Sermon 14

Your land is close to the sea and away from the sky. Your wits have become light and your minds are full of folly. You are the aim of the archer, a morsel for the eater and an easy prey for the hunter.

Arabic Text

ومن كلام له (عليه السلام) في مثل ذلك أرْضُكُمْ قَرِيبَةٌ مِنَ المَاءِ، بَعِيدَةٌ مِنَ السَّماءِ، خَفَّتْ عُقُولُكُمْ، وَسَفِهَتْ حُلُومُكُمْ، فَأَنْتُمْ غَرَضٌ لِنَابِل، وَأُكْلَةٌ لاِكِل، وَفَرِيسَةٌ لِصائِد.

Alternative Sources

(1) Al-Mufid, al-Jamal, 217; (2) al-Waqidi, al-Jamal, see al-Mufid, op. cit.; (3) al-Dinawari, al-'Akhbar, 151; (4) Ibn Qutaybah, 'Uyun, I, 217; (5) al-Mas'udi, Muruj, II, 368; (6) Ibn 'Abd Rabbih, al-'Iqd, II, 169.