Sermon 144: Allah deputed prophets

About Deputation of Prophets

ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام)

مبعث الرسل

Allah deputed prophets and distinguished them with His revelation. He made them as pleas for Him among His creation, so that there should not remain any excuse for people. He invited people to the right path through a truthful tongue. You should know that Allah fully knows creation. Not that He was not aware of what they concealed from among their hidden secrets and inner feelings, but in order to try them as to “..which of them performs the best deeds” (18:7), so that there is reward in respect of good acts and chastisement in respect of evil acts.

بَعَثَ اللهُ رُسُلَهُ بِمَا خَصَّهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ وَحْيِهِ، وَجَعَلَهُمْ حُجَّةً لَهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ، لِئَلاَّ تَجِبَ الْحُجَّةُ لَهُمْ بِتَرْكِ الاْعْذَارِ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَدَعَاهُمْ بِلِسَانِ الصِّدْقِ إِلَى سَبِيلِ الْحَقِّ. أَلاَ إِنَّ اللهَ قَدْ كَشَفَ الْخَلْقَ كَشْفَةً، لاَ أَنَّهُ جَهِلَ مَا أَخْفَوْهُ مِنْ مَصُونَ أَسْرَارِهِمْ وَمَكْنُونِ ضَماَئِرِهمْ، وَلكِنْ لِيَبْلُوَهُمْ (أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلا)، فَيَكُونَ الثَّوَابُ جَزَاءً، وَالْعِقَابُ بَوَاءً

The excellence of Ahlul Bayt (the Household of the Holy Prophet)

فضل أهل البيت (عليهم السلام)

Where are those who falsely and unjustly claimed that they are deeply versed in knowledge, as against us, although Allah raised us in position and kept them down, bestowed upon us knowledge but deprived them, and entered us (in the fortress of knowledge) but kept them out. With us guidance is to be sought and blindness (of misguidance) is to be changed into brightness. Surely the Imams (divine leaders) will be from the Quraysh. They have been planted in this line through Hashim. It would not suit others nor would others be suitable as heads of affairs.

أَيْنَ الَّذِينَ زَعَمُوا أَنَّهُمُ الرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ دُونَنَا، كَذِباً وَبَغْياً عَلَيْنَا، أَنْ رَفَعَنَا اللهُ وَوَضَعَهُمْ، وَأَعْطَانَا وَحَرَمَهُمْ، وَأَدْخَلَنَا وَأَخْرَجَهُمْ. بِنَا يُسْتَعْطَى الْهُدَى، وَبِنَا يُسْتَجْلَى الْعَمَى. إِنَّ الاْئِمَّةَ مِنْ قُرَيش غُرِسُوا فِي هذَا الْبَطْنِ مِنْ هَاشِم، لاَ تَصْلُحُ عَلَى سِوَاهُمْ، وَلاَ تَصْلُحُ الْوُلاَةُ مِنْ غَيْرِهمْ

A part of the same sermon concerning the misguided ones

منها: في أهل الضلال

They have adopted this world and abandoned the next world; left clean water and drunk stinking water. I can almost see their wicked one1 who committed unlawful acts, associated himself with them, befriended them and accorded with them till his hair grew grey and his nature acquired their tinge. He proceeded onward emitting foam like a torrential stream not caring whom he drowned, or, like fire in straw, without realising what he burnt.

آثَرُوا عَاجِلاً، وَأَخَّرُوا آجِلاً، وَتَرَكُوا صَافِياً، وَشَرِبُوا آجِناً، كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى فَاسِقِهِمْ وَقَدْ صَحِبَ الْمُنكَرَ فَأَلِفَهُ، وَبَسِىءَ بِهِ وَوَافَقَهُ، حَتَّى شَابَتْ عَلَيْهِ مَفَارِقُهُ، وَصُبِغَتْ بِهِ خَلاَئِقُهُ، ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ مُزْبِداً كَالتَّيَّارِ لاَ يُبَالِي مَا غَرَّقَ، أَوْ كَوَقْعِ النَّارِ في الْهَشيمِ لاَ يَحْفِلُ مَا حَرَّقَ !

Where are the minds which seek light from the lamps of guidance, and the eyes which look at minarets of piety? Where are the hearts dedicated to Allah, and devoted to the obedience of Allah? They are all crowding towards worldly vanities and quarrelling over unlawful issues. The ensigns of Paradise and Hell have been raised for them but they have turned their faces away from Paradise and proceeded to Hell by dint of their performances. Allah called them but they showed dislike and ran away. When Satan called them they responded and proceeded (towards him).

أَيْنَ الْعُقُولُ الْمُسْتَصْبِحَةُ بِمَصَابِيحِ الْهُدَى، وَالاْبْصَارُ اللاَّمِحَةُ إِلَى مَنَارِ التَّقْوَى؟! أَيْنَ الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي وُهِبَتْ للهِ، وَعُوقِدَتْ عَلَى طَاعَةِ اللهِ؟! ازْدَحَمُوا عَلَى الْحُطَامِ، وَتَشَاحُّوا عَلَى الْحَرَامِ، وَرُفِعَ لَهُمْ عَلَمُ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ، فَصَرَفُوا عَنِ الْجَنَّةِ وُجُوهَهُمْ، وَأَقْبَلُوا إِلَى النَّارِ بِأَعْمَالِهِمْ، دَعَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ فَنَفَرُوا وَوَلَّوْا، وَدَعَاهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَاسْتَجَابُوا وَأَقْبَلُوا !

Alternative Sources for Sermon 144

(1) Al-'Amidi, Ghurar, see `Abd al-Zahra', II,322 .

Notes

1. Here the reference is to `Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan who committed extreme atrocities through his officer al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf ath-Thaqafi.

Sermon 145: O people, you are, in this world...

About this world

ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام)

فناء الدنيا

O people, you are, in this world, the target for the arrows of death. With every drinking there is choking and with every eating there is suffocation. You do not get any benefit in it except by foregoing another (benefit) and no one among you advances in age by a day except by the taking away of a day from his life. Nothing more is added to his eating unless it reduces what was there before. No mark appears for him unless a mark disappears. Nothing new comes into being unless the new becomes old. No new crop comes up unless a crop has been reaped. Those roots are gone whose off-shoots we are. How can an off-shoot live after the departure of its root?

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّمَا أَنْتُمْ فِي هذِهِ الدُّنْيَا غَرَضٌ تَنْتَضِلُ فِيهِ الْمَنَايَا، مَعَ كُلِّ جَرْعَة شَرَقٌ، وَفي كُلِّ أَكْلَة غَصَصٌ! لاَ تَنَالُونَ مِنْهَا نِعْمَةً إِلاَّ بِفِرَاقِ أُخْرَى، وَلاَ يُعَمَّرُ مُعَمَّرٌ مِنْكُمْ يَوْماً مِنْ عُمُرِهِ إِلاَّ بِهَدْمِ آخَرَ مِنْ أَجَلِهِ، وَلاَ تُجَدَّدُ لَهُ زِيَادَةٌ فِي أَكْلِهِ إِلاَّ بَنَفَادِ مَا قَبْلَهَا مِنْ رِزْقِهِ، وَلاَ يَحْيَا لَهُ أَثَرٌ إِلاَّ مَاتَ لَهُ أَثَرٌ، وَلاَ يَتَجَدَّدُ لَهُ جَدِيدٌ إِلاَّ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَخْلَقَ لَهُ جَدِيدٌ، وَلاَ تَقُومُ لَهُ نَابِتَةٌ إِلاَّ وَتَسْقُطُ مِنْهُ مَحْصُودَةٌ، وَقَدْ مَضَتْ أُصُولٌ نَحْنُ فُرُوعُهَا، فَمَا بَقَاءُ فَرْع بَعْدَ ذَهَابِ أَصْلِهِ !

A part of the same sermon censuring innovation (bid`ah)

منها: في ذمّ البدعة

No innovation is introduced unless one sunnah is forsaken. Keep away from innovations and stick to the broad road. Surely the old tested ways are the best and the innovated ones are bad.

وَمَا أُحْدِثَتْ بِدْعَةٌ إِلاَّ تُرِكَ بِهَا سُنَّةٌ، فَاتَّقُوا الْبِدَعَ، والْزَمُوا الْمَهْيَعَ، إِنَّ عَوَازِمَ الاْمُورِ أَفْضَلُهَا، وَإِنَّ مُحْدِثَاتِهَا شِرَارُهَا

Alternative Sources for Sermon 145

(1) Al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 73;

(2) al-Mufid, al-'Irshad,139 as well as al-'Amali;

(3) al-Tusi, al-'Amali, I,220 ;

(4) al-Qali, al-'Amali, II, 67.

Sermon 146: In this matter, victory or defeat...

Spoken when `Umar ibn al-Khattab consulted Amir al-mu'minin about taking part in the battle of Persia.1

ومن كلام له (عليه السلام)

وقد استشاره عمر بن الخطاب في الشخوص لقتال الفرس بنفسه

In this matter, victory or defeat is not dependent on the smallness or greatness of forces. It is Allah's religion which He has raised above all faiths, and His army which He has mobilised and extended, till it has reached the point where it stands now, and has arrived its present positions. We hold a promise from Allah, and He will fulfil His promise and support His army.

إِنَّ هذَا الاْمْرَ لَمْ يَكُنْ نَصْرُهُ وَلاَ خِذْلاَنُهُ بِكَثْرَة وَلاَ بِقِلَّة، وَهُوَ دِينُ اللهِ الَّذِي أَظْهَرَهُ، وَجُنْدُهُ الَّذِي أَعَدَّهُ وَأَمَدَّهُ، حَتَّى بَلَغَ مَا بَلَغَ، وَطَلَعَ حَيْثُ طَلَعَ، وَنَحْنُ عَلَى مَوْعُود مِنَ اللهِ، وَاللهُ مُنْجِزٌ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَاصِرٌ جُنْدَهُ

The position of the head of government is that of the thread for beads, as it connects them and keeps them together. If the thread is broken, they will disperse and be lost, and will never come together again. The Arabs today, even though small in number are big because of Islam and strong because of unity. You should remain like the axis for them, and rotate the mill (of government) with (the help of) the Arabs, and be their root. Avoid battle, because if you leave this place the Arabs will attack you from all sides and directions till the unguarded places left behind by you will become more important than those before you.

وَمَكَانُ الْقَيِّمِ بِالاْمْرِ مَكَانُ النِّظَامِ مِنَ الْخَرَزِ يَجْمَعُهُ وَيَضُمُّهُ: فَإِنِ انْقَطَعَ النِّظَامُ تَفَرَّقَ وَذَهَبَ، ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجْتَمِعُ بِحَذَافِيرِهِ أَبَداً. وَالْعَرَبُ الْيَومَ وَإِنْ كَانُوا قَلِيلاً، فَهُمْ كَثِيرُونَ بَالاْسْلاَمِ، عَزِيزُونَ بَالاجْتِماعِ! فَكُنْ قُطْباً، وَاسْتَدِرِ الرَّحَا بِالْعَرَبِ، وَأَصْلِهِمْ دُونَكَ نَارَ الْحَرْبِ، فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ شَخَصْتَ مِنْ هذِهِ الاَرْضِ انْتَقَضَتْ عَلَيْكَ الْعَرَبُ مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا وَأَقْطَارِهَا، حَتَّى يَكُونَ مَا تَدَعُ وَرَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعَوْرَاتِ أَهَمَّ إِلَيْكَ مِمَّا بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ

If the Persians see you tomorrow they will say, "He is the root (chief) of Arabia. If we do away with him we will be in peace." In this way this will heighten their eagerness against you and their keenness to aim at you. You say that they have set out to fight against the Muslims. Well, Allah detests their setting out more than you do, and He is more capable of preventing what He detests. As regards your idea about their (large) number, in the past we did not fight on the strength of large numbers but we fought on the basis of Allah's support and assistance.

إِنَّ الاَعَاجِمَ إِنْ يَنْظُرُوا إِلَيْكَ غَداً يَقُولُوا: هذا أَصْلُ الْعَرَبِ، فَإِذَا اقْتَطَعْتُمُوهُ اسْتَرَحْتُمْ، فَيْكُونُ ذلِكَ أَشَدَّ لِكَلَبِهِمْ عَلَيْكَ، وَطَمَعِهِمْ فِيكَ. فَأَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ مَسِيرِ الْقَوْمِ إِلَى قِتَالِ المُسْلِمِينَ، فَإِنَّ اللهَ سُبْحَانَهُ هُوَ أَكْرَهُ لِمَسِيرِهِمْ مِنْكَ، وَهُوَ أَقْدَرُ عَلَى تَغْيِيرِ مَا يَكْرَهُ وَأَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ عَدَدِهِمْ، فَإِنَّا لَمْ نَكُنْ نُقَاتِلُ فِيَما مَضَى بِالْكَثْرَةِ، وَإِنَّمَا كُنَّا نُقَاتِلُ بِالنَّصْرِ وَالْمَعُونَةِ !

Alternative Sources for Sermon 146

(1) Al-Dinawari, al-'Akhbar,134 ;

(2) Ibn A`tham, al-Futuh, II, 37;

(3) al-Tabari, Ta'rikh, IV,237 events of 27 H.;

(4) al-Mufid, al-'Irshad,120 ;

(5) Ibn Miskawayh, Tajarib, I,419 .

Notes

1. When some people advised Caliph `Umar to partake in the battle of al-Qadisiyyah or Nahawand, he finding it against his personal inclination, thought it necessary to consult Amir al-mu'minin, so that if he advised against it he would plead before others that he had stayed back on Amir al-mu'minin's advice, but also if he advised partaking in the battle some other excuse would be found. However, unlike others, Amir al-mu'minin advised him to stay back. The other people had advised him to join in fighting, because the Holy Prophet did not send only others to fight but took part in it himself as well, keeping his close relations also with him. What Amir al-mu'minin had in view was that `Umar's presence in the battle could not be beneficial to Islam, but rather his staying back would save the Muslims from dispersion.

Amir al-mu'minin's view that "the position of the head of government is that of the axis around which the system of the government rotates" is a point of principle and does not concern any particular personality. Whether the ruler is a Muslim or an unbeliever, just or despotic, virtuous or vicious, for the administration of the state his presence is a necessity, as Amir al-mu'minin has explained elsewhere at greater length:

The fact is that there is no escape for men from a ruler good or bad. Faithful persons perform (good) acts in his rule while the unfaithful enjoys (worldly) benefits in it. During the rule, Allah will carry everything to its end. Through the ruler tax is collected, the enemy is fought, roads are protected and the right of the weak is taken from the strong till the virtuous enjoy peace and are allowed protection from (the oppression of) the wicked. (Sermon 40)

The words which Amir al-mu'minin uttered in his advice are not indicative of any quality of Caliph `Umar except his being the ruler. There is no doubt that he held worldly authority, irrespective of the question of whether it was secured in the right way or wrong way. And where there is authority there is centring of people's affairs. That is why Amir al-mu'minin said that if `Umar would go out the Arabs would follow him in large numbers towards the battlefield, because when the ruler is on the march the people will not like to stay behind. The result of their going would be that city after city would become vacant, while the enemy will infer from their reaching the battlefield that the Islamic cities are lying vacant, and that if these people were repulsed no assistance would reach the Muslims from the centre. Again, if the ruler were killed the army would disperse automatically, because the ruler is as its foundation. When the foundation is shaken the walls cannot remain standing. The word "aslu'l-`Arab" (the root chief) of Arabia has not been used by Amir al-mu'minin as his own but he has taken it from the Persians. Obviously in his capacity as the head of the State, Caliph `Umar was, in their view, the chief of Arabia. Besides, the reference is to the country, not to Islam or Muslims, so that there is no suggestion of any importance for him from the Islamic point of view.

When Amir al-mu'minin pointed out to Caliph `Umar that on his reaching there the Persians would aim at him, and that if he fell into their hands they would not spare him without killing, although such words would have touched the brave to the quick and would have heightened their spirits, `Umar liked the advice to stay back and thought it better to keep himself away from the flames of battle. If this advice had not been in accord with his personal inclination he would not have received it so heartily and would have tried to argue that the administration of the country could be maintained by leaving a deputy. Again when other people had already advised him to go out, what was the need for consulting Amir al-mu'minin except to get an excuse to stay back.

Sermon 147: Allah sent Muhammad (S) with the Truth…

The purpose of the deputation of the Holy Prophet and the condition of the time when people would go against the Qur'an

ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام)

الغاية من البعثة

Allah sent Muhammad (S) with the Truth so that he may take out His people from the worship of idols towards His worship and from obeying Satan towards obeying Him and sent him with the Qur'an which He explained and made strong, in order that the people may know their sustainer (Allah) since they were ignorant of Him, may acknowledge Him since they were denying Him, and accept Him since they were refusing (to believe in) Him.

Because He, the Glorified, revealed Himself to them through His Book without their having seen Him, by means of what He showed them out of His might and made them fear His sway. How He destroyed those whom He wished to destroy through His chastisement and ruined those whom He wished to ruin through His retribution!

فَبَعَثَ اللهُ مُحَمَّداً بِالْحَقِّ لِيُخْرِجَ عِبَادَهُ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ الاْوْثَانِ إِلَى عِبَادَتِهِ، وَمِنْ طَاعَةِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِلَى طَاعَتِهِ، بِقُرْآن قَدْ بَيَّنَهُ وَأَحْكَمَهُ، لِيَعْلَمَ الْعِبَادُ رَبَّهُمْ إِذْ جَهِلُوهُ، وَلِيُقِرُّوا بِهِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَحَدُوهُ، وَلِيُثْبِتُوهُ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنْكَرُوهُ. فَتَجَلَّى سُبْحَانَهُ لَهُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَكُونُوا رَأَوْهُ، بِمَا أَرَاهُمْ مِنْ قُدْرَتِهِ، وَخَوَّفَهُمْ مِنْ سَطْوَتِهِ، وَكَيْفَ مَحَقَ مَنْ مَحَقَ بِالْمَثُلاَتِ، وَاحْتَصَدَ مَنِ احْتَصَدَ بِالنَّقِمَاتِ !

On the future

الزمان المقبل

Certainly, a time will come upon you after me when nothing will be more concealed than rightfulness, nothing more apparent than wrongfulness and nothing more current than untruth against Allah and His Prophet. For the people of this period nothing will be more valueless than the Qur'an being recited as it ought to be recited, nor anything more valuable than the Qur'an being misplaced from its position. And in the towns nothing will be more hated than virtue, nor anything more acceptable than vice.

وَإِنَّهُ سَيَأْتي عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي زَمَانٌ لَيْسَ فِيهِ شَيْءٌ أَخْفَى مِنَ الْحَقِّ، وَلاَ أَظْهَرَ مِنَ الْبَاطِلِ، وَلاَ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْكَذِبِ عَلَى اللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، وَلَيْسَ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ ذلِكَ الزَّمَانِ سِلْعَةٌ أَبْوَرَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ إِذَا تُلِيَ حَقَّ تِلاَوَتِهِ، وَلاَ أَنْفَقَ مِنْهُ إِذَا حُرِّفَ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِ، وَلاَ فِي الْبِلاَدِ شَيءٌ أنْكَرَ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ، وَلاَ أَعْرَفَ مِنَ المُنكَرِ !

The holders of the book will throw it away and its memorisers would forget it. In these days the Qur'an and its people will be exiled and expelled. They will be companions keeping together on one path, but no one will offer them asylum. Consequently at this time the Qur'an and its people will be among the people but not among them, will be with them but not with them, because misguidance cannot accord with guidance even though they may be together.

The people will have united on division and will therefore have cut away from the community, as though they were the leaders of the Qur'an and not the Qur'an their leader. Nothing of it will be left with them except its name, and they will know nothing save its writing and its words. Before that, they will inflict hardships on the virtuous, naming the latter's truthful views about Allah false allegations, and enforcing for virtues the punishment of the vice.

فَقَدْ نَبَذَ الْكِتَابَ حَمَلَتُهُ، وَتَنَاسَاهُ حَفَظَتُهُ; فَالْكِتَابُ يَوْمَئِذ وَأَهْلُهُ مَنْفِيَّانِ طَرِيَدانِ، وَصَاحِبَانِ مُصْطَحِبَانِ فِي طَرِيق وَاحِد لاَ يُؤْوِيهِمَا مُؤْو; فَالْكِتَابُ وَأَهْلُهُ فِي ذلِكَ الزَّمَانِ فِي النَّاسِ وَلَيْسَا فِيهِمْ، وَمَعَهُمْ وَلَيْسَا مَعَهُمْ! لاِنَّ الضَّلاَلَةَ لاَ تُوَافِقُ الْهُدَى، وَإِنِ اجْتَمَعَا، فَاجْتَمَعَ الْقَوْمُ عَلَى الْفُرْقَةِ، وَافْتَرَقُوا عَنِ الْجَمَاعَةِ، كَأَنَّهُمْ أَئِمَّةُ الْكِتَابِ وَلَيْسَ الْكِتَابُ إِمَامَهُمْ، فَلَمْ يَبْقَ عِنْدَهُمْ مِنْهُ إِلاَّ اسْمُهُ، وَلاَ يَعْرِفُونَ إِلاَّ خَطَّهُ وَزَبْرَهُ، وَمِنْ قَبْلُ مَا مَثَّلُوا بِالصَّالِحِينَ كُلَّ مُثْلَة، وَسَمَّوْا صِدْقَهُمْ عَلَى اللهِ فِرْيَةً، وَجَعَلُوا فِي الْحَسَنَةِ العُقُوبةَ السَّيِّئَةَ

Those before you passed away because of the lengthening of their desires and the forgetting of their death, till that promised event befell them about which excuses are turned down, repentance is denied and punishment and retribution is inflicted.

وَإِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِطُولِ آمَالِهِمْ وَتَغَيُّبِ آجَالِهِمْ، حَتَّى نَزَلَ بِهِمُ الْمَوْعُودُ الَّذِي تُرَدُّ عَنْهُ الْمَعْذِرَةُ، وَتُرْفَعُ عَنْهُ التَّوْبَةُ، وَتَحُلُّ مَعَهُ الْقَارِعَةُ وَالنِّقْمَةُ

Exhortation (and describing the Ahlul Bayt)

عظة الناس

O people, he who seeks counsel from Allah secures guidance and he who adopts His word as guide is led

“..towards what is most upright..” (17:9),

because Allah's lover feels secure and His opponent feels afraid. It does not behoove one who knows His greatness to assume greatness, but the greatness of those who know His greatness is that they should abase themselves before Him, and the safety for those who know what His power is, lies in submitting to Him. Do not be scared away from the truth like the scaring of the healthy from the scabbed person, or the sound person from the sick.

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّهُ مَنِ اسْتَنْصَحَ اللهَ وُفِّقَ، وَمَنِ اتَّخَذَ قَوْلَهُ دَلِيلاً هُدِيَ (لِلَّتَي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ); فَإِنَّ جَارَ اللهِ آمِنٌ، وَعَدُوَّهُ خَائِفٌ، وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ عَرَفَ عَظَمَةَ اللهِ أَنْ يَتَعَظَّمَ، فَإِنَّ رِفْعَةَ الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا عَظَمَتُهُ أَنْ يَتَوَاضَعُوا لَهُ، وَسَلاَمَةَ الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا قُدْرَتُهُ أَنْ يَسْتَسْلِمُوا لَهُ، فَلاَ تَنْفِرُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ نِفَارَ الصَّحِيحِ مِنَ الاْجْرَبِ، وَالْبَارِي مِنْ ذِي السَّقَمِ

You should know that you will never know guidance unless you know who has abandoned it, you will never abide by the pledges of the Qur'an unless you know who has broken them, and will never cling to it unless you know who has forsaken it. Seek these things from those who own them because they are the life-spring of knowledge and death of ignorance. They are the people whose commands will disclose to you their (extent of) knowledge, their silence will disclose their (capacity of) speaking and their outer appearance will disclose their inner self. They do not go against religion, and do not differ from one other about it, while it is among them a truthful witness and a silent speaker.

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَعْرِفُوا الرُّشْدَ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا الَّذِي تَرَكَهُ، وَلَنْ تَأْخُذُوا بِمَيثَاقِ الْكِتَابِ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا الَّذِي نَقَضَهُ، وَلَنْ تَمَسَّكُوا بِهِ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا الَّذَي نَبَذَهُ; فَالْـتَمِسُوا ذلِكَ مِنْ عِنْدِ أَهْلِهِ، فَإِنَّهُمْ عَيْشُ الْعِلْمِ، وَمَوْتُ الْجَهْلِ، هُمْ الَّذِينَ يُخْبِرُكُمْ حُكْمُهُمْ عَنْ عِلْمِهِمْ، وَصمْتُهُمْ عَنْ مَنْطِقِهِمْ، وَظَاهِرُهُمْ عَنْ بَاطِنِهِمْ، لاَ يُخَالِفُونَ الدِّينَ وَلاَ يَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ، فَهُوَ بَيْنَهُمْ شَاهِدٌ صَادِقٌ، وَصَامِتٌ نَاطِقٌ

Alternative Sources for Sermon 147

(1) Al-Kulayni, Rawdah,386 ;

(2) al-Harrani, Tuhaf,163 .

Sermon 148: Both of these two...

About Talhah and az-Zubayr and the people of Basrah

ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام)

في ذكر أهل البصرة

Both of these two (Talhah and az-Zubayr) wishes the Caliphate for himself, and is drawing towards himself as against the other fellow. They do not employ any connection for getting access to Allah nor proceed towards Him through any means. Both of them bear malice against the other. Shortly his veil over it will be uncovered. By Allah, if they achieve what they aim at, one of them will kill the other, and one will finish the other. The rebellious party has stood up. Where are the seekers of virtue, for the paths have already been determined and they have been given the news? For every misguidance there is a cause and for every break of pledge there is a misrepresentation. By Allah, I shall not be like him who listens to the voice of mourning, hears the man who brings news of death and also visits the mourner, yet does not take lesson.

كُلُّ وَاحِد مِنْهُمَا يَرْجُو الاْمْرَ لَهُ، وَيَعْطِفُهُ عَلَيْهِ دُونَ صَاحِبِهِ، لاَ يَمُتَّانِ إِلَى اللهِ بِحَبْل، وَلاَ يَمُدَّانِ إِلَيْهِ بَسَبَب. كُلُّ واحِد مِنْهُمَا حَامِلُ ضَبٍّ لِصَاحِبِهِ، وَعَمَّا قَلِيل يُكْشَفُ قِنَاعُهُ بِهِ! وَاللهِ لَئِنْ أَصَابُوا الَّذِي يُرِيدُونَ لَيَنْتَزِعَنَّ هذَا نَفْسَ هذَا، وَلَيَأْتِيَنَّ هذَا عَلَى هذَا، قَدْ قَامَتِ الْفِئَةُ الْبَاغِيَةُ، فَأَيْنَ الْـمُحْتَسِبُونَ؟! قَدْ سُنَّتْ لَهُمُ السُّنَنُ، وَقُدِّمَ لَهُمُ الْخَبَرُ، وَلِكُلِّ ضَلَّة عِلَّةٌ، وَلِكُلِّ نَاكِث شُبْهِةٌ. وَاللهِ لاَ أَكُونُ كَمُسْتَمِعِ اللَّدْمِ، يَسْمَعُ النَّاعِيَ، وَيَحْضُرُ الْبَاكِيَ، ثُمَّ لاَ يَعْتَبِرُ !

Alternative Sources for Sermon 148

(1) Abu Mikhnaf, al-Jamal, see Ibn Abi al-Hadid, Sharh, I, 78;

(2) al-Mufid, al-'Irshad,142 .

Sermon 149: O people! Every one shall meet…

Before his martyrdom (last will)

ومن كلامه (عليه السلام)

قبل موته

O people! Every one shall meet what he wishes to avoid by running away.1 Death is the place to which life is driving. To run away from it means to catch it. How many days did I spend in searching for the secret of this matter, but Allah did not allow save its concealment. Alas! It is a treasured knowledge. As for my last will, it is that concerning Allah, do not believe in a partner for Him, and concerning Muhammad (S), do not disregard his Sunnah. Keep these two pillars and burn these two lamps. Till you are not divided, no evil will come to you.2

Every one of you has to bear his own burden. It has been kept light for the ignorant. Allah is Merciful. Faith is straight. The leader (Prophet) is the holder of knowledge. Yesterday I was with you; today I have become the object of a lesson for you, and tomorrow I shall leave you. May Allah forgive me and you!

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، كُلُّ امْرِىء لاَق بِمَا يَفِرُّ مِنْهُ فِي فِرَارِهِ، وَالاْجَلُ مَسَاقُ النَّفْسِ، وَالْهَرَبُ مِنْهُ مُوَافَاتُهُ. كَمْ أَطْرَدْتُ الاَيَّامَ أَبْحَثُهَا عَنْ مَكْنُونِ هذَا الاَمْرِ، فَأَبَى اللهُ إِلاَّ إِخْفَاءَهُ، هَيْهَاتَ! عِلْمٌ مَخْزُونٌ! أَمَّا وَصِيَّتِي: فَاللهَ لاَ تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئاً، وَمُحَمَّداً فَلاَ تُضَيِّعُوا سُنَّتَهُ، أَقِيمُوا هذَيْن الْعَمُودَيْنِ، وَأَوْقِدُوا هذَيْنِ الْمِصْبَاحَيْنِ، وَخَلاَكُمْ ذَمٌّ مَالَمْ تَشْرُدُوا، حُمِّلَ كُلُّ امْرِىء مَجْهُودَهُ، وَخُفِّفَ عَنِ الْجَهَلَةِ، رَبٌّ رَحِيمٌ، وَدِينٌ قَوِيمٌ، وَإِمَامٌ عَلِيمٌ. أَنَا بِالاْمْسِ صَاحِبُكُمْ، وَأَنَا الْيَوْمَ عِبْرَةٌ لَكُمْ، وَغَداً مُفَارِقُكُمْ! غَفَرَ اللهُ لي وَلَكُمْ !

If the foot remains firm in this slippery place, well and good! But if the foot slips, this is because we are under the shade of branches, the passing of the winds and the canopy of the clouds whose layers are dispersed in the sky, and whose traces disappeared3 in the earth. I was your neighbour.

My body kept you company for some days and shortly you will find just an empty body of mine which would be stationary after (all its) movement and silent after speech so that my calmness, the closing of my eyes, and the stillness of my limbs may provide you counsel, because it is more of a counsel for those who take a lesson (from it) than eloquent speech and a ready word. I am departing from you like one who is eager to meet (someone). Tomorrow you will look at my days, then my inner side will be disclosed to you and you will understand me after the vacation of my place and its occupation by someone else.

إِنْ تَثْبُتِ الْوَطْأَةُ فِي هذِهِ الْمَزَلَّةِ فَذَاكَ، وَإِنْ تَدْحَضِ الْقَدَمُ فَإِنَّا كُنَّا فِي أَفْيَاءِ أَغْصَان، وَمَهَابِّ رِيَاح، وَتَحْتَ ظِلِّ غَمَام، اضْمَحَلَّ فِي الْجَوِّ مُتَلَفَّقُهَا، وَعَفَا في الارْضِ مَخَطُّهَا. وَإِنَّمَا كُنْتُ جَاراً جَاوَرَكُمْ بَدَنِي أَيَّاماً، وَسَتُعْقَبُونَ مِنِّي جُثَّةً خَلاَءً سَاكِنَةً بَعْدَ حَرَاك، وَصَامِتَةً بَعْدَ نُطْق لِيَعِظْكُمْ هُدُوِّي، وَخُفُوتُ إِطْرَاقِي، وَسُكُونُ أَطْرَافِي، فَإِنَّهُ أَوْعَظُ لَلْمُعْتَبِرِينَ مِنَ الْمَنْطِقِ الْبَلِيغِ وَالْقَوْلِ الْمَسْمُوعِ. وَدَاعِيكُم وَدَاعُ امْرِىء مُرْصِد لِلتَّلاَقِي! غَداً تَرَوْنَ أَيَّامِي، وَيُكْشَفُ لَكُمْ عَنْ سَرَائِرِي، وَتَعْرِفُونَنِي بَعْدَ خُلُوِّ مَكَانِي وَقِيَامِ غَيْرِي مَقَامِي

Alternative Sources for Sermon 149

(1) Al-Kulayni, Usul al-Kafi, I,229 ;

(2) al-Mas`udi, Muruj, II,436 ;

(3) al-Mas`udi, Ithbat,103 ;

(4) Ibn `Asakir, Ta'rikh, XII,211 .

Notes

1. This means that during all the time spent in the attempts that a man makes to avoid death and in the means he adopts for it, it is only the span of life that is shortened. As the time passes the objective of death approaches near, so much so that in one's attempt to seek life one meets death.

2. "wa khalakum dhammun" (No evil will come to you). This sentence is used as a proverb. It was first employed by Qasir, slave of Jadhimah ibn Malik al-Abrash.

3. The intention is that when all these things die, how can those who inhabit them remain safe? Certainly they too, like every thing else, have to pass away some day or other. Then why should there be any wonder at my life coming to an end?

Sermon 150: They took to the right and the left...

About future events and some activities of the hypocrites

ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام)

يومي فيها إلى الملاحم و يصف فئة من أهل الضلال

They took to the right and the left piercing through to the ways of evil and leaving the paths of guidance. Do not make haste for a matter which is to happen and is awaited, and do not wish for delay in what the morrow is to bring for you. For, how many people make haste for a matter, but when they get it they begin to wish they had not got it. How near is today to the dawning of tomorrow. O my people, this is the time for the occurrence of every promised event and the approach of things which you do not know.

Whoever from among us will be during these days will move through them with a burning lamp and will tread on the footsteps of the virtuous, in order to unfasten knots, to free slaves, to divide the united and to unite the divided. He will be in concealment from people. The stalker will not find his footprints even though he pursues with his eye. Then a group of people will be sharpened like the sharpening of swords by the blacksmith. Their sight will be brightened by revelation, the (delicacies of) commentary will be put in their ears and they will be given drinks of wisdom, morning and evening.

وَأَخَذُوا يَمِيناً وَشِمَالاً ظَعْنَاً فِي مَسَالِكَ الْغَيِّ، وَتَرْكاً لِمَذَاهِبِ الرُّشْدِ، فَلاَ تَسْتَعْجِلُوا مَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ مُرْصَدٌ، وَلاَ تَسْتَبْطِئُوا مَا يَجِيءُ بِهِ الْغَدُ، فَكَمْ مِنْ مُسْتَعْجِل بِمَا إِنْ أَدْركَهُ وَدَّ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يُدْرِكْهُ، وَمَا أَقْرَبَ الْيَوْمَ مِنْ تَبَاشِيرِ غَد! يَاقَوْمِ، هذَا إِبَّانُ وُرُودِ كُلِّ مَوْعُود، وَدُنُوٍّ مِنْ طَلْعَةِ مَا لاَ تَعْرِفُونَ، أَلاَ وَإِنَّ مَنْ أَدْرَكَهَا مِنَّا يَسْرِي فِيهَا بِسِرَاج مُنِير، وَيَحْذُوفِيهَا عَلَى مِثَالِ الصَّالِحِينَ، لِيَحُلَّ فِيهَا رِبْقاً، وَيُعْتِقَ رِقّاً، وَيَصْدَعَ شَعْباً، وَيَشْعَبَ صَدْعاً، فِي سُتْرَة عَنِ النَّاسِ لاَ يُبْصِرُ الْقَائِفُ أَثَرَهُ وَلَوْ تَابَعَ نَظَرَهُ. ثُمَّ لَيُشْحَذَنَّ فِيهَا قَوْمٌ شَحْذَ الْقَيْنِ النَّصْلَ تُجْلَى بِالتَّنْزِيلِ أَبْصَارُهُمْ، وَيُرْمَى بِالتَّفْسِيرِ فِي مَسَامِعِهمْ، وَيُغْبَقُونَ كَأْسَ الْحِكْمَةِ بَعْدَ الصَّبُوحِ

A part of the same sermon: concerning misguidance

منها: في الضلال

Their period became long in order that they might complete (their position of) disgrace and deserve vicissitudes, till the end of the period was reached, and a group of people turned towards mischief and picked up their arms for fighting. The virtuous did not show any obligation to Allah but calmly endured, and did not feel elated for having engaged themselves in truthfulness. Eventually the period of trial came to an end according to what was ordained. Then they propagated their good views among others and sought nearness to Allah according to the command of their leader.

وَطَالَ الاْمَدُ بِهِمْ لِيَسْتَكْمِلُوا الْخِزْيَ، وَيَسْتَوْجِبُوا الْغِيَرَ; حَتَّى إِذَا اخْلَوْلَقَ الاْجَلُ، وَاسْتَرَاحَ قَوْمٌ إِلَى الْفِتَنِ، وَأَشَالُوا عَنْ لَقَاحِ حَرْبِهِمْ، لَمْ يَمُنُّوا عَلَى اللهِ بِالصَّبْرِ، وَلَمْ يَسْتَعْظِمُوا بَذْلَ أَنْفُسِهِمْ فِي الْحَقِّ; حَتَّى إِذَا وَافَقَ وَارِدُ الْقَضَاءِ انْقِطَاعَ مُدَّةِ الْبَلاَءِ، حَمَلُوا بَصَائِرَهُمْ عَلَى أَسْيَافِهمْ، وَدَانُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ بَأَمْرِ وَاعِظِهِمْ ;

When Allah took the Prophet (to himself) a group of men went back on their tracks. The ways (of misguidance) ruined them and they placed trust in deceitful intriguers, showed consideration to other than kinsmen, abandoned the kin whom they had been ordered to love, and shifted the building from its strong foundation and built it in other than its (proper) place. They are the source of every shortcoming and the door of gropers in the dark. They were moving to and fro in amazement and lay intoxicated in the manner of the people of the Pharaohs. They were either bent on this world and taking support on it, or away from the faith and removed from it.

حَتَّى إِذَا قَبَضَ اللهُ رَسُولَهُ (صلى الله عليه وآله)، رَجَعَ قَوْمٌ عَلَى الاْعْقَابَ، وَغَالَتْهُمُ السُّبُلُ، وَاتَّكَلُوا عَلَى الْوَلاَئِجِ، وَوَصَلُوا غَيْرَ الرَّحِمِ، وَهَجَرُوا السَّبَبَ الَّذِي أُمِرُوا بِمَوَدَّتِهِ، وَنَقَلُوا الْبِنَاءَ عَنْ رَصِّ أَسَاسِهَ، فَبَنَوْهُ فِي غَيْرِ مَوْضِعِهِ. مَعَادِنُ كُلِّ خَطِيئَة، وَأَبْوَابُ كُلِّ ضَارِب فِي غَمْرَة، قَدْ مَارُوا فِي الْحَيْرَةِ، وَذَهَلُوا فِي السَّكْرَةِ، عَلَى سُنَّة مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ: مِنْ مُنْقَطِع إِلَى الدُّنْيَا رَاكِن، أَوْ مُفَارِق لِلدِّينِ مُبَايِن

Alternative Sources for Sermon 150

(1) Al-Tabari, al-Mustarshid, 74.