Peak of Eloquence Nahjul Balagha By Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib - English Translation - Sermon 161

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One of the companions of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (􀁸) (from
Banu Asad) asked him: “How was it that your tribe (Quraish)
deprived you of this status (Caliphate) although you deserved it
most?” In his reply, the Im􀁡m said the following :
O brother of Banu Asad! Your girth is loose and you have put it
on the wrong way. Nevertheless, you enjoy in-law kinship and also the
right to ask. Since you have asked, listen. As regarding the oppression
against us in this matter, although we were the highest in descent and the
strongest in kinship to the Messenger of Allah, it was a selfish act over
which the hearts of people became greedy, although some people did not
care for it. The Arbiter is Allah and to Him is the return on the Day of
Judgement.
Now1 leave alone this story of devastation about which there is
hue and cry all around.
Come and look at the son of Abu Sufyan (Mu`awiyah). Time has
made me laugh after weeping. No wonder, by Allah; what is this affair
which surpasses all wonder and which has increased wrongfulness? These
people have tried to put out the flame of Allah’s light from His lamp and
close His fountain from its source. They mixed epidemic-producing water
between them and myself. If the trying hardships were removed from us, I
will take them on the course of truthfulness otherwise:
So let not thy self go (in vain) in grief for them; verily
Allah knows all that they do. (Holy Quran, 35: 8)