Nahjul BalaghaSermons
Sermon 71
Imam said about Marwan ibn al-Hakam at Basrah. When Marwan was taken on the day of Jamal, he asked Hassan and Hussain (p.b.u.t.) to intercede on his behalf before Imam. So they spoke to Imam about him and he released him. Then they said, "O' Imam he desires to swear you allegiance" Whereupon Imam said:
Did he not swear me allegiance after the killing of `Uthman? Now I do not need his allegiance, because his is the hand of a Jew. If he swears me allegiance with his hand he would violate it after a short while. Well, he is to get power for so long as a dog licks his nose., and his four sons will also rule. The people will face days through him and his sons.