Sermon 169

When the people of Jamal set off for Basrah Amir al-mu'minin said:

ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام)

عند مسير أصحاب الجمل إلى البصرة

الامور الجامعة للمسلمين

There is no doubt that Allah sent down the Prophet (S) as a guide with an eloquent Book and a standing command. No one will be ruined by it except one who ruins himself. Certainly, only doubtful innovations cause ruin except those from which Allah may protect. In Allah's authority lies the safety of your affairs. Therefore, render Him such obedience as is neither blameworthy nor insincere. By Allah, you must do so, otherwise Allah will take away from you the power of Islam, and will never thereafter return it to you till it reverts to others.

إنَّ اللهَ تَعالَى بَعَثَ رَسُولاً هَادِياً بِكِتَاب نَاطِق وَأَمْر قَائم، لاَ يَهْلِكُ عَنْهُ إلاَّ هَالِكٌ، وَإنَّ الْمُبْتَدَعَاتِ الْمُشَبَّهَاتِ هُنَّ الْمُهْلِكَاتُ إلاَّ مَا حَفِظَ اللهُ مِنْهَا، وَإنَّ فِي سُلْطَانِ اللهِ عِصْمَةً لاِمْرِكُمْ، فَأَعْطُوهُ طَاعَتَكُمْ غَيْرَ مُلَوَّمَة وَلاَ مُسْتَكْرَه بِهَا.

وَاللهِ لَتَفْعَلُنَّ أَوْ لَيَنْقُلَنَّ اللهُ عَنْكُمْ سُلْطَانَ الاْسْلاَمِ، ثُمَّ لاَ يَنْقُلُهُ إلَيكُمْ أَبَداً حَتَّى يَأْرِزَ الاْمْرُ إلَى غَيْرِكُمْ.

Certainly, these people are in agreement in disliking my authority. I will carry on till I perceive disunity among you; because if, in spite of the unsoundness of their view, they succeed, the whole organisation of the Muslims will be shattered. They are hankering after this world out of jealousy against him on whom Allah has bestowed it. So they intend reverting the matters on their backs (pre-Islamic period), while on us it is obligatory, for your sake, to abide by the Book of Allah (Qur'an), the Sublime, and the conduct of the Prophet of Allah, to stand by His rights and the revival of his sunnah.

إنَّ هؤُلاَءِ قَدْ تَمَالاُوا عَلَى سَخْطَةِ إمَارَتِى، وَسَأَصْبِرُ مَا لَمْ أَخَفْ عَلَى جَمَاعَتِكُمْ; فَإنَّهُمْ إنْ تَمَّمُوا عَلَى فَيَالَةِ هذَا الرَّأْي انْقَطَعَ نِظَامُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَإنَّمَا طَلَبُوا هذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَداً لِمَنْ أَفَاءَهَا اللهُ عَلَيْهِ، فَأَرَادُوا رَدَّ الاْمُورِ عَلَى أَدْبَارِهَا.

وَلَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا الْعَمَلُ بِكِتَابِ اللهِ وَسِيرَةِ رَسُولِهِ، وَالْقِيَامُ بِحَقِّهِ، وَالْنَّعْشُ لِسُنَّتِهِ.

Alternative Sources for Sermon 169

(1) Al-Tabari, Ta'rikh, VI, 163