أ ـ إشخاصُ مالِكٍ إلى مِصرَ
Delegating Malik to Egypt
504. تاريخ الطبري
504. Tarikh al-Tabari relates,
ـ في ذِكرِ أحداثِ سَنَةِ ثَمانٍ وثَلاثينَ هجريّة ـ:
in mentioning the events of the year 38 AH:
فَلَمَّا انقَضى أمرُ الحُكومَةِ ،
‘When the affair of the arbitration came to an end,
كَتَبَ عَلِيٌّ إلى مالِكِ بنِ الحارِثِ الأَشتَرِ
Ali wrote to Malik ibn al-Harith al-Ashtar,
ـ وهُوَ يَومَئِذٍ بِنَصيبينَ ـ :
who was then residing at Nasibayn -:
أمّا بَعدُ ، فَإِنَّكَ مِمَّنِ استَظهَرتُهُ عَلى إقامَةِ الدّينِ ،
“ Indeed, you are among those on whom I depend to establish the religion,
وَأقمَعُ بِهِ نَخوَةَ الأَثيمِ ،
crush the haughtiness of the disobedient
وأشُدُّ بِهِ الثَّغرَ المَخوفَ .
and fortify the threatened borders.
وكُنتُ وَلَّيتُ مُحَمَّدَ بنَ أبي بَكرٍ مِصرَ ،
I had appointed Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr to govern Egypt,
فَخَرجَت عَلَيهِ بِها خَوارِجُ ،
but the rebels attacked him,
وهُوَ غُلامٌ حَدَثٌ لَيسَ بِذي تَجرِبَةٍ لِلحَربِ ،
having been a young man and inexperienced about warfare
ولا بِمُجَرِّبٍ لِلأَشياءِ ،
and he had not been experiencing some other affairs.
فَاقدِم عَلَيَّ ؛
So, proceed to me,
لِنَنظُرَ في ذلِكَ فيما يَنبَغي ،
so that we may look into the matter
وَاستَخلِف عَلى عَمَلِكَ أهلَ الثِّقَةِ وَالنَّصيحَةِ مِن أصحابِكَ . وَالسَّلامُ .
and appoint in your place a reliable and trustworthy person from your companions.”
فَأَقبَلَ مالِكٌ إلى عَلِيٍّ حَتّى دَخَلَ عَلَيهِ ،
Thereupon Malik proceeded towards Ali and met him.
فَحَدَّثَهُ حَديثَ أهلِ مِصرَ ،
He [i.e. Ali] explained to him the situation in Egypt
وخَبَّرَهُ خَبَرَ أهلِها ،
and informed him about its people.
وقالَ : لَيسَ لَها غَيرُكَ ،
Then he said: ‘There is no one suitable for it except you,
اخرُج رَحِمَكَ اللّهُ ،
go forth with the mercy of God.
فِإِنّي إن لَم اُوصِكَ اكتَفَيتُ بِرَأيِكَ ،
When I offer you no counsel, you may depend upon your judgment.
وَاستَعِن بِاللّهِ عَلى ما أهَمَّكَ ،
Seek assistance from God for your concerns.
فَاخلِطِ الشِّدَّةَ بِاللّينِ ؛
[In your dealing with them] mix severity with tenderness.
وَارفُق ما كانَ الرفِّقُ أبلَغَ ،
Be gentle as long as gentleness serves the purpose
وَاعتَزِم بِالشِّدَّةِ حينَ لا يُغني عَنكَ إلَا الشِّدَّةُ .
and be intense when there is no other choice but intensity.”
تاريخ الطبري : ج5 ص95 .
Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 5, p. 95.
ب ـ كِتابُ الإِمامِ عليه السلام إلى أهلِ مِصرَ قَبلَ إشخاصِ مالِكٍ
Imam Ali’s Letter to the People of Egypt before Delegating Malik
505. الأمالي للمفيد عن هشام بن محمّد:
505. Al-Amali by al-Mufid, reporting from Hisham ibn Muhammad, who said:
قَدَّمَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام أمامَهُ [أي مالِكٍ ]كِتابا إلى أهلِ مِصرَ :
“The Commander of the believers (AS) sent a letter to the people of Egypt before the departure of Malik:
بِسمِ اللّهِ الرَّحمنِ الرَّحيمِ ، سَلامٌ عَلَيكُم ،
“In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
فَإِنّي أحمَدُ إلَيكُمُ اللّهَ الَّذي لا إلهَ إلّا هُوَ ،
Indeed, I praise to you God, other than Whom there is no god.
وأسأَلُهُ الصَّلاةَ عَلى نَبِيِّهِ مُحَمَّدٍ وآلِهِ ،
I ask of Him to bless His Prophet Muhammad and his Household.
وإنّي قَد بَعَثتُ إلَيكُم عَبدا مِن عِبادِ اللّهِ ،
Surely, I have sent unto you a servant of God
لا يَنامُ أيّامَ الخَوفِ ،
who does not sleep in the days of fear
ولا يَنكُلُ عَنِ الأَعداءِ حِذارَ الدَّوائِرِ ،
and does not recoil from the enemy out of fear of death.
مِن أشَدِّ عَبيدِ اللّهِ بَأسا ، وأكرَمِهِم حَسَبا ،
He is of the strongest servants of God and the noblest in lineage.
أضَرَّ عَلَى الفُجّارِ مِن حَريقِ النّارِ ،
He is to the transgressors more aggressive than the burning fire.
وأبعَدَ النّاسَ مِن دَنَسٍ أو عارٍ ،
He is the farthest of people from ignomity and blemish.
وهُوَ مالِكُ بنُ الحارِثِ الأَشتَرُ ،
He is Malik ibn al-Harith al-Ashtar,
لا نابِي الضِّرسِ ،
whose teeth does not get old
ولا كَليلُ الحَدِّ ،
nor does it become blunt.
حَليمٌ فِي الحَذَرِ ،
He is patient amid threats,
رَزينٌ فِي الحَربِ ،
composed at the time of war,
ذو رَأيٍ أصيلٍ ، وصَبرٍ جَميلٍ ؛
has an original opinion and beautiful patience.
فَاسمَعوا لَهُ ، وأطيعوا أمرَهُ ،
So listen to him and obey his command.
فَإن أمَرَكُم بالنَّفيرِ فَانفِروا ،
If he commands you to march forth, then march,
وإن أمَرَكُم أن تُقيموا فَأقيموا ؛
and if he commands you to stay, then stay,
فَإِنَّهُ لا يُقدِمُ ولا يُحجِمُ إلّا بِأَمري ،
for he does not advance or stay except by my order.
فَقَد آثَرتُكُم بِهِ عَلى نَفسي ؛
Indeed, I have preferred him for you over myself,
نَصيحَةً لَكُم ،
as a good counsel for you
وشِدَّةَ شَكيمَةٍ عَلى عَدُوِّكُم ،
and a source of firmness and harshness towards your adversaries.
عَصَمَكُمُ اللّهُ بِالهُدى ،
May God protect you with guidance
وثَبَّتَكُم بِالتَّقوى ،
and keep you steadfast with god-wariness.
ووَفَّقَنا وإيّاكُم لِما يُحِبُّ ويَرضى .
May He grant us and you success unto what He loves and pleases.
وَالسَّلامُ عَلَيكُم ورَحمَةُ اللّهِ وبَرَكاتُهُ .
May the peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you.”
الأمالي للمفيد : ص81 ح4 .
Al-Amali by al-Mufid, p. 81, h. 4
ج ـ مَكرُ مُعاوِيَةَ في قَتلِ الأَشتَرِ
Muawiya’s Device to Assassinate Malik al-Ashtar
506. تاريخ الطبري عن يزيد بن ظبيان الهمداني :
506. Tarikh al-Tabari, reporting from Yazid ibn Úibyan al-Hamdani who said:
بَعَثَ مُعاوِيَةُ إلَى الجايِستارِ
“Muawiyah sent an emissary to al-Jayistar,
ـ رَجُلٍ مِن أهلِ الخَراجِ ـ
one of the people of land tax,
فَقالَ لَهُ :
and said to him:
إنَّ الأَشتَرَ قَد وُلِّيَ مِصرَ ،
‘ Indeed, al-Ashtar has been appointed as governor over Egypt.
فَإِن أنتَ كَفَيتَنيهِ
If you get rid of him,
لَم آخُذ مِنكَ خَراجا ما بَقيتَ ،
I will not take the land tax from you during the rest of your life.
فَاحتَل لَهُ بِما قَدَرتَ عَلَيهِ .
So do to him whatever is possible.’ [That is ‘draw him to the death trap by resorting to whatever tricks you know’ (Editor).]
فَخَرَجَ الجايِستارُ حَتّى أتَى القُلزُمَ وأقامَ بِهِ ،
Al-Jayistar left until he arrived at al-Qulzum and stayed there
وخَرَجَ الأَشتَرُ مِنَ العِراقِ إلى مِصرَ ،
whereas al-Ashtar left Iraq for Egypt.
فَلَمَّا انتَهى إلَى القُلزُمِ استَقبَلَهُ الجايِستارُ ، فَقالَ :
When he arrived, al-Qulzum al-Jayistar welcomed him and said:
هذا مَنزِلٌ وهذا طَعامٌ وعَلَفٌ ،
‘Here is a house, food and fodder [for his animals].
وأنَا رَجُلٌ مِن أهلِ الخَراجِ ،
I am among those who pay the land tax.’
فَنَزَلَ بِهِ الأَشتَرُ ،
So, al-Ashtar became his guest.
فَأَتاهُ الدِّهقانُ بِعَلَفٍ وطَعامٍ ،
The man brought him food and served him.
حَتّى إذا طَعِمَ أتاهُ بِشَربَةٍ مِن عَسَلٍ
After he had eaten, he brought him a drink of honey,
قَد جَعَلَ فيها سَمّا فَسَقاهُ إيّاهُ ،
which he had poisoned and gave him to drink.
فَلَمّا شَرِبَها ماتَ .
When he drank it, he died.
وأقبَلَ مُعاوِيَةُ يَقولُ لِأَهلِ الشّامِ :
Muawiyah then gathered the people of Syria and said to them:
إنَّ عَلِيّا وَجَّهَ الأَشتَرَ إلى مِصرَ ،
“Verily Ali had sent al-Ashtar to Egypt.
فَأَدعُوَا اللّهَ أن يَكفيكُموهُ .
Call onto God to spare us of him.”
قالَ : فَكانوا كُلَّ يَومٍ يَدعونَ اللّهَ عَلَى الأَشتَرِ ،
They would pray everyday to God against al-Ashtar.
وأقبَلَ الَّذي سَقاهُ إلى مُعاوِيَةَ فَأَخبَرَهُ بِمَهلِكِ الأَشتَرِ ،
The person who had given him the drink came to Muawiyah and informed him of the demise of al-Ashtar.
فَقامَ مُعاوِيَةُ فِي النّاسِ خَطيبا ،
Muawiyah rose amongst the people and delivered a sermon.
فَحَمِدَ اللّهَ وأثنى عَلَيهِ ، وقالَ :
He praised God, lauded Him and said:
أمّا بَعدُ ، فَإِنَّهُ كانَت لِعَلِيِّ بنِ أبي طالبٍ يَدانِ يَمينانِ قُطِعَت
“ Indeed, there were two right hands to Ali ibn Abi Talib,
إحداهُما يَومَ صِفّينَ ـ يَعني عَمّارَ بنَ ياسرٍ ـ
one of which was severed at the battle of Siffin that is Ammar ibn Yasir
وقُطِعَتِ الاُخرَى اليَومَ ـ يَعنِي الأَشتَرَ ـ .
and the other was severed today, that is al-Ashtar.”
تاريخ الطبري : ج 5 ص 95 .
Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 5, p. 95.
د ـ حُزنُ الإِمامِ عليه السلام
Imam ‘Ali’s Sadness
507. تاريخ اليعقوبي :
507. Tarikh al-Yaqubi relates:
لَمّا بَلَغَ عَلِيّا قَتلُ مُحَمَّدِ بنِ أبي بَكرٍ وَالأَشتَرِ جَزِعَ عَلَيهِما جَزَعا شَديدا ، وتَفَجَّعَ ،
“When Ali was informed of the assassination of Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr and al-Ashtar, he deeply grieved over them and lamented.
وقالَ عَلِيٌّ : عَلى مِثلِكَ فَلتَبكِ البَواكي يا مالِكُ ، وأنّى مِثلُ مالِكٍ !
Ali said: ‘Let the mourners weep for one like you, O Malik! Who is like Malik!’ ”
تاريخ اليعقوبي : ج2 ص194 .
Tarikh al-Yaqubi, vol. 2, p. 194.
508. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ لَمّا جاءَهُ نَعيُ الأَشتَرِ ـ:
508. Imam Ali (AS) said - when the news of al-Ashtar’s death reached him - :
مالِكٌ وما مالِكٌ !
“Malik! When (shall teach you who) is Malik!
وَاللّهِ ، لَو كانَ جَبَلاً لَكانَ فِندا ،
By God, had he been a mountain, he would have been unique:
ولَو كانَ حَجَرا لَكانَ صَلدا ،
had he been a stone, he would have been solid.
لا يَرتَقيهِ الحافِرُ ،
The hooves (of horses) cannot climb it,
ولا يُوفي عَلَيهِ الطّائِرُ .
nor the birds can reach its height.”
نهج البلاغة : الحكمة 443 .
Nahj al-Balagha, Aphorism 443.
509. الغارات عن علقمة بن قيس النخعي
509. Al-Gharat, reporting from ‘Alqama ibn Qays al-Nakhai who said:
ـ بَعدَ شَهادَةِ مالِكِ الأَشتَرِ ـ:
– after the martyrdom of Malik al-Ashtar -:
فَما زالَ عَلِيٌّ يَتَلَهَّفُ ويَتَأَسَّفُ
“Ali ceased not to regret and grieve
حَتّى ظَنَنّا أنَّهُ المُصابُ بِهِ دونَنا ،
that we thought he alone was affected by him to the exception of us.
وقَد عُرِفَ ذلِكَ في وَجهِهِ أيّاما .
Indeed, that was noticeable on his face for days.”
الغارات : ج1 ص265 .
Al-Gharat, vol. 1, p. 265.
ه ـ هَزيمَةُ أهلِ العِراقِ بِمَوتِ الأَشتَرِ
The Defeat of the People of Iraq
510. أنساب الأشراف عن المدائني:
510. Ansab al-Ashraf, reporting from al-Mada’ini who said:
ذُكِرَ الأَشتَرُ النَّخَعِيُّ عِندَ مُعاوِيَةَ ،
“al-Ashtar al-Nakhai was mentioned in the presence of Muawiyah.
فَقالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ النَّخَعِ لِلَّذي ذَكَرَهُ :
A man from the tribe of al-Nakhai said to the one who mentioned him:
اُسكُت ،
‘Be silent!
فَإِنَّ مَوتَهُ أذَلَّ أهلَ العِراقِ ،
Indeed, his death humiliated the people of Iraq,
وإنَّ حَياتَهُ أذَلَّت أهَلَ الشّامِ !
whereas his life humiliated the people of Syria!’
فَسَكَتَ مُعاوِيَةُ ولَم يَقُل شَيئا .
Muawiyah remained silent and did not say anything.”
أنساب الأشراف : ج5 ص41 .
Ansab al-Ashraf, vol. 5, p. 41.
