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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Nahjul Balagha Part 1, The Sermons Sermon 122: Were all of you with us in Siffin?... When the Kharijites persisted in their rejecting the Arbitration, Amir al-mu'minin went to their camp and addressed them thus: ومن كلام له (عليه السلام) قاله للخوارج، وقد خرج إلى معسكرهم وهم مقيمون على إنكار الحكومة، فقال (عليه السلام) Were all of you [^1] with us in Siffin? They replied that some of them were but some of them were not.

Amir al-mu'minin said: Then you divide yourselves into two groups. One of those who were in Siffin and other of those who were not present there, so that I may address each as I see suitable. Then he shouted to the people: Stop talking and keep quiet to listen to what I say. Turn your hearts to me. Whomever we ask for evidence, he should give it according to his knowledge about it. أَكُلُّكُمْ شَهِدَ مَعَنَا صِفِّينَ؟ فَقَالُوا: مِنَّا مَنْ شَهِدَ وَمِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يَشْهَدْ.

قَالَ: فَامْتَازُوا فِرْقَتَيْنِ، فَلْيَكُنْ مَنْ شَهِدَ صِفِّينَ فِرْقَةً، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَشْهَدْهَا فَرْقَةً، حَتَّى أُكَلِّمَ كُـلاًّ مِنْكُمْ بِكَلاَمِهِ. وَ نَادَى النَّاسَ، فَقَالَ: أَمْسِكُوا عَنِ الْكَلاَمِ، وَأَنْصِتُوا لِقَوْلِي، وَأَقْبِلُوا بِأَفْئِدَتِكُمْ إِلَيَّ، فَمَنْ نَشَدْنَاهُ شَهَادَةً فَلْيَقُلْ بِعِلْمِهِ فِيهَا.

Then he had a long conversation with them during which he said: When they had raised the Qur'an by way of deceit, craft, artifice and cheat, did you not say "They are our brothers and our comrades in accepting Islam. They want us to cease fighting, and ask for protection through the Book of Allah, the Glorified. Our opinion is to agree with them and to end their troubles?" Then I said to you, "In this affair the outer side is Faith but the inner side is enmity.

Its beginning is pity and the end is repentance. Consequently you should stick to your position, and remain steadfast on your path.

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