Peak of Eloquence Nahjul Balagha By Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib - English Translation - Sermon 169

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When Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (􀁸) approached Basra, a
bedouin met him and spoke to him, as he had been sent to him by a
group of people of Basra to inquire from him on their behalf his
status vis-a-vis the people of Jamal. Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (􀁸)
explained to him his status with regard to them. From it, he became
convinced that Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (􀁸) was on the right track.
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (􀁸) asked him to swear the oath of allegiance
to him, but he replied, “I am just a messenger of people and shall not
do anything till I get back to them. Upon this, Imam Ali ibn Abu
Talib (􀁸) said to him the following:
“If those whom you left behind send you as a forerunner to search
out a rain-fed area for them, and you return to them and appraise them of
greenery and water, but they disagree with you and go towards dry and
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barren land, what will you do then?” The man said, “I will leave them and
go towards greenery and water.” Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (􀁸) then said,
“So, then, stretch your hand!” This man related later saying, “By Allah!
By such a clear argument, I could not refrain from swearing allegiance to
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (􀁸).
This man was known as Kulayb al-Jarmi.