NAHJ AL-BALAGAH Part 2 out of 5

SERMONS OF AMIR AL MOMINEEN^-asws

May the greetings be upon him^-asws

91 و من خطبة له ع تعرف بخطبة الأشباح‏ و هي من جلائل خطبه ع‏

Sermon 91 – And from a sermon of his^-asws, having been recognised with similar sermons, and it is from his^-asws majestic sermons

رَوَى مَسْعَدَةُ بْنُ صَدَقَةَ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ‏ خَطَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِهَذِهِ الْخُطْبَةِ عَلَى مِنْبَرِ الْكُوفَةِ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صِفْ لَنَا رَبَّنَا مِثْلَ مَا نَرَاهُ عِيَاناً لِنَزْدَادَ لَهُ حُبّاً وَ بِهِ مَعْرِفَةً

It is reported by Mas’ada Bin Sadaqa, from Al Sadiq Ja’far Bin Muhammad^-asws having said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen Ali^-asws addressed with this sermon upon the pulpit of Al-Kufa, and that is because a man had come to him^-asws and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws! Describe our Lord^‑azwj to us to we can increase for Him^-azwj love and recognition’.

فَغَضِبَ وَ نَادَى الصَّلَاةَ جَامِعَةً فَاجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ حَتَّى غَصَّ الْمَسْجِدُ بِأَهْلِهِ فَصَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ وَ هُوَ مُغْضَبٌ مُتَغَيِّرُ اللَّوْنِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص

He^-asws was angered and called for the congregational Salat. The people gathered to him^-asws to the extent that the Masjid was filled with its people. He^-asws ascended the pulpit and he^-asws was angry, changed of colour. He^-asws praised Allah^-azwj the Glorious and Send Salawaat upon the Prophet^-saww.

وصف اللّه تعالى‏

Attributes of Allah^-azwj the Exalted

ثُمَّ قَالَ‏ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَفِرُهُ الْمَنْعُ وَ الْجُمُودُ وَ لَا يُكْدِيهِ‏ الْإِعْطَاءُ وَ الْجُودُ إِذْ كُلُّ مُعْطٍ مُنْتَقِصٌ سِوَاهُ وَ كُلُّ مَانِعٍ مَذْمُومٌ مَا خَلَاهُ وَ هُوَ الْمَنَّانُ بِفَوَائِدِ النِّعَمِ وَ عَوَائِدِ الْمَزِيدِ وَ الْقِسَمِ

Then he^-asws said: ‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj Who the prevention does not enrich Him^-azwj nor is He^-azwj impoverished by the giving and the generosity when all besides Him^-azwj who give are reduced, and every preventer is condemned apart from Him^-azwj, and He^-azwj is the Benefactor with the beneficial bounties and increasing awards and the distributions.

عِيَالُهُ الْخَلَائِقُ ضَمِنَ أَرْزَاقَهُمْ وَ قَدَّرَ أَقْوَاتَهُمْ وَ نَهَجَ سَبِيلَ الرَّاغِبِينَ إِلَيْهِ وَ الطَّالِبِينَ مَا لَدَيْهِ وَ لَيْسَ بِمَا سُئِلَ بِأَجْوَدَ مِنْهُ بِمَا لَمْ يُسْأَلْ

His^-azwj creatures are His^-azwj dependants. He^-azwj Guarantees their sustenance and Determines their subsistence. He^-azwj has Prepared the way of the ones desiring to Him^-azwj and the seekers of what is with Him^-azwj. And He^-azwj isn’t any more generous with what He^-azwj has been asked for than He^-azwj is with what He^-azwj has not been asked for.

الْأَوَّلُ الَّذِي لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ قَبْلٌ فَيَكُونَ شَيْ‏ءٌ قَبْلَهُ وَ الْآخِرُ الَّذِي [لَمْ يَكُنْ‏] لَيْسَ لهُ بَعْدٌ فَيَكُونَ شَيْ‏ءٌ بَعْدَهُ وَ الرَّادِعُ أَنَاسِيَّ الْأَبْصَارِ عَنْ أَنْ تَنَالَهُ أَوْ تُدْرِكَهُ‏ مَا اخْتَلَفَ عَلَيْهِ دَهْرٌ فَيَخْتَلِفَ مِنْهُ الْحَالُ وَ لَا كَانَ فِي مَكَانٍ فَيَجُوزَ عَلَيْهِ الِانْتِقَالُ

The First Who, there did not happen to be any ‘before’, so there would be something before Him^-azwj, and the Last Who, there isn’t any ‘after’ for Him^-azwj so there would be something after Him^-azwj. The Repeller of the sights of the people from perceiving Him^-azwj or realising Him^-azwj. The time does not change upon Him^-azwj so He^-azwj would be of a different state from it, nor does He^-azwj exist in a place so the transfer would be allowed upon Him^-azwj.

وَ لَوْ وَهَبَ مَا تَنَفَّسَتْ‏ عَنْهُ مَعَادِنُ الْجِبَالِ وَ ضَحِكَتْ‏ عَنْهُ أَصْدَافُ الْبِحَارِ مِنْ فِلِزِّ اللُّجَيْنِ وَ الْعِقْيَانِ‏ وَ نُثَارَةِ الدُّرِّ وَ حَصِيدِ الْمَرْجَانِ‏ مَا أَثَّرَ ذَلِكَ فِي جُودِهِ وَ لَا أَنْفَدَ سَعَةَ مَا عِنْدَهُ

And if He^-azwj were to Gift whatever the mines of the mountains exhale on His^-azwj behalf, and the pearls of the oceans were to rise on His^-azwj behalf, metal ores, and the pure gold, and the scattering of the jewels, and cuttings of the corals, that would have not impact in His^-azwj Generosity, nor would it deplete the vastness of what is with Him^-azwj.

وَ لَكَانَ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ ذَخَائِرِ الْأَنْعَامِ- مَا لَا تُنْفِدُهُ‏ مَطَالِبُ الْأَنَامِ لِأَنَّهُ الْجَوَادُ الَّذِي لَا يَغِيضُهُ‏ سُؤَالُ السَّائِلِينَ وَ لَا [يُبَخِّلُهُ‏] يُبْخِلُهُ‏ إِلْحَاحُ الْمُلِحِّينَ‏

But with Him^-azwj are treasures of bounties what the demands of the people cannot deplete because He^-azwj is the Generous One Whom the begging of the beggars does not blink Him^-azwj nor does the insistence of the insisting ones Make Him^-azwj stingy.

صفاته تعالى في القرآن‏

His^-azwj Attributes in the Quran, the Exalted

فَانْظُرْ أَيُّهَا السَّائِلُ فَمَا دَلَّكَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ صِفَتِهِ فَائْتَمَّ بِهِ‏ وَ اسْتَضِئْ بِنُورِ هِدَايَتِهِ وَ مَا كَلَّفَكَ الشَّيْطَانُ عِلْمَهُ مِمَّا لَيْسَ فِي الْكِتَابِ عَلَيْكَ فَرْضُهُ وَ لَا فِي سُنَّةِ النَّبِيِّ ص وَ أَئِمَّةِ الْهُدَى أَثَرُهُ فَكِلْ‏ عِلْمَهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ مُنْتَهَى حَقِّ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ

So look, O you questioner! Whatever the Quran of His^-azwj attributes the Quran points upon, suffice with it and be enlightened by the light of its guidance. Whatever the Satan^-la encumber you of its knowledge, from what is neither in the Book is its obligation upon you, nor is there any trace of it in the Sunnah of the Prophet^-saww and the Imams^-asws of guidance, so leave its knowledge to Allah^-azwj the Glorious, for that desisting is a Right of Allah^-azwj upon you.

وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ الرَّاسِخِينَ فِي الْعِلْمِ هُمُ الَّذِينَ أَغْنَاهُمْ عَنِ اقْتِحَامِ السُّدَدِ الْمَضْرُوبَةِ دُونَ الْغُيُوبِ الْإِقْرَارُ بِجُمْلَةِ مَا جَهِلُوا تَفْسِيرَهُ مِنَ الْغَيْبِ الْمَحْجُوبِ فَمَدَحَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى اعْتِرَافَهُمْ بِالْعَجْزِ عَنْ تَنَاوُلِ مَا لَمْ يُحِيطُوا بِهِ عِلْماً وَ سَمَّى تَرْكَهُمُ التَّعَمُّقَ فِيمَا لَمْ يُكَلِّفْهُمُ الْبَحْثَ عَنْ كُنْهِهِ رُسُوخاً

And know that the ones immersed in the knowledge, those who are needless from storming the barriers struck beside the unseen matters, do acknowledge with the total of what they are ignorant of its interpretation from the veiled hidden matters. So Allah^-azwj the Exalted Praised their acknowledgment with the inability from attaining what they are not encompassing with in knowledge, and He^-azwj Named their leaving the probing into what they have not been encumbered of its essence, as being ‘Immersed’ (in knowledge).

فَاقْتَصِرْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَ لَا تُقَدِّرْ عَظَمَةَ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ عَلَى قَدْرِ عَقْلِكَ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ الْهَالِكِينَ

So stop at that and do not measure the Mightiness of Allah^-azwj the Glorious based upon a measurement of your intellect for you will be from the destroyed ones!

هُوَ الْقَادِرُ الَّذِي إِذَا ارْتَمَتِ الْأَوْهَامُ‏ لِتُدْرِكَ مُنْقَطَعَ‏ قُدْرَتِهِ وَ حَاوَلَ الْفِكْرُ الْمُبَرَّأُ مِنْ [خَطْرِ] خَطَرَاتِ الْوَسَاوِسِ أَنْ يَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ فِي عَمِيقَاتِ غُيُوبِ مَلَكُوتِهِ

He^-azwj is the Powerful Who, when the imaginations shoot (their arrows) in order to realise the endpoint of His^-azwj Power, and transferring the thought freeing from the dangerous whisperings, for there to occur to him from the depths of the hidden matters of His^-azwj Kingdom.

وَ تَوَلَّهَتِ الْقُلُوبُ إِلَيْهِ‏ لِتَجْرِيَ فِي كَيْفِيَّةِ صِفَاتِهِ وَ غَمَضَتْ‏ مَدَاخِلُ الْعُقُولِ فِي حَيْثُ لَا تَبْلُغُهُ الصِّفَاتُ لِتَنَاوُلِ عِلْمِ ذَاتِهِ رَدَعَهَا وَ هِيَ تَجُوبُ مَهَاوِيَ‏ سُدَفِ‏ الْغُيُوبِ مُتَخَلِّصَةً إِلَيْهِ سُبْحَانَهُ-

And the hearts yearn to Him^-azwj in order to flow in the qualitative state of His^-azwj attributes, and the openings of the intellects close down in where it cannot reach the descriptions in order to attain the knowledge of the Self (of Allah^-azwj), having been deterred, and these roam around in the abyss of the darkness of the hidden matters, to end up to Him^-azwj the Glorious.

فَرَجَعَتْ إِذْ جُبِهَتْ‏ مُعْتَرِفَةً بِأَنَّهُ لَا يُنَالُ بِجَوْرِ الِاعْتِسَافِ‏ كُنْهُ مَعْرِفَتِهِ وَ لَا تَخْطُرُ بِبَالِ أُولِي الرَّوِيَّاتِ‏ خَاطِرَةٌ مِنْ تَقْدِيرِ جَلَالِ عِزَّتِه الَّذِي ابْتَدَعَ الْخَلْقَ‏ عَلَى غَيْرِ مِثَالٍ امْتَثَلَهُ‏ وَ لَا مِقْدَارٍ احْتَذَى عَلَيْهِ‏ مِنْ خَالِقٍ مَعْبُودٍ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ

So it (intellect) returns when it is defeated, acknowledging that the reality of His^-azwj essence cannot be attained to understanding it, nor can the mind comprehend the first of the reports of the minds from determining the Majesty of His^-azwj Might by which He^-azwj Initiated the creation not based upon an example to replicate it, nor any measurement determined upon from a creator having been worshipped before Him^-azwj.

وَ أَرَانَا مِنْ مَلَكُوتِ قُدْرَتِهِ وَ عَجَائِبِ مَا نَطَقَتْ بِهِ آثَارُ حِكْمَتِهِ وَ اعْتِرَافِ الْحَاجَةِ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ إِلَى أَنْ يُقِيمَهَا بِمِسَاكِ‏ قُوَّتِهِ مَا دَلَّنَا بِاضْطِرَارِ قِيَامِ الْحُجَّةِ لَهُ عَلَى مَعْرِفَتِهِ

And He^-azwj has Showed us from the kingdom of His^-azwj Power and wonders what speak with the impacts of His^-azwj Wisdom and acknowledgment of the need from the creation to that it stands by the Withholding by His^-azwj Power what points us with the desperation of establishing the argument upon recognising Him^-azwj.

فَظَهَرَتِ الْبَدَائِعُ الَّتِي أَحْدَثَتْهَا آثَارُ صَنْعَتِهِ وَ أَعْلَامُ حِكْمَتِهِ فَصَارَ كُلُّ مَا خَلَقَ حُجَّةً لَهُ وَ دَلِيلًا عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ خَلْقاً صَامِتاً فَحُجَّتُهُ بِالتَّدْبِيرِ نَاطِقَةٌ وَ دَلَالَتُهُ عَلَى الْمُبْدِعِ قَائِمَةٌ

And there have appeared impacts during the creation which He^-azwj had Originated, and signs of His^-azwj Wisdom, so all what He^-azwj Created became an argument for Him^-azwj and a pointer upon Him^-azwj. And even if the creation was silent, so its argument with the arrangement is speaking, and it’s evidencing upon the Custodian is clear.

فَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مَنْ شَبَّهَكَ بِتَبَايُنِ أَعْضَاءِ خَلْقِكَ وَ تَلَاحُمِ حِقَاقِ مَفَاصِلِهِمُ‏ الْمُحْتَجِبَةِ لِتَدْبِيرِ حِكْمَتِكَ لَمْ يَعْقِدْ غَيْبَ ضَمِيرِهِ عَلَى مَعْرِفَتِكَ وَ لَمْ يُبَاشِرْ قَلْبَهُ الْيَقِينُ بِأَنَّهُ لَا نِدَّ لَكَ وَ كَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَسْمَعْ تَبَرُّؤَ التَّابِعِينَ مِنَ الْمَتْبُوعِينَ إِذْ يَقُولُونَ‏ تَاللَّهِ إِنْ كُنَّا لَفِي ضَلالٍ مُبِينٍ‏ إِذْ نُسَوِّيكُمْ بِرَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ‏

I^-asws testify that the one who resembles You^-azwj with the separateness of the limbs of Your^-azwj body and fuse the realities of their joints are veiled from the arrangement of Your^-azwj Wisdom. He has not believed in the hidden of his consciousness upon Your^-azwj recognition, and his heart has not hugged the certainty that there is no rival to You^-azwj, and it is as if he has not heard the disavowing by the followers from the ones being followed, when they would be saying: ‘By Allah! We were in clear error, [26:97] When we equated you all with Lord of the Worlds [26:98].

كَذَبَ الْعَادِلُونَ بِكَ‏ إِذْ شَبَّهُوكَ بِأَصْنَامِهِمْ وَ نَحَلُوكَ حِلْيَةَ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ بِأَوْهَامِهِمْ وَ جَزَّءُوكَ تَجْزِئَةَ الْمُجَسَّمَاتِ بِخَوَاطِرِهِمْ وَ قَدَّرُوكَ‏ عَلَى الْخِلْقَةِ الْمُخْتَلِفَةِ الْقُوَى بِقَرَائِحِ عُقُولِهِمْ

They are lying, the ones equating You^-azwj when they are resembling You^-azwj with their idols and are dressing You^-azwj with the apparel of the created beings with their own imaginations and are segmenting You^-azwj with the physical parts by their own thinking, and they are comparing You^-azwj to the different strong physiques with the workings of their own intellects.

وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مَنْ سَاوَاكَ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ فَقَدْ عَدَلَ بِكَ وَ الْعَادِلُ بِكَ كَافِرٌ بِمَا تَنَزَّلَتْ بِهِ مُحْكَمَاتُ آيَاتِكَ وَ نَطَقَتْ عَنْهُ‏ شَوَاهِدُ حُجَجِ بَيِّنَاتِكَ وَ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَمْ تَتَنَاهَ فِي الْعُقُولِ فَتَكُونَ فِي مَهَبِّ فِكْرِهَا مُكَيَّفاً وَ لَا فِي رَوِيَّاتِ خَوَاطِرِهَا فَتَكُونَ مَحْدُوداً مُصَرَّفاً

I^-asws testify that the one who equates You^-azwj with anything from Your^-azwj creation, so he has equated with You^-azwj, and the one equating with you^-azwj is a disbeliever in what You^-azwj have Revealed with in the Decisive of Your^-azwj Verses, and the testimonies of the arguments of Your^-azwj proofs are speaking with about it, and You^-azwj, You^-azwj are Allah^-azwj Who cannot be confined in the intellects so it would be in the prison of its thinking, shackled, nor limited in the flowing of its minds, altering’.

و منها-

And from it

قَدَّرَ مَا خَلَقَ فَأَحْكَمَ تَقْدِيرَهُ وَ دَبَّرَهُ فَأَلْطَفَ تَدْبِيرَهُ وَ وَجَّهَهُ لِوِجْهَتِهِ فَلَمْ يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ مَنْزِلَتِهِ وَ لَمْ يَقْصُرْ دُونَ الِانْتِهَاءِ إِلَى غَايَتِهِ وَ لَمْ يَسْتَصْعِبْ‏ إِذْ أُمِرَ بِالْمُضِيِّ عَلَى إِرَادَتِهِ فَكَيْفَ وَ إِنَّمَا صَدَرَتِ الْأُمُورُ عَنْ مَشِيئَتِهِ

‘He^-azwj Determined what He^-azwj Created, so Wise was His^-azwj Determination, and He^-azwj Managed it, so subtle was His^-azwj management, and He^-azwj Directed it to its aspect. So, it did not except the limits of its status. It was not deficient besides ending to its peak and did not disobey when Command to go upon His^-azwj Will. And how could it, and rather the affairs are implemented from His^-azwj Desire.

الْمُنْشِئُ أَصْنَافَ الْأَشْيَاءِ بِلَا رَوِيَّةِ فِكْرٍ آلَ إِلَيْهَا وَ لَا قَرِيحَةِ غَرِيزَةٍ أَضْمَرَ عَلَيْهَا وَ لَا تَجْرِبَةٍ أَفَادَهَا مِنْ حَوَادِثِ الدُّهُورِ وَ لَا شَرِيكٍ أَعَانَهُ عَلَى ابْتِدَاعِ عَجَائِبِ الْأُمُورِ

The Originator of types of things without referring to thinking to lean to, nor any instinct urging upon it, nor any experience from the occurrences of the time benefiting it, nor any associate to assist Him^-azwj upon Initiating the wonders of affairs.

فَتَمَّ خَلْقُهُ بِأَمْرِهِ وَ أَذْعَنَ لِطَاعَتِهِ وَ أَجَابَ إِلَى دَعْوَتِهِ لَمْ يَعْتَرِضْ دُونَهُ رَيْثُ الْمُبْطِئِ‏ وَ لَا أَنَاةُ الْمُتَلَكِّئِ‏ فَأَقَامَ مِنَ الْأَشْيَاءِ أَوَدَهَا وَ نَهَجَ‏ حُدُودَهَا وَ لَاءَمَ بِقُدْرَتِهِ بَيْنَ مُتَضَادِّهَا وَ وَصَلَ أَسْبَابَ قَرَائِنِهَا وَ فَرَّقَهَا أَجْنَاساً مُخْتَلِفَاتٍ فِي الْحُدُودِ وَ الْأَقْدَارِ وَ الْغَرَائِزِ وَ الْهَيْئَاتِ بَدَايَا خَلَائِقَ أَحْكَمَ صُنْعَهَا وَ فَطَرَهَا عَلَى مَا أَرَادَ وَ ابْتَدَعَهَا

His^-azwj Creation was completed, and it stooped to His^-azwj obedience and answered to His^-azwj Call and did not object besides Him^-azwj neither by the slowness of inheritance nor the patience of retiring. He^-azwj Straightened the things of their curves and Fixed their limits, and Caused coherence between the contradictory forces by His^-azwj Power, and Connected the means of their pairings, and Separated the species difference in the limits, and the measurements, and the properties, and the appearances. He^-azwj Began the creation and wise was its Making, and He^-azwj Originated it based upon whatever He^-azwj Wanted and Initiated these’.

و منها في صفة السماء

And from it, regarding description of the sky

وَ نَظَمَ بِلَا تَعْلِيقٍ رَهَوَاتِ فُرَجِهَا وَ لَاحَمَ صُدُوعَ وَ وَشَّجَ بَيْنَهَا وَ بَيْنَ أَزْوَاجِهَا وَ ذَلَّلَ لِلْهَابِطِينَ‏ بِأَمْرِهِ وَ الصَّاعِدِينَ بِأَعْمَالِ خَلْقِهِ حُزُونَةَ مِعْرَاجِهَا

‘And He^-azwj Systemised the elevations of its openings without suspensions and Closed up the cracks of its breaches, and Joined between it and between its pairs, and Humbled it for the ones (Angels) coming down by His^-azwj Command, and the ones ascending with the deeds of His^-azwj creatures through the ways of its ascents.

وَ نَادَاهَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هِيَ دُخَانٌ فَالْتَحَمَتْ عُرَى أَشْرَاجِهَا وَ فَتَقَ بَعْدَ الِارْتِتَاقِ صَوَامِتَ‏ أَبْوَابِهَا وَ أَقَامَ رَصَداً مِنَ الشُّهُبِ الثَّوَاقِبِ‏ عَلَى نِقَابِهَا وَ أَمْسَكَهَا مِنْ أَنْ تُمُورَ فِي خَرْقِ الْهَوَاءِ بِأَيْدِهِ‏

And He^-azwj Called out at it when it was smoke (vapour). It fused up its exposed links and Split it after the uplifting of its closed doors, and He^-azwj Established the piercing meteors upon its holes, and Withheld these from passing into the perforations of the air, by His^-azwj Hand (Power).

وَ أَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَقِفَ مُسْتَسْلِمَةً لِأَمْرِهِ وَ جَعَلَ شَمْسَهَا آيَةً مُبْصِرَةً لِنَهَارِهَا وَ قَمَرَهَا آيَةً مَمْحُوَّةً مِنْ لَيْلِهَا وَ أَجْرَاهُمَا فِي مَنَاقِلِ‏ مَجْرَاهُمَا وَ قَدَّرَ سَيْرَهُمَا فِي مَدَارِجِ دَرَجِهِمَا لِيُمَيِّزَ بَيْنَ اللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ بِهِمَا وَ لِيُعْلَمَ عَدَدُ السِّنِينَ وَ الْحِسَابُ بِمَقَادِيرِهِمَا

And He^-azwj Commanded it to pause stationary to His^-azwj Commands and Made it’s sun as a sign to brighten it’s day, and it’s moon as a sign to obscure from its night, and He^-azwj Made them both to flow in orbits of their flows and Determined their travelling in stages of their stages in order the night and the day to be distinguished by them, and for the number of the years to be known, and the calculation of their measurements.

ثُمَّ عَلَّقَ فِي جَوِّهَا فَلَكَهَا وَ نَاطَ بِهَا زِينَتَهَا مِنْ خَفِيَّاتِ دَرَارِيِّهَا وَ مَصَابِيحِ كَوَاكِبِهَا وَ رَمَى مُسْتَرِقِي السَّمْعِ بِثَوَاقِبِ شُهُبِهَا وَ أَجْرَاهَا عَلَى أَذْلَالِ‏ تَسْخِيرِهَا مِنْ ثَبَاتِ ثَابِتِهَا وَ مَسِيرِ سَائِرِهَا وَ هُبُوطِهَا وَ صُعُودِهَا وَ نُحُوسِهَا وَ سُعُودِهَا

Then He^-azwj Suspended their orbits in its atmosphere, and it’s adornments to be dormant with it, from the invisibility of their rotations and the lanterns of its stars, and He^-azwj Shot at the ones stealing the hearing, with its meteors, and Flowed these upon the humbleness of its reins, from the affirmation of their fixed ones, and the travelling of their travelling ones, and their descending ones, and their ascending ones, and their inauspicious and its fortunate ones.

و منها في صفة الملائكة

And from it in describing the Angels

ثُمَّ خَلَقَ سُبْحَانَهُ لِإِسْكَانِ سَمَاوَاتِهِ وَ عِمَارَةِ الصَّفِيحِ‏ الْأَعْلَى مِنْ مَلَكُوتِهِ خَلْقاً بَدِيعاً مِنْ مَلَائِكَتِهِ وَ مَلَأَ بِهِمْ فُرُوجَ فِجَاجِهَا وَ حَشَا بِهِمْ فُتُوقَ أَجْوَائِهَا وَ بَيْنَ فَجَوَاتِ تِلْكَ الْفُرُوجِ زَجَلُ‏ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ مِنْهُمْ فِي حَظَائِرِ الْقُدُسِ‏ وَ سُتُرَاتِ الْحُجُبِ‏ وَ سُرَادِقَاتِ‏ الْمَجْدِ

Then He^-azwj, the Glorious, Created to settle in His^-azwj skies, and the buildings of the lofty platforms of His^-azwj kingdoms, creatures from His^-azwj Angels filling upon with them the cavities of its ranges, and Crammed with them the splits of their atmospheres, and in between the openings of those crevices is the resonance of the ones from them who are glorifying in the enclosures of the Holiness, and the concealment of the veils, and the pavilions of Glory.

وَ وَرَاءَ ذَلِكَ الرَّجِيجِ‏ الَّذِي تَسْتَكُ‏ مِنْهُ الْأَسْمَاعُ سُبُحَاتُ‏ نُورٍ تَرْدَعُ الْأَبْصَارَ عَنْ بُلُوغِهَا فَتَقِفُ خَاسِئَةً عَلَى حُدُودِهَا. وَ أَنْشَأَهُمْ عَلَى صُوَرٍ مُخْتَلِفَاتٍ وَ أَقْدَارٍ مُتَفَاوِتَاتٍ- أُولِي أَجْنِحَةٍ تُسَبِّحُ جَلَالَ عِزَّتِهِ لَا يَنْتَحِلُونَ مَا ظَهَرَ فِي الْخَلْقِ مِنْ صُنْعِهِ وَ لَا يَدَّعُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْئاً مَعَهُ مِمَّا انْفَرَدَ بِهِ- بَلْ عِبادٌ مُكْرَمُونَ‏ لا يَسْبِقُونَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ وَ هُمْ بِأَمْرِهِ يَعْمَلُونَ‏

And beyond that resonance which the hearings are deafened from, there is an effulgence of light which repels the sights from reaching it, so it pauses disappointed upon its limits. He^-azwj Fashioned them upon different images and diverse measurements, with wings who are glorifying the Majesty of His^-azwj Mighty, nor are they imitating what is apparent in the creation of His^-azwj Making, nor are they claiming that they are creating anything with Him^-azwj, from what He^-azwj is Individual with it. But they (Prophets) are honoured servants [21:26] They do not precede Him in speech, and they are only acting by His Command [21:27].

جَعَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِيمَا هُنَالِكَ أَهْلَ الْأَمَانَةِ عَلَى وَحْيِهِ وَ حَمَّلَهُمْ إِلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَدَائِعَ أَمْرِهِ وَ نَهْيِهِ وَ عَصَمَهُمْ مِنْ رَيْبِ الشُّبُهَاتِ فَمَا مِنْهُمْ زَائِغٌ عَنْ سَبِيلِ مَرْضَاتِهِ

Over there, He^-azwj Made them as people entrusted upon His^-azwj Revelation, and He^-azwj and Carried them to the Messengers^-as as depositories of His^-azwj Commands and His^-azwj Prohibitions, and Fortified them from doubts of the suspicious. Thus, there is none from them who deviates from the way of His^-azwj Pleasures.

وَ أَمَدَّهُمْ بِفَوَائِدِ الْمَعُونَةِ وَ أَشْعَرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ تَوَاضُعَ إِخْبَاتِ‏ السَّكِينَةِ وَ فَتَحَ لَهُمْ أَبْوَاباً ذُلُلًا إِلَى تَمَاجِيدِهِ وَ نَصَبَ لَهُمْ مَنَاراً وَاضِحَةً عَلَى أَعْلَامِ‏ تَوْحِيدِهِ

And He^-azwj Helped them with the benefits of the assistance and Made their hearts aware with the humbleness to the sublimity of the tranquillity, and He^-azwj Opened for them the gates of humbleness to His^-azwj Glories, and Installed for them clear minarets upon the flags of His^-azwj Oneness.

لَمْ تُثْقِلْهُمْ مُؤْصِرَاتُ الْآثَامِ‏ وَ لَمْ تَرْتَحِلْهُمْ‏ عُقَبُ‏ اللَّيَالِي وَ الْأَيَّامِ وَ لَمْ تَرْمِ الشُّكُوكُ بِنَوَازِعِهَا عَزِيمَةَ إِيمَانِهِمْ وَ لَمْ تَعْتَرِكِ الظُّنُونُ عَلَى مَعَاقِدِ 1089 يَقِينِهِمْ وَ لَا قَدَحَتْ قَادِحَةُ الْإِحَنِ‏ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَ لَا سَلَبَتْهُمُ الْحَيْرَةُ مَا لَاقَ‏ مِنْ مَعْرِفَتِهِ بِضَمَائِرِهِمْ وَ مَا سَكَنَ مِنْ عَظَمَتِهِ 424 وَ هَيْبَةِ جَلَالَتِهِ فِي أَثْنَاءِ صُدُورِهِمْ وَ لَمْ تَطْمَعْ فِيهِمُ الْوَسَاوِسُ فَتَقْتَرِعَ‏ بِرَيْنِهَا عَلَى فِكْرِهِمْ

The weight of the burdens of sins do not weight them down, and the rotations of the nights and the days do not depart them, and the doubts do not shoot at the determinations of their Eman, and the conjectures do not assault upon the basis of their convictions, nor can a malicious one ignite a flame of malice in what is between them, nor does the confusion strip them of what they possess of His^-azwj recognition with their consciousness, or the settlement of His^-azwj Magnificence and the awe of His^-azwj Majesty  in the praise of their chests, and the uncertainties do not covet regarding them so it would rust upon their thinking.

وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ هُوَ فِي خَلْقِ الْغَمَامِ‏ الدُّلَّحِ‏ وَ فِي عِظَمِ الْجِبَالِ الشُّمَّخِ وَ فِي قَتْرَةِ الظَّلَامِ الْأَيْهَمِ‏ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَدْ خَرَقَتْ أَقْدَامُهُمْ تُخُومَ الْأَرْضِ السُّفْلَى فَهِيَ كَرَايَاتٍ بِيضٍ قَدْ نَفَذَتْ فِي مَخَارِقِ‏ الْهَوَاءِ وَ تَحْتَهَا رِيحٌ هَفَّافَةٌ تَحْبِسُهَا عَلَى حَيْثُ انْتَهَتْ مِنَ الْحُدُودِ الْمُتَنَاهِيَةِ

From them are one who are in the form of the water-bearing clouds and in the height of the lofty mountains, and in overwhelming darkest of darkness, and from them are ones who feet have pierced the lowest (strata of) so these are like white flag which are installed in the perforations of the air, and under it is a light wind withholding it upon where it ends from the limitless boundaries.

قَدِ اسْتَفْرَغَتْهُمْ‏ أَشْغَالُ عِبَادَتِهِ وَ [وَصَّلَتْ‏] وَصَلَتْ حَقَائِقُ الْإِيمَانِ بَيْنَهُمْ وَ بَيْنَ مَعْرِفَتِهِ وَ قَطَعَهُمُ الْإِيقَانُ بِهِ إِلَى الْوَلَهِ‏ إِلَيْهِ وَ لَمْ تُجَاوِزْ رَغَبَاتُهُمْ مَا عِنْدَهُ إِلَى مَا عِنْدَ غَيْرِهِ قَدْ ذَاقُوا حَلَاوَةَ مَعْرِفَتِهِ وَ شَرِبُوا بِالْكَأْسِ الرَّوِيَّةِ مِنْ مَحَبَّتِهِ وَ تَمَكَّنَتْ مِنْ [سُوَيْدَاوَاتِ‏] سُوَيْدَاءِ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَشِيجَةُ خِيفَتِهِ

Pre-occupation in worshipping Him^-azwj has freed them and has connected the realities of the Eman between them and recognising Him^-azwj, and the certainty with Him^-azwj have made them cut off to the friendship to Him^-azwj, and their desires do not exceed what it with Him^-azwj to what is with others. They have tasted the sweetness of His^-azwj recognition, and they have drunk from the saturating cup of His^-azwj Love and have enabled from the darkness of their hearts and its hidden depths.

فَحَنَوْا بِطُولِ الطَّاعَةِ اعْتِدَالَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَ لَمْ يُنْفِدْ طُولُ الرَّغْبَةِ إِلَيْهِ مَادَّةَ تَضَرُّعِهِمْ وَ لَا أَطْلَقَ عَنْهُمْ عَظِيمُ الزُّلْفَةِ رِبَقَ‏ خُشُوعِهِمْ وَ لَمْ يَتَوَلَّهُمُ الْإِعْجَابُ فَيَسْتَكْثِرُوا مَا سَلَفَ مِنْهُمْ وَ لَا تَرَكَتْ لَهُمُ اسْتِكَانَةُ الْإِجْلَالِ نَصِيباً فِي تَعْظِيمِ حَسَنَاتِهِمْ

Their straight backs have been bent due to the prolongation of the (acts of) obedience, and the length of the desire to Him^-azwj had not depleted the substance of their beseeching, nor has the mighty nearness has disconnected from them the graciousness of their reverence, and the self-conceitedness does not govern them so they would consider whatever has been done from them as being a lot, nor does the complacency leave them to revere the majesty of their shares of their good deeds.

وَ لَمْ تَجْرِ الْفَتَرَاتُ فِيهِمْ عَلَى طُولِ دُءُوبِهِمْ‏ وَ لَمْ تَغِضْ‏ رَغَبَاتُهُمْ فَيُخَالِفُوا عَنْ رَجَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ وَ لَمْ تَجِفَّ لِطُولِ الْمُنَاجَاةِ أَسَلَاتُ‏ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَ لَا مَلَكَتْهُمُ الْأَشْغَالُ فَتَنْقَطِعَ بِهَمْسِ الْجُؤَارِ إِلَيْهِ أَصْوَاتُهُمْ

And the sluggishness did not flow in them upon the length of their perseverance, and their desires did not lessen so they would oppose from the hoping in their Lord^-azwj, and the tips of their tongues did not dry up due to the prolonged whisperings (to their Lord^-azwj), nor did the pre-occupations control them so they would cut off the goodness of their voices to Him^-azwj.

وَ لَمْ تَخْتَلِفْ فِي مَقَاوِمِ‏ الطَّاعَةِ مَنَاكِبُهُمْ وَ لَمْ يَثْنُوا إِلَى رَاحَةِ التَّقْصِيرِ فِي أَمْرِهِ رِقَابَهُمْ. وَ لَا تَعْدُو عَلَى عَزِيمَةِ جِدِّهِمْ بَلَادَةُ الْغَفَلَاتِ وَ لَا تَنْتَضِلُ فِي هِمَمِهِمْ خَدَائِعُ الشَّهَوَاتِ

And their shoulders do not differ in the postures of the (acts of) obedience, and they do not incline their necks to rest in being deficient regarding His^-azwj Command, nor does their determination exceed to the dullness of negligence, nor do the deceptions of desires overcome their courage.

قَدِ ذَا الْعَرْشِ ذَخِيرَةً لِيَوْمِ فَاقَتِهِمْ‏ وَ يَمَّمُوهُ‏ عِنْدَ انْقِطَاعِ الْخَلْقِ إِلَى الْمَخْلُوقِينَ بِرَغْبَتِهِمْ لَا يَقْطَعُونَ أَمَدَ غَايَةِ عِبَادَتِهِ وَ لَا يَرْجِعُ بِهِمُ الِاسْتِهْتَارُ بِلُزُومِ طَاعَتِهِ إِلَّا إِلَى مَوَادَّ مِنْ قُلُوبِهِمْ غَيْرِ مُنْقَطِعَةٍ مِنْ رَجَائِهِ وَ مَخَافَتِهِ

They are taking with the One with the Throne (Allah^-azwj) a treasure hoard for the day of their destitution, and they head to Him^-azwj during the people cutting off (from Him^-azwj) to the created beings by desiring them. They are not cutting off the extent of the peak of worshipping Him^-azwj, nor does the fondness of obeying Him^-azwj return with them except to a cordiality from their hearts, not termination from His^-azwj hope and His^-azwj fear.

لَمْ تَنْقَطِعْ أَسْبَابُ الشَّفَقَةِ مِنْهُمْ فَيَنُوا فِي جِدِّهِمْ وَ لَمْ تَأْسِرْهُمُ الْأَطْمَاعُ فَيُؤْثِرُوا وَشِيكَ السَّعْيِ‏ عَلَى اجْتِهَادِهِمْ لَمْ يَسْتَعْظِمُوا مَا مَضَى مِنْ أَعْمَالِهِمْ وَ لَوِ اسْتَعْظَمُوا ذَلِكَ لَنَسَخَ الرَّجَاءُ مِنْهُمْ شَفَقَاتِ وَجَلِهِمْ‏

They are not cutting off the means of the compassion from them so they would slacken in their efforts, and nor have the temptations entrapped them so they would prefer the slight striving over their struggles, and they are not revering what is past from their deeds, and had they revered that, the desired from them would have abrogated the fearfulness of their palpitations (hearts).

وَ لَمْ يَخْتَلِفُوا فِي رَبِّهِمْ بِاسْتِحْوَاذِ الشَّيْطَانِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ لَمْ يُفَرِّقْهُمْ سُوءُ التَّقَاطُعِ وَ لَا تَوَلَّاهُمْ غِلُّ التَّحَاسُدِ وَ لَا تَشَعَّبَتْهُمْ مَصَارِفُ [الرَّيْبِ‏] الرِّيَبِ‏ وَ لَا اقْتَسَمَتْهُمْ أَخْيَافُ‏ الْهِمَمِ

And they are not differing regarding their Lord^-azwj with the control of the Satan^-la upon them, and the evilness of the separation (from each other) does not disperse them. The malice of the envies does not overpower them, nor do the ways of wavering divide them, nor do the differences of their thinking render them into divisions.

فَهُمْ أُسَرَاءُ إِيمَانٍ لَمْ يَفُكَّهُمْ مِنْ رِبْقَتِهِ زَيْغٌ وَ لَا عُدُولٌ وَ لَا وَنًى‏ وَ لَا فُتُورٌ وَ لَيْسَ فِي أَطْبَاقِ السَّمَاءِ مَوْضِعُ إِهَابٍ‏ إِلَّا وَ عَلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ سَاجِدٌ أَوْ سَاعٍ حَافِدٌ يَزْدَادُونَ عَلَى طُولِ الطَّاعَةِ بِرَبِّهِمْ عِلْماً وَ تَزْدَادُ عِزَّةُ رَبِّهِمْ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ عِظَماً

So they are captives of Eman. Neither does deviation liberate them from its neck, nor wrongdoing, nor loneliness, nor lethargy, and there isn’t any place in the layers of the skies except and upon it there is an Angel performing Sajdah, or a striving servant, increasing upon the length of the obedience with their Lord^-azwj in knowledge, and the honour of their Lord^-azwj increases in their hearts the reverence.

و منها في صفة الأرض و دحوها على الماء

And from it in describing the earth and its spreading upon the water

كَبَسَ‏ الْأَرْضَ عَلَى مَوْرِ أَمْوَاجٍ مُسْتَفْحِلَةٍ وَ لُجَجِ بِحَارٍ زَاخِرَةٍ تَلْتَطِمُ أَوَاذِيُ‏ أَمْوَاجِهَا وَ تَصْطَفِقُ مُتَقَاذِفَاتُ أَثْبَاجِهَا وَ تَرْغُو زَبَداً كَالْفُحُولِ عِنْدَ هِيَاجِهَا

‘He^-azwj Compressed the earth upon stormy rough waves and the depths of the oceans shaking, it’s waves clashing with earth other, and high surges leaping upon one another, and emitting foam like the he-camel during its excitement.

فَخَضَعَ جِمَاحُ الْمَاءِ الْمُتَلَاطِمِ لِثِقَلِ حَمْلِهَا وَ سَكَنَ هَيْجُ ارْتِمَائِهِ إِذْ وَطِئَتْهُ‏ بِكَلْكَلِهَا وَ ذَلَّ مُسْتَخْذِياً إِذْ تَمَعَّكَتْ‏ عَلَيْهِ بِكَوَاهِلِهَا فَأَصْبَحَ بَعْدَ اصْطِخَابِ‏ أَمْوَاجِهِ سَاجِياً مَقْهُوراً وَ فِي حَكَمَةِ الذُّلِّ مُنْقَاداً أَسِيراً وَ سَكَنَتِ الْأَرْضُ مَدْحُوَّةً فِي لُجَّةِ تَيَّارِهِ وَ رَدَّتْ مِنْ نَخْوَةِ بَأْوِهِ‏ وَ اعْتِلَائِهِ وَ شُمُوخِ أَنْفِهِ وَ سُمُوِّ غُلَوَائِهِ‏ وَ كَعَمَتْهُ‏ عَلَى كِظَّةِ جَرْيَتِهِ فَهَمَدَ بَعْدَ نَزَقَاتِهِ‏ وَ لَبَدَ بَعْدَ زَيَفَانِ‏ وَثَبَاتِهِ

The tumult of the water was subdued by the weight of its load, and it’s agitation calmed when it was trodden by its chest, and it was humbled when it was grabbed by its shoulders. After its restlessness, it’s waves became tame, overpowered, and in the rule of humbleness, shackled, captive, and the earth calmed spreading out in the stormy depths of its water, was returned from the pride of its self-conceit, and its high position, and the highness of its nose (pride), and superiority of the water and the intrepidity of its flow. So, it praised after its penetration and settled after the tumult of its assault.

فَلَمَّا سَكَنَ هَيْجُ الْمَاءِ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَكْنَافِهَا وَ حَمْلِ شَوَاهِقِ الْجِبَالِ الشُّمَّخِ الْبُذَّخِ‏ عَلَى أَكْتَافِهَا فَجَّرَ يَنَابِيعَ الْعُيُونِ مِنْ عَرَانِينِ‏ أُنُوفِهَا وَ فَرَّقَهَا فِي سُهُوبِ‏ بِيدِهَا وَ أَخَادِيدِهَا وَ عَدَّلَ حَرَكَاتِهَا بِالرَّاسِيَاتِ مِنْ جَلَامِيدِهَا وَ ذَوَاتِ الشَّنَاخِيبِ الشُّمِ‏ مِنْ صَيَاخِيدِهَا فَسَكَنَتْ مِنَ الْمَيَدَانِ‏ لِرُسُوبِ الْجِبَالِ فِي قِطَعِ أَدِيمِهَا

When the agitation of the water had calmed from beneath its sides and the load of the high and lofty mountains upon its shoulders, He^-azwj Flowed the springs of water from its high tops, and Distributed these in the steppes in its hands, and its depressions, and Moderated its movements with the mountain tops and its fixed rocks, and the ones smelling with the snouts. So it settled from the plains, with penetrations of the mountains in pieces of its surface.

وَ تَغَلْغُلِهَا مُتَسَرِّبَةً فِي جَوْبَاتِ خَيَاشِيمِهَا وَ رُكُوبِهَا أَعْنَاقَ سُهُولِ الْأَرَضِينَ وَ جَرَاثِيمِهَا وَ فَسَحَ بَيْنَ الْجَوِّ وَ بَيْنَهَا وَ أَعَدَّ الْهَوَاءَ مُتَنَسَّماً لِسَاكِنِهَا وَ أَخْرَجَ إِلَيْهَا أَهْلَهَا عَلَى تَمَامِ مَرَافِقِهَا

And He^-azwj Made it (winds) to penetrate into the hollowness of its gills, and it’s riding upon the necks of the coasts of the lands and its germs. And He^-azwj Cleared between the atmosphere and it and Returned the air as a breeze for its dwellers, and extracted its people upon the completeness of its conveniences.

ثُمَّ لَمْ يَدَعْ جُرُزَ الْأَرْضِ الَّتِي تَقْصُرُ مِيَاهُ الْعُيُونِ عَنْ رَوَابِيهَا وَ لَا تَجِدُ جَدَاوِلُ الْأَنْهَارِ ذَرِيعَةً إِلَى بُلُوغِهَا حَتَّى أَنْشَأَ لَهَا نَاشِئَةَ سَحَابٍ تُحْيِي مَوَاتَهَا وَ تَسْتَخْرِجُ نَبَاتَهَا أَلَّفَ غَمَامَهَا بَعْدَ افْتِرَاقِ لُمَعِهِ‏ وَ تَبَايُنِ قَزَعِهِ‏ حَتَّى إِذَا تَمَخَّضَتْ لُجَّةُ الْمُزْنِ فِيهِ وَ الْتَمَعَ بَرْقُهُ فِي كُفَفِهِ‏ وَ لَمْ يَنَمْ وَمِيضُهُ‏ فِي كَنَهْوَرِ رَبَابِهِ‏ وَ مُتَرَاكِمِ سَحَابِهِ أَرْسَلَهُ سَحّاً مُتَدَارِكاً قَدْ أَسَفَّ هَيْدَبُهُ- [يَمْرِي‏] تَمْرِيهِ‏ الْجَنُوبُ دِرَرَ أَهَاضِيبِهِ‏ وَ دُفَعَ شَآبِيبِهِ.

Then He^-azwj did not Leave the barren tracts of the earth which it’s waters were deficient from saturating, nor could it find any means to the way of the rivers to reach it, until He^-azwj Grew for it floating clouds to revive it’s dead and extract it’s vegetation. He^-azwj Compiled its clouds after the separation of its small ones, and of varied thickness, until when the water had collected in it, and it’s lightning flashed in its palm, and it’s flicker did not sleep in the interior of its white clouds and the heavy ones of its clouds, He^-azwj Sent heavy rains to it. It’s storm was brewing, and the southerly winds passed by it squeezing it and shedding its water like the she-camel’s milk flowing for its young ones.

فَلَمَّا أَلْقَتِ السَّحَابُ بَرْكَ بِوَانَيْهَا وَ بَعَاعَ‏ مَا اسْتَقَلَّتْ بِهِ مِنَ الْعِبْ‏ءِ الْمَحْمُولِ عَلَيْهَا أَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنْ هَوَامِدِ الْأَرْضِ النَّبَاتَ وَ مِنْ زُعْرِ الْجِبَالِ الْأَعْشَابَ فَهِيَ تَبْهَجُ‏ بِزِينَةِ رِيَاضِهَا وَ تَزْدَهِي‏ بِمَا أُلْبِسَتْهُ مِنْ رَيْطِ أَزَاهِيرِهَا وَ حِلْيَةِ مَا سُمِطَتْ‏ بِهِ مِنْ نَاضِرِ أَنْوَارِهَا

When the clouds had knelt down and thrown off what water it had been laden with, He^-azwj Extracted by it the vegetation of the earth, and from the herbage of the mountains. So, it was pleased with the adornment of its gardens and wonders with what it had been clothed with from the dress of its blossoms, and ornaments of what could be smelt with from the beholding of its rays.

وَ جَعَلَ ذَلِكَ بَلَاغاً 1191 لِلْأَنَامِ وَ رِزْقاً لِلْأَنْعَامِ وَ خَرَقَ الْفِجَاجَ فِي آفَاقِهَا وَ أَقَامَ الْمَنَارَ لِلسَّالِكِينَ عَلَى جَوَادِّ طُرُقِهَا

And He^-azwj Made that as fodder for the animals and sustenance for the people, and He^-azwj Pierced the ways in its expanse and Established the minarets for the dwellers upon the middle of their roads.

فَلَمَّا مَهَدَ أَرْضَهُ وَ أَنْفَذَ أَمْرَهُ اخْتَارَ آدَمَ ع خِيرَةً مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَ جَعَلَهُ أَوَّلَ جِبِلَّتِهِ‏ وَ أَسْكَنَهُ جَنَّتَهُ وَ أَرْغَدَ فِيهَا أُكُلَهُ وَ أَوْعَزَ إِلَيْهِ فِيمَا نَهَاهُ عَنْهُ وَ أَعْلَمَهُ أَنَّ فِي الْإِقْدَامِ عَلَيْهِ التَّعَرُّضَ لِمَعْصِيَتِهِ وَ الْمُخَاطَرَةَ بِمَنْزِلَتِهِ

When He^-azwj had Spread His^-azwj earth and His^-azwj Commands had been implemented, He^-azwj Chose Adam^-as, as the best of His^-azwj creatures and Made him^-as to the first of His^-azwj creatures, and Settled him^-as in His^-azwj Paradise, and Made his^-as to be plentiful in it, and Advised to him^-as regarding what he^-as was Forbidden from and let him^-as know that the proceeding to it would be an exposure to His^-azwj disobedience and a danger to his^-saww status.

فَأَقْدَمَ عَلَى مَا نَهَاهُ عَنْهُ مُوَافَاةً لِسَابِقِ عِلْمِهِ فَأَهْبَطَهُ بَعْدَ التَّوْبَةِ لِيَعْمُرَ أَرْضَهُ بِنَسْلِهِ وَ لِيُقِيمَ الْحُجَّةَ بِهِ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ

But he^-as proceeded to what he^-as had been forbidden from, in accordance with the precedence in His^-azwj Knowledge. So He^-azwj Sent him^-as down after the repentance, in order to build His^-azwj earth by his^-as offspring and to Establish the argument by him^-as upon His^-azwj servants.

وَ لَمْ يُخْلِهِمْ بَعْدَ أَنْ قَبَضَهُ مِمَّا يُؤَكِّدُ عَلَيْهِمْ حُجَّةَ رُبُوبِيَّتِهِ وَ يَصِلُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَ بَيْنَ مَعْرِفَتِهِ بَلْ تَعَاهَدَهُمْ بِالْحُجَجِ عَلَى أَلْسُنِ الْخِيَرَةِ مِنْ أَنْبِيَائِهِ وَ مُتَحَمِّلِي وَدَائِعِ رِسَالاتِهِ قَرْناً فَقَرْناً حَتَّى تَمَّتْ بِنَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ ص‏حُجَّتُهُ وَ بَلَغَ الْمَقْطَعَ‏ عُذْرُهُ وَ نُذُرُهُ

And He^-azwj did not leave them devoid of a Divine Authority after having Recalled him^-as, from what he^-as would emphasise upon them of His^-azwj Lordship and connect between them and His^-azwj recognition. But He^-azwj Pacted to them with the Divine Authorities upon the choicest tongues of His^-azwj Prophets^-as, and the carriers of the deposits of His^-azwj Message, generation by generation, until He^-azwj Completed His^-azwj Divine Authorities by our Prophet^-saww Muhammad^-saww and reached the termination of His^-azwj Excusing and His^-azwj warning.

وَ قَدَّرَ الْأَرْزَاقَ فَكَثَّرَهَا وَ قَلَّلَهَا وَ قَسَّمَهَا عَلَى الضِّيقِ وَ السَّعَةِ- [فَعَدَّلَ‏] فَعَدَلَ فِيهَا لِيَبْتَلِيَ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِمَيْسُورِهَا وَ مَعْسُورِهَا وَ لِيَخْتَبِرَ بِذَلِكَ الشُّكْرَ وَ الصَّبْرَ مِنْ غَنِيِّهَا وَ فَقِيرِهَا

And He^-azwj Determined the sustenance(s), it’s abundance and it’s scarce, and Divided it based upon the construction and the capaciousness. He^-azwj was Just in it in order to Test the one He^-azwj so Wanted to, with its affluence and it’s destitution, and in order to Test by that the gratefulness and the patience from their rich ones and their poor ones.

ثُمَّ قَرَنَ بِسَعَتِهَا عَقَابِيلَ فَاقَتِهَا وَ بِسَلَامَتِهَا طَوَارِقَ آفَاتِهَا وَ بِفُرَجِ‏ أَفْرَاحِهَا غُصَصَ أَتْرَاحِهَا وَ خَلَقَ الْآجَالَ فَأَطَالَهَا وَ قَصَّرَهَا وَ قَدَّمَهَا وَ أَخَّرَهَا وَ وَصَلَ بِالْمَوْتِ أَسْبَابَهَا وَ جَعَلَهُ خَالِجاً لِأَشْطَانِهَا وَ قَاطِعاً لِمَرَائِرِ أَقْرَانِهَا

Then He^-azwj Paired with its capaciousness, the misfortunes of its destitution, and with its safety with the various afflictions, and with the relief of its happiness, the pangs of its grief. And He^-azwj Created the terms, so He^-azwj Prolonged them and Shortened them, and Brought them forward and Delayed them, and Connected its means with the death and Made it capable of pulling the chains of the ages and cutting them off.

عَالِمُ السِّرِّ مِنْ ضَمَائِرِ الْمُضْمِرِينَ وَ نَجْوَى الْمُتَخَافِتِينَ‏ وَ خَوَاطِرِ رَجْمِ الظُّنُونِ‏ وَ عُقَدِ عَزِيمَاتِ الْيَقِينِ‏ وَ مَسَارِقِ إِيمَاضِ الْجُفُونِ‏ وَ مَا ضَمِنَتْهُ أَكْنَانُ الْقُلُوبِ‏ وَ غَيَابَاتُ الْغُيُوبِ‏

He^-azwj is Knower of the secrets and the consciences or the concealers, and the whisperings of the ones engaging in it, and the inner feelings of the thoughts of the conjecturers, and beliefs of the determined certainties, and the furtive glances of the eyes, and what the contents of the hearts contain, and the unknown of the hidden matters.

وَ مَا أَصْغَتْ لِاسْتِرَاقِهِ‏ مَصَائِخُ‏ الْأَسْمَاعِ وَ مَصَايِفُ الذَّرِّ وَ مَشَاتِي‏ الْهَوَامِّ وَ رَجْعِ الْحَنِينِ‏ مِنَ الْمُولَهَاتِ‏ وَ هَمْسِ‏ الْأَقْدَامِ وَ مُنْفَسَحِ‏ الثَّمَرَةِ مِنْ وَلَائِجِ‏ غُلُفِ الْأَكْمَامِ‏ وَ مُنْقَمَعِ‏ الْوُحُوشِ مِنْ غِيرَانِ‏ الْجِبَالِ وَ أَوْدِيَتِهَا وَ مُخْتَبَإِ الْبَعُوضِ بَيْنَ سُوقِ الْأَشْجَارِ وَ أَلْحِيَتِهَا وَ مَغْرِزِ الْأَوْرَاقِ مِنَ الْأَفْنَانِ‏

And (He^-azwj Knows) what is listened to for stealing it by the listening ears, and resorts of the particles, and abodes of the vermin, and resounding cries of the wailing women, and the sound of feet, and the growth of fruits from the inner leaves, and hideouts of the beasts from the mountain caves and its valleys, and the hideouts of the mosquitoes between the trunks of the trees and their herbage, and the sprouting of the leaves from the branches.

وَ مَحَطِّ الْأَمْشَاجِ‏ مِنْ مَسَارِبِ الْأَصْلَابِ‏ وَ نَاشِئَةِ الْغُيُومِ وَ مُتَلَاحِمِهَا وَ دُرُورِ قَطْرِ السَّحَابِ فِي مُتَرَاكِمِهَا وَ مَا تَسْفِي‏ الْأَعَاصِيرُ بِذُيُولِهَا وَ تَعْفُو الْأَمْطَارُ بِسُيُولِهَا- وَ عَوْمِ بَنَاتِ الْأَرْضِ فِي كُثْبَانِ‏ الرِّمَالِ وَ مُسْتَقَرِّ ذَوَاتِ الْأَجْنِحَةِ بِذُرَا شَنَاخِيبِ‏ الْجِبَالِ وَ تَغْرِيدِ ذَوَاتِ الْمَنْطِقِ فِي دَيَاجِيرِ الْأَوْكَارِ

And the dripping of the semen from the passages of the loins, and rising of the clouds and its large ones, and downpour of drops of the clouds and their thick ones, and what the whirlwinds scatter by their whirling, and the erosions by the torrential rains, and the floating of the vegetation in the sand dunes, and the ones with the wings on the mountain cliffs, and the singing of the ones with chirping in the dens of its nests.

وَ مَا أَوْعَبَتْهُ الْأَصْدَافُ‏ وَ حَضَنَتْ‏ عَلَيْهِ أَمْوَاجُ الْبِحَارِ وَ مَا غَشِيَتْهُ سُدْفَةُ لَيْلٍ‏ أَوْ ذَرَّ عَلَيْهِ شَارِقُ نَهَارٍ وَ مَا اعْتَقَبَتْ‏ عَلَيْهِ أَطْبَاقُ الدَّيَاجِيرِ وَ سُبُحَاتُ النُّورِ وَ أَثَرِ كُلِّ خَطْوَةٍ وَ حِسِّ كُلِّ حَرَكَةٍ وَ رَجْعِ كُلِّ كَلِمَةٍ وَ تَحْرِيكِ كُلِّ شَفَةٍ وَ مُسْتَقَرِّ كُلِّ نَسَمَةٍ وَ مِثْقَالِ كُلِّ ذَرَّةٍ وَ هَمَاهِمِ‏ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ هَامَّةٍ

And (He^-azwj Knows) what the pearls are hiding, and the waves of the sea are treasuring upon, and whatever the darkness of the night is covering upon, or particles the brightness of the day is shining upon, and what is alternated upon by the layers of the darkness and the shining of the light, and impacts of every step, and hiss of every movement, and echo of every word, and movement of every lip, and abode of every person, and weight of every particle, and the sobbing of every sobbing soul.

وَ مَا عَلَيْهَا مِنْ ثَمَرِ شَجَرَةٍ أَوْ سَاقِطِ وَرَقَةٍ أَوْ قَرَارَةِ نُطْفَةٍ أَوْ نُقَاعَةِ دَمٍ وَ مُضْغَةٍ أَوْ نَاشِئَةِ خَلْقٍ وَ سُلَالَةٍ لَمْ يَلْحَقْهُ فِي ذَلِكَ كُلْفَةٌ

And (He^-azwj Knows) whatever fruit of a tree is upon it, or a falling leaf, or settling place of the sperm, or congealing of blood, and a lump, or a Created foetus and the strain not linked to it in that embryo.

وَ لَا اعْتَرَضَتْهُ فِي حِفْظِ مَا ابْتَدَعَ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ عَارِضَةٌ وَ لَا اعْتَوَرَتْهُ‏ فِي تَنْفِيذِ الْأُمُورِ وَ تَدَابِيرِ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ مَلَالَةٌ وَ لَا فَتْرَةٌ بَلْ نَفَذَهُمْ عِلْمُهُ وَ أَحْصَاهُمْ عَدَدُهُ وَ وَسِعَهُمْ عَدْلُهُ وَ غَمَرَهُمْ فَضْلُهُ مَعَ تَقْصِيرِهِمْ عَنْ كُنْهِ مَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ‏

And nothing impedes Him^-azwj in Preserving what He^-azwj had Initiated from His^-azwj creation, nor sluggishness in implementation of the affairs, and any grief in management of the created beings nor any interval. But He^-azwj Enforces His^-azwj Knowledge among them and Enumerates them in His^-azwj counting, and Extends His^-azwj Justice to them, and Immerses them in His^-azwj Grace along with their deficiencies from His^-azwj Being what He^-azwj is rightful of.

دعاء

Supplication

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ أَهْلُ الْوَصْفِ الْجَمِيلِ وَ التَّعْدَادِ الْكَثِيرِ إِنْ تُؤَمَّلْ فَخَيْرُ مَأْمُولٍ وَ إِنْ تُرْجَ فَخَيْرُ مَرْجُوٍّ

O Allah^-azwj! You^-azwj are rightful of the beautiful description, and the large numbers. If You^-azwj are hoped with, You^-azwj would be the best One hoped with, and if are wished with, so You^-azwj would be the best One wished with.

اللَّهُمَّ [فَقَدْ] وَ قَدْ بَسَطْتَ لِي فِيمَا لَا أَمْدَحُ بِهِ غَيْرَكَ وَ لَا أُثْنِي بِهِ عَلَى أَحَدٍ سِوَاكَ وَ لَا أُوَجِّهُهُ إِلَى مَعَادِنِ الْخَيْبَةِ وَ مَوَاضِعِ الرِّيبَةِ وَ عَدَلْتَ بِلِسَانِي عَنْ مَدَائِحِ الْآدَمِيِّينَ- وَ الثَّنَاءِ عَلَى الْمَرْبُوبِينَ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ

O Allah^-azwj! You^-azwj have Rolled out for me a tongue in what I cannot praise with it anyone apart from You^-azwj, nor extoll with it upon anyone besides You^-azwj, nor do I direct it to the mines of disappointment and places of doubt, and I have turned with my^-asws tongue away from praising the human beings, and extolling upon the nourished, the created beings.

اللَّهُمَّ وَ لِكُلِّ مُثْنٍ عَلَى مَنْ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ مَثُوبَةٌ مِنْ جَزَاءٍ أَوْ عَارِفَةٌ مِنْ عَطَاءٍ وَ قَدْ رَجَوْتُكَ دَلِيلًا عَلَى ذَخَائِرِ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ كُنُوزِ الْمَغْفِرَةِ

O Allah^-azwj! And for every praising one, there is a right of being rewarded or knowing of a recompense, upon the one he praises upon, and I^-asws am turning to You^-azwj having been pointed upon the treasures of Mercy and hoard of Forgiveness.

اللَّهُمَّ وَ هَذَا مَقَامُ مَنْ أَفْرَدَكَ بِالتَّوْحِيدِ الَّذِي هُوَ لَكَ وَ لَمْ يَرَ مُسْتَحِقّاً لِهَذِهِ الْمَحَامِدِ وَ الْمَمَادِحِ غَيْرَكَ وَ بِي فَاقَةٌ إِلَيْكَ لَا يَجْبُرُ مَسْكَنَتَهَا إِلَّا فَضْلُكَ وَ لَا يَنْعَشُ مِنْ خَلَّتِهَا إِلَّا مَنُّكَ‏ وَ جُودُكَ

O Allah^-azwj! And this is a standing place of the one who individualises You^-azwj with the Oneness which it is for You^-azwj, and he does not view anyone else being rightful for these praises and the extollations apart from You^-azwj, and with me^-asws there is destitution to You^-azwj. Nothing can pull out its destitution except Your^-azwj Grace, nor can he be revived from its midst except by Your^-azwj Conferment and Your^-azwj Generosity.

فَهَبْ لَنَا فِي هَذَا الْمَقَامِ رِضَاكَ وَ أَغْنِنَا عَنْ مَدِّ الْأَيْدِي إِلَى سِوَاكَ- إِنَّكَ عَلى‏ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ

So Gift to us Your^-azwj Pleasure in this place and Enrich us from having to extend hands to the ones besides You^-azwj, You are Able upon all things!’ [66:8]’.[1]

92 و من كلام له ع لما أراده الناس على البيعة بعد قتل عثمان

Sermon 92 – And from a speech of his^-asws when he^-asws was intended for the allegiance after the killing of Usman

دَعُونِي وَ الْتَمِسُوا غَيْرِي فَإِنَّا مُسْتَقْبِلُونَ أَمْراً لَهُ وُجُوهٌ وَ أَلْوَانٌ لَا تَقُومُ لَهُ الْقُلُوبُ وَ لَا تَثْبُتُ عَلَيْهِ الْعُقُولُ‏ وَ إِنَّ الْآفَاقَ قَدْ أَغَامَتْ‏ وَ الْمَحَجَّةَ قَدْ تَنَكَّرَتْ.

‘Leave me^-asws and seek someone else, for we are facing a matter having perspectives for it and the types. Neither with the hearts withstand to it nor will the intellects be affirmed upon it, and the horizons have become clouded, and the arguments have been denied.

وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنِّي إِنْ أَجَبْتُكُمْ رَكِبْتُ بِكُمْ مَا أَعْلَمُ وَ لَمْ أُصْغِ إِلَى قَوْلِ الْقَائِلِ وَ عَتْبِ الْعَاتِبِ وَ إِنْ تَرَكْتُمُونِي فَأَنَا كَأَحَدِكُمْ وَ لَعَلِّي أَسْمَعُكُمْ وَ أَطْوَعُكُمْ لِمَنْ وَلَّيْتُمُوهُ أَمْرَكُمْ وَ أَنَا لَكُمْ وَزِيراً خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنِّي أَمِيراً

And know if I^-asws were to answer to you all, I^-asws would ride with you what I^-asws known, and I^-asws will not listen to the words of the speaker and the rebuke of the rebuke, and if you were to leave me^-asws, then I^-asws would be like one of you, and perhaps I^-asws would be the most listening of you and most obedient of you to the one you place in charge of your affairs, and I^-asws would be a better minister for you all than my^-asws being a ruler’.[2]

93 و من خطبة له ع و فيها ينبّه أمير المؤمنين على فضله و علمه و يبيّن فتنة بني أمية

Sermon 93 – And from a sermon of his^-asws, and in it Amir Al-Momineen^-asws has informed of his^-asws merits, and his^-asws knowledge, and he^-asws has clarified the Fitna of the clan of Umayya

أَمَّا بَعْدَ حَمْدِ اللَّهِ وَ الثَّنَاءِ عَلَيْهِ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ فَإِنِّي فَقَأْتُ‏ عَيْنَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيَجْتَرِئَ عَلَيْهَا أَحَدٌ غَيْرِي بَعْدَ أَنْ مَاجَ غَيْهَبُهَا وَ اشْتَدَّ كَلَبُهَا

‘As for after, O you people! I^-asws have blinded an eye of the Fitna, and no one could have been so courageous upon it apart from me^-asws, after its darkness beating its waves and its madness was intense.

فَاسْأَلُونِي قَبْلَ أَنْ تَفْقِدُونِي فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَا [تَسْأَلُونَنِي‏] تَسْأَلُونِي عَنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ فِيمَا بَيْنَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَ السَّاعَةِ وَ لَا عَنْ فِئَةٍ تَهْدِي مِائَةً وَ تُضِلُّ مِائَةً إِلَّا أَنْبَأْتُكُمْ بِنَاعِقِهَا وَ قَائِدِهَا وَ سَائِقِهَا وَ مُنَاخِ‏ رِكَابِهَا وَ مَحَطِّ رِحَالِهَا وَ مَنْ يُقْتَلُ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا قَتْلًا وَ مَنْ يَمُوتُ مِنْهُمْ مَوْتاً

So, ask me^-asws before you lose me^-asws! By the One^-azwj in Whose hand is my^-asws soul! You will not ask me^-asws about anything in what is between you and establishment of the Hour, nor about any group during a hundred and straying a hundred, except I^-asws shall inform you with its caller, and its leader, and its pusher, and the prevailing conditions of its riders, and stations of its travellers, and who from its people would be killed, and who from them would be dying a (natural) death.

وَ لَوْ قَدْ فَقَدْتُمُونِي وَ نَزَلَتْ بِكُمْ كَرَائِهُ‏ الْأُمُورِ وَ حَوَازِبُ‏ الْخُطُوبِ لَأَطْرَقَ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ السَّائِلِينَ وَ فَشِلَ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْمَسْئُولِينَ وَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا قَلَّصَتْ حَرْبُكُمْ‏ وَ شَمَّرَتْ عَنْ سَاقٍ وَ [كَانَتِ‏] ضَاقَتِ الدُّنْيَا عَلَيْكُمْ ضِيقاً تَسْتَطِيلُونَ مَعَهُ أَيَّامَ الْبَلَاءِ عَلَيْكُمْ حَتَّى يَفْتَحَ اللَّهُ لِبَقِيَّةِ الْأَبْرَارِ مِنْكُمْ

And if you were to lose me^-asws and abhorrent matters and distressing events befall with you, most of the questioners would lower their heads and most of the ones questioned would fail, and that is when your wars would diminish you, and clothes would be rolled up from a leg (ready for battle), and the world would be straitened upon you, and along with it the days of the afflictions would be prolonged upon you until Allah^-azwj Grants victory to the remainder of the righteous ones from you.

إِنَّ الْفِتَنَ إِذَا أَقْبَلَتْ شَبَّهَتْ‏ وَ إِذَا أَدْبَرَتْ نَبَّهَتْ يُنْكَرْنَ مُقْبِلَاتٍ وَ يُعْرَفْنَ مُدْبِرَاتٍ يَحُمْنَ حَوْمَ الرِّيَاحِ يُصِبْنَ بَلَداً وَ يُخْطِئْنَ بَلَداً

Indeed! When the Fitna comes, it is confusing, and when it turns around, it awakens (the people). The perpetrators are deniers during its coming and are recognised when its turns around. They blow around like blowing of the winds, hitting a city, and missing a (another) city.

أَلَا وَ إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ الْفِتَنِ عِنْدِي عَلَيْكُمْ فِتْنَةُ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ فَإِنَّهَا فِتْنَةٌ عَمْيَاءُ مُظْلِمَةٌ عَمَّتْ خُطَّتُهَا وَ خَصَّتْ بَلِيَّتُهَا- وَ أَصَابَ الْبَلَاءُ مَنْ أَبْصَرَ فِيهَا وَ أَخْطَأَ الْبَلَاءُ مَنْ عَمِيَ عَنْهَا

Indeed! The scariest of Fitna upon you in my^-asws view is Fitna of the clan of Umayya, for it is a dark blindness, its outline is general, and its ill-effects are particular, and the affliction will hit the one who is insightful in it, and the affliction would miss the one who is blind from it.

وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَتَجِدُنَّ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ لَكُمْ أَرْبَابَ سُوءٍ بَعْدِي كَالنَّابِ الضَّرُوسِ‏ تَعْذِمُ بِفِيهَا وَ تَخْبِطُ بِيَدِهَا وَ تَزْبِنُ‏ بِرِجْلِهَا وَ تَمْنَعُ دَرَّهَا لَا يَزَالُونَ بِكُمْ حَتَّى لَا يَتْرُكُوا مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا نَافِعاً لَهُمْ أَوْ غَيْرَ ضَائِرٍ بِهِمْ

And I^-asws swear by Allah^-azwj! After me^-asws, you will be finding the clan of Umayya as evil being evil lords, like old unruly camel biting its mouth, and dragging with its forelegs, and kicking with its hind legs, and refusing its milking. They will not cease to be with you until they do not leave from it except one beneficial to them, or one unharmful to them.

وَ لَا يَزَالُ بَلَاؤُهُمْ عَنْكُمْ حَتَّى لَا يَكُونَ انْتِصَارُ أَحَدِكُمْ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا [مِثْلَ انْتِصَارِ] كَانْتِصَارِ الْعَبْدِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَ الصَّاحِبِ مِنْ مُسْتَصْحِبِهِ تَرِدُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِتْنَتُهُمْ [شَوْهاً] شَوْهَاءَ مَخْشِيَّةً وَ قِطَعاً جَاهِلِيَّةً لَيْسَ فِيهَا مَنَارُ هُدًى وَ لَا عَلَمٌ يُرَى‏ نَحْنُ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ مِنْهَا [بِنَجَاةٍ] بِمَنْجَاةٍ وَ لَسْنَا فِيهَا بِدُعَاةٍ

And their affliction will not cease until a victory from them for one of you does not become except like the victory of the slave from is master, and the owner from his owned. Their Fitna would pass fearful rays upon you and banditry of the pre-Islamic period, neither would there be any minaret of guidance during it nor any flag to be seen. We^-asws, People^-asws of the Household would be saved from it, and we^-asws wouldn’t be with any calling during it.

ثُمَّ يُفَرِّجُهَا اللَّهُ عَنْكُمْ كَتَفْرِيجِ الْأَدِيمِ‏ بِمَنْ يَسُومُهُمْ خَسْفاً وَ يَسُوقُهُمْ عُنْفاً وَ يَسْقِيهِمْ بِكَأْسٍ مُصَبَّرَةٍ لَا يُعْطِيهِمْ إِلَّا السَّيْفَ وَ لَا يُحْلِسُهُمْ‏ إِلَّا الْخَوْفَ

Then Allah^-azwj would Relieve it from you like the removal of the leather skin, by the one^-asws brand them with abjection, and drag them by their noses, and make them drink the cup of combat. He^-asws will not give them except the sword, nor will clothe them except with the fear.

فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ تَوَدُّ قُرَيْشٌ بِالدُّنْيَا وَ مَا فِيهَا لَوْ يَرَوْنَنِي مَقَاماً وَاحِداً وَ لَوْ قَدْرَ جَزْرِ جَزُورٍ لِأَقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ مَا أَطْلُبُ الْيَوْمَ بَعْضَهُ فَلَا [يُعْطُونَنِيهِ‏] يُعْطُونِيهِ‏

During that, Quraysh would love, in exchange for the (whole) world and whatever is in it, if they could only see me^-asws in one place, and even if it was the measurement of sacrificing an animal, to accept from them everything, what I^-asws am seeking of only part of it today and they are not giving me^-asws’.[3]

94 و من خطبة له ع و فيها يصف اللّه تعالى ثم يبين فضل الرسول الكريم و أهل بيته ثم يعظ الناس‏

Sermon 94 – And from a sermon of his^-asws, and in it he^-asws attributes Allah^-azwj the Exalted, then he^-asws explains merit of the honourable Rasool^-saww and People^-asws of his^-saww Household, then he^-asws preaches the people

اللّه تعالى‏

Allah^-azwj the Exalted

فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا يَبْلُغُهُ بُعْدُ الْهِمَمِ وَ لَا يَنَالُهُ حَدْسُ الْفِطَنِ- الْأَوَّلُ الَّذِي لَا غَايَةَ لَهُ [فَيَنْتَهِي‏] فَيَنْتَهِيَ وَ لَا آخِرَ لَهُ [فَيَنْقَضِي‏] فَيَنْقَضِيَ‏

‘Blessed is Allah^-azwj Who, neither can the remotest of the thoughts can reach, nor can the perception of intuition can attain. The First Who there is no peak for Him^-azwj He^-azwj can end to, nor is there any end for Him^-azwj to be terminated.

و منها في وصف الأنبياء

And from it in attributes of the Prophets^-as

فَاسْتَوْدَعَهُمْ فِي أَفْضَلِ مُسْتَوْدَعٍ وَ أَقَرَّهُمْ فِي خَيْرِ مُسْتَقَرٍّ تَنَاسَخَتْهُمْ‏ كَرَائِمُ الْأَصْلَابِ إِلَى مُطَهَّرَاتِ الْأَرْحَامِ كُلَّمَا مَضَى مِنْهُمْ سَلَفٌ قَامَ مِنْهُمْ بِدِينِ اللَّهِ خَلَفٌ‏

He^-azwj Deposited them in the superior depository and Settled them in the best settlement. He^-azwj Transferred them^-as in the honourable lineages to pure wombs. Every time an ancestor from them passes away, a posterity (replacement) from them stands with the religion of Allah^-azwj.

رسول اللّه و آل بيته‏

Rasool-Allah^-saww and Progeny^-asws of his^-saww Household

حَتَّى أَفْضَتْ كَرَامَةُ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ص فَأَخْرَجَهُ مِنْ أَفْضَلِ الْمَعَادِنِ مَنْبِتاً وَ أَعَزِّ الْأَرُومَاتِ‏ مَغْرِساً مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ الَّتِي صَدَعَ‏ مِنْهَا أَنْبِيَاءَهُ وَ انْتَجَبَ‏ مِنْهَا

Until the Honour of Allah^-azwj the Glorious and Exalted Widened to Muhammad^-saww, so He^-azwj Extracted him^-saww from the superior mines of growing, and places of planting from the tree from which He^-azwj Honoured His^-azwj Prophets^-as and Selected His^-azwj Trustees from it.

أُمَنَاءَهُ عِتْرَتُهُ خَيْرُ الْعِتَرِ وَ أُسْرَتُهُ خَيْرُ الْأُسَرِ وَ شَجَرَتُهُ خَيْرُ الشَّجَرِ نَبَتَتْ فِي حَرَمٍ وَ بَسَقَتْ‏ فِي كَرَمٍ لَهَا فُرُوعٌ طِوَالٌ وَ ثَمَرٌ لَا يُنَالُ

His^-saww family is the best of the families, and his^-saww kinsmen are the best of the kinsmen, and his^-saww lineage is the best of the lineages, growing in the esteem and rising in distinction, having tall branches for it and fruits which cannot be attained.

فَهُوَ إِمَامُ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَ بَصِيرَةُ مَنِ اهْتَدَى سِرَاجٌ لَمَعَ ضَوْؤُهُ وَ شِهَابٌ سَطَعَ نُورُهُ وَ زَنْدٌ بَرَقَ لَمْعُهُ سِيرَتُهُ الْقَصْدُ وَ سُنَّتُهُ الرُّشْدُ وَ كَلَامُهُ الْفَصْلُ وَ حُكْمُهُ الْعَدْلُ أَرْسَلَهُ عَلَى حِينِ‏ فَتْرَةٍ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ‏ وَ هَفْوَةٍ عَنِ الْعَمَلِ وَ غَبَاوَةٍ مِنَ الْأُمَمِ‏

So, he^-saww is the leader of the ones who fear, and an insight of the ones who seek guidance. A lamp for the ones seeking his^-saww illumination, and a meteor the light of which spreads out, and a flint whose spark is bright. His^-saww way is the moderation, and his^-saww Sunnah is the rightful guidance, and his^-saww speech is the decisive, and his^-saww ruling is the justice. He^-saww is Sent upon an interval from the Rasool^-as, and erroneous deeds, and ignorance from the communities’.

عظة الناس‏

Preaching the people

اعْمَلُوا رَحِمَكُمُ اللَّهُ عَلَى أَعْلَامٍ‏ بَيِّنَةٍ فَالطَّرِيقُ نَهْجٌ‏ يَدْعُوا إِلى‏ دارِ السَّلامِ‏ وَ أَنْتُمْ فِي دَارِ مُسْتَعْتَبٍ‏ عَلَى مَهَلٍ وَ فَرَاغٍ وَ الصُّحُفُ مَنْشُورَةٌ وَ الْأَقْلَامُ جَارِيَةٌ وَ الْأَبْدَانُ صَحِيحَةٌ وَ الْأَلْسُنُ مُطْلَقَةٌ وَ التَّوْبَةُ مَسْمُوعَةٌ وَ الْأَعْمَالُ مَقْبُولَةٌ

Know, may Allah^-azwj have Mercy on you all! Work upon clarified signs, for the path is clear calling to the house of Peace, and you are in a house of faults upon an opportunity and free time, and the registers are publicised (open) and the pens are flowing (recording), and the bodies are healthy, and tongues are free, and the repentance is being Heard, and the deeds are being Accepted’. [4]

95 و من خطبة له ع يقرر فضيلة الرسول الكريم‏

Sermon 95 – And from a sermon of his^-asws attesting the merits of the honourable Rasool^-saww

بَعَثَهُ وَ النَّاسُ ضُلَّالٌ فِي حَيْرَةٍ وَ حَاطِبُونَ‏ فِي فِتْنَةٍ قَدِ اسْتَهْوَتْهُمُ الْأَهْوَاءُ وَ اسْتَزَلَّتْهُمُ‏ الْكِبْرِيَاءُ وَ اسْتَخَفَّتْهُمُ‏ الْجَاهِلِيَّةُ الْجَهْلَاءُ حَيَارَى فِي زَلْزَالٍ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ وَ بَلَاءٍ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ فَبَالَغَ ص فِي النَّصِيحَةِ وَ مَضَى عَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ وَ دَعَا إِلَى الْحِكْمَةِ وَ الْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ

‘He^-azwj Sent him^-asws and the people were in confusion, and they were adjusting in Fitna, the personal desired having overwhelmed them, and the self-greatness (arrogance) had gripped them, and the ignorance of the ignoramuses had undervalued them, being confused in the tremors of the matters and the afflictions from the ignorance. He^-saww delivered regarding the advice and went upon the way and called to the wisdom and the goodly exhortations.[5]

96 و من خطبة له ع في اللّه و في الرسول الأكرم‏

Sermon 96 – And from a sermon of his^-asws regarding Allah^-azwj and regarding the honourable Rasool^-saww

اللّه تعالى‏

Allah^-azwj the Exalted

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الْأَوَّلِ فَلَا شَيْ‏ءَ قَبْلَهُ وَ الْآخِرِ فَلَا شَيْ‏ءَ بَعْدَهُ وَ الظَّاهِرِ فَلَا شَيْ‏ءَ فَوْقَهُ وَ الْبَاطِنِ فَلَا شَيْ‏ءَ دُونَهُ‏

The Praise is for Allah^-azwj, the First, so there is nothing before Him^-azwj, and the Last so there is nothing after Him^-azwj, and the Apparent, so there is nothing above Him^-azwj, and the Hidden, so there is nothing below Him^-azwj.

و منها في ذكر الرسول ص‏

And from it, in mentioning the Rasool^-saww

مُسْتَقَرُّهُ خَيْرُ مُسْتَقَرٍّ وَ مَنْبِتُهُ أَشْرَفُ مَنْبِتٍ فِي مَعَادِنِ الْكَرَامَةِ وَ مَمَاهِدِ السَّلَامَةِ قَدْ صُرِفَتْ نَحْوَهُ أَفْئِدَةُ الْأَبْرَارِ وَ ثُنِيَتْ إِلَيْهِ أَزِمَّةُ الْأَبْصَارِ

His^-saww settlement is best of the settlements, and his^-saww origin is noblest of origins in a mine of honour, and the cradles of safety. The hearts of the righteous have turned towards him^-saww, and the reins of sights have pulled to him^-saww.

دَفَنَ اللَّهُ بِهِ الضَّغَائِنَ‏ 1291 وَ أَطْفَأَ بِهِ [النَّوَائِرَ] الثَّوَائِرَ أَلَّفَ بِهِ إِخْوَاناً وَ فَرَّقَ بِهِ أَقْرَاناً أَعَزَّ بِهِ الذِّلَّةَ وَ أَذَلَّ بِهِ الْعِزَّةَ كَلَامُهُ بَيَانٌ وَ صَمْتُهُ لِسَانٌ

Through him^-saww, Allah^-azwj Buried the grudges and Extinguished the flames of rebellion by him^-saww. He^-azwj United brethren by him^-saww and paired the pairs by him^-azwj. He^-azwj Honoured the humiliated by him^-saww and humiliated the mighty by him^-saww. His^-saww speech is explanatory and his^-saww silence is a (speaking) tongue’.[6]

97 و من خطبة له ع في أصحابه و أصحاب رسول اللّه‏

Sermon 97 – And from a sermon of his^-asws regarding his^-asws companions and companions of Rasool-Allah^-saww

أصحاب علي‏

Companions of Ali^-asws

وَ لَئِنْ أَمْهَلَ [اللَّهُ‏] الظَّالِمَ فَلَنْ يَفُوتَ أَخْذُهُ وَ هُوَ لَهُ بِالْمِرْصَادِ عَلَى مَجَازِ طَرِيقِهِ وَ بِمَوْضِعِ الشَّجَا مِنْ مَسَاغِ رِيقِهِ‏

‘And If Allah^-azwj were to respite the oppressor, he will never escape from being Seized by Him^-azwj, and He^-azwj is the ambush to him on the corridor of his path, and the place of distress suffocating his throat.

أَمَا وَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَيَظْهَرَنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَيْسَ لِأَنَّهُمْ أَوْلَى بِالْحَقِّ مِنْكُمْ وَ لَكِنْ لِإِسْرَاعِهِمْ إِلَى [بَاطِلِهِمْ‏] بَاطِلِ صَاحِبِهِمْ وَ إِبْطَائِكُمْ عَنْ حَقِّي وَ لَقَدْ أَصْبَحَتِ الْأُمَمُ تَخَافُ ظُلْمَ رُعَاتِهَا وَ أَصْبَحْتُ أَخَافُ ظُلْمَ رَعِيَّتِي

But, by the One^-azwj in Whose Hand is my^-asws soul! These people will be prevailing over you. They aren’t foremost with the truth than you are, but their master is quickening them to the falsehood, and your delaying from my^-asws right; and the communities tend to fear the injustices of its ruler and I^-asws have become fearing the injustices of my^-asws own citizens.

اسْتَنْفَرْتُكُمْ لِلْجِهَادِ فَلَمْ تَنْفِرُوا وَ أَسْمَعْتُكُمْ فَلَمْ تَسْمَعُوا وَ دَعَوْتُكُمْ سِرّاً وَ جَهْراً فَلَمْ تَسْتَجِيبُوا وَ نَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ فَلَمْ تَقْبَلُوا أَ شُهُودٌ كَغُيَّابٍ‏ وَ عَبِيدٌ كَأَرْبَابٍ

I^-asws mobilised you to the Jihad but you did not mobilise, and I^-asws made you hear but you did not listen, and I^-asws called you secretly and openly but you did not respond, and I^-asws advised to you but you did not accept. And the ones present like the absentees! And the slaves like the master!

أَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمْ الْحِكَمَ فَتَنْفِرُونَ‏ مِنْهَا وَ أَعِظُكُمْ بِالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْبَالِغَةِ فَتَتَفَرَّقُونَ عَنْهَا وَ أَحُثُّكُمْ عَلَى جِهَادِ أَهْلِ الْبَغْيِ فَمَا آتِي عَلَى آخِرِ قَوْلِي حَتَّى أَرَاكُمْ مُتَفَرِّقِينَ أَيَادِيَ سَبَا

I^-asws am reciting the wisdom unto you, and you are running away from it, and I^-asws am advising you with the far-reaching preaching(s) but you are dispersing away from it, and I^-asws am urging you upon Jihad against the rebellious people but I^-asws hardly come to the end of my^-asws words until I^-asws see you separating like the hands of (people of) Saba.

تَرْجِعُونَ إِلَى مَجَالِسِكُمْ وَ تَتَخَادَعُونَ عَنْ مَوَاعِظِكُمْ أُقَوِّمُكُمْ غُدْوَةً وَ تَرْجِعُونَ إِلَيَّ عَشِيَّةً كَظَهْرِ الْحَنِيَّةِ عَجَزَ الْمُقَوِّمُ وَ أَعْضَلَ الْمُقَوَّمُ‏

You are returning to your gathering -are deceiving from your preaching(s). I^-asws straighten you in the morning and you are returning to me^-asws in the evening like the back of the bow. The straightener is frustrated and ones to be straightened are even more crooked.

أَيُّهَا الْقَوْمُ الشَّاهِدَةُ أَبْدَانُهُمْ الْغَائِبَةُ عَنْهُمْ عُقُولُهُمْ الْمُخْتَلِفَةُ أَهْوَاؤُهُمْ الْمُبْتَلَى بِهِمْ أُمَرَاؤُهُمْ صَاحِبُكُمْ يُطِيعُ اللَّهَ وَ أَنْتُمْ تَعْصُونَهُ وَ صَاحِبُ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ يَعْصِي اللَّهَ وَ هُمْ يُطِيعُونَهُ لَوَدِدْتُ وَ اللَّهِ أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ صَارَفَنِي بِكُمْ صَرْفَ الدِّينَارِ بِالدِّرْهَمِ فَأَخَذَ مِنِّي عَشَرَةَ مِنْكُمْ وَ أَعْطَانِي رَجُلًا مِنْهُمْ-

O you whose bodies are present, but their minds are absent from them, their desires are different, their leaders are tried with them! Your leader obeys Allah^-azwj and you are disobeying him^-asws, and the leader of the people of Syria disobeys Allah^-azwj but (still) they are obeying him. I^-asws would love it, by Allah^-azwj, if Muawiya were to exchange for me^-asws with you all like exchanging the Dinar for the Dirhams, so he take ten of you from me^-asws and give me one man from them.

يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ مُنِيتُ مِنْكُمْ بِثَلَاثٍ وَ اثْنَتَيْنِ صُمٌّ ذَوُو أَسْمَاعٍ وَ بُكْمٌ ذَوُو كَلَامٍ وَ عُمْيٌ ذَوُو أَبْصَارٍ لَا أَحْرَارُ صِدْقٍ عِنْدَ اللِّقَاءِ وَ لَا إِخْوَانُ ثِقَةٍ عِنْدَ الْبَلَاءِ

O people of Al-Kufa! I^-asws have experience from you with three (things) and two – You are deaf despite listening, and mute despite speaking, and blind despite seeing. Neither being sincere supporters during the battle nor trustworthy brothers during the afflictions.

تَرِبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ يَا أَشْبَاهَ الْإِبِلِ غَابَ عَنْهَا رُعَاتُهَا كُلَّمَا جُمِعَتْ مِنْ جَانِبٍ تَفَرَّقَتْ مِنْ آخَرَ وَ اللَّهِ لَكَأَنِّي بِكُمْ فِيمَا إِخَالُكُمْ‏ أَنْ لَوْ حَمِسَ الْوَغَى‏ وَ حَمِيَ الضِّرَابُ قَدِ انْفَرَجْتُمْ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ انْفِرَاجَ الْمَرْأَةِ عَنْ قُبُلِهَا

May your hands (strength) be soiled, O resemblances of the camels whose shepherd is absent from them! Every time they are gathered from one side they separate from another side. By Allah^-azwj! It is as if I^-asws am with you in my^-asws imagination, if the battle flares up and the strikes are heated, you are splitting away from the son^-asws of Abu Talib^-asws like the splitting of the woman from her enclave.

وَ إِنِّي لَعَلَى‏ بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّي‏ وَ مِنْهَاجٍ مِنْ نَبِيِّي وَ إِنِّي لَعَلَى الطَّرِيقِ الْوَاضِحِ أَلْقُطُهُ لَقْطاً

And I^-asws am upon a proof from my^-asws Lord^-azwj and a manifesto from my^-asws Prophet^-saww, and I^-asws am upon the clear path I^-asws stick to absolutely.

أصحاب رسول اللّه‏

Companions of Rasool-Allah^-saww

انْظُرُوا أَهْلَ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّكُمْ فَالْزَمُوا سَمْتَهُمْ‏ وَ اتَّبِعُوا أَثَرَهُمْ فَلَنْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ هُدًى وَ لَنْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي رَدًى فَإِنْ لَبَدُوا فَالْبُدُوا وَ إِنْ نَهَضُوا فَانْهَضُوا وَ لَا تَسْبِقُوهُمْ فَتَضِلُّوا وَ لَا تَتَأَخَّرُوا عَنْهُمْ فَتَهْلِكُوا-

Look at the People^-asws of the Household of your Prophet^-saww and necessitate their traits, for they^-asws will never exit you from any guidance and will never return you into any ruination. If they^-asws sit back, then sit back, but if they^-asws get up, then get up, and do not precede them^-asws for you will stray, not stay back from them^-asws for you will be destroyed.

لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَصْحَابَ مُحَمَّدٍ ص فَمَا أَرَى أَحَداً يُشْبِهُهُمْ مِنْكُمْ لَقَدْ كَانُوا يُصْبِحُونَ شُعْثاً غُبْراً وَ قَدْ بَاتُوا سُجَّداً وَ قِيَاماً يُرَاوِحُونَ‏ بَيْنَ جِبَاهِهِمْ وَ خُدُودِهِمْ وَ يَقِفُونَ عَلَى مِثْلِ الْجَمْرِ مِنْ ذِكْرِ مَعَادِهِمْ ‏

I^-asws have seen the companions of Muhammad^-saww, and I^-asws do not see anyone of you resembling them. In the morning they used to be unkempt (scruffy), dusty, and they spent the night performing Sajdah and standing (for Salat), alternating between (prostrating on) their foreheads and their cheeks, and standing upon the like of an ember, from remembrance of their Hereafter.

كَأَنَّ بَيْنَ أَعْيُنِهِمْ رُكَبَ الْمِعْزَى‏ مِنْ طُولِ سُجُودِهِمْ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ هَمَلَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ حَتَّى تَبُلَّ جُيُوبَهُمْ وَ مَادُوا كَمَا يَمِيدُ الشَّجَرُ يَوْمَ الرِّيحِ الْعَاصِفِ خَوْفاً مِنَ الْعِقَابِ وَ رَجَاءً لِلثَّوَابِ

It was as if in between their eyes (forehead) was a knee of the goat (mark) from their prolonged Sajdahs. When Allah^-azwj the Glorious was mentioned, they eyes filled up until their pockets were drenched, and they were trembling like the shaking of the tree on the day of stormy wind out of fear from the Punishment and hoping for the Rewards’.[7]

98 و من كلام له ع يشير فيه إلى ظلم بني أمية

Sermon 98 – And from a speech of his^-asws indicating in it to the injustice of the clan of Umayya

وَ اللَّهِ لَا يَزَالُونَ حَتَّى لَا يَدَعُوا لِلَّهِ مُحَرَّماً إِلَّا اسْتَحَلُّوهُ‏ وَ لَا عَقْداً إِلَّا حَلُّوهُ وَ حَتَّى لَا يَبْقَى بَيْتُ مَدَرٍ وَ لَا وَبَرٍ إِلَّا دَخَلَهُ ظُلْمُهُمْ وَ نَبَا بِهِ‏ سُوءُ [رِعَتِهِمْ‏] رَعْيِهِمْ وَ حَتَّى يَقُومَ الْبَاكِيَانِ يَبْكِيَانِ بَاكٍ يَبْكِي لِدِينِهِ وَ بَاكٍ يَبْكِي لِدُنْيَاهُ

‘By Allah^-azwj! They will not be stopping until they do not leave any Prohibition of Allah^-azwj until they permit it, nor any knot (pact) except they loosen it (break it), and until there neither remains any house of mud or fur except their injustices enter it and the news of their evil actions, until the two wailers cry out – a wailer crying for his religion and a wailer crying for his world.

وَ حَتَّى تَكُونَ نُصْرَةُ أَحَدِكُمْ‏ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمْ كَنُصْرَةِ الْعَبْدِ مِنْ سَيِّدِهِ إِذَا شَهِدَ أَطَاعَهُ وَ إِذَا غَابَ اغْتَابَهُ

And until the helping of one of you from one of them would be like the helping of the slave from his master. When he (master) is there, he (slave) obeys him, and when he is absent, he backbites him.

وَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ أَعْظَمَكُمْ فِيهَا [غَنَاءً] عَنَاءً أَحْسَنُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ ظَنّاً فَإِنْ أَتَاكُمُ اللَّهُ بِعَافِيَةٍ فَاقْبَلُوا وَ إِنِ ابْتُلِيتُمْ فَاصْبِرُوا فَ إِنَّ الْعاقِبَةَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ‏

And until the ones of you with greatest distress would be the ones with best thoughts with Allah^-azwj. If Allah^-azwj Grants you well-being, then accept it, and if He^-azwj Afflicts you, then be patient, for the end-result is for the pious’.[8]

99 و من خطبة له ع في التزهيد من الدنيا

Sermon 99 – And from a sermon of his^-asws regarding the asceticism from the world

نَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى مَا كَانَ وَ نَسْتَعِينُهُ مِنْ أَمْرِنَا عَلَى مَا يَكُونُ وَ نَسْأَلُهُ الْمُعَافَاةَ فِي الْأَدْيَانِ كَمَا نَسْأَلُهُ الْمُعَافَاةَ فِي الْأَبْدَانِ

‘We praise Him^-azwj upon what has happened, and we seek His^-azwj Assistance of our affairs upon what will be happening, and we ask Him^-azwj for the well-being in the religions just as we ask Him^-azwj for the health.

عِبَادَ اللَّهِ أُوصِيكُمْ بِالرَّفْضِ لِهَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا التَّارِكَةِ لَكُمْ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تُحِبُّوا تَرْكَهَا وَ الْمُبْلِيَةِ لِأَجْسَامِكُمْ وَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ تَجْدِيدَهَا

Servants of Allah^-azwj! I^-asws advise you all with rejecting of this world (which is) neglecting you and even if you don’t like leaving it, and the decaying of your bodies and even though you like these to be fresh.

فَإِنَّمَا مَثَلُكُمْ وَ مَثَلُهَا كَسَفْرٍ سَلَكُوا سَبِيلًا فَكَأَنَّهُمْ قَدْ قَطَعُوهُ وَ أَمُّوا عَلَماً فَكَأَنَّهُمْ قَدْ بَلَغُوهُ وَ كَمْ عَسَى الْمُجْرِي إِلَى الْغَايَةِ أَنْ يَجْرِيَ إِلَيْهَا حَتَّى يَبْلُغَهَا وَ مَا عَسَى أَنْ يَكُونَ بَقَاءُ مَنْ لَهُ يَوْمٌ لَا يَعْدُوهُ وَ طَالِبٌ حَثِيثٌ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ يَحْدُوهُ‏ وَ مُزْعِجٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا [عَنِ الدُّنْيَا] حَتَّى يُفَارِقَهَا رَغْماً

Rather, your example and its example is like travellers travelling on a way. It is as if they have cut across (the road) and have aimed to a sign. It is as if they have reached it, and how many have flowed to the peak flowing to it until he reaches it, and how many would survive, one having a driver (death) for him not leaving it, and a seeker more urging than the death, limiting him, and a driver in the world until he separates from it, humiliated.

فَلَا تَنَافَسُوا فِي عِزِّ الدُّنْيَا وَ فَخْرِهَا وَ لَا تَعْجَبُوا بِزِينَتِهَا وَ نَعِيمِهَا وَ لَا تَجْزَعُوا مِنْ ضَرَّائِهَا وَ بُؤْسِهَا فَإِنَّ عِزَّهَا وَ فَخْرَهَا إِلَى انْقِطَاعٍ وَ إِنَّ زِينَتَهَا وَ نَعِيمَهَا إِلَى زَوَالٍ وَ ضَرَّاءَهَا وَ بُؤْسَهَا إِلَى‏ نَفَادٍ وَ كُلُّ مُدَّةٍ فِيهَا إِلَى انْتِهَاءٍ وَ كُلُّ حَيٍّ فِيهَا إِلَى فَنَاءٍ

So neither compete regarding honours of the world and its pride, nor be fascinated with its adornment and its bounties, nor panic from its hardships and its miseries, for its honour and its pride is to a termination, and its adornments and its bounties are to a decline, and its hardships and its miseries are to a depletion, and every period in it is to an end, and every living being in it is to annihilation.

أَ وَ لَيْسَ لَكُمْ فِي آثَارِ الْأَوَّلِينَ مُزْدَجَرٌ وَ فِي آبَائِكُمُ [الْأَوَّلِينَ‏] الْمَاضِينَ تَبْصِرَةٌ وَ مُعْتَبَرٌ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

Or isn’t there a warning in the traces of the former ones, and an insight and a lesson in your past forefathers, if only you knew.

أَ وَ لَمْ تَرَوْا إِلَى الْمَاضِينَ مِنْكُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ وَ إِلَى الْخَلَفِ الْبَاقِينَ لَا يَبْقَوْنَ أَ وَ لَسْتُمْ تَرَوْنَ أَهْلَ الدُّنْيَا- [يُمْسُونَ وَ يُصْبِحُونَ‏] يُصْبِحُونَ وَ يُمْسُونَ عَلَى أَحْوَالٍ شَتَّى

Or are you not seeing the past ones from you they are not returning, and to the remaining posterity, they will not be remaining? Or aren’t you seeing people of the world, coming to the evening and morning upon the various situations.

فَمَيِّتٌ [فَمَيْتٌ‏] يُبْكَى وَ آخَرُ يُعَزَّى وَ صَرِيعٌ مُبْتَلًى وَ عَائِدٌ يَعُودُ وَ آخَرُ بِنَفْسِهِ يَجُودُ وَ طَالِبٌ لِلدُّنْيَا وَ الْمَوْتُ يَطْلُبُهُ وَ غَافِلٌ وَ لَيْسَ بِمَغْفُولٍ عَنْهُ وَ عَلَى أَثَرِ الْمَاضِي مَا يَمْضِي الْبَاقِي

A deceased is being cried upon, and another is being consoled, and a suffering one is being afflicted, and a sick one is being consoled, and another finding his last breath, and a seeker of the world while the death seeks him, and a heedless one and he isn’t heedless from, and upon tracks of the past ones the survivors are continuing.

أَلَا فَاذْكُرُوا هَاذِمَ اللَّذَّاتِ وَ مُنَغِّصَ الشَّهَوَاتِ وَ قَاطِعَ الْأُمْنِيَاتِ عِنْدَ الْمُسَاوَرَةِ لِلْأَعْمَالِ الْقَبِيحَةِ وَ اسْتَعِينُوا اللَّهَ عَلَى أَدَاءِ وَاجِبِ حَقِّهِ وَ مَا لَا يُحْصَى مِنْ أَعْدَادِ نِعَمِهِ وَ إِحْسَانِهِ‏

Indeed! Remember the destroyer of pleasures, and the spoiler of pleasures, and terminator of the wishes during perseverance of the ugly deeds and seek Assistance of Allah^-azwj upon fulfilling His^-azwj obligatory rights, and what cannot be counted from the number of His^-azwj bounties and His^-azwj Favours’.[9]

100 و من خطبة له ع في رسول اللّه و أهل بيته‏

Sermon 100 – And from a sermon of his^-asws regarding Rasool-Allah^-saww and People^-asws of his^-saww Household

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ النَّاشِرِ فِي الْخَلْقِ فَضْلَهُ وَ الْبَاسِطِ فِيهِمْ بِالْجُودِ يَدَهُ نَحْمَدُهُ فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِهِ وَ نَسْتَعِينُهُ عَلَى رِعَايَةِ حُقُوقِهِ وَ نَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ

‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj the Spreader of His^-azwj Grace among the creatures, and the Extender among them of His^-azwj Hand with the generosity. We praise Him^-azwj regarding the entirety of His^-azwj matters and we seek His^-azwj Help upon taking care of His^-azwj Rights, and we testify that there is no god apart from Him^-azwj.

وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ أَرْسَلَهُ بِأَمْرِهِ صَادِعاً وَ بِذِكْرِهِ‏ نَاطِقاً فَأَدَّى أَمِيناً وَ مَضَى رَشِيداً وَ خَلَّفَ فِينَا رَايَةَ الْحَقِّ مَنْ تَقَدَّمَهَا مَرَقَ‏ وَ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا زَهَقَ‏ وَ مَنْ لَزِمَهَا لَحِقَ

And that Muhammad^-saww is His^-azwj servant and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww. He^-azwj Sent him^-saww as a proclaimer of His^-azwj Commands and a speaker of His^-azwj Mention. He^-saww fulfilled trustworthily and passed away being rightfully guided and left behind among us the flag of truth. One who precedes it deviates, and one who stays behind from it is obliterated, and one who sticks to it catches up.

دَلِيلُهَا مَكِيثُ الْكَلَامِ‏ بَطِي‏ءُ الْقِيَامِ‏ سَرِيعٌ إِذَا قَامَ فَإِذَا أَنْتُمْ أَلَنْتُمْ لَهُ رِقَابَكُمْ وَ أَشَرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ بِأَصَابِعِكُمْ جَاءَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَذَهَبَ بِهِ فَلَبِثْتُمْ بَعْدَهُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ حَتَّى يُطْلِعَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ مَنْ يَجْمَعُكُمْ وَ يَضُمُّ نَشْرَكُمْ‏

Its guide is short of speech, slow to stand, quick when he^-asws does rise. When you incline your necks towards him^-asws and indicate to him^-asws with your fingers, the death would come to him^-asws and go away with him^-asws. You will remain after him^-asws for as long as Allah^-azwj so Desires, until Allah^-azwj would Send to you one^-asws who would unite you and collect your spread-out ones.

فَلَا تَطْمَعُوا فِي غَيْرِ مُقْبِلٍ‏ وَ لَا تَيْأَسُوا مِنْ مُدْبِرٍ فَإِنَّ الْمُدْبِرَ عَسَى أَنْ تَزِلَّ بِهِ إِحْدَى قَائِمَتَيْهِ‏ وَ تَثْبُتَ الْأُخْرَى فَتَرْجِعَا حَتَّى تَثْبُتَا جَمِيعاً

Do not be eager regarding one who is not coming, nor despair from the one turning around, for the one turning around, perhaps one of his feet has slipped and the other one is firm, so he would return until they are both affirmed.

أَلَا إِنَّ مَثَلَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص كَمَثَلِ نُجُومِ السَّمَاءِ إِذَا خَوَى نَجْمٌ‏ طَلَعَ نَجْمٌ فَكَأَنَّكُمْ قَدْ تَكَامَلَتْ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِيكُمُ الصَّنَائِعُ وَ أَرَاكُمْ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَأْمُلُونَ‏

Indeed! And an example of the Progeny^-asws of Muhammad^-saww is like an example of stars of the sky. When a star goes down, a star emerges. It is as if you have been completed of the Makings from Allah^-azwj regarding you, and He^-azwj has Shown you what you used to wish for’.[10]

101 و من خطبة له ع و هي إحدى الخطب المشتملة على الملاحم‏

Sermon 101 – And from a sermon of his^-asws, and it is one of the sermon inclusive upon the epic events

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الْأَوَّلِ قَبْلَ كُلِّ أَوَّلٍ وَ الْآخِرِ بَعْدَ كُلِّ آخِرٍ وَ بِأَوَّلِيَّتِهِ وَجَبَ أَنْ لَا أَوَّلَ لَهُ وَ بِآخِرِيَّتِهِ وَجَبَ أَنْ لَا آخِرَ لَهُ

‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj, the Firs before every first, and the Last after every last one, and due to His^-azwj firstness it obligates that there is no ‘first’ for Him^-azwj, and by His^-azwj lastness, it obligates that there is no ‘last’ for him.

وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ شَهَادَةً يُوَافِقُ فِيهَا السِّرُّ الْإِعْلَانَ وَ الْقَلْبُ اللِّسَانَ-

And I^-asws testify that there is no god except Allah^-azwj, being a testimony wherein the hidden is compatible to the openness, and the heart (compatible) to the tongue.

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ‏ لا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ‏ شِقاقِي‏ وَ لَا يَسْتَهْوِيَنَّكُمْ‏ عِصْيَانِي وَ لَا تَتَرَامَوْا بِالْأَبْصَارِ عِنْدَ مَا تَسْمَعُونَهُ مِنِّي

O you people! Do not commit the crime of opposing me^-asws, and do not be tempted to disobey me^-asws, and do not wink at each other with the eyes at what you are hearing from me^-asws.

فَوَالَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ إِنَّ الَّذِي أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ ص [وَ اللَّهِ‏] مَا كَذَبَ الْمُبَلِّغُ وَ لَا جَهِلَ السَّامِعُ

By the One^-azwj Who Split the seed and Formed the person! That which I^-asws am informing you all with is from the Ummy Prophet^-saww. By Allah^-azwj! Neither has the deliverer lied nor did the listener ignore.

لَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى ضِلِّيلٍ‏ قَدْ نَعَقَ‏ بِالشَّامِ وَ فَحَصَ بِرَايَاتِهِ‏ فِي ضَوَاحِي كُوفَانَ‏ فَإِذَا فَغَرَتْ فَاغِرَتُهُ‏ وَ اشْتَدَّتْ شَكِيمَتُهُ‏ وَ ثَقُلَتْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَطْأَتُهُ عَضَّتِ الْفِتْنَةُ أَبْنَاءَهَا بِأَنْيَابِهَا وَ مَاجَتِ الْحَرْبُ بِأَمْوَاجِهَا وَ بَدَا مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ كُلُوحُهَا وَ مِنَ اللَّيَالِي كُدُوحُهَا

It is as if I^-asws am looking at the straying one croaking at Syria, and he has placed his flags on the outskirts of Al-Kufa. So, when he opens his jaws wide, and his rebellion intensifies, and his treading in the earth becomes heavy, the Fitna would bite its sons with its incisors, and the waves of ware would be in full rage, and there will appear from the days, their darkness, and from the nights, their toil.

فَإِذَا أَيْنَعَ زَرْعُهُ وَ قَامَ عَلَى يَنْعِهِ‏ وَ هَدَرَتْ شَقَاشِقُهُ‏ وَ بَرَقَتْ بَوَارِقُهُ‏ عُقِدَتْ رَايَاتُ الْفِتَنِ الْمُعْضِلَةِ وَ أَقْبَلْنَ كَاللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ وَ الْبَحْرِ الْمُلْتَطِمِ هَذَا وَ كَمْ يَخْرِقُ الْكُوفَةَ مِنْ قَاصِفٍ‏ وَ يَمُرُّ عَلَيْهَا مِنْ عَاصِفٍ‏ وَ عَنْ قَلِيلٍ تَلْتَفُّ الْقُرُونُ بِالْقُرُونِ‏ وَ يُحْصَدُ الْقَائِمُ‏ وَ يُحْطَمُ الْمَحْصُودُ

When the vegetation grows and stands upon its stalks, and its foam shoots forth, and its lightning flashes, the flag of the straying Fitna would be tied, and it will come like the dark night and the surging ocean. This, and how many (else) would incinerate Al-Kufa, from the gales passing upon it, and very soon, the heads will clash with the heads, and the standing (resisting people) would be cut down and the harvest would be destroyed’.[11]

102 و من خطبة له ع تجري هذا المجرى و فيها ذكر يوم القيامة و أحوال الناس المقبلة

Sermon 102 – And from a sermon of his^-asws. This flows the flow and in it he^-asws mentioned the Day of Qiyamah and the future situations of the people

يوم القيامة

The Day of Qiyamah

وَ ذَلِكَ يَوْمٌ يَجْمَعُ اللَّهُ فِيهِ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَ الْآخِرِينَ لِنِقَاشِ الْحِسَابِ‏ وَ جَزَاءِ الْأَعْمَالِ خُضُوعاً قِيَاماً قَدْ أَلْجَمَهُمُ الْعَرَقُ‏ وَ رَجَفَتْ‏ بِهِمُ الْأَرْضُ‏ فَأَحْسَنُهُمْ حَالًا مَنْ وَجَدَ لِقَدَمَيْهِ مَوْضِعاً وَ لِنَفْسِهِ مُتَّسَعاً

‘And that is a Day in which Allah^-azwj would Gather the former ones and the latter ones to argue the Reckoning and Recompense (for) the deeds. (They would be) humble, standing, the perspiration having choked them, and the earth shaking with them, so the one of them in the best state would be one who can find a place for his feet, and space for his breathing’.

حال مقبلة على الناس‏

The future state of the people

و منها فِتَنٌ كَقِطَعِ اللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ‏ لَا تَقُومُ لَهَا قَائِمَةٌ وَ لَا تُرَدُّ لَهَا رَايَةٌ تَأْتِيكُمْ مَزْمُومَةً مَرْحُولَةً يَحْفِزُهَا قَائِدُهَا وَ يَجْهَدُهَا رَاكِبُهَا أَهْلُهَا قَوْمٌ شَدِيدٌ كَلَبُهُمْ‏ قَلِيلٌ سَلَبُهُمْ‏

And from it – ‘Fitna like a piece of the dark night. Neither will a standing one stand up to it nor will any flag return it. It would come to you reined, saddled. Its guides would be stirring these and its riders exerting them. Its people would be of hard hearts, little of pity.

يُجَاهِدُهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَوْمٌ أَذِلَّةٌ عِنْدَ الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَجْهُولُونَ وَ فِي السَّمَاءِ مَعْرُوفُونَ فَوَيْلٌ لَكِ يَا بَصْرَةُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكِ مِنْ جَيْشٍ مِنْ نِقَمِ اللَّهِ لَا رَهَجَ‏ لَهُ وَ لَا حَسَ‏ وَ سَيُبْتَلَى أَهْلُكِ بِالْمَوْتِ الْأَحْمَرِ وَ الْجُوعِ الْأَغْبَرِ

They would be fighting against by a people considered humble in the presence of the arrogant. They would be unknown in the earth and well known in the sky. Woe be unto you, O Basra, during that from an army being a Revenge of Allah^-azwj. Neither will there be any dust for it nor sound, and your inhabitants would be afflicted with the red death and the severe hunger’.[12]

103 و من خطبة له ع‏

Sermon 103 – And from a sermon of his^-asws

في التزهيد في الدنيا

Regarding Asceticism in the world

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ انْظُرُوا إِلَى الدُّنْيَا نَظَرَ الزَّاهِدِينَ فِيهَا الصَّادِفِينَ‏ عَنْهَا فَإِنَّهَا وَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ تُزِيلُ الثَّاوِيَ‏ السَّاكِنَ وَ تَفْجَعُ الْمُتْرَفَ‏ الآْمِنَ لَا يَرْجِعُ مَا تَوَلَّى مِنْهَا فَأَدْبَرَ وَ لَا يُدْرَى مَا هُوَ آتٍ مِنْهَا

O you people! Look at the world with a look of ascetics in it, turning away from it, for by Allah^-azwj, after a little while, it will turn away the dwellers and aggrieve the happy and the safe. It does not return, what turns away from it turning backwards, and it is not known what is to come from it.

[فَيُنْتَظَرُ] فَيُنْتَظَرَ سُرُورُهَا مَشُوبٌ‏

بِالْحُزْنِ وَ جَلَدُ الرِّجَالِ‏ إِلَى الضَّعْفِ وَ الْوَهْنِ‏ فَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُمْ كَثْرَةُ مَا يُعْجِبُكُمْ فِيهَا لِقِلَّةِ مَا يَصْحَبُكُمْ مِنْهَا

Therefor await its happiness mingles with the grief, and the strength of the man in it is to the weakness and the frailness. So, do not let most of what fascinates you, deceives you in it due to the scarcity of your accompaniment from it.

رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً تَفَكَّرَ فَاعْتَبَرَ وَ اعْتَبَرَ فَأَبْصَرَ فَكَأَنَّ مَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا عَنْ قَلِيلٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ وَ كَأَنَّ مَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ لَمْ يَزَلْ وَ كُلُّ مَعْدُودٍ مُنْقَضٍ وَ كُلُّ مُتَوَقَّعٍ آتٍ وَ كُلُّ آتٍ قَرِيبٌ دَانٍ‏

May Allah^-azwj have Mercy on a person who contemplates, so he takes a lessor, and he takes a lesson, so he is insightful. It is as what is existing from the world, after a little while will not be existing, and it is as if what is existent from the Hereafter, after a little while will not be declining; and every countable (thing) will terminate, and every anticipated (thing) will come, and every coming (thing) is nearby, approaching’.

صفة العالم‏

Attributes of the scholar

و منها الْعَالِمُ مَنْ عَرَفَ قَدْرَهُ وَ كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ جَهْلًا أَلَّا يَعْرِفَ قَدْرَهُ وَ إِنَّ مِنْ أَبْغَضِ الرِّجَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى لَعَبْداً وَكَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ جَائِراً عَنْ قَصْدِ السَّبِيلِ سَائِراً بِغَيْرِ دَلِيلٍ إِنْ دُعِيَ إِلَى حَرْثِ‏ الدُّنْيَا عَمِلَ وَ إِنْ دُعِيَ إِلَى حَرْثِ الْآخِرَةِ كَسِلَ كَأَنَّ مَا عَمِلَ لَهُ وَاجِبٌ عَلَيْهِ وَ كَأَنَّ مَا وَنَى‏ فِيهِ سَاقِطٌ عَنْهُ‏

And from it – ‘The scholar is one who recognises his worth, and it suffices as ignorance with the person if he does not recognise his own worth; and the most hateful of the men to Allah^-azwj is the servant Allah^-azwj Allocates to himself, walking away from the Way. If he is called to the harvest of the world, he works, and (if) to the harvest of the Hereafter, he is lazy, as if what he is working for is Obligatory upon him, and as if he is complacent is dropped from him’.

آخر الزمان‏

The end of times

و منها وَ ذَلِكَ زَمَانٌ لَا يَنْجُو فِيهِ إِلَّا كُلُّ مُؤْمِنٍ نُوَمَةٍ إِنْ شَهِدَ لَمْ يُعْرَفْ وَ إِنْ غَابَ لَمْ يُفْتَقَدْ أُولَئِكَ مَصَابِيحُ الْهُدَى وَ أَعْلَامُ السُّرَى‏ لَيْسُوا بِالْمَسَايِيحِ‏ وَ لَا الْمَذَايِيعِ‏ الْبُذُرِ أُولَئِكَ يَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِهِ وَ يَكْشِفُ عَنْهُمْ ضَرَّاءَ نِقْمَتِهِ-

And from it – ‘And in that time, no one will be saved in it except every silent Momin. If he is present, he is not recognised, and if he is absent, he is not missed. They are the lamps of guidance and flags of the journey (to be guided by). They neither spread the slanders nor divulge secrets. They, Allah^-azwj will Open for them the doors of His^-azwj Mercy and Remove from them the harm of His^-azwj Scourge’.

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ سَيَأْتِي عَلَيْكُمْ زَمَانٌ يُكْفَأُ فِيهِ الْإِسْلَامُ كَمَا يُكْفَأُ الْإِنَاءُ بِمَا فِيهِ

‘O you people! There shall come a time upon you, Islam would be sufficed (no more needed) during it just as a (full) container suffices with whatever is in it.

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَعَاذَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْ يَجُورَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ لَمْ يُعِذْكُمْ مِنْ أَنْ يَبْتَلِيَكُمْ‏ وَ قَدْ قَالَ جَلَّ مِنْ قَائِلٍ- إِنَّ فِي ذلِكَ لَآياتٍ وَ إِنْ كُنَّا لَمُبْتَلِينَ‏

‘O you people! Allah^-azwj has Sheltered you from being tyrannical upon you and did not Shelter you from Trying you, and the Majestic has Said on behalf of a speaker: Surely there are signs in that, and We would always be Testing!” [23:30]’.[13]

104 و من خطبة له ع‏

Sermon 104 – And from a sermon of his^-asws

أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ [وَ تَعَالَى‏] بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً ص وَ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ يَقْرَأُ كِتَاباً وَ لَا يَدَّعِي نُبُوَّةً وَ لَا وَحْياً فَقَاتَلَ بِمَنْ أَطَاعَهُ مَنْ عَصَاهُ يَسُوقُهُمْ إِلَى مَنْجَاتِهِمْ وَ يُبَادِرُ بِهِمُ السَّاعَةَ أَنْ تَنْزِلَ بِهِمْ

‘As for after, Surely Allah^-azwj the Glorious Sent Muhammad^-saww and there wasn’t anyone from the Arabs who had read any (Divine) Book, nor claimed Prophet-hood nor any Revelation. He^-saww with the ones who obeyed him^-saww against the ones who disobeyed him^-saww, ushering them to their salvation, and rushing with them lest the Hour (death) may descend with them.

يَحْسِرُ الْحَسِيرُ وَ يَقِفُ الْكَسِيرُ فَيُقِيمُ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يُلْحِقَهُ غَايَتَهُ إِلَّا هَالِكاً لَا خَيْرَ فِيهِ حَتَّى أَرَاهُمْ مَنْجَاتَهُمْ وَ بَوَّأَهُمْ مَحَلَّتَهُمْ فَاسْتَدَارَتْ رَحَاهُمْ‏ وَ اسْتَقَامَتْ قَنَاتُهُمْ‏

The tired one would sigh and the distressed one would stop, so he^-saww would stand to him until he^-saww made him join up to his peak, except a destroyed one, there being no good in him, until he^-saww had shown them their salvation, had taken them to their places. Their mill turned (time passed) and their channels (affairs) were straightened.

وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ كُنْتُ مِنْ سَاقَتِهَا حَتَّى تَوَلَّتْ بِحَذَافِيرِهَا وَ اسْتَوْسَقَتْ فِي قِيَادِهَا مَا ضَعُفْتُ وَ لَا جَبُنْتُ وَ لَا خُنْتُ وَ لَا وَهَنْتُ

And I^-asws swear by Allah^-azwj! I^-asws used to be from its ushers until I^-asws was in charge of its entirety, and I^-asws systemised in guiding it. I^-asws neither weakened, nor showed any cowardice, nor betrayed, nor was I^-asws feeble.

وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَأَبْقُرَنَ‏ الْبَاطِلَ حَتَّى أُخْرِجَ الْحَقَّ مِنْ خَاصِرَتِهِ‏

And I^-asws swear by Allah^-azwj! I^-asws will cleave asunder the falsehood until I^-asws extract the truth from its sides’.[14]

[قال السيد الشريف الرضي و قد تقدم مختار هذه الخطبة إلا أنني وجدتها في هذه الرواية على خلاف ما سبق من زيادة و نقصان فأوجبت الحال إثباتها ثانية]

The Seyyid Al-Shareef Al-Razi (compiler) said: ‘And a selected part of this sermon has preceded except that I found the report in this to be upon a difference to what has preceded, from an additions and reduction, so the situation obligated to affirm it for a second time’.

105 و من خطبة له ع في بعض صفات الرسول الكريم و تهديد بني أمية و عظة الناس‏

Sermon 105 – And from a sermon of his^-asws in some of the attributes of the honourable Rasool^-saww, and threat of the clan of Umayya, and preaching the people

الرسول الكريم‏

The honourable Rasool^-saww

حَتَّى بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مُحَمَّداً ص شَهِيداً وَ بَشِيراً وَ نَذِيراً خَيْرَ الْبَرِيَّةِ طِفْلًا وَ أَنْجَبَهَا كَهْلًا وَ أَطْهَرَ الْمُطَهَّرِينَ شِيمَةً وَ أَجْوَدَ الْمُسْتَمْطَرِينَ دِيمَةً

 ‘Until He^-azwj Send Muhammad^-saww as a witness, and giver of glad tidings, and Warner, best of the Created beings as a child, and their most chaste when older, purest of the Purified in conduct, and most generous of the ones approached for it.

بنو أمية

The clan of Umayya

فَمَا احْلَوْلَتْ لَكُمُ الدُّنْيَا فِي لَذَّتِهَا وَ لَا تَمَكَّنْتُمْ مِنْ رَضَاعِ أَخْلَافِهَا إِلَّا مِنْ [بَعْدِهِ‏] بَعْدِ مَا صَادَفْتُمُوهَا جَائِلًا خِطَامُهَا قَلِقاً وَضِينُهَا قَدْ صَارَ حَرَامُهَا عِنْدَ أَقْوَامٍ بِمَنْزِلَةِ السِّدْرِ الْمَخْضُودِ وَ حَلَالُهَا بَعِيداً غَيْرَ مَوْجُودٍ

The world was not sweetened for you in its pleasures, nor were you enabled from the udders of its leftovers, except after whatever you came across, its reins were trailing, its Prohibitions, in the presence of a people had come to be at the status of the thorn-less lotus and its Permissible(s) were remote, not-existent.

وَ صَادَفْتُمُوهَا وَ اللَّهِ ظِلًّا مَمْدُوداً إِلَى أَجْلٍ مَعْدُودٍ فَالْأَرْضُ لَكُمْ شَاغِرَةٌ وَ أَيْدِيكُمْ فِيهَا مَبْسُوطَةٌ وَ أَيْدِي الْقَادَةِ عَنْكُمْ مَكْفُوفَةٌ وَ سُيُوفُكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ مُسَلَّطَةٌ وَ سُيُوفُهُمْ عَنْكُمْ مَقْبُوضَةٌ

And by Allah^-azwj, you will come across it as an extended shade to a numbered term. So, the earth would be empty for you and your hands would be extended in it, and hand of the leaders would be withheld from you, and your swords would be overcoming upon it and they swords would be withheld from you.

أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ دَمٍ ثَائِراً وَ لِكُلِّ حَقٍّ طَالِباً وَ إِنَّ الثَّائِرَ فِي دِمَائِنَا كَالْحَاكِمِ فِي حَقِّ نَفْسِهِ وَ هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا يُعْجِزُهُ مَنْ طَلَبَ وَ لَا يَفُوتُهُ مَنْ هَرَبَ

Indeed! And for every blood is an avenger, and for every right there is a seeker, and that the avenger regarding our^-asws blood is like the judge regarding a right of his^-asws own self, and by Allah^-azwj, he^-asws is the one, the one he^-asws seeks will not frustrate him^-asws nor will the one fleeing escape from him^-asws.

فَأُقْسِمُ بِاللَّهِ يَا بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ لَتَعْرِفُنَّهَا فِي أَيْدِي غَيْرِكُمْ وَ فِي دَارِ عَدُوِّكُمْ أَلَا إِنَّ أَبْصَرَ الْأَبْصَارِ مَا نَفَذَ فِي الْخَيْرِ طَرْفُهُ أَلَا إِنَّ أَسْمَعَ الْأَسْمَاعِ مَا وَعَى التَّذْكِيرَ وَ قَبِلَهُ‏

By Allah^-azwj! I^-asws swear, O clan of Umayya, after a little while you will be recognising (seeing) it (caliphate) to be in the hands of other and in the house of your enemies. Indeed! The most insightful of the sights is what its glance would be in good. Indeed! The most hearing of the ears is what retains the remembrance (Zikr) and accepts it.

وعظ الناس‏

Preaching the people

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اسْتَصْبِحُوا مِنْ شُعْلَةِ مِصْبَاحٍ وَاعِظٍ مُتَّعِظٍ وَ امْتَاحُوا مِنْ [صَفِيِ‏] صَفْوِ عَيْنٍ قَدْ رُوِّقَتْ‏ مِنَ الْكَدَرِ

O you people! Become preached from the flames of the lamp of preaching and enjoy from the clear spring having been kept away from the dirt.

عِبَادَ اللَّهِ لَا تَرْكَنُوا إِلَى جَهَالَتِكُمْ وَ لَا تَنْقَادُوا [إِلَى أَهْوَائِكُمْ‏] لِأَهْوَائِكُمْ فَإِنَّ النَّازِلَ بِهَذَا الْمَنْزِلِ نَازِلٌ بِشَفَا جُرُفٍ هَارٍ يَنْقُلُ الرَّدَى‏ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ مِنْ مَوْضِعٍ إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ لِرَأْيٍ يُحْدِثُهُ بَعْدَ رَأْيٍ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُلْصِقَ مَا لَا يَلْتَصِقُ وَ يُقَرِّبَ مَا لَا يَتَقَارَبُ

Servants of Allah^-azwj! Do not incline to your ignorance nor be led by your whims, for the one lodging in this (world) is like a guest on the edge of a cliff, the ruination would run upon his back from a place (to another) due to a new opinion after an opinion, intending to stick to what cannot be stuck to, and drawing near to what cannot be drawn closer to.

فَاللَّهَ اللَّهَ أَنْ تَشْكُوا إِلَى مَنْ لَا يُشْكِي‏ شَجْوَكُمْ‏ وَ لَا يَنْقُضُ بِرَأْيِهِ مَا قَدْ أَبْرَمَ لَكُمْ

So, Allah^-azwj, Allah^-azwj, if you were to complain to the one who cannot redress your complaint, nor one who is deficient of his view what had been accomplished for you.

إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ عَلَى الْإِمَامِ إِلَّا مَا حُمِّلَ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ الْإِبْلَاغُ فِي الْمَوْعِظَةِ وَ الِاجْتِهَادُ فِي النَّصِيحَةِ وَ الْإِحْيَاءُ لِلسُّنَّةِ وَ إِقَامَةُ الْحُدُودِ عَلَى مُسْتَحِقِّيهَا وَ إِصْدَارُ السُّهْمَانِ‏ عَلَى أَهْلِهَا

It isn’t upon the Imam^-asws except what he^-asws has been loaded upon with the Commands of his^-asws Lord^-azwj, the delivering and the preaching, and the struggling in the advising, and the revival of the Sunnah, and establishing the legal penalties upon its deserving ones, and implementation of the two portions (shares) upon its rightful ones.

فَبَادِرُوا الْعِلْمَ مِنْ قَبْلِ تَصْوِيحِ‏ نَبْتِهِ وَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تُشْغَلُوا بِأَنْفُسِكُمْ عَنْ مُسْتَثَارِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ عِنْدِ أَهْلِهِ وَ انْهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ تَنَاهَوْا عَنْهُ فَإِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُمْ بِالنَّهْيِ بَعْدَ التَّنَاهِي‏

Therefore, rush to the knowledge from before its vegetation dries up, and from before you are too pre-occupied with yourselves from consulting the knowledge from the presence of its people^-asws and forbid from the evil and keep away from it, for rather you have been Command with the forbidding (but only) after having stayed away from it (yourself)’.[15]

106 و من خطبة له ع و فيها يبين فضل الإسلام و يذكر الرسول الكريم ثم يلوم أصحابه‏

Sermon 106 – And from a sermon of his^-asws, and in it he^-asws explains the merit of Al Islam, and he^-asws mentions the honourable Rasool^-saww, then he^-asws blames his^-asws companions

دين الإسلام‏

The religion of Al-Islam

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي شَرَعَ الْإِسْلَامَ فَسَهَّلَ شَرَائِعَهُ لِمَنْ وَرَدَهُ وَ أَعَزَّ أَرْكَانَهُ عَلَى مَنْ غَالَبَهُ فَجَعَلَهُ أَمْناً لِمَنْ عَلِقَهُ‏ وَ سِلْماً لِمَنْ دَخَلَهُ وَ بُرْهَاناً لِمَنْ تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ وَ شَاهِداً لِمَنْ خَاصَمَ عَنْهُ وَ نُوراً لِمَنِ اسْتَضَاءَ بِهِ وَ فَهْماً لِمَنْ عَقَلَ وَ لُبّاً لِمَنْ تَدَبَّرَ وَ آيَةً لِمَنْ تَوَسَّمَ وَ تَبْصِرَةً لِمَنْ عَزَمَ وَ عِبْرَةً لِمَنِ اتَّعَظَ وَ نَجَاةً لِمَنْ صَدَّقَ وَ ثِقَةً لِمَنْ تَوَكَّلَ وَ رَاحَةً لِمَنْ فَوَّضَ وَ جُنَّةً لِمَنْ صَبَرَ

‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj Who Legislated Al-Islam and Eased its laws for the one arriving to it and Strengthened its columns from being overcome. He^-azwj Made is a security for the one clinging to it, and safety for the one entering it, and a proof for the one speaking with it, and a witness for the one contending with it, and a light for the one wanting to be illuminated by it, and an understanding for the one using intellect, and an understanding for the one pondering, and a sign for the one perceiving, and an insight for the one determining, and a lesson for the one seeking preaching, and a salvation for the one ratifying, and a trustworthy for the one relying, and a rest for the one delegating, and a shield for the one being patient.

فَهُوَ أَبْلَجُ الْمَنَاهِجِ‏ وَ أَوْضَحُ الْوَلَائِجِ‏ مُشْرَفُ الْمَنَارِ مُشْرِقُ الْجَوَادِّ مُضِي‏ءُ الْمَصَابِيحِ كَرِيمُ الْمِضْمَارِ رَفِيعُ الْغَايَةِ جَامِعُ الْحَلْبَةِ مُتَنَافِسُ السُّبْقَةِ 148 شَرِيفُ الْفُرْسَانِ التَّصْدِيقُ مِنْهَاجُهُ وَ الصَّالِحَاتُ مَنَارُهُ وَ الْمَوْتُ غَايَتُهُ وَ الدُّنْيَا مِضْمَارُهُ وَ الْقِيَامَةُ حَلْبَتُهُ وَ الْجَنَّةُ سُبْقَتُهُ‏

It is the furthest reaching of the manifestos, clearest of the passages, lofty minarets, shining vicinities, illuminating lamps, prestigious consciences, lofty objectives, collection of race horses competing to be first, noble horse-riders. The truthful is its manifesto, and the righteous are its minarets, and the death it is peak, and the world is its course, and the Qiyamah is its horse, and the Paradise it is fishing line’.

و منها في ذكر النبي ص‏

And from it in mention of the Prophet^-saww

حَتَّى أَوْرَى‏ قَبَساً لِقَابِسٍ‏ وَ أَنَارَ عَلَماً لِحَابِسٍ‏ فَهُوَ أَمِينُكَ الْمَأْمُونُ وَ شَهِيدُكَ يَوْمَ الدِّينِ وَ بَعِيثُكَ نِعْمَةً وَ رَسُولُكَ بِالْحَقِّ رَحْمَةً

‘Until he^-saww covered the light for the attainer, and radiated knowledge for an impeder, for he^-saww is Your^-azwj Trustee and Your^-azwj Witness on the Day of Qiyamah, and Your^-azwj one Sent as a favour, and Your^-azwj Rasool^-saww with the truth as a Mercy.

اللَّهُمَّ اقْسِمْ لَهُ مَقْسَماً مِنْ عَدْلِكَ وَ اجْزِهِ مُضَعَّفَاتِ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَعْلِ عَلَى بِنَاءِ الْبَانِينَ بِنَاءَهُ وَ أَكْرِمْ لَدَيْكَ نُزُلَهُ‏ وَ شَرِّفْ عِنْدَكَ مَنْزِلَهُ وَ آتِهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ وَ أَعْطِهِ السَّنَاءَ وَ الْفَضِيلَةَ وَ احْشُرْنَا فِي زُمْرَتِهِ غَيْرَ خَزَايَا وَ لَا نَادِمِينَ وَ لَا نَاكِبِينَ‏ وَ لَا نَاكِثِينَ‏ وَ لَا ضَالِّينَ وَ لَا مُضِلِّينَ وَ لَا مَفْتُونِينَ‏

O Allah^-azwj! Apportion for him^-saww a portion from Your^-azwj Justice, and Recompense him^-saww a multiple of the goodness from Your^-azwj Grace. O Allah^-azwj! Heighten upon the constructed buildings, his^-saww construction, and honour him^-saww when he^-saww comes, and Ennoble his^-saww status in Your^-azwj Presence, and Give him^-saww the means, and Give him^-saww the glory and the merits, and Gather us among his^-saww party, without disgrace nor being regretful, nor deviating, nor breaking pledges, nor straying, nor being tempted’.

[قال الشريف و قد مضى هذا الكلام فيما تقدم إلا أننا كررناه هاهنا لما في الروايتين من الاختلاف‏]

Al-Shareef (compiler) said: ‘And this speech has already passed in what has preceded, except we are repeating it over here due to what differences there are in the two reports’.

و منها في خطاب أصحابه‏

And from it in addressing his^-asws companions

وَ قَدْ بَلَغْتُمْ مِنْ كَرَامَةِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى لَكُمْ مَنْزِلَةً تُكْرَمُ بِهَا إِمَاؤُكُمْ وَ تُوصَلُ بِهَا جِيرَانُكُمْ وَ يُعَظِّمُكُمْ مَنْ لَا فَضْلَ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا يَدَ لَكُمْ عِنْدَهُ وَ يَهَابُكُمْ مَنْ لَا يَخَافُ لَكُمْ سَطْوَةً وَ لَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِمْرَةٌ

‘And you have reached such a status from the Honour of Allah^-azwj, your maids are being honoured due to it, and your neighbours are being connected due to it, and he is meriting you, one whom there are no merits for you over him nor is there any hand (of favour) for you in his presence, and he is fearing you, one who is neither fearing a whip of yours nor is there any governance for you upon him.

وَ قَدْ تَرَوْنَ عُهُودَ اللَّهِ مَنْقُوضَةً فَلَا تَغْضَبُونَ وَ أَنْتُمْ لِنَقْضِ ذِمَمِ آبَائِكُمْ تَأْنَفُونَ وَ كَانَتْ أُمُورُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ تَرِدُ وَ عَنْكُمْ تَصْدُرُ وَ إِلَيْكُمْ تَرْجِعُ فَمَكَّنْتُمُ الظَّلَمَةَ مِنْ مَنْزِلَتِكُمْ وَ أَلْقَيْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَزِمَّتَكُمْ وَ أَسْلَمْتُمْ أُمُورَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ

And you have seen the Pacts of Allah^-azwj being broken but you are not enraged, and you are getting angered at the breaking of your father’s traditions. And the matters of Allah^-azwj are being referred to you and they are being issued from you and returning to you. You are enabling the oppressors from your statuses, and you have thrown (all) your responsibilities to them and have submitted the matters of Allah^-azwj to be in their hands.

يَعْمَلُونَ بِالشُّبُهَاتِ وَ يَسِيرُونَ فِي الشَّهَوَاتِ وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْ فَرَّقُوكُمْ تَحْتَ كُلِّ كَوْكَبٍ لَجَمَعَكُمُ اللَّهُ لِشَرِّ يَوْمٍ لَهُمْ‏

They are working with the suspicious matters and are indulging in the lustful desires. And I^-asws swear by Allah^-azwj! Even if they were to separate you beneath every star, Allah^-azwj would Gather you for a day of evil for them’.[16]

107 و من كلام له ع في بعض أيام صفين‏

Sermon 107 – And from a speech of his^-asws regarding one of the days of (battle of) Siffeen

وَ قَدْ رَأَيْتُ جَوْلَتَكُمْ وَ انْحِيَازَكُمْ عَنْ صُفُوفِكُمْ تَحُوزُكُمُ الْجُفَاةُ الطَّغَامُ‏ وَ أَعْرَابُ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ وَ أَنْتُمْ لَهَامِيمُ‏ الْعَرَبِ وَ يَآفِيخُ‏ الشَّرَفِ وَ الْأَنْفُ الْمُقَدَّمُ وَ السَّنَامُ الْأَعْظَمُ

‘I^-asws have seen your fleeing and your dispersal from your rows (in battle) surrounded by the rude and the lowly ones and Bedouins of the people of Syria, and (although you are) a forehead of nobility, and the protruding nose (pride), and the mighty hump (of a camel).

وَ لَقَدْ شَفَى وَحَاوِحَ‏ صَدْرِي أَنْ رَأَيْتُكُمْ بِأَخَرَةٍ تَحُوزُونَهُمْ كَمَا حَازُوكُمْ وَ تُزِيلُونَهُمْ عَنْ مَوَاقِفِهِمْ كَمَا أَزَالُوكُمْ حَسّاً بِالنِّصَالِ‏ وَ شَجْراً بِالرِّمَاحِ تَرْكَبُ أُوْلَاهُمْ أُخْرَاهُمْ كَالْإِبِلِ الْهِيمِ‏ الْمَطْرُودَةِ تُرْمَى عَنْ حِيَاضِهَا وَ تُذَادُ عَنْ مَوَارِدِهَا

And the sigh of my^-asws chest will subside if I^-asws were to eventually see you surrounding them like what they have surrounded you, and you are dislodging them from their positions like what they are dislodging you, shooting at them with the arrows and stabling them with the spears, their front (rows) will fall on their end ones like the thirsty camels turned away from their water troughs, and impeded from their watering places’.[17]

108 و من خطبة له ع و هي من خطب الملاحم‏

Sermon 108 – And from a sermon of his^-asws, and it is from the sermons of epic events

اللّه تعالى‏

Allah^-azwj the Exalted

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الْمُتَجَلِّي لِخَلْقِهِ بِخَلْقِهِ وَ الظَّاهِرِ لِقُلُوبِهِمْ بِحُجَّتِهِ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ مِنْ غَيْرِ رَوِيَّةٍ إِذْ كَانَتِ الرَّوِيَّاتُ لَا تَلِيقُ إِلَّا بِذَوِي الضَّمَائِرِ وَ لَيْسَ بِذِي ضَمِيرٍ فِي نَفْسِهِ خَرَقَ عِلْمُهُ بَاطِنَ غَيْبِ السُّتُرَاتِ‏ وَ أَحَاطَ بِغُمُوضِ عَقَائِدِ السَّرِيرَاتِ‏

‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj, the Evident to His^-azwj creatures by His^-azwj creation, the Apparent to their hearts by His^-azwj Arguments. He^-azwj Created the creation from without any forethought, when the forethought can only be linked to the one with a mind (thinking organ), and He^-azwj isn’t with a thinking organ within Himself^-azwj. His^-azwj Knowledge moved in the interior of the unseen veils and surround the obscure beliefs of the secrets.

وَ مِنْهَا فِي ذِكْرِ النَّبِيِّ ص‏

And from it in mentioning the Prophet^-saww

اخْتَارَهُ مِنْ شَجَرَةِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ مِشْكَاةِ الضِّيَاءِ وَ ذُؤَابَةِ الْعَلْيَاءِ وَ سُرَّةِ الْبَطْحَاءِ وَ مَصَابِيحِ الظُّلْمَةِ وَ يَنَابِيعِ الْحِكْمَةِ

 ‘He^-azwj Chose him^-asws from the tree of Prophet-hood, and lamps of illumination, and the lofty forelocks, and navel (centre) of al Bat’ha, and lamps for the darkness, and springs of wisdom’.

فتنة بني أمية

Fitna of the clan of Umayya

و منها طَبِيبٌ دَوَّارٌ بِطِبِّهِ قَدْ أَحْكَمَ مَرَاهِمَهُ وَ أَحْمَى مَوَاسِمَهُ‏ يَضَعُ ذَلِكَ حَيْثُ الْحَاجَةُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ قُلُوبٍ عُمْيٍ وَ آذَانٍ صُمٍّ وَ أَلْسِنَةٍ بُكْمٍ مُتَتَبِّعٌ بِدَوَائِهِ مَوَاضِعَ الْغَفْلَةِ وَ مَوَاطِنَ الْحَيْرَةِ

And from it, ‘He^-saww was a physician of the households of Bat’ha. He^-saww prepared his^-saww ointments and heated up his^-saww instruments, placing from that wherever there was a need to it, from the blind hearts, and deaf ears, and mute tongues, pursuing the places of heedlessness with his^-saww medications and places of confusion.

لَمْ يَسْتَضِيئُوا بِأَضْوَاءِ الْحِكْمَةِ وَ لَمْ يَقْدَحُوا بِزِنَادِ الْعُلُومِ الثَّاقِبَةِ فَهُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ كَالْأَنْعَامِ السَّائِمَةِ وَ الصُّخُورِ الْقَاسِيَةِ

But they did not take illumination with the rays of wisdom and were not ignited by the sparks of the shining knowledge. So during that, they were like the grazing cattle and hard rocks.

قَدِ انْجَابَتِ السَّرَائِرُ لِأَهْلِ الْبَصَائِرِ وَ وَضَحَتْ مَحَجَّةُ الْحَقِّ لِخَابِطِهَا وَ أَسْفَرَتِ السَّاعَةُ عَنْ وَجْهِهَا وَ ظَهَرَتِ الْعَلَامَةُ لِمُتَوَسِّمِهَا

The secrets have been born for the people of insight, and the arguments of truth have become clear for its mixer, and the Hour has become visible from its face, and the signs have appeared for its markers.

مَا لِي أَرَاكُمْ أَشْبَاحاً بِلَا أَرْوَاحٍ وَ أَرْوَاحاً بِلَا أَشْبَاحٍ وَ نُسَّاكاً بِلَا صَلَاحٍ وَ تُجَّاراً بِلَا أَرْبَاحٍ وَ أَيْقَاظاً نُوَّماً وَ شُهُوداً غُيَّباً وَ نَاظِرَةً عَمْيَاءَ وَ سَامِعَةً صَمَّاءَ وَ نَاطِقَةً بَكْمَاءَ

What is the matter for me^-asws, I^-asws am seeing you all as bodies without souls! And souls without bodies! Ritualists without righteousness! And traders without profit! And wakeful sleepers! And present absentees, and blind beholders! And deaf listeners and talking mutes!

رَايَةُ ضَلَالٍ قَدْ قَامَتْ عَلَى قُطْبِهَا وَ تَفَرَّقَتْ بِشُعَبِهَا تَكِيلُكُمْ بِصَاعِهَا وَ تَخْبِطُكُمْ بِبَاعِهَا قَائِدُهَا خَارِجٌ مِنَ الْمِلَّةِ قَائِمٌ عَلَى الضِّلَّةِ [الضَّلَّةِ] فَلَا يَبْقَى يَوْمَئِذٍ مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا ثُفَالَةٌ كَثُفَالَةِ الْقِدْرِ أَوْ نُفَاضَةٌ كَنُفَاضَةِ الْعِكْمِ‏

I^-asws see straying to have stood up upon its leaders, and spread out with its branches, weighing you down with its burdens, and confusing you with its transactions. Its leader is outside from the religion being upon the straying. In those days, there would not remain (anyone) from you except as a residue like the residue of the (cooking) pot, or dust like the dust of the package.

تَعْرُكُكُمْ عَرْكَ الْأَدِيمِ‏ وَ تَدُوسُكُمْ دَوْسَ الْحَصِيدِ وَ تَسْتَخْلِصُ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنْ بَيْنِكُمُ اسْتِخْلَاصَ الطَّيْرِ الْحَبَّةَ الْبَطِينَةَ مِنْ بَيْنِ هَزِيلِ الْحَبِّ أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُ بِكُمُ الْمَذَاهِبُ وَ تَتِيهُ بِكُمُ الْغَيَاهِبُ وَ تَخْدَعُكُمُ الْكَوَاذِبُ وَ مِنْ أَيْنَ تُؤْتَوْنَ وَ أَنَّى تُؤْفَكُونَ

It would scrape you (like) the scraping of the leather, and trample you like trampling of the harvest, and the Momin would be picked out from between you (like) the bird picking the fat seed from between the thin seeds! Where are the doctrines going with you all! And the individuals are misleading you and the liars are deceiving you! And from where are you coming! And to where are you being deluded!

فَ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتابٌ‏ وَ لِكُلِّ غَيْبَةٍ إِيَابٌ فَاسْتَمِعُوا مِنْ رَبَّانِيِّكُمْ‏ وَ أَحْضِرُوهُ قُلُوبَكُمْ وَ اسْتَيْقِظُوا إِنْ هَتَفَ بِكُمْ- وَ لْيَصْدُقْ رَائِدٌ أَهْلَهُ وَ لْيَجْمَعْ شَمْلَهُ وَ لْيُحْضِرْ ذِهْنَهُ فَلَقَدْ فَلَقَ لَكُمُ الْأَمْرَ فَلْقَ الْخَرَزَةِ وَ قَرَفَهُ قَرْفَ الصَّمْغَةِ

So, for every term there is an Ordainment [13:38], and for every absentee there is a return. Listen intently from your Divine leader and present your hearts, and be wakeful if he^-asws speaks with you, and let a pioneer be truthful to his family and let him gather his wits and let him present his mind. He^-asws has split the matter for you (like) splitting of the bead and separated the separation of the eucalyptus gum.

فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ أَخَذَ الْبَاطِلُ مَآخِذَهُ وَ رَكِبَ الْجَهْلُ مَرَاكِبَهُ وَ عَظُمَتِ الطَّاغِيَةُ وَ قَلَّتِ الدَّاعِيَةُ وَ صَالَ الدَّهْرُ صِيَالَ السَّبُعِ الْعَقُورِ وَ هَدَرَ فَنِيقُ‏ الْبَاطِلِ بَعْدَ كُظُومٍ‏ وَ تَوَاخَى النَّاسُ عَلَى الْفُجُورِ وَ تَهَاجَرُوا عَلَى الدِّينِ وَ تَحَابُّوا عَلَى الْكَذِبِ وَ تَبَاغَضُوا عَلَى الصِّدْقِ

During that, the falsehood would seize its seizure, and the ignorance would ride its ride, and the tyrants would be mighty, and the callers would be scarce, and the times have assaulted like the assaults of the rapacious predators, and the precision of the falsehood would roll after silence, and the people would establish brotherhood upon the immoralities and forsaking upon religion, and they would love each other upon the lies, and hate each other upon the truthfulness.

فَإِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ كَانَ الْوَلَدُ غَيْظاً وَ الْمَطَرُ قَيْظاً وَ تَفِيضُ اللِّئَامُ فَيْضاً وَ تَغِيضُ الْكِرَامُ غَيْضاً

So when that happens, the child would be (cause of) rage (for the parents), and rain would be blamed for a flood, and the benevolence would decrease to be scarce.

وَ كَانَ أَهْلُ ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ ذِئَاباً وَ سَلَاطِينُهُ سِبَاعاً وَ أَوْسَاطُهُ أُكَّالًا [أَكَالًا] وَ فُقَرَاؤُهُ أَمْوَاتاً وَ غَارَ الصِّدْقُ وَ فَاضَ الْكَذِبُ وَ اسْتُعْمِلَتِ الْمَوَدَّةُ بِاللِّسَانِ وَ تَشَاجَرَ النَّاسُ بِالْقُلُوبِ وَ صَارَ الْفُسُوقُ نَسَباً وَ الْعَفَافُ عَجَباً وَ لُبِسَ‏ الْإِسْلَامُ لُبْسَ الْفَرْوِ مَقْلُوباً

And the people of that time would be wolves, and its rulers would be predators, and its middle class would be consumers (gluttons), and its poor ones would be (like) deceased, and the truthfulness would be raided and the lies would win, and the cordiality would be utilised by the tongue, and the people would quarrel with the hearts, and the debauchers would become lineage, and the chastity as (something) strange, and Al-Islam would (be made to) wear the clothing of fur (beast but disguised) turned upside down’.[18]

109 و من خطبة له ع في بيان قدرة اللّه و انفراده بالعظمة و أمر البعث‏

Sermon 109 – And from a sermon of his^-asws in explanation of Power of Allah^-azwj, and His^-azwj Individual-ness with the Magnificence, and the matter of Resurrection

قدرة اللّه‏

Power of Allah^-azwj

كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ خَاشِعٌ لَهُ وَ كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَائِمٌ بِهِ غِنَى كُلِّ فَقِيرٍ وَ عِزُّ كُلِّ ذَلِيلٍ وَ قُوَّةُ كُلِّ ضَعِيفٍ وَ مَفْزَعُ كُلِّ مَلْهُوفٍ مَنْ تَكَلَّمَ سَمِعَ نُطْقَهُ وَ مَنْ سَكَتَ عَلِمَ سِرَّهُ وَ مَنْ عَاشَ فَعَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُ وَ مَنْ مَاتَ فَإِلَيْهِ مُنْقَلَبُهُ

‘All things are humbled to Him^-azwj, and all things are standing by Him^-azwj. He^-azwj Enriches every poor one and Dignifies every disgraced one, and Strength of every weak one, and shelter of every oppressed. One who speaks, He^-azwj Hears his talk, and one who is silent, He^-azwj Knows his secret, and one who lives, then upon Him^-azwj is his sustenance, and one who dies, then upon Him^-azwj is his return.

لَمْ تَرَكَ الْعُيُونُ فَتُخْبِرَ عَنْكَ بَلْ كُنْتَ قَبْلَ الْوَاصِفِينَ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ لَمْ تَخْلُقِ الْخَلْقَ لِوَحْشَةٍ وَ لَا اسْتَعْمَلْتَهُمْ لِمَنْفَعَةٍ وَ لَا يَسْبِقُكَ مَنْ طَلَبْتَ وَ لَا يُفْلِتُكَ‏ مَنْ أَخَذْتَ وَ لَا يَنْقُصُ سُلْطَانَكَ مَنْ عَصَاكَ وَ لَا يَزِيدُ فِي مُلْكِكَ مَنْ أَطَاعَكَ

The eyes did not see You^-azwj so they would inform about You^-azwj, but You^-azwj were before the describers from Your^-azwj creatures. You^-azwj did not Create the creatures for Your^-azwj loneliness, nor did You^-azwj Utilise them for Your^-azwj benefit, nor did he precede You^-azwj, nor can he escape You^-azwj the one You^-azwj seek, nor can he flee the one You^-azwj Seize, nor can he reduce Your^-azwj Authority, the one who disobeys You^-azwj, nor does he increase in Your^-azwj Kingdom, one who obeys You^-azwj.

وَ لَا يَرُدُّ أَمْرَكَ مَنْ سَخِطَ قَضَاءَكَ وَ لَا يَسْتَغْنِي عَنْكَ مَنْ تَوَلَّى عَنْ أَمْرِكَ كُلُّ سِرٍّ عِنْدَكَ عَلَانِيَةٌ وَ كُلُّ غَيْبٍ عِنْدَكَ شَهَادَةٌ

Neither can he repel Your^-azwj Command, one angered by Your^-azwj Decision, nor is he needless from You^-azwj, nor is he needless of You^-azwj one who turns around from Your^-azwj Command. Every secret is open in Your^-azwj Presence, and every absent is present with You^-azwj.

أَنْتَ الْأَبَدُ فَلَا أَمَدَ لَكَ وَ أَنْتَ الْمُنْتَهَى فَلَا مَحِيصَ عَنْكَ وَ أَنْتَ الْمَوْعِدُ فَلَا [مُنْجِيَ‏] مَنْجَى مِنْكَ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ بِيَدِكَ نَاصِيَةُ كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ وَ إِلَيْكَ مَصِيرُ كُلِّ نَسَمَةٍ

You^-azwj are the Everlasting, there is no term for You^-azwj, and You^-azwj are the endpoint there is no escape from You^-azwj, and You^-azwj are the Promised (appointment), there is no rescue from You^-azwj except to You^-azwj. In Your^-azwj Hand is the forelock of every creature, and to You^-azwj is the destination of every being. 

سُبْحَانَكَ مَا أَعْظَمَ شَأْنَكَ سُبْحَانَكَ مَا أَعْظَمَ مَا نَرَى مِنْ خَلْقِكَ وَ مَا أَصْغَرَ كُلَّ عَظِيمَةٍ فِي جَنْبِ قُدْرَتِكَ وَ مَا أَهْوَلَ مَا نَرَى مِنْ‏ مَلَكُوتِكَ وَ مَا أَحْقَرَ ذَلِكَ فِيمَا غَابَ عَنَّا مِنْ سُلْطَانِكَ وَ مَا أَسْبَغَ نِعَمَكَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ مَا أَصْغَرَهَا فِي نِعَمِ الْآخِرَةِ

Glory be to You^-azwj! How Magnificent is what we see from Your^-azwj Creation, and how small is its magnificence compared to Your^-azwj Power, and how awesome is what we see from Your^-azwj Kingdom, and how lowly it is in (comparison to) what is hidden from us from Your^-azwj Authority, and how lavish are Your^-azwj Bounties in the world, and how small it is (compared to) the Bounties of the Hereafter’.

الملائكة الكرام‏

The Honourable Angels

و منها مِنْ مَلَائِكَةٍ أَسْكَنْتَهُمْ سَمَاوَاتِكَ وَ رَفَعْتَهُمْ عَنْ أَرْضِكَ هُمْ أَعْلَمُ خَلْقِكَ بِكَ وَ أَخْوَفُهُمْ لَكَ وَ أَقْرَبُهُمْ مِنْكَ

And from it, ‘From Angels You^-azwj have Settled them in Your^-azwj skies and Raised them from Your^-azwj earth. They are the most knowing of Your^-azwj creatures with You^-azwj, and their most fearful to You^-azwj, and their closest from You^-azwj.

لَمْ يَسْكُنُوا الْأَصْلَابَ وَ لَمْ يُضَمَّنُوا الْأَرْحَامَ وَ لَمْ يُخْلَقُوا مِنْ مَاءٍ مَهِينٍ‏ وَ لَمْ يَتَشَعَّبْهُمْ رَيْبُ الْمَنُونِ‏ وَ إِنَّهُمْ عَلَى مَكَانِهِمْ مِنْكَ وَ مَنْزِلَتِهِمْ عِنْدَكَ وَ اسْتِجْمَاعِ أَهْوَائِهِمْ فِيكَ وَ كَثْرَةِ طَاعَتِهِمْ لَكَ وَ قِلَّةِ غَفْلَتِهِمْ عَنْ أَمْرِكَ

They neither dwelled in the loins and were not contained by the wombs, and they were not Created from despicable water, and are not aged by the passage of time; and they are upon their positions from You^-azwj and their status in Your^-azwj Presence, and the unison of their views regarding You^-azwj, and abundance of their obedience to You^-azwj, and lack of their heedless-ness about Your^-azwj Command.

لَوْ عَايَنُوا كُنْهَ مَا خَفِيَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْكَ لَحَقَّرُوا أَعْمَالَهُمْ وَ لَزَرَوْا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ لَعَرَفُوا أَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَعْبُدُوكَ حَقَّ عِبَادَتِكَ وَ لَمْ يُطِيعُوكَ حَقَّ طَاعَتِكَ‏

If they were to witness what is hidden unto them from You^-azwj, they would have belittled their deeds, and would have criticised upon themselves and would have recognised they had not worshipped You^-azwj as is the right of worshipping You^-azwj, and they had not obeyed You^-azwj as is the right of obeying You^-azwj.

عصيان الخلق‏

Disobedience of the creatures

سُبْحَانَكَ خَالِقاً وَ مَعْبُوداً بِحُسْنِ بَلَائِكَ‏ عِنْدَ خَلْقِكَ خَلَقْتَ دَاراً وَ جَعَلْتَ فِيهَا مَأْدُبَةً مَشْرَباً وَ مَطْعَماً وَ أَزْوَاجاً وَ خَدَماً وَ قُصُوراً وَ أَنْهَاراً وَ زُرُوعاً وَ ثِمَاراً

Glory be to You^-azwj, Creator and Deity for Your^-azwj goodly afflictions (bounties) with Your^-azwj creatures. You^-azwj Created a house (Paradise) and Prepared in it of the drinks, and foods, and spouses, and servants, and castles, and rivers, and plantations, and fruits.

ثُمَّ أَرْسَلْتَ دَاعِياً يَدْعُو إِلَيْهَا فَلَا الدَّاعِيَ أَجَابُوا وَ لَا فِيمَا رَغَّبْتَ رَغِبُوا وَ لَا إِلَى مَا شَوَّقْتَ إِلَيْهِ اشْتَاقُوا أَقْبَلُوا عَلَى جِيفَةٍ قَدِ افْتَضَحُوا بِأَكْلِهَا وَ اصْطَلَحُوا عَلَى‏ حُبِّهَا

Then You^-azwj Sent a caller calling to it, but they did not answer the caller, nor were they desirous regarding what he^-saww made them to be desirous, nor did they yearn to what he^-saww had made them yearn to. (Instead), they turned to a carcass (world) and were ashamed by consuming it, and they united upon loving it.

وَ مَنْ عَشِقَ شَيْئاً أَعْشَى‏ بَصَرَهُ وَ أَمْرَضَ قَلْبَهُ فَهُوَ يَنْظُرُ بِعَيْنٍ غَيْرِ صَحِيحَةٍ وَ يَسْمَعُ بِأُذُنٍ غَيْرِ سَمِيعَةٍ قَدْ خَرَقَتِ الشَّهَوَاتُ عَقْلَهُ وَ أَمَاتَتِ الدُّنْيَا قَلْبَهُ وَ وَلِهَتْ عَلَيْهَا نَفْسُهُ فَهُوَ عَبْدٌ لَهَا وَ لِمَنْ فِي يَدَيْهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنْهَا حَيْثُمَا زَالَتْ زَالَ إِلَيْهَا وَ حَيْثُمَا أَقْبَلَتْ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهَا

And the one who loves something loses his sight and sickens his heart. So he looks with an unhealthy eye and hears with an unhearing ear. The lustful desires puncture his intellect, and the world deadens his heard, and his souls longs for it. So he (becomes) a slave of it, and to the one in whose hand is something from it (world), he inclines to him wherever he were to incline, and faces to it wherever he were to face towards.

لَا يَنْزَجِرُ مِنَ اللَّهِ بِزَاجِرٍ وَ لَا يَتَّعِظُ مِنْهُ بِوَاعِظٍ وَ هُوَ يَرَى الْمَأْخُوذِينَ عَلَى الْغِرَّةِ حَيْثُ لَا إِقَالَةَ [لَهُمْ‏] وَ لَا رَجْعَةَ كَيْفَ نَزَلَ بِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا يَجْهَلُونَ وَ جَاءَهُمْ مِنْ فِرَاقِ الدُّنْيَا مَا كَانُوا يَأْمَنُونَ وَ قَدِمُوا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ عَلَى مَا كَانُوا يُوعَدُونَ

He is not deterred from Allah^-azwj by a deterrer, nor taking any advice from an adviser, and he sees the seized ones upon the suddenness where neither is there any dismissal nor any return. How it has befallen with them what they were ignoring, and there came to them from the separation of the world what they were feeling secure of and proceeded to the Hereafter upon what they were Promised.

فَغَيْرُ مَوْصُوفٍ مَا نَزَلَ بِهِمْ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَ حَسْرَةُ الْفَوْتِ فَفَتَرَتْ لَهَا أَطْرَافُهُمْ وَ تَغَيَّرَتْ لَهَا أَلْوَانُهُمْ ثُمَّ ازْدَادَ الْمَوْتُ فِيهِمْ وُلُوجاً فَحِيلَ بَيْنَ أَحَدِهِمْ وَ بَيْنَ مَنْطِقِهِ وَ إِنَّهُ لَبَيْنَ أَهْلِهِ يَنْظُرُ بِبَصَرِهِ وَ يَسْمَعُ بِأُذُنِهِ عَلَى صِحَّةٍ مِنْ عَقْلِهِ وَ بَقَاءٍ مِنْ لُبِّهِ يُفَكِّرُ فِيمَ أَفْنَى عُمُرَهُ وَ فِيمَ أَذْهَبَ دَهْرَهُ

It is indescribable what descends with them. There gathers upon them the agony of death and regret of the loss, so their limbs are broken to it and their complexion changes to it. Then the death increases the penetration into them, so it becomes a barrier between one of them and his speaking, although his family are clear to him. He looks with his eyes, and hears with his ears, being upon healthiness of his intellect and remaining of his mind, and he thinks regarding what he finished his life? And regarding what his time pass?

وَ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَمْوَالًا جَمَعَهَا أَغْمَضَ‏ فِي مَطَالِبِهَا وَ أَخَذَهَا مِنْ مُصَرَّحَاتِهَا وَ مُشْتَبِهَاتِهَا قَدْ لَزِمَتْهُ تَبِعَاتُ‏ جَمْعِهَا وَ أَشْرَفَ عَلَى فِرَاقِهَا تَبْقَى لِمَنْ وَرَاءَهُ [يُنَعَّمُونَ‏] يَنْعَمُونَ فِيهَا وَ يَتَمَتَّعُونَ بِهَا فَيَكُونُ الْمَهْنَأُ لِغَيْرِهِ وَ الْعِبْ‏ءُ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ

And he recalls the wealth he amassed, having closed his eyes during seeking it and taking it from its allowable and suspicious means, both of these having necessitated consequences for him. And he prepares for its separation and its remaining for the ones he leaves behind him to be enjoying with it for the award is for other and the burden is upon his back.

وَ الْمَرْءُ قَدْ غَلِقَتْ رُهُونُهُ‏ بِهَا فَهُوَ يَعَضُّ يَدَهُ نَدَامَةً عَلَى مَا أَصْحَرَ لَهُ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ وَ يَزْهَدُ فِيمَا كَانَ يَرْغَبُ فِيهِ أَيَّامَ عُمُرِهِ وَ يَتَمَنَّى أَنَ‏ الَّذِي كَانَ يَغْبِطُهُ بِهَا وَ يَحْسُدُهُ عَلَيْهَا قَدْ حَازَهَا دُونَهُ

And the person’s pledge is locked with it. He bites his hand in regret upon what appears to him from his matters during the death, and he becomes ascetic regarding what he had been desirous during the days of his life, and he wishes that the one who had backbit him with it and envied him over it would have amassed it instead.

فَلَمْ يَزَلِ الْمَوْتُ يُبَالِغُ فِي جَسَدِهِ حَتَّى خَالَطَ لِسَانُهُ سَمْعَهُ‏ فَصَارَ بَيْنَ أَهْلِهِ لَا يَنْطِقُ بِلِسَانِهِ وَ لَا يَسْمَعُ بِسَمْعِهِ يُرَدِّدُ طَرْفَهُ بِالنَّظَرِ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ يَرَى حَرَكَاتِ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَ لَا يَسْمَعُ رَجْعَ كَلَامِهِمْ

So, the death does not cease to permeate in his body until it mingles with his hearing, and he becomes unable to speak with his tongue nor hear with his hearing, scanning his eyes with looking into their faces. He sees the movements of their tongues and cannot hear their speeches.

ثُمَّ ازْدَادَ الْمَوْتُ الْتِيَاطاً بِهِ- [فَقَبَضَ بَصَرَهُ كَمَا قَبَضَ سَمْعَهُ‏] فَقُبِضَ بَصَرُهُ كَمَا قُبِضَ سَمْعُهُ وَ خَرَجَتِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ فَصَارَ جِيفَةً بَيْنَ أَهْلِهِ قَدْ [أُوحِشُوا] أَوْحَشُوا مِنْ جَانِبِهِ وَ تَبَاعَدُوا مِنْ قُرْبِهِ لَا يُسْعِدُ بَاكِياً وَ لَا يُجِيبُ دَاعِياً ثُمَّ حَمَلُوهُ إِلَى مَخَطٍّ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَأَسْلَمُوهُ فِيهِ إِلَى عَمَلِهِ وَ انْقَطَعُوا عَنْ زَوْرَتِهِ‏

Then the death increases the sway and captures his sight just as it had captured his hearing, and the soul departs from his body and he becomes a carcass between his family members and they would desert from his side and distance themselves from being close to him, neither being helped by a wailer nor answering a caller. Then they would carry him to a small hole from the ground, and they submit him into it to his deeds, and they terminate from visiting him.

القيامة

The Qiyamah

حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ الْكِتَابُ أَجَلَهُ وَ الْأَمْرُ مَقَادِيرَهُ وَ أُلْحِقَ آخِرُ الْخَلْقِ بِأَوَّلِهِ وَ جَاءَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ مَا يُرِيدُهُ مِنْ تَجْدِيدِ خَلْقِهِ أَمَادَ السَّمَاءَ وَ فَطَرَهَا وَ أَرَجَّ الْأَرْضَ وَ أَرْجَفَهَا وَ قَلَعَ جِبَالَهَا وَ نَسَفَهَا وَ دَكَّ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضاً مِنْ هَيْبَةِ جَلَالَتِهِ وَ مَخُوفِ سَطْوَتِهِ وَ أَخْرَجَ مَنْ فِيهَا

‘Until when the Decree reaches its term, and the Command (reaches) its Pre-determination, and the last of the people catch up with their first ones, and there comes from Allah^-azwj a Command He^-azwj Wants from renewal of His^-azwj creatures, He^-azwj would Extend the sky and Originate it, and Convolutes the earth and Shakes it, and Uproots its mountains and Scatter them, and part of it would demolish part from awe of His^-azwj Majesty, and fear of His^-azwj Domination, and the ones in it would come out.

فَجَدَّدَهُمْ بَعْدَ إِخْلَاقِهِمْ‏ وَ جَمَعَهُمْ بَعْدَ تَفَرُّقِهِمْ ثُمَّ مَيَّزَهُمْ لِمَا يُرِيدُهُ مِنْ مَسْأَلَتِهِمْ عَنْ خَفَايَا الْأَعْمَالِ وَ خَبَايَا الْأَفْعَالِ وَ جَعَلَهُمْ فَرِيقَيْنِ أَنْعَمَ عَلَى هَؤُلَاءِ وَ انْتَقَمَ مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ

He^-azwj would Renew them after their wearing out and Gather them after their separation. Then He^-azwj would Distinguish them to what He^-azwj Wants from their interest about the hidden deeds, and secret deeds, and Make them to be as two groups – Favouring upon these ones and Avenging from those.

فَأَمَّا أَهْلُ الطَّاعَةِ فَأَثَابَهُمْ بِجِوَارِهِ وَ خَلَّدَهُمْ فِي دَارِهِ حَيْثُ لَا يَظْعَنُ النُّزَّالُ وَ لَا تَتَغَيَّرُ بِهِمُ‏ الْحَالُ وَ لَا تَنُوبُهُمُ الْأَفْزَاعُ‏ وَ لَا تَنَالُهُمُ الْأَسْقَامُ وَ لَا تَعْرِضُ لَهُمُ الْأَخْطَارُ وَ لَا تُشْخِصُهُمُ‏ الْأَسْفَارُ

As for the obedient people, He^-azwj would Reward them with His^-azwj Vicinity and eternal abiding in His^-azwj House (Paradise), where they will neither be transferred from, nor would their states change, nor would panic seize them, nor would the sickness attain them, nor would the danger be exposed to them, nor would the journeys present to them.

وَ أَمَّا أَهْلُ الْمَعْصِيَةِ فَأَنْزَلَهُمْ شَرَّ دَارٍ وَ غَلَّ الْأَيْدِيَ إِلَى الْأَعْنَاقِ وَ قَرَنَ النَّوَاصِيَ بِالْأَقْدَامِ وَ أَلْبَسَهُمْ سَرَابِيلَ الْقَطِرَانِ‏ وَ مُقَطَّعَاتِ‏ النِّيرَانِ فِي عَذَابٍ قَدِ اشْتَدَّ حَرُّهُ وَ بَابٍ قَدْ أُطْبِقَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ فِي نَارٍ لَهَا كَلَبٌ‏ وَ لَجَبٌ‏ وَ لَهَبٌ سَاطِعٌ وَ قَصِيفٌ‏ هَائِلٌ

And as for the disobedient people, He^-azwj would Descend them in an evil House (Hell), and Shackle the hands to the necks, and Chain the foreheads with the feet, and Clothe them with trousers of tar and pieces of the fires in a Punishment in which its heat would have intensified, and a door which would have closed upon its inhabitants in a Fire having difficulties for it, and shouts, and screams, and radiant flames, and an enormous pit.

لَا يَظْعَنُ مُقِيمُهَا وَ لَا يُفَادَى أَسِيرُهَا وَ لَا تُفْصَمُ كُبُولُهَا لَا مُدَّةَ لِلدَّارِ فَتَفْنَى وَ لَا أَجَلَ لِلْقَوْمِ فَيُقْضَى‏

Neither would its resident be moved, nor would its captivity come to an end, nor would its shackles be broken, nor would the term of the House be terminated, nor would there be death for a people so they would expire’.

زهد النبي‏

Asceticism of the Prophet^-saww

و منها في ذكر النبي ص‏ قَدْ حَقَّرَ الدُّنْيَا وَ صَغَّرَهَا وَ أَهْوَنَ بِهَا وَ هَوَّنَهَا وَ عَلِمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ زَوَاهَا عَنْهُ اخْتِيَاراً وَ بَسَطَهَا لِغَيْرِهِ احْتِقَاراً

And from it in mentioning the Prophet^-saww – ‘He^-saww had demeaned the world and belittled it, and was weakened by it and had weakened it, and he^-saww knew that Allah^-azwj had Impeded it from him^-saww out of Choice and had Extended it to others as a demeaning.

فَأَعْرَضَ عَنِ الدُّنْيَا بِقَلْبِهِ وَ أَمَاتَ ذِكْرَهَا [مِنْ‏] عَنْ نَفْسِهِ وَ أَحَبَّ أَنْ تَغِيبَ زِينَتُهَا عَنْ عَيْنِهِ لِكَيْلَا يَتَّخِذَ مِنْهَا رِيَاشاً أَوْ يَرْجُوَ فِيهَا مَقَاماً بَلَّغَ عَنْ رَبِّهِ مُعْذِراً وَ نَصَحَ لِأُمَّتِهِ مُنْذِراً وَ دَعَا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ مُبَشِّراً وَ خَوَّفَ مِنَ النَّارِ مُحَذِّراً

So he^-saww turned away from the world by his^-saww heart, and he^-saww killed off its remembrance from himself^-saww, and he^-saww loved for its adornments to be hidden from his^-saww eyes lest he^-saww would take pride-worthy clothing from it, or desire to stay in it, reaching to an apology to his^-saww Lord^-azwj, and he^-saww advised to his^-saww community as a warner and called to the Paradise giving glad tidings, and frightened from the Fire as a caution.

أهل البيت‏

People^-asws of the Household

نَحْنُ شَجَرَةُ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ مَحَطُّ الرِّسَالَةِ وَ مُخْتَلَفُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ – وَ مَعَادِنُ الْعِلْمِ وَ يَنَابِيعُ الْحُكْمِ نَاصِرُنَا وَ مُحِبُّنَا يَنْتَظِرُ الرَّحْمَةَ وَ عَدُوُّنَا وَ مُبْغِضُنَا يَنْتَظِرُ السَّطْوَةَ

‘We^-asws are the tree of Prophet-hood, and the harbour of the Message, and the interchange of Angels, and the mine of knowledge, and the springs of wisdom. Our^-asws helper and one who loves us^-asws awaits the Mercy, and our^-asws enemy and one who hates us^-asws awaits being subdued’.[19]

110 و من خطبة له ع في أركان الدين‏

Sermon 110 – And from a sermon of his^-asws regarding the elements of religion

الإسلام‏

Al-Islam

إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ مَا تَوَسَّلَ بِهِ الْمُتَوَسِّلُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى الْإِيمَانُ بِهِ وَ بِ رَسُولِهِ وَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِهِ فَإِنَّهُ ذِرْوَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ كَلِمَةُ الْإِخْلَاصِ فَإِنَّهَا الْفِطْرَةُ وَ إِقَامُ الصَّلَاةِ فَإِنَّهَا الْمِلَّةُ وَ إِيتَاءُ الزَّكَاةِ فَإِنَّهَا فَرِيضَةٌ وَاجِبَةٌ وَ صَوْمُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَإِنَّهُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ الْعِقَابِ

The best of what the petitioners can petition with to Allah^-azwj the Glorious and Exalted is the Eman with Him^-azwj, and with His^-azwj Rasool^-saww, and the Jihad in His^-azwj Way for it is a peak of Al Islam, and the sincere word for it is the nature, and establishing the Salat for it is the religion, and giving the Zakat for it is an Imposed obligation and fasting the month of Ramazan for it is a shield from the Punishment.

وَ حَجُّ الْبَيْتِ وَ اعْتِمَارُهُ فَإِنَّهُمَا يَنْفِيَانِ الْفَقْرَ وَ يَرْحَضَانِ الذَّنْبَ‏ وَ صِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ فَإِنَّهَا مَثْرَاةٌ فِي الْمَالِ وَ مَنْسَأَةٌ فِي الْأَجَلِ وَ صَدَقَةُ السِّرِّ فَإِنَّهَا تُكَفِّرُ الْخَطِيئَةَ وَ صَدَقَةُ الْعَلَانِيَةِ فَإِنَّهَا تَدْفَعُ مِيتَةَ السُّوءِ وَ صَنَائِعُ الْمَعْرُوفِ فَإِنَّهَا تَقِي مَصَارِعَ الْهَوَانِ

And performing Hajj of the House and its Umrah for these two negate the poverty and wash away the sins and maintaining the kinship for it for it is an increaser in the wealth and a postponement in the death, and charity (given) in the secret for it expiates the sins, and the charity (given) in the open for it repels the evil death and doing an act of kindness for it saves from the despicable situations.

أَفِيضُوا فِي ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الذِّكْرِ وَ ارْغَبُوا فِيمَا وَعَدَ الْمُتَّقِينَ فَإِنَّ وَعْدَهُ أَصْدَقُ الْوَعْدِ وَ اقْتَدُوا بِهَدْيِ نَبِيِّكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ أَفْضَلُ الْهَدْيِ وَ اسْتَنُّوا بِسُنَّتِهِ فَإِنَّهَا أَهْدَى السُّنَنِ‏

Be abundant in the Zikr of Allah^-azwj for it is the most excellent Zikr, and be desirous regarding what He^-azwj has Promised the pious ones for His^-azwj Promise is the most truthful of the Promises, and be led by the guidance of your Prophet^-saww for it is the best guidance, and conduct by his^-saww Sunnah for it is the most guiding of the conducts.

فضل القرآن‏

Merits of the Quran

وَ تَعَلَّمُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْحَدِيثِ وَ تَفَقَّهُوا فِيهِ فَإِنَّهُ رَبِيعُ الْقُلُوبِ وَ اسْتَشْفُوا بِنُورِهِ فَإِنَّهُ شِفَاءُ الصُّدُورِ وَ أَحْسِنُوا تِلَاوَتَهُ فَإِنَّهُ أَنْفَعُ الْقَصَصِ

And learn the Quran, for it is the most excellent Hadeeth, and ponder in it for it is a spring of the hearts and be healed by its light for it is a cure of the chests, and improve in its recitation for it is the most beneficial of the stories.

وَ إِنَّ الْعَالِمَ الْعَامِلَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمِهِ كَالْجَاهِلِ الْحَائِرِ الَّذِي لَا يَسْتَفِيقُ مِنْ جَهْلِهِ بَلِ الْحُجَّةُ عَلَيْهِ أَعْظَمُ وَ الْحَسْرَةُ لَهُ أَلْزَمُ وَ هُوَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَلْوَمُ‏

The scholar, the one acting without his knowledge is like the confused ignorant one who does not wake up from his ignorance, but the argument upon him is greater, and the regret for him is more necessitated, and he would be reproached in the Presence of Allah^-azwj’.[20]

111 و من خطبة له ع في ذم الدنيا

Sermon 111 – And from a sermon of his^-asws in condemnation of the world

أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي أُحَذِّرُكُمُ الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّهَا حُلْوَةٌ خَضِرَةٌ حُفَّتْ بِالشَّهَوَاتِ وَ تَحَبَّبَتْ بِالْعَاجِلَةِ وَ رَاقَتْ بِالْقَلِيلِ وَ تَحَلَّتْ بِالْآمَالِ وَ تَزَيَّنَتْ بِالْغُرُورِ لَا تَدُومُ حَبْرَتُهَا وَ لَا تُؤْمَنُ فَجْعَتُهَا

‘As for after, I^-asws caution your all of the world, for it is sweet, green, surrounded by the lustful desires, and it causes to be beloved with the current (life), and it excites with the little and ornaments with the long hopes, and adorns with the deception. It’s joy is not permanent, nor it is safe from its sudden afflictions.

غَرَّارَةٌ ضَرَّارَةٌ حَائِلَةٌ زَائِلَةٌ نَافِدَةٌ بَائِدَةٌ أَكَّالَةٌ غَوَّالَةٌ لَا تَعْدُو إِذَا تَنَاهَتْ إِلَى أُمْنِيَّةِ أَهْلِ الرَّغْبَةِ فِيهَا وَ الرِّضَاءِ بِهَا أَنْ تَكُونَ كَمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى سُبْحَانَهُ- كَماءٍ أَنْزَلْناهُ مِنَ السَّماءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَباتُ الْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيماً تَذْرُوهُ الرِّياحُ‏ وَ كانَ اللَّهُ عَلى‏ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مُقْتَدِراً

(It is) deceptive, harmful, declining, depleting, remote, devouring, afflicting. When it goes away, it does not return to the wishes of the people desirous regarding it and are satisfied with it. It becomes like what Allah^-azwj the Exalted, the Glorious has Said: like water We Send it from the sky, so it mingles with the vegetation of the earth, then it becomes shattered which the winds scatter. And Allah was always Able upon all things, Powerful [18:45].

لَمْ يَكُنِ امْرُؤٌ مِنْهَا فِي حَبْرَةٍ إِلَّا أَعْقَبَتْهُ بَعْدَهَا عَبْرَةً وَ لَمْ يَلْقَ فِي [مِنْ‏] سَرَّائِهَا بَطْناً إِلَّا مَنَحَتْهُ مِنْ ضَرَّائِهَا ظَهْراً – وَ لَمْ تَطُلَّهُ‏ فِيهَا دِيمَةُ رَخَاءٍ إِلَّا هَتَنَتْ‏ عَلَيْهِ مُزْنَةُ بَلَاءٍ وَ حَرِيٌّ إِذَا أَصْبَحَتْ لَهُ مُنْتَصِرَةً أَنْ تُمْسِيَ لَهُ مُتَنَكِّرَةً وَ إِنْ جَانِبٌ مِنْهَا اعْذَوْذَبَ وَ احْلَوْلَى أَمَرَّ مِنْهَا جَانِبٌ فَأَوْبَى

A person does not happen to be in joy from it except it’s consequence after it are tears, and no one faces its happiness inside except he is Tested from its harms at the back, and light rain of hope does not drizzle in it except the downpour of afflictions crash upon him, and it is apt when it is supportive to him in the morning, in the evening it would be in denial to him, and if a side from it is pleasant and sweet, (another) side from it would be a bitter plague.

لَا يَنَالُ امْرُؤٌ مِنْ غَضَارَتِهَا رَغَباً إِلَّا أَرْهَقَتْهُ‏ مِنْ نَوَائِبِهَا تَعَباً وَ لَا يُمْسِي مِنْهَا فِي جَنَاحِ أَمْنٍ إِلَّا أَصْبَحَ عَلَى قَوَادِمِ‏ خَوْفٍ غَرَّارَةٌ غُرُورٌ مَا فِيهَا فَانِيَةٌ فَانٍ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا لَا خَيْرَ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ أَزْوَادِهَا إِلَّا التَّقْوَى-

No person will attain from its bounties in desire, except exhaustion will tear him apart from its incisors, nor will he come to an evening from it in the wings of safety except in the morning he will be upon the wingtips of fear. A deceitful deception. Whatever is in it is perishable, so are the ones upon it. There is no good it its provisions except the piety.

مَنْ أَقَلَّ مِنْهَا اسْتَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يُؤْمِنُهُ وَ مَنِ اسْتَكْثَرَ مِنْهَا اسْتَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يُوبِقُهُ‏ 1508 وَ زَالَ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ عَنْهُ

On who takes little from it will have a lot from what he will be safe in, and the one who takes a lot from it, will have taken a lot from what would ruin him, and after a little while it will decline away from him.

كَمْ مِنْ وَاثِقٍ بِهَا قَدْ فَجَعَتْهُ وَ ذِي طُمَأْنِينَةٍ إِلَيْهَا قَدْ صَرَعَتْهُ وَ ذِي أُبَّهَةٍ قَدْ جَعَلَتْهُ حَقِيراً وَ ذِي نَخْوَةٍ قَدْ رَدَّتْهُ ذَلِيلًا

How many trusted with it, it distressed him, and one with reassurance to him, it knocked him down, and with prestige, but it make him lowly, and with pride, it regressed him as disgraced.

سُلْطَانُهَا دُوَّلٌ‏ وَ عَيْشُهَا [رَنَقٌ‏] رَنِقٌ‏ وَ عَذْبُهَا أُجَاجٌ‏ وَ حُلْوُهَا صَبِرٌ وَ غِذَاؤُهَا سِمَامٌ‏ وَ أَسْبَابُهَا رِمَامٌ‏ حَيُّهَا بِعَرَضِ مَوْتٍ وَ صَحِيحُهَا بِعَرَضِ سُقْمٍ مُلْكُهَا مَسْلُوبٌ وَ عَزِيزُهَا مَغْلُوبٌ وَ مَوْفُورُهَا مَنْكُوبٌ وَ جَارُهَا مَحْرُوبٌ‏

It’s authority rotates, and its life is dirty, and its freshness is bitter, and its sweet is sour, and its feed is poisonous, and its means are weak. Its life is exposed to death, and its health is exposed to sickness. Its kingdom is confiscated, and its mighty are overcome, and its affluent are impoverished, and its neighbour is plundered.

‏ أَ لَسْتُمْ فِي مَسَاكِنِ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ أَطْوَلَ أَعْمَاراً وَ أَبْقَى آثَاراً وَ أَبْعَدَ آمَالًا وَ أَعَدَّ عَدِيداً وَ أَكْثَفَ جُنُوداً تَعَبَّدُوا لِلدُّنْيَا أَيَّ تَعَبُّدٍ وَ آثَرُوهَا أَيَّ إِيْثَارٍ ثُمَّ ظَعَنُوا عَنْهَا بِغَيْرِ زَادٍ مُبَلِّغٍ وَ لَا ظَهْرٍ قَاطِعٍ‏

Aren’t you all in dwellings of the ones who were before you. They were of longer lifespans, and more lasting impacts, and far-reaching hopes, and were of larger numbers, and mightier armies? They were servants to the world with whichever servitude, and they preferred it with whichever preference, then they departed from it without any far-reaching provision, nor any back (riding animal) to cut across (the journey).

فَهَلْ بَلَغَكُمْ أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا سَخَتْ لَهُمْ نَفْساً بِفِدْيَةٍ أَوْ أَعَانَتْهُمْ بِمَعُونَةٍ أَوْ أَحْسَنَتْ لَهُمْ‏ صُحْبَةً بَلْ أَرْهَقَتْهُمْ بِالْقَوَادِحِ‏ وَ أَوْهَقَتْهُمْ بِالْقَوَارِعِ‏ وَ ضَعْضَعَتْهُمْ‏ بِالنَّوَائِبِ وَ عَفَّرَتْهُمْ‏ لِلْمَنَاخِرِ وَ وَطِئَتْهُمْ بِالْمَنَاسِمِ‏ وَ أَعَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ رَيْبَ الْمَنُونِ

Has it reached you that the world had exerted itself for them with a ransom, or supported them with any support, or improved accompaniment for them? But it afflicted them with the troubles, and afflicted them with the calamities, and humiliated them with the catastrophes, and flung them upon their noses, and trampled them with the hooves, and the passage of time assisted against them.

فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُمْ تَنَكُّرَهَا لِمَنْ دَانَ لَهَا وَ آثَرَهَا وَ أَخْلَدَ إِلَيْهَا حِينَ ظَعَنُوا عَنْهَا لِفِرَاقِ الْأَبَدِ وَ هَلْ زَوَّدَتْهُمْ إِلَّا السَّغَبَ‏ أَوْ أَحَلَّتْهُمْ إِلَّا الضَّنْكَ‏ أَوْ نَوَّرَتْ لَهُمْ إِلَّا الظُّلْمَةَ أَوْ أَعْقَبَتْهُمْ إِلَّا النَّدَامَةَ

You have seen its denial to the one who went near it, and preferred it, and inclined to it when they departed from it for the separation forever. Did it provide them except the hunger, or released them except to the narrowness (of the grave), or irradiated for them except the darkness, consequential to them except the regret?

أَ فَهَذِهِ تُؤْثِرُونَ أَمْ إِلَيْهَا تَطْمَئِنُّونَ أَمْ عَلَيْهَا تَحْرِصُونَ فَبِئْسَتِ الدَّارُ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَتَّهِمْهَا وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهَا عَلَى وَجَلٍ مِنْهَا

Is it this you are preferring, or are being reassured to, or are being greedy upon? Evil is the house for the one who did not accuse it and did not happen to be in upon a dread from it.

فَاعْلَمُوا وَ أَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ بِأَنَّكُمْ تَارِكُوهَا وَ ظَاعِنُونَ عَنْهَا وَ اتَّعِظُوا فِيهَا بِالَّذِينَ قَالُوا- مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً حُمِلُوا إِلَى قُبُورِهِمْ فَلَا يُدْعَوْنَ رُكْبَاناً وَ أُنْزِلُوا الْأَجْدَاثَ‏ فَلَا يُدْعَوْنَ ضِيفَاناً وَ جُعِلَ لَهُمْ مِنَ الصَّفِيحِ‏ أَجْنَانٌ‏ وَ مِنَ التُّرَابِ أَكْفَانٌ وَ مِنَ الرُّفَاتِ‏ جِيرَانٌ

Therefore know, and you are already knowing, that you will be leaving it, and departing from it, and take preaching in it with the ones who had said, ‘‘Who is stronger than us in prowess [41:15]?’ They were carried to their graves, but were not called riders, and they were lodged in their graves but are not called ‘guests’, and graves were made for them from the earth, and shrouds from the soil, and neighbours of the old bones.

فَهُمْ جِيرَةٌ لَا يُجِيبُونَ دَاعِياً وَ لَا يَمْنَعُونَ ضَيْماً وَ لَا يُبَالُونَ مَنْدَبَةً إِنْ جِيدُوا لَمْ يَفْرَحُوا وَ إِنْ قُحِطُوا لَمْ يَقْنَطُوا

They are neighbours not answering any caller, nor can they prevent any wrong, nor do they care about a mourner. If it rains, they do not rejoice, and if there is drought, they do not despair.

جَمِيعٌ وَ هُمْ آحَادٌ وَ جِيرَةٌ وَ هُمْ أَبْعَادٌ مُتَدَانُونَ لَا يَتَزَاوَرُونَ وَ قَرِيبُونَ لَا يَتَقَارَبُونَ

They are together while they are along, and neighbours while being distant. They are near to each other, and they are not visiting each other, and they are near but are not coming closer to each other.

حُلَمَاءُ قَدْ ذَهَبَتْ أَضْغَانُهُمْ وَ جُهَلَاءُ قَدْ مَاتَتْ أَحْقَادُهُمْ لَا يُخْشَى فَجْعُهُمْ‏ وَ لَا يُرْجَى دَفْعُهُمْ اسْتَبْدَلُوا بِظَهْرِ الْأَرْضِ بَطْناً وَ بِالسَّعَةِ ضِيقاً وَ بِالْأَهْلِ غُرْبَةً وَ بِالنُّورِ ظُلْمَةً

They are forbearing whose grudges have gone away, and ignoramuses whose malice has died. They do not fear their sudden harms, nor do they hope for any defence. They were replaced the surface of the earth with its belly, and the vastness with narrowness, and the people will loneliness, the light with the darkness.

فَجَاءُوهَا كَمَا فَارَقُوهَا حُفَاةً عُرَاةً قَدْ ظَعَنُوا عَنْهَا بِأَعْمَالِهِمْ إِلَى الْحَيَاةِ الدَّائِمَةِ وَ الدَّارِ الْبَاقِيَةِ كَمَا قَالَ سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى- كَما بَدَأْنا أَوَّلَ خَلْقٍ نُعِيدُهُ وَعْداً عَلَيْنا إِنَّا كُنَّا فاعِلِينَ‏

They have come to it just as they had separated it – bare-footed, naked. They departed from it with their deeds to the permanent life and the ever-lasting House, like what the Glorious and Exalted Said: Just as We Began the first creation, We will Repeat it, being a Promise upon Us. We will certainly be Doing it! [21:104]’’.[21]

112 و من خطبة له ع ذكر فيها ملك الموت و توفية النفس و عجز الخلق عن وصف اللّه‏

Sermon 112 – And from a sermon of his^-asws mentioning in it the Angel of death, and expiry of the soul (person), and frustration of the creatures from describing Allah^-azwj

هَلْ تُحِسُّ [يُحَسُ‏] بِهِ إِذَا دَخَلَ مَنْزِلًا أَمْ هَلْ تَرَاهُ إِذَا تَوَفَّى أَحَداً بَلْ كَيْفَ يَتَوَفَّى الْجَنِينَ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ أَ يَلِجُ‏ 1537 عَلَيْهِ مِنْ بَعْضِ جَوَارِحِهَا أَمْ الرُّوحُ أَجَابَتْهُ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا أَمْ هُوَ سَاكِنٌ مَعَهُ فِي أَحْشَائِهَا كَيْفَ يَصِفُ إِلَهَهُ مَنْ يَعْجَزُ عَنْ صِفَةِ مَخْلُوقٍ مِثْلِهِ‏

‘Can he (the Angel of death) be felt with when he enters a house? Or do you see him when he causes someone to die? How he causes the foetus to die in the belly of its mother, does he emerge upon him from one of her limbs? Or they should respond to him by the Permission of its Lord^-azwj? Or was he dwelling with him in her interior? How can he describe his God^-azwj, one who is unable from describing a creature like him (Angel of death)?’[22]

113 و من خطبة له ع في ذم الدنيا

Sermon 113 – And from a sermon of his^-asws in condemnation of the world

وَ أُحَذِّرُكُمُ الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّهَا مَنْزِلُ قُلْعَةٍ وَ لَيْسَتْ بِدَارِ نُجْعَةٍ قَدْ تَزَيَّنَتْ بِغُرُورِهَا وَ غَرَّتْ بِزِينَتِهَا- [دَارٌ] دَارُهَا هَانَتْ عَلَى رَبِّهَا فَخَلَطَ حَلَالَهَا بِحَرَامِهَا وَ خَيْرَهَا بِشَرِّهَا وَ حَيَاتَهَا بِمَوْتِهَا وَ حُلْوَهَا بِمُرِّهَا

‘And I^-asws caution you all of the world, for it is at the status of temporary (accommodation), and it isn’t a house for acquisition. It has adorned by its deceptions and has deceived by its adornments. A house which is lowly unto its Lord^-azwj. He^-azwj has Mingled its Permissible with its Prohibited, and its good with its evil, and its life with its death, and its sweet with its bitter.

لَمْ يُصْفِهَا اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لِأَوْلِيَائِهِ وَ لَمْ يَضِنَّ بِهَا [عَنْ‏] عَلَى أَعْدَائِهِ خَيْرُهَا زَهِيدٌ وَ شَرُّهَا عَتِيدٌ وَ جَمْعُهَا يَنْفَدُ وَ مُلْكُهَا يُسْلَبُ وَ عَامِرُهَا يَخْرَبُ فَمَا خَيْرُ دَارٍ تُنْقَضُ نَقْضَ الْبِنَاءِ وَ عُمُرٍ يَفْنَى فِيهَا فَنَاءَ الزَّادِ وَ مُدَّةٍ تَنْقَطِعُ انْقِطَاعَ السَّيْرِ

Allah^-azwj the Exalted has not Prescribed it for His^-azwj friends and He^-azwj is not miserly about it from His^-azwj enemies. It’s good is scarce and its evil is (ever) present, and its acquisitions will deplete, and its kingdom will be stripped, and its buildings ruined. So what is good about a house which breaks like the demolished building, and a lifespan perishes in it like the perishing provision, and a term cuts across like the passing of the walking by?

اجْعَلُوا مَا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ [طَلِبَتِكُمْ‏] طَلَبِكُمْ وَ اسْأَلُوهُ مِنْ أَدَاءِ حَقِّهِ [كَمَا] مَا سَأَلَكُمْ وَ أَسْمِعُوا دَعْوَةَ الْمَوْتِ آذَانَكُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُدْعَى بِكُمْ

Make whatever Allah^-azwj has Imposed upon you (to be) from your demands and ask Him^-azwj of fulfilling His^-azwj rights like what He^-azwj as Asked you to and listen to the call of death by your ears before it calls upon you.

إِنَّ الزَّاهِدِينَ فِي الدُّنْيَا تَبْكِي قُلُوبُهُمْ وَ إِنْ ضَحِكُوا وَ يَشْتَدُّ حُزْنُهُمْ وَ إِنْ فَرِحُوا وَ يَكْثُرُ مَقْتُهُمْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَ إِنِ اغْتَبَطُوا بِمَا رُزِقُوا

The ascetics in the world, their hearts are crying and even if they are laughing, and their grief is intense and even if they are happy, and they hate themselves and even if they are being envied for what they have been Graced.

قَدْ غَابَ عَنْ قُلُوبِكُمْ ذِكْرُ الْآجَالِ وَ حَضَرَتْكُمْ كَوَاذِبُ الْآمَالِ فَصَارَتِ الدُّنْيَا أَمْلَكَ بِكُمْ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ الْعَاجِلَةُ أَذْهَبَ بِكُمْ مِنَ الْآجِلَةِ

Remembrance of the deaths has disappeared from your hearts, and the long hopes are presented to you. So the world has become more owning with you than the Hereafter is, and the current has gone away with you from the future.

وَ إِنَّمَا أَنْتُمْ إِخْوَانٌ عَلَى دِينِ اللَّهِ مَا فَرَّقَ بَيْنَكُمْ إِلَّا خُبْثُ السَّرَائِرِ وَ سُوءُ الضَّمَائِرِ فَلَا تَوَازَرُونَ وَ لَا تَنَاصَحُونَ وَ لَا تَبَاذَلُونَ وَ لَا تَوَادُّونَ

And rather, you are brethren upon the religion of Allah^-azwj. There is no difference between you all except the wicked secrets, and the evil consciences. So you are neither bearing each other’s burdens, nor advising each other, nor spending on each other, nor being cordial to each other.

مَا بَالُكُمْ تَفْرَحُونَ بِالْيَسِيرِ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا تُدْرِكُونَهُ وَ لَا يَحْزُنُكُمُ الْكَثِيرُ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ تُحْرَمُونَهُ وَ يُقْلِقُكُمُ الْيَسِيرُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا يَفُوتُكُمْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ ذَلِكَ فِي وُجُوهِكُمْ وَ قِلَّةِ صَبْرِكُمْ عَمَّا زُوِيَ‏ مِنْهَا عَنْكُمْ كَأَنَّهَا دَارُ مُقَامِكُمْ وَ كَأَنَّ مَتَاعَهَا بَاقٍ عَلَيْكُمْ

What is the matter with you all? You are rejoicing with the little from the world you are achieving, and you are not grieving at the more from the Hereafter you are being deprived of, and the little from the world which you lose worries you until that is manifested in your faces, and your lack of patience from what has been impeded from you from it. It is as if it is a house of your (permanent) stay, and it is as if its chattels are to remain upon you!

وَ مَا يَمْنَعُ أَحَدَكُمْ أَنْ يَسْتَقْبِلَ أَخَاهُ بِمَا يَخَافُ مِنْ عَيْبِهِ إِلَّا مَخَافَةُ أَنْ يَسْتَقْبِلَهُ بِمِثْلِهِ قَدْ تَصَافَيْتُمْ عَلَى رَفْضِ الْآجِلِ وَ حُبِّ الْعَاجِلِ وَ صَارَ دِينُ أَحَدِكُمْ لُعْقَةً عَلَى لِسَانِهِ صَنِيعَ مَنْ قَدْ فَرَغَ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ وَ أَحْرَزَ [رِضَا] رِضَى سَيِّدِهِ‏

And nothing prevents one of you to face his brother with what he fears from his faults, except he fears that he will be faced with similar to it. You have compromised upon rejecting the future and loving the current, and the religion of one of you has become a lick upon his tongue. A making of the one who is free from his work and has attained the satisfaction of his master’.[23]

114 و من خطبة له ع و فيها مواعظ للناس

Sermon 114 – And from a sermon of his^-asws, and in it is preaching to the people

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الْوَاصِلِ الْحَمْدَ بِالنِّعَمِ وَ النِّعَمَ بِالشُّكْرِ نَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى آلَائِهِ كَمَا نَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى بَلَائِهِ وَ نَسْتَعِينُهُ عَلَى هَذِهِ النُّفُوسِ الْبِطَاءِ عَمَّا أُمِرَتْ بِهِ السِّرَاعِ‏ إِلَى مَا نُهِيَتْ عَنْهُ

The Praise is for Allah^-azwj the Connector of the praise with the bounty, and the bounty with the thanks! We^-asws thank Allah^-azwj upon His^-azwj Favours like what we^-asws praise Him^-azwj upon the afflictions, and we^-asws seek His^-azwj Assistance against these souls who are slow to what has been Commanded with, quick to what has been Prohibited from.

وَ نَسْتَغْفِرُهُ مِمَّا أَحَاطَ بِهِ عِلْمُهُ وَ أَحْصَاهُ كِتَابُهُ عِلْمٌ غَيْرُ قَاصِرٍ وَ كِتَابٌ غَيْرُ مُغَادِرٍ وَ نُؤْمِنُ بِهِ إِيمَانَ مَنْ عَايَنَ الْغُيُوبَ وَ وَقَفَ عَلَى الْمَوْعُودِ إِيمَاناً نَفَى إِخْلَاصُهُ الشِّرْكَ وَ يَقِينُهُ الشَّكَّ

And we^-asws seek Forgiveness from what His^-azwj Knowledge Encompasses with, and His^-azwj Book has counted, Knowledge which is not deficient, and a Book without omission; and we^-asws believe in Him^-azwj, the Eman of the one who has witnessed the hidden matters, and pausing upon the Promised (Rewards), Eman the sincerity of which negates the Shirk, and certainty (negating) the doubt.

وَ نَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ شَهَادَتَيْنِ تُصْعِدَانِ الْقَوْلَ وَ تَرْفَعَانِ الْعَمَلَ لَا يَخِفُّ مِيزَانٌ تُوضَعَانِ فِيهِ وَ لَا يَثْقُلُ مِيزَانٌ تُرْفَعَانِ [مِنْهُ‏] عَنْهُ

And we^-asws testify that there is no god except Allah^-azwj Alone, there is no associate for Him^-azwj, and that Muhammad^-saww, may the Salawaat of Allah^-azwj be upon him^-saww and his^-saww Progeny^-asws and greetings, is His^-azwj servant and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww. Two testimonies ascending the word and raising the deed. A scale will not be light when these are placed in it, nor will a scale be heavy these are raised away from it.

أُوصِيكُمْ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ الَّتِي هِيَ الزَّادُ وَ بِهَا الْمَعَاذُ زَادٌ مُبْلِغٌ وَ مَعَاذٌ مُنْجِحٌ دَعَا إِلَيْهَا أَسْمَعُ دَاعٍ وَ وَعَاهَا خَيْرُ وَاعٍ فَأَسْمَعَ دَاعِيهَا وَ فَازَ وَاعِيهَا

Servants of Allah^-azwj! I^-asws hereby advise you with fearing Allah^-azwj, (piety) which is the provision, and by it is the refuge (Hereafter) with extensive provision, and a successful refuge. He^-saww called to it, the best of the callers to make listen, and the best of the retainers retained it. Its caller has made (all) to listen, and its retainer succeeded (in retaining).

عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ تَقْوَى اللَّهِ حَمَتْ‏ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ مَحَارِمَهُ وَ أَلْزَمَتْ قُلُوبَهُمْ مَخَافَتَهُ حَتَّى أَسْهَرَتْ لَيَالِيَهُمْ وَ أَظْمَأَتْ هَوَاجِرَهُمْ‏

Servants of Allah^-azwj! Surely the fear of Allah^-azwj has protected the friends of Allah^-azwj from His^-azwj Prohibitions and necessitated their hearts with fearing Him^-azwj to the extent they were awake their nights (praying Salat) and were thirsty their hot days (fasting).

فَأَخَذُوا الرَّاحَةَ بِالنَّصَبِ‏ وَ الرِّيَّ بِالظَّمَإِ وَ اسْتَقْرَبُوا الْأَجَلَ‏ فَبَادَرُوا الْعَمَلَ وَ كَذَّبُوا الْأَمَلَ فَلَاحَظُوا الْأَجَلَ

They took the rest with the toil and the saturation with the thirst, and they considered the death to have drawn near so they rushed to the (good) deeds, and they belied the long hopes and kept the death in their (every) glance.

ثُمَّ إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا دَارُ فَنَاءٍ وَ عَنَاءٍ وَ غِيَرٍ وَ عِبَرٍ فَمِنَ الْفَنَاءِ أَنَّ الدَّهْرَ مُوتِرٌ قَوْسَهُ‏ لَا تُخْطِئُ سِهَامُهُ وَ لَا تُؤْسَى‏ جِرَاحُهُ يَرْمِي الْحَيَّ بِالْمَوْتِ وَ الصَّحِيحَ بِالسَّقَمِ وَ النَّاجِيَ بِالْعَطَبِ آكِلٌ لَا يَشْبَعُ وَ شَارِبٌ لَا يَنْقَعُ‏

Then, the world is a house of perishing, and tiredness, and fluctuations, and lessons. From the perishing is that the time is a string of its bow whose arrow does not miss, nor does its injury heal. It shoots at the living with the death, and the healthy with the sickness, and the survivor with the tiredness. An eater who is not satiated and a drinker who is not saturated.

وَ مِنَ الْعَنَاءِ أَنَّ الْمَرْءَ يَجْمَعُ مَا لَا يَأْكُلُ وَ يَبْنِي مَا لَا يَسْكُنُ ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى لَا مَالًا حَمَلَ وَ لَا بِنَاءً نَقَلَ

And from the tiredness is that the person amasses what he does not consume, and builds what he does not dwell in. Then he goes out to Allah^-azwj the Exalted, neither carrying any wealth nor transferring any building.

وَ مِنْ غِيَرِهَا أَنَّكَ تَرَى الْمَرْحُومَ مَغْبُوطاً وَ الْمَغْبُوطَ مَرْحُوماً لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ إِلَّا نَعِيماً زَلَ‏ وَ بُؤْساً نَزَلَ

And from its fluctuations is, you see the deprived one being envied, and the envied one being deprived. That isn’t except bounties having declined afflictions having befallen.

وَ مِنْ عِبَرِهَا أَنَّ الْمَرْءَ يُشْرِفُ عَلَى أَمَلِهِ فَيَقْتَطِعُهُ حُضُورُ أَجَلِهِ فَلَا أَمَلٌ يُدْرَكُ وَ لَا مُؤَمَّلٌ يُتْرَكُ

And from its lessons is, the person in on the verge of (realising) his hopes, but the presence of his death cuts him off, so neither is the hope realised nor is the hoping one spared.

فَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ مَا أَعَزَّ سُرُورَهَا وَ أَظْمَأَ رِيَّهَا وَ أَضْحَى فَيْئَهَا لَا جَاءٍ يُرَدُّ وَ لَا مَاضٍ يَرْتَدُّ

Glory be to Allah^-azwj! How deceptive is its happiness, and how thirsty is its saturation, and how sunny is its shade. Neither can the comer (death) be returned nor does the one going away return.

فَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ مَا أَقْرَبَ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ لِلَحَاقِهِ بِهِ وَ أَبْعَدَ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ لِانْقِطَاعِهِ عَنْهُ

Glory be to Allah^-azwj! How near is the living from the death for the joining with him, and how distant is the dead from the living due to the cutting off from him.

إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ شَيْ‏ءٌ بِشَرٍّ مِنَ الشَّرِّ إِلَّا عِقَابُهُ وَ لَيْسَ شَيْ‏ءٌ بِخَيْرٍ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ إِلَّا ثَوَابُهُ

Surely there isn’t anything eviler than the evil except its Punishment, and there isn’t anything better than the good except its Reward.

وَ كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا سَمَاعُهُ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ عِيَانِهِ وَ كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ عِيَانُهُ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ سَمَاعِهِ فَلْيَكْفِكُمْ مِنَ الْعِيَانِ السَّمَاعُ وَ مِنَ الْغَيْبِ الْخَبَرُ

And everything from the world, its hearing is mightier than its witnessing, and everything from the Hereafter, its witnessing is mightier than its hearing. So let yourselves be sufficed by the hearing from the witnessing, and the news from the hidden matters.

وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ مَا نَقَصَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَ زَادَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا نَقَصَ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ زَادَ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَكَمْ مِنْ مَنْقُوصٍ رَابِحٍ وَ مَزِيدٍ خَاسِرٍ

And know that whatever is deficient from the world and additional in the Hereafter is better than what is deficient from the Hereafter and additional in the world. How many of a deficiency is profitable, and additions are a loss.

إِنَّ الَّذِي أُمِرْتُمْ بِهِ أَوْسَعُ مِنَ الَّذِي نُهِيتُمْ عَنْهُ وَ مَا أُحِلَ‏ لَكُمْ أَكْثَرُ مِمَّا حُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَذَرُوا مَا قَلَّ لِمَا كَثُرَ وَ مَا ضَاقَ لِمَا اتَّسَعَ

That which you have been Commanded with is more capacious than which you have been Prohibited from, and what is Permissible for you is more than what is Prohibited unto you all. Therefore leave aside what is less for what is more, and what is narrow for what is capacious.

قَدْ تَكَفَّلَ لَكُمْ بِالرِّزْقِ وَ أُمِرْتُمْ بِالْعَمَلِ فَلَا يَكُونَنَّ الْمَضْمُونُ لَكُمْ طَلَبُهُ أَوْلَى بِكُمْ مِنَ الْمَفْرُوضِ عَلَيْكُمْ عَمَلُهُ مَعَ أَنَّهُ وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدِ اعْتَرَضَ الشَّكُّ وَ [دَخَلَ‏] دَخِلَ الْيَقِينُ‏ حَتَّى كَأَنَّ الَّذِي ضُمِنَ لَكُمْ قَدْ فُرِضَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ كَأَنَّ الَّذِي قَدْ فُرِضَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَدْ [وَضِعَ‏] وُضِعَ عَنْكُمْ

He^-azwj has Guaranteed to you all of the sustenance and has Commanded you with the working, so seeking the guaranteed should not be foremost with you than what its working is obligated upon you, along with that surely, by Allah^-azwj, the doubt has objected and entered the certainty to the extent that it is as if that which is guaranteed to you all has been obligated upon you, and it is as if that which has been obligated upon you has been dropped off from you.

فَبَادِرُوا الْعَمَلَ وَ خَافُوا بَغْتَةَ الْأَجَلِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُرْجَى مِنْ رَجْعَةِ الْعُمُرِ مَا يُرْجَى مِنْ رَجْعَةِ الرِّزْقِ مَا فَاتَ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ رُجِيَ غَداً زِيَادَتُهُ وَ مَا فَاتَ أَمْسِ مِنَ الْعُمُرِ لَمْ يُرْجَ الْيَوْمَ رَجْعَتُهُ الرَّجَاءُ مَعَ الْجَائِي وَ الْيَأْسُ مَعَ الْمَاضِي فَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقاتِهِ وَ لا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَ أَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ‏

Therefore rush to the work (good deeds) and fear the suddenness of the death, for the return of the lifespan cannot be hoped for what can be hoped of the return of sustenance. Whatever has been missed out today from the sustenance it’s more will return tomorrow, and whatever had been missed out yesterday from the lifespan, its return cannot be hoped for. The hoping is with the coming (matters), and the despair is with the past. Fear Allah as is His right to be feared and do not be dying except and you are submitters [3:102]’.[24]

115 و من خطبة له ع في الاستسقاء

Sermon 115 – And from a sermon of his^-asws regarding praying for the rain

اللَّهُمَّ قَدِ انْصَاحَتْ‏ جِبَالُنَا وَ اغْبَرَّتْ أَرْضُنَا وَ هَامَتْ‏ دَوَابُّنَا وَ تَحَيَّرَتْ فِي مَرَابِضِهَا وَ عَجَّتْ عَجِيجَ الثَّكَالَى‏ عَلَى أَوْلَادِهَا وَ مَلَّتِ التَّرَدُّدَ فِي مَرَاتِعِهَا وَ الْحَنِينَ إِلَى مَوَارِدِهَا

‘O Allah^-azwj! Our mountains have dried up, and our land is dusty, and our animals are upon their faces and are bewildered in their enclosures and are clamouring at the top of their voices of the bereaved upon their young ones, and they are going in their pastures and yearning is to their watering places.

اللَّهُمَّ فَارْحَمْ أَنِينَ الْآنَّةِ وَ حَنِينَ الْحَانَّةِ

O Allah^-azwj! Have Mercy on the bleating of the sheep and the groaning of the camels.

اللَّهُمَّ فَارْحَمْ حَيْرَتَهَا فِي مَذَاهِبِهَا وَ أَنِينَهَا فِي مَوَالِجِهَا

O Allah^-azwj! Have Mercy on their bewilderment in their going and their groaning in their shelters.

اللَّهُمَّ خَرَجْنَا إِلَيْكَ حِينَ اعْتَكَرَتْ عَلَيْنَا حَدَابِيرُ السِّنِينَ وَ أَخْلَفَتْنَا مَخَايِلُ الْجُودِ فَكُنْتَ‏ الرَّجَاءَ لِلْمُبْتَئِسِ وَ الْبَلَاغَ لِلْمُلْتَمِسِ‏ نَدْعُوكَ حِينَ قَنَطَ الْأَنَامُ وَ مُنِعَ الْغَمَامُ وَ هَلَكَ السَّوَامُ‏

O Allah^-azwj! We have come out to You^-azwj when the stacking of the years have darkened upon us, and the imaginations of the rain-laden clouds have left us behind. You^-azwj are the hope of the afflicted ones and the Sufficer of the seekers. We are calling You^-azwj when the cattle have despaired, and the clouds have prevented, and the beasts have perished.

أَلَّا تُؤَاخِذَنَا بِأَعْمَالِنَا وَ لَا تَأْخُذَنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا وَ انْشُرْ عَلَيْنَا رَحْمَتَكَ بِالسَّحَابِ الْمُنْبَعِقِ‏ وَ الرَّبِيعِ الْمُغْدِقِ‏ النَّبَاتِ الْمُونِقِ‏ سَحّاً وَابِلًا تُحْيِي بِهِ مَا قَدْ مَاتَ وَ تَرُدُّ بِهِ مَا قَدْ فَاتَ

Neither Seize us for our deeds nor Seize us for our sins, and Spread Your^-azwj Mercy upon us with the rain-bearing clouds, and an amazing spring, and the blossoming vegetation, and a torrential downpour reviving by it what has died, and returning by it what has been lost.

اللَّهُمَّ سُقْيَا مِنْكَ مُحْيِيَةً مُرْوِيَةً تَامَّةً عَامَّةً طَيِّبَةً مُبَارَكَةً هَنِيئَةً [مَريِئَةً] مَرِيعَةً زَاكِياً نَبْتُهَا ثَامِراً فَرْعُهَا نَاضِراً وَرَقُهَا تُنْعِشُ بِهَا الضَّعِيفَ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ وَ تُحْيِي بِهَا الْمَيِّتَ مِنْ بِلَادِكَ

O Allah^-azwj! Quench from You^-azwj and life-giving saturation, complete, general, good, Blessed, welcoming, pleasurable, pure, growing fruit on its branches, green leaves, re-invigorating Your^-azwj weak servants and reviving by it the dead (land) from your cities.

اللَّهُمَّ سُقْيَا مِنْكَ تُعْشِبُ بِهَا نِجَادُنَا وَ تَجْرِي بِهَا وِهَادُنَا وَ يُخْصِبُ بِهَا جَنَابُنَا وَ تُقْبِلُ بِهَا ثِمَارُنَا وَ تَعِيشُ بِهَا مَوَاشِينَا وَ تَنْدَى بِهَا أَقَاصِينَا وَ تَسْتَعِينُ بِهَا ضَوَاحِينَا مِنْ بَرَكَاتِكَ الْوَاسِعَةِ وَ عَطَايَاكَ الْجَزِيلَةِ عَلَى بَرِيَّتِكَ الْمُرْمِلَةِ وَ وَحْشِكَ الْمُهْمَلَةِ

O Allah^-azwj! Quench from You^-azwj, our highlands can live by it and our lowlands can be flowing with our rivers, and our sides can be green by it, and our fruits can come forth by it, and our livestock can live by it, and our outskirts can be watered by it, and our dry areas can be assisted by it from Your^-azwj capacious Blessings and Your^-azwj plentiful awards upon Your^-azwj poor citizens and Your^-azwj neglected beasts.

وَ أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا سَمَاءً مُخْضِلَةً مِدْرَاراً هَاطِلَةً يُدَافِعُ الْوَدْقُ مِنْهَا الْوَدْقَ‏ وَ يَحْفِزُ الْقَطْرُ مِنْهَا الْقَطْرَ غَيْرَ خُلَّبٍ بَرْقُهَا وَ لَا جَهَامٍ عَارِضُهَا وَ لَا قَزَعٍ رَبَابُهَا وَ لَا شَفَّانٍ ذِهَابُهَا حَتَّى يُخْصِبَ لِإِمْرَاعِهَا الْمُجْدِبُونَ وَ يَحْيَا بِبَرَكَتِهَا الْمُسْنِتُونَ‏ فَإِنَّكَ تُنْزِلُ‏ الْغَيْثَ مِنْ بَعْدِ ما قَنَطُوا وَ تَنْشُرُ رَحْمَتَكَ وَ أَنْتَ‏ الْوَلِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ

And Send down upon us the wet sky, downpour of rain, the drenching from it pushing the drenching, and the drop from it clashing with the drop, it’s lightning without deception, nor by the dry clouds, nor white clouds, nor of little rain, until the famine-stricken can be surviving, and can live by its abundant Blessings, for You^-azwj Send down the rain from after their having despaired, and You^-azwj Spread Your^-azwj Mercy, and You^-azwj are the Guardian, the Praise-worthy’.[25]

116 و من خطبة له ع و فيها ينصح أصحابه‏

Sermon 116 – And from a sermon of his^-asws, and in it he^-asws advises his^-asws companions

أَرْسَلَهُ دَاعِياً إِلَى الْحَقِّ وَ شَاهِداً عَلَى الْخَلْقِ فَبَلَّغَ رِسَالاتِ رَبِّهِ غَيْرَ وَانٍ‏ وَ لَا مُقَصِّرٍ وَ جَاهَدَ فِي اللَّهِ أَعْدَاءَهُ غَيْرَ وَاهِنٍ‏ وَ لَا مُعَذِّرٍ إِمَامُ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَ بَصَرُ مَنِ اهْتَدَى‏

‘He^-azwj Sent him^-saww as a caller to the truth, and as a witness upon the creatures. So, he^-saww delivered the Message of his^-saww Lord^-azwj without any weakness nor deficiency, and he^-saww fought in the Way of Allah^-azwj against His^-azwj enemies without any weakness nor excuse. He^-saww is an Imam^-saww of the ones who is pious and an insight for the one who is guided’.

و منها وَ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا أَعْلَمُ مِمَّا طُوِيَ عَنْكُمْ غَيْبُهُ إذاً لَخَرَجْتُمْ إِلَى الصُّعُدَاتِ‏ تَبْكُونَ عَلَى أَعْمَالِكُمْ وَ تَلْتَدِمُونَ‏ عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَ لَتَرَكْتُمْ أَمْوَالَكُمْ لَا حَارِسَ لَهَا وَ لَا خَالِفَ‏ عَلَيْهَا وَ لَهَمَّتْ‏ كُلَّ امْرِئٍ مِنْكُمْ نَفْسُهُ لَا يَلْتَفِتُ إِلَى غَيْرِهَا وَ لَكِنَّكُمْ نَسِيتُمْ مَا ذُكِّرْتُمْ وَ أَمِنْتُمْ مَا حُذِّرْتُمْ فَتَاهَ عَنْكُمْ رَأْيُكُمْ وَ تَشَتَّتَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَمْرُكُمْ

And from it – ‘And had you known what I^-asws know from what its unseen has been folded away from you, when you would have gone out to the high ground crying upon your deeds and beating upon yourselves and neglecting your wealth without there being any guard for it nor a replacement upon it, and every person from you would have been only concerned with himself not turning to others. But you forgot what you had been reminded of and you felt secure what you had been warned from. So, your views strayed away from you and your affairs were scattered upon you.

وَ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ فَرَّقَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ أَلْحَقَنِي بِمَنْ هُوَ أَحَقُّ بِي مِنْكُمْ قَوْمٌ وَ اللَّهِ مَيَامِينُ‏ الرَّأْيِ مَرَاجِيحُ‏ الْحِلْمِ مَقَاوِيلُ‏ بِالْحَقِّ مَتَارِيكُ‏ لِلْبَغْيِ مَضَوْا قُدُماً عَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ وَ أَوْجَفُوا عَلَى‏ الْمَحَجَّةِ فَظَفِرُوا بِالْعُقْبَى الدَّائِمَةِ وَ الْكَرَامَةِ الْبَارِدَةِ

And I^-asws would have loved it if Allah^-azwj would have Separated between me^-asws and you all and Joined me^-asws with the ones who are more rightful with me^-asws than you are. By Allah^-azwj! They were a people of rightful views, enduring wisdom, and speakers with the truth. They neglected the rebellion, continuing ahead upon the path eagerly upon the goal. They won with the end-result, the permanent and the blissful honours.

أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَيُسَلَّطَنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ غُلَامُ ثَقِيفٍ الذَّيَّالُ‏ الْمَيَّالُ يَأْكُلُ خَضِرَتَكُمْ وَ يُذِيبُ شَحْمَتَكُمْ إِيهٍ أَبَا وَذَحَةَ

But, by Allah^-azwj! A young boy of (clan of) Saqeef (Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf) will overcome upon you all, the tall, swaggering (arrogant). He would consume your greenery and melt your fat. He would (eventually) be killed by a dung-beetle!’[26]

117 و من كلام له ع يوبخ البخلاء بالمال و النفس‏

Sermon 117 – And from a speech of his^-asws rebuking the misers with the wealth and the (efforts of) the selves

فَلَا أَمْوَالَ بَذَلْتُمُوهَا لِلَّذِي رَزَقَهَا وَ لَا أَنْفُسَ خَاطَرْتُمْ بِهَا لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهَا تَكْرُمُونَ‏ بِاللَّهِ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ وَ لَا تُكْرِمُونَ اللَّهَ فِي عِبَادِهِ فَاعْتَبِرُوا بِنُزُولِكُمْ مَنَازِلَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ وَ انْقِطَاعِكُمْ عَنْ أَوْصَلِ إِخْوَانِكُمْ‏

‘There is no wealth which you are spending for the One^-azwj Who has Graced you with it, nor risking yourselves for the One^-azwj Who Created these (souls). You are being honoured by Allah^-azwj upon His^-azwj servants, and you are not honouring Allah^-azwj among His^-azwj servants. Take lessons with your places, the places of the ones who were before you, and their being cut off from connection of your brothers’.[27]

118 و من كلام له ع في الصالحين من أصحابه‏

Sermon 118 – And from a speech of his^-asws regarding the righteous ones from his^-asws companions

أَنْتُمُ الْأَنْصَارُ عَلَى الْحَقِّ وَ الْإِخْوَانُ فِي الدِّينِ وَ الْجُنَنُ‏ يَوْمَ الْبَأْسِ‏ وَ الْبِطَانَةُ دُونَ النَّاسِ بِكُمْ أَضْرِبُ الْمُدْبِرَ وَ أَرْجُو طَاعَةَ الْمُقْبِلِ فَأَعِينُونِي بِمُنَاصَحَةٍ خَلِيَّةٍ مِنَ الْغِشِّ سَلِيمَةٍ مِنَ الرَّيْبِ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِالنَّاسِ‏

‘You (my^-asws companions) are the helpers upon the truth, and the brethren in the religion, and the shields on the day of problems and tribulations besides the (other) people. By you I^-asws shall strike the one turning back and wish for obedience by the one facing me^-asws. Assist me^-asws with advice devoid of the deception, sound from the suspicious, for by Allah^-azwj, I^-asws am foremost of the people with the people’.[28]

119 و من كلام له ع و قد جمع الناس و حضهم على الجهاد فسكتوا مليا

Sermon 119 – And from a speech of his^-asws, and he^-asws had gathered the people and urged them upon the Jihad, but they were silent for a while

فَقَالَ ع مَا بَالُكُمْ أَ مُخْرَسُونَ أَنْتُمْ

He^-asws said: ‘What is the matter with you all? Are you all mute?’

فَقَالَ قَوْمٌ مِنْهُمْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنْ سِرْتَ سِرْنَا مَعَكَ

A group from them said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws! If you^-asws were to travel, we would travel with you^-asws!’

فَقَالَ ع مَا بَالُكُمْ لَا سُدِّدْتُمْ‏ لِرُشْدٍ وَ لَا هُدِيتُمْ لِقَصْدٍ أَ فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا يَنْبَغِي لِي أَنْ أَخْرُجَ وَ إِنَّمَا يَخْرُجُ فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا رَجُلٌ مِمَّنْ أَرْضَاهُ مِنْ شُجْعَانِكُمْ وَ ذَوِي بَأْسِكُمْ

He^-asws said: ‘What is the matter with you all? Neither you are being led to the rightful guidance nor are you being guided to an aim? Is it in the like of this appropriate for me^-asws that I^-asws go out? And rather he should go out in the like of this, a man I^-asws agree with from your brave ones and your ones with the prowess.

وَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِي أَنْ أَدَعَ الْجُنْدَ وَ الْمِصْرَ وَ بَيْتَ الْمَالِ وَ جِبَايَةَ الْأَرْضِ وَ الْقَضَاءَ بَيْنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ النَّظَرَ فِي حُقُوقِ الْمُطَالِبِينَ ثُمَّ أَخْرُجَ فِي كَتِيبَةٍ أَتْبَعُ أُخْرَى أَتَقَلْقَلُ تَقَلْقُلَ الْقِدْحِ‏ فِي الْجَفِيرِ الْفَارِغِ

And is it befitting for me^-asws that I^-asws leave the army, and the city, and public treasury, and collection of the taxes, and the judging between the Muslims, and the consideration in the rights of the Muslims (the seekers), then I^-asws should be going out in a battalion to pursue another (battalion), moving around (like) the featherless arrow moving around in a quiver.

وَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا قُطْبُ الرَّحَى‏ تَدُورُ عَلَيَّ وَ أَنَا بِمَكَانِي فَإِذَا فَارَقْتُهُ اسْتَحَارَ مَدَارُهَا وَ اضْطَرَبَ ثِفَالُهَا هَذَا لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ الرَّأْيُ السُّوءُ

And rather I^-asws am the axis of the mill rotating around me^-asws, and I^-asws am in my^-asws place. So, when I^-asws separate from it, its rotation would be boggled, and its sediment would be restless. By the Life (given to me^-asws) by Allah^-azwj! This (what you are telling me^-asws), is the evil view.

وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ لَا رَجَائِي الشَّهَادَةَ عِنْدَ لِقَائِي الْعَدُوَّ وَ لَوْ قَدْ حُمَ‏ لِي لِقَاؤُهُ لَقَرَّبْتُ رِكَابِي‏ ثُمَّ شَخَصْتُ‏ عَنْكُمْ فَلَا أَطْلُبُكُمْ مَا اخْتَلَفَ جَنُوبٌ وَ شَمَالٌ

By Allah^-azwj! Had it not been for my^-asws wish for the martyrdom during my^-asws meeting the enemy, if it had been Decreed for me^-asws to meet him, I^-asws would have drawn my^-asws closer my^-asws ride, then I^-asws would have gone away from you. I^-asws would not seek you for as long at the south is opposite the north.

طَعَّانِينَ عَيَّابِينَ حَيَّادِينَ رَوَّاغِينَ إِنَّهُ لَا غَنَاءَ فِي كَثْرَةِ عَدَدِكُمْ مَعَ قِلَّةِ اجْتِمَاعِ قُلُوبِكُمْ لَقَدْ حَمَلْتُكُمْ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ الْوَاضِحِ الَّتِي لَا يَهْلِكُ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا هَالِكٌ‏ مَنِ اسْتَقَامَ فَإِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَ مَنْ زَلَّ فَإِلَى النَّارِ

(You are) accusers, faulters, indifferent, conspirators! There is no enrichment in the abundance of your numbers along with the scarcity of the unity of your hearts. I^-asws have carried you upon the clear path which none would be destroyed upon it except the self-destructor. One who is steadfast, so he would be to the Paradise, and one who slips, he would be to the Fire’.[29]

120 و من كلام له ع يذكر فضله و يعظ الناس‏

Sermon 120 – And from a speech of his^-asws mentioning his^-asws merits and preaching the people

تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عُلِّمْتُ تَبْلِيغَ الرِّسَالاتِ وَ إِتْمَامَ الْعِدَاتِ‏ وَ تَمَامَ الْكَلِمَاتِ وَ عِنْدَنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ أَبْوَابُ الْحُكْمِ وَ ضِيَاءُ الْأَمْرِ

‘By Allah^-azwj! I^-asws have learnt delivery of the Messages, and completion of promises, and the complete phrases, and with us^-asws, People^-asws of the Household, there are doors of wisdom and illumination of the matters.

أَلَا وَ إِنَّ شَرَائِعَ الدِّينِ وَاحِدَةٌ وَ سُبُلَهُ قَاصِدَةٌ مَنْ أَخَذَ بِهَا لَحِقَ وَ غَنِمَ وَ مَنْ وَقَفَ عَنْهَا ضَلَّ وَ نَدِمَ

Indeed! And surely the laws of religion are one, and its ways are moderate. One who takes by these would catch up and achieve, and one who pauses away from it would stray and regret.

اعْمَلُوا لِيَوْمٍ تُذْخَرُ لَهُ الذَّخَائِرُ وَ تُبْلَى فِيهِ السَّرَائِرُ وَ مَنْ لَا يَنْفَعُهُ حَاضِرُ لُبِّهِ فَعَازِبُهُ‏ عَنْهُ أَعْجَزُ وَ غَائِبُهُ أَعْوَزُ وَ اتَّقُوا نَاراً حَرُّهَا شَدِيدٌ وَ قَعْرُهَا بَعِيدٌ وَ حِلْيَتُهَا حَدِيدٌ وَ شَرَابُهَا صَدِيدٌ.

Work for a day the provisions are being stored for it, and the secrets would be Tested, and one who is not benefit by his present understanding and distances away from it, would be more frustrated and his absent (understanding) would be even more remote. Fear a Fire, the heat of it is severe, and its bottom is remote, and its clothes are iron, and its drink is pus.

أَلَا وَ إِنَّ اللِّسَانَ الصَّالِحَ‏ يَجْعَلُهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لِلْمَرْءِ فِي النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنَ الْمَالِ يُورِثُهُ مَنْ لَا يَحْمَدُهُ‏

Indeed! And the righteous reputation Allah^-azwj Makes it to be for the person among the people, is better for him that the wealth inherited by the one who will not praise him’.[30]

121 و من خطبة له ع بعد ليلة الهرير

Sermon 121 – And from a sermon of h is^-asws after ‘Laylat Al-Hareer’ (a night in the battle of Siffeen)

و قد قام إليه رجل من أصحابه فقال نهيتنا عن الحكومة ثم أمرتنا بها- [فما ندري‏] فلم ندر أي الأمرين أرشد

And a man from his^-asws companions had stood up to him^-asws. He said, ‘You^-asws have forbidden us from the arbitration, then you^-asws are ordering us with it, so we do not know which of the two orders are more guiding!’

فصفق ع إحدى يديه على الأخرى ثم قال‏ هَذَا جَزَاءُ مَنْ تَرَكَ الْعُقْدَةَ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَنِّي حِينَ أَمَرْتُكُمْ- [بِمَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ‏] بِهِ حَمَلْتُكُمْ عَلَى الْمَكْرُوهِ الَّذِي يَجْعَلُ اللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْراً

He^-asws clasped one of his^-asws hands upon the other, then said: ‘This is a recompense of the one who had neglected the agreement. But, by Allah^-azwj! Had I^-asws ordered you with what I^-asws had ordered you, I^-asws would have carried you all upon the abhorrence which Allah^-azwj has Made good to be in it.

فَإِنِ اسْتَقَمْتُمْ هَدَيْتُكُمْ وَ إِنِ اعْوَجَجْتُمْ قَوَّمْتُكُمْ وَ إِنْ أَبَيْتُمْ تَدَارَكْتُكُمْ لَكَانَتِ الْوُثْقَى وَ لَكِنْ بِمَنْ وَ إِلَى مَنْ

If you had been straight, I^-asws would have guided you, and if you had been crookedness, I^-asws would have straightened you, and had you refused, I^-asws would have rectified you. The trust would have taken place. But, with who and to who?

أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُدَاوِيَ بِكُمْ وَ أَنْتُمْ دَائِي كَنَاقِشِ الشَّوْكَةِ بِالشَّوْكَةِ وَ هُوَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ ضَلْعَهَا مَعَهَا

I^-asws wanted to be treated with your all and you are a disease like the extractor of the thorn having bent upon itself, and he knows that it’s injury is with it.

اللَّهُمَّ قَدْ مَلَّتْ أَطِبَّاءُ هَذَا الدَّاءِ الدَّوِيِ‏ وَ كَلَّتِ [النَّزَعَةُ] النَّزْعَةُ بِأَشْطَانِ الرَّكِيِ‏

O Allah^-azwj! The physicians are fed-up of this haemorrhaging disease, and the water-drawers are weary with the rope of this well.

أَيْنَ الْقَوْمُ الَّذِينَ دُعُوا إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ فَقَبِلُوهُ وَ قَرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَأَحْكَمُوهُ وَ هِيجُوا إِلَى الْجِهَادِ فَوَلِهُوا وَلَهَ اللِّقَاحِ‏ إِلَى أَوْلَادِهَا وَ سَلَبُوا السُّيُوفَ أَغْمَادَهَا وَ أَخَذُوا بِأَطْرَافِ الْأَرْضِ زَحْفاً زَحْفاً وَ صَفّاً صَفّاً بَعْضٌ هَلَكَ وَ بَعْضٌ نَجَا

Where are the people, those who were called to Al-Islam, so they accepted it, and they read the Quran and decided by it, and they were incited to the Jihad, so they leapt like the she-camel to her children, and they bared the swords from their sheaths, and they took to the horizons of the earth marching, marching, and in rows and rows. Some died, and some were saved.

لَا يُبَشَّرُونَ بِالْأَحْيَاءِ وَ لَا يُعَزَّوْنَ عَنِ‏ الْمَوْتَى‏ مُرْهُ‏ الْعُيُونِ مِنَ الْبُكَاءِ خُمْصُ الْبُطُونِ‏ مِنَ الصِّيَامِ ذُبُلُ‏ الشِّفَاهِ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ صُفْرُ الْأَلْوَانِ مِنَ السَّهَرِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ غَبَرَةُ الْخَاشِعِينَ أُولَئِكَ إِخْوَانِي الذَّاهِبُونَ فَحَقَّ لَنَا أَنْ نَظْمَأَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَ نَعَضَّ الْأَيْدِي عَلَى فِرَاقِهِمْ

Neither are they aware with the living or nor being consoled from the dead. The eyes discoloured from the weeping, absent of (large) bellies from the Fasting, parched lips from the supplications, pale of complexion from the vigils, upon their faces is dust of the fearful. They are my^-asws brothers, so it is a right for us if we yearn to them and bite the hands upon their separation.

إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يُسَنِّي لَكُمْ طُرُقَهُ‏ وَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَحُلَّ دِينَكُمْ عُقْدَةً عُقْدَةً وَ يُعْطِيَكُمْ بِالْجَمَاعَةِ الْفُرْقَةَ وَ بِالْفُرْقَةِ الْفِتْنَةَ فَاصْدِفُوا عَنْ نَزَغَاتِهِ‏ وَ نَفَثَاتِهِ وَ اقْبَلُوا النَّصِيحَةَ مِمَّنْ أَهْدَاهَا إِلَيْكُمْ وَ اعْقِلُوهَا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ‏

Surely the Satan^-la has enacted his^-la paths to you and he^-la wants to loosen your religion, knot by knot, and give you the sects instead of the community, and the Fitna with the sects. So, stay away from his^-la snatching and his^-asws whisperings, and accept the advice from the one who gifts it to you, and understand it upon yourselves’.[31]

122 و من كلام له ع قاله للخوارج و قد خرج إلى معسكرهم و هم مقيمون على إنكار الحكومة

Sermon 122 – And from a speech of his^-asws having said it to the Kharijites, and he^-asws had gone out to their soldiers, and they were standing upon denial of the arbitration.

فقال ع‏ أَ كُلُّكُمْ شَهِدَ مَعَنَا صِفِّينَ

He^-asws said: ‘Did all of you attend Siffeen with us?’

فَقَالُوا مِنَّا مَنْ شَهِدَ وَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يَشْهَدْ

They said, ‘From us are one who attended, and from us are one who did not attend’.

قَالَ فَامْتَازُوا فِرْقَتَيْنِ فَلْيَكُنْ مَنْ شَهِدَ صِفِّينَ فِرْقَةً وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَشْهَدْهَا فِرْقَةً حَتَّى أُكَلِّمَ كُلًّا مِنْكُمْ بِكَلَامِهِ وَ نَادَى النَّاسَ فَقَالَ أَمْسِكُوا عَنِ الْكَلَامِ وَ أَنْصِتُوا لِقَوْلِي وَ أَقْبِلُوا بِأَفْئِدَتِكُمْ إِلَيَّ فَمَنْ نَشَدْنَاهُ شَهَادَةً فَلْيَقُلْ بِعِلْمِهِ فِيهَا

He^-asws said: ‘Separate into two segments. Let the ones who attended Siffeen be in one section, and the ones who did not attend Siffeen be in one section, until I speak to each with its speech’, and he^-asws called out at the people, he^-asws said: ‘Withhold from the talking and listen attentively to my^-asws words and accept to me^-asws with your hearts. So, the one we adjure him with a testimony, let him speak with his knowledge regarding it’.

ثُمَّ كَلَّمَهُمْ ع بِكَلَامٍ طَوِيلٍ مِنْ جُمْلَتِهِ أَنْ قَالَ ع أَ لَمْ تَقُولُوا عِنْدَ رَفْعِهِمُ الْمَصَاحِفَ حِيلَةً وَ غِيلَةً وَ مَكْراً وَ خَدِيعَةً إِخْوَانُنَا وَ أَهْلُ دَعْوَتِنَا اسْتَقَالُونَا وَ اسْتَرَاحُوا إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ فَالرَّأْيُ الْقَبُولُ مِنْهُمْ وَ التَّنْفِيسُ عَنْهُمْ

Then he^-asws spoke to them with a lengthy speech, from it is: ‘Did you not say during their raising the Qurans, ‘It is a trick, and craftiness, and a plot, and a deception. They are our brother and people of our call. They are giving up to us, and seeking rest to the Book of Allah^-azwj the Glorious, so the view is the acceptance from them, and taking a breather from them’?’

فَقُلْتُ لَكُمْ هَذَا أَمْرٌ ظَاهِرُهُ إِيمَانٌ وَ بَاطِنُهُ عُدْوَانٌ وَ أَوَّلُهُ رَحْمَةٌ وَ آخِرُهُ نَدَامَةٌ فَأَقِيمُوا عَلَى شَأْنِكُمْ وَ الْزَمُوا طَرِيقَتَكُمْ وَ عَضُّوا عَلَى الْجِهَادِ بَنَوَاجِذِكُمْ وَ لَا تَلْتَفِتُوا إِلَى نَاعِقٍ نَعَقَ إِنْ أُجِيبَ أَضَلَّ وَ إِنْ تُرِكَ ذَلَّ

I^-asws had said to you: ‘This matter, its apparent is Eman and its hidden is enmity, and its beginning is mercy, and its end is regret. So, stay upon your occupations and necessitate your path, and bite upon the Jihad with your front teeth, and do not turn towards any caller. If he (the caller) is answered, he (the caller) will lead astray, and if neglected, he (the caller) will be disgraced’. 

وَ قَدْ كَانَتْ هَذِهِ الْفَعْلَةُ وَ قَدْ رَأَيْتُكُمْ أَعْطَيْتُمُوهَا وَ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ أَبَيْتُهَا مَا وَجَبَتْ عَلَيَّ فَرِيضَتُهَا وَ لَا حَمَّلَنِي اللَّهُ ذَنْبَهَا وَ وَ اللَّهِ إِنْ جِئْتُهَا إِنِّي لَلْمُحِقُّ الَّذِي يُتَّبَعُ وَ إِنَّ الْكِتَابَ لَمَعِي مَا فَارَقْتُهُ مُذْ صَحِبْتُهُ

And it had happened, this deed (arbitration), and you had viewed to give in to them. By Allah^-azwj! If I^-asws had refused it, it would not have been Obligated upon me^-asws to impose it, nor would Allah^-azwj have Loaded its sin on me^-asws, and by Allah^-azwj, if I^-asws come to it, I^-asws am the most rightful of the one to be followed, and that the Book is with me^-asws, not having separated since I^-asws accompanied it.

فَلَقَدْ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ إِنَّ الْقَتْلَ لَيَدُورُ عَلَى الْآباءِ وَ الْأَبْنَاءِ- وَ الْإِخْوَانِ وَ الْقَرَابَاتِ فَمَا نَزْدَادُ عَلَى كُلِّ مُصِيبَةٍ وَ شِدَّةٍ إِلَّا إِيمَاناً وَ مُضِيّاً عَلَى الْحَقِّ وَ تَسْلِيماً لِلْأَمْرِ وَ صَبْراً عَلَى مَضَضِ الْجِرَاحِ

We were with Rasool-Allah^-saww, and the killing was circling between the fathers, and the sons, and the brothers, and the relatives. But we did not increase during every difficulty and severity except in Eman, and we continued upon the truth and submitting to the Command and being patient upon the pain of injuries.

وَ لَكِنَّا إِنَّمَا أَصْبَحْنَا نُقَاتِلُ إِخْوَانَنَا فِي الْإِسْلَامِ عَلَى مَا دَخَلَ فِيهِ مِنَ الزَّيْغِ وَ الِاعْوِجَاجِ وَ الشُّبْهَةِ وَ التَّأْوِيلِ فَإِذَا طَمِعْنَا فِي خَصْلَةٍ يَلُمُّ اللَّهُ بِهَا شَعَثَنَا وَ نَتَدَانَى بِهَا إِلَى الْبَقِيَّةِ فِيمَا بَيْنَنَا رَغِبْنَا فِيهَا وَ أَمْسَكْنَا عَمَّا سِوَاهَا

But we rather fought our brothers in Al-Islam upon what had entered into it of the misguidance, and the crookedness, and the suspicions, and the interpretations. When we covet regarding a quality Allah^-azwj would Bring together our scattered (pieces), and we can come closer by it to the remaining in what is between us, we would be desirous in it, and we shall withhold from whatever is besides it’.[32]

123 و من كلام له ع قاله لأصحابه في ساحة الحرب بصفين‏

Sermon 123 – And from a speech of his^-asws having said it to his^-asws companion in the battlefield of Siffeen

وَ أَيُّ امْرِئٍ مِنْكُمْ أَحَسَّ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ رَبَاطَةَ جَأْشٍ‏ عِنْدَ اللِّقَاءِ وَ رَأَى مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنْ إِخْوَانِهِ فَشَلًا فَلْيَذُبَ‏ عَنْ أَخِيهِ بِفَضْلِ نَجْدَتِهِ‏ الَّتِي فُضِّلَ بِهَا عَلَيْهِ كَمَا يَذُبُّ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ فَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَهُ مِثْلَهُ

‘And whichever person from you feels composure from himself during the battle and sees loss of courage from anyone of his brethren, then let him remove it from his brother by the Grace of his superiority which he has been Graced with over him, just as he would remove it from himself, for if Allah^–azwj had so Desired, He^–azwj would have Made him like him.

إِنَّ الْمَوْتَ طَالِبٌ حَثِيثٌ لَا يَفُوتُهُ الْمُقِيمُ وَ لَا يُعْجِزُهُ الْهَارِبُ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَ الْمَوْتِ الْقَتْلُ وَ الَّذِي نَفْسُ ابْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ بِيَدِهِ لَأَلْفُ ضَرْبَةٍ بِالسَّيْفِ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيَّ مِنْ مِيتَةٍ عَلَى الْفِرَاشِ فِي غَيْرِ طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ‏

Surely, the death is a prompt seeker. Neither does it miss the staying one nor can the fleeing one frustrate it. The most honourable of the deaths is the killing. By the One^–azwj in Whose Hand is the soul of the son^–asws of Abu Talib^–asws, a thousand strikes with the swords is easier upon me^–asws than dying upon the bed in other than the obedience of Allah^-azwj’.

و منه‏

And from it –

وَ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْكُمْ تَكِشُّونَ كَشِيشَ الضِّبَابِ‏ لَا تَأْخُذُونَ حَقّاً وَ لَا تَمْنَعُونَ ضَيْماً قَدْ خُلِّيتُمْ وَ الطَّرِيقَ فَالنَّجَاةُ لِلْمُقْتَحِمِ وَ الْهَلَكَةُ لِلْمُتَلَوِّمِ‏

‘And it is as if I^–asws am looking at you rustle like the rustling of the lizards, neither taking any rights nor preventing any wrongdoing. You have been freed on the road, so the salvation is for the stormer (into battle) and the destruction is for the hesitant blamer’.[33]

124 و من كلام له ع في حث أصحابه على القتال‏

Sermon 124 – And from a speech of his^-asws in urging his^-asws companions upon the fighting

فَقَدِّمُوا الدَّارِعَ‏ وَ أَخِّرُوا الْحَاسِرَ وَ عَضُّوا عَلَى الْأَضْرَاسِ فَإِنَّهُ أَنْبَى‏ لِلسُّيُوفِ عَنِ الْهَامِ‏ وَ الْتَوُوا فِي أَطْرَافِ الرِّمَاحِ فَإِنَّهُ أَمْوَرُ لِلْأَسِنَّةِ وَ غُضُّوا الْأَبْصَارَ فَإِنَّهُ أَرْبَطُ لِلْجَأْشِ وَ أَسْكَنُ لِلْقُلُوبِ وَ أَمِيتُوا الْأَصْوَاتَ فَإِنَّهُ أَطْرَدُ لِلْفَشَلِ

‘Advance the armoured one and hold back the un-armoured one, and bite upon the molars for it would be a shield for the swords from the skulls, and dodge in the sides of the spears for it is an avoidance for the blades and close your sighs for it is strengthening for the soul and calmness for the hearts and kill of the voices for it is a repellent of the sluggishness.

وَ رَايَتَكُمْ فَلَا تُمِيلُوهَا وَ لَا تُخِلُّوهَا وَ لَا تَجْعَلُوهَا إِلَّا بِأَيْدِي شُجْعَانِكُمْ وَ الْمَانِعِينَ الذِّمَارَ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنَّ الصَّابِرِينَ عَلَى نُزُولِ الْحَقَائِقِ‏ هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَحُفُّونَ بِرَايَاتِهِمْ‏ وَ يَكْتَنِفُونَهَا حِفَافَيْهَا وَ وَرَاءَهَا وَ أَمَامَهَا لَا يَتَأَخَّرُونَ عَنْهَا فَيُسْلِمُوهَا وَ لَا يَتَقَدَّمُونَ عَلَيْهَا فَيُفْرِدُوهَا

And your flag, neither incline it, nor abandon it, nor make it except in the hands of your brave ones, and the defenders of honours from you, for the ones patient upon the befalling realities, they are those who are surrounding their flags and are encircling around them, and behind it and in front of it. They are neither staying back from it, so they would yield it, nor are they going ahead from it so they would leave it alone.

أَجْزَأَ امْرُؤٌ قِرْنَهُ‏ وَ آسَى أَخَاهُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَ لَمْ يَكِلْ قِرْنَهُ إِلَى أَخِيهِ‏ فَيَجْتَمِعَ عَلَيْهِ قِرْنُهُ وَ قِرْنُ أَخِيهِ

A persons should suffice his adversary and help his brother with his soul, and he should not leave his adversary to his brother, for his adversary and adversary of his brother might united against him.

وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ فَرَرْتُمْ مِنْ سَيْفِ الْعَاجِلَةِ لَا تَسْلَمُوا [تَسْلَمُونَ‏] مِنْ سَيْفِ الْآخِرَةِ وَ أَنْتُمْ لَهَامِيمُ‏ الْعَرَبِ وَ السَّنَامُ الْأَعْظَمُ إِنَّ فِي الْفِرَارِ مَوْجِدَةَ اللَّهِ وَ الذُّلَّ اللَّازِمَ وَ الْعَارَ الْبَاقِيَ وَ إِنَّ الْفَارَّ لَغَيْرُ مَزِيدٍ فِي عُمُرِهِ وَ لَا مَحْجُوزٍ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ يَوْمِهِ-

And I^-asws swear by Allah^-azwj! If you were to flee from the current swords, you will not be safe from the sword of the Hereafter, and you are the important ones of the Arabs, and the peak, and the mightiest. In the fleeing is Wrath of Allah^-azwj and the sticking disgrace and the lasting shame; and the fleer will not be increasing in his lifespan or will there be a barrier between him and his day (of death).

[مَنْ رَائِحٌ‏] مَنِ الرَّائِحُ إِلَى اللَّهِ كَالظَّمْآنِ يَرِدُ الْمَاءَ الْجَنَّةُ تَحْتَ أَطْرَافِ الْعَوَالِي‏ الْيَوْمَ تُبْلَى الْأَخْبَارُ

Who will be going to Allah^-azwj like the thirsty one wanting the water? The Paradise lies beneath the edges of the spears. Today the reputations will be tested!

وَ اللَّهِ لَأَنَا أَشْوَقُ إِلَى لِقَائِهِمْ مِنْهُمْ إِلَى دِيَارِهِمْ

By Allah^-azwj! I^-asws am more yearning to meet them (in battle) than they are to (return) to their houses.

اللَّهُمَّ فَإِنْ رَدُّوا الْحَقَّ فَافْضُضْ جَمَاعَتَهُمْ وَ شَتِّتْ كَلِمَتَهُمْ وَ أَبْسِلْهُمْ بِخَطَايَاهُمْ‏

O Allah^-azwj! If they were to reject the truth, then break their togetherness and divide their words, and destroy them due to their sins.

إِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يَزُولُوا عَنْ مَوَاقِفِهِمْ دُونَ طَعْنٍ دِرَاكٍ‏ يَخْرُجُ [مِنْهُ‏] مِنْهُمُ النَّسِيمُ وَ ضَرْبٍ يَفْلِقُ الْهَامَ وَ يُطِيحُ الْعِظَامَ وَ يُنْدِرُ السَّوَاعِدَ وَ الْأَقْدَامَ

They will never move from their positions under the continuous stabbings the breeze may come out from them, and strikes splitting the skulls, and breaking of the bones, and cutting of the arms and the feet!

وَ حَتَّى يُرْمَوْا بِالْمَنَاسِرِ تَتْبَعُهَا الْمَنَاسِرُ وَ يُرْجَمُوا بِالْكَتَائِبِ‏ تَقْفُوهَا الْحَلَائِبُ‏ وَ حَتَّى يُجَرَّ بِبِلَادِهِمُ الْخَمِيسُ يَتْلُوهُ الْخَمِيسُ وَ حَتَّى تَدْعَقَ‏ الْخُيُولُ فِي نَوَاحِرِ أَرْضِهِمْ وَ بِأَعْنَانِ‏ مَسَارِبِهِمْ‏ وَ مَسَارِحِهِمْ‏

And until they are shot at by the vanguards followed by the vanguards, and they are pelted by the battalions assaulted by the cavalries, and until their cities are assaulted by the forces followed by the forces, and until the horses trample in the outskirts of their lands, and the paths of their animals and their pastures!’[34]

125 و من كلام له ع في التحكيم و ذلك بعد سماعه لأمر الحكمين‏

Sermon 125 – And from a speech of his^-asws regarding the arbitration, and that was after his^-asws having heard the matter of the two judges

إِنَّا لَمْ نُحَكِّمِ الرِّجَالَ وَ إِنَّمَا حَكَّمْنَا الْقُرْآنَ هَذَا الْقُرْآنُ إِنَّمَا هُوَ خَطٌّ مَسْطُورٌ بَيْنَ الدَّفَّتَيْنِ‏ لَا يَنْطِقُ بِلِسَانٍ وَ لَا بُدَّ لَهُ مِنْ تَرْجُمَانٍ وَ إِنَّمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنْهُ الرِّجَالُ

‘We did not make the men to be judges, but rather we made the Quran to be the judge, and this here is the Quran, written out, and it is between the two covers. It does not speak with a tongue and there is no escape from the two translators, and rather the men would speak on its behalf.

وَ لَمَّا دَعَانَا الْقَوْمُ إلَى أَنْ نُحَكِّمَ بَيْنَنَا الْقُرْآنَ لَمْ نَكُنِ الْفَرِيقَ الْمُتَوَلِّيَ عَنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى وَ قَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ [تَعَالَى عَزَّ مِنْ قَائِلٍ‏] سُبْحَانَهُ‏ فَإِنْ تَنازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ الرَّسُولِ‏

And when the people called us that we should take the Quran as a judge between us, we were not going to be the group to turn away from the Book of Allah^-azwj the Exalted, and Allah^-azwj the Glorious has Said: Thus, if you were to quarrel about anything, refer it to Allah and the Rasool [4:59].

فَرَدُّهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ نَحْكُمَ بِكِتَابِهِ وَ رَدُّهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ أَنْ نَأْخُذَ بِسُنَّتِهِ فَإِذَا حُكِمَ بِالصِّدْقِ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ النَّاسِ بِهِ وَ إِنْ حُكِمَ بِسُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ النَّاسِ وَ أَوْلَاهُمْ بِهَا

So, refer to Allah^-azwj if we are to judge by His^-azwj Book, and refer it to the Rasool^-saww if we are to take with his^-saww Sunnah. When it is judged with the sincerity in the Book of Allah^-azwj, then we would be the most rightful of the people with it, and if it is judged by the Sunnah of Rasool-Allah^-azwj, then we would be the most rightful of the people, and their foremost with it.

وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُكُمْ لِمَ جَعَلْتَ بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَجَلًا فِي التَّحْكِيمِ فَإِنَّمَا فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ لِيَتَبَيَّنَ الْجَاهِلُ وَ يَتَثَبَّتَ الْعَالِمُ وَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُصْلِحَ فِي هَذِهِ الْهُدْنَةِ أَمْرَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ وَ لَا تُؤْخَذَ بِأَكْظَامِهَا فَتَعْجَلَ عَنْ تَبَيُّنِ الْحَقِّ وَ تَنْقَادَ لِأَوَّلِ الْغَيِّ

And as for your words, ‘Why did you^-asws make a term to be between you^-asws and them?’, so rather that was done for it to be clear to the ignorant one, but the knower would be affirmed, and perhaps Allah^-azwj would Effect reconciliation during this truce in the affairs of this community, and they would not be seized by their throats so they would hasten from clarifying the truth and be towed to the first error.

إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ النَّاسِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ كَانَ الْعَمَلُ بِالْحَقِّ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ نَقَصَهُ وَ كَرَثَهُ‏ مِنَ الْبَاطِلِ وَ إِنْ جَرَّ إِلَيْهِ فَائِدَةً وَ زَادَهُ

Surely the most superior of the people in the presence of Allah^-azwj is the one who was working with the truth being more beloved to him and even if it incurs him a loss and turns away from the falsehood and even if it flows the benefits and the increase to him.

فَأَيْنَ يُتَاهُ بِكُمْ وَ مِنْ أَيْنَ أُتِيتُمْ- اسْتَعِدُّوا لِلْمَسِيرِ إِلَى قَوْمٍ حَيَارَى عَنِ الْحَقِّ لَا يُبْصِرُونَهُ وَ مُوزَعِينَ بِالْجَوْرِ لَا يَعْدِلُونَ [عَنْهُ‏] بِهِ جُفَاةٍ عَنِ الْكِتَابِ نُكُبٍ‏ عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ

So, where are they going with you and from where are they coming with you? Prepare for the journey to a people confused from the truth. They are not even sighting it, and are entangles in the tyranny, not altering from it, being disloyal about the Book and deviating from the path.

مَا أَنْتُمْ بِوَثِيقَةٍ يُعْلَقُ بِهَا وَ لَا [زَوَافِرَ] زَوَافِرِ عِزٍّ يُعْتَصَمُ إِلَيْهَا لَبِئْسَ [حُشَاشُ‏] حُشَّاشُ‏ نَارِ الْحَرْبِ أَنْتُمْ أُفٍّ لَكُمْ لَقَدْ لَقِيتُ مِنْكُمْ بَرْحاً يَوْماً أُنَادِيكُمْ وَ يَوْماً أُنَاجِيكُمْ فَلَا أَحْرَارُ صِدْقٍ عِنْدَ النِّدَاءِ وَ لَا إِخْوَانُ ثِقَةٍ عِنْدَ النَّجَاءِ

You are not trustworthy to be relied with, nor are you holders of honour one can cling to, bad participants of the war are you. Ugh to you all! I^-asws have faced worries from you. One day I^-asws call you and one day I^-asws whisper to you, but you are neither truly freely sincere at the call nor are you trustworthy brothers during the whispering’.[35]

126 و من كلام له ع لما عوتب على التسوية في العطاء

Sermon 126 – And from a speech of his^-asws when he^-asws was faulted upon the equalisation regarding the awards

أَ تَأْمُرُونِّي أَنْ أَطْلُبَ النَّصْرَ بِالْجَوْرِ فِيمَنْ وُلِّيتُ عَلَيْهِ وَ اللَّهِ لَا أَطُورُ  بِهِ مَا سَمَرَ سَمِيرٌ  وَ مَا أَمَ‏  نَجْمٌ فِي السَّمَاءِ نَجْماً- [وَ] لَوْ كَانَ الْمَالُ لِي لَسَوَّيْتُ بَيْنَهُمْ فَكَيْفَ وَ إِنَّمَا الْمَالُ مَالُ اللَّهِ-

‘Are you instructing me^–asws that I^–asws should seek the help with the tyranny among the ones I^–asws am ruling upon? By Allah^–azwj! I^–asws will not promote upon it for as long as the world is turning, and a star leads to a star in the sky. If the wealth was mine^–asws, I^–asws would have equalised between them, so how can it be, and rather the wealth is wealth of Allah^–azwj’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ ع أَلَا وَ إِنَّ إِعْطَاءَ الْمَالِ فِي غَيْرِ حَقِّهِ تَبْذِيرٌ وَ إِسْرَافٌ وَ هُوَ يَرْفَعُ صَاحِبَهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ يَضَعُهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَ يُكْرِمُهُ فِي النَّاسِ وَ يُهِينُهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَ لَمْ يَضَعِ امْرُؤٌ مَالَهُ‏ فِي غَيْرِ حَقِّهِ وَ عِنْدَ غَيْرِ أَهْلِهِ إِلَّا حَرَمَهُ اللَّهُ شُكْرَهُمْ وَ كَانَ لِغَيْرِهِ وُدُّهُمْ فَإِنْ زَلَّتْ بِهِ النَّعْلُ يَوْماً فَاحْتَاجَ إِلَى مَعُونَتِهِمْ فَشَرُّ خَدِينٍ وَ أَلْأَمُ خَلِيلٍ.

Then he^–asws said: ‘Indeed! And giving the wealth in other than its right is a wastefulness and extravagance, and it raises its perpetrator in the word and lowers him in the Hereafter and honours him among the people and disgraces him in the Presence of Allah^–azwj, and a person would not place his wealth in other than its right and with other than its rightful ones, except Allah^–azwj would Deprive him of their gratefulness, and their love would be for others. So, if one days his slipper slips with him and he is needy to their assistance, they would be the evilest comrades and ignoble friends’.[36]

127 و من كلام له ع و فيه يبين بعض أحكام الدين و يكشف للخوارج الشبهة و ينقض حكم الحكمين‏

Sermon 127 – And from a speech of his^-asws, and in it he^-asws explained some of the rulings of religion, and uncovered the suspicions of the Kharijites, and rejected the judgment of the two arbitrators

فَإِنْ أَبَيْتُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ تَزْعُمُوا أَنِّي أَخْطَأْتُ وَ ضَلَلْتُ فَلِمَ تُضَلِّلُونَ عَامَّةَ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص بِضَلَالِي وَ تَأْخُذُونَهُمْ بِخَطَئِي وَ تُكَفِّرُونَهُمْ بِذُنُوبِي سُيُوفُكُمْ عَلَى عَوَاتِقِكُمْ تَضَعُونَهَا مَوَاضِعَ الْبُرْءِ وَ السُّقْمِ وَ تَخْلِطُونَ مَنْ أَذْنَبَ بِمَنْ لَمْ يُذْنِبْ

‘So, if you are refusing except that you are claiming I^–asws was mistaken and strayed, then why the generality of the community of Muhammad^–saww, you did not consider them to have strayed with my^–asws straying, and seizing them due to my^–asws mistake, and declaring them as Kafirs due to my^–asws sins? Your swords are upon your shoulders, you can place these in places of the disavowing and the disease, and you are mingling the one who has sinned with the one who did not sin.

وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص رَجَمَ الزَّانِيَ الْمُحْصَنَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ وَرَّثَهُ أَهْلَهُ وَ قَتَلَ الْقَاتِلَ وَ وَرَّثَ مِيرَاثَهُ أَهْلَهُ وَ قَطَعَ [يَدَ] السَّارِقَ وَ جَلَدَ الزَّانِيَ غَيْرَ الْمُحْصَنِ ثُمَّ قَسَمَ عَلَيْهِمَا مِنَ الْفَيْ‏ءِ وَ نَكَحَا الْمُسْلِمَاتِ

And you have known that Rasool-Allah^–saww stoned the adulterer (the married), then prayed Salat upon him, and made his family to inherit; and he^–saww killed that killer and let his family inherit his inheritance; and cut (a finger) of the thief, and whipped the adulterer (unmarried), then distributed from the war booty upon them, and they married the Muslims women.

فَأَخَذَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَ أَقَامَ حَقَّ اللَّهِ فِيهِمْ وَ لَمْ يَمْنَعْهُمْ سَهْمَهُمْ مِنَ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ لَمْ يُخْرِجْ أَسْمَاءَهُمْ مِنْ بَيْنِ أَهْلِهِ ثُمَّ أَنْتُمْ شِرَارُ النَّاسِ وَ مَنْ رَمَى بِهِ الشَّيْطَانُ مَرَامِيَهُ وَ ضَرَبَ بِهِ تِيهَهُ‏

Rasool-Allah^–saww seized them for their sins and established the Right of Allah^–azwj among them but did not prevent them their shares from Al-Islam and did not expel their names from between its rightful ones. Then, you are the evilest of the people and the one Satan^–la has pelted with his^–la aims and struck him with his^–la temptation.

وَ سَيَهْلِكُ فِيَّ صِنْفَانِ مُحِبٌّ مُفْرِطٌ يَذْهَبُ بِهِ الْحُبُّ إِلَى غَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَ مُبْغِضٌ مُفْرِطٌ يَذْهَبُ بِهِ الْبُغْضُ إِلَى غَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ فِيَّ حَالًا النَّمَطُ الْأَوْسَطُ فَالْزَمُوهُ

And two types (of people) would be destroyed regarding me^–asws – one who loves excessively, the love would go away with him to other than the truth, and one who hates excessively, the hatred would go away from him when (discovering) the truth, and the best of the people regarding me^–asws is of the state of the middle course, so necessitate it.

وَ الْزَمُوا السَّوَادَ الْأَعْظَمَ فَإِنَّ يَدَ اللَّهِ [عَلَى‏] مَعَ الْجَمَاعَةِ وَ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ الْفُرْقَةَ فَإِنَّ الشَّاذَّ مِنَ النَّاسِ لِلشَّيْطَانِ كَمَا أَنَّ الشَّاذَّ مِنَ الْغَنَمِ لِلذِّئْبِ

And necessitate the vast majority, for the Hand of Allah^–azwj is upon (with) the community, and beware of the sectarianism, for the lone strayer from the people to the Satan^–la is like the lone strayer from the sheep to the wolf.

‏ أَلَا مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هَذَا الشِّعَارِ فَاقْتُلُوهُ وَ لَوْ كَانَ تَحْتَ عِمَامَتِي هَذِهِ فَإِنَّمَا حُكِّمَ الْحَكَمَانِ لِيُحْيِيَا مَا أَحْيَا الْقُرْآنُ وَ يُمِيتَا مَا أَمَاتَ الْقُرْآنُ وَ إِحْيَاؤُهُ الِاجْتِمَاعُ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِمَاتَتُهُ الِافْتِرَاقُ عَنْهُ فَإِنْ جَرَّنَا الْقُرْآنُ إِلَيْهِمُ اتَّبَعْنَاهُمْ وَ إِنْ جَرَّهُمْ إِلَيْنَا اتَّبَعُونَا

Indeed! The one who calls to this slogan, kill him, and even if he was beneath this turban of mine, and rather the judgments are two judgments. They would revive whatever the Quran revives and kill off whatever the Quran has killed off, and their revival is the unity upon it and its killing is the division from it. So, if the Quran flows from them to us, we shall follow them, and if the Quran flows from us to them, they should follow us.

فَلَمْ آتِ لَا أَبَا لَكُمْ بُجْراً وَ لَا خَتَلْتُكُمْ‏ عَنْ أَمْرِكُمْ وَ لَا لَبَّسْتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنَّمَا اجْتَمَعَ رَأْيُ مَلَئِكُمْ عَلَى اخْتِيَارِ رَجُلَيْنِ أَخَذْنَا عَلَيْهِمَا أَلَّا يَتَعَدَّيَا الْقُرْآنَ فَتَاهَا عَنْهُ وَ تَرَكَا الْحَقَّ وَ هُمَا يُبْصِرَانِهِ وَ كَانَ الْجَوْرُ هَوَاهُمَا فَمَضَيَا عَلَيْهِ وَ قَدْ سَبَقَ اسْتِثْنَاؤُنَا عَلَيْهِمَا فِي الْحُكُومَةِ بِالْعَدْلِ وَ الصَّمْدِ لِلْحَقِّ سُوءَ رَأْيِهِمَا وَ جَوْرَ حُكْمِهِمَا

May there be no father for you! I^–asws neither came to trouble you nor have I^–asws failed you about your affairs, and I^–asws am not confusing it upon you, and rather your assembly united in a view upon choosing the two men. We took (a condition) upon them both that they would not leave the Quran, but they (still) deviated from it and neglected the truth, and they were both insightful (understanding) with it, and the tyranny was both their whims. They went upon it, and our exclusion had preceded upon them regarding the arbitration with the justice, and the sticking to the truth. Evil were their views and tyrannical were their judgments’.[37]

128 و من كلام له ع فيما يخبر به عن الملاحم‏ بالبصرة

Sermon 128 – And from a speech of his^-asws regarding what he^-asws informed with about the epic future events at Al-Basra

يَا أَحْنَفُ كَأَنِّي بِهِ وَ قَدْ سَارَ بِالْجَيْشِ الَّذِي لَا يَكُونُ لَهُ غُبَارٌ وَ لَا لَجَبٌ‏ وَ لَا قَعْقَعَةُ لُجُمٍ‏ وَ لَا حَمْحَمَةُ خَيْلٍ‏ يُثِيرُونَ الْأَرْضَ بِأَقْدَامِهِمْ كَأَنَّهَا أَقْدَامُ النَّعَامِ‏

‘O Ahnaf! It is as if I^–asws am with him, and he has travelled with the army which there neither happens to be any dust for it nor noise, nor rustling of the reins, nor neighing of horses. They would be trampling the ground with their feet as if these are feet of the ostriches’.

[قال الشريف يومئ بذلك إلى صاحب الزنج‏]

Note – Al Shareef (the compiler) said, ‘He^-asws indicated by that to the ruler of Zanj’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ ع وَيْلٌ لِسِكَكِكُمُ الْعَامِرَةِ وَ الدُّورِ الْمُزَخْرَفَةِ الَّتِي لَهَا أَجْنِحَةٌ كَأَجْنِحَةِ النُّسُورِ وَ خَرَاطِيمُ كَخَرَاطِيمِ‏ الْفِيَلَةِ مِنْ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُنْدَبُ قَتِيلُهُمْ وَ لَا يُفْقَدُ غَائِبُهُمْ أَنَا كَابُّ الدُّنْيَا لِوَجْهِهَا وَ قَادِرُهَا بِقَدْرِهَا وَ نَاظِرُهَا بِعَيْنِهَا

Then he^–asws said: ‘Woe be to your built markets and the decorated houses, which are having wings for it like the wings of the vultures, and the trunks like the trunks of the elephants, from the ones, their slain are not mourned nor are their lost ones missed. I^–asws have overturned the world upon its face and have measured it with its worth and looked at it with its eyes’.

[منها] منه في وصف الأتراك‏

From it – From him^-asws in describing the Turks

كَأَنِّي أَرَاهُمْ قَوْماً كَأَنَّ وُجُوهَهُمُ الْمَجَانُّ [الْمُطْرَقَةُ] الْمُطَرَّقَةُ يَلْبَسُونَ السَّرَقَ‏ وَ الدِّيبَاجَ وَ يَعْتَقِبُونَ‏ الْخَيْلَ الْعِتَاقَ وَ يَكُونُ هُنَاكَ اسْتِحْرَارُ قَتْلٍ حَتَّى يَمْشِيَ الْمَجْرُوحُ عَلَى الْمَقْتُولِ وَ يَكُونَ الْمُفْلِتُ أَقَلَّ مِنَ الْمَأْسُورِ

‘It is as if I^–asws can see them, a people as if their faces are battered shields, wearing the silk and the brocade, and hold the racing horses dear. And over there, the killing would be freely done until the injured walk upon the slain, and the fleeing ones happen to be fewer than the captives.

فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِهِ لَقَدْ أُعْطِيتَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عِلْمَ الْغَيْبِ

One of his companions said to him^–asws, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen^–asws! You^–asws been Given knowledge of the hidden matters!’

فَضَحِكَ ع وَ قَالَ لِلرَّجُلِ وَ كَانَ كَلْبِيّاً يَا أَخَا كَلْبٍ لَيْسَ هُوَ بِعِلْمِ غَيْبٍ وَ إِنَّمَا هُوَ تَعَلُّمٌ مِنْ ذِي عِلْمٍ وَ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُ الْغَيْبِ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَ مَا عَدَّدَهُ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ بِقَوْلِهِ- إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَ يُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ وَ يَعْلَمُ ما فِي الْأَرْحامِ وَ ما تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ ما ذا تَكْسِبُ غَداً وَ ما تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ بِأَيِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ‏ الْآيَةَ

He^–asws laughed and said to the man, and he was (from the clan of) Kalb: ‘O brother of Kalb! It isn’t knowledge of the hidden matters, and rather it is a teaching from the one^–saww with knowledge. And rather, knowledge of the hidden matters is knowledge of the Hour, and what Allah^–azwj the Glorious has Enumerated with His^–azwj Words: Surely, Allah, with Him is the Knowledge of the Hour, and He Sends down the rain, and He Knows what is in the wombs; and no soul knows what it would be earning the next day; and no soul knows in which land it shall die. [31:34] – the Verse.

فَيَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ مَا فِي الْأَرْحَامِ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَ قَبِيحٍ أَوْ جَمِيلٍ وَ سَخِيٍّ أَوْ بَخِيلٍ وَ شَقِيٍّ أَوْ سَعِيدٍ وَ مَنْ يَكُونُ [لِلنَّارِ] فِي النَّارِ حَطَباً أَوْ فِي الْجِنَانِ لِلنَّبِيِّينَ مُرَافِقاً

Thus, He^–azwj the Glorious Knows what is in the wombs, from a male and a female, and ugly or beautiful, and generous or stingy, and wretched or fortunate, and one who will happen to be in the Fire as fuel, or in the Gardens being a friend to the Prophets^–as.

فَهَذَا عِلْمُ الْغَيْبِ الَّذِي لَا يَعْلَمُهُ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ مَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ فَعِلْمٌ عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ نَبِيَّهُ ص فَعَلَّمَنِيهِ وَ دَعَا لِي بِأَنْ يَعِيَهُ صَدْرِي وَ تَضْطَمَّ عَلَيْهِ جَوَانِحِي‏

So, this is knowledge of the hidden matters which no one knows except Allah^–azwj, and whatever is besides that, is knowledge which Allah^–azwj had Taught His^–azwj Prophet^–saww. He^–saww taught it to me^–asws and supplicated for me that my^–asws chest would retain it, and my^–asws wings (shoulders) would strong upon bearing it’.[38]

129 و من خطبة له ع في ذكر المكاييل و الموازين‏

Sermon 129 – And from a sermon of his^-asws in mentioning the measures and the scales (weights)

عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكُمْ وَ مَا تَأْمُلُونَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا أَثْوِيَاءُ مُؤَجَّلُونَ وَ مَدِينُونَ مُقْتَضَوْنَ أَجَلٌ مَنْقُوصٌ وَ عَمَلٌ مَحْفُوظٌ فَرُبَّ دَائِبٍ‏ مُضَيَّعٌ وَ رُبَّ كَادِحٍ‏ خَاسِرٌ

‘Servants of Allah^–azwj! You and what you are wishing for from this world, are fixed-term guests, and debtors being called upon to pay. (It is) a short duration, and deeds are being preserved. Perhaps a persevering one would be wasting and perhaps a toiling one would be incurring losses.

وَ قَدْ أَصْبَحْتُمْ فِي زَمَنٍ لَا يَزْدَادُ الْخَيْرُ فِيهِ إِلَّا إِدْبَاراً وَ لَا الشَّرُّ فِيهِ إِلَّا إِقْبَالًا وَ لَا الشَّيْطَانُ فِي هَلَاكِ النَّاسِ إِلَّا طَمَعاً فَهَذَا أَوَانٌ قَوِيَتْ عُدَّتُهُ وَ عَمَّتْ مَكِيدَتُهُ وَ أَمْكَنَتْ فَرِيسَتُهُ‏

And you have come to be in a time in which the good increasing except in turning around, and the evil (is not increasing) except coming forward, and the Satan^–la (is not increasing) in destroying people except in eagerness. So, this is a season his^–la tools are strengthened, and his^–la traps are camouflages, and his^–la discernment is enabled.

اضْرِبْ بِطَرْفِكَ حَيْثُ شِئْتَ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَهَلْ تُبْصِرُ إِلَّا فَقِيراً يُكَابِدُ فَقْراً أَوْ غَنِيّاً بَدَّلَ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ كُفْراً أَوْ بَخِيلًا اتَّخَذَ الْبُخْلَ بِحَقِّ اللَّهِ وَفْراً أَوْ مُتَمَرِّداً كَأَنَّ بِأُذُنِهِ عَنْ سَمْعِ الْمَوَاعِظِ وَقْراً

Strike with your eyes wherever you so desire to from the people. Do you see except a poor one suffering in poverty, or a rich one replacing the bounties of Allah^–azwj with disbelief, or a miser taking with the miserliness with the rights of Allah^–azwj to have plentiful (more), or an insurgent as if he is deaf from hearing the preaching?

أَيْنَ أَخْيَارُكُمْ وَ صُلَحَاؤُكُمْ وَ أَيْنَ أَحْرَارُكُمْ وَ سُمَحَاؤُكُمْ وَ أَيْنَ الْمُتَوَرِّعُونَ فِي مَكَاسِبِهِمْ وَ الْمُتَنَزِّهُونَ فِي مَذَاهِبِهِمْ أَ لَيْسَ قَدْ ظَعَنُوا جَمِيعاً عَنْ هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا الدَّنِيَّةِ وَ الْعَاجِلَةِ الْمُنَغِّصَةِ وَ هَلْ [خُلِّفْتُمْ‏] خُلِقْتُمْ إِلَّا فِي حُثَالَةٍ لَا تَلْتَقِي إِلَّا بِذَمِّهِمُ الشَّفَتَانِ اسْتِصْغَاراً لِقَدْرِهِمْ وَ ذَهَاباً عَنْ ذِكْرِهِمْ

Where are your good ones and your righteous ones, and where are your free ones and your forgivers? And where are the ones pious in their earnings and the ones of integrity in their doctrines? Haven’t they all departed from this lowly world and the transitory discomfort? And are you left behind except among such refuse, the two lips do not even meet in their condemnation due to their little worth, and have gone away from even mentioning them?

فَ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَيْهِ راجِعُونَ‏ ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فَلَا مُنْكِرٌ مُغَيِّرٌ وَ لَا زَاجِرٌ مُزْدَجِرٌ أَ فَبِهَذَا تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تُجَاوِرُوا اللَّهَ فِي دَارِ قُدْسِهِ وَ تَكُونُوا أَعَزَّ أَوْلِيَائِهِ عِنْدَهُ هَيْهَاتَ لَا يُخْدَعُ اللَّهُ عَنْ‏ جَنَّتِهِ وَ لَا تُنَالُ مَرْضَاتُهُ إِلَّا بِطَاعَتِهِ

So, we are for Allah and we are returning to Him [2:156]. The corruption has appeared, so there is neither any denier to change it nor any rebuke to rebuke it. Is it with this (behaviour) that you would be in the vicinity of Allah^-azwj in His^-azwj Holy House (Hereafter) and become His^-azwj honourable friend in His^-azwj Presence?! Far be it! Allah^-azwj will not be deceived about His^-azwj Paradise, nor can His^-azwj Pleasure be attained except by obeying Him^-azwj.

– لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْآمِرِينَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ التَّارِكِينَ لَهُ وَ النَّاهِينَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ الْعَامِلِينَ بِهِ‏

May Allah^-azwj Curse the instructors of the good who are (themselves) neglecters of it, and the forbidders from the evil who (themselves) are the workers with it’.[39]

130 و من كلام له ع لأبي ذر رحمه الله لما أخرج إلى الربذة

Sermon 130 – And from a speech of his^-asws to Abu Zarr^-ra, may Allah^-azwj have Mercy on him^-ra, when he^-ra was expelled to Al-Rabza

يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِنَّكَ غَضِبْتَ لِلَّهِ فَارْجُ مَنْ غَضِبْتَ لَهُ إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ خَافُوكَ عَلَى دُنْيَاهُمْ وَ خِفْتَهُمْ عَلَى دِينِكَ فَاتْرُكْ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ مَا خَافُوكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ اهْرُبْ مِنْهُمْ بِمَا خِفْتَهُمْ عَلَيْهِ

‘O Abu Zarr^–ra! You^–ra were angered for the Sake of Allah^–azwj, therefore hope to the One^–azwj Who you^–ra were angered for. The people were feared you^–ra upon their world while you^–ra feared them upon your^–ra Religion, so leave it to be in their hands what they are scared of you^–ra upon it and flee from them with what you^–ra feared them upon it.

فَمَا أَحْوَجَهُمْ إِلَى مَا مَنَعْتَهُمْ وَ مَا أَغْنَاكَ عَمَّا مَنَعُوكَ وَ سَتَعْلَمُ مَنِ الرَّابِحُ غَداً وَ الْأَكْثَرُ [حَسَداً] حُسَّداً

How needy they are to what you are dissuading them, and how needless you^–ra are from what they are preventing you^–ra, and you^–ra will soon know who is the gainer tomorrow and more enviable.

وَ لَوْ أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرَضِينَ كَانَتَا عَلَى عَبْدٍ رَتْقاً ثُمَّ اتَّقَى اللَّهَ لَجَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مِنْهُمَا مَخْرَجاً لَا يُؤْنِسَنَّكَ إِلَّا الْحَقُّ وَ لَا يُوحِشَنَّكَ إِلَّا الْبَاطِلُ فَلَوْ قَبِلْتَ دُنْيَاهُمْ لَأَحَبُّوكَ وَ لَوْ قَرَضْتَ‏ مِنْهَا لَأَمَّنُوكَ‏

And even if the skies and the earth were to be closed to a servant, then he fears Allah^–azwj, Allah^–azwj would Make a way out for him from them. Do not let anything comfort you^–ra except the truth, nor terrify you^–ra except the falsehood. If you^–ra had accepted their world, they would love you^–ra, and if you^–ra had borrowed from it, they would have secured you^–ra’.[40]

131 و من كلام له ع و فيه يبين سبب طلبه الحكم و يصف الإمام الحق‏

Sermon 131 – And from a speech of his^-asws, and in it he^-asws explained the cause of his^-asws seeking the arbitration, and he^-asws describes the Imam^-asws of truth

أَيَّتُهَا النُّفُوسُ الْمُخْتَلِفَةُ وَ الْقُلُوبُ الْمُتَشَتِّتَةُ الشَّاهِدَةُ أَبْدَانُهُمْ وَ الْغَائِبَةُ عَنْهُمْ عُقُولُهُمْ أَظْأَرُكُمْ‏ عَلَى الْحَقِّ وَ أَنْتُمْ تَنْفِرُونَ عَنْهُ‏ نُفُورَ الْمِعْزَى مِنْ وَعْوَعَةِ الْأَسَدِ هَيْهَاتَ أَنْ أَطْلَعَ بِكُمْ سَرَارَ الْعَدْلِ أَوْ أُقِيمَ اعْوِجَاجَ الْحَقِّ

‘O you separated souls and scattered hearts, their bodies are present, and their intellects are absent from them. I^–asws am showing you the truth and you are fleeing from it (like) the fleeing of the goats from roaring of the lion. Far be it, that I^–asws (be able to) notify you upon the secrets of justice or straighten out the crookedness of the truth (among you).

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنِ الَّذِي كَانَ مِنَّا مُنَافَسَةً فِي سُلْطَانٍ وَ لَا الْتِمَاسَ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ فُضُولِ الْحُطَامِ وَ لَكِنْ لِنَرِدَ الْمَعَالِمَ مِنْ دِينِكَ وَ نُظْهِرَ الْإِصْلَاحَ فِي بِلَادِكَ فَيَأْمَنَ الْمَظْلُومُونَ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ وَ تُقَامَ الْمُعَطَّلَةُ مِنْ حُدُودِكَ

O Allah^–azwj! Surely, that which happened from us did not happen to be a competing regarding the authority, nor to seek anything from vanities of the debris (of the world), but we wanted the teaching of Your^–azwj religion, and to manifest the correction in Your^–azwj country, so that the oppressed from Your^–azwj servants would be secure, and to establish the suspended (penalties) from Your^–azwj legal penalties.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَوَّلُ مَنْ أَنَابَ وَ سَمِعَ وَ أَجَابَ لَمْ يَسْبِقْنِي إِلَّا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِالصَّلَاةِ وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ الْوَالِي عَلَى الْفُرُوجِ وَ الدِّمَاءِ وَ الْمَغَانِمِ وَ الْأَحْكَامِ وَ إِمَامَةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ الْبَخِيلُ فَتَكُونَ فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ نَهْمَتُهُ‏ وَ لَا الْجَاهِلُ فَيُضِلَّهُمْ بِجَهْلِهِ

O Allah^–azwj! I^–asws the first one to be penitent and hear and respond. No one preceded me^–asws with the Salat except Rasool-Allah^–saww, and you know that it is not befitting for the miser to be (in charge) upon the marriages, and the bloods, and the war booties, and the rulings, and leadership of the Muslims so his appetite would be in their wealth; nor the ignorant, so he would stray them by his ignorance.

وَ لَا الْجَافِي فَيَقْطَعَهُمْ بِجَفَائِهِ وَ لَا الْحَائِفُ‏ لِلدُّوَلِ‏ فَيَتَّخِذَ قَوْماً دُونَ قَوْمٍ وَ لَا الْمُرْتَشِي فِي الْحُكْمِ فَيَذْهَبَ بِالْحُقُوقِ وَ يَقِفَ بِهَا دُونَ الْمَقَاطِعِ‏ وَ لَا الْمُعَطِّلُ لِلسُّنَّةِ فَيُهْلِكَ الْأُمَّةَ

Nor is the disloyal (appropriate) for he would cut them off by his disloyalty; nor is the inequitable (appropriate) for the government for he would take a group besides a group; nor is the bribe-taker (appropriate) for he would go away with the rights besides the pieces of land; nor is the suspender of the Sunnah (appropriate), for he would destroy the community’.[41]

132 و من خطبة له ع يعظ فيها و يزهد في الدنيا

Sermon 132 – And from a sermon of his^-asws preaching in it and advising asceticism in the world

حمد اللّه‏

Praise of Allah^-azwj

نَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى مَا أَخَذَ وَ أَعْطَى وَ عَلَى مَا أَبْلَى وَ ابْتَلَى الْبَاطِنُ‏ لِكُلِّ خَفِيَّةٍ وَ الْحَاضِرُ لِكُلِّ سَرِيرَةٍ الْعَالِمُ بِمَا تُكِنُّ الصُّدُورُ وَ مَا تَخُونُ الْعُيُونُ

We^-asws praise Him^-azwj upon what He^-azwj Takes and Gives, and upon what He^-azwj Afflicts and Tries. The Esoteric of all hidden matters and the Present for every secretive matter. The Know with what the chests contain and what the eyes observe.

وَ نَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً ص نَجِيبُهُ وَ بَعِيثُهُ‏ شَهَادَةً يُوَافِقُ فِيهَا السِّرُّ الْإِعْلَانَ وَ الْقَلْبُ اللِّسَانَ‏

And we^-asws testify that there is no god apart from Him^-azwj, and that Muhammad^-saww is His^-azwj Captain having Sent him^-azwj. A testimony in which the secret and the openness are compatible, and (so is) the heart to the tongue’.

عظة الناس‏

Preaching the people

و منها فَإِنَّهُ وَ اللَّهِ الْجِدُّ لَا اللَّعِبُ وَ الْحَقُّ لَا الْكَذِبُ وَ مَا هُوَ إِلَّا الْمَوْتُ أَسْمَعَ دَاعِيهِ‏ وَ أَعْجَلَ حَادِيهِ‏ فَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكَ سَوَادُ النَّاسِ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ وَ قَدْ رَأَيْتَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكَ مِمَّنْ جَمَعَ الْمَالَ وَ حَذِرَ الْإِقْلَالَ وَ أَمِنَ الْعَوَاقِبَ طُولَ أَمَلٍ وَ اسْتِبْعَادَ أَجَلٍ كَيْفَ نَزَلَ بِهِ الْمَوْتُ

And from it: ‘By Allah^-azwj! Surely (it is) the seriousness not the playfulness, and the truth nor the falsehood, and what is it except the death? Listen to its call and its guide is hastening. Do not let majority of the people deceive you from yourself, and you have already seen the one who was before you who had amassed the wealth, and was cautious of the scarcity, and felt safe of the consequences by having long hopes, and remoteness of the death, how the death descended with him.

فَأَزْعَجَهُ عَنْ وَطَنِهِ وَ أَخَذَهُ مِنْ مَأْمَنِهِ مَحْمُولًا عَلَى أَعْوَادِ الْمَنَايَا يَتَعَاطَى بِهِ الرِّجَالُ الرِّجَالَ حَمْلًا عَلَى الْمَنَاكِبِ وَ إِمْسَاكاً بِالْأَنَامِلِ

It took him away from his homeland and seized him from his secure place, carried upon the planks of the coffin. The men gave him to (other) men carrying upon the shoulders and holding with the fingertips.

أَ مَا رَأَيْتُمُ الَّذِينَ يَأْمُلُونَ بَعِيداً وَ يَبْنُونَ مَشِيداً وَ يَجْمَعُونَ كَثِيراً كَيْفَ أَصْبَحَتْ بُيُوتُهُمْ قُبُوراً وَ مَا جَمَعُوا بُوراً وَ صَارَتْ أَمْوَالُهُمْ لِلْوَارِثِينَ وَ أَزْوَاجُهُمْ لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ لَا فِي حَسَنَةٍ يَزِيدُونَ وَ لَا مِنْ سَيِّئَةٍ يَسْتَعْتِبُونَ [يُسْتَعْتَبُونَ‏]

Are you not seeing those having far hopes and building monuments, and amassing a lot, how the graves have become their houses, and what they had amassed is in ruins and their wealth has come to be for the inheritors, and their wives for other people? They are neither increasing good deeds nor are they seeking Forgiveness from evil deeds.

فَمَنْ أَشْعَرَ التَّقْوَى قَلْبَهُ بَرَّزَ مَهَلُهُ‏ وَ فَازَ عَمَلُهُ فَاهْتَبِلُوا هَبَلَهَا وَ اعْمَلُوا لِلْجَنَّةِ عَمَلَهَا فَإِنَّ الدُّنْيَا لَمْ تُخْلَقْ لَكُمْ دَارَ مُقَامٍ بَلْ خُلِقَتْ لَكُمْ مَجَازاً لِتَزَوَّدُوا مِنْهَا الْأَعْمَالَ إِلَى دَارِ الْقَرَارِ فَكُونُوا مِنْهَا عَلَى أَوْفَازٍ وَ قَرِّبُوا الظُّهُورَ لِلزِّيَالِ‏

The one who is aware of the piety of his heart, his position will come forward and his deeds will succeed. Take advantage of its ropes and work for the Paradise its working, for the world has not been Created for you as a house of staying, but it has been Created for you to pass by and be provided from it with the deeds to the house of settlement. Therefore be from it upon readiness of departure and draw the (animal) backs nearer for the setting off’.[42]

133 و من خطبة له ع يعظم اللّه سبحانه و يذكر القرآن و النبي و يعظ الناس‏

Sermon 133 – And from a sermon of his^-asws magnifying Allah^-azwj the Glorious, and mentioning the Quran and the Prophet^-saww, and preaching the people

عظمة اللّه تعالى‏

Magnificence of Allah^-azwj the Exalted

وَ انْقَادَتْ لَهُ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةُ بِأَزِمَّتِهَا وَ قَذَفَتْ إِلَيْهِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَ الْأَرَضُونَ مَقَالِيدَهَا وَ سَجَدَتْ لَهُ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَ الْآصَالِ الْأَشْجَارُ النَّاضِرَةُ وَ قَدَحَتْ‏ لَهُ مِنْ قُضْبَانِهَا النِّيرَانَ الْمُضِيئَةَ وَ آتَتْ أُكُلَهَا بِكَلِمَاتِهِ الثِّمَارُ الْيَانِعَةُ

‘The world and the Hereafter have yielded their reins to Him^-azwj while the skies and the earths have thrown their keys to Him^-azwj, and the fruitful trees prostrate to Him^-azwj. In the morning and evening the fruitful trees and ignited the fires for Him^-azwj from their branches, and it’s edibles come with the ripe fruits by His^-azwj Word.

القرآن

The Quran

منها وَ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِكُمْ نَاطِقٌ لَا يَعْيَا لِسَانُهُ وَ بَيْتٌ لَا تُهْدَمُ أَرْكَانُهُ وَ عِزٌّ لَا تُهْزَمُ أَعْوَانُهُ‏

From it: ‘The Book of Allah^-azwj is speaking in your midst. It’s tongue does not tire, and a House it’s pillars cannot be demolished, and a might it’s supporters are not defeated’.

رسول اللّه‏

Rasool-Allah^-saww

منها أَرْسَلَهُ عَلَى حِينِ‏ فَتْرَةٍ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ‏ وَ تَنَازُعٍ مِنَ الْأَلْسُنِ فَقَفَّى بِهِ الرُّسُلَ وَ خَتَمَ بِهِ الْوَحْيَ فَجَاهَدَ فِي اللَّهِ الْمُدْبِرِينَ عَنْهُ وَ الْعَادِلِينَ بِهِ‏

From it – ‘He^–azwj Sent him^–asws upon a gap period from the Messengers, and contending of the tongues, so He^–azwj Stopped the Messengers with him^–saww and Sealed the Revelation with him^–saww. He^–azwj fought for the Sake of Allah^–azwj the ones who turned around from Him^–azwj and the ones who set up rivals with Him^–azwj’.

الدنيا

The world

منها وَ إِنَّمَا الدُّنْيَا مُنْتَهَى بَصَرِ الْأَعْمَى لَا يُبْصِرُ مِمَّا وَرَاءَهَا شَيْئاً وَ الْبَصِيرُ يَنْفُذُهَا بَصَرُهُ وَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ الدَّارَ وَرَاءَهَا فَالْبَصِيرُ مِنْهَا شَاخِصٌ وَ الْأَعْمَى إِلَيْهَا شَاخِصٌ وَ الْبَصِيرُ مِنْهَا مُتَزَوِّدٌ وَ الْأَعْمَى لَهَا مُتَزَوِّدٌ

From it: ‘And rather, the world is the ultimate sight of the blind. He does not see anything from what is beyond it, while the insightful sees through it and comes to know that the house is beyond it. So, the insightful goes away from it while the blind goes towards it, and the insightful provides from it while the blind one provides for it’.

عظة الناس‏

Preaching the people

منها وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ إِلَّا وَ يَكَادُ صَاحِبُهُ يَشْبَعُ مِنْهُ وَ يَمَلُّهُ إِلَّا الْحَيَاةَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَجِدُ فِي الْمَوْتِ رَاحَةً وَ إِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْحِكْمَةِ الَّتِي هِيَ حَيَاةٌ لِلْقَلْبِ الْمَيِّتِ وَ بَصَرٌ لِلْعَيْنِ الْعَمْيَاءِ وَ سَمْعٌ لِلْأُذُنِ الصَّمَّاءِ وَ رِيٌّ لِلظَّمْآنِ وَ فِيهَا الْغِنَى كُلُّهُ وَ السَّلَامَةُ

From it: ‘And know that there isn’t anything except and it leads its companion to satiate from it and makes him fed up, except the life, for he does not find any rest in the death. And rather, that is at the status of the wisdom which is a life for the dead heart, and sight for the blind eyes, and hearing for the deaf ears, and saturation for the thirsty ones, and in it is the richness, all of it, and the safety.

كِتَابُ اللَّهِ تُبْصِرُونَ بِهِ وَ تَنْطِقُونَ بِهِ وَ تَسْمَعُونَ بِهِ وَ يَنْطِقُ بَعْضُهُ بِبَعْضٍ وَ يَشْهَدُ بَعْضُهُ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَ لَا يَخْتَلِفُ فِي اللَّهِ وَ لَا يُخَالِفُ بِصَاحِبِهِ عَنِ اللَّهِ

The Book of Allah^-azwj, you are seeing by it, and speaking by it, and hearing by it, and part of it speaks with part, and part of it testifies upon part. Neither does it differ regarding Allah^-azwj nor does it oppose Allah^-azwj with its companion about Allah^-azwj.

قَدِ اصْطَلَحْتُمْ عَلَى الْغِلِ‏ فِيمَا بَيْنَكُمْ وَ نَبَتَ الْمَرْعَى عَلَى دِمَنِكُمْ‏ وَ تَصَافَيْتُمْ عَلَى حُبِّ الْآمَالِ وَ تَعَادَيْتُمْ فِي كَسْبِ الْأَمْوَالِ

You are reconciled upon the grudges regarding what is between you all, and the pastures have grown upon your filth, and you are sincere to each other upon loving the wealth and you are being inimical to each other in earning the wealth.

لَقَدِ اسْتَهَامَ‏ بِكُمُ الْخَبِيثُ وَ تَاهَ بِكُمُ الْغُرُورُ وَ اللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى نَفْسِي وَ أَنْفُسِكُمْ‏

The wicked (Satan^-la) is wandering with you all, and the deception has misled you, and Allah^-azwj is the Helper upon myself^-asws and yourselves’.[43]

134 و من كلام له ع و قد شاوره عمر بن الخطاب في الخروج إلى غزو الروم‏

Sermon 134 – And from a speech of his^-asws, and Umar Bin Al Khattab had consulted him^-asws in going out to battle Rome

وَ قَدْ تَوَكَّلَ اللَّهُ لِأَهْلِ هَذَا الدِّينِ بِإِعْزَازِ الْحَوْزَةِ 1736 وَ سَتْرِ الْعَوْرَةِ وَ الَّذِي نَصَرَهُمْ وَ هُمْ قَلِيلٌ لَا يَنْتَصِرُونَ وَ مَنَعَهُمْ وَ هُمْ قَلِيلٌ لَا يَمْتَنِعُونَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ

‘And Allah^–azwj has Guaranteed for the people of this Religion by strengthening the borders and hiding the exposed places, and He^–azwj is the One^–azwj Who Helped them when they were few, not being helped, and Protected them when they were few not be able to protect themselves. He^–azwj is Alive, will not be dying.

إِنَّكَ مَتَى تَسِرْ إِلَى هَذَا الْعَدُوِّ بِنَفْسِكَ فَتَلْقَهُمْ فَتُنْكَبْ لَا [يَكُنْ‏] تَكُنْ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَانِفَةٌ دُونَ أَقْصَى بِلَادِهِمْ لَيْسَ بَعْدَكَ مَرْجِعٌ يَرْجِعُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَابْعَثْ إِلَيْهِمْ رَجُلًا مِحْرَباً وَ احْفِزْ مَعَهُ أَهْلَ الْبَلَاءِ وَ النَّصِيحَةِ فَإِنْ أَظْهَرَ اللَّهُ فَذَاكَ مَا تُحِبُّ وَ إِنْ تَكُنِ الْأُخْرَى كُنْتَ رِدْءاً لِلنَّاسِ‏ وَ مَثَابَةً لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ‏

When you travel to this enemy by yourself, you will meet them (in battle) and be afflicted (defeated), and there will not happen to be any refuge for the Muslims besides the outskirts of their cities. There wouldn’t be any returned after you they could be returning to. Send an experience man to them and stimulate with him the people of afflictions and advice. If Allah^–azwj Makes you prevail, so that is what you like, and if the other happens, you would be a cloak for the people and a place of resort for the Muslims’.[44]

135 و من كلام له ع

Sermon 135 – And from a speech of his^-asws

و قد وقعت مشاجرة بينه و بين عثمان فقال المغيرة بن الأخنس لعثمان: أنا أكفيكه، فقال علي عليه السلام للمغيرة:

And a quarrel had occurred between him^-asws and Usman. Al Mugheira Bin Al Akhnas said to Usman, ‘I shall suffice you with him^-asws’. Ali^-asws, may the greetings be upon him^-asws, said to Al-Mugheira:

يَا ابْنَ اللَّعِينِ الْأَبْتَرِ وَ الشَّجَرَةِ الَّتِي لَا أَصْلَ لَهَا وَ لَا فَرْعَ أَنْتَ تَكْفِينِي فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا أَعَزَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ أَنْتَ نَاصِرُهُ وَ لَا قَامَ مَنْ أَنْتَ مُنْهِضُهُ اخْرُجْ عَنَّا أَبْعَدَ اللَّهُ نَوَاكَ‏ ثُمَّ ابْلُغْ جَهْدَكَ فَلَا أَبْقَى اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ إِنْ أَبْقَيْتَ‏

‘O son of the accursed, the one without posterity, the tree (lineage) which there is no origin for it, nor any branch! You are going to be sufficient (to deal with) me^–asws?! By Allah^–saww! Allah^–azwj will not Strengthen the one you help, nor will he (be able to) stand, the one you raise. Get out from us! May Allah^–azwj Distance your intentions. Exert your utmost effort, for Allah^–azwj will not Let you remain, if I^–asws remain’.[45]

136 و من كلام له ع في أمر البيعة

Sermon 136 – And from a speech of his^-asws regarding the matter of allegiance

لَمْ تَكُنْ بَيْعَتُكُمْ إِيَّايَ فَلْتَةً وَ لَيْسَ أَمْرِي وَ أَمْرُكُمْ وَاحِداً إِنِّي أُرِيدُكُمْ لِلَّهِ وَ أَنْتُمْ تُرِيدُونَنِي لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَعِينُونِي عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ

‘Their (Talha and Al-Zubeyr) allegiance to me^–asws did not happen to be a slip, and it isn’t so that my^–asws matter and your matter is one. I^–asws want you all for the Sake of Allah^–azwj and you are wanting me^–asws for your own selves.

وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَأُنْصِفَنَّ الْمَظْلُومَ مِنْ ظَالِمِهِ وَ لَأَقُودَنَّ الظَّالِمَ بِخِزَامَتِهِ‏ حَتَّى أُورِدَهُ مَنْهَلَ الْحَقِّ وَ إِنْ كَانَ كَارِهاً

O you people! Assist me^–asws upon your own selves, and I^–asws swear by Allah^–azwj, I^–asws shall dispense fairness to the oppressed and I^–asws shall pull the oppressor by his nostrils until I^–asws drag him to the spring of truth, and even if he was averse (to it)’.[46]

137 و من كلام له ع في شأن طلحة و الزبير و في البيعة له‏

Sermon 137 – And from a sermon of his^-asws regarding the affair of Talha and Al Zubeyr, and regarding the allegiance to him^-asws

طلحة و الزبير

Talha and Al-Zubeyr

وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَنْكَرُوا عَلَيَّ مُنْكَراً وَ لَا جَعَلُوا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَهُمْ نِصْفاً وَ إِنَّهُمْ لَيَطْلُبُونَ حَقّاً هُمْ تَرَكُوهُ وَ دَماً هُمْ سَفَكُوهُ فَإِنْ كُنْتُ شَرِيكَهُمْ فِيهِ فَإِنَّ لَهُمْ نَصِيبَهُمْ مِنْهُ وَ إِنْ كَانُوا وَلُوهُ دُونِي فَمَا الطَّلِبَةُ إِلَّا قِبَلَهُمْ وَ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ عَدْلِهِمْ لَلْحُكْمُ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ

‘By Allah^-azwj! They have not denied upon me^-asws a (justifiable) denial, nor have they made fairness to be between me^-asws and them, and they are seeking a right they had neglected, and a blood they have spilt. If I^-asws was their participant in it, then for them is their share from it, and if they have been in-charge of it besides me^-asws, then there is no responsibility except from their direction, and the first of their justice of the judgment would be against their own selves.

إِنَّ مَعِي لَبَصِيرَتِي مَا لَبَسْتُ وَ لَا لُبِسَ عَلَيَّ وَ إِنَّهَا لَلْفِئَةُ الْبَاغِيَةُ فِيهَا الْحَمَأُ وَ الْحُمَّةُ وَ الشُّبْهَةُ [الْمُغْدَفَةُ] الْمُغْدِفَةُ وَ إِنَّ الْأَمْرَ لَوَاضِحٌ وَ قَدْ زَاحَ‏ الْبَاطِلُ عَنْ‏ نِصَابِهِ وَ انْقَطَعَ لِسَانُهُ عَنْ شَغْبِهِ‏

And with me^-asws is my^-asws insight. By Allah^-azwj! Neither have I^-asws deceived nor have been deceived against, and it is a rebel group where is the heat and the hot geyser, and the suspicions of a lying woman, and the matter is clear, and the falsehood to be returned from its spot and cut off its tongue from its disturbance.

وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَأُفْرِطَنَ‏ لَهُمْ حَوْضاً أَنَا مَاتِحُهُ‏ لَا يَصْدُرُونَ عَنْهُ بِرِيٍّ وَ لَا يَعُبُّونَ‏ بَعْدَهُ فِي حَسْيٍ‏

And I^-asws swear by Allah^-azwj! I^-asws shall fill out such a fountain (of war) for them, I^-asws would be its drawer. Neither will they be able to drink from it nor crossing over after it and drink from it.

أمر البيعة

The matter of allegiance

منه‏ فَأَقْبَلْتُمْ إِلَيَّ إِقْبَالَ الْعُوذِ الْمَطَافِيلِ‏ عَلَى أَوْلَادِهَا تَقُولُونَ الْبَيْعَةَ الْبَيْعَةَ قَبَضْتُ كَفِّي فَبَسَطْتُمُوهَا وَ [نَازَعْتُكُمْ‏] نَازَعَتْكُمْ يَدِي فَجَاذَبْتُمُوهَا

From it: ‘You came towards me^-asws with a coming like the children seeking shelter saying, ‘The allegiance! The allegiance!’ I^-asws held back my^-asws hand, but they spread it out, and you snatched my^-asws hand and pulled it.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّهُمَا قَطَعَانِي وَ ظَلَمَانِي وَ نَكَثَا بَيْعَتِي وَ أَلَّبَا النَّاسَ عَلَيَّ فَاحْلُلْ مَا عَقَدَا وَ لَا تُحْكِمْ لَهُمَا مَا أَبْرَمَا وَ أَرِهِمَا الْمَسَاءَةَ فِيمَا أَمَّلَا وَ عَمِلَا وَ لَقَدِ اسْتَثَبْتُهُمَا قَبْلَ الْقِتَالِ وَ اسْتَأْنَيْتُ بِهِمَا أَمَامَ الْوِقَاعِ‏ فَغَمَطَا النِّعْمَةَ وَ رَدَّا الْعَافِيَةَ

O Allah^-azwj! These two (Talha and Al-Zubeyr) have cut me^-asws off and have wronged me^-asws, and they broke my^-asws allegiance, and rallied the people against me^-asws. Loosed what they have tied, and do not Judge for them what they have concluded and Show them the evil regarding what they have hoped for and done, and I^-asws have proven it to them before the fighting and have been considerate with them before the event, but they looked down upon the bounty and rejected the well-being’.[47]

138 و من خطبة له ع يومئ فيها إلى ذكر الملاحم‏

Sermon 138 – And from a sermon of his^-asws indicating in it mention of the epic future events

يَعْطِفُ الْهَوَى عَلَى الْهُدَى إِذَا عَطَفُوا الْهُدَى عَلَى الْهَوَى وَ يَعْطِفُ الرَّأْيَ عَلَى الْقُرْآنِ إِذَا عَطَفُوا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى الرَّأْيِ‏

‘He (Al-Qaim^–asws) will incline the whims to the guidance, when they would have inclined the guidance towards the whims, and he^–asws would incline the opinions to the Quran when they would have inclined the Quran towards the opinions’.

و منها- حَتَّى تَقُومَ الْحَرْبُ بِكُمْ عَلَى سَاقٍ بَادِياً نَوَاجِذُهَا مَمْلُوءَةً أَخْلَافُهَا حُلْواً رَضَاعُهَا عَلْقَماً عَاقِبَتُهَا أَلَا وَ فِي غَدٍ وَ سَيَأْتِي‏ غَدٌ بِمَا لَا تَعْرِفُونَ يَأْخُذُ الْوَالِي مِنْ غَيْرِهَا عُمَّالَهَا عَلَى مَسَاوِئِ أَعْمَالِهَا وَ تُخْرِجُ لَهُ الْأَرْضُ أَفَالِيذَ كَبِدِهَا وَ تُلْقِي إِلَيْهِ سِلْماً مَقَالِيدَهَا فَيُرِيكُمْ كَيْفَ عَدْلُ السِّيرَةِ وَ يُحْيِي مَيِّتَ الْكِتَابِ وَ السُّنَّةِ

From it: ‘Until the wars would arise with you upon an ushering, manifesting its front teeth, full of its vigour. Its udders would be sweet, its tip would be bitter. Indeed! And in the morning, and the morning will come with that you do not recognise, the guardian^–asws will seize from its other, its office bearers upon the evil of their deeds, and the earth will bring out the contents of its liver and throw out to him^–asws the control of its keys. He^–asws will show you how the Seerah had been suspended, and he^–asws will revive the dead of the Book and the Sunnah’.

منها- كَأَنِّي بِهِ قَدْ نَعَقَ بِالشَّامِ وَ فَحَصَ‏ بِرَايَاتِهِ فِي ضَوَاحِي كُوفَانَ‏ فَعَطَفَ عَلَيْهَا عَطْفَ الضَّرُوسِ‏ وَ فَرَشَ الْأَرْضَ بِالرُّءُوسِ قَدْ فَغَرَتْ فَاغِرَتُهُ‏ وَ ثَقُلَتْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَطْأَتُهُ بَعِيدَ الْجَوْلَةِ عَظِيمَ الصَّوْلَةِ-

From it: ‘It is as if I^–asws am with him (Abdul Malik Bin Marwan), and he has been shouting at Syrians and furling his flag in the outskirts of Kufa. He inclined upon it the inclining of the camels, and he furnishes the ground with the (cut-off) heads. He has deceived it and it has deceived him, and his trampling in the ground has become heavy. The advancing is far, and the onslaught is mighty.

وَ اللَّهِ لَيُشَرِّدَنَّكُمْ‏ فِي أَطْرَافِ الْأَرْضِ حَتَّى لَا يَبْقَى مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ كَالْكُحْلِ فِي الْعَيْنِ فَلَا تَزَالُونَ كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى تَئُوبَ إِلَى الْعَرَبِ عَوَازِبُ أَحْلَامِهَا فَالْزَمُوا السُّنَنَ الْقَائِمَةَ وَ الْآثَارَ الْبَيِّنَةَ وَ الْعَهْدَ الْقَرِيبَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ بَاقِي النُّبُوَّةِ وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّمَا يُسَنِّي‏ لَكُمْ طُرُقَهُ لِتَتَّبِعُوا عَقِبَهُ‏

By Allah^–azwj! He will disperse you all in the outskirts of the earth until there does not remain from you except a few, like the kohl in the eye. You will not cease to be like that until you turn to the Arabs the singularity of their dreams. So, necessitate the established Sunnahs and the clear Ahadeeth, and the near pact upon which the Prophet-hood remains, and know that the Satan^–la rather paves his^–la path for you, for you to follow his^–la heels’.[48]

139 و من كلام له ع في وقت الشورى‏

Sermon 139 – And from a speech of his^-asws during the time of consultation council

لَنْ يُسْرِعَ أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي إِلَى دَعْوَةِ حَقٍّ وَ صِلَةِ رَحِمٍ وَ عَائِدَةِ كَرَمٍ فَاسْمَعُوا قَوْلِي وَ عُوا مَنْطِقِي عَسَى أَنْ تَرَوْا هَذَا الْأَمْرَ مِنْ بَعْدِ هَذَا الْيَوْمِ تُنْتَضَى‏ فِيهِ السُّيُوفُ وَ تُخَانُ فِيهِ الْعُهُودُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ بَعْضُكُمْ أَئِمَّةً لِأَهْلِ الضَّلَالَةِ وَ شِيعَةً لِأَهْلِ الْجَهَالَةِ

‘No one will be quicker than me^-asws in calling to the truth, and helping the relatives, and consoling the honourable, so listen to my^-asws words and retain my talk. Perhaps you will see this matter, from after this day, the swords would be unsheathed and the pacts would be taken, until some of you will become leaders of the people of straying and loyalists of the people of ignorance’.[49]

140 و من كلام له ع في النهي عن غيبة الناس‏

Sermon 140 – And from a speech of his^-asws regarding the prohibition of backbiting the people

وَ إِنَّمَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَهْلِ الْعِصْمَةِ وَ الْمَصْنُوعِ إِلَيْهِمْ فِي السَّلَامَةِ أَنْ يَرْحَمُوا أَهْلَ الذُّنُوبِ وَ الْمَعْصِيَةِ وَ يَكُونَ الشُّكْرُ هُوَ الْغَالِبَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ الْحَاجِزَ لَهُمْ عَنْهُمْ

‘And rather, it is befitting for the people of infallibility and the one safety has been Made to them that they should hope for the people of sin and disobedience and the thanks, it should prevail upon them and be a barrier for them, from them.

فَكَيْفَ بِالْعَائِبِ الَّذِي عَابَ أَخَاهُ وَ عَيَّرَهُ بِبَلْوَاهُ أَ مَا ذَكَرَ مَوْضِعَ سَتْرِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ مِمَّا هُوَ أَعْظَمُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ الَّذِي عَابَهُ بِهِ وَ كَيْفَ يَذُمُّهُ بِذَنْبٍ قَدْ رَكِبَ مِثْلَهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ رَكِبَ ذَلِكَ الذَّنْبَ بِعَيْنِهِ فَقَدْ عَصَى اللَّهَ فِيمَا سِوَاهُ مِمَّا هُوَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْهُ

How can it be with the fault who faults his brother and shames him with his affliction? Does he nor remember the place of veiling by Allah^-azwj upon him of his own sins, from what is mightier than the sin which he is faulting (others) with? And how can he fault him for a sin which he himself has perpetrated similar to it? And even if he has not committed the sins exactly like it, so he has disobeyed Allah^-azwj regarding what is besides it, from what is mightier than it.

وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَصَاهُ فِي الْكَبِيرِ وَ عَصَاهُ فِي الصَّغِيرِ [لَجُرْأَتُهُ‏] لَجَرَاءَتُهُ عَلَى عَيْبِ النَّاسِ أَكْبَرُ

And I^-asws swear by Allah^-azwj! If he has not disobeyed Him^-azwj regarding the major sin and disobeyed Him^-azwj regarding the minor sin due to his audacity upon faulting the people being greater (sin).

يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لَا تَعْجَلْ فِي عَيْبِ أَحَدٍ بِذَنْبِهِ فَلَعَلَّهُ مَغْفُورٌ لَهُ وَ لَا تَأْمَنْ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ صَغِيرَ مَعْصِيَةٍ فَلَعَلَّكَ مُعَذَّبٌ عَلَيْهِ

O servants of Allah^-azwj! Do not be hasty in faulting anyone for his sin, perhaps it has been Forgiven for him, and do not feel safe upon yourself of a minor disobedience, perhaps you will be Punished upon it.

فَلْيَكْفُفْ مَنْ عَلِمَ مِنْكُمْ عَيْبَ غَيْرِهِ لِمَا يَعْلَمُ مِنْ عَيْبِ نَفْسِهِ وَ لْيَكُنِ الشُّكْرُ شَاغِلًا لَهُ عَلَى مُعَافَاتِهِ مِمَّا ابْتُلِيَ [غَيْرُهُ بِهِ‏] بِهِ غَيْرُهُ‏

Therefore let him refrain, one from you who knows the faults of others, when he knows of his own faults, and let the thanking be a pre-occupation for him upon his chastity from what others having indulged in’.[50]

141 و من كلام له ع في النهي عن سماع الغيبة و في الفرق بين الحق و الباطل‏

Sermon 141 – And from a speech of his in prohibition of listening to the backbiting, and regarding the difference between the truth and the falsehood

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَنْ عَرَفَ مِنْ أَخِيهِ وَثِيقَةَ دِينٍ وَ سَدَادَ طَرِيقٍ فَلَا يَسْمَعَنَّ فِيهِ أَقَاوِيلَ الرِّجَالِ أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ يَرْمِي الرَّامِي وَ تُخْطِئُ السِّهَامُ وَ يُحِيلُ الْكَلَامُ‏ وَ بَاطِلُ ذَلِكَ يَبُورُ وَ اللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ وَ شَهِيدٌ

‘O you people! One who recognises from his brother, strong religion, and rightful way, he should not listen to any words of the men regarding him. But (it could be) the archer has shot, and the arrow has missed, and the talk can be off the point (of truth), and the falsity of that can be ruination, and Allah^-azwj is Hearing and a Witness.

أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بَيْنَ الْحَقِّ وَ الْبَاطِلِ إِلَّا أَرْبَعُ أَصَابِعَ‏

But surely, there isn’t between the truth and the falsehood except four fingers’.

فسئل ع عن معنى قوله هذا فجمع أصابعه و وضعها بين أذنه و عينه ثم قال- الْبَاطِلُ أَنْ تَقُولَ سَمِعْتُ وَ الْحَقُّ أَنْ تَقُولَ رَأَيْتُ‏

He^-asws was asked about the meaning of this word of his^-asws. He^-asws gather his^-asws (four) fingers and placed them between his^-asws ear and his^-asws eye, the said: ‘The falsity is your saying (what) you have heard, and the truth is your saying (what) you have seen’.[51]

142 و من كلام له ع‏

Sermon 142 – And from a speech of his^-asws

المعروف في غير أهله‏

The act of kindness to other than its rightful one

وَ لَيْسَ لِوَاضِعِ الْمَعْرُوفِ فِي غَيْرِ حَقِّهِ وَ عِنْدَ غَيْرِ أَهْلِهِ مِنَ الْحَظِّ فِيمَا أَتَى إِلَّا مَحْمَدَةُ اللِّئَامِ وَ ثَنَاءُ الْأَشْرَارِ وَ مَقَالَةُ الْجُهَّالَ مَا دَامَ مُنْعِماً عَلَيْهِمْ مَا أَجْوَدَ يَدَهُ وَ هُوَ عَنْ ذَاتِ اللَّهِ بِخَيْلٌ‏

‘And there isn’t any share for a placer of the act of kindness in other that its right and with other than its deserving one regarding what he does (gives) except praise of the ignoble and extollations by the evil ones, and words of the ignoramuses for as long as he is conferring upon them, ‘How generous his hand is!’, while he is a miser on behalf of Allah^-azwj.

مواضع المعروف‏

(Rightful) places for the act of kindness

فَمَنْ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالًا فَلْيَصِلْ بِهِ الْقَرَابَةَ وَ لْيُحْسِنْ مِنْهُ الضِّيَافَةَ وَ لْيَفُكَّ بِهِ الْأَسِيرَ وَ الْعَانِيَ وَ لْيُعْطِ مِنْهُ الْفَقِيرَ وَ الْغَارِمَ‏ وَ لْيَصْبِرْ نَفْسَهُ‏ عَلَى الْحُقُوقِ وَ النَّوَائِبِ ابْتِغَاءَ الثَّوَابِ فَإِنَّ فَوْزاً بِهَذِهِ الْخِصَالِ شَرَفُ مَكَارِمِ الدُّنْيَا وَ دَرْكُ فَضَائِلِ الْآخِرَةِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ‏

‘The one whom Allah^-azwj have Given wealth, let him help his relatives with it, and let him of good in the hosting from it, and let him free the prisoner with it, and the one suffering, and let him give to the poor one from it, and the one in debt, and let him be patient himself upon the right and the hardships seeking the Rewards, for the success is due to these characteristics, being noble manners of the world and realising merits of the Hereafter, if Allah^-azwj so Desires’.[52] 

143 و من خطبة له ع في الاستسقاء و فيه تنبيه العباد وجوب استغاثة رحمة اللّه إذا حبس عنهم رحمة المطر

Sermon 143 – And from a sermon of his^-asws regarding praying for the rain, and in it is an alertness to the servants obligating crying for help to the Mercy of Allah^-azwj whenever the mercy of rain is withheld from them

أَلَا وَ إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ الَّتِي تُقِلُّكُمْ وَ السَّمَاءَ الَّتِي تُظِلُّكُمْ‏ مُطِيعَتَانِ لِرَبِّكُمْ وَ مَا أَصْبَحَتَا تَجُودَانِ لَكُمْ بِبَرَكَتِهِمَا تَوَجُّعاً لَكُمْ وَ لَا زُلْفَةً إِلَيْكُمْ وَ لَا لِخَيْرٍ تَرْجُوَانِهِ مِنْكُمْ وَ لَكِنْ أُمِرَتَا بِمَنَافِعِكُمْ فَأَطَاعَتَا وَ أُقِيمَتَا عَلَى حُدُودِ مَصَالِحِكُمْ فَقَامَتَا

‘Indeed! And surely the earth which is carrying you all and the sky which is shading you are both obedient to their Lord^-azwj, and they have not become feeling pity for you with their Blessings nor to draw closer to you, nor for any good they are hoping for from you, but they have been Commanded with benefitting you, so they are obeying, and to be standing upon limits of your betterment, so they are standing.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْتَلِي عِبَادَهُ عِنْدَ الْأَعْمَالِ السَّيِّئَةِ بِنَقْصِ الثَّمَرَاتِ وَ حَبْسِ الْبَرَكَاتِ وَ إِغْلَاقِ خَزَائِنِ الْخَيْرَاتِ لِيَتُوبَ تَائِبٌ وَ يُقْلِعَ مُقْلِعٌ وَ يَتَذَكَّرَ مُتَذَكِّرٌ وَ يَزْدَجِرَ مُزْدَجِرٌ

Surely Allah^-azwj Tries His^-azwj servants at the evil deed by Reducing the fruits, and withholding the Blessings, and Closing the doors of the treasures of goodness for a penitent to be repenting, and a turner to turn back, and a minding one to be reminded, and a deterring one to be deterred.

وَ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ الِاسْتِغْفَارَ سَبَباً لِدُرُورِ الرِّزْقِ وَ رَحْمَةِ الْخَلْقِ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَهُ- اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كانَ غَفَّاراً يُرْسِلِ السَّماءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْراراً وَ يُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوالٍ وَ بَنِينَ وَ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ أَنْهاراً

And Allah^-azwj the Glorious has Made seeking of the Forgiveness to roll down the sustenance and Mercy of the people. The Glorious Said: Seek Forgiveness of your Lord, He would always be Forgiving [71:10] He will Send the sky unto you pouring (with rain) [71:11] And Assist you with wealth and sons, and Make gardens for you, and Make rivers for you [71:12].

فَرَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً اسْتَقْبَلَ تَوْبَتَهُ وَ اسْتَقَالَ خَطِيئَتَهُ وَ بَادَرَ مَنِيَّتَهُ

May Allah^-azwj have Mercy on a person who accepts to repent and renounces his sin, and rushes to his death.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا خَرَجْنَا إِلَيْكَ مِنْ تَحْتِ الْأَسْتَارِ وَ الْأَكْنَانِ وَ بَعْدَ عَجِيجِ الْبَهَائِمِ وَ الْوِلْدَانِ رَاغِبِينَ فِي رَحْمَتِكَ وَ رَاجِينَ فَضْلَ نِعْمَتِكَ وَ خَائِفِينَ مِنْ عَذَابِكَ وَ نِقْمَتِكَ-

O Allah^-azwj! We have come out to You^-azwj from beneath the curtains and the roofs, and after the clamour of animals and children desirous regarding Your^-azwj Mercy and hoping for the Grace of Your^-azwj bounties and fearing from Your^-azwj Punishment and Your^-azwj Scourge.

اللَّهُمَّ فَاسْقِنَا غَيْثَكَ وَ لَا تَجْعَلْنَا مِنَ‏ الْقَانِطِينَ وَ لَا تُهْلِكْنَا بِالسِّنِينَ‏ وَ لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ السُّفَهَاءُ مِنَّا يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

O Allah^-azwj! Quench us Your^-azwj rain and do not Make us to be from the despairing ones, nor Destroy us with the years (of drought), and do not Seize us due to what the foolish ones from us have done, O most Merciful of the merciful ones!

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا خَرَجْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَشْكُو إِلَيْكَ مَا لَا يَخْفَى عَلَيْكَ حِينَ أَلْجَأَتْنَا الْمَضَايِقُ الْوَعْرَةُ وَ أَجَاءَتْنَا الْمَقَاحِطُ الْمُجْدِبَةُ وَ أَعْيَتْنَا الْمَطَالِبُ الْمُتَعَسِّرَةُ وَ تَلَاحَمَتْ‏ عَلَيْنَا الْفِتَنُ [الْمَسْتَصْعَبَةُ] الْمُسْتَصْعِبَةُ

O Allah^-azwj! We have come out to You^-azwj. We complain to You^-azwj of what is not hidden from You^-azwj when the constriction of the difficulties have made us seek shelter, and the dryness of the drought has made us hungry, and difficulties of seeking has exhausted us, and the very difficult tribulations have been consistent upon us.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ أَلَّا تَرُدَّنَا خَائِبِينَ وَ لَا تَقْلِبَنَا وَاجِمِينَ‏ وَ لَا تُخَاطِبَنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا وَ لَا تُقَايِسَنَا بِأَعْمَالِنَا

O Allah^-azwj! We ask You^-azwj not to Return us disappointed, nor Turn us away in intense grief, nor Address us for our sins, nor Measure us with our deeds.

اللَّهُمَّ انْشُرْ عَلَيْنَا غَيْثَكَ وَ بَرَكَتَكَ وَ رِزْقَكَ وَ رَحْمَتَكَ وَ اسْقِنَا سُقْيَا نَاقِعَةً مُرْوِيَةً مُعْشِبَةً تُنْبِتُ بِهَا مَا قَدْ فَاتَ وَ تُحْيِي بِهَا مَا قَدْ مَاتَ نَافِعَةَ الْحَيَا كَثِيرَةَ الْمُجْتَنَى تُرْوِي بِهَا الْقِيعَانَ‏ وَ تُسِيلُ الْبُطْنَانَ‏ وَ تَسْتَوْرِقُ الْأَشْجَارَ وَ تُرْخِصُ الْأَسْعَارَ إِنَّكَ عَلَى مَا تَشَاءُ قَدِيرٌ

O Allah^-azwj! Spread upon us Your^-azwj rains, and Your^-azwj Blessings, and Your^-azwj sustenance, and Your^-azwj Mercy, and Quench us a soaking, saturating herbage which grows what has been lost, and revive by it what has died, benefiting the life, plentiful fruits, irrigating the plains, and flowing the rivers, and foliating the trees, and reducing the prices (of food), You^-azwj are surely Able upon whatever You^-azwj so Desire!’[53]

144 و من خطبة له ع‏

Sermon 144 – And from a sermon of his^-asws

مبعث الرسل‏

Sending (Prophet-hood) of the Rasools^-as

بَعَثَ اللَّهُ رُسُلَهُ بِمَا خَصَّهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ وَحْيِهِ وَ جَعَلَهُمْ حُجَّةً لَهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ لِئَلَّا تَجِبَ الْحُجَّةُ لَهُمْ بِتَرْكِ الْإِعْذَارِ إِلَيْهِمْ فَدَعَاهُمْ بِلِسَانِ الصِّدْقِ إِلَى سَبِيلِ الْحَقِّ

‘He^–azwj Sent His^–azwj Rasool^–saww with what He^–azwj had Specialised them with from His^–azwj Revelation and Made them as divine authorities for Him^–azwj upon His^–azwj creatures, lest the argument is obliged for them by leaving the excuses to them. So, He^–azwj Called them by the truthful tongue to the way of the truth.

أَلَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى قَدْ كَشَفَ الْخَلْقَ‏ كَشْفَةً لَا أَنَّهُ جَهِلَ مَا أَخْفَوْهُ مِنْ مَصُونِ أَسْرَارِهِمْ وَ مَكْنُونِ ضَمَائِرِهِمْ وَ لَكِنْ‏ لِيَبْلُوَهُمْ‏ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا فَيَكُونَ الثَّوَابُ جَزَاءً وَ الْعِقَابُ بَوَاءً

Indeed! Allah^–azwj Uncovered the truth with an Uncovering. He^–azwj is not unaware of what is hidden from their fortified secrets and their hidden consciences, but for Him^–azwj to Try them (as to) which of them is best in deeds [18:7], so there would happen to be Rewards as a recompense and the Punishment for evil deeds.

فضل أهل البيت‏

Merits of People^-asws of the Household

أَيْنَ الَّذِينَ زَعَمُوا أَنَّهُمُ الرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ دُونَنَا كَذِباً وَ بَغْياً عَلَيْنَا أَنْ رَفَعَنَا اللَّهُ وَ وَضَعَهُمْ وَ أَعْطَانَا وَ حَرَمَهُمْ وَ أَدْخَلَنَا وَ أَخْرَجَهُمْ

Where are those who claimed that they are the ones firmly rooted in the knowledge besides us^-asws, lying and rebelling against us^-asws?! Allah^-azwj Raised us^-asws the Lowered them, and Gave us^-asws and Deprived them, and Included us^-asws and Expelled them.

بِنَا يُسْتَعْطَى الْهُدَى وَ يُسْتَجْلَى الْعَمَى إِنَّ الْأَئِمَّةَ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ غُرِسُوا فِي هَذَا الْبَطْنِ مِنْ هَاشِمٍ لَا تَصْلُحُ عَلَى سِوَاهُمْ وَ لَا تَصْلُحُ الْوُلَاةُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ‏

The guidance is given by us^-asws, and the blindness is eradicated. Surely, the Imams^-asws are to be from Quraysh. They^-asws grew in these bellies from Hashim^-as. It is not correct upon the ones besides them^-asws, nor is the government correct from other than them^-asws’.

أهل الضلال‏

The people of straying

منها آثَرُوا عَاجِلًا وَ أَخَّرُوا آجِلًا وَ تَرَكُوا صَافِياً وَ شَرِبُوا آجِناً كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى فَاسِقِهِمْ وَ قَدْ صَحِبَ الْمُنْكَرَ فَأَلِفَهُ وَ بَسِئَ بِهِ‏ وَ وَافَقَهُ حَتَّى شَابَتْ عَلَيْهِ مَفَارِقُهُ وَ صُبِغَتْ بِهِ خَلَائِقُهُ‏

From it – ‘They preferred the current (life) and delayed (ignored) the future, and they left the clear (water) and drank the putrid. It is as if I^-asws am looking at their mischievous one and he has accompanied the evil one and was intimate with him, and committed evil with him, and was concordant with him until there was grey hair upon him due to his separation, and his caliphate was weakened by it.

ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ مُزْبِداً كَالتَّيَّارِ لَا يُبَالِي مَا غَرَّقَ أَوْ كَوَقْعِ النَّارِ فِي الْهَشِيمِ لَا يَحْفِلُ‏ مَا حَرَّقَ أَيْنَ الْعُقُولُ الْمُسْتَصْبِحَةُ بِمَصَابِيحِ الْهُدَى وَ الْأَبْصَارُ اللَّامِحَةُ إِلَى مَنَارِ التَّقْوَى أَيْنَ الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي وُهِبَتْ لِلَّهِ وَ عُوقِدَتْ عَلَى طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ

Then he came storming like the flood not caring who he drowned, or like an ignition of fire in the straw, nor fearing what he burned down. Where are the intellects, the illuminations with the lamps of guidance, and the visions glimpsing at the minarets of piety? Where are the hearts which feared Allah^-azwj and used to be ignited upon obedience of Allah^-azwj?

ازْدَحَمُوا عَلَى الْحُطَامِ‏ وَ تَشَاحُّوا عَلَى الْحَرَامِ وَ رُفِعَ لَهُمْ عَلَمُ‏ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ فَصَرَفُوا عَنِ الْجَنَّةِ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَ أَقْبَلُوا إِلَى النَّارِ بِأَعْمَالِهِمْ وَ دَعَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ فَنَفَرُوا وَ وَلَّوْا وَ دَعَاهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَاسْتَجَابُوا وَ أَقْبَلُوا

They crowded upon the debris and quarrelled upon the Prohibitions, and a Flag (Imam^–asws) of the Paradise and the Fire was raised for them, but they turned their faces away from them, and they faced towards the Fire with their deeds. Their Lord^–azwj Called them, but they fled and turned around, and the Satan^–la called them, and they answered and accepted (him^–la)!’[54]

145 و من خطبة له ع‏

Sermon 145 – And from a sermon of his^-asws

فناء الدنيا

Annihilation of the world

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا أَنْتُمْ فِي هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا غَرَضٌ تَنْتَضِلُ‏ فِيهِ الْمَنَايَا مَعَ كُلِّ جَرْعَةٍ شَرَقٌ وَ فِي كُلِّ أَكْلَةٍ غَصَصٌ لَا تَنَالُونَ مِنْهَا نِعْمَةً إِلَّا بِفِرَاقِ أُخْرَى وَ لَا يُعَمَّرُ مُعَمَّرٌ مِنْكُمْ يَوْماً مِنْ عُمُرِهِ إِلَّا بِهَدْمِ آخَرَ مِنْ أَجَلِهِ

‘O you people! But rather, you are in this world a target of the arrows the death will be flying into it. With every gulp there is choking, and in every morsel eaten there is suffocation. A bounty cannot be achieved from it except by separation of another, nor can a living one from you live for a day from his age except by destruction of another from his term.

وَ لَا تُجَدَّدُ لَهُ زِيَادَةٌ فِي أَكْلِهِ إِلَّا بِنَفَادِ مَا قَبْلَهَا مِنْ رِزْقِهِ وَ لَا يَحْيَا لَهُ أَثَرٌ إِلَّا مَاتَ لَهُ أَثَرٌ وَ لَا يَتَجَدَّدُ لَهُ جَدِيدٌ إِلَّا بَعْدَ أَنْ يَخْلَقَ‏ لَهُ جَدِيدٌ وَ لَا تَقُومُ لَهُ نَابِتَةٌ إِلَّا وَ تَسْقُطُ مِنْهُ مَحْصُودَةٌ

An increase is not renewed for him in his eating except (after) depletion from his sustenance what had been before it, nor is any impact (trace) revived for him except an impact (trace) dies for him, not is anything new renewed for him except after the decaying of a new thing for him, nor does any plant grow for him except a harvest falls off from him.

وَ قَدْ مَضَتْ أُصُولٌ نَحْنُ فُرُوعُهَا فَمَا بَقَاءُ فَرْعٍ بَعْدَ ذَهَابِ أَصْلِهِ‏ فَنَحْنُ أَعْوَانُ الْمَنُونِ وَ أَنْفُسُنَا نُصُبُ الْحُتُوفِ فَمِنْ أَيْنَ نَرْجُو الْبَقَاءَ وَ هَذَا اللَّيْلُ وَ النَّهَارُ لَمْ يَرْفَعَا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ شَرَفاً إِلَّا أَسْرَعَا الْكَرَّةَ فِي هَدْمِ مَا بَنَيَا وَ تَفْرِيقِ مَا جَمَعَا.

And the roots are gone, we are its branches, so how can a branch last after the going of its root? We are assistants of the deaths, and our souls are set up for the mortality. From where can we hope for the remaining and this night and day? There does not rise any nobility from anything except the turning is quick in the demolition of whatever is built, and fragmentation of whatever has been amassed’.

ذم البدعة

Condemnation of the innovation

منها- وَ مَا أُحْدِثَتْ بِدْعَةٌ إِلَّا تُرِكَ بِهَا سُنَّةٌ فَاتَّقُوا الْبِدَعَ وَ الْزَمُوا الْمَهْيَعَ‏ إِنَّ عَوَازِمَ الْأُمُورِ أَفْضَلُهَا وَ إِنَّ [مُحْدَثَاتِهَا] مُحْدِثَاتِهَا شِرَارُهَا

From it – ‘No new innovation has come about except a Sunnah has been neglected due to it. Therefore fear the innovation and necessitate the broad road. The old, tested matters (ways) are the best of these, and that the new ones are the evilest of these’.[55]

146 و من كلام له ع و قد استشاره عمر بن الخطاب في الشخوص لقتال الفرس بنفسه‏

Sermon 146 – And from a speech of his^-asws, and Umar Bin Al Khattab had consulted him^-asws in personally attending to battle Persia himself^-asws

إِنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ لَمْ يَكُنْ نَصْرُهُ وَ لَا خِذْلَانُهُ بِكَثْرَةٍ وَ لَا بِقِلَّةٍ وَ هُوَ دِينُ اللَّهِ الَّذِي أَظْهَرَهُ وَ جُنْدُهُ الَّذِي أَعَدَّهُ وَ أَمَدَّهُ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مَا بَلَغَ وَ طَلَعَ حَيْثُ طَلَعَ وَ نَحْنُ عَلَى مَوْعُودٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ اللَّهُ مُنْجِزٌ وَعْدَهُ وَ نَاصِرٌ جُنْدَهُ

‘This matter, neither its help nor its abandonment would be by the numerous (fighters), nor by the scarcity (of fighters), and it is the Religion of Allah^–azwj which He^–azwj had Made to prevail, and His^–azwj Army which He^–azwj had Prepared and Helped until it reached what it reached, and there emerged what emerged, and we are upon a Promise from Allah^–azwj, and Allah^–azwj will Fulfil His^–azwj Promise and Help His^–azwj army.

وَ مَكَانُ الْقَيِّمِ‏ بِالْأَمْرِ مَكَانُ النِّظَامِ‏ مِنَ الْخَرَزِ يَجْمَعُهُ وَ يَضُمُّهُ فَإِنِ انْقَطَعَ النِّظَامُ تَفَرَّقَ الْخَرَزُ وَ ذَهَبَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجْتَمِعْ بِحَذَافِيرِهِ‏ أَبَداً

And the position of the one standing with the command is the position of the thread from the beads. He keeps them together and connects them. So, if the thread is broken, they would separate and go away and will not gather in its entirety, ever.

وَ الْعَرَبُ الْيَوْمَ وَ إِنْ كَانُوا قَلِيلًا فَهُمْ كَثِيرُونَ بِالْإِسْلَامِ عَزِيزُونَ بِالاجْتِمَاعِ فَكُنْ قُطْباً وَ اسْتَدِرِ الرَّحَى بِالْعَرَبِ وَ أَصْلِهِمْ دُونَكَ نَارَ الْحَرْبِ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ شَخَصْتَ‏ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَرْضِ انْتَقَضَتْ عَلَيْكَ الْعَرَبُ مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا وَ أَقْطَارِهَا حَتَّى يَكُونَ مَا تَدَعُ وَرَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعَوْرَاتِ أَهَمَّ إِلَيْكَ مِمَّا بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ

And the Arabs today, even though they are few, they would be a lot with Al-Islam, strengthened by the unity. So be an axis and rotate the mill with the Arabs and be their root. Leave besides you the fire of war, for if you were to be defeated from this land, the Arabs will break upon you from its sides and its outskirts until what you leave behind you would become from the exposed, more important to you thank what is in front of you.

إِنَّ الْأَعَاجِمَ إِنْ يَنْظُرُوا إِلَيْكَ غَداً يَقُولُوا هَذَا أَصْلُ الْعَرَبِ فَإِذَا اقْتَطَعْتُمُوهُ اسْتَرَحْتُمْ فَيَكُونُ ذَلِكَ أَشَدَّ لِكَلَبِهِمْ عَلَيْكَ وَ طَمَعِهِمْ فِيكَ

The non-Arabs would be looking towards you and saying, ‘This, is a root of the Arabs, so when we eliminate him, we would be in rest. That would happen to be more intense for their eagerness upon you and their greed regarding you.

فَأَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ مَسِيرِ الْقَوْمِ إِلَى قِتَالِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ هُوَ أَكْرَهُ لِمَسِيرِهِمْ مِنْكَ وَ هُوَ أَقْدَرُ عَلَى تَغْيِيرِ مَا يَكْرَهُ‏

As for what you mentioned of the travelling of the people to fight against the Muslims, so Allah^–azwj the Glorious, He^–azwj is more Abhorrent to their travelling than you are, and He^–azwj is Able upon changing what He^–azwj Dislikes.

وَ أَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ عَدَدِهِمْ فَإِنَّا لَمْ نَكُنْ نُقَاتِلُ فِيمَا مَضَى بِالْكَثْرَةِ وَ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نُقَاتِلُ بِالنَّصْرِ وَ الْمَعُونَةِ

And as for what you mentioned of their numbers, so we did not happen to fight in the past with the numerical superiority, and rather we were fighting with the Help and Assistance (of Allah^–azwj’.[56]

147 و من خطبة له ع‏

Sermon 147 – And from a sermon of his^-asws

الغاية من البعثة

The purpose of the Sending (Prophet-hood)

فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ مُحَمَّداً ص بِالْحَقِّ لِيُخْرِجَ عِبَادَهُ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ الْأَوْثَانِ إِلَى عِبَادَتِهِ وَ مِنْ طَاعَةِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِلَى طَاعَتِهِ بِقُرْآنٍ قَدْ بَيَّنَهُ وَ أَحْكَمَهُ لِيَعْلَمَ الْعِبَادُ رَبَّهُمْ إِذْ جَهِلُوهُ وَ لِيُقِرُّوا بِهِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَحَدُوهُ وَ لِيُثْبِتُوهُ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنْكَرُوهُ

‘He^-azwj Sent Muhammad^-saww with the truth to Extract His^-azwj servants from worshipping the idols to His^-azwj worship, and from obedience of Satan^-la to His^-azwj obedience, (having Sent him^-saww) with the Quran of His^-azwj Explanations and His^-azwj Rules, to teach the servants of their Lord^-azwj when they were ignoring Him^-azwj, and to acknowledge Him^-azwj when they had rejected Him^-azwj, and to affirm Him^-azwj when they had denied Him^-azwj.

فَتَجَلَّى سُبْحَانَهُ لَهُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَكُونُوا رَأَوْهُ، بِمَا أَرَاهُمْ مِنْ قُدْرَتِهِ، وَ خَوَّفَهُمْ مِنْ سَطَوَاتِهِ، وَ كَيْفَ مَحَقَ مَنْ مَحَقَ بِالْمَثُلَاتِ وَ احْتَصَدَ مَنِ احْتَصَدَ [وَ اخْتَضَدَ مَنِ اخْتَضَدَ «خ»] بِالنَّقِمَاتِ.

The Glorious Flashed at them in His^-azwj Book without they having seen Him^-azwj, by what He^-azwj Showed them of His^-azwj Power, and Frightening them from His^-azwj Influence, and how He^-azwj Obliterated the one He^-azwj Obliterated by exemplary Punishments and Cut down the one He^-azwj Cut down with the Retribution.

الزمان المقبل‏

The future times

وَ إِنَّهُ سَيَأْتِي عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي زَمَانٌ لَيْسَ فِيهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَخْفَى مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَ لَا أَظْهَرَ مِنَ الْبَاطِلِ وَ لَا أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْكَذِبِ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ وَ لَيْسَ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ سِلْعَةٌ أَبْوَرَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ إِذَا تُلِيَ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِ وَ لَا أَنْفَقَ مِنْهُ‏ إِذَا حُرِّفَ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِ وَ لَا فِي الْبِلَادِ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَنْكَرَ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَ لَا أَعْرَفَ مِنَ الْمُنْكَرِ

‘And surely there shall come a time upon you during it; there would neither be anything more hidden than the truth nor more apparent than the falsehood, nor anything more frequent than lies upon Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww. And there wouldn’t be commodity more valueless in the view of the people of that time than the Book (Quran) when it is being recited as is the right of its recitation, nor anything more valuable than it when it is altered from its places, nor would there be anything more disliked in the country than the act of kindness nor more known than the evil.

فَقَدْ نَبَذَ الْكِتَابَ حَمَلَتُهُ وَ تَنَاسَاهُ‏ حَفَظَتُهُ فَالْكِتَابُ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَ أَهْلُهُ طَرِيدَانِ مَنْفِيَّانِ وَ صَاحِبَانِ مُصْطَحِبَانِ فِي طَرِيقٍ وَاحِدٍ لَا يُؤْوِيهِمَا مُؤْوٍ فَالْكِتَابُ وَ أَهْلُهُ فِي ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ فِي النَّاسِ وَ لَيْسَا فِيهِمْ وَ مَعَهُمْ وَ لَيْسَا مَعَهُمْ لِأَنَّ الضَّلَالَةَ لَا تُوَافِقُ الْهُدَى وَ إِنِ اجْتَمَعَا

The bearers of the Book would have discarded it and its memorisers would have forgotten it. In those days, the Book and its people would be exiled, expelled, and these are two companions accompanying each other in one path. No one will grant them asylum. During that time the Book and its people would among the people, but they would not be among them, and with them without being with them, because the straying cannot be harmonious to the guidance even if they are together.

فَاجْتَمَعَ الْقَوْمُ عَلَى الْفُرْقَةِ وَ افْتَرَقُوا [عَنِ‏] عَلَى الْجَمَاعَةِ كَأَنَّهُمْ أَئِمَّةُ الْكِتَابِ وَ لَيْسَ الْكِتَابُ إِمَامَهُمْ فَلَمْ يَبْقَ عِنْدَهُمْ مِنْهُ إِلَّا اسْمُهُ وَ لَا يَعْرِفُونَ إِلَّا خَطَّهُ وَ زَبْرَهُ‏ وَ مِنْ قَبْلُ مَا [مَثَلُوا] مَثَّلُوا بِالصَّالِحِينَ كُلَّ مُثْلَةٍ وَ سَمَّوْا صِدْقَهُمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فِرْيَةً وَ جَعَلُوا فِي الْحَسَنَةِ عُقُوبَةَ السَّيِّئَةِ

And the people will gather upon the sects, and they would be separate from the community. It is as if they are leaders of the Book and the Book is not their leader. There will not remain with them except its name, nor will they understand except its writing and its sheets. And from before that they would be inflicting hardships upon the righteous ones will be every difficulty, and they would name their truthfulness upon Allah^-azwj as being a libel, and they would make the punishment of the evil deed to be regarding the good deed.

وَ إِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِطُولِ آمَالِهِمْ وَ تَغَيُّبِ آجَالِهِمْ حَتَّى نَزَلَ بِهِمُ الْمَوْعُودُ الَّذِي تُرَدُّ عَنْهُ الْمَعْذِرَةُ وَ تُرْفَعُ عَنْهُ التَّوْبَةُ وَ تَحُلُّ مَعَهُ الْقَارِعَةُ وَ النِّقْمَةُ

And rather the ones before you were destroyed due to their prolonged hopes and their absent mindedness of their deaths, until the threat descended with them, which the excuses were returned from it, and the repentance was raised away from it, and the Punishment and the Retribution was released with it.

عظة الناس‏

Preaching the people

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ مَنِ اسْتَنْصَحَ اللَّهَ وُفِّقَ وَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ قَوْلَهُ دَلِيلًا هُدِيَ‏ لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ‏ فَإِنَّ جَارَ اللَّهِ آمِنٌ وَ عَدُوَّهُ خَائِفٌ

O you people! One who seeks Advise of Allah^-azwj would be harmonised, and one who takes His^-azwj Words as a pointer would be guided to that which is most upright, for surely, the one Sheltered by Allah^-azwj is secure and His^-azwj enemies are fearful.

وَ إِنَّهُ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ عَرَفَ عَظَمَةَ اللَّهِ أَنْ يَتَعَظَّمَ فَإِنَّ رِفْعَةَ الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا عَظَمَتُهُ أَنْ يَتَوَاضَعُوا لَهُ وَ سَلَامَةَ الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا قُدْرَتُهُ أَنْ يَسْتَسْلِمُوا لَهُ فَلَا تَنْفِرُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ نِفَارَ الصَّحِيحِ مِنَ الْأَجْرَبِ وَ الْبَارِئِ‏ مِنْ ذِي السَّقَمِ‏

And it is not befitting for the one who recognises the Magnificence of Allah^-azwj that he be magnified, for the rising of the ones who know what is the Magnificence of Allah^-azwj is that they should be humbling to Him^-azwj, and safety of the ones who know what His^-azwj Power is, they should be submitting to Him^-azwj. So, do not flee from the truth like the fleeing of the healthy one from the scabby (diseased), and the cured one from the one with illness.

وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَعْرِفُوا الرُّشْدَ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا الَّذِي‏ تَرَكَهُ وَ لَنْ تَأْخُذُوا بِمِيثَاقِ الْكِتَابِ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا الَّذِي نَقَضَهُ وَ لَنْ تَمَسَّكُوا بِهِ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا الَّذِي نَبَذَهُ

And know that you will never recognise the rightful guidance until you recognise those who have neglected it, and you will never take with the Covenant of the Book until you recognise those who have broken it, and you will never adhere with it until you recognise those who have discarded it.

فَالْتَمِسُوا ذَلِكَ مِنْ عِنْدِ أَهْلِهِ فَإِنَّهُمْ عَيْشُ الْعِلْمِ وَ مَوْتُ الْجَهْلِ هُمُ الَّذِينَ يُخْبِرُكُمْ حُكْمُهُمْ عَنْ عِلْمِهِمْ وَ صَمْتُهُمْ عَنْ مَنْطِقِهِمْ وَ ظَاهِرُهُمْ عَنْ بَاطِنِهِمْ لَا يُخَالِفُونَ الدِّينَ وَ لَا يَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ فَهُوَ بَيْنَهُمْ شَاهِدٌ صَادِقٌ وَ صَامِتٌ نَاطِقٌ‏

Seek that from the presence of its rightful people, for they^-asws are the life of knowledge and death of the ignorance. They^-asws are those, their wisdom informs you about their^-asws knowledge, and their^-asws silence about their^-asws talking, and their^-asws apparent about their^-asws hidden. They^-asws are neither opposing the religion and nor are they^-asws differing from it. It is between them^-asws, as a truthful witness and a silent speaker’.[57]

148 و من كلام له ع في ذكر أهل البصرة

Sermon 148 – And from a speech of his^-asws in mentioning the people of Al-Basra

كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا يَرْجُو الْأَمْرَ لَهُ وَ يَعْطِفُهُ عَلَيْهِ دُونَ صَاحِبِهِ لَا يَمُتَّانِ‏ إِلَى اللَّهِ بِحَبْلٍ وَ لَا يَمُدَّانِ إِلَيْهِ بِسَبَبٍ‏ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا حَامِلُ ضَبٍ‏ لِصَاحِبِهِ وَ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ يُكْشَفُ قِنَاعُهُ بِهِ

‘Each one of the two (Abu Bakr and Umar) wishes the command to be for him and is leaning upon it besides his companion. They are neither dying with a rope nor are they extending towards it with a means. Each one of them is an attacking wolf to his companion, and after a little while, its veil will be uncovered by Him^-azwj.

وَ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ أَصَابُوا الَّذِي يُرِيدُونَ لَيَنْتَزِعَنَّ هَذَا نَفْسَ هَذَا وَ لَيَأْتِيَنَّ هَذَا عَلَى هَذَا قَدْ قَامَتِ الْفِئَةُ الْبَاغِيَةُ فَأَيْنَ الْمُحْتَسِبُونَ‏ فَقَدْ سُنَّتْ لَهُمُ السُّنَنُ وَ قُدِّمَ لَهُمُ الْخَبَرُ

By Allah^-azwj! If they were to attain that which they want, this soul will snatch from this soul, and this one will come upon this one. The rebel group has stood up, so where are the anticipators and the Sunnah has been established for them, and the news has proceeded to them?

وَ لِكُلِّ ضَلَّةٍ عِلَّةٌ وَ لِكُلِّ نَاكِثٍ شُبْهَةٌ وَ اللَّهِ لَا أَكُونُ كَمُسْتَمِعِ اللَّدْمِ‏ يَسْمَعُ النَّاعِيَ وَ يَحْضُرُ الْبَاكِيَ ثُمَّ لَا يَعْتَبِرُ

And for every straying is a reason, and for every breaking there is a suspicion. By Allah^-azwj! I^-asws will not happen to be like the intent listener to the voice of the obituarist and the wailers a present, then he does not take a lesson’.[58]

149 و من كلام له ع قبل موته‏

Sermon 149 – And from a sermon of his^-asws before his^-asws death

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ لَاقٍ مَا يَفِرُّ مِنْهُ فِي فِرَارِهِ الْأَجَلُ مَسَاقُ النَّفْسِ‏ وَ الْهَرَبُ مِنْهُ مُوَافَاتُهُ كَمْ أَطْرَدْتُ‏ الْأَيَّامَ أَبْحَثُهَا عَنْ مَكْنُونِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ فَأَبَى اللَّهُ إِلَّا إِخْفَاءَهُ هَيْهَاتَ عِلْمٌ مَخْزُونٌ

‘O you people! Every person will meet what he is fleeing from. During his fleeing the death is the ushering of the soul, and the fleeing from it is to meet it. How many days I^-asws spent investigating about the hidden of this matter, but Allah^-azwj Refused except He^-azwj will Keep it hidden. Far be it of the treasured knowledge!

أَمَّا وَصِيَّتِي فَاللَّهَ لَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئاً وَ مُحَمَّداً ص فَلَا تُضَيِّعُوا سُنَّتَهُ أَقِيمُوا هَذَيْنِ الْعَمُودَيْنِ وَ أَوْقِدُوا هَذَيْنِ الْمِصْبَاحَيْنِ وَ خَلَاكُمْ ذَمٌ‏ مَا لَمْ تَشْرُدُوا حُمِّلَ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ مِنْكُمْ مَجْهُودَهُ وَ خُفِّفَ عَنِ الْجَهَلَةِ رَبٌّ رَحِيمٌ وَ دِينٌ قَوِيمٌ وَ إِمَامٌ عَلِيمٌ

As for my^-asws bequest regarding Allah^-azwj, do not associate anything with Him^-azwj, and Muhammad^–saww, do not waste his^–saww Sunnah. Establish these two pillars and ignite these two lamps and you will be free of condemnation so long as you are not divided. Every person from you will carry his efforts (burden), and it has been lightened from the ignoramus by a Merciful Lord^-azwj, and a straight religion, and a knowing Imam^-asws. 

أَنَا بِالْأَمْسِ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَ أَنَا الْيَوْمَ عِبْرَةٌ لَكُمْ وَ غَداً مُفَارِقُكُمْ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لِي وَ لَكُمْ

Yesterday I^–asws was your companion and today I^–asws am a lesson for you all, and tomorrow I^–asws shall separate from you. May Allah^-azwj Forgive for me^-asws and for you all.

إِنْ تَثْبُتِ الْوَطْأَةُ فِي هَذِهِ الْمَزَلَّةِ فَذَاكَ وَ إِنْ تَدْحَضِ‏ الْقَدَمُ فَإِنَّا كُنَّا فِي أَفْيَاءِ أَغْصَانٍ وَ [مَهَبِ‏] مَهَابِّ رِيَاحٍ وَ تَحْتَ ظِلِّ غَمَامٍ اضْمَحَلَّ فِي الْجَوِّ مُتَلَفَّقُهَا وَ عَفَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مَخَطُّهَا

If the treading is firm in this slippery place, so that is fine, and the foot slips, then we would be in the shade of branches, and the blowing of winds, and beneath the shade of clouds dispersing in the atmosphere, and its steps effaced in the earth.

وَ إِنَّمَا كُنْتُ جَاراً جَاوَرَكُمْ بَدَنِي أَيَّاماً وَ سَتُعْقَبُونَ مِنِّي جُثَّةً خَلَاءً سَاكِنَةً بَعْدَ حَرَاكٍ وَ صَامِتَةً بَعْدَ نُطْقٍ- [لِيَعِظَكُمْ هُدُوئِي‏] لِيَعِظْكُمْ هُدُوِّي وَ خُفُوتُ‏ إِطْرَاقِي وَ سُكُونُ أَطْرَافِي‏ فَإِنَّهُ أَوْعَظُ لِلْمُعْتَبِرِينَ مِنَ الْمَنْطِقِ‏ الْبَلِيغِ وَ الْقَوْلِ الْمَسْمُوعِ-

And rather, I^-asws was a neighbour, my^-asws body was neighbouring you for days, and you will be ending up from me^-asws an empty carcass, sill after movement, and silent after speaking. Let my^-asws lull and the slightness of my^-asws ends and stillness of my^-asws limbs preach to you all, for it is the most preaching to the lesson-takers than the eloquent talking and the heard word.

وَدَاعِي لَكُمْ وَدَاعُ امْرِئٍ مُرْصِدٍ لِلتَّلَاقِي غَداً تَرَوْنَ أَيَّامِي وَ يُكْشَفُ لَكُمْ عَنْ سَرَائِرِي وَ تَعْرِفُونَنِي بَعْدَ خُلُوِّ مَكَانِي وَ قِيَامِ غَيْرِي مَقَامِي‏

My^-asws farewell to you all is farewell of a person awaiting the meeting. Tomorrow you will see my^-asws days and there will be an uncovering for you all from my^-asws secrets, and you will be recognising me^-asws after the vacating of my^-asws place and the standing of others in my^-asws place’.[59]

150 و من خطبة له ع يومي فيها إلى الملاحم و يصف فئة من أهل الضلال‏

Sermon 150 – And from a sermon of his^-asws indicating in it to the future epic events, and he^-asws describes a party from the people of straying

وَ أَخَذُوا يَمِيناً وَ شِمَالًا ظَعْناً فِي مَسَالِكِ الْغَيِّ وَ تَرْكاً لِمَذَاهِبِ الرُّشْدِ فَلَا تَسْتَعْجِلُوا مَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ مُرْصَدٌ وَ لَا تَسْتَبْطِئُوا مَا يَجِي‏ءُ بِهِ الْغَدُ فَكَمْ مِنْ مُسْتَعْجِلٍ بِمَا إِنْ أَدْرَكَهُ وَدَّ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يُدْرِكْهُ وَ مَا أَقْرَبَ الْيَوْمَ مِنْ تَبَاشِيرِ غَدٍ

‘And they both took to the right and left, departing in the way of error, and neglected the doctrines of rightful guidance. So, do not be hastening what is going to happen and is being awaited, nor delay what is going to come tomorrow. How many hasteners, when they come across it, love not to have come across it, and how close is today from the advent of tomorrow.

يَا قَوْمِ هَذَا إِبَّانُ‏ وُرُودِ كُلِّ مَوْعُودٍ وَ [دُنُوٌّ] دُنُوٍّ مِنْ طَلْعَةِ مَا لَا تَعْرِفُونَ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ مَنْ أَدْرَكَهَا مِنَّا يَسْرِي فِيهَا بِسِرَاجٍ مُنِيرٍ وَ يَحْذُو فِيهَا عَلَى مِثَالِ الصَّالِحِينَ لِيَحُلَّ فِيهَا رِبْقاً وَ يُعْتِقَ فِيهَا رِقّاً وَ يَصْدَعَ شَعْباً وَ يَشْعَبَ صَدْعاً

O people! Meanwhile it is the (time for) occurrence of every Promised (event), and the approach of the emergence of what you are not recognising. Indeed! And the one from us^–asws who comes across it – it would be cheered by a radiant lantern and would be walking in it upon the example of the righteous ones. He^–asws would loosen the laces during it, and free the necks, and divide the united, and unite the divided.

فِي سُتْرَةٍ عَنِ النَّاسِ لَا يُبْصِرُ الْقَائِفُ‏ أَثَرَهُ وَ لَوْ تَابَعَ نَظَرَهُ ثُمَّ لَيُشْحَذَنَ‏ فِيهَا قَوْمٌ شَحْذَ الْقَيْنِ النَّصْلَ‏ تُجْلَى بِالتَّنْزِيلِ أَبْصَارُهُمْ وَ يُرْمَى بِالتَّفْسِيرِ فِي مَسَامِعِهِمْ وَ يُغْبَقُونَ كَأْسَ الْحِكْمَةِ بَعْدَ الصَّبُوحِ‏

During concealment from the people, the tracker would not see his^–asws tracks and even if his^–asws sight were to follow him^–asws. Then, during it, he^–asws would urge a people upon sharpening the blades (war), polishing their sights with the Revelation, and shooting the interpretations into their ears, and inundating them with cups of wisdom after the morning (all day long)’.

منها- في الضلال‏

From it regarding the straying

وَ طَالَ الْأَمَدُ بِهِمْ لِيَسْتَكْمِلُوا الْخِزْيَ وَ يَسْتَوْجِبُوا الْغِيَرَ حَتَّى إِذَا اخْلَوْلَقَ الْأَجَلُ‏ وَ اسْتَرَاحَ قَوْمٌ إِلَى الْفِتَنِ وَ [اشْتَالُوا] أَشَالُوا عَنْ لَقَاحِ حَرْبِهِمْ

‘The period was prolonged in order for the disgrace to be completed with them, and they would be obligated the challenges, until when the term ended, and a group rested to (create) the Fitna, and they armed themselves for their battles.

لَمْ يَمُنُّوا عَلَى اللَّهِ بِالصَّبْرِ وَ لَمْ يَسْتَعْظِمُوا بَذْلَ أَنْفُسِهِمْ فِي الْحَقِّ حَتَّى إِذَا وَافَقَ وَارِدُ الْقَضَاءِ انْقِطَاعَ مُدَّةِ الْبَلَاءِ حَمَلُوا بَصَائِرَهُمْ عَلَى أَسْيَافِهِمْ‏ وَ دَانُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ بِأَمْرِ وَاعِظِهِمْ

They did not seek security to Allah^–azwj with the patience and did not magnify the exertion of their selves regarding the truth, until when the Ordainment occurred terminating the period of the afflictions, they carried their view upon their swords, and they (tried to) draw near to their Lord^–azwj by the orders of their advisers.

حَتَّى إِذَا قَبَضَ اللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ ص رَجَعَ قَوْمٌ عَلَى الْأَعْقَابِ وَ غَالَتْهُمُ السُّبُلُ وَ اتَّكَلُوا عَلَى الْوَلَائِجِ‏ وَ وَصَلُوا غَيْرَ الرَّحِمِ وَ هَجَرُوا السَّبَبَ الَّذِي أُمِرُوا بِمَوَدَّتِهِ وَ نَقَلُوا الْبِنَاءَ عَنْ رَصِّ أَسَاسِهِ فَبَنَوْهُ فِي غَيْرِ مَوْضِعِهِ

Until when Allah^–azwj Caused His^–azwj Rasool^–saww to pass away, a people turned back upon their heels, and their ways made them err, and they relied upon the deceitful confidants, and they maintained relations with other than the relatives (of Rasool-Allah^–saww), and they abandoned the means which they had been Commanded with being cordial with, and they transferred the building from its strong foundation and built it in other than its (rightful) place.

مَعَادِنُ كُلِّ خَطِيئَةٍ وَ أَبْوَابُ كُلِّ ضَارِبٍ فِي غَمْرَةٍ قَدْ مَارُوا فِي الْحَيْرَةِ وَ ذَهَلُوا فِي السَّكْرَةِ عَلَى سُنَّةٍ مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ مِنْ مُنْقَطِعٍ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا رَاكِنٍ أَوْ مُفَارِقٍ لِلدِّينِ مُبَايِنٍ‏

(They are) mines of every mistake, and doors of every one groping in the dark. They have passed in the confusion and were astounded from the intoxication being upon the ways of the people of Pharaoh^–la, from cutting off (from the Hereafter) inclining to the world or separating far away from the Religion’.[60]

151 و من خطبة له ع يحذر من الفتن‏

Sermon 151 – And from a sermon of his^-asws caution from the Fitna

اللّه و رسوله

Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww

وَ أَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ وَ أَسْتَعِينُهُ عَلَى مَدَاحِرِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ مَزَاجِرِهِ وَ الِاعْتِصَامِ مِنْ حَبَائِلِهِ وَ مَخَاتِلِهِ‏

‘And I^-asws praise Allah^-azwj and I^-asws seek His^-azwj Assistance upon his^-la cheating, and his^-la deceits, and holding fast to his^-la ropes (allurements), and his^-la sneak attacks.

وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ نَجِيبُهُ وَ صَفْوَتُهُ لَا يُؤَازَى فَضْلُهُ وَ لَا يُجْبَرُ فَقْدُهُ أَضَاءَتْ بِهِ الْبِلَادُ بَعْدَ الضَّلَالَةِ الْمُظْلِمَةِ وَ الْجَهَالَةِ الْغَالِبَةِ وَ الْجَفْوَةِ الْجَافِيَةِ وَ النَّاسُ يَسْتَحِلُّونَ الْحَرِيمَ وَ يَسْتَذِلُّونَ الْحَكِيمَ يَحْيَوْنَ عَلَى فَتْرَةٍ وَ يَمُوتُونَ عَلَى كَفْرَةٍ

And I^-asws testify that Muhammad^-saww is His^-azwj servant, and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww, and His^-azwj Highborn. Neither are his^-saww merits hidden, nor can his^-saww loss be replaced. The cities were illuminated by him^-saww after the darkness of straying and the overwhelming ignorance, and the habitual rudeness, and the people were permitting the Prohibition(s) and humiliating the wise ones, living upon a gap period (without any Prophets^-as) and dying upon Kufr.

التحذير من الفتن‏

The cautioning from the Fitna

ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ مَعْشَرَ الْعَرَبِ أَغْرَاضُ بَلَايَا قَدِ اقْتَرَبَتْ فَاتَّقُوا سَكَرَاتِ النِّعْمَةِ وَ احْذَرُوا بَوَائِقَ‏ النِّقْمَةِ وَ تَثَبَّتُوا فِي قَتَامِ الْعِشْوَةِ وَ اعْوِجَاجِ الْفِتْنَةِ عِنْدَ طُلُوعِ جَنِينِهَا وَ ظُهُورِ كَمِينِهَا وَ انْتِصَابِ قُطْبِهَا وَ مَدَارِ رَحَاهَا

‘Then you, community of Arabs, are the aim of calamities which have drawn near, therefore fear the intoxication of the bounties (wealth), and be cautioned with the punishment to befall, and be steadfast during the darkness of austerity, and crookedness of the Fitna during the emergence of its foetus (birth), and appearance of its snares, and its axis is installed, and its mills (begin to) rotate.

تَبْدَأُ فِي مَدَارِجَ خَفِيَّةٍ وَ تَئُولُ إِلَى فَظَاعَةٍ جَلِيَّةٍ شِبَابُهَا كَشِبَابِ الْغُلَامِ وَ آثَارُهَا كَآثَارِ السِّلَامِ‏ يَتَوَارَثُهَا الظَّلَمَةُ بِالْعُهُودِ أَوَّلُهُمْ قَائِدٌ لِآخِرِهِمْ وَ آخِرُهُمْ مُقْتَدٍ بِأَوَّلِهِمْ

It begins in hidden steps and develops into a manifest atrocity. Its youthfulness is like the youthfulness of the adolescent boy and its impacts are like the impacts of peace (and harmony). The oppressors inherit it by the agreements, their first one being a guide to their last one, and their last one being led by their first one.

يَتَنَافَسُونَ فِي دُنْيَا دَنِيَّةٍ وَ يَتَكَالَبُونَ عَلَى جِيفَةٍ مُرِيحَةٍ وَ عَنْ قَلِيلٍ يَتَبَرَّأُ التَّابِعُ مِنَ الْمَتْبُوعِ وَ الْقَائِدُ مِنَ الْمَقُودِ فَيَتَزَايَلُونَ‏ بِالْبَغْضَاءِ وَ يَتَلَاعَنُونَ عِنْدَ اللِّقَاءِ

They are competing regarding a lowly world and are leaping upon a stinking carcass, and after a little while the follower will disavow from the followed, and the leader from the led. They will separate with the hatred (for each other) and will be curing during the meeting.

ثُمَّ يَأْتِي بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ طَالِعُ الْفِتْنَةِ الرَّجُوفِ‏ وَ الْقَاصِمَةِ الزَّحُوفِ فَتَزِيغُ قُلُوبٌ بَعْدَ اسْتِقَامَةٍ وَ تَضِلُّ رِجَالٌ بَعْدَ سَلَامَةٍ وَ تَخْتَلِفُ الْأَهْوَاءُ عِنْدَ هُجُومِهَا وَ تَلْتَبِسُ الْآرَاءُ عِنْدَ نُجُومِهَا-

Then, after that will arrive the rising Fitna, the shockwave, and the crushing ruination. The hearts will deviate after having been straight and men will stray after safety, and the personal desires will differ at its gathering, and the opinions will be confused at its peak.

مَنْ أَشْرَفَ لَهَا قَصَمَتْهُ وَ مَنْ سَعَى فِيهَا حَطَمَتْهُ يَتَكَادَمُونَ‏ فِيهَا تَكَادُمَ الْحُمُرِ فِي الْعَانَةِ قَدِ اضْطَرَبَ مَعْقُودُ الْحَبْلِ وَ عَمِيَ وَجْهُ الْأَمْرِ تَغِيضُ‏ فِيهَا الْحِكْمَةُ وَ تَنْطِقُ فِيهَا الظَّلَمَةُ

One who approaches towards it, it would shatter him, and one who strives in it, and it would crush him. They will bruise each other during it like the bruising by the donkeys in the herd enclosure. The twists of the rope would be restless, and the faces of the affairs would be blinded. The wise ones would diminish during it and the oppressors would be speaking during it.

وَ تَدُقُ‏ أَهْلَ الْبَدْوِ بِمِسْحَلِهَا وَ تَرُضُّهُمْ‏ بِكَلْكَلِهَا يَضِيعُ فِي غُبَارِهَا الْوُحْدَانُ‏ وَ يَهْلِكُ فِي طَرِيقِهَا الرُّكْبَانُ تَرِدُ بِمُرِّ الْقَضَاءِ وَ تَحْلُبُ عَبِيطَ الدِّمَاءِ وَ تَثْلِمُ مَنَارَ الدِّينِ‏ وَ تَنْقُضُ عَقْدَ الْيَقِينِ

The Bedouins will be pounded by its hammers and crushed by all of it. The lone marchers will be wasted in its dust and the riders would be destroyed in its path. It will arrive with bitterness of the Decree and exude blood (instead of) milk, and the minarets of religion would be dented, and the ties of certainty will be broken.

يَهْرُبُ مِنْهَا الْأَكْيَاسُ‏ وَ يُدَبِّرُهَا الْأَرْجَاسُ‏ مِرْعَادٌ مِبْرَاقٌ كَاشِفَةٌ عَنْ سَاقٍ تُقْطَعُ فِيهَا الْأَرْحَامُ وَ يُفَارَقُ عَلَيْهَا الْإِسْلَامُ بَرِيئُهَا سَقِيمٌ وَ ظَاعِنُهَا مُقِيمٌ‏

The clever will flee from it and the evil ones will manage it, thundering, flashing (like lightning), uncovering from a leg. The kinship would be terminated during it and Al-Islam would be separated upon it. Its healthy one would be sick (affected) and its thoughtful one would stay’.

منها- بَيْنَ قَتِيلٍ مَطْلُولٍ‏  وَ خَائِفٍ مُسْتَجِيرٍ يَخْتِلُونَ‏ بِعَقْدِ الْأَيْمَانِ وَ بِغُرُورِ الْإِيمَانِ فَلَا تَكُونُوا أَنْصَابَ‏ الْفِتَنِ وَ أَعْلَامَ الْبِدَعِ- وَ الْزَمُوا مَا عُقِدَ عَلَيْهِ حَبْلُ الْجَمَاعَةِ وَ بُنِيَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَرْكَانُ الطَّاعَةِ وَ اقْدَمُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ مَظْلُومِينَ وَ لَا تَقْدَمُوا عَلَيْهِ ظَالِمِينَ

And from it: ‘Between the un-avenged slain ones and the sheltered fearful ones, they will be confused by the ties of oaths, and deceptive beliefs. So, do not become monuments of Fitna and flags of innovations, and stick to what the rope of unity is tied upon, and elements of obedience are built upon, and proceed to Allah^-azwj as oppressed, and do not proceed to Him^-asws as oppressors. 

وَ اتَّقُوا مَدَارِجَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ مَهَابِطَ الْعُدْوَانِ وَ لَا تُدْخِلُوا بُطُونَكُمْ لُعَقَ‏ الْحَرَامِ فَإِنَّكُمْ بِعَيْنِ‏ مَنْ حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَعْصِيَةَ وَ سَهَّلَ لَكُمْ سُبُلَ الطَّاعَةِ

And fear the encroachments of Satan^-la and places of aggression, and do not insert into your bellies Prohibited morsels for you are in the Eye (surveillance) of the One^-azwj who has Prohibited the acts of disobedience upon you and has Eased for you the ways of obedience’.[61]

152 و من خطبة له ع‏

Sermon 152 – And from a sermon of his^-asws

في صفات اللّه جل جلاله، و صفات أئمة الدين‏

Regarding Attributes of Allah^-azwj, Majestic is His^-azwj Majesty, and attributes of the Imams^-asws of religion

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الدَّالِّ عَلَى وُجُودِهِ بِخَلْقِهِ وَ بِمُحْدَثِ خَلْقِهِ عَلَى أَزَلِيَّتِهِ‏ وَ بِاشْتِبَاهِهِمْ عَلَى أَنْ لَا شَبَهَ لَهُ

‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj Who is evidenced upon His^-azwj existence by His^-azwj creation, and by the newly occurrence of His^-azwj creation upon His^-azwj eternality, and by their similarities upon that there is no resemblance for Him^-azwj. 

لَا تَسْتَلِمُهُ‏ الْمَشَاعِرُ وَ لَا تَحْجُبُهُ السَّوَاتِرُ لِافْتِرَاقِ الصَّانِعِ وَ الْمَصْنُوعِ وَ الْحَادِّ وَ الْمَحْدُودِ وَ الرَّبِّ وَ الْمَرْبُوبِ

Neither can the sensory perception perceive him, nor can the curtains veil him due to the difference between the Maker and the made, and the Limitless and the limited, and the Lord^-azwj and the nourished.

الْأَحَدِ بِلَا تَأْوِيلِ عَدَدٍ وَ الْخَالِقِ لَا بِمَعْنَى حَرَكَةٍ وَ نَصَبٍ‏ وَ السَّمِيعِ لَا بِأَدَاةٍ وَ الْبَصِيرِ لَا بِتَفْرِيقِ آلَةٍ وَ الشَّاهِدِ لَا بِمُمَاسَّةٍ وَ الْبَائِنِ‏ لَا بِتَرَاخِي مَسَافَةٍ وَ الظَّاهِرِ لَا بِرُؤْيَةٍ وَ الْبَاطِنِ لَا بِلَطَافَةٍ بَانَ مِنَ الْأَشْيَاءِ بِالْقَهْرِ لَهَا وَ الْقُدْرَةِ عَلَيْهَا وَ بَانَتِ الْأَشْيَاءُ مِنْهُ بِالْخُضُوعِ لَهُ وَ الرُّجُوعِ إِلَيْهِ

The One^-azwj without explanation of the numbers, and the Creator nor by meaning of movement and fatigue, and the Hearing, not by tools, and the Seeing, not by separation of the eyelids, and the Witness, not by nearness, and Distinct, not by a measurement of distance, and the Apparent, nor by being seen, and the Hidden, not by subtleness from the thing with the subduing to it and the Power upon it, and the things are distinct from Him^-azwj with the humbleness to Him^-azwj and the return to Him^-azwj.

مَنْ وَصَفَهُ فَقَدْ حَدَّهُ‏ وَ مَنْ حَدَّهُ فَقَدْ عَدَّهُ وَ مَنْ عَدَّهُ فَقَدْ أَبْطَلَ أَزَلَهُ وَ مَنْ قَالَ كَيْفَ فَقَدِ اسْتَوْصَفَهُ وَ مَنْ قَالَ أَيْنَ فَقَدْ حَيَّزَهُ

One who described Him^-azwj, so he has limited Him^-azwj, and the one who limits Him^-azwj so he has counted him, and the one who counts Him^-azwj so he has invalidated His^-azwj eternality, and the one who says, ‘How’, so he has described Him^-azwj, and the one who says, ‘Where’, so he has restricted Him^-azwj.

عَالِمٌ إِذْ لَا مَعْلُومٌ وَ رَبٌّ إِذْ لَا مَرْبُوبٌ وَ قَادِرٌ إِذْ لَا مَقْدُورٌ

A Knower when there was nothing known, and Lord^-azwj when there was nothing being nourished, and Powerful when there was nothing empowered’.

أئمة الدين‏

The Imams^-asws of religion

منها قَدْ طَلَعَ طَالِعٌ وَ لَمَعَ لَامِعٌ وَ لَاحَ‏ لَائِحٌ وَ اعْتَدَلَ مَائِلٌ وَ اسْتَبْدَلَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ قَوْماً وَ بِيَوْمٍ يَوْماً وَ انْتَظَرْنَا الْغِيَرَ انْتِظَارَ الْمُجْدِبِ الْمَطَرَ

From it – ‘The emerging one has emerged, and the shiner has shone, and the appearing one has appeared, and the crookedly inclined one has been straightened, and Allah^–azwj has Replaced a people with a people and a day with a day, and we^–asws awaited the change like the waiting of the drought-stricken ones waiting for the rain.

وَ إِنَّمَا الْأَئِمَّةُ قُوَّامُ اللَّهِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ وَ عُرَفَاؤُهُ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ وَ لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ إِلَّا مَنْ عَرَفَهُمْ وَ عَرَفُوهُ وَ لَا يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَنْكَرَهُمْ وَ أَنْكَرُوهُ

But rather, the Imams^-asws are the Custodians of Allah^-azwj upon His^-azwj creatures, and His^-azwj recognisers upon His^-azwj servants. None can enter the Paradise except one recognising them^-asws and they^-asws recognise him, nor enter the Fire except one who denies them^-asws and they^-asws deny him.

إ ِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى خَصَّكُمْ بِالْإِسْلَامِ وَ اسْتَخْلَصَكُمْ لَهُ وَ ذَلِكَ لِأَنَّهُ اسْمُ سَلَامَةٍ وَ جِمَاعُ‏ كَرَامَةٍ اصْطَفَى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مَنْهَجَهُ وَ بَيَّنَ حُجَجَهُ مِنْ ظَاهِرِ عِلْمٍ وَ بَاطِنِ حُكْمٍ لَا تَفْنَى غَرَائِبُهُ‏ وَ لَا تَنْقَضِي عَجَائِبُهُ

And Allah^–azwj the Exalted has Specialised you all with Al-Islam and has Purified you for it, and that is because it is a name of safety, and a collection of honours. Allah^–azwj the Exalted Chose His^–azwj manifesto (Quran) and Manifested His^–azwj Divine Authorities from apparent knowledge and hidden wisdom. Its wonders never deplete not do its marvels terminate.

فِيهِ مَرَابِيعُ النِّعَمِ‏ وَ مَصَابِيحُ الظُّلَمِ لَا تُفْتَحُ الْخَيْرَاتُ إِلَّا بِمَفَاتِيحِهِ وَ لَا تُكْشَفُ الظُّلُمَاتُ إِلَّا بِمَصَابِيحِهِ قَدْ أَحْمَى حِمَاهُ‏ وَ أَرْعَى مَرْعَاهُ فِيهِ شِفَاءُ [الْمُشْتَفِي‏] الْمُسْتَشْفِي وَ كِفَايَةُ الْمُكْتَفِي‏

In it are blossoming bounties and the lamps for the darkness. The goodness cannot be opened up except by its keys, not can the darkness be removed except with it lamps. He^–azwj has Protected its protections and pastures for its grazing. In it is a healing for the ones to be healed and sufficiency for the ones to be sufficed’.[62]

153 و من خطبة له ع‏

Sermon 153 – And from a sermon of his^-asws

صفة الضال‏

Description of the straying one

وَ هُوَ فِي مُهْلَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ يَهْوِي مَعَ الْغَافِلِينَ وَ يَغْدُو مَعَ الْمُذْنِبِينَ بِلَا سَبِيلٍ قَاصِدٍ وَ لَا إِمَامٍ قَائِدٍ

‘And he is in respite from Allah^-azwj, collapsing with the heedless ones, and going with the sinners with any way aimed at nor an Imam^-asws to guide.

صفات الغافلين‏

Attributes of the heedless ones

منها- حَتَّى إِذَا كَشَفَ لَهُمْ عَنْ جَزَاءِ مَعْصِيَتِهِمْ وَ اسْتَخْرَجَهُمْ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِ غَفْلَتِهِمُ اسْتَقْبَلُوا مُدْبِراً وَ اسْتَدْبَرُوا مُقْبِلًا فَلَمْ يَنْتَفِعُوا بِمَا أَدْرَكُوا مِنْ طَلِبَتِهِمْ وَ لَا بِمَا قَضَوْا مِنْ وَطَرِهِمْ-

From it – ‘Until when He^-azwj Uncovers for them from Recompense of their acts of disobedience, and Extracts them from the coverings of their heedlessness, they will face what they had turned back from, and turn back from what they had been facing. So they will not benefit with what they had achieved from their seeking nor with that they had fulfilled from their desires.

إِنِّي أُحَذِّرُكُمْ وَ نَفْسِي هَذِهِ الْمَنْزِلَةَ فَلْيَنْتَفِعِ امْرُؤٌ بِنَفْسِهِ فَإِنَّمَا الْبَصِيرُ مَنْ سَمِعَ فَتَفَكَّرَ وَ نَظَرَ فَأَبْصَرَ وَ انْتَفَعَ بِالْعِبَرِ ثُمَّ سَلَكَ جَدَداً وَاضِحاً يَتَجَنَّبُ فِيهِ الصَّرْعَةَ فِي الْمَهَاوِي وَ الضَّلَالَ فِي‏ الْمَغَاوِي‏ وَ لَا يُعِينُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الْغُوَاةَ بِتَعَسُّفٍ فِي حَقٍّ أَوْ تَحْرِيفٍ فِي نُطْقٍ أَوْ تَخَوُّفٍ مِنْ صِدْقٍ‏

I^-asws am cautioning you, and my^-asws own self is at this status. Let a person benefit with himself, for rather the insightful is the one who hears so he contemplates, and he looks so he is insightful, and he benefits with the lessons. Then he travels the clear path keeping aside from falling into the holes and straying into the errors, and he does not assist the deviators against himself by avoiding a right or alteration in speaking or fearing from truthfulness.

عظة الناس‏

Preaching the people

فَأَفِقْ أَيُّهَا السَّامِعُ مِنْ سَكْرَتِكَ وَ اسْتَيْقِظْ مِنْ غَفْلَتِكَ وَ اخْتَصِرْ مِنْ عَجَلَتِكَ وَ أَنْعِمِ الْفِكْرَ فِيمَا جَاءَكَ عَلَى لِسَانِ النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ ص مِمَّا لَا بُدَّ مِنْهُ وَ لَا مَحِيصَ عَنْهُ وَ خَالِفْ مَنْ خَالَفَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ وَ دَعْهُ وَ مَا رَضِيَ لِنَفْسِهِ وَ ضَعْ فَخْرَكَ وَ احْطُطْ كِبْرَكَ وَ اذْكُرْ قَبْرَكَ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِ مَمَرَّكَ

‘O you people! Sober up from your intoxication, and wake up from your heedlessness, and reduce your hastiness, and soften your thinking regarding what has come to you upon the tongue of the Ummy Prophet^-saww, from what inevitable and inescapable, and oppose the one opposing that to something else, and leave him and what he is pleased for himself, and drop your pride and remove your arrogance, and remember your grave, for to it is your passage. 

وَ كَمَا تَدِينُ تُدَانُ وَ كَمَا تَزْرَعُ تَحْصُدُ وَ مَا قَدَّمْتَ الْيَوْمَ تَقْدَمُ عَلَيْهِ غَداً فَامْهَدْ ِقَدَمِكَ وَ قَدِّمْ لِيَوْمِكَ

And just as you have dealt out, you will be dealt with, and just as you have sown, you shall reap, and whatever you send ahead today, you shall arrive to it tomorrow, therefore smoothen for your feet and go ahead to your day.

فَالْحَذَرَ الْحَذَرَ أَيُّهَا الْمُسْتَمِعُ وَ الْجِدَّ الْجِدَّ أَيُّهَا الْغَافِلُ- وَ لا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ

The caution! The caution, O you listeners! The struggle! The struggle, o you heedless ones, and no one can inform you like an informed one.

إِنَّ مِنْ عَزَائِمِ اللَّهِ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ الَّتِي عَلَيْهَا يُثِيبُ وَ يُعَاقِبُ وَ لَهَا يَرْضَى وَ يَسْخَطُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْفَعُ عَبْداً وَ إِنْ أَجْهَدَ نَفْسَهُ وَ أَخْلَصَ فِعْلَهُ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا لَاقِياً رَبَّهُ بِخَصْلَةٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْخِصَالِ لَمْ يَتُبْ مِنْهَا

Surely, it is from the Determinations of Allah^-azwj in the Wise Zikr (Quran) which He^-azwj shall Reward upon it and Punish, and He^-azwj is Satisfied for it and Dissatisfied, no servant will benefit, and even if he were to exert himself and be sincere in his deed, if he were to exit from the world to meet his Lord^-azwj, with any trait from these traits, not having repented from it –

أَنْ يُشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ فِيمَا افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ عِبَادَتِهِ أَوْ يَشْفِيَ غَيْظَهُ بِهَلَاكِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ يَعُرَّ بِأَمْرٍ فَعَلَهُ غَيْرُهُ أَوْ يَسْتَنْجِحَ‏ حَاجَةً إِلَى النَّاسِ بِإِظْهَارِ بِدْعَةٍ فِي دِينِهِ أَوْ يَلْقَى النَّاسَ بِوَجْهَيْنِ أَوْ يَمْشِيَ‏ فِيهِمْ بِلِسَانَيْنِ

If he had associated with Allah^-azwj regarding what He^-azwj has Obligated upon him of worshipping Him^-azwj, or he had healed his rage by destroying (killing) a soul or had faulted others for a matter he had done it himself or has fulfilled a need to the people by revealing an innovation in his religion, or had met the people with two faces, or walked among them with two tongues.

اعْقِلْ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّ الْمِثْلَ دَلِيلٌ عَلَى شِبْهِهِ إِنَّ الْبَهَائِمَ هَمُّهَا بُطُونُهَا وَ إِنَّ السِّبَاعَ هَمُّهَا الْعُدْوَانُ عَلَى غَيْرِهَا وَ إِنَّ النِّسَاءَ هَمُّهُنَّ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْفَسَادُ فِيهَا إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مُسْتَكِينُونَ‏ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مُشْفِقُونَ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ خَائِفُونَ‏

Understand that, for the example evidence’s upon its like. The beasts, their main concern is their bellies, and the predators, their main concern is the aggression upon others, and the women, their main concern is adornment of life of the world and the corruption in it. The Momineen are humble! The Momineen are compassionate! The Momineen are fearful!’[63]

154 و من خطبة له ع يذكر فيها فضائل أهل البيت‏

Sermon 154 – And from a sermon of his^-asws mentioning in it, merits of People^‑asws of the Household

وَ نَاظِرُ قَلْبِ‏ اللَّبِيبِ بِهِ يُبْصِرُ أَمَدَهُ وَ يَعْرِفُ غَوْرَهُ‏ وَ نَجْدَهُ‏

‘A consideration of a heart of the understanding one, he would be insightful by it of his purpose, and he would recognise his low point and his high point.

دَاعٍ دَعَا وَ رَاعٍ رَعَى فَاسْتَجِيبُوا لِلدَّاعِي وَ اتَّبِعُوا الرَّاعِيَ

The caller has called, and the shepherd is pasturing, so answer to the caller, and follow the shepherd.

قَدْ خَاضُوا بِحَارَ الْفِتَنِ وَ أَخَذُوا بِالْبِدَعِ دُونَ السُّنَنِ وَ أَرَزَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَ نَطَقَ الضَّالُّونَ الْمُكَذِّبُونَ

They have splashed into the oceans of Fitna (strife), and they have taken with the innovations besides the Sunnah, and the Momineen are silent, and the straying ones, the liars are talking.

نَحْنُ الشِّعَارُ وَ الْأَصْحَابُ وَ الْخَزَنَةُ وَ الْأَبْوَابُ وَ لَا تُؤْتَى الْبُيُوتُ إِلَّا مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا فَمَنْ أَتَاهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ أَبْوَابِهَا سُمِّيَ سَارِقاً

We^-asws are the near of kin and the companions (of Rasool-Allah^-saww), and treasurers of the doors (of knowledge), and the houses cannot be accessed except from their doors. So, the one comes to them from other than their doors, he is named as a thief’.

منها- فِيهِمْ كَرَائِمُ‏ الْقُرْآنِ وَ هُمْ كُنُوزُ الرَّحْمَنِ إِنْ نَطَقُوا صَدَقُوا وَ إِنْ صَمَتُوا لَمْ يُسْبَقُوا

From it – ‘Regarding them^-asws are the honours of the Quran, and they^-asws are the treasures of the Beneficent. If they^-asws speak, they are truthful, and if they^-asws are silent, they would not be preceded (in speaking). 

فَلْيَصْدُقْ رَائِدٌ أَهْلَهُ وَ لْيُحْضِرْ عَقْلَهُ وَ لْيَكُنْ مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهَا قَدِمَ وَ إِلَيْهَا يَنْقَلِبُ‏

Let him be truthful of the view of his people, and let him caution his intellect, and let him become from the sons of the Hereafter for he has arrived from it and will be returning to it.

فَالنَّاظِرُ بِالْقَلْبِ الْعَامِلُ بِالْبَصَرِ يَكُونُ مُبْتَدَأُ عَمَلِهِ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ أَ عَمَلُهُ عَلَيْهِ أَمْ لَهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَهُ مَضَى فِيهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ وَقَفَ عَنْهُ فَإِنَّ الْعَامِلَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ كَالسَّائِرِ عَلَى غَيْرِ طَرِيقٍ فَلَا يَزِيدُهُ بُعْدُهُ عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ الْوَاضِحِ إِلَّا بُعْداً مِنْ حَاجَتِهِ وَ الْعَامِلُ بِالْعِلْمِ كَالسَّائِرِ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ الْوَاضِحِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ نَاظِرٌ أَ سَائِرٌ هُوَ أَمْ رَاجِعٌ

The onlooker is with insight with the heart of the worker. He will begin his work if he knows whether his work is against him or for it? So, if it was for him, he would continue in it, and if it was against him, he would pause from it. The worker without knowledge is like the traveller upon another (wrong) road, so his remoteness from the road will not increase him except in remoteness, while the worker with knowledge is like a traveller upon the clear path. So, let the onlooker see, should he travel, or should he return?

وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ ظَاهِرٍ بَاطِناً عَلَى مِثَالِهِ فَمَا طَابَ ظَاهِرُهُ طَابَ بَاطِنُهُ وَ مَا خَبُثَ ظَاهِرُهُ خَبُثَ بَاطِنُهُ وَ قَدْ قَالَ الرَّسُولُ الصَّادِقُ ص إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْعَبْدَ وَ يُبْغِضُ عَمَلَهُ وَ يُحِبُّ الْعَمَلَ وَ يُبْغِضُ بَدَنَهُ

And know, that forever apparent, there is an esoteric upon the like of it. So, whatever, its apparent is good, its esoteric is good, and whatever, its apparent is wicked, its esoteric is wicked, and the truthful Rasool^-saww has said: ‘Allah^-azwj Loves the servant and Hates his deed, and He^-azwj Loves the deed and Hates his body’.

وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ عَمَلٍ نَبَاتاً وَ كُلُّ نَبَاتٍ لَا غِنَى بِهِ عَنِ الْمَاءِ وَ الْمِيَاهُ مُخْتَلِفَةٌ فَمَا طَابَ سَقْيُهُ طَابَ غَرْسُهُ وَ حَلَتْ ثَمَرَتُهُ وَ مَا خَبُثَ سَقْيُهُ خَبُثَ غَرْسُهُ وَ أَمَرَّتْ ثَمَرَتُهُ‏

And know that for every deed there is a plant, and each plant cannot be needless from the water, and the waters are various. So, whatever its quenching is good, plant it, and sweet would be its fruit, and whatever its quenching is bad, bad would be its planting, and bitter would be its fruits’.[64]

155 و من خطبة له ع يذكر فيها بديع خلقة الخفاش‏

Sermon 155 – And from a sermon of his^-asws mentioning in it exquisite creation of the bat

حمد اللّه و تنزيهه‏

Praise of Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj Extolment

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي انْحَسَرَتِ‏ الْأَوْصَافُ عَنْ كُنْهِ مَعْرِفَتِهِ وَ رَدَعَتْ‏ عَظَمَتُهُ الْعُقُولَ فَلَمْ تَجِدْ مَسَاغاً إِلَى بُلُوغِ غَايَةِ مَلَكُوتِهِ

‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj Who the descriptions are deficient from understanding His^-azwj Being, and the intellects stop (working) at His^-azwj Magnificence. One cannot find the possibility to reach the peak of His^-azwj Kingdom.

هُوَ اللَّهُ‏ الْحَقُّ الْمُبِينُ‏ أَحَقُّ وَ أَبْيَنُ مِمَّا تَرَى الْعُيُونُ لَمْ تَبْلُغْهُ الْعُقُولُ بِتَحْدِيدٍ فَيَكُونَ مُشَبَّهاً وَ لَمْ تَقَعْ عَلَيْهِ الْأَوْهَامُ بِتَقْدِيرٍ فَيَكُونَ مُمَثَّلًا

He^-azwj is Allah^-azwj, the King, the clear Truth, and is clearer than what the eyes can see. The intellects cannot reach Him^-azwj by limitations, so He^-azwj could be resembled, and the imaginations cannot occur upon Him^-azwj by measurements, so He^-azwj could be resembled.

خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ عَلَى غَيْرِ تَمْثِيلٍ وَ لَا مَشُورَةِ مُشِيرٍ وَ لَا مَعُونَةِ مُعِينٍ فَتَمَّ خَلْقُهُ بِأَمْرِهِ وَ أَذْعَنَ لِطَاعَتِهِ فَأَجَابَ وَ لَمْ يُدَافِعْ وَ انْقَادَ وَ لَمْ يُنَازِعْ‏

He^-azwj Created the creatures without basing upon a prior example, nor consultation of a counsel, nor assistance of an assistance. His^-azwj creation was completed by His^-azwj Command, and were Proclaimed to obey Him^-azwj, so they answered, and they did not repel, and they submitted and did not contend.

---

[1] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 91

[2] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 92

[3] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 93

[4] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 94

[5] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 95

[6] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 96

[7] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 97

[8] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 98

[9] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 99

[10] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 100

[11] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 101

[12] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 102

[13] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 103

[14] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 104

[15] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 105

[16] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 106

[17] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 107

[18] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 108

[19] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 109

[20] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 110

[21] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 111

[22] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 112

[23] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 113

[24] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 114

[25] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 115

[26] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 116

[27] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 117

[28] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 118

[29] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 119

[30] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 120

[31] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 121

[32] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 122

[33] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 123

[34] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 124

[35] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 125

[36] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 126

[37] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 127

[38] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 128

[39] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 129

[40] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 130

[41] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 131

[42] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 132

[43] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 133

[44] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 134

[45] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 135

[46] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 136

[47] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 137

[48] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 138

[49] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 139

[50] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 140

[51] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 141

[52] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 142

[53] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 143

[54] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 144

[55] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 145

[56] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 146

[57] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 147

[58] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 148

[59] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 149

[60] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 150

[61] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 151

[62] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 152

[63] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 153

[64] Nahj Al Balagah – Sermon No. 154