وروى ابن جرير الطبري في تاريخه عن عبدالرحمن بن أبي ليلى الفقيه. وكان ممن خرج لقتال الحجاج مع ابن الاَشعث. أنه قال فيما كان يحضُّ به الناسَ على الجهاد: إني سمعتُ علياً رفع الله درجته في الصالحين، و أثابه ثواب الشهداء و الصديقين ، يقول يوم لقينا أهل الشام:
373. Ibn Jarir at-Tabari has, in his history (vol.2, p.1086; also Ibn al-Athir in his history, vol.4, p.478), related from 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abi Layla, al-faqih (the theologian), who was one of those who had risen with ('Abd' ar-Rahman ibn Muhammad) Ibn al-Ash'ath to fight al-Hajjaj (ibn Yusuf ath-Thaqafi), that he (Ibn Abi Layla) was exhorting people to jihad by recalling: On the occasion of encounter with the people of Syria I heard Amir al-mu'minin, may Allah exalt his degree of rank among the righteous and may He reward him the reward of martyrs and men of truth, saying:
أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ،
O believers,
إِنَّهُ مَنْ رَأَى عُدْوَاناً يُعْمَلُ بِهِ وَمُنْكَراً يُدْعَى إِلَيْهِ،
whoever observes excesses being committed and people being called towards evil
فَأَنْكَرَهُ بِقَلْبِهِ فَقَدْ سَلِمَ وَبَرِىءَ
and disapproves it with his heart is safe and free from responsibility for it,
وَمَنْ أَنْكَرَهُ بِلِسَانِهِ فَقَدْ أُجِرَ
and whoever disapproves of it with his tongue would be rewarded
وَهُوَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ،
and he is in a higher position than the former
وَمَنْ أَنْكرَهُ بِالسَّيْفِ لِتَكُونَ كَلِمَةُ اللهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا
but whoever disapproves it with his sword in order that the word of Allah may remain superior
وَكَلِمَةُ الظَّالِمِينَ السُّفْلَى،
and the word of the oppressors may remain inferior,
فَذلِكَ الَّذِي أَصَابَ سَبيلَ الْهُدَى،
catches hold of the path of guidance
وَقَامَ عَلَى الطَّريق،
and stands on the right way,
وَنَوَّرَ فِي قَلْبِهِ الْيَقِينُ.
while his heart is lighted with conviction.
