al-mu’minín sent `Abdulláh ibn `Abbás to az-Zubayr ibn al-`Awwám with the purpose that he should advise him back to obedience, he said to him on that occasion: Do not meet Talhah (ibn `Ubaydilláh). If you meet him you will find him like an unruly bull whose horns are turned towards its ears. He rides […]
Sermon 031 – When before the commencement of the Battle of Jamal Amír Read More »
Among(1) all the people the most detested before Alláh are two persons. One is he who is devoted to his self. So he is deviated from the true path and loves speaking about (foul) innovations and inviting towards wrong path. He is therefore a nuisance for those who are enamoured of him, is himself
Your earth is close to the sea and away from the sky. Your wits have become light and your minds are full of folly. You are the aim of the archer, a morsel for the eater and an easy prey for the hunter.
Sermon 014 – This also is in condemnation of the people of Basrah Read More »
You were the army of a woman and in the command of a quadruped. When it grumbled you responded, and when it was wounded (hamstrung) you fled away. Your character is low and your pledge is broken. Your faith is hypocrisy. Your water is brackish. He who stays with you is laden with sins
The responsibility for what I say is guaranteed and I am answerable for it. He to whom experiences have clearly shown the past exemplary punishments (given by Alláh to peoples) is prevented by piety from falling into doubts. You should know that the same troubles have returned to you which existed when the Prophet
Sermon 016 – Delivered when allegiance was sworn to him at Medina Read More »
They (1) thunder like clouds and shone like lightning but despite both these things they exhibited cowardice, while we do not thunder till we pounce upon the foe nor do we show flow (of words) until we have not virtually rained. (1). About the people of Jamal (i.e. the enemy in the battle of Jamal)
Beware! Satan (1) has collected his group and assembled his horse-men and foot-soldiers. Surely, with me is my sagacity. I have neither deceived myself nor ever been deceived. By Alláh I shall fill to the brim for them a cistern from which I alone would draw water. They can neither turn away from it
Mountains (2) may move from their position but you should not move from yours. Grit your teeth. Lend to Alláh your head (in fighting for Alláh, give yourself to Alláh). Plant your feet firmly on the ground. Have your eye on the remotest foe and close your eyes (to their numerical majority). And keep
He asserts that he swore allegiance to me with his hand but did not swear with his heart. (1) So he does admit allegiance. As regards his claiming it otherwise than with his heart he should come forward with a clear argument for it. Otherwise, he should return to wherefrom he has gone out. (2)
Sermon 008 – Said about az-Zubayr at a time for which it was appropriate Read More »
The ulterior motive behind this was to amass wealth and to grasp power. Imam Ali (a) had appointed him as the Governor of Azarbaijan. He started collecting and procuring wealth by every means possible. When this was reported to Imam Ali (a), he wrote the following letter to Ash’ath: On receipt of this letter he
