إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ مَا تَوَسَّلَ بِهِ الْمُتَوَسِّلُونَ إِلَى اللهِ سُبْحَانَهُ: الاْيمَانُ بِهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ،
The best means by which seekers of nearness to Allah, the Glorified, the Exalted, seek nearness, is the belief in Him and His Prophet,
وَالْجِهادُ فِي سَبِيلِهِ فَإِنَّهُ ذِرْوَةُ الاْسْلاَمِ،
fighting in His cause, for it is the high pinnacle of Islam,
وَكَلِمَةُ الاْخْلاَصِ فَإِنَّهَا الْفِطْرَةُ،
and (to believe) in the kalimatu'l-'ikhlas (the expression of Divine purification) for it is just nature
وَإِقَامُ الْصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّهَا الْمِلَّةُ،
and the establishment of prayer for it is (the basis of) community,
وَإِيتَاهُ الزَّكَاةِ فَإِنَّهَا فَرِيضَةٌ وَاجِبَةٌ،
payment of zakat (Islamic tax) for it is a compulsory obligation,
وَصَوْمُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَإِنَّهُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ الْعِقَاب،
fasting for the month of Ramadan for it is the shield against chastisement,
وَحَجُّ الْبَيْتِ وَاعْتِمارُهُ
the performance of hajj of the House of Allah (i. e . Ka’bah) and its ‘umrah (other than annual visit)
فَإِنَّهُمَا يَنْفِيَانِ الْفَقْرَ وَيَرْحَضَانِ الذَّنْبَ،
for these two acts banish poverty and wash away sins,
وَصِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ فَإِنَّهَا مَثْرَاةٌ فِي الْمَالِ وَمَنْسَأَةٌ في الاْجَلِ،
regard for kinship for it increases wealth and length of life,
وَصَدَقَةُ السِّرِّ فَإِنَّهَا تُكَفِّرُ الْخَطِيئَةَ،
to giving alms secretly for it covers shortcomings,
وَصَدَقَةُ الْعَلاَنِيَةِ فَإِنَّهَا تَدْفَعُ مِيتَةَ السُّوءِ،
giving alms openly for it protects against a bad death
وَصَنَائِعُ الْمَعْرُوفِ فَإِنَّهَا تَقِي مَصَارعَ الْهَوَانِ.
and extending benefits (to people) for it saves from positions of disgrace.
فضل القرآن
About the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah
أَفِيضُوا في ذِكْرِ اللهِ فَأنَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الذِّكْرِ،
Go ahead with the remembrance of Allah for it is the best remembrance,
وَارْغَبُوا فِيَما وَعَدَ المُتَّقِينَ
and long for that which He has promised to the pious,
فَإِنَّ وَعْدَهُ أَصْدَقُ الْوَعْدِ،
for His promise is the truest promise.
وَاقْتَدُوا بِهَدْيِ نَبِيِّكُمْ
Tread the course of the Prophet
فَإِنَّهُ أَفْضَلُ الْهَدْيِ،
for it is the most distinguished course.
وَاسْتَنُّوا بِسُنَّتِهِ فَإِنَّهَا أهْدَى السُّنَنِ.
Follow the sunnah of the Prophet for it is the most right of all behaviours.
وَتَعَلَّمُوا الْقرْآن فَإِنَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْحَدِيثِ،
Learn the Qur'an for it is the fairest of discourses
وَتَفَقَّهُوا فِيهِ فَإِنَّهُ رَبِيعُ الْقُلُوبِ،
and understand it thoroughly for it is the best blossoming of hearts.
وَاسْتَشْفُوا بِنُورِهِ فَإِنَّهُ شِفَاءُ الصُّدُورِ،
Seek cure with its light for it is the cure for hearts.
وَأَحْسِنُوا تِلاَوَتَهُ فَإِنَّهُ أَنْفَعُ الْقَصَصِ.
Recite it beautifully for it is the most beautiful narration.
وَإِنَّ الْعَالِمَ الْعَامِلَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمِهِ
Certainly, a scholar who acts not according to his knowledge
كَالْجَاهِلِ الْحَائِرِ الَّذِي لاَ يَسْتَفِيقُ مِنْ جَهْلِهِ،
is like the off-headed ignorant who does not find relief from his ignorance,
بَلِ الْحُجَّةُ عَلَيْهِ أَعْظَمُ،
but on the learned the plea of Allah is greater
وَالْحَسْرَةُ لَهُ أَلْزَمُ،
and grief more incumbent,
وَهُوَ عَنْدَ اللهِ أَلْوَمُ .
and he is more blameworthy before Allah.
Alternative Sources for Sermon 110: Al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 104; al-Saduq, Man la yahduruh, I, 131; al-Saduq, ‘Ilal, 114; al-Barqi, al-Mahasin, 233; al-Tusi, al-'Amali, I, 220.
