Lessons from Nahjul Balagha [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

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Sermon
51

SERMON 51

When in Siffin the men of
Muawiyah overpowered the men of Amir al-mu'minin and occupied the
bank of River Euphrates and prevented them from taking its water,
Amir al-mu'minin said:

They(1)
are asking you morsels of battle. So either you remain in ignominy
and the lowest position or drench your swords with blood and
quench your thirst with water. Real death is in the life of
subjugation while real life is in dying as subjugators. Beware,
Muawiyah is leading a small group of insurgents and has kept them
in dark about the true facts with the result that they have made
their bosoms the targets of death.

(1).
Amir al-mu'minin had not reached Siffin when Muawiyah posted
forty thousand men on the bank of the River to close the way to
the watering place, so that none except the Syrians could take the
water. When Amir al-mu'mimin's force alighted there they found
that there was no watering place except this one for them to take
water. If there was one it was difficult to reach there by
crossing high hillocks. Amir al-mu'minin sent Sasaah ibn Suhan
al-Abdi to Muawiyah with the request to raise the control over
water. Muawiyah refused. On this side Amir al-mu'minin's army was
troubled by thirst. When Amir al-mu'minin noticed this position he
said, "Get up and secure water by dint of sword."
Consequently, these thirsty persons drew their swords out of
sheaths, put arrows in their bows and dispersing Muawiyah's men
went right down into the River and then hit these guards away and
occupied the watering place themselves.

Now, Amir
al-mu'minin's men also desired that just as Muawiyah had put
restriction on water by occupation of the watering place, the same
treatment should be accorded to him and his men and no Syrian
should be allowed water and everyone of them should be made to die
of thirst. But Amir al-mu'minin said, "Do you want to take
the same brutal step which these Syrians had taken? Never prevent
anyone from water. Whoever wants to drink, may drink and whoever
wants to take away may take away." Consequently, despite
occupation of the River by Amir al-mu'minin's army no one was
prevented from the water and everyone was given full liberty to
take water.