He has deceived you through his (following) speech...

He has deceived you through his (following) speech: If I was a gatekeeper at the gate of a garden, I would say to (the people of) Hamadan: “Come into it with peace!” Then Mu’awiya said: “Write (a letter) about her need as to her and her people.”[^1] Umm al-Bara’, daughter of Safwan Umm al-Bara’, daughter of Safwan bin Hilal, was among the famous women in chastity and purity. She was famous for her allegiance and sincerity to Imam Ali (a.s). She had a noble attitude at the Battle of Siffin.

That was when she urged the crowded people to fight against Mu’awiya. When Mu’awiya became a ruler, she came to him, and he said to her: -How are you, O daughter of Safwan? -Fine, O Commander of the faithful! -How are you? -I have become weak after endurance and become lazy after activity. -There is a great difference between what you say today and what you said at that time: O Amr, take a beautiful, cutting (sword)! (Be) angry in movement, and do not be cowardly.

Saddle your horse quickly and be ready for the battle. Do not think of flight. [^1] ‘Alaam al-Nisa’, vol. 1, p. 211. Al-‘Aqd al-Farid, vol. 1, p. 211. Balaaghaat al-Nisa’, p. 30. Respond to the Imam, follow his standard, and make the enemy escape with a cutting sword. Would that I was not crippled so that I might protect him from the transgressors’ troops. -Indeed it was so, O Commander of the faithful! One like you pardons.

Allah, the Most High, says: “Allah has pardoned what is gone by.” -How far! Verily, if he returned, you would return. But he died before you. How was your speech at the time when he was killed? -I have forgotten it. One of those who were sitting with him said: “She said:” O men, how great the terror of the misfortune is! The misfortune has oppressed us. Its influence is not weak. The sun is eclipsed because of the loss of our Imam, the best of the creatures, the just Imam.

He was the best of those who rode the riding animals and those who walked on the earth, whether they were unshod or shod. Except the Prophet, the misfortune has threatened our deserts. So the truth has become submissive to the falsehood. Mu’awiya felt pain, so he said to her: “May Allah fight you, O daughter of Safwan. You have not let any sayer to say his statement!

Mention your need!” When Umm al-Bara’ came to know that Mu’awiya made light of and disrespected her, she refused to mention her need. She said to him: “How far!