By Allah, they did not find any disagreeable thing in me, nor did they do justice between me and themselves. Surely, they are now demanding a right which they have abandoned and blood which they have themselves shed. If I partook in it with them then they too have a share in it, but if they committed it without me the demand should be against them. The first step of their justice should be that they pass verdict against themselves. I have my intelligence with me.
You advanced towards me shouting "allegiance, allegiance" like she-camels having delivered newly born young ones leaping towards their young. I held back my hand but you pulled it towards you. I drew back my hand but you dragged it. O My God! These two have ignored my rights and did injustice to me. They both have broken allegiance to me, and roused people against me. Unfasten Thou what they have fastened, and do not make strong what they have woven. Show them the evil in what they aimed at and acted upon. Before fighting I asked them to be steadfast in allegiance and behaved with them with consideration but they belittled the blessing and refused (to adopt the course of) safety.
(2) Ibn al-'Athir, Usd al-ghabah, II, 61;
(3) al-Mufid in al-'Irshad, 146, 142, and al-Jamal, 143, from al-Waqidi;
(5) Ibn Qutaybah, al-'Imamah, I, 154;
(6) al-Thaqafi, al-Gharat, I, 310;
(7) al-Tabari, al-Mustarshid, 95;
(8) Ibn Tawus, Kashf, 173;
(9) Safwah, Jamharah;
(10) al-Tabari, Ta'rikh, * VI, 3143.