blind in one eye (1), and what is absent from him is even more powerless.
Lo! You have been commanded to set out and have been shown where to obtain provisions—so act upon what is required. Indeed, the two things I fear for you most are long-cherished hope and the following of passion. Prolonged hope makes one forget the Hereafter, while following passion drives one far from the truth (2).
Truly, the world has turned away and is departing, and the Hereafter has advanced and is drawing near. Each of the two has children, so be among the children of the Hereafter if you can, and do not be among the children of this world; for today is deeds without reckoning, whereas tomorrow is reckoning without deeds.
This sermon is a magnificent, eloquent discourse—beneficial, comprehensive of all good and forbidding of all evil. It is further supported by other connected chains of transmission; to Allah belong all praise and grace.
Ibn Jarir (3) reported that when the people of Iraq held back from accompanying ʿAli (may Allah be pleased with him) to Syria, he addressed them, rebuked and admonished them, threatened and warned them, and recited to them verses on jihad from various surahs, urging them to march against their enemy. They nevertheless refused, opposed him, and would not comply; they remained in their lands and scattered away from him in every direction. It was said that this was because he had slain the Khawarij, who were their relatives and brothers. They regarded them as the best among them owing to their worship and Quran recitation, so they grew sluggish toward ʿAli and abandoned him. He then entered Kufah in a condition known only to Allah.
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Al-Haytham b. ʿAdi related that after ʿAli (may Allah be pleased with him) had slain the people of Nahrawan, a man called al-Khurrīt (4) b. Rāshid al-Nāji—who had come with the people of Basra—rose against him and said:
“Indeed, you fought the people of Nahrawan because they denounced you over the matter (5) of arbitration, while you claim that you have given the Syrians your covenants and pledges and that you will not break them. Now these two arbiters have agreed (to depose you) and then differed regarding the rule of Muʿawiyah: ʿAmr [b. al-ʿĀṣ] appointed him, whereas Abū Mūsā refused (7). Thus, by their unanimous decision you are deposed, and I have deposed you and Muʿawiyah along with you.”
A great many of his people—the Banū Nājiya and others—followed al-Ḥārith in this and withdrew to one side. ʿAli therefore sent against them Maʿqil b. Qays al-Rumaḥī with a large army; Maʿqil inflicted a devastating slaughter upon them and captured from the Banū Nājiya five hundred households. He brought them to ʿAli, and they were met by a man named Muṣqala b. Hubayrah Abū al-Mughallis—who was one of ʿAli’s governors over a province—and the captives sought his intercession.