ومن كتاب له (عليه السلام) إلى بعض أمراء جيشه

فَإِنْ عَادُوا إِلَى ظِلِّ الطَّاعَةِ فَذَاكَ الَّذِي نُحِبُّ، وَإِنْ تَوَافَتِ الْأُمُورُ بِالْقَوْمِ إِلَى الشِّقَاقِ وَالْعِصْيَانِ فَانْهَدْ بِمَنْ أَطاعَكَ إِلَى مَنْ عَصَاكَ، وَاسْتَغْنِ بِمَنِ انْقَادَ مَعَكَ عَمَّنْ تَقَاعَسَ عَنْكَ، فَإِنَّ الْمُتَكَارِهَ مَغِيبُهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مَشْهَدِهِ، وَقُعُودُهُ أَغْنَى مِنْ نُهُوضِهِ.

If they [1] return to the umbrella of obedience then this is all that we want. But if the condition of these people points out towards disruption and disobedience then, taking with you those who obey you, rush upon those who disobey you, and while you have those with you who follow you do not worry about those who hold back from you, because the absence of a half-hearted man is better than his presence, and his sitting down is better than his rising up.

Extrait d’une lettre à quelques Emirs de son armée

S’ils reviennent à l’ombre de l’obéissance ce sera l’attitude que nous aimons. Mais s’ils se concentrent pour déclarer la sédition et la désobéissance, livrez-leur un combat avec ceux qui vous sont restés loyaux, car les récalcitrants feront du bien à l’armée en s’y éloignant.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #4