Lessons from Nahjul Balagha [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Sermons
Sermon
153

SERMON 153

About the Ahlu'l-bayt (of the
Holy Prophet) and their opposers

He who has an
intelligent mind looks to his goal. He knows his low road as well
as his high road. The caller has called. The shepherd has tended
(his flocks). So respond to the caller and follow the shepherd.

They (the opposers)
have entered the oceans of disturbance and have taken to
innovations instead of the Sunnah (the Prophet's holy deeds,
utterances and his unspoken approvals), while the believers have
sunk down, and the misguided and the liars are speaking. We are
the near ones, companions, treasure holders and doors (to the
Sunnah). Houses are not entered save through their doors. Whoever
enters them from other than the door is called a thief.

A part of the same
sermon

The delicacies of the
Qur'an are about them (Ahlu'l-bayt, the descendants of the
Prophet) and they are the treasurers of Allah. When they speak
they speak the truth, but when they keep quiet no one can speak
unless they speak. The forerunner should report correctly to his
people, should retain his wits and should be one of the children
(a man) of the next world, because he has come from there and
would return to it.

The beginning of the
action of one who sees with heart and acts with eyes it is to
assess whether the action will go against him or for him. If it is
for him he indulges in it, but if it is against him he keeps away
from it. For, he who acts without knowledge is like one who treads
without a path. Then his deviation from the path keeps him at a
distance from his aim. And he who acts according to knowledge is
like he who treads the clear path. Therefore, he who can see
should see whether he should proceed or return.

You should also know
that the outside (of every thing) has a similar inside. Of
whatever the outside is good, its inside too is good, and whatever
the outside is bad, its inside too is bad. The truthful Prophet
(peace and blessing of Allah be upon him and his progeny) has said
that: "Allah may love a man but hate his action, and may love
the action but hate the man." You should also know that every
action is like a vegetation, and a vegetation cannot do without
water while waters are different. So where the water is good the
plant is good and its fruits are sweet, whereas where the water is
bad. the plant will also be bad and its fruits will be bitter.