To Abu Musa Ashaari, the governor of Kufa, when Ali learned that he discouraged jihad
Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 2|Chapter 63
Nahj al-Balāgha
Book 2, Chapter 63
To Abu Musa Ashaari, the governor of Kufa, when Ali learned that he discouraged jihad
وَايْمُ اللهِ لَتُؤْتَيَنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَنْتَ، وَلَا تُتْرَكُ حَتَّى يُخْلَطَ زُبْدُكَ بِخَاثِرِكَ، وَذَائِبُكَ بِجَامِدِكَ، وَحَتَّى تُعْجَلُ عَنْ قِعْدَتِكَ، وَتَحْذَرَ مِنْ أَمَامِكَ كَحَذَرِكَ مِنْ خَلْفِكَ، وَمَا هِيَ بِالْهُوَيْنَى الَّتِي تَرْجُو، وَلَكِنَّهَا الدَّاهِيةُ الْكُبْرَى، يُرْكَبُ جَمَلُهَا، وَيُذَلَّلُّ صَعْبُهَا، وَيُسَهَّلُ جَبَلُهَا.
By Allāh, 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.