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LETTER 55

To Mu`awiyah

Now Allah the Glorified has made this world for what is to come hereafter and put its inhabitants to trial as to which of you is good in action and we have not been created for this world nor ordered to strive for it but we have been made to stay in it to stand trial therein. So Allah has tried me with you and tried you with me. He has therefore made either of us a plea for the other.

Now you have leapt on the world by a wrong interpretation of the Qur'an and wanted me to account for what neither my hand nor tongue was responsible but you and the Syrians put the blame on me and your scholar incited against me the ignorant and one who is sitting incited the one who is standing. You should fear Allah- about yourself and not allow Satan to lead you. Turn your face towards the next world because that is our path and your path and fear that Allah may not entangle you in any sudden  infliction which may destroy the root as well as cut away the branches. I swear to you by Allah an oath which will not be broken that if destiny brings me and you together I shall steadfastly  hold before you: Until Allah judges between us and He is the Best of the judges. (Qur'an 7:87)

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[ 55 ] ومن كتاب له عليه السلام

إلى معاوية

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ اللهَ سُبْحَانَهُ قَدْ جَعَلَ الدُّنْيَا لِمَا بَعْدَهَا، وَابْتَلَى فِيهَا أَهْلَهَا، لِيَعْلَمَ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلاً، وَلَسْنَا لِلدُّنْيَا خُلِقْنَا، وَلاَ بِالسَّعْيِ فِيهَا أُمِرْنَا، وَإِنَّمَا وُضِعْنَا فِيها لِنُبْتَلَى بِهَا، وَقَدِ ابْتَلاَنِي اللهُ بِكَ وَابْتَلاَكَ بِي: فَجَعَلَ أَحَدَنَا حُجَّةً عَلَى الْآخَرِ، فَعَدَوْتَ (1) عَلَى الدُّنْيَا بَتَأْوِيلِ الْقُرْآنِ، فَطَلَبْتَنِي بِمَا لَمْ تَجْنِ يَدِي وَلاَ لِسَانِي، وَعَصَيْتَهُ أَنْتَ وأَهْلُ الشَّامِ بِي، وَأَلَّبَ (2) عَالِمُكُمْ جَاهِلَكُمْ، وَقَائِمُكُمْ قَاعِدَكُمْ، فَاتَّقِ اللهَ فِي نَفْسِكَ، وَنَازِعِ الشَّيْطَانَ قِيَادَكَ (3) ، وَاصْرِفْ إِلَى الْآخِرَةِ وَجْهَكَ، فَهِيَ طَرِيقُنَا وَطَرِيقُكَ. وَاحْذَرْ أَنْ يُصِيبَكَ اللهُ مِنْهُ بِعَاجِلِ قَارِعَةٍ (4) تَمَسُّ الْأَصْلَ (5) ، وَتَقْطَعُ الدَّابِرَ (6) ، فَإِنِّي أُولِي لَكَ بِاللهِ أَلِيَّةً (7) غَيْرَ فَاجِرَةٍ، لَئِنْ جَمَعَتْنِي وَإِيَّاكَ جَوَامِعُ الْأَقْدَارِ لاَ أَزَالُ بِبَاحَتِكَ (8) (حَتَّى يَحْكُمَ اللهُ بَيْنَنَا وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْحَاكِمِينَ).

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