Nahjul Balagha Part 1, The Sermons
Sermon 231: This money is neither for me nor for you…
`Abdullah ibn Zama`ah who was one of the followers of Amir al-mu'minin came to him during his Caliphate to ask for some money when Amir al-mu'minin said:
ومن كلام له (عليه السلام)
كلّم به عبدالله بن زمعة وهو من شيعته
وذلك أنه قَدِمَ عليه في خلافته يطلب منه مالاً، فقال (عليه السلام):
This money is neither for me nor for you, but it is the collective property of the Muslims and the acquisition of their swords. If you had taken part with them in their fighting you would have a share equal to theirs, otherwise the earning of their hands cannot be for other than their mouths.
إِنَّ هذَا الْمَالَ لَيْسَ لِي وَلاَ لَكَ، وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ فَيْءٌ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَجَلْبُ أَسْيَافِهِمْ، فَإِنْ شَرِكْتَهُمْ فِي حَرْبِهِمْ كَانَ لَكَ مِثْلُ حَظِّهِمْ، وَإِلاَّ فَجَنَاةُ أَيْدِيهِمْ لاَ تَكُونُ لِغَيْرِ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ.
Alternative Sources for Sermon 231
(1) Al-'Amidi, Ghurar, 69.