القوم الذين عزموا على اللحاق بالخوارج

[1] A man of the tribe Banū Nājiyah named al-Khirrit ibn Rāshid an-Nājī was on Amīr al-mu’minīn’s side in the battle of Ṣiffīn, but after Arbitration he became rebellious, and, coming to Amīr al-mu’minīn with thirty persons, said : “By Allāh, I will no more obey your command, nor offer prayers behind you, and shall leave you tomorrow.” Whereupon Amīr al-mu’minīn said : “You should first take into account the grounds underlying this Arbitration and discuss it with me. If you are satisfied, you do as you will.” He said he would come the next day to discuss the matter. Amīr aI-mu’minīn then cautioned him, “Look, on going from here do not get mislead by others and do not adopt any other course. If you have the will to understand, I will get you out of this wrong path and put you on the course of guidance.” After this conversation he went away, but his countenance indicated he was bent on revolt, and would not see reason by any means. And so it happened. He stuck to his point and on reaching his place he said to his tribesmen, “When we are determined to abandon Amīr al-mu’minīn there is no use going to him. We should do what we have decided to do.” On this occasion ‘Abdullāh ibn Qu‘ayn al-Azdī also went to them to enquire, but when he came to know the position he asked Mudrik ibn ar-Rayyān an-Nājī to speak to him and to apprise him of the ruinous consequence of this rebellion, whereupon Mudrik assured him that this man would not be allowed to take any step. Consequently, ‘Abdullāh came back satisfied and related the whole matter before Amīr al-mu’minīn on returning the next day. Amīr al-mu’minīn said, “Let us see what happens when he comes.” But when the appointed hour passed and he did not turn up Amīr al-mu’minīn asked ‘Abdullāh to go and see what the matter was and what was the cause for the delay. On reaching there ‘Abdullāh found that all of them had left. When he returned to Amīr al-mu’minīn he spoke as in this sermon. The fate that befell al-Khirrīt ibn Rāshid an-Nājī has been stated under Sermon 44.