ومن كلام له (عليه السلام) لبعض أصحابه وقد سأله: كيف دفعكم قومكم عن هذا المقام وأنتم أحق به؟ فقال

One of Amīr al-mu’minīn’s companions (from Banū Asad) asked him: “How was it that your tribe (Quraysh) deprived you of this position (Caliphate) although you deserved it most.” Then in reply he said:

يَا أَخَا بَنِي أَسَد، إنَّكَ لَقَلِقُ الْوَضِينِ، تُرْسِلُ فِي غَيْرِ سَدَد، وَلَكَ بَعْدُ ذِمَامَةُ الصِّهْرِ، وَحَقُّ الْمَسْأَلَةِ، وَقَدِ اسْتَعْلَمْتَ فَاعْلَمْ: أمَّا الاسْتِبْدادُ عَلَيْنَا بِهذَا الْمَقامِ وَنَحْنُ الاْعْلَوْنَ نَسَباً، وَالاشَدُّونَ بِالرَّسُولِ نَوْطاً، فَإنَّهَا كَانَتْ أَثَرَةً شَحَّتْ عَلَيْهَا نُفُوسُ قَوْم، وَسَخَتْ عَنْهَا نُفوسُ آخَرِينَ، وَالْحَكَمُ اللهُ، وَالْمَعْوَدُ إلَيْهِ الْقِيَامَةُ.

O brother of Banū Asad! Your girth is loose and you have put it on the wrong way. Nevertheless you enjoy in-law kinship and also the right to ask, and since you have asked, listen. As regards the oppression against us in this matter although we were the highest as regards descent and the strongest in relationship with the Messenger of Allāh. It was a selfish act over which the hearts of people became greedy, although some people did not care for it. The Arbiter is Allāh and to Him is the return on the Day of Judgement.

وَدَعْ عَنْكَ نَهْباً صِيحَ فِي حَجَرَاتِهِ * وَلكِنْ حَدِيثاً مَا حَدِيثُ الرَّوَاحِلِ

“Now leave this story of devastation about which there is hue and cry all round.” [1]

وَهَلُمَّ الْخَطْبَ فِي ابْنِ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، فَلَقَدْ أَضْحَكَنِي الدَّهْرُ بَعْدَ إبْكَائِهِ، وَلاَ غَرْوَوَاللهِ، فَيَا لَهُ خَطْباً يَسْتَفْرِغُ الْعَجَبَ، وَيُكْثِرُ الاَوَدَ، حَاوَلَ الْقَوْمُ إِطْفَاءَ نَورِ اللهِ مِنْ مِصْباحِهِ، وَسَدَّ فَوَّارِهِ مِنْ يَنْبُوعِهِ، وَجَدَحُوا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُمْ شِرْباً وَبِيئاً، فَإنْ تَرْتَفِعْ عَنَّا وَعَنْهُمْ مِحَنُ الْبَلْوَى، أَحْمِلْهُمْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ عَلَى مَحْضِهِ، وَإنْ تَكُنِ الاُخْرَى، ﴿فَلَا تَذْهَبْ نَفْسُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسَرَاتٍ إِنَّ اللهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ﴾.

Come and look at the son of Abū Sufyān (Mu‘āwiyah). Time has made me laugh after weeping. No wonder, by Allāh; what is this affair which surpasses all wonder and which has increased wrongfulness. These people have tried to put out the flame of Allāh’s light from His lamp and to close His fountain from its source. They mixed epidemicproducing water between me and themselves. If the trying hardships were removed from among us, I would take them on the course of truthfulness other wise: “... So let not thy self go (in vain) in grief for them; verily Allāh knoweth all that they do.” (Qur’ān, 35:8)

Extrait de ses paroles en réponse à la question de l’un de ses compagnons: comment t’ont-ils éloigné du califat qui ne sied qu’à toi?

0 frère de la tribu Assad! Tu es inquiet, semblable à une sangle non ferme; tu parles sans droiture et malgré cela tu jouis de l’immunité du gendre et du droit de poser des questions. Voici la réponse à la intimité avec le Prophète, était la conséquence d’une préférence non justifiée chez des gens qui ont été avares envers nous et généreux envers d’autres; l'arbitre est Dieu au Jour du Jugement.

Souviens-toi de l'affaire grave du fils de Abi Soufian [Mou’awiyat], une affaire qui m’a fait rire après mes pleurs. Il n’y a pas de quoi s’étonner, par Dieu! C’est une affaire qui suscite l’étonnement, tant elle est tortueuse! Ces gens ont essayé d’éteindre la lumière de Dieu en éteignant Sa lampe [‘Ali] et en bouchant l'ouverture de Sa source Si les malheurs de cette épreuve se dissipent, je les aiderai à revenir à la pure vérité; sinon, «que tou âme ne se répande donc pas en regrets pour eux: Allah est parfaitement Savant de ce qu’ils fabriquent» (Le Créateur, 8)

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #162