8/11
Warning against Insult
453. Imām Ali (a.s.) – narrating from `Abdullah ibn Sharik: “Hujr ibn `Adi and `Amr ibn Hamq went out while openly expressing their aversion and cursing the people of Shām, so Ali (a.s.) sent a message to them to avoid what he had been informed about.
The two came to Ali (a.s.) and said: “O Commander of the Faithful! Are we not on the right path?”
He said: “Yes.”
They asked again: “Are they not on the wrong path?”
He said: “Yes.”
They said: “Why then did you prevent us from cursing them?”
He said: “I did not like you to be among the cursers and revilers who curse people and express aversion; but if you described their misbehavior and said: “Their conduct is such and their behavior is so”, it would be more appropriate in saying and more effective in excusing. If instead of cursing and disavowing them, you would say: “O God! Spare our blood and theirs, reconcile between us and them and deliver them from their misguidance so that the one who has ignored the truth knows it and the one who has attached himself to aggression and enmity refrains from it”, this would be dearer to me and better for you.”
They both said: “O Commander of the Faithful! We accept your advice and we shall discipline ourselves by your good manners.”1
454. Imām Ali(a.s): “Do not dishonor your enemy even if he dishonors you.”2
1.. Waq`at Siffin, p. ۱۰۳, Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۳۲, p. ۳۹۹, h. ۳۶۹-۳۷۳. Nahj al-Balāghah, Sermon ۲۰۶, al-Akhbār al-Tiwāl, p. ۱۶۵.
2.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۱۰۴۱۸.
