To the people of Kufa when he marched from Medina to Basra
1
ومن كتاب له (عليه السلام) إلى أهل الكوفة عند مسيره من المدينة إلى البصرة
To the people of Kūfah at the time of his march from Medina to Baṣrah
2
أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي خَرَجْتُ مِنْ حَيِّي هذَا: إِمَّا ظَالِماً، وَإِمَّا مَظْلُوماً، وَإِمِّا بَاغِياً، وَإِمَّا مَبْغِيّاً عَلَيْهِ.
Now, I have come out of my city either as an oppressor or as the oppressed, either as a rebel or one against whom rebellion has been committed.
3
وَأنا [وَإِنِّي] أُذَكِّرُ اللَّهَ مَنْ بَلَغَهُ كِتَابِي هذَا لَمَّا نَفَرَ إِلَىَّ، فَإِنْ كُنْتُ مُحْسِناً أعَانَنِي، وَإِنْ كُنْتُ مُسِيئاً اسْتَعْتَبَنِي.
In any case, to whomsoever this letter of mine reaches, I appeal to him in the name of Allāh that he should come to me and if I am in the right he should help me; but if I am in the wrong then he should try to get me to the right according to his view.