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Sermons
Sermon
186

SERMON 186

Regarding the vicissitudes of
time

(The mischiefs that are to
occur and the absence of lawful ways of livelihood)

May my father and my
mother be sacrificed for those few whose names are well-known in
the sky and not known on the earth. Beware, you should expect what
is to befall you such as adversity in your affairs, severance of
relations and the rising up of inferior people. This will happen
when the blow of a sword will be easier for a believer than to
secure one Dirham lawfully. This will happen (1)
when the reward of the beggar is more than that of the giver. This
will be when you are intoxicated, not by drinking, but with wealth
and plenty, you are swearing without compulsion and are speaking
lies without compulsion. This will be when troubles hurt you as
the saddle hurts the hump of the camel. How long will these
tribulations be and how distant the hope (for deliverance from
them)?

O' people, throw away
the reins of the horses who carry on their backs the weight of
your hands (i.e. sins), do not cut away from your chief (Imam)
otherwise you will blame yourself for your own doings. Do not jump
in the fire which is in flames in front of you; keep away from its
courses and leave the middle way for it. Because, by my life, the
believer will die in its flames, and others will remain safe in
it.

I am among you like a
lamp in the darkness. Whoever enters by it will be lit from it. So
listen O' men, preserve it and remain attentive with the ears of
your hearts so that you may understand.

(1).
In that period the reward of the beggar who takes will be higher
than that of the giver because the ways of earning livelihood of
the rich will be unlawful, and whatever he will donate of it, its
purpose will be showing himself, hypocrisy and seeking fame, for
which he will not be entitled to any reward, while the poor who
take it by force of their poverty and helplessness, and to spend
it in the right manner, will deserve more reward and recompense.

The commentator, Ibn
Abi'l-Hadid has written another meaning of it also, namely if the
beggar does not take the wealth from the rich and it remains with
him he will spend it on unlawful matters and enjoyments, and since
his taking it from him prevents him from using it in unlawful
manner; therefore, for this prevention of evil, the beggar will
deserve more reward and recompense. (Sharh Nahj al-balaghah, vol.
13, p. 97)