ومن كتاب له (عليه السلام) إلى معاوية

فَاتَّقِ اللهَ فِيَما لَدَيْكَ، وَانْظُرْ فِي حَقِّهِ عَلَيْكَ، وَارْجِعْ إِلَى مَعْرِفَةِ مَا لَا تُعْذَرُ بَجَهَالَتِهِ، فَإِنَّ لِلطَّاعَةِ أَعْلَاماً وَاضِحَةً، وَسُبُلًا نَيِّرَةً، وَمَحَجَّةً نَهْجَةً، وَغَايَةً مُطَّلَبَةً، يَرِدُهَا الْأَكْيَاسُ، وَيُخَالِفُهَا الْأَنْكَاسُ، مَنْ نَكَبَ عَنْهَا جَارَ عَنِ الْحَقِّ، وَخَبَطَ فِي التِّيهِ، وَغَيَّرَ اللهُ نِعْمَتَهُ، وَأحَلَّ بِهِ نِقْمَتَهُ.

Fear Allāh regarding what you have amassed and find out your true right therein, and turn to understand for what you will not be excused on the grounds of ignorance. Certainly, for (following the path of) obedience there are clear signs, shining ways, straight highways and a fixed aim. The shrewd proceed towards them while the mean turn away from them. Whoever turns his face from them deviates from the right and gropes in bewilderment. Allāh takes away His bounty from him and afflicts him with His chastisement.

فَنَفْسَكَ نَفْسَكَ! فَقَدْ بَيَّنَ اللهُ لَكَ سَبِيلَكَ، وَحَيْثُ تَنَاهَتْ بِكَ أُمُورُكَ، فَقَدْ أَجْرَيْتَ إِلَى غَايَةِ خُسْرٍ، وَمَحَلَّةِ كُفْرٍ، فَإِنَّ نَفْسَكَ قَدْ أَوْحَلَتْكَ شَرّاً، وَأَقْحَمَتْكَ غَيّاً، وَأَوْرَدَتْكَ الْمَهَالِكَ، وَأَوْعَرَتْ عَلَيْكَ الْمَسَالِكَ.

Therefore, beware of yourself. Allāh has already shown you your way and the end where your affairs will terminate. You are speeding towards the aim of loss and the position of unbelief. Your ego has pushed you towards evil, thrown you into misguidance conveyed you to destruction and created difficulties in your way.

Extrait d’une de ses lettres à Müu’awiyat

Crains Dieu dans tes actions, agis selon le droit qu'il a envers toi et reconnais ce dont l’ignorance n’est pas excusable. Car l’obéissance a des signes clairs, des voies lumineuses, un chemin droit bien délimité et une finalité qui aide celui qui y tend. Les sages obéissent et les vils désobéissent. Celui qui se dévie du droit chemin ne suit pas la justice, divague dans des labyrinthes, Dieu lui enlève Ses grâces et lui applique sa vengeance.

Aie pitié de ton âme! Dieu t’a montré ton chemin, mais tes affaires t’ont mené à la perdition et à l’athéisme et ton âme t’a fait entrer dans l’arène du mal, jeté dans l’égarement, introduit dans la détresse et fermé devant toi les voies du salut.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #30