ومن كتاب له (عليه السلام) إلى محمد بن أبي بكر لما بلغه توجّده من عزله بالأشتر عن مصر، ثم توفي الأشتر في توجهه إلى مصر قبل وصوله إليها
To Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr on coming to know that he had taken over the position of (Mālik) al-Ashtar as Governor of Egypt after the latter had died on his way to Egypt.
أَمَّا بَعْدُ، وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي مَوْجِدَتُكَ مِنْ تَسْرِيحِ الْأَشْتَرِ إِلَى عَمَلِكَ وَإِنِّي لَمْ أَفْعَلْ ذلِكَ اسْتِبْطَاءً لَكَ فِي الجَهْدِ، وَلَا ازْدِيَاداً لَكَ فِي الْجِدِّ، وَلَوْ نَزَعْتُ مَا تَحْتَ يَدِكَ مِنْ سُلْطَانِكَ، لَوَلَّيْتُكَ مَا هُوَ أَيْسَرُ عَلَيْكَ مَؤُونَةً، وَأَعْجَبُ إِلَيْكَ وِلَايَةً
I have come to know of your anger at the posting of al-Ashtar in your place, but I did not do so because of any shortcoming on your part or to get you to increase your efforts, but when I had taken away what was under your authority I would have placed you at a position which would have been less exacting and more attractive to you.
إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ وَلَّيْتُهُ أَمْرَ مِصْرَ كَانَ رَجُلًا لَنَا نَاصِحاً، وَعَلَى عَدُوِّنَا شَدِيداً نَاقِماً فَرَحِمَهُ اللهُ! فَلَقَدِ اسْتَكْمَلَ أَيَّامَهُ، وَلَاقَى حِمَامَهُ وَنَحْنُ عَنْهُ رَاضونَ، أَوْلَاهُ اللهُ رِضْوَانَهُ، وَضَاعَفَ الثَّوَابَ لَهُ.
The man whom I have made Governor of Egypt was my well-wisher, and very harsh and vengeful towards our enemies. May Allāh have mercy on him, as he has finished his days and met his death. I am quite pleased with him. May Allāh too accord him His pleasure, and multiply his reward.
فَأَصْحِرْ لِعَدُوِّكَ، وَامْضِ عَلَى بَصِيرَتِكَ، وَشَمِّرْ لِحَرْبِ مَنْ حَارَبَكَ، وَادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ، وَأَكْثِرِ الِاسْتِعَانَةَ بِاللهِ يَكْفِكَ مَا أَهَمَّكَ، وَيُعِنْكَ عَلَى مَا يُنْزِلُ بِكَ، إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ.
Now get ready for your enemy and act according to your intelligence. Prepare for fighting him who fights you and calling to the path of Allāh. Seek Allāh’s help exceedingly. If Allāh wills He will assist you in what worries you and help you with what befalls you.
