ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام) يومىء فيها إلى ذكر الملاحم

يَعْطِفُ الْهَوَى عَلَى الْهُدَى إِذَا عَطَفُوا الْهُدَى عَلَى الْهَوَى، وَيَعْطِفُ الرَّأْيَ عَلَى الْقُرْآنِ إِذَا عَطَفُوا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى الرَّأْيِ.

He will direct desires towards (the path of) guidance while people will have turned guidance towards desires, and he will turn their views to the direction of the Qur’ān while the people will have turned the Qur’ān to their views.

[ومنها :] حَتَّى تَقُومَ الْحَرْبُ بِكُمْ عَلَى سَاقٍ بَادِياً نَوَاجِذُهَا مَمْلُوءَةً أَخْلَافُهَا حُلْواً رَضَاعُهَا عَلْقَماً عَاقِبَتُهَا أَلَا وَفِي غَدٍ وَسَيَأْتِي غَدٌ بِمَا لَا تَعْرِفُونَ يَأْخُذُ الْوَالِي مِنْ غَيْرِهَا عُمَّالَهَا عَلَى مَسَاوِئِ أَعْمَالِهَا وَتُخْرِجُ لَهُ الْأَرْضُ أَفَالِيذَ كَبِدِهَا وَتُلْقِي إِلَيْهِ سِلْماً مَقَالِيدَهَا فَيُرِيكُمْ كَيْفَ عَدْلُ السِّيرَةِ وَيُحْيِي مَيِّتَ الْكِتَابِ وَالسُّنَّةِ.

[A part of the same sermon :] (Before this Enjoiner of Good, [1] matters will deteriorate) till war will rage among you with full force, showing forth its teeth, with udders full of sweet milk but with a sour tip. Beware, it will be tomorrow and the morrow will come soon with things which you do not know. The Man in power, not from this crowd, will take to task all those were formerly appointed for their ill deeds and the earth will pour forth its iternal treasures and fling before him easily her keys. He will show you the just way of behaviour and revive the Qur’ān and sunnah which have become lifeless (among people).

[منها :] كَأَنِّي بِهِ قَدْ نَعَقَ بِالشَّامِ وَفَحَصَ بِرَايَاتِهِ فِي ضَوَاحِي كُوفَانَ فَعَطَفَ عَلَيْهَا عَطْفَ الضَّرُوسِ وَفَرَشَ الْأَرْضَ بِالرُّءُوسِ قَدْ فَغَرَتْ فَاغِرَتُهُ وَثَقُلَتْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَطْأَتُهُ بَعِيدَ الْجَوْلَةِ عَظِيمَ الصَّوْلَةِ.

[A part of the same sermon :] As if I see (him), he (the Enjoiner of Evil) [2] is shouting in Syria (ash-Shām) and is extending his banners to the outskirts of Kūfah. He is bent towards it like the biting of the she-camel. He has covered the ground with heads. His mouth is wide open and (the trampling of) his footsteps on the ground have become heavy. His advance is broad and his attacks are severe.

وَاللَّهِ لَيُشَرِّدَنَّكُمْ فِي أَطْرَافِ الْأَرْضِ حَتَّى لَا يَبْقَى مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ كَالْكُحْلِ فِي الْعَيْنِ فَلَا تَزَالُونَ كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى تَئُوبَ إِلَى الْعَرَبِ عَوَازِبُ أَحْلَامِهَا فَالْزَمُوا السُّنَنَ الْقَائِمَةَ وَالْآثَارَ الْبَيِّنَةَ وَالْعَهْدَ الْقَرِيبَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ بَاقِي النُّبُوَّةِ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّمَا يُسَنِّي لَكُمْ طُرُقَهُ لِتَتَّبِعُوا عَقِبَهُ.

By Allāh, he will disperse you throughout the earth till only a few of you remain, like kohl in the eye. You will continue like this till the Arabs return to their senses. You should therefore stick to established ways, clear signs and the early period which has the lasting virtues of the Prophethood. You should know that Satan makes his ways easy so that you may follow him on his heels.

Extrait d’un discours où il fait allusion aux épopées

Il joint la passion à la bonne guidance s’ils joignent celle-ci à la passion; il joint l’opinion au Coran s’ils joignent celui-ci à l’opinion.

Jusqu’à ce que la guerre s’acharne chez vous, avec ses mamelles pleines de lait doux à téter mais dont les conséquences sont amères. Dans un proche avenir, dont vous ignorez les péripéties, le calife demande des comptes aux gouverneurs des provinces qui avaient mal agi; le pays lui fournit de l’argent et lui livre pacifiquement ses rênes, et alors il vous montrera comment se conduire d’après la justice et vivifiera ce qui était mort dans le Livre et la sounna.

[Le maître de la sédition :] me paraît en train de croasser à Damas et d’examiner la situation militaire dans les environs de Koufa où il a sévi comme une chamelle aux désirs exacerbés et pavé la terre de cadavres. Il a certes ouvert la bouche et exercé tout son poids lourd sur la terre. Il se jette avec fureur sur ses ennemis dans ses tournées de grande envergure.

Par Dieu, il vous dispersera certes aux extrémités de la terre et il ne restera de vous qu’une poignée d’hommes. Vous stagnerez dans cette situation jusqu’à ce que les Arabes reprennent leurs raisons perdues. Attachez-vous aux règles de conduite [pluriel de Sounna] en vigueur, aux traditions claires et à l’alliance toute proche sur laquelle repose les séquelles de la prophétie. Et sachez que Satan vous facilite ses voies pour le suivre.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #138