Sermon 183: Praise be to Allah Who is recognised without being seen…

Praise of Allah for His bounties (His Might, the excellences of the Qur’an and counseling piety)

ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام)

في قدرة الله وفي فضل القرآن وفي الوصية بالتقوى

Praise be to Allah Who is recognised without being seen and Who creates without trouble. He created the creation with His Might, and receives the devotion of rulers by virtue of His dignity. He exercises superiority over great men through His generosity. It is He who made His creation to populate the world and sent towards the jinn and human beings His messengers to unveil it for them, to warn them of its harm, to present to them its examples, to show them its defects and to place before them a whole collection of matters containing lessons about the changings of health and sickness in this world, its lawful things and unlawful things and all that Allah has ordained for the obedient and the disobedient, namely, Paradise and Hell and honour and disgrace. I extend my praise to His Being as He desires His creation to praise Him. He has fixed“..for everything a measure” (65:3) , for every measure a time limit, and“..for every time limit a document” (13:38) .

الْحَمْدُ لله الْمَعْرُوفِ مِنْ غَيْرِ رُؤْيَة، وَالْخَالِقِ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَنْصَبَة، خَلَقَ الْخَلاَئِقَ بِقُدْرَتِهِ، وَاسْتَعْبَدَ الاْرْبَابَ بِعِزَّتِهِ، وَسَادَ الْعُظَمَاءَ بِجُودِهِ، وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَسْكَنَ الدُّنْيَا خَلْقَهُ، وَبَعَثَ إِلَى الْجِنِّ وَالاْنْسِ رُسُلَهُ، لِيَكْشِفُوا لَهُمْ عَنْ غِطَائِهَا، وَلِيُحَذِّرُوهُمْ مِنْ ضَرَّائِهَا، وَلِيَضْرِبُوا لَهُمْ أَمْثَالَهَا، وَلِيُبَصِّرُوهُم عُيُوبَهَا، وَلِيَهْجُمُوا عَلَيْهِمْ بِمُعْتَبَر مِنْ تَصَرُّفِ مَصَاحِّهَا وَأَسْقَامِهَا، وَحَلاَلِهَا وحَرَامِهَا، وَمَا أَعَدَّ سُبْحَانَهُ لِلْمُطِيعِينَ مِنْهُمْ وَالْعُصَاةِ مِنْ جَنَّة وَنَار، وَكَرَامَة وَهَوَان

أَحْمَدُهُ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ كَمَا اسْتَحْمَدَ إِلَى خَلْقِهِ، وَجَعَلَ لِكُلِّ شَيْء قَدْراً، وَلِكُلِّ قَدْر أجَلاً، وَلِكُلِّ أَجَل كِتَاباً

A part of the same Sermon about the greatness and importance of the Holy Qur'an

منها: في ذكر القرآن

The Qur'an orders as well as refrains, remains silent and also speaks. It is the proof of Allah before His creation. He has taken from them a pledge (to act) upon it. He has perfected its effulgence, and completed through it His religion. He let the Prophet leave this world when he had conveyed to the people all His commands of guidance through the Qur'an.

You should therefore regard Allah great as he has held Himself great, because He has not concealed anything of His religion from you, nor has He left out anything which He likes or which He dislikes, but He made for it a clear emblem (of guidance) and a definite sign which either refrains from it or calls towards it. His pleasure is the same for all time to come.

فَالْقُرآنُ آمِرٌ زَاجِرٌ، وَصَامِتٌ نَاطِقٌ، حُجَّةُ اللهِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ، أَخَذَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِيثاقَهُ، وَارْتَهَنَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْفُسَهُمْ، أَتَمَّ نُورَهُ، وَأكْرَمَ بِهِ دِينَهُ، وَقَبَضَ نَبِيَّهُ (صلى الله عليه وآله) وَقَدْ فَرَغَ إِلَى الْخَلْقِ مِنْ أَحكَامِ الْهُدَى بِهِ. فَعَظِّمُوا مِنهُ سُبْحَانَهُ مَا عَظَّمَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يُخْفِ عَنْكُمْ شَيئاً مِنْ دِينِهِ، وَلَمْ يَتْرُكْ شَيئاً رَضِيَهُ أَوْ كَرِهَهُ إِلاَّ وَجَعَلَ لَهُ عَلَماً بَادِياً، وَآيَةً مُحْكَمَةً، تَزْجُرُ عَنْهُ، أَوْ تَدْعُو إِلَيْهِ، فَرِضَاهُ فِيَما بَقِيَ وَاحِدٌ، وَسَخَطُهُ فِيَما بَقِيَ وَاحِدٌ

You should know that He will not be pleased with you for anything for which He was displeased with those before you, and He will not be displeased with you for anything for which He was pleased with those before you. You are treading on a clear path, and are speaking the same as the people before you had spoken. Allah is enough for your needs in this world. He has persuaded you to remain thankful, and has made it obligatory on you to mention Him with your tongues.

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَنْ يَرْضَى عَنْكُمْ بِشَيء سَخِطَهُ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُم، وَلَنْ يَسْخَطَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِشَىْء رَضِيَهُ مِمَّنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ، وَإِنَّمَا تَسِيرُونَ فِي أَثَر بَيِّن، وَتَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِرَجْعِ قَول قَدْ قَالَهُ الرِّجَالُ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ، قَدْ كَفَاكُمْ مَؤُونَةَ دُنْيَاكُمْ، وَحَثَّكُمْ عَلَى الشُّكْرِ، وَافْتَرَضَ مِنْ أَلْسِنَتِكُمُ الذِّكْرَ

Warning against punishment on the Day of Judgement

الوصية بالتقوى

He has advised you to exercise fear and has made it the highest point of His pleasure and all that He requires from His creatures. You should therefore fear Allah, who is such that you are as though just in front of Him, and your forelocks are in His grip, and your change of position is in His control. If you conceal a matter, He will know of it. If you disclose a matter, He will record it. For this He has appointed honoured guards (angels) who do not omit any rightful matter nor include anything incorrect.

You should know that “..whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out” (65:3) of troubles and (grant him) a light (to help him) out of darkness. He will ever keep him in whatever condition he wishes, and will make him stay in a position of honour near Himself, in the house which He has made for Himself. The shade of this house is His throne, its light is His effulgence, its visitors are His angels and its companions are His prophets.

وَأَوْصَاكُمْ بِالتَّقْوَى، وَجَعَلَهَا مُنْتَهَى رِضَاهُ، وَحَاجَتَهُ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ. فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ الَّذِي أَنْتُمْ بِعَيْنِهِ، وَنَوَاصِيكُمْ بِيَدِهِ، وَتَقَلُّبُكُمْ فِي قَبْضَتِهِ، إِن أَسْرَرْتُمْ عَلِمَهُ، وَإِن أَعْلَنْتُمْ كَتَبَهُ، قَدْ وَكَّلَ بِذلِكَ حَفَظَةً كِرَاماً، لاَ يُسْقِطُونَ حَقّاً، وَلاَ يُثْبِتُونَ بَاطِلاً. وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ (مَنْ يَتَّقِ اللهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجاً) مِنَ الْفِتَنِ، وَنُوراً مِنَ الظُّلَمِ، وَيُخَلِّدْهُ فِيَما اشْتَهَتْ نَفْسُهُ، وَيُنْزِلْهُ مَنْزِلَ الْكَرَامَةِ عِنْدَهُ، فِي دَار اصْطَنَعَهَا لِنَفْسِهِ، ظِلُّهَا عَرْشُهُ، وَنُورُهَا بَهْجَتَهُ، وَزُوَّارُهَا مَلاَئِكَتُهُ، وَرُفَقَاؤُهَا رُسُلُهُ

Therefore, hasten towards the place of return and go ahead of (your) deaths (by collecting provision for the next world). Shortly, the expectations of the people will be cut short and death will overtake them while the door of repentance will be closed for them. You are still in a place to which those who were before you have been wishing to return. In this world, which is not your house, you are just a traveller in motion.

You have been given the call to leave from here, and you have been ordered to collect provision while you are here. You should know that this thin skin cannot tolerate the Fire (of Hell). So, have pity on yourselves because you have already tried it in the tribulations of the world.

فَبَادِرُوا الْمَعَادَ، وَسَابِقُوا الاْجَالَ، فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَنْقَطِعَ بِهِمُ الاْمَلُ، وَيَرْهَقَهُمُ الاْجَلُ، وَيُسَدَّ عَنْهُمْ بَابُ التَّوْبَةِ، فَقَدْ أَصْبَحْتُمْ فِي مِثْلِ مَا سَأَلَ إِلَيْهِ الرَّجْعَةَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ، وَأَنْتُمْ بَنُو سَبِيل، عَلَى سَفَر مِنْ دَار لَيْسَتْ بِدَراِكُمْ، وَقَد أُوذِنْتُمْ مِنهَا بِالارْتِحَالِ، وَأُمِرْتُمْ فِيهَا بِالزَّادِ. وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِهذَا الْجِلْدِ الرَّقِيقِ صَبْرٌ عَلَى النَّارِ، فَارْحَمُوا نُفُوسَكُمْ، فَإِنّكُمْ قَدْ جَرَّبْتُمُوهَا فِي مَصَائِبِ الدُّنْيَا

Have you ever seen the crying of a person who has been pricked with a thorn or who bleeds due to stumbling or whom hot sand has burnt? How would he feel when he is between two frying pans of Hell with stones all round with Satan as his companion? Do you know that when Malik (the guard-in-charge of Hell) is angry with the fire, its parts begin to clash with each other (in rage), and, when he scolds it, it leaps between the doors of Hell crying on account of his scolding.

أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ جَزَعَ أَحَدِكُمْ مِنَ الشَّوْكَةِ تُصِيبُهُ، وَالْعَثْرَةِ تُدْمِيهِ، وَالرَّمْضَاءِ تُحْرِقُهُ؟ فَكَيْفَ إِذَا كَانَ بَيْنَ طَابَقَيْنِ مِنْ نَار، ضَجِيعَ حَجَر، وَقَرِينَ شَيْطَان؟! أَعَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّ مَالِكاً إِذَا غَضِبَ عَلَى النَّارِ حَطَمَ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضَاً لِغَضَبِهِ، وَإِذَا زَجَرَهَا تَوَثَّبَتْ بَيْنَ أَبوَابِهَا جَزَعاً مِنْ زَجْرَتِهِ؟ !

O you who are advanced in years, whom old age has made hoary, how will you feel when rings of fire will touch the bones of your neck, and handcuffs hold so hard that they eat away the flesh of the forearms? (Fear) Allah! Allah! O crowd of men, while you are in good health before sickness (grips you) and you are in ease before straitness (overtakes you).

You should try for the release of your necks before their mortgage is foreclosed, keep your eyes awake at night, make your bellies lean, use your feet, spend your money, take your bodies and spend them over yourselves, and do not be niggardly about them, because Allah the Glorified, has said:

... if you help (in the way) of Allah, He will (also) help you, and will set firm your feet. (Qur'an, 47:7)

and He, the Sublime. has said:

Who is he who would loan unto Allah a goodly loan so that He may double it for him, and for him shall be a noble recompense. (Qur'an, 57:11)

أَيُّهَا الْيَفَنُ الْكَبِيرُ، الَّذِي قَدْ لَهَزَهُ الْقَتَيرُ، كَيْفَ أَنْتَ إِذَا الْتَحَمَتْ أَطْوَاقُ النَّارِ بِعِظَامِ الاْعْنَاقِ، وَنَشِبَتِ الجَوَامِعُ حَتَّى أَكَلَتْ لُحُومَ السَّوَاعِدِ؟ فَاللهَ اللهَ مَعْشَرَ الْعِبَادِ! وَأَنْتُمْ سَالِمُونَ فِي الصِّحَّةِ قَبْلَ السُّقْمِ، وَفِي الْفُسْحَةِ قَبْلَ الضِّيقِ، فَاسْعَوْا فِي فَكَاكِ رِقَابِكُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تُغْلَقَ رَهَائِنُهَا، أَسْهِرُوا عُيُونَكُمْ، وَأَضْمِرُوا بُطُونَكُمْ، وَاسْتَعْمِلُوا أَقْدَامَكُمْ، وَأَنْفِقُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ، وَخُذُوا مِنْ أَجْسَادِكُمْ تَجُودُوا بِهَا عَلَى أَنْفُسَكُمْ، وَلاَ تَبْخَلُوا بِهَا عَنْهَا، فَقَدْ قَالَ اللهُ سُبْحَانَهُ: (إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللهَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ)، وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: (مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ وَلَهُ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ)،

He does not seek your support because of any weakness, nor does He demand a loan from you because of shortage. He seeks your help, although He possesses all ..the armies of the skies and the earth (48:7) and He is the All-mighty, the All-wise (14:4). He seeks a loan from you, although He owns ..the treasuries of the skies and the earth (63:7) and ..He is the All-sufficient, the All-laudable (22:64). (Rather) He intends to try you as to which of you is best in conduct (11:7).

You should therefore be quick in performance of (good) acts so that you may be with His neighbours in His abode; He made His Prophet's companions of these neighbours and made the angels to visit them. He has honoured their ears so that the sound of Hell fire may never reach them, and He has afforded protection to their bodies from weariness and fatigue.

. . that is the grace of Allah, He bestoweth it upon whomsoever He willeth; and Allah is the Lord of Mighty Grace. (Qur'an, 57:21)

فَلَمْ يَسْتَنْصِرْكُمْ مِنْ ذُلٍّ، وَلَمْ يَسْتَقْرِضْكُمْ مِنْ قُلٍّ، اسْتَنْصَرَكُمْ وَلَهُ (جُنُودُ السَّماوَاتِ وَالاْرْضِ) وَ(هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحُكِيمُ)، وَاسْتَقْرَضَكُمْ وَلَهُ (خَزَائِنُ السَّماوَاتِ وَالاْرْضِ) وَ(هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ)، وَإِنَّمَا أَرَادَ أَنْ (يَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلاً). فَبَادِرُوا بِأَعْمَالِكُمْ تَكُونُوا مَعَ جِيرَانِ اللهِ فِي دَارِهِ، رَافَقَ بِهِمْ رُسُلَهُ، وَأَزَارَهُمْ مَلاَئِكَتَهُ، وَأَكرَمَ أَسْمَاعَهُم أَنْ تَسْمَعَ حَسِيسَ نَار أَبَداً، وَصَانَ أَجْسَادَهَمْ أَنْ تَلْقَى لُغُوباً وَنَصَباً، (ذلِكَ فُضْلُ اللهِ يُؤتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللهُ ذُوالْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ)

I say what you are hearing. I seek Allah's help for myself and yourselves. He is enough for us and He is ..an excellent trustee (3:173).

أَقُولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ، وَاللهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلى نَفْسِي وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ، وَهُوَ حَسْبُنَا (وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ !(

Alternative Sources for Sermon 183

(1) Al-Zamakhshari, Rabi`, I, 53;

(2) Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, V,299 ;

(3) al-Bahrani, Tafsir al-burhan, I, 9, from a source other than Nahj.

Sermon 184: Keep silent! May Allah disgrace you…

One of the Kharijites al-Burj ibn Mushir at-Ta'i raised the slogan, "Command behoves only Allah" in such a way that Amir al-mu'minin heard it. On hearing it he said:

ومن كلام له (عليه السلام)

قاله للبرج بن مسهر الطائي، وقد قال له بحيث يسمعه: لا حكم إلاَّ لله، وكان من الخوارج

Keep silent! May Allah disgrace you, make you ugly, O you with broken tooth. Certainly, by Allah, when truth became manifest even then your personality was weak and your voice was low. But when wrong began to shout loudly you again sprouted up like the horns of a kid.

اسْكُتْ قَبَحَكَ اللهُ يَا أَثْرَمُ، فَوَاللهِ لَقَدْ ظَهَرَ الْحقُّ فَكُنْتَ فِيهِ ضَئِيلاً شَخْصُكَ، خَفِيّاً صَوْتُكَ، حَتَّى إِذَا نَعَرَ الْبَاطِلُ نَجَمْتَ نُجُومَ قَرْ نِ الْمَاعِزِ

Alternative Sources for Sermon 184

(1) Al-`Askari, Kitab al-sina`atayn,258 .

Sermon 185: Praise be to Allah. He is such that senses cannot perceive Him…

Praise of Allah and His wonderful creatures

ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام)

يحمدالله فيها ويثني على رسوله ويصف خلقاً من الحيوان

Praise be to Allah. He is such that senses cannot perceive Him, place cannot contain Him, eyes cannot see Him and veils cannot cover Him. He proves His eternity by the coming into existence of His creation, and (also) by originating His creation (He proves) His existence, and by their (mutual) similarity He proves that there is nothing similar to Him. He is true in His promise. He is too high to be unjust to His creatures. He stands by equity among His creation and practices justice over them in His commands. He provides evidence through the creation of things of His being from ever, through their marks of incapability of His power, and through their powerlessness against death of His eternity.

الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي لاَ تُدْرِكُهُ الشَّوَاهِدُ، وَلاَ تَحْوِيهِ الْمَشَاهِدُ، وَلاَ تَرَاهُ النَّوَاظِرُ، وَلاَ تَحْجُبُهُ السَّوَاتِرُ، الدَّالِّ عَلَى قِدَمِهِ بِحُدُوثِ خَلْقِهِ، وَبِحُدُوثِ خَلْقِهِ عَلَى وجُودِهِ، وَبِاشْتِبَاهِهِمْ عَلَى أَنْ لاَ شَبَهَ لَهُ، الَّذِي صَدَقَ فِي مِيعَادِهِ، وَارْتَفَعَ عَنْ ظُلْمِ عِبَادِه، وَقَامَ بِالْقِسطِ فِي خَلْقِهِ، وَعَدَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ فِي حُكْمِهِ، مُسْتَشْهِدٌ بِحُدُوثِ الاْشْيَاءِ عَلَى أَزَلِيَّتِهِ، وَبِمَا وَسَمَهَا بِهِ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ عَلَى قُدْرَتِهِ، وَبِمَا اضْطَرَّهَا إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْفَنَاءِ عَلَى دَوَامِهِ،

He is One, but not by counting. He is everlasting without any limit. He is existent without any support. Minds admit of Him without (any activity of the) senses. Things which can be seen stand witness to Him without confronting Him. Imagination cannot encompass Him. He manifests Himself to the imagination with his help for the imagination, and refuses to be imagined by the imagination. He has made imagination the arbiter (in this matter). He is not great in the sense that volume is vast and so His body is also great. Nor is He mighty in the sense that His limits should extend to the utmost and so His frame be extensive. But He is great in position and mighty in authority.

وَاحِدٌ لاَ بِعَدَد، وَدَائِمٌ لاَ بِأَمَد، وَقَائِمٌ لاَ بَعَمَد، تَتَلَقَّاهُ الاْذْهَانُ لاَ بِمُشَاعَرَة، وَتَشْهَدُ لَهُ الْمَرَائِي لاَ بِمُحَاضَرَة، لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ الاَْوْهَامُ، بَلْ تَجَلَّى لَهَا بِهَا، وَبِهَا امْتَنَعَ مِنهَا، وَإِلَيْهَا حَاكَمَهَا، لَيْسَ بِذِي كِبَر امْتَدَّتْ بِهِ النِّهَايَاتُ فَكَبَّرَتْهُ تَجْسِيماً، وَلاَ بِذِي عِظَم تَنَاهَتْ بِهِ الْغَايَاتُ فَعَظَّمَتْهُ تَجْسِيداً بَلْ كَبُرَ شَأْناً، وَعَظُمَ سُلْطَاناً

About the Holy Prophet

الرسول الاعظم

I stand witness that Muhammad is His slave, His chosen Prophet and His responsible trustee -- may Allah bless him and his descendants. Allah sent him with undeniable proofs, a clear success and open paths. So he conveyed the message declaring the truth with it. He led the people on the (correct) highway, established signs of guidance and minarets of light, and made Islam's ropes strong and its knots firm.

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ الصَّفِيُّ، وَأَمِينُهُ الرَّضِيُّ (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) أَرْسَلَهُ بِوُجُوبِ الْحُجَجِ، وَظُهُورِ الْفَلَجِ، وَإِيضَاحِ الْمَنْهَجِ، فَبَلَّغُ الرِّسَالَةَ صَادِعاً بِهَا، وَحَمَلَ عَلَى الْـمَحَجَّةِ دالاًّ عَلَيْهَا، وَأَقَامَ أَعْلاَمَ الاْهْتِدَاءِ وَمَنَارَ الضِّيَاءِ، وَجَعَلَ أَمْرَاسَ الاْسْلاَمِ مَتِينَةً، وَعُرَا الاْيمَانِ وَثِيقَةً

A part of the same sermon about the creation of animal species

منها: في صفة عجيب خلق أصناف من الحيوان

Had they pondered over the greatness of His power and the vastness of His bounty they would have returned to the right path and feared the punishment of the Fire; but hearts are sick and eyes are diseased. Do they not see the small things He has created, how He strengthened their system and opened for them hearing and sight and made for them bones and skins? Look at the ant with its small body and delicate form.

It can hardly be seen in the corner of the eye, nor by the perception of the imagination - how it moves on the earth and leaps at its livelihood. It carries the grain to its hole and deposits it in its place of stay. It collects during the summer for its winter, and during strength for the period of its weakness. Its livelihood is guaranteed, and it is fed according to fitness. Allah, the Kind, does not forget it and (Allah the Giver) does not deprive it, even though it may be in dry stone or fixed rocks.

وَلَوْ فَكَّروا فِي عَظِيمِ الْقُدْرَةِ، وَجَسِيمِ النِّعْمَةِ، لَرَجَعُوا إِلَى الطَّرِيقِ، وَخَافُوا عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ، وَلكِنَّ الْقُلُوبَ عَلِيلَةٌ، وَالاَبْصَارَ مَدْخُولَةٌ! ألاَ تَنْظُرُونَ إِلَى صَغِيرِ مَا خَلَقَ اللهُ، كَيْفَ أَحْكَمَ خَلْقَهُ، وَأَتْقَنَ تَرْكِيبَهُ، وَفَلَقَ لَهُ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ، وَسَوَّى لَهُ الْعَظْمَ وَالْبَشَرَ!. انْظُرُوا إِلَى الَّنمْلَةِ فِي صِغَرِ جُثَّتِهَا، وَلَطَافَةِ هَيْئَتِهَا، لاَ تَكَادُ تُنَالُ بِلَحْظِ الْبَصَرِ، وَلاَ بِمُسْتَدْرَكِ الْفِكَرِ، كَيْفَ دَبَّتْ عَلَى أَرْضِهَا، وَصَبَتْ عَلَى رِزْقِهَا، تَنْقُلُ الْحَبَّةَ إِلَى جُحْرِهَا، وَتُعِدُّهَا فِي مُسْتَقَرِّهَا. تَجْمَعُ فِي حَرِّهَا لِبَرْدِهَا، وَفِي وُرُودِهَا لِصَدَرِهَا، مَكْفُولٌ بِرِزْقِهَا، مَرْزُوقَةٌ بِوِفْقِهَا، لاَ يُغْفِلُهَا الْمَنَّانُ، وَلاَ يَحْرِمُهَا الدَّيَّانُ، وَلَوْ فِي الصَّفَا الْيَابِسِ، وَالْحَجَرِ الْجَامِسِ !

If you have thought about its digestive tracts in its high and low parts, the carapace of its belly, and its eyes and its ears in its head you would be amazed at its creation and you would feel difficulty in describing it. Exalted is He who made it stand on its legs and erected it on its pillars (of limbs). No other originator took part with Him in its origination and no one having power assisted Him in its creation.

If you tread on the paths of your imagination and reach its extremity it will not lead you anywhere except that the Originator of the ant is the same as He who is the Originator of the date-palm, because everything has (the same) delicacy and detail, and every living being has little difference. In His creation, the big, the delicate, the heavy, the light, the strong, the weak are all equal.1

وَلَوْ فَكَّرْتَ فِي مَجَارِي أُكْلِهَا، وَفِي عُلْوهَا وَسُفْلِهَا، وَمَا فِي الجَوْفِ مِنْ شَرَاسِيفِ بَطْنِهَا، وَمَا فِي الرَّأسِ مِنْ عَيْنِهَا وَأُذُنِهَا، لَقَضَيْتَ مِنْ خَلْقِهَا عَجَباً، وَلَقِيتَ مِنْ وَصْفِهَا تَعَباً! فَتَعَالَى الَّذِي أَقَامَهَا عَلَى قَوَائِمِهَا، وَبَنَاهَا عَلَى دَعَائِمِهَا! لَمْ يَشْرَكْهُ فِي فِطْرَتِهَا فَاطِرٌ، وَلَمْ يُعِنْهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهَا قَادِرٌ. وَلَوْ ضَرَبْتَ فِي مَذَاهِبِ فِكْرِكَ لِتَبْلُغَ غَايَاتِهِ، مَا دَلَّتْكَ الدَّلاَلَةُ إِلاَّ عَلَى أَنَّ فَاطِرَ الَّنمْلَةِ هُوَ فَاطِرُ النَّخْلَةِ، لِدَقِيقِ تَفْصِيلِ كُلِّ شَيْء، وَغَامِضِ اخْتِلاَفِ كُلِّ حَيّ، وَمَا الْجَلِيلُ وَاللَّطِيفُ، وَالثَّقِيلُ والخَفِيفُ، وَالْقَوِيُّ وَالضَّعِيفُ، فِي خَلْقِهِ إِلاَّ سَوَاءٌ

The Creation of the Universe

خلقة السماء والكون

So is (the creation of) the sky, the air, the winds and the water. Therefore, you look at the sun and moon, the plants and trees, water and stone, the alternation of this night and day, the flowing out of these seas, the large number of mountains and the height of their peaks, the diversity of languages and the variety of tongues. Then woe be to him who disbelieves in the Ordainer and denies the Ruler. They claim that they are like grass for which there is no cultivator nor any maker for their diverse shapes. They have not relied on any argument for what they assert, nor on any research for what they have heard. Can there be any construction without a Constructor, or any offence without an offender.

وَكَذلِكَ السَّماءُ وَالْهَوَاءُ، وَالرِّيَاحُ وَالْمَاءُ. فَانْظُرْ إِلَى الشَّمْسِ وَالْقَمَرِ، وَالنَّبَاتِ وَالشَّجَرِ، وَالْمَاءِ وَالْحَجَرِ، وَاخْتِلاَفِ هذَا اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ، وَتَفَجُّرِ هذِهِ الْبِحَارِ، وَكَثْرَةِ هذِهِ الْجِبَالِ، وَطُولِ هذِهِ الْقِلاَلِ، وَتَفَرُّقِ هذِهِ اللُّغَاتِ، وَالاْلْسُنِ الْـمُخْتَلِفَاتِ. فَالوَيْلُ لِمَنْ جَحَدَ الْمُقَدِّرَ، وَأَنْكَرَ الْمُدَبِّرَ! زَعَمُوا أَنَّهُمْ كَالنَّبَاتِ مَا لَهُمْ زَارعٌ، وَلاَ لاِخْتِلاَفِ صُوَرِهِمْ صَانِعٌ، وَلَمْ يَلْجَأُوا إِلَى حُجَّة فِيَما ادَّعَوا، وَلاَ تَحْقِيق لِمَا أَوْعَوْا، وَهَلْ يَكُونُ بِنَاءٌ مِنْ غَيْرِ بَان، أَوْ جِنَايَةٌ مِن غَيْرِ جَان؟ !

The wonderful creation of the locust

خلقة الجرادة

If you wish you can reflect on the locust (as well). Allah gave it two red eyes, lighted for them two moon-like pupils, made for it small ears, opened for it a suitable mouth and gave it keen sense, gave it two teeth to cut with and two sickle-like feet to grip with. The farmers are afraid of it in the matter of their crops since they cannot drive it away even though they may join together. The locust attacks the fields and satisfies its desires (of hunger) from them although its body is not equal to a thin finger.

وَإِنْ شِئْتَ قُلْتَ فِي الْجَرَادَةِ، إِذْ خَلَقَ لَهَا عَيْنَيْنِ حَمْرَ اوَيْنِ، وَأَسْرَجَ لَهَا حَدَقَتَيْنِ قَمْرَاوَيْنِ، وَجَعَلَ لَهَا السَّمْعَ الْخَفِيَّ، وَفَتَحَ لَهَا الْفَمَ السَّوِيَّ، وَجَعَلَ لَهَا الْحِسَّ الْقَوِيَّ، وَنَابَيْنِ بِهِمَا تَقْرِضُ، وَمِنْجَلَيْنِ بِهِمَا تَقْبِضُ، يَرْهَبُهَا الزُّرَّاعُ فِي زَرْعِهمْ، وَلاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ذَبَّهَا، وَلَوْ أَجْلَبُوا بِجَمْعِهِم، حَتَّى تَرِدَ الْحَرْثَ فِي نَزَوَاتِهَا، وَتَقْضِي مِنْهُ شَهَوَاتِهَا، وَخَلْقُهَا كُلُّهُ لاَ يُكَوِّنُ إِصْبَعاً مُسْتَدِقَّةً

About the Glory of Allah

Glorified is Allah before Whom bows in prostration “..whoever there is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly.” (13:15), and submits to Him by placing his cheeks and face (in the dust), casts himself down before Him (in obedience) in health and weakness, and hands over to Him full control in fear and apprehension.

The birds are bound by His commands. He knows the number of their feathers and their breaths. He has made their feet to stand on water and on land. He has ordained their livelihoods. He knows their species: this is the crow, this is the eagle, this is the pigeon and this is the ostrich. He called out every bird with its name (while creating it) and provided it with its livelihood. He created “..heavy clouds” (13:12) and produced from them heavy rain and spread it on various lands. He drenched the earth after its dryness and grew vegetation from it after its barrenness.

فَتَبَارَكَ اللهُ الَّذِي يَسْجُدُ لَهُ (مَنْ فِي السَّماوَاتِ وَالاْرْضِ طَوْعاً وَكَرْهاً)، وَيُعَفِّرُ لَهُ خَدّاً وَوَجْهاً، وَيُلْقِي بِالْطَّاعَةِ إلَيْهِ سِلْماً وَضَعْفاً، وَيُعْطِي الْقِيَادَ رَهْبَةً وَخَوْفاً! فَالطَّيْرُ مُسَخَّرَةٌ لاِمْرِهِ، أَحْصَى عَدَدَ الرِّيشِ مِنْهَا وَالنَّفَسَ، وَأَرْسَى قَوَائِمَهَا عَلَى النَّدَى وَالْيَبَسِ، قَدَّرَ أَقْوَاتَهَا، وَأَحْصَى أَجْنَاسَهَا، فَهذَا غُرابٌ وَهذَا عُقَابٌ، وَهذَا حَمَامٌ وَهذَا نَعَامٌ، دَعَا كُلَّ طَائِر بَاسْمِهِ، وَكَفَلَ لَهُ بِرِزْقِهِ. وَأَنْشَأَ) السَّحَابَ الثِّقَالَ(، فَأَهْطَلَ دِيَمَهَا، وَعَدَّدَ قِسَمَهَا، فَبَلَّ الاْرْضَ بَعْدَ جُفُوفِهَا، وَأَخْرَجَ نَبْتَهَا بَعْدَ جُدُوبِهَا

Alternative Sources for Sermon 185

(1) Abu Talib Yahya ibn al-Husayn ibn Harun al-Husayni, al-'Amali,192 ;

(2) al-Zamakhshari, Rabi`, bab dawabb al-barr wa al-bahr;

(3) al-Tabarsi, al-'Ihtijaj, I,305 .

Notes

1. The meaning is that if the smallest thing in creation is examined it will be found to contain all that which is found in the biggest creatures, and each will exhibit the same reflection of natures, workmanship and performance, and the ratio of each to Allah's might and power will be the same, whether it be as small as an ant or as big as a date palm. Is it not that making a small thing is easy for Him while the making of a big thing is difficult for Him, because the diversity of colour, volume and quantity is just based on the dictates of His sagacity and expediency, but as regards creation itself there is no difference among them. Therefore, this uniformity of creation is a proof of the oneness and unity of the Creator.