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Back You are here: Home Eternal Words Nahj al-Balaghah Sermons SERMON 87 - Qualities of a Faithful Believer

SERMON 87 - Qualities of a Faithful Believer


O servants of Allah! The most fearful of Allah is one whom Allah has given power (to act) against his own passions, so that his inner side is (submerged in) grief and the outside is covered with fear. The lamp of guidance is burning in his heart. He has provided entertainment for the day that is to befall him. He regards what is distant to be near himself and takes the dark to be light. He looks at and perceives; he remembers (Allah) and enhances (the tempo of his) actions. He drinks sweet water to whose source his way has been made easy. So he drinks to satisfaction and takes the level path. He has taken off the clothe s of desires and has rid himself of worries except one worry peculiar to him. He is safe from misguidance and the company of people who follow their passions. He has become the key to the doors of guidance’ and the lock for the doors of destruction.
He has seen his way and is walking on it. He knows his pillar (of guidance) and has crossed over his deep water. He has caught hold of the most reliable supports and the strongest ropes. He is on that level of conviction which is like the brightness of the sun. He has set himself for Allah, the Glorified One, for performance of the most sublime acts by facing all that befalls him and takes every step needed for it. He is the lamp in darkness. He is the dispeller of all blindness, key to the obscure, remover of complexities and a guide in vast deserts. When he speaks he (makes himself understood) whereas when he remains silent then it is safe to do so. He does everything only for Allah and so Allah also makes him His own. Consequently, he is like the mines of His faith and a stump in His earth. He has enjoined upon himself (to follow) justice.
The first step of his justice is the rejection of desires from his heart. He describes right and acts according to it. There is no good which he has not aimed at nor any likely place (of virtue) of the Holy Qur’an, therefore, the Holy Qur’an is his guide and leader. He gets down when the Holy Qur’an puts down his weight and he settles where the Holy Qur’an settles him down.

Characteristics of an Unfaithful Believer:

While the other (kind of) man is he who calls himself learned but he is not so. He has gleaned ignorance from the ignorant and misguidance from the misguided. He has set for the people a trap (made) of the ropes of deceit and untrue speech. He takes the Holy Qur’an according to his own views and right after his passions. He makes people feel safe from big sins and takes light the serious crimes. He says that he is waiting for (clarification) of doubts but he remains plunged the rein and that he keeps aloof from innovations but actually he is immersed in them. His shape is that of a man, but his heart is that of a beast. He does not know the door of guidance to follow nor the door of misguidance to keep aloof therefrom. These are the living-dead bodies.

About the Descendants (`Itra) of the Holy Prophet, Peace be Upon Him:

So where are you going?! (Holy Qur’an, 81: 26); How are you then turned away?! (Holy Qur’an, 6: 95; 10: 34; 35: 3; 40: 62). Ensigns (of guidance) are standing, indications (of virtue) are clear and the minarets (of light) have been fixed. Where are you being taken astray and how are you groping while you have among you the descendants of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.)? They are the reins of Right, ensigns of Faith and tongues of truth. Accord to them the same good status as you accord to the Holy Qur’an and come to them (for quenching the thirst of guidance) as the thirsty camels approach the water spring.
O people take this saying of the last of the prophets that he who dies from among us is not dead and he who decays (after dying) from among us does not really decay. Do not say what you do not understand because most of the Right is in what you deny. Accept the argument of one against whom you have no argument. It is I. Did I not act before you on the greater thiqal (ath-thiqal al-akbar, i.e. The Holy Qur’an) and did I not retain among you smaller thiqal (ath-thiqal al-asghar, i.e. the descendants of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.))? I fixed among you the standard of faith and I taught you the limits of lawful and unlawful. I clothed you with the garments of safety with my justice and spread for you (the carpet of) virtue by my words and deeds. I showed you high manners through myself. Do not exercise your imagination about what the eye cannot see or the mind cannot conceive.

Part of the Same Sermon about Banu Umayyah:

Till people begin thinking that the world is attached to the Umayyads, would be showering its benefits to them and lead them to its clear spring for watering and that their whip and sword will not be removed from the people. Whoever thinks which they would suck for a while then vomit out the whole of it.

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