Nahj al-Balāgha

[بنو أمية ] فَمَا احْلَوْلَتْ الدُّنْيَا لَكُمْ فِي لَذَّتِهَا، وَلاَ تَمَكَّنْتُمْ مِنْ رَضَاعِ أَخْلاَفِهَا إِلاَّ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا صَادَفْتُمُوهَا جَائِلاً خِطَامُهَا قَلِقاً وَضِينُهَا ، قَدْ صَارَ حَرَامُهَا عِنْدَ أَقْوَامٍ بِمَنْزِلَةِ السِّدْر الْـمَخْضُودِ وَحَلاَلُهَا بَعِيداً غَيْرَ مَوْجُودٍ، وَصَادَفْتُمُوهَا، وَاللهِ، ظِلاًّ مَمْدُوداً إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْدُودٍ، فَالاْرْضُ لَكُمْ شَاغِرَةٌ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ فِيهَا مَبْسُوطَةٌ، وَأَيْدِي الْقَادَةِ عَنْكُمْ مَكْفُوفَةٌ، وَسُيُوفُكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ مَسَلَّطَةٌ، وَسُيُوفُهُمْ عَنْكُمْ مَقْبُوضَةٌ.

[About the Umayyads :] This world did not appear sweet to you in its pleasures and you did not secure milk from its udders except after having met it when its nose-rein was trailing and its leather girth was loose. For certain peoples its unlawful items were like bent branches (laden with fruit) while its lawful items were far away, not available. By Allāh, you would find it like a long shade upto a fixed time. So the earth is with you without let or hindrance and your hands in it are extended while the hands of the leaders are held away from you. Your swords are hanging over them while their swords are held away from you.

أَلاَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ دَم ثَائِراً، وَلَكُلِّ حَقٍّ طَالِباً، وَإِنَّ الثَّائِرَ فِي دِمَائِنَا كَالْحَاكِمِ في حَقِّ نَفْسِهِ، وَهُوَ اللهُ الَّذِي لاَ يُعْجِزُهُ مَنْ طَلَبَ، وَلاَ يَفُوتُهُ مَنْ هَرَبَ. فَأُقْسِمُ بِاللهِ، يَا بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ، عَمَّا قَلِيل لَتَعْرِفُنَّهَا فِي أَيْدِي غَيْرِكُمْ وَفِي دَارِ عَدُوِّكُمْ! أَلاَ إِنَّ أبْصَرَ الاْبْصَارِ مَا نَفَذَ فِي الْخَيْرِ طَرْفُهُ! أَلاَ إِنَّ أَسْمَعَ الاْسْمَاعِ مَا وَعَى التَّذْكِيرَ وَقَبِلَهُ!

Beware that for every blood (that is shed) there is an avenger and for every right there is a claimant. The avenger for our blood is like the judge for his own claim, and it is Allāh who is such that if one seeks Him, then He does not disappoint him, and one who runs away from Him cannot escape Him. I swear by Allāh, O Bani Umayyah, shortly you will see it (i.e. your possession) in the hands of others and in the house of your enemy. Know that the best looking eye is that whose sight catches virtue and know that the best hearing ear is that which hears good advice and accept it.

[وعظ الناس ] أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، اسْتَصْبِحُوا مِنْ شُعْلَةِ مِصْبَاح وَاعِظ مُتَّعِظ، وَامْتَاحُوا مِنْ صَفْوِ عَيْن قَدْ رُوِّقَتْ مِنَ الْكَدَرِ. بَادَ اللهِ، لاَ تَرْكَنُوا إِلَى جَهَالَتِكُمْ، وَلاَ تَنْقَادُوا لاِهْوَائِكُمْ، فَإِنَّ النَّازِلَ بِهذَا الْمَنْزِلِ نَازِلٌ بِشَفَا جُرُف هَار، يَنْقُلُ الرَّدَى عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ مِنْ مَوْضِع إِلَى مَوْضَع، لِرَأْي يُحْدِثُهُ بَعْدَ رَأْي، يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُلْصِقَ مَا لاَ يَلْتَصِقُ، وَيُقَرِّبَ مَا لاَ يَتَقَارَبُ!

[About the functions of the Imams :] O people, secure light from the flame of lamps of the preacher who follows what he preaches and draw water from the spring which has been cleaned of dirt. O creatures of Allāh, do not rely on your ignorance, do not be obedient to your desires because he who stays at this place is like one who stays on the brink of a bank undermined by water carrying ruin on his back from one portion to the other following his opinion which he changes (one after the other). He wants to make adhere what cannot adhere and to bring together what cannot keep together.

فَاللهَ اللهَ أَنْ تَشْكُوا إِلَى مَنْ لاَ يُشْكِي شَجْوَكُمْ، وَلاَ يَنْقُضُ بِرَأْيِهِ مَا قَدْ أَبْرَمَ لَكُمْ. إِنَّهُ لَيسَ عَلَى الاْمَامِ إِلاَّ مَا حُمِّلَ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ: الاْبْلاَغُ فَي الْمَوْعِظَةِ، وَالاجْتِهَادُ فِي النَّصِيحَةِ، وَالاْحْيَاءُ لِلسُّنَّةِ، وَإِقَامَةُ الْحُدُودِ عَلَى مُسْتَحِقِّيهَا، وَإِصْدَارُ السُّهْمَانِ عَلَى أَهْلِهَا. فَبَادِرُوا الْعِلْمَ مِنْ قَبْلِ تَصْوِيحِ نَبْتِهِ، وَمِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تُشْغَلُوا بَأَنْفُسِكُمْ عَنْ مُسْتَثَارِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ عِنْدِ أَهْلِهِ، وَانْهَوْا عَنْ المُنْكَرِ وَتَنَاهَوْا عَنْهُ، فَإِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُمْ بالنَّهْي بَعْدَ التَّنَاهِي!

So fear Allāh and do not place your complaints before him who cannot redress your grievance, nor undo with his opinion what has been made obligatory for you. Certainly, there is no obligation on the Imam except what has been devolved on him from Allāh, namely to convey warnings, to exert in good advice, to revive the Sunnah, to enforce penalties on those liable to them and to issue shares to the deserving. So hasten towards knowledge before its vegetation dries up and before you turn yourselves away from seeking knowledge from those who have it. Desist others from the unlawful and abstain from it yourself, because you have been commanded to abstain (yourself) before abstaining (others).

ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام) وفيها يبيّن فضل الاسلام ويذكر الرسول الكريم ثمّ يلوم أصحابه

About Islam

[دين الإسلام ] الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي شَرَعَ الاْسْلاَمَ فَسَهَّلَ شَرَائِعَهُ لِمَنْ وَرَدَهُ، وَأَعَزَّ أَرْكَانَهُ عَلَى مَنْ غَالَبَهُ، فَجَعَلَهُ أَمْناً لِمَنْ عَلِقَهُ، وَسِلْماً لِمَنْ دَخَلَهُ، وَبُرْهَاناً لِمَنْ تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ، وَشَاهِداً لِمَنْ خَاصَمَ بِهِ، وَنُوراً لِمَنِ اسْتَضَاءَ بِهِ، وَفَهْماً لِمَنْ عَقَلَ، وَلُبّاً لَمِنْ تَدَبَّرَ، وَآيَةً لِمَنْ تَوَسَّمَ، وَتَبْصِرَةً لِمَنْ عَزَمَ، وَعِبْرَةً لِمَنِ اتَّعَظَ، وَنَجَاةً لِمَنْ صَدَّقَ، وَثِقَةً لِمَنْ تَوَكَّلَ، وَرَاحَةً لِمَنْ فَوَّضَ، وَجُنَّةً لِمَنْ صَبَرَ.

Praise be to Allāh who established Islam and made it easy for those who approach it and gave strength to its columns against any one who tries to overpower it. So Allāh made it (a source of) peace for him who clings to it, safety for him who enters it, argument for him who speaks about it, witness for him who fights with its help, light for him who seeks light from it, understanding for him who provides it, sagacity for him who exerts, a sign (of guidance) for him who perceives, sight for him who resolves, lesson for him who seeks advice, salvation for him who testifies, confidence for him who trusts, pleasure for him who entrusts, and shield for him who endures.

فَهُوَ أبْلَجُ الْمَنَاهجِ وَ اوضِحُ الْوَلاَئِجِ مُشْرَفُ الْمَنَارِ مُشْرِقُ الْجَوَادِّ مُضِيءُ الْمَصَابِيحِ، كَرَيمُ الْمِضْمارِ رَفِيعُ الْغَايَةِ، جَامِعُ الْحَلْبَةِ مُتَنَافِسُ السُّبْقَةِ، شَرِيفُ الْفُرْسَانِ. التَّصْدِيقُ مِنْهَاجُهُ، وَالصَّالِحَاتُ مَنَارُهُ، وَالْمَوْتُ غَايَتُهُ، وَالدُّنْيَا مِضْمارُهُ، وَالْقِيَامَةُ حَلْبَتُهُ، وَالْجَنَّةُ سُبْقَتُهُ

It is the most bright of all paths, the clearest of all passages. It has dignified minarets, bright highways, burning lamps, prestigious field of activity, and high objective. It has a collection of race horses. It is approached eagerly. Its riders are honourable. Certification (of Allāh, Prophet etc.) is its way, good deeds are its minarets, death is its extremity, this world is its race-course, the Day of Judgement is its horses and Paradise is its point of approach.

ومنها في ذكر النبي (صلى الله عليه وآله) : حَتَّى أَوْرَى قَبَساً لِقَابِس، وَأَنَارَ عَلَماً لِحَابِس، فَهُوَ أَمِينُكَ الْمَأْمُونُ، وَشَهِيدُكَ يَوْمَ الدِّينِ، وَبَعِيثُكَ نِعْمةً، وَرَسُولُكَ بِالْحقِّ رَحْمَةً. اللَّهُمَّ اقْسِمْ لَهُ مَقْسَماً مِنْ عَدْلِكَ، وَاجْزِهِ مُضَعَّفَاتِ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ. اللَّهُمَّ أَعْلِ عَلَى بَنَاءِ الْبَانِينَ بَنَاءَهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ لَدَيْكَ نُزُلَهُ، وَشَرِّفْ عِنْدَكَ مَنْزِلَهُ، وَآتِهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ، وَأَعْطِهِ السَّنَاءَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ، وَاحْشُرْنَا فِي زُمْرَتِهِ غَيْرَ خَزَايَا، وَلاَ نَادِمِينَ، وَلاَ نَاكِبِينَ، وَلاَ نَاكِثِينَ، وَلاَ ضَالِّينَ، وَلاَ مَفْتُونِينَ.

[A part of the same sermon about the Holy Prophet :] The Prophet lighted flames for the seeker and put bright signs for the impeded. So he is Thy trustworthy trustee, Thy witness on the Day of Judgement, Thy deputy as a blessing and Thy messenger of truth as mercy. My Allāh distribute to him a share from Thy Justice and award him multiples of good by Thy bounty. My Allāh heighten his construction over the constructions of others, honour him when he comes to Thee, dignify his position before Thee, give him honourable position, and award him glory and distinction, and bring us out (on Day of Judgement) among his party, neither ashamed, nor repentant, nor deviators, nor pledge-breakers, nor strayers, nor misleads, nor seduced.

قال الشريف: وقد مضى هذا الكلام فيما تقدم، إلاّ أنّنا كرّرناه هاهنا لما في الروايتين من الاختلاف.

as-Sayyid ar-Raḍī says: This sermon had already appeared earlier but we have repeated it here because of the difference between the two versions.

ومنها في خطاب أصحابه : وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُمْ منْ كَرَامَةِ اللهِ لَكُمْ مَنْزِلَةً تُكْرَمُ بِهَا إِمَاؤُكُمْ، وَتُوصَلُ بِهَا جِيرَانُكُمْ، وَيُعَظِّمُكُمْ مَنْ لاَ فَضْلَ لَكُمْ عَلَيهِ، وَلاَ يَدَلَكُمْ عِنْدَهُ، وَيَهَابُكُمْ مَنْ لاَ يَخَافُ لَكُمْ سَطْوَةً، وَلاَ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِمْرَةٌ، وَقَدْ تَرَوْنَ عُهُودَ اللهِ مَنْقُوضَةً فَلاَ تَغْضَبُونَ! وَأَنْتُمْ لِنَقْضِ ذِمَمِ آبَائِكُمْ تَأْنَفُونَ! وَكَانَتْ أَمُورُ اللهِ عَلَيْكُمْ تَرِدُ، وَعَنْكُمْ تَصْدُرُ، وَإِلَيْكُمْ تَرْجِعُ، فَمَكَّنْتُمُ الظَّلَمَةَ مِنْ مَنْزِلَتِكُمْ، وَأَلْقَيْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَزِمَّتَكُمْ، وَأَسْلَمْتُمْ أُمُورَ اللهِ فِي أَيْدِيهمْ، يَعْمَلُونَ بِالشُّبُهَاتِ، وَيَسِيرُونَ في الشَّهَوَاتِ، وَايْمُ اللهِ، لَوْ فَرَّقُوكُمْ تَحْتَ كُلِّ كَوْكَب، لَجَمَعَكُمُ اللهُ لِشَرِّ يَوْم لَهُمْ!

[A part of the same sermon addressed to his followers :] By bounty of Allāh over you, you have acquired a position where even your slave maids are honoured, your neighbours are treated well. Even he over whom you enjoy no distinction or obligation honours you. Even those people fear you who had no apprehension of attack from you or any authority over you. You now see pledges of Allāh being broken but do not feel enraged although you fret and frown on the breaking of traditions of your forefathers. Allāh’s matters have been coming to you, and going from and again coming back to you; but you have made over your place to wrong-doors and thrown towards them your responsibilities, and have placed Allāh’s affairs in their hands. They act in doubts and tread in (fulfilment of) desires. By Allāh, even if they disperse you under every star Allāh would surely collect you on the day that would be worst for them.