Nahj al-Balāgha

فَأَمَّا أَهْلُ الطَّاعَةِ فَأَثَابَهُمْ بِجِوَارِهِ، وَخَلَّدَهُمْ في دَارِهِ، حَيْثُ لاَ يَظْعَنُ النُّزَّالُ، وَلاَ تَتَغَيَّرُ بِهِمُ الْحَالُ، وَلاَ تَنُوبُهُمُ الاْفْزَاعُ، وَلاَ تَنَالُهُمُ الاْسْقَامُ، وَلاَ تَعْرِضُ لَهُمُ الاْخْطَارُ، وَلاَ تُشْخِصُهُمُ الاْسْفَارُ.

As regards the obedient people He would reward them with His nearness and would keep them for ever in His house from where those who settle therein do not move out. Their position would not undergo change, fear would not overtake them, ailments would not befall them, dangers would not affect them and journey would not force them (from place to place).

وَأَمَّا أَهْلُ الْمَعْصِيَةِ فَأَنْزَلَهُمْ شَرَّ دَار، وَغَلَّ الاْيْدِيَ إِلَى الاْعْنَاقِ، وَقَرَنَ النَّوَاصِيَ بِالاْقْدَامِ، وَأَلْبَسَهُمْ سَرَابِيلَ الْقَطِرَانِ، وَمُقَطَّعَاتِ النِّيرَانِ، فِي عَذَاب قَدِ اشْتَدَّ حَرُّهُ، وَبَاب قَدْ أُطْبِقَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ، فِي نَار لَهَا كَلَبٌ وَلَجَبٌ، وَلَهَبٌ سَاطِعٌ، وَقَصِيفٌ هَائِلٌ، لاَ يَظْعَنُ مُقِيمُهَا، وَلاَ يُفَادَى أَسِيرُهَا، وَلاَ تُفْصَمُ كُبُولُهَا. لاَ مُدَّةَ لِلدَّارِ فَتَفْنَى، وَلاَ أَجَلَ لِلْقَوْمِ فَيُقْضَى.

As for people of sins, He would settle them in the worst place, would bind their hands with the necks, bind the forelocks with feet and would clothe them in shirts of tar and dresses cut out of flames. They would be in punishment whose heat would be severe, door would be closed on the inmates—in fire which is full of shouts and cries and rising flames and fearful voices. Its inmate does not move out of it, its prisoner cannot be released by ransom and its shackles cannot be cut. There is no fixed age for this house so that it might perish, or period for its life that might pass away.

[ومنها في ذكر النبي صلى الله عليه وآله :] قَدْ حَقَّرَ الدُّنْيَا وَصَغَّرَهَا، وَأَهْوَنَ بَهَا وَهَوَّنَهَا، وَعَلِمَ أَنَّ اللهَ تعالى زَوَاهَا عَنْهُ اخْتِيَاراً، وَبَسَطَهَا لِغَيْرِهِ احْتِقَاراً، فَأَعْرَضَ عَنِ الدُّنْيَا بِقَلْبِهِ، وَأَمَاتَ ذِكْرَهَا عَنْ نَفْسِهَ، وَأَحَبَّ أَنْ تَغِيبَ زِينَتُهَا عَنْ عَيْنِهِ، لِكَيْلاَ يَتَّخِذَ مِنْهَا رِيَاشاً، أوْ يَرْجُوَفِيهَا مَقَاماً. بَلَّغَ عَنْ رَبِّهِ مُعْذِراً، وَنَصَحَ لاِمَّتِهِ مُنْذِراً، وَدَعاَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ مُبَشِّراً، وَخَوَّفَ مِنَ النَّارِ مُحَذِّراً.

[A part of the same sermon about the Holy Prophet :] He treated this world disdainfully and regarded it low. He held it contemptible and hated it. He realized that Allāh kept it away from him with intention and spread it out for others by way of contempt. Therefore, he remained away from it by his heart, banished its recollection from his mind and wished that its attraction should remain hidden from his eye so that he should not acquire any clothing from it, or hope for staying in it. He conveyed from Allāh the pleas (against committing sins), counselled his people as a warner (against Divine chastisement), called (people) towards Paradise as conveyor of good tidings.

[أهل البيت (عليه السلام)] نَحْنُ شَجَرَةُ النُّبُوَّةِ، وَمَحَطُّ الرِّسَالَةِ، وَمُخْتَلَفُ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ، وَمَعَادِنُ الْعِلْمِ، وَيَنَابِيعُ الْحُكْمِ، نَاصِرُنا وَمُحِبُّنَا يَنْتَظِرُ الرَّحْمَةَ، وَعَدُوُّنا وَمُبْغِضُنَا يَنْتَظِرُ السَّطْوَةَ.

[About the Descendants of the Holy Prophet :] We are the tree of prophethood, staying place of (Divine) Message, descending place of angels, mines of knowledge and the sources of wisdom. Our supporter and lover awaits mercy while our enemy and he who hates us awaits wrath.

ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام) في أركان الدين

About Islam

[الإسلام] إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ مَا تَوَسَّلَ بِهِ الْمُتَوَسِّلُونَ إِلَى اللهِ سُبْحَانَهُ: الاْيمَانُ بِهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ، وَالْجِهادُ فِي سَبِيلِهِ فَإِنَّهُ ذِرْوَةُ الاْسْلاَمِ، وَكَلِمَةُ الاْخْلاَصِ فَإِنَّهَا الْفِطْرَةُ، وَإِقَامُ الْصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّهَا الْمِلَّةُ، وَإِيتَاهُ الزَّكَاةِ فَإِنَّهَا فَرِيضَةٌ وَاجِبَةٌ، وَصَوْمُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَإِنَّهُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ الْعِقَاب، وَحَجُّ الْبَيْتِ وَاعْتِمارُهُ فَإِنَّهُمَا يَنْفِيَانِ الْفَقْرَ وَيَرْحَضَانِ الذَّنْبَ، وَصِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ فَإِنَّهَا مَثْرَاةٌ فِي الْمَالِ وَمَنْسَأَةٌ في الاْجَلِ، وَصَدَقَةُ السِّرِّ فَإِنَّهَا تُكَفِّرُ الْخَطِيئَةَ، وَصَدَقَةُ الْعَلاَنِيَةِ فَإِنَّهَا تَدْفَعُ مِيتَةَ السُّوءِ، وَصَنَائِعُ الْمَعْرُوفِ فَإِنَّهَا تَقِي مَصَارعَ الْهَوَانِ.

The best means by which seekers of nearness to Allāh, the Glorified, the Exalted, seek nearness, is the belief in Him and His Prophet, fighting in His cause, for it is the high pinnacle of Islam, and (to believe) in the kalimatu’l-‘ikhlas (the expression of Divine purification) for it is just nature and the establishment of prayer for it is (the basis of) community, payment of zakat (Islamic tax) for it is a compulsory obligation, fasting for the month of Ramadan for it is the shield against chastisement, the performance of hail of the House of Allāh (i.e. Ka‘bah) and its ‘umrah (other than annual visit) for these two acts banish poverty and wash away sins, regard for kinship for it increases wealth and length of life, to giving alms secretly for it covers shortcomings, giving alms openly for it protects against a bad death and extending benefits (to people) for it saves from positions of disgrace.

أَفِيضُوا في ذِكْرِ اللهِ فَأنَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الذِّكْرِ، وَارْغَبُوا فِيَما وَعَدَ المُتَّقِينَ فَإِنَّ وَعْدَهُ أَصْدَقُ الْوَعْدِ، وَاقْتَدُوا بِهَدْيِ نَبِيِّكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ أَفْضَلُ الْهَدْيِ، وَاسْتَنُّوا بِسُنَّتِهِ فَإِنَّهَا أهْدَى السُّنَنِ.

Go ahead with the remembrance of Allāh for it is the best remembrance, and long for that which He has promised to the pious, for His promise is the most true promise. Tread the course of the Prophet for it is the most distinguished course. Follow the sunnah of the Prophet for it is the most right of all behaviours.

[فضل القرآن :] وَتَعَلَّمُوا الْقرْآن فَإِنَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْحَدِيثِ، وَتَفَقَّهُوا فِيهِ فَإِنَّهُ رَبِيعُ الْقُلُوبِ، وَاسْتَشْفُوا بِنُورِهِ فَإِنَّهُ شِفَاءُ الصُّدُورِ، وَأَحْسِنُوا تِلاَوَتَهُ فَإِنَّهُ أَنْفَعُ الْقَصَصِ. وَإِنَّ الْعَالِمَ الْعَامِلَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمِهِ كَالْجَاهِلِ الْحَائِرِ الَّذِي لاَ يَسْتَفِيقُ مِنْ جَهْلِهِ، بَلِ الْحُجَّةُ عَلَيْهِ أَعْظَمُ، وَالْحَسْرَةُ لَهُ أَلْزَمُ، وَهُوَ عَنْدَ اللهِ أَلْوَمُ .

Learn the Qur’ān for it is the fairest of discourses and understand it thoroughly for it is the best blossoming of hearts. Seek cure with its light for it is the cure for hearts. Recite it beautifully for it is the most beautiful narration. Certainly, a scholar who acts not according to his knowledge is like the off-headed ignorant who does not find relief from his ignorance; but on the learned the plea of Allāh is greater and grief more incumbent, and he is more blameworthy before Allāh.

ومن خطبة له (عليه السلام) في ذم الدنيا

Caution about this world

أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي أُحَذِّرُكُمُ الدُّنْيَا، فَإِنَّهَا حُلْوَةٌ خَضِرِةٌ، حُفَّتْ بِالشَّهَوَاتِ، وَتَحَبَّبَتْ بِالْعَاجِلَةِ، وَرَاقَتْ بِالْقَلِيلِ، وَتَحَلَّتْ بِالاْمَالِ، وَتَزَيَّنَتْ بِالْغُرُورِ، لاَ تَدُومُ حَبْرَتُهَا، وَلاَ تُؤْمَنُ فَجْعَتُهَا، غَرَّارَةٌ ضَرَّارَةٌ، حَائِلَةٌ زَائِلَةٌ، نَافِدَةٌ بَائِدَةٌ، أَكَّالَةٌ غَوَّالَةٌ، لاَ تَعْدُوـ إِذَا تَنَاهَتْ إِلَى أُمْنِيَّةِ أَهْلِ الرَّغْبَةِ فِيهَا والرضى بِهَا ـ أَنْ تَكُونَ كَمَا قَالَ اللهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وتعالى: ﴿كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ ۗ وَكَانَ اللهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا﴾.

So now, certainly I frighten you from this world for it is sweet and green, surrounded by lusts, and liked for its immediate enjoyments. It excites wonder with small things, is ornamented with (false) hopes and decorated with deception. Its rejoicings do not last and its afflictions cannot be avoided. It is deceitful, harmful, changing, perishable, exhaustible, liable to destruction, eating away and destructive. When it reaches the extremity of desires of those who incline towards it and feel happy with it, the position is just what Allah the Glorified, says (in the Qur’ān): “. . . like the water which send We down from heaven, and the herbage of the earth mingleth with it, then it becometh dry stubble which the winds scatter; for Allah over all things hath power.” (18:45)