سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ لَسِيرَةُ عَلِيٍّ ( عليه السلام ) فِي أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ كَانَتْ خَيْراً لِشِيعَتِهِ مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ إِنَّهُ عَلِمَ أَنَّ لِلْقَوْمِ دَوْلَةً فَلَوْ سَبَاهُمْ لَسُبِيَتْ شِيعَتُهُ قُلْتُ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْقَائِمِ ( عليه السلام ) يَسِيرُ بِسِيرَتِهِ قَالَ لَا إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ( صلوات الله عليه ) سَارَ فِيهِمْ بِالْمَنِّ لِلْعِلْمِ مِنْ دَوْلَتِهِمْ وَ إِنَّ الْقَائِمَ عَجَّلَ اللَّهُ فَرَجَهُ يَسِيرُ فِيهِمْ بِخِلَافِ تِلْكَ السِّيرَةِ لِأَنَّهُ لَا دَوْلَةَ لَهُمْ .
Translation
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, form Ismail Bin Marrar, from Yunus, from Abu Bakr Al Hazramy who said, ‘I heard Abu Abdullah<sup>asws</sup> saying: ‘The way of Ali<sup>asws</sup> among the people of Al-Basra was what was better for his<sup>asws</sup> Shiah from what the sun emerges upon. He<sup>asws</sup> knew that for the people there would be a government (in the future), if he<sup>asws</sup> were to make them captives, they would make captives of his<sup>asws</sup> Shiah’. I said, ‘So inform me about Al-Qaim<sup>asws</sup>, would his<sup>asws</sup> way be his<sup>asws</sup> (Ali<sup>asws</sup>’s) way?’ He<sup>asws</sup> said: ‘No. Ali<sup>asws</sup> dealt among them with the favours due to the knowledge of their government, and Al-Qaim<sup>asws</sup>, may Allah<sup>azwj</sup> Hasten his<sup>asws</sup> appearance, would deal among them with opposite to that manner because there would be no government for them (afterwards)’.
Compiled by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Kulayni
Source
License: Free for educational and research use (Thaqalayn Data API)
Provided for research and educational purposes. Original source: Thaqalayn Project. Open License.