Nahjul Balaaghah about Life

Nahjul Balaaghahabout Life

By A.S. Hashim. MD

Nahjul Balaaghah about Earthly Life

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 Earthly Life

Nahjul Balaaghah contains 27 references about Earthly Life, 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 83, Page 108 Ali: about Life #1

See next slide pleaseOther sources:

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).


In Sermon 83, Ali: about Life #1

In truth this world presents a muddy source of unpalatable drink. Attractive to the eye but destructive within, it is like a vanishing light, a fleeting reflection, and a frail support.

When he begins to like this world after scorning it and feel at ease he who had spurned it, then in joy it displays its pleasures and it entraps him in its trap,

It leads him to the rope of death, to the narrow grave and scary abode to show him his place of stay and the consequence of his deeds.

So would a generation after generation, neither death stops from cutting them asunder nor do the survivors keep aloof from committing of sins….

د#غ! ر% *ه%ا، ب ر% م%ش+ #ق! ن ر% %ا +ي الد0ن #ن2 ف%إه%ا، +ظ%ر* م%ن #ق* *ون ي ع*ه%ا، ر% م%ش+

#ق* *وب ، و%ي #ل! ائ ح% ور! غ*ر* ه%ا، %ر* ب م%خ+%اد! ن و%س# ، #ل! زائ Dو%ظ#ل ، آف#ل! و%ض%و+ء!

، #ل! م%ائه%ا، %اف#ر* ن #س% %ن أ #ذ%ا إ 2ى ت ح%

ه%ا، #ر* %اك ن ن2% ق%م%ص%ت+ و%اط+م%أ

#ه%ا، *ل ب ح+% #أ ب %ص%ت+ و%ق%ن #ه%ا، ل ج* ر+

% #أ ب%ق%ت# %ع+ل و%أ ه*م#ه%ا، س+

% #أ ب %ق+ص%د%ت+ و%أ2ة# #ي +م%ن ال و+ه%اق%

% أ ء% +م%ر+ ال ، +م%ض+ج%ع# ال +ك% ض%ن #لى إ %ه* ل #د%ة^ ق%ائ

%ة# %ن وم*ع%اي ، ج#ع# +م%ر+ ال ة# و%و%ح+ش% ، +ع%م%ل# ال %و%اب# و%ث ، cم%ح%ل ـ+ ال

#ع%ق+ب# ب +خ%ل%ف* ال #ك% %ذل و%كاما، #ر% ت اخ+ 2ة* #ي +م%ن ال #ع* *ق+ل %ت ال ، ل%ف# الس2

^ اما #ر% ت اج+ %اق*ون% +ب ال ع%و#ي %ر+ %ي ……و%ال




1. Al-Saduq, Maàni, 184;

2. al-Saduq, Man la yahduruh, I, 270;

3. al-Tusi, al-'Amali, II, 50;

4. al-Tabarsi, Mishkat, 107.



O' creatures of Allah! keep off this world which soon would leave you even though you dislike its departure. It is a world that makes you old though you like to keep young. Your similitude to it is like a traveler who has gone a distance, thus fulfilled his journey, or aimed to reach a goal which he finally had reached.

How short is the distance to the goal if one heads towards it and reaches it. And how transient it is for one who has only a day to reach it but cannot exceed. It is a swift driver that drives him in this world till he departs from it.

So do not hanker after worldly pride and awards, and do not be enamored by its attractions and beauties, nor wail over its damages and misfortunate …

ف+ض# #الر2 ب ع#باد%الله# *م+ *وص#يك أ#ن+ و%إ *م+ %ك ل %ة# 2ار#ك الت %ا +ي الد0ن #هذه# ل

%ة# #ي +ل +م*ب و%ال %ه%ا، ك %ر+ ت 0وا ب *ح# ت %م+ ل0ون% ب *ح# ت *م+ +ت *ن ك #ن+ و%إ *م+ ام#ك %#ج+س% ال

*ه%ا %ل و%م%ث *م+ *ك %ل م%ث 2م%ا #ن ف%إ %ج+د#يد%ه%ا، ت2ه*م+ ن

% %أ ف%ك ^ #يال ب س% *وا %ك ل س% ف+ر %س% ك ^ %ما ع%ل م0وا

% و%أ ق%ط%ع*وه*، ق%د+%غ*وه*، %ل ب ق%د+ 2ه*م+ ن

% %أ ف%ك#ل%ى إ م*ج+ر#ي ـ+ ال ع%س%ى %م+ و%كح%ت2ى +ه%ا %ي #ل إ %ج+ر#ي% ي %ن+ أ %ة# +غ%اي ال

*ون%! %ك ي %ن+ أ ع%س%ى و%م%ا *غ%ه%ا +ل %ب ي%ع+د*وه*، ي % ال %و+م! ي %ه* ل م%ن+ %ق%اء* بف#ي %ح+د*وه* ي #يث! ث ح% و%ط%ال#ب!

! *ف%ار#ق%ه%ا ي 2ى ت ح% %ا *ي الد0ن%ا +ي الد0ن cع#ز ف#ي وا %اف%س* %ن ت % ف%ال#ه%ا %ت %ز#ين ب *وا ب %ع+ج% ت % و%ال و%ف%خ+ر#ه%ا،

م#ن+ ع*وا %ج+ز% ت % و%ال %ع#يم#ه%ا، و%نه%ا، *ؤ+س# و%ب #ه%ا ائ …ض%ر2




1. Al-Kulayni, Rawdah, 139; 2. al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 143;3. al-Kulayni, Usul al-Kafi, II, 225;4. Ibn Qutaybah, Ùyun, II, 352;5. al-Zamakhshari, Rabi`, I, 219;6. Ibn Talhah, Matalib, I, 202;7. al-Qadi al-Qudaì, Dustur, 48;8. al-Khuzaì, al-Fitan, see (9)9. Ibn Tawus, al-Malahim, 27;10. Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, V, 131.



O' people! Look at the world as like those who renounce it, who turn away from it. By Allah, the world demolishes its serene inhabitant and causes grief to the confidant affluent. What goes away from it will not return and what is likely to come about cannot be anticipated or foreseen.

The world’s joy is muddled with grief. Herein men's hardiness inclines to weakness and impotence. Be not enticed by what is tempting, for little of that share would rest with you.

May Allah bless him who ponders and takes lesson, since he would achieve enlightenment. What is present in this world would shortly vanish, while what is to exist for the next world would be permanent.

] #لى] إ وا +ظ*ر* ان 2اس*، الن 0ه%ا ي% أ

ف#يه%ا، اه#د#ين% الز2 %ظ%ر% ن %ا +ي الد0ن ; و%الله# 2ه%ا #ن ف%إ +ه%ا ع%ن الص2اد#ف#ين%

2او#ي% الث *ز#يل* ت #يل ق%ل ع%م2اف% +ر% +م*ت ال %ف+ج%ع* و%ت ، اك#ن% الس2

+ه%ا م%ن %و%ل2ى ت م%ا ج#ع* %ر+ ي % ال ، +م#ن% اال+ه%ا م#ن آت ه*و% م%ا ى *د+ر% ي % و%ال ، %ر% د+ب

% ف%أ. %ظ%ر% +ت *ن ف%ي

وب! م%ش* ه%ا ور* ر* ، س* ن# +ح*ز+ #ال بالض2ع+ف# #ل%ى إ ف%يه%ا ج%ال# cالر %د* ل و%ج%

م%ا ة* +ر% %ث ك *م+ 2ك ن %غ*ر2 ي ف%ال ، +و%ه+ن# و%ال*م+ *ك ب %ص+ح% ي م%ا 2ة# #ق#ل ل ف#يه%ا *م+ *ك ب *ع+ج# ي

+ه%ا. م#ن ، %ر% %ب ف%اع+ت 2ر% %ف%ك ت ^ أ ام+ر% الله* ح#م% ر%

ه*و% م%ا ن2% %أ ف%ك ، +ص%ر% ب

% ف%أ %ر% %ب واع+ت%م+ ل #يل ق%ل ع%ن+ %ا +ي الدDن م#ن% #ن! %ائ كم#ن% #ن! %ائ ك ه*و% م%ا ن2

% %أ و%ك ، *ن+ %ك ي ، ل+ %ز% ي %م+ ل %يل ق%ل ع%م2ا ة# +خ#ر% اال




1. Al-Kulayni, Rawdah, 139; 2. al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 143;3. al-Kulayni, Usul al-Kafi, II, 225;4. Ibn Qutaybah, Ùyun, II, 352;5. al-Zamakhshari, Rabi`, I, 219;6. Ibn Talhah, Matalib, I, 202;7. al-Qadi al-Qudaì, Dustur, 48;8. al-Khuzaì, al-Fitan, see (9)9. Ibn Tawus, al-Malahim, 27;10. Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, V, 131.



A learned man is he who knows his worth. Suffice it for a man to remain ignorant if he knows not his worth.

Certainly, the most detested man with Allah is he whom Allah has left him for himself. Such a man veers from the right path, moves but without a guide.

When such a man is called to the cultivation of this world he is ready and active, but when called to cultivate for the next world he is tardy.

As though what he is ready for is obligatory upon him, but whatever he is tardy in was not required of him.

ه*، ق%د+ر% ف% ع%ر% م%ن+ #م* +ع%ال ال%ع+ر#ف% ي 2 %ال أ ^ ج%ه+ال +م%رء# #ال ب %ف%ى و%ك

ه*; ق%د+ر%#ل%ى إ ج%ال# cالر +غ%ض% %ب أ م#ن+ #ن2 و%إ

#ل%ى إ الله* %ه* 2ل و%ك +د! %ع%ب ل الله#ق%ص+د# ع%ن+ #ر! ائ ج% ه#، %ف+س# ن

#يل، د%ل +ر# %غ%ي ب #ر! ائ س% ، #يل# ب الس2%ا +ي الد0ن ث# ح%ر+ #ل%ى إ د*ع#ي% #ن+ إة# +خ#ر% اال ث# ح%ر+ #ل%ى إ أو+ ، ع%م#ل%

! ل% %س# كو%اج#ب! %ه* ل ع%م#ل% م%ا ن2

% %أ كف#يه# %ى و%ن م%ا ن2

% %أ و%ك +ه#، %ي ع%ل! +ه* ع%ن #قط! ا س%




1. Al-Marzbani, al-Muniq, see Ibn Abi al-Hadid, II, 242;

2. al-Harrani, Tuhaf, 127;

3. al-Qadi al-Qudaì, Dustur, 51;

4. Ibn Talhah, Matalib, 144;

5. Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihayah, I, 18, 25, 308;

6. al-Jahiz, al-Bayan, II, 112;

7. Ibn Qutaybah,Ùyun, II, 250.



Beware of this world, for it is sweet, luring, and lustful, and enticing for its immediate enjoyments: ─Wondrous with its small things, adorned with false hopes, and embellished with deceits.

Rejoicing in it does not last, nor from its afflictions you can be safe. This world is deceitful, harmful, forestals, perishable, exhaustible, liable to destruction, eating away and destructive. When it reaches the height of desires of those who love it and are joyous with it, the position is just what Allah Glorified, says:

(Like the water which send We down from heaven, and the herbage of the earth mingles with it, then it becomes dry stubble which the winds scatter; for Allah over all things hath power).

*م* ك *ح%ذcر* أ cي #ن ف%إ %ع+د* ب م2ا% أ

خ%ض#ر#ة!، +و%ة! ل ح* 2ه%ا #ن ف%إ %ا، +ي الد0ن%ت+ 2ب ب %ح% و%ت ، ه%و%ات# #الش2 ب ح*ف2ت+ ، #يل# +ق%ل #ال ب اق%ت+ و%ر% %ة#، ل +ع%اج# #ال ب

%ت+ 2ن ي %ز% و%ت ، +م%ال# #اال ب %ح%ل2ت+ و%تور#، +غ*ر* #ال ب

*ؤ+م%ن* ت % و%ال *ه%ا، ت +ر% ب ح% %د*وم* ت % الة!، ار% ض%ر2 ة! ار% غ%ر2 *ه%ا، ف%ج+ع%ت

%اف#د%ة! ن %ة!، #ل ائ ز% %ة! #ل ائ #د%ة!، ح% %ائ ب#ذ%ا إ %ع+د*وـ ت % ال %ة!، غ%و2ال %ة! 2ال %ك أ

%ه+ل# أ 2ة# #ي م+ن* أ #ل%ى إ %اه%ت+ %ن ت

ـ #ه%ا ب والرضى ف#يه%ا %ة# غ+ب الر2الله* ق%ال% %م%ا ك *ون% %ك ت %ن+ أ

: وتعالى %ه* ان +ح% ب س*%ء#( ما الس2 م#ن% %اه* +ن ل +ز% %ن أ %م%اء ك

ض# %+ر+ اال %ات* %ب ن #ه# ب %ل%ط% ت ف%اخ+%اح* ي cالر وه* %ذ+ر* ت ^ يما ه%ش# %ح% ص+ب

% ف%أي+ء ش% cل* ك ع%ل%ى الله* %ان% و%ك

%د#را). م*ق+ت




1. Al-'Amidi, Ghurar, 77;

2. See Ibn Abi al-Hadid, Sharh, II, 386.



This world is the final sight of the blinded who sees nothing beyond it. But the insightful mind pierces through and realizes that the real life is beyond this world. This person therefore wants to collect provision from it for the next world then exit, while the blinded one wants to get into this world to collect provision for it.

A part of the same sermon ─cautioning

Know that man gets full of any matter or weary of it except life, for he does not find pleasure in death. This is in the wisdom of the bosom of a dead heart, the sight for the blinded eye, the hearing of the deaf ear, the quenching for the thirsty, and this suffices for true contentment and safety.

%ص%ر# ب %ه%ى +ت م%ن %ا +ي الد0ن 2م%ا #ن و%إاء%ه%ا و%ر% م#م2ا +ص#ر* *ب ي % ال %+ع+م%ى، االه*، %ص%ر* ب +ف*ذ*ه%ا %ن ي %ص#ير* +ب و%ال يئا، ش%

اء%ه%ا، و%ر% الد2ار% %ن2 أ %م* %ع+ل و%ياخ#ص!، ش% +ه%ا م#ن %ص#ير* ف%الب

اخ#ص!، ش% +ه%ا %ي #ل إ %+ع+م%ى و%اال%+ع+م%ى و%اال وcد!، %ز% م*ت +ه%ا م#ن %ص#ير* +ب و%ال

. وcد! %ز% م*ت %ه%ا ل] الناس: ] عظة في منها

ي+ء ش% م#ن+ +س% %ي ل 2ه* ن% أ %م*وا و%اع+ل

+ه* م#ن %ع* ب %ش+ ي *ه* ب ص%اح# %اد* %ك و%ي 2 #ال إ%ه* ل %ج#د* ي % ال 2ه* #ن ف%إ %اة% ي +ح% ال 2 #ال إ 0ه*، %م%ل و%ي

#ك% ذل %م%ا #ن و%إ ة، اح% ر% +م%و+ت# ال ف#ي%اة! ي ح% ه#ي% 2تي ال +م%ة# +ح#ك ال %ة# +ز#ل #م%ن ب

+ن# +ع%ي #ل ل %ص%ر! و%ب ، cت# +م%ي ال +ق%ل+ب# #ل لالص2م2ـاء#، *+ذ*ن# %ال ل م+ع! و%س% %اء#، +ع%م+ي ال0ه* *ل ك %ى +غ#ن ال و%ف#يه%ا ، #لظ2م+آن# ل Dو%ر#ي

. %م%ة* ال و%الس2





2. al-Mufid, al-'Irshad, 139 as well as al-'Amali;

3. al-Tusi, al-'Amali, I, 220;

4. al-Qali, al-'Amali, II, 67.



O' people, you are the target for the arrows of death in this world: with each drinking you may choke and with every bite you may also choke.

You may get an abundance but also by foregoing another abundance: And none advances in age by a single day without taking away one day from his life. Nothing more is added to your eating unless it reduces what was before. No matter appears for him unless a matter disappearing. No new thing comes into being unless the new becomes old. No new crop comes up unless a crop has been reaped before.

Roots are a gone bye whose off-shoots we are. How can an off-shoot live after the departure of its root!

ف#ي *م+ +ت %ن أ 2م%ا #ن إ ، 2اس* الن 0ه%ا ي% أ

ف#يه# %ض#ل* +ت %ن ت غ%ر%ض! %ا +ي الد0ن هذ#ه#ق!، ر% ش% ع%ة ج%ر+ cل* ك م%ع% %ا، %اي +م%ن ال

! غ%ص%ص! +ل%ة %ك أ cل* ك و%في 2 #ال إ #ع+م%ة ن +ه%ا م#ن *ون% %ال %ن ت % ال*ع%م2ر* ي % و%ال ى، *خ+ر% أ اق# #ف#ر% ب

ع*م*ر#ه# م#ن+ ^ %و+ما ي *م+ +ك م#ن م*ع%م2ر! % و%ال #ه#، ل %ج% أ م#ن+ آخ%ر% # #ه%د+م ب 2 #ال إ 2 #ال إ #ه# +ل %ك أ ف#ي %اد%ة! ز#ي %ه* ل *ج%د2د* ت

% و%ال ق#ه#، ر#ز+ م#ن+ %ه%ا +ل ق%ب م%ا %ف%اد# %ن ب ، %ر! ث

% أ %ه* ل م%ات% 2 #ال إ %ر! ث% أ %ه* ل %ا ي %ح+ ي

%ن+ أ %ع+د% ب 2 #ال إ ج%د#يد! %ه* ل %ج%د2د* %ت ي % و%ال%ه* ل %ق*وم* ت % و%ال ج%د#يد!، %ه* ل %خ+ل%ق% ي

+ه* م#ن ق*ط* %س+ و%ت 2 #ال إ %ة! #ت %اب نم%ح+ص*ود%ة!،

%ح+ن* ن ص*ول!* أ م%ض%ت+ و%ق%د+

%ع+د% ب ع ف%ر+ %ق%اء* ب ف%م%ا وع*ه%ا، ف*ر*! #ه# ص+ل

% أ ذ%ه%اب#





2. Abu Ja`far al-'Iskafi, Naqd al-Ùthmaniyyah, see Ibn Abi al-Hadid, II, 171-173.



Know that this world which you covet and in which you are interested, which may enrages you or please you: ─It is not your permanent abode, nor the place for which you have been created, neither the one to which you have been invited.

Know that neither will it last for you nor will you live in it for good. If the pleasure of this world entices you, I warn you its evils. Give up its enticement in favor of its warning, and seduction in favor of its affront. Advance to the house to which you have been called, and turn your hearts away from the world.

Cry not like a maid over what she was deprived of. Seek the perfection of Allah's bounty over you by endurance, and obey Allah in guarding what He has asked you to guard, namely His Book

2ت#ي ال %ا +ي الد0ن هذ#ه# #ن2 و%إ % %ال أف#يه%ا، *ون% غ%ب %ر+ و%ت %ه%ا 2و+ن %م%ن %ت ت *م+ ت %ح+ ص+ب

% أ ، *م+ ض#يك *ر+ و%ت *م+ *ك *غ+ض#ب ت %ح%ت+ ص+ب

% و%أ2ذ#ي ال *م* #ك +ز#ل م%ن % و%ال ، *م+ #د%ار#ك ب +س%ت+ %ي ل

+ه#، %ي #ل إ *م+ يت د*ع# 2ذ#ي ال % و%ال %ه* ل *م+ #ق+ت ل خ* % و%ال *م+ %ك ل %ة %اق#ي #ب ب +س%ت+ %ي ل 2ه%ا #ن و%إ % %ال أ*م+ +ك ت غ%ر2 #ن+ و%إ و%ه#ي% +ه%ا، %ي ع%ل +ق%و+ن% %ب ت

ف%د%ع*وا ه%ا، ر2 ش% *م+ +ك ت ح%ذ2ر% ف%ق%د+ +ه%ا م#ن%ط+م%اع%ه%ا و%أ %ح+ذ#ير#ه%ا، #ت ل ه%ا ور% غ*ر*#ل%ى إ ف#يه%ا #ق*وا اب و%س% %خ+و#يف#ه%ا، #ت ل

+ه%ا، %ي #ل إ *م+ يت دع# 2تي ال الد2ار#+ه%ا، ع%ن *م+ #ك *وب #ق*ل ب +ص%ر#ف*وا و%ان

%+م%ة# اال #ين% ن خ% *م+ %ح%د*ك أ 2ن2 ن %خ# ي % و%ال+ه%ا، م#ن +ه* ع%ن و#ى% ز* م%ا ع%ل%ى

*م+ +ك %ي ع%ل الله# #ع+م%ة% ن #م0وا %ت ت و%اس+الله# ط%اع%ة# ع%ل%ى +ر# #الص2ب ب

م%ا ع%ل%ى م*ح%اف%ظ%ة# ـ+ و%ال. #ه# %اب #ت ك م#ن+ *م+ %ح+ف%ظ%ك ت اس+




1. -Kulayni, al-Kafi, I, 138;

2. al-Saduq, al-Tawhid, 96, 320, 324;

3. al-Saduq, al-'Amali, 205;

4. al-Mufid, al-'Irshad, 131;

5. al-Mufid, al-'Ikhtisas, 236;

6. Sibt ibn al-Jawzi, Tadhkirah, 157;

7. al-Tabarsi, al-'Ihtijaj, I, 299;

8. al-Murtada, al-'Amali, I, 103.



Then after its creation Allah will undo it, not because of being weary of it nor having difficulty in its upkeep, nor for a pleasure in that, nor for a weighty thing over Him. The length of its life does not wear Him out as to induce Him to its quick demise: ─But Allah, has maintained the world with His kindness, kept it intact with His command and perfected it with His power.

Then after being undone, Allah will create back, not for any need towards it, nor to seek assistance of any against it, nor exchange loneliness for company, nor to exchange ignorance and blindness for knowledge and search, nor from paucity and need towards wealth and plenty, nor from disgrace and lowliness towards honor and prestige.

% ال #ه%ا، +و#ين %ك ت %ع+د% ب #يه%ا *ف+ن ي ه*و% *م2 ث%ص+ر#يف#ه%ا ت ف#ي +ه# %ي ع%ل د%خ%ل% %م أ ل#س%

و%اص#ل%ة اح%ة #ر% ل % و%ال #ير#ه%ا، %د+ب و%ت+ه%ا م#ن ي+ء ش% #ق%ل# #ث ل % و%ال +ه#، %ي #ل إ

+ه#. %ي ع%ل%د+ع*و%ه* ف%ي #ه%ا %ق%ائ ب ط*ول* 0ه* *م#ل ي % ال

2ه* #ن لك #ه%ا، %ائ #ف+ن إ ع%ة# ر+ س* #ل%ى إ#ل*ط+ف#ه#، ب ه%ا 2ر% د%ب %ه* ان +ح% ب س*

%ه%ا +ق%ن ت% و%أ م+ر#ه#،

% #أ ب %ه%ا ك و%أمس%#ه#. ت #ق*د+ر% ب

+ر# غ%ي م#ن+ %اء# +ف%ن ال %ع+د% ب *ع#يد*ه%ا ي *م2 ث%ة #ع%ان ت اس+ % و%ال +ه%ا، %ي #ل إ +ه* م#ن ح%اج%ة

% و%ال +ه%ا، %ي ع%ل +ه%ا م#ن ي+ء %ش% بإل%ى ة و%ح+ش% ح%ال م#ن+ اف #نص#ر% ال

ح%ال# م#ن+ % و%ال %اس، +ن #ئ ت اس+ ح%ال#ع#ل+م ] [ ح%ال# #ل%ى إ و%ع%مى ج%ه+ل

و%ح%اج%ة ف%ق+ر م#ن+ % و%ال #+تم%اس، و%الذ*ل� م#ن+ % و%ال ة، +ر% %ث و%ك غ#نى #ل%ى إ

. ة و%ق*د+ر% ع#ز� #ل%ى إ و%ض%ع%ة




1. Ibn Nubatah (d. 374/984) narrated this khutbah, see Ibn Abi al-Hadid, Sharh, III, 220;

2. al-'Amidi, Ghurar, 20, 108.



Fear Allah, O' servants of Allah, because the world is behaving with you by certain ways, and you and the Day of Judgment are close by, ─as though it has come with its signs, approached with its pleas and made you stand in its way;

and as though it has come forward with all its quaking and has settled down on the ground while the world has parted from its people and has turned them out of its lap.

It was like a day that has passed or a month that has gone by. Its new has become old and its obese have become thin. They are in a tight place, in very complicated affairs and in a fire whose pain is sharp, cries are loud, flames are rising, sound is trembling, burning is severe, ….

! #ن2 ف%إ الله# %اد% ب ع# الله% ف%الله%ع%ل%ى *م+ بك %ة! م%اض#ي %ا +ي +د0ن ال

ف#ي اع%ة* و%الس2 *م+ +ت %ن و%أ %ن، ن س%ج%اء%ت+ ق%د 2ه%ا ن

% %أ و%ك ن، ق%ر%ز#ف%ت+

% و%أ اط#ه%ا، ر% %ش+ #أ بع%ل%ى *م+ #ك ب و%و%ق%ف%ت+ اط#ه%ا، %ف+ر% #أ ب

س#راط#ه%ا، ف%ت+ ر% %ش+ أ ق%د+ 2ه%ا %أن و%ك

#ه%ا، #ل %ك %ال #ك ب %اخ%ت+ %ن و%أ #ه%ا، %ز#ل ال #ز% ب#ه%ا، ه+ل

% #أ ب %ا +ي الد0ن م%ت# +ص%ر% و%ان#ه%ا، ح#ض+ن م%ن+ +ه*م+ ت ج% %خ+ر% و%أ

ه+ر و%ش% م%ض%ى %و+م %ي ك %ت+ %ان ف%ك�ا، ث ر% ج%د#يد*ه%ا و%ص%ار% +ق%ض%ى، ان

م%و+ق#ف ف#ي �ا، غ%ث *ه%ا م#ين و%س%م*ور

* و%أ ،# +م%ق%ام ال +ك# ض%ند#يد ش% %ار ون ع#ظ%ام، #ه%ة %ب ت م*ش+

س%اطع *ه%ا، ب %ج% ل ع%ال *ه%ا، %ب %ل كه%ا، ف#ير* ز% cظ %غ%ي م*ت *ه%ا، %ه%ب .…ل




1. Al-Saduq, al-'Amali, 132; 2. al-Saduq, Ùyun akhbar al-Rida, I, 298;3. al-Mufid, al-'Irshad, 139;4. al-Tabarsi, Mishkat, 243;5. Ibn Qutaybah, Ùyun, II, 253;6. al-Mubarrad, al-Kamil;7. Ibn Àbd Rabbih, al-Ìqd, II, 200;8. Warram, Majmuàh, 66;9. al-Qali, al-'Amali, I, 258;10. al-Bayhaqi, al-Mahasin, II, 31; see Àrshi.



O' people, this world is a passage while the next world is the permanent abode. So, utilize the passage to keep achieving for the permanent abode. Do not tear away your curtains before Allah Who is aware of your secrets.

Shun from this world your hearts before your bodies go out of it, because in this world you are to be tested, and for the other world you have been created.

When a man dies people ask what property he has left while the angels ask what good actions he has forwardly sent.

May Allah bless you; ─Send forward something, it will be a loan for you, and do not leave everything behind, for that would be a burden on you.

%ا +ي الد0ن 2م%ا #ن إ ، 2اس* الن 0ه%ا ي% أ

د%ار* ة* +خ#ر% و%اال م%ج%از، دار*م#ن+ ف%خ*ذ*وا ار، ق%ر%

% و%ال ، *م+ ك cم%ق%ر# ل *م+ ك cم%م%ر+د% ن ع# *م+ ك %ار% ت س+

% أ *وا #ك %ه+ت ت*م، ك ار% ر% س+

% أ %م* %ع+ل ي م%ن+%ا +ي الد0ن م#ن% %خ+ر#ج*وا و%أ%ن+ أ +ل# ق%ب م#ن+ *م+ %ك *وب ق*ل ، *م+ *ك +د%ان %ب أ +ه%ا م#ن ج% %خ+ر* ت

+ر#ه%ا #غ#ي ول ، *م+ ت #ر+ *ب ت اخ+ ف%ف#يه%ا. *م+ #ق+ت ل خ*

%ك% ه%ل #ذ%ا إ ء% +م%ر+ ال #ن2 إ : ؟ ك% %ر% ت م%ا 2اس* الن ق%ال%

: م%ا %ة* #ك %ئ +م%ال ال و%ق%ال%ت# ! *م+ %اؤ*ك آب لله ؟ ق%د2م%

*م+ %ك ل *ن+ %ك ي ^ %ع+ض%ا ب ف%ق%دcم*وا � *ال ك cف*وا ل *خ% ت % و%ال ضا، ق%ر+

. *م+ +ك %ي ع%ل *ون% %ك ف%ي


In answering someone about Life, Ali said: Life #12

This world is a house of truth for those who look into it well, an abode of peace for those who understand its ways, and it is the best working ground for those who want to utilize it for the life in the Hereafter. It is a place of acquiring knowledge and wisdom for those who want to acquire them,

It is a Masjid of worship by the friends of Allah and His Angels, a place where Prophets received revelations, a place for virtuous people to do good deeds and to be assigned with rewards for the same. Only in this world they can trade with Allah's Favors and Blessings and only while living here they can barter their good deeds with His Rewards and Blessings. Where else can all this be done?

د%ار* %ا +ي الد0ن #ن2 إص%د%ق%ه%ا، #م%ن+ ل ص#د+ق

#م%ن+ ل %ة ع%اف#ي و%د%ار*و%د%ار* +ه%ا، ع%ن ف%ه#م%و2د% %ز% ت #م%ن+ ل غ#نى

م%و+ع#ظ%ة و%د%ار* +ه%ا، م#ن#ه%ا، ب 2ع%ظ% ات #م%ن+ ل

الله#، 2اء# ب %ح# أ ج#د* م%س+%ة# #ك %ئ م%ال و%م*ص%ل2ى

و%ح+ي# #ط* و%م%ه+ب الله#،%اء# #ي و+ل

% أ +ج%ر* و%م%ت الله#،*وا ب %س% +ت اك الله#،ح+م%ة%، ف#يه%االر2

. 2ة% ن +ج% ال ف#يه%ا #ح*وا ب و%ر%


Be in Allah’s Care

Thank you and May God Bless you.

Dr. A.S. Hashim

Documents

Nahjul Balaaghah about Life