Sermon 237: They have been collected….

About the two arbitrators (Abu Musa al-Ashari and Amr ibn al-As) and disparagement of the people of Syria (ash-Sham).

جُفَاةٌ طَغَامٌ،

Rude, low people

عَبِيدٌ أَقْزَامٌ،

and mean slaves.

جُمِّعُوا مِنْ كُلِّ أَوْب،

They have been collected from all sides

وَتُلُقِّطُوا مِنْ كُلِّ شَوْب،

and picked up from every pack.

مِمَّنْ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُفَقَّهَ وَيُؤَدَّبَ،

They need to be taught the tenets (of Islam), disciplined,

وَيُعَلَّمَ وَيُدَرَّبَ،

instructed, trained,

وَيُوَلَّى عَلَيْهِ، وَيُؤْخَذَ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ،

supervised and led by the hand.

لَيْسُوا مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالاْنْصَارِ،

They are neither muhajirun (immigrants from Mecca), nor ansar (helpers of Medina)

وَلاَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ تَبَوَّؤا الدَّارَ.

nor those who made their dwellings in the abode (in Medina) and in belief.

أَلاَ وَإِنَّ الْقَوْمَ اخْتَارُوا لاِنْفُسِهِمْ أَقْرَبَ الْقَوْمِ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ،

Look! They have chosen for themselves one who is nearest of all of them to what they desire,

وَاخْتَرْتُمْ لاِنْفُسِكُمْ أَقْرَبَ الْقَوْمِ مِمَّا تَكْرَهُونَ،

while you have chosen one who is nearest to what you dislike.

وَإِنَّمَا عَهْدُكُمْ بَعَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ قَيْس بِالاْمْسِ يَقُولُ:

You may certainly recall that the other day ‘Abdullah ibn Qays (Abu Musa) was saying:

إِنَّهَا فِتْنَةٌ فَقَطِّعُوا أَوْتَارَكُمْ وَشِيمُوا سُيُوفَكُمْ،

"It is a mischief, therefore, cut away your bow-string and sheathe your swords."

فَإِنْ كَانَ صَادِقاً فَقَدْ أَخْطَأَ بِمَسِيرِهِ غَيْرَ مُسْتَكْرَه،

If he was right (in what he said) then he was wrong in marching (with us) without being forced,

وَإِنْ كَانَ كَاذِباً فَقَدْ لَزِمَتْهُ التُّهَمَهُ.

but if he was lying then he should be viewed with suspicion.

فَادْفَعُوا فِي صَدْرِ عَمْرِوبْنِ الْعَاصِ بِعَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ،

Therefore, send ‘Abdullah ibn al-’Abbas to face ‘Amr ibn al-’As.

وَخُذُوا مَهَلَ الاْيَّامِ،

Make use of these days

وَحُوطُوا قَوَاصِيَ الاْسْلاَمِ،

and surround the borders of Islam.

أَلاَ تَرَوْنَ إِلَى بَلاَدِكُمْ تُغْزَى،

Do you not see that your cities are being attacked?

وَإِلَى صَفَاتِكُمْ تُرْمَى ؟

and your prowess is being aimed at?

 

Alternative Sources for Sermon 237:  Ibn Qutaybah, al-'Imamah, I, 154; al-Thaqafi, al-Gharat, I, 312; al-Kulayni, al-Rasa'il; al-Tabari, al-Mustarshid, 95; Ibn Tawus, Kashf, 173; Safwah, Jamharah.