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The Imam sent
the message telling al-Ashtar to return since
a riot and sedition had started. al-Ashtar asked:
"Why? Do they make this riot only because
the enemies have placed their Qur'ans on spearheads?"
The messenger said: "Yes!" al-Ashtar
said: "By God! I fear that this matter will
produce a division amongst us. It is an action
suggested by the son of Nabighah(143) in order
to produce a deadlock for us. Don't you see that
God has granted us victory? Would it be right
for me to withdraw from the battle at such a moment?"
The messenger said: "Do you wish to get victory
in the battlefield while they kill the Imam or
surrender him to the enemy? They have said to
the Imam: 'Either make al-Ashtar return, or we
will kill you with our swords in the same way
that we killed 'Uthman, or we hand you over to
your enemy as a captive.'"
al-Ashtar said: "By God! I don't desire such
a victory," and withdrew at once from the
battlefield and went, to the Imam's presence,
and then turned to those who had surrounded the
Imam and said sharply to them: "O base weaklings!
At a time when you have gained victory over the
enemy, and have caught him who has trampled upon
the Book of God and the Prophet's tradition, you
tremble at his trickery, and surrender to his
cunning invitation to the Qur'an? At least be
wise enough to give me one hour's respite to end
this war."
They said: "No!" He said: "All
right give me time at least for one gallop of
a horse!"
They replied: "Then we will become your accomplice
in sin!" al-Ashtar said: "Tell me, were
you in the right in those days when you were fighting
and your good men like 'Ammar ibn Yasir got killed,
or are you in the right now that your wicked ones
are left and your desire peace? If you are in
the right now, then your good men who were killed
and whose chastity you cannot deny, are your burning
in the fire of hell."
They answered: "al-Ashtar! Leave us alone,
for, we won't follow you. Keep away from us!"
al-Ashtar said: "I Swear to God that you
have been deceived. We regarded your prayer as
a sign of your love for God and your submission
to Him. Now it is quite evident that you fear
death and wish to flee, and are eager to stay
in this world! After today
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