ج 34
Volume 34
Part 1 out of 2
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
[الباب الحادي و الثلاثون] باب سائر ما جرى من الفتن من غارات أصحاب معاوية على أعماله عليه السلام و تثاقل أصحابه عن نصره و فرار بعضهم عنه إلى معاوية و شكايته عليه السلام عنهم و بعض النوادر
CHAPTER 31 – REST OF WHAT TRANSPIRED FROM THE FITNA, FROM THE RAIDS OF THE COMPANIONS OF MUAWIYA UPON HIS-asws OFFICE BEARERS, AND SLUGGISHNESS OF HIS-asws COMPANIONS FROM HELPING HIM-asws, AND FLEEING OF SOME OF THEM FROM HIM-asws TO MUAWIYA, AND HIS-asws COMPLAINING ABOUT THEM, AND SOME MISECELLANEOUS ISSUES
Please note – Reference numbers 747 to 900 are missing.
[901] – قَالَ عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ بْنُ أَبِي الْحَدِيدِ: إِنَّ قَوْماً بِصَنْعَاءَ كَانُوا مِنْ شِيعَةِ عُثْمَانَ، يُعَظِّمُونَ قَتْلَهُ، لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ نِظَامٌ وَ لَا رَأْسٌ، فَبَايَعُوا لِعَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَى مَا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ، وَ عَامِلُ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَى صَنْعَاءَ يَوْمَئِذٍ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ، وَ عَامِلُهُ عَلَى الْجَنَدِ سَعِيدُ بْنُ نِمْرَانَ.
Abdul Hameed Bin Abi Al Hadeed said,
‘There was a group at Sana’a who was from the loyalists of Usman, considering his killing as grievous. There neither happened to be any system for them nor any chief. They pledged allegiance to Ali-asws upon what was in themselves, and the office bearer for Ali-asws upon Sana’a in those days was Ubeydullah Bin Al-Abbas, and his-asws office bearer upon Al-Janad was Saeed Bin Nimran.
فَلَمَّا اخْتَلَفَ النَّاسُ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ بِالْعِرَاقِ، وَ قُتِلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ بِمِصْرَ، وَ كَثُرَتْ غَارَاتُ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ، تَكَلَّمُوا وَ دَعَوْا إِلَى الطَّلَبِ بِدَمِ عُثْمَانَ، وَ مَنَعُوا الصَّدَقَاتِ، وَ أَظْهَرُوا الْخِلَافَ. فَكَتَبَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ وَ سَعِيدٌ ذَلِكَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، فَلَمَّا وَصَلَ كِتَابُهُمَا سَاءَ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ أَغْضَبَهُ وَ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِمَا:
When the people differed upon Ali-asws at Al-Iraq, and Muhammad Bin Abu Bakr was killed at Egypt, and the raids by the people of Syria were frequent, they spoke and claimed to seek the blood of Usman, and they refused the charities, and manifested the opposition. Ubeydullah and Saeed wrote that to Amir Al-Momineen-asws. When their letters arrive, Ali-asws was hurt and angered, and he-asws wrote to them: –
مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلِيٍّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَى عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ وَ سَعِيدِ بْنِ نِمْرَانَ: سَلَامُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمَا، فَإِنِّي أَحْمَدُ إِلَيْكُمَا اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ. أَمَّا بَعْدُ: فَإِنَّهُ أَتَانِي كِتَابُكُمَا تَذْكُرَانِ فِيهِ خُرُوجَ هَذِهِ الْخَارِجَةِ، وَ تُعَظِّمَانِ مِنْ شَأْنِهَا صَغِيراً، وَ تُكْثِرَانِ مِنْ عَدَدِهَا قَلِيلًا، وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ [نَخَبَ. خ] أَفْئِدَتِكُمَا، وَ صِغَرَ أَنْفُسِكُمَا، وَ تَبَابَ رَأْيِكُمَا، وَ سُوءَ تَدْبِيرِكُمَا،
‘From a servant of Allah-azwj, Ali-asws Amir Al-Momineen, to Ubeydullah Bin Al-Abbas and Saeed Bin Nimran: ‘Greetings be upon you both. I-asws praise Allah-azwj to you Who, there is no god Except He-azwj. As for after, your letter came to me mentioning in it the advent of these Kharijites magnifying the small of its concerns, and multiplying into more its few numbers, and I-asws know the choice of your hearts, and smallness of your selves, and the ruination of your views, and your evil handling (of matters).
هُوَ الَّذِي أَفْسَدَ عَلَيْكُمَا مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلَيْكُمَا فَاسِداً، وَ جَرَّأَ عَلَيْكُمَا مَنْ كَانَ عَنْ لِقَائِكُمَا جَبَاناً، فَإِذَا قَدِمَ رَسُولِي عَلَيْكُمَا، فَامْضِيَا إِلَى الْقَوْمِ حَتَّى تَقْرَءَا عَلَيْهِمْ كِتَابِي إِلَيْهِمْ، وَ تَدْعُوَاهُمْ: إِلَى حَظِّهِمْ وَ تَقْوَى رَبِّهِمْ، فَإِنْ أَجَابُوا حَمِدْنَا اللَّهَ وَ قَبِلْنَاهُمْ، وَ إِنْ حَارَبُوا اسْتَعَنَّا بِاللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ نَابَذْنَاهُمْ عَلَى سَوَاءٍ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُحِبُّ الْخائِنِينَ
He is the one who spoil it upon you both, one who did not happen to be a spoiler upon you, and was audacious upon you, one who used to be cowardly from meeting you (in battle). So when my-asws messenger comes to you, then continue to the group until you read out my-asws letter to them and call them to their fate and fear of their Lord-azwj. If they answer, we shall praise Allah-azwj and accept them, and if they declare war, we shall seek Assistance with Allah-azwj against them and resist them upon the equality. surely Allah does not Love the treacherous [8:58]’.
فَكَتَبَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إِلَيْهِمْ: مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلِيٍّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِلَى مَنْ شَاقَّ وَ غَدَرَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَدِ وَ صَنْعَاءَ:
He-asws wrote to them (Kharijites): ‘From a servant of Allah-azwj Ali-asws Amir Al-Momineen, to one being troublesome and treacherous, from the people of Al-Janad and Sana’a.
أَمَّا بَعْدُ: فَإِنِّي أَحْمَدُ إِلَيْكُمُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ، الَّذِي لَا يُعَقَّبُ لَهُ حُكْمٌ، وَ لَا يُرَدُّ لَهُ قَضَاءٌ، وَ لا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُهُ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
As for after, I-asws praise Allah-azwj to you Who, there is no god except He-azwj, the One Who there is nothing following His-azwj Judgment nor any aversion to His-azwj Decree, and there is no averting His Wrath from the criminal people [6:147].
[أَمَّا بَعْدُ: فَقَدْ. خ] بَلَغَنِي تَحَزُّبُكُمْ وَ شِقَاقُكُمْ وَ إِعْرَاضُكُمْ عَنْ دِينِكُمْ، بَعْدَ الطَّاعَةِ وَ إِعْطَاءِ الْبَيْعَةِ وَ الْأُلْفَةِ، فَسَأَلْتُ أَهْلَ الدِّينِ الْخَالِصِ، وَ الْوَرَعِ الصَّادِقِ، وَ اللُّبِّ الرَّاجِحِ، عَنْ بَدْءِ مَخْرَجِكُمْ، وَ مَا نَوَيْتُمْ بِهِ وَ مَا أَحْمَشَكُمْ لَهُ، فَحُدِّثْتُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ بِمَا لَمْ أَرَ لَكُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْهُ عُذْراً مُبِيناً، وَ لَا مَقَالًا جَمِيلًا، وَ لَا حُجَّةً ظَاهِرَةً،
As for after, it has reached me-asws, your rallying, and your discord, and your objections about your religion after the obedience, and giving the allegiance, and the affinity. I-asws asked the people of religion, the sincere, and the pious, the truthful, and correct understanding about the beginning of your advent and what you are intending with it, and what has exasperated (infuriated) you to it, and I-asws was narrated about that with what I-asws cannot see any clear excuse for you regarding anything from it, nor any beautiful words, nor any apparent argument.
فَإِذَا أَتَاكُمْ رَسُولِي فَتَفَرَّقُوا وَ انْصَرِفُوا إِلَى رِحَالِكُمْ أَعْفُ عَنْكُمْ، وَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ ارْجِعُوا إِلَى الطَّاعَةِ، وَ أَصْفَحُ عَنْ جَاهِلِكُمْ، وَ أَحْفَظُ عَنْ قَاصِيكُمْ، وَ أَقُومُ فِيكُمْ بِالْقِسْطِ، وَ أَعْمَلُ فِيكُمْ بِحُكْمِ الْكِتَابِ.
When my-asws messenger comes to you, then disperse (from revolt) and leave to your belongings (go home), I-asws am pardoning you all; and fear Allah-azwj and return to the obedience, and I-asws am excusing your ignorance, and I-asws shall preserve from breaking you, and I-asws shall stand among you with the fairness, and work among you with Judgments of the Book.
فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا، فَاسْتَعِدُّوا لِقُدُومِ جَيْشٍ جَمِّ الْفُرْسَانِ، عَظِيمِ الْأَرْكَانِ، يَقْصِدُ لِمَنْ طَغَا وَ عَصَى فَتَطَحَّنُوا كَطَحْنِ الرَّحَى
If you do not do so, then be prepared for the arrival of an army with a multitude of horsemen, mighty generals aiming for the one who rebels and disobeys, and you would be grinded like the grinding of the mill.
فَمَنْ أَحْسَنَ فَلِنَفْسِهِ، وَ مَنْ أَساءَ فَعَلَيْها وَ ما رَبُّكَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ وَ إِلَّا فَلَا يَحْمَدُ حَامِدٌ إِلَّا رَبَّهُ، وَ لَا يَلُومُ لَائِمٌ إِلَّا نَفْسَهُ، وَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ.
So the one who is good, it is for himself, and one who does evil, so it would be against him, and your Lord is not the least unjust to the servants [41:46], or else should not be any praising by a praising one except his Lord-azwj, nor should any blamer blame except himself. And the greetings be unto you all and Mercy of Allah-azwj’.
وَ وَجَّهَ الْكِتَابَ مَعَ رَجُلٍ مِنْ هَمْدَانَ: فَقَدَّمَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْكِتَابَ فَلَمْ يُجِيبُوهُ إِلَى خَيْرٍ، فَرَجَعَ فَأَخْبَرَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.
And he-asws sent the letter with a man from Hamdan: ‘Advance the letter to them’. But they did not answer him to any goodness. He returned and informed him-asws.
وَ كَتَبَتْ تِلْكَ الْعِصَابَةُ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ يُخْبِرُونَهُ بِمَا جَرَى، وَ بِطَاعَتِهِمْ [لَهُ]. فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ كِتَابُهُمْ، دَعَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بُسْرَ بْنَ أَرْطَاةَ الْعَامِرِيَّ وَ يُقَالُ: ابْنُ أَبِي أَرْطَاةَ وَ كَانَ قَاسِيَ الْقَلْبِ، فَظّاً، سَفَّاكاً لِلدِّمَاءِ، لَا رَأْفَةَ عِنْدَهُ وَ لَا رَحْمَةَ، وَ أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ طَرِيقَ الْحِجَازِ وَ الْمَدِينَةِ وَ مَكَّةَ حَتَّى يَنْتَهِيَ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ،
And that group wrote to Muawiya informing him with what had transpired and (pledged) their obedience to him. When their letter arrived, Muawiya called Busr Bin Artat Al-Aamiry, and it is said it was Ibn Abi Artat, and he was on a hard heart, rough, shedder of blood. There was neither any friendliness with him or mercy, and he instructed him that he take the road of Al-Hijaz and Al-Medina and Makkah until he ends up to Al-Yemen.
وَ قَالَ لَهُ: لَا تَنْزِلْ عَلَى بَلَدٍ أَهْلُهُ عَلَى طَاعَةِ عَلِيٍّ، إِلَّا بَسَطْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِسَانَكَ، حَتَّى يَرَوْا أَنَّهُمْ لَا نَجَاءَ لَهُمْ وَ أَنَّكَ مُحِيطٌ بِهِمْ، ثُمَّ اكْفُفْ عَنْهُمْ، وَ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْبَيْعَةِ لِي، فَمَنْ أَبَى فَاقْتُلْهُ، وَ اقْتُلْ شِيعَةَ عَلِيٍّ حَيْثُ كَانُوا.
And he said to him, ‘Do not descend to any city whose inhabitants are upon obedience to Ali-asws except you extend your tongue upon them until they realise there is rescue for them and you have surrounded them. Then refrain from them and call them to pledge allegiance to me. The one who refuses, kill him, and kill the Shias of Ali-asws wherever they may be’.
وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى، بَعَثَ بُسْراً فِي ثَلَاثَةِ آلَافٍ وَ قَالَ: سِرْ حَتَّى تَمُرَّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ، فَاطْرُدِ النَّاسَ، وَ أَخِفْ مَنْ مَرَرْتَ بِهِ، وَ انْهَبْ أَمْوَالَ كُلِّ مَنْ أَصَبْتَ لَهُ مَالًا مِمَّنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي طَاعَتِنَا،
And in another report, he sent Busr among three thousand and said, ‘Travel until you pass by Al-Medina. Expel the people and frighten the ones you pass by, and plunder the wealth of everyone who has attained wealth for him, from the ones who do not happen to be in our obedience.
فَإِذَا دَخَلْتَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَأَرِهِمْ أَنَّكَ تُرِيدُ أَنْفُسَهُمْ، وَ أَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّهُ لَا بَرَاءَةَ لَهُمْ عِنْدَكَ وَ لَا عُذْرَ، حَتَّى إِذَا ظَنُّوا أَنَّكَ مُوقِعٌ بِهِمْ، فَاكْفُفْ عَنْهُمْ، ثُمَّ سِرْ حَتَّى تَدْخُلَ مَكَّةَ، وَ لَا تَعَرَّضْ فِيهَا لِأَحَدٍ، وَ أَرْهِبِ النَّاسَ عَنْكَ فِيمَا بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَ الْمَدِينَةِ، وَ اجْعَلْهَا شَرْدَاتٍ، حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ صَنْعَاءَ وَ الْجَنَدَ، فَإِنَّ لَنَا بِهِمَا شِيعَةً، وَ قَدْ جَاءَنِي كِتَابُهُمْ.
When you enter Al-Medina, then show them that you want their souls, and inform them that there is neither any freedom for them in your presence nor any excuse, until when they think that you would be eradicating them, refrain from them. Then travel until you enter Makkah, and do not expose yourself to anyone, and let the people be scared from you in what is between Makkah and Al-Medina, and make them flee it, until you come to Sana’a and Al-Janad, for there are loyalists for us over there, and their letter has come to me’.
فَسَارَ بُسْرٌ حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَدِينَةَ، وَ صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ وَ هَدَّدَهُمْ وَ أَوْعَدَهُمْ، وَ بَعْدَ الشَّفَاعَةِ أَخَذَ مِنْهُمُ الْبَيْعَةَ لِمُعَاوِيَةَ، وَ جَعَلَ عَلَيْهَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، وَ أَحْرَقَ دُوراً كَثِيرَةً.
So Busr travelled until he came to Al-Medina and ascended the pulpit, and threatened them and promised them, and after the intercession, took from them the allegiance to Muawiya, and made Abu Hureyra (as a governor) upon it, and burnt down a lot of houses.
وَ خَرَجَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ، فَلَمَّا قَرُبَ مِنْهَا هَرَبَ قُثَمُ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ عَامِلُ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْهَا، وَ دَخَلَهَا بُسْرٌ فَشَتَمَ أَهْلَ مَكَّةَ وَ أَنَّبَهُمْ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَنْهَا وَ اسْتَعْمَلَ عَلَيْهَا شَيْبَةَ بْنَ عُثْمَانَ، وَ أَخَذَ فِيهَا سُلَيْمَانَ وَ دَاوُدَ ابْنَيْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ فَذَبَحَهُمَا، وَ قَتَلَ فِيمَا بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَ الْمَدِينَةِ رِجَالًا وَ أَخَذَ أَمْوَالًا.
And he went to Makkah. When he was near to it, Qusam Bin Al-Abbas, office bearer of Ali-asws, fled from it and Busr entered it. He insulted the people of Makkah and warned them. Then he went out from it employing Shayba Bin Usman (as a governor) upon it; and he seized Suleyman and Dawood, two sons of Ubeydullah Bin Al-Abbas, and slaughtered them, and he killed men in what is between Makkah and Al-Medina and seized their wealth.
ثُمَّ خَرَجَ مِنْ مَكَّةَ وَ كَانَ يَسِيرُ وَ يُفْسِدُ فِي الْبِلَادِ، حَتَّى أَتَى صَنْعَاءَ، وَ هَرَبَ مِنْهَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ وَ سَعِيدٌ، فَدَخَلَهَا وَ قَتَلَ فِيهَا نَاساً كَثِيراً، وَ كَانَ هَكَذَا يُفْسِدُ فِي الْبِلَادِ.
Then he went out from Makkah, and he kept travelling and making mischief in the country until he came to Sana’a; and Ubeydullah and Saeed fled from it, and a lot of people were killed in it. And this is how there was mischief in the country.
فَنَدَبَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَصْحَابَهُ لِبَعْثِ سَرِيَّةٍ فِي أَثَرِ بُسْرٍ فَتَثَاقَلُوا، وَ أَجَابَهُ جَارِيَةُ بْنُ قُدَامَةَ، فَبَعَثَهُ فِي أَلْفَيْنِ، فَشَخَصَ إِلَى الْبَصْرَةِ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ طَرِيقَ الْحِجَازِ حَتَّى قَدِمَ يَمَنَ، وَ سَأَلَ عَنْ بُسْرٍ فَقِيلَ: أَخَذَ عَلَى بِلَادِ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ، فَقَالَ: أَخَذَ فِي دِيَارِ قَوْمٍ يَمْنَعُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ.
Ali-asws assigned his-asws companions to send a battalion in the tracks of Busr, but they were sluggish, and Jariyah Bin Qudama answered him. He-asws sent him among two thousand. He went to Al-Basra, then took the road of Al-Hijaz until he arrived at Yemen and asked about Busr. It was said, ‘He has seized upon the city of the clan of Tameem’. He said, ‘He has taken regarding house of a people who cannot defend themselves’.
وَ بَلَغَ بُسْراً مَسِيرُ جَارِيَةَ فَانْحَدَرَ إِلَى الْيَمَامَةِ، وَ أَغَذَّ جَارِيَةُ السَّيْرَ، مَا يَلْتَفِتُ إِلَى مَدِينَةٍ مَرَّ بِهَا، وَ لَا أَهْلِ حِصْنٍ، وَ لَا يَعْرُجُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ؛ إِلَّا أَنْ يُرْمِلَ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِهِ مِنَ الزَّادِ، فَيَأْمُرَ أَصْحَابَهُ بِمُوَاسَاتِهِ. أَوْ يَسْقُطَ بَعِيرُ رَجُلٍ، أَوْ تَحْفَى دَابَّتُهُ، فَيَأْمُرَ أَصْحَابَهُ بِأَنْ يُعْقِبُوهُ، حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى أَرْضِ الْيَمَنِ،
And it (news) reached Busr of the travel of Jariyah, so he rolled down to Al-Yamama, and Jariyah took to the travelling. He did not turn to any city he passed by nor any people of a fortress, nor ascend upon anything except some of his companions ran out of provision. So, he ordered his companions with the sharing; or a camel of a man would fall down, or his animal would die, so he instructed his companions with leaving it, until he ended up to the land of Yemen.
فَهَرَبَتْ شِيعَةُ عُثْمَانَ، حَتَّى لَحِقُوا بِالْجِبَالِ، وَ اتَّبَعَهُمْ شِيعَةُ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، وَ تَدَاعَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جَانِبٍ، وَ أَصَابُوا مِنْهُمْ.
Loyalists of Usman fled from it until they joined up with the mountain, and Shias of Ali-asws pursued them and pounced upon them from every side and attained (killed) from them.
وَ مَرَّ [جَارِيَةُ] نَحْوَ بُسْرٍ، وَ بُسْرٌ يَفِرُّ مِنْ جِهَةٍ إِلَى جِهَةٍ، حَتَّى أَخْرَجَهُ مِنْ أَعْمَالِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ كُلِّهَا. فَلَمَّا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ بِهِ، أَقَامَ جَارِيَةُ بِحَرَسَ نَحْواً مِنْ شَهْرٍ، حَتَّى اسْتَرَاحَ وَ أَرَاحَ أَصْحَابُهُ.
And Jariyah passed by towards Busr, and Busr was fleeing from a direction to a direction until he threw him out from the offices of Ali-asws, all of them. When he had done that with him, Jariyah stood at Harasa approximately a month until he had rested and rested his companions.
وَ وَثَبَ النَّاسُ بِبُسْرٍ فِي طَرِيقِهِ لَمَّا انْصَرَفَ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْ جَارِيَةَ، لِسُوءِ سِيرَتِهِ وَ فَظَاظَتِهِ وَ ظُلْمِهِ وَ غَشْمِهِ. وَ أَصَابَ بَنُو تَمِيمٍ ثِقْلًا مِنْ ثِقْلِهِ فِي بِلَادِهِمْ.
And the people leapt (away from) Busr in his way when he left from in front of Jariyah, due to his evil ways, and his rudeness, and his injustices, and his cheating, and the clan of Tameem were hit by a heavy toll in their city.
فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ بُسْرٌ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالَ: أَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِنِّي سِرْتُ فِي هَذَا الْجَيْشِ أَقْتُلُ عَدُوَّكَ ذَاهِباً وَ جَائِياً، لَمْ يَنْكُبَ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ نَكْبَةً. فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ: اللَّهُ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ لَا أَنْتَ. وَ كَانَ الَّذِي قَتَلَ بُسْرٌ فِي وَجْهِهِ ذَلِكَ، ثَلَاثِينَ أَلْفاً، وَ حَرَقَ قَوْماً بِالنَّارِ.
When Busr returned to Muawiya, he said, ‘Praise Allah-azwj, O commander of the faithful! I travelled in this army (and) I killed your enemies going and coming. No man from them had any calamity’. Muawiya said, ‘Allah-azwj Did that, not you’. And the ones who Busr killed in that expedition of his were thirty thousand, and he (also) burnt many (innocent one) with the fire’.
قَالَ: وَ دَعَا عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَى بُسْرٍ فَقَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ بُسْراً بَاعَ دِينَهُ بِالدُّنْيَا، وَ انْتَهَكَ مَحَارِمَكَ، وَ كَانَتْ طَاعَةُ مَخْلُوقٍ فَاجِرٍ، آثَرَ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ طَاعَتِكَ، اللَّهُمَّ فَلَا تُمِتْهُ حَتَّى تَسْلُبَهُ عَقْلَهُ، وَ لَا تُوجِبْ لَهُ رَحْمَتَكَ، وَ لَا سَاعَةً مِنَ النَّهَارِ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘And Ali-asws supplicated against Busr. He-asws said: ‘O Allah-azwj! Busr sold his religion for the world, and violated Your-azwj Sanctity, and he was in the obedience of transgressing people, preferring with him than obeying You-azwj. O Allah-azwj! Do not Kill him until You-azwj Confiscate his intellect, and do not Grant Your-azwj Mercy to him, nor any time from the day.
اللَّهُمَّ الْعَنْ بُسْراً وَ عَمْراً وَ مُعَاوِيَةَ، وَ لْيَحُلَّ عَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبُكَ، وَ لْتَنْزِلْ بِهِمْ نَقِمَتُكَ، وَ لْيُصِبْهُمْ بَأْسُكَ وَ رِجْزُكَ الَّذِي لَا تَرُدُّهُ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ.
O Allah-azwj! Curse Busr, and Amro (Bin Al-Aas), and Muawiya, and Release Your-azwj Wrath upon them, and let Your-azwj Punishment befall them, and let Your-azwj Prowess hit them, and Your-azwj Rebuke which there is repelling it from the criminal people!’
فَلَمْ يَلْبَثْ بُسْرٌ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ إِلَّا يَسِيراً، حَتَّى وَسْوَسَ وَ ذَهَبَ عَقْلُهُ. وَ كَانَ يَهْذِي بِالسَّيْفِ وَ يَقُولُ: أَعْطُونِي سَيْفاً أَقْتُلْ بِهِ. لَا يَزَالُ يُرَدِّدُ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى اتَّخَذَ لَهُ سَيْفاً مِنْ خَشَبٍ، وَ كَانُوا يُدْنُونَ مِنْهُ الْمِرْفَقَةَ، فَلَا يَزَالُ يَضْرِبُهَا حَتَّى يُغْشَى عَلَيْهِ، فَلَبِثَ كَذَلِكَ إِلَى أَنْ مَاتَ..
Busr did not live after that except a little, until he deteriorated and his intellect was gone, and he used to ramble and say, ‘Give me a sword I can be killed with!’ He did not cease repeating that until a wooden sword was taken for him, and they were coming near him with the supplies. He did not cease to strike (himself) with it until there was unconsciousness upon him. He remained like that until he died’’.[1]
وَ رُوِيَ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ: خَرَجَ بُسْرٌ مِنْ مَكَّةَ، وَ اسْتَعْمَلَ عَلَيْهَا شَيْبَةَ بْنَ عُثْمَانَ، ثُمَّ مَضَى يُرِيدُ الْيَمَنَ، فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَ مَكَّةَ رَجَعَ قُثَمُ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَغَلَبَ عَلَيْهَا.
And it is reported from Al Waleed Bin Hisham who said,
‘Busr went out from Makkah and employed Shayba Bin Usman (as governor) upon it. Then he continued intending Al-Yemen. When he crossed over Makkah, Qusam Bin Al-Abbas returned to Makkah and overcame upon it.
وَ كَانَ بُسْرٌ إِذَا قَرُبَ مِنْ مَنْزِلٍ، تَقَدَّمَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ أَهْلَ الْمَاءِ فَيُسَلِّمُ فَيَقُولُ: مَا تَقُولُونَ فِي هَذَا الْمَقْتُولِ بِالْأَمْسِ عُثْمَانَ؟ فَإِنْ قَالُوا: قُتِلَ مَظْلُوماً. لَمْ يَعْرِضْ لَهُمْ. وَ إِنْ قَالُوا كَانَ مُسْتَوْجِباً لِلْقَتْلِ. قَالَ: ضَعُوا السِّلَاحَ فِيهِمْ.
And it so happened that whenever Busr was nearby a house, a man from his companions would go ahead until he came to the people of water. He greeted and said, ‘What are you saying this one killed yesterday, Usman?’ If they said, ‘He was killed oppressed’. He did not object to them. And if they said, ‘He was deserving of the killing’. He would said, ‘Place the weapons among them!’
فَلَمْ يَزَلْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ حَتَّى دَخَلَ صَنْعَاءَ. فَهَرَبَ مِنْهُ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ، وَ كَانَ وَالِياً لِعَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْهَا، وَ اسْتَخْلَفَ عُمَرَ بْنَ أَرَاكَةَ فَأَخَذَهُ بُسْرٌ، فَضَرَبَ عُنُقَهُ. وَ أَخَذَ ابْنَيْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ فَذَبَحَهُمَا عَلَى دَرَجِ صَنْعَاءَ، وَ ذَبَحَ فِي آثَارِهِمَا مِائَةَ شَيْخٍ مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ فَارِسَ. وَ ذَلِكَ؛ أَنَّ الْغُلَامَيْنِ كَانَا فِي مَنْزِلِ أُمِّ النُّعْمَانِ بِنْتِ بُزُرْجَ، امْرَأَةٍ مِنَ الْأَبْنَاءِ.
He did not cease to be upon that until he entered Sana’a. Ubeydullah Bin Al-Abbas fled from it, and he was a governor for Ali-asws upon it, and he made Umar Bin Arakah a replacement. Busr seized him and struck off his neck. And he seized two sons of Ubeydullah and slaughtered them upon a step of Sana’a, and he slaughtered in their tracks one hundred elders from the sons of horsemen, and that is because the two boys were in a house of Umm Al-Numan, daughter Bint Buzurj, a woman among the children’’.[2]
وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنِ الْكَلْبِيِّ وَ لُوطِ بْنِ يَحْيَى، أَنَّ ابْنَ قَيْسٍ قَدِمَ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِخُرُوجِ بُسْرٍ، فَنَدَبَ [عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] النَّاسَ فَتَثَاقَلُوا عَنْهُ، فَقَالَ: أَ تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ أَخْرُجَ بِنَفْسِي فِي كَتِيبَةٍ تَتْبَعُ كَتِيبَةً فِي الْفَيَافِي وَ الْجِبَالِ؟ ذَهَبَ وَ اللَّهِ مِنْكُمْ أُولُو النُّهَى وَ الْفَضْلِ، الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يُدْعَوْنَ فَيُجِيبُونَ، وَ يُؤْمَرُونَ فَيُطِيعُونَ، لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَخْرُجَ عَنْكُمْ، فَلَا أَطْلُبَ بِنَصْرِكُمْ مَا اخْتَلَفَ الْجَدِيدَانِ.
And by his chain from Al Kalby, and Lut Bin Yahya,
‘Ibn Qays arrived to Ali-asws and informed him-asws with the advent of Busr. Ali-asws called out among the people but they were sluggish from him-asws. He-asws said: ‘Are you intending that I-asws should go out myself-asws in a battalion to pursue a battalion in the deserts and the mountains? By Allah-azwj! The ones with intelligence and merit are gone from you, those who were called so they answered, and they were ordered so they obeyed. I-asws am thinking of getting out from you all. I-asws will not see any help from you for as long as the new ones are differing!’
فَقَامَ جَارِيَةُ بْنُ قُدَامَةَ فَقَالَ: أَنَا أَكْفِيكَهُمْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، فَقَالَ [لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] أَنْتَ لَعَمْرِي لَمَيْمُونُ النَّقِيبَةِ، حَسَنُ النِّيَّةِ، صَالِحُ الْعَشِيرَةِ.
Jariyah Bin Qudama stood up and said, ‘I shall suffice you-asws, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws!’ Amir Al-Momineen-asws said to him: ‘By Allah-azwj! You are an auspicious captain, good of intention, of a righteous clan’.
وَ نَدَبَ مَعَهُ أَلْفَيْنِ، وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: أَلْفاً وَ أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ بِالْبَصْرَةِ وَ يَضُمَّ إِلَيْهِ مِثْلَهُمْ. فَشَخَصَ جَارِيَةُ، وَ خَرَجَ مَعَهُ [عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] يُشَيِّعُهُ، فَلَمَّا وَدَّعَهُ قَالَ: اتَّقِ اللَّهَ الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ تَصِيرُ، وَ لَا تَحْتَقِرْ مُسْلِماً وَ لَا مُعَاهَداً، وَ لَا تَغْصِبَنَّ مَالًا وَ لَا وَلَداً وَ لَا دَابَّةً، وَ إِنْ حَفِيتَ وَ تَرَجَّلْتَ، وَ صَلِّ الصَّلَاةَ لِوَقْتِهَا.
And he-asws despatched two thousand (soldiers) with him. And one of them said, ‘One thousand’. And he instructed him that he should go to Al-Basra and combine to him their similar (number). Jariya went and Ali-asws went out with him, escorting him. When he-asws bade him farewell, he-asws said: ‘Fear Allah-azwj, the One to Whom you are destined, and neither belittle any Muslim, nor any agreement, nor usurp wealth, nor children, nor animal, and even if you are bare-footed and walking, and pray Salat to its timings’.
فَقَدِمَ جَارِيَةُ الْبَصْرَةَ، وَ ضَمَّ إِلَيْهِ مِثْلَ الَّذِي مَعَهُ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ طَرِيقَ الْحِجَازِ حَتَّى قَدِمَ الْيَمَنَ. وَ لَمْ يَغْصِبْ أَحَداً، وَ لَمْ يَقْتُلْ أَحَداً إِلَّا قَوْماً ارْتَدُّوا بِالْيَمَنِ، فَقَتَلَهُمْ وَ حَرَقَهُمْ، وَ سَأَلَ عَنْ طَرِيقِ بُسْرٍ، فَقَالُوا: أَخَذَ عَلَى بِلَادِ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ، فَقَالَ: أَخَذَ فِي دِيَارِ قَوْمٍ يَمْنَعُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ. فَانْصَرَفَ جَارِيَةُ فَأَقَامَ بِحَرَسَ.
Jariyah arrived at Al-Basra and combined to him similar to the ones who were with him. Then he took to the road of Al-Hijaz until he arrived at Al-Yemen; and he neither usurped anyone, nor did he kill anyone except a group at Al-Yemen which had turned apostate. He killed them and burnt them, and asked about the road taken by Busr. They said, ‘He took to the city of the clan of Tameem’. He said, ‘He has taken to the house of a people who can defend themselves’. Then Jariyah left and stayed at Harasa’’.[3]
قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ: وَ مِنْ حَدِيثِ الْكُوفِيِّينَ عَنْ نُمَيْرِ بْنِ وَعْلَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الْوَدَّاكِ قَالَ: قَدِمَ زُرَارَةُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ فَخَبَرَ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بِالْقُدْمَةِ الَّتِي خَرَجَ فِيهَا بُسْرٌ، فَصَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّ أَوَّلَ فُرْقَتِكُمْ، وَ بَدْءَ نَقْصِكُمْ، ذَهَابُ أُوْلِي النُّهَى وَ أَهْلِ الرَّأْيِ مِنْكُمْ، الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يُلْقَوْنَ فَيَصْدُقُونَ، وَ يَقُولُونَ فَيَعْدِلُونَ، وَ يُدْعَوْنَ فَيُجِيبُونَ، وَ أَنَا وَ اللَّهِ قَدْ دَعَوْتُكُمْ عَوْداً وَ بَدْءاً وَ سِرّاً وَ جِهَاراً وَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ، وَ الْغُدُوِّ وَ الْآصَالِ، فَمَا يَزِيدُكُمْ دُعَائِي إِلَّا فِرَاراً وَ إِدْبَاراً.
Ibrahim said, ‘And from a Hadeeth of the people of Kufa, from Numeyr Bin Waila, from Abu Al Waddak who said,
‘Zurara Bin Qays arrived and informed Ali-asws with the advent in which Busra had come out. He-asws ascended the pulpit, praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, then said: ‘As for after, O you people! First are your divisions and your deficiencies begun! The ones with intellect and the people of views are gone from you, those who met so they gave charity, and they spoke so they were establishing justice, and they were called so they answered, and I-asws, by Allah-azwj, have called you repeatedly, and initiating, and secretly, and openly, and during the night, and the day, and morning, and evening, but my-asws call did not increase you except in fleeing and turning around.
أَ مَا تَنْفَعُكُمُ الْعِظَةُ وَ الدُّعَاءُ إِلَى الْهُدَى وَ الْحِكْمَةِ؟! وَ إِنِّي لَعَالِمٌ بِمَا يُصْلِحُكُمْ وَ يُقِيمُ أَوَدَكُمْ، وَ لَكِنِّي وَ اللَّهِ لَا أُصْلِحُكُمْ بِفَسَادِ نَفْسِي، وَ لَكِنْ أَمْهِلُونِي قَلِيلًا، فَكَأَنَّكُمْ وَ اللَّهِ بِامْرِئٍ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ، يَحْرُمُكُمْ وَ يُعَذِّبُكُمْ، فَيُعَذِّبُهُ اللَّهُ كَمَا يُعَذِّبُكُمْ.
Isn’t the preaching and the calling benefitting you to the guidance and the wisdom? And I-asws well know what would correct you and establish your trusts, but, by Allah-azwj, I-asws will not correct you by spoiling myself-asws, but respite me-asws a little. By Allah-azwj! It is as if you are with a person who has come to you, depriving you and punishing you, so Allah-azwj Punishes him just as he punishes Your-azwj (servants).
إِنَّ مِنْ ذُلِّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ هَلَاكِ الدِّينِ، أَنَّ ابْنَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ يَدْعُو الْأَرَاذِلَ وَ الْأَشْرَارَ فَيُجَابُ، وَ أَدْعُوكُمْ وَ أَنْتُمُ الْأَفْضَلُونَ الْأَخْيَارُ، وَ تَدَافَعُونَ، مَا هَذَا بِفِعْلِ الْمُتَّقِينَ.
Surely, from the disgrace of the Muslims and destruction of the religion is that the son of Abu Sufyan is called in the despicable evil ones, and he is answered, and I-asws am calling you all, and you are the meritorious ones, the choicest, and you are holding off. This is not a deed of the pious!
إِنَّ بُسْرَ بْنَ أَبِي أَرْطَاةَ وُجِّهَ إِلَى الْحِجَازِ، وَ مَا بُسْرٌ لَعَنَهُ اللَّهُ؟ لِيَنْتَدِبَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْكُمْ عِصَابَةٌ حَتَّى تَرُدُّوهُ عَنْ سُنَنِهِ، فَإِنَّمَا خَرَجَ فِي سِتِّمِائَةٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ.
Busr Bin Abu Artat is heading to Al-Hijaz, and what is Busr, may Allah-azwj Curse him? Let a group from you be assigned to him until you return him from his ways, for rather he has gone out among six hundred or more’.
قَالَ: فَأَسْكَتَ الْقَوْمُ مَلِيّاً لَا يَنْطِقُونَ. فَقَالَ: مَا لَكُمْ مُخْرَسُونَ لَا تُكَلِّمُونَ؟. فَذَكَرَ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ حَصِيرَةَ، عَنْ مُسَافِرِ بْنِ عَفِيفٍ،
He (the narrator) said, ‘The people were silent for a while, not talking. He-asws said: ‘What is the matter with you all, are you mute that you are not speaking?’ He-asws mentioned about Al-Haris Bin Haseyra, about Musafir Bin Afeef.
قَالَ: قَامَ أَبُو بُرْدَةَ بْنُ عَوْفٍ الْأَزْدِيُّ، فَقَالَ: إِنْ سِرْتَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، سِرْنَا مَعَكَ!! فَقَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ مَا لَكُمْ مَا سَدَدْتُمْ لِمَقَالِ الرُّشْدِ [أَ] فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا يَنْبَغِي لِي أَنْ أَخْرُجَ؟! إِنَّمَا يَخْرُجُ فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا، رَجُلٌ مِمَّنْ تَرْضَوْنَ مِنْ فُرْسَانِكُمْ وَ شُجْعَانِكُمْ،
He (the narrator) said, ‘Abu Burdah Bin Awf Al-Azdy stood up and said, ‘If you-asws travel, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws, we shall travel with you-asws!!’ He-asws said: ‘O Allah-azwj! What is the matter with you are not discharging to the words of rightful guidance? Is it befitting for me-asws than I-asws go out in the likes of this?! But rather he should go out in the likes of this, a man from the ones you are pleased with, from your horsemen and your braves.
وَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِي أَنْ أَدَعَ الْجَنَدَ وَ الْمِصْرَ وَ بَيْتَ الْمَالِ وَ جِبَايَةَ الْأَرْضِ وَ الْقَضَاءَ بَيْنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ النَّظَرَ فِي حُقُوقِ النَّاسِ، ثُمَّ أَخْرُجَ فِي كَتِيبَةٍ أَتْبَعُ أُخْرَى فِي فَلَوَاتٍ وَ شُغُفِ الْجِبَالِ، هَذَا وَ اللَّهِ الرَّأْيُ السَّوْءُ.
And it is not befitting for me-asws and I-asws should leave Al-Janad, and Egypt, and the public treasury, and levies of the land, and the judging between the Muslims, and the consideration regarding rights of the people, then I-asws should go out in a battalion pursuing another one in the wilderness and mountain ridges. By Allah-azwj, this is the evil view.
وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ لَا رَجَائِي الشَّهَادَةَ عِنْدَ لِقَائِهِمْ، لَوْ قَدْ حُمَّ لِي لِقَاؤُهُمْ، لَقَرَّبْتُ رِكَابِي، ثُمَّ لَشَخَصْتُ عَنْكُمْ، فَلَا أَطْلُبُكُمْ مَا اخْتَلَفَ جَنُوبٌ وَ شِمَالٌ، فَوَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ فِرَاقَكُمْ لَرَاحَةٌ لِلنَّفْسِ وَ الْبَدَنِ.
By Allah-azwj! Had it not been for my desire of the martyrdom during meeting them (in battle), if only meeting them (in battle) would have been warmed up for me-asws, I-asws would have gone near my stirrups, then gone away from you. I-asws would not seek you for as long as the south and north are different. By Allah-azwj! In separating from you all is rest for the soul and the body’.
فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ جَارِيَةُ بْنُ قُدَامَةَ السَّعْدِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ، فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، لَا أَعْدَمَنَا اللَّهُ نَفْسَكَ، وَ لَا أَرَانَا فِرَاقَكَ، إِنَّا لِهَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ، فَسَرِّحْنِي إِلَيْهِمْ.
Jariyah Bin Qudamah Al-Sa’ady, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on him, stood up and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! May Allah-azwj not Deprive us of yourself-asws, nor Shows us your-asws separation. I am for this group, so let me go to them!’
قَالَ: فَتَجَهَّزْ فَإِنَّكَ مَا عَلِمْتُ مَيْمُونُ النَّقِيبَةِ.
He-asws said: ‘So prepare, for you are what is known as an auspicious captain’.
وَ قَامَ إِلَيْهِ وَهْبُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ الْخَثْعَمِيُّ فَقَالَ: أَنَا أَنْتَدِبُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، قَالَ: فَانْتَدِبْ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ فِيكَ. فَنَزَلَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَنِ الْمِنْبَرِ] وَ دَعَا جَارِيَةَ فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَسِيرَ إِلَى الْبَصْرَةِ.
And Wahab Bin Masoud Al-Khas’amy stood up and said, ‘I shall accompany them, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws!’ He-asws said: ‘Then delegate, may Allah-azwj Bless you’. He-asws descended from the pulpit and called Jariyah and instructed him to travel to Al-Basra.
فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا فِي أَلْفَيْنِ، وَ نَدَبَ مَعَ الْخَثْعَمِيِّ مِنَ الْكُوفَةِ أَلْفَيْنِ [وَ] قَالَ لَهُمَا: اخْرُجَا فِي طَلَبِ بُسْرٍ حَتَّى تَلْحَقَاهُ، [وَ] أَيْنَمَا لَحِقْتُمَاهُ فَنَاجِزَاهُ، فَإِذَا الْتَقَيْتُمَا، فَجَارِيَةُ عَلَى النَّاسِ. فَخَرَجَا فِي طَلَبِ بُسْرٍ، وَ الْتَقَيَا بِأَرْضِ الْحِجَازِ، فَذَهَبَا فِي طَلَبِ بُسْرٍ.
He went out from it among two thousand and two thousand were delegated with Al-Khas’amy from Al-Kufa, and he-asws said to them both: ‘Go out in seeking Busr until you come across him, and wherever you come across him, battle him. So, when you two meet (combine forces), then Jariyah (is the commander) upon the people (army)’. They both went out and met in the land of Al-Hijaz, and went in the search for Busr’’.[4]
وَ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ حَصِيرَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ قَالَ: لَمَّا بَلَغَ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ دُخُولُ بُسْرٍ الْحِجَازَ، وَ قَتْلُهُ ابْنَيْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ، وَ قَتْلُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَدَانِ وَ مَالِكِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، بَعَثَنِي بِكِتَابٍ فِي أَثَرِ جَارِيَةَ بْنِ قُدَامَةَ، قَبْلَ أَنْ يَبْلُغَهُ أَنَّ بُسْراً ظَهَرَ عَلَى صَنْعَاءَ وَ أَخْرَجَ عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْهَا وَ ابْنَ نِمْرَانَ،
And from Al Haris Bin Haseyra, from Abdul Rahman Bin Ubeyd who said,
‘When it reached Ali-asws, the entering Al-Hijaz by Busr, and his killing the two sons of Ubeydullah Bin Al-Abbas, and killing of Abdullah Bin Abdul Madan and Malik Bin Abdullah, he-asws sent me with a letter in the tracks of Jariyah Bin Qudamah before it had reached him that Busr had prevailed upon Sana’a and expelled Ubeydullah from it, and Ibn Nimran.
فَخَرَجْتُ بِالْكِتَابِ حَتَّى لَحِقْتُ بِجَارِيَةَ فَفَضَّهُ فَإِذَا فِيهِ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي بَعَثْتُكَ فِي وَجْهِكَ الَّذِي وَجَّهْتُ لَهُ، وَ قَدْ أَوْصَيْتُكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ، وَ تَقْوَى رَبِّنَا جِمَاعُ كُلِّ خَيْرٍ، وَ رَأْسُ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ، وَ تَرَكْتُ أَنْ أُسَمِّيَ لَكَ الْأَشْيَاءَ بِأَعْيَانِهَا، وَ إِنِّي أُفَسِّرُهَا حَتَّى تَعْرِفَهَا،
I went out with the letter until I caught up with Jariyah. He opened it and there in it was: ‘As for after, I-asws have sent you in your direct in which I-asws have sent you to, and I-asws am advising you with fearing Allah-azwj; and fearing our Lord-azwj is a collection of all good, and head of every matter, and I-asws had left naming things for you with its eyes, and I-asws shall interpret these until you know them.
سِرْ عَلَى بَرَكَةِ اللَّهِ، حَتَّى تَلْقَى عَدُوَّكَ، وَ لَا تَحْتَقِرْ مِنْ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ أَحَداً، وَ لَا تُسَخِّرَنَّ بَعِيراً وَ لَا حِمَاراً، وَ إِنْ تَرَجَّلْتَ وَ حُبِسْتَ، وَ لَا تَسْتَأْثِرَنَّ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْمِيَاهِ بِمِيَاهِهِمْ، وَ لَا تَشْرَبَنَّ مِنْ مِيَاهِهِمْ إِلَّا بِطِيبِ أَنْفُسِهِمْ، وَ لَا تَسْبِي مُسْلِماً وَ لَا مُسْلِمَةً، وَ لَا تُظْلِمُ مُعَاهَداً وَ لَا مُعَاهَدَةً، وَ صَلِّ الصَّلَاةَ لِوَقْتِهَا، وَ اذْكُرِ اللَّهَ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ،
Travel upon the Blessings of Allah-azwj until you meet your enemies, and do not belittle anyone from the creatures of Allah-azwj, and neither subdue a camel nor a donkey, and even if you walk and withhold; and do not prefer yourself over the people of the water (spring) with their water, and do not drink from their water except with good feelings, and neither make captive of a Muslim man nor a Muslim woman, and do not be unjust in your agreements, with one person or more, and pray Salat to its timings, and mention Allah-azwj by the night and the day;
وَ احْمِلُوا رَاجِلَكُمْ، وَ تَأَسَّوْا عَلَى ذَاتِ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَ أَغِذَّ السَّيْرَ حَتَّى تَلْحَقَ بِعَدُوِّكَ فَتُجْلِيَهُمْ عَنْ بِلَادِ الْيَمَنِ وَ تَرُدَّهُمْ صَاغِرِينَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ، وَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ..
And carry your infantry (upon rides), and set an example to the ones in front of you and quicken your journey until you catch up with your enemy, and exile him from the country of Al-Yemen, and expel them as belittled, if Allah-azwj so Desires, and the greetings be upon you, and Mercy of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Blessings’’.[5]
وَ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ قَالَ: كَانَ وَائِلُ بْنُ حُجْرٍ عِنْدَ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بِالْكُوفَةِ، وَ كَانَ يَرَى رَأْيَ عُثْمَانَ، فَاسْتَأْذَنَ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لِيَذْهَبَ إِلَى بِلَادِهِ، ثُمَّ يَرْجِعَ إِلَيْهِ عَنْ قَرِيبٍ، فَخَرَجَ إِلَى بِلَادِ قَوْمِهِ: وَ كَانَ عَظِيمَ الشَّأْنِ فِيهِمْ، وَ كَانَ النَّاسُ بِهَا أَحْزَاباً، فَشِيعَةٌ تَرَى رَأْيَ عُثْمَانَ، وَ أُخْرَى تَرَى رَأْيَ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.
And from Fuzeyl Bin Khadeej who said,
‘Wa’il Bin Hujr was in the presence of Ali-asws at Al-Kufa, and he used to view the view of Usman, so he sought permission of Ali-asws to go to his city, then he would return to him soon. He went out to the city of his people, and he was of great glory among, and the people were of two parties at it – followers of (Usman) who viewed the view of Usman, and another was viewing the view of Ali-asws.
فَكَانَ وَائِلٌ هُنَاكَ، حَتَّى دَخَلَ بُسْرٌ صَنْعَاءَ، فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ شِيعَةَ عُثْمَانَ بِبِلَادِنَا شَطْرُ أَهْلِهَا، فَاقْدِمْ عَلَيْنَا فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بِحَضْرَمَوْتَ رَجُلٌ يَرُدُّكَ عَنْهَا: فَأَقْبَلَ إِلَيْهَا بُسْرٌ بِمَنْ مَعَهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَهَا، فَزَعَمَ أَنَّ وَائِلًا اسْتَقْبَلَ بُسْراً، فَأَعْطَاهُ عَشَرَةَ آلَافٍ، وَ أَنَّهُ كَلَّمَهُ فِي حَضْرَمَوْتَ.
Wa’il was over there until Busr entered Sana’a. He wrote to him, ‘As for after, the loyalists of Usman at our city are half its people, so proceed to us for there isn’t any man at Hazramaut who will repel you from it’. So, Busr came back to it with the ones with him until he entered it. He claimed that Wa’il would welcome Busr, and he gave him ten thousand, and he spoke to him regarding (the situation in) Hazramaut.
فَقَالَ لَهُ: مَا تُرِيدُ؟ قَالَ: أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَقْتُلَ رُبْعَ حَضْرَمَوْتَ. قَالَ: إِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُ ذَلِكَ فَاقْتُلْ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ ثُوَابَةَ؛ لَرَجُلٌ فَهِيمٌ، كَانَ مِنَ الْمُقَاوَلَةِ الْعِظَامِ. وَ كَانَ لَهُ عَدُوّاً، فِي رَأْيِهِ مُخَالِفاً.
He said to him, ‘What do you want?’ He said, ‘I want to kill a quarter of Hazramaut’. He said, ‘If that is what you want, then kill Abdullah Bin Sawabah, a man among them’, and he was from the great contractors and was an enemy to him, an oppressor in his view.
فَجَاءَهُ بُسْرٌ حَتَّى أَحَاطَ بِحِصْنِهِ، وَ كَانَ بِنَاءً مُعْجَباً لَمْ يُرَ فِي ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ مِثْلُهُ، فَدَعَاهُ إِلَيْهِ فَنَزَلَ، وَ كَانَ لِلْقَتْلِ آمِناً، فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ، قَالَ: اضْرِبُوا عُنُقَهُ. قَالَ لَهُ: أَ تُرِيدُ قَتْلِي؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. قَالَ فَدَعْنِي أَتَوَضَّأُ وَ أُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ. قَالَ: افْعَلْ مَا أَحْبَبْتَ.
Busr came to him until he besieged his fortress, and it was of a wondrous construction, there was none like it in that time. He called him to him to descended, and he had granted him amnesty. When he did descend, he said, ‘Strike off his neck!’ He said to him, ‘You want to kill me?’ He said, ‘Yes’. He said, ‘Leave me to perform Wud’u and pray two Cycles Salat’. He said, ‘Do whatever you like’.
فَاغْتَسَلَ وَ تَوَضَّأَ، وَ لَبِسَ ثِيَاباً بَيْضَاءَ، وَ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَالِمٌ بِأَمْرِي. فَقَدِمَ فَضَرَبَ عُنُقَهُ وَ أَخَذَ مَالَهُ.
He washed and performed Wud’u, and wore white clothes and prayed two Cycles Salat, then said, ‘O Allah-azwj! You-azwj Know my affair’. He was brought forward and he struck off his neck and seized his wealth.
وَ بَلَغَ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، مُظَاهَرَةُ وَائِلِ بْنِ حُجْرٍ شِيعَةَ عُثْمَانَ، عَلَى شِيعَتِهِ، وَ مُكَاتَبَتُهُ بُسْراً، فَحَبَسَ وَلَدَيْهِ عِنْدَهُ.
And it reached Ali-asws, the backing of Wa’il Bin Hujr, loyalist of Usman, against his-asws Shias, and his contract with Busr, so he withheld his children with him’.
وَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ، أَنَّ جَارِيَةَ أَغَذَّ السَّيْرَ فِي طَلَبِ بُسْرٍ، مَا يَلْتَفِتُ إِلَى مَدِينَةٍ مَرَّ بِهَا، وَ لَا أَهْلِ حِصْنٍ، حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى بِلَادِ الْيَمَنِ، فَهَرَبَتْ شِيعَةُ عُثْمَانَ فَلَحِقُوا بِالْجِبَالِ، وَ اتَّبَعَهُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ شِيعَةُ عَلِيٍّ وَ تَدَاعَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جَانِبٍ وَ أَصَابُوا مِنْهُمْ.
And from Abdul Rahman Bin Ubeyd, ‘Jariyah quickened the travel in seeking Busr, not turning towards any city he passed by, nor people of any fortress until he ended up to the country of Al-Yemen. The loyalists of Usman fled and went up the mountain, and the Shias of Ali-asws pursued at that, and called out to them from every side, and killed from them.
وَ خَرَجَ جَارِيَةُ فِي أَثَرِ الْقَوْمِ، وَ تَرَكَ الْمَدَائِنَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَهَا، وَ مَضَى نَحْوَ بُسْرٍ.
And Jariyah went out in the tracks of the people and neglected Al-Madain from entering it, and continued towards Busr.
فَمَضَى بُسْرٌ مِنْ حَضْرَمَوْتَ حِينَ بَلَغَهُ أَنَّ الْجَيْشَ [قَدْ] أَقْبَلَ وَ أَخَذَ طَرِيقاً عَلَى الْجَوْفِ، وَ تَرَكَ الطَّرِيقَ الَّذِي أَقْبَلَ مِنْهُ. وَ بَلَغَ ذَلِكَ جَارِيَةَ فَاتَّبَعَهُ حَتَّى أَخْرَجَهُ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ كُلِّهَا، وَ وَاقَعَهُ فِي أَرْضِ الْحِجَازِ، فَلَمَّا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ بِهِ، أَقَامَ بِحَرَسَ نَحْواً مِنْ شَهْرٍ، حَتَّى اسْتَرَاحَ وَ أَرَاحَ أَصْحَابَهُ، وَ سَأَلَ عَنْ بُسْرٍ فَقِيلَ إِنَّهُ بِمَكَّةَ فَسَارَ نَحْوَهُ.
Busr went away from Hazramaut when it reached him that the army had come, and he took to the road of Al-Jowf and left the road which he had come from. And that reached Jariyah, so he pursued him until he expelled him from Al-Yemen, all of it, and his incidents in the land of Al-Hijaz. When he had done that with him, he stayed at Harasa for approximately a month until he rested, and rested his companions; and he asked about Busr, it was said that he was at Makkah, so he travelled towards him.
وَ وَثَبَ النَّاسُ بِبُسْرٍ حِينَ انْصَرَفَ؛ لِسُوءِ سِيرَتِهِ، وَ اجْتَنَبَهُ النَّاسُ بِمِيَاهِ الطَّرِيقِ، وَ فَرَّ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ لِغَشْمِهِ وَ ظُلْمِهِ.
And people leapt (away from) Busr when he left, due to his evil conduct, and the people avoided the springs of the road, and the people fled from him due to his treachery and his injustices.
وَ أَقْبَلَ جَارِيَةُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ مَكَّةَ، وَ خَرَجَ بُسْرٌ مِنْهَا يَمْضِي قِبَلَ الْيَمَامَةِ، فَقَامَ جَارِيَةُ عَلَى مِنْبَرِ مَكَّةَ، وَ قَالَ: بَايَعْتُمْ مُعَاوِيَةَ؟ قَالُوا: أَكْرَهَنَا. قَالَ: أَخَافُ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ فِيهِمْ: وَ إِذا لَقُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قالُوا آمَنَّا وَ إِذا خَلَوْا إِلى شَياطِينِهِمْ قالُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّما نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِؤُنَ قُومُوا فَبَايِعُوا.
And Jariyah came back until he entered Makkah, and Busr went out from it going in the direction of Al-Yamama. Jariya stood upon the pulpit of Makkah and said, ‘You pledge allegiance to Muawiya?’ They said, ‘We were forced’. He said, ‘I fear that you might become from those Allah-azwj Said regarding them: And when they are meeting those who believe, they are saying: We believe; and when they are alone with their Satans, they are saying: We are with you all, but rather we were only mocking [2:14]. Arise and pledge allegiance!’
قَالُوا: لِمَنْ نُبَايِعُ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ، وَ قَدْ هَلَكَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، وَ لَا نَدْرِي مَا صَنَعَ النَّاسُ بَعْدُ؟
They said, ‘To whom should we pledge allegiance to? May Allah-azwj have Mercy on you, and Amir Al-Momineen-asws has been killed and we do not know what the people will be doing afterwards?’
قَالَ: وَ مَا عَسَى أَنْ يَصْنَعُوا، إِلَّا أَنْ يُبَايِعُوا لِلْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، قُومُوا فَبَايِعُوا. ثُمَّ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ شِيعَةُ عَلِيٍّ فَبَايَعُوا. وَ خَرَجَ مِنْهَا وَ دَخَلَ الْمَدِينَةَ، وَ قَدِ اصْطَلَحُوا عَلَى أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ، فَلَمَّا بَلَغَهُمْ مَجِيءُ جَارِيَةَ، تَوَارَى أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ.
He said, ‘What else can you do except pledge allegiance for Al-Hassan-asws Bin Ali-asws? Arise and pledge allegiance’. Then the Shias of Ali-asws gathered and pledge allegiance. And he went out from it and entered Al-Medina, and they had agreed upon Abu Hureyra to be praying Salat (leading) the people. When the coming of Jariyiah reached them, they concealed Abu Hureyra.
فَجَاءَ جَارِيَةُ وَ صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ، وَ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، وَ ذَكَرَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَ يَوْمَ تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ، وَ يَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَيّاً، كَانَ عَبْداً مِنْ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، عَاشَ بِقَدَرٍ، وَ مَاتَ بِأَجَلٍ. فَلَا يَهْنَأُ الشَّامِتُونَ،
Jariya came and ascended the pulpit, and praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, and mentioned Rasool-Allah-saww and sent Salawaat upon him-saww, then said, ‘O you people! Surely Ali-asws, on the day he-asws was born, and the day Allah-azwj Expired him-asws, and the Day he-asws will be Resurrected alive, was a servant from the righteous servants of Allah-azwj, living with pre-Determination and dying by a term, so do not congratulate the gloaters.
هَلَكَ سَيِّدُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَ أَفْضَلُ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَ ابْنُ عَمِّ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ. أَمَا وَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ، لَوْ أَعْلَمُ الشَّامِتَ مِنْكُمْ، لَتَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِسَفْكِ دَمِهِ، وَ تَعْجِيلِهِ إِلَى النَّارِ، قُومُوا فَبَايِعُوا الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ.
He-asws has died, chief of the Muslims, and most superior of the Emigrants, and son-asws of an uncle-as of the Prophet-saww. But, by the One-azwj Who, there is no god except He-azwj! Had I known the gloaters from you, I would draw closer to Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic by shedding his blood and hastening him to the Fire. Arise and pledge allegiance to Al-Hassan-asws Bin Ali-asws!’
فَقَامَ النَّاسُ فَبَايَعُوا. وَ أَقَامَ يَوْمَهُ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ غَدَا مِنْهَا مُنْصَرِفاً إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ، وَ غَدَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ، وَ رَجَعَ بُسْرٌ فَأَخَذَ عَلَى طَرِيقِ السَّمَاوَةِ حَتَّى أَتَى الشَّامَ.
The people stood up and pledged allegiance, and he stayed (there) during that day of his, then he left the next morning leaving to go to Al-Kufa, and Abu Hyreyra moved back to pray Salat with the people; and Busr return and took to the road of Al-Samawah until he came to Syria.
قَالَ: وَ أَقْبَلَ جَارِيَةُ، حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَى الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَضَرَبَ عَلَى يَدِهِ فَبَايَعَهُ وَ عَزَّاهُ. وَ قَالَ: مَا يُجْلِسُكَ؟ سِرْ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ إِلَى عَدُوِّكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسَارَ إِلَيْكَ. فَقَالَ: لَوْ كَانَ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ مِثْلَكَ، سِرْتُ بِهِمْ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘And Jariyah came back until he entered to see Al-Hassan-asws Bin Ali-asws. He struck upon his-asws hand and pledged allegiance to him-asws and consoled him-asws, and said, ‘What makes you-asws sit back? May Allah-azwj have Mercy on you-asws! Travel to your-asws enemy before he travels to you-asws!’ He-asws said: ‘If all the people were like you, I-asws would travel with them’’.[6]
وَ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ، أَنَّ عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الْعَبَّاسِ، وَ سَعِيدَ بْنَ نِمْرَانَ، قَدِمَا عَلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، وَ كَانَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ عَامِلَهُ عَلَى صَنْعَاءَ، وَ سَعِيدٌ عَامِلَهُ عَلَى الْجَنَدِ، خَرَجَا هَارِبَيْنِ مِنْ بُسْرٍ، وَ أَصَابَ [بُسْرٌ] ابْنَيْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، لَمْ يُدْرِكَا الْحِنْثَ، فَقَتَلَهُمَا.
And from Al Qasim Bin Al Waleed,
‘Ubeydullah Bin Al-Abbas and Saeed Bin Nimran arrived to Ali-asws, and Ubeydullah was his-asws governor upon Sana’a and Saeed was his-asws governor upon Al-Janad. They had both fled from Busr, And Busr has captured the two sons of Ubeydullah not having attained puberty yet, and killed them both.
قَالَ: وَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَجْلِسُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ فِي مَوْضِعٍ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَعْظَمِ، يُسَبِّحُ بِهِ بَعْدَ الْغَدَاةِ إِلَى طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ، فَلَمَّا طَلَعَتْ، نَهَضَ إِلَى الْمِنْبَرِ، فَضَرَبَ بِإِصْبَعَيْهِ عَلَى رَاحَتِهِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ: مَا هِيَ إِلَّا الْكُوفَةُ أَقْبِضُهَا وَ أَبْسُطُهَا
He (the narrator) said, ‘And Amir Al-Momineen-asws used to sit every day in a particular place from the central Masjid, glorifying (Allah-azwj) in it after the morning (Salat) up to the emergence of the sun. When it emerged, he-asws went to the pulpit, struck his-asws fingers upon his-asws palm and he-asws said: ‘It is not except Al-Kufa. I-asws have taken it and spread it’.
[ثُمَّ أَنْشَدَ]:
| لَعَمْرُ أَبِيكَ الْخَيْرِ يَا عَمْرُو أَنَّنِي | عَلَى وَضَرٍ مِنْ ذَا الْإِنَاءِ قَلِيلٍ |
Then he-asws prosed: ‘By the good life of your father, O Amro (bin Umeys)! I-asws am upon little harm from that vessel’’.
وَ مِنْ حَدِيثِ بَعْضِهِمْ: أَنَّهُ قَالَ: إِنْ لَمْ تَكُونِي إِلَّا أَنْتِ تَهُبُّ أَعَاصِيرُكِ، فَقَبَّحَكِ اللَّهُ.
And from a Hadeeth of one of them, ‘He-asws said: ‘If there does not exist except you, I-asws would blow away your hurricanes. May Allah-azwj Make you Ugly!’
ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! أَلَا إِنَّ بُسْراً قَدْ أَطْلَعَ الْيَمَنَ وَ هَذَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ، وَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ نِمْرَانَ، قَدِمَا عَلَيَّ هَارِبَيْنِ، وَ لَا أَرَى هَؤُلَاءِ إِلَّا ظَاهِرِينَ عَلَيْكُمْ؛ لِاجْتِمَاعِهِمْ عَلَى بَاطِلِهِمْ، وَ تَفَرُّقِكُمْ عَنْ حَقِّكُمْ، وَ طَاعَتِهِمْ لِإِمَامِهِمْ، وَ مَعْصِيَتِكُمْ لِإِمَامِكُمْ، وَ أَدَاءِهِمُ الْأَمَانَةَ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِمْ، وَ خِيَانَتِكُمْ إِيَّايَ،
Then he-asws said: ‘O you people! Indeed, Busr has emerged to Al-Yemen, and this is Ubeydullah Bin Al-Abbas and Saeed Bin Nimran. They have arrived fleeing to me-asws, and I-asws do not see them except as being backers against you, for their gathering upon their falsehood, and their separating from the right, and their obeying to their leader and disobedience to your Imam-asws, and their giving the entrustment to their master and your betraying of it to me-asws.
وَلَّيْتُ فُلَاناً فَخَانَ وَ غَدَرَ، وَ احْتَمَلَ فَيْءَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ، وَ وَلَّيْتُ فُلَاناً فَخَانَ وَ غَدَرَ، وَ فَعَلَ مِثْلَهَا، فَصِرْتُ لَا آتَمِنُكُمْ عَلَى عِلَاقَةِ سَوْطٍ.
I-asws placed so and so in charge, but he betrayed and was treacherous and carried the war booty of the Muslims to Makkah; and I-asws placed so and so in charge, but he betrayed and was treacherous and did similar to it. So, I-asws insist that I-asws will (only) trust you upon a relationship of a whip.
وَ إِنْ نَدَبْتُكُمْ إِلَى السَّيْرِ إِلَى عَدُوِّكُمْ فِي الصَّيْفِ، قُلْتُمْ أَمْهِلْنَا يَنْسَلِخِ الْحَرُّ عَنَّا، وَ إِنْ نَدَبْتُكُمْ فِي الشِّتَاءِ، قُلْتُمْ أَمْهِلْنَا يَنْسَلِخِ الْقَرُّ عَنَّا.
And if I-asws call you to travel to your enemies during the summer, you say, ‘Respite us until the heat breaks away from us’, and if I-asws call you during the winter, you said, ‘Respite us until the chill breaks away from us’.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي قَدْ مَلِلْتُهُمْ وَ مَلُّونِي، وَ سَئِمْتُهُمْ وَ سَئِمُونِي، فَأَبْدِلْنِي بِهِمْ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لِي مِنْهُمْ، وَ أَبْدِلْهُمْ بِي مَنْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَهُمْ مِنِّي. اللَّهُمَّ أَمِثْ قُلُوبَهُمْ مَيْثَ الْمِلْحِ فِي الْمَاءِ.
O Allah-azwj! I-asws am tired of them and they are tired of me-asws, and I-asws am fed-up with them and they are fed-up with me-asws, so replace them for me-asws with ones who are better for me-asws than them, and replace me-asws for them the one who is evil for them than I-asws am. O Allah-azwj! Their hearts have melted (like) the melting of the salt in the water’’.[7]
وَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: لَا أَرَى هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ إِلَّا ظَاهِرِينَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِتَفَرُّقِكُمْ عَنِ حَقِّكُمْ، وَ اجْتِمَاعِهِمْ عَلَى بَاطِلِهِمْ، فَإِذَا كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِمَامٌ يَعْدِلُ فِي الرَّعِيَّةِ، وَ يَقْسِمُ بِالسَّوِيَّةِ، فَاسْمَعُوا لَهُ وَ أَطِيعُوا؛ فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ لَا يُصْلِحُهُمْ إِلَّا إِمَامٌ بَرُّ أَوْ فَاجِرٌ.
And from Abdullah Bin Al Haris Bin Suleyman, from his father who said,
‘Ali-asws said: ‘I-asws do not see these people except as backers against you by their fleeing from their truth, and their gathering upon their falsehood. So, when there is a just Imam-asws dispensing justice among the citizens, and distributing with the equality, then listen and obey, for the people, nothing can correct them except a leader, either righteous or cruel.
فَإِنْ كَانَ بَرّاً فَلِلرَّاعِي وَ الرَّعِيَّةِ، وَ إِنْ كَانَ فَاجِراً عَبَدَ الْمُؤْمِنُ رَبَّهُ فِيهَا، وَ عَمِلَ فِيهَا الْفَاجِرُ إِلَى أَجَلِهِ.
If he was righteous, then it would be for the shepherd and the citizens, and if he was cruel, the Momin should worship his Lord-azwj during it, and the immoral would be working in it to its term.
[أَلَا] وَ إِنَّكُمْ سَتُعْرَضُونَ بَعْدِي عَلَى سَبِّي وَ الْبَرَاءَةِ مِنِّي، فَمَنْ سَبَّنِي فَهُوَ فِي حِلٍّ مِنْ سَبِّي، وَ لَا يَتَبَرَّأْ مِنِّي، فَإِنَّ دِينِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ.
Indeed! And you will be presented after me-asws upon reviling me-asws and the disavowing from me-asws. The one who reviles me, he is in a freedom from reviling me-asws; but do not disavow from me-asws, for surely my-asws religion is Al-Islam’’.[8]
وَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، أَنَّ النَّاسَ تَلَاقَوْا وَ تَلَاوَمُوا، وَ مَشَتِ الشِّيعَةُ بَعْضُهَا إِلَى بَعْضٍ، وَ لَقِيَ أَشْرَافُ النَّاسِ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً، فَدَخَلُوا عَلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَقَالُوا: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، اخْتَرْ مِنَّا رَجُلًا، ثُمَّ ابْعَثْ مَعَهُ إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ جُنْداً، حَتَّى يَكْفِيَكَ أَمْرَهُ، وَ مُرْنَا بِأَمْرِكَ فِيمَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ، فَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تَرَى مِنَّا شَيْئاً تَكْرَهُهُ مَا صَحِبْتَنَا.
And from Abu Abdul Rahman Al Sulamy,
‘The people met and blamed each other, and the Shias walked to each other, and the nobles of the people met each other, and they entered to see Ali-asws. They said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Choose a man from us, then send an army to this man until he suffices you-asws of his matter, and order us with your-asws order in what is besides that, for you-asws will never see from us anything you-asws dislike for as long as we are accompanying you’.
قَالَ: فَإِنِّي قَدْ بَعَثْتُ رَجُلًا إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ، لَا يَرْجِعُ أَبَداً حَتَّى يَقْتُلَ أَحَدُهُمَا صَاحِبَهُ، أَوْ يَنْفِيَهُ، وَ لَكِنِ اسْتَقِيمُوا لِي فِيمَا آمُرُكُمْ بِهِ، وَ أَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ غَزْوِ الشَّامِ وَ أَهْلِهِ.
He-asws said: ‘I-asws have already sent a man (Jariyah) to this man. He will not return, ever, until one of them kills his counterpart, or he exiles him (Busr). But, stand straight for me-asws in what I-asws am ordering you with, and I-asws am ordering you to him (Muawiya), of battling Syria and its people’.
فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ سَعِيدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَمَرْتَنَا بِالْمَسِيرِ إِلَى قُسْطَنْطِينِيَّةَ، رُومِيَةَ، مُشَاةً، حُفَاةً، عَلَى غَيْرِ عَطَاءٍ وَ لَا قُوتٍ، مَا خَالَفْتُكَ أَنَا وَ لَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ قَوْمِي. قَالَ: فَصَدَقْتُمْ جَزَاكُمُ اللَّهُ خَيْراً.
Saeed Bin Qays Al-Hamdany stood up to him-asws and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! By Allah-azwj, if you-asws were to order us with the travelling to Constantinople, Rome, walking bare-footed upon without any awards or subsistence, neither I nor any man from my people would oppose you-asws’. He-asws said: ‘You speak the truth. May Allah-azwj Recompense you goodly’.
ثُمَّ قَامَ زِيَادُ بْنُ حَفْصَةَ، وَ وَعْلَةُ بْنُ مَخْدُوعٍ [وَ] قَالا: نَحْنُ شِيعَتُكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، الَّتِي لَا تَعْصِيكَ، وَ لَا تُخَالِفُكَ، فَقَالَ: أَجَلْ أَنْتُمْ كَذَلِكَ. فَتَجَهَّزُوا إِلَى غَزْوِ الشَّامِ. فَقَالَ النَّاسُ: سَمْعاً وَ طَاعَةً.
Then Ziyad Bin Hafsa and Wa’lah Bin Makhdou stood up and they said, ’We are your-asws Shias, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws, we will not disobey you-asws nor oppose you-asws!’ He-asws said: ‘Yes, you are like that, so prepare to battle Syria’. The people said, ‘We hear and we obey!’
فَدَعَا [أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ] مَعْقِلَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ الرِّيَاحِيَّ، وَ سَرَّحَهُ فِي حَشْرِ النَّاسِ مِنَ السَّوَادِ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ، [فَخَرَجَ مَعْقِلٌ لِإِنْفَاذِ أَمْرِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، وَ امْتَثَلَ مَا أَمَرَهُ بِهِ، ثُمَّ كَرَّ رَاجِعاً إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ، وَ لَمْ يَصِلْ إِلَيْهَا] حَتَّى أُصِيبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws called Ma’qil Bin Qays Al-Rayahy and mobilised him among a crowd of the people from the majority (from) Al-Kufa. Ma’qil went out to implement his-asws orders and comply with what he had been ordered with. Then he turned (around) – returning to Al-Kufa, and did not arrive to him-asws until Amir Al-Momineen-asws had been killed’’.[9]
قَالَ: وَ رُوِيَ أَنَّهُ اجْتَمَعَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ بُسْرٌ وَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ عِنْدَ مُعَاوِيَةَ، فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ لِمُعَاوِيَةَ: أَنْتَ أَمَرْتَ هَذَا الْقَاطِعَ الْبَعِيدَ الرَّحِمِ، الْقَلِيلَ الرُّحْمِ بِقَتْلِ ابْنَيَّ؟
He said, ‘And it is reported that,
‘One day Busr and Ubeydullah Bin Al-Abbas had gathered in the presence of Muawiya. Ibn Abbas said to Muawiya, ‘Did you order this sharp, remote of compassion, little of mercy, with killing my two sons?’
فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ: مَا أَمَرْتُهُ وَ لَا هَوِيتُ. فَغَضِبَ بُسْرٌ، وَ رَمَى بِسَيْفِهِ وَ قَالَ: قَلَّدْتَنِي هَذَا السَّيْفَ، وَ قُلْتَ اخْبِطْ بِهِ النَّاسَ، حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغْتُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، قُلْتَ: مَا هَوِيتُ، وَ لَا أَمَرْتُ.
Muawiya said, ‘I did not order him such nor did I ask him’. Busr was angered and threw down his sword and said, ‘You collared me with this sword and you said, ‘Knock down the people with it’, until when I reached that you are saying, ‘I did not ask him nor ordered for it’?’
فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ: خُذْ سَيْفَكَ، إِنَّكَ لَعَاجِزٌ حِينَ تُلْقِي سَيْفَكَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ بَنِي عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ، [وَ] قَدْ قَتَلْتَ ابْنَيْهِ. فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: أَرَانِي كُنْتُ قَاتِلَهُ بِهِمَا؟ فَقَالَ ابْنٌ لِعُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ: مَا كُنَّا نَقْتُلُ بِهِمَا إِلَّا يَزِيدَ وَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ ابْنَيْ مُعَاوِيَةَ، فَضَحِكَ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ قَالَ: مَا ذَنْبُ يَزِيدَ وَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ؟.
Muawiya said, ‘Take your sword! You are frustrated when you throw down your sword in front of a man from the clan of Abd Manaf’, and he had killed his sister. Ibn Abbas said, ‘Show me whom I can kill due to these two (sons of mine)?’ A son of Ubeydullah said, ‘We will not kill due to them except yazeed-la and Abdullah, two sons of Muawiya’. Muawiya laughed and said, ‘What is the sin of Yazeed-la and Abdullah?’’[10]
[902] – وَ قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي الْحَدِيدِ: كَتَبَ عَقِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ إِلَى أَخِيهِ عَلِيٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، حِينَ بَلَغَهُ خِذْلَانُ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ وَ تَقَاعُدُهُمْ بِهِ: لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلِيٍّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، مِنْ عَقِيلِ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ: سَلَامُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ، فَإِنِّي أَحْمَدُ إِلَيْكَ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ:
And Ibn Abi Al Hadeed said,
‘Aqeel son of Abu Talib-asws wrote to his brother Ali-asws, when it reached him, the abandonment by the people of Al-Kufa and their sitting back from him-asws, ‘To servant of Allah-azwj Ali-asws, Amir Al-Momineen, from Aqeel son of Abu Talib-asws, ‘Greetings of Allah-azwj be upon you-asws. I praise Allah-azwj to you-asws Who, there is not god except He-azwj.
أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ جَارُكَ مِنْ كُلِّ سُوءٍ، وَ عَاصِمُكَ مِنْ كُلِّ مَكْرُوهٍ، وَ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ. إِنِّي خَرَجْتُ إِلَى مَكَّةَ مُعْتَمِراً، فَلَقِيتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَرْحٍ، فِي نَحْوٍ مِنْ أَرْبَعِينَ شَابّاً مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الطُّلَقَاءِ، فَعَرَفْتُ الْمُنْكَرَ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ.
As for after, May Allah-azwj Shelter you-asws from all evil and Fortify you-asws from all abhorrence(s), and upon all states. I went out to Makkah to perform Umrah and met Abdullah Bin Sa’ad Bin Abu Sarh among approximately forty youths from the sons of the liberated ones (at the conquest of Makkah), and I recognised the evil in their faces.
فَقُلْتُ: إِلَى أَيْنَ يَا أَبْنَاءَ الشَّانِئِينَ، أَ بِمُعَاوِيَةَ تَلْحَقُونَ؟ عَدَاوَةً وَ اللَّهِ مِنْكُمْ قَدِيماً، غَيْرَ مُسْتَنْكَرٍ، تُرِيدُونَ بِهَا إِطْفَاءَ نُورِ اللَّهِ، وَ تَبْدِيلَ أَمْرِهِ. فَأَسْمَعَنِي الْقَوْمُ، وَ أَسْمَعْتُهُمْ.
I said, ‘To where (are you intending), O son of the adversaries? Is it with Muawiya you are joining up? By Allah-azwj! The enmity from you is ancient, undeniable. You are intending by it to extinguish the Noor of Allah-azwj and replace His-azwj Commands!’ I made them hear from me and they made me hear from them.
فَلَمَّا قَدِمْتُ مَكَّةَ، سَمِعْتُ أَهْلَهَا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ: أَنَّ الضَّحَّاكَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ، أَغَارَ عَلَى الْحِيرَةِ، فَاحْتَمَلَ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهَا مَا شَاءَ، ثُمَّ انْكَفَأَ رَاجِعاً سَالِماً.
When I arrived at Makkah, I heard its people narrating that Al-Zahhak Bin Qays had raided upon Al-Hira and carried off from its wealth whatever he so desired, then he returned unscathed, safe.
فَأُفٍّ لِحَيَاةٍ فِي دَهْرٍ جَرَّأَ عَلَيْكَ الضَّحَّاكُ، وَ مَا الضَّحَّاكُ؟! فَقْعٌ بِقَرْقَرٍ، وَ قَدْ تَوَهَّمْتُ حَيْثُ بَلَغَنِي ذَلِكَ، أَنَّ شِيعَتَكَ وَ أَنْصَارَكَ خَذَلُوكَ، فَاكْتُبْ إِلَيَّ يَا ابْنَ أُمِّي بِرَأْيِكَ، فَإِنْ كُنْتَ الْمَوْتَ تُرِيدُ، تَحَمَّلْتُ إِلَيْكَ بِبَنِي أَخِيكَ وَ وُلْدِ أَبِيكَ، فَعِشْنَا مَعَكَ مَا عِشْتَ، وَ مِتْنَا مَعَكَ إِذَا مِتَّ،
Ugh to the life during a time Al-Zahhak is audacious upon you-asws, and what is Al-Zahhak? May he burst at Qarqar! When that reached me, I imagined that your-asws Shias and your-asws helpers have abandoned you-asws. So write to me, O son-asws of my mother-as, with your-asws view. If it was the death you-asws wanted, I shall carry the sons of your-asws brother to you-asws, so we can live with you-asws what for as long as you-asws live, and die with you-asws when you-asws die.
فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَبْقَى فِي الدُّنْيَا بَعْدَكَ فُوَاقاً، وَ أُقْسِمُ بِالْأَعَزِّ الْأَجَلِّ، أَنَّ عَيْشاً نَعِيشُهُ بَعْدَكَ فِي الْحَيَاةِ، لَغَيْرُ هَنِيءٍ وَ لَا مَرِيءٍ وَ لَا نَجِيعٍ وَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ.
By Allah-azwj! I do not love to remain in the world after you-asws above the ground, and I swear by the Mighty and Majestic that life we shall be living after you-asws during the lifetime would neither be welcoming, nor pleasant, nor healthy. And the greetings be unto you-asws and Mercy of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Blessings’.
فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلِيٍّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِلَى عَقِيلِ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكَ، فَإِنِّي أَحْمَدُ إِلَيْكَ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ:
Amir Al-Momineen-asws wrote to him: ‘In the Name of Allah-azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful. From a servant of Allah-azwj, Ali-asws Amir Al-Momineen, to Aqeel son of Abu Talib-asws. Greetings be unto you! I-asws praise Allah-azwj to you Who, there is no god except He-azwj.
أَمَّا بَعْدُ، كَلَأَنَا اللَّهُ وَ إِيَّاكَ كِلَاءَةَ مَنْ يَخْشَاهُ بِالْغَيْبِ، إِنَّهُ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ قَدْ وَصَلَ إِلَيَّ كِتَابُكَ مَعَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ الْأَزْدِيِّ، تَذْكُرُ فِيهِ أَنَّكَ لَقِيتَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ [سَعْدِ بْنِ] أَبِي سَرْحٍ، مُقْبِلًا مِنْ «قُدَيْدٍ» فِي نَحْوٍ مِنْ أَرْبَعِينَ فَارِساً مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الطُّلَقَاءِ، مُتَوَجِّهِينَ إِلَى جِهَةِ الْغَرْبِ،
As for after, may Allah-azwj Protect us and you with a Protection of the one who fears Him-azwj in private, He-azwj Praise-worthy, Glorious. Your letter arrived to me-asws with Abdul Rahman Bin Ubeyd Al-Azdy, mentioning in it that you met Abdullah Bin Sa’ad Bin Abu Sarh face to face from Qudeyd, among approximately forty horsemen from the sons of the liberated ones (at the conquest of Makkah), heading towards the western direction.
وَ أَنَّ ابْنَ أَبِي سَرْحٍ، طَالَ مَا كَادَ اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ وَ كِتَابَهُ، وَ صَدَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ وَ بَغَاهَا عِوَجاً، فَدَعِ ابْنَ أَبِي سَرْحٍ، وَ دَعْ عَنْكَ قُرَيْشاً وَ خَلِّهِمْ وَ تَرْكَاضَهُمْ فِي الضَّلَالِ وَ تَجْوَالَهُمْ فِي الشِّقَاقِ.
And that Ibn Abu Sarh has for long plotted against Allah-azwj, and His-azwj Rasool-saww and His-azwj book, and hindered from His-azwj Way, and sought it to be crooked. So, leave Ibn Abu Sarh and leave Quraysh from you, and isolate from them and their running in the straying and their wandering in the wretchedness.
أَلَا وَ إِنَّ الْعَرَبَ قَدِ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى حَرْبِ أَخِيكَ الْيَوْمَ، اجْتِمَاعَهَا عَلَى حَرْبِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ قَبْلَ الْيَوْمِ، فَأَصْبَحُوا قَدْ جَهِلُوا حَقَّهُ، وَ جَحَدُوا فَضْلَهُ وَ بَادَءُوهُ الْعَدَاوَةَ، وَ نَصَبُوا لَهُ الْحَرْبَ، وَ جَهَدُوا عَلَيْهِ كُلَّ الْجَهْدِ، وَ جَرُّوا إِلَيْهِ جَيْشَ الْأَحْزَابِ.
Indeed! And the Arabs have united in declaring wars against your brother-asws today. They had united upon (staging) wars (against) the Prophet-saww before today, so they have become ignoring his-asws rights and rejecting his-asws merits, and they have manifested the enmity and installed the war against him-asws, and have struggle against him-asws with every struggle and have dragged to him-asws the allied army.
اللَّهُمَّ فَاجْزِ قُرَيْشاً عَنِّي الْجَوَازِيَ؛ فَقَدْ قَطَعَتْ رَحِمِي، وَ تَظَاهَرَتْ عَلَيَّ، وَ دَفَعَتْنِي عَنْ حَقِّي، وَ سَلَبَتْنِي سُلْطَانَ ابْنِ أُمِّي، وَ سَلَّمَتْ ذَلِكَ إِلَى مَنْ لَيْسَ مِثْلِي فِي قَرَابَتِي مِنَ الرَّسُولِ، وَ سَابِقَتِي فِي الْإِسْلَامِ، إِلَّا أَنْ يَدَّعِيَ مُدَّعٍ مَا لَا أَعْرِفُهُ، وَ لَا أَظُنُّ اللَّهَ يَعْرِفُهُ، وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ.
O Allah-azwj! Recompense Quraysh on my-asws behalf a Recompense, for they had cut-off my-asws relationship, and have back each other against me-asws, and pushed me-asws away from my-asws rights, and have stripped me-asws of the authority of the son-saww of my-asws uncle-as, and submitted that to the one who isn’t like me-asws in my-asws kinship with the Rasool-saww, and my-asws precedence in Al-Islam, except that he is making a claim I-asws do not recognise it, nor do I-asws think Allah-azwj Recognises it, and the Praise is for Allah-azwj upon every state.
وَ أَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ غَارَةِ الضَّحَّاكِ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْحِيرَةِ، فَهُوَ أَقَلُّ وَ أَذَلُّ مِنْ أَنْ يَلُمَّ بِهَا، أَوْ يَدْنُوَ مِنْهَا، وَ لَكِنَّهُ قَدْ كَانَ أَقْبَلَ فِي جَرِيدَةِ خَيْلٍ، فَأَخَذَ عَلَى السَّمَاوَةِ، حَتَّى مَرَّ بِوَاقِصَةَ وَ شُرَافَ وَ الْقُطْقُطَانَةِ، فَمَا وَالَى ذَلِكَ الصُّقْعَ، فَوَجَّهْتُ إِلَيْهِ جُنْداً كَثِيفاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَلَمَّا بَلَغَهُ ذَلِكَ فَرَّ هَارِباً، فَاتَّبَعُوهُ، فَلَحِقُوهُ بِبَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ، وَ قَدْ أَمْعَنَ،
And as for what you mentioned from the raids of Al-Zahhak upon the people of Al-Hira, it is less and humbling to anguish with it or go near to it, but he had come among a battalion of a cavalry, so he seized upon Al-Samawah until he passed by Waqisah and Shuraf, and Al-Qutqutanah, so he did not rule that territory. I-asws have sent an intense army from the Muslims to him. When that reached him, he fled fleeing. They pursued him and caught up with him in one of the roads, and he had been careful.
وَ كَانَ ذَلِكَ حِينَ طَفَّلَتِ الشَّمْسُ لِلْإِيَابِ، فَتَنَاوَشَ الْقِتَالُ قَلِيلًا كَلَا وَ لَا، فَلَمْ يَصْبِرْ لِوَقْعِ الْمَشْرَفِيَّةِ، وَ وَلَّى هَارِباً، وَ قُتِلَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ بَضْعَةَ عَشَرَ رَجُلًا، بَعْدَ مَا أُخِذَ مِنْهُ بِالْمُخَنَّقِ، فَلَأْياً بِلَأْيٍ مَا نَجَا.
And that happened when the sun floated for the return. So the battle was a little skirmish. So, never, and no, he was not patient for the occurrence of supervision and turned around fleeing, and some ten men from his companions were killed, after having seized him by the throat, so it was on his last breath that he survived
وَ أَمَّا مَا سَأَلْتَنِي أَنْ أَكْتُبَ إِلَيْكَ بِرَأْيِي فِيمَا أَنَا فِيهِ: فَإِنَّ رَأْيِي جِهَادُ الْمُحِلِّينَ حَتَّى أَلْقَى اللَّهَ، لَا يَزِيدُنِي كَثْرَةُ النَّاسِ مَعِي عِزَّةً، وَ لَا تَفَرُّقُهُمْ عَنِّي وَحْشَةً؛ لِأَنِّي مُحِقٌّ، وَ اللَّهُ مَعَ الْمُحِقِّ.
And as for what you asked me-asws that I-asws should write to you with my-asws view regarding (the predicament) I-asws am in. My-asws view is to fight the cunning until I-asws meet Allah-azwj. The abundance of the people with me-asws does not increase me-asws in honour, nor is their separating from my-asws loneliness, because I-asws am rightful and Allah-azwj is with the rightful.
وَ وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ، وَ مَا الْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ إِلَّا بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ، لِمَنْ كَانَ مُحِقّاً.
And by Allah-azwj! I-asws do not dislike the death upon the truth, and there is no good, all of it, except after the death, for the one who was rightful.
وَ أَمَّا مَا عَرَضْتَ بِهِ مَسِيرَكَ إِلَيَّ بِبَنِيكَ وَ بَنِي أَبِيكَ، فَلَا حَاجَةَ لِي فِي ذَلِكَ، فَأَقِمْ رَاشِداً مَحْمُوداً، فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ تَهْلِكُوا مَعِي إِنْ هَلَكْتُ، وَ لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ابْنَ أُمِّكَ وَ إِنْ أَسْلَمَهُ النَّاسُ مُتَخَشِّعاً، وَ لَا مُتَضَرِّعاً،
And as for request with sending to me-asws your sons and sons of your father-as, so there is no need for me-asws regarding that. Stay (where you are) guided, praised. By Allah-azwj! I-asws do not love them to die with me-asws when I-asws die, nor do I-asws reckon the son-asws of your mother-as scared, nor beseeching, and even if the people submit him-asws (to the enemy).
إِنَّهُ لَكُمَا قَالَ أَخُو بَنِي سُلَيْمٍ:
| فَإِنْ تَسْأَلِينِي كَيْفَ أَنْتَ فَإِنَّنِي | صَبُورٌ عَلَى رَيْبِ الزَّمَانِ صَلِيبٌ | |
| يَعِزُّ عَلَيَّ أَنْ تُرَى بِي كَآبَةٌ | فَيَشْمَتَ عَادٍ أَوْ يُسَاءَ حَبِيبٌ |
He-asws is like what the brother of the clan of Suleym said, ‘If you were to ask me, ‘How are you?’ So, I am patient upon the doubts of a difficult time period. It is dear unto me that you seem gloom with me, so either revile an enemy or offend a beloved’’.[11]
[903] – أَقُولُ: رَوَى السَّيِّدُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فِي النَّهْجِ، بَعْضَ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ هَكَذَا: فَسَرَّحْتُ إِلَيْهِ جَيْشاً كَثِيفاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَلَمَّا بَلَغَهُ ذَلِكَ، شَمَّرَ هَارِباً، وَ نَكَصَ نَادِماً. فَلَحِقُوهُ بِبَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ، وَ قَدْ طَفَّلَتِ الشَّمْسُ لِلْإِيَابِ، فَاقْتَتَلُوا شَيْئاً كَلَا وَ لَا، فَمَا كَانَ إِلَّا كَمَوْقِفِ سَاعَةٍ، حَتَّى نَجَا جَرِيضاً، بَعْدَ مَا أُخِذَ مِنْهُ بِالْمُخَنَّقِ، وَ لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهُ غَيْرُ الرَّمَقِ، فَلَأْياً بِلَأْيٍ مَا نَجَا.
I (Majlisi) am saying, ‘It is reported by the Seyyid in (the book) ‘Al-Nahj (Al-Balagah)’, part of this letter is like this,
‘(Imam Ali-asws said): I-asws sent an intense army from the Muslims to him. When that reached him, he panicked fleeing, and withdrew regretful. They caught up with him in one of the roads, and the sun had started to set. They fought a little and not, and it did not happen except like pausing for an hour, until he rescued himself when he was half dead, after having being seized by the neck, and there did not remain from him apart from the last breath. In this way he escaped in panic.
فَدَعْ عَنْكَ قُرَيْشاً وَ تَرْكَاضَهُمْ فِي الضَّلَالِ، وَ تَجْوَالَهُمْ فِي الشِّقَاقِ، وَ جِمَاحَهُمْ فِي التِّيهِ، فَإِنَّهُمْ قَدْ أَجْمَعُوا عَلَى حَرْبِي، كَإِجْمَاعِهِمْ عَلَى حَرْبِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ قَبْلِي. فَجَزَتْ قُرَيْشاً عَنِّي الْجَوَازِي فَقَدْ قَطَعُوا رَحِمِي، وَ سَلَبُونِي سُلْطَانَ ابْنِ أُمِّي.
So, leave Quraysh from you and their sprinting into the straying, and their wandering in the wretchedness, and their leaping into the destruction, for they have united upon warring (against) me-asws, like their uniting upon warring Rasool-Allah-saww before me-asws. May Quraysh be Recompensed on my-asws behalf the Recompense. They have cut-off my-asws kinship and have stripped me-asws of the authority of the son-saww of my-asws uncle-as.
وَ أَمَّا مَا سَأَلْتَ عَنْهُ مِنْ رَأْيِي فِي الْقِتَالِ، فَإِنَّ رَأْيِي قِتَالُ الْمُحِلِّينَ حَتَّى أَلْقَى اللَّهَ، لَا يَزِيدُنِي كَثْرَةُ النَّاسِ حَوْلِي عِزَّةً، وَ لَا تَفَرُّقُهُمْ عَنِّي وَحْشَةً، وَ لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ابْنَ أَبِيكَ وَ لَوْ أَسْلَمَهُ النَّاسُ مُتَضَرِّعاً مُتَخَشِّعاً، وَ لَا مُقِرّاً لِلضَّيْمِ وَاهِناً، وَ لَا سَلِسَ الزِّمَامِ لِلْقَائِدِ وَ لَا وَطِئَ الظَّهْرِ لِلرَّاكِبِ الْمُقْتَعِدِ، وَ لَكِنَّهُ كَمَا قَالَ أَخُو بَنِي سُلَيْمٍ، ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الْبَيْتَيْنِ..
And as for what you asked about of my-asws view regarding the battle. My-asws view is that I-asws should fight the cunning until I-asws meet Allah-azwj. The abundance of the people around me-asws does not increase me-asws in honour, nor does their dispersing from me-asws makes me-asws lonely, nor reckon the son-asws of your father-as to be pleading, scared and even if the people submit him-asws (to the enemy), nor with he-asws accept to be a weak person, nor be chained by reins to the leader, nor bend the back for the rider to sit upon, but he-asws is as the brother of the clan of Suleym said’ – and he-asws mentioned the couplets’’.[12]
[904] – أَقُولُ: رَوَى ابْنُ أَبِي الْحَدِيدِ مِنْ كِتَابِ الْغَارَاتِ لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الثَّقَفِيِّ، كَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ فِي أَصْلِ كِتَابِهِ، رَوَى بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ جُنْدَبٍ الْأَزْدِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: أَوَّلُ غَارَةٍ كَانَتْ بِالْعِرَاقِ، غَارَةُ الضَّحَّاكِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، بَعْدَ الْحَكَمَيْنِ، وَ قَبْلَ قِتَالِ النَّهْرَوَانِ؛ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ لَمَّا بَلَغَهُ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بَعْدَ وَاقِعَةِ الْحَكَمَيْنِ، تَحَمَّلَ إِلَيْهِ مُقْبِلًا هَالَهُ ذَلِكَ، فَخَرَجَ مِنْ دِمَشْقَ مُعَسْكَراً، وَ بَعَثَ إِلَى كُوَرِ الشَّامِ، فَصَاحَ بِهَا [فِيهَا «خ ل»] أَنَّ عَلِيّاً قَدْ سَارَ إِلَيْكُمْ.
I (Majlisi) am saying, ‘It is reported by Ibn Abi Al Hadeed, from Kitab al Gharaat of Ibrahim Bin Muhammad Al Saqafy, just as he had reported it in the original of his book, it is reported by his chain, from Jundab Al Azdy, from his father having said,
‘The first raid which took place at Al-Iraq was the raid of Al-Zahhak Bin Qays, after the (arbitration of) the two judges, and before the battle of Al-Nahrawan, and that is because Muawiya, when it reached him that Ali-asws, after the incident of the two judges, he-asws was coming to face him, that terrified him. He went out of Damascus in an army and sent a message to the masses of Syria. It was shouted therein, ‘Ali-asws has travelled towards you!’
وَ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِمْ نُسْخَةً وَاحِدَةً، فَقُرِئَتْ عَلَى النَّاسِ؛ أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّا كُنَّا كَتَبْنَا بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ عَلِيٍّ كِتَاباً، وَ شَرَطْنَا فِيهِ شُرُوطاً، وَ حَكَّمْنَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَحْكُمَانِ عَلَيْنَا وَ عَلَيْهِ بِحُكْمِ الْكِتَابِ، لَا يَعْدُوَانِهِ، وَ جَعَلْنَا عَهْدَ اللَّهِ وَ مِيثَاقَهُ عَلَى مَنْ نَكَثَ الْعَهْدَ،
And he wrote out one copy to them and it was read out to the people, ‘As for after, we had written an agreement between us and Ali-asws, and had stipulated conditions in it, and we had got two men to judge upon us and him-asws with judgment of the Book, not transgressing it, and we made a Pact of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Covenant upon the one who broke the pact.
وَ لَمْ يُمْضِ الْحُكْمَ، وَ إِنَّ حَكَمِيَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ حَكَّمْتُهُ أَثْبَتَنِي، وَ إِنَّ حَكَمَهُ خَلَعَهُ، وَ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ إِلَيْكُمْ ظَالِماً، «فَمَنْ نَكَثَ فَإِنَّما يَنْكُثُ عَلى نَفْسِهِ» تَجَهَّزُوا لِلْحَرْبِ، بِأَحْسَنِ الْجَهَازِ، وَ أَعِدُّوا آلَةَ الْقِتَالِ، وَ أَقْبِلُوا خِفافاً وَ ثِقالًا وَ كُسَالَى وَ نَشَاطاً، يَسَّرَنَا اللَّهُ وَ إِيَّاكُمْ لِصَالِحِ الْأَعْمَالِ.
And the judgment was not accomplished, and my judgment which was judged was to affirm me (as ruler of Syria), and that his-asws judgment was to vacate him-asws (from being a caliph), and he-asws is coming to you all as an oppressor. So the one who breaks, is rather breaking against himself, [48:10]. Prepare for the war with an excellent preparation, and equip with the tools of the battle, and Advance lightly and heavily, [9:41], carefully and actively. Allah-azwj will Ease for us and you to the righteous deeds!’
فَاجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْهِ نَاسٌ مِنْ كُلِّ كُورَةٍ، وَ أَرَادُوا الْمَسِيرَ إِلَى صِفِّينَ، فَاسْتَشَارَهُمْ فَاخْتَلَفُوا فِي ذَلِكَ، فَمَكَثُوا يُجِيلُونَ الرَّأْيَ يَوْمَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةً، حَتَّى قَدِمَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ عُيُونُهُمْ، أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ اخْتَلَفَ عَلَيْهِ أَصْحَابُهُ، فَفَارَقَتْهُ مِنْهُ فِرْقَةٌ أَنْكَرَتْ أَمْرَ الْحُكُومَةِ، وَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ رَجَعَ عَنْكُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ،
The people gathered to him from every village, and they wanted the travel to Siffeen. He consulted them and they differed in that. They remained reverberating the view for two days or three, until their informant arrived to them, ‘ (as for) Ali-asws, his-asws companions had differed against him-asws and a sect has separated from him-asws denying the orders of the arbitration, and he-asws has returned from you all to them’.
فَكَبَّرَ النَّاسُ سُرُوراً لِانْصِرَافِهِ عَنْهُمْ، وَ مَا أُلْقِيَ مِنَ الْخِلَافِ بَيْنَهُمْ.
The people exclaimed Takbeers of joy at his-asws leaving away from them and at what he-asws had faced from between them.
فَلَمْ يَزَلْ مُعَاوِيَةُ مُعَسْكَراً فِي مَكَانِهِ، حَتَّى جَاءَ الْخَبَرُ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، قَدْ قَتَلَ أُولَئِكَ الْخَوَارِجَ، وَ أَنَّهُ أَرَادَ بَعْدَ قَتْلِهِمْ أَنْ يُقْبِلَ إِلَيْهِ بِالنَّاسِ، وَ أَنَّهُمْ اسْتَنْظَرُوهُ وَ دَافَعُوهُ، فَسُرَّ بِذَلِكَ هُوَ وَ مَنْ قِبَلَهُ مِنَ النَّاسِ.
Muawiya did not cease be in the army camp in his place until the news came that Ali-asws had killed those Kharijites, and after having killed them, he-asws wanted the people come back to him-asws, and they awaited (sat back from) him-asws and repelled him-asws. He (Muawiya) and the people in front of him were cheered by that (piece of News).
وَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ مَسْعَدَةَ قَالَ: جَاءَنَا كِتَابُ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ أَبِي مُعَيْطٍ مِنَ الْكُوفَةِ، وَ نَحْنُ مُعَسْكَرُونَ مَعَ مُعَاوِيَةَ نَتَخَوَّفُ أَنْ يَفْرُغَ عَلِيٌّ مِنْ خَارِجَتِهِ، ثُمَّ يُقْبِلَ إِلَيْنَا،
And from Abdul Rahman Bin Mas’ada who said, ‘A letter of Umarah Bin Uqba Bin Abu Mueet came to us from Al-Kufa, and we were soldiers with Muawiya. We were scared that Ali-asws would be free from the Kharijites, then he-asws would come back to us.
وَ كَانَ فِي كِتَابِهِ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ عَلِيّاً خَرَجَ عَلَيْهِ عِلِيَّةُ أَصْحَابِهِ وَ نُسَّاكُهُمْ، فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَقَتَلَهُمْ، وَ قَدْ فَسَدَ عَلَيْهِ جُنْدُهُ وَ أَهْلُ مِصْرِهِ، وَ وَقَعَتْ بَيْنَهُمُ الْعَدَاوَةُ وَ تَفَرَّقُوا أَشَدَّ الْفُرْقَةِ، فَأَحْبَبْتُ إِعْلَامَكَ. وَ السَّلَامُ.
And it was in his letter, ‘As for after, Ali-asws, the elite of his-asws companions and their ritualists/worshipers have come out to him-asws, so he-asws killed them, and they have spoilt his-asws army upon him-asws and the people of his-asws city, and the enmity has occurred between them, and they have separated with severe separation, so I loved to inform you. And the greetings’.
قَالَ فَقَرَأَهُ [مُعَاوِيَةُ] عَلَى أَخِيهِ وَ عَلَى أَبِي الْأَعْوَرِ، ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَى أَخِيهِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ وَ قَالَ: لَقَدْ رَضِيَ أَخُوكَ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَنَا عَيْناً. قَالَ: فَضَحِكَ الْوَلِيدُ وَ قَالَ: إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ أَيْضاً لَنَفْعاً.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Muawiya read it out to his brother and to Abu Al-Awr. Then he looked at his brother Al-Waleed Bin Uqba and said, ‘Your brother is pleased that there happen to be spies for us’. Al-Waleed laughed and said, ‘Surely in that as well is a benefit’.
فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ دَعَا مُعَاوِيَةُ الضَّحَّاكَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ الْفِهْرِيَّ، وَ قَالَ لَهُ: سِرْ حَتَّى تَمُرَّ بِنَاحِيَةِ الْكُوفَةِ، وَ تَرْتَفِعَ عَنْهَا مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ، فَمَنْ وَجَدْتَهُ مِنَ الْأَعْرَابِ فِي طَاعَةِ عَلِيٍّ، فَأَغِرْ عَلَيْهِ، وَ إِنْ وَجَدْتَ لَهُ مَسْلَحَةً أَوْ خَيْلًا فَأَغِرْ عَلَيْهِمَا، وَ إِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فِي بَلْدَةٍ، فَأَمْسِ فِي أُخْرَى، وَ لَا تُقِيمَنَّ لِخَيْلٍ بَلَغَكَ عَنْهَا أَنَّهَا قَدْ سُرِّحَتْ إِلَيْكَ لِتَلْقَاهَا فَتُقَاتِلَهَا. فَسَرَّحَهُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ ثَلَاثَةِ آلَافٍ إِلَى أَرْبَعَةِ آلَافٍ.
During that, Muawiya called Al-Zahhak Bin Qays Al-Fihry and said to him, ‘Travel until you pass by in the direction of Al-Kufa and raise away from it what you came. The one from the Bedouins whom you find to be in obedience of Ali-asws, raid upon him, and if you find armed men or cavalry, raid upon them; and when you wake up in the morning in one city, then spend the evening in another, and do not stay for any cavalry to reach you from it, it would be discharged towards you to meet you, so battle it’. So, he went among what is between three thousand to four thousand.
فَأَقْبَلَ الضَّحَّاكُ لِنَهْبِ الْأَمْوَالِ، وَ قَتْلِ مَنْ لَقِيَ مِنَ الْأَعْرَابِ، حَتَّى مَرَّ بِالثَّعْلَبِيَّةِ فَأَغَارَ عَلَى الْحَاجِّ، فَأَخَذَ أَمْتِعَتَهُمْ، ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ فَلَقِيَ عَمْرَو بْنَ عُمَيْسِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ الذُّهْلِيِّ وَ هُوَ ابْنُ أَخِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ فَقَتَلَهُ فِي طَرِيقِ الْحَاجِّ، عِنْدَ الْقُطْقُطَانَةِ، وَ قَتَلَ مَعَهُ نَاساً مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ.
Al-Zahhak came to plunder the wealth and kill the ones from the Bedouins he met, until he passed by Sa’albiya, he raided upon the pilgrims and seized their belongings. Then he came back and met Amro Bin Umeys Bin Masoud Al-Zuhly, and he is a son of the brother of Abdullah Bin Masoud. He killed him in the road of the pilgrims at Al-Qutqutana, and some people from his companions were (also) killed.
فَصَعِدَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ الْمِنْبَرَ وَ قَالَ: يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ! اخْرُجُوا إِلَى [الْعَبْدِ] الصَّالِحِ عَمْرِو بْنِ عُمَيْسٍ وَ إِلَى جُيُوشٍ لَكُمْ قَدْ أُصِيبَ مِنْهُمْ طَرَفٌ، اخْرُجُوا فَقَاتِلُوا عَدُوَّكُمْ، وَ امْنَعُوا حَرِيمَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws ascended the pulpit and said, ‘O people of Al-Kufa! Go out to the righteous servant Amro Bin Umeys, and to armies of yours, some of them have been injured. Go out to fight your enemies and defends your sanctities, if you were to do so!’
فَرَدُّوا عَلَيْهِ رَدّاً ضَعِيفاً وَ رَأَى مِنْهُمْ عَجْزاً وَ فَشَلًا فَقَالَ: وَ اللَّهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ لِي بِكُلِّ مِائَةٍ مِنْكُمْ رَجُلًا مِنْهُمْ، وَيْحَكُمْ اخْرُجُوا مَعِي، ثُمَّ فِرُّوا عَنِّي مَا بَدَا لَكُمْ،
They responded to him-asws a weak response, and he-asws saw frustration and procrastination from them. He-asws said: ‘By Allah-azwj! I-asws would have loved if there had been for me-asws, for every hundred of you, a man from them. Woe be unto you! Come out with me-asws, then you can flee away from me-asws whatever comes to you.
فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا أَكْرَهُ لِقَاءَ رَبِّي عَلَى نِيَّتِي وَ بَصِيرَتِي، وَ فِي ذَلِكَ رَوْحٌ لِي عَظِيمٌ، وَ فَرَجٌ مِنْ مُنَاجَاتِكُمْ وَ مُعَانَاتِكُمْ وَ مُقَاسَاتِكُمْ وَ مُدَارَاتِكُمْ، مِثْلَ مَا تُدَارَى الْبِكَارُ الْعَمِدَةُ، وَ الثِّيَابُ الْمُتَهَتِّرَةُ، كُلَّمَا خِيطَتْ مِنْ جَانِبٍ، تَهَتَّكَتْ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا مِنْ جَانِبٍ آخَرَ.
By Allah-azwj! I-asws do not dislike meeting my-asws Lord-azwj being upon my-asws intention and my-asws insight, and in that would be great rest for me-asws and relief from your whispering with you, suffering from you, and tolerating from you, prolonged explanations with you, like what is explained to a young virgin, and (like) the torn clothes, every time it is sewn from one side, it tears upon its owner from another side’.
ثُمَّ نَزَلَ، فَخَرَجَ يَمْشِي حَتَّى بَلَغَ الْغَرِيَّيْنِ، ثُمَّ دَعَا حُجْرَ بْنَ عَدِيٍّ الْكِنْدِيَّ فَعَقَدَ لَهُ رَايَةً عَلَى أَرْبَعَةِ آلَافٍ، فَخَرَجَ حُجْرٌ حَتَّى مَرَّ بِالسَّمَاوَةِ وَ هِيَ أَرْضٌ كَلِبٌ، فَلَقِيَ بِهَا إِمْرَأَ الْقَيْسِ بْنَ عَدِيِّ بْنِ أَوْسٍ الْكَلْبِيَّ، وَ هُمْ أَصْهَارُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَكَانُوا أَدِلَّاءَهُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ، وَ عَلَى الْمِيَاهِ،
Then he-asws descended and went out walking until he-asws reached Al-Ghariyeyn. Then he-asws called Al-Hujr Bin Aday Al-Kindy and tied a flag for him (commanding) upon four thousand (soldiers). Hujr went out until he passed by Al-Samawah, and it is the land of Kalib. At it, he met a man of Al-Qays Bin Aday Bin Aws Al-Kalby, and they are in-laws of Al-Husayn-asws Bin Ali-asws, and they were guiding him in the road and upon the waters (springs).
فَلَمْ يَزَلْ مُغِذّاً فِي أَثَرِ الضَّحَّاكِ، حَتَّى لَقِيَهُ بِنَاحِيَةِ تَدْمُرَ فَوَاقَعَهُ؛ فَاقْتَتَلُوا سَاعَةً، فَقُتِلَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الضَّحَّاكِ تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ رَجُلًا، وَ قُتِلَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ حُجْرٍ رَجُلَانِ، وَ حَجَزَ اللَّيْلُ بَيْنَهُمْ، فَمَضَى الضَّحَّاكُ، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحُوا لَمْ يَجِدُوا لَهُ وَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ أَثَراً، فَكَتَبَ عَقِيلٌ هَذَا الْكِتَابَ إِلَيْهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي أَثَرِ هَذِهِ الْوَاقِعَةِ.
He did not cease going in the tracks of Al-Zahhak until he met him in an area of ruined building. They fought for an hour, and ten men from the companions of Al-Zahhak were killed, and two men were killed from the companions of Hujr, and the night was a hindrance between them. Al-Zahhak went away. When they woke up in the morning they could not find him and there were tracks for his companions. So, Aqeel (his-asws brother which has been presented earlier) wrote this letter to him-asws in the tracks of this event’’.[13]
[905] – وَ قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي الْحَدِيدِ أَيْضاً: ذَكَرَ صَاحِبُ كِتَابِ الْغَارَاتِ، أَنَّ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ قَدِمَ هُوَ وَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مِنْ عِنْدِ مُعَاوِيَةَ، بَعْدَ أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ الْخَوْلَانِيِّ، يَسْأَلَانِهِ أَنْ يَدْفَعَ قَتَلَةَ عُثْمَانَ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ، لِيُقِيدَهُمْ بِعُثْمَانَ. وَ إِنَّمَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يُشْهِدَا لَهُ عَلَيْهِ أَهْلَ الشَّامِ بِذَلِكَ، وَ أَنْ يُظْهِرَا عُذْرَهُ،
And Ibn Abi Al Hadeed said as well, ‘It is mentioned by the author of Kitab Al Gharaat,
‘Al-Numan Bin Bashir arrived, he and Abu Hureyra, to Ali-asws from the presence of Muawiya, after Abu Muslim Al-Khowlany, asking him-asws to hand over the killers of Usman to Muawiya in order to confine them due to Usman. And rather they intended that the people of Syria could testify against him-asws with that and his-asws excuse would be revealed.
فَلَمَّا أَتَيَاهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، وَ أَدَّيَا الرِّسَالَةَ، قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لِلنُّعْمَانِ: حَدِّثْنِي عَنْكَ أَ أَنْتَ أَهْدَى مِنْ قَوْمِكَ سَبِيلًا؟ يَعْنِي الْأَنْصَارَ. قَالَ: لَا. قَالَ: فَكُلُّ قَوْمِكَ قَدِ اتَّبَعَنِي، إِلَّا شُذَّاذٌ مِنْهُمْ ثَلَاثَةٌ أَوْ أَرْبَعَةٌ، فَتَكُونُ أَنْتَ مِنَ الشُّذَّاذِ؟
When they both came to him-asws and delivered the message, he-asws said to Numan: ‘Narrate to me-asws about yourself, are you the most guided of your people of the (right) way?’ – meaning the Helpers. He said, ‘No’. He-asws said: ‘All of your people have followed me-asws except three or four rogues from them. So, do you happen to be from the rogues?’
فَقَالَ النُّعْمَانُ: أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ، إِنَّمَا جِئْتُ لِأَكُونَ مَعَكَ، وَ قَدْ طَمِعْتُ أَنْ يُجْرِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى بَيْنَكُمَا صُلْحاً، فَإِذَا كَانَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ رَأْيُكَ، فَإِنِّي مُلَازِمُكَ.
Al-Numan said, ‘May Allah-azwj Keep you-asws well! But rather, I have come to be with you-asws, and I am eager that Allah-azwj the Exalted would Flow the reconciliation to be between you two. So, if your-asws view happens to be other than that, I-asws shall stick to you-asws’.
فَأَقَامَ النُّعْمَانُ، وَ لَحِقَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ بِالشَّامِ. وَ فَرَّ النُّعْمَانُ بَعْدَ أَشْهُرٍ مِنْهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إِلَى الشَّامِ، فَأَخَذَهُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ مَالِكُ بْنُ كَعْبٍ الْأَرْحَبِيُّ، وَ كَانَ عَامِلَ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بِعَيْنِ التَّمْرِ، فَتَضَرَّعَ وَ اسْتَشْفَعَ [لَهُ قَرَظَةُ عِنْدَ مَالِكِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ] حَتَّى خَلَّى سَبِيلَهُ، وَ قَدِمَ عَلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ خَبَّرَ بِمَا لَقِيَ وَ لَمْ يَزَلْ مَعَهُ.
Al-Numan stood up and met Abu Hureyra at Syria, and after some months, Al-Numan fled from him-asws to Syria. Malik Bin Ka’ab Al-Arhaby seized him in the road, and he was an office bearer of Ali-asws at Ayn Al-Tamr. (Clan of) Qarzah pleaded and interceded for him in the presence of Malik Bin Ka’ab until he freed his way, and he arrived to Muawiya and informed with what he had faced, and did not cease to be with him.
فَلَمَّا غَزَى الضَّحَّاكُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ أَرْضَ الْعِرَاقِ، بَعَثَ مُعَاوِيَةُ النُّعْمَانَ مَعَ أَلْفَيْ رَجُلٍ وَ أَوْصَاهُ أَنْ يَتَجَنَّبَ الْمُدُنَ وَ الْجَمَاعَاتِ، وَ أَنْ لَا يُغِيرَ عَلَى مَسْلَحَةٍ، وَ أَنْ يُعَجِّلَ الرُّجُوعَ، فَأَقْبَلَ النُّعْمَانُ حَتَّى دَنَا مِنْ عَيْنِ التَّمْرِ وَ بِهَا مَالِكٌ، وَ مَعَ مَالِكٍ أَلْفُ رَجُلٍ، وَ قَدْ أَذِنَ لَهُمْ فَرَجَعُوا إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ
When Zahhak Bin Qays invaded the land of Iraq, Muawiya sent Al-Numan with a thousand men and advised him that he should keep away from the cities and the communities, and that he should not raid upon any armed people, and that he should hasten the return. Al-Numan came back until he was near to Ayn Al-Tamr, and Malik was at it, and there used to be a thousand men with Malik, and he had permitted for them, so they had returned to Al-Kufa.
فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مَعَهُ إِلَّا مِائَةٌ أَوْ نَحْوُهَا، فَكَتَبَ مَالِكٌ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَصَعِدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ الْمِنْبَرَ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ! الْمِنْسَرُ مِنْ مَنَاسِرِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ، إِذَا أَظَلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ انْجَحَرْتُمْ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ وَ أَغْلَقْتُمْ أَبْوَابَكُمْ، انْجَازَ الضَّبَّةُ فِي جُحْرِهَا، وَ الضَّبُعُ فِي وِجَارِهَا،
There did not remain with him except a hundred of approximate to it. Malik wrote to Ali-asws. He-asws ascended the pulpit, praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, then said: ‘O people of Al-Kufa! When the eagle from the eagles of the people of Syria descends upon you, you hide in your houses and close your doors, (like) the hiding of the antelope in its burrow, and the hyena in its lair.
الذَّلِيلُ وَ اللَّهِ مَنْ نَصَرْتُمُوهُ، وَ مَنْ رَمَى بِكُمْ رَمَى بِأَفْوَقَ نَاصِلٍ، أُفٍّ لَكُمْ، لَقَدْ لَقِيتُ مِنْكُمْ تَرَحاً!! وَيْحَكُمْ يَوْماً أُنَاجِيكُمْ، وَ يَوْماً أُنَادِيكُمْ، فَلَا أَحْرَارَ عِنْدَ النِّدَاءِ، وَ لَا إِخْوَانَ صَدَقَ عِنْدَ اللِّقَاءِ،
The disgraced, by Allah-azwj, is the one whom you help, and the one who is thrown by you from above to the bottom. Ugh to you all! I-asws have faced grief from you!! Woe be unto you all! One day I-asws whisper to you, and one day I-asws call out to you, but there is no freedom during the call, nor are you sincere brother during the meeting.
أَنَا وَ اللَّهِ مُنِيتُ بِكُمْ، صُمٌّ لَا تَسْمَعُونَ، بُكْمٌ لَا تَعْقِلُونَ، عُمْيٌ لَا تُبْصِرُونَ!! فَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ،
By Allah-azwj! I-asws had wished with you, (but) you are deaf, not hearing, mute, not using intellects, blind, not seeing!! So, the Praise is for Allah-azwj Lord-azwj of the worlds.
وَيْحَكُمْ اخْرُجُوا هَدَاكُمُ اللَّهُ إِلَى مَالِكِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ أَخِيكُمْ، فَإِنَّ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ قَدْ نَزَلَ بِهِ فِي جَمْعٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ لَيْسَ بِالْكَثِيرِ، فَانْهَضُوا إِلَى إِخْوَانِكُمْ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ يَقْطَعُ بِكُمْ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ طَرَفاً. ثُمَّ نَزَلَ.
Woe be unto you! May Allah-azwj Guide you, go out to Malik Bin Ka’ab, your brother. Al-Numan Bin Bashir has descended with him among a crowd from the people of Syria. It isn’t a lot, so get up to go to your brother, perhaps Allah-azwj will Cut-off a side of the Kafirs by you!’ Then he-asws descended.
فَلَمْ يَخْرُجُوا، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ وَ كُبَرَائِهِمْ، فَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَنْهَضُوا وَ يَحُثُّوا النَّاسَ عَلَى الْمَسِيرِ، فَلَمْ يَصْنَعُوا شَيْئاً. وَ اجْتَمَعَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَرٌ يَسِيرٌ نَحْوَ ثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ أَوْ دُونِهَا
But they did not go out. He-asws sent a message to their (well known) faces and their elders and ordered them to get up and urge the people upon the travelling, but they did not do anything; and a small number from them gathered, about three hundred or less than it.
فَقَامَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ: أَلَا إِنِّي مُنِيتُ بِمَنْ لَا يُطِيعُ إِذَا أَمَرْتُ، وَ لَا يُجِيبُ إِذَا دَعَوْتُ، لَا أَبَا لَكُمْ، مَا تَنْتَظِرُونَ بِنَصْرِكُمْ رَبَّكُمْ؟ أَ مَا دِينٌ يَجْمَعُكُمْ؟ وَ لَا حَمِيَّةٌ تُحْمِشُكُمْ؟
He-asws stood up and said: ‘Indeed! I-asws have wished with the ones who do not obey when I-asws order, nor do they answer when called. May there be no father for you! What are you waiting for helping your Lord-azwj? Is there no religion to unite you? Is there no enthusiasm to protect you?
أَقُومُ فِيكُمْ مُسْتَصْرِخاً، وَ أُنَادِيكُمْ مُتَغَوِّثاً، فَلَا تَسْمَعُونَ لِي قَوْلًا، وَ لَا تُطِيعُونَ لِي أَمْراً، حَتَّى تَكْشِفَ الْأُمُورُ عَنْ عَوَاقِبِ الْمَسَاءَةِ، فَمَا يُدْرَكُ بِكُمْ ثَارٌ، وَ لَا يُبْلَغُ بِكُمْ مَرَامٌ!!
I-asws stand among you shouting, and I-asws call out to you crying for help, but you are neither listening to a word of mine-asws nor are you obeying any order of mine, until the affairs would be uncovered from the evil end-results. Neither any retaliation will be realised by you nor with any goal be reached by you!!
دَعَوْتُكُمْ إِلَى نَصْرِ إِخْوَانِكُمْ فَجَرْجَرْتُمْ جَرْجَرَةَ الْجَمَلِ الْأَسَرِّ، وَ تَثَاقَلْتُمْ تَثَاقُلَ النِّضْوِ الْأَدْبَرِ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَيَّ مِنْكُمْ جُنَيْدٌ مُتَذَائِبٌ كَأَنَّما يُساقُونَ إِلَى الْمَوْتِ وَ هُمْ يَنْظُرُونَ ثُمَّ نَزَلَ فَدَخَلَ مَنْزِلَهُ.
I-asws call you to help your brothers, so you come out like the coming out by the captive camel, and your sluggishness is sluggishness of the tired backs. Then there came out to me-asws from you some fearful soldiers, It is as if they are being driven to the death and they are looking on [8:6]’. Then he-asws descended and entered his-asws house.
فَقَامَ عَدِيُّ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ فَقَالَ: هَذَا وَ اللَّهِ الْخِذْلَانُ، مَا عَلَى هَذَا بَايَعْنَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ. [ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ] إِنَّ مَعِي مِنْ طَيٍّ أَلْفَ رَجُلٍ لَا يَعْصُونِي، فَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ أَسِيرَ بِهِمْ سِرْتُ.
Udayy Bin Hatim stood up and said, ‘By Allah-azwj! This is the abandonment. This is not what we pledged allegiance to Amir Al-Momineen-asws upon’. Then he entered to see him-asws and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! There are a thousand men from (the clan of) Al-Tayy, they will not disobey me. If you-asws so desire for me to travel with them, I will travel’.
قَالَ: مَا كُنْتُ لِأَعْرِضَ قَبِيلَةً وَاحِدَةً مِنْ قَبَائِلِ الْعَرَبِ لِلنَّاسِ، وَ لَكِنِ اخْرُجْ إِلَى النُّخَيْلَةِ وَ عَسْكِرْ بِهِمْ.
He-asws said: ‘I-asws would never expose one tribe from the Arabian tribes, to the people, but go out to Al-Nukheila and encamped with them.
فَخَرَجَ [عَدِيٌ] فَعَسْكَرَ وَ فَرَضَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لِكُلِّ رَجُلٍ مِنْهُمْ سَبْعَمِائَةٍ. فَاجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْهِ أَلْفُ فَارِسٍ، عَدَا طَيّاً أَصْحَابُ عَدِيٍّ. وَ وَرَدَ عَلَيْهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ الْخَبَرُ بِهَزِيمَةِ النُّعْمَانِ وَ نُصْرَةِ مَالِكٍ.
Aday went out and encamped, and Ali-asws obligated for every man from them, seven hundred (Dirhams). A thousand horsemen gathered to him-asws, galloping, prepared, companions of Aday. And the news reached Ali-asws of the defeat of Al-Numan and victory of Malik’’.[14]
وَ رَوَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَوْزَةَ الْأَزْدِيُّ قَالَ: كُنْتُ مَعَ مَالِكِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ حِينَ نَزَلَ بِنَا النُّعْمَانُ، وَ هُوَ فِي أَلْفَيْنِ وَ مَا نَحْنُ إِلَّا مِائَةٌ؛ فَقَالَ لَنَا: قَاتِلُوهُمْ فِي الْقَرْيَةِ وَ اجْعَلُوا الْجُدُرَ فِي ظُهُورِكُمْ، وَ لا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ، وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَنْصُرُ الْعَشَرَةَ عَلَى الْمِائَةِ، وَ الْمِائَةَ عَلَى الْأَلْفِ، وَ الْقَلِيلَ عَلَى الْكَثِيرِ.
And it is reported by Abdullah Bin Jowrah Al Azdy who said,
‘I was with Malik Bin Ka’ab when Al-Numan descended with us (with his army), and he was among two thousand, and we were not except a hundred. He said to us, ‘Fight them in the town and make the wall to be in your back, and cast not yourselves to destruction with your own hands, [2:195], and know that Allah-azwj would Help the ten against the hundred, and the hundred against the thousand, and the few against the more’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ: إِنَّ أَقْرَبَ مَنْ هَاهُنَا إِلَيْنَا مِنْ شِيعَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَرَظَةُ بْنُ كَعْبٍ، وَ مِخْنَفُ بْنُ سُلَيْمٍ، فَارْكُضْ إِلَيْهِمَا فَأَعْلِمْهُمَا حَالَنَا، وَ قُلْ لَهُمَا فَلْيَنْصُرَانَا.
Then he said, ‘The closes one to us over here from the Shias of Amir Al-Momineen-asws is Qarzah Bin Ka’ab, and Mikhnaf Bin suleym, so sprint to them and let them know of our situation, and tell them to help us’.
فَمَرَرْتُ بِقَرَظَةَ فَاسْتَصْرَخْتُهُ، فَقَالَ: إِنَّمَا أَنَا صَاحِبُ خَرَاجٍ، وَ لَيْسَ عِنْدِي مَنْ أُغِيثُهُ بِهِ!! فَمَضَيْتُ إِلَى مِخْنَفٍ، فَسَرَّحَ مَعِي عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ مِخْنَفٍ فِي خَمْسِينَ رَجُلًا، وَ قَاتَلَ مَالِكٌ وَ أَصْحَابُهُ، النُّعْمَانَ وَ أَصْحَابَهُ إِلَى الْعَصْرِ، فَأَتَيْنَاهُ وَ قَدْ كَسَرَ هُوَ وَ أَصْحَابُهُ جُفُونَ سُيُوفِهِمْ، وَ اسْتَقْبَلُوا الْمَوْتَ، فَلَوْ أَبْطَأْنَا مِنْهُمْ هَلَكُوا،
He passed by Qarzah and shouted to him. He said, ‘I am in charge of the taxation and there isn’t anyone with me I can help with it’. He went too Mikhnaf, and he sent with me Abdul Rahman Bin Mikhnar among five men; and Malik and his companions fought Al-Numan and his companions up to late afternoon, and (for) him and his companions, the coverings of their swords were broken and they faced the death, had we been delayed from them.
فَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا أَنْ رَآنَا أَهْلُ الشَّامِ وَ قَدْ أَقْبَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ، أَخَذُوا يَنْكُصُونَ عَنْهُمْ وَ يَرْتَفِعُونَ، وَ رَآنَا مَالِكٌ وَ أَصْحَابُهُ، فَشَدُّوا عَلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى دَفَعُوهُمْ عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ، فَاسْتَعْرَضْنَاهُمْ فَصَرَعْنَا مِنْهُمْ رِجَالًا ثَلَاثَةً، فَظَنَّ الْقَوْمُ أَنَّ لَنَا مَدَداً، وَ حَالَ اللَّيْلُ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُمْ، فَانْصَرَفُوا إِلَى أَرْضِهِمْ.
It was not except that the people of Syria saw us, and we had faced towards them. They took to turning back from them and rising up, and Malik and his companions saw us so they were severe upon them until they pushed them away from the town. We surveyed them and we had killed three men from them. The group thought that there was help for us, and the night formed a barrier between us and them. They left to go to their land.
وَ كَتَبَ مَالِكٌ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّهُ نَزَلَ بِنَا النُّعْمَانُ بْنُ بَشِيرٍ فِي جَمْعٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ كَالظَّاهِرِ عَلَيْنَا، وَ كَانَ عِظَمُ أَصْحَابِي مُتَفَرِّقِينَ، وَ كُنَّا لِلَّذِي كَانَ مِنْهُمْ آمِنِينَ، فَخَرَجْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ رِجَالًا مُصْلِتِينَ، فَقَاتَلْنَاهُمْ حَتَّى الْمَسَاءِ، وَ اسْتَصْرَخْنَا مِخْنَفَ بْنَ سُلَيْمٍ، فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْنَا رِجَالًا مِنْ شِيعَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ وُلْدِهِ، فَنِعْمَ الْفَتَى، وَ نِعْمَ الْأَنْصَارُ كَانُوا،
And Malik wrote to Ali-asws, ‘As for after, Al-Numan Bin Bashir had descended with us among a crowd from the people of Syria like the prevailing upon us, and the greatness of my companions was scattered, and we were like those who were secured from them. We brought out to them shining men and they fought them until the evening, and we shouted to Mikhnaf Bin Suleym (for help), and he sent men from the Shias of Amir Al-Momineen-asws and his sons. Good were the youths and good were the helpers.
فَحَمَلْنَا عَلَى عَدُوِّنَا وَ شَدَدْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا نَصْرَهُ، وَ هَزَمَ عَدُوَّهُ، وَ أَعَزَّ جُنْدَهُ، وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ، وَ السَّلَامُ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ..
We attacked upon our enemies and were severe upon them. Allah-azwj Sent down His-azwj Help upon us and Defeated His-azwj enemies, and Reinforced His-azwj army, and the Praise is for Allah-azwj, Lord-azwj of the worlds. And the greetings be upon Amir Al-Momineen-asws, and Mercy of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Blessings’’.[15]
وَ عَنْ أَبِي الطُّفَيْلِ قَالَ، قَالَ: عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ دَخَلْتُ إِلَيْكُمْ وَ لَيْسَ لِي سَوْطٌ إِلَّا الدِّرَّةُ، فَرَفَعْتُمُونِي إِلَى السَّوْطِ، ثُمَّ رَفَعْتُمُونِي إِلَى الْحِجَارَةِ، أَوْ قَالَ: الْحَدِيدِ، أَلْبَسَكُمُ اللَّهُ شِيَعاً، وَ أَذَاقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ، فَمَنْ فَازَ بِكُمْ فَقَدْ فَازَ بِالْقِدْحِ الْأَخْيَبِ.
And from Abu Al Tufeyl who said,
‘Ali-asws said: ‘O people of Al-Kufa! I-asws entered to you all and there wasn’t any whip with me-asws except a twig, you raised me-asws to the whip, then you raised me-asws to the stones’, or said: ‘The iron. May Allah-azwj Make you sects and Make some of you taste the prowess of others. So, the one who wins with you, so he has won a disappointing cup’’.[16]
وَ عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ الْحَنَفِيِّ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَخْطُبُ، وَ قَدْ وَضَعَ الْمُصْحَفَ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ، حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ الْوَرَقَ يَتَقَعْقَعُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ قَالَ، فَقَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ قَدْ مَنَعُونِي مَا فِيهِ، فَأَعْطِنِي مَا فِيهِ، اللَّهُمَّ قَدْ أَبْغَضْتُهُمْ وَ أَبْغَضُونِي، وَ مَلِلْتُهُمْ وَ مَلُّونِي وَ حَمَلُونِي عَلَى غَيْرِ خُلُقِي وَ طَبِيعَتِي وَ أَخْلَاقٍ لَمْ تَكُنْ تُعْرَفُ لِي.
And from Abu Salih Al Hanafy who said,
‘I saw Ali-asws addressing, and he-asws had placed the Quran upon his-asws head to the extent that the pages were seen (heard) rattling upon his-asws head. He-asws said: ‘O Allah-azwj! They have refused me-asws of what is in it, so Give me-asws what is in it! O Allah-azwj! I-asws hate them and they hate me-asws, and I-asws am tired of them and they are tired of me-asws, and they have carried me-asws other than my-asws manners and my habits and morals. There does not happen to be any recognition for me-asws!
اللَّهُمَّ فَأَبْدِلْنِي بِهِمْ خَيْراً مِنْهُمْ، وَ أَبْدِلْهُمْ بِي شَرّاً مِنِّي. اللَّهُمَّ أَمِثْ قُلُوبَهُمْ مَيْثَ الْمِلْحِ فِي الْمَاءِ.
O Allah-azwj! Replace them for me-asws with better than them and Replace me-asws for them with (someone) evil than me-asws. O Allah-azwj! Dissolve their hearts (like) dissolving of the salt in the water’’.[17]
وَ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي رَافِعٍ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَدِ ازْدَحَمُوا عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى أَدْمَوْا رِجْلَهُ، فَقَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ قَدْ كَرِهْتُهُمْ وَ كَرِهُونِي، فَأَرِحْنِي مِنْهُمْ، وَ أَرِحْهُمْ مِنِّي.
And for Sa’ad Bin Ibrahim, from Ibn Abu Rafie who said,
‘I saw Ali-asws and they had crowded to him-asws until his-asws legs bled. He-asws said: ‘O Allah-azwj! I-asws dislike them and they dislike me-asws, so Give me-asws rest from them and Rest them from me-asws!’’[18]
وَ رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُرَاتٍ الْجَرْمِيُّ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي هَذِهِ الْخُطْبَةِ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنِّي دَعَوْتُكُمْ إِلَى الْحَقِّ فَتَوَلَّيْتُمْ عَنِّي وَ ضَرَبْتُكُمْ بِالدِّرَّةِ فَأَعْيَيْتُمُونِي. أَمَا إِنَّهُ سَيَلِيكُمْ بَعْدِي وُلَاةٌ لَا يَرْضَوْنَ مِنْكُمْ بِذَلِكَ حَتَّى يُعَذِّبُونَكُمْ بِالسِّيَاطِ وَ الْحَدِيدِ،
And it is reported by Muhammad Bin Furat Al Jurmy,
‘From Zayd son of Ali-asws (Bin Al-Husayn-asws) who said, ‘Ali-asws said in this sermon: ‘O you people! I-asws am calling you to the truth but you are turning away from me and I-asws strike you with the twig, but you are faulting me-asws. But, such rulers will be ruling you who will not be pleased from you with that until they punish you with the whips and the iron!
فَأَمَّا أَنَا فَلَا أُعَذِّبُكُمْ بِهِمَا، إِنَّهُ مَنْ عَذَّبَ النَّاسَ فِي الدُّنْيَا عَذَّبَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ، وَ آيَةُ ذَلِكَ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمْ صَاحِبُ الْيَمَنِ حَتَّى يَحُلَّ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِكُمْ، فَيَأْخُذَ الْعُمَّالَ وَ عُمَّالَ الْعُمَّالِ رَجُلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ: يُوسُفُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، وَ يَقُومُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ رَجُلٌ مِنَّا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتَ فَانْصُرُوهُ، فَإِنَّهُ دَاعٍ إِلَى الْحَقِّ.
As for I-asws, so I-asws shall not punish you with these two as the one who punishes the people in the world, Allah-azwj would Punish him in the Hereafter, and a sign of that is that the ruler of Al-Yemen will come to you until he permeates (disintegrate) in your midst. He will seize the office bearers, and workers of the office bearers, a man called Yusuf Bin Umar, and during that a man from us-asws, People-asws of the Household would rise, so help him-asws, for he-asws would be calling to the truth’.
قَالَ: فَكَانَ النَّاسُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلَ هُوَ زَيْدٌ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ].
He (the narrator) said, ‘The people were narrating that is a man who is Zayd (Bin Ali-asws Bin Al-Husayn-asws)’’.[19]
[906] – وَ قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي الْحَدِيدِ نَقْلًا مِنْ كِتَابِ الْغَارَاتِ، لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الثَّقَفِيِّ وَ وَجَدْتُهُ فِي أَصْلِ كِتَابِهِ أَيْضاً رَوَى بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مِحْصَنٍ: أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ لَمَّا أَصَابَ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ بِمِصْرَ، بَعَثَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَامِرٍ الْحَضْرَمِيَّ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ لِيَدْعُوَهُمْ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ، وَ إِلَى الطَّلَبِ بِدَمِ عُثْمَانَ، فَلَمَّا أَتَاهُمْ وَ قَرَأَ عَلَيْهِمْ كِتَابَ مُعَاوِيَةَ اخْتَلَفُوا، فَبَعْضُهُمْ رَدُّوا، وَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ قَبِلُوا وَ أَطَاعُوا.
And Ibn Abi Al Hadeed said, ‘It is copied from Kitab Al Gharaat of Ibrahim Bin Muhammad Al Saqafy, and I found it in the original of his book as well, reported by his chain from Amro Bin Mihsan,
‘When Muhammad Bin Abu Bakr was killed at Egypt, Muawiya sent Abdullah Bin Aamir Al-Hazramy to the people of Al-Basra to call them to himself and to seek the blood of Usman. When he came to them and read out to them the letter of Muawiya, they differed. Some of them rejected and most of them accepted and obeyed.
وَ كَانَ الْأَمِيرُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِالْبَصْرَةِ، زِيَادَ بْنَ عُبَيْدٍ، قَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ، وَ ذَهَبَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يُعَزِّيهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى زِيَادٌ إِقْبَالَ النَّاسِ عَلَى ابْنِ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ، اسْتَجَارَ مِنَ الْأَزْدِ وَ نَزَلَ فِيهِمْ، وَ كَتَبَ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَ أَخْبَرَهُ بِمَا جَرَى؛
And it so happened that the governor upon Al-Basra on that day was Ziyad Bin Ubeyd. Abdullah Bin Al-Abbas had appointed him, and he went to Ali-asws to console him-asws about Muhammad Bin Abu Bakr. When Ziyad saw the people coming back to Ibn Al-Hazramy, he sought shelter from Al-Azd and descended among them and wrote to Ibn Abbas and informed him with what had transpired.
فَرَفَعَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ذَلِكَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، وَ شَاعَ فِي النَّاسِ بِالْكُوفَةِ مَا كَانَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، وَ اخْتَلَفَ أَصْحَابُهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِيمَنْ يَبْعَثُهُ إِلَيْهِمْ حَمِيَّةً
Ibn Abbas raised that (matter) to Ali-asws, and it spread among the people at Al-Kufa what had happened from that, and his-asws companions differed, among the zealots he had sent to them.
فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: تَنَاهَوْا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، وَ لْيَرْدَعْكُمُ الْإِسْلَامُ وَ وَقَارُهُ عَنِ التَّبَاغِي وَ التَّهَاوِي، وَ لْتَجْتَمِعْ كَلِمَتُكُمْ، وَ الْزَمُوا دِينَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْ أَحَدٍ غَيْرُهُ، وَ كَلِمَةَ الْإِخْلَاصِ الَّتِي هِيَ قِوَامُ الدِّينِ، وَ حُجَّةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ، وَ اذْكُرُوا إِذْ كُنْتُمْ قَلِيلًا مُشْرِكِينَ مُتَبَاغِضِينَ مُتَفَرِّقِينَ
He-asws said: ‘O you people! Be careful and let Al-Islam and its dignity deter you from the rebellion and the collapse, and you should unite your words and stick to the religion of Allah-azwj which, nothing would be Acceptable from anyone apart from it, and the sincere word which is a pillar of the religion, and Argument of Allah-azwj upon the Kafirs, And remember when you were few, so He Made you numerous, [7:86], (and Argument upon the) Polytheists, hateful ones, dividers.
فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْإِسْلَامِ، فَكَثُرْتُمْ وَ اجْتَمَعْتُمْ وَ تَحَابَبْتُمْ، فَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا بَعْدَ إِذِ اجْتَمَعْتُمْ، وَ لَا تَبَاغَضُوا بَعْدَ إِذْ تَحَابَبْتُمْ، وَ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ النَّاسَ وَ بَيْنَهُمُ النَّائِرَةُ وَ قَدْ تَدَاعَوْا إِلَى الْعَشَائِرِ وَ الْقَبَائِلِ فَاقْصِدُوا لِهَامِهِمْ وَ وُجُوهِهِمْ بِسُيُوفِكُمْ، حَتَّى يَفْزَعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ كِتَابِهِ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ،
Compose yourselves with Al-Islam, you will become numerous, and united, and beloved to each other. Do not separate after being united, and do not hate each other after loving each other. And when you see the people and between them is the flame of war, and they have called out to the clans and the tribes, then aim for their important ones and their (well-known) faces with your swords, until they panic to Allah-azwj and His-azwj Book and Sunnah of His-azwj Prophet-saww.
فَأَمَّا تِلْكَ الْحَمِيَّةُ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ فَانْتَهُوا عَنْهَا لَا أَبَا لَكُمْ تُفْلِحُوا وَ تَنْجَحُوا.
As for the zealotry, it is from the steps of Satan-la, so desist from it, may there be no father for you, you will succeed and attain salvation’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي الْحَدِيدِ: وَ رَوَى الْوَاقِدِيُّ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ اسْتَنْفَرَ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ أَيَّاماً، لِيَنْهَضَ مِنْهُمْ إِلَى الْبَصْرَةِ مَنْ يَكْفِيهِ أَمْرَ ابْنِ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ، وَ يَرُدُّ عَادِيَةَ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ الَّذِينَ أَجَارُوهُ بِهَا، فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ أَحَدٌ
Then Ibn Abi Al-Hadeed said, ‘And it is reported by Al-Waqidi (wahabi imam) that Ali-asws mobilised the clan of Tameem for days to get them up to go to Al-Basra, one who could suffice him-asws with the matter of Ibn Al-Hazramy, and the clan of Tameem, those who had sheltered at it, responded with their habitual response and no one answered him-asws.
فَخَطَبَهُمْ وَ قَالَ: لَيْسَ مِنَ الْعَجَبِ أَنْ يَنْصُرَنِي الْأَزْدُ وَ يَخْذُلَنِي مُضَرُ. وَ أَعْجَبُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ تَقَاعُدُ تَمِيمِ الْكُوفَةِ بِي، وَ خِلَافُ تَمِيمِ الْبَصْرَةِ عَلَيَّ، وَ أَنْ أَسْتَنْجِدَ بِطَائِفَةٍ مِنْهُمْ مَا يَشْخَصُ إِلَيَّ أَحَدٌ مِنْهَا فَيَدْعُوَهُمْ إِلَى الرَّشَادِ، فَإِنْ أَجَابَتْ وَ إِلَّا فَالْمُنَابَذَةُ وَ الْحَرْبُ.
He-asws addressed them and said: ‘It is not from the surprises that the (clan of) Al-Azd is helping me-asws and (the clan of) Muzar is abandoning me-asws. And more surprising from that is (the clan of) Tameed sitting back from me-asws at Al-Kufa, and the opposition of (clan of) Tameem at Al-Basra against me-asws, and that I-asws can rally with a party from that, not one of them rose up to me-asws. They are called to the guidance, so either they answer, or else it is the fighting and the war.
فَكَأَنِّي أُخَاطِبُ صُمّاً بُكْماً لَا يَفْقَهُونَ حِوَاراً، وَ لَا يُجِيبُونَ نِدَاءً، كُلُّ ذَلِكَ جُنُباً عَنِ الْبَأْسِ وَ حُبّاً لِلْحَيَاةِ.
It is as if I-asws am addressing to the deaf, mute, neither understanding any dialogue nor answering any calling. All that is shunning from the battle and love for the life!
[وَ] لَقَدْ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ، 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.
And we were with Rasool-Allah-saww, killing our own fathers, and our sons, and our brothers, and our uncles, but that did not increase us except in Eman and submission, and continuance upon (chewing) the morsels, and combating upon the anguish of the pains, and efforts in fighting the enemy.
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 the man from us and the other from our enemies would compete like the competing of two stallions, and being sincere with themselves which of them would make his counterpart to drink the cup of death. Sometimes it would be for us rather than our enemies, and sometimes it would be for our enemies rather than us.
فَلَمَّا رَأَى اللَّهُ صِدْقَنَا، أَنْزَلَ بِعَدُوِّنَا الْكَبْتَ، وَ أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْنَا النَّصْرَ، حَتَّى اسْتَقَرَّ الْإِسْلَامُ مُلْقِياً جِرَانَهُ، وَ مُتَبَوِّئاً أَوْطَانَهُ.
When Allah-azwj Saw our sincerity, He-azwj Sent the Suppression upon our enemies, and Sent down the Help upon us, until Al-Islam was settled, laying down its sides and resting in its homelands.
وَ لَعَمْرِي لَوْ كُنَّا نَأْتِي مَا أَتَيْتُمْ، مَا قَامَ لِلدِّينِ عَمُودٌ، وَ لَا اخْضَرَّ لِلْإِيمَانِ عُودٌ. وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَتَحْتَلِبُنَّهَا دَماً، وَ لَتُتْبِعُنَّهَا نَدَماً.
And by my life! If we had come with what you are coming with, no pillar of religion would have been established, nor any leaf of the Eman would have been green. And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! You will milk its blood and you and it would be followed by regret!’
قَالَ: فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْيَنُ بْنُ ضُبَيْعَةَ الْمُجَاشِعِيُّ، فَقَالَ: أَنَا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَكْفِيكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ هَذَا الْخَطْبَ، فَأَتَكَفَّلُ لَكَ بِقَتْلِ ابْنِ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ، أَوْ إِخْرَاجِهِ عَنِ الْبَصْرَةِ. فَأَمَرَهُ بِالتَّهَيُّؤِ لِلشُّخُوصِ، فَشَخَصَ حَتَّى قَدِمَ الْبَصْرَةَ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Ayn Bin Zubiya stood up to him-asws and said, ‘I shall suffice you-asws, if Allah-azwj so Desires, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! This is the preaching. I shall take responsibility for you-asws of killing Ibn Al-Hazramy, or expelling him from Al-Basra’. He-asws instructed him with the preparation for the departure. He departed until he arrived at Al-Basra.
رَجَعْنَا إِلَى رِوَايَةِ الثَّقَفِيِّ، قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ: فَلَمَّا قَدِمَهَا دَخَلَ عَلَى زِيَادٍ وَ هُوَ بِالْأَهْوَازِ مُقِيمٌ، فَرَحَّبَ بِهِ وَ أَجْلَسَهُ إِلَى جَانِبِهِ، فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِمَا قَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، وَ إِنَّهُ لَيُكَلِّمُهُ إِذْ جَاءَهُ كِتَابٌ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ
We return to the report of Al-Saqafy, ‘Ibrahim said, ‘When he arrived at it, he entered to see Ziyad, and he was staying at Al-Ahwaz. He was welcoming with him and seated him to his side. He informed him with what Ali-asws had said to him. And he was speaking to him when a letter from Ali-asws came to him.
فِيهِ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، عَلِيٍّ إِلَى زِيَادِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ: سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكَ، أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي قَدْ بَعَثْتُ أَعْيَنَ بْنَ ضُبَيْعَةَ لِيُفَرِّقَ قَوْمَهُ عَنِ ابْنِ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ، فَارْقَبْ مَا يَكُونُ مِنْهُ، فَإِنْ فَعَلَ وَ بَلَغَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا يُظَنُّ بِهِ، وَ كَانَ فِي ذَلِكَ تَفْرِيقُ تِلْكَ الْأَوْبَاشِ، فَهُوَ مَا نُحِبُّ،
In it was: ‘In the Name of Allah-azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful. From a servant of Allah-azwj Amir Al-Momineen Ali-asws, to Ziyad Bin Ubeyd. Greetings be unto you! As for after, I-asws have sent Ayn Bin Zubiya in order to separate his people from Ibn Al-Hazramy, so watch was happens from him. If he does so and it reached from that what he is thinking of, and during that the separation happens of those noisy crowds, it would be what we love.
وَ إِنْ تَرَامَتِ الْأُمُورُ بِالْقَوْمِ إِلَى الشِّقَاقِ وَ الْعِصْيَانِ، فَانْهَدْ بِمَنْ أَطَاعَكَ إِلَى مَنْ عَصَاكَ فَجَاهِدْهُمْ، فَإِنْ ظَفِرْتَ فَهُوَ مَا ظَنَنْتُ، وَ إِلَّا فَطَاوِلْهُمْ وَ مَاطِلْهُمْ، فَكَأَنَّ كَتَائِبَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ قَدْ أَظَلَّتْ عَلَيْكَ، فَقَتَلَ اللَّهُ الظَّالِمِينَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ، وَ نَصَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْمُحِقِّينَ وَ السَّلَامُ.
And if the affairs of the people return to the discord and the disobedience, then go with the ones who obey to you and fight them the ones who disobey you – either you win, and it is what I-asws am thinking, or else be forbearing with them and overlook them. It is as if battalions of the Muslims have shaded upon you, and Allah-azwj is Killing the oppressors, and the mischief-makers, and Helps the Momineen, the rightful. And the greetings’.
فَلَمَّا قَرَأَهُ زِيَادٌ، أَقْرَأَهُ أَعْيَنَ بْنَ ضُبَيْعَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُ: إِنِّي لَأَرْجُو أَنْ تَكْفِيَ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ.
When Ziyad read it, he read it out to Ayn Bin Zubiya. He said to him, ‘I wish you would suffice me of this matter, if Allah-azwj so Desires’.
ثُمَّ خَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ فَأَتَى رَحْلَهُ، فَجَمَعَ إِلَيْهِ رِجَالًا مِنْ قَوْمِهِ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا قَوْمُ عَلَى مَا ذَا تَقْتُلُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ، وَ تُهَرِيقُونَ دِمَاءَكُمْ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ مَعَ السُّفَهَاءِ وَ الْأَشْرَارِ؟ وَ إِنِّي وَ اللَّهِ مَا جِئْتُكُمْ حَتَّى عَبَأْتُ إِلَيْكُمُ الْجُنُودَ، فَإِنْ تُنِيبُوا إِلَى الْحَقِّ نَقْبَلْ مِنْكُمْ، وَ نَكُفَّ عَنْكُمْ، وَ إِنْ أَبَيْتُمْ فَهُوَ وَ اللَّهِ اسْتِيصَالُكُمْ وَ بَوَارُكُمْ.
Then he went out from his presence and came to his luggage. Men from his people gathered to him. He praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, then said: ‘O people! Upon what are you killing yourselves, and shedding your blood upon the falsehood with the foolish and the evil ones? And I, by Allah-azwj, did not come to you until I mobilised the armies to you, so if you were to incline to the truth, we shall accept from you and refrain from you, and if you refuse, by Allah-azwj it would (result in) your killing and your ruination’.
فَقَالُوا: بَلْ نَسْمَعُ وَ نُطِيعُ فَقَالَ: انْهَضُوا الْيَوْمَ عَلَى بَرَكَةِ اللَّهِ، فَنَهَضَ بِهِمْ عَلَى جَمَاعَةِ ابْنِ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ، فَخَرَجُوا إِلَيْهِ فَصَافُّوهُ، وَ وَاقَفَهُمْ عَامَّةَ يَوْمِهِ يُنَاشِدُهُمُ اللَّهَ وَ يَقُولُ: يَا قَوْمُ لَا تَنْكُثُوا بَيْعَتَكُمْ، وَ لَا تُخَالِفُوا إِمَامَكُمْ، وَ لَا تَجْعَلُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ سَبِيلًا، فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُمْ وَ جَرَّبْتُمْ كَيْفَ صَنَعَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ عِنْدَ نَكْثِكُمْ بَيْعَتِكُمْ وَ خِلَافِكُمْ.
They said, ‘But, we shall hear and obey’. He said, ‘Get up today upon the Blessing of Allah-azwj, and he got up with them against a community of Ibn Al-Hazramy. They came out to him and shook his hand, and he paused with them the generality of his day adjuring them with Allah-azwj and saying, ‘O people! Do not break your allegiance, and do not oppose your Imam-asws, and do not make a way to be against yourselves for you have seen and experience how Allah-azwj Deal with you all during your breaking your allegiance and your opposition’.
فَكَفُّوا عَنْهُ، وَ هُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ يَشْتُمُونَهُ. فَانْصَرَفَ عَنْهُمْ وَ هُوَ مِنْهُمْ مُنْتَصِفٌ فَلَمَّا آوَى إِلَى رَحْلِهِ، تَبِعَهُ عَشَرَةُ نَفَرٍ يَظُنُّ النَّاسُ أَنَّهُمْ خَوَارِجُ، فَضَرَبُوهُ بِأَسْيَافِهِمْ وَ هُوَ عَلَى فِرَاشِهِ، لَا يَظُنُّ أَنَّ الَّذِي كَانَ يَكُونُ، فَخَرَجَ يَشْتَدُّ عُرْيَاناً فَلَحِقُوهُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ فَقَتَلُوهُ.
They refrained from it and they were reviling him during that. He left from them and he was midway from them. When he sheltered to his belongings, ten persons pursued him, the people thought they were Kharijites. They struck him with their swords, and he was upon his bed, not thinking that which had happened would happen. He went out fleeing naked, but they caught up with him in the road and killed him.
فَكَتَبَ زِيَادٌ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مَا وَقَعَ. وَ كَتَبَ: إِنِّي أَرَى أَنْ تَبْعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ جَارِيَةَ بْنَ قُدَامَةَ، فَإِنَّهُ نَافِذُ الْبَصِيرَةِ، وَ مُطَاعُ الْعَشِيرَةِ، شَدِيدٌ عَلَى عَدُوِّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ،
Ziyad wrote to Ali-asws of what had occurred, and he wrote, ‘I see that you-asws should send Jariyah Bin Qudama to them, for he is an insightful implementer, and obeyed by the clan, severe upon the enemies of Amir Al-Momineen-asws’.
فَلَمَّا قَرَأَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ الْكِتَابَ، دَعَا جَارِيَةَ فَقَالَ: يَا ابْنَ قُدَامَةَ تَمْنَعُ الْأَزْدَ عَنْ عَامِلِي وَ بَيْتِ مَالِي وَ تُشَاقُّنِي مُضَرَ وَ تُنَابِذُنِي، وَ بِنَا ابْتَدَأَهَا اللَّهُ بِالْكَرَامَةِ، وَ عَرَّفَهَا الْهُدَى، وَ تَدْعُو إِلَى الْمَعْشَرِ الَّذِينَ حَادُّوا اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ وَ أَرَادُوا إِطْفَاءَ نُورِ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ حَتَّى عَلَتْ كَلِمَتُهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ أَهْلَكَ الْكَافِرِينَ.
When he-asws read the letter, he-asws called Jariya and said: ‘O Ibn Qudamah! Prevent Al-Azd from my-asws office bearers and my-asws public treasury, and (clan of) Muzar have hurt me-asws and fought me-asws, and through us Allah-azwj would Begin it with the honour and Introduce them to the guidance, and calling to the community, those who had turned away from Allah-azwj and Rasool-saww and intended to extinguish the Noor of Allah-azwj the Glorious until His-azwj Word was high upon them, and the Kafirs were destroyed’.
فَرَوَى إِبْرَاهِيمُ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ كَعْبِ بْنِ قُعَيْنٍ قَالَ: خَرَجْتُ مَعَ جَارِيَةَ مِنَ الْكُوفَةِ فِي خَمْسِينَ رَجُلًا مِنْ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ، وَ مَا كَانَ فِيهِمْ يَمَانِيٌّ غَيْرِي، وَ كُنْتُ شَدِيدَ التَّشَيُّعِ، فَقُلْتُ لِجَارِيَةَ: إِنْ شِئْتَ كُنْتُ مَعَكَ، وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ مِلْتُ إِلَى قُومِي. فَقَالَ: بَلْ سِرْ مَعِي، فَوَ اللَّهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ الطَّيْرَ وَ الْبَهَائِمَ تَنْصُرُنِي عَلَيْهِمْ فَضْلًا عَنِ الْإِنْسِ.
Ibrahim has reported by his chain from Ka’ab Bin Queyn who said, ‘I went out with Jariyah from Al-Kufa among fifty men from the clan of Tameem, and there was no Yemenite among them apart from me, and I was intense of adherence. I said to Jariya, ‘If you like I can be with you, and if you like I shall incline towards my people’. He said, ‘But, travel with me, for by Allah-azwj, I would love the birds and the beasts to help me against them as well as the humans’.
فَلَمَّا دَخَلْنَا الْبَصْرَةَ، بَدَأَ بِزِيَادٍ فَرَحَّبَ بِهِ وَ أَجْلَسَهُ إِلَى جَانِبِهِ، وَ نَاجَاهُ سَاعَةً وَ سَاءَلَهُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقَامَ فِي الْأَزْدِ فَقَالَ: جَزَاكُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ حَيٍّ خَيْراً، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ عَلَى غَيْرِهِمْ كِتَابَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَإِذَا فِيهِ:
When we entered Al-Basra, he began with Ziyad. He was welcoming with him and made him sit to his side and whispered to him for a while and asked him. Then he went out and he stood among (clan of) Al-Azd. He said, ‘May Allah-azwj Recompense you goodly from a tribe’. Then he read it out to them and to others, the letter of Amir Al-Momineen-asws, and there in it was:
مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِلَى مَنْ قُرِئَ عَلَيْهِ كِتَابِي هَذَا مِنْ سَاكِنِي الْبَصْرَةِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ: سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ، أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ حَلِيمٌ ذُو أَنَاةٍ لَا يُعَجِّلُ بِالْعُقُوبَةِ قَبْلَ الْبَيِّنَةِ، وَ لَا يَأْخُذُ الْمُذْنِبَ عِنْدَ أَوَّلِ وَهْلَةٍ، وَ لَكِنَّهُ يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ، وَ يَسْتَدِيمُ الْأَنَاةَ، وَ يَرْضَى بِالْإِنَابَةِ، لِيَكُونَ أَعْظَمَ لِلْحُجَّةِ، وَ أَبْلَغَ فِي الْمَعْذِرَةِ.
‘From a servant of Allah-azwj Amir Al-Momineen-asws, to the one upon whom this letter of mine-asws is read out, from the dwellers of Al-Basra, from the Momineen and the Muslims: ‘Greetings be unto you all! As for after, surely Allah-azwj is Forbearing, with Patience, not hastening with the Punishment before (Showing) the proof, and He-azwj does not Seize the sinner at the first fear, but He-azwj Accepts the repentance, and Maintains the Patience, and is Pleased with the penitence for it to become the great for the argument, and more reaching regarding the excuse.
وَ قَدْ كَانَ مِنْ شِقَاقِ جُلِّكُمْ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، مَا اسْتَحْقَقْتُمْ أَنْ تُعَاقَبُوا عَلَيْهِ، فَعَفَوْتُ عَنْ مُجْرِمِكُمْ، وَ رَفَعْتُ السَّيْفَ عَنْ مُدْبِرِكُمْ وَ قَبِلْتُ مِنْ مُقْبِلِكُمْ، وَ أَخَذْتُ بَيْعَتَكُمْ، فَإِنْ تَفُوا بِبَيْعَتِي وَ تَقْبَلُوا نَصِيحَتِي وَ تَسْتَقِيمُوا عَلَى طَاعَتِي، أَعْمَلْ فِيكُمْ بِالْكِتَابِ وَ قَصْدِ الْحَقِّ، وَ أُقِيمُ فِيكُمْ سَبِيلَ الْهُدَى؛
And it has happened such troubles from most of you, O you people, what makes you to be deserving that you be punished upon it. But, I-asws pardoned from your criminals and raised the sword from your managers and accepted from your acceptances, and I-asws took your allegiance. So, if you were to be loyal to my-asws allegiance and accept my-asws advice and are straight upon my-asws obedience, I-asws shall work among you with the Book and aim for the truth, and establish among you the way of guidance.
فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ وَالِياً بَعْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَعْلَمُ بِذَلِكَ مِنِّي، وَ لَا أَعْمَلُ. أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا صَادِقاً غَيْرَ ذَامٍّ لِمَنْ مَضَى، وَ لَا مُنْتَقِصاً لِأَعْمَالِهِمْ.
By Allah-azwj! I-asws do not know of any guardian after Muhammad-saww more knowledgeable with that than me-asws nor any harder working. I-asws am saying this word of mine-asws sincerely without any condemnation of the ones past, nor detracting from their actions.
وَ إِنْ خَطَّتْ بِكُمُ الْأَهْوَاءُ الْمُرْدِيَةُ، وَ سَفَهُ الرَّأْيِ الْجَائِرِ إِلَى مُنَابَذَتِي تُرِيدُونَ خِلَافِي، فَهَا أَنَا ذَا قَرُبْتُ جِيَادِي، وَ رَحَلْتُ رِكَابِي. وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ أَلْجَأْتُمُونِي إِلَى الْمَسِيرِ إِلَيْكُمْ، لَأُوقِعَنَّ بِكُمْ وَقْعَةً لَا يَكُونُ يَوْمُ الْجَمَلِ عِنْدَهَا إِلَّا كَلَعْقَةِ لَاعِقٍ، وَ إِنِّي لَظَانٌّ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ لَا تَجْعَلُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ سَبِيلًا.
And if the lowly whims and foolish views of the tyrannous errs to you fight against me-asws intending opposing me-asws, so here I-asws am, nearby with my-asws armies and riding my-asws stirrups. And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! If you were to make me-asws come to the travelling to you, I-asws will fall with you such a falling, the day of the camel will not happen to be in compassion to it except like the licking of a licker, and I-asws think that you will not make a way to be upon yourselves, if Allah-azwj so Desires.
وَ قَدْ قَدَّمْتُ هَذَا الْكِتَابَ حُجَّةً عَلَيْكُمْ، وَ لَيْسَ أَكْتُبُ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ كِتَاباً إِنْ أَنْتُمُ اسْتَغْشَشْتُمْ نَصِيحَتِي، وَ نَابَذْتُمْ رَسُولِي، حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَنَا الشَّاخِصَ نَحْوَكُمْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَ السَّلَامُ.
And I-asws have sent this letter in advance to be an argument upon you, and I-asws will not be writing any letter to you from after it. If you were to cheat me-asws of my-asws advice and fight my-asws messenger, until it happens that I-asws would be the one to come towards you, if Allah-azwj so Desires. And the greetings’.
فَلَمَّا قُرِئَ الْكِتَابُ عَلَى النَّاسِ، قَامَ صَبْرَةُ بْنُ شَيْمَانَ فَقَالَ: سَمِعْنَا وَ أَطَعْنَا وَ نَحْنُ لِمَنْ حَارَبَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَرْبٌ، وَ لِمَنْ سَالَمَ سِلْمٌ. إِنْ كَفَيْتَ يَا جَارِيَةُ قَوْمَكَ بِقَوْمِكَ فَذَاكَ، وَ إِنْ أَحْبَبْتَ أَنْ نَنْصُرَكَ نَصَرْنَاكَ.
When the letter was read out to the people, Sabrah Bin Sheyman stood up and said, ‘We hear and we obey, and we are at war to the ones at war with Amir Al-Momineen-asws, and at peace to the ones at peace (with him-asws). O Jariyah! If you people were to suffice you with your people, so that is it, and if you like us to help you, we will help you’.
وَ قَامَ وُجُوهُ النَّاسِ فَتَكَلَّمُوا بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ، فَلَمْ يَأْذَنْ [جَارِيَةُ] لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يَسِيرَ مَعَهُ وَ مَضَى نَحْوَ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ وَ كَلَّمَهُمْ فَلَمْ يُجِيبُوهُ، وَ خَرَجَ مِنْهُمْ أَوْبَاشٌ فَنَاوَشُوهُ بَعْدَ أَنْ شَتَمُوهُ، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى زِيَادٍ وَ الْأَزْدِ يَسْتَصْرِخُهُمْ [وَ] يَأْمُرُهُمْ أَنْ يَسِيرُوا إِلَيْهِ فَسَارَتْ الْأَزْدُ بِزِيَادٍ.
And (well-known) face of the people stood up and spoke with similar to that, but Jariyah did not permit for anyone to travel with him, and he continued towards the clan of Tameem and spoke to them, but they did not answer him. And a noisy crowd came out from them. They skirmished with him after having reviled him. He sent a message to Ziyad and (clan of) Al-Azd, shouting for their help and instructing them to travel to him. Al-Azd travelled with Ziyad.
وَ خَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمُ ابْنُ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ فَاقْتَتَلُوا سَاعَةً، وَ اقْتَتَلَ شَرِيكُ بْنُ الْأَعْوَرِ الْحَارِثِيُّ، وَ كَانَ مِنْ شِيعَةِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ صَدِيقاً لِجَارِيَةَ [فَقَالَ لَهُ: أَ لَا أُقَاتِلُ مَعَكَ عَدُوَّكَ؟ فَقَالَ: بَلَى. فَقَاتَلَهُمْ.]
And Ibn Al-Hazramy came out to them and they fought for a while, and Shareek Bin Al-Awr Al-Harisy was killed, and he was from the Shias of Ali-asws and a friend of Jariyah. He said to him, ‘Shall I fight your enemies with you?’ He said, ‘Yes’. He fought them.
فَمَا لَبِثَ بَنُو تَمِيمٍ أَنْ هَزَمُوهُمْ وَ اضْطَرُّوهُمْ إِلَى دَارِ سُنْبُلٍ السَّعْدِيِّ، فَحَصَرُوا ابْنَ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ فِيهَا، وَ أَحَاطَ جَارِيَةُ وَ زِيَادٌ بِالدَّارِ وَ قَالَ جَارِيَةُ: عَلَيَّ بِالنَّارِ. فَقَالَتِ الْأَزْدُ: لَسْنَا مِنَ الْحَرِيقِ فِي شَيْءٍ، وَ هُمْ قَوْمُكَ وَ أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ.
It was not long before the clan of Tameem defeated them and forced them to the house of Sunbul Al-Sa’ady. They besieged Ibn Al-Hazramy in it and Jariyah and Ziyad surround the house, and Jariyah said, ‘To me with the fire!’ Al-Azd said, ‘We are not (getting involved) in anything from the burning, and they are your people, and you are more knowing’.
فَحَرَقَ جَارِيَةُ الدَّارَ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَهَلَكَ ابْنُ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ فِي سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا أَحَدُهُمْ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ الْقُرَشِيُّ. وَ سَارَتِ الْأَزْدُ بِزِيَادٍ حَتَّى أَوْطَئُوا قَصْرَ الْإِمَارَةِ وَ مَعَهُ بَيْتُ الْمَالِ، وَ قَالَتْ لَهُ: هَلْ بَقِيَ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ جِوَارِكَ شَيْءٌ. قَالَ: لَا. فَانْصَرَفُوا عَنْهُ.
Jariyah burnt down the house upon them Ibn Al-Hazramy died among seventy men, one of them was Abdul Rahman Bin Usman Al-Qarshy; and Al-Azd travelled with Ziyad until they came to the government building and with it was the public treasury, and they said to him, ‘Does there remain anything upon us from helping you?’ He said, ‘No’. They left from him.
وَ كَتَبَ زِيَادٌ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ جَارِيَةَ بْنَ قُدَامَةَ الْعَبْدَ الصَّالِحَ قَدِمَ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ فَنَاهَضَ جَمْعَ ابْنِ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ بِمَنْ نَصَرَهُ، وَ أَعَانَهُ مِنَ الْأَزْدِ فَفَضَّهُ وَ اضْطَرَّهُ إِلَى دَارٍ مِنْ دُورِ الْبَصْرَةِ فِي عَدَدٍ كَثِيرٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ حَتَّى حَكَمَ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمَا،
And Ziyad wrote to Amir Al-Momineen-asws, ‘As for after, Jariya Bin Qadamah, the righteous servant, arrived from your-asws presence and fought the crowd of Al-Hazramy with the ones who helped him and supported him, from (clan of) Al-Azd. He scattered him (his forces) and forced him to a house from the houses of Al-Basra among a large number of his companion. He did not come out until Allah-azwj Judged between them.
فَقَتَلَ ابْنَ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ وَ أَصْحَابَهُ، مِنْهُمْ مَنْ أُحْرِقَ، وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ أُلْقِيَ عَلَيْهِ جِدَارٌ، وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ هُدِمَ عَلَيْهِ الْبَيْتُ مِنْ أَعْلَاهُ، وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ قُتِلَ بِالسَّيْفِ، وَ سَلِمَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَرٌ ثَابُوا وَ تَابُوا فَصَفَحَ عَنْهُمْ وَ بُعْداً لِمَنْ عَصَى وَ غَوَى، وَ السَّلَامُ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ.
Ibn Al-Hazramy and his companions were killed. From them was one who was burnt down, and from them was one the wall was thrown upon him, and from the was one the house was demolished upon him from its top, and from them was on who was killed by the sword, and a number of them were safe. They retracted and repented, so he pardoned them, and remoteness be for the one who disobeys and goes astray. And the greetings be unto Amir Al-Momineen-asws, and Mercy of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Blessings’.
فَلَمَّا وَصَلَ الْكِتَابُ قَرَأَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَسُرَّ بِذَلِكَ وَ سُرَّ أَصْحَابُهُ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَى جَارِيَةَ وَ عَلَى الْأَزْدِ وَ ذَمَّ الْبَصْرَةَ فَقَالَ: إِنَّهَا أَوَّلُ الْقُرَى خَرَاباً، إِمَّا غَرَقاً وَ إِمَّا حَرَقاً، حَتَّى يَبْقَى مَسْجِدُهَا كَجُؤْجُؤَةِ سَفِينَةٍ..
When the letter arrived, he-asws read it out to the people. He-asws was cheered by that and his-asws companions were cheered, and he-asws praised upon Jariyah and upon (clan of) Al-Azd, and condemned Al-Basra. He-asws said: ‘It is the first town to be ruined, either by drowning or by burning, until its Masjids would remain like the bow of a ship’’.[20]
[907] – نَهْجٌ: وَ مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لَمَّا هَرَبَ مَصْقَلَةُ بْنُ هُبَيْرَةَ الشَّيْبَانِيُّ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ، وَ كَانَ قَدِ ابْتَاعَ سَبْيَ بَنِي نَاجِيَةَ مِنْ عَامِلِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ أَعْتَقَهُمْ فَلَمَّا طَالَبَهُ بِالْمَالِ خَاسَ بِهِ وَ هَرَبَ إِلَى الشَّامِ: قَبَّحَ اللَّهُ مَصْقَلَةَ، فَعَلَ فِعْلَ السَّادَةِ وَ فَرَّ فِرَارَ الْعَبِيدِ، فَمَا أَنْطَقَ مَادِحَهُ حَتَّى أَسْكَتَهُ، وَ لَا صَدَّقَ وَاصِفَهُ حَتَّى بَكَّتَهُ، وَ لَوْ أَقَامَ لَأَخَذْنَا مَيْسُورَهُ وَ انْتَظَرْنَا لَهُ وُفُورَهُ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah)’ –
‘And from a speech of his-asws when Masqalah Bin Hubeyra Al-Shaybani fled to Muawiya, and he had bought prisoners of the clan of Najiya from an office bearer of Amir Al-Momineen-asws and freed them. When he was sought for the wealth (price), he panicked and fled to Syria: ‘May Allah-azwj Uglify Masqalah! He did the deed of the chief and fled the fleeing of the slave. The praiser had yet to speak until he silenced him, nor would a describer describe him until he muted him, and had he stayed, we would have taken its easy (affordable) and would have waited for him to fulfil it’’.[21]
فَفِي بَعْضِهَا أَنَّهُ لَمَّا انْقَضَى أَمْرُ الْجَمَلِ دَخَلَ أَهْلُ الْبَصْرَةِ فِي الطَّاعَةِ غَيْرَ بَنِي نَاجِيَةَ، فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ رَجُلًا مِنَ الصَّحَابَةِ فِي خَيْلٍ لِيُقَاتِلَهُمْ، فَأَتَاهُمْ وَ قَالَ لَهُمْ: مَا لَكُمْ عَسْكَرْتُمْ وَ قَدْ دَخَلَ فِي الطَّاعَةِ غَيْرُكُمْ؟
And in part of it, when matter of the camel expired, the people of Al-Basra entered into the obedience apart from the clan of Najiya. Ali-asws sent to them some men from the companions among a cavalry in order to fight them. He came to them and said to them: ‘What is the matter you are in an army camp and others have entered into the obedience?’
فَافْتَرَقُوا ثَلَاثَ فِرَقٍ: فِرْقَةٌ قَالُوا: كُنَّا نَصَارَى فَأَسْلَمْنَا وَ نُبَايِعُ، فَأَمَرَهُمْ فَاعْتَزَلُوا.
They split into three groups. A group said, ‘We are Christians. We shall become Muslims and pledge allegiance’. He ordered with them and they were left alone.
وَ فِرْقَةٌ قَالُوا: كُنَّا نَصَارَى فَلَمْ نُسْلِمْ وَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا خَرَجُوا، قَهَرُونَا فَأَخْرَجُونَا كُرْهاً فَخَرَجْنَا مَعَهُمْ فَهَزَمُوا، فَنَحْنُ نَدْخُلُ فِيمَا دَخَلَ النَّاسُ فِيهِ، وَ نُعْطِيكُمُ الْجِزْيَةَ كَمَا أَعْطَيْنَاهُمْ. فَقَالَ: اعْتَزِلُوا، فَاعْتَزَلُوا.
And a group said, ‘We were Christians, and we will not become Muslims, and we went out along with the people, those who had gone out. They had forced us and brought us out forcefully. So, we came out with them and they were defeated. So, we shall enter into what the people have entered into, and we shall give you the taxes just as we used to give them’. He said: ‘Leave them alone!’ So, they were left alone.
وَ فِرْقَةٌ قَالُوا: كُنَّا نَصَارَى فَأَسْلَمْنَا وَ لَمْ يُعْجِبْنَا الْإِسْلَامُ فَرَجَعْنَا فَنُعْطِيكُمُ الْجِزْيَةَ كَالنَّصَارَى. فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: تُوبُوا وَ ارْجِعُوا إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ. فَأَبَوْا، فَقَاتَلَ مُقَاتِلَهُمْ وَ سَبَى ذَرَارِيَّهُمْ، فَقَدَّمَ بِهِمْ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.
And a group said, ‘We were Christians. We became Muslims but Al-Islam did not fascinate us, so we reverted, and we shall give you taxes just as the Christians do’. He said to them: ‘Repent and return to Al-Islam!’ They refused. He fought their fighters and captured their offspring. He arrived with them to Amir Al-Momineen-asws.
وَ فِي بَعْضِهَا: أَنَّ الْأَمِيرَ مِنْ قِبَلِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ كَانَ مَعْقِلَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ، وَ لَمَّا انْقَضَى أَمْرُ الْحَرْبِ لَمْ يَقْتُلْ مِنَ الْمُرْتَدِّينَ مِنْ بَنِي نَاجِيَةَ إِلَّا رَجُلًا وَاحِداً وَ رَجَعَ الْبَاقُونَ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ، وَ اسْتَرَقَّ مِنَ النَّصَارَى مِنْهُمُ الَّذِينَ سَاعَدُوا فِي الْحَرْبِ وَ شَهَرُوا السَّيْفَ عَلَى جَيْشِ الْإِمَامِ،
And in part of it, ‘The commander from the direction of Ali-asws was Ma’qil Bin Qays, and when the matter of the war terminated, he did not kill from the apostates, from the clan of Najiya, except one man, and the rest returned to Al-Islam, and he enslaved from the Christians those who had helped in the war and had unsheathed the sword against the army of the Imam-asws.
ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ بِالْأُسَارَى حَتَّى مَرَّ عَلَى مَصْقَلَةَ بْنِ هُبَيْرَةَ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، وَ هُوَ عَامِلٌ لِعَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَى أَرْدَشِيرْخُرَّهْ، وَ هُمْ خَمْسُمِائَةِ إِنْسَانٍ، فَبَكَتْ إِلَيْهِ النِّسَاءُ وَ الصِّبْيَانُ، وَ تَصَايَحَ الرِّجَالُ وَ سَأَلُوا أَنْ يَشْتَرِيَهُمْ وَ يُعْتِقَهُمْ، فَابْتَاعَهُمْ بِخَمْسِمِائَةِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ.
Then he came back with the prisoners until he passed by Masqalah Bin Hubeyrsa Al-Shaybani, and he was an office bearer of Ali-asws upon Ardashyerkhura, and they were fifty people. The women and children cried to him and the men shouted, and they asked him to buy them and free them. He bought them for five hundred thousand Dirhams.
فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَبَا حُرَّةَ الْحَنَفِيَّ لِيَأْخُذَ مِنْهُ الْمَالَ، فَأَدَّى إِلَيْهِ مِائَتَيْ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ عَجَزَ عَنِ الْبَاقِي فَهَرَبَ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ. فَقِيلَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: ارْدُدِ الْأُسَارَى فِي الرِّقِّ. فَقَالَ: لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ فِي الْقَضَاءِ بِحَقٍّ، قَدْ عَتَقُوا إِذْ أَعْتَقَهُمُ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُمْ، وَ صَارَ مَالِي دَيْناً عَلَيْهِ.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws sent a sent a message to him with Abu Hurrah Al-Hanafi to take the wealth from him. He paid to him two hundred thousand Dirham and was unable from the remainder, so he fled to Muawiya. It was said to him-asws, ‘Return the captives to be in slavery’. He-asws said: ‘The wouldn’t be a judgment with truth. They have been liberated when he freed them, the one who had bought them, and my-asws wealth became a debt upon him’’.[22]
[908] – نَهْجٌ: وَ مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: اللَّهُمَّ أَيُّمَا عَبْدٍ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ سَمِعَ مَقَالَتَنَا الْعَادِلَةَ غَيْرَ الْجَائِرَةِ، وَ الْمَصْلَحَةَ فِي الدِّينِ وَ الدُّنْيَا غَيْرَ الْمُفْسِدَةِ، فَأَبَى بَعْدَ سَمْعِهِ لَهَا إِلَّا النُّكُوصَ عَنْ نُصْرَتِكَ، وَ الْإِبْطَاءَ عَنْ إِعْزَازِ دِينِكَ،
(The book) ‘Nahj’ –
‘And from a speech of his-asws: ‘O Allah-azwj! But rather, a servant from Your-azwj servants listens to our words as being just, not tyrannous, and betterment in the religion, and the world without corruption, but he still refuses to it after having heard it, recoiling from helping You-azwj, and the slowing down from strengthening Your-azwj Religion.
فَإِنَّا نَسْتَشْهِدُكَ عَلَيْهِ يَا أَكْبَرَ الشَّاهِدِينَ شَهَادَةً، وَ نَسْتَشْهِدُ عَلَيْهِ جَمِيعَ مَنْ أَسْكَنْتَهُ أَرْضَكَ وَ سمَاوَاتِكَ، ثُمَّ أَنْتَ بَعْدُ، الْمُغْنِي عَنْ نَصْرِهِ وَ الْآخِذُ لَهُ بِذَنْبِهِ.
I-asws hereby keep You-azwj as Witness, O Greatest of the Witnesses of Testimony, and we keep as witnesses upon him, the entirety of the ones settled in Your-azwj earth and Your-azwj skies. Then You-azwj, afterwards, are the Needless from his help and One Seize him for his sins’’.[23]
[909] – نَهْجٌ: مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَحُثُّ فِيهِ أَصْحَابَهُ عَلَى الْجِهَادِ: وَ اللَّهُ مُسْتَأْدِيكُمْ شُكْرَهُ، وَ مُوَرِّثُكُمْ أَمْرَهُ، وَ مُمْهِلُكُمْ فِي مِضْمَارٍ مَمْدُودٍ لِتَتَنَازَعُوا سَبْقَهُ. فَشُدُّوا عُقَدَ الْمَآزِرِ، وَ اطْوُوا فُضُولَ الْخَوَاصِرِ؛ لَا تَجْتَمِعُ عَزِيمَةٌ وَ وَلِيمَةٌ! مَا أَنْقَضَ النَّوْمَ لِعَزَائِمِ الْيَوْمِ، وَ أَمْحَى الظُّلَمَ لِتَذَاكِيرِ الْهِمَمِ.
(The book) ‘Nahj Al Balagah’ –
‘From a speech of his-asws, in it, he-asws urging his-asws companions upon the Jihad: ‘And Allah-azwj is Calling you to thank Him-azwj, and Assigns His-azwj Commands to you, and Respites you in the limited time for you to compete in precedence. So, tighten the girdles, and fold up the curiosity of the little one, and the determination and the banquets cannot be gathered together! The sleep would break up the determinations of the day, and the darkness obliterates memories of critical tasks’’.[24]
[910] – كِتَابُ الْغَارَاتِ لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ الثَّقَفِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، عَنْ نَصْرِ بْنِ مُزَاحِمٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ نُمَيْرِ بْنِ وَعْلَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْوَدَّاكِ: أَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ حَرْبِ الْخَوَارِجِ، قَامَ فِي النَّاسِ بِنَهْرَوَانَ خَطِيباً فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ:أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِكُمْ وَ أَحْسَنَ نَصْرَكُمْ، فَتَوَجَّهُوا مِنْ فَوْرِكُمْ هَذَا إِلَى عَدُوِّكُمْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ.
Kitab Al Gharaat of Ibrahim Al Saqafy – From Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Nasr Bin Muazhim, from Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Numeyr Bin Waila, from Abu Al Waddak,
‘When Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws was from the battling the Kharijites, he-asws stood among the people at Nahrawan, addressing. He-asws praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj with what He-azwj is rightful of, then said: ‘As for after, surely Allah-azwj has been Good with you all and good was His-azwj Helping you, so head immediately to your enemies from the people of Syria!’
فَقَامُوا إِلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نَفِدَتْ نِبَالُنَا، وَ كَلَّتْ سُيُوفُنَا، وَ نَصَلَتْ أَسِنَّةُ رِمَاحِنَا، وَ عَادَ أَكْثَرُهَا قَصْداً، ارْجِعْ بِنَا إِلَى مِصْرِنَا نَسْتَعِدُّ بِأَحْسَنِ عُدَّتِنَا، وَ لَعَلَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَزِيدُ فِي عُدَّتِنَا عُدَّةَ مَنْ هَلَكَ مِنَّا، فَإِنَّهُ أَقْوَى لَنَا عَلَى عَدُوِّنَا.
They stood up and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Our arrows are depleted, and our swords are bent, and the blades of our spears rusted, and most of these are below par. Return with us to our city, we shall prepare with an excellent preparation, and perhaps Amir Al-Momineen-asws would have an increase in our numbers, the number of the ones from us who had died, for it would be stronger for us against our enemies’.
وَ كَانَ الَّذِي وَلِيَ كَلَامَ النَّاسِ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْأَشْعَثَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ.
And the one who was in charge of speaking (on behalf of the people) on that day was Al-Ash’as Bin Qays’’.[25]
وَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ الْبَجَلِيِّ [عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ عِيسَى] عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنِ الْمِنْهَالِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو [عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ السَّكَنِ أَنَّهُ] قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولُ وَ نَحْنُ بِمَسْكِنَ: يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ «ادْخُلُوا الْأَرْضَ الْمُقَدَّسَةَ الَّتِي كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَ لا تَرْتَدُّوا عَلى أَدْبارِكُمْ فَتَنْقَلِبُوا خاسِرِينَ» [21 الْمَائِدَةَ: 5] فَبَكَوْا [فَتَلَكَّئُوا «خ ل»] وَ قَالُوا: الْبَرْدُ شَدِيدٌ. وَ كَانَ غَزَاتُهُمْ فِي الْبَرْدِ.
And from Ibrahim Bin Al-Abbas, from Ibn Al Mubarak Al Bajaly, from Bakr Bin Isa, from Al Amsh, from Al Minhal Bin Amro, from Qays Bin Al Sakan who said,
‘I heard Ali-asws saying, and we were at a dwelling: ‘O community of Emigrants! O people! Enter the Holy land which Allah has Prescribed for you and turn not on your backs for then you will be turning back as losers [5:21]’. They cried and said, ‘The cold is severe!’ And their battles were during the cold (winter).
فَقَالَ: إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ يَجِدُونَ الْبَرْدَ كَمَا تَجِدُونَ. قَالَ: فَلَمْ يَفْعَلُوا وَ أَبَوْا، فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ مِنْهُمْ قَالَ: أُفٍّ لَكُمْ، إِنَّهَا سُنَّةٌ جَرَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ.
He-asws said: ‘The people (enemies) are feeling the cold just as you are feeling’. But they did not do so and refused. When he-asws saw that from them, he-asws said: ‘Ugh to you all! It is a Sunnah flowing upon you all’’.[26]
وَ سَمِعَتْ أَصْحَابُنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَوَانَةَ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنِ الْمِنْهَالِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ السَّكَنِ قَالَ: قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: «يا قَوْمِ ادْخُلُوا الْأَرْضَ الْمُقَدَّسَةَ الَّتِي كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَ لا تَرْتَدُّوا عَلى أَدْبارِكُمْ فَتَنْقَلِبُوا خاسِرِينَ» فَاعْتَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ: أُفٍّ لَكُمْ، إِنَّهَا سُنَّةٌ جَرَتْ.
And our companions heard from Abu Awana, from Al Amsh, from Al Minhal Bin Amro, from Qays Bin Al Sakan who said,
‘Ali-asws said: ‘O people! Enter the Holy land which Allah has Prescribed for you and turn not on your backs for then you will be turning back as losers [5:21]’. They refused upon him-asws. He-asws said: ‘Ugh to you all! It is a Sunnah flowing’’.[27]
وَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ الْهَجَرِيِّ عَنْ طَارِقِ بْنِ شِهَابٍ: أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ انْصَرَفَ مِنْ حَرْبِ النَّهْرَوَانِ، حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ فِي بَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ نَادَى فِي النَّاسِ فَاجْتَمَعُوا، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ رَغَّبَهُمْ فِي الْجِهَادِ وَ دَعَاهُمْ إِلَى الْمَسِيرِ إِلَى الشَّامِ مِنْ وَجْهِهِ ذَلِكَ، فَأَبَوْا وَ شَكَوُا الْبَرْدَ وَ الْجِرَاحَاتِ، وَ كَانَ أَهْلُ النَّهْرَوَانِ قَدْ أَكْثَرُوا الْجِرَاحَاتِ فِي النَّاسِ.
And from Ibrahim Bin Al-Abbas, from Ibn Al Mubarak, from Bakr Bin Isa, from Umar Bin Umeyra Al hajary, from Tariq Bin Shihab,
‘Ali-asws left from the battle of Al-Nahrawan until when he-asws was in one of the roads, he-asws called out among the people. They gathered. He-asws praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, made them desirous regarding the Jihad and called them to the travelling to Syria, from that direction of his-asws. They refused and complained of the cold and the injuries, and the people of Al-Nahrawan (enemies) had more injuries among the people’.
فَقَالَ: إِنَّ عَدُوَّكُمْ يَأْلَمُونَ كَما تَأْلَمُونَ، وَ يَجِدُونَ الْبَرْدَ كَمَا تَجِدُونَ!! فَأَعْيَوْهُ وَ أَبَوْا، فَلَمَّا رَأَى كَرَاهِيَتَهُمْ، رَجَعَ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ وَ أَقَامَ بِهَا أَيَّاماً وَ تَفَرَّقَ عَنْهُ نَاسٌ كَثِيرٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ، فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَقَامَ يَرَى رَأْيَ الْخَوَارِجِ، وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَقَامَ شَاكّاً فِي أَمْرِهِمْ.
He-asws said: ‘so they are (also) in pain just as you are in pain; [4:104], and they are feeling the cold just as you are feeling!!’ But they made noise and refused. When he-asws saw their abhorrence, he-asws returned to Al-Kufa and stayed at it for days, and a lot of people from his-asws companions dispersed away from him-asws. From them was one who stayed viewing the view of the Kharijites, and from them was one who stayed doubtful regarding their matters’’.[28]
وَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ نَصْرِ بْنِ مُزَاحِمٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ نُمَيْرِ بْنِ وَعْلَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الْوَدَّاكِ قَالَ: لَمَّا أَكْرَهَ عَلِيٌّ النَّاسَ عَلَى الْمَسِيرِ إِلَى الشَّامِ أَقْبَلَ بِهِمْ حَتَّى نَزَلَ النُّخَيْلَةَ، وَ أَمَرَ النَّاسَ أَنْ يَنْزِلُوا مُعَسْكَرَهُمْ، وَ يُوَطِّنُوا عَلَى الْجِهَادِ أَنْفُسَهُمْ، وَ أَنْ يُقِلُّوا زِيَارَةَ أَبْنَائِهِمْ وَ نِسَائِهِمْ حَتَّى يَسِيرُوا إِلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ.
And from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Nasr Bin Muzahim, from Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Numeyr Bin Wailah, from Abu Al Waddak who said,
‘When the people abhorred Ali-asws upon the travelling to Syrian, he-asws came back with them until he-asws descended at Al-Nukheyla, and he-asws ordered the people that they should descend to their camps and determine their selves upon the Jihad, and they should reduce visiting their sons and their wives until they travel to their enemies’’.[29]
وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنْ أَبِي الْوَدَّاكِ: أَنَّ النَّاسَ [أَ] قَامُوا بِالنُّخَيْلَةِ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَيَّاماً، ثُمَّ أَخَذُوا يَتَسَلَّلُونَ وَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْمِصْرَ. فَنَزَلَ وَ مَا مَعَهُ مِنَ النَّاسِ إِلَّا رِجَالٌ مِنْ وُجُوهِهِمْ قَلِيلٌ، وَ تُرِكَ الْمُعَسْكَرُ خَالِياً، فَلَا مَنْ دَخَلَ الْكُوفَةَ خَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ، وَ لَا مَنْ أَقَامَ مَعَهُ صَبَرَ!! فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ دَخَلَ الْكُوفَةَ فِي اسْتِنْفَارِهِ النَّاسَ.
And by this chain from Abu Al Waddak,
‘The people stayed at Al-Nukheyla with Ali-asws for days, then they took to sneak away and enter the city. He-asws descended and there weren’t with him from the people except a few faces from the people, and the camps were left empty. The one who entered Al-Kufa did not come out to him-asws nor did the ones who stayed with him were patient. When he-asws saw that, he-asws entered Al-Kufa during his-asws mobilising the people’’.[30]
وَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ نَصْرِ بْنِ مُزَاحِمٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ نُمَيْرٍ الْعَبْسِيِّ قَالَ: مَرَّ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَى الشِّغَارِ مِنْ هَمْدَانَ فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُ قَوْمٌ فَقَالُوا:أَ قَتَلْتَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ بِغَيْرِ جُرْمٍ، وَ دَاهَنْتَ فِي أَمْرِ اللَّهِ، وَ طَلَبْتَ الْمُلْكَ، وَ حَكَّمْتَ الرِّجَالَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ؟ لَا حُكْمَ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ.
And from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Nasr Bin Muzahim, from Umar Bin Sa’ad, from Numeyr Al Absy who said,
‘Ali-asws passed by some ruins from Hamdan and a group face up to him-asws and said, ‘Are you-asws killing the Muslims without (them having committed) any crime, and sweet-talking in the Command of Allah-azwj, and seeking the kingdom, and judging the men in the religion of Allah-azwj? There is no judging except for Allah-azwj!’
فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: حُكْمُ اللَّهِ فِي رِقَابِكُمْ، مَا يَحْبِسُ أَشْقَاهَا أَنْ يَخْضِبَهَا مِنْ فَوْقِهَا بِدَمٍ، إِنِّي مَيِّتٌ أَوْ مَقْتُولٌ، بَلْ قَتْلًا، ثُمَّ جَاءَ حَتَّى دَخَلَ الْقَصْرَ.
He-asws said: ‘Judgment of Allah-azwj is in your necks. I-asws would not imprison its wretched ones if they dye it with blood from above it. I-asws shall die or be killed, but I-asws would be killed’. Then he-asws went and entered the government building’’.[31]
وَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ قَادِمٍ عَنْ شَرِيكٍ عَنْ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ غَرْقَدَةَ عَنِ الْمُسْتَظِلِّ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ قَالَ، قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ، وَ اللَّهِ لَتَجِدُنَّ وَ لَتُقَاتِلُنَّ عَلَى طَاعَتِهِ، أَوْ لَيَسُوسَنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ أَنْتُمْ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى الْحَقِّ مِنْهُمْ فَلَيُعَذِّبُنَّكُمْ وَ لَيُعَذِّبَنَّهُمُ اللَّهُ.
And from Ibrahim Bin Qadim, from Shareek, from Shuayb Bin Gharqada, from Al Mustazil Bin Husayn who said,
‘Ali-asws said: ‘O people of Al-Kufa! By Allah-azwj! You will either exert and fight upon His-azwj obedience or the people (enemies) aren’t more aged than you, and you are closer to the truth than them. So, Allah-azwj will Punish you and He-azwj will Punish them’’.[32]
وَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ مَعْدِلٍ عَنِ ابْنِ وَعْلَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الْوَدَّاكِ قَالَ: لَمَّا تَفَرَّقَ النَّاسُ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ بِالنُّخَيْلَةِ وَ دَخَلَ الْكُوفَةَ، جَعَلَ يَسْتَفِزُّهُمْ عَلَى جِهَادِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ حَتَّى بَطَلَتِ الْحَرْبُ تِلْكَ السَّنَةَ.
And from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Yazeed Bin ma’dal, from Ibn Wailah, from Abu Al Waddak who said,
‘When the people separated away from Ali-asws at Al-Nukheyla and entered Al-Kufa, he-asws went to mobilise them upon Jihad against the people of Syria until the war invalidated (consumed) that year’’.[33]
وَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ لِلنَّاسِ وَ هُوَ أَوَّلُ كَلَامٍ لَهُ بَعْدَ النَّهْرَوَانِ وَ أُمُورِ الْخَوَارِجِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ فَقَالَ: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! اسْتَعِدُّوا إِلَى عَدُوٍّ فِي جِهَادِهِمُ الْقُرْبَةُ مِنَ اللَّهِ، وَ طَلَبُ الْوَسِيلَةِ إِلَيْهِ،
And from Zayd Bin Wahab,
‘Ali-asws said to the people, and it is the first speech of his-asws after Al-Nahrawan, and affairs of the Kharijites which happened, he-asws said: ‘O you people! Get ready to go to the enemy in fighting them for drawing closer to Allah-azwj and seeking the means to Him-azwj.
حَيَارَى عَنِ الْحَقِّ لَا يُبْصِرُونَهُ، وَ مُوزَعِينَ بِالْكِبْرِ وَ الْجَوْرِ، لَا يَعْدِلُونَ بِهِ، جُفَاةٍ عَنِ الْكِتَابِ، نُكُبٍ عَنِ الدِّينِ، يَعْمَهُونَ فِي الطُّغْيَانِ، وَ يَتَسَكَّعُونَ فِي غَمْرَةِ الضَّلَالِ، فَ أَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَ مِنْ رِباطِ الْخَيْلِ، وَ تَوَكَّلُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ كَفى بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلًا، وَ كَفى بِاللَّهِ نَصِيراً
They are confused from the truth and are not seeing it, and they are dealing with the arrogance and the tyranny nor dispensing justice with it, forsaking the Book, keeping away from the religion, blinded in the tyranny, and hanging out in the midst of the straying. And prepare for them whatever force you can and from the equipped cavalry horses, [8:60], And rely upon Allah, and suffice with Allah as a Supporter [33:3] and suffice with Allah as a Helper [4:45]’.
قَالَ: فَلَمْ يَنْفِرُوا وَ لَمْ يَنْتَشِرُوا، فَتَرَكَهُمْ أَيَّاماً حَتَّى أَيِسَ مِنْ أَنْ يَفْعَلُوا، وَ دَعَا رُءُوسَهُمْ وَ وُجُوهَهُمْ فَسَأَلَهُمْ عَنْ رَأْيِهِمْ وَ مَا الَّذِي يُثَبِّطُهُمْ، فَمِنْهُمُ الْمُعْتَلُّ وَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُنْكِرُ وَ أَقَلُّهُمُ النَّشِيطُ،
He (the narrator) said, ‘They did not mobilise and they did not deploy. He-asws left them for days until he-asws despaired from them doing so, and he-asws called their chiefs and their (well known) faces and asked them of their view and what is that which was discouraging them. From them was the crooked, and from them was the denier, and few of them were the active.
فَقَامَ فِيهِمْ ثَانِيَةً فَقَالَ: عِبَادَ اللَّهِ! مَا لَكُمْ إِنْ أَمَرْتُكُمْ أَنْ تَنْفِرُوا اثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ أَ رَضِيتُمْ بِالْحَياةِ الدُّنْيا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ ثَوَاباً؟ وَ بِالذُّلِّ وَ الْهَوَانِ مِنَ الْعِزِّ خَلَفاً؟
He-asws stood among them for a second time. He-asws said: ‘Servants of Allah-azwj! What is the matter with you all! If I-asws order you with mobilising, you cling heavily to the earth? Are you pleased with the life of the world rather than the Hereafter [9:38] as a Reward? And (pleased) with the humiliation and the weakness rather than the honour as a replacement?
وَ كُلَّمَا نَادَيْتُكُمْ إِلَى الْجِهَادِ دَارَتْ أَعْيُنُكُمْ كَأَنَّكُمْ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ فِي سَكْرَةٍ، يُرْتَجُ عَلَيْكُمْ [حِوَارِي] فَتَبْكُونَ، فَكَأَنَّ قُلُوبَكُمْ مَأْلُوسَةٌ فَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْقِلُونَ، وَ كَأَنَّ أَبْصَارَكُمْ كُمْهٌ فَأَنْتُمْ لَا تُبْصِرُونَ،
And every time I-asws call out to you to the Jihad, your eyes roll as if you are in an intoxication from the death! My-asws discourse is shaking you so you are crying, as if your hearts getting belittled. You are not using your intellects, and if your eyes are blinded from birth so you will not be seeing (ever).
لِلَّهِ أَنْتُمْ! مَا أَنْتُمْ إِلَّا أُسُودُ الشَّرَى فِي الدَّعَةِ، وَ ثَعَالِبُ رَوَّاغَةٌ حِينَ تُدْعَوْنَ، مَا أَنْتُمْ بِرُكْنٍ يضال [يُصَالُ] بِهِ وَ لَا زَوَافِرُ عِزٍّ يُعْتَصَمُ إِلَيْهَا.
For the sake of Allah-azwj, O you! What are you, except the black rash in the disease, and cunning foxes when you are called out to. You are neither a corner one can arrive at it, nor exhalations of honour one can hold fast to it.
لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ لَبِئْسَ حِشَاشُ نَارِ الْحَرْبِ أَنْتُمْ. إِنَّكُمْ تُكَادُونَ وَ لَا تَكِيدُونَ، وَ تُنْتَقَصُ أَطْرَافُكُمْ وَ لَا تَتَحَاشَوْنَ، وَ لَا يُنَامُ عَنْكُمْ وَ أَنْتُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ سَاهُونَ. إِنَّ أَخَا الْحَرْبِ الْيَقْظَانُ، أَوْدَى مَنْ غَفَلَ، وَ يَأْتِي الذُّلُّ مَنْ وَادَعَ، غَلَبَ الْمُتَخَاذِلُونَ وَ الْمَغْلُوبُ مَقْهُورٌ وَ مَسْلُوبٌ.
By the Life of Allah-azwj! You are the worst components of the fire of war. You are being plotted against and you are not planning, and your sides (borders) are shrinking and you are not avoiding it, nor can anyone sleep from you while you are in heedlessness, forgetful. A brother (participant) of the war is alert-leading the heedless ones, and the humiliation comes to the one to tries to be friendly, overcome the abandoners, and they would be overcome, the forced and stripped.
أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ لِي عَلَيْكُمْ حَقّاً وَ لَكُمْ عَلَيَّ حَقٌّ، فَأَمَّا حَقِّي عَلَيْكُمْ فَالْوَفَاءُ بِالْبَيْعَةِ، وَ النُّصْحُ لِي فِي الْمَشْهَدِ وَ الْمَغِيبِ، وَ الْإِجَابَةُ حِينَ أَدْعُوكُمْ، وَ الطَّاعَةُ حِينَ آمُرُكُمْ.
As for after, surely for me-asws there are rights upon you all, and for you there are rights upon me-asws. As for my-asws rights upon you, it is the loyalty with the allegiance, and the advising to me-asws due the presence and the absence, and the answering when I-asws call out to you, and the obedience when I-asws order you.
وَ أَمَّا حَقُّكُمْ عَلَيَّ فَالنَّصِيحَةُ لَكُمْ مَا صَحِبْتُكُمْ، وَ التَّوْفِيرُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ تَعْلِيمُكُمْ كَيْلَا تَجْهَلُوا، وَ تَأْدِيبُكُمْ كَيْ تَعْلَمُوا، فَإِنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ خَيْراً تَنْزَعُوا عَمَّا أَكْرَهُ، وَ تَرْجِعُوا إِلَى مَا أُحِبُّ تَنَالُوا مَا تُحِبُّونَ وَ تُدْرِكُوا مَا تَأْمُلُونَ.
And as for your rights upon me-asws, and it is the advising to you for as long as I-asws accompany you, and the security upon you, and teaching you lest you are ignorant, and educating you so you will be learned. If Allah-azwj Wants good with you, you will remove yourselves from what I-asws dislike and return to what I-asws love, you will end-up attaining what you love and realising what you had been wishing for’’.[34]
وَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ دُكَيْنٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَاصِمٍ الثَّقَفِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَوْنٍ الثَّقَفِيِّ قَالَ: جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي عُمَيْسٍ [عَبْسٍ «خ»] وَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَقَالَتْ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ثَلَاثٌ بَلْبَلْنَ الْقُلُوبَ [عَلَيْكَ] قَالَ: وَ مَا هُنَّ؟ قَالَتْ: رِضَاؤُكَ بِالْقَضِيَّةِ، وَ أَخْذُكَ بِالدَّنِيَّةِ، وَ جَزَعُكَ عِنْدَ الْبَلِيَّةِ.
And from Al Fazl Bin Dukeyn, from Abu Aasim Al Saqafy, from Abu Awn Al Saqafy who said,
‘A woman from the clam of Umeys came while Ali-asws was upon the pulpit. She said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Three (things) are disturbing the heart upon you-asws’. He-asws said: ‘And what are these?’ She said, ‘Your-asws agreement with the judgments, and your-asws taking with the lowliness, and your-asws alarm during the afflictions’.
قَالَ: وَيْحَكِ إِنَّمَا أَنْتِ امْرَأَةٌ، انْطَلِقِي فَاجْلِسِي عَلَى ذَيْلِكِ. قَالَتْ: لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا مِنْ جُلُوسٍ إِلَّا فِي ظِلَالِ السُّيُوفِ.
He-asws said: ‘Woe be unto you! But rather you are a woman. Go and sit upon that’. She said, ‘No, by Allah-azwj there is no gathering except in the shade of the swords’’.[35]
وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ عِيسَى: أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ كَانَ يَخْطُبُ النَّاسَ وَ يَحُضُّهُمْ عَلَى الْمَسِيرِ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ، فَجَعَلُوا يَتَفَرَّقُونَ عَنْهُ، وَ يَتَثَاقَلُونَ عَلَيْهِ وَ يَعْتَلُّونَ بِالْبَرْدِ مَرَّةً وَ بِالْحَرِّ أُخْرَى.
And by his chain from Bakr Bin Isa,
‘Ali-asws was addressing the people and urging them upon the travelling to Muawiya and the people of Syria. They went on dispersing from him-asws and being sluggish upon it, and they were blaming the cold at time and the heat at other times’’.[36]
وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ [قَيْسِ بْنِ] أَبِي حَازِمٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولُ: يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، يَا أَبْنَاءَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ! انْفِرُوا إِلَى أَئِمَّةِ الْكُفْرِ وَ بَقِيَّةِ الْأَحْزَابِ وَ أَوْلِيَاءِ الشَّيْطَانِ، انْفِرُوا إِلَى مَنْ يُقَاتِلُ عَلَى دَمِ حَمَّالِ الْخَطَايَا!!! فَوَ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ، إِنَّهُ لَيَحْمِلُ خَطَايَاهُمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لَا يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أَوْزَارِهِمْ شَيْئاً.
And by his chain from Qays Abu Hazim who said,
‘I heard Ali-asws saying: ‘O community of Muslims? O son of the Emigrants! Mobilise to go to the leaders of Kufr and remnants of the confederates, and friends of Satan-la! Mobilise to the fights upon the blood of the bearer of the sins!!! By the One-azwj Who Split the seed and Formed the person! He (Muawiya) will carry their sins up to the Day of Qiyamah, without there being a reduction from their burdens of anything!’’[37]
وَ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبَانٍ الْأَزْدِيِّ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ رَفِيعٍ عَنْ فَرْقَدٍ الْبَجَلِيِّ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولُ: أَ لَا تَرَوْنَ يَا مَعَاشِرَ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ؟ وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ ضَرَبْتُكُمْ بِالدِّرَّةِ الَّتِي أَعِظُ بِهَا السُّفَهَاءَ فَمَا أَرَاكُمْ تَنْتَهُونَ، وَ لَقَدْ ضَرَبْتُكُمْ بِالسِّيَاطِ الَّتِي أُقِيمُ بِهَا الْحُدُودَ فَمَا أَرَاكُمْ تَرْعَوُونَ، فَمَا بَقِيَ إِلَّا سَيْفِي، وَ إِنِّي لَأَعْلَمُ الَّذِي يُقَوِّمُكُمْ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ، وَ لَكِنِّي لَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ آتِيَ تِلْكَ مِنْكُمْ.
And from Ismail Bin Aban Al Azdy, from Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir, from Rafie, from Farqad Al Bajaly who said,
‘Are you not seeing, O community of the people of Al-Kufa! By Allah-azwj! I-asws have struck you with the twig which I-asws used to preach to the foolish ones with, but I-asws did not see you desisting; and I-asws have struck you with the whips which I-asws was establishing the legal penalties with, but I-asws did not see you being scared; so there does not remain except my-asws sword, and I-asws know the one would straighten you by the Permission of Allah-azwj, but I-asws do not like that to come from you.
وَ الْعَجَبُ مِنْكُمْ وَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ، إِنَّ أَمِيرَهُمْ يَعْصِي اللَّهَ وَ هُمْ يُطِيعُونَهُ، وَ إِنَّ أَمِيرَكُمْ يُطِيعُ اللَّهَ وَ أَنْتُمْ تَعْصُونَهُ
And the surprise from you and from the people of Syria. Their Emir disobeys Allah-azwj and they are obeying him, and your Emir is obeying Allah-azwj and you are disobeying him-asws.
إِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ: انْفِرُوا إِلَى عَدُوِّكُمْ [فِي أَيَّامِ الْحَرِّ، قُلْتُمْ هَذِهِ حَمَارَّةُ الْقَيْظِ. وَ إِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِالسَّيْرِ إِلَيْهِمْ فِي الشِّتَاءِ] قُلْتُمُ الْقَرُّ يَمْنَعُنَا. أَ فَتَرَوْنَ عَدُوَّكُمْ لَا يَجِدُونَ الْقَرَّ كَمَا تَجِدُونَهُ؟
If I-asws say to you, ‘Mobilise to go to your enemies during the days of heat, you are saying, ‘This is the hot spring!’ And when I-asws order you with the travelling to them during the winter, you are saying, ‘The cold is preventing us’. Are you not seeing your enemies are not feeing the cold as you are feeling?
وَ لَكِنَّكُمْ أَشْبَهْتُمْ قَوْماً قَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: انْفِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ كُبَرَاؤُهُمْ: لَا تَنْفِرُوا فِي الْحَرِّ. فَقَالَ اللَّهُ لِنَبِيِّهِ: قُلْ نارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرًّا لَوْ كانُوا يَفْقَهُونَ
But you are resembling a people Rasool-Allah-saww had said to them: ‘Mobilise in the Way of Allah-azwj!’ Their elders said, ‘We will not mobilise during the heat’. Allah-azwj Said to His-azwj Prophet-saww: Say: ‘The Fire of Hell is more intense in heat’, if they had been pondering [9:81].
وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ ضَرَبْتُ خَيْشُومَ الْمُؤْمِنِ بِسَيْفِي هَذَا عَلَى أَنْ يُبْغِضَنِي مَا أَبْغَضَنِي، وَ لَوْ صَبَبْتُ الدُّنْيَا بِحَذَافِيرِهَا عَلَى الْكَافِرِ مَا أَحَبَّنِي؛ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ قُضِيَ فَانْقَضَى عَلَى لِسَانِ النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ: «أَنَّهُ لَا يُبْغِضُكَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَ لَا يُحِبُّكَ كَافِرٌ» وَ قَدْ خابَ مَنْ حَمَلَ ظُلْماً وَ افْتَرى.
By Allah-azwj! If I-asws were to strike the nose of the Momin with this sword of mine-asws that he hates me-asws, he will not hate me-asws, and if I-asws were to pour the world with all its contents upon the Kafir, he will not love me-asws that is because it is Decreed. It was decreed upon the tongue of the Prophet-saww, the Ummy (resident of Makkah): ‘Surely no Momin will hate you-asws nor will any Kafir love you-asws’. and he will be disappointed, one who bore injustice [20:111], and fabricated.
يَا مَعَاشِرَ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ، وَ اللَّهِ لَتَصْبِرُنَّ عَلَى قِتَالِ عَدُوِّكُمْ، أَوْ لَيُسَلِّطَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ قَوْماً أَنْتُمْ أَوْلَى بِالْحَقِّ مِنْهُمْ، فَلَيُعَذِّبُنَّكُمْ وَ لَيُعَذِّبَنَّهُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ أَوْ بِمَا شَاءَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ.
O community of the people of Al-Kufa! By Allah-azwj! Either you observe patience upon fighting your enemies, or Allah-azwj will Cause a people to overcome upon you, you would be more rightful with the right than them. They will punish you and Allah-azwj would Punish them by your hands, or through the one He-azwj so Desires from Him-azwj.
أَ فَمِنْ قَتْلَةٍ بِالسَّيْفِ تَحِيدُونَ إِلَى مَوْتَةٍ عَلَى الْفِرَاشِ؟ فَاشْهَدُوا أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ [يَقُولُ:] «مَوْتَةٌ عَلَى الْفِرَاشِ أَشَدُّ مِنْ ضَرْبَةِ أَلْفِ سَيْفٍ أَخْبَرَنِي بِهِ جَبْرَائِيلُ» فَهَذَا جَبْرَائِيلُ يُخْبِرُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بِمَا تَسْمَعُونَ.
Can the one killed with the sword be indifferent to his death upon the bed? Be witness that I-asws heard Rasool-Allah-saww saying: ‘Death upon the bed is severer than a thousand strikes of a sword. Jibraeel-as informed me-saww with it’. So, this is Jibraeel-as informing Rasool-Allah-saww with what you heard’’.[38]
وَ عَنْ مُحْرِزِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ عَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ الضَّبِّيِّ قَالَ: كَانَ أَشْرَافُ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ غَاشِّينَ لِعَلِيٍّ، وَ كَانَ هَوَاهُمْ مَعَ مُعَاوِيَةَ؛ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ كَانَ لَا يُعْطِي أَحَداً مِنَ الْفَيْءِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ حَقِّهِ، وَ كَانَ مُعَاوِيَةُ جَعَلَ الشَّرَفَ فِي الْعَطَاءِ أَلْفَيْ دِرْهَمٍ.
And from Muhriz Bin Hisham, from Jareer Bin Abdul Hameed, from Mugheira al Zaby who said,
‘The nobles of the people of Al-Kufa were cheating to Ali-asws, and their desires were with Muawiya, and that is because Ali-asws was not giving anyone from the war booty any more than what was his right, and Muawiya made to be for nobles, a thousand Dirhams (more) in the awards’’.[39]
وَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ جُنْدَبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ: أَنَّ أَهْلَ دُومَةِ الْجَنْدَلِ مِنْ كَلْبٍ لَمْ يَكُونُوا فِي طَاعَةِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ لَا مُعَاوِيَةَ، وَ قَالُوا: نَكُونُ عَلَى حَالِنَا حَتَّى يَجْتَمِعَ النَّاسُ عَلَى إِمَامٍ.
And from Abdul Rahman Bin Jundab, from his father,
‘The people of Dowmat Al-Jandal from (clan of) Kalb neither happened to be in the obedience of Ali-asws nor of Muawiya, and they said, ‘We shall be upon our state until the people unite upon a leader’.
قَالَ: فَذَكَرَهُمْ مُعَاوِيَةُ مَرَّةً فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ مُسْلِمَ بْنَ عُقْبَةَ فَسَأَلَهُمُ الصَّدَقَةَ وَ حَاصَرَهُمْ، فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَبَعَثَ إِلَى مَالِكِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ فَقَالَ: اسْتَعْمِلْ عَلَى «عَيْنِ التَّمْرِ» رَجُلًا وَ أَقْبِلْ إِلَيَّ. فَوَلَّاهَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَرْحَبِيَّ وَ أَقْبَلَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ
He (the narrator) said, ‘Muawiya reminded them once by sending to the Muslim Bin Uqbah and asked them for the charities and besieged them. That reached Ali-asws, so he-asws sent a message to Malik Bin Ka’ab, he-asws said: ‘Employ a man (as governor) upon Ayn Al-Tamr and come back to me-asws’. So, he made Abdul Rahman Bin Abdullah Al-Arhaby in charge and came back to Ali-asws.
فَسَرَّحَهُ فِي أَلْفِ فَارِسٍ، فَمَا شَعَرَ مُسْلِمُ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ إِلَّا وَ مَالِكُ بْنُ كَعْبٍ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ نَازِلًا، فَتَوَاقَفَا قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ اقْتَتَلُوا يَوْمَهُمْ ذَلِكَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ، حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ مِنَ الْغَدِ صَلَّى مُسْلِمٌ بِأَصْحَابِهِ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ، وَ قَامَ مَالِكُ بْنُ كَعْبٍ إِلَى دُومَةِ الْجَنْدَلِ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى الصُّلْحِ عَشْراً فَلَمْ يَفْعَلُوا، فَرَجَعَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.
He-asws sent him among a thousand horsemen, and Muslim Bin Uqba was not aware except and Malik Bin Ka’ab had descended to his side. They paused at each other for a while, then they fought in that day of theirs up to the night until when it was the next morning, Muslim prayed Salat with his companion, then left, and Malik Bin Ka’ab stood to Dowmat Al-Jandal calling them to the reconciliation, but they did not do so. He returned to Ali-asws’’.[40]
وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ أَبِي الْكَنُودِ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ عَوْفٍ الْغَامِدِيِّ قَالَ: دَعَانِي مُعَاوِيَةُ فَقَالَ: إِنِّي بَاعِثُكَ فِي جَيْشٍ كَثِيفٍ فَالْزَمْ لِي جَانِبَ الْفُرَاتِ حَتَّى تَمُرَّ بِهِيتَ فَتَقْطَعُهَا، فَإِنْ وَجَدْتَ بِهَا جُنْداً فَأَغِرْ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَ إِلَّا فَامْضِ حَتَّى تُغِيرَ عَلَى الْأَنْبَارِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ بِهَا جُنْداً فَامْضِ حَتَّى تُغِيرَ عَلَى الْمَدَائِنِ، ثُمَّ أَقْبِلْ إِلَيَّ وَ اتَّقِ أَنْ تَقْرُبَ الْكُوفَةَ، وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّكَ إِنْ أَغَرْتَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْأَنْبَارِ وَ أَهْلِ الْمَدَائِنِ، فَكَأَنَّكَ أَغَرْتَ عَلَى الْكُوفَةِ،
By his chain from Abu Al Kanoud, from Sufyan Bin Awf Al Ghamady who said,
‘Muawiya called me. He said, ‘I am sending you in a mighty army, so stick to the side of the Euphrates until you pass by Heyt and cut across it. If you find an army at it, raid upon them, or else continue until you raid over Anbar. It you do not find an army at it, then continue until you raid upon Al-Madain, then come back to me, and fear from going to near Al-Kufa, and know that if you were to raid upon the people of Al-Anbar and people of Al-Madain, it is as if you have raided upon Al-Kufa.
إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْغَارَاتِ يَا سُفْيَانُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ تُرْهِبُ قُلُوبَهُمْ، وَ تُجَرِّئُ كُلَّ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ فِينَا هَوًى مِنْهُمْ، وَ يَرَى فِرَاقَهُمْ، وَ تَدْعُو إِلَيْنَا كُلَّ مَنْ كَانَ يَخَافُ الدَّوَائِرَ، وَ خَرِّبْ كُلَّ مَا مَرَرْتَ بِهِ، وَ اقْتُلْ كُلَّ مَنْ لَقِيتَ مِمَّنْ لَيْسَ هُوَ عَلَى رَأْيِكَ، وَ حرب [احْرُبِ] الْأَمْوَالَ فَإِنَّهُ شَبِيهٌ بِالْقَتْلِ وَ هُوَ أَوْجَعُ لِلْقُلُوبِ.
O Sufyan! These raids upon the people of Al-Iraq would scare their hearts and everyone who had for him some desire for us would be emboldened, and they will see the sectarianism, and you should call to us every one who used to fear the change of times, and ruin all what you pass by, and kill every one you meet from the one who isn’t upon your view, and confiscate the wealth for it is – escorted with the killing, and it is most painful for the hearts’.
قَالَ: فَخَرَجْتُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ وَ عَسْكَرْتُ، وَ قَامَ مُعَاوِيَةُ وَ نَدَبَ النَّاسَ إِلَى ذَلِكَ، فَمَا مَرَّتْ بِي ثَلَاثَةٌ حَتَّى خَرَجَتْ فِي سِتَّةِ آلَافٍ، ثُمَّ لَزِمْتُ شَاطِئَ الْفُرَاتِ فَأَسْرَعْتُ السَّيْرَ حَتَّى مَرَرْتُ بِهِيتَ، فَبَلَغَهُمْ أَنِّي قَدْ غَشِيتُهُمْ فَقَطَعُوا الْفُرَاتَ،
He (the narrator) said, ‘I went out from his presence and encamped, and Muawiya stood and called out to the people to that. No three (days) had passed by me until I went out among six thousand. Then I adhered with the banks of the Euphrates and quickened the travel until I passed by Bahiyah. It reached them that I had come to overcome them, so they cut across the Euphrates.
فَمَرَرْتُ بِهَا وَ مَا بِهَا عَرِيبٌ. كَأَنَّهَا لَمْ تُحْلَلْ قَطُّ فَوَطِئْتُهَا حَتَّى مَرَرْتُ بِصَنْدَوْدَاءَ، فَتَنَافَرُوا فَلَمْ أَلْقَ بِهَا أَحَداً، فَمَضَيْتُ حَتَّى أَفْتَتِحَ الْأَنْبَارَ وَ قَدْ أُنْذِرُوا بِي، فَخَرَجَ إِلَيَّ صَاحِبُ الْمَسْلَحَةِ فَوَقَفَ لِي، فَلَمْ أَقْدَمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى أَخَذْتُ غِلْمَاناً مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقَرْيَةِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ: خَبِّرُونِي كَمْ بِالْأَنْبَارِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ عَلِيٍّ؟
I passed by it and there was no Arab at it, it was as if it had not been entered into at all. I trampled it until I passed by Sandoud. They fled so I did not meet anyone at it. I continued until I conquered Anbar, and they had been warned of me. An officer of the weaponry came out to me and paused to me, but I did not advance to him until I grabbed two boys from the people of the town and I said to them, ‘Inform me, how many companions of Ali-asws are there at Anbar?’
قَالُوا: عِدَّةُ رِجَالِ الْمَسْلَحَةِ خَمْسُمِائَةٍ، وَ لَكِنَّهُمْ قَدْ تَبَدَّدُوا وَ رَجَعُوا إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ وَ لَا نَدْرِي الَّذِي يَكُونُ فِيهَا قَدْ يَكُونُ مِائَتَيْ رَجُلٍ.
They said, ‘The number of armed men is five hundred, but they have scattered and returned to Al-Kufa and we do not know those which happen to be in it (Anbar) whether they are two hundred (or not)’.
قَالَ: فَنَزَلْتُ فَكَتَبْتُ أَصْحَابِي كَتَائِبَ، ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُ أَبْعَثُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ كَتِيبَةً بَعْدَ كَتِيبَةٍ، فَيُقَاتِلُونَهُمْ وَ اللَّهِ وَ يَصْبِرُونَ لَهُمْ وَ يُطَارِدُونَهُمْ فِي الْأَزِقَّةِ! فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ ذَلِكَ أَنْزَلْتُ إِلَيْهِمْ نَحْواً مِنْ مِائَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعْتُهُمُ الْخَيْلَ، فَلَمَّا مَشَتْ إِلَيْهِمُ الرِّجَالُ وَ حَمَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَيْلُ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا حَتَّى تَفَرَّقُوا وَ قُتِلَ صَاحِبُهُمْ فِي رِجَالٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ،
He (the narrator) said, ‘I descended and my companions formed a battalion, then I took to sending a battalion after battalion to it. By Allah-azwj! They fought them, and combating to them, and chasing them in the alleys! When I saw that, I sent down to them around two hundred, then I sent the cavalry to them. When the infantry walked to them and the cavalry had attacked upon them, there did not happen to be except a few until they dispersed, and their commander was killed among his companions.
فَأَتَيْنَاهُ فِي نَيِّفٍ وَ ثَلَاثِينَ رَجُلًا فَحَمَلْنَا مَا كَانَ فِي الْأَنْبَارِ مِنْ أَمْوَالِ أَهْلِهَا ثُمَّ انْصَرَفْتُ، فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا غَزَوْتُ غَزْوَةً أَسْلَمَ وَ لَا أَقَرَّ لِلْعُيُونِ وَ لَا أَسَرَّ لِلنُّفُوسِ مِنْهَا، وَ بَلَغَنِي وَ اللَّهِ أَنَّهَا أَفْزَعَتِ النَّاسَ.
We came to it among more than thirty men and we carried off whatever was in Al-Anbar from the wealth of its people, then I left. By Allah-azwj! I had not raided any raid more safely, nor more delighting to the eyes, nor more cheerful for the soul, than it, and by Allah-azwj, it had panicked the people.
فَلَمَّا أَتَيْتُ مُعَاوِيَةَ فَحَدَّثْتُهُ الْحَدِيثَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ قَالَ: كُنْتَ وَ اللَّهِ عِنْدَ ظَنِّي بِكَ. قَالَ: فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا لَبِثْنَا إِلَّا يَسِيراً حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ رِجَالَ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ يَأْتُونَ عَلَى الْإِبِلِ هُرَّاباً مِنْ قِبَلِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.
When I came to Muawiya and narrated to his the narration upon its perspective, he said, ‘By Allah-azwj! You have been (exactly as) my thoughts had been about you’. We did not wait except a little while until I saw men from the people of Al-Iraq coming upon the camels fleeing from the direction of Ali-asws’’.[41]
وَ عَنْ جُنْدَبِ بْنِ عَفِيفٍ قَالَ: وَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَفِي جُنْدِ الْأَنْبَارِ مَعَ أَشْرَسَ بْنِ حَسَّانَ الْبَكْرِيِّ، إِذْ صَبَّحَنَا سُفْيَانُ فِي كَتَائِبَ تَلْمَعُ الْأَبْصَارُ مِنْهَا، فَهَالُونَا وَ اللَّهِ، وَ عَلِمْنَا إِذْ رَأَيْنَاهُمْ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَنَا بِهِمْ طَاقَةٌ وَ لَا يَدٌ، فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمْ صَاحِبُنَا وَ قَدْ تَفَرَّقْنَا، فَلَمْ يَلْقَهُمْ نِصْفُنَا وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَنَا بِهِمْ طَاقَةٌ.
And from Jundab Bin Afeef who said,
‘By Allah-azwj! I was in the army of Al-Anbar with Ahras Bin Hassan Al-Bakry, when we accompanied Sufyan in battalions the eyes were filled from it. They terrified us, by Allah-azwj, and we knew it when we saw them that there is not strength for us against them nor any hand. Our commander went out to them and we had separated, so we could not meet them with half of us and there did not happen to be any strength for us against them.
وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ قَاتَلْنَاهُمْ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ وَ اللَّهِ هَزَمُونَا، فَنَزَلَ صَاحِبُنَا وَ هُوَ يَتْلُو فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَضى نَحْبَهُ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَنْتَظِرُ وَ ما بَدَّلُوا تَبْدِيلًا
And I swear by Allah-azwj! We would be fighting them, then by Allah-azwj, they would be defeating us. Our commander descended and he was reciting, ‘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]’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ لَنَا: مَنْ كَانَ لَا يُرِيدُ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ وَ لَا يُطَيِّبُ نَفْساً بِالْمَوْتِ فَلْيَخْرُجْ عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ مَا دُمْنَا نُقَاتِلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ قِتَالَنَا إِيَّاهُمْ شَاغِلٌ لَهُمْ عَنْ طَلَبِ هَارِبٍ، وَ مَنْ أَرَادَ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَ ما عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِلْأَبْرارِ
Then he said to us, ‘One who does not want to meet Allah-azwj nor feel good with the death, let him get out from the town for as long as we are fighting them, for our fighting them would pre-occupy them from seeking the fleer, and one who intends what is in the Presence of Allah-azwj, and what is in the Presence of Allah is better for the righteous [3:198].
ثُمَّ نَزَلَ فِي ثَلَاثِينَ رَجُلًا قَالَ: فَهَمَمْتُ وَ اللَّهِ بِالنُّزُولِ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ إِنَّ نَفْسِي أَبَتْ وَ اسْتَقْدَمَ هُوَ وَ أَصْحَابِي فَقَاتَلُوا حَتَّى قُتِلُوا رَحِمَهُمُ اللَّهُ، فَلَمَّا قُتِلُوا أَقْبَلْنَا مُنْهَزِمِينَ.
Then he descended among thirty men. By Allah-azwj! I thought of descending with him, then my soul refused, and he and my companions went ahead and they fought until they were killed, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on them. When they had been killed, we came back defeated’’.[42]
وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مِخْنَفٍ: أَنَّ سُفْيَانَ بْنَ عَوْفٍ لَمَّا أَغَارَ عَلَى الْأَنْبَارِ قَدِمَ عِلْجٌ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا عَلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَأَخْبَرَهُ الْخَبَرَ فَصَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ فَقَالَ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّ أَخَاكُمُ الْبَكْرِيَّ قَدْ أُصِيبَ بِالْأَنْبَارِ، وَ هُوَ مُغْتَرٌّ لَا يَظُنُّ مَا كَانَ فَاخْتَارَ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا، فَانْتَدِبُوا إِلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى تُلَاقُوهُمْ، فَإِنْ أَصَبْتُمْ مِنْهُمْ طَرَفاً أَنْكَلْتُمُوهُمْ عَنِ الْعِرَاقِ أَبَداً مَا بَقُوا.
And by his chain from Muhammad Bin Mikhnaf,
‘When Sufyan Bin Awf raided upon Al-Anbar, a group from its inhabitants arrived to Ali-asws and informed him-asws the news. He-asws ascended the pulpit and said: ‘O you people! Your brother Al-Bakry has been killed at Al-Anbar, and he was deceived not thinking of what happened, so he chose what is in the Presence of Allah-azwj over the world. Go to them until you meet them, so if you were to hurt some of them, you will deny them from Al-Iraq forever, for as long as they remain!’
ثُمَّ سَكَتَ عَنْهُمْ رَجَاءَ أَنْ يُجِيبُوهُ أَوْ يَتَكَلَّمُوا أَوْ يَتَكَلَّمَ مُتَكَلِّمٌ مِنْهُمْ بِخَيْرٍ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى صَمْتَهُمْ عَلَى مَا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ، خَرَجَ يَمْشِي رَاجِلًا حَتَّى أَتَى النُّخَيْلَةَ، [وَ النَّاسُ يَمْشُونَ خَلْفَهُ حَتَّى أَحَاطَ بِهِ قَوْمٌ مِنَ الْأَشْرَافِ] فَقَالُوا: ارْجِعْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نَحْنُ نَكْفِيكَ.
Then he-asws was silent from them hoping that they would answer him, or they would speak, or a speaker from them would speak with good. When he-asws saw their silence upon what was in their selves, he-asws went out walking until he-asws came to Al-Nukheyla, and the people were walking behind him-asws, until a group from the nobles had surrounded him-asws. They said, ‘Return, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! We shall suffice you-asws’.
فَقَالَ: مَا تَكْفُونَنِي وَ لَا تَكْفُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ. فَلَمْ يَزَالُوا بِهِ حَتَّى صَرَفُوهُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ فَرَجَعَ وَ هُوَ وَاجِمٌ كَئِيبٌ. وَ دَعَا سَعِيدَ بْنَ مُسْلِمٍ الْهَمْدَانِيَّ فَبَعَثَهُ مِنَ النُّخَيْلَةِ فِي ثَمَانِيَةِ آلَافٍ وَ قَالَ: اتَّبِعْ هَذَا الْجَيْشَ حَتَّى تُخْرِجَهُمْ مِنْ أَرْضِ الْعِرَاقِ.
He-asws said: ‘Neither will you suffice me-asws nor will you suffice yourselves’. They did not cease with him-asws until they made him-asws leave to go to his-asws house. He-asws returned and he-asws was sullen, bleak. And he-asws called Saeed Bin Muslim Al-Hamdany and sent him from Al-Nukheyla among eighty thousand and said: ‘Pursue this army until you expel them from the land of Al-Iraq’.
فَخَرَجَ عَلَى شَاطِئِ الْفُرَاتِ فِي طَلَبِهِ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ عَانَاتٍ، سَرَّحَ سَعِيدٌ أَمَامَهُ هَانِئَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ الْهَمْدَانِيَّ فَاتَّبَعَ آثَارَهُمْ حَتَّى بَلَغَ أَدَانِيَ أَرْضِ قِنَّسْرِينَ وَ قَدْ فَاتُوهُ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ.
He went out upon the banks of Euphrates in its search until when he reached Anaat, Saeed despatched Hany Bin Al-Khattab Al-Hamdany in front of him. He followed their tracks until he reached near the land of Qinasreen, and they missed it, then he left.
قَالَ فَلَبِثَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ تُرَى فِيهِ الْكَآبَةُ وَ الْحَزَنُ حَتَّى قَدِمَ سَعِيدٌ، فَكَتَبَ كِتَاباً وَ كَانَ فِي تِلْكَ الْأَيَّامِ عَلِيلًا، فَلَمْ يُطِقِ الْقِيَامَ فِي النَّاسِ بِكُلِّ مَا أَرَادَ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ، فَجَلَسَ بِبَابِ السُّدَّةِ الَّتِي تَصِلُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَ مَعَهُ الْحَسَنُ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ وَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ،
He (the narrator) said, ‘Ali-asws waited (and) the gloom and the grief was seen in him-asws, until Saeed arrived. He-asws wrote a letter, and in those days he-asws was ill and he-asws could not bear the standing among the people with all what he-asws wanted from the words (speech). He-asws sat down by the entry door which connects to the Masjid and with him-asws were Al-Hassan-asws, and Al-Husayn-asws, and Abdullah son of Ja’far-asws.
فَدَعَا سَعِيداً مَوْلَاهُ فَدَفَعَ الْكِتَابَ إِلَيْهِ، فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَقْرَأَهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ، فَقَامَ سَعِيدٌ حَيْثُ يَسْمَعُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قِرَاءَتَهُ، وَ مَا يَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ الْكِتَابَ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلِيٍّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِلَى مَنْ قُرِئَ عَلَيْهِ كِتَابِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ: سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ.
He-asws called his-asws slave Saeed and handed the letter to him, and instructed him to read it out to the people. Saeed stood up where Ali-asws could listen to his reading and what the people might respond to it. Then he read out the letter: ‘In the Name of Allah-azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful. From a servant of Allah-azwj Ali-asws Amir Al-Momineen, to the one from the Muslims my-asws letter is read out to. Greetings be unto you all!
أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ وَ سَلامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ، وَ لَا شَرِيكَ لِلَّهِ الْأَحَدِ الْقَيُّومِ، وَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ.
As for after, the Praise is for Allah-azwj Lord-azwj of the worlds, and greetings be upon the Messengers-as, and there is no associate for Allah-azwj, the One, the Eternal, and Salawaat of Allah-azwj be upon Muhammad-saww, and the greetings be upon him-saww in the worlds.
أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي قَدْ عَاتَبْتُكُمْ فِي رُشْدِكُمْ حَتَّى سَئِمْتُ، وَ رَاجَعْتُمُونِي بِالْهُزْءِ مِنْ قَوْلِكُمْ حَتَّى بَرِمْتُ هُزْءاً مِنَ الْقَوْلِ لَا يُعَادُ بِهِ، وَ خَطَلًا لَا يَعِزُّ أَهْلُهُ، وَ لَوْ وَجَدْتُ بُدّاً مِنْ خِطَابِكُمْ وَ الْعِتَابِ إِلَيْكُمْ مَا فَعَلْتُ.
As for after, I-asws have reproached you in guiding you aright until I-asws am fed up, and you have responded to me-asws with mocking from your words until I-asws was sure of the mocking from the words, there being no returning with it, and stupidity not honouring its perpetrator, and had I-asws found a way out from addressing you and reproaching to you, I-asws would not do so.
وَ هَذَا كِتَابِي يُقْرَأُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَرُدُّوا خَيْراً وَ افْعَلُوهُ، وَ مَا أَظُنُّ أَنْ تَفْعَلُوا وَ اللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعانُ
And this is my-asws letter being read out to you all, so respond goodly and do it, and I-asws do not think that you will be doing it. And Allah-azwj is the Helper.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّ الْجِهَادَ بَابٌ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ … إِلَى آخِرِ مَا مَرَّ وَ سَيَأْتِي بِرِوَايَاتٍ مُخْتَلِفَةٍ.
O you people! The Jihad is a door from the doors of the Paradise!’ – up to the end of what has passed and I (Majlisi) shall be coming with more in different reports.
ثُمَّ قَالَ: فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَزْدِ يُقَالُ لَهُ: حَبِيبُ بْنُ عَفِيفٍ آخِذاً بِيَدِ ابْنِ أَخٍ [لَهُ] يُقَالُ لَهُ: عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَفِيفٍ، فَأَقْبَلَ يَمْشِي حَتَّى اسْتَقْبَلَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بِبَابِ السُّدَّةِ، ثُمَّ جَثَا عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ وَ قَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، هَا أَنَا ذَا لا أَمْلِكُ إِلَّا نَفْسِي وَ أَخِي فَمُرْنَا بِأَمْرِكَ، فَوَ اللَّهِ لَنُنْفِذَنَّ لَهُ وَ لَوْ حَالَ دُونَ ذَلِكَ شَوْكُ الْهَرَاسِ وَ جَمْرُ الْغَضَا حَتَّى نُنْفِذَ أَمْرَكَ أَوْ نَمُوتَ دُونَهُ!
Then he (the narrator) said, ‘A man from Al-Azd called Habeeb Bin Afeef stood up to him-asws, holding a hand of a son of his brother called Abdul Rahman Bin Abdullah Bin Afeef, and he came waling until he faced Amir Al-Momineen-asws at the door of the entrance, then he knelt upon his knees and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Here I am. I do not control except myself and my brother, so order us with your-asws order. By Allah-azwj, let us enforce to it, and even if there forms a barrier besides that by the thorns of Al-Haris and embers of Al-Gazaa, until we implement your-asws order or we dying doing it’.
فَدَعَا لَهُمَا بِخَيْرٍ وَ قَالَ لَهُمَا: أَيْنَ تَبْلُغَانِ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمَا مِمَّا نُرِيدُ.
He-asws supplicated for them both with goodness and said to them: ‘May Allah-azwj Bless upon you! Where will you two reach from what we want?’
ثُمَّ أَمَرَ الْحَارِثَ الْأَعْوَرَ فَنَادَى فِي النَّاسِ أَيْنَ مَنْ يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ لِرَبِّهِ، وَ يَبِيعُ دُنْيَاهُ بِآخِرَتِهِ، أَصْبِحُوا غَداً بِالرَّحْبَةِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ، وَ لَا يَحْضُرُنَا إِلَّا صَادِقُ النِّيَّةِ فِي الْمَسِيرِ مَعَنَا وَ الْجِهَادِ لِعَدُوِّنَا.
Then he-asws ordered Al-Haris Al-Awr and he called out among the people, ‘Where is the one who would sell his soul to his Lord-azwj, and sell his world for his Hereafter! Wake up tomorrow morning with the desire, if Allah-azwj so Desires, and let not present to us except one of sincere intention regarding the travelling with us and the fight to our enemies!’
فَأَصْبَحَ بِالرَّحْبَةِ نَحْوٌ مِنْ ثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ، فَلَمَّا عَرَضَهُمْ قَالَ: لَوْ كَانُوا أَلْفاً كَانَ لِي فِيهِمْ رَأْيٌ.
They woke up in the morning with desires, around three hundred. When they presented, he said, ‘If only they had been a thousand, there would have been a view for me regarding them’.
قَالَ: وَ أَتَاهُ قَوْمٌ يَعْتَذِرُونَ وَ تَخَلَّفَ آخَرُونَ، فَقَالَ: وَ جَاءَ الْمُعَذِّرُونَ وَ تَخَلَّفَ الْمُكَذِّبُونَ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘And a group came to him offering excuses, and others stayed behind. He said, ‘The excusers have come and the liars are staying behind’.
قَالَ: وَ مَكَثَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَيَّاماً بَادِياً حُزْنُهُ، شَدِيدَ الْكَآبَةِ، ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ نَادَى فِي النَّاسِ فَاجْتَمَعُوا، فَقَامَ خَطِيباً فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ فَوَ اللَّهِ لَأَهْلُ مِصْرِكُمْ فِي الْأَمْصَارِ، أَكْثَرُ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فِي الْعَرَبِ. وَ سَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ إِلَى آخِرِ مَا سَيَأْتِي بِرِوَايَةِ ابْنِ الشَّيْخِ فِي مَجَالِسِهِ عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ نَاجِدٍ [فِي أَوَاخِرِ هَذَا الْبَابِ]..
He (the narrator) said, ‘And Ali-asws remained for days showing his-asws sadness and severe gloom. Then he-asws called out among the people, and they gathered. He-asws stood up to address. He-asws praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, then said: ‘As for after, O you people! By Allah-azwj! The people of your city among the cities are more than the helpers among the Arabs’ – and he continued the Hadeeth up to the end of what I (Majlisi) shall be coming with (more) in the report of Ibn Sheykh in his gatherings, from Rabie Bin Nahid at the end of this chapter’’.[43]
وَ عَنْ أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولُ: لَوْ لَا بَقِيَّةُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ لَهَلَكْتُمْ.
And from Abu Muslim who said, ‘I heard Ali-asws saying: ‘Had it not been for the remainder of the Muslims, you would have been destroyed’’.[44]
وَ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ رَجَاءٍ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ: أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ خَطَبَهُمْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْكَلَامِ فَقَالَ بَعْدَ أَنْ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ الْمُجْتَمِعَةُ أَبْدَانُهُمْ الْمُتَفَرِّقَةُ أَهْوَاؤُهُمْ، مَا عَزَّ مَنْ دَعَاكُمْ وَ لَا اسْتَرَاحَ مَنْ قَاسَاكُمْ. كَلَامُكُمْ يُوهِنُ الصُّمَّ الصِّلَابَ، وَ فِعْلُكُمْ يُطْمِعُ فِيكُمْ عَدُوَّكُمْ.
And from Ismail Bin Raja’a Al Zubeydi,
‘Ali-asws addressed them after this speech. He-asws said after having praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj: ‘O you people, your bodies are united, and your hearts are disunited! One who calls out to you is not honoured nor does the one who is inflexible to you get any rest. Your talk weakens the solidity of the slabs, and your deeds are what your enemies are coveting regarding you.
إِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ: سِيرُوا إِلَيْهِمْ فِي الْحَرِّ. قُلْتُمْ: أَمْهِلْنَا يَنْسَلِخْ عَنَّا الْحَرُّ. وَ إِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ: سِيرُوا إِلَيْهِمْ فِي الشِّتَاءِ. قُلْتُمْ: حَتَّى يَنْسَلِخَ عَنَّا الْبَرْدُ. فِعْلَ ذِي الدَّيْنِ الْمَطُولِ، مَنْ فَازَ بِكُمْ فَازَ بِالسَّهْمِ الْأَخْيَبِ
If I-asws say to you: ‘Travel to them during the heat, you say, ‘Respite us until the heat subsides from us’. And if I-asws say to you: ‘Travel to them’, during the winter, you say, ‘Until the cold subsides from us’. A deed of the ones with the lengthy debts. One who is successful with you is the one with the disappointing share.
أَصْبَحْتُ لَا أُصَدِّقُ قَوْلَكُمْ، وَ لَا أَطْمَعُ فِي نَصْرِكُمْ، فَرَّقَ اللَّهُ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكُمْ أَيَّ دَارٍ بَعْدَ دَارِكُمْ تَمْنَعُونَ؟! وَ مَعَ أَيِّ إِمَامٍ بَعْدِي تُقَاتِلُونَ؟! أَمَا إِنَّكُمْ سَتَلْقَوْنَ بَعْدِي أَثَرَةً تَتَّخِذُهَا عَلَيْكُمُ الضُّلَّالُ سُنَّةً، فَقْرٌ يَدْخُلُ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ، وَ سَيْفٌ قَاطِعٌ، وَ تَتَمَنَّوْنَ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّكُمْ رَأَيْتُمُونِي وَ قَاتَلْتُمْ مَعِي وَ قُتِلْتُمْ دُونِي وَ كَأَنْ قَدْ.
I-asws woke up in the morning, I-asws cannot ratify your words nor am I-asws eager regarding your help. May Allah-azwj Effect separation between me and you all. Which house after your house will you defend?! And with which Imam-asws after me-asws will you be fighting?! But, after me-asws, you will be facing impacts taking the straying upon you as a way (norm), poverty will enter into your houses, and a cutting swords, and during that you will be wishing you could see me-asws and fight with (alongside) me-asws and be killed under me-asws, and as if it has already happened’’.[45]
وَ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ عِيسَى: أَنَّهُمْ لَمَّا أَغَارُوا بِالسَّوَادِ، قَامَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَخَطَبَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَا هَذَا؟! فَوَ اللَّهِ إِنْ كَانَ لِيَدْفَعَ عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ بِالسَّبْعَةِ نَفَرٍ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ تَكُونُ فِيهَا.
And from Bakr Bin Isa,
‘When they raided with the large numbers, Ali-asws stood up and addressed to them. He-asws said: ‘O you people! What is this?! By Allah-azwj! It could have been defended from the town by seven persons from the Momineen being in it!’’[46]
وَ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْحِمَّانِيِّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: بَيْنَمَا أَنَا فِي السُّوقِ إِذْ سَمِعْتُ مُنَادِياً يُنَادِي الصَّلَاةَ جَامِعَةً، فَجِئْتُ أُهَرْوِلُ وَ النَّاسُ يُهْرَعُونَ، فَدَخَلْتُ الرَّحْبَةَ فَإِذَا عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَى مِنْبَرٍ مِنْ طِينٍ مُجَصَّصٍ وَ هُوَ غَضْبَانُ، قَدْ بَلَغَهُ أَنَّ نَاساً قَدْ أَغَارُوا بِالسَّوَادِ،
And from Sa’alba Bin Yazeed Al Himany having said,
‘While I was in the market when I heard a caller calling for the congregational Salat. I came sprinting and the people were rushing. I entered Al-Rahba and there was Ali-asws upon a pulpit of plastered clay, and he-asws was furious. It had reached him-asws that some people had raided in large numbers.
فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ: أَمَا وَ رَبِّ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ رَبِّ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ، إِنَّهُ لَعَهْدُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَنَّ الْأُمَّةَ سَتَغْدِرُ بِي.
I heard him-asws saying: ‘But, by the Lord-azwj of the sky and the earth! Then Lord-azwj of the sky and the earth! It is a pact of the Prophet-saww that the community would be treacherous with me-asws’’.[47]
وَ عَنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ بْنِ نَجَبَةَ الْفَزَارِيِّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولُ: إِنِّي قَدْ خَشِيتُ أَنْ يُدَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمُ عَلَيْكُمْ بِطَاعَتِهِمْ إِمَامَهُمْ وَ مَعْصِيَتِكُمْ إِمَامَكُمْ، وَ بِأَدَائِهِمُ الْأَمَانَةَ وَ خِيَانَتِكُمْ، وَ بِصَلَاحِهِمْ فِي أَرْضِهِمْ وَ فَسَادِكُمْ فِي أَرْضِكُمْ، وَ بِاجْتِمَاعِهِمْ عَلَى بَاطِلِهِمْ وَ تَفَرُّقِكُمْ عَنْ حَقِّكُمْ
And from Al Musayyab Bin Najbah Al Fazary who said,
‘I hear Ali-asws saying: ‘I-asws had feared that those people might indicate upon you, by their obeying their leader and your disobeying your Imam-asws, and by their fulfilling their entrustment and your betrayal, and by their being righteous in their land and your corrupting in your land, and by their uniting upon their falsehood and your separating from your truth.
حَتَّى تَطُولَ دَوْلَتُهُمْ وَ حَتَّى لَا يَدَعُوا لِلَّهِ مُحَرَّماً إِلَّا اسْتَحَلُّوهُ، حَتَّى لَا يَبْقَى بَيْتَ وَبَرٍ وَ لَا بَيْتَ مَدَرٍ إِلَّا دَخَلَهُ جَوْرُهُمْ وَ ظُلْمُهُمْ حَتَّى يَقُومَ الْبَاكِيَانِ، بَاكٍ يَبْكِي لِدِينِهِ وَ بَاكٍ يَبْكِي لِدُنْيَاهُ،
(This is) to the extent that their government is prolonged, and until there will not remain any Prohibition of Allah-azwj except they would legalise it, until there will neither remain any house of fur nor a house of mud except their tyranny and their injustice will enter it, until the two criers will stand – a crier crying for his religion and a crier crying for his world.
وَ حَتَّى لَا يَكُونَ مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا نافعا [نَافِعٌ] لَهُمْ أَوْ غَيْرُ ضَارٍّ بِهِمْ وَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ نُصْرَةُ أَحَدِكُمْ مِنْهُمْ كَنُصْرَةِ الْعَبْدِ مِنْ سَيِّدِهِ إِذَا شَهِدَ أَطَاعَهُ وَ إِذَا غَابَ سَبَّهُ،
And until there does not happen from you except what is beneficial for them, or not harmful for them, and until the help of one of you to them would be like the help of the slave to his chief, when he is present, he obeys him, and when he is absent he reviles him.
فَإِنْ أَتَاكُمُ اللَّهُ بِالْعَافِيَةِ فَاقْبَلُوا وَ إِنِ ابْتَلَاكُمْ فَاصْبِرُوا فَ إِنَّ الْعاقِبَةَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ.
So, if Allah-azwj Bring to you the well being, then accept, and if He-azwj Tries you, then be patience, for the end-result is for the pious’’.[48]
وَ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَصْحَابِهِ: أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ نَدَبَ النَّاسَ عِنْدَ مَا أَغَارُوا عَلَى نَوَاحِي السَّوَادِ، فَانْتَدَبَ لِذَلِكَ شُرْطَةُ الْخَمِيسِ، فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ قَيْسَ بْنَ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيَّ ثُمَّ وَجَّهَهُمْ فَسَارُوا حَتَّى وَرَدُوا تُخُومَ الشَّامِ،
And from Yahya Bin Salih, from his companions,
‘Ali-asws called out among the people when the large numbers had raided upon the outskirts, and he-asws sent police for that on Thursday, and sent to them Qays Bin Sa’ad Bin Ubada Al-Ansari. Then he-asws diverted them and they travelled until they came to the frontier of Syria.
وَ كَتَبَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ: إِنَّكَ زَعَمْتَ أَنَّ الَّذِي دَعَاكَ إِلَى مَا فَعَلْتَ الطَّلَبَ بِدَمِ عُثْمَانَ، فَمَا أَبْعَدَ قَوْلَكَ مِنْ فِعْلِكَ. وَيْحَكَ، وَ مَا ذَنْبُ أَهْلِ الذِّمَّةِ فِي قَتْلِ ابْنِ عَفَّانَ؟! وَ بِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ تَسْتَحِلُّ أَخْذَ فَيْءِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ؟! فَانْزِعْ وَ لَا تَفْعَلْ وَ احْذَرْ عَاقِبَةَ الْبَغْيِ وَ الْجَوْرِ.
And Ali-asws wrote to Muawiya: ‘You-asws are claiming, that which called you to what you did was seeking the blood of Usman. So, how remote are your words from your deeds. Woe be unto you! And is the sin of the people under the responsibility in the killing of Ibn Affan?! And due to which thing are you legalising seizure of the war booty of the Muslims?! Desist and do not do so, and be cautioned of the end-result of the rebellion and the tyranny.
وَ إِنَّمَا مَثَلِي وَ مَثَلُكَ كَمَا قَالَ بَلْعَاءُ لِدُرَيْدِ بْنِ الصِّمَّةِ:
| مَهْلًا دُرَيْدُ عَنِ التَّسَرُّعِ إِنَّنِي | مَاضِي الْجِنَانِ بِمَنْ تَسَرَّعَ مُولَعٌ | |
| مَهْلًا دُرَيْدُ عَنِ السَّفَاهَةِ إِنَّنِي | مَاضٍ عَلَى رَغْمِ الْعُدَاةِ سَمَيْدَعٌ | |
| مَهْلًا دُرَيْدُ لَا تَكُنْ لَاقَيْتَنِي | يَوْماً دُرَيْدُ فَكُلُّ هَذَا يُصْنَعُ | |
| وَ إِذَا أَهَانَكَ مَعْشَرٌ أَكْرَمَهُمْ | فَتَكُونُ حَيْثُ تَرَى الْهَوَانَ وَ تَسْمَعُ |
And rather the like of me-asws and the like of you are as what Bala’a said to Dureyd Bin Al-Simmah (in a poem), ‘Slow down Dureyd from the hastening me past the gardens with the ones hastening I am fond of. Slow down Dureyd from the foolish ones. I am continuing upon rubbing the nose of the enemies calling out. Slow down Dureyd, do not become meeting me (in battle) for a day Dureyd. (By) Allah this is made up. And when a community disgraces you, (and) you honour them, you will become where you will see the disgrace and hear’’.
فَأَجَابَهُ مُعَاوِيَةُ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَدْخَلَنِي فِي أَمْرِ عَزْلِكَ عَنْهُ نَائِياً عَنِ الْحَقِّ، فَنِلْتُ مِنْهُ أَفْضَلَ أَمَلِي، فَأَنَا الْخَلِيفَةُ الْمَجْمُوعُ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَمْ تُصِبْ مَثَلِي وَ مَثَلَكَ، إِنَّمَا مَثَلِي وَ مَثَلُكَ كَمَا قَالَ بَلْقَاءُ حِينَ صُولِحَ عَلَى دَمِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ نَكَثَ فَعَنَّفَهُ قَوْمُهُ
Muawiya answered him-asws, ‘As for after, surely Allah-azwj has Caused me to enter into a matter isolating you-asws from it far away from the truth, and I have attain from it the best of my hopes. I am the caliph there is unity upon him, and the like of me and the like of you-asws will not get hurt. But rather, the like of me and the like of you-asws are as Balqa’a said when he reconciled upon the blood of his brother, then he broke (the allegiance) and his people abused him.
فَأَنْشَأَ يَقُولُ:
| أَلَا آذَنَتْنَا مِنْ تَدَلُّلِهَا مَلَسٌ | وَ قَالَتْ: أَمَا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ مِنْ بَلَسٍ | |
| وَ قَالَتْ: أَلَا تَسْعَى فَتُدْرِكَ مَا مَضَى | وَ مَا أَهْلُكَ الحانون [الْعَانُونَ] وَ الْقَدْحُ الضِّرْسُ | |
| أَ تَأْمُرُنِي سَعْدٌ وَ لَيْثٌ وَ جُنْدُعٌ | وَ لَسْتُ بِرَاضٍ بِالدَّنِيئَةِ وَ الْوَكْسِ | |
| يَقُولُونَ: خُذْ وَكْسا وَ صَالِحْ عَشِيرَةً | فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي بِالْهُمُومِ إِذَا أُمْسِي |
He prosed saying, ‘Indeed! We are hurt from her slippery touch, and she said, ‘As for between me and you is bliss’. And she said, ‘Indeed! Will you not strive to realise what is passed, and what is your family, the commoners, and the cup of slander. Are you instructing Sa’ad, and a lion, and an army, and I am not pleased with the lowness and the lux. They are saying, ‘Take a bag and reconcile a clan’. So what are you instructing me with worrying about when it is evening (end of life)?’’.[49]
قَالَ جُنْدَبُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْوَائِلِيُّ: كَانَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولُ: أَمَا إِنَّكُمْ سَتَلْقَوْنَ بَعْدِي ثَلَاثاً: ذُلًّا شَامِلًا، وَ سَيْفاً قَاتِلًا، وَ أَثَرَةً يَتَّخِذُهَا الظَّالِمُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ سُنَّةً، فَسَتَذْكُرُونِي عِنْدَ تِلْكَ الْحَالاتِ فَتَمَنَّوْنَ لَوْ رَأَيْتُمُونِي وَ نَصَرْتُمُونِي وَ أَهْرَقْتُمْ دِمَاءَكُمْ دُونَ دَمِي فَلَا يُبَعِّدُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا مَنْ ظَلَمَ.
Jundab Bin Abdullah Al Waily said,
‘Ali-asws was saying: ‘But you (O people of Iraq) will be facing three (matters) after me-asws – Complete humiliation, a fatal sword, and an effect the oppressors would be taking upon you as a way (norm). Then you will remember me-asws during those situations, and you will be wishing if only you could see me-asws and help me-asws and shed your blood under my-asws blood. Allah-azwj does not Distance except the one who is unjust’.
وَ كَانَ جُنْدَبٌ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا رَأَى شَيْئاً مِمَّا يَكْرَهُهُ قَالَ: لَا يُبَعِّدُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا مَنْ ظَلَمَ.
And it so happened after that, whenever Jundab saw anything from what he disliked, he said, ‘Allah-azwj does not Distance except the one who is unjust’’.[50]
و عن عمرو بن قعين قال: دعا معاوية يزيد بن شجرة الرّهاوي فقال: إنّي مسرّ إليك سرّا فلا تطلعنّ على سرّي أحدا حتى تخرج من أهل الشام كلّها، إنّي باعثك إلى أهل اللّه و إلى حرم اللّه و أهلي و عشيرتي و بيضتي التي انفلقت عنّي، و فيها جلّ من قتل عثمان و سفك دمه،
And from Amro Bin Queyn who said,
‘Muawiya called Yazeed Bin Shajarah Al-Rahawy and said, ‘I want you to travel secretly. Do not notify anyone your journey until you have exited from the people of Syria, all of them. I am sending you to the people of Allah-azwj, and to the Sanctuary of Allah-azwj, and to my people, and my clan, and part of me which has split away from me, and therein are most of the killers of Usman and shedders of his blood.
فسر على بركة اللّه حتى تنزل مكة فإنّك الآن تلاقي الناس هناك بالموسم، فادع الناس إلى طاعتنا و اتّباعنا فإن أجابوك فاكفف عنهم و اقبل منهم، و إن أدبروا عنك فنابذهم و ناجزهم و لا تقاتلهم حتّى تبلغهم أني قد أمرتك أن تبلغ عنّي، فإنّهم الأصل و العشيرة و إنّي لاستبقائهم محبّ و لاستيصالهم كاره ثمّ صلّ بالناس و تولّ أمر الموسم.
Travel upon the Blessings of Allah-azwj until you descend at Makkah, for you will not be meeting the people over there at the season (Hajj). Call the people to our obedience and follow us. If they answer you, then refrain from them and accept from them, and if they turn around from you, then discard them and avoid them, and do not fight them until it reaches them that I have ordered you to deliver on my behalf. They are the origin, and the clan, and I want them to remain loving, and do not get them forcibly. Then pray Salat (leading) with the people, and be in charge of the matters of the season (Hajj)’.
فقال له يزيد: إنّك وجّهتني إلى قوم اللّه و مجمع الصالحين، فإن رضيت أن أسير إليهم و أعمل فيهم برأيي و بما أرجو أن يجمعك اللّه و إيّاهم به سرت إليهم، و إن كان لا يرضيك عنّي إلّا الغشم و تجريد السّيف و إخافة البريء و ردّ العذرة فلست بصاحب ما هناك، فاطلب لهذا الأمر غيري.
Yazeed said to him, ‘You are sending me to a people of Allah-azwj and gathering of the righteous. If you are pleased that I travel to them and work among them with my view and with what I wish, then may Allah-azwj Unite you and them with it, I shall travel to them; and if it was that you are not pleased from me except for the cheating and baring the sword, and frightening the innocent and rejecting the excuses, then I am not the one for what is over there. Seek someone else for this matter’.
فقال له: سر راشدا فقد رضيت برأيك و بسيرتك، و كان رجلا ناسكا يتألّه و كان عثمانيا و كان ممن شهد مع معاوية صفّين.
He said to him, ‘Travel sensibly, for I am pleased with your view and with your journey’. And he was a ritualistic man, following it, and he was a supporter of Usman, and was from the ones who had attended (battle of) Siffeen with Muawiya.
فخرج [ابن شجرة] من دمشق مسرعا و قال: اللّهمّ إن كنت قضيت أن يكون بين هذا الجيش الذي وجّهت، و بين أهل حرمك الذي وجّهت إليه قتال فاكفنيه، فإنّي لست أعظّم قتال من شرك في قتل عثمان خليفتك المظلوم و لا قتال من خذله و لكني أعظّم القتال في حرمك الذي حرمت.
Ibn Shajara went out from Damascus quickly and said, ‘O Allah-azwj! If You-azwj have Decreed that there should be fighting between this army which is being sent and the people of Your-azwj Sanctuary which it is being sent to, then Cover it, for I do not consider grievous fighting the ones who participated in the killing of Usman, Your-azwj oppressed caliph, nor fighting the ones who abandons him, but I consider grievous the fighting in Your-asws Sanctuary which You-azwj have Prohibited’.
فخرج يسير و قدّم أمامه الحارث بن نمير، فأقبلوا حتّى مرّوا بوادي القرى ثم أخذوا على الجحفة ثمّ مضوا حتّى قدموا مكّة في عشر ذي الحجّة.
He went out a little and send Al-Haris Bin Numeyr ahead of him, and they returned until they passed by Al-Qurra valley. Then they took (the direction) towards Al-Juhfa, then continued until they arrived at Makkah on the tenth of Zilhajj’’.[51]
وَ عَنْ عَبَّاسِ بْنِ [سَهْلِ بْنِ] سَعْدٍ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ قَالَ: لَمَّا سَمِعَ قُثَمُ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ بِدُنُوِّهِمْ مِنْهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَفْصِلُوا مِنَ الْجُحْفَةِ وَ كَانَ عَامِلًا لِعَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَى مَكَّةَ، فَقَامَ فِي أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ وَ ذَلِكَ فِي سَنَةِ تِسْعٍ وَ ثَلَاثِينَ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ دَعَاهُمْ إِلَى الْجِهَادِ وَ قَالَ: بَيِّنُوا لِي مَا فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَ لَا تَغُرُّونِي.
And from Abbas Bin Sahl Bin Sa’ad Al Ansary who said,
‘When Qusam Bin Al-Abbas heard of their closeness from him before they had departed from Al-Juhfa, and he was an office bearer for Ali-asws upon Makkah. He stood among the people of Makkah, and that was during the year thirty-nine (39). He praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj and called them to the Jihad, and said, ‘Manifest whatever is within yourselves and do not deceive me!’
فَسَكَتَ الْقَوْمُ مَلِيّاً فَقَالَ: قَدْ بَيَّنْتُمْ لِي مَا فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ. فَذَهَبَ لِيَنْزِلَ فَقَامَ شَيْبَةُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ فَقَالَ: رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ أَيُّهَا الْأَمِيرُ لَا يَقْبُحُ فِينَا أَمْرُكَ وَ نَحْنُ عَلَى طَاعَتِنَا وَ بَيْعَتِنَا وَ أَنْتَ أَمِيرُنَا وَ ابْنُ عَمِّ خَلِيفَتِنَا فَإِنْ تَدْعُنَا نُجِبْكَ فِيمَا أَطَقْنَا وَ نَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ.
The people were silent for a while. He said, ‘You have manifested to me what is within yourselves’. He went to descend, and Shayba Bin Usman stood up and said, ‘May Allah-azwj have Mercy on you, O Emir! Your order is not ugly among us, and we are upon your obedience and our allegiance, and you are our Emir and a son of an uncle of our caliph. If you were to call out to us, we shall answer you in whatever we can tolerate and are able upon’.
فَقَرَّبَ [قُثَمُ] دَوَابَّهُ وَ حَمَلَ مَتَاعَهُ وَ أَرَادَ التَّنَحِّيَ مِنْ مَكَّةَ، فَأَتَاهُ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ وَ قَالَ: مَا أَرَدْتَ؟ قَالَ: قَدْ حَدَثَ هَذَا الْأَمْرُ الَّذِي بَلَغَكَ وَ لَيْسَ مَعِي جُنْدٌ أَمْتَنِعُ بِهِ، فَرَأَيْتُ أَنْ أَعْتَزِلَ عَنْ مَكَّةَ فَإِنْ يَأْتِنِي جُنْدٌ أُقَاتِلْ بِهِمْ، وَ إِلَّا كُنْتُ قَدْ تَنَحَّيْتُ بِدَمِي.
Qusam drew his animal closer and loaded his luggage and intended to go away from Makkah. Abu Saeed Al-Khudry came to him and said, ‘What are you intending?’ He said, ‘This matter has occurred which has reached you, and there isn’t any army with me I can defend with, so I viewed that I should isolate from Makkah. If an army comes to me, I shall fight with them, or else I would have stayed away (having saved) my blood’.
قَالَ لَهُ: إِنِّي لَمْ أَخْرُجْ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ حَتَّى قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا حَاجُّ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَ تُجَّارُهُمْ يُخْبِرُونَ أَنَّ النَّاسَ بِالْكُوفَةِ قَدْ نَدَبُوا إِلَيْكَ مَعَ مَعْقِلِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ الرِّيَاحِيِّ.
He said to him, ‘I did not go out from Al-Medina until the pilgrims of the people of Al-Iraq arrived to us, and their traders, informing that the people at Al-Kufa are enforcing to you with Ma’qil Bin Qays Al-Riyahi’.
قَالَ: هَيْهَاتَ هَيْهَاتَ يَا أَبَا سَعِيدٍ إِلَى ذَلِكَ مَا يَعِيشُ أَوْلَادُنَا. فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ: رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ فَمَا عُذْرُكَ عِنْدَ ابْنِ عَمِّكَ، وَ مَا عُذْرُكَ عِنْدَ الْعَرَبِ انْهَزَمْتَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُطْعَنَ وَ تُضْرَبَ؟!
He said, ‘Far be it! Far be it, O Abu Saeed! To that is what our children are living for’. Abu Saeed said to him, ‘May Allah-azwj have Mercy on you! So, what will your excuse be in the presence of the son-asws of your uncle-as, and what would be your excuse in the presence of the Arabs you have defeated before even stabbing (with a spear) and striking (with a sword)?!’
فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا سَعِيدٍ إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْزِمُ عَدُوَّكَ وَ لَا تَمْنَعُ حَرِيمَكَ بِالْمَوَاعِيدِ وَ الْأَمَانِيِّ اقْرَأْ كِتَابَ صَاحِبِي فَقَرَأَهُ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَإِذَا فِيهِ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلِيٍّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَى قُثَمَ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ: سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكَ.
He said, ‘O Abu Saeed! You cannot defeat your enemies, nor defend your sanctuary with the promises and the hopes. Read the letter of my Master-asws’. Abu Saeed read it, and there in it was: ‘In the Name of Allah-azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful. From a servant of Allah-azwj Ali-asws Amir Al-Momineen, to Qusam Bin Al-Abbas: ‘Greetings be unto you!
أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ عَيْنِي بِالْمَغْرِبِ كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ يُخْبِرُنِي أَنَّهُ قَدْ وُجِّهَ إِلَى الْمَوْسِمِ نَاسٌ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ، مِنَ الْعُمْيِ الْقُلُوبِ، الصُّمِّ الْأَسْمَاعِ، الْكُمْهِ الْأَبْصَارِ، الَّذِينَ يَلْبِسُونَ الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ، وَ يُطِيعُونَ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ الْخَالِقِ، وَ يَجْلِبُونَ الدُّنْيَا بِالدِّينِ، وَ يَتَمَنَّوْنَ عَلَى اللَّهِ جِوَارَ الْأَبْرَارِ، وَ إِنَّهُ لَا يَفُوزُ بِالْخَيْرِ إِلَّا عَامِلُهُ، وَ لَا يُجْزَى بِالسَّيِّئِ إِلَّا فَاعِلُهُ.
As for after, my-asws informant in the west have written to me-asws that some people of the Arabs have been sent to the season (of Hajj), from the ones blind of hearing, and deaf of the ears, and blind of the sight, those who are confusing the truth with the falsehood and are obeying the creatures in disobedience to the Creator, and they are pulling the world by (using) the religion, and are wishing to Allah-azwj to be neighbours of the righteous (in the) Paradise, and surely there wouldn’t be any success with the good except by its workers, nor Recompense with the evil deeds except by its perpetrator.
وَ قَدْ وَجَّهْتُ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمْعاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ذَوِي بَسَالَةٍ وَ نَجْدَةٍ مَعَ الْحَسِيبِ الصَّلِيبِ الْوَرِعِ التَّقِيِّ مَعْقِلِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ الرِّيَاحِيِّ، وَ قَدْ أَمَرْتُهُ بِاتِّبَاعِهِمْ وَ قَصِّ آثَارِهِمْ حَتَّى يَنْفِيَهُمْ مِنْ أَرْضِ الْحِجَازِ.
And I-asws have sent to you a collection of Muslims with bravery and fearlessness, along with the solidness, the devoutness, the piety, Ma’qail Bin Qats Al-Riyahi, and I-asws have ordered him with pursing them and cut short their impacts until he expels them from the land of Al-Hijaz.
فَقُمْ عَلَى مَا فِي يَدَيْكَ مِمَّا إِلَيْكَ مَقَامَ الصَّلِيبِ الْحَازِمِ الْمَانِعِ سُلْطَانَهُ النَّاصِحِ لِلْأُمَّةِ، وَ لَا يَبْلُغُنِي عَنْكَ وَهْنٌ وَ لَا خَوَرٌ وَ مَا تَعْتَذِرُ مِنْهُ، وَ وَطِّنْ نَفْسَكَ عَلَى الصَّبْرِ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَ الضَّرَّاءِ، وَ لَا تَكُونَنَّ فَشَلًا وَ لَا طَائِشاً وَ لَا رِعْدِيداً وَ السَّلَامُ.
Stay upon what is in your hand from what to you is the position of the prudent symbol, the defender of his authority, the adviser to the community, and do not let it reach me-asws from you (news of) any weakness, nor inaction, and what you would have to excuse from it, and determine yourself upon the patience during the difficulties and the harm, and do not become sluggish, nor thoughtlessness, nor timid-ness. And the greetings’.
فَلَمَّا قَرَأَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْكِتَابَ قَالَ قُثَمُ: مَا يَنْفَعُنِي مِنْ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ وَ قَدْ سَمِعْتُ بِأَنْ قَدْ سَبَقَتْ خَيْلُهُمْ خَيْلَهُ؟ وَ هَلْ يَأْتِي جَيْشُهُ حَتَّى يَنْقَضِيَ أَمْرُ الْمَوْسِمِ كُلُّهُ؟
When Abu Saeed had read the letter, Qusam said, ‘What benefits me from this letter, and I have heard that their cavalry is preceding his-asws cavalry? And would his-asws army come until the matter of the season is accomplished, all of it?’
فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ: إِنَّكَ إِنْ أَجْهَدْتَ نَفْسَكَ فِي مُنَاصَحَةِ إِمَامِكَ خَرَجْتَ مِنَ اللَّائِمَةِ، وَ قَضَيْتَ الَّذِي عَلَيْكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ، فَإِنَّ الْقَوْمَ قَدْ قَدِمُوا وَ أَنْتَ فِي الْحَرَمِ، وَ الْحَرَمُ حَرَمُ اللَّهِ.
Abu Saeed said to him, ‘You, if you were to exert yourself in advising your Imam-asws, you would exit from the blame, and fulfil that which is upon you from the right, for the people (enemy) have arrived and you are in the Sanctuary, and the Sanctuary is the Sanctuary of Allah-azwj’.
فَأَقَامَ قُثَمُ وَ جَاءَ يَزِيدُ بْنُ شَجَرَةَ حَتَّى دَخَلَ مَكَّةَ، ثُمَّ أَمَرَ مُنَادِياً فَنَادَى فِي النَّاسِ أَلَا إِنَّ النَّاسَ كُلَّهُمْ آمِنُونَ، إِلَّا مَنْ عَرَضَ لَنَا فِي عَمَلِنَا وَ سُلْطَانِنَا وَ ذَلِكَ قَبْلَ التَّرْوِيَةِ بِيَوْمٍ.
So, Qusam stayed, and Yazeed Bin Shajara came until he entered Makkah. Then he instructed a caller, and he called out among the people, ‘Indeed! The people, all of them are safe, except the one who objects to us in our work and our authority!’ And that was before the (day) of ‘Al-Tarwiyya’ by a day.
فَلَمَّا كَانَ ذَلِكَ مَشَتْ قُرَيْشٌ وَ الْأَنْصَارُ وَ مَنْ شَهِدَ الْمَوْسِمَ مِنَ الصَّحَابَةِ وَ صُلَحَاءِ النَّاسِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَ سَأَلَتْهُمَا أَنْ يَصْطَلِحَا، فَكِلَاهُمَا سَرَّهُ ذَلِكَ الصُّلْحُ، فَأَمَّا قُثَمُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَثِقْ بِأَهْلِ مَكَّةَ وَ لَا رَأَى أَنَّهُمْ يُنَاصِحُونَهُ، وَ أَمَّا يَزِيدُ فَكَانَ رَجُلًا مُتَنَسِّكاً وَ كَانَ يَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مِنْهُ فِي الْحَرَمِ شَرٌّ.
When that happened, Quraysh, and the Helpers, and the ones from the companions who attended the season (Hajj), and the righteous people willed in what between the two and asked them to reconcile. Each of the two was cheered by that reconciliation. As for Qusam, he did not trust the people of Makkah and did view they would be advising him, and as for Yazeed, he was a ritualistic man and he disliked that any evil should happen from him in the Sanctuary’.
وَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مِحْصَنٍ قَالَ: قَامَ يَزِيدُ بْنُ شَجَرَةَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ يَا أَهْلَ الْحَرَمِ وَ مَنْ حَضَرَهُ فَإِنِّي وُجِّهْتُ إِلَيْكُمْ لِأُصَلِّيَ بِكُمْ وَ أَجْمَعَ وَ آمُرَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ أَنْهَى عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ وَالِيَ هَذِهِ الْبَلْدَةِ كَرِهَ الصَّلَاةَ مَعَنَا وَ نَحْنُ لِلصَّلَاةِ مَعَهُ كَارِهُونَ فَإِنْ شَاءَ اعْتَزَلْنَا الصَّلَاةَ بِالنَّاسِ وَ اعْتَزَلَهَا وَ تَرَكْنَا أَهْلَ مَكَّةَ يَخْتَارُونَ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ مَنْ أَحَبُّوا حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَ بِهِمْ
And from Amro Bin Mihsan who said, ‘Yazeed Bin Shajarah stood up, praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, the said: ‘As for after, O people of the Sanctuary, and the ones present! I have been sent to you to pray Salat with you (leading), and unite, and enjoin with the good and forbid from the evil. I have seen the ruler of this city to have disliked praying the Salat with us, and we are disliking the Salat with him. If he so desires, he can isolated from us to pray Salat with the people and I shall isolate, and we shall leave the people of Makkah to be choosing for themselves whom they love, until he would pray Salat (leading) them.
فَإِنْ أَبَى فَأَنَا آبَى وَ آبَى وَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ لَوْ شِئْتُ لَصَلَّيْتُ بِالنَّاسِ وَ أَخَذْتُهُ حَتَّى أَرُدَّهُ إِلَى الشَّامِ وَ مَا مَعَهُ مَنْ يَمْنَعُهُ وَ لَكِنْ وَ اللَّهِ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَسْتَحِلَّ حُرْمَةَ هَذَا الْبَلَدِ الْحَرَامِ.
If he refuses, then I shall refuse and refuse. By the One-azwj Who, there is no god apart from Him-azwj! If I so desire, I can pray Salat with the people and seize him until I return him to Syria, and there is no one with him who can defend him, but, by Allah-azwj! I do not love to violate the sanctity of this Sacred city!’
قَالَ: ثُمَّ إِنَّ يَزِيدَ بْنَ شَجَرَةَ أَتَى أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ فَقَالَ: رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ الْقَ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ فَقُلْ لَهُ لَا أَبَ لِغَيْرِكَ اعْتَزِلِ الصَّلَاةَ بِالنَّاسِ وَ أَعْتَزِلُهَا وَ دَعْ أَهْلَ مَكَّةَ يَخْتَارُوا لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ فَوَ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَشَاءُ لَبِعْتُكَ وَ إِيَّاهُمْ وَ لَكِنْ وَ اللَّهِ مَا يَحْمِلُنِي عَلَى مَا تَسْمَعُ إِلَّا رِضْوَانُ اللَّهِ وَ احْتِرَامُ الْحَرَمِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَ خَيْرٌ فِي الْعَاقِبَةِ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Then Yazeed Bin Shajarah came to Abu Saeed Al-Khudry. He said, ‘May Allah-azwj have Mercy on you! Meet this man and say to him, ‘May there be no father for other! Isolate from praying the Salat with the people and I shall isolate (as well), and leave the people of Makkah to be choosing for themselves. By Allah-azwj! If I so desire, I can hold you and them, but, by Allah-azwj! Nothing carries me upon what you heard except the Pleasure of Allah-azwj and reverence of the Sanctity, for that is closer to the piety and better in the end-result’’.
قَالَ لَهُ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ: مَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَغْرِبِ أَصْوَبَ مَقَالًا وَ لَا أَحْسَنَ رَأْياً مِنْكَ.
Abu Saeed said to him, ‘I have not seen from the people of the west, anyone of more correct words nor better view than you’.
فَانْطَلَقَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ إِلَى قُثَمَ فَقَالَ: أَ لَا تَرَى مَا أَحْسَنَ مَا صَنَعَ اللَّهُ لَكَ وَ ذَكَرَ لَهُ ذَلِكَ فَاعْتَزَلَا الصَّلَاةَ وَ اخْتَارَ النَّاسُ شَيْبَةَ بْنَ عُثْمَانَ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ.
Abu Saeed went to Qusam and said, ‘Can’t you see how good is what Allah-azwj has Done for you?’ And he mentioned that to him. They both isolated from the Salat and the people chose the loyalist of Usman and he prayed Salat (leading) them.
فَلَمَّا قَضَى النَّاسُ حَجَّهُمْ رَجَعَ يَزِيدُ إِلَى الشَّامِ، وَ أَقْبَلَتْ خَيْلُ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَأَخْبَرُوا بِعَوْدِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ، فَتَبِعُوهُمْ وَ عَلَيْهِمْ مَعْقِلُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ فَأَدْرَكُوهُمْ وَ قَدْ رَحَلُوا عَنْ وَادِي الْقُرَى، فَظَفِرُوا بِنَفَرٍ مِنْهُمْ وَ أَخَذُوهُمْ أُسَارَى وَ أَخَذُوا مَا مَعَهُمْ وَ رَجَعُوا إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، فَفَادَى بِهِمْ أُسَارَى كَانَتْ لَهُ عِنْدَ مُعَاوِيَةَ..
When the people had accomplished their Hajj, Yazeed returned to Syria, and the cavalry of Ali-asws came. They were informed of the return of the people of Syria. They pursued them, and upon them (as commander) was Ma’qail Bin Qaya. He came across them, and they had already departed from Al-Qura valley. They were victorious with a number of them and seized them as captives, and seized whatever was with them and they returned to Amir Al-Momineen-asws. He-asws ransomed with them the captives which were for him-asws, with Muawiya’’.[52]
وَ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ: قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لِأَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ: مَا أَرَى هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ يَعْنِي أَهْلَ الشَّامِ إِلَّا ظَاهِرِينَ عَلَيْكُمْ. قَالُوا: تَعْلَمُ بِمَا ذَا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟
And Ibrahim said,
‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said to the people of Al-Kufa: ‘I-asws do not see these people, meaning the people of Syria, except they would be prevailing over you’. They said, ‘You-asws know that by what, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws?’
قَالَ: أَرَى أُمُورَهُمْ قَدْ غَلَتْ، وَ أَرَى نِيرَانَكُمْ قَدْ خَبَتْ، وَ أَرَاهُمْ جَادِّينَ وَ أَرَاكُمْ وَانِينَ، وَ أَرَاهُمْ مُجْتَمِعِينَ وَ أَرَاكُمْ مُتَفَرِّقِينَ، وَ أَرَاهُمْ لِصَاحِبِهِمْ طَائِعِينَ وَ أَرَاكُمْ لِي عَاصِينَ.
He-asws said: ‘I-asws (see) their affairs to have boiled and I-asws see your fires to have died out, and I-asws see them as serious and I-asws see you as waning, and I-asws see them as united and I-asws see you as separated, and I-asws see them obedient to their master and I-asws see you as disobedient to me-asws.
وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ ظَهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ لَتَجِدُنَّهُمْ أَرْبَابَ سَوْءٍ مِنْ بَعْدِي، كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَدْ شَارَكُوكُمْ فِي بِلَادِكُمْ وَ حَمَلُوا إِلَى بِلَادِهِمْ فَيْئَكُمْ.
And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! If they were to prevail over you, you will find them to be evil lords from after me-asws. It is as if I-asws am looking at them and they have participated with you in your city and carried your war booty to their city.
وَ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْكُمْ يَكِشُّ بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ كَشِيشَ الضِّبَابِ، لَا تَمْنَعُونَ حَقّاً وَ لَا تَمْنَعُونَ لِلَّهِ حُرْمَةً، وَ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَقْتُلُونَ قُرَّاءَكُمْ. وَ كَأَنِّي بِهِمْ يَحْرُمُونَكُمْ وَ يَحْجُبُونَكُمْ وَ يُدْنُونَ أَهْلَ الشَّامِ دُونَكُمْ،
And it is as if I-asws am looking at you layering upon each other like the layering of the fog, neither defending any right nor defending any Sanctity of Allah-azwj. And it is as if I am looking at them killing your readers (of the Quran). And it is as if I-asws am with them depriving you and barring you and drawing the people of Syria closer rather than you.
فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْحِرْمَانَ وَ الْأَثَرَةَ وَ وَقْعَ السَّيْفِ، تَنَدَّمْتُمْ وَ تَحَزَّنْتُمْ عَلَى تَفْرِيطِكُمْ فِي جِهَادِكُمْ، وَ تَذَكَّرْتُمْ مَا فِيهِ مِنَ الْحِفْظِ حِينَ لَا يَنْفَعُكُمُ التَّذْكَارُ.
When you see the deprivation, and the prejudices, and falling of the sword, you will regret and be saddened by your missing out in your Jihad, and you will remember what protection is in it, when the remembering will no longer benefit you’’.[53]
وَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولُ: مَا لَقِيَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَا لَقِيتُ. ثُمَّ بَكَى.
And from Abdul Rahman Bin Abu Bakr who said,
‘I heard Ali-asws saying: ‘No one from the people has faced what I-asws have faced’. Then he-asws cried’’.[54]
[931] – نَهْجٌ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ الْجِهَادَ بَابٌ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ، فَتَحَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لِخَاصَّةِ أَوْلِيَائِهِ، وَ هُوَ لِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى، وَ دِرْعُ اللَّهِ الْحَصِينَةُ، وَ جُنَّتُهُ الْوَثِيقَةُ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagaha) –
‘As for after, the Jihad is a door from the doors of the Paradise Allah-azwj the Exalted has Opened it for His-azwj special friends, and it is an apparent of piety, and the fortified armour of Allah-azwj, and his trustworthy shield.
فَمَنْ تَرَكَهُ أَلْبَسَهُ اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الذُّلِّ، وَ شَمِلَهُ الْبَلَاءُ، وَ دُيِّثَ بِالصَّغَارِ وَ الْقَمَاءِ، وَ ضُرِبَ عَلَى قَلْبِهِ بِالْإِسْدَادِ، وَ أُدِيلَ الْحَقُّ مِنْهُ بِتَضْيِيعِ الْجِهَادِ، وَ سِيمَ الْخَسْفَ، وَ مُنِعَ النَّصَفَ.
The one who neglects it, Allah-azwj would Clothe him with the apparel of disgrace, and Cover him with the afflictions, and Make him suffer with the humiliation and the scorn, and Strike the clogging upon this heart, and remove the truth from him due to his wasting the Jihad, and the ignominy covers him and he is prevented the fairness.
أَلَا وَ إِنِّي قَدْ دَعَوْتُكُمْ إِلَى قِتَالِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ لَيْلًا وَ نَهَاراً، وَ سِرّاً وَ إِعْلَاناً، وَ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ: اغْزُوهُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَغْزُوكُمْ، فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا غُزِيَ قَوْمٌ قَطُّ فِي عُقْرِ دَارِهِمْ إِلَّا ذَلُّوا. فَتَوَاكَلْتُمْ وَ تَخَاذَلْتُمْ حَتَّى شُنَّتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْغَارَاتُ، وَ مُلِكَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْأَوْطَانُ.
Indeed! And I-asws have been calling you to fighting these people, night and day, and secretly and openly, and I-asws said to you; ‘Invade them before they invade you. By Allah-azwj! No people at all have been invaded in their own houses except they were disgraced. You relied (on others) and abandoned until the raids unleashed upon you and the homelands were owned upon you (occupied).
هَذَا أَخُو غَامِدٍ قَدْ وَرَدَتْ خَيْلُهُ الْأَنْبَارَ، وَ قَدْ قَتَلَ حَسَّانَ بْنَ حَسَّانَ الْبَكْرِيَّ وَ أَزَالَ خَيْلَكُمْ عَنْ مَسَالِحِهَا. وَ لَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ الرَّجُلَ مِنْهُمْ كَانَ يَدْخُلُ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ الْمُسْلِمَةِ وَ الْأُخْرَى الْمُعَاهَدَةِ فَيَنْتَزِعُ حِجْلَهَا وَ قُلُبَهَا وَ قَلَائِدَهَا وَ رِعَاثَهَا، مَا تَمْتَنِعُ مِنْهُ إِلَّا بِالاسْتِرْجَاعِ وَ الِاسْتِرْحَامِ،
This brother of (clan of) Ghamid, his cavalry has arrived at Al-Anbar and he has killed Hassan Bin Hassan Al-Bakry, and removed your cavalry from their garrisons. And it has reached me that the man from them was entering to the Muslim woman and other to the women under the responsibility, and he removed her ornaments, and her anklet, and her bangles, and her necklace, and her ear-rings. They could not prevent from it except by (saying), ‘We are for Allah and we are returning to Him [2:156] and pleading for mercy.
ثُمَّ انْصَرَفُوا وَافِرِينَ، مَا نَالَ رَجُلًا مِنْهُمْ كَلْمٌ، وَ لَا أُرِيقَ لَهُمْ دَمٌ. فَلَوْ أَنَّ امْرَأً مُسْلِماً مَاتَ مِنْ بَعْدِ هَذَا أَسَفاً، مَا كَانَ بِهِ مَلُوماً بَلْ كَانَ بِهِ عِنْدِي جَدِيراً.
Then they left with plenty. No man from them sustained any injury nor was any blood of theirs was spilt. If only a Muslim man would have died out of regret after this, there would have been no blame with him, but in my-asws presence he would be worthy with it.
فَيَا عَجَباً عَجَباً، وَ اللَّهِ يُمِيتُ الْقَلْبَ، وَ يَجْلِبُ الْهَمَّ، مِنِ اجْتِمَاعِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ عَلَى بَاطِلِهِمْ، وَ تَفَرُّقِكُمْ عَنْ حَقِّكُمْ فَقُبْحاً لَكُمْ وَ تَرَحاً حِينَ صِرْتُمْ غَرَضاً يُرْمَى، يُغَارُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ لَا تُغِيرُونَ، وَ تُغْزَوْنَ وَ لَا تَغْزُونَ، وَ يُعْصَى اللَّهُ فِيكُمْ وَ تَرْضَوْنَ.
Oh surprise, surprise! By Allah-azwj! The heart dies and it brings the concerns from the unity of these people upon the falsehood and your separation from your rights. Ugliness would be for you and demeaning when you are being aimed at. Raids are being carried out upon you and you are not raiding, and you are being invaded and you are not invading, and Allah-azwj is being disobeyed among you and you are pleased.
فَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِالسَّيْرِ إِلَيْهِمْ فِي أَيَّامِ الْحَرِّ، قُلْتُمْ: هَذِهِ حَمَارَّةُ الْقَيْظِ أَمْهِلْنَا يُسَبَّخْ عَنَّا الْحَرُّ. وَ إِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِالسَّيْرِ إِلَيْهِمْ فِي الشِّتَاءِ قُلْتُمْ: هَذِهِ صَبَارَّةُ الْقُرِّ أَمْهِلْنَا يَنْسَلِخْ عَنَّا الْبَرْدُ.
Whenever I-asws order you with the travelling to them in the days of heat, you say, ‘This is the hot spring. Respite us until the heat subsides from us’. And whenever I-asws order you with the travelling to them in the winter, you say, ‘This is the severity of the cold. Respite us until the cold subsides from us’.
كُلُّ هَذَا فِرَارٌ مِنَ الْحَرِّ وَ الْقُرِّ، فَإِذَا كُنْتُمْ مِنَ الْحَرِّ وَ الْبَرْدِ تَفِرُّونَ، فَأَنْتُمْ وَ اللَّهِ مِنَ السَّيْفِ أَفَرُّ. يَا أَشْبَاهَ الرِّجَالِ وَ لَا رِجَالَ، حُلُومُ الْأَطْفَالِ، وَ عُقُولُ رَبَّاتِ الْحِجَالِ، لَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي لَمْ أَرَكُمْ وَ لَمْ أَعْرِفْكُمْ مَعْرِفَةً. وَ اللَّهِ جَرَّتْ نَدَماً وَ أَعْقَبَتْ ذَمّاً.
All this is fleeing, from the heat and the cold (excuses). When you are fleeing from the heat and the cold, then by Allah-azwj, you would be fleeing even more from the sword. O resemblances of the men and not men (having) forbearances of the children and intellects of the women in seclusion. I-asws would have loved if I-asws had not seen you and had not known you. By Allah-azwj! (It is) an acquaintance of regret resulting in condemnation.
قَاتَلَكُمُ اللَّهُ، لَقَدْ مَلَأْتُمْ قَلْبِي قَيْحاً، وَ شَحَنْتُمْ صَدْرِي غَيْظاً، وَ جَرَّعْتُمُونِي نُغَبَ التَّهْمَامِ أَنْفَاساً، وَ أَفْسَدْتُمْ عَلَيَّ رَأْيِي بِالْعِصْيَانِ وَ الْخِذْلَانِ، حَتَّى قَالَتْ قُرَيْشٌ: إِنَّ ابْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ رَجُلٌ شُجَاعٌ وَ لَكِنْ لَا عِلْمَ لَهُ بِالْحَرْبِ.
May Allah-azwj Fight you! You have filled up my-asws heart with abhorrence, and packed my-asws chest with ambers, and made me-asws swallow mouthfuls of grief in every breath, and you have spoil my-asws view upon me-asws with the disobedience and the abandonment, until Quraysh said, ‘The son-asws of Abu Talib-asws is a brave man but there is no knowledge for him-asws with the war (tactics)’.
لِلَّهِ أَبُوهُمْ، وَ هَلْ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ أَشَدُّ لَهَا مِرَاساً، وَ أَقْدَمُ فِيهَا مَقَاماً مِنِّي؟! وَ لَقَدْ نَهَضْتُ فِيهَا وَ مَا بَلَغْتُ الْعِشْرِينَ، فَهَا أَنَا ذَا قَدْ ذَرَّفْتُ عَلَى السِّتِّينَ، وَ لَكِنَّهُ لَا رَأْيَ لِمَنْ لَا يُطَاعُ.
For the Sake of Allah-azwj! And is there anyone of them severer for it as an anchor and older in it in standing than me-asws?! And I-asws had got up in it (war) and I-asws had yet to reach (age of) twenty. So, here I-asws am then, I-asws have exceeded upon the sixty, but there is no view for the one who is not obeyed!’’[55]
[932] – كا: أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْعَلَوِيِّ وَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْكُوفِيُّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، جَمِيعاً عَنْ فَرَجِ بْنِ قُرَّةَ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ عَنْهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مِثْلَهُ.
(The book) ‘Al Kafi’ – Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Saeed, from Ja’far Bin Abdullah Al Alawy, and Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al Kufy, from Ali Bin Al Abbas, from Ismail Bin Is’haq, altogether from Farakh Bin Furrah, from Mas’ada Bin Sadaqa, from Ibn Abu Layli, from Abu Abdul Rahman Al Sulamy, from him-asws – similar to it’.[56]
بيان: قال ابن ميثم و غيره: هذه الخطبة مشهورة، ذكرها أبو العبّاس المبرد و غيره، و السّبب المشهور لها، أَنَّهُ وَرَدَ عَلَيْهِ عِلْجٌ مِنَ الْأَنْبَارِ فَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ سُفْيَانَ بْنَ عَوْفٍ الْغَامِدِيَّ قَدْ وَرَدَ فِي خَيْلِ مُعَاوِيَةَ إِلَى الْأَنْبَارِ، وَ قَتَلَ عَامِلَهُ حَسَّانَ بْنَ حَسَّانَ الْبَكْرِيَّ،
Explanation –
Ibn Maysam and others said, ‘This is a famous sermon. Abu Al-Abbas Al-Mubarrad and others have mentioned it, and the reason for it being famous is that an atheist from Al-Anbar arrived to him-asws and informed him-asws that Sufyan Bin Awf Al-Ghamidy had arrive among a cavalry of Muawiya to Al-Anbar, and he had killed his-asws office bearer Hassan Bin Hassan Al-Bakry.
فَصَعِدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ الْمِنْبَرَ وَ خَطَبَ النَّاسَ وَ قَالَ: إِنَّ أَخَاكُمُ الْبَكْرِيَّ قَدْ أُصِيبَ بِالْأَنْبَارِ فَانْتَدِبُوا إِلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى تُلَاقُوهُمْ، فَإِنْ أَصَبْتُمْ مِنْهُمْ طَرَفاً أَنْكَلْتُمُوهُمْ عَنِ الْعِرَاقِ أَبَداً مَا بَقُوا.
He-asws ascended the pulpit and addressed the people and said: ‘Your brother Al-Bakry has attacked at Al-Anbar, so enforce to them until you meet them. If you were to kill a few of them you will uproot them from Al-Iraq forever, for as long as they live!’
ثُمَّ سَكَتَ رَجَاءَ أَنْ يُجِيبُوهُ بِشَيْءٍ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى صَمْتَهُمْ نَزَلَ وَ خَرَجَ يَمْشِي رَاجِلًا حَتَّى أَتَى النُّخَيْلَةَ وَ النَّاسُ يَمْشُونَ خَلْفَهُ، حَتَّى أَحَاطَ بِهِ قَوْمٌ مِنْ أَشْرَافِهِمْ وَ قَالُوا: تَرْجِعُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ نَحْنُ نَكْفِيكَ.
Then he-asws was silent hoping that they would answer him-asws with something. When he-asws saw the silent from them, he-asws descended and went out walking until he-asws came to Al-Nukheyla, and the people were walking behind him-asws until a group from their nobles had surrounded him-asws. They said, ‘Return, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws, and we shall suffice you-asws’.
فَقَالَ: مَا تَكْفُونِي وَ لَا تَكْفُوْنَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ. فَلَمْ يَزَالُوا بِهِ حَتَّى رَدُّوهُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ.
He-asws said: ‘You will neither suffice me-asws nor will you suffice your own selves’. They did not cease to be with him-asws until they returned him-asws to his-asws house.
فَبَعَثَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ فِي ثَمَانِيَةِ آلَافٍ فِي طَلَبِ سُفْيَانَ، فَخَرَجَ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى أَدَانِي أَرْضِ قِنَّسْرِينَ وَ رَجَعَ.
He-asws sent Saeed Bin Qays Al-Hamdany among eight thousand in seeking Sufyan. He went out until he ended up to near the land of Qinasreen, and returned.
وَ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْوَقْتِ عَلِيلًا لَا يَقْوَى عَلَى الْقِيَامِ فِي النَّاسِ بِمَا يُرِيدُهُ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ، فَجَلَسَ بِبَابِ السُّدَّةِ الَّتِي تَصِلُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَ مَعَهُ الْحَسَنُ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ وَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، وَ دَعَا سَعِيداً مَوْلَاهُ فَدَفَعَ إِلَيْهِ كِتَاباً كَتَبَ فِيهِ هَذِهِ الْخُطْبَةَ، وَ أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَقْرَأَهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِحَيْثُ يَسْمَعُ وَ يَسْمَعُونَهُ.
And he-asws, was ill during that time. He-asws was not strong upon standing among the people with what he-asws wanted from the words (sermon). So, he-asws sat by a door of the entrance which connected to the Masjid, and with him-asws were Al-Hassan-asws, and Al-Husayn-asws, and Abdullah son of Ja’far-as, and he-asws called Saeed, his-asws slave and handed over a letter to him-asws wherein was this sermon, and instructed him-asws to read it out to the people, so that he-asws could hear and they could hear him’’.[57]
وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ الْمُبَرَّدِ أَنَّهُ لَمَّا انْتَهَى إِلَيْهِ وُرُودُ خَيْلِ مُعَاوِيَةَ الْأَنْبَارَ وَ قَتْلُ حَسَّانَ، خَرَجَ مُغْضَباً يَجُرُّ رِدَاءَهُ حَتَّى أَتَى النُّخَيْلَةَ وَ مَعَهُ النَّاسُ وَ رَقِيَ رَبَاوَةً مِنَ الْأَرْضِ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الْخُطْبَةَ.
And in a report of Al Mubarrad,
‘When (news) ended up to him of the arrival of a cavalry of Muawiya at Al-Anbar, and killing of Hassan, he-asws came out furious, his-asws cloak was dragging until he-asws came to Al-Nukheyla and people were with him-asws, and he-asws lifted a clod from the ground, praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-asws and sent Salawaat upon the Prophet-saww’ – then he (the narrator) mentioned the sermon’’.[58]
قوله عليه السلام: «باب من أبواب الجنّة» روي عن النّبي صلّى اللّه عليه و آله أنّه قال: للجنّة باب يقال له باب المجاهدين، يمضون إليه فإذا هو مفتوح و هم متقلّدون بسيوفهم و الجمع في الموقف و الملائكة ترحّب بهم.
His-asws words: ‘(Jihad is) a door from the doors of the Paradise – It is reported from the Prophet-saww having said: ‘For the Paradise there is a door called ‘Door of the Mujahideen’. They would be continuing towards it and there it would be opened, and they would be collared with their swords, and there would be a crown in the pausing station and the Angels welcoming them’’.[59]
و في الكافي: «لخاصّة أوليائه، و سوّغهم كرامة منه لهم، و نعمة ذخرها، و الجهاد لباس التقوى.
And in (the book) ‘Al-Kafi’ – ‘For His-azwj special friend, and He-azwj would Justify for them the honour from Him-azwj for them, and bounties He-azwj had Treasured, and the Jihad is an apparel of piety’’.[60]
[933] – نَهْجٌ: وَ مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! الْمُجْتَمِعَةُ أَبْدَانُهُمْ، الْمُخْتَلِفَةُ أَهْوَاؤُهُمْ كَلَامُكُمْ يُوهِي الصُّمَّ الصِّلَابَ، وَ فِعْلُكُمْ يُطْمِعُ فِيكُمُ الْأَعْدَاءَ. تَقُولُونَ فِي الْمَجَالِسِ: كَيْتَ وَ كَيْتَ، فَإِذَا جَاءَ الْقِتَالُ قُلْتُمْ: حِيدِي حَيَادِ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘And from a sermon of his-asws: ‘O you people, united are their bodies and different are their desires! Your talk (speeches) would weaken the solid slabs and your deeds are what your enemies covet in you. You are saying in the gatherings such and such, but when the battle comes, you say, ‘We are neutral with a neutrality’.
مَا عَزَّتْ دَعْوَةُ مَنْ دَعَاكُمْ، وَ لَا اسْتَرَاحَ قَلْبُ مَنْ قَاسَاكُمْ. أَعَالِيلُ بِأَضَالِيلَ دِفَاعَ ذِي الدَّيْنِ الْمَطُولِ. لَا يَمْنَعُ الضَّيْمَ الذَّلِيلُ، وَ لَا يُدْرَكُ الْحَقُّ إِلَّا بِالْجِدِّ.
He is not comforted, the one who calls out to you, nor would it find rest, the heart of one who is harsh to you. Reasons with straying (like the one) with the lengthy debts. The disgraced cannot prevent the oppressors, nor can the truth be realised except with the effort.
أَيَّ دَارٍ بَعْدَ دَارِكُمْ تَمْنَعُونَ! وَ مَعَ أَيِّ إِمَامٍ بَعْدِي تُقَاتِلُونَ! الْمَغْرُورُ وَ اللَّهِ مَنْ غَرَرْتُمُوهُ وَ مَنْ فَازَ بِكُمْ [فَقَدْ] فَازَ [وَ اللَّهِ-] بِالسَّهْمِ الْأَخْيَبِ، وَ مَنْ رَمَى بِكُمْ فَقَدْ رَمَى بِأَفْوَقَ نَاصِلٍ.
Which house after your houses will you be defending? And with which leader after me-asws will you be fighting? By Allah-azwj! The deceived is the one you are deceiving and the one, who succeeds with you so, by Allah-azwj, he has succeeded with the disappointed (broken) arrows, and the one who shoots at you so he has shot with the superior shooting.
أَصْبَحْتُ وَ اللَّهِ- لَا أُصَدِّقُ قَوْلَكُمْ، وَ لَا أَطْمَعُ فِي نَصْرِكُمْ، وَ لَا أُوعِدُ الْعَدُوَّ بِكُمْ. مَا بَالُكُمْ؟ مَا دَوَاؤُكُمْ؟ مَا طِبُّكُمْ؟ الْقَوْمُ رِجَالٌ أَمْثَالُكُمْ. أَ قَوْلًا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ؟ وَ غَفْلةً مِنْ غَيْرِ وَرَعٍ؟ وَ طَمَعاً فِي غَيْرِ حَقٍّ!.
By Allah-azwj! I-asws have become such, I-asws can neither ratify your words nor do I-asws covet regarding your help, nor can I-asws threaten any enemy with you. What is the matter with you all? What is your cure? What is your medicine? The people (enemies) are men like you. Are (these) words without knowledge? And heedlessness from without devoutness? And an eagerness without right!’’[61]
[934] – شَا: [وَ] مِنْ كَلَامِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي اسْتِبْطَاءِ مَنْ قَعَدَ عَنْ نُصْرَتِهِ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ الْمُجْتَمِعَةُ أَبْدَانُهُمْ [وَ سَاقَ الْخُطْبَةَ الشَّرِيفَةَ] إِلَى قَوْلِهِ وَ فِعْلُكُمْ يُطْمِعُ فِيكُمْ عَدُوَّكُمُ الْمُرْتَابَ».
(The book) ‘Al Irshad’ –
‘From a speech of his-asws regarding the delaying by the one sitting back from helping him-asws: ‘O you people, the united of their bodies’ – and continued the noble sermon up to his-asws words: ‘And your deeds are what your enemies are coveting regarding you, the suspicious’.
[ثُمَّ سَاقَهَا] إِلَى قَوْلِهِ: «سَأَلْتُمُونِيَ التَّأْخِيرَ دِفَاعَ ذِي الدَّيْنِ».
Then he continued it to his-asws words: ‘You are asking me of delaying it, like a defence of the one with debts’.
[ثُمَّ سَاقَ الْكَلَامَ] إِلَى قَوْلِهِ: « [لَا] أَطْمَعُ فِي نُصْرَتِكُمْ فَرَّقَ اللَّهُ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكُمْ، وَ أَبْدَلَنِي بِكُمْ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لِي مِنْكُمْ. وَ اللَّهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ لِي بِكُلِّ عَشَرَةٍ مِنْكُمْ رَجُلًا مِنْ بَنِي فِرَاسِ بْنِ غَنْمٍ، صَرْفَ الدِّينَارِ بِالدِّرْهَمِ.
Then he continued the speech up to his-asws words: ‘I-asws (no longer) covet regarding your help. May Allah-azwj Separate between me-asws and you, and Replace me-asws with you by the one who is better for me than you are!’ By Allah-azwj! I-asws would love it if for every ten of you there would be one man from the sons of the horsemen of the clan of Ghanim, (like) exchanging for the (one) Dinar by the (ten) Dirhams’’.[62]
بيان: قال الشرّاح لمّا سمع معاوية اختلاف النّاس على عليّ عليه السلام، و تفرّقهم عنه، و قتله من قتل من الخوارج، بعث الضّحاك بن قيس في أربعة آلاف و أوعز إليه بالنّهب و الغارة،
Explanation –
Sharah said, ‘When Muawiya heard of the differing of the people upon Ali-asws and their separating from him-asws, his-asws killing the ones he-asws killed from the Kharijites, he sent Al-Zahhak Bin Qays among four thousand and advised to him with the plundering and the raiding.
فأقبل [الضّحاك] يقتل و ينهب حتّى مرّ بالثّعلبية و أغار على الحاجّ، فأخذ أمتعتهم، و قتل عمرو بن عميس بن مسعود صاحب رسول اللّه صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم، و قتل معه ناسا من أصحابه،
Al-Zahhak came and killed and plundered until he passed by Al-Shalbiya and he raided upon the pilgrims. He seized their belongings and killed Amro Bin Umeyr Bin Masoud, a companion of Rasool-Allah-saww, and killed some people from his companions.
فلمّا بلغ ذلك عليّا عليه السلام، استصرخ أصحابه و استشارهم إلى لقاء العدوّ، فتلكّئوا و رأى منهم فشلا، فخطبهم بهذه الخطبة.
When that reached Ali-asws, he-asws cried out to his-asws companions and indicated to them to meet the enemy. But they were slow and he-asws saw the failure from them, so he-asws addressed them with this sermon’’.[63]
[935] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي اسْتِنْفَارِ النَّاسِ إِلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ: أُفٍّ لَكُمْ! لَقَدْ سَئِمْتُ عِتَابَكُمْ. أَ رَضِيتُمْ بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ عِوَضاً وَ بِالذُّلِّ مِنَ الْعِزِّ خَلَفاً! إِذَا دَعَوْتُكُمْ إِلَى جِهَادِ عَدُوِّكُمْ دَارَتْ أَعْيُنُكُمْ؛ كَأَنَّكُمْ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ فِي غَمْرَةٍ، وَ مِنَ الذُّهُولِ فِي سَكْرَةٍ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah)’ –
‘And from a sermon of his-asws in mobilising the people to the people of Syria: ‘Ugh to you all! I-asws have tired of rebuking you all! Are you pleased with the life of the world instead of the Hereafter, and with disgrace rather than the honour in replacement? When I-asws am calling you to fight the enemy, your eyes roll as if you are in the difficulties of death, and in intoxication from the bewilderment.
يُرْتَجُ عَلَيْكُمْ حِوَارِي فَتَعْمَهُونَ؛ فَكَأَنَّ قُلُوبَكُمْ مَأْلُوسَةٌ، فَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْقِلُونَ. مَا أَنْتُمْ لِي بِثِقَةٍ سَجِيسَ اللَّيَالِي، وَ مَا أَنْتُمْ بِرُكْنٍ يُمَالُ بِكُمْ وَ لَا زَوَافِرُ عِزٍّ يُفْتَقَرُ إِلَيْكُمْ. مَا أَنْتُمْ إِلَّا كَإِبِلٍ ضَلَّ رُعَاتُهَا، فَكُلَّمَا جُمِعَتْ مِنْ جَانِبٍ انْتَشَرَتْ مِنْ آخَرَ.
My dialogues is being promoted unto you, but you are stunned, it is as if your hearts are disparaging so you are not using your intellects. You are not trustworthy for me-asws to do Sajdah in my-asws nights, and you are pillars one can lean with you, nor are you mean of honour one can come to you. You are not except like camels lost by its shepherd, so every time he gathers from one side, you disperse from the other (side).
لَبِئْسَ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ سُعْرُ نَارِ الْحَرْبِ أَنْتُمْ! تُكَادُونَ وَ لَا تَكِيدُونَ، وَ تُنْتَقَصُ أَطْرَافُكُمْ فَلَا تَمْتَعِضُونَ. لَا يُنَامُ عَنْكُمْ وَ أَنْتُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ سَاهُونَ [لَاهُونَ «خ»] غُلِبَ وَ اللَّهِ الْمُتَخَاذِلُونَ.
By Allah-azwj! Worse igniters of the war you are! You are being plotted against and you are not installing/planting (safeguards), and your boundaries are being reduced but you are not resentful. You are not being slept from (what is happening around you) and you are in heedlessness, forgetful. By Allah-azwj! The abandoners would be overcome.
وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ، إِنِّي لَأَظُنُّ بِكُمْ أَنْ لَوْ حَمِسَ الْوَغَى، وَ اسْتَحَرَّ الْمَوْتُ، قَدِ انْفَرَجْتُمْ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ انْفِرَاجَ الرَّأْسِ مِنَ الْجَسَدِ.
And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! I-asws think with you that if the battle rages and the death hovers, you would separate from the son-asws of Abu Talib-asws like the separation of the head from the body.
وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ امْرَأً يُمَكِّنُ عَدُوَّهُ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ، يَعْرُقُ لَحْمَهُ، وَ يَهْشِمُ عَظْمَهُ، وَ يَفْرِي جِلْدَهُ، لَعَظِيمٌ عَجْزُهُ، ضَعِيفٌ مَا ضُمَّتْ عَلَيْهِ جَوَانِحُ صَدْرِهِ، أَنْتَ فَكُنْ ذَاكَ إِنْ شِئْتَ، فَأَمَّا أَنَا فَوَ اللَّهِ دُونَ أَنْ أُعْطِيَ ذَلِكَ ضَرْبٌ بِالْمَشْرَفِيَّةِ يَطِيرُ مِنْهُ فَرَاشُ الْهَامِ، وَ تَطِيحُ السَّوَاعِدُ وَ الْأَقْدَامُ، وَ يَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ ما يَشاءُ
By Allah-azwj! A person who enables his enemy from himself, remove his flesh, and crush his bones, and peel off his skin, his frustration would be great, too weak from what is being pressed upon him on the sides of his chest. You can be like it you so desire, as for I-asws, by Allah-azwj, would be besides from that coming (to me-asws). I-asws shall strike with the noble (sword), the skulls of the important ones would fly from it, and the hand and the feet would be cut by it, and Allah-azwj will Do after that whatever He-azwj so Desires to.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّ لِي عَلَيْكُمْ حَقّاً، وَ لَكُمْ عَلَيَّ حَقٌّ. فَأَمَّا حَقُّكُمْ [عَلَيَ] فَالنَّصِيحَةُ لَكُمْ، وَ تَوْفِيرُ فَيْئِكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ، وَ تَعْلِيمُكُمْ كَيْلَا تَجْهَلُوا، وَ تَأْدِيبُكُمْ كَيْمَا تَعْلَمُوا [تعلموا «خ»].
O you people! There is a right for me-asws upon you all, and there are rights for you upon me-asws. As for your rights upon me-asws, it is the advising to you and fulfilling your war booty upon you, and reaching you lest you be ignorant, and educate you so that you may be learned.
وَ أَمَّا حَقِّي عَلَيْكُمْ، فَالْوَفَاءُ بِالْبَيْعَةِ، وَ النَّصِيحَةُ فِي الْمَشْهَدِ وَ الْمَغِيبِ، وَ الْإِجَابَةُ حِينَ أَدْعُوكُمْ، وَ الطَّاعَةُ حِينَ آمُرُكُمْ.
And as for my-asws rights upon you, it is the loyalty with the allegiance, and the good advice during the presence and the absence, and the answering when I-asws call out to you, and the obedience when I-asws instruct you’’.[64]
بيان: رُوِيَ أَنَّهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ خَطَبَ بِهَذِهِ الْخُطْبَةِ بَعْدَ فَرَاغِهِ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْخَوَارِجِ، بِالنَّهْرَوَانِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ قَالَ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى قَدْ أَحْسَنَ نَصْرَكُمْ، فَتَوَجَّهُوا مِنْ فَوْرِكُمْ هَذَا إِلَى عَدُوِّكُمْ مِنَ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ.
Explanation –
It is reported that Ali-asws addressed with this sermon after his-asws being free from the matter of the Kharijites at Al-Nahrawan. He-asws praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj and said: ‘As for after, surely Allah-azwj the Exalted has been Good in Helping you, so divert immediately after this to your enemies from the people of Syria’.
فَقَالُوا لَهُ: قَدْ نَفِدَتْ نِبَالُنَا، وَ كَلَّتْ سُيُوفُنَا، ارْجِعْ بِنَا إِلَى مِصْرِنَا لِنُصْلِحَ عُدَّتَنَا، وَ لَعَلَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَزِيدُ فِي عَدَدِنَا مِثْلَ مَنْ هَلَكَ مِنَّا لِنَسْتَعِينَ بِهِ.
They said to him-asws, ‘Our arrows are depleted and our swords are tired (bent). Return with us to our city so we can better our preparations, and perhaps Amir Al-Momineen-asws would (see) an increase in our number like the ones from us who have died, so we can be assisted by it’.
فَأَجَابَهُمْ: يا قَوْمِ ادْخُلُوا الْأَرْضَ الْمُقَدَّسَةَ الَّتِي كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَ لا تَرْتَدُّوا عَلى أَدْبارِكُمْ فَتَنْقَلِبُوا خاسِرِينَ فَتَلَكَّئُوا عَلَيْهِ وَ قَالُوا: إِنَّ الْبَرْدَ شَدِيدٌ. فَقَالَ [لَهُمْ]: إِنَّهُمْ يَجِدُونَ الْبَرْدَ كَمَا تَجِدُونَ،
He-asws answered them: O people! Enter the Holy land which Allah has Prescribed for you and turn not on your backs for then you will be turning back as losers [5:21]. They were sluggish upon him-asws and they said, ‘The cold is severe’. He-asws said to them: ‘They (enemies) are feeling the cold just as you are feeling’.
ثُمَّ تَلَا قَوْلَهُ تَعَالَى قالُوا يا مُوسى إِنَّ فِيها قَوْماً جَبَّارِينَ وَ إِنَّا لَنْ نَدْخُلَها أَبَداً ما دامُوا فِيها فَاذْهَبْ أَنْتَ وَ رَبُّكَ فَقاتِلا إِنَّا هاهُنا قاعِدُونَ
Then he-asws recited Words of the Exalted: They said: O Musa! Surely there are tyrannous people in it, and [5:22] We will never enter it, ever, for as long as they are in it, therefore you and your Lord should both go and fight, we will be sitting over here’ [5:24]’.
فَقَامَ نَاسٌ مِنْهُمْ وَ اعْتَذَرُوا بِكَثْرَةِ الْجِرَاحِ فِي النَّاسِ، وَ طَلَبُوا [مِنْهُ] أَنْ يَرْجِعَ بِهِمْ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ أَيَّاماً ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ [بِهِمْ].
Some people from them stood up and they offered excuses of having a lot of injuries among the people and they sought from him-asws that he-asws should return with them to Al-Kufa for some days, then he-asws should go out with them.
فَرَجَعَ بِهِمْ غَيْرَ رَاضٍ [بِمَا اقْتَرَحُوا] وَ أَنْزَلَهُمُ النُّخَيْلَةَ، وَ أَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَلْزَمُوا مُعَسْكَرَهُمْ، وَ يُقِلُّوا زِيَارَةَ أَهْلِهِمْ، فَلَمْ يَقْبَلُوا وَ دَخَلُوا الْكُوفَةَ حَتَّى لَمْ يَبْقَ مَعَهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ دَخَلَ الْكُوفَةَ فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ
He-asws returned with them happy with what they had suggested, and he-asws descended them at Al-Nukheyla and ordered them that they should stay in their camps, and they should reduce visiting their families. But they did not accepts and they entered Al-Kufa until there did not remain with him-asws except a few. When he-asws saw that, he-asws entered Al-Kufa and addressed the people.
فَقَالَ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسِ! اسْتَعِدُّوا لِقِتَالِ عَدُوٍّ فِي جِهَادِهِمُ الْقُرْبَةُ إِلَى اللَّهِ، وَ دَرْكُ الْوَسِيلَةِ عِنْدَهُ، قَوْمٍ حَيَارَى عَنِ الْحَقِّ لَا يُبْصِرُونَهُ، مُوزَعِينَ بِالْجَوْرِ وَ الظُّلْمِ لَا يَعْدِلُونَ بِهِ، وَ جُفَاةٍ عَنِ الْكِتَابِ، نُكُبٍ عَنِ الدِّينِ، يَعْمَهُونَ فِي الطُّغْيَانِ، وَ يَتَسَكَّعُونَ فِي غَمْرَةِ الضَّلَالَةِ،
He-asws said: ‘O you people! Prepare for the battling the enemy in your Jihad for drawing closer to Allah-azwj, and realising the means in His-azwj Presence, a people confused from the truth not seeing, dispensers of the tyranny and the injustices, not being just with it, and disloyal away from the Book, distressed about the religion, wandering blindly in the despotism, and hanging out being immersed in the straying.
فَ أَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَ مِنْ رِباطِ الْخَيْلِ، وَ تَوَكَّلُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ كَفى بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلًا فَتَرَكَهُمْ أَيَّاماً ثُمَّ خَطَبَهُمْ بِهَذِهِ الْخُطْبَةِ.
So, prepare for them whatever force you are able to and from the equipped cavalry horses, [8:60], and rely upon Allah-azwj, and suffice with Allah-azwj as a Protector!’ He-asws left them for days then addressed them with this sermon’’.[65]
لكن الرّواية وردت بأنّه عليه السّلام خاطب بذلك الأشعث بن قيس، فإنّه قال لعليّ عليه السلام حين [كان] يلوم الناس على تقاعدهم [عنه]-: «هلّا فعلت فعل ابن عفّان!».
But the report has come that he-asws addressed Al-Ash’as Bin Qays with that, for he had said to Ali-asws, when he-asws had blamed the people upon their sitting back from him-asws, ‘Why don’t you-asws do the deed of the son of Affan (Usman)?’
فقال: «إنّ فعل ابن عفّان مخزاة على من لا دين له و لا وثيقة معه، إنّ امرأ مكن عدوّه من نفسه، يهشم عظمه، و يفري جلده لضعيف رأيه، مأفون عقله، فكن ذاك إن أحببت. فأمّا أنا فدون أن أعطي ذاك ضرب بالمشرفيّة».
He-asws said: ‘Surely the deed of the son of Affan is shameful upon the one there is no religion for him nor having anyone trustworthy with him. A man enables his enemy from himself, crushing his bones, and stripping his skin, due to the weakness of his view, defective in his intellect. So be that if you so like to. As for I-asws, I-asws am besides (that). I-asws shall give that a strike with the noble (sword)’’.[66]
[936- 937] — نَهْجٌ: وَ مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي ذَمِّ أَصْحَابِهِ: كَمْ أُدَارِيكُمْ كَمَا تُدَارَى الْبِكَارُ الْعَمِدَةُ، وَ الثِّيَابُ الْمُتَدَاعِيَةُ، كُلَّمَا حِيصَتْ مِنْ جَانِبٍ، تَهَتَّكَتْ مِنْ أُخْرَى.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘And from a speech of his-asws in condemnation of his-asws companions: ‘How much considerate shall I-asws be to you all, just as the camel with a small hump, and the torn clothes, every time it is stitched from one side it tears from the other?
أَ كُلَّمَا أَظَلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ مَنْسِرٌ مِنْ مَنَاسِرِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ، أَغْلَقَ كُلُّ رَجُلٍ مِنْكُمْ بَابَهُ، وَ انْجَحَرَ انْجِحَارَ الضَّبَّةِ فِي جُحْرِهَا، وَ الضَّبُعِ فِي وِجَارِهَا، الذَّلِيلُ وَ اللَّهِ مَنْ نَصَرْتُمُوهُ، وَ مَنْ رَمَى بِكُمْ فَقَدْ رَمَى بِأَفْوَقَ نَاصِلٍ.
Is it every time that a cavalry from the people of Syria hovers over you each man from you would close his door and hide (like) the hiding of the lizard in its hole, and the hyena in its lair? By Allah-azwj! The disgraced is the one whom you help, and the one who shoots with you so he has shot with a broken arrow.
إِنَّكُمْ وَ اللَّهِ لَكَثِيرٌ فِي الْبَاحَاتِ، قَلِيلٌ تَحْتَ الرَّايَاتِ. وَ إِنِّي لَعَالِمٌ بِمَا يُصْلِحُكُمْ وَ يُقِيمُ أَوَدَكُمْ، وَ لَكِنِّي لَا أَرَى إِصْلَاحَكُمْ بِإِفْسَادِ نَفْسِي، أَضْرَعَ اللَّهُ خُدُودَكُمْ، وَ أَتْعَسَ جُدُودَكُمْ، لَا تَعْرِفُونَ الْحَقَّ كَمَعْرِفَتِكُمُ الْبَاطِلَ، وَ لَا تُبْطِلُونَ الْبَاطِلَ كَإِبْطَالِكُمُ الْحَقَّ.
By Allah-azwj! You are a lot in the courtyards, few beneath the flags, and I-asws know what you can be corrected with and your crookedness be straightened, but I-asws shall not correct you by spoiling myself-asws. I-asws beseech to Allah-azwj of your deceit and I-asws am tired of energising you. You are not recognising the truth like your recognition of the falsehood, nor are you invalidating the falsehood like your invalidation of the truth!’’[67]
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي سُحْرَةِ الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي ضُرِبَ فِيهِ: مَلَكَتْنِي عَيْنِي وَ أَنَا جَالِسٌ، فَسَنَحَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا ذَا لَقِيتُ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ مِنَ الْأَوَدِ وَ اللَّدَدِ.
And he-asws said during the pre-dawn in which he-asws was struck: ‘My-asws eyes (slumber) overcame me-asws and I-asws was seated, and Rasool-Allah-saww occurred in my-asws mind. I-asws said: ‘What is this I-asws am facing from your-saww community, from the crookedness and the contention!’
فَقَالَ: «ادْعُ عَلَيْهِمْ». فَقُلْتُ: أَبْدَلَنِي اللَّهُ بِهِمْ خَيْراً لِي مِنْهُمْ، وَ أَبْدَلَهُمْ بِي شَرّاً لَهُمْ مِنِّي.
He-asws said: ‘Supplicated against them!’ I-asws said: ‘May Allah-azwj Replace for me-asws the ones who are better for me-asws than they are, and Replace me-asws with the one who is eviler to them than I-asws am’’.[68]
[938] – نَهْجٌ: مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: «وَ لَئِنْ أَمْهَلَ اللَّهُ الظَّالِمَ، فَلَنْ يَفُوتَ أَخْذُهُ، وَ هُوَ لَهُ بِالْمِرْصَادِ عَلَى مَجَازِ طَرِيقِهِ، وَ بِمَوْضِعِ الشَّجَا مِنْ مَسَاغِ رِيقِهِ.
(The book) ‘Al Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘From a speech of his-asws: ‘And If Allah-azwj were to respite the oppressor, he will never escape from being Seized by Him-azwj, and He-azwj is the ambush to him on the corridor of his path, and the place of distress suffocating his throat.
أَمَا وَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَيَظْهَرَنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمُ عَلَيْكُمْ، لَيْسَ لِأَنَّهُمْ أَوْلَى بِالْحَقِّ مِنْكُمْ، وَ لَكِنْ؛ لِإِسْرَاعِهِمْ إِلَى بَاطِلِ صَاحِبِهِمْ، وَ إِبْطَائِكُمْ عَنْ حَقِّي. وَ لَقَدْ أَصْبَحَتِ الْأُمَمُ تَخَافُ ظُلْمَ رُعَاتِهَا، وَ أَصْبَحْتُ أَخَافُ ظُلْمَ رَعِيَّتِي.
But, by the One-azwj in Whose Hand is my-asws soul! These people will be prevailing over you. They aren’t foremost with the truth than you are, but their master is quickening them to the falsehood, and your delaying from my-asws right; and the communities tend to fear the injustices of its ruler and I-asws have become fearing the injustices of my-asws own citizens.
اسْتَنْفَرْتُكُمْ لِلْجِهَادِ فَلَمْ تَنْفِرُوا، وَ أَسْمَعْتُكُمْ فَلَمْ تَسْمَعُوا، وَ دَعَوْتُكُمْ سِرّاً وَ جَهْراً فَلَمْ تَسْتَجِيبُوا، وَ نَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ فَلَمْ تَقْبَلُوا، أَ شُهُودٌ كَغُيَّابٍ! وَ عَبِيدٌ كَأَرْبَابٍ!
I-asws mobilised you to the Jihad but you did not mobilise, and I-asws made you hear but you did not listen, and I-asws called you secretly and openly but you did not respond, and I-asws advised to you but you did not accept. Are the ones present like the absentees! And the slaves like the master!
أَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمُ الْحِكَمَ فَتَنْفِرُونَ مِنْهَا، وَ أَعِظُكُمْ بِالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْبَالِغَةِ فَتَتَفَرَّقُونَ عَنْهَا، وَ أَحُثُّكُمْ عَلَى جِهَادِ أَهْلِ الْبَغْيِ فَمَا آتِي عَلَى آخِرِ قَوْلِي حَتَّى أَرَاكُمْ مُتَفَرِّقِينَ أَيَادِيَ سَبَا،
I-asws am reciting the wisdom unto you and you are running away from it, and I-asws am advising you with the far reaching preaching(s) but you are dispersing away from it, and I-asws am urging you upon Jihad against the rebellious people but I-asws hardly come to the end of my-asws words until I-asws see you separating like the hands of (people of) Saba.
تَرْجِعُونَ إِلَى مَجَالِسِكُمْ وَ تَتَخَادَعُونَ عَنْ مَوَاعِظِكُمْ، أُقَوِّمُكُمْ غُدْوَةً وَ تَرْجِعُونَ إِلَيَّ عَشِيَّةً كَظَهْرِ الْحَنِيَّةِ [الْحَيَّةِ «خ»] عَجَزَ الْمُقَوِّمُ وَ أَعْضَلَ الْمُقَوَّمُ.
You are returning to your gathering -are deceiving from your preaching(s). I-asws straighten you in the morning and you are returning to me-asws in the evening like the back of the bow. The straightener is frustrated and ones to be straightened are even more crooked.
أَيُّهَا الشَّاهِدَةُ أَبْدَانُهُمْ، الْغَائِبَةُ عَنْهُمْ عُقُولُهُمْ، الْمُخْتَلِفَةُ أَهْوَاؤُهُمْ، الْمُبْتَلَى بِهِمْ أُمَرَاؤُهُمْ! صَاحِبُكُمْ يُطِيعُ اللَّهَ وَ أَنْتُمْ تَعْصُونَهُ، وَ صَاحِبُ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ يَعْصِي اللَّهَ وَ هُمْ يُطِيعُونَهُ لَوَدِدْتُ وَ اللَّهِ أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ صَارَفَنِي بِكُمْ صَرْفَ الدِّينَارِ بِالدِّرْهَمِ، فَأَخَذَ مِنِّي عَشَرَةً مِنْكُمْ وَ أَعْطَانِي رَجُلًا مِنْهُمْ.
O you whose bodies are present, but their minds are absent from them, their desires are different, their leaders are tried with them! Your leader obeys Allah-azwj and you are disobeying him-asws, and the leader of the people of Syrian disobeys Allah-azwj but (still) they are obeying him. I-asws would love it, by Allah-azwj, if Muawiya were to exchange for me-asws with you all like exchanging the Dinar for the Dirhams, so he take ten of you from me-asws and give me one man from them.
يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ، مُنِيتُ مِنْكُمْ بِثَلَاثٍ وَ اثْنَتَيْنِ: صُمٌّ ذَوُو أَسْمَاعٍ، وَ بُكْمٌ ذَوُو كَلَامٍ، وَ عُمْيٌ ذَوُو أَبْصَارٍ، لَا أَحْرَارُ صِدْقٍ عِنْدَ اللِّقَاءِ وَ لَا إِخْوَانُ ثِقَةٍ عِنْدَ الْبَلَاءِ.
O people of Al-Kufa! I-asws have experience from you with three (things) and two – You are deaf despite listening, and mute despite speaking, and blind despite seeing. Neither being sincere supporters during the battle nor trustworthy brothers during the afflictions.
تَرِبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ! يَا أَشْبَاهَ الْإِبِلِ غَابَ عَنْهَا رُعَاتُهَا! كُلَّمَا جُمِعَتْ مِنْ جَانِبٍ تَفَرَّقَتْ مِنْ جَانِبٍ [آخَرَ]، وَ اللَّهِ لَكَأَنِّي بِكُمْ فِيمَا إِخَالُ لَوْ حَمِسَ الْوَغَى، وَ حَمِيَ الضِّرَابُ قَدِ انْفَرَجْتُمْ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ انْفِرَاجَ الْمَرْأَةِ عَنْ قُبُلِهَا.
May your hands (strength) be soiled, O resemblances of the camels whose shepherd is absent from them! Every time they are gathered from one side they separate from another side. By Allah-azwj! It is as if I-asws am with you in my-asws imagination, if the battle flares up and the strikes are heated, you are splitting away from the son-asws of Abu Talib-asws like the splitting of the woman from her (enclave).
وَ إِنِّي لَعَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّي، وَ مِنْهَاجٍ مِنْ نَبِيِّي، وَ إِنِّي لَعَلَى الطَّرِيقِ الْوَاضِحِ أَلْقُطُهُ لَقْطاً.
And I-asws am upon a proof from my-asws Lord-azwj and a manifesto from my-asws Prophet-saww, and I-asws am upon the clear path I-asws stick to absolutely.
انْظُرُوا أَهْلَ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّكُمْ فَالْزَمُوا سَمْتَهُمْ، وَ اتَّبِعُوا أَثَرَهُمْ، فَلَنْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ هُدًى وَ لَنْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي رَدًى، فَإِنْ لَبَدُوا فَالْبُدُوا، وَ إِنْ نَهَضُوا فَانْهَضُوا، وَ لَا تَسْبِقُوهُمْ فَتَضِلُّوا، وَ لَا تَتَأَخَّرُوا عَنْهُمْ فَتَهْلِكُوا.
Look at the People-asws of the Household of your Prophet-saww and necessitate their traits, for they-asws will never exit you from any guidance and will never return you into any ruination. If they-asws sit back, then sit back, but if they-asws get up, then get up, and do not precede them-asws for you will stray, not stay back from them-asws for you will be destroyed.
لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَصْحَابَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَمَا أَرَى أَحَداً مِنْكُمْ يُشْبِهُهُمْ، لَقَدْ كَانُوا يُصْبِحُونَ شُعْثاً غُبْراً، [وَ] قَدْ بَاتُوا سُجَّداً وَ قِيَاماً، يُرَاوِحُونَ بَيْنَ جِبَاهِهِمْ وَ خُدُودِهِمْ، وَ يَقِفُونَ عَلَى مِثْلِ الْجَمْرِ مِنْ ذِكْرِ مَعَادِهِمْ،
I-asws have seen the companions of Muhammad-saww, and I-asws do not see anyone of you resembling them. In the morning they used to be unkempt (scruffy), dusty, and they spent the night performing Sajdah and standing (for Salat), alternating between (prostrating on) their foreheads and their cheeks, and standing upon the like of an ember, from remembrance of their Hereafter.
كَأَنَّ بَيْنَ أَعْيُنِهِمْ رُكَبَ الْمِعْزَى مِنْ طُولِ سُجُودِهِمْ، إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ هَمَلَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ حَتَّى تَبُلَّ جُيُوبَهُمْ، وَ مَادُوا كَمَا يَمِيدُ الشَّجَرُ يَوْمَ الرِّيحِ الْعَاصِفِ، خَوْفاً مِنَ الْعِقَابِ، وَ رَجَاءَ الثَّوَابِ.
It was as if in between their eyes (forehead) was a knee of the goat (mark) from their prolonged Sajdahs. When Allah-azwj the Glorious was mentioned, they eyes filled up until their pockets were drenched, and they were trembling like the shaking of the tree on the day of stormy wind out of fear from the Punishment, and hoping for the Rewards’’.[69]
[939] – نَهْجٌ: وَ مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي ذَمِّ [الْعُصَاةِ مِنْ] أَصْحَابِهِ: أَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا قَضَى مِنْ أَمْرٍ، وَ قَدَّرَ مِنْ فِعْلٍ، وَ عَلَى ابْتِلَائِي بِكُمْ أَيَّتُهَا الْفِرْقَةُ الَّتِي إِذَا أَمَرْتُ لَمْ تُطِعْ، وَ إِذَا دَعَوْتُ لَمْ تُجِبْ،
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘And from a speech of his-asws in condemnation of the disobedient ones from his-asws companions: ‘I-asws praise Allah-azwj upon what He-azwj has Decreed from a Command and pre-Determined from a deed, and upon my-asws being tried with you all. O you sect which when it is ordered, does not obey, and when it is called, does not respond!
إِنْ أُمْهِلْتُمْ [أُهْمِلْتُمْ] خُضْتُمْ، وَ إِنْ حُورِبْتُمْ خُرْتُمْ، وَ إِنِ اجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ عَلَى إِمَامٍ طَعَنْتُمْ، وَ إِنْ أُجِبْتُمْ [أُجِئْتُمْ «خ ل»] إِلَى مُشَاقَّةٍ نَكَصْتُمْ، لَا أَبَا لِغَيْرِكُمْ! مَا تَنْتَظِرُونَ بِنَصْرِكُمْ، وَ الْجِهَادِ عَلَى حَقِّكُمْ! الْمَوْتَ أَوِ الذُّلَّ لَكُمْ!
If you are given respite you engage in vain discourse, and if you are battled against you fall down in weakness, and if the people unite upon a leader you taunt, and if respond to a difficulty you are deficient. May there be no father for others! What are you waiting with your help and the Jihad upon your rights? The death of the disgrace for you!
فَوَ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ جَاءَ يَومِي وَ لَيَأْتِيَنِّي لَيُفَرِّقَنَّ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكُمْ، وَ أَنَا لِصُحْبَتِكُمْ قَالٍ، وَ بِكُمْ غَيْرُ كَثِيرٍ. لِلَّهِ أَنْتُمْ! أَ مَا دِينٌ يَجْمَعُكُمْ، وَ لَا مَحْمِيَةٌ تَشْحَذُكُمْ!
By Allah-azwj! If my-asws day were to come, and it will come, it would separate between me-asws and you, and I-asws am sick of your company, and with you, not a lot. For the Sake of Allah-azwj, you! Is there no religion to unite you, nor any protectorate (settlement) than honours you?
أَ وَ لَيْسَ عَجَباً أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ يَدْعُو الْجُفَاةَ الطَّغَامَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَهُ عَلَى غَيْرِ مَعُونَةٍ وَ لَا عَطَاءٍ، وَ أَنَا أَدْعُوكُمْ وَ أَنْتُمْ تَرِيكَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ بَقِيَّةُ النَّاسِ إِلَى الْمَعُونَةِ أَوْ طَائِفَةٍ مِنَ الْعَطَاءِ، فَتَفَرَّقُونَ عَنِّي وَ تَخْتَلِفُونَ عَلَيَّ! إِنَّهُ لَا يَخْرُجُ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِي رِضًى فَتُرْضُونَهُ، وَ لَا سُخْطٌ فَتَجْتَمِعُونَ عَلَيْهِ، وَ إِنَّ أَحَبَّ مَا أَنَا لَاقٍ إِلَيَّ الْمَوْتُ.
Is it not strange that Muawiya is calling the disloyal, the riff raff, and they are following him without being upon any support or award, and I-asws am calling you and you are the legacy of Al-Islam and remainder of the people, to the support, or a party from the award, and you are separating away from me-asws and are differing upon me-asws! There does not come out to you any instruction from me-asws I-asws am pleased with, so you agree to it, nor any anger so you unite against it, and the most beloved of what I-asws want to encounter is the death.
قَدْ دَارَسْتُكُمُ الْكِتَابَ، وَ فَاتَحْتُكُمُ الْحِجَاجَ، وَ عَرَّفْتُكُمْ مَا أَنْكَرْتُمْ، وَ سَوَّغْتُكُمْ مَا مَجَجْتُمْ، لَوْ كَانَ الْأَعْمَى يَلْحَظُ، أَوِ النَّائِمُ يَسْتَيْقِظُ! وَ أَقْرِبْ بِقَوْمٍ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ بِاللَّهِ قَائِدُهُمْ مُعَاوِيَةُ، وَ مُؤَدِّبُهُمُ ابْنُ النَّابِغَةِ!.
I-asws have taught you the Book and opened for you the arguments, and made you recognise what you were denying, and made you swallow what you had spat out. Even if it was the blind, he would have seen, or the one asleep, he would have awakened. And the closest of the people from the ignorance with Allah-azwj is their leader Muawiya and their discipliner Ibn Al-Nabigha (Amro Bin Al-Aas)!’’[70]
[940] – نَهْجٌ: مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: عِبَادَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّكُمْ وَ مَا تَأْمُلُونَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا أَثْوِيَاءُ مُؤَجَّلُونَ، وَ مَدِينُونَ مُقْتَضَوْنَ، أَجَلٌ مَنْقُوصٌ، وَ عَمَلٌ مَحْفُوظٌ، فَرُبَّ دَائِبٍ مُضَيَّعٌ وَ رُبَّ كَادِحٍ خَاسِرٌ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah)’ –
‘From a sermon of his-asws: ‘Servants of Allah-azwj! You and what you are wishing for from this world, are fixed-term guests, and debtors being called upon to pay. (It is) a short duration, and deeds are being preserved. Perhaps a persevering one would be wasting and perhaps a toiling one would be incurring losses.
وَ قَدْ أَصْبَحْتُمْ فِي زَمَنٍ لَا يَزْدَادُ الْخَيْرُ فِيهِ إِلَّا إِدْبَاراً، وَ الشَّرُّ فِيهِ إِلَّا إِقْبَالًا، وَ الشَّيْطَانُ فِي هَلَاكِ النَّاسِ إِلَّا طَمَعاً، فَهَذَا أَوَانٌ قَوِيَتْ عُدَّتُهُ، وَ عَمَّتْ مَكِيدَتُهُ، وَ أَمْكَنَتْ فَرِيسَتُهُ.
And you have come to be in a time in which the good increasing except in turning around, and the evil (is not increasing) except coming forward, and the Satan-la (is not increasing) in destroying people except in eagerness. So this is a season his-la tools are strengthened, and his-la traps are camouflages, and his-la discernment is enabled.
اضْرِبْ بِطَرْفِكَ حَيْثُ شِئْتَ مِنَ النَّاسِ، فَهَلْ تُبْصِرُ إِلَّا فَقِيراً يُكَابِدُ فَقْراً، أَوْ غَنِيّاً بَدَّلَ نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ كُفْراً، أَوْ بَخِيلًا اتَّخَذَ الْبُخْلَ بِحَقِّ اللَّهِ وَفْراً، أَوْ مُتَمَرِّداً كَأَنَّ بِأُذُنِهِ عَنْ سَمْعِ الْمَوَاعِظِ وَقْراً!
Strike with your eyes wherever you so desire to from the people. Do you see except a poor one suffering in poverty, or a rich one replacing the bounties of Allah-azwj with disbelief, or a miser taking with the miserliness with the rights of Allah-azwj to have plentiful (more), or an insurgent as if he is deaf from hearing the preaching?
أَيْنَ خِيَارُكُمْ وَ صُلَحَاؤُكُمْ وَ أَيْنَ أَحْرَارُكُمْ وَ سُمَحَاؤُكُمْ؟ وَ أَيْنَ الْمُتَوَرِّعُونَ فِي مَكَاسِبِهِمْ، وَ الْمُتَنَزِّهُونَ فِي مَذَاهِبِهِمْ؟ أَ لَيْسَ قَدْ ظَعَنُوا جَمِيعاً عَنْ هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا الدَّنِيَّةِ وَ الْعَاجِلَةِ الْمُنَغِّصَةِ؟ وَ هَلْ خُلِّفْتُمْ إِلَّا فِي حُثَالَةٍ لَا تَلْتَقِي بِذَمِّهِمُ الشَّفَتَانِ اسْتِصْغَاراً لِقَدْرِهِمْ، وَ ذَهَاباً عَنْ ذِكْرِهِمْ!
Where are your good ones and your righteous ones, and where are your free ones and your forgivers? And where are the ones pious in their earnings and the ones of integrity in their doctrines? Haven’t they all departed from this lowly world and the transitory discomfort? And are you left behind except among such refuse, the two lips do not even meet in their condemnation due to their little worth, and have gone away from even mentioning them?
فَ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَيْهِ راجِعُونَ ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فَلَا مُنْكِرٌ مُغَيِّرٌ، وَ لَا زَاجِرٌ مُزْدَجِرٌ. أَ فَبِهَذَا تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تُجَاوِرُوا اللَّهَ فِي دَارِ قُدْسِهِ، وَ تَكُونُوا أَعَزَّ أَوْلِيَائِهِ عِنْدَهُ؟! هَيْهَاتَ! لَا يُخْدَعُ اللَّهُ عَنْ جَنَّتِهِ، وَ لَا تُنَالُ مَرْضَاتُهُ إِلَّا بِطَاعَتِهِ.
So, We are for Allah and we are returning to Him [2:156]. The corruption has appeared, so there is neither any denier to change it nor any rebuke to rebuke it. Is it with this (behaviour) that you would be in the vicinity of Allah-azwj in His-azwj Holy House (Hereafter), and become His-azwj honourable friend in His-azwj Presence?! Far be it! Allah-azwj will not be deceived about His-azwj Paradise, nor can His-azwj Pleasure be attained except by obeying Him-azwj.
لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْآمِرِينَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ التَّارِكِينَ لَهُ، وَ النَّاهِينَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ الْعَامِلِينَ بِهِ.
May Allah-azwj Curse the instructors of the good who are (themselves) neglecters of it, and the forbidders from the evil who (themselves) are the workers with it’’.[71]
[941] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَرْسَلَهُ دَاعِياً إِلَى الْحَقِّ، وَ شَاهِداً عَلَى الْخَلْقِ فَبَلَّغَ رِسَالاتِ رَبِّهِ غَيْرَ وَانٍ وَ لَا مُقَصِّرٍ، وَ جَاهَدَ فِي اللَّهِ أَعْدَاءَهُ غَيْرَ وَاهِنٍ وَ لَا مُعَذِّرٍ، [فَهُوَ] إِمَامُ مَنِ اتَّقَى، وَ بَصَرُ مَنِ اهْتَدَى.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘He-azwj Sent him-saww as a caller to the truth, and as a witness upon the creatures. So, he-saww delivered the Message of his-saww Lord-azwj without any weakness nor deficiency, and he-saww fought in the Way of Allah-azwj against His-azwj enemies without any weakness nor excuse. He-saww is an Imam-saww of the ones who is pious and an insight for the one who is guided’’.
[وَ] مِنْهَا: وَ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا أَعْلَمُ مِمَّا طُوِيَ عَنْكُمْ غَيْبُهُ، إِذاً لَخَرَجْتُمْ إِلَى الصُّعُدَاتِ تَبْكُونَ عَلَى أَعْمَالِكُمْ، وَ تَلْتَدِمُونَ عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ، وَ لَتَرَكْتُمْ أَمْوَالَكُمْ لَا حَارِسَ لَهَا وَ لَا خَالِفَ عَلَيْهَا وَ لَهَمَّتْ كُلَّ امْرِئٍ مِنْكُمْ نَفْسُهُ لَا يَلْتَفِتُ إِلَى غَيْرِهَا.
And from it: ‘And had you known what I-asws know from what its unseen has been folded away from you, when you would have gone out to the high ground crying upon your deeds and beating upon yourselves and neglecting your wealth without there being any guard for it nor a replacement upon it, and every person from you would have been only concerned with himself not turning to others.
وَ لَكِنَّكُمْ نَسِيتُمْ مَا ذُكِّرْتُمْ، وَ أَمِنْتُمْ مَا حُذِّرْتُمْ، فَتَاهَ عَنْكُمْ رَأْيُكُمْ وَ تَشَتَّتَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَمْرُكُمْ.
But you forgot what you had been reminded of and you felt secure what you had been warned from. So, your views strayed away from you and your affairs were scattered upon you.
لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ فَرَّقَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكُمْ، وَ أَلْحَقَنِي بِمَنْ هُوَ أَحَقُّ بِي مِنْكُمْ، قَوْمٌ وَ اللَّهِ مَيَامِينُ الرَّأْيِ، مَرَاجِيحُ الْحِلْمِ، مَقَاوِيلُ بِالْحَقِّ، مَتَارِيكُ لِلْبَغْيِ مَضَوْا قُدُماً عَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ، وَ أَوْجَفُوا عَلَى الْمَحَجَّةِ، فَظَفِرُوا بِالْعُقْبَى الدَّائِمَةِ وَ الْكَرَامَةِ الْبَارِدَةِ.
I would have loved it if Allah-azwj would have Separated between me-asws and you all, and Joined me-asws with the ones who are more rightful with me-asws than you are. By Allah-azwj! They were a people of rightful views, enduring wisdom and speakers with the truth. They neglected the rebellion, continuing ahead upon the path eagerly upon the goal. They won with the end-result, the permanent and the blissful honours.
أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَيُسَلَّطَنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ غُلَامُ ثَقِيفٍ، الذَّيَّالُ الْمَيَّالُ، يَأْكُلُ خَضِرَتَكُمْ، وَ يُذِيبُ شَحْمَتَكُمْ، إِيهٍ أَبَا وَذَحَةَ!.
But, by Allah-azwj! A young boy of (clan of) Saqeef (Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf) will overcome upon you all, the tall, swaggering (arrogant). He would consume your greenery and melt your fat. He would (eventually) be killed by a dung-beetle!’’[72]
قَالَ أَبُو عُمَرَ: وَ أَخْبَرَنِي الْعَطَّافِيُّ عَنْ رِجَالِهِ، قَالُوا: سُئِلَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَنْ هَذَا الصِّنْفِ مِنَ النَّاسِ، فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: رَحِمٌ مَنْكُوسَةٌ، يُؤْتَى وَ لَا يَأْتِي. وَ مَا كَانَتْ هَذِهِ الْخَصْلَةُ فِي وَلِيِّ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى أَبَداً قَطُّ، وَ لَا تَكُونُ أَبَداً وَ إِنَّمَا كَانَتْ فِي الْفُسَّاقِ وَ الْكُفَّارِ وَ النَّاصِبِ لِلطَّاهِرِينَ.
Abu Umar said, ‘And I have been informed by Al Attafi, from his men, they said,
‘Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad Al-Sadiq-asws was asked about this type from the people, he-asws said to them: ‘An inverted womb. He would be – come to -and he would not go to (a woman). And this characteristic does not happen to be in a friend of Allah-azwj the Exalted, ever, at all, nor can it ever happen to be, and rather it happens among the mischief-makers, the Kafirs, the Nasibis (establishers of hostility) to the clean ones’’.[73]
[942] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ قَدْ جَمَعَ النَّاسَ وَ حَضَّهُمْ عَلَى الْجِهَادِ، فَسَكَتُوا مَلِيّاً، فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: مَا بَالُكُمْ! أَ مُخْرَسُونَ أَنْتُمْ!
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘And from a speech of his-asws, and the people had gathered, and he-asws urged them upon the Jihad, but they were silent for a while. He-asws said: ‘What is the matter with you all? Are you all mute?’
فَقَالَ قَوْمٌ مِنْهُمْ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنْ سِرْتَ سِرْنَا مَعَكَ!
A group from them said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! If you-asws were to travel, we would travel with you-asws!’
فَقَالَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ]: مَا بَالُكُمْ- لَا سُدِّدْتُمْ لِرُشْدٍ وَ لَا هُدِيتُمْ لِقَصْدٍ؟ أَ فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا يَنْبَغِي لِي أَنْ أَخْرُجَ! وَ إِنَّمَا يَخْرُجُ فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا رَجُلٌ مِمَّنْ أَرْضَاهُ مِنْ شُجْعَانِكُمْ وَ ذَوِي بَأْسِكُمْ،
He-asws said: ‘What is the matter with you all? Neither you are being led to the rightful guidance nor are you being guided to an aim? Is it in the like of this appropriate for me-asws that I-asws go out? And rather he should go out in the like of this, a man I-asws agree with from your brave ones and your ones with the prowess.
وَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِي أَنْ أَدَعَ الْجُنْدَ وَ الْمِصْرَ وَ بَيْتَ الْمَالِ وَ جِبَايَةَ الْخَرَاجِ وَ الْقَضَاءَ بَيْنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ النَّظَرَ فِي حُقُوقِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ [الْمُطَالِبِينَ «خ ل»] ثُمَّ أَخْرُجَ فِي كَتِيبَةٍ أَتْبَعُ أُخْرَى، أَتَقَلْقَلُ تَقَلْقُلَ الْقِدْحِ فِي الْجَفِيرِ الْفَارِغِ،
And is it befitting for me-asws that I-asws leave the army, and the city, and public treasury, and collection of the taxes, and the judging between the Muslims, and the consideration in the rights of the Muslims (the seekers), then I-asws should be going out in a battalion to pursue another (battalion), moving around (like) the featherless arrow moving around in a quiver.
وَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا قُطْبُ الرَّحَى تَدُورُ عَلَيَّ، وَ أَنَا بِمَكَانِي، فَإِذَا فَارَقْتُهُ اسْتَحَارَ مَدَارُهَا، وَ اضْطَرَبَ ثِفَالُهَا، هَذَا لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ الرَّأْيُ السُّوءُ.
And rather I-asws am the axis of the mill rotating around me-asws, and I-asws am in my-asws place. So, when I-asws separate from it, its rotation would be boggled, and its sediment would be restless. By the Life (given to me-asws) by Allah-azwj! This (what you are telling me-asws), is the evil view.
وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ لَا رَجَائِي الشَّهَادَةَ عِنْدَ لِقَائِي الْعَدُوَّ لَوْ قَدْ حُمَّ لِي لِقَاؤُهُ لَقَرَّبْتُ رِكَابِي، ثُمَّ شَخَصْتُ عَنْكُمْ فَلَا أَطْلُبُكُمْ مَا اخْتَلَفَ جَنُوبٌ وَ شَمَالٌ.
By Allah-azwj! Had it not been for my-asws wish for the martyrdom during my-asws meeting the enemy, if it had been Decreed for me-asws to meet him, I-asws would have drawn my-asws closer my-asws ride, then I-asws would have gone away from you. I-asws would not seek you for as long at the south is opposite the north.
[طَعَّانِينَ عَيَّابِينَ حَيَّادِينَ رَوَّاغِينَ]. إِنَّهُ لَا غَنَاءَ فِي كَثْرَةِ عَدَدِكُمْ مَعَ قِلَّةِ اجْتِمَاعِ قُلُوبِكُمْ. لَقَدْ حَمَلْتُكُمْ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ الْوَاضِحِ الَّتِي لَا يَهْلِكُ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا هَالِكٌ، مَنِ اسْتَقَامَ فَإِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَ مَنْ زَلَّ فَإِلَى النَّارِ.
(You are) accusers, faulters, indifferent, conspirators! There is no enrichment in the abundance of your numbers along with the scarcity of the unity of your hearts. I-asws have carried you upon the clear path which none would be destroyed upon it except the self-destructor. One who is steadfast, so he would be to the Paradise, and one who slips, he would be to the Fire’’.[74]
[943] – نَهْجٌ: مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّا قَدْ أَصْبَحْنَا فِي دَهْرٍ عَنُودٍ، وَ زَمَنٍ شَدِيدٍ، يُعَدُّ فِيهِ الْمُحْسِنُ مُسِيئاً، وَ يَزْدَادُ الظَّالِمُ فِيهِ عُتُوّاً، لَا نَنْتَفِعُ بِمَا عَلِمْنَا، وَ لَا نَسْأَلُ عَمَّا جَهِلْنَا، وَ لَا نَتَخَوَّفُ قَارِعَةً حَتَّى تَحُلَّ بِنَا،
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘O you people! We have come to be in an era of stubbornness, and severely difficult times. The good doer is counted in it as an evil doer, and in it the oppressor is being increasingly excessive. Neither are we benefitting from what we know nor are we asking about what we are ignorant of, nor are we fearing a calamity until it befalls us.
فَالنَّاسُ عَلَى أَرْبَعَةِ أَصْنَافٍ: مِنْهُمْ مَنْ لَا يَمْنَعُهُ الْفَسَادَ فِي الْأَرْضِ، إِلَّا مَهَانَةُ نَفْسِهِ وَ كَلَالَةُ حَدِّهِ وَ نَضِيضُ وَفْرِهِ.
The people are upon four types – From them is one whom nothing prevents him from the mischief in the earth except meekness (gentleness) of his self, and the weakness of his limitations, and lack of plentiful (wealth).
وَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُصْلِتُ بِسَيْفِهِ وَ الْمُعْلِنُ بِشَرِّهِ [بِسِرِّهِ «خ»] وَ الْمُجْلِبُ بِخَيْلِهِ وَ رَجِلِهِ، قَدْ أَشْرَطَ نَفْسَهُ وَ أَوْبَقَ دِينَهُ لِحُطَامٍ يَنْتَهِزُهُ، أَوْ مِقْنَبٍ يَقُودُهُ، أَوْ مِنْبَرٍ يَفْرَعُهُ، وَ لَبِئْسَ الْمَتْجَرُ أَنْ تَرَى الدُّنْيَا لِنَفْسِكَ ثَمَناً، وَ مِمَّا لَكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عِوَضاً.
And from them is the one who overcomes with his sword, and is open with his evil, and the fetcher with his cavalry and his infantry. He has sold his soul and ruined his religion for the wealth he seizes, or an army he leads, or a pulpit he can ascend, and evil is the trade that he sees the world to be a price for his soul, and from what there is for you in the Presence of Allah-azwj as replacement.
وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَطْلُبُ الدُّنْيَا بِعَمَلِ الْآخِرَةِ، وَ لَا يَطْلُبُ الْآخِرَةَ بِعَمَلِ الدُّنْيَا. قَدْ طَأْمَنَ مِنْ شَخْصِهِ، وَ قَارَبَ مِنْ خَطْوِهِ، وَ شَمَّرَ مِنْ ثَوْبِهِ، وَ زَخْرَفَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ لِلْأَمَانَةِ، وَ اتَّخَذَ سِتْرَ اللَّهِ ذَرِيعَةً إِلَى الْمَعْصِيَةِ.
And from them is one who seeks the word by the work of the Hereafter, and he does not seek the Hereafter with the work of the world. He reassures himself and small is his steps, and rolls up his clothes, and adorns himself for the entrustments, and takes the Veil of Allah-azwj as a means to the disobedience.
وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَقْعَدَهُ عَنْ طَلَبِ الْمُلْكِ ضُئُولَةُ نَفْسِهِ، وَ انْقِطَاعُ سَبَبِهِ، فَقَصَرَتْهُ الْحَالُ عَلَى [عَنْ «خ»] حَالِهِ، فَتَحَلَّى بِاسْمِ الْقَنَاعَةِ وَ تَزَيَّنَ بِلِبَاسِ أَهْلِ الزَّهَادَةِ، وَ لَيْسَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فِي مَرَاحٍ وَ لَا مَغْدًى.
And from them is one sits back from seeking the kingdom due to weakness of his self, and cutting off of his causes, so the situation reduces him to be upon his state. He gives it the name of contentment and adorns with the apparent of the ascetic people, and he isn’t from that in neither any exuberance (energy) nor any such quality.
وَ بَقِيَ رِجَالٌ غَضَّ أَبْصَارَهُمْ ذِكْرُ الْمَرْجِعِ، وَ أَرَاقَ دُمُوعَهُمْ خَوْفُ الْمَحْشَرِ، فَهُمْ بَيْنَ شَرِيدٍ نَادٍّ، وَ خَائِفٍ مَقْمُوعٍ، وَ سَاكِتٍ مَكْعُومٍ، وَ دَاعٍ مُخْلِصٍ، وَ ثَكْلَانَ مُوجَعٍ، قَدْ أَخْمَلَتْهُمُ التَّقِيَّةُ، وَ شَمِلَتْهُمُ الذِّلَّةُ.
And there remains men who close their eyes remembering the return, and their tears flow in fear of the Resurrection. They are between a displaced club, and fearfully suppressed, and gagged into silence, and sincerely supplicating, and in painful bereavement. The dissimulation has deactivated them and the humiliation has covered them.
فَهُمْ فِي بَحْرٍ أُجَاجٍ، أَفْوَاهُهُمْ ضَامِزَةٌ وَ قُلُوبُهُمْ قَرِحَةٌ، قَدْ وَعَظُوا حَتَّى مَلُّوا، وَ قُهِرُوا حَتَّى ذَلُّوا، وَ قُتِلُوا حَتَّى قَلُّوا.
Thus, they are in a bitter ocean, their mouths are closed tight, and their hearts are sore. They advised until they were fed up, and they were coerced until they were humiliated, and they were killed until they were few (left).
فَلْتَكُنِ الدُّنْيَا أَصْغَرَ فِي أَعْيُنِكُمْ مِنْ حُثَالَةِ الْقَرَظِ وَ قُرَاضَةِ الْجَلَمِ، وَ اتَّعِظُوا بِمَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَّعِظَ بِكُمْ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ، وَ ارْفُضُوهَا ذَمِيمَةً فَإِنَّهَا قَدْ رَفَضَتْ مَنْ كَانَ أَشْغَفَ بِهِ مِنْكُمْ.
So, let the world be smaller in your eyes than rubbish scum, and leather trimmings, and take advice from the ones who were before you, before advice is taken from you by the ones to come after you, and refuse it reprehensibly for it has rejected the ones who were more in love with it than you are!’’[75]
[944] – نَهْجٌ: مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: إِنَّ الْوَفَاءَ تَوْأَمُ الصِّدْقِ، وَ لَا أَعْلَمُ جُنَّةً أَوْقَى مِنْهُ، وَ لَا يَغْدِرُ مَنْ عَلِمَ كَيْفَ الْمَرْجِعُ. وَ لَقَدْ أَصْبَحْنَا فِي زَمَانٍ قَدِ اتَّخَذَ أَكْثَرُ أَهْلِهِ الْغَدْرَ كَيْساً، وَ نَسَبَهُمْ أَهْلُ الْجَهْلِ فِيهِ إِلَى حُسْنِ الْحِيلَةِ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘From a sermon of his-asws: ‘The loyalty is a twin of sincerity, and I-asws do not know of any shield more saving than it, nor will he betray, one who know how is the return. We have come to be in such an err, most of its people have taken the treachery as being cleverness, and the people of ignorance have attributed them to ‘a good trick’ during it.
مَا لَهُمْ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ! قَدْ يَرَى الْحُوَّلُ الْقُلَّبُ وَجْهَ الْحِيلَةِ، وَ دُونَهُ مَانِعٌ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ وَ نَهْيِهِ فَيَدَعُهَا رَأْيَ عَيْنٍ بَعْدَ الْقُدْرَةِ عَلَيْهَا، وَ يَنْتَهِزُ فُرْصَتَهَا مَنْ لَا حَرِيجَةَ لَهُ فِي الدِّينِ.
What is the matter with them? May Allah-azwj Fight them! They see the turning of the heart from a perspective of a trick? And besides it, it is a prevented from the Commands of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Prohibitions, so he gives it a glance of an eye after having the ability upon it, and he takes advantage of the opportunity, one there is no piety for him in the religion’’.[76]
[945] – نَهْجٌ: مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي ذَمِّ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ يَا أَهْلَ الْعِرَاقِ، فَإِنَّمَا أَنْتُمْ كَالْمَرْأَةِ الْحَامِلِ، حَمَلَتْ فَلَمَّا أَتَمَّتْ أَمْلَصَتْ وَ مَاتَ قَيِّمُهَا، وَ طَالَ تَأَيُّمُهَا وَ وَرِثَهَا أَبْعَدُهَا.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘And from a speech of his-asws in condemnation of the people of Al-Iraq: ‘As for after, O people of Al-Iraq! Rather, you are like the pregnant woman who bears. When it is completed, it is a stillbirth, and her custodian (husband) has died, and her widowhood prolongs, and the remote ones inherit her.
أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَتَيْتُكُمُ اخْتِيَاراً، وَ لَكِنْ جِئْتُ إِلَيْكُمْ سَوْقاً. وَ لَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكُمْ تَقُولُونَ: «عَلِيٌّ يَكْذِبُ»، قَاتَلَكُمُ اللَّهُ فَعَلَى مَنْ أَكْذِبُ أَ عَلَى اللَّهِ! فَأَنَا أَوَّلُ مَنْ آمَنَ بِهِ! أَمْ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ فَأَنَا أَوَّلُ مَنْ صَدَّقَهُ!
But, by Allah-azwj! I-asws did not come to you by choice, but I-asws came to you having pushed. And it has reached me that you are saying, ‘Ali-asws is a liar!’ May Allah-azwj Fight you! Upon whom have I-asws lied? Is it upon Allah-azwj! I-asws am the first one to believe in Him-azwj! Or upon His-azwj Prophet-saww? But, I-asws am the first one to ratify him-saww!
كَلَّا وَ اللَّهِ، وَ لَكِنَّهَا لَهْجَةٌ غِبْتُمْ عَنْهَا وَ لَمْ تَكُونُوا مِنْ أَهْلِهَا، وَيْلُ أُمِّهِ كَيْلًا بِغَيْرِ ثَمَنٍ لَوْ كَانَ لَهُ وِعَاءٌ! وَ لَتَعْلَمُنَّ نَبَأَهُ بَعْدَ حِينٍ.
Never, by Allah-azwj! But it is a tone you are absent from it, and you do not happen to be from its people. Woe be unto his mother! I-asws am speaking without (charging) a price, if only there were retainers for it, And you will come to know his News after a while [38:88]’’.[77]
[946] – نَهْجٌ: مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ لَمْ يَقْصِمْ جَبَّارِي دَهْرٍ قَطُّ، إِلَّا بَعْدَ تَمْهِيلٍوَ رَخَاءٍ. وَ لَمْ يَجْبُرْ عَظْمَ أَحَدٍ مِنَ الْأُمَمِ، إِلَّا بَعْدَ أَزْلٍ وَ بَلَاءٍ. وَ فِي دُونِ مَا اسْتَقْبَلْتُمْ مِنْ خَطْبٍ [عَتْبٍ «خ»] وَ اسْتَدْبَرْتُمْ مِنْ خَطْبٍ [خِصْبٍ «خ»] مُعْتَبَرٌ، وَ مَا كُلُّ ذِي قَلْبٍ بِلَبِيبٍ، وَ لَا كُلُّ ذِي سَمْعٍ بِسَمِيعٍ، وَ لَا كُلُّ ذِي نَاظِرٍ بِبَصِيرٍ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘As for after, surely Allah-azwj the Glorious did not Break the tyrants of the time at all except after respite and ease, and did not Mend the bones of anyone from the communities except after sufferings and afflictions, and in besides what faced from an affliction and turned around from an affliction taking a lesson, and not everyone with a heart understands, nor everyone with an ear would hear, nor everyone with looking would be insightful.
فَيَا عَجَباً! وَ مَا لِيَ لَا أَعْجَبُ مِنْ خَطَإِ هَذِهِ الْفِرَقِ عَلَى اخْتِلَافِ حُجَجِهَا فِي دِينِهَا، لَا يَقْتَصُّونَ أَثَرَ نَبِيٍّ وَ لَا يَقْتَدُونَ بِعَمَلِ وَصِيٍّ، وَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِغَيْبٍ، وَ لَا يَعِفُّونَ عَنْ عَيْبٍ يَعْمَلُونَ فِي الشُّبُهَاتِ وَ يَسِيرُونَ فِي الشَّهَوَاتِ، الْمَعْرُوفُ فِيهِمْ مَا عَرَفُوا، وَ الْمُنْكَرُ عِنْدَهُمْ مَا أَنْكَرُوا،
Oh how strange! And why should I-asws not wonder from the mistakes of this sect upon its different arguments in its religion. Neither are they aiming for the footsteps of any Prophet-as nor are they following with the deeds of any successor-as, nor are they believing in the unseen, nor are they excusing from any fault. They are working in suspicions and are conducting in lustful desires. The good among them is what they recognise (as being good) and the evil in their presence is what they are denying (as being evil).
مَفْزَعُهُمْ فِي الْمُعْضِلَاتِ إِلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ، وَ تَعْوِيلُهُمْ فِي الْمُبْهَمَاتِ عَلَى آرَائِهِمْ، كَأَنَّ كُلَّ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمْ إِمَامُ نَفْسِهِ، قَدْ أَخَذَ مِنْهَا فِيمَا يَرَى بِعُرًى وَثِيقَاتٍ وَ أَسْبَابٍ مُحْكَمَاتٍ.
Their sheltering during the dilemmas is to themselves, and they are interpreting regarding the vague matters are by their own opinions. It is as if every person from them is an imam until himself. He has taken from it regarding what he sees as being trustworthy handholds, and decisive causes’’.[78]
[947] – نَهْجٌ: مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي خِطَابِ أَصْحَابِهِ: وَ قَدْ بَلَغْتُمْ مِنْ كَرَامَةِ اللَّهِ مَنْزِلَةً، تُكْرَمُ بِهَا إِمَاؤُكُمْ، وَ تُوصَلُ بِهَا جِيرَانُكُمْ، وَ يُفَضِّلُكُمْ مَنْ لَا فَضْلَ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا يَدَ لَكُمْ عِنْدَهُ، وَ يَهَابُكُمْ مَنْ لَا يَخَافُ لَكُمْ سَطْوَةً وَ لَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِمْرَةٌ،
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘And you have reached such a status from the Honour of Allah-azwj, your maids are being honoured due to it, and your neighbours are being connected due to it, and he is meriting you, one whom there are no merits for you over him nor is there any hand (of favour) for you in his presence, and he is fearing you, one who is neither fearing a whip of yours nor is there any government for you upon him.
وَ قَدْ تَرَوْنَ عُهُودَ اللَّهِ مَنْقُوضَةً فَلَا تَغْضَبُونَ، وَ أَنْتُمْ لِنَقْضِ ذِمَمِ آبَائِكُمْ تَأْنَفُونَ. وَ كَانَتْ أُمُورُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ تَرِدُ وَ عَنْكُمْ تَصْدُرُ وَ إِلَيْكُمْ تَرْجِعُ، فَمَكَّنْتُمُ الظَّلَمَةَ مِنْ مَنْزِلَتِكُمْ، وَ أَلْقَيْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَزِمَّتَكُمْ، وَ أَسْلَمْتُمْ أُمُورَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ،
And you have seen the Pacts of Allah-azwj being broken but you are not enraged, and you are getting angered at the breaking of your father’s traditions. And the matters of Allah-azwj are being referred to you and they are being issued from you and returning to you. You are enabling the oppressors from your statuses and you have thrown (all) your responsibilities to them, and have submitted the matters of Allah-azwj to be in their hands.
يَعْمَلُونَ بِالشُّبُهَاتِ وَ يَسِيرُونَ فِي الشَّهَوَاتِ. وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْ فَرَّقُوكُمْ تَحْتَ كُلِّ كَوْكَبٍ، لَجَمَعَكُمُ اللَّهُ لِشَرِّ يَوْمٍ لَهُمْ.
They are working with the suspicious matters and are indulging in the lustful desires. And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! Even if they were to separate you beneath every star, Allah-azwj would Gather you for a day of evil for them’’.[79]
[948] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: وَ لَقَدْ عَلِمَ الْمُسْتَحْفَظُونَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، أَنِّي لَمْ أَرُدَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَ لَا عَلَى رَسُولِهِ سَاعَةً قَطُّ، وَ لَقَدْ وَاسَيْتُهُ [آسَيْتُهُ «خ»] فِي الْمَوَاطِنِ الَّتِي تَنْكُصُ فِيهَا الْأَبْطَالُ، وَ تَتَأَخَّرُ الْأَقْدَامُ، نَجْدَةً أَكْرَمَنِي اللَّهُ بِهَا.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Balagah) –
‘And from a speech of his-asws: ‘And the memorisers from the companions of Muhammad-saww have known that I-asws was neither disobedient to Allah-azwj the Glorious nor to His-azwj Rasool-saww at all, and I-asws had comforted him-saww in such places the heroes were deficient in it, and the feet hesitated, being a help Allah-azwj had Honoured me-asws with it.
وَ لَقَدْ قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ إِنَّ رَأْسَهُ لَعَلَى صَدْرِي، وَ قَدْ سَالَتْ نَفْسُهُ فِي كَفِّي، فَأَمْرَرْتُهَا عَلَى وَجْهِي. وَ لَقَدْ وُلِّيتُ غُسْلَهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَعْوَانِي، فَضَجَّتِ الدَّارُ وَ الْأَفْنِيَةُ، مَلَأٌ يَهْبِطُ وَ مَلَأٌ يَعْرُجُ، وَ مَا فَارَقَتْ سَمْعِي هَيْنَمَةٌ مِنْهُمْ، يُصَلُّونَ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى وَارَيْنَاهُ فِي ضَرِيحِهِ.
And Rasool-Allah-saww passed away and his-saww head was upon my-asws chest, and his breath flowed into my-asws palm and I-asws passed it upon my-asws face. And I-asws had been in charge of his-saww washing and the Angels assisted me-asws. The house and the courtyards were filled with their buzz, an assembly descending and an assembly ascending, and my-asws ears did not separate from the humming from them. They were praying Salat upon him-asws until we buried him-saww in his-saww shrine.
فَمَنْ ذَا أَحَقُّ بِهِ مِنِّي حَيّاً وَ مَيِّتاً، فَانْفُذُوا عَلَى بَصَائِرِكُمْ، وَ لْتَصْدُقْ نِيَّاتُكُمْ فِي جِهَادِ عَدُوِّكُمْ، فَوَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ، إِنِّي لَعَلَى جَادَّةِ الْحَقِّ، وَ إِنَّهُمْ لَعَلَى مَزَلَّةِ الْبَاطِلِ. أَقُولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ [الْعَظِيمَ «خ»] لِي وَ لَكُمْ.
So who is that more rightful with him-saww than me-asws, alive and dead? Go upon your insights and make your intentions to be sincere in fighting your enemies. By the One-azwj Who, there is no god except He-azwj! I-asws am upon the avenue of truth and they are upon subservience of the falsehood. I-asws am saying what you are hearing, and I-asws seek Forgiveness of Allah-azwj the Magnificent for me-asws and you all’’.[80]
[949] — نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَيُّهَا [أَيَّتُهَا «خ»] النُّفُوسُ الْمُخْتَلِفَةُ، وَ الْقُلُوبُ الْمُتَشَتِّتَةُ الشَّاهِدَةُ أَبْدَانُهُمْ، وَ الْغَائِبَةُ عَنْهُمْ عُقُولُهُمْ، أَظْأَرُكُمْ عَلَى الْحَقِّ وَ أَنْتُمْ تَنْفِرُونَ عَنْهُ نُفُورَ الْمِعْزَى مِنْ وَعْوَعَةِ الْأَسَدِ، هَيْهَاتَ! أَنْ أَطْلَعَ بِكُمْ سَرَارَ الْعَدْلِ، أَوْ أُقِيمَ اعْوِجَاجَ الْحَقِّ.
(The book) (Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘From a speech of his-asws: ‘O you separated souls and scattered hearts, their bodies are present and their intellects are absent from them. I-asws am showing you the truth and you are fleeing from it (like) the fleeing of the goats from roaring of the lion. Far be it, that I-asws (be able to) notify you upon the secrets of justice or straighten out the crookedness of the truth (among you).
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنِ الَّذِي كَانَ مِنَّا مُنَافَسَةً فِي سُلْطَانٍ، وَ لَا الْتِمَاسَ شَيْءٍ مِنْ فُضُولِ الْحُطَامِ؛ وَ لَكِنْ لِنَرِدَ الْمَعَالِمَ مِنْ دِينِكَ، وَ نُظْهِرَ الْإِصْلَاحَ فِي بِلَادِكَ؛ فَيَأْمَنَ الْمَظْلُومُونَ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ؛ وَ تُقَامَ الْمُعَطَّلَةُ مِنْ حُدُودِكَ.
O Allah-azwj! Surely, that which happened from us did not happen to be a competing regarding the authority, nor to seek anything from vanities of the debris (of the world), but we wanted the teaching of Your-azwj religion, and to manifest the correction in Your-azwj country, so that the oppressed from Your-azwj servants would be secure, and to establish the suspended (penalties) from Your-azwj legal penalties.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَوَّلُ مَنْ أَنَابَ، وَ سَمِعَ وَ أَجَابَ، لَمْ يَسْبِقْنِي بِالصَّلَاةِ إِلَّا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَى الْفُرُوجِ وَ الدِّمَاءِ وَ الْمَغَانِمِ وَ الْأَحْكَامِ وَ إِمَامَةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ الْبَخِيلُ؛ فَتَكُونَ فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ نَهْمَتُهُ، وَ لَا الْجَاهِلُ فَيُضِلَّهُمْ بِجَهْلِهِ،
O Allah-azwj! I-asws the first one to be penitent, and hear and respond. No one preceded me-asws with the Salat except Rasool-Allah-saww, and you know that it is not befitting for the miser to be (in charge) upon the marriages, and the bloods, and the war booties, and the rulings, and leadership of the Muslims so his appetite would be in their wealth; nor the ignorant, so he would stray them by his ignorance;
وَ لَا الْجَافِي فَيَقْطَعَهُمْ بِجَفَائِهِ، وَ لَا الْحَائِفُ لِلدُّوَلِ فَيَتَّخِذَ قَوْماً دُونَ قَوْمٍ، وَ لَا الْمُرْتَشِي فِي الْحُكْمِ فَيَذْهَبَ بِالْحُقُوقِ بِهَا دُونَ الْمَقَاطِعِ، وَ لَا الْمُعَطِّلُ لِلسُّنَّةِ فَيُهْلِكَ الْأُمَّةَ.
Nor is the disloyal (appropriate) for he would cut them off by his disloyalty; nor is the inequitable (appropriate) for the government for he would take a group besides a group; nor is the bribe-taker (appropriate) for he would go away with the rights besides the pieces of land; nor is the suspender of the Sunnah (appropriate), for he would destroy the community’’.[81]
[950] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: لِيَتَأَسَّ صَغِيرُكُمْ بِكَبِيرِكُمْ، وَ لِيَرْؤُفَ كَبِيرُكُمْ بِصَغِيرِكُمْ، وَ لَا تَكُونُوا كَجُفَاةِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، لَا فِي الدِّينِ يَتَفَقَّهُونَ، وَ لَا عَنِ اللَّهِ يَعْقِلُونَ، كَقَيْضِ بَيْضٍ فِي أَدَاحٍ يَكُونُ كَسْرُهُ وِزْراً، وَ يُخْرِجُ حِضَانُهَا شَرّاً.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘Let your young ones be comforted by your elders, and let your elders be kind with the young ones, and do not become like the disloyal ones of the pre-Islamic period. They were neither pondering in their religion nor were they using their intellects about Allah-azwj, like shells of eggs in a nest, its breaking is a burden, and evil would emerge from their incubation.
[وَ] مِنْهَا: افْتَرَقُوا بَعْدَ أُلْفَتِهِمْ، وَ تَشَتَّتُوا عَنْ أَصْلِهِمْ، فَمِنْهُمْ آخِذٌ بِغُصْنٍ أَيْنَمَا مَالَ مَالَ مَعَهُ، عَلَى أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى سَيَجْمَعُهُمْ لِشَرِّ يَوْمٍ لِبَنِي أُمَيَّةَ، كَمَا تَجْتَمِعُ قَزَعُ الْخَرِيفِ،
And from it – ‘They (clan of Umayya) would separate after their composure (unity), and they would scatter from their origins. From them would be one holding a branch wherever it may incline, he would incline with it, until Allah-azwj will be Gathering them for a Day which would be evil for the clan of Umayya, just as the clouds of autumn tend to gather.
يُؤَلِّفُ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُمْ رُكَاماً كَرُكَامِ السَّحَابِ، ثُمَّ يَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَاباً يَسِيلُونَ مِنْ مُسْتَثَارِهِمْ كَسَيْلِ الْجَنَّتَيْنِ، حَيْثُ لَمْ تَسْلَمْ عَلَيْهِ قَارَةٌ، وَ لَمْ تَثْبُتْ لَهُ أَكَمَةٌ، وَ لَمْ يَرُدَّ سَنَنَهُ رَصُّ طَوْدٍ، وَ لَا حِدَابُ أَرْضٍ.
Allah-azwj would Compose (unite) them, then Make them scattered like the scattering of the clouds. Then Allah-azwj would Open doors for them, they would flow away from their places like (it was during the) flood of the two gardens (of Irma). Neither will any land mass be safe upon it, nor will a hill be affirmed to it, nor would its sharpness be repelled by the peak of a mountain, nor the highlands.
يُذَعْذِعُهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي بُطُونِ أَوْدِيَتِهِ، ثُمَّ يَسْلُكُهُمْ يَنابِيعَ فِي الْأَرْضِ، يَأْخُذُ بِهِمْ مِنْ قَوْمٍ حُقُوقَ قَوْمٍ، وَ يُمَكِّنُ لِقَوْمٍ فِي دِيَارِهِمْ قَوْمٌ. وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَيَذُوبَنَّ مَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ بَعْدَ الْعُلُوِّ وَ التَّمْكِينِ، كَمَا تَذُوبُ الْأَلْيَةُ عَلَى النَّارِ
Allah-azwj will Scatter then in the bellies of the valleys, then He-azwj will Flows it as springs in the earth? [39:21]. He-azwj will Take through them, rights of a people from a people, and Enable for a people to be in the houses of a people. And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! Whatever is in their hands will melt away after the exaltation and the enablement, just as the fat dissolves upon the fire.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! لَوْ لَمْ تَتَخَاذَلُوا عَنْ نَصْرِ الْحَقِّ، وَ لَمْ تَهِنُوا عَنْ تَوْهِينِ الْبَاطِلِ، لَمْ يَطْمَعْ فِيكُمْ مَنْ لَيْسَ مِثْلَكُمْ، وَ لَمْ يَقْوَ مَنْ قَوِيَ عَلَيْكُمْ، لَكِنَّكُمْ تِهْتُمْ مَتَاهَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ. وَ لَعَمْرِي لَيُضَعَّفَنَّ لَكُمُ التِّيهُ مِنْ بَعْدِي أَضْعَافاً؛ بِمَا خَلَّفْتُمُ الْحَقَّ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِكُمْ، وَ قَطَعْتُمُ الْأَدْنَى وَ وَصَلْتُمُ الْأَبْعَدَ.
O you people! If you had not abandoned from helping the truth, and not have felt weakness from weakling the falsehood, he would not have coveted regarding you, one who isn’t like you, and the one strong upon you would not have been strong. But you roamed the deserts (like) the children of Israel. And, by my-asws life! The straying would increase for you all from after me-asws, manifold, due to your leaving behind the truth behind your backs, and your cut-off from the near one and connecting the remote one.
وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ إِنِ اتَّبَعْتُمُ الدَّاعِيَ لَكُمْ، سَلَكَ بِكُمْ مِنْهَاجَ الرَّسُولِ، وَ كُفِيتُمْ مَئُونَةَ الِاعْتِسَافِ، وَ نَبَذْتُمُ الثِّقْلَ الْفَادِحَ عَنِ الْأَعْنَاقِ.
And know that if you were to follow the caller of yours, he-asws will travel with you upon the manifesto of the Rasool-saww, and would have sufficed you as a support with the overburdens, and you would have discarded the heavy burdens from the necks!’’[82]
[951] — نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! فَأَنَا فَقَأْتُ عَيْنَ الْفِتْنَةِ، وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيَجْتَرِئَ عَلَيْهَا أَحَدٌ غَيْرِي، بَعْدَ أَنْ مَاجَ غَيْهَبُهَا وَ اشْتَدَّ كَلَبُهَا.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah)’ –
‘And from a speech of his-asws: ‘As for after, O you people! I-asws have blinded an eye of the Fitna, and no one could have been so courageous upon it apart from me-asws, after its darkness beating its waves and its madness was intense.
فَاسْأَلُونِي قَبْلَ أَنْ تَفْقِدُونِي، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَا تَسْأَلُونَنِي عَنْ شَيْءٍ فِيمَا بَيْنَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَ السَّاعَةِ، وَ لَا عَنْ فِئَةٍ تَهْدِي مِائَةً وَ تُضِلُّ مِائَةً، إِلَّا أَنْبَأْتُكُمْ بِنَاعِقِهَا وَ قَائِدِهَا وَ سَائِقِهَا، وَ مُنَاخِ رِكَابِهَا وَ مَحَطِّ رِحَالِهَا، وَ مَنْ يُقْتَلُ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا قَتْلًا وَ مَنْ يَمُوتُ مِنْهُمْ مَوْتاً!
So, ask me-asws before you lose me-asws! By the One-azwj in Whose hand is my-asws soul! You will not ask me-asws about anything in what is between you and establishment of the Hour, nor about any group during a hundred and straying a hundred, except I-asws shall inform you with its caller, and its leader, and its pusher, and the prevailing conditions of its riders, and stations of its travellers, and who from its people would be killed, and who from them would be dying a (natural) death.
وَ لَوْ قَدْ فَقَدْتُمُونِي وَ نَزَلَتْ [بِكُمْ «خ»] كَرَائِهُ الْأُمُورِ وَ حَوَازِبُ الْخُطُوبِ، لَأَطْرَقَ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ السَّائِلِينَ، وَ فَشِلَ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْمَسْئُولِينَ، وَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا قَلَّصَتْ حَرْبُكُمْ، وَ شَمَّرَتْ عَنْ سَاقٍ، وَ ضَاقَتِ [وَ كَانَتِ «خ»] الدُّنْيَا عَلَيْكُمْ ضِيقاً تَسْتَطِيلُونَ مَعَهُ أَيَّامَ الْبَلَاءِ عَلَيْكُمْ، حَتَّى يَفْتَحَ اللَّهُ لِبَقِيَّةِ الْأَبْرَارِ مِنْكُمْ.
And if you were to lose me-asws and abhorrent matters and distressing events befall with you, most of the questioners would lower their heads and most of the ones questioned would fail, and that is when your wars would diminish you, and clothes would be rolled up from a leg (ready for battle), and the world would be straitened upon you, and along with it the days of the afflictions would be prolonged upon you until Allah-azwj Grants victory to the residue of the righteous ones from you.
أَلَا إِنَّ الْفِتَنَ إِذَا أَقْبَلَتْ شَبَّهَتْ، وَ إِذَا أَدْبَرَتْ نَبَّهَتْ، يُنْكَرْنَ مُقْبِلَاتٍ وَ يُعْرَفْنَ مُدْبِرَاتٍ، يَحُمْنَ حَوْمَ الرِّيَاحِ يُصِبْنَ بَلَداً وَ يُخْطِئْنَ بَلَداً.
Indeed! When the Fitna comes, it is confusing, and when it turns around, it awakens (the people). The perpetrators are denies during its coming and are recognised when its turns around. They blow around like blowing of the winds, hitting a city and missing a (another) city.
أَلَا [وَ] إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ الْفِتَنِ عِنْدِي عَلَيْكُمْ، فِتْنَةُ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ، فَإِنَّهَا فِتْنَةٌ عَمْيَاءُ مُظْلِمَةٌ، عَمَّتْ خُطَّتُهَا، وَ خَصَّتْ بَلِيَّتُهَا، وَ أَصَابَ الْبَلَاءُ مَنْ أَبْصَرَ فِيهَا، وَ أَخْطَأَ الْبَلَاءُ مَنْ عَمِيَ عَنْهَا.
Indeed! The scariest of Fitna upon you in my-asws view is Fitna of the clan of Umayya, for it is a dark blindness, its outline is general and its ill-effects are particular, and the affliction will hit the one who is insightful in it, and the affliction would miss the one who is blind from it.
وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَتَجِدُنَّ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ لَكُمْ أَرْبَابَ سُوءٍ بَعْدِي، كَالنَّابِ الضَّرُوسِ، تَعْذِمُ بِفِيهَا، وَ تَخْبِطُ بِيَدِهَا، وَ تَزْبِنُ بِرِجْلِهَا، وَ تَمْنَعُ دَرَّهَا. لَا يَزَالُونَ بِكُمْ حَتَّى لَا يَتْرُكُوا مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا نَافِعاً لَهُمْ، أَوْ غَيْرَ ضَائِرٍ بِهِمْ.
And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! After me-asws, you will be finding the clan of Umayya as evil being evil lords, like old unruly camel biting its mouth, and dragging with its forelegs, and kicking with its hind legs, and refusing its milking. They will not cease to be with you until they do not leave from it except one beneficial to them, or one unharmful to them.
وَ لَا يَزَالُ بَلَاؤُهُمْ حَتَّى لَا يَكُونَ انْتِصَارُ أَحَدِكُمْ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا مِثْلَ انْتِصَارِ الْعَبْدِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ، وَ الصَّاحِبِ مِنْ مُسْتَصْحِبِهِ، تَرِدُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِتْنَتُهُمْ شَوْهَاءَ مَخْشِيَّةً، وَ قِطَعاً جَاهِلِيَّةً، لَيْسَ فِيهَا مَنَارُ هُدًى وَ لَا عَلَمٌ يُرَى، نَحْنُ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ مِنْهَا بِمَنْجَاةٍ، وَ لَسْنَا فِيهَا بِدُعَاةٍ.
Their affliction will not cease until a victory from them for one of you does not become except like the victory of the slave from is master, and the owner from his owned. Their Fitna would pass fearful rays upon you and banditry of the pre-Islamic period, neither would there be any minaret of guidance during it nor any flag to be seen. We-asws, People-asws of the Household would be saved from it, and we-asws wouldn’t be with any calling during it.
ثُمَّ يُفَرِّجُهَا اللَّهُ عَنْكُمْ كَتَفْرِيجِ الْأَدِيمِ، بِمَنْ يَسُومُهُمْ خَسْفاً، وَ يَسُوقُهُمْ عُنْفاً، وَ يَسْقِيهِمْ بِكَأْسٍ مُصَبَّرَةٍ لَا يُعْطِيهِمْ إِلَّا السَّيْفَ، وَ لَا يُحْلِسُهُمْ إِلَّا الْخَوْفَ،
Then Allah-azwj would Relieve it from you like the removal of the leather skin, by the one-asws brand them with abjection, and drag them by their noses, and make them drink the cup of combat. He-asws will not give them except the sword, nor will clothe them except with the fear.
فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ تَوَدُّ قُرَيْشٌ بِالدُّنْيَا وَ مَا فِيهَا لَوْ يَرَوْنِي [يَرَوْنَنِي «خ»] مَقَاماً وَاحِداً، وَ لَوْ قَدْرَ جَزْرِ جَزُورٍ، لِأَقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ مَا أَطْلُبُ الْيَوْمَ بَعْضَهُ فَلَا يُعْطُونَنِي.
During that, Quraysh would love, in exchange for the (whole) world and whatever is in it, if they could only see me-asws in one place, and even if it was the measurement of sacrificing an animal, to accept from them everything, what I-asws am seeking of only part of it today and they are not giving me’’.[83]
قَوْلُهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: «وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيَجْتَرِئَ عَلَيْهَا غَيْرِي، وَ لَوْ لَمْ أَكُ فِيكُمْ مَا قُوتِلَ أَهْلُ الْجَمَلِ وَ النَّهْرَوَانِ.
His-asws words: ‘And no one had the courage upon it apart from me-asws, and if I-asws had not been among you, the people of the camel and Al-Nahrawan would not have been fought against.
وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْ لَا أَنْ تَتَّكِلُوا فَتَدَعُوا الْعَمَلَ، لَحَدَّثْتُكُمْ بِمَا قَضَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّكُمْ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، لِمَنْ قَاتَلَهُمْ مُبْصِراً لِضَلَالَتِهِمْ، عَارِفاً لِلْهُدَى الَّذِي نَحْنُ عَلَيْهِ.
And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! Had I-asws not reckoned that you might leave the deeds, I-asws would have narrated to you with what Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic had Decreed upon the tongue of your Prophet-saww for the one who fights against them being insightful of their straying, recognising of the guidance which we are upon.
سَلُونِي قَبْلَ أَنْ تَفْقِدُونِي، فَإِنِّي مَيِّتٌ عَنْ قَرِيبٍ أَوْ مَقْتُولٌ، بَلْ قَتْلًا. مَا يَنْتَظِرُ أَشْقَاهَا أَنْ يَخْضِبَ هَذِهِ بِدَمِ هَذِهِ! وَ ضَرَبَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] بِيَدِهِ عَلَى لِحْيَتِهِ.
Ask me-asws before you lose me-asws, for I-asws would be deceased very soon or killed, but I-asws would be killed. The most wicked of them cannot wait to dye this (beard) with the blood of this (head)’, and he-asws struck his-asws hand upon his-asws beard’’.[84]
وَ مِنْهَا فِي ذِكْرِ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ: يَظْهَرُ أَهْلُ بَاطِلِهَا عَلَى أَهْلِ حَقِّهَا حَتَّى يَمْلَأَ الْأَرْضَ عُدْوَاناً وَ ظُلْماً وَ بِدَعاً، إِلَى أَنْ يَضَعَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ جَبَرُوتَهَا، وَ يَكْسِرَ عَمَدَهَا، وَ يَنْزِعَ أَوْتَادَهَا.
And from it, in mentioning the clan of Umayya: ‘The people of its falsehood will prevail upon the people of its truth until the earth fills up with aggression, and injustice, and innovations, until Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Lays down its tyranny and Breaks its pillars and Removes its pegs.
أَلَا وَ إِنَّكُمْ مُدْرِكُوهَا، فَانْصُرُوا قَوْماً كَانُوا أَصْحَابَ رَايَاتِ بَدْرٍ وَ حُنَيْنٍ تُؤْجَرُوا، وَ لَا تَمَالَئُوا عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوَّهُمْ، فَيَصِيرَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْبَلِيَّةَ وَ يُحِلَّ بِكُمُ النَّقِمَةَ.
Indeed, and you would be coming across it, so help a people who were companions of the flags of Badr and Huneyn, you will be Rewarded, and do not fill their enemies against them for you will cause the afflictions to come upon them and the Vengeance (of Allah-azwj) would be released with you all.
وَ مِنْهَا: إِلَّا مِثْلَ انْتِصَارِ الْعَبْدِ مِنْ مَوْلَاهُ، إِذَا رَآهُ أَطَاعَهُ، وَ إِذَا تَوَارَى عَنْهُ شَتَمَهُ. وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْ فَرَّقُوكُمْ تَحْتَ كُلِّ حَجَرٍ لَجَمَعَكُمُ اللَّهُ لِشَرِّ يَوْمٍ لَهُمْ.
And from it: ‘Except like the victory of the slave from his master. When he sees him, he obeys him, and when he is covered (absent) from him, he reviles him. And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! Even if they were to separate you beneath every stone, Allah-azwj would Gather you for a Day which would be evil for them.
وَ مِنْهَا: فَانْظُرُوا أَهْلَ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّكُمْ فَإِنْ لَبَدُوا فَالْبُدُوا، وَ إِنِ اسْتَنْصَرُوكُمْ فَانْصُرُوهُمْ، فَلَيُفَرِّجَنَّ اللَّهُ [الْفِتْنَةَ] بِرَجُلٍ مِنَّا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ.
And from it: ‘So, look at People-asws of the Household of your Prophet-saww. If they sit back, then sit back, and if they-asws seek your help, then help them-asws, for Allah-azwj will Remove the Fitna by a man-asws from us-asws, People-asws of the Household.
بِأَبِي ابْنُ خِيَرَةِ الْإِمَاءِ، لَا يُعْطِيهِمْ إِلَّا السَّيْفَ هَرْجاً هَرْجاً، مَوْضُوعاً عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَشْهُرٍ، حَتَّى تَقُولَ قُرَيْشٌ: لَوْ كَانَ هَذَا مِنْ وُلْدِ فَاطِمَةَ لَرَحِمَنَا.
By my-asws father-as! The son-asws of the best of the maids-as will not give them except the sword, turmoil (upon) turmoil, placing it upon his-asws shoulders for eighteen months, until Quraysh would say, ‘If this one-asws was from the sons-asws of Fatima-asws, he-asws would have been merciful with us’.
يُغْرِيهِ اللَّهُ بِبَنِي أُمَيَّةَ، حَتَّى يَجْعَلَهُمْ حُطَاماً وَ رُفَاتاً «مَلْعُونِينَ أَيْنَما ثُقِفُوا أُخِذُوا وَ قُتِّلُوا تَقْتِيلًا سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ فِي الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَ لَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا».
Allah-azwj would Cause him-asws to prevail over the clan of Umayya until He-asws would make them to be debris and remains. (They are) Accursed! Wherever they are found they shall be seized and killed with a massacre [33:61] Being a Sunnah of Allah regarding those who have gone before, and you will never find any alteration in the Sunnah of Allah [33:62]’’.[85]
[952] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ. فَلَا أَمْوَالَ بَذَلْتُمُوهَا لِلَّذِي رَزَقَهَا، وَ لَا أَنْفُسَ خَاطَرْتُمْ بِهَا لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهَا، تَكْرُمُونَ بِاللَّهِ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ وَ لَا تُكْرِمُونَ اللَّهَ فِي عِبَادِهِ، فَاعْتَبِرُوا بِنُزُولِكُمْ مَنَازِلَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ، وَ انْقِطَاعِكُمْ عَنْ أَوْصَلِ إِخْوَانِكُمْ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘There is no wealth which you are spending for the One-azwj Who has Graced you with it, nor risking yourselves for the One-azwj Who Created these (souls). You are being honoured by Allah-azwj upon His-azwj servants, and you are not honouring Allah-azwj among His-azwj servants. Take lessons with your places, the places of the ones who were before you, and their being cut off from connection of your brothers’’.[86]
[953] – نَهْجٌ: مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: رُوِيَ عَنْ نَوْفٍ الْبَكَالِيِّ قَالَ: خَطَبَنَا [بِ] هَذِهِ الْخُطْبَةِ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] وَ هُوَ قَائِمٌ عَلَى حِجَارَةٍ نَصَبَهَا لَهُ جَعْدَةُ بْنُ هُبَيْرَةَ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ، وَ عَلَيْهِ مِدْرَعَةٌ مِنْ صُوفٍ، وَ حَمَائِلُ سَيْفِهِ لِيفٌ [مِنْ لِيفٍ «خ»] وَ فِي رِجْلَيْهِ نَعْلَانِ مِنْ لِيفٍ، وَ كَأَنَّ جَبِينَهُ ثَفِنَةُ بَعِيرٍ!
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘From a sermon of his-asws reported from Nowf Al-Bakaly who said, ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws addressed to us with this sermon and he-asws was standing upon stones having placed for him by Ja’dah Bin Hubeyra Al-Makhzumi, and upon him-asws was a woollen apparel, and the belt of his-asws sword was of palm leaves, and in his-asws legs were slippers of palm leaves, and it was as if on his-asws forehead was (mark like) the knee of a camel (due to prolonged Sajdahs).
فَقَالَ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ مَصَائِرُ الْخَلْقِ وَ عَوَاقِبُ الْأَمْرِ، نَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى عَظِيمِ إِحْسَانِهِ، وَ نَيِّرِ بُرْهَانِهِ، وَ نَوَامِي فَضْلِهِ وَ امْتِنَانِهِ، حَمْداً يَكُونُ لِحَقِّهِ قَضَاءً، وَ لِشُكْرِهِ أَدَاءً، وَ إِلَى ثَوَابِهِ مُقَرِّباً، وَ لِحُسْنِ مَزِيدِهِ مُوجِباً.
He-asws said: ‘The Praise is for Allah-azwj Who, to Him-azwj is the destination of the creatures and end-result of the matters. We praise Him-azwj upon the His-azwj Mighty Favours, and Radiant proofs, and the increase of His-azwj Grace and His-azwj Conferment(s), praise which happens to be a fulfilment of His-azwj Right and payment of His-azwj thanks, and drawing near to His-azwj Rewards, and obligating to the excellence of His-azwj Increase.
وَ نَسْتَعِينُ بِهِ اسْتِعَانَةَ رَاجٍ لِفَضْلِهِ مُؤَمِّلٍ لِنَفْعِهِ، وَاثِقٍ بِدَفْعِهِ، مُعْتَرِفٍ لَهُ بِالطَّوْلِ، مُذْعِنٍ لَهُ بِالْعَمَلِ وَ الْقَوْلِ.
And we seek assistance with Him-azwj, seeking of the one desirous for His-azwj Grace and hopeful to His-azwj Benefits, and trusting with His-azwj Defence, and acknowledging to Him-azwj with the Leniency, obedient to Him-azwj with the deeds and the words.
وَ نُؤْمِنُ بِهِ إِيمَانَ مَنْ رَجَاهُ مُوقِناً، وَ أَنَابَ إِلَيْهِ مُؤْمِناً، وَ خَنَعَ لَهُ مُذْعِناً وَ أَخْلَصَ لَهُ مُوَحِّداً، وَ عَظَّمَهُ مُمَجِّداً، وَ لَاذَ بِهِ رَاغِباً مُجْتَهِداً.
And we believe in Him-azwj with the belief of the one whose hope is certain, and is penitent to Him-azwj as a Momin, and lowers to Him-azwj in humbleness, and sincere to Him-azwj of being unitarian, and magnifies His-azwj Glory, and seeks refuge with Him-azwj desirous, striving.
لَمْ يُولَدْ سُبْحَانَهُ فَيَكُونَ فِي الْعِزِّ مُشَارَكاً، وَ لَمْ يَلِدْ فَيَكُونَ مَوْرُوثاً هَالِكاً، وَ لَمْ يَتَقَدَّمْهُ وَقْتٌ وَ لَا زَمَانٌ، وَ لَا يَتَعَاوَرُهُ زِيَادَةٌ وَ لَا نُقْصَانٌ، بَلْ ظَهَرَ لِلْعُقُولِ بِمَا أَرَانَا مِنْ عَلَامَاتِ التَّدْبِيرِ الْمُتْقَنِ وَ الْقَضَاءِ الْمُبْرَمِ.
He-azwj the Glorious is not begotten so there would happen to be any participant in the Mighty, and He-azwj does not beget so there would be an inheritor after death, and neither does time precede Him-azwj, nor era, nor does the increase or decrease affect Him-azwj. But He-azwj appears to the intellects by what He-azwj has Shown us from the signs of the intricate arrangement and the accomplished Decrees.
فَمِنْ شَوَاهِدِ خَلْقِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ مُوَطَّدَاتٍ بِلَا عَمَدٍ، قَائِمَاتٍ بِلَا سَنَدٍ، دَعَاهُنَّ فَأَجَبْنَ طَائِعَاتٍ مُذْعِنَاتٍ غَيْرَ مُتَلَكِّئَاتٍ وَ لَا مُبْطِئَاتٍ، وَ لَوْ لَا إِقْرَارُهُنَّ بِالرُّبُوبِيَّةِ وَ إِذْعَانُهُنَّ بِالطَّوَاعِيَةِ، لَمَا جَعَلَهُنَّ مَوْضِعاً لِعَرْشِهِ وَ لَا مَسْكَناً لِمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَ لَا مَصْعَداً لِلْكَلِمِ الطَّيِّبِ وَ الْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ.
From the evidences of His-azwj creation is the creation of the skies, pegged without pillars, standing without support. He-azwj Called them and they answered obediently, compliant, without laziness or delay, and had it not been for their acknowledgment with the Lordship, and humbleness with the obedience, He-azwj would not have Made for them a place for His-azwj Throne nor a dwelling for His-azwj Angels, nor an ascendance for the good word and the righteous deeds from His-azwj creatures.
جَعَلَ نُجُومَهَا أَعْلَاماً يَسْتَدِلُّ بِهِ الْحَيْرَانُ فِي مُخْتَلِفِ فِجَاجِ الْأَقْطَارِ. لَمْ يَمْنَعْ ضَوْءَ نُورِهَا ادْلِهْمَامُ سُجُفِ اللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ، وَ لَا اسْتَطَاعَتْ جَلَابِيبُ سَوَادِ الْحَنَادِسِ أَنْ تَرُدَّ مَا شَاعَ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ مِنْ تَلَأْلُؤِ نُورِ الْقَمَرِ.
He-azwj Made its start as markings what the confused one can be pointed with in various passages of the horizon(s). The illumination of their radiance is not prevented by the curtains of the dark night, nor does the pull of the dark night has the capacity to repel what is shining in the skies from spreading radiance of the moon.
فَسُبْحَانَ مَنْ لَا يَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ سَوَادُ غَسَقٍ دَاجٍ، وَ لَا لَيْلٍ سَاجٍ فِي بِقَاعِ الْأَرَضِينَ الْمُتَطَأْطِئَاتِ، وَ لَا فِي يَفَاعِ السُّفْعِ الْمُتَجَاوِرَاتِ، وَ مَا يَتَجَلْجَلُ بِهِ الرَّعْدُ فِي أُفُقِ السَّمَاءِ، وَ مَا تَلَاشَتْ عَنْهُ بُرُوقُ الْغَمَامِ، وَ مَا تَسْقُطُ مِنْ وَرَقَةٍ تُزِيلُهَا عَنْ مَسْقَطِهَا عَوَاصِفُ الْأَنْوَاءِ، وَ انْهِطَالُ السَّمَاءِ.
Glorious is the One, the dark dusk is not hidden unto Him-azwj, or the gloom of a night in the spots of the low lands, nor in spots adjacent to the highlands, nor can the thunder shudder with it in the horizons of the sky, and the lightning of the clouds does not fade away from it, and what falls off from leaves blown away from its falling places by various storms, and downpours of the sky.
وَ يَعْلَمُ مَسْقَطَ الْقَطْرَةِ وَ مَقَرَّهَا، وَ مَسْحَبَ الذَّرَّةِ وَ مَجَرَّهَا، وَ مَا يَكْفِي الْبَعُوضَةَ مِنْ قُوتِهَا، وَ مَا تَحْمِلُ الْأُنْثَى فِي بَطْنِهَا.
And He-azwj Knows the falling of the drop and its settling, and the pull of the particles (atoms) and their flow, and what would suffice the mosquito of its subsistence and that what the female bears in her belly.
وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الْكَائِنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَكُونَ كُرْسِيٌّ أَوْ عَرْشٌ أَوْ سَمَاءٌ أَوْ أَرْضٌ أَوْ جَانٌّ أَوْ إِنْسٌ. لَا يُدْرَكُ بِوَهْمٍ، وَ لَا يُقَدَّرُ بِفَهْمٍ، وَ لَا يَشْغَلُهُ سَائِلٌ، وَ لَا يَنْقُصُهُ نَائِلٌ، وَ لَا يَنْظُرُ بِعَيْنٍ، وَ لَا يُحَدُّ بِأَيْنٍ، وَ لَا يُوصَفُ بِالْأَزْوَاجِ، وَ لَا يَخْلُقُ بِعِلَاجٍ، وَ لَا يُدْرَكُ بِالْحَوَاسِّ، وَ لَا يُقَاسُ بِالنَّاسِ، الَّذِي كَلَّمَ مُوسَى تَكْلِيماً وَ أَرَاهُ مِنْ آيَاتِهِ عَظِيماً، بِلَا جَوَارِحَ وَ لَا أَدَوَاتٍ، وَ لَا نُطْقٍ وَ لَا لَهَوَاتٍ.
And the Praise is for Allah-azwj the Existent before the existence of the Chair, of Throne, or earth, or Jinn, or humans, Neither can the imaginations realise Him-azwj, nor can He-azwj be measured by an understanding, nor does a questioner pre-occupy Him-azwj, nor does an attainer reduce Him-azwj (of anything), nor does He-azwj Look by an eye, nor can He-azwj be limited by ‘where’, nor can He-azwj be described by the spouses, nor does He-azwj Created by treatment, nor can He-azwj be realised by the sensory perception, nor can He-azwj be compared with the people, the One-azwj Who Spoke to Musa-as with a conversation and Showed him-as His-azwj Mighty Signs without any limbs nor tools, nor pronouncement, nor any organ.
بَلْ إِنْ كُنْتَ صَادِقاً أَيُّهَا الْمُتَكَلِّفُ لِوَصْفِ رَبِّكَ! فَصِفْ جَبْرَئِيلَ وَ مِيكَائِيلَ وَ جُنُودَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ، فِي حُجُرَاتِ الْقُدُسِ مُرْجَحِنِّينَ، مُتَوَلِّهَةً عُقُولُهُمْ أَنْ يَحُدُّوا أَحْسَنَ الْخَالِقِينَ. وَ إِنَّمَا يُدْرَكُ بِالصِّفَاتِ ذَوُو الْهَيْئَاتِ وَ الْأَدَوَاتِ، وَ مَنْ يَنْقَضِي إِذَا بَلَغَ أَمَدَ حَدِّهِ بِالْفَنَاءِ.
But, if you were truthful, O one undertaking to describe your Lord-azwj, then describe Jibraeel-as, and Mikaeel-as, and armies of the Angels of proximity in the Holy chambers of sublimity. Their intellects are worn out in limiting the best of the creators. And rather, He-azwj is realised, the one with the body and tools, and the one terminating when he reaches the limit of his term for the perishing.
فَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ، أَضَاءَ بِنُورِهِ كُلَّ ظَلَامٍ، وَ أَظْلَمَ بِظُلْمَتِهِ كُلَّ نُورٍ.
There is no god except He-azwj, Illuminating every darkness by His-azwj Light and darkening every light by His-azwj Veiling.
أُوصِيكُمْ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ الَّذِي أَلْبَسَكُمُ الرِّيَاشَ، وَ أَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَعَاشَ، وَ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَداً يَجِدُ إِلَى الْبَقَاءِ سُلَّماً، أَوْ لِدَفْعِ الْمَوْتِ سَبِيلًا، لَكَانَ ذَلِكَ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ دَاوُدَ الَّذِي سُخِّرَ لَهُ مُلْكُ الْجِنِّ وَ الْإِنْسِ مَعَ النُّبُوَّةِ، وَ عَظِيمِ الزُّلْفَةِ،
I-asws am advising you, O servants of Allah-azwj, with fearing Allah-azwj Who has Clothed you with attires, and Granted the livelihood upon you, or if there was anyone who could have found a staircase to remain alive or a way to repel death, that would have been Suleyman-as Bin Dawood-as, the one for whom the kingdom of the Jinn and the humans were subdued for alone with the Prophet-hood, and mighty rank.
فَلَمَّا اسْتَوْفَى طُعْمَتَهُ، وَ اسْتَكْمَلَ مُدَّتَهُ، رَمَتْهُ قِسِيُّ الْفَنَاءِ بِنِبَالِ الْمَوْتِ، وَ أَصْبَحَتِ الدِّيَارُ مِنْهُ خَالِيَةً، وَ الْمَسَاكِنُ مُعَطَّلَةً وَ وَرِثَهَا قَوْمٌ آخَرُونَ.
When he had fulfilled his-as (allocated) food and completed his-as term, the bow of destruction shot at him-saww with the arrow of death, and the houses became vacant from him-as, and the suspended dwellings, and these were inherited by other people.
وَ إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِي الْقُرُونِ السَّالِفَةِ لَعِبْرَةً، أَيْنَ الْعَمَالِقَةُ وَ أَبْنَاءُ الْعَمَالِقَةِ؟ أَيْنَ الْفَرَاعِنَةُ وَ أَبْنَاءُ الْفَرَاعِنَةِ؟ أَيْنَ أَصْحَابُ مَدَائِنِ الرَّسِّ الَّذِينَ قَتَلُوا النَّبِيِّينَ وَ أَطْفَئُوا سُنَنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَ أَحْيَوْا سُنَنَ الْجَبَّارِينَ؟ أَيْنَ الَّذِينَ سَارُوا بِالْجُيُوشِ وَ هَزَمُوا الْأُلُوفَ وَ عَسْكَرُوا الْعَسَاكِرَ وَ مَدَّنُوا الْمَدَائِنَ؟!
And surely for you in the previous generations there is a lesson (to be learnt). Where are the Amalikites, and sons of the Amalikites? Where are the Pharaohs-la and sons of the Pharaohs-la? Where are the companions of the cities of Al-Rass, those who killed the Prophets-as and extinguished the ways of the Messengers-as and revived the ways of the tyrants? Where are the one who travelled with the armies and defeated the thousands and mobilised the soldiers and built the cities?!’
[و] منها: قد لبس للحكمة جنّتها، و أخذها بجميع أدبها من الإقبال عليها، و المعرفة بها، و التّفرّغ لها، و هي عند نفسه ضالّته الّتي يطلبها، و حاجته الّتي يسأل عنها،
And from these: ‘He (Al-Qaim-asws would wear for the wisdom, its shield, and take it with the entirety of its disciplines from the acceptance upon it, and the recognition with it, and being free for it, and it in the presence of his self it is which he-asws was seeking, and his-asws need which he had been asking about.
فهو مغترب إذا اغترب الإسلام، و ضرب بعسيب ذنبه؛ و ألصق الأرض بجرانه بقيّة من بقايا حجّته، خليفة من خلائف أنبيائه.
If he-asws departs, Al-Islam, would depart, and it (the world) would be wagging its tail (exhausted) and resting its head on the ground. He-asws would be the remainder of His-azwj Divine Authorities, a caliph from the caliphs of His-azwj Prophets-as’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنِّي قَدْ بَثَثْتُ لَكُمُ الْمَوَاعِظَ الَّتِي وَعَظَ بِهَا الْأَنْبِيَاءُ أُمَمَهُمْ، وَ أَدَّيْتُ إِلَيْكُمْ مَا أَدَّتِ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ إِلَى مَنْ بَعْدَهُمْ، وَ أَدَّبْتُكُمْ بِسَوْطِي فَلَمْ تَسْتَقِيمُوا، وَ حَدَوْتُكُمْ بِالزَّوَاجِرِ فَلَمْ تَسْتَوْثِقُوا،
Then he-asws said: ‘O you people! I-asws have propagated the advice to you which the Prophets-as used to advise their-as communities, and I-asws have conveyed to you what the successors-as had conveyed to the ones after them-as, and I-asws disciplined you with my-asws whip, but you were not straightened, and I-asws threatened you with the rebukes, but you did not bind (together).
لِلَّهِ أَنْتُمْ أَ تَتَوَقَّعُونَ إِمَاماً غَيْرِي يَطَأُ بِكُمُ الطَّرِيقَ وَ يُرْشِدُكُمُ السَّبِيلَ؟! أَلَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ أَدْبَرَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا مَا كَانَ مُقْبِلًا، وَ أَقْبَلَ مِنْهَا مَا كَانَ مُدْبِراً، وَ أَزْمَعَ التَّرْحَالَ عِبَادُ اللَّهِ الْأَخْيَارُ، وَ بَاعُوا قَلِيلًا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا لَا يَبْقَى بِكَثِيرٍ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ لَا يَفْنَى.
For the sake of Allah-azwj! Are you anticipating that a leader other than me-asws would tread with you the path and guide you to the way?! Indeed! Surely it has turned around from the world what was coming forwards, and it has come back from it what had turned back. The good servants of Allah-azwj have determined for the departure and they have sold a little from the world which was not to remain for a lot from the Hereafter will not perish.
مَا ضَرَّ إِخْوَانَنَا الَّذِينَ سُفِكَتْ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَ هُمْ بِصِفِّينَ أَنْ لَا يَكُونُوا الْيَوْمَ أَحْيَاءً يُسِيغُونَ الْغُصَصَ، وَ يَشْرَبُونَ الرَّنْقَ، قَدْ وَ اللَّهِ لَقُوا اللَّهَ فَوَفَّاهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ، وَ أَحَلَّهُمْ دَارَ الْأَمْنِ بَعْدَ خَوْفِهِمْ.
It did not harm our brother, those who shed their blood while they were at Siffeen that they do not happen to be alive today, choking on the morsel and drinking the muddy (water). By Allah-azwj! They have met Allah-azwj and have been Fulfilled their Rewards, and the house of security had been legalised for them after their fear.
أَيْنَ إِخْوَانِيَ الَّذِينَ رَكِبُوا الطَّرِيقَ وَ مَضَوْا عَلَى الْحَقِّ؟ أَيْنَ عَمَّارٌ؟ وَ أَيْنَ ابْنُ التَّيِّهَانِ؟ وَ أَيْنَ ذُو الشَّهَادَتَيْنِ؟ وَ أَيْنَ نُظَرَاؤُهُمْ مِنْ إِخْوَانِهِمُ الَّذِينَ تَعَاقَدُوا عَلَى الْمَنِيَّةِ، وَ أُبْرِدَ بِرُءُوسِهِمْ إِلَى الْفَجَرَةِ؟
Where are my-asws brothers, those who rode the path and went upon the truth? Where is Ammar-ra? And where is Ibn Al-Tayhan? And where is Zul Shadatayn (Khuzeyma)? And where are their peers from their brethren, those who made a pact upon the death and they (enemies) went with their heads to the tyrants?
قَالَ [نَوْفٌ:] ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ يَدَهُ إِلَى لِحْيَتِهِ وَ أَطَالَ الْبُكَاءَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَوِّهْ عَلَى إِخْوَانِيَ الَّذِينَ تَلَوُا الْقُرْآنَ فَأَحْكَمُوهُ! وَ تَدَبَّرُوا الْفَرْضَ فَأَقَامُوهُ! وَ أَحْيَوُا السُّنَّةَ وَ أَمَاتُوا الْبِدْعَةَ، دُعُوا لِلْجِهَادِ فَأَجَابُوا، وَ وَثِقُوا بِالْقَائِدِ فَاتَّبَعُوا!.
Nowf said, ‘Then he-asws struck his-asws hand to his-asws beard and prolonged the weeping. Then he-asws said: ‘Aah upon my-asws brothers, the ones who recited the Quran and sought its judgment! And they pondered the Obligations and established it! And they revived the Sunnah and killed off the innovations! They were called to the Jihad and they answered, and they trusted the leader and followed!’
ثُمَّ نَادَى بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ. الْجِهَادَ الْجِهَادَ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ! أَلَا وَ إِنِّي مُعَسْكِرٌ فِي يَومِي هَذَا، فَمَنْ أَرَادَ الرَّوَاحَ إِلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَخْرُجْ [فَلْيَبْرَحْ «خ»].
Then he-asws called out at the top of his-asws voice: ‘The Jihad! The Jihad, O servants of Allah-azwj ! Indeed, and I-asws would be in the army camp in this day of mine. So the one, who intends the departure to Allah-azwj, let him come out!’
قَالَ نَوْفٌ: وَ عَقَدَ لِلْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي عَشَرَةِ آلَافٍ، وَ لِقَيْسِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ فِي عَشَرَةِ آلَافٍ، وَ لِأَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ [فِي] عَشَرَةِ آلَافٍ، وَ لِغَيْرِهِمْ عَلَى أَعْدَادٍ أُخَرَ، وَ هُوَ يُرِيدُ الرَّجْعَةَ إِلَى صِفِّينَ، فَمَا دَارَتِ الْجُمُعَةُ حَتَّى ضَرَبَهُ الْمَلْعُونُ ابْنُ مُلْجَمٍ، لَعَنَهُ اللَّهُ، فَتَرَاجَعَتِ الْعَسَاكِرُ. فَكُنَّا كَأَغْنَامٍ فَقَدَتْ رَاعِيَهَا، تَخْتَطِفُهَا الذِّئَابُ مِنْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ.
Nowf said, ‘And he-asws convened for Al-Husayn-asws to be in ten thousand, and for Qays Bin Sa’ad, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on him, in ten thousand, and for Abu Ayoub Al-Ansari in ten thousand, and for others upon other numbers, and he-asws wanted to return to Siffeen. But the Friday did not rotate until the accursed Ibn Muljim-la struck him-asws, and the army returned. So, we were like sheep whose shepherd was lost, the wolves were abducting them from every place’’.[87]
[954] – ما: جَمَاعَةٌ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِمْرَانَ الْمَرْزُبَانِيِّ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ عَنْ هِشَامٍ عَنْ أَبِي مِخْنَفٍ عَنِ ابْنِ حَصِيرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي صَادِقٍ عَنْ جُنْدَبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَزْدِيِّ قَالَ: قَامَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي النَّاسِ، لِيَسْتَنْفِرَهُمْ إِلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ، وَ ذَلِكَ بَعْدَ انْقِضَاءِ الْمُدَّةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَهُمْ، وَ قَدْ شَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةُ عَلَى بِلَادِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ الْغَارَاتِ، فَاسْتَنْفَرَهُمْ فِي الرَّغْبَةِ فِي الْجِهَادِ وَ الرَّهْبَةِ فَلَمْ يَنْفِرُوا،
(The book) ‘Amaali’ – A group, from Muhammad Bin Imran Al Marzabany, from Muhammad Bin Musa, from Muhammad Bin Sahl, from Hisham, from Abu Mikhnaf, from Ibn Haseera, from Abu Sadiq, from Jundab Bin Abdullah Al Azdy who said,
‘Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws stood among the people in order to mobilise them to the people of Syria, and that was after the expiration of the term which was between him-asws and them, and Muawiya had been launching the raids upon cities of the Muslims. He-asws mobilised them regarding the desire for the Jihad and the awe (of Allah-azwj), but they did not mobilise.
فَأَضْجَرَهُ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ الْمُجْتَمِعَةُ أَبْدَانُهُمْ الْمُخْتَلِفَةُ أَهْوَاؤُهُمْ! مَا عَزَّتْ دَعْوَةُ مَنْ دَعَاكُمْ، وَ لَا اسْتَرَاحَ قَلْبُ مَنْ قَاسَاكُمْ. كَلَامُكُمْ يُوهِنُ الصُّمَّ الصِّلَابَ، وَ تَثَاقُلُكُمْ عَنْ طَاعَتِي يَطْمَعُ فِيكُمْ عَدُوَّكُمُ [الْمُرْتَابُ]. إِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ قُلْتُمْ: «كَيْتَ وَ كَيْتَ وَ عَسَى» أَعَالِيلُ بِأَبَاطِيلَ وَ تَسْأَلُونِّيَ التَّأْخِيرَ، دِفَاعَ ذِي الدَّيْنِ الْمَطُولِ.
That annoyed him-asws, so he-asws said: ‘O you people, their bodies are gathered and their desires are different! He is not strengthened, the one who calls out to you, nor does a heart rest, of the one you hardening you. Your talk would weaken the solid slabs, and you are being sluggish from obeying me-asws (something which) your enemies are coveting regarding you. Whenever I-asws order you, you say this and that and ‘maybe’, reasons with falsities. And you are asking me-asws of the delaying, being (like) the defence of one with prolonged debts.
هَيْهَاتَ هَيْهَاتَ! لَا يَدْفَعُ الضَّيْمَ الذَّلِيلُ، وَ لَا يُدْرَكُ الْحَقُّ إِلَّا بِالْجِدِّ وَ الصَّبْرِ. أَيَّ دَارٍ بَعْدَ دَارِكُمْ تَمْنَعُونَ! وَ مَعَ أَيِّ إِمَامٍ بَعْدِي تُقَاتِلُونَ! الْمَغْرُورُ وَ اللَّهِ مَنْ غَرَرْتُمُوهُ، وَ مَنْ فَازَ بِكُمْ فَازَ بِالسَّهْمِ الْأَخْيَبِ.
Far be it! Far be it! The humiliated cannot push away the despot, nor can the truth be realised except with the effort and the patience. Which house after your house will you be defending? And with which leader after me-asws will you be fighting along with? By Allah-azwj! The deceived is the one you deceive, and the one who is successful with you would win with the broken arrow.
أَصْبَحْتُ لَا أَطْمَعُ فِي نُصْرَتِكُمْ، وَ لَا أُصَدِّقُ قَوْلَكُمْ، فَرَّقَ اللَّهُ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكُمْ، وَ أَعْقَبَنِي بِكُمْ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لِي مِنْكُمْ.
I-asws have become such, I-asws (no longer) covet regarding your help, nor can I-asws ratify your words. May Allah-azwj Separate between me and you Replace me-asws with you all, ones who are better for me-asws than you are.
أَمَا إِنَّكُمْ سَتَلْقَوْنَ بَعْدِي ذُلًّا شَامِلًا، وَ سَيْفاً قَاطِعاً، وَ أَثَرَةً يَتَّخِذُهَا الظَّالِمُونَ فِيكُمْ سُنَّةً، يُفَرَّقُ جَمَاعَتُكُمْ، وَ تَبْكِي عُيُونُكُمْ، وَ تَمَنَّوْنَ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ أَنَّكُمْ رَأَيْتُمُونِي فَنَصَرْتُمُونِي، وَ سَتُعْرَفُونَ مَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ، وَ لَا يُبَعِّدُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا مَنْ ظَلَمَ.
But, after me-asws, you will be facing all inclusive disgrace, and a cutting sword, and such prejudices, the oppressors would be taking it as a way of norm among you, separating your communities, and your eyes will cry, and after a little while you will be wishing if you could see me-asws and help me-asws, and soon you will be understanding what I-asws am saying to you after a little while, and Allah-azwj does not Distance anyone except one who is unjust’.
قَالَ: فَكَانَ جُنْدَبٌ لَا يَذْكُرُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ إِلَّا بَكَى، وَ قَالَ: صَدَقَ وَ اللَّهِ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، قَدْ شَمَلَنَا الذُّلُّ وَ رَأَيْنَاهُ الْأَثَرَةَ، وَ لَا يُبَعِّدُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا مَنْ ظَلَمَ.
He (the narrator) Jundab was not mentioning this sermons except he would weep, and he said, ‘By Allah-azwj! Amir Al-Momineen-asws spoke the truth! The disgrace encompassed us and we saw the prejudices, and Allah-azwj does not Distance except the one who is unjust’’.[88]
[955] – شاج: رُوِيَ أَنَّهُ لَمَّا عَزَمَ عَلَى الْمَسِيرِ إِلَى الشَّامِ لِقِتَالِ مُعَاوِيَةَ، قَالَ بَعْدَ حَمْدِ اللَّهِ وَ الثَّنَاءِ عَلَيْهِ، وَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ! وَ أَطِيعُوهُ وَ أَطِيعُوا إِمَامَكُمْ، فَإِنَّ الرَّعِيَّةَ الصَّالِحَةَ تَنْجُو بِالْإِمَامِ الْعَادِلِ، أَلَا وَ إِنَّ الرَّعِيَّةَ الْفَاجِرَةَ تُهْلَكُ بِالْإِمَامِ الْفَاجِرِ.
(The book) ‘Al Irshad’ –
‘It is reported that when he-asws was determined upon the travelling to Syria to fight Muawiya, he-asws said after praising Allah-azwj and the extollation upon Him-azwj and the Salawaat upon Rasool-Allah-saww: ‘Fear Allah-azwj, servants of Allah-azwj, and obey Him-azwj and obey your Imam-asws, for the righteous citizen would attain salvation with the just Imam-asws! Indeed! And the immoral citizen would be destroyed by the immoral leader.
وَ قَدْ أَصْبَحَ مُعَاوِيَةُ غَاصِباً لِمَا فِي يَدَيْهِ مِنْ حَقِّي، نَاكِثاً لِبَيْعَتِي، طَاعِناً فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ. وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَيُّهَا الْمُسْلِمُونَ مَا فَعَلَ النَّاسُ بِالْأَمْسِ، فَجِئْتُمُونِي رَاغِبِينَ إِلَيَ فِي أَمْرِكُمْ، حَتَّى اسْتَخْرَجْتُمُونِي مِنْ مَنْزِلِي لِتُبَايِعُونِي،
And Muawiya has become usurping of what is in his hands of my-asws rights, breaker of my-asws allegiance, abusive in the religion of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic; and you have known, O you Muslims, what the people did yesterday. They had come to me desirous to me regarding their affairs to the extent that they brought me-asws out from my-asws house in order to pledge allegiance to me-asws.
فَالْتَوَيْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ لِأَبْلُوَ مَا عِنْدَكُمْ، فَرَاوَدْتُمُونِيَ الْقَوْلَ مِرَاراً، وَ رَادَدْتُكُمْ، وَ تَدَاكَكْتُمْ عَلَيَّ تَدَاكَّ الْإِبِلِ الْهِيمِ عَلَى حِيَاضِهَا، حِرْصاً عَلَى بَيْعَتِي، حَتَّى خِفْتُ أَنْ يَقْتُلَ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاً،
So I-asws withheld from taking on whatever was with you. You repeated the words to me-asws repeatedly and I-asws repeated (rejecting), and you thronged around me-asws like the thronging of the thirsty camels upon their watering troughs, eager upon pledging allegiance to me-asws, to the extent that I-asws feared that some of you would kill the others.
فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ ذَلِكَ مِنْكُمْ، رَأَيْتُ فِي أَمْرِكُمْ وَ أَمْرِي، وَ قُلْتُ: إِنْ أَنَا لَمْ أُجِبْهُمْ إِلَى الْقِيَامِ بِأَمْرِهِمْ، لَمْ يُصِيبُوا أَحَداً مِنْهُمْ يَقُومُ فِيهِمْ مَقَامِي، وَ يَعْدِلُ فِيهِمْ عَدْلِي.
When I-asws saw that from you, I-asws viewed regarding your affairs and my-asws affair, and I-asws said: ‘If I-asws do not answer them to the standing with their affairs, they will not attain anyone from them to be standing among them in my-asws place and dispense justice among them as my-asws justice’.
وَ قُلْتُ: وَ اللَّهِ لَأَلِينُهُمْ وَ هُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ حَقِّي وَ فَضْلِي، أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ يَلُونِي وَ لَا يَعْرِفُونَ حَقِّي وَ فَضْلِي.
And I-asws said: ‘By Allah-azwj! If I-asws were to rule them while they are knowing my-asws rights and my-asws merits, it is more beloved to me-asws than if they were to rule me-asws while they are not recognising my-asws rights and my-asws merits’.
فَبَسَطْتُ يَدِي فَبَايَعْتُمُونِّي يَا مَعَاشِرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَ فِيكُمُ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ وَ الْأَنْصَارُ وَ التَّابِعُونَ بِإِحْسَانٍ، وَ أَخَذْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَهْدَ بَيْعَتِي وَ وَاجِبَ صَفْقَتِي [وَ] عَهْدَ اللَّهِ وَ مِيثَاقَهُ.
So, I-asws spread out my-asws hand and you pledged allegiances to me-asws, O community of Muslims, and among you were the Emigrants, and the Helpers, and the followers with the good deeds; and I-asws took a pact upon you of my-asws allegiance and obligations of my-asws transaction, and a Pact of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Covenant.
وَ أَشَدَّ مَا أُخِذَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّينَ مِنْ عَهْدٍ وَ مِيثَاقٍ لِتُقِرُّنَّ لِي، وَ لِتَسْمَعُنَّ لِأَمْرِي، وَ لِتُطِيعُونِي وَ تُنَاصِحُونِي، وَ تُقَاتِلُونَ مَعِي كُلَّ بَاغٍ عَلَيَّ، أَوْ مَارِقٍ إِنْ مَرَقَ.
And the strongest of what was Taken upon the Prophets-as from a pact and a covenant to acknowledge to me-asws, and to listen to my-asws orders, and to obey me-asws, and to advise me-asws, and to fight alongside me-asws against everyone rebelling against me-asws, or a renegade when he reneges.
فَبَايَعْتُمْ لِي بِذَلِكَ جَمِيعاً، وَ أَخَذْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ وَ مِيثَاقَهُ وَ ذِمَّةَ اللَّهِ وَ ذِمَّةَ رَسُولِهِ، فَأَجَبْتُمُونِي إِلَى ذَلِكَ، وَ أَشْهَدْتُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ، وَ أَشْهَدْتُ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ.
So, all of you pledged to me-asws with that and I-asws took upon you the Pact of Allah-azwj, and His-azwj covenant, and responsibility of Allah-azwj, and responsibility of His-azwj Rasool-saww. You united to me-asws to that and I-asws kept Allah-azwj upon you and kept you as witnesses upon each other.
فَقُمْتُ فِيكُمْ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ. فَالْعَجَبُ مِنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ! يُنَازِعُنِي الْخِلَافَةَ، وَ يَجْحَدُنِي الْإِمَامَةَ، وَ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ أَحَقُّ بِهَا مِنِّي، جُرْأَةً مِنْهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ، بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ لَهُ فِيهَا، وَ لَا حُجَّةٍ. وَ لَمْ يُبَايِعْهُ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ، وَ لَا سَلِمَ لَهُ الْأَنْصَارُ وَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ.
I-asws stood among you with the Book of Allah-azwj and Sunnah of His-azwj Prophet-saww. The surprise from Muawiya Bin Abu Sufyan! He is contending me-asws of the caliphate and rejecting me-asws of the Imamate, and he claims that he is more rightful with it than I-asws am, being an audacity from him upon Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww without there being a right for him nor any argument. And, neither did the Emigrants pledge allegiance to him, nor did the Helpers and the Muslims submit to him.
يَا مَعَاشِرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَ الْأَنْصَارِ وَ جَمَاعَةَ مَنْ سَمِعَ كَلَامِي! أَ مَا أَوْجَبْتُمْ لِي عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمُ الطَّاعَةَ؟ أَ مَا بَايَعْتُمُونِّي عَلَى الرَّغْبَةِ؟ أَ مَا أَخَذْتُ عَلَيْكُمُ الْعَهْدَ بِالْقَبُولِ لِقَوْلِي؟ أَ مَا بَيْعَتِي لَكُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَوْكَدَ مِنْ بَيْعَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَ عُمَرَ؟
O community of Emigrants and the helpers and group of the ones hearing my-asws speech! Isn’t the obedience to me-asws obligated upon yourselves? Did you not pledge allegiance to me-asws upon the desire? Did I-asws not take the pact upon you with the acceptance of my-asws word? Isn’t my-asws allegiance today more confirmed to you than the allegiance of Abu Bakr and Umar?
فَمَا بَالُ مَنْ خَالَفَنِي لَمْ يَنْقُضْ عَلَيْهِمَا حَتَّى مَضَيَا، وَ نَقَضَ عَلَيَّ وَ لَمْ يُوَفِّ لِي! أَ مَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْكُمْ نُصْحِي وَ يَلْزَمُكُمْ أَمْرِي؟ أَ مَا تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ بَيْعَتِي تَلْزَمُ الشَّاهِدَ مِنْكُمْ وَ الْغَائِبَ؟
So, what is the matter with the one who opposes me-asws (and) he had not broken upon them both until they died, and breaking upon me-asws and not being loyal to me-asws? Is it not obligatory upon you to advise me-asws and necessitate my-asws orders? Do you not know that my-asws allegiance is obligated upon the ones present from you and the absentees?
فَمَا بَالُ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ أَصْحَابِهِ طَاعِنُونَ فِي بَيْعَتِي! وَ لِمَ لَمْ يَفُوا لِي وَ أَنَا فِي قَرَابَتِي وَ سَابِقَتِي وَ صِهْرِي، أَوْلَى بِالْأَمْرِ مِمَّنْ تَقَدَّمَنِي؟ أَ مَا سَمِعْتُمْ قَوْلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَوْمَ الْغَدِيرِ فِي وَلَايَتِي وَ مُوَالاتِي.
So, what is the matter Muawiya and his companions are offensive in my-asws allegiance? And why are they not being loyal to me-asws and I-asws am in my-asws kinship (with Rasool-Allah-saww), and my-asws precedence, and my-asws in-law ship, I-asws am foremost with the command than the ones who preceded me (Abu Bakr and Umar)? Have you not heard the words of Rasool-Allah-saww on the day of Al-Ghadeer regarding my-asws Wilayah and my-asws Master-ship?
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ أَيُّهَا الْمُسْلِمُونَ! وَ تَحَاثُّوا عَلَى جِهَادِ مُعَاوِيَةَ الْقَاسِطِ النَّاكِثِ وَ أَصْحَابِهِ الْقَاسِطِينَ، [وَ] اسْمَعُوا مَا أَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ الْمُنْزَلِ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ الْمُرْسَلِ لِتَتَّعِظُوا، فَإِنَّهُ وَ اللَّهِ عِظَةٌ لَكُمْ. فَانْتَفِعُوا بِمَوَاعِظِ اللَّهِ وَ ازْدَجِرُوا عَنْ مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ، فَقَدْ وَعَظَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِغَيْرِكُمْ
Fear Allah-azwj, O you Muslims, and be urged upon Jihad against Muawiya, the deviant, the allegiance-breakers, and his deviant companions, and listen to what I-asws am reciting to you from the Book of Allah-azwj Revealed unto His-azwj Prophet-saww, the Sent for you to be preached, for by Allah-azwj it is a preaching for you all! Benefit from the Preaching of Allah-azwj and be Reproached from disobeying Allah-azwj, for Allah-azwj is Advising you through others.
فَقَالَ لِنَبِيِّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: أَ لَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الْمَلَإِ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرائِيلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مُوسى إِذْ قالُوا لِنَبِيٍّ لَهُمُ ابْعَثْ لَنا مَلِكاً نُقاتِلْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قالَ هَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِنْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتالُ أَلَّا تُقاتِلُوا قالُوا وَ ما لَنا أَلَّا نُقاتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ قَدْ أُخْرِجْنا مِنْ دِيارِنا وَ أَبْنائِنا فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقِتالُ تَوَلَّوْا إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِنْهُمْ وَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمِينَ
He-azwj Said to His-azwj Prophet-saww: Have you not considered the chiefs of the children of Israel after Musa, when they said to a Prophet of theirs: ‘Appoint for us a king; we would fight in the Way of Allah’. He said: ‘Perhaps you would not fight if fighting is Prescribed for you?’ They said: ‘And what is for us except that we fight in the Way of Allah, and we and our children have been expelled from our homes?’ But when fighting was Prescribed upon them, they turned back, except a few of them, and Allah Knows the unjust ones [2:246].
وَ قالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ لَكُمْ طالُوتَ مَلِكاً قالُوا أَنَّى يَكُونُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ عَلَيْنا وَ نَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِالْمُلْكِ مِنْهُ وَ لَمْ يُؤْتَ سَعَةً مِنَ الْمالِ قالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفاهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ زادَهُ بَسْطَةً فِي الْعِلْمِ وَ الْجِسْمِ وَ اللَّهُ يُؤْتِي مُلْكَهُ مَنْ يَشاءُ وَ اللَّهُ واسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And their Prophet said to them: ‘Allah has Appointed Talut to be a king over you’. They said: ‘How can he hold kingship over us while we have a greater right to kingship than him, and he has not been Given an abundance from the wealth?’ He said: ‘Allah has Chosen him over you, and has Increased him abundantly in knowledge and physique; and Allah Grants His Kingdom to the one He so Desires to; and Allah is Capacious, Knowing [2:247].
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِي هَذِهِ الْآيَاتِ عِبْرَةً؛ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ جَعَلَ الْخِلَافَةَ وَ الْإِمْرَةَ مِنْ بَعْدِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ فِي أَعْقَابِهِمْ، وَ أَنَّهُ فَضَّلَ طَالُوتَ وَ قَدَّمَهُ عَلَى الْجَمَاعَةِ بِاصْطِفَائِهِ إِيَّاهُ، وَ زادَهُ بَسْطَةً فِي الْعِلْمِ وَ الْجِسْمِ،
O you people! There is a lesson for you in these Verses for you to know that Allah-azwj made the caliphate and the government from after the Prophets-as to be in their-as posterity, and He-azwj Merited Talut and Advanced him upon the community by His-azwj Choosing him. and has Increased him abundantly in knowledge and physique; [2:247].
فَهَلْ تَجِدُونَ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَى بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ عَلَى بَنِي هَاشِمٍ، وَ زَادَ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَلَيَّ بَسْطَةً فِي الْعِلْمِ وَ الْجِسْمِ؟! فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ! وَ جَاهِدُوا فِي سَبِيلِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنَالَكُمْ سَخَطُهُ بِعِصْيَانِكُمْ لَهُ،
Can you find (anywhere) Allah-azwj Choosing the clan of Umayya over the Clan of Hashim-as, and Increased Muawiya over me-asws in abundance of knowledge and physique?! Fear Allah-azwj, servants of Allah-azwj and fight in the Way of Allah-azwj before His-azwj Wrath Seizes you due to your disobedience to Him-azwj.
قَالَ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ: لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرائِيلَ عَلى لِسانِ داوُدَ وَ عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ذلِكَ بِما عَصَوْا وَ كانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ كانُوا لا يَتَناهَوْنَ عَنْ مُنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ لَبِئْسَ ما كانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ
Allah-azwj the Glorious Said: Cursed were those who committed Kufr from the Children of Israel, upon the tongue of Dawood and Isa Bin Maryam. That was due to their disobedience and they were exceeding [5:78] They were not forbidding from evil they were doing. Evil was what they were doing [5:79].
[وَ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى:] إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْتابُوا وَ جاهَدُوا بِأَمْوالِهِمْ وَ أَنْفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أُولئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ
And Allah-azwj the Exalted Said: But rather, the Momineen are those who believe in Allah and His Rasool, then they do not doubt, and they strive with their wealth and their selves in the Way of Allah. Those, they are the truthful [49:15].
وَ قَالَ سُبْحَانَهُ: يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلى تِجارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذابٍ أَلِيمٍ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ وَ تُجاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوالِكُمْ وَ أَنْفُسِكُمْ ذلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَ يُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهارُ وَ مَساكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ذلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
And the Glorious Said: O you those who believe! Shall I point you upon a trade rescuing you from a painful Punishment? [61:10] You should believe in Allah and His Rasool, and struggle in the Way of Allah with your wealth and your selves. That is better for you if only you knew [61:11] He will Forgive your sins for you and Enter you into Gardens beneath which the rivers flow, and goodly dwellings in the Gardens of perpetuity. That is the mighty success [61:12].
اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ! وَ تَحَاثُّوا عَلَى الْجِهَادِ مَعَ إِمَامِكُمْ. فَلَوْ كَانَ لِي بِكُمْ عِصَابَةٌ بِعَدَدِ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ، إِذَا أَمَرْتُهُمْ أَطَاعُونِي، وَ إِذَا اسْتَنْهَضْتُهُمْ نَهَضُوا مَعِي، لَاسْتَغْنَيْتُ بِهِمْ عَنْ كَثِيرٍ مِنْكُمْ، وَ أَسْرَعْتُ النُّهُوضَ إِلَى حَرْبِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ أَصْحَابِهِ، فَإِنَّهُ الْجِهَادُ الْمَفْرُوضُ.
Fear Allah-azwj, servants of Allah-azwj, and be urged upon the Jihad alongside your Imam-asws! If there was to be for me-asws with you all, a group the number of the people of Badr (313), whenever I-asws order them they would obey me-asws, and whenever I-asws tell them to get up they would get up with me-asws, I-asws would be needless with them from most of you, and I-asws would quickly get up to war against Muawiya and his companions, for it is an obligatory Jihad’’.[89]
[956] – شاج: [وَ] مِنْ كَلَامِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَجْرِي مَجْرَى الِاحْتِجَاجِ، مُشْتَمِلًا عَلَى التَّوْبِيخِ لِأَصْحَابِهِ عَلَى تَثَاقُلِهِمْ لِقِتَالِ مُعَاوِيَةَ، وَ التَّفْنِيدِ، مُتَضَمِّناً لِلَّوْمٍ وَ الْوَعِيدِ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنِّي اسْتَنْفَرْتُكُمْ لِجِهَادِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ فَلَمْ تَنْفِرُوا، وَ أَسْمَعْتُكُمْ فَلَمْ تُجِيبُوا، وَ نَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ فَلَمْ تَقْبَلُوا، شُهُوداً كَالْغُيَّبِ.
(The book) ‘Al Irshad’ –
‘From a speech of his-asws flowing the flow of the argumentation, inclusive upon the rebuking to his-asws companions upon their sluggishness to fight Muawiya, and the refutation, including the blaming and the threatening: ‘O you people! I-asws am mobilising you to Jihad against these people, but you are not mobilising, and I-asws am making you hear but you are not responding, and I-asws am advising to you but you are not accepting. You are present like the absentees.
أَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمُ الْحِكْمَةَ فَتُعْرِضُونَ عَنْهَا، وَ أَعِظُكُمْ بِالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْبَالِغَةِ فَتَنْفِرُونَ عَنْهَا، كَأَنَّكُمْ حُمُرٌ مُسْتَنْفِرَةٌ فَرَّتْ مِنْ قَسْوَرَةٍ وَ أَحُثُّكُمْ عَلَى جِهَادِ أَهْلِ الْجَوْرِ فَمَا آتِي عَلَى آخِرِ قَوْلِي، حَتَّى أَرَاكُمْ مُتَفَرِّقِينَ أَيَادِيَ سَبَا
I-asws recite the wisdom to you all but you are turning away from it, and I-asws am advising you with the far-reaching preaching but you are running away from it. It is as if you are As if they were frightened donkeys [74:50] Fleeing from a lion [74:51], and I-asws am urging you upon Jihad against the people of tyranny, but I-asws do not even come to the end of my-asws words until I-asws see you dispersing (like) the hands of (people of) Saba.
تَرْجِعُونَ إِلَى مَجَالِسِكُمْ تَتَرَبَّعُونَ حَلَقاً، تَضْرِبُونَ الْأَمْثَالَ، وَ تُنْشِدُونَ الْأَشْعَارَ، وَ تَجَسَّسُونَ الْأَخْبَارَ، حَتَّى إِذَا تَفَرَّقْتُمْ، تَسْأَلُونَ عَنِ الْأَشْعَارِ. جَهْلَةً مِنْ غَيْرِ عِلْمٍ، وَ غَفْلَةً مِنْ غَيْرِ وَرَعٍ، وَ تَتَبُّعاً مِنْ غَيْرِ خَوْفٍ. وَ نَسِيتُمُ الْحَرْبَ وَ الِاسْتِعْدَادَ لَهَا، فَأَصْبَحَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ فَارِغَةً مِنْ ذِكْرِهَا، شَغَلْتُمُوهَا بِالْأَعَالِيلِ وَ الْأَضَالِيلِ.
You are returning to your gathering squatting in a circle, striking examples and prosing the poems, investigating the news, until what you disperse, you are asking about the poems. Ignorance from without any knowledge, and heedlessness from without any devotions, and following without any fear; and you have forgotten the war and the preparations for it and your hearts have become free from its remembrance. You are pre-occupying these (hearts) with the frivolities and delusions.
فَالْعَجَبُ كُلُّ الْعَجَبِ وَ كَيْفَ لَا أَعْجَبُ مِنِ اجْتِمَاعِ قَوْمٍ عَلَى بَاطِلِهِمْ وَ تَخَاذُلِكُمْ عَنْ حَقِّكُمْ.
The surprise of all surprises! And how can I-asws not be surprise from a people uniting upon their falsehood and your forsaking from your rights?
يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ! أَنْتُمْ كَأُمِّ مُجَالِدٍ، حَمَلَتْ فَأَمْلَصَتْ، فَمَاتَ قَيِّمُهَا، وَ طَالَ أَيِّمُهَا وَ وَرِثَهَا أَبْعَدُهَا.
O people of Al-Kufa! You are like the mother of a fighter. She becomes pregnant and delivers a still-born, and her custodian (husband) has died, and her widow-hood is prolonged, and the remote ones inherit her.
وَ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ، إِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِكُمُ الْأَعْوَرَ الْأَدْبَرَ جَهَنَّمَ الدُّنْيَا، لَا يُبْقِي وَ لَا يَذَرُ. وَ مَنْ بَعْدَهُ النَّهَّاسُ الْفَرَّاسُ، الْجَمُوعُ الْمَنُوعُ، ثُمَّ لَيَتَوَارَثَنَّكُمْ مِنْ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ عِدَّةٌ، مَا الْآخَرُ [مِنْهُمْ] بِأَرْأَفَ بِكُمْ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِ، مَا خَلَا رَجُلًا وَاحِداً [مِنْهُمْ] بَلَاءٌ قَضَاهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ، لَا مَحَالَةَ كَائِنٌ.
By the One-azwj Who Split the seed and Formed the person! Surely from behind you is the one-eyed (Al-Dajjal-la) turner of the hell of world, neither letting anyone remain nor leaving it. And from after him-la is the beguiled lion, then you would inherit a number from the clan of Umayya. The last of them will not with more understanding with you than the first, apart from one man from them, being a calamity Allah-azwj has Decreed to be upon this community, inevitably to happen.
يَقْتُلُونَ خِيَارَكُمْ، وَ يَسْتَعْبِدُونَ أَرْذَالَكُمْ، وَ يَسْتَخْرِجُونَ كُنُوزَكُمْ وَ ذَخَائِرَكُمْ مِنْ جَوْفِ حِجَالِكُمْ، نَقِمَةً بِمَا ضَيَّعْتُمْ مِنْ أُمُورِكُمْ وَ صَلَاحِ أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَ دِينِكُمْ.
They will kill your best ones, and enslave your lowly ones, and extracting your treasures and your hoard from inside your curtains, being a scourge due to what you wasted from your affairs and betterment of yourselves and your religion.
يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ! أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِمَا يَكُونُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَكُونَ، لِتَكُونُوا مِنْهُ عَلَى حَذَرٍ، وَ لِتُنْذِرُوا بِهِ مَنِ اتَّعَظَ وَ اعْتَبَرَ. كَأَنِّي بِكُمْ تَقُولُونَ: إِنَّ عَلِيّاً يَكْذِبُ كَمَا قَالَتْ قُرَيْشٌ لِنَبِيِّهَا وَ سَيِّدِهَا نَبِيِّ الرَّحْمَةِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ حَبِيبِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ.
O people of Al-Kufa! I-asws am informing you with what is going to happen before it has happened, so you will become upon a caution from it and for you to be warned by, one who takes a preaching and a lesson. It is as if I-asws am with you and you are saying: ‘Ali-asws is lying’, just as Quraysh had said to their Prophet-saww, and their chief is the Prophet-saww of Mercy, Muhammad-saww son-saww of Abdullah-as, Beloved of Allah-azwj, may the Salawaat of Allah-azwj be upon him-as and his-saww Progeny-asws, and peace.
فَيَا وَيْلَكُمْ، فَعَلَى مَنْ أَكْذِبُ! أَ عَلَى اللَّهِ! فَأَنَا أَوَّلُ مَنْ عَبَدَ اللَّهَ وَ وَحَّدَهُ، أَمْ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ! فَأَنَا أَوَّلُ مَنْ آمَنَ بِهِ وَ صَدَّقَهُ وَ نَصَرَهُ. كَلَّا وَ لَكِنَّهَا لَهْجَةُ خُدْعَةٍ كُنْتُمْ عَنْهَا أَغْبِيَاءَ.
O woe be unto you all! Upon whom am I-asws lying? Is it upon Allah-azwj? But I-asws am the first one to worship Allah-azwj and profess His-azwj Oneness. Or (is it) upon Rasool-Allah-saww? But I-asws am the first one to believe him-saww and ratify him-saww and help him-saww. Never! But it is a deceptive tone you are stupid about it.
وَ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ، لَتَعْلَمُنَّ نَبَأَهَا بَعْدَ حِينٍ، وَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا صَيَّرَكُمْ إِلَيْهَا جَهْلُكُمْ، وَ لَا يَنْفَعُكُمْ عِنْدَهَا عِلْمُكُمْ.
By the One-azwj Who Split the seed and Formed the person! After a short while you will come to know its news, and that is when you come to it in your ignorance, and during it your knowledge will not benefit you.
فَقُبْحاً لَكُمْ يَا أَشْبَاهَ الرِّجَالِ وَ لَا رِجَالَ، حُلُومُ الْأَطْفَالِ وَ عُقُولُ رَبَّاتِ الْحِجَالِ.
Ugliness be for you all, O resemblances of the men and are not men, having wisdom of the children and intellects of anklet-wearers (women).
أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ أَيُّهَا الشَّاهِدَةُ أَبْدَانُهُمْ، الْغَائِبَةُ عَنْهُمْ عُقُولُهُمْ، الْمُخْتَلِفَةُ أَهْوَاؤُهُمْ! مَا أَعَزَّ اللَّهُ نَصْرَ مَنْ دَعَاكُمْ، وَ لَا اسْتَرَاحَ قَلْبُ مَنْ قَاسَاكُمْ، وَ لَا قَرَّتْ عَيْنُ مَنْ آوَاكُمْ. كَلَامُكُمْ يُوهِي الصُّمَّ الصِّلَابَ، وَ فِعْلُكُمْ يُطْمِعُ فِيكُمْ عَدُوَّكُمُ الْمُرْتَابَ.
But by Allah-azwj, O their bodies are present and their intellects are absent from them, different being their desires! Allah-azwj will not Honour the victory to the one who calls out to you, nor will it rest, the heart of the one who hardens you, nor will the eyes be delighted of the one who shelters you. Your talk would weaken the solid slabs and your deeds are what your dubious enemies are coveting regarding you.
يَا وَيْحَكُمْ، أَيَّ دَارٍ بَعْدَ دَارِكُمْ تَمْنَعُونَ! وَ مَعَ أَيِّ إِمَامٍ بَعْدِي تُقَاتِلُونَ! وَ الْمَغْرُورُ وَ اللَّهِ مَنْ غَرَرْتُمُوهُ، وَ مَنْ فَازَ بِكُمْ فَازَ بِالسَّهْمِ الْأَخْيَبِ.
O woe be unto you all! Which house after your house will you be defending? And with which leader after me-asws will you be fighting? By Allah-azwj! And the deceived is the one you deceive, and the one who is successful with you succeeds with the broken arrow.
أَصْبَحْتُ لَا أَطْمَعُ فِي نَصْرِكُمْ، وَ لَا أُصَدِّقُ قَوْلَكُمْ. فَرَّقَ اللَّهُ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكُمْ، وَ أَعْقَبَنِي بِكُمْ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لِي مِنْكُمْ، وَ أَعْقَبَكُمْ بِي مَنْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ مِنِّي.
I-asws have become such that I-asws (no longer) covet regarding your help, nor can I-asws ratify your words. May Allah-azwj Separate between me-asws and you, and Replace me-asws with you, one who is better for me-asws than you are, and Replace you all with me-asws by one who is eviler to you all than I-asws am.
إِمَامُكُمْ يُطِيعُ اللَّهَ وَ أَنْتُمْ تَعْصُونَهُ، وَ إِمَامُ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ يَعْصِي اللَّهَ وَ هُمْ يُطِيعُونَهُ. وَ اللَّهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ صَارَفَنِي بِكُمْ صَرْفَ الدِّينَارِ بِالدِّرْهَمِ، فَأَخَذَ مِنِّي عَشَرَةً مِنْكُمْ وَ أَعْطَانِي وَاحِداً مِنْهُمْ
Your Imam-asws is obeying Allah-azwj and you are disobeying him-asws, and the imam (leader) of the people of Syrian is disobeying Allah-azwj, and they are obeying him. By Allah-azwj! I-asws would love it if Muawiya would exchange for me-asws with you all (like) exchanging the Dinar with the Dirham. He can take ten of you from me-asws and give me-asws one of them.
وَ اللَّهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي لَمْ أَعْرِفْكُمْ، وَ لَمْ تَعْرِفُونِي، فَإِنَّهَا مَعْرِفَةٌ جَرَتْ نَدَماً! لَقَدْ وَرَّيْتُمْ صَدْرِي غَيْظاً، وَ أَفْسَدْتُمْ عَلَيَّ أَمْرِي بِالْخِذْلَانِ وَ الْعِصْيَانِ، حَتَّى لَقَدْ قَالَتْ قُرَيْشٌ: إِنَّ عَلِيّاً رَجُلٌ شُجَاعٌ [وَ] لَكِنْ لَا عِلْمَ لَهُ بِالْحُرُوبِ.
By Allah-azwj! I-asws would have loved it if I-asws did not know you and you did not know me-asws, for it is a recognition flowing regret! You have covered my-asws chest with rage, and spoiled my-asws affairs upon me-asws by the abandoning and the disobedience, to the extent that Quraysh said, ‘Ali-asws is a brave man but there is no knowledge for him-asws with the wars (tactics)’.
لِلَّهِ دَرُّهُمْ! هَلْ كَانَ فِيهِمْ أَحَدٌ أَطْوَلُ لَهَا مِرَاساً مِنِّي وَ أَشَدُّ لَهَا مُقَاسَاةً؟! لَقَدْ نَهَضْتُ فِيهَا وَ مَا بَلَغْتُ الْعِشْرِينَ، ثُمَّ هَا أَنَا قَدْ ذَرَّفْتُ عَلَى السِّتِّينَ، وَ لَكِنْ لَا أَمْرَ لِمَنْ لَا يُطَاعُ.
For the Sake of Allah-azwj, their turning! Is there anyone among them with a more prolonged anchor in it than me-asws, and severer hardness for it ?! I-asws had got up for it and I-asws had yet to reach twenty (years), then here I-asws am, I-asws have passed over sixty, but there is no command for the one who is not obeyed.
أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ رَبِّي قَدْ أَخْرَجَنِي مِنْ بَيْنِ أَظْهُرِكُمْ إِلَى رِضْوَانِهِ، وَ أَنَّ الْمَنِيَّةَ لَتَرْصُدُنِي، فَمَا يَمْنَعُ أَشْقَاهَا أَنْ يَخْضِبَهَا؟ وَ نَزَّلَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] يَدَهُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَ لِحْيَتِهِ عَهْداً عَهِدَهُ إِلَيَّ النَّبِيُّ الْأُمِّيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ. وَ قَدْ خابَ مَنِ افْتَرى، وَ نَجَا مَنِ اتَّقى وَ صَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنى
But, by Allah-azwj! I-asws would love it if my-asws Lord-azwj had Extracted me-asws from between your midst to His-azwj Pleasure. And the death is watching me-asws, so what is preventing its wretched one to dye it?’ And he-asws brought down his-asws hand upon his-asws head and his-asws beard, ‘Being a pact the Ummy Prophet-saww had pacted it to me-asws, and the one who fabricates would be disappointed’ [20:61], and he would attain salvation, the one who fears [92:5] And ratifies the most excellent [92:6].
يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ! قَدْ دَعَوْتُكُمْ إِلَى جِهَادِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ لَيْلًا وَ نَهَاراً، وَ سِرّاً وَ إِعْلَاناً، وَ قُلْتُ لَكُمُ: اغْزُوهُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَغْزُوكُمْ؛ فَإِنَّهُ مَا غُزِيَ قَوْمٌ فِي عُقْرِ دَارِهِمْ إِلَّا ذَلُّوا. فَتَوَاكَلْتُمْ وَ تَخَاذَلْتُمْ، وَ ثَقُلَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَوْلِي، وَ اسْتَصْعَبَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَمْرِي، وَ اتَّخَذْتُمُوهُ وَراءَكُمْ ظِهْرِيًّا حَتَّى شُنَّتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْغَارَاتُ، وَ ظَهَرَتْ فِيكُمُ الْفَوَاحِشُ وَ الْمُنْكَرَاتُ،
O people of Al-Kufa! I-asws have called you to Jihad against these people night and day, and privately and openly, and I-asws said to you: ‘Invade them before they invade you, for no people have been invaded in their own houses except they were disgraced. But you depended on each other and abandoned, and my-asws would was burdensome upon you and my-asws order was difficult upon you, And you took it as (a thing) cast behind your back. [11:92] until the raids have been launched upon you, and the immoralities and the evil appeared among you all.
تُمْسِيكُمْ وَ تُصْبِحُكُمْ كَمَا فَعَلَ بِأَهْلِ الْمَثُلَاتِ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ، حَيْثُ أَخْبَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَنِ الْجَبَابِرَةِ الْعُتَاةِ الطُّغَاةِ، وَ الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ الْغُوَاةِ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْناءَكُمْ وَ يَسْتَحْيُونَ نِساءَكُمْ وَ فِي ذلِكُمْ بَلاءٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ.
Evening and morning you are becoming like what the people of the (Divine) Punishment before you, when Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Informed about the despots, the transgressors, the tyrants, and the weak are the invaded in the Words of the Exalted: They were slaughtering your sons and were letting your women live; and during that you were in an enormous Trial from your Lord. [2:49].
أَمَا وَ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ لَقَدْ حَلَّ بِكُمُ الَّذِي تُوعَدُونَ. عَاتَبْتُكُمْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ بِمَوَاعِظِ الْقُرْآنِ فَلَمْ أَنْتَفِعْ بِكُمْ، وَ أَدَّبْتُكُمْ بِالدِّرَّةِ فَلَمْ تَسْتَقِيمُوا لِي، وَ عَاقَبْتُكُمْ بِالسَّوْطِ الَّذِي يُقَامُ بِهِ الْحُدُودُ فَلَمْ تَرْعَوُوا. وَ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ الَّذِي يُصْلِحُكُمْ هُوَ السَّيْفُ.
But, by the One-azwj Who Split the seed and Formed the person! It has (already) been released with you which you had been threatened with. O people of Al Kufa! I-asws exhort you with the preaching(s) of the Quran but you are not benefitting with it, and I-asws discipline you with the twig but you are not straightening for me-asws, and I-asws Punish you with the whip which the legal punishments are established with, but you are not afraid, and I-asws have come to know that which would correct you, it is the sword.
وَ مَا كُنْتُ مُتَحَرِّياً صَلَاحَكُمْ بِفَسَادِ نَفْسِي، وَ لَكِنْ سَيُسَلَّطُ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانٌ صَعْبٌ، لَا يُوَقِّرُ كَبِيرَكُمْ، وَ لَا يَرْحَمُ صَغِيرَكُمْ، وَ لَا يُكْرِمُ عَالِمَكُمْ، وَ لَا يَقْسِمُ الْفَيْءَ بِالسَّوِيَّةِ بَيْنَكُمْ، وَ لَيَضْرِبَنَّكُمْ وَ لَيُذِلَنَّكُمْ، وَ لَيَجُرَّنَّكُمْ فِي الْمَغَازِي، وَ يَقْطَعَنَّ سُبُلَكُمْ، وَ لَيَحْجُبَنَّكُمْ عَلَى بَابِهِ حَتَّى يَأْكُلَ قَوِيُّكُمْ ضَعِيفَكُمْ، ثُمَّ لَا يُبَعِّدُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا مَنْ ظَلَمَ. وَ لَقَلَّ مَا أَدْبَرَ شَيْءٌ فَأَقْبَلَ، إِنِّي لَأَظُنُّكُمْ عَلَى فَتْرَةٍ، وَ مَا عَلَيَّ إِلَّا النُّصْحُ لَكُمْ.
And I-asws am not going to correct you all by spoiling myself-asws, but a difficult rules would overcome upon you. He will neither revere your elders nor have mercy on your young ones, nor will he honour your learned ones, nor will he distribute the war booty with the equality between you, and he will strike you and humiliate you and drag you into the battles, and cut of your ways, and he will block you from his door until your strong ones would devour your weak ones, then Allah-azwj will not Distance except one who is unjust, and a little of what turns around, it would come back. I-asws am thinking of you upon the gap period, and there is nothing upon me-asws except the advising to you all.
يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ! مُنِيتُ مِنْكُمْ بِثَلَاثٍ وَ اثْنَتَيْنِ: صُمٌّ ذَوُو أَسْمَاعٍ، وَ بُكْمٌ ذَوُو أَلْسُنٍ، وَ عُمْيٌ ذَوُو أَبْصَارٍ. لَا إِخْوَانُ صِدْقٍ عِنْدَ اللِّقَاءِ، وَ لَا إِخْوَانُ ثِقَةٍ عِنْدَ الْبَلَاءِ.
O people of Al-Kufa! I-asws have been affected by you from three (things) and two – Deafness by the ones with ears, and muteness by the ones with tongues, and blindness by the ones with eyes. Neither are you sincere brothers during the meeting (battle), nor are your trustworthy brethrens during the afflictions.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي قَدْ مَلِلْتُهُمْ وَ مَلُّونِي، وَ سَئِمْتُهُمْ وَ سَئِمُونِي. اللَّهُمَّ لَا تُرْضِ عَنْهُمْ أَمِيراً، وَ لَا تُرْضِهِمْ عَنْ أَمِيرٍ، وَ أَمِثْ قُلُوبَهُمْ كَإِيمَاثِ الْمِلْحِ فِي الْمَاءِ.
O Allah-azwj! I-asws am fed up with them and they are fed up with me-asws, and I-asws am tired of them and they are tired of me-asws. O Allah-azwj! Neither would a ruler be pleased from them nor would they be pleased from any ruler, and their hearts have dissolved like the dissolving of the salt in the water.
أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ [كُنْتُ] أَجِدُ بُدّاً مِنْ كَلَامِكُمْ وَ مُرَاسَلَتِكُمْ مَا فَعَلْتُ. وَ لَقَدْ عَاتَبْتُكُمْ فِي رُشْدِكُمْ حَتَّى سَئِمْتُ الْحَيَاةَ، [وَ أَنْتُمْ فِي] كُلِّ ذَلِكَ تَرْجِعُونَ بِالْهُزْءِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ، فِرَاراً مِنَ الْحَقِّ، وَ إِلْحَاداً إِلَى الْبَاطِلِ الَّذِي لَا يُعِزُّ اللَّهُ بِأَهْلِهِ الدِّينَ،
But, by Allah-azwj! If I-asws could have found an escape from speaking to you and corresponding with you, I-asws would not have done it, and I-asws have reproached you in guiding you aright until the life became weary, and during all that you were returning mockingly from the words, fleeing from the truth and sticking to the falsehood which Allah-azwj does not Strengthen the religion by its (these kind of) people.
وَ إِنِّي لَأَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ لَا تَزِيدُونَنِي غَيْرَ تَخْسِيرٍ كُلَّمَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِجِهَادِ عَدُوِّكُمْ اثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ، وَ سَأَلْتُمُونِيَ التَّأْخِيرَ دِفَاعَ ذِي الدَّيْنِ الْمَطُولِ.
And I am more knowing with you that you would not increase me in other than loss [11:63]. Every time I-asws order you with Jihad against your enemies, you cling heavily to the ground? [9:38] (become sluggish) and you are asking me-asws with the delaying (like) the defence of the one with prolonged debt.
إِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ فِي الْقَيْظِ: سِيرُوا. قُلْتُمْ: الْحَرُّ شَدِيدٌ. وَ إِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ: سِيرُوا فِي الْبَرْدِ. قُلْتُمْ: الْقَرُّ شَدِيدٌ. كُلُّ ذَلِكَ فِرَاراً عَنِ الْحَرْبِ إِذَا كُنْتُمْ عَنِ الْحَرِّ وَ الْبَرْدِ تَعْجِزُونَ، فَأَنْتُمْ عَنْ حَرَارَةِ السَّيْفِ أَعْجَزُ وَ أَعْجَزُ. فَ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَيْهِ راجِعُونَ
If I-asws say to you during the summer, ‘Travel!’ You are saying, ‘The heat is severe’. And if I-asws say to you, ‘Travel during the cold!’ You are saying, ‘The cold is severe’. All that amounts to fleeing from the war when you are frustrated from the heat and the cold, so you would be more frustrated from the heat of the sword, and even more frustrated. So, We are for Allah and we are returning to Him [2:156].
يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ! قَدْ أَتَانِيَ الصَّرِيحُ يُخْبِرُنِي أَنَّ ابْنَ غَامِدٍ قَدْ نَزَلَ الْأَنْبَارَ عَلَى أَهْلِهَا لَيْلًا فِي أَرْبَعَةِ آلَافٍ، فَأَغَارَ عَلَيْهِمْ كَمَا يُغَارُ عَلَى الرُّومِ وَ الْخَزَرِ، فَقَتَلَ بِهَا عَامِلِي ابْنَ حَسَّانَ، وَ قَتَلَ مَعَهُ رِجَالًا صَالِحِينَ ذَوِي فَضْلٍ وَ عِبَادَةٍ وَ نَجْدَةٍ، بَوَّأَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ، وَ إِنَّهُ أَبَاحَهَا.
O people of Al-Kufa! The shouter (herald) has come to me-asws informing me-asws that Ibn Ghamid has descended at Al-Anbar upon its inhabitants, among four thousand. He has raided upon them just as one would raid upon the Romans and Al-Khazars (Turks). He has killed my-asws office bearer Ibn Hassan at it, and killed righteous men along with him, ones with merits and worship and courage, may Allah-azwj Bless for them the Gardens of bliss, and it is His-azwj Permitting it.
وَ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ الْعُصْبَةَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ، كَانُوا يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ الْمُسْلِمَةِ وَ الْأُخْرَى الْمُعَاهَدَةِ، فَيَهْتِكُونَ سِتْرَهَا، وَ يَأْخُذُونَ الْقِنَاعَ مِنْ رَأْسِهَا، وَ الْخُرْصَ مِنْ أُذُنِهَا، وَ الْأَوْضَاحَ مِنْ يَدَيْهَا وَ رِجْلَيْهَا وَ عَضُدَيْهَا، وَ الْخَلْخَالَ وَ الْمِئْزَرَ عَنْ سُوقِهَا،
And it has reached me that the group from the people of Syria have entered upon the Muslims women and other (women) under the responsibility, and they have violated their veils and have seized the veils from their heads, and the ear rings from their ears, and the bangles from their hands, and their legs, and their forearms, and the anklets, and the aprons from their coverings.
فَمَا تَمْتَنِعُ إِلَّا بِالاسْتِرْجَاعِ وَ النِّدَاءِ «يَا لَلْمُسْلِمِينَ» فَلَا يُغِيثُهَا مُغِيثٌ وَ لَا يَنْصُرُهَا نَاصِرٌ، فَلَوْ أَنَّ مُؤْمِناً مَاتَ مِنْ دُونِ هَذَا أَسَفاً، مَا كَانَ عِنْدِي مَلُوماً بَلْ كَانَ عِنْدِي بَارّاً مُحْسِناً.
So, they had no defence except with the saying, We are for Allah and we are returning to Him [2:156], and the calling out, ‘O Muslims!’ But no helper helped them, nor did any supporter supported them. If a Momin would have died from this out of pity, he would not be blamed in my-asws presence, but in my-asws presence he-asws would be righteous, a good-doer.
وَا عَجَباً كُلَّ الْعَجَبِ مِنْ تَظَافُرِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ عَلَى بَاطِلِهِمْ، وَ فَشَلِكُمْ عَنْ حَقِّكُمْ! قَدْ صِرْتُمْ غَرَضاً يُرْمَى وَ لَا تَرْمُونَ، وَ تُغْزَوْنَ وَ لَا تَغْزُونَ، وَ يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ وَ تَرْضَوْنَ، فَتَرِبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ يَا أَشْبَاهَ الْإِبِلِ غَابَ عَنْهَا رُعَاتُهَا، كُلَّمَا اجْتَمَعَتْ مِنْ جَانِبٍ تَفَرَّقَتْ مِنْ جَانِبٍ.
O surprise of all surprises from the prevailing of these people upon their falsehood and your failure from your rights! You have become aimed with shooting and you are not shooting (back), and you are being invaded and you are not battling, and they are disobeying Allah-azwj and you are pleased. May your hands be soiled, O semblances of the camels from whom their shepherd is absent. Every time they are gathered from one side, they disperse from the other side!’’[90]
[957] – مع: الطَّالَقَانِيُّ عَنِ الْجَوْهَرِيِّ عَنِ الْجَلُودِيِّ وَ هِشَامِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ مَعاً عَنِ ابْنِ عَائِشَةَ، بِإِسْنَادٍ ذَكَرَهُ: أَنَّ عَلِيّاً [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] انْتَهَى إِلَيْهِ أَنَّ خَيْلًا لِمُعَاوِيَةَ وَرَدَتِ الْأَنْبَارَ، فَقَتَلُوا عَامِلًا لَهُ يُقَالُ لَهُ: حَسَّانُ بْنُ حَسَّانَ. فَخَرَجَ مُغْضَباً يَجُرُّ ثَوْبَهُ حَتَّى أَتَى النُّخَيْلَةَ، وَ اتَّبَعَهُ النَّاسُ فَرَقِيَ رِبَاوَةً مِنَ الْأَرْضِ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ:
(The book) ‘Ma’any Al Akhbaar’ – From Al Jowhari, from Al Jaloudy and Hisham Bin Ali, both together from Ibn Ayesha, by a chain he mentioned,
‘Ali-asws, there ended up to him-asws a cavalry from Muawiya arriving at Al-Anbar. They killed an office bearer of his-asws call Hassan Bin Hassan. He-asws came out angered dragging his cloth until he-asws came to Al-Nukheyla, and the people followed him-asws. He-asws lifted a handful from the ground, praise Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, then said:
أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ الْجِهَادَ بَابٌ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ، فَتَحَهُ اللَّهُ لِخَاصَّةِ أَوْلِيَائِهِ، وَ هُوَ لِباسُ التَّقْوى، وَ دِرْعُ اللَّهِ الْحَصِينَةُ، وَ جُنَّتُهُ الْوَثِيقَةُ، فَمَنْ تَرَكَهُ رَغْبَةً عَنْهُ أَلْبَسَهُ اللَّهُ ثَوْبَ الذُّلِّ، وَ سِيمَاءَ الْخَسْفِ، وَ دُيِّثَ بِالصَّغَارِ.
‘As for after, surely the Jihad is a door from the doors of Paradise. Allah-azwj has Opened it for His-azwj special friends, and it is an apparel of piety, and the fortified armour of Allah-azwj, and His-azwj trustworthy shield. The one who neglects it turning away from it, Allah-azwj would Clothe him the clothing of disgrace, and appearance of abjectness, and death with belittlement.
وَ قَدْ دَعَوْتُكُمْ إِلَى حَرْبِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ لَيْلًا وَ نَهَاراً وَ سِرّاً وَ إِعْلَاناً، وَ قُلْتُ لَكُمُ: اغْزُوهُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَغْزُوكُمْ، فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا غُزِيَ قَوْمٌ قَطُّ فِي عُقْرِ دِيَارِهِمْ، إِلَّا ذَلُّوا، فَتَوَاكَلْتُمْ وَ تَخَاذَلْتُمْ وَ ثَقُلَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَوْلِي، وَ اتَّخَذْتُمُوهُ وَراءَكُمْ ظِهْرِيًّا حَتَّى شُنَّتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْغَارَاتُ.
And I-asws have called out to you to war against these people night and day, and privately and openly, and I-asws said to you: ‘Invade them from before they invade you, for by the One-azwj in Whose Hand is my-asws soul! No people have been invaded at all in their own homes except they were disgraced. But you depended on each other and abandoned, and my-asws words were burdensome upon you, And you took it as (a thing) cast behind your back. [11:92] until the raids have been launched upon you.
هَذَا أَخُو غَامِدٍ قَدْ وَرَدَتْ خَيْلُهُ الْأَنْبَارَ، وَ قَتَلُوا حَسَّانَ بْنَ حَسَّانَ وَ رِجَالًا مِنْهُمْ كَثِيراً وَ نِسَاءً، وَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّهُ كَانَ [الرَّجُلُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ يَدْخُلُ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ الْمُسْلِمَةِ وَ الْمُعَاهَدَةِ فَيَنْتَزِعُ أَحْجَالَهُمَا وَ رُعُثَهُمَا، ثُمَّ انْصَرَفُوا مَوْفُورِينَ لَمْ يُكْلَمْ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ كَلْماً.
This brother of (clan of) Ghamid has brought his cavalry to Al-Anbar, and they have killed Hassan Bin Hassan, and a lot of men and women from them. By the One-azwj in Whose Hand is my-asws soul! It has reached me-asws that the men from Syrian had entered unto the Muslim women and women under the responsibility, and they snatched their bangles and their ear rings, then they left with plentiful, not one of them spoke a word.
فَلَوْ أَنَّ امْرَأً مُسْلِماً مَاتَ مِنْ دُونِ هَذَا أَسَفاً، مَا كَانَ عِنْدِي فِيهِ مَلُوماً، بَلْ كَانَ عِنْدِي بِهِ جَدِيراً.
So if a Muslim man were to die out of pity from this, he would not be blamed in my-asws presence, but in my-asws presence he-asws would be worthy of it.
يَا عَجَباً كُلَّ الْعَجَبِ مِنْ تَظَافُرِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ عَلَى بَاطِلِهِمْ وَ فَشَلِكُمْ عَنْ حَقِّكُمْ! إِذَا قُلْتُ لَكُمُ: اغْزُوهُمْ فِي الشِّتَاءِ، قُلْتُمْ: هَذَا أَوَانُ قُرٍّ وَ صِرٍّ. وَ إِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمُ: اغْزُوهُمْ فِي الصَّيْفِ، قُلْتُمْ: هَذِهِ حَمَارَّةُ الْقَيْظِ، أَنْظِرْنَا يَنْصَرِمِ الْحَرُّ عَنَّا. فَإِذَا أَنْتُمْ مِنَ الْحَرِّ وَ الْبَرْدِ تَفِرُّونَ، فَأَنْتُمْ وَ اللَّهِ مِنَ السَّيْفِ أَفَرُّ.
O surprise of all surprises from the prevailing of these people upon their falsehood and your failure from your rights! When I-asws say to you: ‘Battle them during the winter, you say, ‘This is the season of cold and snow (bitter cold)’. And if I-asws tell you to battle them in the summer, you say, ‘This is the hot spring. Wait for us for the heat to most away from us’. So there, you are fleeing from the heat and cold, and by Allah-azwj, you will even more fleeing from the sword.
يَا أَشْبَاهَ الرِّجَالِ وَ لَا رِجَالَ! وَ يَا طَغَامَ الْأَحْلَامِ وَ يَا عُقُولَ رَبَّاتِ الْحِجَالِ. وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَفْسَدْتُمْ عَلَيَّ رَأْيِي بِالْعِصْيَانِ، وَ لَقَدْ مَلَأْتُمْ جَوْفِي غَيْظاً حَتَّى قَالَتْ قُرَيْشٌ: إِنَّ ابْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ شُجَاعٌ وَ لَكِنْ لَا رَأْيَ لَهُ فِي الْحَرْبِ.
O resemblances of the men (who) are not men! And O the wisdom of riff raff, and O intellects of the anklet-wearers (women)! By Allah-azwj! You have spoiled my-asws view upon me-asws with the disobedience, and you-asws having filled my-asws interior with rage to the extent that Quraysh said, ‘The son-asws of Abu Talib-asws, but there is no view for him-asws regarding the war (tactics)’.
لِلَّهِ دَرُّهُمْ! وَ مَنْ ذَا يَكُونُ أَعْلَمَ بِهَا وَ أَشَدَّ لَهَا مِرَاساً مِنِّي! فَوَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ نَهَضْتُ فِيهَا وَ مَا بَلَغْتُ الْعِشْرِينَ، وَ لَقَدْ نَيَّفْتُ الْيَوْمَ عَلَى السِّتِّينَ، وَ لَكِنْ لَا رَأْيَ لِمَنْ لَا يُطَاعُ. يَقُولُهَا ثَلَاثاً.
For the Sake of Allah-azwj, their turning! Is there anyone among them with a more prolonged anchor in it than me-asws? By Allah-azwj! I-asws had got up for it and I-asws had yet to reach twenty (years), then here I-asws am, I-asws have passed over sixty, but there is no command for the one who is not obeyed’ – saying it thrice.
فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ وَ مَعَهُ أَخُوهُ فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! أَنَا وَ أَخِي هَذَا كَمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حِكَايَةً عَنْ مُوسَى: رَبِّ إِنِّي لا أَمْلِكُ إِلَّا نَفْسِي وَ أَخِي فَمُرْنَا بِأَمْرِكَ، فَوَ اللَّهِ لَنَنْتَهِيَنَّ إِلَيْهِ وَ لَوْ حَالَ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُ جَمْرُ الْغَضَا وَ شَوْكُ الْقَتَادِ.
A man stood up to him and with him was his brother. He said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! I and this brother of mine are just as Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Narrated about Musa-as: ‘My Lord! I cannot control except myself and my brother, [5:25]. So, order us with your-asws order. By Allah-azwj, we will ended up to him and even if between us and him there is a barrier of burning embers and sharp thorns’.
فَدَعَا لَهُ بِخَيْرٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ: وَ أَيْنَ تَقَعَانِ مِمَّا أُرِيدُ! ثُمَّ نَزَلَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ].
He-asws supplicated for him, then said: ‘And where will you two reach from what I-asws want?’ Then he-asws descended’’.[91]
[958] – مَا: قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: الْمَوْتُ طَالِبٌ وَ مَطْلُوبٌ، لَا يُعْجِزُهُ الْمُقِيمُ، وَ لَا يَفُوتُهُ الْهَارِبُ، فَقَدِّمُوا وَ لَا تَنْكُلُوا، فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ عَنِ الْمَوْتِ مَحِيصٌ، إِنَّكُمْ إِنْ لَمْ تُقْتَلُوا تَمُوتُوا. وَ الَّذِي نَفْسُ عَلِيٍّ بِيَدِهِ، لَأَلْفُ ضَرْبَةٍ بِالسَّيْفِ عَلَى الرَّأْسِ، أَهْوَنُ مِنْ مَوْتٍ عَلَى فِرَاشٍ.
(The book) ‘Amaali’ –
‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘The death is a seek and sought. Neither can a stayer frustrate it nor can the fleer escape it. So, advance and do not stay away for there isn’t any avoidance from the death. If you do not get killed, you will be dying (a natural death). By the One-azwj in Whose Hand is my-asws soul! A thousand strikes with the sword upon the head is easier than the death upon the bed’’.[92]
[959] – ما: الْمُفِيدُ عَنِ التَّمَّارِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ أَبِي نُعَيْمٍ، عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ هِشَامٍ عَنْ أَبِي مِخْنَفٍ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ السَّبِيعِيِّ عَنِ الْأَصْبَغِ بْنِ نُبَاتَةَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ، قَالَ: إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] خَطَبَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، وَ صَلَّى عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ 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) ‘Amaali’ – Al Mufeed, from Al Tammar, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn, 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 a sermon one day. He-asws praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, and send Salawaat upon the Prophet-saww, then said: ‘O you people! Listen to my-asws words and retain my-asws speech! Surely the snobbery is from the despotism, and the haughtiness is from the arrogance, and the Satan-la is a present enemy making false promises to you.
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. لَيْسَ الْمُسْلِمُ بِالْخَائِنِ إِذَا ائْتُمِنَ، وَ لَا بِالْمُخْلِفِ إِذَا وَعَدَ، وَ لَا بِالْكَذُوبِ إِذَا نَطَقَ.
Indeed! The Muslims is a brother of the Muslim, so you should neither nickname nor abandon each other, for the laws of religion are one, and its way is moderate. One who takes with it would catch up, and one who neglects it would deviate, and one who separated from it would be obliterated. The Muslims isn’t with the betrayal when he is entrusted, nor with the breaking when he promises, nor with the lies when he speaks.
نَحْنُ أَهْلُ بَيْتِ الرَّحْمَةِ، وَ قَوْلُنَا الْحَقُّ، وَ فِعْلُنَا الْقِسْطُ، وَ مِنَّا خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّينَ، وَ فِينَا قَادَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ أُمَنَاءُ الْكِتَابِ، نَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ، وَ إِلَى جِهَادِ عَدُوِّهِ وَ الشِّدَّةِ فِي أَمْرِهِ وَ ابْتِغَاءِ رِضْوَانِهِ، وَ إِلَى إِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَ إِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَ حِجِّ الْبَيْتِ وَ صِيَامِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ تَوْفِيرِ الْفَيْءِ لِأَهْلِهِ.
We-asws are the People-asws of the Household of Mercy, and our-asws words are the truth, and our-asws deeds are the equitable, and from us-asws is last of the Prophets-as, and among us-asws are guides of Al-Islam, and trustees of the Book. We-asws are calling you to Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww, and to Jihad His-azwj enemies, and intensity regarding His-azwj Commands, and seeking His-azwj Pleasure, and to establish the Salat, and giving the Zakaat, and performing Hajj of the House (Kabah), and fasting the month of Ramazan, and providing the war booty to its rightful ones.
أَلَا وَ إِنَّ [مِنْ] أَعْجَبِ الْعَجَبِ أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ الْأُمَوِيَّ وَ عَمْرَو بْنَ عَاصٍ السَّهْمِيَّ، يُحَرِّضَانِ النَّاسَ عَلَى طَلَبِ الدِّينِ بِزَعْمِهِمَا! وَ إِنِّي وَ اللَّهِ لَمْ أُخَالِفْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ قَطُّ، وَ لَمْ أَعْصِهِ فِي أَمْرٍ قَطُّ، أَقِيهِ بِنَفْسِي فِي الْمَوَاطِنِ الَّتِي تَنْكُصُ فِيهَا الْأَبْطَالُ، وَ تُرْعِدُ فِيهَا الْفَرَائِصُ، بِقُوَّةٍ أَكْرَمَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِهَا فَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ.
Indeed! And from the surprises of the surprises is that Muawiya Bin Sufyan the Umayyid, and Amro Bin Aas Al-Sahmy are both inciting the people upon seeking the religion by their allegations, and by Allah-azwj, I-asws have not opposed Rasool-Allah-saww at all, and did not disobey him-saww in any instruction at all. I-asws saved him-saww by myself-asws in such places which the heroes were deficient in it, and the limbs trembled in it, by the strength Allah-azwj had Honoured me-asws with, so for Him-azwj is the Praise.
وَ لَقَدْ قُبِضَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ إِنَّ رَأْسَهُ فِي حَجْرِي، وَ لَقَدْ وُلِّيتُ غُسْلَهُ، أَغْسِلُهُ بِيَدِي، وَ تُقَلِّبُهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ.
And the Prophet-saww had passed away and his-saww head was in my-asws lap, and I-asws was in charge of his-saww washing and I-asws washed him-saww with my-saww own hands and the Angels of Proximity were turning him-saww.
وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ، مَا اخْتَلَفَتْ أُمَّةٌ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا إِلَّا ظَهَرَ أَهْلُ بَاطِلِهَا عَلَى حَقِّهَا، إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ.
And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! No community differed after its Prophet-saww except their people of falsehood prevailed upon its rightful ones, except what Allah-azwj so Desired’.
قَالَ: فَقَامَ عَمَّارُ بْنُ يَاسِرٍ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ: أَمَّا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَدْ أُعْلِمُكُمْ أَنَّ الْأُمَّةَ لَمْ تَسْتَقِمْ عَلَيْهِ. فَتَفَرَّقَ النَّاسُ وَ قَدْ نَفَذَتْ بَصَائِرُهُمْ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Ammar Bin Yasser-ra, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on him-ra stood up and said, ‘As for Amir Al-Momineen-asws, he-asws had let you know that the community would not be upright to him-asws. The people separated and their insights were out of memory’’.[93]
[960] – ما: الْمُفِيدُ عَنِ الْكَاتِبِ عَنِ الزَّعْفَرَانِيِّ عَنِ الثَّقَفِيِّ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ الْمُعَدِّلِ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ صَالِحٍ الطَّيَالِسِيِّ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ نَاجِدٍ قَالَ: لَمَّا وَجَّهَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ ابْنَ عَوْفٍ الْغَامِدِيَّ إِلَى الْأَنْبَارِ إِلَى الْغَارَةِ، بَعَثَهُ فِي سِتَّةِ آلَافِ فَارِسٍ، فَأَغَارَ عَلَى «هِيتَ» وَ «الْأَنْبَارِ» وَ قَتَلَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ سَبَى الْحَرِيمَ وَ عَرَضَ النَّاسَ عَلَى الْبَرَاءَةِ مِنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ،
(The book) ‘Amaali’ – Al Mufeed, from Al Katib, from Al Zafrany, from al Saqafy, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Zayd Bin Al Muaddal, from Yahya Bin Salih Al Tayalisy, from Ismail Bin Ziyad, from Rabie Bin Najid who said,
‘When Muawiya Bin Abu Sufyan sent Ibn Awf Al-Ghamidy to Al-Anbar to raid it, sent him among six thousand horsemen. He raided upon Hayt and Al-Anbar, and killed Muslims, and captured the sanctimonious ones, presented the people upon disavowing from Amir Al-Momineen-asws.
اسْتَنْفَرَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ النَّاسَ وَ قَدْ كَانُوا تَقَاعَدُوا عَنْهُ وَ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى خِذْلَانِهِ، وَ أَمَرَ مُنَادِيَهُ فِي النَّاسِ فَاجْتَمَعُوا فَقَامَ خَطِيباً، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ:
Amir Al-Momineen-asws mobilised the people, and they had been sitting back from him-asws and had united upon abandoning him-asws, and he-asws instructed his-asws caller (to call out) among the people. They gathered and he-asws stood to address. He-asws praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj and sent Salawaat upon Rasool-Allah-azwj, then said:
أَمَّا بَعْدُ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! فَوَ اللَّهِ لَأَهْلُ مِصْرِكُمْ فِي الْأَمْصَارِ، أَكْثَرُ فِي الْعَرَبِ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ. وَ مَا كَانَ يَوْمَ عَاهَدُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَنْ يَمْنَعُوهُ وَ مَنْ مَعَهُ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ، حَتَّى يُبَلِّغَ رِسَالاتِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا قَبِيلَتَانِ، صَغِيرٌ مَوْلِدُهُمَا، مَا هُمَا بِأَقْدَمِ الْعَرَبِ مِيلَاداً، وَ لَا بِأَكْثَرِهِمْ عَدَداً،
‘As for after, O you people! By Allah-azwj! The people of your city among the cities are more among the Arabs than the Helpers, and the day they held a pact of Rasool-Allah-saww that they would defend him-saww and the ones from the Emigrants with him-saww until the Messages of Allah-azwj are delivered, except for two tribes, of lowly births. They were not in front of the Arabs by birth, nor more than them in numbers.
فَلَمَّا آوَوْا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ نَصَرُوا اللَّهَ وَ دِينَهُ، رَمَتْهُمُ الْعَرَبُ عَنْ قَوْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ، وَ تَحَالَفَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْيَهُودُ، وَ غَزَتْهُمُ الْقَبَائِلُ قَبِيلَةً بَعْدَ قَبِيلَةٍ.
When they sheltered Rasool-Allah-saww and helped Allah-azwj and His-azwj religion, the Arabs shot at them from one bow, and the Jews were opposed to them, and the tribes battled them, tribe after tribe.
فَتَجَرَّدُوا لِلدِّينِ، وَ قَطَعُوا مَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَ بَيْنَ الْعَرَبِ مِنَ الْحَبَائِلِ، وَ مَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَ بَيْنَ الْيَهُودِ مِنَ الْعُهُودِ، وَ نَصَبُوا لِأَهْلِ نَجْدٍ وَ تِهَامَةَ وَ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ وَ الْيَمَامَةِ وَ أَهْلِ الْحَزْنِ وَ أَهْلِ السَّهْلِ، قَنَاةَ الدِّينِ، وَ تَصَبَّرُوا تَحْتَ أَحْلَاسِ الْجِلَادِ، حَتَّى دَانَتْ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ الْعَرَبُ، وَ رَأَى فِيهِمْ قُرَّةَ الْعَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقْبِضَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ. فَأَنْتُمْ فِي النَّاسِ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ أُولَئِكَ فِي أَهْلِ ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ.
They disentangled themselves for the religion and cut off whatever ropes (connections) there were between them and the Arabs, and whatever pacts there were between them and the Jews, and they established a channel of religion to the people of Najd, and Tihama, and people of Makkah, and Al-Yamama, and people of sorrow and the people of ease, and they were combating beneath the security of the skins (without armour), until they lowered the Arabs to Rasool-Allah-saww, and he-saww saw delight of the eyes among them before Allah-azwj Captured him (his-saww soul) to Him-azwj, and you are more among the people than they were among the Arab people of that time.
فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ آدَمُ طُوَالٌ فَقَالَ: مَا أَنْتَ كَمُحَمَّدٍ، وَ لَا نَحْنُ كَأُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ ذَكَرْتَ، فَلَا تُكَلِّفْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ.
A man of tall stature stood up to him-asws and said, ‘You-asws are not like Muhammad-saww nor are we like them, the ones you mentioned, so do not encumber us with what there is no strength for us with it’.
فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: اخْسَأْ [أَحْسِنْ «خ»] مُسْتَمِعاً تُحْسِنْ إِجَابَةً، ثَكِلَتْكُمُ الثَّوَاكِلُ مَا تَزِيدُونِّي إِلَّا غَمّاً، هَلْ أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ أَنِّي مِثْلُ مُحَمَّدٍ! أَوْ أَنَّكُمْ مِثْلُ أَنْصَارِهِ! وَ إِنَّمَا ضَرَبْتُ [لَكُمْ] مَثَلًا، وَ أَنَا [كُنْتُ] أَرْجُو أَنْ تَأَسَّوْا بِهِمْ.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘You had better listen intently, you will improve by the answer. May the bereavements bereave you all! You are not increasing me-asws except in sadness. Did I-asws inform you that I-asws am like Muhammad-saww? Or that you are like his-saww helpers? And rather I-asws struck an example for you, and I-asws hope that I-asws be comforted by them’.
ثُمَّ قَامَ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ وَ قَالَ: مَا أَحْوَجَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ مَنْ مَعَهُ إِلَى أَصْحَابِ النَّهْرَوَانِ. ثُمَّ تَكَلَّمَ النَّاسُ مِنْ كُلِّ نَاحِيَةٍ وَ لَغَطُوا.
Then another man stood up and said, ‘How needy are Amir Al-Momineen-asws and the ones with him-asws to the companions of Al-Nahrawan!’ Then the people spoke from every side and clamoured.
فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ: اسْتَبَانَ فَقْدُ الْأَشْتَرِ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ، أَنْ لَوْ كَانَ حَيّاً لَقَلَّ اللَّغَطُ، وَ لَعَلِمَ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ مَا يَقُولُ.
A man stood up and said at the top of his voice, ‘It is clear that Al-Ashtar is being missed to be upon the people of Al-Iraq. If he had been alive, the clamour would have been less, and every person would know what he is saying’.
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ: هَبَلَتْكُمُ الْهَوَابِلُ، لَأَنَا أَوْجَبُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَقّاً مِنَ الْأَشْتَرِ، وَ هَلْ لِلْأَشْتَرِ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ إِلَّا حَقُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ؟! وَ غَضِبَ فَنَزَلَ.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said to them: ‘The insanity has ignited you, because I-asws have more obligated rights upon you than Al-Ashtar does, and is there any right for Al-Ashtar upon you except a right of the Muslims upon the Muslims?!’ And he-asws was angered and descended.
فَقَامَ حُجْرُ بْنُ عَدِيٍّ وَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ فَقَالا: لَا يَسُوءُكَ اللَّهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، مُرْنَا بِأَمْرِكَ نَتَّبِعْهُ، فَوَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ مَا يَعْظُمُ جَزَعُنَا عَلَى أَمْوَالِنَا أَنْ تَفَرَّقَ، وَ لَا عَلَى عَشَائِرِنَا أَنْ تُقْتَلَ فِي طَاعَتِكَ.
Hujr Bin Aday and Saeed Bin Qays stood up and they said, ‘May Allah-azwj not Saddle you, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Order us with your-asws orders, we shall follow it. By Allah-azwj the Magnificent! Our grief upon our wealth will not be great if it separates, nor upon our clan if it is killed in your-asws obedience’.
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: تَجَهَّزُوا لِلْمَسِيرِ إِلَى عَدُوِّنَا. ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مَنْزِلَهُ، وَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ وُجُوهُ أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: أَشِيرُوا عَلَيَّ بِرَجُلٍ صَلِيبٍ نَاصِحٍ يَحْشُرُ النَّاسَ مِنَ السَّوَادِ.
He-asws said to them: ‘Prepare for the travelling to our enemies!’ Then he-asws entered his-asws house and (well known) faces from his-asws companions entered to see him-asws. He-asws said to them: ‘Indicate to me-asws a man of solid advice who can gather the people from the majority’.
فَقَالَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ: عَلَيْكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِالنَّاصِحِ الْأَرِيبِ [وَ] الشُّجَاعِ الصَّلِيبِ مَعْقِلِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ التَّمِيمِيِّ. قَالَ: نَعَمْ. ثُمَّ دَعَاهُ فَوَجَّهَهُ وَ سَارَ [مَعْقِلٌ] وَ لَمْ يَعُدْ حَتَّى أُصِيبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.
Saeed Bin Qays said, ‘Upon you-asws, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws, is to be with the advising, the skilful, the brave, the solid, Ma’qil Bin Qays Al-Tameemi’. He-asws said: ‘Yes’. Then he-asws called him and dispatched him. And Ma’qil travelled and did not return until Amir Al-Momineen-asws had been struck (killed)’’.[94]
[961] – شا: [وَ] مِنْ كَلَامِهِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ حِينَ نَقَضَ مُعَاوِيَةُ الْعَهْدَ، وَ بَعَثَ بِالضَّحَّاكِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ لِلْغَارَةِ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ، فَلَقِيَ عَمْرَو بْنَ عُمَيْسِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ فَقَتَلَهُ وَ قَتَلَ نَاساً مَعَهُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ، وَ ذَلِكَ بَعْدَ أَنْ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ! اخْرُجُوا إِلَى الْعَبْدِ الصَّالِحِ وَ إِلَى جَيْشٍ لَكُمْ قَدْ أُصِيبَ مِنْهُ طَرَفٌ. اخْرُجُوا فَقَاتِلُوا عَدُوَّكُمْ، وَ امْنَعُوا حَرِيمَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ.
(The book) ‘Al Irshad’ –
‘And from a speech of his-asws when Muawiya broke the pact and he sent Al-Zahhak Bin Qays for raiding upon the people of Al-Iraq, so he met Amro Bin Umeyr Bin Masoud and killed him, and he killed some people from his companions along with him! (So in that response Amir Al-Momineen-asws said): And that was after he-asws praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, then said: ‘O people of Al-Kufa! Go out to (help) the righteous servants and to an army of yours, a part of it has been attacked. Go out and fight your enemies and defend your sanctities if you were to do so’.
قَالَ: فَرَدُّوا عَلَيْهِ رَدّاً ضَعِيفاً، وَ رَأَى مِنْهُمْ عَجْزاً وَ فَشَلًا فَقَالَ: وَ اللَّهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ لِي بِكُلِّ ثَمَانِيَةٍ مِنْكُمْ رَجُلًا مِنْهُمْ! وَيْحَكُمْ اخْرُجُوا مَعِي ثُمَّ فِرُّوا عَنِّي إِنْ بَدَا لَكُمْ،
He (the narrator) said, ‘They responded to him-asws with a weak response, and he-asws was frustration and failure from them. He-asws said: ‘By Allah-azwj! I-asws would love if there would be for me, with every eight of you, a man from them! Woe be unto you all! Come out with me-asws, then you can flee away from me-asws if it comes to you.
فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا أَكْرَهُ لِقَاءَ رَبِّي عَلَى نِيَّتِي وَ بَصِيرَتِي، وَ فِي ذَلِكَ رَوْحٌ لِي عَظِيمٌ، وَ فَرَجٌ مِنْ مُنَاجَاتِكُمْ وَ مُقَاسَاتِكُمْ وَ مُدَارَاتِكُمْ مِثْلَ مَا تُدَارَى الْبِكَارُ الْعَمِدَةُ، وَ الثِّيَابُ الْمُتَهَتِّرَةُ، كُلَّمَا خِيطَتْ مِنْ جَانِبٍ، تَهَتَّكَتْ مِنْ جَانِبٍ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا.
By Allah-azwj, I-asws do not dislike meeting my-asws Lord-azwj upon my-asws intention and my-asws insight, and in that there would be a great rest for me-asws, and relief from your whisperings, and your hardness, and being considerate to you all like what one is consider with the camel with a small hump, and the worn out cloth, every time it is sewed from a side, it tears from (another) side upon its owner’’.[95]
[962] – شا: [وَ] مِنْ كَلَامِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي اسْتِنْفَارِ الْقَوْمِ وَ اسْتِبْطَائِهِمْ عَنِ الْجِهَادِ، وَ قَدْ بَلَغَهُ مَسِيرُ بُسْرِ بْنِ أَرْطَاةَ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ رَفَثِكُمْ وَ بَدْءَ نَقْضِكُمْ، ذَهَابُ أُولِي النُّهَى وَ أَهْلِ الرَّأْيِ مِنْكُمُ، الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يَلْقَوْنَ فَيَصْدُقُونَ، وَ يَقُولُونَ فَيَعْدِلُونَ، وَ يُدْعَوْنَ فَيُجِيبُونَ.
(The book) ‘Al Irshad’ –
‘And from a speech of his-asws in mobilising the people and their delaying from the Jihad, and it had reached him-asws, the travelling of Busr Bin Artah to Al-Yemen: ‘As for after, O you people! The first obscenity and innovation is your breaking (allegiance). Gone are the people of reason and people of view from you, the one who were meeting, so they were sincere, and they were speaking, so they were dispensing justice, and they were called out to, so they were answering.
وَ إِنِّي وَ اللَّهِ قَدْ دَعَوْتُكُمْ عَوْداً وَ بَدْءاً، وَ سِرّاً وَ جَهْراً، وَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ، وَ الْغُدُوِّ وَ الْآصَالِ، [فَ] مَا يَزِيدُكُمْ دُعائِي إِلَّا فِراراً وَ إِدْبَاراً. أَ مَا يَعِظُكُمُ [تَنْفَعُكُمُ «خ»] الْعِظَةُ وَ الدُّعَاءُ إِلَى الْهُدَى وَ الْحِكْمَةِ!
And by Allah-azwj, I-asws have called out to you repeatedly and initiating, and secretly and openly, and during the night and the day, and morning and evening, but my calling did not increase you except in fleeing and turning around. Does preaching you fall flat on you?, the preaching and the calling to the guidance and wisdom?
وَ إِنِّي لَعَالِمٌ بِمَا يُصْلِحُكُمْ وَ يُقِيمُ لِي أَوَدَكُمْ، وَ لَكِنِّي وَ اللَّهِ- لَا أُصْلِحُكُمْ بِفَسَادِ نَفْسِي. وَ لَكِنْ أَمْهِلُونِي قَلِيلًا فَكَأَنَّكُمْ وَ اللَّهِ بِامْرِئٍ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ، يَحْرُمُكُمْ وَ يُعَذِّبُكُمْ فَيُعَذِّبُهُ اللَّهُ كَمَا يُعَذِّبُكُمْ.
And I-asws what you would be corrected with and your crookedness would be straightened for me-asws, but by Allah-azwj, I-asws will not correct you by spoiling myself-asws, but respite me-asws for a little while. By Allah-azwj! It is as if you are with my-asws orders having come to you, (the other ruler) is depriving you and punishing you, so Allah-azwj Punishes him just as he is punishing you.
إِنَّ مِنْ ذُلِّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ هَلَاكِ الدِّينِ، أَنَّ ابْنَ [ظ] أَبِي سُفْيَانَ يَدْعُو الْأَرْذَالَ فَيُجَابُ، وَ أَدْعُوكُمْ وَ أَنْتُمُ الْأَفْضَلُونَ الْأَخْيَارُ فَتُرَاوِغُونَ وَ تُدَافِعُونَ. مَا هَذَا فِعْلَ الْمُتَّقِينَ!.
It is from the disgrace of the Muslims and destruction of the religion that the son of Abu Sufyan is calling the lowly and he is being answered, and I-asws am calling you, and you are the superior, the good, but you are dodging and holding off. This is not a deed of the pious!’’[96]
963- شا: [وَ] مِنْ كَلَامِهِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ فِي هَذَا الْمَعْنَى، بَعْدَ حَمْدِ اللَّهِ وَ الثَّنَاءِ عَلَيْهِ: مَا أَظُنُّ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ يَعْنِي أَهْلَ الشَّامِ إِلَّا ظَاهِرِينَ عَلَيْكُمْ. فَقَالُوا لَهُ: بِمَا ذَا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟
(The book) ‘Al Irshad’ –
‘And from a speech of his-asws in this meaning, after having praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj: ‘I-asws do not think these people, meaning the people of Syrian, except they will be prevailing upon you all’. They said to him-asws, ‘Due to what would that be so, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws?’
فَقَالَ: أَرَى أُمُورَهُمْ قَدْ عَلَتْ، وَ نِيرَانَكُمْ قَدْ خَبَتْ، وَ أَرَاهُمْ جِدِّينَ، وَ أَرَاكُمْ وَانِينَ، وَ أَرَاهُمْ مُجْتَمِعِينَ، وَ أَرَاكُمْ مُتَفَرِّقِينَ، وَ أَرَاهُمْ لِصَاحِبِهِمْ مُطِيعِينَ، وَ أَرَاكُمْ لِي عَاصِينَ.
He-asws said: ‘I-asws see their affairs to have gone higher and your fires to have been extinguished, and I-asws see them as serious and I-asws see you whining (humming), and I-asws see them as united and I-asws see you as divided, and I-asws see them as being obedient to their master and I-asws see you being disobedient to me-asws.
أَمْ وَ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ ظَهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ لَتَجِدُنَّهُمْ أَرْبَابَ سَوْءٍ مِنْ بَعْدِي لَكُمْ. لَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَ قَدْ شَارَكُوكُمْ فِي بِلَادِكُمْ، وَ حَمَلُوا إِلَى بِلَادِهِمْ فَيْئَكُمْ. وَ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْكُمْ تَكِشُّونَ كَشِيشَ الضِّبَابِ، وَ لَا تَأْخُذُونَ حَقّاً وَ لَا تَمْنَعُونَ لِلَّهِ مِنْ حُرْمَةٍ.
By Allah-azwj! If they were to prevail upon you, you will find them to be evil lords to you all from after me-asws. It is as if I-asws am looking at them and they are engaging in your cities and carrying off your war booty to their cities, and it is as if I-asws am looking at you layering upon each other like the layering of the fog. Neither are you taking any rights nor are you defending for Allah-azwj any of His-azwj Sanctities.
وَ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَقْتُلُونَ صَالِحِيكُمْ، وَ يُخِيفُونَ قُرَّاءَكُمْ، وَ يَحْرُمُونَكُمْ وَ يَحْجُبُونَكُمْ وَ يُدْنُونَ النَّاسَ دُونَكُمْ. فَلَوْ قَدْ رَأَيْتُمُ الْحِرْمَانَ وَ الْأَثَرَةَ وَ وَقْعَ السُّيُوفِ وَ نُزُولَ الْخَوْفِ، لَقَدْ نَدَمْتُمْ وَ حَسِرْتُمْ عَلَى تَفْرِيطِكُمْ فِي جِهَادِكُمْ، وَ تَذَاكَرْتُمْ مَا أَنْتُمْ فِيهِ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ الْخَفْضِ وَ الْعَافِيَةِ، حِينَ لَا يَنْفَعُكُمُ التَّذْكَارُ.
And it is as if I-asws am looking at them killing your righteous ones, and frightening your reciters, and depriving you and barring you, and drawing (other) people besides you. If only you could see the depriving, and the prejudices, and falling of the swords, and descent of the fear, you would regret and feel sorry upon your missing out in your Jihad, and you will remember what you are in today, from the abatement and the well-being, when the remembrance will not benefit you’’.[97]
964- شا: [وَ] مِنْ كَلَامِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لَمَّا نَقَضَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ شَرْطَ الْمُوَادَعَةِ، وَ أَقْبَلَ يُشِنُّ الْغَارَاتِ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ، فَقَالَ بَعْدَ أَنْ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ: مَا لِمُعَاوِيَةَ قَاتَلَهُ اللَّهُ! لَقَدْ أَرَادَنِي عَلَى أَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ، أَرَادَ أَنْ أَفْعَلَ كَمَا يَفْعَلُ فَأَكُونَ قَدْ هَتَكْتُ ذِمَّتِي وَ نَقَضْتُ عَهْدِي، فَيَتَّخِذُهَا عَلَيَّ حُجَّةً، فَيَكُونُ عَلَيَّ شَيْناً إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ كُلَّمَا ذُكِرْتُ.
(The book) ‘Al Irshad’ –
‘From a speech of his-asws when Muawiya Bin Abu Sufyan broke the conditions of the agreement and went on to launch raids upon the people of Al-Iraq. He-asws said after having praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, ‘What is the matter with Muawiya? May Allah-azwj Fight him! He has intended me-asws upon a grievous matter. He wanted me-asws to do as what he did, so I-asws would become to have violated my-asws responsibilities, and broken my-asws pact, so he could take it as an argument, and it would become a shame upon me-asws up to the Day of Qiyamah, every time it is mentioned.
فَإِنْ قِيلَ لَهُ: أَنْتَ بَدَأْتَ، قَالَ: مَا عَمِلْتُ وَ لَا أَمَرْتُ. فَمِنْ قَائِلٍ يَقُولُ: صَدَقَ. وَ مِنْ قَائِلٍ يَقُولُ: كَذَبَ.
So, if it is said to him, ‘You started it’, he would say, ‘Neither did I do so nor did I order it’. So, from a speaker, he would say, ‘He speaks the truth’, and from a speaker, he would say, ‘He is lying’.
أَمْ وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَذُو أَنَاةٍ وَ حِلْمٍ عَظِيمٍ، لَقَدْ حَلُمَ عَنْ كَثِيرٍ مِنْ فَرَاعِنَةِ الْأَوَّلِينَ، وَ عَاقَبَ فَرَاعِنَةً، فَإِنْ يُمْهِلُ اللَّهُ فَلَمْ يَفُتْهُ، وَ هُوَ لَهُ بِالْمِرْصَادِ عَلَى مَجَازِ طَرِيقِهِ،
By Allah-azwj! Surely, Allah-azwj is with Patience and Mighty Forbearance, and He-azwj has been Forbearing from a lot of former Pharaohs-la, and Punished a Pharaoh-la. So, if Allah-azwj were to Respite him, he will not escape Him-azwj and He-azwj would be with the Ambush to him upon the middle of his path.
فَلْيَصْنَعْ مَا بَدَا لَهُ فَإِنَّا غَيْرُ غَادِرِينَ بِذِمَّتِنَا، وَ لَا نَاقِضِينَ لِعَهْدِنَا، وَ لَا مُرَوِّعِينَ لِمُسْلِمٍ وَ لَا مُعَاهَدٍ حَتَّى يَنْقَضِيَ شَرْطُ الْمُوَادَعَةِ بَيْنَنَا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى.
So, let him do whatever comes to him, but we will neither be treacherous with our responsibilities, nor break our pact, nor be frightening to a Muslim nor one under responsibility until he breaks a condition of the responsibility between us, if Allah-azwj the Exalted so Desires’’.[98]
[965] – شا: وَ مِنْ كَلَامِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي مَقَامٍ آخَرَ. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَ سَلَامٌ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ. أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ رَضِيَنِي لِنَفْسِهِ أَخاً، وَ اخْتَصَّنِي لَهُ وَزِيراً.
(The book) ‘Al Irshad’ –
‘And from a speech of his-asws in another place: ‘The Praise is for Allah-azwj, and the greetings be unto Rasool-Allah-saww. As for after, surely Rasool-Allah-saww was pleased with me-asws as a brother for himself-asws and selected me-asws as a vizier for him-saww.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! أَنَا أَنْفُ الْهُدَى وَ عَيْنَاهُ، فَلَا تَسْتَوْحِشُوا مِنْ طَرِيقِ الْهُدَى لِقِلَّةِ مَنْ يَغْشَاهُ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ قَاتِلِي مُؤْمِنٌ فَقَدْ قَتَلَنِي.
O you people! I-asws am a nose of the guidance and its eyes, so do not desert from the path of guidance due to the scarcity of the one who covers it. One who claims that my-asws killer is a Momin, so he has (already) killed me-asws.
أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ دَمٍ ثَائِراً يَوْماً، وَ إِنَّ الثَّائِرَ فِي دِمَائِنَا وَ الْحَاكِمَ فِي حَقِّ نَفْسِهِ وَ حَقِّ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَ الْيَتَامَى وَ الْمَسَاكِينِ وَ ابْنِ السَّبِيلَ، [هُوَ] الَّذِي لَا يُعْجِزُهُ مَا طَلَبَ، وَ لَا يَفُوتُهُ مَا هَرَبَ، وَ سَيَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَيَّ مُنْقَلَبٍ يَنْقَلِبُونَ
Indeed! And for every blood (spilt) would be an avenging one day, and the avenger regarding our blood and the Ruler regarding His-azwj own Rights and rights of the near of kin, and the orphans, and the poor, and the traveller, He-azwj is the One-azwj Who is not frustrated from whatever He-azwj Seeks, nor does it escape Him-azwj what flees, And they shall come to know, those who are being unjust, which overturning they would be Overturned with [26:227].
وَ أُقْسِمُ بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ، لَتَنْتَحِرُنَّ عَلَيْهَا يَا بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ، وَ لَتَعْرِفُنَّهَا فِي أَيْدِي غَيْرِكُمْ وَ دَارِ عَدُوِّكُمْ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ، وَ سَتَعْلَمُنَ نَبَأَهُ بَعْدَ حِينٍ.
And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj Who Split the seed and Formed the person! O clan of Umayya! You will be losing it and will be recognising it in the hands of other and house of your enemies, after a little while, and you will come to know its news after a while’’.[99]
966- شا: وَ مِنْ كَلَامِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي مَعْنَى مَا تَقَدَّمَ: يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ! خُذُوا أُهْبَتَكُمْ لِجِهَادِ عَدُوِّكُمْ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ أَشْيَاعِهِ. فَقَالُوا: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَمْهِلْنَا يَذْهَبْ عَنَّا الْقُرُّ.
(The book) ‘Al Irshad’ –
‘From a speech of his-asws in the preceding meaning: ‘O people of Al-Kufa! Take your preparations for Jihad against your enemies, Muawiya and his loyalists!’ They said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Respite us until the cold moves away from us’.
فَقَالَ: أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ، لَيَظْهَرَنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَيْسَ بِأَنَّهُمْ أَوْلَى بِالْحَقِّ مِنْكُمْ، وَ لَكِنْ لِطَاعَتِهِمْ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ مَعْصِيَتِكُمْ لِي.
He-asws said: ‘But, by Allah-azwj Who Split the seed and Formed the person! These people will be prevailing upon you. It isn’t because they are foremost with the truth than you are, but due to their obeying Muawiya and your disobedience to me-asws.
وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَصْبَحَتِ الْأُمَمُ كُلُّهَا تَخَافُ ظُلْمَ رُعَاتِهَا، وَ أَصْبَحْتُ أَنَا أَخَافُ ظُلْمَ رَعِيَّتِي! لَقَدِ اسْتَعْمَلْتُ مِنْكُمْ رِجَالًا فَخَانُوا وَ غَدَرُوا، وَ لَقَدْ جَمَعَ بَعْضُهُمْ مَا ائْتَمَنْتُهُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ فَيْءِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَحَمَلَهُ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ. وَ آخَرُ حَمَلَهُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ تَهَاوُناً بِالْقُرْآنِ، وَ جُرْأَةً عَلَى الرَّحْمَنِ، حَتَّى إِنِّي لَوِ ائْتَمَنْتُ أَحَدَكُمْ عَلَى عِلَاقَةِ سَوْطٍ لَخَانَ، وَ لَقَدْ أَعْيَيْتُمُونِي.
By Allah-azwj! The community, all of it has become fearing its shepherd (ruler), and I-asws have become such that I-asws fear the injustices of my-asws own citizens! I-asws have employed men from you (as governors), but they embezzled and were treacherous, and one of you has amassed from the war booty of the Muslims what I-asws had entrusted him upon, and he carried it to Muawiya. And another one carried it to his house being negligent with the Quran, and his Recompense is upon the Beneficent, to the extent that if I-asws were to entrust one of you upon a lashing whip, he would betray (steal it), and you are faulting me-asws?’
ثُمَّ رَفَعَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] يَدَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَ قَالَ: أَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي سَئِمْتُ الْحَيَاةَ بَيْنَ ظَهْرَانَيْ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ، وَ تَبَرَّمْتُ الْأَمَلَ، فَأَتِحْ لِي صَاحِبِي حَتَّى أَسْتَرِيحَ مِنْهُمْ وَ يَسْتَرِيحُوا مِنِّي، وَ لَنْ يُفْلِحُوا بَعْدِي.
Then he-asws raised his hands towards the sky and said: ‘O Allah-azwj! I-asws am tired of the life between the midst of these people, and the hopes have been dashed. Bring me-asws my-asws companion until I-asws can be at rest from them and they can be resting from me-asws, and they will never be successful after me-asws’’.[100]
[967] – شا: رَوَى مَسْعَدَةُ بْنُ صَدَقَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّادِقِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولُ: خَطَبَ النَّاسَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] بِالْكُوفَةِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَنَا سَيِّدُ الشِّيبِ، وَ فِيَّ سُنَّةٌ مِنْ أَيُّوبَ، وَ سَيَجْمَعُ اللَّهُ لِي أَهْلِي كَمَا جَمَعَ لِيَعْقُوبَ شَمْلَهُ، وَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا اسْتَدَارَ الْفَلَكُ، وَ قُلْتُمْ: مَاتَ أَوْ هَلَكَ.
(The book) ‘Al Irshad’ – It is reported by Mas’ada Bin Sadaqa who said,
‘I heard Abu Abdullah-asws Ja’far-asws Bin Al-Sadiq-asws saying: ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws addressed the people at Al-Kufa. He-asws praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj, then said: ‘I-asws am chief of the grey-haired and in me-asws is Sunnah from Ayoub-as, and Allah-azwj would be Gathering my-asws family-asws for me-asws just as He-azwj had Gathered inclusively for Yaqoub-as, and that would be when the planets orbit (time will pass) and you shall say, ‘He-asws is dead or destroyed’.
أَلَا فَاسْتَشْعِرُوا قَبْلَهَا بِالصَّبْرِ وَ بُوءُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ بِالذَّنْبِ، فَقَدْ نَبَذْتُمْ قُدُسَكُمْ، وَ أَطْفَأْتُمْ مَصَابِيحَكُمْ، وَ قَلَّدْتُمْ هِدَايَتَكُمْ مَنْ لَا يَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَ لَا لَكُمْ سَمْعاً وَ لَا بَصَراً، ضَعُفَ وَ اللَّهِ الطَّالِبُ وَ الْمَطْلُوبُ
Indeed! Feel with the patience before it and be penitent (repentant) of Allah-azwj for the sins (committed), for you have discarded your holiness and extinguished your lamps, and have collared your guidance to the one who cannot exert control for himself nor is he hearing to you, nor seeing. By Allah-azwj! Weak is the seeker and the sought.
هَذَا وَ لَوْ لَمْ تَتَوَاكَلُوا أَمْرَكُمْ، وَ لَمْ تَتَخَاذَلُوا عَنْ نُصْرَةِ الْحَقِّ بَيْنَكُمْ، وَ لَمْ تَهِنُوا عَنْ تَوْهِينِ الْبَاطِلِ، لَمْ يَتَشَجَّعْ عَلَيْكُمْ مَنْ لَيْسَ مِثْلَكُمْ، وَ لَمْ يَقْوَ مَنْ قَوِيَ عَلَيْكُمْ، وَ لا [عَلَى] هَضْمِ الطَّاعَةِ وَ إِزْوَائِهَا عَنْ أَهْلِهَا فِيكُمْ.
This (has happened), and if only you had not depended on each other for your affairs and had not abandoned from helping the truth between you, and had not been weak from weakening the falsehood, he would not have been courageous upon you, one who isn’t like you, and one who is strong upon you would not have been strengthened (for it), nor would he have digested the obedience and its cornering away from its rightful ones among you.
تِهْتُمْ كَمَا تَاهَتْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى عَهْدِ مُوسَى. وَ بِحَقٍّ أَقُولُ: لَيُضَعَّفَنَّ عَلَيْكُمُ التِّيهُ مِنْ بَعْدِي بِاضْطِهَادِكُمْ وُلْدِي، ضِعْفَ مَا تَاهَتْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى عَهْدِ مُوسَى.
You will be wandering just as the children of Israel wandered in the era of Musa-as, and I-asws am speaking with truth. Your self-esteem would be weakened upon you from after me-asws due to your persecuting my-asws children, and weakness what made the children of Israel stray in the era of Musa-as.
وَ بِحَقٍّ قَدِ اسْتَكْمَلْتُمْ نَهَلًا، وَ امْتَلَأْتُمْ عَلَلًا مِنْ سُلْطَانِ الشَّجَرَةِ الْمَلْعُونَةِ فِي الْقُرْآنِ. لَقَدِ اجْتَمَعْتُمْ عَلَى نَاعِقِ ضَلَالٍ، وَ لَأَجَبْتُمُ الْبَاطِلَ رَكْضاً، ثُمَّ لَغَادَرْتُمْ دَاعِيَ الْحَقِّ، وَ قَطَعْتُمُ الْأَدْنَى مِنْ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ، وَ وَصَلْتُمُ الْأَبْعَدَ مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ حَرْبٍ. أَلَا وَ لَوْ ذَابَ مَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ.
And by right, you have completed a drink and are filled with illnesses from the authority of the accursed tree in the Quran. You have united upon a caller of straying and have answered the falsehood running. Then you betrayed the caller of the truth and you cut off (relationships) from the nearby ones from the people of Badr and you connected with the remote ones, from the sons of Harb. Indeed, if only what is in their hands would dissolve.
لَقَدْ دَنَا التَّمْحِيصُ لِلْجَزَاءِ، وَ كُشِفَ الْغِطَاءُ، وَ انْقَضَتِ الْمُدَّةُ، وَ أَزِفَ الْوَعْدُ، وَ بَدَا لَكُمُ النَّجْمُ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْمَشْرِقِ، وَ أَشْرَقَ لَكُمْ قَمَرُكُمْ كَمَلَاءِ شَهْرِهِ، وَ كَلَيْلَةٍ تَمَّ،
It has drawn near, the sifting for the Recompense, and removal of the covering, and expiry of the term, and the Promise has approached, and the star will appear to you from the direction of the east, and your moon will shine for you for a complete month, and like a complete night.
فَإِذَا اسْتَبَانَ ذَلِكَ، فَرَاجِعُوا التَّوْبَةَ، وَ خَالِفُوا الْحَوْبَةَ، وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ إِنْ أَطَعْتُمْ طَالِعَ الْمَشْرِقِ سَلَكَ بِكُمْ مِنْهَاجَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، فَتَدَاوَيْتُمْ مِنَ الصَّمَمِ، وَ اسْتَشْفَيْتُمْ مِنَ الْبَكَمِ، وَ كُفِيتُمْ مَئُونَةَ التَّعَسُّفِ وَ الطَّلَبِ، وَ نَبَذْتُمُ الثِّقْلَ الْفَادِحَ عَنِ الْأَعْنَاقِ.
So, when that appears, then return to the repentance and oppose the evil deeds, and know that you, if you were to obey the emerging one in the east, he-asws will travel with you the manifesto of Rasool-Allah-saww. He-asws will cure you from the deafness and heal you from the muteness, and he-asws will suffice you for the ailments of the being grasped and the demand (by the governments), and discard the enormous burdens from the necks.
فَلَا يُبْعِدُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا مَنْ أَبَى الرَّحْمَةَ، وَ فَارَقَ الْعِصْمَةَ، وَ سَيَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَيَّ مُنْقَلَبٍ يَنْقَلِبُونَ.
So, Allah-azwj will not Distance except the one who refuses the mercy and separates (from) the virtue, And they shall come to know, those who are being unjust, which overturning they would be Overturned with [26:227]’’.[101]
[968] – جا: الْكَاتِبُ عَنِ الزَّعْفَرَانِيِّ عَنِ الثَّقَفِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، عَنْ زَيْدِ ابْنِ الْمُعَدِّلِ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ حَصِيرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي صَادِقٍ عَنْ جُنْدَبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَزْدِيِّ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] يَقُولُ لِأَصْحَابِهِ، وَ قَدِ اسْتَنْفَرَهُمْ أَيَّاماً إِلَى الْجِهَادِ فَلَمْ يَنْفِرُوا:أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنِّي قَدِ اسْتَنْفَرْتُكُمْ فَلَمْ تَنْفِرُوا، وَ نَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ فَلَمْ تَقْبَلُوا، فَأَنْتُمْ شُهُودٌ كَأَغْيَابٍ وَ صُمٌّ ذَوُو أَسْمَاعٍ، أَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمُ الْحِكْمَةَ،
(The book) ‘Amaali’ – Al Katib, from Al Zafrany, from Al Saqafy, from Muhammad In Ismail, from Zayd Ib Moaddil, from Yahya Bin Salih, from Al Haris Bin Haseyr, from Abu Sadiq, from Jundab Bin Abdullah Al Azady who said,
‘I heard Amir Al-Momineen Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws saying to his-asws companions, and he-asws had mobilised them to the Jihad for days, but they had not mobilised: ‘O you people! I-asws have (tried to) mobilise you, but you did not mobilise, and I-asws advised to you-asws but you did not accept, so you are present like the absentees, and deaf (despite being) with ears.
وَ أَعِظُكُمْ بِالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَ أَحُثُّكُمْ عَلَى جِهَادِ عَدُوِّكُمُ الْبَاغِينَ، فَمَا آتِي عَلَى آخِرِ مَنْطِقِي حَتَّى أَرَاكُمْ مُتَفَرِّقِينَ أَيَادِي سَبَا، فَإِذَا أَنَا كَفَفْتُ عَنْكُمْ عُدْتُمْ إِلَى مَجَالِسِكُمْ حَلَقاً عِزِينَ تَضْرِبُونَ الْأَمْثَالَ وَ تَتَنَاشَدُونَ الْأَشْعَارَ وَ تَسْأَلُونَ عَنِ الْأَخْبَارِ، قَدْ نَسِيتُمُ الِاسْتِعْدَادَ لِلْحَرْبِ وَ شَغَلْتُمْ قُلُوبَكُمْ بِالْأَبَاطِيلِ.
And I-asws have preached you with the goodly preaching and urged you upon the Jihad against your rebellious enemies, but I-asws do not even come to the end of my-asws talk until I-asws see you dispersing like the hands of (people of) Saba. So, when I-asws refrain from you, you return to your gatherings for solace and you are striking the examples and prosing the poems, and are asking about the news. You have forgotten the preparations (required) for the war and have pre-occupied your hearts with the falsehoods.
تَرِبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمُ اغْزُوا الْقَوْمَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَغْزُوكُمْ! فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا غُزِيَ قَوْمٌ قَطُّ فِي عُقْرِ دِيَارِهِمْ إِلَّا ذَلُّوا.
May your hands be soiled! Invade the people from before they invade you! By Allah-azwj! No people have been invaded at all in the courtyards of their own homes, except they were disgraced.
وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ مَا أَرَاكُمْ تَفْعَلُونَ حَتَّى يَفْعَلُوا، وَ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي لَقِيتَهُمْ عَلَى نِيَّتِي وَ بَصِيرَتِي فَاسْتَرَحْتُ مِنْ مُقَاسَاتِكُمْ، فَمَا أَنْتُمْ إِلَّا كَإِبِلٍ جُمَّةٍ أَضَلَّ رَاعِيَهَا، فَكُلَّمَا ضُمَّتْ مِنْ جَانِبٍ انْتَشَرَتْ مِنْ جَانِبٍ آخَرَ.
And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! I-asws do not see you doing it (getting ready for war) until they do it, and I-asws would love it if I-asws were to meet them upon my-asws intention and my-asws insight, and attain rest from your hardness, for you are not except like a bunch of camels whose shepherd is lost. Every time they are gathered from one side, they disperse from the other side.
وَ اللَّهِ لَكَأَنِّي بِكُمْ لَوْ حَمِسَ الْوَغَا وَ أَحَمَّ الْبَأْسُ، قَدِ انْفَرَجْتُمْ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ انْفِرَاجَ الرَّأْسِ، وَ انْفِرَاجَ الْمَرْأَةِ عَنْ قُبُلِهَا.
By Allah-azwj! It is as if I-asws am with you if the war has been ignited and the fighting is hot, and you have split up from Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws like the splitting of the head and splitting of the woman from her front (guardian)’.
فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ الْأَشْعَثُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ الْكِنْدِيُّ فَقَالَ لَهُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! فَهَلَّا فَعَلْتَ كَمَا فَعَلَ ابْنُ عَفَّانَ؟
Al-Ash’as Bin Qays Al-Kindy stood up to him and said to him-asws, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Why don’t you do just as Ibn Affan had done?’
فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: يَا عُرْفَ النَّارِ وَيْلَكَ! إِنَّ فِعْلَ ابْنِ عَفَّانَ لَمَخْزَاةٌ عَلَى مَنْ لَا دِينَ لَهُ وَ لَا حُجَّةَ مَعَهُ، فَكَيْفَ وَ أَنَا عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّي [وَ] الْحَقُّ فِي يَدِي؟!
He-asws said to him: ‘O crest of the Fire, woe be unto you all! Surely, the deed of the son of Affan is shameful even upon the one having no religion for him nor any argument with him. How can it be for me-asws and I-asws am upon a proof from my-asws Lord-azwj and the truth is in my-asws hands?!
وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ امْرَأً يُمَكِّنُ عَدُوَّهُ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ، يُخْذَعُ لَحْمُهُ وَ يُهْشَمُ عَظْمُهُ وَ يُفْرَى جِلْدُهُ وَ يُسْفَكُ دَمُهُ، لَضَعِيفٌ مَا ضُمَّتْ عَلَيْهِ جَوَانِحُ صَدْرِهِ أَنْتَ فَكُنْ كَذَلِكَ إِنْ أَحْبَبْتَ، فَأَمَّا أَنَا فَدُونَ أَنْ أُعْطِيَ ذَلِكَ ضَرْبٌ بِالْمَشْرَفِيِّ، يَطِيرُ مِنْهُ فَرَاشُ الْهَامِ، وَ تَطِيحُ مِنْهُ الْأَكُفُّ وَ الْمَعَاصِمُ، وَ يَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ بَعْدَ مَا شَاءَ.
By Allah-azwj! A person enables his enemy from himself, tearing his flesh and breaking his bones, and stripping off his skin and shedding his blood, due to the weakness of what wings of his chest have been pressed upon him. You can be like that if you so like to, as for I-asws, I-asws am without it. If that come to me-asws, I-asws shall strike with my-asws noble (sword) the heads of the important ones would fly off from it, and the palms and the wrists would be cut off from it, and Allah-azwj will do whatever He-azwj so Desires to afterwards’.
فَقَامَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ خَالِدُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، صَاحِبُ مَنْزِلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَقَالَ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَدْ أَسْمَعَ مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ أُذُنٌ وَاعِيَةٌ وَ قَلْبٌ حَفِيظٌ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَكْرَمَكُمْ بِكَرَامَةٍ لَمْ تَقْبَلُوهَا حَقَّ قَبُولِهَا،
Abu Ayoub Al-Ansari Khalid Bin Zayd stood up, being an owner of the house of Rasool-Allah-saww, and he said, ‘O you people! Amir Al-Momineen-asws has made it hear the one who has retaining ears for him and a memorising heart. Allah-azwj has Honoured you all with an honour, you are not accepting it as is the right of its acceptance.
إِنَّهُ نَزَّلَ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِكُمْ ابْنَ عَمِّ نَبِيِّكُمْ وَ سَيِّدَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، يُفَقِّهُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ، وَ يَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى جِهَادِ الْمُحِلِّينَ، فَكَأَنَّكُمْ صُمٌّ لَا تَسْمَعُونَ، أَوْ عَلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ غُلُفٌ، مَطْبُوعٌ عَلَيْهَا، فَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْقِلُونَ.
There has descended in your midst, the son-asws of an uncle-as of your Prophet-saww and chief of the Muslims from after him-saww. He-asws is making you to be with the understanding in your religion and calling you to the Jihad the legalisers (of the Prohibitions), and it is as if you are deaf, not hearing, or there are locks upon your hearts, having coverings upon these, so (now) you are not using your intellects’.
أَ فَلَا تَسْتَحْيُونَ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ! أَ لَيْسَ إِنَّمَا عَهِدَكُمْ بِالْجَوْرِ وَ الْعُدْوَانِ أَمْسِ! قَدْ شَمِلَ الْبَلَاءُ وَ شَاعَ فِي الْبِلَادِ، فَذُو حَقٍّ مَحْرُومٌ وَ مَلْطُومٌ وَجْهُهُ وَ مُوَطَّأٌ بَطْنُهُ، وَ مُلْقًى بِالْعَرَاءِ تَسْفِي عَلَيْهِ الْأَعَاصِيرُ، لَا يَكُنُّهُ مِنَ الْحَرِّ وَ الْقُرِّ وَ صِهْرِ الشَّمْسِ وَ الضِّحِّ، إِلَّا الْأَثْوَابُ الْهَامِدَةُ وَ بُيُوتُ الشَّعْرِ الْبَالِيَةِ، حَتَّى جَاءَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، فَصَدَعَ بِالْحَقِّ، وَ نَشَرَ الْعَدْلَ، وَ عَمِلَ بِمَا فِي الْكِتَابِ.
Are you not ashamed, O servants of Allah-azwj? Weren’t your pacts with tyranny and aggression yesterday? The afflictions were all-inclusive and widespread in the country, and you were the ones with deprived rights, and blamed faces, and tied bellies, and cast out bare, the hurricanes were stormy upon you. You could not protect from the heat and the cold, and scorching sun and the brightness, except with the poor clothing and the houses of decayed hair (animal skin), until Allah-azwj Sent to you Amir Al-Momineen-asws. He-asws proclaimed with the truth and spread the justice, and worked with what is in the Book.
يَا قَوْمِ! فَاشْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ لَا تَوَلَّوْا مُدْبِرِينَ، وَ لا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ قالُوا: سَمِعْنا وَ هُمْ لا يَسْمَعُونَ، اشْحَذُوا السُّيُوفَ، وَ اسْتَعِدُّوا لِجِهَادِ عَدُوِّكُمْ، فَإِذَا دُعِيتُمْ فَأَجِيبُوا، وَ إِذَا أُمِرْتُمْ فَاسْمَعُوا وَ أَطِيعُوا، وَ مَا قُلْتُمْ فَلْيَكُنْ مَا أَضْمَرْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ تَكُونُوا بِذَلِكَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ.
O people! Thank for the bounties of Allah-azwj upon you and do not turn around backwards, And do not become like those who are saying, ‘We hear’, and they are not listening [8:21]. Sharpen your swords and prepare for the Jihad against your enemies. When you are called, to answer, and when you are ordered, then listen and obey, and whatever you say, let it become what you are harbouring upon. You will become from the truthful ones with that’’.[102]
[969] – كِتَابُ الْغَارَاتِ بِإِسْنَادِهِ إِلَى جُنْدَبٍ مِثْلَهُ.
Kitab Al-Gahraat, by his chain to Jundab – similar to it.[103]
[970] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ قَدْ تَوَاتَرَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْأَخْبَارُ بِاسْتِيلَاءِ أَصْحَابِ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَلَى الْبِلَادِ، وَ قَدِمَ عَلَيْهِ عَامِلَاهُ عَلَى الْيَمَنِ وَ هُمَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ وَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ نِمْرَانَ، لَمَّا غَلَبَ عَلَيْهِمَا بُسْرُ بْنُ أَرْطَاةَ، فَقَامَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إِلَى الْمِنْبَرِ ضَجِراً بِتَثَاقُلِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنِ الْجِهَادِ وَ مُخَالَفَتِهِمْ [لَهُ] فِي الرَّأْيِ
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘From a sermon of his-asws: ‘Consecutive news had come to him-asws of the companions of Muawiya launching raids upon the cities, and his-asws two office bearers upon Al-Yemen arrived to him-asws, they are Ubeydullah Bin Al-Abbas and Saeed Bin Nimran, when Busr Bin Artah overcame upon them. He-asws stood up to the pulpit wearily due to the sluggishness of his-asws companions from the Jihad, and their opposition to him-asws in the view.
فَقَالَ: مَا هِيَ إِلَّا الْكُوفَةُ أَقْبِضُهَا وَ أَبْسُطُهَا، إِنْ لَمْ تَكُونِي إِلَّا أَنْتِ تَهُبُّ أَعَاصِيرُكِ فَقَبَّحَكِ اللَّهُ. وَ تَمَثَّلَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بِقَوْلِ الشَّاعِرِ]:
| لَعَمْرُ أَبِيكَ الْخَيْرِ يَا عَمْرُو إِنَّنِي | عَلَى وَضَرٍ مِنْ ذَا الْإِنَاءِ قَلِيلٌ |
He-asws said: ‘It is not except Al-Kufa I-asws have my-asws grip on and I-asws can extent to it. If there does not happen to be except you, hurricanes will blow through you, Allah-azwj would Uglify you. And he-asws gave an example by the words of a poet, ‘By the life of your good father, O Amro! I-asws am upon a little (piece of) fact from the utensil’.
[ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ]: أُنْبِئْتُ بُسْراً قَدِ اطَّلَعَ الْيَمَنَ، وَ إِنِّي وَ اللَّهِ لَأَظُنُّ أَنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ سَيُدَالُونَ مِنْكُمْ بِاجْتِمَاعِهِمْ عَلَى بَاطِلِهِمْ وَ تَفَرُّقِكُمْ عَنْ حَقِّكُمْ، وَ بِمَعْصِيَتِكُمْ إِمَامَكُمْ فِي الْحَقِّ وَ طَاعَتِهِمْ إِمَامَهُمْ فِي الْبَاطِلِ، وَ بِأَدَائِهِمُ الْأَمَانَةَ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِمْ وَ خِيَانَتِكُمْ، وَ بِصَلَاحِهِمْ فِي بِلَادِهِمْ وَ فَسَادِكُمْ،
Then he-asws said: ‘I-asws am informed the Busr has emerged to Al-Yemen, and by Allah-azwj, I-asws think that these people will be pointed out from you by their being united upon their falsehood and your separating from your rights, and due to you disobeying your Imam-asws regarding the truth and their obeying their imam (leader) in the falsehood, and due to their fulfilling the entrustments to their master and your betrayals, and due to their righteousness in their cities and your corruption.
فَلَوِ ائْتَمَنْتُ أَحَدَكُمْ عَلَى قَعْبٍ لَخَشِيتُ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ بِعِلَاقَتِهِ! أَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي قَدْ مَلِلْتُهُمْ وَ مَلُّونِي، وَ سَئِمْتُهُمْ وَ سَئِمُونِي، فَأَبْدِلْنِي بِهِمْ خَيْراً مِنْهُمْ، وَ أَبْدِلْهُمْ بِي شَرّاً مِنِّي.
If I-asws were to entrust one of you upon a cup, I-asws fear that he would go away with its handle! O Allah-azwj! I-asws am tired of them and they are tired of me-asws, and I-asws am fed up with them and they are fed up with me-asws, so Replace for me-asws with them better than them, and Replace them with me-asws more evil than me-asws.
اللَّهُمَّ مِثْ قُلُوبَهُمْ كَإِيمَاثِ الْمِلْحِ فِي الْمَاءِ. أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ لِي بِكُمْ أَلْفَ فَارِسٍ مِنْ بَنِي فِرَاسِ بْنِ غَنْمٍ، [ثُمَّ تَمَثَّلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ:]
| هُنَالِكَ لَوْ دَعَوْتَ أَتَاكَ مِنْهُمْ | فَوَارِسُ مِثْلُ أَرْمِيَةِ الْحَمِيمِ |
O Allah-azwj! Dissolve their hearts like the salt dissolves in the water. But, by Allah-azwj! I-asws would love it if there were for me-asws with you, a thousand horsemen from the clan of Firas Bin Ghanim’. Then he-asws gave an example (in prose): ‘Over there if called, there would have come to you from them, horsemen like the clouds of autumn’.
ثُمَّ نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مِنَ الْمِنْبَرِ.
Then he-asws descended from the pulpit’’.[104]
[971] – نَهْجٌ: وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لَمَّا بَلَغَهُ إِغَارَةُ أَصْحَابِ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَلَى الْأَنْبَارِ، فَخَرَجَ بِنَفْسِهِ مَاشِياً حَتَّى أَتَى النُّخَيْلَةَ فَأَدْرَكَهُ النَّاسُ، وَ قَالُوا: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نَحْنُ نَكْفِيكَهُمْ.
(The book) ‘Nahj Al Balagah’ –
‘And he-asws said when the (news of) the raids by the companions of Muawiya upon Al-Anbar reached him-asws. He went out walking by himself-asws until he-asws came to Al-Nukheyla and the people came across him-asws and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! We shall suffice you-asws!’
فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: وَ اللَّهِ لَا تَكْفُونِّي أَنْفُسَكُمْ فَكَيْفَ تَكْفُونِّي غَيْرَكُمْ! إِنْ كَانَتِ الرُّعَايَا قَبْلِي لَتَشْكُو حَيْفَ رُعَاتِهَا، وَ إِنِّي الْيَوْمَ لَأَشْكُو حَيْفَ رَعِيَّتِي، كَأَنِّي الْمَقُودُ وَ هُمُ الْقَادَةُ، أَوِ الْمَوْزُوعُ وَ هُمُ الْوَزَعَةُ!
He-asws said: ‘By Allah-azwj! You cannot suffice me-asws against yourselves, so how can you suffice me-asws against others! The citizens before me-asws used to complain of the injustices of their rulers, and today I-asws (being a ruler) am complaining of injustices of my-asws own citizens. It is as if I-asws am the led and they are the leaders, or I-asws am the prevented and they are the preventers!’
وَ لَمَّا قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ هَذَا القَوْلَ فِي كَلَامٍ طَوِيلٍ قَدْ ذَكَرْنَا مُخْتَارَهُ فِي جُمْلَةِ الْخُطَبِ تَقَدَّمَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلَانِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا: «إِنِّي لا أَمْلِكُ إِلَّا نَفْسِي وَ أَخِي، فَمُرْنَا بِأَمْرِكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُنْفِذْ لَهُ». فَقَالَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ:] وَ أَيْنَ تَقَعَانِ مِمَّا أُرِيدُ!.
And when he-asws said these words in a lengthy speech, we had chosen it in the summary of the sermons, two men from his-asws companions came forward to him-asws. One of the said, ‘My Lord! I cannot control except myself and my brother, [5:25], so order us with your-asws orders, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! We shall implement it’. He-asws said: ‘And where will you two reach from what I-asws want?’’[105]
[972- 973] – كِتَابُ الْغَارَاتِ لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الثَّقَفِيِّ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: كَانَ لِعَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ صَدِيقٌ يُكَنَّى بِأَبِي مَرْيَمَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ بِتَشَتُّتِ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ أَتَاهُ، فَلَمَّا رَآهُ [عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] قَالَ: أَبُو مَرْيَمَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. قَالَ: مَا جَاءَ بِكَ
Kitab al Gharaat of Ibrahim Bin Muhammad Al Saqafy, by his chain from Umarah Bin Umeyr who said,
‘There was a friend of Ali-asws from the people of Al-Medina, teknonymed as Abu Maryam. When he heard the dispersal of the people away from him-asws, he came to him-asws. When Ali-asws saw him, he-asws said: ‘Abu Maryam?’ He said, ‘Yes’. He-asws said: ‘What have you come for?’
قَالَ: إِنِّي لَمْ آتِكَ لِحَاجَةٍ، وَ لَكِنِّي [كُنْتُ] أَرَاكَ لَوْ وَلَّوْكَ أَمْرَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ أَجْزَأْتَهُ. قَالَ: يَا أَبَا مَرْيَمَ إِنِّي صَاحِبُكَ الَّذِي عَهِدْتُ، وَ لَكِنِّي مُنِيتُ بِأَخْبَثِ قَوْمٍ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ! أَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى الْأَمْرِ [الصَّائِبِ] فَلَا يَتَّبِعُونِّي، فَإِذَا تَابَعْتُهُمْ عَلَى مَا يُرِيدُونَ تَفَرَّقُوا عَنِّي.
He said, ‘I did not come to you-asws for a need, but I viewed that even if they have placed you-asws in charge of the affairs of this community, cut it out’. He-asws said: ‘O Abu Maryam! I-asws am your companions who has been entrusted. But, I-asws am being Tried by the wickedest people upon the surface of the earth! I-asws am calling them to the rightful matter but they are not following me-asws, and when I-asws follow them upon what they are wanting, they disperse away from me-asws’’.[106]
وَ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ جَعْدٍ عَنْ مَوْلَى الْأَشْتَرِ قَالَ: شَكَا عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إِلَى الْأَشْتَرِ فِرَارَ النَّاسِ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ، فَقَالَ الْأَشْتَرُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! إِنَّا قَاتَلْنَا أَهْلَ الْبَصْرَةِ بِأَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ، وَ أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ، وَ الرَّأْيُ وَاحِدٌ، وَ قَدِ اخْتَلَفُوا بَعْدُ وَ تُعَادُوا، وَ ضَعُفَتِ النِّيَّةُ، وَ قَلَّ الْعَدْلُ، وَ أَنْتَ تَأْخُذُهُمْ بِالْعَدْلِ، وَ تَعْمَلُ فِيهِمْ بِالْحَقِّ، وَ تَنْصُفُ الْوَضِيعَ مِنَ الشَّرِيفِ، وَ لَيْسَ لِلشَّرِيفِ عِنْدَكَ فَضْلُ مَنْزِلَةٍ عَلَى الْوَضِيعِ،
And from Fuzeyl Bin Ja’ad, from a slave of Al Ashtar who said,
‘Ali-asws complained to Al-Ashtar of the fleeing of the people to Muawiya. Al-Ashtar said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! We have been fighting against the people of Al-Basra with the people of Al-Basra, and the people of Al-Kufa, and the view is one, and they had differed afterwards, and they returned and the intentions weakened, and the justice was scarce while you-asws are taking them with the justice and working among them with the truth and are getting fairness of the humble from the noble, and there isn’t any merit for the noble over the humble in your-asws presence.
فَضَجَّ طَائِفَةٌ مِمَّنْ مَعَكَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ إِذَا عُمُّوا بِهِ، وَ اغْتَمُّوا مِنَ الْعَدْلِ إِذْ صَارُوا فِيهِ، وَ صَارَتْ صَنَائِعُ مُعَاوِيَةَ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْغِنَى وَ الشَّرَفِ، فَتَاقَتْ أَنْفُسُ النَّاسِ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا، وَ قَلَّ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ لَيْسَ لِلدُّنْيَا بِصَاحِبٍ، وَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ مَنْ يَجْتَوِي الْحَقَّ وَ يَسْتَمْرِئُ الْبَاطِلَ وَ يُؤْثِرُ الدُّنْيَا.
A party from the ones who were with you-asws broke up upon the truth when they were generalised with it, and they were dejected from the justice when they came to be in it, and the material things of Muawiya came to be with the people of wealth and nobility. The souls of the people yearned for the world, and few of the people are ones who aren’t companions of the world, and most of them are ones who hide the truth and enjoy the falsehood and give preference to the world.
فَإِنْ تَبْذُلِ الْمَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ تَمِلْ إِلَيْكَ أَعْنَاقُ النَّاسِ، وَ تَصْفُو نَصِيحَتُهُمْ، وَ تَسْتَنْزِلُ وُدَّهُمْ، صَنَعَ اللَّهُ لَكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! وَ كَبَتَ عَدُوَّكَ، وَ فَضَّ جَمْعَهُمْ، وَ وَهَنَ كَيْدَهُمْ وَ شَتَّتَ أُمُورَهُمْ، إِنَّهُ بِما يَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
So, if you were to spend the wealth, O Amir Al-Momineen, the necks of the people would be filled up to you-asws, and their advice would be clear, and their cordiality would be shown. May Allah-azwj Do it for you-asws, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! And Suppress your-asws enemies, and Break up their unity, and Weaken their plots, and Scatter their affairs, He-azwj is Informed with what they are doing’.
فَأَجَابَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ قَالَ: أَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ عَمَلِنَا وَ سِيرَتِنَا بِالْعَدْلِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ: مَنْ عَمِلَ صالِحاً فَلِنَفْسِهِ وَ مَنْ أَساءَ فَعَلَيْها وَ ما رَبُّكَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ وَ أَنَا مِنْ [أَنْ] أَكُونَ مُقَصِّراً فِيمَا ذَكَرْتَ أَخْوَفُ.
Ali-asws answered him. He-asws praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj and said: ‘As for what you mentioned from our-asws works and our-asws conduct with the justice, surely Allah-azwj is Saying: One who acts righteously, so it is for himself, and one who does evil, so it would be against him, and your Lord is not the least unjust to the servants [41:46], and I-asws am more fearful from becoming deficient regarding what you mentioned.
وَ أَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ أَنَّ الْحَقَّ ثَقُلَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَفَارَقُونَا لِذَلِكَ، فَقَدْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يُفَارِقُونَا مِنْ جَوْرٍ، وَ لَمْ يَلْجَئُوا إِلَى عَدْلٍ، وَ لَمْ يَلْتَمِسُوا إِلَّا دُنْيَا زَائِلَةً عَنْهُمْ، كَأَنَّ قَدْ فَارَقُوهَا، وَ لَيُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَ لِلدُّنْيَا أَرَادُوا أَمْ لِلَّهِ عَمِلُوا؟
And as for what you mentioned from that the truth is heavy upon them, so they are separating due to that, Allah-azwj has Known that they did not separate due to tyranny and did not seek shelter to justice, and they did not seek except for a world that is declining away from them, as if they have already separated from it, and they will be Questioned on the Day of Qiyamah: ‘Is it for the world they intended or they worked for Allah-azwj?
وَ أَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ بَذْلِ الْأَمْوَالِ وَ اصْطِنَاعِ الرِّجَالِ، فَإِنَّا لَا يَسَعُنَا أَنْ نُؤْتِيَ امْرَأً مِنَ الْفَيْءِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ حَقِّهِ، وَ قَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ وَ قَوْلُهُ الْحَقُّ: كَمْ مِنْ فِئَةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةً كَثِيرَةً بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَ اللَّهُ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
And as for what you mentioned of spending the wealth (to lure them) and bringing the men together, surely there is no leeway for us-asws to give from the war booty to a man any more than his right, and Allah-azwj has Said, and His-azwj Word is the truth: ‘How many times a small group has overcome a numerous group by the Permission of Allah, and Allah is with the patient ones [2:249].
وَ [قَدْ] بَعَثَ [اللَّهُ] مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَحْدَهُ فَكَثَّرَهُ بَعْدَ الْقِلَّةِ، وَ أَعَزَّ فِئَتَهُ بَعْدَ الذِّلَّةِ، وَ إِنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ [أَنْ] يُوَلِّيَنَا هَذَا الْأَمْرَ، يُذَلِّلُ لَنَا صَعْبَهُ وَ يُسَهِّلُ لَنَا حَزْنَهُ وَ أَنَا قَابِلٌ مِنْ رَأْيِكَ مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ [فِيهِ] رِضًا، وَ أَنْتَ مِنْ أَعَزِّ أَصْحَابِي وَ أَوْثَقِهِمْ فِي نَفْسِي وَ أَنْصَحِهِمْ عِنْدِي.
And Allah-azwj had Sent Muhammad-saww alone, and Multiplied for him-saww after there being a few, and Honoured his-saww party after the humiliation, and if Allah-azwj want us-asws to be in charge of this command, He-azwj will Subdue its difficulties for us, and Ease its grief for us-asws, and I-asws accept from your view in whatever there would be Pleasure for Allah-azwj, and you are more the most honourable of my-asws companions, and most trustworthy of them regarding myself-asws, and their most advising of them in my-asws presence’’.[107]
[974] – كَنْزُ الْكَرَاجُكِيِّ: رُوِيَ أَنَّ هَذِهِ الْأَبْيَاتَ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ:
| أَخَذْتُكُمْ دِرْعاً حَصِيناً لِتَدْفَعُوا | سِهَامَ الْعِدَى عَنِّي فَكُنْتُمْ نِصَالَهَا | |
| فَإِنْ أَنْتُمْ لَمْ تَحْفَظُوا لِمَوَدَّتِي | ذِمَاماً فَكُونُوا لَا عَلَيْهَا وَ لَا لَهَا | |
| قِفُوا مَوْقِفَ الْمَعْذُورِ عَنِّي بِجَانِبٍ | وَ خَلُّوا نِبَالِي لِلْعِدَى وَ نِبَالَهَا. |
(The book) ‘Kunz’ of Al-Karajaky – It is reported that these couplets are of Amir Al-Momineen-asws: ‘You took a fortified armour in order to defend from the arrows of the enemies from me-asws, so you were its blade. So, if you are not preserving responsibilities my-asws cordiality, then neither be against it nor for it. Stand in the position of the one excused from me-asws by the side, and free my-asws arrows to be for the enemies and their arrows’’.[108]
[الباب الثاني و الثلاثون] علّة عدم تغيير أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام بعض البدع في زمانه
CHAPTER 32 – REASON OF AMIR AL-MOMINEEN-asws NOT CHANGING SOME OF THE INNOVATIONS DURING HIS-asws ERA
[975] – ج: عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: خَطَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] فَقَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَقُولُ: كَيْفَ أَنْتُمْ إِذَا أُلْبِسْتُمُ الْفِتْنَةَ، يَنْشَأُ فِيهَا الْوَلِيدُ، وَ يَهْرَمُ فِيهَا الْكَبِيرُ، وَ تَجْرِي النَّاسُ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى يَتَّخِذُوهَا سُنَّةً، فَإِذَا غُيِّرَ مِنْهَا شَيْءٌ قِيلَ: أَتَى النَّاسُ بِمُنْكَرٍ غُيِّرَتِ السُّنَّةُ.
(The book) ‘Al Ihtijaj’ – From Mas’ada Bin Sadaqa,
‘Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad-asws said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws addressed (the people). He-asws said: ‘I-asws heard Rasool-Allah-saww saying: ‘How will you be when the Fitna confuses you? The new-born would grow up during it and the older ones would be enfeebled during it, and the people would flow upon it until they take is as a Sunnah. When something from it is changed, it would be said, ‘The people are committing evil by changing the Sunnah!’
ثُمَّ تَشْتَدُّ الْبَلِيَّةُ، وَ تَنْشَأُ فِيهَا الذُّرِّيَّةُ، وَ تَدُقُّهُمُ الْفِتَنُ كَمَا تَدُقُّ النَّارُ الْحَطَبَ، وَ كَمَا تَدُقُّ الرَّحَى بِثِفَالِهَا. يَتَفَقَّهُ النَّاسُ لِغَيْرِ الدِّينِ، وَ يَتَعَلَّمُونَ لِغَيْرِ الْعَمَلِ، وَ يَطْلُبُونَ الدُّنْيَا بِعَمَلِ الْآخِرَةِ.
Then the afflictions would intensify and the off spring would grow up in it, and the Fitna would consume them just as the fire consumes the firewood, and like what the mill would grind them with its sediment. The people would be pondering for other than the religion, and they would be learning for other than the deeds, and they would be seeking the world by the deeds (supposed to be) for the Hereafter’.
ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، وَ مَعَهُ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ خَاصٌّ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ، فَصَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ:
Then Amir Al-Momineen-asws came back and with him-asws were some people from his-asws family members and special ones from his-asws Shias. He-asws ascended the pulpit, praised Allah-azwj and extolled upon Him-azwj and sent Salawaat upon the Prophet-saww, the said:
لَقَدْ عَمِلَتِ [عَمِلَ «خ»] الْوُلَاةُ قَبْلِي بِأُمُورٍ عَظِيمَةٍ، خَالَفُوا فِيهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مُتَعَمِّدِينَ لِذَلِكَ، وَ لَوْ حَمَلْتُ النَّاسَ عَلَى تَرْكِهَا وَ حَوَّلْتُهَا إِلَى مَوَاضِعِهَا الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهَا عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، لَتَفَرَّقَ عَنِّي جُنْدِي! حَتَّى أَبْقَى وَحْدِي إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِنْ شِيعَتِيَ الَّذِينَ عَرَفُوا فَضْلِي وَ إِمَامَتِي مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ.
‘The rulers before me-asws had worked grievous matters. They opposed Rasool-Allah-saww in it deliberately for that, and if I-asws had carried the people upon leaving that (Standing place of Ibrahim-as) and transferred it back to its place in which it used to be in the era of Rasool-Allah-saww, my-asws army would separate (and move) away from me-asws, until I-asws would remain along except a few from my-asws Shias who recognise my-asws merits and my-asws Imamate from the Book of Allah-azwj and Sunnah of His-azwj Prophet-saww.
أَ رَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَمَرْتُ بِمَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَرَدَدْتُهُ إِلَى الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي وَضَعَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فِيهِ، وَ رَدَدْتُ فَدَكَ إِلَى وَرَثَةِ فَاطِمَةَ عَلَيْهَا السَّلَامُ، وَ رَدَدْتُ صَاعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ مُدَّهُ إِلَى مَا كَانَ، وَ أَمْضَيْتُ قَطَائِعَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَقْطَعَهَا لِنَاسٍ مُسَمَّيْنَ،
What is your view if I-asws were to order with the standing place of Ibrahim-as to be returned to the place in which Rasool-Allah-saww had placed it to be in; and Fadak to be returned to the inheritors of (Syeda) Fatima-asws; and return the Sa’a (unit of measurement) of Rasool-Allah-saww and his-saww Mudd (unit of measurement) to what they used to be; and continue cutting out the pieces (of land) which Rasool-Allah-saww used to cut these out for the named people;
وَ رَدَدْتُ دَارَ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ إِلَى وَرَثَتِهِ وَ هَدَمْتُهَا [وَ أَخْرَجْتُهَا] مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ، وَ رَدَدْتُ الْخُمُسَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ، وَ رَدَدْتُ قَضَاءَ كُلِّ مَنْ قَضَى بِجَوْرٍ، وَ سَبْيَ ذَرَارِيِّ بَنِي تَغْلِبَ، وَ رَدَدْتُ مَا قُسِمَ مِنْ أَرْضِ خَيْبَرَ، وَ مَحَوْتُ دِيوَانَ الْعَطَاءِ، وَ أَعْطَيْتُ كَمَا كَانَ يُعْطِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ لَمْ أَجْعَلْهَا دُولَةً بَيْنَ الْأَغْنِياءِ!
And return the house of Ja’far-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws to his-asws inheritors, and demolish it (what they have built to extend the Masjid) and expel it from the Masjid; and return the Khums to its rightful ones; and rescind the judgment of every one who had judged with tyranny and the captured offspring of the clan of Taghlib; and return whatever had been distributed from the land of Khyber; and erase the register of awards and (instead) give like what Rasool-Allah-saww used to give and not make these (awards) to be a revenue between the rich?
وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَمَرْتُ النَّاسَ أَنْ لَا يَجْمَعُوا [لَا يَجْتَمِعُوا «خ»] فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ إِلَّا فِي فَرِيضَةٍ، فَنَادَى بَعْضُ أَهْلِ عَسْكَرِي مِمَّنْ يُقَاتِلُ دُونِي، وَ سَيْفُهُ مَعِي أَتَّقِي بِهِ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ وَ أَهْلِهِ: غُيِّرَتْ سُنَّةُ عُمَرَ وَ نُهِيَ أَنْ يُصَلَّى فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ، حَتَّى خِفْتُ أَنْ يَثُورَ بِي نَاحِيَةُ عَسْكَرِي
By Allah-azwj! I-asws had ordered the people that they should not gather during a month of Ramazan except regarding the Obligatory (Salats), but some people of my-asws army, from the ones who fought besides me-asws called out and his-saww sword was with me-asws, by it I-asws save Al-Islam and its people, ‘He-asws has changed the sunnah of Umar and is forbidding from praying Salat during the month of Ramazan in a congregation’, to the extent that I-asws feared that there might be a revolution with me-asws in part of my-asws army.
مَا لَقِيَتْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةُ مِنْ أَئِمَّةِ الضَّلَالَةِ وَ الدُّعَاةِ إِلَى النَّارِ!.
(Oh) what I-asws am facing from the leaders of straying and the callers to the Fire!
وَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، سَهْمُ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى الَّذِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى [فِي حَقِّهِمْ]: وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّما غَنِمْتُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَأَنَّ لِلَّهِ خُمُسَهُ وَ لِلرَّسُولِ وَ لِذِي الْقُرْبى وَ الْيَتامى وَ الْمَساكِينِ وَ ابْنِ السَّبِيلِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ آمَنْتُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَ ما أَنْزَلْنا عَلى عَبْدِنا يَوْمَ الْفُرْقانِ
And more grievous than that is the portion of the next of kin, the ones Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted Said in their rights: And know that whatever booty you gain from anything, so a fifth of it is for Allah, and for the Rasool, and for the near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy and the wayfarer, if you believe in Allah and in what We Revealed unto Our servant, on the Day of Distinction, [8:41].
نَحْنُ وَ اللَّهِ عَنَى بِذَوِي الْقُرْبَى الَّذِينَ قَرَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَ نَبِيِّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لَنَا فِي الصَّدَقَةِ نَصِيباً، أَكْرَمَ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى نَبِيَّهُ، وَ أَكْرَمَنَا أَنْ يُطْعِمَنَا أَوْسَاخَ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ.
By Allah-azwj! We-asws are the ones meant by ‘near of kin’, those Allah-azwj has Paired with Himself-azwj and His-azwj Prophet-saww, and did not Make any share to be for us-asws in the charities. Allah-azwj the Glorious and Exalted has Honoured His-azwj Prophet-saww, and Honoured us-asws from Feeding us-asws the filth of the hands of the people’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ: إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ مِنْ سَلْمَانَ وَ أَبِي ذَرٍّ الْغِفَارِيِّ وَ الْمِقْدَادِ، أَشْيَاءَ مِنْ تَفْسِيرِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ الرِّوَايَةِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ سَمِعْتُ مِنْكَ تَصْدِيقَ مَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْهُمْ، وَ رَأَيْتُ فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ أَشْيَاءَ كَثِيرَةً مِنْ تَفْسِيرِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ الْأَحَادِيثِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، [وَ] أَنْتُمْ تُخَالِفُونَهُمْ وَ تَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ بَاطِلٌ، أَ فَتَرَى النَّاسَ يَكْذِبُونَ مُتَعَمِّدِينَ عَلَى نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ يُفَسِّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ بِآرَائِهِمْ؟
A man said to him-asws, ‘I have heard from Salman-ra, and Abu Zarr Al-Ghifari-ra, and Al-Miqdad-ra, (certain) things from the interpretation of the Quran and reports from the Prophet-saww, and I-asws heard from you-asws the verification of what I had heard from them, and I have seen many things in the hands of the people, from the interpretation of the Quran and Ahadeeth from the Prophet-saww, and you-asws are opposing them and claiming that, that is false. Do you view the people are lying deliberately upon the Prophet-saww of Allah-azwj and are interpreting the Quran by their own opinions?’
قَالَ: فَأَقْبَلَ [إِلَيْهِ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ] عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ لَهُ: قَدْ سَأَلْتَ فَافْهَمِ الْجَوَابَ: إِنَّ فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ حَقّاً وَ بَاطِلًا، وَ صِدْقاً وَ كَذِباً، وَ نَاسِخاً وَ مَنْسُوخاً، وَ عَامّاً وَ خَاصّاً، وَ مُحْكَماً وَ مُتَشَابِهاً، وَ حِفْظاً وَ وَهَماً،
He (Al-Sadiq-asws) said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws faced towards him and said to him: ‘You have asked, so understand the answer. In the hands of the people there is truth and falsehood, and truthfulness and lies, and abrogating and abrogated, and general and special, and decisive and allegorical, memorised and imagined.
وَ قَدْ كُذِبَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ هُوَ حَيٌّ، حَتَّى قَامَ خَطِيباً فَقَالَ: «أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ كَثُرَتْ عَلَيَّ الْكَذَّابَةُ، فَمَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَيَّ مُتَعَمِّداً فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ».
And Rasool-Allah-saww had been lied upon while he-saww was alive, until he-asws stood up to address and said: ‘O you people! The lies have been frequented upon me-asws, so the one who lies upon me-asws deliberately, let him assume his seat from the Fire’.
وَ إِنَّمَا أَتَاكَ بِالْحَدِيثِ أَرْبَعَةُ رِجَالٍ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ خَامِسٌ: رَجُلٌ مُنَافِقٌ مُظْهِرٌ لِلْإِيمَانِ مُتَصَنِّعٌ بِالْإِسْلَامِ، لَا يَتَأَثَّمُ وَ لَا يَتَحَرَّجُ فِي أَنْ يَكْذِبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مُتَعَمِّداً،
And rather four (types of) men have come to you with the Hadeeth, there isn’t any fight for them – a hypocrite man, manifesting the Eman and posing as being with Al-Islam. Neither does he consider it a sin nor does he have any embarrassment in lying upon Allah-azwj and upon Rasool-Allah-saww deliberately.
فَلَوْ عَلِمَ النَّاسُ أَنَّهُ مُنَافِقٌ كَاذِبٌ لَمْ يَقْبَلُوا مِنْهُ وَ لَمْ يُصَدِّقُوا قَوْلَهُ، وَ لَكِنَّهُمْ قَالُوا: «صَاحِبُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ رَآهُ وَ سَمِعَ مِنْهُ وَ لَقِفَ عَنْهُ» وَ يَأْخُذُونَ [فَيَأْخُذُونَ «خ»] بِقَوْلِهِ وَ قَدْ أَخْبَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ بِمَا أَخْبَرَكَ وَ وَصَفَهُمْ بِمَا وَصَفَهُمْ بِهِ لَكَ.
If the people come to know that he is a hypocrite, they would not accept from him and would not ratify his words, but they said, ‘He is a companion of Rasool-Allah-saww, and he has seen him-saww and heard from him-saww and caught it from him-saww. So, they are taking with his words, although Allah-azwj has Informed you about the hypocrites with what He-azwj has informed, and Described them with what He-azwj had Described them with to you.
ثُمَّ بَقُوا بَعْدَهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَتَقَرَّبُوا إِلَى أَئِمَّةِ الضَّلَالَةِ، وَ الدُّعَاةِ إِلَى النَّارِ بِالزُّورِ وَ الْبُهْتَانِ، فَوَلَّوْهُمُ الْأَعْمَالَ وَ جَعَلُوهُمْ حُكَّاماً عَلَى رِقَابِ النَّاسِ، وَ أَكَلُوا بِهِمُ الدُّنْيَا وَ إِنَّمَا النَّاسُ مَعَ الْمُلُوكِ وَ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَنْ عَصَمَهُ اللَّهُ. فَهَذَا أَحَدُ الْأَرْبَعَةِ.
Then they remained alive after him-saww and they drew near to the leaders of straying and the callers to the Fire with the falsities and the accusations. So, they (rulers) made them the office bearers and made them decision-makers upon the necks of the people, and they devoured the world through them, and rather the people tend to be with the kings and the world except the one whom Allah-azwj Fortifies. So, this is the first of the four.
وَ [ثَانِي الْأَرْبَعَةِ] رَجُلٌ سَمِعَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ شَيْئاً لَمْ يَحْفَظْهُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ، فَوَهِمَ فِيهِ وَ لَمْ يَتَعَمَّدْ كَذِباً، وَ هُوَ فِي يَدَيْهِ يَرْوِيهِ وَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِ وَ يَقُولُ: «أَنَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ». فَلَوْ عَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ أَنَّهُ وَهِمَ فِيهِ لَمْ يَقْبَلُوا مِنْهُ، وَ لَوْ عَلِمَ هُوَ أَنَّهُ كَذَلِكَ لَرَفَضَهُ.
And the second of the four is a man who heard something from Rasool-Allah-saww, could not memorise is upon its perspective, so he used his imagination in it and did not lie deliberately, and it is in his hands, he is reporting it and working with it and saying, ‘I heard from Rasool-Allah-saww’. If the Muslims had known that he is using his imagination in it, they would not be accepting from him, and if he knew that he is like that, he would reject it.
وَ رَجُلٌ ثَالِثٌ سَمِعَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ شَيْئاً يَأْمُرُ بِهِ ثُمَّ نَهَى [رَسُولُ اللَّهِ] عَنْهُ وَ هُوَ لَا يَعْلَمُ، أَوْ سَمِعَهُ نَهَى عَنْ شَيْءٍ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِهِ وَ هُوَ لَا يَعْلَمُ، فَحَفِظَ الْمَنْسُوخَ وَ لَمْ يَحْفَظِ النَّاسِخَ. فَلَوْ عَلِمَ أَنَّهُ مَنْسُوخٌ لَرَفَضَهُ، وَ لَوْ عَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ إِذْ سَمِعُوهُ مِنْهُ أَنَّهُ مَنْسُوخٌ لَرَفَضُوهُ.
And a third man, he heard something from Rasool-Allah-saww instructing him, then he (Rasool-Allah-saww) forbade from it, and he did not know, or heard the forbiddance about something then he-saww instructed with it, and he did not know. Thus, he preserved the abrogated and did not preserve the abrogating. If he had known it is abrogated, he would have rejected it, and if the Muslims had known when they heard it from him that it is abrogated, they would have rejected it.
وَ آخَرُ رَابِعٌ لَمْ يَكْذِبْ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ لَا عَلَى رَسُولِهِ، مُبْغِضٌ لِلْكَذِبِ خَوْفاً لِلَّهِ وَ تَعْظِيماً لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ لَمْ يَهُمَّ بِهِ، بَلْ حَفِظَ مَا سَمِعَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ، فَجَاءَ بِهِ عَلَى مَا سَمِعَهُ، وَ لَمْ يَزِدْ فِيهِ وَ لَمْ يَنْقُصْ مِنْهُ، وَ حَفِظَ النَّاسِخَ فَعَمِلَ بِهِ وَ حَفِظَ الْمَنْسُوخَ فَجَنَبَ عَنْهُ، وَ عَرَفَ الْخَاصَّ وَ الْعَامَّ فَوَضَعَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ مَوْضِعَهُ، وَ عَرَفَ الْمُتَشَابِهَ وَ الْمُحْكَمَ.
And the last fourth did not lie upon Allah-azwj nor upon His-azwj Rasool-saww, being hateful to the lie fearing to Allah-azwj and in reverence to Rasool-Allah-saww, and did not use his imagination with it. But, he memorised he had heard upon its perspective, so he came with it upon what he had heard, and he did not increase in it and did not reduce from it, and he preserved the abrogating so he worked with it, and preserved the abrogated so he stayed away from it, and he recognised the special and the general, so he placed everything in its place, and he recognised the allegorical and the decisive.
وَ قَدْ يَكُونُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ الْكَلَامُ لَهُ وَجْهَانِ، فَكَلَامٌ خَاصٌّ وَ كَلَامٌ عَامٌّ، فَيَسْمَعُهُ مَنْ لَا يَعْرِفُ مَا عَنَى اللَّهُ بِهِ، وَ لَا مَا عَنَى بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، فَيَحْمِلُهُ السَّامِعُ وَ يُوَجِّهُهُ عَلَى غَيْرِ مَعْرِفَةٍ بِمَعْنَاهُ وَ لَا مَا قُصِدَ بِهِ وَ مَا خَرَجَ مِنْ أَجْلِهِ.
And the speech happened from Rasool-Allah-saww having two aspects for it. There was a special talk and general talk. He heard it, one who did not know what Allah-azwj had Meant by it nor what Rasool-Allah-saww had meant by it. The listener carried it and diverted it upon being without understanding its meaning nor what had been aimed with it, and what reason it had come out for.
وَ لَيْسَ كُلُّ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَسْأَلُهُ وَ يَسْتَفْهِمُهُ، حَتَّى إِنْ كَانُوا لَيُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَجِيءَ الْأَعْرَابِيُّ أَوِ الطَّارِي فَيَسْأَلَهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ حَتَّى يَسْمَعُوا كَلَامَهُ وَ كَانَ لَا يَمُرُّ بِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْءٌ إِلَّا سَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ وَ حَفِظْتُهُ.
And it isn’t so that every companion of Rasool-Allah-saww had asked him-saww and understood it, to the extent that they used to love for the Bedouin to come and ask him-saww until they would hear his-saww speech, and nothing from that passed by me-asws except I-asws had asked about it and memorised it.
فَهَذِهِ وُجُوهُ مَا عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ فِي اخْتِلَافِهِمْ وَ عِلَلِهِمْ فِي رِوَايَاتِهِمْ.
Thus these perspectives are what the people are upon in their differing(s) and their reasons in their reports’’.[109]
[976] – شي: عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا قَالَ: لَمَّا كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] فِي الْكُوفَةِ أَتَاهُ النَّاسُ فَقَالُوا: اجْعَلْ لَنَا إِمَاماً يَؤُمُّنَا فِي [شَهْرِ] رَمَضَانَ. فَقَالَ: لَا. وَ نَهَاهُمْ أَنْ يَجْتَمِعُوا فِيهِ، فَلَمَّا أَمْسَوْا جَعَلُوا يَقُولُونَ: ابْكُوا فِي رَمَضَانَ وَا رَمَضَانَاهْ.
Tafseer Al Ayyashi – From Hareyz, from one of our companions,
‘From one of the two (5th or 6th Imam-asws) having said: ‘When Amir Al-Momineen-asws was in Al-Kufa, some people came to him-asws and they said, ‘Make a prayer leader to be for us who would lead us (in Salat) during the month of Ramazan’. He-asws said: ‘No’, and he-asws forbade them to gather during it. When it was evening they went on to say, ‘Cry (lament) during Ramazan, ‘Waah Ramazan!’’
فَأَتَاهُ الْحَارِثُ الْأَعْوَرُ فِي أُنَاسٍ فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ضَجَّ النَّاسُ وَ كَرِهُوا قَوْلَكَ.
Al-Haris Al-Awr came to him-asws among some people. He said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! The people are clamouring and are disliking your-asws words’.
فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: دَعُوهُمْ وَ مَا يُرِيدُونَ لِيُصَلِّيَ بِهِمْ مَنْ شَاءُوا. ثُمَّ قَالَ: «فَمَنْ يَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ ما تَوَلَّى وَ نُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَ ساءَتْ مَصِيراً».
He-asws said: ‘Leave them and what they are wanting to pray Salat with them, (let them take a pray leader) the one – they so desire to’. Then he-asws said: ‘So the one who follows other than the way of the Momineen, We will Turn him to what he had turned towards and he will arrive to Hell; and it is an evil fate [4:115]’’.[110]
[977] – جا: الْكَاتِبُ عَنِ الزَّعْفَرَانِيِّ عَنِ الثَّقَفِيِّ عَنْ يُوسُفَ بْنِ كُلَيْبٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ هِشَامٍ عَنِ الصَّبَّاحِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الْمُزَنِيِّ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ حَصِيرَةَ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَوْماً: ادْعُوا [لِي] غَنِيّاً وَ بَاهِلَةَ وَ حَيّاً آخَرَ قَدْ سَمَّاهُمْ فَلْيَأْخُذُوا عَطَايَاهُمْ، فَوَ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ مَا لَهُمْ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ نَصِيبٌ، وَ إِنِّي شَاهِدٌ وَ مَنْزِلِي عِنْدَ الْحَوْضِ وَ عِنْدَ الْمَقَامِ الْمَحْمُودِ، أَنَّهُمْ أَعْدَاءٌ لِي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ [وَ] لَآخُذَنَّ غَنِيّاً أَخْذَةً يَضْرِطُ بَاهِلَةُ.
(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ – Al Katib, from Al Zafrani, from Al saqafi, from Yusuf Bin Kuleyb, from Muawiya Bin Hisham, from Al Sabbah Bin Yahya Al Muzanny, from Al Haris Bin Haseera who said,
‘A group from the companions of Amir Al-Momineen-asws narrated to me that he-asws said one day: ‘Call the rich ones to me-asws, and (tribe of) Bahilah’, and other tribes he-asws had named: ‘Let them take their awards, for by the One-azwj Who Split the seed and Formed the person! There is no share for them in Al-Islam, and I-asws am a witness and my-asws position at the Fountain, and by Maqam Al-Mahmoud (The Praise-worthy Position)! They are enemies to me-asws in the world and the Hereafter, and I-asws shall be seizing the rich with a voracious seizure.
وَ لَئِنْ ثَبَتَتْ قَدَمَايَ لَأَرُدَّنَّ قَبَائِلَ إِلَى قَبَائِلَ، وَ قَبَائِلَ إِلَى قَبَائِلَ، وَ لَأُبَهْرِجَنَّ سِتِّينَ قَبِيلَةً مَا لَهَا فِي الْإِسْلَامِ نَصِيبٌ.
And if my-asws feet are affirmed, I-asws return tribes to tribes, and tribes to tribes, and I-asws shall invalidate sixty tribes having no share for them in Al-Islam’’.[111]
[978] – كا: [ثِقَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ الْكُلَيْنِيُ] فِي [كِتَابِ] الرَّوْضَةِ [عَنْ] عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْيَمَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ أَبِي عَيَّاشٍ عَنْ سُلَيْمِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ الْهِلَالِيِّ قَالَ: خَطَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَلَا إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ خَلَّتَانِ: اتِّبَاعُ الْهَوَى، وَ طُولُ الْأَمَلِ. أَمَّا اتِّبَاعُ الْهَوَى فَيَصُدُّ عَنِ الْحَقِّ. وَ أَمَّا طُولُ الْأَمَلِ فَيُنْسِي الْآخِرَةَ.
(The book) ‘Al Kafi’ by the trustworthy one of Al-Islam Al Kulayni in Kitab Al Rawza – From Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Hammad Bin Isa, from Ibrahim Bni Umar Al Yamani, from Aban Bin Abu Abbas, from Suleym Bin Qays Al Hilali who said,
‘Amir-Al-Momineen-asws preached, so he-asws Praised Allah-azwj and Extolled Him-azwj, then sent greetings of peace ‘Salam’ upon the Prophet-saww, then said: ‘Indeed! From the fears what I-asws fear for you are two categories – following of desires and long hopes. As for the following of desires, it will sway you away from the truth, and as for the long hopes, they will make you forget the Hereafter.
أَلَا وَ إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا قَدْ تَرَحَّلَتْ مُدْبِرَةً، وَ إِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ قَدْ تَرَحَّلَتْ مُقْبِلَةً، وَ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ [مِنْهُمَا] بَنُونَ، فَكُونُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ، وَ لَا تَكُونُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الدُّنْيَا، فَإِنَّ الْيَوْمَ عَمَلٌ وَ لَا حِسَابَ، وَ إِنَّ غَداً حِسَابٌ وَ لَا عَمَلَ.
Indeed! The world has moved backwards (away from you) and that the Hereafter has moved forward (towards you), and for each of these are sons. So be from the sons of the Hereafter and do not become from the sons of the world, for today is the day of the deeds and there is no Reckoning, but tomorrow is the (day of) Reckoning and no (room to perform) deeds.
وَ إِنَّمَا بَدْءُ وُقُوعِ الْفِتَنِ مِنْ أَهْوَاءٍ تُتَّبَعُ، وَ أَحْكَامٍ تُبْتَدَعُ، يُخَالَفُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ اللَّهِ، يَتَوَلَّى فِيهَا رِجَالٌ رِجَالًا.
However, the commencement of the Fitna occurs from the following of desires, and (the man made) rules are followed in opposition to the Commands of Allah-azwj, so that a man would rule over a man (using these rules).
أَلَا إِنَّ الْحَقَّ لَوْ خَلَصَ لَمْ يَكُنِ اخْتِلَافٌ، وَ لَوْ أَنَّ الْبَاطِلَ خَلَصَ لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَى ذِي حِجًى، لَكِنَّهُ يُؤْخَذُ مِنْ هَذَا ضِغْثٌ وَ مِنْ هَذَا ضِغْثٌ، فَيُمْزَجَانِ فَيَجْتَمِعَانِ فَيُجَلَّيَانِ مَعاً، فَهُنَاكَ يَسْتَوْلِي الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَى أَوْلِيَائِهِ، وَ نَجَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقَتْ لَهُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْحُسْنَى،
Indeed! Surely the truth, had it been pure, there would have been no differing, and had the falsehood been pure, there would have been no fear about the one with the proof, but they take a fistful from this and a fistful from this, so they are mixed together. So that is where the Satan-la rules over his-la friends, and the ones for whom goodness has preceded from Allah-azwj escape from this.
إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَقُولُ: كَيْفَ أَنْتُمْ إِذَا أَلْبَسَتْكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ يَرْبُو فِيهَا الصَّغِيرُ، وَ يَهْرَمُ فِيهَا الْكَبِيرُ، يَجْرِي النَّاسُ عَلَيْهَا وَ يَتَّخِذُونَهَا سُنَّةً، فَإِذَا غُيِّرَ مِنْهَا شَيْءٌ قِيلَ: قَدْ غُيِّرَتِ السُّنَّةُ وَ أَتَى النَّاسُ مُنْكَراً.
I-asws heard Rasool-Allah-saww saying: ‘How will your condition be when you are clothed in ‘Fitna’ (strife) in which the young ones will grow older while the adults would become elderly. The people will flow towards it (fitna) and take it as a Sunnah. So if something is altered therein, they will say, ‘The Sunnah has been altered’, and the people would have become deniers.
ثُمَّ تَشْتَدُّ الْبَلِيَّةُ وَ تُسْبَى الذُّرِّيَّةُ وَ تَدُقُّهُمُ الْفِتْنَةُ كَمَا تَدُقُّ النَّارُ الْحَطَبَ، وَ كَمَا تَدُقُّ الرَّحَى بِثِفَالِهَا، وَ يَتَفَقَّهُونَ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ، وَ يَتَعَلَّمُونَ لِغَيْرِ الْعَمَلِ، وَ يَطْلُبُونَ الدُّنْيَا بِأَعْمَالِ الْآخِرَةِ.
Then the affliction would intensify, and the offspring would become captivated and the ‘Fitna’ (strife) would consume them just as the fire consumes the firewood, or just as the millstone grinds upon its lower base. And they would learn the Laws for the sake of other than Allah-azwj, and they would learn for the sake of other than doing good deeds, and they will be coveting the world instead of working for the Hereafter.
ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] بِوَجْهِهِ وَ حَوْلَهُ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ خَاصَّتِهِ وَ شِيعَتِهِ، فَقَالَ: قَدْ عَمِلَتِ الْوُلَاةُ قَبْلِي أَعْمَالًا خَالَفُوا فِيهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، مُتَعَمِّدِينَ لِخِلَافِهِ، نَاقِضِينَ لِعَهْدِهِ، مُغَيِّرِينَ لِسُنَّتِهِ،
Then he-asws turned his-asws face towards those from his-asws family and his-asws special ones and his-asws Shias who were around him-asws, so he-asws said: ‘The rulers before me-asws acted in opposition to Rasool-Allah-saww deliberately breaching the Covenant with him-saww and altering his-saww Sunnah.
وَ لَوْ حَمَلْتُ النَّاسَ عَلَى تَرْكِهَا وَ حَوَّلْتُهَا إِلَى مَوَاضِعِهَا وَ إِلَى مَا كَانَتْ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ لَتَفَرَّقَ عَنِّي جُنْدِي، حَتَّى أَبْقَى وَحْدِي أَوْ [مَعَ] قَلِيلٍ مِنْ شِيعَتِيَ الَّذِينَ عَرَفُوا فَضْلِي وَ فَرْضَ إِمَامَتِي مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ وَ سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ.
And if I-asws had burdened the people on avoiding it, and turned it back to its place and to what is used to be in the era of Rasool-Allah-saww, my-asws army would disperse from me-asws to the extent that there would remain only myself-asws or a few from my-asws Shias who recognise my-asws merits and Obligation of my-asws Imamate from the Book of Allah-azwj, Mighty is His-azwj Mention, and Sunnah of Rasool-Allah-saww.
أَ رَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَمَرْتُ بِمَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَرَدَدْتُهُ إِلَى الْمَوْضِعِ الَّذِي وَضَعَهُ فِيهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ رَدَدْتُ فَدَكَ إِلَى وَرَثَةِ فَاطِمَةَ عَلَيْهَا السَّلَامُ، وَ رَدَدْتُ صَاعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ كَمَا كَانَ، وَ أَمْضَيْتُ قَطَائِعَ أَقْطَعَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ لِأَقْوَامٍ لَمْ تُمْضَ لَهُمْ وَ لَمْ تُنْفَذْ،
Consider (what would happen) if I-asws were to order for the Maqaam e Ibrahim-as to be returned to its place where it was placed by Rasool-Allah-saww, and returned the (plantation of) Fadak to the inheritors of (Syeda) Fatima-asws, and returned to the ‘Sa’a’ (unit of measurement) to just as it was before, and execute the treaties which were made by Rasool-Allah-saww for the people, which were never executed nor were those ever established.
وَ رَدَدْتُ دَارَ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إِلَى وَرَثَتِهِ وَ هَدَمْتُهَا مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ، وَ رَدَدْتُ قَضَايَا مِنَ الْجَوْرِ قُضِيَ بِهَا، وَ نَزَعْتُ نِسَاءً تَحْتَ رِجَالٍ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ فَرَدَدْتُهُنَّ إِلَى أَزْوَاجِهِنَّ، وَ اسْتَقْبَلْتُ بِهِنَّ الْحُكْمَ فِي الْفُرُوجِ وَ الْأَحْكَامِ، وَ سَبَيْتُ ذَرَارِيَّ بَنِي تَغْلِبَ،
And return the house of Ja’far-as to his-as inheritors, and demolish it from the Masjid, and rescind the inequitable Judgements which were judged and remove the women who are under (married to) certain men without right and return them back to their husbands, and issue the order regarding the matrimony, and the orders regarding the captives of the clan of Taghlub;
وَ رَدَدْتُ مَا قُسِمَ مِنْ أَرْضِ خَيْبَرَ، وَ مَحَوْتُ دَوَاوِينَ الْعَطَايَا، وَ أَعْطَيْتُ كَمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يُعْطِي بِالسَّوِيَّةِ، وَ لَمْ أَجْعَلْهَا دُولَةً بَيْنَ الْأَغْنِياءِ، وَ أَلْقَيْتُ الْمِسَاحَةَ وَ سَوَّيْتُ بَيْنَ الْمَنَاكِحِ، وَ أَنْفَذْتُ خُمُسَ الرَّسُولِ كَمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ فَرَضَهُ،
And return what was distributed from the land of Khyber, and erase the register of gifts and give it out as Rasool-Allah-saww used to give it out in an equitable manner and not make it to be distributed between the rich, and drop Al-Musahaat (currency), and equalise between the marriages, and enforce the Khums of Rasool-Allah-saww just as it had been Commanded by Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic and make it to be obligatory.
وَ رَدَدْتُ مَسْجِدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ إِلَى مَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ، وَ سَدَدْتُ مَا فُتِحَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْأَبْوَابِ وَ فَتَحْتُ مَا سُدَّ مِنْهُ، وَ حَرَّمْتُ الْمَسْحَ عَلَى الْخُفَّيْنِ، وَ حَدَدْتُ عَلَى النَّبِيذِ، وَ أَمَرْتُ بِإِحْلَالِ الْمُتْعَتَيْنِ، وَ أَمَرْتُ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ عَلَى الْجَنَائِزِ خَمْسَ تَكْبِيرَاتٍ،
And return the Masjid of Rasool-Allah-saww to what it used to be, and shut what was in it from the doors, and open what has been closed in it, and prohibit the wiping (Masaah) upon the socks, and enforce the punishment upon the partaking of Al-Nabeedh (intoxicant), and make the two Mu’tah’s to be permissible, and order for the Takbeer over the dead body as five Takbeers;
وَ أَلْزَمْتُ النَّاسَ الْجَهْرَ بِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ*، وَ أَخْرَجْتُ مَنْ أُدْخِلَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فِي مَسْجِدِهِ مِمَّنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَخْرَجَهُ، وَ أَدْخَلْتُ مَنْ أُخْرِجَ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مِمَّنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَدْخَلَهُ،
And necessitate the people to recite ‘In the Name of Allah-azwj the Beneficent the Merciful’ aloud (in the Prayer), and throw out the one who has been included with Rasool-Allah-saww in his-saww Masjid the one whom Rasool-Allah-saww had thrown out, and enter the one who had been thrown out after Rasool-Allah-saww whom Rasool-Allah-saww had allowed him to enter;
وَ حَمَلْتُ النَّاسَ عَلَى حُكْمِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ عَلَى الطَّلَاقِ عَلَى السُّنَّةِ، وَ أَخَذْتُ الصَّدَقَاتِ عَلَى أَصْنَافِهَا وَ حُدُودِهَا، وَ رَدَدْتُ الْوُضُوءَ وَ الْغُسْلَ وَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَى مَوَاقِيتِهَا وَ شَرَائِعِهَا وَ مَوَاضِعِهَا، وَ رَدَدْتُ أَهْلَ نَجْرَانَ إِلَى مَوَاضِعِهِمْ، وَ رَدَدْتُ سَبَايَا فَارِسَ وَ سَائِرِ الْأُمَمِ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، إِذاً لَتَفَرَّقُوا عَنِّي.
And burden the people to the Commands of the Quran and upon the divorce to be in accordance with the Sunnah, and take the charities upon its types and its limits, and return the ablution and the (major) ablution and the Prayer to its prescribed times, and its laws and its places, and return the people of Najraan to their own places, and return the Persian captives, and the rest of the community to the Book of Allah-azwj and the Sunnah of its Prophet-saww, then they would disperse away from me-asws.
وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَمَرْتُ النَّاسَ أَنْ لَا يَجْتَمِعُوا فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ إِلَّا فِي فَرِيضَةٍ، وَ أَعْلَمْتُهُمْ أَنَّ اجْتِمَاعَهُمْ فِي النَّوَافِلِ بِدْعَةٌ، فَنَادَى بَعْضُ أَهْلِ عَسْكَرِي مِمَّنْ يُقَاتِلُ مَعِي: «يَا أَهْلَ الْإِسْلَامِ غُيِّرَتْ سُنَّةُ عُمَرَ، يَنْهَانَا عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ تَطَوُّعاً!». وَ لَقَدْ خِفْتُ أَنْ يَثُورُوا فِي نَاحِيَةِ جَانِبِ عَسْكَرِي!
By Allah-azwj, if I-asws were to order the people not to gather in the Month of Ramazan except for the obligatory (Salats) and make it known to them that their gathering for the optional Salats (Nawaafil) is an innovation. So some of the people in my-asws army would call out to the ones who are fighting alongside me-asws, ‘O people of Al-Islam! The Sunnah of Umar has been changed. He-asws is preventing us from the optional Salat in the Month of Ramazan (Taraweeh), and I-asws had feared that there would be a revolt in a section of my-asws army.
مَا لَقِيتُ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ مِنَ الْفُرْقَةِ وَ طَاعَةِ أَئِمَّةِ الضَّلَالَةِ وَ الدُّعَاةِ إِلَى النَّارِ! وَ [لَوْ] أَعْطَيْتُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ سَهْمَ ذِي الْقُرْبَى الَّذِي قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: إِنْ كُنْتُمْ آمَنْتُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَ ما أَنْزَلْنا عَلى عَبْدِنا يَوْمَ الْفُرْقانِ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعانِ
What will be meted out from this community from the sectarianism and the obedience to the imams of the misguidance and their calling to the Fire if I-asws were to give out from that the share of the near relatives about which Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Said: if you believe in Allah and in what We Revealed unto Our servant, on the Day of Distinction, the day on which the two parties met; [8:41].
فَنَحْنُ وَ اللَّهِ عَنَى بِذِي الْقُرْبَى الَّذِي قَرَنَنَا اللَّهُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَ بِرَسُولِهِ، فَقَالَ: فَلِلَّهِ وَ لِلرَّسُولِ وَ لِذِي الْقُرْبى وَ الْيَتامى وَ الْمَساكِينِ وَ ابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فِينَا [خ: مِنَّا] خَاصَّةً؛ كَيْ لا يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ الْأَغْنِياءِ مِنْكُمْ. وَ ما آتاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَ ما نَهاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا وَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ فِي ظُلْمِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقابِ لِمَنْ ظَلَمَهُمْ، رَحْمَةً مِنْهُ لَنَا، وَ غِنًى أَغْنَانَا اللَّهُ بِهِ
So we-asws are the ones Meant by the near relatives whom Allah-azwj has Joined with Himself-azwj and with His-azwj Rasool-saww. The Exalted Said: so it is for Allah and His Rasool, and for the near of kin, and the orphans, and the poor, and the travellers, so that it would not happen to be circulated between the rich ones from you. And whatever the Rasool gives you, so take it, and whatever he forbids you from, then refrain; and fear Allah, surely Allah is severe of the Punishment [59:7] to the one who is unjust to them-asws. (This is) a Mercy from Him-azwj to us-asws and a self-sufficiency by which Allah-azwj has Made us-asws to be self-sufficient with.
وَ وَصَّى بِهِ نَبِيَّهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لَنَا فِي سَهْمِ الصَّدَقَةِ نَصِيباً، أَكْرَمَ اللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ أَكْرَمَنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ أَنْ يُطْعِمَنَا مِنْ أَوْسَاخِ النَّاسِ،
And He-azwj Bequeathed for it to His-azwj Prophet-saww and did not Make for us-asws a share in the charity. Allah-azwj Honoured His-azwj Rasool-saww and Honoured us-asws the People-asws of the Household, that He-azwj should (not) Feed us-asws from the dirt of the people (charity).
فَكَذَّبُوا اللَّهَ وَ كَذَّبُوا رَسُولَهُ وَ جَحَدُوا كِتَابَ اللَّهِ النَّاطِقَ بِحَقِّنَا، وَ مَنَعُونَا فَرْضاً فَرَضَهُ اللَّهُ لَنَا. مَا لَقِيَ أَهْلُ بَيْتِ نَبِيٍّ مِنْ أُمَّتِهِ مَا لَقِيتُهُ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّنَا! وَ اللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعانُ عَلَى مَنْ ظَلَمَنَا، وَ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ!.
They belied Allah-azwj, and belied His-azwj Rasool-saww and fought against the Book of Allah-azwj which Speaks of our-asws rights, and prevented from us-asws the obligation which Allah-azwj has Obligated for us-asws. What have the People-asws of the Household of the Prophet-saww faced from his-saww community, been meted out to us-asws after our-asws Prophet-saww, and Allah-azwj is the Helper against the one who is unjust to us-asws, and there is no Might and no Power except by Allah-azwj the Exalted, the Magnificent’’.[112]
[979] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: لَوْ قَدِ اسْتَوَتْ قَدَمَايَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْمَدَاحِضِ لَغَيَّرْتُ أَشْيَاءَ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘He-asws said: ‘If I-asws had affirmed my-asws feet from these slippery (pitfalls), I-asws would change (some) things’’.[113]
[980] – كا: مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الْقُمِّيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ: مَرَّ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِرَجُلٍ يُصَلِّي الضُّحَى فِي مَسْجِدِ الْكُوفَةِ، فَغَمَزَ جَنْبَهُ بِالدِّرَّةِ وَ قَالَ: نَحَرْتَ صَلَاةَ الْأَوَّابِينَ نَحَرَكَ اللَّهُ؟ قَالَ: فَأَتْرُكُهَا! قَالَ: فَقَالَ: أَ رَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يَنْهى عَبْداً إِذا صَلَّى
(The book) ‘Al Kafi’ – Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Ismail Al Qummi, from Ali Bin Al Hakam, from Sayf Bin Ameyra, raising it, said,
‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws passed by a man praying the morning Salat in Masjid Al-Kufa. He-asws pressed his side by the whip and said: ‘You slaughtered the Salat of: the penitent [17:25], may Allah-azwj Slaughter you!’ He said, ‘So, shall I leave it?’ He-asws said: ‘Have you seen the one who forbids [96:9] A servant when he prays Salat? [96:10]’.
فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: وَ كَفَى بِإِنْكَارِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ نَهْياً.
Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘And it suffices by the denial of Ali-asws for its forbiddance’’.[114]
[981] – يب: عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْمَدَائِنِيِّ عَنْ مُصَدِّقِ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فِي [شَهْرِ] رَمَضَانَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ. قَالَ: لَمَّا قَدِمَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ الْكُوفَةَ أَمَرَ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ أَنْ يُنَادِيَ فِي النَّاسِ لَا صَلَاةَ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ جَمَاعَةً،
Ali Bin Al Husayn Bin Fazzal, from Ahmad Bin Al-Hassan, from Amro Bin Saeed Al Madainy, from Musaddiq Bin Sadaqah, from Ammar,
‘From Abu Abdullah-asws, he (the narrator) said, ‘I asked him-asws about the Salat during a month of Ramazan in the Masjids (Taraweeh). He-asws said: ‘When Amir Al-Momineen-asws arrived at Al-Kufa, he-asws instructed Al-Hassan-asws Bin Ali-asws to call out among the people: ‘There is no Salat during a month of Ramazan in the Masajids in congregation’ (Taraweeh).
فَنَادَى فِي النَّاسِ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بِمَا أَمَرَهُ بِهِ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ النَّاسُ مَقَالَةَ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، صَاحُوا وَا عُمَرَاهْ وَا عُمَرَاهْ.
So, Al-Hassan-asws Bin Ali-asws called out among the people with what he-asws had been instructed with. When the people heard the words of Al-Hassan-asws Bin Ali-asws, they shouted, ‘Waah Umar! Waah Umar!’
فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ لَهُ: مَا هَذَا الصَّوْتُ؟ فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ النَّاسُ يَصِيحُونَ وَا عُمَرَاهْ وَا عُمَرَاهْ فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ: قُلْ لَهُمْ: صَلُّوا.
When he-asws returned to Amir Al-Momineen-asws he-asws said to him-asws: ‘What are these voices?’ He-asws said: ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! They people are shouting, ‘Waah Umar! Waah Umar!’’ Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘Say to them, ‘Pray Salat!’’[115]
[982] – كِتَابُ الْغَارَاتِ لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الثَّقَفِيِّ: عَنْ مُخَوَّلِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ عَنْ شُرَيْحٍ قَالَ: بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَنْ أَقْضِيَ بِمَا كُنْتُ أَقْضِي [سَابِقاً] حَتَّى يَجْتَمِعَ أَمْرُ النَّاسِ.
Kitab Al Gharaat of Ibrahim Bin Muhammad Al Saqafi – From Mukhawal Bin Ibrahim, from Israil, from Aasim Bin Suleyman, from Muhammad Bin Sirreen, from Shureyh who said,
‘Ali-asws sent a message to me: ‘Judge with whatever you had been judging with previously until (such time as) the affairs of the people are united’’.[116]
[الباب الثالث و الثلاثون] باب نوادر ما وقع في أيّام خلافته عليه السلام و جوامع خطبه و نوادرها
CHAPTER 33 – MISCELLANEOUS CHAPTER OF WHAT OCCURRED DURING THE DAYS OF HIS-asws CALIPHATE AND A SUMMARY OF HIS-asws SERMONS AND ITS MISCELLANEOUS
[983] – كا: عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الْمُؤَدِّبُ عَنِ الْبَرْقِيِّ، وَ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ التَّيْمِيِّ، جَمِيعاً عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: خَطَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ النَّاسَ بِصِفِّينَ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَقَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لِي عَلَيْكُمْ حَقّاً بِوِلَايَةِ أَمْرِكُمْ وَ مَنْزِلَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْزَلَنِي اللَّهُ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ بِهَا مِنْكُمْ، وَ لَكُمْ عَلَيَّ مِنَ الْحَقِّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي لِي عَلَيْكُمْ،
(The book) ‘Al Kafi’ – Ali Bin Al-Hassan Al Muwaddib, from Al Barqy and Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ali Bin Al-Hassan Al Taymi, altogether from Ismail Bin Mihran, from Abdullah Bin Al Haris, from Jabir,
‘From Abu Ja’far-asws having said: ‘Amir-Al-Momineen-asws gave a sermon to the people at Siffeen, so he-asws Praised Allah-azwj and Extolled Him-azwj, and sent greetings upon the Prophet-saww, then said: ‘Having said that, Allah-azwj the Exalted has Made my-asws rights to be obligatory upon you all as the Master-asws of the Command (Wali-al-Amr) and my-asws status which Allah-azwj Revealed for you, and similarly you have rights upon me-asws as I-asws have upon you.
وَ الْحَقُّ أَجْمَلُ الْأَشْيَاءِ فِي التَّوَاصُفِ، وَ أَوْسَعُهَا فِي التَّنَاصُفِ، لَا يَجْرِي لِأَحَدٍ إِلَّا جَرَى عَلَيْهِ، وَ لَا يَجْرِي عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا جَرَى لَهُ، وَ لَوْ كَانَ لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يَجْرِيَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ وَ لَا يَجْرِيَ عَلَيْهِ لَكَانَ ذَلِكَ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَالِصاً دُونَ خَلْقِهِ، لِقُدْرَتِهِ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ، وَ لِعَدْلِهِ فِي كُلِّ مَا جَرَتْ عَلَيْهِ ضُرُوبُ [صُرُوفُ «خ»] قَضَائِهِ،
And the right is the most beautiful of the things in description; and most expansive in sharing. There is no other thing which is applied on one’s favour without being applied against him and it is not applied against him unless it is applied in his favour. The only one for whom it flows for and does not flow against is Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic only apart from His-azwj creatures, for He-azwj is Powerful over His-azwj servants, and His-azwj Justice regarding everything that He-azwj Judges.
وَ لَكِنْ جَعَلَ حَقَّهُ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ أَنْ يُطِيعُوهُ، وَ جَعَلَ كَفَّارَتَهُمْ عَلَيْهِ بِحُسْنِ الثَّوَابِ تَفَضُّلًا مِنْهُ [وَ تَطَوُّلًا بِكَرَمِهِ] وَ تَوَسُّعاً بِمَا هُوَ مِنَ الْمَزِيدِ لَهُ أَهْلًا.
But He-azwj Made His-azwj Rights upon the servants that they should be obedient to Him-azwj, and Made expiation against them by the good Rewards as Grace from Him-azwj, and the prolonged Generosity, and Expanding by increasing it for the one who is deserving of it.
ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنْ حُقُوقِهِ حُقُوقاً فَرَضَهَا لِبَعْضِ النَّاسِ عَلَى بَعْضٍ، فَجَعَلَهَا تَتَكَافَى فِي وُجُوهِهَا، وَ يُوجِبُ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضاً، وَ لَا يُسْتَوْجَبُ بَعْضُهَا إِلَّا بِبَعْضٍ.
Then He-azwj Made from His-azwj Rights, certain rights to be obligated for some people upon some other people. He-azwj Made it such that it obligates some of them for the others and does not obligate some except by the others.
فَأَعْظَمُ مِمَّا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى مِنْ تِلْكَ الْحُقُوقِ، حَقُّ الْوَالِي عَلَى الرَّعِيَّةِ وَ حَقُّ الرَّعِيَّةِ عَلَى الْوَالِي، فَرِيضَةٌ فَرَضَهَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِكُلٍّ عَلَى كُلٍّ، فَجَعَلَهَا نِظَامَ أُلْفَتِهِمْ، وَ عِزّاً لِدِينِهِمْ، وَ قِوَاماً لِسَيْرِ الْحَقِّ فِيهِمْ، فَلَيْسَتْ تَصْلُحُ الرَّعِيَّةُ إِلَّا بِصَلَاحِ الْوُلَاةِ، وَ لَا تَصْلُحُ الْوُلَاةُ إِلَّا بِاسْتِقَامَةِ الرَّعِيَّةِ.
The greatest of what Allah-azwj has Necessitated from these rights is the rights of the governor upon the citizens and the rights of the citizens upon the governor, an obligation which Allah-azwj has Obligated upon one and all. He-azwj has Made it to be a system for them and as strength for their Religion, and the establishment of the true Sunnah among them. The citizens will not be corrected except by the governor being correct, nor will the governor be correct except by the integrity of the citizens.
فَإِذَا أَدَّتِ الرَّعِيَّةُ إِلَى الْوَالِي حَقَّهُ وَ أَدَّى إِلَيْهَا الْوَالِي كَذَلِكَ، عَزَّ الْحَقُّ بَيْنَهُمْ، فَقَامَتْ مَنَاهِجُ الدِّينِ، وَ اعْتَدَلَتْ مَعَالِمُ الْعَدْلِ، وَ جَرَتْ عَلَى أَذْلَالِهَا السُّنَنُ، وَ صَلَحَ بِذَلِكَ الزَّمَانُ وَ طَابَ بِهَا الْعَيْشُ، وَ طُمِعَ فِي بَقَاءِ الدَّوْلَةِ، وَ يَئِسَتْ مَطَامِعُ الْأَعْدَاءِ.
If the citizens fulfil the rights to the governor and the governor fulfils their rights as well, the truth will be strengthened between them. The manifesto of the Religion would be established, and the landmarks of justice would find fairness, and the Sunnah would flow smoothly. That would make life prosperous, and they would yearn for the survival of the government, and the enemies would despair from their ambitions.
وَ إِذَا غَلَبَتِ الرَّعِيَّةُ عَلَى وَالِيهِمْ، وَ عَلَا الْوَالِي الرَّعِيَّةَ اخْتَلَفَتْ هُنَالِكَ الْكَلِمَةُ، وَ ظَهَرَتْ مَطَالِعُ الْجَوْرِ، وَ كَثُرَ الْإِدْغَالُ فِي الدِّينِ، وَ تُرِكَتْ مَعَالِمُ السُّنَنِ، فَعُمِلَ بِالْهَوَى، وَ عُطِّلَتِ الْآثَارُ وَ أُكْثِرَ عِلَلُ النُّفُوسِ، وَ لَا يُسْتَوْحَشُ لِجَسِيمِ حَدٍّ عُطِّلَ، وَ لَا لِعَظِيمِ بَاطِلٍ أُثِّلَ،
And if the citizens overcome the governor and the governor seeks to overcome them that are where the differences of speech emerge. The yearning of tyranny appears, and abundance of the lawlessness in the Religion, and the landmarks of the Sunnah are left. They act by the desires, effects vanish, and illnesses of the souls abound. There is no fear of the penalties for infringement of the Laws, nor does confronting the falsehood seem great.
فَهُنَالِكَ تَذِلُّ الْأَبْرَارُ وَ تَعِزُّ الْأَشْرَارُ وَ تَخْرَبُ الْبِلَادُ وَ تَعْظُمُ تَبِعَاتُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عِنْدَ الْعِبَادِ.
So that is where the humiliation of the righteous and the honour for the evil ones is, and the ruination of the cities, and the greater the consequences will be for the servants in the presence of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic.
فَهَلُمَّ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِلَى التَّعَاوُنِ عَلَى طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ، وَ الْقِيَامِ بِعَدْلِهِ وَ الْوَفَاءِ بِعَهْدِهِ، وَ الْإِنْصَافِ لَهُ فِي جَمِيعِ حَقِّهِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ الْعِبَادُ إِلَى شَيْءٍ أَحْوَجَ مِنْهُمْ إِلَى التَّنَاصُحِ فِي ذَلِكَ وَ حُسْنِ التَّعَاوُنِ عَلَيْهِ، وَ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ وَ إِنِ اشْتَدَّتْ عَلَى رِضَا اللَّهِ حِرْصُهُ وَ طَالَ فِي الْعَمَلِ اجْتِهَادُهُ، بِبَالِغٍ حَقِيقَةَ مَا أَعْطَى اللَّهُ مِنَ الْحَقِّ أَهْلَهُ،
So come, O you people, to the co-operation to the obedience to Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, and the establishment by His-azwj Justice, and the loyalty to His-azwj Covenant, and the fairness to Him-azwj is all of His-azwj Rights, for there is nothing more needed for the servants than for advising with regards to that, and the beautiful co-operation to Him-azwj, and there is no one who intensifies his passion for striving for the Pleasure of Allah-azwj to be able to reach its deserving point of fulfilling the Rights to Allah-azwj.
وَ لَكِنْ مِنْ وَاجِبِ حُقُوقِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ النَّصِيحَةُ لَهُ بِمَبْلَغِ جُهْدِهِمْ، وَ التَّعَاوُنُ عَلَى إِقَامَةِ الْحَقِّ بَيْنَهُمْ.
But, from the obligatory Rights of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, upon the servants is the advice to each other with maximum efforts, and the co-operation upon the establishment of the truth among them.
وَ لَيْسَ امْرُؤٌ وَ إِنْ عَظُمَتْ فِي الْحَقِّ مَنْزِلَتُهُ وَ جَسُمَتْ فِي الْحَقِّ فَضِيلَتُهُ بِمُسْتَغْنٍ عَنْ أَنْ يُعَاوِنَ عَلَى مَا حَمَّلَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ حَقِّهِ، وَ لَا امْرُؤٌ مَعَ ذَلِكَ خَسَأَتْ بِهِ الْأُمُورُ وَ اقْتَحَمَتْهُ الْعُيُونُ بِدُونِ مَا أَنْ يُعِينَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَ يُعَانَ عَلَيْهِ، وَ أَهْلُ الْفَضِيلَةِ فِي الْحَالِ وَ أَهْلُ النِّعَمِ الْعِظَامِ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ حَاجَةً، وَ كُلٌّ فِي الْحَاجَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ شَرَعٌ سَوَاءٌ.
Then there is person, no matter how great his status regarding the truth, how magnified his preference regarding the truth is, would not be needless from the co-operation upon what Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Burdened him with from His-azwj Rights. And there is no person, no matter how low he is in the affairs, and the eyes are looking down upon him, can remain without being helped upon or given support. And the people of the merits and the people of the Favours are more frequently in need of that, and everyone is in need of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic equally’.
فَأَجَابَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ عَسْكَرِهِ لَا يُدْرَى مَنْ هُوَ، وَ يُقَالُ: إِنَّهُ لَمْ يُرَ فِي عَسْكَرِهِ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَ لَا بَعْدَهُ، فَقَامَ وَ أَحْسَنَ الثَّنَاءَ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِمَا أَبْلَاهُمْ وَ أَعْطَاهُمْ مِنْ وَاجِبِ حَقِّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَ الْإِقْرَارِ [لَهُ] بِمَا ذَكَرَ مِنْ تَصَرُّفِ الْحَالاتِ بِهِ وَ بِهِمْ.
A man from his-asws army answered him-asws. No one knew who he was and it is said that he had never been seen in his-asws army before that day, nor was he seen after it. He stood up and beautifully Extolled Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic by what the afflictions He-azwj had Placed upon them, and His-azwj Favours from the Obligation of His-azwj rights against them, and accepted all what had been mentioned of the changing conditions with him-asws and with them.
ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَنْتَ أَمِيرُنَا وَ نَحْنُ رَعِيَّتُكَ، بِكَ أَخْرَجَنَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنَ الذُّلِّ، وَ بِإِعْزَازِكَ أَطْلَقَ عِبَادَهُ مِنَ الْغُلِ، فَاخْتَرْ عَلَيْنَا فَأَمْضِ اخْتِيَارَكَ، وَ ائْتَمِرْ فَأَمْضِ ائْتِمَارَكَ، فَإِنَّكَ الْقَائِدُ الْمُصَدَّقُ، وَ الْحَاكِمُ الْمُوَفَّقُ، وَ الْمَلِكُ الْمُخَوَّلُ، لَا نَسْتَحِلُّ فِي شَيْءٍ مَعْصِيَتَكَ، وَ لَا نَقِيسُ عِلْماً بِعِلْمِكَ، يَعْظُمُ عِنْدَنَا فِي ذَلِكَ خَطَرُكَ، وَ يَجِلُّ عَنْهُ فِي أَنْفُسِنَا فَضْلُكَ.
Then said, ‘You-asws are our Commander, and we are your-asws citizens. It is by you-asws that Allah-azwj Brought us out of the humiliation and it is by your-asws strength that He-azwj Freed His-azwj servant from the chains. So choose for us, and we will go by your-asws choice, and make a plan and we would go by your-asws plan, for you-asws are a truthful speaker, and the successful ruler, and the authorised king. It is not permissible for us to disobey you-asws in anything, nor do we compare our knowledge with your-asws knowledge. You-asws are great in regard to that choice, in our eyes, and your-asws virtues are majestic within us’.
فَأَجَابَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ:] إِنَّ مِنْ حَقِّ مَنْ عَظُمَ جَلَالُ اللَّهِ فِي نَفْسِهِ، وَ جَلَّ مَوْضِعُهُ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ، أَنْ يَصْغُرَ عِنْدَهُ لِعِظَمِ ذَلِكَ كُلُّ مَا سِوَاهُ، وَ إِنَّ أَحَقَّ مَنْ كَانَ كَذَلِكَ لَمَنْ عَظُمَتْ نِعَمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَطُفَ إِحْسَانُهُ إِلَيْهِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ تَعْظُمْ نِعَمُ اللَّهِ عَلَى أَحَدٍ إِلَّا زَادَ حَقُّ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ عِظَماً.
Amir-Al-Momineen-asws answered him saying: ‘It is from the Rights that the one who Magnifies the Majesty of Allah-azwj within himself and exalts His-azwj position in his heart, everything else would seem little to him. And the one most deserving to be like that is the one to whom the Bounties of Allah-azwj are great as well as His-azwj Kind Favours to him, for no one would magnify the Bounties of Allah-azwj except that the Rights of Allah-azwj Increase upon him.
وَ إِنَّ مِنْ أَسْخَفِ حَالاتِ الْوُلَاةِ عِنْدَ صَالِحِ النَّاسِ أَنْ يُظَنَّ بِهِمْ حُبُّ الْفَخْرِ، وَ يُوضَعَ أَمْرُهُمْ عَلَى الْكِبْرِ. وَ قَدْ كَرِهْتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ جَالَ فِي ظَنِّكُمْ أَنِّي أُحِبُ الْإِطْرَاءَ وَ اسْتِمَاعَ الثَّنَاءِ، وَ لَسْتُ بِحَمْدِ اللَّهِ كَذَلِكَ،
And the lowest of the conditions of the governor in the presence of the righteous people is when he thinks of the love for pride and bases his affairs upon the arrogance, and I-asws did not like to become lost in your thoughts that I-asws would love the praise and listening to the praise. And I-asws am not like that. Thanks be to Allah-azwj.
وَ لَوْ كُنْتُ أُحِبُّ أَنْ يُقَالَ ذَلِكَ [لِي] لَتَرَكْتُهُ انْحِطَاطاً لِلَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ عَنْ تَنَاوُلِ مَا هُوَ أَحَقُّ بِهِ مِنَ الْعَظَمَةِ وَ الْكِبْرِيَاءِ، وَ رُبَّمَا اسْتُحْلِيَ الثَّنَاءُ بَعْدَ الْبَلَاءِ، فَلَا تُثْنُوا عَلَيَّ بِجَمِيلِ ثَنَاءٍ؛ لِإِخْرَاجِي نَفْسِي إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الْبَقِيَّةِ فِي حُقُوقٍ لَمْ أَفْرُغْ مِنْ أَدَائِهَا، وَ فَرَائِضَ لَا بُدَّ مِنْ إِمْضَائِهَا،
And had I-asws loved what you said, I-asws would have abandoned it due to it lowering me-asws for the Sake of Allah-azwj that I-asws should take to magnificence and greatness when He-azwj is more deserving of it. Maybe the people consider it sweet to be praised after the affliction. So do not praise me-asws with beautiful praises as it may take my-asws soul out from being for the Sake of Allah-azwj, and the remainder of the rights which I-asws have yet to fulfil and the obligations which there is no escape from performing these.
فَلَا تُكَلِّمُونِي بِمَا تُكَلَّمُ بِهِ الْجَبَابِرَةُ، وَ لَا تَتَحَفَّظُوا مِنِّي بِمَا يُتَحَفَّظُ بِهِ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْبَادِرَةِ، وَ لَا تُخَالِطُونِي بِالْمُصَانَعَةِ، وَ لَا تَظُنُّوا بِي اسْتِثْقَالًا فِي حَقٍّ قِيلَ لِي، وَ لَا الْتِمَاسَ إِعْظَامٍ لِنَفْسِي، فَإِنَّهُ مَنِ اسْتَثْقَلَ الْحَقَّ أَنْ يُقَالَ لَهُ أَوِ الْعَدْلَ أَنْ يُعْرَضَ عَلَيْهِ، كَانَ الْعَمَلُ بِهِمَا أَثْقَلَ عَلَيْهِ.
So, do not speak to me-asws as you speak to the tyrants, and do not have reservations from me-asws like you have reservations in the presence of the unresponsive people, and do not flatter me-asws, and do not think that I-asws consider it heavy regarding the right which is said to me-asws, or that I-asws seek self-greatness, for it is not correct for me-asws. The one who considers the rights to be a burden if they are told to him, or the justice if it is presented to him, it would become heavier for him to act in accordance with these two.
فَلَا تَكُفُّوا عَنْ مَقَالَةٍ بِحَقٍّ أَوْ مَشُورَةٍ بِعَدْلٍ، فَإِنِّي لَسْتُ فِي نَفْسِي بِفَوْقِ أَنْ أُخْطِئَ، وَ لَا آمَنُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ فِعْلِي، إِلَّا أَنْ يَكْفِيَ اللَّهُ مِنْ نَفْسِي مَا هُوَ أَمْلَكُ بِهِ مِنِّي، فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا وَ أَنْتُمْ عَبِيدٌ مَمْلُوكُونَ لِرَبٍّ لَا رَبَّ غَيْرُهُ، يَمْلِكُ مِنَّا مَا لَا نَمْلِكُ مِنْ أَنْفُسِنَا، وَ أَخْرَجَنَا مِمَّا كُنَّا فِيهِ إِلَى مَا صَلَحْنَا عَلَيْهِ، فَأَبْدَلَنَا بَعْدَ الضَّلَالَةِ بِالْهُدَى وَ أَعْطَانَا الْبَصِيرَةَ بَعْدَ الْعَمَى.
So do not withhold from me-asws speaking about the rights, or consultation with justice, for I-asws not, with regards to myself-asws, above mistakes, nor do I-asws feel secure from that in my-asws deeds except if Allah-azwj Suffices for myself-asws in matter which He-azwj has more Control over than what I-asws have. But rather, I-asws and you all are servants, belonging to the Lord-azwj. There is no lord apart from Him-azwj. He-azwj Owns us what we do not own ourselves, and Took us out from what we used to be in to be in a situation which was correct for us. He-azwj Protected us after straying, by the Guidance. He-azwj Gave us the vision after the blindness.
فَأَجَابَهُ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي أَجَابَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ، فَقَالَ: أَنْتَ أَهْلُ مَا قُلْتَ، وَ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ مَا قُلْتَهُ، فَبَلَاؤُهُ عِنْدَنَا مَا لَا يُكْفَرُ، وَ قَدْ حَمَّلَكَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى رِعَايَتَنَا، وَ وَلَّاكَ سِيَاسَةَ أُمُورِنَا،
The man who answered him-asws before, answered him-asws, ‘By Allah-azwj, you-asws are deserving of what I said. By Allah-azwj, you-asws are more deserving than what I said, for His-azwj Favours are such that we cannot deny, and Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted has Burdened you-asws with our citizens, and the Guardianship of our political affairs.
فَأَصْبَحْتَ عَلَمَنَا الَّذِي نَهْتَدِي بِهِ، وَ إِمَامَنَا الَّذِي نَقْتَدِي بِهِ، وَ أَمْرُكَ كُلُّهُ رُشْدٌ، وَ قَوْلُكَ كُلُّهُ أَدَبٌ. قَدْ قَرَّتْ بِكَ فِي الْحَيَاةِ أَعْيُنُنَا، وَ امْتَلَأَتْ مِنْ سُرُورٍ بِكَ قُلُوبُنَا، وَ تَحَيَّرَتْ مِنْ صِفَةِ مَا فِيكَ مِنْ بَارِعِ الْفَضْلِ عُقُولُنَا،
Thus, you-asws have become (a representative of) our knowledge with which we can be guided by, and our Imam-asws whom we follow, and every matter of yours-asws is guidance, and every word of yours-asws is educational. Our eyes have found delight with you-asws in our lives, and our hearts are filled with bliss by you-asws, and we are amazed at the qualities, which are within you-asws and our intellects are at a loss to describe.
وَ لَسْنَا نَقُولُ لَكَ: أَيُّهَا الْإِمَامُ الصَّالِحُ تَزْكِيَةً لَكَ، وَ لَا تَجَاوُزَ الْقَصْدِ فِي الثَّنَاءِ عَلَيْكَ، وَ لَنْ يُكَنَّ فِي أَنْفُسِنَا طَعْنٌ عَلَى يَقِينِكَ، أَوْ غِشٌّ فِي دِينِكَ فَنَتَخَوَّفَ أَنْ تَكُونَ أَحْدَثْتَ بِنِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى تَجَبُّراً، أَوْ دَخَلَكَ كِبْرٌ، وَ لَكِنَّا نَقُولُ لَكَ مَا قُلْنَا تَقَرُّباً إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِتَوْقِيرِكَ، وَ تَوَسُّعاً بِتَفْضِيلِكَ، وَ شُكْراً بِإِعْظَامِ أَمْرِكَ،
We are not saying to you-asws, ‘O you-asws righteous Imam-asws as a purification for you-asws, nor are we exaggerating in our intentions regarding our praising you-asws. And we are not becoming critical of your-asws conviction, or the purity of your-asws Religion, so we have no fear that you-asws would innovate by the Bounties of Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted, or be tyrannical, or that arrogance should enter you-asws, but we are saying to you-asws what we said in order to be closer to Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic by revering you-asws, and Enhancing your-asws merits, and appreciate the greatness of your-asws command.
فَانْظُرْ لِنَفْسِكَ وَ لَنَا وَ آثِرْ أَمْرَ اللَّهِ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ وَ عَلَيْنَا، فَنَحْنُ طُوَّعٌ فِيمَا أَمَرْتَنَا، نَنْقَادُ مِنَ الْأُمُورِ مَعَ ذَلِكَ فِيمَا يَنْفَعُنَا.
So consider yourself-asws and us, and give preference to the Command of Allah-azwj over yourself-asws and over us, for we are obedient with regards to whatever you-asws order us for, and we submit to the commands along with that regarding what is beneficial for us’.
فَأَجَابَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ: وَ أَنَا أَسْتَشْهِدُكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَلَى نَفْسِي لِعِلْمِكُمْ فِيمَا وُلِّيتُ بِهِ مِنْ أُمُورِكُمْ، وَ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ يَجْمَعُنِي وَ إِيَّاكُمُ الْمَوْقِفُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ، وَ السُّؤَالُ عَمَّا كُنَّا فِيهِ، ثُمَّ يَشْهَدُ بَعْضُنَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ، فَلَا تَشْهَدُوا الْيَوْمَ بِخِلَافِ مَا أَنْتُمْ شَاهِدُونَ غَداً، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَا يَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ خَافِيَةٌ، وَ لَا يَجُوزُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا مُنَاصَحَةُ الصُّدُورِ فِي جَمِيعِ الْأُمُورِ.
Amir-Al-Momineen-asws answered him, so he-asws said: ‘And I-asws am binding you in the Presence of Allah-azwj to myself-asws for your knowing that I-asws am the guardian for your matters, for very shortly you will be gathered with me-asws. And I-asws warn you of the Pausing in front of Him-azwj, and the Questioning about what we were in, then some of us will testify against the others, so do not testify today against what you will be testifying tomorrow, for there is nothing hidden from Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, nor is it permitted in His-azwj Presence except for the good advice of the chests in all of the matters’.
فَأَجَابَهُ الرَّجُلُ وَ يُقَالُ: لَمْ يُرَ الرَّجُلُ بَعْدَ كَلَامِهِ هَذَا لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَأَجَابَهُ، وَ قَدْ عَالَ الَّذِي فِي صَدْرِهِ فَقَالَ وَ الْبُكَاءُ يَقْطَعُ مَنْطِقَهُ، وَ غُصَصُ الشَّجَا تَكْسِرُ صَوْتَهُ إِعْظَاماً لِخَطَرِ مَرْزِئَتِهِ وَ وَحْشَتِهِ مِنْ كَوْنِ
The man answered him-asws, and it was said that the man was never seen again after this speech of his to Amir-Al-Momineen-asws, and he was bursting with emotion in his chest, and he-asws spoke, and wailed which cut off his speech, and was anxious and choking, breaking his voice, being at the verge of collapse.
فَجِيعَتِهِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ شَكَا إِلَيْهِ هَوْلَ مَا أَشْفَى عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْخَطَرِ الْعَظِيمِ وَ الذُّلِّ الطَّوِيلِ فِي فَسَادِ زَمَانِهِ وَ انْقِلَابِ حَدِّهِ وَ انْقِطَاعِ مَا كَانَ مِنْ دَوْلَتِهِ،
He Praised Allah-azwj and Extolled Him-azwj, then complained to Him-azwj of the horrors of what he had been cured of, from the great dangers, and the prolonged humiliation regarding the mischief to take place during his-asws era, and the rebellions against him-asws and the cutting off of what was from his-asws government.
ثُمَّ نَصَبَ الْمَسْأَلَةَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِالامْتِنَانِ عَلَيْهِ وَ الْمُدَافَعَةِ عَنْهُ بِالتَّفَجُّعِ وَ حُسْنِ الثَّنَاءِ فَقَالَ: يَا رَبَّانِيَّ الْعِبَادِ وَ يَا سَكَنَ الْبِلَادِ! أَيْنَ يَقَعُ قَوْلُنَا مِنْ فَضْلِكَ! وَ أَيْنَ يَبْلُغُ وَصْفُنَا مِنْ فِعْلِكَ! وَ أَنَّى نَبْلُغُ حَقِيقَةَ حُسْنِ ثَنَائِكَ أَوْ نُحْصِي جَمِيلَ بَلَائِكَ! وَ كَيْفَ وَ بِكَ جَرَتْ نِعَمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا، وَ عَلَى يَدِكَ اتَّصَلَتْ أَسْبَابُ الْخَيْرِ إِلَيْنَا؟
Then he implored the matter to Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic of the Bestowing of Favours on him-asws, and the Dispelling (dangers) from him-asws, and then Extolled Him-azwj in a goodly manner. He said, ‘O Lord-azwj of the servants, and O Giver of tranquillity to the cities! How can we speak of Your-azwj Grace, and how can we reach Your-azwj Attributes from Your-azwj Actions, and for me to reach the reality of the beauty of Your-azwj Praise, or count the beauty of Your-azwj Favours. So how can we, and it is due to you-asws that the Bounties of Allah-azwj have flowed towards us, and it is upon your-asws hands that the causes of the good have arrived to us.
أَ لَمْ تَكُنْ لِذُلِّ الذَّلِيلِ مَلَاذاً وَ لِلْعُصَاةِ الْكُفَّارِ إِخْوَاناً؟ فَبِمَنْ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ وَ بِكَ أَخْرَجَنَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ فَظَاعَةِ تِلْكَ الْخَطَرَاتِ، أَوْ بِمَنْ فَرَّجَ عَنَّا غَمَرَاتِ الْكُرُبَاتِ! أَوْ بِمَنْ إِلَّا بِكُمْ أَظْهَرَ اللَّهُ مَعَالِمَ دِينِنَا وَ اسْتَصْلَحَ مَا كَانَ فَسَدَ مِنْ دُنْيَانَا، حَتَّى اسْتَبَانَ بَعْدَ الْجَوْرِ ذِكْرُنَا،
Did you-asws not become a sanctuary for the lowest of the low, and a saviour for the disobedient infidels? So by whom, except for the People-asws of your-asws Household, and by you-asws that Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Took us out from horrors of those dangers, and by whom did He-azwj Rescue us from the thrones of distress, and by whom except by you-asws did Allah-azwj Make apparent the landmarks of our Religion, and Corrected what was spoilt from our Religion until we came to be mentioned, after the tyranny.
وَ قَرَّتْ مِنْ رَخَاءِ الْعَيْشِ أَعْيُنُنَا لِمَا وَلِيتَنَا بِالْإِحْسَانِ جَهْدَكَ، وَ وَفَيْتَ لَنَا بِجَمِيعِ عَهْدِكَ، فَكُنْتَ شَاهِدَ مَنْ غَابَ مِنَّا وَ خَلَفَ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ لَنَا،
And our eyes were delighted with a prosperous life when you-asws became our Guardian as a favour to us, and you-asws struggled and fulfilled to us all of your-asws promises, and stood by all of your-asws oaths to us.
وَ كُنْتَ عِزَّ ضَعَائِفِنَا وَ ثِمَالَ فُقَرَائِنَا وَ عِمَادَ عُظَمَائِنَا، يَجْمَعُنَا مِنَ الْأُمُورِ عَدْلُكَ، وَ يَتَّسِعُ لَنَا فِي الْحَقِّ تَأَنِّيكَ، فَكُنْتَ لَنَا أُنْساً إِذَا رَأَيْنَاكَ، وَ سَكَناً إِذَا ذَكَرْنَاكَ. فَأَيَّ الْخَيْرَاتِ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ! وَ أَيَّ الصَّالِحَاتِ لَمْ تَعْمَلْ!
You-asws were a witness for the ones who were absent from us, and a successor of the People-asws of the Household for us. And you-asws were the strength of our weak ones, and the wealth of our poor ones, and a pillar for our great ones. It was your-asws justice that brought us together in the matters, and accommodated us regarding the truth by your-asws patience. You-asws were, for us a familiarity if we saw you-asws, and tranquillity whenever we mentioned you-asws. So which is the good deed, which you-asws did not perform, and which is the righteous deeds which you-asws did not act upon?
وَ لَوْ أَنَّ الْأَمْرَ الَّذِي نَخَافُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْهُ يَبْلُغُ تَحْرِيكَهُ جُهْدُنَا وَ تَقْوَى لِمُدَافَعَتِهِ طَاقَتُنَا، أَوْ يَجُوزُ الْفِدَاءُ عَنْكَ عَنْهُ بِأَنْفُسِنَا وَ بِمَنْ نَفْدِيهِ النُّفُوسَ مِنْ أَبْنَائِنَا، لَقَدَّمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَ أَبْنَاءَنَا قِبَلَكَ، وَ لَأَخْطَرْنَاهَا وَ قَلَّ خَطَرُهَا دُونَكَ، وَ لَقُمْنَا بِجُهْدِنَا فِي مُحَاوَلَةِ مَنْ حَاوَلَكَ، وَ فِي مُدَافَعَةِ مَنْ نَاوَاكَ؛
And had it not been for the matter which we fear for you-asws from it reaching you, which our efforts could change, and our strengths could defend you-asws from it, we would be permitted to sacrifice ourselves for your-asws defence, and repulse it from you-asws by ourselves and our sons, and we would put ourselves and our sons before you-asws. And we would make this choice, and reduce its danger from you-asws, and we would stand in our efforts in an attempt to defend you-asws from your-asws enemies.
وَ لَكِنَّهُ سُلْطَانٌ لَا يُحَاوَلُ، وَ عِزٌّ لَا يُزَاوَلُ، وَ رَبٌّ لَا يُغَالَبُ، فَإِنْ يَمْنُنْ عَلَيْنَا بِعَافِيَتِكَ، وَ يَتَرَحَّمْ عَلَيْنَا بِبَقَائِكَ، وَ يَتَحَنَّنْ عَلَيْنَا بِتَفْرِيجِ هَذَا مِنْ حَالِكَ إِلَى سَلَامَةٍ مِنْكَ لَنَا وَ بَقَاءٍ مِنْكَ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِنَا، نُحَدِّثِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِذَلِكَ شُكْراً نُعَظِّمُهُ، وَ ذِكْراً نُدِيمُهُ، وَ نَقْسِمْ أَنْصَافَ أَمْوَالِنَا صَدَقَاتٍ، وَ أَنْصَافَ رَقِيقِنَا عُتَقَاءَ، وَ نُحْدِثْ لَهُ تَوَاضُعاً فِي أَنْفُسِنَا، وَ نَخْشَعْ فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِنَا.
But He-azwj is an Authority, which cannot be stopped, and a Strength which cannot decline, and a Lord-azwj Who cannot be overcome. If He-azwj was to Bestow a Favour to us by Bestowing upon you-asws good health, and be Merciful towards us by Keeping you-asws alive, and be Compassionate to us by Relieving you-asws of these difficulties from your-asws situation to Keep you-asws safe for us, and remain with us in front of us, we would narrate appreciation to Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic for that, and Magnify Him-azwj, and Mention Him-azwj constantly, and distribute half of our wealth as charity, and free half of our slaves, and narrate to Him-azwj with humbleness in ourselves, and be submissive in all of our affairs.
وَ إِنْ يَمْضِ بِكَ إِلَى الْجِنَانِ، وَ يُجْرِي عَلَيْكَ حَتْمَ سَبِيلِهِ، فَغَيْرُ مُتَّهَمٍ فِيكَ قَضَاؤُهُ، وَ لَا مَدْفُوعٍ عَنْكَ بَلَاؤُهُ، وَ لَا مُخْتَلِفَةٍ مَعَ ذَلِكَ قُلُوبُنَا بِأَنَّ اخْتِيَارَهُ لَكَ مَا عِنْدَهُ عَلَى مَا كُنْتَ فِيهِ، وَ لَكِنَّا نَبْكِي مِنْ غَيْرِ إِثْمٍ لِعِزِّ هَذَا السُّلْطَانِ أَنْ يَعُودَ ذَلِيلًا، وَ لِلدِّينِ وَ الدُّنْيَا أَكِيلًا، فَلَا نَرَى لَكَ خَلَفاً نَشْكُو إِلَيْهِ، وَ لَا نَظِيراً نَأْمُلُهُ وَ لَا نُقِيمُهُ.
And when He-azwj Takes you-asws to the Gardens, and Makes to Flow for you-asws that which is inevitable, so no one would be able to change that which He-azwj has Ordained, nor repulse from you-asws His-azwj Favours, nor will our hearts be opposed to that for that which He-azwj has Chosen for you-asws of what is with Him-azwj over what you-asws used to be in. But, we would weep if this authority (government) were to return back to humiliation, and for the Religion and the world to be consumed and we do not see for you-asws a successor we can take our complaints to, nor a similar government we can have hope in establishing it’’.[117]
[984] – كا: عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، جَمِيعاً عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ وَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ التَّيْمِيِّ، وَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، جَمِيعاً عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنِ الْمُنْذِرِ بْنِ جَيْفَرٍ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ ظُهَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ حَرِيزٍ الْعَبْدِيِّ. عَنِ الْأَصْبَغِ بْنِ نُبَاتَةَ قَالَ: أَتَى أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ وَ وَلَدُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَ سَعْدُ بْنُ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ يَطْلُبُونَ مِنْهُ التَّفْضِيلَ لَهُمْ، فَصَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ وَ مَالَ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ
(The book) ‘Al Kafi’ – Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, and Muhammad Bin Ali, together from Ismail Bin Mahran, and Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Ahmad, from Ali Bin Al-hassan Al-Taymi, and Ali Bin Al-Husayn, from Ahmad Bin muhammad Bin Khalid, together from Ismail Bin Mahran, from Al-Munzar Bin Jayfar, from Al-Hakam Bin Zaheer, from Abdullah Bin Jareer Al-Abdy, from Al-Asbagh Bin Nubata who said:
‘There came to Amir-Al-Momineen-asws, Abdullah Bin Umar and a son of Abu Bakr, and Sa’d bin Abu Waqqas, seeking from him-asws the preferential treatment for themselves. He-asws ascended the Pulpit, and the people turned their attention towards him-asws.
فَقَالَ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلِيِّ الْحَمْدِ وَ مُنْتَهَى الْكَرَمِ، لَا تُدْرِكُهُ الصِّفَاتُ وَ لَا يُحَدُّ بِاللُّغَاتِ وَ لَا يُعْرَفُ بِالْغَايَاتِ. وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهُ نَبِيُّ الْهُدَى وَ مَوْضِعُ التَّقْوَى وَ رَسُولُ الرَّبِّ الْأَعْلَى، جَاءَ بِالْحَقِّ مِنْ عِنْدِ الْحَقِّ لِيُنْذِرَ بِالْقُرْآنِ الْمُبِينِ وَ الْبُرْهَانِ الْمُسْتَنِيرِ فَصَدَعَ بِالْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ وَ مَضَى عَلَى مَا مَضَتْ عَلَيْهِ الرُّسُلُ الْأَوَّلُونَ.
He-asws said: ‘The Praise is due to Allah-azwj to Whom belongs all Praise, and Who is extremely Generous. The descriptions do not fathom Him-azwj nor is He-azwj limited by the languages, nor can He-azwj be understood by the wildest imaginations. And I-asws testify that there is no god except Allah-azwj, One with no associates to Him-azwj, and that Muhammad-saww is Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj, a Prophet-saww of Guidance and a place for the piety, and a Messenger-saww of the Highest Lord-azwj who-saww came with the Truth from the Presence of the Truth, to warn by the Enlightening Quran and the Illuminating Proof. He-saww declared by the Manifest Book and passed away upon what the former Messengers-as had passed away.
أَمَّا بَعْدُ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! فَلَا تَقُولَنَّ رِجَالٌ قَدْ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا غَمَرَتْهُمْ فَاتَّخَذُوا الْعَقَارَ وَ فَجَّرُوا الْأَنْهَارَ وَ رَكِبُوا أَفْرَهَ الدَّوَابِّ وَ لَبِسُوا أَلْيَنَ الثِّيَابِ؛ فَصَارَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَاراً وَ شَنَاراً إِنْ لَمْ يَغْفِرْ لَهُمُ الْغَفَّارُ إِذَا مَنَعْتُهُمْ مَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخُوضُونَ، وَ صَيَّرْتُهُمْ إِلَى مَا يَسْتَوْجِبُونَ فَيَفْقِدُونَ ذَلِكَ فَيَسْأَلُونَ: «ظَلَمَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَ حَرَمَنَا وَ مَنَعَنَا حُقُوقَنَا».
Having said that, O you people! Do not speak of the men who were immersed in the world, and acquired properties, and made canals to flow, and rode plenty of animals, and clothed themselves with soft clothing, for that would became a source of shame and ignominy for them if the Forgiver does not Forgive them. If I-asws were to prevent them from what they used to be in (affluent lifestyle) and take them to what is necessary for them, they would lose all that and they would be saying that the son-asws of Abu Talib-asws has been unjust to us and has prohibited us and prevented us from our rights.
فَاللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ. مَنِ اسْتَقْبَلَ قِبْلَتَنَا وَ أَكَلَ ذَبِيحَتَنَا وَ آمَنَ بِنَبِيِّنَا وَ شَهِدَ شَهَادَتَنَا وَ دَخَلَ فِي دِينِنَا، أَجْرَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ حُكْمَ الْقُرْآنِ بِحُدُودِ الْإِسْلَامِ، لَيْسَ لِأَحَدٍ عَلَى أَحَدٍ فَضْلٌ إِلَّا بِالتَّقْوَى. أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَفْضَلَ الثَّوَابِ وَ أَحْسَنَ الْجَزَاءِ وَ الْمَآبِ، لَمْ يَجْعَلِ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى الدُّنْيَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ثَوَاباً، وَ ما عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِلْأَبْرارِ
Allah-azwj is the Helper against the one who (Prays) in our direction (Qiblah), and eats the animals slaughtered by us, and believes by our Prophet-saww, and testifies to what we testify, and enters our Religion, we-asws will apply upon him the Judgements of the Quran, and the Limits of Al-Islam. There is no preference for anyone over anyone else except by the piety. Indeed! The pious ones have the highest Rewards in the Presence of Allah-azwj the Exalted, and the best Recompense and the Return. Allah-azwj did not Make the world to be for the pious ones as a form of Reward, and what is in the Presence of Allah-azwj is better for the righteous.
انْظُرُوا أَهْلَ دِينِ اللَّهِ! فِيمَا أَصَبْتُمْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ، وَ تَرَكْتُمْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ وَ جَاهَدْتُمْ بِهِ فِي ذَاتِ اللَّهِ، أَ بِحَسَبٍ أَمْ بِنَسَبٍ؟ أَمْ بِعَمَلٍ أَمْ بِطَاعَةٍ أَمْ زَهَادَةٍ؟ وَ فِيمَا أَصْبَحْتُمْ فِيهِ رَاغِبِينَ.
People of the religion of Allah-azwj! Consider what you find in the Book of Allah-azwj and what you leave in the presence of the Rasool-Allah-saww and what you have been striving by for the Sake of Allah-azwj, either by nobility, or by lineage, or by deeds, or by obedience, or devotion, and regarding what you were interested in.
فَسَارِعُوا إِلَى مَنَازِلِكُمْ رَحِمَكُمُ اللَّهُ، الَّتِي أُمِرْتُمْ بِعِمَارَتِهَا الْعَامِرَةِ الَّتِي لَا تَخْرَبُ وَ الْبَاقِيَةِ الَّتِي لَا تَنْفَدُ، الَّتِي دَعَاكُمُ [اللَّهُ] إِلَيْهَا وَ حَضَّكُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَ رَغَّبَكُمْ فِيهَا، وَ جَعَلَ الثَّوَابَ عِنْدَهُ عَنْهَا.
So rush to your destinations, may Allah-azwj have mercy upon you, which you have been Commanded to construct. Assets, which will not spoil and will remain, and will not diminish. The dwellings to which you have received invitations for, and are being encouraged to acquire, and recommended to be interested in, and the Rewards are Made to be in His-azwj Presence.
فَاسْتَتِمُّوا نِعَمَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ بِالتَّسْلِيمِ لِقَضَائِهِ، وَ الشُّكْرِ عَلَى نَعْمَائِهِ، فَمَنْ لَمْ يَرْضَ بِهَذَا فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا وَ لَا إِلَيْنَا، وَ إِنَّ الْحَاكِمَ يَحْكُمُ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ لَا خَشْيَةَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، أُولئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ وَ فِي نُسْخَةٍ [مِنْ كِتَابِ الْكَافِي] «وَ لَا وَحْشَةَ وَ أُولَئِكَ لا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ لا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ».
Seek the completion of the Bounties of Allah-azwj by the submission to His-azwj Judgement, and the appreciation for His-azwj Favours. The one, who is unhappy with this, is not from us-asws, nor is he to us-asws. The rulers who judge by the Judgement of Allah-azwj, without being anxious from that, those are the successful ones’. (And in another copy): ‘They are not anxious, and those are the ones who have no fear upon them, nor shall they grieve’).
وَ قَالَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ:] وَ قَدْ عَاتَبْتُكُمْ بِدِرَّتِيَ الَّتِي أُعَاتِبُ بِهَا أَهْلِي فَلَمْ تُبَالُوا، وَ ضَرَبْتُكُمْ بِسَوْطِيَ الَّذِي أُقِيمُ بِهِ حُدُودَ رَبِّي فَلَمْ تَرْعَوُوا، أَ تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ أَضْرِبَكُمْ بِسَيْفِي؟ أَمَا إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ الَّذِي تُرِيدُونَ وَ يُقِيمُ أَوَدَكُمْ، وَ لَكِنْ لَا أَشْرِي صَلَاحَكُمْ بِفَسَادِ نَفْسِي،
And he-asws said: ‘And I-asws will discipline you with my-asws whip which I discipline my-asws family with, so do not worry, and I-asws will be striking you by my whip by which I-asws establish the Limits of my-asws Lord-azwj. Do not be scared. Do you want that I-asws should strike you by my-asws sword? But rather, I-asws am more knowing of that which you want, and how to straighten your unevenness. But, I-asws will not buy your correction in exchange for spoiling myself-asws.
بَلْ يُسَلِّطُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ قَوْماً فَيَنْتَقِمُ لِي مِنْكُمْ، فَلَا دُنْيَا اسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِهَا وَ لَا آخِرَةَ صِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهَا، فَبُعْداً وَ سُحْقاً لِأَصْحابِ السَّعِيرِ.
However, Allah-azwj will Make a people to overcome you and will extract my-asws Revenge from you all. So you will have no world that you can enjoy in, and no Hereafter that you can look forward to. Thus, remote and crushed are the companions of the blazing Fire’’.[118]
[985] – كِتَابُ الْغَارَاتِ لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الثَّقَفِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ [أَبِي] سَيْفٍ [الْمَدَائِنِيِ] عَنْ أَبِي حُبَابٍ عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ وَ عُمَارَةَ قَالا: إِنَّ طَائِفَةً مِنْ أَصْحَابِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مَشَوْا إِلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعْطِ هَذِهِ الْأَمْوَالَ وَ فَضِّلْ هَؤُلَاءِ الْأَشْرَافَ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ وَ قُرَيْشٍ عَلَى الْمَوَالِي وَ الْعَجَمِ وَ مَنْ تَخَافُ خِلَافَهُ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ فِرَارَهُ
Kitab Al Gharaat of Ibrahim Bin Muhammad Al Saqafi, from Muhammad Bin Abdullah Bin usman, from Ali Bin AbuSayf Al Madainy, from Abu Hubab, from Rabie and Umarah who both said,
‘A group from the companions of Ali-asws walked to him-asws and they said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Give this wealth and give preference to these nobles from the Arabs and Quraysh over the slaves and the non-Arabs and ones from the people whose opposition and fleeing you-asws fear’.
قَالَ: وَ إِنَّمَا قَالُوا لَهُ ذَلِكَ لِلَّذِي كَانَ مُعَاوِيَةُ يَصْنَعُ بِمَنْ أَتَاهُ
He (the narrator) said, ‘And rather they had said that to him-asws for the one who had gone to Muawiya and he had given him.
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَ تَأْمُرُونِّي أَنْ أَطْلُبَ النَّصْرَ بِالْجَوْرِ؟! وَ اللَّهِ لَا أَفْعَلُ مَا طَلَعَتْ شَمْسٌ وَ مَا لَاحَ فِي السَّمَاءِ نَجْمٌ، وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ كَانَ مَالُهُمْ لِي لَوَاسَيْتُ بَيْنَهُمْ، فَكَيْفَ وَ مَا هِيَ إِلَّا أَمْوَالُهُمْ؟!
Ali-asws said to them: ‘Are you instructing me that I-asws seek the help through the tyranny?! By Allah-azwj! I-asws will not do so for as long as the sun emerges and for as long are stars are shining in the sky! By Allah-azwj! If their wealth was for me-asws, I-asws would have sympathized between them, so how can it be and it is not except their own wealth?!
قَالَ: ثُمَّ أَزَمَ طَوِيلًا سَاكِناً ثُمَّ قَالَ: مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ مَالٌ فَإِيَّاهُ وَ الْفَسَادَ! فَإِنَّ إِعْطَاءَ الْمَالِ فِي غَيْرِ حَقِّهِ تَبْذِيرٌ وَ إِسْرَافٌ، وَ هُوَ ذِكْرٌ لِصَاحِبِهِ فِي النَّاسِ وَ يَضَعُهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ، وَ لَمْ يَضَعْ رَجُلٌ مَالَهُ فِي غَيْرِ حَقِّهِ وَ عِنْدَ غَيْرِ أَهْلِهِ إِلَّا حَرَمَهُ اللَّهُ شُكْرَهُمْ وَ كَانَ لِغَيْرِهِ وُدُّهُمْ،
He (the narrator) said, ‘Then he-asws was silent for a long while, then said: ‘One who had wealth for him, so it is him and the mischief! Surely, giving his the wealth in other than his right would be a wasting and extravagance, and it is a mention (subject of discussion) for its taker among the people, and it will be a lowering in the Presence of Allah-azwj, and a person who will not place his wealth in other than its right (way) and with other than its rightful ones except Allah-azwj would Deprive him of their thanks, and their love would be for someone else.
فَإِنْ بَقِيَ مَعَهُ مَنْ يَوَدُّهُ وَ يُظْهِرُ لَهُ الْبِشْرَ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ مَلَقٌ وَ كَذِبٌ، وَ إِنَّمَا يَنْوِي أَنْ يَنَالَ مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ مِثْلَ الَّذِي كَانَ يَأْتِي إِلَيْهِ مِنْ قَبْلُ، فَإِنْ زَلَّتْ بِصَاحِبِهِ النَّعْلُ فَاحْتَاجَ إِلَى مَعُونَتِهِ وَ مُكَافَأَتِهِ فَشَرُّ خَلِيلٍ وَ أَلْأَمُ خَدِينٍ.
So, if there does remain someone with him who loves him and manifests the smile to him, he would be an adulator and a liar, and rather his intention would be to take something from his companion like the one who used to come to him before. If the slipper of his companion slips, and he is needy to his assistance and suffice him, he will be the worst friend and (just) puff his cheeks.
وَ مَنْ صَنَعَ الْمَعْرُوفَ فِيمَا آتَاهُ اللَّهُ، فَلْيَصِلْ بِهِ الْقَرَابَةَ، وَ لْيُحْسِنْ فِيهِ الضِّيَافَةَ، وَ لْيَفُكَّ بِهِ الْعَانِيَ، وَ لْيُعِنْ بِهِ الْغَارِمَ وَ ابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَ الْفُقَرَاءَ وَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَ لْيُصَبِّرْ نَفْسَهُ عَلَى النَّوَائِبِ وَ الْخُطُوبِ فَإِنَّ الْفَوْزَ بِهَذِهِ الْخِصَالِ شَرَفُ مَكَارِمِ الدُّنْيَا وَ دَرْكُ فَضَائِلِ الْآخِرَةِ.
And one who does the act of kindness in what Allah-azwj has Given him, let him help the relatives with it, and let him be good to the guests with it, and let him free the captive with it, and let him assist the one in debt, and the traveller, and the poor, and the emigrants, and let he himself be patient upon the rewards and the rights, for the success with these characteristics is an honourable nobility of the world and a level of the merits of the Hereafter’’.[119]
[986] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي خُطْبَةٍ [لَهُ]: فَأَيْنَ يُتَاهُ بِكُمْ؟! بَلْ كَيْفَ تَعْمَهُونَ وَ بَيْنَكُمْ عِتْرَةُ نَبِيِّكُمْ؟! وَ هُمْ أَزِمَّةُ الْحَقِّ وَ أَلْسِنَةُ الصِّدْقِ، فَأَنْزِلُوهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَنَازِلِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ رِدُوهُمْ وُرُودَ الْهِيمِ الْعِطَاشِ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘So where are you going? [81:26]?! But, How are you then being deluded? [6:95], and between you is your Prophet-saww and family-asws of your Prophet-saww?! And they-asws are the signposts of the truth and tongues of truthfulness, so accord them-asws the status with the excellent status of the Quran and return to them-asws like the returning of the thirsty camels.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! خُذُوهَا مِنْ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ إِنَّهُ يَمُوتُ مَنْ يَمُوتُ مِنَّا وَ لَيْسَ بِمَيِّتٍ وَ يَبْلَى مَنْ بَلِيَ مِنَّا وَ لَيْسَ بِبَالٍ، فَلَا تَقُولُوا بِمَا لَا تَعْرِفُونَ، فَإِنَّ أَكْثَرَ الْحَقِّ فِيمَا تُنْكِرُونَ، وَ اعْذِرُوا مَنْ لَا حُجَّةَ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَ أَنَا هُوَ،
O you people! Take it from the last of the Prophets-saww: ‘He is dying, one from us-asws who dies and he-asws isn’t dead, and he is decaying, the one from us-asws who decays, and he doesn’t decay’. So, do not be saying you do not know, for most of the truth is in what you are denying, and excuse the one there is no argument for you upon him, and I-asws am he.
أَ لَمْ أَعْمَلْ فِيكُمْ بِالثَّقَلِ الْأَكْبَرِ وَ أَتْرُكْ فِيكُمُ الثَّقَلَ الْأَصْغَرَ؟ وَ رَكَزْتُ فِيكُمْ رَايَةَ الْإِيمَانِ، وَ وَقَفْتُكُمْ عَلَى حُدُودِ الْحَلَالِ وَ الْحَرَامِ، وَ أَلْبَسْتُكُمُ الْعَافِيَةَ مِنْ عَدْلِي، وَ فَرَشْتُكُمُ الْمَعْرُوفَ مِنْ قَوْلِي وَ فِعْلِي، وَ أَرَيْتُكُمْ كَرَائِمَ الْأَخْلَاقِ مِنْ نَفْسِي؟ فَلَا تَسْتَعْمِلُوا الرَّأْيَ فِيمَا لَا يُدْرِكُ قَعْرَهُ الْبَصَرُ، وَ لَا يَتَغَلْغَلُ إِلَيْهِ الْفِكْرُ.
Did I-asws not work among you with the bigger heavy thing (Quran) and left among you the smaller (weighty thing – People-asws of the Household)? And I-asws fastened among you the flag of Eman, and harmonised you upon the limits of the Permissible(s) and the Prohibitions, and clothed you in well-being from my-asws justice, and furnished you with the kindness from my-asws words and my-asws deed, and showed you the honourable manners from myself-asws? So, do not utilise the opinion in what you cannot realise its depths of the insight, nor can the thoughts (are) unable to penetrate’’.[120]
[987] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ:] وَ لَقَدْ أَحْسَنْتُ جِوَارَكُمْ، وَ أَحَطْتُ بِجُهْدِي مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ، وَ أَعْتَقْتُكُمْ مِنْ رِبَقِ الذُّلِّ وَ حَلَقِ الضَّيْمِ، شُكْراً مِنِّي لِلْبِرِّ الْقَلِيلِ، وَ إِطْرَاقاً عَمَّا أَدْرَكَهُ الْبَصَرُ وَ شَهِدَهُ الْبَدَنُ مِنَ الْمُنْكَرِ الْكَثِيرِ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah)’ –
‘And from a speech of his-asws: ‘And I-asws have been good in your vicinity and I-asws encompassed by my-asws striving from behind you, and I-asws liberated you from the noose of disgrace and fetters of oppression, thanking from me-asws for the little righteousness (from you), and overlooking from what my-asws sights realised and the body witnessed of a lot of evil’’.[121]
[988] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: اتَّخَذُوا الشَّيْطَانَ لِأَمْرِهِمْ مِلَاكاً، وَ اتَّخَذَهُمْ لَهُ أَشْرَاكاً، فَبَاضَ وَ فَرَّخَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ، وَ دَبَّ وَ دَرَجَ فِي حُجُورِهِمْ، فَنَظَرَ بِأَعْيُنِهِمْ وَ نَطَقَ بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ، فَرَكِبَ بِهِمُ الزَّلَلَ، وَ زَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الْخَطَلَ، فِعْلَ مَنْ قَدْ شَرِكَهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ، وَ نَطَقَ بِالْبَاطِلِ عَلَى لِسَانِهِ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah)’ –
‘From a sermon of his-asws: ‘They are taking the Satan-la as a king for their affairs, and he-la is taking them as partners for him-la. He-la lays eggs which hatch in their chests, and he-la creeps and crawls in their laps. He-la looks through their eyes and speak through their tongues. So, he-la rides them on the errors and adorns the foul-mouthed-ness for them, a deed of the one whom the Satan-la has associated him in his-la authority and speak with the falsehood upon his tongue’’.[122]
[989] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ]: فِي الْمَلَاحِمِ: أَلَا بِأَبِي وَ أُمِّي مِنْ عِدَّةٍ أَسْمَاؤُهُمْ فِي السَّمَاءِ مَعْرُوفَةٌ وَ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَجْهُولَةٌ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah)’ –
‘And from a sermon of his-asws regarding the future events: ‘Indeed! By my-asws father-as and my-asws mother-as (be sacrificed for) the ones whose names in the sky are well-known and in the earth are unknown.
أَلَا فَتَوَقَّعُوا مَا يَكُونُ مِنْ إِدْبَارِ أُمُورِكُمْ وَ انْقِطَاعِ وُصَلِكُمْ، وَ اسْتِعْمَالِ صِغَارِكُمْ ذَاكَ، حَيْثُ تَكُونُ ضَرْبَةُ السَّيْفِ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ أَهْوَنَ مِنَ الدِّرْهَمِ مِنْ حِلِّهِ. ذَاكَ حَيْثُ يَكُونُ الْمُعْطَى أَعْظَمَ أَجْراً مِنَ الْمُعْطِي. ذَاكَ حَيْثُ تَسْكَرُونَ مِنْ غَيْرِ شَرَابٍ بَلْ مِنَ النِّعْمَةِ وَ النَّعِيمِ!
Indeed! Anticipate what would be happening from the turning back (termination) of your affairs, and the cutting off of your connections, and utilising your young ones for that, when a strike of the sword upon the Momin would be easier than (earning) the Dirham (one cent) from Permissible means. That would be when the Reward of the beggar would be greater than the giver. That would be when you will be intoxicated from other than a drink, but from bounties and plenty!
وَ تَحْلِفُونَ مِنْ غَيْرِ اضْطِرَارٍ وَ تَكْذِبُونَ مِنْ غَيْرِ إِحْرَاجٍ. ذَاكَ إِذَا عَضَّكُمُ الْبَلَاءُ كَمَا يَعَضُّ الْقَتَبُ غَارِبَ الْبَعِيرِ. مَا أَطْوَلَ هَذَا الْعَنَاءَ وَ أَبْعَدَ هَذَا الرَّجَاءَ!
And you will be swearing from without any desperation and lying without any embarrassment. That would be when the afflictions would bite you just as the saddle hurts the wild camel. How prolonged will these tribulations be and how remote would be this relief!
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! أَلْقُوا هَذِهِ الْأَزِمَّةَ الَّتِي تَحْمِلُ ظُهُورُهَا الْأَثْقَالَ مِنْ أَيْدِيكُمْ، وَ لَا تَصَدَّعُوا عَلَى سُلْطَانِكُمْ فَتَذُمُّوا غِبَّ فِعَالِكُمْ، وَ لَا تَقْتَحِمُوا مَا اسْتَقْبَلْتُمْ مِنْ فَوْرِ نَارِ الْفِتْنَةِ، وَ أَمِيطُوا عَنْ سَنَنِهَا وَ خَلُّوا قَصْدَ السَّبِيلِ لَهَا، فَقَدْ لَعَمْرِي يَهْلِكُ فِي لَهَبِهَا الْمُؤْمِنُ وَ يَسْلَمُ فِيهَا غَيْرُ الْمُسْلِمِ.
O you people! Cast off these reins which are carrying on its back the load from your hands (sins). Do not split away from your ruling authority for you will condemn the stupidity of your own deeds, not storm into what is facing you from the bursting flames of Fitna and take yourself away from its teeth and vacate the way for it, so by my-asws life! The Momin would be destroyed in its flames and other Muslims would be safe in it.
إِنَّمَا مَثَلِي بَيْنَكُمْ كَمَثَلِ السِّرَاجِ فِي الظُّلْمَةِ، يَسْتَضِيءُ بِهِ مَنْ وَلَجَهَا، فَاسْمَعُوا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ وَ عُوا وَ أَحْضِرُوا آذَانَ قُلُوبِكُمْ تَفْهَمُوا!.
But rather, my-asws example among you is an example of the lamp in the darkness. One who enters it would be illuminated by it, therefore listen, O you people, and retain, and present the ears of your hearts, you will understand!!’’[123]
[990] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ:] الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ النَّاشِرِ فِي الْخَلْقِ فَضْلَهُ، وَ الْبَاسِطِ فِيهِمْ بِالْجُودِ يَدَهُ، نَحْمَدُهُ فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِهِ، وَ نَسْتَعِينُهُ عَلَى رِعَايَةِ حُقُوقِهِ، وَ نَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ،
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah)’ –
‘And from a sermon of his-asws: ‘The Praise is for Allah-azwj the Spreader of His-azwj Grace among the creatures, and the Extender among them of His-azwj Hand with the generosity. We praise Him-azwj regarding the entirety of His-azwj matters and we seek His-azwj Help upon taking care of His-azwj Rights, and we testify that there is no god apart from Him-azwj.
وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ أَرْسَلَهُ بِأَمْرِهِ صَادِعاً وَ بِذِكْرِهِ نَاطِقاً، فَأَدَّى أَمِيناً وَ مَضَى رَشِيداً وَ خَلَّفَ فِينَا رَايَةَ الْحَقِّ، مَنْ تَقَدَّمَهَا مَرَقَ وَ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا زَهَقَ، وَ مَنْ لَزِمَهَا لَحِقَ.
And that Muhammad-saww is His-azwj servant and His-azwj Rasool-saww. He-azwj Sent him-saww as a proclaimer of His-azwj Commands and a speaker of His-azwj Mention. He-saww fulfilled trustworthily and passed away being rightfully guided, and left behind among us the flag of truth. One who precedes it deviates, and one who stays behind from it is obliterated, and one who sticks to it catches up.
دَلِيلُهَا مَكِيثُ الْكَلَامِ بَطِيءُ الْقِيَامِ سَرِيعٌ إِذَا قَامَ، فَإِذَا أَنْتُمْ أَلَنْتُمْ لَهُ رِقَابَكُمْ وَ أَشَرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ بِأَصَابِعِكُمْ جَاءَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَذَهَبَ بِهِ، فَلَبِثْتُمْ بَعْدَهُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ حَتَّى يُطْلِعَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ مَنْ يَجْمَعُكُمْ وَ يَضُمُّ نَشْرَكُمْ.
Its guide is short of speech, slow to stand, quick when he-asws does rise. When you incline your necks towards him-asws and indicate to him-asws with your fingers, the death would come to him-asws and go away with him-asws. You will remain after him-asws for as long as Allah-azwj so Desires, until Allah-azwj would Send to you one-asws who would unite you and collect your spread out ones.
فَلَا تَطْمَعُوا فِي غَيْرِ مُقْبِلٍ، وَ لَا تَيْأَسُوا مِنْ مُدْبِرٍ، فَإِنَّ الْمُدْبِرَ عَسَى أَنْ تَزِلَّ إِحْدَى قَائِمَتَيْهِ وَ تَثْبُتَ الْأُخْرَى فَتَرْجِعَا حَتَّى تَثْبُتَا جَمِيعاً.
Do not be eager regarding one who is not coming, nor despair from the one turning around, for the one turning around, perhaps one of his feet has slipped and the other one is firm, so he would return until they are both affirmed.
أَلَا وَ إِنَّ مَثَلَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ كَمَثَلِ نُجُومِ السَّمَاءِ إِذَا خَوَى نَجْمٌ طَلَعَ نَجْمٌ، فَكَأَنَّكُمْ قَدْ تَكَامَلَتْ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِيكُمُ الصَّنَائِعُ، وَ أَرَاكُمْ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَأْمُلُونَ.
Indeed! And an example of the Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww is like an example of stars of the sky. When a star goes down, a star emerges. It is as if you have been completed of the Makings from Allah-azwj regarding you, and He-azwj has Shown you what you used to wish for’’.[124]
[991] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَيُّهَا الْغَافِلُونَ غَيْرُ الْمَغْفُولِ عَنْهُمْ، وَ التَّارِكُونَ الْمَأْخُوذُ مِنْهُمْ! مَا لِي أَرَاكُمْ عَنِ اللَّهِ ذَاهِبِينَ وَ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ رَاغِبِينَ؟! كَأَنَّكُمْ نَعَمٌ أَرَاحَ بِهَا سَائِمٌ إِلَى مَرْعًى وَبِيءٍ وَ مَشْرَبٍ دَوِيٍّ، [وَ] إِنَّمَا هُوَ كَالْمَعْلُوفَةِ لِلْمُدَى، لَا تَعْرِفُ مَا ذَا يُرَادُ بِهَا، إِذَا أُحْسِنَ إِلَيْهَا تَحْسَبُ يَوْمَهَا دَهْرَهَا وَ شِبَعَهَا أَمْرَهَا.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah)’ –
‘From a sermon of his-asws: ‘O you heedless ones not being heedless from, and the neglecters, the ones to be Seized from them! What is the matter with me-asws I-asws see you all going away from Allah-azwj and are being desirous to someone else? It is as if you are cattle being pastured taken to a disease ridden pasture and a sickly watering place, and rather it is like the one fed for the slaughter not knowing what is being intended with it. When good is being done to it, it reckons its day as being its whole life and its satiation as its (main) affair.
وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ شِئْتُ أَنْ أُخْبِرَ كُلَّ رَجُلٍ مِنْكُمْ بِمَخْرَجِهِ وَ مَوْلَجِهِ وَ جَمِيعِ شَأْنِهِ لَفَعَلْتُ! وَ لَكِنْ أَخَافُ أَنْ تَكْفُرُوا فِيَّ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، أَلَا وَ إِنِّي مُفْضِيهِ إِلَى الْخَاصَّةِ مِمَّنْ يُؤْمَنُ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ.
By Allah-azwj! If I-asws so desire, to inform every man from you with his exit (death) and his entry (what he will do), and the entirety of his matters, I-asws can do so! But, I-asws fear that you will disbelieve in me-asws with Rasool-Allah-saww. Indeed! And I-asws shall divulge it to the special one, from the ones who will believe that to be from him-saww.
وَ الَّذِي بَعَثَهُ بِالْحَقِّ وَ اصْطَفَاهُ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ، مَا أَنْطِقُ إِلَّا صَادِقاً، وَ لَقَدْ عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ بِذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ وَ بِمَهْلِكِ مَنْ يَهْلِكُ وَ مَنْجَى مَنْ يَنْجُو وَ مَآلِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ، وَ مَا أُبْقِيَ شَيْئاً يَمُرُّ عَلَى رَأْسِي إِلَّا أَفْرَغَهُ فِي أُذُنَيَّ وَ أَفْضَى بِهِ إِلَيَّ.
By the One-azwj Who Sent him-saww with the truth and Chose him-asws over the creatures! I-asws do not speak except true matters, and he-saww pacted to me-asws with that, all of it, and with the destruction of the one who will be destroyed, and salvation of the one who will attain salvation, and the inclining of this command, and there did not remain anything passing over my-asws head except it was poured into my-asws ears and he-saww divulged it to me-asws.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! وَ اللَّهِ لَا أَحُثُّكُمْ عَلَى طَاعَةٍ إِلَّا وَ أَسْبِقُكُمْ إِلَيْهَا، وَ لَا أَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْ مَعْصِيَةٍ إِلَّا وَ أَتَنَاهَى قَبْلَكُمْ عَنْهَا.
O you people! By Allah-azwj! I-asws do not urge you upon obedience except and I-asws precede you all to it, nor do I-asws forbid you from an act of disobedience except and I-asws say away from it before you do’’.[125]
[992] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ يَقْرَأُ كِتَاباً وَ لَا يَدَّعِي نُبُوَّةً وَ لَا وَحْياً، فَقَاتَلَ بِمَنْ أَطَاعَهُ مَنْ عَصَاهُ، يَسُوقُهُمْ إِلَى مَنْجَاتِهِمْ، وَ يُبَادِرُ بِهِمُ السَّاعَةَ أَنْ تَنْزِلَ بِهِمْ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah)’ –
‘From a sermon of his-asws: ‘As for after, Surely Allah-azwj the Glorious Sent Muhammad-saww and there wasn’t anyone from the Arabs who had read any (Divine) Book, nor claimed Prophet-hood nor any Revelation. He-saww with the ones who obeyed him-saww against the ones who disobeyed him-saww, ushering them to their salvation, and rushing with them lest the Hour (death) may descend with them.
يَحْسِرُ الْحَسِيرُ وَ يَقِفُ الْكَسِيرُ فَيُقِيمُ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يُلْحِقَهُ غَايَتَهُ، إِلَّا هَالِكاً لَا خَيْرَ فِيهِ، حَتَّى أَرَاهُمْ مَنْجَاتَهُمْ، وَ بَوَّأَهُمْ مَحَلَّتَهُمْ، فَاسْتَدَارَتْ رَحَاهُمْ، وَ اسْتَقَامَتْ قَنَاتُهُمْ.
The tired one would sigh and the distressed one would stop, so he-saww would stand to him until he-saww made him join up to his peak, except a destroyed one, there being no good in him, until he-saww had shown them their salvation, had taken them to their places. Their mill turned (time passed) and their channels (affairs) were straightened.
وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ كُنْتُ مِنْ سَاقَتِهَا حَتَّى تَوَلَّتْ بِحَذَافِيرِهَا، وَ اسْتَوْسَقَتْ فِي قِيَادِهَا، مَا ضَعُفْتُ وَ لَا جَبُنْتُ، وَ لَا خُنْتُ وَ لَا وَهَنْتُ.
And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! I-asws used to be from its ushers until I-asws was in charge of its entirety, and I-asws systemised in guiding it. I-asws neither weakened, nor showed any cowardice, nor betrayed, nor was I-asws feeble.
وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَأَبْقُرَنَّ الْبَاطِلَ حَتَّى أُخْرِجَ الْحَقَّ مِنْ خَاصِرَتِهِ.
And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! I-asws will cleave asunder the falsehood until I-asws extract the truth from its sides’’.[126]
[993] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ:] تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عُلِّمْتُ تَبْلِيغَ الرِّسَالاتِ وَ إِتْمَامَ الْعِدَاتِ وَ تَمَامَ الْكَلِمَاتِ، وَ عِنْدَنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ أَبْوَابُ الْحُكْمِ وَ ضِيَاءُ الْأَمْرِ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘From a speech of his-asws: ‘By Allah-azwj! I-asws have learnt delivery of the Messages, and completion of promises, and the complete phrases, and with us-asws, People-asws of the Household, there are doors of wisdom and illumination of the matters.
أَلَا وَ إِنَّ شَرَائِعَ الدِّينِ وَاحِدَةٌ، وَ سُبُلَهُ قَاصِدَةٌ، مَنْ أَخَذَ بِهَا لَحِقَ وَ غَنِمَ، وَ مَنْ وَقَفَ عَنْهَا ضَلَّ وَ نَدِمَ.
Indeed! And surely the laws of religion are one, and its ways are moderate. One who takes by these would catch up and achieve, and one who pauses away from it would stray and regret.
اعْمَلُوا لِيَوْمٍ تُذْخَرُ لَهُ الذَّخَائِرُ، وَ تُبْلَى فِيهِ السَّرَائِرُ، وَ مَنْ لَا يَنْفَعُهُ حَاضِرُ لُبِّهِ فَعَازِبُهُ عَنْهُ أَعْجَزُ وَ غَائِبُهُ أَعْوَزُ. وَ اتَّقُوا نَاراً حَرُّهَا شَدِيدٌ، وَ قَعْرُهَا بَعِيدٌ وَ حِلْيَتُهَا حَدِيدٌ وَ شَرَابُهَا صَدِيدٌ.
Work for a day the provisions are being stored for it, and the secrets would be Tested, and one who is not benefit by his present understanding and distances away from it, would be more frustrated and his absent (understanding) would be even more remote. Fear a Fire, the heat of it is severe, and its bottom is remote, and its clothes are iron, and its drink is pus.
أَلَا وَ إِنَّ اللِّسَانَ الصَّالِحَ يَجْعَلُهُ اللَّهُ لِلْمَرْءِ فِي النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنَ الْمَالِ يُورِثُهُ مَنْ لَا يَحْمَدُهُ.
Indeed! And the righteous reputation Allah-azwj Makes it to be for the person among the people, is better for him that the wealth inherited by the one who will not praise him’’.[127]
[994] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَتِهِ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] الْمَعْرُوفَةِ بِالْقَاصِعَةِ: أَلَا وَ إِنَّكُمْ قَدْ نَفَضْتُمْ أَيْدِيَكُمْ مِنْ حَبْلِ الطَّاعَةِ، وَ ثَلَمْتُمْ حِصْنَ اللَّهِ الْمَضْرُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِأَحْكَامِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ،
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘And from a sermon of his-asws well-known as ‘The disparagement’: ‘Indeed! And you have shaken off your hands from the rope of obedience, and cracked a fortress of Allah-azwj which had been struck upon you by your pre-Islamic period rulings.
وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ قَدِ امْتَنَّ عَلَى جَمَاعَةِ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ فِيمَا عَقَدَ بَيْنَهُمْ مِنْ حَبْلِ هَذِهِ الْأُلْفَةِ الَّتِي يَنْتَقِلُونَ فِي ظِلِّهَا وَ يَأْوُونَ إِلَى كَنَفِهَا، بِنِعْمَةٍ لَا يَعْرِفُ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ لَهَا قِيمَةً؛ لِأَنَّهَا أَرْجَحُ مِنْ كُلِّ ثَمَنٍ وَ أَجَلُّ مِنْ كُلِّ خَطَرٍ.
And Allah-azwj the Glorious has Conferred upon a group of this community regarding what they have tied between them a rope of this affection which they are moving in its shade and are sheltering to its patronage through a bounty no one from the creatures is recognising a value for it, because it is more outweighing that every price and more majestic that every occurrence in the mind.
وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ قَدْ صِرْتُمْ بَعْدَ الْهِجْرَةِ أَعْرَاباً، وَ بَعْدَ الْمُوَالاةِ أَحْزَاباً، مَا تَتَعَلَّقُونَ مِنَ الْإِسْلَامِ إِلَّا بِاسْمِهِ، وَ لَا تَعْرِفُونَ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ إِلَّا رَسْمَهُ، تَقُولُونَ: «النَّارَ وَ لَا الْعَارَ»، كَأَنَّكُمْ تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تُكْفِئُوا الْإِسْلَامَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ انْتِهَاكاً لِحَرِيمِهِ، وَ نَقْضاً لِمِيثَاقِهِ الَّذِي وَضَعَهُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ، حَرَماً فِي أَرْضِهِ وَ أَمْناً بَيْنَ خَلْقِهِ.
And know, you have become Bedouins after the emigration, and allied after the partisanship. You have not link from Al-Islam except with its name, nor are you knowing from the Eman except its ritual. You are saying, ‘The Fire (yes), and not the shame’, as if you are intending that you will overturn Al-Islam upon its face violating its sanctity, and breaking its Covenant which Allah-azwj has Placed it for you, a Sanctuary in His-azwj earth and a security between His-azwj creatures.
وَ إِنَّكُمْ إِنْ لَجَأْتُمْ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ حَارَبَكُمْ أَهْلُ الْكُفْرِ، ثُمَّ لَا جَبْرَئِيلُ وَ لَا مِيكَائِيلُ وَ لَا مُهَاجِرُونَ وَ لَا أَنْصَارٌ يَنْصُرُونَكُمْ إِلَّا الْمُقَارَعَةَ بِالسُّيُوفِ حَتَّى يَحْكُمَ اللَّهُ بَيْنَكُمْ.
If you seek shelter to something else, the people of Kufr will be at war with you, then neither Jibraeel-as nor Mikaeel-as, nor the emigrants nor the Helpers would be helping you except the clashing of the swords until Allah-azwj Decides between you all.
وَ إِنَّ عِنْدَكُمُ الْأَمْثَالَ مِنْ بَأْسِ اللَّهِ وَ قَوَارِعِهِ وَ أَيَّامِهِ وَ وَقَائِعِهِ، فَلَا تَسْتَبْطِئُوا وَعِيدَهُ جَهْلًا بِأَخْذِهِ، وَ تَهَاوُناً بِبَطْشِهِ، وَ يَأْساً مِنْ بَأْسِهِ.
And that with you there are examples of the Prowess of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Punishment, and His-azwj days and His-azwj events. So, do not delay in taking being ignorant of His-azwj Promises, and taking lightly with His-azwj calamity, and despair from His-azwj Prowess.
فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ لَمْ يَلْعَنِ الْقَرْنَ الْمَاضِيَ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَّا لِتَرْكِهِمُ الْأَمْرَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ النَّهْيَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ، فَلَعَنَ السُّفَهَاءَ لِرُكُوبِ الْمَعَاصِي، وَ الْحُلَمَاءَ لِتَرْكِ التَّنَاهِي.
Surely, Allah-azwj the Glorious did not Curse the past generation in front of you except due to their neglecting enjoining of the good and forbidding from the evil. He-azwj Cursed the foolish one for indulging in the acts of disobedience, and the wise ones for neglecting the forbidding (them from it).
أَلَا وَ قَدْ قَطَعْتُمْ قَيْدَ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَ عَطَّلْتُمْ حُدُودَهُ وَ أَمَتُّمْ أَحْكَامَهُ.
Indeed! You have cut the bonds of Al-Islam and suspended its legal punishment, and killed off its rulings.
أَلَا وَ قَدْ أَمَرَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِقِتَالِ أَهْلِ الْبَغْيِ وَ النَّكْثِ وَ الْفَسَادِ فِي الْأَرْضِ، فَأَمَّا النَّاكِثُونَ فَقَدْ قَاتَلْتُ، وَ أَمَّا الْقَاسِطُونَ فَقَدْ جَاهَدْتُ، وَ أَمَّا الْمَارِقُونَ فَقَدْ دَوَّخْتُ، وَ أَمَّا شَيْطَانُ الرَّدْهَةِ فَقَدْ كُفِيتُهُ بِصَعْقَةٍ سُمِعَتْ لَهَا وَجْبَةُ قَلْبِهِ وَ رَجَّةُ صَدْرِهِ،
Indeed! And Allah-azwj has Commanded me-asws with fighting the people of rebellion, and the breaking (of the allegiance), and the mischief in the earth. As for the allegiance breakers, I-asws have already fought, and as for the deviants, I-asws have already done Jihad, and as for the renegades, I-asws have stunned them, and as for the Satan-la of the pit (The one with the breast), he was sufficed by a thunderbolt (in battle of Nahrawan), the cream of his heart and the shaking of his chest was heard to it.
وَ بَقِيَتْ بَقِيَّةٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَغْيِ، وَ لَئِنْ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ فِي الْكَرَّةِ عَلَيْهِمْ لَأُدِيلَنَّ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا مَا يَتَشَذَّرُ فِي أَطْرَافِ الْبِلَادِ تَشَذُّراً.
And there remains a remainder from the rebellious people, and if Allah-azwj Permits regarding the return to them, I-asws shall conclude from them except what fragments there would be in the outskirts of the city in a scattering.
أَنَا وَضَعْتُ [فِي الصِّغَرِ] بِكَلَاكِلِ الْعَرَبِ وَ كَسَرْتُ نَوَاجِمَ قُرُونِ رَبِيعَةَ وَ مُضَرَ. وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ مَوْضِعِي مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بِالْقَرَابَةِ الْقَرِيبَةِ وَ الْمَنْزِلَةِ الْخَصِيصَةِ، وَضَعَنِي فِي حِجْرِهِ وَ أَنَا وَلِيدٌ، يَضُمُّنِي إِلَى صَدْرِهِ وَ يَكْنُفُنِي فِي فِرَاشِهِ وَ يُمِسُّنِي جَسَدَهُ وَ يُشِمُّنِي عَرْفَهُ، وَ كَانَ يَمْضَغُ الشَّيْءَ ثُمَّ يُلْقِمُنِيهِ، وَ مَا وَجَدَ لِي كَذْبَةً فِي قَوْلٍ وَ لَا خَطْلَةً [خَطِيئَةً «خ»] فِي فِعْلٍ.
I-asws, during the youth, had dropped the famous Arabs and broken the horns of (tribes of) Rabie and Muzar, and you have known my-asws place from Rasool-Allah-saww with the kinship and the special status. He-saww had placed me-asws in his-saww lap and I-asws had been born, pressing me-asws to his-saww chest and covering me-asws in his-saww shawl and touching me-asws with his-saww body and making me-asws smell his-saww aroma, and he-saww would chew the thing (morsel) then feed me-asws it, and he-saww did not find any lie in my-saww words nor any mistake in any deed’’.[128]
[995] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ كَلَامٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَلَا وَ إِنَّ اللِّسَانَ بَضْعَةٌ مِنَ الْإِنْسَانِ، فَلَا يُسْعِدُهُ الْقَوْلُ إِذَا امْتَنَعَ، وَ لَا يُمْهِلُهُ النُّطْقُ إِذَا اتَّسَعَ، وَ إِنَّا لَأُمَرَاءُ الْكَلَامِ، وَ فِينَا تَنَشَّبَتْ عُرُوقُهُ، وَ عَلَيْنَا تَهَدَّلَتْ غُصُونُهُ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘Indeed! And the tongue is part of the human being, so the words do not assist him when it prevents, nor does the talking respite him when it dilates, and we are commanders of the speech, and in us are its roots and upon us its branches are hanging.
وَ اعْلَمُوا رَحِمَكُمُ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ فِي زَمَانٍ، الْقَائِلُ فِيهِ بِالْحَقِّ قَلِيلٌ، وَ اللِّسَانُ عَنِ الصِّدْقِ كَلِيلٌ، وَ اللَّازِمُ لِلْحَقِّ ذَلِيلٌ، أَهْلُهُ مُعْتَكِفُونَ عَلَى الْعِصْيَانِ، مُصْطَلِحُونَ عَلَى الْإِدْهَانِ، فَتَاهُمْ عَارِمٌ، وَ شَائِبُهُمْ آثِمٌ، وَ عَالِمُهُمْ مُنَافِقٌ، وَ قَارِئُهُمْ مُمَاذِقٌ، لَا يُعَظِّمُ صَغِيرُهُمْ كَبِيرَهُمْ، وَ لَا يَعُولُ غَنِيُّهُمْ فَقِيرَهُمْ.
And know, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on you all, you are in an era there are few speakers of the truth during it, and tongues are scarce from the truthfulness, and the one sticking to the truth is disgraced. Its people are secluding upon the disobedience, getting used to the vulgarities. Their young ones are violent, their youth are sinful, their learned are hypocrites, and their readers (of the Quran) are insincere. Their small ones are not revering their elders, nor are their rich supporting their poor’’.[129]
[996] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: وَ أَسْتَعِينُهُ عَلَى مَدَاحِرِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ مَزَاجِرِهِ وَ الِاعْتِصَامِ مِنْ حَبَائِلِهِ وَ مَخَاتِلِهِ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah)’ –
‘And from a sermon of his-asws: ‘And I-asws seek His-azwj Assistance upon his-la cheating, and his-la deceits, and holding fast to his-la ropes (allurements), and his-la sneak attacks.
وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ نَجِيبُهُ وَ صَفْوَتُهُ، لَا يُوَازَى فَضْلُهُ، وَ لَا يُجْبَرُ فَقْدُهُ، أَضَاءَتْ بِهِ الْبِلَادُ بَعْدَ الضَّلَالَةِ الْمُظْلِمَةِ وَ الْجَهَالَةِ الْغَالِبَةِ وَ الْجَفْوَةِ الْجَافِيَةِ، وَ النَّاسُ يَسْتَحِلُّونَ الْحَرِيمَ وَ يَسْتَذِلُّونَ الْحَكِيمَ، يَحْيَوْنَ عَلَى فَتْرَةٍ وَ يَمُوتُونَ عَلَى كَفْرَةٍ.
And I-asws testify that Muhammad-saww is His-azwj servant, and His-azwj Rasool-saww, and His-azwj Highborn. Neither are his-saww merits hidden, nor can his-saww loss be replaced. The cities were illuminated by him-saww after the darkness of straying and the overwhelming ignorance, and the habitual rudeness, and the people were permitting the Prohibition(s) and humiliating the wise ones, living upon a gap period (without any Prophets-as) and dying upon Kufr.
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ مَعْشَرَ الْعَرَبِ! أَغْرَاضُ بَلَايَا قَدِ اقْتَرَبَتْ، فَاتَّقُوا سَكَرَاتِ النِّعْمَةِ، وَ احْذَرُوا بَوَائِقَ النِّقْمَةِ، وَ تَثَبَّتُوا فِي قَتَامِ الْعِشْوَةِ، وَ اعْوِجَاجِ الْفِتْنَةِ عِنْدَ طُلُوعِ جَنِينِهَا، وَ ظُهُورِ كَمِينِهَا، وَ انْتِصَابِ قُطْبِهَا، وَ مَدَارِ رَحَاهَا،
Then you, community of Arabs, are the aim of calamities which have drawn near, therefore fear the intoxication of the bounties (wealth), and be cautioned with the punishment to befall, and be steadfast during the darkness of austerity, and crookedness of the Fitna during the emergence of its foetus (birth), and appearance of its snares, and its axis is installed, and its mills (begin to) rotate.
تَبْدَأُ فِي مَدَارِجَ خَفِيَّةٍ، وَ تَئُولُ إِلَى فَظَاعَةٍ جَلِيَّةٍ، شِبَابُهَا كَشِبَابِ الْغُلَامِ، وَ آثَارُهَا كَآثَارِ السَّلَامِ، تَتَوَارَثُهَا الظَّلَمَةُ بِالْعُهُودِ، أَوَّلُهُمْ قَائِدٌ لِآخِرِهِمْ، وَ آخِرُهُمْ مُقْتَدٍ بِأَوَّلِهِمْ، يَتَنَافَسُونَ فِي دُنْيَا دَنِيَّةٍ، وَ يَتَكَالَبُونَ عَلَى جِيفَةٍ مُرِيحَةٍ، وَ عَنْ قَلِيلٍ يَتَبَرَّأُ التَّابِعُ مِنَ الْمَتْبُوعِ، وَ الْقَائِدُ مِنَ الْمَقُودِ، فَيَتَزَايَلُونَ بِالْبَغْضَاءِ وَ يَتَلَاعَنُونَ عِنْدَ اللِّقَاءِ.
It begins in hidden steps and develops into a manifest atrocity. Its youthfulness is like the youthfulness of the adolescent boy and its impacts are like the impacts of peace (and harmony). The oppressors inherit it by the agreements, their first one being a guide to their last one, and their last one being led by their first one. They are competing regarding a lowly world and are leaping upon a stinking carcass, and after a little while the follower will disavow from the followed, and the leader from the led. They will separate with the hatred (for each other), and will be curing during the meeting.
ثُمَّ يَأْتِي بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ طَالِعُ الْفِتْنَةِ الرَّجُوفِ وَ الْقَاصِمَةِ الزَّخُوفِ، فَتَزِيغُ قُلُوبٌ بَعْدَ اسْتِقَامَةٍ، وَ تَضِلُّ رِجَالٌ بَعْدَ سَلَامَةٍ، وَ تَخْتَلِفُ الْأَهْوَاءُ عِنْدَ هُجُومِهَا، وَ تَلْتَبِسُ الْآرَاءُ عِنْدَ نُجُومِهَا.
Then, after that will arrive the rising Fitna, the shockwave, and the crushing ruination. The hearts will deviate after having been straight and men will stray after safety, and the personal desires will differ at its gathering, and the opinions will be confused at its peak.
مَنْ أَشْرَفَ لَهَا قَصَمَتْهُ، وَ مَنْ سَعَى فِيهَا حَطَمَتْهُ، يَتَكَادَمُونَ فِيهَا تَكَادُمَ الْحُمُرِ فِي الْعَانَةِ، قَدِ اضْطَرَبَ مَعْقُودُ الْحَبْلِ، وَ عَمِيَ وَجْهُ الْأَمْرِ، تَغِيضُ فِيهَا الْحِكْمَةُ، وَ تَنْطِقُ فِيهَا الظَّلَمَةُ،
One who approaches towards it, it would shatter him, and one who strives in it and it would crush him. They will bruise each other during it like the bruising by the donkeys in the herd enclosure. The twists of the rope would be restless, and the faces of the affairs would be blinded. The wise ones would diminish during it and the oppressors would be speaking during it.
وَ تَدُقُّ أَهْلَ الْبَدْوِ بِمِسْحَلِهَا، وَ تَرُضُّهُمْ بِكَلْكَلِهَا. يَضِيعُ فِي غُبَارِهَا الْوُحْدَانُ، وَ يَهْلِكُ فِي طَرِيقِهَا الرُّكْبَانُ، تَرِدُ بِمُرِّ الْقَضَاءِ، وَ تَحْلُبُ عَبِيطَ الدِّمَاءِ، وَ تَثْلِمُ مَنَارَ الدِّينِ، وَ تَنْقُضُ عَقْدَ الْيَقِينِ.
The Bedouins will be pounded by its hammers and crushed by all of it. The lone marchers will be wasted in its dust and the riders would be destroyed in its path. It will arrive with bitterness of the Decree and exude blood (instead of) milk, and the minarets of religion would be dented, and the ties of certainty will be broken.
تَهْرُبُ مِنْهَا الْأَكْيَاسُ، وَ تَدَبَّرَهَا الْأَرْجَاسُ، مِرْعَادٌ مِبْرَاقٌ، كَاشِفَةٌ عَنْ سَاقٍ، تُقْطَعُ فِيهَا الْأَرْحَامُ، وَ يُفَارَقُ عَلَيْهَا الْإِسْلَامُ، بَرِيئُهَا سَقِيمٌ، وَ ظَاعِنُهَا مُقِيمٌ.
The clever will flee from it and the evil ones will manage it, thundering, flashing (like lightning), uncovering from a leg. The kinship would be terminated during it and Al-Islam would be separated upon it. Its healthy one would be sick (affected) and its thoughtful one would stay’.
[وَ] مِنْهَا: بَيْنَ قَتِيلٍ مَطْلُولٍ، وَ خَائِفٍ مُسْتَجِيرٍ، يَخْتِلُونَ بِعَقْدِ الْأَيْمَانِ، وَ بِغُرُورِ الْإِيمَانِ، فَلَا تَكُونُوا أَنْصَابَ الْفِتَنِ وَ أَعْلَامَ الْبِدَعِ، وَ الْزَمُوا مَا عُقِدَ عَلَيْهِ حَبْلُ الْجَمَاعَةِ، وَ بُنِيَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَرْكَانُ الطَّاعَةِ، وَ اقْدَمُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ مَظْلُومِينَ وَ لَا تَقْدَمُوا عَلَيْهِ ظَالِمِينَ،
And from it: ‘Between the un-avenged slain ones and the sheltered fearful ones, they will be confused by the ties of oaths, and deceptive beliefs. So, do not become monuments of Fitna and flags of innovations, and stick to what the rope of unity is tied upon, and elements of obedience are built upon, and proceed to Allah-azwj as oppressed, and do not proceed to Him-asws as oppressors.
وَ اتَّقُوا مَدَارِجَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ مَهَابِطَ الْعُدْوَانِ، وَ لَا تُدْخِلُوا بُطُونَكُمْ لُعَقَ الْحَرَامِ، فَإِنَّكُمْ بِعَيْنِ مَنْ حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَعْصِيَةَ وَ سَهَّلَ لَكُمْ سَبِيلَ الطَّاعَةِ.
And fear the encroachments of Satan-la and places of aggression, and do not insert into your bellies Prohibited morsels for you are in the Eye (surveillance) of the One-azwj who has Prohibited the acts of disobedience upon you and has Eased for you the ways of obedience’’.[130]
[997] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: فَبَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بِالْحَقِّ لِيُخْرِجَ عِبَادَهُ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ الْأَوْثَانِ إِلَى عِبَادَتِهِ، وَ مِنْ طَاعَةِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِلَى طَاعَتِهِ، بِقُرْآنٍ قَدْ بَيَّنَهُ وَ أَحْكَمَهُ، لِيَعْلَمَ الْعِبَادُ رَبَّهُمْ إِذْ جَهِلُوهُ، وَ لِيُقِرُّوا بِهِ إِذْ جَحَدُوهُ، وَ لِيُثْبِتُوهُ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنْكَرُوهُ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘He-azwj Sent Muhammad-saww with the truth to Extract His-azwj servants from worshipping the idols to His-azwj worship, and from obedience of Satan-la to His-azwj obedience, (having Sent him-saww) with the Quran of His-azwj Explanations and His-azwj Rules, to teach the servants of their Lord-azwj when they were ignoring Him-azwj, and to acknowledge Him-azwj when they had rejected Him-azwj, and to affirm Him-azwj when they had denied Him-azwj.
فَتَجَلَّى سُبْحَانَهُ لَهُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَكُونُوا رَأَوْهُ، بِمَا أَرَاهُمْ مِنْ قُدْرَتِهِ، وَ خَوَّفَهُمْ مِنْ سَطَوَاتِهِ، وَ كَيْفَ مَحَقَ مَنْ مَحَقَ بِالْمَثُلَاتِ وَ احْتَصَدَ مَنِ احْتَصَدَ [وَ اخْتَضَدَ مَنِ اخْتَضَدَ «خ»] بِالنَّقِمَاتِ.
The Glorious Flashed at them in His-azwj Book without they having seen Him-azwj, by what He-azwj Showed them of His-azwj Power, and Frightening them from His-azwj Influence, and how He-azwj Obliterated the one He-azwj Obliterated by exemplary Punishments, and Cut down the one He-azwj Cut down with the Retribution.
وَ إِنَّهُ سَيَأْتِي عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي زَمَانٌ، لَيْسَ فِيهِ شَيْءٌ أَخْفَى مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَ لَا أَظْهَرَ مِنَ الْبَاطِلِ وَ لَا أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْكَذِبِ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ، وَ لَيْسَ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ سِلْعَةٌ أَبْوَرَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ إِذَا تُلِيَ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِ، وَ لَا أَنْفَقَ مِنْهُ إِذَا حُرِّفَ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِ، وَ لَا فِي الْبِلَادِ شَيْءٌ أَنْكَرَ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَ لَا أَعْرَفَ مِنَ الْمُنْكَرِ،
There will come a time upon you during it; there would neither be anything more hidden than the truth nor more apparent than the falsehood, nor anything more frequent than lies upon Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww. And there wouldn’t be commodity more valueless in the view of the people of that time than the Book (Quran) when it is being recited as is the right of its recitation, nor anything more valuable than it when it is altered from its places, nor would there be anything more disliked in the country than the act of kindness nor more recognise than the evil.
فَقَدْ نَبَذَ الْكِتَابَ حَمَلَتُهُ وَ تَنَاسَاهُ حَفَظَتُهُ، فَالْكِتَابُ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَ أَهْلُهُ مَنْفِيَّانِ طَرِيدَانِ، وَ صَاحِبَانِ مُصْطَحِبَانِ فِي طَرِيقٍ وَاحِدٍ، لَا يُؤْوِيهِمَا مُؤْوٍ، فَالْكِتَابُ وَ أَهْلُهُ فِي ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ فِي النَّاسِ وَ لَيْسَا فِيهِمْ، وَ مَعَهُمْ وَ لَيْسَا مَعَهُمْ، لِأَنَّ الضَّلَالَةَ لَا تُوَافِقُ الْهُدَى وَ إِنِ اجْتَمَعَا.
The bearers of the Book would have discarded it and its memorisers would have forgotten it. In those days, the Book and its people would be exiled, expelled, and these are two companions accompanying each other in one path. No one will grant them asylum. During that time the Book and its people would among the people, but they would not be among them, and with them without being with them, because the straying cannot be harmonious to the guidance even if they are together.
وَ اجْتَمَعَ الْقَوْمُ عَلَى الْفُرْقَةِ وَ افْتَرَقُوا عَنِ الْجَمَاعَةِ، كَأَنَّهُمْ أَئِمَّةُ الْكِتَابِ وَ لَيْسَ الْكِتَابُ إِمَامَهُمْ، فَلَمْ يَبْقَ عِنْدَهُمْ مِنْهُ إِلَّا اسْمُهُ وَ لَا يَعْرِفُونَ إِلَّا خَطَّهُ وَ زَبْرَهُ. وَ مِنْ قَبْلُ مَا مَثَّلُوا بِالصَّالِحِينَ كُلَّ مُثْلَةٍ، وَ سَمَّوْا صِدْقَهُمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فِرْيَةً وَ جَعَلُوا فِي الْحَسَنَةِ عُقُوبَةَ السَّيِّئَةِ.
And the people will be upon the sects and they would be separate from the community. It is as if they are leaders of the Book and the Book is not their leader. There will not remain with them except its name, nor will they understand except its writing and its sheets. And from before that they would be inflicting hardships upon the righteous ones will be every difficulty, and they would name their truthfulness upon Allah-azwj as being a libel, and they would make the punishment of the evil deed to be regarding the good deed.
وَ إِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِطُولِ آمَالِهِمْ وَ تَغَيُّبِ آجَالِهِمْ، حَتَّى نَزَلَ بِهِمُ الْمَوْعُودُ الَّذِي تُرَدُّ عَنْهُ الْمَعْذِرَةُ، وَ تُرْفَعُ عَنْهُ التَّوْبَةُ، وَ تَحُلُّ مَعَهُ الْقَارِعَةُ وَ النَّقِمَةُ.
And rather the ones before you were destroyed due to the their prolonged hopes and their absent mindedness of their deaths, until the threat descended with them, which the excuses were returned from it, and the repentance was raised away from it, and the Punishment and the Retribution was released with it.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّهُ مَنِ اسْتَنْصَحَ اللَّهَ وُفِّقَ، وَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ قَوْلَهُ دَلِيلًا هُدِيَ لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ، فَإِنَّ جَارَ اللَّهِ آمِنٌ وَ عَدُوَّهُ خَائِفٌ.
O you people! One who seeks Advise of Allah-azwj would be harmonised, and one who takes His-azwj Words as a pointer would be guided to that which is most upright, for surely, the one Sheltered by Allah-azwj is secure and His-azwj enemies are fearful.
وَ إِنَّهُ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ عَرَفَ عَظَمَةَ اللَّهِ أَنْ يَتَعَظَّمَ، فَإِنَّ رِفْعَةَ الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا عَظَمَتُهُ أَنْ يَتَوَاضَعُوا لَهُ، وَ سَلَامَةَ الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا قُدْرَتُهُ أَنْ يَسْتَسْلِمُوا لَهُ، فَلَا تَنْفِرُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ نِفَارَ الصَّحِيحِ مِنَ الْأَجْرَبِ وَ الْبَارِي مِنْ ذِي السَّقَمِ.
And it is not befitting for the one who recognises the Magnificence of Allah-azwj that he be magnified, for the rising of the ones who know what is the Magnificence of Allah-azwj is that they should be humbling to Him-azwj, and safety of the ones who know what His-azwj Power is, they should be submitting to Him-azwj. So, do not flee from the truth like the fleeing of the healthy one from the scabby (diseased), and the cured one from the one with illness.
وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَعْرِفُوا الرُّشْدَ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا الَّذِي تَرَكَهُ، وَ لَنْ تَأْخُذُوا بِمِيثَاقِ الْكِتَابِ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا الَّذِي نَقَضَهُ، وَ لَنْ تَمَسَّكُوا بِهِ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا الَّذِي نَبَذَهُ.
And know that you will never recognise the rightful guidance until you recognise those who have neglected it, and you will never take with the Covenant of the Book until you recognise those who have broken it, and you will never adhere with it until you recognise those who have discarded it.
فَالْتَمِسُوا ذَلِكَ مِنْ عِنْدِ أَهْلِهِ فَإِنَّهُمْ عَيْشُ الْعِلْمِ وَ مَوْتُ الْجَهْلِ، هُمُ الَّذِينَ يُخْبِرُكُمْ حُكْمُهُمْ عَنْ عِلْمِهِمْ، وَ صَمْتُهُمْ عَنْ مَنْطِقِهِمْ، وَ ظَاهِرُهُمْ عَنْ بَاطِنِهِمْ، لَا يُخَالِفُونَ الدِّينَ وَ لَا يَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ، [فَهُوَ] بَيْنَهُمْ شَاهِدٌ صَادِقٌ وَ صَامِتٌ نَاطِقٌ.
Seek that from the presence of its rightful people, for they-asws are the life of knowledge and death of the ignorance. They-asws are those, their wisdom informs you about their-asws knowledge, and their-asws silence about their-asws talking, and their-asws apparent about their-asws hidden. They-asws are neither opposing the religion and nor are they-asws differing from it. It is between them-asws, as a truthful witness and a silent speaker’’.[131]
998- نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: حَتَّى بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ شَهِيداً وَ بَشِيراً وَ نَذِيراً، خَيْرَ الْبَرِيَّةِ طِفْلًا وَ أَنْجَبَهَا كَهْلًا، أَطْهَرَ الْمُطَهَّرِينَ شِيمَةً وَ أَجْوَدَ الْمُسْتَمْطَرِينَ دِيمَةً.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah) –
‘From a speech of his-asws: ‘Until He-azwj Send Muhammad-saww as a witness, and giver of glad tidings, and Warner, best of the Created beings as a child, and their most chaste when older, purest of the Purified in conduct, and most generous of the ones approached for it.
فَمَا احْلَوْلَتْ لَكُمُ الدُّنْيَا فِي لَذَّتِهَا، وَ لَا تَمَكَّنْتُمْ مِنْ رَضَاعِ أَخْلَافِهَا، إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ [مَا] صَادَفْتُمُوهَا جَائِلًا خِطَامُهَا، قَلِقاً وَضِينُهَا، قَدْ صَارَ حَرَامُهَا عِنْدَ أَقْوَامٍ بِمَنْزِلَةِ السِّدْرِ الْمَخْضُودِ، وَ حَلَالُهَا بَعِيداً غَيْرَ مَوْجُودٍ،
The world was not sweetened for you in its pleasures, nor were you enabled from the udders of its leftovers, except after whatever you came across, its reins were trailing, its Prohibitions, in the presence of a people had come to be at the status of the thorn-less lotus and its Permissible(s) were remote, not-existent.
وَ صَادَفْتُمُوهَا وَ اللَّهِ ظِلًّا مَمْدُوداً إِلَى أَجْلٍ مَعْدُودٍ، فَالْأَرْضُ لَكُمْ شَاغِرَةٌ، وَ أَيْدِيكُمْ فِيهَا مَبْسُوطَةٌ، وَ أَيْدِي الْقَادَةِ عَنْكُمْ مَكْفُوفَةٌ، وَ سُيُوفُكُمْ عَلَيْهَا مُسَلَّطَةٌ، وَ سُيُوفُهُمْ عَنْكُمْ مَقْبُوضَةٌ.
And by Allah-azwj, you will come across it as an extended shade to a numbered term. So, the earth would be empty for you and your hands would be extended in it, and hand of the leaders would be withheld from you, and your swords would be overcoming upon it and they swords would be withheld from you.
أَلَا [وَ إِنَ] لِكُلِّ دَمٍ ثَائِراً، وَ لِكُلِّ حَقٍّ طَالِباً، وَ إِنَّ الثَّائِرَ فِي دِمَائِنَا كَالْحَاكِمِ فِي حَقِّ نَفْسِهِ، وَ هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا يُعْجِزُهُ مَنْ طَلَبَ وَ لَا يَفُوتُهُ مَنْ هَرَبَ.
Indeed! And for every blood is an avenger, and for every right there is a seeker, and that the avenger regarding our-asws blood is like the judge regarding a right of his-asws own self, and by Allah-azwj, he-asws is the one, the one he-asws seeks will not frustrate him-asws nor will the one fleeing escape from him-asws.
فَأُقْسِمُ بِاللَّهِ يَا بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ، عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ لَتَعْرِفُنَّهَا فِي أَيْدِي غَيْرِكُمْ وَ فِي دَارِ عَدُوِّكُمْ. أَلَا إِنَّ أَبْصَرَ الْأَبْصَارِ مَا نَفَذَ فِي الْخَيْرِ طَرْفُهُ، أَلَا إِنَّ أَسْمَعَ الْأَسْمَاعِ مَا وَعَى التَّذْكِيرَ وَ قَبِلَهُ.
By Allah-azwj! I-asws swear, O clan of Umayya, after a little while you will be recognising (seeing) it (caliphate) to be in the hands of other and in the house of your enemies. Indeed! The most insightful of the sights is what its glance would be in good. Indeed! The most hearing of the ears is what retains the remembrance (Zikar) and accepts it.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! اسْتَصْبِحُوا مِنْ شُعْلَةِ مِصْبَاحٍ وَاعِظٍ مُتَّعِظٍ، وَ امْتَاحُوا مِنْ صَفْوِ عَيْنٍ قَدْ رُوِّقَتْ مِنَ الْكَدَرِ.
O you people! Become preached from the flames of the lamp of preaching and enjoy from the clear spring having been kept away from the dirt.
عِبَادَ اللَّهِ! لَا تَرْكَنُوا إِلَى جَهَالَتِكُمْ وَ لَا تَنْقَادُوا لِأَهْوَائِكُمْ، فَإِنَّ النَّازِلَ بِهَذَا الْمَنْزِلِ نَازِلٌ بِشَفَا جُرُفٍ هَارٍ، يَنْقُلُ الرَّدَى عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ مِنْ مَوْضِعٍ لِرَأْيٍ يُحْدِثُهُ بَعْدَ رَأْيٍ، يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُلْصِقَ مَا لَا يَلْتَصِقُ وَ يُقَرِّبَ مَا لَا يَتَقَارَبُ.
Servants of Allah-azwj! Do not incline to your ignorance nor be led by your whims, for the one lodging in this (world) is like a guest on the edge of a cliff, the ruination would run upon his back from a place (to another) due to a new opinion after an opinion, intending to stick to what cannot be struck to, and drawing near to what cannot be drawn closer to.
فَاللَّهَ اللَّهَ أَنْ تَشْكُوا إِلَى مَنْ لَا يُشْكِي شَجْوَكُمْ، وَ لَا مَنْ يَنْقُضُ بِرَأْيِهِ مَا قَدْ أَبْرَمَ لَكُمْ.
So, Allah-azwj, Allah-azwj, if you were to complain to the one who cannot redress your complaint, nor one who is deficient of his view what had been accomplished for you.
إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ عَلَى الْإِمَامِ إِلَّا مَا حُمِّلَ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ، الْإِبْلَاغُ فِي الْمَوْعِظَةِ، وَ الِاجْتِهَادُ فِي النَّصِيحَةِ، وَ الْإِحْيَاءُ لِلسُّنَّةِ، وَ إِقَامَةُ الْحُدُودِ عَلَى مُسْتَحِقِّيهَا، وَ إِصْدَارُ السُّهْمَانِ عَلَى أَهْلِهَا.
It isn’t upon the Imam-asws except what he-asws has been loaded upon with the Commands of his-asws Lord-azwj, the delivering and the preaching, and the struggling in the advising, and the revival of the Sunnah, and establishing the legal penalties upon its deserving ones, and implementation of the two portions (shares) upon its rightful ones.
فَبَادِرُوا الْعِلْمَ مِنْ قَبْلِ تَصْوِيحِ نَبْتِهِ، وَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تُشْغَلُوا بِأَنْفُسِكُمْ عَنْ مُسْتَثَارِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ عِنْدِ أَهْلِهِ، وَ انْهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ تَنَاهَوْا عَنْهُ فَإِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُمْ بِالنَّهْيِ بَعْدَ التَّنَاهِى.
Therefore, rush to the knowledge from before its vegetation dries up, and from before you are too pre-occupied with yourselves from consulting the knowledge from the presence of its people-asws, and forbid from the evil and keep away from it, for rather you have been Command with the forbidding (but only) after having stayed away from it (yourself)’’.[132]
[999] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ هِيَ مِنْ خُطَبِ الْمَلَاحِمِ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الْمُتَجَلِّي لِخَلْقِهِ بِخَلْقِهِ، الظَّاهِرِ لِقُلُوبِهِمْ بِحُجَّتِهِ، خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ مِنْ غَيْرِ رَوِيَّةٍ، إِذْ كَانَتِ الرَّوِيَّاتُ لَا تَلِيقُ بِذَوِي الضَّمَائِرِ، وَ لَيْسَ بِذِي ضَمِيرٍ فِي نَفْسِهِ. خَرَقَ عِلْمُهُ بَاطِنَ غَيْبِ السُّتُرَاتِ وَ أَحَاطَ بِغُمُوضِ عَقَائِدِ السَّرِيرَاتِ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah)’ –
‘And from a sermon of his-asws, and it is from the sermons of the future events: ‘The Praise is for Allah-azwj, the Evident to His-azwj creatures by His-azwj creation, the Apparent to their hearts by His-azwj Arguments. He-azwj Created the creation from without any forethought, when the forethought can only be linked to the one with a mind (thinking organ), and He-azwj isn’t with a thinking organ within Himself-azwj. His-azwj Knowledge moved in the interior of the unseen veils and surround the obscure beliefs of the secrets.
[وَ] مِنْهَا فِي ذِكْرِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: اخْتَارَهُ مِنْ شَجَرَةِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ مِشْكَاةِ الضِّيَاءِ وَ ذُؤَابَةِ الْعَلْيَاءِ وَ سُرَّةِ الْبَطْحَاءِ وَ مَصَابِيحِ الظُّلْمَةِ وَ يَنَابِيعِ الْحِكْمَةِ.
And from it, regarding mention of the Prophet-saww: ‘He-azwj Chose him-asws from the tree of Prophet-hood, and lamps of illumitation, and the lofty forelocks, and navel (centre) of al Bat’ha, and lamps for the darkness, and springs of wisdom’.
[وَ] مِنْهَا: طَبِيبٌ دَوَّارٌ بِطِبِّهِ، قَدْ أَحْكَمَ مَرَاهِمَهُ، وَ أَحْمَى مَوَاسِمَهُ، يَضَعُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ حَيْثُ الْحَاجَةُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ قُلُوبٍ عُمْيٍ، وَ آذَانٍ صُمٍّ، وَ أَلْسِنَةٍ بُكْمٍ، مُتَّبِّعٌ بِدَوَائِهِ مَوَاضِعَ الْغَفْلَةِ وَ مَوَاطِنَ الْحَيْرَةِ.
And from it: ‘He-saww was a physician of the households of Bat’ha. He-saww prepared his-saww ointments and heated up his-saww instruments, placing from that wherever there was a need to it, from the blind hearts, and deaf ears, and mute tongues, pursuing the places of heedlessness with his-saww medications and places of confusion.
لَمْ يَسْتَضِيئُوا بِأَضْوَاءِ الْحِكْمَةِ وَ لَمْ يَقْدَحُوا بِزِنَادِ الْعُلُومِ الثَّاقِبَةِ، فَهُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ كَالْأَنْعَامِ السَّائِمَةِ وَ الصُّخُورِ الْقَاسِيَةِ.
But they did not take illumination with the rays of wisdom and were not ignited by the sparks of the shining knowledge. So during that, they were like the grazing cattle and hard rocks.
قَدِ انْجَابَتِ السَّرَائِرُ لِأَهْلِ الْبَصَائِرِ، وَ وَضَحَتْ مَحَجَّةُ الْحَقِّ لِخَابِطِهَا، وَ أَسْفَرَتِ السَّاعَةُ عَنْ وَجْهِهَا، وَ ظَهَرَتِ الْعَلَامَةُ لِمُتَوَسِّمِهَا.
The secrets have been born for the people of insight, and the arguments of truth have become clear for its mixer, and the Hour has become visible from its face, and the signs have appeared for its markers.
مَا لِي أَرَاكُمْ أَشْبَاحاً بِلَا أَرْوَاحٍ! وَ أَرْوَاحاً بِلَا أَشْبَاحٍ! وَ نُسَّاكاً بِلَا صَلَاحٍ! وَ تُجَّاراً بِلَا أَرْبَاحٍ! وَ أَيْقَاظاً نُوَّماً! وَ شُهُوداً غُيَّباً وَ نَاظِرَةً عَمْيَاءَ! وَ سَامِعَةً صَمَّاءَ! وَ نَاطِقَةً بَكْمَاءَ!.
What is the matter for me-asws, I-asws am seeing you all as bodies without souls! And souls without bodies! Ritualists without righteousness! And traders without profit! And wakeful sleepers! And present absentees, and blind beholders! And deaf listeners and speaking mutes!
رَايَةُ ضَلَالَةٍ قَدْ قَامَتْ عَلَى قُطْبِهَا، وَ تَفَرَّقَتْ بِشُعَبِهَا، تَكِيلُكُمْ بِصَاعِهَا وَ تَخْبِطُكُمْ بِبَاعِهَا، قَائِدُهَا خَارِجٌ مِنَ الْمِلَّةِ عَلَى الضَّلَّةِ، فَلَا يَبْقَى يَوْمَئِذٍ [مِنْكُمْ] إِلَّا ثُفَالَةٌ كَثُفَالَةِ الْقِدْرِ، أَوْ نُفَاضَةٌ كَنُفَاضَةِ الْعِكْمِ،
I-asws see straying to have stood up upon its leaders, and spread out with its branches, weighing you down with its burdens, and confusing you with its transactions. Its leader is outside from the religion being upon the straying. In those days, there would not remain (anyone) from you except as a residue like the residue of the (cooking) pot, or dust like the dust of the package.
تَعْرُكُكُمْ عَرْكَ الْأَدِيمِ، وَ تَدُوسُكُمْ دَوْسَ الْحَصِيدِ، وَ تَسْتَخْلِصُ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنْ بَيْنِكُمُ اسْتِخْلَاصَ الطَّيْرِ الْحَبَّةَ الْبَطِينَةَ مِنْ بَيْنِ هَزِيلِ الْحَبِّ! أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُ بِكُمُ الْمَذَاهِبُ! وَ تَتِيهُ بِكُمُ الْغَيَاهِبُ وَ تَخْدَعُكُمُ الْكَوَاذِبُ! وَ مِنْ أَيْنَ تُؤْتَوْنَ! وَ أَنَّى تُؤْفَكُونَ!
It would scrape you (like) the scraping of the leather, and trample you like trampling of the harvest, and the Momin would be picked out from between you (like) the bird picking the fat seed from between the thin seeds! Where are the doctrines going with you all! And the individuals are misleading you and the liars are deceiving you! And from where are you coming! And to where are you being deluded!
فَ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتابٌ، وَ لِكُلِّ غَيْبَةٍ إِيَابٌ، فَاسْتَمِعُوا مِنْ رَبَّانِيِّكُمْ، وَ أَحْضِرُوهُ قُلُوبَكُمْ، وَ اسْتَيْقِظُوا إِنْ هَتَفَ بِكُمْ، وَ لْيَصْدُقْ رَائِدٌ أَهْلَهُ، وَ لْيَجْمَعْ شَمْلَهُ، وَ لْيُحْضِرْ ذِهْنَهُ؛ فَلَقَدْ فَلَقَ لَكُمُ الْأَمْرَ فَلْقَ الْخَرَزَةِ وَ قَرَفَهُ قَرْفَ الصَّمْغَةِ.
So, For every term there is an Ordainment [13:38], and for every absentee there is a return. Listen intently from your Divine leader and present your hearts, and be wakeful if he-asws speaks with you, and let a pioneer be truthful to his family and let him gather his wits, and let him present his mind. He-asws has split the matter for you (like) splitting of the bead and separated the separation of the eucalyptus gum.
فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ أَخَذَ الْبَاطِلُ مَآخِذَهُ وَ رَكِبَ الْجَهْلُ مَرَاكِبَهُ، وَ عَظُمَتِ الطَّاغِيَةُ وَ قَلَّتِ الدَّاعِيَةُ، وَ صَالَ الدَّهْرُ صِيَالَ السَّبُعِ الْعَقُورِ، وَ هَدَرَ فَنِيقُ الْبَاطِلِ بَعْدَ كُظُومٍ، وَ تَوَاخَى النَّاسُ عَلَى الْفُجُورِ، وَ تَهَاجَرُوا عَلَى الدِّينِ، وَ تَحَابُّوا عَلَى الْكَذِبِ، وَ تَبَاغَضُوا عَلَى الصِّدْقِ.
During that, the falsehood would seize its seizure, and the ignorance would ride its ride, and the tyrants would be mighty and the callers would be scarce, and the times have assaulted like the assaults of the rapacious predators, and the precision of the falsehood would roll after silence, and the people would establish brotherhood upon the immoralities and forsaking upon religion, and they would love each other upon the lies, and hate each other upon the truthfulness.
فَإِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ كَانَ الْوَلَدُ غَيْظاً، وَ الْمَطَرُ قَيْضاً، وَ تَفِيضُ اللِّئَامُ فَيْضاً، وَ تَغِيضُ الْكِرَامُ غَيْضاً.
So when that happens, the child would be (cause of) rage (for the parents), and rain would be blamed for a flood, and the benevolence would decrease to be scarce.
وَ كَانَ أَهْلُ ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ ذِئَاباً، وَ سَلَاطِينُهُ سِبَاعاً، وَ أَوْسَاطُهُ أُكَّالًا، وَ فُقَرَاؤُهُ أَمْوَاتاً، وَ غَارَ الصِّدْقُ وَ فَاضَ الْكَذِبُ، وَ اسْتُعْمِلَتِ الْمَوَدَّةُ بِاللِّسَانِ، وَ تَشَاجَرَ النَّاسُ بِالْقُلُوبِ، وَ صَارَ الْفُسُوقُ نَسَباً، وَ الْعَفَافُ عَجَباً، وَ لُبِسَ الْإِسْلَامُ لُبْسَ الْفَرْوِ مَقْلُوباً!.
And the people of that time would be wolves, and its rulers would be predators, and its middle class would be consumers (gluttons), and its poor ones would be (like) deceased, and the truthfulness would be raided and the lies would win, and the cordiality would be utilised by the tongue, and the people would quarrel with the hearts, and the debauchers would become lineage, and the chastity as (something) strange, and Al-Islam would (be made to) wear the clothing of fur (beast but disguised) turned upside down’’.[133]
[1000] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] خُطْبَةٌ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَمِينُ وَحْيِهِ وَ خَاتَمُ رُسُلِهِ وَ بَشِيرُ رَحْمَتِهِ وَ نَذِيرُ نِقْمَتِهِ.
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah)’ –
‘And a sermon of his-asws: ‘He-saww is a trustee of His-azwj Revelation, and Last of His-azwj Rasools-as, and a giver of glad tidings of His-azwj Mercy, and a Warner of His-azwj Reprisal.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّ أَحَقَّ النَّاسِ بِهَذَا الْأَمْرِ أَقْوَاهُمْ عَلَيْهِ، وَ أَعْمَلُهُمْ بِأَمْرِ اللَّهِ فِيهِ. فَإِنْ شَغَبَ شَاغِبٌ اسْتُعْتِبَ، فَإِنْ أَبَى قُوتِلَ. وَ لَعَمْرِي لَئِنْ كَانَتِ الْإِمَامَةُ لَا تَنْعَقِدُ حَتَّى تَحْضُرَهَا عَامَّةُ النَّاسِ مَا إِلَى ذَلِكَ سَبِيلٌ، وَ لَكِنْ أَهْلُهَا يَحْكُمُونَ عَلَى مَنْ غَابَ عَنْهَا ثُمَّ لَيْسَ لِلشَّاهِدِ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ وَ لَا لِلْغَائِبِ أَنْ يَخْتَارَ.
O you people! The most rightful of the people with this command is their straightest upon it, and their most working with the Commands of Allah-azwj in it. If a rioter riots, he would be called to repent, and if he refuses, he would be fought. And by my-asws life! If the Imamate was not to be decided until the generality of the people are present, there would be no way to that, but its people (present) ones would be deciding upon the ones absent from it, then it would be for the one present that he retracts nor for the absentee than he chooses (someone else).
أَلَا وَ إِنِّي أُقَاتِلُ رَجُلَيْنِ: رَجُلًا ادَّعَى مَا لَيْسَ لَهُ، وَ آخَرَ مَنَعَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ.
Indeed! And I-asws shall fight against two (types of) men – a man claiming what Isn’t for him and another who prevents the ones who is (rightful) upon it.
أُوصِيكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ، فَإِنَّهُ خَيْرُ مَا تَوَاصَى الْعِبَادُ بِهِ وَ خَيْرُ عَوَاقِبِ الْأُمُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ، وَ قَدْ فُتِحَ بَابُ الْحَرْبِ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَ أَهْلِ الْقِبْلَةِ،
I-asws advise you with having fear of Allah-azwj, for it is the best of what the servants can be advised with, and the matter of the best end-result in the Presence of Allah-azwj, and the door of war has been opened up between you and the people of the Qiblah (Muslims).
وَ لَا يَحْمِلُ هَذَا الْعَلَمَ إِلَّا أَهْلُ الْبَصَرِ وَ الصَّبْرِ وَ الْعِلْمِ بِمَوَاقِعِ الْحَقِّ، فَامْضُوا لِمَا تُؤْمَرُونَ بِهِ وَ قِفُوا لِمَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ، وَ لَا تَعْجَلُوا فِي أَمْرٍ حَتَّى تَبَيَّنُوا فَإِنَّ لَنَا مَعَ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ تُنْكِرُونَهُ غِيَراً.
And no one will bear this knowledge except the people of insight, and the patience, and the knowledge in places of truth, therefore continue to what you have been Commanded with and pause at what you have been Prohibited from, and do not be hasty in any matter until it is clear, because for us-asws, along with every matter you are denying, is (right to) change.
أَلَا وَ إِنَّ هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا الَّتِي أَصْبَحْتُمْ تَتَمَنَّوْنَهَا وَ تَرْغَبُونَ فِيهَا وَ أَصْبَحَتْ تُغْضِبُكُمْ وَ تُرْضِيكُمْ، لَيْسَتْ بِدَارِكُمْ وَ لَا مَنْزِلِكُمُ الَّذِي خُلِقْتُمْ لَهُ وَ لَا الَّذِي دُعِيتُمْ إِلَيْهِ.
Indeed! And this word which you have come to be wishing for it and being desirous in it, and your hatred and your pleasure has become for it, it isn’t your (permanent) house, nor is it your home which you have been Created for nor that which you have been invited to.
أَلَا وَ إِنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ بِبَاقِيَةٍ لَكُمْ وَ لَا تَبْقَوْنَ عَلَيْهَا، وَ هِيَ وَ إِنْ غَرَّتْكُمْ مِنْهَا فَقَدْ حَذَّرَتْكُمْ شَرَّهَا، فَدَعُوا غُرُورَهَا لِتَحْذِيرِهَا، وَ أَطْمَاعَهَا لِتَخْوِيفِهَا، وَ سَابِقُوا فِيهَا إِلَى الدَّارِ الَّتِي دُعِيتُمْ إِلَيْهَا، وَ انْصَرِفُوا بِقُلُوبِكُمْ عَنْهَا، وَ لَا يَخِنَّنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ خَنِينَ الْأَمَةِ عَلَى مَا زُوِيَ عَنْهُ مِنْهَا، وَ اسْتَتِمُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالصَّبْرِ عَلَى طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ، وَ الْمُحَافَظَةِ عَلَى مَا اسْتَحْفَظَكُمْ مِنْ كِتَابِهِ.
Indeed! And it isn’t going to be lasting for you nor will you be lasting for it, and it, and although you are being deceived from it, so its evil has cautioned you from it, so leave its deceit for its caution, and (leave) its greed for its fear, and be first in it to the house which you are being invited to, and turn away from it (world) with your hearts, and not one of you should squeal (scream) the squealing of the maid upon what has been impeded from her, and complete the Favours of Allah-azwj upon you with the patience upon obedience of Allah-azwj, and the preserving upon what you can preserve from His-azwj Book.
أَلَا وَ إِنَّهُ لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ تَضْيِيعُ شَيْءٍ مِنْ دُنْيَاكُمْ بَعْدَ حِفْظِكُمْ قَائِمَةَ دِينِكُمْ. أَلَا وَ إِنَّهُ لَا يَنْفَعُكُمْ بَعْدَ تَضْيِيعِ دِينِكُمْ شَيْءٌ حَافَظْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَمْرِ دُنْيَاكُمْ، أَخَذَ اللَّهُ بِقُلُوبِنَا وَ قُلُوبِكُمْ إِلَى الْحَقِّ وَ أَلْهَمَنَا وَ إِيَّاكُمُ الصَّبْرَ.
Indeed! And surely it will not harm you, the loss of anything from your world after your preserving the principles of your religion. Indeed! And surely nothing will benefit you after your wasting your religion, your preserving upon it from the matters of your world. May Allah-azwj Take our hearts and your hearts to the truth and Inspire us and you the patience’’.[134]
[1001] – نَهْجٌ: [وَ] مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَرْسَلَهُ عَلَى حِينِ فَتْرَةٍ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ، وَ طُولِ هَجْعَةٍ مِنَ الْأُمَمِ، وَ اعْتِزَامٍ مِنَ الْفِتَنِ، وَ انْتِشَارٍ مِنَ الْأُمُورِ وَ تَلَظٍّ مِنَ الْحُرُوبِ، [وَ] الدُّنْيَا كَاسِفَةُ النُّورِ، ظَاهِرَةُ الْغُرُورِ، عَلَى حِينِ اصْفِرَارٍ مِنْ وَرَقِهَا، وَ إِيَاسٍ مِنْ ثَمَرِهَا، وَ اغْوِرَارٍ مِنْ مَائِهَا،
(The book) ‘Nahj (Al Balagah)’ –
‘He-azwj Sent him-saww when there was a gap period from the Messengers-as, and a prolonged slumber from the communities, and an aim from the Fitna, and scattering of the affairs, and blazes from the wars, and the world was eclipsed from the Noor, the deception was prevailing, when there was paleness from its leaves, and despair from its fruits, and evaporation of its waters (springs).
قَدْ دَرَسَتْ أَعْلَامُ الْهُدَى، وَ ظَهَرَتْ أَعْلَامُ الرَّدَى، فَهِيَ مُتَجَهِّمَةٌ لِأَهْلِهَا، عَابِسَةٌ فِي وَجْهِ طَالِبِهَا، ثَمَرُهَا الْفِتْنَةُ، وَ طَعَامُهَا الْجِيفَةُ، وَ شِعَارُهَا الْخَوْفُ، وَ دِثَارُهَا السَّيْفُ.
The flags of guidance had been obscured and the flags of ruination had appeared. It was grim to its people, frowning in the faces of its seekers. Its fruit was the Fitna and its food was the carcass, and its motto was the fear, and its garment was the sword.
فَاعْتَبِرُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ! وَ اذْكُرُوا تِيكَ الَّتِي آبَاؤُكُمْ وَ إِخْوَانُكُمْ بِهَا مُرْتَهَنُونَ وَ عَلَيْهَا مُحَاسَبُونَ، وَ لَعَمْرِي مَا تَقَادَمَتْ بِكُمْ وَ لَا بِهِمُ الْعُهُودُ، وَ لَا خَلَتْ فِيمَا بَيْنَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَهُمُ الْأَحْقَابُ وَ الْقُرُونُ، وَ مَا أَنْتُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِنْ يَوْمَ كُنْتُمْ فِي أَصْلَابِهِمْ بِبَعِيدٍ.
Take lessons, O servants of Allah-azwj, and recall the straying which your fathers and your brothers were pledged with and would be Reckoned upon it. And by my-asws life! Neither have the eras (time intervals) preceded with you nor with them, nor have the aeons (ages) and the centuries passed in what is between you and them, nor are you today remote from the day you were in their loins.
وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَسْمَعَكُمُ الرَّسُولُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ شَيْئاً إِلَّا وَ هَا أَنَا ذَا الْيَوْمَ مُسْمِعُكُمُوهُ، وَ مَا أَسْمَاعُكُمُ الْيَوْمَ بِدُونِ أَسْمَاعِكُمْ بِالْأَمْسِ، وَ لَا شُقَّتْ لَهُمُ الْأَبْصَارُ وَ جَعَلْتُ لَهُمُ الْأَفْئِدَةُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْأَوَانِ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ أُعْطِيتُمْ مِثْلَهَا فِي هَذَا الزَّمَانِ.
By Allah-azwj! The Rasool-saww did not make you listen to anything except and here I-asws am, making you listen to it (again), and I-asws am not making you listen today to anything other than what I-asws had made you listen to yesterday. Neither the sights which were opened for them nor the hearts which were made to be for them during that time (any different), and you have been given similar to it in this time period.
وَ وَ اللَّهِ مَا بُصِّرْتُمْ بَعْدَهُمْ شَيْئاً جَهِلُوهُ، وَ لَا أُصْفِيتُمْ بِهِ وَ حُرِمُوهُ، وَ لَقَدْ نَزَلَتْ بِكُمُ الْبَلِيَّةُ جَائِلًا خِطَامُهَا، رِخْواً بِطَانُهَا، فَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُمْ مَا أَصْبَحَ فِيهِ أَهْلُ الْغُرُورِ، فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ ظِلٌّ مَمْدُودٌ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْدُودٍ.
And by Allah-azwj! You have not been given insight of anything they had been ignorant of, nor have you been given it and they were depriving of it. And the affliction has befallen with you, it throat is relaxed, and its rein is loosened. So, let it not deceive you what the people of deceit had come to be in, for rather it is an extended shade to a numbered term’’.[135]
[1002] – يف: مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ النَّيْسَابُورِيُّ، بِإِسْنَادٍ مُتَّصِلٍ إِلَى جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّادِقِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَنَّ عَلِيّاً كَانَ فِيحَلْقَةٍ مِنْ رِجَالِ قُرَيْشٍ يُنْشِدُونَ الْأَشْعَارَ وَ يَتَفَاخَرُونَ حَتَّى بَلَغُوا إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالُوا: قُلْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَدْ قَالَ أَصْحَابُكَ.
(The book) ‘Al Taraif’ – Muhammad Bin Muhammad Bin Al Neyshapuri,
By a chain connecting to, Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad Al-Sadiq-asws, from his-asws father-asws, from his-asws grandfather-asws: ‘Ali-asws was in a circle of men of Quraysh prosing the poems and priding over each other until they reached to Amir Al-Momineen-asws. They said, ‘Speak, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws, for your-asws companions have already spoken’.
فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ:
| اللَّهُ وَفَّقَنَا لِنَصْرِ مُحَمَّدٍ | وَ بِنَا أَقَامَ دَعَائِمَ الْإِسْلَامِ | |
| وَ بِنَا أَعَزَّ نَبِيَّهُ وَ كِتَابَهُ | وَ أَعَزَّنَا بِالنَّصْرِ وَ الْإِقْدَامِ | |
| فِي كُلِّ مَعْرَكَةٍ تَطِيرُ سُيُوفُنَا | فِيهَا الْجَمَاجِمَ عَنْ فَرَاشِ الْهَامِ | |
| يَنْتَابُنَا جِبْرِيلُ فِي أَبْيَاتِنَا | بِفَرَائِضِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ الْأَحْكَامِ | |
| فَنَكُونُ أَوَّلَ مُسْتَحِلٍّ حِلَّهُ | وَ مُحَرِّمٍ لِلَّهِ كُلَّ حَرَامٍ | |
| نَحْنُ الْخِيَارُ مِنَ الْبَرِّيَّةِ كُلِّهَا | وَ إِمَامُهَا وَ إِمَامُ كُلِّ إِمَامٍ | |
| الْخَائِضُونَ غُمَارَ كُلِّ كَرِيهَةٍ | وَ الضَّامِنُونَ حَوَادِثَ الْأَيَّامِ | |
| إِنَّا لَنَمْنَعُ مَنْ أَرَدْنَا مَنْعَهُ | وَ نَجُودُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ الْإِنْعَامِ |
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said (in prose): ‘Allah-azwj Harmonised us to help Muhammad-saww, and by us He-azwj Established the pillars of Al-Islam, and by us He-azwj Strengthened His-azwj Prophet-saww and His-azwj Book, and Strengthened us with the Help and the advancing. In every battle, our swords made the skulls to fly in it away from the bodies of the important ones.
Jibraeel-as circles around us during our nights with Obligations of Al-Islam and the rulings, so we became the first to permit His-azwj Permissible(s) and prohibit every Prohibition of Allah-azwj. We are the choice from the created beings, all of them, and their leader, and leader of every leader, being in the midst of all abhorrence(s), and responsible of the newly occurring events of the days. We are not preventing the ones we want to prevent. We are existing for the acts of kindness and the virtuous acts’’.
فَقَالُوا: يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مَا تَرَكْتَ لَنَا شَيْئاً نَقُولُهُ.
They said, ‘O Abu Al-Hassan-asws! You-asws have not left anything for us to say’’. [136]
[1003] – ختص: أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ [مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا] مِنْهُمْ بَكَّارُ بْنُ كَرْدَمٍ وَ عِيسَى بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَاهُ يَقُولُ: جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مُتَنَقِّبَةٌ وَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ، وَ قَدْ قَتَلَ أَخَاهَا وَ أَبَاهَا فَقَالَتْ: هَذَا قَاتِلُ الْأَحِبَّةِ.
(The book) ‘Al Ikhtisaas’ – Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Umar Bin Abdul Aziz, from someone else from our companions, from them were Bukar Bin Kardam and isa Bin Suleyman,
From Abu Abdullah-asws, they (narrators) said, ‘We heard him-asws saying: ‘A veiled woman came while Amir Al-Momineen-asws was upon the pulpit, and he-asws had killer her brother and her father. She said, ‘This is a killer of the loved ones!’
فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ: يَا سَلْفَعُ يَا جَرِيَّةُ يَا بَذِيَّةُ يَا مُتَكَبِّرَةُ، يَا الَّتِي لَا تَحِيضُ كَمَا تَحِيضُ النِّسَاءُ، يَا الَّتِي عَلَى هَنِهَا شَيْءٌ بَيِّنٌ مُدَلًّى.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws looked at her and said: ‘O viper! O audacious! O vulgar! O arrogant! O one who does not menstruate like what the women menstruate! O one upon her private part there is something between her two thighs!
فَمَضَتِ [الْمَرْأَةُ] وَ تَبِعَهَا عَمْرُو بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ وَ كَانَ عُثْمَانِيّاً فَقَالَ: يَا أَيَّتُهَا الْمَرْأَةُ إِنَّا لَا نَزَالُ يُسْمِعُنَا [عَلِيٌ] الْعَجَائِبَ، مَا نَدْرِي حَقَّهَا مِنْ بَاطِلِهَا، وَ هَذِهِ دَارِي فَادْخُلِي فَإِنَّ لِي أُمَّهَاتِ أَوْلَادٍ حَتَّى يَنْظُرْنَ حَقّاً مَا قَالَ أَمْ بَاطِلًا؟ وَ أَهَبُ لَكِ شَيْئاً.
The women went away and Amro Bin Hureys followed her, and he was an Usman supporter. He said, ‘O you woman! We have not ceased to listen to strange things from Ali-asws. We do not know their true ones from their false ones, and this here is my house, so enter it, for there are mothers of the children for me, until they look, whether he-asws has spoken the truth of a falsity, and I shall gift something to you’.
فَدَخَلَتِ [الْمَرْأَةُ بَيْتَ عَمْرٍو] فَأَمَرَ أُمَّهَاتِ أَوْلَادِهِ فَنَظَرْنَ إِلَيْهَا، فَإِذَا شَيْءٌ عَلَى رَكَبِهَا مُدَلًّى فَقَالَتْ: يَا وَيْلَهَا اطَّلَعَ مِنْهَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَى شَيْءٍ لَمْ تَطَّلِعْ [عَلَيْهِ] إِلَّا أُمِّي أَوْ قَابِلَتِي. قَالَ: وَ وَهَبَ لَهَا عَمْرُو بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ شَيْئاً.
The woman entered the house of Amro. He instructed the mothers of his children, and they looked at her, and there was something upon her hanging between her legs. She said, ‘O its woe! Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws has notified upon something no one had been notified upon except my mother or my midwife. And Amro Bin Hureys gifted her something’’.[137]
[1004] – ختص: الْيَقْطِينِيُّ وَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ حَصِيرَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ نُبَاتَةَ قَالَ: كُنَّا وُقُوفاً عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بِالْكُوفَةِ وَ هُوَ يُعْطِي الْعَطَاءَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ، إِذْ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ فَقَالَتْ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعْطَيْتَ الْعَطَاءَ جَمِيعَ الْأَحْيَاءِ مَا خَلَا هَذَا الْحَيَّ مِنْ مُرَادٍ لَمْ تُعْطِهِمْ شَيْئاً
(The book) ‘Al Ikhtisaas’ – Al Yaqteeny and Ibrahim Bin Is’haq, from Abdullah Bin Hammad, from Al Haris Bin Haseyra, from Ibn Nubata who said,
‘We were standing at Amir Al-Momineen-asws at Al-Kufa and he-asws was giving out the (financial) awards in the Masjid, when a woman came and she said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! You-asws gave the award to the entirety of the tribes apart from this tribe from Murad. You-asws did not give them anything’.
فَقَالَ [لَهَا]: اسْكُتِي يَا جَرِيئَةُ يَا بَذِيئَةٌ يَا سَلْفَعُ يَا سَلَقْلَقُ يَا مَنْ لَا تَحِيضُ كَمَا تَحِيضُ النِّسَاءُ!
He-asws said to her: ‘Be quiet, O audacious! O vulgar! O veiled! O chatterbox! O one who does not menstruate like what the women (tend to) menstruate!’
قَالَ: فَوَلَّتْ فَخَرَجَتْ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَتَبِعَهَا عَمْرُو بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ فَقَالَ لَهَا: أَيَّتُهَا الْمَرْأَةُ قَدْ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ فِيكِ مَا قَالَ أَ فَصَدَقَ عَلَيْكِ؟
He (the narrator) said: ‘She went out from the Masjid, and Amro Bin Hureys followed her and said to her, ‘O you woman! Ali-asws has said regarding you what he-asws said. Was he-asws truthful upon you?’
فَقَالَتْ: وَ اللَّهِ مَا كَذَبَ وَ إِنَّ كُلَّ مَا رَمَانِي بِهِ لَفِيَّ؛ وَ مَا اطَّلَعَ عَلَيَّ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَنِي وَ أُمِّيَ الَّتِي وَلَدَتْنِي.
She said, ‘By Allah-azwj, he-asws did not lie, and all what he-asws shot at me with, is in me, and no one has been notified upon me except Allah-azwj Who Created me, and my mother who gave birth to me’.
فَرَجَعَ عَمْرُو بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ تَبِعْتُ الْمَرْأَةَ فَسَأَلْتُهَا عَمَّا رَمَيْتَهَا بِهِ فِي بَدَنِهَا، فَأَقَرَّتْ بِذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ، فَمِنْ أَيْنَ عَلِمْتَ ذَلِكَ؟
Amro Bin Hureys returned and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! I followed the woman and asked her about what you-asws had accuser her with to be in her body, and she acknowledge with that, all of it. So, from where did you-asws know that?’
فَقَالَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ:]: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ عَلَّمَنِي أَلْفَ بَابٍ مِنَ الْحَلَالِ وَ الْحَرَامِ، يُفْتَحُ [مِنْ] كُلِّ بَابٍ أَلْفُ بَابٍ، حَتَّى عَلِمْتُ الْمَنَايَا وَ الْوَصَايَا وَ فَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ وَ حَتَّى عَلِمْتُ الْمُذَكَّرَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ، وَ الْمُؤَنَّثِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ.
He-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah-saww taught me-asws a thousand doors from the Permissible(s) and the Prohibitions, a thousand doors opened upon from each door to the extent that I-asws know the deaths, and the inheritances, and the decisive address (Holy Verses) and until I-asws knew the masculine from the women, and the feminine from the men’’.[138]
[1005] – ختص: عَبَّادُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ عَنِ ابْنِ طَرِيفٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: بَيْنَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَوْماً جَالِساً فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَ أَصْحَابُهُ حَوْلَهُ، فَأَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أَدِينُهُ بِوَلَايَتِكَ وَ أُحِبُّكَ فِي السِّرِّ كَمَا أُحِبُّكَ فِي الْعَلَانِيَةِ، وَ أَتَوَلَّاكَ فِي السِّرِّ كَمَا أَتَوَلَّاكَ فِي الْعَلَانِيَةِ.
(The book) ‘Al Ikhtisaas’ – Abbad Bin Suleyman, from Muhammad Bin Suleyman, from his father, from Haroun Bin Al Jahm, from Ibn Tareyf,
‘From Abu Ja’far-asws having said: ‘One day while Amir Al-Momineen-asws was seated in the Masjid and his-asws companions were around him-asws, a man from his-asws Shias came to him-asws. He said to him-asws, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Allah-azwj Knows I make to be His-azwj religion with your-asws Wilayah, and I-asws love you in the secret like what I love you-asws in the open, and I-asws befriend you in the secret like what I befriend you in the open’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ]: صَدَقْتَ، أَمَا لِلْفَقْرِ فَاتَّخِذْ جِلْبَاباً، فَإِنَّ الْفَقْرَ أَسْرَعُ إِلَى شِيعَتِنَا مِنَ السَّيْلِ إِلَى قَرَارِ الْوَادِي!
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said to him: ‘You speak the truth! As for the poverty, take a robe, for the poverty is quicker to our Shias than the torrent is to the bottom of the valley!’
قَالَ: فَوَلَّى الرَّجُلُ وَ هُوَ يَبْكِي فَرَحاً لِقَوْلِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لَهُ]: «صَدَقْتَ»
He (the narrator) said, ‘The man turned around (to go) and he was crying due to the words of Amir Al-Momineen-asws: ‘You speak the truth’’.
قَالَ: وَ كَانَ هُنَاكَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْخَوَارِجِ وَ صَاحِبٌ لَهُ قَرِيباً مِنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا: اللَّهَ إِنْ رَأَيْتُ كَالْيَوْمِ قَطُّ، إِنَّهُ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ: إِنِّي أُحِبُّكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ: صَدَقْتَ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘And over there was a man from the Kharijites, and a companion of his was near from Amir Al-Momineen-asws. One of them said, ‘Allah-azwj, (have you) seen a day like today at all? A man came to him and said, ‘I love you-asws’, and he-asws said to him: ‘You speak the truth!’’’
فَقَالَ لَهُ الْآخَرُ: مَا أَنْكَرْتَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ! أَ يَجِدُ بُدّاً مِنْ أَنْ إِذَا قِيلَ [لَهُ]: «إِنِّي أُحِبُّكَ» أَنْ يَقُولَ: صَدَقْتَ؟ أَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أُحِبُّهُ! فَقَالَ: لَا. قَالَ: فَأَنَا أَقُومُ فَأَقُولُ لَهُ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ فَيَرُدُّ عَلَيَّ مِثْلَ مَا رَدَّ عَلَيْهِ. قَالَ: نَعَمْ.
The other one said to him, ‘What are you denying from that! Could he-asws have found any escape, when it was said to him-asws, ‘I love you-asws’, that he-asws should be saying: ‘You are speaking the truth’? Do you know that I love him-asws (as well)?’ He said, ‘No’. He said, ‘I shall say to him similar to what the man had said to him, and he-asws would respond to me-asws similar to what he-asws had responded to him’. He said, ‘Yes’.
فَقَامَ الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ مَقَالَةِ الرَّجُلِ الْأَوَّلِ، فَنَظَرَ [أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ] إِلَيْهِ مَلِيّاً ثُمَّ قَالَ: كَذَبْتَ لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا تُحِبُّنِي وَ لَا أَحْبَبْتَنِي [يَوْماً].
The man stood and said to him-asws similar to the words of the first man. Amir Al-Momineen-asws looked at him for a while, then said: ‘By Allah-azwj! You are lying. You neither love me-asws nor have you loved me-asws even for a day’.
قَالَ: فَبَكَى الْخَارِجِيُّ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ تَسْتَقْبِلُنِي بِهَذَا وَ قَدْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ خِلَافَهُ! ابْسُطْ يَدَكَ أُبَايِعْكَ. فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ: عَلَى مَا ذَا؟ قَالَ: عَلَى مَا عَمِلَ بِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَ عُمَرُ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘The Kharijite cried, then said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! You-asws accept me with this, and Allah-azwj has Known its opposite! Spread out your-asws hand, I shall pledge allegiance to you-asws’. Ali-asws said: ‘Upon what would that be?’ He said, ‘Upon what Abu Bakr and Umar had worked with’.
قَالَ: فَمَدَّ يَدَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ: اصْفِقْ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَ اللَّهِ لَكَأَنِّي بِكَ قَدْ قُتِلْتَ عَلَى ضَلَالٍ وَ وَطِئَ وَجْهَكَ دَوَابُّ الْعِرَاقِ وَ لَا يَعْرِفُكَ قَوْمُكَ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘He-asws extended his-asws hand and said to him: ‘Clap (pledge), may Allah-azwj Curse the two (Abu Bakr and Umar). By Allah-azwj! It is as if I-asws am with you, and you have been killed upon straying and the animals of Al-Iraq are treading on your face, and your people do not recognise you’’.
قَالَ: فَلَمْ يَلْبَثْ أَنْ خَرَجَ عَلَيْهِ أَهْلُ النَّهْرَوَانِ وَ خَرَجَ الرَّجُلُ مَعَهُمْ فَقُتِلَ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘It was not long before the people of Al-Nahrawan came out against him-asws, and the man came out with them, and he was killed’’.[139]
[1006] – كِتَابُ سُلَيْمِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: صَعِدَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ الْمِنْبَرَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ قَالَ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنَا الَّذِي فَقَأْتُ عَيْنَ الْفِتْنَةِ، وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيَجْتَرِئَ عَلَيْهَا غَيْرِي.
Kitab Suleym Bin Qays – from Aban, from him having said,
‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws ascended the pulpit, praised Allah-azwj and extolled Him-azwj and said: ‘O you people! I-asws am the one who gouged out the eye of the ‘Fitna’ (strife) and it was not for anyone apart from me-asws to be able to do that.
وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْ لَمْ أَكُنْ فِيكُمْ لَمَا قُوتِلَ أَهْلُ الْجَمَلِ، وَ لَا أَهْلُ صِفِّينَ، وَ لَا أَهْلُ النَّهْرَوَانِ.
And I-asws say by Allah-azwj, had I-asws not been among you all, you would not have fought against the people of the Camel (Al-Jamal), nor the people of Siffeen, nor the people of Al-Nahrawan.
وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْ لَا أَنْ تَتَّكِلُوا وَ تَدَعُوا الْعَمَلَ، لَحَدَّثْتُكُمْ بِمَا قَضَى اللَّهُ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ [مُحَمَّدٍ] صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ لِمَنْ قَاتَلَهُمْ مُسْتَبْصِراً فِي ضَلَالَتِهِمْ، عَارِفاً بِالْهُدَى الَّذِي نَحْنُ عَلَيْهِ.
And I-asws say by Allah-azwj, if you had spoken and claimed what Allah-azwj has Decreed upon the tongue of His-azwj Prophet-saww you would have visualised and recognised the error of those that were killed, and the guidance that we are on.
ثُمَّ قَالَ: سَلُونِي عَمَّا شِئْتُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَفْقِدُونِي، فَوَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي بِطُرُقِ السَّمَاءِ أَعْلَمُ مِنِّي بِطُرُقِ الْأَرْضِ.
Then he-asws said: ‘Ask me whatsoever that you like before you lose me-asws, for by Allah-azwj I-asws am more aware of the pathways of the sky than I-asws am of the roads of the earth.
أَنَا يَعْسُوبُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَ أَوَّلُ السَّابِقِينَ، وَ إِمَامُ الْمُتَّقِينَ، وَ خَاتَمُ الْوَصِيِّينَ، وَ وَارِثُ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ خَلِيفَةُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ. أَنَا دَيَّانُ النَّاسِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَ قَسِيمُ اللَّهِ بَيْنَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ.
I-asws am the ‘Yasoob’ (leader) of the Momineen, and the first of the preceding ones, and the Imam-asws of the pious, and the seal-(ultimate) of the successors, and the inheritor of the Prophets-as, and the Caliph of the Lord-azwj of the worlds. I-asws am the examiner of the people on the Day of Qiyamah and Allah-azwj’s (Appointed) Divider of people between the Paradise and the Fire.
وَ أَنَا الصِّدِّيقُ الْأَكْبَرُ، وَ الْفَارُوقُ الَّذِي أُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ الْحَقِّ وَ الْبَاطِلِ، وَ إِنَّ عِنْدِي عِلْمَ الْمَنَايَا وَ الْبَلَايَا وَ فَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ، وَ مَا مِنْ آيَةٍ نَزَلَتْ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُ فِيمَا نَزَلَتْ وَ عَلَى مَنْ نَزَلَتْ.
And I-asws am the Great Truthful (Al-Siddique Al-Akbar), and the great Differentiator (Al-Farouq) who differentiates between the truth and the falsehood, and with me-asws is the knowledge of the deaths, and the afflictions, and the intricacies of the speech. And there is no Verse which has Descended except that I-asws know with regards to what was Descended, and where it Descended, and about whom it was Descended.
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّهُ وَشِيكٌ أَنَّ تَفْقِدُونِي، إِنِّي مُفَارِقُكُمْ، وَ إِنِّي مَيِّتٌ أَوْ مَقْتُولٌ، مَا يَنْتَظِرُ أَشْقَاهَا أَنْ يَخْضِبَهَا مِنْ فَوْقِهَا؟! وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى: مَا يَنْتَظِرُ أَشْقَاهَا أَنْ يَخْضِبَ هَذِهِ مِنْ دَمِ هَذَا؟! يَعْنِي لِحْيَتَهُ مِنْ دَمِ رَأْسِهِ-.
O you people! It is imminent that you will miss me-asws. I-asws will separate from you all, and I-asws will soon leave, being assassinated. What is he waiting for (killer) to dye it (with my blood) from above it (from head)?’ Meaning his-asws beard from the blood of his-asws head.
وَ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ وَ فِي نُسْخَةٍ أُخْرَى: وَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَا تَسْأَلُونِي عَنْ فِئَةٍ تَبْلُغُ ثَلَاثَمِائَةٍ فَمَا فَوْقَهَا مِمَّا بَيْنَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَ قِيَامِ السَّاعَةِ، إِلَّا أَنْبَأْتُكُمْ بِسَائِقِهَا وَ قَائِدِهَا وَ نَاعِقِهَا، وَ بِخَرَابِ الْعَرَصَاتِ، مَتَى تُخَرَّبُ، وَ مَتَى تُعْمَرُ بَعْدَ خَرَابِهَا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.
‘By the One-azwj Who Split the seed and Formed the person, you will not ask me about a group which has reached three hundred (in number) nor above it between you all (at present) and the Establishment of the Hour, except that I-asws will give you the news of its ushers, and its guides and its callers, and the spoiling of the ground, when it will get spoilt and when it will be revived after it having been taken by force to the Day of Qiyamah’.
فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَخْبِرْنَا عَنِ الْبَلَايَا.
So a man stood up and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws, inform us about the afflictions’.
فَقَالَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ]: إِذَا سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ فَلْيَعْقِلْ، وَ إِذَا سُئِلَ [مَسْئُولٌ] فَلْيَتَثَبَّتْ، إِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ أُمُوراً مُلْتَجَّةً مُجَلْجِلَةً، وَ بَلَاءٌ مُكْلِحاً مُبْلِحاً.
He-asws said: ‘When a questioner asks so he should understand, and when the questioned one is asked, he should reply responsibly. There are matters behind you, which will weaken you and concern you, frightening and difficult afflictions.
وَ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ، لَوْ قَدْ فَقَدْتُمُونِي وَ نَزَلَتْ عَزَائِمُ الْأُمُورِ وَ حَقَائِقُ الْبَلَاءِ، لَقَدْ أَطْرَقَ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ السَّائِلِينَ، وَ اشْتَغَلَ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْمَسْئُولِينَ وَ فِي نُسْخَةٍ أُخْرَى: وَ فَشِلَ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْمَسْئُولِينَ وَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا ظَهَرَتْ حَرْبُكُمْ وَ نَصَلَتْ عَنْ نَابٍ، وَ قَامَتْ عَلَى سَاقٍ، وَ صَارَتِ الدُّنْيَا بَلَاءً عَلَيْكُمْ حَتَّى يَفْتَحَ اللَّهُ لِبَقِيَّةِ الْأَبْرَارِ.
By the One-azwj Who Split the seed and Formed the person, if you were to lose me-asws, and the great matters descend upon you and the reality of the afflictions dawn upon you, many of the questioners will get frustrated and many of them will be humiliated by trying to find solutions (to their problems). And that will happen when you will be forced into wars and it will engulf the entire world, and the world will become a scourge for you all until such time when Allah-azwj will Grant a victory through the remainder of the righteous ones.
فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَدِّثْنَا عَنِ الْفِتَنِ.
A man stood up and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws, narrated to us about the ‘Fitna’ (strife).
فَقَالَ [عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ]: إِنَّ الْفِتَنَ إِذَا أَقْبَلَتْ شَبَّهَتْ وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى: اشْتَبَهَتْ وَ إِذَا أَدْبَرَتْ أَسْفَرَتْ. وَ إِنَّ الْفِتَنَ لَهَا مَوْجٌ كَمَوْجِ الْبَحْرِ، وَ إِعْصَارٌ كَإِعْصَارِ الرِّيحِ، تُصِيبُ بَلَداً وَ تُخْطِئُ الْآخَرَ. فَانْظُرُوا أَقْوَاماً كَانُوا أَصْحَابَ رَايَاتٍ يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ، فَانْصُرُوهُمْ تُنْصَرُوا وَ تُوجَرُوا وَ تُعْذَرُوا.
He-asws said: ‘The ‘Fitna’ when it comes, places you in doubt’. And in another report: ‘Creates doubt, and when it goes away it becomes obvious (leaves behind its disastrous effects). And the ‘Fitna’ has waves for it like the waves of the sea and gusts like the gusts of the wind (hurricane), affecting one country and leaving another. So look at the people-asws who were the standard bearers on the Day of Badr. Help them-asws and you will be helped and rewarded and be excused.
أَلَا [وَ] إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ الْفِتَنِ عَلَيْكُمْ عِنْدِي فِتْنَةُ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ، [فَ] إِنَّهَا فِتْنَةٌ عَمْيَاءُ وَ صَمَّاءُ، مُطَبَّقَةٌ مُظْلِمَةٌ عَمَتْ فِتْنَتُهَا وَ خَصَّتْ بَلِيَّتُهَا، أَصَابَ الْبَلَاءُ مَنْ أَبْصَرَ فِيهَا، وَ أَخْطَأَ الْبَلَاءُ مَنْ عَمِيَ عَنْهَا، أَهْلُ بَاطِلِهَا ظَاهِرُونَ عَلَى [أَهْلِ] حَقِّهَا، يَمْلَئُونَ الْأَرْضَ بِدَعاً وَ ظُلْماً وَ جَوْراً وَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ يَضَعُ جَبَرُوتَهَا وَ يَكْسِرُ عَمُودَهَا. وَ يَنْزِعُ أَوْتَادَهَا، اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَ قَاصِمُ الْجَبَّارِينَ.
I-asws fear the Fitna. Nay! I-asws fear for your all the ‘Fitna’ of the clan of Umayya. It will be blind, deaf, and have levels of darkness. Its Fitna will be general but its affliction will be specific. It will trouble the one who sees it, and stray the one who would avoid it. Its wrongful ones will force themselves upon its rightful ones, filling the earth with innovation, injustice and oppression. The first one to End its tyranny and Break its pillars and Remove its pegs will be no one but Allah-azwj the Lord-azwj of the Worlds, the Crusher of the tyrants.
أَلَا [وَ] إِنَّكُمْ سَتَجِدُونَ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ أَرْبَابَ سَوْءٍ بَعْدِي، كَالنَّابِ الضَّرُوسِ تَعَضُّ بِفِيهَا، وَ تَخْبِطُ بِيَدَيْهَا، وَ تَضْرِبُ بِرِجْلَيْهَا، وَ تَمْنَعُ دَرَّهَا. وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَا تَزَالُ فِتْنَتُهُمْ حَتَّى لَا يَكُونَ نُصْرَةُ أَحَدِكُمْ لِنَفْسِهِ إِلَّا كَنُصْرَةِ الْعَبْدِ لِنَفْسِهِ مِنْ سَيِّدِهِ، إِذَا غَابَ سَبَّهُ، وَ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَطَاعَهُ. وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْ شَرَّدُوكُمْ تَحْتَ كُلِّ كَوْكَبٍ لَجَمَعَكُمُ اللَّهُ لِشَرِّ يَوْمٍ لَهُمْ.
Indeed! You will find the clan of Umayya to be evil lords after me-asws, like the teeth of a canine biting by it, hitting by its hands and striking by its legs and preventing from its pearls. And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj, their Fitna will not cease until not one of you will be able to help himself but like the help of the bad slave for his master, if he is absent he abuses him, and if he is present, he obeys him. And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj, even if you disperse to be underneath each of the stars, Allah-azwj will Gather you all for their evil days.
فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ: فَهَلْ مِنْ جَمَاعَةٍ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ! قَالَ: إِنَّهَا سَتَكُونُونَ جَمَاعَةً شَتَّى، عَطَاؤُكُمْ وَ حَجُّكُمْ وَ أَسْفَارُكُمْ [وَاحِدَةٌ] وَ الْقُلُوبُ مُخْتَلِفَةٌ
The man said, ‘Will there be a community after that, O Amir Al-Momineen?’ He-asws said: ‘There will be a diverse community. Your charities and your Hajj and your travels will be one, but your hearts will be different’.
قَالَ وَاحِدٌ [مِنْهُمْ]: كَيْفَ تَخْتَلِفُ الْقُلُوبُ؟ قَالَ: هَكَذَا وَ شَبَّكَ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَقْتُلُ هَذَا هَذَا، وَ هَذَا هَذَا، هَرْجاً هَرْجاً وَ يَبْقَى طَغَاماً، جَاهِلِيَّةً لَيْسَ فِيهَا مَنَارُ هُدًى، وَ لَا عَلَمٌ يُرَى، نَحْنُ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ مِنْهَا بِمَنْجَاةٍ وَ لَسْنَا فِيهَا بِدُعَاةٍ.
One of them said, ‘How will their hearts be different?’ He-asws said: ‘Like this’ – and tangled his-asws fingers – then said: ‘This one will kill this one, and this one will kill this one. There will be trouble after trouble, and the unfairness of the era of ignorance will remain. There will not be a minaret of guidance or a flag to be seen. We-asws, the People-asws of the Household will be rescued from it, and we-asws will not be preaching ‘calling’ (that will be the time of Taqeeya during that time).
قَالَ [الرَّجُلُ]: فَمَا أَصْنَعُ فِي ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟
One asked, ‘So what shall I do in that time, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws?’
قَالَ: انْصُرُوا أَهْلَ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّكُمْ، فَإِنْ لَبَدُوا فَالْبُدُوا وَ إِنِ اسْتَنْصَرُوكُمْ فَانْصُرُوهُمْ تُنْصَرُوا وَ تُعْذَرُوا، فَإِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ هُدًى وَ لَنْ يَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى رَدًى، وَ لَا تَسْبِقُوهُمْ بِالتَّقَدُّمِ فَيَصْرَعْكُمُ الْبَلَاءُ وَ تُشْمِتْ بِكُمُ الْأَعْدَاءُ.
He-asws said: ‘Look at the People-asws of the Household of your Prophet-saww. If they-asws remain at their-asws homes, you remain at your homes, and if they-asws ask you for your help, help them so that you will be helped and be excused, for they-asws will never exit you from guidance, and will never call you all to destruction, and do not place yourselves in front of them-asws or else you will be killed by the afflictions and your enemies will rejoice over you.
قَالَ [الرَّجُلُ]: فَمَا يَكُونُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟
He said, ‘So what will happen after that, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws?’
قَالَ: يُفَرِّجُ اللَّهُ الْبَلَاءَ بِرَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي كَانْفِرَاجِ الْأَدِيمِ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ، ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُونَ إِلَى مَنْ يَسُومُهُمْ خَسْفاً وَ يَسْقِيهِمْ بِكَأْسٍ مُصَبَّرَةٍ، لَا يُعْطِيهِمْ وَ لَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا السَّيْفُ
He-asws said: ‘Allah-azwj will Effect the Release from the affliction by a man-asws from my-asws Household, but many will turn against him-ajfj. Then He-azwj will Raise them to the one-asws who will swallow up their afflictions and quench them with a consoling cup, and he-asws will neither give them nor will he-asws accept from them anything except with the sword.
هَرْجاً هَرْجاً، يَحْمِلُ السَّيْفَ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَشْهُرٍ، حَتَّى تَوَدَّ قُرَيْشٌ بِالدُّنْيَا وَ مَا فِيهَا أَنْ يَرَوْنِي فِي مَقَامٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَأُعْطِيَهُمْ وَ آخُذَ مِنْهُمْ بَعْضَ مَا قَدْ مَنَعُونِي وَ أَقْبَلَ عَنْهُمْ بَعْضَ مَا يَرِدُ عَلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا: مَا هَذَا مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ، لَوْ كَانَ هَذَا مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ وَ مِنْ وُلْدِ فَاطِمَةَ لَرَحِمَنَا.
There will be (at that time) troubles after troubles, he-asws will carry the sword for eight months, to the extent that the Quraysh would wish to give the whole world and whatever it contains (in order to find relief) to be able to see me-asws at least once, so they can give me back whatever they had taken from me. But he (Imam e Zaman-ajfj) will be very severe on them (without giving them any allowances) until they will say, ‘This man is not from the Quraysh. Had he-asws been from the Quraysh and from the children of Fatima-asws, he-asws would be merciful to us’.
وَ يُغْرِيهِ اللَّهُ بِبَنِي أُمَيَّةَ فَجَعَلَهُمُ [اللَّهُ] «مَلْعُونِينَ أَيْنَما ثُقِفُوا أُخِذُوا وَ قُتِّلُوا تَقْتِيلًا سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ فِي الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَ لَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا».
Thus Allah-azwj will Give him-asws victory over the clan of Umayya. Allah-azwj would Make them: (They are) Accursed! Wherever they are found they shall be seized and killed with a massacre [33:61] Being a Sunnah of Allah regarding those who have gone before, and you will never find any alteration in the Sunnah of Allah [33:62].
أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ لَا بُدَّ مِنْ رَحًى تَطْحَنُ ضَلَالَةً، فَإِذَا طَحَنَتْ قَامَتْ عَلَى قُطْبِهَا، أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِطَحْنِهَا رَوْقاً، وَ إِنَّ رَوْقَهَا حَدُّهَا وَ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَلُّهَا. أَلَا وَ إِنِّي وَ أَبْرَارُ عِتْرَتِي وَ أَطَائِبُ أَرُومَتِي أَحْلَمُ النَّاسِ صِغَاراً وَ أَعْلَمُهُمْ كِبَاراً،
Having said that, it does not have to be a hand mill in order to grind the misguidance, for the mill stands upon its pole. Indeed! When it is grinding, it has a limit to it, and upon Allah-azwj there is not. Indeed! Myself-asws and my-asws good Family-asws and the good ones from my-asws relatives are the most forbearing of the people when they are young and the most knowledgeable of them in their adulthood.
مَعَنَا رَايَةُ الْحَقِّ وَ الْهُدَى، مَنْ سَبَقَهَا مَرَقَ، وَ مَنْ خَذَلَهَا مُحِقَ وَ مَنْ لَزِمَهَا لَحِقَ.
With us is the banner of the truth and guidance, the one who wants to overtake it will exit Religion due to misguidance, and the one who abandons it will perish (meet destruction), and the one who adheres to it will catch up.
إِنَّا أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ مِنْ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ عِلْمُنَا وَ مِنْ حُكْمِ اللَّهِ الصَّادِقِ قِيلُنَا، وَ مِنْ قَوْلِ الصَّادِقِ سَمْعُنَا، فَإِنْ تَتَّبِعُونَا تَهْتَدُوا بِبَصَائِرِنَا، وَ إِنِ تَتَوَلَّوْا عَنَّا يُعَذِّبْكُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَيْدِينَا أَوْ بِمَا شَاءَ. نَحْنُ أُفُقُ الْإِسْلَامِ بِنَا يَلْحَقُ الْمُبْطِئُ وَ إِلَيْنَا يَرْجِعُ التَّائِبُ.
We People-asws of the Household, we teach from the Knowledge of Allah-azwj, and it is from the Wisdom of Allah-azwj that we speak truthfully, and it is from the truthful speech that we-asws hear. So, if you all were to follow us-asws, you will be guided by our-asws vision, and if you turn away from us-asws you will be Punished by Allah-azwj by our-asws hands or in whatever manner that He-azwj so Desires. We are the zenith of Islam. It is by us-asws that the one who lags behind can catch up, and the one who repents can return.
وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ لَا أَنْ تَسْتَعْجِلُوا وَ يَتَأَخَّرَ الْحَقُّ، لَنَبَّأْتُكُمْ بِمَا يَكُونُ فِي شَبَابِ الْعَرَبِ وَ الْمَوَالِي، فَلَا تَسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّكُمْ مُحَمَّدٍ الْعِلْمَ قَبْلَ إِبَّانِهِ، وَ لَا تَسْأَلُوهُمُ الْمَالَ عَلَى الْعُسْرِ فَتُبَخِّلُوهُمْ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْهُمُ الْبُخْلُ.
By Allah-azwj, if you do not make haste and truth is not delayed, I-asws would give you the news of that which would even be understood by the youths of the Arabs and their friends. However, do not ask the People-asws of the Household of Muhammad-saww about the knowledge before its time, and do not ask them-asws for the wealth during hardship, lest you consider them-asws to be miserly, for miserliness is not from them-asws.
وَ كُونُوا أَحْلَاسَ الْبُيُوتَ وَ لَا تَكُونُوا عُجُلًا بُذُراً، [وَ] كُونُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْحَقِّ تُعْرَفُوا بِهِ وَ تَتَعَارَفُوا عَلَيْهِ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ بِقُدْرَتِهِ وَ جَعَلَ بَيْنَهُمُ الْفَضَائِلَ بِعِلْمِهِ، وَ جَعَلَ مِنْهُ عِبَاداً اخْتَارَهُمْ لِنَفْسِهِ لِيَحْتَجَّ بِهِمْ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ،
And assume (honourable) positions in your dwellings rather becoming like the wandering calves. Be from the people of the truth and to be recognised by it, for Allah-azwj Created the creatures by His-azwj Power and Made preferences to be between them by His-azwj Knowledge, and Made servants-asws from among them Chosen by Himself-azwj in order to establish arguments over His-azwj creatures by them-asws.
فَجَعَلَ عَلَامَةَ مَنْ أَكْرَمَ مِنْهُمْ طَاعَتَهُ، وَ عَلَامَةَ مَنْ أَهَانَ مِنْهُمْ مَعْصِيَتَهُ، وَ جَعَلَ ثَوَابَ أَهْلِ طَاعَتِهِ النَّضِرَةَ فِي وَجْهِهِ فِي دَارِ الْأَمْنِ وَ الْخُلْدِ الَّذِي لَا يُرَوِّعُ أَهْلَهُ، وَ جَعَلَ عُقُوبَةَ مَعْصِيَتِهِ نَاراً تَأَجَّجُ لِغَضَبِهِ، [وَ] ما ظَلَمَهُمُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَ لكِنْ كانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
So He-azwj Made them-asws to be the ‘Signs’. The one who honours them-asws will be in obedience, and the one who disregards them-asws will be disobedient. And He-azwj Made the Reward for the obedient ones to be blissful in their faces in the House of Safety and the eternity in which they will not separate from their families, and Made the Punishment for the people of disobedience to be the Fire which has been ignited by His-azwj Wrath. and Allah is not unjust to them, but they were unjust to their own selves [16:33].
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّا أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ بِنَا بَيَّنَ اللَّهُ الْكَذِبَ، وَ بِنَا يُفَرِّجُ اللَّهُ الزَّمَانَ الْكَلِبَ، وَ بِنَا يَنْزِعُ اللَّهُ رِبْقَ الذُّلِّ مِنْ أَعْنَاقِكُمْ، وَ بِنَا يَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ وَ بِنَا يَخْتِمُ اللَّهُ.
O you people! It is through us-asws, the People-asws of the Household, that Allah-azwj Exposed the lies, and it is by us-asws that Allah-azwj Removes the hardships from the dogs (aggressors), and it is by us-asws that Allah-azwj Removes the rope of humiliation from your necks, and it is by us-asws that Allah-azwj Begins and it is by us-asws that Allah-azwj Ends.
فَاعْتَبِرُوا بِنَا وَ بِعَدُوِّنَا وَ بِهُدَانَا وَ بِهُدَاهُمْ وَ بِسِيرَتِنَا وَ سِيرَتِهِمْ وَ مَنِيَّتِنَا وَ مَنِيَّتِهِمْ، يَمُوتُونَ بِالدَّالِ وَ الْقُرْحِ وَ الدُّبَيْلَةِ، وَ نَمُوتُ بِالْبَطَنِ وَ الْقَتْلِ وَ الشَّهَادَةِ وَ بِمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ.
So, take lessons by us-asws and by our-asws enemies, and by our-asws guidance and by their guidance, and by our-asws ways and by their ways, and by our departed ones-asws and by their dead ones. They die from bad illnesses and ulcers and lumps, whilst we-asws die from abdominal pain and murder and martyrdom.
ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَى بَنِيهِ فَقَالَ: يَا بَنِيَّ لِيَبِرَّ صِغَارُكُمْ كِبَارَكُمْ، وَ لْيَرْحَمْ كِبَارُكُمْ صِغَارَكُمْ، وَ لَا تَكُونُوا أَمْثَالَ السُّفَهَاءِ الْجُفَاةِ الْجُهَّالِ الَّذِي لَا يُعْطَوْنَ فِي اللَّهِ الْيَقِينَ كَقَيْضِ بَيْضٍ فِي أَدَاحٍ.
Then he-asws turned towards his-asws sons-asws and said: ‘O my-asws sons-asws! Your-asws younger ones should be good to your-asws elder ones, and your-asws elder ones should be good to your-asws younger ones, and do not become like the ignorant fools who never achieve certainty in Allah-azwj, like the eggs with which children play (example of useless game for life of an ignorant).
أَلَا وَيْحَ لِلْفِرَاخِ فِرَاخِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ مِنْ خَلَفٍ مُسْتَخْلِفٍ عِتْرِيفٍ مُتْرَفٍ، يُقْتَلُ خَلْفِي وَ خَلَفِ الْخَلَفِ بَعْدِي.
Indeed! destruction is for that who after gaining power suppressed the children of the Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww, a wealthy tyrant who will kill my-asws successor-asws, and successor-asws of my-asws successor-asws after me-asws.
أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ تَبْلِيغَ الرِّسَالاتِ، وَ تَنْجِيزَ الْعِدَاتِ، وَ تَمَامَ الْكَلِمَاتِ، وَ فُتِحَتْ لِيَ الْأَسْبَابُ، وَ أُجْرِيَ لِيَ السَّحَابُ، وَ نَظَرْتُ فِي الْمَلَكُوتِ، لَمْ يَعْزُبْ عَنِّي شَيْءٌ فَاتَ وَ لَمْ يَفُتْنِي مَا سَبَقَنِي، وَ لَمْ يَشْرَكْنِي أَحَدٌ فِيمَا أَشْهَدَنِي رَبِّي، أَقُومُ بِهِ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهادُ،
But, by Allah-azwj, I-asws know the preaching of the (Divine) Messages, and the fulfilling of the promises, and the completion of the words, and reasons have been opened up for me-asws, and I-asws know the lineages and the clouds have been made to flow for me-asws (to carry me) so that I-asws look at the kingdom. There is nothing in the past that is hidden from me-asws and nor I have missed from what would to take place either, and there is no one associated with me-asws in what my-asws Lord-azwj will Make me-asws to witness on the Day when the witnesses are established.
وَ بِي يُتِمُّ اللَّهُ مَوْعِدَهُ وَ يُكَمِّلُ كَلِمَاتِهِ. وَ أَنَا النِّعْمَةُ الَّتِي أَنْعَمَهَا اللَّهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ، وَ الْإِسْلَامُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَاهُ لِنَفْسِهِ، كُلُّ ذَلِكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ بِهِ عَلَيَّ وَ أَذَلَّ بِهِ مَنْكِبِي.
And it is by me-asws that Allah-azwj will Fulfil His-azwj Promises and Complete His-azwj Words, and I-asws am the ‘Blessing’ through which Allah-azwj Awards His-azwj (pious) creatures, and I-asws am the Islam which He-azwj has Chosen for Himself-azwj. And all these are the bounties of Allah-azwj extended towards me-asws and have Made easier for me the grand atrocities.
وَ لَيْسَ إِمَامٌ إِلَّا وَ هُوَ عَارِفٌ بِأَهْلِ وَلَايَتِهِ، وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ: إِنَّما أَنْتَ مُنْذِرٌ وَ لِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هادٍ
And there is no (true) Imam-asws but he-asws recognises the people of Wilayah (who submit to our mastership), and that is the Words of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: But rather, you are a Warner, and for every people there is a Guide [13:7].
ثُمَّ نَزَلَ [عَنِ الْمِنْبَرِ] صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَلَى آلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ الْأَخْيَارِ وَ سَلَّمَ تَسْلِيماً كَثِيراً.
Ali-asws, then descended (from the pulpit). Blessing of Allah-azwj as well as numerous Greetings be upon him-asws and his-asws purified Progeny-asws, the righteous (among them-asws)’’.[140]
[1007] – كِتَابُ الْغَارَاتِ لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الثَّقَفِيِّ: عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبَانٍ عِنْدَ عَبْدِ الْغَفَّارِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنِ الْمِنْهَالِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو عَنْ زِرِّ بْنِ حُبَيْشٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَخْطُبُ.
Kitab Al Gharaat of Ibrahim Bin Muhammad Al Saqafi, from Ismail Bin Aban in the presence of Abdul Ghaffar, from Al Minhal Bin Amro, from Zir Bin Hubeysh who said,
‘I heard Amir Al-Momineen-asws addressing’.
– قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ: وَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى عَنِ الْمِنْهَالِ عَنْ زِرِّ بْنِ حُبَيْشٍ، قَالَ: خَطَبَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بِالنَّهْرَوَانِ […]. وَ سَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ سُلَيْمٍ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ: وَ لَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا
Ibrahim said, ‘And I have been informed by Ahmad Bin Imran Bin Muhammad Bin Abu Layli, from his father, from Ibn Abu layli, from Al Minhal, from Zirr Bin Jubeysh who said,
‘Ali-asws was at Al-Nahrawan’ – and he continued the Hadeeth approximate to the Hadeeth of Suleym up to his-asws words: and you will never find any alteration in the Sunnah of Allah [33:62]’’.[141]
[1008] – يج: رُوِيَ عَنِ الْأَصْبَغِ بْنِ نُبَاتَةَ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ فِي بَعْضِ الْأَيَّامِ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي جَامِعِ الْكُوفَةِ، فَإِذَا بِجَمٍّ غَفِيرٍ وَ مَعَهُمْ عَبْدٌ أَسْوَدُ فَقَالُوا: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ هَذَا الْعَبْدُ سَارِقٌ.
(The book) ‘Al Kharaij’ – It is reported from Al Asbagh Bin Nubata who said,
‘During one of the days, I entered to see Amir Al-Momineen-asws in the central (Masjid) of Al-Kufa, and there was a huge crowd, and with them was a black slave. They said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! This slave is a thief’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ الْإِمَامُ: أَ سَارِقٌ أَنْتَ يَا غُلَامُ! فَقَالَ لَهُ: نَعَمْ. فَقَالَ لَهُ مَرَّةً ثَانِيَةً: أَ سَارِقٌ أَنْتَ يَا غُلَامُ! فَقَالَ: نَعَمْ يَا مَوْلَايَ. فَقَالَ لَهُ الْإِمَامُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: إِنْ قُلْتَهَا ثَالِثَةً قَطَعْتُ يَمِينَكَ فَقَالَ أَ سَارِقٌ أَنْتَ يَا غُلَامُ! قَالَ: نَعَمْ يَا مَوْلَايَ.
The Imam-asws said to him: ‘Did you steal, O boy!’ He said to him-asws, ‘Yes’. He-asws said to him for a second time: ‘Did you steal, O boy!’ He said, ‘Yes, O my Master-asws’. The Imam-asws said to him: ‘If you say it for a third time, I-asws shall cut your right hand. Did you steal, O boy!’ He-asws said: ‘Yes, O my Master-asws’.
فَأَمَرَ الْإِمَامُ بِقَطْعِ يَمِينِهِ فَقُطِعَتْ، فَأَخَذَهَا بِشِمَالِهِ وَ هِيَ تَقْطُرُ دَماً، فَلَقِيَهُ ابْنُ الْكَوَّاءِ وَ كَانَ يَشْنَأُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ لَهُ: مَنْ قَطَعَ يَمِينَكَ؟
The Imam-asws (ordered) with the cutting of his right hand, so it was cut. He grabbed it by his left hand, and it was dripping blood. Ibn Al-Kawa met him, and he (Ibn Al-Kawa) was an adversary of Amir Al-Momineen-asws. He said to him, ‘Who cut your right hand?’
قَالَ: قَطَعَ يَمِينِيَ الْأَنْزَعُ الْبَطِينُ، وَ بَابُ الْيَقِينِ، وَ حَبْلُ اللَّهِ الْمَتِينُ، وَ الشَّافِعُ يَوْمَ الدِّينِ الْمُصَلِّي إِحْدَى وَ خَمْسِينَ.
He said, ‘My right hand was but by the filled belly (Anza’a Al-Bateen), and the door of certainty, and the strong Rope of Allah-azwj, and the intercessor on the Day of Reckoning, the prayer of fifty-one (Cycles of Salat).
قَطَعَ يَمِينِي إِمَامُ التُّقَى، وَ ابْنُ عَمِّ الْمُصْطَفَى، شَقِيقُ النَّبِيِّ الْمُجْتَبَى، لَيْثُ الثَّرَى غَيْثُ الْوَرَى، حَتْفُ الْعِدَى، وَ مِفْتَاحُ النَّدَى، وَ مِصْبَاحُ الدُّجَى.
My right hand was cut by the Imam-asws of the pious, and son-asws of an uncle-as of the Chosen one-saww, compassionate to the Selected Prophet-saww, lion of the earth, downpour of the devoutness, the sword (against) the enemies, and the key of the calling, and lamp for the darkness.
قَطَعَ يَمِينِي إِمَامُ الْحَقِّ، وَ سَيِّدُ الْخَلْقِ، [وَ] فَارُوقُ الدِّينِ، وَ سَيِّدُ الْعَابِدِينَ وَ إِمَامُ الْمُتَّقِينَ، وَ خَيْرُ الْمُهْتَدِينَ، وَ أَفْضَلُ السَّابِقِينَ، وَ حُجَّةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ أَجْمَعِينَ.
My right hand was cut by the Imam-asws of the truth, and chief of the creatures, and distinguisher of the religion, and chief of the worshippers, and Imam-asws of the pious, and best of the Guided ones, and superior of the preceding ones, and Divine Authority of Allah-azwj upon the creatures altogether.
قَطَعَ يَمِينِي إِمَامٌ حَظِيٌّ بَدْرِيٌّ أُحُدِيٌّ مَكِّيٌّ مَدَنِيٌّ أَبْطَحِيٌّ هَاشِمِيٌّ قُرَشِيٌّ أَرْيَحِيٌّ مَوْلَوِيٌّ طَالِبِيٌّ جَرِيُّ قَوِيٌّ لَوْذَعِيٌّ الْوَلِيُّ الْوَصِيُّ.
My right hand was cut by the Imam-asws, the pure of status, (participant of) Badr, (participant of) Ohad, (from) Makkah, (from) Madani, (from) Bat’ha, Hashimite, Qureyshite, of capacious morals, loyal (to Allah-azwj), strong, the iron-hearted, the guardian, the successor.
قَطَعَ يَمِينِي دَاحِي بَابِ خَيْبَرَ، وَ قَاتِلُ مَرْحَبٍ وَ مَنْ كَفَرَ، وَ أَفْضَلُ مَنْ حَجَّ وَ اعْتَمَرَ، وَ هَلَّلَ وَ كَبَّرَ، وَ صَامَ وَ أَفْطَرَ، وَ حَلَقَ وَ نَحَرَ.
My right hand was cut by the up-rooter of the door of Khyber, and killer of Marhab and the ones committing Kufr, and superior of the ones performing Hajj and Umrah, and extols the Holiness (of Allah-azwj, and exclaims the Greatness (of Allah-azwj), and Fasting ones, and breakers of the Fast, and shaves (head), and sacrifices.
قَطَعَ يَمِينِي شُجَاعٌ جَرِيُّ، جَوَادٌ سَخِيٌّ، بُهْلُولٌ شَرِيفُ الْأَصْلِ [الْأُصُولِ «خ»] ابْنُ عَمِّ الرَّسُولِ، وَ زَوْجُ الْبَتُولِ وَ سَيْفُ اللَّهِ الْمَسْلُولُ، الْمَرْدُودُ لَهُ الشَّمْسُ عِنْدَ الْأُفُولِ.
My right hand was cut by an audacious brave, a benevolent generous ones, smiler, one of noble origins, son-asws of an uncle-as of the Rasool-saww, and husband of the chaste one-asws, and sword of Allah-azwj the unsheathed, one the sun returned for him during the setting.
قَطَعَ يَمِينِي صَاحِبُ الْقِبْلَتَيْنِ، الضَّارِبُ بِالسَّيْفَيْنِ، الطَّاعِنُ بِالرُّمْحَيْنِ، [وَ] وَارِثُ الْمَشْعَرَيْنِ، الَّذِي لَمْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ، أَسْمَحُ كُلِّ ذِي كَفَّيْنِ، وَ أَفْصَحُ كُلِّ ذِي شَفَتَيْنِ، أَبُو السَّيِّدَيْنِ الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ.
My right hand was cut by the Master (prayer to) the two Qiblahs, the striker with the two swords, and stabber with two spears, and inheritor of the two sentinels, the one who did not associate with Allah-azwj even for the blink of an eye, most forgiving of everyone one with two palms, more eloquent than all with two lips, father of the two chiefs Al-Hassan-asws and Al-Husayn-asws.
قَطَعَ يَمِينِي عَيْنُ الْمَشَارِقِ وَ الْمَغَارِبِ، تَاجُ لُؤَيِّ بْنِ غَالِبٍ، أَسَدُ اللَّهِ الْغَالِبُ، عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الصَّلَوَاتِ أَفْضَلُهَا وَ مِنَ التَّحِيَّاتِ أَكْمَلُهَا.
My hand was cut by the eye of the East(s) and the West(s), crown of Luay Bin Ghalib (ancestor of Rasool-Allah-saww), the overcoming lion of Allah-azwj, Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, upon him-asws be from the Salawaats, the superior of it, and from the regards, it’s perfect’.
فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ الْغُلَامُ عَنِ الثَّنَاءِ وَ مَضَى لِسَبِيلِهِ، دَخَلَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْكَوَّاءِ عَلَى الْإِمَامِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ لَهُ: السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ.
When the boy was free from the praise and went on his way, Abdullah Bin Al-Kawa entered to see the Imam-asws. He said to him-asws, ‘The greetings be upon you-asws, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws!’
فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ: السَّلامُ عَلى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدى وَ خَشِيَ عَوَاقِبَ الرَّدَى.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said to him: and the greetings be upon one who follows the Guidance [20:47], and fears the consequences of the ruination’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ [ابْنُ الْكَوَّاءِ]: يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنَيْنِ قَطَعْتَ يَمِينَ غُلَامٍ أَسْوَدَ وَ سَمِعْتُهُ يُثْنِي عَلَيْكَ بِكُلِّ جَمِيلٍ. فَقَالَ: وَ مَا سَمِعْتَهُ يَقُولُ؟ قَالَ: كَذَا وَ كَذَا. وَ أَعَادَ عَلَيْهِ جَمِيعَ مَا قَالَ الْغُلَامُ.
Ibn Al Kawa said to him-asws, ‘O father-asws of Al-Hassan-asws and Al-Husayn-asws! You-asws cut the right hand of a black boy and I heard him-asws praising upon you-asws will all beauty’. He-asws said: ‘And what did you hear him saying?’ He said, ‘Such and such’ – and repeated to him-asws the entirety of what the boy had said.
فَقَالَ الْإِمَامُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لِوَلَدَيْهِ الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ: امْضِيَا وَ أْتِيَانِي بِالْعَبْدِ.
The Imam-asws said to his-asws two sons-asws Al-Hassan-asws and Al-Husayn-asws: ‘Go and come to me-asws with the slave’.
فَمَضَيَا فِي طَلَبِهِ فِي كِنْدَةَ فَقَالا لَهُ: أَجِبْ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَا غُلَامُ.
They-asws went in search for him in Kindah. They-asws said to him: ‘Answer Amir Al-Momineen-asws, O boy!’
فَلَمَّا مَثُلَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ لَهُ: قَطَعْتُ يَمِينَكَ وَ أَنْتَ تُثْنِي عَلَيَّ بِمَا قَدْ بَلَغَنِي؟! فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا قَطَعْتَهَا إِلَّا بِحَقٍّ وَاجِبٍ أَوْجَبَهُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ.
When he was presented in front of Amir Al-Momineen-asws, he-asws said to him: ‘I-asws cut your right hand and you were praising upon me-asws with what has reached me-asws?’ He said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! You-asws did not cut it except by an Obligatory (a) right obligated by Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww’.
فَقَالَ الْإِمَامُ: أَعْطِنِي الْكَفَّ فَأَخَذَ الْإِمَامُ الْكَفَّ وَ غَطَاهُ بِالرِّدَاءِ، وَ كَبَّرَ وَ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، وَ تَكَلَّمَ بِكَلِمَاتٍ وَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ فِي آخِرِ دُعَائِهِ: آمِينَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.
The Imam-asws said: ‘Give me-asws the (cut) palm’. The Imam-asws took the (cut) palm and covered it with the robe, and exclaimed Takbeer and prayed two Cycles Salat, and spoke with (certain) phrases, and I heard him-asws saying at the end of his-asws supplication: ‘Ameen, Lord-azwj of the worlds’.
وَ رَكَّبَهُ عَلَى الزَّنْدِ وَ قَالَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ: اكْشِفُوا الرِّدَاءَ عَنِ الْكَفِّ. فَكَشَفُوا الرِّدَاءَ عَنِ الْكَفِّ وَ إِذَا الْكَفُّ عَلَى الزَّنْدِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ.
And he-asws installed it upon the forearm and said to his-asws companions: ‘Uncover the robe from the (cut) palm!’ They uncovered the robe from the (cut) palm and there the palm was upon the forearm by the Permission of Allah-azwj.
ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَ لَمْ أَقُلْ لَكَ يَا ابْنَ الْكَوَّاءِ: إِنَّ لَنَا مُحِبِّينَ لَوْ قَطَعْنَا الْوَاحِدَ مِنْهُمْ إِرْباً إِرْباً مَا ازْدَادُوا إِلَّا حُبّاً، وَ لَنَا مُبْغِضِينَ لَوْ أَلْعَقْنَاهُمُ الْعَسَلَ مَا ازْدَادُوا إِلَّا بُغْضاً، وَ هَكَذَا مَنْ يُحِبُّنَا يَنَالُ شَفَاعَتَنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.
Then Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘Did I-asws not say to you, O Ibn Al-Kawa, that for us-asws there are such loving ones, even if we-asws cut one of them into pieces and pieces, they would not increase except in (more) love, and for us-asws there are such hating ones, even if we-asws were to feed them the honey, they would not increase except in hatred, and this is how ones who love us-asws would attain our-asws intercession on the Day of Qiyamah’’.[142]
[1009] – يج: رُوِيَ أَنَّ خَارِجِيّاً اخْتَصَمَ فِي رَجُلٍ آخَرَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَحَكَمَ بَيْنَهُمَا، فَقَالَ الْخَارِجِيُّ: لَا عَدَلْتَ فِي الْقَضِيَّةِ.
(The book) ‘Al-Kharaij’ – It is reported that a Kharijite contended regarding another man to Ali-asws, so he-asws judged between the two. The Kharijite said, ‘You-asws have not been just in the judging’.
فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: اخْسَأْ يَا عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ. فَاسْتَحَالَ [الْخَارِجِيُ] كَلْباً وَ طَارَ ثِيَابُهُ فِي الْهَوَاءِ، فَجَعَلَ يُبَصْبِصُ وَ تَدْمَعُ عَيْنَاهُ فَرَقَّ لَهُ وَ دَعَا لَهُ، فَأَعَادَهُ إِلَى حَالِ الْإِنْسَانِيَّةِ وَ تَرَاجَعَتْ مِنَ الْهَوَاءِ ثِيَابُهُ،
He-asws said: ‘Be despised, O enemy of Allah-azwj!’ The Kharijite morphed into a dog and his clothes flew off in the air. He went on to beseech and his eyes were shedding tears. He-asws felt pity to him and supplicated for him, and he returned to his human state and his clothes returned from the air.
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: إِنَّ آصَفَ وَصِيَّ سُلَيْمَانَ قَدْ صَنَعَ نَحْوَهُ فَقَصَّ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ [بِقَوْلِهِ:] قالَ الَّذِي عِنْدَهُ عِلْمٌ مِنَ الْكِتابِ أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ أَيُّمَا أَكْرَمُ عَلَى اللَّهِ! نَبِيُّكُمْ أَمْ سُلَيْمَانُ! قَالُوا: نَبِيُّنَا.
Ali-asws said: ‘Asif-as, successor-as of Suleyman-as had done approximate to it, so Allah-azwj Narrated about him-as by His-azwj Words: The one with whom was the knowledge from the Book said, ‘I will come to you with it before your glance returns to you’. [27:40]. But, which of the two is more honourable unto Allah-azwj, your Prophet-saww or Suleyman-as?’ They said, ‘Our Prophet-saww’.
فَقِيلَ لَهُ: مَا حَاجَتُكَ فِي قِتَالِ مُعَاوِيَةَ إِلَى الْأَنْصَارِ؟
It was said to him-asws, ‘What was your need to the Helpers in fighting against Muawiya?’
قَالَ: إِنَّمَا أَدْعُو هَؤُلَاءِ لِثُبُوتِ الْحُجَّةِ وَ كَمَالِ الْمِحْنَةِ، وَ لَوْ أُذِنَ لِي فِي الدُّعَاءِ بِهَلَاكِهِ لَمَا تَأَخَّرَ.
He-asws said: ‘But rather I-asws am leaving them for proving the argument and perfecting the Trial, and had there been permission for me-asws in supplicating for his (Muawiya’s) destruction, I-asws would not delay’’.[143]
[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 901 a
[2] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 901 b
[3] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 901 c
[4] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 901 d
[5] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 901 e
[6] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 901 f
[7] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 901 g
[8] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 901 h
[9] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 901 i
[10] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 901 j
[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 902
[12] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 903
[13] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 904
[14] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 905 a
[15] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 905 b
[16] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 905 c
[17] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 905 d
[18] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 905 e
[19] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 905 f
[20] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 906
[21] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 907 a
[22] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 907 b
[23] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 908
[24] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 909
[25] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 910
[26] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 911
[27] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 912
[28] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 913
[29] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 914
[30] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 915
[31] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 916
[32] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 917
[33] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 918
[34] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 919
[35] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 920
[36] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 921
[37] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 922
[38] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 923
[39] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 924
[40] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 925
[41] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 926
[42] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 927
[43] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 928
[44] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 929
[45] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 930 a
[46] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 930 b
[47] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 930 c
[48] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 930 d
[49] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 930 e
[50] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 930 f
[51] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 930 g
[52] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 930 h
[53] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 930 i
[54] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 930 j
[55] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 931
[56] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 932 a
[57] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 932 b
[58] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 932 c
[59] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 932 d
[60] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 932 e
[61] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 933
[62] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 934 a
[63] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 934 b
[64] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 934 c
[65] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 934 d
[66] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 935
[67] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 936
[68] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 937
[69] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 938
[70] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 939
[71] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 940
[72] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 941 a
[73] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 941 b
[74] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 942
[75] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 943
[76] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 944
[77] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 945
[78] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 946
[79] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 947
[80] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 948
[81] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 949
[82] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 950
[83] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 951 a
[84] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 951 b
[85] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 951 c
[86] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 952
[87] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 953
[88] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 954
[89] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 955
[90] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 956
[91] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 957
[92] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 958
[93] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 959
[94] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 960
[95] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 961
[96] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 962
[97] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 963
[98] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 964
[99] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 965
[100] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 966
[101] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 967
[102] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 968
[103] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 969
[104] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 970
[105] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 971
[106] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 972
[107] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 973
[108] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 31 H 974
[109] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 32 H 975
[110] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 32 H 976
[111] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 32 H 977
[112] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 32 H 978
[113] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 32 H 979
[114] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 32 H 980
[115] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 32 H 981
[116] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 32 H 982
[117] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 983
[118] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 984
[119] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 985
[120] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 986
[121] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 987
[122] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 988
[123] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 989
[124] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 990
[125] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 991
[126] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 992
[127] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 993
[128] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 994
[129] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 995
[130] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 996
[131] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 997
[132] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 998
[133] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 999
[134] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 100
[135] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 1001
[136] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 1002
[137] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 1003
[138] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 1004
[139] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 1005
[140] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 1006
[141] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 1007
[142] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 1008
[143] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 33 H 1009