نامه 78: به ابوموسی اشعری · Letter 78

و من كتاب له (عليه السلام) إلي أبي موسي الأشعري جوابا في أمر الحكمين، ذكره سعيد بن يحيي الأموي في كتاب "المغازي"

فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ تَغَيَّرَ كَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ كَثِيرٍ مِنْ حَظِّهِمْ فَمَالُوا مَعَ الدُّنْيَا وَ نَطَقُوا بِالْهَوَي وَ إِنِّي نَزَلْتُ مِنْ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ مَنْزِلًا مُعْجِباً اجْتَمَعَ بِهِ أَقْوَامٌ أَعْجَبَتْهُمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ وَ أَنَا أُدَاوِي مِنْهُمْ قَرْحاً أَخَافُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَقاً وَ لَيْسَ رَجُلٌ فَاعْلَمْ أَحْرَصَ عَلَي جَمَاعَةِ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ (صلي الله عليه وآله) وَ أُلْفَتِهَا مِنِّي أَبْتَغِي بِذَلِكَ حُسْنَ الثَّوَابِ وَ كَرَمَ الْمَآبِ وَ سَأَفِي بِالَّذِي وَأَيْتُ عَلَي نَفْسِي وَ إِنْ تَغَيَّرْتَ عَنْ صَالِحِ مَا فَارَقْتَنِي عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ الشَّقِيَّ مَنْ حُرِمَ نَفْعَ مَا أُوتِيَ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ وَ التَّجْرِبَةِ وَ إِنِّي لَأَعْبَدُ أَنْ يَقُولَ قَائِلٌ بِبَاطِلٍ وَ أَنْ أُفْسِدَ أَمْراً قَدْ أَصْلَحَهُ اللَّهُ فَدَعْ مَا لَا تَعْرِفُ فَإِنَّ شِرَارَ النَّاسِ طَائِرُونَ إِلَيْكَ بِأَقَاوِيلِ السُّوءِ وَ السَّلَامُ.

Certainly, many people have turned away from many a (lasting) benefit (of the next life), for they bent towards the world and spoke with passions. I have been struck with wonder in this matter, upon which people who are self-conceited have agreed. I am providing a cure for their wound but I fear lest it develops into a clot of blood (and becomes incurable). Remember that no person is more covetous than I for the unity of the ummah of Muhammad (may Allah bless and his descendants) and their solidarity. I seek through it good reward and an honourable place to return to. I shall fulfil what I have pledged upon myself even though you may go back from the sound position that existed when you left me last, because wretched is he who is denied the benefit of wisdom and experience. I feel enraged if anyone speaks wrong, or if I should worsen a matter which Allah has kept sound. Therefore, leave out what you do not understand, because wicked people will be conveying to you vicious things; and that is an end to the matter.