Lessons from Nahjul Balagha [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Sermons
Sermon
193

SERMON 193

In description of hypocrites

We praise Allah for the
succour He has given us in carrying out His obedience and in preventing us
from disobedience, and we ask Him to complete His favours (to us) and to
make us hold on to His rope. We stand witness that Muhammad is His slave
and His Messenger. He entered every hardship in search of Allah's pleasure
and endured for its sake every grief. His near relations changed
themselves for him and those who were remote from him (in relationship)
united against him. The Arabs let loose the reins (of their horses to
quicken their march) against him, and struck the bellies of their carriers
to (rouse them) in fighting against him, so much so that enemies came to
his threshold from the remotest places and most distant areas.

I advise you, O' creatures of
Allah, to fear Allah and I warn you of the hypocrites, because they are
themselves misguided and misguide others, and they have slipped and make
others slip too. They change into many colours, and adopt various ways.
They support you with all sorts of supports, and lay in waiting for you at
every lookout. Their hearts are diseased while their faces are clean. They
walk stealthily and tread like the approach of sickness (over the body).
Their words speak of cure, but their acts are like incurable diseases.
They are jealous of ease, intensify distress, and destroy hopes. Their
victims are found lying down on every path, while they have means to
approach every heart and they have (false) tears for every grief.

They eulogise each other and
expect reward from each other. When they ask something they insist on it,
if they reprove (any one) they disgrace (him), and if they pass verdict
they commit excess. They have adopted for every truth a wrong way, for
every erect thing a bender, for every living being a killer, for every
(closed) door a key and for every night a lamp. They covet, but with
despair, in order to maintain with it their markets, and to popularise
their handsome merchandise. When they speak they create doubts. When they
describe they exaggerate. First they offer easy paths but (afterwards)
they make them narrow. In short, they are the party of Satan and the
stings of fire.
Satan hath gained hold on them,
so he maketh them forget the remembrance of Allah; they are Satan's
Party; Beware! verily, the party of Satan are the losers. (Qur'an,
58:19)