نامه 63: به ابوموسی اشعری · Letter 63

و من كتاب له (عليه السلام) إلي أبي موسي الأشعري و هو عامله علي الكوفة، و قد بلغه عنه تثبيطه الناس عن الخروج إليه لما ندبهم لحرب أصحاب الجمل

مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلِيٍّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكَ قَوْلٌ هُوَ لَكَ وَ عَلَيْكَ فَإِذَا قَدِمَ رَسُولِي عَلَيْكَ فَارْفَعْ ذَيْلَكَ وَ اشْدُدْ مِئْزَرَكَ وَ اخْرُجْ مِنْ جُحْرِكَ وَ انْدُبْ مَنْ مَعَكَ فَإِنْ حَقَّقْتَ فَانْفُذْ وَ إِنْ تَفَشَّلْتَ فَابْعُدْ وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَتُؤْتَيَنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَنْتَ وَ لَا تُتْرَكُ حَتَّي يُخْلَطَ زُبْدُكَ بِخَاثِرِكَ وَ ذَائِبُكَ بِجَامِدِكَ وَ حَتَّي تُعْجَلُ عَنْ قِعْدَتِكَ وَ تَحْذَرَ مِنْ أَمَامِكَ كَحَذَرِكَ مِنْ خَلْفِكَ وَ مَا هِيَ بِالْهُوَيْنَي الَّتِي تَرْجُو وَ لَكِنَّهَا الدَّاهِيَةُ الْكُبْرَي يُرْكَبُ جَمَلُهَا وَ يُذَلَّلُّ صَعْبُهَا وَ يُسَهَّلُ جَبَلُهَا فَاعْقِلْ عَقْلَكَ وَ امْلِكْ أَمْرَكَ وَ خُذْ نَصِيبَكَ وَ حَظَّكَ فَإِنْ كَرِهْتَ فَتَنَحَّ إِلَي غَيْرِ رَحْبٍ وَ لَا فِي نَجَاةٍ فَبِالْحَرِيِّ لَتُكْفَيَنَّ وَ أَنْتَ نَائِمٌ حَتَّي لَا يُقَالَ أَيْنَ فُلَانٌ وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَحَقٌّ مَعَ مُحِقٍّ وَ مَا أُبَالِي مَا صَنَعَ الْمُلْحِدُونَ وَ السَّلَامُ.

From the servant of Allah, Amir al-Mu'minin to Abdullah ibn Qays: Now, I have come to know of words uttered by you which go in your favour as well as against you. So, when my messenger reaches you prepare yourself and get ready, come out of your den and call those who are with you. Then, if you are convinced of the truth get up but if you feel cowardice go away. By Allah, you will be caught wherever you may be and you will not be spared till you are completely upset and everything about you is scattered and till you are shaken from your seat. Then, you will fear from your front as you do from the rear. What you hope is not a light matter, but it is serious calamity. We have to ride its camels, overcome its difficulties and level its mountains. Set your mind in order, take a grip on your affairs and acquire your (lot and your) share. If you do not like it, then go away to where neither you are welcome nor can you escape from it. It is better that you be left alone and lie sleeping. Then no one will enquire where is so and so. By Allah, this the case of right with the rightful person and we do not care what the heretics do; and that is an end to the matter.