ومن كتاب له (عليه السلام) إلى أبي موسى الأشعري وهو عامله على الكوفة، وقد بلغه عنه تثبيطه الناس عن الخروج إليه لما ندبهم لحرب أصحاب الجمل
To Abū Mūsā (‘Abdullāh ibn Qays) al-Ash‘arī, the Governor of Kūfah when Amīr al-mu’minīn learned that he was dissuading the people of Kūfah from joining in the battle of Jamal when Amīr al-mu’minīn had called them to fight along with him.
مِنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ عَلِيٍّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ.
From the servant of Allāh, Amīr al-mu’minīn to ‘Abdullāh ibn Qays:
أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكَ قَوْلٌ هُوَ لَكَ وَعَلَيْكَ، فإذَا قَدِمَ رَسُولِي عَلَيْكَ فارْفَعْ ذَيْلَكَ، واشْدُدْ مِئْزَرَكَ، واخْرُجْ مِنْ جُحْرِكَ، وَانْدُبْ مَنْ مَعَكَ، فَإِنْ حَقَّقْتَ فَانْفُذْ، وَإِنْ تَفَشَّلْتَ فَابْعُدْ!
Now, I have come to know of words uttered by you which go in your favour as well as against you. [1] So, when my messenger reaches you prepare yourself and get ready, come out of your den and call those who are with you. Then, if you are convinced of the truth get up but if you feel cowardice go away.
وَايْمُ اللهِ لَتُؤْتَيَنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَنْتَ، وَلَا تُتْرَكُ حَتَّى يُخْلَطَ زُبْدُكَ بِخَاثِرِكَ، وَذَائِبُكَ بِجَامِدِكَ، وَحَتَّى تُعْجَلُ عَنْ قِعْدَتِكَ، وَتَحْذَرَ مِنْ أَمَامِكَ كَحَذَرِكَ مِنْ خَلْفِكَ، وَمَا هِيَ بِالْهُوَيْنَى الَّتِي تَرْجُو، وَلَكِنَّهَا الدَّاهِيةُ الْكُبْرَى، يُرْكَبُ جَمَلُهَا، وَيُذَلَّلُّ صَعْبُهَا، وَيُسَهَّلُ جَبَلُهَا.
By Allāh, you will be caught wherever you may be and you will not be spared till you are completely upset and everything about you is scattered and till you are shaken from your seat. Then, you will fear from your front as you do from the rear. What you hope is not a light matter, but it is serious calamity. We have to ride its camels, overcome its difficulties and level its mountains.
فَاعْقِلْ عَقْلَكَ، وَامْلِكْ أَمْرَكَ، وَخُذْ نَصِيبَكَ وَحَظَّكَ، فَإِنْ كَرِهْتَ فَتَنَحَّ إِلَى غَيْرِ رَحْبٍ وَلَا فِي نَجَاةٍ، فَبِالْحَرِيِّ لَتُكْفَيَنَّ وَأَنْتَ نَائِمٌ، حَتَّى لَا يُقَالَ: أَيْنَ فُلَانٌ؟
Set your mind in order, take a grip on your affairs and acquire your (lot and your) share. If you do not like it then go away to where neither you are welcome nor can you escape from it. It is better that you be left alone and lie sleeping. Then no one will enquire where so-and-so is.
وَاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَحَقٌّ مَعَ مُحِقٍّ، وَمَا أُبَالِي مَا صَنَعَ الْمُلْحِدُونَ، وَالسَّلَامُ.
By Allāh, this is the case of right with the rightful person and we do not care what the heretics do; and that is an end to the matter.
