Nahj al-Balāgha 1, record 247 of the digital edition

al-Sharīf al-Raḍī · Crowd dynamics in assembly and dispersal

Shia · narrations

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Full notice

Hadith reports may differ in authenticity, attribution, context, and interpretation across Islamic scholarly traditions. Inclusion in this library does not constitute authentication or endorsement. Readers are encouraged to consult qualified scholars before drawing religious or legal conclusions.

2

Arabic text

وَقِيلَ بَلْ قَالَ (عليه السلام): هُمُ الَّذِينَ إِذَا اجْتَمَعُوا ضَرُّوا، وَإِذَا تَفَرَّقُوا نَفَعُوا. فقيل: قَدْ عَرَفْنَا مَضَرَّةَ اجْتِمَاعِهِمْ، فَمَا مَنْفَعَةُ افْتِرَاقِهِمْ؟ فَقَالَ: يَرْجِعُ أَصْحَابُ الْمِهَنِ إِلَى مِهَنِهِمْ، فَيَنْتَفِعُ النَّاسُ بِهِمْ، كَرُجُوعِ الْبَنَّاءِ إِلَى بِنَائِهِ، وَالنَّسَّاجِ إِلَى مَنْسَجِهِ، وَالْخَبَّازِ إِلَى مَخْبَزِهِ.

Translation

It is related that instead of this Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: These are the people who when they assemble together cause harm but when they disperse are beneficial. It was pointed out to him: We know their harm at the time of their assembling but what is their benefit at the time of their dispersal? Then he replied: The workers return to their work and people get benefit out of them, like the return of the mason to the building site, that of the weaver to his loom, and that of the baker to his bakery.

Translation: Sayed Ali Raza — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.

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Persian rendering (AI)

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AI explanation

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