SERMON 137
About Talhah and az-Zubayr
By Allah, they did not find
any disagreeable thing in me, nor did they do justice between me and
themselves. Surely, they are now demanding a right which they have
abandoned and blood which they have themselves shed.
If I partook in it with them
then they too have a share in it, but if they committed it without me the
demand should be against them. The first step of their justice should be
that they pass verdict against themselves. I have my intelligence with me.
I have never mixed matters
nor have they appeared mixed to me. Certainly, this is the rebellious
group in which there is the near one (az-Zubayr), the scorpion's venom
(`A'ishah) and doubts which cast a veil (on facts). But the matter is
clear, and the wrong has been shaken from its foundation.
Its tongue has stopped
uttering mischief. By Allah, I will prepare for them a cistern from which
I alone will draw water. They will not be able to drink from it nor would
they be able to drink from any other place.
A part of the same sermon
You advanced towards me
shouting "allegiance, allegiance" like shecamels having delivered newly
born young ones leaping towards their young. I held back my hand but you
pulled it towards you., I drew back my hand but you dragged it. O' my
Allah! these two have ignored my rights and did injustice to me. They both
have broken allegiance to me, and roused people against me. Unfasten Thou
what they have fastened, and do not make strong what they have woven.
Show them the evil in what
they aimed at and acted upon.
Before fighting I asked them
to be steadfast in allegiance and behaved with them with consideration but
they belittled the blessing and refused (to adopt the course of) safety.
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