Praise and thanks be to Allah whenever night comes and darkness spreads, and praise and description be to Allah whenever a star rises and sets, and praise and commendation be to that Allah whose gifts never end and whose favours cannot be repaid. (Be aware that) I have sent the vanguard of the army ahead and commanded it to camp on the bank of this river until my order reaches, and my intention is to cross this water and reach that small group that is settled in the environs of the Tigris (Madain), and also make them stand with you against the enemies and make them a reserve for your reinforcement. The commentator says that the Commander of the Faithful here means by 'malatat' the direction where he commanded them to stay, and that direction is the bank of the Euphrates, and 'lamtat' is called the bank of a river, although its original meaning is level ground. And by 'nutfah' (pure and clear water) he means the water of the Euphrates, and this is among the strange and wonderful expressions.