Nahjul Balaaghah about Heaven

Nahjul Balaaghahabout Heaven

By A.S. Hashim. MD

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Nahjul Balaaghah about Heaven

Supplication

الرحيم الرحمن الله بـســـم

In the Name of God,

Lord of Mercy and

Lord of Grace


Nahjul Balaaghah

Nahjul Balaaghah, a highly valued book, consists of:– 254 sermons, – 48 letters, and – 212 sayings of Imam Ali

Nahjul Balaaghah is unique to Imam Ali

None of the Sahaaba was ever able to produce anything like it:1. neither in substance

2. nor in literary eloquence.

No wonder Ali was referred to as:1. Sayyid al-Bulaghaa' (Pinnacle of Literary Expression) and

2. Sayyid al-Fu'qahaa, (Pinnacle of the Jurisprudents)


References about Heaven

Nahjul Balaaghah contains 13 references about Heaven, some of which appear here

The quotes appear in various sermons, – said at variable occasions and – about different subjects.

1. The Arabic quotes are from the book of Nahjul Balaaghah, by Dr. Subhi Al-Salih, and so is the numbering of the sermons and pages, 1st Edition, Beirut 1967.

2. The Number of the sermons may differ by a factor of 1 in other volumes of Nahjul Balaaghah

3. The references are quotes by Abd al-Zahra' al-Husayni in vols. I & IV of his work (see Al-Islam.org, internet)


Time Element

The majority of Ali's sayings and speeches were stated:– During his Khilaafah when in Kufa, – At Different Places– At Different Occasions– Often at Khutba of Jumu’ah


In Sermon 28, Page 71 Ali: about Heaven #1

See next slide pleaseOther sources:

1. Al-Mufid, al-'Irshad,* 138;

2. al-Jahiz, al-Bayan, I, 171;

3. al-Baqillani, I`jaz, 222;

4. al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 35;

5. Ibn Àbd Rabbih, al-Ìqd, II, 365;

6. Ibn Qutaybah, Ùyun, II, 235;

7. al-Masùdi, Muruj, II, 413;

8. al-Thaqafi, al-Gharat, II, 633.


In Sermon 28, Ali: about Heaven #1

Beware, for you are in days of goodly anticipation, but eventually followed by death, ─So, him with the good works in these days, his good deeds would make him gain, and his death won’t harm him. But he who is short of good works, his deeds are in a loss and his death would surely harm him.

Beware and conduct yourselves during the period of hope just as you would during the period of fright. I have not seen him who covets Paradise assured asleep nor the one daunted from Hell to be at rest asleep.

Beware, he whom the Right does not benefit, the Wrong will suffer him harm, and he whom guidance does not make him gain, misguidance will lead him to the troublesome and bad…..

م ن� م#ل# أ 'ام #ي أ في +م� 'ك و#إ ن # #ال أ

في ع#م ل# ف#م#ن� ، #ج#ل3 أ ائ ه و#ر#ل ه #ج# أ ح+ض+ور �ل# ق#ب م#له

# أ 'ام #ي أه+ ر� #ضر+ ي #م� و#ل +ه+، ع#م#ل #ف#ع#ه+ ن ف#ق#د�

'ام ; #ي أ في ق#ص'ر# و#م#ن� +ه+ ل ج## أ

ف#ق#د� ل ه ، #ج# أ ح+ض+ور �ل# ق#ب م#ل ه # أ

+ه+، ل ج## أ ه+ و#ض#ر' #ه+، ع#م#ل ر# خ#س

#م#ا ك #ة غ�ب الر' ف ي +وا ف#اع�م#ل # #ال أ#و#إ نFي ال

# أ #ة ، ه�ب الر' ف ي #ع�م#ل+ون# ت # و#ال +ه#ا، ط#ال ب #ام# ن 'ة ن #الج# ك ر#

# أ #م� ل+ه#ا، ه#ار ب #ام# ن 'ار #الن ك

Nالحق �ف#ع+ه+ #ن #ي ال م#ن� 'ه+ و#إن # #ال أال و#م#ن� ، #اط ل+ الب ره+ #ض�ر+ يب ه Nج+ر# ي اله+د#ى ب ه يستقم

+م� 'ك و#إ ن # #ال أ د#ى�، الر' إ ل#ى #ل+ الض'ال+م� �ت و#د+ل ل ، ب الظ'ع�ن +م� ت +م ر� أ ق#د

. اد# الز' ع#لى




1. Al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 146;

2. al-Qudaì, Dustur, 59,

3. al-'Amidi, Ghurar;

4. al-Wasiti, Ùyun al-hikam;

5. Abu Nuàym, Hilyah, I, 77;

6. Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, I, 132 (b.d.d), II, 287 (à.a.z).



He strides the best ways to the coveted target, and follows the shortest route to secure his purpose, conceit does not twist his thinking, nor the ambiguous blinds his vision. Thus, he is:

Ecstatic with the good tidings, comfy with its gift, sleeping with peace of mind, passing his days happily: ─He passes the pathway of this world in praiseworthy manner, reaches the next world by virtues, hastens towards virtue out of fear for vice, and he moves briskly during this short life. He seeks eternal good by avoiding evil, today he is mindful of tomorrow, keeping the future in view.

Suffice it Paradise is the reward and hell is a punishment. Allah is the best Avenger and Helper and the Quran is the best argument and confronter.

إ ل#ى ال ك# الم#س# #ق�ص#د# أ ل#ك# و#س# ; �ه+ #ف�ت ل ت #م� و#ل �م#ط�ل+وب ال 'ه�ج الن

#ع�م# ت #م� و#ل ور ، �غ+ر+ ال #ت+ ف#ات ال+�م+ور ، اال #ب ه#ات+ ت م+ش� �ه #ي ع#ل

ى، ر# +ش� �ب ال ح#ة ب ف#ر� a ظ#اف را�ع#م #ن أ في Nع�م#ى، الن اح#ة و#ر#

. #ر# ع#ب ق#د� #و�م ه ي و#آم#ن #و�م ه ، نو#ق#د'م# ،a ح#م يدا #ة ل �ع#اج ال #ر# م#ع�ب

م ن� #اد#ر# و#ب ،a ع يدا س# #ة ل �ج اال اد# ز#م#ه#ل، ف ي �م#ش# ك

# و#أ و#ج#ل،ع#ن� و#ذ#ه#ب# ط#ل#ب، ف ي غ ب# و#ر#

#و�م ه ي ف ي اق#ب# و#ر# ه#ر#ب،م#ام#ه+

# أ a ق+د+ما #ظ#ر# و#ن .غ#د#ه+،

،a #و#اال و#ن a #و#ابا ث 'ة ن �ج# ب ال #ف#ى ف#ك ! a #اال و#و#ب a ع ق#ابا 'ار #الن ب #فى و#ك

! a #ص يرا و#ن a #ق ما �ت م+ن ب الله #ف#ى و#ك a ح#جيجا #اب ب الك ت #ف#ى و#ك

a و#خ#ص يما




1. Al-Kulayni, Usul al-Kafi, I, 139;

2. al-'Amidi, Ghurar, 232, 235.



(Of the society) The ambitious has risen, the aspiring has sparkled, the striving has appeared, and the crooked has become straight.

Allah has replaced one people with another and one day with another. We awaited these changes as the famine-stricken awaits the rain.

Certainly the Imams are the vicegerents of Allah over His creatures and they are the means to make the creatures know Him.

No one will enter Paradise except he who knows them and knows Him (Allah), and no one will enter Hell except he who denies them and denies Him

#م#ع# و#ل ط#ال ع3، #ع# ط#ل ف#ق#د�#د#ل# و#اع�ت ، #ئ ح3 ال #ح# و#ال م ع3، # ال

، م#ائ ل3ب ق#و�م الله+ �د#ل# #ب ت و#اس�

،a #و�ما ي #وم و#ب ي ،a ق#و�ما�ت ظ#ار# ان #ر# �غ ي ال #ا ن #ظ#ر� �ت و#ان

. �م#ط#ر# ال م+ج�د ب ـ� الالله ق+و'ام+ #ئ م'ة+ اال 'م#ا و#إ ن

ف#اؤ+ه+ و#ع+ر# �ق ه ، ل خ# ع#ل#ى#اد ه ، ب ع ع#ل#ى

م#ن� ' إ ال 'ة# ن �ج# ال #د�خ+ل+ ي # ال # و#ال ف+وه+، و#ع#ر# ف#ه+م� ع#ر#

من� ' إ ال 'ار# الن #د�خ+ل+ ي. وه+ #ر+ �ك ن

# و#أ ه+م� #ر# �ك ن# أ




1. Al-Zamakhshari, Rabi`, I;

2. Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, I, 27, II, 140 (d.w.r), III, 238 (à.s.l.j).



If you cast your mind's eye at what Paradise is, your heart would shun the delicacies of this world as displayed, be it its desires, pleasures, or the beauties of its scenes, and

You would be at a loss in the rustling of trees whose roots lie hidden in the mounds of musk on the banks of its rivers, and in the attraction of the bunches of fresh pearls in its branches, and in the appearance of special fruits from under their leaves.

You pick these fruits with no strain, as they come down at the wish of their pickers. Pure honey and safe wine will be served to those who settle down in the courtyards of its palaces.

و# #ح� ن �ب ك# ق#ل #ص#ر ب ب �ت# م#ي ر# #و� ف#لف#ت� #ع#ز# ل �ه#ا م ن ل#ك# +وص#ف+ ي م#ا

إ ل#ى +خ�ر ج# أ م#ا #د#ائ ع ب ع#ن� #ف�س+ك# ن#ذ'ات ه#ا، و#ل ه#و#ات ه#ا ش# م ن� #ا �ي الدNن

#اظ ر ه#ا، م#ن خ#ار ف و#ز#ف ي �ر �ف ك ب ال #ذ#ه ل#ت� و#ل

#ت� Fب غ+ي ج#ار #ش� أ اص�ط ف#اق ك �م س� ال #ان �ب +ث ك ف ي وق+ه#ا ع+ر+

و#ف ي �ه#ار ه#ا، ن# أ و#اح ل س# ع#ل#ى

ط�ب الر' +ؤ Nؤ�ل الل #ائ س #ب ك #ع�ل يق تال يج ه#ا ع#س# #ان ه#ا، ف ي ف�ن

# و#أ aل ف#ة# ت م+خ� Fثمار ال ت ل�ك# +وع و#ط+ل

�م#ام ه#ا، ك# أ غ+ل+ف ف ي

�تي ف#تأ #لNف #ك ت �ر غ#ي م ن� #ى +ج�ن ت+ط#اف+ و#ي #ن يه#ا، ت م+ج� #ة �ي م+ن ع#ل#ى

ق+ص+ور ه#ا #ة #ف�ن ي أ ف ي ال ه#ا +ز' ن ع#ل#ى�خ+م+ور و#ال �م+ص#ف'ق#ة ، ال ال #�ع�س# ب اال

و'ق#ة . �م+ر# ال




1. Al-Zamakhshari, Rabi`, I;

2. Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, I, 27, II, 140 (d.w.r), III, 238 (à.s.l.j).



They are a people whom honor has always engulfed them till they were made to settle in the house of eternal abode, and they rested from the journeying weight of this world.

O' listener! If you but busy your heart to advance towards these splendid scenes which will rush towards you,

Then your heart will leap with eagerness for them, and be eagerly prepared to seek the company of the ones in the graves, hastening towards them.

We implore Allah, by His mercy, to include us and you to be among those who strive with their hearts for the abodes of the virtuous.

ام#ة+ #ر# �ك ال ل #ز# ت #م� ل ق#و�م3د#ار# Nوا ل ح# 'ى ح#ت به م� ##ماد#ى #ت ت

#ة# +ق�ل ن +وا #م ن و#أ ار ، �ق#ر# الف#ار . #�س� اال

Nه#ا ي# أ #ك# �ب ق#ل غ#ل�ت# ش# #و� ف#ل

م#ا إل#ى �و+ص+ول ب ال #م ع+ ت �م+س� ال�ك# ت ل م ن� #يك# ع#ل #ه�ج+م+ ي

�م+ون ق#ة ، ال #اظ ر �م#ن ال a و�قا ش# #ف�س+ك# ن ه ق#ت� #ز# ل

م ن� #ح#م'ل�ت# #ت و#ل �ه#ا، #ي إ لة م+ج#او#ر# إ ل#ى هذ#ا م#ج�ل س ي . ب ه#ا a ت ع�ج#اال اس� +ور �ق+ب ال #ه�ل أم م'ن� +م� 'اك و#إ ي الله+ #ا #ن ع#ل ج##از ل م#ن إ لى �ب ه ب ق#ل ع#ى #س� ي

. ح�م#ت ه ب ر# ار �ر# �ب اال




1. Al-Tabari, Ta'rikh, V, 157, events of 35 H.;

2. al-Radi, al-Khasa'is, 87.


In Sermon 167, Ali: about Heaven #6Mind your obligations, and fulfill them

purely for Allah, and they will take you to Paradise. Allah has made certain things unlawful and made the good things lawful. He has made paying regard to Muslims as the highest of all regards, and placed the rights of Muslims not unlike devotion to Himself and His oneness.

A Muslim is he from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe, except in matters of truth. It is not lawful then to injure a Muslim except when it is obligatory

Hasten to matter peculiar to every one; and that is death. Verily, people had left ahead of you while the Day of Judgment is pulling you. Remain good, and follow them, for your first are in wait for the sake of the last.

! #دNوه#ا أ �ف#رائ ض# ال ائ ض# �ف#ر# ال . إن' 'ة ن �ج# ال إ ل#ى +م� +ؤ#دFك ت الله إل#ى

�ر# غ#ي a اما ح#ر# م# ح#ر' #عال#ى ت الله#�ر# غ#ي a #ال ح#ال #ح#ل' و#أ م#ج�ه+ول،

م#ة# ح+ر� و#ف#ض'ل# م#د�خ+ول،Fه#ا، +ل ك م �ح+ر# ال ع#ل#ى ل م �م+س� ال

يد 'وح و#الت #ص ب اال �خ�ال د' و#ش#ف ي ل م ين# �م+س� ال ح+ق+وق#

م#ع#اق د ه#ا، ل م# س# م#ن� ل م+ �م+س� ف#ال

' إ ال #د ه و#ي ان ه ل س# م ن� ل م+ون# �م+س� الل م �م+س� ال #ذ#ى أ Nح ل# ي # و#ال ،Fح#ق� ب ال

. #ج ب+ ي #م#ا ب ' إ الو#خ#اص'ة# �ع#ام'ة ال م�ر#

# أ وا #اد ر+ بف#إن' ، �م#و�ت+ ال و#ه+و# +م� #ح#د ك أ

اع#ة# الس' و#إ ن' ، +م� م#ام#ك# أ 'اس# الن

#خ#ف'ف+وا ت ، +م� �ف ك ل خ# م ن� +م� #ح�د+وك ت+م� و'ل ك

# ب أ #ظ#ر+ �ت +ن ي 'م#ا ف#إن �ح#ق+وا، #ل ت. +م� ك آخ ر+




1. Al-Zamakhshari, Rabi`, I, 53;

2. Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, V, 299;

3. al-Bahrani, Tafsir al-burhan, I, 9, from a source other than Nahj.



Know that for him who heeds Allah, Allah would ease his distress of seditions, gift him light out of darkness, keep him ever in what he wishes, and grant him a position of honor: ─in the dwelling He made for Himself, whose shade is His throne, its light is joy, its visitors are His angels, and its companions are His Prophets.

Hasten then toward the return and be ahead of your demise by works of goodness; For shortly, the expectations of the people will be cut short and death overtakes them, thus repentance would be closed for them.

You are still in a place to which those who were before you have been wishing to return…..

الله# 'ق #ت ي م#ن� 'ه+ ن# أ #م+وا و#اع�ل

، #ن �ف ت ال م ن# a جا م#خ�ر# #ه+ ل #ج�ع#ل� ي#ما ف ي Fد�ه+ ل +خ# و#ي #م ، الظNل م ن# a +ورا و#ن

�ز ل# م#ن �ه+ �ز ل +ن و#ي ه+، #ف�س+ ن #ه#ت� ت اش��د#ه+، ن ع ام#ة #ر# �ك د#ار ال ف ي

ه+، ش+ ع#ر� Nه#ا ظ ل ه ، #ف�س ل ن #ع#ه#ا اص�ط#ن+ه+، #ت #ئ ك م#ال ه#ا و'ار+ و#ز+ #ه+، ت #ه�ج# ب ه#ا +ور+ و#ن

. +ه+ ل س+ ر+ ف#ق#اؤ+ه#ا و#ر+اب ق+وا و#س# �م#ع#اد#، ال وا #اد ر+ ف#ب

#ن� أ +وش ك+ ي 'اس# الن ف#إ ن' ، �ج#ال# االه#ق#ه+م+ #ر� و#ي ، #�م#ل+ اال ب ه م+ �ق#ط ع# #ن ي

#ة ، 'و�ب الت #اب+ ب �ه+م� ع#ن د' +س# و#ي ، #�ج#ل+ اال#ل# أ س# م#ا �ل م ث ف ي +م� ت #ح� ص�ب

# أ ف#ق#د� ، +م� #ك �ل ق#ب #ان# ك م#ن� ج�ع#ة# الر' �ه #ي إ ل

م ن� ف#ر س# ع#ل#ى ب يل، س# +و #ن ب +م� �ت #ن و#أ+م� �ت +وذ ن أ و#ق#د ، +م� ب د#را ك �س#ت� #ي ل د#ار

ف يه#ا +م� ت +م ر� و#أ ، ت ح#ال ب االر� م نه#ااد . ب الز'




1. Al-'Amidi, Ghurar, 87, 180, 245;

2. Ibn Abi al-Hadid, Sharh, see Àbd al-Zahra', III, 28.



I advise you, O' servants of Allah, to heed Allah because heeding Him is His right over you, and through it, it creates your right over Him. Seek Allah's help in Taq’wa to assist you by it on meeting Him.

Fearing of Allah is a protection and a shield, and for the Hereafter it is the road to Heaven. The Heeding path is without blemish and its implementer truly gains, and the one who holds to it should closely guard it.

Heeding Allah had presented itself to the people who had already passed and to those coming after for their need to it for the morrow (Day of Judgment) ─when Allah will revive His creation again, take back what He has given, and take into account of what He has bestowed.

الله #اد# ب ع +م� +وص يك أ Nح#ق 'ه#ا ف#إ ن الله ، #ق�و#ى ب ت#ة+ ب �م+وج و#ال ، +م� �ك #ي ع#ل الله #ن� و#أ ، +م� ح#ق'ك الله ع#ل#ىب الله ، �ه#ا #ي ع#ل +وا #ع ين ت #س� ت

الله ، ع#ل#ى ب ه#ا +وا #ع ين ت #س� و#ت#و�م �ي ال ف ي 'ق�و#ى �ت ال ف#إ ن'غ#د و#ف ي 'ة+، ن �ج+ و#ال ز+ �ح ر� ال

'ة ، ن �ج# ال إ ل#ى الط'ر يق++ه#ا ال ك و#س# ، و#اض ح3 +ه#ا #ك ل م#س�

ح#اف ظ3، #و�د#ع+ه#ا ت و#م+س� ، ابح3 ر#ه#ا #ف�س# ن aع#ار ض#ة ح� �ر# #ب ت #م� ل

�م#اض ين# ال +�م#م اال ع#ل#ى�ه#ا #ي إ ل ت ه م� ل ح#اج# �غ#اب رين# و#ال

م#ا الله+ #ع#اد# أ إ ذ#ا ،a غ#دا#ع�ط#ى، أ م#ا #خ#ذ# و#أ �د#ى، #ب أ

د#ى س�# أ ع#م'ا #ل# أ .و#س#




1. Kitab Sulaym ibn Qays, 211;

2. al-Saduq, al-'Amali, 340;

3. Ibn Qutaybah, Ùyun, II, 352;

4. al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 159;

5. Sibt ibn al-Jawzi, Tadhkirah, 148;

6. Ibn Talhah, Matalib, I, 151;

7. al-Karajiki, Kanz, 31;

8. al-Masùdi, Muruj, II, 420. Àbd al-Zahra' mentions 8 commentaries on this famous khutbah al-Qasiàh.



The God-fearing in it are the people of distinction: They speak to the point, dress modestly, and walk not arrogantly.

They close their eyes to the unlawful, and devote their ears to knowledge of good use to them. They remain in the time of trials as though they remain in times of ease.

Were it not for their ordained span of life, their spirits would have instantly left their bodies, for such is their eagerness for the reward, and the fear of torment.

Seated in their heart is the Might of the Creator, so, everything else to them appears small. Thus to them as if they visualize and enjoy Paradise, and the torment of Hell to be avoided.

#ه�ل+ أ ه+م� ف يه#ا 'ق+ون# �م+ت ف#ال: �ف#ض#ائ ل ال

ه+م+ #س+ �ب و#م#ل ، الص'و#اب+ �ط ق+ه+م+ م#ن. 'و#اض+ع+ الت +ه+م+ ي و#م#ش� �ق�ت ص#اد+، اال

الله+ م# ح#ر' ع#م'ا ه+م� �ص#ار# #ب أ غ#ضNواع#ل#ى م#اع#ه+م� س�

# أ و#و#ق#ف+وا ، �ه م� #ي ع#ل. #ه+م� ل 'اف ع الن �م �ع ل ال

#ء #ال �ب ال ف ي �ه+م� م ن ه+م� �ف+س+ #ن أ ل#ت� #ز# ناء خ# الر' ف ي ل#ت� #ز# ن 'ت ي #ال .ك

الله+ #ب# #ت ك 'ذ ي ال #�ج#ل+ اال # ال #و� لف ي و#اح+ه+م� ر�

# أ #ق ر' ت #س� ت #م� ل �ه م+ #ي ع#ل a و�قا ش# �ن، ع#ي ف#ة# ط#ر� اد ه م� #ج�س# أ

. �ع ق#اب ال م ن# a و#خ#و�فا ، 'و#اب الث إ ل#ىه م� �ف+س أن ف ي �خ#ال ق+ ال ع#ظ+م#

ف#ه+م� ، +ن ه م� ع�ي# أ ف ي #ه+ د+ون م#ا ف#ص#غ+ر#

ف يه#ا ف#ه+م� آه#ا، ر# ق#د� #م#ن� ك 'ة+ ن �ج# و#الق#د� #م#ن� ك 'ار+ و#الن و#ه+م� ، #ع'م+ون# م+ن

+ون# م+ع#ذ'ب ف يه#ا ف#ه+م� آه#ا، ر#


Be in Allah’s Care

Thank you and May God Bless you.

Dr. A.S. Hashim

Documents

Nahjul Balaaghah about Heaven