قَالَ:He said:وَلَمَّاand whenفَرَغَfinishedأَمِيرُCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,عَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ،be peace,مِنfromقِتَالِfightingأَهْلِthe peopleالْجَمَلِof the Camelدَخَلَenteredعَلَيْهِupon himعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِibnبْنُal-Kawaالْكَوَّاءِand QaisوَقَيْسُibnبْنُUbadahعُبَادَةَal-Sukkariالسُّكَّرِيِّso theyفَقَالَا:said:
He said: When the Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, finished fighting the people of the Camel, Abdullah ibn al-Kawa and Qais ibn Ubadah al-Sukkari entered upon him and said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,أَخْبِرْنَاinform usعَنْaboutمَسِيرِكَthis journeyهَذَاof yoursالَّذِيwhichسِرْتَyou madeيَضْرِبُstrikingالنَّاسُpeopleبَعْضُهُمْeach other'sرِقَابَnecks,بَعْضٍis itأَرَأْياًan opinionرَأَيْتَهُyou heldحِينَwhenتَفَرَّقَتِdividedالْأُمَّةُthe nationوَاخْتَلَفَتِand differedالدَّعْوَةُ،the call?
"O Commander of the Faithful, inform us about this journey of yours in which people strike one another's necks: is it an opinion you formed when the nation divided and the call differed,
فَإِنso ifكَانَit wasرَأْياًan opinionرَأَيْتَهُyou formedأَجَبْنَاكَwe will answer youفِيregardingرَأْيِكَ،your opinion,وَإِنand ifكَانَit wasعَهْداًa covenantعَهِدَهُentrustedإِلَيْكَto youرَسُولُMessengerاللَّهِ،of Allah,صَلَّىmay Allahاللَّهُbless himعَلَيْهِand grant himوَسَلَّمَ،peace,فَأَنتَthen youالْمَوْثُوقُare the trustedبِهِoneالْمَأْمُونُand secureفِيمَاregarding whatحَدَّثْتَyou relateعَنْهُ.from him."
so if it was an opinion you formed, we will answer you concerning your opinion; and if it was a covenant entrusted to you by the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, then you are the trusted and secure one regarding what you relate from him."
فَقَالَ:He said:وَاللَّهِBy Allah,لَئِنifكُنْتُI wasأَوَّلَthe firstمَنْwhoصَدَّقَbelievedبِهِin himلَاI will notأَكُونُbeأَوَّلَthe firstمَنْwhoكَذَبَliedعَلَيْهِ،against him.
He said: "By Allah, if I was the first to believe in him, I will not be the first to lie against him.
أَمَّاAs forأَنthatيَكُونَthere should beعِنْدِيwith meعَهْدٌa covenantمِنfromرَسُولِthe Messengerاللَّهِ،of Allah,صَلَّىmay Allahاللَّهُbless himعَلَيْهِand grant himوَسَلَّمَ،peace,فِيهِconcerning itفَلَاthen no,وَاللَّهِby Allah,لَوْifكَانَthere wereعِنْدِيwith meمَاI would notتَرَكْتُhave leftأَخَاthe brotherتَيْمٍof Taymوَعَدِيٍّand Adiعَلَىuponمِنْبَرِthe pulpitرَسُولِof the Messengerاللَّهِ،of Allah,صَلَّىmay Allahاللَّهُbless himعَلَيْهِand grant himوَسَلَّمَ،peace,
As for having a covenant from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, concerning that—no, by Allah, if I had one, I would not have left the brother of Taym and Adi upon the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
وَلَكِنَّButنَبِيَّنَا،our Prophet,عَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ،be peace,لَمْdid notيُقْتَلْbe killedقَتْلاًby a killingوَلَمْand did notيَمُتْdieفُجَاءَةًsuddenly,وَلَكِنَّهُratherمَرِضَhe fell illلَيَالِيَfor nightsوَأَيَّاماًand days.
Rather, our Prophet, peace be upon him, was not killed by a violent death and did not die suddenly, but he was ill for nights and days.
فَأَتَاهُSo there came to himبِلَالٌBilalلِيُؤْذِنَهُto inform himبِالصَّلَاةِof the prayer,فَيَقُولُ:and he would say:ائْتِ"Go toأَبَاAbuبَكْرٍBakrوَهُوَand let himيَرَىleadمَكَانِي،in my place."
Bilal would come to him to call him to prayer, and he would say: "Go to Abu Bakr and let him lead the prayer in my place."
فَلَمَّاThen whenقُبِضَ،he passed away,صَلَّىmay Allahاللَّهُbless himعَلَيْهِand grant himوَسَلَّمَ،peace,نَظَرْنَاwe lookedفِيintoالْأَمْرِthe matter,فَإِذَاand behold,الصَّلَاةُprayerعَلَمُis the bannerالْإِسْلَامِof Islamوَقِوَامُand the mainstayالدِّينِof the religion.
When he passed away, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, we looked into the matter, and behold, prayer is the banner of Islam and the mainstay of the religion.
فَرَضِينَاSo we were pleasedلِدُنْيَانَاfor our worldly lifeمِمَّنwith whomرَضِيَهُwas pleasedرَسُولُMessengerاللَّهِ،of Allah,صَلَّىmay Allahاللَّهُbless himعَلَيْهِand grant himوَسَلَّمَ،peace,لِدِينِنَاfor our religion.
So we accepted for our worldly affairs him whom the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had accepted for our religion.
فَوَلَّيْنَاSo we entrustedأُمُورَنَاour affairsأَبَاto AbuبَكْرٍBakr,فَأَقَامَand he establishedبَيْنَamongأَظْهُرِنَاusالْكَلِمَةُwhile the wordوَاحِدَةٌwas oneوَالدِّينُand the religionجَامِعٌ،was united,أَوْorقَالَ:he said:الْأَمْرُ"The matterجَامِعٌis united,لَاnotيَخْتَلِفُdifferingعَلَيْهِupon itمِنَّاamong usاثْنَانِdo two personsوَلَاand neitherيَشْهَدُtestifiesمِنَّاany of usأَحَدٌagainst anyoneعَلَىwithأَحَدٍpolytheism,بِالشِّرْكِ،and I was
So we entrusted our affairs to Abu Bakr, and he established himself among us while the word was united and the religion was united—or he said: "The matter is united, two of us do not differ concerning it, nor does any of us testify against another with polytheism.
وَكُنْتُAnd I usedآخُذُto takeإِذَاwhenأَعْطَانِيhe gave meوَأَغْزُوand go out to battleإِذَاwhenأَغْزَانِيhe sent me to battleوَأَضْرِبُand inflictالْحُدُودَthe legal punishmentsبَيْنَin front ofيَدَيْهِhimبِسَيْفِيwith my swordوَسَوْطِيand my whipعَلَىdespiteكَرَاهَةٍdislikeمِنْهُfrom himلَهَا،for it,وَوَدَّand Abu Bakrأَبُوwould have lovedبَكْرٍthatلَوْone of usأَنَّcould suffice himوَاحِداًregarding that.مِنَّاWhen deathيَكْفِيهِ،came to Abu Bakr
And I used to accept when he gave me, go out to battle when he sent me, and execute legal punishments before him with my sword and my whip, despite his dislike for some of it, and Abu Bakr wished that one of us could suffice him.
فَلَمَّاThen whenحَضَرَتْapproachedأَبَاAbu Bakr,بَكْرٍ،may Allahرَحِمَهُhave mercy on him,اللَّهُ،the death,الْوَفَاةُI thoughtظَنَنْتُthat he wouldأَنَّهُnot turn awayلَاfrom meيَعْدِلُdue to my kinshipعَنِّيto the Messengerلِقَرَابَتِيof Allah, may Allahمِنbless him and grant himرَسُولِpeace,اللَّهِ،and my precedenceصَلَّىin Islamاللَّهُand my virtue.
Then when death approached Abu Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, I thought that he would not turn away from me due to my kinship to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and my precedence and virtue.
فَظَنَّSo Abu Bakrأَبُوthoughtبَكْرٍthat Umarأَنَّwas strongerعُمَرَthan meأَقْوَىupon it,مِنِّيand had it beenعَلَيْهَا،preferentialism,وَلَوْhe would have preferredكَانَتْhis own sonأَثَرَةًwith it.لَآثَرَSo he appointed Umarبِهَاdespite the disapprovalوَلَدَهُ،of manyفَوَلَّىof his companions,عُمَرَand I wasعَلَىamong thoseكَرَاهَةِwho were pleased,كَثِيرٍnot amongمِنthoseأَصْحَابِهِ،who disliked it.
So Abu Bakr thought that Umar was stronger than me upon it, and had it been a matter of favoritism, he would have preferred his son for it. So he appointed Umar despite the disapproval of many of his companions, and I was among those who were pleased, not among those who disliked it.
فَفَوَاللَّهِBy Allah,مَاdid notخَرَجَleaveعُمَرُ،Umar,رَحِمَهُmay Allahاللَّهُ،have mercy on him,مِنَthis worldالدُّنْيَاuntilحَتَّىhe was pleasedرَضِيَwith himبِهِthose whoمَنْhad dislikedكَانَhimكَرِهَهُ،previously.
By Allah, Umar, may Allah have mercy on him, did not leave this world until those who had disliked him became pleased with him.
فَأَقَامَSo Umar,عُمَرُ،may Allahرَحِمَهُhave mercy on him,اللَّهُ،establishedبَيْنَamongأَظْهُرِنَاusالْكَلِمَةُwhile the wordوَاحِدَةٌwas oneوَالْأَمْرُand the matterوَاحِدٌwas unified,لَاnotيَخْتَلِفُdifferingعَلَيْهِupon itمِنَّاamong usاثْنَانِ،do two persons.
So Umar, may Allah have mercy on him, established himself among us while the word was one and the matter was unified, two of us not differing concerning it.
فَكُنْتُSo I usedآخُذُto takeإِذَاwhenأَعْطَانِيhe gave meوَأَغْزُوand go out to battleإِذَاwhenأَغْزَانِيhe sent me to battleوَأَضْرِبُand inflictالْحُدُودَthe legal punishmentsبَيْنَin front ofيَدَيْهِhimبِسَوْطِيwith my whipوَسَيْفِي،and my sword.
So I used to accept when he gave me, go out to battle when he sent me, and execute legal punishments before him with my whip and my sword.
أَتَّبِعُI followedأَثَرَهُhis footstepsاتِّبَاعَwith the followingالْفَصِيلِof the weaned camelأُمَّهُto its mother,لَاnotيَعْدِلُdeviatingعَنْfromسَبِيلِthe pathصَاحِبَيْهِof his two companionsوَلَاand notيَحِيدُturning asideعَنْfromسُنَّتِهِمَا.their tradition.
I followed his footsteps as a young camel follows its mother, not deviating from the path of his two companions nor turning aside from their tradition.
فَلَمَّاThen whenحَضَرَتْapproachedعُمَرَ،Umar,رَضِيَmay Allahاللَّهُbe pleasedعَنْهُ،with him,الْوَفَاةُthe death,ظَنَنْتُI thoughtأَنَّهُthat he wouldلَاnotيَعْدِلُturn awayعَنِّيfrom meلِقَرَابَتِيdue to my kinship,وَسَابَقَتِيmy precedence,وَفَضْلِي،and my virtue.
Then when death approached Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, I thought that he would not turn away from me due to my kinship, my precedence, and my virtue.
فَظَنَّSo Umarعُمَرُthoughtأَنَّهُthat ifإِنِhe appointedاسْتَخْلَفَa successorخَلِيفَةًwho committedيَعْمَلُa sin,بِخَطِيئَةٍit would reach himلَحِقَتْهُin his grave,فِيso he removedقَبْرِهِfrom itفَأَخْرَجَhis sonمِنْهَاand the peopleوَلَدَهُof his house,وَأَهْلَand made itبَيْتِهِa consultative councilوَجَعَلَهَاamong sixشُورَىmen,فِيamongسِتَّةِthem:رَهْطٍ،Abd al-Rahmanمِنْهُمْ:ibnعَبْدُAwf.الرَّحْمَنِHe said:بْنُ"Do youعَوْفٍ،agreeفَقَالَ:that I relinquishهَلْmy shareلَكُمْon conditionأَنْthat I chooseأَدْعُfor Allahلَكُمْand HisنَصِيبِيMessenger?"
So Umar thought that if he appointed a successor who committed a sin, it would be charged to him in his grave, so he excluded his son and the people of his house from it and made it a consultative council among six men, among them: Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, who said: "Do you agree that I relinquish my share on condition that I choose for Allah and His Messenger?"
فَقُلْنَا:We said:نَعَمْ."Yes."
We said: "Yes."
فَأَخَذَSo he tookمِيثَاقَنَاour covenantعَلَىthat we wouldأَنْhearنَسْمَعَand obeyوَنُطِيعَwhomeverلِمَنْhe appointed,وَلَّاهُ،and we tookوَأَخَذْنَاhis covenantمِيثَاقَهُconcerning whomeverعَلَىhe would chooseمَنْfor Allahيَخْتَارُand HisلِلَّهِMessenger.وَلِرَسُولِهِ،So his choice
So he took our covenant that we would hear and obey whomever he appointed, and we took his covenant regarding whomever he would choose for Allah and His Messenger.
فَوَقَعَfellاخْتِيَارُهُupon Uthman,عَلَىmay Allahعُثْمَانَ،be pleasedرَضِيَwith him.اللَّهُSo I looked,عَنْهُ،and behold,فَنَظَرْتُmy obedienceفَإِذَاhad precededطَاعَتِيmy pledge of allegiance,قَدْand behold,سَبَقَتْmy covenantبَيْعَتِيhad been takenوَإِذَاfor someone else.مِيثَاقِيSo I followedقَدْUthmanأُخِذَand fulfilledلِغَيْرِي،his rightفَاتَّبَعْتُdespite favoritismعُثْمَانَfrom himوَأَدَّيْتُand falling shortإِلَيْهِof the traditionحَقَّهُof his twoعَلَىcompanions.أَثَرَةٍThen whenمِنْهُUthman was killed,وَتَقْصِيرٍmay Allahعَنْbe pleasedسُنَّةِwith him,صَاحِبَيْهِ،I looked
So his choice fell upon Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him. I looked, and behold, my obedience had preceded my pledge of allegiance, and behold, my covenant had been taken for someone else. So I followed Uthman and fulfilled his right despite favoritism from him and falling short of the tradition of his two companions. Then when Uthman was killed, may Allah be pleased with him, I looked and was most deserving of it than all the people.
فَلَمَّاand wasقُتِلَmost deservingعُثْمَانُ،of itرَضِيَfrom allاللَّهُthe people.عَنْهُ،So they said:نَظَرْتُ"You spokeفَكُنْتُthe truthأَحَقَّand didبِهَاgood.مِنSo inform usجَمِيعِabout Talhaالنَّاسِ.and al-Zubayr:فَقَالَا:how did youصَدَقْتَmake lawfulوَبَرَرْتَ،fighting themفَأَخْبِرْنَاwhile theyعَنْparticipatedطَلْحَةَwith youوَالزُّبَيْرِin the migrationبِمَاwith the Messengerاسْتَحْلَلْتَof Allah,قِتَالَهُمَاmay Allahوَقَدْbless himشَرِكَاكَand grant himفِيpeace,الْهِجْرَةِand in the consultativeمَعَcouncilرَسُولِof Umar,اللَّهِ،may Allahصَلَّىhave mercyاللَّهُon them?"عَلَيْهِHe said:وَسَلَّمَ،"They participatedوَفِيwith meالشُّورَىin the migrationمِنand in the consultativeعُمَرَ،council,رَحِمَهُمُbut theyاللَّهُ.pledged allegianceفَقَالَ:to meقَدْin the Hijazشَرِكَانِيand brokeفِيtheir allegianceالْهِجْرَةِto meوَفِيin Iraq,الشُّورَىand had they doneوَلَكِنَّهُمَاthatبَايَعَانِيto Abu Bakrبِالْحِجَازِand Umar,وَخَلَعَانِيthey would have foughtبِالْعِرَاقِthem."
and was most deserving of it from all the people. So they said: "You spoke the truth and did good. So inform us about Talha and al-Zubayr: how did you make lawful fighting them while they participated with you in the migration with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and in the consultative council of Umar, may Allah have mercy on them?" He said: "They participated with me in the migration and in the consultative council, but they pledged allegiance to me in the Hijaz and broke their allegiance to me in Iraq, and had they done that to Abu Bakr and Umar, they would have fought them."
فَقَالَا:They said:صَدَقْتَ"You spokeوَبَرَرْتَthe truth and did good,وَأَنتَand you areأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful."
They said: "You spoke the truth and did good, and you are the Commander of the Faithful."
قَالَ:He said:وَلَمَّاAnd whenكَانَwasحَرْبُthe battleصِفِّينَof Siffin,كَتَبَwroteأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,رِضْوَانُmay the good pleasureاللَّهِof Allahعَلَيْهِ،be upon him,إِلَىtoمُعَاوِيَةَMuawiyahبْنِibnأَبِيAbiسُفْيَانَ:Sufyan:مَا"Whatلَكَis with you thatيُقْتَلُare killedالنَّاسُpeopleبَيْنَنَا؟between us?ابْرُزْStep forthلِيto me,فَإِنfor ifقَتَلْتَنِيyou kill meاسْتَرَحْتَyou will be at restمِنِّيfrom me,وَإِنand ifقَتَلْتُكَI kill youاسْتَرَحْتُI will be at restمِنْكَ."from you."
He said: When the battle of Siffin took place, the Commander of the Faithful, may the good pleasure of Allah be upon him, wrote to Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan: "Why are people being killed between us? Step forth to me, for if you kill me you will be at rest from me, and if I kill you I will be at rest from you."
فَقَالَThen saidلَهُto himعَمْرُوAmrبْنُibnالْعَاصِ:al-As:أَنْصَفَكَ"He has treated youالرَّجُلُfairly,فَابْرُزْso step forthإِلَيْهِ.to him."
Amr ibn al-As said to him: "The man has treated you fairly, so step forth to him."
قَالَ:He said:كَلَّا"By no means,يَاOعَمْرُو،Amr,أَرَدْتَyou wantedأَنْthat I step forthأَبْرُزَto himلَهُso he would kill meفَيَقْتُلَنِيand you would seizeوَتَثِبَthe caliphateعَلَىafter me!الْخِلَافَةِQurayshبَعْدِي!knowsقَدْthat the sonعَلِمَتْof Abu Talibقُرَيْشٍis its masterأَنَّand its lion."ابْنَThen he beganأَبِيreciting:طَالِبٍO Amr,سَيِّدُهَاyou have concealedوَأَسَدُهَا.the suspicionثُمَّof a traitorأَنْشَأَby your approvalيَقُولُ:of my duelingيَاbeneathعَمْرُوthe dust.قَدْWhat have kingsأَسْرَرْتَto do with dueling,تُهْمَةَfor indeedغَادِرٍit is the deathبِرِضَاكَof the duelistsلِيlike the snatchتَحْتَof a falcon?الْعَجَاجِIndeed,بِرَازِيthat whichمَاyour soulلِلْمُلُوكِmade you hope forوَلِلْبِرَازِin private—وَإِنَّهَاmy killing—حَتْفُthe rewarderالْمُبَارِزِwill reward youخَطْفَةًfor what you intended.مِنFor you have uncoveredبَازِيits veilإِنَّblamed,الَّتِيand you have wornمَنَّتْكَfor itنَفْسُكَthe garmentsخَالِياًof the disgraced one.قَتْلِيSo Amrجَزَاكَibn al-Asبِمَاanswered him:نَوَيْتَ"O Muawiyah,الْجَازِيI have not committedفَلَقَدْa sin,كَشَفْتَnor am Iقِنَاعَهَاone calledمَذْمُومَةًdisgraced.وَلَقَدْSo what is my sinلَبِسْتَthat Ali called,لَهَاand the ramثِيَابَof the peopleالْخَازِيis called
He said: "By no means, O Amr, you wanted that I step forth to him so he would kill me and you would seize the caliphate after me! Quraysh knows that the son of Abu Talib is its master and its lion." Then he began reciting: O Amr, you have concealed the suspicion of a traitor by your approval of my dueling beneath the dust. What have kings to do with dueling, for indeed it is the death of the duelists like the snatch of a falcon? Indeed, that which your soul made you hope for in private—my killing—the rewarder will reward you for what you intended. For you have uncovered its veil blamed, and you have worn for it the garments of the disgraced one. So Amr ibn al-As answered him: "O Muawiyah, I have not committed a sin, nor am I one called disgraced. So what is my sin that Ali called, and the ram of the people is called
فَأَجَابَهُto the duel?عَمْرُوHad you dueled himبْنُyou would have metالْعَاصِ:an opponentمُعَاوِيَsharp of fang,إِنَّنِيvaliant,لَمْpossessing pride.أَجْنِIs it cowardiceذَنْباًamong the tribe,وَمَاO son of Hind,أَنَاwhile at the buttocksبِالَّذِيyou are like the Hijaziيُدْعَىhe-goat?"بِخَازِيand what isفَمَاmy sin thatذَنْبِيAli calledبِأَنand the ramنَادَىof the peopleعَلِيٌّis calledوَكَبْشُto the duel?الْقَوْمِHad you dueled himيُدْعَىyou would have metلِلْبِرَازِan opponentفَلَوْsharp of fang,بَارَزْتَهُvaliant,لَلَقِيتَpossessing pride.قِرْناًIs it cowardiceحَدِيدَamong the tribe,النَّابِO son of Hind,شَهْماًwhile at the buttocksذَاyou are like the Hijaziاعْتِزَازِhe-goat?"أَجُبناًand what isفِيmy sin thatالْعَشِيرَةِAli calledيَاand the ramابْنَof the peopleهِنْدٍis calledوَعِنْدَto the duel?الْبَاهِHad you dueled himكَالتَّيْسِyou would have metالْحِجَازِيan opponent
to the duel? Had you dueled him you would have met an opponent sharp of fang, valiant, possessing pride. Is it cowardice among the tribe, O son of Hind, while at the buttocks you are like the Hijazi he-goat? and what is my sin that Ali called and the ram of the people is called to the duel? Had you dueled him you would have met an opponent sharp of fang, valiant, possessing pride. Is it cowardice among the tribe, O son of Hind, while at the buttocks you are like the Hijazi he-goat?