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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.
.Forward to Sermon 52.Back to Sermon 50.
