Nahjul Balagha Part 1, The Sermons

Sermon 207: Hold back this young man on my behalf….

In the battle of Siffin Amir al-mu'minin saw Imam al-Hasan proceeding rapidly to fight, then he said:

وقال (عليه السلام)

في بعض أيام صفين وقد رأى الحسن (عليه السلام) يتسرع إلى الحرب

Hold back this young man on my behalf, lest he causes my ruin, because I am loath to send these two (meaning al-Hasan and al-Husayn) towards death, lest the descending line of the Prophet - may Allah bless him and his descendants - is cut away by their death.

امْلِكُوا عنِّي هذَا الْغُلاَمَ لاَ يَهُدَّنِي، فَإِنَّنِي أَنْفَسُ بِهذَيْنِ ـ يَعْنِي الحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ (عليهما السلام) عَلَى الْمَوْتِ، لِئَلاَّ يَنْقَطِعَ بِهِمَا نَسْلُ رَسُولِ اللهِ (صلى الله عليه وآله).

As-Sayyid ar-Radi says: Amir al-mu'minin's words "amliku `anni hadha'l- ghulam" (i.e. "Hold back this young man on my behalf") represents the highest and the most eloquent form of expression.

قوله (عليه السلام): «املكوا عني هذا الغلام» من أعلى الكلام وأفصحه.

Alternative Sources for Sermon 207

(1) Al-Tabari, Ta'rikh, VI, 34, events of 37 H.; V, 196, events of 36 H.