وَإِنَّمَا سُمِّيَتِ الشُّبْهَةُ شُبْهَةً لاِنَّهَا تُشْبِهُ الْحَقَّ،
Doubt is named doubt (al-shubhah) because it resembles truth.
فَأَمَّا أَوْلِيَاءُ اللهِ فَضِيَاؤُهُمْ فِيهَا الْيَقِينُ،
As for lovers of Allah, their conviction serves them as light
وَدَلِيلُهُمْ سَمْتُ الْهُدَى
and the direction of the right path (itself) serves as their guide;
وَأَمَّا أَعْدَاءُ اللهِ فَدُعَاؤُهُمْ الضَّلالُ،
while the enemies of Allah, in time of doubt call to misguidance in the darkness of doubt
وَدَلِيلُهُمُ الْعَمْى،
and their guide is blindness (of intelligence).
فَمَا يَنْجُو مِنَ المَوْتِ مَنْ خَافَهُ،
One who fears death cannot escape it
وَلا يُعْطَى الْبَقَاءَ مَنْ أَحَبَّهُ.
nor can one who loves eternal life secure it.
Alternative Sources for Sermon 38: Al-'Amidi, Ghurar, 98; Ibn Talhah, Matalib, I, 170; al-Jahiz, Rasa'il, 125.
