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

m (asws) and with them. Then said, ‘You (asws) are our Commander, and we are your (asws) citizens. It is by you (asws) that Allah (azwj) Brought us out of the humiliation and it is by your (asws) strength that He (azwj) Freed His (azwj) servant from the chains. So choose for us, and we will go by your (asws) choice, and make a plan and we would go by your (asws) plan, for you (asws) are a truthful speaker, and the successful ruler, and the authorised king. It is not permissible for us to disobey you (asws) in anything, nor do we compare our knowledge with your (asws) knowledge. You (asws) are great in regard to that choice, in our eyes, and your (asws) virtues are majestic within us’. So Amir-ul-Momineen (asws) answered him saying: ‘It is from the Rights that the one who Magnifies the Majesty of Allah (azwj) within himself and exalts His (azwj) position in his heart, everything else would seem little to him. And the one most deserving to be like that is the one to whom the Bounties of Allah (azwj) are great as well as His (azwj) Kind Favours to him, for no one would magnify the Bounties of Allah (azwj) except that the Rights of Allah (azwj) Increase upon him. And the lowest of the conditions of the governor in the presence of the righteous people is when he thinks of the love for pride and bases his affairs upon the arrogance, and I (asws) did not like to become lost in your thoughts that I (asws) would love the praise and listening to the praise. And I (asws) am not like that. Thanks be to Allah (azwj). And had I (asws) loved what you said, I (asws) would have abandoned it due to it lowering me (asws) for the Sake of Allah (azwj) that I (asws) should take to magnificence and greatness when He (azwj) is more deserving of it. Maybe the people consider it sweet to be praised after the affliction. So do not praise me (asws) with beautiful praises as it may take my (asws) soul out from being for the Sake of Allah (azwj), and the remainder of the rights which I (asws) have yet to fulfill and the obligations which I (asws) have yet to perform. So, do not speak to me (asws) as you speak to the tyrants, and do not have reservations from me (asws) like you have reservations in the presence of the unresponsive people, and do not flatter me (asws), and do not think that I (asws) consider it heavy regarding the right which is said to me (asws), or that I (asws) seek self-greatness, for it is not correct for me (asws). So the one who considers the rights to be a burden if they are told to him, or the justice if it is presented to him, it would become heavier f