In response to a Kolayb al-Jarmi who came from Basra to enquire about his position vis-a-vis the people of Jamal
Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 170
Nahj al-Balāgha
Book 1, Chapter 170
In response to a Kolayb al-Jarmi who came from Basra to enquire about his position vis-a-vis the people of Jamal
أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ الَّذِينَ وَرَاءَكَ بَعَثُوكَ رَائِداً تَبْتَغِي لَهُمْ مَسَاقِطَ الْغَيْثِ، فَرَجَعْتَ إلَيْهِمْ وَأَخْبَرْتَهُمْ عَنِ الْكَلاَ وَالْمَاءِ، فَخَالَفُوا إلى الْمَعَاطِشِ وَالْـمَجَادِبِ، مَا كُنْتَ صَانِعاً؟
If those at your back send you as a forerunner to search out a rain-fed area for them, and you return to them and apprise them of greenery and water but they disagree with you and go towards dry and barren land, what would you do then?