By Allah, I shall not be like the badger that …
Nahjul Balagha Part 1 The Sermons Sharif Razi
Delivered on being advised not to chase Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydillah and az-Zubayr ibn al-’Awwam for fighting.1
By Allah, I shall not be like the badger, that feigns sleep on continuous (sound of) stone-throwing till he who is in search of it finds it or he who is on the look out for it overpowers it. Rather, I shall ever strike the deviators from truth with the help of those who advance towards it, and the sinners and doubters with the help of those who listen to me and obey, till my day (of death) comes. By Allah I have been continually deprived of my right, with others being given preference to me, from the day the Prophet died till today.
Alternative Sources for Sermon 6
(1) Al-Tabari, Ta’rikh, events of the year 36 H.S VI, 3107;
(2) Ibn Salam, Gharib al-hadith, 174;
(3) al-Jawhari, al-Sihah, V, 2026;
(4) al-Tusi, al-‘Amali, 33*.
