Lessons from Nahjul Balagha [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Sermons
Sermon
136

SERMON 136

About Talhah and az-Zubayr

By Allah, they did not
find any disagreeable thing in me, nor did they do justice between
me and themselves. Surely, they are now demanding a right which
they have abandoned and blood which they have themselves shed. If
I partook in it with them then they too have a share in it, but if
they committed it without me the demand should be against them.
The first step of their justice should be that they pass verdict
against themselves. I have my intelligence with me.

I have never mixed
matters nor have they appeared mixed to me. Certainly, this is the
rebellious group in which there is the near one (az-Zubayr), the
scorpion's venom (A'ishah) and doubts which cast a veil (on
facts). But the matter is clear, and the wrong has been shaken
from its foundation. Its tongue has stopped uttering mischief. By
Allah, I will prepare for them a cistern from which I alone will
draw water. They will not be able to drink from it nor would they
be able to drink from any other place.

A part of the same
sermon

You advanced towards
me shouting "allegiance, allegiance" like shecamels
having delivered newly born young ones leaping towards their
young. I held back my hand but you pulled it towards you., I drew
back my hand but you dragged it. O' my Allah! these two have
ignored my rights and did injustice to me. They both have broken
allegiance to me, and roused people against me. Unfasten Thou what
they have fastened, and do not make strong what they have woven.
Show them the evil in what they aimed at and acted upon. Before
fighting I asked them to be steadfast in allegiance and behaved
with them with consideration but they belittled the blessing and
refused (to adopt the course of) safety.