6. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa‘id has narrated from Ja’far ibn ‘Abd Allah al-‘Alawiy and Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Kufiy from Ali ibn al-‘Abbas, from Isma’il ibn Ishaq, all from abu Faraj ibn Qurrah, who has narrated from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah. He has said that narrated to him ibn abu Layla’ from abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sullamiy who has said that Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said who has said the following: “Thereafter, (my praising Allah) you must take notice that Jihad (serving in the army) is one of the doors to paradise. Allah has opened it for His special friends whom He has made to deserve it through His generosity toward them and a bounty, which He has stored. Jihad is the garment of piety and it is Allah’s invincible gown and strong shield. If one ignores it in disregard Allah dresses him up in humiliation. Misfortune engulfs him, small and worthless issues humiliate him and barriers block his heart. Truth moves away from him due to his disregard of Jihad. Hardship disturbs him and he is denied justice. I certainly have been asking you days and nights, privately and in public to fight those people (supporters of Mu‘awiyah), saying, ‘Attack them before they do so. By Allah, a people attacked in their own territory are always humiliated.’ You kept postponing my calls in betrayal until attacks were launched upon you and territories were captured. It is the brother of Ghamid (Sufyan ibn ‘Awf, Mu‘awiyah’s hit-man) whose troops have entered al-Anbar and have murdered Hassan ibn Hassan al-Bakriy (the governor appointed by Amir al-Mu’minin). Your troops were dislodged from their fortifications. I am informed that their men violate Muslimah women as well as tax-payers’ women, took away their bracelets, earrings and their other ornaments and they had no means of defense against them except begging for mercy and saying ‘to Allah we return.’ They then left with plenty of wealth and none of them suffered any injuries or lost a single drop of blood. If a Muslim would die in sorrow and anguish due to this tragedy he should not be blamed and in my opinion it is worthwhile of him. It indeed is shocking, by Allah, it is shocking. It causes the heart to melt and fills it up with sorrow to see how those people are united around their falsehood and your suffering discord despite your having the truth with you. It is a shame and a disgrace that despite your being their target of attack, you do not counter-attack them. They fight you but you do not fight. Allah is disobeyed and you condone such disobedience. When I command you to march against the enemy during summer you say, ‘It is very hot. Give us time until the heat is reduced.’ When I command you to march against them during winter, you say, Tt is very cold. Give us time until the cold season is over.’ All of such excuses are just to run away from hot and cold elements. If you run away from hot and cold seasons, from swords, by Allah, you will run away much faster. O you, who look like a man, you are not a man of courage. You in wish-fullness are like children and your power of reason is like that of the house- maidens. I wish I had not seen you and had not know you at all. It by Allah has brought only regret and sorrow. I wish Allah fights against you for filling up my heart with sadness as if it is filled with puss and my chest with anguish as if you have made me breathe blows of sorrow with every breath. You have turned my decision to no effect due to your disobedience and betrayal, so much so that Quraysh says, The son of abu Talib is a brave man but he does not know how to fight a war.’ One should for the sake of Allah, judge what they say. Has anyone among them dealt with wars with greater intensity than the way I have dealt with them or has anyone among them been involved with wars for such a long time as I have been facing wars? I stood firm in wars when I was not yet in my twenties and now I am in my sixties but one who is not obeyed has no opinion.”
Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa'id, de Ja'far ibn 'Abdullah al-'Alawi et Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Kufi, de 'Ali ibn al-'Abbas, de Isma'il ibn Ishaq, tous de Abi Rawh Faraj ibn Qura, de Mas'adah ibn Sadqah, a dit: Ibn Abi Layla nous a informés, de Abi 'Abd ar-Rahman as-Sulami, qui a dit: L'Imam des Croyants, que la paix soit sur lui, a dit: "Le jihad est une des portes du Paradis, qu'Allah a ouverte pour Ses serviteurs spéciaux, leur accordant ainsi une dignité et une grâce que Lui seul détient. Le jihad est le vêtement de la piété, le bouclier d'Allah le Protecteur, et Son jardin bien gardé. Celui qui le délaisse par dégoût, Allah le revêtira de l'habit de l'humiliation, le couvrira de l'épreuve, le privera de la satisfaction, le diminuera en petitesse et en bassesse, et marquera son cœur de la dureté. La vérité lui sera retirée en négligeant le jihad, et il sera marqué par l'infamie, empêché de la moitié. Sachez que je vous ai appelés à combattre ces gens, de jour comme de nuit, en secret et en public. Je vous ai dit de les attaquer avant qu'ils ne vous attaquent. Par Allah, aucun peuple n'a été attaqué dans leur propre demeure sans être humilié. Vous avez alors hésité et reculé, jusqu'à ce que les attaques se multiplient contre vous et que vos terres soient conquises. Voici Ghamid, dont les chevaux ont atteint Anbar, et qui a tué Hassan ibn Hassan al-Bakri, et qui a dépouillé vos chevaux de leurs armes. Il m'est parvenu qu'un homme parmi eux entrait chez une femme musulmane ou dhimmi, lui arrachait ses bijoux, ses vêtements et ses parures, sans qu'elle puisse s'en défendre que par des supplications et des lamentations. Puis ils partaient, sans que l'un d'eux verse une goutte de sang. Si un homme musulman venait à mourir après cela, il ne serait pas blâmé pour sa tristesse, mais serait jugé digne de compassion. Quelle étrange réunion que celle-ci, qui remplit les cœurs de chagrin et suscite des soucis, réunissant ces gens autour de leur fausseté, vous séparant ainsi de votre vérité. Que la laideur soit sur vous, et quel mépris lorsque vous devenez un butin, que l'on vous attaque sans que vous ripostiez, que vous soyez désobéissants à Allah et satisfaits. Lorsque je vous ai ordonné de marcher vers eux pendant les jours chauds, vous avez dit: 'C'est la chaleur de l'été, laissez-nous attendre que la chaleur diminue'. Et lorsque je vous ai ordonné de marcher vers eux en hiver, vous avez dit: 'C'est la froideur de l'hiver, laissez-nous attendre que le froid s'atténue'. Tout cela est une fuite de la chaleur et du froid. Lorsque vous fuyez la chaleur et le froid, vous fuyez en réalité le combat. Par Allah, êtes-vous plus lâches que des femmes, ou des enfants qui jouent, ou que des vieilles femmes qui filent? J'aurais préféré ne pas vous voir, ne pas vous connaître. Par Allah, le regret est amer, et le blâme suit. Que Dieu vous combatte! Vous avez rempli mon cœur d'amertume, et mon esprit de colère. Vous m'avez fait avaler des paroles amères, et vous avez corrompu mon jugement par la désobéissance et la trahison. Même les Quraysh ont dit: 'Le fils d'Abu Talib est un homme courageux, mais il n'a pas de connaissance de la guerre.' Par Allah