( 626 )

SERMON 166

Advice for observing courtesy and kindness and keeping in and out of the same

The young among you should follow the elders while the elders should be kind to the young. Do not be like those rude people of the pre-lslamic (al-jahiliyyah) period who did not exert themselves in religion nor use their intellects in the matter of Allah. They (1) are like the breaking of eggs in the nest of a dangerous bird because their breaking looks bad but keeping them intact would mean the production of dangerous young ones.

A part of the same sermon

About the autocracy and oppression of the Umayyads and their fate

They will divide after their unity and scatter away from their centre. Some of them will stick to the branches and bending down as the branches bend until Allah the Sublime will collect them together for the day that will be worst for the Umayyads just as the scattered bits of clouds collect together in the autumn. Allah will create affection among them. Then He will make them into a strong mass like the mass of clouds. Then he will open doors for them to flow out from their starting place like the flood of the two gardens (of Saba') from which neither high rocks remained safe nor small hillocks and its flow could be repulsed neither by strong mountains nor by high lands. Allah will scatter them in the low lands of valleys and then He will make them flow like streams throughout the earth and through them He will arrange the taking of rights of one people by another people and make one people to stay in the houses of another people. By Allah all their position and esteem will dissolve as fat dissolves on the fire.


( 627 )

[ 166 ] ومن خطبة له عليه السلام

الحثّ على التآلف

لِيَتَأَسَّ (1) صَغِيرُكُمْ بِكَبِيرِكُمْ، وَلْيَرأَفْ كَبِيرُكُمْ بِصَغيرِكُمْ، وَلاَ تَكُونُوا كَجُفَاةِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ: لاَ في الدِّينِ يَتَفَقَّهُونَ، وَلاَ عَنِ اللهِ يَعْقِلُونَ، كَقَيْضِ (2) بَيْضٍ في أَدَاحٍ (3) يَكُونُ كَسْرُهَا وِزْراً، وَيُخْرِجُ حِضَانُهَا شَرّاً.

بنو أمية

و منها: افْتَرَقُوا بَعْدَ أُلْفَتِهِمْ، وَتَشَتَّتُوا عَنْ أَصْلِهِمْ، فَمِنْهُمْ آخِذٌ بِغُصْنٍ أَيْنَما مَالَ مَالَ مَعَهُ. عَلَى أَنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى سَيَجْمَعُهُمْ لِشَرِّ يَوْمٍ لِبَنِي أُمَيَّةَ، كَمَا تَجْتَمِعُ قَزَعُ الْخَرِيفِ (4) يُؤَلِّفُ اللهُ بَيْنَهُمْ، ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُمْ رُكَاماً كَرُكَامِ (5) السَّحَابِ، ثُمَّ يَفْتَحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَاباً، يَسِيلُونَ مِنْ مُسْتَثَارِهِمْ كَسَيْلِ الْجَنَّتَيْنِ، حَيْثُ لَمْ تَسْلَمْ عَلَيْهِ قَارَةٌ، وَلَمْ تَثْبُتْ عَلَيْهِ أَكَمَةٌ (6) ، وَلَمْ يَرُدَّ سَنَنَهُ رَصُّ طَوْدٍ، وَلاَ حِدَابُ أَرْضٍ. يُذعْذِعُهُمُ (7) اللهُ فِي بُطُونِ أَوْدِيَتِهِ، ثُمَّ يَسْلُكُهُمْ يَنَابِيعَ فِي الْأَرْضِ، يَأَخُذُ بِهِمْ مِنْ قَوْمٍ حُقُوقَ قَوْمٍ، وَيُمَكِّنُ لِقَوْمٍ فِي دِيَارِ قَوْمٍ. وَايْمُ اللهِ، لَيَذُوبَنَّ مَا فِي أَيْدِيهمْ بَعْدَ الْعُلُوِّ وَالتَّمْكِينِ، كَمَا تَذُوبُ الْأَلْيَةُ عَلَى النَّارِ.


( 628 )

The cause of tyranny

O' people! If you had not evaded support of the truth and had not felt weakness from crushing wrong then he who was not your match would not have aimed at you and he who overpowered you would not have overpowered you. But you roamed about the deserts (of disobedience) like Banu Isra'il (Children of Israel). I swear by my life that after me your tribulations will increase several times because you will have abandoned the truth behind your backs severed your connection with your near ones and established relations with remote ones. Know that if you had followed him who was calling you (to guidance) he would have made you tread the ways of the Prophet then you would have been spared the difficulties of misguidance and you would have thrown away the crushing burden from your necks.

* * * * *

SERMON 167

At the beginning of his Caliphate.

Fulfilment of rights and obligations and advice to fear Allah in all matters.

Allah the Glorified has sent down a guiding Book wherein He has explained virtue and vice. You should adopt the course of virtue whereby you will have guidance and keep aloof from the direction of vice so that you remain on the right way. (Mind) the obligations (mind) the obligations. Fulfil them for Allah and they will take you to Paradise. Surely Allah has made unlawful the things which are not unknown and made lawful the things which are without defect. He has declared paying regard

(1). The implication is that the outer Islam of these people required that they should not be molested but the consequence of sparing them in this way was that they would create mischief and rebellion.

* * * * *


( 629 )

الناس آخر الزمان

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، لَوْ لَمْ تَتَخَاذَلُوا عَنْ نَصْرِ الْحَقِّ، وَلَمْ تَهِنُوا عَنْ تَوْهِينِ الْبَاطِلِ، لَمْ يَطْمَعْ فِيكُمْ مَنْ لَيْسَ مِثْلَكُمْ، وَلَمْ يَقْوَ مَنْ قَوِيَ عَلَيْكُمْ، لكِنَّكُمْ تِهْتُمْ مَتَاهَ بَنِي إسْرَائِيلَ. وَلَعَمْرِي، لَيُضَعَّفَنَّ لَكُمُ التِّيهُ مِنْ بَعْدِي أَضْعَافاً (8) ، بِمَا خَلَّفْتُمُ الْحَقَّ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِكُمْ، وَقَطَعْتُمُ الْأَدْنى، وَوَصَلْتُمُ الْأَبْعَدَ. وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ إِنِ اتَّبَعْتُمُ الدَّاعِيَ لَكُمْ، سَلَكَ بِكُمْ مِنْهَاجَ الرَّسُولِ، وَكُفِيتُمْ مَؤُونَةَ الْأَعْتِسَافِ، وَنَبَذْتُمُ الثِّقْلَ الْفَادِحَ (9) عَنِ الْأَعْنَاقِ.

[ 167 ] ومن خطبة له عليه السلام

في أوّل خلافته

إنَّ اللهَ سُبْحَانَهُ أَنْزَلَ كِتَاباً هَادِياً بَيَّنَ فِيهِ الْخَيْرَ وَالْشَّرَّ; فَخُذُوا نَهْجَ الْخَيْرِ تَهْتَدُوا، وَاصْدِفُوا (1) عَنْ سَمْتِ الشَّرِّ تَقْصِدُوا. الْفَرَائِضَ الْفَرائِضَ! أَدُّوهَا إلَى اللهِ تُؤَدِّكُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ. إنَّ اللهَ تَعالَى حَرَّمَ حَرَاماً غَيْرَ مَجْهُولٍ، وَأَحَلَّ حَلاَلاً غَيْرَ مَدْخُولٍ (2) ، وَفَضَّلَ حُرْمَةَ

* * * * *


( 630 )

to Muslims as the highest of all regards. He has placed the rights of Muslims in the same grade (of importance) as devotion (to Himself and His oneness). Therefore a Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand every (other) Muslim is safe save in the matter of truth. It is not therefore lawful to molest a Muslim except when it is obligatory.

Hasten towards the most common matter which is peculiar to every one; and that is death. Certainly people (who have already gone) are ahead of you while the hour (Day of Judgement) is driving you from behind. Remain light in order that you may overtake them. Your backs are being awaited for the sake of the fronts. Fear Allah in the matter of His creatures and His cities because you will be questioned even about lands and beasts. Obey Allah and do not disobey Him. When you see virtue adopt it and when you see vice avoid it.

* * * * *

SERMON 168

After swearing of allegiance to Amir al-mu'minin some people from among the companions of the Prophet said to him "You should punish the people who assaulted 'Uthman " whereupon he said:

O' my brothers! I am not ignorant of what you know but how do I have the power for it while those who assaulted him are in the height of their power. They have superiority over us not we over them. They are now in the position that even your slaves have risen with them and Bedouin Arabs too have joined them. They are now among you and are harming you as they like. Do you see any way to be able to do what you aim at.

This demand is certainly that of the pre-Islamic (al-jahiliyyah) period and these people have support behind them. When


( 631 )

الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْحُرَمِ كُلِّهَا، وَشَدَّ بِالْإَخْلاَصِ وَالتَّوحِيدِ حُقُوقَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فِي مَعَاقِدِهَا (3) ، فَالْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ، وَلاَ يَحِلُّ أَذَى الْمُسْلِمِ إِلاَّ بَمَا يَجِبُ. بَادِرُوا أَمْرَ الْعَامَّةِ وَخَاصَّةَ أَحَدِكُمْ وَهُوَ الْمَوْتُ (4) ، فَإنَّ النَّاسَ أَمَامَكُمْ، وَإِنَّ السَّاعَةَ تَحْدُوكُمْ مِنْ خَلْفِكُمْ، تَخَفَّفُوا تَلْحَقُوا، فَإنَّمَا يُنْتَظَرُ بِأَوَّلِكُمْ آخِرُكُمْ. اتَّقُوا اللهَ فِي عِبَادِهِ وَبِلاَدِهِ، فَإنَّكُمْ مَسْؤُولُونَ حَتَّى عَنِ الْبِقَاعِ وَالْبَهَائِمِ، أَطِيعُوا اللهَ وَلاَ تَعْصُوهُ، وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْخَيْرَ فَخُذُوا بِهِ، وَإذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الشَّرَّ فَأَعْرِضُوا عَنْهُ.

[168] ومن كلام له عليه السلام

بعد ما بويع بالخلافة وقد قال له قوم من الصحابة: لو عاقبت قوماً ممن أجلب على عثمان؟ فقال عليه السلام:

يَا إخْوَتَاهُ! إنِّي لَسْتُ أَجْهَلُ مَا تَعْلَمُونَ، وَلكِنْ كَيْفَ لي بِقُوَّة وَالْقَوْمُ الْمُجْلبُونَ (1) عَلَى حَدِّ شَوْكَتِهِمْ (2) ، يَمْلِكُونَنَا وَلاَ نَمْلِكُهُمْ! وهَاهُمْ هؤُلاَءِ قَدْ ثَارَتْ مَعَهُمْ عِبْدَانِكُمْ، وَالْتَفَّتْ إلَيْهِمْ أَعْرَابُكُمْ، وَهُمْ خِلاَلَكُمْ (3) يَسُومُونَكُمْ (4) مَا شَاؤُوا; وَهَلْ تَرَوْنَ مَوْضِعاً لِقُدْرَةٍ عَلَى شَيءٍ، تُرِيدُونَهُ؟! إنَّ هذَا الْأَمْرَ أَمْرُ جَاهِلِيَّةٍ، وَإِنَّ لِهؤُلاَءِ الْقَوْمِ


( 632 )

the matter is taken up people will have different views about it. One group will think as you do but another will not think as you think and there will be still another group who will be neither this way nor that way. Be patient till people quieten down and hearts settle in their places so that rights can be achieved for people easily. Rest assured from me and see what is given to you by me. Do not do anything which shatters your power weakens your strength and engenders feebleness and disgrace. I shall control this affair as far as possible but if I find it necessary the last treatment will of course be branding with a hot iron (through fighting).

* * * * *

SERMON 169

When the people of Jamal set off for

Basrah Amir al-mu'minin said:

There is no doubt that Allah sent down the Prophet as a guide with an eloquent Book and a standing command. No one will be ruined by it except one who ruins himself. Certainly only doubtful innovations cause ruin except those from which Allah may protect. In Allah's authority lies the safety of your affairs. Therefore render Him such obedience as is neither blameworthy nor insincere. By Allah you must do so otherwise Allah will take away from you the power of Islam and will never thereafter return it to you till it reverts to others.

Certainly these people are in agreement in disliking my auth-
ority. I will carry on till I perceive disunity among you; because if in spite of the unsoundness of their view they succeed the whole


( 633 )

مَادَّةً (5) . إنَّ النَّاسَ مِنْ هذَا الْأَمْرِ ـ إذَا حُرِّكَ ـ عَلَى أُمُورٍ: فِرْقَةٌ تَرَى مَا تَرَوْنَ، وَفِرقْةٌ تَرَى مَا لاَ تَرَوْنَ، وَفِرْقَةٌ لاَ تَرَى لا هذَا وَلاَ هذَا، فَاصْبِرُوا حَتَّى يَهْدَأَ النَّاسُ، وَتَقَعَ الْقُلُوبُ مَوَاقِعَهَا، وَتُؤْخَذَ الْحُقُوقُ مُسْمَحَةً (6) ; فَاهْدَأُوا عَنِّي، وَانْظُرُوا مَاذَا يَأْتِيكُمْ بِهِ أَمْرِي، وَلاَ تَفْعَلُوا فَعْلَةً تُضَعْضِعُ (7) قُوَّةً، وَتُسْقِطُ مُنَّةً (8) ، وَتُورِثُ وَهْناً (9) وَذِلَّةً. وَسَأُمْسِكُ الْأَمْرَ مَا اسْتَمْسَكَ، وَإذَا لَمْ أَجِدْ بُدّاً فَآخِرُ الدَّواءِ الْكَيُّ (10) .

[ 169 ] ومن خطبة له عليه السلام

عند مسير أصحاب الجمل إلى البصرة

الامور الجامعة للمسلمين

إنَّ اللهَ تَعالَى بَعَثَ رَسُولاً هَادِياً بِكِتَابٍ نَاطِقٍ وَأَمْرٍ قَائمٍ، لاَ يَهْلِكُ عَنْهُ إلاَّ هَالِكٌ (1) ، وَإنَّ الْمُبْتَدَعَاتِ (2) الْمُشَبَّهَاتِ (3) هُنَّ الْمُهْلِكَاتُ إلاَّ مَا حَفِظَ اللهُ مِنْهَا، وَإنَّ فِي سُلْطَانِ اللهِ عِصْمَةً لِأَمْرِكُمْ، فَأَعْطُوهُ طَاعَتَكُمْ غَيْرَ مُلَوَّمَةٍ (4) وَلاَ مُسْتَكْرَهٍ بِهَا. وَاللهِ لَتَفْعَلُنَّ أَوْ لَيَنْقُلَنَّ اللهُ عَنْكُمْ سُلْطَانَ الْإَسْلاَمِ، ثُمَّ لاَ يَنْقُلُهُ إلَيكُمْ أَبَداً حَتَّى يَأْرِزَ (5) الْأَمْرُ إلَى غَيْرِكُمْ.

التنفير من خصومه

إنَّ هؤُلاَءِ قَدْ تَمَالَؤوا (6) عَلَى سَخْطَةِ (7) إمَارَتِى، وَسَأَصْبِرُ مَا لَمْ أَخَفْ عَلَى جَمَاعَتِكُمْ; فَإنَّهُمْ إنْ تَمَّمُوا عَلَى فَيَالَةِ (8) هذَا الرَّأْي انْقَطَعَ


( 634 )

organisation of the Muslims will be shattered. They are hankering after this world out of jealousy against him on whom Allah has bestowed it. So they intend reverting the matters on their backs (pre-Islamic period) while on us it is obligatory for your sake to abide by the Book of Allah (Qur'an) the Sublime and the conduct of the Prophet of Allah to stand by His rights and the revival of his sunnah.

* * * * *

SERMON 170

When Amir al-mu'minin approached Basrah an Arab met him and spoke to him as he had been sent to him by a group of people of Basrah to enquire from him on their behalf position vis-à-vis the people of Jamal. Amir al-mu'minin explained to him his position with respect to them from which he was convinced that Amir al-mu'minin was in the right. Then Amir al-mu'minin asked him to swear allegiance but he replied "I am just a message carrier of a people and shall not do anything until I get back to them." Upon this Amir al-mu'minin said to him:

If those at your back send you as a forerunner to search out a rain-fed area for them and you return to them and apprise them of greenery and water but they disagree with you and go towards dry and barren land what would you do then? He said: I would leave them and go towards greenery and water. Amir al-mu'minin then said: So then extend your hand.

This man related that: By Allah by such a clear argument I could not refrain from swearing allegiance to Amir al-mu'minin.

This man was know as Kulayb al-Jarmi.


( 635 )

نِظَامُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَإنَّمَا طَلَبُوا هذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَداً لِمَنْ أَفَاءَهَا (9) اللهُ عَلَيْهِ، فَأَرَادُوا رَدَّ الْأُمُورِ عَلَى أَدْبَارِهَا. وَلَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا الْعَمَلُ بِكِتَابِ اللهِ وَسِيرَةِ رَسُولِهِ -صَلَّي اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ-، وَالْقِيَامُ بِحَقِّهِ، وَالْنَّعْشُ (10) لِسُنَّتِهِ.

[ 170 ] ومن كلام له عليه السلام

في وجوب اتباع الحقّ عند قيام الحجّة

كلّم به بعض العرب، وقد أرسله قوم من أهل البصرة لما قرب عليه السلام منها ليعلم لهم منه حقيقة حاله مع أصحاب الجمل لتزول الشبهة من نفوسهم، فبيّن له عليه السلام من أمره معهم ما علم به أنّه على الحقّ. ثمّ قال له: بايع. فقال: إني رسول قوم، ولا أحدِث حدثاً حتى أرجع إليهم. فقال عليه السلام:

أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ الَّذِينَ وَرَاءَكَ بَعَثُوكَ رَائِداً تَبْتَغِي لَهُمْ مَسَاقِطَ الْغَيْثِ، فَرَجَعْتَ إلَيْهِمْ وَأَخْبَرْتَهُمْ عَنِ الْكَلإَ وَالْمَاءِ، فَخَالَفُوا إلى الْمَعَاطِشِ وَالْمَجَادِبِ، مَا كُنْتَ صَانِعاً؟ قال: كُنْتُ تَارِكَهُمْ وَمُخَالِفَهُمْ إلى الْكَلاَءِ وَالْمَاءِ. فَقَالَ لَهُ ـ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ـ: فَامْدُدْ إذاً يَدَكَ. فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ: فَوَاللهِ مَااسْتَطَعْتُ أَنْ أَمْتَنِعَ عِنْدَ قِيَامِ الْحُجَّةِ عَلَيَّ، فَبَايَعْتُهُ عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلاَمُ.

وَالرّجلُ يُعْرَفُ بِكُلَيْب الجَرْمِيّ.

* * * * *