ومن كتاب له (عليه السلام) إلى جرير بن عبد الله البجلي لما أرسله إلى معاوية
To Jarīr ibn ‘Abdillāh al-Bajalī when Amīr al-mu’minīn sent him to Mu‘āwiyah (and there was delay in his return)
أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِذَا أَتَاكَ كِتَابِي فَاحْمِلْ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَلَى الْفَصْلِ، وَخُذْهُ بِالْأَمْرِ الْجَزْمِ، ثُمَّ خَيِّرْهُ بَيْنَ حَرْب مُجْلِيَة، أَوْ سِلْم مُخْزِيَة، فَإِنِ اخْتَارَ الْحَرْبَ فَانْبِذْ إِلَيْهِ، وَإِنِ اخْتَارَ السِّلْمَ فَخُذْ بَيْعَتَهُ، وَالسَّلَامُ.
Now then, when you receive this letter of mine ask Mu‘āwiyah to take a final decision and to follow a determined course.Then ask him to choose either war that exiles him from home or ignoble peace. If he chooses war leave him alone, but if he chooses peace secure his allegiance; and that is an end to the matter.
