Lessons from Nahjul Balagha [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Sermons
Sermon
32

SERMON 32

About the disparagement of the
world and categories of its people

O' people! we have
been borne in such a wrongful and thankless period wherein the
virtuous is deemed vicious and the oppressor goes on advancing in
his excess. We do not make use of what we know and do not discover
what we do not know. We do not fear calamity till it befalls.

People are of four
categories. Among them is one who is prevented from mischief only
by his low position, lack of means and paucity of wealth.

Then there is he who
has drawn his sword, openly commits mischief, has collected his
horsemen and foot-men and has devoted himself to securing wealth,
leading troops, rising on the pulpit and has allowed his faith to
perish. How bad is the transaction that you allow (enjoyment of)
this world to be a price for yourself as an alternative for what
there is with Allah for you.

And among them is he
who seeks (benefits of) this world through actions meant for the
next world, but does not seek (good of) the next world through
actions of this world. He keeps his body calm (in dignity), raises
small steps, holds up his clothes, embellishes his body for
appearance of trust-worthiness and uses the position of Allah's
connivance as a means of committing sins.

Then there is one
whose weakness and lack of means have held him back from conquest
of lands. This keeps down his position and he has named it
contentment and he clothes himself with the robe of renunciation
although he has never had any connection with these qualities.

Then there remain a
few people in whose case the remembrance of their return (to Allah
on Doomsday) keeps their eyes bent, and the fear of resurrection
moves their tears. Some of them are scared away (from the world)
and dispersed; some are frightened and subdued; some are quiet as
if muzzled; some are praying sincerely, some are grief-stricken
and pain-ridden whom fear has confined to namelessness and
disgrace has shrouded them, so they are in (the sea of) bitter
water, their mouths are closed and their hearts are bruised. They
preached till they were tired, they were oppressed till they were
disgraced and they were killed till they remained few in number.

The world in your eyes
should be smaller than the bark of acacia and the clippings of
wool. Seek instruction from those who preceded you before those
who follow you take instruction from you, and keep aloof from it
realising its evil because it cuts off even from those who were
more attached to it than you.

as-Sayyid ar-Radi
says: Some ignorant persons attributed this sermon to Muawiyah
but it is the speech of Amir al-mu'minin. There should be no doubt
about it. What comparison is there between gold and clay or sweet
and bitter water. This has been pointed out by the skilful guide
and the expert critic Amr ibn Bahr al-Jahiz as he has mentioned
this sermon in his book, al-Bayan wa't-tabyin (vol. 2, pp. 59-61).
He has also mentioned who attributed it to Muawiyah and then
states that it is most akin to be the speech of Ali and most in
accord with his way of categorising people and information about
their oppression, disgrace, apprehension and fear. (On the other
hand) we never found Muawiyah speaking on the lives of
renunciates or worshippers .