Lessons from Nahjul Balagha [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Sermons
Sermon
23

SERMON 23

About keeping aloof from envy,
and good behaviour towards kith and kin

Now then, verily
Divine orders descend from heaven to earth like drops of rain,
bringing to every one what is destined for him whether plenty or
paucity. So if any one of you observes for his brother plenty of
progeny or of wealth or of self, it should not be a worry for him.
So long as a Muslim does not commit such an act that if it is
disclosed he has to bend his eyes (in shame) and by which low
people are emboldened, he is like the gambler who expects that the
first draw of his arrow would secure him gain and also cover up
the previous loss.

Similarly, the Muslim
who is free from dishonesty expects one of the two good things:
either call from Allah and in that case whatever is with Allah is
the best for him, or the livelihood of Allah. He has already
children and property while his faith and respect are with him.
Certainly, wealth and children are the plantations of this world
while virtuous deed is the plantation of the next world. Sometimes
Allah joins all these in some groups.

Beware of Allah
against what He has cautioned you and keep afraid of Him to the
extent that no excuse be needed for it. Act without show or
intention of being heard, for if a man acts for some one else then
Allah makes him over to that one. We ask Allah (to grant us) the
positions of the martyrs, company of the virtuous and friendship
of the prophets.

O' people! surely no
one (even though he may be rich) can do without his kinsmen, and
their support by hands or tongues. They alone are his support from
rear and can ward off from him his troubles, and they are the most
kind to him when tribulations befall him. The good memory of a man
that Allah retains among people is better than the property which
others inherit from him.

In the same sermon

Behold! If any one of
you finds your near ones in want or starvation, he should not
desist from helping them with that which will not increase if this
help is not extended, nor decrease by thus spending it. Whoever
holds up his hand from (helping) his kinsmen, he holds only one
hand, but at the time of his need many hands remain held up from
helping him. One who is sweet tempered can retain the love of his
people for good.

as-Sayyid ar-Radi
says: In this sermon "al-ghafirah" means plenty or
abundance, and this is derived from the Arab saying, "al-jamm
al-ghafir" or "al-jamma' al-ghafir" meaning thick
crowd. In some versions for "al-ghafirah"
"afwatan" appears. "afwah" means the good
and selected part of anything. It is said "akaltu afwata
't-taam", to mean "I ate select meal." About
"wa man yaqbid yadahu an ashiratihi" appearing towards
the end he points out how beautiful the meaning of this sentence
is, Amir al-mu'minin implies that he who does not help his own
kinsmen withholds only his hand but when he is in need of their
assistance and would be looking for their sympathy and support
then he would remain deprived of the sympathies and succour of so
many of their extending hands and marching feet.