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

or him to act in accordance with these two. So do not withhold from me (asws) speaking about the rights, or consultation with justice, for I (asws) not, with regards to myself (asws), above mistakes, nor do I (asws) feel secure from that in my (asws) deeds except if Allah (azwj) Suffices for myself (asws) in matter which He (azwj) has more Control over than what I (asws) have. But rather, I (asws) and you all are servants, belonging to the Lord (azwj). There is no lord apart from Him (azwj). He (azwj) Owns us what we do not own ourselves, and Took us out from what we used to be in to be in a situation which was correct for us. So He (azwj) Protected us after straying, by the Guidance. He (azwj) Gave us the vision after the blindness. So, the man who answered him (asws) before, answered him (asws), ‘By Allah (azwj), you (asws) are deserving of what I said. By Allah (azwj), you (asws) are more deserving than what I said, for His (azwj) Favours are such that we cannot deny, and Allah (azwj) Blessed and High has Burdened you (asws) with our citizens, and the Guardianship of our political affairs. So you (asws) have become (a representative of) our knowledge with which we can be guided by, and our Imam (asws) whom we follow, and every matter of yours (asws) is guidance, and every word of yours (asws) is educational. Our eyes have found delight with you (asws) in our lives, and our hearts are filled with bliss by you (asws), and we are amazed at the qualities, which are within you (asws) and our intellects are at a loss to describe. We are not saying to you (asws), ‘O you (asws) righteous Imam (asws) as a purification for you (asws), nor are we exaggerating in our intentions regarding our praising you (asws). And we are not becoming critical of your (asws) conviction, or the purity of your (asws) Religion, so we have no fear that you (asws) would innovate by the Bounties of Allah (azwj) Blessed and High, or be tyrannical, or that arrogance should enter you (asws), but we are saying to you (asws) what we said in order to be closer to Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic by revering you (asws), and Enhancing your (asws) merits, and appreciate the greatness of your (asws) command. So consider yourself (asws) and use, and give preference to the Command of Allah (azwj) over yourself (asws) and over us, for we are obedient with regards to whatever you (asws) order us for, and we submit to the commands along with that regarding what is beneficial for us’. Amir-ul-Momineen (asws) answered him, so he (asws) said: ‘And I (asws) am binding you in the Presence of Allah