Eternal Words Nahj al-Balaghah Sermons SERMON 2 - Delivered on return from Siffin before his Nomination by the Prophet, Peace be Upon Him, for the Caliphate
SERMON 2 - Delivered on return from Siffin before his Nomination by the Prophet, Peace be Upon Him, for the Caliphate
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I praise Allah, seeking completion of His Blessing, submitting to His Glory and expecting safety from committing His sins. I invoke His help being in need of His Sufficiency (of protection). He whom He guides does not get astray. He with whom He is hostile gets no protection. He whom He supports does not remain needy. Praise is most weighty of all that is weighed and the most valuable of all that is treasured.
I testify that there is no god but Allah the One. He has no like. My testimony has been tested in its frankness and its essence shall store it facing the tribulations that overtake us because it is the foundation stone of Belief (iman) and the first step toward good actions and the Divine pleasure. It is the means to keep Satan away.
I also testify that Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) is the Prophet. Allah sent him with the illustrious religion, effective emblem, written Book, effulgent light, sparkling gleam and decisive in junctions in order to dispel doubts, present clear proofs, administer warning through signs and to warn of punishments. At that time people had fallen in vices whereby the rope of religion had been broken, the pillars of belief had been shaken, principles had been desecrated, system had become topsy turvy, openings were narrow, passage was dark, guidance was unknown and darkness prevailed.
Allah was being disobeyed, Satan was given support and Belief had been forsaken. As a result the pillars of religion fell down, its traces could not be discerned, its passages had been destroyed and its streets had fallen into decay. People obeyed Satan and tread his paths. They sought water from his watering places. Through them Satan’s emblems flew and his standard was raised in vices which trampled the people under their hoofs and treaded upon them with their feet. The vices stood on their toes (in full stature) and the people immersed in them were strayed, perplexed, ignorant and seduced as though in a Good House with bad neighbors. Instead of sleep, they had wakefulness, and for antinomy, they had tears in the eyes. They were a land where the learned were in bridle (keeping their mouths shut) while the ignorant were honored.
In the same sermon, Amir al-Mu’minin, Peace be Upon Him
referred to Ahl al-Bayt, Peace be Upon Them (the Household
of the Holy Prophet, Peace be Upon Him) as follows:
They are the trustees of His secrets, shelter for His affairs, source of knowledge about Him, center of His wisdom, valleys for His books and mountains of His religion. With them, Allah straightened the bend of religion’s back and removed the trembling of its limbs.
In the same sermon, he spoke about the hypocrites thus:
They sowed vices, watered them with deception and harvested destruction. Non in the Islamic community can be taken at par with the Progeny of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) (Ahl al-Bayt [p.b.u.t.]). One who was under their obligation cannot be matched with them. They are the foundation of religion and the pillar of belief. The forward runner has to turn back to them while the follower has to overtake them. They possess the chief characteristics for vicegerency. In their favor exists the will and succession (of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.)). This is the time when right has returned to its owner and diverted to its center of return.
