ومن كتاب له (عليه السلام) إلى معاوية

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي عَلَى التَّرَدُّدِ فِي جَوَابِكَ، وَالِاسْتِمَاعِ إِلَى كِتَابِكَ، لَمُوَهِّنٌ رَأْيِي، وَمُخَطِّئٌ فِرَاسَتي. وَإِنَّكَ إِذْ تُحَاوِلُنِي الْأُمُورَ وَتُرَاجِعُنِي السُّطُورَ، كَالْمُسْتَثْقِلِ النَّائِمِ تَكْذِبُهُ أَحْلَامُهُ، وَالْمُتَحَيِّرِ الْقَائِمِ يَبْهَظُهُ مَقَامُهُ، لَا يَدْرِي أَ لَهُ مَا يَأَتِي أَمْ عَلَيْهِ؟ وَلَسْتَ بِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ بِكَ شَبِيهٌ.

Now, (in) exchanging replies and listening to your letters my view has been weak and my intelligence has been erring. When you refer your demands to me and expect me to send you written replies, you are like one who is in deep slumber while his dreams contradict him, or one who stands perplexed and overwhelmed, not knowing whether whatever comes to him is for him or against him. You are not such a man but he is (to some extent) like you (as you are worse than him).

وَأُقْسِمُ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَوْ لَا بَعْضُ الِاسْتِبْقَاءِ لَوَصَلَتْ إِلَيْكَ مِنِّي قَوَارِعُ، تَقْرَعُ الْعَظْم، وَتَهْلِسُ اللَّحْمَ!

I swear by Allāh that, had it not been for (my) giving you time, you would have faced from me catastrophe that would have crushed the bones and removed the flesh.

وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ قَدْ ثَبَّطَكَ عَنْ أَنْ تُرَاجِعَ أَحْسَنَ أُمُورِكَ، وَتَأْذَنَ لِمَقَالِ نَصِيحَتِكَ، وَالسَّلَامُ لِأَهْلِهِ.

Know that Satan has prevented you from turning to good actions and listening to the words of counsels. Peace be upon those who deserve it.

J’hésite à répondre à ta lettre comme j’ai hésité à la lire pour ne pas affaiblir mon opinion et me tromper dans ma sagacité. Lorsque tu me poses certaines conditions [comme de te nommer gouverneur de la Syrie] et tu me demandes de te répondre textuellement, tu ressembles à un rêveur trompé par ses songes ou à un indécis quant à sa situation, ne sachant pas si les événements lui sont favorables ou défavorables. Tu n’es pas ce rêveur, mais tu lui ressembles.

Je jure par Dieu que, n’étaitce un certain désir de te laisser en vie, tu aurais reçu de ma part des malheurs qui brisent tes os et font fondre ta chair!

Sache que Satan t’empêche de refaire tes comptes et ne te permet pas d'écouter mes conseils. Salut à ceux qui en sont dignes.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #73