Letter 61: To Kumayl ibn Ziyad an-Nakha`i

To Kumayl ibn Ziyad an-Nakhai, the Governor of Hit expressing displeasure on his inability to prevent the enemy forces that passed through his area from marauding

أَمَّا بَعْدُ،

Now,

فَإِنَّ تَضْيِيعَ الْمَرْءِ مَا وُلِّيَ،

the neglecting by a man of what he has been made responsible for

وَتَكَلُّفَهُ مَا كُفِيَ،

and doing what is to be done by others

لَعَجْزٌ حَاضِرٌ،

is a manifest weakness

وَرَأْيٌ مُتَبَّرٌ،

and a ruinous sight.

وَإِنَّ تَعَاطِيَكَ الْغَارَةَ عَلَى أَهْلِ قِرْقِيسِيَا،

Certainly, your advance on the people of Qarqisiya,

وَتَعْطِيلَكَ مَسَالِحَكَ الَّتي وَلَّيْنَاكَ ـ

and your leaving the arsenals over which we had set you,

لَيْسَ بِهَا مَنْ يَمْنعُهَا،

without anyone to protect them

وَلاَ يَرُدُّ الْجَيْشَ عَنْهَا ـ

or to repulse the enemy force,

لَرَأْيٌ شَعَاعٌ.

savoured of shattered thinking.

فَقَدْ صِرْتَ جِسرْاً لِمَنْ أَرَادَ الْغَارَةَ مِنْ أَعْدَائِكَ عَلَى أَوْلِيَائِكَ،

In this way, you served like a bridge for the enemy who came marauding on your allies

غَيْرَ شَدِيدِ الْمَنْكِبِ،

while your arms were weak,

وَلاَ مَهِيبِ الْجَانِبِ،

you had no awe around you;

وَلاَ سَادٍّ ثُغْرَةً،

you could not prevent the enemy from advancing;

وَلاَ كَاسر لِعَدُوّ شَوْكَةً،

you could not break his might;

وَلاَ مُغْن عَنْ أَهْلِ مِصْرِهِ،

you could not defend the people of your area

وَلاَ مُجْز عَنْ أَميِرِهِ.

and you could not discharge functions on behalf of your Imam.