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INSTRUCTION 76

Given to `Abdullah ibn al-`Abbas at the time of his appoint- ment as his Governor of Basrah.

Meet people with a broad face allow them free audience and pass generous orders. Avoid anger because it is a augury of Satan. Remember that whatever takes you near Allah takes you away from the Fire (of Hell) and whatever takes you away from Allah takes you near the Fire.

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INSTRUCTION 77

Given to `Abdullah ibn al-`Abbas at the time of his being deputed to confront the Kharijites.

Do not argue with them by the Qur'an because the Qur'an has many faces. You would say your own and they would say their own; but argue with them by the sunnah because they cannot  find escape from it.

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LETTER 78

To Abu Musa al-Ash`ari in reply to his letter regarding the two arbitrators. Sa`id ibn Yahya al-Umawi has mentioned this in his "Kitab al-maghazi".

Certainly many people have turned away from many a (lasting) benefit (of the next life) for they bent towards the world and spoke with passions. I have been struck with wonder


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[ 76 ] ومن وصية له عليه السلام

لعبد الله بن العباس ،عند استخلافه إياه على البصرة

سَعِ النَّاسَ بِوَجْهِكَ وَمَجْلِسِكَ وَحُكْمِكَ، وإِيَّاكَ وَالْغَضَبَ فَإِنَّهُ طَيْرَةٌ (1) مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ. وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ مَا قَرَّبَكَ مِنَ اللهِ يُبَاعِدُكَ مِنْ النَّارِ، وَمَا بَاعَدَكَ مِنَ اللهِ يُقَرِّبُكَ مِنَ النَّارِ.

[ 77 ] ومن وصيته له عليه السلام

لعبد الله بن عباس، لما بعثه للإحتجاج على الخوارج

لاَتُخَاصِمْهُمْ بِالْقُرْآنِ، فَإِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ حَمَّالٌ (1) ذُو وُجُوهٍ، تَقُولُ وَيَقُولُونَ، وَلكِنْ حاجِجْهُمْ بالسُّنَّةِ، فَإِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يَجِدُوا عَنْهَا مَحِيصاً (2) .

[ 78 ] ومن كتاب له عليه السلام

إلى أبي موسى الاشعري، جواباً في أمر الحكمين

ذكره سعيد بن يحيى الاموي في كتاب المغازي

فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ تَغَيَّرَ كَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ كَثِيرٍ مِنْ حَظِّهِمْ، فَمَالُوا مَعَ الدُّنْيَا، وَنَطَقُوا بِالْهَوى، وَإِنِّي نَزَلْتُ مِنْ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ مَنْزِلاً مُعْجِباً (1) ،


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in this matter upon which people who are self-conceited have agreed. I am providing a cure for their wound but I fear lest it develops into a clot of blood (and becomes incurable). Remember  that no person is more covetous than I for the unity of the ummah of Muhammad (may Allah bless him and his descendants)  and their solidarity. I seek through it good reward and an honourable place to return to.

I shall fulfil what I have pledged upon myself even though you may go back from the sound position that existed when you left me last because wretched is he who is denied the benefit of wisdom and experience. I feel enraged if anyone speaks wrong or if I should worsen a matter which Allah has kept sound. Therefore leave out what you do not understand because wicked people will be conveying to you vicious things; and that is an end to the matter.

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LETTER 79

To the army officers when Amir al-mu'minin became Caliph.

Now what ruined those before you was that they denied people their rights and then they had to purchase them (by bribes) and they led the people to wrong and they followed it.

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اجْتَمَعَ بِهِ أَقْوَامٌ أَعْجَبَتْهُمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ،و َأَنَا أُدَاوِي مِنْهُمْ قَرْحاً (2) أَخَافُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَقاً (3) . وَلَيْسَ رَجُلٌ ـ فَاعْلَمْ ـ أَحْرَصَ عَلَى جَمَاعَةِ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ و َأُلْفَتِهَا مِنِّي، أَبْتَغِي بِذلِكَ حُسْنَ الثَّوَابِ، وَكَرَمَ الْمَآبِ (4) ، وَسَأَفِي بِالَّذِي وَأيْتُ (5) عَلَى نَفْسِي، وَإِنْ تَغَيَّرْتَ عَنْ صَالِحِ مَا فَارَقْتَنِي عَلَيْهِ، فَإِنَّ الشَّقِيَّ مَنْ حُرِمَ نَفْعَ مَا أُوتِيَ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ وَالتَّجْرِبَةِ، وَإِنِّي لَأَعْبَدُ (6) أَنْ يَقُولَ قَائِلٌ بِبَاطِلٍ،أَنْ أُفْسِدَ أَمْراً قَدْ أَصْلَحَهُ اللهُ، فَدَعْ مَا لاَ تَعْرِفُ، فَإِنَّ شِرَارَ النَّاسِ طَائِرُونَ إِلَيْكَ بِأَقَاويِلِ السُّوءِ، وَالسَّلاَمُ.

[ 79 ] ومن كتاب له عليه السلام

لما استُخْلِف، إلى أمراء الأجناد

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فإِنَّمَا أَهْلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ أَنَّهُمْ مَنَعُوا النَّاسَ الْحَقَّ فَاشْتَرَوْهُ، وَأَخَذُوهُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ فَاقْتَدَوْهُ (1) .

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