فَقُمْتُ بِالاْمْرِ حِينَ فَشِلُوا
I discharged duties when others lost courage (to do so),
وَتَطَلَّعْتُ حِينَ تَقَبَّعُوا
and I came forward when others hid themselves.
وَنَطَقتُ حِینَ تَعْتَعُوا
I spoke when others remained mum.
وَمَضَيْتُ بِنُورِ اللهِ حِينَ وَقَفُوا،
I stroke with Divine light when others remained standing.
وَكُنْتُ أَخْفَضَهُمْ صَوْتاً،
I was the quietest of them in voice
وَأَعْلاَهُمْ فَوْتاً
but the highest in going forward.
فَطِرْتُ بِعِنَانِهَا وَاسْتَبْدَدْتُ بِرِهَانِهَا
I cleaved to its rein and applied myself solely to its pledge,
كَالْجَبَلِ لاَ تُحَرِّكُهُ الْقَوَاصِفُ،
like the mountain which neither sweeping wind could move
وَلاَ تُزِيلُهُ الْعَوَاصِفُ.
nor storm could shake.
لَمْ يَكُنْ لاِحَدٍ فيَّ مَهْمَزٌ،
No one could find fault with me
وَلاَ لِقَائِلٍ فيَّ مَغْمَزٌ.
nor could any speaker speak ill of me.
الذَّلِيلُ عِنْدِي عَزِيزٌ حَتَّى آخُذَ الْحَقَّ لَهُ،
The low is in my view worthy of honour till I secure (his) right for him
وَالْقَوِيُّ عِنْدِي ضَعِيفٌ حَتَّى آخُذَ الْحَقَّ مَنْهُ،
while the strong is in my view weak till I take (other’s) right from him.
رَضِينَا عَنِ اللهِ قَضَاءَهُ،
We are happy with the destiny ordained by Allah
وَسَلَّمْنَا له أَمْرَهُ.
and have submitted to the command of Allah.
أَتَرَاني أَكْذِبُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وآله ؟
Do you think I would speak lie about the Prophet of Allah?
وَاللهِ لاَنَا أَوَّلُ مَنْ صَدَّقَهُ
By Allah, I am surely the first to testify him,
فَلاَ أَكُونُ أَوَّلَ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَيْهِ.
so I will not be the first to falsify him.
فَنَظَرْتُ في أَمْرِي، فَإِذَا طَاعَتِي قَدْ سَبَقَتْ بَيْعَتِي،
I looked at my affairs and found that my obedience should have precedence over my allegiance
وَإِذَا الميِثَاقُ في عُنُقِي لِغَيْرِي.
while my pledge with him is a burden on my neck.
Alternative Sources for Sermon 37: Al-Saduq, al-'Amali, 134; al-Bayhaqi, al-Mahasin, I, 37.
