ومن كلام له (عليه السلام) وقد وقعت مشاجرة بينه وبين عثمان، فقال المغيرة بن الاخنس لعثمان: أنا أكِفيكَه، فقال أميرالمؤمنين صلوات الله عليه للمغيرة:
There was some exchange of words between ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān and Amīr al-mu’minīn when al-Mughīrah ibn al-Akhnas [1] said to ‘Uthmān that he would deal with Amīr al-mu’minīn on his behalf whereupon Amīr al-mu’minīn said to al-Mughīrah:
يَابْنَ اللَّعِينِ الاْبْتَرِ، وَالشَّجَرَةِ الَّتي لاَ أَصْلَ لَهَا وَلاَ فَرْعَ، أَنْتَ تَكْفِينِي، فَوَاللهِ مَاأَعَزَّ اللهُ مَنْ أَنْتَ نَاصِرُهُ، وَلاَ قَامَ مَنْ أَنْتَ مُنْهِضُه، اخْرُجْ عَنَّا أَبْعَدَ اللهُ نَوَاكَ، ثُمَّ ابْلُغْ جَهْدَك، فَلاَ أَبْقَى اللهُ عَلَيْكَ إِنْ أَبْقَيْتَ!
O son of the accursed and issueless, and of a tree which has neither root nor branch. Will you deal with me? By Allāh, Allāh will not grant victory to him whom you support, nor will he be able to stand up whom you raise. Get away from us. Allāh may keep you away from your purpose. Then do whatever you like. Allāh may not have mercy on you if you have pity on me.
