فَتَبَارَكَ اللهُ الَّذِي لاَ تَبْلُغُهُ بُعْدُ الْهِمَمِ،
Exalted is Allah Whom heights of daring cannot approach
وَلاَ يَنَالُهُ حَدْسُ الْفِطَنِ،
and fineness of intelligence cannot find.
الاْوَّلُ الَّذِي لاَ غَايَةَ لَهُ فَيَنْتَهِيَ،
He is such First that there is no extremity for Him so that He be contained within it,
وَلاَ آخِرَ لَهُ فَيَنْقَضِيَ.
nor is there an end for Him where would cease.
منها: [في وصف الانبياء]
A part of the same sermon about the Prophet
فَاسْتَوْدَعَهُمْ فِي أَفْضَلِ مُسْتَوْدَع،
Allah kept the Prophets in deposit in the best place of deposit
وَأَقَرَّهُمْ فِي خَيْرِ مُسْتَقَرّ،
and made them stay in the best place of stay.
تَنَاسَخَتْهُمْ كَرَائِمُ الاْصْلاَبِ إِلَى مُطَهَّرَاتِ الاْرْحَامِ;
He moved them in succession from distinguished fore-fathers to chaste wombs.
كُلَّمَا مَضَى سَلَفٌ، قَامَ مِنْهُمْ بِدِينِ اللهِ خَلَفٌ.
Whenever a predecessor from among them died the follower stood up for the cause of the religion of Allah.
رسول الله وأهل بيته
About the Holy Prophet and his Descendants (‘Itrah)
حَتَّى أَفْضَتْ كَرَامَةُ اللهِ سُبْحَانَهُ إِلَى مُحَمَّد(صلى الله عليه وآله)،
Until this distinction of Allah, the Glorified, reached Muhammad - peace and blessing of Allah be upon him and his descendants.
فَأَخْرَجَهُ مِنْ أَفْضَلِ الْمَعَادِنِ مَنْبِتا،
Allah brought him out from the most distinguished sources of origin
وَأَعَزِّ الاْرُومَاتِ مَغْرِساً،
and the most honourable places of planting,
مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ الَّتِي صَدَعَ مِنْهَا أَنْبِيَاءَهُ،
namely from the same (lineal) tree from which He brought forth other Prophets
وَانْتَجَبَ مِنْهَا أُمَنَاءَهُ.
and from which He selected His trustees.
عِتْرَتُهُ خَيْرُ الْعِتَرِ،
Muhammad's descendants are the best descendants,
وَأُسْرَتُهُ خَيْرُ الاْسَرِ،
his kinsmen the best of kin
وَشَجَرَتُهُ خَيْرُ الشَّجَرِ;
and his lineal tree the best of trees.
نَبَتَتْ فِي حَرَم،
It grew in esteem
وَبَسَقَتْ فِي كَرَم،
and rose in distinction.
لَهَا فُرُوعٌ طِوَالٌ،
It has tall branches
وَثَمَرٌ لاَيُنَالُ.
and unapproachable fruits.
فَهُوَ إِمَامُ مَنِ اتَّقَى،
He is the leader (Imam) of all who exercise fear (of Allah)
وَبَصِيرَةُ مَنِ اهْتَدَى،
and a light for those who seek guidance.
وسِرَاجٌ لَمَعَ ضَوْؤُهُ،
He is a lamp whose flame is burning,
وَشِهَابٌ سَطَعَ نُورُهُ
a meteor whose light is shining
وَزَنْدٌ بَرَقَ لَمْعُهُ;
and a flint whose spark is bright.
سِيرَتُهُ الْقَصْدُ،
His conduct is upright,
وَسُنَّتُهُ الرُّشْدُ،
his behaviour is guiding,
وَكَلاَمُهُ الْفَصْلُ،
his speech is decisive
وَحُكْمُهُ الْعَدْلُ;
and his decision is just.
أَرْسَلَهُ عَلَى حِينِ فَتْرَة مِنَ الرُّسُلِ،
Allah sent him after an interval from the previous Prophets
وَهَفْوَة عَنِ الْعَمَلِ،
when people had fallen into errors of action
وَغَبَاوَة مِنَ الاْمَمِ.
and ignorance. Allah may have mercy on you.
عظة النّاس
Exhortation
اعْمَلُوا، رَحِمَكُمُ اللهُ، عَلَى أَعْلاَم بَيِّنَة،
May Allah shower His mercy on you! Do act according to the clear signs,
فَالطَّرِيقُ نَهْجٌ يَدْعُو إلَى دَارِ السَّلاَمِ،
because the way is straight and leads to the house of safety
وَأَنْتُمْ فِي دَارِ مُسْتَعْتَب عَلَى مَهَل وَفَرَاغ،
while you are in the place of seeking Allah's favour, and have time and opportunity.
والصُّحُفُ مَنْشُورَةٌ، وَالاْقْلاَمُ جَارِيَةٌ،
The books (of your doings) are open and pens (of angels) are busy (to record your actions)
وَالاْبْدَانُ صَحِيحَةٌ،
while your bodies are healthy,
والاْلْسُنُ مُطْلَقَةٌ،
tongues are free,
وَالتَّوْبَةُ مَسْمُوعَةٌ،
repentance is accepted
وَالاْعْمَالُ مَقْبُولَةٌ.
and deeds are accorded recognition.
Alternative Sources for Sermon 94: Al-Kulayni, Usul al-Kafi, I, 134; Ibn ‘Abd Rabbih, al-’Iqd, IV, 74.
