أَمَّا بَعْدُ،
Now then,
فَإِذَا أَتَاكَ كِتَابِي فَاحْمِلْ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَلَى الْفَصْلِ،
when you receive this letter of mine ask Mu'awiyah to take a final decision
وَخُذْهُ بَالاْمْرِ الْجَزْمِ،
and to follow a determined course.
ثُمَّ خَيِّرْهُ بَيْنَ حَرْب مُجْلِيَة،
Then ask him to choose either war that exiles him from home
أَوْ سِلْم مُخْزِيَة،
or ignoble peace.
فَإِنِ اخْتَارَ الْحَرْبَ فَانْبِذْ إِلَيْهِ،
If he chooses war leave him alone,
وَإِنِ اخْتَارَ السِّلْمَ فَخُذْ بَيْعَتَهُ،
but if he chooses peace secure his allegiance;
وَالسَّلاَمُ.
and that is an end to the matter.
