and thus it was narrated from abu alabbas that he became angry with a man whose name i have forgotten and he mentioned him one night and one of his companions said to him o commander of the faithful! if soandso were to see him he would have mercy on him and his heart would be broken for him. he said why is that? he said because the commander of the faithful was angry with him. he said he has no sin that would cause him to reach this level of punishment. he said so o commander of the faithful bestow your pleasure upon him. he said this is not the time for that! he said i said that o commander of the faithful when you considered his sin small you hoped for your pleasure with him. he said he who does not have a long period between his anger and pleasure does not know how to be angry or pleased.
وهكذا عن أبي العباس أنه غضب على رجل ذهب عني اسمه، فذكره ليلة من الليالي، فقال له بعض سماره يا أمير المؤمنين! فلان لو رآه أعدى خلق الله له، لرحمه وانعصر له قلبه. قال ولم ذاك؟ قال لغضب أمير المؤمنين عليه. قال ماله من الذنب ما يبلغ به من العقوبة هذا الموضع. قال فمن عليه، يا أمير المؤمنين، برضاك. قال ما هذا وقت ذاك! قال قلت إنك يا أمير المؤمنين لما صغرت ذنبه، طمعت في رضاك عنه. قال إنه من لم يكن بين غضبه ورضاه مدة طويلة، لم يحسن أن يغضب ولا يرضى.