders’’ [7:89].
ثُمَّ يَقُولُ سِيرُوا عَلَى بَرَكَةِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا أَحَدُ يَا صَمَدُ يَا رَبَّ مُحَمَّدٍ اكْفُفْ عَنَّا شَرَّ الظَّالِمِينَ
Then he-asws said: ‘Go upon the Blessings of Allah-azwj!’ Then he-asws said: ‘Allah-azwj is the Greatest! Allah-azwj is the Greatest! There is no god except Allah-azwj, and Allah-azwj is the Greatest! O One! O Samad! O Lord-azwj of Muhammad-saww! Restrain from us the evil of the unjust ones!’
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ مالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَ إِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ وَ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ
The Praise is for Allah the Lord of the Worlds [1:2] The Beneficent, the Merciful [1:3] Master of the Day of Reckoning [1:4] (It is) You we worship and You do we seek Assistance (from) [1:5] In the Name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful [1:1]. And there is neither might nor strength except with Allah-azwj, the Exalted, the Magnificent’.
وَ كَانَتْ هَذِهِ الْكَلِمَاتُ شِعَارَهُ بِصِفِّينَ.
And these phrases were his-asws slogan at Siffeen’’.[6]
398- قَالَ وَ رَوَى سَعْدُ بْنُ طَرِيفٍ عَنِ الْأَصْبَغِ بْنِ نُبَاتَةَ قَالَ: مَا كَانَ عَلِيٌّ فِي قِتَالٍ قَطُّ إِلَّا نَادَى يَا كهيعص.
He said, ‘And it is reported by Sa’ad Bin Tareyf, from Al Asbagh Bin Nubata who said,
‘Ali-asws was not in any battle at all except he-asws called out: Kaf Ha Ya Ayn Suad [19:1]’’.[7]
399- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنَا قَيْسُ بْنُ رَبِيعٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْوَاحِدِ بْنِ حَسَّانَ الْعِجْلِيِّ عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ عَلِيٍ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَهُ يَقُولُ يَوْمَ صِفِّينَ اللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ رُفِعَتِ الْأَبْصَارُ وَ بُسِطَتِ الْأَيْدِي وَ نُقِلَتِ الْأَقْدَامُ وَ دَعَتِ الْأَلْسُنُ وَ أَفْضَتِ الْقُلُوبُ وَ إِلَيْكَ التَّحَاكُمُ فِي الْأَعْمَالِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْحَقِّ وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْحَاكِمِينَ
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to us by Qays Bin Rabie, from Abdul Wahid Bin Hassan Al Ijaly, from the one who narrated it,
‘From Ali-asws, he (the narrator) heard him-asws saying on the day of Siffeen: ‘O Allah-azwj! The sights are raised towards You-azwj, and the hands are spread, and the feet are transporting, and the tongues are supplication, and the hearts are anticipating, and to You-azwj is the Judgment regarding the deeds, so Judge between us with the truth, and You-azwj are best of the judges.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَشْكُو إِلَيْكَ غَيْبَةَ نَبِيِّنَا وَ كَثْرَةَ عَدُوِّنَا وَ قِلَّةَ عَدَدِنَا وَ تَشَتُّتَ أَهْوَائِنَا وَ شِدَّةَ الزَّمَانِ وَ ظُهُورَ الْفِتَنِ فَأَعِنَّا عَلَى ذَلِكَ بِفَتْحٍ تُعَجِّلُهُ وَ نَصْرٍ تُعِزُّ بِهِ سُلْطَانَ الْحَقِّ وَ تُظْهِرُهُ.
O Allah-azwj! We complain to You-azwj of the absence of our Prophet-saww, and the large numbers of our enemies, and scarcity of our numbers, and the scattering of our desires, and difficulties of the times, and appearance of the Fitna. So, Assist us upon that by a victory You-azwj Hasten, and Help You-azwj the authority of the truth is strengthened with, and Prevail it!’’[8]
400- وَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ سَلَّامِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ ع فِي قَوْلِهِ وَ أَلْزَمَهُمْ كَلِمَةَ التَّقْوى قَالَ هِيَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ فِي قَوْلِهِ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ قَالَ هِيَ آيَةُ النَّصْرِ.
And from Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Sallam Bin Suweyd,
‘From Ali-asws regarding His-azwj Words: and Necessitated the Word of piety for them, [48:26]. He-asws said: ‘It (Word of piety) is, ‘There is no god except Allah-azwj’. And regarding his-asws words: ‘Allah-azwj is the Greatest!’, he-asws said: ‘It is the Verse of the Help’’.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ هَذِهِ كَانَتْ شِعَارَهُ يَقُولُهَا فِي الْحَرْبِ ثُمَّ يَحْمِلُ فَيُورِدُ وَ اللَّهِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ وَ مَنْ حَادَّهُ حِيَاضَ الْمَوْتِ.
Nasr (the narrator) said, ‘These used to be his-asws slogans during the war. Then he-asws attacked, so by Allah-azwj, one he-asws pursued and one he-asws struck, was sent to the death’’.[9]
401- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ جُنْدَبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: لَمَّا كَانَ غَدَاةَ الْخَمِيسِ لِسَبْعٍ خَلَوْنَ مِنْ شَهْرِ صَفَرٍ سَنَةَ سَبْعٍ وَ ثَلَاثِينَ صَلَّى عَلِيٌّ ع الْغَدَاةَ فَغَلَّسَ مَا رَأَيْتُ عَلِيّاً غَلَّسَ بِالْغَدَاةِ أَشَدَّ مِنْ تَغْلِيسِهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَ خَرَجَ بِالنَّاسِ إِلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَزَحَفَ نَحْوَهُمْ وَ كَانَ هُوَ يَبْدَؤُهُمْ فَيَسِيرُ إِلَيْهِمْ فَإِذَا رَأَوْهُ قَدْ زَحَفَ اسْتَقْبَلُوهُ بِزُحُوفِهِمْ.
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to us by Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Abdul Rahman Bin Jundab, from his father who said,
‘When it was the morning of Thursday of the seven vacant from the month of Safar of the year thirty-seven, Ali-asws prayed the morning Salat. It was twilight. I had not seen Ali-asws pray as close to the twilight that his-asws praying to it on that day, and he-asws went out with the people towards the people of Syria. He-asws marched towards them and he-asws was initiating them, and travelled to them. When they saw him-asws to have marched, they faced him with their army march’’.[10]
402- وَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ قَالَ: لَمَّا خَرَجَ عَلِيٌّ ع إِلَيْهِمْ غَدَاةَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ فَاسْتَقْبَلُوهُ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذَا السَّقْفِ الْمَحْفُوظِ الْمَكْفُوفِ الَّذِي جَعَلْتَهُ مَغِيضاً لِلَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ وَ جَعَلْتَ فِيهِ مَجْرًى لِلشَّمْسِ وَ الْقَمَرِ وَ مَنَازِلَ الْكَوَاكِبِ وَ النُّجُومِ وَ جَعَلْتَ سُكَّانَهُ سِبْطاً مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ لا يَسْأَمُونَ الْعِبَادَةَ
And from Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Malik Bin Ayn, from Zayd Bin Wahab who said,
‘When Ali-asws went out to them in the early morning of that day, then faced him-asws. He-asws raised his-asws hands towards the sky and said: ‘O Allah-azwj! Lord-azwj of this ceiling (sky), the protected, the withholding which You-azwj have Made it a container (of rain) of the night and the day, and Made in it the flow of the sun and the moon, and positions of the planets and the stars, and Made its dwellers being abundant, from the Angels and they are not getting tired [41:38] of the worship.
And Lord-azwj of this earth which You-saww Made it a dwelling for the cattle, and the insects, and the animals, and what cannot be counted from what is seen and what cannot be seen from His-azwj Magnificent creatures.
وَ رَبَّ الْفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِما يَنْفَعُ النَّاسَ وَ رَبَ السَّحابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّماءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ وَ رَبَ الْبَحْرِ الْمَسْجُورِ وَ الْمُحِيطِ بِالْعَالَمِينَ وَ رَبَّ الْجِبَالِ الرَّوَاسِي الَّتِي جَعَلْتَهَا لِلْأَرْضِ أَوْتَاداً وَ لِلْخَلْقِ مَتَاعاً
And Lord-azwj of the ships which sail in the sea with what benefits the people, and what Allah Sends down from the sky, and Lord-azwj of the clouds subservient between the sky and the earth [2:164], and Lord-azwj of And the swelling sea [52:6], and the Encompassing with the worlds, and Lord-azwj of the high mountain which He-azwj Made as pegs of the earth, and a provision for the people.
إِنْ أَظْهَرْتَنَا عَلَى عَدُوِّنَا فَجَنِّبْنَا الْبَغْيَ وَ سَدِّدْنَا لِلْحَقِّ وَ إِنْ أَظْهَرْتَهُمْ عَلَيْنَا فَارْزُقْنَا الشَّهَادَةَ وَ اعْصِمْ بَقِيَّةَ أَصْحَابِي مِنَ الْفِتْنَةِ قَالَ
If You-azwj were to Cause us to prevail over our enemies, then Save us from the rebels, and Guide us to the truth, and if You-azwj were to Cause them to prevail over us, then Grace us the martyrdom and Protect the remainder of my-asws companions from the Fitna’.
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ تَقَدَّمُوا إِلَيْهِ بِزُحُوفِهِمْ وَ كَانَ عَلَى مَيْمَنَتِهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بُدَيْلٍ وَ النَّاسُ عَلَى رَايَاتِهِمْ وَ مَرَاكِزِهِمْ وَ عَلِيٌّ ع فِي الْقَلْبِ فِي أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ جُمْهُورُهُمُ الْأَنْصَارُ وَ مَعَهُ مِنْ خُزَاعَةَ وَ كِنَانَةَ عَدَدٌ حَسَنٌ
When they saw him-asws to have come, they advanced towards him-asws marching, and he-asws on that day on his-asws right flank was Abdullah Bin Budeyl, and the people were upon their respective flags and their stations, and Ali-asws was in the centre among the people of Al-Medina, most of them being the Helpers, and with him-asws was from (clans of) Juza’a and Kinana, a good number.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ رَفَعَ مُعَاوِيَةُ قُبَّةً عَظِيمَةً وَ أَلْقَى عَلَيْهَا الْكَرَابِيسَ وَ جَلَسَ تَحْتَهَا وَ قَدْ كَانَ لَهُمْ قَبْلَ هَذَا الْيَوْمِ ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ وَ هُوَ الْيَوْمُ الرَّابِعُ مِنْ صَفَرٍ وَ خَرَجَ فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ فِي جَمْعٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ فَخَرَّجَ إِلَيْهِ مُعَاوِيَةُ عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ فِي جَمْعٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ
Nasr said, ‘An Muawiya raised a large dome and cast chairs upon it and sat beneath it, and there had been three days for them before that day, and it was the fourth day from Safar, and Muhammad Bin Al-Hanafiya came out during this day among a crowd from the people of Al Iraq. Muawiya sent out to him Ubeydullah Bin Umar Bin Al-Khattab among a crowd from the people of Syria.
فَاقْتَتَلُوا فَطَلَبَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ مُحَمَّداً إِلَى الْمُبَارَزَةِ فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ دَعَاهُ عَلِيٌّ ع وَ خَرَجَ بِنَفْسِهِ رَاجِلًا بِيَدِهِ سَيْفُهُ وَ قَالَ أَنَا أُبَارِزُكَ فَهَلُمَّ فَقَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ لَا حَاجَةَ بِي إِلَى مُبَارَزَتِكَ فَرَجَعَ إِلَى صَفِّهِ
They fought, and Ubeydullah sought Muhammad to the duel. When he went out to him, Ali-asws called him (back), and he-asws went out himself on foot, his-asws sword being in his-asws hand and said: ‘I-asws will duel you, so come!’ Ubeydullah said, ‘There is no need for me to duel you’, and he returned to his row’’.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ أَمَّا الْيَوْمَ الْخَامِسَ فَإِنَّهُ خَرَجَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ وَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ سَبِّ بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَبْرِزْ إِلَيَّ فَأَبَى أَنْ يَفْعَلَ وَ قَاتَلَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ قِتَالًا شَدِيداً ثُمَّ انْصَرَفُوا وَ كُلٌّ غَيْرُ غَالِبٍ
Nasr (the narrator) said, ‘And as for the day of Thursday, Abdullah Bin Al-Abbas came out, and Al-Qaleed Bin Uqba came out to him and frequently reviled the clan of Abdul Muttalib-asws. Ibn Abbas sent a message to him, ‘Duel to me’. But he refused to do so, and on that day Ibn Abbas fought an intense battle. Then they left, and each was without overcoming.
وَ خَرَجَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ شِمْرُ بْنُ أَبْرَهَةَ بْنِ الصَّبَّاحِ الْحِمْيَرِيُ فَلَحِقَ بِعَلِيٍّ ع فِي نَاسٍ مِنْ قُرَّاءِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَفَتَّ ذَلِكَ فِي عَضُدِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ وَ قَالَ عَمْرٌو يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ إِنَّكَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُقَاتِلَ بِأَهْلِ الشَّامِ رَجُلًا لَهُ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ ص قَرَابَةٌ قَرِيبَةٌ وَ رَحِمٌ مَاسَّةٌ وَ قِدَمٌ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ لَيْسَ لِأَحَدٍ مِثْلُهُ
And on that day Shimr Bin Abraha Bin Al-Sabbah Al-Himeyri came out and joined up with Ali-asws among some people from the readers of the people of Syria, and they were missed in the forearm of Muawiya and Amro Bin Al-Abbas, and Amro said, ‘O Muawiya! You want to fight with (help of) people of Syria against a man who has near kinship from Muhammad-saww, and sparkling womb relationship, and ancientness in Al-Islam the like of which isn’t for anyone else.
قَدْ سَارَ إِلَيْكَ بِأَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمَعْدُودِينَ وَ فُرْسَانِهِمْ وَ أَشْرَافِهِمْ وَ مَهْمَا نَسِيتَ فَلَا تَنْسَ أَنَّكَ عَلَى بَاطِلٍ وَ عَلِيّاً عَلَى الْحَقِّ فَبَادِرِ الْأَمْرَ قَبْلَ اضْطِرَابِهِ عَلَيْكَ
He-asws has travelled to you with companions of Muhammad-saww, the counted ones, and their horsemen, and their nobles. And whatever you forget, do not forget that you are upon falsehood, and Ali-asws is upon the truth, so turn the matter around before it becomes desperate upon you’.
فَقَامَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فِي أَهْلِ الشَّامِ خَطِيباً وَ حَثَّهُمْ عَلَى الْقِتَالِ فَخَطَبَ عَلِيٌّ ع أَصْحَابَهُ قَالَ أَبُو سِنَانٍ الْأَسْلَمِيُ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ مُتَّكِئاً عَلَى قَوْسِهِ وَ قَدْ جَمَعَ أَصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ هُمْ يَلُونَهُ كَأَنَّهُ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ النَّاسُ أَنَّ الصَّحَابَةَ مُتَوَافِرُونَ مَعَهُ
Muawiya stood up among the people of Syria to address and urged them upon the fighting. Ali-asws addressed his-asws companions. Abu Sinan Al-Aslamy said, ‘It is as if I am looking at him-asws leaning upon his-asws bow, and the companions of Rasool-Allah-saww have gathered and they are following him-asws as if he-asws was the most beloved. The people knew that the companions were being loyal with him-asws.
فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اسْمَعُوا مَقَالَتِي وَ عُوا كَلَامِي فَإِنَّ الْخُيَلَاءَ مِنَ التَّجَبُّرِ وَ إِنَّ النَّخْوَةَ مِنَ التَّكَبُّرِ وَ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ عَدُوٌّ حَاضِرٌ يَعِدُكُمُ الْبَاطِلَ أَلَا إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمَ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ فَلَا تُنَابِذُوا وَ لَا تُجَادِلُوا
He-asws said: ‘O you people! Listen to my-asws words and retain my-asws speech! Surely snobbery is from the compulsion and the haughtiness is from the arrogance, and the Satan-la is a present enemy promising you the falsehood. Indeed! The Muslims is a brother of the Muslim, so neither renounce nor quarrel with each other.
أَلَا إِنَّ شَرَائِعَ الدِّينِ وَاحِدَةٌ وَ سُبُلَهُ قَاصِدَةٌ مَنْ أَخَذَ بِهَا لَحِقَ وَ مَنْ فَارَقَهَا مُحِقَ وَ مَنْ تَرَكَهَا مَرَقَ لَيْسَ الْمُسْلِمُ بِالْخَائِنِ إِذَا ائْتُمِنَ وَ لَا بِالْمُخْلِفِ إِذَا وَعَدَ وَ لَا الْكَاذِبِ إِذَا نَطَقَ
Indeed! The Law of the religion is one, and its ways are the aim. One who takes with it would catch up, and one who separates from it would be obliterated, and one who neglects it would pass through. The Muslim wouldn’t be with the betrayal when entrusted, nor with the breaking when he promises, nor with the lies when he speaks.
نَحْنُ أَهْلُ بَيْتِ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ قَوْلُنَا الصِّدْقُ وَ فِعْلُنَا الْقَصْدُ وَ مِنَّا خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ فِينَا قَادَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ فِينَا حَمَلَةُ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا أَنَّا نَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ إِلَى رَسُولِهِ وَ إِلَى جِهَادِ عَدُوِّهِ وَ الشِّدَّةِ فِي أَمْرِهِ وَ ابْتِغَاءِ مَرْضَاتِهِ وَ إِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَ إِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَ حَجِّ الْبَيْتِ وَ صِيَامِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ تَوْفِيرِ الْفَيْءِ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ
We-asws are People-asws of the Household of Mercy, and our-asws words are true, and our-asws deeds are the moderate, and from us-asws is the last of the Prophets-as and among us are guides of Al-Islam, and among us-asws are bearers of the Book. We-asws are only calling you to Allah-azwj and to His-azwj Rasool-saww, and to Jihad against His-azwj enemies, and the intensity regarding His-azwj Commands, and seeking His-azwj Pleasure, and establishing the Salat and giving the Zakaat, and performing Hall of the House (Kabah) and fasting month of Ramazan, and full measure of the war booty upon its rightful ones.
أَلَا وَ إِنَّ مِنْ أَعْجَبِ الْعَجَائِبِ أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ الْأُمَوِيَّ وَ عَمْرَو بْنَ الْعَاصِ السَّهْمِيَّ أَصْبَحَا يُحَرِّضَانِ عَلَى طَلَبِ الدِّينِ بِزَعْمِهِمَا وَ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنِّي لَمْ أُخَالِفْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَطُّ وَ لَمْ أَعْصِهِ فِي أَمْرٍ قَطُّ أَقِيهِ بِنَفْسِي فِي الْمَوَاطِنِ الَّتِي تَنْكِصُ فِيهَا الْأَبْطَالُ وَ تُرْعَدُ فِيهَا الْفَرَائِصُ نَجْدَةً
Indeed! And from the surprises of all surprises is that Muawiya Bin Abu Sufyan, the Umayyid, and Amro Bin Al-Aas Al-Sahmy have both become urging upon seeking the religion by their claims, and you have known that I-asws have not opposed Rasool-Allah-saww at all, and did not disobey him-asws any matter at all. I-asws saved him-saww by myself in the place which the heroes withdrew, and the brave limbs shuddered.
أَكْرَمَنِيَ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ بِهَا وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَ لَقَدْ قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ إِنَّ رَأْسَهُ لَفِي حَجْرِي وَ لَقَدْ وُلِّيتُ غُسْلَهُ بِيَدِي وَحْدِي تُقَلِّبُهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ مَعِي وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ مَا اخْتَلَفَتْ أُمَّةٌ قَطُّ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا إِلَّا ظَهَرَ أَهْلُ بَاطِلِهَا عَلَى أَهْلِ حَقِّهَا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ
Allah-azwj the Glorious Honoured me-asws with it, and for Him-azwj is the Praise, and Rasool-Allah-saww had passed away and his-saww head was in my-asws lap, and I-asws was in-charge of his-saww washing by my-asws hands along, the Angels of Proximity were turning him-saww. And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! The community had not been left at all after its Prophet-saww except the people of falsehood prevailed over the people of its rights, except what Allah-azwj so Desired’’.
قَالَ فَقَالَ أَبُو سِنَانٍ الْأَسَدِيُّ فَسَمِعْتُ عَمَّارَ بْنَ يَاسِرٍ يَقُولُ أَمَّا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَدْ أَعْلَمَكُمْ أَنَّ الْأُمَّةَ لَمْ تَسْتَقِمْ عَلَيْهِ أَوَّلًا وَ أَنَّهَا لَنْ تَسْتَقِيمَ عَلَيْهِ آخِراً ثُمَّ تَفَرَّقَ النَّاسُ وَ قَدْ نَفَذَتْ بَصَائِرُهُمْ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Abu Sinan Al-Asady said, ‘I heard Ammar Bin Yasser saying, ‘As for Amir Al-Momineen-asws, so he-asws is your most learned. The community did not stand upright upon him-asws at first, and it will never stand upright upon him-asws last!’ Then the people dispersed and their insights had depleted’’.[11]
403- وَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً ع قَالَ فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ حَتَّى مَتَى لَا نُنَاهِضُ الْقَوْمَ بِأَجْمَعِنَا فَقَامَ فِي النَّاسِ عَشِيَّةَ الثَّلَاثَاءِ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يُبْرِمُ مَا نَقَضَ وَ لَا يَنْقُضُ مَا أَبْرَمَ وَ لَوْ شَاءَ مَا اخْتَلَفَ اثْنَانِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ وَ لَا مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَ لَا تَنَازَعَ الْبَشَرُ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ وَ لَا جَحَدَ الْمَفْضُولُ ذَا الْفَضْلِ فَضْلَهُ
And from Zayd Bin Wahab, ‘Ali-asws said: ‘In this night, until when will we not get up in our entirety to (fight) the people?’ He-asws stood among the people in the evening of Tuesday after Al-Asr. He-asws said: ‘The Praise is for Allah-azwj Who does not Accomplish what is broken nor Breaks what is accomplished, and if He-azwj so Desired, no two from the community would differ, nor anyone from His-azwj creatures, nor would any mortal dispute regarding anything from His-azwj Commands, nor would the non-meritorious reject the one with merits of his merits.
وَ قَدْ سَاقَتْنَا وَ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ اللأقدار [الْأَقْدَارُ] حَتَّى لَفَّتْ بَيْنَنَا فِي هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ وَ نَحْنُ مِنْ رَبِّنَا بِمَرْأًى وَ مَسْمَعٍ وَ لَوْ شَاءَ لَعَجَّلَ النَّقِمَةَ وَ لَكَانَ مِنْهُ التَّغْيِيرُ حَتَّى يُكَذِّبَ اللَّهُ الظَّالِمَ وَ يُعْلِمَ الْحَقَّ أَيْنَ مَصِيرُهُ وَ لَكِنَّهُ جَعَلَ الدُّنْيَا دَارَ الْأَعْمَالِ وَ جَعَلَ الْآخِرَةَ دَارَ الْجَزَاءِ وَ الْقَرَارِ لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَساؤُا بِما عَمِلُوا وَ يَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا بِالْحُسْنَى
And we had been led (by the events), and these people were in power and they wrapped us in this place, and we are with sight and hearing from our Lord-azwj, and had He-azwj so Desired, He-azwj could have hastened the Punishment, but from Him-azwj is the alteration until Allah-azwj belies the oppressor and he knows the truth, where its destination is, and by (Allah-azwj) He-azwj Made the world to be a house of working and Made the Hereafter to be a house of the Recompense and the settlement, for Him to Recompense those committers of evil for what they had done, and (for) Him to Recompense those did good, with the Goodness [53:31].
أَلَا إِنَّكُمْ لَاقُو الْعَدُوِّ غَداً إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَأَطِيلُوا اللَّيْلَةَ الْقِيَامَ وَ أَكْثِرُوا تِلَاوَةَ الْقُرْآنِ وَ اسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ الصَّبْرَ وَ النَّصْرَ وَ الْقَوْهُمْ بِالْجِدِّ وَ الْحَزْمِ وَ كُونُوا صَادِقِينَ
Indeed! We shall be meeting the enemy tomorrow if Allah-azwj so Desires, so prolong the standing (for Salat) tonight and frequent in recitation of the Quran, and ask Allah-azwj for the patience, and the help, and meeting them with the determination and the firmness, and become truthful’.
قَالَ فَوَثَبَ النَّاسُ إِلَى رِمَاحِهِمْ وَ سُيُوفِهِمْ وَ نِبَالِهِمْ ليصلحونها [يُصْلِحُونَهَا] وَ خَرَجَ ع وَ عَبَّأَ النَّاسَ لَيْلَتَهُ تِلْكَ كُلَّهَا حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ وَ عَقَدَ الْأَلْوِيَةَ وَ أَمَّرَ الْأُمَرَاءَ وَ بَعَثَ إِلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ مُنَادِياً يُنَادِي فِيهِمُ اغْدُوا عَلَى مَصَافِّكُمْ
He (the narrator) said, ‘The people leapt to their spear and the swords and their arrows in order to prepare them, and he-asws went out to mobilise the people during his-asws night, all of it, until morning, and he-asws tied the flag and nominated the commanders, and sent a caller to the people of Syria to call out among them, ‘Get up early morning for your battle!’
فَضَجَّ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ فِي مُعَسْكَرِهِمْ وَ اجْتَمَعُوا إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ فَعَبَّأَ خَيْلَهُ وَ عَقَدَ أَلْوِيَتَهُ وَ أَمَّرَ أُمَرَاءَهُ وَ كَتَّبَ كَتَائِبَهُ وَ كَانَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ بِالضِّعْفِ وَ نُصِبَ لِمُعَاوِيَةَ مِنْبَرٌ فَقَعَدَ إِلَيْهِ فِي قُبَّةٍ ضَرَبَهَا عَظِيمَةٍ أُلْقِيَ عَلَيْهَا الثِّيَابُ وَ الدَّرَانِكُ
The people of Syria clamoured among their soldiers and gathered to Muawiya. He composed his cavalry and tied his flag, and nominated his commanders, and mobilised his battalions; and the people of the Syrian were a lot more than the people of Al-Iraq by the double, and a pulpit was set up for Muawiya. He sat upon it in a large dome struck for him, the clothes and carpet having been cast upon it.
ثُمَّ تَنَاهَضَ الْقَوْمُ يَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ سَادِسَ صَفَرٍ وَ اقْتَتَلُوا إِلَى آخِرِ نَهَارِهِمْ وَ انْصَرَفُوا عِنْدَ الْمَسَاءِ وَ كُلٌّ غَيْرُ غَالِبٍ
Then the people arose on the day of Wednesday sixth of Safar, and they fought up to the end of their day, and they left during the evening, and all could not overcome.
فَأَمَّا الْيَوْمَ السَّابِعَ فَكَانَ الْقِتَالُ فِيهِ شَدِيداً وَ الْخَطْبُ عَظِيماً وَ كَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بُدَيْلٍ الْخُزَاعِيُّ عَلَى مَيْمَنَةِ الْعِرَاقِ فَزَحَفَ نَحْوَ حَبِيبِ بْنِ مَسْلَمَةَ وَ هُوَ عَلَى مَسِيرَةِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ حَتَّى اضْطَرَّهُمْ إِلَى قُبَّةِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَقْتَ الظُّهْرِ.
As for the seventh day, the fighting during it was severe, and the speeches were great, and Abdullah Bin Budeyl Al-Khuzaie was upon the right flank of Al-Iraq (forces), and he marched towards Habeeb Bin Maslama and he was upon the left flank of the people of Syria, until he forced them to the dome of Muawiya at the time of Al-Zohr’’.[12]
404- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَمْرٍو عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً ع خَطَبَ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ فَقَالَ مَعَاشِرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ اسْتَشْعِرُوا الْخَشْيَةَ إِلَى آخِرِ مَا سَيَأْتِي بِطُولِهِ وَ بِالْإِسْنَادِ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً خَطَبَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ قَدْ دَلَّكُمْ عَلى تِجارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذابٍ أَلِيمٍ إِيمَانٍ بِاللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ وَ جِهَادٍ فِي سَبِيلِهِ إلى آخر ما سيأتي برواية المفيد رحمه الله
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to us by Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Abdul Raghman Bin Abu Amro, from his father,
‘Ali-asws addressed on this day. He-asws said: ‘Community of Muslims! Be aware of the fear’ – up to the end of what I (Majlisi) shall be coming with its lengthy and with the chain that Ali-asws addressed that day. He-asws said: ‘O you people! Allah-azwj, Exalted is His-azwj Mention has Pointed you all to a trade rescuing you from a painful Punishment [61:10] – Eman with Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww, and Jihad in His-azwj Way’ – up to the end of what I (Majlisi) shall be coming with, by a report of Al-Mufeed.
ثم قام قيس بن سعد و خطب خطبة بليغة حث الناس فيها على الجهاد. ثم قام الأشتر رضي الله عنه بمثل ذلك و كذا يزيد بن قيس الأرحبي و غيرهم.
Then Qays Bin Sa’ad stood up and addressed eloquently urging the people in it upon the Jihad. Then Al-Ashtar stood up with similar to that, and like that was Yazeed Bin Qays Al-Arhy and others’’.[13]
405- وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ زَيْدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ قَالا طَلَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِلَى عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ أَنْ يُسَوِّيَ صُفُوفَ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ عَمْرٌو يَا مَعْشَرَ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ قَصَّ الشَّارِبِ وَ أَعِيرُونَا جَمَاجِمَكُمْ سَاعَةً فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَ الْحَقُّ مَقْطَعَهُ فَلَمْ يَبْقَ إِلَّا ظَالِمٌ أَوْ مَظْلُومٌ
And it is reported from Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir,
‘From Abu Ja’far-asws and Zayd Bin Al-Hassan who both said, ‘Muawiya sought Amro Bin Al-Aas to even out the rows of the people of Syria. Amro said to them, ‘O community of the people of Syria! Even out your rows, clip the moustache and led us your skull for the truth has reached its section, so neither an oppressor nor an oppressed would remain’.
وَ أَقْبَلَ أَبُو الْهَيْثَمِ بْنُ التَّيِّهَانِ وَ كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص بَدْرِيّاً عَقَبِيّاً يُسَوِّي صُفُوفَ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ يَا مَعْشَرَ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَ الْفَتْحِ الْعَاجِلِ أَوِ الْجَنَّةِ فِي الْآجِلِ إِلَّا سَاعَةٌ مِنَ النَّهَارِ فَأَرْسُوا أَقْدَامَكُمْ وَ سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ وَ أَعِيرُوا رَبَّكُمْ جَمَاجِمَكُمْ وَ اسْتَعِينُوا بِاللَّهِ رَبِّكُمْ وَ اصْبِرُوا إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُها مَنْ يَشاءُ مِنْ عِبادِهِ وَ الْعاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ.
And Abu Al-Haysam Bin Al-Tayhan came, and he was from the companions of Muhammad-saww, a participant of Badr, a hero, he evened out the rows of the people of Al-Iraq and he was saying, ‘O community of the people of Al-Iraq! There isn’t between you all and the immediate victory or the Paradise in the future except an hour from the day, so send your feet and even out your rows, and lend your skulls to your Lord-azwj, and seek assistance with Allah-azwj, your Lord-azwj, Surely the earth is for Allah, He Causes it to be inherited by the one He so Desires to from His servants, and the end-result is for the pious [7:128]’’.[14]
406- وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِ أَنَّ أَوَّلَ فَارِسَيْنِ الْتَقَيَا فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ وَ هُوَ الْيَوْمُ السَّابِعُ وَ كَانَ مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ الْعَظِيمَةِ حُجْرُ بْنُ عَدِيٍّ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع وَ ابْنُ عَمِّ حُجْرٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ مُعَاوِيَةَ كِلَاهُمَا مِنْ كِنْدَةَ فَاطَّعَنَا بِرُمْحَيْهِمَا وَ خَرَجَ خُزَيْمَةُ الْأَسَدِيُّ مِنْ عَسْكَرِ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَضَرَبَ حُجْرَ بْنَ عَدِيٍّ ضَرْبَةً بِرُمْحِهِ فَحَمَلَ أَصْحَابُ عَلِيٍّ ع فَقَتَلُوا خُزَيْمَةَ وَ نَجَا ابْنُ عَمِّ حُجْرٍ
And it is reported from Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir, from Al Shaby,
‘The first two horsemen to meet (in battle) during this day, and it is the seventh day, and it was from the mighty days, were Hujr Bin Aday from the companions of Ali-asws, and a son of the uncle of Hujr from the companions of Muawiya. Both of them were from the (tribe of) Kinda. They stabbed with their spears, and Khuzeyman Al-Asady came out from the soldiers of Muawiya and struck Hujr Bin Aday a strike with his spear. So, the companions of Ali-asws attacked and killed Khuzeyma, and the son of the uncle of Hujr was saved.
فَخَرَجَ رِفَاعَةُ الْحِمْيَرِيُّ مِنْ صِفِّ الْعِرَاقِ وَ قَتَلَ قَرْنَ بْنَ عَدِيٍ ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً دَعَا أَصْحَابَهُ إِلَى أَنْ يَذْهَبَ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمْ بِمُصْحَفٍ كَانَ فِي يَدِهِ إِلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَقَالَ مَنْ يَذْهَبُ إِلَيْهِمْ فَيَدْعُوَهُمْ إِلَى مَا فِي هَذَا الْمُصْحَفِ فَسَكَتَ النَّاسُ وَ أَقْبَلَ فَتًى اسْمُهُ سَعِيدٌ فَقَالَ أَنَا صَاحِبُهُ
Rifa’at Al-Himeyri came out from the rows of Al-Iraq and killed Qaran Bin Aday. Then Ali-asws called his-asws companions, that one of them should go with a Quran which was in his-asws hands, to the people of Syria, and he-asws said: ‘Who would go to them and call them to what is in this Quran?’ The people were silent, and a youth came, his name was Saeed. He said, ‘I am its doer’.
وَ قَالَ ثَانِياً وَ لَمْ يُجِبْ إِلَّا الْفَتَى فَقَبَضَهُ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُمْ فَنَاشَدَهُمْ وَ دَعَاهُمْ إِلَى مَا فِيهِ فَقَتَلُوهُ
And he-asws said for a second time, and he-asws was not answered except by the youth. He grabbed it in his hand, then went to them and adjured them, and he called them to what was in it. But, they killed him.
فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُدَيْلٍ احْمِلْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْآنَ فَحَمَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِمَنْ مَعَهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَيْمَنَةِ وَ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ سَيْفَانِ وَ دِرْعَانِ فَجَعَلَ يَضْرِبُ بِسَيْفِهِ قُدُماً وَ يَرْتَجِزُ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَحْمِلُ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ الَّذِينَ بَايَعُوهُ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ فَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَصْمِدُوا لِابْنِ بُدَيْلٍ
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said to Abdullah Bin Budeyl: ‘Attack upon them now!’ He attacked upon them with the ones with him, from the people of the right flank, and on that day, there were two swords upon him, and two shields. He went on to strike with his sword in front, and reciting war poems. He did not cease to attack until he ended up to Muawiya and the ones who had pledged to him upon the death. He ordered: ‘Hold out against Ibn Budeyl’.
وَ بَعَثَ إِلَى حَبِيبِ بْنِ مَسْلَمَةَ الْفِهْرِيِّ وَ هُوَ فِي الْمَيْسَرَةِ أَنْ يَحْمِلَ عَلَيْهِ بِجَمْعٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ وَ اخْتَلَطَ النَّاسُ وَ اصْطَدَمَ الصَّفَّانِ مَيْمَنَةُ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَ مَيْسَرَةُ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ وَ أَقْبَلَ ابْنُ بُدَيْلٍ يَضْرِبُ النَّاسَ بِسَيْفِهِ قُدُماً حَتَّى أَزَالَ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنْ مَوْقِفِهِ وَ تَرَاجَعَ مُعَاوِيَةُ عَنْ مَكَانِهِ الْقَهْقَرَى كَثِيراً وَ أَشْفَقَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ
And he sent a message to Habeeb Bin Maslama Al-Fihry, and he was in the left flank, to attack upon him with the entirety of his companions, and the people mingled and the two swords clashed – right flank of the people of Al-Iraq and left flank of the people of Syria; and ibn Budyel came striking the people with his sword in front until he removed Muawiya from his position, and Muawiya returned from his place backwards, a lot, and he felt fear upon himself.
وَ أَرْسَلَ إِلَى حَبِيبِ بْنِ مَسْلَمَةَ مَرَّةً ثَانِيَةً وَ ثَالِثَةً يَسْتَنْجِدُهُ وَ يَسْتَصْرِخُهُ وَ يَحْمِلُ حَبِيبٌ حَمْلَةً شَدِيدَةً بِمَيْسَرَةِ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَلَى مَيْمَنَةِ الْعِرَاقِ فَكَشَفَهَا حَتَّى لَمْ يَبْقَ مَعَ ابْنِ بُدَيْلٍ إِلَّا نَحْوُ مِائَةِ إِنْسَانٍ مِنَ الْقُرَّاءِ
And he sent a message to Habeeb Bin Maslama for a second time, and a third, begging him and crying out to him. And Habeeb attacked such a severe attack with the left flank of Muawiya upon the right flank of (people of) Al-Iraq, and exposed it until there did not remain anyone with Ibn Budeyl except around one hundred persons from the readers.
فَاسْتَنَدَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ يَحْمُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَ لَحِجَ ابْنُ بُدَيْلٍ فِي النَّاسِ وَ صَمَّمَ عَلَى قَتْلِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ جَعَلَ يَطْلُبُ مَوْقِفَهُ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَيْهِ فَنَادَى مُعَاوِيَةُ فِي النَّاسِ وَيْلَكُمْ الصَّخْرَةَ وَ الْحِجَارَةَ إِذَا عَجَزْتُمْ عَنِ السِّلَاحِ أَثْخِنُوهُ فَرَضَخَهُ النَّاسُ بِالْحِجَارَةِ حَتَّى أَثْخَنُوهُ فَسَقَطَ فَأَقْبَلُوا عَلَيْهِ بِسُيُوفِهِمْ فَقَتَلُوهُ
Some of them relied upon the others to protect themselves, and Ibn Budeyl went among the people determined upon killing Muawiya, and he went on to seek his position until he ended up to him. Muawiya called out among the people, ‘Woe be unto you all! The rocks and the stones, when you are unable from the weapons, and pelt him!’ The people pelted him with the stones until he caved in and dropped. They came upon him with their swords and killed him.
وَ جَاءَ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَامِرِ حَتَّى وَقَفَا عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ عِمَامَتَهُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ وَ تَرَحَّمَ عَلَيْهِ وَ كَانَ لَهُ أَخاً وَ صَدِيقاً مِنْ قَبْلُ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ اكْشِفْ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ لَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا يُمَثَّلُ بِهِ وَ فِيَّ رُوحٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ مُعَاوِيَةُ قَدْ وَهَبْنَاهُ لَكَ فَكَشَفَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ هَذَا كَبِيرُ الْقَوْمِ وَ رَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ اللَّهُمَّ ظَفِّرْنِي بِالْأَشْتَرِ النَّخَعِيِّ وَ الْأَشْعَثِ الْكِنْدِيِّ
And Muawiya and Abdullah Bin Aamir came until they paused at him. Abdullah threw cast turban upon his face and had mercy on him, and he was a brother of his and a friend from before. Muawiya said, ‘Uncover from his face!’ He said, ‘No, by Allah-azwj! There will be no trampling with him while there is still a soul in me’. Muawiya said to him, ‘I have gifted him to you’. He uncovered from his face. Muawiya said, ‘This is a great one of the people, by Lord-azwj of the Kabah! O Allah-azwj! He has won over me with Al-Ashtar Al-Nakhaie, and Al-Ash’as Al-Kindy’.
قَالَ فَاسْتَعْلَى أَهْلُ الشَّامِ عِنْدَ قَتْلِ ابْنِ بُدَيْلٍ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَ انْكَشَفَ أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْمَيْمَنَةِ وَ أَجْفَلُوا إِجْفَالًا شَدِيداً
He (the narrator) said, ‘The people of Syria were on a high at the killing of Ibn Budeyl over the people of Al-Iraq on that day, and the people of Al-Iraq were exposed from the direction of the right flank, and they were scared with severe fright.
فَأَمَرَ عَلِيٌّ ع سَهْلَ بْنَ حُنَيْفٍ فَاسْتَقْدَمَ مِمَّنْ كَانَ مَعَهُ لِيُرِيدَ الْمَيْمَنَةَ بِعَقْدِهَا فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُمْ جُمُوعُ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فِي خَيْلٍ عَظِيمَةٍ فَحَمَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَأَحْلَقَتْهُمْ بِالْمَيْمَنَةِ وَ كَانَتْ مَيْمَنَةُ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ مُتَّصِلَةً بِمَوْقِفِ عَلِيٍّ ع فِي الْقَلْبِ فِي أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ
Ali-asws ordered Sahl Bin Huneyf, and he advanced from the ones intending the right flank with re-enforcing it. A crowd from the people of Syria faced them among a large cavalry and attacked upon them and surrounded them at the right flank. And the right flank of the people of Al-Iraq was connected with the station of Ali-asws in the centre, among the people of Al-Yemen.
فَلَمَّا انْكَشَفُوا انْتَهَتِ الْهَزِيمَةُ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع فَانْصَرَفَ يَمْشِي نَحْوَ الْمَيْسَرَةِ فَانْكَشَفَتْ عَنْهُ مُضَرُ مِنَ الْمَيْسَرَةِ فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ ع مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ إِلَّا رَبِيعَةُ وَحْدَهَا فِي الْمَيْسَرَةِ.
When they were exposed, the defeat ended up to Ali-asws, so he-asws left walking towards the left flank and removed the harm from it, from the right flank. There did not remained with Ali-asws from the people of Al-Iraq except Rabie along in the right flank’’.[15]
407- وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ قَالَ: لَقَدْ مَرَّ عَلِيٌّ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَ مَعَهُ بَنُوهُ نَحْوَ الْمَيْسَرَةِ وَ مَعَهُ رَبِيعَةُ وَحْدَهَا وَ إِنِّي لَأَرَى النَّبْلَ يَمُرُّ مِنْ بَيْنِ عَاتِقِهِ وَ مَنْكِبِهِ وَ مَا مِنْ بَنِيهِ إِلَّا يَقِيهِ بِنَفْسِهِ فَيَكْرَهُ عَلِيٌّ ذَلِكَ فَيَتَقَدَّمُ عَلَيْهِ وَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ وَ يَأْخُذُ بِيَدِهِ إِذَا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَيُلْقِيهِ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ
And it is reported from Zayd Bin Wahab who said,
‘Ali-asws had passed by the right flank on that day and with him-asws were his-asws sons, and with him-asws was Rabie alone, and I saw the arrows passing bye from between his-asws shoulders and his-asws side, and there was none from his-asws son except he was saving him-asws by (sacrificing) himself. Ali-asws disliked that they would go ahead of him-asws and form a barrier between him-asws and the people of Syria, and he-asws grabbed his hand when he did that and threw him behind him-asws.
وَ بَصُرَ بِهِ أَحْمَرُ مَوْلَى بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ وَ كَانَ شُجَاعاً فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ وَ رَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ قَتَلَنِيَ اللَّهُ إِنْ لَمْ أَقْتُلْكَ فَأَقْبَلَ نَحْوَهُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ كَيْسَانُ مَوْلَى عَلِيٍّ ع فَاخْتَلَفَا ضَرْبَتَيْنِ فَقَتَلَهُ أَحْمَرُ وَ خَالَطَ عَلِيّاً ع لِيَضْرِبَهُ بِالسَّيْفِ فَمَدَّ عَلِيٌّ يَدَهُ إِلَى جَيْبِ دِرْعِهِ فَجَذَبَهُ عَنْ فَرَسِهِ وَ حَمَلَهُ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ
And he-asws was sighted by Ahmad, a slave of the clan of Umayya, and he was brave. Ali-asws said: ‘By the Lord-azwj of Kabah! May Allah-azwj Kill me-asws if I-asws do not kill you!’ He came towards him-asws, and Kaysan, a slave of Ali-asws went out to him, and they exchanged strikes and Ahmar killed him, and went to Ali-asws in order to strike him-asws with the sword. Ali-asws extended his-asws hand to a pocket of his shield and pulled him off from his horse and attacked him upon his shoulder.
وَ اللَّهِ لَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى رِجْلَيْ أَحْمَرَ يَخْتَلِفَانِ عَلَى عُنُقِ عَلِيٍّ ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ بِهِ الْأَرْضَ فَكَسَرَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ وَ عَضُدَيْهِ وَ شَدَّ أَبْنَاءُ عَلِيٍّ حُسَيْنٌ وَ مُحَمَّدٌ فَضَرَبَاهُ بِأَسْيَافِهِمَا حَتَّى بَرَدَ
By Allah-azwj! It is as if I am looking at the legs of Ahmar twisting upon the neck of Ali-asws. Then he-asws struck the ground with him and broke his shoulder, and his forearm, and the two sons of Ali-asws, Husayn-asws and Muhammad came and struck him with their swords until he went cold (died).
فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع قَائِماً وَ شِبْلَاهُ يَضْرِبَانِ الرَّجُلَ حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَيَا عَلَيْهِ أَقْبَلَا عَلَى أَبِيهِمَا
It is as if I am looking at Ali-asws standing and his-asws children were both striking the man until when they came to him-asws, coming back to their father-asws.
ثُمَّ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الشَّامِ دَنَوْا عَنْهُ يُرِيدُونَهُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا يَزِيدُهُ قُرْبُهُمْ مِنْهُ وَ دُنُوُّهُمْ سُرْعَةً فِي مَشْيِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحَسَنُ مَا ضَرَّكَ لَوْ أَسْرَعْتَ حَتَّى تَنْتَهِيَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا بَعْدَكَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِكَ قَالَ يَعْنِي رَبِيعَةَ الْمَيْسَرَةِ
Then the people of Syria came near him-asws intending him-asws. By Allah-azwj! They did not increase coming closer to him-asws and approaching him-asws quicker in the walk. Al-Hassan-asws said to him-asws: ‘It will not harm you-asws if you-asws were to quicken until you-asws ended up to the ones from your-asws companions who would be combating after you-asws’. He, meaning Rabie said, ‘The right flank!’
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّ لِأَبِيكَ يَوْماً لَا يُبْطِئُ بِهِ عَنْهُ السَّعْيُ وَ لَا يُقَرِّبُهُ إِلَيْهِ الْوُقُوفُ إِنَّ أَبَاكَ لَا يُبَالِي وَقَعَ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ أَوْ وَقَعَ الْمَوْتُ عَلَيْهِ.
Ali-asws said: ‘O my-asws son-asws! There is a day for your-asws father-asws, the striving will not be slowing it down, nor will the standing bring it closer to him-asws. Your-asws father-asws does not mind whether he-asws falls upon the death, or the death falls upon him-asws’’.[16]
408- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ رَوَى عَمْرُو بْنُ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ: خَرَجَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَوْماً مِنْ أَيَّامِ صِفِّينَ وَ فِي يَدِهِ عَنَزَةٌ فَمَرَّ عَلَى سَعِيدِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ فَقَالَ لَهُ سَعِيدٌ أَ مَا تَخْشَى يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْ يَغْتَالَكَ أَحَدٌ وَ أَنْتَ قُرْبَ عَدُوِّكَ
Nasr said, ‘And it is reported by Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir, from Abu Is’haq who said,
‘One day from the days of Siffeen, Ali-asws came out and in his-asws hand was a goat. He-asws passed by Saeed Bin Qays Al-Hamdany. Saeed said to him-asws, ‘Are you-asws not scared, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws, that someone would assassinate you-asws and you-asws are so close to your-asws enemy?’
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا وَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَفَظَةٌ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَتَرَدَّى فِي قَلِيبٍ أَوْ يَخْرَبَ عَلَيْهِ حَائِطٌ أَوْ تُصِيبَهُ آفَةٌ فَإِذَا جَاءَ الْقَدَرُ خَلَّوْا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَهُ.
Ali-asws said: ‘There is no one except and upon him there is a protection from Allah-azwj protecting him, from him falling into a well, or a wall might ruin (fall) upon him, or a calamity might strike him. When the pre-determination comes, it would be vacated between him and it’’.[17]
409- وَ عَنْ عَمْرٍو عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ عَنْ مَوْلَى الْأَشْتَرِ قَالَ: لَمَّا انْهَزَمَتْ مَيْمَنَةُ الْعِرَاقِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْبَلَ عَلِيٌّ نَحْوَ الْمَيْسَرَةِ يَرْكُضُ لِيَسْتَثِيبَ النَّاسَ وَ يَسْتَوْقِفَهُمْ وَ يَأْمُرَهُمْ بِالرُّجُوعِ نَحْوَ الْفَزَعِ فَمَرَّ بِالْأَشْتَرِ فَقَالَ يَا مَالِكُ قَالَ لَبَّيْكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And from Amro, from Fuzeyl Bin Khadeejh, from a slave of Al Ashtar who said,
‘When the right flank of (people of) Al-Iraq was defeated on that day, Ali-asws came sprinting towards the left flank in order to redeem the people, and make them stand, and instructed with the returning to the shelter. He-asws passed by Al-Ashtar and said, ‘O Malik!’ He said, ‘At your service, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws!’
قَالَ ائْتِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ فَقُلْ لَهُمْ أَيْنَ فِرَارُكُمْ عَنِ الْمَوْتِ الَّذِي لَنْ تُعْجِزُوهُ إِلَى الْحَيَاةِ الَّتِي لَا تَبْقَى لَكُمْ
He-asws said: ‘Go to those people and say to them, ‘Where are you fleeing from the death which you will not be able to frustrate? To the life which will not be remaining for you?’
فَمَضَى الْأَشْتَرُ فَاسْتَقْبَلَ النَّاسَ مُنْهَزِمِينَ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ الْكَلِمَاتِ فَنَادَاهُمْ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنَا مَالِكُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ فَلَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنَا الْأَشْتَرُ فَأَقْبَلَتْ إِلَيْهِ طَائِفَةٌ وَ ذَهَبَتْ عَنْهُ طَائِفَةٌ
Al-Ashtar went and faced the defeated people. He said the words to them and called out to them, ‘O you people, I am Malik Bin Al-Haris!’ But not one of them turned towards him. He said, ‘O you people! I am Al-Ashtar!’ A group faced towards him, and a group went away from him.
فَقَالَ عَضِضْتُمْ بِهَنِ أَبِيكُمْ وَ مَا أَقْبَحَ مَا قَاتَلْتُمُ الْيَوْمَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ غُضُّوا الْأَبْصَارَ وَ عَضُّوا عَلَى النَّوَاجِذِ فَاسْتَقْبِلُوا النَّاسَ بِهَامِكُمْ وَ شُدُّوا عَلَيْهِمْ شِدَّةَ قَوْمٍ مَوْتُورِينَ بِآبَائِهِمْ وَ أَبْنَائِهِمْ وَ إِخْوَانِهِمْ حَنَقاً عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ قَدْ وَطَّنُوا عَلَى الْمَوْتِ أَنْفُسَهُمْ كَيْلَا يُسْبَقُوا بِثَأْرٍ
He said, ‘You father was bitten by them with you, and how ugly is what you fought today. O you people! Close the eyes and bite upon the front teeth, and face the people with your protection, and be intense upon them with the intensity of a people fighting for their fathers, and their sons, and their brothers, with fury upon their enemies having been determined themselves upon the death, so they can precede with retaliation.
إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ وَ اللَّهِ لَنْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ إِلَّا عَنْ دِينِكُمْ لِيُطْفِئُوا السُّنَّةَ وَ يُحْيُوا الْبِدْعَةَ وَ يُدْخِلُوكُمْ فِي دِينٍ قَدْ أَخْرَجَكُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ بِحُسْنِ الْبَصِيرَةِ
By Allah-azwj! These people will never fight you all except about your religion, in order to extinguish the Sunnah, and revive the innovations, and enter you into a religion Allah-azwj has Extracted you from it by good insight.
فَطِيبُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ نَفْساً بِدِمَائِكُمْ دُونَ دِينِكُمْ فَإِنَّ الْفِرَارَ فِيهِ سَلْبُ الْعِزِّ وَ الْغَلَبَةِ عَلَى الْفَيْءِ وَ ذُلُّ الْمَحْيَا وَ الْمَمَاتِ وَ عَارُ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ سَخَطُ اللَّهِ وَ أَلِيمُ عِقَابِهِ
Servants of Allah-azwj! Feel good yourselves with your blood besides your religion, for the fleer in it loses the honour and the overcoming upon the booty, and the disgraced life, and the death, and shame of the world and the Hereafter, and Wrath of Allah-azwj, and His-azwj painful Punishment’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَخْلِصُوا إِلَيَّ مَذْحِجاً فَاجْتَمَعُوا إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ عَضِضْتُمْ بِصُمِّ الْجَنْدَلِ وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَرْضَيْتُمُ الْيَوْمَ رَبَّكُمْ وَ لَا نَصَحْتُمْ لَهُ فِي عَدُوِّهِ وَ كَيْفَ ذَلِكَ وَ أَنْتُمْ أَبْنَاءُ الْحَرْبِ وَ أَصْحَابُ الْغَارَاتِ وَ فُرْسَانُ الطِّرَارِ وَ حُتُوفُ الْأَقْرَانِ وَ مَذْحِجُ الطِّعَانِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا يُسْبَقُونَ بِثَأْرِهِمْ وَ لَمْ تُطَلَّ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَ لَمْ يُعْرَفُوا فِي مَوْطِنٍ مِنَ الْمَوَاطِنِ بِخَسَفٍ وَ أَنْتُمْ سَادَةُ مِصْرِكُمْ وَ أَعَزُّ حَيٍّ فِي قَوْمِكُمْ
Then he said, ‘O you people! Be sincere to me of argument’. They gathered to him. He said, ‘You have bitten the solid rock. By Allah-azwj! You have not pleased your Lord-azwj today nor did you advise for Him-azwj among His-azwj enemies, and how did that happen and you are the sons of war, and companions of the raids, and the flying horses, and the lionised peers, and the plague of the stabbings, those who do not become preceding with their retaliation, and do not overlook (avenging) their blood, and are not recognised with regret in any place from the places, and you are chiefs of your cities, and honourable tribes among your people.
وَ مَا تَفْعَلُوا فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ مَأْثُورٌ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ فَاتَّقُوا مَأْثُورَ الْحَدِيثِ فِي غَدٍ وَ اصْدُقُوا عَدُوَّكُمُ اللِّقَاءَ فَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ* وَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ وَ أَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ رَجُلٌ فِي مِثْلِ جَنَاحِ الْبَعُوضَةِ مِنْ دِينِ اللَّهِ
And do not do anything during this day which would be narrated after today. Fear the handing down of the narrations tomorrow, and be truthful of the battling your enemies, for Allah-azwj is with the patient. By the One-azwj in Whose Hand is my soul! There is no one from these’ – and he gestured by his hand toward the people of Syria – ‘any man having any religion in him like the wing of a mosquito.
[وَ] اللَّهِ مَا أَحْسَنْتُمُ الْيَوْمَ الْقِرَاعَ أَجْلُوا سَوَادَ وَجْهِي يَرْجِعْ فِي وَجْهِي دَمِي وَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذَا السَّوَادِ الْأَعْظَمِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَوْ قَدْ فَضَّهُ تَبِعَهُ مَنْ بِجَانِبَيْهِ كَمَا يَتْبَعُ السَّيْلُ مَقْدَمَهُ
By Allah-azwj, you have not done good today. Polish the darkness of my face, to return my blood to my face, and upon you is to deal with this large multitude, for if Allah-azwj had Broken it, I would have pursued the one by his-asws side just as I pursued the flood (of soldiers) in front of him-asws’.
فَقَالُوا خُذْ بِنَا حَيْثُ أَحْبَبْتَ فَصَمَدَ بِهِمْ نَحْوَ عَظْمِهِمْ وَ اسْتَقْبَلَهُ سَنَامٌ مِنْ هَمْدَانَ وَ هُمْ نَحْوُ ثَمَانِ مِائَةِ مُقَاتِلٍ قَدِ انْهَزَمُوا آخِرَ النَّاسِ وَ كَانُوا قَدْ صَبَرُوا فِي مَيْمَنَةِ عَلِيٍّ حَتَّى قُتِلَ مِنْهُمْ مِائَةٌ وَ ثَمَانُونَ رَجُلًا وَ أُصِيبَ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ رَئِيساً كُلَّمَا قُتِلَ مِنْهُمْ رئيسا [رَئِيسٌ] أَخَذَ الرَّايَةَ آخَرُ فَانْصَرَفُوا وَ هُمْ يَقُولُونَ لَيْتَ لَنَا عَدِيداً مِنَ الْعَرَبِ يُحَالِفُونَنَا ثُمَّ نَسْتَقْدِمُ نَحْنُ وَ هُمْ فَلَا نَنْصَرِفُ حَتَّى نُقْتَلَ أَوْ نَظْهَرَ
They said, ‘Take with us to wherever you like’. He persevered with them around their determinations, and a bunch from Hamdan faced him, and they were approximate eight hundred fighters who had defeated another people, and they had been combating among the right flank of Ali-asws until one hundred an eighty men from them had been killed, and eleven chiefs from them had been killed. Every time a chief from them was killed, another one had grabbed the flag. They left and they were saying, ‘If only there were for us from the Arabas, the number of our adversaries, then we would have advanced, us and them, and we would not have left until we were either killed or be victorious’.
فَقَالَ لَهُمُ الْأَشْتَرُ إِنِّي أُحَالِفُكُمْ وَ أُعَاقِدُكُمْ عَلَى أَنْ لَا نَرْجِعَ أَبَداً حَتَّى نَظْفَرَ أَوْ نَهْلِكَ فَوَقَفُوا مَعَهُ عَلَى هَذِهِ النِّيَّةِ وَ الْعَزِيمَةِ وَ زَحَفَ نَحْوَ الْمَيْمَنَةِ وَ ثَابَ إِلَيْهِ نَاسٌ تَرَاجَعُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الصَّبْرِ وَ الْوَفَاءِ وَ الْحَيَاءِ فَأَخَذَ لَا يَصْمِدُ لِكَتِيبَةٍ إِلَّا كَشَفَهَا وَ لَا بِجَمْعٍ إِلَّا جَازَهُ وَ رَدَّهُ
Al-Ashtar said to them, ‘I have swearing to you all and making a pact upon that we will not retreat, ever, until either we are victorious or we are killed’. They harmonised with him upon this intention and determination, and he marched around the right flank and some people leapt to him. They retreated from the people of combat, and the loyalty, and the dignity, and he did not take hold (to fight) a battalion except he exposed it, nor any crowd except he exceeded it and returned it’’.[18]
410 فَرُوِيَ عَنْ مَوْلًى لِلْأَشْتَرِ قَالَ لَمَّا اجْتَمَعَ إِلَى الْأَشْتَرِ مَنْ كَانَ انْهَزَمَ مِنَ الْمَيْمَنَةِ حَمَلَ عَلَى صُفُوفِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ حَتَّى كَشَفَهُمْ فَأَلْحَقَهُمْ بِمَضَارِبِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ ذَلِكَ بَيْنَ الْعَصْرِ وَ الْمَغْرِبِ.
It is reported from a slave of Al-Ashrar who said, ‘When they gathered to Al-Ashtar, the ones who had been defeated from the right flank, he attacked upon the rows of the people of Syria until he exposed them and joined them with the tents of Muawiya, and what was between Al-Asr and Al-Maghrib’’.[19]
411- وَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً ع لَمَّا رَأَى مَيْمَنَتَهُ قَدْ عَادَتْ إِلَى مَوْقِفِهَا وَ مَصَافِّهَا وَ كَشَفَتْ مَنْ بِإِزَائِهَا أَقْبَلَ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ قَدْ رَأَيْتُ جَوْلَتَكُمْ وَ انْحِيَازَكُمْ عَنْ صُفُوفِكُمْ تَحُوزُكُمُ الْجُفَاةُ الطَّغَامُ أَعْرَابُ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ وَ أَنْتُمْ لَهَامِيمُ الْعَرَبِ وَ السَّنَامُ الْأَعْظَمُ وَ عُمَّارُ اللَّيْلِ بِتِلَاوَةِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ أَهْلُ دَعْوَةِ الْحَقِّ
And from Zayd Bin Wahab, ‘When Ali-asws saw his-asws right flank to have returned to its position and its group, and the ones in front of it had been exposed, he-asws went until he-asws ended up to them. He-asws said: ‘I-asws have seen your alignments and wandering around away from your rows. The treacherous tyrannical Bedouins of the people of Syria have surpassed you, and you are the important ones of the Arabs, and the top of the great ones, and are spending the nights with recitations of the Quran, and are the people of the call and the truth.
إِذْ ضَلَّ الْخَاطِئُونَ فَلَوْ لَا قِتَالُكُمْ بَعْدَ إِدْبَارِكُمْ وَ كَرُّكُمْ بَعْدَ انْحِيَازِكُمْ وَجَبَ عَلَيْكُمْ مَا وَجَبَ عَلَى الْمُوَلِّي يَوْمَ الزَّحْفِ وَ كُنْتُمْ فِيمَا أَرَى مِنَ الْهَالِكِينَ
Then you strayed, erring. Had it not been for your fighting (again) after your turning back, and your attacking after your wandering, it would be obligated upon you all what is obligated upon the fleer on the day of the marching, and you were in what I-asws view as being from the destroyed ones.
وَ لَقَدْ هَوَّنَ عَلَيَّ بَعْضَ وَجْدِي وَ شَفَى بَعْضَ لَاعِجِ نَفْسِي أَنْ رَأَيْتُكُمْ بِأَخَرَةٍ حُزْتُمُوهُمْ كَمَا حَازُوكُمْ فَأَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ عَنْ مَصَافِّهِمْ كَمَا أَزَالُوكُمْ تُحِسُّونَهُمْ بِالسَّيْفِ يَرْكَبُ أَوَّلُهُمْ آخِرَهُمْ كَالْإِبِلِ الْمَطْرُودَةِ الْهِيمِ
And it would ease upon me-asws part of my-asws feelings, and heal part of my-asws discomfort if I-asws were to see you all with another, gripping them just as they had gripped you, and you could remove them away from their ranks just as they had removed you, killing them with the swords, the first of them riding like the last of them like the camels returning thirsty.
فَالْآنَ فَاصْبِرُوا نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّكِينَةُ وَ ثَبَّتَكُمُ الْيَقِينُ وَ لْيَعْلَمِ الْمُنْهَزِمُ أَنَّهُ مُسْخِطٌ رَبَّهُ وَ مُوبِقٌ نَفْسَهُ وَ فِي الْفِرَارِ مَوْجِدَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَ الذُّلُّ لَازِمٌ عَلَيْهِ وَ مَفْسَدَةُ الْعَيْشِ عَلَيْهِ وَ أَنَّ الْفَارَّ لَا يَزِيدُ الْفِرَارُ فِي عُمُرِهِ وَ لَا يُرْضِي رَبَّهُ لَمَوْتُ الرَّجُلِ مُحِقّاً قَبْلَ إِتْيَانِ هَذِهِ الْخِصَالِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الرِّضَا بِالتَّلْبِيسِ بِهَا وَ الْإِصْرَارِ عَلَيْهَا
As for now, so be patient, the tranquillity shall descend upon you and conviction will affirm you, and let the defeated ones know that he has Angered his Lord-azwj, and peril of his self, and in the fleeing is the Anger of Allah-azwj upon him, and the humiliation is necessary upon him, and life to be spoilt upon him, and that the fleer will not be increased in his life by the fleeing, nor would he please his Lord-azwj. Death of a rightful man before coming to these characteristics is better than the pleasure with the pretending with it, and the persisting upon these’’.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ فَحَمَلَ أَبُو كَعْبٍ الْخَثْعَمِيُّ رَأْسُ خَثْعَمِ الْعِرَاقِ عَلَى خَثْعَمِ الشَّامِ وَ اقْتَتَلُوا أَشَدَّ قِتَالٍ فَجَعَلَ أَبُو كَعْبٍ يَقُولُ لِأَصْحَابِهِ يَا مَعْشَرَ خَثْعَمٍ خَذِّمُوا أَيِ اضْرِبُوا الْخَذِمَةَ وَ هِيَ الْخَلْخَالُ يَعْنِي اضْرِبُوهُمْ فِي سُوقِهِمْ فَحَمَلَ شِمْرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَى أَبِي كَعْبٍ فَطَعَنَهُ فَقَتَلَهُ
Nasr said, ‘Abu Ka’ab Al Khas’amy, chief of (clan of) Khas’am of Al-Iraq, attached upon (clan of) Khas’am of Syria, and they fought a severe battle. Abu Ka’ab went on to say to his companions, ‘O community of Khas’am! Strike’. i.e. strike ‘Al-Jazma’, and it is the anklet. Meaning strike them in their markets. Shimr Bin Abdullah attacked upon Abu Ka’ab, stabbed him and killed him.
ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ يَبْكِي وَ يَقُولُ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ أَبَا كَعْبٍ لَقَدْ قَتَلْتُكَ فِي طَاعَةِ قَوْمٍ أَنْتَ أَمَسُّ إِلَيَّ رَحِماً وَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْهُمْ نَفْساً وَ لَكِنِّي وَ اللَّهِ لَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ وَ لَا أَرَى الشَّيْطَانَ إِلَّا قَدْ فَتَنَنَا وَ لَا أَرَى قُرَيْشاً إِلَّا قَدْ لَعِبَتْ بِنَا
Then he left crying and saying, ‘May Allah-azwj have Mercy on you Abu Ka’ab! I have killed you in obedience of a people. You are closer to me in relationship and more beloved to me than them as a person, but by Allah-azwj, I do not know what I should be saying, and I cannot see the Satan-la except and he-la has tempted us, and I do not see Quraysh except as having played with us’.
فَوَثَبَ كَعْبُ بْنُ أَبِي كَعْبٍ إِلَى رَايَةِ أَبِيهِ فَأَخَذَهَا فَفُقِئَتْ عَيْنُهُ وَ صُرِعَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَهَا شُرَيْحُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ فَقَاتَلَ الْقَوْمُ تَحْتَهَا حَتَّى صُرِعَ مِنْهُمْ حَوْلَ رَايَتِهِمْ نَحْوُ ثَمَانِينَ رَجُلًا وَ أُصِيبَ مِنْ خَثْعَمِ الشَّامِ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ رَدَّهَا شُرَيْحٌ إِلَى كَعْبِ بْنِ أَبِي كَعْبٍ.
Ka’ab Bin Abu Ka’ab leapt up to the flag of his father and grabbed it. He closed his eyes and laid him down. Then Shureyh Bin Malik took it, and the people fought under it until approximately eighty men were killed around their flag, and similar to that (number) were killed from (clan of) Khas’am of Syria. Then Shureyh returned it to Ka’ab Bin Abu Ka’ab’’.[20]
412- وَ قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ السَّلَامِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَابِرٍ إِنَّ رَايَةَ بَجِيلَةَ فِي صِفِّينَ مَعَ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ كَانَتْ فِي أَحْمَسَ مَعَ أَبِي شَدَّادٍ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ بَجِيلَةُ خُذْ رَايَتَنَا قَالَ غَيْرِي خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنِّي قَالُوا لَا نُرِيدُ غَيْرَكَ
And Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to us by Amro who said, ‘It is narrated to us by Abdul Salam Bin Abdullah Bin Jabir,
‘The flag of (clan of) Bajeela in Siffeen was with the people of Al-Iraq. It used to be among (clan of) Ahmas, with Abu Shaddad. (Clan of) Bajeela said to him, ‘Take our flag’. He said, ‘Someone else would be better for you than me’. They said, ‘We do not want other than you’.
قَالَ فَوَ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ أُعْطِيتُهَا لَا أَنْتَهِي بِكُمْ دُونَ صَاحِبِ التُّرْسِ الْمُذَهَّبِ الَّذِي هُوَ قَائِمٌ عَلَى رَأْسِ مُعَاوِيَةَ يَسْتُرُهُ مِنَ الشَّمْسِ فَقَالُوا اصْنَعْ مَا شِئْتَ
He said, ‘By Allah-azwj! If I am given it, I will not end with you below the owner of the golden shield which is standing upon the head of Muawiya, concealing it from the sun’. They said, ‘Do whatever you like’.
فَأَخَذَهَا ثُمَّ زَحَفَ بِهَا وَ هُمْ حَوْلَهُ يَضْرِبُونَ النَّاسَ بِأَسْيَافِهِمْ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى صَاحِبِ التُّرْسِ الْمُذَهَّبِ وَ هُوَ فِي خَيْلٍ عَظِيمَةٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَاقْتَتَلَ النَّاسُ هُنَاكَ قِتَالًا شَدِيداً وَ شَدَّ أَبُو شَدَّادٍ بِسَيْفِهِ نَحْوَ صَاحِبِ التُّرْسِ فَتَعَرَّضَ لَهُ رُومِيٌّ فَضَرَبَ قَدَمَ أَبِي شَدَّادٍ فَقَطَعَهَا وَ ضَرَبَ أَبُو شَدَّادٍ ذَلِكَ الرُّومِيَّ فَقَتَلَهُ
He took it, then marched with it, and they were around it striking the people with their swords until he ended up to the owner of the golden shield, and he was among a large cavalry from the companions of Muawiya. The people fought a severe battle over them, and Abu Shaddad was severe with his sword around the owner of the shield, and he was exposed to the archers. A Roman faced him and hit a foot of Abu Shaddad and cut it, and Abu Shaddad struck that Roman and killed him.
فَأُشْرِعَتْ إِلَيْهِ الْأَسِنَّةُ فَقُتِلَ فَأَخَذَ الرَّايَةَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ قَلْعٍ الْأَحْمَسِيُّ وَ قَاتَلَ حَتَّى قُتِلَ فَأَخَذَهَا أَخُوهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَقَاتَلَ حَتَّى قُتِلَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَهَا عَفِيفُ بْنُ إِيَاسٍ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ بِيَدِهِ حَتَّى تَحَاجَزَ النَّاسُ فَحَمَلَ غَطَفَانُ الْعِرَاقِ عَلَى غَطَفَانِ الشَّامِ وَ قُتِلَ مِنْهُمَا كَثِيرٌ وَ كَذَا أَزْدُ الْعِرَاقِ عَلَى أَزْدِ الشَّامِ وَ كَذَا كُلُّ قَبِيلَةٍ عَلَى مَنْ بِإِزَائِهِمْ.
Al-Sinnah set forth to him and was killed. Abdullah Bin Qal’a Al-Ahmasy took the flag and fought until he was killed. His brother Abdul Rahman took it and fought until he was killed. Then Afeef Bin Iyas took it, and it did not cease to be in his hands until the people fled. The (clan of) Ghatafan of Al-Iraq attacked upon (clan of) Ghatafan of Syria, and a lot were killed from both of them, and like that was (clan of) Azd of Al-Iraq against (clan of) Azd of Syria, and like that was every tribe against the ones from their counterparts’’.[21]
413- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ رَوَى عُمَرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ حَصِيرَةَ عَنْ أَشْيَاخِ النَّمِرِ أَنَّ عُتْبَةَ بْنَ جُوَيَّةَ قَالَ يَوْمَ صِفِّينَ أَنَّ مَرْعَى الدُّنْيَا قَدْ أَصْبَحَ هَشِيماً وَ أَصْبَحَ شَجَرُهَا حَصِيداً وَ جَدِيدُهَا سَمَلًا وَ حُلْوُهَا مُرَّ الْمَذَاقِ
Nasr said, ‘And it is reported by Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Al Haris Bin Haseyra, from elders of Al Nimr,
‘Utba Bin Juweya said on the day of Siffeen, ‘The pastures of the world have become grass, and its trees have been cut down, and its new ones are thin, and its sweets are bitter in taste.
أَلَا وَ إِنِّي أُنَبِّئُكُمْ نَبَأَ امْرِئٍ صَادِقٍ إِنِّي سَئِمْتُ الدُّنْيَا وَ عَزَفْتُ نَفْسِي عَنْهَا وَ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَتَمَنَّى الشَّهَادَةَ وَ أَتَعَرَّضُ لَهَا فِي كُلِّ حِينٍ فَأَبَى اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَبْلُغَنِي هَذَا الْيَوْمَ
Indeed! And I shall inform you news of a truthful person. I am fed up of the world and have turned myself away from it, and I used to wish for the martyrdom and used to expose to it every time, but Allah-azwj Refused except that He-azwj would Cause me to reach this day.
أَلَا وَ إِنِّي مُتَعَرِّضٌ سَاعَتِي هَذِهِ لَهَا وَ قَدْ طَمِعْتُ أَنْ لَا أُحْرَمَهَا فَمَا تَنْتَظِرُونَ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ مِنْ جِهَادِ أَعْدَاءِ اللَّهِ أَ خَوْفَ الْمَوْتِ الْقَادِمِ عَلَيْكُمْ الذَّاهِبِ بِأَنْفُسِكُمْ لَا مَحَالَةَ أَوْ مِنْ ضَرْبَةِ كَفٍّ أَوْ حِسٍّ بِالسَّيْفِ أَ تَسْتَبْدِلُونَ الدُّنْيَا بِالنَّظَرِ إِلَى وَجْهِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مُرَافَقَةِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ الصِّدِّيقِينَ وَ الشُّهَداءِ وَ الصَّالِحِينَ فِي دَارِ الْقَرَارِ مَا هَذَا بِالرَّأْيِ السَّدِيدِ
Indeed! And I am exposing myself to it at this time, and have coveted that I will not be deprived of it. So, what are you waiting for, servants of Allah-azwj, from fighting the enemies of Allah-azwj? Are you fearing the death, (which) is advancing towards you, to go away with your souls, there is no avoiding it, or (are you fearing) from striking a palm or feeling with the sword? Are you replacing the world with looking towards the face of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, and friendship of the Prophets-as, and the truthful, and the martyrs, and the righteous, in the house of settlement? This is not the right view’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا إِخْوَتَاهْ إِنِّي قَدْ بِعْتُ هَذِهِ الدَّارَ بِالدَّارِ الَّتِي أَمَامَهَا وَ هَذَا وَجْهِي إِلَيْهِ لَا يُبْرِحُ اللَّهُ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَ لَا يَقْطَعُ اللَّهُ أَرْحَامَكُمْ
Then he said, ‘O brothers! I have sold this house (world) for the house (Hereafter) which is in front of it, and this is my heading towards it. May Allah-azwj not Exhaust your faces nor may Allah-azwj Cut off your relationships’.
فَتَبِعَهُ أَخَوَاهُ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ وَ عَوْفٌ وَ قَالا لَا نَطْلُبُ رِزْقَ الدُّنْيَا بَعْدَكَ قَبَّحَ اللَّهُ الْعَيْشَ بَعْدَكَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَحْتَسِبُ أَنْفُسَنَا عِنْدَكَ فَاسْتَقْدَمُوا فَقَاتَلُوا حَتَّى قُتِلُوا
His two brothers Ubeydullah and Awf followed him and said, ‘We do not seek sustenance of the world after you. May Allah-azwj Uglify the life after you. O Allah-azwj! We are reckoning ourselves with You-azwj’. They went ahead and fought until they were killed’.
قَالَ فَاقْتَتَلَ النَّاسُ قِتَالًا شَدِيداً يَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع وَ اللَّهِ لَأَحْمِلَنَّ عَلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ حَتَّى أَقْتُلَهُ فَأَخَذَ فَرَساً فَرَكِبَهُ ثُمَّ ضَرَبَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا قَامَ عَلَى سَنَابِكِهِ دَفَعَهُ فَلَمْ يُنَهْنِهْهُ شَيْءٌ عَنِ الْوُقُوفِ عَلَى رَأْسِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ دَخَلَ مُعَاوِيَةُ خِبَاءَهُ
He (the narrator) said, ‘The people fought a severe battle on the day of Wednesday. A man from the companions of Ali-asws said, ‘By Allah-azwj! I will attack upon Muawiya until I kill him!’ He took a horse and rode it. Then he struck with (his sword) until when he was standing by his tent, he pushed it, and it did not neigh anything from the pausing at the head of Muawiya, and Muawiya entered his tent.
فَنَزَلَ الرَّجُلُ عَنْ فَرَسِهِ وَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَخَرَجَ مُعَاوِيَةُ مِنَ الْخِبَاءِ وَ طَلَعَ الرَّجُلُ فِي أَثَرِهِ فَخَرَجَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فَأَحَاطَ بِهِ النَّاسُ وَ قَالَ وَيْحَكُمْ إِنَّ السُّيُوفَ لَمْ يُؤْذَنْ لَهَا فِي هَذَا وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَمْ يَصِلْ إِلَيْكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْحِجَارَةِ فَرَضَخُوهُ بِالْحِجَارَةِ حَتَّى هَمَدَ الرَّجُلُ ثُمَّ عَادَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِلَى مَجْلِسِهِ
The man descended from his horse and entered into it. Muawiya came out from the tent, and the man emerged in his tracks. Muawiya came out the people surrounded him, and he said, ‘Woe be unto you all! If the swords cannot be used in this, and had it not been that he would not have arrive to you, upon you is (to pelt) with the stones’. They pelted him with the stones until the man died. Then Muawiya returned to his seat’.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ فَلَمَّا انْقَضَى هَذَا الْيَوْمِ بِمَا فِيهِ أَصْبَحُوا فِي الْيَوْمِ الثَّانِي وَ الْفَيْلَقَانِ مُتَقَابِلَانِ فَخَرَجَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَسَأَلَ الْمُبَارَزَةَ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ فَاقْتَتَلَا قِتَالًا شَدِيداً ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْعِرَاقِيَّ اعْتَنَقَهُ فَوَقَعَا جَمِيعاً وَ عَادَ الْفَرَسَانِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْعِرَاقِيَّ قَهَرَهُ فَجَلَسَ عَلَى صَدْرِهِ وَ كَشَفَ الْمِغْفَرَ عَنْهُ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَذْبَحَهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ أَخُوهُ لِأَبِيهِ
Nasr said, ‘When this day ended with what was in it, they came to the morning of the second day, and the two legions were facing each other. A man from the people of Syria came out and ask for the duel. A man from the people of Al-Iraq came out to him, and they both fought a severe fight. Then the Iraqi strangle-held him and they both fell down, and the horsemen returned. Then the Iraqi subdued him and sat upon his chest, and he removed the helmet from him intending to slaughter him, and there it was his own brother from his father.
فَصَاحَ بِهِ أَصْحَابُ عَلِيٍّ ع وَيْحَكَ أَجْهِزْ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ إِنَّهُ أَخِي قَالُوا فَاتْرُكْهُ قَالَ لَا وَ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يَأْذَنَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَأُخْبِرَ عَلِيٌّ ع بِذَلِكَ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ دَعْهُ فَتَرَكَهُ وَ عَادَ إِلَى صَفِّ مُعَاوِيَةَ.
The companions of Ali-asws shouted with him, ‘Woe be unto you! Deal the deathblow upon him!’ He said, ‘It is my brother’. They said, ‘Then leave him’. He said, ‘No, by Allah-azwj, until Amir Al-Momineen-asws permits’. Ali-asws was informed with that and he-asws sent a message to him that he should leave him. He left him and he returned to the rows of Muawiya’’.[22]
414- وَ عَنِ الْجُرْجَانِيِّ قَالَ: كَانَ مُعَاوِيَةُ يَعُدُّ لِكُلِّ عَظِيمٍ حُرَيْثاً مَوْلَاهُ وَ كَانَ يَلْبَسُ سِلَاحَ مُعَاوِيَةَ مُتَشَبِّهاً بِهِ فَإِذَا قَاتَلَ قَالَ النَّاسُ ذَاكَ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ إِنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ دَعَاهُ وَ قَالَ يَا حُرَيْثُ اتَّقِ عَلِيّاً وَ ضَعْ رُمْحَكَ حَيْثُ شِئْتَ فَأَتَاهُ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ وَ قَالَ يَا حُرَيْثُ إِنَّكَ وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ كُنْتَ قُرَشِيّاً لَأَحَبَّ لَكَ مُعَاوِيَةُ أَنْ تَقْتُلَ عَلِيّاً وَ لَكِنْ كَرِهَ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ حَظُّهَا فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ فُرْصَةً فَاقْتَحِمْ
And from Al Jarjany who said,
‘Muawiya was preparing Hureys his slave for every grievous matter. He would wear the weapons of Muawiya to resemble him. So, when he fought, the people said, ‘That is Muawiya!’ Muawiya called him and said, ‘O Hureys! Fear Ali-asws and place your spear wherever you like’. Amro Bin Al-Aas came to him and said, ‘O Hureys! By Allah-azwj, if You were Quraysh Muawiya would have loved you to kill Ali-asws, but he dislike that there should happen to be its share for you, so if you find an opportunity, then storm (to kill him-asws)’.
وَ خَرَجَ عَلِيٌّ ع فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ وَ كَانَ أَمَامَ الْخَيْلِ فَحَمَلَ عَلَيْهِ حُرَيْثٌ وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ بَرَزَ حُرَيْثٌ مَوْلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ وَ كَانَ شَدِيداً ذَا بَأْسٍ لَا يُرَامُ فَصَاحَ يَا عَلِيُّ هَلْ لَكَ فِي الْمُبَارَزَةِ فَأَقْدِمْ أَبَا حَسَنٍ إِنْ شِئْتَ
And Ali-asws came out during this day, and he-asws was a leader of the cavalry. Hureys attacked upon him-asws. And in a report of Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir, he said, ‘Hureys, slave of Muawiya, came out for duel on this day, and he was strong, with prowess, not to be thrown. He shouted, ‘O Ali-asws! Is it for you-asws regarding (coming for) the duel? Proceed, Abu Hassan-asws, if you-asws so desire’.
فَأَقْبَلَ عَلِيٌّ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ
| أَنَا عَلِيٌّ وَ ابْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ- | نَحْنُ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ أَوْلَى بِالْكُتُبِ | |
| مِنَّا النَّبِيُّ الْمُصْطَفَى غَيْرُ كَذِبٍ- | أَهْلُ اللِّوَاءِ وَ الْمَقَامِ وَ الْحُجُبِ- | |
| نَحْنُ نَصَرْنَاهُ عَلَى كُلِّ الْعَرَبِ- |
Ali-asws came and he-asws was saying (a poem), ‘I-asws am Ali-asws, and a son-asws of Abdul Muttalib-asws. We-asws, by the Command of Allah-azwj, are foremost with the Book. From us-asws is the Prophet-saww, the Chosen one, without lies, the people of the flag, and the position, and the veils. We-asws are His-azwj helpers against every Arab’.
ثُمَّ خَالَطَهُ فَمَا أَمْهَلَهُ أَنْ ضَرَبَهُ ضَرْبَةً وَاحِدَةً فَقَطَعَهُ نِصْفَيْنِ فَجَزِعَ مُعَاوِيَةُ عَلَيْهِ جَزَعاً شَدِيداً وَ عَابَ عَمْراً فِي إِغْرَائِهِ بِعَلِيٍّ فَلَمَّا قُتِلَ حُرَيْثٌ بَرَزَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحُصَيْنِ السَّكْسَكِيُّ فَنَادَى أَبَا حَسَنٍ هَلُمَّ إِلَى الْمُبَارَزَةِ فَأَومَى عَلِيٌّ إِلَى سَعِيدِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ فَبَارَزَهُ فَضَرَبَهُ بِالسَّيْفِ فَقَتَلَهُ
Then he-asws went to him and did not respite him and struck him with one strike and cut him into two halves. Muawiya panicked upon it with a severe panic, and blamed Amro in having deceived him with Ali-asws. When Hureys was killed, Amro Bin Al-Husay Al-Saksaky came for duel and called out, ‘O Hassan-asws! Come to the duel!’ Ali-asws gestured towards Saeed Bin Qays Al-Hamdany. He duelled him and struck him with the sword and killed him’.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ كَانَ لِهَمْدَانَ بَلَاءٌ عَظِيمٌ فِي نُصْرَةِ عَلِيٍّ ع فِي صِفِّينَ وَ مِنَ الشِّعْرِ الَّذِي لَا يُشَكُّ أَنَّ قَائِلَهُ عَلِيٌّ لِكَثْرَةِ الرِّوَايَةِ لَهُ
| دَعَوْتُ فَلَبَّانِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ عُصْبَةٌ- | فَوَارِسُ مِنْ هَمْدَانَ غَيْرُ لِئَامٍ | |
| بِكُلِّ رُدَيْنِيٍّ وَ عَضْبٍ تَخَالُهُ- | إِذَا اخْتَلَفَ الْأَقْوَامُ شُعَلَ ضِرَامٍ- | |
| لِهَمْدَانَ أَخْلَاقٌ كِرَامٌ يَزِينُهُمْ- | وَ بَأْسٌ إِذَا لَاقُوا وَ جَدُّ خِصَامٍ- | |
Nasr said, ‘It was a great calamity for Hamdan in helping Ali-asws in Siffeen, and from the poems is that which there is no doubt that its speaker is Ali-asws due to the frequency of the reports: ‘I-asws called and a group from the people responded to me-asws, horsemen from Hamdan without blame, with every high quality spear and mind you can think of, when the groups fought, a flame was inflamed. For Hamdan there are honourable manners adorning them, and prowess when they meet (in battle), and strong contention.
| وَ جَدٌّ وَ صَدْقٌ فِي الْحُرُوبِ وَ نَجْدَةٌ- | وَ قَوْلٌ إِذَا قَالُوا بِغَيْرِ أَثَامٍ- | |
| مَتَى تَأْتِهِمْ فِي دَارِهِمْ تَسْتَضِيفُهُمْ- | تَبِتْ نَاعِماً فِي خِدْمَةٍ وَ طَعَامٍ- | |
| جَزَى اللَّهُ هَمْدَانَ الْجِنَانَ فَإِنَّهَا- | سِمَامُ الْعِدَى فِي كُلِّ يَوْمِ زِحَامٍ- | |
| فَلَوْ كُنْتُ بَوَّاباً عَلَى بَابِ جَنَةٍ- | لَقُلْتُ لِهَمْدَانَ ادْخُلُوا بِسَلَامٍ |
And effort and sincerity in the wars and help, and words when they speak are without sins When you go to them in their houses to be hosted, good are the bounties in service and food. May Allah-azwj Recompense Hamdan with Gardens, for they are at the peak of the fulfilment of guests during every day. If I-asws were to be a gatekeeper upon the gate of the Paradise, I-asws would say to Hamdan, ‘Enter in peace’’.[23]
415- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ شِمْرٍ قَالَ: ثُمَّ قَامَ عَلِيٌّ بَيْنَ الصَّفَّيْنِ وَ نَادَى يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ يُكَرِّرُهَا فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ سَلُوهُ مَا شَأْنُهُ قَالَ أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَظْهَرَ لِي فَأُكَلِّمَهُ بِكَلِمَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ فَبَرَزَ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ مَعَهُ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to us by Amro Bin Shimr who said,
‘Then Ali-asws stood between the two swords and called out: ‘O Muawiya!’ -repeating it. Muawiya said, ‘Ask him-asws what his-asws concern is’. He-asws said; ‘I-asws would like him to appear to me so I-asws speak to him with one word’. Muawiya came out and with him was Amro Bin Al-Aas.
فَلَمَّا قَارَبَاهُ لَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ إِلَى عَمْرٍو وَ قَالَ لِمُعَاوِيَةَ وَيْحَكَ عَلَامَ تَقْتُلُ النَّاسَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ وَ يَقْتُلُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً ابْرُزْ إِلَيَّ فَأَيُّنَا قُتِلَ فَالْأَمْرُ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ فَالْتَفَتَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِلَى عَمْرٍو فَقَالَ مَا تَرَى يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ
When they came near to him-asws, he-asws did not turn towards Amro and said to Muawiya: ‘Woe be unto you! Upon what are you killing the people between me-asws and you, and some of them are killing the other? Come out to duel to me-asws, so whichever of us is killed, then the command would be to his counterpart!’ Muawiya turned towards Amro and said, ‘What is your view, O Abu Abdullah?’
قَالَ قَدْ أَنْصَفَكَ الرَّجُلُ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّكَ إِنْ نَكَلْتَ عَنْهُ لَمْ تَزَلْ سُبَّةً عَلَيْكَ وَ عَلَى عَقِبِكَ مَا بَقِيَ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الْأَرْضِ عَرَبِيٌّ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ يَا ابْنَ الْعَاصِ لَيْسَ مِثْلِي يُخْدَعُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ وَ اللَّهِ مَا بَارَزَ ابْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ شُجَاعٌ قَطُّ إِلَّا وَ سَقَى الْأَرْضَ بِدَمِهِ
He said, ‘The man has been fair to you, but know that if you were to abstain from him-asws, the reviling will not cease upon you and your posterity for as long as an Arab remains upon the surface of the earth’. Muawiya said, ‘O Ibn Al Aas! The likes of me does not get deceived from himself. By Allah-azwj! No brave would duel the son-asws of Abu Talib-asws at all except the ground would be quenched with his blood’.
ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ مُعَاوِيَةُ رَاجِعاً حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى آخِرِ الصُّفُوفِ وَ عَمْرٌو مَعَهُ فَلَمَّا رَأَى عَلِيٌّ ع ذَلِكَ ضَحِكَ وَ عَادَ إِلَى مَوْقِفِهِ قَالَ وَ حَقَدَهَا مُعَاوِيَةُ عَلَى عَمْرٍو بَاطِناً
Then Muawiya left returning until he ended up to the last of the rows, and Amro was with him. When Ali-asws saw that, he-asws laughed and returned to his-asws position’. He (the narrator) said, ‘And Muawiya hated it upon Amro in secret’.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ ثُمَّ الْتَقَى النَّاسُ وَ اقْتَتَلُوا قِتَالًا شَدِيداً وَ حَارَبَتْ طَيٌّ مَعَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع حُرُوباً عَظِيمَةً وَ قُتِلَ مِنْهَا أَبْطَالٌ كَثِيرُونَ وَ قَاتَلَتِ النَّخَعُ أَيْضاً مَعَهُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ قِتَالًا شَدِيداً وَ قُطِعَتْ رِجْلُ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ قَيْسٍ النَّخَعِيِّ وَ قُتِلَ أَخُوهُ أُبَيُّ بْنُ قَيْسٍ فَكَانَ عَلْقَمَةُ يَقُولُ بَعْدُ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ رِجْلِي أَصَحُّ مَا كَانَ لِمَا أَرْجُو بِهَا الثَّوَابَ
‘Nasr said, ‘Then the people met and fought a severe battle, and (clan of) Tayy fought against Amir Al-Momineen-asws a mighty war, and many of its heroes were killed, and (clan of) Al-Nah’a fought with him a severe battle on that day, and the legs of Alqamah Bin Qays Al-Nakhaie were cut, and his brother Abu Bin Qays was killed. Al-Qamah was saying afterwards, ‘I do not love for my legs to be healthy for as long as I hope for the Rewards with it’.
وَ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ أَخِي فِي نَوْمِي فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مَا الَّذِي قَدِمْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ الْتَقَيْنَا نَحْنُ وَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ فَاحْتَجَجْنَا عِنْدَهُ فَحَجَجْنَا فَسُرِرْتُ بِذَلِكَ.
And he (the narrator) said, ‘I saw my brother in my dream, and I said to him, ‘What is that which made you advance upon it?’ He said, ‘We and the people of Syria shall meet in front of Allah-azwj the Glorious, and we shall argue in His-azwj Presence. We shall argue and be happy with that’’.[24]
416- وَ رُوِيَ عَنِ الْحُضَيْنِ بْنِ الْمُنْذِرِ أَنَّهُ لَمَّا تَصَافَّ النَّاسُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ وَ حَمَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَ ضَعْضَعَتْ مَيْمَنَةُ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ فَجَاءَنَا عَلِيٌّ ع وَ مَعَهُ بَنُوهُ فَنَادَى بِصَوْتٍ جَهْرٍ لِمَنْ هَذِهِ الرَّايَاتُ فَقُلْنَا رَايَاتُ رَبِيعَةَ فَقَالَ بَلْ هِيَ رَايَاتٌ عَصَمَ اللَّهُ أَهْلَهَا وَ صَبَّرَهَا وَ ثَبَّتَ أَقْدَامَهَا
And it is reported from Al Hueyn Bin Al Munzir,
‘When the people aligned on that day and attacked each other, and the right flank of the people of Al-Iraq was undermined, we came to Ali-asws, and with him-asws were his-asws sons. He-asws called out in a loud voice: ‘For whom are these flags?’ We said, ‘Flags of Rabie. He-asws said: ‘But, these are flags Allah-azwj had Protected its people, and Made them patient and Affirmed their feet’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي وَ أَنَا حَامِلُ رَايَةِ رَبِيعَةَ يَا فَتَى أَ لَا تُدْنِي رَايَتَكَ هَذِهِ ذِرَاعاً فَقُلْتُ بَلَى وَ اللَّهِ عَشَرَةَ أَذْرُعٍ ثُمَّ مِلْتُ بِهَا هَكَذَا فَأَدْنَيْتُهَا فَقَالَ لِي حَسْبُكَ
Then he-asws said to me: ‘And I-asws shall carry a flag of Rabie. O youth! Will you bring closer this flag of yours by a cubit?’ I said, ‘Yes, by Allah-azwj, ten cubits’. Then I inclined with it like this, and brought it closer. He-asws said to me: ‘It suffices you’.
وَ رُوِيَ أَنَّهُمْ أُعْطُوا الرَّايَةَ الْحُضَيْنَ بْنَ الْمُنْذِرِ الرَّقَاشِيَّ وَ هُوَ يَوْمَئِذٍ غُلَامٌ وَ هُوَ يَزْحَفُ بِرَايَةِ رَبِيعَةَ وَ كَانَتْ حَمْرَاءَ فَأَعْجَبَ عَلِيّاً ع زَحْفُهُ وَ ثَبَاتُهُ
And it is reported they gave the flag of Al Huzeyn Bin Al-Munzir Al-Raqashy, and on that day he was a boy, and he marched with a flag of Rabie, and it was red. Ali-asws was surprised of his march and his steadfastness.
فَقَالَ
| لِمَنْ رَايَةٌ حَمْرَاءُ يَخْفِقُ ظِلُّهَا- | إِذَا قِيلَ قَدِّمْهَا حُضَيْنُ تَقَدَّمَا- | |
| وَ يَدْنُو بِهَا فِي الصَّفِّ حَتَّى يُدِيرَهَا- | حَمَامُ الْمَنَايَا تَقْطُرُ الْمَوْتَ وَ الدِّمَاءَ- | |
| جَزَى اللَّهُ قَوْماً صَابَرُوا فِي لِقَائِهِمْ- | لَدَى الْبَأْسِ حُرّاً مَا أَعَزَّ وَ أَكْرَمَا- | |
| وَ أَحْزَمَ صَبْراً يَوْمَ يُدْعَى إِلَى الْوَغَى- | إِذَا كَانَ أَصْوَاتُ الْكُمَاةِ تَغَمْغَمَا | |
| رَبِيعَةَ أَعْنِي إِنَّهُمْ أَهْلُ نَجْدَةٍ وَ بَأْسٍ- | إِذَا لَاقُوا خَمِيساً عَرَمْرَمَا | |
| وَ قَدْ صَبَرَتْ عَكٌّ وَ لَخْمٌ وَ حِمْيَرٌ- | لِمَذْحِجٍ حَتَّى لَمْ تُفَارِقْ دَمٌ دَماً- | |
| وَ نَادَتْ جُذَامُ يَا لَمَذْحِجُ وَيْحَكُمْ- | جَزَى اللَّهُ شَرّاً أَيُّنَا كَانَ أَظْلَمَا- | |
| أَمَا تَتَّقُونَ اللَّهَ فِي حُرُمَاتِكُمْ- | وَ مَا قَرَّبَ الرَّحْمَنُ مِنْهَا وَ عَظَّمَا- | |
| أَذَقْنَا ابْنَ حَرْبٍ طَعْنَنَا وَ ضِرَابَنَا- | بِأَسْيَافِنَا حَتَّى تَوَلَّى وَ أَحْجَمَا- | |
| وَ مَرَّ يُنَادِي الزِّبْرِقَانُ مَرَاطِمَ- | وَ نَادَى كَلَاعاً وَ الْكُرَيْبَ وَ أَنْعَمَا- | |
| وَ عَمْراً وَ سُفْيَاناً وَ جَهْماً وَ مَالِكاً- | وَ حَوْشَبَ وَ الْغَاوِيَ سُرَيْحاً وَ أَظْلَمَا- | |
| وَ كُرْزَ بْنَ نَبْهَانَ وَ عَمْرَو بْنَ جَحْدَرٍ- | وَ صَبَّاحاً الْعَبْسِيَّ يَدْعُو وَ أَسْلَمَا |
He-asws said (a poem): ‘For whom is a red flag, its shade would fade. When it is said, ‘Huzeyn has advanced it’, it will advance. And they come near with it in the rows until it goes around the important deaths, dripping the death and the blood. May Allah-azwj Recompense regarding their meeting (in battle) with prowess, free, how honourable, how prestigious. And I-asws am asserting patience for a day they would be called to the battle, when the voices of the eloquent talkers would be mumbled.
(Tribe of) Rabie, I-asws mean, they are people of exertion and prowess when they meet (in battle) with vehement force, and I-asws had been patient from arousing passion, and (clans of) Lakhm and Himeyr were annoyed until they would not be differentiated between a blood and a blood. And I-asws called out: ‘O agitators! Woe be unto you! May Allah-azwj Recompense evil wherever an injustice may be. Are you not fearing in your prohibitions? And how near is the Beneficent from it, and how Magnificent. The son of Harb made us taste the stabbings and the strikes with our swords, until he was in-charge and retreated’.
And I-asws passed by calling out to the leader and the unjust ones, and called Kala’a, and Kareyb, and ‘An’ama’, and Amro, and Sufyan, and Jahm, and Mali, and Howshab, and Al-Ghawy, and Sareeh, and Azlama, and Kurz Bin Nab’han, and Amro Bin Jahdar, and companions of Al-Absy, calling to the peace’’.
قال نصر: و أقبل ذو الكلاع في الحمير و من لف لفها و معهم عبيد الله بن عمر بن الخطاب في أربعة آلاف من قراء أهل الشام فحملوا على ربيعة و هم ميسرة أهل العراق و فيهم عبد الله بن العباس حملة شديدة فضعضعت رايات ربيعة ثم إن أهل الشام انصرفوا
Nasr said, ‘And Zu Al-Kala’a came among (clan of) Himeyr and the ones who had surrounded it, and with them was Ubeydullah Bin Umar Bin Al-Khattab among four thousand from the readers of the people of Syria. They attacked upon (clan of) Rabie, and they were the left flank of the people of Al-Iraq, and among them was Abdullah Bin Al-Abbas, with severe attack. The flags of Rabie were dispersed. Then the people of Syria left.
فلم يلبثوا إلا قليلا حتى كروا ثانية و عبيد الله بن عمر في أولهم يقول يا أهل الشام هذا الحي من العراق قتلة عثمان و أنصار علي فإن هزمتم هذه القبيلة أدركتم ثاركم في عثمان فشدوا على الناس شدة عظيمة
It was not long except a little until they repeated for a second time, and Ubeydullah Bin Umar was among their first ones saying, ‘O people of Syria! This is a tribe from Al-Iraq, killers of Usman, and helpers of Ali-asws. So, if you were to defeat this tribe, you will realise your retaliation regarding Usman’. So, they were severe upon the people with mighty intensity.
فثبتت لهم ربيعة و صبرت صبرا حسنا إلا قليلا من الضعفاء و اشتد القتال بين ربيعة و حمير و عبيد الله بن عمر و كثرت القتلى ثم خرج نحو خمس مائة فارس أو أكثر من أصحاب علي ع على رءوسهم البيض و هم غائصون في الحديد لا يرى منهم إلا الحدق
(Clan of) Rabie were steadfast to them, and combatted a good combat except a few from the weak ones, and the fighting between Rabie and Himeyr and Abdullah Bin Umar intensified, and many were killed. Then five hundred horsemen or more from the companions of Ali-asws came having the helmets upon their heads, and they were clad in iron, nothing being seen from them except the eyes.
و خرج إليهم من أهل الشام نحوهم في العدة فاقتتلوا بين الصفين و الناس وقوف تحت راياتهم فلم يرجع من هؤلاء مخبر لا عراقي و لا شامي قتلوا جميعا بين الصفين و كان بصفين تل يلقى عليه الجماجم من الرجال فكان يدعى تل الجماجم
And a similar number from the people of Syrian came out and they fought between Siffeen, and the people were standing beneath Siffeen. No informant returned from them, neither Iraqi nor Syrian. They all fought between Siffeen, and Siffeen was a hill the skulls of men had been thrown upon, and it used to be called the hill of the skulls’.
قال نصر: ثم ذهب هذا اليوم بما فيه فأصبحوا من اليوم التاسع من صفر و قد خطب معاوية أهل الشام و حرضهم فحمل عبيد الله و قراء أهل الشام و معه ذو الكلاع في حمير على ربيعة في ميسرة علي ع فقاتلوا قتالا شديدا
Nasr (the reporter) said, ‘Then this day went with whatever was in it, and they came to the morning of the ninth day of Safar, and Muawiya had addressed the people of Syria and urged them, so Ubeydullah and the readers of the people of Syria attacked, and with him were the Zul Kala’a among (clan of) Himeyr against Rabie in the left flank of Ali-asws. They fought a severe battle.
فأتى زياد بن خصفة إلى عبد القيس فقال لا يكونن وائل بعد اليوم إن ذا الكلاع و عبيد الله بن عمر قد أبادا ربيعة فانهضوا لهم و إلا هلكت فركبت عبد القيس و جاءت كأنها غمامة سوداء فشدت أزر الميسرة و عظم القتال فقتل ذو الكلاع قتله رجل من بكر بن وائل اسمه خندف و تضعضعت أركان حمير و ثبتت بعد ذي الكلاع تحارب مع عبيد الله بن عمر
Ziyad Bin Khasfa came to Abdul Qays. He said, ‘Do not be wailing after today. Za Al-Kila’a and Ubeydullah have distanced Rabie, so there is either defeat for them or else death’. Abdul Qays rode and came as if they were black clouds and stormed the left flank severely, and the fighting was mighty. Zul Kala’a was killed, a man from Bakr Bin Wail killed him, his name is Jundab, and the soldiers of Himeyr were dispersed, and they were steadfast after Zul Kila’a to battle alongside Ubeydullah Bin Umar.
فأرسل عبيد الله إلى الحسن بن علي ع إن لي إليك حاجة فألقني فلقيه الحسن ع فقال له عبيد الله إن أباك قد وتر قريشا أولا و آخرا و قد شنئه الناس فهل لك في خلعه و أن تتولى أنت هذا الأمر فقال كلا و الله
Ubeydullah sent a message to Al-Hassan-asws Bin Ali-asws, ‘There is a need for me to you-asws, so meet me’. Al-Hassan-asws met him. Ubeydullah said to him-asws, ‘You-asws father-asws has wronged Quraysh first and last, and the people are his-asws enemies. Is it for you-asws in removing (killing) him-asws, and you-asws be in-charge of this command (caliphate)?’ He-asws said: ‘Never, by Allah-azwj!’
ثم قال يا ابن الخطاب و الله لكأني أنظر إليك مقتولا في يومك أو في غدك أما إن الشيطان قد زين لك و خدعك حتى أخرجك مخلقا بالخلوق ترى نساء أهل الشام موقفك و سيصرعك الله و يبطحك لوجهك قتيلا
Then he-asws said: ‘O Ibn Al-Khattab! By Allah-azwj, it is as if I-asws am looking at you having been killed during your day, or tomorrow morning. But, the Satan-la has adorned for you and has deceived you to the extent that he-la brought you out mannered with such manners. Do you see the women of the people of Syria agreeing with you, and Allah-azwj will Wreak you and Lay you down, slain’.
قال فو الله ما كان إلا بياض النهار حتى قتل عبيد الله و هو في كتيبة رقطاء و كانت تدعى الخضرية كانوا أربعة آلاف عليهم ثياب مخضر
He (the narrator) said, ‘By Allah-azwj, it was not except brightness of the day until Ubeydullah was killed, and it was in a battalion of spotters, and they were called Al-Khazriya. They were four thousand having green clothes upon them.
فمر الحسن فإذا رجل متوسد رجل قتيل و قد ركز رمحه في عينه و ربط فرسه برجله فقال الحسن لمن معه انظروا إلى هذا و إذا رجل من همدان و إذا القتيل عبيد الله بن عمر قد قتله الهمداني في أول الليل و بات عليه حتى أصبح:
Al-Hassan-asws passed by, and there was a man cushioning a slain man, and his spear was centred into his eye, and his horse was tied up with his leg. Al-Hassan-asws said to the ones with him-asws: ‘Look at this!’ And there he was a man from Hamdan, and there the slain was Ubeydullah Bin Umar. The Hamdany had killed him in the beginning of the night, and had spent the night upon it until morning’’.
قال نصر: و قد اختلفت الرواة في قاتله فقالت همدان نحن قتلناه قتله هانئ بن الخطاب و قالت حضرموت نحن قتلناه قتله مالك بن عمرو و قال بكر بن وائل قتله منا محرز بن الصحصح: و روي: أن قاتله حريث بن جابر بن الجعفي
Nasr said, ‘And the reports have differed regarding his killer. Hamdan said, ‘We killed him. Hany Bin Al-Khatab killed him’. And Hazramaut said, ‘We killed him. Malik Bin Amro killed him’. And Bakr Bin Wail said, ‘He was killed from us by Muhriz Bin Al-Sahsah’. And it is reported that his killer is Harees Bin Jabir Bin Al-Jufy’’.[25]
417 قال نصر و حدثنا عمرو بن شمر عن جابر قال: لما حمل ذو الكلاع ذلك اليوم بالفيلق العظيم من حمير على صفوف العراق ناداهم أبو شجاع الحميري تبت أيديكم أ ترون معاوية خيرا من علي أسد الله أضل الله سعيكم ثم أنت يا ذا الكلاع قد كنا نرى أن لك نية في الدين فقال ذو الكلاع إيها يا أبا شجاع و الله ما معاوية بأفضل من علي و لكني أقاتل عن دم عثمان
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to us by Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir who said,
‘When Zul-lKala’a attacked on that day with a large legion from Himeyr, upon the rows of Al-Iraq, Abu Shaja’a Al-Himeyr called out to them, ‘May your hands break! Are you viewing that Muawiya is better than Ali-asws – lion of Allah-azwj? May Allah-azwj Stray your striving. Then you, O Zul Kala’a! We had seen that there is an intention for you in the religion’. Zul Kala’a said, ‘O Abu Shaja’a! By Allah-azwj, Muawiya is not better than Ali-asws, but we are fighting upon the blood of Usman!’
قال فأصيب ذو الكلاع حينئذ قتله خندف البكري في المعركة
He (the narrator) said, ‘Zul Kala’a was slain over there, Jundab Al-Bakry killed him in the battle’.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ قَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لَمَّا قُتِلَ ذُو الْكَلَاعِ لَأَنَا أَشَدُّ فَرَحاً بِقَتْلِ ذِي الْكَلَاعِ مِنِّي بِفَتْحِ مِصْرَ لَوْ فَتَحْتُهَا قَالَ لِأَنَّ ذَا الْكَلَاعِ كَانَ يَحْجُرُ عَلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ فِي أَشْيَاءَ كَانَ يَأْمُرُ بِهَا
Nasr (the reporter) said, ‘And Muawiya said when Zul Kala’a was killed, ‘There is no one of more intense happiness with the killing of Zil Kala’a than I am. He could have conquered Egypt if we had conquered it’. He (the reporter) said, ‘Because Zul Kala’a used to openly interdict upon Muawiya in matters he used to order him with’.
قال نصر: فلما قتل ذو الكلاع اشتدت الحرب و شد عك و لخم و جذام و الأشعريون من أهل الشام على مذحج من أهل العراق.
Nasr said, ‘When Zul Kala’a was killed, the war intensified, and severe was pulling, and the hitting, and the cutting, and Al-Ashiroun from the people of Syrian were against the Mazhaj (tribe from Yemen) from the people of Al-Iraq’’.[26]
418- وَ قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ قَالَ لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ الْحُضَيْنَ بْنَ الْمُنْذِرِ يَقُولُ أَعْطَانِي عَلِيٌّ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ رَايَةَ رَبِيعَةَ وَ مُضَرَ وَ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ سِرْ يَا حُضَيْنُ وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا تَخْفِقُ عَلَى رَأْسِكَ بِرَايَةٍ مِثْلِهَا أَبَداً هَذِهِ رَايَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to me by Amro Bin Al Zubeyr who said, ‘I have heard Al Huzeyn Bin Al Munzir saying
‘On that day, Ali-asws gave me a flag of Rabie, and Muzar, and said, ‘In the Name of Allah-azwj! Go, O Huzeyn, and know that no flag will flap upon your head like this flag. This is a flag of Rasool-Allah-azwj’.
قَالَ فَجَاءَ أَبُو عُرَفَاءَ جَبَلَةُ بْنُ عَطِيَّةَ الذُّهْلِيُّ إِلَى الْحُضَيْنِ فَقَالَ هَلْ لَكَ أَنْ تُعْطِيَنِي الرَّايَةَ أَحْمِلُهَا فَيَكُونَ لَكَ ذِكْرُهَا وَ يَكُونَ لِي أَجْرُهَا فَقَالَ الْحُضَيْنُ وَ مَا غِنَايَ يَا عَمِّ عَنْ أَجْرِهَا مَعَ ذِكْرِهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ لَا غَنَاءَ بِكَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَ لَكِنْ أَعِرْهَا عَمَّكَ سَاعَةً فَمَا أَسْرَعَ مَا تَرْجِعُ إِلَيْكَ
He (the narrator) said, ‘Abu Urfa’a Jabala Bin Atiya Al-Zuhly came to Al Huzeyn and said, ‘Is it for you that you give me the flag to carry it, so its mention would be for you, and its Recompense would be for me?’ Al-Huzeyn said, ‘And what would its mention avail me, O uncle, away from its Recompense?’ He said, ‘There would be no availing with you from that, but let your uncle show it for a moment, then he will quickly return it to you’.
قَالَ حُضَيْنٌ فَعَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُ قَدِ اسْتَقْتَلَ وَ أَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَمُوتَ مُجَاهِداً قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ خُذْهَا
Huzeyn said, ‘So, I knew that he would be killed and he wanted to die as a fighter. I said to him, ‘Take it’.
فَأَخَذَهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ إِنَّ عَمَلَ الْجَنَّةِ كَرْهٌ كُلُّهُ وَ ثَقِيلٌ وَ إِنَّ عَمَلَ النَّارِ خِفٌّ كُلُّهُ وَ حَبِيبٌ إِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ لَا يَدْخُلُهَا إِلَّا الصَّابِرُونَ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ عَلَى فَرَائِضِ اللَّهِ وَ أَمْرِهِ وَ لَيْسَ شَيْءٌ مِمَّا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ أَشَدَّ مِنَ الْجِهَادِ هُوَ أَفْضَلُ الْأَعْمَالِ ثَوَاباً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي قَدْ شَدَدْتُ فَشُدُّوا وَيْحَكُمْ أَ مَا تَشْتَاقُونَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ أَ مَا تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ
He took it, then he said to his companions. ‘The working for the Paradise is disliked, all of it, and heavy, and working for the Fire is easy, all of it, and beloved. The Paradise is such, none will enter it except the ones being patient upon the religion, having been patient themselves upon the Obligations of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Commands. And there is nothing from what Allah-azwj has Obligated upon the servant, more difficult than the Jihad. It is the most superior of the deeds in Rewards in the Presence of Allah-azwj. So, when you see me to have become intense, then intensify yourselves. Woe be unto you! Are you desirous to the Paradise? Are you not loving that Allah-azwj should Forgive for you all?’
فَشَدَّ وَ شَدُّوا مَعَهُ وَ قَاتَلُوا قِتَالًا شَدِيداً فَقُتِلَ أَبُو عَرْفَاءَ وَ شَدَّتْ رَبِيعَةُ بَعْدَهَا شِدَّةً عَظِيمَةً عَلَى صُفُوفِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ
He intensified, and they intensified along with him, and they fought a severe battle. Abu Arfa’a was killed, Rabie were intensified after that with mighty severity upon the rows of the people of Syria’.
و قال نصر: فاضطرب الناس ذلك اليوم بالسيوف حتى قطعت و تكسرت و صارت كالمناجل و تطاعنوا بالرماح حتى تناثرت أسنتها ثم جثوا على الركب فتحاثوا بالتراب ثم تعانقوا و تكادموا بالأفواه ثم تراموا بالصخرة و الحجارة
Nasr said, ‘The people trembled on that day with the swords until they were cut and broken, and became like the machetes and stabbing with the spears until they were scattered. Then they knelt at the riders, and they were throwing the soil, then they wrestled, and bit with the mouths, then they pelted with the rocks and the stones.
ثم تحاجزوا فكان الرجل من أهل العراق يمر على أهل الشام فيقول كيف أصير إلى رايات بني فلان فيقول هاهنا لا هداك الله و يمر الرجل من أهل الشام على أهل العراق فيقول كيف أمضي إلى رايات بني فلان فيقولون هاهنا لا حفظك الله
Then they barricaded. So, the man from the people of Al-Iraq would pass by the people of Syria and he would say, ‘How can I go to the flag of the clan of so and so?’ He would say ‘Over there! May Allah-azwj not Guide you’. And the man from the people of Syria would pass by the people of Al-Iraq and he would say, ‘How can I go to the flag of the clan of so and so?’ He would say, ‘Over there! May Allah-azwj not Protect you!’
فلما أصبحوا في اليوم العاشر أصبحوا و ربيعة محدقة بعلي ع إحداق بياض العين بسوادها:
When it was morning during the tenth day, they woke up in the morning and Rabie were staring at Ali-asws like the whiteness of the eyes surrounding its blackness’’.
قال نصر و حدثني عمرو: أنه لما وقف ع تحت رايات ربيعة قال عتاب بن لقيط يا معشر ربيعة حاموا عن علي منذ اليوم فإن أصيب فيكم افتضحتم أ لا ترونه قائما تحت راياتكم فقال لهم شقيق بن ثور يا معشر ربيعة ليس لكم عذر عند العرب إن أصيب علي و فيكم رجل حي فامنعوه اليوم و اصدقوا عدوكم اللقاء
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to me by Amro, ‘When he-asws stood beneath the flag of Rabie, Ataab Bin Laqeet said, ‘O community of Rabie! Be protecting Ali-asws today, for it he-asws were to be injured among you, you will be exposed (shamed). Can’t you see him-asws standing beneath your flag?’ Shaqeeq Bin Sowr said to them, ‘O community of Rabie! There isn’t any excuse for you in the presence of Arabs that Ali-asws should be injured and among you is a man still alive! Defend him-asws today and be steadfast to your enemy for the meeting (in battle)!’
فتعاقدت ربيعة و تحالفت بالأيمان العظيمة و تبايع منهم سبعة آلاف على أن لا ينظر رجل خلفه حتى يردوا سرادق معاوية فقاتلوا ذلك اليوم قتالا شديدا لم يكن قبله مثله و أقبلوا نحو سرادق معاوية فلما نظر إليهم قد أقبلوا قال
| إذا قلت قد ولت ربيعة أقبلت- | كتائب منها كالجبال تجالد- |
(The tribe of) Rabie made a pact and too a mighty oath, and seven thousand from them pledged upon that no man would look behind him until they arrive at the pavilion of Muawiya. They fought that day a severe battle, the like of which had not happened before it, and they came around the pavilion of Muawiya. When he looked at them having come, he said (a couplet), ‘When you had said Rabie had turned around (and fled). A battalion from it has come like the solid mountain’.
ثم قال لعمرو يا عمرو ما ترى قال أرى أن لا تحنث أخوالي اليوم فقام معاوية و خلا لهم سرادقه و رحله و خرج فارا عنه لائذا ببعض مضارب العسكر في أخريات الناس و انتهبت ربيعة سرادقه و رحله
Then he said Amro, ‘O Amro! What is your view’. He said, ‘I view that you should not devote to my views today’. Muawiya stood up and vacated his pavilion for them, and his belonging, and went out fleeing sheltering with some of the strikers of the army among the last of the people. And Rabie ended up to his pavilion and his belonging.
و بعث إلى خالد بن المعمر أنك قد ظفرت و لك إمرة خراسان إن لم تتم فقطع خالد القتال و لم يتمه و قال لربيعة قد برت أيمانكم فحسبكم فلما كان عام الجماعة و بايع الناس معاوية أمره معاوية على خراسان و بعثه إليها فمات قبل أن يبلغها.
And he (Muawiya) sent a message to Khalid Bin Al-Ma’mar, ‘You have won, and for you would be the emirate of Khurasan if you do not complete’. Khalid terminated the fighting and did not complete it, and he said to Rabie, ‘You have been righteous to your oaths, so it suffices you’. When it was the year of the unity, and the people pledged allegiance to Muawiya, he made him commander upon Khurasan and sent him to it, but he died before he reached it’’.[27]
419- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ فِي حَدِيثِ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً ع صَلَّى بِهِمْ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ صَلَاةَ الْغَدَاةِ ثُمَّ زَحَفَ بِهِمْ فَلَمَّا أَبْصَرُوهُ اسْتَقْبَلُوهُ بِزُحُوفِهِمْ فَاقْتَتَلُوا قِتَالًا شَدِيداً ثُمَّ إِنَّ خَيْلَ الشَّامِ حَمَلَتْ عَلَى خَيْلِ الْعِرَاقِ فَاقْتَطَعُوا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع أَلْفَ رَجُلٍ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ فَأَحَاطُوا بِهِمْ وَ حَالُوا بَيْنَهُمْ وَ بَيْنَ أَصْحَابِهِمْ فَلَمْ يَرَوْهُمْ
Nasr said, ‘And in a Hadeeth of Umar Bin Sa’ad,
‘Ali-asws prayed Salat with them on this day, the morning Salat, then he-asws marched with them. When they sighted him-asws, they faced him-asws with their army and they fought a severe battle. Then the cavalry of Syria attacked upon the cavalry of Al-Iraq and cut them off from the companions of Ali-asws, a thousand men or more, and they surround them, and they formed a barrier between them and their companions, and he-asws could not see them.
فَنَادَى عَلِيٌّ ع أَ لَا رَجُلٌ يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ لِلَّهِ وَ يَبِيعُ دُنْيَاهُ بِآخِرَتِهِ فَأَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ جُعْفٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ عَلَى فَرَسٍ أَدْهَمَ كَأَنَّهُ غُرَابٌ مُقَنِّعاً فِي الْحَدِيدِ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مُرْنِي بِأَمْرِكَ
Ali-asws called out: ‘Is there no man who can sell himself to Allah-azwj and sell his world for the Hereafter?’ A man from Ju’f called Abdul Aziz Bin Al-Haris came to him-asws upon a black horse as if it was a crow, clad in iron. He said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Order me with your-asws order’.
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع
| سَمَحْتَ بِأَمْرٍ لَا يُطَاقُ حَفِيظَةً- | وَ صِدْقاً وَ إِخْوَانُ الْحِفَاظِ قَلِيلٌ | |
| جَزَاكَ إِلَهُ النَّاسِ خَيْراً فَقَدْ وَفَتْ- | يَدَاكَ بِفَضْلٍ مَا هُنَاكَ جَزِيلٌ- |
Ali-asws said (a poem): ‘You are authorised with an order its preservation cannot be tolerated, and its verification, and the brothers of the preservation are few. May God-azwj of the people Recompense you goodly for you have been loyal with your hand with a Grace would be plentiful over there’.
فَقَالَ ع يَا أَبَا الْحَارِثِ شَدَّ اللَّهُ رُكْنَكَ احْمِلْ عَلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ أَصْحَابَكَ فَتَقُولَ لَهُمْ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامَ وَ يَقُولُ لَكُمْ هَلِّلُوا وَ كَبِّرُوا مِنْ نَاحِيَتِكُمْ وَ نُهَلِّلُ وَ نُكَبِّرُ مِنْ نَاحِيَتِنَا وَ احْمِلُوا وَ نَحْمِلُ عَلَيْهِمْ
He-asws said: ‘O Abu Al-Haris! May Allah-azwj Strengthen your corner! Attack upon the people of Syria until your companions come to you, so you can be saying to them, ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws coveys the greetings to you, and is saying to you: ‘Exclaim the Oneness (There is no god except Allah-azwj) and the Greatness (Allah-azwj is the Greatest from your corner, and we shall exclaim the Oneness and the Greatness from our corner, and attack and we shall attack upon them’.
فَضَرَبَ الْجُعْفِيُّ فَرَسَهُ وَ قَاتَلَهُمْ حَتَّى خَلَصَ إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِ فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ اسْتَبْشَرُوا بِهِ وَ فَرِحُوا وَ قَالُوا مَا فَعَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ صَالِحٌ يُقْرِئُكُمُ السَّلَامَ وَ يَقُولُ هَلِّلُوا وَ كَبِّرُوا وَ احْمِلُوا حَمْلَةَ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ وَ نَحْمِلُ مِنْ جَانِبِنَا
Al-Ju’fy galloped his horse and fought them until he ended up to his companions. When they saw him, they rejoiced with him and were happy and said, ‘What happened to Amir Al-Momineen-asws?’ He-asws said: ‘Safe. He-asws conveys the greetings to you all and say: ‘Exclaim the oneness and the Greatness, and attack the attack of one man, and we shall attack from our side’’.
فَفَعَلُوا مَا أَمَرَهُمْ بِهِ وَ هَلَّلُوا وَ كَبَّرُوا وَ هَلَّلَ عَلِيٌّ وَ كَبَّرَ هُوَ وَ أَصْحَابُهُ وَ حَمَلَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ وَ حَمَلُوهُمْ مِنْ وَسْطِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَانْفَرَجَ الْقَوْمُ عَنْهُمْ وَ خَرَجُوا وَ مَا أُصِيبَ مِنْهُمْ رَجُلٌ وَاحِدٌ وَ لَقَدْ قُتِلَ مِنْ فُرْسَانِ الشَّامِ يَوْمَئِذٍ زُهَاءُ سَبْعِمِائَةِ نَفَرٍ
They did what he-asws had instructed them with, and they exclaimed the Oneness, and the Greatness, and Ali-asws exclaimed the Oneness and the Greatness, he-asws and his-asws companion, and attacked upon the people of Syria, and they attacked them from the middle of the people of Syria, and the people were cleft asunder from them, and they came out from, and not a single man from them was killed, and from the horsemen of Syria on that day were killed, around seven hundred persons.
وَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع مِنْ أَعْظَمِ النَّاسِ الْيَوْمَ عَنَاءً قَالَ وَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ لَا يَعْدِلُ بِرَبِيعَةَ أَحَداً مِنَ النَّاسِ فَشَقَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى مُضَرَ وَ أَظْهَرُوا لَهُمُ الْقَبِيحَ وَ أَبْدَوْا ذَاتَ أَنْفُسِهِمْ فَقَامَ أَبُو الطُّفَيْلِ عَامِرُ بْنُ وَاثِلَةَ وَ عُمَيْرُ بْنُ عُطَارِدٍ وَ قَبِيصَةُ بْنُ جَابِرٍ وَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الطُّفَيْلِ فِي وُجُوهِ قَبَائِلِهِمْ فَأَتَوْا عَلِيّاً ع
And Ali-asws was with the greatest of the pains from the people on that day, and Ali-asws did not used to equate anyone of the people with (tribe of) Rabie. That was grievous upon (tribe of) Muzar, and they revealed the ugliness to them, and manifest their true self. Abu Al-Tufay Aamir Bin Waasila, and Umeyr Bin Utarid, and Qabeesa Bin Jabir, and Abdullah Bin Al-Tufayl stood up among faces of their tribes and came to Ali-asws.
فَتَكَلَّمَ أَبُو الطُّفَيْلِ فَقَالَ إِنَّا وَ اللَّهِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا نَحْسُدُ قَوْماً خَصَّهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْكَ بِخَيْرٍ وَ إِنَّ هَذَا الْحَيَّ مِنْ رَبِيعَةَ قَدْ ظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ أَوْلَى بِكَ مِنَّا فَأَعْفِهِمْ عَنِ الْقِتَالِ أَيَّاماً وَ اجْعَلْ لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِنَّا يَوْماً نُقَاتِلُ فِيهِ فَإِنَّا إِذَا اجْتَمَعْنَا اشْتَبَهَ عَلَيْكَ بَلَاؤُنَا
Abu Al Tufay spoke. He said, ‘By Allah-azwj, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! we do not envy any people Allah-azwj has Specialised them with goodness from you-asws, and this tribe from Rabie, they are foremost with you-asws than we are. You-asws excused them from the fighting for days, and you-asws made a day to be for every person from us we should be fighting in. So, when we gather, we suspect our scourge to be upon you-asws’.
فَقَالَ ع نَعَمْ أُعْطِيكُمْ مَا طَلَبْتُمْ وَ أَمَرَ رَبِيعَةَ أَنْ تَكُفَّ عَنِ الْقِتَالِ وَ كَانَتْ بِإِزَاءِ الْيَمَنِ مِنْ صُفُوفِ الشَّامِ فَغَدَا أَبُو الطُّفَيْلِ فِي قَوْمِهِ مِنْ كِنَانَةَ وَ هُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ فَتَقَدَّمَ أَمَامَ الْخَيْلِ وَ اقْتَتَلُوا قِتَالًا شَدِيداً ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ خَيْراً
He-asws said: ‘Yes, I-asws shall give you what you are seeking’. And he-asws instructed Rabie to refrain from the fighting, and they were toward the right from the rows of Syria. The next morning Abu Al-Tufeyl went among his people from Jiana, and they are a large community. He advanced in front of the cavalry and fought a severe battle, then left to go to Ali-asws, and he-asws praised goodly upon him.
ثُمَّ غَدَا فِي الْيَوْمِ الثَّانِي عُمَيْرُ بْنُ عُطَارِدٍ بِجَمَاعَةٍ مِنْ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ وَ هُوَ يَوْمَئِذٍ سَيِّدُ مُضَرِ كُوفَةَ فَقَاتَلَ أَصْحَابُهُ قِتَالًا شَدِيداً ثُمَّ غَدَا فِي الْيَوْمِ الثَّالِثِ قَبِيصَةُ فِي بَنِي أَسَدٍ فَقَاتَلَ الْقَوْمَ إِلَى أَنْ دَخَلَ اللَّيْلُ ثُمَّ غَدَا فِي الْيَوْمِ الرَّابِعِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الطُّفَيْلِ فِي جَمَاعَةِ هَوَازِنَ فَحَارَبَهُمْ حَتَّى اللَّيْلِ فَانْصَرَفُوا
Then, next morning during the second day, Umeyr Bin Utarid went with a group from the clan of Tameem, and on that day he was a chief of city of Kufa. He fought a severe battle his morning. Then in the morning of the third day, it was Qabeesa among the clan of Asad. He fought the people until the night entered. Then in the morning of the fourth day, Abdullah Bin Al-Tufayl went among a community of Hawazin and battled them until night. Then they left’.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ كَتَبَ عُقْبَةُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ عَامِلُ عَلِيٍّ ع عَلَى الْكُوفَةِ إِلَى سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ صُرَدَ الْخُزَاعِيِّ وَ هُوَ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ ع أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَ إِنَّهُمْ إِنْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي مِلَّتِهِمْ وَ لَنْ تُفْلِحُوا إِذاً أَبَداً فَعَلَيْكَ بِالْجِهَادِ وَ الصَّبْرِ مَعَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ السَّلَامُ.
Nasr said, ‘And Uqba Bin Maroud, governor of Ali-asws upon Al-Kufa wrote to Suleyman Bin Surad Al-Khuzaie, and he was with Ali-asws, ‘As for after, They, if they prevail upon you, they would stone you or return you into their religion, and then you will never succeed, ever!’ [18:20]. So, upon you is the Jihad, and the patience with Amir Al-Momineen-asws. And the greetings’’.[28]
420- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ وَ عَمْرُو بْنُ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ: قَامَ عَلِيٌّ ع فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ بِصِفِّينَ فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ الْفَاضِلَةِ عَلَى جَمِيعِ مَنْ خَلَقَ مِنَ الْبَرِّ وَ الْفَاجِرِ وَ عَلَى حُجَجِهِ الْبَالِغَةِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ مَنْ أَطَاعَهُ مِنْهُمْ وَ مَنْ عَصَاهُ
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to us by Umar Bin Sa’ad, and Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir,
‘From Abu Ja’far-asws having said: ‘Ali-asws stood up and addressed the people at Siffeen. He-asws said: ‘The Praise is for Allah-azwj upon His-azwj bounties, the Grace upon the entirety of the creatures, from the righteous and the immoral, and upon His-azwj Conclusive Arguments upon His-azwj creatures, one from them who obey and the one who disobey Him-asws.
إِنْ يَرْحَمْ فَبِفَضْلِهِ وَ مَنِّهِ وَ إِنْ عَذَّبَ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ أَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى حُسْنِ الْبَلَاءِ وَ تَظَاهُرِ النَّعْمَاءِ وَ أَسْتَعِينُهُ عَلَى مَا نَابَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ أَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْهِ وَ كَفى بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلًا
If He-azwj is Merciful, it is due to His-azwj Grace and His-azwj Conferment, and if He-azwj Punishes, it is due to what their own hands have wrought, and that Allah is not in the least unjust to the servants [3:182]. I-asws praise Him-azwj upon the excellent Trials, and Manifestation of the Bounties, and His-azwj Assistance what is with us from the matters of the world and the Hereafter. And I-asws rely upon Him-azwj, and suffice with Allah as a Protector [4:81].
ثُمَّ إِنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ أَرْسَلَهُ بِالْهُدى وَ دِينِ الْحَقِّ* ارْتَضَاهُ لِذَلِكَ وَ كَانَ أَهْلَهُ وَ اصْطَفَاهُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ الْعِبَادِ لِتَبْلِيغِ رِسَالَتِهِ وَ جَعَلَهُ رَحْمَةً مِنْهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ
Then, I-asws testify that there is no god except Allah-azwj Alone, there is no associate for, and I testify that Muhammad-saww is His-azwj servant and His-azwj Rasool-saww. He-azwj Sent him-saww with the guidance and religion of the truth, pleased with him-saww for that, and he-saww was its rightful, and Chose him-saww over the entirety of the servants to deliver His-azwj Message, and Made him-saww a Mercy from Him-azwj upon His-azwj creatures.
وَ كَانَ كَعِلْمِهِ فِيهِ رَءُوفاً رَحِيماً أَكْرَمَ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ حَسَباً وَ أَجْمَلَهُ مَنْظَراً وَ أَسْخَاهُ نَفْساً وَ أَبَرَّهُ بِوَالِدٍ وَ أَوْصَلَهُ لِرَحِمٍ وَ أَفْضَلَهُ عِلْماً وَ أَثْقَلَهُ حِلْماً وَ أَوْفَاهُ بِعَهْدٍ وَ آمَنَهُ عَلَى عَقْدٍ
And he-saww was His-azwj Knowledge in it, kind, merciful, most prestigious of the creatures of Allah-azwj of lineage, and most beautiful in appearance, and most generous of self, and kindest with a parent, the most connecting with a relative, and most superior of knowledge, and heaviest in forbearance, and most loyal with a pact, and most trusting upon an agreement.
لَمْ يَتَعَلَّقْ عَلَيْهِ مُسْلِمٌ وَ لَا كَافِرٌ بِمَظْلِمَةٍ قَطُّ بَلْ كَانَ يُظْلَمُ فَيَغْفِرُ وَ يَقْدِرُ فَيَصْفَحُ فَيَعْفُو حَتَّى مَضَى ص مُطِيعاً لِلَّهِ صَابِراً عَلَى مَا أَصَابَهُ مُجَاهِداً فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهادِهِ حَتَّى أَتَاهُ الْيَقِينُ ص فَكَانَ ذَهَابُهُ أَعْظَمَ الْمُصِيبَةِ عَلَى جَمِيعِ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ الْبَرِّ وَ الْفَاجِرِ
Neither any Muslim nor a Kafir could attach any wrongdoing upon him-saww at all. But he-saww was wronged and he-saww forgave, and he-asws was powerful and he-saww excuse until he-saww passed away, obedient to Allah-azwj upon what had afflicted him, a fighter for the Sake of Allah-azwj as is the right of its fighting, until the certainty (death) came to him-saww. His-saww passing away was the biggest calamity upon the entirety of the people of the earth, the righteous and the immoral.
ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ تَرَكَ فِيكُمْ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ يَأْمُرُكُمْ بِطَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَ يَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْ مَعْصِيَتِهِ وَ قَدْ عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَهْداً فَلَسْتُ أَحِيدُ عَنْهُ وَ قَدْ حَضَرْتُمْ عَدُوَّكُمْ وَ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّ رَئِيسَهُمْ مُنَافِقُ بْنُ مُنَافِقٍ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى النَّارِ وَ ابْنُ عَمِّ نَبِيِّكُمْ مَعَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِكُمْ يَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَ إِلَى طَاعَةِ رَبِّكُمْ وَ الْعَمَلِ بِسُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكُمْ
Then he-saww left behind among you all the Book of Allah-azwj, Commanding you with obeying Allah-azwj and Forbidding you from disobeying Him-azwj; and Rasool-Allah-saww had made a pact to me-asws and I-asws didn’t depart from it, and your enemies have presented to you. And you know that their chief is a hypocrite, son of a hypocrite, calling them to the Fire, and the son-asws of an uncle-as of your Prophet-saww is with you and in your midst, calling you to the Paradise, and to obey your Lord-azwj and working with the Sunnah of your Prophet-saww.
وَ لَا سَوَاءَ مَنْ صَلَّى قَبْلَ كُلِّ ذَكَرٍ لَمْ يَسْبِقْنِي بِالصَّلَاةِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أَحَدٌ وَ أَنَا مِنْ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ وَ مُعَاوِيَةُ طَلِيقُ بْنُ طَلِيقٍ
And they are not the same, one who prayed Salat before every remembrance (of Allah-azwj). No one preceded me-asws with the Salat with Rasool-Allah-saww, and I-asws am a participant of Badr while Muawiya is a freed one (at the conquest of Makkah), son of a freed one.
وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا عَلَى الْحَقِّ وَ إِنَّهُمْ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ وَ لَا يَجْتَمِعُنَّ عَلَيْهِ وَ تَتَفَرَّقُوا عَنْ حَقِّكُمْ حَتَّى يَغْلِبَ بَاطِلُهُمْ حَقَّكُمْ قاتِلُوهُمْ يُعَذِّبْهُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا لَيُعَذِّبَنَّهُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَيْدِي غَيْرِكُمْ
By Allah-azwj! We are upon the truth and they are upon the falsehood and they will not unite upon it and you will not separate from your rights until their falsehood is overcome by your truth. Fight them, Allah will Punish them by your hands [9:14]. So, if you do not do it, then Allah-azwj would Punish them by the hands of others’.
فَقَامَ أَصْحَابُهُ فَقَالُوا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع انْهَضْ بِنَا إِلَى عَدُوِّنَا وَ عَدُوِّكَ إِذَا شِئْتَ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا نُرِيدُ بِكَ بَدَلًا بَلْ نَمُوتُ مَعَكَ وَ نَحْيَا مَعَكَ
His-asws companions stood up and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Get up with us to our enemies and your-asws enemies, whenever you desire, for by Allah-azwj we do not want any replacement with you-asws (with someone else). But, we shall die with you-asws and live with you-asws’.
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ وَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَنَظَرَ إِلَيَّ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ أَضْرِبُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِسَيْفِي هَذَا فَقَالَ لَا سَيْفَ إِلَّا ذُو الْفَقَارِ وَ لَا فَتَى إِلَّا عَلِيٌّ
He-asws said to them: ‘By the One-azwj in Whose Hand is my-asws soul! The Prophet-saww was looking at me-asws and I-asws was striking in front of him-asws with this sword of mine-asws. He-saww said: ‘There is neither any sword except Zulfiqar nor any youth (Momin) except Ali-asws’.
فَقَالَ لِي يَا عَلِيُّ أَنْتَ مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَا نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي وَ مَوْتُكَ وَ حَيَاتُكَ يَا عَلِيُّ مَعِي
He-saww said to me-asws: ‘O Ali-asws! You-asws are from me-saww at the status of Haroun-as from Musa-as, except there would be no Prophet-as after me-saww, and your-asws expire and your-asws life, O Ali-asws, is with me-saww.
وَ اللَّهِ مَا كَذَبْتُ وَ لَا كُذِبْتُ وَ لَا ضَلَلْتُ وَ لَا ضُلَّ بِي وَ لَا نَسِيتُ مَا عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ وَ إِنِّي عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّي وَ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ الْوَاضِحِ أَلْقُطُهُ لَقْطاً
By Allah-azwj! Neither am I-asws lying nor have I-asws been lied to, and neither am I-asws straying nor has there been a straying with me-asws, nor have I-asws forgotten what pact had been made to me-asws, and I-asws am upon a proof from my-asws Lord-azwj and upon the clear path. I-asws was (like) a chick to him-saww taking from its mother’.
ثُمَّ نَهَضَ إِلَى الْقَوْمِ فَاقْتَتَلُوا مِنْ حِينَ طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ حَتَّى غَابَ الشَّفَقُ الْأَحْمَرُ وَ مَا كَانَتْ صَلَاةُ الْقَوْمِ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ إِلَّا تَكْبِيراً.
Then he-asws got up to the people and they fought from when the sun emerged until the twilight redness disappeared, and there was no Salat of the people during that day except exclamations of Takbeer’’.[29]
421- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ عَنْ صَعْصَعَةَ بْنِ صُوحَانَ قَالَ: بَرَزَ فِي أَيَّامِ صِفِّينَ رَجُلٌ اشْتَهَرَ بِالْبَأْسِ وَ النَّجْدَةِ اسْمُهُ كُرَيْبُ بْنُ الْوَضَّاحِ فَنَادَى مَنْ يُبَارِزُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ الْمُرْتَفِعُ بْنُ الْوَضَّاحِ فَقَتَلَهُ ثُمَّ نَادَى مَنْ يُبَارِزُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ الْحَارِثُ بْنُ الْجَلَّاحِ فَقَتَلَهُ ثُمَّ نَادَى مَنْ يُبَارِزُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ عَائِذُ بْنُ مَسْرُوقٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ فَقَتَلَهُ ثُمَّ رَمَى بِأَجْسَادِهِمْ بَعْضَهَا فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ وَ نَادَى مَنْ يُبَارِزُ
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to us by Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir, from Al Shaie, from Sa’sa’a Bin Sowhan who said,
‘A man came out during the days of Siffeen, famous of the prowess and the courage. His name was Kureyb Bin Al-Wassah. He called out, ‘Who will duel?’ Al-Murtaqie Bin Al-Wazzah came out to him, but he killed him. Then he called out, ‘Who will duel?’ Al-Haris Bin Al-Jallah came out to him, but he killed him. Then he called out, ‘Who will duel?’ Aaiz Bin Masrouq Al-Hamdany came out to him, but he killed him. Then he threw their bodies above each other and called out, ‘Who will duel?’
فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ عَلِيٌّ ع وَ نَادَاهُ وَيْحَكَ يَا كُرَيْبُ إِنِّي أُحَذِّرُكَ اللَّهَ وَ بَأْسَهُ وَ نَقِمَتَهُ وَ أَدْعُوكَ إِلَى سُنَّةِ اللَّهِ وَ سُنَّةِ رَسُولِهِ وَيْحَكَ لَا يُدْخِلَنَّكَ مُعَاوِيَةُ النَّارَ
Ali-asws came out to him and called out to him: ‘Woe be unto you, O Kureyb! I-asws caution you of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Prowess, and His-azwj Punishment, and I-asws call you to Sunnah of Allah-azwj and Sunnah of His-azwj Rasool-saww! Woe be unto you! Do not let Muawiya enter you into the Fire!’
فَكَانَ جَوَابَهُ أَنْ قَالَ مَا أَكْثَرَ مَا قَدْ سَمِعْتُ مِنْكَ هَذِهِ الْمَقَالَةَ وَ لَا حَاجَةَ لَنَا فِيهَا أَقْدِمْ إِذَا شِئْتَ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي سَيَفِي وَ هَذَا أَثَرُهُ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ وَ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ ثُمَّ مَشَى إِلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يُمْهِلْهُ أَنْ ضَرَبَهُ ضَرْبَةً خَرَّ مِنْهَا قَتِيلًا يَتَشَحَّطُ فِي دَمِهِ
His answer was that he said, ‘How many times I have heard these words from you-asws, and there is no need for us regarding these. Come forwards whenever you-asws like. Who will buy my sword, and this is its effect?’ Ali-asws said: ‘And there is neither any might nor strength except with Allah-azwj’. Then he-asws walked towards him and did not respite him, and struck him such a strike, he fell from it slayed, smeared in his blood.
ثُمَّ نَادَى مَنْ يُبَارِزُ فَبَرَزَ إِلَيْهِ الْحَارِثُ بْنُ وَدَاعَةَ الْحِمْيَرِيُّ فَقَتَلَ الْحَارِثَ ثُمَّ نَادَى مَنْ يُبَارِزُ فَبَرَزَ إِلَيْهِ الْمُطَاعُ بْنُ الْمُطَّلِبِ الْقَيْنِيُّ فَقَتَلَ مُطَاعاً ثُمَّ نَادَى مَنْ يَبْرُزُ فَلَمْ يَبْرُزْ إِلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ
Then he-asws called out: ‘Who will duel?’ Al-Haris Bin Wada’at came out to him-asws. Al Haris was killed. Then he-asws called out: ‘Who will duel?’ Al-Muta’a Bin Al-Muttalib Al-Qayni came out to him. Muta’a was killed. Then he-asws called out: ‘Who will come for duel?’ But no one came to him-asws.
فَنَادَى الشَّهْرُ الْحَرامُ بِالشَّهْرِ الْحَرامِ وَ الْحُرُماتُ قِصاصٌ فَمَنِ اعْتَدى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُوا عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدى عَلَيْكُمْ وَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ هَلُمَّ إِلَيَّ فَبَارِزْنِي وَ لَا يُقْتَلَنَّ النَّاسُ فِيمَا بَيْنَنَا
He-asws called out: The Sacred Month with the sacred Month and the Sacred things are (subject to) retaliation; So the one who assaults upon you, then assault upon him with the like of what he assaulted upon you; and fear Allah and know that Allah is with the fearing ones [2:194]. O Muawiya! Come to me-asws and duel me-asws, and do not kill the people regarding what is between us two!’
فَقَالَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ اغْتَنِمْهُ مُنْتَهِزاً قَدْ قَتَلَ ثَلَاثَةً مِنْ أَبْطَالِ الْعَرَبِ وَ إِنِّي أَطْمَعُ أَنْ يُظْفِرَكَ اللَّهُ بِهِ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ اللَّهِ لَنْ تُرِيدَ إِلَّا أَنْ أُقْتَلَ فَتُصِيبَ الْخِلَافَةَ بَعْدِي اذْهَبْ إِلَيْكَ فَلَيْسَ مِثْلِي يُخْدَعُ
Amro Bin Al-Aas said seizing the advantage, ‘Three from the heroes of Arabs have been killed and I wish that Allah-azwj will Cause you to triumph with it’. Muawiya said, ‘By Allah-azwj! You will never want except that I be killed, so you can attain the caliphate after me going to you. The likes of me will not be deceived’’.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ خَطَبَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ وَ قَالَ بَعْدَ الْحَمْدِ وَ الثَّنَاءِ وَ الشَّهَادَةِ بِالتَّوْحِيدِ وَ الرِّسَالَةِ وَ قَدْ سَاقَنَا قَدَرُ اللَّهِ إِلَى مَا تَرَوْنَ حَتَّى كَانَ مِمَّا اضْطَرَبَ مِنْ حَبْلِ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ وَ انْتَشَرَ مِنْ أَمْرِهَا أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ وَجَدَ مِنْ طَغَامِ النَّاسِ أَعْوَاناً عَلَى ابْنِ عَمِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ صِهْرِهِ وَ أَوَّلِ ذَكَرٍ صَلَّى مَعَهُ بَدْرِيٍّ
Nasr (the reporter) said, ‘And Abdullah Bin Al-Abbas addressed during this day and said after the praise and the extolling, and the testimony with the Tawheed, and the Messenger-ship, ‘And Allah-azwj has Ushered us to a extent of what you can see until it happened from what shook from the rope of this community and scattered from its affairs. Muawiya Bin Abu Sufyan has found supporters from the tyrannical people against a son-asws of an uncle-as of Rasool-Allah-saww, and his-saww son-asws in law, and the first mentioned to have prayed Salat with him-saww, a participant of Badr.
قَدْ شَهِدَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص كُلَّ مَشَاهِدِهِ الَّتِي مِنْهَا الْفَضْلُ وَ مُعَاوِيَةُ مُشْرِكٌ يَعْبُدُ الْأَصْنَامَ وَ الَّذِي مَلَكَ الْمُلْكَ وَحْدَهُ وَ بَانَ بِهِ وَ كَانَ أَهْلَهُ لَقَدْ قَاتَلَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ مُعَاوِيَةُ يَقُولُ كَذَبَ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ
He-asws has attended with Rasool-Allah-saww, every battle from which is the merit, and Muawiya was a Polytheist worshipping the idols. By the One-azwj Who Owns the kingdom Alone, and Manages it! Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws has fought along with Rasool-Allah-saww and he-asws was saying, ‘Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww spoke the truth’, while Muawiya was saying, ‘Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww have lied’.
فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ الْجِدِّ وَ الْحَزْمِ وَ الصَّبْرِ وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكُمْ لَعَلَى حَقٍّ وَ إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ لَعَلَى بَاطِلٍ فَلَا يَكُونَنَّ أَوْلَى بِالْجِدِّ عَلَى بَاطِلِهِمْ مِنْكُمْ فِي حَقِّكُمْ وَ إِنَّا لَنَعْلَمُ أَنْ سَيُعَذِّبَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ أَوْ بِأَيْدِي غَيْرِكُمْ اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنَّا وَ لَا تَخْذُلْنَا وَ انْصُرْنَا عَلَى عَدُوِّنَا وَ لَا تَخْلُ عَنَّا وَ افْتَحْ بَيْنَنا وَ بَيْنَ قَوْمِنا بِالْحَقِّ وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْفاتِحِينَ.
Upon you all is to be with the fear of Allah-azwj, and the seriousness, and the determination, and the patience. By Allah-azwj! You are upon truth and the people are upon the falsehood, so they should not become first with the seriousness upon their falsehood than you are in your right, and we know that Allah-azwj will be Punishment by your hands, or by the hands of others. O Allah-azwj! Assist us and do not Forsake us, and Help us against our enemies, and do not Leave us alone, and ‘Our Lord! Decide between us and our people with the Truth, and You are the best of the deciders’’ [7:89]’’.[30]
422- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ جُنْدَبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: قَامَ عَمَّارٌ يَوْمَ صِفِّينَ فَقَالَ انْهَضُوا مَعِي عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِلَى قَوْمٍ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يَطْلُبُونَ بِدَمِ الظَّالِمِ لِنَفْسِهِ الْحَاكِمِ عَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ مَا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا قَتَلَهُ الصَّالِحُونَ الْمُنْكِرُونَ لِلْعُدْوَانِ الْآمِرُونَ بِالْإِحْسَانِ
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to us by Amro, from Abdul Rahman Bin Jundab Bin Abdullah who said,
‘Ammar stood up on the day of Siffeen. He said, ‘Get up with me, servants of Allah-azwj, to a people claiming they are seeking blood of the oppressor for himself, the decider upon servants of Allah-azwj with other than what is in the Book of Allah-azwj! But rather, the righteous ones had killed him, the denies of the aggression of the rulers by the good deeds’.
فَقَالُوا هَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ لَا يُبَالُونَ إِذَا سَلِمَتْ لَهُمْ دُنْيَاهُمْ لَوْ دَرَسَ هَذَا الدِّينُ لِمَ قَتَلْتُمُوهُ فَقُلْنَا لِأَحْدَاثِهِ فَقَالُوا إِنَّهُ لَمْ يُحْدِثْ شَيْئاً وَ ذَلِكَ لِأَنَّهُ مَكَّنَهُمْ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا فَهُمْ يَأْكُلُونَهَا وَ يَرْعَوْنَهَا وَ لَا يُبَالُونَ لَوِ انْهَدَمَتِ الْجِبَالُ
They said, ‘They are those not caring when their world is submitted to them. If they had learnt this religion, they would not have killed him. We said, ‘((Usman) was killed) for his innovations’. They said, ‘He did not innovate anything’, and that is because he had enabled them from the word, and they were consuming it and he was taking care of them, and they did not care even if the mountain had been demolished.
وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَظُنُّهُمْ يَطْلُبُونَ بِدَمٍ إِنَّهُمْ لَيَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّهُ لَظَالِمٌ وَ لَكِنَّ الْقَوْمَ دَانُوا لِلدُّنْيَا فَاسْتَحَبُّوهَا وَ اسْتَمْرَءُوهَا وَ عَلِمُوا أَنَّ صَاحِبَ الْحَقِّ لَوْ وَلِيَهُمْ لَحَالَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَ بَيْنَ مَا يَأْكُلُونَ وَ يَرْعَوْنَ مِنْهَا
By Allah-azwj! What are their thoughts seeking the blood they know he was an oppressor, but the people made it to be a religion for the world, so they loved it and looked after it, and they knew that if they had made the owner of the right to be the ruler, he would have been a barrier between them and what they are consuming and being nourished from it.
إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ لَمْ تَكُنْ لَهُمْ سَابِقَةٌ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ يَسْتَحِقُّونَ بِهَا الطَّاعَةَ وَ الْوَلَايَةَ فَخَدَعُوا أَتْبَاعَهُمْ بِأَنْ قَالُوا قُتِلَ إِمَامُنَا مَظْلُوماً لِيَكُونُوا بِذَلِكَ جَبَابِرَةً وَ مُلُوكاً تِلْكَ مَكِيدَةٌ قَدْ بَلَغُوا بِهَا مَا تَرَوْنَ وَ لَوْلَاهَا مَا بَايَعَهُمْ مِنَ النَّاسِ رَجُلَانِ
The people, there does not happen to be for them any precedence in Al-Islam they would be deserving the obedience due to it and the governance. So, they deceived their followers by saying, ‘Our leader has been killed as an oppressed!’, in order to become tyrants and kings with that. That is what the plots have reached with it, what you can see, and had it not been for that, no two men would have pledged allegiance to them.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ تَنْصُرْنَا فَطَالَ مَا نَصَرْتَ وَ إِنْ تَجْعَلْ لَهُمُ الْأَمْرَ فَادَّخِرْ لَهُمْ بِمَا أَحْدَثُوا لِعِبَادِكَ الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ
O Allah-azwj! If You-azwj Help us, then prolong the Help what You-azwj can, and if You-azwj Make the command to be for them, then Reserve for them the painful Punishment due to what they have innovated for Your-azwj servants’.
ثُمَّ مَضَى وَ مَضَى مَعَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ فَدَنَا مِنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ فَقَالَ يَا عَمْرُو بِعْتَ دِينَكَ بِمِصْرَ فَتَبّاً لَكَ فَطَالَ مَا بَغَيْتَ الْإِسْلَامَ عِوَجاً
Then he went, and his companions went with him. He approached Amro Bin Al-Aas and said, ‘O Amro! You sold your religion in Egypt, so perdition be for you! For long you have been making crookedness in Al-Islam’’.
وَ فِي كِتَابِ نَصْرٍ ثُمَّ نَادَى عَمَّارٌ عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ وَ ذَلِكَ قَبْلَ مَقْتَلِهِ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ عُمَرَ صَرَعَكَ اللَّهُ بِعْتَ دِينَكَ بِالدُّنْيَا مِنْ عَدُوِّ اللَّهِ وَ عَدُوِّ الْإِسْلَامِ قَالَ كَلَّا وَ لَكِنِّي أَطْلُبُ بِدَمِ عُثْمَانَ الشَّهِيدِ الْمَظْلُومِ
And in the book of Nasr (the reporter), ‘Then Ammar called out to Ubeydullah Bin Umar, and that is before his killing. He said, ‘O Ibn Umar! May Allah-azwj Slay you! You have sold your religion for the world from an enemy of Allah-azwj and enemy of Al-Islam’. He said, ‘Never! But I seek the blood of Usman, the martyr, the oppressed’.
قَالَ كَلَّا أَشْهَدُ عَلَى عِلْمِي فِيكَ أَنَّكَ أَصْبَحْتَ لَا تَطْلُبُ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ فِعْلِكَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ وَ أَنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تُقْتَلِ الْيَوْمَ فَتَمُوتُ غَداً فَانْظُرْ إِذَا أَعْطَى اللَّهُ الْعِبَادَ عَلَى نِيَّاتِهِمْ مَا نِيَّتُكَ
He said, ‘Never! I testify upon my knowledge regarding you, you have become not seeking the Face of Allah-azwj with any of your deeds, and you, if you are not killed today, then you will be dying tomorrow, so consider, when Allah-azwj Gives the servants based upon their intentions, what your intention is’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي لَوْ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ رِضَاكَ فِي أَنْ أَقْذِفَ بِنَفْسِي فِي هَذَا الْبَحْرِ لَفَعَلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي لَوْ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ رِضَاكَ فِي أَنْ أَضَعَ ظُبَةَ سَيَفِي فِي بَطْنِي ثُمَّ أَنْحَنِيَ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ مِنْ ظَهْرِي لَفَعَلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مِمَّا عَلَّمْتَنِي أَنِّي لَا أَعْمَلُ عَمَلًا الْيَوْمَ هَذَا هُوَ أَرْضَى لَكَ مِنْ جِهَادِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَاسِطِينَ وَ لَوْ أَعْلَمُ الْيَوْمَ عَمَلًا هُوَ أَرْضَى لَكَ مِنْهُ لَفَعَلْتُهُ.
Then he said, ‘O Allah-azwj! You knew that your pleasure is in my throwing myself into this sea, I would do so. O Allah-azwj! You-azwj Know, if I knew that Your-azwj View is in my inserting my sword in my stomach, then press upon it until it comes out from my back, I would do so. O Allah-azwj! If I knew from what You-azwj have Taught me that I should not do any deed this day, it is a Pleasure for You-azwj, from fighting these deviants, and if I knew of any deed today as being of Pleasure to You-azwj from it, I would do it’’.[31]
423- وَ رَوَى ابْنُ دَيْزِيلَ فِي كِتَابِ صِفِّينَ عَنْ سَيْفٍ الضَّبِّيِّ عَنِ الصَّعْبِ بْنِ حَكِيمِ بْنِ شَرِيكِ بْنِ نَمْلَةَ الْمُحَارِبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ شَرِيكٍ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّاسُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ يَقْتَتِلُونَ أَيَّامَ صِفِّينَ وَ يَتَزَايَلُونَ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُ الرَّجُلُ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَى مَكَانِهِ حَتَّى يُسْفِرَ الْغُبَارُ عَنْهُ فَاقْتَتَلُوا يَوْماً وَ أَسْفَرَ الْغُبَارُ فَإِذَا عَلِيٌّ ع تَحْتَ رَايَتِنَا يَعْنِي بَنِي مُحَارِبٍ
And it is reported by Ibn Deyzil in Kitab Siffeen, from Sayf Al Zaby, from Al Sa’ab Bin Hakeem Bin Shareek Bin Namlah Al Muhariby, from his father, from his grandfather Shareek who said,
‘The people from the people of Al-Iraq and the people of Syrian were battling during the days of Siffeen, and were dispersing, and the man was not able to return to his place until dust settled from him. They fought one day and the dust settled, there was Ali-asws beneath our flag, meaning of the clan of Muharib.
فَقَالَ هَلْ مِنْ مَاءٍ فَأَتَيْتُهُ بِإِدَاوَةٍ فَخَنَثْتُهَا لَهُ لِيَشْرَبَ فَقَالَ لَا إِنَّا نُهِينَا أَنْ نَشْرَبَ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِ الْأَسْقِيَةِ ثُمَّ عَلَّقَ سَيْفَهُ وَ إِنَّهُ لَمُخَضَّبٌ بِالدَّمِ مِنْ ظُبَتِهِ إِلَى قَائِمِهِ فَصَبَبْتُ لَهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ فَغَسَلَهُمَا حَتَّى أَنْقَاهُمَا
He-asws said: ‘Is there any water?’ So, I gave it to him-asws in a waterskin and held it for him-asws to be drinking. He-asws said: ‘No, we-asws are forbidden from the mouth of containers. Then he-asws suspended his-asws sword, and it was dyed (red) with the blood from its end to its hilt. So, I poured it out for him upon his-asws hands, and he-asws washed them until they were clean.
ثُمَّ شَرِبَ بِيَدَيْهِ حَتَّى إِذَا رَوِيَ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيْنَ مُضَرَ فَقُلْتُ أَنْتَ فِيهِمْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ مَنْ أَنْتُمْ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ فِيكُمْ فَقُلْنَا نَحْنُ بَنُو مُحَارِبٍ فَعَرَفَ مَوْقِفَهُ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى مَوْضِعِهِ.
Then he-asws drank with his-asws hands, until when he-asws was saturated, he-asws raised his-asws head, then said: ‘Where are Muzar?’ I said, ‘You are among them, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws’. He-asws said: ‘Who are you, may Allah-azwj Bless you all’. We said, ‘We are the clan of Muharib’. He-asws recognised his-asws position, then he-asws returned to his place’’.[32]
424- قَالَ وَ رَوَى نَصْرُ بْنُ مُزَاحِمٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ يَعْلَى عَنْ صَبَّاحٍ الْمُزَنِيِّ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ حَصِيرَةَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَبِي رَجَاءٍ عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ الْفَزَارِيِّ قَالَ: كُنَّا بِصِفِّينَ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ تَحْتَ رَايَةِ عَمَّارِ بْنِ يَاسِرٍ ارْتِفَاعَ الضُّحَى وَ قَدِ اسْتَظْلَلْنَا بِرِدَاءٍ أَحْمَرَ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمْ عَمَّارُ بْنُ يَاسِرٍ فَقَالَ أَنَا عَمَّارٌ قَالَ أَبُو الْيَقْظَانِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ إِنَّ لِي إِلَيْكَ حَاجَةً فَأَنْطِقُ بِهَا سِرّاً أَوْ عَلَانِيَةً قَالَ اخْتَرْ لِنَفْسِكَ أَيَّهُمَا شِئْتَ قَالَ لَا بَلْ عَلَانِيَةً قَالَ فَانْطِقْ
He said, ‘And it is reported by Nasr Bin Muzahim, from Yahya Bin Ya’la, from Sabbah Al Muzanny, from Al Haris Bin Haseyra, from Zayd Bin Abu Raja’a, from Asma’a Bin Hakeem Al Fuzari who said,
‘We were are Siffeen with Ali-asws beneath the flag of Ammar Bin Yasser, at the rising of the brightness (of the day), and we were shade by a red cloak, when a man came and said, ‘Which one of you is Ammar Bin Yasser?’ He said, ‘I am Ammar’. He said, ‘Abu Al-Yaqzan?’ He said, ‘Yes’. He said, ‘There is a need for me to you, so I can either speak with it privately or openly’. He said, ‘Choose for yourself whichever of the two you like’. He said, ‘No, but openly’. He said, ‘Talk!’
قَالَ إِنِّي خَرَجْتُ مِنْ أَهْلِي مُسْتَبْصِراً فِي الْحَقِّ الَّذِي نَحْنُ عَلَيْهِ لَا أَشُكُّ فِي ضَلَالَةِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ وَ أَنَّهُمْ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَلَمْ أَزَلْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ مُسْتَبْصِراً حَتَّى لَيْلَتِي هَذِهِ فَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ فِي مَقَامِي هَذَا تَقَدَّمَ مُنَادِينَا فَقَامَ وَ أَذَّنَ وَ شَهِدَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ نَادَى بِالصَّلَاةِ وَ الْفَلَاحِ وَ نَادَى مُنَادِيهِمْ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ
He said, ‘I came out from my family insightful regarding the truth which we are upon. I had no doubt regarding the straying of these people, and they are upon the falsehood. I have not ceased to be insightful upon that until this night of mine, for I saw a flag in this position of mine, a caller came out calling out to us. He stood and proclaimed Azaan, and testified that there is no god except Allah-azwj and that Muhammad-saww is Rasool-Allah-saww, and called for the Salat, and the success, and their caller called them with similar to that.
ثُمَّ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَصَلَّيْنَا صَلَاةً وَاحِدَةً وَ تَلَوْنَا كِتَاباً وَاحِداً وَ دَعَوْنَا دَعْوَةً وَاحِدَةً وَ رَسُولُنَا وَاحِدٌ فَأَدْرَكَنِي الشَّكُّ فِي لَيْلَتِي هَذِهِ فَبِتُّ بِلَيْلَةٍ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا اللَّهُ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ فَأَتَيْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ هَلْ لَقِيتَ عَمَّارَ بْنَ يَاسِرٍ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ فَالْقَهُ فَانْظُرْ مَا يَقُولُ لَكَ فَاتَّبِعْهُ فَجِئْتُكَ لِذَلِكَ
Then Salat was established (by Iqamah), and we prayed one (and the same) Salat, and we are reciting one Book, and calling one call, and our Rasool-saww is one. So, the doubt came across me during this night of mine, and I spent the night, no one knows how except Allah-azwj, until it was morning. Then I came to Amir Al-Momineen-asws and mentioned that to him-asws. He-asws said: ‘Have you met Ammar Bin Yasser?’ I said, ‘No’. He-asws said: ‘Meet him, and consider what he is saying to you’. I followed him-asws and came to you for that’.
فَقَالَ عَمَّارٌ تَعْرِفُ صَاحِبَ الرَّايَةِ السَّوْدَاءِ الْمُقَابِلَةِ لِي وَ أَوْمَأَ إِلَى رَايَةِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَاتَلْتُهَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مَرَّاتٍ وَ هَذِهِ الرَّابِعَةُ فَمَا هِيَ بِخَيْرِهِنَّ وَ لَا أَبَرِّهِنَّ بَلْ هِيَ شَرُّهُنَّ وَ أَفْجَرُهُنَّ أَ شَهِدْتَ بَدْراً وَ أُحُداً وَ يَوْمَ حُنَيْنٍ أَوْ شَهِدَهَا أَبٌ لَكَ فَيُخْبِرَهَا لَكَ قَالَ لَا
Ammar said, ‘Do you know the bearer of the black flag facing me-asws?’, and he gestured to a flag of Amro Bin Al-Aas. I had fought it at times with Rasool-Allah-saww, and these here are (people of) Rabie. Neither are they the best of them, nor am I the most righteous of them, but it (black flag) is their most evil and most immoral. I witnessed Badr, and Ohad, and day of Hunayn, or is there a father of yours who had witnessed it and he can inform it to you?’ He said, ‘No’.
قَالَ فَإِنَّ مَرَاكِزَنَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَى مَرَاكِزِ رَايَاتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ وَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ وَ يَوْمَ حُنَيْنٍ وَ إِنَّ مَرَاكِزَ هَؤُلَاءِ عَلَى مَرَاكِزِ رَايَاتِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ مِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ فَهَلْ تَرَى هَذَا الْعَسْكَرَ وَ مَنْ فِيهِ وَ اللَّهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ جَمِيعَ مَنْ أَقْبَلَ فِيهِ مَعَ مُعَاوِيَةَ مِمَّنْ يُرِيدُ قِتَالَنَا مُفَارِقاً لِلَّذِي نَحْنُ عَلَيْهِ كَانُوا خَلْقاً وَاحِداً فَقَطَعْتُهُ وَ ذَبَحْتُهُ
He said, ‘Surely our position today is upon the position of Rasool-Allah-saww on the day of Badr, and day of Ohad, and day of Hunayn, and their position is upon a position of the flags of the Polytheists from the confederates. Do you see this army and the ones in it? By Allah-azwj! I would love it if the entirety of the ones in it with Muawiya, from the ones who want to fight us, to separate to that which we are upon, they would be one creature, and I would cut it and slaughter it.
وَ اللَّهِ لَدِمَاؤُهُمْ جَمِيعاً أَحَلُّ مِنْ دَمِ عُصْفُورٍ أَ تَرَى دَمَ عُصْفُورٍ حَرَاماً قَالَ لَا بَلْ حَلَالٌ قَالَ فَإِنَّهُمْ حَلَالٌ كَذَلِكَ أَ تَرَانِي بَيَّنْتُ قَالَ قَدْ بَيَّنْتَ قَالَ فَاخْتَرْ أَيَّ ذَلِكَ أَحْبَبْتَ فَانْصَرَفَ الرَّجُلُ
By Allah-azwj! Their blood in their entirety is more permissible than the blood of a sparrow. Do you see the blood of the sparrow as being prohibited?’ He said, ‘No, but (it is) permissible. He said, ‘So, they are (also) permissible like that. Do you see me to have clarified it?’ He said, ‘You have clarified’. He said, ‘Choose whichever of that you love’. Then man left.
فَدَعَاهُ عَمَّارٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ سَيَضْرِبُونَكُمْ بِأَسْيَافِهِمْ حَتَّى يَرْتَابَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ مِنْكُمْ فَيَقُولُوا لَوْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا عَلَى حَقٍّ مَا ظَهَرُوا عَلَيْنَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا هُمْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ عَلَى مَا يُقَذِّي عَيْنَ ذُبَابٍ وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ ضَرَبُونَا بِأَسْيَافِهِمْ حَتَّى يُبْلِغُونَا سَعَفَاتِ هَجَرَ لَعَلِمْنَا أَنَّا عَلَى حَقٍّ وَ أَنَّهُمْ عَلَى بَاطِلٍ.
Ammar called him, then said, ‘We will soon be striking you with their swords until the false ones from you doubt, and they said, ‘If they had not been upon the truth, they would not have prevailed upon us’. By Allah-azwj! They are not upon the truth even what could be a speech upon an eye of a fly. By Allah-azwj! If they were to strike us with their swords until we reach the branches of the palm tree, we would still know we are upon truth and they are upon falsehood’’.[33]
425- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَعْلَى عَنِ الْأَصْبَغِ بْنِ نُبَاتَةَ قَالَ: جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمُ الَّذِينَ تُقَاتِلُهُمْ الدَّعْوَةُ وَاحِدَةٌ وَ الرَّسُولُ وَاحِدٌ وَ الصَّلَاةُ وَاحِدَةٌ وَ الْحَجُّ وَاحِدٌ فَمَا ذَا أُسَمِّيهِمْ قَالَ سَمِّهِمْ بِمَا سَمَّاهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ قَالَ مَا كُلُّ مَا فِي الْكِتَابِ أَعْلَمُهُ
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to us by Yahya Bin Ya’la, from Al Asbagh Bin Nubata who said,
‘A man came to Ali-asws and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Those people, the ones you-asws are fighting, the call is one, and the Rasool is one, and the Salat is one, and the Hajj is one, so what is that I can name them (with)?’ He-asws said: ‘Name them what Allah-azwj has Named them with in His-azwj Book’. He said, ‘I do not know all what is in the Book’.
قَالَ أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلى بَعْضٍ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ وَ لَوْ شاءَ اللَّهُ مَا اقْتَتَلَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ ما جاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّناتُ وَ لكِنِ اخْتَلَفُوا فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ آمَنَ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ كَفَرَ
He-asws said: ‘Have you not heard Allah-azwj Saying: Those Rasools, We Merited some of them over the others – up to His-azwj Words: and had Allah so Desired, those (people) from after them (Rasools) would not have fought after the clear proofs had come to them. But, they differed, so from them was one who expressed belief, and from them was one who committed Kufr. [2:253].
فَلَمَّا وَقَعَ الِاخْتِلَافُ كُنَّا نَحْنُ أَوْلَى بِاللَّهِ وَ بِالْكِتَابِ وَ بِالنَّبِيِّ وَ بِالْحَقِّ فَنَحْنُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَ هُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَ شَاءَ اللَّهُ قِتَالَهُمْ فَقِتَالُنَا هَذَا بِمَشِيَّةِ اللَّهِ وَ إِرَادَتِهِ.
When the differing occurred, we were the foremost with Allah-azwj, and with the Book, and with the Prophet-saww, and with the truth. We are those who believed, and they are those who committed Kufr, and Allah-azwj Desired fighting them, so this fight of ours is a Desire of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Will’’.[34]
426- أَقُولُ رَوَى الْكُلَيْنِيُّ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع حِينَ مَرَّ بِرَايَةٍ لِأَهْلِ الشَّامِ أَصْحَابُهَا لَا يَزَالُونَ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِمْ إِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يَزَالُوا عَنْ مَوَاقِفِهِمْ دُونَ طَعْنٍ دِرَاكٍ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ النَّسِيمُ وَ ضَرْبٍ يَفْلِقُ الْهَامَ وَ يُطِيحُ الْعِظَامَ وَ تَسْقُطُ مِنْهُ الْمَعَاصِمُ وَ الْأَكُفُّ وَ حَتَّى تَصَدَّعَ جِبَاهُهُمْ بِعُمُدِ الْحَدِيدِ وَ تُنْشَرَ حَوَاجِبُهُمْ عَلَى الصُّدُورِ وَ الْأَذْقَانِ أَيْنَ أَهْلُ الصَّبْرِ وَ طُلَّابُ الْأَجْرِ
I (Majlisi) am saying, ‘It is reported by Al Kulayni, from Malik Bin Ayn,
‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said when he-asws passed by a flag of the people of Syria: ‘Our companions will not be moved from their places. They will never be moved from their positions without the stabbing of your armour which would extract the soul, and a strike which splits the head and breaks the bones, and the wrists and the palms fall off, until their foreheads are cracked with the force of the iron, and their eyelids scatter upon their chests and the chins. Where are the people and the seekers of the Recompense?’
وَ صَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ عِصَابَةٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَعَادَتْ مَيْمَنَتُهُ إِلَى مَوْقِفِهَا وَ مَصَافِّهَا وَ كَشَفَتْ مَنْ بِإِزَائِهَا فَأَقْبَلَ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَيْهِمْ وَ قَالَ ع إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ جَوْلَتَكُمْ وَ سَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ نَحْوَ مَا مَرَّ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ فَأَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ مِنْ مَصَافِّهِمْ كَمَا أَزَالُوكُمْ وَ أَنْتُمْ تَضْرِبُونَهُمْ بِالسُّيُوفِ حَتَّى رَكِبَ أَوَّلُهُمْ آخِرَهُمْ كَالْإِبِلِ الْمَطْرُودَةِ الْهِيمِ
A band of Muslims marched, and its right wing returned back to its place and its centre wing, and exposed those facing them. He-asws returned until he-asws ended up to them, and said: ‘I-asws had seen your forces’ – and he continued the Hadeeth approximate to what has passed up to his-asws words: – and you dislodged them from their rows just as they had dislodged you (beforehand), and you were striking them with the swords to the extent that their first ones rode upon their last ones like the camel driven away.
الْآنِّ فَاصْبِرُوا نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّكِينَةُ وَ ثَبَّتَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِالْيَقِينِ وَ لْيَعْلَمِ الْمُنْهَزِمُ بِأَنَّهُ مُسْخِطٌ رَبَّهُ وَ مُوبِقٌ نَفْسَهُ إِنَّ فِي الْفِرَارِ مَوْجِدَةَ اللَّهِ وَ الذُّلَّ اللَّازِمَ وَ الْعَارَ الْبَاقِيَ وَ إِنَّ الْفَارَّ لَغَيْرُ مَزِيدٍ فِي عُمُرِهِ وَ لَا مَحْجُوزٍ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ يَوْمِهِ وَ لَا يُرْضِي رَبَّهُ وَ لَمَوْتُ الرَّجُلِ مُحِقّاً قَبْلَ إِتْيَانِ هَذِهِ الْخِصَالِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الرِّضَا بِالتَّلَبُّسِ بِهَا وَ الْإِقْرَارِ عَلَيْهَا.
As for now, so be patient and tranquillity would descend upon you, and Allah-azwj will Affirm you with the conviction, and the defeated one would know that he has Angered his Lord-azwj and would rebuke himself. In the fleeing is the Fury of Allah-azwj, and the humiliation is necessitated, and the remaining stigma, and spoiling of the life over it. And the fleer is without an increase in his age, and there is no barrier between him and between his day (of death), nor would his Lord-azwj be Pleased with him, and for a death to come to the man before he indulges in such characteristics is better than the pleasure of being clothed by these (characteristics) and agreeing over it’’.[35]
427- وَ فِي النهج، نهج البلاغة وَ أَنْتُمْ لَهَامِيمُ الْعَرَبِ وَ يَآفِيخُ الشَّرَفِ وَ الْأَنْفُ الْمُقَدَّمُ وَ السَّنَامُ الْأَعْظَمُ وَ لَقَدْ شَفَا وَحَاوِحَ صَدْرِي أَنْ رَأَيْتُكُمْ بِأَخَرَةٍ تَحُوزُونَهُمْ كَمَا حَازُوكُمْ وَ تُزِيلُونَهُمْ عَنْ مَوَاقِفِهِمْ كَمَا أَزَالُوكُمْ حَسّاً بِالنِّصَالِ وَ شَجْراً بِالرِّمَاحِ تَرْكَبُ أُولَاهُمْ آخِرَهُمْ كَالْإِبِلِ الْهِيمِ الْمَطْرُودَةِ تُرْمَى عَنْ حِيَاضِهَا وَ تُذَادُ عَنْ مَوَارِدِهَا.
And in (the book) ‘Nahl Al-Balagah’ – ‘And you are the important ones of the Arabs, and of the top nobility, and the proceeding nose (pride), and the magnificent peak, and the sighing of my-asws chest would heal if I-asws were to see you all at the end surrounding them just as they had surrounded you, and removing them from their positions just as they had removed you, striking with the swords and stabbing with the spears, their first ones ride to their last ones like the thirsty camels repelled from their water troughs and impeded from their water’’.[36]
428 وَ قَدْ رَوَى الْمُفِيدُ فِي الْإِرْشَادِ الْكَلَامَ الْأَوَّلَ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ أَيْنَ أَهْلُ النَّصْرِ أَيْنَ طُلَّابُ الْأَجْرِ.
And it has been reported by Al-Mufeed in (the book) ‘Al-Irshad’, the first speech up to his-asws words: ‘Where are the people of help! Where are the seekers of Recompense?’’[37]
429- قَالَ الشَّارِحُ وَ رَوَى ابْنُ أَعْثَمَ أَنَّ عَمْرَو بْنَ حُصَيْنٍ أَتَى عَلِيّاً ع مِنْ عَقِبِهِ لِيَغْتَالَهُ بِسِنَانِ رُمْحِهِ فَقَتَلَهُ سَعِيدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ وَ قَالَ-
| أَ لَا أَبْلُغُ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنَ صَخْرٍ- | وَ رَجْمُ الْغَيْبِ يَكْشِفُهُ الظَّنُونُ- | |
| بِأَنَّا لَا نَزَالُ لَكُمْ عَدُوّاً- | طَوَالَ الدَّهْرِ مَا سَمِعَ الْحَنِينَ- | |
| أَ لَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ وَالِدَنَا عَلِيٌّ- | أَبُو حَسَنٍ وَ نَحْنُ لَهُ بَنُونٌ- | |
| وَ إِنَّا لَا نُرِيدُ بِهِ سِوَاهُ- | وَ ذَاكَ الرُّشْدُ وَ الْحَظُّ السَّمِينُ- |
Al Sharih said, ‘And it is reported by Ibn A’sam,
‘Amro Bin Husayn came to Ali-asws from Aqaba to assassinate him with the tips of his spear, but Saeed Bin Qays killed him and said (a poem), ‘I did not deliver to Muawiya Bin Sakhar, and pelting the unseen uncovers the suspicions. They will not cease to be enemies to you, for as long as time, for the nostalgia to be heard. Do you not see that our father is Ali-asws, Abu Hassan-asws, and we are sons to him-asws? And we did not want anyone besides him-asws, and that is the rightful guidance, and the fat share’’.
فَلَمَّا سَمِعَهُ مُعَاوِيَةُ بَعَثَ ذَا الْكَلَاعِ مَعَ كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الْقَبَائِلِ وَ قَالَ اخْرُجْ وَ اقْصِدْ بِحَرْبِكَ هَمْدَانَ خَاصَّةً فَلَمَّا رَآهُمْ عَلِيٌّ قَالَ يَا لَهَمْدَانُ عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذِهِ الْخَيْلِ فَإِنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَدْ قَصَدَكُمْ بِهَا خَاصَّةً دُونَ غَيْرِكُمْ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِمُ ابْنُ قَيْسٍ مَعَ هَمْدَانَ فَهَزَمَهُمْ
When Muawiya heard him, he sent Zul Kala’a with many from the tribes and said, ‘Go out and aim especially for Hamdan with your war’. When Ali-asws saw them, he-asws said: ‘O Hamdan! Upon you is to deal with this cavalry, for Muawiya has aimed for you in particular with it besides others’. Ibn Qays faced towards them with Hamdan and defeated them.
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع لَهُمْ أَنْتُمْ دِرْعِي وَ رُمْحِي وَ سِنَانِي وَ جُنَّتِي وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ كَانَتِ الْجَنَّةُ فِي يَدِي لَأُدْخِلَنَّكُمْ إِيَّاهَا خَاصَّةً يَا مَعْشَرَ هَمْدَانَ
Ali-asws said to them: ‘You are my-asws armour, and my-asws spear, and my-asws sword, and my-asws shield. By Allah-azwj! If the Paradise were to be in my-asws hands, I-asws enter you all into it in particular, O community of Hamdan!’’[38]
430- أقول ثم قال نصر بن مزاحم في كتاب صفين،: بعد ما ذكر قتل عمار و هاشم بن عتبة رضي الله عنهما كما سيأتي في الباب الآتي و بعث علي ع خيلا ليحبسوا عن معاوية مادته فبعث معاوية الضحاك بن قيس الفهري في خيل إلى تلك الخيل فأزالوها و جاءت عيون علي ع فأخبرته بما قد كان
I (Majlisi) am saying, ‘Then Nasr Bin MUzahim said in Kitab Siffeen, after having mentioned the killing of Ammar, and Hashim Bin Utba, as I (Majlisi) shall be coming with in the coming chapter,
‘And Ali-asws sent a cavalry in order to investigate about Muawiya, his matter. Muawiya sent Al-Zahak Bin Qays Al-Fihry among a cavalry to that cavalry, so he moved them, and the spies of Ali-asws came and informed him-asws with what had happened.
فقال ع لأصحابه فما ترون فيما هاهنا فاختلفوا فقال ع فاغدوا إلى القتال فأمرهم غدوة بالقتال فانهزم أهل الشام و انهزم عتبة بن أبي سفيان حتى أتى الشام.
He-asws said to his-asws companions: ‘So, what are your view regarding what is over there?’ They differed. He-asws said: ‘Then get up to the fighting!’ He-asws ordered them to get up for the fighting and defeated the people of Syria, and defeated Utba Bin Abu Sufyan until he went to Syria’’.[39]
431- وَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْهَجَرِيِّ عَنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ بْنِ الْأَبْرَدِ قَالَ: وَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَوَاقِفٌ قَرِيباً مِنْ عَلِيٍّ ع بِصِفِّينَ يَوْمَ وَقْعَةِ الْخَمِيسِ وَ قَدِ الْتَقَتْ مَذْحِجٌ وَ كَانُوا فِي مَيْمَنَةِ عَلِيٍّ وَ عَكٌّ وَ جُذَامُ وَ لَخْمٌ وَ الْأَشْعَرِيُّونَ وَ كَانُوا مُسْتَبْصِرِينَ فِي قِتَالِ عَلِيٍّ ع فَلَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ مِنْ قِتَالِهِمْ صَوْتاً لَيْسَتْ أَصْوَاتُ هَدِّ الْجِبَالِ وَ لَا الصَّوَاعِقِ بِأَعْظَمَ هَوْلًا فِي الصُّدُورِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الصَّوْتِ وَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَقُولُ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْمُسْتَعَانُ اللَّهُ
And from Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Suleyman Al Amsh, from Ibrahim Al Hajary, from Al Qa’qa’a Bin Al Abrad who said,
‘By Allah-azwj! I was standing nearby Ali-asws at Siffeen, event of Thursday, and Mazhij had converged, and they were in the right flank of Ali-asws, and A’al, and Juzam, and Lakham, and Al-Ashariyoin, and they were insightful regarding in fighting Ali-asws. I heard a sound from their battle which wasn’t from the sounds of the rumbling of the mountain, nor a thunderbolt. It was grievous for them in the chest from that sound, and Ali-asws was saying: ‘There neither might nor strength except with Allah-azwj. The Helper is Allah-azwj!’
ثُمَّ نَهَضَ حِينَ قَامَ قَائِمُ الظَّهِيرَةِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ رَبَّنَا افْتَحْ بَيْنَنا وَ بَيْنَ قَوْمِنا بِالْحَقِّ وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْفاتِحِينَ فَلَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا حَجَزَ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُمْ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ فِي قَرِيبٍ مِنْ ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ وَ قُتِلَتْ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَعْلَامُ الْعَرَبِ وَ كَانَ فِي رَأْسِ عَلِيٍّ ع ثَلَاثُ ضَرَبَاتٍ وَ فِي وَجْهِهِ ضَرْبَتَانِ
Then he-asws got up when the standing on of the supporters stood up, and he-asws said: ‘Our Lord! Decide between us and our people with the Truth, and You are the best of the deciders’’ [7:89]. So, no, by Allah-azwj! There is no holding back between us than them except Allah-azwj, Lord-azwj of the worlds’, near to a third of the night, and on that day the flag-bearers of the Arabs were killed, and there were three strikes in the head of Ali-asws, and two strikes in his-asws face’.
قَالَ وَ كَتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ كِتَابَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا إِلَى أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ وَ كَتَبَ فِيهِ لَا تَنْسَى شَيْبَاءُ أَبَا عُذْرَتِهَا وَ لَا قَاتِلَ بِكْرِهَا فَلَمْ يَدْرِ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ مَا هُوَ فَأَتَى بِهِ عَلِيّاً ع وَ قَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ بِكِتَابٍ لَا أَدْرِي مَا هُوَ
He (the narrator) said, ‘And Muawiya wrote two letters, one of them to Abu Ayoub Al-Ansary and wrote in it, ‘Neither will Shayba forget of her excuse nor the killer of its first born’. Abu Ayoub did not know what it was, so he came with it to Ali-asws and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws, ‘Muawiya wrote a letter to me, I do not know what it is’.
فَقَالَ ع هَذَا مَثَلٌ ضَرَبَهُ لَكَ يَقُولُ مَا أَنْسَى الَّذِي لَا تَنْسَى الشَّيْبَاءُ هِيَ لَا تَنْسَى أَبَا عُذْرَتِهَا الشَّيْبَاءُ الْمَرْأَةُ الْبِكْرُ لَيْلَةَ افْتِضَاضِهَا لَا تَنْسَى بَعْلَهَا الَّذِي افْتَرَعَهَا أَبَداً وَ لَا تَنْسَى قَاتِلَ بِكْرِهَا وَ هُوَ أَوَّلُ وَلَدِهَا كَذَلِكَ لَا أَنْسَى أَنَا قَتَلَةَ عُثْمَانَ
He-asws said: ‘This is an example he has struck for you saying, ‘Do not forget that which Shayba did not forget’, it is that you should not forget of her excusing Shayba, the virgin woman, the virgin, the night of her defloration. Her husband, the one who deflowered her will not forget it, ever, nor a killer of her first born, and it is the first of her children. Like that, he will not forget that I-asws killed Usman (as per his allegation)’.
وَ كَتَبَ الْآخَرَ إِلَى زِيَادٍ ابْنِ سُمَيَّةَ وَ كَانَ عَامِلًا لِعَلِيٍّ عَلَى بَعْضِ فَارِسَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ يَتَهَدَّدُهُ وَ يُوعِدُهُ فَقَالَ زِيَادٌ وَيْلِي عَلَى ابْنِ آكِلَةِ الْأَكْبَادِ وَ كَهْفِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَ بَقِيَّةِ الْأَحْزَابِ يَتَهَدَّدُنِي وَ يُوعِدُنِي وَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَهُ ابْنُ عَمِّ مُحَمَّدٍ ص مَعَهُ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ طَوَائِعَ سُيُوفُهُمْ عِنْدَ أَذْقَانِهِمْ وَ لَا يَلْتَفِتُ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ وَرَاءَهُ حَتَّى يَمُوتَ
And he wrote another to Ziyad Ibn Sumayya, and he was an office bearer for Ali-asws upon part of Persian. He wrote to him threatening him and promising him. Zayd said, ‘Woe be unto the son of the liver-eater (Hinda), and a cave of the hypocrites, and remainder of the confederates, threatening me and promising me, and between me and him is a son-asws of an uncle-as of Muhammad-saww having seventy thousand obedience ones, their swords are with their chins, and not one of them will turn around behind him until he dies.
أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ خَلَصَ الْأَمْرُ إِلَيَّ لَيَجِدُنِي أَحْمَرَ ضَرَّاباً بِالسَّيْفِ وَ الْأَحْمَرُ يَعْنِي أَنَّهُ مَوْلًى فَلَمَّا ادَّعَاهُ مُعَاوِيَةُ صَارَ عَرَبِيّاً مُنَافِياً وَ كَتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فِي أَسْفَلِ كِتَابِ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ أَبْيَاتاً فَأَجَابَهُ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ بِأَبْيَاتٍ رَدَّهَا عَلَيْهِ
But, by Allah-azwj! If the command ends up to me-asws, he would find be a red striker with the sword, and the red’ – meaning he is a slave. When Muawiya claimed it, he became prejudicial to Arabs, negating. And Muawiya wrote a poem, at the bottom of the letter of Abu Ayoub. Abu Ayoun answered him with a poem, returning it upon him.
وَ كَانَ نَصُّ كِتَابِهِ فِي جَوَابِ مُعَاوِيَةَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّكَ كَتَبْتَ إِلَيَّ لَا تَنْسَى الشَّيْبَاءُ ثُكْلَ وَلَدِهَا وَ لَا أَبَا عُذْرَتِهَا فَضَرَبْتَهَا مَثَلًا بِقَتْلِ عُثْمَانَ وَ مَا نَحْنُ وَ قَتْلَ عُثْمَانَ إِنَّ الَّذِي تَرَبَّصَ بِعُثْمَانَ وَ ثَبَّطَ يَزِيدُ بْنُ أَسَدٍ وَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ فِي نُصْرَتِهِ لَأَنْتَ وَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَتَلُوهُ لَغَيْرُ الْأَنْصَارِ
And it was a text of his letter in answer to Muawiya, ‘As for after, you wrote to me, ‘Al-Shayba will not forget the loss of her son nor will a father excuse its excuse’. You struck an example with the killing of Usman, and what have we to do with the killing of Usman? The one who Lied in wait with Usman and obstructed in helping were Yazeed Bin Aseyd and the people of Syria, and the ones who killed him were other than the Helpers’.
فَلَمَّا أُتِيَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بِكِتَابِ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ كَسَرَهُ.
When Muawiya was brought the letter of Abu Ayoub, he tore it’’.[40]
432- وَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ مُجَالِدٍ عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ النَّضْرِ الْحَارِثِيِّ قَالَ: شَهِدْتُ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ ع بِصِفِّينَ فَاقْتَتَلْنَا ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَ ثَلَاثَةَ لَيَالٍ حَتَّى تَكَسَّرَتِ الرِّمَاحُ وَ نَفِدَتِ السِّهَامُ ثُمَّ صَارَتْ إِلَى الْمُسَايَفَةِ فَاجْتَلَدْنَا بِهَا إِلَى نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ حَتَّى صِرْنَا فِي أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فِي الْيَوْمِ الثَّالِثِ وَ عَانَقَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضاً وَ لَقَدْ قَاتَلْنَا بِجَمِيعِ السِّلَاحِ
And from Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Mujalid, from Al Shaby, from Ziyad Bin Al Nazar Al Harisy who said,
‘I was present with Ali-asws at Siffeen and we fought for three days and three nights (continuously) until the spears were broke, and the arrows ran out, then it came to swordfights. We whipped with these up to the midnight, until we came to among the people of Syrian during the third day, and were in hand to hand combat with each other, and we had fought with the entirety of the weapons.
فَلَمْ يَبْقَ شَيْءٌ مِنَ السِّلَاحِ إِلَّا قَاتَلْنَا بِهِ حَتَّى تَحَاثَيْنَا بِالتُّرَابِ وَ تَكَادَمْنَا حَتَّى صِرْنَا قِيَاماً يَنْظُرُ بَعْضُنَا إِلَى بَعْضٍ مَا يَسْتَطِيعُ وَاحِدٌ مِنَ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ يَنْهَضُ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ وَ لَا يُقَاتِلُ
There did not remain anything from the weapons except we had fought with it, to the extent that we had thrown sand at each other, and we persisted until we became standing looking at each other, no one from the two parties being able upon getting up to his counterpart, nor fight.
فَلَمَّا كَانَ نِصْفُ اللَّيْلِ انْحَازَ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ خَيْلُهُ مِنَ الصَّفِّ مِنَ اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ وَ غَلَبَ عَلِيٌّ ع عَلَى الْقَتْلَى تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ وَ أَقْبَلَ عَلِيٌّ ع عَلَى أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص فَدَفَنَهُمْ وَ قُتِلَ شِمْرُ بْنُ أَبْرَهَةَ وَ قُتِلَ جَمَاعَةٌ كَثِيرَةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع يَوْمَئِذٍ.
When it was midnight, Muawiya and his cavalry aligned from the rows, from the third night and were) dominant (over the army of) Ali-asws in the battle of that night, and Ali-asws came to the companions of Muhammad-saww and buried them; and Shimr Bin Abraha was killed, and a lot from the community of the companions of Ali-asws were killed on that day’’.[41]
433- و عن ابن أبي شقيق: أن عبد الله بن جعفر ذا الجناحين كان يحمل على الخيل بصفين إذ جاء رجل من خزيمة فقال هل من فرس قال نعم خذ أي الخيل شئت فلما ولى قال ابن جعفر إن يصيب [يصب] أفضل الخيل يقتل
And from Ibn Abu Shaqeeq,
‘Abdullah, son of Ja’far-as with the two wings, was attacking upon the cavalry at Siffeen, when a man from Khuzeyma came and said, ‘Is there any horse?’ He said, ‘Yes, take whichever horse you like’. When he turned, the son of Ja’far-as said, ‘If he is killed, the best of the horses would be killed’.
قال فما عتم أن أخذ أفضل الخيل فركبه و حمل على الذي دعاه إلى البراز فقتله الشامي و حمل غلامان من الأنصار جميعا أخوان حتى انتهيا إلى سرادق معاوية فقتلا عنده و أقبلت الكتائب بعضها نحو بعض فاقتتلت قياما على الركب لا يسمع السامعون إلا وقع السيوف على البيض و الدروع
He (the narrator) said, ‘When it was dark, he took the best horse and rode it and attacked upon the ones who had called him to the duel. The Syrian killed him. And two boys from the Helpers, two brothers, attacked together until they ended up to the pavilion of Muawiya. They fought in his presence, and part of a battalion came to a part and they fought standing upon the rides, the listeners could not hear except the clanging of the swords falling upon the helmets and the armours’.
قَالَ وَ جَاءَ عَدِيُّ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ يَلْتَمِسُ عَلِيّاً مَا يَطَأُ إِلَّا عَلَى إِنْسَانٍ مَيِّتٍ أَوْ قَدَمٍ أَوْ سَاعِدٍ فَوَجَدَهُ تَحْتَ رَايَاتِ بَكْرِ بْنِ وَائِلٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَ لَا نَقُومُ حَتَّى نَمُوتَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع ادْنُهْ فَدَنَا حَتَّى وَضَعَ أُذُنَهُ عِنْدَ أَنْفِهِ فَقَالَ وَيْحَكَ إِنَّ عَامَّةَ مَنْ مَعِي يَعْصِينِي وَ إِنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ فِيمَنْ يُطِيعُهُ وَ لَا يَعْصِيهِ
He said, ‘And Uday Bin Hatim came seeking Ali-asws, not treading except upon a dead person, or a foot (cut off), or an arm. He found him-asws beneath the flags of Bakr Bin Wail. He said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Shall we not stand until we die?’ Ali-asws said: ‘Come near’. He approached until he placed his ear by his-asws nose. He-asws said: ‘Woe be unto you! The general public of the ones with me-asws will disobey me, but those (with) Muawiya are among the ones who obey him and do not disobey him’.
قَالَ وَ كَتَبَ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّكَ قَدْ ذُقْتَ ضَرَّاءَ الْحَرْبِ وَ أَذَقْتَهَا وَ إِنِّي عَارِضٌ عَلَيْكُمْ مَا عَرَضَ الْمُخَارِقُ عَلَى بَنِي فَالِجٍ
| أَيَا رَاكِباً إِمَّا عَرَضْتَ فَبَلِّغَا- | بَنِي فَالِجٍ حَيْثُ اسْتَقَرَّ قَرَارَهَا- | |
| هَلُمُّوا إِلَيْنَا لَا تَكُونُوا كَأَنَّكُمْ- | بَلَاقِعُ أَرْضٍ طَارَ عَنْهَا غُبَارُهَا- | |
| سُلَيْمُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ أُنَاسٌ بِحَرَّةَ- | وَ أَرْضُهُمْ أَرْضٌ كَثِيرٌ وَبَارُهَا |
He (the narrator) said, ‘And he-asws wrote to Muawiya: ‘As for after, surely you have tasted the harm of war, and I-asws have tasted it, and I-asws presenting to you what Al-Mukhariq had presented to the clan of Falij (a poem), ‘Whichever rider will present to the clan of Falij where its calmness is settled. Come to us and do not be as if you are swallows of the land, its dust flying away from it. Suleym Bin Mansour are free people, and their land is a land whose righteousness is a lot’.
فَأَجَابَهُ مُعَاوِيَةُ مِنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ أَمَّا بَعْدُ عَافَانَا اللَّهُ وَ إِيَّاكَ فَإِنِّي إِنَّمَا قَاتَلْتُ عَلَى دَمِ عُثْمَانَ وَ كَرِهْتُ التَّدْهِينَ فِي أَمْرِهِ وَ إِسْلَامِ حَقِّهِ فَإِنْ أُدْرِكْ بِهِ فَبِهَا وَ إِلَّا فَإِنَّ الْمَوْتَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ أَجْمَلُ مِنَ الْحَيَاةِ عَلَى الضَّيْمِ ثُمَّ تَمَثَّلَ بِبَعْضِ الْأَبْيَاتِ
Muawiya answered him-asws, ‘From Muawiya to Ali-asws. As for after, may Allah-azwj Pardon us and you-asws. But rather, I am fighting upon the blood of Usman and I dislike the oiling regarding his matter, and Islam is his right. Either I come across with it, and be with it, or else the death upon the truth is more beautiful than the life upon the grievance’. Then he prosed part of the couplets (of a poem)’.
قَالَ وَ أَرْسَلَ عَلِيٌّ ع إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ أَنِ ابْرُزْ لِي وَ اعْفُ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ مِنَ الْقِتَالِ فَأَيُّنَا قَتَلَ صَاحِبَهُ كَانَ الْأَمْرُ لَهُ قَالَ عَمْرٌو لَقَدْ أَنْصَفَكَ الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِنِّي لَأَكْرَهُ أَنْ أُبَارِزَ الْأَهْوَجَ الشُّجَاعَ لَعَلَّكَ طَمِعْتَ فِيهَا يَا عَمْرُو
He (the narrator) said, ‘And Ali-asws sent a message to Muawiya: ‘Duel to me-asws and excuse the two parties from the fighting, so whichever of us kills his counterpart, the command would be for him’. Amro said, ‘The man is being fair to you’. Muawiya said, ‘I dislike to duel the reckless brave one, perhaps you are being greedy regarding it, O Amro!’
وَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع وَا نَفْسَاهْ أَ يُطَاعُ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ أُعْصَى مَا قَاتَلَتْ أُمَّةٌ قَطُّ أَهْلَ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّهَا وَ هِيَ مُقِرٌّ بِنَبِيِّهَا إِلَّا هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةُ
And Ali-asws said: ‘O souls! Are you obeying Muawiya and disobeying? No community has killed the family of its Prophet-as and it is acknowledging it’s Prophet-hood, at all except for this community!’
ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع أَمَرَ النَّاسَ أَنْ يَحْمِلُوا عَلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَحَمَلَتْ خَيْلُ عَلِيٍّ ع عَلَى صُفُوفِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَقَوَّضَتْ صُفُوفَهُمْ فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَى مَنْ هَذَا الرَّهَجُ فَقِيلَ عَلَى ابْنَيْكَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَ مُحَمَّدٍ فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو يَا وَرْدَانُ قَدِّمْ لِوَاءَكَ فَتَقَدَّمَ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ مُعَاوِيَةُ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ عَلَى ابْنَيْكَ بَأْسٌ فَلَا تَنْقُضِ الصَّفَّ وَ الْزَمْ مَوْقِفَكَ
Then Ali-asws ordered the people that they should attack upon the people of Syria, so the cavalry of Ali-asws attacked upon the rows of the people of Syria, and their rows were undermined. Amro said on that day, ‘Upon whom is this disorder?’ It was said, ‘Upon your two sons, Abdullah and Muhammad’. Amro said, ‘O Wardan! Advance your flag’. He went ahead. Muawiya sent him a message, ‘There is no problem upon your sons, so do not break the rows, and stay in your position’.
فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو هَيْهَاتَ
| اللَّيْثُ يَحْمِي شِبْلَيْهِ- | مَا خَيْرُهُ بَعْدَ ابْنَيْهِ- |
ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَمْ تَلِدْهُمَا إِنِّي أَنَا وَلَدْتُهُمَا
Amro said (a couplet), ‘Far be it! A lions protects its cubs, there is no good for it after its sons’. Then he said, ‘You did not beget them, I am the one to have begotten them’.
فَأَرْسَلَ عَلِيٌّ ع إِلَى أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ وَ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ أَنِ احْمِلُوا فَحَمَلَ النَّاسُ مِنْ كُلِّ جَانِبٍ فَاقْتَتَلُوا قِتَالًا شَدِيداً فَخَرَجَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَقَالَ مَنْ يُبَارِزُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع فَاقْتَتَلَا سَاعَةً ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْعِرَاقِيَّ ضَرَبَ رِجْلَ الشَّامِيِّ فَقَطَعَهَا فَقَاتَلَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ يَدَهُ فَقَطَعَهَا فَرَمَى الشَّامِيُّ بِسَيْفِهِ بِيَدِهِ الْيُسْرَى إِلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَهْلَ الشَّامِ دُونَكُمْ سَيْفِي هَذَا فَاسْتَعِينُوا بِهِ عَلَى عَدُوِّكُمْ فَأَخَذَهُ فَاشْتَرَى مُعَاوِيَةُ ذَلِكَ السَّيْفَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءِ الْمَقْتُولِ بِعَشَرَةِ آلَافٍ.
Ali-asws sent a message to the people of Al-Kufa and the people of Al-Basra that they should attack. The people attacked from every side and they fought a severe battle. A man from the people of Syria came out and said, ‘Who will duel?’ A man from the companions came out to him, and they fought for a while. Then the Iraqi struck a leg of the Syrian and cut it. They fought for a while. Then he struck his hand and cut it. The Syrian threw his sword with his left hand towards the people of Syria, then said, ‘O people Syria! For you is this sword of mine, so be assisted by it against your enemies!’ Someone took it, and Muawiya bought that sword from the guardians of the slain for ten thousand’’.[42]
434- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنِي رَجُلٌ عَنْ مَالِكٍ الْجُهَنِيِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً ع مَرَّ عَلَى جَمَاعَةٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فِيهِمُ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ وَ هُمْ يَشْتِمُونَهُ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ بِذَلِكَ فَوَقَفَ فِي نَاسٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ انْهَدُوا إِلَيْهِمْ وَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالسَّكِينَةِ وَ سِيمَاءِ الصَّالِحِينَ وَ وَقَارِ الْإِسْلَامِ
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to me by a man from Malik Al Juhny, from Zayd Bin Wahab,
‘Ali-asws passed by a group from the people of Syrian, among them was Al-Waleed Bin Uqba, and they were reviling (insulting) him-asws. They informed him-asws with that. He-asws stood among some people from his-asws companions and said: ‘Go to them and upon you should be the calmness and expressions of the righteous, and dignity of Al-Islam.
وَ اللَّهِ لَأَقْرَبُ قَوْمٍ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ بِاللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَوْمٌ قَائِدُهُمْ وَ مُؤَدِّبُهُمْ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ ابْنُ النَّابِغَةِ وَ أَبُو الْأَعْوَرِ السُّلَمِيُّ وَ ابْنُ أَبِي مُعَيْطٍ- شَارِبُ الْحَرَامِ وَ الْمَجْلُودُ حَدّاً فِي الْإِسْلَامِ وَ هُمْ أَوْلَى يَقُومُونَ فَيَقْصِبُونِي وَ يَشْتِمُونِي
By Allah-azwj! The closest of people from the ignorance with Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic are a people, their guides and their educators are Muawiya and Ibn Al-Nabigha, and Abu Al-Awr Al-Sulamy, and Ibn Abu Mueet – drinkers of the prohibited (drinks), the ones whipped the legal penalties in Al-Islam, and they are the first ones to be standing and cutting me-asws and reviling me-asws.
وَ قَبْلَ الْيَوْمِ مَا قَاتَلُونِي وَ شَتَمُونِي وَ أَنَا إِذْ ذَاكَ أَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَ هُمْ يَدْعُونِّي إِلَى عِبَادَةِ الْأَصْنَامِ فَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ قَدِيماً مَا عَادَانِي الْفَاسِقُونَ إِنَّ هَذَا هُوَ الْخَطْبُ الْجَلِيلُ أَنَّ فُسَّاقاً كَانُوا عِنْدَنَا غَيْرَ مَرْضِيِّينَ وَ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَ أَهْلِهِ مُتَخَوَّفِينَ
And before today they had not been fighting me-asws and reviling me-asws, and I-asws along with that, am calling them to Al-Islam and they are calling me-asws to worship the idols. The Praise is for Allah-azwj, there is no god except Allah-azwj, and for a long time the mischief-makers have been inimical to me-asws. This is the majestic address that mischief-makers have been without agreement with us and frightening upon Al-Islam and its people.
أَصْبَحُوا وَ قَدْ خَدَعُوا شَطْرَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ فَأَشْرَبُوا قُلُوبَهُمْ حُبَّ الْفِتْنَةِ وَ اسْتَمَالُوا أَهْوَاءَهُمْ بِالْإِفْكِ وَ الْبُهْتَانِ وَ قَدْ نَصَبُوا لَنَا الْحَرْبَ وَ جَدُّوا فِي إِطْفَاءِ نُورِ اللَّهِ وَ اللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْكافِرُونَ
They have become deceiving, dissecting this community, and their hearts have drunk from the love of Fitna, and their personal desires are utilising the blatant lies, and the false accusations, and they have installed the war to us, and they are exerting in extinguishing the Noor of Allah-azwj, but Allah will Complete His Light, and even if the Kafirs abhor it [61:8].
اللَّهُمَّ فَإِنَّهُمْ قَدْ رَدُّوا الْحَقَّ فَافْضُضْ جَمْعَهُمْ وَ شَتِّتْ كَلِمَتَهُمْ وَ أَبْسِلْهُمْ بِخَطَايَاهُمْ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ وَ لَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ.
O Allah-azwj! They have rejected the truth and divided their gathering, and scattered their words, and are awash in their sins, for he will not be disgraced, one who befriends, nor be honoured, one who is inimical’’.[43]
435- وَ عَنْ نُمَيْرِ بْنِ وَعْلَةَ عَنْ عَامِرٍ الشَّعْبِيِ أَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع مَرَّ بِأَهْلِ رَايَةٍ فَرَآهُمْ لَا يَزُولُونَ عَنْ مَوْقِفِهِمْ فَحَرَّضَ النَّاسَ عَلَى قِتَالِهِمْ وَ ذُكِرَ أَنَّهُمْ غَسَّانُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ لَنْ يَزُولُوا عَنْ مَوْقِفِهِمْ دُونَ طَعْنٍ دِرَاكٍ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ النَّسِيمُ وَ ضَرْبٍ يَفْلِقُ الْهَامَ وَ يُطِيحُ الْعِظَامَ وَ تَسْقُطُ مِنْهُ الْمَعَاصِمُ وَ الْأَكُفُّ حَتَّى تَصَدَّعَ جِبَاهُهُمْ وَ تُنْشَرَ حَوَاجِبُهُمْ عَلَى الصُّدُورِ وَ الْأَذْقَانِ
And from Numeyr Bin Wa’la, from Aamir Al Shaby,
‘Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws passed by people of a flag (of Syria) and saw them not moving from their position. He urged the people upon fighting them, and it is mentioned they were (clan of) Gasaan. He-asws said: ‘These people will never be moved from their positions without the stabbing of your armour which would extract the soul, and a strike which splits the head and breaks the bones, and the wrists and the palms fall off, until their foreheads are cracked with the force of the iron, and their eyelids scatter upon their chests and the chins.
أَيْنَ أَهْلُ الصَّبْرِ وَ طُلَّابُ الْخَيْرِ أَيْنَ مَنْ يَشْرِي وَجْهَهُ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَثَابَتْ إِلَيْهِ عِصَابَةٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَدَعَا ابْنَهُ مُحَمَّداً فَقَالَ لَهُ امْشِ نَحْوَ هَذِهِ الرَّايَةِ مَشْياً رُوَيْداً عَلَى هِينَتِكَ حَتَّى إِذَا أَشْرَعْتَ فِي صُدُورِهِمُ الرِّمَاحَ فَأَمْسِكْ يَدَكَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكَ أَمْرِي وَ رَأْيِي
Where are the people of patience and seekers of the good? Where are the ones selling (their souls for) the Face of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic?’ A group from the Muslims were steadfast to it. He-asws called his-asws son Muhammad and said to him: ‘Go walking towards this flag slowly upon your dignity, until when you can throw the spears into their chests. But, withhold your hand until my-asws instructions come to you, and my-asws view’.
فَفَعَلَ وَ أَعَدَّ عَلِيٌّ مِثْلَهُمْ فَلَمَّا دَنَا مِنْهُمْ مُحَمَّدٌ وَ أَشْرَعَ الرِّمَاحَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ أَمَرَ عَلِيٌّ الَّذِينَ أَعَدَّ فَشَدُّوا عَلَيْهِمْ وَ نَهَضَ مُحَمَّدٌ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ فَزَالُوا عَنْ مَوَاقِفِهِمْ وَ أَصَابُوا مِنْهُمْ رِجَالًا وَ اقْتَتَلَ النَّاسُ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ قِتَالًا شَدِيداً فَمَا صَلَّى كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ إِلَّا إِيمَاءً.
He did so, and Ali-asws counted the like of them. When Muhammad was close from them and could throw the spears into their chests, Ali-asws ordered the ones he-asws had counted, and they attacked upon them, and Muhammad got up in their faces and they were moved from their positions; and men were injured from them and the people fought after Al-Maghrib a severe battle, so most of the people could not pray Salat except by gestures’’.[44]
436- و عن شيخ من حضرموت قال: كان منا رجل يدعى هاني بن نمر فخرج رجل من أهل الشام يدعو إلى المبارزة فلم يخرج إليه أحد فقال سبحان الله ما يمنعكم أن يخرج منكم إلى هذا فلو لا أني موعوك و أني أجد لذلك ضعفا لخرجت إليه فما رد عليه رجل من أصحابه شيئا فوثب فقال أصحابه سبحان الله تخرج إليه و أنت موعوك قال و الله لأخرجن إليه و لو قتلني
And from an elder from Hazramaut who said,
‘There was a man from us called Hany Bin Nimr. A man from the people of Syria called to the duel, but no one went out to him. He said, ‘Glory be to Allah-azwj! What is preventing someone from you to come out to this one? If I had not been unwell, and I am finding weakness due to that, I would have gone out to him’. But, no one from his companions responded to him with anything. So, he leapt up. His companions said, ‘Glory be to Allah-azwj! You are going out to him and you are unwell?’ He said, ‘By Allah-azwj! I will go out to him and even if he kills me!’
فلما رآه عرفه و إذا الرجل من قومه يقال له معمر بن أسيد الحضرمي و بينهما قرابة من قبل النساء فقال له يا هانئ ارجع إنه إن يخرج إلى غيرك أحب إلي إني لست أريد قتلك قال له هانئ ما خرجت إلا و أنا موطن نفسي على القتل ما أبالي أنت قتلتني أو غيرك
When he saw him, he recognised him, and there it was a man from his own people called Ma’mar Bin Aseyd Al-Hazramy, and there was kinship between the two from the direction of the women. He said to him, ‘O Hany, return! If someone else were to come out, it would be more beloved to me. I don’t want to kill you’. Hany said to him, ‘I did not come out except and I have determined myself upon the killing. I do not care whether you kill me of someone else’.
ثم مشى نحوه فقال اللهم في سبيلك و سبيل رسولك و نصرا لابن عم نبيك ثم اختلفا ضربتين فقتل هانئ صاحبه و شد أصحابه نحوه و شد أصحاب هانئ نحوهم ثم اقتتلوا و انفرجوا عن اثنين و ثلاثين قتيلا
Then he walked towards him. He said, ‘O Allah-azwj! In Your-azwj Way, and way of Your-azwj Rasool-saww, and help to a son-asws of an uncle-as of Your-azwj Prophet-saww’. Then they exchanged strikes and Hany killed his counterpart, and his companions were intensified near him, and the companions of Hany intensified near them. Then they fought and cleft asunder thirty-two (soldiers) slayed.
ثم إن عليا ع أرسل إلى الناس أن احملوا فحمل الناس على راياتهم كل قوم بحيالهم فتجالدوا بالسيوف و عمد الحديد لا يسمع إلا أصوات الحديد و مرت الصلوات كلها و لم يصلوا إلا تكبيرا عند مواقيت الصلوات حتى تفانوا و رق الناس
Then Ali-asws sent a message to the people that they should attack. The people attacked based upon their flags, each group with its cavalry, and they whipped with their swords, and the iron clanged, nothing was heard except the sounds of iron; and all the Salats passed by, and they did not pray any Salat except exclamations of Takbeer during the timings of the Salats until they finished, and the people sweated.
فخرج رجل بين الصفين فقال أ خرج فيكم المحلقون قلنا لا قال إنهم سيخرجون ألسنتهم أحلى من العسل و قلوبهم أمر من الصبر لهم حمة كحمة الحيات ثم غاب الرجل فلم يعلم من هو.
A man came out from the between the two swords and said, ‘Have the shaved ones come out among you all?’ We said, ‘No’. He said, ‘They will be coming out. Their tongues are sweeter than the honey, and their hearts are more bitter than the aloe, for them is a sting like the sting of the snake’. Then the man disappeared, and it is not known who he was’’.[45]
437- و عن محمد بن إسحاق عن عبد الله بن أبي يحيى عن عبد الرحمن بن حاطب قال خرجت ألتمس أخي في القتلى بصفين سويدا فإذا رجل قد أخذ بثوبي صريع في القتلى فالتفت فإذا بعبد الرحمن بن كلدة فقلت إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَيْهِ راجِعُونَ هل لك في الماء قال لا حاجة لي في الماء قد أنفذ في السلاح و خرقني و لست أقدر على الشرب هل أنت مبلغ عني أمير المؤمنين ع رسالة قلت نعم
And from Muhammad Bin Is’haq, from Abdullah Bin Abu Yahya, from Abdul Rahman Bin Katib who said,
‘I went out seeking my brother among the slain at Siffeen plains, and there was a man who grabbed my clothes, lying down among the slain. I turned around and there it was Abdul Rahman Bin Kaladah. I said, ‘We are for Allah and we are returning to Him [2:156]. Is there (need) for you regarding the water?’ He said, ‘There is no need for me regarding the water, for the weapon has penetrated inside me and has injured me, and I am not able upon drinking. Can you deliver a message to Amir Al-Momineen from me?’ I said, ‘Yes’.
قال إذا رأيته فأقرئه مني السلام و قل يا أمير المؤمنين احمل جراحك إلى عسكرك حتى تجعلهم من وراء القتلى فإن الغلبة لمن فعل ذلك ثم لم أبرح حتى مات
He said, ‘When you see him-asws, then convey the greetings from me and say, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Carry your-asws injured ones to your army came until you-asws make them to be at the back of the slain, for if you-asws are overcome, then who would do that?’ Then I did not depart until he died.
فخرجت حتى أتيت عليا ع فقلت له إن عبد الرحمن بن كلدة يقرأ عليك السلام قال و عليه أين هو قلت قد و الله يا أمير المؤمنين أنفذه السلاح و خرقه فلم أبرح حتى توفي فاسترجع
I went out until I came to Ali-asws. I said to him-asws, ‘Abdul Rahman Bin Kaldah conveys the greetings unto you-asws’. He-asws said: ‘And upon him (be the greetings). Where is he?’ I said, ‘By Allah-azwj, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! The weapon had penetrated him and injured him, so I did not depart until he died’. He-asws said: ‘We are for Allah and we are returning to Him [2:156]’.
قلت قد أرسلني إليك برسالة قال فما هي فلما أبلغته الرسالة قال صدق و الذي نفسي بيده فنادى منادي العسكر أن احملوا جرحاكم إلى عسكركم ففعلوا فلما أصبح نظر أهل الشام و قد ملوا من الحرب و أصبح علي قد رحل الناس و هو يريد أن ينزل على أهل الشام في عسكرهم
I said, ‘He sent me to you with a message’. He-asws said: ‘What is it?’ When I delivered the message, he-asws said: ‘He spoke the truth. By the One-azwj in Whose Hand is my-asws soul!’ A caller of the army called out, ‘Carry your injured ones to your soldiers!’ They did so. When it was morning, he-asws looked at the people of Syria, and they were fed up from the war. Ali-asws came and the people were departing, and he-asws wanted to descend unto the people of Syria, among their soldiers.
فقال معاوية فأخذت معرفة فرسي و وضعت رجلي في الركاب حتى ذكرت أبيات ابن الأطنابة
| أبت لي عفتي و أبى بلائي- | و أخذي الحمد بالثمن الربيح- |
إلى آخر الأبيات فعدت إلى مقعدي فأصبت خير الدنيا
Muawiya said, ‘I grabbed a rein of my horse and placed my leg in the stirrup until I remembered couplets of Ibn Al-Atnabah, ‘You refuse to forgive me and refuse my affliction, and taking the praise with the profitable price’ – up to the end of the couplets. So, I returned to my seat and attained goodness of the world.
و كان علي ع إذا أراد القتال هلل و كبر ثم قال
| من أي يومي من الموت أفر | يوم لم يقدر أم يوم قدر |
And Ali-asws, whenever he-asws wanted to fight, would extol the Oneness and exclaim the Takbeer, then said, ‘From which day of mine shall I-asws flee the death? A day not determined, or a day determined?’
و أقبل عبد الرحمن بن خالد بن الوليد و معه لواء معاوية الأعظم مرتجزا فاستقبله جارية بن قدامة و أطعنا مليا و مضى عبد الرحمن و انصرف جارية و عبد الرحمن لا يأتي على شيء إلا أهمده فغم ذلك عليا ع و أقبل عمرو بن العاص في خيل من بعده فقال أقحم يا ابن سيف الله فإنه الظفر
And Abdul Rahman Bin Khalid Bin Al-Waleed came and with him was a large flag of Muawiya, reciting ware poems. Jariya Bin Qudamah faced him, and they both stabbed for a while, and Abdul Rahman died and Jariya left, and Abdul Rahman would not come upon anything except he praised Him-azwj. That saddened Ali-asws, and Amro Bin Al-Aas came among a cavalry, from after him. He said, ‘Thrust, O son of a sword of Allah-azwj, for it will be a victory!’
و أقبل الناس على الأشتر فقالوا يوم من أيامك الأول و قد بلغ لواء معاوية حيث ترى فأخذ الأشتر لواءه ثم حمل فضارب القوم حتى ردهم على أعقابهم فرجعت خيل عمرو و ذكروا أنه لما رد لواء معاوية و رجعت خيل عمرو انتدب لعلي ع همام بن قبيصة و كان من أشتم الناس لعلي ع و كان معه لواء هوازن فقصد المذحج
And the people came to Al-Ashtar and they said, ‘A day from your earlier days, and a flag of Muawiya has reached where you can see’. Al-Ashtar grabbed his flag, then attacked, and he struck the people he returned them upon their heels. So, the cavalry of Amro returned and they mentioned that when the flag of Muawiya and the cavalry of Amro had returned, he deputised Hamam Bin Qabeesa to Ali-asws, and he was from the most reviling of the people to Ali-asws, and with him was a flag of Hawazin. He aimed for Al-Mazhaj.
فقال عدي بن حاتم لصاحب لوائه ادن مني فأخذه فحمل و طعن ساعة ثم رجع ثم حمل جندب بن زهير مرتجزا فلما رأى ابن العاص الشر استقبل فقال له معاوية ائت ببني أبيك فقاتل بهم فأتى جماعة أهل اليمن فقال أنتم اليوم الناس و غدا لكم الشأن هذا يوم له ما بعده من الأمر احملوا معي على هذا الجمع قالوا نعم فحملوا و حمل عمرو
Aday Bin Hatim said to the bearer of his flag, ‘Come near me’. He seized him and attacked and stabbed for a while. Then he returned. Then Jundab Bin Zaheer attacked reciting war poems. When Ibn Al-Aas saw the evil coming, Muawiya said to him, ‘Go to the sons of your father and fight with them’. He went to a group of the people of Al-Yemen. He said, ‘Today you are the people, and tomorrow there is the glory for you all. This is the day for it, there is no matter after it. Attack with me upon this gathering’. They said, ‘Yes’. The attacked, and Amro attacked.
فقال عمرو بن الحمق دعوني و الرجل فإن القوم قومي فقال له ابن بديل دع القوم يلقى بعضهم بعضا فأبى عليه و حمل ثم طعنه في صدره فقتله و ولت الخيل و أزال القوم عن مراكزهم
Amro Bin Al-Hamaq said, ‘Leave me and the man, for the people are my people’. Ibn Budeyl said to him, ‘Leave the people to meet each other (in battle)’. But he refused upon him and attacked. Then he stabbed in his chest and killed him, and the cavalry returned, and the group was moved from their positions.
ثم إن حوشبا ذا ظليم أقبل في جمعه و صاحب لوائه يرتجز فحمل عليه سليمان بن صرد الخزاعي فطعنه فقتله و استدار القوم و قتل حوشب و ابن بديل و صبر بعضهم لبعض و فرح أهل الشام بقتل هاشم و اختلط أمرهم حتى ترك أهل الرايات مراكزهم و أقحم أهل الشام من آخر النهار و تفرق الناس عن علي ع
Then Howshab Za Zaleem came among his crowd, and the bearer of his flag was reciting war poems. Suleyman Bin Sard Al-Kuzaie attacked upon him, and stabbed him and killed him, and the group was circled, and Howshab was killed, and Ibn Budeyl, and they combated each other, and the people of Syria rejoiced with the killing of Hashim, and their affairs were mixed-up to the extent that the bearers of the flags left their position, and the people of Syria thrust from the end of the day, and the people dispersed from Ali-asws.
فأتى ربيعة و كان فيهم و تعاظم الأمر و أقبل عدي بن حاتم يطلب عليا ع في موضعه الذي تركه فيه فلم يجده فأصابه في مصاف ربيعة فقال يا أمير المؤمنين أما إذا كنت حيا فالأمر أمم ما مشيت إليك إلا على قتيل و ما أبقت هذه الواقعة لنا و لهم عميدا فقاتل حتى يفتح الله عليك فإن في الناس بقية بعد
Rabie came, and he-asws was among them, and the matter was mighty, and Adayy Bin Hatim came seeking Ali-asws in his-asws place which he-asws left him-asws in, but could not find him-asws. He found him-asws in the rows of Rabie. He said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! But, when you-asws are still alive, then the matter is general. I have not walked to you-asws except (treading) upon the slain, and this event will not remain for us and for them, and there is no hope. So, fight until Allah-azwj Grants victory to you-asws, for regarding the people there is survival afterwards’.
و أقبل الأشعث يلهث جزعا فلما رأى عليا ع هلل و كبر و قال يا أمير المؤمنين خيل كخيل و رجال كرجال و لنا الفضل إلى ساعتنا هذه فعد إلى مقامك الذي كنت فيه فإن الناس يظنونك حيث تركوك
And Al-Ash’as came gasping with panic. When he saw Ali-asws, he extolled the Oneness and exclaimed Takbeer and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! A cavalry is like a cavalry and an infantry is like an infantry, and for us is the merit to this time of ours. So, returned to your-asws position which you-asws were in, for the people are thinking of you (as dead) when they left you’.
و أرسل سعيد بن قيس إلى أمير المؤمنين ع إنا مشتغلون بأمرنا مع القوم و فينا فضل فإن أردت أن نمد أحدا أمددناه و أقبل علي ع على ربيعة فقال أنتم درعي و رمحي فقال عدي بن حاتم إن قوما أنست بهم و كنت فيهم في هذه الجولة لعظيم حقهم علينا و الله إنهم لصبر عند الموت أشداء عند القتال
And Saeed Bin Qays sent a message to Amir Al-Momineen-asws, ‘We are pre-occupied with our affairs with the people, and there is a merit in us. If you-asws want us to help someone, we shall help him’. And Ali-asws came to Rabie and said, ‘You are my-asws armour and my-asws spear’. Uday Bin Hatim said, ‘There is a group having forgetfulness with them, and I was among them in this great errand. There is a right for them upon us. By Allah-azwj! They are patience at the death, and intense during the battle’.
و ركب على فرسه الذي كان لرسول الله ص و كان يقال له المرتجز ثم قدم على بغلة رسول الله ص الشهباء فركبها ثم تعصب بعمامة رسول الله ص السوداء ثم نادى أيها الناس من يشري نفسه لله يربح هذه يوم له ما بعده إن عدوكم قد قرح كما قرحتم
And he-asws rode upon his-asws horse which used to be for Rasool-Allah-saww, and it was called ‘Al-Murtajiz’. Then he-asws went ahead on a mule of Rasool-Allah-azwj (called) ‘Al-Shahba’a’. He-asws rode it, then tied the black turban of Rasool-Allah-azwj. Then he-asws called out: ‘O you people! One who sells his self to Allah-azwj would profit this day, not after it! Your enemies have been injured just as you have been injured’.
فانتدب له من بين العشرة آلاف إلى اثني عشر ألفا وضعوا سيوفهم على عواتقهم و تقدمهم علي ع على بغلة رسول الله ص و هو يقول
| دبوا دبيب النمل لا تفوتوا- | و أصبحوا بحربكم و بيتوا- | |
| حتى تنالوا الثأر أو تموتوا- | أو لا فإني طال ما عصيت | |
| قد قلتم لو جئتنا فجئت- | ليس لكم ما شئتم و شئت- | |
| بل ما يريد المحيي المميت- |
There were assigned to him-asws from between ten thousand up to twelve thousand, and they placed their swords upon their shoulder and advanced. Ali-asws was upon a mule of Rasool-Allah-saww and he-asws said (a poem), ‘Walk the walking of the ant and you will not miss, and be with your war and your houses until you attain the retaliation of you die or not, for I-asws have for long been disobeyed, but the living one does not want the deceased’.
و تبعه ابن عدي بن حاتم مرتجزا و تقدم الأشتر مرتجزا و حمل الناس حملة واحدة فلم يبق لأهل الشام صف إلا انتفض و أهمدوا ما أتوا عليه حتى أفضى الأمر إلى مضرب معاوية و علي ع يضربهم بسيفه و يقول
| أضربهم و لا أرى معاوية- | الأخزر العين العظيم الحاوية- | |
| هوت به في النار أم هاوية- |
And Ibn Uday Bin Hatim pursued him-asws reciting a war poem, and Al-Ashtar advanced reciting a war poem, and the people attacked as one attack. There did not remain any row of the people of Syria except it was broken and they praised (Allah-azwj) of what they had come upon, until the matter led to the pavilion of Muawiya, and Ali-asws was striking them with his-asws sword and saying (a poem): ‘I-asws am striking them and I-asws do not see Muawiya, the green-eyed of the large belly. There will be a collapse with him into the Fire, his mother being the abyss’’.
فدعا معاوية بفرسه لينجو عليه فوضع رجله في الركاب ثم ندم و تمثل بأبيات و قال يا ابن العاص اليوم صبر و غدا فخر فقال عمرو صدقت و انصرفوا و قد غلبوا و قهروا و كل قد كره صاحبه
Muawiya called for his horse in order to be rescued upon it. He placed his leg in the stirrup, then regretted, and prosed a poem and said, ‘O Ibn Al-Aas! Today is the patience, and tomorrow is the pride’. Amro said, ‘You speak the truth’. And they left, and they had been overcome and subdued, and each one had abhorred his companion.
ثم إن معاوية لما أسرع أهل العراق في أهل الشام قال إن هذا يوم تمحيص إن القوم قد أسرع فيهم ما أسرع فيكم اصبروا يومكم هذا و خلاكم ذم و حض علي ع أصحابه
Then Muawiya, when the people of Al-Iraq had quickened among the people of Syria, said, ‘This day is a distinction. The people have quickened among you as quick as they can be. Be patient this day of yours leave your condemnations. And Ali-asws urged his-asws companions.
فقام إليه الأصبغ بن نباتة فقال يا أمير المؤمنين إنك جعلتني على شرطة الخميس و قدمتني في الثقة دون الناس و إنك اليوم لا تفقد لي صبرا و لا نصرا أما أهل الشام فقد هدهم ما أصبنا منهم و أما نحن ففينا بعض البقية فاطلب بنا أمرك و أذن لي في التقدم
And Al-Asbagh Bin Nubata stood up to him-asws and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! You-asws had made me to be upon the Thursday police, and sent me ahead among the trustworthy ones beside the people, and today you-asws are not advancing me, neither for combat nor for help. As for the people of Syria, it has limited them what we have suffered from them, and as for us, among us are some of the remainder seeking your-asws orders with us, and permit for me to advance’.
فقال له علي ع تقدم بسم الله و أقبل الأحنف بن قيس السعدي فقال يا أهل العراق و الله لا تصيبون هذا الأمر أذل عنقا منه اليوم قد كشف القوم عنكم قناع الحياء و ما يقاتلون على دين و ما يصبرون إلا حياء فتقدموا
Ali-asws said to him: ‘Go ahead in the Name of Allah-azwj’. And Al-Ahnaf Bin Qays Al-Sa’ady came and said, ‘O people of Al-Iraq! By Allah-azwj, you will not be attaining this matter until necks are humiliated from it today. The people have uncovered the covering of shame from you, and they are not fighting upon any religion, and they are not seeing except shame, so come forward!’
فقالوا إنا إن تقدمنا اليوم فقد تقدمنا أمس فما تقول يا أمير المؤمنين قال تقدموا في موضع التقدم و تأخروا في موضع التأخر تقدموا من قبل أن يتقدموا إليكم و حمل أهل العراق و تلقاهم أهل الشام فاجتلدوا و حمل عمرو بن العاص معلما مرتجزا
They said, ‘If we were to advance today, so we had advanced yesterday. So, what are you-asws saying, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws?’ He-asws said: ‘Go ahead in the place of advancing, and delay in the place of delaying. Advance, from before they advance towards you all!’ And the people of Al-Iraq attached and the people of Syria met them, and Amro Bin Al Aas attacked, teaching war poems.
فاعترضه علي ع و هو يقول
| قد علمت ذات القرون الميل- | و الخصر و الأنامل الطفول- | |
| إني بنصل السيف خنشليل- | أحمي و أرمي أول الرعيل | |
| بصارم ليس بذي فلول- |
Ali-asws intercepted him and he-asws said (a poem): ‘I-asws have learnt the full for centuries, and the present, and the fingertips of childhood. I-asws am the blade of the sword of Khanshaleel. I-asws protect and hit at first of the rows with decisiveness, not with slackness’.
ثم طعنه فصرعه و اتقاه عمرو برجله فبدت عورته فصرف علي وجهه عنه و ارتث فقال القوم أفلت الرجل يا أمير المؤمنين قال و هل تدرون من هو إنه عمرو بن العاص تلقاني بعورته فصرفت وجهي عنه
Then he-asws stabbed him and wrestled him, and Amro saved himself with his legs, and revealed his private parts. Ali-asws turned his-asws face away from him and hesitated. The people said, ‘The man is fleeing, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws!’ He-asws said: ‘And do you know who he is? He is Amro Bin Al-Aas. He faced me-asws with his nakedness, so I-asws turned my face away from him’.
فلما رجع عمرو إلى صفه قال له معاوية احمد الله و عورتك
When Amro returned to his row, Muawiya said to him, ‘I praise Allah-azwj and your private parts’.
ثم ذكر نصر سعي معاوية في افتتان الأشعث بن قيس و عبد الله بن العباس و المراسلة و المكاتبة إليهما و إجابتهما بما لم يرض به و ندم
Then Nasr (the reporter) mentioned the pursuit of Muawiya in tempting Al-Ash’as Bin Qays, and Abdullah Bin Al-Abbas, and the messages and the correspondence to them both, and their responses with what did not please him, and he regretted.
ثم قال و لما تعاظمت الأمور على معاوية دعا عمرا و بسرا و عبيد الله بن عمر و عبد الرحمن بن خالد فقال لهم قد غمّني رجال من أصحاب علي منهم سعيد بن قيس في همدان و الأشتر في قومه و المرقال و عدي بن حاتم و قيس بن سعد في الأنصار و قد وقتكم بما نيتكم بأنفسها أياما كثيرة حتى لقد استحييت لكم و أنتم عدتهم من قريش و قد عبأت لكل رجل منهم رجلا منكم فاجعلوا ذلك إلي
Then he (Nasr) said, ‘When the affairs became grievous upon Muawiya, he called Amro, and Basr, and Ubeydullah Bin Umar, and Abul Rahman Bin Khalid, and said to then, ‘Men from the companions of Ali-asws have saddened me, from them are Saeed Bin Qays among Hamdan, and Al-Ashtar among his people, and Al-Marqal, and Uday Bin Hatim, and Qays Bin Sa’ad among the Helpers, and you have timed yourself with what your intentions are with yourselves for many days until I am embarrassed to you all, and you are a number from Quraysh, and I have filled for each man from them, a man from you, so make that to be for me’.
فقالوا ذلك إليك قال فأنا أكفيكم سعيد بن قيس و قومه غدا و أنت يا عمرو لأعور بني زهرة المرقال و أنت يا بسر لقيس بن سعد و أنت يا عبيد الله للأشتر و أنت يا عبد الرحمن لعدي بن حاتم ثم ليرد كل رجل منكم من حماة الخيل فجعلها نوائب في خمسة أيام لكل رجل منهم يوما
They said, ‘That is up to you’. He said, ‘I shall suffice you all with Saeed Bin Qays and his people tomorrow, and you, O Amro Al-Awr, the clan of Zahra Al-Marqal, and you O Bisr, are for Qays Bin Sa’ad, and you O Ubeydullah are for Al-Ashtar, and you O Abdul Rahman are for Aday Bin Hatim, then let each man from you return from protecting the cavalry and make it a morning tour during five days, one day for each man from them’.
فأصبح معاوية في غده فلم يدع فارسا إلا دعاه ثم قصد لهمدان بنفسه و تقدم الخيل فطعن في أعراض الخيل مليا ثم إن همدان نادت بشعارها و أقحم سعيد بن قيس على فرسه على معاوية و اشتد القتال و حجز بينهم الليل و ذكرت همدان أن معاوية فاته ركضا فانصرف معاوية و لم يعمل شيئا
Muawiya woke up in the early morning and did not leave any horseman except called him. Then he aimed for Hamdan by himself, and the cavalry advanced. There was stabbing in the way of the cavalry for a while, then Hamdan called out with their slogans, and Saeed Bin Qays upon his horse intercepted Muawiya, and the fighting intensified, and the night detained between them. And Hamdan mentioned that Muawiya was missing a run. Muawiya left and did not do anything.
و إن عمرو بن العاص غدا في اليوم الثاني في حماة الخيل نحو المرقال و مع المرقال لواء علي الأعظم في حماة الناس و كان عمرو من فرسان قريش فتقدم و ارتجز و طعن في أعراض الخيل مزبدا فحمل هاشم مرتجزا و طعن عمرا حتى رجع و اشتد القتال و انصرف الفريقان و لم يسر معاوية ذلك
Amro Bin Al-Aas, in the early morning of the second day, came among protectors of the cavalry towards Al-Marqal, and with Al-Marqal was a large flag of Ali-asws, among the protectors of the people, and Amro was from the horsemen of Quraysh. He came ahead and recited a war poem, and stabbed in front of the cavalry additionally. Hashim attacked reciting a war poem and stabbed Amro until he returned, and the fighting intensified, and the two parties left, and Muawiya was not happy with that.
و إن بسرا غدا في اليوم الثالث في حماة الخيل فلقي قيس بن سعد في كماة الأنصار كأنه فنيق مقرم فطعن في خيل بسر و برز له بسر بعد ملإ و طعن بسر قيسا فضربه قيس بالسيف فرده على عقبه و رجع القوم جميعا و لقيس الفضل
And Bisr came early morning of the third day among cavalry and met Qays Bin Sa’ad among a group of the Helpers, as if he was in a fidgety seat. He stabbed among the cavalry of Bisr, and Bisr duelled to him after a while, and Bisr stabbed Qays and Qays struck him with the sword. He returned it upon his shoulder, and the group returned altogether, and for Qays was the merit.
و إن عبيد الله بن عمر تقدم في اليوم الرابع و لم يترك شيئا و جمع من استطاع فقال له معاوية إنك تلقى أفاعي أهل العراق فارفق و اتئد فلقيه الأشتر أمام الخيل مزبدا و كان الأشتر إذا أراد القتال أزبد فرد الخيل فاستحيا عبيد الله فبرز أمام الخيل و كان فارسا فحمل عليه الأشتر فطعنه و اشتد الأمر و انصرف القوم و للأشتر الفضل فغم ذلك معاوية
And Ubeydullah Bin Umar advanced during the fourth day and did not leave anything, and gathered the ones who listened. Muawiya said to him, ‘You are to meet the snakes of the people of Al-Iraq, so be attached and see’. Al-Ashtar met him in front of the cavalry fuming, and it so happened that whenever al-Ashtar wanted to fight, he would fume. He returned the cavalry and Ubeydullah was embarrassed. So, he duelled in front of the cavalry, and he was a horseman, and Al-Ashtar attacked upon him and stabbed him, and the matter intensified and the people left, and for Al-Ashtar was the superiority. That saddened Muawiya.
و إن عبد الرحمن غدا في اليوم الخامس و كان أرجأهم عند معاوية فقواه بالخيل و السلاح و كان يعده ولدا فلقيه عدي بن حاتم في حماة مذحج و قضاعة فبرز عبد الرحمن أمام الخيل ثم حمل فطعن الناس و قصده عدي بن حاتم و حمل في حماة الناس حتى تواروا في العجاج و فضح القوم و رجع عبد الرحمن إلى معاوية و انكسر معاوية
And Abdul Rahman came early morning of the fifth day, and he was their infantry was in the presence of Muawiya. They equipped him with the horses and the weapons, and he used to count him as a son. He was faced by Uday Bin Hatim among a group of Mazhaj, and Qaza’a’ Abdul Rahman duelled in front of the cavalry, then attacked and stabbed the people, and his aim was Uday Bin Hatim, and he attacked among a group of people until they disappeared from the dust, and the people were exposed, and Abdul Rahman returned to Muawiya, and Muawiya was broken.
و إن القرشيين استحيوا مما صنعوا و شمتت بهم اليمانية و عيرهم معاوية و أنبهم فانقطعوا عنه أياما ثم اعتذر إليهم معاوية في أبيات فأتوه و اعتذروا إليه و استقاموا له على ما يحب
And the two Qurayshi were embarrassed from what they had done and The Yemenis insulted them, and Muawiya blamed them and reprimanded them, and they were cut off from him for days. Then Muawiya excused them in poems and they came to him, and presented their excuses to him, and stood for him upon what he loved.
ثم إن معاوية ضاعف الفرائض و العطايا لعك و الأشعريين و هم بذلوا جهدهم في القتال و وفى لهم بذلك فلم يبق من أهل العراق أحد في قلبه مرض إلا طمع في معاوية و شخص بصره إليه حتى فشا ذلك في الناس و بلغ عليا ع فساءه ذلك
Then Muawiya doubled the obligatory (wages) and the awards (gifts), and the Ash’areen, and they had exerted their efforts in the battle, and he fulfilled to them with that. There did not remain anyone from the people of Al-Iraq in whose heart was a disease except he coveted in Muawiya, and his eyes stared to him until that was widespread among the people, and (news of) it reached Ali-asws. That saddened him-asws.
فقال المنذر بن أبي حميصة و كان فارس همدان و شاعرهم يا أمير المؤمنين إن عكا و الأشعريين طلبوا إلى معاوية الفرائض و العطاء فأعطاهم فباعوا الدين بالدنيا و أنا قد رضينا بالآخرة من الدنيا و بالعراق من الشام و بك من معاوية و الله لآخرتنا خير من دنياهم و لعراقنا خير من شامهم و لإمامنا أهدى من إمامهم فامتحنا بالصبر و احملنا على الموت
Al-Munzir Bin Abu Hameys said, and he was from the horsemen of Hamdan and their poet, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! (Clans of) Aka’a and Al-Ash’areen are seeking to Muawiya, the wages and the gifts, and he is giving them. They have sold the religion for the world, and we are pleased with the Hereafter rather than the world, and with Al-Iraq rather than Syria, and with you-asws rather than Muawiya. By Allah-azwj! We are choosing better than their world, for our Iraq is better than their Syria, and our Imam-asws is more guiding than their leader is. We are being Tried with the patience and carried upon the death’.
فقال علي ع حسبك رحمك الله و أثنى عليه و على قومه خيرا و لما أصبح الناس غدوا على مصافهم و نادى معاوية في أحياء اليمن فقال علي ع يا آل همدان فأجابه سعيد بن قيس فقال له احمل فحمل حتى خلط الخيل بالخيل و اشتد القتال و حطمتهم همدان حتى ألحقوهم بمعاوية و أسرع في فرسان أهل الشام القتل
Ali-asws said: ‘It suffices you, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on you!’ And he-asws praised upon his people with goodness. And when the people woke up in the morning, they went early to their rows, and Muawiya called out among the living ones of Al-Yemen. Ali-asws said: ‘O people of Hamdan!’ Saeed Bin Qays answered him-asws. He-asws said to him: ‘Attack!’ He attacked until the cavalry mingled with the cavalry and the fighting intensified, and Hamdan destroyed them until they joined up with Muawiya, and the killing was quick among the horsemen of Syria.
و أثنى علي ع على همدان و قال أنتم درعي و رمحي يا همدان ما نصرتم إلا الله و لا أجبتم غيره فقال سعيد أجبنا الله و إياك و نصرنا نبي الله ص في قبره و قاتلنا معك من ليس مثلك فارم بنا حيث أحببت
And Ali-asws praised Hamdan and said: ‘You are my-asws armour, and my-asws spear, O Hamdan! You are not helping except Allah-azwj, nor are you answering other than Him-azwj’. Saeed said, ‘We are answering Allah-azwj and you-asws, and we are helping the Prophet-saww of Allah-azwj in his-saww grave, and we are fighting alongside you-asws against the one who isn’t like you, so send us wherever you-asws like to’.
فدعا معاوية مروان و أمره أن يخرج فأبى ثم دعا عمرو بن العاص و أمره بالخروج فلما خرج لقيه الأشتر أمام الخيل فلما غشيه الأشتر بالرمح راوغه عمرو فطعنه الأشتر في وجهه فلم يصنع شيئا و لوى عمرو عنان فرسه و جعل يده على وجهه و رجع إلى العسكر
Muawiya called Marwan and instructed him that he goes out, but he refused. Then he called Amro Bin Al-Aas and instructed him with the going out. When he went out, Al-Ashtar met him in front of the cavalry. When Al-Ashtar overcame him with the spear, Amro dodged it. Al-Ashtar stabbed him in his face. But he did not do anything, and Amro buckled his horse and made his hand to be upon his face, and returned to the army.
فجاء ذو الكلاع إلى معاوية و قال تولى علينا من لا يقاتل معنا ول رجلا منا و إلا فلا حاجة لنا بك فقال لهم معاوية لا أولي عليكم بعد يومي هذا إلا رجلا منكم
Zul Kala’a came to Muawiya and said, ‘Place somebody in-charge upon us, one who has not fought with us. Either make a man from us to be in-charge or else there is no need for us with you’. Muawiya said to him, ‘I will not place anyone in-charge upon you after this day of mine except a man from you’.
قال و حرض علي ع أصحابه فقام إليه الأصبغ بن نباتة فقال يا أمير المؤمنين قدمني في البقية من الناس فإنك لا تفقد لي اليوم صبرا و لا نصرا قال ع تقدم باسم الله و البركة
He (the narrator) said, ‘Ali-asws incited his-asws companions. Al-Asbagh Bin Nubata stood up to him and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Send me ahead among the remainder of the people, and you-asws should not miss out for me today, neither any combat nor help’. He-asws said: ‘Advance in the Name of Allah-azwj and the Blessings’.
فتقدم و أخذ رايته فمضى بالراية مرتجزا فرجع و قد خضب سيفه و رمحه دما و كان شيخا ناسكا عابدا و كان إذا لقي القوم لا يغمد سيفه و كان من ذخائر علي ع ممن قد بايعه على الموت و كان من فرسان أهل العراق و كانوا قد ثقلوا عن البراز حين عضتهم الحرب
He came forward and grabbed his flag, and went with the flag reciting war poems. He returned and his sword and his spear had been dyed with blood, and he was an old man, performer of rituals, a worshipper, and whenever he met the people (in battle), he would not sheath his sword, and he was from the treasures of Ali-asws, from the ones who had pledged to him-asws upon death, and he was from the horsemen of the people of Al-Iraq, and they had become heavy (sluggish) from the duelling when the war had bitten them.
فقال الأشتر يا أهل العراق أ ما من رجل يشري نفسه لله فخرج آثال بن حجل فنادى بين العسكرين هل من مبارز فدعا معاوية حجلا فقال دونك الرجل و كانا مستبصرين في رأيهما فبرز كل منهما إلى صاحبه فبدره الشيخ بطعنه فطعنه الغلام فانتسبا فإذا هو ابنه فنزلا و اعتنق كل منهما صاحبه و بكيا
Al-Ashtar said, ‘O people of Al-Iraq! Is there no man who would sell his self to Allah-azwj?’ Asaal Bin Hajal came out and called out between the soldiers, ‘Is there anyone for duel?’ Muawiya called Hajal and said, ‘For you is the man’, and they were both insightful in their views. Each one of them duelled to his counterpart. The old man rushed towards him for stabbing him, but the boy stabbed him and they were both affiliated. There, it turned out to be his own son. They both descended and hugged, each one his companion, and they both cried.
فقال له الأب أي آثال هلم إلى الدنيا فقال له الغلام يا أباه هلم إلى الآخرة و الله يا أبت لو كان من رأيي الانصراف إلى أهل الشام لكان من رأيك لي أن تنهاني وا سوأتاه فما يقول لي علي كن على ما أنت عليه و أنا أكون على ما أنا عليه و انصرف كل منهما إلى أصحابهما
The father said to him, ‘Yes, Asaal, come to the world’. The boy said to him, ‘O father! Come to the Hereafter. By Allah-azwj, O father! If it was from my view, the going to the people of Syria, it would have happened. From your view to me is that you forbid me. Oh, the evil of it! So, what Ali-asws is saying to me is: ‘Be upon what you are upon’, and I am being upon what I am upon’. And each of them left to go their own companions.
ثم إن معاوية دعا النعمان بن بشير و مسلمة بن مخلد فقال يا هذان ما لقيت من الأوس و الخزرج صاروا واضعي سيوفهم على عواتقهم يدعون إلى النزال حتى و الله جبنوا أصحابي الشجاع منهم و الجبان حتى و الله ما أسأل عن فارس من أهل الشام إلا قالوا قتلته الأنصار
Then Muawiya called Al-Numan Bin Bashir and Maslama Bin Makhlad. He said, ‘O Hamdan! What you had faced from (the tribes of) Al-Aws and Al-Khazraz. Become placing your swords upon your shoulders calling to the battle until by Allah-azwj, my companions, the brave from them have become cowards, and (so have) the cowards, until by Allah-azwj, I do not ask about any horseman from the people of Syria ‘إلا قالوا قتلته الأنصار’ except they say, ‘The Helpers killed him’.
أما و الله لاعبين لكل فارس منهم فارسا ينشب في حلقة ثم لألقينهم بأعدادهم من قريش رجال لم يغذهم التمر و الطفيشل يقولون نحن الأنصار قد و الله آووا و نصروا و لكن أفسدوا حقهم بباطلهم
But, by Allah-azwj! The player for every horseman from them is a horseman attacking in a throat, then he meets them with their numbers from Quraysh, men who have not fed with the dates and the porridge (Al-Tafsheel), saying, ‘We are the Helpers!’ By Allah-azwj! They have shelters and helped, but they spoil their rights with their falsehood’.
فغضب النعمان و قال يا معاوية لا تلومن الأنصار بسرعتهم في الحرب فإنهم كذلك كانوا في الجاهلية و أما دعاؤهم إلى النزال فقد رأيتهم مع رسول الله ص و أما لقاؤك إياهم في أعدادهم من قريش فإن لها وفاء به و أما التمر و الطفيشل فإن التمر كان لنا فلما أن ذقتموه شاركتمونا فيه و أما الطفيشل فكان لليهود فلما أكلناهم غلبناهم عليه كما غلبت قريش على السخينة
Al-Numan was angered and said, ‘O Muawiya! Do not blame the Helpers with their quickness in the war, for they were like that during the pre-Islamic period. And as for calling them for the battle, so you have seen them with Rasool-Allah-saww; and as for your meeting them among their numbers from Quraysh, so there is loyalty with it; and as for the dates and the porridge (Al-Tafsheel), the dates were for us. When you tasted it, you participated with us in it; and as for the porridge (Al-Tafsheel), it was for the Jews. When we ate them, we overcame them upon it just as Quraysh overcame upon the porridge (Al-Sakheena)’.
ثم تكلم مسلمة بنحو من ذلك و لم يكن مع معاوية غير هذين الرجلين من الأنصار و انتهى الكلام إلى الأنصار فجمع قيس بن سعد الأنصار و قام خطيبا فيهم و قال إن معاوية قد قال ما بلغكم و أجاب عنكم صاحباكم فلعمري لئن غظتم معاوية اليوم لقد غظتموه أمس و إن وترتموه في الإسلام لقد وترتموه في الشرك و ما لكم إليه من ذنب أعظم من نصر هذا الذي أنتم عليه
Then Maslama spoke with approximate from that, and there did not happen to be with Muawiya apart from these two men from the Helpers, and the talk ended to the Helpers. Qays Bin Sa’ad gathered the Helpers and stood to address among them and said, ‘Muawiya has said what has reached you and he answered your two companions about you. By my life! If Muawiya is raging today, we had infuriated him yesterday, and if you have tensed him in Al-Islam, you had tensed him during the Shirk, and there is no sin for you all to him (in his eyes) any greater than helping this, which you are upon.
فجدوا اليوم جدا تنسونه ما كان أمس و جدوا غدا فتنسونه ما كان اليوم و أنتم مع هذا اللواء الذي كان يقاتل عن يمينه جبرئيل و عن يساره ميكائيل و القوم مع لواء أبي جهل و الأحزاب
So, exert yourselves today with such efforts, to make him forget what had happened yesterday, and exert tomorrow such that he would forget what happens today; and you all, are with this flag which Jibraeel-as used to fight on its right, and Mikaeel-as on its left, while the people (of Syria) are with a flag of Abu Jahl, and the confederates.
و أما التمر فإنا لم نغرسه و لكن غلبنا عليه من غرسه و أما الطفيشل فلو كان طعامنا سميناه اسما كما سميت قريش السخينة
And as for the dates, we did not plant it, but the one who planted it overcame us upon it; and as for the porridge (Al-Tafsheel). If it was our food, we would have named it with a name just as Quraysh have named the porridge (Al-Sakheena)’.
و تحركت الخيل غدوة فظن قيس أن فيها معاوية فحمل على رجل يشبهه فقنعه بالسيف فإذا غير معاوية و حمل الثانية على آخر يشبهه أيضا فضربه ثم انصرف ثم إن النعمان خرج حتى وقف بين الصفين فقال يا قيس أنا النعمان بن بشير قال قيس ما حاجتك
And the cavalry moved early morning. Qays thought that Muawiya was among it, so he attacked upon a man resembling him and uncovered him with the sword, and there it was other than Muawiya. And he attacked a second time upon another one resembling him as well, and struck him, then left. Then Al-Numan came out until he stood between the two swords. He said, ‘O Qays! I am Al-Numan Bin Bashir!’ Qays said, ‘What is your need?’
قال يا قيس إنه قد أنصفكم من دعاكم إلى ما رضي لنفسه أ لستم معشر الأنصار تعلمون أنكم أخطأتم في خذل عثمان يوم المدينة و قتلتم أنصاره يوم الجمل و إقحامكم على خيولكم أهل الشام بصفين فلو كنتم إذ خذلتم عثمان خذلتم عليا و لكنكم خذلتم حقا و نصرتم باطلا
He said, ‘O Qays! He has been fair to you, one who called you to what he is pleased with himself. Aren’t you, community of the Helpers, knowing that you have made a mistake in abandoning Usman on the day of Al-Medina, and you killed his helpers on the day of the camel, and you are thrusting the people of Syria upon your horses at Siffeen? If you have abandoned Usman, you can abandon Ali-asws. But, you abandoned the truth and you are helping the falsehood.
ثم لم ترضوا أن تكونوا كالناس حتى أعلمتم في الحرب و دعوتم إلى البراز ثم لم ينزل بعلي أمر قط إلا و هونتم عليه المصيبة و وعدتموه الظفر و قد أخذت الحرب منا و منكم ما قد رأيتم فاتقوا الله في البقية
Then you were not pleased from becoming like the (rest of the) people until learnt in the war and called to the duel. Then there did not befall any matter with Ali-asws at all except and you made the difficulty to seem easy to him-asws, and promised him the victory, and the war has taken its toll from us and you all what you have seen, so fear Allah-azwj regarding the remainder’’.
قال فضحك قيس ثم قال ما كنت أراك يا نعمان تجترئ على هذه المقالة إنه لا ينصح أخاه من غش نفسه و أنت و الله الغاش الضال المضل و أما ذكرك عثمان فإن كانت الأخبار تكفيك فخذها مني واحدة قتل عثمان من لست خيرا منه و خذله من هو خير منك
He (the narrator) said, ‘Qays laughed, then said, ‘I did not used to view you, O Numan, as being so audacious as to say these words. He cannot advise his brother, one who is unconscious of himself, and you by Allah-azwj are the unconscious, the strayer, the strayed. And as for your mention of Usman, so if the news suffices you, then take it from me alone. He killed Usman, one who isn’t better than him, he abandoned him, one who is better than you.
و أما أصحاب الجمل فقاتلناهم على النكث و أما معاوية فو الله لئن اجتمعت عليه العرب لقاتلته الأنصار و أما قولك إنا لسنا كالناس فنحن في هذه الحروب كما كنا مع رسول الله ص نتقي السيوف بوجوهنا و الرماح بنحورنا حَتَّى جاءَ الْحَقُّ وَ ظَهَرَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ وَ هُمْ كارِهُونَ
And as for the companions of the camel, we fought them upon the allegiance breaking; and as for Muawiya, by Allah-azwj, even if all the Arabs were to gather to him, the Helpers will fight them; and as for your words that we aren’t like the people, so we are in this war just as we used to be with Rasool-Allah-saww. We are meeting the swords with our faces and the spears with our throats, until there came the Truth and the Command of Allah prevailed, and they were disliking it [9:48].
و لكن انظر يا نعمان هل ترى مع معاوية إلا طليقا أو أعرابيا أو يمانيا مستدرجا بغرور انظر أين المهاجرون و الأنصار و التابعون لهم بإحسان الذين رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَ رَضُوا عَنْهُ
But look around, O Numan! Do you see anyone with Muawiya except the freed ones (at the conquest of Makkah), or Bedouins, or Yemenis, having been encroached upon by deception? Look where the Emigrants, and the Helpers, and the followers of theirs with the good deeds are, the ones, Allah-azwj is Pleased from them and they are pleased from Him-azwj.
ثم انظر هل ترى مع معاوية أنصاريا غيرك و غير صويحبك و لستما و الله ببدريين و لا عقبيين و لا أحديين و لا لكما سابقة في الإسلام و لا آية في القرآن و لعمري لئن شغبت علينا لقد شغب علينا أبوك.
Then look (again)! Do you see with Muawiya, any Helper apart from you and your companion, and by Allah-azwj, the two of you are neither participants of Badr, nor Uqba, nor Ohad, nor is there are precedence for you both in Al-Islam, nor is there any Verse in the Quran (for you two). By my life! If you are rioting against us (today), your father had rioted against us (yesterday)’’.[46]
438- و ذكروا: أنه كان فارس أهل كوفة الذي لا ينازع رجلا يقال له العكبر بن جدير الأسدي و كان فارس أهل الشام الذي لا ينازع عوف بن مجزأة المرادي و كان العكبر له عبارة و لسان لا يطاق
And they mentioned, ‘He was a horseman of the people of Al-Kufa who no man could match was called Al-Akbar Bin Jadeer Al-Asadi, and he was a horseman of the people of Syria was Awf Bin Majza Al-Muradi could not be matched. And Al-Akbar had expression for him and an unbearable tongue.
فلما خرج الناس إلى مصافهم خرج المرادي نادرا من الناس و كذلك كان يصنع و قد كان قتل قبل ذلك نفرا من أهل العراق مبارزة
When the people came out to their rows, Al-Muradi came out a little from the people, and like he used to do, and he had killed a number from the people of Al-Iraq before (asking from) them in duels.
فنادى يا أهل العراق هل من رجل عصاه سيفه يبارزني و لا أغركم من نفسي فأنا عوف بن مجزأة فارس زوف فصاح الناس بالعكبر فخرج إليه منقطعا من أصحابه و الناس وقوف و وقف المرادي مرتجزا فبرز إليه العكبر و ارتجز فاطعنا فصرعه العكبر فقتله
He called out, ‘O people of Al-Iraq! Is there any man whose sword is his staff, he can duel me, and I will not deceive him from myself, for I am Awf Bin Majza, horseman of Zowf!’ The people shouted for Al-Akbar. He came out to him, cut off from his companions, and the people were paused, and Al-Muradi stood reciting war poems. Al-Akbar duelled to him and recited a war poem. They stabbed each other. Al-Akbar wrestled him and killed him.
و معاوية على التل في أناس من قريش و أناس من الناس قليل فوجه العكبر فرسه فملأ فروجه ركضا و يضربه بالسوط مسرعا نحو التل فنظر إليه معاوية فقال إن هذا الرجل مغلوب على عقله أو مستأمن فاسألوه فأتاه رجل فناداه فلم يجبه فمضى حتى انتهى إلى معاوية و جعل يطعن في أعراض الخيل و رجا العكبر أن يفردوا له معاوية
And Muawiya was upon a hillock among the people from Quraysh, and a few from the (general) people. Al-Akbar diverted his horse and dictated his horse to gallop, and struck it with the whip quickening towards the hillock. Muawiya looked at him and said, ‘This man, his intellect has been overcome or he trusts himself. Ask him!’ A man went to him and called out to him, but he did not answer him until he ended up to Muawiya, and went on to stab among the exposed cavalry, and Al-Akbar wished that Muawiya would be alone for him.
فقتل رجلا و قام القوم دون معاوية بالسيوف و الرماح فلما لم يصل إلى معاوية نادى أولى لك يا ابن هند أنا الغلام الأسدي و رجع إلى علي ع فقال له علي ع ما ذا دعاك إلى ما صنعت يا عكبر لا تلق نفسك إلى الهلكة
He killed a man, and the people besides Muawiya stood up with the swords and the spear. When he could not arrive to Muawiya, he called out, ‘You are first, O son of Hind! I am the boy Al-Asadi!’ And he returned to Ali-asws. Ali-asws said to him: ‘What is that which called you to what you did, O Akbar? Do not attach yourself to the destruction’.
قال أردت غرة ابن هند فحيل بيني و بينه و انكسر أهل الشام لقتل المرادي و نذر معاوية دم العكبر فقال العكبر يد الله فوق يد معاوية فأين دفاع الله عن المؤمنين
He said, ‘I wanted to catch the son of Hind unaware, but there was a barrier between me and him. And the people of Syria were broken at the killing of Al-Muradi, and Muawiya vowed for the blood of Al-Akbar. Al-Akbar said, ‘The Hand of Allah-azwj is above the hand of Muawiya, so where is Defence of Allah-azwj of the Momineen?’
ثم إن عليا ع دعا قيس بن سعد فأثنى عليه خيرا و سوده على الأنصار و كان طلائع أهل الشام و أهل العراق يلتقون فيما بين ذلك و يتناشدون الأشعار و يفخر بعضهم على بعض و يحدث بعضهم بعضا على أمان.
Then Ali-asws called Qays Bin Sa’ad, and praised goodly upon him and blackened upon the Helper, and the vanguard of the people of Syria and the people of Al-Iraq met (in battle) in what was between that, and they were prosing the poetry, and were priding upon each other, and narrating each other upon safety’’.[47]
439- قال نصر و روى عمر بن سعد عن عبد الرحمن بن عبد الله أن عبد الله بن كعب قتل يوم صفين فمر به الأسود بن قيس و هو بآخر رمق فقال عز علي و الله مصرعك أما و الله لو شهدتك لآسيتك و لدافعت عنك و لو أعرف الذي أشعرك لأحببت أن لا يزايلني حتى أقتله أو يلحقني بك
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated by Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Abdul Rahman Bin Abdullah,
‘Abdullah Bin Ka’ab was killed on the day of Siffeen. Al-Aswad Bin Qays passed by him, and he was with the last of breaths. He said, ‘By Allah-azwj! I shall console Ali-asws of your being slain. But, by Allah-azwj! If I had witnessed you, I would have assisted you and defended you, and had I recognised the one who killed you, I would have loved it if I had not moved until either I kill him or he makes me join up with you’.
ثم نزل إليه فقال و الله إن كان جارك ليأمن بوائقك و إن كنت من الذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً أوصني رحمك الله
Then he descended to him. He said, ‘By Allah-azwj! If your neighbour was safe from your troubling him, and if you were from the and the men who do Zikr of Allah a lot, and the women who do Zikr – [33:35]. Bequeath to me, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on you’.
قال أوصيك بتقوى الله و أن تناصح أمير المؤمنين و أن تقاتل معه المحلين حتى يظهر الحق أو تلحق بالله و أبلغه عني السلام و قل له قاتل على المعركة حتى تجعلها خلف ظهرك فإنه من أصبح و المعركة خلف ظهره كان الغالب
He said, ‘I bequeath you with fearing Allah-azwj, and that you be an adviser of Amir Al-Momineen-asws, and that you fight alongside him-asws against the cunning until the truth prevails, or you join with Allah-azwj; and deliver the greetings to him-asws from me and say to him-asws, ‘Fight upon the battleground until you-asws make it to be behind your-asws back’, for it is from the clearest if the battleground is behind his-asws back, he-asws would be the overcomer’.
ثم لم يلبث أن مات فأقبل الأسود إلى علي ع فأخبره فقال يرحمه الله جاهد معنا عدونا في الحياة و نصح لنا في الوفاة
Then it was not long before he died. Al-Aswad came to Ali-asws and informed him-asws. He-asws said: ‘May Allah-azwj have Mercy on him! He fought alongside us during the lifetime, and was an adviser to us during the death’.
ثم إن عليا ع غلس بالناس بصلاة الفجر ثم زحف بهم فخرج الناس على راياتهم و أعلامهم و زحف إليهم أهل الشام.
Then Ali-asws prayed Salat with the people up to the dawn, then marched with them. The people came out being upon their respective flags and their banners and the people of Syria marched towards them’’.[48]
440- قال نصر و حدثني عمرو بن شمر عن جابر عن عامر عن صعصعة بن صوحان و الحارث بن أدهم أن أبرهة بن الصباح قام فقال ويلكم يا معشر أهل اليمن و الله إني لأظن الله آذن بفنائكم ويحكم خلوا بين هذين الرجلين فليقتتلا فأيهما قتل صاحبه ملنا معه جميعا و
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to me by Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir, from Aamir, from Sa’sa Bin Sowhan, and Al Haris Bin Ad’ham,
‘Abraha Bin Al-Sabah stood up and he said, ‘Woe be unto you, O community of the people of Al-Yemen! By Allah-azwj! I think Allah-azwj has Permitted your annihilation. Woe be unto you all! Vacate between these two men and let them fight each other, so whichever of the two kills his companion, we shall incline with him altogether’.
كان أبرهة من أصحاب معاوية فبلغ ذلك عليا ع فقال صدق أبرهة بن الصباح و الله ما سمعت بخطبة منذ وردت الشام أنا بها أشد سرورا مني بهذه و بلغ معاوية كلام أبرهة فتأخر آخر الصفوف و قال لمن حوله و الله إني لأظنه مصابا في عقله
Abraha was from the companions of Muawiya. That reached Ali-asws. He-asws said: ‘Abraha Bin Al-Sabah spoke the truth. By Allah-azwj! I-asws have not heard any address since I-asws arrived at Syria. I-asws am with intense joy from me-asws with this’. And the speech of Abraha reached Muawiya, so he delayed the last of the rows and said to the ones around him, ‘By Allah-azwj! I think he has been injured in his intellect’.
فارتج أهل الشام يقولون و الله إن أبرهة لأفضلنا دينا و رأيا و بأسا و لكن معاوية كره مبارزة علي ع و برز يومئذ عروة بن داود الدمشقي فقال إن كان معاوية كره مبارزتك يا أبا الحسن فهلم إلي فتقدم إليه علي و حمل عليه و قتله ثم قال يا عروة اذهب فأخبر قومك أما و الذي بعث محمدا ص بالحق لقد عاينت النار و أصبحت من النادمين
The people of Syria vibrated saying, ‘By Allah-azwj! Abraha is our best in religion, and view, and prowess, but Muawiya dislikes duelling Ali-asws. And on that day Ali-asws duelled Urwa Bin Dawood Al-Dimashqy. He said, ‘If Muawiya dislikes duelling you, O Abu Al-Hassan-asws, then come to me (for it)!’ Ali-asws advanced towards him and attacked upon him and killed him, then said: ‘O Urwa! Go and inform your people! But, by the One-azwj Who Sent Muhammad-saww with the truth! You are (now) witnessing the Fire and become from the regretful’.
فنظر إليه معاوية و كان واقفا على التل فقال و الله لقد دعاني علي إلى البراز حتى لقد استحييت من قريش و إنما أراد بذلك أن يبرز إليه بسر بن أرطاة فقبل بسر أن يبارزه ع ثم ندم و استحيا من الاستعفاء
Muawiya looked at him-asws, and he was standing upon the hill. He said, ‘By Allah-azwj! Ali-asws had called me to the duel until I was embarrassed from Quraysh, and rather I intended by that for Bisr Bin Artah to duel to him-asws’. Bisr came to duel him-asws, then regretted and was too embarrassed from the withdrawing.
فغدا علي ع منقطعا من خيله و معه الأشتر و هو يريد التل فاستقبله بسر قريبا من التل فطعنه و هو لا يعرفه فاتقاه بسر برجله فانكشف عورته فانصرف علي ع عنه و ناداه الأشتر يا أمير المؤمنين إنه بسر قال دعه عليه لعنة الله
Ali-asws came, being cut off from his-asws cavalry and with him-asws was Al-Ashtar, and he-asws was intending the hill. Bisr faced him-asws near from the hill. He-asws stabbed him, and he-asws did not recognise him. He saved it by his (lifting) leg, and his private parts were uncovered. Ali-asws turned away from him, and Al-Ashtar called out to him-asws, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! It is Bisr!’ He-asws said: ‘Leave him, may Allah-azwj Curse him!’
و حمل ابن عم لبسر على علي ع فطعنه الأشتر فكسر صلبه و قام بسر من طعنة علي و ولت خيله فقال له معاوية قد أدال الله عمرا منك فكان بسر بعد ذلك إذا لقي الخيل التي فيها علي ع تنحى ناحية و تحامى فرسان أهل الشام عليا ع.
And a nephew of Bisr attacked upon Ali-asws. Al-Ashtar stabbed him and broke his back, and Bisr got up from his stabbing by Ali-asws and turned his horse around. Muawiya said to him, ‘Allah-azwj has let Amro triumph more than you!’ And it was so after that, whenever Bisr met the cavalry in which was Ali-asws, would isolate in an area and protect the horsemen of the people of Syria from Ali-asws’’.[49]
441- و عن عمر بن سعد بإسناده قال كان من أهل الشام بصفين رجل يقال له الأصبغ بن ضرار و كان يكون طليعة و مسلحة لمعاوية فندب علي ع له الأشتر فأخذه أسيرا من غير أن يقاتل و كان علي ع ينهى عن قتل الأسير الكاف
And from Umar Bin Sa’ad, by his chain, said,
‘At Siffeen, there was a man from the people of Syria called Al-Asbag Bin Zarar, and he was a vanguard (advance guard) and a weapons bearer for Muawiya. Ali-asws deputised Al-Ashtar to him, and he seized him as a captive from without any fighting, and Ali-asws had forbidden from killing the prisoner, (imprisonment) being sufficient.
فجاء به ليلا و شد وثاقه و ألقاه مع أضيافه ينتظر به الصباح فأنشد فيها أشعار أثرت في الأشتر فغدا به الأشتر على علي ع فقال يا أمير المؤمنين هذا رجل من المسلحة لقيته بالأمس فو الله لو علمت أن قتله الحق قتلته و قد بات عندنا الليلة و حركنا بشعره فإن كان فيه القتل فاقتله و إن غضبنا فيه و إن كنت فيه بالخيار فهبه لنا
He came with him at night and tightened his bonds and threw him with his guests awaiting the morning with him. He prosed poems therein which Al-Ashtar was impressed with. The next morning Al-Ashtar went with him to Ali-asws and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! This man is from the armouries I had met him yesterday. By Allah-azwj! If I know that killing him is the truth, I would kill him, and I have spent the night in his presence and he has moved us with his poems. So, if the killing was regarding him, then kill him, and even though we are angered at regarding him, and if the choice was regarding him, then gift him to us’.
قال هو لك يا مالك فإذا أصبت أسيرا فلا تقتله فإن أسير أهل القبلة لا يفادى و لا يقتل
He-asws said: ‘He is for you, O Malik! So, whenever you attain a prisoner, then do not kill him, and a captive would be a person of the Qiblah (Muslim). He can neither be avoided nor killed’.
فرجع به الأشتر إلى منزله و قال لك ما أخذنا منك ليس لك عندنا غيره و ذكروا أن عليا ع أظهر أنه مصبح معاوية و مناجزه فبلغ ذلك معاوية ففزع أهل الشام لذلك و انكسروا لقوله
Al-Ashtar returned with him to his house and said, ‘For you is whatever we have taken from you, there is nothing else for you with us’. And they mentioned that Ali-asws had revealed that he was a vanguard of Muawiya and his man of combat. That reached Muawiya and the people of Syria panicked at that and they were broken at his words.
فكتب معاوية إليه ع أما بعد فإني أظنك أن لو علمت أن الحرب تبلغ بنا و بك ما بلغت إلى آخر ما سيأتي برواية سليم الهلالي و ما جرى بين معاوية و بين عمرو في ذلك
Muawiya wrote to him-asws, ‘As for after, I think that if you-asws had known that the war would reach with us and you, what is has reached’ – up to the end of what I (Majlisi) shall be coming with, in a report of Suleym Al-Hilali, and what flowed between Muawiya and Amro regarding that.
قال ثم إن عليا ع غلس بالناس صلاة الغداة ثم زحف إليهم فخرج الناس على راياتهم و أعلامهم و زحف إليهم أهل الشام إلى آخر ما سيأتي.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Then Ali-asws prayed the morning Salat with the people till dawn, then marched towards them. The people came out upon their respective flags and banners, and the people of Syria marched towards them’ – up to the end of what I (Majlisi) shall be coming with’’.[50]
442- أقول ثم قال ابن أبي الحديد: قال نصر بن مزاحم في الجزء (7) من كتاب صفين و هو ثقة ثبت صحيح النقل غير منسوب إلى هوى و لا إدغال و هو من رجال أصحاب الحديث حدثنا عمرو بن شمر عن أبي ضرار عن عمار بن ربيعة قال- غلس علي ع صلاة الغداة يوم الثلاثاء عاشر شهر ربيع الأول سنة سبع و ثلاثين و قيل عاشر صفر ثم زحف إلى أهل الشام بعسكر العراق و الناس على راياتهم و أعلامهم و زحف إليهم أهل الشام و قد كانت الحرب أكلت الفريقين و لكنها في أهل الشام أشد نكاية و أعظم وقعا قد ملوا الحرب و كرهوا القتال و تضعضعت أركانهم
I (Majlisi) am saying, ‘Then Ibn Abi Al Hadeed said, ‘Nasr Bin Muzahim said in volume 7 from Kitab Siffeen, and he is trustworthy, proven correct of the transmission, not attributed to whims, nor guesswork, and he is from the men who are companions of the Hadeeth, ‘It is narrated to us by Amro Bin Shimr, from Abu Zarar, from Ammar Bin Rabie who said,
‘Ali-asws prayed the morning Salat until dawn on the day of Tuesday the tenth of the month of Rabbi Al-Awwal of the year thirty-seven, and it is said, the tenth of Safar, then marched to the people of Syria with the army of Al-Iraq, and the people were upon their respective flags and banners, and the people of Syria marched towards them, and the war took place devouring the two parties, but it was more crushing among the people of Syrian and more grievous an event. They had been fed up of the war and disliked the fighting, and their pillars had been weakened’.
قال فخرج رجل من أهل العراق على فرس كميت ذنوب عليه السلاح لا يرى منه إلا عيناه و بيده الرمح فجعل يضرب رءوس أهل العراق بالقناة و يقول سووا صفوفكم رحمكم الله حتى إذا عدل الصفوف و الرايات استقبلهم بوجهه و ولى أهل الشام ظهره
He (the narrator) said, ‘A man from the people of Al-Iraq came out upon a reddish-brown horse, covered in weaponry, nothing was seen from him except his eyes, and the spear was in his hands. He went on to tap the heads of the people of Al-Iraq with the lance and saying, ‘Even out your rows, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on you!’, until when the rows and the flags had been aligned, he faced them with his face and turned the people of Syria to his back.
ثم حمد الله و أثنى عليه و قال الحمد لله الذي جعل فينا ابن عم نبيه أقدمهم هجرة و أولهم إسلاما سيف من سيوف الله صبه الله على أعدائه فانظروا إذا حمي الوطيس و ثار القتام و تكسر المران و جالت الخيل بالأبطال فلا أسمع إلا غمغمة أو همهمة فاتبعوني و كونوا في أثري
Then he praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj and said: ‘The Praise is for Allah-azwj Who Made a son-asws of an uncle-as of His-azwj Prophet-saww to be among us. He-asws is the most ahead of them in emigration, and first of them in Islam, being a sword from the swords of Allah-azwj. Allah-azwj has Sent him-asws forth against His-azwj enemies. Look around, when the battle is feverish, and the darkness erupts, and the training breaks down, and the horses tour with the heroes, and nothing is heard except the mumbling or the humming, then follow me and be in my tracks!’
قال ثم حمل على أهل الشام فكسر فيهم رمحه ثم رجع فإذا هو الأشتر
He (the narrator) said, ‘Then he attacked upon the people of Syria, and his spear broke among them. Then he returned, and there, it was Al-Ashtar.
قال و خرج رجل من أهل الشام و نادى بين الصفين يا أبا الحسن يا علي ابرز إلي فخرج إليه علي ع حتى اختلفت أعناق دابتيهما بين الصفين فقال إن لك يا علي لقدما في الإسلام و الهجرة فهل لك في أمر أعرضه عليك يكون فيه حقن هذه الدماء و تأخير هذه الحروب حتى ترى رأيك
He (the narrator) said, ‘And a man from the people of Syria emerged and called out between the rows, ‘O Abu Al-Hassan-asws! O Ali-asws, duel to me!’ Ali-asws came out to him until the necks of their animals rubbed between the rows. He said, ‘O Ali-asws! For you-asws there is ancientness in Al-Islam, and the emigration. Is it for you-asws in a matter I present to you-asws, that it would happen in it the saving of this bloodshed, and delay this war until your-asws view is seen?’
قال و ما هو قال ترجع إلى عراقك فنخلي بينك و بين العراق و نرجع نحن إلى شامنا فتخلى بيننا و بين الشام:
He-asws said: ‘And what is it?’ He said, ‘You-asws return to your-asws Iraq and vacate between us and Al-Iraq, and we shall return to our Syria and you-asws vacate between us and Syria’.
فقال علي ع: قد عرفت ما عرضت إن هذه لنصيحة و شفقة و لقد أهمّني هذا الأمر و أسهرني و ضربت أنفه و عينه فلم أجد إلا القتال أو الكفر بما أنزل الله على محمد ص
Ali-asws said: ‘I-asws have understood what you are presenting. This is an advice, and compassion, and this matter has worried me, and kept me-asws awake, and I-asws have struck its nose and its eyes (looked at all options), but I-asws could not find except either the battler or the Kufr with whatever Allah-azwj has Revealed unto Muhammad-saww.
إن الله تعالى ذكره لم يرض من أوليائه أن يعصى في الأرض و هم سكوت مذعنون لا يأمرون بمعروف و لا ينهون عن منكر فوجدت القتال أهون علي من معالجة الأغلال في جهنم:
Surely, Allah-azwj, Exalted is His-azwj Mention, is not Pleased from His-azwj friends that He-azwj is disobeyed in the earth while they are silent, compliant, neither enjoining with the good nor forbidding from the evil. Thus, I-asws found the battle to be easier upon me-asws than the future shackles in Hell’’.
قال: فرجع الرجل و هو يسترجع و زحف الناس بعضهم إلى بعض فارتموا بالنبل و الحجارة حتى فنيت ثم تطاعنوا بالرماح حتى تكسرت و اندقت ثم مشى القوم بعضهم إلى بعض بالسيوف و عمد الحديد فلم يسمع السامعون إلا وقع الحديد بعضه على بعض لهو أشد هولا في صدور الرجال من الصواعق و من جبال تهامة يدك بعضها بعضا
He (the narrator) said, ‘The man returned and he was saying, ‘We are for Allah-azwj and are returning to Him-azwj’, and the people marched towards each other. They shot with the arrows, and the stones until these were depleted. Then they stabbed with the spears until they broke and were fractured. Then the people walked to each other with the swords, and the irons clashed. The listeners could not hear except the falling iron upon each other, and it was of severe terror in the chests of the men that the thunderbolts, and the lofty mountains crashing into each other.
و انكسفت الشمس بالنقيع و ثار القطام و القسطل فضلت الألوية و الرايات و أخذ الأشتر يسير فيما بين الميمنة و الميسرة فيأمر كل قبيلة أو كتيبة من القراء بالإقدام على التي تليها فاجتلدوا بالسيوف و عمد الحديد من صلاة الغداة من اليوم المذكور إلى نصف الليل لم يصلوا لله صلاة
And the sun was obscured by the rising dust, and the birds flew away, and the trees rustled, and the banners and the flags were dusty; and Al-Ashtar went among what is between the right and the left flanks and ordered every tribe or battalion from the readers with advancing upon that which they were following it. They whipped with the swords, and the iron clashed from the morning Salat of the mentioned that up to midnight. They did not pray any Salat to Allah-azwj.
فلم يزل الأشتر يفعل ذلك حتى أصبح و المعركة خلف ظهره و افترقوا على سبعين ألف قتيل في ذلك اليوم و تلك الليلة و هي ليلة الهرير المشهورة و كان الأشتر في ميمنة الناس و علي ع في القلب و الناس يقتتلون ثم استمر القتال من نصف الليل الثاني إلى ارتفاع الضحى و الأشتر يقول لأصحابه و هو يزحف بهم نحو أهل الشام ازحفوا قيد رمحي هذا و يلقي رمحه
Al-Ashtar did not cease to do that until morning, and the battleground was behind his back, and they separated upon seventy thousand slain during that day and that night, and it is the famous (called) ‘Laylat Al-Hareer’, and Al-Ashtar was in the right flank of the people and Ali-asws was in the heart (centre), and the people were fighting. Then the fighting continued from the second midnight up to the rising of the brightness, and Al-Ashtar was saying to his companions, and he was marching with them towards the people of Syrian, ‘March guided by this spear of mine!’, and he suspended his spear.
فإذا فعلوا ذلك قال ازحفوا قاب هذه القوس فإذا فعلوا ذلك سألهم مثل ذلك حتى مل أكثر الناس من الإقدام فلما رأى ذلك قال أعيذكم بالله أن ترضعوا الغنم سائر اليوم ثم دعا بفرسه و ركز رايته و كانت مع حيان بن هوذة النخعي و سار بين الكتائب و هو يقول أ لا من يشري نفسه لله و يقاتل مع الأشتر حتى يظهر أمر الله أو يلحق بالله فلا يزال الرجل من الناس يخرج إليه فيقاتل معه.
When they did that, he said, ‘March by this bow!’ When they did that, he asked them similar to that until most of the people filled the vanguard. When he saw that he said, ‘I seek your Refuge with Allah-azwj that you milk the sheep rest of the day’. Then he called for his horse and fastened his flag, and it was with Hayan Bin Hozah Al-Nakhaie, and went between the battalions and he was saying, ‘Is there anyone to sell his self to Allah-azwj and fight alongside Al-Ashtar until either the Command of Allah-azwj prevails or he joins with Allah-azwj?’ Then men from the people did not cease coming out to him and fight alongside him’’.[51]
443- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي ضِرَارٍ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ قَالَ: مَرَّ بِيَ الْأَشْتَرُ فَأَقْبَلْتُ مَعَهُ حَتَّى رَجَعَ إِلَى الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي كَانَ بِهِ فَقَامَ فِي أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ شُدُّوا فِدَاءً لَكُمْ عَمِّي وَ خَالِي شِدَّةً تُرْضُونَ بِهَا اللَّهَ وَ تُعِزُّونَ بِهَا الدِّينَ إِذَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُ فَاحْمِلُوا
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to me by Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Abu Zirara, from Ammar Bin Rabie who said,
‘Al-Ashtar passed by me and I came with him until he returned to the place which he had been in. He stood among his companions and said, ‘Intensify! May my paternal uncle and maternal uncle be sacrificed for you all, an intensity you will be pleasing Allah-azwj with, and strengthening the religion with! When I attack, then (you all) attack!’
ثُمَّ نَزَلَ يَضْرِبُ وَجْهَ دَابَّتِهِ وَ قَالَ لِصَاحِبِ رَايَتِهِ اقْدُمْ فَتَقَدَّمَ بِهَا ثُمَّ شَدَّ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ وَ شَدَّ مَعَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ فَضَرَبَ أَهْلَ الشَّامِ حَتَّى انْتَهَى بِهِمْ إِلَى مُعَسْكَرِهِمْ فَقَاتَلُوا عِنْدَ الْمُعَسْكَرِ قِتَالًا شَدِيداً وَ قُتِلَ صَاحِبُ رَايَتِهِمْ وَ أَخَذَ عَلِيٌّ ع لَمَّا رَأَى الظَّفَرَ قَدْ جَاءَ مَنْ قِبَلَهُ يُمِدُّهُ بِالرِّجَالِ.
Then he descended, tapping the face of his animal and said to the bearer of the flag, ‘Advance with it, then be severe upon the people’. His companions were intensified along with him and he struck the people of Syria until he ended up with them to their army camp. They fought a severe battle by the camp and kill the bearers of their flags; and when he-asws saw the victory had come from his direction, he-asws took to extending (helping) it with the infantry’’.[52]
444- وَ رَوَى نَصْرٌ عَنْ رِجَالِهِ قَالَ: لَمَّا بَلَغَ الْقَوْمُ إِلَى مَا بَلَغُوا إِلَيْهِ قَامَ عَلِيٌّ ع خَطِيباً فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ قَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ بَلَغَ بِكُمُ الْأَمْرُ وَ بِعَدُوِّكُمْ مَا قَدْ رَأَيْتُمْ وَ لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا آخِرُ نَفَسٍ وَ إِنَّ الْأُمُورَ إِذَا أَقْبَلَتِ اعْتُبِرَ آخِرُهَا بِأَوَّلِهَا وَ قَدْ صَبَرَ لَكُمُ الْقَوْمُ عَلَى غَيْرِ دِينٍ حَتَّى بَلَغَنَا مِنْهُمْ مَا بَلَغَنَا وَ أَنَا غَادٍ عَلَيْهِمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ أُحَاكِمُهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ
And it is reported by Nasr, from his men who said,
‘When the people reached to what they had reached to, Ali-asws stood up to address. He-asws praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj and said: ‘O you people! The matter has reached with you all and your enemies what you have seen, and there does not remain from them except the last breath, and the affairs when they come, the last of it takes a lesson from its first; and the people engaged in combat with you upon other than religion until we reached from them what we reached, and I-asws shall be going to them tomorrow early morning, to let them be Judged by Allah-azwj’’.
قَالَ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَدَعَا عَمْرَو بْنَ الْعَاصِ وَ قَالَ يَا عَمْرُو إِنَّمَا هِيَ اللَّيْلَةُ حَتَّى يَغْدُوَ عَلَيْنَا بِالْفَضْلِ فَمَا تَرَى قَالَ إِنَّ رِجَالَكَ لَا يَقُومُونَ لِرِجَالِهِ وَ لَسْتَ مِثْلَهُ وَ هُوَ يُقَاتِلُكَ عَلَى أَمْرٍ وَ أَنْتَ تُقَاتِلُهُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ أَنْتَ تُرِيدُ الْبَقَاءَ وَ هُوَ يُرِيدُ الْفَنَاءَ وَ أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ يَخَافُونَ مِنْكَ إِنْ ظَفِرْتَ بِهِمْ وَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ لَا يَخَافُونَ عَلِيّاً إِنْ ظَفِرَ بِهِمْ
He (the narrator) said, ‘That reached Muawiya, and he called Amro Bin Al-Aas and said, ‘O Amro! But rather it is the (one) night (left) until they come to us with the superiority. So, what is your view?’ He said, ‘Your men cannot stand to his-asws men, and you aren’t like him-asws, and he-asws is fighting you upon a matter, and you are fighting him-asws upon something else. You want to live and he-asws want the annihilation, and the people of Al-Iraq are fearing from you that you might be victorious with them, and the people of Syria are not fearing Ali-asws that he-asws might be victorious with them.
وَ لَكِنْ أَلْقِ إِلَى الْقَوْمِ أَمْراً إِنْ قَبِلُوهُ اخْتَلَفُوا وَ إِنْ رَدُّوهُ اخْتَلَفُوا ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ حَكَماً فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ بَالِغٌ بِهِ حَاجَتَكَ فِي الْقَوْمِ وَ إِنِّي لَمْ أَزَلْ أَدَّخِرُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ لِوَقْتِ حَاجَتِكَ إِلَيْهِ فَعَرَفَ مُعَاوِيَةُ ذَلِكَ وَ قَالَ لَهُ صَدَقْتَ.
But, cast such a matter to the people that if they accept it, they would be differing, and if they reject it, they would (still) be differing. Call them to the Book of Allah-azwj as a judge regarding what is between you and them, for you will be reaching your needs among the people, and I have not ceased to reserve this matter for a time of your need to it’. Muawiya recognised that and said to him, ‘You speak the truth’’.[53]
445- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ الْأَنْصَارِيِ قَالَ: وَ اللَّهِ لَكَأَنِّي أَسْمَعُ عَلِيّاً ع يَوْمَ الْهَرِيرِ وَ ذَلِكَ بَعْدَ مَا طَحَنَتْ رَحَى مَذْحِجٍ فِيمَا بَيْنَهَا وَ بَيْنَ عَكٍّ وَ لَخْمٍ وَ جُذَامَ وَ الْأَشْعَرِيِّينَ بِأَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ تَشِيبُ مِنْهُ النَّوَاصِي حَتَّى اسْتَقَلَّتِ الشَّمْسُ
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to us by Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir Bin Umeyr Al Ansari who said,
‘By Allah-azwj! It is as if I am listening to Ali-asws on the day of ‘Al-Hareer’, after the mill had grounded (clans of) Mazhij regarding what was between it and Aak, and Lakham, and Juzam, and Al-Ash’areyn with a mighty matter, the forelocks had turned grey due to it, to the extent that the sun was eclipsed.
وَ قَامَ قَائِمُ الظَّهِيرَةِ وَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَقُولُ لِأَصْحَابِهِ حَتَّى مَتَى نُخَلِّي بَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ الْحَيَّيْنِ قَدْ فَنِيَا [فَنِيَتَا] وَ أَنْتُمْ وُقُوفٌ تَنْظُرُونَ أَ مَا تَخَافُونَ مَقْتَ اللَّهِ
And a commander stood at midday, and Ali-asws was saying to his-asws companions: ‘Until when will we vacate between these two tribes, and they have been annihilated, and you are pausing, awaiting. Are you not fearing Detestation of Allah-azwj?’
ثُمَّ انْفَتَلَ إِلَى الْقِبْلَةِ وَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ثُمَّ نَادَى يَا اللَّهُ يَا رَحْمَانُ يَا وَاحِدُ يَا صَمَدُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا إِلَهَ مُحَمَّدٍ إِلَيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ نُقِلَتِ الْأَقْدَامُ وَ أَفْضَتِ الْقُلُوبُ وَ رُفِعَتِ الْأَيْدِي وَ مُدَّتِ الْأَعْنَاقُ وَ شَخَصَتِ الْأَبْصَارُ وَ طُلِبَتِ الْحَوَائِجُ
Then he-asws turned towards the Qiblah and raised his-asws hands to Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, then called out: ‘O Allah-azwj! O Beneficent! O One! O Last! O Allah-azwj! O God-azwj of Muhammad-saww! O Allah-azwj! The feet are transferring to You-azwj, the hearts are anticipating, and the hands are raised, and the necks are extended (In hope), and the sights are staring, and the needs are sought.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَشْكُو إِلَيْكَ غَيْبَةَ نَبِيِّنَا وَ كَثْرَةَ عَدُوِّنَا وَ تَشَتُّتَ أَهْوَائِنَا رَبَّنَا افْتَحْ بَيْنَنا وَ بَيْنَ قَوْمِنا بِالْحَقِّ وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْفاتِحِينَ سِيرُوا عَلَى بَرَكَةِ اللَّهِ
O Allah-azwj! We are complaining to You-azwj of the absence of our Prophet-saww, and the abundance of our enemies, and the scattering of our views, ‘Our Lord! Decide between us and our people with the Truth, and You are the best of the deciders’’ [7:89]. March, upon the Blessings of Allah-azwj!’
ثُمَّ نَادَى لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَلِمَةُ التَّقْوَى فَلَا وَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً بِالْحَقِّ نَبِيّاً مَا سَمِعْنَا بِرَئِيسِ قَوْمٍ مُنْذُ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ أَصَابَ بِيَدِهِ فِي يَوْمٍ وَاحِدٍ مَا أَصَابَ إِنَّهُ قَتَلَ فِيمَا ذَكَرَ الْعَادُّونَ زِيَادَةً عَلَى خَمْسِمِائَةٍ مِنْ أَعْلَامِ الْعَرَبِ يَخْرُجُ بِسَيْفِهِ مُنْحَنِياً فَيَقُولُ مَعْذِرَةً إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ هَذَا
Then he-asws called out: ‘There is no god except Allah-azwj, and Allah-azwj is the Greatest, are the words of piety!’
He (the narrator) said, ‘So, no, by the One-azwj Who Sent Muhammad-saww with the truth as a Prophet-saww! We have not heard a chief of a people since Allah-azwj Created the skies and the earth, killing by his hand during one day what have been killed. Surely, there have been killed, among what the counters have mentioned, more than five hundred from the luminaries of the Arabs, coming out with his sword, bent, saying, ‘Excuse to Allah-azwj and to you from this’.
لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ مَرَّاتٍ أَنْ أَفْلِقَهُ وَ لَكِنْ يَحْجُزُنِي عَنْهُ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ كَثِيراً لَا سَيْفَ إِلَّا ذُو الْفَقَارِ وَ لَا فَتَى إِلَّا عَلِيٌّ وَ أَنَا أُقَاتِلُ بِهِ دُونَهُ ع
I-asws have been concerned at times that I-asws should wrap it up, by what blocked me-asws from it is that I-asws heard Rasool-Allah-saww saying frequently: ‘There is no sword except Zulfiqar and there is no youth (Momin) except Ali-asws’, and I had been fighting besides him-asws’.
قَالَ فَكُنَّا نَأْخُذُهُ وَ نُقَوِّمُهُ ثُمَّ يَتَنَاوَلُهُ مِنْ أَيْدِينَا فَيَقْتَحِمُ بِهِ عَرْضَ الصَّفِّ فَلَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا لَيْثٌ بِأَشَدَّ نِكَايَةً مِنْهُ فِي عَدُوِّهِ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘We were taking it (Zulfiqar) and straightening it, then he-asws would take it from our hands and he-asws would break through with it the front rows. No, by Allah-azwj! There was no lion with more intense surpassing than him-asws among his-asws enemies’’.[54]
446- و عن عمرو بن شمر عن جابر عن تميم بن حذيم قال لما أصبحنا من ليلة الهرير نظرنا فإذا أشباه الرايات أمام أهل الشام في وسط الفيلق حيال موقف علي ع و معاوية فلما أسفرنا إذا هي المصاحف قد ربطت في أطراف الرماح و هي عظام مصاحف العسكر و قد شدوا ثلاثة رماح جميعا و ربطوا عليها مصحف المسجد الأعظم يمسكه عشرة رهط.
And from Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir, from Tameem Bin Hazam who said,
‘When we came to the morning from ‘Laylat Al-Hareer’, we looked around and there were resemblances of the flags in front of the people of Syria, in the middle of the legion, parallel to the position of Ali-asws and Muawiya. When we went nearer, we realised these were Parchments (Qurans) having been tied in the sides of the spears, and these were Parchments of the military, and they had tied three spears together, tying upon these Parchments of the great Masjid. A group of ten was holding it’’.[55]
447- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبُو الطُّفَيْلِ اسْتَقْبَلُوا عَلِيّاً بِمِائَةِ مُصْحَفٍ وَ وَضَعُوا فِي كُلِّ مُجَنِّبَةٍ مِائَتَيْ مُصْحَفٍ وَ كَانَ جَمِيعُهَا خَمْسَمِائَةِ مُصْحَفٍ
Nasr said, ‘And Abu Ja’far-asws said: ‘And Abu Al-Tufeyl received Ali-asws with one hundred Qurans, and they had placed two hundred Quran in every flank, and the entirety of these were five hundred Qurans.
قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع ثُمَّ قَامَ الطُّفَيْلُ بْنُ أَدْهَمَ حِيَالَ عَلِيٍّ ع وَ قَامَ أَبُو شُرَيْحٍ حِيَالَ الْمَيْمَنَةِ وَ وَرْقَاءُ بْنُ الْمُعْتَمِرِ حِيَالَ الْمَيْسَرَةِ ثُمَّ نَادَوْا يَا مَعْشَرَ الْعَرَبِ اللَّهَ اللَّهَ فِي النِّسَاءِ وَ الْبَنَاتِ وَ الْأَبْنَاءِ مِنَ الرُّومِ وَ الْأَتْرَاكِ وَ أَهْلِ فَارِسَ غَداً إِذَا فَنِيتُمْ اللَّهَ اللَّهَ فِي دِينِكُمْ هَذَا كِتَابُ اللَّهِ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَكُمْ
Abu Ja’far-asws said, ‘Then Al-Tufeyl Bin Ad’ham stood facing Ali-asws, and Abu Shureyh stood facing the right flank, and Warqa’a Bin Am Mo’tamar facing the left flank. Then they called out, ‘O community of the Arabs! Allah-azwj! Allah-azwj regarding the women and the daughters, and the sons from the Romans, and the Turks, and the people of Persia tomorrow when you are annihilated! Allah-azwj! Allah-azwj regarding your religion! This is the Book of Allah-azwj between us and you all!’
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ مَا الْكِتَابَ يُرِيدُونَ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُمْ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْحَكَمُ الْحَقُّ الْمُبِينُ
Ali-asws said: ‘O Allah-azwj! You-azwj Know it is not the Book of Allah-azwj they are wanting, so Judge between us and them, surely You-azwj are the Judge of the clear truth!’
فَاخْتَلَفَ أَصْحَابُ عَلِيٍّ ع فِي الرَّأْيِ فَطَائِفَةٌ قَالَتِ الْقِتَالُ وَ طَائِفَةٌ قَالَتِ الْمُحَاكَمَةُ إِلَى الْكِتَابِ وَ لَا يَحِلُّ لَنَا الْحَرْبُ وَ قَدْ دُعِينَا إِلَى حُكْمِ الْكِتَابِ فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ بَطَلَتِ الْحَرْبُ وَ وَضَعَتْ أَوْزَارَهَا.
The companions of Ali-asws differed in the views. A group said, ‘The battle!’ And a group said, ‘The judgment is to the Book, and the war is not permissible for us, and we are being called to the judgment of the Book!’ During that, the war was invalidated and its burdens were placed down (terminated)’’.[56]
448- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الْبَاقِرِ ع قَالَ: لَمَّا كَانَ الْيَوْمُ الْأَعْظَمُ قَالَ أَصْحَابُ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ اللَّهِ لَا نَبْرَحُ الْيَوْمَ الْعَرْصَةَ حَتَّى نَمُوتَ أَوْ يُفْتَحَ لَنَا وَ قَالَ أَصْحَابُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيٍّ ع مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to us by Amro Bin SHimr, from Jabir,
‘From Abu Ja’far Al-Baqir-asws having said: ‘When it was the mighty day, the companions of Muawiya said, ‘By Allah-azwj! We will not depart from the plains today until we either die or there is victory for us’. And the companions of Amir Al-Momineen Ali-asws said similar to that’.
فَبَاكَرُوا الْقِتَالَ غُدْوَةً فِي يَوْمٍ مِنْ أَيَّامِ الشِّعْرَى طَوِيلٍ شَدِيدِ الْحَرِّ فَتَرَامَوْا حَتَّى فَنِيَتِ النِّبَالُ وَ تَطَاعَنُوا حَتَّى تَقَصَّفَتِ الرِّمَاحُ ثُمَّ نَزَلَ الْقَوْمُ عَنْ خُيُولِهِمْ وَ مَشَى بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ بِالسُّيُوفِ حَتَّى تَكَسَّرَتْ جُفُونُهَا وَ قَامَ الْفُرْسَانُ فِي الرَّكْبِ ثُمَّ اضْطَرَبُوا بِالسُّيُوفِ وَ عُمُدِ الْحَدِيدِ فَلَمْ يَسْمَعِ السَّامِعُونَ إِلَّا تَغَمْغُمَ الْقَوْمِ وَ صَلِيلَ الْحَدِيدِ فِي الْهَامِ وَ تَكَادُمَ الْأَفْوَاهِ وَ كَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَ ثَارَ الْقَتَامُ وَ ضَلَّتِ الْأَلْوِيَةُ وَ الرَّايَاتُ
And they woke up for the fighting early morning during a day from the long days of Sirius (a bright star), of severe heat. They shot at each other until the arrows ran out, and they stabbed until the spears were in pieces. Then the people descended from their horses and walked to each other with the swords until its edges were broken, and the horsemen stood up among the rider, then they struck with the sword and the iron clashed. The listeners could not hear except the mumbling of the people and the clanks of the iron among the important ones, and the mouths were bruised, and the sun was obscured, and darkness was widespread, and the banners and the flags were lost.
وَ مَرَّتْ مَوَاقِيتُ أَرْبَعِ صَلَوَاتٍ مَا يُسْجَدُ فِيهِنَّ لِلَّهِ إِلَّا تَكْبِيراً وَ نَادَتِ الْمَشِيخَةُ فِي تِلْكَ الْغَمَرَاتِ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْعَرَبِ اللَّهَ اللَّهَ فِي الْحُرُمَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَ الْبَنَاتِ
And the timings of four Salats passed, there were not Sajdahs to Allah-azwj during these except exclamations of Takbeer, and the elders called out during that commotion, ‘O community of Arabs! Allah-azwj! Allah-azwj, regarding the sanctities of the women and the daughters!’
قَالَ جَابِرٌ فَبَكَى أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ هُوَ يُحَدِّثُنَا بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ وَ أَقْبَلَ الْأَشْتَرُ عَلَى فَرَسٍ كُمَيْتٍ مَحْذُوفٍ قَدْ وَضَعَ مِغْفَرَهُ عَلَى قَرَبُوسِ السَّرْجِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ اصْبِرُوا يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَدْ حَمِيَ الْوَطِيسُ وَ رَجَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ مِنَ الْكُسُوفِ وَ اشْتَدَّ الْقِتَالُ وَ أَخَذَتِ السِّبَاعُ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضاً
Jabir said, ‘Abu Ja’far-asws wept while he-asws was narrating to us with this Hadeeth. He-asws said: ‘And Al-Ashtar came upon a reddish-brown horse, covered, having placed his helmet upon a hump of the saddle, and he was saying, ‘Be patient, O community of Momineen! The battle has become hot!’ and the sun returned from the eclipse, and the battle intensified, and the predators seized each other.
فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ فِي تِلْكَ الْحَالِ أَيُّ رَجُلٍ هَذَا لَوْ كَانَتْ لَهُ نِيَّةٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ وَ أَيُّ نِيَّةٍ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ هَذِهِ ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ وَ هَبِلَتْكَ إِنَّ رَجُلًا فِيمَا قَدْ تَرَى قَدْ سَبَحَ فِي الدِّمَاءِ وَ مَا أَضْجَرَتْهُ الْحَرْبُ وَ قَدْ غَلَتْ هَامُ الْكُمَاةِ مِنَ الْحَرِّ وَ بَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَناجِرَ وَ هُوَ كَمَا تَرَاهُ جَذَعاً يَقُولُ هَذِهِ الْمَقَالَةَ اللَّهُمَّ لَا تُبْقِنَا بَعْدَ هَذَا.
A man said in that situation, ‘Which man is this, if there was an intention for him’. His companion said, ‘And which intention is greater than this? May your mother be bereft of you and she carried you. The man is in what you have seen. He is swimming in the blood, and the war has not tired him, and the important ones have boiled in this severe heat, and the hearts have reached the throats, and he is just as you can see is (like) a trunk, saying these words, ‘O Allah-azwj! Do not let us remain after this!’’[57]
449- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ رَوَى الشَّعْبِيُّ عَنْ صَعْصَعَةَ أَنَّهُ بَدَرَ مِنَ الْأَشْعَثِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ لَيْلَةَ الْهَرِيرِ قَوْلٌ نَقَلَهُ النَّاقِلُونَ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ فَاغْتَنَمَهُ وَ بَنَا عَلَيْهِ تَدْبِيرَهُ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ خَطَبَ أَصْحَابَهُ مِنْ كِنْدَةَ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ وَ قَالَ فِي خُطْبَتِهِ قَدْ رَأَيْتُمْ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَا قَدْ كَانَ فِي يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا الْمَاضِي وَ قَدْ فَنِيَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ
Nasr said, ‘And it is reported by Al Shaby, from Sa’sa’a,
‘A word rushed out from Al-Ash’as Bin Qays on ‘Laylat Al-Hareer, the transmitters transmitted it to Muawiya. It saddened him and he built his plan upon it, and that is that he had addressed his companions from Kinda on that night and said in his address, ‘You have seen, O community of Muslims, what has happened during this day of yours past, and there has been an annihilation from the Arabs.
فَوَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ السِّنِّ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ أَبْلُغَ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ مِثْلَ هَذَا الْيَوْمِ قَطُّ أَلَا فَلْيُبَلِّغِ الشَّاهِدُ الْغَائِبَ وَ إِنَّا إِنْ نَحْنُ تَوَاقَفْنَا غَداً إِنَّهُ لَفَنَاءُ الْعَرَبِ وَ ضَيْعَةُ الْحُرُمَاتِ أَوْ قَالَ نَحْوَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَخْذُلُهُمْ عَنِ الْقِتَالِ
By Allah-azwj! I have reached from the years (age) what Allah-azwj has Desired to reach, but I have not seen a day like this at all. Indeed! Let the one present deliver it to the absentee, and that we should be stopping tomorrow. It is an annihilation of the Arabs and wastage of the sanctities’, or said approximate to that from what would make them forsake (abandon) the fighting.
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ ذَلِكَ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالَ أَصَابَ وَ رَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ فَدَبَّرَ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ مَا دَبَّرَ مِنْ رَفْعِ الْمَصَاحِفِ عَلَى الرِّمَاحِ فَأَقْبَلُوا بِالْمَصَاحِفِ يُنَادُونَ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَكُمْ
When that reached Muawiya, he said, ‘He is correct, by Lord-azwj of the Kabah!’ He planned that night what he planned from raising of the Qurans upon the spears. They came with the Qurans calling out, ‘The Book of Allah-azwj is between us and you all!’’
قَالَ فَجَاءَ عَدِيُّ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّهُ لَمْ تُصِبْ مِنَّا عُصْبَةٌ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ أُصِيبَ مِنْهُمْ مِثْلُهَا وَ كُلٌّ مَقْرُوحٌ وَ لَكِنَّا أَمْثَلُ بَقِيَّةً مِنْهُمْ وَ قَدْ جَزِعَ الْقَوْمُ وَ لَيْسَ بَعْدَ الْجَزَعِ إِلَّا مَا تُحِبُّ فَنَاجِزْهُمْ
He (the narrator) said, ‘Aday Bin Hatima came and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! There has not been any slain from us except and there has been slain from them similar to it, and all of it is a sore, but we represent the remainder of them, and the people are alarmed, and there isn’t after the alarm except what you-asws love, so accomplish for them’.
وَ قَامَ الْأَشْتَرُ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ لَا خَلَفَ لَهُ مِنْ رِجَالِهِ وَ لَكَ بِحَمْدِ اللَّهِ الْخَلَفُ وَ لَوْ كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ رِجَالِكَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مِثْلُ صَبْرِكَ وَ لَا نَصْرِكَ فَاقْرَعِ الْحَدِيدَ بِالْحَدِيدِ وَ اسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ الْمَجِيدِ
And Al-Ashtar stood up and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Muawiya, there is no replacement for him from his men, and for you-asws, by the Praise of Allah-azwj, is the replacement, and if there were for him similar to your-asws men, there would not have been for him your-asws patience, nor your-asws help. So, knock the iron with the iron and seek Assistance with Allah-azwj the Glorious’.
وَ قَالَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَمِقِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّا وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَجَبْنَاكَ وَ لَا نَصَرْنَاكَ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ وَ لَا أَجَبْنَا إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَ لَا طَلَبْنَا إِلَّا الْحَقَّ وَ لَوْ دَعَانَا غَيْرُكَ إِلَى مَا دَعَوْتَنَا إِلَيْهِ لَاسْتَشْرَى فِيهِ اللَّجَاجُ وَ طَالَ فِيهِ النَّجْوَى وَ قَدْ بَلَغَ الْحَقُّ مَقْطَعَهُ وَ لَيْسَ لَنَا مَعَكَ رَأْيٌ
And Amro Bin Al-Hamiq said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! By Allah-azwj, we neither answered you-asws nor helped you-asws upon the falsehood, nor did we answer except Allah-azwj, nor are we seeking except the truth, and if someone else had called us to what you-asws have called us to, we would have been reluctant in it and the consultations would have been prolonged, and the truth has reached its section, and there isn’t any (other) view for us with you-asws’.
فَقَامَ الْأَشْعَثُ مُغْضَباً فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّا لَكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَى مَا كُنَّا عَلَيْهِ أَمْسِ وَ لَيْسَ آخِرُ أَمْرِنَا كَأَوَّلِهِ وَ مَا مِنَ الْقَوْمِ أَحَدٌ أَحْنَى عَلَى أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَ لَا أَوْتَرَ لِأَهْلِ الشَّامِ مِنِّي فَأَجِبِ الْقَوْمَ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَإِنَّكَ أَحَقُّ بِهِ مِنْهُمْ وَ قَدْ أَحَبَّ النَّاسُ الْبَقَاءَ وَ كَرِهُوا الْقِتَالَ
Al-Ash’as stood up angrily and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! We are for you-asws today upon what we were upon yesterday, and our last affair is not like its first, and there is no one from the people more supportive of the people of Al-Iraq, nor tense towards the people of Syria, than me, so answer the people to the Book of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, for you-asws are more rightful with it than they are, and the people love the survival and dislike the fighting’.
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع هَذَا أَمْرٌ يُنْظَرُ فِيهِ وَ نَادَى النَّاسُ مِنْ كُلِّ جَانِبٍ الْمُوَادَعَةَ الْمُوَادَعَةَ
Ali-asws said: ‘This is a matter to be looked into’, and the people were calling out from every side, ‘The reconciliation! The reconciliation!’’
وَ فِي حَدِيثِ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ قَالَ لَمَّا رَفَعَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ الْمَصَاحِفَ عَلَى الرِّمَاحِ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي أَحَقُّ مَنْ أَجَابَ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ لَكِنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ عَمْرَو بْنَ الْعَاصِ وَ ابْنَ أَبِي مُعَيْطٍ وَ ابْنَ أَبِي سَرْحٍ وَ ابْنَ مَسْلَمَةَ لَيْسُوا بِأَصْحَابِ دِينٍ وَ لَا قُرْآنٍ إِنِّي أَعْرَفُ بِهِمْ مِنْكُمْ صَحِبْتُهُمْ صِغَاراً وَ رِجَالًا فَكَانُوا شَرَّ صِغَارٍ وَ شَرَّ رِجَالٍ
And in a Hadeeth of Umar Bin Sa’ad, he said, ‘When the people of Syria raised the Quran upon the spears, Ali-asws said: ‘O you people! I-asws am more rightful one to answer to the Book of Allah-azwj, but Muawiya, and Amro Bin Al-Aas, and Ibn Abu Mueet, and Ibn Abu Sar’h, and Ibn Maslama, they are neither companions of the religion nor of the Quran. I-asws am more understanding with them than you are. I-asws have accompanied them as you and as men. They were evil as young and evil as men.
وَيْحَكُمْ إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةُ حَقٍّ يُرَادُ بِهَا بَاطِلٌ إِنَّهُمْ مَا رَفَعُوهَا وَ إِنَّهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَهَا وَ لَا يَعْمَلُونَ بِهَا وَ لَكِنَّهَا الْخَدِيعَةُ وَ الْوَهْنُ وَ الْمَكِيدَةُ أَعِيرُونِي سَوَاعِدَكُمْ وَ جَمَاجِمَكُمْ سَاعَةً وَاحِدَةً فَقَدْ بَلَغَ الْحَقُّ مَقْطَعَهُ وَ لَمْ يَبْقَ إِلَّا أَنْ يُقْطَعَ دَابِرُ الظَّالِمِينَ
Woe be unto you all! It is a word of truth intending the falsehood with it. They are neither raising it and they are understanding it, nor are they learned with it, but it is the deception, and the weakness, and the plot! Can you lend me your help and your skulls for one hour? The truth has reached is section and there does not remain except to cut off the tail of the oppressors.
فَجَاءَهُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ زُهَاءُ عِشْرِينَ أَلْفاً مُقَنِّعِينَ فِي الْحَدِيدِ شَاكِي السِّلَاحِ سُيُوفُهُمْ عَلَى عَوَاتِقِهِمْ وَ قَدِ اسْوَدَّتْ جِبَاهُهُمْ مِنَ السُّجُودِ يَتَقَدَّمُهُمْ مِسْعَرُ بْنُ فَدَكِيٍّ وَ زَيْدُ بْنُ حُصَيْنٍ وَ عِصَابَةٌ مِنَ الْقُرَّاءِ الَّذِينَ صَارُوا خَوَارِجَ مِنْ بَعْدُ فَنَادَوْهُ بِاسْمِهِ لَا بِإِمْرَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Around twenty thousand from his-asws companions came to him-asws, clad in the iron, with the weapons, their swords being upon their shoulders, and their foreheads had been darkened from the performance of (so many) Sajdahs, led by Mis’ar Bin Fadaky and Zayd Bin Huseyn, and a group from the readers, the ones who became Khawarijites from afterwards. They called out to him by his-asws name, not as ‘Amir Al-Momineen’.
قَالُوا يَا عَلِيُّ أَجِبِ الْقَوْمَ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ إِذَا دُعِيتَ إِلَيْهِ وَ إِلَّا قَتَلْنَاكَ كَمَا قَتَلْنَا ابْنَ عَفَّانَ فَوَ اللَّهِ لَنَفْعَلَنَّهَا إِنْ لَمْ تُجِبْهُمْ
They said, ‘O Ali-asws! Answer the people to the Book of Allah-azwj when you are being called to it, or else we shall fight against you-asws just as we had fought (Usman) the son of Affan. By Allah-azwj! We will do it if you-asws do not answer them’.
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ عَلِيٌّ ع وَيْحَكُمْ أَنَا أَوَّلُ مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ أَجَابَ إِلَيْهِ وَ لَيْسَ يَحِلُّ لِي وَ لَا يَسَعُنِي فِي دِينِي أَنْ أُدْعَى إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَلَا أَقْبَلَهُ إِنِّي إِنَّمَا أُقَاتِلُهُمْ لِيَدِينُوا بِحُكْمِ الْقُرْآنِ فَإِنَّهُمْ قَدْ عَصَوُا اللَّهَ فِيمَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَ نَقَضُوا عَهْدَهُ وَ نَبَذُوا كِتَابَهُ وَ لَكِنِّي قَدْ أَعْلَمْتُكُمْ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كَادُوكُمْ وَ أَنَّهُمْ لَيْسَ الْعَمَلَ بِالْقُرْآنِ يُرِيدُونَ
Ali-asws said to them: ‘Woe be unto you all! I-asws am the first one to call to the Book of Allah-azwj and the first one to answer to it, and it isn’t permissible for me-asws nor is there any leeway for me-asws if I-asws called to the Book of Allah-azwj and I-asws do not accept it. But rather, I-asws fought them so they would make it a religion with the Judgment of the Quran. They have disobeyed Allah-azwj in what He-azwj had Commanded them, and they have broken His-azwj Pact, and have discarded His-azwj Book. But, I-asws am letting you know that they have plotted with you all and it isn’t acting by the Quran they are intending’.
قَالُوا فَابْعَثْ إِلَى الْأَشْتَرِ لِيَأْتِيَكَ وَ قَدْ كَانَ الْأَشْتَرُ صَبِيحَةَ لَيْلَةِ الْهَرِيرِ قَدْ أَشْرَفَ عَلَى عَسْكَرِ مُعَاوِيَةَ لِيَدْخُلَهُ
They said, ‘Then send a message to Al-Ashtar to come (back) to you-asws!’ And it had so happened that Al-Ashtar, in the morning of ‘Laylat Al-Hareer’, had been overlooking upon the army camp of Muawiya in order to enter into it’’.[58]
450 قال نصر فحدثني فضيل بن خديج قال سأل مصعب بن الزبير إبراهيم بن الأشتر عن الحال كيف كانت فقال كنت عند علي ع حين بعث إلى الأشتر ليأتيه و قد كان الأشتر أشرف على عسكر معاوية ليدخله فأرسل إليه علي ع يزيد بن هانئ أن ائتني فأتاه فأبلغه
Nasr said, ‘It is narrated to me by Fuzeyl Bin Khadeej who said,
‘Mas’ab Bin Al-Zubeyr asked Ibrahim Bin Al-Ashtar about the situation, how it was. He said, ‘I was in the presence of Ali-asws when he-asws sent a message to Al-Ashtar to come (back) to him-asws, and Al-Ashtar had been overlooking upon the army camp of Muawiya in order to enter into it. Ali-asws sent Yazeed Bin Hany: ‘Bring him to me-asws’. He went to him and delivered to him.
فقال له الأشتر آتيه فقل له ليس هذه الساعة التي ينبغي لك أن تزيلني عن موقفي إني قد رجوت الفتح فلا تعجلني فرجع يزيد إليه ع فأخبره فما هو إلا أن انتهى إلينا حتى ارتفع الرهج و علت الأصوات من قبل الأشتر و ظهرت دلائل الفتح و النصر لأهل العراق و دلائل الخذلان و الإدبار على أهل الشام
Al-Ashtar said to him, ‘Go to him-asws and say to him-asws, ‘This isn’t the time which is appropriate to remove me from my position. I am sensing the victory, so do not hasten me’. Yazeed returned to him-asws and informed him-asws. He had only just ended up to us until the dust was raised and the voices were raised from the direction of Al-Ashtar, and the evidence of the victory appeared, and the conquest for the people of Al-Iraq, and evidence of the forsaking and the turning back by the people of Syria.
فقال القوم لعليّ ما نراك أمرته إلا بالقتال قال أ رأيتموني ساررت رسولي إليه أ ليس إلا كلمته على رءوسكم علانية و أنتم تسمعون قالوا فابعث إليه فليأتك و إلا و الله اعتزلناك
The people said to Ali-asws! we do not see you-asws having ordered him except with the fighting’. He-asws said: ‘Did you all not see me sending my messenger to him? It wasn’t except an announcement upon your heads and you were listening’. They said, ‘Then send a message to him to come (back) to you-asws or else, by Allah-azwj we shall abandon you-asws’.
فقال ويحك يا يزيد قل له أقبل إلي فإن الفتنة قد وقعت فأتاه فأخبره فقال الأشتر أ برفع هذه المصاحف قال نعم قال أما و الله لقد ظننت أنها حين رفعت ستوقع اختلافا و فرقة إنها مشورة ابن النابغة
He-asws said: ‘Woe be unto you, O Yazeed! Tell him to come back to me-asws, for the Fitna has occurred’. He went to him and informed him. Al-Ashtar said, ‘Is it due to the raising of these Qurans?’ He said, ‘Yes’. He said, ‘But, by Allah-azwj! I had thought that it is so when these were raised that the differing will be occurring and division. It is a consultation of Ibn Al-Nabiga’.
ثم قال ليزيد بن هانئ ويحك أ لا ترى إلى الفتح أ لا ترى إلى ما يلقون أ لا ترى إلى الذي يصنع الله لنا أ ينبغي أن ندع هذا و ننصرف عنه
Then he said to Yazeed Bin Hany, ‘Woe be unto you! Can you not see the victory! Can you not see what they are facing?’ Can you not see that which Allah-azwj has Done for us? Is it appropriate for us to leave this and turn away from it?’
فقال له يزيد أ تحب أنك ظفرت هاهنا و أن أمير المؤمنين ع بمكانه الذي هو فيه يفرج عنه و يسلم إلى عدوه فقال سبحان الله لا و الله لا أحب ذلك قال فإنهم قد قالوا له و حلفوا عليه لترسلن إلى الأشتر فليأتينك أو لنقتلنك بأسيافنا كما قتلنا عثمان أو لنسلمنك إلى عدوك
Yazeed said to him, ‘Would you like to win over here and Amir Al-Momineen-asws is in his-asws place which he-asws is in, they are leaving from him-asws and submitting him-asws to his-asws enemies?’ He said, ‘Glory be to Allah-azwj! No, by Allah-azwj, I do not like that’. He said, ‘They have said to him-asws and sworn upon it, ‘Either you-asws send a message to Al-Ashtar and bring him back or we will kill you-asws by our swords just as we have killed Usman, or we will submit you-asws to your-asws enemy’’.
فأقبل الأشتر حتى انتهى إليهم فصاح يا أهل الذل و الوهن أ حين علوتم القوم و ظنوا أنكم لهم قاهرون رفعوا المصاحف يدعونكم إلى ما فيها و قد و الله تركوا ما أمر الله فيها و تركوا سنة من أنزلت عليه فلا تجيبوهم أمهلوني فواقا فإني قد أحسست بالفتح
Al-Ashtar came back until he ended up to them. He shouted, ‘O people of disgrace and weakness! Is it when you are higher than the people and they are thinking that you are subduing them, they raise the Qurans calling you all to what is in it, and by Allah-azwj, they have neglected what Allah-azwj has Commanded them in it, and neglected the Sunnah of the one-saww it was Revealed upon. Do not answer them, give me some time to overrun (them), for I have sensed the victory’.
قالوا لا نمهلك قال فأمهلوني عدوة الفرس فإني قد طمعت في النصر قالوا إذا ندخل معك في خطيئتك
They said, ‘We will not give you any time’. Give me some time, to gallop the horses, for I have coveted regarding the victory’. They said, ‘Then we will be included in your sin’.
قال فحدثوني عنكم و قد قتل أماثلكم و بقي أراذلكم متى كنتم محقين أ حين كنتم تقتلون أهل الشام فأنتم الآن حين أمسكتم عن قتالهم مبطلون أم أنتم الآن في إمساككم عن القتال محقون فقتلاكم إذن الذين لا تنكرون فضلهم و أنهم خير منكم في النار
He said, ‘Then narrate to me about you, and the likes of you have already been killed, and there remain your lowly ones. When were you rightful? Is it when you were killing the people of Syria, so now you are withholding from fighting them, you are false, or are you rightful now in your withholding from the fighting? So, your slain ones then are those you cannot be denying their merits, and they would be better than you in the Fire’.
قالوا دعنا منك يا أشتر قاتلناهم في الله و ندع قتالهم في الله إنا لسنا نطيعك فاجتنبنا
They said, ‘leave us from you, O Ashtar! We fought them for the Sake of Allah-azwj, and we leave fighting them for the Sake of Allah-azwj. We are not obedient to you, so stand aside from us’.
فقال خدعتم و الله فانخدعتم و دعيتم إلى وضع الحرب فأجبتم يا أصحاب الجباه السود كنا نظن صلاتكم زهادة في الدنيا و شوقا إلى لقاء الله فلا أرى فراركم إلا إلى الدنيا من الموت ألا فقبحا يا أشباه النيب الجلالة ما أنتم براءين بعدها عزا أبدا فابعدوا كما بعد القوم الظالمون
He said, ‘You have been deceived, and Allah-azwj will (now) Deceive you, and you are being called to drop the war and you answered. O companions of the dark foreheads (due to Sajdahs)! We used to think your Salats were asceticism in the word, and desire to meet Allah-azwj, but I do not see your fleeing except to the world, from the death. Indeed! It is an ugliness, O resembles of the majesty! You will not be seeing any honour after this, ever! You will be remote just as the unjust people are remote!’
فسبوه و سبهم و ضربوا بسياطهم وجه دابته و ضرب بسوطه وجوه دوابهم و صاح بهم علي ع فكفوا و قال الأشتر يا أمير المؤمنين أحمل الصف على الصف تصرع القوم فتصايحوا أن أمير المؤمنين قد قبل الحكومة و رضي بحكم القرآن
They reviled him and hit the face of his animal with their whips, and he hit the faces of their animal with his whip, and Ali-asws shouted at them, so they stopped. And Al-Ashtar said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! I shall carry the row upon row and knock down the people’. They (started) shouting, ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws has accepted the judgment and has agreed with the judgment of the Quran!’
فقال الأشتر إن كان أمير المؤمنين قد قبل و رضي فقد رضيت بما يرضى به أمير المؤمنين فأقبل الناس يقولون قد رضي أمير المؤمنين ع قد قبل أمير المؤمنين ع و هو ساكت لا يفيض بكلمة مطرق إلى الأرض: ثم قام فسكت الناس كلهم
Al-Ashtar said, ‘If Amir Al-Momineen-asws has accepted and agreed, so I am pleased with whatever Amir Al-Momineen-asws is pleased with’. Then people came saying, ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws has agreed! Amir Al-Momineen-asws has accepted!’ And he-asws was silent, not revealing a word, lowering his-asws head to the ground. Then he-asws stood up, and the people were silent, all of them.
فقال: أيها الناس إن أمري لم يزل معكم على ما أحب إلى أن أخذت منكم الحرب و قد و الله أخذت منكم و تركت و أخذت من عدوكم فلم تترك و إنها فيهم أنكى و أنهك ألا و إني كنت أمس أمير المؤمنين فأصبحت اليوم مأمورا و كنت ناهيا فأصبحت منهيا و قد أحببتم البقاء و ليس لي أن أحملكم على ما تكرهون
He-asws said: ‘O you people! My-asws command has not ceased to be with you all upon what I-asws love until when the war took its toll from you, and by Allah-azwj it has taken from you and left, and it has taken from your enemies and it did not leave, and among them are exhausted and you are exhausted. Indeed! And yesterday I-asws was commander of the Momineen and I-asws woke up this morning as a commanded one, and you all were the ones forbidden and you have (now) become forbidders, and you have loved the life, and it isn’t for me-asws that I-asws carry you upon what you are disliking’.
ثم قعد ثم تكلم رؤساء القبائل فكل قال ما يراه و يهواه إما من الحرب أو من السلم.
Then he-asws sat down. Then the chiefs of the tribes spoke, and each one said what he viewed as, and his personal opinion, either from the war or from the peace’’.[59]
451- قال ابن أبي الحديد و ذكر ابن ديزيل في كتاب صفين قال: خرج عبد الرحمن بن خالد بن الوليد و معه لواء معاوية فارتجز فخرج إليه جارية بن قدامة ثم أطعنا فلم يصنعا شيئا و انصرف كل واحد منهما عن صاحبه فقال عمرو بن العاص لعبد الرحمن أقحم يا ابن سيف الله فتقدم عبد الرحمن بلوائه و تقدم أصحابه
Ibn Abi Al Hadeed said, ‘And Ibn Deyzil mentioned in Kitab Siffeen who said,
‘Abdul Rahman Bin Khalid Bin Al-Waleed came out and with him was a flag of Muawiya, and he recited a war poem. Jariya Bin Qudama came out to him. Then they stabbed each other, but did nothing, and each one of them left from his counterpart. Amro Bin Al-Aas said to Abdul Rahman, ‘Thrust, O son of the sword of Allah-azwj!’ So, Abdul Rahman advanced with his flag, and his companions advanced.
فأقبل علي ع على الأشتر فقال له قد بلغ لواء معاوية حيث ترى فدونك القوم فأخذ الأشتر لواء علي ع و ارتجز و ضارب القوم حتى ردهم فانتدب له همام بن قبيصة و كان مع معاوية فشد عليه في مذحج فانتصر عدي بن حاتم للأشتر فحمل عليه في طي فاشتد القتال جدا
Ali-asws turned to Al-Ashtar. He-asws said to him: ‘A flag of Muawiya has reached where you see, so deal with the group’. Al-Ashtar grabbed a flag of Ali-asws and recited a war poem and struck the group until he returned them. Hamam Bin Qubeysa was assigned to him, and he was with Muawiya, and was severed upon him among (clan of) Mazhaj. Aday Bin Hatim provided help to Al-Ashtar and attacked upon him among Tayy. The battle raged furiously.
فدعا علي ع ببغلة رسول الله ص فركبها ثم تعصب بعمامة رسول الله ص و نادى أيها الناس من يشري نفسه لله إن هذا يوم له ما بعده فانتدب معه ما بين عشرة آلاف إلى اثني عشر ألفا
Ali-asws called for the mule of Rasool-Allah-saww and rode it, then he-asws donned the turban of Rasool-Allah-saww and called out: ‘O you people! Who will sell himself to Allah-azwj in this day? For him would be what is after it’. There assigned to him what is between ten thousand to twelve thousand.
فتقدم علي ع و قال-
| دبوا دبيب النمل لا تفوتوا- | و أصبحوا في أمركم و بيتوا- | |
| حتى تنالوا الثأر أو تموتوا- |
Ali-asws advanced and said (a poem): ‘Walk the want of the ant, you will not miss, and become in our affairs and prose couplets, until you attain or you die’.
و حمل الناس كلهم حملة واحدة فلم يبق لأهل الشام صف إلا أزالوه حتى أفضوا إلى معاوية فدعا معاوية بفرسه ليفر عليه فكان معاوية بعد ذلك يحدث و يقول لما وضعت رجلي في الركاب ذكرت قول عمرو بن الأطنابة
| أبت لي عفتي و أبى بلائي- | و أخذي الحمد بالثمن الربيح- | |
| و إقدامي على المكروه نفسي- | و ضربي هامة البطل المشيح- | |
| و قولي كلما جشأت و جاشت- | مكانك تحمدي أو تستريحي- |
And the people attacked, all of them, one attach, and there did not remain any row of the people of Syria except it was removed until they came to Muawiya. Muawiya called for his horse in order to flee upon it. After that, Muawiya used to narrate and say, ‘When I placed my legs in the stirrups, I remembered the words of Amro Bin Al-Atnaba, (a poem), ‘You are refusing my forgiveness and regarding my afflictions, and are taking the praise with the profitable price, and my advancing to the abhorrence myself, and my striking the important heroes of falsehood, and my words every time you are tough and tough is your place, you praise me or give me rest’.
فأخرجت رجلي من الركاب و أقمت و نظرت إلى عمرو فقلت له اليوم صبر و غدا فخر فقال صدقت فكان ذلك يوم الهرير و رفعت المصاحف بعده-
I brought out my leg from the stirrup and I stood and looked at Amro, and I said to him, ‘Today patience, and tomorrow pride’. He said, ‘You speak the truth’. Then was the day of Al-Hareer, and the Qurans were raised after it’’.[60]
و روى إبراهيم بن ديزيل عن ابن لهيعة عن يزيد بن أبي حبيب عن ربيعة بن لقيط قال شهدنا صفين فمطرت السماء علينا دما عبيطا
And it is reported by Ibrahim Bin Dizeyl, from Ibn Lahiya, from Yazeed Bin Abu Habeeb, from Raibie Bin Laqeet who said,
‘We attended Siffeen and the sky rained fresh blood upon us’.
قال و في حديث الليث بن سعد إن كانوا ليأخذونه بالصحاف و الآنية
He said, ‘And in a Hadeeth of Al-Lays Bin Sa’ad, ‘When they were taking it with the plates and the utensils’.
و في حديث ابن لهيعة حتى إن الصحاف و الآنية لتمتلئ و نهريقها و ذلك في يوم الهرير و فزع أهل الشام و هموا أن يتفرقوا فقام عمرو بن العاص فيهم فقال أيها الناس إنما هذه آية من آيات الله فأصلح امرؤ ما بينه و بين الله ثم لا عليه أن ينتطح هذا الجبلان فأخذوا في القتال
And in a Hadeeth of Ibn Lahiya, ‘To the extent that the plates and the utensils were filled and spilled over, and that was during the day of Al-Hareer, and the people of Syria panicked, and they thought of separating. Amro Bin Al-Aas stood up among them and said, ‘O you people! But rather this is a Sign from the Signs of Allah-azwj, so (every) person should reconcile what is between him and Allah-azwj, then he does not have to flatten these two mountains, therefore take to the fighting’.
وَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُعَاوِيَةُ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَوْمَئِذٍ قَدْ قُرِّبَ إِلَيْهِ فَرَسٌ لَهُ أُنْثَى بَعِيدَةُ الْبَطْنِ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ لِيَهْرُبَ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى أَتَاهُ آتٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنِّي قَدْ تَرَكْتُ أَصْحَابَ عَلِيٍّ ع فِي مِثْلِ لَيْلَةِ الصَّدَرِ مِنْ مِنًى فَأَقَمْتُ
And from Ibn Abbas who said, ‘It is narrated to me by Muawiya that on that day he had drawn near a mare of his, far of belly from the ground, in order to flee upon it, until a comer from Al-Iraq came to him and said to him, ‘I have left the companions of Ali-asws in similar to the night of Al-Sadr from Mina’, so I stayed’.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ أَيْضاً وَ كَتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع أَمَّا بَعْدُ إِنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ قَدْ طَالَ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَكَ وَ كُلٌّ مِنَّا يَرَى أَنَّهُ عَلَى الْحَقِّ فِيمَا يَطْلُبُ مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ وَ لَنْ يُعْطِيَ وَاحِدٌ مِنَّا الطَّاعَةَ لِلْآخَرِ وَ قَدْ قُتِلَ فِيمَا بَيْنَنَا بَشَرٌ كَثِيرٌ وَ أَنَا أَتَخَوَّفُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَا بَقِيَ أَشَدَّ مِمَّا مَضَى وَ إِنَّا سَوْفَ نُسْأَلُ عَنْ هَذِهِ الْمَوَاطِنِ وَ لَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ غَيْرِي وَ غَيْرُكَ
Nasr said, and Ibrahim as well, ‘And Muawiya wrote to Ali-asws, ‘As for after, surely this matter has prolonged between us and you-asws, and every one of us sees that he is upon the truth – in it was he seeks from his counterpart, and not one of us will ever give the obedience to the other, and a lot of people have been killed regarding what is between us, and I fear that what remain would be severer that what has passed, and soon we would be questioned about this place, and no one will be reckoned with it apart from me and you-asws.
وَ قَدْ دَعْوَتُكَ إِلَى أَمْرٍ لَنَا وَ لَكَ فِيهِ حَيَاةٌ وَ عُذْرٌ وَ بَرَاءَةٌ وَ صَلَاحٌ لِلْأُمَّةِ وَ حَقْنُ الدِّمَاءِ وَ ذَهَابٌ لِلضَّغَائِنِ وَ الْفِتَنِ وَ أَنْ تُحَكِّمَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ حَكَمَيْنِ مَرْضِيَّيْنَ أَحَدُهُمَا مِنْ أَصْحَابِي وَ الْآخَرُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِكَ فَيَحْكُمَانِ بَيْنَنَا بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لِي وَ لَكَ وَ أَقْطَعُ لِهَذِهِ الْفِتَنِ
And I have called you-asws to a matter for us and you-asws wherein is life, and excuse, and renouncing, and reconciliation of the community, and saving of the blood, and doing away with the grudges, and the Fitna, and that two judges, both agreeable, should judge between me and you-asws, one of them from my companions and the other from your-asws companions. They would both judge between us with what Allah-azwj has Revealed, and it would be better for me and for you-asws, and a termination of this Fitna.
فَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ فِيمَا دُعِيتَ إِلَيْهِ وَ ارْضَ بِحُكْمِ الْقُرْآنِ إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ وَ السَّلَامُ
Fear Allah-azwj regarding what I am calling you-asws to and agree with the judgment of the Quran, if you-asws were from its people. And the greetings’.
فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ عَلِيٌّ ع مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلِيٍّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ أَفْضَلَ مَا شَغَلَ بِهِ الْمَرْءُ الْمُسْلِمُ نَفْسَهُ اتِّبَاعُ مَا حَسَّنَ بِهِ فِعْلَهُ وَ اسْتَوْجَبَ فَضْلَهُ وَ سَلِمَ مِنْ عَيْبِهِ وَ إِنَّ الْبَغْيَ وَ الزُّورَ يُزْرِيَانِ بِالْمَرْءِ فِي دِينِهِ وَ دُنْيَاهُ وَ يُبْدِيَانِ مِنْ خَلَلِهِ عِنْدَ مَنْ يُغْنِيهِ مَا اسْتَرْعَاهُ اللَّهُ مَا لَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُ تَدْبِيرَهُ
Ali-asws wrote to him, ‘From a servant of Allah-azwj Ali-asws, Amir Al-Momineen, to Muawiya Bin Abu Sufyan. As for after, surely the most superior of what the Muslim person can pre-occupy himself is following what he has done good, and is deserving of its merit, and is safe from be faulted of, and the rebellion, and falsehood are both visitors with the person in his religion and his world, and they manifest from his interference in the presence of the one whom it avails what Allah-azwj has been invoked on what his planning cannot avail him.
فَاحْذَرِ الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّهُ لَا فَرَحَ فِي شَيْءٍ وَصَلْتَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْهَا وَ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكَ غَيْرُ مُدْرِكٍ مَا قُضِيَ فَوَاتُهُ وَ قَدْ رَامَ قَوْمٌ أَمْراً بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَ تَأَوَّلُوهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ فَأَكْذَبَهُمْ وَ مَتَّعَهُمْ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ اضْطَرَّهُمْ إِلى عَذابٍ غَلِيظٍ
Be cautioned of the world for there is no happiness in anything from it one arrives to, and you have known that you will not realise (what) the pre-determination of which is losing it, and you have thrown a people to a matter without right, and you are interpreting it upon Allah-azwj Majestic and Mighty, so I-asws belie them, and let them enjoy for a while, then it would compel them to a harsh Punishment.
فَاحْذَرْ يَوْماً يَغْتَبِطُ فِيهِ مَنْ أَحْمَدَ عَاقِبَةَ عَمَلِهِ وَ يَنْدَمُ فِيهِ مَنْ أَمْكَنَ الشَّيْطَانَ مِنْ قِيَادِهِ وَ لَمْ يُحَادَّهُ وَ غَرَّتْهُ الدُّنْيَا وَ اطْمَأَنَّ إِلَيْهَا
Be cautioned of a day he would be joyful in it, one the end-result of his deeds is praise-worthy, and he would regret during it, one who enables the Satan-la of his-la plots, and does not negate him-la, and the world deceives him, and he is satisfied to it.
ثُمَّ إِنَّكَ قَدْ دَعَوْتَنِي إِلَى حُكْمِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكَ لَسْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ لَا حُكْمَهُ تُرِيدُ وَ الْمُسْتَعَانُ اللَّهُ فَقَدْ أَجَبْنَا الْقُرْآنَ إِلَى حُكْمِهِ وَ لَسْنَا إِيَّاكَ أَجَبْنَا نَعَمْ فَبَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَكَ حُكْمُ الْقُرْآنِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَرْضَ بِحُكْمِ الْقُرْآنِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلالًا بَعِيداً*
Then you have invited me-asws to the judgment of the Quran, and you have known that you aren’t from the people of the Quran, nor are you wanting its judgment, and the Helper is Allah-azwj. We have answered the Quran, to its judgment, and it isn’t you we are answering to. Yes, between us and you is the judgment of the Quran, and one who is not pleased with the judgment of the Quran, so he has strayed a far straying’.
فَكَتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ عَافَانَا اللَّهُ وَ إِيَّاكَ فَقَدْ آنَ لَكَ أَنْ تُجِيبَ إِلَى مَا فِيهِ صَلَاحُنَا وَ أُلْفَةُ مَا بَيْنَنَا وَ قَدْ فَعَلْتَ الَّذِي فَعَلْتَ وَ أَنَا أَعْرِفُ حَقِّي وَ لَكِنِّي اشْتَرَيْتُ بِالْعَفْوِ صَلَاحَ الْأُمَّةِ وَ لَمْ أُكْثِرْ فَرَحاً بِشَيْءٍ جَاءَ وَ لَا ذَهَبَ
Muawiya wrote to Amir Al-Momineen-asws, ‘As for after, may Allah-azwj Pardon us and you-asws. I have approached you-asws to answer to what is our betterment in it, and affinity what is between us, and you-asws done what you-asws have done, and I know my rights, but I have acquired with the pardoning, betterment of the community, and I am not with more happiness with anything coming or going.
وَ إِنَّمَا أَدْخَلَنِي فِي هَذَا الْأَمْرِ الْقِيَامُ بِالْحَقِّ فِيمَا بَيْنَ الْبَاغِي وَ الْمَبْغِيِّ عَلَيْهِ وَ الْأَمْرُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ النَّهْيُ مِنَ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ دَعَوْتُ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فِيمَا بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَكَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَجْمَعُنَا وَ إِيَّاكُمْ إِلَّا هُوَ نُحْيِي مَا أَحْيَا الْقُرْآنُ وَ نُمِيتُ مَا أَمَاتَ الْقُرْآنُ وَ السَّلَامُ
And rather it was standing by the truth which entered me into this matter, regarding what is between the rebel and the rebelled against, and the enjoining with the good and forbidding from the evil, and have called to the Book of Allah-azwj regarding what is between us and you-asws, for nothing will unite us and you all except it would revive what the Quran would revive, and kill off what the Quran has killed off. And the greetings’.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ فَكَتَبَ ع إِلَى عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ يَعِظُهُ وَ يُرْشِدُهُ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ الدُّنْيَا مَشْغَلَةٌ عَنْ غَيْرِهَا وَ لَنْ يُصِبْ صَاحِبُهَا مِنْهَا شَيْئاً إِلَّا فَتَحَتْ لَهُ حِرْصاً يَزِيدُهُ فِيهَا رَغْبَةً وَ لَنْ يَسْتَغْنِيَ صَاحِبُهَا بِمَا نَالَ عَمَّا لَمْ يَبْلُغْ وَ مِنْ وَرَاءِ ذَلِكَ فِرَاقُ مَا جَمَعَ
Nasr said, ‘He-asws wrote to Amro Bin Al-Aas advising him and guiding him: ‘As for after, surely the world is a pre-occupation from other than it and its companion will never attain anything from it except a greed would be opened for him increasing him in desire regarding it, and its companion will never become needless with what he attains about what he could not reach; from behind that is separation of what he has amassed.
وَ السَّعِيدُ مَنْ وُعِظَ بِغَيْرِهِ فَلَا تُحْبِطْ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَجْرَكَ وَ لَا تُجَارِ مُعَاوِيَةَ فِي بَاطِلِهِ وَ السَّلَامُ
And fortunate is the one who is advised by others, so do not drop your recompense, O Abu Abdullah, and do not accompany Muawiya in his falsehood. And the greetings’.
فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ الْجَوَابَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَالَّذِي فِيهِ صَلَاحُنَا وَ أُلْفَتُنَا الْإِنَابَةُ إِلَى الْحَقِّ وَ قَدْ جَعَلْنَا الْقُرْآنَ بَيْنَنَا حَكَماً وَ أَجَبْنَا إِلَيْهِ فَصَبَرَ الرَّجُلُ مِنَّا نَفْسَهُ عَلَى مَا حَكَمَ عَلَيْهِ الْقُرْآنُ وَ عَذَرَهُ النَّاسُ بَعْدَ الْمُحَاجَزَةِ وَ السَّلَامُ
Amro Bin Al-Aas wrote to him-asws, ‘As for after, that in which is our betterment and our affinity is the representation to the truth, and we have made the Quran between us as a judge and we have answered to it, so may the man from us make himself to be patient upon what the Quran judges upon him, and may the people excuse him after the detaining. And the greetings’.
فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ عَلِيٌّ ع أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ الَّذِي أَعْجَبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا مِمَّا نَازَعَتْكَ إِلَيْهِ نَفْسُكَ وَ وَثِقْتَ بِهِ مِنْهَا لَمُنْقَلِبٌ عَنْكَ وَ مُفَارِقٌ لَكَ فَلَا تَطْمَئِنَّ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّهَا غَرَّارَةٌ وَ لَوِ اعْتَبَرْتَ بِمَا مَضَى لَحَفِظْتَ مَا بَقِيَ وَ انْتَفَعْتَ مِنْهَا بِمَا وَعَظْتَ بِهِ وَ السَّلَامُ
Ali-asws wrote to him: ‘As for after, that which is fascinating you from the world, from what has snatched your soul to it and you are trusting with it from it, it would be overturned from you and there will be a separation for you, therefore do not covet to the world, for it is a deception, and if you could take a lesson with what has passed, you would protect what remain and cut yourself from it, and be preached with it. And the greetings’.
فَأَجَابَهُ عَمْرٌو أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَقَدْ أَنْصَفَ مَنْ جَعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ إِمَاماً وَ دَعَا النَّاسَ إِلَى أَحْكَامِهِ فَاصْبِرْ أَبَا حَسَنٍ فَإِنَّا غَيْرُ مُنِيلِيكَ إِلَّا مَا أَنَالَكَ الْقُرْآنُ وَ السَّلَامُ
Amro answered him, ‘As for after, he has been fair, one who makes the Quran to be an Imam and calls the people to its judgments, Abu Hassan-asws, for surely you cannot get except what the Quran gives you-asws. And the greetings’.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ جَاءَ الْأَشْعَثُ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا أَرَى النَّاسَ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ رَضُوا وَ سَرَّهُمْ أَنْ يُجِيبُوا الْقَوْمَ إِلَى مَا دَعَوْهُمْ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حُكْمِ الْقُرْآنِ فَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَتَيْتُ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَسَأَلْتُهُ مَا يُرِيدُ وَ نَظَرْتُ مَا الَّذِي يَسْأَلُ
Nasr (the reporter) said, ‘And Al-Ash’as came to Ali-asws and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! I do not see the people except as being pleased and happy that they are answering the people to what they are calling them to, from a judgment of the Quran. So, if you-asws so desire, I can go to Muawiya and asked him what he wants, and you-asws consider what is that which he should be asked’.
قَالَ ائْتِهِ إِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَتَاهُ فَسَأَلَهُ يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ لِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ رَفَعْتُمْ هَذِهِ الْمَصَاحِفَ
He-asws said: ‘Go to him and ask him, ‘O Muawiya! For which thing (reason) did you raise these Qurans?’
قَالَ لِنَرْجِعَ نَحْنُ وَ أَنْتُمْ إِلَى مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ فِيهَا فَابْعَثُوا رَجُلًا مِنْكُمْ تَرْضَوْنَ بِهِ وَ نَبْعَثُ مِنَّا رَجُلًا وَ نَأْخُذُ عَلَيْهِمَا أَنْ يَعْمَلَا بِمَا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ لَا يَعْدُوَانِهِ ثُمَّ نَتَّبِعُ مَا اتَّفَقَا عَلَيْهِ
He (Muawiya) said, ‘For us and you to return to what Allah-azwj has Commanded with in it, so send men from you who are pleased with it and we shall send men from us, and we shall take upon them that they should act with what is in the Book of Allah-azwj and not turn back from it. Then we shall follow whatever they are both concordant upon’.
فَقَالَ الْأَشْعَثُ هَذَا هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع فَأَخْبَرَهُ فَبَعَثَ عَلِيٌّ ع قُرَّاءً مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَ بَعَثَ مُعَاوِيَةُ قُرَّاءً مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَاجْتَمَعُوا بَيْنَ الصَّفَّيْنِ وَ مَعَهُمُ الْمُصْحَفُ فَنَظَرُوا فِيهِ وَ تَدَارَسُوهُ وَ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يُحْيُوا مَا أَحْيَا الْقُرْآنُ وَ يُمِيتُوا مَا أَمَاتَ الْقُرْآنُ وَ رَجَعَ كُلُّ فَرِيقٍ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ
Al-Ash’as said, ‘This, it is the truth’, and he left to from the side of Ali-asws and informed him. Ali-asws sent readers from the people of Al-Iraq, and Muawiya sent readers from the people of Syria. They gathered between the two rows and with them were the Qurans, and they looked into it and learned it, and they united upon that they would revive what the Quran revives and kill of what the Quran kills off, and each group returned to its counterpart.
فَقَالَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ إِنَّا قَدْ رَضِينَا وَ اخْتَرْنَا عَمْرَو بْنَ الْعَاصِ وَ قَالَ الْأَشْعَثُ وَ الْقُرَّاءُ الَّذِينَ صَارُوا خَوَارِجَ فِيمَا بَعْدُ وَ قَدْ رَضِينَا نَحْنُ وَ اخْتَرْنَا أَبَا مُوسَى الْأَشْعَرِيَّ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ عَلِيٌّ ع فَإِنِّي لَا أَرْضَى بِأَبِي مُوسَى وَ لَا أَرَى أَنْ أُوَلِّيَهُ
The people of Syria said, ‘We are pleased and have chosen Amro Bin Al-Aas’. And Al-Ash’as and the readers, who afterwards became Khawarijites said, ‘And we are pleased and choose Abu Musa Al-Ashary’. But, I-asws am not pleased with Abu Musa, nor do I-asws see that he should be in-charge of it’.
فَقَالَ الْأَشْعَثُ وَ زَيْدُ بْنُ حُصَيْنٍ وَ مِسْعَرُ بْنُ فَدَكِيٍّ فِي عِصَابَةٍ إِنَّا لَا نَرْضَى إِلَّا بِهِ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ كَانَ حَذَّرَنَا مَا وَقَعْنَا فِيهِ فَقَالَ ع فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِي بِرِضًا وَ قَدْ فَارَقَنِي وَ خَذَلَ النَّاسَ عَنِّي وَ هَرَبَ مِنِّي حَتَّى آمَنْتُهُ بَعْدَ أَشْهُرٍ وَ لَكِنْ هَذَا ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أُوَلِّيهِ ذَلِكَ
Al-Ash’as, and Zayd Bin Husayn, and Mis’ar Bin Fadaky said in a group, ‘We are not pleased except with him, for he used to caution us of what we have fallen into’. He-asws said: ‘It is not with agreement for me-asws. He had separated from me-asws and got the people to forsake me-asws and he fled from me-asws until I-asws granted him amnesty after months. But this, Ibn Abbas would be in-charge of that’.
قَالُوا وَ اللَّهِ مَا نُبَالِي أَ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ أَوِ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَ لَا نُرِيدُ إِلَّا رَجُلًا هُوَ مِنْكَ وَ مِنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ سَوَاءٌ لَيْسَ إِلَى وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمَا أَدْنَى مِنَ الْآخَرِ
They said, ‘By Allah-azwj! We do not mind whether it is you-asws or Ibn Abbas, and we do not want except a man who is equal from you-asws and from Muawiya, not being towards one of you, closer than the other’.
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع فَإِنِّي أَجْعَلُ الْأَشْتَرَ فَقَالَ الْأَشْعَثُ وَ هَلْ سَعَّرَ الْأَرْضَ عَلَيْنَا إِلَّا الْأَشْتَرُ وَ هَلْ نَحْنُ إِلَّا فِي حُكْمِ الْأَشْتَرِ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع وَ مَا حُكْمُهُ قَالَ حُكْمُهُ أَنْ يَضْرِبَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضاً بِالسَّيْفِ حَتَّى يَكُونَ مَا أَرَدْتَ وَ مَا أَرَادَ.
Ali-asws said: ‘So, I-asws hereby make Al-Ashtar (to be for it)’. Al-Ash’as said, ‘Is the earth too pricey upon us except Al-Ashtar, and are we only going to be in a decision of Al-Ashtar?’ Ali-asws said: ‘And what is his decision?’ He said, ‘His decision is that we should strike each other with the sword until it happens what you-asws want or what he wants’’.[61]
452- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ع قَالَ: لَمَّا أَرَادَ النَّاسُ عَلِيّاً أَنْ يَضَعَ الْحَكَمَيْنِ قَالَ لَهُمْ إِنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيَضَعَ لِهَذَا الْأَمْرِ أَحَداً هُوَ أَوْثَقُ بِرَأْيِهِ وَ نَظَرِهِ مِنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ وَ إِنَّهُ لَا يَصْلَحُ لِلْقُرَشِيِّ إِلَّا الْقُرَشِيُّ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ فَارْمُوهُ بِهِ فَإِنَّ عَمْراً لَا يَعْقِدُ عُقْدَةً إِلَّا حَلَّهَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَ لَا يَحُلُّ عُقْدَةً إِلَّا عَقَدَهَا وَ لَا يُبْرِمُ أَمْراً إِلَّا نَقَضَهُ وَ لَا يَنْقُضُ أَمْراً إِلَّا أَبْرَمَهُ
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to us by Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir,
‘From Abu Ja’far Muhammad Bin Ali-asws having said: ‘When the people wanted Ali-asws that he-asws should place the two judges, he-asws said to them: ‘Muawiya has not placed for this matter anyone he is more trusting with his opinion and consideration than Amro Bin Al-Aas, and it is not correct for Quraysh except the Qurayshi, therefore upon you is with (placing) Abdullah Bin Al-Abbas, so cast him with it, for Amro will not tie any knot except Abdullah would loosen it, nor will he loosen any knot except he would tighten it, nor will be accomplish any matter except he would break it, nor break any matter except he would accomplish it’.
فَقَالَ الْأَشْعَثُ لَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا يَحْكُمُ فِينَا مُضَرِيَّانِ حَتَّى تَقُومَ السَّاعَةُ وَ لَكِنْ نَجْعَلُ رَجُلًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ إِذْ جَعَلُوا رَجُلًا مِنْ أَهْلِ مُضَرَ فَقَالَ ع إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ يُخْدَعَ يَمَنِيُّكُمْ فَإِنَّ عَمْراً لَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي شَيْءٍ إِذَا كَانَ لَهُ فِي أَمْرٍ هَوًى
Al-Ash’as said, ‘No, by Allah-azwj! Two (from the tribe of) Muzar will not judge regarding us until the establishment of the Hour! But, we shall make a man from Al-Yemen, when they make a man from the people of (tribe of) Muzar’. He-asws said: ‘I-asws fear that your Yemeni (man) would be deceived, for Amro isn’t in anything from Allah-azwj, whenever there would be a personal opinion for him’.
فَقَالَ الْأَشْعَثُ وَ اللَّهِ لَأَنْ يَحْكُمَا بِبَعْضِ مَا نَكْرَهُ وَ أَحَدُهُمَا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْنَا مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ بَعْضُ مَا نُحِبُّ فِي حُكْمِهِمَا وَ هُمَا مُضَرِيَّانِ
Al-Ash’as said, ‘By Allah-azwj! If both of them were to judge with part of what we dislike, and one of them is from the people of Al-Yemen, it would be more beloved to us than if part of what we like happens in their judgments, and they are both from the tribe of Muzar’’.
قال و ذكر الشعبي أيضا مثل ذلك قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ فِي حَدِيثِ عَمْرٍو فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع قَدْ أَبَيْتُمْ إِلَّا أَبَا مُوسَى قَالُوا نَعَمْ قَالَ فَاصْنَعُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَبَعَثُوا إِلَى أَبِي مُوسَى وَ هُوَ بِأَرْضٍ مِنْ أَرْضِ الشَّامِ يُقَالُ لَهَا عُرْضٌ قَدِ اعْتَزَلَ الْقِتَالَ
He (the narrator) said, ‘And Al-Shaby mentioned as well similar to that. Nasr said, ‘And in a Hadeeth of Amro, ‘Ali-asws said: ‘You are refusing except for Abu Musa?’ They said, ‘Yes’. He-asws said: ‘Then do whatever you like’. They sent a message to Abu Musa, and he was in a land from the lands of Syria called Uriz (near Palmyra), having had isolated from the fighting.
فَأَتَاهُ مَوْلًى لَهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدِ اصْطَلَحُوا قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ قَالَ وَ قَدْ جَعَلُوكَ حَكَماً فَقَالَ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَيْهِ راجِعُونَ
A slave of his came to him. He said, ‘The people have made up with each other’. He said, ‘The Praise is for Allah-azwj, Lord-azwj of the world’. He said, ‘He said, ‘And they have made you a judge’. He said, ‘We are for Allah-azwj and are returning to Him-azwj’.
فَجَاءَ أَبُو مُوسَى حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَسْكَرَ عَلِيٍّ ع وَ جَاءَ الْأَشْتَرُ عَلِيّاً فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَلِزَّنِي بِعَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ فَوَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ لَئِنْ مُلِئَتْ عَيْنِي مِنْهُ لَأَقْتُلَنَّهُ
Abu Musa came until he entered the army of Ali-asws, and Al-Ashtar came to Ali-asws. He said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Commit me with Amro Bin Al Aas, for by Allah-azwj Who, there is no go apart from Him-azwj, if my eyes are filled up from him, I will kill him’.
وَ جَاءَ الْأَحْنَفُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ عَلِيّاً ع فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّكَ قَدْ رُمِيتَ بِحَجَرِ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَنْ حَارَبَ اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ أَنْفَ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ إِنِّي قَدْ عَجَمْتُ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ يَعْنِي أَبَا مُوسَى وَ حَلَبْتُ أَشْطُرَهُ فَوَجَدْتُهُ كَلِيلَ الشَّفْرَةِ قَرِيبَ الْقَعْرِ كَلِيلَ الْمُدْيَةِ
And Al-Ahnaf Bin Qays came to Ali-asws and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! You-asws have been thrown a rock of the earth, and one who had fled Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww (and) the pride of Al-Islam, and I have examined this man, meaning Abu Musa, and have dissected him and found him being of blunt blade, the blade being near to the bottom, a blunt knife.
وَ إِنَّهُ لَا يَصْلَحُ لِهَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ يَدْنُو مِنْهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونَ فِي أَكُفِّهِمْ وَ يَتَبَاعَدُ مِنْهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ النَّجْمِ مِنْهُمْ فَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَنِي حَكَماً فَاجْعَلْنِي وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَنِي ثَانِياً أَوْ ثَالِثاً فَإِنَّ عَمْراً لَا يَعْقِدُ عُقْدَةً إِلَّا عَقَدْتُ لَكَ أَشَدَّ مِنْهَا
And he is not correct for these people except a man who is close to them until he happens to be in their palms, and remote from them until he happens to be at the status of the star from them. If you-asws like, you-asws can make me to be a judge, so make me, and if you-asws like then make me a second, or a third, for Amro will not tighten any knot except I shall tighten is more intensely than it for you-asws’.
فَعَرَضَ عَلِيٌّ ع ذَلِكَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَأَبَوْهُ وَ قَالُوا لَا يَكُونُ إِلَّا أَبُو مُوسَى فَبَعَثَ أَيْمَنَ بْنَ خُرَيْمٍ الْأَسَدِيَ وَ كَانَ مُعْتَزِلًا لِمُعَاوِيَةَ بِأَبْيَاتٍ تَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّ صَلَاحَهُمْ فِي اخْتِيَارِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَ تَرْكِ أَبِي مُوسَى فَطَارَتْ أَهْوَاءُ قَوْمٍ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءِ عَلِيٍّ ع وَ شِيعَتِهِ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَ أَبَتِ الْقُرَّاءُ إِلَّا أَبَا مُوسَى
Ali-asws presented that to the people, but they refused him and said, ‘It cannot happen to be except Abu Musa. He-asws sent Ayman Bn Huzeym Al-Asadi, and he was isolated to Muawiya, with some poems pointing upon that their betterment would be in choosing Ibn Abbas and leaving Abu Musa, but the opinions of the people flew from friends of Ali-asws and his-asws Shias, to Ibn Abbas, and the readers refused except Abu Musa.
قَالَ نَصْرٌ فَلَمَّا رَضِيَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ بِعَمْرٍو وَ أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ بِأَبِي مُوسَى أَخَذُوا فِي سَطْرِ كِتَابِ الْمُوَادَعَةِ وَ كَانَتْ صُورَتُهُ هَذَا مَا تَقَاضَى عَلَيْهِ عَلِيٌّ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بِئْسَ الرَّجُلُ أَنَا إِنْ أَقْرَرْتُ أَنَّهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ثُمَّ قَاتَلْتُهُ
Nasr (the narrator) said, ‘When the people of Syria agreed with Amro and the people of Al-Iraq with Abu Musa, they wrote out the agreement, and its form was: – ‘This is what is charged by Ali-asws Amir Al-Momineen and Muawiya Bin Sufyan’. Muawiya said, ‘I am an evil man if I were to accept he is Amir Al-Momineen, then I fight against him’.
وَ قَالَ عَمْرٌو لَا بَلْ نَكْتُبُ اسْمَهُ وَ اسْمَ أَبِيهِ إِنَّمَا هُوَ أَمِيرُكُمْ فَأَمَّا أَمِيرُنَا فَلَا
And Amro said, ‘No, but we should write his-asws name and name of his-asws father-as. But rather he-asws is your commander. As for our commander, so, no’.
فَلَمَّا أُعِيدَ إِلَيْهِ الْكِتَابُ أَمَرَ بِمَحْوِهِ فَقَالَ الْأَحْنَفُ لَا تَمْحُ اسْمَ إِمْرَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَنْكَ فَإِنِّي أَتَخَوَّفُ إِنْ مَحَوْتَهَا أَنْ لَا تَرْجِعَ إِلَيْكَ أَبَداً فَلَا تَمْحُهَا
When the agreement returned to him-asws he ordered with its deletion. Al-Ahnaf said, ‘Do not delete the name ‘Amir Al-Momineen’, for I fear if you-asws were to delete it, it will not return to you, ever! Do not delete it!’
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع إِنَّ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ كَيَوْمِ الْحُدَيْبِيَةِ حِينَ كَتَبْتُ الْكِتَابَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص هَذَا مَا تَصَالَحَ عَلَيْهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ سُهَيْلُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو فَقَالَ سُهَيْلٌ لَوْ أَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ لَمْ أُقَاتِلْكَ وَ لَمْ أُخَالِفْكَ إِنِّي لَظَالِمٌ لَكَ إِنْ مَنَعْتُكَ أَنْ تَطُوفَ بَيْتَ اللَّهِ وَ أَنْتَ رَسُولُهُ وَ لَكِنِ اكْتُبْ مِنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ
Ali-asws said: ‘This day is like the day of al Hudeybiya when the agreement was written from Rasool-Allah-saww, ‘This is what Muhammad-saww, Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj, and Suheyl Bin Amro’. Suheyl had said, ‘If I knew you-saww are a Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj, I would not fight you-saww and would not oppose you-saww. I would be unjust if I were to prevent you-saww from performing tawaf of the House of Allah-azwj and you-saww are His-azwj Rasool-saww, but write, ‘From Muhammad-saww Bin Abdullah-asws’’.
فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَا عَلِيُّ إِنِّي لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَ أَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَ لَنْ يَمْحُوَ عَنِّي الرِّسَالَةَ كِتَابِي لَهُمْ مِنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَاكْتُبْهَا فَامْحُ مَا أَرَادَ مَحْوَهُ أَمَا إِنَّ لَكَ مِثْلَهَا سَتُعْطِيهَا وَ أَنْتَ مُضْطَهَدٌ
Rasool-Allah-saww said to me-asws: ‘O Ali-asws! I-saww am a Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj and I-saww am Muhammad-saww Bin Abdullah-asws, and the Message will never be deleted from me-saww. My-saww agreement to them is from Muhammad-saww Bin Abdullah-asws, so write it and delete what he wants to delete it. But, for you-asws would be (a situation) similar to it. You-asws will be given it while you-asws are being oppressed’’.[62]
453 قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ رُوِيَ أَنَّ عَمْراً عَادَ بِالْكِتَابِ إِلَيْهِ ع وَ طَلَبَ أَنْ يَمْحُوَ اسْمَهُ مِنْ إِمْرَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَصَّ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَلَى مَنْ حَضَرَ قِصَّةَ صُلْحِ الْحُدَيْبِيَةِ وَ قَالَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابَ أَنَا كَتَبْتُهُ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَ الْيَوْمَ أَكْتُبُهُ إِلَى أَبْنَائِهِمْ كَمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص كَتَبَهُ إِلَى آبَائِهِمْ شِبْهاً وَ مِثْلًا
Nasr said, ‘And it is reported that Amro returned the agreement to him-asws and sought that he-asws deletes his-asws name from ‘Amir Al-Momineen’. Ali-asws narrated the story to him and to the ones present, story of the peace treaty of al Hudaybiya, and said: ‘That was an agreement I-asws had written it between us and the Polytheists, and today I-asws am writing it to their sons just as Rasool-Allah-saww had written it to their fathers, resembling, and similar’.
فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ أَ تُشَبِّهُنَا بِالْكُفَّارِ وَ نَحْنُ مُسْلِمُونَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَا ابْنَ النَّابِغَةِ وَ مَتَى لَمْ تَكُنْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ وَلِيّاً وَ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ عُدُّواً فَقَامَ عَمْرٌو وَ قَالَ وَ اللَّهِ لَا يَجْمَعُ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ مَجْلِسٌ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ
Amro said, ‘Glory be to Allah-azwj! Are you-asws resembling us with the Kafirs and we are Muslims?’ Ali-asws said: ‘O Ibn Al-Nabiga! And did you not happen to be friends of the Kafirs and enemies to the Muslims?’ Amro stood up and said, ‘By Allah-azwj! There will be no gathering between me and you-asws after today’.
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَرْجُو أَنْ يَظْهَرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَ عَلَى أَصْحَابِكَ وَ جَاءَتْ عِصَابَةٌ قَدْ وَضَعَتْ سُيُوفَهَا عَلَى عَوَاتِقِهَا فَقَالُوا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مُرْنَا بِمَا شِئْتَ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ سَهْلُ بْنُ حُنَيْفٍ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّهِمُوا رَأْيَكُمْ فَلَقَدْ شَهِدْنَا صُلْحَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص يَوْمَ الْحُدَيْبِيَةِ وَ لَوْ نَرَى قِتَالًا لَقَاتَلْنَا.
Ali-asws said: ‘But, by Allah-azwj! I-asws hope that Allah-azwj would Manifest upon you and your companions, and a group had come and they had placed their swords upon their shoulders and they said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Order us with whatever you-asws so desire to’. Sahl Bin Huneyf said to them, ‘O you people! You are accusing your views and we had witnessed the peace treaty of Rasool-Allah-saww on the day of Al-Hudeybiya, and if we view fighting, we would fight’’.[63]
454- وَ رَوَى أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ الشَّيْبَانِيُ أَنَّهُ قِيلَ لِعَلِيٍّ ع حِينَ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ الْكِتَابَ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ أَ تُقِرُّ أَنَّهُمْ مُؤْمِنُونَ مُسْلِمُونَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع مَا أُقِرُّ لِمُعَاوِيَةَ وَ لَا لِأَصْحَابِهِ أَنَّهُمْ مُؤْمِنُونَ وَ لَا مُسْلِمُونَ وَ لَكِنْ يَكْتُبُ مُعَاوِيَةُ مَا شَاءَ وَ يُقِرُّ بِمَا شَاءَ لِنَفْسِهِ وَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ وَ يُسَمِّي نَفْسَهُ بِمَا شَاءَ وَ أَصْحَابَهُ
And it is reported by Abu Is’haq Al Shaybani,
‘It was said to Ali-asws when he-asws wanted to write the agreement between him-asws and Muawiya and the people of Syria, ‘Do you-asws acknowledge they are Muslims?’ Ali-asws said: ‘I-asws neither acknowledge to Muawiya nor to his companions that they are Momineen nor Muslims, but Muawiya can write whatever he so likes to for himself and his companion, and he can name himself with whatever he and his companions desire to’.
فَكَتَبُوا هَذَا مَا تَقَاضَى عَلَيْهِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ قَاضَى عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَ مَنْ كَانَ مَعَهُ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ قَاضَى مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ وَ مَنْ كَانَ مَعَهُ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
They wrote: ‘This is what is judged upon Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws and Muawiya Bin Abu Sufyan, by a judge of Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws upon the people of Al-Iraq and the ones who are with him-asws from his-asws Shias, from the Momineen and the Muslims, and a judge of Muawiya Bin Abu Sufyan upon the people of Syrian, and the ones who were with him from his loyalist from the Momineen and the Muslims.
إِنَّا نَنْزِلُ عِنْدَ حُكْمِ اللَّهِ وَ كِتَابِهِ وَ لَا يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَ أَنَّ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ بَيْنَنَا مِنْ فَاتِحَتِهِ إِلَى خَاتِمَتِهِ نُحْيِي مَا أَحْيَا الْقُرْآنُ وَ نُمِيتُ مَا أَمَاتَ الْقُرْآنُ فَإِنْ وَجَدَ الْحَكَمَانِ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ اتَّبَعْنَاهُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَجِدَاهُ أَخَذَا بِالسُّنَّةِ الْعَادِلَةِ غَيْرِ الْمُفَرِّقَةِ
We shall descend at the Judgment of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Book, and there will be no unity between us except by Him-azwj, and that the Book of Allah-azwj the Glorious is between us, from its opening to its end. We shall revive whatever the Quran revives and we shall kill of whatever the Quran kills of. If the two judges find that in the Book of Allah-azwj we shall follow it, and if we do not find it, we shall take with the Sunnah, the just, without differentiation.
وَ الْحَكَمَانِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ قَيْسٍ وَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ وَ قَدْ أَخَذَ الْحَكَمَانِ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ وَ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ مِنَ الْجُنْدَيْنِ أَنَّهُمَا آمِنَانِ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمَا وَ أَمْوَالِهِمَا وَ أَهْلِهِمَا وَ الْأُمَّةُ لَهُمَا أَنْصَارٌ وَ عَلَى الَّذِي يَقْضِيَانِ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنَ الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ
And the two judges are Abdullah Bin Qays and Amro Bin Al-Aas, and the two judges have been taken from Ali-asws and Muawiya and from the two armies. They are both secured upon their selves, and their wealth, and their families, and the community are helpers to them, and upon the one they judge against, and upon the Momineen and the Muslims from the two parties.
عَهْدُ اللَّهِ أَنْ يَعْمَلُوا بِمَا يَقْضِيَانِ عَلَيْهِ مِمَّا وَافَقَ الْكِتَابَ وَ السُّنَّةَ وَ أَنَّ الْأَمْنَ وَ الْمُوَادَعَةَ وَ وَضْعَ السِّلَاحِ مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ بَيْنَ الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ إِلَى أَنْ يَقَعَ الْحُكْمُ وَ عَلَى كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنَ الْحَكَمَيْنِ عَهْدُ اللَّهِ لِيَحْكُمَنَّ بَيْنَ الْأُمَّةِ بِالْحَقِّ لَا بِالْهَوَى
A Pact of Allah-azwj has been taken that they would be working with what they judge upon, would be from what is in accordance with the Book and the Sunnah, and that the safety and the tranquillity, and placing down the weapons is what is co-incidental upon between the two parties until (such time as) the judgment occurs, and upon each one of the two judges is a Pact of Allah-azwj for them to judge between the community with the truth, not by personal opinion.
وَ أَجَلُ الْمُوَادَعَةِ سَنَةٌ كَامِلَةٌ فَإِنْ أَحَبَّ الْحَكَمَانِ أَنْ يُعَجِّلَا الْحُكْمَ عَجَّلَاهُ وَ إِنْ تُوُفِّيَ أَحَدُهُمَا فَلِأَمِيرِ شِيعَتِهِ أَنْ يَخْتَارَ مَعَهُ رَجُلًا لَا يَأْلُو الْحَقَّ وَ الْعَدْلَ وَ إِنْ تُوُفِّيَ أَحَدُ الْأَمِيرَيْنِ كَانَ نَصْبُ غَيْرِهِ إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِ مِمَّنْ يَرْتَضُونَ أَمْرَهُ وَ يَحْمَدُونَ طَرِيقَهُ
And the term of the tranquillity is a complete year, so if the two judges like to hasten the decision, they would hasten it, and if one of them were to die, then the commander would instruct his loyalist to choose a man with him, not leaving the truth and the justice, and if one of the two trustees were to die, another one would be nominated to his companion, from the ones who are agreed with his matter, and his ways are praise-worthy.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَنْصِرُكَ عَلَى مَنْ تَرَكَ مَا فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ وَ أَرَادَ فِيهَا إِلْحَاداً أَوْ ظُلْماً.
O Allah-azwj! We seek Your-azwj Help against the one who neglects what is in this parchment, and intends the atheism or injustice’’.[64]
455- قَالَ نَصْرٌ هَذِهِ رِوَايَةُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع وَ الشَّعْبِيِّ وَ رَوَى جَابِرٌ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ زِيَادَاتٍ عَلَى هَذِهِ النُّسْخَةِ أَقُولُ وَ ذَكَرَ تِلْكَ الرِّوَايَةَ وَ سَاقَهَا إِلَى أَنْ قَالَ: وَ شَهِدَ فِيهِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع عَشَرَةٌ وَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَشَرَةٌ وَ تَارِيخُ كِتَابَتِهِ لِلَيْلَةٍ بَقِيَتْ مِنْ صَفَرٍ سَنَةَ سَبْعٍ وَ ثَلَاثِينَ
Nasr said, ‘This is reported by Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Al Husayn-asws, and Al Shaby, and it is reported by Jabir, from Zayd Bin Al Hassan Bin Al Hassan increasing upon this copy. I (Majlisi) am saying, ‘And he mentioned that report and continued it up to he said,
‘And it was witnessed in it by ten from the companions of Ali-asws and ten from the companions of Muawiya, and its writing was dated one night remaining from Safar of the year thirty-seven.
قَالَ وَ لَمَّا كَتَبْتُ الصَّحِيفَةَ دُعِيَ لَهَا الْأَشْتَرُ لِيَشْهَدَ مَعَ الشُّهُودِ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَا صَحِبَتْنِي يَمِينِي وَ لَا نَفَعَتْنِي بَعْدَهَا الشِّمَالُ إِنْ كُتِبَ لِي فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ اسْمٌ عَلَى صُلْحٍ أَوْ مُوَادَعَةٍ أَ وَ لَسْتُ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ أَمْرِي وَ يَقِينٍ مِنْ ضَلَالِ عَدُوِّي أَ وَ لَسْتُمْ قَدْ رَأَيْتُمُ الظَّفَرَ إِنْ لَمْ تَجْمَعُوا عَلَى الْخَوَرِ
He (the narrator) said, ‘And when the parchment was written, Al-Ashtar was called for it in order to witness along with the witnesses upon it. He said, ‘Neither will my right hand accompany me nor will the left benefit me after it, if it were to write for me a name to be in this parchment upon reconciliation, or truce, and aren’t I upon a proof and certainty of my affairs from the straying of my enemy? And hadn’t you seen the victory if you hadn’t united upon the weakness?’
وَ جَرَى بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ الْأَشْعَثِ كَلَامٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَ لَكِنِّي قَدْ رَضِيتُ بِمَا يَرْضَى بِهِ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ دَخَلْتُ فِيمَا دَخَلَ فِيهِ وَ خَرَجْتُ مِمَّا خَرَجَ مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدْخُلُ إِلَّا فِي الْهُدَى وَ الصَّوَابِ
And (heated) talk flowed between him and Al-Ash’as. Then he said, ‘But I am pleased with whatever Amir Al-Momineen-asws is pleased with, and will enter into whatever he-asws enters into, and exit from whatever he-asws exits from, for he-asws will not enter except into the guidance and the correctness’’.
قَالَ فَلَمَّا تَمَّ الْكِتَابُ خَرَجَ الْأَشْعَثُ وَ مَعَهُ نَاسٌ بِنُسْخَةِ الْكِتَابِ يَقْرَأُهَا عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ يَعْرِضُهَا عَلَيْهِمْ فَمَرَّ بِهِ عَلَى صُفُوفٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ وَ هُمْ عَلَى رَايَاتِهِمْ فَأَسْمَعَهُمْ إِيَّاهُ فَرَضُوا بِهِ ثُمَّ مَرَّ عَلَى صُفُوفٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَ هُمْ عَلَى رَايَاتِهِمْ فَأَسْمَعَهُمْ إِيَّاهُ فَرَضُوا بِهِ
He (the narrator) said, ‘When the agreement was complete, Al-Ash’as went out and with him were some people with a copy of the agreement, reading out unto the people, and presenting it to them. He passed by rows from the people of Syria, and they were upon their flags, and made them listen to it. They were pleased with it. Then he passed by the rows of the people of Al-Iraq, and they were upon their flags, and made them listen to it. They were pleased with it.
حَتَّى مَرَّ بِرَايَاتِ عَنَزَةَ وَ كَانَ مَعَهُ ع مِنْهُمْ أَرْبَعَةُ آلَافٍ فَقَالَ فَتَيَانِ مِنْهُمْ لَا حُكْمَ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ثُمَّ حَمَلَا عَلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ بِسُيُوفِهِمَا حَتَّى قُتِلَا ثُمَّ مَرَّ بِهِ عَلَى مُرَادٍ فَقَالَ صَالِحُ بْنُ شَقِيقٍ وَ كَانَ مِنْ رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا حُكْمَ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ*
Until he passed by the flags of Anzah and with it was Ali-asws, from them were four thousand. Two youths from them said, ‘There is no judgment except for Allah-azwj!’ Then they attacked upon the people of Syria with their swords until they were both killed. Then he passed by Murad. Salih Bin Shaqeeq said, and he was from their chiefs, ‘There is no judgment except for Allah-azwj, and even if the Polytheists are averse (to it)’.
ثُمَّ مَرَّ عَلَى رَايَاتِ بَنِي رَاسِبٍ فَقَرَأَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالُوا لَا حُكْمَ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ لَا نَرْضَى وَ لَا نُحَكِّمُ الرِّجَالَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ مَرَّ عَلَى رَايَاتِ تَمِيمٍ فَقَارَأَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ لَا حُكْمَ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ يَقْضِي بِالْحَقِ … وَ هُوَ خَيْرُ الْفاصِلِينَ [ثُمَ] شَدَّ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ بِسَيْفِهِ
Then passed by the flags of the clan of Rasib and read it to them. They said, ‘There is no judgment except for Allah-azwj. We are neither please nor the judgment of men in the religion of Allah-azwj’. Then he passed by the flags of Tameem and read it to them. A man from them said, ‘There is no judgment except for Allah-azwj. He-azwj Judges with the truth, and He-azwj is best of the judges’. Then a man was severe to him with his sword.
فَرَجَعَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِمَا جَرَى فَقَالَ ع هَلْ هِيَ غَيْرُ رَايَةٍ أَوْ رَايَتَيْنِ أَوْ نَبْذٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَدَعْهُمْ فَظَنَّ ع أَنَّهُمْ قَلِيلُونَ فَمَا رَاعَهُ إِلَّا نِدَاءُ النَّاسِ مِنْ كُلِّ نَاحِيَةٍ لَا حُكْمَ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ الْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ يَا عَلِيُّ لَا لَكَ لَا نَرْضَى بِأَنْ نُحَكِّمَ الرِّجَالَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَمْضَى حُكْمَهُ فِي مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ أَصْحَابِهِ أَنْ يُقْتَلُوا أَوْ يَدْخُلُوا تَحْتَ حُكْمِنَا عَلَيْهِمْ
He returned to Ali-asws and informed him-asws with what had flowed. He-asws said: ‘Is it another flag or two flags, or a renouncement from the people?’ He said, ‘No’. He-asws said: ‘Leave them’. He-asws thought they were a few, so he-asws did not care of it except the people called out from every corner, ‘There is no judgment except for Allah-azwj! The judgment is for Allah-azwj, O Ali-asws, not for you-asws! We are not pleased with being judged by men in the religion of Allah-azwj. Allah-azwj has Decreed His-azwj Judgment regarding Muawiya and his companions that either they be killed or they enter to be beneath our rule upon them.
وَ قَدْ كُنَّا زَلَلْنَا حِينَ رَضِينَا بِالْحَكَمَيْنِ وَ قَدْ بَانَ لَنَا زَلَلُنَا وَ خَطَؤُنَا فَرَجَعْنَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ تُبْنَا فَارْجِعْ أَنْتَ يَا عَلِيُّ كَمَا رَجَعْنَا وَ تُبْ إِلَى اللَّهِ كَمَا تُبْنَا وَ إِلَّا بَرِئْنَا مِنْكَ
And we had erred when we had agreed with the two judges and it has become clear to us that we have erred and were mistaken, so we returned to Allah-azwj and we have repented, therefore you (should also) return, O Ali-asws, just as we have returned, and repent to Allah-azwj just as we have repented, or else we shall disavow from you-asws’.
فَقَالَ ع وَيْحَكُمْ أَ بَعْدَ الرِّضَا وَ الْمِيثَاقِ وَ الْعَهْدِ نَرْجِعُ أَ لَيْسَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى قَدْ قَالَ أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ المائدة وَ قَالَ أَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ إِذا عاهَدْتُمْ وَ لا تَنْقُضُوا الْأَيْمانَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِها وَ قَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلًا النحل
He-asws said: ‘Woe be unto you all! Is it after the agreement, and the covenant, and the pact we should return? Isn’t it so Allah-azwj the Exalted has Said: O you who believe! Fulfil the agreements. [5:1] (Surah) Al-Maidah. And He-azwj Said: ‘And fulfil the Covenant of Allah when you were Covenanted and do not be breaking the oaths after its affirmation, and you have already made Allah as a surety upon you. [16:91] (Surah) Al-Nahl’.
فَأَبَى أَنْ يَرْجِعَ وَ أَبَتِ الْخَوَارِجُ إِلَّا تَذْلِيلَ التَّحْكِيمِ وَ الطَّعْنَ فِيهِ فَبَرِئُوا مِنْ عَلِيٍّ وَ بَرِئَ مِنْهُمْ عَلِيٌّ.
Therefore, he-asws refused to retract and the Khawarijites refused except to disgrace the arbitration, and the contesting regarding it. So, they disavowed from Ali-asws and Ali-asws disavowed from them’’.[65]
456- وَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ بِإِسْنَادِهِ قَالَ: أَتَى سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ صُرَدَ عَلِيّاً أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بَعْدَ كِتَابِ الصَّحِيفَةِ وَ وَجْهُهُ مَضْرُوبٌ بِالسَّيْفِ فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ عَلِيٌّ ع قَالَ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَضى نَحْبَهُ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَنْتَظِرُ وَ ما بَدَّلُوا تَبْدِيلًا وَ أَنْتَ مِمَّنْ يَنْتَظِرُ وَ مِمَّنْ لَمْ يُبَدِّلْ
And from Umar Bin Sa’ad, by his chain, said,
‘Suleyman Bin Surad came to Ali-asws Amir Al-Momineen-asws after the writing of the agreement, and his faced had been struck with the sword. When Ali-asws looked at him, he-asws said: ‘So, from them is one who fulfilled his vow, and from them is one who awaits, and they did not change with any alteration [33:23], and you are from the ones who await, and from the ones who did not change’.
فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَمَا لَوْ وَجَدْتُ أَعْوَاناً مَا كَتَبْتُ هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةَ أَبَداً أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ مَشَيْتُ فِي النَّاسِ لِيَعُودُوا إِلَى أَمْرِهِمُ الْأَوَّلِ فَمَا وَجَدْتُ أَحَداً عِنْدَهُ خَيْراً إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
He said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! If I had found supporters, I would not have written this agreement, ever! But, by Allah-azwj! I have walked among the people in order to go back to their former affair, but I could not find anyone have any good with him, except a few’.
وَ قَامَ مُحْرِزُ بْنُ حويشٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَ مَا إِلَى الرُّجُوعِ عَنْ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ سَبِيلٌ فَوَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَخَافُ أَنْ يُورِثَ ذُلًّا فَقَالَ ع أَ بَعْدَ أَنْ كَتَبْنَاهُ نَنْقُضُهُ إِنَّ هَذَا لَا يَحِلُّ.
And Muhriz Bin Huweysh stood up and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Is there no way to retract from this agreement? By Allah-azwj! I fear disgrace would be inherited’. He-asws said: ‘After we have written it and ratified it, this is not possible’’.[66]
457- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْوَدَّاكِ قَالَ: لَمَّا كُتِبَتْ صَحِيفَةُ الصُّلْحِ وَ التَّحْكِيمِ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع إِنَّمَا فَعَلْتُ مَا فَعَلْتُ لِمَا بَدَا فِيكُمْ مِنَ الْخَوَرِ وَ الْفَشَلِ عَنِ الْحَرْبِ
Nasr said, ‘And it is narrated to me by Amro Bin Numeyr, from Abu Al Waddak who said,
‘When the agreement of the truce and the arbitration was written, Ali-asws said: ‘But rather, I-asws did what I-asws did due to what had appeared among you all, from the weakness and the cowardliness from the war’.
فَجَاءَتْ إِلَيْهِ هَمْدَانُ كَأَنَّهَا رُكْنُ حَصِيرٍ فِيهِمْ سَعِيدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ وَ ابْنُهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَقَالَ سَعِيدٌ هَا أَنَا ذَا وَ قَوْمِي لَا نَرُدُّ أَمْرَكَ فَقُلْ مَا شِئْتَ نَعْمَلْهُ
Hamdan came to him as if they were a fortress pillar, among them were Saeed Bin Qas and his son Abdul Rahman. Saeed said, ‘Here I am and so are my people, we will not reject your-asws order, so say whatever you-asws so desire to, we shall do it!’
فَقَالَ أَمَا لَوْ كَانَ هَذَا قَبْلَ سَطْرِ الصَّحِيفَةِ لَأَزَلْتُهُمْ عَنْ عَسْكَرِهِمْ أَوْ تَنْفَرِدَ سَالِفَتِي وَ لَكِنِ انْصَرِفُوا رَاشِدِينَ فَلَعَمْرِي مَا كُنْتُ لِأَعْرِضَ قَبِيلَةً وَاحِدَةً لِلنَّاسِ.
He-asws said: ‘If only this had happened before writing of the agreement, I-asws would have removed them from their camp, or my-asws past would have been unique, but leave having been rightly guided. By my-asws life! I-asws will not expose one tribe to the people (enemy)’’.[67]
458- قَالَ نَصْرٌ وَ رَوَى الشَّعْبِيُ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً ع قَالَ يَوْمَ صِفِّينَ حِينَ أَقَرَّ النَّاسُ بِالصُّلْحِ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا لِيُنِيبُوا إِلَى الْحَقِّ وَ لَا لِيُجِيبُوا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ حَتَّى يُرْمَوْا بِالْمَنَاسِرِ تَتْبَعُهَا الْعَسَاكِرُ وَ حَتَّى يُرْجَمُوا بِالْكَتَائِبِ تَقْفُوهَا الْجَلَائِبُ وَ حَتَّى تَجُرَّ بِبِلَادِهِمُ الْخَمِيسُ يَتْلُوهُ الْخَمِيسُ وَ حَتَّى تَدْعَقَ الْخُيُولُ فِي نَوَاحِي أَرْضِهِمْ وَ بِأَعْنَانِ مَسَارِبِهِمْ وَ مَسَارِحِهِمْ وَ حَتَّى تُشَنَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الْغَارَاتُ مِنْ كُلِّ فَجٍّ
Nasr said, ‘And it is reported by Al Shaby,
‘Ali-asws said on the day of Siffeen when the people accepted the truce: ‘These people will not become turning towards the truth, nor will they be answering to a word of equality until they are shot at with the arrows, pursued by the soldiers, and until they are pelted by the battalions, restrained by the legions, and until the police drag them in their cities, followed by the police, and until the cavalries attack them in areas of their land, and in their primary paths and their battlegrounds, and until there are raids upon them from every direction.
وَ حَتَّى تَتَلَقَّاهُمْ قَوْمٌ صُدُقٌ صُبُرٌ لَا يَزِيدُهُمْ هَلَاكُ مَنْ هَلَكَ مِنْ قَتْلَاهُمْ وَ مَوْتَاهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا جِدّاً فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَ حِرْصاً عَلَى لِقَاءِ اللَّهِ وَ لَقَدْ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص نَقْتُلُ آبَاءَنَا وَ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَ أَخْوَالَنَا وَ أَعْمَامَنَا لَا يَزِيدُنَا ذَلِكَ إِلَّا إِيماناً وَ تَسْلِيماً
And until they are met by a truthful people, patient, the one who dies does not increase them in any destruction, from their slain ones and their deceased in the Way of Allah-azwj except in exertion in obedience of Allah-azwj, and eagerness upon meeting Allah-azwj. And we were with Rasool-Allah-saww. The killing of our fathers, and our sons, and our brothers, and our uncles, that did not increase us except in Eman and submission.
وَ مُضِيّاً عَلَى أَمَضِّ الْأَلَمِ وَ جِدّاً عَلَى جِهَادِ الْعَدُوِّ وَ الِاسْتِقْلَالِ بِمُبَارَزَةِ الْأَقْرَانِ وَ لَقَدْ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ مِنَّا وَ الْآخَرُ مِنْ عَدُوِّنَا يَتَصَاوَلَانِ تَصَاوُلَ الْفَحْلَيْنِ وَ يَتَخَالَسَانِ أَنْفُسَهُمَا أَيُّهُمَا يَسْقِي صَاحِبَهُ كَأْسَ الْمَنُونِ
And they continued upon the past pains, and strived upon fighting the enemy, and the independence of the duelling pairs, and it used to be the man from us and another from our enemies, competing like two competing horses, and they were being sincere themselves as to which of them two would make his counterpart drink a cup of death.
فَمَرَّةً لَنَا مِنْ عَدُوِّنَا وَ مَرَّةً لِعَدُوِّنَا مِنَّا فَلَمَّا رَآنَا اللَّهُ صُدُقاً صُبُراً أَنْزَلَ بِعَدُوِّنَا الْكَبْتَ وَ أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْنَا النَّصْرَ وَ لَعَمْرِي لَوْ كُنَّا نَأْتِي مِثْلَ هَذَا الَّذِي أَتَيْتُمْ مَا قَامَ الدِّينُ وَ لَا عَزَّ الْإِسْلَامُ وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَتَحْلِبُنَّهَا دَماً فَاحْفَظُوا مَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ يَعْنِي الْخَوَارِجَ.
So, at times it was for us from our enemies, and at times for our enemies from us. When Allah-azwj Saw us being sincere, patient, He-azwj Sent down the suppression with our enemies and Send down the Help upon us; and by my-asws life! If we had come with similar to what you are coming with, the religion would not have stood and there would have been no honour for Al-Islam. And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! You will be milking the blood. Memorise what I-asws am saying to you all’ – meaning the Khawarijites’’.[68]
459- وَ رَوَى نَصْرٌ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ قَالَ: قِيلَ لِعَلِيٍّ ع لَمَّا كُتِبَ الصَّحِيفَةُ إِنَّ الْأَشْتَرَ لَمْ يَرْضَ بِمَا فِي الصَّحِيفَةِ وَ لَا يَرَى إِلَّا قِتَالَ الْقَوْمِ
And it is reported by Nasr, from Amro Bin Shimr, from Fuzeyl Bin Hadeej who said,
‘It was said to Ali-asws when the agreement was written, ‘Al-Ashtar is not pleased with what is in the agreement, nor does he view except fighting the people’.
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع بَلَى إِنَّ الْأَشْتَرَ لَيَرْضَى إِذَا رَضِيتُ وَ رَضِيتُمْ وَ لَا يَصْلَحُ الرُّجُوعُ بَعْدَ الرِّضَا وَ لَا التَّبْدِيلُ بَعْدَ الْإِقْرَارِ إِلَّا أَنْ يُعْصَى اللَّهُ وَ يُتَعَدَّى مَا فِي كِتَابِهِ
Ali-asws said: ‘Yes. Surely Al-Ashtar would be pleased when I-asws am pleased and you are pleased, and the retraction is not correct after the agreement, nor is the changing after the acceptance, except if Allah-azwj is disobeyed, and there is opposition to what is in His-azwj Book.
وَ أَمَّا الَّذِي ذَكَرْتُمْ مِنْ تَرْكِهِ أَمْرِي وَ مَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ فَلَيْسَ مِنْ أُولَئِكَ وَ لَا أَعْرِفُهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَ لَيْتَ فِيكُمْ مِثْلَهُ اثْنَانِ بَلْ لَيْتَ فِيكُمْ مِثْلَهُ وَاحِدٌ يَرَى فِي عَدُوِّي مِثْلَ رَأْيِهِ إِذاً لَخَفَّتْ مَئُونَتُكُمْ عَلَيَّ وَ رَجَوْتُ أَنْ يَسْتَقِيمَ لِي بَعْضُ أَوَدِكُمْ
And as for that which you mentioned from his neglecting my-asws orders and what I-asws am upon, so he isn’t from those, nor do I-asws recognise him to be upon that, and if only there were two like him among you all, but if only there was one like him among you, viewing regarding my-asws enemies like his view, when your assistance was lightened unto me-asws, and I-asws hope that he would straighten out for me-asws part of your crookedness’’.
وَ أَمَّا الْقَضِيَّةُ فَقَدْ اسْتَوْثَقْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا وَ قَدْ طَمِعْتُ أَنْ لَا تَضِلُّوا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
And as for the judgment, so we are trusting you all regarding it, and I-asws am eager than you will not be straying, if Allah-azwj, Lord-azwj of the world so Desires’.
وَ كَانَ الْكِتَابُ فِي صَفَرٍ وَ الْأَجَلُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ لِثَمَانِيَةِ أَشْهُرٍ يَلْتَقِي الْحَكَمَانِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ النَّاسَ أَقْبَلُوا عَلَى قَتْلَاهُمْ يَدْفِنُونَهُمْ.
And the agreement was during Safar, and the term was in a month of Ramazan to eight months for the two judges to meet. Then the people came back to their slain ones to bury them’’. [69]
460- شا، الإرشاد وَ مِنْ كَلَامِهِ ع أَنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا لِيُنِيبُوا إِلَى الْحَقِّ إِلَى آخِرِ مَا مَرَّ بِرِوَايَةِ ابْنِ أَبِي الْحَدِيدِ وَ زَادَ فِي آخِرِهِ وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَتَحْتَلِبُنَّهَا دَماً عَبِيطاً فَاحْفَظُوا مَا أَقُولُ.
(The book) ‘Al-Irshad’ – And from his-asws speech: ‘These people will not become turning to the truth’ – up to the end of what has passed by the reporting of Ibn Abi Al-Hadeed, and there is an increase in its end: ‘And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! You will be milking the fresh blood, so memorise what I-asws am saying!’’[70]
461- نهج، نهج البلاغة وَ مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ ع وَ لَقَدْ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص نَقْتُلُ آبَاءَنَا وَ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَ إِخْوَانَنَا وَ أَعْمَامَنَا مَا يَزِيدُنَا ذَلِكَ إِلَّا إِيماناً وَ تَسْلِيماً وَ مُضِيّاً عَلَى اللَّقَمِ وَ صَبْراً عَلَى مَضَضِ الْأَلَمِ وَ جِدّاً فِي جِهَادِ الْعَدُوِّ
(The book) ‘Nahj Al-Balagah’ – And from a speech of his-asws: ‘We were with Rasool-Allah-azwj. Our father, and our sons, and our brothers, and our uncles were killed, that did not increase us except in Eman and submission, and we continued upon the path and were patient upon the past pains, and strived in fighting the enemies.
وَ لَقَدْ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ مِنَّا وَ الْآخَرُ مِنْ عَدُوِّنَا يَتَصَاوَلَانِ تَصَاوُلَ الْفَحْلَيْنِ يَتَخَالَسَانِ أَنْفُسَهُمَا أَيُّهُمَا يَسْقِي صَاحِبَهُ كَأْسَ الْمَنُونِ فَمَرَّةً لَنَا مِنْ عَدُوِّنَا وَ مَرَّةً لِعَدُوِّنَا مِنَّا
And it used to be so that the man from us and another from our enemies would compete with each other like the two competing horses, being sincere to themselves which of the two would make his counterpart drink the cup of death. Sometimes it was for us from our enemies, and at times it was for our enemies from us.
فَلَمَّا رَأَى اللَّهُ صِدْقَنَا أَنْزَلَ بِعَدُوِّنَا الْكَبْتَ وَ أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْنَا النَّصْرَ حَتَّى اسْتَقَرَّ الْإِسْلَامُ مُلْقِياً جِرَانَهُ وَ مُتَبَوِّأً أَوْطَانَهُ وَ لَعَمْرِي لَوْ كُنَّا نَأْتِي مَا أَتَيْتُمْ مَا قَامَ لِلدِّينِ عَمُودٌ وَ لَا اخْضَرَّ لِلْإِيمَانِ عُودٌ وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَتَحْتَلِبُنَّهَا دَماً وَ لَتُتْبِعُنَّهَا نَدَماً.
When Allah-azwj saw our sincerity, He-azwj Sent down the suppression with our enemies and Sent down the Help upon us until Al-Islam was settled, its neighbourhoods laying down, and its homelands resting in its place. By my-asws life! If we had come up with what you have come up with, the pillars would not have been established for the religion, nor would the tree of Eman have sprouted green, and I-asws swear by Allah-azwj You will be milking blood, and it would be followed by regret’’.
462 – كِتَابُ الصِّفِّينِ، قَالَ نَصْرٌ حَدَّثَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ جُنْدَبٍ قَالَ: لَمَّا أَقْبَلَ عَلِيٌّ ع مِنْ صِفِّينَ أَقْبَلْنَا مَعَهُ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع آئِبُونَ عَائِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ وَ كَآبَةِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ وَ سُوءِ الْمَنْظَرِ فِي الْمَالِ وَ الْأَهْلِ
Kitab Al Siffeen – Nasr said, ‘It is narrated to me by Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Abdul Rahman Bin Jundab who said,
‘When Ali-asws came back from Siffeen, we came back with him. Ali-asws said: ‘We are coming back, returning to our Lord-azwj, praising. O Allah-azwj! I-asws seek Refuge with You-azwj from fatigue of the journey, and the gloom of the overturning, and the evil scenery regarding the wealth and the family’’.
قَالَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِنَا طَرِيقَ الْبَرِّ عَلَى شَاطِئِ الْفُرَاتِ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى هِيتَ وَ أَخَذْنَا عَلَى صَنْدَوْدَا فَخَرَجَ الْأَنْمَارِيُّونَ بَنُو سَعْدِ بْنِ حَزِيمٍ وَ اسْتَقْبَلُوا عَلِيّاً فَعَرَضُوا عَلَيْهِ النُّزُلَ فَلَمْ يَقْبَلْ فَبَاتَ بِهَا
He (the narrator) said, ‘Then he-asws took with us the road of the dry land upon the banks of Euphrates until we ended up to Haita, and he-asws took us to (the town of) Sanadouda, and the speckled ones of the clan of Sa’ad Bin Hazeym welcomed Ali-asws and presented the lodging to him-asws. He-asws did not accept and spent the night at it.
ثُمَّ غَدَا وَ أَقْبَلْنَا مَعَهُ حَتَّى جُزْنَا النُّخَيْلَةَ وَ رَأَيْنَا بُيُوتَ الْكُوفَةِ فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِشَيْخٍ جَالِسٍ فِي ظِلِّ بَيْتٍ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ أَثَرُ الْمَرَضِ فَأَقْبَلَ إِلَيْهِ عَلِيٌّ ع وَ نَحْنُ مَعَهُ حَتَّى سَلَّمَ وَ سَلَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَرَدَّ رَدّاً حَسَناً ظَنَنَّا أَنْ قَدْ عَرَفَهُ
Then the next morning we went with him until we crossed over Al-Naheela, and we saw houses of Al-Kufa, and there we were with an old man seated in the shade of a house having the impact of illness in his face. Ali-asws face towards him, and we were with him-asws until he-asws greeted and we greeted along with him. He responded goodly, we thought that he knew him-asws.
فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ مَا لِي أَرَى وَجْهَكَ مُنْكَفِئاً أَ مِنْ مَرَضٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَلَعَلَّكَ كَرِهْتَهُ فَقَالَ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّهُ بِغَيْرِي قَالَ أَ لَيْسَ احْتِسَاباً لِلْخَيْرِ فِيمَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْهُ قَالَ بَلَى أَبْشِرْ بِرَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ وَ غُفْرَانِ ذَنْبِكَ فَمَنْ أَنْتَ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ
Ali-asws said to him: ‘What is the matter I see you face swollen, is it from a disease?’ He said, ‘Yes’. He-asws said: ‘Perhaps you dislike it’. He said, ‘What I love is to be changed’. He-asws said: ‘Aren’t you anticipating the goodness regarding what has afflicted you from it?’ He said, ‘Yes. (He-asws said): ‘Receive glad tidings of the Mercy of your Lord-azwj Forgiveness of your sins, so who are you, O servant of Allah-azwj?’
قَالَ أَنَا صَالِحُ بْنُ سُلَيْمٍ قَالَ أَنْتَ مِمَّنْ قَالَ أَمَّا الْأَصْلُ فَمِنْ سَلَامَانَ بْنِ طَيِءٍ وَ أَمَّا الْجِوَارُ وَ الدَّعْوَةُ فَمِنْ بَنِي سُلَيْمِ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ
He said, ‘I am Salih Bin Suleym’. He-asws said: ‘You are from who?’ He said, ‘As for the origin, from Salaman Bin Tayy, and as for the neighbourhood and the call, from the clan of Suleym Bin Mansour’.
قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ مَا أَحْسَنَ اسْمَكَ وَ اسْمَ أَبِيكَ وَ اسْمَ أَدْعِيَائِكَ وَ اسْمَ مَنِ اعْتَزَيْتَ إِلَيْهِ هَلْ شَهِدْتَ مَعَنَا غَزَاتَنَا هَذِهِ قَالَ لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا شَهِدْتُهَا وَ لَقَدْ أَرَدْتُهَا وَ لَكِنْ مَا تَرَى فِيَّ مِنْ لَجَبِ الْحُمَّى خَذَلَنِي عَنْهَا
He-asws said: ‘Glory be to Allah-azwj! How good is your name, and name of your father, and name of your calling, and name of the one you are cherishing to. Did you attend with us this battle of ours?’ He said, ‘No, by Allah-azwj, I did not attend it, and I had intended it, but what you-asws can see from the illness (and) fever made me forsake from it’.
قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع لَيْسَ عَلَى الضُّعَفاءِ وَ لا عَلَى الْمَرْضى وَ لا عَلَى الَّذِينَ لا يَجِدُونَ ما يُنْفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذا نَصَحُوا لِلَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ ما عَلَى الْمُحْسِنِينَ مِنْ سَبِيلٍ وَ اللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ أَخْبِرْنِي مَا يَقُولُ النَّاسُ فِيمَا كَانَ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ
Ali-asws said: ‘There isn’t any blame upon the weak, nor upon the sick, nor upon those who cannot find what they could be spending, when they are sincere to Allah and His Rasool. There is no way (to a blame) upon the good doers, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful [9:91]. Inform me-asws, what are the people saying regarding what happened between us and the people of Syria?’
قَالَ مِنْهُمُ الْمَسْرُورُ فِيمَا كَانَ بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَ أُولَئِكَ أَغِشَّاءُ النَّاسِ وَ مِنْهُمُ الْمَكْبُوتُ الْآسِفُ لِمَا كَانَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَ أُولَئِكَ نُصَحَاءُ النَّاسِ لَكَ فَذَهَبَ لِيَنْصَرِفَ
He said, ‘From them are the joyful regarding what happened between you-asws and them, and they are most of the people; and from them are the inhibited, the sorry at what happened from that, and they are the advisory people to you-asws. Then he went to leave.
فَقَالَ صَدَقْتَ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ مَا كَانَ مِنْ شَكْوَاكَ حَطّاً لِسَيِّئَاتِكَ فَإِنَّ الْمَرَضَ لَا أَجْرَ فِيهِ وَ لَكِنْ لَا يَدَعُ لِلْعَبْدِ ذَنْباً إِلَّا حَطَّهُ إِنَّمَا الْأَجْرُ فِي الْقَوْلِ بِاللِّسَانِ وَ الْعَمَلِ بِالْيَدِ وَ الرِّجْلِ وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُدْخِلُ بِصِدْقِ النِّيَّةِ وَ السَّرِيرَةِ الصَّالِحَةِ عَالَماً جَمّاً مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْجَنَّةَ
He-asws said: ‘You speak the truth. There was not removal of your evil deeds from your (health) complaint, for the disease, there is no recompense in it, but it does not leave any sin for the servant except it removes it. But rather, the recompense is in the words by the tongue, and the deeds by the hands and the legs, and Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic will Cause to enter the Paradise by the sincere intention, and the righteous conscience, a multitude from His-azwj servants’.
ثُمَّ مَضَى غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَلَقِيَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَدِيعَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ فَدَنَا مِنْهُ وَ سَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا سَمِعْتَ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا قَالَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُعْجَبُ بِهِ وَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُكَارِهُ لَهُ وَ النَّاسُ كَمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَ لا يَزالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ
Then he-asws went, nor far, and Abdullah Bin Wadiya Al-Ansari met him-asws. He-asws went near him and asked him. He-asws said to him, ‘What have you heard the people saying regarding this matter of ours?’ He said, ‘From them is one angered with it, and from them is the disliking to it, and the people are just as Allah-azwj the Exalted Said: and they will not stop differing [11:118]’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ فَمَا يَقُولُ ذَوُو الرَّأْيِ قَالَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً كَانَ لَهُ جَمْعٌ عَظِيمٌ فَفَرَّقَهُ وَ حِصْنٌ حَصِينٌ فَهَدَمَهُ فَحَتَّى مَتَى يَبْنِي مِثْلَ مَا هَدَمَ وَ حَتَّى مَتَى يَجْمَعُ مِثْلَ مَا قَدْ فَرَّقَ فَلَوْ أَنَّهُ كَانَ مَضَى بِمَنْ أَطَاعَهُ إِذْ عَصَاهُ مَنْ عَصَاهُ فَقَاتَلَ حَتَّى يُظْهِرَهُ اللَّهُ أَوْ يَهْلِكَ إِذًا كَانَ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْحَزْمَ
He-asws said to him: ‘What are the ones with opinion saying?’ He said, ‘They are saying that Ali-asws had an immense crowd for him-asws, but he-asws divided it, and a fortified fortress, but he-asws demolished it. So, until when (before) he-asws builds the like of what he-asws has demolished, and until when (before) he-asws gathers the like of what he-asws has separated? If he-asws had continued with the ones who obeyed him-asws, then the ones who disobeyed him-asws disobeyed him-asws, so he-asws should have fought until Allah-azwj would have Caused him-asws to prevail or he-asws was destroyed. When that happens, it would be prudent’.
فَقَالَ ع أَنَا هَدَمْتُ أَمْ هُمْ هَدَمُوا أَمْ أَنَا فَرَّقْتُ أَمْ هُمْ تَفَرَّقُوا وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُهُمْ لَوْ أَنَّهُ كَانَ مَضَى بِمَنْ أَطَاعَهُ إِذْ عَصَاهُ مَنْ عَصَاهُ فَقَاتَلَ حَتَّى يَظْفَرَ أَوْ يَهْلِكَ إِذًا كَانَ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْحَزْمَ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا غَبِيَ عَنِّي ذَلِكَ الرَّأْيُ وَ إِنْ كُنْتُ لَسَخِيّاً بِنَفْسِي عَنِ الدُّنْيَا طَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ بِالْمَوْتِ
He-asws said: ‘I-asws demolished or they demolished, or I-asws separated or they separated? And as for their words, ‘If he-asws had continued with the ones who obeyed him-asws, then the ones who disobeyed him-asws disobeyed him, so he-asws should have fought until Allah-azwj would have Caused him-asws to prevail or he-asws was destroyed. When that happens, it would be prudent’, by Allah-azwj! That view would not have availed me-asws (anything), and even if I had been generous with myself-asws from the world, good of the self with the death.
وَ لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ بِالْإِقْدَامِ فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى هَذَيْنِ قَدِ اسْتَقْدَمَانِي فَعَلِمْتُ أَنَّ هَذَيْنِ إِنْ هَلَكَا انْقَطَعَ نَسَبُ مُحَمَّدٍ ص مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ فَكَرِهْتُ ذَلِكَ وَ أَشْفَقْتُ عَلَى هَذَيْنِ أَنْ يَهْلِكَا
And I-asws had been concerned with the marching ahead, and I-asws looked that these two (Al-Hassan-asws and Al-Husayn-asws who were in front of me-asws, and I-asws knew that if they-asws were to die, the lineage of Muhammad-saww would be cut off from this community. I-asws dislike that and I-asws felt compassion upon these two that they might die.
وَ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنْ لَوْ لَا مَكَانِي لَمْ يَسْتَقْدِمَا يَعْنِي بِذَلِكَ ابْنَيْهِ الْحَسَنَ وَ الْحُسَيْنَ وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ لَقِيتُهُمْ بَعْدَ يَوْمِي لَأَلْقَيَنَّهُمْ وَ لَيْسَ هُمَا مَعِي فِي عَسْكَرٍ وَ لَا دَارٍ
And I-asws had known that had it not been for my-asws position, they-asws would not have gone ahead of me-asws’ – meaning by that his-asws sons-asws Al-Hassan-asws and Al-Husayn-asws. ‘And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! If I-asws were to meet them (enemies in battle) after my-asws day, I-asws will meet them, and these two wouldn’t be with me-asws in the army, nor any house’’.
قَالَ: ثُمَّ مَضَى حَتَّى جُزْنَا دُورَ بَنِي عَوْفٍ فَإِذَا نَحْنُ عَنْ أَيْمَانِنَا بِقُبُورٍ سَبْعَةٍ أَوْ ثَمَانِيَةٍ فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مَا هَذِهِ الْقُبُورُ فَقَالَ لَهُ قُدَامَةُ بْنُ الْعَجْلَانِ الْأَزْدِيُّ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّ خَبَّابَ بْنَ الْأَرَتِّ تُوُفِّيَ بَعْدَ مَخْرَجِكَ فَأَوْصَى أَنْ يُدْفَنَ فِي الظَّهْرِ وَ كَانَ النَّاسُ يُدْفَنُونَ فِي دُورِهِمْ وَ أَفْنِيَتِهِمْ فَدُفِنَ النَّاسُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ
He (the narrator) said, ‘Then he-asws went until we crossed over the houses of the clan of Awf, and there we were with seven or eight graves on our right. Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘What are these graves?’ Qudama Bin Al-Ajlan Al-Azdy said to him-asws, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Khabab Bin Al-Arti died after your-asws going out, and he bequeathed that he be buried at the outback, and the people were burying in their houses and their courtyards, so the people buried to his side’.
فَقَالَ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ خَبَّاباً فَقَدْ أَسْلَمَ رَاغِباً وَ هَاجَرَ طَائِعاً وَ عَاشَ مُجَاهِداً وَ ابْتُلِيَ فِي جَسَدِهِ أَحْوَالًا وَ لَنْ يُضِيعَ اللَّهُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا
He-asws said: ‘May Allah-azwj have Mercy on Khabab. He had become a Muslims being desirous and emigrated willingly, and lived as a fighter, and was afflicted with illness in his body, and Allah-azwj will never Waste a recompense of the one with good deeds’.
فَجَاءَ حَتَّى وَقَفَ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ يَا أَهْلَ الدِّيَارِ الْمُوحِشَةِ وَ الْمَحَالِّ الْمُقْفِرَةِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ الْمُسْلِمَاتِ أَنْتُمْ لَنَا سَلَفٌ وَ فَرَطٌ وَ نَحْنُ لَكُمْ تَبَعٌ وَ بِكُمْ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ لَاحِقُونَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَ لَهُمْ وَ تَجَاوَزْ عَنَّا وَ عَنْهُمْ
He-asws came until he-asws paused at them, then said: ‘Upon you all is the greetings, O people of the lonely houses, the desolate places, from the believing men and the believing women, and the Muslim men and the Muslim women. You are the past for us and the missed, and we are following you all, joining up with you after a little while. O Allah-azwj! Forgive for us and them, and Overlook from us and them’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الْأَرْضَ كِفاتاً أَحْياءً وَ أَمْواتاً الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَ مِنْهَا خَلْقَنَا وَ فِيهَا يُعِيدُنَا وَ عَلَيْهَا يَحْشُرُنَا طُوبَى لِمَنْ ذَكَرَ الْمَعَادَ وَ عَمِلَ لِلْحِسَابِ وَ قَنِعَ بِالْكَفَافِ وَ رَضِيَ عَنِ اللَّهِ بِذَلِكَ
Then he-asws said: ‘The Praise is for Allah-azwj Who Made the earth like a receptacle [77:25] (For) the living and the dead? [77:26]. The Praise is for Allah-azwj Who Made our creation to be from it, and in it He-azwj will be Returning us, and upon it we will be Resurrected. Beatitude is for the one who remembers the Hereafter and works for the reckoning, and is content with the sufficient, and is pleased from Allah-azwj with that’.
ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ حَتَّى دَخَلَ سِكَّةَ الثَّوْرِيِّينَ فَقَالَ خُشُّوا بَيْنَ هَذِهِ الْأَبْيَاتِ.
Then he-asws came until he-asws entered the markets of Al-Suwriyeyn. He-asws said: ‘Go in between these houses’’.[71]
وَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْعَاصِمِ الْفَائِشِيِّ قَالَ: لَمَّا مَرَّ عَلِيٌّ ع بِالثَّوْرِيِّينَ يَعْنِي ثَوْرَ هَمْدَانَ سَمِعَ الْبُكَاءَ فَقَالَ مَا هَذِهِ الْأَصْوَاتُ قِيلَ هَذَا الْبُكَاءُ عَلَى مَنْ قُتِلَ بِصِفِّينَ قَالَ أَمَا إِنِّي شَهِيدٌ لِمَنْ قُتِلَ مِنْهُمْ صَابِراً مُحْتَسِباً بِالشَّهَادَةِ
And from Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Abdullah Bin Al Aasim Al Faishy who said,
‘When Ali-asws passed by the two bridges, meaning bridges of Hamdan, he-asws heard the wailing. He-asws said: ‘What are these voices?’ It was said, ‘This is the wailing upon the ones killed at Siffeen’. He-asws said: ‘I-asws testify with the martyrdom for the ones from them killed patient, anticipating’.
ثُمَّ مَرَّ بِالْفَائِشِيِّينَ فَسَمِعَ الْأَصْوَاتَ فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ مَرَّ بِالشَّامِيِّينَ فَسَمِعَ رَنَّةً شَدِيدَةً وَ صَوْتاً مُرْتَفِعاً عَالِياً فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ حَرْبُ بْنُ شُرَحْبِيلَ الشَّامِيُّ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع أَ تَغْلِبُكُمْ نِسَاؤُكُمْ أَ لَا تَنْهَوْنَهُنَّ عَنْ هَذَا الصِّيَاحِ وَ الرَّنِينِ
Then he-asws passed by Al-Faisheyn and he heard the voices. He-asws said that (as before). Then he-asws passed by Al-Shamiyeyn. He-asws heard intense buzzing and loud voices being raised. Harb Bin Shirjeel Al-Shamy went out to it. Ali-asws said: ‘Are your womenfolk overcoming you? Can you not end them from this shouting and the buzzing?’
قَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَوْ كَانَتْ دَاراً أَوْ دَارَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةً قَدَرْنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَ لَكِنْ مِنْ هَذَا الْحَيِّ ثَمَانُونَ وَ مِائَةُ قَتِيلٍ فَلَيْسَ مِنْ دَارٍ إِلَّا وَ فِيهَا بُكَاءٌ أَمَّا نَحْنُ مَعَاشِرَ الرِّجَالِ فَإِنَّا لَا نَبْكِي وَ لَكِنْ نَفْرَحُ لَهُمْ بِالشَّهَادَةِ
He said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! If it was one house or two house or three, we would have been able upon that, but eighty or one hundred have died from this tribe, so there isn’t any house except and therein is wailing. As for us, community of men, we do not wail, but we are rejoicing for them with the martyrdom’.
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع رَحِمَ اللَّهُ قَتْلَاكُمْ وَ مَوْتَاكُمْ وَ أَقْبَلَ يَمْشِي مَعَهُ وَ عَلِيٌّ رَاكِبٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ ع ارْجِعْ فَإِنَّ مَشْيَ مِثْلِكَ مَعَ مِثْلِي فِتْنَةٌ لِلْوَالِي وَ مَذَلَّةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ
Ali-asws said: ‘May Allah-azwj have Mercy on your slain and your deceased’, and he went walking with him-asws, and Ali-asws was riding. Ali-asws said to him: ‘Return, for walking of the likes of you with the likes of me is Fitna for the ruler and a humiliation for the Momin’.
ثُمَّ مَضَى حَتَّى مَرَّ بِالنَّاعِطِيِّينَ فَسَمِعَ رَجُلًا مِنْهُمْ يُقَالُ لَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَرْثَدٍ فَقَالَ مَا صَنَعَ عَلِيٌّ وَ اللَّهِ شَيْئاً ذَهَبَ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فِي غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَبْلَسَ فَقَالَ ع لِأَصْحَابِهِ قَوْمٌ فَارَقْتُهُمْ آنِفاً خَيْرٌ مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ
Then he-asws went until he-asws passed by Al-Naiteyn and he-asws heard a man from them called Abdul Rahman Bin Marsad. He said, ‘What Ali-asws has done, by Allah-azwj, is a golden thing’. Then he left regarding another thing. When he looked at Amir Al-Momineen-asws, he turned wicked. He-asws said to his-asws companions: ‘A people we separated from just now are better than these ones’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ-
| أَخُوكَ الَّذِي إِنْ أَجْهَضَتْكَ مُلِمَّةٌ- | مِنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَبْرَحْ لِبَثِّكَ وَاجِماً- | |
| وَ لَيْسَ أَخُوكَ بِالَّذِي إِنْ تَشَعَّبَتْ- | عَلَيْكَ أُمُورٌ ظَلَّ يَلْحَاكَ لَائِماً |
Then he-asws said (a poem): ‘Your brother who aborted for a while from the time, did not accomplish did not broadcast you absolutely, and he isn’t your brother, the one who splits up your affairs losing things you still need’.
ثُمَّ مَضَى فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ حَتَّى دَخَلَ الْكُوفَةَ.
Then he-asws did not cease to mention Allah-azwj until he-asws entered Al-Kufa’’.[72]
463- نهج، نهج البلاغة وَ مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ ع فَتَدَاكُّوا عَلَيَّ تَدَاكَّ الْإِبِلِ الْهِيمِ يَوْمَ وُرُودِهَا قَدْ أَرْسَلَهَا رَاعِيهَا وَ خُلِعَتْ مَثَانِيهَا حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُمْ قَاتِلِيَّ أَوْ بَعْضُهُمْ قَاتِلُ بَعْضٍ لَدَيَّ
(The book) ‘Nahj Al-Balagah’ – And from a speech of his-asws: ‘So, they thronged upon me-asws thronging of the thirsty camels returning which its shepherd had sent after their legs had been freed, to the extent that I thought they would kill me-asws, or some of them would kill the others in front of me-asws.
وَ قَدْ قَلَّبْتُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ بَطْنَهُ وَ ظَهْرَهُ حَتَّى مَنَعَنِي النَّوْمَ فَمَا وَجَدْتُنِي يَسَعُنِي إِلَّا قِتَالُهُمْ أَوِ الْجُحُودُ بِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ ص فَكَانَتْ مُعَالَجَةُ الْقِتَالِ أَهْوَنَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ مُعَالَجَةِ الْعِقَابِ وَ مَوْتَاتُ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ مَوْتَاتِ الْآخِرَةِ.
And I-asws had turned this matter, its belly and its back (looked at all options) until the sleep prevented me-asws, but I-asws could not find any leeway for me-asws except either fighting them or the rejection with whatever Muhammad-saww had come with. Thus, the immediate fighting was easier upon me-asws than the future punishment, and the difficulties of the world are easier upon me-asws than difficulties of the Hereafter’’.[73]
464- نهج، نهج البلاغة وَ مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ ع وَ قَدِ اسْتَبْطَأَ أَصْحَابُهُ إِذْنَهُ لَهُمْ فِي الْقِتَالِ بِصِفِّينَ أَمَّا قَوْلُكُمْ كُلَّ ذَلِكَ كَرَاهِيَةَ الْمَوْتِ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا أُبَالِي دَخَلْتُ إِلَى الْمَوْتِ أَوْ خَرَجَ الْمَوْتُ إِلَيَّ
(The book) ‘Nahj Al-Balagah’ – And from a speech of his-asws, and his-asws companions he-asws delayed permitting for them regarding the fighting at Siffeen: ‘As for your words, ‘All that is (his-asws) dislike of the death’, by Allah-azwj, I-asws do not care whether I-asws enter to the death or the death comes out to me-asws.
وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُكُمْ شَكّاً فِي أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا دَفَعْتُ الْحَرْبَ يَوْماً إِلَّا وَ أَنَا أَطْمَعُ أَنْ تَلْحَقَ بِي طَائِفَةٌ فَتَهْتَدِيَ بِي وَ تَعْشُوَ إِلَى ضَوْئِي وَ ذَلِكَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَقْتُلَهَا عَلَى ضَلَالِهَا وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ تَبُوءُ بِآثَامِهَا.
And as for your words, ‘He-asws is doubt regarding the people of Syria’, by Allah-azwj, I-asws did not push back the war even for a day except and I-asws was eager that a group might join up with me-asws, and they would live in my-asws illumination, and that is more beloved to me-asws than my-asws killing them upon their straying, and even though they are grooming their own sins’’.[74]
رَوَى ابْنُ مِيثَمٍ أَنَّهُ ع لَمَّا مَلَكَ الْمَاءَ بِصِفِّينَ وَ سَمَحَ بِأَهْلِ الشَّامِ فِي الْمُشَارَكَةِ كَمَا سَبَقَ مَكَثَ أَيَّاماً لَا يُرْسِلُ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ أَحَداً وَ لَا يَأْتِيهِ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ أَحَدٌ
It is reported by Ibn Maysam, ‘When he-asws controlled the water at Siffeen and pardoned the people of Syria regarding the participation (in drinking water) just as had preceded, he-asws remained for days nor sending anyone to Muawiya, nor did anyone come from his presence.
قَالَ لَهُ أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ خَلْفَنَا نِسَاؤُنَا وَ ذَرَارِيُّنَا بِالْكُوفَةِ وَ جِئْنَا إِلَى أَطْرَافِ الشَّامِ لِنَتَّخِذَهَا وَطَناً فَأْذَنْ لَنَا فِي الْقِتَالِ فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّكَ تَكْرَهُ الْحَرْبَ كَرَاهِيَةَ الْمَوْتِ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَظُنُّ أَنَّكَ فِي شَكٍّ مِنْ قِتَالِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَأَجَابَهُمْ ع بِذَلِكَ.
The people of Al-Iraq said to him-asws, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! We have left behind our womenfolk and our offspring at Al-Kufa and we have come to the outskirts of Syria in order to take it as a homeland. So, permit for us regarding the fighting, for the people are thinking you-asws dislike the war, abhorrent to the death, and form them is one who thinks you-asws are in doubt regarding fighting the people of Syria’. So, he-asws answered them with that (above)’’.[75]
465- نهج، نهج البلاغة وَ مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ ع فِي بَعْضِ أَيَّامِ صِفِّينَ مَعَاشِرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ اسْتَشْعِرُوا الْخَشْيَةَ وَ تَجَلْبَبُوا السَّكِينَةَ وَ عَضُّوا عَلَى النَّوَاجِذِ فَإِنَّهُ أَنْبَى لِلسُّيُوفِ عَنِ الْهَامِ وَ أَكْمِلُوا اللَّأْمَةَ وَ قَلْقِلُوا السُّيُوفَ فِي أَغْمَادِهَا قَبْلَ سَلِّهَا وَ الْحَظُوا الْخَزْرَ وَ اطْعُنُوا الشَّزْرَ وَ نَافِحُوا بِالظُّبَى وَ صِلُوا السُّيُوفَ بِالخُطَى
(The book) ‘Nahj Al-Balagah’ – And from a speech of his-asws during some of the days of Siffeen: ‘Community of Muslims! Be aware of the fear, and bring about the tranquillity, and bite upon your front teeth, for it would be more forceful for the swords from the important ones (of the enemies), and complete the armour, and shake the swords in their sheaths before unsheathing it, and observe the enemy, and look sideways for stabbing, and fight off with the agility, and unsheathe the swords with the edges.
وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ بِعَيْنِ اللَّهِ مَعَ ابْنِ عَمِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَعَاوِدُوا الْكَرَّ وَ اسْتَحْيُوا مِنَ الْفَرِّ فَإِنَّهُ عَارٌ فِي الْأَعْقَابِ وَ نَارٌ يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ وَ طِيبُوا عَنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ نَفْساً وَ امْشُوا إِلَى الْمَوْتِ مَشْياً سُجُحاً
And know you are in the Eye of Allah-azwj with a son-asws of an uncle-as of Rasool-Allah-saww, so keep repeating the forward attacks and be embarrassed from the fleeing, for it would be a shame in the posterity and (inherit) Fire on the Day of reckoning, and feel good about yourselves and walk to the death the walk of a brave one.
وَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذَا السَّوَادِ الْأَعْظَمِ وَ الرِّوَاقِ الْمُطَنَّبِ فَاضْرِبُوا ثَبَجَهُ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ كَامِنٌ فِي كِسْرِهِ قَدْ قَدَّمَ لِلْوَثْبَةِ يَداً وَ أَخَّرَ لِلنُّكُوصِ رِجْلًا فَصَمْداً صَمْداً حَتَّى يَنْجَلِيَ لَكُمْ عَمُودُ الْحَقِ وَ أَنْتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ وَ اللَّهُ مَعَكُمْ وَ لَنْ يَتِرَكُمْ أَعْمالَكُمْ.
And upon you all is with this great multitude (enemy), and the corridor to the pitched tent, so strike it down for the Satan-la lies in its piece. He-la has forwarded a hand for the leaping, and set back a leg for the fleeing. So be solid as a slab until the pillars of truth are flashed to you, while you are on top, and Allah is with you and will never Deprive you for your deeds [47:35]’’.[76]
466- نهج، نهج البلاغة وَ مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ ع وَ قَدْ سَمِعَ قَوْماً مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ يَسُبُّونَ أَهْلَ الشَّامِ أَيَّامَ حَرْبِهِمْ بِصِفِّينَ إِنِّي أَكْرَهُ لَكُمْ أَنْ تَكُونُوا سَبَّابِينَ وَ لَكِنَّكُمْ لَوْ وَصَفْتُمْ أَعْمَالَهُمْ وَ ذَكَرْتُمْ حَالَهُمْ كَانَ أَصْوَبَ فِي الْقَوْلِ وَ أَبْلَغَ فِي الْعُذْرِ
(The book) ‘Nahj Al-Balagah’ – And from a speech of his-asws, and he-asws had heard a group of his-asws companions reviling the people of Syria in the days of their war at Siffeen: ‘I-asws dislike you becoming reviling, but if their deeds were to be described to you, and their states are mentioned, they would be more correct in the words, and more reaching regarding the excusing.
فَقُلْتُمْ مَكَانَ سَبِّكُمْ إِيَّاهُمْ اللَّهُمَّ احْقِنْ دِمَاءَنَا وَ دِمَاءَهُمْ وَ أَصْلِحْ ذَاتَ بَيْنِنَا وَ بَيْنِهِمْ وَ اهْدِهِمْ مِنْ ضَلَالَتِهِمْ حَتَّى يَعْرِفَ الْحَقَّ مَنْ جَهِلَهُ وَ يَرْعَوِيَ عَنِ الْغَيِّ وَ الْعُدْوَانِ مَنْ لَهِجَ بِهِ.
You should be saying in place (instead) of your reviling them, ‘O Allah-azwj! Save our blood and their blood, and Reconcile the selves between us and them, and Guide them from their straying until he recognises the truth, one who is ignorant of it, and they are shepherded away from the error and the aggression, one who is accused with it’’.[77]
467- نهج، نهج البلاغة وَ مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ ع فِي بَعْضِ أَيَّامِ صِفِّينَ وَ قَدْ رَأَى الْحَسَنَ يَتَسَرَّعُ إِلَى الْحَرْبِ امْلِكُوا عَنِّي هَذَا الْغُلَامَ لَا يَهُدَّنِي فَإِنِّي أَنْفَسُ بِهَذَيْنِ يَعْنِي الْحَسَنَ وَ الْحُسَيْنَ ع عَلَى الْمَوْتِ لِئَلَّا يَنْقَطِعَ بِهِمَا نَسْلُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص.
(The book) ‘Nahj Al-Balagah’ – And from a speech of his-asws in one of the days of Siffeen, and he-asws had seen Al Hassan-asws quickening to the war: ‘Control this boy on my-asws behalf to calm him-asws, for I-asws am myself-asws (responsible) with these two’ – meaning Al-Hassan-asws and Al-Husayn-asws – ‘upon the death, lest the lineage of Rasool-Allah-saww be terminated by them’’.[78]
468- كا، الكافي فِي حَدِيثِ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ: حَرَّضَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع النَّاسَ بِصِفِّينَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَدْ دَلَّكُمْ عَلى تِجارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذابٍ أَلِيمٍ وَ تُشْفِي بِكُمْ عَلَى الْخَيْرِ وَ الْإِيمَانِ بِاللَّهِ وَ الْجِهَادِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ جَعَلَ ثَوَابَهُ مَغْفِرَةً لِلذَّنْبِ وَ مَساكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ
(The book) ‘Al Kafi’ – In a Hadeeth of Malik Bin Ayb who said,
‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws incited the people at Siffeen. He-asws said: ‘Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Pointed you upon a trade rescuing you from a painful Punishment? [61:10], and Heal you upon the good, and the Eman with Allah-azwj and the Jihad in the Way of Allah-azwj, and Made its Reward to be Forgiveness of the sins and goodly dwellings in the Gardens of perpetuity. [61:12].
وَ قَالَ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُمْ بُنْيانٌ مَرْصُوصٌ الصَّفَّ فَسَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ كَالْبُنْيَانِ الْمَرْصُوصِ فَقَدِّمُوا الدَّارِعَ وَ أَخِّرُوا الْحَاسِرَ وَ عَضُّوا عَلَى النَّوَاجِذِ فَإِنَّهُ أَنْبَى لِلسُّيُوفِ عَنِ الْهَامِ وَ الْتَوُوا عَلَى أَطْرَافِ الرِّمَاحِ فَإِنَّهُ أَمْوَرُ لِلْأَسِنَّةِ وَ غُضُّوا الْأَبْصَارَ فَإِنَّهُ أَرْبَطُ لِلْجَأْشِ وَ أَسْكَنُ لِلْقُلُوبِ وَ أَمِيتُوا الْأَصْوَاتَ فَإِنَّهُ أَطْرَدُ لِلْفَشَلِ وَ أَوْلَى بِالْوَقَارِ
And the Majestic and Mighty has Said: Surely, Allah loves those who fight in His Way in rows as if they were like a solid structure [61:4], therefore, even out your rows to be like a solid structure. Place the armoured ones in front and the un-armoured to be next, and grit your teeth for it is stronger for the swords upon the heads (of the enemies), and be quick in launching the sides of the spears for it is more violent for the spikes, and lower your eyes for it is linked to the composure and a tranquillity for the hearts, and deaden your voices for it drives out the failure and closer with the dignity.
وَ لَا تَمِيلُوا بِرَايَاتِكُمْ وَ لَا تُزِيلُوهَا وَ لَا تَجْعَلُوهَا إِلَّا مَعَ شُجْعَانِكُمْ فَإِنَّ الْمَانِعَ لِلذِّمَارِ وَ الصَّابِرَ عِنْدَ نُزُولِ الْحَقَائِقِ هُمْ أَهْلُ الْحِفَاظِ
Neither incline your flags nor let them fall, and do not make these to be with any except for your bravest ones, for the defenders of the honour and the patient during the descent of the realities, they are the protecting people.
وَ لَا تُمَثِّلُوا بِقَتِيلٍ وَ إِذَا وَصَلْتُمْ إِلَى رِحَالِ الْقَوْمِ فَلَا تَهْتِكُوا سِتْراً وَ لَا تَدْخُلُوا دَاراً وَ لَا تَأْخُذُوا شَيْئاً مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ إِلَّا مَا وَجَدْتُمْ فِي عَسْكَرِهِمْ وَ لَا تَهِيجُوا امْرَأَةً بِأَذًى وَ إِنْ شَتَمْنَ أَعْرَاضَكُمْ وَ سَبَبْنَ أُمَرَاءَكُمْ وَ صُلَحَاءَكُمْ فَإِنَّهُنَّ ضِعَافُ الْقُوَى وَ الْأَنْفُسِ وَ الْعُقُولِ وَ قَدْ كُنَّا نُؤْمَرُ بِالْكَفِّ عَنْهُنَّ وَ هُنَّ مُشْرِكَاتٌ وَ إِنْ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ لَيَتَنَاوَلُ الْمَرْأَةَ فَيُعَيَّرُ بِهَا وَ عَقِبُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ
And do not mutilate the killed ones, and whenever you arrive to the houses of the people, so do not tear down a veil, nor enter a house, and do not take anything from their wealth except what you find among their soldiers, and do not agitate a woman with harm. And if they (women) insult your honour and swear at your leaders and your righteous ones, so (it is because) they are weak of strength, and soul, and intellect. And we have been ordered with the restraining from them, and they were Polytheist women, and if the man had grabbed the woman, so he would be reproached for it, and his posterity (descendants) from after him.
وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْحِفَاظِ هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَحُفُّونَ بِرَايَاتِكُمْ وَ يَكْتَنِفُونَهَا وَ يَصْبِرُونَ حِفَافَيْهَا وَ وَرَاءَهَا وَ أَمَامَهَا وَ لَا يُضَيِّعُونَهَا لَا يَتَأَخَّرُونَ عَنْهَا فَيُسْلِمُوهَا وَ لَا يَتَقَدَّمُونَ عَلَيْهَا فَيُفْرِدُوهَا
And know, that the defenders, they are those who are holding firmly their flags, and they are surrounding it, and going by its sides, and behind it, and in front of it, and they are not losing it nor are they staying back from it. They are safeguarding it and are not moving ahead of it nor are they getting separated from it.
رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً وَاسَى أَخَاهُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَ لَمْ يَكِلْ قِرْنَهُ إِلَى أَخِيهِ فَيَجْتَمِعَ عَلَيْهِ قِرْنُهُ وَ قِرْنُ أَخِيهِ فَيَكْتَسِبَ بِذَلِكَ اللَّائِمَةَ وَ يَأْتِيَ بِدَنَاءَةٍ وَ كَيْفَ لَا يَكُونُ كَذَلِكَ وَ هُوَ يُقَاتِلُ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَ هَذَا مُمْسِكٌ يَدَهُ قَدْ خَلَّى قِرْنَهُ عَلَى أَخِيهِ هَارِباً يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ وَ هَذَا
May Allah-azwj have Mercy on a man who consoles his brother by himself and does not get weary of being paired to his brother. His head meets the head of his brother, and he acquires the blame and becomes lowly. And how can he not become like that, and he was fighting as two, and this one restrains his hand, so he has isolated his pair upon his brother, fleeing from him looking on at him and this.
فَمَنْ يَفْعَلْهُ يَمْقُتْهُ اللَّهُ فَلَا تَعَرَّضُوا لِمَقْتِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا مَمَرُّكُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ قَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ لَنْ يَنْفَعَكُمُ الْفِرارُ إِنْ فَرَرْتُمْ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ أَوِ الْقَتْلِ وَ إِذاً لا تُمَتَّعُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
The one who does it, Allah-azwj would Detest him. Therefore, do not expose yourselves to the Loathing of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic. But rather, you all would be making your way to Allah-azwj, and Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Said: Say, ‘The fleeing will never benefit you if you were to flee from the death of the killing, and you would not be enjoying except for a little while [33:16].
وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ فَرَرْتُمْ مِنْ سُيُوفِ الْعَاجِلَةِ لَا تَسْلَمُونَ مِنْ سُيُوفِ الْآجِلَةِ فَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَ الصِّدْقِ فَإِنَّمَا يَنْزِلُ النَّصْرُ بَعْدَ الصَّبْرِ فَ جاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهادِهِ وَ لا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ.
And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj, if you were to flee from the swords of the present, you would not be safe from the swords of the future. Therefore, seek assistance with the patient and the truthfulness, for rather the victory would descend upon who are the patience. So, fight for Allah-azwj which a deserving Jihad, and there is no strength except with Allah-azwj’’.[79]
469- وَ فِي كَلَامٍ آخَرَ لَهُ قَالَ ع وَ إِذَا لَقِيتُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ غَداً فَلَا تُقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فَإِذَا بَدَءُوا بِكُمْ فَانْهُدُوا إِلَيْهِمْ وَ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّكِينَةَ وَ الْوَقَارَ وَ عَضُّوا عَلَى الْأَضْرَاسِ فَإِنَّهُ أَنْبَى لِلسُّيُوفِ عَنِ الْهَامِ وَ غُضُّوا الْأَبْصَارَ وَ مُدُّوا جِبَاهَ الْخُيُولِ وَ وُجُوهَ الرِّجَالِ وَ أَقِلُّوا الْكَلَامَ فَإِنَّهُ أَطْرَدُ لِلْفَشَلِ وَ أَذْهَبُ بِالْوَهَلِ وَ وَطِّنُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ عَلَى الْمُبَارَزَةِ وَ الْمُنَازَلَةِ وَ الْمُجَادَلَةِ وَ اثْبُتُوا وَ اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كَثِيراً
And in another speech of his-asws, he-asws said: ‘And when you meet these people (in battle) tomorrow, so do not fight them until they fight you. When they initiate (the fighting) with you, then break them down and upon you would be tranquillity and the dignity. And grit your teeth for it is strength for the swords on the heads (of the enemies), and lower your eyes, and keep your eyes upon the foreheads of the cavalry horses and the forces of the men. And minimise your speech for it drives away the failure, and resign yourselves upon the duelling, and the confrontation, and the argumentation, and be steadfast and mention Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic frequently.
فَإِنَّ الْمَانِعَ لِلذِّمَارِ عِنْدَ نُزُولِ الْحَقَائِقِ هُمْ أَهْلُ الْحِفَاظِ الَّذِينَ يَحُفُّونَ بِرَايَاتِهِمْ وَ يَضْرِبُونَ حَافَتَيْهَا وَ أَمَامَهَا وَ إِذَا حَمَلْتُمْ فَافْعَلُوا فِعْلَ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ وَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالتَّحَامِي فَإِنَّ الْحَرْبَ سِجَالٌ لَا يَشْتَدُّنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ كَرَّةً بَعْدَ فَرَّةٍ وَ لَا حَمْلَةً بَعْدَ جَوْلَةٍ
The defenders of the honour during the descent of the realities, they are the protecting people whom are surrounding their flag, and the they are striking around it, and in front of it, and when you are carrying it, so do the deed of one man (in unison), and upon you is being protective (of each other), for the war is a competition. Do not let yourselves be pulled by an attack after the fleeing, nor an advance after a retreat.
وَ مَنْ أَلْقَى إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامَ فَاقْبَلُوا مِنْهُ وَ اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ فَإِنَّ بَعْدَ الصَّبْرِ النَّصْرَ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُها مَنْ يَشاءُ مِنْ عِبادِهِ وَ الْعاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ.
And the one who throws (down the weapons) to you for the peace, so accept it from him, and seek Assistance by the patience, for after the patience is the Consideration from Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: Surely the earth is for Allah, He Causes it to be inherited by the one He so Desires to from His servants, and the end-result is for the pious [7:128]’’.[80]
470- شا، الإرشاد مِنْ كَلَامِهِ ع فِي تَحْضِيضِهِ عَلَى الْقِتَالِ يَوْمَ صِفِّينَ بَعْدَ حَمْدِ اللَّهِ وَ الثَّنَاءِ عَلَيْهِ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ غُضُّوا الْأَبْصَارَ وَ اخْفِضُوا الْأَصْوَاتَ وَ أَقِلُّوا الْكَلَامَ وَ وَطِّنُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ عَلَى الْمُنَازَلَةِ وَ الْمُجَادَلَةِ وَ الْمُبَارَزَةِ وَ الْمُبَالَطَةِ وَ الْمُبَالَدَةِ وَ الْمُعَانَقَةِ وَ الْمُكَادَمَةِ وَ اثْبُتُوا وَ اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيراً لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ وَ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ وَ لا تَنازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَ تَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ وَ اصْبِرُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
(The book) ‘Al-Irshad’ – From a speech of his-asws regarding his-asws inciting upon the fighting on the day of Siffeen, after praising Allah-azwj and the extolling upon Him-azwj: ‘Servants of Allah-azwj! Fear Allah-azwj and close your eyes, and humble the voices, and lessen the talk, and think of yourselves upon the hostile encounter, and the disputation, and the duelling, and the cutting down, and the reckless fighting, and the hand-to-hand combat, and be steadfast and remember Allah much, that you may be successful [8:45] And obey Allah and His Rasool and do not quarrel for you will be weary and your force will depart, and be patient, surely Allah is with the patient ones [8:46].
اللَّهُمَّ أَلْهِمْهُمُ الصَّبْرَ وَ أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْهِمُ النَّصْرَ وَ أَعْظِمْ لَهُمُ الْأَجْرَ.
O Allah-azwj! Inspire them the patience and Send down the Help upon them and Magnify the recompense for them!’’[81]
471- شا، الإرشاد وَ مِنْ كَلَامِهِ ع أَيْضاً فِي هَذَا الْمَعْنَى مَعْشَرَ النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ دَلَّكُمْ عَلَى تِجارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذابٍ أَلِيمٍ وَ تُشْفِي بِكُمْ عَلَى الْخَيْرِ الْعَظِيمِ الْإِيمَانِ بِاللَّهِ وَ بِرَسُولِهِ ص وَ الْجِهَادِ فِي سَبِيلِهِ وَ جَعَلَ ثَوَابَهُ مَغْفِرَةَ الذُّنُوبِ وَ مَساكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ
(The book) ‘Al-Irshad’ – And from a speech of his-asws as well in this meaning: ‘Community of people! Allah-azwj has Pointed you upon a trade rescuing you from a painful Punishment? [61:10], and Heal you all upon the mighty good – the Eman with Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww, and the Jihad in the Way of Allah-azwj, and Made its reward, Forgiveness of the sins and goodly dwellings in the Gardens of perpetuity. [61:12].
ثُمَّ أَخْبَرَكُمْ أَنَّهُ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُمْ بُنْيانٌ مَرْصُوصٌ فَقَدِّمُوا الدَّارِعَ وَ أَخِّرُوا الْحَاسِرَ وَ عَضُّوا عَلَى الْأَضْرَاسِ فَإِنَّهُ أَنْبَى لِلسُّيُوفِ عَنِ الْهَامِ وَ الْتَوُوا فِي أَطْرَافِ الرِّمَاحِ فَإِنَّهُ أَمْوَرُ لِلْأَسِنَّةِ وَ غُضُّوا الْأَبْصَارَ فَإِنَّهُ أَرْبَطُ لِلْجَأْشِ وَ أَسْكَنُ لِلْقُلُوبِ وَ أَمِيتُوا الْأَصْوَاتَ فَإِنَّهُ أَطْرَدُ لِلْفَشَلِ وَ أَوْلَى بِالْوَقَارِ
And the Majestic and Mighty has Said: Surely, Allah loves those who fight in His Way in rows as if they were like a solid structure [61:4], therefore, even out your rows to be like a solid structure. Place the armoured ones in front and the un-armoured to be next, and grit your teeth for it is stronger for the swords upon the heads (of the enemies), and be quick in launching the sides of the spears for it is more violent for the spikes, and lower your eyes for it is linked to the composure and a tranquillity for the hearts, and deaden your voices for it drives out the failure and closer with the dignity.
وَ رَايَتَكُمْ فَلَا تُمِيلُوهَا وَ لَا تُخَلُّوهَا وَ لَا تَجْعَلُوهَا إِلَّا فِي أَيْدِي شُجْعَانِكُمْ فَإِنَّ الْمَانِعِينَ لِلذِّمَارِ الصَّابِرِينَ عَلَى نُزُولِ الْحَقَائِقِ هُمْ أَهْلُ الْحِفَاظِ الَّذِينَ يَحُفُّونَ بِرَايَاتِهِمْ وَ يَكْتَنِفُونَهَا
Neither incline your flags nor let them fall, and do not make these to be with any except for your bravest ones, for the defenders of the honour and the patient during the descent of the realities, they are the protecting people, the ones who are saving their opinions and are concealing them.
رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً مِنْكُمْ آسَى أَخَاهُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَ لَمْ يَكِلْ قِرْنَهُ إِلَى أَخِيهِ فَيَجْمَعَ عَلَيْهِ قِرْنَهُ وَ قِرْنَ أَخِيهِ فَتُكْتَسَبَ بِذَلِكَ لَائِمَةٌ وَ يَأْتِيَ بِهِ دَنَاءَةً
May Allah-azwj have Mercy on a person from you who consoles his brother by himself and does not exhaust his connection to his brother. So, he gathers his connection to him and connection of his brother and develops that to the Imams-asws, and comes with nearness with it.
فَلَا تَعَرَّضُوا لِمَقْتِ اللَّهِ وَ لَا تَفِرُّوا مِنَ الْمَوْتِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ قُلْ لَنْ يَنْفَعَكُمُ الْفِرارُ إِنْ فَرَرْتُمْ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ أَوِ الْقَتْلِ وَ إِذاً لا تُمَتَّعُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Do not expose yourselves to Detestation of Allah-azwj and do not flee from the death, for Allah-azwj the Exalted is Saying: Say, ‘The fleeing will never benefit you if you were to flee from the death of the killing, and you would not be enjoying except for a little while [33:16].
وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ فَرَرْتُمْ مِنْ سَيْفِ الْعَاجِلَةِ لَا تَسْلَمُونَ مِنْ سَيْفِ الْآجِلَةِ فَ اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَ الصَّلاةِ* وَ الصِّدْقِ فِي النِّيَّةِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى بَعْدَ الصَّبْرِ يُنْزِلُ النَّصْرَ.
And I swear by Allah-azwj! If you were to flee from the current sword, you will not be safe from the future sword, And seek Assistance through the patience and the Salat, [2:45], and the sincerity in the intention, for Allah-azwj the Exalted, after the patience, Sends down the Help’’.[82]
472- قب، المناقب لابن شهرآشوب تَفْسِيرُ الْحَسَنِ وَ السُّدِّيِّ وَ وَكِيعٍ وَ الثَّعْلَبِيِّ وَ مُسْنَدُ أَحْمَدَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ فِي قَوْلِهِ وَ اتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةً لَقَدْ لَبِثْنَا أَزْمَاناً وَ لَا نَرَى أَنَّا مِنْ أَهْلِهَا فَإِذَا نَحْنُ الْمَعْنِيُّونَ.
(The book) ‘Al Manaqib’ of Ibn Shehr Ashub, Tafseer Al Hassan, and Al Sudy, and Wakie, and Al Sa’alby, and Musnad of Ahmad,
‘Al-Zubeyr said regarding His-azwj Words: And fear a Fitna (strife) which may not affect (only) those of you who are unjust in particular [8:25]. We have waited a long time and we have not seen that we are from its people, so then we are the ones meant’’.[83] (Non-Shia source)
قَالَ السُّدِّيُ فِي قَوْلِهِ فَلا عُدْوانَ إِلَّا عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ نَزَلَتْ فِي حَرْبَيْنِ فِي يَوْمِ صِفِّينَ وَ يَوْمِ الْجَمَلِ فَسَمَّى اللَّهُ أَصْحَابَ الْجَمَلِ وَ صِفِّينَ ظَالِمِينَ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ بِالنَّصْرِ وَ الْحَقُّ مَعَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ أَصْحَابِهِ.
Al-Sudy said regarding His-azwj Words: then there should not be hostility except upon the unjust ones [2:193] – It was Revealed regarding two wars – regarding the day of Siffeen and the day of the camel. Allah-azwj Named the companions of the camel and Siffeen as the unjust ones. Then He-azwj Said: and know that Allah is with the fearing ones [2:194], with the Help. And the truth is with Amir Al-Momineen-asws and his-asws companions’’.[84] (Non-Shia source)
أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ وَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ قَالا فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ عِنْدَ رَبِّكُمْ تَخْتَصِمُونَ كُنَّا نَقُولُ رَبُّنَا وَاحِدٌ وَ نَبِيُّنَا وَاحِدٌ وَ دِينُنَا وَاحِدٌ فَمَا هَذِهِ الْخُصُومَةُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ حَرْبُ صِفِّينَ وَ شَدَّ بَعْضُنَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ بِالسُّيُوفِ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ هُوَ هَذَا.
Abu Saeed Al-Kudri and Abdullah Bin Umar who both said regarding Words of the Exalted: Then, on the Day of Judgement you would be quarrelling in the Presence of your Lord [39:31], ‘We were saying, ‘Our Lord-azwj is one, and our Prophet-saww is one, and our religion is one, so what is this dispute?’ When it was the war of Siffeen and some of us were severe upon others with the swords, we said, ‘Yes, it is this’’.[85] (Non-Shia source)
قَالَ الْبَاقِرُ ع قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ هُوَ يُقَاتِلُ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَقاتِلُوا أَئِمَّةَ الْكُفْرِ إِنَّهُمْ لا أَيْمانَ لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنْتَهُونَ الْآيَاتِ هُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ وَ رَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ.
(Imam) Al-Baqir-asws said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said and he-asws was fighting Muawiya: then fight the imams of Kufr – surely their oaths (mean) nothing, perhaps they would desist [9:12] – the Verses. They are them, by the Lord-azwj of Kabah!’’
ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص أَئِمَّةُ الْكُفْرِ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ عَمْرٌو.
Ibn Masoud – The Prophet-saww said: ‘The imams of Kufr are Muawiya and Amro (Bin Al-Aas). [86]
وَ لَمَّا فَرَغَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مِنْ حَرْبِ الْجَمَلِ نَزَلَ فِي الرَّحْبَةِ السَّادِسَ مِنْ رَجَبٍ وَ خَطَبَ فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي نَصَرَ وَلِيَّهُ وَ خَذَلَ عَدُوَّهُ وَ أَعَزَّ الصَّادِقَ الْمُحِقَّ وَ أَذَلَّ النَّاكِثَ الْمُبْطِلَ
And when Amir Al-Momineen-asws was free from the war of the camel, he-asws descended at Al-Rahba on the sixth of Rajab, and he-asws addressed. He-asws said: ‘The Praise is for Allah-azwj Who Helped His-azwj friend and Forsook (abandoned) His-azwj enemy, and Honoured the truthful, the rightful, and Disgraced the allegiance-breaker, the false’.
ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ دَعَا الْأَشْعَثَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ مِنْ ثَغْرِ آذَرْبِيجَانَ وَ الْأَحْنَفَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ مِنَ الْبَصْرَةِ وَ جَرِيرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْبَجَلِيَّ مِنْ هَمْدَانَ فَأَتَوْهُ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ فَوَجَّهَ جَرِيراً إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ يَدْعُوهُ إِلَى طَاعَتِهِ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَهَا تَوَقَّفَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى قَدِمَ بِطَلَبٍ مِنْهُ شُرَحْبِيلُ الْكِنْدِيُّ
Then he-asws called Al-Ash’as Bin Qays from the border post of Azerbaijan, and Al-Ahnaf Bin Qays from Al-Basra, and Jareer Bin Abdullah Al-Bajali from Hamdan. They came to Al-Kufa. He-asws send Jareer to Muawiya calling him to his-asws obedience. When he delivered it, Muawiya paused during that until Shirjeel Al-Kindy arrived by a summons from him.
ثُمَّ خَطَبَ فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنِّي خَلِيفَةُ عُمَرَ وَ خَلِيفَةُ عُثْمَانَ وَ قَدْ قُتِلَ عُثْمَانُ مَظْلُوماً وَ أَنَا وَلِيُّهُ وَ ابْنُ عَمِّهِ وَ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِطَلَبِ دَمِهِ فَمَا ذَا رَأْيُكُمْ فَقَالُوا نَحْنُ طَالِبُونَ بِدَمِهِ
Then he (Muawiya) addressed. He said, ‘O you people! You have known I am a caliph of Umar and caliph of Usman, and Usman has been killed as an oppressed, and I am his guardian and son of his uncle, and foremost of the people with seeking his blood. So, what are your views?’ They said, ‘We shall be seeking his blood’.
فَدَعَا عَمْرَو بْنَ الْعَاصِ عَلَى أَنْ يُطْعِمَهُ مِصْرَ فَكَانَ عَمْرٌو يَأْمُرُ بِالْحَمْلِ وَ الْحَطِّ مِرَاراً فَقَالَ لَهُ غُلَامُهُ وَرْدَانُ تَفَكَّرْ إِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ ع وَ الدُّنْيَا مَعَ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو-
| لَا قَاتَلَ اللَّهُ وَرْدَاناً وَ فِطْنَتَهُ- | أَبْدَى لَعَمْرِي مَا فِي الصَّدْرِ وَرْدَانَ- |
He called Amro Bin Al-Aas upon (a condition) that he would give him Egypt. Amro used to instruct with the attacking and the deposing repeatedly. His slave Wardan said to him, ‘Think! The Hereafter is with Ali-asws and the world is with Muawiya’. Amro said (a couplet), ‘No! May Allah-azwj Fight Wardan and his acumen. It has been revealed, what was in the chest of Wardan’.
فَلَمَّا ارْتَحَلَ قَالَ ابْنُ عَمْرٍو لَهُ
| أَلَا يَا عَمْرُو مَا أَحْرَزْتُ نَصْراً- | وَ لَا أَنْتَ الْغَدَاةَ إِلَى رَشَادٍ- | |
| أَ بِعْتَ الدِّينَ بِالدُّنْيَا خَسَاراً- | وَ أَنْتَ بِذَاكَ مِنْ شَرِّ الْعِبَادِ- |
When he departed, Ibn Amro said to him (a poem), ‘Indeed, O Amro. Neither did I win a victory nor are you doing to the rightful guidance. Are you selling the religion for the world at a loss? And you, along with that, are from the evilest of the servants’.
فَانْصَرَفَ جَرِيرٌ فَكَتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ أَنَّ عُثْمَانَ قُتِلَ مَظْلُوماً وَ عَلِيٌّ آوَى قَتَلَتَهُ فَإِنْ دَفَعَهُمْ إِلَيْنَا كَفَفْنَا عَنْهُ وَ جَعَلْنَا هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شُورَى بَيْنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَمَا جَعَلَهُ عُمَرُ عِنْدَ وَفَاتِهِ فَانْهَضُوا رَحِمَكُمُ اللَّهُ مَعَنَا إِلَى حَرْبِهِ
Jareer left and Muawiya wrote to the people of Al-Medina, ‘Usman has been killed as an oppressed, and Ali-asws is sheltering his killers. So, if you were to hand them over to us, we shall refrain from him-asws, and we shall make this command to be a consultation between the Muslims, just as Umar had made it to be during his death. So, get up with us, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on you, to war against him-asws’.
فَأَجَابُوهُ بِكِتَابٍ فِيهِ
| : مُعَاوِيَ إِنَّ الْحَقَّ أَبْلَجُ وَاضِحٌ- | وَ لَيْسَ كَمَا رَبَصْتَ أَنْتَ وَ لَا عَمْرٌو- | |
| نَصَبْتَ لَنَا الْيَوْمَ ابْنَ عَفَّانَ خُدْعَةً- | كَمَا نَصَبَ الشَّيْخَانِ إِذْ زُخْرُفَ الْأَمْرِ- | |
| رَمَيْتُمْ عَلِيّاً بِالَّذِي لَمْ يَضُرَّهُ- | وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ فِي ذَاكَ نَهْيٌ وَ لَا أَمْرٌ- | |
| وَ مَا ذَنْبُهُ إِنْ نَالَ عُثْمَانَ مَعْشَرٌ- | أَتَوْهُ مِنَ الْأَحْيَاءِ تَجْمَعُهُمْ مِصْرُ- | |
| وَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ لَازِماً قَعْرَ بَيْتِهِ- | وَ هِمَّتُهُ التَّسْبِيحُ وَ الْحَمْدُ وَ الذِّكْرُ- | |
| فَمَا أَنْتُمَا لَا دَرَّ دَرُّ أَبِيكُمَا- | وَ ذِكْرُكُمُ الشُّورَى وَ قَدْ وَضَحَ الْأَمْرُ- | |
| فَمَا أَنْتُمَا وَ النَّصْرُ مِنَّا وَ أَنْتُمَا- | طَلِيقَا أُسَارَى مَا تَبُوحُ بِهَا الْخَمْرُ- |
They answered him by a letter, in it (was a poem), ‘Muawiya! The truth is far reaching and clear, and it isn’t as you are lying in ambush, nor Amro. You have installed a deception today of Ibn Affan, just as the two sheykhs had installed when the matter was adorned. You have accused Ali-asws with that which does not harm him-asws, there isn’t for him-asws regarding that, neither a prohibiting nor instructing, and it is not his-asws sin. The community got to Usman. The living ones of Egypt came to him, gathering, and Ali-asws had necessitated staying in the bottom of his-asws house, and his-asws main concern was the Glorification, and the Praising, and the Zikr. So, what are you two, turning the turns of your fathers, and your mention is the consultation, and the matter is clear. What are you two and the help from us and you are both freed ones (at the conquest of Makkah), captives, what the wine drinking had revealed’’.
وَ جَاءَ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ الْخَوْلَانِيُّ بِكِتَابٍ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَذْكُرُ فِيهِ وَ كَانَ أَنْصَحُهُمْ لِلَّهِ خَلِيفَتَهُ ثُمَّ خَلِيفَةَ خَلِيفَتِهِ ثُمَّ الْخَلِيفَةَ الثَّالِثَ الْمَقْتُولَ ظُلْماً فَكُلَّهُمْ حَسَدْتَ وَ عَلَى كُلِّهِمْ بَغَيْتَ إِلَى آخِرِ مَا سَيَأْتِي
And Abu Muslim Al-Khawalani came with a letter from him (Muawiya) to Amir Al-Momineen-asws mentioning in it, and he was their adviser for the Sake of Allah-azwj, being his (Umar’s) caliph, and caliph of his caliph, ‘Then the third caliph was killed unjustly, and you-asws had envied all of them, and rebelled against all of them’ – up to the end of what I (Majlisi) shall be coming with.
فَلَمَّا وَصَلَ الْخَوْلَانِيُّ وَ قَرَأَ عَلَى النَّاسِ كِتَابَ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالُوا كُلُّنَا لَهُ قَاتِلُونَ وَ لِأَفْعَالِهِ مُنْكِرُونَ
When Al-Khawalani arrived and read out the letter of Muawiya to the people, they said, ‘All of us will fight for him, and we are disliking to his-asws deeds’.
فَكَانَ جَوَابُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ قَدْ أَكْثَرْتَ فِي قَتَلَةِ عُثْمَانَ فَادْخُلْ فِيمَا دَخَلَ فِيهِ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ بَيْعَتِي ثُمَّ حَاكِمِ الْقَوْمَ إِلَيَّ أَحْمِلْكُمْ عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص
It was the answer of Amir Al-Momineen-asws: ‘And after, surely I-asws have seen and you have frequented regarding the killers of Usman, so enter into what the Muslims have entered into, of my-asws allegiance, then leave the judgment of the people to me-asws. I-asws shall carry them upon the Book of Allah-azwj and sunnah of His-azwj Prophet-saww Muhammad-saww.
وَ أَمَّا الَّذِي تُرِيدُهَا فَإِنَّهَا خُدْعَةُ الصَّبِيِّ عَنِ اللَّبَنِ وَ لَعَمْرِي لَئِنْ نَظَرْتَ بِعَقْلِكَ لَعَلِمْتَ أَنِّي مِنْ أَبْرَإِ النَّاسِ مِنْ دَمِ عُثْمَانَ وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ أَنَّكَ مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الطُّلَقَاءِ الَّذِينَ لَا تَحِلُّ لَهُمُ الْخِلَافَةُ وَ أَجْمَعَ ع عَلَى الْمَسِيرِ وَ حَضَّ النَّاسَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ.
And as for that which you are wanting, it is a deception of the children from the milk; and by my-asws life! If you were to consider with your intellect you would know that I-asws am from the innocent people from the blood of Usman, and you have known that you are from the sons of the freed ones (at the conquest of Makkah), the ones for whom the caliphate is not for them’. And he-asws determined upon the travelling and encouraged the people upon that’’.[87]
قَالَ ابْنُ مَرْدَوَيْهِ قَالَ ابْنُ حَازِمٍ التَّمِيمِيُّ وَ أَبُو وَائِلٍ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع انْفِرُوا إِلَى بَقِيَّةِ الْأَحْزَابِ أَوْلِيَاءِ الشَّيْطَانِ انْفِرُوا إِلَى مَنْ يَقُولُ كَذَبَ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ
Ibn Mardaway said, ‘Ibn Hazim Al Tameemi and Abu Wail said,
‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘Rush to the remnants of the confederates, the friends of Satan-la! Rush to the one who is saying Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww have lied!’
وَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ عَبْسٍ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بِكِتَابٍ مِنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَسَأَلَ مَا الْخَبَرُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ فِي الشَّامِ يَلْعَنُونَ قَاتِلِي عُثْمَانَ وَ يَبْكُونَ عَلَى قَمِيصِهِ
And a man from Abasi came to Amir Al-Momineen-asws with a letter from Muawiya. He-asws said: ‘What is the news?’ He said, ‘In Syrian they are cursing the killers of Usman and are crying upon his shirt’.
فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا قَمِيصُ عُثْمَانَ بِقَمِيصِ يُوسُفَ وَ لَا بُكَاؤُهُمْ إِلَّا كَبُكَاءِ أَوْلَادِ يَعْقُوبَ فَلَمَّا فَتَحَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَدَهُ بَيَاضاً فَحَوْلَقَ
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘What is the shirt of Usman compared to the shirt of Yusuf-as? And their crying is not, except like the crying of the children of Yaqoub-as’. When he-asws opened the letter, he-asws found it white (blank), so he-asws said: ‘There is neither might nor strength except with Allah-azwj!’
فَقَالَ قَيْسُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ
| وَ لَسْتُ بِنَاجٍ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ وَ صَحْبِهِ- | وَ إِنْ تَكُ فِي جَابَلَقَ لَمْ تَكُ نَاجِياً- |
Qays Bin Sa’ad (a couplet), ‘I will not be rescued from Ali-asws and his-asws companions, and if you are in Jabalaqa, you will not be rescued’.
وَ كَتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع لَيْتَ الْقِيَامَةَ قَدْ قَامَتْ فَتَرَى الْمُحِقَّ مِنَ الْمُبْطِلِ فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي جَوَابِهِ يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِها
And Muawiya wrote to Amir Al-Momineen-asws, ‘If only (the Day) of Qiyamah had been established you would see the rightful from the false’. Amir Al-Momineen-asws said in its answer: They hasten with it, those who do not believe in it. [42:18]’.
فَقَالَ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي رَافِعٍ اكْتُبْ إِنَّ بَيْعَتِي شَمِلَتِ الْخَاصَّ وَ الْعَامَّ وَ إِنَّمَا الشُّورَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ الْأَوَّلِينَ السَّابِقِينَ بِالْإِحْسَانِ مِنَ الْبَدْرِيِّينَ وَ إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ طَلِيقُ بْنُ طَلِيقٍ لَعِينُ بْنُ لَعِينٍ وَثَنُ بْنُ وَثَنٍ
He-asws said to Abdullah Bin Abu Rafie, ‘Write, ‘My-asws allegiance includes the special and the general, and rather the consultation is for the Momineen from the early emigrants, the preceding ones with the good deeds, from the participants of Badr, and rather you are a freed one (at the conquest of Makkah) son of a freed one, accursed son of an accursed, an idol son of an idol.
لَيْسَتْ لَكَ هِجْرَةٌ وَ لَا سَابِقَةٌ وَ لَا مَنْقَبَةٌ وَ لَا فَضِيلَةٌ وَ كَانَ أَبُوكَ مِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ الَّذِينَ حَارَبُوا اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ فَنَصَرَ اللَّهُ عَبْدَهُ وَ صَدَقَ وَعْدَهُ وَ هَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ
There is neither any emigration for you, or precedence, nor virtue, nor merit, and your father was from the confederates, the ones who warred Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww, but Allah-azwj Helped His-azwj servant, and Ratified His-azwj Promise, and Defeated the confederates’.
ثُمَّ وَقَعَ فِي آخِرِ الْكَلَامِ
| أَ لَمْ تَرَ قَوْمِي إِذْ دَعَاهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ- | أَجَابُوا وَ إِنْ يَغْضَبْ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ يَغْضَبْ- |
Then he-asws signed (by a couplet) at the end of the speech: ‘Are you not seeing my-asws people? When their brothers call them, then answer, and if they are angered upon a people, they are angered (as well)’.
وَ كَتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَا عَلِيُّ وَ ذَرِ الْحَسَدَ فَطَالَمَا لَمْ يَنْتَفِعْ بِهِ أَهْلُهُ إِلَى آخِرِ كِتَابِهِ اللَّعِينِ
And Muawiya wrote, ‘Fear Allah-azwj, O Ali-asws, and leave the envy, for so long it has not benefited its people’ – up to the end of his letter, the accursed.
فَأَجَابَهُ ع بَعْدَ كَلَامٍ طَوِيلٍ عِظَتِي لَا تَنْفَعُ مَنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ كَلِمَةُ الْعَذابِ وَ لَمْ يَخَفِ الْعِقَابَ وَ لَا يَرْجُو لِلَّهِ وَقاراً وَ لَمْ يَخَفْ لَهُ حِذَاراً فَشَأْنَكَ وَ مَا أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الضَّلَالَةِ وَ الْحَيْرَةِ وَ الْجَهَالَةِ تَجِدُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي ذَلِكَ بِالْمِرْصَادِ
He-asws answered him after a long speech: ‘My-asws preaching cannot benefit one upon whom the Sentence of the Punishment has proven true, [39:19], and he will not fear the consequences nor will he wish to Allah-azwj of any dignity, nor will he fear any warning. It’s your concern and what you are upon, from the straying and the confusion and the ignorant. You will find Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic lying in wait regarding that’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي آخِرِهِ فَأَنَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ قَاتِلُ جَدِّكَ عُتْبَةَ وَ عَمِّكَ شَيْبَةَ وَ أَخِيكَ حَنْظَلَةَ الَّذِينَ سَفَكَ اللَّهُ دِمَاءَهُمْ عَلَى يَدِي فِي يَوْمِ بَدْرٍ وَ بِذَلِكَ السَّيْفِ مَعِي وَ بِذَلِكَ الْقَلْبِ أَلْقَى عَدُوِّي
Then he-asws said at the end of it: ‘So, I-asws, Abu Al-Hassan-asws, am the killer of your grandfather Utba, and your uncle Shayba, and your brother Hanzala, the ones Allah-azwj Shed their blood upon my-asws hands during the day of Badr; and with that sword with me-asws, and by that heart I-asws shall meet my-asws enemies’.
فَنَهَاهُ عَمْرٌو عَنْ مُكَاتَبَتِهِ وَ لَمْ يَكْتُبْ إِلَّا بَيْتاً
| لَيْسَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَ قَيْسٍ عِتَابٌ- | غَيْرَ طَعْنِ الْكُلَى وَ ضَرْبِ الرِّقَابِ- |
Amro forbade him from his letter writing, and he did not write except a couplet, ‘There isn’t between me and Qays any blame apart from stabbing the kidneys and striking the necks’’.
قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَاتَلْتُ النَّاكِثِينَ وَ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَاسِطِينَ وَ سَأُقَاتِلُ الْمَارِقِينَ ثُمَّ رَكِبَ فَرَسَ النَّبِيِّ ص وَ قَصَدَهُ فِي تِسْعِينَ أَلْفاً
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘I-asws have fought the allegiance-breakers, and these ones are the deviants, and I-asws will be fighting the renegades’. Then he-asws rode a horse of the Prophet-saww and aimed it among ninety thousand’.
قَالَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ مِنْهَا تِسْعَةُ مِائَةِ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ وَ ثَمَانُمِائَةٍ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَ قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي لَيْلَى سَبْعُونَ رَجُلًا مِنْ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ وَ يُقَالُ مِائَةٌ وَ ثَلَاثُونَ رَجُلًا
Saeed Bin Jubeyr said, ‘From it were nine hundred men from the Helpers, and eight hundred from the Emigrants’. And Abdul Rahman Bin Abu Layli said, ‘Seventy men from the participants of Badr’. And it is said, ‘One hundred and thirty men’.
وَ خَرَجَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فِي مِائَةٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ أَلْفاً يَتَقَدَّمُهُمْ مَرْوَانُ وَ قَدْ تَقَلَّدَ بِسَيْفِ عُثْمَانَ فَنَزَلَ صِفِّينَ فِي الْمُحَرَّمِ عَلَى شَرِيعَةِ الْفُرَاتِ وَ قَالَ
| أَتَاكُمُ الْكَاشِرُ عَنْ أَنْيَابِهِ- | لَيْثُ الْعَرِينِ جَاءَ فِي أَصْحَابِهِ- |
And Muawiya came out among one hundred and twenty thousand, preceded by Marwan, and he had collared with the sword of Usman. He descended at Siffeen at the banks of the Euphrates, and said (a couplet), ‘The grimace has come from its teeth, an around lion has come among his companions’.
وَ مَنَعُوا عَلِيّاً ع وَ أَصْحَابَهُ الْمَاءَ فَأَنْفَذَ عَلِيٌّ ع شَبَثَ بْنَ رِبْعِيٍّ الرِّيَاحِيَّ وَ صَعْصَعَةَ بْنَ صُوحَانَ فَقَالا فِي ذَلِكَ لُطْفاً وَ عُنْفاً فَقَالَ أَنْتُمْ قَتَلْتُمْ عُثْمَانَ عَطَشاً فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع رَوُّوا السُّيُوفَ مِنَ الدِّمَاءِ تَرْوَوْا مِنَ الْمَاءِ إِلَى آخِرِ مَا مَرَّ
And they prevented the water from Ali-asws and his-asws companions, so Ali-asws assigned Shabas Bin Rabie Al-Rayahi and Sa’sa’a Bin Sowhan, and they both said regarding that kindness and violent. He said, ‘You killed Usman thirsty’. Ali-asws said: ‘The swords will be saturated from the blood, you will be saturated from the water’ – up to the end of what has passed.
فَرَجَزَ الْأَشْتَرُ وَ الْأَشْعَثُ وَ حَمَلَا فِي سَبْعَةَ عَشَرَ ألفا [أَلْفَ] رَجُلٍ حَمْلَةَ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ فَتَفَرَّقَ بَعْضُهُمْ وَ انْهَزَمَ الْبَاقُونَ فَأَمَرَ عَلِيٌّ ع أَنْ لَا يَمْنَعُوهُمُ الْمَاءَ وَ كَانَ نُزُولُهُ ع بِصِفِّينَ لِلَّيَالِي بَقِينَ مِنْ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ سَنَةَ سِتٍّ وَ ثَلَاثِينَ
Al-Ashtar and Al-Ash’as came out and attacked among seventeen thousand men, an attack of one man. Some of them were dispersed and the rest were defeated. Ali-asws ordered that they (enemies) should not be deprived of water. And his-asws descent at Siffeen was at two nights remaining from Zil Hijja of the year thirty-seven.
وَ أَنْفَذَ سَعِيدَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ الْهَمْدَانِيَّ وَ بِشْرَ بْنَ عَمْرٍو الْأَنْصَارِيَّ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ لِيَدْعُوَهُ إِلَى الْحَقِّ فَانْصَرَفَا بَعْدَ مَا احْتَجَّا عَلَيْهِ
And he-asws assigned Saeed bin Qays Al-Hamdany and Bishir Bin Amro Al-Ansari to Muawiya in order to call him to the truth. They left after having argued upon him.
ثُمَّ أَنْفَذَ شَبَثَ بْنَ رِبْعِيٍّ الرِّيَاحِيَّ وَ عَدِيَّ بْنَ حَاتِمٍ الطَّائِيَّ وَ يَزِيدَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ الْأَرْحَبِيَّ وَ زِيَادَ بْنَ حَفْصٍ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ فَكَانَ مُعَاوِيَةُ يَقُولُ سَلِّمُوا إِلَيَّ قَتَلَةَ عُثْمَانَ لِأَقْتُلَنَّهُمْ بِهِ ثُمَّ نَعْتَزِلَ الْأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ شُورَى
Then he-asws assigned Shabas Bin Rabie Al Rayahi and Aday Bin Hatim al Taie and Yazeed Bin Qays Al-Arhaby and Ziyad Bin Hafs, with similar to that. Muawiya said, ‘Submit to me the killers of Usman I can kill them due to it, then we shall isolate the command until there happens to be a consultation’.
فَتَقَاتَلُوا فِي ذِي الْحِجَّةِ وَ أَمْسَكُوا فِي الْمُحَرَّمِ فَلَمَّا اسْتَهَلَّ صَفَرُ سَنَةَ سَبْعٍ وَ ثَلَاثِينَ أَمَرَ عَلِيٌّ ع فَنُودِيَ فِي أَهْلِ الشَّامِ بِالْإِعْذَارِ وَ الْإِنْذَارِ ثُمَّ عَبَّأَ عَسْكَرَهُ فَجَعَلَ عَلَى مَيْمَنَتِهِ الْحَسَنَ وَ الْحُسَيْنَ وَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ وَ مُسْلِمَ بْنَ عَقِيلٍ وَ عَلَى مَيْسَرَتِهِ مُحَمَّدَ ابْنَ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ وَ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَ هَاشِمَ بْنَ عُتْبَةَ الْمِرْقَالَ
They fought during Zilhajj, and they withheld during Al-Muharram. When it was the beginning of Safar of the year thirty-seven. Ali-asws ordered and it was called out among the people of Syria with the excusing and the warning. Then he-asws mobilised his-asws soldiers and made Al-Hassan-asws and Al-Husayn-asws, and Abdullah son of Ja’far-as and Muslim Bin Aqeel upon his-asws right flank, and Muhammad Ibn Al-Hanafiyya, and Muhammad Bin Abu Bakr, and Hashim Bin Utba Al-Marqal upon his-asws left flank.
وَ عَلَى الْقَلْبِ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الْعَبَّاسِ وَ عَبَّاسَ بْنَ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ وَ الْأَشْتَرَ وَ الْأَشْعَثَ وَ عَلَى الْجَنَاحِ سَعِيدَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ الْهَمْدَانِيَّ وَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ بُدَيْلِ بْنِ وَرْقَاءَ الْخُزَاعِيَّ وَ رِفَاعَةَ بْنَ شَدَّادٍ الْبَجَلِيَّ وَ عَدِيَّ بْنَ حَاتِمٍ وَ عَلَى الْكُمَّيْنِ عَمَّارَ بْنَ يَاسِرٍ وَ عَمْرَو بْنَ الْحَمِقِ وَ عَامِرَ بْنَ وَاثِلَةَ الْكِنَانِيَّ وَ قَبِيصَةَ بْنَ جَابِرٍ الْأَسَدِيَ
And upon the heart (centre) were Abdullah Bin Al-Abbas, and Abbas Bin Rabie Bin Al-Haris, and Al-Ashtar, and Al-Ash’as; and upon the wings were Seed Bin Qays Al-Hamdany and Abdullah Bin Budeyl Bin Warqa Al-Khuzaie, and Rifa’a Bin Shaddad Al-Bajali, and Aday Bin Hatim; and upon the two ambushes were Ammar Bin Yasser, and Amro Bin Al-Hamiq, and Aamir Bin Wasila Al-Kinany, and Qabeesa Bin Jabir Al-Asadi.
وَ جَعَلَ مُعَاوِيَةُ عَلَى مَيْمَنَتِهِ ذَا الْكَلَاعِ الْحِمْيَرِيَّ وَ حَوْشَبَ ذَا الظَّلِيمِ وَ عَلَى الْمَيْسَرَةِ عَمْرَو بْنَ الْعَاصِ وَ حَبِيبَ بْنَ مَسْلَمَةَ وَ عَلَى الْقَلْبِ الضَّحَّاكَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ الْفِهْرِيَّ وَ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ خَالِدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ وَ عَلَى السَّاقَةِ بُسْرَ بْنَ أَرْطَاةَ الْفِهْرِيَّ وَ عَلَى الْجَنَاحِ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ مَسْعَدَةَ الْفَزَارِيَّ وَ هَمَّامَ بْنَ قَبِيصَةَ النَّمِرِيَّ وَ عَلَى الْكُمَّيْنِ أَبَا الْأَعْوَرِ السُّلَمِيَّ وَ حَابِسَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ الطَّائِيَّ
And Muawiya made Zal Kala’a Al-Himeyri, and Hawshab Zil Zaleem upon his right flank; and upon the left flank were Amro Bin Al-Aas and Habeeb Bin Maslama; and upon the centre were Al-Zahhak Bin Qays Al-Fihry and Abdul Rahman Bin Khalid Bin Al-Waleed; and upon the vanguard was Busr Bin Artah Al-Fihry, and upon the wing was Abdullah Bin Mas’ada Al-Fazari, and Hammam Bin Qabeesa Al-Nameyri, and upon the ambushes were Abu Al-Awr Al-Sulmy and Habis Bin Sa’ad Al-Taie.
فَبَعَثَ عَلِيٌّ ع إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ أَنِ اخْرُجْ إِلَيَّ أُبَارِزْكَ فَلَمْ يَفْعَلْ وَ قَدْ جَرَى بَيْنَ الْعَسْكَرَيْنِ أَرْبَعُونَ وَقْعَةً يَغْلِبُهَا أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ أَوَّلُهَا يَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ بَيْنَ الْأَشْتَرِ وَ حَبِيبِ بْنِ مَسْلَمَةَ وَ الثَّانِي بَيْنَ الْمِرْقَالِ وَ أَبِي الْأَعْوَرِ السُّلَمِيِّ وَ الثَّالِثُ بَيْنَ عَمَّارٍ وَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ وَ الرَّابِعُ بَيْنَ ابْنِ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ وَ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ وَ الْخَامِسُ بَيْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ وَ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ وَ السَّادِسُ بَيْنَ سَعِيدِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ وَ ذِي الْكَلَاعِ إِلَى تَمَامِ الْأَرْبَعِينَ وَقْعَةً آخِرُهَا لَيْلَةُ الْهَرِيرِ
Ali-asws sent a message to Muawiya: ‘Come to me-asws, I-asws will duel you!’ But he did not do so. And forty occurrences had flowed between the two armies. The people of Al-Iraq had overcome in these. The first of it was on the day of Wednesday between Al-Ashtar and Habeeb Bin Maslama; and the second between Al-Mirqal and Abu Al-Awr Al-Sulamy; and the third between Ammar and Amro Bin Al-Aas; and the fourth between Ibn Al-Hanafiya and Ubeydullah Bin Umar; and the fifth between Abdullah Bin Al-Abbas and Al-Waleed Bin Uqbah; and the sixth between Saeed Bin Qays and Zil Kala’a – up to the complete forty events, the last one being ‘Laylat Al-Hareer’.
وَ خَرَجَ عَوْفُ بْنُ عَوْنٍ الْحَارِثِيُّ قَائِلًا
| إِنِّي أَنَا عَوْفٌ أَخُو الْحُرُوبِ- | صَاحِبُهَا وَ لَسْتُ بِالْهَيُوبِ- |
And Awf Bin Awn Al-Harisy came out saying (a couplet), ‘Surely I am Awf, brother of the wards, its companion, and am not with the flames’.
فَبَارَزَهُ عَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو قَائِلًا
| يَا عَوْفُ لَوْ كُنْتَ امْرَأً حَازِماً- | لَمْ تَبْرُزِ الدَّهْرَ إِلَى عَلْقَمَةَ- | |
| لَقِيتَ لَيْثاً أَسَداً بَاسِلًا- | يَأْخُذُ بِالْأَنْفَاسِ وَ الْغَلْصَمَةِ- |
Alqama Bin Amro duelled him saying (a poem), ‘O Awf! If only you were a firm person, you would not have duelled to Al-Qamah, forever. You are meeting a valiant lion, powerful, seizing the breath and the grievance’.
وَ خَرَجَ أَحْمَرُ مَوْلَى عُثْمَانَ قَائِلًا
| إِنَّ الْكَتِيبَةَ عِنْدَ كُلِّ تَصَادُمٍ- | تَبْكِي فَوَارِسُهَا عَلَى عُثْمَانَ |
And Ahmar, slave of Usman came out saying, (a couplet), ‘Surely the battalion at every collision its horsemen are crying upon Usman’.
فَأَجَابَهُ كَيْسَانُ مَوْلَى عَلِيٍّ ع
| عُثْمَانُ وَيْحَكَ قَدْ مَضَى لِسَبِيلِهِ- | فَاثْبُتْ لِحَدِّ مُهَنَّدٍ وَ سِنَانٍ |
Kaysan, slave of Ali-asws answered him, ‘Woe be unto you! Usman has gone on his way, so stay first to the sharp sword and blades’.
فَقَتَلَهُ الْأَحْمَرُ فَقَالَ ع قَتَلَنِيَ اللَّهُ إِنْ لَمْ أَقْتُلْكَ وَ أَخَذَ بِجِرِبَّانِ دِرْعِهِ وَ رَفَعَهُ وَ ضَرَبَهُ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ وَ جَعَلَ يَجُولُ فِي الْمَيْدَانِ وَ يَقُولُ
| لَهْفَ نَفْسِي وَ قَلِيلٌ مَا أَسَرَّ- | مَا أَصَابَ النَّاسَ مِنْ خَيْرٍ وَ شَرٍّ- | |
| لَمْ أُرِدْ فِي الدَّهْرِ يَوْماً حَرْبَهُمْ- | وَ هُمُ السَّاعُونَ فِي الشَّرِّ الشِّمِرِّ |
Al-Ahmar killed him. He-asws said: ‘May Allah-azwj Kill me-asws if I-asws don’t kill you!’ And he-asws grabbed the collar of his armour and raised him and struck him upon the ground, and he-asws went around in the battleground and he-asws was saying, (couplets), ‘Eagerness of myself and a little I-asws was cheerful, whatever afflicts the people, from good and evil. I-asws do not want forever even one day of their war and they are seeking evil and even more evil’.
فَحَثَّ مُعَاوِيَةُ غُلَامَهُ حُرَيْثاً أَنْ يَغْتَالَ عَلِيّاً فِي قَتْلِهِ فَطَيَّرَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قِحْفَهُ فِي الْهَوَاءِ وَ جَعَلَ يَجُولُ وَ يَقُولُ
| أَلَا احْذَرُوا فِي حَرْبِكُمْ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ- | فَلَا تَرُومُوهُ فَذَا مِنَ الْغَبَنِ- | |
| فَإِنَّهُ يَدُقُّهُ دَقَّ الطَّحَنِ- | فَلَا يَخَافُ فِي الْهِيَاجِ مَنْ وَ مَنْ- |
Muawiya urged his slave Hureys to assassinate Ali-asws regarding his-asws killing him. Amir Al-Momineen-asws made his skull fly in the air and went around saying, ‘Indeed! Be careful of Abu Al-Hassan-asws in your war, so do not accuse him-asws, for that would be from the unfairness, for he-asws would grind you the grinding of the mill, for he-asws does not fear in his-asws outburst, who and who’.
وَ خَرَجَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ مُرْتَجِزاً يَقُولُ
| لَا عَيْشَ إِنْ لَمْ أَلْقَ يَوْمِي هَاشِماً- | ذَاكَ الَّذِي جَشَّمَنِي الْمُجَاشِمَا- | |
| ذَاكَ الَّذِي يَشْتِمُ عِرْضِي ظَالِماً- | ذَاكَ الَّذِي لَمْ يَنْجُ مِنِّي سَالِماً- |
And Amro Bin Al-Aas came out reciting a war poem saying, ‘There is no life if I do not meet Hashim today, that is which betrayed me with a betrayal, that is which insulted my honour unjustly, that is which I did not come out safe from it’.
فَبَرَزَ هَاشِمٌ مُرْتَجِزاً
| ذَاكَ الَّذِي نَذَرْتُ فِيهِ النَّذْرَا- | ذَاكَ الَّذِي أَعْذَرْتُ فِيهِ الْعُذْرَا- | |
| ذَاكَ الَّذِي مَا زَالَ يَنْوِي الْغَدْرَا- | أَوْ يُحْدِثَ اللَّهُ لِأَمْرٍ أَمْراً- |
Hashim came out reciting a war poem, ‘That which you have vowed has a warning in it, that which you are warning has the excuse in it, that is which does not cease to be still treacherous, or Allah-azwj Commands a new Command’.
فَضَرَبَهُ هَاشِمٌ وَ خَرَجَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ خَالِدِ بْنِ وَلِيدٍ يَقُولُ
| قُلْ لِعَلِيٍّ هَكَذَا الْوَعِيدُ- | أَنَا ابْنُ سَيْفِ اللَّهِ لَا مَزِيدٌ- | |
| وَ خَالِدٌ تَرْبِيَةُ الْوَلِيدِ- | قَدْ أَفْتَرَ الْحَرْبُ فَزِيدُوا زِيدُوا- |
Hashim struck him and Abdul Rahman Bin Khalid Bin Al-Waleed came out saying, ‘Tell Ali-asws, this is the promise, I am a son of the sword of Allah-azwj, nothing more, and Khalid was brought up by Waleed. The war has become lukewarm, so increase, increase!’
فَبَرَزَ الْأَشْتَرُ مُرْتَجِزاً يَقُولُ
| بِالضَّرْبِ أُوفِي مِيتَةً مُؤَخَّرَةً- | يَا رَبِّ جَنِّبْنِي سَبِيلَ الْفَجَرَةِ- | |
| وَ لَا تُخَيِّبْنِي ثَوَابَ الْبَرَرَةِ- | وَ اجْعَلْ وَفَاتِي بِأَكُفِّ الْكَفَرَةِ- |
Al-Ashtar came forward reciting a war poem, ‘With the strike, I shall fulfil the delayed death. O Lord-azwj! Shield me the way of the immorality, and do not Shield from me the rewards of the duelling, and Make my death a restraint of the Kafirs’.
فَضَرَبَهُ الْأَشْتَرُ فَانْصَرَفَ قَائِلًا أَفْنَانَا دَمُ عُثْمَانَ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ هَذِهِ قَاشِرَةُ الصُّبَاةِ فِي اللَّعِبِ فَاصْبِرْ فَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ* وَ خَرَجَ مُعَاوِيَةُ يُشِيرُ إِلَى هَمْدَانَ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ
| لَا عَيْشَ إِلَّا فَلْقُ قِحْفِ الْهَامِ- | مِنْ أَرْحَبَ وَ يَشْكُرَ شِبَامٍ- | |
| قَوْمٌ هُمْ أَعْدَاءُ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ- | كَمْ مِنْ كَرِيمٍ بَطَلٍ هُمَامٍ- | |
| وَ كَمْ قَتِيلٍ وَ جَرِيحٍ دَامِي- | كَذَاكَ حَرْبُ السَّادَةِ الْكِرَامِ- |
Al-Ashtar struck him and he left saying, ‘The blood of Usman has annihilated us!’ Muawiya said, ‘This is a crust of the girl in her playing. Be patient, Allah-azwj is with the patient’. And Muawiya sent out Busheyr to Hamdan and he was saying, ‘There is no life except splitting the skulls of the important ones, from the welcoming and grateful young men. A people, they are enemies of the people of Syria. How many prestigious heroes are important, and how many are killed and injured with bloody wounds? Like that is a war of the noble chiefs’.
فَبَرَزَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ يَرْتَجِزُ وَ يَقُولُ
| لَاهُمَّ رَبَّ الْحِلِّ وَ الْحَرَامِ- | لَا تَجْعَلِ الْمُلْكَ لِأَهْلِ الشَّامِ- |
Saeed Bin Qays came out reciting a war poem and saying, ‘Not they, O Lord-azwj of Permissible(s) and Prohibitions! Do not make the kingdom to be for the people of Syria’.
فَحَمَلَ وَ هُوَ مُشْرِعٌ رُمْحَهُ فَوَلَّى مُعَاوِيَةُ هَارِباً وَ دَخَلَ فِي غُمَارِ الْقَوْمِ وَ جَعَلَ قَيْسٌ يَقُولُ
| يَا لَهْفَ نَفْسِي فَاتَنِي مُعَاوِيَةُ- | عَلَى طِمِرٍّ كَالْعُقَابِ هَاوِيَةً- | |
| وَ الرَّاقِصَاتُ لَا يَعُودُ ثَانِيَةً- | إِلَّا هَوَى مُعَفَّراً فِي الْهَاوِيَةِ- |
He attacked and he was raising his spear. Muawiya turned around fleeing and entered into the crowd of the people, and Qays went on to say, ‘O regret of my soul, I lost Muawiya inserting into a crown like the punishment of (falling into) the abyss. And the dancers will not return for a second time, except a collapse into the bottom of the abyss’.
وَ بَرَزَ أَبُو الطُّفَيْلِ الْكِنَانِيُّ قَائِلًا
| تَحَامَتْ كِنَانَةُ فِي حَرْبِهَا- | وَ حَامَتْ تَمِيمٌ وَ حَامَتْ أَسَدٌ- | |
| وَ حَامَتْ هَوَازِنُ مِنْ بَعْدِهَا- | فَمَا حَامَ مِنْهَا وَ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ- | |
| طَحَنَّا الْفَوَارِسَ يَوْمَ الْعَجَاجِ- | وَ سُقْنَا الْأَرَاذِلَ سَوْقَ النَّكَدِ- |
And Abu Al-Tufeyl Al-Kinany came out saying, ‘(Clan of) Kinan coalesced in the war, and (clan of) Tameem roamed, and (clan of) Asad roamed, and (clan of) Hawazin roamed from after it. There was no one important from it and them. The horses trampled on the day of the dust, and we sent away the lowly, the sending of the grumpy’.
وَ جَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع فِي الْمَيْدَانِ قَائِلًا
| أَنَا عَلِيٌّ فَاسْأَلُونِي تُخْبَرُوا- | ثُمَّ ابْرُزُوا لِي فِي الْوَغَى وَ ابْدُرُوا- | |
| سَيَفِي حُسَامٌ وَ سِنَانِي يَزْهَرُ- | مِنَّا النَّبِيُّ الطَّاهِرُ الْمُطَهَّرُ- | |
| وَ حَمْزَةُ الْخَيْرُ وَ مِنَّا جَعْفَرٌ- | وَ فَاطِمُ عِرْسِي وَ فِيهَا مَفْخَرٌ- | |
| هَذَا لِهَذَا وَ ابْنُ هِنْدٍ مُحْجَرٌ- | مُذَبْذَبٌ مُطَرَّدٌ مُؤَخَّرٌ- |
And Ali-asws roamed in the battlefield saying: ‘I-asws am Ali-asws! Ask me, you will be informed, then come out to me-asws for duel in the battle and rush away. My-asws sword is sharp and my blade is shining. From us-asws is the Prophet-saww, the pure, the purifier, and Hamza-asws the good, and from us-asws is Ja’far-asws, and Fatima-asws my-asws bride, and it these is the pride. This for this, and the son of Hind is petrified, hesitant, persistent, delaying’.
فَاسْتَخْلَفَهُ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحُصَيْنِ بْنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَلَى أَنْ يَطْعُنَهُ فَرَآهُ سَعِيدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ فَطَعَنَهُ وَ أَنْشَدَ
| أَقُولُ لَهُ وَ فِي رُمْحِي حِنَّاهُ- | وَ قَدْ قَرَّتْ بِمَصْرَعِهِ الْعُيُونُ- | |
| أَلَا يَا عَمْرُو عَمْرَو بَنِي حُصَيْنٍ- | وَ كُلُّ فَتًى سَتُدْرِكُهُ الْمَنُونُ- | |
| أَ تَطْمَعُ أَنْ تَنَالَ أَبَا حُسَيْنٍ | بِمُعْضِلَةٍ وَ ذَا مَا لَا يَكُونُ- |
Amro Bin Al-Husayn Bin Al-Sakuni replaced him upon that he would stab him. Saeed Bin Qays saw him and stabbed him, and prosed, ‘I say to him, and in my spear there is compassion, and the eyes have been delighted with his death. Indeed, O Amro, Amro of the clan of Husayn, and every youth the death will come across him! Are you greedy to obtain Abu Husayn with a dilemma, and that is what will not happen’.
وَ أَنْفَذَ مُعَاوِيَةُ ذَا الْكَلَاعِ إِلَى بَنِي هَمْدَانَ فَاشْتَبَكَتِ الْحَرْبُ بَيْنَهُمْ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ انْهَزَمَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَبْيَاتاً مِنْهَا
| فَوَارِسُ مِنْ هَمْدَانَ لَيْسُوا بِعُزَّلٍ- | غَدَاةُ الْوَغَى مِنْ شَاكِرٍ وَ شِبَامٍ- | |
| يَقُودُهُمْ حَامِي الْحَقِيقَةِ مَاجِدٌ- | سَعِيدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ وَ الْكَرِيمُ مُحَامِي- | |
| جَزَى اللَّهُ هَمْدَانَ الْجِنَانَ فَإِنَّهُمْ- | سِمَامُ الْعِدَى فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ حَمَامٍ- |
And Muawiya assigned Zal Kala’a to the clan of Hamdan, and the war clashed between them to the night. Then the people of Syria were defeated. Then Amir Al-Momineen-asws prosed couplets. From these are: ‘The horsemen of Hamdan are not isolated, morning of the battle, from a grateful and young men. The real protector is guiding them, a glorious, Saeed Bin Qays, and a prestigious protector. May Allah-azwj Recompense Hamdan with Gardens, for they are an infecting poison (to the enemy) during every day of death’.
وَ بَرَزَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ فَنَكَلُوا عَنْهُ فَحَاذَى مُعَاوِيَةَ حَتَّى دَخَلَ فُسْطَاطَهُ فَتَرَفَّعَ ابْنُ مَنْصُورٍ فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع
| وَ عَلَّمَنَا الْحَرْبَ آبَاؤُنَا- | وَ سَوْفَ نُعَلِّمُ أَيْضاً بيننا [بَنِينَا[- |
And Abu Ayoub Al-Ansari came out but they abstained from him. He went towards Muawiya until he entered his ten. Abu Mansour rose up. Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘Our fathers taught us the war, and soon we will be teaching our sons as well’.
وَ خَرَجَ رَجُلٌ فِي بِرَازِ رَجُلٍ كُوفِيٍّ فَصَرَعَهُ الْكُوفِيُّ فَإِذَا هُوَ أَخُوهُ فَقَالُوا خَلِّهِ فَأَبَى أَنْ يُطْلِقَهُ إِلَّا بِأَمْرِ عَلِيٍّ فَأَذِنَ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ وَ بَرَزَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ خَلِيفَةَ الطَّائِيُّ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ مِنْ طَيِءٍ وَ ارْتَجَزَ
| يَا طَيُّ طَيَّ السَّهْلِ وَ الْأَجْبَالِ- | أَلَا اثْبُتُوا بِالْبِيضِ وَ الْعَوَالِي- | |
| فَقَاتِلُوا أَئِمَّةَ الضَّلَالِ- |
And a man came out in duelling a man of Al-Kufa, and there it turned out to be his own brother. They said, ‘Leave him!’ But he refused and in freeing him except by an order of Ali-asws. He-asws permitted him for that. And Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al-Taie came out among a group of Tayy and recited a war poem, ‘O Tayy! Tayy of coasts and the mountains! Will you not be steadfast with the fair ones and the towns. Fight the imams of straying!’
وَ خَرَجَ مِنَ الْعَسْكَرَيْنِ زُهَاءُ أَلْفِ رَجُلٍ فَاقْتَتَلُوا حَتَّى لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ وَ فِيهِمْ يَقُولُ شَبَثُ بْنُ رِبْعِيٍ
| وَ قَاتَلَتِ الْأَبْطَالُ مِنَّا وَ مِنْهُمْ- | وَ قَامَتْ نِسَاءٌ حَوْلَنَا بِنَحِيبٍ- |
And approximately a thousand men came out from the two armies and they fought until there did not remain anyone from them, and regarding them Shabas Bin Rabie said, ‘And the heroes have been killed from us and them, and the women stood around us with the mourners’.
وَ خَرَجَ بُسْرُ بْنُ أَرْطَاةَ مُرْتَجِزاً
| أَكْرِمْ بِجُنْدٍ طَيِّبِ الْأَرْدَانِ- | جَاءُوا يَكُونُوا أَوْلِيَاءَ الرَّحْمَنِ | |
| إِنِّي أَتَانِي خَبَرٌ شَجَانِي | أَنَّ عَلِيّاً نَالَ مِنْ عُثْمَانَ |
And Busr Bin Artah came reciting a war poem, ‘Be honourable to the good army, the desirous. They came to be friends of the Beneficent. A titbit of the news has come to me that Ali-asws attained from (killed) Usman’.
فَبَرَزَ إِلَيْهِ سَعِيدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ قَائِلًا
| بُؤْساً لِجُنْدٍ ضَائِعِ الْإِيمَانِ- | أَسْلَمَهُمْ بُسْرٌ إِلَى الْهَوَانِ | |
| إِلَى سُيُوفٍ لِبَنِي هَمْدَانَ | ||
Saeed Bin Qays came out to duel against him saying, ‘Misery of the army wasting Eman, their submission of Busr to the humiliation, to the swords of the clan of Hamdan’.
فَانْصَرَفَ بُسْرٌ مِنْ طَعْنَتِهِ مَجْرُوحاً وَ خَرَجَ أَدْهَمُ بْنُ لَأْمٍ الْقُضَاعِيُّ مُرْتَجِزاً
| أَثْبِتْ لِوَقْعِ الصَّارِمِ الصَّقِيلِ- | فَأَنْتَ لَا شَكَّ أَخُو قَتِيلٍ- |
Busr left being injured from his stabbing and Ad’had Bin Al-Umm Al-Quzaie came out reciting a war poem, ‘Be steadfast to the falling of the tough and the shiny (armour), for you are in no doubt that your brother is slain’.
فَقَتَلَهُ حُجْرُ بْنُ عَدِيٍّ فَخَرَجَ الْحَكَمُ بْنُ الْأَزْهَرِ قَائِلًا
| يَا حُجْرُ حُجْرَ بَنِي عَدِيٍّ الْكِنْدِيِّ- | اثْبُتْ فَإِنِّي لَيْسَ مِثْلِي بَعْدِي- |
Hujr Bin Aday killed him. Al-Hakam Bin Al-Azhar came out saying, ‘O Hujr! Hujr Bin Aday Al-Kindy! Stay firm, for surely there wouldn’t be anyone like me after me’.
فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ مَالِكُ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ الْقُضَاعِيُّ يَقُولُ
| أَنَا ابْنُ مَالِكِ بْنِ مُسْهِرٍ- | أَنَا ابْنُ عَمِّ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ الْأَزْهَرِ- |
Malik Bin Mus’hir Quzaie came out to him saying, ‘O Ibn Malik Bin Mus’hir! I am a cousin of Al-Hakam Bin Al-Azhar!’
فَأَجَابَهُ حُجْرٌ-
| إِنِّي حُجْرٌ وَ أَنَا ابْنُ مِسْعَرٍ- | أَقْدِمْ إِذَا شِئْتَ وَ لَا تُؤَخِّرْ |
Hujr answered him, ‘I am Hujr and I am a son of Mis’ar. I advance whenever I like to and I do not delay!’
وَ بَرَزَ عَلْقَمَةُ فَأُصِيبَ فِي رِجْلِهِ وَ قُتِلَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ عُمَيْرُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الْمُحَارِبِيُّ وَ بَكْرُ بْنُ هَوْذَةَ النَّخَعِيُّ وَ ابْنُهُ حَيَّانُ وَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ نُعَيْمٍ وَ أَبَانُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ فَحَمَلَ عَلِيٌّ ع فَهَزَمَهُمْ
And Alqama came out for duel and was injured in his leg. And from the people of Al-Iraq there were killed, Umeyr Bin Ubeyd Al-Muhariby, and Bakr Bin Howzat Al-Nakhaie, and his son Hayyan, and Saeed Bin Nueym, and Aban Bin Qays’. Ali-asws had attacked and defeated them.
فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ كُنْتُ أَرْجُو الْيَوْمَ ظَفَراً وَ بَرَزَ الْأَشْتَرُ وَ جَعَلَ يَقْتُلُ وَاحِداً بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَبَرَزَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ فِي أَرْبَعِمِائَةِ فَارِسٍ إِلَيْهِ وَ تَبِعَ الْأَشْتَرَ مِائَتَا رَجُلٍ مِنْ نَخَعٍ وَ مَذْحِجٍ وَ حَمَلَ الْأَشْتَرُ عَلَيْهِ فَوَقَعَتِ الطَّعْنَةُ فِي الْقَرَبُوسِ فَانْكَسَرَ وَ خَرَّ عَمْرٌو صَرِيعاً وَ سَقَطَتْ ثَنَايَاهُ فَاسْتَأْمَنَهُ
Muawiya said, ‘I am hoping for victory today’. And Al-Ashtar came out for duel and went on to kill one after one. Muawiya said regarding that, so Amro Bin Al-Aas came out among four hundred horsemen towards him, and Al-Ashtar followed two hundred men from Nahakie and Mazhij. And Al-Ashtar attacked upon him, and the stab fell in the saddlebow and it broke, and Amro fell down immediately, and his (Ashtar’s) spear fell down and he was safe.
وَ بَرَزَ الْأَصْبَغُ بْنُ نُبَاتَةَ قَائِلًا
| حَتَّى مَتَى تَرْجُو الْبَقَا يَا أَصْبَغُ- | إِنَّ الرَّجَاءَ لِلْقُنُوطِ يَدْمَغُ- |
And Al-Asbagh Bin Nubata came out saying, ‘Until when will you hope to live O Asbagh! The hope for the contentment is more impressive’.
وَ قَاتَلَ حَتَّى حَرَّكَ مُعَاوِيَةَ مِنْ مَقَامِهِ وَ خَرَجَ عَوْفٌ الْمُرَادِيُّ قَائِلًا
| أَنَا الْمُرَادِيُّ وَ اسْمِي عَوْفٌ- | هَلْ مِنْ عِرَاقِيٍّ عَصَاهُ سَيْفٌ- |
And he fought until Muawiya had to move from his position. And Awf Al-Murady came out saying, ‘I am Al-Murady and my name is Awf! Is there any Iraqi whose sword is his staff?’
فَبَرَزَ إِلَيْهِ كعيرٌ الْأَسَدِيُ مُرْتَجِزاً فَقَتَلَهُ وَ رَأَى مُعَاوِيَةَ عَلَى تَلٍّ فَقَصَدَ نَحْوَهُ فَلَمَّا قَرُبَ مِنْهُ حَمَلَ عَلَيْهِ مُرْتَجِزاً
| وَيْلِي عَلَيْكَ يَا بَنِي هِنْدٍ- | أَنَا الْغُلَامُ الْأَسَدِيُّ حَمْدِ- |
Kaeer Al-Asadi came out to him reciting a war poem, and he killed him, and he was Muawiya upon a hill, so he aimed towards him. When he was near from him, he attacked upon him reciting, ‘Woe be unto you O son of Hind! I am the boy Al-Asady, praise-worthy’.
فَأَخَذَهُ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ بِالطِّعَان وَ الضِّرَابِ فَانْسَلَّ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمْ قَائِلًا
| فَلَوْ نِلْتُهُ نِلْتُ الَّذِي لَيْسَ بَعْدَهَا- | مِنَ الْأَمْرِ شَيْئاً غَيْرَ مَيْنٍ مَقَالٌ- | |
| وَ لَوْ مِتُّ مِنْ نَيْلِي لَهُ أَلْفَ مِيتَةٍ- | لَقُلْتُ لِمَا قَدْ نِلْتُ لَيْسَ أُبَالِي- |
The people of Syria seized him with the stabbing and the strikers. A speaker sneaked from between them saying, ‘If you had attained him, you would not attain the one who is after it anything from the matter without harbouring a speaker, and if I were to die from my attack, for it would be a thousand deaths, I would said, ‘For what have you attained, I don’t care’.
وَ خَرَجَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ خَالِدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ فَبَرَزَ إِلَيْهِ حَارِثَةُ بْنُ قُدَامَةَ السَّعْدِيُّ فَقَتَلَهُ فَخَرَجَ أَبُو الْأَعْوَرِ السُّلَمِيُّ فَانْصَرَفَ مِنْ طَعْنَتِهِ زِيَادُ بْنُ كَعْبٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ مَجْرُوحاً وَ قَتَلَ بَنُو هَمْدَانَ خَلْقاً كَثِيراً مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بَنُو هَمْدَانَ أَعْدَاءُ عُثْمَانَ
Abdul Rahman Bin Khalid Bin Al-Waleed came out and Harise Bin Qudama Al-Sa’ady duelled to him and he killed him. Abu Al-Awr Al-Sulamy came out, but Ziyad Bin Ka’ab Al-Hamdany left from his stabbing injured, and the clan of Hamdan killed a lot of people from the people of Syrian. Muawiya said, ‘The clan of Hamdan are enemies of Usman’.
وَ بَرَزَ عُمَيْرُ بْنُ عُطَارِدٍ التَّمِيمِيُّ فِي قَوْمِهِ قَائِلًا-
| قَدْ صَابَرَتْ فِي حَرْبِهَا تَمِيمٌ- | لَهَا حَدِيثٌ وَ لَهَا قَدِيمٌ | |
| دِينٌ قَدِيمٌ وَ هُدًى قَدِيمٌ | ||
And Umeyr Bin Utarid Al-Tameemi came out among his people saying, ‘(Clan of) Tameem have combatted in its ware, for it is a narration and for it is ancientness. An ancient religion and an ancient guidance’.
فَقَاتَلُوا إِلَى اللَّيْلِ وَ بَرَزَ قَيْسُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ وَ قَالَ
| أَنَا ابْنُ سَعْدٍ وَ أَبِي عُبَادَةَ- | وَ الْخَزْرَجِيُّونَ رِجَالٌ سَادَةٌ- | |
| حَتَّى مَتَى أَنْثَنِي إِلَى الْوِسَادَةِ- | يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ لَقِّنِّي الشَّهَادَةَ- |
They fought to the night. And Qays Bin Sa’ad came out and said, ‘I am a son of Sa’ad and my father is Ubadah, and the tribe of Al-Khazraj men are chiefs, until when shall I bend to the pillow? O One-azwj with the Majesty, Cast the martyrdom to me!’
فَخَرَجَ بُسْرُ بْنُ أَرْطَاةَ الْفِهْرِيُّ وَ ارْتَجَزَ
| أَنَا ابْنُ أَرْطَاةَ الْجَلِيلِ الْقَدْرِ- | فِي أُسْرَةٍ مِنْ غَالِبٍ وَ فِهْرٍ- | |
| إِنْ أَرْجِعِ الْيَوْمَ بِغَيْرِ وَتْرٍ- | فَقَدْ قَضَيْتُ فِي ابْنِ سَعْدٍ نَذْرِي- |
Busr Bin Artah Al-Fihry came out and recited a war poem, ‘I am a son of Atrah, the majestic, the powerful, among a dominant understanding family. If I were to return today without wrong, so it has been Decreed regarding the son of Sa’ad, my vow’.
فَانْصَرَفَ مَجْرُوحاً مِنْ ضَرْبَةِ قَيْسٍ وَ خَرَجَ الْمُخَارِقُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ فَقَتَلَ الْمُرَادِيَّ وَ مُسْلِمَ الْأَزْدِيِّ وَ رَجُلَيْنِ آخَرَيْنِ فَبَرَزَ إِلَيْهِ عَلِيٌّ ع مُتَنَكِّراً فَقَتَلَهُ وَ قَتَلَ سَبْعَةً بَعْدَهُ
He left injured from a strike of Qays. And Mukhariq Bin Abdul Rahman came out and killed Al-Murady, and Muslim Al-Azdy, and two other men. Ali-asws came out to him veiled and killed him and killed seven (more) after him.
وَ خَرَجَ كُرَيْبُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ فَقَتَلَ مُبَرْقَعاً الْخَوْلَانِيَّ وَ شُرَحْبِيلَ الْبَكْرِيَّ وَ الْحَارِثَ الْحَكِيمِيَّ وَ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ الْهَمْدَانِيَّ فَقَتَلَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ثُمَّ قَتَلَ الْحَارِثَ بْنَ وَدَاعٍ وَ الْمُطَاعَ بْنَ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَ عُرْوَةَ بْنَ دَاوُدَ
And Kurayeb Bin Al-Sabbah came out and killed Mubarraqa Al-Khawlany, and Shikjeel Al-Bakry, and Al-Haris Al-Hakeemi, and Abdul Rahman Al-Hamdany. Amir Al-Momineen-asws killed him. Then he-asws killed Al-Haris Bin Wada’a, and Al-Muta’a Bin Al-Muttalib, and Urwah Bin Dawood.
وَ خَرَجَ مَوْلًى لِمُعَاوِيَةَ مُرْتَجِزاً
| إِنِّي أَنَا الْحَارِثُ مَا بِي مِنْ خَوَرٍ- | مَوْلَى ابْنِ صَخْرٍ وَ بِهِ قَدِ انْتَصَرَ- |
And a slave of Muawiya came out reciting a war poem, ‘I am Al-Haris! There is no failure with me. A slave of the son of Sakhat, and with him I shall be avenged’.
فَقَتَلَهُ قَنْبَرٌ وَ خَرَجَ يَزِيدُ الْكَلْبِيُّ فَقَتَلَهُ الْأَشْتَرُ وَ خَرَجَ مُشْجَعٌ الْجُذَامِيُّ فَطَعَنَهُ عَدِيُّ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ وَ نَادَى خَالِدُ بْنُ مَعْمَرٍ السَّدُوسِيُّ مَنْ يُبَايِعُنِي عَلَى الْمَوْتِ فَأَجَابَهُ تِسْعَةُ آلَافٍ فَقَاتَلُوا حَتَّى بَلَغُوا فُسْطَاطَ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَهَرَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فَنَهَبُوا فُسْطَاطَهُ
Qanbar killed him. And Yazeed Al-Kalby came out and Al-Ashtar killed him. And Mushja’a Al-Juzamy came out, and Aday Bin Hatim stabbed him. And Khalid Bin Ma’mar Al-Sadousy called out, ‘Who will pledge to me upon death?’ Nine thousand answered him. They fought until they reached the tent of Muawiya. Muawiya fled and his tent was plundered.
وَ أَنْفَذَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَا خَالِدُ لَكَ عِنْدِي إِمْرَةُ خُرَاسَانَ مَتَى ظَفِرْتُ فَاقْصُرْ وَيْحَكَ عَنْ فِعَالِكَ هَذَا فَنَكَلَ عَنْهَا فَتَفَلَ أَصْحَابُهُ فِي وَجْهِهِ وَ حَارَبُوا إِلَى اللَّيْلِ وَ فِيهِ يَقُولُ النَّجَاشِيُ
| وَ فَرَّ ابْنُ حَرْبٍ غَيَّرَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ | وَ ذَاكَ قَلِيلٌ مِنْ عُقُوبَةِ قَادِرٍ- |
And Muawiya assigned to him and said, ‘O Khalid! For you with me is a woman of Khurasan when you win. Woe be unto you. Cut short this one from your deeds!’ He refrained from him and killed his companion in his face, and they battled to the night. And regarding it, Al-Najashy said, ‘And the son of Har fled, may Allah-azwj Alter his face, and that is little from his punishment by the Powerful’’.
وَ خَرَجَ حَمْزَةُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ فَقَتَلَهُ الْمِرْقَالُ فَهَجَمُوا عَلَى الْمِرْقَالِ فَقَتَلُوهُ فَأَخَذَ سُفْيَانُ بْنُ الثَّوْرِ رَايَتَهُ فَقَاتَلَ حَتَّى قُتِلَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَهَا عُتْبَةُ بْنُ الْمِرْقَالِ فَقَاتَلَ حَتَّى قُتِلَ فَأَخَذَهَا أَبُو الطُّفَيْلِ الْكِنَانِيُّ مُرْتَجِزاً
| يَا هَاشِمُ الْخَيْرُ دَخَلْتَ الْجَنَّةَ- | قَتَلْتَ فِي اللَّهِ عَدُوَّ السُّنَّةِ- |
And Hamza Bin Malik came Al-Hamdany came out. Al-Mirqal killed him, so they thronged upon Al-Mirqal and killed him. Sufyan Bin Al-Sowr grabbed his flag and fought until he was killed. Then Utba Bin Al-Mirqal took it and fought until he was killed. Abu Al-Tufeyl Al-Kinani took it reciting a war poem, ‘O Hashim the good! You entered the Paradise, killed for the Sake of Allah-azwj, enemies of the Sunnah’.
فَقَاتَلَ حَتَّى جُرِحَ فَرَجَعَ الْقَهْقَرَى وَ أَخَذَهَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بُدَيْلِ بْنِ وَرْقَاءَ الْخُزَاعِيُّ مُرْتَجِزاً
| أَضْرِبُكُمْ وَ لَا أَرَى مُعَاوِيَةَ- | الْأَبْرَحَ الْعَيْنُ الْعَظِيمَ الْحَاويَةَ- | |
| هَوَتْ بِهِ فِي النَّارِ أُمُّ هَاوِيَةٍ- | جَاوَرَهُ فِيهَا كِلَابٌ عَاوِيَةٌ- |
He fought until he was injured and he returned back on his heels. And Abdullah Bin Budeyl Bin Warqa’a Al-Khuzaie grabbed it reciting a war poem, ‘I am striking you all and I cannot see Muawiya, the deepest of eyes and the largest of the bellies. He would collapse with it into the Fire, his mother being the abyss’.
فَهَجَمُوا عَلَيْهِ وَ قَتَلُوهُ فَأَخَذَهَا عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَمِقِ قَائِلًا
| جَزَى اللَّهُ فِينَا عُصْبَةً أَيَّ عُصْبَةٍ- | حِسَانَ وُجُوهٍ صُرِعُوا حَوْلَ هَاشِمٍ- |
They thronged upon him and killed him. Amro Bin Al-Hamiq grabbed it saying, ‘May Allah-azwj Recompense us in a group, whichever group of beautiful faces surrounding around Hashim’.
وَ قَاتَلَ أَشَدَّ قِتَالٍ فَخَرَجَ ذُو الظَّلِيمِ قَائِلًا
| أَهْلَ الْعِرَاقِ نَاسَبُوا وَ انْتَسَبُوا- | أَنَا الْيَمَانِيُّ وَ اسْمِي حَوْشَبُ- | |
| مِنْ ذِي الظَّلِيمِ أَيْنَ أَيْنَ الْمَهْرَبُ- |
And he fought a severe battle. Zul Zaleem came out saying, ‘People of Al Iraq! Lineage (yourselves) and lineage (me)! I am Al Yamani, and my name is Howshab, from Zil Zaleem. Where, where is the escape!’
فَبَرَزَ إِلَيْهِ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ صُرَدَ الْخُزَاعِيُّ قَائِلًا
| يَا أَيُّهَا الْحَيُّ الَّذِي تَذَبْذَبَا- | لَسْنَا نَخَافُ ذَا الظَّلِيمِ حَوْشَبَا- |
Suleyman Bin Surad Al-Khuzaie duelled to him saying, ‘O you tribe which is hesitating! We are not scared of Zul Zaleem Howshab!’
فَحَمَلَتِ الْأَنْصَارُ حَمْلَةَ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ وَ قَتَلُوا ذَا الْكَلَاعِ وَ ذَا الظَّلِيمِ وَ سَارُوا إِلَيْهِمْ وَ كَادَ يُؤْخَذُ مُعَاوِيَةُ فَقَالَ الْأَنْصَارِيُ
| مُعَاوِيَ مَا أَفْلَتَّ إِلَّا بِجُرْعَةٍ- | مِنَ الْمَوْتِ حَتَّى تَحْسَبَ الشَّمْسَ كَوْكَباً- | |
| فَإِنْ تَفْرَحُوا بِابْنِ الْبَدِيلِ وَ هَاشِمٍ- | فَإِنَّا قَتَلْنَا ذَا الْكَلَاعِ وَ حَوْشَبَا- |
The Helpers attacked the attack of one man and they killed Zul Kala’a, and Zul Zaleem, and came to them and almost seized Muawiya. The Helper said, ‘Muawiya did not free except with a gulp of death, unto the sun was counted as a planet. So, if they are rejoicing with Ibn Al Budeyl and Hashim, so we kill Zul Kala’a and Howshab’.
وَ خَرَجَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ وَ دَعَا مُحَمَّدَ ابْنَ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ فَنَهَضَ مُحَمَّدٌ فَنَهَاهُ أَبُوهُ وَ بَرَزَ هُوَ ع إِلَيْهِ رَاجِلًا فَتَقَهْقَرَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ فَقَتَلَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَوَّارٍ وَ يُقَالُ حُرَيْثُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ وَ يُقَالُ هَانِئُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو وَ يُقَالُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَبِيحِ
And Ubeydullah Bin Umar came out and called out to Muhammad Ibn Al-Hanafiyya. Muhammad got up but his father-asws (Ali-asws) forbade him, and he-asws went out walking to him. Ubeydullah turned off his heels, and Abdullah Bin Sawwar killed him, and it is said it was Hureys Bin Khalid, and it is said it was Hany Bin Uamro, and it is said it was Muhammad Bin Al-Sabeeh.
فَأَمَرَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بِتَقْدِيمِ سَبْعِينَ رَايَةً وَ بَرَزَ عَمَّارٌ فِي رَايَاتٍ فَقُتِلَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ مُعَاوِيَةَ سَبْعُمِائَةِ رَجُلٍ وَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ عَلِيٍّ مِائَتَا رَجُلٍ وَ خَرَجَ عَلِيٌّ ع فِي مُقَاتِلَةِ هَمْدَانَ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَرْكَ الْجَمَلِ بَرْكَ الْجَمَلِ فَبَرَكُوا وَ بَرَكَتْ أَيْضاً هَمْدَانُ
Muawiya ordered with advancing seventy flags (battalions), and Ammar came out among flags. From the companions of Muawiya seven hundred men were killed, and from the companions of Ali-asws, two hundred men. And Ali-asws came out among fighters of Hamdan, and some of them said, and one of them said, ‘Kneel the camel! Kneel the camel!’ They knelt, and Hamdan knelt (the camels) as well.
فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع
| قَدْ حَمَلَ الْقَوْمُ فَبَرْكاً بَرْكاً- | لَا يَدْخُلُ الْقَوْمُ عَلَى مَا شَكَّا- |
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘The people have attacked, so kneel (the camels) a kneeling. The people will not enter upon what they doubt’.
وَ خَرَجَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ مُرْتَجِزاً فَقَصَدَهُ الْأَشْتَرُ مُرْتَجِزاً
| إِنِّي أَنَا الْأَشْتَرُ مَعْرُوفُ السِّيَرِ- | إِنِّي أَنَا الْأَفْعَى الْعِرَاقِيُّ الذَّكَرُ |
And Amro Bin Al-Aas came out reciting a war poem, and Al-Ashtar aimed for him reciting a war poem, ‘Me, I am Al-Ashtar, famous of the advancing. Me, I am the male Iraqi serpent’.
فَهَزَمَهُمْ وَ جَرَحَ عَمْراً وَ خَرَجَ الْفَرَازُ بْنُ الْأَدْهَمِ وَ دَعَا الْعَبَّاسَ بْنَ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَقَتَلَهُ الْعَبَّاسُ فَنَهَاهُ عَلِيٌّ ع عَنِ الْمُبَارَزَةِ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ مَنْ قَتَلَ الْعَبَّاسَ فَلَهُ عِنْدِي مَا يَشَاءُ فَخَرَجَ رَجُلَانِ لَخْمِيَّانِ فَدَعَاهُ أَحَدُهُمَا فَقَالَ إِنْ أَذِنَ لِي سَيِّدِي أُبَارِزُكَ
He defeated them. And Amr came out, and Al-Faraz Bin Al-Ad’ham came out and called out Al-Abbas Bin Rabie Bin Al-Haris Bin Abdul Muttalib. Al-Abbas killed him. Ali-asws forbade him from the duelling (any more). Muawiya said, ‘Whoever kills Al-Abbas, for him with me would be whatever he desires’. Two men from Khamiyyan came out and one of them called him. He said, ‘If my Master-asws permits me, I shall duel with you’.
وَ أَتَى عَلِيّاً ع فَبَرَزَ عَلِيٌّ فِي سِلَاحِ الْعَبَّاسِ وَ فَرَسِهِ مُتَنَكِّراً فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ آذَنَكَ سَيِّدُكَ فَقَالَ ع أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا فَقَتَلَهُ وَ تَقَدَّمَ الْآخَرُ فَقَتَلَهُ
Ali-asws came and duelled in the weapons of Al-Abbas and his horse, disguised. He said, ‘Your Master-asws as permitted you?’ He-asws said: ‘There is Permission (to fight) for those who are fought against because they are oppressed, [22:39]. He-asws killed him. And the other one came forward, and he-asws killed him.
وَ خَرَجَ قَبِيصَةُ النُّمَيْرِيُّ وَ كَانَ يَشْتِمُ عَلِيّاً وَ يَرْتَجِزُ
| أُقْدِمُ إِقْدَامَ الْهِزَبْرِ الْعَالِي- | فِي نَصْرِ عُثْمَانَ وَ لَا أُبَالِي- |
And Qabees Al-Numeyri came out, and he used to revile Ali-asws, and he recited a war poem, ‘I am advancing the advance of the exalted lion in help of Usman, and I don’t care’.
فَبَرَزَ عَدِيُّ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ قَائِلًا
| يَا صَاحِبَ الصَّوْتِ الرَّفِيعِ الْعَالِي- | نَفْدِي عَلِيّاً وَلَدِي وَ مَالِي |
Aday Bin Hatim came out saying, ‘O one of the high loud voice! My children and my wealth are sacrificed for Ali-asws’.
وَ خَرَجَ حَجْلُ بْنُ أُثَالٍ الْعَبْسِيُّ فَطَلَبَ الْبِرَازَ فَبَرَزَ إِلَيْهِ ابْنُهُ أُثَالٌ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ قَالَ انْصَرِفْ إِلَى الشَّامِ فَإِنَّ فِيهَا أَمْوَالًا جُمَّةً فَقَالَ ابْنُهُ يَا أَبَتِ انْصَرِفْ إِلَيْنَا وَ جَنَّةُ الْخُلْدِ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ
And Hajal Bin Usal Al-Absy came out and sought the duel. His son Usal came out to duel him. When he saw him, he said, ‘Leave to go to Syria, for there is immense wealth therein!’ His son said, ‘O father! Leave to come to us, and the eternal Garden is with Ali-asws!’
وَ عَبَّأَ مُعَاوِيَةُ أَرْبَعَةَ صُفُوفٍ فَتَقَدَّمَ أَبُو الْأَعْوَرِ السُّلَمِيُّ يُحَرِّضُهُمْ وَ يَقُولُ يَا أَهْلَ الشَّامِ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ الْفِرَارَ فَإِنَّهَا سُبَّةٌ وَ عَارٌ فَدَقُّوا عَلَى أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ فَإِنَّهُمْ أَهْلُ فِتْنَةٍ وَ نِفَاقٍ
And Muawiya composed four rows, and Abu Al Awr Al-Sulamy came ahead inciting them and said, ‘O people of Al-Syria! Beware of the fleeing for it is an insult and a shame. Knock upon the people of Al Iraq for they are the companions of the Fitna and hypocrisy!’
فَبَرَزَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ وَ عَدِيُّ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ وَ الْأَشْتَرُ وَ الْأَشْعَثُ فَقَتَلُوا مِنْهُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ آلَافٍ وَ نَيِّفاً وَ انْهَزَمَ الْبَاقُونَ وَ خَرَجَ كَعْبُ بْنُ جُعَيْلٍ شَاعِرُ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَائِلًا
| ابْرُزْ إِلَيَّ الْآنَ يَا نَجَاشِيُّ- | فَإِنَّنِي لَيْثٌ لَدَى الْهِرَاشِ |
Saeed Bin Qays and Aday Bin Hatim, and Al-Ashtar, and Al-Ash’as came out to duel, and they killed three thousands of them and more, and the rest were defeated. And Ka’ab Bin Jueel, a poet of Muawiya came out saying, ‘Duel to me now, O Najashy, for I am a lion of Al Hirash!’
فَأَجَابَهُ النَّجَاشِيُّ شَاعِرُ عَلِيٍّ ع وَ بَرَزَ إِلَيْهِ
| ارْبَعْ قَلِيلًا فَأَنَا النَّجَاشِيُّ- | لَسْتُ أَبِيعُ الدِّينَ بِالْمَعَاشِ- | |
| أَنْصُرُ خَيْرَ رَاكِبٍ وَ مَاشٍ | ذَاكَ عَلِيٌّ بَيِّنُ الرِّيَاشِ- |
Al-Najashy, poet of Ali-asws, answered him and duelled to him, ‘Wait a while, for I am Al-Najashy! I don’t sell the religion for the livelihood. I help the best rider and walker, that is Ali-asws between the clothing’.
وَ بَرَزَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ فِي أَلْفِ رَجُلٍ فَقَتَلَ خَلْقاً حَتَّى اسْتَغَاثَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ وَ أَتَى أُوَيْسٌ الْقَرَنِيُّ مُتَقَلِّداً بِسَيْفَيْنِ وَ يُقَالُ كَانَ مَعَهُ مِرْمَاةٌ وَ مِخْلَاةٌ مِنَ الْحَصَى فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ وَدَّعَهُ وَ بَرَزَ مَعَ رِجَالِهِ رَبِيعَةَ فَقُتِلَ مِنْ يَوْمِهِ فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ دَفَنَهُ
And Abdullah son of Ja’far-as came out among a thousand men and fought people until Amro Bin Al-Aas cried out for help, and Oweys Al-Qarny came collared with two swords, and it is said with him was a bowl and a feed-bag of the pebbles. He greeted unto Ali-asws Amir Al-Momineen-asws, and bade him-asws farewell, and went out with his men of Rabie, and he was killed during his day. Amir Al-Momineen-asws prayed Salat upon him and buried him.
ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَمَّاراً جَعَلَ يُقَاتِلُ وَ يَقُولُ
| نَحْنُ ضَرَبْنَاكُمْ عَلَى تَنْزِيلِهِ- | ضَرْباً يُزِيلُ الْهَامَ عَنْ مَقِيلِهِ- | |
| وَ يَذْهَلُ الْخَلِيلَ عَنْ خَلِيلِهِ- | أَوْ يُرْجِعُ الْحَقَّ إِلَى سَبِيلِهِ- |
Then Ammar went to fight and he was saying, ‘We had struck you upon its Revelation such a strike, it removed the important one from his words, and the friend is amazed from his friend, or the truth will return to its way’.
فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُقَاتِلُ حَتَّى قُتِلَ وَ بَرَزَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ دَعَا مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ قَالَ أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَحْقِنَ الدِّمَاءَ وَ تَبْرُزَ إِلَيَّ وَ أَبْرُزَ إِلَيْكَ فَيَكُونَ الْأَمْرُ لِمَنْ غَلَبَ
He did not cease to fight until he was killed. And Amir Al-Momineen-asws came out and called out to Muawiya and said, ‘I-asws am asking you to save the blood and come out to me-asws and I-asws shall duel to you, so the command can be for the one who overcomes’.
فَبُهِتَ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ لَمْ يَنْطِقْ بِحَرْفٍ فَحَمَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَى الْمَيْمَنَةِ فَأَزَالَهَا ثُمَّ حَمَلَ عَلَى الْمَيْسَرَةِ فَطَحَنَهَا ثُمَّ حَمَلَ عَلَى الْقَلْبِ وَ قَتَلَ مِنْهُمْ جَمَاعَةً وَ أَنْشَدَ
| فَهَلْ لَكَ فِي أَبِي حَسَنٍ عَلِيٍّ- | لَعَلَّ اللَّهُ يُمْكِنُ مَنْ قَفَاكَا- | |
| دَعَاكَ إِلَى الْبِرَازِ فعكت [فَكِعْتَ] عَنْهُ- | وَ لَوْ بَارَزْتَهُ تَرِبَتْ يَدَاكَا- |
Muawiya was stunned and did not speak with a word. Amir Al-Momineen-asws attacked upon the right flank and moved it. Then he-asws attacked upon the left flank and crushed it. Then he-asws attacked upon the centre and killed a group from them, and he-asws prosed: ‘Is there for you (anyone) regarding Abu Hassan Ali-asws? Perhaps Allah-azwj will Enable one who can stop it. I-asws called you to the duel, but you bowed from it, and if you had duelled him-asws, (in) your hands would have been dust’ (killed).
فَانْصَرَفَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع ثُمَّ بَرَزَ مُتَنَكِّراً فَخَرَجَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ مُرْتَجِزاً
| يَا قَادَةَ الْكُوفَةِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْفِتَنِ- | يَا قَاتِلِي عُثْمَانَ ذَاكَ الْمُؤْتَمَنِ- | |
| كَفَى بِهَذَا حَزَناً مِنَ الْحَزَنِ- | أَضْرِبُكُمْ وَ لَا أَرَى أَبَا الْحَسَنِ |
Amir Al-Momineen-asws left. Then he-asws came out disguised (covered up). Amro Bin Al-Aas came out reciting a war poem, ‘O guides of Al-Kufa from the people of Fitna! O killers of Usman, that is the trusted, it suffices with this as a grief from the sorrows. I am striking you all and I cannot see Abu Hassan-asws’.
فَتَنَاكَلَ عَنْهُ عَلِيٌّ ع حَتَّى تَبِعَهُ عَمْرٌو ثُمَّ ارْتَجَزَ
| أَنَا الْغُلَامُ الْقُرَشِيُّ الْمُؤْتَمَنُ- | الْمَاجِدُ الْأَبْيَضُ لَيْثٌ كَالشَّطَنِ- | |
| يَرْضَى بِهِ السَّادَةُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ- | أَبُو الْحُسَيْنِ فَاعْلَمَنْ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ- |
Ali-asws paused from him until Amro pursued him-asws, then he-asws recited a war poem, ‘I-asws am the Qurayshi boy, the trusted, and glorious, the white, like the valiant lion, the chiefs from the people of Al-Yemen are pleased with him-asws, father-asws of Al-Husayn-asws, known as father-asws of Al-Hassan-asws’.
فَوَلَّى عَمْرٌو هَارِباً فَطَعَنَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَوَقَعَتْ فِي ذَيْلِ دِرْعِهِ فَاسْتَلْقَى عَلَى قَفَاهُ وَ أَبْدَى عَوْرَتَهُ فَصَفَحَ عَنْهُ اسْتِحْيَاءً وَ تَكَرُّماً فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ احْمَدِ اللَّهَ الَّذِي عَافَاكَ وَ احْمَدِ اسْتَكَ الَّذِي وَقَاكَ
Amro turned around fleeing, but Amir Al-Momineen-asws stabbed him, and he fell in the tail of his armour. He lay on his palms and his nakedness was revealed. He-asws excused away from him in embarrassment and honouring. Muawiya said, ‘I praise Allah-azwj Who Recovered you, and I praise your nakedness which saved you’.
قَالَ أَبُو نُوَاسٍ
| فَلَا خَيْرَ فِي دَفْعِ الرَّدَى بِمَذَلَّةٍ- | كَمَا رَدَّهَا يَوْماً بِسَوْءَتِهِ عَمْرٌو |
Abu Nawas said, ‘There is no good in a defence worse than humiliation, just as Amro had worsened it on the day with his nakedness’.
وَ قَالَ حَيْصَ بَيْصَ
| قُبْحُ مَخَازِيكَ هَازِمُ شَرَفِي- | سَوْءَةُ عَمْرٍو ثَنَتْ سِنَانَ عَلِيٍّ- |
And Hays Bays said, ‘Ugliness of your shameful defeat exposing Amro of his nakedness, while the blades of Ali-asws were flexed’.
وَ بَرَزَ عَلِيٌّ ع وَ دَعَا مُعَاوِيَةَ فَنَكَلَ عَنْهُ وَ خَرَجَ بُسْرُ بْنُ أَرْطَاةَ يَطْمَعُ فِي عَلِيٍّ ع فَصَرَعَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَاسْتَلْقَى عَلَى قَفَاهُ وَ كَشَفَ عَنْ عَوْرَتِهِ فَانْصَرَفَ عَنْهُ عَلِيٌّ ع فَقَالَ وَيْلَكُمْ يَا أَهْلَ الشَّامِ أَ مَا تَسْتَحْيُونَ مِنْ مُعَامَلَةَ الْمَخَانِيثِ لَقَدْ عَلَّمَكُمْ رَأْسُ الْمَخَانِيثِ عَمْرٌو وَ لَقَدْ رُوِيَ عَنْ هَذِهِ السِّيرَةِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ فِي كَشْفِ الْأَسْتَاهِ وَسْطَ عَرْصَةِ الْحُرُوبِ
And Ali-asws came out duelling and called Muawiya, but he bowed away from it. And Busr Bin Artah came out coveting regarding (killing) Ali-asws. Amir Al-Momineen-asws wrestled him and he fell down on his palms, and his nakedness was revealed. Ali-asws turned away from it. He-asws said: ‘Woe be unto you, O people of Syria! Are you not ashamed from sinful affairs? Your chief Amro (Bin Al-Aas) has taught you the sinful acts. And it has been reported about this mannerism from his father, from his grandfather regarding uncovering his nakedness in the middle of the plains of war’.
فَخَرَجَ غُلَامُهُ لَاحِقٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ
| أَرْدَيْتَ بُسْراً وَ الْغُلَامُ ثَائِرُهُ- | وَ كُلٌّ آبَ مَنْ عَلَيْهِ قَادِرُهُ- |
His slave came out subsequently, then said, ‘I intended Busr, and the slave will retaliate for him, and every father is one who is able upon it’.
فَطَعَنَهُ الْأَشْتَرُ قَائِلًا
| فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ رِجْلُ شَيْخٍ بَارِزَةٌ- | وَ عَوْرَةٌ وَسْطَ الْعَجَاجِ ظَاهِرَةٌ- | |
| أَبْرَزَهَا طَعْنَةُ كَفٍّ فَاتِرَةٍ- | عَمْرٌو وَ بُسْرٌ رَهَبَا بِالْقَاهِرَةِ- |
Al-Ashtar stabbed him saying, ‘During every day an old man comes for duel and nakedness was revealed in the middle of the dust. There duelled to him a prominent hand; Amro and Busr were terrified by the subduing’.
فَلَمَّا رَأَى مُعَاوِيَةُ كَثْرَةَ بِرَازِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَخَذَ فِي الْخَدِيعَةِ فَأَنْفَذَ عَمْرٌو إِلَى رَبِيعَةَ خَالاتِهِ فَوَقَعُوا فِيهِ فَقَالَ اكْتُبْ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَ غُرَّهُ فَكَانَ فِيمَا كَتَبَ
| طَالَ الْبَلَاءُ فَمَا نَدْرِي لَهُ آسي [آسٍ[- | بَعْدَ الْإِلَهِ سِوَى رِفْقِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ- |
When Muawiya saw the frequent duels of Amir Al-Momineen-asws, he took to the deception. He assigned Amro to Rabie their maternal uncles, and they fell for it. He said, ‘Write to Ibn Abbas and deceive him’. Among what he wrote was (a couplet), ‘The calamity is prolonged, so we do not know any comfort for it after God apart from kindness of Ibn Abbas’.
فَكَانَ جَوَابُ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ
| يَا عَمْرُو حَسْبُكَ مِنْ خَدْعٍ وَ وَسْوَاسٍ- | فَاذْهَبْ فَمَا لَكَ فِي تَرْكِ الْهُدَى آسي [آسٍ[ | |
| إِلَّا بَوَادِرَ طُعِنَ فِي نُحُورِكُمْ- | تَشْجَى النُّفُوسُ لَهُ فِي النَّقْعِ إِفْلَاسٌ- | |
| إِنْ عَادَتِ الْحَرْبُ عُدْنَا وَ الْتَمِسْ هَرَباً- | فِي الْأَرْضِ أَوْ سُلَّماً فِي الْأُفُقِ يَا قَاسِي- |
The answer of Ibn Abbas was, ‘O Amro! It suffices you from a deception and whispering, so go away, for there will be no comfort for you in neglecting the guidance except gestures of stabbings in your throats, impressing the souls having nothing for it. If the war returns, we will return and seek war in the earth, or peace in the horizons, O cruel one!’
ثُمَّ كَتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِلَيْهِ يَذْكُرُ فِيهِ إِنَّمَا بَقِيَ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ سِتَّةٌ أَنَا وَ عَمْرٌو بِالشَّامِ نَاصِبَانِ وَ سَعْدٌ وَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ بِالْحِجَازِ وَ عَلِيٌّ وَ أَنْتَ بِالْعِرَاقِ عَلَى خَطْبٍ عَظِيمٍ وَ لَوْ بُويِعَ لَكَ بَعْدَ عُثْمَانَ لَأَسْرَعْنَا فِيهِ
Then Muawiya wrote to him mentioning in it, ‘But rather, six remain from Quraysh – I, and Amro are at Syria being two representatives; and Sa’ad and Ibn Umar are at Al-Hijaz; and Ali-asws and you are at Al-Iraq upon great speeches, and if only allegiance would have been pledged to you after Usman, we would have been quick in it’.
فَأَجَابَهُ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ
| دَعَوْتَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ إِلَى السِّلْمِ خُدْعَةً- | وَ لَيْسَ لَهَا حَتَّى تَمُوتَ بِخَادِعٍ- |
Ibn Abbas answered him, ‘You called Ibn Abbas to peace deceptively, and there will be no deception for it until you die’.
وَ أَمَرَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لِابْنِ خَدِيجٍ الْكِنْدِيِّ أَنْ يُكَاتِبَ الْأَشْعَثَ وَ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ أَنْ يُكَاتِبَ قَيْسَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ فِي الصُّلْحِ ثُمَّ أَنْفَذَ عَمْراً وَ عُتْبَةَ وَ حَبِيبَ بْنَ مَسْلَمَةَ وَ الضَّحَّاكَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَلَمَّا كَلَّمُوهُ قَالَ أَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ ص فَإِنْ تُجِيبُوا إِلَى ذَلِكَ فَلِلرُّشْدِ أَصَبْتُمْ وَ لِلْخَيْرِ وُفِّقْتُمْ وَ إِنْ تَأَبَّوْا لَمْ تَزْدَادُوا مِنَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا بُعْداً
And Muawiya ordered Ibn Khadeej Al-Kindy that he corresponds with Al-Ash’as and Al-Numan Bin Bashir and Qays Bin Sa’d is written in the peace treaty. Then he assigned Amr, and Utba, and Habeeb Bin Maslama and Al-Zahaak Bin Qays to Amir Al-Momineen-asws. When they spoke to him-asws, he-asws said: ‘I invite you all to the Book of Allah-azwj and Sunnah of His-azwj Prophet-saww. If you were to answer to that, then rightful guidance is what you shall attain and to the goodness you would be concordant; and if you were to refuse, it will not increase you all from Allah-azwj except remoteness.
فَقَالُوا قَدْ رَأَيْنَا أَنْ تَنْصَرِفَ عَنَّا فَنُخَلِّيَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَ عِرَاقِكُمْ وَ تُخَلُّونَ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ شَامِنَا فَنَحْنُ نَحْقِنُ دِمَاءَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
They said, ‘We have viewed that you-asws should leave from us, and we shall vacate between you-asws and your-asws Iraq, and you-asws will vacate between us and our Syria, and so we shall save the blood of the Muslims’.
فَقَالَ ع لَمْ أَجِدْ إِلَّا الْقِتَالَ أَوِ الْكُفْرَ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ص:
He-asws said: ‘I-asws cannot find except the fighting, or the Kufr with what Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic had Revealed unto Muhammad-saww’.
ثُمَّ بَرَزَ الْأَشْتَرُ وَ قَالَ سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَنْ يَبِعْ يَرْبَحْ فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ
Then Al-Ashtar went out and said, ‘Even out your rows!’ And Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘O you people! One who sells (himself to Allah-azwj) during this day will profit’.
فِي كَلَامٍ لَهُ أَلَا إِنَّ خِضَابَ النِّسَاءِ الْحِنَّاءُ وَ خِضَابَ الرِّجَالِ الدِّمَاءُ وَ الصَّبْرُ خَيْرٌ فِي عَوَاقِبِ الْأُمُورِ أَلَا إِنَّهَا إِحَنٌ بَدْرِيَّةٌ وَ ضَغَائِنُ أُحُدِيَّةٌ وَ أَحْقَادٌ جَاهِلِيَّةٌ وَ قَرَأَ فَقاتِلُوا أَئِمَّةَ الْكُفْرِ إِنَّهُمْ لا أَيْمانَ لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنْتَهُونَ
In a speech of his-asws: ‘Indeed! The dyeing of the women is the henna, and dyeing of the men is the blood, and the patience is better in the end-result of the matters. Indeed! There is hatred of Badr, and grudges of Ohad, and malice of pre-Islamic period’. And he-asws recited: then fight the imams of Kufr – surely their oaths (mean) nothing, perhaps they would desist [9:12].
فَتَقَدَّمَ وَ هُوَ يَرْتَجِزُ
| دِبُّوا دَبِيبَ النَّمْلِ لَا تَفُوتُوا- | وَ أَصْبِحُوا فِي حَرْبِكُمْ وَ بِيتُوا- | |
| كَيْمَا تَنَالُوا الدِّينَ أَوْ تَمُوتُوا- | أَوْ لَا فَإِنِّي طَالَ مَا عُصِيتُ- | |
| قَدْ قُلْتُمْ لَوْ جِئْتَنَا فَجِئْتُ- |
He-asws advanced and he-asws was saying: ‘Walk the walk of the ant, you will not be missing, and become in your wars and homes like what you would either attain the religion or you will die, or not, for surely I-asws have been disobeyed for a long time. You had said, ‘If we had come suddenly’.
وَ حَمَلَ فِي سَبْعَةَ عَشَرَ أَلْفَ رَجُلٍ فَكَسَرُوا الصُّفُوفَ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لِعَمْرٍو الْيَوْمَ صَبْرٌ وَ غَداً فَخْرٌ فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو صَدَقْتَ يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ لَكِنَّ الْمَوْتَ حَقٌّ وَ الْحَيَاةَ بَاطِلٌ وَ لَوْ حَمَلَ عَلِيٌّ فِي أَصْحَابِهِ حَمْلَةً أُخْرَى فَهُوَ الْبَوَارُ
And he-asws attacked among seventeen thousand men and they broke the rows. Muawiya said to Amro, ‘Today patience, and tomorrow pride’. Amro said, ‘You speak the truth, O Muawiya, but the death is a reality and the life is false, and if Ali-asws and his-asws companions were to attack another attack, it would be the ruination’.
فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَمَا انْتِظَارُكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُرِيدُونَ الْجَنَّةَ فَبَرَزَ أَبُو الْهَيْثَمِ بْنُ التَّيِّهَانِ قَائِلًا
| أَحْمَدُ رَبِّي فَهُوَ الْحَمِيدُ- | ذَاكَ الَّذِي يَفْعَلُ ما يُرِيدُ*- | |
| دِينٌ قَوِيمٌ وَ هُوَ الرَّشِيدُ- |
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘So what are you waiting for if you are intending the Paradise?’ So, Abu Al-Haysam Bin Al-Tayhan went out saying, ‘I praise my Lord-azwj for He-azwj is praise-worthy, that is the One-azwj Who Does whatever He-azwj Wants, and strong religion and He-azwj is the Guide’.
فَقَاتَلَ حَتَّى قُتِلَ وَ بَرَزَ خُزَيْمَةُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ قَائِلًا
| كَمْ ذَا يُرْجَى أَنْ يَعِيشَ الْمَاكِثُ- | وَ النَّاسُ مَوْرُوثٌ وَ فِيهِمْ وَارِثٌ- | |
| هَذَا عَلِيٌّ مَنْ عَصَاهُ نَاكِثٌ |
He fought until he was killed. And Khuzeyman Bin Sabit went out saying, ‘How long is that he is hoping to he would remain living, and the people are inherited and among them is an inheritor. This is Ali-asws. One who disobeys him-asws is an allegiance-breaker’.
فَقَاتَلَ حَتَّى قُتِلَ وَ بَرَزَ عَدِيُّ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ قَائِلًا
| أَ بَعْدَ عَمَّارٍ وَ بَعْدَ هَاشِمٍ- | وَ ابْنِ بُدَيْلٍ صَاحِبِ الْمَلَاحِمِ- | |
| تَرْجُو الْبَقَاءَ مِنْ بَعْدُ يَا ابْنَ حَاتِمٍ- |
He fought until he was killed. And Aday Bin Hatim went out saying, ‘Is it after Ammar, and after Hashim, and Ibn Budeyl one with the epics, you are hoping to remain alive, from afterwards, O Ibn Hatim?’
فَمَا زَالَ يُقَاتِلُ حَتَّى فُقِئَ عَيْنُهُ وَ بَرَزَ الْأَشْتَرُ مُرْتَجِزاً
| سِيرُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ لَا تَعَرَّجُوا- | دِينٌ قَوِيمٌ وَ سَبِيلٌ مَنْهَجٌ- |
He did not cease fighting until his eye was blinded. And Al-Ashrar duelled reciting a war poem, ‘Walk to Allah-azwj and do not limp, a strong religion and a programmed way’.
وَ قَتَلَ جُنْدَبَ بْنَ زُهَيْرٍ فَلَمْ يَزَالُوا يُقَاتِلُونَ حَتَّى دَخَلَ وَقْعَةُ الْخَمِيسِ وَ هِيَ لَيْلَةُ الْهَرِيرِ وَ كَانَ أَصْحَابُ عَلِيٍّ ع يَضْرِبُونَ الطُّبُولَ مِنْ أَرْبَعِ جَوَانِبِ عَسْكَرِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ يَقُولُونَ عَلِيٌّ الْمَنْصُورُ
And he killed Jundab Bin Zuheyr. They did not cease fighting until the event of Thursday entered, and it is ‘Laylat Al-Hareer’, and the companions of Ali-asws were striking the drums from four sides of the army of Muawiya and they were saying, ‘عَلِيٌّ الْمَنْصُورُ’ ‘Ali-asws is the Helped (by) Allah-azwj!’
وَ هُوَ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ سَاعَةً بَعْدَ سَاعَةٍ وَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ نُقِلَتِ الْأَقْدَامُ وَ إِلَيْكَ أَفْضَتِ الْقُلُوبُ وَ رُفِعَتِ الْأَيْدِي وَ مُدَّتِ الْأَعْنَاقُ وَ طُلِبَتِ الْحَوَائِجُ وَ شَخَصَتِ الْأَبْصَارُ اللَّهُمَ افْتَحْ بَيْنَنا وَ بَيْنَ قَوْمِنا بِالْحَقِّ وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْفاتِحِينَ
And he-asws was raising his-asws head towards the sky, time after time, and he-asws was saying: ‘O Allah-azwj! To You-azwj the feet are transferring, and to You-azwj the hearts are anticipating, and the hands are raised to You-azwj, and the necks are extended (in hope), and the needs are sought, and the sights are staring. O Allah-azwj! ‘Our Lord! Decide between us and our people with the Truth, and You are the best of the deciders’’ [7:89]’.
وَ كَانَ يُنْشِدُ
| اللَّيْلُ دَاجٍ وَ الْكِبَاشُ تَنْتَطِحُ- | نِطَاحَ أُسْدٍ مَا أَرَاهَا تَصْطَلِحُ- | |
| أُسْدُ عَرِينٍ فِي اللِّقَاءِ قَدْ مَرِحَ- | مِنْهَا قِيَامٌ وَ فَرِيقٌ مُنْبَطِحٌ- | |
| فَمَنْ نَجَا بِرَأْسِهِ فَقَدْ رَبِحَ- |
And he-asws prosed: ‘The night is dark and the rams are stretched out, a lion was overthrown at what he saw the terminology, a lion’s den in the meeting (in the battle) has been joyful from it standing and lying face down. So, the one who is saved by his head, has profited’.
وَ كَانَ يَحْمِلُ عَلَيْهِمْ مَرَّةً بَعْدَ مَرَّةٍ وَ يَدْخُلُ فِي غُمَارِهِمْ وَ يَقُولُ اللَّهَ اللَّهَ فِي الْبَقِيَّةِ اللَّهَ اللَّهَ فِي الْحَرَمِ وَ الذُّرِّيَّةِ فَكَانُوا يُقَاتِلُونَ أَصْحَابَهُمْ بِالْجَهْلِ
And he-asws was attacking them time after time, and he-asws entered into their congestion, and he-asws was saying: ‘Allah-azwj! Allah-azwj regarding the sanctity and the offspring! They were fighting their companions with the ignorance’.
فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ كَانَ قَتْلَى عَسْكَرِهِ أَرْبَعَةَ آلَافِ رَجُلٍ وَ قَتْلَى عَسْكَرِ مُعَاوِيَةَ اثْنَيْنِ وَ ثَلَاثِينَ أَلْفَ رَجُلٍ فَصَاحُوا يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ هَلَكَتِ الْعَرَبُ فَاسْتَغَاثَ هُوَ بِعَمْرٍو فَأَمَرَهُ بِرَفْعِ الْمَصَاحِفِ
When it was morning, the slain of his-asws army were four thousand men, and the slain of the army of Muawiya were thirty-two thousand men. They shouted, ‘O Muawiya! The Arabs are destroyed!’ He cried out for help to Amro (Bin Al-Aas). He instructed him with raising the Qurans.
قَالَ قَتَادَةُ الْقَتْلَى يَوْمَ صِفِّينَ سِتُّونَ أَلْفاً وَ قَالَ ابْنُ سِيرِينَ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفاً وَ هُوَ الْمَذْكُورُ فِي أَنْسَابِ الْأَشْرَافِ وَضَعُوا عَلَى كُلِّ قَتِيلٍ قَصَبَةً ثُمَّ عَدُّوا الْقَصَبَ.
Qatada said, ‘The slain on the day of Siffeen were sixty thousand’. And Ibn Sirreen said, ‘Seventy thousand’; and it is mentioned in the lineages of the nobles. They placed a reed upon every slayed one, then they counted the reeds’’.[88]
473 – شي، تفسير العياشي عَنْ أَبِي الْأَغَرِّ التَّمِيمِيِّ قَالَ: إِنِّي لَوَاقِفٌ يَوْمَ صِفِّينَ إِذْ مَرَّ بِيَ الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ شَاكٍ فِي السِّلَاحِ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ مِغْفَرٌ وَ بِيَدِهِ صَفِيحَةٌ يَمَانِيَّةٌ يَقْلِبُهَا وَ هُوَ عَلَى فَرَسٍ لَهُ أَدْهَمَ وَ كَأَنَّ عَيْنَيْهِ عَيْنَا أَفْعًى
Tafseer Al Ayyashi – From Abu Al Garra al Tameemi who said,
‘I was standing on the day of Siffeen when Al-Abbas Bin Rabie Bin Al-Haris Bin Abdul Muttalib passed by me, clad in weapons having a helmet upon his head, and in his hand was a Yemeni Quran, turning it, and he was upon a pitch black horse of his, and his eyes were like the eyes of a serpent.
فَبَيْنَا هُوَ يَرُوضُ فَرَسَهُ وَ يَلِينُ فِي عَرِيكَتِهِ إِذْ هَتَفَ بِهِ هَاتِفٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ يُقَالُ لَهُ عِرَارُ بْنُ أَدْهَمَ يَا عَبَّاسُ هَلُمَّ إِلَى الْبِرَازِ قَالَ فَالنُّزُولُ إِذاً فَإِنَّهُ أَيْأَسُ مِنَ الْقُفُولِ
While he was taming his horse and being gentle in his disposition when a shouter from the people of Syria called Iraru Bin Ad’ham shouted at him, ‘O Abbas! Come to the duel!’ He said, ‘So (it is) the descending then, for it is despairing from the laziness’.
قَالَ فَنَزَلَ الشَّامِيُّ وَ وَجَدَ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ
| إِنْ تَرْكَبُوا فَرُكُوبُ الْخَيْلِ عَادَتُنَا- | أَوْ تَنْزِلُونَ فَإِنَّا مَعْشَرٌ نُزُلٌ |
He (the narrator) said, ‘The Syrian descended and was furious and he was saying, ‘If you are riding, then riding the horses is our habit, or you descend, for we are the community of descenders’.
قَالَ وَ ثَنَى عَبَّاسٌ رِجْلَهُ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ
| وَ يَصُدُّ عَنْكَ مَخِيلَةُ الرَّجُلِ- | الْعِرِّيضِ مُوضِحَةً عَنِ الْعَظْمِ- | |
| بِحُسَامِ سَيْفِكَ أَوْ لِسَانِكَ- | وَ الْكَلِمُ الْأَصِيلُ كَأَرْعَبِ الْكَلْمِ- |
He (the narrator) said, ‘And Abbas doubled his legs (turned to dismount) and he was saying, ‘And the imagination of the man hinders you, the fat is clearer than the bone. Either your sword is your rapier or your tongue, and the original speech is the most terrifying speech’.
ثُمَّ عَصَبَ فَضَلَاتِ دِرْعِهِ فِي حُجْزَتِهِ وَ دَفَعَ فَرَسَهُ إِلَى غُلَامٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ أَسْلَمُ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى قَلَاقُلِ شَعْرِهِ وَ دَلَفَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ قَالَ فَذَكَرْتُ قَوْلَ أَبِي ذُوَيْبٍ
| فَتَنَازَلَا وَ تَوَاقَفَتْ خَيْلَاهُمَا- | وَ كِلَاهُمَا بَطَلُ اللِّقَاءِ مُخَدَّعٌ |
Then he placed the remnants of his shield in his side and handed his horse to a slave called Aslam. It is as if I am looking at the ruffling of his hair and each one of them rolled to his counterpart, and I remembered the words of Abu Zuweyb, ‘They both descended and stopped their horses, and each one of them invalidated the hero of his battle by deception’.
قَالَ ثُمَّ تَكَافَحَا بِسَيْفِهِمَا مَلِيّاً مِنْ نَهَارِهِمَا لَا يَصِلُ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمَا إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ لِكَمَالِ لَأْمَتِهِ إِلَى أَنْ لَحَظَ الْعَبَّاسُ وَهْياً [وَهْناً خ ل] فِي دِرْعِ الشَّامِيِّ فَأَهْوَى إِلَيْهِ بِيَدِهِ فَهَتَكَهُ إِلَى ثُنْدُوَتِهِ ثُمَّ عَاوَدَ لِمُحَاوَلَتِهِ وَ قَدْ أَصْحَرَ لَهُ مَفْتَقَ الدِّرْعِ فَضَرَبَهُ الْعَبَّاسُ ضَرْبَةً بِالسَّيْفِ فَانْتَظَمَ بِهِ جَوَانِحُ صَدْرِهِ وَ خَرَّ الشَّامِيُّ صَرِيعاً بِخَدِّهِ وَ سَمَا الْعَبَّاسُ فِي النَّاسِ وَ كَبَّرَ النَّاسُ تَكْبِيرَةً ارْتَجَّتْ لَهَا الْأَرْضُ
He (the narrator) said, ‘Then they contended with their swords for a while from their day, not one of them arriving to his counterpart due to the perfection of his defence, until Al-Abbas noticed a weakness in the shield of the Syrian. He plunged to it with his hand and inserted it to his chest. Then he returned to his efforts and widened the split of the shield for him. Al -Abbas struck him a strike with the sword and exposed the bones of his chest, and the Syrian fell down immediately flat on his cheek, and Al-Abbas was heard among the people, and the people exclaimed Takbeer, the ground trembled to it.
فَسَمِعْتُ قَائِلًا يَقُولُ مِنْ وَرَائِي قاتِلُوهُمْ يُعَذِّبْهُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ وَ يُخْزِهِمْ وَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ يَشْفِ صُدُورَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِينَ وَ يُذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَ يَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلى مَنْ يَشاءُ
I heard a speaker saying from behind me, ‘Fight them, Allah will Punish them by your hands and Humiliate them and Help you against them, and He would Heal the chests of a Momineen people [9:14] And he would Remove the rage of their hearts; and Allah Turns (Mercifully) to whoever He so Desires to, [9:15]’.
فَالْتَفَتُّ فَإِذَا هُوَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيٌّ ع فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا الْأَغَرِّ مَنِ الْمُبَارِزُ لِعَدُوِّنَا قُلْتُ هَذَا ابْنُ شَيْخِكُمُ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَا عَبَّاسُ قَالَ لَبَّيْكَ قَالَ أَ لَمْ أَنْهَكَ وَ حَسَناً وَ حُسَيْناً وَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ أَنْ تُخَلُّوا بِمَرْكَزٍ أَوْ تُبَاشِرُوا حَدَثاً
I turned around and there, it was Amir Al-Momineen Ali-asws. He-asws said: ‘O Abu Al-Agar! Who duelled to our enemy?’ I said, ‘This son of your elder, Al-Abbas Bin Rabie’. Ali-asws said: ‘O Abbas!’ He said, ‘At your-asws service!’ He-asws said: ‘Did I-asws not forbid you, and Hassan-asws, and Husayn-asws, and Abdullah son of Ja’far-as from vacating a position or to begging an event?’
قَالَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَكَذَلِكَ قَالَ فَمَا عَدَا مِمَّا بَدَا قَالَ أَ فَأُدْعَى إِلَى الْبِرَازِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَلَا أُجِيبُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ
He said, ‘That is like that’. He-asws said: ‘So what happened from what has appeared?’ He said, ‘If I am called to the duel, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws, so shall I not answer? May I be sacrificed for you-asws’.
قَالَ نَعَمْ طَاعَةُ إِمَامِكَ أَوْلَى بِكَ مِنْ إِجَابَةِ عَدُوِّكَ وَدَّ مُعَاوِيَةُ أَنَّهُ مَا بَقِيَ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ نَافِخُ ضَرْمَةٍ إِلَّا طُعِنَ فِي نَيْطِهِ إِطْفَاءً لِنُورِ اللَّهِ وَ يَأْبَى اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَيُهْلِكَنَّهُمْ مِنَّا رِجَالٌ وَ رِجَالٌ يَسُومُونَهُمُ الْخَسْفَ حَتَّى يَتَكَفَّفُوا بِأَيْدِيهِمْ وَ يَحْفِرُوا الْآبَارَ
He-asws said: ‘Yes, obedience to your Imam-asws is foremost with you that answering your enemy. Muawiya would love it there does not remain from the clan of Hashim, any kindled fire, except he should be stabbed in his belly extinguishing the Noor of Allah-azwj, and Allah Refused except that He would Complete His Light, and even though the Polytheists dislike it [9:32]. But, by Allah-azwj, (it is) to destroy men from us and men branding them with the regret, until they refrain with their hands and they dig the wells (instead)’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنْ عَادُوا لَكَ فَعُدْ لِي قَالَ وَ نَمَى الْخَبَرُ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ فَقَالَ [وَ] اللَّهِ دَمٌ عَرَارٌ أَ لَا رَجُلٌ يَطْلُبُ بِدَمٍ عَرَارٍ قَالَ فَانْتَدَبَ لَهُ رَجُلَانِ مِنْ لَخْمٍ فَقَالا نَحْنُ لَهُ قَالَ اذْهَبَا فَأَيُّكُمَا قَتَلَ الْعَبَّاسَ بِرَازاً فَلَهُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَأَتَيَاهُ فَدَعَوَاهُ إِلَى الْبِرَازِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِي سَيِّداً أُؤَامِرُهُ
Then he said, ‘If they return to you, then refer to me-asws’. And Muawiya got to know the news, so he said, ‘By Allah-azwj! Blood of shame. Is there no man to seek the blood of shame?’ Two men from Lakham assigned for it. They said, ‘We are for it’. He said, ‘Go, and whichever of you two kills Al-Abbas in a duel, for him would be such and such’. They came to him and called him to the duel. He said, ‘For me there is a Master-asws to command it’.
قَالَ فَأَتَى أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَأَخْبَرَهُ فَقَالَ نَاقِلْنِي سِلَاحَكَ بِسِلَاحِي فَنَاقَلَهُ قَالَ وَ رَكِبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى فَرَسِ الْعَبَّاسِ وَ دَفَعَ فَرَسَهُ وَ بَرَزَ إِلَى الشَّامِيَّيْنِ فَلَمْ يَشُكَّا أَنَّهُ الْعَبَّاسُ فَقَالا لَهُ أَذِنَ لَكَ سَيِّدُكَ
He (the narrator) said, ‘He came to Amir Al-Momineen-asws and informed him. He-asws said: ‘Transfer to me your weapons with my-asws weapons’. He transferred it, and Amir Al-Momineen-asws rode upon a horse of Al-Abbas and pushed his-asws horse and duelled to the two Syrians. They had no doubt that it is Al-Abbas. They said, ‘So, your Master-asws did give permission to you’.
فَتَحَرَّجَ أَنْ يَقُولَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ
He-asws was embarrassed from saying, ‘yes’, so he-asws said: There is Permission (to fight) for those who are fought against because they are oppressed, and surely Allah is Able upon Helping them [22:39]’.
قَالَ فَبَرَزَ إِلَيْهِ أَحَدُهُمَا فَكَأَنَّمَا اخْتَطَفَهُ ثُمَّ بَرَزَ إِلَيْهِ الثَّانِي فَأَلْحَقَهُ بِالْأَوَّلِ وَ انْصَرَفَ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ الشَّهْرُ الْحَرامُ بِالشَّهْرِ الْحَرامِ وَ الْحُرُماتُ قِصاصٌ فَمَنِ اعْتَدى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُوا عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدى عَلَيْكُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عَبَّاسُ خُذْ سِلَاحَكَ وَ هَاتِ سِلَاحِي
He (the narrator) said, ‘One of them duelled to him, and it was as if he-asws assaulted him (killed him by surprise). Then the second one duelled to him, and he joined him with the first one and left, and he-asws was saying: ‘The Sacred Month with the sacred Month and the Sacred things are (subject to) retaliation; So the one who assaults upon you, then assault upon him with the like of what he assaulted upon you; [2:194]’. Then he-asws said: ‘O Abbas! Take your weapons and give me-asws my-asws weapons’.
قَالَ وَ نَمَى الْخَبَرُ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ فَقَالَ قَبَّحَ اللَّهُ اللَّجَاجَ إِنَّهُ لَقَعُودٌ مَا رَكِبْتُهُ قَطُّ إِلَّا خُذِلْتُ فَقَالَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ الْمَخْذُولُ وَ اللَّهِ اللَّخْمِيَّانِ لَا أَنْتَ قَالَ اسْكُتْ أَيُّهَا الشَّيْخُ فَلَيْسَ هَذِهِ مِنْ سَاعَاتِكَ قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فَرَحِمَ اللَّهُ اللَّخْمِيَّيْنِ وَ مَا أَرَاهُ يَفْعَلُ
And the news got to Muawiya. He said, ‘May Allah-azwj Uglify Al-Lajaj! It is for sitting back. I did not ride it at all, except I was forsaken’. Amro Bin Al-Aas said, ‘By Allah-azwj! The forsaken are the two (men from) Lakham, not you’. He said, ‘Be quiet, O you old man! This isn’t your time’. He said, ‘So if it does not happen to be, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on the two (men from) Lakham, and I saw being done’.
قَالَ ذَلِكَ وَ اللَّهِ أَضْيَقُ لحجرك [لِجُحْرِكَ] وَ أَخْسَرُ لِصَفْقَتِكَ قَالَ أَجَلْ وَ لَوْ لَا مِصْرُ لَقَدْ كَانَتِ الْمَنْجَاةُ مِنْهَا فَقَالَ هِيَ وَ اللَّهِ أَعْمَتْكَ وَ لَوْلَاهَا لَأُلْفِيتَ بَصِيراً.
He said, ‘By Allah-azwj! That is narrower for your fleeing and more loss for your bargain’. He said, ‘Yes, and had it not been for (governorship of) Egypt, it would have been the rescue from it’. He said, ‘By Allah-azwj! It is your paternal aunt, and had it not been for her, you would have been accustomed to seeing’’.[89]
474 – جا، المجالس للمفيد التَّمَّارُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ أَبِي نُعَيْمٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ هِشَامٍ عَنْ أَبِي مِخْنَفٍ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ السَّبِيعِيِّ عَنِ الْأَصْبَغِ بْنِ نُبَاتَةَ قَالَ: إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع خَطَبَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اسْمَعُوا مَقَالَتِي وَ عُوا كَلَامِي إِنَّ الْخُيَلَاءَ مِنَ التَّجَبُّرِ وَ النَّخْوَةَ مِنَ التَّكَبُّرِ وَ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ عَدُوٌّ حَاضِرٌ يَعِدُكُمُ الْبَاطِلَ
(The book) ‘Al Majalis’ of Al Mufeed – Al Tammar, from Muhammad Bin Al Hassan, from Abu Nueym, from Salih Bin Abdullah, from Hisham, from Abu Mikhnaf, from Al Amsh, from Abu Is’haq Al Sabie, from Al Asbagh Bin Nubata who said,
‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws addressed one day. He-asws praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, and sent Salawaat upon the Prophet-saww, then said: ‘O you people! Listen to my-asws words and retain my-asws speech! The snobbery is from compulsion, and the haughtiness is from the arrogance, and that the Satan-la is an enemy who is present promising you the falsehood.
أَلَا إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمَ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ فَلَا تَنَابَزُوا وَ لَا تَخَاذَلُوا فَإِنَّ شَرَائِعَ الدِّينِ وَاحِدَةٌ وَ سُبُلَهُ قَاصِدَةٌ مَنْ أَخَذَ بِهَا لَحِقَ وَ مَنْ تَرَكَهَا مَرَقَ وَ مَنْ فَارَقَهَا مُحِقَ
Indeed! The Muslim is a brother of the Muslim, so neither call each other nicknames, nor forsake each other, for the laws of the religion and its ways are moderate. One who takes with it would join up, and one who neglects it would be pierced, and one who separates from it would be obliterated.
لَيْسَ الْمُسْلِمُ بِالْخَائِنِ إِذَا ائْتُمِنَ وَ لَا بِالْمُخْلِفِ إِذَا وَعَدَ وَ لَا بِالْكَذُوبِ إِذَا نَطَقَ نَحْنُ أَهْلُ بَيْتِ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ قَوْلُنَا الْحَقُّ وَ فِعْلُنَا الْقِسْطُ وَ مِنَّا خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ فِينَا قَادَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ أُمَنَاءُ الْكِتَابِ
The Muslim isn’t with the betrayal when he is entrusted, nor with the breaking when he promises, nor with the lies when he speaks. We-asws are people of the Household of the mercy and our-asws words are the truth, and our-asws deeds are the fair, and from us-asws is the last of the Prophets-as, and among us-asws are chiefs of Al-Islam, and trustees of the Book.
نَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ إِلَى رَسُولِهِ وَ إِلَى جِهَادِ عَدُوِّهِ وَ الشِّدَّةِ فِي أَمْرِهِ وَ ابْتِغَاءِ مَرْضَاتِهِ وَ إِلَى إِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَ إِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَ حَجِّ الْبَيْتِ وَ صِيَامِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ تَوْفِيرِ الْفَيْءِ لِأَهْلِهِ
We call you to Allah-azwj and to His-azwj Rasool-saww and to fight against His-azwj enemies, and exertion in His-saww Commands, and seeking His-azwj Pleasure, and to establish the Salat, and give the Zakaat, and of the House, and Fasts of a month of Ramazan, and provision of war booty to its rightful ones.
أَلَا وَ إِنَّ مِنْ أَعْجَبِ الْعَجَبِ أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ الْأُمَوِيَّ وَ عَمْرَو بْنَ الْعَاصِ السَّهْمِيَّ يُحَرِّضَانِ النَّاسَ عَلَى طَلَبِ دَمِ ابْنِ عَمِّهِمَا وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنِّي وَ اللَّهِ لَمْ أُخَالِفْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَطُّ وَ لَمْ أَعْصِهِ فِي أَمْرِهِ قَطُّ أَقِيهِ بِنَفْسِي فِي الْمَوَاطِنِ الَّتِي تَنْكُصُ فِيهَا الْأَبْطَالُ وَ تُرْعَدُ مِنْهَا الْفَرَائِصُ
Indeed! And from the wonders of the wonders is that Muawiya Bin Sufyan is the Umayyid, and Amro Bin Al-Aas is the Sahmy, both urging the people upon seeking the blood of a son of their uncle (Usman), and you have known that by Allah-azwj, I-asws did not oppose Rasool-Allah-saww at all, and did not disobey him-saww in his-saww instructions at all, saving him-asws by myself-asws in places which the heroes were recoiling regarding these, and the limbs were trembling from it.
بِقُوَّةٍ أَكْرَمَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِهَا فَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَ لَقَدْ قُبِضَ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ إِنَّ رَأْسَهُ لَفِي حَجْرِي وَ لَقَدْ وُلِّيتُ غُسْلَهُ بِيَدِي تُقَلِّبُهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ مَعِي وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ مَا اخْتَلَفَتْ أُمَّةٌ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا إِلَّا ظَهَرَ بَاطِلُهَا عَلَى حَقِّهَا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ
(I-asws did all this) by the strength Allah-azwj had Honoured me-asws with, so for Him-azwj is the Praise. And the Prophet-saww had passed away and his-saww head was in my-asws lap, and I-asws had been in-charge of washing him-saww by my-asws hands. The Angels of Proximity turned him-saww with me-asws. And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! No community has differed after its Prophet-saww except its falsehood prevailed over its truth, except what Allah-azwj so Desired’.
قَالَ فَقَامَ عَمَّارُ بْنُ يَاسِرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ أَمَّا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَدْ أَعْلَمَكُمْ أَنَّ الْأُمَّةَ لَمْ يَسْتَقِمْ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَتَفَرَّقَ النَّاسُ وَ قَدْ نَفَذَتْ بَصَائِرُهُمْ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Ammar Bin Yasser stood up from him-asws and said, ‘As for Amir Al-Momineen-asws, he-asws has let you know that the community did not stay straight upon it’. The people dispersed, and their insights had been enforced’’.[90]
475- كشف، كشف الغمة: خَرَجَ مِنْ عَسْكَرِ مُعَاوِيَةَ الْمِخْرَاقُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَ طَلَبَ الْبِرَازَ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ عَسْكَرِ عَلِيٍّ ع الْمُؤَمَّلُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ الْمُرَادِيُّ فَقَتَلَهُ الشَّامِيُّ فَنَزَلَ فَجَزَّ رَأْسَهُ وَ حَكَّ وَجْهَهُ بِالْأَرْضِ وَ كَبَّهُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ
(The book) ‘Kashaf Al-Ghumma’ – ‘Al-Mikhraq Bin Abdul Rahman came out from the army of Muawiya and sought the duel. Al-Muwammal Bin Ubeydullah Al-Murady came out from the army of Ali-asws. The Syrian killed him. He cut off his head and scraped his face with the ground and overturned it upon its face.
فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ فَتًى مِنَ الْأَزْدِ اسْمُهُ مُسْلِمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ رَبِّهِ فَقَتَلَهُ الشَّامِيُّ وَ فَعَلَ بِهِ كَمَا فَعَلَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى عَلِيٌّ ع ذَلِكَ تَنَكَّرَ وَ الشَّامِيُّ وَاقِفٌ يَطْلُبُ الْبِرَازَ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ وَ هُوَ لَا يَعْرِفُهُ فَطَلَبَهُ فَبَدَرَهُ عَلِيٌّ ع بِضَرْبَةٍ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ فَرَمَى بِشِقِّهِ فَنَزَلَ فَاجْتَزَّ رَأْسَهُ وَ قَلَبَ وَجْهَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَ رَكِبَ وَ نَادَى هَلْ مِنْ مُبَارِزٍ
A youth from Azd whose name was Muslim Bin Abd Rabbih came out to him, but the Syrian killed him and did with him just as he had done (with the other one). When Ali-asws saw that, he-asws covered his-asws face, and the Syrian was standing seeking the duel. He-asws came out to him, and he did not recognise him. He sought him, so Ali-asws rushed towards him with a strike upon his shoulder, and threw away his split piece. He-asws descended and cut off his head and overturned his face towards the sky, and he-asws rode away and he-asws was saying: ‘Is there anyone for duel?’
فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ فَارِسٌ فَقَتَلَهُ وَ فَعَلَ بِهِ كَمَا فَعَلَ وَ رَكِبَ وَ نَادَى هَلْ مِنْ مُبَارِزٍ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ فَارِسٌ فَقَتَلَهُ وَ فَعَلَ كَمَا فَعَلَ كَذَا إِلَى أَنْ قَتَلَ سَبْعَةً فَأَحْجَمَ عَنْهُ النَّاسُ وَ لَمْ يَعْرِفُوهُ
A horseman came out to him-asws. He-asws killed him and did with him just as he-asws had done, and he-asws rode, and called out: ‘Is there anyone for duel?’ A horseman came out to him-asws. He-asws killed him and did just as he-asws had done. It was like that until he-asws had killed seven. The people refrained from him-asws and they did not recognise him-asws.
وَ كَانَ لِمُعَاوِيَةَ عَبْدٌ يُسَمَّى حَرْباً وَ كَانَ شُجَاعاً فَقَالَ لَهُ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَيْلَكَ يَا حَرْبُ اخْرُجْ إِلَى هَذَا الْفَارِسِ فَاكْفِنِي أَمْرَهُ فَقَدْ قَتَلَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِي مَا قَدْ رَأَيْتَ
And there was a slave for Muawiya named as Harb, and he was brave. Muawiya said to him, ‘Woe be unto you, O Harb! Go to this horseman and suffice me of his matter, for he has killed from my companions what you have seen’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ حَرْبٌ إِنِّي وَ اللَّهِ أَرَى مَقَامَ فَارِسٍ لَوْ نَزَلَ إِلَيْهِ أَهْلُ عَسْكَرِكَ لَأَفْنَاهُمْ عَنْ آخِرِهِمْ فَإِنْ شِئْتَ بَرَزْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ قَاتِلِي وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ فَاسْتَبِقْنِي لِغَيْرِهِ
Harb said to him, ‘By Allah-azwj! I see a position of such a horseman, if the people of your army were to descend to him, he would annihilate them to their last one. If you like, I will duel to him, and I know he will kill me, and if you like, you can save me for someone else’.
فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ تُقْتَلَ فَقِفْ مَكَانَكَ حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ إِلَيْهِ غَيْرُكَ وَ جَعَلَ عَلِيٌّ ع يُنَادِيهِمْ وَ لَا يَخْرُجُ إِلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ فَرَفَعَ الْمِغْفَرَ عَنْ رَأْسِهِ وَ رَجَعَ إِلَى عَسْكَرِهِ
Muawiya said, ‘No, by Allah-azwj! I do not like you being killed, so stay in your place until someone else goes out to him. And Ali-asws went on calling out to them and no one was coming out to him-asws. He-asws raised the helmet from his-asws head and returned to his-asws soldiers.
فَخَرَجَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَبْطَالِ الشَّامِ اسْمُهُ كُرَيْبُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ فَطَلَبَ الْبِرَازَ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ الْمُرَقَّعُ الْخَوْلَانِيُّ فَقَتَلَهُ الشَّامِيُّ وَ خَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ آخَرُ فَقَتَلَهُ أَيْضاً فَرَأَى عَلِيٌّ ع فَارِساً بَطَلًا فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ عَلِيٌّ ع بِنَفْسِهِ فَوَقَفَ قُبَالَتَهُ وَ قَالَ لَهُ مَنْ أَنْتَ قَالَ أَنَا كُرَيْبُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ الْحِمْيَرِيُّ
A man from the heroes of Syria came out, his name is Kureyb Bin Al-Sabbah. He sought the duel. Al-Muraq’a Al-Khawalany came out to him. The Syrian killed him. And another one came out to him. He killed him as well. Ali-asws saw the champion horseman. Ali-asws went out to him himself-asws and paused facing him. He-asws said: ‘Who are you?’ He said, ‘I am Kureyb Bin Al-Sabbah Al-Himeyri.
فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ ع وَيْحَكَ يَا كُرَيْبُ إِنِّي أُحَذِّرُكَ اللَّهَ فِي نَفْسِكَ وَ أَدْعُوكَ إِلَى كِتَابِهِ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ فَقَالَ كُرَيْبٌ مَنْ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ أَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَاللَّهَ اللَّهَ فِي نَفْسِكَ فَإِنِّي أَرَاكَ فَارِساً بَطَلًا فَيَكُونُ لَكَ مَا لَنَا وَ عَلَيْكَ مَا عَلَيْنَا وَ تَصُونُ نَفْسَكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ وَ لَا يُدْخِلَنَّكَ مُعَاوِيَةُ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ
Ali-asws said to him: ‘Woe be unto you, O Kureyb! I-asws caution you of Allah-azwj regarding yourself, and invite you to His-azwj Book and Sunnah of His-azwj Prophet-saww’. Kureyb said, ‘Who are you-asws?’ He-asws said: ‘I-asws am Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, so Allah-azwj, Allah-azwj regarding yourself, for I-asws see you as a champion horseman. There would happen to be for you what is for us, and against you what is against us, and you can fortify yourself from the Punishment of Allah-azwj, and Muawiya will not (be able to) enter you into the Fire of Hell’.
فَقَالَ كُرَيْبٌ ادْنُ مِنِّي إِنْ شِئْتَ وَ جَعَلَ يُلَوِّحُ بِسَيْفِهِ فَمَشَى إِلَيْهِ عَلِيٌّ ع وَ الْتَقَيَا بِضَرْبَتَيْنِ فَبَدَرَهُ عَلِيٌّ ع فَقَتَلَهُ
Kureyb said, ‘Come near me if you-asws like’, and he went on to wave his sword. Ali-asws walked towards him and they both met (in battle) with strikes. Ali-asws rushed towards him and killed him.
فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ الْحَارِثُ بْنُ الْحِمْيَرِيِّ فَقَتَلَهُ وَ آخَرُ فَقَتَلَهُ حَتَّى قَتَلَ أَرْبَعَةً وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ الشَّهْرُ الْحَرامُ بِالشَّهْرِ الْحَرامِ وَ الْحُرُماتُ قِصاصٌ فَمَنِ اعْتَدى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُوا عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدى عَلَيْكُمْ وَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
Al-Haris Bin Al-Himeyri came out to him, and he-asws killed him; and (so did) another, and he-asws killed him, until he-asws had killed four, and he-asws was saying: ‘The Sacred Month with the sacred Month and the Sacred things are (subject to) retaliation; So the one who assaults upon you, then assault upon him with the like of what he assaulted upon you; and fear Allah and know that Allah is with the fearing ones [2:194]’.
ثُمَّ صَاحَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ هَلُمَّ إِلَى مُبَارَزَتِي وَ لَا تَفْنَيَنَّ الْعَرَبُ بَيْنَنَا فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لَا حَاجَةَ لِي فِي ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ قَتَلْتَ أَرْبَعَةً مِنْ سِبَاعِ الْعَرَبِ فَحَسْبُكَ
Then Ali-asws shouted: ‘O Muawiya! Come to duel me-asws and do not annihilate the Arabs between us!’ Muawiya said, ‘There is no need for me regarding that, for you-asws have killed four from the lions of the Arabs, it suffices you-asws’.
فَصَاحَ شَخْصٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ مُعَاوِيَةَ اسْمُهُ عُرْوَةُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ يَا عَلِيُّ إِنْ كَانَ مُعَاوِيَةُ قَدْ كَرِهَ مُبَارَزَتَكَ فَهَلُمَّ إِلَى مُبَارَزَتِي فَذَهَبَ عَلِيٌّ ع نَحْوَهُ فَبَدَرَهُ عُرْوَةُ بِضَرْبَةٍ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْ شَيْئاً وَ ضَرَبَهُ عَلِيٌّ فَأَسْقَطَهُ قَتِيلًا ثُمَّ قَالَ انْطَلِقْ إِلَى النَّارِ وَ كَبُرَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ قَتْلُ عُرْوَةَ وَ جَاءَ اللَّيْلُ
A person from the companions of Muawiya, his names is Urwah Bin Dawood, shouted, ‘O Ali-asws! Even though Muawiya has disliked duelling you, so come to duel me!’ Ali-asws went towards him. Urwa rushed towards him-asws with a strike, but could not do anything, and Ali-asws struck him, and he fell down killed. Then he-asws said: ‘Go to the Fire!’ The killing of Urwa was grievous upon the people of Syria, and night came.
وَ خَرَجَ عَلِيٌّ ع فِي يَوْمٍ آخَرَ مُتَنَكِّراً فَطَلَبَ الْبِرَازَ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ وَ هُوَ لَا يَعْرِفُ أَنَّهُ عَلِيٌّ وَ عَرَفَهُ عَلِيٌّ ع فَاطَّرَدَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ لِيُبَعِّدَهُ عَنْ عَسْكَرِهِ فَتَبِعَهُ عَمْرٌو مُرْتَجِزاً
| يَا قَادَةَ الْكُوفَةِ يَا أَهْلَ الْفِتَنِ- | أَضْرِبُكُمْ وَ لَا أَرَى أَبَا الْحَسَنِ- |
And Ali-asws came out during another day covering his-asws face. He-asws sought the duel and Amro Bin Al-Aas came out to him-asws, and he did not recognise it was Ali-asws, and Ali-asws recognised him. He-asws was steady in front of him in order to distance him from his soldiers. Amro followed him reciting a war poem, ‘O guide of Al-Kufa! O people of Fitna! I am striking you all and I cannot see Abu Al-Hassan-asws’.
فَرَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ عَلِيٌّ ع وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ
| أَبُو الْحُسَيْنِ فَاعْلَمَنَّ وَ الْحَسَنِ- | جَاءَكَ يَقْتَادُ الْعِنَانَ وَ الرَّسَنَ- |
Ali-asws responded to him, and he-asws was saying: ‘Father-asws of Al-Husayn-asws, and known as (father) of Al-Hassan-asws has come to you leading the reins and the ropes’.
فَعَرَفَهُ عَمْرٌو فَوَلَّى رَكْضاً وَ لَحِقَهُ عَلِيٌّ فَطَعَنَهُ طَعْنَةً وَقَعَ الرُّمْحُ فِي فُضُولِ دِرْعِهِ فَسَقَطَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَ خَشِيَ أَنْ يَقْتُلَهُ فَرَفَعَ رِجْلَيْهِ فَبَدَتْ سَوْأَتُهُ فَصَرَفَ عَلِيٌّ ع وَجْهَهُ وَ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى عَسْكَرِهِ وَ جَاءَ عَمْرٌو وَ مُعَاوِيَةُ يَضْحَكُ مِنْهُ
Amro recognised him-asws, so he turned around running, and Ali-asws caught up with him and stabbed him a stab, the spear fell in the bottom of his armour, so he fell down to the ground, and he feared that he-asws would kill him, so he revealed his nakedness. Ali-asws turned his-asws face away from him and left to go to his-asws soldiers, and Amro came (back) and Muawiya was laughing from it.
فَقَالَ مِمَّ تَضْحَكُ وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ بَدَا لِعَلِيٍّ مِنْ صَفْحَتِكَ مَا بَدَا لَهُ مِنْ صَفْحَتِي إِذاً لَأَوْجَعَ قَذَالَكَ وَ أَيْتَمَ عِيَالَكَ وَ أَنْهَبَ مَالَكَ
He said, ‘What are you laughing from? By Allah-azwj! Had it been revealed to Ali-asws from your page and it had been revealed to him from my page, then your slander would have been painful to you, and your dependants would have been orphaned, and your wealth plundered’.
فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لَوْ كُنْتَ تَحْتَمِلُ مِزَاحاً لَمَازَحْتُكَ فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو وَ مَا أَحْمَلَنِي لِلْمِزَاحِ وَ لَكِنْ إِذَا لَقِيَ الرَّجُلُ رَجُلًا فَصَدَّ عَنْهُ وَ لَمْ يَقْتُلْهُ أَ تَقْطُرُ السَّمَاءُ دَماً فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لَا وَ لَكِنَّهَا تُعْقِبُ فَضِيحَةَ الْأَبَدِ حِيناً وَ حِيناً أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ عَرَفْتَهُ لَمَا أَقْدَمْتَ عَلَيْهِ
Muawiya said, ‘If you would tolerate a joke, I was joking to you’. Amro said, ‘And what would carry me to the joking? But, when the man meets a man, and he bleed from him and he does not kill him, would the sky drop blood?’ Muawiya said, ‘No, but the consequence of a slander last forever, now and then. But, by Allah-azwj! Had you recognised him-asws you would not have gone ahead to him-asws’.
وَ كَانَ فِي أَصْحَابِ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَارِسٌ مَشْهُورٌ بِالشَّجَاعَةِ اسْمُهُ بُسْرُ بْنُ أَرْطَاةَ فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ بُسْرٌ عَلِيّاً ع يَدْعُو مُعَاوِيَةَ إِلَى الْبِرَازِ وَ مُعَاوِيَةُ يَمْتَنِعُ قَالَ قَدْ عَزَمْتُ عَلَى مُبَارَزَةِ عَلِيٍّ فَلَعَلِّي أَقْتُلُهُ فَأَذْهَبَ بِشُهْرَتِهِ فِي الْعَرَبِ وَ شَاوَرَ غُلَاماً يُقَالُ لَهُ لَاحِقٌ فَقَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ وَاثِقاً مِنْ نَفْسِكَ وَ إِلَّا فَلَا تُبَارِزْ إِلَيْهِ فَإِنَّهُ وَ اللَّهِ الشُّجَاعُ الْمُطْرِقُ
And there was a horseman among the companions of Muawiya, famous with the bravery, his name is Busr Bin Artah. When Busr heard Ali-asws calling Muawiya to the duel and Muawiya refusing, he said, ‘I am determined upon duelling Ali-asws, so upon me is to kill him-asws’. He went with his reputation among the Arabs and consulted a slave called Lahiq. He said, ‘Either you trust yourself or else do not go to him-asws, for by Allah-azwj, he-asws is the wrought brave’.
وَ أَنْشَدَ
| فَأَنْتَ لَهُ يَا بُسْرُ إِنْ كُنْتَ مِثْلَهُ- | وَ إِلَّا فَإِنَّ اللَّيْثَ لِلضَّبُعِ آكِلٌ- | |
| مَتَى تَلْقَهُ فَالْمَوْتُ فِي رَأْسِ رُمْحِهِ- | وَ فِي سَيْفِهِ شُغُلٌ لِنَفْسِكَ شَاغِلٌ- |
And he prosed, ‘So you are for him, O Busr, if you were like him-asws, or else, the lion would devour the hyena. When you meet him-asws, then the death is in the head of his-asws spear, and in his-asws sword is a pre-occupation pre-occupying yourself’.
فَقَالَ وَيْحَكَ هَلْ هِيَ إِلَّا الْمَوْتُ وَ لَا بُدَّ مِنْ لِقَاءِ اللَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ إِمَّا بِمَوْتٍ أَوْ قَتْلٍ
He said, ‘Woe be unto you! Is it except the death? And there is no escape from meeting Allah-azwj upon every situation, either one dies or is killed’.
ثُمَّ خَرَجَ بُسْرٌ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع وَ هُوَ سَاكِتٌ بِحَيْثُ لَا يَعْرِفُهُ عَلِيٌّ ع لِحَالَةٍ كَانَتْ صَدَرَتْ مِنْهُ فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ عَلِيٌّ ع حَمَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَسَقَطَ بُسْرٌ عَنْ فَرَسِهِ عَلَى قَفَاهُ وَ رَفَعَ رِجْلَيْهِ وَ انْكَشَفَتْ سَوْأَتُهُ فَصَرَفَ عَلِيٌّ ع وَجْهَهُ عَنْهُ وَ وَثَبَ بُسْرٌ قَائِماً وَ سَقَطَ الْمِغْفَرُ عَنْ رَأْسِهِ
Then Busr came out to Ali-asws and he was silent where he did not know Ali-asws of a state which had transpired from him-asws. When Ali-asws looked at him, attacked upon him. Bust fell down from his horse upon his palms, and he raised his legs and uncovered his nakedness. Ali-asws turned his-asws face away from him, and Busr leapt up standing, and the helmet fell off from his head.
فَصَاحَ أَصْحَابُ عَلِيٍّ ع يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّهُ بُسْرُ بْنُ أَرْطَاةَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع ذَرُوهُ عَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ فَضَحِكَ مُعَاوِيَةُ مِنْ بُسْرٍ وَ قَالَ لَا عَلَيْكَ فَقَدْ نَزَلَ بِعَمْرٍو مِثْلُهَا وَ صَاحَ فَتًى مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ وَيْلَكُمْ يَا أَهْلَ الشَّامِ أَ مَا تَسْتَحْيُونَ لَقَدْ عَلَّمَكُمُ ابْنُ عَاصٍ كَشْفَ الْأَسْتَاهِ فِي الْحُرُوبِ
The companions of Ali-asws shouted, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! It is Busr Bin Artah!’ Ali-asws said: ‘Leave him! Upon him is the Curse of Allah-azwj’. Muawiya laughed from Busr and said, ‘Not (only) upon you, for it has befallen with Amro the like of it’. And a youth from the people of Al-Kufa shouted, ‘Woe be unto you all, O people of Syria! Are you not ashamed? Ibn Aas has taught you uncovering of the nakedness in the wars’.
وَ أَنْشَدَ
| أَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ فَارِسٌ ذُو كَرِيهَةٍ- | لَهُ عَوْرَةٌ وَسْطَ الْعَجَاجَةِ بَادِيَةٌ- | |
| يَكُفُّ بِهَا عَنْهُ عَلِيٌّ سِنَانَهُ- | وَ يَضْحَكُ مِنْهُ فِي الْخَلَاءِ مُعَاوِيَةُ- | |
| فَقُولَا لِعَمْرٍو وَ ابْنِ أَرْطَاةَ أَبْصِرَا- | سَبِيلَكُمَا لَا تَلْقَيَا اللَّيْثَ ثَانِيَةً- | |
| فَلَا تَحْمَدَا إِلَّا الْحَيَاءَ وَ خُصَاكُمَا- | هُمَا كَانَتَا وَ اللَّهِ لِلنَّفْسِ وَاقِيَةً- | |
| فَلَوْلَاهُمَا لَمْ تَنْجُوَا مِنْ سِنَانِهِ- | وَ تِلْكَ بِمَا فِيهَا مِنَ الْعَوْدِ ثَانِيَةً- |
And he prosed, ‘Is it during every day that a horseman with abhorrence would be revealing his nakedness in the middle of the battleground? Ali-asws restrained his-asws blade from him, and Muawiya laughed at him in private. He said to Amro and Ibn Artah, ‘See your way, do not meet the lion for a second time. So, do not praise except the shame and your specialisations. By Allah-azwj! These two were saving themselves. Had it not been for them both (revealing their nakedness), they would not have been saved from his-asws blade, and that is with whatever is in it from the repeating for the second time’’.
وَ كَانَ بُسْرٌ يَضْحَكُ مِنْ عَمْرٍو فَعَادَ عَمْرٌو يَضْحَكُ مِنْهُ وَ تَحَامَى أَهْلُ الشَّامِ عَلِيّاً فَخَافُوهُ خَوْفاً شَدِيداً وَ كَانَ لِعُثْمَانَ مَوْلًى اسْمُهُ أَحْمَرُ فَخَرَجَ يَطْلُبُ الْبِرَازَ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ كَيْسَانُ مَوْلَى عَلِيٍّ ع فَحَمَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَتَلَهُ فَقَالَ ع قَتَلَنِيَ اللَّهُ إِنْ لَمْ أَقْتُلْكَ ثُمَّ حَمَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُ بِالسَّيْفِ فَاتَّقَى عَلِيٌّ ع ضَرْبَتَهُ بِالْحَجَفَةِ ثُمَّ قَبَضَ ثَوْبَهُ وَ اقْتَلَعَهُ مِنْ سَرْجِهِ وَ ضَرَبَ بِهِ الْأَرْضَ فَكَسَرَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ وَ عَضُدَيْهِ
And Busr had laughed from Amro, so Amro returned by laughing from him. And the people of Syria were abstaining from Ali-asws and they feared him-asws with severe fright. And there was a slave of Usman, his name is Ahmar, he came out seeking the duel. Kaysan, a slave of Ali-asws came out to him. He (Ahmar) attacked upon him and killed him. Ali-asws said: ‘May Allah-azwj Kill me-asws if I-asws do not kill you!’ Then he-asws attacked upon him. He faced him-asws with the sword, and Ali-asws saved his strike with the fencing, then grabbed his clothes and uprooted him from his saddle and struck the ground with him. He broke his shoulder and his forearm.
وَ دَنَا مِنْهُ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ فَمَا زَادَهُ قُرْبُهُمْ إِسْرَاعاً فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُهُ الْحَسَنُ ع مَا ضَرَّكَ لَوْ سَعَيْتَ حَتَّى تَنْتَهِيَ إِلَى أَصْحَابِكَ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّ لِأَبِيكَ يَوْماً لم [لَنْ] يَعْدُوَهُ وَ لَا بِهِ تُبْطِئُ عَنْهُ السَّعْيُ وَ لَا يَعْجَلُ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ الْمَشْيُ وَ إِنَّ أَبَاكَ وَ اللَّهِ لَا يُبَالِي أَ وَقَعَ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ أَمْ وَقَعَ الْمَوْتُ عَلَيْهِ
And the people of Syrian came closer to him-asws. Their nearness did not increase him-asws in the quickness. His-asws son-asws Al-Hassan-asws said to him-asws: ‘It will not harm you-asws if you-asws were to sprint until you-asws ended up to your-asws companions’. He-asws said: ‘O my-asws son-asws! There is a day for your-asws father-asws, it will not leave him-asws, nor will the sprinting delay it from him-asws, nor will the walking hasten it to him-asws, and by Allah-azwj, your-asws father-asws does not care whether he-asws falls upon the death or the death falls upon him-asws’.
وَ كَانَ لِمُعَاوِيَةَ عَبْدٌ اسْمُهُ حُرَيْثٌ وَ كَانَ فَارِساً بَطَلًا فَحَذَّرَهُ مُعَاوِيَةُ مِنَ التَّعَرُّضِ لِعَلِيٍّ فَخَرَجَ وَ تَنَكَّرَ لَهُ فَقَالَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ لِحُرَيْثٍ لَا يَفُوتُكَ هَذَا الْفَارِسُ وَ عَرَفَ عَمْرٌو أَنَّهُ عَلِيٌّ ع فَحَمَلَ حُرَيْثٌ فَدَاخَلَهُ عَلِيٌّ وَ ضَرَبَهُ ضَرْبَةً أَطَارَ بِهَا قِحْفَ رَأْسِهِ فَسَقَطَ قَتِيلًا وَ اغْتَمَّ مُعَاوِيَةُ عَلَيْهِ غَمّاً شَدِيداً وَ قَالَ لِعَمْرٍو أَنْتَ قَتَلْتَ حُرَيْثاً وَ غَرَّرْتَهُ
And there was a slave for Muawiya, his name is Hureys, and he was a champion horseman. Muawiya cautioned him from the exposure to Ali-asws. He came out and he-asws covered his-asws face to him. Amro Bin Al-Aas said to Hureys, ‘Do not miss out on this horseman’, and Amro knew it was Ali-asws. Hureys attacked and Ali-asws blocked him and struck him such a strike, the cranium of his head flew off and he fell down killed. And Muawiya was saddened upon him with severe gloom, and he said to Amro, ‘You killed Hureys and deceived’.
وَ خَرَجَ الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ الْهَاشِمِيُّ فَأَبْلَى وَ خَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ فَارِسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَتَنَازَلَا وَ تَضَارَبَا وَ نَظَرَ الْعَبَّاسُ إِلَى وَهْنٍ فِي دِرْعِ الشَّامِيِّ فَضَرَبَهُ الْعَبَّاسُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ الْوَهْنِ فَقَدَّهُ بِاثْنَتَيْنِ فَكَبَّرَ جَيْشُ عَلِيٍّ ع وَ رَكِبَ الْعَبَّاسُ فَرَسَهُ
And Al-Abbas Bin Rabie Bin Al-Haris Al-Hashimy came out and battled, and a horseman from the companions of Muawiya. They both descended and struck each other, and Al-Abbas looked at a weakness in the shield of the Syrian. Al-Abbas struck him upon that weakness and split it into two. The army of Ali-asws exclaimed Takbeer, and Al-Abbas rode his horse.
فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ مَنْ خَرَجَ إِلَى هَذَا فَقَتَلَهُ فَلَهُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَوَثَبَ رَجُلَانِ مِنْ لَخْمٍ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ فَقَالا نَحْنُ نَخْرُجُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ اخْرُجَا فَأَيُّكُمَا سَبَقَ إِلَى قَتْلِهِ فَلَهُ مِنَ الْمَالِ مَا ذَكَرْتُ وَ لِلْآخَرِ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ
Muawiya said, ‘Who will go out to this one and kill him? For him would be such and such’. Two men from Lakham from Al-Yemen leapt up, ‘We shall go out to him’. He said, ‘Go out, for whichever of you precedes to kill him, for him would be from the wealth whatever he mentions, and for the other one would be similar to that’.
فَخَرَجَا إِلَى مَقَرِّ الْمُبَارَزَةِ وَ صَاحَا بِالْعَبَّاسِ وَ دَعَوَاهُ إِلَى الْقِتَالِ فَقَالَ أَسْتَأْذِنُ صَاحِبِي وَ أَعُودُ إِلَيْكُمَا وَ جَاءَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع لِيَسْتَأْذِنَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَعْطِنِي ثِيَابَكَ وَ سِلَاحَكَ وَ فَرَسَكَ وَ لَبِسَهَا وَ رَكِبَ الْفَرَسَ وَ خَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمَا فَظَنَّا أَنَّهُ عَلَى الْعَبَّاسِ فَقَالا اسْتَأْذَنْتَ صَاحِبَكَ
They both went out to the duel and shouted for Al-Abbas and called him to the fighting. He said, ‘I shall seek permission of my Master-asws and I shall return to you’. And he came to Ali-asws in order to seek his permission. He-asws said to him: ‘Give me your clothes and your weapons and your horse’, and he-asws wore them and rode the horse and went out to them both. They thought it is Al-Abbas. They said, ‘Your Master-asws has permitted you?’
فَتَحَرَّجَ مِنَ الْكَذِبِ فَقَرَأَ أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ
He-asws was embarrassed from the lying. He-asws recited: There is Permission (to fight) for those who are fought against because they are oppressed, and surely Allah is Able upon Helping them [22:39]’.
فَتَقَدَّمَ إِلَيْهِ أَحَدُ الرَّجُلَيْنِ فَالْتَقَيَا ضَرْبَتَيْنِ ضَرَبَهُ عَلِيٌّ ع عَلَى مَرَاقِّ بَطْنِهِ قَطَعَهُ بِاثْنَتَيْنِ فَظَنَّ أَنَّهُ أَخْطَأَهُ فَلَمَّا تَحَرَّكَ الْفَرَسُ سَقَطَ قِطْعَتَيْنِ وَ غَارَ فَرَسُهُ وَ صَارَ إِلَى عَسْكَرِ عَلِيٍّ ع
One of the two men advanced to him-asws, and two strikes met. Ali-asws struck him upon the middle of his belly and cut it into two. The (people) thought he-asws had missed, but when the horse moves, he fell down in two pieces, and his horse neighed and came to the army of Ali-asws.
وَ تَقَدَّمَ الْآخَرُ فَضَرَبَهُ عَلِيٌّ ع فَأَلْحَقَهُ بِصَاحِبِهِ ثُمَّ جَالَ عَلَيْهِمْ جَوْلَةً وَ رَجَعَ إِلَى مَوْضِعِهِ وَ عَلِمَ مُعَاوِيَةُ أَنَّهُ عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ قَبَّحَ اللَّهُ اللَّجَاجَ إِنَّهُ لَقَعُودٌ مَا رَكِبْتُهُ إِلَّا خُذِلْتُ فَقَالَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ الْمَخْذُولُ وَ اللَّهِ اللَّخْمِيَّانِ لَا أَنْتَ
And the other on advanced. Ali-asws struck him and he joined up with his companion. Then he-asws roamed to them with a roaming and returned to his-asws place, and Muawiya came to know it was Ali-asws. He said, ‘May Allah-azwj Uglify Al-Lajaj! It is for sitting back. I did not ride it except I was abandoned’. Amro Bin Al-Aas said, ‘By Allah-azwj! The two men of Lakham are the abandoned, not you’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ مُعَاوِيَةُ اسْكُتْ أَيُّهَا الْإِنْسَانُ لَيْسَ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةُ مِنْ سَاعَتِكَ فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ مِنْ سَاعَاتِي فَرَحِمَ اللَّهُ اللَّخْمِيَّيْنِ وَ لَا أَظُنُّهُ يَفْعَلُ
Muawiya said to him, ‘Be quiet, O you human being! This is not the time from your time’. Amro said, ‘So, if it does not happen to be from my time, then may Allah-azwj have Mercy on the two men of Lakham, and I do not think he-asws did it’.
وَ قَالَ فِي وَصْفِ لَيْلَةِ الْهَرِيرِ فَمَا لَقِيَ ع شُجَاعاً إِلَّا أَرَاقَ دَمَهُ وَ لَا بَطَلًا إِلَّا زَلْزَلَ قَدَمَهُ وَ لَا مُرِيداً إِلَّا أَعْدَمَهُ وَ لَا قَاسِطاً إِلَّا قَصَرَ عُمُرَهُ وَ أَطَالَ نَدَمَهُ وَ لَا جَمْعَ نِفَاقٍ إِلَّا فَرَّقَهُ وَ لَا بِنَاءَ ضَلَالٍ إِلَّا هَدَمَهُ
And he said in description of ‘Laylat Al-Hareer’, ‘He-asws did not meet any brave except his blood was spilt, nor any champion except his feet wavered, nor any intender except he was put to death, nor any youth except his life was cut short and his regret prolonged. And there did not gather any hypocrisy except he separated it, nor a straying built up except he-asws demolished it.
وَ كَانَ كُلَّمَا قَتَلَ فَارِساً أَعْلَنَ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ فَأَحْصَيْتُ تَكْبِيرَاتِهِ لَيْلَةَ الْهَرِيرِ فَكَانَتْ خَمْسَمِائَةٍ وَ ثَلَاثاً وَ عِشْرِينَ تَكْبِيرَةً بِخَمْسِمِائَةٍ وَ ثَلَاثَةٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ قَتِيلًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ
And every time a horseman was killed, it was announced with exclamation of Takbeer. I counted the exclamations of Takbeer during ‘Laylat Al-Hareer’, and there were five hundred and twenty-three exclamations of Takbeer for five hundred and twenty-three killed from the inmates of the blazing Fire’.
وَ قِيلَ إِنَّهُ فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ فَتَقَ نَيْفَقَ دِرْعِهِ لِثِقَلِ مَا كَانَ يَسِيلُ مِنَ الدَّمِ عَلَى ذِرَاعِهِ وَ قِيلَ إِنَّ قَتْلَاهُ عُرِفُوا فِي النَّهَارِ فَإِنَّ ضَرَبَاتِهِ كَانَتْ عَلَى وَتِيرَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ إِنْ ضَرَبَ طُولًا قَدَّ أَوْ عَرْضاً قَطَّ وَ كَانَتْ كَأَنَّهَا مِكْوَاةٌ بِالنَّارِ.
And it is said, ‘During that night (Laylat Al-Hareer), the belt of his-asws armour snapped due to the weight of what had flowed from the blood upon his-asws armour’. And it is said, ‘The ones slain by him-asws were recognised during the day, for his-asws strikes were upon one pace, whether he-asws had struck lengthwise or width-wise, and it is as if these were cut by the fire’’.[91]
476- بشا، بشارة المصطفى إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ الْبَصْرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مَخْلَدٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْمُفَضَّلِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَعْقِلٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي الصُّهْبَانِ عَنِ الْبَزَنْطِيِّ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ تَغْلِبَ عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ مَوْلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ:
(The book) ‘Basharat Al Mustafa-saww’ – Ibrahim Bin Al Hassan al Basry, reading upon it during Safar of the year five hundred and ten, at the location of our Master-asws Amir Al-Momineen Ali Bn Abu Talib-asws, from Al Sheykh Abu Talib Muhammad Bin Al Husayn Bin Utba, from Abu Al Husayn Muhammad Bin Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Makhlad Al Madary, from Abu Al Mufazzal Muhammad Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammad Bin Al Muttalib Al Shaybani, during Shaban of the year three hundred and eighty six at Baghdad, at the river Dajjaj in the house of Al Saydawy Al Munshid, from Muhammad Bin Muhammad Bin Ma’qal Al Ijaly Al Qarmasany (Al Qirmaysiny) at Shahrazour, from Muhammad Bin Abu Al Suhban Al Bahily, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Abu Nasr, from Aban Bin Usman Al Ahmar, from Aban Bin Taghlub, from Ikrama, a slave of Abdullah Bin Abbas, from Abdullah Bin Abbas who said,
عقم [عَقِمَتِ] النِّسَاءُ أَنْ يَأْتِينَ بِمِثْلِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع مَا كَشَفَتِ النِّسَاءُ ذُيُولَهُنَّ عَنْ مِثْلِهِ لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْتُ فَارِساً مُحْدَثاً يُوزَنُ بِهِ
‘The women were futile from coming with (a child) the like of Amir Al-Momineen Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, they could not uncover their veil from the like of him-asws. No, by Allah-azwj! I did not see any horseman as young, riding with it.
لَرَأَيْتُهُ يَوْماً وَ نَحْنُ مَعَهُ بِصِفِّينَ وَ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ عِمَامَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ وَ كَأَنَّ عَيْنَيْهِ سِرَاجَا سَلِيطٍ يَتَوَقَّدَانِ مِنْ تَحْتِهِمَا يَقِفُ عَلَى شِرْذِمَةٍ شِرْذِمَةٍ يَحُضُّهُمْ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى نَفَرٍ أَنَا فِيهِمْ وَ طَلَعَتْ خَيْلٌ لِمُعَاوِيَةَ تُدْعَى بِالْكَتِيبَةِ الشَّهْبَاءِ عَشَرَةُ آلَافِ دَارِعٍ عَلَى عَشَرَةِ آلَافِ أَشْهَبَ فَاقْشَعَرَّ النَّاسُ لَهَا لَمَّا رَأَوْهَا وَ انْحَازَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ
I saw him-asws one day, and we were with him-asws at Siffeen, and upon his-asws head was a black turban, and it was as if his-asws eyes were two lamps being ignited from beneath the two, pausing upon a platoon, addressing them until he-asws ended up to a number, me being among them, and the cavalry of Muawiya (may Allah-azwj Curse him) emerged, called Al-Shaba’a, battalion of ten thousand armed and ten thousand mixed people. The people were frightened to it due to what they saw and aligned with each other.
فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِيمَ النَّخَعُ وَ الْخَنَعُ يَا أَهْلَ الْعِرَاقِ هَلْ هِيَ إِلَّا أَشْخَاصٌ مَاثِلَةٌ فِيهَا قُلُوبٌ طَائِرَةٌ لَوْ مَسَّهَا سُيُوفُ قُلُوبِ أَهْلِ الْحَقِّ لَرَأَيْتُمُوهَا كَجَرَادٍ بِقِيعَةٍ سَفَّتْهُ الرِّيحُ فِي يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍ
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘Regarding what is the flipping and the dispersion? People of Al-Iraq! Is it except for the persons who are inclining wherein are flying hearts? If the swords of the people of the truth were to touch these (hearts), you would see them like locusts, on a spot struck by the wind during a stormy day.
أَلَا فَاسْتَشْعِرُوا الْخَشْيَةَ وَ تَجَلْبَبُوا السَّكِينَةَ وَ ادْرَعُوا الصَّبْرَ وَ غُضُّوا الْأَصْوَاتَ وَ قَلْقِلُوا الْأَسْيَافَ فِي الْأَغْمَادِ قَبْلَ السَّلَّةِ وَ انْظُرُوا الشَّزْرَ وَ اطْعُنُوا الْوَجْرَ وَ كَافِحُوا بِالظُّبَى
Indeed! Be aware of the fear of Allah-azwj, and bring about the tranquillity and arm yourselves with the patience and lower your voices, and shake the swords in the sheaths before the brandishing, and lookout at both the sides and stab your spears from both sides and fight with the mountain goats (cowardly fleeing enemies).
وَ صِلُوا السُّيُوفَ بِالخُطَى وَ النِّبَالَ بِالرِّمَاحِ وَ عَاوِدُوا الْكَرَّ وَ اسْتَحْيُوا مِنَ الْفَرِّ فَإِنَّهُ عَارٌ فِي الْأَعْقَابِ وَ نَارٌ يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ وَ طِيبُوا عَنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ نَفْساً وَ امْشُوا إِلَى الْمَوْتِ مَشْيَةً سُجُحاً فَإِنَّكُمْ بِعَيْنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مَعَ أَخِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص
And strike your swords with the pace, and the darting of the spears, and repeat the striking, and be ashamed from fleeing for it would be a shame among the posterity, and (you would be in the) Fire on the Day of Reckoning. Therefore, make good your own selves and walk towards the death with an easy walk, for you all are in the Eyes of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic and with the brother of Rasool-Allah-saww.
وَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذَا السُّرَادِقِ الْأَدْلَمِ وَ الرِّوَاقِ الْمُظْلِمِ فَاضْرِبُوا ثَبَجَهُ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ رَاقِدٌ فِي كِسْرِهِ نَافِجٌ حِضْنَيْهِ مُفْتَرِشٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ قَدْ قَدَّمَ لِلْوَثْبَةِ يَداً وَ أَخَّرَ لِلنُّكُوصِ رِجْلًا
And it is upon you with this pitched tent (of Muawiya) and the dark alleyway, and strike at its centre, for the Satan-la is lying down in it’s corner, arguing in his-la lap, with wide open arms, having had extended his-la hand for the attacking and holding back the legs for the retreating.
فَصَمْداً صَمْداً حَتَّى يَنْجَلِيَ لَكُمْ عَمُودُ الْحَقِ وَ أَنْتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ وَ اللَّهُ مَعَكُمْ وَ لَنْ يَتِرَكُمْ أَعْمالَكُمْ هَا أَنَا شَادٌّ فَشُدُّوا بِسْمِ اللَّهِ حم* لَا يُنْصَرُونَ
Therefore, endue with endurance until the pillars of the truth are clear upon you, So do not slacken and call to the peace while you are on top, and Allah is with you and will never Deprive you for your deeds [47:35]. Here I-asws am, fighting, and you should be fighting (as well) in the Name of Allah-azwj, Ha Meem [40:1] and they will not be victorious’.
ثُمَّ حَمَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ عَلَى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ حَمْلَتَهُ وَ تبعه [تَبَعَةُ] خُوَيْلَةَ لَمْ يَبْلُغِ الْمِائَةَ فَارِسٍ فَأَجَالَهُمْ فِيهَا جَوَلَانَ الرَّحَى الْمُسَرَّحَةِ بِثِقَالِهَا فَارْتَفَعَتْ عَجَاجَةٌ مَنَعَتْنِي النَّظَرَ ثُمَّ انْجَلَتْ فَأَثْبَتُّ النَّظَرَ فَلَمْ نَرَ إِلَّا رَأْساً نَادِراً وَ يَداً طَائِحَةً فَمَا كَانَ بِأَسْرَعَ أَنْ وَلَّوْا مُدْبِرِينَ كَأَنَّهُمْ حُمُرٌ مُسْتَنْفِرَةٌ فَرَّتْ مِنْ قَسْوَرَةٍ
Then Amir Al-Momineen-asws, may the Salawat and the greetings be upon him-asws and his-asws offspring, attacked, and the cavalry followed him-asws, (their number) not reaching a hundred horsemen. So he-asws trapped them with an encircling of a millstone. They were disbanded by their heaviness. The raising of the dust prevented me from the sighting. Then it receded, so I focused the sight but we did not see except for a rare head and a fallen hand among what was very quick from their turning away departing, As if they were frightened donkeys [74:50] Fleeing from a lion [74:51].
فَإِذَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَدْ أَقْبَلَ وَ سَيْفُهُ يَنْطُفُ وَ وَجْهُهُ كَشُقَّةِ الْقَمَرِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ فَقاتِلُوا أَئِمَّةَ الْكُفْرِ إِنَّهُمْ لا أَيْمانَ لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنْتَهُونَ
And there was Amir Al-Momineen-asws having had returned, and his-asws sword was dripping (with blood) and his-asws face like the bright moon, and he-asws was saying: And if they break their oaths after their agreement and are taunting regarding your Religion, then fight the imams of Kufr – surely their oaths (mean) nothing, perhaps they would desist [9:12]’.
قَالَ عِكْرِمَةُ: وَ كَانَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يُحَدِّثُ قَالَ أَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَلِيّاً بِقِتَالِ النَّاكِثِينَ وَ الْقَاسِطِينَ وَ الْمَارِقِينَ وَ قَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ إِنَّكَ لَمُقَاتِلٌ عَلَى تَأْوِيلِ الْقُرْآنِ كَمَا قَاتَلْتُ عَلَى تَنْزِيلِهِ.
Ikrima (a narrator) said, ‘And it was so that Ibn Abbas was narrating and he was saying, ‘Rasool-Allah-saww instructed Ali-asws with the fighting against the breakers of the Covenant, and the oppressors, and the apostates and he-saww said: ‘O Ali-asws! You-asws will be fighting upon the explanation of the Quran just as I-saww fought upon its Revelation’’.[92]
477- كا، الكافي عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ وَ فُضَيْلٍ وَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ فِي صَلَاةِ الْخَوْفِ عِنْدَ الْمُطَارَدَةِ وَ الْمُنَاوَشَةِ يُصَلِّي كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ مِنْهُمْ بِالْإِيمَاءِ حَيْثُ كَانَ وَجْهُهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَتِ الْمُسَايَفَةُ وَ الْمُعَانَقَةُ وَ تَلَاحُمُ الْقِتَالِ فَإِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع صَلَّى لَيْلَةَ صِفِّينَ وَ هِيَ لَيْلَةُ الْهَرِيرِ لَمْ تَكُنْ صَلَوَاتُهُمْ الظُّهْرُ وَ الْعَصْرُ وَ الْمَغْرِبُ وَ الْعِشَاءُ عِنْدَ كُلِّ وَقْتِ صَلَاةٍ إِلَّا التَّكْبِيرَ وَ التَّهْلِيلَ وَ التَّسْبِيحَ وَ التَّحْمِيدَ وَ الدُّعَاءَ فَكَانَتْ تِلْكَ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ لَمْ يَأْمُرْهُمْ بِإِعَادَةِ الصَّلَاةِ.
(The book) ‘Al Kafi’ – Ali, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Ibn Uzina, from Zurara and Fuzeyl, and Muhammad Bin Muslim,
‘From Abu Ja’far-asws having said regarding Salat of the fear: ‘In a Salāt of the fear during a pursuit and the skirmishes, every person from them would be praying Salāt by the gesturing, wherever he was facing; and even if there was the fencing, and the wrestling, and close contact of the fighting, for Amir Al-Momineen-asws prayed Salāt on the night of Siffeen, and it is the night of Al-Hareer (intense fighting), their Salāts did not take place for Al-Zohr, and Al-Asr, and Al-Maghrib, and Al-Isha during the timing of each Salāt, except for the exclamation of the Takbīr, and the extollation of the Oneness, and the Glorification, and the Praise, and the supplication. So that was their Salāt. He-asws did not order them with the repeating of the Salāt (making up for it)’’.[93]
478- فر، تفسير فرات بن إبراهيم إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ بُنَانٍ الْخَثْعَمِيُّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ الْبَاهِلِيِّ عَنْ ضِرَارِ بْنِ الْأَزْوَرِ أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْخَوَارِجِ سَأَلَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهُ ثُمَّ سَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُشْبِهُ الْقَمَرَ الزَّاهِرَ وَ الْأَسَدَ الْخَادِرَ وَ الْفُرَاتَ الزَّاخِرَ وَ الرَّبِيعَ الْبَاكِرَ
Tafseer Furaat Bin Ibrahim – Ibrahim Bin Bunan Al Khas’amy, from Ja’far Bin Ahmad Bin Yahya, from Ali Bin Ahmad Bin Al Qasim Al Bahily, from Zirar Bin Al Azwar,
‘A man from the Kharijites asked Ibn Abbas about Amir Al-Momineen Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, but he turned away from hm. Then he asked him (again), so he said, ‘By Allah-azwj! Amir Al-Momineen-asws was such, the bright moon, and the muscular lion, and the abundant Euphrates, and the early spring.
فَأَشْبَهَ مِنَ الْقَمَرِ ضَوْءَهُ وَ بَهَاءَهُ وَ مِنَ الْأَسَدِ شَجَاعَتَهُ وَ مَضَاءَهُ وَ مِنَ الْفُرَاتِ جُودَهُ وَ سَخَاءَهُ وَ مِنَ الرَّبِيعِ خَصْبَهُ وَ حَيَاءَهُ
It resembled from the moon, his-asws radiance and his-asws glory, and from lion, his-asws bravery and his-asws sharpness, and from the Euphrates his-asws benevolence and his-asws generosity, and from the spring, his-asws freshness and his-asws life.
عَقِمَتِ النِّسَاءُ أَنْ يَأْتِينَ بِمِثْلِ عَلِيٍّ بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ وَ اللَّهِ مَا سَمِعْتُ وَ لَا رَأَيْتُ إِنْسَاناً مُحَارِباً مِثْلَهُ وَ قَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ يَوْمَ صِفِّينَ وَ عَلَيْهِ عِمَامَةٌ بَيْضَاءُ وَ كَأَنَّ عَيْنَيْهِ سِرَاجَانِ وَ هُوَ يَتَوَقَّفُ عَلَى شِرْذِمَةٍ شِرْذِمَةٍ يَحُضُّهُمْ وَ يَحُثُّهُمْ إِلَى أَنِ انْتَهَى إِلَيَّ وَ أَنَا فِي كَنَفٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
The women were futile from coming with the like of Ali-asws after the Prophet-saww. By Allah-azwj! I have neither heard nor seen any human being battle the like of him-asws, and I had seen him-asws on the day of Siffeen and upon him-asws was a white turban, and it was as if his-asws eyes were two lamps and he-asws was standing upon a group by group and urging them, until he-asws ended up to me and I was among a band from the Muslims.
فَقَالَ مَعَاشِرَ النَّاسِ اسْتَشْعِرُوا الْخَشْيَةَ وَ أَمِيتُوا الْأَصْوَاتَ وَ تَجَلْبَبُوا بِالسَّكِينَةِ وَ أَكْمِلُوا اللَّأْمَةَ وَ قَلْقِلُوا السُّيُوفَ فِي الْغِمْدِ قَبْلَ السَّلَّةِ وَ الْحَظُوا الشَّزْرَ وَ اطْعُنُوا الْخَزْرَ وَ نَافِجُوا بِالظُّبَى
He-asws said: ‘Community of the people! Be aware of the fear, and kill the sounds, and wrap yourself in tranquillity, and perfect the armour, and shake the swords in the sheath before unsheathing it, and lookout at both the sides and stab your spears from both sides and fight with the mountain goats (cowardly fleeing enemies).
وَ صِلُوا السُّيُوفَ بِالخُطَى وَ الرِّمَاحَ بِالنِّبَالِ فَإِنَّكُمْ بِعَيْنِ اللَّهِ وَ مَعَ ابْنِ عَمِّ نَبِيِّكُمْ وَ عَاوِدُوا الْكَرَّ وَ اسْتَحْيُوا مِنَ الْفَرِّ فَإِنَّهُ عَارٌ بَاقٍ فِي الْأَعْقَابِ وَ نَارٌ يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ فَطِيبُوا عَنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَنْفُساً وَ اطْوُوا عَنِ الْحَيَاةِ كَشْحاً وَ امْشُوا إِلَى الْمَوْتِ مَشْياً وَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذَا السَّوَادِ الْأَعْظَمِ وَ الرِّوَاقِ الْمُطَنَّبِ فَاضْرِبُوا ثَبَجَهُ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ عَلَيْهِ اللَّعْنَةُ رَاكِدٌ فِي كَسْرِهِ نَافِجٌ حِضْنَيْهِ وَ مُفْتَرِشٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ قَدْ قَدَّمَ لِلْوَثْبَةِ يَداً وَ أَخَّرَ لِلنُّكُوصِ رِجْلًا
And strike your swords with the pace, and the darting of the spears, and repeat the striking(s), and be ashamed from fleeing for it would be a shame among the posterity, and (you would be in the) Fire on the Day of Reckoning. Therefore, make good your own selves and walk towards the death with an easy walk, for you all are in the Eyes of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic and with the brother of Rasool-Allah-saww. And it is upon you with this pitched tent (of Muawiya) and the dark alleyway, and strike at its centre, for the Satan-la is lying down in it’s corner, arguing in his-la lap, with wide open arms, having had extended his-la hand for the attacking and holding back the legs for the retreating.
فَصَمْداً حَتَّى يَنْجَلِيَ لَكُمْ عَمُودُ الْحَقِ وَ أَنْتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ وَ اللَّهُ مَعَكُمْ وَ لَنْ يَتِرَكُمْ أَعْمالَكُمْ
Therefore endure with an endurance until the pillars of truth become clear to you, So do not slacken and call to the peace while you are on top, and Allah is with you and will never Deprive you for your deeds [47:35]’.
قَالَ وَ أَقْبَلَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فِي الْكَتِيبَةِ الشَّهْبَاءِ وَ هِيَ زُهَاءُ عَشَرَةِ آلَافٍ بِجَيْشٍ شَاكِينَ فِي الْحَدِيدِ لَا يُرَى مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا الْحَدَقُ تَحْتَ الْمَغَافِرِ
He (the narrator) said, ‘And Muawiya came in Al-Shahba’a battalion, and it is approximately ten thousand strong, an army clad in iron, nothing being seen from them except for the iron under the helper.
فَقَالَ ع مَا لَكُمْ تَنْظُرُونَ بِمَا تَعْجَبُونَ إِنَّمَا هُمْ جُثَثٌ مَاثِلَةٌ فِيهَا قُلُوبٌ طَائِرَةٌ مُزَخْرَفَةٌ بِتَمْوِيهِ الْخَاسِرِينَ وَ رِجْلُ جَرَادٍ زَفَّتْ بِهِ رِيحُ صَبَا وَ لَفِيفٌ سَدَاهُ وَ لَحْمَتُهُ الضَّلَالَةُ وَ صَرَخَ بِهِمْ نَاعِقُ الْبِدْعَةِ وَ فِيهِمْ خَوَرُ الْبَاطِلِ وَ ضَحْضَحَةُ الْمُكَاثِرِ
He-asws said: ‘What is the matter for you all looking at what you are astonished (with)?’ But rather, they are like corpses wherein are flying hearts, decorated with the camouflage of losers, and an infantry of locusts which could be dispersed by a child, and its block is coiled and its flesh is the straying, and a herald of innovation shouts with them, and among them is failure of the falsehood and sacrifice of the propagation.
فَلَوْ قَدْ مَسَّهَا سُيُوفُ أَهْلِ الْحَقِّ لَتَهَافَتَتْ تَهَافُتَ الْفَرَاشِ فِي النَّارِ أَلَا فَسَوُّوا بَيْنَ الرُّكَبِ وَ عَضُّوا عَلَى النَّوَاجِذِ وَ اضْرِبُوا الْقَوَابِضَ بِالصَّوَارِمِ وَ أَشْرِعُوا الرِّمَاحَ فِي الْجَوَانِحِ وَ شُدُّوا فَإِنِّي شَادٌّ حم* لَا يُنْصَرُونَ
If the swords of the people of truth had touched them, the shouter would have shouted of the bed in the Fire. Indeed! Even out between the riders and bite upon your front teeth, and strike the clutches with the flames, and sharpen the spears in the wings, and be intense for I-asws am intense. Ha Meem [40:1], they will not be victorious’.
فَحَمَلُوا حَمْلَةَ ذِي لِبَدٍ فَأَزَالُوهُمْ عَنْ مَصَافِّهِمْ وَ دَفَعُوهُمْ عَنْ أَمَاكِنِهِمْ وَ رَفَعُوهُمْ عَنْ مَرَاكِبِهِمْ وَ ارْتَفَعَ الرَّهَجُ وَ خَمَدَتِ الْأَصْوَاتُ فَلَا يُسْمَعُ إِلَّا صَلْصَلَةُ الْحَدِيدِ وَ غَمْغَمَةُ الْأَبْطَالِ وَ لَا يُرَى إِلَّا رَأْسٌ نَادِرٌ وَ يَدٌ طَائِحَةٌ
They attacked an attack with compactness and removed them from their rows, and pushed them away from their rides, and the loudness arose, and the voices praised (Allah-azwj), and nothing was heard except clanking of the iron and humming of the champions, and nothing was seen except a scarce head and a knocking hand.
وَ أَنَا كَذَلِكَ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مِنْ مَوْضِعٍ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَنْجَلِيَ مِنَ الْغُبَارِ وَ يُنْفِذَ الْعَلَقَ مِنْ ذِرَاعَيْهِ سَيْفُهُ يَقْطُرُ الدِّمَاءَ وَ قَدِ انْحَنَى كَقَوْسِ النَّازِعِ وَ هُوَ يَتْلُو هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ وَ إِنْ طائِفَتانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُوا فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُما فَإِنْ بَغَتْ إِحْداهُما عَلَى الْأُخْرى فَقاتِلُوا الَّتِي تَبْغِي حَتَّى تَفِيءَ إِلى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ
And I was like that when Amir Al-Momineen-asws came from a place intending to clear from the dust, and plucking out the clots from his-asws armour, his-asws sword was dripping the blood, and it had been curved like the curve of the bow of the ship, and he-asws was reciting this Verse: And if two parties from the Momineen fight, then reconcile between them. But, if one of them were to oppress the other, then fight the one which oppresses until it returns to the Command of Allah. [49:9].
فَمَا رَأَيْتُ قِتَالًا أَشَدَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى الْمَوْتَ لَا يُقْلَعُ وَ مَنْ مَضَى لَا يَرْجِعُ وَ مَنْ بَقِيَ فَإِلَيْهِ يُنْزَعُ إِنِّي أُوصِيكَ بِوَصِيَّةٍ فَاحْفَظْهَا وَ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَ لْيَكُنْ أَوْلَى الْأَمْرِ بِكَ الشُّكْرَ لِلَّهِ فِي السِّرِّ وَ الْعَلَانِيَةِ فَإِنَّ الشُّكْرَ خَيْرُ زَادٍ.
I had not seen any fighting more severe than on that day. O my son! I saw the death not halting, and the ones going not returning, and one who remained, to him was the dismounting. I am bequeathing you with a bequest, so preserve it and fear Allah-azwj, and let it become the first of the matters with you, the thanking to Allah-azwj in the private and the openly, for the thanking is the best provision’’.[94]
479- نهج، نهج البلاغة وَ مِنْ كَلَامِهِ ع لَمَّا عَزَمَ عَلَى لِقَاءِ الْقَوْمِ بِصِفِّينَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّقْفِ الْمَرْفُوعِ وَ الْجَوِّ الْمَكْفُوفِ الَّذِي جَعَلْتَهُ مَغِيضاً لِلَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ وَ مَجْرًى لِلشَّمْسِ وَ الْقَمَرِ وَ مُخْتَلَفاً لِلنُّجُومِ السَّيَّارَةِ وَ جَعَلْتَ سُكَّانَهُ سِبْطاً مِنْ مَلَائِكَتِكَ لا يَسْأَمُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِكَ
(The book) ‘Nahj Al-Balagah’ – And from a speech of his when he-asws determined upon meeting the people (in battle) at Siffeen: ‘O Allah-azwj! Lord-azwj of the raised ceiling (sky) and the withheld atmosphere which You-azwj Made it a shelter for the night and the day, and a flowing for the sun and the moon and the travelling for the rotating stars, and Made its dwellers a group from Your-azwj Angels, not getting tired from Your-azwj worship.
وَ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الْأَرْضِ الَّتِي جَعَلْتَهَا قَرَاراً لِلْأَنَامِ وَ مَدْرَجاً لِلْهَوَامِّ وَ الْأَنْعَامِ وَ مَا لَا يُحْصَى مِمَّا يُرَى وَ مَا لَا يُرَى وَ رَبَّ الْجِبَالِ الرَّوَاسِي الَّتِي جَعَلْتَهَا لِلْأَرْضِ أَوْتَاداً وَ لِلْخَلْقِ اعْتِمَاداً
And Lord-azwj of this earth which You-azwj Made it an abode for the cattle and a theatre for the insects and the animals, and what cannot be counted from what can be seen and cannot be seen. And Lord-azwj of the lofty mountains which You-azwj made these as pegs for the earth, and pillars for the creatures.
إِنْ أَظْهَرْتَنَا عَلَى عَدُوِّنَا فَجَنِّبْنَا الْبَغْيَ وَ سَدِّدْنَا لِلْحَقِّ وَ إِنْ أَظْهَرْتَهُمْ عَلَيْنَا فَارْزُقْنَا الشَّهَادَةَ وَ اعْصِمْنَا مِنَ الْفِتْنَةِ أَيْنَ الْمَانِعُ لِلذِّمَارِ وَ الْغَائِرُ عِنْدَ نُزُولِ الْحَقَائِقِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْحِفَاظِ الْعَارُ وَرَاءَكُمْ وَ الْجَنَّةُ أَمَامَكُمْ.
If You-azwj Prevail us over our enemies, shield us from the rebels and Guide us to the truth, and if You-azwj Prevail them over us, Grace us the martyrdom, and Fortify us from the Fitna. Where are the defenders of honour and self-respecting one at the descend of the realities from the people of protection. The shame is behind you and the Paradise is in front of you’’.[95]
480 – نهج، نهج البلاغة رَوَى ابْنُ جَرِيرٍ الطَّبَرِيُّ فِي تَارِيخِهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى الْفَقِيهِ وَ كَانَ مِمَّنْ خَرَجَ لِقِتَالِ الْحَجَّاجِ مَعَ ابْنِ الْأَشْعَثِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِيمَا كَانَ يَحُضُّ بِهِ النَّاسَ عَلَى الْجِهَادِ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ عَلِيّاً ع رَفَعَ اللَّهُ دَرَجَتَهُ فِيالصَّالِحِينَ وَ أَثَابَهُ ثَوَابَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَ الصِّدِّيقِينَ يَقُولُ يَوْمَ لَقِينَا أَهْلَ الشَّامِ أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِنَّهُ مَنْ رَأَى عُدْوَاناً يُعْمَلُ بِهِ وَ مُنْكَراً يُدْعَى إِلَيْهِ فَأَنْكَرَهُ بِقَلْبِهِ فَقَدْ سَلِمَ وَ بَرِئَ
(The book) ‘Nahj Al-Balagah’ – It is reported by Ibn Jareer Al Tabari in his history, from Abdul Rahman Bin Abu Layli Al Faqeeh, and he was from the ones who went out to fighting Al Hajjaj along with Al-Ash’as. He said regarding what happened urging the people upon the Jihad,
‘I heard Ali-asws, may Allah-azwj Raise his-asws rank among the righteous ones, and Reward him-asws the reward of the Martyrs, and the truthful, saying on the day he-asws met the people of Syria (in battle): ‘O you Momineen! The one who sees our enemies working evil calling (others) to it, and he dislikes it by his heart, so he is safe and is innocent.
وَ مَنْ أَنْكَرَهُ بِلِسَانِهِ فَقَدْ أُجِرَ وَ هُوَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ وَ مَنْ أَنْكَرَهُ بِالسَّيْفِ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيا وَ كَلِمَةُ الظَّالِمِينَ السُّفْلَى فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي أَصَابَ سَبِيلَ الْهُدَى وَ قَامَ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ وَ نَوَّرَ فِي قَلْبِهِ الْيَقِينُ.
And one who denies by his tongue so he has a recompense and he is superior than his companions. And one who denies it with the sword so the Word of Allah-azwj would be the top, and word of the unjust to be lower, so that is the one who has achieved the way of guidance and has stood upon the path and the certainty would radiate in his heart’’.[96]
481- كِتَابُ سُلَيْمِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ أَبِي عَيَّاشٍ عَنْهُ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ هَلْ شَهِدْتَ صِفِّينَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ هَلْ شَهِدْتَ يَوْمَ الْهَرِيرِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ كَمْ كَانَ أَتَى عَلَيْكَ مِنَ السِّنِّ قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً قُلْتُ فَحَدِّثْنِي رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ مَهْمَا نَسِيتُ مِنَ شَيْءٍ مِنَ الْأَشْيَاءِ فَلَا أَنْسَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ
Kitab Sulem Bin Qays – from Aban Bin Ayyash, from him, said,
‘I asked Abdullah Bin Abbas, ‘Did you witness Siffeen?’ He said, ‘Yes’. I asked, ‘You witnessed the night of Al-Hareer?’ He replied, ‘Yes’. I asked, ‘How old were you then?’ He said, ‘Forty years’. I said, ‘So narrate to me, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on you’. He said, ‘Whatever thing I have forgotten from the things, I cannot forget this event’.
ثُمَّ بَكَى وَ قَالَ صُفُّوا وَ صَفَفْنَا فَخَرَجَ مَالِكٌ الْأَشْتَرُ عَلَى فَرَسٍ أَدْهَمَ وَ سِلَاحُهُ مُعَلَّقٌ عَلَى فَرَسِهِ وَ بِيَدِهِ الرُّمْحُ وَ هُوَ يَقْرَعُ بِهِ رُءُوسَنَا وَ يَقُولُ أَقِيمُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ فَلَمَّا كَتَّبَ الْكَتَائِبَ وَ أَقَامَ الصُّفُوفَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى فَرَسِهِ حَتَّى قَامَ بَيْنَ الصَّفَّيْنِ فَوَلَّى أَهْلَ الشَّامِ ظَهْرَهُ وَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ
Then he wept and said, ‘We were aligned in our rows when Maalik Al-Ashtar came out on his horse which was very tall, and his weapons were attached to his horse, and in his hand was the spear and he was knocking our heads with it and saying, ‘Establish your rows’. When the writer had written and our rows had been established, he came over on his horse until he stood between the two rows, in such a way that his back was towards the people of Syria, and he had turned towards us by his face.
فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنْ قَضَاءِ اللَّهِ وَ قَدَرِهِ اجْتِمَاعُنَا فِي هَذِهِ الْبُقْعَةِ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ لِآجَالٍ قَدِ اقْتَرَبَتْ وَ أُمُورٍ تَصَرَّمَتْ
He Praised Allah-azwj and Extolled Him-azwj, and sent greetings upon the Prophet-saww, then said, ‘After that, it is from the Judgements of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Power that He-azwj has Gathered us in this spot from the earth for the appointed term which has come nearer and the Commands which have been Issued.
يَسُوسُنَا فِيهَا سَيِّدُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ خَيْرُ الْوَصِيِّينَ وَ ابْنُ عَمِّ نَبِيِّنَا وَ أَخُوهُ وَ وَارِثُهُ وَ سَيْفٌ مِنْ سُيُوفِ اللَّهِ وَ رَئِيسُهُمُ ابْنُ آكِلَةِ الْأَكْبَادِ وَ كَهْفُ النِّفَاقِ وَ بَقِيَّةُ الْأَحْزَابِ يَسُوقُهُمْ إِلَى الشَّقَاءِ وَ النَّارِ وَ نَحْنُ نَرْجُو بِقِتَالِهِمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ الثَّوَابَ وَ هُمْ يَنْتَظِرُونَ الْعِقَابَ
We are led in it by the Chief of the Muslims and Amir-ul-Momineen-asws and the best of the successors-as, and the son-asws of the uncle-as of our Prophet-saww, and his-saww brother-asws, and his-saww inheritor, and our swords are the swords of Allah-azwj, and their leader is the son of the liver-eater (Muawiya son of Hinda) and a shelter for hypocrisy and the rest of the parties, leading them to the misery and the Fire. And we are hopeful that by killing them we will be Rewarded by Allah-azwj whilst they are awaiting the Punishment.
فَإِذَا حَمِيَ الْوَطِيسُ وَ ثَارَ الْقَتَامُ وَ جَالَتِ الْخَيْلُ بِقَتْلَانَا وَ قَتْلَاهُمْ رَجَوْنَا بِقِتَالِهِمُ النَّصْرَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَلَا أَسْمَعَنَّ إِلَّا غَمْغَمَةً أَوْ هَمْهَمَةً
When the contest heats up, and the fighting erupts and horses wander by our dead and their dead, we will be hopeful of Help from Allah-azwj. Do not listen to anything except for the sounds of the swords and the horses.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ غُضُّوا الْأَبْصَارَ وَ عَضُّوا عَلَى النَّوَاجِذِ مِنَ الْأَضْرَاسِ فَإِنَّهَا أَشَدُّ لِصُرَرِ الرَّأْسِ وَ اسْتَقْبِلُوا الْقَوْمَ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَ خُذُوا قَوَائِمَ سُيُوفِكُمْ بِأَيْمَانِكُمْ فَاضْرِبُوا الْهَامَ وَ اطْعُنُوا بِالرِّمَاحِ مِمَّا يَلِي الشُّرسُوفَ فَإِنَّهُ مَقْتَلٌ وَ شُدُّوا شِدَّةَ قَوْمٍ مَوْتُورِينَ بِآبَائِهِمْ وَ بِدِمَاءِ إِخْوَانِهِمْ حَنِقِينَ عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ قَدْ وَطَّنُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ لِكَيْلَا تَذِلُّوا وَ لَا يَلْزَمَكُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا عَارٌ
O you people, lower your gaze and clench your teeth for it is intense for striking the head, and face the people by their faces, and take the swords in your right hand and strike the heads, and stab the spear into their hearts, with a fury of a people taking revenge for the blood of their fathers and their brothers against their enemies, having resigned themselves to death, so that you will not be humiliated nor will shame be necessitated for you in the world’.
ثُمَّ الْتَقَى الْقَوْمُ فَكَانَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرٌ عَظِيمٌ فَتَفَرَّقُوا عَنْ سَبْعِينَ أَلْفَ قَتِيلٍ مِنْ جَحَاجِحَةِ الْعَرَبِ وَ كَانَتِ الْوَقْعَةُ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ مِنْ حَيْثُ اسْتَقَلَّتِ الشَّمْسُ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الْأَوَّلُ مَا سُجِدَ لِلَّهِ فِي ذَيْنِكَ الْعَسْكَرَيْنِ سَجْدَةٌ حَتَّى مَرَّتْ مَوَاقِيتُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْأَرْبَعِ الظُّهْرِ وَ الْعَصْرِ وَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَ الْعِشَاءِ
Then the people met (in battle) and between them was a great matter. So when they had dispersed seventy thousand from the well-known Arabs had been killed. And the event started on the day of Thursday from when the sun came out until a third of the night had gone by. No one from the army prostrated to Allah-azwj with even one prostration until the time for four Prayers had passed by – Midday (Al-Zohr), and the Mid-afternoon (Al-Asr), and the Evening (Al-Maghrib) and the Night (Al-Isha) Prayers.
قَالَ سُلَيْمٌ: ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع قَامَ خَطِيباً فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَ بِكُمْ مَا قَدْ رَأَيْتُمْ بِعَدُوِّكُمْ فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا آخِرُ نَفَسٍ وَ إِنَّ الْأُمُورَ إِذَا أَقْبَلَتِ اعْتُبِرَ آخِرُهَا بِأَوَّلِهَا وَ قَدْ صَبَرَ لَكُمُ الْقَوْمُ عَلَى غَيْرِ دِينٍ حَتَّى بَلَغُوا فِيكُمْ مَا قَدْ بَلَغُوا وَ أَنَا غَادٍ عَلَيْهِمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَ مُحَاكِمُهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ
Sulaym said, ‘Then Ali-asws stood up to give a sermon, so he-asws said: ‘O you people! The situation has reached with you and your enemies as if there does not remain, except for the last breath, and that if the matters are considered from the beginning to their end, and you remain patient against the people who are on another religion until those among them reach to where they will reach. And I-asws will be going against them in the morning, Allah-azwj Willing, and will be sending them to Allah-azwj for Judgement’.
فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَفَزِعَ فَزَعاً شَدِيداً وَ انْكَسَرَ هُوَ وَ جَمِيعُ أَصْحَابِهِ وَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ كَذَلِكَ فَدَعَا عَمْرَو بْنَ الْعَاصِ فَقَالَ يَا عَمْرُو إِنَّمَا هُوَ اللَّيْلَةُ حَتَّى يَغْدُوَ عَلَيْنَا فَمَا تَرَى قَالَ أَرَى الرِّجَالَ قَدْ قَلُّوا وَ مَا بَقِيَ فَلَا يَقُومُونَ لِرِجَالِهِ وَ لَسْتَ مِثْلَهُ وَ إِنَّمَا يُقَاتِلُكَ عَلَى أَمْرٍ وَ أَنْتَ تُقَاتِلُهُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ أَنْتَ تُرِيدُ الْبَقَاءَ وَ هُوَ يُرِيدُ الْفَنَاءَ
That reached to Muawiya, so he was overcome with severe panic and he and all of his companions were broken, and the people of Syria as well. He called Amro Bin Al-A’as and said, ‘O Amro, but this is the night before he-asws attacks us, so what do you see?’ He said, ‘I see that the men have decreased, and those that remain will not be able to stand up to his men, and you are also not like him-asws, and he-asws is fighting you upon the Command and you are fighting him-asws over something else, and you intend to remain whereas he-asws intends the destruction.
وَ لَيْسَ يَخَافُ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ عَلِيّاً إِنْ ظَفِرَ بِهِمْ مَا يَخَافُ أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ إِنْ ظَفِرْتَ بِهِمْ وَ لَكِنْ أَلْقِ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْراً فَإِنْ رَدُّوهُ اخْتَلَفُوا وَ إِنْ قَبِلُوهُ اخْتَلَفُوا ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ ارْفَعِ الْمَصَاحِفَ عَلَى رُءُوسِ الرِّمَاحِ فَإِنَّكَ بَالِغٌ حَاجَتَكَ فَإِنِّي لَمْ أَزَلْ أَدَّخِرُهَا لَكَ
The people of Syria are not as fearful of his-asws victory over them as the people of Iraq are of your victory over them. But place to them a matter which, if they refuse it they will differ, and if they accept it they will still differ. Call them to the Book of Allah-azwj, and raise the Qurans upon the heads of the spears, so you will achieve your needs. I have never ceased to save this for you’.
فَعَرَفَهَا مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ قَالَ صَدَقْتَ وَ لَكِنْ قَدْ رَأَيْتُ رَأْياً أَخْدَعُ بِهِ عَلِيّاً طَلَبِي إِلَيْهِ الشَّامَ عَلَى الْمُوَادَعَةِ وَ هُوَ الشَّيْءُ الْأَوَّلُ الَّذِي رَدَّنِي عَنْهُ فَضَحِكَ عَمْرٌو وَ قَالَ أَيْنَ أَنْتَ يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ مِنْ خَدِيعَةِ عَلِيٍّ وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تَكْتُبَ فَاكْتُبْ
Muawiya understood it and said, ‘You have spoken the truth, but I have opined an opinion with which I can deceive Ali-asws. I sought Syria from him on the reconciliation and this was the first that he-asws refused to me’. Amro laughed and said, ‘Where are you, O Muawiya, you want to deceive Ali-asws? And if you like then have it written, so I will write it’.
قَالَ فَكَتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع كِتَاباً مَعَ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ السَّكَاسِكِ يُقَالُ لَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّكَ لَوْ عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ الْحَرْبَ تَبْلُغُ بِنَا وَ بِكَ مَا بَلَغَتْ وَ عَلِمْنَاهُ نَحْنُ لَمْ يَجْنِهَا بَعْضُنَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَ إِنَّا إِنْ كُنَّا قَدْ غُلِبْنَا عَلَى عُقُولِنَا فَقَدْ بَقِيَ مِنْهَا مَا يُزَمُّ بِهِ مَا بَقِيَ
(Sulaym said), ‘Muawiya wrote a letter to Ali-asws and sent it with a man from the inhabitants of Al-Sakaasak who was called Abdulla Bin Uqba, which said, ‘After this, (if only) you-asws had known that the battle would reach to this stage that it has reached to between us and between you, and had we also known it, that one of us would not be able to overcome the other, even if the intellect of one of us may overcome the other. What has passed has passed and we should put right what remains.
وَ قَدْ كُنْتُ سَأَلْتُكَ الشَّامَ عَلَى أَنْ لَا يَلْزَمَنِي لَكَ طَاعَةٌ وَ لَا بَيْعَةٌ فَأَبَيْتَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيَّ فَأَعْطَانِيَ اللَّهُ مَا مَنَعْتَ وَ أَنَا أَدْعُوكَ الْيَوْمَ إِلَى مَا دَعْوَتُكَ إِلَيْهِ أَمْسِ فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَرْجُو مِنَ الْبَقَاءِ إِلَّا مَا أَرْجُوهُ وَ لَا تَخَافُ مِنَ الْفَنَاءِ إِلَّا مَا أَخَافُ
And I had asked you for Syria on the condition that it would not necessitate obedience to you nor allegiance. You refused that to me, and Allah-azwj Gave it to me what you-asws had not. And I am calling you-asws today to what I called you-asws too yesterday, for you-asws are not hopeful for remaining but I am hopeful for it, nor do you-asws fear the destruction, except what I fear.
وَ قَدْ وَ اللَّهِ رَقَّتِ الْأَكْبَادُ وَ ذَهَبَتِ الرِّجَالُ وَ نَحْنُ بَنُو عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ وَ لَيْسَ لِبَعْضِنَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ فَضْلٌ يُسْتَذَلُّ بِهِ عَزِيزٌ وَ لَا يُسْتَرَقُّ بِهِ ذَلِيلٌ وَ السَّلَامُ
By Allah-azwj, the livers have softened and the men have gone. And we are the children of Abd Manaaf, and there is no preference for one of us above the other by which the honourable one is disgraced, nor by which the disgraced one is enslaved. Greetings.
قَالَ سُلَيْمٌ فَلَمَّا قَرَأَ عَلِيٌّ ع كِتَابَهُ ضَحِكَ وَ قَالَ الْعَجَبُ مِنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ خَدِيعَتِهِ لِي فَدَعَا كَاتِبَهُ عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أَبِي رَافِعٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ اكْتُبْ
Sulaym said, ‘When Ali-asws read his letter, he smiled and said, ‘I-asws wonder at Muawiya and his trying to deceive me-asws’. He-asws called his-asws writer Ubeydullah Bin Abu Raf’a and said to him: ‘Write!’
أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَقَدْ جَاءَنِي كِتَابُكَ تَذْكُرُ فِيهِ أَنَّكَ لَوْ عَلِمْتَ وَ عَلِمْنَا أَنَّ الْحَرْبَ تَبْلُغُ بِنَا وَ بِكَ إِلَى مَا بَلَغَتْ لَمْ يَجْنِهَا بَعْضُنَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَ أَنَا وَ إِيَّاكَ يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ عَلَى غَايَةٍ مِنْهَا لَمْ نَبْلُغْهَا بَعْدُ
‘Your letter came to me-asws in which you mentioned that, ‘Had you-asws known that the battle would reach to this stage that it has reached to between us and between you, and had we known it, that one of us would not be able to overcome the other’, and I-asws and you – O Muawiya – are upon a destination which we will not reach to afterwards.
وَ أَمَّا طَلَبُكَ إِلَيَّ الشَّامَ فَإِنِّي لَمْ أُعْطِكَ الْيَوْمَ مَا مَنَعْتُكَ أَمْسِ وَ أَمَّا اسْتِوَاؤُنَا فِي الْخَوْفِ وَ الرَّجَاءِ فَإِنَّكَ قُلْتَ لَسْتَ بِأَمْضَى عَلَى الشَّكِّ مِنِّي عَلَى الْيَقِينِ وَ لَيْسَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ أَحْرَصَ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ عَلَى الْآخِرَةِ
As for your seeking Syria, I-asws will not give you today that which I-asws did not give you yesterday. And as for us being in fear and the hope, so you have spent (your life) on the doubts as I-asws have upon the conviction, and the people of Syria are not greedier for the world as the people of Iraq are for the Hereafter.
وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُكَ إِنَّا بَنُو عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ لَيْسَ لِبَعْضِنَا فَضْلٌ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فَكَذَلِكَ نَحْنُ وَ لَكِنْ لَيْسَ أُمَيَّةُ كَهَاشِمٍ وَ لَا حَرْبٌ كَعَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَ لَا أَبُو سُفْيَانَ كَأَبِي طَالِبٍ وَ لَا الطَّلِيقُ كَالْمُهَاجِرِ وَ لَا الْمُنَافِقُ كَالْمُؤْمِنِ وَ لَا الْمُحِقُّ كَالْمُبْطِلِ وَ فِي أَيْدِينَا فَضْلُ النُّبُوَّةِ الَّتِي مَلِكْنَا بِهَا الْعَرَبَ وَ اسْتَعْبَدْنَا بِهَا الْعَجَمَ وَ السَّلَامُ
And as for your words, ‘And we are the children of Abd Manaaf, and there is no preference for one of us above the other’, so that is what we are, but Umayya is not like Hashim-as, nor is Harb like Abdul Muttalib-asws, nor is Abu Sufyan like Abu Talib-asws, nor is the freed captive like the Emigrant, nor is a hypocrite like a believer and the falsehood like the truth. In our-asws hands is the preference of Prophet-hood with which we-asws govern the Arabs and enslave the non-Arabs by it’. Greetings’.
فَلَمَّا انْتَهَى كِتَابُ عَلِيٍّ ع إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ كَتَمَهُ عَمْراً ثُمَّ دَعَاهُ فَأَقْرَأَهُ فَشَمِتَ بِهِ عَمْرٌو وَ قَدْ كَانَ نَهَاهُ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ أَشَدَّ تَعْظِيماً لِعَلِيٍّ ع مِنَ عَمْرٍو بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي صَرَعَهُ عَنْ دَابَّتِهِ
When the letter of Ali-asws ended up with Muawiya, he concealed it from Amro, then he called him and read it out to him. Amro humiliated him over it, and he had forbidden it (not to write a letter at first place). And there was no one from the Quraysh who had greater respect for Ali-asws than Amro after the day in which he-asws made him to fall down from his ride.
فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو
| أَلَا لِلَّهِ دَرُّكَ يَا ابْنَ هِنْدٍ- | وَ دَرُّ الْمُرْدِي الْحَالِ الْمَسُودِ- | |
| أَ تَطْمَعُ لَا أَبَا لَكَ فِي عَلِيٍ | وَ قَدْ قَرَعَ الْحَدِيدَ عَلَى الْحَدِيدِ- | |
| وَ تَرْجُو أَنْ تُخَادِعَهُ بِشَكٍّ- | وَ تَرْجُو أَنْ يَهَابَكَ بِالْوَعِيدِ- | |
| وَ قَدْ كَشَفَ الْقِنَاعَ وَ جَرَّ حَرْباً- | يَشِيبُ لِهَوْلِهَا رَأْسُ الْوَلِيدِ- | |
| لَهُ جَأْوَاهُ مُظْلِمَةٌ طُحُونٌ- | فَوَارِسُهَا تَلَّهَّبُ كَالْأُسُودِ- | |
| يَقُولُ لَهَا إِذَا رَجَعَتْ إِلَيْهِ- | بِقَتْلٍ بِالطِّعَانِ الْيَوْمَ عُودِي- | |
| فَإِنْ وَرَدَتْ فَأَوَّلُهَا وُرُوداً- | وَ إِنْ صَدَرَتْ فَلَيْسَ بِذِي وُرُودٍ- | |
| وَ مَا هِيَ مِنْ أَبِي حَسَنٍ بِنُكْرٍ- | وَ مَا هِيَ مِنْ مَسَاتِكَ بِالْبَعِيدِ- | |
| وَ قُلْتَ لَهُ مُقَالَةَ مُسْتَكِينٍ- | ضَعِيفِ الْقَلْبِ مُنْقَطِعِ الْوَرِيدِ | |
| طَلَبْتَ الشَّامَ حَسْبُكَ يَا ابْنَ هِنْدٍ- | مِنَ السَّوْآةِ وَ الرَّأْيِ الزَّهِيدِ- | |
| وَ لَوْ أَعْطَاكَهَا مَا ازْدَدْتَ عِزّاً- | وَ مَا لَكَ فِي اسْتِزَادِكَ مِنْ مَزِيدٍ- | |
| فَلَمْ تَكْسِرْ بِهَذَا الرَّأْيِ عُوداً- | سِوَى مَا كَانَ لَا بَلْ رَقَّ عُودٍ |
Amro said (in a poem), ‘To Allah-azwj is the level, O son of Hinda, and it is a dark condition of yours that you covet – it is not for you, with regards to Ali-asws, and he-asws has struck iron with iron, and you hope to deceive him-asws by doubts. And you are hopeful of scaring him-asws by uncovering the lid and starting a war. The hair on the heads of children goes grey at the prospect of it.
He-asws has people who go out like enraged lions, and he-asws says to them when they return and receives them with the taunt for they do not return as they went. This is not surprising for Abu Al-Hassan-asws, and it is not far from him-asws. And you have spoken to him with the words of a beggar, weak of heart with his vein cut off. You sought Syria which would have sufficed for you O son of Hinda.
From a meagre opinion, even if he-asws were to give it to you, it will not increase your honour, and it would not be for you to increase your demands. You will not be able to break the promise with this opinion, even if it was anything other than a promise.
فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ مَا أَرَدْتَ بِهَذَا قَالَ عَمْرٌو وَ مَا أَرَدْتُ بِهِ قَالَ عَيْبَكَ رَأْيِي فِي خِلَافِكَ وَ مَعْصِيَتِكَ وَ الْعُجْبَ لَكَ تُفَيِّلُ رَأْيِي وَ تُعَظِّمُ عَلِيّاً وَ قَدْ فَضَحَكَ فَقَالَ أَمَّا تَفْيِيلِي رَأْيَكَ فَقَدْ كَانَ وَ أَمَّا إِعْظَامِي عَلِيّاً فَإِنَّكَ بِإِعْظَامِهِ أَشَدُّ مَعْرِفَةً مِنِّي وَ لَكِنَّكَ تَطْوِيهِ وَ أَنْشُرُهُ وَ أَمَّا فَضِيحَتِي فَلَنْ يَفْتَضِحَ رَجُلٌ بَارَزَ عَلِيّاً فَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تَبْلُوَهَا أَنْتَ مِنْهُ فَافْعَلْ فَسَكَتَ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ فَشَا أَمْرُهُمَا فِي أَهْلِ الشَّامِ
Muawiya said, ‘By Allah-azwj, I know what you intend by this’. Amro said, ‘And what do I intend by it?’ He said, ‘Your faulting of my opinion and your opposition to me and respecting of Ali-asws, when you were laughed at when you went against him-asws’. Amro laughed and said, ‘As for opposing you and being disobedient to you, that was what it was, and as for my being laughed at, so no man has been able to go against Ali-asws. So if you would like to recite from it, then do so’. Muawiya was silent, and the matter of these two was spread among the people of Syria.
قَالَ أَبَانٌ قَالَ سُلَيْمٌ وَ مَرَّ عَلِيٌّ ع بِجَمَاعَةٍ مِنَ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فِيهِمُ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ أَبِي مُعَيْطٍ وَ هُمْ يَشْتِمُونَهُ فَأُخْبِرَ بِذَلِكَ فَوَقَفَ فِيمَنْ يَلِيهِمْ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ وَ قَالَ لَهُمْ انْهَضُوا إِلَيْهِمْ وَ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّكِينَةُ وَ سِيمَاءُ الصَّالِحِينَ وَ وَقَارُ الْإِسْلَامِ
Abaan said that Sulaym said, ‘And Ali-asws passed by a group of Syrians among whom was Al-Waleed Bin Uqba Bin Abu Mueet and they were using obscenities against him-asws. He-asws got to know of that. He-asws halted with his-asws companions then said to them: ‘Go to them in a tranquil state and with righteous countenance and maintain the dignity of Al-Islam.
أَقْرَبُنَا مِنَ الْجَهْلِ بِاللَّهِ وَ الْجُرْأَةِ عَلَيْهِ وَ الِاغْتِرَارِ لَقَوْمٌ رَئِيسُهُمْ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ ابْنُ النَّابِغَةِ وَ أَبُو الْأَعْوَرِ السُّلَمِيُّ وَ ابْنُ أَبِي مُعَيْطٍ شَارِبُ الْخَمْرِ وَ الْمَجْلُودُ الْحَدَّ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ وَ الطَّرِيدُ مَرْوَانُ وَ هُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ يُقَرِّبُونَ وَ يَشْتِمُونَ
Indeed, worse than us in the ignorance to Allah-azwj, and the audacity of the people and their delusion, is the group whose leader is Muawiya, and Ibn Nabaga (Amro Bin Al-A’as), and Abu Al-Awr Al-Salamy, and Ibn Abu Mueet who is a drunkard who has been whipped due to it in Al-Islam, and the fugitive Marwaan, and these are the ones who are standing there speaking obscenities.
وَ قَبْلَ الْيَوْمِ مَا قَاتَلُونِي وَ شَتَمُونِي وَ أَنَا إِذْ ذَاكَ أَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَ هُمْ يَدْعُونِّي إِلَى عِبَادَةِ الْأَوْثَانِ فَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى مَا عَادَانِي الْفَاسِقُونَ
And before today they did not fight against me-asws or verbally abused me-asws, and I-asws used to call them towards Al-Islam and they were calling me to worship of the idols. Praise be to Allah-azwj, for the mischievous ones and the hypocrites have been inimical towards me-asws.
إِنَّ هَذَا الْخَطْبَ جَلِيلٌ إِنَّ فُسَّاقاً مُنَافِقِينَ كَانُوا عِنْدَنَا غَيْرَ مُؤْتَمَنِينَ وَ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ مُنْحَرِفِينَ مُتَخَوَّفِينَ خَدَعُوا شَطْرَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ وَ أَشْرَبُوا قُلُوبَهُمْ حُبَّ الْفِتْنَةِ وَ اسْتَمَالُوا أَهْوَاءَهُمْ إِلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَقَدْ نَصَبُوا لَنَا الْحَرْبَ وَ جَدُّوا فِي إِطْفَاءِ نُورِ اللَّهِ وَ اللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْكافِرُونَ
This matter is to the Majestic-azwj that the mischievous hypocrites were in our presence not satisfied and to Al-Islam they were apprehensive. They deceived this community and made their hearts drink the love of sedition (Al-Fitna) and attracted their desires towards the falsehood. So they established the war against us in order to extinguish the Light of Allah-azwj, but Allah will Complete His Light, and even if the Kafirs abhor it [61:8].
ثُمَّ حَرَّضَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ قَالَ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ لَا يَزُولُونَ عَنْ مَوْقِفِهِمْ هَذَا دُونَ طَعْنٍ دِرَاكٍ تَطِيرُ مِنْهُ الْقُلُوبُ وَ ضَرْبٍ تُفْلَقُ الْهَامُ وَ تَطِيحُ مِنْهُ الْأُنُوفُ وَ الْعِظَامُ وَ يَسْقُطُ مِنْهُ الْمَعَاصِمُ وَ حَتَّى تُقْرَعَ جِبَاهُهُمْ بِعُمُدِ الْحَدِيدِ وَ تُنْشَرَ حَوَاجِبُهُمْ عَلَى صُدُورِهِمْ وَ الْأَذْقَانِ وَ النُّحُورِ أَيْنَ أَهْلُ الدِّينِ وَ طُلَّابُ الْأَجْرِ
Then he-asws mobilised against them and said: ‘These ones will not stop from this position of theirs unless they are challenged by which the hearts fly out, and they are struck by which the noses are ousted, and bones are broken and wrists fall off, and until their foreheads are knocked by the iron rods and their bones are crushed on their chests, and their chins and their collar bones are pulled out. Where are the people seekers of the recompense?’
قَالَ فَثَارَتْ عَلَيْهِ عِصَابَةٌ نَحْوُ أَرْبَعَةِ آلَافٍ فَدَعَا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ وَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ امْشِ نَحْوَ هَذِهِ الرَّايَةِ مَشْياً وَئِيداً عَلَى هِينَتِكَ حَتَّى إِذَا أَشْرَعْتَ فِي صُدُورِهِمُ الْأَسِنَّةَ فَأَمْسِكْ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكَ رَأْيِي فَفَعَلَ
He said, ‘Approximately four thousand came up to him-asws. He-asws called upon Muhammad Bin Al-Hanafiyya and said: ‘O my-asws son, walk towards this flag with a slow walk until your spear heads are close to piercing their chests, So hold there until my-asws flag comes to you’. He did so.
وَ أَعَدَّ عَلِيٌّ مِثْلَهُمْ فَلَمَّا دَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ وَ أَشْرَعَ الرِّمَاحَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ أَمَرَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ كَانَ أَعَدَّهُمْ أَنْ يَحْمِلُوا مَعَهُ فَشَدُّوا عَلَيْهِمْ وَ نَهَضَ مُحَمَّدٌ وَ مَنْ مَعَهُ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ فَأَزَالُوهُمْ عَنْ مَوَاقِفِهِمْ وَ قَتَلُوا عَامَّتَهُمْ.
And Ali-asws prepared the like of them. When Muhammad started piercing their chests with the spears, Ali-asws ordered the ones whom he-asws had prepared, to attack along with them. So they shook them, and Muhammad and those who were with him arose and moved them from their places, and killed most of them’’.[97]
482- لي، الأمالي للصدوق الْحَافِظُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ الْجَعْدِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ: قَامَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَخْطُبُ النَّاسَ بِصِفِّينَ يَوْمَ جُمُعَةٍ وَ ذَلِكَ قَبْلَ لَيْلَةِ الْهَرِيرِ بِخَمْسَةِ أَيَّامٍ
(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of Al Sadouq – Al Hafiz, from Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Al Ja’ad, from Abdul Rahman Bin Salih, from Shuayb Bin Rashid, from Jabir,
‘From Abu Ja’far-asws having said: ‘Ali-asws stood up to address the people at Siffeen on the day of Friday, and that was before ‘Laylat Al-Hareer’ by five days.
فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ الْفَاضِلَةِ عَلَى جَمِيعِ خَلْقِهِ الْبَرِّ وَ الْفَاجِرِ وَ عَلَى حُجَجِهِ الْبَالِغَةِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ مَنْ عَصَاهُ أَوْ أَطَاعَهُ إِنْ يَعْفُ فَبِفَضْلٍ مِنْهُ وَ إِنْ يُعَذِّبْ فَبِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَ مَا اللَّهُ بِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ*
The Praise is for Allah-azwj upon His-azwj Favours, the meritorious over the entirety of His-azwj creatures, the righteous and the immoral, and upon His-azwj conclusive Argument upon His-azwj creatures, the ones who disobey Him-azwj or obey Him-azwj. If He-azwj Pardons, it would be due to a Grace from Him-azwj, and if He-azwj Punishes, it would be due to what their own hands have sent ahead, and Allah-azwj is not the least unjust to the servants.
أَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى حُسْنِ الْبَلَاءِ وَ تَظَاهُرِ النَّعْمَاءِ وَ أَسْتَعِينُهُ عَلَى مَا نَابَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِ دِينِنَا وَ أُومِنُ بِهِ وَ أَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْهِ وَ كَفى بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلًا*
I-asws praise Him-azwj upon the good afflictions, and Manifesting the Bounties, and I-asws seek His-azwj Assistance upon what He-azwj Conferred upon us from the matters of our religion, ad I-asws believe in Him-azwj and rely upon Him-azwj, and I-asws suffice with Allah-azwj as a Protector.
ثُمَّ إِنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ أَرْسَلَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَ دِينِهِ الَّذِي ارْتَضَاهُ وَ كَانَ أَهْلَهُ وَ اصْطَفَاهُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ الْعِبَادِ بِتَبْلِيغِ رِسَالَتِهِ وَ حُجَجِهِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ
Then I-asws testify that there is no god except Allah-azwj Alone, there is no associate for Him-azwj, and that Muhammad-saww is His-azwj servant and His-azwj Rasool-saww with the guidance, and His-azwj religion which He-azwj is Pleased with for him-saww, and he-saww was its rightful, and Chose him-saww over the entirety of the servants for the delivery of His-azwj Message and His-azwj Arguments upon His-azwj creatures.
وَ كَانَ كَعِلْمِهِ فِيهِ رَءُوفاً رَحِيماً أَكْرَمَ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ حَسَباً وَ أَجْمَلَهُمْ مَنْظَراً وَ أَشْجَعَهُمْ نَفْساً وَ أَبَرَّهُمْ بِوَالِدٍ وَ آمَنَهُمْ عَلَى عَقْدٍ لَمْ يَتَعَلَّقْ عَلَيْهِ مُسْلِمٌ وَ لَا كَافِرٌ بِمَظْلِمَةٍ قَطُّ بَلْ كَانَ يُظْلَمُ
And he-saww was in His-azwj Knowledge, kind, merciful, the most honourable creature of Allah-azwj in lineage, and more beautiful of them in appearance, and bravest of them in self, and most righteous of them with a parent, and he-saww secured them upon a pact, neither any Muslim nor any Kafir could attach anything wrong to him-saww at all, but he would be unjust.
فَيَغْفِرُ وَ يَقْدِرُ فَيَصْفَحُ وَ يَعْفُو حَتَّى مَضَى مُطِيعاً لِلَّهِ صَابِراً عَلَى مَا أَصَابَهُ مُجَاهِداً فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهادِهِ عَابِداً لِلَّهِ حَتَّى أَتَاهُ الْيَقِينُ
He-saww forgave while he was powerful, and pardoned and excused until he-saww passed away, obedient to Allah-azwj, patient upon whatever afflicted him-saww, and fighter for the Sake of Allah-azwj as was the right of His-azwj Jihad, a worshipper of Allah-azwj, until the certainty (death) came to him-saww.
فَكَانَ ذَهَابُهُ ع أَعْظَمَ الْمُصِيبَةِ عَلَى جَمِيعِ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ الْبَرِّ وَ الْفَاجِرِ ثُمَّ تَرَكَ فِيكُمْ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ يَأْمُرُكُمْ بِطَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَ يَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْ مَعْصِيَتِهِ
His-saww going away was the greatest calamity upon the entirety of the people of the earth, the righteous and the immoral. Then he-saww left behind among you all the Book of Allah-azwj, instructing you all with obeying Allah-azwj and forbidding you all from disobeying Him-azwj.
وَ قَدْ عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَهْداً لَنْ أَخْرُجَ عَنْهُ وَ قَدْ حَضَرَكُمْ عَدُوُّكُمْ وَ قَدْ عَرَفْتُمْ مَنْ رَئِيسُهُمْ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى بَاطِلٍ وَ ابْنُ عَمِّ نَبِيِّكُمْ ص بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِكُمْ يَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى طَاعَةِ رَبِّكُمْ وَ الْعَمَلِ بِسُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكُمْ
And Rasool-Allah-saww had pacted a pact to me-asws, I-asws will never exit from it, and your enemies have presented to you and you have recognised who their chief is, calling them to the falsehood, and the son-asws of and uncle-as of your Prophet-saww is in your midst, calling you all to obey your Lord-azwj, and the working in accordance with the Sunnah of your Prophet-saww.
وَ لَا سَوَاءَ مَنْ صَلَّى قَبْلَ كُلِّ ذَكَرٍ لَمْ يَسْبِقْنِي بِالصَّلَاةِ غَيْرُ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ وَ أَنَا وَ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَدْ وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكُمْ لَعَلَى الْحَقِّ وَ إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ لَعَلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَلَا يَصْبِرِ الْقَوْمُ عَلَى بَاطِلِهِمْ وَ يَجْتَمِعُوا عَلَيْهِ وَ تَتَفَرَّقُوا عَنْ حَقِّكُمْ قاتِلُوهُمْ يُعَذِّبْهُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا لَيُعَذِّبَنَّهُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَيْدِي غَيْرِكُمْ
And he is not the same, one who prayed Salat before every Zikr. No one preceded me-asws with the Salat apart from the Prophet-saww of Allah-azwj, and I-asws, by Allah-azwj, are from the participants of Badr. By Allah-azwj! You are upon the truth, and the people are upon the falsehood. The people have united upon it and separated from your rights: Fight them, Allah will Punish them by your hands and Humiliate them and Help you against them, and He would Heal the chests of a Momineen people [9:14]. Thus, if you do not do so, then Allah-azwj would Punish them by the hands of others’.
فَأَجَابَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ فَقَالُوا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ انْهَضْ بِنَا إِلَى الْقَوْمِ إِذَا شِئْتَ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا نَبْغِي بِكَ بَدَلًا نَمُوتُ مَعَكَ وَ نَحْيَا مَعَكَ
His-asws companions answered him, they said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Get up with us to (battle) the people whenever you-asws desire to. By Allah-azwj! We do not seek any replacement with you-asws. We shall die with you-asws and live with you-asws’.
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ مُجِيباً لَهُمْ وَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَنَظَرَ إِلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ أَنَا أَضْرِبُ قُدَّامَهُ بِسَيْفِي فَقَالَ لَا سَيْفَ إِلَّا ذُو الْفَقَارِ وَ لَا فَتَى إِلَّا عَلِيٌّ
He-asws said to them being loving to them: ‘By the One-azwj in Whose Hand is my-asws soul! Rasool-Allah-saww looked towards me-asws and I-asws was striking with my-asws sword in front of him-saww. He-saww said: ‘There is neither any sword except Zulfiqar nor any youth (Momin) except Ali-asws’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي يَا عَلِيُّ أَنْتَ مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لَا نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي وَ حَيَاتُكَ يَا عَلِيُّ وَ مَوْتُكَ مَعِي فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا كَذَبْتُ وَ لَا كُذِبْتُ وَ لَا ضَلَلْتُ وَ لَا ضُلَّ بِي وَ لَا نَسِيتُ مَا عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ إِنِّي إِذاً لَنَسِيءٌ وَ إِنِّي لَعَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّي بَيَّنَهَا لِنَبِيِّهِ ص فَبَيَّنَهَا لِي وَ إِنِّي لَعَلَى الطَّرِيقِ الْوَاضِحِ أَلْقُطُهُ لَقْطاً
Then he-saww said to me-asws: ‘O Ali-asws! You-asws are from me-saww at the status of Haroun-as from Musa-as apart from that there is no Prophet-as after me-saww; and your-asws life, O Ali-asws, and your-asws death is with me-saww’. By Allah-azwj! Neither am I-asws lying nor was I-asws lied to, nor am I-asws straying, nor was I-asws strayed with, and I-asws have not forgotten what he-saww had pacted to me-asws. I-asws, in case I-asws forget while I-asws am upon a proof from my-asws Lord-azwj, He-azwj Explained it to His-azwj Prophet-saww and he-saww explained it to me-asws, and I-asws am upon the clear path, I-asws picked it up absolutely’.
ثُمَّ نَهَضَ إِلَى الْقَوْمِ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ فَاقْتَتَلُوا مِنْ حِينَ طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ حَتَّى غَابَ الشَّفَقُ مَا كَانَتْ صَلَاةُ الْقَوْمِ يَوْمَئِذٍ إِلَّا تَكْبِيراً عِنْدَ مَوَاقِيتِ الصَّلَاةِ فَقَتَلَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَوْمَئِذٍ بِيَدِهِ خَمْسَمِائَةٍ وَ سِتَّةَ نَفَرٍ مِنْ جَمَاعَةِ الْقَوْمِ فَأَصْبَحَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ يُنَادُونَ يَا عَلِيُّ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ فِي الْبَقِيَّةِ وَ رَفَعُوا الْمَصَاحِفَ عَلَى أَطْرَافِ الْقَنَا.
Then he-asws got up to the people on the day of Thursday, and they fought from when the sun emerged until the redness disappeared. The Salat of the people on that day wasn’t except exclamations of Takbeer during the timings of the Salat. Ali-asws killed on that day with his-asws own hands, five hundred and six people from the community of the people. The people of Syria became calling out, ‘O Ali-asws! Fear Allah-azwj regarding the remainder!’ And they raised the Qurans upon the ends of the spears’’.[98]
483 – فس، تفسير القمي هَارُونُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي رَجُلٌ مِنْ وُلْدِ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ وَ كَانَ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ فِي حُرُوبِهِ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً ع قَالَ لَيْلَةَ الْهَرِيرِ بِصِفِّينَ حِينَ الْتَقَى مَعَ مُعَاوِيَةَ رَافِعاً صَوْتَهُ يُسْمِعُ أَصْحَابَهُ لَأَقْتُلَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ أَصْحَابَهُ
Tafseer Al Qummi – Haroun Bin Muslim, from Mas’ada Bin Sadaqa who said, ‘It is narrated to me by a man from the children of Aday Bin Hatim, from his father, from his grandfather Aday Bin Hatim,
‘And he was with Ali-asws during his-asws wars, ‘Ali-asws said on ‘Laylat Al-Hareer’ at Siffeen when he met (in battle) with Muawiya, raising his-asws voice, his companions heard: ‘I-asws shall kill Muawiya and his companions!’
ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي آخِرِ قَوْلِهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ يَخْفِضُ بِهِ صَوْتَهُ وَ كُنْتُ مِنْهُ قَرِيباً فَقُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّكَ حَلَفْتَ عَلَى مَا قُلْتَ ثُمَّ اسْتَثْنَيْتَ فَمَا أَرَدْتَ بِذَلِكَ
Then he-asws said at the end of his-asws words: ‘Allah-azwj so Desires’, lowering his-asws voice with it, and I-asws was near from him, so I-asws said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! You-asws vowed upon what you-asws said, then you made an exclusion, so what do you-asws intend with that?’
فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْحَرْبَ خُدْعَةٌ وَ أَنَا عِنْدَ أَصْحَابِي صَدُوقٌ فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أُطْمِعَ أَصْحَابِي فِي قَوْلِي كَيْ لَا يَفْشَلُوا وَ لَا يَفِرُّوا فَافْهَمْ فَإِنَّكَ تَنْتَفِعُ بِهَا بَعْدُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى.
He-asws said: ‘The war is a deception and I-asws am truthful in the presence of my-asws companions, so I-asws wanted my-asws companions should covet regarding my-asws words lest they do not become sluggish nor flee, so understand, for you shall benefit with it afterwards, if Allah-azwj the Exalted so Desires’’.[99]
484- ختص، الإختصاص أَحْمَدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ الْفَامِيُّ عَنِ ابْنِ الْوَلِيدِ عَنِ الصَّفَّارِ عَنِ ابْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ النَّضْرِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ الْجُعْفِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ: شَهِدَ مَعَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع مِنَ التَّابِعِينَ ثَلَاثَةُ نَفَرٍ بِصِفِّينَ شَهِدَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِالْجَنَّةِ وَ لَمْ يَرَهُمْ أُوَيْسٌ الْقَرَنِيُّ وَ زَيْدُ بْنُ صُوحَانَ الْعَبْدِيُّ وَ جُنْدَبُ الْخَيْرِ الْأَزْدِيُّ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ.
(The book) ‘Al Ikhtisas’ – Ahmad Bin Haroun Al Famy, from Ibn Al Waleed, from Al Saffar, from Ibn Isa, from Muhammad Al Barqy, from Ahmad Bin Al Nazar, from Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir Al Jufy,
‘From Abu Ja’far-asws having said: ‘From the ‘Al-Tabi’en’, three hundred persons attended at Siffeen with Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws. Rasool-Allah-saww had testified for them with the Paradise and (although) he-saww had not seen them – Oweys Al-Qarny, and Zayd Bin Sowhan Al-Abdy, and Jundab Al-Khayr Al-Azdy, may Allah-azwj be Pleased upon them’’.[100]
485 – مد، العمدة بِإِسْنَادِهِ إِلَى صَحِيحِ مُسْلِمٍ بِإِسْنَادِهِ إِلَى شَقِيقٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَهْلَ بْنَ حُنَيْفٍ يَقُولُ بِصِفِّينَ اتَّهِمُوا رَأْيَكُمْ عَلَى دِينِكُمْ وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي يَوْمَ أَبِي جَنْدَلٍ وَ لَوْ أَنِّي أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَرُدَّ أَمْرَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لَرَدَدْتُهُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا وَضَعْنَا سُيُوفَنَا عَلَى عَوَاتِقِنَا إِلَى أَمْرٍ قَطُّ إِلَّا سَهَّلَ بِنَا إِلَى أَمْرٍ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلَّا أَمْرَكُمْ هَذَا.
(The book) ‘Al Amdah’ – By his chain to Saheeh Muslim, by his chian to Shaqeeq who said,
‘I heard Sahl Bin Huneyf saying at Siffeen, ‘Charge your views upon your religion! By Allah-azwj! You had seen me on the day of Abu Jandal, and had I been able to respond to the order of Rasool-Allah-saww, I would have responded. By Allah-azwj! We have no placed our swords upon our shoulders to any matter at all except it was easy with us to a matter we understood, except this matter of yours’’.[101] (Non-Shia source)
486- مد، العمدة مِنْ تَفْسِيرِ الثَّعْلَبِيِّ قَالَ رَوَى خَلَفُ بْنُ أَبِي خَلِيفَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هَاشِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: كُنَّا نَقُولُ رَبُّنَا وَاحِدٌ وَ دِينُنَا وَاحِدٌ فَمَا هَذِهِ الْخُصُومَةُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ صِفِّينَ وَ شَدَّدَ بَعْضُنَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ بِالسَّيْفِ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ هُوَ هَذَا.
(The book) ‘Al Amdah’, from Tafseer al Sa’alby who said, ‘It is reported by Khalaf Bin Abu Khalaf, from Abu Hashim, from Abu Saeed Al Khudry who said,
‘We were saying, ‘Our Lord-azwj is one, and our religion is one, so what is this dispute?’ When it was the day of Siffeen and some of us were severe upon others with the sword, we said, ‘Yes, it is this’’.[102] (Non-Shia source)
487- نهج، نهج البلاغة رُوِيَ أَنَّهُ ع لَمَّا وَرَدَ الْكُوفَةَ قَادِماً مِنْ صِفِّينَ مَرَّ بِالشَّامِيِّينَ فَسَمِعَ بُكَاءَ النِّسَاءِ عَلَى قَتْلَى صِفِّينَ وَ خَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ حَرْبُ بْنُ شُرَحْبِيلَ الشَّامِيُّ وَ كَانَ مِنْ وُجُوهِ قَوْمِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَ يَغْلِبُكُمْ نِسَاؤُكُمْ عَلَى مَا أَسْمَعُ أَ لَا تَنْهَوْنَهُنَّ عَنْ هَذَا الْأَنِينِ [الرَّنِينِ]
(The book) ‘Nahj Al-Balagah’ – It is reported that when he-asws he was coming to Al-Kufa coming back from Siffeen, he-asws passed by Al-Shamiyeyn. He-asws heard the wailing of women upon the ones slain at Siffeen, and Harb Bin Shirjeel went to him-asws, and he was from the (well-known) faces of his community. Are you being overcome by your women upon what I-asws hear? Will you not end them from this whining?’
وَ أَقْبَلَ يَمْشِي مَعَهُ وَ هُوَ ع رَاكِبٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ ارْجِعْ فَإِنَّ مَشْيَ مِثْلِكَ مَعَ مِثْلِي فِتْنَةٌ لِلْوَالِي وَ مَذَلَّةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ.
And he went walking with him-asws, and he-asws was riding. He-asws said to him: ‘Return, for the walking of the likes of you with the likes of me-asws is Fitna for the ruler, and humiliation for the Momin’’.[103]
488- نهج، نهج البلاغة قَالَ ع وَ قَدْ رَجَعَ مِنْ صِفِّينَ فَأَشْرَفَ عَلَى الْقُبُورِ بِظَاهِرِ الْكُوفَةِ يَا أَهْلَ الدِّيَارِ الْمُوحِشَةِ وَ الْمَحَالِّ الْمُقْفِرَةِ وَ الْقُبُورِ الْمُظْلِمَةِ يَا أَهْلَ التُّرْبَةِ يَا أَهْلَ الْغُرْبَةِ يَا أَهْلَ الْوَحْدَةِ يَا أَهْلَ الْوَحْشَةِ أَنْتُمْ لَنَا فَرَطٌ سَابِقٌ وَ نَحْنُ لَكُمْ تَبَعٌ لَاحِقٌ
(The book) ‘Nahj Al-Balagah’ – He-asws said, and he-asws was returning from Siffeen, and he-asws overlooked upon the graves at the outback of Al-Kufa: ‘O people of the lonely houses, and the desolate places, the dark graves! O people of the soil! O people of the alienation! O people of the loneliness! You are lost to us having preceded, and we are following you to join up.
أَمَّا الدُّورُ فَقَدْ سُكِنَتْ وَ أَمَّا الْأَزْوَاجُ فَقَدْ نُكِحَتْ وَ أَمَّا الْأَمْوَالُ فَقَدْ قُسِمَتْ هَذَا خَبَرُ مَا عِنْدَنَا فَمَا خَبَرُ مَا عِنْدَكُمْ
As for the houses, so they are being dwelt in (by others), and as for the spouses, they have (are) married, and as for the wealth, it has been distributed. This is a piece of news of what is with us. So, so what is the news of what is with you?’
ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ أَمَا لَوْ أُذِنَ لَهُمْ فِي الْكَلَامِ لَأَخْبَرُوكُمْ أَنَ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوى.
Then he-asws turned towards his-asws companions and said: ‘But, had there been permission for them to talk, they would inform you that the best provision is the piety [2:197]’’.[104]
[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 394 a
[2] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 394 b
[3] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 395
[4] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 396 a
[5] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 396 b
[6] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 397
[7] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 398
[8] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 399
[9] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 400
[10] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 401
[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 402
[12] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 403
[13] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 404
[14] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 405
[15] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 406
[16] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 407
[17] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 408
[18] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 409
[19] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 410
[20] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 411
[21] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 412
[22] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 413
[23] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 414
[24] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 415
[25] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 11 H 416
[26] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 417
[27] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 418
[28] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 419
[29] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 420
[30] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 421
[31] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 422
[32] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 423
[33] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 424
[34] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 425
[35] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 426
[36] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 427
[37] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 428
[38] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 429
[39] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 430
[40] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 431
[41] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 432
[42] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 433
[43] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 434
[44] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 11 H 435
[45] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 436
[46] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 437
[47] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 438
[48] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 439
[49] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 440
[50] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 441
[51] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 442
[52] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 443
[53] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 444
[54] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 445
[55] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 446
[56] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 447
[57] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 448
[58] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 449
[59] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 450
[60] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 451 a
[61] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 451 b
[62] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 452
[63] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 453
[64] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 454
[65] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 455
[66] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 456
[67] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 457
[68] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 458
[69] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 459
[70] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 460
[71] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 461 a
[72] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 462
[73] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 463
[74] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 464 a
[75] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 464 b
[76] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 465
[77] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 466
[78] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 467
[79] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 468
[80] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 469
[81] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 470
[82] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 471
[83] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 472 a
[84] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 472 b
[85] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 472 c
[86] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 472 d
[87] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 472 e
[88] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 472 f
[89] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 473
[90] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 474
[91] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 475
[92] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 476
[93] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 477
[94] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 478
[95] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 479
[96] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 480
[97] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 481
[98] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 482
[99] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 483
[100] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 484
[101] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 485
[102] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 486
[103] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 487
[104] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 12 H 488