ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام) بعد التحكيم وما بلغه من أمر الحكمين وفيها حمد الله على بلائه، ثمّ بيان سبب البلوى

Amīr al-mu’minīn said after Arbitration. [1]

الْحَمْدُ للهِ وَإنْ أَتَى الدَّهْرُ بِالْخَطْبِ الْفَادِحِ وَالْحَدَثِ الْجَلِيلِ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلهَ إِلاّ اللهُ، لَيْسَ مَعَهُ إِلهٌ غَيْرُهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ صلى الله عليه وآله.

All praise is due to Allāh even though time has brought (for us) crushing calamity and great occurrence. And I stand witness that there is no god but Allāh the One, there is no partner for Him nor is there with Him any god other than Himself, and that Muhammad is His slave and His Prophet (May Allāh’s blessing and greeting be upon him and his progeny).

مَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ مَعْصِيَةَ النَّاصِحِ الشَّفِيقِ الْعَالِمِ الُْمجَرِّبِ تُورِثُ الْحَسْرَةَ، وَتُعْقِبُ النَّدَامَةَ، وَقَدْ كُنْتُ أَمَرْتُكُمْ في هذِهِ الْحُكُومَةِ أَمْرِي، وَنَخَلْتُ لَكُمْ مَخزُونَ رَأْيِي لَوْ كَانَ يُطَاعُ لِقَصِيرٍأَمْرٌ! فَأَبَيْتُمْ عَلَيَّ إِبَاءَ الُْمخَالِفِينَ الْجُفَاةِ، وَالمُنَابِذِينَ الْعُصَاةِ، حَتَّى ارْتَابَ النَّاصِحُ بِنُصْحِهِ، وَضَنَّ الزَّنْدُ بِقَدْحِهِچ، فَكُنْتُ وَإِيَّاكُمْ كَمَا قَالَ أَخُو هَوَازِنَ:

So now, certainly the disobedience of sympathetic counsellor who has knowledge as well as experience brings about disappointment and result in repentance. I had given you my orders about this arbitration and put before you my hidden view, if Qasir’s [2] orders were fulfilled but you rejected it (my orders) like rough opponents and disobedient insurgents till the counsellor himself fell in doubt about his counsel and the flint (of his wit) ceased to give flame. Consequently, mine and your position became as the poet of Hawāzin says:

أَمَرْتُكُمُ أَمْري بِمُنْعَرَجِ اللِّوَى *** فَلَمْ تَسْتَبِينُوا النُّصْحَ إِلاَّ ضُحَى الْغَدِ

I gave you my orders at Mun‘araji’l-liwã but you did not see the good of my counsel till the noon of next day (when it was too late). [3]

Extrait d’un discours prononcé après l’arbitrage lorsqu’il est mis au courant du comportement des deux arbitres. Il y rend grâce à Dieu pour cette épreuve dont il donne les raisons

Grâce à Dieu, même si les vicissitudes du sort ont engendré un malheur lourd à supporter; le résultat de l’arbitrage [au désavantage de ’Ali]. Je témoigne qu’il n’y a qu’un seul Dieu qui n’a pas d’associés et que Mouhammad est son serviteur et son Envoyé, qu’il soit béni.

D’ailleurs, la désobéissance du conseiller compatissant, connaisseur et expérimenté engendre l’angoisse et le regret. Je vous avais donné mon avis contraire à votre choix de l’arbitre [Abou Moussa Al Ash’ari], et averti que l’arbitrage n’est qu’une ruse [de Mou’awiyat], mais vous ne m’avez pas obéi! Vous m’aviez contredit avec âpreté et rejeté comme des rebelles, jusqu’à ce que le conseiller [’Ali] doutât de ses conseils [choisir comme arbitre ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas ou Al Ashtar Al Nakh’I] et perdît son bon avis...

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #35