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LETTER 29

To the People of Basrah

Whatever disunity and schism you have is not hidden to you. I have forgiven your wrong-doers and held back my sword from those who ran away. I received everyone who came to me from among you. If devastating matters and wrong and silly views are prompting you to break the pledge with me and to oppose me then (listen) I have kept ready my horses and put saddles (on my riding camels) and if you force me to advance towards you I shall come down in such a manner that before it the battle of Jamal too would appear like the last licking of the tongue. At the same time I know the high position of the obedient among you and the right of the sincere without confusing the sinless with the offenders or the faithful with the pledge-breakers. 

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LETTER 30

To Mu'awiyah

Fear Allah regarding what you have amassed and find out your true right therein and turn to understand for what you will not be excused on the grounds of ignorance. Certainly for (following the path of) obedience there arc clear signs shining ways straight highways and a fixed aim. The shrewd proceed


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[ 29 ] ومن كتاب له عليه السلام

إلى أهل البصرة

وَقَدْ كَانَ مِنِ انْتِشَارِ حَبْلِكُمْ (1) وَشِقَاقِكُمْ مَا لَوْ تَغْبَوْا عَنْهُ (2) ، فَعَفَوْتُ عَنْ مُجْرِمِكُمْ، وَرَفَعْتُ السَّيْفَ عَنْ مُدْبِرِكُمْ، وَقَبِلْتُ مِنْ مُقْبِلِكُمْ. فَإِنْ خَطَتْ (3) بِكُمُ الْأُمُورُ الْمُرْدِيَةُ (4) ، وَسَفَهُ (5) الْآرَاءِ الْجَائِرَةِ (6) ، إِلَىُ مُنَابَذَتِي (7) وَخِلاَفِي، فَهَأَنَاذَا قَدْ قَرَّبْتُ جِيَادِي (8) ، وَرَحَلْتُ (9) رِكَابِي (10) . وَلَئِنْ أَلْجَأْتُمُونِي إِلَى الْمَسِيرِ إِلَيْكُمْ، لَأُوقِعَنَّ بِكُمْ وَقْعَةً لاَ يَكُونُ يَوْمُ الْجَمَلِ إِلَيْهَا إِلاَّ كَلَعْقَةِ (11) لاَعِقٍ، مَعَ أَنِّي عَارِفٌ لِذِي الطَّاعَةِ مِنْكُمْ فَضْلَهُ، وَلِذِي النَّصِيحَةِ حَقَّهُ، غَيْرُ مُتَجَاوِزٍ مُتَّهَماً إِلَى بَرِيٍّ، وَلاَ ناكِثاً (12) إِلَى وَفيٍّ.

[ 30 ] ومن كتاب له عليه السلام

إلى معاوية

فَاتَّقِ اللهَ فِيَما لَدَيْكَ، وَانْظُرْ في حَقِّهِ عَلَيْكَ، وَارْجِعْ إِلَى مَعْرِفَةِ مَا لاَ تُعْذَرُ بَجَهَالَتِهِ، فَإِنَّ لِلطَّاعَةِ أَعْلاَماً وَاضِحَةً، وَسُبُلاً نَيِّرَةً، وَمَحَجَّةً (1) نَهْجَةً (2) ، وَغَايَةً مُطَّلَبَةً (3) ، يَرِدُهَا الْأَكْيَاسُ (4) ،


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towards them while the mean turn away from them. Whoever turns his face from them deviates from the right and gropes in bewilderment. Allah takes away His bounty from him and afflicts him with His chastisement. Therefore beware of yourself. Allah has already shown you your way and the end where your affairs will terminate. You are speeding towards the aim of loss and the position of unbelief. Your ego has pushed you towards evil thrown you into misguidance conveyed you to destruction and created difficulties in your way.


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وَيُخَالِفُهَا الْأَنْكَاسُ (5) ، مَنْ نَكَبَ (6) عَنْهَا جَارَ (7) عَنِ الْحَقِّ، وَخَبَطَ (8) فِي التِّيهِ (9) ، وَغَيَّرَ اللهُ نِعْمَتَهُ، وَأحَلَّ بِهِ نِقْمَتَهُ. فَنَفْسَكَ نَفْسَكَ! فَقَدْ بَيَّنَ اللهُ لَكَ سَبِيلَكَ، وَحَيْثُ تَنَاهَتْ بِكَ أُمُورُكَ، فَقَدْ أَجْرَيْتَ إِلَى غَايَةِ خُسْرٍ (10) ، وَمَحَلَّةِ كُفْرٍ، فَإِنَّ نَفْسَكَ قَدْ أَوْلَجَتْكَ (11) شَرّاً، وَأَقْحَمَتْكَ (12) غَيّاً (13) ، وَأَوْرَدَتْكَ الْمَهَالِكَ، وَأَوْعَرَتْ (14) عَلَيْكَ الْمَسَالِكَ.