ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام) يريد الشيطان أويكني به عن قوم
Regarding the incitement of Satan: alluding to a particular group of people (about Ṭalḥah and az-Zubayr)
أَلاَ وإنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ قَدْ جَمَعَ حِزْبَهُ وَاسْتَجْلَبَ خَيْلَهُ وَرَجِلَهُ، وإِنَّ مَعِي لَبَصِيرَتي. مَا لَبَّسْتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي، وَلاَ لُبِّسَ عَلَيَّ. وَايْمُ اللهِ لاَفْرِطَنَّ لَهُمْ حَوْضاً أَنَا مَاتِحُهُ !لاَ يَصْدِرُونَ عَنْهُ، وَلاَ يَعُودُونَ إِلَيْهِ.
Beware! Satan [1] has collected his group and assembled his horse-men and foot-soldiers. Surely, with me is my sagacity. I have neither deceived myself nor ever been deceived. By Allāh I shall fill to the brim for them a cistern from which I alone would draw water. They can neither turn away from it nor return to it.
Footnote :
[1] When Ṭalḥah and az-Zubayr broke away by violating the Oath of allegiance and set for Baṣrah in the company of ‘Ā’ishah, Amīr al-mu’minīn spoke in these words which are part of the long speech.
Ibn Abi’l-Ḥadīd has written that in this sermon Satan denotes the real Satan as well as Mu‘āwiyah because Mu‘āwiyah was secretly conspiring with Ṭalḥah and az-Zubayr and instigating them to fight against Amīr al-mu’minīn ; but the reference to the real Satan is more appropriate, obvious and in accord with the situation and circumstances.
[1] When Ṭalḥah and az-Zubayr broke away by violating the Oath of allegiance and set for Baṣrah in the company of ‘Ā’ishah, Amīr al-mu’minīn spoke in these words which are part of the long speech.
Ibn Abi’l-Ḥadīd has written that in this sermon Satan denotes the real Satan as well as Mu‘āwiyah because Mu‘āwiyah was secretly conspiring with Ṭalḥah and az-Zubayr and instigating them to fight against Amīr al-mu’minīn ; but the reference to the real Satan is more appropriate, obvious and in accord with the situation and circumstances.
