Chapter One: The First War: The Battle of the Camel

Encyclopedia of Imam Ali (AS), written by Muhammad Muhammadi Rayshahri, abridged by Mahdi Gholamali, translated by Zaid Alsalami and Safyullah Khan, edited by Hamid Reza Salarkia and published by NORPUB.

333. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ

333. Imam Ali (AS) said,

مِن خُطبَةٍ لَهُ قَبلَ حَربِ الجَمَلِ في شَأنِ طَلحَةَ وَالزُّبَيرِ ـ:

in a sermon he delivered regarding Talha and al-Zubayr before the Battle of the Camel:

ويا عَجَبا لِاستِقامَتِهِما لِأَبي بَكرٍ وعُمَرَ وبَغيِهِما عَلَيَّ !

“It is surprising that these two were loyal to Abu Bakr and `Umar, but disloyal to me,

وهُما يَعلَمانِ أنّي لَستُ دونَ أحَدِهِما ،

when they know that I am not below these two [Abu Bakr and `Umar].

ولَو شِئتُ أن أقولَ لَقُلتُ .

If I willed, I would say.

ولَقَد كانَ مُعاوِيَةُ كَتَبَ إلَيهِما مِنَ الشّامِ كِتابا يَخدَعُهُما فيهِ ،

Mu`awiah wrote a letter to them [Talha and al-Zubayr] from Syria trying to trick them,

فَكَتَماهُ عَنّي ،

but they kept it hidden from me.

وخَرَجا يوهِمانِ الطَّغامَ أنَّهُما يَطلُبانِ بِدَمِ عُثمانَ .

They left professing to take vengeance for `Uthman.”

الجمل : ص268 .

Al-Jamal, p. 268.

334. الإمامة والسياسة :

334. Al-Imama wa al-Siyasa:

ذَكَروا أنَّ الزُّبَيرَ وطَلحَةَ أتَيا عَلِيّا ـ بَعدَ فَراغِ البَيعَةِ ـ فَقالا :

“They [historians and narrators] mentioned that al-Zubayr and Talha went to Ali after the pledge of allegiance and said to him:

هَل تَدري عَلى ما بايعَناكَ يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ؟

 “O Commander of the faithful, do you know why we have pledged allegiance to you?”

 قالَ عَلِيٌّ : نَعَم ، عَلَى السَّمِع وَالطّاعَةِ ،

Ali said: “Yes, it is meant to obey me,

وعَلى ما بايَعتُم عَلَيهِ أبا بَكرٍ وعُمَرَ وعُثمانَ .

as you pledged your allegiance to Abu Bakr, `Umar and `Uthman.”

 فَقالا : لا ، ولكِنّا بايَعناكَ عَلى أنّا شَريكاكَ فِي الأَمرِ .

They said: “Nay, but we have pledged allegiance to you, that we will be partners with you in this affair [of the government].”

 قالَ عَلِيٌّ : لا ، ولكِنَّكُما شَريكانِ فِي القَولِ وَالاِستِقامَةِ

Ali said: “Nay, but you are partners in, uprightness

وَالعَونِ عَلَى العَجزِ وَالأَوَدِ .

and assistance against disabilities and deficiencies.”

الإمامة والسياسة : ج1 ص70 .

Al-Imama wa al-Siyasa, vol. 1, p. 70.

335. الجمل عن بكر بن عيسى :

335. Al-Jamal, narrating from Bakr ibn `Isa, who said:

إنَّ عَلِيّا عليه السلام أخَذَ عَلَيهِمَا العَهدَ وَالميثاقَ أعظَمَ ما أخَذَهُ عَلى أحَدٍ مِن خَلقِهِ

“Ali (AS) took a vow and a covenant from them [Talha and al-Zubayr], greater than what he took from any other one,

ألّا يُخالِفا ولا يَنكُثا ،

not to oppose and not to violate the pledge of allegiance,

ولا يَتَوَجَّها وَجها غَيرَ العُمرَةِ حَتّى يَرجِعا إلَيهِ ، فَأَعطَياهُ ذلِكَ مِن أنفُسِهِما ،

and not to do anything except the ‘Umra until they come back to him.

ثُمَّ أذِن لَهُما فَخَرَجا .

They confirmed that to him, so he gave them the permission, and they left.”

الجمل : ص 437 ، الكافئة : ص 15 ح 14 .

Al-Jamal, p. 437. al-Kafi’ah, p. 15, h. 14.

336. أنساب الأشراف عن صالح بن كيسان وأبي مخنف :

336. Ansab al-Ashraf, narrating from Salih ibn Kaisan and Abu Mikhnaf,

قالوا : قَدِمَ طَلحَةُ وَالزُّبَيرُ عَلى عائِشَةَ ،

who said: “Talha and al-Zubayr came to A’ishah

فَدَعَواها إلَى الخُروجِ ،

and called her to set out to revolt,

فَقالَت : أ تَأمُرانّي أن اُقاتِلَ ؟

so she said: “Do you order me to fight?”

 فَقالا : لا ، ولكِن تُعلِمينَ النّاسَ أنَّ عُثمانَ قُتِلَ مَظلوما ،

They said: “Nay, but declare to the people that `Uthman was unrightly killed

وتَدعيهِم إلى أن يَجعَلُوا الأمرَ شورى بَينَ المُسلِمينَ ؛

and invite them to consultation,

فَيَكونوا عَلَى الحالَةِ الَّتي تَرَكَهُم عَلَيها عُمَرُ بنُ الخَطّابِ ،

as it took place after `Umar ibn al-Khattab,

وتُصلِحينَ بَينَهُم .

so you will be able to make peace among them.”

أنساب الأشراف : ج3 ص23 .

Ansab al-Ashraf, vol. 3, p. 23.

337. تاريخ الطبري:

337. Tarikh al-Tabari:

 كَتَبَت عائِشَةُ إلى رِجالٍ مِن أهلِ البَصرَةِ ،

“A’ishah wrote to men from Basra,

وكَتَبَت إلَى الأَحنَفِ بنِ قَيسٍ ،

even as she wrote to al-Ahnaf ibn Qays,

وصَبرَةَ بنِ شَيمانَ ،

Sabra ibn Shayman

وأَمثالِهِم مِنَ الوُجوهِ ،

and their likes.

ومَضَت حَتّى إذا كانَت بِالحُفَيرِ (الحُفَيْر : ماء لباهلة ، بينه وبين البصرة أربعة أميال من جهة مكّة، راجع : معجم البلدان : ج2 ص277)

She then left [from Mecca] until she got to al-Hufayr, [A well four miles from Basra [Refer to: Mu`jam al-Buldan, vol. 2, p. 277.]

انتَظَرَتِ الجَوابَ بِالخَبَرِ .

where she waited for the reply.”

تاريخ الطبري : ج4 ص461 .

Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 4, p. 461.

338. الجمل :

338. Al-Jamal:

لَمّا رَأَت عائِشَةُ اجتِماعَ مَنِ اجتَمَعَ إلَيها بِمَكَّةَ

“When A’ishah saw the assembly of people at Mecca

عَلى مُخالَفَةِ أميرِ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام ،

in opposition to the Commander of the faithful (AS)

والمُبايَنَةِ لَهُ وَالطّاعَةِ لَها في حَربِهِ

and obedience to her to fight him,

تَأَهَّبَت لِلخُروجِ .

she prepared herself to leave [for war].

 وكانَت في كُلِّ يَومٍ تُقيمُ مُنادِيَها يُنادي بِالتَّأَهُّبِ لِلمَسيرِ ،

Every day her herald would call people to get ready for the journey.

وكانَ المُنادي يُنادي ويَقولُ : مَن كانَ يُريدُ المَسيرَ فَليَسِر ؛

The herald would call out and say: “Whoever desire to make the journey let him get ready,

فَإِنَّ اُمَّ المُؤمِنينَ سائِرَةٌ إلَى البَصرَةِ تَطلُبُ بِدَمِ عُثمانَ بنِ عَفّانَ المَظلومِ .

for the Mother of the believers is leaving towards Basra to take vengeance for `Uthman ibn `Affan.”

الجمل : ص 233 .

Al-Jamal, p. 233.

339. شرح نهج البلاغة :

339. Sharh Nahj al-Balagha:

لَمّا عَزَمَت عائِشَةُ عَلَى الخُروجِ إلَى البَصرَةِ

“When A’ishah intended to leave to Basra,

طَلَبوا لَها بَعيرا أيِّدا  يَحمِلُ هَودَجَها ،

they asked for a strong camel for her to hold her palanquin,

فَجاءَهُم يَعلَى بنَ اُمَيَّةَ بِبَعيرِهِ المُسَمّى عَسكَرا ؛

so Ya`la ibn Umayyah brought his camel called `Askar.

وكانَ عَظيمَ الخَلقِ شَديدا ،

It was an enormously large camel;

فَلَمّا رَأَتهُ أعجَبَها ،

when she saw it she liked it.

وأنشَأَ الجَمّالُ يُحَدِّثُها بِقُوَّتِهِ وشِدَّتِهِ ،

The camel driver told her about its strength, until,

ويَقولُ في أثناءِ كَلامِهِ : عَسكَرٌ .

when he mentioned its name: “`Askar”,

فَلَمّا سَمِعَت هذِهِ اللَّفظَةَ استَرجَعَت

she performed istirja‘, [Editor’s note: Istirja‘ means saying the words: inna li-llah wa inna ilailhi raji‘un (meaning indeed we belong to Allah, and to Him do we return). This sentence is part of the Qur’anic verse 2:156, describing the patient as being those who when an affliction wisits them, say, “Indeed, we belong to...””. It is pronounced when one receives a very bad news, like the death notice, or faces a very bad condition he did not expect.]

وقالَت : رُدّوهُ لا حاجَةَ لي فيهِ ،

then she said: “Take it back, I have no need for it.”

وذَكَرَت حَيثُ سُئِلَت أنَّ رَسولَ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله ذَكَرَ لَها هذَا الاِسمَ ،

When she was asked for the reason, she said that the Messenger of Allah (SA) mentioned this name to her

ونَهاها عَن رُكوبِهِ،

and forbade her from riding on it.

وأمَرَت أن يُطلَبَ لَها غَيرُهُ ، فَلَم يوجَد لَها ما يُشبِهُهُ ،

She ordered that another camel be brought, but they did not find one of the same features,

فَغُيِّرَ لَها بِجِلالٍ غَيرَ جِلالِهِ وقيلَ لَها :

so they changed its cover with another one and said to her:

قَد أصَبنا لَكِ أعظَمَ مِنهُ خَلقا ،

“We have brought a larger

وأَشَدَّ قُوَّةً ،

and stronger camel to you.”,

واُتِيَت بِهِ فَرَضِيَت .

so he was well-pleased with it.”

شرح نهج البلاغة : ج6 ص224 .

Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, vol. 6, p. 224.

340. تاريخ اليعقوبي :

340. Tarikh al-Ya`qubi:

مَرَّ القَومُ فِي اللَّيلِ بِماءٍ يُقالُ لَهُ : ماءَ الحَوأَبِ (الحَوْأَب : موضع في طريق البصرة من جهة مكّة ، وقيل : موضع بئر نبحت كلابه على عائشة عند مقبلها إلى البصرة، معجم البلدان : ج2 ص314) ،

 “The people passed by a well called the well of al-Haw’ab, [A place on the path to Basra from the direction of Mecca. [Mu`jam al-Buldan, vol. 2, p. 314.]

فَنَبَحَتهُم كِلابُهُ ، فَقالَت عائِشَةُ : ما هذَا الماءُ ؟

so the dogs barked at them. A’ishah asked: “What is the name of this well?”

قالَ بَعضُهُم : ماءُ الحَوأَبِ .

One of them answered: “It is the well of al-Haw’ab.”

 قالَت : إنّا للّهِ وإِنّا إلَيهِ راجِعونَ !

She then said: “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him do we indeed return.” Qur’an, 2:156.

رُدّوني رُدّوني ! هذَا الماءُ الَّذي قالَ لي رَسولُ اللّهِ :

Take me back, take me back! This is the well the Messenger of Allah (SA) related to me about, saying:

«لا تَكونِي الَّتي تَنبَحُكِ كِلابُ الحَوأَبِ» .

“Do not be the one at whom the dogs of al-Haw’ab bark.”

 فَأَتاهَا القَومُ بِأَربَعينَ رَجُلاً ،

So, forty men came to her

فَأَقسَموا بِاللّهِ أنَّهُ لَيسَ بِماءِ الحَوأَبِ!!

and swore to Allah that it was not the well of al-Haw’ab!”

تاريخ اليعقوبي : ج2 ص181 .

Tarikh al-Ya`qubi, vol. 2, p. 181.

341. الإرشاد:

341. Al-Irshad:

 ولَمَّا اتَّصَلَ بِهِ مَسيرُ عائِشَةَ وطَلحَةَ وَالزُّبَيرِ إلَى البَصرَةِ مِن مَكَّةَ،

“When he [Ali (AS)] was informed of the journey of A’ishah, Talha and al-Zubayr from Mecca to Basra,

حَمِدَ اللّهَ وأثَنى عَلَيهِ ثُمَّ قالَ:

he praised and glorified Allah and then said:

قَد سارَت عائِشَةُ وطَلحَةُ وَالزُّبَيرُ ؛ كُلُّ واحِدٍ مِنهُما يَدَّعِي الخِلافَةَ دونَ صاحِبِهِ ،

 “A’ishah, Talha and al-Zubayr have set out, and each one of the two [men] makes claims for the caliphate separately from his colleague.

لا يَدَّعي طَلحَةُ الخِلافَةَ إلّا أنَّهُ ابنُ عَمِّ عائِشَةَ ،

Talha only claims the caliphate because he is the paternal cousin of A’ishah,

ولا يَدَّعيهَا الزُّبَيرُ إلّا أنَّهُ صِهرُ أبيها ،

whereas al-Zubayr only claims it because he is the brother-in-law of her father.

وَاللّهِ لَئِن ظَفِرا بِما يُريدانِ لَيَضرِبَنَّ الزُّبَيرُ عُنُقَ طَلحَةَ ،

By Allah, if the two are successful in what they intend, then al-Zubayr will execute Talha

ولَيَضرِبَنَّ طَلحَةُ عُنُقَ الزُّبَيرِ ،

or Talha will execute al-Zubayr,

يُنازِعُ هذا عَلى المُلكِ هذا !

this one disputing the [right to] kingship of the other.

 وقَد ـ وَاللّهِ ـ عَلِمَت أنَّهَا الرّاكِبَةُ الجَمَلَ ،

By Allah, I know that she is the one who rides a camel.

لا تَحُلُّ عُقدَةً ،

She will not stop at any pasturage;

ولا تَسيرُ عَقَبةً ،

she will not go along any mountain path

ولا تَنزِلُ مَنزِلاً إلّا إلى مَعصِيَةٍ ؛

and will not be able to stop anywhere except in rebellion against Allah,

حَتّى تورِدُ نَفسَها ومَن مَعَها مَورِدا

until her soul and [that of] those with her come to their final end.

يُقتَلُ ثُلُثُهُم ،

A third [of those with her] will be killed,

ويَهرُبُ ثُلُثُهُم ،

a third will flee,

ويَرجِعُ ثُلُثُهُم .

and a third will come back.

 وَاللّهِ إنَّ طَلحَةَ وَالزُّبَيرَ لَيَعلَمانِ أنَّهُما مُخطِئانِ وما يَجهَلانِ ،

By Allah, Talha and al-Zubayr know that they are wrong and they are not ignorant about this.

ولَرُبَّ عالِمٍ قَتَلَهُ جَهلُهُ وعِلمُهُ مَعَهُ لا يَنفَعُهُ .

Many a learned man whose ignorance kills him and the knowledge he has does not benefit him!

وَاللّهِ لَيَنَبَحَنَّها كِلابُ الحَوأَبِ ،

By Allah, the dogs of al-Haw’ab shall bark at her,

فَهَل يَعتَبِرُ مُعتَبِرٌ أو يَتَفَكَّرُ مُتَفَكِّرٌ ؟!

but does one who reflects interpret and one who thinks ponder?

 ثُمَّ قالَ : قَد قامَتِ الفِئَةُ الباغِيَةُ ؛

The band committing outrages (al-fi’ah al-baghiyah) has risen (to rebel).

فَأَينَ المُحسِنونَ ؟

Where are the good doers?”

الإرشاد : ج 1 ص 246 .

Al-Irshad, vol. 1, p. 246.

342. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ

342. Imam Ali (AS) said,

مِن كِتابٍ لَهُ إلى أهلِ الكوفَةِ عِندَ مَسيرِهِ مِن المَدينَةِ إلَى البَصرَةِ ـ:

in his letter to the people of Kufah, when leaving from Mecca to Basra:

مِن عَبدِ اللّهِ عَليٍّ أميرِ المُؤمِنينَ إلى أهلِ الكوفَةِ ؛

“This letter is from the servant of Allah Ali, the Commander of the faithful, to the people of Kufah,

جَبهَةِ الأَنصارِ ،

the leaders of the supporters

وسَنامِ العَرَبِ .

and the notables of the Arabs.

 أمّا بَعدُ ؛ فَإِنّي اُخبِرُكُم عَن أمرِ عُثمانَ

I wish to inform you about the assassination of `Uthman

حَتّى يَكونَ سَمعُهُ كَعِيانِهِ :

and to make the whole affair as clear as if you were present at the occasion witnessing the incident yourselves.

إنَّ النّاسَ طَعَنوا عَلَيهِ ،

People were not well-pleased with him and were blaming him.

فَكُنتُ رَجُلاً مِنَ المُهاجِرينَ اُكثِرُ استِعتابَهُ ، واُقِلُّ عِتابَهُ ،

Among the Muhajirin, I was the only one who desired to appease the people and dissatisfied.

وكانَ طَلحَةُ وَالزُّبَيرُ أهوَنُ سَيرِهِما فيهِ الوَجيفُ ،

However, Talha and al-Zubayr were instigating the populace in such a way that the least they said

وأرفَقُ حِدائِهِمَا العَنيفُ ،

was worse than that which could be asserted or alleged against `Uthman.

وكانَ مِن عائِشَةَ فيهِ فَلتَةُ غَضَبٍ ،

A’ishah also showed extreme annoyance and anger at him.

فَاُتيحَ لَهُ قَومٌ فَقَتَلوهُ ،

Under such conditions, a group of people resolved to kill him and murdered him,

وبايَعَنِي النّاسُ غَيرَ مُستَكرَهينَ ولا مُجبَرينَ ،

so all the people came to pledge allegiance to me without being compelled or forced,

بَل طائِعينَ مُخَيَّرينَ .

or rather, of their own accord

 وَاعلَموا أنَّ دارَ الهِجرَةِ قَد قَلَعَت بِأَهلِها وقَلَعوا بِها ،

Let it be known that the city towards which the Holy Prophet (SA) had migrated has been deserted by its inhabitants, like an empty pot,

وجاشَت جَيشَ المِرجَلِ ،

seething with discontentment and rebellion.

وقامَتِ الفِتنَةُ عَلَى القُطبِ ،

A seditious campaign has started,

فَأَسرِعوا إلى أميرِكُم ،

so hasten to your Commander

وبادِروا جِهادَ عَدُوِّكُم ،

and fight your enemies,

إن شاءَ اللّهُ عَزَّ وجَلَّ .

if Allah wills.”

نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 1 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 1.

343. تاريخ اليعقوبي :وقالَ لَهُ [لِعَلِيٍّ عليه السلام ] الحارِثُ بنُ حَوطٍ الرّانِيُّ :

343. Tarikh al-Ya`qubi: “Harith ibn Hawt al-Rani said to him [Ali (AS)]:

أظَنُّ طَلحَةَ وَالزُّبَيرَ وعائِشَةَ اجتَمَعوا عَلى باطِلٍ ؟

 “Should I think that Talha, al-Zubayr and A’ishah have agreed upon something false?”

 فَقالَ : يا حارِثُ ! إنَّهُ مَلبوسٌ عَلَيكَ ،

He (AS) replied: “O Harith, the truth appeared doubtful to you. [Editor’s note: That is ‘you got the truth and falsehood muddled up’‚ or ‘you got into a muddle about the issue’.]

وإِنَّ الحَقَّ وَالباطِلَ لا يُعرَفانِ بِالنّاسِ ،

Indeed, the truth and the falsehood are never known by men.

ولكنِ اعرِفِ الحَقَّ تَعرِف أهلَهُ ،

Know the truth, and you will know its folk,

وَاعرِفِ الباطِلَ تَعرِفْ مَن أتاهُ .

and know the falsehood, and you will know who follows it.”

تاريخ اليعقوبي : ج 2 ص 210 .

Tarikh al-Ya`qubi, vol. 2, p. 210.

344. تاريخ الطبري :عَن يَزيدَ الضَّخمِ قالَ :

344. Tarikh al-Tabari, narrating from Yazid al-Zakhm, who said:

لَمّا أتى عَلِيّا الخَبَرُ وهُوَ بِالمَدينَةِ بِأَمرِ عائِشَةَ وطَلحَةَ وَالزُّبَيرِ أنَّهُم قَد تَوَجَّهوا نَحوَ العِراقِ ،

“When Ali was informed about A’ishah, Talha and al-Zubayr heading towards Iraq,

خَرَجَ يُبادِرُ وهُوَ يَرجو أن يُدرِكَهُم ويَرُدَّهُم ،

he quickly left, hoping to catch up with them and make them turn back.

فَلَمَّا انتَهى إلَى الرَّبَذَةِ أتاهُ عَنهُم أنَّهُم قَد أمعَنوا ،

When he got to al-Rabadha, he was told that they had moved far,

فَأَقامَ بِالرَّبَذَةِ أيّاما ،

so he stayed in al-Rabadha for a few days.

وأتاهُ عَنِ القَومِ أنَّهُم يُريدونَ البَصرَةَ ،

He was informed that the people intended to go to Basra,

فَسُرِّيَ بِذلِكَ عَنهُ ، وقالَ :

so he was gladdened by that and said:

إنَّ أهلَ الكوفَةِ أشَدُّ إلَيَّ حُبّا ،

“The people of Kufah hold me dear to a higher degree,

وفيهِم رُؤوسُ العَرَبِ وأعلامُهُم ... .

and they include the leaders of the Arabs and their notables.”

 [و] عَن مُحَمَّدِ بنِ عَبدِ الرَّحمنِ بنِ أبي لَيلى عَن أبيهِ قالَ :

It is [also] narrated from Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Laila, from his father, who said:

كَتَبَ عَلِيٌّ إلى أهلِ الكوفَةِ :

 “Ali wrote the following to the people of Kufah:

بِسمِ اللّه الرَّحمنِ الرَّحيمِ ،

In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.

أمّا بَعدُ ؛ فَإِنِّي اختَرتُكُم والنُّزولَ بَينَ أظهُرِكُم لِما أعرِفُ مِن مَوَدَّتِكُم وحُبِّكُم لِلّهِ عَزَّ وجَلَّ ولِرَسولِهِ صلى الله عليه و آله ،

I have chosen you, because I know your devotion and love to Allah and to His Messenger (SA).

فَمَن جاءَني ونَصَرَني فَقَد أجابَ الحَقَّ وقَضَى الَّذي عَلَيهِ .

So, whoever comes with me and helps me has indeed answered the call of the Truth and fulfilled his duty.”

تاريخ الطبري : ج4 ص477 .

Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 4, p. 477.

345. تاريخ الطبري عن أبي ليلى :

345. Tarikh al-Tabari, narrating from Abu Laila, who said:

بَعَثَ عَلِيٌّ الحَسَنَ بنَ عَلِيٍّ وعَمّارَ بنَ ياسِرٍ يَستَنفِرانِ النّاسَ ،

“Ali sent al-Hasan ibn Ali and `Ammar ibn Yasir to mobilise the people

وبَعَثَ قَرَظَةَ بنَ كَعبٍ الأَنصارِيَّ أميرا عَلَى الكوفَةِ ،

and sent Qarada ibn Ka`b al-Ansari as commander over Kufah,

وكَتَبَ مَعَهُ إلى أبي موسى :

with a letter to Abu Musa:

 أمّا بَعدُ ؛ فَقَد كُنتُ أرى أنَّ بُعدَكَ مِن هذَا الأَمرِ

“I believe that your distance from this affair [of the government],

الَّذي لَم يَجعَلِ اللّهُ عَزَّوجَلَّ لَكَ مِنهُ نَصيبا سَيَمنَعُكَ مِن رَدِّ أمري ،

for which Allah the Exalted has not assigned any share in it to you, will prevent you from opposing my command.

وقَد بَعَثتُ الحَسَنَ بنَ عَلِيٍّ وعمّارَ بنَ ياسِرٍ يَستَنفِرانِ النّاسَ ،

I have sent al-Hasan ibn Ali and `Ammar ibn Yasir to mobilise the people

وبَعَثتُ قَرَظَةَ بنَ كَعبٍ والِيا عَلَى المِصرِ ،

and sent Qarada ibn Ka`b al-Ansari as governor over the city,

فَاعتَزِل مَذموما مَدحورا ؛

so dismiss yourself humiliated and defeated.

فَإِن لَم تَفعَل فَإِنّي قَد أمَرتُهُ أن يُنابِذَكَ ؛

If you do not do so, then I have ordered him [Qarada] to ostracise you;

فَإِن نَابَذتَهُ فَظَفِرَ بِكَ أن يُقَطِّعَكَ آرابا .

if you ostracise him, and he wins over you, he will cut you into pieces.”

 فَلَمّا قَدِمَ الكِتابُ عَلى أبي موسَى اعتَزَلَ ،

When the letter reached Abu Musa, he retired,

ودَخَلَ الحَسنُ وعَمّارٌ المَسجِدَ ، فَقالا :

and al-Hasan and `Ammar entered the mosque and said:

أيُّهَا النّاسُ ، إنَّ أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ يَقولُ :

“O people, the Commander of the faithful says:

إنّي خَرَجتُ مَخرَجي هذا ظالِما أو مَظلوما ،

“I have come forth in this movement either an oppressor or an oppressed.

وإنّي اُذَكِّرُ اللّهَ عَزَّوجَلَّ رَجُلاً رَعى للِّهِ حَقّاً إلّا نَفَرَ ؛

I remind men to observe God’s rights;

فَإِن كُنتُ مَظلوما أعانَني ،

if I am oppressed, they can help me;

وإن كُنتُ ظالِما أخَذَ مِنّي .

and if I am an oppressor, they should abandon me.

وَاللّهِ إنَّ طَلحَةَ وَالزُّبَيرَ لَأَوَّلُ مَن بايَعَني ،

By Allah, Talha and al-Zubayr were the first to pledge allegiance to me,

وأوَّلُ مَن غَدَرَ ،

and they are the first to betray.

فَهَلِ استَأثَرتُ بِمالٍ أو بَدَّلتُ حُكما ؟

Have I taken any money or changed a law?

فَانفِروا ؛ فَمُروا بِمَعروفٍ ، وَانهَوا عَن مُنكَرٍ .

Prepare yourselves, and command the good and forbid the wrong.”

تاريخ الطبري : ج4 ص499 .

Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 4, p. 499.

346. شرح نهج البلاغة عن أبي مِخنَف :

346. Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, narrating from Abu Mikhnaf, who said:

لَمّا سَمِعَ أبو موسى خُطبَةَ الحَسَنِ وعَمّارٍ قامَ فَصَعِدَ المِنبَرَ ، وقالَ :

“When Abu Musa heard the sermon of al-Hasan and `Ammar, he stood on the pulpit and said:

الحَمدُ للِّهِ الَّذي أكرَمَنا بِمُحَمَّدٍ ؛ فَجَمَعَنا بَعدَ الفُرقَةِ ،

“Praise be to Allah, so He honoured us with Muhammad who united us after being dispersed,

وجَعَلَنا إخوانا مُتَحابّينَ بَعدَ العَداوَةِ ،

made us loving brothers after being enemies

وحَرَّمَ عَلَينا دِماءَنا وأموالَنا ،

and prohibited us our blood and our money.

قالَ اللّهُ سُبحانَهُ :«وَلَا تَأْكُلُواْ أَمْوَ لَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِالْبَـطِـلِ» ، البقرة : 188 .

Allah, glory be to Him, said: “Do not eat up your wealth upon yourselves wrongfully.” Qur’an, 2:188.

وقالَ تَعالى :  «وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَآؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَــلِدًا فِيهَا» ، النساء : 93 .

He also said: “Should anyone kill a believer intentionally, his requital shall be Hell, to remain in it [forever].” Qur’an, 4:93.

فَاتَّقُوا اللّهَ عِبادَ اللّهِ ،

So be wary of Allah, O servants of Allah, a

وضَعوا أسلِحَتَكُم وكُفّوا عَن قِتالِ إخوانِكُم .

nd put down your weapons and refrain from fighting your brothers.”

شرح نهج البلاغة : ج14 ص14 .

Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, vol. 14, p. 14.

347. تاريخ الطبري عن أبي الطفيل :

347. Tarikh al-Tabari, narrating from Abu al-Tufayl, who said:

قالَ عَلِيٌّ :

“Ali said:

«يَأتيكُم مِنَ الكوفَةِ اثنا عَشَرَ ألفَ رَجُلٍ ورَجُلٌ» ،

 “Twelve thousand and one men will come to you from Kufah.”

فَقَعَدتُ عَلى نَجَفَةِ ذي قارٍ ، فَأَحصَيتُهُم ،

So I sat on the hill of Dhi Qar to count them,

فَما زادوا رَجُلاً ، ولا نَقَصوا رَجُلاً .

and there was not one man more or less.”

تاريخ الطبري : ج4 ص500 .

Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 4, p. 500.

348. أنساب الأشراف عن أبي مِخنَف في إسناده:

348. Ansab al-Ashraf, narrating from Abu Mikhnaf,

 ولَمّا قَرُبَت عائِشَةُ ومَن مَعَها مِنَ البَصرَةِ بَعَثَ إلَيهِم عُثمانُ بنُ حُنَيفٍ عِمرانَ بنَ الحُصَينِ الخُزاعِيَّ أبا نُجَيدٍ ، وأبَا الأَسوَدِ الدُّؤَلِيَّ ،

“When A’ishah and those with her got close to Basra, `Uthman ibn Hunayf sent `Imran ibn al-Husain al-Khuza`i Abu Nujaid and Abu al-Aswad al-Du’ali to them;

فَلَقِياهُم بِحَفَرِ أبي موسى (حَفَرُ أبي موسى : وهي ركايا أحفرها أبو موسى الأشعري على جادّة البصرة إلى مكّة، معجم البلدان : ج2 ص275) .

they met them at the pond of Abu Musa al-Ash`ari [The Hafar of Abu Musa al-Ash`ari: A hole dug by Abu Musa al-Ash`ari on the road from Basra to Mecca.Mu`jam al-Buldan, vol. 2, p. 275.]

فَقالا لَهُم : فيما قَدِمتُم ؟

and said to them: “Why have you come?”

فَقالوا : نَطلُبُ بِدَمِ عُثمانَ ، وأن نَجعَلَ الأَمرَ شورى ؛

They said: “We seek revenge for the blood of `Uthman and to make the affair of the government determined by consultation.

فَإِنّا غَضِبنا لَكُم مِن سَوطِهِ وعَصاهُ ؛

We were angry for you because of his [`Uthman’s] whips and sticks,

أفَلا نَغضَبُ لَهُ مِنَ السَّيفِ ؟ ! !

so should we not be angry for him because of the drawing of the sword?”

 وقالا لِعائِشَةَ : أَمَرَكِ اللّهُ أن تَقَرّي في بَيتِكِ ؛

The two said to A’ishah: “Allah commanded you to stay in your house,

فَإِنَّكِ حَبيسُ رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله وحَليلَتُهُ وحُرمَتُهُ .

for indeed you are under the ruling of the Messenger of Allah (SA) and you are his wife and [among] his womenfolk.”

فَقالَت لِأَبِي الأَسوَدِ : قَد بَلَغَني عَنكَ يا أبَا الأَسوَدِ ما تَقولُ فِيَّ ! !

She said to Abu al-Aswad: “O Abu al-Aswad, I have been informed of what you have said about me!”

فَانصَرَفَ عِمرانُ وأبُو الأَسوَدِ إلَى ابنِ حُنَيفٍ ،

Then `Imran and Abu al-Aswad went back to Ibn Hunayf.

وجَعَلَ أبُو الأَسوَدِ يَقولُ :

Abu al-Aswad said:

 يَا بنَ حُنَيفٍ قَد اُتيتَ فَانفِرِ           

O Ibn Hunayf, they are coming, so rise,

وطاعِنِ القَومَ وضارِب وَاصبِرِ

And attack the group and fight them and be patient.

 وَابرُز لَهُم مُستَلئِماً وشَمِّرِ

 Show them your weapons and stand to face them.

 فَقالَ عُثمانُ : إي ورَبِّ الحَرَمَينِ لَأَفعَلَنَّ .

`Uthman [ibn Hunayf] then said: “I will do so definitely, by the Lord of the two Holy sanctuaries [Mecca and Medina].”

أنساب الأشراف : ج3 ص24 .

Ansab al-Ashraf, vol. 3, p. 24.

 349. أنساب الأشراف :

349. Ansab al-Ashraf:

ونادى عُثمانُ بنُ حُنَيفٍ فِي النّاسِ فَتَسَلَّحوا ،

 “`Uthman ibn Hunayf called the people, so they armed themselves.

وأقبَلَ طَلحَةُ وَالزُّبَيرُ وعائِشَةُ حَتّى دَخَلُوا المِربَدَ مِمّا يَلي بَني سُلَيمٍ ،

Talha, al-Zubayr and A’ishah came forward until they reached the rest place of Mirbad next to [the rest place of] Bani Sulaym,

وجاءَ أهلُ البَصرَةِ مَعَ عُثمانَ رُكبانا ومُشاةً ،

and the people of Basra came with `Uthman [ibn Hunayf] on horseback and on foot.

وخَطَبَ طَلحَةُ فَقالَ :

Talha delivered a sermon saying:

إنَّ عُثمانَ بنَ عَفّانَ كانَ مِن أهلِ السّابِقَةِ وَالفَضيلَةِ مِنَ المُهاجِرينَ الأَوَّلينَ،

 “`Uthman ibn `Affan was one of the people of precedence and virtue among the first of the Muhajirin and the Ansar.

وأحدَثَ أحداثاً نَقَمناها عَلَيهِ ،

He did something (evil) that made us bear a grudge against him,

فَبايَنّاهُ ونافَرناهُ ،

so we distanced ourselves from him‚

ثُمَّ أعتَبَ حينَ استَعتَبناهُ ،

and he satisfied (us) after blame‚ as soon as we treated him in a conciliatory manner.

فَعَدا عَلَيهِ امرُؤٌ ابتَزَّ هذِهِ الاُمَّةَ أمرَها بِغَيرِ رِضىً ولا مَشورَةٍ ،

Then a man who usurped the government of this ummah, without the consultation of the people,

فَقَتَلَهُ ،

attacked and killed him.

وساعَدَهُ عَلى ذلِكَ رِجالٌ غَيرُ أبرارٍ ولا أتقِياءَ ،

A number of unrighteous and impious men helped him

فَقَتلوهُ بَريئاً تائِباً مُسلِماً ،

and killed him innocently.

فَنَحنُ نَدعوكُم إلَى الطَّلَبِ بِدَمِهِ ؛

We therefore invite you to demand the revenge of his blood,

فَإِنَّهُ الخَليفَةُ المَظلومُ .

for he is the oppressed Caliph.

وتَكَلَّمَ الزُّبَيرُ بِنَحوٍ مِن هذَا الكَلامِ .

Al-Zubayr then spoke.

 فَاختَلَفَ النّاسُ؛

So the people began to disagree.

فَقالَ قائِلونَ : نَطَقا بِالحَقِّ ،

Some of them said: “The two have spoken the truth.”

وقالَ آخَرونَ : كَذِبا ولَهُما كانا أشَدَّ النّاسِ عَلى عُثمانَ ! !

Others said: “They are lying, and indeed these two were against `Uthman more than all other people.”

وَارتَفَعَتِ الأَصواتُ .

People disagreed and voices were raised.

 واُتِيَ بِعائِشَةَ عَلى جَمَلِها في هَودَجِها فَقالَت : صَهٍ صَهٍ ،

A’ishah was brought with her palanquin, so she said: “Silence, silence!”

فَخَطَبَت بِلِسانٍ ذَلقٍ وصَوتٍ جَهوَرِيٍّ، فأَسكَتَ لَهَا النّاسُ

She delivered a sermon with an eloquent tongue and sonorous voice, so all the people stayed silent.

فَقالَت : إنَّ عُثمانَ خَليفَتَكُم قُتِلَ مَظلوماً بَعدَ أن تابَ إلى رَبِّهِ ،

She then said: “`Uthman is your Caliph who was innocently killed after he had repented to his Lord

وخَرَجَ مِن ذَنبِهِ ،

and left his sin.

وَاللّهِ مابَلَغَ مِن فِعلِهِ ما يُستَحَلُّ بِهِ دَمُهُ ؛

By Allah, his actions were not worthy of shedding his blood,

فَيَنبَغي فِي الحَقِّ أن يُؤخَذَ قَتَلَتُهُ فَيُقتَلوا بِهِ ،

so we should quite rightly arrest his killers and retaliate from them,

ويُجعَلَ الأَمرُ شورى .

and then make the affair [of the government] determined by consultation.”

 فَقالَ قائِلونَ : صَدَقتِ .

Some of the people said: “You speak the truth.”

وقالَ آخَرونَ : كَذَبتِ،

Others said: “You lie.”

حَتّى تَضارَبوا بِالنِّعالِ وتَمايَزوا ،

So they began to hit each other with sandals

فَصاروا فِرقَتَينِ :

and separated into two groups,

فِرقَةً مَعَ عائِشَةَ وأصحابِها ،

one group supporting A’ishah and her followers,

وفرقَةً مَعَ ابنِ حُنَيفٍ ،

and the other group supporting `Uthman ibn Hunayf.

وكانَ عَلى خَيلِ ابنِ حُنَيفٍ حُكَيمُ بنُ جَبَلَةَ ، فَجَعَلَ يَحمِلُ ويَقولُ :

Hukaym ibn Jabala, sitting on the horse of Ibn Hunayf, came to attack, saying:

 خَيلي إلَيَّ إنَّها قُرَيشُ         

My cavalry, rush to me, it is Quraish,

لَيُردِيَنَّها نَعيمُها وَالطَّيشُ

Let their bliss and frivolity ruin them.

وتَأَهَّبوا لِلقِتالِ ،

They [the army of the people of the Camel] prepared themselves for battle

فَانتَهَوا إلَى الزّابوقَةِ ، (الزابوقَة : موضع قريب من البصرة ، كانت فيه وقعة الجمل، معجم البلدان : ج3 ص125)

until they reached al-Zabuqah, [A place close to Basra where the Battle of the Camel took place. Mu`jam al-Buldan, vol. 3, p. 125.]

وأصبَحَ عُثمانُ بنُ حُنَيفٍ فَزَحَفَ إلَيهِم ، فَقاتَلَهُم أشَدَّ قِتالٍ ،

`Uthman ibn Hunayf charged at them in the early morning, and the fight was intense.

فَكَثُرَت بَينَهُمُ القَتلى ،

Many people were killed

وفَشَت فيهِمُ الجِراحُ .

and many wounded on the battleground.

ثُمَّ إنَّ النّاسَ تَداعَوا إلَى الصُّلحِ ،

Then they called for peace

فَكَتَبوا بَينَهُم كِتاباً بِالمُوادَعَةِ إلى قُدومِ عَلِيٍّ عَلى أن لا يَعرِضَ بَعضُهُم لِبَعضٍ في سوقٍ ولا مَشرَعَةٍ ،

and they wrote a peace treaty between them that they would not attack each other in the market or the streets until Ali (AS) comes.

وأنَّ لِعُثمانَ بنِ حُنَيفٍ دارَ الإِمارَةِ وبَيتَ المالِ وَالمَسجِدَ ،

The State House, the Muslim Treasury and the mosque would be with `Uthman ibn Hunayf,

وأنّ طَلحَةَ وَالزُّبَيرَ يَنزِلانِ ومَن مَعَهُما حَيثُ شاؤوا .

and Talha, al-Zubayr and their follwers could reside wherever they wished.

ثُمَّ انصَرَفَ النّاسُ وألقَوُا السِّلاحَ .

The people dispersed and put down their weapons.”

أنساب الأشراف : ج3 ص25 .

Ansab al-Ashraf, vol. 3, p. 25.

350. الجملـ في ذِكرِ ماحَدَثَ بَعدَ مُصالَحَةِ عُثمانَ بنِ حُنَيفٍ وأصحابِ الجَمَلِ ـ :

350. Al-Jamal, in mentioning what happened after the treaty between `Uthman ibn Hunayf and the people of the Camel:

طَلَبَ طَلحَةُ وَالزُّبَيرُ غَدرَتَهُ ،

“Talha and al-Zubayr desired to betray him [Ibn Hunayf];

حَتّى كانَت لَيلَةٌ مُظلِمَةٌ ذاتُ رِياحٍ ،

in a dark windy night,

فَخَرَجَ طَلحَةُ وَالزُّبَيرُ وأصحابُهُما حَتّى أتَوا دارَ الإِمارَةِ

Talha, al-Zubayr and their companions came out until they reached the State House,

وعُثمانُ بنُ حُنَيفٍ غافِلٌ عَنهُم ،

while `Uthman ibn Hunayf was unaware.

وعَلَى البابِ السَّبابِجَةُ يَحرُسونَ بُيوتَ الأَموالِ ـ

Some sindi soldiers were guarding the Muslim Treasury;

وكانوا قَوما مِنَ الزُّطِّ قَدِ استَبصَروا

these were a group of dark Indians who had converted to Islam,

وأكَلَ السُّجودُ جِباهَهُم ،

and their foreheads became callus out of frequent prostration.

وَائتَمَنَهُم عُثمانُ عَلى بَيتِ المالِ ودارِ الإِمارَةِ ـ

`Uthman ibn Hunayf ordered them to guard the Muslim Treasury and the State House.

فَأَكَبَّ عَلَيهِمُ القَومُ وأخَذوهُم مِن أربعِ جَوانِبِهِم ،

The people of the Camel attacked them from all sides,

ووَضَعوا فِيهِمُ السَّيفَ ،

besieging them with their swords,

فَقَتَلوا مِنهُم أربَعينَ رَجُلاً صَبرا !

so forty of the guards were savagely killed.

يَتَوَلّى مِنهُم ذلِكَ الزُّبَيرُ خاصَّةً ،

Al-Zubayr alone was in charge of this onslaught.

ثُمَّ هَجَموا عَلى عُثمانَ فَأَوثَقوهُ رِباطا ،

They turned to attack `Uthman ibn Hunayf and tied him up with a rope.

وعَمَدوا إلى لِحيَتِهِ ـ وكانَ شَيخا كَثَّ اللِّحَيةِ ـ فَنَتَفوها

Then they began to pluck out his beard hair, for he was an old man with thick hair,

حَتّى لَم يَبقَ مِنها شَيءٌ ولا شَعرَةٌ واحِدَةٌ !

until nothing was left, not even one piece of hair.

وقالَ طَلحَةُ :

Talha said:

عَذِّبُوا الفاسِقَ ،

 “Torture this corrupt person.

وَانتِفوا شَعرَ حاجِبَيهِ ،

Pluck out the hair of his eyebrows

وأشفارَ عَينَيهِ ،

and his eyelashes,

وأوثِقوهُ بِالحَديدِ !

and pull him with metal chains.”

الجمل : ص281 .

Al-Jamal, p. 281.

351. الجمل :

351. Al-Jamal:

قالَ طَلحَةُ وَالزُّبَيرُ لِعائِشَةَ [بَعدَما أخَذا عُثمانَ بنَ حُنَيفٍ] :

“Talha and al-Zubayr said to A’ishah [after they had captured `Uthman ibn Hunayf]:

ما تَأمُرينَ في عُثمانَ ؟ فَإِنَّهُ لِما بِهِ .

“What do you order us to do with `Uthman ibn Hunayf after what he has done?”

 فَقالَت : اُقتُلوهُ قَتَلَهُ اللّهُ !

She said: “Kill him, may Allah kill him!”

وكانَت عِندَهَا امرَأَةٌ مِن أهلِ البَصرَةِ

A woman from Basra was with A’ishah,

فَقالَت لَها : يا اُمّاه !أينَ يُذهَبُ بِكِ ؟ !

so she said to her: “O Mother, where are they taking you?

أ تَأمُرينَ بِقَتلِ عُثمانَ بنِ حُنَيفٍ ،

Do you order to kill `Uthman ibn Hunayf

وأخوهُ سَهلٌ خَليفَةٌ عَلَى المَدينَةِ ،

when his brother Sahl is the governor of Medina.

ومَكانُهُ مِنَ الأَوسِ وَالخَزرَجِ ما قَد عَلِمتِ !

You know his position among the tribes of Aws and Khazraj.

وَاللّهِ ، لَئِن فَعَلتِ ذلِكَ لَتَكونَنَّ لَهُ صَولَةٌ بِالمَدينَةِ يُقتَلُ فيها ذَراري قُرَيشٍ .

By Allah, if you do this, Sahl will gain so much power in Medina that he will be able to kill the offspring of Quraish.”

 فَنابَ إلى عائِشَةَ رَأيُها وقالَت :

A’ishah changed her mind, so she said:

لا تَقتُلوهُ ،

“Do not kill him,

ولكِنِ احبِسوهُ وضَيِّقوا عَلَيهِ حَتّى أرى رَأيي .

but jail him and be harsh towards him until I make up my mind.”

 فَحُبِسَ أيّاما، ثُمَّ بَدا لَهُم في حَبسِهِ ،

He was jailed for a few days,

وخافوا مِن أخيهِ أن يَحبِسَ مَشايِخَهُم بِالمَدينَةِ ويوقِعَ بِهِم ،

but they were scared that his brother will imprison their elders in Medina and attack them,

فَتَرَكوا حَبسَهُ .

so they freed him.”

الجمل : ص284 .

Al-Jamal, p. 284.

352. تاريخ الطبري عن الزهري:

352. Tarikh al-Tabari, narrating from al-Zuhri, who said:

 قامَ طَلحَةُ وَالزُّبَيرُ خَطيبَينِ فَقالا :

“Talha and al-Zubayr stood up to deliver a sermon and said:

يا أهلَ البَصرَةِ !

“O people of Basra,

تَوبَةٌ بِحَوبَةٍ ،

we repent from us sins.

إنَّما أردَنا أن يُستَعتَبَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عُثمانُ ،

We desired that the Commander of the faithful `Uthman be treated in a conciliatory manner,

ولَم نُرِد قَتلَهُ ،

and we did not want to kill him,

فَغَلَبَ سُفَهاءُ النّاسِ الحُلَماءَ حَتّى قَتَلوهُ .

but the foolish among the people overcame the forbearing, so they killed him.”

 فَقالَ النّاسُ لِطَلحَةَ : يا أبا مُحَمَّدٍ ،

The people said to Talha: “O Abu Muhammad,

قَد كانَت كُتُبُكَ تَأتينا بِغَيرِ هذا !

your letters to us say something different to this!”

فَقالَ الزُّبَيرُ : فَهَل جاءَكُم مِنّي كِتابٌ في شَأنِهِ ؟

Al-Zubayr said: “Did you receive a letter from me regarding `Uthman?”

ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ قَتلَ عُثمانَ وما أتى إلَيهِ،

He then spoke about `Uthman’s assassination and what happened to him,

وأظهَرَ عَيبَ عَلِيٍّ .

exposing the faults of Ali (AS).

فَقامَ إلَيهِ رَجُلٌ مِن عَبدِ القَيسِ فَقالَ :

Then a man from the `Abd al-Qays tribe stood up to him and said:

أيُّهَا الرَّجُلُ ! أنصِت حَتّى نَتَكَلَّمَ ،

 “O man, be silent so we can speak.”

فَقالَ عَبدُ اللّهِ بنُ الزُّبَيرِ : وما لَكَ ولِلكَلامِ ؟

`Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr then said: “What do you have to say?”

فَقالَ العَبدِيُّ :

The man from the `Abd al-Qays tribe said:

يامَعشَرَ المُهاجِرينَ ،

“O group of Muhajirin,

أنتُم أوَّلُ مَن أجابَ رَسولَ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله ،

you are the first of the people to answer the [call of the] Messenger of Allah (SA),

فَكانَ لَكُم بِذلِكَ فَضلٌ ،

and you have your virtue in this,

ثُمَّ دَخَلَ النّاسُ فِي الإِسلامِ كَما دَخَلتُم ،

so the rest of the people embraced Islam as you embraced it.

فَلَمّا تُوُفِّيَ رَسولُ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله

When the Messenger of Allah (SA) passed away,

بايَعتُم رَجُلاً مِنكُم ،

you gave your pledge of allegiance to a man who was from among you;

وَاللّهِ مَا استَأمَرتُمونا في شَيءٍ مِن ذلِكَ ،

and, by Allah, you did not seek our opinion in this at all,

فَرَضينا وَاتَّبَعناكُم ،

but we accepted and followed you.

فَجَعَلَ اللّهُ عَزَّ وجَلَّ لِلمُسلِمِينَ في إمارَتِهِ بَرَكَةً ،

Allah brought blessings to the Muslims through his government;

ثُمَّ ماتَ وَاستَخلَفَ عَلَيكُم رَجُلاً مِنكُم فَلَم تُشاوِرونا في ذلِكَ ،

then he died after he appointed another man from among you as successor and again you did not consult us in this,

فَرَضينا وسَلَّمنا ،

but we accepted and submitted.

فَلَمّا تُوُفِّيَ الأَميرُ جَعَلَ الأَمرَ إلى سِتَّةِ نَفَرٍ ،

When he died, he entrusted the government to six people,

فَاختَرتُم عُثمانَ وبايَعتُموهُ عَن غَيرِ مَشورَةٍ مِنّا ،

and you chose `Uthman and pledged allegiance to him without consulting us.

ثُمَّ أنكَرتُم مِن ذلِكَ الرَّجُلِ شَيئا

Then you did not accept the actions of this man,

فَقَتَلتُموهُ عَن غَيرِ مَشوَرةٍ مِنّا ،

so you killed him without consulting us.

ثُمَّ بايَعتُم عَلِيّا عَن غَيرِ مَشورَةٍ مِنّا ،

After that, you gave your pledge of allegiance to Ali without consulting us,

فَمَا الَّذي نَقَمتُم عَلَيهِ فَنُقاتِلَهُ ؟

so what is it that you hate in him to fight him?

هَلِ استَأثَرَ بِفَيءٍ ؟

Has he taken something from the Muslim Treasury for himself?

أو عَمِلَ بِغَيرِ الحَقِّ ؟

Has he undertaken anything contrary to the truth?

أو عَمِلَ شَيئاً تُنكِرونَهُ فَنَكونَ مَعَكُم عَلَيهِ ؟

Or has he committed something that you are not pleased with, so we can be with you against him?

وإلّا فَما هذا ؟

And if not, then what are you doing?”

 فَهَمّوا بِقَتلِ ذلِكَ الرَّجُلِ ،

They wanted to kill this man,

فَقامَ مِن دونِهِ عَشيرَتُهُ ،

but his tribe protected him;

فَلَمّا كانَ الغَدُ وَثَبوا عَلَيهِ وعَلى مَن كانَ مَعَهُ ،

however, the next day they attacked him and those with him

فَقَتَلوا سَبعينَ رَجُلاً .

and killed seventy men.”

تاريخ الطبري : ج4 ص469 .

Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 4, p. 469.

353. الإرشاد عن ابن عبّاس :

353. Al-Irshad, narrating from Ibn `Abbas, who said:

لَمّا نَزَلَ [الاِءمامُ عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام ] بِذي قارٍ أخَذَ البَيعَةَ عَلى مَن حَضَرَهُ ،

“When he [Imam Ali (AS)] stopped at Dhi Qar, he took the pledge of allegiance from those who were present.

ثُمَّ تَكَلَّمَ فَأَكثَرَ مِنَ الحَمدِ للِّهِ وَالثَّناءِ عَلَيهِ وَالصَّلاةِ عَلى رَسولِ اللّهِ، صلى الله عليه و آله

After that he addressed them. He was profuse in his praise and glorification of Allah and in calling for blessings on the Messenger of Allah (SA).

ثُمَّ قالَ : قَد جَرَت اُمورٌ صَبَرنا عَلَيها ـ

Then he said: “Affairs which we have [resolutely] endured have taken place earlier;

وفي أعيُنِنَا القَذى ـ

[it was as if] there was a mote in our eyes

تَسليما لِأَمرِ اللّهِ تَعالى

in surrendering to the authority of Allah, the Exalted,

فيمَا امتَحَنَنا بِهِ رَجاءَ الثَّوابِ عَلى ذلِكَ ،

in matters by which He tested us.

وكانَ الصَّبرُ عَلَيها أمثَلَ مِن أن يَتَفَرَّقَ المُسلِمونَ وتُسفَكَ دِماؤُهُم .

There is reward for that, for endurance of them was better than causing division among the Muslims and shedding their blood.

 نَحنُ أهلُ بَيتِ النُّبُوَّةِ ،

We are the family of the House of Prophethood and the offspring of the Messenger;

وأحَقُّ الخَلقِ بِسُلطانِ الرِّسالَةِ ،

we have better right to the authority of the [prophetic] mission,

ومَعدِنُ الكَرامَةِ الَّتِي ابتَدَأَ اللّهُ بِها هذِهِ الاُمَّةَ .

and we are the source of virtue by which Allah initiated this community.

 وهذا طَلحَةُ وُالزُّبَيرُ لَيسا مِن أهلِ النُّبُوَّةِ

Talha and al-Zubayr are not of the family of Prophethood

ولا مِن ذُّرِّيَّةِ الرَّسولِ ،

or of the offspring of the Messenger.

حينَ رَأَيا أنَّ اللّهَ قَد رَدَّ عَلَينا حَقَّنا بَعدَ أعصُرٍ ،

When they saw that Allah had restored our right to us after some time,

فَلَم يَصبِرا حَولاً واحِدا ولا شَهرا كامِلاً

they could not wait for one year, or even one full month

حَتّى وَثَبا عَلى دَأبِ الماضينَ قَبلَهُما،

before they launched an attack, following in the footsteps of those before them,

لِيَذهَبا بِحَقّي،

so that they might take away my rights

ويُفَرِّقا جَماعَةَ المُسلِمينَ عَنّي.

and separate the unity of the Muslims from me.”

ثُمَّ دَعا عَلَيهِما.

Then he prayed against them.”

الإرشاد : ج 1 ص 249 .

Al-Irshad, vol. 1, p. 249.

354. الجمل :

354. Al-Jamal:

خَرَجَ ابنُ حُنَيفٍ حَتّى أتى أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام وهُوَ بِذي قارٍ ،

“Ibn Hunayf left [from Basra] until he came to Commander of the faithful (AS),

فَلَمّا نَظَرَ إلَيهِ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام ، وقَد نَكَّلَ بِهِ القَومُ ،

when he was in Dhi Qar; when the Commander of the faithful (AS) saw that he had been tortured by that group [the people of the Camel],

بَكى وقالَ : يا عُثمانُ، بَعَثتُكَ شَيخا ألحى فَرَدّوكَ أمرَدَ إلَيَّ !

he cried and said: “O `Uthman, I sent you an old man with a beard, and they have brought you back to me without a beard!

اللّهُمَّ إنَّكَ تَعلَمُ أنَّهُمُ اجتَرَؤوا عَلَيكَ وَاستَحَلّوا حُرُماتِكَ ،

O Allah, You indeed know that they have transgressed You and have violated Your sanctities.

اللّهُمَّ اقتُلهُم بِمَن قَتَلوا مِن شيعَتي ،

O Allah, kill them for every one of my followers they have killed,

وعَجِّل لَهُمُ النَّقمَةَ بِما صَنَعوا بِخَليفَتي .

and hasten [Your] wrath over them for what they have done to my vicegerent [in Basra].”

الجمل : ص285 .

Al-Jamal, p. 285.

355. مروج الذهب عن المنذر بن الجارود :

355. Muruj al-Dhahab, narrating from al-Mundhir ibn al-Jarud, who said:

لَمّا قَدِمَ عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام البَصرَةَ دَخَلَ مِمّا يَلي الطَفَّ ـ إلى أن قالَ ـ :

“Ali (AS) entered Basra from the side of the battlefield....,

فَساروا حَتّى نَزَلُوا المَوضِعَ المَعروفَ بِالزّاوِيَةِ ،

until they reached a place known as al-Zawiya.

فَصَلّى أربَعَ رَكَعاتٍ ،

He prayed four units of prayer

وعَفَّرَ خَدَّيهِ عَلَى التُّرابِ ،

and put his cheeks on the earth,

وقَد خَالَطَ ذلِكَ دُموعَهُ ،

mixing the soil with his tears,

ثُمَّ رَفَعَ يَدَيهِ يَدعو :

and then he raised his hands praying to God:

 اللّهُمّ رَبَّ السَّمواتِ وما أظَلَّت، وَالأَرَضينَ وما أقَلَّت ،

“O Allah, Lord of the worlds and all that it oversees, and [Lord] of the lands and all that it carries,

ورَبَّ العَرشِ العَظيمِ ،

and Lord of the Great Throne,

هذِهِ البَصرَةُ أسأَلُكَ مِن خَيرِها ،

this is Basra, and I ask of You the good of it,

وأعوذُ بِكَ مِن شَرَّها ،

and I seek refuge to You from its evil.

اللّهُمَّ أنزِلنا فيها خَيرَ مُنزَلٍ

O Allah, make us settle down in it in the best form,

وأنتَ خَيرُ المُنزِلينَ ،

for You are the Best of Settlers.

اللّهُمَّ إنّ هؤُلاءِ القَومَ قَد خَلَعوا طاعَتي

O Allah, these people have disobeyed me,

وبَغَوا عَلَيَّ

revolted against me,

ونَكَثوا بَيعَتي ،

and broken my allegiance.

اللّهُمَّ احقِن دِماءَ المُسلِمينَ .

O Allah, save the blood of the Muslims.”

مروج الذهب : ج2 ص368 .

Muruj al-Dhahab, vol. 2, p. 368.

356. مروج الذهب :

356. Muruj al-Dhahab:

خَرَجَ عَلِيٌّ بِنَفسِهِ حاسِرا عَلى بَغلَةِ رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله لا سِلاحَ عَلَيهِ ،

“Ali came out by himself riding on the mule of the Messenger of Allah (SA) without any armour,

فَنادى : يا زُبَيرُ ، اخرُج إلَيَّ ،

so he called out: “O Zubayr, come out to me.”

فَخَرجَ إلَيهِ الزُّبَيرُ شاكّا في سِلاحِهِ ،

Al-Zubayr came to him covered with an armour.

فَقيلَ ذلِكَ لِعائِشَةَ ،

When A’ishah was informed about that,

فَقالَت : وا ثُكلَكِ يا أسماءُ ،

she said: “O Asma’, woe unto your calamity.”

فَقيلَ لَها : إنَّ عَلِيّا حاسِرٌ ، فَاطمَأَنَّت .

When she was then told that Ali is without his armour, she felt at ease.

وَاعتَنَقَ كُلُّ واحِدٍ مِنهُما صاحِبَهُ .

They [Ali (AS) and al-Zubayr] hugged each other,

 فَقالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ : وَيَحكَ يا زُبَيرُ ! مَا الَّذي أخرَجَكَ ؟

and Ali (AS) said to him: “O Zubayr, woe unto you! What has forth you to revolt?”

قالَ : دَمُ عُثمانَ ،

He said: “The blood of `Uthman.”

قالَ : قَتَلَ اللّهُ أولانا بِدَمِ عُثمانَ ،

He (AS) said: “May Allah kill whoever was the most involved in the killing of `Uthman.

أما تَذكُرُ يَومَ لَقيتُ رَسولَ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله في بَني بَياضَةَ وهُوَ راكِبٌ حِمارَهُ ،

Do you not remember when I met the Messenger of Allah (SA) riding his donkey?

فَضَحِكَ إلَيَّ رَسولُ اللّهِ ، وضَحِكتُ إلَيهِ ، وأنتَ مَعَهُ ،

The Messenger of Allah (SA) laughed to me and I laughed to him, when you were with him.

فَقُلتَ أنتَ : يا رَسولَ اللّهِ ، ما يَدَعُ عَلِيٌّ زَهوَهُ .

Then you said: “O Messenger of Allah (SA), Ali will not leave his pride.”

 فَقالَ لَكَ : لَيسَ بِهَ زَهوٌ ، أ تُحِبُّهُ يا زُبَيرُ ؟

He replied to you, saying: “He has no pride. O Zubayr, do you love him?”

 فَقُلتَ : إنّي وَاللّهِ لَاُحِبُّهُ .

You said: “By Allah, I do love him.”

 فَقالَ لَكَ : إنَّكَ وَاللّهِ سَتُقاتِلُهُ وأنتَ لَهُ ظالِمٌ .

Then he said to you: “By Allah, you will fight him when you are unjust to him.”

 فَقالَ الزُّبَيرُ: أستَغفِرُ اللّهَ ،

Al-Zubayr then said: “I seek forgiveness from Allah.

وَاللّهِ لَو ذَكَرتُها ما خَرَجتُ .

By Allah, if I had remembered it, I would not have revolted.”

 فَقالَ لَهُ عليه السلام : يا زُبَيرُ ، ارجِع ،

He (AS) said to him: “O Zubayr, go back.”

فَقالَ : وكَيفَ أرجِعُ الآنَ وقَدِ التَقَت حَلقَتَا البِطانِ ؟!(البِطان : حزام القتب الذي يجعل تحت بطن البعير . يقال : التقت حَلقَتا البِطان للأمر إذا اشتدّ، تاج العروس : ج18 ص62) .

Al-Zubayr said: “How should I go back when the belt [of war] has been fastened?! [Al-Bitan: the belt of the pack saddle that is put under the stomach of a camel. This expression is used to denote intensity. Taj al-`Arus, vol. 18, p. 62.]

هذا وَاللّهِ العارُ الَّذي لا يُغسَلُ .

By Allah, this is a disgrace that cannot be washed away.”

 فَقالَ عليه السلام : يا زُبَيرُ ،

He (AS) said: “O Zubayr,

ارجِع بِالعارِ قَبلَ أن تَجمَعَ العارَ وَالنّارَ .

go back in disgrace before disgrace is joined with Hellfire.”

فَرَجَعَ الزُّبَيرُ وهُوَ يَقولُ :

Al-Zubayr went back and said:

 اِختَرتُ عارا عَلى نارٍ مُؤَجَّجَةٍ            ما إن يَقومُ لَها خَلقٌ مِنَ الطّينِ

I chose disgrace over blazing fire,     Until creatures stand forth from soil.

 نادى عَلِيٌّ بِأَمرٍ لَستُ أجهَلُهُ            عارٌ لَعَمرُكَ فِي الدُّنيا وفِي الدّينِ

Ali said something that I was not ignorant of,    By your soul, this is indeed a disgrace in this world and in religion.

 فَقُلتُ : حَسبُكَ مِن عَذلٍ أبا حَسَنٍ               فَبَعضُ هذَا الَّذي قَد قُلتَ يَكفيني

I said: Censure is sufficient, O Abu al-Hasan;   For some of what you have said is enough for me.

 فَقالَ ابنُهُ عَبدُ اللّهِ : أينَ تَذهَبُ وتَدَعُنا ؟

Al-Zubayr’s son `Abdullah said: “Where are you going and leaving us?”

فَقالَ : يا بُنَيَّ ، أذكَرَني أبُو الحَسَنِ بِأَمرٍ كُنتُ قَد اُنسيتُهُ ،

He said: “O son, Abu al-Hasan reminded me about something I had forgotten.”

فَقالَ : لا وَاللّهِ ،

`Abdullah said: “Nay, by Allah,

ولكِنَّكَ فَرَرتَ مِن سُيوفِ بَني عَبدِ المُطَّلِبِ ؛

but you have fled from the swords of Bani `Abd al-Muttalib,

فَإِنَّها طِوالٌ حِدادٌ ،

for they are long and sharp

تَحمِلُها فِتيَةٌ أنجادٌ ،

and are carried by the chivalry.”

قالَ : لا وَاللّهِ ، ولكِنّي ذَكَرتُ ما أنسانيهِ الدَّهرُ ،

His father said: “Nay, by Allah, but I remembered what the epoch has made me forget,

فَاختَرتُ العارَ عَلَى النّارِ ،

so I chose disgrace over Hellfire.

أبِالجُبنِ تُعَيِّرُني لا أبا لَكَ ؟

May you have no father; do you taunt me with a cowardice?” [Editor’s note: The expression “la-aban laka” (lit. may you have no father) is said as an exclamation to express surprise.]

ثُمَّ أمالَ سِنانَهُ وشَدَّ فِي المَيمَنَةِ .

He then turned, raised his spear and attacked the right wing of the army [of the Imam (AS)].

 فَقالَ عَلِيٌّ : اِفرِجوا لَهُ فَقَد هاجوهُ .

Ali said: “Open a path for him, as they have incited him.”

 ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَشَدَّ فِي المَيسَرَةِ ،

He then returned and charged at the left wing,

ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَشَدَّ فِي القَلبِ ،

then returned and attacked the centre.

ثُمَّ عادَ إلَى ابنِهِ ،

After this he went back to his son, saying:

فَقالَ : أ يفَعَلُ هذا جَبانٌ ؟ ثُمَّ مَضى مُنصَرِفا .

 “Does a cowardly person do this?” He then turned away.”

مروج الذهب : ج2 ص371 .

Muruj al-Dhahab, vol. 2, p. 371.

357. الجمل عن مروان بن الحكم :

357. al-Jamal, narrating from Marwan ibn al-Hakam, who said:

هَرَبَ الزُّبَيرُ فارّا إلَى المَدينَةِ حَتّى أتى وادِيَ السِّباعِ ،

“Al-Zubayr ran away fleeing towards Medina, so when he got to the valley of al-Siba`,

فَرَفَعَ الأَحنَفُ صَوتَهُ وقالَ : ما أصنَعُ بِالزُّبَيرِ ؟

al-Ahnaf raised his voice saying: “What should I do with al-Zubayr?

قَد لَفَّ بَينَ غارَينِ مِنَ النّاسِ حَتّى قَتَلَ بَعضُهُم بَعضا ،

He has made two Muslim groups fight killing one another,

ثُمَّ هُوَ يُريدُ اللِّحاقَ بِأَهلِهِ !!

and now he wants to go back to his family.”

 فَسَمِعَ ذلِكَ ابنُ جُرموزٍ فَخَرَجَ في طَلَبِهِ،

When Ibn Jurmuz heard, he left in quest of al-Zubayr,

وَاتَّبَعَهُ رَجُلٌ مِن مُجاشِعٍ حَتّى لَحِقاهُ ،

with a man from the Mujashi` tribe, until they got to him.

فَلَمّا رَآهُما الزُّبَيرُ حَذِرَهُما .

When al-Zubayr saw them, he became cautious.

 فَقالا : يا حَوارِيَّ رَسولِ اللّهِ ،

The two said to him: “O disciple of the Messenger of Allah,

أنتَ في ذِمَّتِنا لا يَصِلُ إلَيكَ أحَدٌ .

you are safe from us, nobody will harm you.”

وسايَرَهُ ابنُ جُرموزٍ ،

Ibn Jurmuz accompanied him,

فَبَينا هُوَ يَسايِرُهُ ويَستَأخِرُ ،

and while they were walking together,

وَالزُّبَيرُ يُفارِقُهُ ،

he would walk behind, and al-Zubayr would distance himself,

قالَ : يا أبا عَبدِ اللّهِ ،

so Ibn Jurmuz said: “O Abu `Abdullah,

اِنزِع دِرعَكَ فَاجعَلها عَلى فَرَسِكَ

take off your armour and put it on your horse,

فَإِنَّها تُثقِلُكَ وتُعييكَ ،

for it is tiring you.”

فَنَزَعَها الزُّبَيرُ

So, al-Zubayr took it off,

وجَعَلَ عَمرُو بنُ جُرموزٍ يَنكُصُ ويَتَأَخَّرُ ،

and `Amr ibn Jurmuz [intentionally] fell behind and stayed.

وَالزُّبَيرُ يُناديهِ أن يَلحَقَهُ وهُوَ يَجري بِفَرَسِهِ ،

Al-Zubayr called out to him to catch up,

ثُمَّ يَنحازُ عَنهُ حَتَّى اطمَأَنَّ إلَيهِ ولَم يُنكِر تَأَخُّرَهُ عَنهُ ،

so `Amr who was on his horse would come closer.

فَحَمَلَ عَلَيهِ وطَعَنَهُ بَينَ كَتِفَيهِ

`Amr suddenly attacked him and stabbed him in his chest,

فَأَخرَجَ السِّنانَ مِن ثَديَيهِ ،

removing the spear head from his chest.

ونَزَلَ فَاحتَزَّ رَأسَهُ وجاءَ بِهِ إلَى الأَحنَفِ ،

He then dismounted his horse and severed al-Zubayr’s head, taking it to al-Ahnaf,

فَأَنفَذَهُ إلى أميرِ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام .

who then sent it to the Commander of the Faithful (AS).

فَلَمّا رَأى رَأسَ الزُّبَيرِ وسَيفَهُ قالَ : ناوِلِني السَّيفَ ،

When Ali (AS) saw the head of al-Zubayr and his sword, he said: “Hand me the sword.”

فَناوَلَهُ ، فَهَزَّهُ وقالَ :

They gave him the sword, and he shook it and said:

 سَيفٌ طالَما قاتَلَ بِهِ بَينَ يَدَي رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله ،

“This is a sword that fought with the Messenger of Allah (SA) for a long time,

ولكِنَّ الحينَ ومَصارِعَ السّوءِ !

but it has now become the reason for his evil death.”

 ثُمَّ تَفَرَّسَ في وَجهِ الزُّبَيرِ وقالَ :

He then looked into the face of al-Zubayr and said:

 لَقَد كانَ لَكَ بِرَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله صُحبَةٌ ومِنهُ قَرابَةٌ ،

“You were fortunate to be in the company of the Messenger of Allah (SA),

ولكِنَّ الشَّيطانَ دَخَلَ مِنخَرَيكَ ، فَأَورَدَك هذَا المَورِدَ !

but Satan intervened and led you to such a fate.”

الجمل : ص390 و ص387 .

Al-Jamal, pp. 387, 390.

358. الإمامة والسياسةـ

358. Al-Imama wa al-Siyasa,

في ذِكرِ مادارَ بَينَ الإِمامِ عليه السلام وَطَلحَةَ مِنَ الكَلامِ ـ:

quoting the words between the Imam (AS) and Talha:

قالَ طَلحَةُ : اِعتَزِل هذَا الأَمرَ ،

“Talha said: “Withdraw yourself from the government,

ونَجعَلُهُ شورى بَينَ المُسلِمينَ ،

and we will make it determined by consultation.

فَإِن رَضوا بِكَ دَخَلتُ

If they accept you,

فيما دَخَلَ فيهِ النّاسُ ،

I will be among them in,

وإن رَضوا غَيرَكَ

but if they accept someone else,

كُنتَ رَجُلاً مِنَ المُسلِمينَ .

you must be like the rest of the Muslims [and follow].”

 قالَ عَلِيٌّ : أوَلَم تُبايِعني يا أبا مُحَمَّدٍ طائِعا غَيرَ مُكرَهٍ ؟ فَما كُنتُ لِأَترُكَ بَيعَتي .

Ali said: “O Abu Muhammad, did you not pledge allegiance to me of your own acoord? I will not leave my allegiance.”

 قالَ طَلحَةُ : بايَعتُكَ وَالسَّيفُ في عُنُقي .

Talha said: “I pledged allegiance when the sword was over my neck.”

 قالَ : أ لَم تَعلَم أنّي ما أكرَهتُ أحَدا عَلَى البَيعَةِ ؟

Ali said: “Do you not know that I did not force any person to pledge allegiance to me?

ولَو كُنتُ مُكرِها أحَدا لَأَكرَهتُ سَعدا ، وَابنَ عُمَرَ ، ومُحَمَّدَ بنَ مَسلَمَةَ ؛

If I did force someone, I would have forced Sa`d, Ibn `Umar and Muhammad ibn Maslamah,

أبَوُا البَيعَةَ وَاعتَزَلوا ،

who refused to pledge allegiance and withdrew themselves,

فَتَرَكتُهُم .

so I left them.”

 قالَ طَلحَةُ : كُنّا فِي الشّورى سِتَّةٌ ،

Talha said: “We were six people in the Council.

فَماتَ اثنانِ وقَد كَرِهناكَ ، ونَحنُ ثَلاثَةٌ .

Two of them died and three hate you.”

 قالَ عَلِيٌّ : إنَّما كانَ لَكُما ألّا تَرضَيا قَبلَ الرِّضى وقَبلَ البَيعَةِ ،

Ali said: “You could have shown your displeasure before the pledge of allegiance,

وأمَّا الآنَ فَلَيس لَكُما غَيرُ ما رَضيتُما بِهِ ،

but now you have no other choice but to accept,

إلّا أن تَخرُجا مِمّا بويِعتُ عَلَيهِ بِحَدَثٍ ،

unless you abandon what you pledged because I have done wrong;

فَإِن كُنتُ أحدَثتُ حَدَثا فَسَمّوهُ لي !

if I have committed something wrong, show it to me.

وأخرَجتُم اُمَّكُم عائِشَةَ ،

You made your mother A’ishah come forth,

وتَرَكتُم نِساءَكُم ، فَهذا أعظَمُ الحَدَثِ مِنكُم ،

but you left your women [at home]; this is the worst of the innovations you have committed.

أرِضىً هذا لِرَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله أن تَهتِكوا سِترا ضَرَبَهُ عَلَيها ،

Would the Messenger of Allah (SA) be well pleased with violating the veil he covered her with

وتُخرِجوها مِنهُ ؟ !

and you taking her out?”

 فَقالَ طَلحَةُ : إنَّما جاءَت لِلإِصلاحِ .

Talha said: “She came to set things right.”

 قالَ عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام : هِيَ ـ لَعَمرُ اللّهِ ـ إلى مَن يُصلِحُ لَها أمرَها أحوَجُ .

Ali said: “By Allah, she is more in need of having her own affairs be set right.

أيُّهَا الشَّيخُ!

O old man,

اِقبَلِ النُّصحَ وَارضَ بِالتَّوبَةِ مَعَ العارِ ،

accept good advice from me and be content with repentance alongside disgrace

قَبلَ أن يَكونَ العارُ وَالنّارُ .

before it will be disgrace along with Hellfire.”

الإمامة والسياسة : ج1 ص95 .

Al-Imama wa al-Siyasa, vol. 1, p. 95.

359. الجمل :

359. Al-Jamal:

لَمّا رَأى أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام ما قَدِمَ عَلَيهِ القَومُ

“When the Commander of the faithful (AS) saw the people’s desire

مِنَ العِنادِ وَاستَحَلّوهُ مِن سَفكِ الدَّمِ الحَرامِ ،

for stubbornness and unlawful blood-shedding,

رَفَعَ يَدَيهِ إلَى السَّماءِ وقالَ :

he raised his hands to the sky and said:

اللّهُمَّ إلَيكَ شَخَصَتِ الأَبصارُ ،

“O Allah, eyes are looking towards You,

وبُسِطَتِ الأَيدي ،

hands are expanded to You,

وأفضَتِ القُلوبُ ،

the hearts are turned towards You,

وتَقَرَّبَت إلَيكَ بِالأَعمالِ ،  

and deeds are coming closer to You:

«رَبَّنَا افْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْفَـتِحِينَ» . الأعراف : 89 .

 “Our Lord! Judge justly between us and our people, and You are the best of judges.” Qur’an, 7:89.

الجمل : ص341 .

Al-Jamal, p. 341.

360. الجمل :

360. Al-Jamal:

إنَّ أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام أنظَرَهُم [أصحابَ الجَمَلِ] ثَلاثَةَ أيّامٍ ؛

“The Commander of the faithful (AS) gave them [the people of the Camel] three days

لِيَكُفّوا ويَرعَووا ،

to desist and obey [the government];

فَلَمّا عَلِمَ إصرارَهُم عَلَى الخِلافِ قامَ في أصحابِهِ فَقالَ :

when he knew of their persistence to oppose, he stood amongst his companions and said:

 عِبادَ اللّهِ ! اِنهَدوا إلى هَؤلاءِ القَومِ مُنشَرِحَةً صُدورُكُم ،

“O servants of Allah, charge at this group with expanded chests,

فَإِنَّهُم نَكَثوا بَيعَتي ،

for they have violated my allegiance

وقَتَلوا شيعَتي ،

and killed my followers (shi`ah).

ونَكَّلوا بِعامِلي ،

They tortured my agent

وأخرَجوهُ مِنَ البَصرَةِ

and expelled him from Basra

بَعدَ أن آلَموهُ بِالضَّربِ المُبَرِّحِ ، وَالعُقوبَةِ الشَّديدَةِ ،

after hurting him with a severe beating and a harsh punishment.

وهُوَ شَيخٌ مِن وُجوهِ الأَنصارِ وَالفُضَلاءِ ،

He was an old man among the prominent figures of the Ansar and the notables,

ولَم يَرعَوا لَهُ حُرمَةً ،

but they did not observe his sanctity.

وقَتَلُوا السَّبابِجَةَ رِجالاً صالِحينَ ،

They killed the Sindis who were righteous men;

وقَتَلوا حُكَيمَ بنَ جَبَلَةَ ظُلما وعُدوانا ؛ لِغَضَبِهِ للِّهِ ،

they killed Hukaym ibn Jabala unjustly and unrightly because he hated [them] for Allah.

ثُمَّ تَتَبَّعوا شيعَتي بَعدَ أن هَرَبوا مِنهُم

They pursued my followers after they had fled

وأخَذوهُم في كُلِّ غائِطَةٍ ،

and caught them in every fields

وتَحتَ كُلِّ رابِيَةٍ ،

or under every hill

يَضرِبونَ أعناقَهُم صَبرا ،

and struck their necks after torturing them.

ما لَهُم؟  

What happened to them?

«قَـتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ» ! ! التوبة : 30 .

 “May Allah assail them, where do they stray?!” Qur’an, 9:30.

 فَانهَدوا إلَيهِم عِبادَ اللّهِ ، وكونوا اُسودا عَلَيهِم ؛

O servants of Allah, charge at them and attack them like lions,

فَإِنَّهُم شِرارٌ ،

for they are evil people,

ومُساعِدوهُم عَلَى الباطِلِ شِرارٌ ،

and those who help them are evil.

فَالقَوهُم صابِرينَ مُحتَسِبينَ مَوَطِّنينَ أنفُسَكُم ،

Face them patiently, relying [on Allah] and be tranquil,

إنَّكُم مُنازِلونَ ومُقاتِلونَ ،

for you are indeed the warriors and fighters

قَد وَطَّنتُم أنفُسَكُم عَلَى الضَّربِ

who have prepared yourselves to strike,

وَالطَّعنِ ومُنازَلَةِ الأَقرانِ .

thrust and combat your opponent.

فَأَيُّ امرِى ءٍ أحَسَّ مِن نَفسِهِ رَبَاطَةَ جَأشٍ عِندَ الفَزَعِ وشَجاعَةً عِندَ اللِّقاءِ

He who feels tranquil at times of hardship and brave at times of combat,

ورأى مِن أخيهِ فَشَلاً ووَهنا ،

but sees failure or weakness in his brother,

فَليَذُبَّ عَنهُ كَما يَذُبُّ عَن نَفسِهِ ؛

he must defend him as he defends himself,

فَلَو شاءَ اللّهُ لَجَعَلَهُ مِثلَهُ .

because if Allah wishes He will make him like that person.”

الجمل : ص334 .

Al-Jamal, p. 334.

361. الجمل عن محمّد ابن الحنفيّة:

361. Al-Jamal, narrating from Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, who said:

 لَمّا نَزَلنَا البَصرَةَ وعَسكَرنا بِها وصَفَفنا صُفوفَنا ،

“When we arrived at Basra, camped there and prepared our ranks,

دَفَعَ أبي عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام إلَيَّ اللِّواءَ ،

my father Ali (AS) gave me the banner

وقالَ : لا تُحدِثَنَّ شَيئا حَتّى يُحدَثَ فيكُم .

and said: “Do not do anything until they do something (against you).” [Editor’s note: That is ‘you should not be the beginner of the fighting’.]

ثُمَّ نامَ ،

He then went to sleep.

فَنالَنا نَبلُ القَومِ ،

When the arrows of the enemy began to fall on us,

فَأَفزَعتُهُ ،

I woke him up.

فَفَزِعَ وهُوَ يَمسَحُ عَينَيهِ مِنَ النَّومِ ،

He woke up rubbing his eyes,

وأصحابُ الجَمَلِ يَصيحونَ : يا ثاراتِ عُثمانَ !

while the people of the Camel were shouting: “O avengers of `Uthman!”

 فَبَرَزَ عليه السلام ولَيسَ عَلَيهِ إلّا قَميصٌ واحِدٌ ،

He [Ali] (AS) fought armourless, clad in one shirt;

ثُمَّ قالَ : تَقَدَّم بِاللَّواءِ !

then he said to me: “Advance with the banner!”

فَتَقَدَّمتُ وقُلتُ : يا أبَتِ أفي مِثلِ هذَا اليَومِ بِقَميصٍ واحِدٍ ؟ !

So I advanced and I said: “O father, on such a day you fight with only one shirt?”

فَقالَ عليه السلام : أحرَزَ أمرا أجَلُهُ ،

He (AS) said: “Every person will face his written term.

وَاللّهِ قَاتَلتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله وأنَا حاسِرٌ أكثَرَ مِمّا قاتَلتُ وأنَا دارِعٌ .

By Allah, I fought with the Messenger of Allah (SA) armourless more than I was armoured.”

الجمل : ص355 .

Al-Jamal, p. 355.

362. الإمامة والسياسة:

362. Al-Imama wa al-Siyasa:

 اِقتَتَلَ القَومُ قِتالاً شَديدا ،

 “The two groups were intensely fighting each other.

فَهَزَمَت يَمَنُ البَصَرَةِ يَمَنَ عَلِيٍّ ،

The right wing of the Basra army defeated the right wing of Ali’s army,

وهَزَمَت رَبيعَةُ البَصرَةِ رَبيعَةَ عَلِيٍّ . . .

and the Rabi`ah tribe of the army of Basra defeated the Rabi`ah tribe of the army of Ali......

ثُمَّ تَقَدَّم عَلِيٌّ فَنَظَرَ إلى أصحابِهِ يُهزَمونَ ويُقتَلونَ ،

Then Ali came forward and looked at his companions being defeated and killed.

فَلَمّا نَظَرَ إلى ذلِكَ صاحَ بِابنِهِ مُحَمَّدٍ ـ ومَعَهُ الرّايَةُ ـ : أنِ اقتَحِم !

When he saw that, he shouted at his son Muhammad who was holding the banner, saying to him: “Attack.”

فَأَبطَأَ وثَبَتَ ،

He [Muhammad] went forward slowly and stood in his place,

فَأَتى عَلِيٌّ مِن خَلفِهِ فَضَرَبَهُ بَينَ كَتِفَيهِ ،

so Ali came to him from behind and hit him on his back between his shoulders,

وأخَذَ الرّايَةَ مِن يَدِهِ ،

and then took the banner from him.

ثُمَّ حَمَلَ فَدَخَلَ عَسكَرَهُم ،

Ali advanced forward and entered the enemy’s camp.

وإنَّ المَيمَنَتَينِ وَالمَيسَرَتَينِ تَضطَرِبانِ ؛

The right wing and left wing of both sides were restless,

في إحداهُما عَمّارٌ ،

`Ammar in one of them

وفِي الاُخرى عَبدُ اللّهِ بنُ عَبّاسٍ ، ومُحَمَّدُ بنُ أبي بَكرٍ .

and `Abdullah ibn `Abbas and Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr in the other wing.

 قالَ : فَشَقَّ عَلِيٌّ في عَسكَرِ القَومِ يَطعَنُ ويَقتُلُ ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ . . .

Ali (AS) broke through the enemy’s camp thrusting and killing,......

ثُمَّ أعطَى الرّايَةَ لِابنِهِ

He then gave the banner to his son Muhammad

وقالَ : هكَذا فَاصنَع .

and said: “Thus do.”

فَتَقَدَّمَ مُحَمَّدٌ بِالرّايَةِ ومَعَهُ الأَنصارُ ،

So Muhammad advanced forward holding the banner accompanied by the Ansar,

حَتَّى انتَهى إلَى الجَمَلِ وَالهَودَجِ

until he reached the camel and the palanquin,

وهَزَمَ ما يَليهِ ،

so those around it fled.

فَاقتَتَلَ النّاسُ ذلِكَ اليَومَ قِتالاً شَديدا ،

The people fought so intensely on that day,

حَتّى كَانتِ الواقِعَةُ والضَّربُ عَلَى الرُّكَبِ .

that blows and strikes were exchanged while being on their knees.”

الإمامة والسياسة : ج1 ص96 .

Al-Imama wa al-Siyasa, vol. 1, p. 96.

363. الفتوح :

363. Al-Futuh:

اِنفَرَقَ عَلِيٌّ يُريدُ أصحابَهُ ،

“Ali distanced himself [from the enemy’s camp] desiring to meet his companions.

فَصاحَ بِهِ صائِحٌ مِن وَرائِهِ ،

A herald called out from behind him,

فَالتَفَتَ وإذا بِعَبدِاللّهِ بنِ خَلَفٍ الخُزاعِيِّ

so he looked back and it was `Abdullah ibn Khalaf al-Khuza`i,

وهُوَ صاحبُ مَنزِلِ عائِشَةَ بِالبَصرَةِ ،

the owner of A’ishah’s house in Basra.

فَلَمّا رَآهُ عَلِيٌّ عَرَفَهُ ،

When Ali saw him, he knew him,

فَناداهُ : ما تَشاءُ يَابنَ خَلَفٍ ؟

so he called out to him: “O son of Khalaf, what do you want?”

 قالَ : هَل لَكَ فِي المُبارَزَةِ ؟

He said: “Do you want to fight?”

 قالَ عَلِيٌّ : ما أكرَهُ ذلِكَ ،

Ali said: “I would not hate to,

ولكن وَيحَكَ يَابنَ خَلَفٍ

but woe unto you, O son of Khalaf,

ما راحَتُكَ فِي القَتلِ وقَد عَلِمتَ مَن أنَا ! !

what comfort do you seek in death, when you know who I am.”

 فَقالَ عَبدُ اللّهِ بنُ خَلَفٍ : دَعني مِن مَدحِكَ يَابنَ أبي طالِبٍ ،

`Abdullah ibn Khalaf said: “O son of Abu Talib,

وَادنُ مِنّي لِتَرى أيُّنا يَقتُلُ صاحِبَهُ !

spare me of your praises and come close to me to see which of us will kill his opponent.”

ثُمَّ أنشَدَ شِعرا ،

He then recited a poem, and Ali replied.

فَأَجابَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيهِ ، وَالتَقَوا لِلضَّربِ ،

They confronted each other,

فَبادَرَهُ عَبدُ اللّهِ بنُ خَلَفٍ بِضَربَةٍ دَفَعَها عَلِيٌّ بِحَجَفَتِهِ ،

and `Abdullah ibn Khalaf began first with a hit which Ali repelled with his shield.

ثُمَّ انحَرَفَ عَنهُ عَلِيٌّ فَضَرَبَهُ ضَرَبَةً رَمى بِيَمينِهِ ،

Ali then moved to his side and hit him with a strike that cut off his right hand,

ثُمَّ ضَرَبَهُ اُخرى فَأَطارَ قِحفَ رَأسِهِ .

and then he hit him again cutting off the top of his head.”

الفتوح : ج2 ص478 .

Al-Futuh, vol. 2, p. 478.

364. الفتوح :

364. Al-Futuh:

جَعَلَ طَلحَةُ يُنادي بِأَعلى صَوتِهِ :

“Talha called out as loud as he could:

عِبادَ اللّهِ ! الصَّبرَ الصَّبرَ !

“O servants of Allah, patience, patience!

إنَّ بَعدَ الصَّبرِ النَّصرُ وَالأَجرُ .

Victory and reward will come after patience.”

فَنَظَرَ إلَيهِ مَروانُ بنُ الحَكَمِ ،

Marwan ibn al-Hakam looked at him,

فَقالَ لِغُلامٍ لَهُ : وَيلَكَ يا غُلامُ !

and then he said to his slave: “O slave, woe unto you!

وَاللّهِ إنّي لَأَعلَمُ أنَّه ما حَرَّضَ عَلى قَتلِ عُثمانَ يَومَ الدّارِ أحَدٌ كَتَحريضِ طَلحَةَ

By Allah, I know that the one who incited the people to kill `Uthman in his house was Talha,

ولا قَتَلَهُ سِواهُ !

and he was the one who killed `Uthman.

ولكِنِ استُرني فَأَنتَ حُرٌّ ؛ فَسَتَرَهُ الغُلامُ .

However, cover me, and I will set you free.” So, the slave hid him.

ورَمى مَروانُ بِسَهمٍ مَسمومٍ لِطَلحَةَ بنِ عُبَيدِ اللّهِ ،

Marwan then casted a poisoned arrow at Talha ibn `Ubaidullah

فَأَصابَهُ بِهِ ،

and hit him with it.

فَسَقَطَ طَلحَةُ لِما بِهِ

Talha fell down from the strike

وقَد غُمِيَ عَلَيهِ .

and fell unconscious;

ثُمَّ أفاقَ ،

he then awoke

فَنَظَرَ إلَى الدَّمِ يَسيلُ مِنهُ

and looked at the blood coming out from him,

فَقالَ : إنّا للِّهِ وإنّا إلَيه راجِعونَ ،

so he said: “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him do we indeed return.” Qur’an, 2:156.

أظُنُّ وَاللّهِ أنَّنا عُنينا بِهذِهِ الآيَةِ مِن كِتابِ اللّهِ عَزَّ وجَلَّ إذ يَقولُ :

By Allah, I think this verse in the Book of Allah refers to us, as it says:

«وَاتَّقُواْ فِتْنَةً لَا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَـلَمُواْ مِنكُمْ خَآصَّةً وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ » . الأنفال : 25 .

 “Beware of a punishment which shall not visit the wrongdoers among you exclusively, and know that Allah is severe in retribution.” Qur’an, 8:25.

الفتوح : ج 2 ص 478 .

Al-Futuh, vol. 2, p. 478.

365. تاريخ الطبري عن محمّد وطلحة :

365. Tarikh al-Tabari, narrating from Muhammad and Talha, who said:

كانَ القِتالُ الأَوَّلُ يَستَحِرُّ إلَى انتِصافِ النَّهارِ ،

“The first fight continued till midday,

واُصيبَ فيهِ طَلحَةُ ،

when Talha was wounded

وذَهَبَ فيهِ الزُّبَيرُ ،

and al-Zubayr was killed.

فَلَمّا أوَوا إلى عائِشَةَ

When the army sought refuge to A’ishah 

وأبى أهلُ الكوفَةِ إلَا القِتالَ

and the people of Kufah desired to fight

ولَم يُريدوا إلّا عائِشَةَ ،

and demanded A’ishah to be handed over,

ذَمَرَتهم عائِشَةُ .

A’ishah complained and censured them.

 فَاقتَتَلوا حَتّى تَنادَوا فَتَحاجَزوا ،

They continued to fight until they called out one another and separated;

فَرَجَعوا بَعدَ الظُّهرِ فَاقتَتَلوا ،

then they returned to battle in the afternoon;

وذلِكَ يَومَ الخَميسِ في جُمادَى الآخِرَةِ ،

this was on Thursday in Jumada al-Akhira.

فَاقتَتَلوا صَدرَ النَّهارِ مَعَ طَلحَةَ وَالزُّبَيرِ ،

Before midday they were fighting with Talha and al-Zubayr,

وفي وَسَطِهِ مَعَ عائِشَةَ .

and at midday with A’ishah.”

تاريخ الطبري : ج4 ص514 .

Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 4, p. 514.

366. الجمل :

366. Al-Jamal:

لَمّا تَفَرَّقَ النّاسُ عَنِ الجَمَلِ أشفَقَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام

“When the people dispersed from around the camel [of A’ishah], the Commander of the Faithful (AS) was worried

أن يَعودَ إلَيهِ

that they would return to it,

فَتعودَ الحَربُ ،

so the battle would relaunch,

فَقالَ : عَرقِبُوا الجَمَلَ .

so he said: “Cut the camel’s veins.”

فَتَبادَرَ إلَيهِ أصحابُ أميرِ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام فَعَرقَبوهُ ،

The companions of the Commander of the Faithful (AS) went to the camel and hamstrung it.

ووَقَعَ لِجَنبِهِ ،

It fell to its side,

وصاحَت عائِشَةُ صَيحَةً أسمَعَت مَن فِي العَسكَرَينِ .

and A’ishah screamed out so loud that everyone in the two army camps heard.”

الجمل : ص 350 .

Al-Jamal, p. 350.

367. أنساب الأشراف :

367. Ansab al-Ashraf:

كانَتِ الحَربُ مِنَ الظُّهرِ إلى غُروبِ الشَّمسِ .

 “The battle lasted from midday to sunset.”

أنساب الأشراف : ج3 ص38 .

Ansab al-Ashraf, vol. 3, p. 38.

368. الإمام الباقر عليه السلام:

368. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said:

 أمَرَ عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام مُنادِيَهُ فَنادى يَومَ البَصرَةِ :

“Ali ordered his herald to call out on the day of Basra [in the Battle of the Camel:

«لا يُتَّبَعُ مُدبِرٌ ،

“He who flees must not be chased,

ولا يُذَفَّفُ عَلى جَريحٍ ،

a wounded man must not be finished off,

ولا يُقتَلُ أسيرٌ ،

and a prisoner must not be killed.

ومَن أغلَقَ بابَهُ فَهُوَ آمِنٌ ،

Whoever closes his door is secure,

ومَن ألقى سِلاحَهُ فَهُوَ آمِنٌ» ،

whoever puts his weapons down is secure.”

ولَم يَأخُذ مِن مَتاعِهِم شَيئا .

He [Ali] did not take any of their spoils.”1046

السنن الكبرى : ج 8 ص 314 ح 16747 .

Al-Sunan al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 314, h. 16747.

369. أنساب الأشراف :

369. Ansab al-Ashraf:

قامَ عَلِيٌّ ـ حينَ ظَهَرَ وظَفِرَ ـ خَطيبا فَقالَ :

“After Ali gained victory, he stood up to deliver a sermon, saying:

يا أهلَ البَصرَةِ !قَد عَفَوتُ عَنكُم ؛

 “O people of Basra, I have pardoned you all,

فَإِيّاكُم وَالفِتنَةَ ؛

so beware of dissension,

فَإِنَّكُم أوَّلُ الرَّعِيَّةِ نَكَثَ البَيعَةَ ،

for indeed you are the first of the people who broke the allegiance

وشَقَّ عَصَا الاُمَّةِ .

and ripped apart the unity of the ummah.”

 ثُمَّ جَلَسَ وبايَعَهُ النّاسُ .

 

أنساب الأشراف : ج3 ص58 .

Ansab al-Ashraf, vol. 3, p. 58.

370. تاريخ اليعقوبيـ في خَبَرِ عائِشَةَ ـ:

370. Tarikh al-Ya`qubi, in respect of A’ishah:

أتاها عَلِيٌّ ،

“Ali came to her

وهِيَ في دارِ عَبدِ اللّهِ بنِ خَلَفِ الخُزاعِيِّ ،

when she was in the house of `Abdullah ibn Khalaf al-Khuza`i

وابنُهُ المَعروفُ بِطَلحَةِ الطَّلحاتِ ،

with his son known as Talhat al-Talhat.

فَقالَ : إيها يا حُمَيراءُ !

He [Ali] said: “O Humayra’, [The nickname of ‘A’ishah.]

أ لَم تَنتَهي عَن هذَا المَسيرِ ؟

will you not stop this movement?”

فَقالَت : يَابنَ أبي طالِبٍ ! قَدَرتَ فَأَسجِح !

 She said: “O son of Abu Talib, you have gained power, so be lenient.”

 فَقالَ : اخرُجي إلَى المَدينَةِ ،

He said: “Leave for Medina

وَارجِعي إلى بَيتِكِ الَّذي أمَرَكِ رَسولُ اللّهِ أن تَقَرّي فيهِ .

and go back to your house that the Messenger of Allah (SA) commanded you to stay in.”

قالَت : أفعَلُ .

She said: “I will.”

تاريخ اليعقوبي : ج2 ص183 .

Tarikh al-Ya`qubi, vol. 2, p. 183.

371. الجمل :

371. Al-Jamal:

لَمّا عَزَمَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام عَلَى المَسيرِ إلَى الكوفَةِ

“When Ali decided to head towards Kufah,

أنفَذَ إلى عائِشَةَ يَأمُرُها بِالرَّحيلِ إلَى المَدينَةِ ،

he sent for A’ishah ordering her to leave to Medina;

فَتَهَيَّأَت لِذلِكَ ،

so she prepared herself for the journey;

وأنفَذَ مَعَها أربَعينَ امرَأَةً

he sent forty women with her,

ألبَسَهُنَّ العمائِمَ وَالقَلانِسَ ،

clad in turbans and hats,

وقَلَّدَهُنَّ السُّيوفَ ،

and gave them swords.

وأمَرَهَنُّ أن يَحفَظنَها ،

He ordered these women to protect her

ويَكُنَّ عَن يَمينِها وشِمالِها ومِن وَرائِها .

and be on her right hand side, her left and behind her.

 فَجَعَلَت عائِشَةُ تَقولُ فِي الطَّريقِ :

A’ishah continued to say throughout the journey:

اللّهُمَّ افعَل بِعَلِيِّ بنِ أبي طالِبٍ بِما فَعَلَ بي !

“O Allah, do to Ali ibn Abi Talib what he has done to me!

بَعَثَ مَعِيَ الرِّجالَ

He has sent men with me

ولَم يَحفَظ بي حُرمَةَ رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله .

and did not observe the sanctity of the Messenger of Allah (SA).”

 فَلَمّا قَدِمنَ المَدينَةَ مَعَها

When the women arrived in Medina with her,

ألقَينَ العَمائِمَ وَالسُّيوفَ

they took off their turbans and threw down their swords

ودَخَلنَ مَعَها ،

and entered the city with her.

فَلَمّا رَأَتهُنَّ نَدِمَت عَلى ما فَرَّطَت بِذَمِّ أميرِ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام وسَبِّهِ .

When she saw that they were women, she regretted what she said in dispraise of the Commander of the faithful (AS).

 وقالَت : جَزَى اللّهُ ابنَ أبي طالِبٍ خَيرا ،

She said: “May Allah reward the son of Abu Talib the best,

فَلَقَد حَفِظَ فِيَّ حُرمَةَ رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله .

as he observed the sanctity of the Messenger of Allah (SA).”1050

الجمل : ص415 .

Al-Jamal, p. 415.

372. شرح الأخبار:

372. Sharh al-Akhbar:

 كانَ عَلِيٌّ ـ صَلَواتُ اللّهِ عَلَيهِ ـ قَد غَنَّمَ أصحابَهُ ما أجلَبَ بِهِ أهلُ البَصرَةِ إلى قِتالِهِ ـ وأجلَبوا بِهِ:

“Ali (AS) gave his companions as booty whatever (wealth) the people of Basra had acquired for fighting against him –

يَعني أتَوا بِهِ في عَسكَرِهِم ـ

that is what they had brought to their army camp –

ولَم يَعرِض لِشَيءٍ غَيرِ ذلِكَ مِن أموالِهِم ، وجَعَلَ ما سِوى ذلِكَ مِن أموالِ مَن قُتِلَ مِنهُم لِوَرَثَتِهِم،

leaving the rest of the wealth of those killed to be given to their heirs.

وخَمَّسَ ما اُغنِمَهُ مِمّا أجلَبوا بِهِ عَلَيهِ ،

He took out the fifth of what they had gathered as spoils,

فَجَرَت أيضا بِذلِكَ السُّنَّةُ .

and thus did the normative rule come to pass.”

شرح الأخبار : ج1 ص389 ح331 .

Sharh al-Akhbar, vol. 1, p. 389, h. 331.

373. الجمل :

373. Al-Jamal:

لَمّا خَرَجَ عُثمانُ بنُ حُنَيفٍ مِنَ البَصرَةِ ،

“When `Uthman ibn Hunayf left Basra,

وعادَ طَلحَةُ وَالزُّبَيرُ إلى بَيتِ المالِ

and Talha and al-Zubayr went back to the Muslim Treasury,

فَتَأَمَّلا ما فيهِ ،

they observed what was in it attentively.

فَلَمّا رَأَوا ما حَواهُ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالفِضَّةِ قالوا :

When they saw the gold and silver contained in it, they said:

هذِهِ الغَنائِمُ الَّتي وَعَدنَا اللّهُ بِها ،

“These are the spoils that God promised us with

وأخبَرَنا أنَّهُ يُعَجِّلُها لَنا .

and informed us it will be ours very soon.”

 قالَ أبُو الأَسوَدِ : فَقَد سَمِعتُ هذا مِنهُما ،

Abu al-Aswad said: “I heard these words from them.

ورَأَيتُ عَلِيّا عليه السلام بَعدَ ذلِكَ ،

In another incident happened later on‚

وقَد دَخَلَ بَيتَ مالِ البَصرَةِ ،

I saw Ali entering the Muslim Treasury of Basra;

فَلَمّا رَأى ما فيهِ قالَ :

when he saw what was in it, he said:

يا صَفراءُ ويا بَيضاءُ غُرّي غَيري !

“O yellow [gold], O white [silver], deceive someone else.

اَلمالُ يَعسوبُ الظَّلَمَةِ ،

Money is the master of the oppressors,

وأنَا يَعسوبُ المُؤمِنينَ .

and I am the master of the believers.”

 فَلا وَاللّهِ مَا التَفَتَ إلى ما فيهِ ،

By Allah, he did not pay attention to what was in it

ولا فَكَّرَ فيما رَآهُ مِنهُ ،

and did not think about what he saw there.

وما وَجَدتُهُ عِندَهُ إلّا كَالتُّرابِ هَواناً !

I saw him consider it as insignificant as dust. [Editor: That is regarded it with contempt.]

فَعَجِبتُ مِنَ القَومِ ومِنهُ عليه السلام !

I was surprised at the people [Talha and al-Zubayr] and at him (AS),

فَقُلتُ : اُولئِكَ مِمَّن يُريدُ الدُّنيا ،

so I said: “These are among those that seek this world,

وهذا مِمَّن يُريدُ الآخِرَةَ ،

whereas he is among those that desire the hereafter.”

وقَوِيَت بَصيرَتي فيهِ .

So my insight regarding him increased.”

الجمل : ص285 .

Al-Jamal, p. 285.

374. الجمل :

374. Al-Jamal:

لَمّا كَتَبَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام الكُتُبَ بِالفَتحِ

“When the Commander of the Faithful (AS) wrote the letters of victory,

قامَ فِي النّاسِ خَطيباً ،

he stood up among the people and delivered a sermon.

فَحَمِدَ اللّهَ تَعالى وأثنى عَلَيهِ ،

He praised Allah and lauded Him, and then invoked

وصَلّى عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وآلِهِ ،

God to bless Muhammad and his progeny.

ثُمَّ قالَ :

Then he said:

أمّا بَعدُ ؛ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ غَفورٌ رَحيمٌ عَزيزٌ ذُو انتِقامٍ ،

“Allah is indeed All-forgiving, Merciful, Mighty and Revengeful.

جَعَلَ عَفوَهُ ومَغفِرَتَهُ لِأَهلِ طاعَتِهِ ،

He appointed His pardon and forgiveness to those who obey Him,

وجَعَلَ عَذابَهُ وعِقابَهُ لِمَن عَصاهُ

and He appointed His punishment and penalty to those who oppose Him

وخالَفَ أمرَهُ ،

and disobey His command

وَابتَدَعَ في دينِهِ ما لَيسَ مِنهُ ،

and innovate in religion.

وبِرَحمَتِهِ نالَ الصّالِحونَ العَونَ ،

The righteous have attained assistance through His Mercy.

وقَد أمكَنَنِيَ اللّهُ مِنكُم يا أهلَ البَصرَةِ ،

O people of Basra, Allah has given me the power to overcome you,

وأسلَمَكُم بِأَعمالِكُم ؛

and He has spared you from your actions,

فَإِيّاكُم أن تَعودوا إلى مِثلِها ؛

so beware of doing the like of it.

فَإِنَّكُم أوَّلُ مَن شَرَعَ القِتالَ وَالشِّقاقَ ،

You are the first to begin the fight, to break the unity

وتَرَكَ الحَقَّ وَالإِنصافَ .

and to abandon the truth and fairness.”

الجمل : ص 400 .

Al-Jamal, p. 400.

375. الجمل عن الواقدي عن رجاله :

375. Al-Jamal, narrating from al-Waqidi from his narrators, who said:

لَمّا أرادَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام الخُروجَ مِنَ البَصرَةِ

“When the Commander of the Faithful (AS) intended to leave Basra,

استَخلَفَ عَلَيها عَبدُ اللّهِ بنُ العَبّاسِ وأوصاهُ ،

he appointed `Abdullah ibn `Abbas as his vicegerent and gave him instructions.

فَكانَ في وَصِيَّتِهِ لَهُ أن قالَ :

He said, among others, the following:

 يَا بنَ عَبّاسٍ ،

“O Ibn `Abbas,

عَلَيكَ بِتَقوَى اللّهِ وَالعَدلِ

observe piety in Allah and justice

بِمَن وُلّيتَ عَلَيهِ ،

over those whom you rule.

وأن تَبسُطَ لِلنّاسِ وَجهَكَ ،

Show a good face to people,

وتُوَسِّعَ عَلَيهِم مَجلِسَكَ

allow them to attend your gatherings,

وتَسَعَهُم بِحِلمِكَ .

and give them your patience.

وإيّاكَ وَالغَضَبَ ؛

Beware of anger,

فَإِنَّهُ طِيَرَةٌ مِنَ الشَّيطانِ ،

for it is an excuse for Satan,

وإيّاكَ وَالهَوى ؛

and beware of personal inclination,

فَإِنَّهُ يَصُدُّكَ عَن سَبيلِ اللّهِ .

for it will indeed hinder you from the path of Allah.

 وَاعلَم أنَّ ما قَرَّبَكَ مِنَ اللّهِ فَهُوَ مُباعِدُكَ مِنَ النّارِ ،

Know that what brings you close to Allah will itself distance you from Hellfire,

وما باعَدَكَ مِنَ اللّهِ فَهُوَ مُقَرِّبُكَ مِنَ النّارِ .

and what istances you from Allah will bring you close to Hellfire.

وَاذُكرِ اللّهَ كَثيرا ولا تَكُن مِنَ الغافِلينَ .

Remember Allah abundantly and do not be among the heedless.”

 ورَوى أبو مِخنَفٍ لوطُ بنُ يَحيى قالَ :

Abu Mikhnaf Lut ibn Yahya recorded the following:

لَمَّا استَعمَلَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام عَبدَ اللّهِ بنَ العَبّاسِ عَلَى البَصرَةِ

“When the Commander of the Faithful (AS) designated `Abdullah ibn `Abbas over Basra,

خَطَبَ النّاسَ ،

he [Ali] gave a sermon among the people.

فَحَمِدَ اللّهَ وأثنى عَلَيهِ ، وصَلّى عَلى رَسولِهِ ،

He praised Allah and lauded Him and invoked God to bless Muhammad (SA).

ثُمَّ قالَ : يا مَعاشِرَ النّاسِ ، قَدِ استَخلَفتُ عَلَيكُم عَبدَ اللّهِ بنَ العَبّاسِ ،

Then he said: “O people, I have appointed `Abdullah ibn `Abbas over you,

فَاسمَعوا لَهُ وأطيعوا أمرَهُ ما أطاعَ اللّهَ ورَسولَهُ ؛

so listen to him and obey his command as long as he obeys Allah and His Messenger.

فَإِن أحدَثَ فيكُم أو زاغَ عَنِ الحَقِّ

If he does wrong to you or deviates from the truth,

فَأَعلِموني أعزِلهُ عَنكُم ؛

then inform me, and I will dismiss him.

فَإِنّي أرجو أن أجِدَهُ عَفيفاً تَقِيّاً وَرِعاً ،

I hope that I find him virtuous, pure and devout,

وإنّي لَم اُوَلِّهِ عَلَيكُم

and I have appointed him over you only

إلّا وأنَا أظُنُّ ذلِكَ بِهِ ،

because I think he is thinking this so.

غَفَرَ اللّهُ لَنا ولَكُم .

May Allah forgive us and you.”

فَأَقامَ عَبدُ اللّهِ بِالبَصرَةِ

`Abdullah stayed in Basra

حَتّى عَمِلَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام عَلَى التَّوَجُّهِ إلَى الشّامِ ،

until the Commander of the Faithful (AS) moved towards Syria,

فَاستَخلَفَ عَلَيها زيادَ بنَ أبيهِ ،

so he [`Abdullah] appointed Ziyad ibn Abih as vicegerent

وضَمَّ إلَيهِ أبَا الأَسوَدِ الدُّؤَلِيَّ ،

and put Abu al-Aswad as his assistant,

ولَحِقَ بِأَميرِالمُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام ،

so he joined the Commander of the faithful (AS)

فَسارَ مَعَهُ إلى صِفّينَ .

and travelled with him to Siffin.”

الجمل : ص420 .

Al-Jamal, p. 420.

 376. وقعة صفّين عن عبد الرحمن بن عبيد بن أبي الكنود وغيره :

376. Waq`at Siffin, narrating from `Abd al-Rahman ibn `Ubayd ibn Abi al-Kanud and others, who said:

لَمّا قَدِمَ عَلِيُّ بنُ أبي طالِبٍ مِنَ البَصرَةِ إلَى الكوفَةِ يَومَ الِاثنَينِ لِثِنتَي عَشرَةَ لَيلَةً مَضَت مِن رَجَبٍ سَنَةَ سِتٍّ وثَلاثينَ ،

“When Ali ibn Abi Talib came from Basra to Kufah on Monday the twelfth of Rajab, 36 [AH],

وقَد أعَزَّ اللّهُ نَصرَهُ ،

after Allah had honoured him with victory,

وأظهَرَهُ عَلى عَدُوِّهِ ،

making him win over his enemy,

ومَعَهُ أشرافُ النّاسِ وأهلُ البَصرَةِ ،

accompanied by the notables and the people of Basra,

استَقبَلَهُ أهلُ الكوفَةِ

he was received by the people of Kufah,

وفيهِم قُرّاؤُهُم وأشرافُهُم ،

their reciters and their noble men.

فَدَعَوا لَهُ بِالبَرَكَةِ وقالوا :

They prayed for blessings for him and said:

يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ،

“O Commander of the Faithful,

أينَ تَنزِلُ ؟

where will you stay?

أ تَنزِلُ القَصرَ ؟

Will you stay in the palace?”

فَقالَ : لا ، ولكِنّي أنزِلُ الرُّحبَةَ .

He said: “No, but I will stay in al-Ruhbah.” [The word al-Ruhbah here is referring to the main city square and resting place for the public.]

فَنَزَلَها وأقبَلَ حَتّى دَخَلَ المَسجِدَ الأَعظَمَ

He halted there and then went to the main mosque.

فَصَلّى فيهِ رَكعَتَينِ ،

He prayed two units of prayer in it

ثُمَّ صَعِدَ المِنبَرَ

and then ascended the pulpit.

فَحَمِدَ اللّهَ وأثنى عَلَيهِ

He praised Allah and lauded him,

وصَلّى عَلى رَسولِهِ

and sent blessing to His Messenger.

وقالَ : أمّا بَعدُ ؛ يا أهلَ الكوفَةِ !

Then he said: “O people of Kufah,

فَإِنَّ لَكُم فِي الإِسلامِ فَضلاً ما لَم تُبَدِّلوا وتُغَيِّروا .

you have virtue in Islam as long as you do not alter it.

دَعَوتُكُم إلَى الحَقِّ فَأَجَبتُم ،

I invited you to the truth and you answered,

وبَدَأتُم بِالمُنكَرِ فَغَيَّرتُم .

and you began with the wrong and you changed it (i.e. the virtue).

ألا إنَّ فَضلَكُم فيما بَينَكُم وبَينَ اللّهِ فِي الأَحكامِ وَالقَسمِ ،

Verily, virtue lies in your implementation of God’s laws and divisions.

فَأَنتُم اُسوَةُ مَن أجابَكُم ودَخَلَ فيما دَخَلتُم فيهِ .

You are the role models of those who answer and enter what you have entered.

ألا إنَّ أخوَفَ ما أخافُ عَلَيكُمُ اتِّباعُ الهَوى ،

Verily, what I most fear in you is the pursuance of desire

وطولُ الأَمَلِ ؛

and drawn out expectations.

فَأَمَّا اتِّباعُ الهَوى فَيَصُدُّ عَنِ الحَقِّ ،

The pursuance of desire hinders the truth

وأمّا طولُ الأَمَلِ فَيُنسِي الآخِرَةَ .

and drawn out expectations make one forget the hereafter.

ألا إنَّ الدُّنيا قَد تَرَحَّلَت مُدبِرَةً ،

Verily, the world has departed and is going away,

وَالآخِرَةَ تَرَحَّلتَ مُقبِلَةً ،

and the hereafter is close and coming,

ولِكُلِّ واحِدَةٍ مِنهُما بَنونَ ؛

and each one of them has its children,

فَكونوا مِن أبناءِ الآخِرَةِ .

so be among the children of the hereafter.

اَليَومَ عَمَلٌ ولا حِسابٌ ،

Today is action without judgment

وغَدا حِسابٌ ولا عَمَلٌ .

and tomorrow is judgment without action.

الحَمدُ لِلّهِ الَّذي نَصَرَ وَلِيَّهُ ،

Praise be to Allah Who has helped His friend,

وخَذَلَ عَدُوَّهُ ،

disappointed His enemy,

وأعَزَّ الصّادِقَ المُحِقَّ ،

gave dignity to the truthful and the rightful

وأذَلَّ النّاكِثَ المُبطِلَ .

and humiliated the breaker and the falsifier.

عَلَيكُم بِتَقوَى اللّهِ وطاعَةِ مَن أطاعَ اللّهَ مِن أهلِ بَيتِ نَبِيِّكُم ،

You must be God-wary and obey whoever obeys Allah from among the Household of your Prophet,

الَّذينَ هُم أولى بِطاعَتِكُم فيما أطاعُوا اللّهَ فيهِ

who have better right to your obedience in what they obeye Allah,

مِنَ المُنتَحِلينَ المُدَّعينَ المُقابِلينَ إلَينا ،

rather than those who arrogate [the religion] to themselves or have claims but counter us.

يَتَفَضَّلونَ بِفَضلِنا ،

These people gain virtue through our virtue,

ويُجاحِدونّا أمرَنا ،

deny our affair [of the government],

ويُنازِعونّا حَقَّنا ،

and fight us over our rights.

ويُدافِعونّا عَنهُ .

 

فَقَد ذاقوا وَبالَ مَا اجتَرَحوا فَسوفَ يَلقَونَ غَيّاً .

They have tasted the outcome of their actions and will soon see their own misguidance.

ألا إنَّهُ قَد قَعَدَ عَن نُصرَتي مِنكُم رِجالٌ فَأَنَا عَلَيهِم عاتِبٌ زارٍ .

Lo! There are men who desisted from helping me, so I have the right to reproach them.

فَاهجُروهُم وأسمِعوهُم ما يَكرَهونَ حَتّى يُعتِبوا ،

Forsake them and let them hear what they dislike,

لِيُعرَفَ بِذلِكَ حِزبُ اللّهِ عِندَ الفُرقَةِ .

so they may be reproached and the party of Allah may be recognized at the time of disunity.”

وقعة صفّين : ص3 .

Waq`at Siffin, p. 3.