However I descended (like a bird) when they descended and I...

However I descended (like a bird) when they descended and I flew like (a bird) when they flew (acting) out of a patience as a result of the long trial (I had endured) and the passage of time. One man (of the group) inclined (against me) because of his jealousy (i.e. Sa'd b. Abi Waqqas). Another man (i.e. 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf) favoured his brother-in-law (i.e. 'Uthman) for other reasons which I will not mention. Eventually the third person (i.e.

'Uthman) among these people arose lifting his chest from out of his excrement and his trough. His family (i.e. the Umayyads) rushed to devour the treasury of God like the camel devours spring vegetation until its stomach is satiated by it. His actions brought about his death. The action of the people which shocked was that they (came) as messengers to me - like waves of hyenas - asking me that I should give them my acceptance of the pledge of allegiance.

They were crowding in on me so that (my two sons) al-Hasan and al-Husayn would have been trampled underfoot and my two shoulders pulled apart. Yet when I undertook the affair (of the Caliphate), a group broke their oath of allegiance, another deviated from the truth and others acted wickedly as if they had never heard God say: That last abode is that which we have made for those who seek nobleness on earth and not corruption. Good health is for those who fear God (XXVIII 82).

Rather, by God, they heard these words and they were aware of them but their own world was more attractive to their eyes and its adornments excited wonder in them.

By Him who split the seed and created man, if it was not for the presence of those present and the necessity of a proof (hujja) to man through the existence of such supporters and the fact that God does not give the true possessors of authority it without them being resigned (to it being swallowed) by the over-full bellies of the wrongdoers while the oppressed starve (for their rights) - (if it was not for all that) - I would throw down the reins (of the Caliphate) on to its withers and I would swallow the last with the cup of its beginning.

'Then in my view, they would find their world scantier than snot from the nose ." A man from the Sawad came before him and handed him a letter. He broke off from his speech. [Ibn 'Abbas added:] I have never regretted anything nor felt such distress like the distress I felt at Losing the rest of the speech of the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him.