Imam Ali’s Sermons; Sermon 12-14-15
Imam Ali’s Sermons; Sermon 12-14-15: When Allah gave him (Amir al-mu’minin) victory over the enemy at the Battle of Jamal one of his comrades said on that occasion, “I wish my brother so-and-so had been present and he too would have seen what success and victory Allah had given you,” whereupon Amir al-mu’minin said:
ومن كلام له (عليه السلام)
لمّا أظفره الله تعالى بأصحاب الجمل وقد قال له بعض أصحابه:
وددت أن أخي فلاناً معك شاهداً ليرى ما نصرك الله به على أعدائك، فقال له عليه السلام
“Did your brother hold me friend?”
He said: “Yes,”
Then Amir al-mu’minin said:
In that case he was with us. Rather in this army of ours even those persons were also present who are still in the loins of men and wombs of women. Shortly, time will bring them out and faith will get strength through them.
أَهَوَى أَخِيك مَعَنَا؟
قال: نَعَم.
قالَ: فَقَدْ شَهِدنَا، وَلَقَدْ شَهِدَنَا في عَسْكَرِنَا هذَا أَقْوَامٌ في أَصْلاَبِ الرِّجَالِ، وَأَرْحَامِ النِّسَاءِ، سَيَرْعُفُ بِهِمُ الزَّمَانُ، ويَقْوَى بِهِمُ الاْيمَانُ.
Alternative Sources for Sermon 12
(1) Al-Barqi, al-Mahasin, I, 262.
- If a person falls short in his actions despite means and equipment, this would be indicative of the weakness of his will. But if there is an impediment in the way of action or his life comes to an end as a result of which his action remains incomplete, then in that case Allah would not deprive him of the reward on the basis that actions are judged by intention. Since his intention in any case was to perform the action, therefore he should deserve reward to some extent.
In the case of action, there may be absence of reward because action can involve show or pretence but intention is hidden in the depth of heart. It can have not a jot of show or affectation. The intention would remain at the same level of frankness, truth, perfection and correctness where it is, even though there may be no action due to some impediment. Even if there is no occasion for forming intention but there is passion and zeal in the heart, a man would deserve reward on the basis of his heart’s feelings. This is to what Amir al-mu’minin has alluded in this sermon, namely that “If your brother loved me he would share the reward with those who secured martyrdom for our support.”
Sermon 14: Your land is close to the sea …
This also is in condemnation of the people of Basrah
ومن كلام له (عليه السلام)
في مثل ذلك
Your land is close to the sea and away from the sky. Your wits have become light and your minds are full of folly. You are the aim of the archer, a morsel for the eater and an easy prey for the hunter.
أرْضُكُمْ قَرِيبَةٌ مِنَ المَاءِ، بَعِيدَةٌ مِنَ السَّماءِ، خَفَّتْ عُقُولُكُمْ، وَسَفِهَتْ حُلُومُكُمْ، فَأَنْتُمْ غَرَضٌ لِنَابِل، وَأُكْلَةٌ لاِكِل، وَفَرِيسَةٌ لِصائِد.
Alternative Sources for Sermon 14
(1) Al-Mufid, al-Jamal, 217;
(2) al-Waqidi, al-Jamal, see al-Mufid, op. cit.;
(3) al-Dinawari, al-’Akhbar, 151;
(4) Ibn Qutaybah, `Uyun, I, 217;
(5) al-Mas`udi, Muruj, II, 368;
(6) Ibn `Abd Rabbih, al-`Iqd, II, 169.
Sermon 15: By God, even if I had found that …
After returning to the Muslims the land grants made by `Uthman ibn `Affan, he said:
ومن كلام له (عليه السلام)
فيما ردّه على المسلمين من قطائع عثمان
By Allah, even if I had found that by such money women have been married or slave-maids have been purchased I would have returned it (to its owners) because there is wide scope in dispensation of justice, and he who finds it hard to act justly will find it harder to deal with injustice.
وَاللهِ لَوْ وَجَدْتُهُ قَدْ تُزُوِّجَ بِهِ النِّسَاءُ، وَمُلِكَ بِهِ الاْمَاءُ، لَرَدَدْتُهُ; فَإِنَّ في العَدْلِ سَعَةً، وَمَنْ ضَاقَ عَلَيْهِ العَدْلُ، فَالجَوْرُ عَلَيْهِ أَضيَقُ!
Alternative Sources for Sermon 15
(1) Al-`Askari, al-’Awa’il, 102;
(2) al-Qadi al-Nu`man, Da`a’im, I, 396;
(3) al-Mas`udi, Ithbat,120.
