الْحَمْدُ للهِ الاْوَّلِ فَلاَ شَيْءَ قَبْلَهُ،
Praise be to Allah who is such First that nothing is before Him
وَالاخِرِ فَلاَ شَيْءَ بَعْدَهُ،
and such Last that there is nothing after Him.
وَالظَّاهِرِ فَلاَ شَيْءَ فَوْقَهُ،
He is such Manifest that there is nothing above Him
وَالْبَاطِنِ فَلاَ شيَ دُونَهُ.
and such Hidden that there is nothing nearer than He.
منها: في ذكر الرسول (صلى الله عليه وآله)
A part of the same sermon about the Holy Prophet
مُسْتَقَرُّهُ خَيْرُ مُسْتَقَرٍّ،
His place of stay is the best of all places
وَمَنْبِتُهُ أَشْرَفُ مَنْبِت،
and his origin the noblest of all origins
فِي مَعَادِنِ الْكَرَامَةِ،
in the mines of honour
وَمَمَاهِدِ السَّلاَمَةِ.
and the cradles of safety.
قَدْ صُرِفَتْ نَحْوَهُ أَفْئِدَةُ الاْبْرَارِ،
Hearts of virtuous persons have been inclined towards him
وَثُنِيَتْ إِلَيْهِ أَزِمَّةُ الاْبْصَارِ،
and the reins of eyes have been turned towards him.
دَفَنَ [اللهُ ]بِهِ الضَّغَائِنَ،
Through him Allah buried mutual rancour
وَأَطْفَأَ بِهِ الثَّوَائِر،
and put off the flames of revolt.
وأَلَّفَ بِهِ إِخْوَاناً،
Through him He gave them affection like brothers
وَفَرَّقَ بِهِ أَقْرَاناً،
and separated those who were together (through unbelief).
أَعَزَّ بِهِ الذِّلَّةَ،
Through him He gave honour to the low
وَأَذَلَّ بِهِ الْعِزَّةَ،
and degraded honour (of unbelief).
كَلاَمُهُ بَيَانٌ،
His speaking is clear
وَصَمْتُهُ لِسَانٌ.
and his silence is (indicative) like tongue.
Alternative Sources for Sermon 96: Al-Majlisi, Bihar, XVI, 380.
