Lessons from Nahjul Balagha [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Sermons
Sermon
128

SERMON 128

About measures and
weights, the transience of this world and the condition of
its people

O' creatures of Allah!
You and whatever you desire from this world are like guests with
fixed period of stay, and like debtors called upon to pay. Life is
getting short while (the records of) actions are being preserved.
Many strivers are wasting (their efforts) and many of those who
exert are heading towards harm. You are in a period when steps of
virtue are moving backwards, steps of evil are moving forward and
Satan is increasing his eagerness to ruin people. This is the time
that his equipment is strong, his traps have been spread and his
prey has become easy (to catch).

Cast your glance over
people wherever you like, you will see either a poor man suffering
from poverty, or a rich man ignoring Allah despite His bounty over
him, or a miser increasing his wealth by trampling on Allah's
obligations, or an unruly person closing his ears to all counsel.
Where are your good people; where are your virtuous people? Where
are your high spirited men and generous men? Where are those of
you who avoid deceit in their business and remain pure in their
behaviour? Have they not all departed from this ignoble,
transitory and troublesome world? Have you not been left among
people who are just like rubbish and so low that lips avoid
mention of them and do not move even to condemn their low
position.
... "Verily we are
Allah's and verily unto Him shall we return." (Qur'an,
2:156)

Mischief has appeared
and there is no one to oppose and change it, nor anyone to
dissuade from it or desist from it. Do you, with these qualities,
hope to secure abode in the purified neighbourhood of Allah and to
be regarded His staunch lovers? Alas! Allah cannot be deceived
about His paradise and His will cannot be secured save by His
obedience. Allah may curse those who advise good but they
themselves avoid it, and those who desist others from evil but
they themselves act upon it.