ومن كلام له (عليه السلام) في وقت الشورى
On the occasion of the Consultative Committee (after the death of ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb)
لَنْ يُسْرِعَ أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي إِلَى دَعْوَةِ حَقٍّ، وَصِلَةِ رَحِم، وَعَائِدَةِ كَرَم. فَاسْمَعُوا قَوْلي، وَعُوا مَنْطِقِي، عَسَى أَنْ تَرَوْا هذَا الاْمْرَ مِنْ بَعْدِ هذَا الْيَوْمِ تُنْتَضَى فِيهِ السُّيُوفُ، وَتُخَانُ فِيهِ الْعُهُودُ، حَتَّى يَكُونَ بَعْضُكُمْ أَئِمَّةً لاِهْلِ الضَّلاَلَةِ، وَشِيعَةً لاِهْلِ الْجَهَالَةِ.
No one preceded me in inviting people to truthfulness, in giving consideration to kinship and practising generosity. So, hear my word and preserve what I say. Maybe you will see soon after today that over this matter swords will be drawn and pledges will be broken, so much so that some of you will become leaders of the people of misguidance and followers of people of ignorance.
