Lessons from Nahjul Balagha [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Sermons
Sermon
131

SERMON 131

Warning about death and
counselling

We praise Him for
whatever He takes or gives or whatever He inflicts on us or tries
us with. He is aware of all that is hidden and He sees all that is
concealed. He knows all that breasts contain or eyes hide. We
render evidence that there is no god except He and that Muhammad -
peace be upon him and his progeny - has been chosen by Him and
deputised by Him -evidence tendered both secretly and openly, by
heart and by tongue.

A part of the same
sermon

By Allah, certainly it
is reality not fun, truth not falsehood. It is none else than
death. Its caller is making himself heard and its dragsman is
making haste. The majority of the people should not deceive you.
You have seen those who lived before you, amassed wealth, feared
poverty and felt safe from its (evil) consequences, the longevity
of desires and the (apparent) distance from death. How, then,
death overtook them, turned them out of their homelands and took
them out of their places of safety. They were borne on coffins,
people were busy about them one after another, carrying them on
their shoulders and supporting them with their hands.

Did you not witness
those who engaged in long-reaching desires, built strong
buildings, amassed much wealth but their houses turned to graves
and their collections turned into ruin. Their property devolved on
the successors and their spouses on those who came after them.
They cannot (now) add to their good acts nor invoke (Allah's)
mercy in respect of evil acts. Therefore, whoever makes his heart
habituated to fear Allah achieves a forward position and his
action is successful. Prepare yourself for it and do all that you
can for Paradise. Certainly this world has not been made a place
of permanent stay for you. But it has been created as a pathway in
order that you may take from it the provisions of your (good)
actions for the permanent house (in Paradise). Be ready for
departure from here and keep close your riding animals for setting
off.