Letter 4: To one of the officers of his army

When Uthman ibn Hunayf, the Governor of Basrah informed Amir al-muminin of the arrival of Talhah and az-Zubayr in Basrah and of their intentions, Amir al-muminin wrote this letter to him.

فَإِنْ عَادُوا إِلَى ظِلِّ الطَّاعَةِ فَذَاكَ الَّذِي نُحِبُّ،

If they (1) return to the umbrella of obedience, then this is all that we want.

وَإِنْ تَوَافَتِ الاْمُورُ بِالْقَوْمِ إِلَى الشِّقَاقِ وَالْعِصْيَانِ

But if the condition of these people points out towards disruption and disobedience

فَانْهَدْ بِمَنْ أَطاعَكَ إِلَى مَنْ عَصَاكَ،

then, taking with you those who obey you, rush upon those who disobey you,

وَاسْتَغْنِ بِمَنِ انْقَادَ مَعَكَ عَمَّنْ تَقَاعَسَ عَنْكَ،

and while you have those with you who follow you do not worry about those who hold back from you,

فَإِنَّ الْمُتَكَارِهَ مَغِيبُهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ شُهُودِهِ،

because the absence of a halfhearted man is better than his presence,

وَقُعُودُهُ أَغْنَى مِنْ نُهُوضِهِ.

and his sitting down is better than his rising up.

 

1. When `Uthman ibn Hunayf, the Governor of Basrah informed Amir al-mu'minin of the arrival of Talhah and az-Zubayr in Basrah and of their intentions, Amir al-mu 'minin wrote this letter to him, wherein he has instructed him that in case the enemy was bent on fighting, when facing him he should not enlist on his side those who on the one hand showed consideration for the personalities of `A'ishah, Talhah and az-Zubayr and who on the other hand had agreed to fight against them merely by persuasion, because such people could not be expected to fight steadfastly nor could they be depended upon. Rather, such people would try to dishearten others too. Therefore, it was only good to leave aside such people.