Struggling for rightful recognition despite adversity
Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 22
٢٢. وَقَالَ (عليه السلام): لَنَا حَقٌّ، فَإِنْ أُعْطِينَاهُ، وَإِلاَّ رَكِبْنَا أَعْجَازَ الاْبِلِ، وَإِنْ طَالَ السُّرَى.
22. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: We have a right. If it is allowed to us well and good, otherwise, we will ride on the hind part of the camel (like lowly people) even though the night journey may be long.
قال السيد الرضي: وهذا من لطيف الكلام وفصيحه ومعناه أنا إن لم نعط حقنا كنا أذلاء وذلك أن الرديف يركب عجز البعير كالعبد و الأسير و من يجري مجراهما.
As-Sayyid ar-Raḍī says: This is a very fine and eloquent expression. It means that if we are not allowed our right we will be regarded humble. This sense comes out from this expression because on the rear part of the camel only slaves, prisoners or other people of this type used to ride. [1]