A Sermon of 'Amir al-Mu'minin during Siffin — Hadith 1

(azwj) to myself (asws) for your knowing that I (asws) am the guardian for your matters, for very shortly you will be gathered with me (asws). And I (asws) warn you of the Pausing in front of Him (azwj), and the Questioning about what we were in, then some of us will testify against the others, so do not testify today against what you will be testifying tomorrow, for there is nothing hidden from Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic, nor is it permitted in His (azwj) Presence except for the good advice of the chests in all of the matters’. So the man answered him (asws), and it was said that the man was never seen again after this speech of his to Amir-ul-Momineen (asws), and he was bursting with emotion in his chest, and he spoke, and wailed which cut off his speech, and was anxious and choking, breaking his voice, being at the verge of collapse. So he Praised Allah (azwj) and Extolled Him (azwj), then pleaded before Him (azwj) of the horrors of what he had been cured of, from the great dangers, and the prolonged humiliation regarding the mischief to take place during his (asws) era, and the rebellions against him (asws) and the cutting off of what was from his (asws) government. Then he implored the matter to Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic of the Bestowing of Favours on him (asws), and the Dispelling (dangers) from him (asws), and then Extolled Him (azwj) in a goodly manner. So he said, ‘O Lord (azwj) of the servants, and O Giver of tranquillity to the cities! How can we speak of Your (azwj) Grace, and how can we reach Your (azwj) Attributes from Your (azwj) Actions, and for me to reach the reality of the beauty of Your (azwj) Praise, or count the beauty of Your (azwj) Favours. So how can we, and it is due to you (asws) that the Bounties of Allah (azwj) have flowed towards us, and it is upon your (asws) hands that the causes of the good have arrived to us. Did you (asws) not become a sanctuary for the lowest of the low, and a saviour for the disobedient infidels? So by whom, except for the People (asws) of your (asws) Household, and by you (asws) that Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic Took us out from horrors of those dangers, and by whom did he (azwj) Rescue us from the thrones of distress, and by whom except by you (asws) did Allah (azwj) Make apparent the landmarks of our Religion, and Corrected what was spoilt from our Religion until we came to be mentioned, after the tyranny. And our eyes were delighted with a prosperous life when you (asws) became our Guardian as a favour to us, and you (asws) struggled and fulfilled to us all of your (asws)