وقال عليه السلام ، وقد عزّى الاَشعثَ بن قيسٍ عن ابن له:
Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said in condoling Ash'ath ibn Qays about (the death of) his son:
يَا أَشْعَثُ،
O Ash' ath,
إِنْ تَحْزَنْ عَلَى ابْنِكَ
if you grieve over your son,
فَقَدِ اسْتَحَقَّتْ ذلِكَ مِنْكَ الرَّحِمُ،
certainly it is the consequence of the blood relationship;
وَإِنْ تَصْبِرْ
but if you endure,
فَفِي اللهِ مِنْ كُلِّ مُصِيبَةٍ خَلَفٌ.
then Allah provides recompense for every affliction.
يَا أَشْعَثُ،
O Ash'ath,
إِنْ صَبَرْتَ جَرَى عَلَيْكَ الْقَدَرُ
if you endure even then matters will move on as ordained by Allah
وَأَنْتَ مَأْجُورٌ،
but in that case you will deserve reward;
وَإِنْ جَزِعْتَ جَرَى عَلَيْكَ الْقَدَرُ
while if you lose patience, matters will again move as ordained by Allah,
وَأَنْتَ مَأْزُورٌ
but in this case you will be bearing the burden (of sins).
ابْنُكَ سَرَّكَ وَهُوَ بَلاَءٌ وَفِتْنَةٌ،
O Ash'ath, your son (when he lived) gave you happiness while, at the same time, he was a trial and hardship
وَحَزَنَكَ وَهُوَ ثَوَابٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ.
and (when he died) he grieved you while, at the same time, he has proved a source of reward and mercy for you.