Sermon 171
When Amir al-mu'minin decided to fight the enemy face to face at Siffin he said:
ومن كلام له (عليه السلام)
لما عزم على لقاء القوم بصفين
Supplication
الدعاء
O My God! Sustainer of the high sky and the suspended firmament which Thou hast made a shelter for the night and the day, an orbit for the sun and the moon and a path for the rotating stars, and for populating it Thou hast created a group of Thy angels who do not get weary of worshipping Thee. O Sustainer of this earth which Thou hast made an abode for people and a place for the movement of insects and beasts and countless other creatures seen and unseen.
O Sustainer of strong mountains which Thou hast made as pegs for the earth and (a means of) support for people. If Thou givest us victory over our enemy, save us from excesses and keep us on the straight path of truth. But if Thou givest them victory over us, then grant us martyrdom and save us from mischief.
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّقْفِ الْمَرْفُوعِ، وَالْجَوِّ المَكْفُوفِ، الَّذِي جَعَلْتَهُ مَغِيضاً لِلَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ، وَمَجْرىً لِلشَّمْسِ وَالْقَمَرِ، وَمُخْتَلَفاً لِلنُّجُومِ السَّيَّارَةِ، وَجَعَلْتَ سُكَّانَهُ سِبْطاً مِنْ مَلاَئِكَتِكَ، لاَ يَسْأَمُونَ مِنْ عِبَادَتِكَ. وَرَبَّ هذِهِ الاْرْضِ الَّتي جَعَلْتَهَا قَرَاراً لِلاْنَامِ، وَمَدْرَجاً لِلْهَوَامِّ والاْنْعَامِ، وَمَا لاَ يُحْصَى مِمَّا يُرَى وَمَا لاَ يُرَى. وَرَبَّ الجِبَالِ الرَّوَاسِي الَّتي جَعَلْتَهَا لِلاْرْضِ أَوْتَاداً، وَلِلْخَلْق اعْتِماداً. إِنْ أَظْهَرْتَنَا عَلَى عَدُوِّنَا فَجَنِّبْنَا الْبَغْيَ وَسَدِّدْنَا لِلْحَقِّ، وَإِنْ أَظْهَرْتَهُمْ عَلَيْنَا فَارْزُقْنَا الشهَادَةَ وَاعْصِمْنَا مِنَ الْفِتْنَةِ.ِ
Calling men to battle
الدعوة للقتال
Where are those who protect honour, and those self-respecting persons who defend respectable persons in the time of hardship? Shame is behind you while Paradise is in front of you.
أَيْنَ الْمَانِعُ لِلذِّمَارِ، وَالْغَائِرُ عِنْدَ نُزُولِ الْحَقَائِقِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الحِفَاظِ؟! العَارُ وَرَاءَكُمْ، وَالْجَنَّةُ أَمَامَكُمْ!
Alternative Sources for Sermon 171
(1) Nasr ibn Muzahim, Siffin, 232;
(2) al-Tabari, Ta'rikh, VI, 8, events of 37 H.;
(3) Ibn Tawus, in Muhaj from al-Husayn ibn Sa'id al-'Ahwazi, Kitab al-du'a' wa al-dhikr.