الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي عَلاَ بِحَوْلِهِ
Praise be to Allah who is High above all else,
ودَنَا بِطَوْلِهِ
and is Near (the creation) through His bounty.
مَانِحِ كُلِّ غَنِيمَةٍ وَفَضْلٍ،
He is the Giver of all reward and distinction,
وَكَاشِفِ كُلِّ عَظِيمَةٍ وَأَزْلٍ
and Dispeller of all calamities and hardships.
أَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى عَوَاطِفِ كَرَمِهِ، وَسَوَابِغِ ـ نِعَمِهِ
I praise Him for His continuous mercy and His copious bounties.
وَأُومِنُ بهَ أَوَّلاً بَادِياً
I believe in Him as He is the First of all and He is Manifest.
وَأَسْتَهْدِيهِ قَرِيباً هَادِياً،
I seek guidance from Him as He is Near and is the Guide.
وَأَسْتَعِينُهُ قَاهِراً قَادِراً،
I seek His succour as He is Mighty and Subduer.
وَأَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْهِ كَافِياً نَاصِراً.
I depend upon Him as He is Sufficer and Supporter.
وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً صلى الله عليه وآله عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ،
And I stand witness that Muhammad (blessing of Allah be on him and his progeny) is His slave and His Prophet.
أَرْسَلَهُ لاِنْفَاذِ أَمْرِهِ،
He sent him for enforcement of His commands,
وَإِنْهَاءِ عُذْرِهِ وَتَقْدِيمِ نُذُرِهِ
for exhausting His pleas and for presenting warnings (against eternal punishment).
الوَصِيَّة بالتقوى
Enjoining people to Piety
أوصِيكُمْ عِبَادَ اللهِ بِتَقْوَى اللهِ الَّذِي ضَرَبَ لَكُمُ الاْمْثَالَ
O creatures of Allah I advise you to have fear of Allah Who has furnished illustrations
وَوَقَّتَ لَكُمُ الاْجَالَ ،
and Who has timed for you your lives.
وَأَلْبَسَكُمُ الرِّيَاشَ
He has given you covering of dress (1)
وَأَرْفَغَ لَكُمُ المَعَاشَ
and He has scattered for you livelihood.
وَأَحَاطَ بِكُمُ الاْحْصَاءَ
He has surrounded you with His knowledge.
وَأَرْصَدَ لَكُمُ الْجَزَاءَ
He has ordained rewards.
وَآثَرَكُمْ بِالنِّعَمِ السَّوَابغِ،
He has bestowed upon you vast bounties
وَالرِّفَدِ الرَّوافِغِ ،
and extensive gifts.
وَأَنْذَرَكُمْ بِالْحُجَجِ الْبَوَالِغِ
He has warned you through far reaching arguments,
فَأَحْصَاكُمْ عَدَداً،
and He has counted you by numbers.
ووَظَّفَ لَكُمْ مُدَداً فِي قَرَارِ خِبْرَةٍ وَدَارِ عِبْرَةٍ،
He has fixed for you ages (to live) in this place of test and house of instruction.
أَنْتُمْ مُخْتَبَرُونَ فِيهَا،
You are on test in this world
وَمُحَاسِبُونَ عَلَيْهَا.
and have to render account about it.
التنفير من الدنيا
Caution against this world
فَإِنَّ الدُّنْيَا رَنِقٌ مَشْرَبُهَا،
Certainly this world is a dirty watering place
رَدِغٌ مَشْرَعُهَا،
and a muddy source of drinking.
يُونِقُ مَنْظَرُهَا،
Its appearance is attractive
وَيُوبِقُ مَخْبَرُهَا،
and its inside is destructive.
غُرُورٌ حَائِلٌ،
It is a deception,
وَضَوْءٌ آفِلٌ،
a vanishing reflection
وَظِلٌّ زائِلٌ،
and a bent pillar.
وَسِنَادٌ مَائِلٌ،
When its despiser begins to like it
حَتَّى إِذَا أَنِسَ نَافِرُهَا،
and he who is not acquainted with it feels satisfied with it,
وَاطْمَأَنَّ نَاكِرُهَا،
then it raises
قَمَصَتْ بِأَرْجُلِهَا،
and puts down its feet (in joy),
وَقَنَصَتْ بِأَحْبُلِهَا،
entraps him in its trap,
وَأَقْصَدَتْ بِأَسْهُمِهَا،
makes him the target of its arrows
وَأَعْلَقَتِ الْمَرْءَ أَوْهَاقَ الْمَنِيَّةِ
and puts round his neck the rope of death
قَائِدَةً لَهُ إِلى ضَنْكَ الْمَضْجَعِ،
taking him to the narrow grave
وَوَحْشَةِ الْمَرْجِعِ،
and fearful abode
ومُعَايَنَةِ الْـمَحَلِّ،
in order to show him his place of stay
وَثَوَابِ الْعَمَلِ،
and the recompense of his acts.
وَكَذلِكَ الْخَلَفُ بِعَقْبِ السَّلَفِ،
This goes on from generation to generation.
لاَتُقْلِعُ الْمَنِيَّةُ اخْتِرَاماً،
Neither death stops from cutting them asunder
وَلاَيَرْعَوِي الْبَاقُونَ اجْتِرَاماً،
nor do the survivors keep aloof from committing of sins.
بعد الموت البعث
Death and Resurrection
يَحْتَذُون مِثَالاً،
They are emulating each other
وَيَمْضُونَ أَرْسَالاً،
and proceeding in groups
إِلَى غَايَةِ الانْتِهَاءِ،
towards the final objective
وَصَيُّورِ الْفَنَاءِ.
and the rendezvous of death,
حَتَّى إِذَا تَصَرَّمَتِ الاْمُورُ،
till when matters come to a close,
وَتَقَضَّتِ الدُّهُورُ،
the world dies
وَأَزِفَ النُّشُورُ،
and resurrection draws near.
أَخْرَجَهُمْ مِنْ ضَرَائِحِ الْقُبُورِ،
Allah (2) would take them out from the corners of the graves,
وَأَوْكَارِ الطُّيُورِ،
the nests of birds.
وَأَوْجِرَةِ السِّبَاعِ،
the dens of beasts
وَمَطَارِحِ الْمَهَالِكِ،
and the centres of death.
سِرَاعاً إِلَى أَمْرِهِ،
They hasten towards His command
مُهْطِعِينَ إِلَى مَعَادِهِ،
and run towards the place fixed for their final return
رَعِيلاً صُمُوتاً،
group by group, quiet,
قِيَاماً صُفُوفاً،
standing and arrayed in rows.
يَنْفُذُهُمُ الْبَصَرُ
They will be within Allah’s sight
وَيُسْمِعُهُمُ الدَّاعِي،
and will hear every one who would call them.
عَلَيْهِمْ لَبُوسُ الاسْتِكانَةِ،
They will have the dress of helplessness
وَضَرَعُ الاسْتِسْلاَمِ وَالذِّلَّةِ،
and covering of submission and indignity.
قَدْ ضَلَّتِ الْحِيَلُ،
(At this time) contrivances would disappear,
وانْقَطَعَ الاْمَلُ،
desires would be cut,
وَهَوَتِ الاْفْئِدَةُ كَاظِمَةً،
hearts would sink quietly,
وَخَشَعَتِ الاْصْوَاتُ مُهَيْنِمَةً،
voices would be curbed down,
وَأَلْجَمَ الْعَرَقُ،
sweat would choke the throat,
وَعَظُمَ الشَّفَقُ،
fear would increase
وَأُرْعِدَتِ الاْسْمَاعُ لِزَبْرَةِ الدَّاعِي
and ears would resound with the thundering voice of the announcer
إِلَى فَصْلِ الْخِطَابِ،
calling towards the final judgement,
وَمُقَايَضَةِ الْجَزَاءِ،
award of recompense,
وَنَكَالِ الْعِقَابِ،
striking of punishment
وَنَوَالِ الثَّوَابِ.
and paying of reward.
تنبيه الخلق
The limitations of life
عِبَادٌ مَخْلُوقُونَ اقْتِدَاراً،
People have been created as a proof of (His) power,
وَمَرْبُوبُونَ اقْتِسَاراً
have been brought up with authority,
وَمَقْبُوضُونَ احْتِضَاراً
they are made to die through pangs,
وَمُضَمَّنُونَ أَجْدَاثاً
and placed in graves
وَكَائِنُونَ رُفَاتاً
where they turn into crumbs.
وَمَبْعُوثُونَ أَفْرَاداً،
Then they would be resurrected one by one,
وَمَدِينُون جَزَاءً،
awarded their recompense
وَمُمَيَّزُونَ حِسَاباً
and would have to account for their actions, each one separately.
قَدْ أُمْهِلُوا في طَلَبِ الْـمَخْرَجِ،
They had been allowed time to seek deliverance,
وَهُدُوا سَبِيلَ الْمَنْهَجِ ،
had been shown the right path
وَعُمِّرُوا مَهَلَ الْمُسْتَعْتِبِ
and had been allowed to live and seek favours,
وَكُشِفَتْ عَنْهُمْ سُدَفُ الرِّيَبِ
the darkness of doubts had been removed,
وَخُلُّوا لمِضْماَرِ الْجِيَادِ وَرَوِيَّةِ الاِرْتِيَادِ وَأَنَاةِ الْمُقْتَبِسِ الْمُرْتَادِ فِي مُدَّةِ الاْجَلِ،
and they had been let free in this period of life as a training place in order to make preparation for the race on the Day of Judgement, to search for the objective with thoughtfulness,
وَمُضْطَرَبِ الْمَهَلِ .
to get time necessary to secure benefits and provide for the next place of stay.
فضل التذكير
No happiness without Piety
فَيَا لَهَا أَمْثَالاً صَائِبَةً وَمَوَاعِظَ شَافِيَةً،
How appropriate are these illustrations and effective admonitions
لَوْ صَادَفَتْ قُلُوباً زاكِيَةً،
provided they are received by pure hearts,
وَأَسْمَاعاً وَاعِيَةً،
open ears,
وَآرَاءً عَازِمَةً،
firm views
وَأَلْبَاباً حَازِمَةً!
and sharp wits.
فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ تَقِيَّةَ مَنْ سَمِعَ فَخَشَعَ،
Fear Allah like him who listened (good advice) and bowed before it,
وَاقْتَرَفَ فَاعْتَرَفَ،
when he committed sin he admitted it,
وَوَجِلَ فَعَمِلَ،
when he felt fear he acted virtuously,
وَحَاذَرَ فَبَادَرَ
when he apprehended he hastened (towards good acts),
وَأَيْقَنَ فَأَحْسَنَ،
when he believed he performed virtuous acts,
وَعُبِّرَ فَاعْتَبَرَ
when he was asked to take lesson (from the happenings of this world) he did take the lesson,
وَحُذِّرَ فَحَذِرَ،
when he was asked to desist he abstained (from evil),
وَزُجِرَ فَازْدَجَرَ،
when he responded to the call (of Allah) he leaned (towards him),
وَأَجَابَ فأَنَابَ وَرَاجَعَ فَتَابَ،
when he turned back (to evil) he repented,
وَاقْتَدَى فَاحْتَذَى
when he followed he almost imitated
وَأُرِيَ فَرَأَى،
and when he was shown (the right path) he saw it.
فَأَسْرَعَ طَالِباً،
Such a man was busy in search of truth
وَنَجَا هَارِباً،
and got rid (of the worldly evils) by running away.
فَأَفَادَ ذَخِيرَةً
He collected provision (of good acts) for himself,
وَأَطَابَ سَرِيرَةً،
purified his inner self,
وَعَمَّرَ مَعَاداً،
built for the next world,
وَاسْتَظْهَرَ زَاداً لِيَوْمِ رَحِيلِهِ
and took with himself provision for the day of his departure,
وَوَجْهِ سَبِيلِهِ
keeping in view his journey,
وَحَالِ حَاجَتِهِ،
his requirement
وَمَوْطِنِ فَاقَتِهِ،
and the position of his need.
وَقَدَّمَ أَمَامَهُ لِدَارِ مُقَامِهِ.
He sent ahead of him for the abode of his stay (in the next world).
فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ عِبَادَ اللهِ جِهَةَ مَا خَلَقَكُمْ لَهُ،
O creatures of Allah, fear Allah keeping in view the reason why He created you
وَاحْذَرُوا مِنْهُ كُنْهَ مَا حَذَّرَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ،
and be afraid of Him to the extent He has advised you to do.
وَاسْتَحِقُّوا مِنْهُ مَا أَعَدَّ لَكُمْ بِالتَّنَجُّزِلِصِدْقِ مِيعَادِهِ،
Make yourself deserve what He has promised you, by having confidence in the truth of His promise
وَالْحَذَرِ مِنْ هَوْلِ مَعَادِهِ
and entertaining fear for the Day of Judgement.
منها: [في التذكير بضروب النعم]
A part of the same sermon Reminding people of Allah’s bounties
جَعَلَ لَكُمْ أسْمَاعاً لِتَعِيَ مَا عَنَاهَا،
He has made for you ears to preserve what is important,
وَأَبْصَاراً لِتَجْلُوَ عَنْ عَشَاهَا،
eyes to have sight in place of blindness
وَأَشْلاَءً جَامِعَةً لاِعْضَائِهَا،
and limbs which consist of many (smaller) parts,
مُلاَئِمَةً لاِحْنَائِهَا في تَرْكِيبِ صُوَرِهَا،
whose curves are in proportion with the moulding of their shapes
وَمُدَدِ عُمُرِهَا،
and lengths of their ages,
بِأَبْدَان قَائِمَة بِأَرْفَاقِهَا،
and also bodies that are sustaining themselves
وَقُلُوب رائِدَة لاِرْزَاقِهَا،
and hearts that are busy in search of their food,
فِي مُجَلِّلاَتِ نِعَمِهِ،
besides other big bounties,
وَمُوجِبَاتِ مِنَنِهِ،
obliging bestowings
وَحَوَاجِزِ عَافِيَتِهِ.
and fortresses of safety.
وَقَدَّرَ لَكُمْ أَعْمَاراً سَتَرَهَا عَنْكُمْ،
He has fixed for you ages that are not known to you.
وَخَلَّفَ لَكُمْ عِبَراً مِنْ آثَارِ الْمَاضِينَ قَبْلَكُمْ،
He has retained for you remains of the past people for your instruction.
مِنْ مُسْتَمْتَعِ خَلاَقِهِمْ،
Those people enjoyed themselves fully
وَمُسْتَفْسَحِ خَنَاقِهِمْ.
and were completely unhampered.
أَرْهَقَتْهُمُ الْمَنَايَا دُونَ الاْمَالِ،
Death overtook them before (satisfaction of) their desires,
وَشَذَّبَهمْ عَنْهَا تَخَرُّمُ الاْجَالِ،
from which the hands of death separated them.
لَمْ يَمْهَدُوا فِي سَلاَمَةِ الاْبْدَانِ،
They did not provide for themselves during health of their bodies,
وَلَمْ يَعْتَبِرُوا فِي أُنُفِ الاْوَانِ.
and did not take lesson during their youth.
فَهَلْ يَنْتَظِرُ أَهْلُ بَضَاضَةِ الشَّبَابِ إِلاَّ حَوَانِيَ الْهَرَمِ؟
Are these people who are in youth waiting for the backbending old age,
وَأَهْلُ غَضَارَةِ الصِّحَّةِ إِلاَّ نَوَازِلَ السَّقَمِ؟
and those enjoying fresh health waiting for ailments,
وَأَهْلُ مُدَّةِ الْبَقَاءِ إِلاَّ آوِنَةَ الْفَنَاءِ؟
and these living persons looking for the hour of death?
مَعَ قُرْبِ الزِّيَالِ،
When the hour of departure will be close
وَأُزُوفِ الانتِقَالِ،
and the journey at hand,
وَعَلَزِ الْقَلَقِ،
with pangs of grief and trouble,
وَأَلَمِ الْمَضَضِ،
suffering of sorrows
وَغُصَصِ الْجَرَضِ،
and suffocation of saliva,
وَتَلَفُّتِ الاِسْتِغَاثَةِ بِنُصْرَةِ الْحَفَدَةِ وَالاْقْرِبَاءِ، وَالاْعِزَّةِ وَالْقُرَنَاءِ!
and the time would arrive for calling relations and friends for help and changing sides on the bed.
فَهَلْ دَفَعَتِ الاْقَارَبُ، أَوْ نَفَعَتِ النَّوَاحِبُ؟
Could then the near ones stop death, or the mourning women do any good?
وَقَدْ غُودِرَ فِي مَحَلَّةِ الاْمُوَاتِ رَهِيناً،
Rather, he will be left in the graveyard, a hostage (to his sins)
وَفِي ضِيقِ الْمَضْجَعِ وَحِيداً،
and alone in his constricted grave,
قَدْ هَتَكَتِ الْهَوَامُّ جِلْدَتَهُ،
his skin pierced all over by reptiles,
وَأَبْلَتِ النَّوَاهِكُ جِدَّتَهُ،
and his freshness destroyed by these tribulations.
وَعَفَتِ الْعَوَاصِفُ آثَارَهُ،
and calamities have obliterated even his signs.
وَمَحَا الْحَدَثَانُ مَعَالِمَهُ،
Fresh bodies have turned thin
وَصَارَتِ الاْجْسَادُ شَحِبَةً بَعْدَ بَضَّتِهَا،
Storms have removed his traces and withered
وَالْعِظَامُ نَخِرَةً بَعْدَ قُوَّتِهَا،
and bones have become rotten.
وَالاْرْوَاحُ مُرْتَهَنَةً بِثِقَلِ أَعْبَائِهَا مُوقِنَةً بَغَيْبِ أَنْبَائِهَا،
The spirits are burdened with the weight of sins and have become conscious of the unknown things.
لاَ تُسْتَزَادُ مِنْ صَالِحِ عَمَلِهَا،
But now neither the good acts can be added to
وَلاَ تُسْتَعْتَبُ مِنْ سَيِّىءِ زَلَلِهَا!
nor can evil acts be atoned for by repentance.
أَوَلَسْتُمْ أَبْنَاءَ الْقَوْمِ وَالابَاءَ، وَإِخْوَانَهُمْ وَالاْقْرِبَاءَ؟
Are you not sons, fathers, brothers and relations of these dead?
تَحْتَذُونَ أَمْثِلَتَهُمْ، وَتَرْكَبُونَ قِدَّتَهُمْ، وَتَطَؤُونَ جَادَّتَهُمْ؟!
Are you not to follow their footsteps and pass by their paths?
فَالْقُلُوبُ قَاسِيَةٌ عَنْ حَظِّهَا،
But hearts are still unmoved,
لاَهِيَةٌ عَنْ رُشْدِهَا،
heedless of guidance
سَالِكَةٌ في غَيْرِ مِضْمارِهَا!
and moving on wrong lines,
كَأَنَّ الْمَعْنِيَّ سِوَاهَا،
as though the addressee is someone else,
وَكَأَنَّ الرُّشْدَ في إحْرَازِ دُنْيَاهَا.
and as though the correct way is to amass worldly gains.
التحذير من هول الصراط
Preparation for the Day of Judgement
وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ مَجَازَكُمْ عَلَى الصِّراطِ وَمَزَالِقِ دَحْضِهِ،
And know that you have to pass over the pathway (of Sirat) where steps waver,
وَأَهَاوِيلِ زللِ ه، وَتَارَاتِ أَهْوَالِهِ;
feet slip away and there are fearful dangers at every step.
فَاتَّقُوا اللهَ تَقِيَّةَ ذِي لُبٍّ شَغَلَ التَّفَكُّرُ قَلْبَهُ،
O creatures of Allah, fear Allah, like the fearing of wise man whom the thought (of next world) has turned away from other matters,
وَأَنْصَبَ الْخَوْفُ بَدَنَهُ،
fear (of Allah) has afflicted his body with trouble and pain,
وَأَسْهَرَ التَّهَجُّدُ غِرَارَ نَوْمِهِ،
his engagement in the night prayer has turned even his short sleep into awakening,
وَأَظْمَأَ الرَّجَاءُ هَوَاجِرَ يَوْمِهِ،
hope (of eternal recompense) keeps him thirsty in the day,
وَظَلَفَ الزُّهْدُ شَهَوَاتِهِ،
abstention has curbed his desires,
وَأَوْجَفَ الذِّكْرُ بِلِسَانِهِ،
and remembrance of Allah is ever moving his tongue.
وَقَدَّمَ الْخَوْفَ لاِمَانِهِ،
He entertains fear before dangers.
وَتَنَكَّبَ الْمخالجَ عَنْ وَضَحِ السَّبِيلِ،
He avoids uneven ways in favour of clear ones.
وَسَلَكَ أَقْصَدَ المَسَالِكَ إِلَى النَّهْجِ الْمَطْلُوبِ;
He follows the shortest route to secure his purpose,
وَلَمْ تَفْتِلْهُ فَاتِلاَتُ الْغُرُورِ،
wishfulness does not twist his thinking
وَلَمْ تَعْمَ عَلَيْهِ مُشْتَبِهَاتُ الاْمُورِ،
and ambiguities do not blind his eyes.
ظَافِراً بِفَرْحَةِ الْبُشْرَى،
He enjoys deep sleep
وَرَاحَةِ النُّعْمَى،
and passes his day happily
في أَنْعَمِ نَوْمِهِ،
because of the happiness of good tidings
وَآمَنِ يَوْمِهِ.
and pleasure of (eternal bounties).
قَدْ عَبَرَ مَعْبَرَ الْعَاجِلَةِ حَمِيداً،
He passes the pathway of this world in praiseworthy manner.
وَقَدَّمَ زَادَ الاْجِلَةِ سَعِيداً،
He reaches the next world with virtues.
وَبَادَرَ مِنْ وَجَل،
He hastens (towards virtue) out of fear (for vice).
وَأَكْمَشَ فِي مَهَل،
He moves briskly during the short time (of life in this world).
وَرَغِبَ فِي طَلَب،
He devotes himself in seeking (eternal good),
وَذَهَبَ عَنْ هَرَب،
he runs away from evil.
وَرَاقَبَ فِي يَوْمِهِ غَدَهُ،
During today he is mindful of tomorrow,
وَنَظَرَ قُدُماً أَمَامَهُ.
and keeps the future in his view.
فَكَفَى بِالْجَنَّةِ ثَوَاباً وَنَوَالاً،
Certainly Paradise is the best reward and achievement,
وَكَفى بَالنَّارِ عِقَاباً وَوَبَالاً!
while hell is appropriate punishment and suffering.
وَكَفَى بِاللهِ مُنْتَقِماً وَنَصِيراً!
Allah is the best Avenger and Helper
وَكَفَى بِالكِتَابِ حَجيجاً وَخَصِيماً
and the Qur’an is the best argument and confronter.
الوصية بالتقوى
Warning against Satan
أُوصِيكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللهِ الَّذِي أَعْذَرَ بِمَا أَنْذَرَ،
I enjoin upon you fear of Allah Who has left no excuse against what He has warned,
وَاحْتَجَّ بِمَا نَهَجَ،
has exhausted argument (of guidance) about the (right) path He has shown.
وَحَذَّرَكُمْ عَدُوّاً نَفَذَ فِي الصُّدُورِ خَفِيّاً،
He has warned you of the enemy that steals into hearts
وَنَفَثَ فِي الاذَانِ نَجِيّاً،
and stealthily speaks into ears,
فَأَضَلَّ وَأَرْدَى،
and thereby misguides and brings about destruction,
وَوَعَدَ فَمَنَّى،
makes (false) promises and keeps under wrong impression,
وَزَيَّنَ سَيِّئَاتِ الْجَرَائِمِ،
he represents evil sins in attractive shape,
وَهَوَّنَ مُوبِقَاتِ الْعَظَائمِ،
and shows as light even serious crimes.
حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَدْرَجَ قَرِينَتَهُ،
When he has deceived his comrades
وَاستَغْلَقَ رَهِينَتَهُ،
and exhausted the pledge
أَنْكَرَ مَا زَيَّنَ،
he begins to find fault with what he presented as good,
وَاسْتَعْظَمَ مَا هَوَّنَ،
and considers serious what he had shown as light,
وَحَذَّرَ مَا أَمَّنَ.
and threatens from what he had shown as safe.
منها: في صفة خلق الانسان
Part of the same sermon dealing with creation of man
أَمْ هذَا الَّذِي أَنْشَأَهُ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الاْرْحَامِ،
Or look at man whom Allah has created in the dark wombs
وَشُغُفِ الاْسْتَارِ،
and layers of curtains
نُطْفَةً دِفاقاً،
from what was overflowing semen,
وَعَلَقَةً مِحَاقاً،
then shapeless clot, then embryo,
وَجَنِيناً وَرَاضِعاً،
then suckling infant,
وَوَلِيداً وَيَافِعاً
then child and then fully grown up young man.
ثُمَّ مَنَحَهُ قَلْباً حَافِظاً،
Then He gave him heart with memory,
وَلِساناً لاَفِظاً،
tongue to talk and eye to see with,
وَبَصَراً لاَحِظاً،
in order that he may take lesson (from whatever is around him)
لِيَفْهَمَ مُعْتَبِراً،
and understand it and follow the admonition
وَيُقَصِّرَ مُزْدَجِراً;
and abstain from evil.
حَتَّى إِذَا قَامَ اعْتِدَالُهُ،
When he attained the normal growth
وَاسْتَوَى مِثالُهُ،
and his structure gained its average development
نَفَرَ مُسْتَكْبِراً،
he fell in self-conceit
وَخَبَطَ سَادِراً،
and got perplexed.
مَاتِحاً فِي غَرْبِ هَوَاهُ،
He drew bucketfuls of his desires,
كَادِحاً سَعْياً لِدُنْيَاهُ،
got immersed in fulfilling
فِي لَذَّاتِ طَرَبِهِ،
his wishes for pleasures of the world
وَبَدَوَاتِ أَرَبِهِ;
and his (sordid) aims.
لاَ يَحْتَسِبُ رَزِيَّةً،
He did not fear any evil
وَلاَ يَخْشَعُ تَقِيَّةً;
nor got frightened of any apprehension.
فَمَاتَ فِي فِتْنَتِهِ غَرِيراً،
He died infatuated with his vices.
وَعَاشَ فِي هَفْوَتِهِ أسيراً،
He spent his short life in rubbish pursuits.
لَمْ يُفِدْ عِوَضاً، وَلَمْ يَقْضِ مُفْتَرَضاً.
He earned no reward nor did he fulfil any obligation.
دَهِمَتْهُ فَجَعَاتُ الْمَنِيَّةِ فِي غُبَّرِ جِمَاحِهِ،
Fatal illness overtook him
وَسَنَنِ مِرَاحِهِ،
while he was still in his enjoyments
فَظَلَّ سَادِراً،
and perplexed him.
وَبَاتَ سَاهِراً فِي غَمَرَاتِ الاْلاَمِ،
He passed the night in wakefulness in the hardships of grief
وَطَوَارِقِ الاْوْجَاعِ والاْسْقَامِ،
and pricking of pains and ailments
بَيْنَ أَخ شَقِيق،
in the presence of real brother,
وَوَالِد شَفِيق،
loving father,
وَدَاعِيَة بِالْوَيْلِ جَزَعاً،
wailing mother,
وَلاَدِمَة لِلصَّدْرِ قَلَقاً.
crying sister,
وَالْمَرءُ فِي سَكْرَة مُلْهِية،
while he himself was under maddening uneasiness,
وَغَمْرَة كَارِثَة،
serious senselessness,
وَأَنَّة مُوجِعَة،
fearful cries,
وَجَذْبَة مُكْرِبَة
suffocating pains,
وَسَوْقَة مُتْعِبَة.
anguish of suffocating sufferings and the pangs of death.
ثُمَّ أُدْرِجَ فِي أَكْفَانِهِ مُبْلِساً، وَجُذِبَ مُنْقَاداً سَلِساً،
Thereafter he was clad in the shroud while he remained quiet and thoroughly submissive to others.
ثُمَّ أُلْقِيَ عَلَى الاْعَوادِ رَجِيعَ وَصِب، وَنِضْوَ سَقَم، تَحْمِلُهُ حَفَدَةُ الْوِلْدَانِ،
Then he was placed on planks in such a state that he had been down-trodden by hardships and thinned by ailments.
وَحَشَدَةُ الاْخْوَانِ، إِلَى دَارِ غُرْبَتِهِ، وَمُنْقَطَعِ زَوْرَتِهِ;
The crowd of young men and helping brothers carried him to his house of loneliness where all connections of visitors are severed.
حَتَّى إِذَا انْصَرَفَ الْمُشَيِّعُ، وَرَجَعَ الْمُتَفَجِّعُ أُقْعِدَ فِي حُفْرَتِهِ نَجِيّاً لِبَهْتَةِ السُّؤَالِ، وَعَثْرَةِ الامْتِحَانِ.
Thereafter those who accompanied him went away and those who were wailing for him returned and then he was made to sit in his grave for terrifying questioning and slippery examination.
وَأَعْظَمُ مَاهُنَالِكَ بَلِيَّةً نُزُلُ الْحَمِيم، وَتَصْلِيَةُ الْجَحِيمِ، وَفَوْرَاتُ السَّعِيرِ، وَسَوْراتُ السَّعِيرِ،
The great calamity of that place is the hot water and entry into Hell, flames of eternal Fire and intensity of blazes.
لاَ فَتْرَةٌ مُرِيحَةٌ، وَلاَ دَعَةٌ مُزِيحَةٌ، وَلاَ قُوَّةٌ حَاجِزَةٌ، وَلاَ مَوْتَةٌ نَاجِزَةٌ، وَلاَ سِنَةٌ مُسَلِّيَةٌ،
There is no resting period, no gap for ease, no power to intervene, no death to bring about solace and no sleep to make him forget pain.
بَيْنَ أَطْوَارِ الْمَوْتَاتِ،
He rather lies under several kinds of deaths
وَعَذَابِ السَّاعَاتِ!
and moment-to-moment punishment.
إِنَّا بِاللهِ عَائِذُونَ!
We seek refuge with Allah.
عِبَادَ اللهِ، أَيْنَ الَّذِينَ عُمِّرُوا فَنَعِمُوا،
O creatures of Allah! Where are those who were allowed (long) ages to live and they enjoyed bounty?
وَعُلِّمُوا فَفَهِمُوا،
They were taught and they learnt;
وَأُنْظِرُوا فَلَهَوْا،
they were given time and they passed it in vain;
وَسُلِّمُوا فَنَسُوا؟
they were kept healthy and they forgot (their duty).
أُمْهِلُوا طَوِيلاً،
They were allowed long period (of life),
وَمُنِحُوا جَميِلاً،
were handsomely provided,
وَحُذِّرُوا ألِيماً،
were warned of grievous punishment
وَوُعِدُوا جَسِيماً!
and were promised big rewards.
احْذَرُوا الذُّنُوبَ الْمُوَرِّطَةَ،
You should avoid sins that lead to destruction
وَالْعُيُوبَ الْمُسْخِطَةَ.
and vices that attract wrath (of Allah).
أُولِي الاْبْصَارِ والاْسْمَاعِ،
O people who possess eyes and ears
وَالْعَافِيَةِ وَالمَتَاعِ،
and health and wealth!
هَلْ مِنْ مَنَاص أَوْ خَلاَص،
Is there any place of protection, any shelter of safety,
أَوْ مَعَاذ أَوْ مَلاَذ،
or asylum or haven,
أَوْ فِرَار أَوْ مجاز أوْ مَحَار!
or occasion to run away or to come back (to this world)?
أَمْ لاَ؟
If not,
(فَأَنَّى تُؤْفَكُونَ)!
“How are you then turned away” (Qur’an, 6:95; 10:34; 35:3; 40:62)
أَمْ أَيْنَ تُصْرَفُونَ!
and whither are you averting?
أَمْ بِمَاذَا تَغْتَرُّونَ؟
By what things have you been deceived?
وَإِنَّمَا حَظُّ أَحَدِكُمْ مِنَ الاْرْضِ،
Certainly, the share of every one of you from this earth is just a piece
ذَاتِ الطُّولِ وَالْعَرْضِ،
of land equal to his own stature and size
قِيدُ قَدِّهِ،
where he would lie
مُتَعَفِّراً عَلى خَدِّهِ!
on his cheeks covered with dust.
الاْنَ عِبَادَ اللهِ وَالْخِنَاقُ مُهْمَلٌ،
The present is an opportune moment for acting, O creatures of Allah, since the neck is free from the loop,
وَالرُّوحُ مُرْسَلٌ،
and spirit is also unfettered,
فِي فَيْنَةِ الاِرْشَادِ،
now you have time for seeking guidance:
وَرَاحَةِ الاْجْسَادِ،
you are in ease of body;
وَبَاحَةِ الاحْتِشَادِ،
you can assemble in crowds,
وَمَهَلِ الْبَقِيَّةِ،
the rest of life is before you;
وَأُنُفِ الْمَشِيَّةِ،
you have opportunity of acting by will;
وَإِنْظَارِ التَّوْبَةِ،
there is opportunity for repentance,
وَانْفِسَاحِ الْحَوْبَةِ قَبْلَ الضَّنْكِ وَالْمَضِيقِ،
and peaceful circumstances. (But you should act) before you are overtaken by narrow circumstances and distress,
وَالرَّوْعِ وَالزُّهُوقِ،
or fear and weakness,
وَقَبْلَ قُدُومِ الْغَائِبِ المُنتَظَرِ،
before the approach of the awaited death
وَإِخْذَةِ الْعَزِيزِ الْمُقْتَدِرِ.
and before seizure by the Almighty, the Powerful.
قال الشريف: وفي الخبر: أنّه (عليه السلام) لمّا خطب بهذه الخطبة اقشعرت لها الجلود، وبكت العيون، ورجفت القلوب. ومن الناس من يسمي هذه الخطبة: «الغراء».
as-Sayyid ar-Radi says: It is related that when Amir al-mu’minin delivered this sermon people began to tremble, tears flowed from their eyes and their hearts were frightened. Some people call this sermon the Brilliant Sermon (al-Khutbatu’l-Gharra’)
Alternative Sources for Sermon 83: Al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 146; al-Quda’i, Dustur, 59, al-'Amidi, Ghurar; al-Wasiti, ‘Uyun al-hikam; Abu Nu’aym, Hilyah, I, 77; Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, I, 132 (b.d.d), II, 287 (‘a.a.z).
1. Allah has furnished every creature with natural dress, which is the means of protecting it from cold and heat. Thus, some animals are covered in feathers and some carry apparels of wool on their bodies. But the high degree of intelligence of man and the quality of shame and modesty in him demands distinction from other creatures. Consequently, to maintain this distinction he has been taught the ways of covering his body. It was this natural impulse that when Adam was made to give up his dress he began to cover his body with leaves. The Qur'an says: So when they tested (of) the tree their shameful things got displayed unto them and they began covering themselves with leaves of the garden ... (Qu'ran, 7:22) This was the punishment awarded for his committing what was better for him to omit. When removal of dress is punishment its putting on would be a favour, and since this is peculiar to man it has been particularly mentioned.
2. The intention is that Allah would resurrect all the dead, even though they had been eaten by beasts and been merged in their bodies. Its aim is to refute the view of the philosophers who hold that the resurrection of the non-existent is impossible and who do not therefore believe in the physical resurrection. Their argument briefly is that a thing which has lost existence by death cannot return to life. Consequently, after the destruction of this world the return of any of its beings to life is out of question. But this belief is not correct because dispersal of the parts does not mean its non-existence, so as to say that putting these parts together again would involve resurrection of the non-existent. On the other hand separated and dispersed parts continue to exist in some form or the other. Of course, in this connection this objection has some force that when every person is to be resurrected in his own form, then in case one person has eaten the other, then in such a case it would be impossible to resurrect either of them with his own constituent parts, since this would involve creating deficiency of parts in that who had eaten the other. To this metaphysicians have replied that in everybody there are some constituents which are essential and others which are non-essential. The essential constituents remain constant from the beginning till end of life and suffer no change or alteration, and resurrection with regard to such constituents would not create any deficiency in the man who ate the other.
